Boxoffice-December.25.1948

. . . Tony
. . Lawrence
. . The
. . UA's
. . The
. . Jim
. . Pete
. . Louis
. . . Jack
. . . Harry
. . Several
PITTSBURGH
'rbe 20th anniversary banquet of Local 211,
AFL Newspaper, Magazine and Film Delivery
Drivers, Helpers and Handlers, attracted
750 guests . . . Rube Jackter and Sam Galanty,
Columbia executives, were here conferring
with Art Levy, branch manager, whose "My
Drive" is progressing very satisfactorily . . .
Pat Kennedy of Exhibitors Service Co. and
a network tenor a decade ago, was at the
MacFadden physical culture resort in Dansville,
N. Y.
A son was born at Magee hospital to the
Paul Bechsteins. Bechstein manages the Avenue
on uptown Fifth avenue, and he is a
brother of Mrs. Paul Bronder . theatre
partnership of John Allison Gribble and
Nick Notopoulos has terminated. Gribble, a
former local film salesman, will operate the
theatres at Greencastle and Shippensburg,
and Notopoulos takes over operation of the
BeUwood and Osceola Mills theatres . . . BUI
Blowitz, Hollywood publicity agent who is
working on Enterprise's "Forces of Evil," visited
recently with his parents, the Joe
Blowitzes. His father is manager at the Warner
Manor in Squirrel Hill.
Some form of mercantile and amusement
taxes may replace the income tax at Monessen
. . . Henry Schmitt's Imperial at Imperial
has been extensively remodeled and
renovated . . . Max Cohen. Universal branch
manager here several years ago, made his
initial visit as Film Classic's new eastern
sales manager . Herbert, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Jules Lapidus, and Lois Elaine
Liff, were married in New York recently.
Jules, former local exhibitor and film salesman
and manager, is Warner eastern and
Canadian division manager.
QUICK, FRIENDLY SERVICE?
QUALITY
Andy Battiston had some ui-gent business
in New York City the other day and Jen-y
Castelli, Library exhibitor, flew him there
Pastor's band was at the new
Manos in Monessen, and Johnny Long's
orchestra appeared at the Capitol in Wheel-
.
ing . "This Is New York" was playing
some theatres in the area under the
title of "The City Slicker" . . Altoona's
revenue from the city amusement tax in
November was $13,455.47 ... A 1 per cent wage
and income tax has been proposed at Bradford
. . . Bill Smith, who handles the Sun-
Telegraph amusement accounts, is appearing
in the Playhouse production of "She Loves
Me Not." He's cast as a newspaperman.
Guy Oglietti, Leechburg exhibitor, is active
in Lions club activities . . . Milt Young. Columbia
exploiteer. was here working on "The
Return of October" . Quiter, U-I office
manager turned salesman, and his branch
manager, Francis Guehl, were in charge of
the annual Christmas party at the Variety
Club . Lindsay, formerly with the
Harris circuit and recreation director for
Allegheny county parks, now is coordinator
of education at Carnegie Institute, which
will present a Sunday afternoon series of
old silent motion pictures patterned after
those exhibited in the New York Museum of
Art.
.
Charles Dortic, former film salesman now
representing Columbia in upper New York,
was a visitor . . . Bill Walker of Crafton and
Henry Schmitt of Imperial were at Berkley
The Saxton borough
Springs, W. Va. . . .
council was considering a wage and Income
tax Columtous Symphony orchestra
was heard in concert at the Robinson Grand,
Clarksburg, W. Va. . Michael, veteran
local exhibitor, was hospitalized for treatment
of a heart condition. Several weeks ago
his brother Chris, pioneer exhibitor associated
with the southside Rex, was hospitalized
following a heart attack but he has returned
home.
John J. Maloney, MGM central sales manager,
held a meeting here December 16, 17
with Branch Managers Saal Gottlieb, Pittsburgh:
Edwin M. Booth, Cincinnati; Frank
J. Downey, Detroit, and Jack Sogg, Cleve-
PRODUCTS?
LOWER FREIGHT
Then order your BEE-HIVE Hybrid popcorn
and supplies direct from Blevins' Ohio processing
plant at Arcanum, near Dayton. Offering
superb BEE-HIVE
at $10.25 per cwt.
("5
-bog lots and standing orders)
BLEVINS POPCORN CO.,
Popcorn Square
Popcorn Village
Arcanum, Ohio
Nashville,
Tenn.
RATES?
Inc.
Stocks in Dixie Warehouse, 11 th and Main Streets, Louisville, Ky., and Lawson Warehouse,
425 Campbell Ave., E., Roanoke, Va.
land . . . Howard Minsky, former Warner
salesman here and now a 20th-Pox home
office executive, was convalescing at home
following a leg operation at Johns Hopkins
hospital.
Minnie Steinberg and her children will go
to California by automobile. She purchased
a car, and with her son Fred will drive to the
west coast to make their home in Los Angeles.
She has been employed by Film Classics
since the death of her husband, Mannie
Steinberg . independent theatre
owners here will install television sets in
their theatre lobbies . . . Lou Harma held
an open house Christmas party at the Acme-
Pranklin-Hanna quarters, and Gordon Gibson
was host at the Atlas Theatre Supply
Cohen, former film salesman, is
clerking at the state liquor store in East
Liberty.
Sam Fineberg, theatre supply dealer, has
been in Phoenix visiting his family, and he
will not return here until after January 1
Rees, UA salesman, was back on
the job after a brief illness . . . Raymond
"Bud" AlUson of the Rivoli and Hollywood
circuits suffered a painful injury diu-ing a
hunting trip when he dropped into a clump
of bushes and a twig punctured his left eye.
The injury has responded to treatment and
there wiU be no permanent impairment of
his vision.
Al Wheeler, new UA salesman who returned
here after 20 years in the industry in Boston,
located an apartment in Squirrel Hill
and he has been joined by his wife Ella and
. . . Bill Leibovitz, Mount
daughter Viola
Pleasant exhibitor, has been visiting a sister
who is hospitalized here.
Flash floods stopped several film salesmen
around Clarksburg and Weston, and there
was water damage at several theatres. At
Mannington, Dr. C. P. Church had to pump
water from the basement of a theatre.
TOLEDO
Tnstead of having a banquet in January, officers
of Toledo Variety Club were installed
recently for the coming year with little fanfare.
Jack Lykes, chief barker, announced
that Marvin Harris, manager of the Paramount,
was named chairman for shut-ins
committee.
One of the most unusual holiday decorations
in all Toledo was put up in the Colony
Theatre, de luxe neighborhood house, where
two real poinsettia trees with large flowers
in bloom were set up on each side of the
lobby. Since many Toledoians had never seen
a real poinsettia tree, the decorations have
been attracting much comment.
"Hamlet" is booked for the Palace for a
week beginning January 12, with a two-a-day
roadshow policy . . . Sports Arena has booked
the Gene Autry troupe for two shows on
Friday. February 4. Autry attracted two capacity
audiences in the Arena last March.
Bob Hope may also appear on Sunday, January
23, although no contracts have been
signed yet, according to Virgil Gladieux of
the Arena.
Bridget Carr, native of Toledo whose life
was reviewed on the Ralph Edwards' "This
Is Your Life" radio program over the NBC
network December 14, received a contract
from MGM studio for a part in "Midnight
Kiss," which goes into production January 10.
f
72 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948