Boxoffice-May.07.1949

TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS 23,000 

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Modern 

Theatre 

Presents

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FIRST WITH THE FANSi 

FIRST WITH EXHIBITORS! 

FIRST IN FRIENDLINESS! 

The Roaring Lion, voted the top movie trade -mark, fulfills its obligation of leadership 

with the greatest production activity in our history. 

And we back our product 

with more advertising in newspapers, magazines and radio than any other company. 

You'll be happy to show the Friendly trade-mark on your screen all through 

M-G-M's Anniversary Year. Here are pictures to be proud about: 

"LITTLE WOMEN" 

(Technicolor) 

June AUyson « Peter Lawford 

Margaret O'Brien • Elizabeth Taylor 

Janet Leigh 

"TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME" 

(Technicolor) 

Frank Sinatra • Esther Williams • Gene Kelly 

Betty Garrett 

"THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY" 

(Technicolor) 

Fred Astaire • Ginger Rogers • Oscar Levant 

"THE GREAT SINNER" 

regory Peck « Ava Gardner • Melvyn Douglas 

Walter Huston • Ethel Barrymore 

Frank Morgan 

"THE STRATTON STORY" 

James Stewart .June Allyson • Frank Morgan 

Agnes Moorehead • Bill Williams 

"THE SECRET GARDEN" 

Margaret O'Brien • Herbert Marshall 

Dean Stockwell 

"EDWARD, MY SON" 

Spencer Tracy . Deborah Kerr 

"BORDER INCIDENT" 

Ricardo Montalban • George Murphy 

"NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER" 

(Technicolor) 

Esther Williams . Red Skelton 

Ricardo Montalban • Betty Garrett 

Keenan Wynn • Xavier Cugat 

"IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME" 

(Technicolor) 

Judy Garland • Van Johnson 

"THAT MIDNIGHT KISS" 

(Technicolor) 

Kathryn Grayson • Jose Iturbi 

Ethel Barrymore • Mario Lanza 

"ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY" 

Clark Gable • Alexis Smith 

"MADAME BOVARY" 

Jennifer Jones • James Mason • Van Heflin 

Louis Jourdan 

"THE FORSYTE SAGA" 

*- (Technicolor) 

Errol Flynn • Greer Garson . Walter Pidgeon 

Robert Young Janet Leigh 

"CONSPIRATOR" 

Robert Taylor • Elizabeth Taylor 

"SCENE OF THE CRIME" 

Van Johnson • Arlene Dahl • Gloria DeHaven 

Tom Drake 

The Biggest Picture of All Time Is In Production: "QUO VADIS" 

"BATTLEGROUND" 

Van Johnson • John Hodiak 

Ricardo Montalban • George Murphy 

Marshall Thompson 

"THE RED DANUBE" 

Walter Pidgeon • Peter Lawford 

Angela Lansbury • Janet Leigh 

"ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" 

(Technicolor) 

Judy Garland . Howard Keel 'Frank Morgan 

Keenan Wynn • Edward Arnold 

"MALAYA" 

Spencer Tracy • James Stewart 

Valentina Cortesa • Sydney Greenstreet 

John Hodiak . Lionel Barrymore 

"BODIES AND SOULS" 

Glenn Ford • Janet Leigh • Charles Coburn 

Gloria DeHaven 

"KEY TO THE CITY" 

Clark Gable • Loretta Young 

"SIDE STREET" 

Farley Granger • James Craig 

Cathy O'Donnell • Paul Kelly 

"ON THE TOWN" 

(Technicolor) 

Frank Sinatra . Gene Kelly • Betty Garrett 

Vera-Ellen • Jules Munshin • Ann Miller

ON FLAMINGO ROAD TH 

IT'S 

JOAN 

CRAWFORD 

AT HER WARNER BROi 

ALSO STARRING 

1 

J 

SYDNEY GREENSTREET- DA'

FIGUKL5 AKt I tKKiriUf 

IT'S 

THE 

MARVELOUS MATCH 

FOR THE 

MILDRED PIERCE' 

FIGURE 

EVERYWHERE// 

LA./ SPRINGFIELD 

KANSAS CITY/ PHILLY/ 

, 

PITTSBURGH/ MILWAUKEE/ 

BALTIMORE/ WASHINGTON/ 

WARNER BROS. 

ARE GEARED TO 

AS NEVER BEFORE! 

] 

DIRECTED BY 

PRODUCED BY 

MICHAEL CURTIZ JERRY WALD 

Screen Play byROBERT WILDER 

Additional Dialogue by EDMUND H. NORTH 

Based on a Play by ROBERT and SALLY WILDER

P 

Ullian 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

PULISHEO IN NINE JECTIONAL EDITIONS 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

I 

OXOFFICE 

JAMES M. lERAULD ...Editor 

NATHAN COHEN .Associate Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN. Managing Editor 

rVAN SPEAR —Western Editor 

FLOYD M. MIX.._ Equipment Editor 

RAYMOND LEVY.....General Monoger 

Published Every Saturday 

by 

ASSOCIATED P.UBUCATIONS 

Editorial Offices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20 

,"°Y°nd Levy, General Manager; 

T lames 

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M 

Jerauld, Editor,- Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandlser 

Section; A. J. Stocker, Eastern Representative 

Telephone Columbus 5-8370, 5-6371, 5-63f2. Cable 

address: "BOXOFFICE, New York." 

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28, Cahl. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone 

1186. 

Washington Offices: 6417 Dahlonega Road, Alan Herbert, 

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Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6. 

Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 

1, Mo. Nathan Cohen, Associate Editor; Jesse Shlyen, 

Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager. 

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and Service. Telephone CHestnut 7777-78. 

Other Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER, published 

in November as a section of BOXOFFICE- 

THE MODERN THEATRE, pubUshed monthly as a 

section of BOXOFFICE 

ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave M. Berrigan. 

ATLANTA— 163 Walton, N W . 

BIRMINGHAM—The News. Eddie Badger 

BUFFALO— 157 

CHABIOTTE-21f; V/. 1th, Pauline Griffith 

CINCINNATI— 4U29 Reading Rd . 

H. Savin 

BOSTON—Frances W Harding, Lib, 2-9305. 

Audubon Drive, Snyder. lim Schroder 

Lazarus 

CLEVELANL) -Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046 

DALLA.;-4525 Holland, V. W. Crisp 18-9780 

DENVER -1645 Lafayette, lack Rose.TA 6517 

DES MOINFS—Register & Tribune Bldg , Russ Schoch 

DETROIT- 1009 Fox Theatre Blda H F Reves 

Telephones: RA 1100; Night. UN-4-021P 

HARTFORD— 109 Weslbome, Allen Widem 

HARRISBURG, PA—Mechanicsburg Lois Fegon 

INDIANAPOLIS—Rt 8, Box 770, Howard M Rudeaux 

MIAMI— 66 S Hibiscus Island, Mrs Monton E. Horwood 

2952 Merrick Rd Elizabeth Sudlow 

MEMPHIS—707 Spring St , Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462 

MILWAUKEE—3057 No. Murray Ave., John E Hubel 

WO 2-04B7. 

MINNEAPOLIS— 29 Washington Ave. So , Les Rees. 

NEW HAVEN-.-i2 Church St., Gertrude Lander. 

NEWARK, N J.—207 Sumner, S^ra Carleton. 

NEW ORLEANS—Frances Jackson, 218 So. Liberty 

OKLAHOMA CITY—216 Terminal Bldg , Polly Trindle 

OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg 

. Lou Gerdes 

PHILADELPHIA— 4901 Spruce St , J, M. Makler. 

PITTSBURGH— 66 Van Braam St., R. F Klingensmith 

PORTLAND, ORE.—Edward Cogan, Norlonia Hotel 

Illh and Stark. 

RICHMOND—Grand Theatre, Sam PulUam 

ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727. 

SALT LAKE CITY—Deserel News, Howard Pearson. 

SAN ANTONIO-

ii|L •• -"*" 

rw-iuxx 

Every exhibitor owes it to himsell, first, to protect his investment 

in a theatre property. He also has a moral obligation 

to his patrons to protect them when they are inside tnai 

property. And within that obligation there is still another duty 

to himself for his own financial protection. But, at least, no 

exhibitor should be without adequate fire 

insurance. 

If, as in the instance referred to in the ioregoing, insurance 

rates are too high, why can't the exhibitor associations 

do something about that? Why shouldn't insurance planning 

lor their members be a primary service rendered by exhibitor 

associations? Why can't they introduce a code of fire regulations 

within their O'wn states and a fire-prevention policing 

system that will hold down losses—and consequently hold 

down rates? 

A good example of how this is 

done is in the record of the 

film exchanges. In the more than 300 branches around the 

country there has not been a single fire for the past several 

years. 

The reason: Thorough inspection by locally-appointed 

committees at regular intervals and prompt correction of any 

dangers that are detected. While easier to accomplish in the 

closely-circumscribed area of a film exchange center, the job 

could be duplicated among theatres. A thought on this is that 

committees of two or three exhibitors could be assigned to 

inspect theatres within their county and to make such tours of 

inspection twice a year. Rotation of committee appointments 

would be reciprocal service, compeiisating for time and the 

small mileage costs that would be entailed. Supplemented by 

periodic inspections by indivdual exhibitors of their own 

properties a further preventive measure will have been emr 

ployed. If carried out by each state association and with some 

means of supervision and guidance by the national bodies, 

the work will, 

on a nation-wide scale, be rewarded by reduction 

of fire 

and other losses and in obtaining lower insurance 

costs. At the same time the public will be given more confidence 

in its safety while attending motion picture theatres. 

It's a fine spirit that the industry demonstrates when there 

is call for aid to some one of its members in an emergency. 

But it would be far better, if the cause for such emergency 

could be entirely eliminated. Which it can be, if whatever 

attentions are now being given by exhibitor organizations to 

the insurance phase of theatre operation will be extended to 

render the maximum of service. 

PuUc^cciU 

RKO's Butterfield Holdings 

Sold to Butterfield Estate 

Deal made for $1,450,000 fulfiUs mandate 

of consent decree; Paramount still negotiating 

for disposal of its share in Michigan circuit 

and acquisition of some houses. 

Paramount and Richards Meet 

On Dissolving Partnerships 

Leonard Goldenson and E. V. Richards jr. 

in exploratory sessions to discuss divorcement 

and problems arising in connection with 

Paramount's buy of 34 Richards theatres. 

Trans-Lux Makes Inquiry 

In Buying Hughes' Stock 

Circuit in which Harry Brandt and his 

family have majority holdings, seeks information 

on acquisition of the oil magnate's 

24 per cent interest in RKO Theatres. 

Adolph Zukor Will Continue 

His Paramount Associations 

Chairman of the board says he will stay 

with new production-distribution company to 

be organized under decree as long as his 

health is good; has no intention of resigning. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

Wants Ticket Tax Cut 

Joins in general movement for the removal 

of wartime levies on federal admissions as 

the 18th bill on the subject is presented to 

the house. 

K 

Colorado Theatres Ass'n 

Votes to Join the TOA 

B. D. Cockrill, president of the theatre 

owners organization, notifies Gael Sullivan, 

TOA executive, of decision; unit represents 

about 75 theatres. 

*. 

Drive-Ins Making Demands 

For Priority Showings 

In some sections of the country, notably 

in California, it is reported they have won 

clearances over subsequent run houses; in 

the east family -type films still drawing well. 

TOA to Ask for TV Channel 

For Big-Screen Television 

Society of Motion Picture Engineers to cooperate 

with exhibitor association in presenting 

brief to FCC in support of exclusive 

channel to show theatre video. 

Vm^Ct^ 

/OlxyUt/iyi't^ 

Henri Elman, Chief Barker 

Of Illinois Variety, Dead 

Well known Chicago film personality dies 

at 57, following heart attack; was head of 

Capitol Films and Henri Elman Enterprises; 

seriously ill the last two weeks.

TOA OBJECTS TO $25,000 COST 

FOR THEATRE VIDEO EQUIPMENT 

NBC Says It Doesn't Frown 

On Use of Programs in 

Lounges and Lobbies 

By SUMNER SMITH 

NEW YORK—An estimated cost of about 

$25,000 for instantaneous or direct television 

projection equipment in a motion 

picture theatre, quoted to Gael Sullivan, 

Theatre Owners of America executive director, 

in a letter written by Charles R. 

Denny, executive vice-president of the National 

Broadcasting Co., was termed "excessive" 

and out of the reach of most theatres 

by Sullivan after a meeting of the 

TOA television committee May 4. 

SOME ADDITIONAL EXPENSES 

The figure did not include the cost of 

external relay equipment, pickup cameras 

or installation. Denny quoted Barton 

Kreuzer, theatre and recording sales manager 

of RCA Victor, which is now taking 

orders for the two types of theatre equipment 

and also for the 35mm film storage 

equipment which produces film versions of 

television programs and develops the film 

for projection by a process that takes about 

one minute. As to the cost of the film 

storage equipment, Denny referred Sullivan 

to Kreuzer. 

Sullivan said the SMPE would be asked to 

devote its engineering skill to a solution of 

equipment costs, and that the Denny letter 

would form the basis for discussion. 

Denny's letter was in response to a series 

of questions posed by Sullivan. One of the 

most interesting statements in it was a 

declaration that NBC "has not taken any 

steps" to prevent use of its television programs 

in theatre lounges and lobbies. Some 

exhibitors have been concerned over the possibility 

of legal action. Probabilities are that 

other television broadcasting companies will 

take the same stand as NBC. 

QUOTE FROM DENNY 

The pertinent paragraph in Denny's letter 

follows: 

"I should like at this point to draw a distinction 

between theatre television (i.e., use 

in the theatre auditorium) and the installation 

of home television instruments in theatre 

lounges and lobbies. NBC has treated 

the use of its television programs in theatre 

lounges and lobbies, where no additional admission 

or other charges are levied, as more 

akin to normal home television reception 

than to theatre television. Such use results 

in an expansion of the existing television 

audience for which the theatre collects no 

revenue, and NBC has not taken any steps 

to prevent this type of use." 

One of Sullivan's questions had to do with 

programs to be made available to exhibitors 

on an exclusive basis. Denny replied there 

are three principal types of program material 

potentially available for theatre showing. 

He listed them as those which NBC 

.might build specially on order from the theatres 

for their primary use, special event 

programs which form part of NBC's tele- 

Warner Bros. Withdraws 

From All TV Plans 

HOLLYWOOD—Completely reversing 

the company's previously announced policy, 

Warner Bros, has decided to abandon 

all plans to enter the television field, 

it was disclosed by President Harry M. 

Warner. The drastic move is being made, 

he said, because the Federal Communications 

Commission has taken no action on 

the Warner bid to purchase Station 

KLAC-TV here, which purchase had 

been projected as the nucleus of the 

Warners' entry into video. The company's 

application for the purchase has 

been in the hands of the FCC for more 

than a year. 

Warners have been experimenting with 

TV in its various phases for two years 

and, in association with RCA, developed 

a large-screen projection system which 

was first demonstrated last year at the 

semi-annual convention of the Society of 

Motion Picture Engineers in Hollywood. 

There has been no official explanation 

as to the reasons for the FCC's apparent 

reluctance to pass upon the Warner bid 

for Station KLAC-TV, but observers have 

opined that one contributing factor might 

be the fact that Warners are a party to 

the government's antitrust action against 

the major film companies, which might 

carry some weight in an appraisal by the 

FCC of the organization's qualifications 

for entering the video field. 

vision programming and are not normally 

sponsored, such as a Presidential inauguration 

or an important public address, and 

"our regular programs which are sponsored 

by advertisers or are carried on a sustaining 

basis." 

Regarding custom-built programs, Denny 

said theatres could have exclusive use of 

them. As to special events and regular programs, 

the broadcast use would be the primary 

use made of the material, but, "in 

appropriate cases," arrangements could be 

made under license from NBC for simultaneous 

or subsequent showings by theatres, 

"where NBC controlled or could clear all 

of the rights necessary for theatre showing. 

In the case of sponsored programs, the theatres 

carrying the program would have to 

carry it in its entirety, including the commercial 

announcements associated with the 

program, and the advertiser's consent to this 

procedure would be necessary." 

Denny pointed out, regarding special 

events, however, that in cases where NBC 

is one of a group of broadcasters originating 

a program, NBC could not make commitments 

for the other broadcasters. In the 

case of sponsored programs, such as major 

football games, the commercial announcements 

could not be deleted by a theatre and 

the advertiser's consent would have to be 

obtained. 

"I have made several references to the 

matter of obtaining rights for theatre showings," 

Denny's letter continued. "This question 

of rights for theatre use is still largely 

unexplored and negotiations would have to 

be conducted in each instance. In addition, 

there may be union problems which wouWt 

have to be resolved in connection with theatre 

showings. On its part, NBC would be 

willing to supply these programs as indicated 

in this letter, and it theatres so desired, 

NBC would in appropriate cases attempt 

to negotiate the clearing of necessary 

rights, the interested theatres to pay any 

added costs for these rights." 

STATEMENT ON CHARGES 

In response to the question, "On what 

basis would NBC make its charges?" Denny 

wrote: "The fee which NBC would charge 

the theatres would be such as to cover its 

expenses attributable to providing the programs 

to the theatre, plus a fair profit to 

NBC. The fee would vary, depending on the 

type of program and theatre involved, and 

initially, at least, would be subject to negotiations 

in each case." 

Where theatres are sufficiently close to 

an NBC station, direct pickup of the broadcast 

is possible with NBC's consent; otherwise, 

coaxial cables or radio relay circuits 

would be used. 

Sullivan said that, except for equipment 

cost, the letter was helpful. Mitchell Wolfson, 

co-chairman of the committee, called it 

a "cooperative letter." Robert W. Coyne remarked 

that the big gamble is cost of equipment, 

then added that types of programs to 

be made available also is a "highly speculative" 

question. 

Sullivan said TOA hasn't decided what 

types of programs would be acceptable. He 

had reason to believe, he said, that the other 

broadcasting companies are in as receptive 

a mood toward theatre television as NBC. 

Both he and Coyne hinted that a sports tieup 

with Madison Square Garden might be possible 

in the future. 

Others at the meeting, which set up the 

agenda for the next day's session with the 

SMPE television committee, were Walter 

Reade jr., co-chairman; David Wallerstein, 

S. H. Fabian, Stanley W. Prenosil, Leo 

Brecher, D. John Phillips, Oscar Doob, Nathan 

Halpern and Marcus Cohn. 

Regular Renewal Sought 

On Para. TV Licenses 

WASHINGTON—Paramount told the FCC 

Thursday that any stigma which the commission 

felt attached to it because of its 

antitrust violations in the past is most certainly 

washed away by the new consent decree 

it concluded in March. Thus the television 

licenses of its affiliated companies in 

Chicago and Los Angeles, set on temporary 

renewal by the FCC a few months ago, should 

be granted regular renewal, Paramount wrote. 

Regardless of what the commission does 

in regard to other film companies, "Paramount 

is in the position of having settled its 

differences with the United States and there 

can no longer be any possible basis for its 

disqualifications, temporary or otherwise," 

the conunission was told. 

8 BOXOFFICE May 7, 1949

You don't stay FIRST 

unless youVe BEST 

ENTERS ITS TENTH YEAR OF LEADERSHIP 

with the largest circulation 

of any motion picture 

trade publication m the world. In the United 

States and Canada its dominance is most pronounced, 

with 55% more subscribers than the 

second paper. This leadership dates from 1940 

and the margin of leadership has widened with 

each successive year! 

Such overwhelming preference has been built 

and maintained through the best news coverage 

and editorial features plus the most practical 

and 

useful 

reader services, keyed especially to exhibitor 

needs. 

FIRST-OU ALL COUNTS -AS MORE THAN 23,000 SUBSCRIBERS WILL ATTEST!

PARAMOUNT BUSY NEGOTIATING 

TO MEET PROVISIONS OF DECREE 

Talks Are Now Being Held 

With Partners to Speed 

Required Changes 

By WALTER WALDMAN 

NEW YORK—Paramount negotiators 

headed by Leonard H. Goldenson are currently 

working on deals involving 492 theatres 

now operated with partners and 186 

held by wholly owned subsidiaries. 

Of these partnership theatres Paramount 

can acquire 135. It must sell 42 of the 

wholly owned theatres. Several deals have 

already been completed and some progress 

has been made in the other negotiations. 

TO 650 BY MARCH 1952 

The consent decree requires Paramount 

to sell 35 wholly owned theatres by March 3, 

1950, and 34 by March 3, 1951, or a total 

of 69. It also requires Paramount to dispose 

of its joint interests in 327 partly 

owned theatres by next March. The present 

Paramount combined wholly owned and 

partnership holdings of 1,424 theatres will be 

trimmed to 650 theatres by March 3, 1952. 

Negotiations toward meeting the first 

year's timetable are in full swing, and deals 

that may result have been keeping the trade 

guessing. 

Right now interest centers on Goldenson's 

discussions with E. V. Richards jr., president 

of Paramount-Richards, a 50 per cent Paramount 

partner with 80 theatres centering in 

the Gulf states. Goldenson, who will be 

president of United Paramount Theatres, Inc., 

the new theatre company to be organized 

under the decree, left New York for New 

Orleans May 2 with Walter Gross, company 

attorney. They are trying to work 

out a deal with Richards for ten first run 

and 24 subsequent run theatres Paramount is 

permitted to acquire 100 per cent. 

Paramoimt must sell its 50 per cent interest 

in the partnership. Goldensen and 

Gross began these talks less than 72 hours 

after they had returned from Minneapolis 

where they conferred with Harry B. French, 

president of the Minnesota Amusement Co., 

a wholly owned Paramount subsidiary. The 

decree requires Paramount to sell nine first 

runs and two subsequent runs in this circuit. 

The circuit operates 75 theatres in 

Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and 

Wisconsin. 

TALKING TO MALCO 

Also In the talking stage is a deal with 

M. A. Lightman, president of Malco Theatres, 

Inc., who recently met with Robert 

M. Weitman, vice-president of Paramount 

Theatres Service Corp., and Hal Pereira and 

Sid Markley of the home office. Paramount 

is permitted to buy 15 of the 54 theatres 

operated by Malco and it must sell its 50 

per cent interest in the partnership. 

After reporting back to Goldenson, Weitman 

and Pereira went to Jacksonville Fla., 

headquarters of Florida State Theatres, to 

discuss the sale of nine first runs and 22 

subsequent runs. Florida State is wholly 

owned and has 111 theatres. 

They were also to discuss the sale of 

// May Take Another Year or Two 

For Final Divorcement Decision 

NEW YORK—It may take another year 

or two before the industry finally knows 

haw many theatres Loew's, Warner Bros, 

and 20th-Fox will be able to keep. This issue 

may be decided by the supreme court 

in the ultimate settlement of the big case. 

Meanwhile, these three defendants in the 

case have already sold or have agreed to 

sell 179 of their 302 theatres owned with 

partners. Two of these companies—Warners 

and 20th-Fox—have also expressed their 

willingness to sell an additional 36 wholly 

owned theatres in closed situations. Warners 

has 431 wholly owned theatres and 20th- 

Fox, 337. Added to the Loew's group of 131, 

the three companies have a total of 899. 

It has been the contention of these companies 

that this partial divorcement, plus the 

trade practice reforms introduced during the 

past two years combined with a more potent 

arbitration system makes total divorcement 

unnecessary. The Department of Justice is 

holding out for a clean break between production-distribution 

and exhibition. It has 

the RKO and Paramount settlements as 

precedents. 

During the recent hearings, and in briefs 

now before the three-judge court, the department 

asserted that partial divorcement 

is just a drop in the bucket; that it would 

be unfair to Paramount and RKO to permit 

the others to keep their theatres, and that 

producer-owned theatres would have an unfair 

advantage over independent theatres 

lacking assured sources of product. It also 

criticized the proposed arbitration system 

because it would give the theatre-owning 

companies more power than they now possess. 

The department has bolstered its arguments 

with statistics which purport to show 

that 20th-Fox has 173 closed towns; War-' 

Paramount's varied interests in the Wilby- 

Kincey Theatre Corp. and subsidiaries and 

also Paramount's acquisition of 19 first runs 

and 34 subsequent runs operated by the circuit. 

Wilby-Kincey has 117 theatres in Alabama, 

North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, 

Virginia and West Virginia. 

Other negotiations have been under way 

for some time. These Include talks with the 

Butterfield trustees and heirs. Paramount 

has until November to dispose of its 25.8 per 

cent interest in W. S. Butterfield Theatres 

and 33% per cent interest in Butterfield 

Michigan Theatres. It also can acquire eight 

of the 111 houses operated by Butterfield. 

Paramount also has been having some 

trouble with the sale of its 50 per cent interest 

in the 24-theatre Main & New Hampshire 

Theatres Co. It can acquire three theatres. 

E. M. Loew, a New England exhibitor, 

has bid for the Paramoimt shares and he 

wants to buy out J. J. Ford, who holds the 

ners 137 and Loew's 12, In rebuttal, Warners 

declared it has no more than 20 closed 

situations; 20th-Fox admitted to 16 and 

Loew's to none. 

The three-judge court will have to decide 

whether the RKO and Paramount settlements 

can serve as precedents. The other 

defendants said they cannot. One lawyer 

after another maintained that Paramount 

signed a decree because it had no other 

choice. 

They cited the fact that Paramount was 

particularly vulnerable because nearly 1,000 

of its theatres were partnerships, and the 

three-judge court itself had originally ordered 

partnerships ended where one partner 

owned less than 95 per cent of the stock. 

Most Paramount partnerships are 50-50 

propositions. The lawyers also introduced 

letters written by Barney Balaban, president, 

to the stockholders, indicating that Paramount 

had to sign the decree or risk losing 

valuable theatres as a result of a continued 

court action. 

The lawyers brushed off the RKO settlement 

as a "stock situation." This was a 

reference to the fact that all RKO stockholders 

except Howard Hughes will be permitted 

to retain stock in the new picture 

and theatre companies. Hughes, who owns 

24 per cent, must sell his shares in one or 

the other new firms. In contract. Paramount 

stockholders must sell their theatre or picture 

company shares. 

On the other hand, the judges will also 

have to take into consideration the fact that 

both the Paramount and RKO decrees will 

permit the new picture companies to acquire 

showcases with court approval, and wUl 

permit the new theatre companies to go into 

production without court approval. 

remaining 50 per cent. Ford does not want 

to 

sell. 

Elsewhere Paramount is almost ready to 

sign deals with two other partners—one 

operating a 72-house circuit and the other a 

15-house circuit. Although Goldenson has 

refused to identify these chains, it is reported 

that the 15-house circuit is Dominion 

Theatres of Virginia. Paramount can acquire 

three theatres and must sell its 50 per 

cent interest in the partnership. The other 

chain is understood to be the Comerford- 

Publix group from which Paramount may 

buy 13 or 14 theatres. It must also sell its 

50 per cent interest in Penncom Corp., holding 

company for the circuit and subsidiaries. 

It is also understood that a deal has been 

set for Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc., 

which operated 18 theatres in Massachusetts 

and one in Vermont. Paramount must sell 

its 52 per cent interest in the partnership 

and can acquire five theatres. 

10 BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 1949

yARlEJy AGAIN DEMONSTRATES 

BIG HEART OF SHOW BUSINESS 

^^'^'ff- 

Convention Reports Tents 

Spent $2,034,655 for 

Welfare in 1948-49 

SAN FRANCISCO — Variety International 

again demonstrated the great heart 

of show business at its 13th annual convention 

here this week. More than 800 

barkers and their wives and guests were 

here for the week long festivities, and while 

the entertainment was tops and the local 

tent put on a great show, it was the report 

of the organization's humanitarian 

achievements which won the spotlight. 

OUTSTANDING DEVELOPMENTS 

Here are some of the outstanding developments 

of the convention: 

1. It was announced that the 33 tents 

spent $2,034,655.76 in welfare activities 

during 1948-49, approximately $14,000 

more than was pledged at last year's convention. 

This expenditure was used to 

help more than 220.000 individuals, 90 per 

cent of whom were children. The organization 

is expected to pledge a minimum 

of $2,250,000 for 1949-50. 

2. Plans were outlined by R. J. O'Donnell, 

international chief barker, for 

Variety administration of the Will Rogers 

Memorial hospital at Saranac Lake, N. 'Y'. 

He said the fund has $270,000 in its treasury, 

and that with major distributors 

pledging $150,000 over a two-year period, 

the organization has $420,000 assured for 

operation and rehabilitation for 1949 and 

1950. 

3. The Variety Humanitarian Award 

was given to Herbert Hoover, former 

president of the United States, in recognition 

of his career as "a loyal American, 

able President, a conscientious servant 

and humane citizen of the world whose 

noble endeavors in behalf of humanity 

have placed him among the all-time 

great Americans." 

The convention also approved the application 

of the Variety Club of Great Britain. 

NEW ORLEANS NEXT YEAR 

The 1950 convention will be held in New 

Orleans late in April. Houston put in a bid 

for the 1951 meeting but withdrew. It also 

was revealed that there is some support for 

Variety International itself to take over the 

conventions instead of putting the responsibility 

on local host tents. Meanwhile, the 

midyear conference of canvasmen will be 

held at the Astor hotel. New York, October 

25, 26 and 27, to coincide with the induction 

of officers of the New York tent on the 27th. 

The tents took special pride in presenting 

their achievements of the year and revealing 

their new plans. The host tent received 

commendation from the barkers for its program 

to establish a nursery home to aid blind 

babies as a special wing of the Stanford university 

hospital. The tent will build and 

maintain the home. 

In 1949, the Los Angeles tent built and 

opened a $200,000 Variety Boy's club. Toronto 

y», .1-1 

a 

^ 

U O I'l 

r E , 

r^fi 

. . 

S 

Here is a group of canvasmen and guests at a luncheon meeting early in the convention. 

Left to right: George Hoover, Lewis Montez, William J. O'Donnell, Nathan 

Golden, who is head of the motion picture division of the Department of Commerce; 

Roy Cooper, Jack Beresin, Rotus Harvey, chairman of the San Francisco convention 

committee; Abe Blumenfeld, R. J. O'Donnell, international chief barker; Henry Dunn 

and James O'Neil, San Francisco chief barker. 

began building a $400,000 Variety Village lo 

become a vocational training school for 

crippled children. The Washington tent is 

undertaking to build a wing at Children's 

hospital in that city and the Miami tent reported 

it has pledged itself to operate a 98- 

bed children's hospital to care for youngsters 

up to 16 years of age. 

The Minneapolis tent reported on progress 

of an 80-bed "heart" hospital at the University 

of Minnesota under construction, Philadelphia 

reported on a new, unique type of 

camp for handicapped children and infantile 

paralysis victims and Dallas listed progress 

on its $600,000 new Boys Ranch. 

These were among the many new projects 

under way in the international organization. 

President Truman took cognizance of the 

work of Variety and sent a message of greetings 

to the convention. 

In a message read at 

the Humanitarian dinner, he said that "It is 

fitting that such a fine organization as Variety 

Clubs International with a full record 

of manifold activity in the relief of human 

suffering, should recognize outstanding humanitarian 

achievement on the part of individual 

citizens. 

It was announced that $90,000 has been 

raised through 13 premiere showings of "Bad 

Boy," made by Monogram-Allied Artists and 

that six or seven additional premieres are to 

be staged. 

Northern California barkers went all out 

in staging the convention. There was something 

on tap for entertainment throughout 

the week. At a rodeo roundup picnic on 

Thursday, the barkers were treated to a 

dinner of antelope, elk and venison. 

In the upper panel are members of the convention committee of the host tent, 

in charge of "VIPS"—Left to right: Ben Honun, J. Leslie Jacobs, Abe Blumenfeld, 

James O'Neil, Sam Roth, Bemie Manheimer. Below, left to right, Rotus Harvey, general 

chairman, chats with Allan Moritz of Cincinnati, and James O'Neil, host barker, 

confers with John Harris, big boss. 

BOXOFnCE May 7, 1949 11

Schenck Quits 20th -Fox 

To Stay in Exhibition 

NEW YORK—Joseph M. Schenck has 

submitted his resignation as production 

executive for 20th Century-Fox and his 

action started a wave of speculation in the 

industi-y as to whether Schenck intends to 

realign his scattered theatre holdings and 

become head of an important new circuit. 

There are reports that he might do this. 

SKOURAS' 

STATEMENT 

Meanwhile. Spyros Skouras, president of 

the company, issued a 

statement to the effect 

that he would recommend 

to the board of 

directors that they refuse 

to accept the resignation. 

This, however, 

was being interpreted 

as a gesture by 

the 20th-Fox president 

to show that the company 

wants to retain 

Schenck's services. 

News of Schenck's 

Joseph Schenck intention first leaked 

out of Miami Beach where Schenck has been 

vacationing at the home of his brother, 

Nicholas M. Schenck. president of Loew's, 

Inc. Charles Skouras was down there last 

week conferring with Joseph Schenck about 

the unscrambling of the joint theatre operations 

of National Theatres and United Artists 

Theatre Circuit, Inc., of which Schenck is 

president. This theatre company has no corporate 

connection with United Artists, the 

distributing organization, although it is generally 

believed Mary Pickford is a stockholder. 

Schenck admitted frankly that he wants 

to buy a 50 per cent interest in Golden 

States Theatres, which also operates the 

T&D circuit around San Francisco, and central 

California and also has five theatres in 

Reno, Nev., but that he had been informed 

that the Department of Justice would oppose 

this move so long as he is connected with 

20th Century-Fox and its wholly-owned subsidiary. 

National Theatres. 

IMPORTANT STOCKHOLDER 

Schenck has not been an officer or a 

director of 20th-Fox since 1941, but he is an 

important stockholder and holds an executive 

production post at the studio. 

His theatre holdings, through joint operating 

arrangements, have come into close 

contact with three of the antitrust suit 

defendants—20th-Fox, Paramount and Loew's, 

Inc. He was president of United Artists 

when the theatre-acquisition wave surged 

across the country in 1926 after Warner Bros. 

first introduced sound in April of that year, 

but management of his varied theatre interests 

has been left to individual circuit groups. 

In California, along with other major circuits, 

his interests have been pooled with 

subsidiaries of National Theatres (20th-Pox) 

in the southwest he is a vice-president of 

Robb & Rowley, which has 112 theatres in 

Arkansas. Oklahoma and Texas, with an additional 

nine in Arkansas which have been 

jointly operated with Paramount. United 

Artists Theatres owns 50 per cent of Robb & 

Rowley. 

In New York United Artists Theatres has 

maintained offices in the Paramoujit building 

and it has joint ownerships and operating 

arrangements which grew out of the breakup 

of Fox Metropolitan Theatres in 1935 with 

some houses going to Skouras Theatres Corp., 

headed by George Skouras and some to Randforce 

and Century. The corporate existence 

of Fox Metropolitan has continued. Schenck 

resigned as president of this in 1941. He still 

is an important factor in these operations. 

On the coast widespread changes in operations 

are now in progress as a result of agreements 

already reached with the Department 

of Justice by 20th-Fox and others are in 

prospect. An important factor that remains 

to be settled is whether Schenck will obtain 

a 50 per cent interest in the Golden State 

and T&D operations. This group, headed 

by Michael A. Naify, is a key element in 

the San Francisco area and San Joaquin 

valley. 

National Theatres holds a 75 per cent interest 

in Golden State and a 31.7 per cent 

interest in T&D. The Department of Justice 

has insisted on a breakup and an agreement 

already reached provides that the two 

companies will split the houses, according to 

the proportions of their stock holdings. This 

would give National 18 T&D houses and 32 

Golden States spots. 

INTEREST IN EVERGREEN 

If Schenck should be permitted to acquire 

a half interest in the combined groups by 

disassociating himself from 20th-Fox, the 

circuits probably would be operated as a unit. 

Another important unknown factor in the 

shifting of control is the future of Evergreen 

States Theatres, a circuit of 35 houses in 

Washington and Oregon. National Theatres 

has 53.58 per cent in this circuit and the 

Department of Justice is insisting upon a divorcement 

there. 

Ted Gamble, who was division manager for 

Fox West Coast Theatres in Washington and 

Oregon before he joined the Treasury Department 

early in the war, operated in this 

area after the end of hostilities. Some 

months ago he sold his houses. He is reported 

to be interested in Evergreen States, 

and there has been some talk that he might 

form an alliance for expansion there. 

Whether this could be with Schenck has not 

been indicated. 

Reports have been current for some time 

that there might be some important new 

theatre alignments on a national scale to 

meet the new film-buying conditions that will 

be brought about by divorcement. Current 

curiosity centers on whether Schenck proposes 

to unite his interests under one management 

or intends to make new regional nondistributor 

alliances. 

On the coast United Artists Theatres has 

an interest in 60 theatres with 20th-Fox 

through National Theatres and subsidiaries. 

These are operated by United West Coast 

Theatres in which United Artists Theatres 

has 30 per cent and National Theatres 70 

per cent. A partial divorcement deal was 

made by 20th-Fox with the Department of 

20th-Fox in Reversal 

On Contract Rebates 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox 

has modified its decision not to grant 

contract adjustments in the New York 

exchange area and in other areas, as well. 

Adjustments will be made when the 

original terms have been "away out of 

line," says Andy W. Smith jr., vice-president 

and general sales manager. 

The first announcement that no adjustments 

would be made in the New 

York area, but that commitments already 

made would be carried out, came 

at a luncheon meeting for exhibitors al 

the Hotel Astor April 3. 

It was at this meeting that Smith told 

the diners that the 1948 gross from the 

New York exchange area was $2,400,000 

under the 1947 total and that the company 

could not stand this, because this 

area normally provides 14 per cent of 

the national rentals. Exhibitors had developed 

the habit of demanding adjustments 

on practically all their contracts. 

Smith said. 

In the meantime sales resistance has 

increased. 

Smith says routine adjustments are 

still out, but under the revised regulations 

the company will discuss adjustment 

based on the results of playoffs 

here and in other sections of the country. 

Clearances on the company's product 

are also being readjusted. Philadelphia 

was the first city to be given new treatment 

in this regard, and others are being 

studied. The Philadelphia shift is 

to a neighborhood zoning system, a 

clearance method very much like the 

one introduced in Chicago following the 

Jackson Park decree. 

Justice last December. This calls for the 

end of this partnership, with each holding 

theatres in proportion to the stock holdings. 

An agreement, as yet unsigned, would give 

United Artists Theatres 18 houses and National 

Theatres 42. The same agreement provides 

that United Artists Theatres will get 

the Egyptian in Hollywood and National the 

Chinese Theatre which is close by. 

In the east. United Artists Theatres has 

50 per cent of the A stock and 52.8 per 

cent of the B stock in Fox Metropolitan, 

previously mentioned, and RKO has 20 per 

cent of the B stock. RKO must dispose of 

this under the terms of the consent decree. 

Spyros P. Skouras also is a stockholder. 

Fox Metropolitan has an interest in about 

130 theatres in the New York area, with 

Skouras Theatres, Randforce and Century 

operating. Fox Metropolitan has an office 

next door to Skouras Theatres Corp. in the 

Paramount building. Spyros P. Skouras resigned 

as a director of Skouras Theatres 

Corp. several months ago. 

In the midwest. United Artists Theatres 

is co-owner with Loew's, Inc., of eight houses 

in Columbus, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and 

Louisville. These houses are now being divided 

between Loew's and United Artists 

Theatres, but no word has been made public 

as to whether Schenck is taking over completely 

the theatres that will be given up by 

Loew's for United Artists Theatres. 

12 BOXOFHCE :: May 7, 1949

Clearance Speedups 

Will Be Extended 

NEW YORK—Pittsburgh and Buffalo may 

be next on the list of areas slated for 20th 

Century-Fox clearance changes. A plan to 

double the number of first run neighborhood 

runs through an 18-zone system was 

announced for Philadelphia last week. 

A company home office official said that 

studies are constantly being made of all exchange 

areas to determine whether clearances 

should be reduced and by what means. 

Particular emphasis has now been placed on 

the Pittsburgh and Buffalo areas. Different 

studios have been under way since 1946 

when the three-judge expediting court handed 

down its antitrust decision and decree outlawing 

unreasonable clearance and placed the 

burden of proof on the distributor defendants. 

Since that time 20th-Fox and the other 

major companies— Warners, Loew's, Paramount, 

RKO. Columbia, United Artists and 

Universal—have reduced clearances in more 

than 10,000 situations. These changes also 

were stimulated by the Jackson Park decree 

which limited downtown Chicago Loop first 

runs to two weeks. 

Twentieth-Fox has divided Chicago into 16 

zones in which theatres can now bid for first 

run following the Loop engagement. The 

zone system also has been introduced into 

Cleveland where 13 theatres now play 20th- 

Fox product second run 21 days after first 

run. Formerly only the RKO 105th Street 

had exclusive second run 35 days after first 

run. The company also has reduced clearances 

for 25 Cincinnati situations. Reductions 

have ranged from seven to 30 days. 

In New York City where the first run 

neighborhood situation was long frozen, approximately 

18 theatres have received day 

and date runs with the 33 RKO and independent 

theatres that formerly had first runs 

exclusively. 

Other major changes cover the following 

areas: Atlanta—subsequent runs have been 

advanced on an average of 30 days; Dallas 

approximately 180 reductions have been made, 

particularly for theatres that had to wait 

four or five months for subsequent run availabilities: 

Des Moines— 143 changes or modifications 

of runs and clearances; Memphis 

subsequent run clearances have been reduced 

from 90 or 120 days to 39 or 46 days; New 

Orleans—double clearances have been eliminated 

and clearances of large towns over 

nearby smaller towns have been eliminated 

wherever possible. 

Lichtman and Party to Explain 

20th-Fox Policy at NCA Meet 

MINNEAPOLIS—Al Lichtman and his 

party will appear at the North Central Allied 

convention May 23, 24 to explain the 20th- 

Fox sales policy. Allied President Beimie 

Berger thinks he can convince Lichtman this 

is no time to consider rental increases. 

Berger is preparing to debate film costs 

with Lichtman. He is arranging argiunents 

to convince the new 20th-Fox executive that 

present conditions and the outlook make it 

inadvisable for distributors to look to exhibitors 

in any quest for increased revenues. 

Announcement that Lichtman and his 

party have accepted the organization's invitation 

to attend the convention and explain 

the 20th-Fox sales policy has increased interest 

in the meeting and indications are 

that it may draw a record crowd. 

Krim Ends EL Presidency 

Over Policy Differences 

NEW YORK—Arthur B. Krim has resigned 

as pre.sident of Eagle Lion Films, Inc., but 

has agreed to remain in office until Robert 

Purcell. chairman of 

the board of Pathe Industries, 

of which 

Eagle Lion is a subsidiai-y, 

can choose his 

successor. 

In a telegram to 

Purcell, Krim wrote: 

"After much deliberation 

I have decided to 

resign as president of 

Eagle Lion and I am 

herewith tendering my 

resignation effective as 

soon as a successor is 

designated. 

Arthur B. Krim 

I have made this decision because 

of the irreconcilable differences which have 

arisen between management and ownership. 

"I feel that with revenues at their present 

high point and with substantial backlog, and 

the studio about to reopen with three pictures 

set to go, a sound groundwork has been laid 

for the future of Eagle Lion. I wish the company 

every success." 

Krim has indicated that he wUl stay until 

the proposed three pictures have been completed, 

if no successor is chosen before that 

time. He has been president since the company 

was formed three years ago. 

The resignation brought out into the open 

internal difficulties of the company about 

which there had been gossip recently. Robert 

R. Young, head of Pathe Industries, has 

recently had long conferences with J. Arthur 

Rank on the distribution of his product here 

and the British magnate has eight or nine 

films in prospect for Eagle Lion distribution, 

including "Saraband," in Technicolor. 

During the formative years of the company 

it has been necessary to borrow nearly 

$7,000,000 with the help of Pathe Industries 

and First Boston Corp., a subsidiary of the 

First National bank of Boston which put up 

Recently Sam Pinan- 

about $2,250,000 of this. 

ski began to take an active interest in Eagle 

Lion as adviser for the Boston interests. 

For many months the studios have not been 

operating because all independent producers 

and smaller companies have been having difficulty 

getting banking support. In spite of 

these problems and high overhead, the income 

of the company has increased steadily, 

and in 1947 billings were 65 per cent ahead 

of 1946. and the company ran up to 14,000 

accounts on its top A pictures. In two years 

the company has released 95 features ranging 

from "The Red Shoes," "T-Men," "Canon 

City," "He Walked by Night," "Abbott and 

Costello," Walter Wanger's "Tulsa" down to 

an assortment of westerns, second features, 

reissues and imported product. 

Krim has been regarded as a very successful 

executive, and William Heineman, vicepresident 

in charge of distribution, and Max 

Youngstein, vice-president in charge of advertising 

and exploitation, have attracted 

widespread attention for aggressive efforts. 

In recent months strenuous efforts have 

been made to cut overhead both in the field 

and in the New York office, and some of the 

top executives have taken salary cuts. 

Heineman continues in charge of the sales 

department, with Jack Schlaifer as general 

sales manager, and Milton Cohen as eastern 

division sales manager. 

Youngstein is operating a greatly reduced 

staff with Lige Brien as exploitation manager, 

Leon Brandt as assistant, Hal Danson 

as advertising manager, Jonas Arnold as head 

of pressbooks and Leo Brody as publicity 

manager. 

Two important pictures are coming up for 

distribution, Walter Wanger's "Reign of Terror" 

and "Shamrock Hill." Two of the Red 

Ryder series are in sight, and it is understood 

the company has new product through 

June. Pioduct already in release will be sufficient 

to keep the selling organization busy 

for several months. 

In the meantime strenuous efforts are being 

made to line up new independent product 

and to straighten out financial problems. 

R. R. Young and Serge Semenenko of First 

Boston Corp. are conferring on the problem 

of financing. 

Threat of St. Louis Closedown Ends 

As F€rM Signs Two Product Deals 

ST. LOUIS—Consummation of new contracts 

with Paramount and 20th-Fox by the 

Fanchon & Marco interests will make unnecessary 

the closing of either the Ambassador 

or the Fox here, and both houses will 

continue to operate if suitable product is 

available through the summer. 

Division Manager Duke Clark of Paramount 

conferred with Edward B. Arthur, Fanchon 

& Marco general manager, and reached an 

agreement on rentals to be paid for "A Connecticut 

Yankee," which opened May 5 at 

the Ambassador, "Street of Laredo" and 

"Sorrowful Jones." This deal will not affect 

"El Paso," now at the World, and "Alias 

Nick Beal" and "My Own True Love," to be 

shown there. 

Andy Smith, 20th-Fox vice-president, came 

here April 26 to handle the deal closed with 

Arthur under which the St. Louis and the 

Missouri, first run houses owned by the St. 

Louis Anrusement Co. and under Fanchon & 

Marco management, wOl show seven 20th- 

Fox pictures. 

Included in the deal is "It Happens Every 

Spring," to be given its world premiere here 

May 26. The house to be used for the premiere 

has not yet been selected, but plans 

provide for appearances of various stars from 

Hollywood and important civic dignitaries. 

Contrary to various reports, Fanchon & 

Marco have not had disputes with RKO, and 

friendly negotiations for RKO product are 

being continued as it becomes available. 

BOXOFTICE :: May 7, 1949 13

PARADE 

HEADING nrOUR WAY 

WITH THO GREATEST 

STORY THIS 

INDUSTRY 

HAS EVER KNOWN! 

y"""'r,. 

KEEP IN STEP 

with the company that keeps proving fhu^^

^1 

s^< 

'Tftcft €utcC S(^'€*tt^ 

Exhibitor Relations 

fX/HAT Eric Johnston of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America has in mind in 

the creation of a new exhibitor relations 

department headed by Francis Harmon is 

not known yet. There will be lively interest 

in its development, and personalities 

may prove to be more important than programs. 

Attitudes of Allied and Theatre 

Owners of America leaders require consideration 

at the start. 

Over a period of years Dave Palfreyman 

has been the principal liaison between the 

distributors and exhibitors through the old 

MPPDA and MPTOA and the MPAA and 

TOA, He has been popular everywhere 

among the regional units of both exhibitor 

organizations. He probably knows more 

exhibitors personally than any other man 

in the business. 

In recent years H. M, Richey of MGM 

also has been a prominent factor in widening 

the circle of his company's friends. 

More recently Sam Shain has been doing 

the same thing for 20th Century-Fox, 

After the TOA was formed Ted Gamble 

acquired great prestige, Arthur Lockwood, 

his successor, has, during recent months, 

gradually acquired a reputation for sound 

judgment and has been called upon for 

advice on many problems, 

Abram F. Myers, Allied leader, is, of 

course, unique. His judgment is not questioned 

by his associates. 

It 

may be that the MPAA now proposes 

to cultivate good relations with both of 

these organizations. If it can be done, it 

will be a highly desirable development 

which may help in facing the new problems 

brought about by divorcement. The task 

is one requiring great tact. 

Lively Reissue 

H NYBODY who wants to see a picture of 

a man with a cheerful outlook on life 

at present can have that pleasure by calling 

on James Mulvey, president of Samuel 

Goldwyn Productions, Tlie same feeling 

of surprised pleasure is apparent at RKO, 

"Pride of the Yankees" caused it. After 

three weeks at the Astor in Boston and 

two weeks at the Palace, New York, it was 

quite apparent that "Pride" was still a 

money attraction worth nursing along, 

Alleghany Corporation 

'lAT'HETHER the entrance of the Alleghany 

Corp, (Robert R. Young and his 

associates) into strategic control of Investors 

Syndicate, an enormous investment 

trust somewhat similar to Atlas Corp,, 

presages some spectacular movements in 

the film field or the railroad field is a 

subject of lively speculation at the moment, 

Alleghany is the holding corporation 

which controls the C, & O, and Missouri 

Pacific railroads and which enabled Young 

to get a substantial hold in the New York 

Central, Of late. Young's railroad activities 

have gone off the front pages. His film activities 

have been largely behind the scenes, 

although it is known that, through Pathe 

Industries, Inc., he controls Eagle Lion and 

has close affiliations with J, Arthur Rank. 

-By JAMES M. JERAULD 

The Rank film enterprises haven't been 

faring well of late. 

Two magnates with international interests 

like these men could make important 

moves in a number of directions and speculation 

is rife both in Wall street and film 

offices as to what they might do next. 

British Outlook 

THEATRES without profitable pictures are 

just real estate and producers without 

funds are just a group of men chewing 

their finger nails. That's why the Lord 

Portal committee is conducting a study 

of the British film industry. 

Some of the British film figures who 

arrived in this country ahead of the Anglo- 

American conference in Washington were 

quite frank in pointing out privately that 

the 45 per cent quota was in reality a 35 

per cent quota, because of the exemptions 

granted to exhibitors, and they predicted 

the 40 per cent quota would be just as unworkable. 

Producers over there, like those here, 

contend they are entitled to a greater share 

of the boxoffice dollar. It isn't a cold war; 

it's definitely heated. 

More quota exemptions for exhibitors are 

predicted by some. Others say the Portal 

committee might recommend divorcement 

and some kind of a division of income. In 

Great Britain Parliament can legislate on 

anything; antitrust suits are not required. 

Nine Percentage Suits 

Filed in Ohio, La. 

NEW YORK—Five distributors have recently 

filed nine separate percentage fraud 

suits in Ohio and Louisiana. 

In the U.S, district court with headquarters 

in Cleveland, separate actions were 

filed by RKO, Loew's, Paramount and 20th 

Century-Fox against M, C. Martin and others 

operating the Dayton Theatre, Aki'on, Jones, 

Day, Cockley & Reavis of Cleveland and 

Sargoy and Stein of New York represent the 

distributors. 

Five suits were filed in the civil district 

court for the Parish of New Orleans by 

Loew's, RKO, Paramount, 20th-Fox and Universal-International 

against the Gentilly 

Theatre, New Orleans. Lawyers for the distributors 

are Toler & Phillips, New Orleans. 

W. Memphis Also Takes 

The Censorship Pledge 

MEMPHIS—West Memphis, Ark.—just 

across the Mississippi river from Memphis 

—has been showing practically all of the 

pictures banned by censors in Memphis. 

And Memphians attended. But no longer. 

Mayor P. M. Dacus, West Memphis, and 

his city councilmen have set themselves 

up as a board of censors. They will screen 

all pictures banned in Memphis before 

they can show in West Memphis. 

However, the first two such pictures 

"A Song Is Born" and "New Orleans"^ 

banned in Memphis—received the official 

0,K. for West Memphis theatres. 

Sarnoff Says Outlook 

For TV in '49 Good 

NEW YORK—"The outlook for television 

in 1949 is bright," according to Brig. Gen, 

David Sarnoff, chairman of the board of the 

Radio Corp. of America, 

speaidng to the 

30th annual meeting of 

stockholders in the 

NBC offices in Radio 

City May 3, "It is continually 

gaining in 

popularity with the 

public, and as a new 

industry, it is one of 

the safeguards against 

a serious economic recession 

for it promises 

to be a vital factor in 

the nation's economy," David Sarnoff 

he said. 

There is no indication that receivers of 

1949 design will be obsolete in the near future 

and no one need hesitate to buy a presentday 

type of receiver, Sarnoff said. He pointed 

out that RCA Victor television receivers, first 

introduced to the public in 1939, are still in 

use and giving satisfaction. 

"Television is too powerful a force for the 

public good to be stopped by misleading 

propaganda. No one can retard its advance 

any more than the carriage maker could 

stop the automobile, the cable the wireless, 

or silent pictures the talkies. Television is 

something the public has long desired and 

is eager to have. It is here to stay, because 

the people like television and want it," he 

said. 

RCA net profit, after taxes, for the first 

quarter of 1949 was $5 932,083, an increase 

of $167,585 over the same period in 1948, 

Profit for the first 1949 quarter, before federal 

income taxes, amounted to $9,804,083, 

compared with $9,631,498 in 1948, These 1949 

earnings amounted to 37.1 cents per common 

share, compared with 35.8 cents per 

common share for the 1948 quarter. 

Consolidated gross income of RCA during 

the first 1949 quarter amounted to $92,327,827. 

compared with $88,053,297 for the same period 

last year. This is an increase of $4,274,530 

over the 1948 figure. 

MPAA Makes Special Plea 

For Film on the Atom 

NEW YORK—Letters being written by 

David Palfreyman of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America trade relations department 

are asking key exhibitors to give special consideration 

to the March of Time film, "Report 

on the Atom," sponsored by his organization. 

He says it will give exhibitors 

an excellent understanding of atomic energy 

and that showing it will help to spotlight 

theatres as important sources of information. 

It was released April 28 by 20th Century-Fox. 

Roger Albright, MPAA director of educational 

services, has mailed a leaflet to 10,000 

teachers and school administrators describing 

the film as a significant report to the 

American people on the development of 

atomic energy for constructive peacetime 

uses. 

Arthur DeBra, director of the MPAA department 

of community relations, has written 

to 20,000 civic and educational leaders 

throughout the U.S. asking for their support 

of the atomic subject. 

16 BOXOFnCE May 7, 1949

THE 

-WORD 

OF THE INDUSTRY! 

(IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRINO • THE BEAUTIFUL BLONDE FROM 

BASHFUL BEND • MR. BELVEDERE GOES TO COLLEGE • MOTHER IS A 

FRESHMAN • HOUSE OF STRANGERS • Will James' SAND • CANADIAN 

PACIFIC • SLATTERY'S 

THE SNAKE PIT • THE 

WIVES • DOWN TO Tl 

fRICANE • YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING 

bEN STREET • A LEHER TO THREE 

IN SHIPS • YELLOW SKY • THE FAN 

WHEN MY BABY SMIL 

FORPEGGY-STRbi^rii 

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ME • ROAD HOUSE • APARTMENT 

iME • GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT

7iJ€i4Ai*t^to*i 

VOU CAN'T EVEN GET an even-money bet 

around here now that the Paramount 

case—or what we called the Paramount case 

imtil Paramount signed Its consent decree a 

couple of months ago—won't be back to the 

Supreme Court this fall. Lawyers here who 

have looked over the record of last month's 

hearing in New York say it is inconceivable 

that the New York court can bring down a 

decision which both the government and the 

remaining defendants would be willing to 

accept. 

By now the justices of the high court probably 

can handle the case without even referring 

to the record. They've had it before 

them in one form or another a couple of 

times, and we are told that most of the justices 

found it one of the most interesting 

cases to come before them and so spent a 

lot of time on it. 

* * * 

WARNER BROS.' DECISION to drop its 

current try to get into television because the 

Federal Communications commission has 

been slow in deciding upon its qualifications 

may be followed by some other withdrawals 

if the commission holds up much longer on 

the television allocation question. Neither 

20th Century-Fox nor Paramount seems disposed 

to quit the fight on the antitrust question, 

but other applicants for TV stations 

find that every day of delay in the reaching 

of a final decision on TV channels is costly, 

and some of them can't continue to wait. 

Meantime, the FCC is running into roadblocks 

right and left, and there is no clear 

assurance at this time just when it will lift 

its freeze on current applications. It may be 

only another couple of weeks—or it may be 

months yet. 

* * * 

SEVERAL FILM NAMES are included on 

the roster of members of the new Committee 

for the International Trade Organization, 

founded last week to push for American support 

for the Havana ITO charter as an instrument 

to further free trade objectives. Included 

on the executive committee are Mat- 

êfiont 

By ALAN HERBERT 

thew Fox, who holds a large chunk of Universal 

Pictures, and MPAA President Eric 

Johnston. Also listed as members are Douglas 

Fairbanks jr., Eastman Kodak President 

Marion B. Folsom and 20th-Fox President 

Spyros Skouras. 

« « * 

PROBLEMS of federal-state-local tax overlap 

will be brought into the sunlight again 

next week as hearings get under way before a 

joint senate-house committee on legislation to 

create a National Commission on Intergovernmental 

Relations. Objective was announced 

as "the establishment of a more orderly and 

less competitive fiscal relationship between 

the several levels of government, and the 

elimination of duplication and overlapping 

services." 

* * * 

IT'S HARDLY WORTH reporting, but the 

admission prices seem to have risen somewhat 

in the first three months of this year. 

For the fourth quarter of last year the index, 

with the 1935-39 average as 100, stood at 

168.3. It went to 170.6 in the first quarter 

of this year. 

The increase for adult tickets was only 

from 171 to 172.7, while the index figure for 

children's tickets went from 162.8 to 166.5. 

All of which is interesting in that it indicates 

attendance at motion pictures is holding 

up well. There has been speculation that 

the continued high federal admissions tax 

collections might be accounted for by higher 

admission prices, with attendance actually 

falling, but these figures—based on Department 

of Labor studies in 35 major cities—do 

not support that contention. 

* * 

THE SUPREME COURT this week refused 

to review the Momand case, thereby affirming 

a Boston federal court judgment which 

ruled out an earlier jury award of treble 

damages amounting to nearly a million dollars 

for Momand. One of the earliest of the 

antitrust cases against the majors, this has 

gone through several separate trials in the 

18 years since it was first filed in Oklahoma. 

MPAA Passes 435 Features in 1948 

NEW YORK—The Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America production code administration approved 

435 feature-length films during 1948, 

compared with 404 the previous year, an increase 

of 7.7 per cent, and 511 short subjects, 

compared with 544 in 1947, a decrease of 6.1 

per cent, according to Joseph I. Breen, director. 

Forty-one foreign films from member and 

nonmember companies were approved last 

year, compared with 34 in 1947, 28 in 1946, 31 

in 1945, 12 in 1944, 20 in 1943, 30 in 1942, and 

22 in 1941. 

From 1935 to 1948 the PCA approved 7,071 

features and 9.276 shorts, including serials. 

The figures include domestic and foreign 

productions of member and nonmember companies. 

Of the features approved in 1948, 244, or 

56.1 per cent, were based on original screen 

stories, compared with 233, or 57.7 per cent, 

in 1947. Twenty-six were adapted from stage 

18 

plays, compared with 17 in 1947; 76 from 

novels, compared with 87 in 1947, and 23 from 

published short stories, compared with five 

in 1947. 

Original screen stories approved from 1935 

to 1948 totaled 4,353. During the same period 

the average percentage of approved original 

screen stories was 62.6 per cent of all source 

material used for features. Books, stage plays, 

synopses and scripts, including changes, analyzed 

last year totaled 2,639, compared with 

3,530 in 1947. 

Of the 1948 features approved, 169 were 

classed as melodrama, 94 as westerns, 81 as 

drama, 12 as crime, 48 as comedy and 31 as 

miscellaneous. The last classification includes 

sports, adventure, cartoon, fantasy, musicals. 

Scripts originally found unacceptable but 

revised ana approved totaled 58, compared 

with 72 in 1947. Fifty-one scripts, novels, 

plays and short stories were rejected and not 

resubmitted for consideration. 

Distributors Testify 

In Griffith Trial 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Distribution 

executives 

of several companies took the stand in 

the Griffith antitrust trial this week to 

testify for the circuit that they had frequently 

sold to independents in the territory 

away from Griffith theatres. 

Marion W. Osborne, 20th Century-Fox 

branch manager here, spent a day on the 

stand to present testimony that he stayed 

with independent accounts when the Griffith 

circuit moved into a town. 

In cross-examination, the government 

asked Osborne why he didn't offer his pictures 

to the State Theatre in Altus in 1946 

when owned by H. O. Merriott. He replied 

that he didn't want his pictures playing that 

type of small situation. 

EXPLAINS FOREIGN DEAL 

When asked by the government to give his 

reason for selling first run foreign films to 

Mrs. Juanita Berry in Norman instead of to 

Griffith, Osborne said Griffith wanted to 

buy them and he wouldn't sell to Griffith 

because Mrs. Berry was his established account 

there. 

The government asked if he was making 

circuit deals with Griffith at the present 

time and Osborne's answer was no. He said 

he sold Griffith "Mr. Belvedere Goes to 

College" for Norman and Stillwater one day, 

and for Okmulgee two weeks later, and Oklahoma 

City the week after that, and that he 

hadn't sold them for any other place at that 

time. 

Herman Beiersdorf, SRO, Dallas, formerly 

of 20th-Fox, testified that the reason he 

didn't sell Preston Smith in Lubbock, Tex., 

from 1936 until 1939, was because of the kind 

of operation he had, and not because a circuit 

was in competition. 

Beiersdorf said during the time Smith was 

asking for product, he sold to two other independent 

exhibitors instead of to Smith. 

Since defense testimony started, 11 witnesses 

have testified. They include Beiersdorf; 

Harold Beecroft. district manager for 

EL, Dallas; Nelson McCarty, 20th-Fox salesman, 

city; Osborne; Vernon Adams, Warner 

branch manager, Dallas; W. S. Miller, 20th- 

Fox sales manager, Dallas; T. P. Tidwell, 

20th-Fox sales manager, Dallas; W. B. Williams, 

20th-Fox office manager, Dallas; J. 

M. Eisenberg, Loew's, Inc., New York attorney; 

Morton Lane, Paramount attorney, New 

York; D. J. Loventhal, RKO attorney. New 

York. 

12 MORE WITNESSES DUE 

Approximately 12 more witnesses will be 

called by the defense which is expected to 

take about ten days more to present its testimony. 

Hearing of the testimony is expected 

to end about May 14. However, on 

May 9 Edgar S. Vaught, U.S. district judge, 

will start listening to the evidence in his 

chambers. Another district judge is moving 

into Judge Vaught's courtroom and the Griffith 

antitrust case will move down the hall 

for the remainder of the hearing. 

Since the taking of testimony was started 

last December, several thousand typewritten 

pages have been transcribed by the court 

reporters, working in relays. The actual time 

spent in hearing evidence since the case was 

reopened in December totals six weeks. 

BOXOFTICE May 7, 1949

I 

age 

LETTERS 

PERSONAL APPEARANCE VALUES 

To BOXOFFICE: 

Your article in last week's issue on the 

value to exhibitors of personal appearances 

by stars was very deserving of praise. 

I recently returned from the Colorado TOA 

convention where we were honored by the 

presence of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rogers, and 

Meg Randall and Richard Long. In the past 

there have been times when I have wished 

that I had a nice fat acting contract instead 

of worrj'ing about making expenses trying 

to exhibit the product of our stars. After 

seeing what the above stars have to go 

through I'll stick to my stand with all its 

headaches and bad nights. 

If there were ever two people who deserve 

the idolizing heaped upon them by the 

youngsters of America it's Roy and Dale. 

After being mauled, chased and pestered by 

children everywhere they w^nt in Denver 

(and they never seemed to get out of patience 

with any of themi they still took time to attend 

all of our evening meetings and we exhibitors 

were worse than the kids. 

I was so pleased with their actions that I 

came home and went down front during my 

matinee and told my audience about them; 

they clapped so much that I decided it was 

good showmanship and I told them about 

Roy and Dale at each performance Friday 

and Saturday. I figured that it was a good 

public relations angle and that I had reached 

a good percentage of my customers. To show 

how much it went over when I started the 

matinee Sunday the youngsters started yelling, 

"Bob, we want to hear about Roy Rogers," 

and they didn't let up until I went down and 

told them all about them again. 

After the show I came out and a good patron 

of mine was waiting out front with his 

little boy. He told me his little boy wanted to 

shake hands with me and talk to me personally 

because I had shaken hands with Roy 

Rogers. Wouldn't it be something if I could 

have had him there in person, when just my 

second hand account meant so much to those 

children? 

BOB WALKER 

Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita, Colo. 

MORE EXTENSIVE SCREENINGS 

To BOXOFFICE; 

Prom time to time I receive a notice of 

trade showings to be held in Cincinnati, 

where I buy my pictures. This is a disadvantage 

to the small town exhibitor as we 

cannot afford the time or expense to attend 

these screenings when the place is located 

several hundred miles distant and means 

being away for a couple of days. 

As it is we have to buy as you might say 

a "pig in a poke" for we do not know if the 

picture is good for our location or not until 

after it is run on our screen and then it is 

too late. 

My suggestion is to have the screenings of 

two or three pictures at one time out in the 

territory, for example in my situation, in 

Huntington, W. 'Va., which is only a hundred 

miles distance from Freeburn. There are 

quite a few theatres in a radius of 100 miles 

of Huntington and this would give these exhibitors 

a chance to see what they are buying 

and be at home the same night. 

How about some comments from other 

small town exhibitors on this subject? 

E. C. HOLT 

Pi-eeburn Theatre Co., 

Freeburn. Ky. 

TAX ON JUNIOR ADMISSIONS 

To BOXOFFICE; 

I am writing to you on a subject which I 

have never seen mentioned in the trade 

press; Tax on Junior Admissions. 

The collector of internal revenue has 

"ruled" that the tax on junior admissions 

12 to 171 must be the same as on adult 

tickets. That means that a boy or girl must 

pay 33 per cent tax, if the price is 30 cents 

for children and 50 cents for adults, plus 

tax. A kid between 12 and 17 is not an adult, 

as long as we don't let them vote, and force 

them by law to go to school. A kid between 

6 and 12 is not an adult either, and the collector 

does not expect these kids to pay full 

adult tax. They occupy the same seats as 

adults. 

It seems to me that a druggist can sell a 

bottle of perfume for $5 or 49 cents, whatever 

he chooses. The 20 per cent tax is on 

his price. It seems that the honorables who 

passed the law, intended that the tax should 

be 20 per cent, not 30 or 40 per cent. And 

it seems that the owTier of a theatre has the 

right to charge an admission price that appears 

adequate to him. 

How come the collector can make "rulings" 

that obviously are unequal to a certain section 

of our population, and how come that 

he gets by with this? 

Maybe a publicity campaign could cause an 

awakening of the public, exhibitor organizations, 

and even the honorable collector of 

internal revenue. 

ERNIE MASSMAN 

Park Theatre, 

Columbia Falls, 

Mont. 

THE CHILDREN'S PROBLEM 

To BOXOFFICE; 

I am titling this letter "The Children's 

Problem." I sure could use some help on it. 

I'm sure that all of us exhibitors are faced 

with the similar problem of children in our 

situations and personally am at my wit's end 

how to cope with it. 

Their noisy antics and behavior—running 

up and down the aisles, popcorn and bubble 

gum battles while the show is in progressis 

a grim problem and I know for a fact 

has caused a great number of complaints 

and loss of adult patronage, 

I have tried just about everything in the 

book—first, sensible reasoning, then some 

ejections of chronic noisemakers—have even 

appointed a school boy as monitor to keep 

order, but all to no avail. 

Subsequently, have been tempted on many 

occasions to keep out children altogether, 

but realized that would create indignation 

among the parents and they would stay away 

from the theatre. So its six of one and a 

half dozen of the other! 

What can be done? I sure would appreciate 

some constructive advice. 

PHILIP COHNSTEIN 

Midway Theatre, 

Perrine, Pla. 

Sieottewt. > > 

^(^We4 

ARSON, INC. (SG)—Cooperation from the 

Los Angeles fire department, the adroit use 

of some convincing: stock footage and a 

semidocumcntary approach elevate this fast 

movin;; cops-and-robbers melodrama several 

steps above the status indicated by its 

budget. The yams leads logically to a 

suspense-packed climax which will prove 

a hair-raiser for the action fans. Robert 

Lower)-, Anne Gw^-nne, Marcia 3Iae Jones. 

Directed by William Berke. 

IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING (20th-Fox) — 

Even were it less topical, this warm and 

wholesome comedy would be welcomed and 

profitably patronized by those seeking pure 

escapist entertainment. With the cry of 

"play ball" currently resounding throughout 

the land, its genesis in the national 

game will add considerably to its over-all 

appeal. Under the skillful direction of 

Lloyd Bacon, Ray Milland and an excellent 

supporting cast drain the refreshingly 

original yam of a full measure of laughs— 

with a relieving thread of romance. Ray 

Milland. Jean Peters, Paul Douglas. 

LOST TRIBE, THE (Col)—Johnny Weissmuller 

in ordinary sport clothes still accomplishes 

many feats that became routine 

in his Tarzan roles; he wrestles a jungle 

cat, knifes a man-eating shark, and outwits 

a raging lion. This is for those locations 

where jungle pictures increase the attendance. 

Johnny Weissmuller, Myrna Dell, 

Joseph Vitale. William Berke directed. 

SHAMROCK HILL (EL)—This has a happygo-lucky 

strain running through like the 

Irish-American family around which the 

story is built, plus gay Irish tunes and 

dances. It is a program picture with light, 

entertaining qualities along simple lines, 

Peggy Ryan, Ray McDonald, Tmdy Marshall. 

Directed by Arthur Dreifuss. 

SUSANNA PASS (Rep)—Except for unavoidable 

comparisons with predecessors in the 

venerable series, a ditto mark should be 

all that is necessary to appraise a Roy 

Rogers starrer for that wide segment of 

exhibitors which regularly books them and 

which long since has become familiar with 

their commercial potentialities. In Trucolor 

photography, rugged backgrounds, 

tunes, supporting cast the film is up to 

standard. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, 

Estelita Rodriguez. Directed by' William 

Witney. 

WINDOW, THE (RKO) — Aesop's widely 

known lil' lad who specialized in crying 

"wolf" supplied the basic theme for this 

unusual and highly original thriller which 

certainly should prove an audience pleaser 

in all situations and will win screams of 

delight from the juveniles. Barbara Hale, 

Bobby Driscoll, Arthur Kennedy. Excellently 

directed by Ted Tetzlaff. 

These revieius will appear in full in 

a forthcoming issue of Boxoffice. 

BOXOFFICE May 7, 1949 19

. 

la.- Neb. Allied Orchid 

To Monogram Mote Aid 

Taking action unusual in its regular organizational 

procedure but, at the same 

time, following in the footsteps of several 

similar groups in other parts of the country, 

the Allied Independent Theatre Owners 

of Iowa and Nebraska has issued a special 

bulletin to its membership lauding the 

humanitarian motives which are sparking 

the STEVE BROIDY 25TH ANNIVER- 

SARY DRIVE FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM 

MOTE FUND. 

The communique, dated April 22 and issued 

by Leo F. Wolcott, chairman of the 

board of the Iowa-Nebraska exhibitors' organization, 

declared: 

"Orchids to Steve Broidy, Allied Artists, 

Monogram and BOXOFFICE for their 

STEVE BROIDY 25TH ANNIVERSARY 

DRIVE FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM MOTE 

FUND, whereby a percentage of Monogram 

AA rentals and BOXOFFICE advertising 

March 31 to June 3 will be to help rebuild 

Jim Mote's 210-seat Gem Theatre in Sterling, 

Okla., destroyed by fire in 1948. Looks 

like this industry is developing a heart for 

its own people. Let's hope so. Good work, 

Steve and Ben!" 

(The latter reference is to Ben Shlyen, 

editor-in-chief and publisher of BOXOF- 

FICE.) 

Wolcott's bulletin succinctly sums up the 

purposes of the campaign. To enable Exhibitor 

Mote to get back into business, Monogram-AA 

is contributing to the Jim Mote 

Fund a percentage of the increase over normal 

billings and playdates revenue established 

by each of its exchanges, with a 

guaranteed minimum set at $5,000. BOXOF- 

FICE is donating a total of approximately 

$2,000 already received from its readers and 

will add to the fund additional contributions 

as they are received. The publication also 

will donate a percentage of its receipts from 

the advertising accompanying these announcements 

during the drive. 

The Wolcott bulletin, representing the 

viewpoint of showmen in the Iowa and Nebraska 

areas, is but one of many testimonials 

and congratulatory messages which 

are continuing to pour in, paying tribute to 

BOXOFFICE and Monogram-AA for jointly 

sponsoring the drive. Here are some highlights 

from a few of the scores of such 

messages received; 

L. D. Netter, Paramount Theatres Service 

Corp.—"You can rest assured that everything 

that is possible to do will be done to 

help make your drive a success . 

." 

. 

Bob Walker, Rialto Theatre, Fruita, Colo.— 

"If it will help a fellow exhibitor get back 

in business I am for setting in a lot more 

dates ... We ought to all get on the band 

wagon and help make this drive a howling 

success." 

M. J. Mullin, New England Theatres, Inc., 

Boston "You know you can count on us for 

all the support we can give you . . 

." 

H. P. Rhodes, Georgia Theatre Co., Atlanta 

"I will be very happy to cooperate 

." 

. 

Executives Taking 

Lead in Campaign 

Highly regarded as a motion picture industry 

executive and one of the ardent boosters 

of the STEVE 

BROIDY 25TH AN- 

NIVERSARY DRIVE 

FOR BOXOFFICE'S 

JIM MOTE FUND is 

Edward Morey, executive 

assistant to Steve 

Broidy, president of 

Monogram and Allied 

Artists. Morey headquarters 

in New York. 

After preliminary experiences 

in other film 

exchanges, Morey became 

a salesman Edward Morey 

for 

Mutual in Albany in 1918. covering upper 

New York state. Two years later he moved 

to Boston as a salesman for Universal and, 

in 1924, when the American Feature Film Co. 

was formed to handle the Universal franchise 

in that territory, Morey became sales manager. 

In 1934 he took over the New England 

management of Monogram for Herman Rifkin, 

franchise owner. When Republic bought 

Monogram, Morey remained with that company 

as New England district manager, and 

in 1943 rejoined Monogram in New York 

as supervisor of exchanges. 

The following year he was appointed assistant 

general sales manager under Broidy. 

Later, when Broidy became Monogram-AA 

president, Morey was made a vice-president 

and assistant to Broidy in New York. For 

the past three years he has also been a 

director in Monogram Pictures Coi-p. and 

its subsidiaries, and in Monogram International. 

He was formerly permanent chairman 

of the arbitration board in Boston and 

in that capacity gained a reputation for integrity 

and fair dealing. 

20 

VIDEO SET AMONG PRIZES—Barbara Stone, Monogram starlet, poses with the 

Motorola television receiver wliich is among the many merchandising awards awaiting 

distribution to winners among exhibitors in the current 13 -week Monogram drive. 

Under a point system established for contestants whereby each theatre, whether 

unaffiliated or part of a chain, is counted as one unit, the prizes include $3,500 in 

U.S. government bonds—$1,000, $750, $500 and $250 to the first, second, third and 

fourth place winners, respectively, followed by 10 "consolation" awards of $100 bonds 

and merchandise. 

On the Minneapolis fii-ing line in the 

STEVE BROIDY 25TH ANNIVERSARY 

DRIVE FOR BOXOF- 

FICE'S JIM MOTE 

FUND is Irving Marks, 

manager of the Monogram 

exchange in that 

city. 

Born and raised in 

Minneapolis. Marks entered 

the industry on a 

part-time basis in the 

poster room at the Columbia 

exchange while 

still attending North 

High School. That was 

Irving Marks 

in 1930. Upon graduation 

he joined the organization as a fulltimer, 

and was successively shipper, booker, 

office manager and salesman. In the latter 

capacity, covering North Dakota, he was at 

one time the youngest Columbia salesman 

on the road. 

In 1943 Marks joined the armed forces. 

Three years later he returned to Columbia 

as city salesman and assistant to the branch 

manager. In June 1948 he joined Monogram 

as Minneapolis manager. 

Marks, like all regional Monogram sales executives, 

is playing a big role in making the 

Broidy anniversary a success in the Minnesota-Dakotas 

and western Wisconsin territory. 

BOXOFTICE May 7. 1949

Piftsburgh Is 

Headed for the Top! 

Thanks to the exhibitors of the entire territory who are cooperating wholeheartedly 

with the purposes of the STEVE BROIDY 25th ANNIVERSARY DRIVE 

FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM MOTE FUND, the Pittsburgh exchange is confident it will 

be among the leaders at the conclusion of the most dynamic sales drive in the 

history of our organization. 

We are happy to know that every booking not only salutes a great sales executive, 

but aids in the financial rehabilitation of a typical exhibitor, who is fighting 

hard to get back on his feet. 

MONOGRAM PICTURTE, 

INC. 

86 Van Braam Street 

Pittsburgh 19, Pa. 

Ben Williams 

Abe L Weiner 

STEVE BROIDY 25t/^ ^.nnit'ersaru 

For BOXOFFICE s JIM MOTE FUND 

OMAHA IS 

HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS! 

No sales venture in the history of Allied Artists-Monogram has received such 

universal exhibitor support as the STEVE BROIDY 25th ANNIVERSARY DRIVE 

FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM MOTE FUND. 

Veteran showmen and newcomers alike are paying tribute to the best friend 

an exhibitor ever had, Steve Broidy. By the same token, every booking helps a 

fellow theatre owner, Jim Mote, who will soon be back in 

operation because of the 

financial aid given him as a result of this drive. 

««•«« 

MONOGRAM DISTRIBUTING CORP. 

1506 Davenport Street 

Omaha 2, Nebraska 

Jack Shwidelson, Branch Mgr.

. . . Earl 

. . . BUI 

'TfoUcftiM^d êfi^^nt 

Republic Raises Backlog 

To 13 Completed Films 

Republic's backlog of completed product 

has been upped to 13 features—largest since 

the first of the year—with the almost simultaneous 

windup of four pictures. Now completed 

and awaiting are 10 westerns, two action 

subjects and a serial. 

In the sagebrush category are "The Fighting 

Kentuckian," starring John Wayne; 

"Hellfu-e," with William Elliott; "Brimstone," 

in which Rod Cameron has the topline; two 

Roy Rogers oaters, "Down Dakota Way" and 

"Susanna Pass;" a pair starring Monte Hale, 

"Law of the Golden West" and "Outcasts of 

the Trail;" two featuring Allan "Rocky" 

Lane, "Frontier Investigator" and "The Wyoming 

Bandit;" and "The Arizona Cowboy," 

first in the studio's new series starring Rex 

Allen. Also in the vaults are "Fathoms Deep," 

"Flaming Fury" and a 12-chapter cliffhanger, 

"King of the Rocket Men." 

U-I Buys Three Stories 

Of Six Sold in Week 

Universal-International accounted for three 

out of a total of six story properties acquired 

by studios during the period, with one each 

going to Republic, 20th Century-Fox and 

Warners. The U-I crop of literary material 

includes "Hellgate," by John C. Champion; 

"Fugitive From Terror," a novel by James 

Webb; and "The Warden's Daughter," authorized 

by Mort Brouse and Lee Loeb. 

Champion was set to team with Sam Newman 

on developing the script of "Hellgate," a 

post-Civil War opus dealing with a government 

edict of that period allowing for the release 

of prisoners to private industry for 

needed manpower. Production is slated for 

early fall. Ida Lupino will star in "Terror," 

which will be produced by Michel Kraike 

and megged by Michael Gordon. The actress 

will portray a woman who flees on her wed- 

Republic Plans Serial 

About Flying 

Discs 

Chances are that whirring noise due 

to emanate out Republic way early this 

summer won't be grinding cameras. 

In all probability it will be flying 

saucers. 

The Herbert J. Yates organization has 

just armounced plans to cash in on the 

avalanche of headline stories concerning 

the mysterious aerial discs by filming 

"Disc Men of the Skies" as a 12-chapter 

serial, to be produced by Franklin 

Adreon. 

Just what explanation of the phenomenon, 

which army air force officials 

have been pondering in discreet silence 

for some months, will be cooked up by 

Scripters Royal Cole, Sol Shor and William 

Lively is not, at this point, available. 

It's highly likely, though, that the 

solution as set forth on celluloid will heap 

confusion upon government circles which, 

by their own admission, are already somewhat 

baffled. 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

. 

ding night when she finds her husband is a 

murderer and intends to add her to his list 

Snell sold his original screenplay, 

"Ranger of Cherokee Strip," to Republic, 

where it will be turned out as a Monte Hale 

starring sagebrusher by Producer Mel 

Tucker . . "The Politician," by John Frank 

Morton, was picked up by Warners and is 

being readied as a co-starring subject for 

Joseph Cotten and Patricia Neal. The latter 

will play a newspaper reporter who marries 

Cotten, mayor-elect, and forces him to fulfill 

all his campaign promises ... To 20th Century-Fox 

went "The Man on the Ledge," a 

New Yorker magazine story by Joel Sayre, 

and based on a true incident occurring some 

ten years ago when a man jumped from the 

14th floor of the Gotham hotel in Manhattan. 

Film on 'One-World' Idea 

To Be Made by Horizon 

A motion picture predicated on the "oneworld" 

concept, and designed for commercial 

distribution, will be made by Horizon Pictures, 

the independent unit headed by Producer 

Sam Spiegel and Director John Huston, 

as an outgrowth of the presentation to 

Huston of the annual One World Flight 

Award in ceremonies to be staged May 11 in 

New York. The citation to Huston emphasizes 

his contribution to world understanding 

through screen entertainment. While the director 

is fulfilling an MGM assignment. 

Producer Spiegel will develop a script for the 

"one world" subject with the aid of a coordinating 

committee to be selected from 

among industry leaders . . . Richard Fleischer 

will direct and George Bricker produce "Make 

Mine Laughs," a vaudeville-on-film feature 

at RKO starring Gil Lamb as master of ceremonies. 

Another 'Ma and Pa Kettle' 

And 'Mr. Belvedere' Due 

It's a foregone conclusion that one smash 

success almost invariably leads to a sequel. 

Witness; 20th Centm-y-Fox's "Sitting Pretty," 

followed almost immediately by "Mr. Belvedere 

Goes to College;" and Universal-International's 

top-grossing "The Egg and I," 

from which the two top comedy characters 

were yanked to star in the followup "Ma and 

Pa Kettle." 

Both studios now have disclosed plans for 

fUming still a third opus in their respective 

series. On the U-I docket is "Ma and Pa in 

New York," reuniting Marjorie Main and 

Percy Kilbride in the title roles and to be 

scripted by Martin Ragaway and Leonard 

Stern. Over Westwood way they are cooking 

up plans for "Mr. Belvedere Goes to Africa," 

which will be produced by Samuel G. Engel 

and is, of course, to star Clifton Webb. 

Chodorov to Produce 

For Samuel Gold'wyn 

Formerly a producer at 20th Century-Fox, 

Edward Chodorov has been signed to a term 

deal in the same capacity by Samuel Goldwyn. 

Chodorov, whose last assignment for 

the Westwood studio was "Road House," currently 

is in New York and is not scheduled to 

report to the Goldwyn organization until 

Jack Benny Is Starred 

In Bond Drive Film 

If anything can stimulate the purchase 

of government savings bonds—and 

the U.S. Treasury department thinks 

Hollywood can help enormously in that 

regard as concerns the forthcoming bondselling 

drive — a film starring Jack 

Benny in a capsule cavalcade of the adventures 

of the Benny family over the 

past hundred years ought to be it. 

The radio and film comedian is starring 

in "The Spirit of '49," being filmed at 

MGM as an industry-sponsored contribution 

to the bond campaign, and 

marking Benny's first chore on the Culver 

City lot in 14 years. He last worked 

in Leo's lair as a topliner in "Broadway 

Melody of 1936." 

Besides playing himself. Jack is cast as 

his father and his grandfather in the 

opus, which is being produced by Richard 

Goldstone, coordinated by Armand 

Deutsch and scripted by Allen Rivkin. 

It features key sequences from such 

historical films as "The Covered Wagon," 

"Union Pacific," "The Thundering Herd," 

"Old Ironsides" and "San Francisco." 

early in the summer. No assignment has been 

set for him as yet. 

WB AUo-ws Ronald Reagan 

Five-Year Pact at U-I 

Heretofore—with the exception of an occasional 

loanout—exclusively a Warner Bros. 

star, Ronald Reagan has had his acting ticket 

rewritten to permit him to sign a five-year 

pact with Universal-International, calling 

for his starring appearance in one film annually 

on the U-I lot. Reagan recently 

backed away from a projected loanout whereby 

he was to have stan-ed in "Baby Is Here" 

for Santana Pi-oductions—the Humphrey 

Bogart-Robert Lord independent unit which 

releases through Columbia— and Robert 

Young was signed for the role originally earmarked 

for Reagan ... A change of employers 

found Susan Hayward inked to a 

term deal at 20th Centui-y-Fox, which purchased 

the balance of her contract from Producer 

Walter Wanger. She won't, however, be 

handed an assignment until late this summer 

Williams, one-time RKO contract 

player, returns to that. studio for a topline in 

"The Bail Bond Story" . . . Van Johnson will 

turn sagebrush hero in MGM's "Outriders," 

Richard Goldstone production rolling this 

summer . . . June Haver will be James Cagney's 

leading lady in "The West Point Story" 

at Warners. 

Paramount's 'Let's Dance' 

To Be in Technicolor 

Paramount's 1949 product lineup is becoming 

more and more colorful, what with 

the studio's decision to film "Let's Dance," 

the upcoming Fred Astaire-Betty Hutton 

tunefilm, in Technicolor. Set for an early 

start with Robert Fellows producing and 

Norman Z. McLeod behind the megaphone, 

"Let's Dance" marks the fourth major film 

on the company's present schedule to be 

photographed in tints. Already before the 

cameras is "Copper Canyon," which will be 

followed by "Where Men Are Men" and a William 

H. Pine-WiUiam Thomas entry, "The 

Eagle and the Hawk." 


MGM Lisls Six Films 

For July and August 

NEW YORK—Five new pictures and one 

reprint have been set for relase by MGM during 

July and August, according to William F. 

Rodgers, vice-president and general sales 

nianager. This will give the company 22 new 

films, plus one reprint for the first eight 

months of 1949. Niiie of the 23 are in Technicolor. 

The pictures for July are "Any Number Can 

Play," latest Clark Gable starring vehicle 

with Alexis Smith and Audrey Totter: 

"Madame Bovary," starring Jennifer Jones, 

Van Heflin. Louis Jourdan and James Mason: 

the redistribution of "The Wizard of Oz," in 

Technicolor, starring Judy Garland and 

Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger and 

Bert Lahr, and "The Stratton Story," in 

Technicolor, starring James Stewart and 

June AUyson with Frank Morgan and Agnes 

Moorehead. "The Stratton Story" will be 

released in July for special engagements only. 

TWO IN AUGUST 

For August there will be "In the Good Old 

Summertime." in Technicolor, starring Judy 

Garland, and "Scene of the Crime," starring 

Van Johnson. 

The previously announced films were: 

January — "3 Godfathers," "Piccadilly Incident" 

and "The Kissing Bandit": February 

— "Act of Violence," "Command Decision," 

and "The Sun Comes Up"; March — "The 

Bribe," "Force of Evil" and "Tale of the 

Navajos": April— "Take Me Out to the Ball 

Women" and "Big 

Game," "Caught," "Little 

Jack": May — "The Barkleys of Broadway" 

and "The Great Sinner": Jvtne— "Edward, My 

Son" and "Neptune's Daughter." 

Both "The Stratton Story" and "Edward, 

My Son" are scheduled to play the Radio City 

Music Hall. "The Barkleys of Broadway" will 

open at Loews State May 4. 

'FORSYTE SAGA' ON LIST 

MGM pictures completed or being finally 

edited include "The Forsyte Saga," in 

Technicolor, starring Greer Garson and Errol 

Flynn: "Border Incident," starring George 

Murphy and Ricardo Montalban: "Challenge 

to Lassie," in Technicolor, starring Edmund 

Gwemi and Donald Crisp: "The Conspirator," 

starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor; 

"Malayan," starring Spencer Tracy and James 

Stewart; "The Secret Garden," in part Technicolor, 

starring Margaret O'Brien and Dean 

Stockwell, and "That Midnight Kiss," in 

Technicolor, starring Kathryn Grayson and 

Jose Iturbi and introducing Mario Lanza. 

In production at MGM are "The Red 

Danube," "Intruder in the Dust," "On the 

Town," in Technicolor; "Annie Get Your 

Gun," in Technicolor; "Battleground," 

"Bodies and Souls," "Death in the Doll's 

House" and "Side Street." 

RKO-Disney Company Set 

To Produce in England 

LONDON—RKO-Walt Disney British Productions, 

Ltd., has been organized here to 

handle the production of "Treasure Island," 

Disney's first feature entirely without cartoons. 

Chairman of the board is Thomas 

Swan. The other members are : Robert Wolff, 

RKO managing dii'ector for the United 

Kingdom; Stephen Forwood, George Dawson 

and Cyril James. 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 1949 

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PRODUCTION FOR MAY STARTS 

WITH UPSURGE OF 45 FILMS 

HOLLYWOOD—It's still in the "maybe" 

category as far as some die-hard industry 

skeptics are concerned, but cold facts and 

figures tend to indicate beyond reasonable 

doubt that the productional stalemate 

which has existed in the film capital since 

late last year is on the verge of being 

broken up. Whether the pressure will be 

sustained is a matter for conjecture, but 

at this point a tally of picture-making 

p;ans among majors and independents 

points toward May as the busiest month 

the sound stages have seen since the early 

fall of 1948. 

Poised and awaiting the go signal—or 

sneaking before the cameras in the latter 

days of April—were 45 features, eight more 

than were slated to start last month and 

four more than the year's previous high 

mark, March's 41. Of the total, 32 are newcomers 

to the lineup, seven were carried over 

from previously scheduled starting dates, and 

six hit the stages immediately prior to the 

month's beginning. Since the latter halfdozen 

were not previously tallied, they are, 

therefore, included in the May lineup. 

By studios, the lineup comprises: 

Columbia 

Comedies and sagebrushers are the backbone 

of this studio's projected output for the 

month, with two of the former and three of 

the latter on the docket. As a follow-up to 

last season's enormously successful "The 

Puller Brush Man," being readied for an 

early start is "The Good Humor Man," with 

S. Sylvan Simon holding the production reins, 

Lloyd Bacon megging and, borrowed from 

Warners, Jack Carson filling the title role. 

Also in the comedy category, and a holdover 

from April, is "Baby Is Here," another entry 

from Santana Productions, in which Robert 

Lord and Actor Humphrey Bogart are partners. 

Bogart will not, however, appear in this 

one. Leads have been set for Robert Young 

and Barbara Hale. The yarn deals with the 

complications which ensue when a wife, preparing 

to obtain a divorce, believes that she 

is about to become a mother. The directorial 

chore goes to Henry Levin. Two of the 

westerns, to be shot in rapid succession, will 

come from Gene Autry Productions. Both, of 

course, star Autry and will be produced by 

Armand Schaefer, with John English directing. 

First to get under way will be "Barbed 

Wire," a story of cattle wars, to be followed 

by "Sons of New Mexico," in which Autry, 

portraying a rancher, tries to straighten out 

his ward, a spoiled, selfish young boy, by 

sending him to the New Mexico Military Institute 

at Roswell, N. M. Much of the film 

will be shot on location there. Charles Starrett 

toplines "Renegades of the Sage," another 

adventure of the "Durango Kid," with 

Smiley Burnette contributing the comedy 

support. As usual, the producing and directing 

chores will be undertaken respectively by 

Colbert Clark and Ray Nazarro. 

Eagle Lion 

Every month since early in the year the 

studio has announced Producer Bryan Foy 

N Married a Communist' 

Ready for RKO Stages 

Provocative subject matter, if adoitly 

enough presented, has always been listed 

on the asset side 

as concerns motion 

picture output if 

for no other reason 

than that it 

provides a hook 

for alert showmen 

to launch out-ofthe-rut 

exploitation 

campaigns. 

Most certainly the 

story ingredients 

in RKO Radio's "I 

Married a Communist" 

— starting 

with the title itself 

—are in the provocative 

category 

Robert Stevenson and consequently 

the film merits appraisal as among the 

most significant to go before the cameras 

dm-ing the period. 

Also worthy of comment is the fact that 

the opus is the first "message" picture 

to be readied under the RKO Radio banner 

since Howard Hughes assumed control 

of the organization, a company 

which in the pre-Hughes regime turned 

out such "preachments" as "Crossfire" 

and "The Boy With Green Hair." 

"Communist" is being produced by Jack 

Gross and megged by Robert Stevenson. 

Robert Ryan, in the topline, portrays an 

aggressive and successful shipping executive 

who finds it difficult to break the 

ties of a former association with the 

Communist party, which he has grown 

to hate. Laraine Day is the bride whose 

happy marriage is threatened by her 

husband's past, and Janis Carter is cast 

as a Communist "adventuress," while 

Thomas Gomez is a party leader. 

is about to launch simultaneous production 

on two subjects, "Port of New York" and 

"Trapped," and every month—for one reason 

or another—Foy has failed to get into high 

gear. In the current period the pair of subjects 

are again docketed for starts, with the 

usual reservations as to another possible delay. 

"Port," in which Richard Basehart is 

tentatively set to star, and for which Phil 

Karlson is set as the director, is based on attempts 

to smuggle contraband into the U.S. 

"Trapped," minus a cast as the month began, 

is concerned with the activities of the U.S. 

secret service. Lewis Sailer will direct. 

Independent 

Second film on the docket for the recentlyorganized 

Fidelity Pictures, headed by Howard 

Welsch and Robert Peters, is "House by 

the River," period dramia to co-feature Louis 

Hayward and Lee Bowman, with Fritz Lang 

directing. No release has been officially set, 

but there is a possibility it will be distributed 

by Republic, at which studio it will be shot. 

The yarn concerns a weakling in England in 

the 90s who murders his amour, then tries 

to place the blame on his innocent brother. 

Fidelity's initialer, "Montana Belle," starring 

Jane Russell, also was filmed at Republic but 

will be released through RKO Radio. From 

a new independent unit. Borderline Productions, 

will come "Borderline," a comedy 

melodrama starring Fred MacMurray, who is 

a partner of Directcor William A. Seiter and 

Producer Milton Bren in the venture. 

Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer 

Last month's picture-making tempo on the 

Culver City lot, when four new vehicles 

faced the cameras, is destined to be duplicated 

during the current period. First to get 

under way is "Tension," a Robert Sisk production, 

with John Berry directing and Audrey 

Totter, Richard Basehart, Barry Sullivan 

and Cyd Charisse as the cast toppers. 

The suspense drama is concerned with an 

embittered man who plans murder with such 

painstaking detail that he eventually is accused 

of a killing he did not commit. A drab 

pharmacist, he plots to slay his unfaithful 

wife's flashy admirer; the rival is murdered, 

but not by the husband. From Producer 

Pandro S. Berman will come "Bodies and 

Souls," co-starring Glenn Ford, Janet Leigh 

and Charles Coburn, with Curtis Bernhardt 

megging. Ford is cast as an idealistic young 

doctor who finds romance and the fulfillment 

of his life's work in a small town in France. 

Robert Taylor will head for the sagebrush In 

"Ambush," a holdover originally slated to 

start last month. Adapted from a Luke Short 

serial in the Saturday Evening Post, it 

chronicles a frontiersman's adventures in the 

early west. Armand Deutsch is the producer 

and Sam Wood will direct. Also on the 

docket, but minus a director as the month 

started, is "Stars in My Crown," a Joel Mc- 

Crea vehicle to be produced by William H. 

Wright. McCrea portrays a fighting parson 

who "got religion" in the south during the 

heat of battle in the Civil War. 

Monogram 

A steady pace is being maintained at this 

studio, where three subjects have been 

carded to hit the sound stages. A carryover 

from the previous period is "Tentacles of the 

North," first of a projected group of three 

outdoor action films based on stories by James 

Oliver Curwood, which is on Producer 

Lindsley Parsons' agenda. At this writing no 

director had been set and the only cast member 

to date is "Chinook," a dog. Leo Gorcey 

and the Bowery Boys are featured in "Angels 

in Disguise," to be produced by Jan Grippo 

and also, at month's beginning, minus a director. 

The comedy is described as a satire 

on the currently popular documentary film 

technique. Johnny Mack Brown will ride 

thataway in number umpty-umpth of the 

venerable series in which he has starred under 

the Monogram banner, "Cattle King," to 

24 BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1949

e produced by Barney Sarecky and directed 

by Ray Taylor. 

Paramount 

Among the busiest studios is the Marathon 

Street film emporium, which carded a total of 

five subjects for camera work. Alan Ladd has 

the title role in "Postal Inspector." a Robert 

Fellows production, tracing the adventurous 

careers of the men who work to safeguard 

the U.S. mail from criminal designs. Set to 

direct is Lewis Allen. A new star team- 

Fred Astaire and Betty Hutton—are booked 

for "Little Boy Blue," a drama with music, 

which also is on Fellows' slate, with Norman 

Z. McLeod at the directorial helm. Figuring 

prominently in the plot, but as yet uncast. is 

a six-year-old child (plotwise the offspring 

of Miss Hutton 

I 

who grows up among Broadway 

cabaret performers. Bob Hope will attempt 

to emulate the success he scored with 

"The Paleface" in "Where Men Are Men," 

another sagebrush satire, formerly titled 

"Lariat Loop." It's a Robert Welch production 

and George Marshall is the director. 

Also in the outdoor category, and marking 

Hedy Lamarr's first experience in a western, 

is "Copper Canyon," a Mel Epstein production 

being megged by John Farrow. Hedy's 

co-stars are Ray Milland and Macdonald 

Carey. The drama is laid in the period 

ju.st after the Civil War. In the suspensedrama 

niche is "I Married a Dead Man," 

starring Barbara Stanwyck and John Lund, 

with Mitchell Leisen directing for Producer 

Richard Maibaum. 

RKO Radio 

Of two scheduled starting vehicles on this 

Gower Street lot, one^"I Married a Communist"—rates 

attention as one of the more 

significant to be given the green light during 

the period. It is therefore discussed in detail 

in a box on the opposite page. The other 

entry, "Trouble in Texas," is another starring 

sagebrusher for Tim Holt, with Richard Martin 

again cast as his comedy sidekick and 

Herman Schlom holding the production reins. 

The directorial chore goes to Lesley Selander. 

Republic 

The productional throttle is wide open at 

this valley studio. Six subjects—four of them 

in the western category—are on the May 

slate, leading off with a Roy Rogers oater, 

"The Golden Stallion." to be filmed in Trucolor 

and, as usual, listing Edward J. White 

as producer and William Witney as the megaphonist. 

In supporting roles are Dale Evans 

and Pat Brady. William Elliott stars in "The 

Wanderer," which Joseph Kane will produce 

and direct, with Elliott cast as a mercenary 

gunman of the old west who hires himself 

and his weapon to the highest bidder. To be 

produced independently for Republic release 

is "The Cleveland Story." dealing with 

the world-champion Cleveland Indians baseball 

club. The co-producers are Herbert 

Kline and Walter Colmes, with Kline directing 

and George Brent as a cast topliner 

along with such Indian luminaries as Hank 

Greenberg, Bill Veeck and Lou Boudreau. 

Combining fact with fiction in documentary 

style, "The Cleveland Story" teUs of a wayward 

boy and the efforts of the club's 36 

members to get him back on the straight and 

narrow path. AUan "Rocky" Lane is set to 

star in "Bandit King of Texas," a Gordon 

Kay production, seventh in the current series 

of eight "Famous Westerns." Likewise Monte 

Hale will hit the saddle in "Ranger of Cherokee 

Strip," under the product.onal guidance 

of Mel Tucker, but neither offering had enlisted 

a director's services in the month's 

early days. Also minus a director and sans 

cast, as w-ell, was "Post Office Investigator," 

being readied by Producer Sidney Picker, and 

concerned with revealing the activities of 

post office agents who track down dangerous 

criminals using the federal malls. 

Screen Guild 

Described as a sort of "Grand Hotel" in 

the ail- is "Skyliner," upcoming William 

Stephens production which is one of two 

subjects slated for May camera starts and 

earmarked for distribution through this company. 

A story of suspense, intrigue and murder, 

it takes place entirely within the confines 

of a transcontinental airliner and toplines 

Richard Ti-avis, Pamela Blake, Rochelle 

Hudson and Frank Jenks. At the directorial 

controls w^ll be William Berke. In the holdover 

categoi-y and without a director early 

in the period was an outdoor opus, "Grand 

Canyon," which Carl K. Hittleman will produce. 

Set for the featured leads are Richard 

Arlen, Mary Beth Hughes and Reed Hadley. 

20th Century-Fox 

Already before the cameras at the Westwood 

film foundry as the month got under 

way was "Three Came Home," a Claudette 

Colbert starrer, which will be followed during 

the period by two others, "The Doctor 

Wears Three Faces" and "Wabash Avenue." 

Largely factual, "Three Came Home" spins 

the story of a British woman captured by the 

Japanese in North Borneo in the early days 

of World War II, and her experiences with 

the Japanese occupation forces— particularly 

one Colonel Suga, an American-born Jap. Cast 

in support of Miss Colbert in the Nunnally 

Johnson production are Alan Marshal and 

Florence Desmond. Jean Negulesco directs. 

In comedy vein is "The Doctor Wears Three 

Faces," starring Dorothy McGuire and based 

on a novel by Mary Bard. The Fred Kohlmar 

production, which Claude Binyon will direct, 

tells of the hectic experiences of a doctor's 

wife and marks the return of Miss McGuire 

to the studio under whose banner she once 

starred in the popular "Claudia" series. A 

tunefilm, vintage 1898 and backgrounded 

against the World's Fair of that year, is 

"Wabash Avenue," which will co-star Betty 

Grable (natch) and Victor Mature. Henry 

Koster is the director on the William Perlberg 

production. 

United Artists 

New to this company's distribution schedule 

is "Gun Crazy," an offering from the 

King Brothers, Maurice and Frank, who thus 

step out of their customary Monogram-Allied 

Artists bailiwick. Adapted from a Saturday 

Evening Post story by MacKinlay 

Kantor, it's a western with a psychological 

twist, starring John Dall and Peggy Cummins, 

with Joseph H. Lewis inked to wield the 

megaphone. 

Universal-International 

Something of a 

productional boom appears 

to be in the making at this valley studio, 

which last month failed to launch any new 

vehicles at all. During the upcoming period 

no less 

than four subjects are being readied, 

with "Abandoned," a Jerry Bresler production, 

looming as the first to get under way. 

Co-starring Gale Storm and Dennis O'Keefe, 

it is a semi-documentary blasting the child 

adoption racket and suggested by a recent 

expose of an illegal adoption ring that 

flourished in southern California. The director 

is Joe Newman. Audie Murphy 

World War II hero—is set for his second 

starring role in "The Kid From Texas," a 

Paul Short production which Kurt Neumann 

will direct. In it Audie is cast as the notorious 

old-time gunman, Billy the Kid. Fantasy will 

be offered in "Francis," a Robert Arthur production 

starring Donald O'Connor and to be 

megged by Arthur Lubin. The title character 

is an old army mule who has the gift of 

speech and thus is able to tell his second 

lieutenant—O'Connor—what he thinks of 

him. The mule also is free with advice as to 

the tactical moves O'Connor should plot during 

the battle of Burma. Uncast in the 

month's early days was "Tehachapi: The 

Story of Molly X," which will be the first 

productional undertaking for Aaron Rosenberg, 

veteran assstant director. Crane Wilbiu- 

wrote and will direct the yarn, which has 

as its locale the women's prison in Tehachapi, 

Calif. 

Warner Bros. 

Not in many months has the Burbank lot 

been so teeming with picture-making activity. 

In addition to the two subjects which hit the 

soimd stages late in April, four others were 

assured of definite starting dates during the 

current period, in marked contrast to the 

early days of 1949 when production had 

staggered to a virtual halt. James Cagney 

returns to the studio where he starred in 

many successes during the 30s to topline 

"White Heat," a Lou Edelman production 

which Raoul Walsh will direct. 'Virginia 

Mayo is Cagney's leading lady in the melodrama, 

which concerns the activities of the 

U.S. Treasury department. Bette Davis, with 

Joseph Cotten as her co-star, will face the 

cameras in "Rose Moline," to be produced 

by Henry Blanke and megged by King 'Vidor. 

La Davis portrays a woman who uses a loveless 

marriage to promote her own ends and 

winds up being accused of mmder. The yam 

is backgrounded in a Wisconsin lumber town. 

Humphrey Bogart has the topline in "Chain 

Lightning," the Warners' contribution to the 

impending cycle of jet-propulsion subjects. 

This one, which Anthony Veiller will produce, 

traces the progress of experiments in 

jet-propulsion from the end of World War 

II to the present. Bogart's romantic interest 

is Eleanor Parker and the megaphone will 

be handled by Stuart Heisler. Teamed for 

the first time since pre-war days (when 

they starred in "Kitty Foyle") are Ginger 

Rogers and Dennis Morgan, who will have 

the top roles in "Perfect Strangers." The 

Jerry Wald production is adapted from a 

Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur play, "Ladies 

and Gentlemen," which has a courtroom 

background. Director will be Bretaigne Windust. 

The late April starters, both in Technicolor, 

were "Barricade," an outdoor action 

drama concerning goldmining activities, and 

"Return of the Frontiersman," an historical 

western. Saul Elkins produces both. "Barricade," 

being megged by Peter Godfrey, features 

Dane Clark, Virginia Mayo, Claude 

Rains and Raymond Massey, while "Frontiersman," 

in the directorial hands of Richard 

Bare, lists Rory Calhoun, Gordon Mac- 

Rae and Julie London in the leads. 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 1949 25

Theatre Construction, Openings and Sales 

CONSTRUCTION: 

East Delroil. Mich.—Eastwood Theatre, $75,000 remodeling 

job of iire damage, by Irving Belinsky, 

Detroit. Opening set lor L

I 

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

HUGH E. FRAZE 

Associate Editor 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

iiilitiiiiii iriihitiii 11 lilt in 111 

itoinriti 

^n the 

Oi T 

Latest exploitation trends indicate 

that many theatremen are going 

in strongly for outdoor posting 

and window cards. Campaigns received 

from all types of operations 

in large and small communities indicate 

that one of our oldest forms 

of promotion is coming back into 

favor. 

The recent campaign for more 

posting which National Screen Service 

undertook has probably influenced 

a lot of showmen. The seasonal 

trend, with more people staying 

outdoors, is also responsible. 

Scores of theatres have gone back 

to window cards, which were dropped 

during the high peak of business. 

Easier Egg Hunt for 'Little Women' 

Draws Huge Reading, Pa. Crowds 

:~-..i*, 

^ 

o 

o 

Being a strong proponent of outdoor 

advertising in every form, we 

believe that theatremen who are 

again using cards and posters to 

keep their attractions before the 

public find many reasons to justify 

the effort. As for expense, most 

exhibitors recoupe their outlay in 

the form of a small service charge 

which the pass-holder makes when 

paying federal and local taxes at the 

boxoffice. 

The oft-derided gimmick of filling 

the house with paper is overshadowed 

by the fact that most theatres 

have empty seats on weekdays. 

Businessmen and shopkeepers 

who receive passes for displaying 

advertising material act as personal 

salesmen for good pictures in 

small-talk with their customers. 

These on-the-cuff salesmen are 

rarely regular week-day patrons, 

anyhow. Tired or not, at the end 

of a tough business day, they are 

more likely to respond to the something-for-nothing 

urge, a picture 

show on a pass, than they would be 

if they had to pay full admission. 

And if the trailer holds promise of 

a good weekend program, we frequently 

get a Sunday visit from the 

pass-holder at the prevailing scale 

of admission. 

From a practical standpoint, 

the window card and the poster keep 

a 24-hour-a-day vigil, breaking 

through the conscious and subconscious 

mind of the perambulating 

public with an insistent and repetitious 

message. They provide us 

with ever constant advertising, right 

smack in the eye of the public. 

i 

W' 

I 

An Easter egg hunt inaugurated by Larry 

Levy, manager of the Colonial Theatre, 

Reading, Pa., with cooperation from the city 

recreation department and radio station 

WEEU, was tied in with the advance campaign 

for "Little Women." The stunt was a 

citywide affair, the egg hunt taking place in 

the city park with all proceedings broadcast. 

More than 6,000 children participated and 

full newspaper coverage was afforded the 

event. 

To publicize the hunt, WEEU made ten 

spot announcements daily for two weeks in 

advance. The newspapers ran a series of 

stories and a cartoon, and the radio station 

purchased eight separate ads in the comic 

pages of the papers giving full details of the 

hunt, along with the title of the picture and 

the theatre playdates. 

At the theatre, a colorful lobby board, a 

trailer, and an exhibit of all prizes and details 

of the hunt were used well in advance. 

Through the recreation department, notices 

were sent to all schools, with copy headed: 

-Calling all 'little women' and 'little men' to 

the Colonial Theatre's annual Easter egg 

hunt." 

On the big day, 1,000 colored eggs were hidden 

in the park in addition to 50 fUled plastic 

eggs, each containing a guest ticket to see 

"Little Women." Additional plastic eggs contained 

gift certificates entitling the holders 

to large Easter egg baskets, giant chocolate 

bunnies and other appropriate prizes. 

Two divisions were created for the egg 

hunt; one for children in the l-to-6 year 

group, the other for children in the 7-to-12 

age bracket. Announcements regarding the 

—133— 

picture were made at the scene of hunt over 

the public address system, and large cutouts 

displays from the picture were placed in the 

park. 

The Hallmark doll tieup was another feature 

of Levy's campaign. The company provided 

100 doll cards as a giveaway on opening 

day. This was underlined in the regular ads 

and in a 40x60 in the lobby. 

The Book Mart used a full window display 

on this tieup with blowups from the film, and 

purchased a one-column co-op ad in both 

Reading newspapers. 

The Pomeroy department store came 

through with its first commercial theatre 

tieup on "Little Women." The store devoted 

an elaborately decorated window featuring a 

background of scenes from the picture with 

a color blowup. Central attraction was the 

original June Allyson costume which came 

from Hollywood, and blowups of the stars in 

the picture wearing new fashions. The store 

also displayed a variety of "Little Women" 

items such as dolls, scarfs, toiletries, etc. In 

the children's department, 3,000 "Little Women" 

coloring books, tied in with a contest 

and guest tickets to see the picture, were distributed 

to customers. A co-op ad on "Little 

Women" items broke in both papers in eightcolumn 

width by the full length of the page. 

A two-column cut of the stars with theatre 

and playdate information was incorporated 

in this co-op ad. 

The Dell book agency printed and distributed 

250 cards tying in the Pocket Book edition 

of "Little Women." The agency also 

barmered five trucks on both sides with theatre, 

title and playdates. 

27

Cleveland Baseball Heroes Star 

At 'Stratton Story' Premiere 

Serving as a blueprint for the Chicago and 

Dallas openings, the Cleveland campaign for 

"The Stratton Story" received six weeks of 

extensive preparation prior to the premiere 

at the Stillman Theatre. Highlight of the 

campaign for the premiere was a parade 

down Euclid avenue to the theatre, sponsored 

by the Stratton Automobile Co. Gene Bearden, 

ace Cleveland pitcher. Hank Greenberg 

and a number of players on the American 

league team flew to Cleveland to participate 

in the parade and special stage activities 

opening night. The automobile firm used 

street car cards and newspaper ads to play 

Up the theatre playdates. 

On opening day, an airplane flew over the 

city, towing a large banner calling attention 

of the film. Sports columnists and editors who 

attended a screening of the picture commented 

favorably, and the film critics gave the 

picture an excellent buiid-up. 

Telegrams fiom players and executives of 

the Cleveland Indians congratulating the 

Stillman on its world premiere showing were 

posted in the lobby well in advance. Additional 

art work .n the lobby included color 

photos of the star June Allyson, posing with 

famous ball players. 

Baseball schedules listing home team 

games, including a plug for the picture, were 

distributed. Flicker books of James Stewart 

as Monty Stratton, promoted from Topps gum 

distributors, were handed out throughout the 

city. These carried the theatre playdate imprint. 

Newsstand cards advertising the Liberty 

mapazine selection of the film as the Picture 

of the Month, and Collier's with its review of 

the picture, were promoted throughout the 

Store Ad Promotes 

'Women' Contest 

atre, Brooklyn, had the entire theatre staff 

wear replicas of the famous Jerry Colonna 

moustache to build up advance interest in 

the star's personal appearance as part of a 

vaudeville program. 

city. Elgin watch retailers tied in with special 

window displays and used part of their national 

advertising campaign to promote the 

Cleveland premiere. 

Rad-o promotion included a broadcast from 

the theatre lobby on opening night. Neil 

Andorn, WGAR sports commentator, acted 

as master of ceremonies, while auctioning 

balls autographed by Stewart and Miss Allyson 

in behalf of the Cancer drive. 

The Arthur Murray dance studio featured 

the title of the picture and theatre dates in 

its outdoor signs and newspaper advertising. 

Combining forces to bring about this successful 

campaign were Arnold Gates, manager 

of the Stillman, and J. E. Watson, MGM 

field exploiteer. 

Salt Lake Poultry Shops 

Help Contest on 'Chicken' 

The Poultry Dealers Ass'n in Salt Lake 

City cooperated with Charles Pincus, manager 

of the Utah Theatre, in the national 

wishbone contest tied in with "Chicken 

A coloring contest which helped exploit 

"Little Women" for Bill Reisinger, manager 

of Loew's Theatre, Dayton, Ohio, was sponsored 

by Ray's department 

Every Sunday." Grocers and butchers 

throughout the area distributed entry 

store in its newspaper 

blanks 

carrying theatre imprint 

ad. The tiein was an 

and an announcement 

of a 

offer of 25 pair 

of tickets to be given 

lucky drawing for chickens 

to customers 

and 

of the 

children's 

eggs. 

department. The 

Winners 

entire ad, measuring 

had to have entry blanks 

with numbers corresponding to 

2x15 

those listed 

inches, was devoted to a sketch of 

in 

a scene from 

the theatre lobby. 

the film and announcements of 

the playdates. 

Banners pointing up the playdates were 

Reisinger 

placed in every 

also promoted a two-column 

market in . Salt Lake City. 

coop 

The dealers also 

ad with a beauty 

purchased a full-page coop 

ad in the Deseret News plus 

shop, using a star cut of 

Elizabeth Taylor and copy tying in the theatre 

engagement. Fashion breaks were 

a 40-inch ad, 

and provided a free chicken to every hundredth 

person 

planted in the Joiu-nal Herald, and a walking 

who attended the Utah during 

book ballyhoo was used in advance 

the 

and 

run of this picture. 

currently. 

A contest over two Dayton radio stations 

plus book and Hallmark doll tieins helped to Joe Isaac jr., manager of the Novo Theatre, 

Cumberland. Ky., promoted an Easter 

promote the playdates. 

fashion show which attracted extra business. 

Local merchants sponsored the show and 

Wear Colonna 'Brushes' Isaac promoted free refreshments which were 

Allen Grant, manager of the Patio The- 

served to all who attended, in addition to 

roses for the first 100 women. An out-oftown 

fashion expert was brought in to act 

as mistress of ceremonies. The show included 

styles for men, women and children, and attracted 

a capacity audience. 

Doris Day Appearance 

With Hope Show Helps 

'Dream Is Yours' 

Mort Blumenstock, advertising and publicity 

director for Warners, had Doris Day 

acting in the role of a living trailer for her 

forthcoming production, "My Dream Is 

Yours," in southern cities where the picture 

is scheduled to open. Traveling with the Bob 

Hope show. Art Moger, Warner field man, 

was assigned to accompany Miss Day with the 

result that the actress-singer inspired special 

art and newspaper stories featuring her role 

in "My Dream Is Yours." Moger worked 

closely with exhibitors who had the picture 

booked and typical of the many activities was 

a terrific tieup arranged by F. S. Falkenburg, 

manager of the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham. 

Falkenburg made arrangements with the 

Birmingham News for a three-week contest 

seek ng 100 Doris Day fans to become charter 

members of a Doris Day Fan club. Throughout 

the contest period, the paper ran stories 

and scene pictures from "My Dream Is 

Yours." Teen-agers were invited to send in 

letters giving their reasons for wanting to 

join the club. 

The best six letters received won the 

senders tickets to the Hope-Day show. All 

100 winners were invited to meet Miss Day 

at a private screening of her new picture at 

the Alabama Theatre. The group carrying 

welcome banners, met the Hollywood star as 

she arrived at the airport. At the screening 

Miss Day presented each member of the club 

with a certificate of charter membership. 

The Birmingham News faithfully followed up 

the entire promotion with lavish pictorial 

layouts. 

In Chattanooga, Moger and Miss Day appeared 

on radio intervews spinning stories 

about "My Dream Is Yours." In Asheville, 

N. C. three radio stations welcomed the 

team. Emmett Rogers, manager of the Tivoli 

in Chattanooga, received special cooperation 

from the press in the form of advance stories 

and art tied in with star's appearance on the 

Hope show. The theatre lobby was decorated 

with photo enlargements and other posters 

calling attention to the booking of "My 

Dream Is Yours." 

Autry's Album Provides 

'Loaded Pistol' Tieup 

Window tieups and newspaper co-op ads 

helped sell "Loaded Pistols" for Billy Davis, 

manager of the Ritz, Gainsville, Ga. Davis 

used the record albums of Gene Autry as a 

wedge for music store hookups which resulted 

in extra newspaper plugs and store 

displays at the White Music Shop. Champion 

watches, named for the western star's 

horse, helped to connect with window displays 

from dealers handling the time-pieces 

and drug stores which are outlets for the 

merchandise. 

To exploit "Unknown Island," advance 

lobby displays built up interest. Davis constructed 

a false front for current showing 

from three-sheets and litho cutouts. In place 

of an overhead board. 14x28 cards were strung 

across the front w.th repetitious copy on 

the title for an excellent flash. Oversize 

heralds were distributed. 

28 —134— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser May 7, 1949

EVER HEAR OF A WALLPAPER FASHION SHOW? 

NOVEL EXHIBIT ATTRACTS WOMEN SHOPPERS 

Recent exhibits of children's photos, wallpaper and antique furniture 

attracted almost as many persons to the Odeon-Hyland Theatre in 

Toronto as the screen show. Manager Vic Nowe arranged tieups 

with three different concerns. His main idea was to attract some 

of the many women shoppers who are always on the lookout for 

some special form of diversion. His fashion show for wallpaper 

inspired many fine comments. The Camera Studies of Children 

display covered the entire mezzanine floor. Parents and friends 

turned out to see their prize offspring on public exhibit. Center 

panel, above, shoves outside sign which invited the public to see 

the interesting displays. Note how attractively the exhibits were 

arranged in wâll panels and on easels. 

Churches and Schools 

Boost 'Joan of Arc' 

Churches and schools in the Bridgeport, 

Conn., area were contacted by Harry Rose, 

manager of the Majestic Theatre, as part 

of his campaign for "Joan of Arc." Churches 

of all faiths, school heads and history teachers 

were urged to recommend the picture, and 

theatre parties were solicited from public 

and parochial schools. 

Rose tied up on the Pocket Book edition 

of "Joan of Arc" and was able to place banners 

on all county news trucks and newsstands, 

and displayed special posters in leading 

hotels. 

Window displays were arranged through 

the distributors of International Sterling on 

the "Joan of Arc" pattern tieup. May Bradshaw 

Hayes, women's commentator on station 

WICC, favored the picture with three 

advance plugs and a review on opening day. 

One hundred window cards, 25 silk screen 

cards with stills, and 50 Dacca record cards 

plugging the Ingrid Bergman album were 

strategically spotted in Bridgeport and the 

surrounding towns. 

Clothing Concerns Mail 

Letters on 'Three Wives' 

A cooperative tieup with local business 

firms using direct mail advertising helped 

"A Letter to Three Wives" for Bob Thompson, 

manager of the State Theatre, Hamilton, N. 

Y. Thompson imprinted letters telling about 

the picture and the merchants' new spring 

styles, and persuaded the merchants to enclose 

the letters with their regular mailings. 

This saved the theatre postage costs and got 

the playdate sales message to several thousand 

urban and rural patrons. 

A one-sheet was mounted on heavy beaverboard 

and placed in a furniture store, tied in 

with merchandise and the theatre dates. 

NUGGETS 

To publicize "Wake of the Red Witch," 

Walter Lloyd, manager of the AUyn Theatre. 

Hartford, planted a two-column cut in the 

music pages of the Hartford Times. The cut, 

a caricature drawing of the two stars, was 

run over a outline giving the title, cast and 

playdates. 

Walter Kessler, manager of the Ohio TTheatre 

in Columbus, promoted a full window 

display in the downtown office of TWA to 

exploit "Family Honeymoon." A large sign 

with prominent credits was tied in with the 

low family budget fares being pushed by the 

airline. 

T. A. MacDougald, manager of the Ritz 

Theatre, Panama City, Fla., used a lobby exhibit 

of equipment borrowed from Tyndall 

Field air base to promote advance interest 

in "Fighter Squadron." The display included 

a rubber lifeboat, pilot's equipment for stratosphere 

flying and photographs of the newest 

air force fighter and bomber planes. 

A local book store tied up with Lily Watt, 

manager of the Florida Cinema, Kings Park, 

Glasgow, Scotland, for a full window display 

plugging the novel and the screen attraction, 

"The Foxes of Harrow." Copies of the 

book and posters from the film production 

were prominently displayed. 

Bert Detwiler, manager of the Manos Theatre, 

EUwood City, Pa., tied up with the publisher 

of the local entertainment guide and 

received an excellent advance boost to plug 

"The Boy With Green Hair." Detwiler sold 

the publisher on the idea of using a front 

cover head cut of Dean Stockwell with his 

hair imprinted in green. The stunt attracted 

wide interest and helped to attract extra 

business during the run of the picture. 

Lobby Cutout Displays 

Draw in Bridgton, Me. 

Lobby displays and window tieups have 

been helpful in exploiting current and coming 

attractions for T. W. Hanlon. manager 

of the State Theatre, Bridgton, Maine. For 

the recent showing of "Miss Tatlock's Millions," 

an attractive lobby cutout was made 

from a three-sheet and backed against an 

attractive backboard. A barrel was placed 

in front of the display with a sign, "Dollars 

to doughnuts you'll have a barrel of 

fun, 

etc." 

For "The Three Musketeers," a six-sheet 

illustration of the two stars in a romantic 

pose was cut out and placed alongside a sign, 

simulating a scroll, with the title, cast and 

playdates. 

In conjunction with "A Song Is Born," the 

Bridgton Radio and Muscic Co. used a full 

window tieing in the theatre playdates with 

attractive posters and the catchline, "A new 

note arrives, 'A Song Is Born.' " 

Promotes Army Exhibit 

Len McGuire, manager of the Odeon, Port 

Arthur, Ont., tied up with local army headquarters 

for a lobby display of lethal weapons 

in connection with the showing of "Rogues' 

Regiment." Various types of machine guns, 

radar and other equipment were displayed in 

the lobby under the watchful eye of army 

personnel. 

Radio Show Aids Matinee 

In connection with the engagement of 

"Family Honeymoon" at the Lincoln, Miami 

Beach, a tieup was made with the Mutual 

network for a special broadcast on the True 

or False radio show during daUy matinee 

performances. The program, heard from 

coast to coast over 500 stations, was an 

added means of attracting capacity audiences. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandisei May 7, 1949 —135- 29

Fred Reelh, manager of the Capitol, Madison, 

Wis., got better than average reader-attention 

with a series of clever teaser 

ads he created for "Every Girl Should Be 

Married." Unusual layouts on regular 

amusement page drew excellent comment. 

Hospital Benefits 

From Style Show 

Several unusual features were incorporated 

into an Easter fashion show promoted by 

Bob Wade, manager of the Playhouse, Canandalgua, 

N. Y. The promotion brought 

extra business to the theatre and created 

goodwill when Wade announced that 10 per 

cent of the theatre gross would be donated to 

the hospital fund drive. The catch was that 

Wade obtained an agreement from the owner 

of the store sponsoring the fashion show to 

donate this 10 per cent for the theatre, which 

permitted the theatre to keep its gross while 

getting the credit for the donation. 

One of the highlights of the show itself was 

an auction sale of merchandise promoted 

from five local firms. The entire amount 

realized from the auction was also donated to 

the hospital fund. 

The fashion show was well publicized by 

the Canandaigua papers as well as the 

Rochester dailies. The theatre was lauded 

for its gesture of public spirit, and Wade received 

a letter from the head of the hospital 

drive thanking him and his organization for 

their efforts. 

Old Sombrero Is Topper 

For 'Mexican Hayride' 

Cy Mee, manager of the Masonic Theatre, 

Clifton Forge, Va., located a Mexican sombrero 

around the house, brought it to the 

theatre and had one of the usherettes wear 

it as an advance gag for "Mexican Hayride." 

He reports that it attracted plenty of comment. 

For "T Shot Jesse James," Mee had 

large circulars printed, giving the lyrics of 

the oldtime song favorite, "The Dirty Little 

Coward Who Shot Mr. Howard." The song 

is featured in the film and the stunt helped 

increase grosses. 

Slides of Fight Photos 

Projected in Lobby 

As 'Set-Up' Stunt 

strong newspaper, radio and television 

promotion helped to exploit "The Set-Up" at 

the Palace, Cincinnati. The campaign was 

worked out by publicist Nate Wise and Manager 

Elwood Jones. 

The newspaper campaign, one of the 

heaviest used at the theatre in recent months, 

netted exceptional publicity breaks. Five 

television spots were pm-chased on WLWT, 

following sports programs. 

Radio advertising 

was used on WCPO, WKRC and WSAI and 

was supplemented with spot announcements, 

promoted gratis. 

In the theatre lobby, a slide machine was 

set up with 20, 8x10 slides showing famous 

historic fight scenes which were borrowed 

from the morgue of the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Interspersed with these famous fight photos 

were stills 

and credit cards on "The Set-Up." 

The machine was geared to change the slides 

automatically every- 15 seconds. During the 

current run of the picture, the slide machine 

was set up in the window of TWA at busy 

Fifth and Walnut Streets. 

Teaser trailers, cross trailers in local RKO 

houses, 40x60s in the other houses and 50 

special display cards in store windows helped 

to promote the dates. Wise arranged a special 

screening for sports writers, members of 

the local boxing commission, fight referees 

and promoters. 

Shows Exhibit for 'Blade' 

Bill Knaus, manager of the Park Theatre, 

Morristown, N. J., promoted a large exhibit 

of swords, sabers, etc., from the armed forces 

recruiting drive as an advance lobby display 

for "The Gallant Blade." The saber theme 

of the picture was tied in with the drive. 

iHWWNrÂUMir46 Its 

YOU 

MUST 

VANHEdlNROBERTRYAN 

^nm 

FREd'zinNEMANN f«-«.6,WllUAM H.WRIGHT 

Erv Clumb, ad manager for the Towne 

in Milwaukee, created this impressive 

"see" layout for "Act of Violence." The 

ad conveys all the action of the picture 

to the reader with dramatic impact. 

JoanoÂrc 

INOWPLAYJNSl 

Howard Pugh, manager of the Strand. 

Lexington, Ky., increased his newspaper 

space for "oan of Arc" by enlisting the 

aid of his county beauty shop operators. 

Above ad, reduced from original threecolumn 

size, cost the theatre nothing. 

Sidewalk Ballyhoos 

Boosters for 'Letter' 

Lou Fuhi-mann, manager of the Milford 

(Del.) Theatre, sold the back page of a 

herald to a clothing store to exploit "A Letter 

to Three Wives." Copy tiein was, " 'A Letter 

to Three Wives' or three thousand," Merchant 

tiein copy and theatre credits were included. 

Fuhrmann used two street ballyhoos. In 

one he tied up with the Ford distributor and 

arranged for three girls to perch on the back 

of a convertible car. holding letters they were 

apparently reading. Signs gave the theatre 

playdates. Another car followed this with a 

public address system and the driver making 

personal plugs. The other bally was a small 

boy walking around town with a sign covering 

his rear. Copy read, "For the surprise 

ending of the year, see etc., etc." 

In conjunction with "So Dear to My Heart," 

Fuhrmann landed attractive window displays 

in music stores, tying in the Capitol record 

display piece with picture accessories and 

theatre copy. The Sears, Roebuck & Co. store 

used a display tied in with theii- book club. 

Patrons Get Free Food 

On 'Sunday Afternoon' 

In conjunction with the opening of "One 

Simday Afternoon" at the Woods Theatre, 

Detroit, publicist Alice Gorham tied up with 

a manufacturer of home freezing units for 

a display of equipment in the theatre lobby. 

The first 250 women who attended the opening 

performance received a gift of a frozen 

food package. A home economist from the 

electric light company gave a talk and demonstration 

on home freezing technique, which 

was picked up for a television broadcast. Additional 

prizes were promoted for distribution 

dm-ing the com-se of the show, prior to the 

regular performance. 

30 -136- BOXOFFICE Showmandiser May 7, 1949

Cooperation of Army, 

Plus Mayor's Decree 

Launches Tighter' 

John Harrison, manager of the Lyric. Waycross, 

Ga., received extensive cooperation 

from the air corps, the mayor and the newspaper 

in connection with his campaign on 

"Fighter Squadron." The army provided a 

cutaway B29 motor and automatic pilot 

which were displayed in a huge trailer in 

front of the theatre. Army personnel from 

Warner Robins field manned the sidewalk 

exhibit. 

The Savannah recruiting station supplied 

an army sound truck and plugged recruiting 

and the picture for three days. A booth 

also was set up in front of the Lyric. One 

of the fliers who appears In "Fighter Squadron" 

made a personal appearance on the 

Lyric stage during the engagement. 

The mayor of Waycross issued a proclamation 

designating the week of playdate as 

Aviation Cadet week. This was publicized 

extensively in the newspaper. Five days before 

opening, the paper used a plane recognition 

contest which received wide attention. 

Theatre tickets were given for correct answers. 

Nearly 500 helium filled balloons with .small 

imprinted cardboard airplanes attached were 

released into the air. A 24-sheet was mounted 

and hung acrcss the front of the building 

and was illuminated during the evening 

hours. 

Newspaper Co-Ops Spark 

'Smith' in Auburn. N.Y. 

Co-op advertising was Manager Ken 

Stephany's strong forte in his campaign for 

"Whispering Smith" at the Auburn (N. Y.) 

Theatre. He promoted a shoe store for a 2- 

column, 9-inch ad in which the store offered 

free theatre tickets to the first five purchasers 

named Smith on opening day of the 

picture. The ad included a scene mat from 

the film and playdates. 

A clothing store used a 3-column, 14-inch 

ad with the same offer, and three other stores 

used similar ads. A dry cleaning establishment 

was promoted for the same tieup which 

they announced in its radio advertising. 

Cards to Women's Clubs 

Aid 'Birth of Nation' 

In advance of playing "Birth of a Nation" 

at the Telenews in Dallas, Manager Jim 

Prgddy mailed 700 post cards to principals 

of schools and history teachers, the local 

chapter of the United Daughters of the 

Confederacy, the Bonnie Blue Flag chapter 

of the UDC, and the Southern Memorial 

group. Ten 24-sheets were posted on important 

highways leading into the city, and 50 

thi'ee-sheets were posed in and around Dallas. 

Newspaper cooperation was excellent and a 

special theatre front helped to promote the 

playdates. 

Herald Is Promoted 

Fred Lentz, manager of the Athena Theatre, 

Athens, Ohio, used an attractive herald 

in conjunction with "Unknown Island" and 

"Northwest Passage." The color combination 

was brown on yellow stock, with action mats 

on both incorporated with strong selling copy. 

$5.07 saved a contract 

.••and a man's business 

Special switches were needed to complete an electrical instrument contract. 

Late delivery of finished items would kill chances of future orders and lay off men. 

Switches were 1100 miles away, but Air Express delivered the 15-lb. package 

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BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 7, 1949 —137— 31

Theatreman Praised for Giving Aid 

To Disaster Victims of Tornado 

Evidence of the goodwill promoted for 

the Hoyt Theatre, Fort Smith, Ark., following 

a tornado at Warren (Ark.), which 

'eft disa.ster in its wake, is still being received 

by Remmel Young, city manager 

for Malco Theatres in Port Smith. 

Early last January, a tornado killed and 

injured almost 300 people in the neighboring 

community. Organizations and city 

officials in Fort Smith made an immediate 

appeal for food, clothing and cash to help 

the disaster victims. Young immediately 

offered the use of the Hoyt Theatre as a 

collection agency for all items of shipment. 

He personally took charge of sorting, packing 

and loading all items donated by residents 

in Fort Smith. 

Front page stories in the Times Record 

and Southwest American kept the theatre 

Newspaper Spread Breaks 

For Thank You' Drive 

Paul Cummings, manager of the Martin 

Theatre, Douglas, Ga., promoted a four-column 

art spread in local newspapers with pictures 

and a story concerning "Thank You" 

week at the Martin. Any patron who failed 

to receive a "thank you" from an employe 

asked for and received a pass. Only one 

slip-up during the week cost the theatre a 

single pass. 

Five-Day Air Contest 

Builds Interest in 

'Every Sunday' 

name before the public for many days. In 

addition to receiving thanks from scores 

Novelty gimmicks, radio plugs and merchant 

tieups helped exploit "Chicken Every 

of stricken persons in the disaster area 

and from local service groups and civic officials. 

Young received the following let- 

Sunday" at the College Theatre, New Haven. 

Sid Kleper, manager, promoted a five-day 

ter from Jim Hurley, mayor of the city of 

contest over radio station WELI on "Why I 

Warren 

like 'Chicken Every Sunday.' " Chicken dinners, 

promoted from a local restaurant, and 

"I am certainly late in passing on to you 

my expression of appreciation for the fine 

guest tickets were awarded as prizes. 

work you did for our tornado victims. The A crate of live chickens mounted on a small 

funds you collected and sent in, as well as 

truck with signs announcing the dates was 

the clothes, were very much appreciated. used for street ballyhoo. Ten thousand 

Citizens of your type are what makes the 

napkins and menus were imprinted for distribution 

in restaurants and soda fountains 

United States what it is today, and I hope 

never to be alive when we do not have men throughout the city. A leading food store 

of your caliber. If you are ever down our 

sponsored an egg guessing contest in the 

way. be sure to look me up, and may you 

window, with theatre tickets as prizes. Feed 

continue to be successful in your line of and chick stores displayed signs in windows 

business." 

and on counters, and a women's shop featured 

a full window based on the bridal gown 

shown in one of the stills from the film production, 

Kleper offered $5.00 for the best chicken 

School Bulletin Boards 

recipe submitted to the woman's page editor 

Proclaim 'Knock' Date 

of the Register, and garnered many times 

The bulletin boards of four senior high that amount in free newspaper space. A giant 

schools in Worcester, Mass., were placarded wishbone was sent to the editor of the 

with playdate information on "Knock on Any Clarion, resulting in a special news break. 

Door," through contacts made by Robert Glassine bags imprinted with copy, "Which 

Portle, manager of the Loew's Poll Elm Street. 

came first, the chicken or the egg, etc." were 

Cards also were placed in the main library filled with jelly beans and distributed to theatre 

patrons and pedestrians. A co-op ad was 

and four sublibraries in town, in addition to 

many window and counter displays at promoted local 

from Kresge's in conjunction with 

shops. 

a new chicken department which the store 

recently installed. This was tied in with a 

lucky number contest. 

Annual Spelling Contest 

Is Supported by Schools 

Joe Faith, owner-manager of the Linn 

(Mo.) Theatre, reports the successful culmination 

of his second annual spelling contest 

for rural and elementary schools 

throughout the county. Faith's tieup, a duplication 

of last year's promotion, was made 

with the county superintendent of schools 

for a spelling bee on the theatre stage. 

Thirty-seven schools were represented in the 

bee, and Faith personally made display signs 

to publicize the tieup. 

Local newspapers cooperated with stories, 

writeups and a photo of the entrants as they 

appeared on the Linn stage. Faith reports 

that words of praise were received from 

teachers and parents alike, with most of the 

entrants bringing along their personal rpoting 

sections to help business. 

Photo Giveaways Boost 

Grosses in Monon, Ind. 

A stunt which worked well with the small 

fry for Oral Ledbetter, manager of the 

Howard Theatre, Monon, Ind., is now helping 

to attract adult patronage on Tuesday nights. 

Ledbetter originated the stunt by offering 

free color fan photos to youngsters attending 

the Saturday matinee shows. Recently 

ALTEC 

he selected a star who is popular locally and 

offered photos to all patrons on Tuesday 

nights. He reports tremendous interest in 

the giveaway, with many patrons asking for 

IBI Sixth Avenue, New York 13. N. Y. • 1161 N. Vine St.. Hollywood 38. Calif. the name of the star whose photo will be 

awarded the following week. 

IF THEY DONT LIKE THE SOUND 

THEY DON'T LIKE THE SHOW 

better get the best 

"VOICE of the THEATRE" 

SPEAKER SYSTEMS 

32 —138— BOXOFHCE Showmandiser :: May 7, 1949

School Aid Enlisted 

For 'Secret 

Land' 

In Morrilton, Ark. 

School tieins. personal endorsement, outdoor 

posting and cooperative advertising 

helped bring excellent business to the Rialto 

in Morrilton. Ark., during the run of "The 

Secret Land." Ralph Rothman, manager, 

used two-column teaser ads in the Morrilton 

Democrat two weeks prior to opening. 

"Tirough playing up the Academy awards 

A'on by the film in the theatre's regular 

newspaper display ads. special interest was 

developed for the picture. 

A full-page newspaper ad was obtained 

which cost the theatre nothing and provided 

a three-column. 18-inch plug for the picture 

and playdates. Six local business firms dealing 

in refrigeration or merchants with air 

conditioned stores were selected for the tiein 

here. 

One thousand special heralds were distributed 

advantageously to homes throughout 

the area. A 24-sheet board was erected over 

the marquee, and a litho poster helped to 

attract the attention of motorists and passersby. 

During the current engagement, a 

false front was created from lithos as an 

extra flash. 

Rothman contacted the school superintendent, 

sold him on the educational value 

of the picture, and was successful in arranging 

posters on bulletin boards in addition to 

getting personal comment directed to the student 

body. One hundred and twenty-six 

students, comprising the entire enrollment 

at the Sacred Heart school of Morrilton, attended 

the opening performance in a group 

as regular paying patrons. 

A personal endorsement signed by Rothman 

was mailed to all business firms in the 

city and was also run in a two-column, fourinch 

ad in the center of the cooperative newspaper 

ad. 

New-Type Music Record 

Is Giveaway Stimulant 

The new 45 rpm record player and plastic 

unbreakable record, recently developed by 

RCA Victor, netted Harry Corlew, manager 

of the Rialto, Glens Falls, N. Y., a fine tieup. 

The Niagara Electrical Equipment Co. was 

sold on the idea of giving away two of the 

new record players and 100 records through 

the Rialto. The sponsor used a full page 

newspaper ad to tell the townspeople about 

the theatre giveaway and used a full window 

display giving the details. 

Corlew got the local disk jockey to plug the 

giveaway and arranged for record wdnners to 

exchange their prizes for standard type 

records, just in case. 

Promotes 'Chicken 

Co-op 

Duke Stalcup, manager of the Martin Theatre 

in Opelika, Ala., promoted a threecolumn 

co-op newspaper ad in conjunction 

with "Chicken Every Sunday." Merchant 

tiein copy connected the dealer and theatre 

attraction. For a novelty herald, a cut of a 

fried chicken was overimprinted with theatre 

copy topped by the catchline, "You will 

really enjoy ..." A toothpick was fastened 

to each circular by means of cellophane 

sticking 

paper. 

A New Filmack Catalog 

A special catalog devoted to advertising 

and exploitation ideas for drive-in theatres 

has been published by the Filmack Trailer 

Co. of Chicago, according to Hal Perlman, 

Filmack advertising head. It is now being 

distributed to all drive-in theatres in the 

country. 

Erects Hitching Post 

In conjunction with the per-sonal appearance 

of Tex Ritter at the Pix Theatre. Evergreen, 

Ala., manager Clarence Moses used a 

hitching post out front with an offer of free 

admission to patrons arriving on horseback. 

A horse and rider ballyhoo also promoted 

interest in the attraction. 

Appreciation Night Builds 

Business and Goodwill 

When the Lion's club in Delaware, Ohio, 

set an Appreciation night to honor the Willis 

High school basketball team, winner of the 

CBL championship, Lou Mstrcks, manager of 

the Strand Theatre here, persuaded the organization 

to hold the event on the theatre 

stage. Tieup helped the theatre gross and 

created goodwill. The event was publicized 

throughout the school system via public address 

system, with the principal urging the 

students to support the project. Lion's club 

members and shopkeepers displayed signs in 

their windows and the paper came through 

with several stories and art. With the high 

school band, cheerleaders, the basketball 

team, school superintendant and principal on 

hand, a colorful stage ceremony was enacted. 

AGAIN in 1948 as in 1947 

Alexander chalked up the biggest year in its entire history. 

And to Alexander Theatre Partners this means 

greater revenue in '49. 

For thirty years producers and distributors of theatre 

screen advertising, Alexanders were first to introduce 

SOUND . . . first to introduce COLOR in movie ads. 

Alexander representatives will welcome the opportunity 

to show you how the Theatre Partner Plan will increase 

your revenue. 

Write us today. 

Colorado Springs, Colo. 

When Better Movie Ads Are Made . 

. . Alexartder Will Make Them 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser May 7, 1949 —139—

Radio Show on Stage 

For 'Dear to My Heart' 

In conjunction with "So Dear to My Heart," 

Robert Beamer, manager of tlie Pulaski (Va.'i 

Theatre, tied up with radio station WPUV 

and the Roanoke City Mills, sponsors of the 

Dotty Doolittle story hour, to present the 

radio program on the theatre stage. 

The Roanoke City Mills sponsored a 

quarter-page ad in the Sunday paper, plugging 

both the stage and screen attractions. 

The sponsor also paid line charges for the 

broadcast. Although the stage show was 

originally for one night, due to the large 

turnaway crowd it was held over for the 

second day of "So Dear to My Heart." 

Beamer mailed 400 postal cards to rural 

householders, with special imprints on "So 

Dear to My Heart." Ten days prior to opening, 

a window tieup was set with an electric 

appliance firm. Radio spot announcements 

also helped to exploit the tieup, and Beamer 

reports an increase of 50 per cent over normal 

business. 

Penney Store Tieup Aids 

'The Paleface' in South 

J. N. Fendley, manager of the Martin Theatre, 

Andalusia, Ala., tied up with the J. C. 

Penney store and Buttons and Bows patterns 

for his campaign on "The Paleface." A sixsheet 

and credit card were displayed in the 

store window with merchandise tieins. The 

store also gave away a Buttons and Bows 

pattern with each pattern purchased and advertised 

this in the newspaper with theatre 

credit. Fendley offered theatre tickets to 

"The Paleface" for housewives entering outstanding 

home-made aprons, and displayed 

the entries in the lobby for an advance buildup. 

Gum Tieup for 'Family' 

Walter Kessler, manager of the Ohio Theatre 

in Columbus, tied up with the Topps 

chewing gum people for free samples in connection 

with "Family Honeymoon." A theatre 

employe distributed the samples from a 

box to which was attached a sign reading, 

"It's Topps. See 'Family Honeymoon,' etc., 

etc." 

'Kiss' Ads Less Title 

Prove Effective 

John Dickson, manager of the Elmo Theatre, 

St. Elmo, 111., has submitted his campaign 

on "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" as 

an entry for the U-I Unity drive contest. 

Because Dickson feared the title of the 

picture would be offensive to his patrons, he 

omitted the title in all advertising but included 

copy stating that the critics gave the 

picture excellent reviews. This unique angle 

created excellent word-of-mouth comment 

which reacted favorably at the boxoffice. 

Dickson inserted a blank piece of film in 

the preview trailer in place of the title, then 

ran scenes and followed this with a strip announcing 

that the audience had just witnessed 

highlights of the coming attraction. 

The word-of-mouth advertising caused by 

this stunt jumped the theatre's normal gross 

from an average of $60 to almost $200. 

No extra money was expended on the campaign 

other than the usual newspaper ads 

and monthly calendar. 

CLEARING HOUSE 

(Continued from inside back cover) 

THEATRE SEATING 

THEATRE SEATING (Cont'd) 

425 red plush fully upholstered p.idded back and 

bo.\spring chairs, a beautiful lot, formerly $4.95, 

now $3.95: 239 rebuilt Heywood inserted panel 

back, spring cushion chairs, formerly $5.95, 

now $4.95 and others reduced during April and 

May. Bargain seekers here's your spot. Ask for 

Chair Bulletin 15. Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema Supoly 

Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., N. Y. 19. 

Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quotation. 

Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5. 

Patch-0-Seat cement Patching cloth, solvent. 

etc. Fensin Seating Co.. Chicago S. 

Tighten loose chairs with Permastone anchor 

cement. Fenski Seating Co., Chicago B. 

Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chairs. 

Fensin Seating Co.. Chicago 6. 

Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quantity 

wanted. Photographs mailed with quotation. Fensin 

Seating Co.. Chicago 5, 

American and Heywood upholstered back, spring 

cushions. $3 each. All chairs guaranteed. Special 

prices win be offered for lots of SOO chairs. 

Convenient terms can be offered. Write, wire or 

call Jack McQratb, 1046 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. 

Theatre Chairs, 3,000 In stock, $1.B0 each up. 

Used spring cushioned part full upholstered back 

and part insert panel back with spring edge and 

boi spring cushions. 1,000 venei. chairs, 800 

good backs, 500 spring cushions and tilnges. 

Write for prices and photographs. Immediate delivery: 

advise how many you need. We export 

chairs anywhere. Jesse Cole, 2565 McClellan Ave., 

Valley 23445. Detroit, Mich. 

No more torn seats: Repair with the original 

Patch-A-Sent. Complete kit $6. General Chair 

Co.. Chicago 22, ni. 

Many years In the seating business Is your 

guarantee. Good used chairs are not too plentiful 

but we have the pick. Full upholstered, panel 

hack and many other styles. We furnish proper 

slope or level standards to fit your floor. All 

size 18x21-lnch chairs. Our prices are the lowest. 

Write for exact photo and price. We furnish parts 

for all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic 

coated leatherette 2Bi26-lnch, .ill colors. B5c ea. 

Chicago Used Chair Mart, 829 South State St. 

rhlcago 5. Ill, 

No more loose chairs; Get "Flrmastone" Anchor 

cement, $S per hoi. General Chair Co., Chicago 

22. 111. 

Chair Parts: We furnish most any part you require. 

Send sample for price, brackets, backs 

and seats. General Chair Co.. 1308 E3sto

White Collar Unions 

Picket Loew Houses 

NEW YORK—The Screen Publicists Guild 

and the Screen Office and Professional Employes, 

both CIO unions, have launched a 

picketing and leaflet distribution campaign 

against Loew's theatres in five metropolitan 

boroughs in an effort to force the major 

companies to negotiate new wage contracts 

with "white collar" workers. 

The two unions, comprising office workers, 

publicity, advertising and exploitation in the 

home offices, held contracts with the companies 

from 1942 to September 1948, when 

the last agreement expired. Since then, a new 

contract has been signed with Eagle Lion but 

efforts to negotiate "with the rest of the industry 

have proved fruitless," a SOPEO 

spokesman said. 

The joint membership, which held a 

strategy meeting at the Park Sheraton hotel 

May 3, also empowered a committee to extend 

the picketing and leaflet distribution to other 

theatres in subsequent weeks. The membership 

also will take a strike vote if the companies 

continue to refuse to negotiate "an 

adequate contract." 

Republic's home office "white collar" workers 

have voted two-to-one in favor of an 

AFL union shop in an election conducted by 

the National Labor Relations Board, according 

to Joseph M. Conlon, business manager 

for Local H-63, lATSE. The AFL union recently 

won the Republic unit away from 

SOPEG. 

Abe Adelson Dead at 64; 

Built N.Y. Film Center 

BEVERLY HILLS—Abe N. Adelson, real 

estate operator who built the New York Film 

Center building in 1928, died May 3 of a heart 

attack. He was 64. He also built the Squibb 

Bldg. and other skyscrapers in midtown New 

York. During recent years he had been active 

in real estate and construction work in Kansas 

City, Mo., and Beverly Hills. He was born 

In New York. 

His survivors include his wife Florence and 

two daughters, Mrs. Rita Edelman, wife of 

Lou Edelman, a Warner Bros, producer, and 

Mrs. Sidney Goulding. 

Lengthy Stanley-Kogod Quarrel 

Riles Judge; End it. He Says 

WASHINGTON—Federal Judge Matthew 

McGuire scolded attorneys for both Warners' 

Stanley Corp. and the local Kogod- 

Burka circuit here Wednesday as he called 

upon both to bring their lengthy dispute over 

the MacArthur Theatre here to settlement 

He termed the partnership of the two corporations 

in the theatre an "unwelcome marriage" 

which both would gladly terminate if 

only the alimony terms could be agreed upon. 

He will rule on pending motions by June 15, 

he said. 

Attorneys for the two corporations, who had 

a week ago reached a tentative solution, said 

Wednesday they are now so far apart that 

it seems improbable that settlement will be 

reached out of court. 

Stumbling block is the agreement made by 

the partnership three years ago that within 

a two-year period it would erect another theatre 

in Washington. This agreement was 

made to satisfy the Kass Realty Co., which 

had been building a theatre for Warners' on 

MacArthur boulevard, Washington, when 

Warner agreed to abandon this structure and 

form a partnership with KB in the new 

.structure KB was building a few blocks away, 

KB had earlier brought suit against Warners, 

charging that Warners was building simply 

to force KB out of the area. 

Since then the two principals have been 

unable to agree upon a site for the new theatre. 

The contract calls for the posting of a 

$100,000 bond, and KB proposed last week 

that it would order Kass to proceed with construction 

of a new theatre if the court would 

hold Warners accountable for $50,000 of the 

bond. Warners, on the theory that it will 

be out of the partnership, held that the contract 

clause providing for the force of circumstances 

beyond its control (in this case, 

federal court orders) relieved it of the obligation 

to post the bond. 

The argument dwelt in part upon whether 

an oral extension of this contract between 

Kass and the partnership was valid. KB said 

it was not and that the site it had selected 

in January of last year, at the end of the twoyear 

contract period, should be the site of the 

new theatre. Warners insisted that the tenmonth 

extension orally agreed upon by Kass 

was legal, and that therefore the site it 

chose last November should be the site of the 

new theatre. Warners argued that it had 

the right to lease a new theatre under the 

terms of present court judgments in the 

Paramount case. 

Theatre Safe at Buffalo 

Is Looted of Over $300 

BUFFALO—Burglars used a heavy sledgehammer 

to batter open a safe in the office 

of the Jubilee Theatre, 1884 Niagara St. They 

took between $300 and $400 in cash. Sidney 

J. Cohen, theatre owner, said the sledge was 

left near the strongbox. The thieves forced a 

side door and smashed a panel in the office 

door to release the catch. Cohen said the 

money represented theatre receipts for Monday, 

Tuesday and Wednesday, 

James H. Beasley, assstant manager, said 

he believes they secreted themselves in the 

theatre after the la,st show. 

Mills loins Film Center 

NEW YORK—James H. Mills has been put 

in charge of sales to foundations and public 

relations, religious and educational organizations 

by the Princeton Film Center, according 

to Gordon Knox, executive director. Mills 

was previously with the public relations firm 

of Pendray & Leibert. His headquarters will 

be at 625 Madison Ave. 

Brecher, Goldberg Head 

Independents in Drive 

NEW YORK—Leo Brecher, head of the 

circuit bearing his name, and J. Joshua Goldberg, 

vice-president of Raybond Theatres. 

have become co-chairmen of the independent 

exhibitors committee of the motion picture 

division of the Greater New York fund campaign, 

according to Malcolm Kingsberg, 

president of RKO Theatres and chairman of 

the division. 

800-Car Airer Under Way 

By Louis Drew at Olean 

BUFFALO—An 800-car drive-in is being 

constructed on Route 17 near Olean, by Louis 

Drew, operator of the Delaware Drive-In 

near Tonawanda. It is expected to be opened 

Decoration day. Drew has spent more than 

$20,000 on the Delaware this year, including 

grading and landscaping. The refreshment 

stand has been expanded. 

HOST TO WASHINGTON FILM MEN— Rudolph Berger, MGM southern division 

sales manager, was host to film buyers and bookers in the Washington area at a 

luncheon at the Variety Club. Shown in the accompanying picture, left to right, sitting, 

are Loyd Wineland, Wineland Theatres; Berger and George Werner, Warner Bros.; 

standing, Clark Davis, District Theatres; Louis Ribnitzski, Warner Bros.; Harry Bachman, 

Circle Theatre; George Crouch, Warner Washington zone manager; Jerry Adams, 

MGM Washington branch manager, and George Wheeler, District Theatres. 


. . H. 

. . William 

. . George 

. . Jane 

BROADWAY 

Tack L. Warner, president of the Los Angeles 

United Jewish Welfare fund drive, 

and Henry Ginsberg, industry chairman, 

attended a May 4 dinner celebrat ng the 

first anniversai-y of the state of Israel, 

and then returned to the coast. Tliey 

were invited to the dinner by Dr. 

Chaim Weizmann, president of Israel, through 

Henry Morgenthau jr., UJA general chairman 

. . . Neil Agnew, president of the 

Motion Picture Sales Corp., arrived at Le 

Havre May 3 and went immediately to Paris 

where he made the Lancaster hotel his temporary 

headquarters . M. Kalmine, 

president of Warner Bros. Theatres, and 

Rudy We:ss of the real estate department 

returned after a weekend in New England. 

Henry A. Linet, U-I eastern advertising 

manager, is back after helping to open "City 

Across 

berg of 

from Oklahoma 

the in 

the MGM legal 

City 

River" Detroit Jay Eisen- 

. . . 

department returned 

George Seaton, 

. . . 

20th Century-Fox writer-producer, sailed 

with h's family May 4 for Germany where 

he will direct a film on the air lift . . . Norman 

Mathews, production director for the 

Princeton film center, is back from Venezuela 

for a technical conference. The center 

has a crew there making documentary 

films . . . MGM arrivals during the week included 

Andrew Marton, Gene Kelly, Hal Rosson, 

Stanley Donen, Prank Sinatra, Jules 

Munshin, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Lela 

Simone and Jack Gertsman all of whom will 

take part in making a Technicolor musical 

in Brooklyn. 

SELZNICK AWARD—David 

JOE HORNSTEIN, Inc. 

engagement at the adjacent Fulton Theatre. 

"The Home of the Brave," 

630 Ninth At*.. N«w 

Stanley Kramer's 

production for United Artists, will fol- 

Yoik Citr 

low at the Victoria May 12. 

O. Selznick 

(left) receives an award in recognition 

of his signal contribution to the 

popularization of the fine arts from Kenneth 

J. Beebe, president of the American 

Schools and Colleges Ass'n in New York 

City. Award was made on the Mary Margaret 

McBride program over WNBC. 

Miss McBride is in the center. 

paigns were Herman Kass in Plttsfield, 

MGM field sales and exchange managers 

arriving for conferences were Frank C. Hensler 

and Frank J. Downey from Detroit 

Edwin C. Booth from Cincinnati . . . Harold 

and 

Dudoff, U-I manager in Fîerto Rico, is here 

for a three-week stay . . . Mrs. Edward G. 

Robinson, wife of the film star, sailed May 

4 for Europe Roy O. Disney, president 

of 

. . . 

Walt Disney Prod., is talking distribution 

on "Ichabod and Mr. Toad" and 

land" with RKO. 

"Seal Is- 

Sam Eckman jr., chairman of the board 

and managing director of MGM Pictures of 

Great Britain, is on a two-week vacation following 

recovery from his recent illness. Mrs. 

Eckman is with him . Wyman sailed 

May 5 for Europe . Cukor is preparing 

to shoot exteriors here . . . Peter Lawford 

came from the coast for a vacation . . . 

H. M. Richey visited Philadelph'a during the 

week 

. Z. Zoellner went to Oklahoma 

City for a brief stay . . . James Stewart 

and Clinton Sundberg were due to arrive 

from the coast over the weekend. 

'Joan of Arc' Completes 

Six Months on Broadway 

NEW YORK—"Joan of Arc," produced by 

Walter Wanger for RKO release, will complete 

a six-month run at the Victoria Theatre 

May U. More than one million persons 

have paid to see the film, according to RKO. 

During the Christmas holiday season, the 

picture also played a four-week reserved seat 

B. G. Kranze, vice-president and general 

sales manager for Film Classics, was on an 

exchange tour of Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, 

Los Angeles and San Francisco. He is expected 

back May 9 . . . Bernard Maguire of 

U-I studio sales contact is back at work 

after eight weeks in bed with a broken leg 

. . . Arthur Hornblow jr. and John Huston, 

recently arrived from abroad, went to the 

coast on MGM assignments, while Joe and 

Mrs. Pasternak arrived for a vacation. 

Amonir U-I men putting on special camtry 

Us and You'll Agree 

riLMACK 

SPECIAL TRAILERS 

Are "Best By Test . . . 

Quicker fhart the Restr 

CHICAGO -1327 S.Wabash 

NEW YORK- 619 W 54th St. 

NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND 

Mass.: Lou Gerard in Cleveland and Jerome 

Norman Siegel, publicity 

M. Evans in Dallas . . . 

and advertising director of the Para- 

mount Hollywood stud'o, met with home office 

executives on plans for new releases . . . 

John M. Antonuk of the U-I sales promotion 

art department will marry Anne Zorila of 

Yonkers June 4. 

'Strangers' Opening 

Is Big, Olhers Mild 

NEW YORK—Out of three new films, "We 

Were Strangers" at the Astor did strong business 

while the other two, "Adventure in 

Baltimore" at the Capitol and "Red Canyon" 

at the Criterion, were below average. "Canyon" 

stayed only one week. Best among 

the many holders were "Champion," in its 

third week at the Globe, the reissue of "The 

Wizard of Oz," in its third week at the Mayfair, 

and "Quartet," which still had waiting 

lines in its fifth week at the tiny Sutton. 

(Average Is 100) 

As'or—We Were Strangers (Col) 120 

Bijou—The Red Shoes (EL), 28th wk. of 

two-a-day 95 

Capitol—Adventure in Baltimore (RKOJ, plus 

stage show 95 

Criterion Red Canyon (U-I) 80 

Globe—Champion (UA), 4th wk !l20 

Little Carnegie—The Guinea Pig (Variety) 100 

Loew s State—Take Me Out to the Ball Game 

(MGM), 8th wk 80 

Mayfair—The Wizard of Oz (MGM), reissue, 

3rd wk 110 

Pork Avenue—Hamlet (U-1), 31st wk. of 

two-a-day 

IQO 

Paramoun'—The Undercover Man (Coi), plus 

stage show, 2nd wk 105 

Radio City Music Hall A Connecticut Yankee 

(Para), plus stage show, 4th wk lOJ 

Rio-lto—The Paven (FC); Murders in the Rue 

Morgue (FC), reissues 100 

Pivoli— Portrait of Jennie (SRO), 5th wk S5 

Roxy—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th-Fox), 

plus stage show, 3rd wk 100 

Str'-nd Mv Dream Is Yours (WB), plus stage 

show, 3rd wk 90 

Sutton—Quartet (EL), 5lh wk !II!ZIl05 

Trnns-Lux Madison Avenue Sleeping Car lo 

Trieste (EL), 3rd wk 100 

Victoria—Joan of Arc (RKO), 25th wk 75 

Stage Show Boosts Gross 

To 189 on Tile 649' 

BUFFALO—It was a big week here, with almost 

all houses reporting better than average 

grosses. The King Cole Trio stage show 

helped matters at the Hippodrome. "Mr. 

Belvedere Goes to College" was strong at the 

Buffalo because everybody was enthusiastic 

about Webb's last one, "Sitt'ng Pretty." "We 

Were Strangers" was good at the Lafayette, 

too. 

Buffalo-Mr. Belvedere Goes lo College 

(20th-Fox), Valiant Hombre (UA) 145 

Great Lakes—My Dream Is Yours (WB) 108 

Hippodrome—State Department. File G49 (FC), 

plus stage show 189 

Lafayette—We Were Strangers (Col); Rusty 

Saves a Life (Col) 130 

Teck—Gone With the Wind (MGM), reissue 63 

20th Century Adventure in Baltimore (RKO)- 

Train to Alcatraz (RKO) 100 

'Flamingo Road' Hits for High of 130 

As Grosses Sag in Philadelphia 

PHILADELPHIA—Business is 

sagging along 

Pilmrow this session, with the opening of 

"Flamingo Road" at the Mastbaum and a 

holdover of "A Connecticut Yankee" at 

Keith's about the only bright spots. 

Aldine—An Act of Murder (U-I) 75 

Arcadia—Down to the Sea in Ships (20th-Fox), 

2nd run IQO 

Boyd—Portrait of Jennie (SRO), 3rd wk .'.'."llO 

Earle Song of India (Col), plus stage show 100 

Goldman—Take Me Out lo the Ball Game 

(MGM), 4th wk . 75 

Karlton—Little Women (MGM), 5th wk 90 

Keith A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court (Para). 2nd wk 125 

Mastbaum Flamingo Road (WB) 130 

Stanley Knock on Any Door (Col) ... 110 

Stanton—The Walking Hills (Col) 60 

To Speak in Kentucky 

WASHINGTON—Edward T. Cheyfitz, 

IVIPAA labor authority, will talk on labormanagement 

cooperation before the Catholic 

Committee of the South at Lexington, 

Ky.. May 11. Secretary of Labor Maurice 

Tobin will be another speaker. 

36 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949

The Artnat Vltascope which pro|ecte(f the 

first theater movie, April 23, 1896. 

With this, 

the ''unseen showman" 

got his epoch-making start . 

THE 

projectionist has come a 

long, long way . . . since the 

I890's when he put on his show 

with equipment such as this. 

And today, as then, much of a 

motion picture's success depends 

upon the unseen showman in 

his booth. 

To his sure sense of splitsecond 

timing ... to his alert 

control of sound ... to his deft 

• 

handling of elaborate equipment 

. . . the film illusion owes much 

of its 

dramatic, realistic presentation 

on the screen. 

Helping the projectionist to 

keep the mechanics of the medium 

from intruding is the top 

quality of Eastman motion picture 

films (both sight and sound) 

. . . members of a famous family 

started more than fifty years ago. 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY 

ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. 

J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS 

FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD 

BOXOFHCE :: May 7, 1949 37

. . . 

Howard 

. . Gert 

. . Thalhimer 

Along New York's 

.By 

^fWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX will hold its 

annual boat ride June 15; destination, 

Bear mountain. The trip will be made on 

the Peter Stuyvesant. Lillian Gordon is booking 

petssage for the New York exchange 

workers 

. . . George Reisner of the York 

Theatre, Manhattan, soon will have his 

motorboat ready for the fishing season. AU 

Pilmrowers interested in joining Reisner 

should get in touch with Howard Levy of 

the MGM exchange, who will reserve passage. 

Tony Ricci, Republic salesman, soon will 

start flying his two-seater airplane. Tony 

received his pilot's license a year or two ago 

... He keeps it on his farm near Port 

Jervis, N. Y. He plans to reopen the place 

Decoration day . . . Harry La Vine has called 

a meeting of Loge 29 of the salesmen's union 

for May 10. 

Recent Loew's personnel changes; Grace 

Niles, manager of LoeWs Plaza, has been 

transferred to Loew's 86th Street . . . Mrs. 

Bessie Dove, manager of LoeWs 86th Street, 

has been transferred to Loew's 42nd Street 

• • . 

George Kirby, manager of Loew's 42nd 

Street, has been transferred to Loew's Olympia, 

succeeding Ben Newman, who has been 

shifted to Loew's Spooner. 

The Marlies Theatre Corp, now is operating 

the Park Theatre, Union City. Officers 

of the corporation are Albert Margulies, president; 

Irwin Margulies, treasurer, and Laura 

Perket, secretary . . . Henry Brown of Lakewood, 

who recently took over the Edison and 

Bell Cinema theatres in New York, has organzed 

two new corporations to operate 

them. The Edison will be operated by 

Ronansu Theatre Corp. Brown is president 

and Mandell B. Brown is vice-president and 

secretary. They hold similar positions in 

Mindell Theatre Corp., which operates the 

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WALTER WALDMAN. 

Filmrow 

Bell Cinema. Theodore Krassner is booking 

for both houses. 

The Motion Picture Bookers club met May 

3 to discuss entertainment plans for the annual 

dinner and dance to be held May 22 at 

the Hotel Commodore. Alex Arnswalder presided 

. . . Ann Jones, secretary to Seymour 

Florin, 20th-Fox manager, will celebrate her 

birthday May 14 . . . Mel Sherman of the 

U-I booking department wUl celebrate the 

first birthday of his son Arnold, May 22. 

Monty Salmon, managing director of the 

Rivoli Theatre, said that all mothers accompanied 

by a child were to be admitted free 

Mother's day. 

The Paramount softball schedule includes 

games with Film Classics, May 9; General 

Artists, May 16; American Broadcasting Co., 

May 25; Eagle Lion, June 1; 20th-Fox, June 

13; NBC, June 20, and NSS, June 22. All 

games wUl be held in Central park at the 

playground lawn near West 63rd street. The 

time, 6:30 p. m. This year's team includes • 

Al LoPresti, Charles Barcelona. Joe Mullane, 

Jerry Limata. Joe Socci, Morty Golden, Pete 

Ramella, George Dauenheimer, Dom Au'ciello, 

Tom Elsasser, Joe Bisdale, Howie Schmidt,' 

Prank Tencza and Ralph Riccio . . . Allen 

Levy, son of Dave Levy, U-I manager, will 

enter Harvard medical school in September. 

The U-I exchange employes have received 

their latest copies of U-I Progress, an attractively 

printed report of exchange, distribution 

and studio news. The lead article 

discusses every step of exchange operations 

from inspection to the duties of salesmen. 

It also reviews the early history of distribution 

and states that the first film exchange 

in the U.S. was started in 1902 by Harry 

J. Miles of San Francisco. By 1907 there 

were 150 exchanges throughout the country 

... At that time film was sold by producers 

by the foot (70 cents per footi to the exchange 

operators, who rented the film to the 

exhibitor ... In 1912 films appeared in the 

form of three-reel features. 

Arthur Paderewski Dies; 

Artist With Warners 

NEW YORK—Funeral services for Arthur 

Paderewski, 46, leading artist at the Warner 

Bros, home office, were held at the Park West 

Memorial chapel May 3. Paderewski, who 

had been with Warners since 1942, died May 

2 at Beth David hospital. Paderewski leaves 

a wife Jean, a daughter Francine and a son 

Irwin, a mother Yetta, as well as three 

sisters 

role 

and a brother. 

Bill Williams has been assgned a feature 

in "The BaU Bond Story," an RKO picture. 

Joint Defense Appeal 

Giles So He Fabian 

NEW YORK—Simon H. Fabian, president 

of Fabian Theatres, was cited for "his outstanding 

services in philanthi-opic causes" at 

the Joint Defense Appeal dinner at the 

Waldorf-Astoria hotel April 27. 

"Outstanding in the entertainment field 

for his leadership in all worthy endeavors, 

Mr. Fabian has unselfishly devoted his energies 

and time to help rebuild the lives of 

the surviving Jews of Europe, to find a 

haven for them in Israel and to underwrite 

the program for combating prejudice in 

America," Samuel D. Leidesdorf and Edmund 

Waterman, dinner chairmen, declared. 

Former Justice Joseph M. Proskauer, honorary 

president of the American Jewish committee, 

was guest of honor at the dinner. 

More than 600 leaders in the amusement, 

business and professional worlds attended. 

WASHINGTON 

Qharles F. Crawford, for many years manager 

of Hable's Gem Theatre here, died 

at his home in Silver Springs, Md., after an 

illness of 15 months. Crawford, who was 67, 

is survived by his wife, one son, a granddaughter 

and five sisters . 

circuit's 

Princess Theatre. South Boston, Va., 

was closed for several weeks after a fire 

April 26. Bookings have been diverted to the 

Halifax Theatre until the Princess reopens. 

Front Office Employes, Local F-13, has set 

up a $100 death benefit for members 

Twentieth Century-Fox head shipper Stanley 

Summers' grandson David O'Connor jr. celebrated 

his third birthday . . . Biller Josephine 

Deavers will be leaving soon to await 

a visit from the stork . . . Mrs. Joseph Cohan 

and her mother went to New York to attend 

a wedding. Daughter Corrine is taking a 

prominent part in the new Catholic university 

play, "Thank You, Just Looking" 

Sara Young's secretary Marion Bowen celebrated 

her sixth anniversary with 20th-Fox 

Minsky, home office executive, 

visited the local 20th Century-Fox office. 

Hazel McCarthy attended a reception at 

Georgetown university in honor of the Very 

Reverend J. 

dent 

. . . Alice 

Hunter Guthrie, 

Reighlly returned 

the new presi- 

to her desk 

after an illness of three weeks in the hospital 

. . . RKO Pathe screened "Fraud Fighters" 

for top government officials, particularly 

those concerned with enforcement of the 

food and drug laws . 

Epstein resigned 

from Film Classics. She is replaced by Joe 

Demaio who formerly was selling for Kay 

Films 

. . . John Constantino, Film Classics 

home office auditor, was in town . . . Bob 

Summerson, Durbin Theatre, Durbin, W. Va., 

was here booking for his Durbin and Cass 

theatres. 

I SX CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOR 

* THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru 

ATLANTA: Astor. W. M. Richardson 

(3) 163 Walton St.. NW 

DALLAS: Jenldns & Bourgeois. Astor 

(1) Harwood i Jackson Streets 

NEW ORLEANS: Dixie, R. A. (Bob) Kellv 

(13) 218 S. LibortY 

BOXOFnCE May 7, 1949

. . Kirk 

John Huston Is Winner 

Of One World Award 

NEW YORK—John Huston, winner of 

the 

1948 Academy award for his direction and 

writing of "Treasure of Sierra Madre," will 

be the winner of the special One World award 

for motion pictures for 1949, according to 

Jacques F. Ferrand, executive secretary of 

the One World committee. His award is a 

globe-circling airplane trip, patterned after 

Wendel Wilkie's flight around the world in 

1942. 

Awards also will be presented to Hartley 

Crum for the press and to Ira Hirschmann 

for music at the fifth annual One World 

award presentation ceremonies and dinner at 

the Hotel Plaza May 11. Huston was selected 

winner "in view of the One World standards 

he has maintained in such pictures as "The 

Battle of San Pietro' and 'We Were Strangers,' 

the high quality of his work through 

which he has earned the acclaim of the nation's 

experts, and particularly in view of the 

outstanding project connected with his one 

world mission which will be announced at 

the presentation ceremonies." 

Huston, who flew in from Europe to attend 

the opening of "We Were Strangers" at the 

Astor Theatre April 27, will remain in New 

York to receive the award. 

Warner Managers Meet 

For Albany Discussions 

ALBANY—Production, promotion and operation 

were discussed at an eastern district 

Warner Theatres managers meeting here. 

Charles A. Smakwitz, zone chief, presided and 

urged redoubled efforts to sell pictures, 

stimulate business and achieve greater efficiency. 

Jim Faughnan, contact manager, 

was another speaker. 

Those in attendance included Andy Roy, 

Utica city manager; George Laurie, the Avon; 

Jack Breslin. the Utica; Sid Sommers, Troy 

city manager; Joe Stowell. the Lincoln; Jack 

Swarthout, the American; Al LaFlamme, the 

Strand; Oscar Perrin, the Ritz; Herb Jennings, 

the Madison, Albany; Jerry Atkin, 

zone exploitation and advertising director; 

Max Friedman, chief buyer, and Joe Weinstein, 

booker. 

Darryl Zanuck, 20th-Fox 

Are Lauded in Congress 

WASHINGTON—Darryl F. Zanuck and 

20th Century-Fox were cited on the floor 

of Congress May 5 by Rep. Isadore Dollinger 

of New York for producing meritorious films 

in the public interest. He applauded their 

handling of "many typically taboo topics" 

in "The Grapes of Wrath," "How Green 

Was My Valley," "Gentleman's Agreement," 

"The Snake Pit" and "Pinky." The last 

named has not yet been released, but Philip 

Dunne, its scenarist, described it in an article 

in the New York Times May 1. Dollinger 

had the article inserted into the Congressional 

Record. 

Services for Former Usher 

BUFFALO—The body of Pfc. John O. 

Frangooles arrived here for reburial. He was 

killed in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. Before 

entering the service July 5, 1943, he 

worked as an usher at Shea's Hippodrome 

Theatre, now a Paramoimt house. 

PHILADELPHIA 

Asa stunt prior to the opening of "Knock 

on Any Door" at the Stanley, Manager 

George Balkin had a lifesize figure of Humphrey 

Bogart on the stage at intermissions 

During this time, a trailer was run off, consisting 

only of a sound track of Bogart's 

voice—no pictures. The theatre was dimly 

lighted, and the only illumination was on 

Bogart's figure, thereby creating the illusion 

that he was actually on the stage. About 

half a dozen patrons dashed backstage for 

autographs . 

Douglas, rising young 

star, hopes to come here from Hollywood for 

a week during Louis Prima's stay at the 

Click cafe. He figures it will be good preparation 

for his forthcoming film, "Young 

Man With a Horn," adapted from the novel 

about the legendary trumpet-man. Douglas 

was working out details for the visit when 

he was a guest recently of Frank Palumbo, 

owner of the night club. 

Peter Loire, who held audiences at the 

Earle spellboimd with a dramatic skit based 

on an Edgar Allen Poe story, is recording an 

album of children's stories . . Robert Gordon, 

. 

manager of the Admiral Theatre, was 

held up and robbed of $119. Alert policemen 

captured the thief half an hour later . . . 

The Capital exchange and the Penn Theatre 

Equipment Co. were robbed ... A burglary 

suspect was captured by police after a chase 

at the Lindy Theatre . . . Pelt's Casino Theatre 

was the target of burglars for the 16th 

time. A window of the cashier's office was 

broken, but the thieves failed to gain entrance. 

Felt said that there was no money 

in the theatre at the time. 

Two of three youths who pleaded guilty 

to staging a recent $361 robbery at the Bryn 

Mawr Theatre have been placed on probation. 

They are Thomas Donas, who was assistant 

manager of the theatre, and Richard 

O. Bernard, also formerly employed by the 

theatre ... An unusual note was struck in 

another theatre robbery. The till was robbed 

dry, but six well-filled cans for the cancer 

drive were left untouched . . . Orders to issue 

summonses for 136 persons delinquent in 

payment of their 1948 amusement taxes were 

sent out. Hearings are set for May 27. 

Mitchell Pantzer of the Independent Poster 

Exchange here was re-elected president 

of the Independent Poster Exchanges of 

America at a three-day meeting held in Detroit 

April 22-24. Other officers elected by 

the group, which includes all postermen opererating 

independently in the industry, were 

J. Schraeder, Charlotte, vice-president; and 

Donald Swartz, Minneapolis, secretary-treasurer. 

Elected to the board of directors were 

Dave Mitchell, Dallas; William Pennington, 

Kansas City; M, Sweigman, Canada; M. J. 

Lipp, Chicago; J. Biff, Boston, and W. H. 

Cobb, New Orleans. Plans were set for the 

affiliation of this group with the newly 

formed World Wide Posters, Inc., of Detroit, 

for the national distribution of a complete 

line of 40x60, 30x40 and other specialty displays, 

which will be available soon. Representing 

World Wide Posters, Inc., was Jack 

Cohen, former eastern district sales manager 

with National Screen Service Corp. 

When William Goldman takes over the 

State Theatre in west Philadelphia from the 

Warner chain August 27, he will convert the 

3,000-seat neighborhood subsequent rim into 

a first run theatre. Despite its noncentral 

location, the State has a greater seating capacity 

than many a theatre along de luxe 

Goldman will close his Keith Theatre 

row . . . 

June 1 to allow for alterations and 

modernization of the house. Keith's was 

recently converted by Goldman from a second 

to a first run house. 

William C. Hunt will build a new blocklong 

theatre and shopping center on the 

ocean front at Cape May, N. J. . . . 

Work 

has been started on a new drive-in outside 

Trenton, N. J., on the New York highway, by 

Melvin Fox and W. W. Smith, operating as 

the Park-In Theatres, Inc. . . Artist John 

. 

Brantley Wilder plans to present a petition 

signed by some 14,000 names to Eric Johnston, 

urging that Negroes get better and 

more dignified film roles. 

SIMPP Opens Office 

In New York Radio City 

NEW YORK—SIMPP offices were opened 

in Radio City Thursday (5) with a cocktail 

party. Ellis Arnall, president, and Robert J. 

Rubin, attorney, were the hosts. 

The guests included William J. Heineman, 

Eagle Lion sales chief, and James Mulvey, 

president, and Lynn Farnol, publicity director 

of Samuel Goldwyn Products. 

Arnall will make his headquarters in New 

York. SIMPP will retain its Hollywood offices. 

Arnall said SIMPP was working on a 

plan to aid the distribution of American 

pictures overseas. He recently discussed an 

international program for U.S. films with 

President Harry S. Truman. 

Freeman to Continue Post 

As Para. Studio Official 

NEW YORK—Y. Prank Freeman, who had 

been mentioned as a possible candidate for 

the job as chairman of the board of the 

new Paramount production-distribution company 

that will be organized under the consent 

decree, will continue to make his headquarters 

in Hollywood and stay on as a 

studio executive. 

Adolph Zukor expects to continue as chairman 

of the board and has no intention of 

resigning as long as his health is good. 

"Voice of Theatre Speakers" 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them 

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BOXOFnCE May 7, 1949 

39

. . Columbia 

ALBANY 

•The Schine circuit reopened the completely 

remodeled Mohawk, formerly the Strand, 

in Amsterdam. Local exchange managers 

were invited to the premiere and tea party 

given in connection therewith. Only the walls 

and foundation of the old theatre remain. 

The house has been closed since fall . . . Pat 

Patterson, assistant manager of the Leland 

here, spent a few days with Vic Bunze at the 

Griswold in Troy. The Fabian circuit took 

over the house and Bunze moved from the 

Warner to the Fabian staff. The Griswold is 

now a B first run. 

A new candy stand has been installed at 

the Grand in the old checkroom, near the 

stairs leading to the balcony ... A preview 

of "Joan of Arc" was arranged for several 

hundred nuns at St. Joseph's seminary. Arrangements 

were made by Manager Larry 

Cowan of Proctor's Troy. Charles F. Mc- 

Carthy, Proctor projectionist, did the screening. 

Reactions to the film were favorable 

... A slim turnout of exhibitors on Fllmrow 

Gulistan Wilton Theatre Carpet 

JOE HORNSTEIN has it! 

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FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY 


729 Baltimore 

K. C, Mo. 

included Frank Wieting of the Park in Cobleskill, 

Sam Davis of Phoenicia and Woodstock 

and Sylvan Left of Utica. 

Troy Manager Larry Cowen led the Troy 

Loyalty day parade with Mayor John J. 

Ahearn and the Rev. Willis H. Hunt of St. 

Patrick's Catholic church. Hunt is a veteran 

of both world wars and Cowen, who served 

with the army overseas in the first war, was 

in navy intelligence during the last fracas. 

He is now a member of the naval reserve . . . 

Paramount Manager Milt Schosberg rates 

"So Dear to My Heart" the best picture which 

has recently played at the Grand. "Escape" 

and the reissue "San Francisco" come next in 

his opinion. Schosberg has served 20 years 

as manager for the Paramount, Schine and 

Fabian circuits. 

Business at neighborhood houses has increased 

in recent weeks, it Is reported . . 

. 

Prices for the week-long engagement of 

Vaughn Mom-oe and his orchestra are 98 

cents at night and 74 cents in the afternoon, 

with children's prices set at 50 cents. The 

orchestra is booked with the film "A Woman's 

Secret" at the Palace. 

Times-Union film critic Edgar S. Van 

Olinda and Knickerbocker reviewer Clif 

Bradt served on a committee arranging for 

the dance recital by Ted Shawn and his 

group of six. A capacity audience attended 

the recital at the Playhouse Monday (2) ... 

Plans for the June savings bond drive include 

the naming of U-I Manager Gene Vogel as 

distributor chairman and Harry Lamont of 

Lamont theatres as exhibitor chairman . . . 

The Variety Club will hold its annual golf 

tournament June 12 at the Shaker Ridge 

course in Colonic. Assisting general chairman 

Arthur Newman are Ed Wall, Paramount 

publicity and advertising manager for 

Albany and Buffalo; Eagle Lion Manager 

Harry Alexander, and Nate Winig. Onehundred 

persons are expected to attend the 

affair which will be followed by a steak dinner. 

Republic Manager Arthur Newman was in 

New York for conferences with Joe Ingber, 

chief buyer for Brandt Theatres, and chief 

booker Lou Wolf. Brandt houses are located 

in Hunter, Hudson, Albany, Amsterdam and 

Utica . Manager Jack Bullwinkle 

met with John Cooney of the Union Square 

in Pittsfield. He also journeyed to Williamtown 

for a meeting with Al Lashman, manager 

for Lonnie Hacken of Boston. 

INCORPORATIONS 

Scalera Film: 

—ALBANY— 

To conduct a motion picture 

film business in New York; 200 shares, no 

par. 

Film Graphics: Change of directors. 

Creative Laboratories: To conduct a business 

in motion pictures, radio, television and 

theatrical, 200 shares, no par; Robert M. 

Gillham, Jules G. Evans of Greenwich, Conn. 

Eastern Drive-In Corp.: 322 El Ora Ave., 

Elizabeth, N. J.: to open a general executive 

office for the engagement and supervision 

of drive-ins at 341 W. 44th St., New York. 

Capital stock, 100 shares, no par. President, 

J. J. Thompson. 

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40 BOXOFFICE :: May 7. 1949

Partmar Carries Case 

To Supreme Court 

WASHINGTON—The Partmar Corp. this 

week asked the Supreme Court to hear its 

plea for rehef against the Paramount consent 

degree, but insisted that the granting of its 

request need not affect the Paramount decree 

in any important particular. Partmar, 

which is a Fanchon-Marco subsidiary leasing 

from the Paramount Theatre, Los Angeles, 

said it merely seeks protection for its lease 

rights. 

It has been leasing the theatre since 1933, 

with a franchise from Paramount, but Paramount 

has sought to evict it since the December 

1946 judgment of the New York federal 

court ruled out franchises. The federal government 

has opposed the Partmar intervention 

plea, and it was turned down two months 

ago in New York, when the New York court 

okayed the Paramount decree. 

Basic question. Attorney Russell Hardy 

told the high court, is whether in a case 

where settlement is reached out of court In 

a consent decree, absent parties whose rights 

and contractual arrangements with a party 

to the decree might be adversely affected are 

entitled to the right to intervene. He said the 

New York court could have granted intervention 

without it having meant any delay, since 

the issue could have been argued in short 

order. 

Hardy also told the court that the judgment 

"contains no provisions that the executive 

and managing directors of Paramount, 

many of whom have held their positions of 

control during many years of the monopoly 

and restraint period and, therefore, are the 

persons who have ordered, directed or done 

the acts of restraint and monopoly, shall not 

move over with the assets to the theatre company 

in similar positions. Presumably, those 

persons will be divided as the stockholders 

and assets are, and will hold similar positions 

in both companies. 

"Thus, the proclivity for monopoly and 

restraint referred to by this court, in so far 

as it may appertain to the stockholders, 

executives and property of Paramount, will 

likewise be transferred and divided between 

the two new companies." 

G. A. Williford to Leave 

Ansco, General Aniline 

NEW YORK—G. A. Williford has resigned 

as vice-president and general manager of 

Ansco and General Anil-ne. He is silent on 

his plans, but may go into business for himself. 

Williford was formerly president of 

the Society of Motion Picture Engineers and 

the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers 

Ass'n. 

Paramount to End Pool 

In Newburgh May 31 

NEW YORK—Paramount will end its buying 

pool in Newburgh May 31, the independent 

operator of the Ritz and Cameo 

theatres has informed the New York Board 

of Trade. Liggett-Stiefe! will begin booking 

for 

these houses. 

THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them 

H ARRISBURG 

Tôst exhibitors, including both downtown 

and neighborhoods, reported a slump in 

business after the holidays, with matinees 

hit particularly hard. It wasn't from the 

quality of the product, exhibitors said, since 

downtown houses were playing top films . . . 

Meantime, a number of legitimate attractions 

were booked, causing theatremen to plan 

more serious exploitation to combat competition. 

At Hershey, Manager Harrj' C. 

Chubb planned to cancel films to bring in 

Sigmund Romberg and an evening concert; 

Judith Anderson In "Medea," and "Oklahoma!" 

This will be the third appearance 

of the latter at Hershey. In Harrisburg, the 

Community Theatre presented "Boy Meets 

Girl" for five nights. Burl Ives in person, 

the Miss America pageant at the Forum, to 

select Miss Harrisburg and Miss Central 

Pennsylvania, and the Hamid-Morton circus 

in the Arena were taking customers from 

films. 

While all the city and Dauphin county exhibitors 

participated in the cancer collection, 

only one, the Senate, held an audience collection 

by passing boxes. Bob Sidman, manager, 

reported the results "very gratifying." 

He, as in the other houses, ran the Bing 

Crosby short, appealing for support . . . Meyer 

Carter, porter, and Betty Schell, usherette, at 

the Colonial, resigned. They have not been 

replaced. 

Jack O'Bear, Colonial, tied up with Wise 

Jewelry store promoting American Safety 

cigaret lighters, and featuring testimonials 

by Humphrey Bogart, for "Knock on Any 

Door." O'Rear, the week before, arranged a 

display of wild west regalia in a downtown 

window, to call attention to "El Paso." 

The general assembly of Pennsylvania 

neared its 1949 close without passing any 

legislation of vital importance to the motion 

picture industry. Presented toward the end 

of the session was a measure asking production 

and performance of "civic operas" between 

2 p. m. and midnight on Sundays, provided 

they were sponsored by nonprofit corporations 

or municipalities. Another bill suggested 

that the windows be washed and interior 

walls cleaned once a year in all buildings 

where persons work for compensation. 

Betty Steinmueller, former secretary to 

State Manager E. G. WoUaston, and Miss 

Harrisburg of 1947, assisted Ruth Douglas, 

Harrisburg girl who won the Miss Pennsylvania 

of 1948 title last year, in receiving the 

1949 contestants. In past years the contest 

was held on the State stage. This year, it 

was taken to the Foriun. 

Tieing- in advertising for the revival of two 

oldies. Bob Sidman, Senate manager, angled 

his newspaper space to play up the stars 

rather than the films, "Corvette K-225" and 

"Sing Out Sisters." His ads read: "Stars! 

All over the place tomorrow! Dan Dailey. 

Robert Mitchum, Randolph Scott, Barry 

Fitzgerald. Donald O'Connor, Andrews Sisters" 

Theatremen are assisting in the 

. . . Salvation Army drive which got under way 

with an opening banquet May 3. 

Fashion Designer Signed 

Fashion designed Orry Kelly has been 

signed to a new one-year deal for Universal- 

International. 

Albany Leland Being 

Rebuilt After Fire 

ALBANY— Seating capacity of the Leland 

will be increased to 1,400 during the rebuilding, 

currently under way as the result of a 

fire early in March. Following remodeling 

and redecoration, the 60-year-old Fabian 

house will be known as the New Leland, according 

to Saul J. Ullman, upstate manager. 

A birch floor has been laid in the orchestra, 

and the balcony and gallery have been refinished 

in preparation for the installation 

of reupholstered seats. The damaged seats 

were reconditioned by the Capitol Motion 

Picture Supply Co. Floor seats will replace 

box seats in the second balcony and first 

balcony boxes are being narrowed. 

A crescent of six wooden posts downstairs 

has been replaced by steel posts and two large 

steel and concrete posts have been added at 

the back of the orchestra rail. Post structure 

in the lobby has been strengthened and steel 

undergirding has been installed in the rear 

of the theatre. 

Upstairs, the manager's office is being converted 

into a ladies restroom and the former 

ladies restroom is being redone for a men's 

lounge. Downstair lounges are being redecorated. 

Complete recarpeting, repainting and installation 

of RCA equipment will be the final 

renovating touches in the interior of the old 

theatre. The lobby will be retiled and the 

marquee will get a new coat of paint. The 

boxoffice will be enlarged and recased. 

The work is under the direction of Fred 

Haas, chief construction and maintenance 

engineer for Fabian. Nat Lapkin, chief of 

construction and realty for the circuit, is 

making periodic inspection tours. Paul Wallen 

manages the Leland and Pat Patterson 

is assistant manager. 

Ida Lupino in New York 

NEW YORK—Ida Lupino, accompanied by 

her husband. Collier Young, arrived May 4 

for her first visit in four years. 

FIRST CHINESE "OSCAR "—Favorite 

actor among Chinese film fans during 

1948 was Cary Cooper, so voted in a poll 

conducted by the Hong Kong Film and 

Theatre News magazine. Here's Cooper 

with the "Gold Star Award," a pagoda 

fashioned of 14-karat gold. Similar 

honors went to Ingrid Bergman as "favorite 

actress." 

BOXOFTICE May 7, 1949 41

'Best Years in 24th Week 

Breaks Record in Austria 

NEW YORK—"The Best Years of Our 

Lives" (Goldwyn), which opened at the 

Urania in Vienna early last November, has 

entered its 24th week there and has broken 

all Austrian records for length of run and 

volume of business, according to the Motion 

Picture Export Ass'n. The film is expected 

to reach the half-year mark at that house. 

"Bathing Beauty" (MGM) entered its 13th 

week at the Opern and continued to do nearsellout 

business. "Road to Morocco" (Para) 

was in its fifth week at the Schottenring 

and "Heaven Can Wait" (20th-Fox> was in 

its fourth at the Elite. Four films opened 

the last week in April—"Lassie, Come Home" 

and "Northwest Passage" (MGM), "They 

Died With Their Boots On" (WB) and "Keep 

'Em Flying" (U-I). Thirteen of Vienna's 

18 first run theatres were playing MPEA 

films. 

In Innsbruck, "Song of Bernadette" (20th- 

Fox) set a local record when it entered its 

fifth week on first run after having already 

played to more than half of the city's total 

population. Elsewhere in Austria good boxoffice 

results were being registered by "Reap 

the Wild Wind" (Para), "Sinbad the Sailor" 

(RKO), "Phantom of the Opera" (U-I) and 

"Gaslight" and "Bathing Beauty" (MGM). 

In Berlin the introduction of the westmark 

as sole legal tender caught many western 

Berliners loaded with the outlawed Sovietissued 

currency and hurt the boxoffices. As 

a result, "State Fair" (20th-Foxi and "Boomtown" 

(MGM), though well liked by press 

and public, were doing sub-par business. 

Standouts in key city runs were "Road to 

Morocco" in Augsberg and Nuremberg, "Dr. 

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (MGM), "The Lodger" 

(20th-Fox) and "Flame of New Orleans" 

(U-I) in Stuttgart, "Calcutta" and "Hold 

Bernstein Here to Study 

Large-Screen Theatre TV 

NEW YORK—Cecil G. Bernstein, director 

of the Granada circuit of 58 theatres in the 

United Kingdom, arrived May 5 on the Queen 

Mary to survey the latest developments in 

large-screen televison in the U.S. He said 

he did not know when television might be 

introduced in British theatres, and that his 

survey dealt only with future possibilities. 

He intends to talk with TOA and SMPE 

heads. 

Bernstein said British exhibitors still do 

not know the details of the Anglo-American 

Film Council meetings. He would like to 

pick up some information while here, he said. 

He characterized his theatre business as 

"fair." 

Rosmarin Is Named Head 

Of RKO in Argentina 

NEW YORK—Charles Rosmarin has been 

appointed manager of the RKO office in 

Argentina, according to Phil Reisman, vicepresident 

in charge of foreign operations. 

He replaced George Kallman, who has resigned. 

Rosmarin has been in Latin America since 

1931 serving with Columbia, Monogram and 

Interamerica Pictures. 

42 

Back the Dawn" (Para) in Hamburg, "His 

Butler's Sister" (U-I) in Munich and 

"Hunchback of Notre Dame" (RKO) in Essen. 

The last named set a new all-time local 

record in a five-week run. 

American reissues are playing in Czechoslovakia 

pending final Czech approval of Lhe 

MPEA distribution agreement. Among them 

were "Two Girls and a Sailor" (MGM), 

"Moontide" (20th-Fox), "Sea Wolf" (WB), 

"My Sister Eileen" (RKO) and "Reap the 

Wild Wind." "Blossoms in the Dust" (MGM) 

was still making the rounds of the country. 

After playing six weeks in Ostrava, it was 

in its third capacity week in Slovakia. 

In Bulgaria, which rarely permits the release 

of more than one U.S. feature a month, 

"Men in Her Life (Col) was ending a 11- 

week run at the Modem in Sofia. The next 

MPEA release will be "Life of Emile Zola" 

(WB), recently passed by the censors. 

Indonesian business has been steady now 

that political unrest has abated. The U.S. 

films are "Road to Zanzibar" (Para), "Tarzan's 

Desert Mystery" (RKO), "Green Dolphin 

Street" and "Ziegfeld Girl" (MGM), 

"Bandit of Sherwood Forest" (Col), "Cloak 

and Dagger" (WB), "Singapore" (U-I), 

"Leave Her to Heaven" and "Mark of Zorro" 

(20th-Fox) and "Bandit of Sherwood Forest." 

The third anniversary festival and a 12- 

week sales drive helped MPEA to swell boxoffice 

business in Japan. Final figures are 

expected soon. Big business was being done 

by "Waterloo Bridge," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. 

Hyde" and "Green Dolphin Street" (MGM), 

"Pride of the Yankees" (Goldwyn), "Cheyenne" 

(WB), "Western Union" and "Son of 

Fury" (20th-Pox), "Experiment Perilous" 

and "Spiral Staircase" (RKO), "Spring Parade" 

(U-I) and "Road to Utopia" (Para). 

Eastman Kodak Sales Rise 

3.8% for First Quarter 

NEW "yORK—Eastman Kodak sales increased 

3.8 per cent to a total of $95,500,000 

during the first quarter of 1949, Thomas J. 

Hargrave, president, told the annual stockholders' 

meeting at Flemington, N. J. First 

quarter sales for 1948 were $92,000,000. Total 

net sales for 1948 were $435,395,626 and net 

earnings were $55,494,425. 

"Fairly strong downward trends" appeared 

during the quarter, Hargrave said, and the 

future is "spotty." 

Some cutbacks in production departments 

have been made. 

Profits of DuMont Rise 

For 1st Quarter of '49 

NEW YORK—The Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, 

Inc., had a profit of $1,481,000 in 

the first quarter of 1949, Dr. Allen B. Du- 

Mont told stockholders at the annual meeting. 

This is equal to 70 cents per common 

share, compared to 27 cents a share, or a 

profit of $553,000, in the same period in 1948. 

Sales for the period amoimted to $11,092,- 

000, compared to $4,549,000 a year ago, Dr. 

DuMont said. 

Foreign Earnings Tax 

May Be Deferred 

NEW YORK — Reports 

from Washington 

that the U.S. Ti-easui-y experts have worked 

out a new regulation which would defer paying 

income taxes on reported earnings in 

foreign countries until they are all remitted 

caught foreign department executives and 

the Motion Picture Ass'n of America by surprise, 

but brought out considerable favorable 

comment Thursday (5). 

Up to now the U.S. Treasury has been 

taxing these earnings even though the money 

is not at hand. Under the present rules 

upheld in federal courts—the Treasur>' is 

entitled in most instances to demand some 

income taxes on this foreign paper money. 

Top Treasury officials have the proposal 

under study now and there is a chance they 

may not approve the idea for deferring these 

taxes. However, if they reject it, possibly on 

the grounds that they lack authority to defer 

taxes, they will almost certainly back a move 

in Congress to get special legislation covering 

this problem. 

This problem long has been "a thorn in 

the side" of the film companies, according 

to foreign and financial department executives 

at Paramount, RKO and other majors. 

They say that if the new ruling is approved, 

it will "give the companies a much-needed 

break." 

To make sure taxpayers don't forget their 

tax-deferred earnings altogether, the Treasury 

plans to make taxpayers file regular 

statements on their blocked foreign currencies, 

along with their reports on taxable 

income. 

Loew's Building Theatre 

In Alexandria, Egypt 

NEW YORK—Loew's International Corp. 

has started construction on a 2,000-seat theatre 

in Alexandria, Egypt. It is scheduled to 

open in June 1950, according to Morton A. 

Spring, first vice-president, and will be called 

the Metro Theatre. 

Loew's International has been operating a 

theatre in Cairo, Egypt, since 1940—the 2,000- 

seat Metro. 

The new house will be located in the Alexandria 

shopping area and will handle first 

run product. John J. McNamara of New 

York is the architect and Gaston Rossi of 

Cairo is the associate architect. 

George H. Chasanas, head of the Loew's 

office in Egypt, will supervise the Metro 

Theatre of Alexandria in addition to the 

Metro of Cairo. 

Loew's Representatives 

Study German Situation 

NEW YORK—Loew's International has 

sent Sam Burger and Norman Beckett to 

Germany to study the prospects for establishing 

a sales force there early in 1950. 

Members of the Motion Picture Export Ass'n 

recently voted to handle their own sales in 

that country next year, but may call upon 

MPEA to aid in the physical distribution 

of their films. 

Charles Goldsmith, formerly in Britain, 

will serve in the home office here in a liaison 

capacity on British sales. 

BOXOFFICE May 7, 1949

HOLLYWOOD 

(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) 

'Wilderness' Premiere 

In July at Tacoma 

HOLLYWOOD—"The Great Wilderness," 

currently being edited by Frank Graham 

Productions from a compilation of color film 

of several big-game hunting treks into Alaska 

by Frank Graham, veteran northwestern 

exhibitor and hunter and his wife Edna, will 

be given a special premiere showing in Tacoma, 

Wash., in July, under sponsorship of 

the National Geographic Society. As yet 

Graham has set no release for the featurelength 

opus. 

William Bendix, Meg Randall and Richard 

Long of Universal-International headed for 

Texas to participate in five regional premieres 

of "The Life of Riley," the Irving 

Brecher production in which they appear. 

The players were to make their first appearances 

in Fort Worth, followed by sub.sequent 

junkets to Austin, Houston, Dallas and San 

Antonio. "The Life of Riley" had its world 

premiere March 4 in Cincinnati. 

EYES ON THE NEEDLE—These primitive-looking men are concentrating on the 

knitting needles of attractive Terry Moore. All take part in the production of "The 

Mighty Joe Young" for RKO Radio release. Three well-known wrestlers join the 

party. They are, seated L. to R., Primo Camera, Director Ernest B. Schoedsack, Phil 

"The Angel' Olafsson, Miss Moore and Frank "Man Mountain Dean" Leavitt. 

• • « 

Following its world debut at the Victoria 

Theatre in New York May 12, "Home of the 

Brave," produced by Screen Plays, Inc., for 

United Artists release, is set for key city 

bookings in Chicago, Boston, San Francisco 

and Los Angeles during the remainder of 

the month. 

Pine and Duryea to East 

For 'Manhandled' Debuts 

HOLLYWOOD—Producer William Pine 

and actor Dan Duryea left to visit New York 

and five other eastern cities in advance of 

openings of "Manhandled," Pine-Thomas 

production being released by Paramount, in 

which Duryea stars with Dorothy Lamour. 

The tour will begin in Atlanta May 8, following 

which Pine returns to Hollywood, 

while Duryea will continue to Boston, Pittsburgh, 

Detroit and New York, doing radio 

appearances and newspaper interviews. 

UrW Gifts Group Formed 

HOLLYWOOD—A special gifts committee 

has been established to aid the film industry 

division in attaining its quota in the United 

Jewish Welfare campaign. Group comprises 

Samuel J. Briskin, Harry Cohn, WiUiam 

Goetz, William Gordon, Abe Lastfogel, Louis 

B. Mayer, Dore Schary, Joseph M. Schenck, 

David O. Selznick, Leo Spitz and H. M. Warner. 


Z^xec44iiue 

West: Second British film dignitary to visit 

the Hollywoods within a space of weeks. Sir 

Alexander Korda spent three days here prior 

to his return to his London headquarters. 

The English executive made a quick survey 

of the local production picture. He was accompanied 

by his American press representative, 

Morris Halperin. Some weeks ago J. 

Arthur Rank also made a quick trip to the 

coast prior to attending meetings of the 

Anglo-American film commission in Washington. 

* * 

West: William C. Kunzmann, convention 

vice-president of the Society of Motion Picture 

Engineers, arrived from New York to 

set up preliminary arrangements for the 

semiannual SMPE convention, to be held 

here in October. 

* • • 

East: Norman Siegel, Paramount studio 

publicity-advertising chief, trained for 

Gotham for home office conferences on promotion 

plans for forthcoming releases. He 

will also attend the first of a series of Paramount 

division sales meetings, to be held 

in New York May 9-11. 

* * « 

West: John Joseph, executive aide to Howard 

Dietz, MGM advertising-publicity director, 

checked in at the studio for local 

^fuuueU^ 

conferences on forthcoming campaigns. Joseph 

is dividing his time between the east 

and west coasts. 

* * * 

East: Edward W. Hart, Cinecolor's assistant 

technical director, planed to England to 

spend three months setting up arrangements 

for processing and photographic facilities for 

the company in Britain. He' will work in 

conjunction with Radiant Films, Ltd. and 

will function as liaison between that firm 

and Cinecolor in the cooperative project. 

« * • 

Mary Pickford, United Artists mem- 

East: 

ber-owner, plans to make a junket to New 

York late this month to continue negotiations 

with a syndicate of eastern exhibitors 

which she confirmed recently has made a 

for the purchase of UA. 

bid 

• » « 

East: William Perlberg, 20th Century -Fox 

producer, will head for Germany early in 

June to supervise the making of "Berlin 

Airlift," which will be filmed on location 

there. Director George Seaton preceded Perlberg 

to Europe some days ago. 

« * * 

West: S. Sylvan Simon, Columbia production 

executive, returned from a two-week 

Manhattan business jaunt. 

43

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Barnstormers 

RKO Radio 

JANE RUSSELL returned to the film capital criter 

a three-week singing engagement at the Oriental 

Theatre, Chicago. 

Republic 

WILLIAM ELLIOTT, cowboy star, was booked to 

funclion as announcer and master of ceremonies 

for the second annual Rolling Hills rodeo, slcfted to 

be held May 7, 6 in the San Fernando valley. 

Cleifers 

Columbia 

Scoring assignments include GEORGE DUNING, 

"lolson Sings Again"; DAVlD DIAMOND, "Anna 

Lucasta"; GEORGE ANTHEIL, "Tokyo Joe"; HEINZ 

RHOEMHELD, "Miss Grant Takes Richmond," and 

LOUIS GRUENBERG. 'All the King's Men." 

Monogram 

Musical director EDWARD J. KAY was assigned 

to prepare and conduct the musical score for the 

Jeffrey Bernerd production, "Forgotten Women." 

RKO Radio 

RENZO ROSSELLINI, Italian composer and brother 

ol Director Roberto Rossellini, will compose the 

music lor "After the Storm." 

Republic 

STANLEY WILSON, orchestrator and composer, 

had his option lifted for another six months. 


Inked to a new Iwo-yecfr composer's contract was 

CYRIL MOCKRIDGE. 

Loanouts 

Metro 

ALAN HALE, on loan from Warners, will play a 

top featured role in William Wright's production, 

"Stars in My Crown." 


ETHEL BARRYMORE has been borrowed from 

Metro for cm important role in "Pinky," starring 

Jeanne Grain. 

Meggers 

Metro 

Set to direct "Nancy Goes to Rio" for Producer 

loe Pasternak was ROBERT Z. LEONARD. 

RKO Radio 

RICHARD FXEISCHER will meg "Make Mine 

Laughs," sequel to "Variety Time," lor Producer 

George Bilson. 

Republic 

Assigned to direct the Allan "Rocky" Lane starrer, 

"Bandit King of Texas," was FRED BRANNON. 

Gordon Kay produces. 

Options 

Columbia 

lANIS CARTER plays the other woman in Producer 

Robert Lord's "Baby Is Here," toplining Robert 

Young and Barbara Hale. 

Metro 

JOHN HODIAK was set to co-star with Robert Taylor 

in Armand Deutsch's production, "Ambush." 

Inked for the cast ol "Battleground" was ED- 

MUND RYAN. 

VAN JOHNSON is set to star in "Outriders," western 

to be produced by Richard Goldstone. 

Key role in Pandro S. Herman's production, 

"Bodies and Souls," was set for BRUCE BENNETT. 

Curtis Bernhardt megs the Glenn Ford-Charles 

Coburn starrer. 

Monogram 

GEORGE McMANUS appears as himself in "Jackpot 

Jitters," fourth of the Bringing Up Father series 

starring Joe Yule and Renie Riano. 

Signed for the femme lead opposite Johnny Mack 

Brown in "Cattle King" was FELICE INGERSOLL. 

Ray Taylor directs for Producer Barney Sarecky. 

TRISTRAM COFFIN, EDDIE PARKER, KENNE DUN- 

CAN, BILL HALE, SARAH PADDEN, RILEY HILL and 

FRED KOHLER JR. have been added to the cast. 

Paramount 

ALAN LADD will star as a navy jet pilot in 

"Eagles of the Navy," to be produced by Robert 

Fellows. 

DON GAZZANIGA, ZONN MURRAY, LEE ROBERTS 

and CHARLIE REGAN were signed to play seamen 

in the John Payne-Gail Russell starrer, "Captain 

China." Lewis Foster directs for Producers Pine 

and Thomas. 

Signed for the cast of the Ray MiUand-Hedy 

Lamarr vehicle, "Copper Canyon," were MAR- g^ , 

GUERITE CAMPBELL and singer NINA MAE McKIN- SfTl'O'tPrQ 

NEY. Cast in the film was MARION COLBY. 

"'"***' 

John 

*^* ° 

Farrow directs lor Producer Mel Epstein. 

RKO Radio 

RICHARD ROBER was inked for a featured part 

with Laraine Day, Robert Ryan and John Agar in 

"I Married a Communist." 

Role of a stock broker in "The Bail Bond Story" 

will be played by STEVE FLAGG. Character actor 

JONATHAN HALE plays a district attorney. aiLL 

WILLIAMS will be featured in the picture. Ted 

Tetzlaff directs and Robert Sparks produces. LYNNE 

ROBERTS was cast in a featured spot. 

Included in the supporting cast for the Tim Holt 

vehicle, "Trouble in Texas," are RICHARD MAR- 

TIN, HARRY WOODS, FRANK WILCOX, HOUSELrc 

STEVENSON, TOM TYLER, CLAYTON MOORE, BILL 

GEORGE, GARY GRAY and CHARLES ARNT. Lesley 

Selander directs and Herman Schlom produces. 

Republic 

Chief comedy spot in the Roy Rogers vehicle, 

"The Golden Stallion," was assigned to PAT 

BRADY. William Witney directs lor Producer Edward 

J. White. 

ROY BARCROFT was assigned to the Monte Hale 

western, "South of Rio," PAUL HURST has been 

signed for the comedy lead and KAY CHRISTOPHER 

for the sole femme role. Others inked Ore DOUG- 

LAS KENNEDY, DON HAGGARTY, LANE BRADFORD 

and RORY MALLINSON. 

MINERVA URECAL has been signed for a comedy 

role in the Rex Allen starrer, "The Arizona Cowboy." 

Additions to the cast include STANLEY ANDREWS, 

JAMES CARD'WELL, ROY BARCROFT, HARRY V. 

CHESHIRE, JOHN ELLIOTT, LAND BRADFORD and 

EDMUND COBB. 


Broadway actor KIM SPALDING was signed for 

a featured spot in the Claudette Colbert starrer. 

"Three Come Home," to be directed by Jean 

Negulesco for Producer Nunnally Johnson. 

ROBERT YOUNG replaces Ronald Reagan in the 

lead opposite Barbara Hale in "Baby Is Here," 

with Robert Lord producing and Henry Levin directing 

the Santana production. 


J. M. KERRIGAN and JAMES FAIRFAX were inked 

for supporting ports in the Samuel Bischoff-Edward 

Gross production, "Mrs. Mike." toplining Dick Powell 

and Evelyn Keyes. Louis King directs. 


Assigned a topline role in the Yvonne De Carlo- 

Paul Christian starrer, "Bagdad," was VINCENT 

PRICE. Charles Lamont directs for Producer Robert 

Arthur. 

JOHN McINTIRE was signed to play an army 

officer in the Donald O'Connor starrer, "Francis." 

DAVID CLARKE has been inked for a heavy role 

in Jerry Bresler's production, "Abandoned," under 

the direction of Joe Newman 

KUDOS FOR COIVCPANY HEAD— 

Harry IVL Warner (left), president of 

Warner Bros., was honored guest at a 

banquet given by Beverly Hills B'nai 

B'rith Women No. 247, at which the film 

executive received tributes for his work 

as national chairman of the American 

Friendship Train. With Warner on the 

rostrum is Rabbi Edgar F. IVIagnin, who 

presented him with a special plaque. 

Warner Bros. 

Assigned the role ol an FBI apprentice in "White 

Heat" was RAY MONTGOMERY. EDMUND O'BRIEN 

joins the cast in a topline under the direction ol 

Raoul Walsh for Producer Lou Edelman. 

RAYMOND MASSEY has been set for a topline 

with Humphrey Bogart in Anthony Veiller's production, 

"Chain Lighting," to be directed by Stuart 

Heisler. 

Paramount 

CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN was assigned to the 

script ol "Kingpin," underworld story to be produced 

by Jules Schermer. 

Writer JONATHAN LATIMER has been reoptioned 

for two years. 


lO EISINGER was inked for a script polish job 

on "Night and the City," to be filmed in England 

by Producer Sam Engel. 

Warner Bros. 

Assigned to the screenplay of "The Children," to 

be produced by Milton Sperling's United States 

Pictures, wcrs GINA KAUS. 

Story Buys 

Paramount 

"Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous," original by Dwight 

Taylor, was acquired and placed on George 

Stevens' production schedule. Taylor has been 

signed to screenplay his yarn. 

Republic 

"San Antone Ambush," original screenplay by 

Norman S. Hall, was purchased and assigned to 

Mel Tucker for production as the final film in 

1948-49 series of Monte Hale action westerns. 


Film rights were acquired to "The Man on the 

Ledge," New Yorker magazine story by loe Sayre. 

Yarn concerns a 1938 news story about a man 

who jumped from the I4th floor of the Gothcfm hotel. 


Purchase was made of "Warden's Daughter," an 

original by Mort Brouse and Lee Loeb. 

Warner Bros. 

"The Politician," original by John Frank Norton, 

was purchased and slated as a Joseph Cotten- 

Patricia Neal starrer. 

Technically 

Independent 

W. Alcorn signed HAL MOHR as head 

Producer R. 

cameraman for his first independent production, 

"Johnny Holiday." 

Assignments on Borderline Productions' "Borderline" 

include NORMAN COOK, production manager; 

LUCIEN ANDRIOT, cameraman, and JIMMY ANDER- 

SON, assistant to Director William Seiter. Milton 

Bren will produce. 

Metro 

Cameraman ROBERT PLANCK was assigned to lens 

"Bodies and Souls" for Director Curtis Bernhardt. 

SERGEI PETSCHNIKOFF and EDDIE IMAZU were 

named unit manager and art director, respectively, 

on William H. Wright's production, "Stars in My 

Crown." 

Assistant to Director John Berry on "Tension" 

will be GEORGE RHEIN. 

JOHN WATERS was assigned as assistant to Director 

Sam Wood for "Ambush." 

Monogram 

Crew assigned to "Cattle King" includes: EDDIE 

DAVIS, assistant; HARRY NEUMANN, camera; JOHN 

FULLER, cutler, and JOHN KEAN, sound. 

RKO Radio 

Technical crew on the Tim Holt western, "Trouble 

in Texas," includes GEORGE DISKANT, camera; 

CLEM PORTLAND, sound, and JOHN POMMER, assistant 

director. 

Technical staff on "The Bail Bond Story" includes 

ROBERT DEGRASSE, camera; EARL MOUNCE, sound; 

JAMES CASEY, assistant director, and ALFRED 

HERMAN, associate art director. 

Republic 

Assignments on "South of Rio" include: JOHN 

MACBURNIE, cameraman; JOHN GRUBBS, assistant 

director, and FRANK HOTALING. art director. 


NORBERT BRODINE will be the cinematographer 

when production resumes shortly on "I Was a M«Ie 

War Bride." 

Crew assignments on Nunnally Johnson's production, 

"Three Came Home," are MILTON KRASNER, 

photography; ROBERT SNODY, unit production manager; 

SAUL 'WURTZEL, assistant; E. C. WARD, 

(Continued on page 38) 

44 BOXOmCE May 7, 1949

The Armat Vitoseope which projected the 

flr»t theater movie, April 23, 1896. 

With this, the "unseen showman" 

got his epoch-making start ... 

THE 

projectionist has come a 

long, long way . . . since the 

1890's when he put on his show 

with equipment such as this. 

And today, as then, much of a 

motion picture's success depends 

upon the unseen showman in 

his booth. 

To his sure sense of splitsecond 

timing ... to his alert 

control of sound ... to his deft 

handling of elaborate equipment 

. . . the film illusion owes much 

of its dramatic, realistic presentation 

on the screen. 

Helping the projectionist to 

keep the mechanics of the medium 

from intruding is the top 

quality 

of Eastman motion picture 

films (both sight and sound) 

. . . members of a famous family 

started more than fifty years ago. 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY 

ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. 

J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS 

FORT LEE . CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD 


45

AohcUh^ êfiMt 

T IKELY TO BE ONE of the top grossers of 

the year is the nei^ comedy from Ealing 

Studios, "Passport to Pimlico," which was 

press shown last week. Several times we have 

commented in this column that comedy is 

urgently needed here and with this their 

latest offering Ealing really seems to have 

rung the bell. 

The picture was produced by Michael Balcon 

and directed by Henry Cornelius and has 

a cast of well-known British players which 

includes Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford, 

Paul Dupuis and Hermione Baddeley. 

There is besides a large number of very good 

character actors handling tiny parts. 

It takes courage to make a film—and a 

comedy at that—about politics but courage 

is a quality never lacked by Sir Michael Balcon. 

The idea behind the script, by T. E. B. 

Clarke, is an original one: the last unexploded 

bomb in London is detonated and 

among the debris is found a 15th century 

treasure hoard and a charter from Edward 

IV which states that the borough of Pimlico 

in which the action takes place had been 

ceded in perpetuity to the state of Bm-gundy 

and was therefore foreign soil. The lively 

group of Cockneys who live in the district 

are immediately alert to the possibiUties behind 

this situation. They see that they can 

legally put an end to rationing, order "export 

only" goods from British manufacturers to be 

delivered into their free state, ignore the 

licensing laws of Britain and keep their only 

tavern open as long as they wish and generally 

do all the things that austerity Britain 

would like to do. 

There are, of course, snags to their new 

freedom. They are invaded by crooks who see 

the opportunity to sell black market goods 

legally and the British government is forced 

to set up customs barriers. The residents 

retaliate by stopping the subway trains running 

under their territory and demanding 

passports and customs dues. There are sly 

tilts at the buckpassing civil service (which is 

presumably the same in any country in the 

world) and while the British cabinet is deciding 

what can be done about this piece of 

foreign ground in the heart of their capital, 

it cuts off utility services such as police, water 

and electricity. When asked why they don't 

surrender one of the characters in an inspired 

remark says: "It's just because we 

are British that we are sticking up for our 

right to be Burgundians" and this touches the 

heart of London which organizes a "Bundles 

for Burgundy" service and an airlift to provide 

the beleaguered citizens with food. 

The 

Technically the picture is not perfect. 

direction changes its tempo several times but 

nevertheless is a creditable effort by Henry 

Cornelius, whose first picture as a director 

this Is. However, technique can go by the 

board for once, for this is a first-rate comedy, 

tailor-made for British audiences and with 

cutting should score a hit on its novelty value 

and extreme topicality in the U.S. 

AN OBVIOUS, but stm nicely timed release 

was the London circuit booking of 

"Easter Parade," which started its run on 

Easter Monday. MGM could not have known 

at the time that the date was set with ABC 

By JOHN SULLIVAN 

that the daily newspapers would almost unanimously 

decide to give a fillip to trade this 

year by starting a campaign for the first 

postwar Easter parade in Hyde Park and for 

ten days before Easter the Daily Express, 

Daily Mirror, Sunday Express and Sunday 

Pictorial were plugging in large headlines the 

idea that their readers should turn out for 

this Easter parade. A combined cu'culation 

of nearly 15,000,000 among these four papers 

putting over the two words of the title must 

have had some effect on the receipts quite 

apart from the fact that the film received 

excellent notices on its first showing and is 

probably the best musical to arrive here for 

some years. MGM officials must be rubbing 

their hands as they count the gross coming in. 

• • « 

A LESS FORTUNATE newspaper tieup 

that which has happened to N. A. Bronsten's 

pictui-e, "Obsession," which Edward Dmytryk 

directed at Pinewood. 

The picture was based on a book written 

some time ago by Alec Coppel. The central 

idea deals with a doctor who murders his 

wife's lover and dissolves the body in an acid 

bath. You might think that it is about the 

most unlikely thing that you have heard, but 

the fact remains that with the picture 

finished and being recorded for music a man 

was arrested here and charged with doing 

just that thing. 

In the circumstances the British board of 

censors has held that the release of the picture 

might in some way influence the course 

of the accused man's trial and they have 

therefore withheld the certificate until the 

mui'der trial is over. Whatever the verdict 

the case cannot fail to arouse public interest 

in the picture, but it demonstrates again how 

completely impredictable the picture business 

is, for by delaying the release of the picture 

until the autumn the censors have added a 

further six months to the time that the producer 

must wait to get his returns, which 

again means six months more interest on 

bank loans and advances. 

THE AWARDS IN THE ANNUAL popularity 

poll conducted by the Daily Mail make, as 

ever, interesting reading. To start with this 

is victory year in every way for Herbert Wilcox. 

Twice before, with "Piccadilly Incident" 

and "The Courtneys of Cui'zon Street" he has 

carried off the award for the most popular 

film of the year, but each time his two stars, 

Aiuia Neagle and Michael Wilding, although 

running very close have been narrowly beaten 

in the stars section. This year shows a hat 

trick for Wilcox with "Spring in Park Lane" 

as the most popular film and Anna Neagle 

and Michael Wilding as the most popular 

actress and actor respectively. Margaret 

Lockwood, for three years winner of the 

award, was not eligible in 1948 as she had no 

picture in general release that year. 

One of the most interesting points about 

the results is the position of Jean Kent who 

has climbed from quite low on the list to 

second place. This is undoubtedly on the 

strength of her three pictures, "Bond Street," 

"Good Time Girl" and "Sleeping Car to 

Trieste," in all of which she acquitted herself 

well and it may be noteworthy that she is one 

is 

of the few stars whose pictures this year have 

played both the Rank and ABC circuits. For 

"Bond Street" she was loaned out to Associated 

British and this picture did quite 

well on its circuit release. On the male side 

Stewart Granger rose to third place in spite 

of adverse criticisms in the lay press and the 

persistent rumors that he is slipping. We 

have always maintained that Granger is one 

of the biggest of all our stars, provided he is 

given the right kind of material. 

The top ten films in the list show a division 

among the big three groups almost exactly 

in proportion to their production. Apart from 

the Wilcox picture in the lead there are six 

Rank pictm-es "Oliver Twist," "The Red 

Shoes," "Hamlet," "Here Comes the Huggetts," 

"Good Time Girl" and "Miranda"; one 

ABC "My Brother Jonathan"; and two Korda 

"The Winslow Boy" and "The Fallen Idol." 

Of the six Rank pictures the three last named 

are all Sydney Box productions, two of which 

have been recently tradeshown in the U.S. 

Award to 'Lawton Story' 

By California Council 

HOLLYWOOD—"The Lawton Story," 

filmed and distributed by Hallmark Productions, 

was one of three pictures receiving 

the monthly award of the Southern California 

Motion Picture Council at a meeting 

of the organization at which scrolls were 

presented by Mrs. William A. Burk, council 

president. Director Harold Daniels accepted 

on behalf of Hallmark. 

Also the recipients of the council's monthly 

scrolls were two MGM featm-es, "The Stratton 

Story" and "The Barkleys of Broadway." 

Personnelifies 

(Continued from page 36) 

sound; JOE RICKARDS, assistant director; LEE FUL- 

LER, art director, and JASON LINDSAY and SYLviA 

NORRIS, technical advisers. 

ROBERT WEBB was assigned as unit director and 

LARRY WILLIAMS as cameraman on "Twelve 

O'Clocli High." 

Cinematographer ARTHUR E. ARLING had his 

option lifted for another year and was assigned 

to "Wabash Avenue." 


Technical assignments on King Bros.' "Gun Crazy" 

include FRANK HEATH, assistant director; RUSSELL 

HARLAN, cameraman; GORDON WILES, production 

designer, and RICHARD HEERMANCE, film editor. 


Fashion designed ORRY KELLY was signed to a 

new one-year deal. 

Cameraman WILLIAM DANIELS has been signed 

to another year's contract calling for four films. 

Warner Bros. 

Handling the cameras on "White Heat" will b« 

SID HICKOX. 

Title Changes 

Columbia 

COW TOWN is the new tag on the Gene Autry 

vehicle formerly entitled "Barbed Wire." 

Paramount 

Pine-Thomas' "Below the Border" 

THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK. 

was retagged 

LET'S DANCE is the new tag on the Fred Astaire- 

Betty Hutton starrer, formerly called "Little Boy 

Blue." 

RKO Radio 

STRANGE BARGAIN is the release title on the 

Sid Rogell production filmed as "Sam Wynne." 

Will Price directed the Martha Scott-Jeffrey Lynn costarrer. 

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG is the release title for the 

ARKO entry filmed as "Mr. Joseph Young of Africa," 

a John Ford and Merian C. Cooper production. 

Republic 

Howard Welsch's production, "Floodtide," has 

been retabbed HOUSE BY THE RIVER. 

46 BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 19®

Suit Over UA Sludio 

Far From Decision 

HOLLYWOOD— still very much entangled 

and apparently far from legal adjudication is 

the lengthy battle between Samuel Goldwyn 

and Mary "pickford in which the protagonists 

are seeking satisfactory division of the physical 

assets and property of the studio once 

known as United Artists and for the past 

several years occupied by Goldwyn. 

Latest ruling by Superior Judge Paul 

Nourse gave Goldwyn permiss.on to remove 

a sound stage, several smaller buildings and 

some $300,000 worth of equipment from the 

lot provided his lease thereon, which expires 

in November, is not renewed. Hearings will 

resume in about three weeks to delve further 

into the complicated matter of ownership. 

Miss Pickford owns more than 51 per cent 

of the plant. Goldwj'n, as a producer, has 

been leasing it from her and from the Samuel 

Goldwyn Corp.. which owns the balance of 

the assets. 

« * * 

Borderline Productions, the independent 

unit recently organized by Actor Fred Mac- 

Murray, Director William A. Seiter and Producer 

Milton Bren, has established office 

and shooting space on the Republic lot for 

its initial venture, -Borderline." No releasing 

arrangements have been made for the subject, 

which will star MacMurray. 

Ann Blyth Is Suspended; 

Gale Storm Gets Lead 

HOLLYWOOD— Another film luminary 

went on the suspension list when U-I took 

actress Ann Blyth off salary for turning down 

the preferred femme lead in the Jerry Bresler 

production, "Abandoned." The part originally 

set for her went instead to Gale Storm, 

who stars with Dennis O'Keefe. Miss Blyth's 

last assignment was on loan to Paramount 

for the Bing Crosby opus, "Top o' the Morning." 

* * * 

A copyright infringement suit seeking 

$750,000 was filed in federal district court 

against Loew's, Inc., Producer Joe Pasternak 

and writer Hans Wilhelm by Arthur Rebner 

who charges the defendants pirated some of 

his material for inclusion in the recent MGM 

musical, "On an Island With You." Rebner 

contends the Esther Williams starrer contained 

sequences assertedly lifted from an 

operetta which he wrote and produced in 

Berlin in 1929 and which he later submitted 

to Loew's. 

25 Stars for Bond Drive 

HOLLYWOOD— studio representatives and 

talent agents, in a joint session held under 

the auspices of the Hollywood Coordinating 

committee, mapped plans whereby 25 film 

luminaries will participate in the U.S. Treasury 

department's annual savings bond drive, 

which kicks off May 15. Stars, not yet selected, 

will make personal appearances and 

do radio stints on behalf of the campaign. 

Third 'Belvedere' Slated . . 

HOLLYWOOD—Added to Producer Samuel 

G. Engel's docket at 20th Century-Fox was 

"Mr. Belvedere Goes to Africa," third in the 

comedy series starring Clifton Webb. It is 

slated to roll next fall as a sequel to "Sitting 

Pretty" and "Mr, Belvedere Goes to College." 


WHEN 

the patient becomes sufficiently 

sick, many are the diagnoses and 

plentiful the suggested panaceas. 

Comes now Sidney Sheldon, 30-year-old 

scrivener and winner of an Academy Award 

for his original screenplay, "The Bachelor 

and the Bobby-Soxer," with his ideas of 

what is ailing the motion picture industry 

and what might be done to put it back on its 

feet. 

Opines Scenarist Sheldon: 

"Hollywood's censorship halo has gradually 

become a deadly noose." 

The scripter's contention is that motion 

pictures' system of self-regulation under the 

administration of the Johnston office should 

be amended so that adult entertainmentimpossible 

to produce under present rigid 

rules—can be manufactured. Sheldon is of 

the opinion that there exists a sizeable audience 

of potential moviegoers who could be 

lured into theatres through such product, but 

who. under present conditions, refuse to patronize 

the movies. 

Under the existing protective system, Sheldon 

charges, motion pictures all are made so 

that they would not "offend an eight-yearold 

chUd." This he terms a "terrible insult 

to the American pubhc and an injustice to 

those movie-makers who are trying continually 

to bring worthwhile product to the 

public. In attempting to please everyone, 

you wind up pleasing no one." 

Sheldon's analysis of the situation stems 

from long experience as a writer, despite 

his youth. He began his industry career in 

the research division of the Academy of Motion 

Picture Arts and Sciences, became a 

reader and junior writer and then began 

selling originals. During the war years he 

collaborated on several successful Broadway 

plays, served a hitch with the army air 

corps, and upon his discharge cooked up the 

aforementioned "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer." 

The writer, avowing that properly administrated 

censorship "should guarantee freedom, 

not kill it," draws a parallel between 

the regulatory bodies as set up by the 

American and foreign film industries, and 

suggests the U.S. emulate the British practice 

of labeling films "U" or "A"—universal 

or adult. The same sort of censorship classification 

flourishes also in the Scandinavian 

coiuitries, Sheldon reported upon his return 

from a three-month European tour. Such 

practice, he asserts, functions as a safeguard 

against youngsters viewing films which they 

. . . It follows, "are not ready to see 

that we would be in a position to 

then, 

make pictures 

now impossible to do. with assurance 

that they would be seen only by an understand'ng 

and appreciative audience." 

It is Sheldon's further contention that such 

a system would permit Hollywood to manufacture 

the sort of fare now being produced 

in Europe, and much of which has been exhibited 

in the U.S. to the accompaniment of 

widespread audience and critical acclaim. 

Currently suffering from a severe attack 

of dwindling patronage, the American industry, 

he thinks, could make a speedy recovery 

through one simple expedient: 

W 

Relax its present inflexible rules of censorship 

so that fUms comparable in subject 

matter and treatment to what Europe is 

making can be turned out in Hollywood— 

and thus recapture an adult audience long 

since lost to domestic film fare. 

The King Brothers reveal negotiations 

with the Armstrong-Flint Co. for the services 

of a helicopter to be used to photograph 

exterior sequences of "Gun Crazy," their 

initial production for United Artists release. 

That establishes the producing Kings as 

being definitely air-minded, .\lready there 

is a blimp in the family. 

What's happened to film-makers' enterprise? 

"Riders m the Sky," the hit song 

wTitten as a first tunesmith effort by Forestry 

Ranger Stan Jones, is threatening to 

break all records in sales and popularity— 

and nary a producer has come forward with 

an announcement that he has arranged to 

make a picture based thereon. 

Hollywood newsmen's dream of heaven: 

A week when there are no reports of an 

about-to-be-consummated deal for the purchase 

of United Artists. 

Some day, perhaps, someone really will 

buy the outfit—and no one will give it a 

tumble. 

Rotund Maury Foladare now is doing his 

best to make an international affair out of 

the picture for which he is tickling the 

welkin. He now informs that Ed f'Ai-chie") 

Gardner, who is preparing production on an 

independent basis of an opus titled "Pigsfeet 

in Paris," has been invited by the government 

of Puerto Rico to shoot .some exterior 

sequences on that island, the balance 

of the picture to be produced in France. 

If Flack Foladare continues so indiscriminately 

to move his "Pigsfeet" around the 

world, there are several title changes which 

might be considered, towit: 

"Hamhocks in Honduras," 

"Liver in Lithuania." 

"Sweetbreads in Sweden." 

"Spareribs in Svobodnyi." 

"Kidney in Kiev." 

"Borscht in Bulgaria." 

From Alex Evelove's Burbank blurbery a 

tear-jerking tidbit anent the plight of Actor 

David Brian, who assertedly discovered on 

his return from a location junket that the 

landlord of his Hollywood apartment had 

redecorated and refurnished it—supplying a 

new bed too short for Brian's six-foot-fourinch 

frame. 

Brian solved the problem by moving into 

new quarters in Beverly Hills. 

And there isn't a dry eye among the veterans 

paying exorbitant rents or monthly 

payments for shacks. 

47

Huish-Gilhool Opens Payson Theatre 

After Two Years of Construction 

merly named the Roxy, the $50,000 job on 

Newman's house is being contracted by Mac- 

Roberts, Inc. B. Marcus Priteca is the 

architect. Most of the equipment is being 

furnished by Modern Theatre Supply. 

The rebuilding includes a new marquee, 

walls, ceiling, seats, projection and sound 

equipment, carpets, drapes and ventilation. 

The auditorium walls are being paneled in 

damask-type spunglass cloth. The front will 

be of terra cotta. Exterior and interior 

motifs are in pastel shades of greens and 

blues. Lighting in the foyer and auditorium 

will be indirect from flush fixtures. 

San Pedro Airer to Cost $300,000 

SAN PEDRO, CALIF.—The San Pedro 

drive-in under construction on a 15-acre site 

at 1575 North Gaffney St. here will cost approximately 

$300,000. It wiU be one of the 

most impressive ozoners in the Los Angeles 

harbor district, with a massive architectural 

front of California design by architects Glenn 

Balch and Louis L. Bryan. 

The drive-in will accommodate 900 automobiles. 

It is being built by the San Pedro 

Theatre Corp. 

PAYSON, UTAH—Huish-GUhool Theatre 

Enterprises opened their 810-seat Huish 

Theatre with city officials and film executives 

on hand for the affair. The new showcase is 

in a building with three other rental units, 

which are expected to be occupied in the 

near future. 

Although a modernistic atmosphere predominates 

in the design of the structure, a 

rustic touch is lent through the use of sandstone 

and the redwood finish. One of the 

most striking features of the theatre is an 

18-foot long mural in the inner foyer. It is 

a painted blown-up picture of Payson City 

and the surrounding valley taken from Payson 

summit. 

The boxoffice is at the side of the double 

glass-like entrance doors. The foyer contains 

a snack bar finished in redwood. Advertising 

frames in the inner foyer contrast 

with the modern motif, presenting a beveled 

appearance of old-fashioned picture frames. 

Even temperatures throughout the building 

are assured by the ventilating and heating 

system, and the air wash device further aids 

in keeping drafts and cross-currents down. 

The main auditorium occupies one entire 

floor with the manager's office and a cry 

room on the second floor. 

The Huish, built as a memorial to the late 

Charles M. Huish, has been imder construction 

for two years. Fred L. Markham of 

Provo was the architect. He was assisted by 

Rove Smith. 'Vincent A. Gilhool is the general 

manager in charge of the circuit house. 

The Huish is managed by Gene Braithwaite. 

Zoning Change Refused in Saratoga 

SARATOGA, CALIF.—Application for a 

zoning change by a San Jose theatre manager 

that would permit him to build a drive-in on 

12 acres here was denied by the County 

Planning commission. More than 100 property 

owners protested the application submitted 

by M. R. Milijevich and the G. Vf. 

Meek theatres. 

Plan Drive-Ih at Duarte 

DUARTE, CALIF.—A drive-in to be known 

as the Big Sky will be built on East Himtington 

drive here by the Big Sky Corp. at a cost 

of approximately $200,000. Plans for the 

ozoner have been drawn by J. Arthur 

Drielsma, architect. The new ozoner will be 

operated by the Big Sky Corp. 

Start Seattle Crest; Other Building 

SEATTLE—Immediate construction of the 

new $250,000 Crest Theatre in the Ridgecrest 

district here was announced recently by L. W. 

Rowe, president of Crest Building, Inc., 

owner of the theatre, which is scheduled for 

opening September 1. Seating capacity of the 

new Crest will be 876. It will have a cry 

room, wOl be of stadium-type construction 

and will be fireproof and air conditioned, 

with 11,000 square feet of floor space. 

The Crest building will include four retail 

stores, a drug store, hardware store, a dress 

shop and a flower shop. Bjarne Moe is the 

architect and Carroll, Hillman and Hedlund, 

Inc., property management department for 

Crest Building, Inc., is financing the structure. 

The Crest is the fourth major neighborhood 

theatre for this rapidly expanding city. Some 

time ago, the beautiful Admiral Theatre, with 

its lavish marine motif, was built on California 

and Admiral way in west Seattle. Later 

the Magnolia Theatre was opened and the 

'Venetian is a large outlying-district house on 

Madison avenue. 

New Oregon Ozoner Opens 

GRANGER STATION, ORE.—The Midway 

drive-in in this section of the 'Willamette 

and Corvallis, opened recently. The $100,000 

layout, harboring about 500 cars, covers ten 

acres near Granger Station, and is the first 

drive-in in this section of the 'Willamette 

valley. C. E. Tillman is Midway manager. 

Coast Theatre to Fight Revoked Permit 

SAN FRANCISCO—'Walter S. Lawrence, 

co-owner of the Coast Theatre Co., whose 

county building permit for a drive-in theatre 

on 'West 'Whitmore avenue in the Ceres 

district was revoked, stated that he plans to 

take the matter to court as soon as possible. 

The project was 70 per cent completed 

when the county board of supervisors 

rescinded the permit. Lawrence did not reveal 

whether he will seek damages or attempt 

to have the order set aside. The permit 

revocation was made on motion of a 

supervisor on the grounds that the permit 

had been granted because of misrepresentation. 

Frank L. Ne'wman jr. Sets May 11 

SEATTLE—About May 11 Prank L. Newman 

jr. will open his completely rebuilt 465- 

seat Bay Theatre in the Ballard district. For- 

Qgin Shown in March 

In Studio Pay Rolls 

HOLLYWOOD—Reflecting a slight improvement 

in productional activity, the studio 

employment index and average weekly 

earnings both moved up a peg in March over 

February, it was disclosed by the California 

labor statistics department. 'Weekly pay 

checks for March averaged $97.50. as compared 

to $96.36 in the previous month, while 

the index of employm.ent increased from 63.9 

to 67.8 per cent. 

* * • 

Joining the lATSE studio family, Scenic 

Artists Local 816 was installed in formal 

ceremonies conducted by Carl Cooper, lA 

vice-president. Charter members include approximately 

50 members working in films 

and the legitimate theatre. 

To be highlighted by the announcement 

and presentation of the first annual award 

for directorial achievement, the Screen Directors 

Guild will hold a formal awards dinner 

May 22, with guests including Darryl F. 

Zanuck, Louis B. Mayer and George Bagnall. 

48 BOXOFTICE May 7, 1949

. . Another 

. . Drive-ins 

SALT LAKE CITY 

poy and Bill Finnage of MUford have purchased 

the Aladdin at Parowan. the site 

. . . Along 

of the filming of "The Big Cat." The Aladdin 

was sold by Ivan Johnson 

Filmrow this week were Eagle Lion district 

manager John Leo, John Rowberry of Cedar 

City and Earl Whittaker of Circleville. 

'Big Caf World Premiere at Salt Lake 

Benefits From Youth Week Tieup 

. 

Rumors are that four new drive-ins will go 

up in the exchange area within a few months. 

Construction has already begun on a fifth 

ozoner located at Brigham City. Land has 

been leveled and uprights erected . . Other 

. 

drive-ins are scheduled between Main and 

State streets on south 33rd, and Redwood 

road and at south 39th and State street, all 

within Salt Lake county ozoner 

is planned between Cedar City and Saint 

George. 

Local exhibitors lost the fight to keep noparking 

zones in front of theatres. The parking 

council sought to have the zones 

abandoned, explaining that more space was 

needed for parking meters. Theatremen 

argued against the plan, claiming abandonment 

of the no-parking zones would create 

a fire hazard. The city commission, however, 

voted to put meters in front of the showhouses, 

except in cases where the theatres 

are in front of crosswalks . continue 

to do good business and indoor operators 

are keeping a wary eye on opening resorts 

and the effect the ozoners will have on their 

business ... A spring and summer drama 

festival at the University of Utah is being 

plarmed . . . Attractions booked for the near 

future include Frank Fay in "Harvey," coming 

to the Capitol and Burl Ives, who wrill 

appear in Fox houses. 

Try Ds and You'll Agree 

FILMACK 



Quicker than the RestT 

CHICAGO -1327 S. Wabash 

NEW YORK - 619 W 54th St. 

IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS AND 

JUNCTION BOXES 

FOR REPLACEMENT JOBS 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. "k.c'.'mT" 

THE MODERN PROJECTOR 

187 Golden Git« Avt., Sin Fruiciwe 2, C«lif. 

Phon* Undwhill 1-7571 

up 

' 

Shown above attending the premiere of "The Big Cat" in Salt Lake City are, left 

to right: Gene Lies, Lois Butler, Mrs. Preston Foster, Linda Romay. Jane Withers, 

Producer Bill Moss, Salt Lake Youth Mayor Don Ostler, Peggy Ann Garner and 

Preston Foster lined up on stage with Chill Wills (on his knees) at the conclusion 

of the world premiere performance. 

SALT LAKE CITY—Once again "souped 

promotion put over the world premiere of 

a picture here. This time it was Eagle Lion's 

"The Big Cat," which gained as much newspaper 

and radio promotion and window displays 

as any premiere ever held here. A happy 

tiein of the picture with the local celebration 

of National Youth week netted the film many 

notices it would not otherwise have gained. 

For three days. Salt Lake and Utah were 

inundated with "Big Cat" promotion. Starting 

with the arrival of Hollywood personalities, 

including two stars from the picture, 

not a day passed without mention of the film 

all over town. The Hollywood luminaries here 

for the premiere included Preston Foster and 

Peggy Ann Garner, from the cast of the 

Utah-made pictiue. Producer Bill Moss, 

Linda Romay, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, the 

cat, Curley Twiford, animal tramer for pictures, 

Mrs. Foster, Lois Butler, Gene Lies 

and Bob Goodfried, EL field representative. 

The entourage was met at the station by 

Mayor Earl J. Glade, theatre officials and 

Youth week officials, who had been put in 

their offices for the week. 

The first day was occupied with visits to 

child centers and the Veterans hospital and 

a press banquet in the evening. The day of 

the premiere found the two evening papers 

devoting picture pages to the affair with the 

Youth week tieup and the morning paper 

devoting all the editorial matter on its theatre 

pages to the stars. 

The premiere was another two-theatre affair, 

at both the Utah and Capitol theatres. 

The Utah was packed to the top of the balcony 

and the Capitol was almost full. A fullhour 

show with Chill Wills as master of ceremonies 

met with approval as did the film 

itself. Many Utahans traveled as far as 300 

miles to attend the premiere. They came 

from Parowan and farther south in Utah, 

where the picture was filmed. 

The visitors remained in Salt Lake imtil 

late the afternoon of the premiere, thus giving 

the picture extra publicity. They rode in 

a Youth week parade, which att-acted hundreds 

of onlookers to Salt Lake streets, and 

they spent the rest of the time sightseeing. 

Window displays included a full window in 

a flower shop, with pictures of the stars and 

with "Big Cat" spelled out in flowers, and two 

scenic setups in the Union Pacific office at 

the Utah hotel and exhibits in local sporting 

goods stores. 

Helen Garrity of Intermountain Theatres 

assisted Goodfried in directing the promotion. 

Jane Withers is shown above helping 

Youth Mayor Don Ostler of Salt Lake 

arrange his tie as Chill Wills looks on. 

The picture was part of a full-page layout 

that showed activities of the youth 

mayor and the stars. 

BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1949 49

. . Among 

. . W. 

. . Operator 

. . Paul 

Two-Week 'Red Shoes Campaign Hits 

New Exploitation High in Seattle 

SEATTLE—This city saw red for two solid 

weeks—and not because it was angry. It was 

just its way of paying tribute, through some 

of the classiest exploitation work to be seen 

here in a long time, to "The Red Shoes," the 

Eagle Lion release, which is playing a road 

show engagement at the Music Box Theatre. 

Not in this writer's memory have tieups with 

a motion picture hit such an elite note. The 

most exclusive stores, the absolute tops in 

mailing lists and the wholehearted cooperation 

of every media that makes up a city's 

cultural wealth were pressed into service. 

All this was done by Paul Perez, special 

EL exploitation representative, and Manager 

Jack Dudman. The unusual part about it all 

was so little actual money was spent on exploitation 

in relation to results. "When stores 

didn't have window material they made it up 

themselves. If they wanted models for a "Red 

Shoe" fashion show, they bore the cost. 

It would be impossible to list all the individual 

tieups and angles that were used, but 

here are some of the highlights: 

The Bon Marche, biggest local department 

store, gave its three largest corner windows, 

ran two top newspaper ads, one a full page in 

y 

: 

: 

i 

We 

have the 

dnH%M: 

Count on uB for Quick Aclionl 

for 

YOUR 

THEATRE 

Pboa* 

Our Mnd« conlacU with (he exhibilon 

Bll«a4««Tm< admire you ol satisfotlory results. 

THEATRE EXCHANGE C0.1 

201 Fine Arts Bldg. Portland 5, Oregon 

color, and put on an in-store style show built 

around the picture. Later Bon Marche presented 

an invitational luncheon for 350 

fashion leaders in the city's big Olympic hotel, 

with a stage made in a replica of one of the 

scenes from the film. Twelve models wore 

red shoes, and programs and door-prize tickets 

carried the title and sketch of ballet 

slippers. Betty MacDonald, author of "The 

Egg and I," was there, with a red ballet 

slipper and a silk ribbon on a plaster cast 

protecting a recently broken ankle. 

1 

Berliner's, the northwest's largest distributor 

of beauty parlor equipment, was so enthusiastic 

it put in a w.ndow which carried 

a neon-bordered sign on "The Red Shoes," 

using a flasher as an attraction 24 hours a 

day. The owner personally distributed to 75 

beauty shops special lettered cards bearing 

two stiUs. 

Cecila Schultz, northwest's important 

concert and ballet impresario, made her mailing 

list (5,000) available for the first time to 

pictures. The Seattle Symphony 1 4.000 1, the 

University of Washington's department of 

adult education 3,000 1, the Seattle art 

museum (5,500) and the Friends of the Dance 

(2,217) made their mailing lists available, 

some of them for the first time. 

Special screenings covering every field that 

might possibly plug the pictui'e were held. 

Tliese included radio and newspaper executives, 

department store executives, various 

dancing school personnel, school and city officials. 

There also was a long list of individual 

windows and smaller tieups that certainly 

put a blush on Seattle's face for "The Red 

Shoes." 

Robert Montgomery Set 

To Narrate Navy Film 

HOLLYWOOD—Set to 

appear in and narrate 

a navy-produced documentary dealing 

with the new superaircraft, the Constitution, 

was Robert Montgomery, actor-director, currently 

supervising the editing and scoring of 

his latest Neptune production for U-I. The 

navy film will be screened in theatres and 

via television during a 20-city tour of the 

giant plane. 

'•••••••••••9«e««e««o««««««««««««««®®@®«{8s«« 

TO ALL EXHIBITORS 

Get on the right horse. 

MOBO is always the winner. 

He'll challenge any horse. 

He's Mechanical - Remember mechanical. 

All Steel — Retails at $40.00. 

Remember a galloping broncho. 

hobby horse. 

Not a 

Increases box office receipts immensely. 

Have broncho races on your stage. 

Will hold any rider up to 200 lbs. 

Will furnish cash awards. 

No cost to exhibitors. 

I 

don't use your screen. 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT 

• 1609 S.W. Park Ave. 

X Portland, Ore. 

• CApitol 38G8 

DEAN BARRETT 

415 Seneca St 

Seattle, Wash. 

Seneca 0750 

)••••••••••( 

S E AT T L E 

lyTr. and Mrs. John Hamrick are back home 

. . . 

after wintering at Palm Springs . . . 

Jimmy Brooks, 20th-Fox booker, has been 

Ben Fish, 

confined to his home by illness . . . 

Samuel Goldwyn's personal representative, 

was in town for a few days . Perez, 

exploiteer, is in Spokane working on the 

opening of "The Red Shoes" for U-I 

Morrie Nimmer, Wenatchee, and Bill Cooley, 

Everett, were in for conferences with Carl 

Mahne, Evergreen's Washington district 

manager. 

Charles Ames and his son Kenneth have 

sold their theatre at Dishman to Keith Beckwith, 

Willard Scale and Walter Seale for a 

Evergreen president, 

reported $100,000 . . . 

Frank L. Newman sr., is back from a trip to 

New York . B. McDonald, Olympia exhibitor, 

is flying a new plane— a four-passenger 

Stinson . Ernie Brooking of 

the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton provided 

Manager Murt Makins with a collection of 

college pennants to help decorate the marquee 

for "Mother Is a Freshman." 

Arnold Larson and Sam Gillette, owners 

and operators of the Motor-'Vu Drive-In near 

Bellingham, are still getting plaudits for 

making the place available for Easter sunrise 

services sponsored by the Bellingham 

Christian youth council. The crowd set a 

record for sunrise service attendance in that 

city . . . James O'Connell, manager of the 

Pox in Spokane, got all eighth grade school 

classes to cooperate on an essay contest dealing 

with Mark Twain's "A Connecticut 

Yankee" when the Paramount release played 

his house. 

Frank Harris of the Wagner Sign Service 

dropped into town with Mrs. Harris while on 

a tour of the Pacific coast . . . Mickey Goldhammer, 

Monogram eastern sales manager, 

and Mel Huling, western district sales manager, 

met here with Branch Manager Ralph 

Abbett . visitors to Filmrow: Fred 

Estelman, Cle Elum; Keith Beckwith, North 

Bend; George Borden jr., Blaine; Norman 

Clyde, Langley, and Lou Pressler, Aberdeen. 

Showman Frank Barovic 

Dies in Puyallup, Wash. 

PUYALLUP, WASH.—Frank Barovic, 53, 

well-known northeast showman, died at his 

home here after a long illness. He was the 

brother of Mike Barovic, pioneer exhibitor. 

The pair was active in operating theatres in 

Sumner, Tacoma and here. 

He was born in Janjina in Yugoslavia's 

Dalmatia province. He came to the United 

States in 1934. Funeral services were held at 

All Saints church here. 

Free Comic Club Show 

SEATTLE—Tlie Paramount Theatre here 

was the scene of a free showing of "Jiggs 

and Maggie in Court" for hundreds of Comic 

Weekly club youngsters. Admittance was 

showing of their club membership cards at 

the door. Admittance was limited to club 

members and door prizes were offered. Interest 

in Comic Weekly comics is increased 

in Seattle by weekly airings over KOL in 

which the comics are read and re-enacted 

by the Comic Weekly man. The club is nationwide 

for youngsters. 


'Belvedere 2nd Week Sfrong at 180 

To Lead First Runs in 

SAN FRANCISCO—Following a pace-setting 

initial week at the Fox and the United 

Nations, "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" continued 

to show strength with a second round 

score of 180 per cent. "The Life of Riley," 

with "Cheyenne Cowboy" at the Orpheum, 

carded a lusty 150 per cent. A stage show 

featuring Jack Carson, with "Sky Dragon" 

at the Golden Gate, registered only an average 

gross. 


Esquire—The Undercover Man (Col); The Mutineers 

(Col), 2nd d. t. wk 120 

Fox and United Nations Mr. Belvedere Goes to 

College (20th-Fox); The Last Bandit (Rep), 2nd 

wk 180 

Golden Gate Sky Dragon (Mono), plus stage 

show 100 

Orpheum—The Uie ol Riley (U-I) 150 

Paramount A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court (Pa.'o), 2nd wk 9h 

St. Francis—Take Me Out to the Ball Game 

(MGM), 4th wk 80 

Stale Lady of Burlesque (UA); Guest in the 

House (UA), reissues 90 

United Artists—Cover-Up (UA); Thunder in the 

Pines (SO). 2nd wk 

90 

Warlield—Little Women (MGM); Tucson 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 120 

'Champion' Grosses 200 

To Pace Los Angeles 

LOS ANGELES — Outpointing all other 

challengers, "Champion" scored a decisive 200 

per cent in its first stanza to take honors 

among local first run contenders. Day-dati:ig 

in four houses, the boxing drama was well 

out in front of its two closest opponents, 

San Francisco 

"Portrait of Jennie" and "The Life of Riley,' 

each of which finished their first week's run 

with a 125 per cent average. 

Belmont, Culver, EI Rey, Million Dollar, Orpheum, 

Vogue I Shot Jesse James (SGP); Arson. Inc. 

^(SG) .. 

lis 

Chinese, State, Uptown, Loyola Portrait o^ 

Jennie (SRO); Tucson (20th-Fox) 125 

Downtown, Hollywood Paramounts A Connecticut 

Yankee (Para) 110 

Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire—Little Women 

(MGM), 3rd wk 100 

Fine Arts-The Red Shoes (EL), 18lh wk 100 

Four Music Halls—Champion (UA) 200 

Four Star—Hamlet (U-1), 27th wk. roadshow 100 

Guild, Ins, Ritz. Studio City, United Artists— 

The Liie of Riley (U-I); Sky Dragon (Mono) 125 

Pontages, Hillstrect Adventure in Baltimore 

(RKO); The Mutineers (Col) 90 

Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern 

Flamingo Road (WB) _ 110 

'Red Shoes' Registers 200 

To Set Pace in Seattle 

SEATTLE — Showing at the Music Box, 

which usually plays moveovers, "The Red 

Shoes" paced the city with a mammoth 

200 per cent. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College," 

paired with "I Cheated the Law" at the Music 

Hall, was next best with a lusty 160 per cent. 

Blue Mouse Red Canyon (U-I); Louisiana 

(Mono), 2nd d.t. wk 60 

Coliseum—Force ol Evil (MGM); Brothers in the 

Saddle (RKO) 85 

Filth Avenue—Little Women (MGM); Tucson 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 160 

Liberty A Connecticut Yankee (Para); Blondie's 

Big Deal (Col), 2nd wk 130 

Music Box—The Red Shoes (EL) 200 

Music Hall—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College 

(20th-Fox): I Cheated the Law (20lh-Fox) 160 

Orpheum—Undercover Man (Col); Daughter of 

the West (FC), 2nd wk _ 70 

Paramount—Tulso (EL); Shcunioelc HUl (EL), 

2nd wk _ 75 

'Yankee' Second Week Big 

At 155 in Portland 

PORTLAND—A good steady week was recorded 

at nearly all downtown houses with 

four holdovers leading the parade. In the 

top spot for the second week at 155 per cent 

was "A Connecticut Yankee" and "Henry, 

the Rainmaker" on a double bill at the Paramount 

and Oriental. The single bills "Little 

Women" at the United Artists house and 

"The Red Shoes" at the Guild were tied for 

second at 150 per cent. 

Broadway—Take Me Out to the Boll Game 

(MGM); Girl From Manhattan (UA), 2nd wk 145 

Guild—The Red Shoes (EL), 2nd wk 150 

Music Box—Sergeant York (WB); Castle on the 

Hudson (WB), reissues .,.„ 105 

Oriental and Paramount A Coimecticut Yankee 

(Para); Henry, the Rainmaker (Mono), 2nd wk ISb 

Orpheum The Undercover Man (Col); Ladies 

ol the Chorus (Col) 130 

Playhouse Johnny Belinda (WB); Treasure of 

Sierra Madre (WB), 2nd run, 3rd wk 110 

United Artists—Little Women (MGM), 2nd wk 150 

'Riley' Leads in Denver 

With 125 Per Cent 

DENVER—"A Connecticut Yankee" held 

up strong at 120 per cent at the Denham to 

gain a third week, but "Tlie Life of Riley" 

at the Esquire and Paramount led the town 

with 125 per cent. 

Aladdin—Hamlet (U-I), 4th d.l. wk...._ 150 

Denham A Coiuecticut Yankee (Para), 2nd wk...l20 

Denver and Webber Down to the Sea in Ships 

(20th-Fox): Tucson (20th-Fox) 115 

Esquire and Paramount The Liie of Riley (U-I); 

The Judge (FC) _I25 

Orpheum The Bribe (MGM); Captain Boycott 

(Rank) 110 

Riolto—Mother Is a Freshman (20th-Fox); 

Moonrise (Rep), 4th d t. wk _ 100 

Vogue ^Monsieur Vincent (Lopert), 2nd wk 120 

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for drive-in theatres, has taken a firm 

hold on drive-in managers as well as patrons. 

Managers from drive-in theatres as far east 

as New York and north to Canada have written 

to MPS requesting prints . . . Ann Blumenfeld, 

daughter of Abe Blumenfeld of 

Blumenfeld circuit, was married to Dr. Phillip 

Edward Corin . . . William Porter, Monogram 

auditor, was at the local office . . . 

Monogram Manager Jimmy Myers got a Toni 

wave in preparation for the social events 

brought about by the Variety Club convention. 

Abe Ettin, bossman of the traveling sign 

and sound car organization, was on the reception 

committee for the Variety Club convention. 

Passengers disembarking from trains and 

planes were greeted with a snappy "hello" 

from the loud speaker on the station wagon 

Willen, Hollywood publicity man, is 

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working on the opening of "Champion" . . . 

UA stenographer Alice Phillips fell and broke 

her left arm which she is now wearing in a 

cast and sling, Alice was away from the office 

for a week and is now carrying on in spite of 

her handicap. 

Mrs. C. K. Olson, wife of UA manager, 

motored to Pueblo, Colo., to visit her daughter 

and family . . . Helen Bennett, UA Manager 

Olson's secretary, was home a few days 

under a doctor's care with an infected throat. 

UA office manager Ralph Clarke has a 

white slip of paper which has been the cause 

of great merriment in the office and on Filmrow. 

For contents thereon, all are invited to 

contact Ralph who says it is "toujour gay" 

. . . Paul Schmuk, formerly with Eagle Lion, 

is now associated with the Republic sales 

Joe Cane, head Republic booker, has 

force . . . 

The Republic 

been ill for the past two weeks . . . 

projection room has been completely 

remodeled with new screen and new seats 

ordered. 

Republic Manager Ralph Carmichael is in 

Los Angeles on business for a few days . . . 

Republic's "Hellfire," filmed in Trucolor and 

starring William Elliott, is said to exceed the 

expectations of the Republic crew and exhibitors 

who have seen it. 

. . 

Cliff Giesseman, North Coast city manager, 

in a hospital . . . Tom Grass, treasurer at 

is 

the Orpheum Theatre, has been moved to the 

Esquire as assistant manager. The new treasurer 

at the Orpheum is Al Adolph who was 

promoted from doorman . The girls of the 

Film Colony club staffed the information 

booths at the St. Francis and Fairmont 

hotels during the Variety Club convention 

the early arrivals for the convention 

were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cifre of Boston 

and Nate Golden of Washington. Cifre is 

a former chief barker of the Boston tent, 

and Golden is a former Washington chief 

barker. The men were met at the airport by 

R. O. Bemis and Chne. 

There is a story behind the fishes at the 

Coliseum Theatre. For the playing of "Wake 

of the Red Witch," Manager Albert Levin 

fashioned a striking lobby display with an 

aquarium of tropical fish. The effect was 

greatly appreciated by the patrons who requested 

it become a permanent showpiece. So 

now the Coliseum not only shows two features, 

news and cartoon . fish as well. 

"Pop" Korn, played by assistant manager 

Roderick Kurry at the Balboa Theatre, is a 

Saturday matinee feature. "Pop" runs around 

in circus costume presenting prizes and having 

fun with the children. The wholesome 

entertainment involved with the personality 

of "Pop" Korn has received particular notice 

with PTA and Mothers' club groups, according 

to Manager Edwm Scheeline. 

The Winters Theatre in Winters has been 

remodeled and now boasts a new enlarged 

lobby and marquee . . . Cantin and Cantin, 

local architects, remodeled the Crest Theatre, 

an FWC house on K street in Sacramento 

as well as the Broadway in Nevada 

City for the Nevada County Theatres . . . 

Amelia Benidettino will take over the management 

of the Crest just opened in Los 

Banos. The theatre has a seating capacity of 

1,000 seats. Miss Benidettino will continue 

to manage the Del Rio Theatre, owned by 

the same company in Los Banos . Koshel 

is building a new drive-in in Sacramento to 

accorrunodate 600 cars. Construction is to 

start immediately. 

20th-Fox Crew to Germany 

HOLLYWOOD — Writer-director 

George 

Seaton, cinematographer Charles Clarke and 

a crew of nine will check out soon for Frankfurt, 

Germany, to begin preliminary arrangements 

for the production there of 20th Century-Fox's 

"Quartered City," new handle for 

the property previously known as "Berlin 

Airlift." The subject, as yet uncast, will be 

produced entirely in Germany. 


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nnother ozoner will begin operations in the 

southern California area when the Cine- 

Car Drive-In, ownod by the Montgomery 

brothers, opens in Cypress about the middle 

of the month. Exhibitors Service will handle 

its booking and buying . Alexander 

jr., vice-president of the Alexander Film Co. 

of Colorado Springs, swung down this way to 

pick up Colin Dexter. Pacific coast sales 

manager, en route to the Variety Clubs International 

convention in San FYancisco. 

. . 

. . . 

Sam Nathanson has taken over the public 

relations job for the Dietrich-Feldstein circuit, 

concentrating on the Uclan in Westwood 

as a foreign films house . Roy Bassett, 

formerly with Favorite Films and Monogram 

has joined Republic as salesman 

The Base Theatre in Ford City has been 

taken over by Nathan Stiefel. 

. . . 

New manager of Sid Pink's Vista in Hollywood 

is Ben DeDici 

ager and buyer for 

. . . Sol Axelrod, man- 

Gumbiner's Cameo Theatre, 

is beaming over his brand-new baby boy, 

born at St. Joseph's late last month 

Jimmy Edwards of the Edwards circuit was 

admitted to the Santa Barbara hospital for 

a routine oheckup before opening his new 

drive-in near Temple City. 

. . . The 

All bedecked in new spring finery, Mrs. 

Jenne Dodge visited the Row on a booking 

and buying spree for her Mission and Mayfair 

theatres in Ventura , . . W. H. Turpie's 

Manley Popcorn bowling team won the southwest 

major league championship 

Western Amusement Co. has taken over the 

Valley and Antelope theatres in Lancaster. 

Ralph Duke succeeds the late Glen Mollohan 

as manager of Everett Cummings' Richcrest 

Theatre in Richcrest. Duke was formerly 

with Earl Strebe's Crestline, Big Bear 

and Arrowhead houses Pilmrow visitors 

included Sam Russo, 

. . . 

Campus Drive-In and 

the Casino: Bert Jones, Helix, La Mesa; Jay 

Berger, operator of the Camarillo. 

J. D. Chaffin's new Bay Theatre in Pacific 

Palisades has switched to a foreign-film 

policy, the initial bill being "Symphonle 

Fantastique" and "The Room Upstairs" . . . 

P. A. Bateman, Screen Guild's general sales 

manager, trekked to San Francisco for huddles 

at the exchange there. 

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BOXOFTICE :: May 7, 1949 50-C

. . Russ 

. . Floyd 

PHOENIX 

IJobert L. Klauer has been appointed assistant 

manager of the Mesa Drive-In on 

Highway 80 south of Yuma. A former Iowa 

newspaperman, public relations director and 

magazine editor, Klauer will be in charge of 

the theatre's advertising and promotion departments. 

Appointment was made by W. P. 

Wickersham, owner and manager of the open 

airer. 

Nogales was given a careful once-over by 

cameraman James Wong Howe and Director 

John Sturges, who are eyeing location sites 

for a forthcoming film to feature Lew Ayres 

and Teresa Wright. Actual filming is expected 

to take place near Nogales and Patagonia. 

Shooting is expected to start aroimd 

the middle of May and a 12-day schedule has 

been set up. A cast and technical crew of 

about 65 are expected to make the jaunt from 

Hollywood. 

Claude Cline, manager of the Elks, Prescott, 

was virtually assured of standout business 

when he booked "Station West" at his theatre. 

The RKO picture was filmed in Yavapai 

county's picturesque Oak Creek canyon, and 

many of the county residents, including several 

Prescott natives, were given roles in the 

picture as extras. Accordingly, demand for 

the film was the greatest in the history of 

the Elks, but the requests had nothing to do 

with stars Dick Powell and Jane Greer. 

Everybody wanted to see the extras! 

Elliott Arnold's best-selling historical novel, 

"Blood Brother," is scheduled to be filmed in 

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Arizona next month by 20th Century-Fox, 

which has set Jime 1 as the tentative starting 

date for camera work. Producer Julian 

Blaustein has set James Stewart for the lead 

role, but no other casting has been done as 

yet. Location sites will include Tucson, 

Cochise Stronghold, and the Chiricahsuas, 

with the cast of several hundred to be quartered 

in Wilcox. Included will be between 

250 and 300 Apache Indians, who will be recruited 

from the San Carlos reservation. 

PORTLAND 

pjonna Little is the new biller at RKO, replacing 

James Welch . Morgan, 

RKO exploitation man, dropped in from 

Seattle . . . Archie Holt, salesman for U-I, left 

on a sales trip down the coast . . . Earle 

Keate, publicity man for U-I, was in 

town working on "The Life of Riley" . . . 

Chuck Wilkens, salesman for Film Classics, 

returned from a two-week sales trip in 

southern Oregon. 

Selma Haley, head inspector at MGM, announced 

the marriage of her son April 30 . . . 

Gail Sawyer attended the junior prom at 

Portland university. Gail is assistant cashier 

at MGM . 

. . Helen Ellis, booking clerk at 

MGM, celebrated her recovery from a skiing 

accident by attending a Count Basic dance. 

Allen Bert of Theatre Exchange Co. spent 

the weekend trout fishing in the Saletz river 

. . . Maxine Elliott, featured singer in "Copacabana" 

and "Silver Skates" made her singing 

debut here with Glenn Henry's orchestra 

at Jantzen beach, the northwest's million 

dollar playground. Maxine has been with 

Glenn Henry since last February and has 

made several records. Prom Portland the 

band will go on to Washington, D. C. after an 

extended tour of the northwest. 

Television Round-Table 

Scheduled for May 26 

HOLLYWOOD—Under the aegis of the 

Screen Publicists Guild, the second annual 

television round-table to acquaint members 

of film and radio unions with progress in the 

video field will get under way May 26. Built 

around the theme, "Television Comes of Age," 

the forums will have as participants the 

Academy of Television Ai-ts and Sciences, the 

Society of Motion Picture Engineers, the 

Hollywood council of the Ass'n of Broadcast 

Unions and Guilds, the Television Film Producers 

Ass'n and the Television Producers 

Ass'n. 

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DENVER 

•lyraurice Zell, who handles the hobby horses 

now being used as theatre giveaways, 

was here for several days confen'ing with his 

local distributor Tom Bailey. He and Bailey 

got theii- pictures in the Denver Post, together 

with one of the horses, being ridden by a 

woman. The horse was given as a prize in a 

local fund-raising campaign. Zell continued 

from here to visit other distributors . . . Bruce 

Marshall, Columbia salesman, has a new 

Hudson and Neal Beezley, owner of the Midway, 

Burlington, is making his frequent trips 

to Denver in a new Buick. 

. Oscar 

Tom Bailey has moved his Screen Guild exchange 

to 929 21st St. on Fihnrow . 

Neu of Neumade Pi-oducts Co., 

. 

was here for 

conferences with his distributors . . . Irene 

Gardner, Paramoimt exchange cashier, is 

vacationing in Kansas. 

Going to the Paramount sales meeting in 

Los Angeles will be C. J. Duer, branch manager; 

Jim Ricketts, head booker; Tillie Chalk, 

office manager, and salesmen Jack Felix, 

John Vos and Paul Allmeyer . Davis 

sr. and Nat Jones will open their new 85 

Drive-In, at Raton, N. M., about June 1. The 

airer will accommodate 340 cars and will use 

Brenkert projection, RCA sound and speakers 

from Western Service and Supply . . . Robert 

Hill, manager for Columbia, went to Oklahoma 

City on business. 

John Leo, special assistant to Jack Schlaifer, 

general sales manager. Eagle Lion, and 

John Valin field representative, are visiting 

Robert Adams has opened the 

Denver . . . 

500-car Skyline Drive-In, Rawlins, Wyo., with 

Motiograph booth and sound and Service 

Theatre Supply speakers, bought from Ted 

Knox. 

Filmrow visitors included C. E. McLaughlin, 

Las Animas; Bernard Newman, Walsh; Sam 

Reed, Fairplay; Fred Lind, Rifle; Dave Warnock, 

Johnstown; Elden Menagh, Fort Lupton; 

Neal Beezley, Burlington and C. G. DUler, 

Ouray. 

Bergstroms Use Sentiment 

In Renaming Theatre 

REPUBLIC, WASH.—How does a theatre 

get its name? There are many ways—including 

sentiment—as In the case of the old 

Republic Theatre here. 

Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Gus Bergstroms 

completed remodeling, including a new front 

and signs, Bergstroms called his sister in 

Sweden. She was celebrating her 70th birthday, 

and as he was putting through the call 

he hit upon his idea. When he reached her, 

he was able not only to wish her the happiest 

returns of the day, but to inform her his 

theatre was being renamed after her. And 

that is how the old Republic became the new 

Selma Theatre. 

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$100,000 Wausau Airer 

To Be Opened May 29 

WAUSAU. WIS. —Edward J. Goldberg of 

American Outdoor Theatre Co., will open 

his new outdoor theatre near here May 29. 

It i.s located on Highway 51 across the road 

from the Wau.sau silver fox farms. Goldberg 

reports that he expects to put on shows 

nightly, rain or shine. He also is manager 

of the Hollywood Theatre here, while Edward 

Pelican is manager of the 600-car drive-in. 

The 21-acre site has been fenced in on tw'o 

sides, toward the highways, to keep out the 

bright lights of approaching cars. On the 

other two sides a bumper fence has been 

provided. The area has been paved and a 

refreshment stand located in the center of 

the site. 

Goldberg says the drive-in represents an 

investment of about $100,000. The screen 

tower is said to weight 40 tons, having been 

a.ssembled on the ground and then raised 

into po.sition by giant cranes. The screen 

is 32x44. Offices are located underneath the 

tower. 

May 20 Set for Highway 26 Opening 

JANESVILLE. WIS.—May 20 is the tentative 

opening date set for the Highway 26 

Drive-In being built on Highway 26 for the 

Badger Outdoor Theatre Co. An Eau Claire 

firm is handling the construction. The new 

drive-in will be managed by Oliver Green of 

Dayton. 

Location of the ozoner may be off the main 

road when Highway 14 is completed. In this 

event, a new road will be graded providing 

another entrance and doing away with traffic 

congestion caused by highway traffic. Green 

said. 

350-Car Drive-In Near St. Marys 

STE. GENEVIEVE. MO.—A group of local 

businessmen, headed by Elmer Donze, have 

let contracts for the construction of a 350- 

car drive-in on Route 25 between Perryville 

and St. Marys. Estimated cast is $50,000. The 

screen tower, projection and sound equipment 

have been purchased from Joe Homstein, 

Inc.. St. Louis. 

F. V. Mercier to Build Drive-In 

PERRYVILLE. MO.—It has been reported 

that F. V. Mercier, operator of the 650-seat 

Mercier here, is contemplating construction 

of a 500-car drive-in just outside the city 

limits. 

United Plans Caruthersville Ozoner 

CARUTHERSVILLE. MO.—The United 

Drive-In Tlieatre Co. is constructing a 500- 

car drive-in between here and Hayti. Incorporators 

are W. P. Robertson, F. G. Weary 

and C. W. Robertson. RCA equipment will 

be used. 

Commonwealth to Build 1,200-Seater 

COLUMBIA, MO.—Commonwealth Theatres 

of Kansas City plans the construction of 

a 1.200-seat theatre at 1101 Broadway here. 

Present arrangements are to let construction 

contracts in the early fall. Robert O. Boiler 

and Dietz Lusk of Kansas City are the associate 

architects for the project. 

C C Murray to Hutchinson, Kansas 

As City Manager for Fox Midwest 

SPRINGFIELD—C. C. Murray, manager 

for the last nine years of the Lincoln Theatre 

here, has been transferred by the Fox Midwest 

Theatre Corp. to Hutchinson, Kas., 

where on May 2 he as.sumed the city managership 

of three houses operated by the circuit. 

W. J. Souttar. former manager of Fox 

Midwest houses in Moberly, Mo., has succeeded 

him here. 

Manager of the Lincoln here since September 

1940. Murray has been active in civic 

work here. Since 1944 he has directed March 

of Dimes campaigns, and he has served as 

publicity director for the local community 

chest. He is a former chairman of the Sangamon 

county chapter of the National 

Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and formerly 

was chairman of the underprivileged 

New Company Buys Fairy 

From Oscar Sanowsky 

ST. LOUIS—The 600-seat Fairy has been 

sold by Oscar Sanowsky to the recently incorporated 

Fairy Theatre Co., University City. 

Sol. Preston and Marvin Bank are the Incorporators. 

The new company, which has 

taken a lease on the theatre building, has 

been authorized to is.sue 300 shares of $100 

par value stock and commences business with 

$16,000 paid in capital. 

Sanowsky, who also is in the drug store 

business, had been operating the Fairy for 

about two years. Members of the Bank 

family also operate the King Bee Theatre, 

the Star in Vandalia and several theatres in 

the Kansas City territory. 

Terre Haute Ozoner Opens 

TERRE HAUTE—The drive-in at the intersection 

of Lafayette road and Haythorn 

avenue has been opened by the new owners. 

Marc Wolf, Ted Mendelssohn and Mannie 

Marcus. The ozoner has a 600-car capacity. 

Improvements since last sea.son include new 

sound equipment and distribution of white 

limestone over the grounds and ramps. 

Northcenter Remodeling Completed 

CHICAGO—The Lincoln-Robey house, the 

Northcenter, has reopened following a brief 

shutdowTi for final touches on the complete 

remodeling job. The Northcenter is managed 

by Rollin Stonebrook. 

children's committee of the Shrine circus. A 

past treasurer of the Springfield Theatre 

Ass'n, he also is a member of the Elks club 

and the Sangamo club. 

At a farewell dinner given Murray by the 

Springfield Theatre A.ss'n, he was given a 

luggage set. Mort Berman, president, presided 

at the dinner. 

Shown in the accompanying photo, left to 

right, seated are: Dominic Giachetto, Dave 

Jones, Mrs. Dave Jones, Mrs. George Kerasotes, 

George Kerasotes, Mrs. C. C. Murray, 

Murray, Eva Sherock, Mrs. Mortimer Berman, 

Mortimer Berman, Nicholas Kerasotes 

and Edmond Metzger: standing: Tony Serra, 

Mrs. Tony Serra, Avenire Toigo, Mrs. Avenire 

Toigo, Eileen Heissinger, John Kerasotes, 

William Giachetto and John Gi-eenmore. 

'Younger Brothers' Booked 

For Advance Showings 

ST. LOUIS—A series of advance bookings 

of "The Younger Brothers" has been arranged 

following the premiere at Fanchon & Marco's 

5.000-.seat Fox Theatre here Tuesday ( 5 1 . Film 

stars here for the Fox premiere were Wayne 

Morris, Bruce Bennett, James Brown, Barbara 

Bates and Alan Hale. 

Other theatres in the St. Louis and Kansas 

City territory scheduled to show the picture 

in advance of the rest of the country were: 

May 4—Gilloz, Monett, and Hass, Cassville. 

May 5—Jewel and Kickapoo, Springfield; 

Orpheum, Hamiibal; Iowa, Keokuk, Iowa, and 

Ritz, Litchfield, 111. 

May 6—Frisina, Taylorville, 111.; Stadium, 

Mount Vernon, 111., and Roxy, Springfield, 111. 

May 8—Casino, Boonville: Odeon, Bonne 

Terre; Times, Mattoon, 111.; Fulton, Fulton; 

Shannon, PortagevUle, and Ritz, Farmington. 

May 11—Capitol, Jefferson City, and Lyric, 

Harrison, Ark. 

May 12—Heart, Effingham, 111.; Lincoln, 

Robinson, 111.; Liberty, Mexico; Ai-cadia, Olney. 

111.; Uptown. Columbia, and Calvin, 

Washington. 

May 13—Sosna, Moberly. and Illinois, Centralia, 

111. 

May 15—Fayette, Fayette; Sosna, Manhattan, 

Kans.; Uptown, Rolla and Time, 

Memphis. 

May 17—Fort Wood. Waynesville. May 18 

—Owen. Branson. May 19—Grand, DuQuoin, 

111. 

May 20—Tiger, Carthage. May 21-Uptown, 

Mount Carmel, 111. 


. . Complete 

. . The 

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Clean, tidy washrooms— like attractive 

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ELECTRIC-AIRE serviced washrooms 

eliminate all paper towel litter and 

their accompanying fire hazard and remove 

one of the chief causes of clogged 

toilets. You can provide this modern, 

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The public will appreciate your thoughtfulness 

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hands in as little as 20 seconds. 

• Write, wire or phone for bulletins and 

more information. 

Electric-Aire 

Engineering Corp. 

209 West Jackson Blvd. 

CHICAGO 6, 

ILL. 

Phone WEbster 9-4564 

. . . 

lUTeinbers of the Milwaukee Midsummer 

Festival comjnittee named by Mayor 

Frank Zeidler include three motion picture 

men: Harold Fitzgerald, president of Fox- 

Wisconsin Amusement Corp.; Angelo Provinsano 

of Mozart and Alamo theatres, and 

the mayor's executive secretary; F. R. Petersen, 

formerly connected with Standard Theatres, 

Among 

Inc., and Fox Wisconsin visitors on Filmrow was Milton Ellis jr., former 

operator of the theatre at Beloit. Ellis 

now is making his home in Tucson, Ariz. 

. . . 

National Theatre Supply reports that 100 

per cent National equipment has been installed 

at the new Tivoli Theatre at Stephenson. 

New Simplex mechanism has been installed 

at the State Theatre in Burlington, 

new American Seating Co. chairs for Green 

Bay Theatre. Green Bay, new chairs at the 

Park Theatre, Wautoma and a new beaded 

The 

screen at the Midcity, Milwaukee 

vacation season was started early at National 

Screen. The first ones went in April. 

Johnny Mednikow, National Screen manager, 

spent a few days in St. Louis visiting 

his son and grandson . booth 

equipment was furnished for the new Lakes 

Theatre scheduled for Memorial day opening 

at Three Lakes in northern Wisconsin, by Ray 

Smith's theatrical supply house. The equipment 

consists of Motiograph AA projectors 

and sound system. 

At the Myers Theatre, Janesville, Arthur 

Arveson assumed the management, succeeding 

Roger Draeger, who was transferred to 

the Valley Theatre, Mena.sha. Arveson has 

been in charge of the statistical department 

of Fox Wisconsin Amusement Corp. here for 

five years ... A dinner-dance is scheduled 

for May 20 by the Reel Fellows club at the 

Hotel Wisconsin. 

A building permit has been issued for a 

new outdoor theatre near Stevens Point. G. 

M. Orr, Minneapolis, is the designer . . . Plans 

have been approved for the new Lyle Turner 

Theatre at Lodi. Myles E. Belongia, Milwaukee, 

is the architect. 

Republic has appointed Joseph McMahon" 

to the sales force. He formerly was connected 

with Eskin Theatres here . original 

drive-in on Bluemound road about ten miles 

west of town was damaged by a windstorm 

but repairs were made promptly and no delay 

was occasioned. 

Roy Bernier, well known former projectionist, 

underwent an appendectomy at St. 

Mary's hospital here and is reported doing 

well. Roy was projectionist for the Warners 

screening room until he became promotion 

director for Miller Brewing Co. where he welcomed 

celebrities as they came to town for 

personal appearances. Among them have 

been Harry Richman, Xavier Cugat and 

others. 

' 

Visitors along Filmrow included Paul Nowatske, 

Vista, Mukwonago: Leonard Dorese, 

Crown, Racine; Jos Gibbs, Lakes, Three 

Lakes; William Ainsworth, president of Allied, 

Fond du Lac; Fred Matthews of Motiograph 

at Ray Smith theatrical supply house; 

William Charboneau, operating several 

houses in central Wisconsin; Nick Johnson, 

Strand, Manitowoc; Bill Exton, Roosevelt, 

Kenosha; Jack Adams, Victor, Hartland; 

Syd Margolis, Regal, Milwaukee; Joe Malits, 

8th St. Theatre, Milwaukee. 

Orpha Richardson, Ray Smith's secretary 

at the theatrical supply house here, celebrated 

her birthday at work and exhibited a beautiful 

corsage of yellow roses ... At the Vic 

Manhardt theatrical supply house the following 

new installations are reported; The new 

Grafton Theatre, Grafton, RCA equipment 

as well as International chairs; the new 

drive-in for Marcus circuit on Highway 41, 

near Appleton, scheduled for opening May 

30, RCA projection equipment; the new drivein 

at Racine, opened April 30, RCA equipment, 

for J&M circuit, Minneapolis; RCA 

sound for the Midcity Theatre here. 

Couple Buys T-wo Theatres 

MONTEZUMA, IND. — The Montezuma 

Theatre here and the Princess at Cayuga 

have been leased by Mr. and Mrs. H. W. 

Boyd from the heirs of the Stuckey estate. 

Extensive remodeling is planned. 

Takes Comedy Lead in "Rio' 

Tlie comedy lead in Republic's "South of 

Rio" will be played by Paul Hurst. 

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"' c'.'mT" 

52 BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949

BOXOFHCE 

:: May 7, 1949 

53

. . Marc 

NEW INDEPENDENT GROUP—Pictured above are the organizers of tiie new 

Western Wisconsin Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n, a group formed with its object 

as the securing of better films for theatres represented, the booking of stage shows as 

a group, setting up of local newsreels and holding of barn dances on theatre stages. 

Shown here left to right: Arthur Johnson, manager of the Marinoka Theatres, 

Galesville; Frank Lismeister, manager of the Century in Blair; Colonel Larsen, manager 

of the Legion in Independence, demonstrating the 16nun projector on which he 

shows his own newsreels; Edgar Ivers, manager of the Fox, Osseo, and J. W. Hulbert, 

Augusta Theatre manager. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

]y|arc Wolf of the Y&W Management Corp. 

has been named chairman of the ATOI 

of Indiana summer convention to be held 

at French Lick hotel, French Lick, June 22, 

23 . . . Guy Hancock, Paramount salesman, 

has resigned to devote his time to the management 

of the Prewitt Theatre, Plainfield, 

which he recently acquired. He intends to 

remodel the house . . . The ATOI wUl hold 

its board of directors meeting at the French 

Lick hotel June 21 prior to the annual convention 

. Wolf of the Y&W Management 

Corp. is recuperating after an attack 

of influenza. 

Trueman Kembusch, president of the ATOI,

. . Clarence 

South Bend Drive-In 

Seeks Earlier Run 

CHICAGO—Antitrust suits 

have been filed 

in district courts here and in South Bend 

by the South Bend Auto Drive-In Tlieatre, 

Inc.. owned by A. W. Ochs against all major 

distributors, Balaban & Katz Corp.. and the 

Manta & Rose circuit. The complaint is 

made that the B&K first run theatres in 

South Bend are granted 30-day clearance 

over the South Bend Auto Theatre and that 

the Niles Drive-In. eight miles north of 

South Bend and operated by Manta & Rose, 

is permitted to play 14 days after first runs 

in South Bend. The suit asks for an injunction 

to eliminate the clearances. 

Midwest Theatre Supply 

Equips Four Drive-Ins 

INDIANAPOLIS—The Midwest Tlieatre 

Supply Co. reports installations of new equipment 

at the Monticello Drive-In. where A. L. 

Taylor and J. C. Rickey purchased complete 

RCA equipment, including sound, projection, 

in-car speakers and junction boxes 

with post 

lighting. 

The Maywood Drive-In. Maywood. Ind., 

operated by Melvin Cox. also purchased RCA 

speakers, junction boxes, new rectifiers and 

lenses from Midwest. Equipment -sold to the 

Auto Theatre Corp.. operators of the Crawfordsville 

Drive-In included RCA sound, projection, 

in-car speakers, junction boxes and 

ramp lights. 

Midwest also sold complete RCA equipment, 

including .sound, projection, in-car 

speakers, junction boxes and ramp lights to 

the Clinton Drive-In Theatre Corp.. Clinton. 

Ind. 

For Drive-In Theatre Equipment 

See 

JOE HORNSTEIN INC. 

3146 OUve FR 0999 St. Louis 

CHICAGO 

"Mie sock performance being given by Janet 

Blair in the Chicago Theatre's current 

bill is no accident. She rehearsed her singing 

and dancing routines with the Blackburn 

Twins for four weeks in New York, aided by 

Manhattan's top choreographers. Louis 

Busch, her husband, is conducting the Chicago 

orchestra during her turn. He also arranged 

the music . . . Edwin Silverman, Essaness 

president, returned from a California 

tour. 

Bill Saltiel, chairman of the board of Mar- 

. 

hall Grant Pictures, went to Hollywood to 

discuss final plans for shooting a film about 

the late Damon Runyon . 

Goes to College." dated at 

. "Mr. Belvedere 

the Chicago May 

13. has B&K's ad-lad Ed Sequin and 20th- 

Fox's Eddie Solomon rehearsing all the college 

yells needed to give this one a slam-bang 

campaign. The companion stage show will 

star Frances Langford. Jon Hall and Gill 

Lamb. 

The film that established a new boxoffice 

. . Prances Lang- 

record at the World Playhouse during a 16- 

week run, "Paisan," is being booked into outlying 

Robert Flaherty's 

houses by Abe Teitel . . . "Louisiana Story" opened big last weekend 

at 'World Playhouse . 

ford and Jon Hall, due at the Chicago May 

13. will participate in the Chicago Herald- 

American's "I Am an American" Day activities 

that Sunday (15). 

. 

Balaban & Katz contemplates remodeling 

the Garrick Theatre, which interferes with 

Greyhound Bus Co. plans to purchase other 

Randolph street property adjacent to its 

planned bus station on the site of the Apollo 

Theatre, which is being razed . . "The Stratton 

Story" will follow "Joan of Arc" into the 

Grand Theatre. June AUyson. who catches 

Jimmy Stewart in this film, will be outfitted 

in a uniform and made an honorary member 

of the 'White Sox besball team Saturday (7) 

at Comiskey park. Bill Bishop. MGM praiser, 

will bring Miss Allyson up to the Variety Club 

Saturday night. 

. . . 

Contributions to the American Cancer 

society were solicited from patrons in theatres 

here by yoimg women volunteers 

An April heat wave which .sent the mercury 

skipping up to a near-record of 85 degrees, 

gave the drive-in theatres a capacity business 

during the week. The North Avenue 

and Harlem Avenue airers every Monday and 

Tuesday offer five color cartoons in addition 

to the regular feature. 

Sol Cohen, local sales manager for Al Dezel 

Productions, booked "The Moon and Sixpence" 

and "So Ends Our Night" into the 

B&K Apollo. This unit will furnish the program 

at the Apollo, which is being razed to 

make way for the new bus terminal . . . "'Volpone." 

the first art film to be shown at the 

Astor under its first run policy, was held for 

a second week . . . David Burnsten, SRO 

counsel, was in from New York for a chat 

with local Manager Harry Mandel. 

Irving Davis, concession mogul, has organized 

Candy Treats, Inc., to distribute 

novelty sweets . Philips, former 

manager here for PRC and Eagle Lion, now 

is distributing "Taken Over" and "I Am 'With 

You." 

Eight Distributors Sue 

Alger Circuit in Illinois 

CHICAGO— Eight major film distributing 

compaiiies accused the Alger circuit, a chain 

of 11 downstate motion picture houses, with 

reporting less than actual admission figures 

in a conspiracy to obtain lower film rental 

charges. 

Asking damages in a superior court suit, the 

distributors explained that rental charges 

are based on attendance records. The Alger 

chain is headed by E. E. Alger and operates 

theatres in LaSalle, Peru, Rochelle, Champaign, 

Princeton, Mendota, 'Valley Spring and 

Urbana. 111. 

American Changes Hands 

TERRE HAUTE. IND.—The Wilpert 

Amusement Co.. headed by 'William Rosenthal. 

Indianapolis theatreman. has taken 

over the American Theatre lease from Ti'i- 

Theatres, Inc. 

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St. 

Louis Theatre 

Supply Co. 

3310 Olive Street 

St. Louis, Missouri 



. . . Roy 

. . The 

. . The 

ST. 

LOUIS 

. 

ôrdon Halloran, manager for 20th-Pox, 

escaped with minor injuries when his 

automobile was sideswiped by another car 

and forced into a ditch on the road north of 

Troy, Mo. . Joseph M. Ebeling. lawyer, real 

. 

estate and insurance man who died April 28 

of a heart attack at his home in Richmond 

Heights, is recalled along the Row as the man 

who built the 1,650-seat Lindell Theatre for 

William Goldman years ago. The theatre is 

now operated by the St. Louis Amusement Co. 

Brown, former U-I booker, has joined 

the Columbia booking staff. 

Exhibitors on Filmrow: Charley Williams, 

Union; Tom Edwards, Farmington, Bill De- 

Dfiivf-ifi 

concfssions 

D«DMANLEY 

POPCOfiO HlflCHinES 

. GREATER PROFITS 

• EFFICIENT DESIGN 

• EASY OPERATION 

ST. LOUIS FILM ROW 

3138 Olive 

R. 0. VOH EMGELM 

Manley Representative 

Ne. 7644 

Soto; Val Mercier, Perry ville; Ed Clark, Mattoon, 

111.; L. A. Leber, Pacific; Dean Davis, 

West Plains; Forest Pirtle, Jerseyville, 111.; 

Russell Ai-mentrout, Louisiana; Rani Padrucci 

and John Giachetto, Frisina Amusement 

Co., Springfield, 111.; Clyde Metcalf, 

Midtown Theatre. Wood River, 111.; Maury 

Schweitzer, general manager for drive-ins in 

Lincoln, Neb., Rockford and East Alton, 111. 

Claire Hill, 5-year-old daughter of C. D. 

Hill, Columbia manager, had her tonsils and 

adenoids removed at a local hospital ... Ed 

Rosenbaum, exploiteer, was here working on 

"We Were Strangers" . assistant 

manager of Loew's State, Ruth Elizabeth 

Spinelli, has filed a bankruptcy petition with 

the U.S. district court, listing debts totaling 

$1,435 and $100 worth of clothing and costume 

jewelry on which she claims exemption. 

. . . 

Sally Rand, appearing at the Grand, a local 

burlesque house, was sued for $7,000 in circuit 

court because of her alleged failure to pay 

for a number of fans purchased in 1946. The 

plaintiff was H. I. Harmon of Los Angeles. 

Her manager, Richard Zeisler, said the fans 

were not to her liking Benny Goodman 

and his revue opened at the St. Louis Theatre 

Thursday (5). 

Hardy Pittman, owner of the new theatre 

in Greenview, 111., was on the Row booking 

product . . . Ml', and Mrs. A. M. Chamness. 

Carrien Mills, 111., are back home after a 

vacation trip to Los Angeles and vicinity . . . 

Larry Spaulding, Flora, 111., has returned 

home after a three-day visit to Bloomington, 

Hall Walsh, district manager for 

111. . . . 

Warners, was in Des Moines this week . . . 

Mrs. Donald R. ToUiver, wife of the owner of 

the Ritz in Cisne, 111., is ill. 

George Ware, 20th-Pox salesman, has been 

elected secretary of the St. Louis Colosseum 

succeeding Bill Sharpe of Paramount. Bob 

Jones, Loew's, Inc.. is the president of the 

local group . . . The drive-in at Highland, 

the owner . Bloomer Amusement Co., 

. . . 

Belleville, 111., has closed a deal with National 

Theatre Supply for Simplex sound and projection 

and speakers for its new drive-in due 

to open soon National Theatre Supply 

has sold a Drincolator to the Star in Quincy, 

111., and Sodamaker units to the DeLuxe 

Theatre, East St. Louis, and the Woodbine, 

Carthage, 111. 

Converted Von-Lee Opens 

For Indiana U. Students 

BLOOMINGTON, IND.—The 600-seat Von- 

Lee, which has undergone remodeling from a 

grocery store to a theatre, is now open. The 

new theatre, located less than a half block 

from the Indiana university campus on East 

Fifth street, was built as a theatre a number 

of years ago but was converted and has been 

occupied by the Peterson grocery store. 

Primarily for university students, the Von- 

Lee will operate during the school term, opening 

during the evenings and all day Sunday. 

First runs, duplicate first runs with the downtown 

Indiana Theatre, moveovers and foreign 

films will be featured. Manager Arthur B. 

Clark said. The Von-Lee is a Vonderschmidt 

house. 

A Penny Postal Card 

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Prices include containers 

Popsit Plus Liquid Seasoning 

5 case lots $12,65 per case. 

Less than 5 cases $12.95 per case. 

Packed 6-1 gallon cans in case. 

Prices are F.O.B. St. Louis. Send for 

pricelisl of popcorn supplies. Star 

Machines and Food Serving Equipment. 

BRENKERT Bx80 and Bx60 PROJECTORS 

PRUNTY SEED & GRAIN CO. 

St. Louis 2, Mo. Corner 2nd & Lucas 

Onehall block from Eads Bridge. 

In our 75th year. 

In theatre operation equipment maintenance plays a leading role and 

for this reason many exhibitors are turning to Brenkert. Brenkert means 

low maintenance cost over a period of many operating hours. 

Let us tell you w^hy so many exhibitors prefer Brenkert. 

St. Louis Theatre Supply Company : 

"Everytbing For The Theatre" 

3310 Olive St. 

St. Louis 3, Mo. 

Telephones 

^ 

JE 7974 . 

JE 7975 , 

• 

CARPET? 

call JOE HORNSTEIN Inc. 

3146 Olive FR 0999 St. Louis 

56 BOXOFHCE :: May 7, 1949

Midcentral to Hold 

Session at Peoria 

PEORIA— Midcentral Allied Independent 

Theatre Owners will hold a regional meeting 

at the Pere Marquette hotel here May 18. 

Trueman Rembusch of Indianapolis, treasurer 

of NationI Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana, 

and William L. Ainsworth, National 

Allied president, are scheduled to speak. 

The meeting will mark the first official appearance 

of Dave Nelson as general manager 

for Midcentral Allied. He recently resigned 

as the Des Moines manager for Republic. 

New Gold Business Good 

GOLDEN, ILL.—The Gold Theatre, a 256- 

.seater, has been doing nice business since its 

recent opening. 

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E 

Akron Operator to Make 

Third Citizenship Bid 

From Mideast Edinon 

AKRON—Twenty-five years of red tape, 

government negotiations between immigration 

officials of five countries and heartbreaking 

disappointments seem near an end 

for Joseph Toth, 45-year-old owner of the 

Gem Theatre and an Akron cafe, as he makes 

his third bid for American citizenship. 

Twice before Toth has taken steps toward 

becoming a citizen. Each time he has missed 

by only a few days legal changes or technicalities 

which prevented him from becoming 

a citizen. Now he is awaiting word that 

his third attempt has beaten a legal deadline. 

Toth went through a lot of red tape this 

time, entering the country thi'ough Cuba, 

the same place he left 25 years ago when he 

first entered the U.S. He went to Cuba from 

his native Hungary and in 1924 decided to 

come to the States. He got a job on a ship 

supposedly sailing for this country. The ship 

went to Africa fiist, and it was three months 

before he landed in Mobile, Ala. 

JUST MISSED DE.\DLINE 

There he learned that if he had arrived a 

few weeks earlier, he could have applied for 

legal registration. He had just missed the 

deadline and faced deportation. Immigration 

officials finally turned up with a deportation 

order in 1938. By this time Hungary 

was at war with the Nazis so the deportation 

was delayed. 

A later supreme court ruling resulted in 

officials dropping the order, but Toth still 

was not a legal entrant and he wanted to 

become a citizen. His attorney pointed out 

that Canada permitted aliens to enter and 

then return to the U.S., if this government 

guaranteed in advance to admit them. The 

federal government okayed the entry through 

Canada. 

Toth crossed the border at Windsor, Ont., 

but a date was missing from his file, so he 

went back to Detroit for the night while the 

missing date was sent from Akron. Tlie next 

morning a new Canadian law went into effect, 

preventing Toth's re-entry. 

CUBA AGREES TO HELP 

There followed months of negotiation between 

American officials and those of Canada, 

Mexico and Cuba. Cuba agreed to aid 

in legalizing his re-entry, providing he had 

a legal passport from Hungary. 

Toth had such a passport imtil a few days 

before the Cuban ruling. But the Communists 

had taken over Himgary, and one of 

their first acts had been the cancellation of 

passports such as Toth's. More negotiations 

followed between the immigration service, the 

State department and Cuba. Finally, Cuba 

agreed to honor a certificate of identity. 

Just a few week ago, Toth and his attorney 

went to Cuba. After 12 days of negotiation, 

Toth entered the U.S. legally. Next year he 

plans to apply for his first citizenship papers. 

Variety Club at St. Louis 

Seeking New Quarters 

ST. LOUIS—Tom Canavan of Altec, chief 

barker, revealed the Variety Club must find 

new quarters because Sol La Piccollo and 

Duke Pack, new owners of the Washington 

boulevard club quarters, want the club's 

quarters on the second floor of the building 

for conversion into private dining rooms. 

Canavan said the club is considering proposals 

from the Melbourne, Roosevelt and 

York hotels. These offers give a choice of a 

downtown, midtown or west end location. A 

final decision must be reached within the 

next few weeks. 

Named Art Director 

Edd e Imazu ha.s been named art director 

on the MGM picture, "Stars in My Crown." 

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Abilene Newspaperman 

Praises War Picture 

From Midwest Edition 

ABILENE, KAS.—A voluntary plug for the 

MGM picture, "Command Decision," was 

given by Henry Jameson, former war correspondent 

for the Kansas City Star and currently 

business manager and columnist for 

the local Reflector-Chronicle. 

Writing in his column, "Ramblings About 

Town." Jameson said, in part. "It is, in the 

humble opinion of a correspondent who spent 

three war years with the air force, the finest 

and most realistic war picture yet made . 

The picture is amazingly accurate throughout 

and one sequence (Gable in the control 

tower talking home a distressed bomber by 

radio) is good for moist eyes for anyone who 

saw the same thing happen . . . Although no 

combat scenes are shown, their impact on 

the characters involved paints an unforgettable 

picture of what war in all its ugliness 

and tragedy was like." 

The war film was shown at the Plaza, one 

of two local theatres owned and managed 

by H. F. Strowig. Assistant Manager Robert 

Strowig described the column as "an excellent 

demonstration of newspaper aid." 

Unlimited Run Okayed 

For 'Jennie' at Garrick 

CHICAGO—"Portrait of Jennie" can play 

for an unlimited run at the Garrick Theatre 

of the Balaban & Katz chain in Chicago's 

Loop, Judge Michael L. Igoe of district court 

has ruled. His statement says: "Selznick has 

spent $3,000,000 and it took two years to produce 

the picture. The film constitutes the 

largest single investment of its producer. 

Cost of such a film would be unprofitable 

on the basis of a two-week run. Inasmuch 

as the Garrick is not being operated for 

first-rate, first run film, neither the public 

nor the plaintiffs will be prejudiced by 

granting the relief for an indefinite period." 

$500 Fire at Movie Theatre 

ST. LOUIS—A fire started by a short circuit 

caused $500 damage to the projection 

equipment of the Movie Theatre here. Two 

projectionists, Edward Allen and Horace Williams, 

were treated at Homer G. Phillips hospital 

after inhaling smoke. When the show 

was stopped about 300 persons filed out. 

stopping at the boxoffice to collect the price 

of 

admission. 

HANDY

TOP 

GOODWILL PROMOTION IS 

IOWA-NEBRASKA ALLIED TOPIC 

Speakers Are Brookings 

Kroger Babb. Ainsworth 

and Rembusch 

DES MOINES—More than 200 exhibitors 

attending business sessions of the Iowa-Nebraska 

AITO convention here Wednesday i4i 

were told to take a more active part in state 

legislation affecting the industry. 

The exhibitor giving this advice was Howard 

Brookings, former AITO president, who 

is a member of the Iowa hou.se of representatives. 

Brookings, speaking on "Legislation 

and Public Relations," earnestly suggested 

to his audience that they join the 

ranks of the lawmakers by running for office 

themselves. This, he pointed out, is the 

best kind of protection for the industry. 

Equally as essential, Brookings added, is 

the need at present for the best possible 

goodwill between the theatregoing public and 

the exhibitor. He attributed the success 

(from the standpoint of the exhibitor) of 

the recently adjourned session of the Iowa 

legislatiu-e to the good public relations already 

established in the .state. He warned 

exhibitors they must continue to exert every 

effort in this direction. 

WILL COME UP AGAIN 

The friendship and understanding of legislators 

is important, too, Brookings said. He 

outlined the adverse bills proposed at the 

1949 session and added that he feels certain 

they will be coming up again and agam in 

the future. The bills, none of which were 

enacted into law, are as follows: 

1. Proposal to revert collection of U.S. tax 

from federal government to state government. 

Brookings commented this was a bad bill 

because there is a better chance of tax reduction 

or abolishment if left in the hands 

of the U.S. government. 

2. An antigambling bill, which might result 

in the abolishment of bank night. 

3. The bill for abolishment of bank night. 

4. Fire inspection and regulation bill, with 

extremely stiff regulations and penalties. 

5. Reel tax and occupation tax bill. 

6. Weekend censorship bill prohibiting 

showing of pictures with drinking, shooting, 

fighting, etc., on weekends. 

Brookings said that one bill which was 

expected to be introduced but was not would 

have permitted cities and towns to impose 

an admission tax on tickets, or to replace 

any tax cuts made by the federal government. 

SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE 

The only way to defeat bills like these, 

he said, is to obtain the .support and interest 

of legislators and businessmen in communities 

throughout the state. 

"There is a definite need for more theatre 

ownership in the legislature," he said. "There 

are plenty of those burning with zeal to reform, 

and the only way to overpower them is 

good public relations with legislators so they 

will understand." 

Brookings said his advice to exhibitors is 

that they be active in local activities, support 

local charities, and "quit complaining about 

Twin City 28-Day Deal Extended; 

RKO Moves to Clear Up Problem 

MINNEAPOLIS—Two more local neighborhood 

theatres have had their demands for 

the earliest clearance, 28 days, met. They're 

the Minnesota Amusement Co.'s Arion and 

Rubenstein-Kaplan house, the Hollywood. 

This increases the total of 28-day theatres 

to eight. 

With more houses preparing to demand the 

early availability. RKO is taking the lead in 

a move to clear up a situation which apparently 

is getting out of hand. 

Accompanied by some of the company's 

legal staff, Walter Braiison, RKO western 

sales manager, will come here next week to 

try to thresh the matter out. Their problem 

'poor pictures. Talk about the good pictures," 

he urged. 

Brookings told his audience not to overlook 

the goodwill possibilities in passes. He 

mentioned the promotion opportunities recognized 

by a large Iowa circuit which provided 

each legislator at the .statehouse with 

passes to its theatres. He urged the independents 

to give similarly to lawmakers in 

their counties. 

The theme of goodwill promotion was 

woven in the remarks of nearly every speaker 

at the two-day meeting Wednesday and 

Thursday here at Hotel Savery. 

KROGER BABB ON SHOWMANSHIP 

Kroger Babb, president of Hallmark Productions, 

spoke on "Showmanship" and emphasized 

its connection with goodwill. He 

told the exhibitors there was no era to equal 

the ballyhoo days of the 1920s. 

"Those were the days of real showmanship," 

he said and called for a return to the 

spirit of those days. "The exhibitor really 

got out and did a job of selling during that 

decade. From 1930 to 1940 the independent 

exhibitors became less important and the 

circuits gained strength. With this came a 

change in showmanship—here was a fixed 

pattern of operation, fixed policies, certain 

formulae for booking, advertising, etc." 

"Then, during the present decade of World 

War II and imtnediately after, the need 

for showmanship was not felt. The exhibitor 

became more of a merchant, more of a 

buyer than a seller." 

But the economic changes today have 

brought about an increased need for good 

showmanship, Babb added, and listed the 

following factors as important: 

Goodwill, selUng the theatre and its 

program. 

Wise use of trailers. 

will be to arrive at a settlement of the differences 

that have arisen among the independent 

exhibitors themselves over clearance. 

They also will have to avoid any 

charges of discrimination. 

The more theatres that get the 28-day 

clearance, it is pointed out, the smaller the 

advantage that attaches to it. The situation 

may reach a point where distributors will 

have no other alternative than to call for 

competitive bids for runs. If that occurs, 

many independent exhibitors will be confronted 

with much higher film costs. 

One theatre, the St. Louis Park, is asking 

a 35-day availability, thus complicating the 

situation still further. Before the consent 

decree, only the Uptown had 28 days. 

Use of window cards, calendars, radio 

advertising, newspaper advertising and 

"gag" advertising. 

Babb defined showmanship as "enthusiasm 

and hard work." Particularly, he said, 

it is "putting enthusiasm into your selling." 

He said that too much emphasis has been 

put on the stars, that exhibitors have allowed 

the public to become too "star conscious." 

He advocated selling the entertainment 

and not overselling the stars. 

William L. Ainsworth, president of national 

Allied, spoke on the PTA shows which 

he has inaugurated in his own theatre. The 

pictures are shown on Saturday afternoons 

and members of the PTA usher, take and 

.sell tickets, patrol the aisles and keep order. 

He said that the goodwill from such a venture 

was wonderful and that with the 

PTA behind it, he has three times the attendance 

he formerly had at Saturday matinees. 

POINTERS ON MATINEE PROBLEM 

He said, "If your Saturday matinees are 

not doing well, get in touch with your PTA 

president, talk about movies, win her confidence. 

"2. Develop an understanding about what 

you both want to do. You want to increase 

your business, the PTA wants good entertainment 

for children. 

"3. Select committees, getting in as many 

business enterprises as possible. 

"4. Choose a hostess-committee of PTA 

members to take over the theatre and give 

them the exhibitor's slant on operating a 

theatre. 

"5. Appoint a speakers' committee to 

have one speaker come in each Saturday to 

give a talk of importance to children, such 

as safety." 

Myron Blank, Central State general man- 

• 

ager, spoke on the coming bond drive and 

what the industry has been asked to do in 

the way of publicity. He emphasized the 

goodwill which can be created through aiding 

in this drive. Blank and Leo Wolcott 

of Eldora are co-chairmen of the Iowa bond 

(Continued on next page) 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949 MW 59

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Be Kind to Animals Stunt 

At Marshalltown Odeon 

MARSHALLTOWN. IOWA—A tiein with 

Be Kind to Animals week restated in the 

award of a collie pup. "Lucky Laddie," to a 

local youngster from the stage of the Odeon 

Theatre here. More than 600 children attended 

the show at which the pup was given 

away. Winner was the child who told best 

how to care for and feed the pet. Distemper 

and rabies shots, powders and sk,in remedies, 

collar and leash, a case of dog food and a license 

were donated by local merchants. The 

stunt was the idea of Odeon Manager Don 

Harrington. 

To Rebuild Tama House 

TAMA, IOWA—W. W. Man.sfield plans to 

build a new theatre here on the site of the 

burned luka. Plans are being drawn up now 

and construction will begin during the summer. 

A portion of the walls of the old theatre 

will be used in the new. 

Hoskins, Neb., Theatre Reopens 

HOSKINS. NEB.—Businessmen are reopening 

the Hoskins Theatre here for the summer. 

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MINNEAPOLIS 

. . 

f^hief Barker Ted Bolnick, Bill Elson and 

Bill Volk of the local tent attended Variety 

Clubs convention in San Francisco 

Reid H. Ray Film Industries will give a cocktail 

party for exhibitors diu-ing the North 

Central Allied aimual convention here May 

Minnesota Amusement Co. will 

23, 24 . . . 

open its new Plaza Theatre at Watertown, 

S. D., May U. It's the old Colonial 

completely rebuilt. It will be the A-house 

in Watertown, the other theatre being the 

Lyric. 

. . Bietz 

Another group is trying to get a permit 

to build a drive-in in subiu-ban Golden Valley 

.. . Louis Orlove, MGM exploiteer. was 

Roger has 

in from Milwaukee 

switched over 

. 

from Paramount to Coliunbia 

as booker. Elaine Norby also has left Paramount 

to become secretary to "Hy" Chapman, 

Columbia manager . . . Republic's 

"Angel on the Amazon" will go into the Gopher 

first run here. 

Ben Meshbesher, Warner salesman until 

recently, has taken over the management of 

the California Wine House, long-established 

liquor store here. 

S. D. Kane, North Central Allied executive 

secretary, was singled out by the southeastern 

group for his work at the recent 

Minnesota legislative session. A resolution 

was adopted praising him . . . Eddie Ruben 

circuit has built and is operating a de luxe 

640-seater in Pickstown, S. D., that has only 

25 permanent residents at present. However, 

it's near Fort Randall dam project and is expected 

to grow by leaps and bounds . . 

Ralph Cramblett, United Artists district 

manager, a visitor. 

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CHICAGO 6, 

ILL. 

Phone WEbsfer 9-4564 

falter Bradley, Neligh exhibitor, has 

W" made 

himself the center of attention by fixing 

up a barrel that houses 52 strawberry plants. 

Now everyone in town wants one and Walt, 

asked for advice, usually ends up by helping 

his neighbor along . March Bros, 

circuit is building a drive-in at Spirit Laice, 

Iowa . recent visit of John McQuistan 

to Omaha was his fii-st trelc out of his territory 

since mid-November. The Star Theatre 

owner, usually a regular Omaha visitor, 

couldn't get out due to weather and road 

conditions. 

. 

. . Peri, Warner Bros, 

A Paramount dele£:ation will leave for Chicago 

May 14 for a division meeting and to 

meet its new boss J. J. Donahue. In the 

group will be Branch Manager M. E. Anderson, 

salesman; Pat Halloran and Jack Andrews 

and Office Manager Bill Haarmann 

Walker, Selznick representative 

from Kansas City, was in town . 

Mrs. Elmer Tilton, Seward, Neb., 

Nancy 

. Mr. and 

were visiting 

in Chicago . 

booking clerk, was vacationing . . . Mrs. Alan 

Jacques, wife of the U-I shipper, is out of 

the hospital. 

Millard Rathwich, who does an excellent 

job of running the Victory Theatre at Tilden 

and pitching for the town ball team, now is 

adding snooker to his repertoire . . . Mr. and 

Mrs. Phil Mansell of Portland, Ore., were 

here for a week. He formerly was with Columbia 

here, she with PEPCO . . . RKO employes 

have scheduled a party climaxing 

their efforts in the recent sales drive . . . 

Jeannette Vodlcka is a new Warners biller. 

Ledger Clerk Marie Hopkins resigned and is 

expecting a stork visit. Josephine MaGuire 

has been promoted to ledger clerk. 

The beautiful weather continues to bring 

in a stream of exhibitors. The latest list 

includes Warren Hall, Bm-well; Eddie Kugel, 

Holstein; Phil March, Wayne: George March, 

Vermillion, S. D.; Herman Fields, Clarinda; 

Arnold Johnson, Onawa; Arnold Mieredierks, 

Pender; Frank Good, Red Oak; Phil Lannon, 

West Point; Howard Bayer, Schleswig; Mr. 

and Mrs. John Noffsinger, Madison; E. J. 

Kramer, Stanton; Olie Schneider, Osceola; 

Jim Burrus, Crete; Carl Johnson, Red Oak; 

Bill King, Shelby; Harold Qualsett, Tekamah; 

Mr. and Mrs. O. Nelson, Soldier, Iowa, 

and L. O. Wisner, Genoa. 

Tom Grady, MGM master booking auditor, 

arrived here for a week from New York City 

. . . H. W. Lerizer, owner of the Lyons Theatre 

at Lyons, Neb., is painting the floor of 

his theatre . . . Jerry Shinbach, district 

manager for RKO Theatres at Chicago, paid 

a visit to the RKO Brandeis . . . Marilyn 

Francisco, Paramount biller, is resigning to 

move to San Pi-ancisco with her husband . 

"Portrait of Jennie" will be screened for a 

select group of Omahans May 10 at the 

neighborhood Ai-bor Theatre . Renfro, 

RKO manager, is sporting a new Cadillac. 

A dual-job has C. H. Albers of Osmond, 

Neb., on the run. He is a county commissioner 

and roads this spring have been an almost 

impossible problem. Albers also has a repaint 

job under way inside and outside his 

Osmond Theatre . Miererdierks and 

his father not only have the Pix Theatre, 

Pender, Neb., but also complete hardware, 

appliance, furniture and farm equipment 

stores there. 

Sidney Lefkowitz, assistant to Division 

Manager Burton Bishop, arrived here from 

New York to call en the MGM exchange 

. . . H. O. Qualsett's remodeling of the Lyric 

Theatre calls for a new cry room, acoustical 

ceiling, restrooms, automatic curtain and 

stainless steel front. The theatre continues 

to run while this work goes on. 

Barbara Bates had to miss the Omaha premiere 

of "The Younger Brothers." 

Tri-States 

Theatres reported she is ill. Alan Hale, Wayne 

Morris, James and Bruce 

hand . . . Janis Paige helped the 

Bennett were 

American 

on 

Cancer society drive while here. Omahans 

paid $10 to sit beside her in the screening 

room when she saw for the first time her 

role in "The Younger Brothers." Screening 

room capacity was 50 . . . All downtown theatres 

offered "Bad Boy" premiere tickets. 

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62. BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1945

. . Bob 

. . Howard 

DBS 

MOINES 

paul Leatherby, Columbia salesman. Is recuperating 

after an appendectomy at Iowa 

Methodist hospital . . . Larry Hensler, Warner 

salesman, has returned from a visit to Fort 

Knox, Ky., where his son-in-law is theatre 

manager. Larry has plenty to say about his 

three grandchildren in Kentucky, and plans 

to show them off to his Iowa friends this 

summer when they come here for a visit. 

. . . 

. 

Jack Ricketts, assistant shipper for Columbia, 

was married April 30 to Doris Simmons 

Wilma Frace and Alfaretta Rayner, inspectors 

at Universal, celebrated their birthdays 

with a lunch-hour party in the inspection 

department Fridley of New 

Sharon was one of the exhibitors visiting 

the Row. Most of the others delayed their 

visits to coincide with the Iowa -Nebraska 

AITO convention at the Savery hotel. 

James Parsons, NSS salesman, has been 

named manager of the Denver NSS exchange 

Harold Beecroft, EL district 

. 

manager, 

. . 

made his initial visit to the Des 

Moines branch, and attended the Allied convention 

while here . . . Lucille Avery. MGM 

inspector, is recuperating at home after her 

recent operation . Dimn, MGM 

salesman, is driving a new Pontiac . . . Sydney 

Lefkowitz from MGM's New York office 

was a visitor. 

COMPLETELY NEW 

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1202 High St. Dea Maines, Iowa 

"Where FUmrow Friends Gather" 

Open Daily at 4 p. m. 

Paramount had two division managers here 

—Harold Wirthwein of Los Angeles and 

James Donohue of Chicago. The office staff 

at Paramoimt held a shower for Catherine 

Kenne on May 3 at the Terrace cafe. Catherine 

has set her wedding date for June 18 and 

will leave her position at the exchange 

June 4. 

. . . 

John Thomas, former Tri-States employe, 

has returned to the corporation as manager 

of the Cedar Rapids outdoor theatre 

Jimmy Pickett, manager of the Tri-State 

house in Hastings, Neb., distributed 1,200 free 

colored baby chicks as a Saturday-before- 

The Henry Pludes in Davenport 

Easter stunt . . . 

(Tri-States) have had a time recently 

with their son Henry. First, young Henry 

broke his leg. Then, just two weeks out of 

cast, he broke two bones in his foot—another 

cast and four weeks in bed and in a 

wheel chair. To top it all off, he then 

caught the measles! 

Novelty Booths of 1898 

Began A. H. Blank's Career 

OMAHA—The Woi Id-Herald came up with 

this story on A. H. Blank. Tri-States Theatres 

president, in iinnouncing his circuit's 

70th anniversary drive in his honor: 

"Fascinated by an amusement novelty 

booth at the Omaha Trans-Mississippi exposition 

in 1898, A. H. Blank .said that was 

the business for him. So he got an armful 

of toy balloons and his pitch was so much 

better than his competitors that he outsold 

them, 10 to 1. 

"That's where Tin-States Theatres Corp. 

of Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, with more 

than 100 houses now. started. 

"Blank will be 70 next July. At that age, 

when most big corporations retire their executives, 

Blank is getting his second wind." 

Reopen Page, Neb., House Soon 

PAGE, NEB.—G. 'V. 

Fleming of Lynch. Neb., 

who owns a theatre there and recently purchased 

the Page Theatre here, hopes to have 

the Page ready for reopening by May 15. 

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Minneapolis Filmrow Beef Trust 

Regales Annual Salesmen's Party 

MINNEAPOLIS — The Reel Fellows 

club, now Loge 8 of the Colosseum of Motion 

Picture Salesmen, staged its fifth 

annual revue and dimier dance at the 

Hotel Nicolett and outdid the predecessors 

in affording the 480 guests a rattling good 

time. 

There were laughs galore in the revue 

wi'itten and acted by the boys themselves. 

"Professor" George Turner's "rogues gallery 

of Filmi-ow," exhibited by means of 

a stereopticon, evoked howls. Brought 

back for the fifth "triumphant year," the 

"internationally famous Beef Trusters," 

in the persons of Dick Stahl, Paul Weiss, 

Don Anderson, Dean Lutz, Jack Greenberg, 

Warren Branton and Lowell Kyle, blossomed 

forth as Hawaiian "lei girls direct 

from Dole's Cannery No. 2." 

"A Note at the Bijou," acted by Pat 

Halloran, Harry Levy, Joe Loeffler and 

Irving Marks, had them in the aisles. 

Don "Asa" Halloran's "Here Comes Jol- 

KANSAS 

Morris B. Cresswell, long active in the film 

f 

trade and more recently Selected Pictures 

branch manager here, 

"" 

i^T" 

^^s opened the CressjjP 

well Booking Service, 

jP^ located temporarily at 

120 West 18th street 

'_ _ ... "Bud" Collins 

Riley now is covering 

Missouri territory for 

Republic PicturesrA 

Midwest Films Distributors 

. . . Stanley 

Warkoczewski, Altec 

Service Corp.. field representative, 

returned 

Norris B. Cresswell ^^.^^ j^^^ ... Hal 

Parker, cameraman, began production of an 

employe training film for the National Bellas 

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son" stopped the show. Hilarity held sway 

as Joe Mui-phy, Jerry Gruenberg and Sid 

Lax went through their paces in "Boris 

Somnovitch," the great Russian, direct 

from the salt mines. 

Morrie Steinman and Don Halloran 

brought down the house as "two ex-janitors 

from Filmrow," Goldstein Jackson and 

Xavier Washington. Funny "School Daze" 

had George Turner as teacher and Dick 

Stahl, Paul Weiss, Warren Branton, Jack 

Greenberg, Don Anderson, Harry Levy and 

Sid Lax as his pupils. 

Hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and an elaborate 

dinner preceded the show. Ferd Oldre 

and his orchestra provided swell music 

for dancing which followed the revue. 

Paul Weiss, president of the club, in a 

program greeting, thanked friends for their 

warm support. Other officers are Don 

Halloran, vice-president; George M. Fosdick, 

secretary-treasurer, and Clyde Cutter, 

sergeant -at-arms. 

CITY 

Hess Corp. . . . R. R. Biechele, theatre 

operator and KMTA legislative chairman, 

returned from the Lake of the Ozarks. 

Harry Mandell, New York, advertising 

and 

publicity dij-ector for RKO Theatres, Inc., 

was here for conferences on details of the 

reopenmg of the remodeled Mainstreet in 

July as the Missouri . . . Albert Dezel, Detroit, 

head of Albert Dezel Productions, Inc., 

conferred with Walter Lambader, local 

branch manager, on product . Shinbach, 

Chicago, RKO district manager, called 

on Lawrence Lehman, Orpheum manager 

. . . Prank Plumlee, Farmington, Mo., Edwards 

& Plumlee Theatres partner, was a 

visitor . . . M. R. "Duke" Clark, Dallas, Paramount 

south central division manager, called 

on Harry Hamburg, local branch manager. 

Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson have purchased 

the Gypsum at Gypsum, Kas., from 

Earl Shutt, who opened the theatre in October 

1947 . . . Tommy Nixon, for the last 

thi-ee years manager of the Commonwealthoperated 

Webster at Ottawa, Kas., has been 

transferred to the Strand at Emporia, Kas. 

of the air conditioning 

equipment at the Cozy, Geneseo, Kas., has 

Neon lighting has been 

been completed . . . 

added to the front of the Lakin at Lakin, 

Kas., where Fred Munson is manager . . . 

The Community at Quinter, Kas., closed since 

last January, was reopened April 22 with a 

slight advance in prices. 

Remodeling of the Farris at Richmond, 

Mo., is being planned by F. G. Weary, who 

soon will begin construction of a drive-in 

on a 20-acre tract near Henrietta, Mo. . . . 

Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Paisley have purchased 

the Perry at Perry, Mo. . drive-in 

being built by Edwards & Plumlee Theatres 

on Route 61 between Farmington and Flat 

River, Mo., is expected to be ready for opening 

soon . of a theatre at 

Gainesville, Mo., is expected to be started 

soon by Howard Pettit . . . Estyl Colville has 

been elected president of a company which 

recently was organized to build a theatre 

at Union Star, Mo. 

. . . Missouri 

Among Kansas theatre operators seen at 

exchanges and supply houses on Filmrow 

were Gene Musgrave, Ritz, Minneapolis; Gus 

Diamond. Howard, Arkansas City; Roy Culley. 

Pastime, Medicine Lodge; Warren Weber, 

Nile, Winfield; Lewis Hickock, Dream, Effingham; 

Dale Thornhill, Elite, Greenleaf; 

C. C. McAllister, Nomar, Wichita, and Albert 

Orear, Rio, Bonner Springs 

showmen here included John Travis jr.. 

Plaza, Crane; A. E. Jarboe, Ritz, Cameron; 

Ken Winklemeyer, Casino, Boonville; Edward 

Wilson, Pix, Buffalo; A. M. Cox, Alcox, 

Deepwater; Dan Williams. Royal, King City, 

and S. H. Bagby jr., Roxy, Huntsville. 

Meeting of KMTA Board 

Planned for May 10 

KANSAS CITY—Directors of the Kansas- 

Missouri Theatre Ass'n will gather for their 

monthly business meeting Tuesday (10) at 

the Phillips hotel here. Originally scheduled 

for May 3, the session was postponed one 

week so that all board members would be able 

to attend. 

Subjects to be discussed during the meeting 

will include legislation now pending in the 

Missouri legislature to outlaw an 1877 statute 

relating to theatre aisle widths, passed 

Wednesday (4) by the senate and now on the 

house calendar, clearances, bidding and other 

subjects of vital interest to exhibitors. 

Allied Unit Convention 

Plans Up Before Board 

KANSAS CITY—Officers and directors of 

the Kansas-Missouri unit will meet Tuesday 

(10 1 at its offices here to discuss plans for 

an annual spring convention to be held June 

7, 8 at the Muehlebach hotel. 

Means by which attendance from Kansas 

and Missouri at the annual Allied convention 

this summer at Minneapolis can be increased 

also will be discussed. O. P. Sullivan, Wichit.i. 

president, will head the Kansas-Missouri 

delegation to the national conclave. 

Open Liberal, Kas., Ozoner 

LIBERAL, KAS. — The 500-car Great 

Western Drive-In erected near here by Ben 

Adams was to be opened Thursday (5). Another 

500-car open air theatre being built by 

Adams near El Dorado, Kas., will be opened 

later this season. RCA projection and sound 

equipment is being used at both ozoners. 

The Theatre's Newest Business Stimulator 

•Patent Iêndint; 

WWte; KING ENTERPRISES, INC. 

1203 High St Pes Moines, Iowa 

9n y

eissues 

'Red Shoes' Continues 

To Lead Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—Local first run trade was 

spotty. "Flamingo Road." dualed with "Sword 

of the Avenger" at the Orpheum, chalked up 

a rousing 130 per cent to pace the newTomers 

and rate a holdover. "Mother Is a Freshman." 

day-date at the Tower. Uptown and Fairway, 

was next best with a lively 120 per cent. "The 

Red Shoes." in a second round at the southside 

Kimo, continued to draw capacity business 

and will remain at the house indefinitely. 


Esquire—The Sea Spoilers (U-I); Buckskin FronKer 

(UA), reissues 70 

Kimo—The Red Shoes (EL), advanced prices. 2nd 

wk 200 

Midland—The Undercover Man (Col); Make Believe 

Ballroom (Col) 110 

Orpheum—Flamingo Road (WB); Sword of the 

Avenger (EL) 130 

Paramount—A Connecticui Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court (Para), 2nd wk., 6 days 90 

Roxv—Loaded Pistols (Col); The Untamed Breed 

(Col) 80 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway—Mother Is a Freshman 

(20lh-Fox) 120 

'Yankee' Chalks Up 160 

To Lead Minneapolis 

MINNEAPOLIS—The most powerful array 

of newcomers in months brought crowds into 

the Loop last week. Three films in particular. 

"A Connecticut Yankee," "Take Me Out to 

the Ball Game" and "Down to the Sea in 

Ships," went considerably over the top. It 

was the second week for "El Paso," "My 

Dream Is Yours" and the reissued "Stagecoach" 

and "Long Voyage Home" combination. 

Aster—Tiger Fangs (EL); Nabonga (EL), reissues 90 

Century—For the Love ol Mary (U-I) 80 

Gopher—Johnny Apollo (20lh-Fox); Show Them No 

Mercy (20th-Fox) , 100 

Lyric—El Paso (Para), 2nd d. t. wk 100 

Orpheum— Enchantment (RKO) 9.S 

Pan—My Dream Is Yours (WB), 2nd d t. wk 90 

Pix—Stagecoach (UA); The Long Voyage Home 


Radio Citv—A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court (Para) 160 

Stale—Down to the Sea in Ships (20th-Fox) 12^ 

World-Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM) ..ISO 

'Door' and 'Jim' Set Pace 

In Omaha by Scoring 135 

OMAHA—Brighter weather helped trade 

at local first runs. Dualing of "Knock on 

Any Door" and "Jungle Jim" at the RKO- 

Brandeis paced the city with a sturdy 135 

per cent. A stage show featuring Dick Contino 

at the Orpheum bolstered "Henry, the 

Rainmaker" to a lively 120 per cent rating. 

Omaha—Tulsa (EL), 2nd wk,, 4 days 60 

Orpheum—Henry, the Rainmaker (Mono), plus 

'stage show, fi days „ 120 

Paramount—A Connecticut Yankee (Para) 115 

RKO-Brandeis—Knock on Any Door (Col): Jungle 

Jim (Col) 13,') 

State—Little Women (MGM). 2nd wk 95 

Town—In This Comer (EL), 2nd run; Oklahoma 

Cyclone (Tif), reissue; Shut Mv Big Mouth 

(Col), reissue, split with The Sheriif of Medicine 

Bow (Mono): Let's Live a Little (EL), 2nd 

run; Trouble Makers (Mono), 2nd run 115 

New Omaha Stadium 

Gives Big Competition 

OMAHA—Exhibitors have added competition 

this year with the new million-dollar 

mimicipal stadium in full swing. The Omaha 

Cardinals of the Western league moved across 

the river from Council Bluffs for a season 

in their home city and drew 10,000 at the 

opening. 

Already the schedule of athletic events, 

both professional and amateur, is heavy. Two 

National Pro league and several college football 

games are among those lined up so far. 

George Jessel to Emcee Bond Rally, 

/âdio Show May 16 in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—George Jessel, 20th-Fox 

producer and veteran comedian, will be master 

of ceremonies for the gala stage show 

in the Municipal auditorium here May 16, 

launching a nationwide savings bond drive 

for which a goal of 1,040 million dollars has 

been established. 

The stage show, which will be broadcast 

over all major radio networks, and other 

activities here and in Independence. Mo., 

originally were scheduled for Sunday, May 

15, As the result of a petition filed with 

President Ti'uman by officials of the Independence 

Ministerial Alliance, however, the 

bond drive kickoff was delayed 24 hours. 

Official notice of the change of date was 

contained in a message from the U,S. treasury 

department to local bond drive officials. 

"Owing to circumstances beyond his control," 

the message stated, "the President 

RUBE iiUDL MELCHER 

has asked the four major radio networks to 

use Monday instead of Sunday in opening 

the bond drive." 

Elmer C. Rhoden, Fox Midwest Theatres 

president and chairman of the motion picture 

committee for the drive, recently returned 

from New York after arranging for 

talent which will be featured in the show. 

In addition to 12 leading Hollywood stars, 

the broadcast will include talks by Gov. 

Earl Warren of California, Gov. Paul A. 

Dever of Massachusetts, and Gov. Forrest 

Smith of Missouri, 

Portions of the broadcast originating here 

will be supplemented by others from Hollywood 

and Washington, All newsreel producers 

are making provisions for coverage 

of the event, and special films will be made 

for use by television stations on the east and 

west coasts and in various inland cities. 

PURE 

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Absolutely highest grade. A O 1^ 

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All Prices FOB Kansas City and subject to change. 

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114 W. 18th STREET KANSAS CITY 8. MO. 

Second Annual Ball 

COCONUT OIL 

SEASONING 

— Super Refined) 

29c per lb. 

..30c 

per lb. 

—SPECIAL— 

on Popcorn Boxes 

2 Oz. Size 

Regular 

lOc Seller 

Per 1000 

11/2 Oz. Size 

10c Seller 

Modiiied 

Per 1000 

KANSAS CITY LOGE NO. 12 

Colosseum of Motion Picture 

Salesmen of America 

Monday, May 9 8:30 to 12:30 

Hotel Muehlebach Ballroom 

$2.50 Per Person 

For Table Reservations, Call Bud Truog, UA. GRand 1123 

$715 

7 

$C95 

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BOXOmCE May 7, 1949 65

Exhibitors From Kansas af MGM Meeting in 

Topeka 

Exhibitors from eastern Kansas, attending 

the MGM Friendship meeting in Topeita, 

are shown in the upper photograph in 

of 

front 

the Crystal Theatre before a screening of 

"The Stratton Story." Among exhibitors 

present were Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Wilson and 

Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Wilson, Pic, Lebanon; 

Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Blackmore, Bailey, Waverly; 

Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Crocker, Rialto, 

Lyndon; H J. Stepino jr.. Glen, Topeka; Mr. 

and Mrs. J. W. Hendrix, Colony; Mr. and 

Mrs. John Whiting, Downs; Mr. and Mrs. 

Kenneth David, Coed, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. 

Marvin C. Shaw, Kessner, LeRoy; Mrs. J.^. 

Pennington, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Musselman, 

Lincoln; John Basham jr.. Community, 

and R. Benson, Topeka; M. D. Landau, 

Liberty, Horton, and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn 

Alexander, Garranson, Wamego. 

During a noon recess, the visiting exhibitors 

were guests at a luncheon at the Jayhawk 

hotel. Shown at the back table, left 

to right, are E. D. Keilman, film editor of 

the Topeka Capital: Julia McKee, secretary 

to former senator Arthur Capper; Cap- 

per, owner of the Topeka Capital and 

radio station WIBW; Frank E. Warren, Topeka 

mayor; Bemie Evens, MGM exploiteer; 

Mrs. Ray Hodgel, Ray Hodgel, secretary to 

the mayor. Others shown include Bob Johns, 

MGM salesman; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Musselman, 

Lincoln; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth David, 

Coed, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Wilson, 

Pic, Lebanon, and Mr. and Mrs. Claud Parrish, 

drive-in, Topeka. 

Loge 12 Ball Will Draw 

More Than 300 Persons 

KANSAS CITY—More than 300 persons are 

expected to attend the second annual ball 

which Loge 12, Colosseum of Motion Picture 

Salesmen, will sponsor Monday night by a vote of 24 

to 2. 

The bill now will go to the house, which 

is expected to take action on the measure 

during the week of May 22. A recess to 

be taken in the house will prevent earlier 

action on the bill. 

Introduced into the legislature several 

months ago by Sen, Floyd R. Gibson, Independence, 

the bill has the unanimous support 

of the St. Louis TOA organization, the 

Kansas-Missoui'i Theatre Ass'n and the Kansas-Missouri 

Allied unit, as well as independent 

exhibitors in all parts of the state. 

Two Show Changes Per Week 

CHURDAN, IOWA—The Rio Theatre, which 

has been running three show changes a 

week, has changed to two a week. Idle nights 

will be Monday and Tuesday. 

66 BOXorncE May 7, 1949

Typhoon Celebrates 

40lh Anniversary 

DETROIT—A representative group of industry 

leaders gathered at the Variety Club 

here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 

Typhoon Air Conditioning Corp., as guests 

of Arnold Wisper. M. G. Maksym and C. J. 

Keppel of the Maksym Refrigeration Engineers. 

Wisper. head of Auto City Theatres, 

acted as toastmaster. and introduced Mak.sym. 

who was followed in turn by James Dailey, 

Typhoon president, who reminisced of selling 

early fans to oldtime Detroit exhibitors 35 

years ago. and Don V. Petrone, sales manager 

and vice-president, who talked on installation 

problems in detail. His talk was followed by 

a brief motion picture, showing construction 

and applications of air conditioning units. 

Among industry figures noted at the luncheon 

were Frank Upton. United Detroit supervisor; 

Paul Sieple. Butterfield purchasing 

ag«nt; John C. Rehard, head of Detroit's 

department of buildings and safety engineering; 

Paul Broder, president of Realart; Bernard 

Schwartz, manager. Temple: Arthur 

Robinson, Irving Katcher, Frank Yoshonis, 

George Olson and Louis Mitchell, all circuit 

operators; Harold Sandelman, supervisor, 

Broder Theatres; Ralph Raskin, premium distributor; 

Jack Zide, manager for Allied 

Films; Al and Sam Ackerman, exhibitors; 

Ralph Ruben, supply dealer, and Lou Alpert, 

manager. Clayton hotel. 

Louisville Drive-In Okay 

After Three Rejections 

LOUISVILLE— After having been rejected 

three times, the plans for a drive-in on Poplar 

Level road near the Pincastle housing 

project here have been approved by the 

planning and zoning commission. The application 

was approved after H. C. Schmeing, 

who made the application, submitted a revised 

plan which would take the entrance off 

Poplar Level road. 

According to Schmeing, the entrance would 

be made on Illinois avenue with an exit on 

Quarry avenue to relieve traffic problems 

which were at least part of the reason 

for the previous rejection. The owners of 

the project estimate the theatre will accommodate 

606 cars. 

Dezel Expansion Program 

Discussed at Kansas City 

DETROIT—Expansion of Albert Dezel Productions 

with the acquisition of three new 

franchises—Masterpiece, Astor and Favorite 

Films—was to be introduced to the Kansas 

City territory Wednesday (4i at a regional 

meeting there. Principals at the Kansas 

City session were to include Dezel and Edward 

Salzsberg, district manager. Dezel left 

here over the weekend for another tour of 

his exchanges, which will take him to Chicago, 

St. Louis, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, 

Window Sleeper for 'Riley' 

NEW KENSINGTON, PA.—"Riley," sleeping 

in the front window at May-Stern's here, 

drew quite a thi-ong the other night. The 

stunt exploited ''The Life of Riley" at the 

Circle. The Daily Dispatch published a twocolurmi 

photo of the crowd, the window 

sleeper and "the store's comfortable mattress." 

Pennsylvania Fixes Limit 

On Tax-Anything Levies 

Telemat Corp. Formed 

By Rudy Schroeder 

DETROIT—Rudy Schroeder, former manager 

of the Palmer Park Theatre, has formed 

the Telemat Corp. with Harris Gerger and 

Pierce Peters, to distribute Telecoin products 

in this area. The company is specializing in 

the field of Tele-Video, offering a large 

television screen for installation in theatre 

lobbies and other locations where a group 

audience is present. They also are introducing 

a new type of canned fruit and vegetable 

juice vendor for similar locations. 

Schroeder, who will actively head the new 

company, is taking over the main building 

at 16609 Hamilton Ave. as headquarters. 

The Aristocrat Popcorn Co., handling theatre 

service, which formerly occupied this site, 

has moved to a separate building. Charles 

W. Norris has taken over the Aristocrat 

company, which formerly was headed by 

Schroeder. 

The Tele-Video, which Schroeder is displaying 

in his offices and salesroom, features 

the use of a special projection lens, projecting 

through a screen from the rear. 

Detroit Okays Tax Cut 

On Stage Equipments 

DETROIT — Recognition that obsolete 

stage show equipment is not functioning and 

that theatre owners are entitled to a tax cut 

was granted by the Detroit city council to the 

United Artists and Palms-State theatres. Cuts 

of $16,000 and $18,000, respectively, were given, 

as special obsolescence allowances. This was 

intended to cover the assessment for imused 

stage equipment, dressing rooms and orchestra 

pits. Neither house has been on a stage 

show policy for over a dozen years. 

Planes Help Exhibitor 

NEW KENSINGTON, PA. — William G. 

Serrao of Allied Theatres Corp. arranged 

with the 2,239th air force reserve training 

center to have planes of the 14th night 

fighter squadron fly over the city Thursday 

(5) in connection with the opening of "Command 

Decision" at the Circle. Approximately 

20 members of this .squadron were to return 

to New Kensington at 6 p. m., to attend 

a ceremony and dinner arranged in their 

honor. 

Sunday Mass at Theatre 

A Ritual in Columbus 

Columbus — Sunday mass for students 

and faculty of Ohio State university has 

become a weekly ritual at J. Real Neth's 

State Theatre, opposite the Ohio State 

campus. The Rev. James McEwan, chaplain 

of the Newman club at the university, 

started the innovation with Neth's 

help last February. About 1,000 students 

and teachers attend the weekly services. 

HARRISBURG—Pennsylvania's "tax anything" 

law of 1947 was rewritten to limit 

amusement taxes to 10 per cent of the established 

price, other limitations were placed on 

mercantile and per capita taxes, and local 

taxes on coal and other natural resources 

were prohibited by action of the general as- 

.sembly in the closing hours of the 138th 

regular session which adjourned late last Saturday 

(301, although through the expediency 

of turning back the clock, the record will 

state adjournment was 6 p. m., April 28. 

The general assembly adopted Gov. James 

H. Duff's billion-dollar budget and a $443,000,- 

000 tax package to carry out a vast schedule 

of public works. 

IWANY BILLS KILLED 

An act changes the maximum population, 

for governmental purposes, of Allegheny 

county, from 1,500,000 to 1,800,000. At the 

same time the legislators refused to give 

Allegheny county additional taxing powers. 

Also denied were bills to legalize horse race 

gambling; measures to liberalize the Sunday 

blue law of 1794 by permitting ice hockey 

and basketball on Sunday; bills to legalize 

bingo and lotteries. 

Dozens of proposed measures which would 

have been costly to the motion picture industry 

had they been enacted, and formerly announced 

as "killed" on these pages, were rejected 

by the Pennsylvania legislature. 

The house of representatives killed the 

Pittsburgh civic opera bill by a vote of 88 to 

86 in the closing hours. The act would have 

permitted Sunday performances of civic 

operettas by municipalities and nonprofit organizations 

and the charging of admis.sion. 

A Sunday hockey rider was threatened as an 

amendment and this finished it off. Prior to 

the action there was every indication that 

the measure would be approved, although the 

Pittsburgh association which presents such 

performances each summer season at Pitt 

Stadium had announced that no Sunday performances 

would be planned for this season. 

The bill had passed the senate April 22 by a 

vote of 41 to 9. 

BANS AUTO VIDEO 

Legislation outlawing the installation of 

television sets in automobiles within view 

of the driver was passed. Backseat television 

in autos has been made legal, however, under 

a bill passed finally by the senate. The 

measure, sponsored by Robert D. Fleming, 

Aspinwall, provided that TV sets may not 

be located so that the driver can see them. 

Veterans' organizations of Pennsylvania 

won a complete victory in their fight to prevent 

the 1949 legislature from linking an 

income tax to the proposed World War II 

bonus. 

Construction of athletic fields as well as 

schools by the public school building authority 

will be possible under a new law signed 

by Governor Duff. 

Hanna to Book for Blue Dell 

PITTSBURGH — Hanna Theatre Service 

will license and book for the Blue Dell Drive- 

In which is under construction on Route 30 

between East McKeesport and Irwin. 

BOXOFFICE May 7, 1949 ME 67

United Artists Bowlers in Detroit 

Take Season Title With 39 Wins 

DETROIT—United Artists, after taking the 

victory in the last half of the season in the 

Film Bowling league, met Monogram, winners 

of the first half, in a playoff for the 

season title and took a clear victory. Final 

team standings: 

Second Half Won Lost 

United Artists 39 25 

Cooperative Theatres 38 26 

Monogram 36 28 

HKO 32 32 

Republic 29 35 

Theatrical Advertising 29 35 

Allied Films 29 35 

Scharun's Premiums 24 40 

First Half Won Lost 

Monogram 37 27 

Republic 35 29 

Theatrical Advertising 33 31 

Allied Films 33 31 

RKO 32 32 

Scharun's Premiums 24 40 

Cooperative 30 34 

United Artists .. 24 40 

Season highs were: Tâm 3s—Theatrical 

2,653, Monogram 2,616. Republic 2,605: Team 

Singles—RKO 974, Theatrical 951, Republic 

922. 

Individual High 3s—Holmes 663, Pill 653, 

Sheran 635. High singles—Sheran 265, Belinsky 

258, Pasanen 255. 

Season averages for bowlers were: 

Division 1—Walt Goryl 179. C. Sheran 174, 

Stanley Malinowski 172. R. Lamb 171, Earl 

England 171, Al Levy 170, Lou Metzger 166, 

Juhus Pavella 166. 

Division 2—Dave Kaplan 168. Don Pill 167 

Jack Susami 166. Bert Holmes 165, Ai't Koskie 

164. Roy McDougall 164. Ralph Forman 

162. Robert Misch 156. 

Division 3 — Irving Belinsky 164, Frank 

Harr 160, Fred Sturgess 159, Eddie Loye 159, 

Emil Beck 158, Harvey Trombley 157, J. Oster 

156, Eric Clarry 150. 

Division 4—Jack Zide 157, William Pasanen 

156, Sid Bowman 154. Jack Saxe 153. Del Ritter 

152, Arthur Ti-omblev 140, Sidney Turer 

149. 

68 

Division 5—R. Graff 149, J. Sullivan 148, J. 

Haynes 148, M. Bernbaum 147, E. Sullivan 

147, R. Haskins 144. Robert Buermele 140. 

Max Blumenthal 136. 

Extras—Kenneth Guibord 166. Sam Merson 

151, R. Lenox 145, Jim Sharkey 144. 

National Theatre Supply 

Nightingales Champions 

DETROIT—National Theatre Supply took 

the championship in the Nightingale Club 

league, after a whirlwind finish that saw 

Projectionists Local 199 come up to tie for 

the title. A roll-off was arranged, and NTS 

took the clear lead in the extra contest. Final 

team standings are: 

Team Won Lost 

Notional Theatre Supply 67 45 

Projectionists Lodal 199 67 45 

Brenkert Projectors 6S 46 

Lorenzen's Flower Shop 56 54 

National Carbon Co 56 56 

Altec Sound Service 50 62 

McArthur Theatre Equipment Co 43 69 

Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply 41 71 

The winning National Theatre Supply team 

was captained by Eddie Waddell. and included 

Roy Light, John Lasko, Carl Bearls, 

and Roy Thompson. 

In the windup, Edgar Douville made the 4-6 

split twice, both times hitting the 6 pin thin 

to drop it on the 4 pin—a real birthday present. 

High scores of the finals—Jack Colwell 225. 

Irvin Nitz 217, Nick Forest 201, Joseph Michel 

222, and William Fouchey 216. 

The special thanks of the league were 

given to all sponsors. 

Cleveland Film Bowling League 

Closes 1948-'49 Season 

CLEVELAND—The Motion Picture Operators' 

Bowling league closed its 1948-1949 

season last week in the following order: 

1. Un'on Federated Insurance Co. 

COLUMBUS BOWLING CHAMPIONS—Members of the J. Real Neth theatresbowling 

team, champions in the Coliimbus theatre bowling league, are shown receiving 

the trophy from Neth. The team won permanent possession of the trophy after 

defeating the Miles circuit team in a roll-off. Winner had to top the league for three 

seasons. Left to right: Neth, James Tallman, manager of the Eastern; Frank Vincent, 

operator at the State; Charles Fisher, manager of the Markham; Hal Lyman, captain 

and manager of the Clinton; Orland Frank, operator of the Bexley, and David Pence, 

general manager of the Neth circuit. 

2. Alhambra Theatre. 

3. National Theatre Supply Co. 

4. Auto-Voice Speakers. 

5. Oliver Theatre Supply Co. 

6. RCA Service Co. 

7. Ohio Theatre Supply. 

8. Mobiltone In-Car Speakers. 

High three-game team total, Ohio Theatre 

Supply, 3,006: high single team score, Ohio 

Supply, 1.115; high individual three-game, 

Andrew Zill. 685; high individual game, Robert 

Dolan, 288; high season average, Tom 

Smart, 181. 

Grand Theatre Bowlers 

Best Cincinnati Leaders 

CINCINNATI—The 12th place Grand Theatre 

took one game from league-leading National 

Theatre Supply. A wide open split 

in last frame prevented W. Biederman from 

entering the honor role. 

Won Lost 

National Theatre Supply „ 90 9 

Midwest Theatre Supply 88 11 

Bond Theatre 64 35 

Gayely Theatre 60 39 

Family 54 45 

Times 51 48 

Westwood 47 52 

Kentucky 46 53 

Strand 40 59 

Clovernook 42 57 

Forest 36 63 

Grand 34 65 

Keiths 34 65 

Idle Hour 7 92 

Mrs. Roy Riddle Elected 

Detroit Council Head 

DETROIT — Mrs. Roy Riddle has been 

elected president of the Greater Detroit Motion 

Picture council for 1949-50, succeeding 

Mrs. Wayne Mohr. v ho held the post for the 

last three years. Other new officers: Mrs. 

C. P. Lundy, first vice-president; Mrs. D. W. 

Hembel, second vice-president: Mrs. H. L. 

Keith, recording secretary; Mrs. W. L. Forrecter, 

corresponding secretary; Mrs. George 

Gaag, treasurer, and Mrs. John Siefert, parliamentarian. 

Filmrow Employes Plan 

Old-Time Square Dance 

PITTSBURGH—The square dance to be 

presented by the Filmrow employes local F-11, 

lATSE, will be open to all members of the 

industry. Jack Lange, RKO, chairman, stated 

this week. The big barn dance will be Friday 

evening, June 3, with Si Brailey's band 

featui'ed. Museum building at South Park 

has been acquired for the square dance and 

tickets are $2 each. Ti-ansportation facilities 

are being arranged and committee is to be 

announced. 

Andy Biordi Given Radio-Video Set 

ELLWOOD CITY, PA.—Andy Biordi, veteran 

local exhibitor, was honored at the official 

opening of the new home of the Sons 

of Italy Lodge 608. The "venerable" or president 

of the lodge for half-a-dozen years was 

presented with a de luxe RCA television-radio-phonograph 

combination. The building 

was constructed by the members and a special 

memorial mural is to be painted as an 

added feature. 

98 Summer Fairs Listed 

HARRISBITRG—The state department of 

agriculture has listed 98 county and community 

fairs for the coming season. Last 

year, 103 such fairs were held in Pennsylvania. 


wmmm^ma

eissues 

. . Ralph 

'Yankee' Top Grosser 

With 130 in Detroit 

DETROIT—A cold, slightly rainy weekend 

helped business in local first runs as patrons 

turned to shows instead of outdoor amusements. 

"A Connecticut Yankee" was out 

front with 130 per cent. 

(Average Is 100)) 

Adams—Lillle Women (MGM) 105 

Cmema—The Red Shoes (£L), 2nd wlc 115 

Downtown -The Lile of Riley (U-I); State Department. 

File 649 (FC), 2nd wlc 90 

Fox—Down to the Sea in Ships (20th-Fox). 

2nd wk 100 

Madison Bad Boy (Mono); The Dude Goes 

West (Mono) 85 

Michigan 'Knock on Any Door (Col). Ladies 

of the Chorus (Col), 3rd wk 100 

Palms-Stale Undercover Man (Col); Blondie's 

Secret (Col) 115 

Paradise—Daughter oi the lungle (Rep), plus 

stage show -.110 

United Artists A Connecticut Yankee (Para) 130 

'Sef-Up' Leads Pittsburgh 

With 160 Per Cent 

and won holdovers. 

Fulton—Mother Is a Freshman (20th-Fox) 90 

Harris Mr. Belvedere Goes to College 

(20th-Fox) 150 

Penn—Little Women (MGM) 130 

Rilz—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM), 

4ih d.t. wk - 100 

Senator Hangover Square (20th-Fox); The 

Lodger (20th-Fox), reissues 70 

Stanley-My Dream Is Yours (WB) 9b 

Warner—The Set-Up (RKO) 160 

'Knock' Grosses ISO Per Cent 

To Pace Cincinnati 

CINCINNATI—"Knock on Any Door" led 

local first runs with a big 160 per cent at the 

Albee. The second week of "Little Women" 

at the Capitol came in second with 140 per 

cent. 

Albee—Knock on Any Door (fcol) 160 

Capitol— Little Women (MGM), 2nd wk 14u 

Grand—Shockprooi (Col) 95 

Keiths A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Couri (Para), 2nd wk 110 

Lyric Stagecoach (UA); The Long Voyage Home 


Palace—Adventure in Baltimore (RKO) 105 

Shubert — Sergeant York (WB); Castle on the 

Hudson (WB) , 100 

THOS. F. 

WALSTON 

Architect 

THEATRES 

AUDITORIUMS 

— Phone 57 — 

Gunnell BIdg., Catlettsburg, Ky. 

MILES S. McDowell, OfUce Manager 

ENTRANCE 

AND EXIT 

FLOODLIGHTS 


"k.c!!'mT' 

COLUMBUS 

•Phe Lane, Academy suburban house in 

PITTSBURGH—Four of the offerings registered 

average or better in Golden Triangle 

theatres. "The Set-Up" scored 60 per cent 

over the mark at the Warner. "Little Women" 

and "Ml-. Belvedere Goes to College" were 

attractive at Loew's Penn and the Harris respectively 

Upper 

Arlington, was formally dedicated to 

the memory of the late Clarence MacDonald, 

founder of the Academy circuit, who died in 

1940. The theatre was dedicated on his 

birthday. May 3. Leo Yassenoff acquired the 

theatres after MacDonald's death. An oil 

painting of MacDonald was unveiled on the 

Lane stage at the ceremony . . . Foreign pictures 

at the World are getting more popular, 

notes Johnny Jones in his Dispatch column 

Herkie Styles, former local entertainer, 

. . . 

says he will wed Mary Hatcher, film starlet, 

May 5 in St. Louis. Styles earlier denied reports 

that he and Miss Hatcher would be 

married. 

Personal appearance of Bob Hope at Ohio 

State Fairgrounds Coliseum was the signal 

for a reunion of the Hope clan, including 

brothers Fred, Jack and George and niece 

Avis . . . Walter Kessler, manager of the 

Ohio, presented the Ohio State May Queen 

with a trophy sponsored by Ginger Rogers, 

star of the Ohio's coming "Barkleys of Broadway." 

The queen also was presented with a 

$300 dance course by Art Ross, manager of 

the local Astaire dance studio. 

The J. Real Neth team in the local theatre 

bowling league won permanent possession 

of the trophy given the team which led the 

league for three years. Team members include 

James Tallman, manager of the Eastern; 

Frank Vincent, operator at the State; 

Charles Fisher, manager of the Markham; 

Hal Lyman, captain and manager of the 

Clinton, and Orland Fi'ank, operator at the 

Bexley. Teams in the league represent the 

Miles circuit. Academy theatres, Rivoli and 

Ritz, the H&S theatres and the Neth circuit. 

Construction of the third television station 

for Columbus will start. soon. It is WTVN, 

operated by Picture Waves, Inc., with Edward 

Lamb as principal stockholder. Lamb also 

is owner of the Erie Dispatch television station 

WICU. Elmer Schatz, president of the 

Truck-Tractor Equipment Co. here, is president 

of the new company . 

Shiflet, 

theatre advertising solicitor for the Columbus 

Dispatch and Variety Club member, is attending 

the national convention of the Variety 

Clubs at San Francisco. He will spend 

several days in Los Angeles on the return trip. 

Virgil Jackson and his wife, accompanied 

by the James Hales, have departed on a two 

and a half months' European trip. Jackson 

of the Jackson-Murphy theatres and Hale 

were co-chairmen of the local cancer drive 

Mrs. David Pence, wife of the general 

. . . 

manager of the J. Real Neth circuit, has 

found that raising hamsters can become too 

big a hobby. She's giving up her hobby of 

raising the tiny pets. 

MGM Akron Screening 

AKRON—MGM held a screening at the 

Copley, with Jack Sogg, manager in this district, 

and Edward J. Rabb of the theatre as 

co-hosts. 

NOW- 

THEATRE SEATS 

Upholstered, Repaired, Anywhere. Better Materials. 

Workmanship Guaranteed. Prompt Service, 

Reasonable. 

JOHN HEIDT 

1507 W. Kirbr Detroit 8, Mich. 

Phone: TYler 7-801S 

Niîtji 

What s the use of spending money 



With 

mmm 

Hand Dryers 

They will look like this! 

1 •

. . Bobby 

LOUISVILLE 

"The film department of the Encyclopedia 

Britannlca was reported sending a special 

crew here for filming the activity of the Cole 

Bros, circus, which opened in Louisville for 

the cm-rent season . . . When Burt Lancaster 

currently starring with the Cole Bros, circus, 

spoke to the Conference of Christians and 

Jews recently, his talk was scheduled to be 

recorded for use on the WLOU Article Third 

RAMP-EXIT. 

ENTRANCE 


FLOODLIGHTS 

729 Baltimore 

K. C, Mo. 

. program Marshall has resigned 

as manager of the Columbian Theatre, Columbia, 

to take over a salesman's position. 

He has been replaced by Clifton Rogers . . . 

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Marshall, owners of the 

Columbian, spent several days here attending 

the Kentucky Education Ass'n convention 

Besides helping to operate the Columbian, 

Mrs. Marshall is a teacher. 

Exhibitors visiting the Row included Russell 

Phillips, Franklin Theatre, Greensburg, 

Ky.; Mrs. Ethel Walsh, Scott, Scottsburg. 

Ind.: W. S. Gabhart, Cardinal, Hodgenville; 

Hugh Kessler, Pal, Palmyra, Ind.; Homer 

Wirth, Crane, Crane, Ind.: Edwin St. Clair, 

Gypsy Drive-In, Bardstown; George W. 

Pu// 'em ove^^ 

to your boxoffice# / 

. . . 

Lindsay, Lindsay, Brownsville; Oscar Hopper, 

Arista, Lebanon, Ky.. and Gene Lutes, 

Chakeres, Frankfort. Ky. W. E. Carrell 

and Frank Riffle of the Falls City Theatre 

Equipment Co. staff attended the formal 

opening of Hugh Kessler's Pal Theatre, 

Palmyra, Ind. 

Louisville filmgoers had a field day with 

all first run theatres changing programs. 

While three of the theatres came in with 

single bills, the majority stuck to the familiar 

double features. Headlining the attractions 

was "The Life of Riley" joined with "Act of 

Murder" at the Rialto. Also with double bills 

were Loew's with "The Undercover Man" and 

"Make Believe Ballroom" and the Strand 

with "A Woman's Secret" and "Million Dollar 

Weekend," In with single features were the 

Mary Anderson with "Kiss in the Dark" and 

the Scoop with "Lucrezia Borgia." The National 

had "The Sea Spoilers" and "Ex- 

Champ," while the Brown rounded out the 

programs with "A Connecticut Yankee." 

The Parkway Drive-In Theatre, located at 

Cane Run road and Miller's lane just outside 

the Louisville city limits, held its formal 

opening Tuesday (3i. On the Sunday preceding 

the opening the public was invited for 

a complete inspection of the new entei-prise. 

With the opening of the Parkway, the Falls 

cities area now has a total of five drive-ins 

in operation, with at least two in the building 

stage, and no less than four additional 

theatres in the planning stage. 

Cartoon Show for Drive-In 

ELKINS, W. VA.—A cartoon show has been 

scheduled for Elkins Drive-In here May 5, 

according to Gray Barker, film buyer-booker. 

AN IN-THE-CAR SPEAKER 

That's 

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THEATRE FRONTS 

MARQUEES 

ATTRACTION BOARDS 

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SWANSON-NUNN 

ELECTRIC CO. 

8th and Oaks Sts. EVANSVILLE 9, IND. 

LITERATURE AND PRICES WITHOUT OBLIGATION 

See Us for 

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COMPLETE EQUIPMENT 

for THEATRES and DRIVE-INS 

• STRONG PROJECTION LAMPS 

• IDEAL CHAIRS 

•CENTURY PROJECTORS AND 

SOUND SYSTEMS 

Vfrite ior FREE LITERATURE 

Thehtre EquipmEni Co. 

micHicRn 

ADAMS 8107 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. OF CINCINNATI 

1632 CENTRAL PKWY,- CINCINNATI, OHIO 

GArfield 1871 


Cleveland Area Houses 

Are Supplied by NTS 

CLEVELAND — National Theatre Supply 

Co. under the management of Prank Masek 

reports installations completed and contracts 

in process of installation in three new theatres 

in this area. 

The Avon Lake Theatre in nearby Avon 

Lake has Simplex E-7 projectors, 4-Star 

Simplex sound, plastic moulded screen, Peerless 

magnarc lamps, Hertner generator and 

Simplex hard-of-hearing units. In addition, 

Masek supplied a new type turntable to play 

records during intermissions, fire shutters, 

aluminex frames and a General Register 

ticket machine. The Avon Lake was built by 

the Associated Circuit which owns and operates 

a chain of approximately 30 theatres. 

The 1,500-seat New Madison in Cleveland 

and the 1,200-seat Gallon in Gallon, both 

being built by Modern Theatres, will have 

all Simplex equipment when completed. 

Other recent Simplex installations reported 

by Masek are in the Paulding Theatre, 

Paulding, and the rvew Port Theatre, Port 

Clifton, both built by Jack O'Connell of 

Toledo and opened within the past month. 

O'Connell has also purchased one of the new 

NTS popcorn fountains. 

Dayton Film Files 

CHICAGO—Suit for $300,000 damages was 

filed in federal district court here April 28 

by The Dayton Film, Inc.. and Autocrat, Inc., 

of Dayton, Ohio, .igainst the DeVry Corp., 

William C. DeVry and H. B. Engles of Chicago. 

Tlie .suit is similar to one filed in 

Ohio recently dealing with alleged unfair 

trade practices. 

SPECIAL OFFER 

TO THEATRES ONLY 

Popular Brands Candy Bars 

75c-78c-83c per box 24-5c Bars 

Example: 

Powerhouse, 75c; Hersheys. 78c; The 3 Musketeers, 83c 

200-lb. shipments (equivalent to about 4 cases— 12 

boxes, 24s) shipped prepaid from factory to theatre. 

Same size shipment of assorted brands—prepaid from our 

warehouse. Smaller orders shipped any route transportation 

cbarges collect. Credit to ^pproêd accounts, 

otherwise C.0,1). or cash with order. 

SPECIAL PRINTED ROLL THEATRE TICKETS—$28.00 

per lOOM— Prepaid. 

POPCORN BAGS, '/2-lb $1.02 Per M—50M Prepaid 

^4-lb 1.17 Per M—40'M Prepaid 

1-lb 1.40 Per M—30M Pripaid 

I'/a-lh 1.68 Per M—25M Prepaid 

Refined Corn Oil 30c per lb. in 400-lb. drums—prepaid. 

SPRINGFIELD 

^XlToodrow Owens, manager of the Majestic, 

promoted two miniature wooden oil derricks 

for the shoW'ing of "Strike It Rich." Between 

the derricks, which were placed on the 

sidewalk in front of the theatre, was an illuminated 

oil display donated by a local service 

station . . . "Hamlet" played a two-day 

successful engagement at the Fairbanks. 

Matinees were well attended by college and 

high school students, while businessmen and 

their wives made up the audience during the 

evening shows. 

Chris Chakeres, manager of the Palace in 

Washington Court House, is in the Springfield 

city ho.spital recovering from injuries 

sustained in a traffic accident. He was struck 

by a car while walking across the street in 

front of his theatre. He suffered a fractured 

knee and bruises. His wife also is a 

patient in the local hospital being treated 

for a throat infection . . . Robert Morrell of 

Cincinnati, a representative for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 

visited here. 

. . 

Baseball fans leaving the local Springfield 

Giants ball park are afforded the opportunity 

of learning the current programs at the Regent 

and State. A large billboard has been 

installed just opposite the exit drive from 

the ball park . . . William Luibel, booker for 

Chakeres Theatres, spent several days in Chicago 

on business. The State held over "Ma 

and Pa Kettle" for three days after the film 

played to near capacity houses during its 

regular nin . The Stardust Drive-In is giving 

away a 35-piece service for six of 22 karat 

gold china. The china is presented free to 

each lady in imits of one and two pieces each 

Tuesday and Wednesday. Last year the Stardust 

gave away sets of glassware ... Ed Paul, 

manager of the Logan in Logan, is back on 

the job after recovering from an illness in 

Florida where he was vacationing. 

. . . Phil Chakeres, president 

The Fairbanks has booked in the Renfro 

Valley Barn Dance for Sunday (15), according 

to Manager LaChance . . . The air conditioning 

systems in the Regent and State 

have been put in shape and are slated to 

start operating May 7. The systems were 

overhauled May 7. The systems were overhauled 

by Elvis Coder, maintenance engineer 

for Regent-State 

of Chakeres Theatres, left his winter 

home in Florida and attended the Kentucky 

Derby after first stopping over to visit his 

theatres in Harrodsburg, Ky. Attending the 

derby with him were Gus Sim, nationally 

known showman; Frank Collins, general 

manager of the Chakeres theatres: Ray Frisz, 

booking agent, and his wife, and Gene Lutes, 

district manager in Kentucky and his wife. 

Chakeres and Collins, who are both Kentucky 

Colonels, attended the Kentucky Colonel dinner 

in Louisville. 

ill^^" 

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Model 8 

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durability. Chaink-is. beltlfss, iroubk-free. 

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buy—for less. 


Hadden Theatre Supply 

Company 

209 South Third Street, 

Louisville, 

Kentucky 


MIDWEST THEATRE SUPPLY CO., Inc. 

EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE" 

DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR 

SPECIALTY 

1638 Central Parkway, Cincinnati 10, Ohio 

CHorry 

7724 

CHorry 

7725 

r 

Special Deals on free Candy Bars and Balloons 

for Brock Kiddie Matinees. 

INCREASE YOUR NET PROFITS ON SAVINGS MADE 

IN PURCHASES FROM US 

Fresh Merchandise — Prompt Service — Reliable — E

. . . Mary 

. . Charles 

. . Walter 

. . John 

DETROIT 

IXrilson Elliott, house manager of the Fox, 

has become the leader in a move to urge 

military authorities not to release the no- 

. . Green is 

torious Use Koch. Elliott 

Nancy 

was a former prisoner 

new 

at Buchenwald . 

booking clerk at 20th-Fox. Ruth Teeman, 

bookers' clerk, is engaged to James Martin. 

co-capta;n of the Notre Dame football team 

Voisin of 20th-Fox is back on the 

job after an 

UDT president, 

operation Earl Hudson, 

. . . 

is due back from a vacation 

trip to North Carolina. 

David Newman, Co-Op counsel, returned 

from Florida . A. Garner, independent 

distributor, and Joseph EUul, 

circuit operator, teamed up to form Garner 

Films, Inc. . . . Raymond Kendall, shipper 

TheatrpSign and Marquee Maintenance 

/^n^_ Our Specialty 

%L!Worstman ^ Co, 

WOodaxd 5-4050 

2821 Brooklrn 

POntiac 3-4473 

Detroit 1, Mich. 

MeARTHURiiwJI 

454COLUMBIA5T WEST - DETROIT I. MiCH 

IDEAL SLIDE BACK CHAIRS 

Phone: CAdillac 5524 

FLOWERS for 

Every Occasion 

LORENZEN'S 

DETROrrS THEATRICAL FLORIST 

TOwnsend 8-6232 

16457 Woodward Ave., Detroit 3, Mich. 

. . Donald 

at Dezel Productions, is honeymooning after 

his marriage to Dolores Klawinski . 

Woods, Warner Bros, manager, was suf- 

fering from a cold that settled in his shoulder 

. . . Lee Goldsmith, office manager at Universal, 

is back from a visit to his old home 

in New York . . . Sam Seplowin, Republic district 

manager, left on a trip to parts unknown. 

Bernice Levendoski of United Artists is vacationing 

for a month in southern California 

. . . Prank C. Hensler, MGM district manager, 

is making a detailed tour of his territory 

—a month's job . Shafer expects 

to get his new drive-in, the Wayne, open 

around May 30. 

John Davidson, booker at Warner's, is leaving 

to become booker and office manager at 

Memphis. Milton Levins from the home office 

replaces him . . . Ned Oglesby of Heywood-Wakefield, 

just back from a business 

trip, was a visitor . . . Red Ace, co-manager 

of the Lakewood with Arthur Graham since 

Ralph Wilson moved to the East End, is 

doubling as emcee for the amateiu- shows 

there and at other Affiliated houses. 

Irving Belinsky has reconstruction of the 

Eastwood in east Detroit, which burned down 

. 

in January, well under way, and expects to 

reopen around Labor day . W. Peterson 

of Metro Theatre Service is covering the 

western states and expects to be on the road 

until late summer . 

Cohen circuit 

. 

was in 

Oscar Adelman 

New York on a 

of the 

business 

trip last week . . Sol Krim is holding 

. 

over "Hamlet" for a third week at the Krim 

Theatre. The "twilight matinee" policy at 

5:30 p. m. is paying off. 

Sol Cohen, who handles the Chicago territory 

for Al Dezel, booked "The Moon and 

Sixpence" and "So Ends Our Night" into the 

B&K Apollo to finish out the last week before 

the house was to be razed for bus depot. 

The films did so well they are being held 

over . . . Wilson Elliott, house manager of 

KOLLMORGEN^«/../-^n«>./^/. LENS 

ft 

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This sturdy all- aluminum one-piece mounting 

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ANODIZED FINISH 

The gleaming gold finish of the Super- 

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COATED OPTICS 

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RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

24-Hour Projection 

and Sound Service 

106 Michigon St., N.W. Grand Ropids 2, Mich. 

Telephone Glendale 4-8852 Nights and Sundays 3-2413 

the Pox, reports the Pox staff is organizing 

a baseball team, to play in the regular Class 

C recreation league this summer . . . Charles 

Walters has moved up from the Garden to 

take over the booth at the ICi-im, replacing 

Horace Parsons. 

. . 

. . L. N. 

Don Fill has resigned as assistant supervisor 

at the Midwest circuit offices to take 

over the Alvin, formerly operated by the Jacobson 

brothers, as his first independent 

theatre venture Verne Morgan is manager 

of Bill 

. 

Schulte's new Hudson Theatre, 

700 seats, complete with cryroom . 

Williams of Detroit has taken over the Almont 

Theatre at Almont from S. J. Tesluk, 

who is plarming to retii-e to farming near 

Yale. 

Fred Bonnem's postcarded greetings from 

Paris arrived just eight days after he got 

back home . . . Mrs. Sam Ackerman, wife of 

the exhibitor, is in a Detroit hospital, following 

serious illness during her Florida vacation 

Al Ackerman of the East Side is 

. . . looking for prospective donors for television 

sets to the polio ward at Kiefer hospital and 

the Sister Kenney center at Pontiac. 

Roy R. Shook, who took back the Shores 

in St. Clair Shores sometime ago from Irving 

Belinsky, is dickering to dispose of the 

house to a new party. 

To Direct 'Nancy to Rio' 

Producer Joe Pasternak has set Robert Z. 

Leonard to direct "Nancy Goes to Rio" for 

MGM. 


riLMACK 


Are "Best By Test . . 

.^ 

Quicker than the RestT 



Attention, Mr. Exhibitor 

BUYERS WAITING! 

We Can Sell Your Theatre if the Deal is Right. 

Lcrrge or Small Houses—One Theatre or a Circuit. 

CONTINENTAL REALTY CO. 

1535 Dime Bonk Bldg.. Detroit 26, Mich. 

Phone WOodwaid 1-7834 

FILM EXCHANGE DRUGS 

The Showmen's Drug Store 

Drugs * Cosmetics * Prescriptions 

Personal Service from Two Showmen 

MAX BERNBAUM JACK GALLAGHER 

Pharmacist 

Manager 

Phone CLiiford 1527, CLifford 3694 

for 

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OUTSTANDING 

CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ENGINEERING 


. . Ben 

. . . The 

. . Robert 

CLEVELAND 

T eonard Grecnbergcr, manager of the Fairmount, 

suburban de luxe theatre, celebrated 

the house's seventh anniversary by 

handing out American Beauty roses to every 

woman patron on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday. 

The Fairmount, owned by Henrj' Greenberger 

and associates, because of daily care 

and attention to details, as well as its structural 

beauty, is still one of the most beautiful 

houses in the area and holds its place among 

the newer ones built within the past year. 

Joe Leavitt, who dismantled his Independent 

screening room in the Film BIdg. last 

fall to move to Florida, is returning to Cleveland. 

He and Mrs. Leavitt left Miami May 1 

. . . Now it can be told. Howard Higley, 

manager of the Allen Theatre, is the daddy of 

a baby girl named Linda Jean, born March 23 

Howard Roth. Paramount booker, and 

. . . 

wife will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary 

May 23. They'll be with relatives in 

Dallas for the occasion, leaving here on the 

21st. 

Arthur Goldsmith, RKO city salesman, is 

hobbling around on crutches. He -sprained 

his anjde when a ladder collapsed under him 

. . . Lou Gerard, roadshow manager for "The 

Red Shoes" during its 18-week engagement 

at the Esquire Theatre, is now with U-I handling 

special assignments. His first one is 

right here, where he is working up a campaign 

on "Tlie City Across the River," which 

has a State Theatre booking. 

Marge McCord. secretary to Dick Wright. 

Warner assistant zone manager, and president 

of the Warner club, isn't telling it, but 

the club's smorgasbord party at the Hickory 

Grill May 13 will be a prelude to her birthday 

on the following day . Schwartz, 

manager of the Lincoln in Massillon, is back 

at the theatre after convalescing after an 

appendectomy. His wife isn't so fortunate. 

While visiting him at the hospital, she fell 

and broke her leg . . . Another ailing Warnerite 

is Walter Cook, engineer at the Hippodrome. 

day from Wednesdays to Fridays. This gives 

the public a choice of five days to attend a 

first performance. Effective this week the 

Hippodrome changes on Wednesday, the 

State, Ohio. Stillman and Palace on Thursday 

and the Allen on Friday. The Lower 

Mall and the Esquire are currently on a Saturday 

change . Richardson. EL 

branch manager, took to the road this week 

new Maryland Theatre is preparing 

a television lounge. 

COMPLETE 

THEATRE BUILDING 

SERVICE 

VOGEL BUILDING CO. 

Liberty Theatre Building 

WELLSVILLE. OHIO PHONE 74 

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* BRENKERT PROJECTORS 

* RCA SOUND SYSTEMS 

* RCA RECTIFIERS 

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COINOMETER CHANGERS 

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ERNIE FORBES 

THEATRE SUPPLY 

Film Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich. 

Days 

WO 1-1122 

WO 1-1123 

Nights 

VE 7-1227 

If you're looking for Charlie Winet, representative 

for Price Theatre Premiums, you'll 

find him in his new office and showroom on 

the main floor of the Film Bldg. The space 

is being remodeled, and both Oscar and Otto 

Price will be here for a formal opening about 

the middle of May . . . When Omar Ranney, 

photoplay editor of the Pre.ss, asked for responses 

to a request for a return of "The 

Wizard of Oz." he did not anticipate the 

avalanche of mail he has received. To date 

he has had 3,000 requests for this MGM picture. 

The letters requesting the "Wizard" 

also list other pictures the writers would 

like to see again. Ranney is compiling a survey 

and will list the pictures in greatest demand, 

in the belief that 3,000 patrons know 

what they want to see on the screen. 

The Cleveland Safety council, following 

its annual custom, last Saturday entertained 

the school children of the city with a 

program entertainment in the Public hall. 

The film part of the program was MGM's 

"The Secret Garden." 

The Allen Theatre is changing its opening 


DOW ojiers 


Giits oi overpowering Boxofiice Appeal 

1705 E. 21 SI. Film Bldg. 

CHerry 6138 Cleveland, O. 

USED THEATRE SEATS 

Thousands — Completely Reconditioned 

All Types — From $4.75 Up 

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Immediate Deliver'y — Anywhere in U. S. 

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211 Moss Avenue Detroit 3, Mich. 

Phone TOwnsend B-7227 

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510 Manhattan Bldg. 7766 Broadway 

Toledo, Ohio 

Cleveland, Ohio 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7. 1949 73

. . Cuppie's 

r 

. . W. 

PITTSBURGH 

lyroonlite Drive-In near Uniontown is giving 

away bicycles . . . The Sky-Hi Drive-In 

at Cranberry features bank night on Wednesday 

. . . Hlway Drive-In at Latrobe exploits 

family night, charging $1 a car regardless of 

the number of occupants . . Blue Sky Drive- 

. 

In near EUwood City has booked some first 

nm pictures as has the Hiway 51 near Beaver 

Falls . . . Picks Drive-In, recently opened 

on Route 40, two miles east of Brownsville, 

has no ramps . Drive-In at West 

Brownsville established a record with "The 

The new Maple Drive-In on 

Snake Pit" . . . 

Route 30 in North Huntingdon township was 

to be opened in several days with "Take 

Me Out to the Ball Game." 

Lash LaRue, western film star, was at 

Parkersburg with the Dales circus . . . The 

Rostraver township school board in Westmoreland 

county expects that its 10 per cent 

amusement tax will be effective July 1. 

Tom Bello jr. is back on the job as manager 

of Blatt Bros.' Altoona Drive-In. His 

brother John is with the Warner circuit at 

Washington, Pa., and Tom sr. is the Blatt 

manager at Nanty-Glo . . . John H. Harris 

will be in England in July with his "Ice- 

Cycles" show and will install Variety Club 

Tent 36 at London, which was organized by 

C. J. Latta, fonner assistant zone manager 

here for the Warner circuit and now Warner's 

Great Britain chief executive. 

On stage presentations: Hawaiian "Paradi.se 

Revue," State at Washington, Manos at 

Greensburg, Latonia at Oil City, Liberty at 

New Kensington: Karston show, Columbia at 

Sharon, Memorial at McKeesport, Manos at 

Greensburg; Vaughn Monroe, Warner at Morgantown 

; WWVA Jamboree, Butler at Butler, 

Washington at Washington. Prince at Ambridge; 

Iva's amateur show at the new Cheswick 

at Cheswick; Reeves and Louchei-y's 

spring dance revue was presented at the 

Robinson Grand at Clarksburg; Fine Arts 

Guild of Wheeling offered the childi-en's play, 

"The Snow Queen," at the Virginia at Wheeling, 

and Blue Barron 'and his orchestra were 

featured Monday at the Butler in Butler. 

Among members of the trade entertained 

at Altoona by MGM for special friendship 

Every Kind of Successful Promotion 

for Theatres and Drive-ins 

Dinnerwore .. All Types of Bingo Games 

ZIP-O for 

Merchant Tie-Ups 

also 

KIDDIES 

A Promotion Package including Merchandise. 

Contest, with Trailers and Displays, costs as 

little as 2 cents per child or can be had at 

no cost to you. 

THEATRICAL ENTERPRISES 

lACK GEHTZ 

BEN STAHL 

403-404 Film Bldg. 1705 Boulevard of AUies 

Cleveland Ohio 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 

;,?v( Dw/f*' 

^^^^pf 

Jim Alexander 

Sam Fineberg 

,1705 Blvd. of the Allies 

PITTSBUHGH 19, PA. 

Phone Express 0777 

screenings were George Single and sister, 

Lilly; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bello, Nanty-Glo; 

Mr. and Mrs. W. Lodge, McConnellsburg; 

Miss Ann Surovy, Madera; Mtss Mae Shively, 

Clearfield; Adolph Farkas, Johnstown; Frank 

Jackson, St. Marys; Han-y Doman, DuBois; 

R. Neff, Tyrone; Plato Panagatocas, Johnstown; 

Nick Notopoulos, Bellwood; Gene 

Yanni, Robertsdale; Robert Martin, H. Alberth. 

Ward Kreag, George Notopoulos, C. A. 

Notopoulos, G. Riggin, Ray Allison, Ray Allison 

jr., K. A. Vaveris, M. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. 

P. Griner, Altoona. MGM manager, Saal 

Gottlieb, hosted the affair. 

Guy Lombardo's orchestra and stage revue 

will present two performances at the 

Warner in Erie June 2 under auspices of St. 

Boniface church . . . Filmrow Bowling league 

will stage its annual banquet the evening 

of May 7 at the Fort Pitt hotel. Joe Hanna, 

league president, is chairman of arrangements 

. . . Eddie Moriarty, MGM sales representative, 

bruised a leg at Forbes Field, 

resulting in an infection which sent him to 

Mercy hospital. 

IWrs. Fred J. Herrington, wife of the veteran 

secretai-y of the Independent Theatre Owners 

Ass'n, is recuperating from an eye operation 

performed at the eye and ear hospital. 

. . . 

. . . 

Maurice "Red" Silverberg, U-I salesman, 

is expected on the job soon after an absence 

of several weeks with pneumonia . L. 

Dunn, Cochranton exhibitor and contractor, 

is very busy these days with new construction 

contracts awarded by the state highway 

department Joe E. Brown, here with 

"Hai'vey," addressed the American Legion 

The 

Post 59 in the Nixon restaurant 

South Hills Harris presented a cooking school 

Wednesday last week in cooperation with 

Duquesne Light Co. 

The group at Washington, Pa., planning 

to erect an amphitheatre, will elect directors 

May 10 . . , Mrs. Gabe Rubin has been vacationing 

in New York and her husband, the 

Art Cinema proprietor, has been busy here 

with new outdoor projects . . . Fred A. Beedle, 

Canonsburg, attended a recent committee 

meeting on the Pennsylvania week campaign 

... Eli Kaufman of Pittsburgh Poster Supply 

reports that 20 poster distributors attended 

the organization meeting of World Wide 

Poster Co. at Detroit. The new company will 

manufacture silk screen process accessories 

for complete service. Jack "Soxie" Cohen, former 

National Screen executive, has joined the 

new company as vice-president and general 

sales manager. 

Bert Fetterman was bu.sy this week with 

plans for the inaugural of the new Starlite 

Drive-In on Route 36, one-half mile from 

Punxsutawney on the Punxsutawney-Brookville 

road. Thomas Mitchell, construction 

engineer, was completing the project for 

opening late this week or over the weekend. 

The giant screen tower is constructed of cement 

block. Atlas-Motiograph equipments 

are installed. Fetterman is associated with 

Ralph Neil, John Grube and Charles Stewart 

in Starlite, Inc., owner-operators of the new 

450-car capacity outdoor theatre. 

Julian Lesser, Monogram producer, was a 

visitor . . . Max Shulgold, Crown Film manager, 

was in New York on business . . . Dr. 

I. Q. will broadcast his radio show from the 

Stanley for seven Mondays, beginning May 

KATO Film Trailer 

To Urge Tax Repeal 

LOUIS'VILLE — The KATO-gram, official 

bulletin of the Kentucky Ass'n of Theatre 

Owners, reported this week that at the June 

meeting of the board of directors, a trailer 

film emphasizing the unfairness of admissions 

taxes will be previewed. 

The film is designed, the bulletin said, to 

bring home to patrons the unfairness of a 

10 per cent state tax, a 20 per cent federal 

tax and additional community taxes on motion 

picture admissions. 

There will be sufficient film, the bulletin 

continued, to permit a formula of exhibition 

similar to that used recently throughout theatres 

of the state in explaining the new state 

income tax law. However, in the distribution 

of the KATO film, the bulletin added, individual 

initiative on the part of the exhibitors 

will be required in getting the films from one 

theatre to another according to a fixed schedule. 

The film is designed to help theatre owners 

fight for repeal of the admissions tax statutes 

enacted in 1936 by the state legislature. The 

bulletin urged exhibitors to make sure that 

all candidates for the 1950 general assembly, 

now being selected, understand the problems 

of the motion picture theatre owners. 

Mack McClannahan of the Estill and New 

Irvine theatres is one theatreman who has 

announced his candidacy for the lower house 

from the 77th district. 

16 . . . Larry Lowstetter has transferred film 

licensing and booking for the State at Meyersdale 

to the Hanna Theatre Service . . . 

Mother of Cliff Brown, Kane exhibitor, is 

very poorly following an operation. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. P. J. Kelly, parents of Gene 

Kelly, announce the marriage of their daughter 

Louise Barbara and William McClure 

Bailey at St. James church, Wilkinsburg . . . 

Lions club members of Johnstown previewed 

the new government bond drive film Friday 

last week, with Max Bloomberg and Harry 

Pidley in charge of the program. 

Joseph Yacos is rushing to completion his 

Bell-Air Drive-In at Weirton Heights, W. Va. 

He is a former Ohio exhibitor and is a 

brother-in-law of Tony Callas, part owner 

. . . Aliquippa's 

of the Victoria at Wheeling, and of Bill 

Tliomas, Zelienople, Pa., ex'hibitor ... J. J. 

McFadden, Renovo, again is a grandpop, a 

daughter having been born to his daughter 

Mrs. James Renehan, also mother of a son. 

McFadden's daughter Kathryn is in government 

service in Germany 

new $100,000 stadium will be opened in July. 

When Mrs. Maude Davis, cashier at the 

Triangle in East Liberty, was making change 

for a dollar last Saturday night, a young 

thug scooped up $50 from the cage and disappeared 

into the crowd on Frankstown avenue 

. . . Ida Lupino and Van Heflin will 

be here to broadcast the U. S. Steel's Theatre 

Guild on the Air play, "Ladies and Gentlemen," 

from Syria Mosque, Sunday evening. 

May 15. 

Undecided on Reopening 

SAGAMORE, PA.—A. L. Hodgson, veteran 

exhibitor, reports he has not decided whether 

he will reopen the Sagamore Theatre. Ill 

since February 12, he closed the theatre 

March 1. Hodgson was able to inspect the 

theatre the other day. 


Drive-In Is Projected 

At Brockton Airport 

BROCKTON. MASS.—Negotiations are under 

way for an outdoor theatre at the Brockton 

airport. Campello. although no official 

application for the ozoner ha.s been filed with 

the superintendent of buildings. The drivein 

would be built on a tract of land on which 

it was originally proposed to build a dog 

track. 

Mayor Downey .says he will approve a permit 

for the drive-in. adding that .such construction 

would mean the end of the track. 

The manager of the airport says that a 

group of individuals is interested in such a 

venture and that local parties are concerned. 

A public hearing will be necessary before the 

drive-in permit can be issued. 

Late last winter a Revere theatre owner was 

said to have been interested in the location 

for an open air theatre, but his offer was 

turned down after an option was obtained 

on the property by the backers of the Brockton 

Stadium Corp., which planned a dog 

track stadium, only to have the city council 

refuse to approve the location. 

Five Theatres Under Way 

In Hartford Territory 

HARTFORD—Here's the present picture of 

construction and planned construction in this 

territory: 

East Hartford—800-seat theatre, being 

built by Morris Keppner and Barney Tarantul. 

will be ready for operation by late spring. 

Meriden— 1.000-seater being built by Kounaris-Tolis-Uly.ssis 

of New Britain, will open 

after June 1. 

Norwich— 1.400-.seat house being built by 

Loew's Poll should be set for operation by 

late spring. 

Waterford—700-car drive-in being erected 

by Waterford Drive-In Theatre Corp. should 

be ready for operation by early simimer. 

East Haven—700-car drive-in being built 

by Joe Dolgin and Phil Cahill of Hartford 

is to be completed late this spring. 

Bloomfield—Drive-in construction to be 

started soon by Phil Maher of Bloomfield. 

Building applications are pending for 

Thompsonville i 

Matthew Alaimo) and Greenwich 

(Samuel T. Orson). 

Somersworth Opening May 7 

SOMERSWORTH, N. H.—A drive-in is 

being constructed here on the road between 

Dover and Rochester by James Sayers, who 

rims the Pine Island Drive-In, Manchester. 

The new ozoner will accommodate 500 cars 

and is to open May 7. Eddie Hosmer of Independent 

Theatre Supply, Boston, is equipping 

the booth with Ballantyne projectors, 

individual speakers, Hi-Intensity lamps and 

sound equipment. 

Drive-In for Meadow Glen 

BOSTON—National Theatre Supply is installing 

Simplex projectors, 4-Star sound and 

in-car speakers in the Meadow Glen Medford 

Drive-In now imder construction in Medford 

near the Mystic Valley parkway. Paul Longo 

is the owner of the 1,000-car drive-in which 

will be ready for opening in about six weeks. 

Opens Waterbury Bowling Alley 

WATERBURY, CONN.—Nick Mascolo. former 

owner of the Cameo Theatre, has 

opened a new bowling alley. 

Boston Variety to Award 

Great Heart to Joe Cifre 

BOSTON—The Great Heart award, presented 

annually by the local Variety Club, 

this year will be given to Joe Cifre. former 

chief barker, for "doing the greatest amount 

of good to the greatest number of people," 

JOE CIFRE 

according to E. Harold Stoneman. chief 

barker. A dinner honoring Cifre is being 

planned, the time and place to be made 

known later. Arthur Lockwood. TOA president, 

has been appointed chairman for the 

event. 

During his term as chief barker. Cifre conceived 

one of the most successful fund-raising 

projects ever sponsored by the local tent. 

With the help of George Schwartz, he perfected 

organization of the Jimmie fund. 

which last year brought nearly $250,000 to 

the Children's Cancer Research Foundation 

of the Children's hospital. He also obtained 

the cooperation of the Boston Braves baseball 

club and Ralph Edwards. Truth or Consequences 

master of ceremonies, in a Children's 

hospital project. 

Cifre several years ago conceived Films for 

Shutins, out of which came the method of 

showing motion pictures on the ceilings of 

hospftal rooms for patients who were forced 

to lie constantly on their backs. 

Learning the film business under the instruction 

of his father, the late M. S. Cifre, 

pioneer nickelodeon operator here. Cifre 

worked in the booths of several early theatres 

and became a member of the local projectionists 

union in 1911. He was president 

of the organization in 1917. Later he entered 

the equipment field, working as a 

salesman until he organized his own company. 

Joe Cifre. Inc., in 1935. 

In addition to his Variety Club activities, 

Cifre is a life member of the projectionists 

union and of the Masonic lodge. In addition 

to the local Chamber of Commerce, he belongs 

to the Society of Motion Picture Engineers 

and the Theatre Equipment Dealers 

Ass'n. 

Hartford Softball League 

Schedule Is Completed 

HARTFORD—Tlie schedule of the Hartford 

Theatre Softball league, with games 

being played on Sunday mornings at Colt's 

Park, has been released by Norman Levinson, 

league chairman. Games will be played 

as 

follows: 

May 1— Poll vs. Strand: Regal vs. State; 

Loew's vs. Palace; Ailyn. open date: May 8 

Loew's vs. AU.vn; Regal vs. Palace: Poll vs. 

State; Strand, open date; May 15—Loew's vs. 

Poli; Allyn vs. State: Strand vs. Palace; 

Regal, open date; May 22—Loew's vs. Regal; 

Allyn vs. Palace; Strand vs. State, and Poli, 

open date: May 29—Loew's vs. State; Allyn 

vs. Regal: Strand vs. Poli; Palace, open date; 

June 15—Loew's vs. Palace: Allyn vs. Poll; 

Strand vs. Regal: State, open date. 

A dinner-dance in June will mark the conclusion 

of the league's initial season, according 

to Levinson. The master schedule was 

prepared by John Patno, AUyn's team captain. 

Mike Piccirillo of the Center is league 

commissioner. 

Shamrock for Al Pickus 

BRIDGEPORT—Jack Dunn, retired manager 

of the Stratford Tlieatre, has been busy 

planting some real Irish shamrock seeds 

which arrived from Belfast. He has been 

setting them in soil on Albert Pickus' Whippoorwill 

lane property in Stratford near the 

small stream known as Shamrock river. 

Pickus is owner of the Stratford Theatre. 

Lenser Escapes Elephant Stampede 

From Southwest Edition 

GONZALES. TEX—Lee Orr. a newsreel 

cameraman for Fox Movietone News, had a 

narrow brush with death when a herd of 

18 circus elephants, frightened by guns being 

fu'ed into the air, stampeded over a two-mile 

area. Two men were injured, fences were 

trampled down and the porch of a farm 

house was carried away by the earth-shaking 

onrush of the pachyderms. 

The herd of "bulls" are part of the Dailey 

Bros, circus which winter-quarters here, and 

they were supposed to fake a "stampede" for 

the benefit of the Fox Movietone newsreel 

cameraman. The elephants weren't in a 

stampeding mood so two cowboys began firing 

off shots into the air to get the herd 

running. 

That was all the coaxing the elephants 

needed. They began running in the direction 

of Orr. He abandoned his camera, but it was 

running on a battery and kept grinding away 

throughout the stampede. Orr believes he 

has some of the best wild-animal shots he's 

ever seen. 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 1949 NE 75

. . Norman 

. . Mr. 

FALL RIVER 

Tames E. Ryan, a graduate of the National 

Radio institute and of advanced studies in 

electrical and radio engineering at Brown 

university, Providence, told Rotary club 

members that most authorities believe television 

will destroy the motion picture as it 

is known today. He said, "I don't mean that 

the movies will be destroyed entirely, but 

we do believe they will be rebuilt on a 

healthier, sounder basis." Ryan gave a simple 

explanation of how television operates, 

related how a successive series of rapid electronic 

impulses are picked up by a receiver 

and play in sweeping beams across the face 

of the vision tube. 

John F. Fitzgerald is the new assistant 

manager at the Capitol, succeeding James 

Audet who resigned. Mrs. Gladys Negus is 

replacing Mrs. Ruth Cardoza as Capitol relief 

The Fall River Gas Co. is 

cashier . . . co-sponsor of the cooking school to be held 

one day each week for a series of three 

weeks at the Capitol. Merchants of the area 

are donating gifts which will be awarded at 

Manager James 

each matinee session . . . 

McNamara of the Capitol is working on a 

series of Saturday matinee programs to 

boost juvenile attendance. Emphasis wUl be 

placed on features in which the kiddies are 

most interested. 

The Empire Theatre manager's office is 

being rearranged and redecorated, under the 

direction of Manager John McAvoy who recently 

replaced William S. Canning, now 

personal consultant to Nathan Yamins, circuit 

operator . Zalkind has resumed 

the direction of the Strand after 

serving two weeks in the navy on a recall 

ticket. Zalkind was a lieutenant in that 

service during the war . . . Theatre personnel 

have extended condolences to William 

O'Donnell, assistant manager at the 

Center, on the recent death of his brother 

Edward, Webster Theatre manager. 

"pof 

Manley built and made the 

popcorn business. 

Seven out of ten machines in operation today are Manleys. 

Better style — better performance — better value. 

Corn popped fresh and hot on the spot. 

The Ail-American health food. 

Manley C-3 underwriter-approved machines have been 

recently installed in 

AUDITORIUM, 

Lynn, Mass. 

BAY STATE DRIVE-ISf, 

Seekonk, Mass. 

BELLINGHAM AUTO THEATRE, 

Bellingham, Mass. 

BROOK THEATRE, 

Westbrook, Maine 

MAGNET THEATRE, 

Dorchester, Mass. 

MANCHESTER DRIVE-IN, 

Manchester, N. H. 

the following spots: 

NORTHLAND THEATRE, 

Stratton, 

Me. 

POWERS THEATRE, 

Caribou, 

Maine 

PURITAN THEATRE, 

Roxbury, Mass. 

RANDOLPH THEATRE, 

Randolph, 

Me. 

REX THEATRE, 

THE BIGGEST NAME IN 

Manchester, N. H. 

POPCORN 

See the latest display of our Twin Model and Stadium 

Model machines. The lotter model furnishes 30 to 35 

bushels of corn per hour, complete with a warmer compartment 

for over 200 boxes. On display at our newlyrenovated 

and enlarged showrooms at 45 Church Street, 

in 

the heart of the film district. 

THE BIGGEST NAME IN POPCORN 

SAM HORNSTEIN 

45 Church St. — Han 6-7419 

Boston, 

Massachusetts 

"In the Heart of the 

Film 

District" 

Playgrounds and the Kiddy circus, to be 

held in this city August 24, were discussed 

by William S. Canning at a recent meeting 

of the Rotary club . . . Manager Claude 

Shaw's office in the Academy Theatre, a 

Zeitz house, has been redecorated in tile red 

and ivory, with mahogany furniture. The 

work was done by the Zeitz maintenance 

crew from New Bedford . and Mrs. 

Carl Zeitz spent a few days in Long Island. 

Miss Lillian Russell has resigned as cashier 

and candy counter attendant at the 

Academy to enter X-ray technician training 

William S. Canning, 

at the Union hospital . . . 

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Zeitz of New Bed- 

ford and Charles Tobin of Fairhaven attended 

a special MGM screening of "The Stratton 

Story" and "The Secret Garden" at the 

Hope Tlieatre in Providence. 

William S. Canning recently conferred with 

Gov. Paul Dever in Boston regarding the 

coming government bond drive. Canning and 

Mayor William P. Grant presided as pitcher 

and catcher at the formal opening of the 

New England baseball league season at the 

Empire Manager 

Fall River stadium . . . 

McAvoy was a judge for the Hilltop Durfee 

High school play presentation held recently. 

Russ Ordway to New Job 

ROCKVILLE, CONN.—Russell Ordway, 

former Hartford exhibitor who sold his 

Pi'incess Theatre to William Bassett and 

Mary Elizabeth Knight, is reported slated to 

return to a managerial position with a theatre 

somewhere in the New England territory. The 

Princess, which seats 386, has been taken over 

by the Bassett and Knight interests already. 

Ordway acquired the house in January 1948 

To Direct "Trouble in Texas" 

Lesley Selander has been signed to direct 

"Trouble in Texas" for RKO. 


now ofierB 


Gifts of overpowering Boxoffice Appeal 

47 Church St. Liberty 4088 Boston, Mass. 

STANDEE SPEAKERS 

FOR FRONT SECTION AND REAR RAMPS 

FOB TRUCKS AND OVERFLOW 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. "' c',' 'liiT" 


. . The 

El Paso' Bill Scores 

120 to Lead Boston 

BOSTON—Warmer weather caused business 

10 drop off despite a brisk Friday and Saturday 

start. Sunday was not up to expectations. 

Of the new product, "El Paso" at the 

Paramount and Fenway, and "City Across the 

River" at the Boston were the leaders. 


Aslor—Pride oi the Yankees (RKO). reissue. 

2nd wt 9i' 

Boston—City Across the River (U-I); Daughter oi 

the Jungle (Rep) 110 

Esquire, Mayflower and Pilgrim—Tulsa (EL), 

2nd wk 100 

Exeler Street—Monsieur Vincent (Lopert), 2nd wk...llb 

Moieslic—The Red Shoes (EL), 23rd wk 85 

Memorial—Adventure in Baltimore (RKO); The 

Clay Pigeon (HKO) 100 

Metropolitan—A Connecticut Yankee in King 

Arthur's Court (Para), Tuna Clipper (Rep), 

2nd wk 95 

Paramount and Fenway—El Paso (Para); A Duke 

of Chicago (Rep) 120 

Stale and Orpheum—Little Women (MGM), 2nd 

wk 100 

'Dream,' 'Frontier' Hit 150 

To Lead Hartford Trade 

HARTFORD—Busine.ss at fir.st runs ranged 

from mild to good, with "My Dream Is Yours" 

leading the downtown parade. 

Allyn—El Paso (Para) Highway 13 (SG) 75 

Center—True Glory (SR) 110 

E M. Loews—The Undercover Man (Col); The 

Mutineers (Col) 120 

Poll—The Bribe (MGM); The Sun Comes Up 

(MGM) 70 

Palace—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th- 

Fox); Temptation Harbor (Mono), 2nd wk 130 

Regal—^My Dream Is Yours (WB); The Far Frontier 

(Rep), 3rd wk 150 

Stale—Badmen oi Tombstone (Mono), plus stage 

show . 100 

Strand—Bed Canyon (U-I); Blanche Fury (EL).... 85 

oi Bushnell—loan Arc (RKO) 100 

'Belvedere' and 'Serpent' Top 

Trade in New Haven 

NEW HAVEN—Dualing uf "Mr. Belvedere 

Goes to College" and "The Feathered Serpent" 

at Loew's Poll topped first run trade 

here and rated a moveover to the College, 

A second round of "Little Women" and "Manhattan 

Angel" at the College was helped by 

a public school holiday. 

Bijou—Force oi Evil (MGM); Rusty Leads the Way 

(Col) 85 

College—Little Women (MGM); Manhattan Angel 

(Col), 2nd d. t, wk 97 

Loew's Poll—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th- 

Fox); The Feathered Serpent (Mono) ^..100 

Paramount—A Connecticut Yankee (Para); Rimfire 

(SG), 2nd wk 5b 

Roger Sherman—My Dream Is Yours (WB); 

Brothers in the Saddle (RKO), ten days 115 

Rhode Island Governor 

At Friendship Meeting 

PROVIDENCE—Gov. John O. Pastore of 

Rhode Island headed a list of prominent 

guests at the recent MGM Friendship meeting 

here. Other special guests included Mrs. 

Margaret Murphy, chairman of the Rhode 

Island Better Films council: Mrs. Richard 

Norris, PTA; Mrs. Fred Aiken, Pawtucket 

Times, and Wallace Walker, radio station 

WFCI. 

Exhibitors who attended included Mr. and 

Mrs. Charles Tobey; Mr. and Mrs. George 

Erinakes, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Smith, Mr. 

and Mrs. Henry Annotti, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice 

Di-uker, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tobin, Mr. 

and Mrs. Ned Eisner, Mr. and Mrs. S. Badano, 

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Rosenblatt, Mr. and Mrs, 

Joe Stanzler, Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Stanzler, 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sperling, Mr. and Mrs. 

Melvin Safner. Mr. and Mrs. Irving Conn, 

William Canning and J. Pirani. 

WORCESTER 

TJob Portle, manager of the Elm Street, reports 

an addition to the staff is Gene 

Trombley jr., son of the late projectionist 

Representatives of the E. M. Loew circuit 

who attended the funeral in Webster 

. . . 

of Ed ODonnell. manager for many years 

of the State and Liberty in that town, were 

E. M. Loew, Philip Loew, Ray Canavan and 

Frank Wolfe. 

. . . 

. . . 

Mrs. Mary Moriarty, former assistant manager 

of Loew's Poll, now located in the south, 

was a visitor in town . 

Five Star in 

Palmer has volunteered to contribute 

Anna 

a 

week's receipts to a civic fund 

Kaskas, the Metropolitan Opera star, was in 

town The Elm Street held over "Mr. 

Belvedere Goes to College." 

Kay McKay, singer, and daughter of Joe 

Anstead, former manager of the Elm Street, 

was married in Fort Dix, New 

John 

Jersey, 

Sydow 

to 

Lieut. Dennis J. Harrison 

will operate the 

. 

Sturbridge 

. . 

summer theatre 

again this year . Harry James drew about 

1,200 to 

. . 

Lyonhurst but the evening was 

marred by free-for-alls that necessitated 

calling out the riot squad of the Marlboro 

police department. 

The restrooms at the Elm Street have been 

renovated extensively ... A columnist observes 

that Alec Warner is growing fatter 

since he midertook to operate his own chain 

Waldo Hemingway and 

of theatres . . . 

Dottie Riopel of the Capitol were laid up 

with food poisoning as a result of dining in 

The Heywood- 

a nearby restaurant . . . 

Wakefield band of Gardner gave its annual 

concert in the Uptown, Gardner. 

Eugene Sawyer, an employe of the Gem in 

Fitchburg, was attacked and an attempt 

made to stab him. A sharp instrument cut 

his trouser leg and grazed his skin when he 

was attacked from behind, he told police. In 

falling, he suffered bruises and cuts. He 

could give police only a meager description 

of his assailant. 

A drive-in that would accommodate 600 

cars again is contemplated in Fitchburg. 

Silvio Williams, Whalom Park concessioner, 

has purchased 15 acres near the park, and 

preliminary work was started on clearing the 

land . . . Phil Loew, representative of the 

E. M. Loew circuit, is the gin rummy champ 

among Worcester theatre men. 

. . 

Winslow Allen has been appointed temporary 

manager of the State in Webster 

to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 

Ed O'Donnell. Allen formerly was manager 

of the Strand in Boston . Arthur Treacher 

completed his three-week tour of one-nighters 

in "Blithe Spirit" in this area. 

Al Monty Unit at Middletown 

HARTFORD—Al Monty's amateur unit 

started a series of weekly stage shows at the 

Middlesex Theatre in Middletown April 29. 

The series will be continued indefinitely, with 

a show one night each week by the former 

Connecticut theatre manager, Monty says he 

also has booked one of his amateur units 

into the Jamaica Theatre, Jamaica Plains. 

Mass., opening May 11. 




with 

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CHICAGO 6, 

ILL. 



In 

. . James 

RKO Screens Toung' 

In New England Area 

NEW YORK—RKO is holding special exhibitor 

screenings and luncheons arranged by 

Gus J. Schaefer, northeastern district manager, 

in connection with the John Ford- 

Merian C. Cooper production, "Mighty Joe 

Young" prior to July openings planned for 

New England cities. 

The first screening was held at the Crown 

Theatre, New Haven, May 2. followed by 

luncheon at the Taft hotel. A screening p.t 

the Metro screening room in Boston May 3 

was followed by luncheon at the Hotel Statler. 

An Albany showing was held at the Grand 

Theatre May 5 followed by luncheon at the 

De Witt Clinton hotel and a Friday screening 

in the Schine projection room, Gloversville, 

N. Y., was followed by luncheon at 

Kimbrough's hotel. 

A screening at the operator's room, Buffalo, 

May 9 will be followed by cocktails and 

buffet in the Buffalo Athletic Club. All 

screenings were attended by the various 

branch managers and field men as arranged 

under the direction of Terry Turner, 

national director of exploitation, preliminary 

to a seven-state New England opening in 

early July. 

Plainlield Is Air Conditioned 

PLAINFIELD, CONN.—Bernie Menschell 

of Community Amusement Corp. reports 

completion of installation of an air conditioning 

plant at the Plainfield Theatre. The 

theatre has also been extensively redecorated. 

Six Bridgeport Theatres 

Are Offering Premiums 

BRIDGEPORT—The use of dishes and 

other premiums is on the increase here. Theatres 

with dish deals include the Barnum, 

Colonial, Liberty, Black Rock, West End, and 

Parkway. The Bostwick is handing out cutlery, 

while up in Danbury the Capitol is giving 

silverware to women patrons. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

\lt7aUer E. Young, operator of the Strand 

in Farmington, and Mrs. Young have 

returned from Florida where they spent the 

winter . Sayer jr. is building a 

drive-in on the highway between Dover and 

Rochester . . . Film actor Aithur Treacher 

made a personal appearance in "Blithe Spirit" 

at the Practical Arts auditorium May 3 imder 

the auspices of the Manchester Junior Women's 

club. 

. . . 

Battle films showing marines in action 

were shown at a recent meeting of the Concord 

imit of the Marine Corps league 

The Colonial in Nashua was used as a site 

for the 85th annual Fast day convocation 

of the New Hampshire consistory of the 

Masonic lodge . . . "Joan of Arc" wa.s being 

shown at the State in Concord. 

Director's Brother Is Composer 

Renzo Rossellini, Italian composer and 

brother of Director Roberto Rossellini, will 

compose the music for RKO's "After the 

Storm." 

Interstate Enlarging 

Rochester Colonial 

BOSTON—Interstate Theatres has closed 

the Colonial Theatre in Rochester, N. H., for 

complete renovations by William Riseman 

Associates, Boston architectural designers. A 

piece of land at the rear of the theatre has 

been purchased to allow more seating capacity. 

The rear wall from the proscenium back 

has been demolished for a total of 850 seats 

compared to the old figure of 500. The project 

will take from six to eight weeks. There is 

a small balcony. Carmen Uncuioli is the 

manager, while Ernest Fitzgerald, district 

manager, is supervising the renovation. 

Reopen Hartford Ozoner 

HARTFORD—The Peoples Forest Drivein 

Corp. has reopened its Rogers Corner 300- 

car drive-in between here and Winsted. 'Vincent 

Youmatz is manager. Buying and booking 

is handled by Paul S. Purdy of Hartford. 

Property Owners to Appeal 

BLOOMPIELD, CONN.—A number of property 

owners have taken an appeal to the 

court of common pleas following the decision 

of the local zoning board to grant a fiveyear 

temporary permit to Philip W. Maher 

for the construction and operation of a 

drive-in theatre on premises known as 885 

Blue Hills Avenue, rear. Representing the 

property owners are attorneys Leon RisCassi 

and Isador M. Waxman. The case is returnable 

to the com-t of common pleas the 

first Tuesday in June. 

BANKNIGHT 

GOODWILL 

Over 13 Years in Business 

THE TWO LEGAL AND PROVEN CASH GIVEAWAY PLANS 

Both 

Copyrighted 

We have theatres in this territory that have operated Bonknight continuously for 

13 years. What better proof could you want? 

New Theatres Starting: 

INTERSTATE CIRCUIT 

SHEA CIRCUIT 

Plymouth, Plymouth, N. H. 

Consiston, Newport, N. H. 

Lawler, Greenfield 

E. M. LOEW'S CmCUTT RICHMOND-STERN CIRCUIT 

Hollywood, Chorlestown 

Modem, Marlboro 

Don't let radio giveaways lick you. 

Magnet, Dorchester 

Orpheum, Somerville 

Now is the time to get going. 

Call or write us. 

ACT NOW ! I ! 

GOODWILL ADVERTISING COMPANY 

22 Church Street Liberty 2-9305 Boston, Massachusetts 


. . Micky 

. . Lawrence 

. . Jean 

. . Angle 

. . Regal 

NEW HAVEN 

"Ped and Joe Markoff, new operators of 

the 

Palace, Stafford Springs, a 600-seater recently 

acquired from Steve and John Panora, 

have contracted with Lou Phillips for new 

RCA booth equipment. They also will put in 

new structural glass front and candy concession. 

Bernard Levy of Amalgamated will 

book and buy and Carl Griswold. once at the 

Strand, WilUmantic, wUl be house manager. 

The hou.se will not close for repairs . . . 

Arthur Greenfield. U-I manager, and wife 

attended the Variety convention in San 

Francisco this week . . . Mike Tomasino, retired 

exhibitor, left for an extended visit 

with daughter Gloria in Prance and son 

Angelo in Italy. 

Hugh Maguire, RKO office manager, was 

off ill several days with laryngitis . . . The 

Post Drive-In. East Haven, is a Decoration 

day opener and the Waterford Drive-In, near 

New London, may open at the same time. 

Amalgamated will handle booking 

Ricciuti. former booker at Eagle 

. . . 

Lion, 

John 

now 

is assistant manager at the New Haven 

Drive-In. North Haven. 

Morris Keppner's new Burnside Theatre 

now is enclosed and work is expected to move 

forward rapidly . . . The Panoras are selling 

their home in Stafford Springs and John is 

looking for a home in Greenwich, from where 

he will operate his New York shipping business. 

Steve continues to operate the New 

Milford house. 

Lou Phillips Equipment is installing new 

RCA booth equipment in the 935-seat Whalley 

Theatre, a Bailey house . Nunes, 

now selling Price premiums, has sold Otto 

Teffs of the State, New Britain, his first 

a 72-week china and a glass- 

Rock and West 

End, Bridgeport, also will use the same series, 

while the Bostwick. Bridgeport, and the 

Music Box, New Britain, will use cutlery. 

premium deal, 

ware giveaway . . . Black 

Nunes, son of the late Morris Nunes, is 

father of a baby boy Morris, born in a Long 

Island hospital. 

. . . Ted 

The RKO staff is working hard to finish 

in the money on the closing Ned Depinet 

drive in which they have been maintaining 

The former Lydia Zangari 

high place . . . 

of Warners who recently wed Alfred D'Angelo 

is honeymooning in Canada 

. 

Markoff of the Markoff circuit will leave 

May 24 on a fishing trip to Lake Massiwippi 

in Quebec Paszko of the 20th- 

Fox staff left by train for Los Angeles and 

San Francisco on a six-week leave of ab- 

.sence . . . Sal Popolizio, 20th-Fox booker, and 

his wife went to the big city . . . I. H. 

Rogovin, Columbia district manager, was here 

from Boston. 

. . "It Happens Every 

. 

. . . Jack O'Connell, 

Donat Blaine of the Jodoin, Baltic, is driving 

a new Chrysler 

Spring" was sneak-previewed at the College 

Thursday i5i . . . The Lou Phillips and 

John Pavones are back in town after a 

leisurely southern excursion and 

Strand. Hartford, have entered the Hartford 

Softball league 

Rog«r Sherman assistant here, is in charge 

of organizing the downtown theatres . . . 

Lester Savatier, Warner artist, is ill 

in New Haven hospital . . . The South Norwalk 

showing of "Joan of Arc." scheduled 

for May 11, 12, has been postponed. 

BRIDGEPORT 

. 

. . . Joseph 

lânager Matt L. Saunders of Loew's Poli 

flew to Washington where he met a 

group of visiting Bridgeport Post and Telegram 

carrier boys and was host to them at 

Loew's Capitol Theatre Rende is 

on the candy counter at the American . . . 

William Murray of the stage crew at the 

Lyric celebrated a birthday 

Cosette, projectionist at the Mayfair, is on 

a vacation trip to Cincirmati in one of those 

midget autos. 

. 

Samuel Haddelman, owner of the Colonial, 

James Fensore, projectionist 

is a year older . . . 

at Loew's Poli, has completed his va- 

cation Pastore, projectionist 

at the Klein Memorial, escorted his sister, 

MUdred, down the middle aisle of St. Joseph's 

church for her wedding to Anthony J. Mazzeo. 

. . . Torrington 

Congratulations to John Connor of Loew's 

Globe, one of the real veterans of the projectionists' 

union, on a birthday 

was the first city in the state to get 

a spring visit from a touring carnival. 

HANDY

. . Lamont 

. . Ruth 

HARTFORD 

âve Greenman, UA exploiteer, was here Italian film policy at the Star, with the 1,800- 

and in Wallingford on "Henry V" ... A seat house now featuring Hollywood product 

new ice cream vending stand has been installed 

at the Webb Playhouse, Wethers- 

throughout the week. 

field . . . Van 

Jim McCarthy, 

Sicklan, Center 

Strand 

projectionist, 

manager, represented 

the local 

returned from a Chicago vacation. 

theatres at 

He holds 

the annual Hartford 

Fire 

memberships in several Hartford 

Prevention 

area 

week campaign meeting . . . 

flying 

clubs ... I. J. Hoffman, 

Mickey Daly, 

zone manager, 

former head of Daly Theatres 

Corp., 

and Cy O'Toole now is in 

of the engineering 

the novelty 

department 

business 

advertising 

of Warner Theatres, 

here, while 

were in Hartford 

Pete Miller, formerly 

and New manager Britain. 

of the Daly, has been named assistant 

manager of the Plaza cafe . . . Bill 

Bemie Stevens of the Princess was a Watkins, UA exploiteer, was in Norwalk 

Worcester visitor . . . Virginia Scapello, formerly 

at the Eastwood, East Hartford, now the Palace. 

handling campaign details for "Henry V" at 

is cashiering at the Pi-incess, succeeding 

John Patno, assistant at the Allyn, and 

Ella Fecteau, who resigned to join the staff 

his wife motored to Westerly, R. I., for a 

of a local beauty salon . . . John Pavone of 

one-day visit with relatives . . . George E. 

Monogram, and Barney Pitkin and Bill 

Landers, division manager for E. M. Loew 

Canelli of RKO were Hartford visitors . . . 

Theatres, was in Worcester and Webster on 

Bernie Menschell, partner in the Community 

business . Benedict is the 

Amusement 

new 

Corp., reported the temporary 

usher at E. M. Loew's . McCormick, 

dropping of the Thursday-Friday first run 

E. M. Loew's cashier, and Sal Catina, projectionist 

there, will be married May 14 . . . 

Howie Padowitz has resigned at the Gordon's 

booking agency. 

IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS AND 

JUNCTION BOXES 

Dave Lee, assistant at the Strand, Waterbury, 

was in Bridgeport on his day off . . . 

FOR REPLACEMENT JOBS 


Harry Rosenblatt and Phil Gravitz, ''^k.I'I^'Z" 

MGM; 

Lou Brown, Loew's Poll Theatres; Harry 

The MODERN raEATRE PLANNING INSTITUTE 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City 1, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

RESEARCH 

BUREAU 

for MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

5-7-49 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU to receive inlormation regularly, as 

released, on the following subjects for Theatre Planning: 

n Acoustics 

n Air Conditioning 

D Architectural Service 

n "Black" Lighting 

n Building Material 

D Carpets 

D Coin Machines 

D Other 

Theatre 

Address 

Subjects 

n Complete Remodeling 

n Decorating 

n Drink Dispensers 

D Drive-In Equipment 

n Lighting Fixtures 

D Plumbing Fixtures 

n Projectors 

Seating 

City State . 

Signed.. 

G Projection Lamps 

n Seating 

D Signs and Marquees 

n Sound Equipment 

n Television 

D Theatre Fronts 

D Vending Equipment 

( Owner-Manager ) 

Capacity 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience in obtaining informotion 

are provided in The MODERN THEATRE RED BOOK (Nov. 20, 1948). 

. . 

Green, Alexander Film Co., and Mrs, Phyllis 

Selvin, formerly with Hartford Theatres but 

now living in New York, were visitors . . . 

Dean Barrett, former manager of the Rialto 

and Astor, now is in the theatre premium 

business in Oregon . Margaret Shea filled 

in as Colonial cashier while Mrs. Nelli 

Moquin was in St. Louis to visit her daughter. 

Long Delay Is Predicted 

For TV Shows in Canada 

From Canadian Edition 

MONTREAL—It will be a long time before 

Canada will be producing its own television 

programs or before any station will be in 

operation in this city, Ralph Hackbush, vicepresident 

and general manager of Stromberg- 

Carlson Co., told members of the Montreal 

Kiwanis club. He said the $4,000,000 talked 

of to set up a Canadian-wide television system 

would be only a drop in the bucket to 

the total cost required. 

Hackbush compared the population in the 

States and the number of television receivers 

sold with the population of Canada and 

showed that there would not be enough sales 

to enable the 16 manufacturers of television 

sets to produce receivers at a reasonable price. 

The cost of producing programs would be 

more than Canadian stations could stand, he 

claimed. 

The speaker asserted that U.S. television 

stations were losing hundreds of thousands 

of dollars yearly but they were continuing 

to produce the best programs possible in the 

hope that in five years they would show a 

profit. 

Don Henshaw, Toronto television expert, is 

more optimistic. 

"If your husband buys a television set, 

lady you can say goodby to getting Imn out 

to meet the folk . . . Within two years 

television will be as much a part of Montreal's 

daily life as radio is today," Henshaw 

told members of the Montreal Advertising 

and Sales Executive club. 

A Toronto manufacturer is already turning 

out 40 sets a week and hopes to get into 

full production of 250 sets weekly in the near 

future, Henshaw said. 

Cost of set, one year's service and installation 

in the Toronto area ranges from $150 

to $800, he said, but television is a long 

way from niaking money. Only three of the 

50 U.S. stations broke even on operating costs 

last year and no station has yet recouped 

any of its initial expenditure, he said. 

"Live television shows cost money because 

they require an average of 27 hours rehearsal 

against radio's three. They also require costumes, 

makeup department and scenery." 

Greenwich Residents Protest Ozoner 

HARTFORD — Plans of Samuel Orson, 

Yonkers. N. Y,, theatre owner, to buUd a 

$150,000 drive-in at Greenwich were protested 

by Greenwich residents. More than 40 people 

attended a meeting, with opponents of 

the open airer terming it "a nuisance, a traffic 

hazard, and menace to the serenity of 

Happy Valley." The protestei-s sent to the 

state police commissioner a petition signed 

by more than 150 local property owners and 

residents. 

To Co-Star in 'Baby Is Here' 

Columbia annomices that Robert Young 

and Barbara Hale will co-star in "Baby Is 

Here." 


. . The 

. . Barbara 

. . The 

which 

BOSTON 

pjoris iMollica, Opera House, Lebanon, N. H., 

and her brother Clark Cantlin drove to 

Boston for the Yankee-Red Sox game . 

. . 

. . 

Neal Hubbard, Lakeside, Lakeport, N. H., will 

close that theatre on Wednesdays and Thursdays 

The 

during June, July and August . 

Brook Theatre, Westbrook, Maine, has 

been sold by Mrs. Elizabeth Church to G. M. 

Bryer, an out-of-stater . . . Jack Ellis of New 

York, distributor of "Pygmalion" and "The 

Bishop's Wife," was here on business. 

"The Champion" has been booked for a May 

18 opening at the Esquire, Mayflower and 

Pilgrim. American Tlieatres Corp. houses . . . 

"The Crooked Way" opened at the Esquire 

and Pilgrim with a strong campaign arranged 

by Paul Levi of ATC and Phil Engel, 

UA publicist ... A new concessions stand has 

been installed at the State, Milford, managed 

by Arthur Mabey. The unit was designed and 

built by William Riseman Associates. Rest 

rooms were retiled and re-equipped. 

Irving: Conn, operator of the Casino, New 

Bedford, has submitted an application to join 

Independent Exhibitors, Inc.. of New England. 

His application will be voted on at the 

next monthly meeting . engagement 

of Jean Lois Copelman, daughter of the 

Herbert Copelmans of Brookline, to Jerome 

William Saperstein has been announced. 

Copelman is general manager of the Snider 

circuit . . . Charles Baron, who has been here 

all winter as special representative for "The 

Red Shoes," which entered its 25th week at 

the Majestic, has been transferred to Pittsburgh 

for the opening of the film in that 

city. 

flying all 

Joe Man.sfield, EL publicist, who has been 

over the country on company business, 

left for Cleveland and the premiere of 

J. Arthur Rank's "Quartet," at the Esquire 

there. Other cities he has visited recently include 

Memphis, New Orleans, Tulsa, Houston 

and Dallas. 

By the simple expedient of reading the current 

newspapers or studying the local film 

ads, Bostonians don't have to travel far to 

visit "Tulsa" at three theatres, "El Paso" at 

two theatres, "South of St. Louis" at two 

theatres, "Adventure in Baltimore," "Duke of 

Chicago," "Back Streets of Paris," "A Yank in 

Rome," "Sidewalks of London," "A Connecticut 

Yankee" and "City Across the River." All 

these films are playing concurrently at theatres 

within the city limits. 

A change in bookings has brought two 

first run foreign films to the Beacon Hill 


FILMACK 






Theatre, Foiu- Steps in the Clouds" and 

•Street of Shadows." Both pictures are distributed 

by Continental Films, New Haven. 

Norton Levine, president, was here for conferences 

with the new owners of the Beacon 

Hill, Joe Cohen and Irving Sisson. Continental 

also has the exclusive New England 

rights for "Jennie Lamour, " 

received 

an award as the be.st foreign film of 1948 by 

the Foreign Film News. The presentation of 

this Oscar will be made from the stage of 

the Lyric Theatre, Bridgeport, Conn. 

SPRINGFIELD 

. . E. M. Loew and 

T ovell Spalding has been named assistant 

at the Court Square . 

circuit executives attended the funeral in 

Webster of 69-year-old Edward W. ODonnell, 

manager of the E. M. Loew's theatres in 

Webster . Bloomwald, secretary 

to George Roberts, general manager of the 

Rifkin circuit, will be married in September 

to Stanley Kopelman . E. M. Loew's 

circuit plans an 800-car drive-in on the 

Holyoke west side highway. 

. . . 

. . . 

The Liberty has started a new dish deal 

The Phillips sponsors a broadcast of its 

weekly children's show featuring cartoons 

The 

on the .screen and a stage show 

Mu.seum of Fine Arts held a special preview 

of "I Know Where I'm Going" for officers 

and wives of Clan Murray 52 of the Royal 

Order of Scottish Clans, representatives of 

the Motion Picture council and press and 

radio. 

"Monsieur Vincent" is booked at the Court 

Square, starting May 16 . . . Hillary Brooke, 

actress, arrived at Westover air force base 

from Germany and was rushed to Waltham 

General hospital, severely ill. She had been 

on an European tour with "Over 21" . . . 

The Amherst Theatre has installed new Altec 

Voice of the Theatre .sound. 

Vergennes Is Redecorated 

VERGENNES, VT.—The redecoration on 

the Vergennes Theatre has been completed. 

This 400-seat intimate house is the pride and 

joy of the citizens of Vergennes, who take 

pride in being the "biggest small city" in the 

country. The late.st census gives the population 

as 1.600. John Stillwell is the manager 

while William Riseman Associates handled 

the renovations. The front lobbies were redecorated, 

new lighting effects were installed 

and the auditorium was repainted and rerefreshened. 

There is no balcony. 

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R C H TECTURAL E S R S 


. . Martha 

Dietz Offers Critics 

Xhance at Success' 

From Eastern Edition 

NEW YORK—"In line with our policy of 

giving away things," writes Howard Dietz, 

"we are sending you a chance to become, if 

possible, a bigger social success than you 

are." 

(Editor's Note—It's a good thing he included 

that "if possible." Making something 

big into something bigger borders on an attempt 

to create something colossal.) 

However, read on: "We are sending you a 

certificate for a free course in the Astaire 

Swing Trot. Go to your nearest Fred Astaire 

dance studio and present it. You, too, can 

be admired for your grace. After you have 

taken this course, people will applaud you 

from ringside tables, you will be envied. 

Perhaps you will be asked out by the elite 

and when they get you out they may beat 

the hell out of you. 

"Become the local Fred Astaire. The female 

critic of another paper may become the local 

Ginger Rogers. You will be known all over 

town as the couple who dance like Fred 

Astaire and Ginger Rogers, maybe even write 

like them. It may lead to romance, marriage, 

children, divorce, alimony. You may get a 

job in Hollywood. You may win an Oscar 

Levant. 

"When you go to 'The Barkleys of Broadway' 

you will view it with new eyes. When 

you see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers 

dance the swing trot, you will really be seeing 

yourselves. You may even give yourself 

a good notice. 

"All this is in store for you. A new life 

starts with this little gift. And in the long 

winter evenings when you are settled in your 

free 

New Mexico ranch, counting your Confederate 

money, you will thank MGM, from 

whom all blessings flow." 

Film Council Members 

At Friendship Session 

SPRINGFIELD—Mrs. William Dougherty, 

president of the Springfield Motion Picture 

council, was a guest at the recent MGM 

Friendship meeting here. Members of her 

staff who were present included Mr. and 

Mrs. Lawrence Delay, Mrs. George Gray, Mrs. 

L. W. Powell, Mrs. Howard Phinney, Mrs. 

Marcus Kiley, Mrs. Roger Partridge, Mrs. 

J. W. Hartshorne and Mrs. Edward Hass. 

Among exhibitors present were Mr. and 

Mrs. Herbert Brown, Mr. and Mrs. George 

Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. M. Fasano, Mr. and 

Mrs. Charles Hurley, Joe Rapalus, Frank 

Burr, Albert Poulton, J. Darley, E. O'Brien, 

J. Altree, M. MacAndrews and Lou Brown. 

Rochester, N. H., Colonial 

To Close for Revamping 

ROCHESTER, N. H.—Plans have been completed 

for an extensive remodeling of the 

Colonial under the -supervision of William 

Riseman Associates of Boston. The project 

will include a new tiled lobby and new restrooms, 

new seats, enlargement of the auditorium 

and complete redecoration. 

LYNN 

T eonard "Skip'' Dunn, master of ceremonies 

and former local theatre m.anager, was 

saddened by the death of his brother and 

former teammate in vaudeville, Robert A. 

Dunn, at the Veterans hospital in West Roxbury 

. . . Harold G. Cummings, who resigned 

as manager of the Warner Theatre 

here to take up another line of work, found 

theatre life too attractive. He went back to 

the theatre at Morgantown, W. Va., where 

he managed a Warners house. Now he has 

been named manager of Loew's Center at 

Brockton. 

Allan B. Newhall, theatre manager at Batavia, 

N. Y., flew from Buffalo to Lynn, called 

here by the serious illness of his brother . . . 

Irving Harris, projectionist at the Warner, is 

better known as "Sure Shot" Harris, the 

photographer. He recently returned from the 

south where he photographed ball players in 

spring training for the Lynn team of the 

New England league. 

. 

. . 

. . . 

The Olympia has a new cashier, Joyce 

Hurd, who returned to a position which she 

held during the war O'Neil is 

new cashier at the Warner . James Roach, 

James Tuxbury and Robert Elwell are new 

Warner employes Robert Gauther has 

joined the navy. 

For Parts in 'Copper Canyon' 

Taylor Holmes and Hope Emerson have 

been assigned roles in Paramount's "Copper 

Canyon." 

Join the Widening Circle 

Send in your reports to BOXOFFICE 

on response of patrons to pictures 

you show. Be one of the many who 

report to — 

THE EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

A Widely Read Weekly Feature of Special Interest 

Address 'your letters to Editor, 

"Exhibitor Has His Say," 825 

Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, 

Mo. 

BOXOFFICE 

Always in the Forefront With the Ne'ws 


TexasLaborLeader 

A. L. Bailey Buried 

PORT WORTH—A. L. Bailey, 54, died of a 

heart attaclc recently while manning the projectors 

and sound equipment in the WortJi 

Theatre. The audience kept on watching the 

show. 

Bailey was known in a wide area as a 

He helped organize many local unions 

leader. 

and was an organizer for the American Federation 

of Labor. He sen'ed 16 years as president 

of the Fort Worth Trades Assembly and 

was president of the projectionist union, 

which he organized in 1913. He was past 

vice-president of the Texas State Federation 

HOUSTON 




^ttending the Variety Club convention in 

San Francisco were: Ray Hay and Conrad 

Brady, delegates: John Paul Goodwin, 

national canvasman, and Cecil Gill, treasurer 

of the local tent. Hay and Gill and 

their wives took out from Frisco on an extended 

motor tour to Canada and are not 

expected to return to Houston until May 19. 

Among the places they will visit are Grand 

Canyon, Yosemite National Park. Seattle 

and points in British Columbia. 

The long-awaited "Mourning Becomes Electra" 

opened Wednesday (4n at the River 

Oaks Theatre. This Interstate neighborhood 

art house is managed by Art Meyer 

Within a week's time here, foreign 

. 

films 

. . 

got 

a good workout. The Swedish-made "Torment" 

and the French "Eternal Return" 

played the Vogue Theatre, the English-produced 

"Anna Karenina" was revived at the 

Bellaire, and the Viennese "Mozart Story" 

earned a two-day holdover at the Delman. 

Mary Ruth Wade, Hollywood starlet, was 

crowned "Miss Houston Home Show of 1949" 

and made personal appearances throughout 

the run of the eight-day exposition in the 

Sam Houston coliseum here. m:ss Wade is 

originally from Houston . . . Ilona Massey, 

singing star whose cm-rent film, "The Plunderers," 

is now on the Metropolitan screen, 

is expected to visit Houston in the near future, 

according to Bill Roberts, Houston Press 

columnist. 

Bucolic film and radio entertainers held 

the stage at the City auditorium Sunday (1) 

doing fom- shows, at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p. m. On 

stage were Don "Red" Ban-y, Ernest Tubb, 

Red Foley, Minnie Pearl, Hank Williams. 

Cowboy Copas, Rod Brassfield, Lazy Jim Day. 

Curly Fox, Texas Ruby, Butterball Paige, 

the Cumberland Valley Boys, and Biff Collins, 

master of ceremonies. 

In a subsequent showing courtesy to Houston's 

Glenn McCarthy, producer of "The 

Green Promise." four Interstate neighborhood 

houses played the RKO-released film 

simultaneously. The quartet of theatres were 

the Tower, Village, Eastwood, and the 

Broadway. 

With 

mm 

'THSô'' 

Hand Dryers 

They wilMook like this! 


- - And you, too, Dollarwise 

In a recent column Hubert Roussel, Post 

drama critic, stressed the fact that there are 

no facilities for private film showings locally. 

He wrote: 

"In spite of Houston's importance as a 

theatre center, it lacks the convenience of a 

screening room . . . The policy of this department 

is to see every picture that promises 

any depth or high effort which is booked for 

exhibition in Houston. This frequently has 

to be done at previews in the small hours of 

the morning." Since the Roussel piece on 

the need for a private screening room, many 

local heads have been nodded in agreement. 

Paul Hochuli, amusement editor of the 

Houston Press, is sick abed. The Erskine 

Johnson Hollywood column is filling his 

space on the drama page . William Bendix. 

Meg Randall, and 

. , 

Richard Long, who 

are in "The Life of Riley," were in Houston 

Tuesday i3i for personal appearances at 

Loew's State in connection with the opening 

of the film. A "Life of Riley" letterwriting 

contest was held in cooperation with 

the Houston Post and radio station KPRC. 

Po/ >./ y 

A stage show, "You Can't Believe Yom' 

Ears," sponsored by the Maico Laboratories of 

Minneapolis, played the Uptown Theatre here 

Monday and Tuesday (2, 3i, along with the 

regularly booked feature . . . Recent Satiuxlay 

midnight shows here included "South of St. 

Louis" and the audience-participation Dreamland 

gimmick at the Uptown, while the Joy 

Theatre had an adults-only dualer, "These 

Girls Are Fools" and "I'll Sell my Life." 

Clean, tidy washrooms— like attractive 



eliminate oil paper towel litter and 




automatic, 24-hour a day service at o 








THE OPENING OF THE 

NEW MANLEY OFFICES 

DISPLAY ROOMS and WAREHOUSE 

— AT — 

2013-15 YOUNG ST. 

DALLAS, TEXAS 

P. A. (Bob) WARNER, Division Manager 

Electric-Aire 



CHICAGO 6, 

ILL. 



OTHER MANLEY WAREHOUSES 

HOUSTON, 102 San Jacinto St. 

OKLA. CITY, 705 N. Grand Ave. 


. . During 

. . The 

Mr. Belvedere' Leads 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

U3il3S Wlin LLO proceeds from "The Lawton Story" world 

premiere in Lawton April 1 totaled $15,- 

• 

DALLAS-"Mr. Belvedere in its second 

g^g gg j^^ ^j^^ ^^^j^jj^ Mountain Easter Pagweek 

led the to^^n with 12d per cent at the 

^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ addition, the board received 

Tower. "A Connecticut Yankee came in 

53028.62 from offerings at this years Easter 

second with 110, but other first runs slumped 

^^^^.^^^ j^^^^..^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^j j^^^.^ p^^. 

below average. Grosses were hit primarily by 

,.^ relations staff. New York, will come to 

the sport show which ran a week in Fan 

Oklahoma this month on a goodwill industry 

park, sponsored by the Dallas News and with 

^^^^ ^^ ^.j„ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^.^.^ ^^.^^p^ ^ 

national players on hand. 

^^^^ ^^^^^^ including Oklahoma City. Tulsa 


a^^j Miami. He talks to the Kiwanis club 

^Co^V'Tp^rar"""""' ^'^*^" .^"'..*"''." °llO here May 12 and makes his first Oklahoma 

Meiba—A Womans Secret (RKCi) 70 appearance at the Miami May 10. 

Palace—Adventure in Baltimore (RKO) 60 

Riallo—Northwest Stampede (EL) 75 

Telenew5-So This Is New York (UA).. 70 

q h_ "Buck" Weaver, Paramount exchange 

Tovirer—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20lh-Fox), .,, , , , ,„^„v.^, , , 

^d wk 125 manager, wUl head the 1950 Oklahoma county 

infantile paralysis campaign. He was named 

by Governor Tinner . a three- 

DiVOrC© to StCirlst month period ending April 1, there were four 

EL PASO. TEX.—Georgette Windsor. Hoi- changes in ownership for the theatre tent 

lywood starlet, was granted a quick Mexican show service group according to the state tax 

divorce in Juarez, across the river from El commision. For the same group, 14 new busi- 

Paso, from Harry Cushing. motion picture nesses were listed and nine were listed as 

producer. Cushing'.s father is financial ad- quitting. Other amusement-athletic events 

viser for Gibraltar Pictui-es, Inc. showed 64 new. 69 quitting and 14 changes 

in ownership. 

Contract Let at Kingsville 

SAN ANTONIO— J. W. Bateson Constructing 

Co. of San Antonio has been awarded a 

contract for construction of a new theatre 

building in Kingsville for Henry Hall Industries 

of Beeville. The contract is for $177,450, 

according to the San Antonio Sunday Light. 

per cent decrease for theatres and tent shows 

and a 5.16 per cent increase for other amusements 

and athletic events. 

The Home Theatre will present "Brigadoon" 

for three performances May 24, 25. 

The Home also had a vaudeville show May 

6-8, alternating afternoon and evening with 

a motion picture. Musical and acrobatic numbers 

and a chorus line were included on the 

program . Criterion is cooperating on 

the junior chamber of commerce beauty contest 

to select a Miss Oklahoma City to compete 

in the Miss America contest at Atlantic 

City. The local contest will be held 

July 11-13 and the state contest the first 

week in August. 

Producer George Bilson has signed Richard 

Fleischer to meg "Make Mine Laughs" for 

RKO. 

iifmUflttt 

The state tax commission reported a 2.11 

per cent increase in sales tax for February 

1949 over the same period the previous year. 

There were more returns filed. There was a 

6 per cent decrease for other amusements 

and athletic events in the same period. With 

use taxes, the commission shows an 84.38 

«miripnp 

Chas. E. Darden & Co 

fi//OAf£ y 308 S. Harwood 

Riverside-6134 / / / //#// / / / 

DALLAS, TEXAS P.O. Box 2207 

w \ \ wwv 


DALLAS 

H neig:hbor reports Aubrey Jackson, manager 

of the Tower in Port Worth, and Carma 

Martin, treasurer at the Palace there, wUl 

leave June 29 for a vacation in Cuba . . . 

Mabel Guinan of Tower Kctures, who put 

on the Harold Schwarz Appreciation drive, 

without the boss knowing about it at first, 

proud that April was the biggest month in 

is 

company history. Her husband Thomas J. 

Guinan, EL home office representative, has 

been sick and the last week of the drive she 

remained at home with the patient. 

Carl Allday was on the Row from Calvert, 

getting last things done for the opening of 

his new Eolia Theatre May 9. It replaces one 

of the same name which was destroyed by 

Death of Joseph B. Bucker, real 

fire . . . 

estate developer of big projects, recalls that 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Your Deal Handled Personally 

27 years experience 

We Cover the U. S. Market 

Arthur Leak 

Theatre Sales Exclusively 

3422 Kinmore Dallas 10, Texas 

Phone T3-2026 

he built the first neighborhood theatre here 

on Bryan street at Peak in 1914. The house 

was operated by the late Ed Foy, who later 

operated a half dozen such theatres over 

town. He would hit the downtown area with 

a first run picture and use empty street cars 

with banners to go over town advertising the 

simultaneous run. His venture finally died 

out and neighborhood houses were not too 

prosperous from then until a little after 

sound came. 

Local film men have been going to Oklahoma 

City as witnesses in the case of the 

U.S. against Griffith Amusement Co., reopened 

there by order of the Supreme court. 

J. B. Underwood and Walter Penn of Columbia, 

Sebe Miller, W. B. Williams and T. P. 

Tidwell of 20th-Fox all made the trip. Witnesses 

from other exchanges were expected 

to follow. It was said, however, that none at 

RKO had been subpoenaed. 

Henry Sorenson, owner of Modern Theatre 

Equipment Co.; M. E. Huebert, Southwest 

Theatre Advertisers, and their wives took a 

fishing trip starting at Rockport, where 

Sorenson keeps his special sea-going craft 

for deep sea angling or for pleasure. There 

was much rain and the catch was light, but 

Buy Your Typhoon Air Conditioner 

from Southwestern! 

Now you can buy the Typhoon, the sensational air con'"> thru 9X.i 

ATLANTA: Alloc. W. M. RicharcUon 

(3) 163 Wallon St., NW 

DALLAS: lenkiiu & BourêoU. Aslor 

(1) Harwood & Jackion Str««U 

NEW ORLEANS: Dixie, R. A. (Bob) Kallr 

(13) 218 S. Libaity. 

ALL AMERICAN EXCHANGES 

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& COUPON CO. 

2110 CORINTH STREET 

DALLAS (H-7185) TEXAS 

ROLL 


they reported a grand time. It was a big 

occasion for Mrs. Sorenson wlio has just 

started getting around after several weeks in 

a hospital . . • News reached the Row 

that D. C. Carraway of the Circle Theatre, 

Meridian, was rushed to the hospital at Clifton 

after a heart attack. Doctors said he 

was better but must take a long rest. His 

assistant Bill Stanford is operating the show 

in Carraway's absence. 

Buddy Harris was sitting in the parkway 

in front of one of the big bath emporiums 

at Marlin when J. M. Reynolds, theatre gift 

night salesman, drove up. Both were near 

the top in sports in their heyday. Harris 

tried out on second for the Cincinnati Reds 

and at about the same time Reynolds was 

traveling the country in exhibition pool and 

billiard games for the manufacturers. 

H. A. Cole continues to receive kidding 

letters regarding a news story in which he 

reportedly called the Texas Allied convention 

a national meeting. Letters have been 

received from Charles Niles, Anamosa, Iowa: 

Walter Littlefield of Boston: Martin G. 

Smith, Toledo, Ohio: Jeff Jefferis, Piedmont, 

Mo.: J. P. Finneran, Franklin. Ind., and 

many others . . . Phil Isley, president of 

Texas Allied Theatre Owners, wires from 

California that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans 

will attend the Allied convention banquet 

June 1. Hal Norfleet has been selected to 

handle convention publicity. 

P. A. "Bob" Warner, vice-president of 

Manley, Inc., who seldom misses a convention, 

was forced to cancel his trip to the 

Variety International meeting in San Francisco, 

due to moving the Manley plant from 

Harwood street to the new offices and warehouse 

at 2013-15 Young St. 

Dallas Film Men Mourn Fat Jack, 

Pioneer Negro Theafre Operator 

DALLAS—Pat Jack, operator of the first 

Negro theatre here, is dead—and local theatremen 

are recalling with traces of sadness 

the good old days before the turn of the century 

when the house facing the north Central 

railroad tracks was opened. 

Fat Jack came here with a siu-veying gang 

from Boston. His last name "Harris" was 

seldom used, if known. He could neither 

read nor write, but somehow he opened a 

picture show in the early nineties with his 

customers standing in stifling heat on a soft 

dirt floor. Money rolled in even then and 

soon he built the Grand Central Tlieatre 

a wooden barn with hard bottom seats. He 

would take his money to the bank in big 

sacks and mark a deposit slip with an x. 

Filmmen liked to see him come their way. 

He would pay $200 for a western on Saturday 

without batting an eye. He paid top money 

for other product and was the source by 

which many weekly exchange quotas were 

obtained in the nick of time. They could 

always sell Jack a few pictures at top prices. 

He bought equipment, and lots of it, the 

same way. 

If he had obtained just a little more education 

he might have gone far in the show 

business, some said. Vaudeville came, and a 

big Negro show nearby forced Fat Jack to 

the wall. He did odd jobs afterward and his 

white film friends would help him out. 

Somehow he arrived in New York about 

12 years ago and called on Ned E. Depinet, 

who had started his rise to distribution fame 

with the big companies. Depinet was manager 

of Universal here before the twenties 

and often called Jack from his upstairs office 

to "come up and buy some .sure-fivi pictures." 

Jack usually did. The New York 

film executive asked the old Negro into his 

office, .sat him down at a big mahogany 

desk and ordered anything the old visitor 

wanted. Jack would always know when the 

the New Yorker was back in Dallas on business, 

and there were always generous handouts. 

It was on Commerce street before the big 

exchange fire that Jack engaged in most of 

his business transactions by memory. Dave 

Coughlin was manager of the Pathe branch, 

and Albert Rus.sell of Associated Exhibitors. 

L. D. Brown, now an exhibitor at Brownwood, 

had the American Film Co., and Harry 

Sachs was a booker for Pathe. A. W. Smith, 

now 20th-Fox vice-president, once was Pathe 

manager and he probably did business with 

Fat Jack. 

Others who had dealings with Jack were 

the Hendon boys, now in exhibition: W. G. 

Underwood, now deceased: Ernest Leeves, 

now with a booking agency: Fred Hansen, 

presently with National Theatre Supply Co. 

and probably Claude Ezell. It is thought 

that Karl Hoblitzelle, Interstate circuit president, 

knew the old Negro. Several said there 

was no hai-m in Pat Jack and that his one 

weakness was "easy come, easy go." 

in 

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214 SOUTH SAINT PAUL STREET DALLAS, TEXAS 

Phone Day—-Riverside 5009 Night—Madison 2547 

Distributors for America's Leading Manufacturers of Motion Picture Tfieatre Equipment 


H.C. Houston, 'Picture Man 32 Years, 

Again Making Money With Popcorn 

DALLAS — "There's good money in this 

popcorn business!" 

This emphatic statement was made by H. C. 

Houston as he purchased new equipment and 

H. C. Houston serves up popcorn from 

the new Cretors machine, recently installed 

in his Trinity Theatre in Dallas. 

prepared to resume operation of his Trinity 

Theatre concession business which has been 

UP TO 40% 

MORE SALES 

with 

BLEVINS' 

ATOMIC RING 

POPCORN BOX! 

Increases Boxofiice up to I0%! 

BLEVINS POPCORN 

COMPANY 

DALLAS — 301 N. Market St. 

HOUSTON — 1002 Washinglon 

OKLAHOMA CITY — I West Main SI. 

J. T. BOUTWELL INSTALLATION COMPANY 

Contractor of Theatre, School 

and Church Seating 

We install any Chair lor anyone at any place. 

For information, write 

Box 325 or Call 6976, Temple, Texas 


PRE-FABRICATED STEEL 

SCREEN TOWERS 


LOW PRICES — PROMPT SHIPMENT CHICAGO -1327 S.Wobash 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. "k.|',"mT' NEW YORK 619 W 54th Sf. 

Griffith Circuit Sells 

Two Theatres in Tulsa 

TULSA—Griffith Consolidated Theatres 

circuit has sold the Ritz and State theatres 

here to Haskell Bethm-um of Oklahoma City. 

leased out for the last several years. 

The Rita sale was effective immediately with 

Houston, an active, alert "picture showman," 

underwent abdominal surgery ten 

Bethurum already in possession and he will 

assume ownership of the State May 13. 

years ago at the Mayo' clinic and was near 

The two houses have a combined seating 

death for the next thi-ee years. Now, although 

he is past 70. Houston has revamped 

capacity of about 900. The Rita is located 

in west Tulsa and the State is on Main street. 

the Trinity, which he has operated here the 

Griffith has owned the two houses since 

last 15 years, and installed popcorn, candy 

1940 and prior to that they were part of the 

and cold drinks for management by the theatre. 

Moran-Isley circuit. 

Bethurum, who will move here from Oklahoma 

City to assiune management of the 

He bought a Cretors Hollywood model popper 

from Charles E. Darden & Co., and did houses, formerly was in theatre business in 

the first poppings himself. He also bought Marlow where he had two houses. He sold 

a candy case and drink dispenser. 

these in 1947 and hasn't been in show business 

Houston has operated theatres in various 

in Oklahoma since. He plans to name 

parts of the state for the last 32 years. He 

first owned the Gem Theatre at Sherman 

a manager for the two Tulsa houses soon. 

in 1917. He later acquired the Travis. These 

were in the days when the late, jovial Billy Big Texas Delegation 

Batsell owned and operated the Ace, King 

To Variety Convention 

and Queen theatres there or near about. 

Batsell was just as good a poker 

DALLAS—Barkers of the Texas Variety 

player as his 

selection of theatre names indicated and he 

Tent 17, most of them from Dallas, who attended 

the San Francisco convention, in- 

had many friends in the business. 

cluded 

In 

Chief Barker Julius Schepps, First 

1928, Houston sold the Gem to Robb & 

Assistant Chief Barker, Fred Hoenscheidt, 

Rowley Theatres and, at the same time, disposed 

Charles E. Darden, Claude Ezell, L. D. Lutzer, 

of one-half interest in the Ti-avis 

C. 

equipment 

D. Leon, John Franconi, J. A. Prichard, 

to Cliff Lindsey of Lubbock. 

Lindsey 

Harold Schwarz, P. A. Warner and their 

and Houston moved the Ti-avis 

wives, Mrs. Irene Bryant, John Rowley and 

equipment to Memphis and operated a theatre 

there for a short time. 

Hal Norfleet, all from this city: Hiram Parks 

and his wife of Brownfield, and J. Don Alexander 

and Mike Mclnaney of Colorado 

In later years Houston operated houses in 

Pittsburgh and then in Rusk before moving 

Springs. The latter two, long Texas members, 

came here to join the others in round- 

here to take over the Trinity. 

ing out the party. 

Darden and Rowley made the trip as official 

delegates of the Dallas tent. Regu- 

Coeds Picket Theatre 

lar delegates J. B. Underwood and Don C. 

In 'Belvedere' Stunt 

Douglas were unable to go. 

HOUSTON—Five pretty coeds from the 

University of Houston modeling class picketed 

the Majestic Theatre on the opening day 'Younger Brothers' Bows 

of "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College." claiming 

that Clifton Webb, star of the film, 

On Texas Great Plains 

is 

unfair to college girls. 

HOUSTON—A great plains area world premiere 

The stunt got a big play in the Houston 

of "The Younger Brothers" has been 

Press, whose amusement editor Paul Hochuli scheduled for the following theatres: 

kept needling the U. of H. coeds before the May 5: Majestic, Houston: Showboat, Texas 

film opened locally. Eddie Bremer, skipper City: Liberty, Beaumont. 

of the Majestic, hatched up the stunt. May 8: Floyds, El Campo: Texas, Bay City, 

EI Rancho, Victoria: Port Lavaca. Port Lavaca. 

Houstonite to Hollywood May 11: Showboat, Freeport: May 13: 

HOUSTON—Sigman Byrd, novelist and Paramount, Austin: Martini, Galveston: May 

former newspaper columnist, is now in Hollywood 

where he is under contract to write the 

15: Texas, Cleveland, Texas: Alvin, Alvin: 

May 19: Chatmas, Hearne: May 26: Edna, 

screenplay for his book, "The Enemy Heart," 

Edna. 

which will soon be published by Harper Bros. 

"Heart" is a pioneers-and-Indians yarn set 

in the early day of the northwest. 

River Oaks Plays Double Bill 


HOUSTON—For the first time in many a 

year, the River Oaks Theatre played a double 

feature. But it can be excused on the 

FILMACK 

grounds that they are both Academy award 

winners— "The Ti-easure of Sierra Madre" 

and "Johnny Belinda." 


88 BOXOrFICE May 7, 1949

SAN ANTONIO 

Cteve Perkins, amusements editor for the 

Austin American and Statesman, went 

to Dallas to see the shows at the Theatre '49 

for his paper . . . Paul Poag, Robb & Rowley 

city manager at Del Rio. was in town to do 

some shopping for his theatres . . . John 

Wayne was expected to come to the city of 

the Alamo soon to start on a film centered 

around "The Alamo." John Ford will produce 

the picture, which is from an original 

script by Ford's son Patrick. 

Clambach Productions, with headquarters 

on Broadway here, has been working on 

"Swing 'Vour Partner" since last October. 

Directed by Paul Willett. the historical western 

has A. W. Stewart and Jane Maverick 

in the leading roles, with Anne Montgomery, 

Lee Scott and others in supporting parts. 

John Willett is chief cinematographer. The 

premiere of the production probably will 

be held here soon . . . The Cash & Carry 

Printing Co. has put in a complete line of 

theatre roll tickets, hat check numbers and 

coupons at reduced prices. 

Timothy Mann, a war veteran from England, 

bids fair to be the town's ace harmonica 

player and is ripe for radio work . . . 

AMERICAN DESK 

MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

Manufacturers of Theatre Seating 

Mr. W. H. Mattingly. 2011>/2 lackson St. 

Dallas, Texas Ph. .Prospect 71398 

BOXOFFICE 

MAGIC!

Texas Circuit Heads Join 

Drive Against Excise Tax 

DALLAS—Executives of three leading 

Texas circuits met at luncheon ui the Adolphus 

hotel with night club and hotel men 

to discuss ways of approaching the repeal 

of the federal 20 per cent excise tax. The 

theatremen were joining in with the American 

Guild of Variety Artists who had been 

fomenting such a campaign to ask for a 

cut in the tax to 5 per cent. 

Talk on reduction was expected to come 

up soon in Congress in the form of an 

amendment to the oleo tax repeal. 

Attending from the theatres were Sam 

Landrum of Jefferson Amusement Co., John 

Rowley of Robb & Rowley Theatres, and 

James O. Cherry of Interstate circuit. From 

the AGVA were Vincent Lee, secretary of 

the local group of variety artists, and Billy 

Grant, national board member. Hotel managements 

were represented by Fenton Baker 

of the Baker hotel, Randall Davis of the 

Adolphus, Scott Hardy, secretary of the 

Texas Hotel Ass'n, and Henry Duvall of the 

Texas hotel. Fort Worth. Others were W. J. 

Harris, president of the musicians union; 

W. D. Satterwhite of the Rockett club. Fort 

Worth: Abe Weinstein, Colony club; Carl 

Dolson, Showland; Jack Ruby. Silver Spur; 

Sherry Lynn, AGVA board member, and 

Murray Parker, association member. 

Suggestions were adopted to call hardships 

of the tax to the public attention and to 

start writing letters to members of Congress. 

An editorial appeared in the Dallas News 

almost coincident with the meeting. The 

editorial pointed out the unfairness of levies 

as being strictly wartime necessity and unneeded 

now. They burden certain industries 

and exempt others for an advantage in competing 

for the customer's dollar. 

Build Mission Drive-In 

MISSION, TEX. — Construction has been 

started on a new drive-in on Highway 83 at 

the Glasscock road intersection, a mile and a 

half from Mission. The new drive-in is being 

built by Bill Ramsland, theatre operator 

in Alice, Tex., and will be known as the 

Buckhorn Theatre. 

The title of the Paramount picture, "Below 

the Border," has been changed to "The 

Eagle and the Hawk." 

New Mexico Solons 

Legalize Bank Night 

From Western Edition 

SANTA FE—Theatres came in for a large 

per cent of the legislative action in the New 

Mexico capital this month as Governor Mabry 

signed into law an act legalizing bank 

nights and exempting them from state lottery 

laws and as a sweeping 5 per cent 

amusement tax was sought by the senate 

state and county affairs committee. 

The bank night measure originally had 

been considered a step toward legalizing 

gambling in the state. It passed the house 

by a vote of 30 to 13 and was returned to the 

senate, where it originated, for concurrence 

in a house amendment which would prohibit 

theatres from raising prices for prize drawings. 

While Mabry signed the bank night 

bill into law, he also gave the first veto of 

the session by turning down a senate bill 

which would have legalized limited operations 

of slot machines. 

The amusement tax measure introduced 

by Senator Joe A. Montayo would levy the 

tax against gross receipts of "any business 

charging admission for any exhibition for 

amusement, edification or instruction" except 

those sponsored by religious or fraternal organizations. 

Radio broadcasting stationg, fairs, rodeos, 

pool halls, theatres, dance halls and other 

such activities would be included. Revenue 

from the levy would go for old age assistance. 

'Yankee' Moveover in El Paso 

EL PASO, TEX.—"A Connecticut Yankee," 

after playing its regular run at the 

Plaza Theatre, was shifted to the State for 

a holdover. 

In Dissolution 

DALLAS — Dissolution of incorporation 

was granted Carver Theatre Co., Inc., April 

20, 1949. 

HANDY

First Runs on TV Soon, 

Radio Chief Predicis 

MIAMI—Zenith Radio President Eugene F. 

McDonald jr., visiting here with his son Eugene 

and his daughter Marianne, has predicted 

that American television audiences 

soon will see first run Hollywood motion 

pictures. 

"Hollywood won't suffer when this happens," 

he .said, "but the theatres will." 

McDonald said he did not believe the motion 

picture industry would make the same 

mistake made by vaudeville shortly after the 

turn of the century. 

LEGITIMATE MISTAKE 

"The top people in vaudeville refused to 

join the film industry and laughed at it 

instead." he said. "At this time, vaudeville 

and the legitimate stage could have gotten 

control of motion pictures, but they laughed, 

and so today, because of the films, there is 

practically no vaudeville and not much more 

legitimate stage." 

Zenith is pioneering a customer-pay-forwhat-he-wants 

plan called phonevision. Under 

the system, McDonald said, with .specially 

equipped sets, viewers may subscribe to a 

certain program by putting coins in the TV 

set. Phonevision is one way, he said, to crack 

the ban Hollywood distributors have put on 

first run films because phonevision offers 

revenue for a certain program shown. 

SCOFF AT CRITICS 

He scoffed at critics who said television 

viewers shouldn't have to pay for the programs 

on TV becau.se they don't on radio. 

"The public pays for everything it gets on 

radio, not the advertiser." McDonald said. 

"The money may come from the advertiser, 

but he got it from the public. Phonevision 

will mean that people can get the kind of 

programs they want, good educational and 

entertaining programs." 

According to recent Zenith surveys, he said, 

in 25 cities people said they would rather pay 

a fee and see what they like than just take 

what the advertisers offer. 

Georgia Circuit Honors 

Manager Charlie Brock 

ATLANTA—Charlie Brock, manager of the 

Georgia Theatre Co. Carver Theatre for 

Negroes at Waycross. received a special cash 

award and a letter of commendation for outstanding 

management from William K. Jenkins, 

company president. 

Following his theatre's special program in 

observance of its second anniversary. Brock 

received the check and the letter, which said 

that not only had his anniversary program 

been "excellent," but that his preservation of 

order and exemplary care of the Carver's 

physical equipment throughout its two years 

of operation, was deserving of -special acknowledgment. 

Saenger Changes Policy 

SHREVEPORT — The third run Saenger 

Theatre here, operated by the Paramount- 

Richards circuit, inaugiu-ated changes in its 

policy and price scale May 1. Two features 

are being shown daily, 

and programs are being 

changed Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

The adult price has been reduced from 

31 to 25 cents including tax. while children 

are admitted for 14 cents. 

Theatre Assn of Georgia 

Holds 2ndAnnualSession 

ATLANTA—Discu.ssions at the second annual 

convention of the Motion Picture Theatre 

Owners and Operators of Georgia here 

Monday and Tuesday will cover a broad field, 

from 16mni films to a forecast of the industry's 

future. A.ssociation officials prepared 

for a large attendance. 

President J. H. Thompson, a founder of 

the organization, will open the convention 

with addresses of welcome by Mayor 'William 

Hartsfield of Atlanta and Gov. Herman 

Talmadge. Edward H. Stevens will discuss 

16mm films while Mike Simons will 

analyze prospects in the theatre industry. 

Other speakers include Herman Levy, general 

counsel of the Theatre Owners of America; 

SUNDAY 

Registration, 1 to 5 p. m. W. M. Snelson, T. E. Orr. 

Luncheon—Dixie ballroom, 

MONDAY 

12:30 p. m. 

Gael Sullivan, TOA executive secretary; 

R. B. Wilby, Wilby-Kincey circuit. O. C. 

Lam sr., exhibitor, Alfred Starr. Leon Bamberger 

of RKO and Sol Handwerger. 

Opening—President J. H. Thompson. Welcoming address by Mayor William 

B. Hartsfield. Commendation by Gov. Herman Talmadge. 

Addresses — "IGmm Films," Edward H. Stevens; "The Industry's Future," 

Mike Simons; "Some Remarks," R. B. Wilby; "Court, Decree and Arbitration," 

Herman Levy; "Motion Picture Research," Leon Bamberger. 

Tea and Fashion Show for the Ladies—3 p. m. 

Cocktail Party and Buffet Dinner—Motion Picture Advertising Service Co. 

hosts; ballroom, 7:30 p. m. 

TUESDAY 

Final registration, 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. 

Business Meeting—Ballroom, 10 a. m. Addresses: "Theatre Concessions," 

Alfred Starr; "Projection," O. C. Lam sr.; "Industry Highlights and Organization," 

Gael Sullivan. 

Luncheon—Dogwood room, 12:30 p. m. 

Luncheon for the Women—Variety Club Skyroom Lounge. 

Business Meeting—Ballroom, 2 p. m. Address: "Music Exploitation," Sol 

Handwerger. 

Executive Session—Ballroom, 4 p. m. 

New Business, Nomination and Election of Officers. 

Banquet and Floor Show—Dixie Ballroom, 8 p. m. 

Reports of Officers and Committees, 

J. H. Thompson, Georgia TOA Leader, 

Began Theatre Career in 

ATLANTA—The second annual convention 

of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners and 

Operators of Georgia 

at the Henry Grady 

hotel here Monday 

and Tuesday (9. 10), 

recalls the meeting at 

which the organization 

was founded here two 

years ago, largely 

through the efforts of 

J. H. Thompson. Hawkinsville. 

Organization of the 

MPTO of Georgia was 

perfected at a meeting 

J. H. Thompson here in January 1947. 

Thompson was elected the first president of 

the group, and other officers were O. C. Lam. 

Rome, vice-president: E. D. Martin, Columbus, 

vice-president; John Thom.pson, Vidalia. 

secretary, and R. E. Martin sr., Columbus, 

treasurer. 

"Practically every exhibitor in the state 

has been brought into the association," 

Dallas 

Thompson said in his initial statement, "surpassing 

anything previously undertaken by a 

state organization." 

A native of Mississippi, Thompson obtained 

his early schooling there. After finishing 

school, he went to Memphis to work and finally 

to Chicago. Always attracted by the 

theatre, he went to Dallas to become associated 

with the Old Mill. Several months 

later he was employed by the Fox Film Co. as 

a special representative. 

While still a.ssociated with Fox, he bought 

the old Hawkin.sville Theatre from Mrs. F. L. 

Liggett. Later he bought houses in Cochran 

and Eastman, and by 1935 his circuit included 

eight theatres. Thompson and the late R. E. 

Martin sr. of Columbus formed Martin and 

Thompson Theatres in 1935, and today the 

circuit consists of 14 theatres in various parts 

of Georgia. 

A member of the Atlanta Variety Club and 

of Southeastern Theatre Owners, Thompson 

was re-elected president of the Georgia 

MPTO at its first annual convention here 

last May. 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949 

SE 99

. . . Gladys 

NEW ORLEANS 

lyjelvin J. Savoy of Basile, La., has completed 

a partnership deal with Joy 

Houck, Joy Theatres president, to become 

effective immediately. Savoy's houses, which 

will be included in the Joy circuit, are the 

Savoy and the Star, both 300-seat first runs 

at Basile. Remodeling of the Savoy is contemplated, 

with plans including installation 

of air conditioning, new seats and a 40-foot 

Try lis 

and You'll Agree 

FILMACK 



Quicker than the Resfr 

CHICAGO -1327 

NEW YORK - 

f ^)^(?nfjTA,nrjJ^. 

BLOWUPS 

9llmClAt9nuM£6^ 

S.Wabash 

619 W 54th StJ 

Standard 

Date 

Slides 

3 lor SI 

iI2 N. MIAMI AVENUE, I, ABGESTPHOTO MURAL I 

MIAMI, FLORIDA IsTUOlO IN THEJOUTHj 

addition to the theatre . . . T. W. Mitchell will 

open his Mitchell Drive-In at Hammond, 

La., shortly. Mitchell resides at Kentwood, 

La, 

A. J. Broussard reports he will begin operation 

of his Trail Drive-In at Crowley in 

about 60 days. The new drive-in will accommodate 

300 cars . . . Walter L. Kreh, 

Republic home office representative from 

New Yorlc, was a visitor at the local office 

several days . . . Joel Bluestone, formerly 

with Universal, RKO and Eagle Lion, is the 

new salesman at Republic, replacing M. L. 

Stevens who resigned. 

Mrs. Ed Frenkel, wife of the owner of the 

Century Theatre at Mobile, Ala., is quite ill 

. . . 

The Jimmie Harrises of Pascagoula, 

Miss., are parents of a baby boy, their second 

son. Jimmie is Joy Theatres' Mississippi 

district manager 

. . . Three new additions 

to the Joy Theatres clerical staff are Mrs. 

Marie Roth, who replaces 'Winnie Bracamontes 

in the bookkeeping department, Mrs. 

Mildred Barr and LeRoy Adams. 

Sidney Otis, manager of Henry Meyer's 

Avenue Theatre, Biloxi, and erstwhile booker 

for the Meyer houses, the Meyer, Star and 

Harlem in Biloxi, soon will establish a booking 

office at 1409 Cleveland Ave., directly 

behind the UA building. He will handle the 

Meyer houses. Otis was in town completing 

negotiations for the opening of his office 

Moore, Filmrow's official photographer, 

was painfully injured when her 

car was almost demolished in a collision with 

another auto in downtown New Orleans. Tê 

driver of the other vehicle was declared at 

fault and placed under bond. 

Heading the list for attendance was "A 

Connecticut Yankee" at Loew's State. "Canadian 

Pacific" was at the Saenger. The Orpheum's 

week was divided between "Song of 

India" for the first four days, and "The Dark 

Past" for the last three. "My Dream Is 

Yours" moved to the Liberty for a holdover 

week. Featured at the Joy was "Alias Nick 

Beal." "Kiss in the Dark" was at the Tudor 

and "Gallant Legion" at the Globe. The Rio 

featured "16 Fathoms Deep." At the Joy 

Strand "Buck Privates" was coupled with 

"Mark of the Lash." The Strand gave away 

free comic books to the first 200 childi-en 

attending the program on Saturday. The 

Lyceum doubled "The Mutiny of the Elsinore" 

and "I Wake Up Screaming." "Harpoon" 

was at the Center. 

Visiting: the exchanges were exhibitors Jack 

O'Quinn, Joy, Kaplan; Eddie Delahney, Pike, 

Magnolia, Miss.: Phil Murphy, Majestic, 

Quitman, Miss.: Milton Guidry, Bijou, Erath; 

Charlie Levy, Harlem, Thibodaux; Alex 

Gounares, Roxy, Mobile, and Melvin Savoy, 

Savoy and Star, Basile . . . Julius Sack of 

Sack Television Enterprises, a subsidiary of 

Sack Amusement Enterprises, stopped over 

on his way to Dallas from Miami. From 

Dallas he will return to his office in New 

York. 

Ilona Massey, Sylvia Sidney and John 

Loder were here. Ilona appeared with Tommy 

Dorsey's band at the municipal auditorium 

on May 1, and Sidney and Loder co-starred 

in "O, Mistress Mine" on the Poche stage 

. . . The 

film crew has pulled out of the 


PORTABLE 


(Plugs inio any 110 voll line) 


LIGHT WAVING 

(Arrow flashes oii and on) 

On rollers. You can move anywhere needed Plenty of 


these 'Directors" sitting down, smoking, entering into a 

lot of horseplay or insulting your palrons. 

ALWAYS ON THE JOB GIVING CLEARCUT. 


Will pay for themselves the first week by savings effected 

on payroll. 



3020 SYLVAN AVE, 

Ph. Prospect 7-2246 

DALLAS, TEXAS 

100 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 1949

. . Janice 

. . Herb 

. . Tom 

little town of Oxford, Miss. MGM producerdirector 

Clarence Brown and most of the 

stars have ended location work on "Intruder 

in the Dust" and terminated their sevenweek 

stay. Shortly before work was completed. 

Gene Roper jr., graduate assistant in 

history at the University of Mississippi, was 

added to the cast. Five other students appear 

in the picture. 

Mrs. Rodney Toups, wife of the Loew's 

State manager, has been appointed chairman 

of volunteer services of the New Orleans 

chapter of the American Red Cross. Mrs. 

Toups is one of the youngest persons in the 

country to hold this position . . . Eddie 

Delahney began face-lifting operations on his 

Pike Theatre at Magnolia, Miss. Extensive 

renovation of the building's front is included 

in the plans. 

Contest at Tampa State 

On Embarrassing Events 

TAMPA—The State Theatre sponsored a 

contest on "The Most Embarrassing Moment," 

inspired by the embarrassing moments 

in the film "John Loves Mary." The 

contest was conducted by Van Wilson on 

his Homemakers News program over station 

WDAE. He asked listeners to send in letters 

relating their most embarrassing moment 

and the contest winners were selected 

from the communications. 

A great many letters were received and the 

grand prize, a Lady Crosby diamond ring, 

was won by Mrs. Dalton Y. Hall. Ten other 

winners each received two guest tickets to 

see the show. Curtis H. Miller, theatre manager, 

instigated the contest. 

Benefit for Poor Kids 

LAKE WALES. FLA.—The underprivileged 

child fund of the Lake Wales Kiwanis club 

received a substantial sum through a special 

show presented at the State Theatre. Members 

of the club sold tickets to the performance 

and did a fine job of disposing of 

their allotment. Manager Leslie Pendleton 

cooperated with the club by showing "So 

This Is New York." 

MEMPHIS 

. 

rxistrict Manager Doak Roberts visited Manager 

Ed Williamson at the local Warners 

office Long. Warners biller, took 

a long weekend trip, flying to Columbia. S. C, 

and motoring from there with friends to 

Miami . Kohn, assistant to the president 

of Malco Theatres, Inc., and Mrs. Kohn, 

left for San Francisco to attend the national 

convention of Variety Clubs of America . . . 

Ruth Henderson, payroll department of 

Malco Theatres, has resigned to be married 

to Lieut. Walter Kuehn, naval pilot. They 

will make their home in Norfolk. Va. 

UA Manager Berne Mariner of St. Louis 

and Bill Keith, UA district manager, were in 

town to confer with Memphis salesman Tony 

Tedesco . Young, 20th-Fox manager, 

office manager P. M. Glisson, head booker 

Leo Wintker and salesmen Bonnie McCarley 

and John Carter have returned from a southern 

division sales meet in Atlanta. 

Arkansas exhibitors visiting Filmrow included 

Burris Smith, Imperial, Pocahontas; 

Mrs. Bowden and Mrs. Keller. Joiner, Joiner; 

Bob Lowery, Drive-In. Jonesboro; Mr. and 

Mrs. Don Landers, Radio, Harrisburg; W. R. 

Lee, Gem, Heber Springs; Gordon Hutchins, 

State, Corning; Orris Collins, Capitol and 

Majestic, Paragould; E. J. Smith, "V", Al- 

Iheimer; Henry Pickens, Lyle, Carlisle, and 

Tom Ford, Ford, Rector. 

. . . C. L. Miller, 

Sale of Palace Theatre, Hope, Ark., by 

R. J. Barrett to Miss Margaret Hedgecock 

was announced this week 

owner, Holland Theatre, Holland, Mo., has 

closed his house temporarily . . . Allied staged 

a successful regional membership meeting 

at Pocahontas, Ark., last week and scheduled 

another one for May 4 at Hot Springs, 

Ark. Bob Bowers, manager; Ed CuUins, 

Memphis, president; Tom Ballas, Memphis, 

director, attended for Allied Independent 

Theatres of the Midsouth. 

Bob Pigue, 20th-Fox booker, has purchased 

a new home . . . Mississippi exhibitors booking 

in Memphis included J. M. Miller, Drive- 

In, Tupelo; W. A. Rush, Houston; Dr. R. N. 

Johnson, Shelby, Shelby; Charles Eudy, 

Houston, Houston; W. T. Ellis, Ellis and Regent, 

Cleveland, and E. H. Moore, Ritz, Crenshaw. 

\V. F. Ruffin sr. and jr. of Ruffin Amusements 

Co., Covington, were in town on business. 

Other Tennessee exhibitors included 

G. H. Goff, Rustic, Parsons; M. E. Rice jr., 

Rice. Brownsville; Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; 

W. H. Gray, Rutherford, Rutherford, 

and C. D. McAllister, Grand, Grand Junction. 

Ethel Barrymore has been borrowed from 

Metro by 20th-Fox for an important role in 

"Pinky." 

NOW DISTRIBUTING 

EXCLUSIVELY 

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In Memphis Film Area 

VIrite for trial trim — State size. 

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10% discount ii buyers piclc up chairs. 

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1046 Broadway Phone 5-5055 

Albany, New York 

CONSOLIDATED ARTIST BOOKING AGCY- 

Hollywood .. San Antonio .. Chicago .. New York 

BOOKING VAUDEVaLE COAST to COAST 

Shows ior All Types of Entertainment 

Phone Fannin 5496 405-406 Texas Theatre Bldg. 

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 

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MASKING PAINT 

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H 


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Increases Boxoffice up to 10% 

BLEVINS POPCORN 

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MEMPHIS — G71 S. Main Si. 

NEW ORLEANS — 235 S. Genois St. 

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1014 Slappey Drive 

Albany, Georgia 


AMERICAN DESK 

MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

Manufacturers of Theatre Seating 

Mr. W. A. Prewift, Jr.. 223 South Liberty St. 

New Orleans, La. Ph: Magnolia 6571 

Arkansas TOA Gathering 

Scheduled for May 77-/9 

1 ll,n-,l_ Cm^gsfft^f !¥•% 

LITTLE ROCK—The Independent Theatre 

Owners of Arkansas, TOA affiliate, will hold 

''^^ 

Allallla UlOSScS 

^""^^ anniversary 

UP/ 

meeting at the Hotel 

^ Marion here May 17-19. Among those slated 

'° speak are Gael Sullivan, 

Til lea' T Oailc at 1in 

TOA executive 

X liluCl JjCQUiJ Cll L1.\J director; Herman Levy, general counsel for 

ATLANTA-Good weather and higher tem- 

'^°^' ^^^'^ Palfreyman, trades relations 

'^'^'ector for 

peratures brought above average 

the Motion Picture 

business 

Ass'n of 

to 

America; 

local first runs. "Tulsa- 

Leon J. 

at the Pox 

Bamberger, RKO, 

led the 

and Mike 

city with 110 per cent, while "A 

Simon of MGM. 

Connecticut 

Yankee" in its second 

^- '^- Savage, president of 

week grossed 

the Arkansas 

103. 

(Average ^^^P' ^'^^^ ^^^ Convention will get under 

Is IOC) 

Fox—Tulsa (EL) 110 ^^y with a buffet and entertainment in 

Paramount—Alias Nick Beal (Para) 101 the Hotel Marion's Continental room Tues- 

Peachtree Art—Blanche Fury (EL) 100 . 

,,_. ,.„oni .. ^,i j,. 

Rhodes—Mourning Becomes Eiectra (RKO) 102 "ay (17) at 7:30 to be followed by a screen- 

Roxy—A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's ing at the new Center Theatre at 11:15 p. m. 

Court (Para), 2nd d. I, wk 103 rmT i, * u r ^^ 

• •.,,. 

The charter members of the origmal Motion 

Theatre Owners of Arkansas, parent 

Hollywood, Fla., Women organization of ITOA, win be honored at 

Wa,rrr FIlwi Tr^'Wr Utt TkAPi*^ 

^^^ meeting. Eli Whitney Collins, O. C. 

near r llin l aiK Oy lêDra Hauber, Sidney M. Nutt, wm Mack, John 

HOLLYWOOD—Arthur DeBra, from the Collins and D. E. Fitton, who organized Ar- 

Eric Johnston office, spoke at the General kansas exhibitors in 1919, will be on hand for 

Federation of Women's Clubs convention the 30th anniversary convention, 

here. His theme was the need for good public Down-to-earth forums on the problems 

relations between communities and the mo- now facing motion picture exhibition will be 

tion picture industry. held. Subjects to be covered include the 

Retiring president Mrs. J. L. Blair Buck, high cost of a declining boxoffice, television 

told the assembled club women that it was and the theatre, municipal and county taxes 

time women's clubs took a positive attitude on admissions, overhead applied to film 

toward motion pictures. Too often they rentals, conciliation, public relations, the 

merely called attention to those of which they screen as a medium to combat discriminating 

disapproved. A more constructive idea, she legislation and unfair taxes, 

said, was to support by attendance and by "I am sure," said Savage, "that every exspoken 

opinion those pictures which the clubs hibitor in this area will find this convencould 

recommend as suitable screen fare for tion very enlightening and the deliberations 

the family. Thus the industry would be en- applicable to his problems whether he opercouraged 

to produce more of this type. ates in a small, medium or large city. We 

Wometco officials invited DeBra to meet have spent a lot of time working up this 

with them in Miami to discuss some of the meeting to deal sensibly with current happroblems 

which exhibitors face in any com- penings that are affecting our boxoffices. 

munity when trying to please various groups The usual good fellowship, plus Arkansas 

and offend none. Heads of Catholic, Jewish hospitality, will prevail. We have arranged 

and Protestant faiths were invited as well as a lot of entertainment to make our 30th 

school heads. The part that motion pictures annual convention our best to date." 

should play in a community was discussed Mis. June Cochran is in charge of special 

and many viewpoints were advanced. entertainment for the ladies. Sam B. Kirby 

DeBra outlined difficulties faced by the in- 

and Dave P. Callahan are the general chairdustry, 

but said that it was to the best in- men of the convention and are being asterests 

of the industry to stimulate the prac- sisted by the theatre operators of greater 

tice of families attending shows together, and Little Rock. 

that a closer understanding between communities 

and the industry was necessary and 

desirable. 

Consolidated Is Booking 

Variety Vaudeville Acts 

SAN ANTONIO—Consolidated Artists booking 

agency is setting up variety vaudeville 

bookings In many theatres o'ver the U.S. Some 

are using weekly one-nighters whUe others 

are dating split and full weeks. The vaudeville 

packages run around one hour, featuring 

four acts in the smaller towns at a 

cost 

ranging from $85 to $125 a day. 

Pass With CofC Welcome 

OCALA, FLA—Through the courtesy of 

Florida State Theatres, a complimentary pass 

to one of its local houses is included in a letter 

of welcome sent by the Chamber of Commerce 

to new residents of the city. 

All Cool Floiida Theatre 

VERO BEACH, FLA.—U.S. Air Conditioning 

Co. equipment is being installed in the 

Florida Theatre, according to Tommy Hyde, 

manager, by the Cox Air Conditioning Co., 

West Palm Beach. The system should be 

in operation by June 1. 

To Porlra'y Army Ofiicer 

John Mclntyre has been inked to 

play the 

role of an army officer in the U-I picture, 

"Francis." 

IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS 

FOR NEW JOBS 

OR REPLACEMENTS 


"k. c^mT" 

102 BOXOmCE :: May 7, 1949

MR. 

ARKANSAS 

EXHIBITOR 

YOU AND YOUR BROTHER EXHIBITORS FROM THE 

NEIGHBORING STATES ARE URGED TO ATTEND A MOST 

IMPORTANT THEATRE CONVENTION. 

30th 

ANNUAL MEETING 

INDEPENDENT 

THEATRE 

OF ARKANSAS 

T. 0. A. AFFILIATE 

OWNERS 

TUESDAY EVENING • WEDNESDAY • THURSDAY 

AAAY 17th • 18th • 19th 

HOTEL MARION 

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 

NATIONALLY KNOWN INDUSTRY LEADERS . . . DOWN- 

TO-EARTH FORUMS APPLICABLE TO SMALL. MEDIUM 

AND LARGE THEATRES . . . DISCUSSIONS ON TELEVI- 

SION, TAXES, THE HIGH COST OF A DECLINING BOX- 

OFHCE . GOOD FELLOWSHIP WITH REAL ARKANSAS 

. . 

HOSPITALITY . . . FINE FOOD, COCKTAIL PARTY AND 

LOADS OF ENTERTAINMENT. 

BOXOFFICE May 7, 1949 

SE \oa

tm 

• 

by 

. . . The 

. . The 

. . P. 

It's 

New! 

It's Beautiful! 

It's 

Comfortable! 

It's 

Economical! 

Spring Edge Seats .. Face Padded Backs 

Cast Iron Standards .. Ball Bearing Hinges 

For complete information write: 

SOUTHERN DESK COMPANY 

Theatre Seating Division 

P. 0. Box 630 HICKORY, N. C. 

CHARLOTTE 

. 

The Catawba Theatre at Newton was destroyed 

by fire recently. It was operated 

Everett Enterprises, Inc. . Mr. and Mrs. 

. . 

Charles Arrington, former owners of the 

Camea Theatre in Rocky Mount are vacationing 

in Sarasota, Pla. G. Henn of Murphy, 

N. C, and Harris Robinson, president of 

Dixie Drive-In Theatres, Atlanta, were local 

visitors ... A. P. Lassiter, owner of the Conway 

in Conway, is father of a baby boy. Ifs 

the Lassiters' second child. 

Film salesmen say that with reissues flooding 

the market, theatreowners are getting 

choosey about pictures, terms and playdates 

Charlotte Variety Club planned a 

gala party for Saturday (30) but a big rain 

halted the attendance of all but a handful of 

guests . . . Ralph lannuzzi, Charlotte WB 

manager, has a new apartment. 

. . . 

Construction of the Club Colony Theatre is 

proceeding here . Charlotte, one of the 

oldest houses in the business district, is being 

rebuilt completely "Hamlet" was shown 

at the Center and "The Red Shoes" at the 

Manor, both on reserved seat, advanced price 

engagements. 

Olin Evans to Cedartown 

CEDARTOWN, GA.—Olin Evans, former 

manager of the Broadway Theatre, Readsville, 

N. C, has been named manager of the 

West Theatre, the first run house here which 

is a unit of the Lam Amusement Co.. Rome, 

Ga. 

'Hamlet' and 'Red Shoes' 

Get Big Weekly Gross 

FORT MYERS—Kids are really welcome 

at the local drive-in and as an inducement 

to have them attend one adult with a 50 cent 

ticket may bring in all the family under 12 

years of age free. At least, that was the 

original intent of the free admission plan. 

But here is how it is working. A lady was 

giving a party for a number of neighborhood 

kids and as a part of the entertainment 

planned a show. Into her car she loaded her 

own children and their guests, making a 

grand total of nine under the age limit. 

"Sure," said the manager, "This is one place 

where we are glad to have the kids." So the 

lady and her brood of nine were admitted 

on one 50 cent ticket. 

Vicksburg Joy to Open in June 

VICKSBURG, MISS.—W. A. Prewitt jr. ot 

Bay Saint Louis, Miss., one of the owners of 

the new Joy Theatre now under construction 

on Walnut street says the new theatre is 

expected to be completed in early June. The 

Joy will be one of the largest theatres in 

Vicksburg, with a seating capacity of 1,100, 

including a large balcony. It will be fireproof 

throughout and air conditioned. Owners 

are Prewitt and Joy N. Houck of New Orleans. 

Named to State Ad Group 

HAINES CITY, FLA.—Carl Floyd, theatre 

chain operator, has been appointed a member 

of the state advertising commission by Gov. 

Fuller Warren. His term expires Aug. 1, 1951. 

PROJECTORS 

SYSTEMS 

êd^SOUND 

Licensed under Western Electric Co. Patents 

Now being installed for 

SOUTHERN 

EXHIBITORS 

ûUiLuied in tUe Soutli iuf 

Standard Theatre Supply Co. 

215 East Washington St., 

Greensboro, N. C. 

222 S. Church St.. 

Charlotte, N. C. 

Tri-State Theatre Supply 

318 S. Second St. 

Memphis 3, Tenn, 

• 

Queen Fealure Service, 

19121/j Morris Ave. 

Birmingham, Ala. 

Inc. 

* 

Joe Hornstein, Inc. 

714 N. E. 1st Ave. 

Miami, Fla. 

yO(//f INDEPENDENT SUPPLY DEALERS 

SERVING SOUTHERN SHOWMEN WITH SATISFACTION 

104 BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1949

. . Mrs. 

Womelco's Old Guard 

Elects Helen Porter 

MIAMI—Wometco's Old Guard, composed 

of employes who have been with the organization 

seven or more years, held its annual 

banquet at the Westview country club recently. 

William GoUer. retiring president, was 

master of ceremonies for the occasion. As is 

customary. Goller, as retiring head, remains 

on the board of governors for the coming 

year. 

Officers installed were Mrs. Helen Porter, 

president; Mrs. Betty Stokes, treasurer, and 

Madeline Tremblay, secretary. Mrs. Inez 

Oakerson and Dale Toemmes complete the 

board. 

In the Wometco organization Mrs. Porter 

is secretary to co-owner Sidney Meyer. Mrs. 

Stokes is in the controller's office, Mrs. 

Tremblay is secretary to controller Elmer 

Radloff. Mrs. Oakerson is receptionist and 

switchboard operator, and Miss Toemmes is 

secretary to co-owner Mitchell Wolfson. 

Mary Pickford Seeks Okay 

On Two Video Stations 

ATLANTA—The Federal Communications 

commission reports film star Mary Pickford 

has applied for permission to open television 

stations in Enirham, N. C, and Winston- 

Saleni. N. C. The E>urham station, the FCC 

says, would operate on channel 4 and the 

Winston-Salem station on channel 6. 

FCC officials said Miss Pickford's application 

would go into a pending file of 330 others 

waiting for action since the "freeze" on 

television permits went into effect last September. 

Elbert Cook Is Manager 

CRESTVIEW, FLA.—Park Drive-In, the 

only drive-in in Okaloosa county, has been 

taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Cook as 

managers. With the exception of several years 

spent in the air force, Cook has been a projectionist 

and theatre manager all his life. 

ATLANTA 

I^rs. Erma Lane, formerly with Paramount 

and Warners here, died at her home recently. 

She was the sister of Mrs. Sara 

Smith, head of the U-I accoimting department 

. . A. G. Riseman. partner in the 

. 

Cameo Theatre, died at his home after a 

heart attack. Riseman attended a baseball 

game and had just returned home when the 

attack struck . Leola Delong of Monogram 

Southern checked in at the office after 

visiting her daughter at Jacksonville Beach. 

Fla. 

J. W. Frew, U-I manager, with Pete Rosian, 

. . George 

district manager, checked in at the office 

after a flying trip to Jacksonville . 

M. Jones, sales representative, returned from 

a business trip to Nassau . . . W. D. Kelly jr., 

same company, reported at the office after 

Dorothy Edmonds, 

a trip to Alabama . . . 

former accounting department head at Monogram 

Southern, now is a first class pilot. 

She made her solo flight to Florida. 

On the Row visiting were Mrs. J. M. Lakeman. 

Pi-incess and Dixie, Haleyville, Ala.; 

Henry Moog, former southern district manager 

for Altec; Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Weis, 

Weis theatres. Savannah and Macon; Jay 

Solomon, Independent Theatres, Chattanooga; 

Bob Dunn, Camilla; Mrs. Osman. 

Covington; Roy Mitchell. Stone, Stone Mountain; 

the Maddox brothers. Clay's theatres, 

and Sidney Laird, Al-Don Amusement Co., 

West Point . 

. . Kermit 

Stengel, president 

of Rockwood Amusement Co., Nashville, is 

on a pleasure trip to California. 

L. Warren Granade has been named head 

of the Wilson & Moore accounting department 

. . . S. C. Pittman of Pittman Theatre, 

Gadsden, Ala., was visiting the Row . . . J. C. 

Hill, assistant shipping clerk at Monogram 

Southern, is father of baby girl, the Hills' 

fourth child. 

Thomas E. Markette of Clewiston, Fla., 

says work has started on his new theatre at 

Moore Haven, Fla., and he hopes to have it 

. . . Scotty Dunlap, 

open within 90 days . . . Acme Investments, 

Huntsville. Ala., has started work on its new 

$100,000 drive-in for a June 1 opening . . . 

Charlie Kessnich, district manager for MGM, 

and his wife celebrated their 43rd 

Monogram, 

wedding 

anniversary 


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. . Mrs. 

. . 

ATLANTA 

(Continued from preceding page) 

Hollywood, was here visiting Ai-thur C. Bromberg, 

president of Monogram Southern. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kerr and Mr. and 

Mrs. Mitchell Little returned to Charlotte 

after visiting friends here. Kerr is a salesman 

and Little is office manager for Republic 

.. . Mel Brown, manager of the Peachtree 

Art. says work on the new Savannah drive-in 

has started and he hopes to have the airer 

open in 60 days . . . Al Johnson of lATSE 

headquarters in New Orleans was a local 

Engler, owner of the Famous 

visitor . . . Paul 

Theatre in Birmingham, spent a weekend at 

his fishing camp. 

Max Holden, salesman for Astor in Charlotte 

and Madison in Atlanta, has a new 

Buick ... Sal Kravits, special representative 

for Warners, visited the local office . . . Bill 

Baynord, booker at Warners, returned to his 

desk after a siege in the hospital 

. . . Tommy 

Read, Georgia Theatres executive, is getting 

Mount Vernon, Ga., voted 150 to 134 for Sunday 

his fishing rod in trim for a fishing trip . 

Mrs. B. A. Bartlette, 

motion pictures . . . 

daughter of J. E. McLeoi^ of Monogram in 

Charlotte, returned home after a stay at a 

local 

hospital. 

C. G. Barksdales has pui'chased the Ritz 

Theatre building from B. J. Alderman of 

Monrose. He plans to remodel the building 

for use as a retail store . . . Pi-ank Jones, accounting 

department, Monogram, and his 

wife and children left for a Tampa, Fla., va- 

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106 

NEW MARTIN CHAIN HOUSE— 

Shown above is the new 669-seat quonsettype 

Martin Theatre opened recently at 

LaFayette, Ala., by the Martin Theatres 

circuit. Charles W. Griffin jr. is manager 

of the Martin. 

cation . . . George Newsome, former theatre 

owner in Carbondale, 111., went to Miami . 

Porter Epperson, head of the Monogram shipping 

department, returned to his job after a 

trip to New York. 

J. C. Hill, Monogram assistant shipping 

clerk, also returned from New York where 

he visited his sister for the first time in 14 

years 

. B. Finch, Monogram Southern, 

returned to her desk after a .spell of sickness 

... A city tax of one per cent on children's 

tickets and five cents on adult admis- 

.sions is being considered by the Boniface, Fla., 

city council as a means of raising funds for 

proposed water mains. 

. 

Paying a visit to Boyd Fry, Loews Strand, 

was Ed Bellew, who then took off for St. Louis 

to handle "The Red Shoes" engagement 

Mrs. Louis Ahery, secretary to Fry, 

there . . . 

enjoyed a vacation Roy Avey, head of 

. 

Conununity Theatres, 

. 

was on the Row with 

friends . . . Charlie Clark, president of Jackpot 

Quiz night, went to Alabama on business 

. . . Mrs, Marguerite Stith has been 

named treasurer for Wilson & Moore Enterprises, 

replacing Charlie Moore, who resigned 

. . . Jimmy Wilson says his company 

will buy and book for the new Ridgewood 

Theatre due to open May 15 in Daytona 

Beach, Fla. 

$250,000 Drive-In Planned 

TAMPA—Plans are being prepared for a 

new quarter million dollar drive-in in the 

Tampa area on a 22^!^-acre tract of land 

on South Dale Mabrv avenue. The site was 

purchased by Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Britton who 

now operate the Auto Park Drive-In on the 

22nd street Causeway. 

Plans call for the accommodation of 900 

cars, plus a 600-seat grandstand for walkin 

patrons. In-car speakers with sound adjustment 

knobs will be used. 

Innovations include a children's carnival 

playground and nursery service for babies. 

Entrances and extis will be designed to avoid 

traffic tieups. 

Signed as Cameraman 

Hal Mohr has been signed by Producer R. 

W. Alcorn as head cameraman for his independent 

production, "Johnny Holiday." 

Economic Pinch Gone, 

Fox President Says 

ATLANTA—Spyros P. Skouras, president 

of 20th Century-Fox, told officials of the 

company who gathered at a dinner here 

that economic clouds which have hung over 

Hollywood for many months have rolled by 

and that producers are looking toward the 

horizon with greater confidence. 

"The worst in Hollywood is over," Skouras 

said, "and we can look ahead to the future 

with positive optimism." 

Tlie motion picture industry, he said, has 

undergone a major operation and is prepared 

confidently to offer the public entertainment 

on a quality level higher than ever 

before. His company, he added, has about 

finished the retooling process inaugurated 

more than two and a half years ago. 

"In short," he said, "we have overcome the 

odds imposed following the war because of 

the restriction of dollars in foreign markets, 

higher production costs and the return 

of domestic boxoffice receipts to normal 

levels." 

Bargain Silver Dollars 

Promote 'Strike It Rich' 

AUBURNDALE, FLA.—Shoppers in Auburndale 

between the hours of 4 and 6 o'clock 

had an opportunity to "Strike It Rich." 

In promoting "Strike It Rich" at the Aubm-n 

Theatre. Manager M. E. Hensler laid 

in a quantity of silver dollars. These were 

advertised as on sale between 4 and 6 o'clock 

at the boxoffice for only 90 cents. Because 

of the great reduction from a recognized 

price, a limit of only one to a customer was 

placed on the sale. A customer was not 

required to purchase a theatre admission 

ticket. 

Latin American Fiesta 

Film Shown in Tampa 

TAMPA—Motion pictures of the recent 

Latin American Fiesta here are being shown 

at the Park Theatre. Manager Elmer Hecht 

says he has made arrangements for the same 

film to be distributed to theatres throughout 

Cuba, but with Spanish commentary. 

Tampa has a very large Cuban population 

and the news short shows the coronation of 

the queen, Violet Casares and her maids, the 

court, one of the stage acts and various 

Tampa officials and visiting representatives 

from Cuba. 

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Fire Destroys Flippin 

In Bragg City, Mo. 

BRAGG CITY. MO.—A fire of unknown 

origin destroyed the Flippin here. The showhouse 

was burned to the ground with no 

casualties. The fire occurred late at night. 

AITO Seeks Contributions 

To Rebuild Flippin 

MEMPHIS~To lid D. D. Flippin to get 

back in business, Bob Bowers, general manager 

of Allied IndeiK-ndent Theatre Owners, 

headquartering at the Hotel Chisca, advises 

he is seeking contributions of equipment 

and any other help exhibitors in this section 

of the country wish to make. The Flippin 

lacked sufficient in.surance to cover the 

loss. 

Three New Theatres Open 

In Memphis Trade Area 

MEMPHIS—Three new theatres are being 

the Memphis trade territoi-y. 

launched in 

O. G. Alewine. owner, has opened the new 

350-seat, all-Negro Alewine at Louisville, 

Miss. He is booking and shopping on Memphis 

Filmrow. 

Manager Don Taylor, has staged a formal 

opening of the new 30-seat Mel Theatre 

at Kensett, Ark., owned by H. C. Melton. 

The 300-car drive-in at Mayfield, Ky., will 

open May 5, according to owner C. O. Wilson. 

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Carolinas Keep Lead in Drive-Ins 

With Nearly 200 Being Operated 

CHARLOTTE—With nearly 20() drive-ins 

in operation and others springing up in 

every part of the Carolinas, the Charlotte 

territory continues to lead the nation in the 

number of outdoor theatres. A survey made 

for BOXOFFICE revealed that ten new drivein 

theatres have been opened in the last few 

days or will be opened in the near future. 

One of the newest and finest is the ozoner 

in Greensboro, N. C. operated by the Dixie 

Drive-In Theatres. This firm now has two 

drive-ins in Greensboro, two in Charlotte and 

others in Atlanta and other cities. 

Another new drive-in has just been opened 

in Charlotte to bring to three the number in 

operation here. The drive-in is the York 

Road Theatre, located on the York road at 

the city limits. It is owned by Herman Geltzeiler 

of Charlotte and Bill Williams of Kannapolis. 

B. B. Anderson, prominent South Carolina 

March 31 

April 5 

April 6 

May 1 

May 4 

In 

In 

In 

June 

July 

August 

Weicome 

TO 

exhibitor, has disclosed that he will build 

drive-ins at Myrtle Beach and Mullins. The 

Myrtle Beach theatre will accommodate 450 

automobiles and the one at Mullins 250 cars. 

Bob Saunders of Charlotte and L. G. Castles 

of Great Falls will build a drive-in at Columbia, 

S. C. Tom Little and Frank Beddingfield 

of Charlotte have completed plans for 

an outdoor theatre on the old fairgrounds in 

Gastonia. 

A drive-in will be built near Bass, N. C, 

while an outdoor theatre is to be erected in 

Gufton, N. C, by N. C. Gaskins. 

Mrs. Rana Greenleaf and I. C. Frazier plan 

to open their new 250-car drive-in at Siler 

City. N. C, in about three weeks. Mrs. Greenleaf 

also operates the Elder Theatre In Siler 

City and the Curtis in Liberty. 

Roy L. Champion, who also operates several 

theatres, opened his new ozoner at Wilson, 

N. C, on May 3. 

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Theatre Tax Proposals 

Die in North Carolina 

RALEIGH—The North Carolina general 

assembly adjourned here after one of the 

longest sessions on record and without making 

any material changes in taxes on theatres. 

From the film industry standpoint, the session 

was highlighted by the recommendations 

of Gov. W. Kerr Scott, backed by the 

state tax research body, that a 10 per cent 

TOO*V THE 

J 

^^^.oor:ju 

"HOW TO 

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AND 

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ticket tax be placed on admissions. The assembly, 

however, failed to act on the governor's 

suggestion. Efforts to revive the 3 per 

cent sales levy on admissions also failed. A 

tax schedule was enacted, however, for drivein 

theatres. 

The session ended on an apparent note of 

harmony although the state's chief executive 

had openly criticized the legislature for failui'e 

to push through his "go-forward" program. 

During the session, the governor also 

fired a barrage of caustic criticism at "the 

motion picture lobby" in the capitol. 

The assembly will not convene again until 

1951 unless called in session sooner by Governor 

Scott. 

Heavy Tax Load Now Threatening 

Theatre Ruin, Editor Says 

HAINES CITY, FLA.—Theatre owners opposition 

to a proposed new 5 per cent state 

admissions tax received added emphasis in a 

recent editorial in the Haines City Herald, 

which predicted that "no business can exist 

under a 25 per cent sales tax." 

Explaining the 20 per cent federal tax levied 

on theatre admissions and the improbability 

that "this tax will ever be removed or 

lowered," the editorial add that "the handwriting 

is on the wall for the future of theatre 

business." 

"The theatre's overhead has risen in greater 

proportion than other businesses and is continuing 

to rise even though the income of 

theatres is decreasing steadily. Yet the admission 

prices of theatres have increased less 

than any other form of price increase. 

"The theatres cannot pass the tax on to the 

public as the public from past experience will 

not pay the increase, which means less people 

will go to the theatre, which causes the income 

to decrease in a large way." 

committees voted the proposed bill down, 

vu-tually assuring its defeat. 

Besides Wolfson and Hensler, other members 

in Tallahassee included Bolivar Hyde, 

L. A. Stein, president of MPEF, Carl Floyd, 

Mark Chartrand, William Cumbaa, Robert 

Cannon, Robert Thomas, Mrs. S. G. Owens, 

James Biddle, Roy Benjamin, Elmer Hecht, 

Robert Boardman and others. Mitchell Wolfson, 

co-owner of Wometco theatres, is the 

southeastern regional chairman. 

MPEF intends to maintain its united stand 

against any legislation, touching on the 

province of the independent theatre owner, 

which its considers discriminatory or unfair. 

It is also set up to act in local situations. 

Any member may call on MPEF to move in 

on his locality where the situation warrants 

assistance. 

$50,000 Drive-In for Myrtle Beach 

MYRTLE BEACH. S. C—A drive-in, expected 

to cost approximately $50,000. is under 

way on South King's highway near the old 

dog track here. Owners Collins A. Spivey 

and Baylis L. Spivey of Conway and B. B. 

Anderson and Howard Anderson of Mullins, 

report the theatre will be operated by the 

Anderson chain. 

Charter South'westem, Inc. 

FORT SMITH, ARK.—Articles of incorporation 

were filed by Southwestern Entertainment 

Enterprise, Inc. Authorized capital 

stock was listed as 100 shares at $1,000. Incorporators: 

G. L. Grant, Gene W. Dennis and 

H. S. Nakdimen of Fort Smith. 

Robert Lowrey to Open 300-Car Airer 

JONESBORO, ARK.—Robert Lowrey will 

open a new 300-car drive-in on South Main 

street within the next few weeks. Lowery has 

been shopping in Memphis for his new summer 

show. 

Dublin, Ga., Ozoner Opens 

DUBLIN. GA.—A 220-car drive-in has been 

opened on Highway 80 east of the city by L. J. 

Powell. 

IDRIVE-IN 

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ATLANTA, GA. 

CHAHLOTTE, N. C. 

^Sa*! 

"Everything for the theatre except film" 

Independent Florida Theatremen 

Move to Defeat Admission Tax 

TALLAHASSEE—Local members of the 

Motion Picture Exhibitors ftf Florida took 

part in a concerted opposition to an admission 

tax plan proposed by the governor at 

the present session of state legislature. 

Although a comparatively new organization, 

the MPEF, composed of independent 

theatre owners throughout the state, comprises 

135 members out of a possible 150 

eligible independents in Florida. This group 

of theatremen presented a united front to 

the state legislature, the largest showing of 

exhibitors for such an occasion in the state's 

history. More than 50 members were preesnt, 

representing the unification of independents 

from Key "West to Pensacola. 

Working closely with MPEF members and 

leaders in opposing admission tax. was La- 

Mar Sarra, Florida State Theatres, executive. 

Sarra, along with Mitchell 'Wolfson and M. E. 

Hensler, appeared for the theatremen before 

the combined taxation and finance committees 

from both the state senate and house of 

representatives. Backed by the MPEF they 

were a strong voice in the delegation which 

opposed the proposed tax. Later both state 

BOXOFFICE Photo 

Leads to Altar 

Chatham, Ont.—Harland Rankin, owner 

of the Rankin Enterprises, reports that 

a picture of his secretary printed in 

BOXOFFICE some time ago culminated 

in romance between that young lady and 

a Miami theatre manager. 

Rankin relates that while his secretary 

was visiting Miami she dropped in at 

the Paramount Theatre and spied the 

BOXOFFICE clipping of her picture on 

Manager Whitaker's desk. 

A casual correspondence 

started, said Rankin, and this 

year, on Miss Russell's return from her 

Miami vacation, she was engaged to 

Whitaker. 

By the end of July, Rankin continued, 

Whitaker will come from Miami to marry 

Miss Russell and the couple will return to 

Florida. 

Rankin also reported that he had been 

named commodore of the Erieu Yacht 

club, retaining his position as secretarytreasurer, 

a job he's held for the last six 

years. 

108 


Parking Lot Is Crux of Big 

Theatre Center Project 

From Nev/ England EdiUon 

BROCKTON, MASS.—The huge project of 

rebuilding the City Theatre block into a 

$1,000,000 modern theatre and .super market 

with offices up.stair.s, is conditioned upon 

the cooperation of the city, with the chief 

problem the use of the parking area in the 

rear of the property. At present this lot 

belongs to the city for public use, but the 

Boston interests that purchased the block 

want the space for parking facilities at the 

super market and theatre. 

Morris Pouzzner, Boston circuit owner who 

heads the Main Street Realty Corp.. owners 

of the theatre property, has asked the city 

for its cooperation in the new venture, stating 

that the new building will add to the 

city business area and that the project will 

mean a considerable boo.st of employment 

for Brockton people. 

Pouzzner recently sat in on a meeting at 

city hall with Chairman Edward Neafsey and 

members of the municipal planning board. 

At that time Neafsey, a realtor, said the 

planning board was "recommending to the 

city council every possible cooperation." 

The Brockton Enterprise, however, warned 

that the theatre business was competitive 

and that the city council before considering 

giving special favors should consider the 

rights of comparable competitive businesses 

and what cooperation the city has given them. 

The paper also questioned the legality of 

turning over such public property to a private 

concern for the use of the concern's 

customers. 

Written plans for the theatre are being 

submitted to the city council for its recommendation 

at an early meeting. 

According to the present setup, the old 

City Theatre will be completely remodeled 

to create a new theatre to be known as the 

Edison. The architectural changes have been 

submitted by William Riseman Associates, 

Boston designers. The name Edison was selected 

by Pouzzner chiefly because the old 

City Theatre became the first theatre in the 

country to be lighted from a central station 

with Edi.son current. This was on Oct. 24, 

1884. It is coincidental, too, that the Brockton 

Edison Co. building occupies the corner 

adjacent to the city block development. 

Lens Slip Scares 

Memphis Manager 

Memphis—Manager Joe Simon of the 

Ritz has been having headaches for 

weeks—yes, for months . . . Taking headache 

tablets . . . Worrying about his right 

eye . . . Couldn't see well with it. 

He noticed the other day a lens in his 

glasses on the right side was loose. He 

got Enunett Morissey, chief operator, to 

tighten it. But Morissey didn't have a 

screw driver small enough to do a good 

job. So Joe went to a jewelry store and 

asked the clerk in the glasses department 

to tighten it. 

"You want the lens tightened just like 

it is?" asked the clerk. 

"Suppose so," said Joe. "Why?" 

"The lens has turned half way around 

in the frame. The bifocal part is at the 

top now instead of the bottom." The 

lens was fixed properly. 

Joe hasn't had a headache since. He's 

a new man. 

Memphis Variety, Press-Scimitar 

To Sponsor Benefit Show June 7-8 

MEMPHIS—The local Variety Club is cooperating 

with the Press-Scimitar in sponsoring 

a two-night benefit show on June 7 

and 8. Proceeds will be split 50-50 between 

the newspaper's milk fund and the Variety 

mother's milk bank. The show, to be called 

"School Days Revue," will be presented in the 

Overton park shell. 

Chief Barker Ed Williamson has named the 

following committees: Pete Dawson, ticket 

.sales chairman: M. A. Lightman sr., advance 

sales: Ed Sapinsley, PTA and schools: M. A. 

To Complete New Theatre 

Started by Roy E. Martin 

ANDALUSIA, ALA. — Final construction 

work on the new theatre of the Martin circuit, 

which was started by the late Roy E. 

Martin, is scheduled to get under way again 

within the next few weeks. The theatre is 

located on South Cotton street, and will have 

a seating capacity of 1,000. 

Roof Fire in Carolina 

ANDERSON, S. C. — Approximately 100 

persons left the Carolina Theatre here when 

a fire was discovered in the roof of the building. 

There was no panic and the patrons 

marched out in an orderly fashion, it was 

reported. 

78-Drive-In Opens in Tupelo, Miss. 

TUPELO. MISS.— J. M. Miller has opened 

the new 400-car 78-Drive-In. Miller, president 

and manager of the new operation will 

do his booking in Memphis. 

Playhouse Gets New Equipment 

ST. PETERSBURG — Westinghouse air 

conditioning units are being installed in the 

playhouse here. Other improvements include 

a Simplex projector and RCA sound head. 

John S. Allen Returns Home 

JACKSONVILLE—John S. Allen, of MGM, 

Dallas, who has been visiting in Jacksonville, 

has returned to his home. 

Remodel Walker in Fort Gaines 

FORT GAINES, GA.—Remodeling has begun 

on the Walker here. 

Lightman jr., street sales: J. A. West, civic 

clubs: Leonard Shea and Bailey Prichard, 

membership: Bob Bostick, amusement industry, 

and Buster Hammond, program. 

Shown in the picture are club members 

getting a pep talk from Lightman sr., standing 

before the group. Front row, left to right: 

Prichard, Dawson, Williamson, Herb Kohn 

and Benny Bluestein, producers of the show. 

Back row: Shea, Jack Sawyer, Hammond, 

R. V. Regin. J. P. Kaiser, Bostick, Sapinsley 

and T. Oscar Baldridge. 

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. . According 

. . Miami 

. . WTVJ, 

MIAMI 

Trailers on the screen informed audiences at 

. . . Oscar 

the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables that 

National Dance week will be celebrated by a 

Cavalcade of the Dance put on by the Mae 

Rose studio. A children's Saturday matinee 

will also feature the cavalcade 

Hammerctein, producer of "South Pacific," 

came off with a slightly strained back as the 

result of h's tussle with a tuna while vacationing 

in the Bahamas . to the 

Herald's amusement editor, former politician 

Bob Hannegan has been nominated for the 

board of 20th-Fox and may be due for a 

bigger post soon. 

Dean Murphy, featured in motion pictures, 

is rumored to be joining a Lincoln Road business 

venture soon . . . Mandrake, the Magician 

headliner at the Olympia, pulled a stork out 

of his hat instead of a pigeon. During his 

current engagement he became the father of 

headed its latest 

a boucing boy . . . Wometco 

Sunday advertising with a statement from 

Al Hotard, automobile dealer, who: "Switched 

to the Boulevard Drive-In ... A good car 

deserves good care. That's why I appreciate 

the careful handling of traffic by the staff 

in the Boulevard. 

And of course the scientific 

design of this outdoor theatre adds a lot to 

the safety of cars and their drivers." 

Darryl Zanuck has given his onetime office 

boy, Lee MacGregor, the role of Lieut. Zimmerman 

in "12 O'clock High" which he is 

producing. Scenes are being shot at Eglin 

Field, Fla. . . . Richard Widmark became so 

interested in flying while he was in Miami 

making "Slattery's Hurricane" that he en- 

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THEATREMAN ENTERTAINS STARS 

— F. S. Falkenburg of the Alabama in 

Birmingham is shown with Bob Hope and 

Doris Day during Miss Day's appearance 

in Birmingham to greet her newly formed 

fan club. Miss Day is currently appearing 

in the Warner Bros. Technicolor feature, 

"My Dream Is Yours." 

rolled for instructions . . . Film actor Joe 

Kirkwood jr., now at a local club, says he has 

just finished another Joe Palooka movie for 

Allied Artists, called "The Return Fight." 

Due to the seasonal closing of the Hialeah 

Theatre, Claughton's Circle advertised a 

bonanza for the children. They moved remaining 

chapters of serials which were showing 

at the former liouse over to the Circle. A 

giant amateur show with prizes, free candy, 

color cartoons and regular screen features 

completed this big-value matinee . . . Al 

Weiss, manager of Paramount's Olympia, is 

temporarily acting as general manager of the 

circuit while George Hoover attends the 

Variety Clubs International convention in 

San Francisco. Going out to the coast with 

Hoover were Arthur Schwartz, Beach Theatre 

manager, and Dan Fitch, the veteran minstrel 

man. 

Eagle Lion finally removed "The Red 

Shoes" from Brandt's Flamingo Friday (6). 

It completed a sensational 19-week run. The 

previous longest Miami run was "Best Years 

of Our Lives," which lasted 11 weeks. "The 

Red Shoes" bears out the prediction of the 

Brandts who said confidently right from the 

beginning, "the theatre will play this film 

all winter" . . . Producer Laurence Schwab, 

his guests and Producer Oscar Hammerstein 

viewed a rehearsal of the University of Miami 

Ring Theatre's production of "The Miser." 

The play is scheduled as a picture vehicle 

for Bette Davis . can't see enough 

of "Hamlet." After a return engagement at 

the Cameo, it moved to the Surf and is now 

back at the Mayfaii' where it played a long 

run earlier in the season. 

Charles Moskowitz, vacationing in Miami 

Beach, says that "Take Me Out to the Ball 

Game," will be called "Everybody's Cheering" 

when it plays England . . . Emile Boreo, 

stricken vfith a serious illness whUe filling 

an engagement here, is improved and is 

headed for France and his mother's home . . . 

Mr. and Mrs. Fi-ank J. 'Wilson are new residents 

here. Wilson is the Secret Service 

chief who trapped Al Capone, and whose exploits 

are shown in a Columbia film, "Undercover 

Man," playing locally. When Columbia 

telephoned Wilson to ask if Glenn Ford was 

right to play the part of the famed chief nf 

detectives, Wilson admitted the only film 

stars he knew were Charlie Chaplin, Mary 

Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks sr. 

"Frankie," said his wife, "that answer put 

the movie industry back 25 years." 

"Little Women" is in its third big week at 

Claughton's Embassy, probably the only time 

in Miami that a picture at popular prices has 

run that long. Claughton publicity man 

George Leonard prepared an attractive special 

front for the theatre with a bright blue 

background as an eye-catcher. Radio spots 

were used to publicize the picture and banners 

were hung in chain stores as a tiein with 

the national promotion of a specially packaged 

"Little Women" breakfast food. A tiein 

with Hallmark also, brought "Little Women" 

cards to the fore in greeting card racks . . . 

"Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" has set an 

attendance record at Wometco's Miracle. 

Long waiting queues are evidence of the 

drawing-power of this film which is proving 

particularly popular with the university students 

in Coral Gables. 

Sonny Shepherd is justly proud of the fact 

that a picture of his two young daughters 

was chosen to adorn the front page of the 

Miami Herald on Monday after Easter typifying 

how Miami youngsters looked in their 

Easter regalia . . . Dr. I.Q. ends his current 

series of broadcasts from the Miami theatre 

with the May 9 performance . in 

answer to many requests, is making every effort 

to bring the popular Milton Berle show 

to its television receivers. Wometco's "Theatre 

of the Air" is fulfilling the hopes of its 

owTiers and, according to station officials, 

progressing well in spite of being a totally 

new medium. Lady wrestlers, televised from 

the Coral Gables coliseum, drew unexpected 

response from setovniers and were mentioned 

in half a dozen newspaper columns as good 

entertainment. 

. . . Other Nassau 

The Claughton Theatres gave a huge beach 

party for all employes. Guests gathered 

around beach fires and enjoyed a picnic supper. 

Participants said they had a wonderful 

Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Corbett have returned 

time . . . 

from Nassau where they spent a short 

vacation. Corbett is general manager for the 

Claughton Interests here 

weekenders recently were Mr. and Mrs. Edward 

Claughton . . . Changes in personnel in 

the Claughton organization: Ernest Jenner 

from the Variety to managership of the Embassy. 

John L. Griffin, formerly at the Circle 

in Miami Springs, now managing the 

Royal in downtown Miami. 

Dover Theatre Destroyed 

DOVER, ARK. The Dover Theatre here 

was destroyed by fire during the night recently. 

Thomas W. Holmes Dies 

SHREVEPORT, LA.—Thomas W. Holmes, 

52-year-old projectionist, died at his home 

here. He had been an operator for the Itist 

30 years. 

Open in Florala, Ala. 

FLORALA, ALA.—The Martin theatre circuit 

scheduled the opening of their new 

Martin Theatre here for May 6, 1949. 


Thus 

I 

Improved Net Income 

For Consolidated, Ltd. 

MONTREAL—Moderately improved net 

income, after taxes, was reported by Consolidated 

Theatres, Ltd., for 1948. Operating 

profit was off slightly from the previous year 

at $301,553. compared with $304,087, while investment 

and other income amounted to $19,- 

306 against $21,017. Tax provision at $83,000 

was $30,000 lower than the preceding year. 

Net profit amounted to $145,414, equal to 43 

cents per share of class B, compared with 

$131,665, or 37 cents a B share in 1947. Net 

working capital .stood at $422,816 compared 

with $401,933 as of Dec. 31, 1947, an increase 

of $20,883. Current assets totaled $514,268 

against $503,978 a year earlier, and current 

144. 

J. Arthur Hirsch, president, reported that 

the company completely modernized the 

Princess Theatre property during the last 

liabilities were $91,452 compared with $102,- 

year. It is intended to write off the costs of 

alterations over a period of five years. Also 

during the year, he says, an associated company 

sold its interests in the Orpheum Theatre 

building, but continues to operate the 

theatre under lease. Current operations, according 

to Hirsch, are on a satisfactory basis. 

Companies of N. A. Taylor 

To Move to New Offices 

TORONTO—Arrangements are being made 

for moving the headquarters of the group 

of companies headed by N. A. Taylor to a 

new office building nearing completion on 

Bloor Street East. The group includes 20th 

Century Theatres, a widespread Ontario circuit 

affiliated with Famous Players Canadian 

Corp., Twinex Corp. and Exhibitors 

Booking Ass'n. 

Head offices of the companies have been 

located for years in the Hermant building, 

21 Dundas Square in lower Toronto, in which 

there are many offices not related to the 

film business. The new 20th Century Theatres 

building is not far from the recently 

opened Towne Cinema, operated by Yvonne 

Taylor, wife of N. A. Taylor. 

Pioneers Stage Smoker 

To Aid Benevolent Fund 

TORONTO — Tlie Canadian Picture Pioneers, 

of which a moving spirit is J. Earl 

Lawson, president of Odeon Theatres of 

Canada, staged a smoker in the Yellow room 

of the King Edward hotel here to aid the 

organization's benevolent fund for which 

there is a cross-Canada drive. 

The tickets for the party, which was restricted 

to members, were $5 each but the 

participants got their money's worth in the 

program and imfailing supply of refreshments. 

Plan Drive-In Shop Center 

MONTREAL—A drive-in shopping center 

to be constructed at West Vancouver by 

British Properties, Ltd., owned by the wealthy 

Guinness brewing family of England and 

Ireland, will include a theatre, as well as 

a department store, hardware store, fiveand-ten, 

a restaurant and an arena. There 

will be parking space for 700 cars. The 

center will cost $1,500,000 and British Properties 

will retain ownership and lease space. 

Theatre Assn of Canada 

Annual Meeting in June 

THE WINNAHS!—Paramount bowlers 

came out in first place in the 'Vancouver 

film exchange league, defeating International 

Film Distributors. The winning 

team members are, left to right: Ray 

Swift. Marg Colbourne, Mickey Stephenson, 

Janet Tande and Jack Colbourne. 

Religious Group Protests 

'Oliver Twist' Screening 

ST. JOHN—Objections to the screening of 

"Oliver Twist" have been lodged with both 

circuit and individual exhibitors by Joshua 

• 

Lieberman, president of the Shaari Zedek 

synagogue and partner in B&L Theatres. He 

once was an independent distributor and later 

district manager for Columbia. 

The objection has been largely on the 

ground that the characterization of Fagin in 

the picture has been based on a caricature, 

rather than the original. far, there 

have been three theatre showings of "Oliver 

Twist" in the maritimes although there have 

been reports of the film being definitely 

booked into spots in St. John, Halifax. Sydney 

or Fredericton. Other organizations also have 

been active in opposing bookings of the film 

which was screened at Amherst, Truro and 

Moncton recently. 

Holiday Midnight Shows 

Okayed by Toronto Board 

TORONTO—Under the new regulations of 

the board of police commissioners, Toronto 

theatres are permitted for the first time in 

years to stage a midnight show in conjunction 

with Victoria day, the legal holiday on 

May 24. 

The midnight show list for the whole year 

covers the following holidays: Dominion day, 

July 1: Civic holiday, August 1; Labor day, 

September 5; Thanksgiving day, October 10: 

Christmas day, December 25: Boxing day, 

December 26, and New Year's day. The arrangement 

was made by A. H. Jolley, executive 

secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres 

Ass'n of Ontario, after negotiations with 

Mayor H. McCallum and Police Chief John 

Chisholm. Previously, local midnight shows 

were restricted to three holidays a year. 

TORONTO—The annual meeting of the 

national committee of the Motion Picture 

Theatres Ass'n of Canada is tentatively 

scheduled for the General Brock hotel, Niagara 

Falls, Ont., toward the end of June. 

The agenda will include consideration of 

tax and legislative situations as they affect 

film busine.s.s. 

The chairman of the national organization 

is J. J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous 

Players Canadian Corp. Arrangements for 

the convention are being handled by A. J. 

Mason, owner of the Capitol at Springhill. 

N. S., and Arch H. Jolley of Toronto, executive 

secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres 

Ass'n of Ontario. Mason is the committee 

secretary and Jolley is assistant. 

The Niagara Falls meeting probably will 

be held after several provincial organizations 

conduct their annual gatherings. The 

Alberta Exhibitors Ass'n has fixed June 5, 6 

for Its annual conference at Banff Springs, 

Alta., while the Manitoba Motion Picture 

Exhibitors Ass'n will meet June 13 at Winnipeg. 

Mining, Smelting Film 

Made by Associated 

MONTREAL—All phases of the vast operations 

of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting 

Co. of Canada have been photographed 

and assembled in a 38-minute color film, produced 

by Associated Screen Studios, with 

Jack McDougall as director. Entitled "No 

Man Is an Island," it shows scenes descriptive 

of the growth of the city of Trail, B. C, 

and its civic accomplishments. It then shifts 

to Kimberly, some 200 miles east and shows 

the production techniques that make the 

Sullivan mine the world's biggest lead-zinc 

producer. 

The company's chemical and fertilizer 

plants at Warfield, where 1,300 tons of fertilizer 

are made every day from the smoke of 

the lead furnaces and zinc roasters also were 

described. 

Background music was written by Lucio 

Agostini of Montreal, cameraman was Bob 

Martin and W. Davidson the narrator. 

Alberta Act Amendment 

Changes Film Labeling 

CALGARY—An amendment to the amusements 

act, issued in the Alberta government 

Gazette, now makes it compulsory to tag all 

advertising with "Family," when a film is 

suitable for children under 16 years old, and 

"Adult," which forbids an exhibitor to admit 

a child under 16 unless accompanied by a 

parent or guardian. 

The amended clause 19 of part three does 

away with the old method of labeling a film 

"Passed U" indicating suitability for childred. 

Exhibitors here are delighted with 

this more lucid tag. They have long contended 

the old method was an obscure description 

which confused parents. 

The change was made by the provincial 

secretary upon the recommendation of Chairman 

P. J. Fleming, Alberta censor board. 


TORONTO 

president J. J. Fitzgibbons and Division 

Manager Morris Stein of Famous Players 

Canadian Corp., went to San Fi-ancisco to 

attend the 13th annual convention of International 

Variety Clubs May 2-6. Fitzgibbons 

is chief barker of the Toronto Tent 28 and 

Stein is first assistant chief barker. The Toronto 

branch has scheduled a meeting on 

May 31 to hear the convention reports from 

the Canadian delegates. 

Angus Jewell, owner of the remodeled Jewel 

at Cannington. staged a handsome party 

May 2 for the reopening of the theatre, formerly 

called the Aldersey. Among the Toronto 

visitors were Dan McPhee of the Ontario 

government theatres branch. President 

H.C.D. Main and Secretary A. H. JoUey of 

the Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario, 

and various exchange representatives. The 

theatre has a new front and new projectors 

and has been redecorated throughout. 

The film trade was more than ordinarily 

interested in the naming of L. M. Frost to 

succeed T. L. Kennedy as the premier of 

Ontario. Frost, as provincial treasurer, has 

had direct jui-isdiction over the censorship 

board, amusement tax and theatre inspection 

. . . Manager E. N. Hubbard of the 

Community at Hamilton received high praise 

from the Hamilton fire department for the 

manner in which he had the theatre emptied 

when a fire swept the building next door. 

The flames caused little damage to the Community 

and the show was resumed as soon 

as the fire was under control. 

Robert Flaherty, producer of "Tlie Louisi- 

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ana Story," was here for the special screening 

of the picture at the Hyland. Flaherty was 

educated at Upper Canada college, Toronto, 

although a native of Michigan. 

Stu Kenney's stage show, which has played 

21 weeks at the Palace, managed by Charlie 

Querrie, has organized a Tuesday night live 

program for the Famous Players' St. Clair 

where it will continue until July 16. The 

weekly show at the Palace has been booked 

until some time in June. Don Hudson has a 

contract for his stage presentations at two 

Odeon units, the Danforth and Humber. 

Dorothy Bromby is a guest artist for the 

Hammond organ at the Danforth while Howard 

Elliott has booked a song and dance 

revue as an added attraction for his Fairlawn 

in North Toronto. 

Mrs. Yvonne Taylor held "Quartet" for a 

fifth week at the International Cinema and 

"Concert Magic" for a second week at the 

new Towne Cinema. 

Jewish Appeal Film Group 

Launches Welfare Drive 

TORONTO—Mrs. Barbara Lawrence, social 

welfare authority of New York City, was the 

guest speaker May 3 at a dinner meeting 

of the campaign committee of the United 

Jewish Appeal film group in the Columbia 

Pictures recreation room. 

Film and theatre executives were guests 

of the committee and included N. A. Taylor, 

Haskell M. Masters, Harry Mandell. Garson 

Soloway, Ben Freedman, Garfield Cass, Larry 

Bearg and Jule Allen, all prominent in the 

Canadian film industry. The purpose of the 

program was to raise contributions for the 

United Jewish welfare fimd, which always 

has been supported substantially by the 

film fraternity. 

Theatres Help Charity 

By Running Trailers 

TORONTO — Toronto area theatres have 

been making good use of special trailers for 

charity drives. Sixty theatres cooperated 

with the Red Shield Appeal of the Salvation 

Army by using trailers during the week of 

May 2 and 75 theatres donated the use of 

their screens starting May 7 for the Milk 

fund tag day of the Canadian Progress club. 

Arrangements were made through Arch H. 

Jolley of the Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n. 

Freda Linton Released 

OTTAWA—A startling turn in the final 

stages of the Russian espionage case in Canada, 

in progress since February 1946, occurred 

when Justice Minister Garson announced in 

the House of Commons that charges had been 

withdrawn against Freda Linton, the last of 

13 alleged Soviet agents. Miss Linton, who 

had been on the missing list for approximately 

three years, recently surrendered after 

another principal, Sam Carr, had been sentenced 

in an Ottawa trial to six years In 

prison on conviction by Judge A. G. Mc- 

Dougall. Carr had been found hiding in New 

York by the FBI. When she gave herself up, 

Miss Linton was found to be pregnant. Before 

her disappearance she had been secretary 

to the commissioner of the National 

Film Board. 

'Pacific' Tallies 125 

To Lead in Toronto 

TORONTO—There were only three holdovers 

at the leading Toronto theatres but all 

were for a third week, these being "Take Me 

Out to the Ball Game" at Loew's, "A Connecticut 

Yankee" at Shea's and "Family 

Honeymoon" at the Uptown. The leader 

among the new pictures was "Canadian Pacific" 

at the Imperial. There was nice business 

for "Monsieur Vincent" at the Odeon- 

Hyland. 


Biltmore—The Winner's Circle (20th-Fox); Thin Ice 

(20th-Fox) _ 100 

Danforth and Humber ^Wake of the Hed Witch 

(Rep), plus stage show 105 

Fairlawn — Captain Caution (UA); Captain Fury 

(UA) *:. .'.100 

Hyland—Monsieur Vincent (EL) 120 

Imperial—Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox) 125 

Loew's—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM), 

3rd wk „ 100 

Odeon Toronto—Tulsa (EL) 100 

Shea's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court (Para), 3rd wk 100 

Tivoli—Enchantment (RKO); Highway 13 (SG) 100 

University and Eglinton — My Dream Is Yours 

(WB) 100 

Uptown Family Honeymoon (U-I), 3rd wk 90 

Victoria-Congorilla (20th-Fox); Borneo (20th-Fox)..I00 

Vancouver Bbxoffices Soar 

With "Set-Up' Strong 

VANCOUVER—The end of Lent and good 

weather generally combined to send theatres' 

boxoffice grosses soaring in spite of daylight 

saving time and night baseball. The "Set-Up" 

was given top space by sports writers and the 

boxing fans came out in force with around 

75 per cent of the audiences being men at 

the dovmtown Cinema. "Mother Is a Freshman" 

at Strand also had an excellent week. 

Capitol A Connecticut Yankee (Pata), 

2nd wk _ Good 

Cinema—Set-Up (RKO) -...Excellent 

Hastings Sword oi the Avenger (Col), plus 

stage show Fair 

Orpheum—Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox): Good 

Paradise Siren of Atlantis (UA); Don't Trust 

Your Husband (Col) Fair 

Plaza Dulcimer Street (EL); Broadway 

Limited (Col) _ Good 

Strand Mother Is a Freshman 

(20th-Fox) _ Very Good 

Studio—The Lost One (Col), 3rd wk Good 

Vogue—Rogues' Regiment (U-I) Fair 

'Canadian Pacific' Draws Capacity 

At Calgary, Near Scene of Films 

CALGARY—The greatest rival to the industry, 

the great outdoors, is already being 

felt here by exhibitors. It is up to the top 

attractions to pick up the cash in the next 

four months. One is just over the horizon, 

the roadshow engagement of "Joan of Arc." 

The local color picture, "Canadian Pacific," 

started off with capacity houses as many 

of the scenes were taken in the nearby foothills, 

but the film may not manage to do a 

holdover as all the excitement of the great 

spiral tunnels, the hazardous crossing of 

mountain gorges, the mountain slides and 

avalanches encountered and great obstacles 

overcome, have been ignored for a romantic 

slant. "The Kissing Bandit" at the Palace 

did not prove very attractive in the family 

theatre. 

Capitol—Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox) Good 

Grand—Mexican Hayride (U-I) 

Good 

Palace—The Kissing Bandit (MGM) Fair 

IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS; 

SPEAKER POSTS 


729 Baltimore 

K. C, Mo. 

112 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949 

kp im

. . Filmcolor 

\ 

Geo. Beeston Elected 

United Corp. Direclor 

MONTREAl.—At the annual general meeting 

of shareholders of United Amusement 

Corp., Ltd., held here, Ernest A. Cousins, 

chairman of the board, stated that earnings 

in the first quarter of 1949 were ahead of 

the same period in 1948 and that the corporation 

looked forward to a good year. 

George H. Beeston was elected a director, 

replacing the late D. Allen Murray. Other 

directors were re-elected. 

At a subsequent meeting of the board, 

John G. Ganetako.s was named first vicepresident 

and William Lester was appointed 

second vice-president and general manager. 

Other officers remained unchanged with 

Cousins as chairman of the board, George 

Ganetakos. president and managing director, 

and W. H. Mannard, secretary-treasurer. 

Beeston is president of General Theatre 

Investment Co., Ltd., Toronto, and a director 

of several other film organizations as well 

as a director of Holt Renfrew, National Drug 

and Belgium Glove. 

Bingo Firetraps Are Being 

Ignored in Maritimes 

ST. JOHN—Maritime theatremen are 

complaining that while safety laws are being 

rigidly enforced at theatres, bingo and card 

halls escape attention. Fireproof theatres 

may not permit smoking, but veritable firetraps 

are jammed with cigaret smoking males 

and females. Often from 400 to 900 persons, 

with tables and chaii-s, are crowded into space 

that should accommodate not more than 

about 100 to 200. Many of the bingo spots 

have only one entrance-exit, and some are 

located upstairs, and in buildings without 

fire escapes or extinguishers. 

The theatremen do not object to church 

congregations and organizations promoting 

bingo for charity occasionally, but exception 

is taken to private promoters who are more 

active each year. Some of these are running 

nightly bingo and affecting theatre patronage. 

A few donate with much flourish a comparatively 

small .sum each year to one or more 

charities. In the event of a fire in one of 

these halls there would surely be a panic 

and casualties in the rush for one or two 

doors available. The chairs and tables would 

be upset in a mad drive outdoors. Practically 

all the bingo halls are wholly of wood and in 

old structures. 

Some of the bingo jousts are so heavily attended, 

many of the patrons stand all through 

the sessions. In a few locations forty-fives, 

auction and bridge continue popular and for 

cash awards. 

CALGARY 

fôntemplatedi construction of a downtown 

theatre in Edmonton has been postponed 

the third straight year . . . Fire destroyed 

for 

six buildings and the Winston Theatre in 

Black Diamond. The theatre is owned by 

J. T. McDonald. He estimated his loss at 

$60,000. 

Morris Saifer, Warner manager here, will 

attend a sales meeting in New York June 8. 

BOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1949 

MONTREAL 

prance Film Co. will construct in Three 

Rivers a 1,400-seat theatre on Des Forges 

street betwen Champlain and Royale. The 

building will measure 60x163 feet. The principal 

entrance will ix 40 feet wide. The first 

floor above the entrance to the theatre also 

will house a store. J. A. DeSeve, president of 

France Film, left for France. He will return 

in mid-June, when construction will get under 

way . is a new French process 

enabling the taking of pictures on two 

films simultaneously, it is reported from Paris 

. . . The French acior-singer Andrex, who.se 

real name is Andre Jaubert, will be seen in 

Canada soon. He will make his first appearance 

at His Majesty's May 15. 

. . . 

J. Arthur Rank's "The Red Shoes" had a 

joint Canadian premiere at the Snowdon 

and Outremont Closing the sea.son of 

the Film Bowling league, a party will be held 

at Rialto hall. May 6. The championship 

match played between Empii-e-Universal 

Eagles and the Cats of Warner Bros, and 

Sovereign Films, was won by the Eagles . . . 

Pat Parker, billing clerk at Empire-Universal, 

established a record for women bowlers, 

rolling 171 in one game and a total of 384 

in three games. 

Ted Atkinson, manager of Canadian Films, 

reports the Harry J. Allen drive, which ends 

August 29, is "going very well." with .such 

pictures as "I Shot Jesse James," "Mozart 

Story" and "Under the Red Robe" being reported 

by exhibitors as "real money-makers." 

. . . Eloi Cormier, salesman of 

. . . Loui.se 

Peter Lambert, Alliance Films salesman, 

returned from a successful selling tour of 

the province 

Peerless Films, reports brisk business in the 

eastern townships, from which he has just 

Francoise Michaud, sales representative 

returned . . . 

for J. Arthur Rank Hanson 16mm, 

has gone to Rawdon on business 

Dagenais, stenographer, replaced Patricia 

Courtney at RKO. 

. . . Congratulations 

Mort Prevost, manager of Quebec Cinema 

Booking, weekended in Vermont 

are being showered on Gerry 

Chernoff, manager of International Film 

Distributors, and his wife, parents of a 

baby boy ... "A People Eternal," Jewish 

dialogue film, with English titles, was a 

holdover at the Mount Royal, where it is reported 

to have created a new high record 

for Jewish films. 

NFB Aides Display Art 

OTTAWA—Ross McLean, government film 

commissioner, pre.sided at the offical opening 

of the second annual art exhibition in the 

Graphics gallery when the works of 24 employes 

of the National Film Board went on 

display dui'ing May. The exhibits include 

paintings and other art entries of staff members 

who were actually artists or had taken 

up the bru.sh as a hobby. Most of the scenes 

are of a local nature. The display was arranged 

imder the direction of Mrs. Dorothy 

Macpherson, director of the NFB gallery. 

The NFB art group was started five years 

ago by Arnold L. Barkes, director of the 

board's posters office. 

To Screenplay His Original 

Dwight Taylor will screenplay his original, 

"Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous" for Paramount. 

Maritime Premiere Held 

For 'Hamlet' in St. John 

ST. JOHN—The maritime province premiere 

of "Hamlet" was held April 25-30 at 

the 769-seat Strand here. One price, $1.50, 

prevailed each night, with one screening 

starting at 8:30. All seats were reserved. 

Three matinees, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 

were held at 2:30 only and at $1 admission. 

These were among the highest boxoffice 

tariffs in the maritimes' exhibiting 

history. It was stressed in the advertising 

that the English picture had taken five 

Academy awards. 

Ticket-Ad Hookup 

PETERBORO. ONT.—The Famous Players 

Regent worked an effective .stunt for one 

week, using its newspaper advertisement as 

the coupon for double pass prizes. Readers 

of the Peterboro Examiner were asked to clip 

out the newspaper ad and present it when 

buying a ticket at the Regent. Pas.ses were 

given to piu'chasers of tickets bearing a serial 

number with the even "100." This meant 

that every 100th customer received passes if 

a clipping from the newspaper could be produced. 

Complete 

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system ouFitonding In th* 

field. Greater powerl Greater 

Nexibilityl The Soundmaster 

In-a-cor speakers are rugged 

ond efficient, and cost far lesi 

than anything comparoble In 

quality. Also ovolloble art 

Soundheads, Hi-Tllt 6aiea« 

llghtmotter lamps. Rectifiers, 

Exciter Supplies, Prolectori. 

Also, Quonset Theatre Buildings, Luxurious Theatre 

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sound and projection engineers. 

PERKINS ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. 

2027 Bleury St., Montreal 

277 Victoria St., Toronto 


USED THEATRE CHAIRS 

All lots in A-1 condition at only $3.75 each. Now 

located along Ccmadicm border. All chcdrs guaranteed 

and fuU reiund will be made ii dissatisfied. 

Terms offered if so desired. Contact us 

today while the seledions are unlimited. 

ALBANY THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1046 BROADWAY Phone 5-5055 ALBANY, N. Y. 

113

mmm 

. . Frank 

. . Mail 

. . When 

. . "The 

ST. 

JOHN 

"The boxoffice appeal of "St. Francis of Assisi," 

made in Mexico with English subtitles, 

was heightened here at a preview in 

the Mayfair arranged by Franklin & Herschorn, 

owners of the theatre, and Maurice 

Elman, maritime manager for Alliance Films. 

Elman and the owners teamed in screening 

the film for Catholic and protestant clergymen. 

A list of the clergy was compiled and 

each individual was contacted by letter and 

telephone in behalf of the preview. For the 

three-day run of the picture children from 

district orphanages were guests and were 

provided with transportation. 

For 50 cents, the Empire offered "Abbott 

and Costello in Hollywood" and "Campus 

Sleuth," in addition to Frank's Radio Cowboy 

show, on a midnight bill. For the regular 

night show, the price for the combination was 

40 cents . . . Alex Demerson, partner of Nick 

Vassis in the Empires here and at Halifax, 

was named treasm-er of the local Greek 

church organization. He is active in a project 

to build a new church near the Empire. 

Heading western and hillbilly troupes touring 

the maritimes theatres and halls are 

Jerry Anderson, Tex Roach, Don Berry, Billy 

Caswell, Billy Whelan, Don Diamond, Ned 

Landry, Alex Arseneau and Bill Waters . . . 

The trend toward stage presentations was on 

the upswing here as maritime exhibitors 

sought means to combat daylight saving time, 

fine weather, sports and other summer pas- 

in on "Mexican Hayride" at the Garrick, 

but the timely appearance of a patrolman 

forced them to flee. The policeman, trying 

doors in the early morning, found a front 

door open, and also the doors to the manager's 

office and stockroom. The safe contained 

the receipts for the previous day. 

At the local Mayfair, Manager Sam Babb 

emphasizes courtesy, and practices what he 

preaches, too. One of the angles he plays 

up is the retrieving of articles lost in the 

theatre. The owners are notified by telephone, 

mail or personally if identification is 

available. If there is no identification, the 

item is kept in the office for a month, and 

then transferred to the basement. Often, in 

response to a telephone call, the manager 

heads for the basement and digs through the 

boxes of uncalled for things in an effort to 

locate the described article. After holding 

unreturned things for three months, he turns 

them over to local homes for orphaned children 

. a lost fishing boat was 

found. Manager Ernie Hatfield rushed to the 

Capitol in Yarmouth and had the news announced 

from the stage before the local radio 

station broadcast it. 

OTTAWA 

prancisque Gay, French ambassador to Canada, 

was the special guest at a screening 

of "Vieux Airs, Nouveaux Pas," a Frenchlanguage 

times. 

short subject of the National Film 

Board which picturizes the folk songs and 

Florence Gallagher of St. John's, N. F.. 

dances of the province of Quebec . . . The 

was a guest of the Tyrone Powers at a cocktail 

party in Rome recently. Miss Gallagher on April 30 of "Capital National Planning," 

Centre was the scene of the "world premiere" 

is touring Europe while working with occupation 

authorities in Austria . Sinatra ment of the capital city as a federal district 

an important film dealing with the develop- 

attracted no attention during a half hour with many beautiful buildings, bridges and 

stopover at Gander au-port terminal. He was driveways. The 20-minute picture, which 

en route from England to New York. 

aroused considerable local interest, was added 

to the regular theatre program by Manager 

Front changes at the Capitol in Halifax 

include a large new 

Gordon Beavis. 

vertical sign extending 

from a new marquee to the building roof. The 

marquee is smaller but more strongly Manager Henry Marshall of the Regent 

lighted 

than its predecessor. The size reduction was 

opened "Joan of Arc" May 4, $1.20 and continuous 

performances . Set-Up" was 

occasioned by the new trackless trolley service 

recently 

screened a 

instituted in the city . . . Charles 

week in advance for an invited 

Frost, who left the Halifax Armview 

audience 

recently 

by Manager Don Watts of the 20th 

as manager, now is with a liquid air firm 

Century Theatres' Nelson. 

in 

Halifax and Dartmouth. His successor at the 

Ai-mview was Fred Lausanne, who has had With the Ottawa Odeon nearing completion, 

there has been a flow of head office 

theatre experience. 

officials from Toronto for periodic inspections 

Shirley Anne Murray, daughter of Ned 

of the Bank street structure. Bill Devitt, 

Murray, manager of the Halifax Gaiety, is supervisor of projection, came in by plane 

convalescing at her parents* home after undergoing 

Mayfair 

to check the installation of Gaumont-Kalee 

surgery . projectors and the electric wiring around 

. . of the here have been using the mails to stiffen the booth and on stage. Leslie Kemp, Odeon 

the morale of Mary Hogan, for a dozen years architect, went over the whole theatre for a 

cashier at that theatre who now is a patient thorough inspection, and Archie Laurie, promotion 

manager, has been in and out several 

In the hospital at Moncton . orders 

were given special attention at the Strand times to prepare for the opening on May 13. 

here in promoting patronage for the week's 

booking of "Hamlet." Order forms were inserted 

A visitor was Alf Walker, General Electric 

in local papers to be filled out and supervisor for Roxborough Electric, Ltd., To- 

mailed to the Strand. 

The dissolution of parliament April 

ronto . . . 

Two thieves must have figured on cashing 

30 to prepare for the general election June 

27 means a further delay in the inauguration 

of television in Canada, it was stated 

by A. D. Dunton. chairman of the Canadian 

PRE-FABRICATED STEEL 

SCREEN TOWERS 

LOW PRICES — PROMPT SHIPMENT 

Broadcasting Corp. He pointed out that the 

session came to an end without a vote being 

put through for the $4,000,000 government 

loan to the CBC for the development of the 

network's video system. 

VANCOUVER 

'tjerb Stevenson of Strand in Pi-ince George, 

Walter Kennedy, Canadian general manager 

for Sovereign Films, and Jay Smith, 

president of Alliance Films were visitors . . . 

The wife of Jack Hughes, British Columbia 

Somer James, Alliance 

censor head, died . . . 

Films Winnipeg manager, is the father of a 

Arthur Martin, Capitol Theatre 

baby boy . . . 

treasurer, resigned. He is succeeded by Earl 

Barlow, assistant manager from the International 

Cinema. Both houses are FPC. 

The British Columbia censor board is moving 

its offices from the courthouse downtown 

to the new government building on Burrard 

street . . . George Oullahan, Foto-Nite head, 

installed the gimmick in two Famous Players 

theatres, one here and the other in Victoria. 

He said Foto-Nite now is being used in 155 

theatres. 

The Edmonton Canadian Picture Pioneers 

sponsored a midnight preview at the Capitol 

Theatre there for its benevolent fmid . . . Leo 

Sweeney, who resigned from the provincial 

appeal board, was succeeded by Mrs. Cleasland, 

which makes it two women and one 

man on the board . Now that the two fight 

pictures 

. . 

"Set-Up" and "The Champion" are 

doing top business, Warner Bros, should 

bring back "Gentleman Jim" many exhibitors 

here say. 

Maynard Joiner, FPC supervisor, was 

elected president of the Vancouver Rotary 

Gordy Brown of General Theatre 

club . . . 

Supply Co. will marry Mary Etchells, on the 

staff of the downtown Dominion, in June . . . 

David Gilfllan of the local 'WB staff resigned 

to become British Columbia manager for the 

Rank 16mm company. He succeeds Richard 

S. Lambert, transferred to Winnipeg. 

The provincial fire marshal's department 

is putting into effect new regulations requiring 

theatres to put in emergency exit lighting 

Canada's National Film Board will 

. . . make two documentary movies in British 

Columbia this summer, one dealing with the 

lumber industry and the other with rural 

health and hospital services . . Harry 

. 

Howard of Theatre Equipment Supply left 

for Salmon Arm to equip the new Community 

Theatre in that fruit town. 

The censor board recently added six films 

to the "adult entertainment" list. These are 

"South of St. Louis," "Incident," "Affairs of 

a Rogue," "Set-Up," "Look Before You Love," 

"I Shot Jesse James." "Smugglers' Cove" has 

been reclassified for general patronage . . . 

Charlie Doctor of Capitol here and Lloyd 

Muir are out to do a top enchanting job on 

RKO's "Enchantment." Special treatment 

and class tieins are the order of the day 

with the theatre holding an invitational performance 

on opening day for civic officials 

and their wives, symphony and women's 

page editors. 

Mike Stevenson, Paramount booker, and 

Mary Easton, WB cashier, are back at work 

in the film building after honeymoons. 

Jimmy Davie, RKO manager, left on a sales 

trip in the interior. 

Appears as Himself 

George McManus will appear as himself In 

the Monogram picture, "Jackpot Jitters." 

fourth of the Bringing Up Father series. 

114 

BOXOFFICE :: May 7, 19*5

MAY 7, 1949 

Construction * Equipment * Maintenance 

T^B^H'

This is the American Bodifortn retractor, product of years of basic engineering 

research and exhaustive tests—necessary in order to produce a 

retracting chair fine enough to be offered under the American Bodiform 

name. It has the famed Bodiform back, scientifically contoured for perfect 

postural comfort. The seat is full-upholstered, with spring-arch construction. 

Here is the American Bodiform retractor in fully retracted position, 

with the seat at the ^^ safety-fold which all Bodiform seats assume when 

unoccupied. The seat has concealed, self-aligning hinge construction

ji.]%cEic]:cim.]«r SEim.fxivo e o ]%«: Pi%.]vy 

annoiiiices ne^têst addition to their Bodiform line 

0^/^ô^^my 

American seating coMPA^^ has lont; been aware of the 

desire for rctractins; chairs among a numhcr of theatre 

patrons. Over a period of years, our engineering staff has 

tested many constructions of retracting chairs, but not until 

now have they been able to approve a chair of this type that 

they were convinced was fully up to American Bodiform 

standards of performance and design. 

The new American 

Bodiform rlirac;tok is therefore ofTered to theatre operators 

with pride, and confidence that their patrons will 

say 

it is the perfect retracting chair. (Now you can have American 

Bodiform retractors on the main floor and companion 

Bodiform Chairs throughout the rest of your theatre.) 

1. Silent, long-wearing "swing" mechanism— The 

American Bodiform retractor does not roll or 

slide. The seat is suspended from two "oilite," 

seif-lubricating bearings on each side. The 

mechanism is silent, smooth and easy. 

2 • Mere shifting ol weight easily retracts chair— Most 

patrons are women and children, whose feet do 

not readily reach floor. No foot action needed 

with Bodiform retractor. Motion of chair 

back is co-ordinated with occupant*s motion. 

# m 

3. No hazards— mechanism completely shielded- 

Mechanism of Bodiform retractor is shielded 

—clothing cannot be caught or soiled. And 

sturdy design of cast-iron standards insures 

rigid support and smooth operation. 

4. Automatically assumes ^^ safety-fold 

—When vacated, the Bodiform 

RETRACTOR always assumes % safetyfold 

position, to simplify passing for 

patrons. Safer, too, in emergencies. 

5. Rigorously tested in our laboratory Kxh.iusiive laboratory tests 

of the American Bi>fiiform retractor simulate years of actual use. 

In one test (pictured), the seat, fully loaded, is retracted hundreds 

of UVXTs of times! This is typical of American's many tests to 

insure long, uninterrupted service. 

6. Easy housekeeping — Retracting 

and folding mechanisms concealed. 

Space below seat is entirely open for 

fast, economical housekeepings 

elTecting a big annual saving in labor. 

IN ADDITION TO THE BODIFORM RETRACTOR FEATURES PICTURED. HERE ARE SOME 

OF THE OTHER ADVANTAGES WHICH MEAN MUCH TO THEATRE OWNERS: 

ic Bodiform retractors can be used on any incline, because there is no mechanism 

underneath chair. 

WORLD'S LEADER IN PUBLIC SEATING 

it Improved method of upholstering eliminates tacks — any damaged upholstery 

quickly replaceable by custodian. 

-k All moving parts, except the self-lubricating bearing points on each side of seat, are 

treated \sith "Parkerlube"—for long, smooth, silent functioning without lubrication. 

No other retracting chair offers you all the advantages of the new American Bodiform 

retractor. Whether you are planning a new theatre or reseating, write now for 

full information! 

Grand Rapids 2, Michigan • Branch Offices and Distributors in Principal Cities 

Manufacturers of Theatre. Auditorium. Church. School, Transportation, 

Stadium Seatmg, and Folding Chairs

Flavors can be inter-mixed as cup is 

H Full 

information about successful Super- 

Vend- operation on request! 

SuperVend is 

the equivalent of THREE 

single drink machines in ONE! 

'Robert W. Horton, 

Production Engineer 

SuperVend gives you increased sales 

and increased profits without extra cost! 

smnpnVpnJL c ORPORATION 

2506 CEDAR SPRINGS AVENUE • DALLAS. TEXAS 

The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

International Chair, 

uphoUtercd in Coodalt "Clarcmont" fabric, 

Here's why 

itpays to specify 

''PERFORMANCE TESTED " 

GOODALL FABRICS 

for your tfieatre 

LONGER WEAR . . .Years of scientific researcli have gone 

into making Goodall Fabrics . . . both plastic and woven 

. . . the perfect answer to theatre seating needs. Their extra 

long wear is the result of built-in stamina. That's why 

Goodall Fabrics stay new looking longer even on your 

most-used aisle seats. 

GREATER COMFORT. . 

.Goodall Fabrics are designed to 

give luxurious, non-clinging comfort wherever they are 

used. 

This comfort brings your patrons back again and 

again . . . and satisfied patrons mean added profits for you. 

LOW-COST MAINTENANCE ...Goodall Fabrics help keep 

your operating costs down. They are blended to resist all 

types of soil and abuse. They clean easily and quickly... 

ordinary stains come off with ease. 

"JEncorc" Theatre 

Chair hi/ Hnjwooil 

Wakefield 

upholstered tvith 

Gnodall "Redo'' 

pla.itic seat and 

"Clarcmont" back. 

GOODALL FABRICS "Redo" and "Claremont" 

on the chairs illustrated are both 

available noio in a wide range of beautiful 

colors, interesting textures. 

OoodoU 

THE FINEST NAME IN FABRICS 

J^'^ -^ 

i^ 

©1949 bvGoodoll.Sanlorc), Inc. Sole Mokers of World-Fomous PAIM BEACH* Cloth ond Suits •Reglsiefed Trade Mark 

GOODALL FABRICS, INC. new yoric • boston • Chicago • Detroit- san francisco • los angeles 

BOXOmCE :: May 7, 1949

I 

I 

I 

MANUFACTURES 

BOTH 

SLIDE-BACK 

AND 

STATIONARY CHAIRS 

Designed and engineered to assure deep spring cushioned 

comfort and perfect posture regardless of floor conditions in 

relation to the screen. 

IDEAL CHAIRS 

ARE 

AMERICA'S PREFERRED 

THEATRE SEATING 

IDEAL SXw^V^MYs. CHAIRS 

ELIMINATE STANDING 

100% MORE PASSING SPACE. Six inches of smooth, eiioitless lelraction. 

No humps. No jarring. Self-adjusting posture. 

NO DISTURBANCE TO THOSE BEHIND. 

THE ONLY CHAIR AFFORDING 100-" 

.v^tvi 

MV^ 

IDEAL SEATING COMPANY 

511 Ann St., N. W. Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Q Please send literature on Ideal Slide-Back Chairs. 

f~J Please send literature on Ideal Streamliner Chairs. 

D 

f [ 

NAME 

THEATRE 

STREET - 

Please send literature on Ideal Plywood Chairs. 

am planning on reseating my theatre. 

I am building a new theatre. 

CITY AND STATE 

THE IDEAL \tteafftunetL INES 

Three types of free working hinges—direct ball bearing—lull compensating 

all steel ball bearing—and full-floating self-rising. Adjustment 

of the spring tension on self-rising seats is easily accessible without 

the necessity of removing seat cushions. Seats and backs are, however, 

easily removable for reupholstering. 

IDEAL 

ALSO 

OFFERS 

a complete line of strong, durable 

veneer chairs for use where 

unusually severe treatment is 

encountered and where price is 

a factor. 


**/ wohe up 

in my own 

theatre!*^ 

"Business was bad. I 

was booking the 

best pictures available but people still 

were going across the street to my competitor. 

I couldn't figure what was wrong. 

Then one day I took a seat among . . , 

. . . "the patrons, and watched and listened. 

The woman in front of me was 

fanning herself. "Isn't this heat terrible,* 

she muttered. 'I'll never come in here 

again!' Right then I WOK£ UP! 

"Yes, lack ofair-conditioning was wrecking 

my business. I called the local Airtemp 

dealer, and had their 'Packaged' 

unit installed. Just 5 days later I had a 

'standing-room-only' crowd!" 

Certainly YOU, too, want air conditioning . . . and for best value for your 

money, be sure it's Chrysler Airtemp. They are factory-assembled, factory-tested, 

backed by 12 years of proved dependability. Each unit has the famous Airtemp 

Sealed Compressor for longer life. Airtemp units deliver perfectly-regulated, 

draft-free cooling — quietly and at a low cost. Easily installed—no complex 

duct-work. More Airtemp units are in use than any other make. Get further 

.facts—mail the coupon or call your local member of Airtemp's nation-wide 

dealer organization today. (See Yellow Pages of Phone Book). 

Chrysier 

Airtemp 

''PACKAGED'' AIR CONDITIONING 

CENTRAL STATION SYSTEMS 

HEATING AND COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION 

3iuil this coupon toduy! 

AIRTEMP DIVISION OF CHRYSLER CORPORATION 

DAYTON 1, OHIO 


A Lifetime of Service and Beauty 

Ser\ ice because Poblocki alimiinum poster cases 

are formed of the heaviest possible aluminum 

extrusions of an) case made. 

And that means a lifetime 

of beauty for \our theatre 

front, because these cases 

can be alumilited in sparkling 

color . . . color that 

remains lustrous and brilliant 

throughout the life of 

the case. 

Also available in 

Sparkling Stainless Steel 

CHECK THESE 

EXCLUSIVE ADVANTAGES 

linisibte Hinges 

Water Proof 

Cylinder Lock 

Weatherstrip 

to 

change attraction signs 

You CAN SAVJ: 85,% of your attraction board changeover time! You 

CAN ELIMINATE HAZARDS of changing letters and cleaning your 

marquee from windswept ladders on icy pavements ! You CAN change 

to a Poblocki patented INNER SERVICE marquee on your theatre 

NOW at a minimum of cost! One man recently made a complete 

change on an attraction board 39 feet long, four lines high in 20 

MINUTES! The SAME work necessitated TWO MEN WORKING 

TWO HOURS before the adoption of the INNER SERVICE marquee! 

Check These All-Star Features!! 

^ Permits varied use oj 

color oj attraction boards. 

Change with the season! 

•^ Turns maintenance efficiency 

into dollars and cents.' 

•^ Current attraction trailers 

can be run on marquee.' 

^ All changes made from 

INSIDE! 

if 100% light efficiency at 

all times at 10% of present 

cost! 

if Sate 75% on electrical 

bills and 75% in lamp cost. 

if Provides convenient and 

efficient storage area for letters, 

lamps and cleaning materials! 

if PAYS FOR ITSELF IN FROM 3 TO 5 YEARS! 

OTHER POBLOCKI PRODUCTS 

Complete Porcelain and Stainlest Steel Theatre Fronts • 

Marquees • Signs • Boi Offices • Poster Cases, Aluminum and 

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Frames • Pre-Designed Theatre Plans. 

J^^&MaefZc A9tv so/fs 

"-^ 

2IS9 S KINNICKINr

EASY 

CLOSED, 

. FULL 

. SILENT, 

e 

FOR 

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IN CHAIRS 

New steel aisle standards ol graceful, sweeping 

design — available in a choice of highly attractive 

decorations — make the Irwin Comet more than 

ever the outstanding value in theatre seating. 

addition to very pleasing appearance and su- 

In 

premely luxurious comfort, this chair possesses 

such highly important structural superiorities as 

these: 

SMOOTH STEEL SEAT BUCKET completely concealing 

working parts AUTOMATIC 

, 

SEAT LIFTING MECHANISM which lines up all 

unoccupied seats at exactly three-quarter fold 

. . . COMPENSATOR for radius and inaccuracies 

in floor . FULL-DEPTH STEEL CEN- 

TER STANDARDS . LENGTH STEEL 

BACK PANEL affording full protection to seat 

cushion, with curled back edge to protect upholstering 

. REUPHOLSTERING FEATURE 

—no tacks are required, just slip on cover and clip 

to steel frame Seats axe easily removed from 

bucket 

All these features combined in a chair of moderate 

price constitute one of the finest investments 

in theatre seating you could possibly make. 

7iJ%cte . . 

for further information 

and prices. REASONABLY 

PROMPT DELIVERY. 

IRWIN SEATING COMPANY 

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 

BOXOmCE :: May 7, 1949

Florida theatres make 

Bigelow Carpets 

1^ Ûl^XSP^'if 

BIGELOW 

Rugs -Carpets 

main decorative feature! 

"Custom" Lokweave inlay for the Miracle Theatre 

lounge (Coral Gables. Fla. ). An unusual multicolor 

motif adds distinction as it picks up the lounge color 

scheme. The carpet is Bigelow's famous long-wearing 

Gropoint, in the Lokweave construction that makes possible 

many individual effects like this. 

Rich tropical design for the Trail Theatre lobby (Miami. 

V\&. ] . One of the many striking, clear-cut patterns 

in the Bigelow Contract line, which offers new horizons 

of beauty and luxury to theatre owners who want to 

achieve out-of-the-ordinary effectiveness in their carpet 

installations. 

Installations by the Miami Rug Co., in collaboration 

with Bigelow's Carpet Counsel. 

Consult Bigelow's Carpet Counsel for free advice on 

your carpet problems! Our experts will work with your 

architect or decorator in planning tlie ideal installations 

for your theatre. One of the 26 Bigelow Carpet Counsel 

BigeloAv 

Rugs and Carpets 

offices is near you, waiting for your call. 

Beauty you can see . . . quality you can irust . , . since 7825 

10 


ike a winner 

. ..and 

be one! 

The theatre that presents an attractive front 

—that is modern and inviting inside and outis 

a real winner. It attracts more patrons, increases 

profits. 

Your theatre can he a winner, too, if you 

modernize with Pittshurgh Glass and Pittco 

Store Front Metal. .And when you modernize, 

do it right ... no half-way joh! Dollar-wise 

operators ail over the country have proved that 

the complete modernization of their theatres 

has been a sound investment which has resulted 

in the immediate improvement of their 

hiismesses. 

When modernizingyour theatre, consult your 

architect. He is familiar with Pitsburgh Products 

and will give you a design that is wellplanned 

and economical. We will be glad to 

lielp both of you in every way possible. If you 

wish, you can arrange for convenient terms 

through the Pittsburgh Time Payment Plan. 

In the meantime, why not send for a free 

copy of our modernization book, "Modern 

Ways for Modern Days".' It contains illustrations 

and descriptions of remodeled theatres, 

and projected designs by some of the world's 

foremost architects. Just return the coupon. 

rittsliurftli Plate (Mass C(iin|)aliy 

JIH:;-!! Craiit UuiMiri!;. PittsbulKli HI. Pa. 

Without (ibliKatimi on my part, please seiiil nic a trke 

enpy of >

and make box office 

I 

"National" H.I. Arc- 

" Brightest spot 

The term "National*' 

is a registered trade mark of 

NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. 

Unit of 

Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation 

[IH3 

30 East 42nd Street. New York 17. N.Y. 

Division Sales Offices: 

Atlanta. Chicago. Dallas, Kansas City. 

New "^'ork, Pittsburgh, San Francisco 

In the worlil > 

12 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

MAY 7, 1949 

VOL. XVI. No. 5 

o n t n t 

Keeping Up With Seating Developments 14 

Restful Comfort — How It is Achieved 16 

Seating Outside the Auditorium 18 

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine Robert Haase 22 

Ingenuity + Initiative + Sales 'Engineering' i- Courtesy 

= Popcorn Merchandising 25 

Candy Bars with a 'Come-On' Look ^ 30 

How We Operate Our Drive-ins Albert H. Reytiolds 38 

Emphasis on Eye Appeal 44 

Want to Be a Drive-in Projectionist? Gray Barker 48 

Amplifiers and Their Components Frank H. Champlin 50 

Ready for Another 35 Years Hanns R. Teicbert 53 

Let's Take a Look at the 

New Richmond Theatre, 

Cleveland, Ohio 56 

Make Your Theatre 'Panic Proof Me/v;'n R. Freeman 60 

Laminated Arches Used to Simplify Construction 64 

What's Available in Seat Coverings? 67 

DEPARTMENTS 

Public Seating 14 Public Safety 

Refreshment 

Service 

60 

25 New Equipment and 

Developments 68 

Drive-ins 38 .... rv .. 

What to Do About— 76 

Cine Clinic 48 Literature 77 

Decorating 53 About People and Product 78 

ON THE COVER 

Advertising Index 80 

As enjoyment of motion pictures depends to a considerable 

extent on physical relaxation the quest for making theatre seats 

even more comfortable and attractive can be expected to continue. 

Our cover photo shoios Heywood-Wake field's streamlined 

Encore chairs, the all-steel back panels of ichich extend 

below the bottoms of the seats to prevent patrons from catching 

their toes between the seats and the backs. 

SUCCESSFUL theatre showmanship 

involves more than exploitation 

of coming attractions. 

The house appeal of a theatre is a 

most saleable item^-one that is here 

this week and every week—a perennial 

attraction. 

Take an installation of 

new seating, 

for example. Not enough exhibitors 

seem to realize that in a new seating 

installation they have a real added attraction, 

one that will draw and help 

retain pxitronage, one that warrants 

aggressive sales promotion. 

Publicizing the comfort and patron 

convenience provided by modern theatre 

seats is not a difficult job. 

Seat mcmufacturers cooperate with 

exhibitors by providing merchandising 

aids such as mats of appropriate ads 

which may be included with comingattraction 

ads at small additional expense, 

ready-to-release publicity 

stories for both newspapers and radio 

that effectively highlight the advantages 

offered by new seats, displays 

and decals, handout circulars, streamers, 

case histories of successful seating 

promotions, trailers, etc. Sample 

seats may be placed in the lobby with 

an invitation extended to passersby to 

try out the seating innovations. And, 

sample seats, along with appropriate 

displays, often may be placed to good 

advantage in nearby furniture stores, 

auto showrooms and other places 

where people congregate. 

Changeable copy equipment may be 

utilized in presenting catchy marquee 

messages, like, "Dad's favorite chair 

will be empty often after he has tried 

those extra-comfy seats in our smoking 

loges," used by Jim Hardman, veteran 

showman in charge of Odeon's 

Donforth, Toronto. 

Yes, the comfort features of your 

theatre are real news—good news, to 

the people of your community. Playing 

them up properly can't help but pay 

dividends in the form of immediate returns 

at the boxoffice and longpull 

profits created by building goodwill. 

FLOYD M. MIX, Managing Editor 

HERBERT ROUSH, Sales Manager 

Published the first Saturday of each month by Associcrted Publications and included as a 

section in all editions of BOXOFFICE. Editorial 

mg 

or general business correspondence relat- 

o The MODERN THEATRE secUon should be addressed to tlie Publisher, 825 

Brunt Blvd., Van 

Kansas City 1, Mo. Eastern Representative: A. J. Stocker, 9 Rockefeller Plaza 

New York 20, N. Y. Central Representative: Ralph F. Scholbe, 624 So. Michigan Ave.,

Left. RCA's model 1000 International all-steel 

theatre chair features a removable Comfort 

Cushion. Enclosed in the Comfort Cushion is 

a space-saver hinge which gives the seat positive 

travel stop in both raised and lowered 

positions. 

Right. The Bodiform seat by American Seating, 

automatically rises to three-fourths fold when 

unoccupied. The spring-arch seat creates a 

cradle-form base which distributes weight over 

a maxium area and relieves pressures against 

calves of the legs. 

KEEPING UP WITH SEATING DEVELOPMENTS 

Interesting Information About Features of Late-Model Tfieatre Seats 

o.'uR FEATURE theme this month, 

"Seating Service," focuses the spotlight on 

theatre seating and patron comfort. What 

can be more conducive to a pleasant evening 

at the theatre than a comfortable seat 

so placed that no squirming or neck 

stretching is required to see what's happening 

on the screen? 

The report which follows gives up-todate 

information on developments in the 

seating field, with emphasis on the mechanical 

features of the seats. 

AMERICAN SEATING CO. 

This company is currently announcing 

a new chair, the Bodifonn Retractor, 

which is being introduced to the trade in 

a series of regional showings. This is the 

first retractor-type chair manufactured by 

the company. American Seating is formally 

announcing this addition to its Bodiform 

line in this issue of The Modern Theatre. 

The Retractor is the result of many 

years of basic engineering research and 

testing. The feature of the "swing" mechanism 

is that the retractor does not roll 

or slide, as the seat actually is suspended 

from two "oilite" self-lubricating bearings 

on each side. This makes for a silent and 

smooth movement. It is also pointed out 

that no foot action is needed to retract the 

seat, a factor of importance to children 

and short-legged adults. The motion of 

the chair back is coordinated with the occupant's 

motion. 

The chair has no unshielded mechanism 

and can be used on any incline because 

there is no mechanism beneath the seat. 

This Retractor chair is an addition to 

American's regular Bodiform Une which 

provides a simple, sturdy and attractive 

theatre chair that conforms to the human 

anatomy. The Bodiform back is broad in 

the shoulder, with a form-fitting waist 

support and roominess for the hips to 

spread the weight of the back over the entire 

back area. The pitch of the back is 

variable to meet differing floor and space 

conditions. It is long enough to project 

below the seat and eliminate toe-pinching 

hazards. 

The spring-arch seat creates a cradleform 

base which distributes the weight of 

the body over a maximum area and relieves 

tedious pressures against the calves of the 

legs. The seat has a % safety-fold which 

combines safety with convenience. 

The American Seating Co. has formulated 

its own enamel which exceeds the 

rigid requirements set up by the company's 

testing laboratories, and it is available in a 

wide range of colors. Other vital parts are 

rust-proofed by various modern methods. 

GRIGGS EQUIPMENT CO. 

The Griggs line of theatre seats is constructed 

with form-fitting laminated wood 

or multispring cushioned seats and upholstered 

backs. The cushions and backs are 

mounted at the right angle to allow customers 

to relax in any position. 

. . . ballbearing 

Added attractions claimed for Griggs 

chairs include: Quiet operation 

and rubber-cushion hinges 

assure 

easy, silent operation. Smooth construction 

. . . strong, tubular design with smooth 

edges, leaving no rough spots to snag or 

damage clothing. There is wide selection 

of coverings and choice of many different 

designs and color combinations. 

Griggs chairs are available with Aislelites 

stamped into the end standard near 

the floor level. These lights are out of the 

way, yet cast a beam of light directly on 

the floor, providing an added convenience 

to patrons. The chairs are available either 

with or without monograms on the aisle 

standards. 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD CO. 

The 1949-1950 line of Heywood-'Wakefield 

theatre seating is geared to fit the 

comfort and price prerequisites of all operators 

from small independents to large 

chains. The line includes models from allveneer 

seats and backs to the super-elegant, 

all upholstered and spring-filled units 

of Heywood-Wakefield's patented springbase 

design. 

All chairs are steel—end standards, centers, 

hinges, and framework. On the 

spring-filled models, steel bottom pans and 

steel backs are added. In the two deluxe 

spring-base chairs < which automatically 

adjust themselves to paramount comfort) 

the end standards are steel also with 

chrome-plated trim. The spring base mechanism 

is of spring steel. 

All chairs are available in an assortment 

of finishes all of which are applied electrostatically 

and then hardened by baking the 

enamels onto the steel parts. This insures 


Left. Kroehler Push-Bock seat in retracted position. 

A characteristic of this seat is the pushbock 

feature which permits five and threefourths 

inches of poising space, fieloxing the 

body returns the seat to the original seating 

position. 

Right. The Encore chair by Heywood-Wokefield 

stresses the proper relationship between the 

pitch of the back and the pitch of the seat. 

The design of the end standard is blended into 

the ratio of pitch to give the appearance of 

comfort as well as the actual comfort. 

even application of the enamels. Upholstery 

fabrics include leather, simulated 

leathers, corduroys, mohairs, and other 

similar fabrics. 

It has always been a Heywood-Wakefield 

policy to offer full services on seat repairs. 

Parts for any of the units are furnished 

direct from the factoi-y at Menominee, 

Mich., so that only factory-engineered 

items get to the theatre. Heywood-Wakefield's 

steel seat frame makes it possible 

to replace covers right in the theatre without 

tools, hammers, and other upholstery 

equipment. Covers for these replacements 

are furnished from the factory but the replacing 

work can be accomplished in the 

theatre in a few moments without roping 

off seats needing new covers. 

IDEAL SEATING CO. 

Ideal's Slide-Back theatre seat eliminates 

the necessity of standing to allow 

others to pass. The normal position is 

resumed after a person passes. 

The seat automatically and silently 

slides back, rises and locks into position 

when unoccupied: it automatically disengages 

as the patron lowers it for occupancy. 

A full-length, die formed steel back panel 

covers the seat cushion. The Slide-Back 

chair is easily installed and is adjustable 

to meet all conditions and inclines. 

Ideal's Streamliner line of chairs features 

the Chief. Mercury and Challenger 

models. All have free-working hinges and 

are self-rising. Adjustment of the spring 

tension is easily made without the necessity 

of removing the seat cushions. The 

seats and backs may be easily removed for 

reupholstering. 

Ideal also offers exhibitors a line of 

strong, durable veneer chairs, for use where 

unusually severe treatment is encountered 

and where price is a factor. 

IRWIN SEATING CO. 

The new Comet made by the Irwin Seating 

Co. has aisle standards of graceful, 

sweeping design. 

Structural features include a smooth 

steel seat bucket and concealed working 

parts. The automatic seat-lifting mechanism 

lines up all unoccupied seats at threequarter 

fold. A full length steel back panel 

affords protection to the seat cushion. 

In reupholstering worn or cut seats no 

tacking is required: the new cover is simply 

slipped on and clipped to the steel 

frame. 

The Ii-win Seating Co. makes several 

other styles of upholstered seats besides 

the Comet, including upholstered models 

and chairs with plywood backs and seats. 

KROEHLER MFG. CO. 

Kroehler Push-Back theatre seats are 

designed to fit the normal comfortable 

posture of the body in a relaxed position. 

Deep, soft-spring cushions and fine fabrics 

give the chairs luxury and beauty as well 

as convenience. 

The outstanding characteristic of the 

Ki'oehler Push-Back chair is the Push- 

Back feature which permits 5% inches 

in passing space. Push-Back seats slide 

back on a simple but sturdy retraction unit. 

Merely relaxing the body returns it to its 

original seating position where it stays 

until the patron retracts it again. A theatre 

that contains 1,000 regular seats may 

contain 1,000 Push-Back seats as spacing 

between the rows remains the same. 

Kroehler's seats are held in place by four 

bolts. The seat backs and cushions are 

both removable. The back cushion is removed 

by taking out four screws, which allows 

the upholstered back unit to slip out 

of the steel back panel. The seat cushion 

is a separate unit and may be removed 

from the pressed-steel base by removing 

one screw. When seats in the center of the 

house become worn they may be traded 

with seats at the side section. Such replacement 

takes but a few minutes. 

RADIO CORP. OF AMERICA 

The exclusive Comfort Cushion, featuring 

spring steel bands instead of the conventional 

wire coil spring construction, is 

creating widespread interest in the new 

model 1000 International theatre chair, 

according to the RCA theatre equipment 

section, which distributes the International 

.seats. 

The use of spring steel bands in the 

wider and deeper seat pan of the Comfort 

Cushion assures more restful seating, it is 

claimed, by allowing more space for extended 

flexing of the spring bands. 

Long-life features of the new chair include 

provisions for easy changing of chair 

backs and seat cushions to equalize wear 

around the theatre. A simple and foolproof 

locking mechanism permits seat backs to 

be changed in a matter of seconds with 

a half-turn of a special tool provided for 

the purpose. 

Another outstanding operational feature 

in the chair is its radically different 

seat action, utilizing a patented spacesaver 

.suspension unit. Located out of sight 

in the steel seat pan, the space-saver 

unit is noiseless in operation and requires 

no maintenance. It provides a positive 

seat travel stop at both the raised and 

lowered position. 

Effect of the new suspension is 

to move 

the seat in an elliptical arc, permitting 

maximum passing clearance between rows, 

as well as increased floor clearance and 

protection against cushion scuffing. 

The impression of rest and relaxation 

has been caiTied out in the lines of the 

which was styled 

new International chair, 

by one of the nation's foremost industrial 

designers, John Vassos. It is available in 

three decorative treatments—modern, traditional 

and neo-classic. 


RESTFUL COMFORT-how „ U achieved 

I 

Comfortable seating has much to do with making motion pictures enjoyable 

u,' NLESS patrons are made comfortable and leave the 

theatre with a feeling of complete restfulness, the best in entertainment 

will 

not have been accomplished. 

The research and engineering departments of American 

Seating Co. have for many years been studying the theory of 

comfort. Their knowledge and experience have been supplemented 

by that of consulting engineers in the automotive and 

transportation fields, and the technical staffs of such parts 

manufacturers as the makers of springs, foam rubber, and 

padding materials. The most important sources of information 

have been theatre 

owners, managers and patrons. 

The proper distribution of the patron's weight is the first 

essential in achieving comfort. 

Three factors determine the most 

desirable distribution of the pressure which results from supporting 

the body's weight. 

LINE OF 

CONFORMATION 

-PADDING CHANGES 

TO LINE OF 

CONFORMATION 

UNDER MINIMUM 

PRESSURE 

'• To provide maximum relaxation, the seat and back of 

the chair should either be initially shaped to fit the body or 

should change to 

the body shape with a minimum load. 

PROPORTIONATE 

AREA SUBJECTED TO 

TOTAL BODILY 

PRESSURE 

3. The supporting area should be as large as possible so 

that the resulting pressure per unit of area will be a minimum. 

The greater the area over which the weight is distributed, the 

lower the pressure per unit of area, and consequently the less 

the tendency to fatigue. 

Factors for Comfortable Sitting 

In a theatre, a patron will sit continuously in a rather 

confined space for two or three hours. To insure the most comfort, 

the proper selection of dimensions and correct relationship 

of all chair parts is necessary. 

POPLITEAL AREA 

SEAT 

TOO 

HIGH 

X. The pressure against each part of the body should be 

proportional to the load that part is 

accustomed to withstanding. 

Our feet, for example, will support the full weight of the 

body for long periods without discomfort. Some areas of the 

body, for example, the buttocks, are well padded and the nerves 

are fewer and better protected. Some areas, such as that immediately 

back of the knee (the popliteal), are congested with 

nerves, arteries and veins, and are very sensitive. For maximum 

comfort, the supporting pressure should be least where 

the body is 

the most sensitive. 

5bAT MEIunT—Proper seat 

height plays an important 

part in obtaining maximum comfort: If the seat is too high, 

the feet do not support their portion of the load and the pressure 

under the popliteal is too great. If the seat is too low, it 

does not give proper support to the upper part of the leg, 

and 

the weight of the occupant is carried over too small an area. 

The disadvantage of excessive seat height is greater than that 

of a seat which is slightly too low. Most audiences are predominantly 

women and children, and their average leg length 

is less than that of men. A male buyer should keep this fact 

in mind when trying out a seat or a sample chair for comfort. 

Exhaustive field and laboratory research study is the basis for 

selection of seat height in American chairs. 


RIGHT NOT ENOUGH TOO MUCH 

PITCH PITCH PITCH 

SEAT PITCH—No muscular effort should be required to 

(keep the body from tending to slide forward on the seat. The 

seat should be inclined upward toward the front enough to 

I 

I keep the occupant from sliding out of the chair, and the hinge 

should be so constructed that it will retain this position throughout 

the life of the chair. American chairs are comfortable 

longer because they maintain proper seat pitch. 

A. 

LONG RADIUS 

giving the individual more space is evident by the trend toward 

wider chairs. At the present time, the minimum acceptable 

average chair width is 20 inches with a strong preference being 

expressed for a higher percentage of 21-inch chairs than 19- 

inch cliairs. The 18-inch chair is now generally considered wholly 

inadequate. For luxury seating, there is a growing trend toward 

23-inch and 24-inch chairs. 

ROW -TO -ROW SPACING—To achieve complete 

relaxation, the increased comfort afforded by greater chair 

width should be accompanied by more room between the chair 

rows. Tlie average row-to-row spacing is frequently too small 

to permit complete utilization of the comfort which is built 

into the theatre chair. Although some codes still permit closer 

row-to-row spacing, it is now generally accepted that 32 

inches is the minimum. Spacing of 34 inches is needed for complete 

comfort and many of the most progressive and profitable 

theatres are being built with 36-inch and 38-inch row-to-row 

spacing. 

In addition to providing more sitting comfort, the increased 

spacing also greatly facilitates the ease of passing in and out 

of a row. Although passing comfort is of temporary concern 

(averaging usually less than 30 seconds a show, whereas sitting 

comfort is a matter of two to three hours 

i 

, easier passing 

in and out is 

usually considered desirable by the patron. 

SHORT RADIUS 

VERTICAL CURVE 

BACK PITCH —^The selection of the proper back pitch is 

influenced by the row-to-row spacing, the construction of the 

back, and by the position of the chair in the theatre. For the 

BACIv dMAPE —The greatest comfort is obtained from 

a chair back which fits the patron's back. The human back 

has a horizontal curve with a small radius at the waist and a 

larger radius at the shoulders. It has a vertical curve which 

follows the spine. The additional comfort built into the scientifically 

correct back design which follows the curves in the 

human back is not immediately evident as the patron sits in 

the chair. The advantages of this type of construction, found 

In Bodiform chairs, are fully realized only with the long sittings 

necessary to view a complete performance. As the patron 

leaves the theatre, he is refreshed and, subconsciously, the enjoyment 

of the program has been increased. This feeling is 

important in 

encouraging his return. 

To incorporate the three curves already mentioned, it is 

necessary to make a back of compound curvature. At some 

sacrifice of comfort, the simple curvatures can be made at lower 

cost. 

Thus, if the curvature selected fits the waist, the shoulders 

will be crowded. If the curve fits the shoulders, the pressure 

down the center of the back will 

NARROW 

be too great. 

WIDE 

CMAIR WIDTH —comfort in theatre seating is influenced 

to a marked degree by the amount of space allotted to 

the individual patron. The increasing importance attached to 

32' ROW SPACING 

14' CLEARANCE 

30' ROW SPACING 

14" CLEARANCE 

BY CHANGING 

BACK prrcH 2' 

average main floor chair, the most desirable back pitch is about 

20 degrees. This pitch provides the desired relaxation but is 

straight enough to insure comfortable viewing of the screen or 

stage. If the row-to-row spacing is less than 32 inches, some 

compromise between the seated comfort and ease of passing in 

and out of the row must be considered; and, in some cases, It 

wiU be desirable to use less back pitch. 

To secure the maximum comfort from a spring back, it 

desirable to increase the pitch to 22i degrees or 24 degrees. 

Within limits, the greater the pitch, the softer the back 

seems. For this reason, and because spring backs are thicker, 

they require greater row-to-row spacing. The minimum rowto-row 

spacing for a spring back should be 34 inches. It is 

preferable to 

provide 36 inches. 

Because the balcony is usually higher than the center of 

the screen and well above the stage, the line of vision from 

balcony chairs is downward. For comfortable viewing, the 

patron must sit straighter and, consequently, the back should 

have less pitch. American chairs provide a range of back pitches 

which permits selection of the one most appropriate. 

From American Seating Company's "Theatre Seating." Reprinted by special 

permission. 

is 

EOXOFnCE :: May 7, 1949 17

SEATING OUTSIDE 

FAIRBORN THEATRE 

Fairfield, Ohio (Chakeres Circuit) 

THE AUDITURIUlYl Today Exhibitors Are Paying Special 

Attention to the Comforts of the Patron in the Foyer, Lounge and Powder Room 

BELOW: Controsiing treatments, in the use of theatre furniture. 

In the upper photo, Skouras Theatres selected period furniture, with 

brocaded fabrics, for the powder room of its recently remodeled 

State Theatre, Jersey City, while, below, the Neighborhood Theatres 

circuit utilized trends in modern styling for the foyer of its Byrd 

Theatre, in Arlington, Va. Deeply upholstered sectional pieces proyide 

luxury seating. 

This is the special seating treatment in the television lounge of the New Majestic 

Theatre, Perth Amboy, a Walter Reade circuit operation. These custom-made 

settees were designed and manufactured by the Lehigh Furniture Co. of New York 

in collaboration with Reade officials. Bach settee is seven feet long, seats four 

comfortably. The chairs retail at about $200 each. 

The swank Paris Theatre in New York placed these modern chairs in its lounge. 

They were selected by Warner-Leeds, architects, from the regular stock of Knoll 

Associates, New York, and retail at about $45. 

The huge, comfortable divans are in the foyer of the new Odeon Theatre, Toronto, 

and were especially designed by T. laton Co. The colors of turquoise and shrimp 

are used to accent, in deeper hues, the general color scheme of the foyer.

Here is an example of good taste and imagination being combined 

to provide that luxury look. It took a little shopping, but brought 

results. This is the television lounge at the DeKalb Theatre, 

Anderson Theatre circuit, in DeKalb, III. The pieces were selected 

I 

in Chicago out of regular stock by Axel J Claesson, the designer. 

The conversation piece, foreground, composed of two revolving 

chairs, was bought for $300 The sofa cost S3I0 and is of the 

same rough, green material. Another $50 for the end tables 

and $75 for the lamps, and the lounge gained this patronattracting 

effect. 

At the Leachman Theatre, Stillwater, Okla., what 

could hove remained an unattractive wall area becomes a 

smartly-treated lounge, given an added dash of color with 

a row of nicely framed prints. 

Here are three attractive, though not too expensive, treatments of theatre 'nooks." LEFT: The Fox Theatre, Aurora, Colo., a quonset-type house took 

rZrT o\! ri°'" °T '° "'""''^^ " 

"'"f°"°^'^ '"'"'' °' '^»«"< custom-made, in material blending with the walls off white and light' blue 

LtNTER: Red and white ch.ntz was used to cover the chairs in the powder room of the Playhouse, Washington, D. C, and, RIGHT At the Nortown 

Toronto, the decoration was done in the modern mood, with seats of a style which can be bought in most smart furniture stores 

These custom-built settees are in the Miller Theatre, Gary, Ind., and were 

especially designed for the theatre. The fabrics accent, in deeper hues, 

the colors of the walls and ceiling. The decorations were designed by 

Hanns Teichert of Chicago. 

This is the powder room at the new Odeon Theatre In Toronto. The stools 

and the pouffe were designed and built for the theatre by T. Eaton Co. of 

Toronto under supervision of Henri Hulot, its furnishings head. Gaumont- 

Kalee, Ltd., of Toronto handled the entire project.

I 

But make sure of all three — Comfort, Appearance, Long Service 

Your patrons' comfort reaches a new high in this Heywood -Wakefield Airflo model TC 

703! In addition to its inviting headrest, the back and seat automatically adjust to the most 

comfortable position for the individual! Its smartly elegant lines and wide choice of colors and 

fabrics are special assurance that the Airflo will add real distinction to your house. And of 

course, its steel construction combined with our long experience in designing seating from the 

theatre-man's practical viewpoint, means long, trouble-free service. You'll find, too, that our 

many refinements and improvements make up-keep easy and our maintenance costs substantially 

lower. 

So make sure of all three when you re-seat or plan a new theatre. Our illustrated folder shows 

all current models in full color — and our own representative or the nearest H-W distributor will 

show you at first hand how comfortable and practical theatre seating can be. 

TJse Heyuvod- Wakefield coil spring seat 

units are painstakingly assembled to 

assure long, trouhle-jree service as well 

as lasting comjort. 

Heywood -Wakefield Theatre Seating Division 

• Menominee, Michigan • Sales Offices: 

Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New Yorki 


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A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE 

Maintenance Supervisor Tells How His Circuit Protects Its Chair Investment 

by 

ROBERT HAASE* 

X HEATRE CHAIR maintenance is one 

of the largest maintenance problems in 

any theatre. It requires a large expenditure 

of time by all those concerned with 

maintenance, and consumes a large portion 

of the maintenance dollar. It is important, 

not only because of the great 

amount of time and money involved, but 

also because of its direct effect upon our 

employers—the patrons. 

There is nothing in the theatre more 

intimate to the patron that the seat he occupies—and 

few things will drive him away 

faster than poor seats. Three to four hours 

in one seat is a long time. It has to be comfortable 

if we are to have him back week 

after week. Only the most ardent motion 

picture lover will return regularly to a theatre 

with poorly maintained seats. Thousands 

of dollars are spent each year advertising 

our pictures. Much of this money is 

actually "thrown down the sewer" if, after 

we persuade "John Smith" to enter our 

theatre, our pretty usherette escorts him 

to a seat where the springs then give him 

three hours of discomfort. The prettiest 

usherettes, the most polite manager, the 

best picture are hard put to overcome 

such a handicap. Thus the first, and most 

important reason for good seat maintenance 

is the comfort of our patrons. 

CONSTANT 

MAINTENANCE 

The second reason for good maintenance 

is naturally a dollars and cents reason. 

Most chairs when they were first installed 

in the theatre were comfortable. If they 

hadn't been, they wouldn't have been installed. 

Of course theatre chair manufacturers 

today are making better and more 

comfortable chairs than they did ten years 

ago. But most older chairs are comfortable 

if well maintained. We know that the cost 

of chairs in a theatre is larger than any 

other single item of equipment. We also 

know that because of this fact, it is impossible 

to install new chairs every few years. 

Our big investment in chairs can be protected 

only by regular and constant maintenance. 

It is not only necessary to constantly 

maintain our chairs to assure patron 

comfort and protect our investment, 

but it is also cheaper in the long run. "A 

stitch in time saves nine" is as applicable 

to theatre chairs as it is to a rip in the 

pants. 

Theatre chair maintenance begins even 

before the chairs are installed. A large 

part of this future cost can be avoided by 

the proper planning before the chair installation 

is made. One of the largest contributors 

to rapid chair deterioration is a 

chair standard that is loose from the floor. 

All of us have seen boys put their knees 

against the back of the chair in front of 

them and push. The chair has to be 

rugged and really tight to the floor to 

stand much of this treatment without 

something letting go. A large back to back 

spacing between rows of chairs, in addition 

to providing more patron comfort, is a big 

help in eliminating some of this abuse. 

important for minimum chair 

Particularly 

maintenance is a good floor. Prior to any 

reseat job a thorough inspection of the 

floor should be made to determine whether 

repair work or a new floor is needed. 

MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE 

After chairs are installed the main 

responsibility must of necessity fall on the 

manager. He is the most closely associated 

with the theatre and should know at all 

times the condition of his equipment. In 

most theatres there is one person such as 

the stagehand, engineer or janitor, whose 

job it is to keep the chairs in good condition. 

Most of the regular chair maintenance 

such as tightening of standards, 

backs, recovering of seats, etc, can be done 

by this person. Generally the chair maintenance 

man has other duties and chair 

maintenance is fitted in with his other 

duties. It is important that this man, and 

"Purchasing Agent and Maintenance Supervisor 

lor Evergreen Theatres Circuit. 

the manager too, be familiar with the problems 

of chair maintenance and how to 

solve them. It is important also that someone 

in the maintenance department check 

the work being done to see that the chairs 

are being maintained in the best possible 

manner. 

Occasions do arise when it is impossible 

for the theatre maintenance man to do all 

of the chair maintenance work. In some 

cases it may be desirable to install new 

seat bottoms rather than spend large 

amounts of money attempting to maintain 

seat bottoms that have served their useful 

life. For the most part, since chair maintenance 

is a daily job and not one that is 

done every few months, most maintenance 

must be done by someone constantly employed 

by the theatre. The manager is the 

one who should be responsible to see that 

this is done. 

Any attempt at detailed description on 

theatre chair maintenance must be of 

necessity be kept general, since chairs 

manufactured by different manufacturers 

are different in construction. Of utmost 

importance is a daily inspection. Seat repair 

costs are lower when damages are repaired 

immediately. 

It is very important to see that the chair 

standards are kept tight to the floor. As 

these become loose, a strain is thrown on 

other parts of the chair, and within a short 

Here's a view of the auditorium of the Delman Theatre at Tulsa, Okla., showing a recent installation 

of Ideal chairs. The 733 Slide-Bock chairs on the main floor are covered with green 

striped mohair and have green cohyde tops. The metal parts are finished in beige tan with 

decoration in green to match the mohair. In the balcony are 416 Ideal Chief line chairs 

with the same color scheme and upholstering. 


. . on 

time backs, seats and hinges also become 

loose. If the concrete floor is poor, a quicksetting 

cement will often hold the standards 

in place. If the slab is thin and the 

underside is accessible, it is advisable to 

use a long bolt through to the underside of 

the slab. 

NEW PLASTIC UPHOLSTERY 

Undoubtedly the part of the chair requiring 

the most maintenance is the seat. 

Frequently seats are cut maliciously and 

these damages should be attended to immediately. 

If the seat is merely cut, it is 

often possible to repair this damage by removing 

the cover and patching from the 

underside. Often this will add considerable 

service to the cover. 

kept free of dust and loose dirt with a 

vacuum cleaner. Periodic cleaning with a 

bubble-type cleaner such as that manufactured 

by the L. C. Chase Co. is recommended. 

Care also should be exercised in 

this case so that the least amount of moisture 

is absorbed by the fabric. After the 

pile of the fabric is dry a brush or whisk 

broom can be used to restore the nap. 

The life of the finish on metal parts can 

be prolonged by the application of wax. 

Waxing well not only preserves the finish 

longer, but also cleans the surface as it 

being applied. 

is 

Oak Hill Plans Video 

Application for a permit to build and 

operate a television station has been filed 

by Robert R. Thomas jr. of Oak Hill, W. 

Va. Oak Hill is thought to be the smallest 

community in the nation planning for 

video. 

Keeping theatre floors and floor coverings 

clean and attractive is a matter of 

good business. Protecting them from abuse 

or deterioration is a matter of preserving 

an investment. 

1 

Covering materials for repairing seats is 

an item that should be purchased carefully. 

Cheap imitation leathers will not 

only wear out quickly but often will 

bleed 

in hot weather and soil people's clothing. 

The new plastic coated imitation leathers 

promise to give excellent service for this 

purpose. In repairing seats it is not only 

important to see that sufficient cotton 

covers the spring unit, but it is also just 

as important to apply a good fiber covering 

between the burlap and the cotton. 

This fiber provides a good strong covering 

so that the springs cannot be felt when the 

seat is occupied. Many materials such as 

tow and sisal have been used for this purpose. 

A product made of rubberized cactus 

fibers, recently introduced, appears to have 

good qualities for this use. 

DISCOURAGING 

THEFT 

In a theatre circuit various theatre supplies 

and repair items which are supplied 

to the theatre sometimes have the habit of 

disappearing. This is just as true of chair 

covering material as it is of Mazda lamps 

and carbons. It may be possible to prevent 

this by supplying the theatre with cut 

pieces of covering material which are suitable 

only for use in repairing chairs. 

Back and seat attachments should always 

be kept tight. Care should be exercised 

to see that attaching bolts, nuts and 

screws are not burred, or damaged clothing 

Many theatre chair hinges are 

will result. 

constructed so that they may be tightened 

to compensate as wear occurs. This tightening 

is important not only for the proper 

operation of the seat, but also to prevent 

noise in the theatre and damage to the 

hinge parts. Theatre chair hinges should 

be lubricated occasionally, but great care 

should be exercised here so that the lubricant 

is applied only in small quantities and 

to the parts that need it. In order to prolong 

the life of cover materials they should 

be cleaned regularly. Imitation leather 

may be cleaned by washing with warm 

water and a mild soap such as Ivory or Lux. 

It should then be rinsed and dried with a 

clean cloth. 

Strong cleaning materials should never 

be used or damage may result to the material. 

Cloth and pile fabrics should be 

ihj njuui) {jdnou Iau cm oywijixjmMuo^ 

• Cooi.TH is different . . it doesn't 

.shock your patrons with frigid blasts . . . 

never makes your house feel damp and 

clammy . . . doesn't leave folks 

when they go outside again. 

gasping 

Because 

COOLTH is controlled refrigerated cooling 

. . . always pleasant and refreshing, 

always jusl right. 

You get Cooi.TH automatically with 

UsAIRco'sgreat new Refrigerated Kooleraire. 

I he compact, easyto-install "central 

plant unit that's all ready to run when 

" 

you get it. You don't buy a great long list 

of separate parts . . . you buy a single preengineered. 

pre-tested unit at a pre-determined 

price. You don't pay for assembling 

in 

and installing a multitude of separate 

units . . . Refrigerated Koolcr-aire needs 

only three simple connections. You don't 

built a roof tower or pay for expensive 

building alterations . . . you don't close up 

shop for days or weeks while installation 

is going on. It'salmost as simple as putting 

in a popcorn machine. 

So dtm't think of air conditioning as a 

major operation either on your building 

or your budget. Refrigerated Kooler-aire 

saves money all ways ... on your original 

investment . 

on operating 

installation . . . 

.. . on maintenance. Get all the details 

from usAIRco right away. 

capacities from 3 to 40 tons 

UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING CORPORATION 

Como Avenue Soulheosi at 33rd • Minneapolis 14, Minnesota 


"LITTLE 

WOMEN" 

IS 

BOX OFFICI. 

KROEHLER 

* 

are Box Office! 

SOLID COMFORT FOR YOUR PATRONS 

Double-Feature comfort! Kroehler Push-Back is the 

only theatre seat that combines push-back convenience 

with deep-down lounge-chair comfort! Give your theatre 

a box office plus with Kroehler Push-Backs. 

DON'T DELAY 

ORDER TODAY 

Now Available With 

Porcetainixed Finish 

lor Longer Service 

I — Here's the nor- 2— Sealed patrons 3— Relax, chair slides 

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Theatre Seat. seat back. venience. 

Write or vfire one of the 

Kroehler Public Seating Offices 

KROEHLER MFG. CO., Theatre Seating Division 

666 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 11, 111. • 2028 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles 7, 

Cal. • 206 Lexington Ave., New York 16, N. Y. • 2023 Jackson St., Dallas, 

Tex. • Canadian Theatre Chair Co., Ltd., 40 Patrick St., Toronto 2B, Canada 

Fully Protected by Patents 

The World's Finest Theatre Seat 

24 


ADDED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRESSIVE EXHIBITORS 

.Sewi^ 

Ingenuity + Initiative + Sales 

Engineering 

+ Courtesy = Popcorn Merchandising 

Presenting the Prize -Winning Entries in Blevins' Nationwide Contest 

£\ LITTLE extra 

merchandising p a ys 

off at the popcorn machine 

in bigger concession 

profits, according 

to a survey of 

entries submitted by 

theatremen and popcorn 

operators in a 

contest on "How to Increase 

Popcorn Profits" 

conducted recently by 

Blevins Popcorn Co. 

And popcorn merchandising is 

Claude C. Mundo 

made up 

of approximately equal parts of ingenuity, 

initiative, and sales "engineering." with a 

generous application of plain old-fashioned 

courtesy. At least, that's the way it's being 

done by theatremen all over the country 

whose combined extra popcorn profits aggregate 

thousands of dollars. 

7.4 CENTS PER PATRON 

Take, for example, Claude C. Mundo of 

Your Family Theatres, Little Rock, Ark., 

the January Blevins' contest winner, whose 

popcorn and candy sales average 7.4 cents 

a patron. Mundo has found that the 

distance between the ticket window and 

the popcorn machine is a critical factor in 

popcorn sales. The reason? If the popcorn 

machine is situated near the boxoffice, the 

patron doesn't have time to put his change 

back in his pocket before he is assailed by 

tantalizing aromas and the impulse to buy 

a box of hot popcorn. If he has pocketed 

his change by the time he reaches the popcorn 

machine, he is less vulnerable and 

more likely to resist the impulse. 

Fred Hoenscheidt of Theatre Enterprises, 

Dallas, goes a step further and lays 

the groundwork for the popcorn sale at 

the ticket window. Hoenscheidt's cashiers 

are under instructions never to make 

change in denominations greater than a 

quarter, and always in the denomination 

of the selling price of popcorn. In other 

words, plenty of dimes, lest the patron 

hesitate to break a dollar or half-dollar. 

Both Mundo and Hoenscheidt increased 

their net concession profits by controlling 

the sale of other concession items in relation 

to popcorn. 

Hoenscheidt employs the technique of 

aggressive suggestion to step up sales. 

If two patrons approach the popcorn 

machine, never ask if both of them want 

popcorn—simply hand them two boxes, 

says Hoenscheidt. "Three out of five people 

will accept the two boxes, when ordi- 

Nathan Flexer of the MiDeGa Theatre, Waveriy, 

Tenn., a Blevim contest winner, makes 

up part of his popcorn into caramel corn. He 

says it's easily made by working freshly popped 

corn into a hot syrup consisting of brown 

sugar and glucose. 

narily they would eat from one box." 

While popcorn has a higher profit margin 

than most other concession items, many 

theatre operators feel that they must cater 

to the "sweet tooth" also. The third 

Blevins' 

contest winner, Nathan Flexer of 

the Mi-De-Ga Theatre, Waverly, Tenn., 

has a clever solution to this problem. He 

gives his patrons sweets and has his popcorn 

profits, too, simply by making up part 

of his popcorn into caramel corn. The profit 

margin on caramel corn is actually 

higher than on French fried popcorn, 

since only about a third as much corn is 

used per ten-cent sale, and Flexer found 

that his regular popcorn sales are increased 

as well. 

nexer's caramel corn idea was voted the 

best of three by readers of Blevins' monthly 

publication. Pointers to Poppers, in the 

contest's final month. 

INSERTS 

AND TIEUPS 

Caramel corn requires only a copper 

kettle, a source of heat, and a table for 

cooling, all relatively inexpensive, and is 

easily made by working freshly popped 

corn into a hot syrup made of brown sugar 

and glucose. 

Package inserts and merchandising tieups 

probably were suggested by more operators 

than any other single scheme for 

increasing popcorn business. 

Fourteen-year-old Clifton W. Scott of 

Calhoun Falls, S. C, a $25 honorable mention 

winner for December, reported that 

he had doubled his sales by inserting inexpensive 

prizes such as plastic animals, 

whistles, pocket combs, comic books, puzzles, 

etc., which cost him from 30 cents to 

$1.50 a gross, in evei-y ten-cent bag of popcorn. 

These inserts were especially popular 

among the colored people. 



Popcorn 

Merchandising 


40 PER CENT OF MASON'S VOLUME 

COMES FROM THEATRE SALES 

Others use the old tried-and-true trick 

of placing a free theatre ticket in a box 

every so often. 

Perhaps the most original tieup was advanced 

by Carl Niesse of the Vogue Theatre 

Co.. Indianapolis, and it has the additional 

advantage of reducing discarded 

empties in the theatre. Under Niesse's plan, 

a neighborhood merchant furnishes 15,000 

popcorn boxes bearing his advertisement 

and this copy: 

"SAVE THIS EMPTY BOX—IT MAY 

BE A GIFT WINNER ... If the Number 

Printed Below Appears in (Merchant's) 

Window, You Will be Presented a Lovely 

Gift. Just Present Empty Box to (Merchant) 

No. 00000000" 

The merchant, of course, has duplicate 

numbers in a jar, and each week he draws 

one number and writes it on a blackboard 

in his window. 

At the children's matinee each Saturday 

the manager directs their attention to the 

tieup, and Miesse has found that they hold 

onto their boxes and then head for the 

merchant's window after the show. Furthermore, 

they sell their parents on the 

idea and they, too, save their boxes, since 

the gifts are adult valuables. 

Saleswise, pocorn is 

an impluse item, of 

course, although there are many who consider 

a box of hot popcorn just as necessary 

to an enjoyable evening in the theatre 

as the ticket they buy at the boxoffice. It 

is the group of patrons whose popcorn impluses 

aren't ordinarily strong enough to 

result in a purchase, who respond to extra 

merchandising effort and produce the extra 

concession profits. 

Jack A. Farr of the Farr Amusement Co., 

Bryan, Tex., and others, go directly to the 

root of the problem and create an impulse 

(or reinforce one already present) by the 

simple expedient of giving out free samples 

of popcorn to those who haven't bought. 

Here is Farr's system, which is especially 

recommended for drive-ins: 

Farr's popcorn machine is located only 

20 feet from the boxoffice, where the patron 

stops for his ticket. 

The ticket boys also clean the windshield 

of the car, and some of the patrons seem 

to say "thank you" for cleaning the windshield 

by the purchase of a bag of popcorn 

from the machine directly opposite. Then 

the car moves on to the entrance, where an 

usher takes up the ticket and gives the 

driver parking instructions, at the same 

time noticing whether or not the occupants 

are eating popcorn. If not, they are then 

given a few grains of popped corn in a small 

glassine bag as a sample. None refuse this, 

and after they have tried it they generally 

head for the modern concession stand 

where there is a big warmer and boxed 

To meet increased demands for their candy. Mason Au & Magenheimer are building this new 

$1,500,000 candy plant on a 33-acre plot in Mineola, L. I., opposite Rooseyelt Field. 

LN DISCUSSING theatres as outlets 

for candy, Wally Schmidt, vice-president 

of Mason, Au & Magenheimer, estimates 

that 40 per cent of the entire candy volume 

of their company is sold through theatre 

concessions and vending machine outlets. 

Mason Mints, Dots, Black Crows and 

Mason Cocoanut Bars are said to have a 

high popularity rating with theatregoers. 

Ben Newman, Mason's field sales manager, 

who recently returned from a visit to 

the west coast, says: "Candy sales are 

making the difference between an operating 

profit or loss in literally hundreds of 

theatres throughout the country. Those 

theatre managers who have built up their 

candy counters and aggressively promoted 

a drop 

candy sales are the very last to feel 

in attendance." 

"And don't let price be the all-important 

factor in what brands of candy you stock," 

cautions Newman. "Your patrons deserve 

the best and when they wait until they get 

inside your theatre to buy their candy, 

they don't expect to find bars they never 

heard of. Instead they do expect to see 

popcorn, or else they wait for the vendor 

who goes around twice a night. 

Farr used this simple idea for years in 

indoor theatres before he put it into operation 

at his drive-in. Flexer hands out a 

small sample of caramel corn to every patron 

who buys regular buttered popcorn. 

1 3) Be neat, cheerful, and 

All the Blevins' contestants were agreed 

that popcorn merchandising is based on 

three fundamentals: (D Use the best popcorn 

and seasoning, (2) Keep a clean machine, 

and 

courteous always. 

No matter how novel and ingenious the 

selling approach, if the popcorn operation 

is deficient in all or any one of these 

respects, if the attendant is sullen or indifferent 

or slovenly, the machine smelly 

and untidy, and the popcorn inferior, cold, 

and tough, repeat business will never materialize. 

Taking special pains to see that each 

patron gets hot popcorn seems to work 

I 

all their well-advertised favorites that they 

know so well and like." 

"Also," says Newman, "smart theatre 

managers are beising their candy sales records 

not on just weekly gross volumes, but 

on a 'per admission' basis. In this way, 

regardless of the attendance figures, managers 

can tell whether their candy sales 

are improving or not. Many managers find 

that a candy stand in the lobby is not 

enough, so they add another counter on 

the mezzanine floor. Even with two counters, 

vending machines strategically placed 

add considerable to the volume." 

To meet increased demands for their 

candy Mason Au & Magenheimer are building 

a new $1,500,000 candy plant on a 33- 

acre plot in Mineola, L. I. 

The new plant, which will be one of the 

most modern candy factories in the world, 

is the result of planning by Mason executives, 

headed by Charles F. Haug, president. 

Mason's new factory will eventually 

absorb the production of all three of their 

present plants and yet allow for greatly 

expanded production. 

wonders, but, paradoxically, popcorn should 

never be packed into the box in an effort 

to give "full measure." Actually this as a 

waste of corn, because it breaks the kernels 

and they wind up on the floor as crumbs. 

And a very inexpensive "thank you" is 

money in the bank. 

still 

The Blevins contest, which ran for three 

months, has already produced at least one 

striking innovation in the field of popcorn 

merchandising. As the hundreds of entries 

began piling in from all over the country, 

Jim Blevins, head of the sponsoring firm, 

and the contest judges were struck with 

one plaintive plea, voiced again and again 

by the entrants: "If only somebody would 

make a popcorn box with a box-top premium, 

and at a price within reason!" 

Blevins didn't see any reason why it 

couldn't be done. He contacted premium 

manufacturers and began talking with his 

box people. The result: the Atomic Bomb 

Ring popcorn box, now being made available 

to exhibitors. 


NEW 

\ 

PLAN... 

GSTS YOU OFF THE NUT 

IN 60-90 OAYSf 

drincolator 

^^: 

', „-,ge

REST 

ROOMS 

STREET 

tn 

7 EKIT 

^ [ BOX 

a£. I OFFICE 

\ 

-^^ 

CANDY 

LOBBY 

ENTHANCE 

por 

aoR-N 

INNER 

LOBBY 

) 

FOUNTAIN 

a: 

a 

4fcove Sketch showing lobby arrangement of 

the Palace Theatre, Chillicothe, III., a 460- 

seater. Right: Layout of a Princeton, Minn., 

house which provides adequate space for a 

well-stocked candy bar. 

VARIETY IN LOBBY LAYOUTS 

All 

Five Include Adequate Provisions for Refreshment Service 

BOX 

OFFICE 

OUT 

STP-EET C\NUV CASE 

DOORS 

B oy 

OFFICE 

LOBBY 

CANOPY ON FRONT 

' 

n 

FREF2ER 

Refreshment service facilities of the Avenue Theatre, Yakima, 

Wash., may be patronized from the street, foyer or lobby. 

The Avenue has a seatina caoacity of 650. 

STREET 

LO B 

BY 

i 

STQU-ftCe 

OUTPR 

rVj 

DOORMAN 

BOX 

OFFICE 

LOBP-Y 

OFFICE 

HNER 

LOBBY 

HE iJT 

ROOMS 

THEATRE AUDITORIUM 

The floor plan of the Empress Theatre, Edmonton, Alta., provides 

plenty of space for handling of popcorn, candy, ice cream and 

for the storage of necessary supplies. The Empress seats 798. 

A U ITO R.I U M 

The Esquire Theatre of Sioux City, la., which seats 450, has a 

circular refreshment counter located at one end of the outer lobby. 

The counter may be patronized without entering the theatre. 


SALES OF ICE CREAM NOVELTIES & POPS 

.A^ 

V^S* 

DOUBLE 

WHEREVER 

ICECREAMOLATOR 

GOES IN! 

Theatres 

Everywhere Collect 

New Big Profits Because 

SEEIHG IS 

SELLIHG! 

If you now are selling popsicles, cups or other 

ice cream novelties in your theatre, ICECREAM- 

OLATOR will double your sales or better!* If you 

are not, ICECREAMOLATOR will open the door 

to a completely new and very substantial source 

of profit. 

ICECREAMOLATOR displays instead of hides 

pops and novelties. ICECREAMOLATOR uses the 

showmanship of LIGHTS! . . . COLOR! . . . 

MOTION! ... to sell merchandise, not just 

store it. And the result . . . sales doubled and 

tripled 

consistently. 

ICECREAMOLATOR is compact, self-contained 

— holds 120 pops in the low temperature Lucite 

display case, 30 dozen in reserve— all automatically 

maintained at proper temperature. Needs 

no attention. 

Operates for a few cents a day. Easy to installjust 

connect to electricity. Ask your Ice Cream 

supplier about ICECREAMOLATOR— or see this 

sensational sales-making merchandiser at your 

nearest National Theatre Supply branch or send 

coupon for full details. 

NATIONAL 

THEATRE SUPPLY 

DiititisA of Na%!«tial«Simpte< *Btui

The refreshment service counter at the California Theatre, Bakersfield, Calif., is 

so attractive and inviting that patrons have a hard time getting by without 

making a purchase. The prominent design at the top and sides of the counter 

is stenciled in stainless steel. 

CANDY BARS WITH 

A COME-ON' LOOK 

These candy bars were tailormade to fit their particular 

locations. 

Attractive candy bars are a big help 

in stimulating "spur of the moment" purchasing. 

Below. This photo shows the candy bar at the new Arco Theatre, a Quonsettype 

house in the Spanish district of Santa Fe, N. M. The bar is located in the 

center of the lobby, making it readily accessible to hungry and thirsty patrons. 

The Arco is the only neighborhood theatre in Santo Fe and features Spanishspeaking 

films. 

Top photo. Candy bar at the Cremazie Theatre, a new 

814-seat Odeon house in Montreal, designed by Henry E. 

Greenspoon. Center. Refreshment counter of the Park 

Theatre, Selmo, Calif. The decorative design bock of the 

counter is lacquered wallpaper; deep green with a black 

and white geometric pattern. The adjacent wall is a deep 

rust red. The ceiling is two shades of chartreuse and is 

indirectly lighted with neon. Lower photo. A Manley 

popcorn machine is a prominent part of the concession at 

the Josephine Theatre, San Antonio, Tex. 

30

Eye-Catching Beauty that Sells 

More Drinks! 

An Ideal Automatic Cup Drink Vendor for Theatres -the BRADLEY Junior 

SMALL and COMPACT 

24 inches wide by 20 inches deep 

^ i DRINKS 1 1 But BIG in Performance 

• t 

ONE THOUSAND drinks at each loading! 

Saves refilling time and bother, keeps soles rolling. 

TWO FLAVORS 

Twice the "taste appeal." No buttons to push. No doors to open. 

No knobs to turn. Just drop coin in slot of the desired flavor. 

FAST, EFFICIENT and SILENT 

YOURS 

either on a 

percentage 

basis or by 

purchase 

(Liberal 

Dispenses carbonated or non-carbonated drinks. Dry refrigeration. 

All servicing from front. Coin-counter registers each sale; chongemaker 

can be installed at slight extra cost. 

payment 

plan if desired) 

We arrange 

for 

YOUR 

SUPPLIES at 

Big Savings 

These are THE machines that give owners large steady profits 

without mechanical failure or servicing headaches. Let us 

give you the evidence! The reputation of this reliable old 

company, in automatic merchandising since 1926 (manufacturer 

established 1882) is your guarantee against disappointment 

in any way. BRADLEY automatic cup drink vendors 

are reaping tidy incomes for well-pleased owners in scores 

of theatres and many other locations. Start now to enjoy 

this added source of revenue. 

^^Ând here's the long-famous BRADLEY DeLuxe 2-at-atime 

machine that dispenses 12 drinks per minute, with 

service from both sides. A proven big money-maker. 

Operating in many of America's Leading Theatres! 

Render a wanted service to your patrons 

and net a handsome return. 

WRITE TODAY for the Full Story 

The Old Reliable source yurce 

for theatre drink vending iding 

machines and suppl. 'ies. 


j 

S 

J 

SHERWOOD C. IDE and ASSOCIATES, INC. 

34 Eaton Street Buffalo, N. Y. 

31

ATTENTION 

GETTERS 

Good examples of what aggressive 

exhibitors are doing 

to make candy bars attractive. 

The candy bar of Fox Midwest's Illinois Theatre 

in Centralia, III., gets a fresh, new look regularly 

as the "motilofthe-season" plan for decorating 

is carried out. The scenery changing is 

done inexpensively, too, as wallpaper with appropriate 

designs is the principal decorating 

medium used. 

Reported to be the "lost word" in theatre refreshment 

stands is the candy bar at the State 

Theatre in Rhinelander, Wis. The fixture was 

designed by Peter Rouman, president of the 

Hodag Amusement Co. Blueprints were drawn 

by Ernest W. Wagner and the fixture was built 

by Kade Bros. Primavera and clear birch were 

used in the paneling and sandalwood for the 

finish. The background is red and tan leather, 

trimmed with brass-headed nails. The popcorn 

warmer is asbestos protected to keep heat in 

the popcorn case and out of the candy cases. 

A specially designed blower produces a blast of 

hot air which keeps the display of popcorn flying 

in the air, providing a real attention-getter tor 

the candy bar. 

Refreshment counter of the Valley Drive Inn 

Theatre, Ontario, Calif. This airer is part of 

a chain of indoor houses and drive-ins managed 

and co-owned in the area by Jack Anderson. 

The counter equipment includes five Hires 

dispensers which are said to serve a total of 

approximately 1,200 drinks during 20-minuie 

intermissions. 


'Manhf SCOWS AGAIN! 

ENGINEERED AND 

DESIGNED FOR 

BIGGER PROFITS 

IN 

DRIVE-IN 

THEATRE 

OPERATION 

WITH AN AMAZING 

fka POPCORN MACHIN 

Manley introduces the perfect answer to the Popcorn 

Machine requirements of Drive-In Theatres. Here is 

a big capacity machine which can produce as much as 

30 bushels of popped corn per hour. Every facility 

for speedy, efficient operation has been combined in 

this one big, beautiful unit. Here are some of the 

features that will interest you. Heavy duty— high 

capacity kettle. Large unobstructed warming pan. 

Warming oven to increase storage of hot, fresh, delicious 

corn. Automatic seasoning well and pump. 

Colored tubular illumination to give corn that freshly 

buttered look. And, you'll want to know all 

the additional 

important features of this great new Manley. 

Write for the complete facts. Use the coupon below. 

ONLY MANLEY/HÊLI 

the Complete Packag 

Manley fill your every 

Machine, Corn, Seasoning, Salt 

and nationally advertised bags 

and Boxes. 

OiNHAL OFriCESi 

1920 Wyandett* S«r»«t, KanMt City •. MItMurl 

MAIL COUPON TODAY 

MANLEY, INC. Dept. 

BO-5-7-49 

1920 Wyandotte St., Kansas City 8, Mo. 

Please send me complete information on your 

new Manley Machine for Drive-In Theatres. Also 

vour booklet 'How to Make Big Profits from 

Popcorn". 

u 

AtUnIa, G

designed 

EXCLUSIVELY 

Specially Prepared Salt 

Flavors Popcorn Evenly 

Salt is not all alike. This is an important 

fact to remember with in-the-seasoning 

popping of corn. Ordinary table 

salt will not work successfully as it is necessary 

to have a salt that completely dissolves. 

Specially prepared popcorn salt, 

made exclusively for the commercial popcorn 

operator, will dissolve and flavor each 

kernel evenly. 

New Popcorn Trailer 

Offered by NTS 

To help exhibitors boost popcorn sales, 

National Theatre Supply has released a 

one-minute film trailer which embodies 

animation and catchy background theme 

music together with a commercial suggesting 

the patron purchase delicious popcorn 

in the lobby. 

The film may be purchased at nominal 

cost through the company's 29 branches. 

Complete air conditioning will pay for 

itself in any theatre. 

Dispenser Pays for Itself 

In Using 80 Gal. oi Syrup 

Here is an attractive Drincolator installation 

at the Wareham Theatre. Manhat- 

ton. Kan., operated by Commonwealth 

circuit. There is a 10 dollar profit on each 

gallon of syrup put through the dispenser 

at ten cents a drink, which means that 

after only 80 gallons are sold, the machine 

has paid for itself. And, drink sales seem 

to 

step up popcorn sales and vice versa. 

fOX POPPING MORE CORN 

and making 

MORE POPCORN PROFIT 

for you! 

Pops greater volume of 

corn . . . with butter-like 

flavor 

and appearance 

. at lower cost 

per final sale. 

NrillD 

TltlOW 

POPnfiCORN 

MORE RETAIL SALES PER BAG 

with LUCKY JIM HYBRID POPCORN! 

Get $10 to $20 more per 100 lb. bag than irom average 

com. Consistently higher in oliicial volume tests. Consumers 

demand the finer, crispy, delicious flavor of 

LUCKY JIM POPCORN. Consistent, uniform quality. 

Nine BIG centrally located storage 

and processing plants assure prompt 

supply and lower freight rates. 

WRITE TODAY FOR PRICES AND COMPLETE INFORMATION 

J. A. McCARTY SEED COMPANY 

526 N. W. FOURTH STREET EVANSVILLE 10. INDIANA 

Simonin of 

Fbiladelphia 

SCASONINC SPCC/AtlSrS ro THE NATION 

The Answer le ConcciJienoires" Problem in Drive-Zn Thcalrci 

WALKY SERVICE PRODUCTS ARE THE FINEST VENDING UNITS AND THE TASTtST MONEY MAKERS ON THE MARKET 

5|18» 

rOB - COD - WtCHITJl 

Toi Conpleir B'xhurc Priiri and 

WALKY SERVICE 

Octmli Canlsd 

COMPANY 


'^/(y/i^&o/'^jisiîst&s^ 

There's an extremely attractive profit for you in 

serving 

well-known, brand-demanded Orange-CRUSH and OLD 

COLONY Beverages in your theater. For example, serve 

250 five-cent six-ounce drinks a day for only 300 days 

a year and you gross about $26001 (700 a day is 

not 

unusual) Serve only 50 a day and you still get $500 

gross a year. 

This attractive dispenser turns the trick with a relatively 

small investment ... in many cases it is paid for in the 

first 

few weeks of operation. 

For details and the complete profit story write: 

Orange-Crush Company 

314 West Superior Street 

Chicago 10, Illinois 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Compact, self-contained, easily serviced — all 

standard fittings 

Stainless steel carbonator has no moving ports 

over 10,000 6-oz. drinks from each 50-lb. gas tube 

Designed for peak loads—normally serves 400- 

500 drinks per hour 

Three valves— one for Orange-CRUSH, one for 

OLD COLONY, one for cola. 

Easily removable two-gallon syrup tanks permit 

quick cleaning. 

Woter-cooled compressor ond pump 

hermetically -seated, easily serviced. 

Orange. ÎÛSh Company 

T. M. REG. U. S. PAT. OFF 

314 W. Superior Street, Chicago 10, Illinois 

BOXOFFICE :; May 7, 1949 35

lOtol-YOU'RE LOSING POPCORN SALES! 

AT TIMES UP TO 50% 

EVEN WITH A LOBBY STAND 

lOUett tUe i.ta*td it lHU4f. . . . 

An Aristocrat Saves Sales 

^*t tUa inaJco**^ at i*tten*nii4*o*i. . . . 

An Aristocrat Creates Sales 

When tUe*f.'ia utaitiMtf i*i U*te . . . 

An Aristocrat induces Sales 

OuUide Ute th»atne . . . 

An Aristocrat Gets the Rest 

IN POPCORN MACHINES ITS THE ARISTOCRAT— 

THE CHOICE OF THE BIG CONCESSION COMPANIES 

—BECAUSE ITS TROUBLE-FREE -f DOESN'T GET OUT 

OF ORDER -K ITS THE BEST BY EVERYBODY'S TEST 

—5c - 10c. DISTRIBUTORS EVERYWHERE 

^r'lle Today for Complete Information 

i. R. GIESLER AND ASSOCIATES 

8804 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.. LOS ANGELES 46, CALIF. The Arisirocrat 

Display Is AU-Important 

In Theatre Candy Sales 

In a recent issue of the Minneapolis- 

Star, Bob Murphy, film editor and critic, 

told about the importance of candy selling 

at motion picture theatres. 

In his story, Murphy explained that theatre 

candy cales are classified as "impulse" 

business—that inasmuch as the patron has 

come to see a picture, probably with no 

thought of munching of confection, an attractive 

display is required to agitate his 

sweet tooth sufficiently to cause him to 

make a purchase. Accordingly, display is 

considered of sufficient importance that 

organizations specializing in theatre candy 

sales make a deep study of it. 

There are several companies in Minneapolis 

supplying theatre lobby counters, 

Murphy pointed out. One, which may be 

considered typical, he said, services some 

135 theatres in the local film territory. 

The Minnesota Amusement Co., the 

largest theatre circuit, operating some 80 

houses, has its own candy supply depot, 

said Murphy. 

The Minneapolis territory is generally 

free of the added-load gimmicks, Murphy 

says. In some sections, for instance, he explained, 

theatres sell flowers, nylons, 

magazines, handkerchiefs and other items 

of merchandise. 

"The next step hereabouts will be the 

testing of candy sales in drive-in theatres 

this surrmier," said Murphy. "Drive-ins. 

with more room to operate and no seats 

to worry about, have gone in for such items 

as soft drinks and hamburgers and just 

how well candy will do against these as 

competition remains to be seen." 

The sale of slow-moving candy bars can 

be pushed by placing them on the confection 

stand's top display frames. 

Your choice of two 

or three drink faucets, 

each serving 

either sweet or carbonated 

softdrtnks. 

nnoERSon & umcnER int. 

8701 South Mettler Street Angeles 3, Calif 

Now the new revolutionary Everfrost 

Soda Bar is ready to bring new and 

greater profits to theatre operators and 

concessionaires. This small, compact, 

completely self-contained unit serves two 

or three varieties of carbonated or sweet 

water drinks chilled to the perfect serving 

temperature without ice, without a 

messy water bath, and entirely eliminates 

the usual bottle problem. Installation 

is simple too . . . merely connect a 

water line and plug into a convenient 

electrical circuit. 

WRITE TODAY FOR COMPLETE INFOR. 

MATION ON THIS NEW MONEY-MAKING 

EQUIPMENT. 

Starting 'Em Young 

The young man dishing up the popcorn 

at the Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C, 

is 3-year-old Bob Davis, son of R. Glenn 

Davis, owner of the Car-View Drive-In at 

Louisburg. 


BILL TO OUTLAW 

HITS A SNAG 

A move by nine state senators to put 

through a bill prohibiting peanuts and 

popcorn in Oregon theatres has presented 

a cause celebre to exhibitors who attacked 

the proposed legislation as "un-American" 

and said it would bankrupt them. 

At a hearing recently in Salem, Ore.. Ted 

Gamble, chairman of the board of Theatre 

Owners of America, acting in the capacity 

of a Pacific west coast circuit operator, 

and Jack Maitland. general manager for 

the Parker circuit, led the attack on the 

bill. 

The nine legislators, in their bill, proposed 

a penalty of 30 days in .iail and $100 

fine for theatre owners allowing patrons 

to eat popcorn and peanuts, empowered exhibitors 

to eject anyone breaking the regulations, 

and gave anyone annoyed by the 

munchers three times their admission plus 

the right to sue the exhibitor for damages. 

The legislators took a leaf out of the 

showmanship manual in staging their 

hearing. Sen. Jack Bain of Portland distributed 

free popcorn to the spectators. He 

wore a white vendors' uniform and hawked 

his wares and called out that he would 

oppose the bill. But, he changed his mind 

before the hearing was over and said he 

would support it because of Gamble's 

method of attacking the legislation. 

The chairman ordered the sergeant at 

POPCORN 

arms to clear the hall of popcorn, and this 

was done. 

Gamble said that smaller theatres, particularly, 

would lose money without popcorn 

sales. Besides, he asked, how can you 

enforce a bill of that nature? "'Vou can't 

reach into a patron's pocket to see whether 

he has a bag of popcorn or peanuts. " he 

said. 

Theatres, he pointed out, are filled only 

four hours a week and patrons who object 

Goi a minute? 

Here's the facts 

Hires 

. . . about 

/ 

/ 

to sitting next to a popcorn eater can find 

a seat somewhere else. He also declared. 

"The public runs our business. Seventyfive 

per cent of our patrons want and eat 

popcorn, and if there are some who are so 

persnickety they don't like popcorn, they 

can stay at home." 

Maitland told the legislators the bill is 

"a move in the direction of state socialism," 

Van Driesche, Stayton, Ore., exhibitor, said: 

"People are entitled to hfe. liberty and the 

pursuit of happiness and if popcorn-eating 

is their pursuit of happiness, let 'em go 

to 

it." 

It is available nationally: Wherever you are — 

you can sell it through Beverage Dispensers or 

in 

Bottles. 

It is the second largest soft drink sold through 

theatres. Over 800,000,000 glasses have been 

consumed annually. 

In planning a new theatre don't forget 

to provide adequate parking space. 

l/ 

It supplies you with beautiful advertising material 

that ties in with great national advertising 

campaigns. 

Desioiied for speedy, bio volume sales. Fill bags 

three times faster with half the effort with the 

patented 

SPEED-SCOOP on'y 

J258 

at your Theatre Supply, or Popcorn Supply Dealer. 

Dealers write. 

SPEED-SCOOP 

109 Thornton Ave. 

San Francisco 24. Calif. 

/ 

It is a demand seller, the nation's favorite, over 

79 years established, with millions of friends to 

secure you larger daily volume and profit. 

WRITE TODAY! 

,

I* I M^ 

HOW WE OPERATE OUR DRIVE-INS 

Here Is the Text by Which a Top-Flight Circuit Runs Its Outdoor Theatres 

by ALBERT H. REYNOLDS 

PART I 

General Manager, Ezell Drive- In Circuit 

Editor's 

Note: 

Underwood & Ezell drive-ins 

started in Texas during the fall 

of 1940, with the Fredericksburg 

Road Drive-In in San Antonio 

and South Main in Houston. 

This organization is known 

as the "daddy" of the drive-in 

business in the Lone Star State. 

At present 16 airers are being 

operated. Five additional 

Claude C. Ezell 

drive-ins lor populous areas 

are in process and locations 

Albert H. Reynolds 

will be announced as soon as deals for necessary real estate ore closed. 

W. G. Underwood, nationally known theatre figure, and partner in 

the firm, died last year. The remaining partner, Claude C. Ezell, continues 

to operate these outdoor theatres under the name of Claude Ezell 

& Associates. Albert Reynolds, who was recruited from Interstate circuit 

where he held the job of San Antonio city manager, has been general 

manager of the Ezell circuit for a number of years. 

Ezell said about the noblest thing the drive-ins do is provide entertainment 

for children of poor families. The trade generally admits, he 

believes, and distributors say that drive-ins create new business for the 

industry and are not in competition with other theatres. Ezell drive-ins 

are available to civic organizations for any worthwhile purpose. At 

Easter, for example, the drive-ins are furnished gratis for Sunrise services, 

attendants, sacred music, and other essentials being included. 

Two years ago an operations manual for Ezell managers was issued 

but improvements in theatres and methods came so fast it soon became 

obsolete. A new manual from which material for this series of articles 

was obtained has just been completed. Ezell has given BOXOFFICE 

permision to reproduce the material. 

Instructions for Managers 

The purpose of these instructions is to 

outline our wishes and requirements, at 

least in part, for the manager and his staff 

to follow; to establish definite company 

polices and to convey our rules, and procedure 

of operation on points specifically 

requiring handlmg in a certain way. 

As manager of one of these theatres, you 

are the custodian of our property and our 

good will in your city. Upon your shoulders 

rests the responsibilty of looking after the 

interests of this company and your theatre 

in your city. You are our ambassador 

of good will to our patrons, the business 

men and city officials of your town. Your 

actions represent the attitude of this company. 

With regard to the managers' personal 

working schedule, we expect our managers 

to report to their theatres daily early 

enough to "make up their deposit" and 

take care of reading and answering the 

mail before noon. If it is "change" day, 

the first concern of the manager should 

be to check on his new film program to be 

38 

With re- 

sure every "subject" has arrived. 

gard to the banking, this is an iron bound 

rule. The manager must make a deposit 

every day except Sunday and holidays and 

this should be done before noon. Of 

course it is needless to say that fresh supply 

of change should be obtained at this 

time. Boxoffice reports must be mailed 

every day and weekly reports must be in 

the office not later than Monday morning. 

Some time each afternoon should be 

spent in going over every foot of the plant, 

and repairs made where needed to keep 

everything up to standard and ready for 

the opening. 

RULES OF OPERATION 

Your operation should be simple, satisfactory 

and worthwhile if good help is 

obtained, properly instructed, assigned to 

definite positions and properly supervised. 

Remember all that you render is service. 

Take care of every item of expense. The 

best manager is the one giving the best 

show, with the most courteous employes 

at the least expense. We insist that women 

and children, cripples, and the aged 

be given every possible consideration. Have 

them know that they may visit your theatre 

at all times in perfect safety and comfort. 

All merchandise for the concession 

stand and all supplies of all kinds must be 

kept locked. Party in charge of stand and 

manager or assistant manager only to have 

keys. Merchandise must be carefully 

checked out to the stand, as we will not 

tolerate haphazard handling or the undue 

shortages that result. 

CARE OF GROUNDS 

Plants must be cared for and watered 

when necessary; beds kept clean of weeds 

and grass. This work can be shared between 

the day and night man. 

Screen house and grounds must be kept 

clean at all times as there is no excuse for 

filth. Rubbish, paper, etc. is to be burned 

daily. 

Before the first show all toilets must be 

inspected for cleanliness, that the containers 

have tissues and that all are in 

working order. NEVER use SANIFLUSH 

or other chemicals in toilets as septic tanks 

will be ruined. 

Teach ushers the importance of proper 

parking. Cars with two passengers should 

always be put on the first three ramps, 

never a car with three or more occupants. 

Cars should be parked directly facing the 

screen with the rear wheels resting at the 

lowest point of the ramp. Proper parking is 

the secret of patrons being pleased with 

the show. 

Prior to the first show, all ushers should 

be used to check each speaker to see that 

all are working perfectly. 

All lot boys (ushers) must be uniformed 

in white coveralls. All concession stand 

employees must be uniformed in white 

pants and white jackets. Ticket sellers 

must be uniformed in white pants, black 

double breasted sport coat and yacht cap. 

No one but the manager or his assistant 

should have occasion to be inside the ticket 

booth at any time. 

An officer should be kept on duty during 

rush periods to handle the traffic re-entering 

the highway during the break. 

The special officer should report for 

duty at 7 p. m., and work until 12 p. m., or 

until the show is over, which is generally 

by 12 p. m. When he reports for duty he 

is to first assist in handling the incoming 

traffic and get cars into theatre and off 

highway in a safe and orderly fashion. 


Iteeping two lanes of traffic flowing to 

boxoffice. When opening hour rush and 

until a few minutes before "break," he is 

to go into the theatre and check every 

ramp from front to back to see that there 

is no disorderly conduct or any kind of 

misconduct. At the "break" (end of first 

show), he is to report to exit ramp at 

highway to assist in getting traffic safely 

back on the highway. There is a small 

second "break" which comes after the 

shorts are shown for the second show and 

when the feature goes on for the last time, 

the officer should stand by to assist with 

this as outlined for first "break." After 

second break, officer should report to boxoffice 

to stand by for 10 p. m. closing of 

boxoffice, and escort manager with evening's 

receipts under guard to office. As 

soon as receipts are locked in safe, by 10:30 

p, m,, the officer returns to duty in park. 

He relieves boy who has been left with 

after-closing tickets at gate, closes entrance 

gate and goes inside park to keep 

check on everything. He should try to 

stay within sight of the exit side, which is 

only gate open, most of the time to keep 

anyone from "sneaking in." 

CLEANING WINDSHIELDS 

Regardless of how good the light is on 

our screen, if our patrons are viewing this 

screen through a dusty or mud-splattered 

windshield, then the result is bound to be 

unsatisfactory, so it would seem to me to 

be highly important to the future of our 

business to see that every windshield is 

cleaned thoroughly by one of our attendants. 

Accordingly, will you please institute 

this service in your theatre again immediately. 

Your usual splendid cooperation 

will 

be appreciated. 

EXTRA 

SERVICES 

Below we quote from a letter from Earl 

Willbem, manager of the Northwest Highway 

Drive-In, Dallas. 

"A couple of little services rendered by 

our theatre that may be of interest to the 

other managers: 

1. We have instructed the doctors' 

bureau that at any time doctors or nurses 

attend our theatre they can leave the 

number with the bureau and if called, we 

page them on the PA system, having the 

operator break in at a time when it is not 

disturbing to the patrons and announce 

that we have an emergency call for a 

certain doctor. We have had many favorable 

comments on this service and feel 

feel that we are getting some business we 

wouldn't get otherwise. 

2. We have a man, head lotman, not a 

boy, stationed at the entrance to the lot in 

uniform. We at the boxoffice and this man, 

watch for elderly patrons and offer to park 

their car and render other services that we 

think they would appreciate. We have had 

numerous patrons of this age group tell 

us that others have sent them and told 

them that we would take care of the car 

after they enter the lot, and they appreciate 

it very much and have made it a 

"It would seem to me to be highly important 

to the future of our business to see that every 

windshield is cleaned thoroughly by one of 

our attendants." 

point to call me or stop by and tell me how 

much they did." 

PICKING UP MONEY 

Take all money out of boxoffice every 

30 minutes leaving only enough money for 

properly making change. Never let 

strangers in office when safe is open. Never 

admit strangers in screen building for any 

reason after show is out for the night. 

CHECKING FOR MISCONDUCT 

Much has already been said elsewhere 

in this manual about the subject of never 

permitting any kind of misconduct. In 

this connection, we want to add this rule. 

When heads are not visible in a car, that's 

the car to investigate. 

ROBOT 

USHERS 

We have designed an electrically operated 

traffic director which makes it possible 

to give better directions in the dark 

park with fewer ushers. We recommend 

the use of these in every case where it will 

save using an usher. These were developed 

by the Industrial Sheet Metal Co. of Dallas. 

MAINTAIN PROPER SUPERVISION 

We want to impress upon everyone the 

importance of maintaining proper supervision 

at all times in our drive-in theatres. 

I refer particularly to the period shortly 

before and following the close of the boxoffice. 

At one time it was the practice 

of some managers to dismiss the ushers at 

the end of the first show; usually around 

9:30, forcing patrons coming in between 

9:30 and 10:00 to shift lor themselves. 

Also, after 10:00 p. m. a special officer 

or the night watchman (not a lot boy) 

must patrol the lot, looliing casually into 

every car without disturbing the occupants. 

He should go from the front ramp to the 

back ramp and back again, never stopping, 

so as to prevent any misconduct. 

Another thing, someone should be left 

in charge of the gate at 10:00 p. m. until 

closing with after-closing tickets. This attendant 

should be given a small metal box 

with a supply of after-closing tickets and 

$1.00 in change and everyone entering our 

theatre must be given a ticket 

stub. 

The above instructions must be regarded 

as iron bound company rules. 

TICKET SALES AFTER 10 P. M. 

In regard to sales made after 10:00, this 

should be handled in a businesshke way. 

After a supply of after-closing tickets 

has been received, you should purchase a 

small metal box which should be handed to 

your attendant who is responsible for 

watching the gates until closing, and this 

box should contain a pad of after-closing 

tickets and a dollar in change. This box, 

of course, is turned in to the manager at 

the close of the evening and sales reported 

on the following day's business. 

BOXOFFICE MUST BE OPEN 

As an ironbound company rule, we want 

to keep our boxoffices open until 10:00 

p. m., regardless of how long or how short 

your feature may be. Because of the nature 

of our business, the operating hours 

are short enough, and we don't want to 

make them any shorter by closing earlier 

than 10:00 o'clock. 

In the case where you are running a 

short feature and the last feature starts 

around 9:15 or 9:30, then I suggest repeating 

enough of a third showing of this 

feature to see that your patrons will see 

a complete show. This can be done by having 

your operator mark the place in the 

program where he may be at 10:00 o'clock. 

I believe the last hour from 9:00 to 

10:00 of our evening's business can be 

improved considerably by having an established 

closing time at 10:00 o'clock, 

whereby we can guarantee that our patrons 

will see a complete show by coming 

in any time up to 10:00 o'clock. 

There must be no deviation from this 

rule, and the proper program schedule 

must be worked out by the manager to 

conform to this policy. 

EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS 

Under Texas law, it is unlawful to employ 

a minor under 15 years of age. However, 

if permission is given by the parent 

and approval is granted by a county judge, 

a minor may be employed providing they 

do not operate a machine of any kind. 

Please be sure that we are not guilty of 

violating this child labor law. 

TURN ON LIGHTS AT DUSK 

There are few buildings more dismal 

looking than a half lighted or dark theatre 

front. In suburban and outlying areas the 

theatre is the one bright spot of the neighborhood. 

We want the lights of every Underwood 

and Ezell theatre turned on full 

force at dusk, regardless of when the boxoffice 

is scheduled to open, and left on 

until the boxoffice is closed for the night. 



"JiM^ 

No matter what your drive-in speaker system 

requirements may be, you can rely upon 

RCA to serve you with the widest choice of the 

industry's most popular drive-in equipment. 

j-i«^ 

De Luxe RCA In-Car Speaker wit 

Koiled Kord—Individual volume contro 

Rich tone. Time-tested speaker mech 

nism. Aluminum die-cast case, so sturc 

that it has withstood full weight of mo 

ing car without damage. Koiled Kord 

neoprene covered and sunproof waxe 

— stretch to seven foot length. 

r- 

imk 

Rev 

lutionary Roadway 

ind Post L^hting 

FOR DRIVE-INS RCA HAS EVERYTHING 

—13 Drive-in Sound Systems 

—13 Drive-in Projection Systems 

As effective as a group of ushers lighting the way to 

romp areoA From a single lamp built into the junction 

box, a lens focuses a beam of light into the darkened 

roadway betWeen the romps. From the sbme lamp source 

another lens\directs a beam of light directly down the 

speaker post.\This new lighting system eliminates the 

need for other kinds of lighting during the show. 

\

De Luxe RCA In-Car Speaker 

with Straight Cords — Individual 

volume control. Rich tone. Timetested 

speaker mechanism. Sturdy 

aluminum die-cast case of theftproof 

construction. Straightcord, 

covered with weatherproof neoprene, 

is furnished in seven foot 

lengths. 

Electrical Concession Signalling 

Equipment— By a mere flip of a toggle 

switch on speaker, red indicator bezel 

on top of junction box is illuminated 

to attract the attention of concessionaire. 

Uses standard lamp operated 

from low voltage transformer power 

supply. An effective and simple 

method of concession signalling. 

sion Signalling Device 

— By sliding a metal bar located 

under the junction box, the normal 

white post light is intercepted 

to form a red spot of 

light. This acts as a signal for 

concessionaire. 

New RCA Junction Box Equipped 

with Heavy Rubber-Covered 

Steel Baskets — Sturdy diecast 

aluminum junction box, finished 

in durable, chip-resistant 

baked hammeroid. Pipe flange 

is now a part of all RCA junction 

boxes at no additional cost. 

Rubber-covered baskets protect 

speaker. Shape of basket enables 

patrons to pick up and return 

speaker more easily. Attractively 

Styled and trim looking. 

RCA Junction Box 

and In-Car Speaker 

Natural Die-Cast 

Aluminum— Supreme quality with 

low cost economy. Incorporates all 

of the operating features of the de luxe 

RCA junction box. For further economy, 

supplied with a rod type speaker 

hanger in place of basket. In-Car 

Speaker contains the same operating 

features as the de luxe painted models. 

Junction Box and Speakers may be 

painted in the field at a later date. 

Theftproof Cable—Heavy metal 

lug on hardened stranded steel 

cable will withstand a 300- 

pound pull. Cable covered with 

soft pliable jacket— will not mar 

car surface. 

Your Independent RCA Theatre 

Supply Dealer will help you select 

the RCA Orive-in Speaker System 

that best meets your requirements. 

Write for FREE 

literature on 

RCA Drive-In 

Equipment. 

THEATRe C€9Uir>MEMT 

RADIO CORRORATtOM of AMERICA 

EMOIMEERIMO PRODUCTS DERARTMEMT, CAMDEN. N.J. 

In Canada: RCA VICTOR Company Limited, Montreal

How We Operate 

Our Drive-Ins 


Fôm timfe to time we have complaints 

about the type of service rendered in our 

drive-in theatres after the break of the 

first show. 

Please check your own operation to be 

sure that you are not guilty of this practice. 

We want the best possible service 

rendered our patrons as long as our boxoffice 

remains open. Also in this connection, 

I want to emphasize the importance 

TESTED! 

PROVED! 

PRAISED! 

Available 

3 Sizes: 

in 

of having someone patrol the park from 

the front ramp to the back ramp between 

the time the boxoffice closes and the end 

of the last show. 

Please put starting time of both evening 

shows in your ads. Of course, in some 

situations where we are using one inch 

slugs in the morning papers there probably 

won't be room. However, this is a must 

in the afternoon papers. 

Proper supervision should be given the 

playground. Pride in having a nice, clean 

and properly operated theatre should govern 

every employe. 

When the arena is unfilled and the back 

ramps not in use, the sound may be cut 

off. Watch sound closely at all times that 

SCREEN TOWER 

Complete 

All-Steel 

Soundly engineered. 30 lbs. per sq. ft. 

wind load. Approved by State Building 

Codes. 

All Welded construction. Field bolted 

erection. Low maintenance cost. Easily 

accessible walkways. Monorail for 

scaffolding. 

Quick, inexpensive erection (3 days). 

Portable. Distinctive, eye-appealing 

design. 

Model No. 

Overall Screen Surfoce 

S 38 38 X 49 fl. 

S 44 44 X 60 (I. 

S 52 52 X 72 ft. 

PRE-FAB SCREEN TOWERS located in — 

New Brunswick, N. J.—Miami, Flo..—New London, Conn.—Springfield Moss. 

Woodbridge, N. J.—Lehighton, Po.—Totowa, N. J.—Ml. Cormel, Pa.—Chicago, 

III.—Collingswood Pork, N. J.—Dayton, Ky.—Gloucester, N. J.—Elgin, III. 

The PREFAB SCREEN TOWER is produced EXCLUSIVELY by— 

ELIZABETH IRON WORKS 

STRUCTURAL STEEL 

ENG/NEERS—MBR/CATORS—ERECTORS 

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 360, ELIZABETH, N. J. 

as nearly perfect performance as possible 

be given. 

Have ushers give proper consideration to 

patrons desiring certain parking places. 

Comply when possible; when impossible, 

explain why. 

Courtesy and service will overcome many 

obstacles. See that everyone is most courteous 

and gives the utmost in service at 

all 

times. 

An announcement should be made just 

prior to the start of the show advising 

that there will be a short intermission 

between shows that patrons may visit with 

friends, visit the cold drink stand, use the 

telephone or move to better locations in 

the theatre. Mention should be made that 

gas is available; also boys to fix a flat tire. 

The announcement should be made before 

the show rather than at intermission for 

the reason that cars are moving at the 

intermission and its value lost. 

If a patron has a flat tire, have one 

of your lot boys change it cheerfully. Tools 

should be kept handy for this purpose. 

You should always keep a one-gallon can 

of gas on hand at all times so if a patron 

runs out of gas in your theatre you can 

furnish this gas free of charge as a courtesy. 

If a car should stall in the park and 

need to be pushed, the manager should 

do this cheerfully. Always render every 

possible aid and assistance. 

Both in business and private life your 

conduct must at all times be above reproach. 

You must keep your personal appearance 

neat and look well groomed when 

out before the public. You should join 

into the business and social life of your 

city, and take a real and sincere interest 

in the affairs of your community. Be a 

good citizen, pay your poll tax, vote at 

evei-y election and go to church on Sunday 

morning if you possibly can. 

We have a deep and sincere respect for 

the patrons of our theatres. We have a 

great appreciation of their patronage. We 

want you to feel as we do. We must all 

strive hard to deserve the success we enjoy 

and to keep faith with the public at 

large. 

NEXT MONTH: Part 2, of the Ezell story, on 

Snack Bar Data. 

Total of 42 Drive-ins 

For Minneapolis Area 

There were only eight drive-ins in the 

Minneapolis territory at the end of last 

year's season but the building boom has 

resulted in an estimated 42 which are expected 

to be in operation before the end of 

the coming summer. Recent additions to 

the list include a third ozoner for Home 

Theatres at Park Rapids, Minn., and the 

Paul Mans-Lee Bros, drive-in at Pipestone. 

Minn. 

Standby electric power allows the show 

to go on when electric power is suddenly 

curtailed. 


I 

-~^ 

HOME UNDER DRIVE-IN 

IS LIKE ^NICE QUIET STREET' 

SCREEN 

Carl Unick, manager of the Aurora 

Motor-In drive-in, north of the Seattle city 

limits, and his wife say they find it very 

comfortable living beneath the screen of 

the theatre. The abode, says Unick. isn't 

a bit unusual. The idea was mainly that of 

Mrs. Unick and developed when her husband 

became manager of the drive-in and 

they lived several miles away. 

"He was gone all the time." Mrs. Unick 

.said. "And I just decided there was no 

sense in having a home no one ever lived 

in. So I came out to the theatre one day 

and saw all this space beneath the screen 

and asked the owners if we couldn't make 

it into an apartment." 

Owners Dwight Spraecher and B. C. 

Johnson could see no reason why they 

shouldn't, so in the Unicks moved. The 

apartment's windows are on the opposite 

side from the screen and just before showtime 

Mrs. Unick pulls the blinds on those 

below the screen. 

"It's quiet," she says. "Each car has its 

individual speaker and you hardly ever hear 

them driving in and out. It is just like 

living on a nice quiet street." 

During winter months when the drive-in 

is closed the couple and their two boys 

Philip. 14 and Kenneth, 11, go downtown to 

see shows. When the theatre is open, however, 

the Unicks have no trouble keeping 

the lads home. The boys never miss a 

change of bill—usually three a week. 

"They probably would go more often," 

the mother said. "But we have a family 

rule—no more than three shows a week." 

f^tcmi on 

When the Motor-In is open. Mrs. Unick 

works in the refreshment stand and in the 

summer the youths operate a small merrygo-round 

on the grounds. 

Martin to Erect Ozoner 

Near Dotham, Ala. 

Work has begun on a Martin Theatre 

drive-in near Dotham, Ala., at the Columbia-Ashford 

highway junction. The ozoner 

is expected to cost more than $100,000. 

Rufus Davis, Martin city manager, said 

contracts for the exterior wall and paving 

have been let to the H. H. Brown Co. of 

Dotham. Ai'chitect is Rufus E. Bland of 

the Martin circuit at Columbus. Ga. 

Dual Drive-In Planned 

Shor. Inc.. is planning the opening of the 

Dual Drive-In on Reading road and Tennessee 

avenue, five miles from Fountain 

Square in Cincinnati. Complete RCA- 

Brenkert sound and projection equipment 

have been purchased from Midwest Theatre 

Supply Co. The Dual is the ninth drive-in 

to be opened in the metropolitan Cincinnati 

area. 

Rosenblatt Plans Drive-In 

Sam Rosenblatt who is building a 600- 

seat theatre in Catskill. N. Y. and also operates 

the Grand and Strand in Watervliet 

and the Lake in Lake George, plans to construct 

a drive-in when the Catskill house is 

finished. 

DEPENDABILITY 

AND DURABILITY / 

with SOUND THAT ONLY GENERAL ELECTRIC 

and THEATRECRAFT ENGINEERS CAN PRODUCE/ 

N4ithing Else Like IT! 

Sensationally ADVANCED! 

Puf QUALITY info /our DRIVE-IN 

with SPEAKERS that are WATIRPROOF, HEAT PROOF and CORROSION PROOF 

IE IE S E AL 

a low cost, neoprene-jacketed 

distribution wire, can be buried 

quickly and inexpensively to 

give trouble-free service for 

many years. Originally developed 

for railroad signal systems and 

rural communications it is unaffected 

by moisture and can be 

used in wet or dry locations. Its 

low original cost, its inexpensive 

installation and its long life 

make TELESEAL ideal for driveins 

everywhere. Write for prices 

and complete technical 

information. 

TELL THE WORLD IT'S TELESEAL 

FOR ECONOMY AND EFFECTIVE, 

LOW COST, UNDERGROUND 

TRANSMISSION 

SOUND 

See your local Graybar 

Distributor or send coupon 

THE WHITNEY BIAKE COMPANY 

BOX K 

HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT 

SEND ME TELESEAL INFORMATION 

NAME 

COMPANY.. 

ADDRESS 

Manufactured and 

fully Guaranteed by 

THEATRECRAFT 

MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 

1878 E. ISth Street .• CLEVELAND 14, OHIO 

CITY 

STATE 

WELL BUILT WIRES SINCE 1899 B 


\ ^ 

; 

^ 

-J- * 

•" 

^rs-r^^ 

r.-f'/'N 

i^- 

•z**^'^ 

/ 

Construction is progressing on a de luxe 565- 

car drive-in, on Airport Road near the city limits 

of LaGrange, Go. The ozoner, which is being 

built by the Lam Operating Co., will have 

a screen tower 40x55 feet in size and 67 feet 

high. The base for the tower will require 141 

tons of concrete. Provisions are being mode 

for a large snack bar and a youngsters' playground. 

Design and engineering by Tucker & 

Howell. 

îfeiSS^' 

EMPHASIS ON EYE APPEAL 

Landscaping adds much to the attractiveness 

of Underwood & Ezell's Trail Drive-ln near 

San Antonio, Tex. The landscaping features 

the use of low-growing trees and shrubs. Drivein 

operators can obtain no greater return on 

investment dollars than by investing in lawns 

and shrubs as required to properly set off 

their outdoor theatres. Architect: Jack Corgan. 

p*:.V«>PJSl||ijKc.*.i 

44

Airer Heater-Speaker Units 

Get Favorable Writeups 

The Mobiltone combination heaterspeaker 

unit for drive-ins. manufactured 

by Theatrecraft Mfg. Corp. of Cleveland, 

has been picked up by newspapers, magazines, 

scientific house organs and national 

business reports as a noteworthy subject. 

G-E's house organ, Electric Heat in Industry, 

with a distribution of 30,000 copies, 

carried a full page story of the combination 

speaker-heater in its first quarterly issue 

of 1949. Trends, weekly national analysis 

of business published by Press Ass'n, Inc., 

of New York and sent to banking institutions 

throughout the country, in an item 

headed "Outdoor Movies," says that "proprietors 

of drive-ins hope to be able to open 

earlier each spring and continue operation 

later in the autumn by use of a new device—a 

combination heater-speaker" . . . 

Other writeups have appeared in the New 

York Herald-Tribune. April 4 issue, and in 

the Schenectady Union-Star, April 12. 

Popular Science. Reynolds Aluminum Co. 

and the Cleveland Electric Illumining Co. 

have asked for photos and a detailed story 

of the gadget invented by David Sandler, 

head of Theatrecraft. 

James E. Gamble, owner of the Oakvale 

Drive-In, Piedmont. S. C, who has the 

first complete heater-speaker installation 

in the country, writes: "Not only have my 

last season crowds returned, but an increase 

has been shown on cold nights. 

All 

this I attribute to the Mobiltone heaterspeaker 

units." 

Theatrecraft is woricing three shifts to 

fill orders for heater-speaker units. 

Akron's Novel Drive-In 

Has Shorts and Snacks 

A combination roadside refreshment 

stand and an adaptation of the old nickelodeon 

where the patron can order a snack 

and see a film short without getting out of 

his car has been developed by Andrew and 

Paul Turchin of Akron. Called the Auto 

Voice Movie restaurant, the new stand 

opened recently in South Akron. 

By using a three-way wiring system 

developed by E. B. Brady of the Drive-In 

Theatre Co. a short order can be given over 

a loudspeaker attached to the speaker cord. 

A dime placed in a meter box fastened to a 

post, starts the film which is projected on 

a screen over the restaurant. Only standard 

35mm short subjects are being booked 

and the patron can see as many shorts as 

he wishes for a dime apiece. 

OUTDOOK 

REFRESHMENT ^ 

CONCESSIONAIRES 

from Coast to Coast^ 

over V4 Centurr 

Now Specializing 

in Refreshment 

Service for 

DRIVE-IN THEATRES, 

SPORTSERVICE, Inc. wcobs bros 

HURST BLDG. BUFFALO, N. Y. 

DRIVE OUT 

IN 

THE LEAKS 

DRIVE-IN admissions! 

SYSTEMS 

GIVE YOU POSITIVE 4-WAY PROTECTION! 

Tê*He*n6c% . . . IVCRY ADMISSION YOU DON'T COtlKr 

. . . COMfS RIGHT OUT Of YOUR PROFIT. $0 Sft 

YOUR THIATRC SUPPLY DEALCR OR WRITE AT ONCf FOR 

û£t iHroltnivriOH 

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY 

Famous Aotomaticket Register— used in 5 

limes as many theatres as all other makes and 

methods combined — now specially designed for 

drive-ins. Sells up to 400 tickets a minute— 1 to S slmullaneeusly— 

at 1, 2 or 3 different prices. Records every sale. 

COHtHOt 

Ingenious new drive-in ticket issued by Automatickel 

Drive-In Register. Ticket placed under windshield wiper 

blade shows at a glance the number of admissions paid. 

Number of passengers in car must tally with number of 

stubs on ticket. No chance for slip-ups. No way of cheatlngf 

Aulomaticket Car Counter automptlcally counts each car, a$ 

tickets are sold, regardless of number of passengers. Recordi 

totals of all lanes on 1 counter or each lane individually, Ol 

desired. Install anywhere-know instantly exact number of 

cars In theatre. 

manipulations and irregularities. Delects dishonesty— places 

responsibility— shows up re-sales, palmed tickets, tickets missing 

or out of sequence. Retains stubs in sequence of collection 

under lock and key— lor checking, analysis or permanent 

The only tested and proved method of eliminating ticket 

record. No motors or moving parts. 

M^ IfXOtt the sensaflonal new low-prleed Automatic Portable— 

holds 500 consecutively-numbered tickets 

—records eoch sole. Saves cost of building box 

ofFice or paying cashier. Actually a "portable 

boxoffice" with mony other important feotures. 

GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 

LONG ISLAND CITY 1, NEW YORK 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949 45

$200,000 DRIVE-IN STARTED 

NORTH OF JOLIET, ILL. 

The largest Illinois sign ever to be displayed 

in Will county is now under construction 

by the Lotz Sign Co. The sign 

is being manufactured for the Bel Air Theatre 

Co. and will grace the huge screen 

tower of the drive-in being built at the 

southeast junction of Route 66-A and 

Romeo road, five miles north of Joliet. 

The sign will weigh three-and-a-half 

tons when its is completed. It will contain 

12,000 feet of neon tubing. If stretched in 

a straight line, that tubing would cover 

seven city blocks. And the sign will be as 

wide as Joliet's main thoroughfare. The 

letters in it will be more than 12 feet high. 

According to Thomas I. Wagner, president 

of the new theatre company, construction 

on the 20-acre site will begin immediately. 

It is hoped to have the theatre 

open by June 1. Contractor for the 

$200,000 job is the Kaiser-Ducett Corp. 

There will be parking space for 1,000 

cars on the inner parking area of the theatre 

and a holding area for 800 additional 

. 

NOW! 

cars. This will accommodate those persons 

waiting for the start of the second show or 

those who arrive earlier than the opening 

time of the theatre. 

Other features will be stone-construction, 

restaurant, and public restrooms. 

Officers of the theatre company are 

Wagner, president; I. R. Fleming of the 

Midwest Theatre Equipment Co., and William 

Savoy, Chicago, vice-presidents; Fred 

Mastin, of the Illinois Clay Products Co., 

secretary-treasurer, and Irving Shutts, of 

Joliet, director. 

Herb Ochs Plans to Build 

Three Ontario Airers 

Accompanying the reopening at Easter of 

the 1949 drive-in season was the announcement 

by Herbert Ochs of Cleveland and 

Toronto of plans for construction of three 

more such theatres in the province to be 

added to the five which he has been operating. 

The location of the new units has not 

been disclosed. Present theatres include 

two in Toronto and one each at Oshawa, 

Petersboro and Ottawa. 

Famous Players Canadian also has four 

drive-ins, at Chippewa near Niagara Falls, 

Hamilton, London and Windsor. There are 

also four independent open-air theatres at 

St. Catharines. Ottawa, Brantford and 

Preston. 

• A FINISHED SCREEN 

• ERECTED AND 

COMPLETED 

• TILTED FOR 

PERFECT VISION 

• BUILT TO 

WITHSTAND A 

HURRICANE 

•LOW COST 

• QUICK DELIVERY 

• FAST ERECTION 

" ^^ÎfU 

First 

Runs at Cuppie's Drive-in 

Cuppie's Drive-In three miles west of 

Brownsville, Pa., is exhibiting first run 

20th-Fox pictures. The ozoner had announced 

a seven-day availability after 

Brownsville, but has booked first run releases. 

The theatre at California, Pa., playing 

seven days following Brownsville, 

withdrew bookings. 

FO/i DRIVE 'INS 

REFRESHMENT 

APPEAL 

^ WHEELS 

ii îJiwiiiigpiiiM I jr 

• MEETS ALL BUILD- 

ING CODES 

MALEY CONSTRUCTION CO. 

Wayne Theatre BIdg., Wayne, Mich. 

Phone Wayne 4580 

Fast service . . . Mobile . . . Sanitary . . . 

Spot the PX inside theatre, in hold-out area, 

even as roadside stand. Designed to cover 

the rush at peak times. One, two or 

three servers can operate at same time. 

The PX is white enameled and stainless 

steel with red trim and adds 

an appealing touch of color to your 

drive-in. Write for full details. 

^/leâitimet 0oacA Gr- 

EfBiliillii 


Daylight AireT Screening 

Possible, Agency Says 

A new development in drive-in equipment 

by the Star Distributing Agency of 

Pittsburgh is said to make possible the 

the 66 Park-In and Ronnie's Drive-In. both 

Three More Drive-Ins 

owned by FYed Wehrenberg. honorary 

chairman of the TOA and past president For Minneapolis Area 

WRITE FOR 

COMPLETE 

CATALOG THE J. E. BURKE CO. fond du lac, wis. 

of the regional MPTO. and the North The wave of drive-in theatre construction 

continues in the Minneapolis territory. 

Drive-In, jointly owned by Wehrenberg, 

his son-in-law Paul Krueger and Clarence Ted Karatz, theatre supply dealer, will join 

and Francis Kaimann. all prominent in the 

with Lewis Deutsch and Max Eddelstein, 

MPTO group. 

northern Minnesota exhibitors, in building 

The drive-in at Des Peres. Mo., owned 

outdoor theatres near Hibbing and Eveleth, 

by Midwest Drive-In Theatres Corp.. 

Minn. Each of the theatres will accommodate 

650 cars and cost in excess of $100,- 

headed by Phillip Smith of Boston, opened 

its 1949 season April 1. On Easter Sunday 

000, Karatz said. 

that airer. the North Drive-In, the Airway 

Bill Elson and Gilbert Nathanson, Minneapolis 

owners of conventional theatres at 

and Ronnie's were used for sunrise Easter 

services by various church groups. 

Detroit Lakes, Minn., also are joining the 

drive-in rush. They will start work on a 

Springfield Drive-In Under Way 

450-car drive-in near Detroit. 

Work has begun on a 400-car drive-in on 

a ten-acre plot of ground three blocks east 

of Highway 85, just north of Eagle Tail airport, 

Springfield, Colo. The theatre 

showing of motion pictures in daylight. will be operated by Floyd Davis and Nat 

The use of such a system would enable Jones, local business men. Plans are for a 

drive-ins to start their first show earlier 50x60 foot screen at the north end of the 

in the evening. 

grounds and a two-stoi-y combination refreshment 

center and projection booth. 

The accompanying photo shows a model 

which was made up to demonstrate the 

system. Rear-screen projection is utilized, 

the projectors 

Aurora Airer 

to be installed under 

Has Garden 

the 

»\ 1 » The F i nest 

screen platform. Projection lenses are 

Feature of the Western Hills Auto-In 

*'"'' 

^ CL Money Can 

synchronized with the screen which moves Theatre, Aurora, Ind., is a show garden 

Buy!—Vouf guarantee 

of long, trouble-free 

service. 

from the rear of the platform to the front planted with 1,500 tulips and Paul's scarlet 

while the show is in progress. It is expected climbing roses arranged to grow over the 

that the first drive-in theatre to use the front fence. The drive-in has been 

Star system will be constructed in the Pittsburgh 

area this season. 

new neon lighting on the screen tower. It 

Double-Shutter 

equipped with a children's playground and 

MOTIOGRAPH 

is located on Anderson Ferry road, between PROJECTORS 

Sidney road and Crookshank. 

ior a beautiiul, rock steady picture 

. . . 

Four St. Louis Drive-Ins 

smooth, cool operation . . . easy 

accessibility of all units. 

Join for Opening Ads 

Kelowno to Have Ozoner 

St. Louis joint advertisements were carried 

in newspapers to announce the open- 

are planning a drive-in to be built four 

100-150-250 

W, C. Boyd and associates of Vancouver MOTIOGRAPH 

ing of four big drive-ins in greater St. miles from Kelowna, B. C. The new ozoner 

and 500 Watt 

Louis. Those participating in the advertisements 

were the Aii-way, owned by Henry lumbia this year—two near Vancouver and 

will be the fourth planned in British Co- 

SOUND SYSTEMS 

for HJelik* sound. Models ior drive-lnj 

Halloway, president of Midcentral Allied: two in the interior of the province. 

of all sizes. 

BURKE-BUILT rfp'^r 

MOTIOGRAPH 

IN-CAR SPEAKER 

EQUIPMENT 

for exceptionally good tone quality 

and minimum service demands. 

. . . 

Larger. Made better. 

DRIVE-INS NEED 

MOTIOGRAPH 

Playground Equipment 

75/115 Ampere 

High Intensity 

Reflector Type 

ARC LAMPS 

Ploy areas con be arranged efficiently with proper 

for a truly brilliant picture of unTory 

planning. Burke-Built playground equipment ing intensity — mucn more light ai 

is 

much less cost. 

sturdy, safe and inexpensive to maintain. 

We will be glad to assist you with your planning. 

MOTIOGRAPH 

BURKE-BUILT CLIMB-AROUND * It is sturdy 

HI-POWER 

and strong 

not be set 

... 

in 

all surfaces 

concrete. 

ore 

Children 

smooth 

prefer 

. . . need 

BURKE 

115/230 Ampere 

it. 

GENERATOR SETS 

CLIMB -A -ROUND 

for a dependable source of current 

for the arc. 

Burke-Built equipment includes: Climb- A-Round, Swings, Slides, 

See-Sayis, Merry-Go-Rounds, Turning Bars, Horizontal Ladders and 

FREE! 

other playground apparatus. 

See your Moliograph dealer or write 

for literature and the Motiograph book. 

Address Dept. E. 

"Ho%v to Design, Construct and Equip 

a Drive-In Theatre." 

MOTIOGRAPH, inc. 

4431 W. LAKE ST., CHICAGO 24. ILL: 

BOXOFHCE :: May 7, 1949 

47

WANT TO BE A DRIVE-IN PROJECTIONIST? 

Here Are Solutions to Some of the Problems You Will Encounter 

by GRAY BARKER 

X HE DRIVE-IN theatre projectionist 

is a good subject for feature writing because 

plenty of human interest material 

can be brought in. He has been pictured 

as a Jack-of-all-trades, who can help push 

a frantic woman patron over a bad ramp, 

give technical lectures to patrons who 

wander into his booth and ask what this 

and that are for, or conduct lost children 

from the rest room to their auto homes. 

So far, however, little has been said 

about his duties during the show proper, 

when he is responsible for coaxing equipment 

into the herculean effort of putting a 

satisfactory picture on a screen often six 

times larger than those of indoor theatres. 

While basically his task is not unlike 

that of any projectionist, there are some 

differences of equipment and problems of 

which he should be aware when taking a 

job in one of the myriads of new ozoners 

being opened almost every day. 

OBTAINING 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

One of the major problems of the drivein 

projectionist is obtaining maximum light 

possible with available light sources and 

optical systems. No matter how many carbons 

are burned, how high amperage is 

stepped up, and how efficiently shutters 

and lenses are designed, a 60-foot drivein 

screen still contains around 2,700 square 

feet of screen surface to illuminate. Considering 

also the limited reflection characteristics 

of screen surfaces, mainly due 

to structural concessions, one can realize 

the futility of trying to duplicate the illumination 

obtained on indoor screens, 

where areas are smaller and optimum reflection 

characteristics are present. 

There are many types of screen surfaces, 

sheet metal and asbestos board being the 

most common. Virtually all are covered 

by white paint, ranging from special coatings 

selling at fancy prices to a splendid 

brand concocted by mixing flat white paint 

with plenty of turpentine. The paint must 

be flat, or lighted areas will gloss unpleasantly, 

especially on facial images and 

trailer titles. At the best, paint is but a 

temporary expedient to be used until something 

better can be developed, very likely 

a plastic surfacing. 

The sharp definition enjoyed on smaller 

screens is impossible when the screen 

image is blown up to such huge proportions; 

however the bulk of patrons are at 

a considerable distance, minimizing this 

disadvantage. It goes without saying, however, 

that correct focus should be a fetish, 

with the suggestion that the management 

be bedeviled for opera glasses or an inexpensive 

telescope for checking the screen 

closely after each changeover. Our experience 

has been that more focusing changes 

are necessary on drive-in screens, between 

trailers, monochrome-color changeovers, 

and the like. 

SELECTING ARC LAMPS 

When purchasing equipment for drivein 

projection, it should stand to logic to 

select arc lamps having the highest rated 

arc amperage. This, however, is not always 

the case; for tests have shown some 

of the lower-rated lamps do produce and 

transmit more light than some rated higher 

than 100 amperes, because of superior 

optical systems and operational efficiency. 

Then light from powerful arc sources 

is often bottlenecked in Smithsonian projection 

heads that offer poor transmission 

through lenses and shutter systems. Trends 

in advertising by the leaders in projector 

manufacture are toward special design for 

drive-in use, since this represents the 

greatest source of sales for the time being, 

and it is possible that when ozoner construction 

slackens further steps will be 

taken toward building the super projectors 

that are greatly needed, especially by some 

of the larger operations. „ 

More progress likely will be made on 

shutter systems providing greater light 

transmission. This feature might be objectionable 

on small screens where flicker 

would be visible, but with the long throws 

and reduced screen brightness in drive-ins, 

it would be practically undiscemible. 

But the projectionist must make the 

most of equipment the owners prefer to 

install, be it one of the "super" installations 

of the future, or, as we have seen 

\ 


49

AMPLIFIERS AND THEIR COMPONENTS 

Basic Knowledge of Condenser Operation is 

Helpful to Projectionists 

by FRANK H. CHAMPLIN 

Local 

150 lATSE 

XlL CONDENSER, more properly called 

a capacitor, consists of two conducting 

electrodes separated by an insulating material, 

or dielectric, (any insulator is a 

dielectric). Condensers are rated both as 

to their capacity and their "break down" 

voltage. The capacity is in terms of microfarads 

(mf) for large condensers such 

as are used in filter circuits, and micromicrofarads 

for use as "bypass" condensers, 

the latter being generally designated 

on the condenser as a fraction of a microfarad 

such as .001 mf. Other ratings 

must be taken into consideration when 

they are to be used in radio frequency 

work, but they do not concern our type of 

B-f-ofrom 

reef. 

application. 

A condenser is capable of storing a 

charge of electricity when a voltage is con- 

B-o- 1 

Figure 1. 

in an amplifier. 

c 

T 

T 

/oac/ 

A basic filter circuit as generally used 

nected across its terminals. When it consists 

of a direct current, a static charge is 

established in the condenser's dielectric, 

which, if the applied voltage remains long 

enough assumes a voltage value equal to 

the impressed voltage. At this point, current 

flow within the condenser ceases. If 

the applied voltage is increased, then current 

again flows in the condenser until the 

static charge voltage equals that of the 

impressed voltage. 

If the value of the applied voltage 

should drop, then current will flow from 

the condenser into the circuit until such 

time as the value of the static charge 

again equals that of the applied voltage. 

From this it may be seen that a condenser 

will act as a reservoir, and that it 

will release current stored within it whenever 

the value of an applied voltage drops, 

and will restore current within itself if 

that voltage rises. Let's see how these 

characteristics enable us to put the condenser 

to work. 

Figure one is a basic filter circuit as 

generally used in an amplifier. The rectifier 

is supplying to condenser A a pulsating 

direct current. This means that each 

pulse consists of a voltage that starts at 

zero and builds up to a peak value, then 

drops back to zero again. Condenser A, 

o 

Bt B- 

250 Volts - 

Figure 2. Circuit showing the condenser's use 

in an amplifier for interstage coupling. 

as this voltage is building up acquires a 

charge, and, as soon as the voltage from 

the rectifier starts to drop, it discharges 

its stored energy into the circuit repeating 

this action on each pulse. Obviously 

the voltage being impressed upon filter 

choke C is now more constant than that 

arriving from the rectifier. 

We are all familiar with the term "counter-electromotive 

force." It is upon this 

principle that a choke operates. Choke C, 

due to this property, opposes the abrupt 

rise of any current flowing through it, and 

also delays any abrupt drop of current, 

consequently, this being the case, the voltage, 

upon reaching condenser B is even 

more constant than it was before flowing 

through the filter choke. Condenser B, 

by performing the same function as condenser 

A, presents to the load an almost 

constant voltage. It might be mentioned 

that the higher the capacity of the condenser 

in this type service, the more effective 

it is, that is up to a certain point of 

course. 

Since no current will flow from a condenser 

into a circuit if the voltage across 

5/ 

250 Volts 

Figure 3. Diagram illustrating what is known 

as an IR (I, current in amperes, R, resistance 

in ohms) drop. 

its terminals remains constant, it may be 

used also to "block" the flow of direct 

current into portions of the circuit where 

it is not wanted. By virtue of this fact, 

signal voltages, which are of an alternating 

current nature, may be channeled into circuits 

where they are desired, and direct 

currents kept out. 

We therefore arrive at the condenser's 

use for interstage coupling in an amplifier. 

Figure two represents the basic circuit 

used and is known as "resistance coupling." 

Since, during periods of no signal, the 

direct current voltage impressed on the 

plate of VI through resistor RL is constant, 

no current may flow through condenser 

C to the grid of V2; consequently, 

no voltage will be present at that point 

other than the bias voltage reaching V2's 

grid through resistor RG. However, when 

a signal voltage appears in the plate circuit 

of VI, each half cycle of said voltage 

will lower the plate voltage of VI. Since C 

has already assiuned a charge of higher 

voltage value, current will flow from C, 

through resistor RG to ground, and, as a 

consequence, voltage will exist at V2's grid. 

The alternate half cycle of the signal voltage 

will raise the plate voltage of VI allowing 

C to increase its charge, and then 

"spill it" on the next half cycle. As a result, 

if the signal voltage frequency is that 

Figure 4. 

250 Volts 

The only difference between this figure 

and Figures 2 and 3 is the way it is put 

down on paper; electrically it is the same, 

omitting the elements of the tubes. 

of a 500-cycle note, then the signal voltage 

will appear at V2's grid 500 times each second. 

This rise and fall of voltage at the plate 

of VI is due to the fact that as the plate 

current of VI rises and falls in accordance 

to the signal voltage at Vl's grid, RL, situated 

in Vl's plate circuit creates what is 

known as an IR drop. Figure three will 

illustrate. 

Current flowing to Vl's plate must flow 

through resistor R. Ohm's law tells us that 

to find the voltage drop in a resistor we 

use the formula IxR equals E. (I, the 

current in amperes, R the resistance in 

ohms and E the voltage.) Suppose Vl's 

plate current is 2 milliamperes (.002 ampere), 

and the resistance of R is 50,000 

ohms. IxR equals .002x50,000 equals 100 

volts. This voltage loss subtracted from 

the applied plate voltage of 250, leaves a 


total of 150 volts at the plate of VI, and 

consequently at C. Now assume that a 

signal voltage arrives at Vl's grid and 

upon one-half of each cycle raises the 

plate current of VI to 3 milliamperes < .003 

ampere). By using the same formula we 

would find the voltage loss in resistor R to 

be 150, thereby lowering the plate voltage 

to 100 volts. Since C assumed a charge at 

150 volts, it now discharges into the grid 

circuit of V2. 

For those of you who have found the 

explanation of Figures 2 and 3 hard to 

follow, consider Figure 4. The only difference 

between this figure and Figures 2 

and 3 is the way I have put it down on 

paper; electrically it is the same, omitting 

the elements of the tubes. Figure 1 is also 

very similar. Rl is merely creating the 

variation in voltage value that we have 

from the rectifier in figure 1, at condenser 

A.C. in Figure 4 is the same to that circuit 

as condenser A is to Figure 1, and the fact 

that C is connected to ground through resistor 

R2 does not alter its action. Therefore, 

should the voltage at point X drop 

below its normal value, regardless of what 

causes it, C will commence to discharge 

current through R2 to ground. Now since 

current flowing through a resistance will 

cause a voltage to be developed across it, 

a voltage appears at point Y. If V2's grid 

is connected at this point, there will obviously 

be a voltage applied to it. Connect 

V2's grid to point Y. and Vl's plate 

at point X and you have the same circuit 

as Figure 2 insofar as the plate and grid 

connections are concerned. 

Should you wish to witness the ability 

of a condenser to store electrical energy, 

obtain a filter condenser, and observing 

the polarity as marked on the condenser, 

place a direct current voltage of 100 volts 

or so across its terminals for a few moments. 

Remove the condenser, being careful 

not to touch its terminals, and short 

them together. You will get the idea when 

you see the results. If you should accidentaly 

touch the terminals, well, don't 

blame me because I warned you. 

To go into the uses of a condenser in all 

their aspects, even in a theatre sound system 

would be an endless job. I might 

mention as regards their use in interstage 

coupling that the combination known as 

"resistance coupling," that while it does 

not afford the high gain possible with the 

transformer, a wide frequency response is 

more easily and economically obtained, it 

merely being a case of the design engineer 

using the correct combination of values of 

both resistors and condensers in the various 

parts of the circuits where the values 

used effects the frequency response of the 

circuit as a whole. 

1949 NAPM Convention 

October 24-26 

Announcement has been made by the 

board of directors of the National Ass'n of 

Popcorn Mfrs. that the 1949 international 

popcorn convention and exposition will be 

held at the Palmer House in Chicago, October 

24-26. 

To assist executive secretary Tom Sullivan, 

the board named A. J. Villiesse, past 

secretary, as general convention chairman; 

W. W. Hawkins. Confections, Inc., Chicago, 

exposition chairman, and Leonard M. Japp, 

Special Foods. Inc., Chicago, as get-together 

and banquet chairman. 

The giant exposition hall of 15,000 square 

feet will house 75 booths. This year there 

will be no registration or admission charge 

to enter the exhibit hall and exhibitors 

will be provided with unlimited invitations 

for their customers. 

Theatre on Ravine Edge 

Not only is the new Odeon Humber Theatre 

constructed at the junction of three 

municipalities, Toronto, York township 

and Swansea village, but the theatre is on 

the edge of a ravine, with the result that 

the orchestra floor is below the street level. 

The main entrance leads to the balcony 

and loges while a sweeping staircase takes 

patrons to the main floor. 

Mass display, special buying time, penny 

candy machines and an intermission, boost 

concession sales at children's matinees. 

SUPERIOR IN QUALITY/ LOW IN COST/ THAT'S WHY EVERYDAY.... 

DRIVE-IN 

THEATRES ARE INSTALLING 

Complete Drive-In Equipment 

The ama/in^. the scnsaiional, yes. the unparalleled actlaim and 

acceptanie of Royal Soundmaster drive-in c-quipmenl has been 

country-wide. Both new theatres and old have found in Royal 

Soundmaster the answer to iheir need for superior quality ai 

low c-'nT/,.;'.''t«-.OU.„,„, lonia 

xas 

/^-'nThc.., ;•;';''"•-• ^'.nncsora 

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Two important phases in planning fire 

protection include the maintenance of firefighting 

equipment, and instruction of 

staff members on handling crowds in the 

event of a fire. 

icn6 for comp/efe equipment brochure 

THE BALLANTYNE CO. 

1707 DAVENPORT OMAHA, NEBRASKA 

JX 

£»c./n The- 

Ma 

'n,M.;ford.;„; 

, Can 

ih. 


A theatre choir cushion in the "raw." A heavy fabric is attached to the 

top of the springs and a thick layer of sisal stapled to the heavy, wiresupported 

material. The cushion is then ready for padding with cotton 

and application of the seat cover. 

This electrically-operated hydraulic press is used to form the complete back 

pan on two Encore models. The back is shaped in one operation from a 

sheet of flat steel stock. Dies used in the press cost a small fortune and 

took more than a year to make. 

COMFORT IN 

THE MAKING 

A panorama of manufacturing which shows some of the 

massive machinery and careful craftsmanship utilized 

by Heywood-Wakefield Co. in making theatre chairs. 

Above, top, left: End standard of the chair is having feet brazed on so the 

finished chair can be attached to wood or concrete. Top, right: Underside 

of wooden chair arm is being routed out so that when shaped and 

painted it can be driven onto chair standard. Lower, left: A line of steel 

end standards entering bonderizing section of enamel baking oven. Lower, 

right: "Laying on" glue-coated veneer in hydraulic press in assembling 

seat backs. 

Below, left: To insure uniformity, seat cushion fabrics are laid in piles and 

cut apart in bulk, using a high speed electric cutter. Center: Assembling 

seat covers over all-steel, padded coil spring units. When the pressure 

is released, the cover is "skin-tight." Right: Coil springs and completely 

assembled coil spring units attached to frames, on way to tempering and 

enamel baking ovens.

Fig. 1. Walls oi the renovated lobby of the Empress Theatre in Chicago Fig. 2. Another view ol the Empress lobby. Handsome glass doors open 

are a rich blue-green. Superimposed on this is a fine composition of leaf the lobby invitingly to passersby. The staircases on either side were 

forms in heroic scale, which is executed in chartreuse and white stipple treated with a fluted motif in shades of canyon red, while the walls beside 

and line effects. 

them were given another variation ol fluting. 

READY FOR ANOTHER 35 YEARS 

Renovated Empress Theatre of Chicago Starts on a Second Career 

by HANNS R. TEICHERT* 

landmarks are more 

often noted for their 

historical value than 

their value as income 

producers. Yet there 

is a growing body of 

theatres throughout 

the country representing 

the pioneer houses 

of their particular location. 

Time, and the 

Honns ft. Teichert 

influx of newer smaller 

houses, are gradually 

causing these first houses to be more 

recognized and marked as a class. For the 

most part, they are apt to be about 30 to 

40 years old, and to have started their 

careers as vaudeville or legitimate theatres. 

Many of them, because of costly maintenance 

or changes of patronage, have been 

allowed to deteriorate and are acquiring 

somewhat the atmosphere of the old bandstand 

in the town park. But that this is 

not necessary is proved by the Empress 

Theatre of Chicago. 

The Empress, located at Halsted near 

63rd street, started its career 35 years ago 

as a fine vaudeville house. Then it went 

into high-class burlesque and early movies, 

which it continued until its closing during 

the depression. In 1932 it was taken over 

by the CVN Corp., its present owners, who 

ran it exclusively as a movie house, remodeling 

and renovating it in November 

1948. It is this step that we want to talk 

about in this article. 

Before reading any further, take a look 

at our first two illustrations and see if you 

don't think they offer a lobby as crisply 

modern, smartly functional and patronpulling 

as a theatre just a thirtieth its 

age, and if you could see these illustrations 

in their true colors you would doubly 

agree. Let us give you a brief idea of the 

lobby's general effect. 

The view in our first illustration is what 

you would see as you enter the room. And 

its arrangement is no more dynamic than 

its color scheme, which uses a canyon red 

ceiling over the wall areas which are a 

rich deep blue-green. Superimposed on 

this is a fine modern composition of leaf 

forms in heroic scale, executed in chartreuse 

and white stipple and line effects. 

The doors, on either side of the refreshment 

bar, are inset with the canyon red 

of the ceiling, but are themselves of natural 

light wood, chrome-mounted. The floor 

•Hanns R, Teicherl Decorating Co., Chicago. 

Fig. 3. Here's what Empress patrons see as 

they ascend the stairs from the lobby to the 

balcony. There is no fuddy-duddy atmosphere 

left over from the past to spoil the effect. 

is carpeted with leaf-like forms in canyon 

red, sand, sage green and black. But the 

refreshment bar is the attraction of this 

wall, and decorated accordingly. Chartreuse 

green is picked up from the flanking 

compositions and used for the background 

color of this unit which carries a 

graceful line and stipple composition on 

top in turquoise and white. The back wall 

of this unit is treated with a fluted effect 

in turquoise and white in the portion that 

is visible through the aperture, but the 

lower portion is painted in the more practical 

canyon red. White mahogany is the 

wood of the counter, si>arked by attentioncalling 

lighted fluted-glass panels on either 

side. It is a refreshment bar of which any 

theatre could be justly proud. 

Our second illustration shows the general 

appearance of the rest of the lobby, 

which is duplicated on the other half of 

the room to the rear of the viewer. Handsome 

glass doors open the lobby invitingly 

to passersby. The staircases on either side 

leading to the balcony are treated with the 

fluted motif in shades of canyon red, 

while the wall areas beside them are given 

another variation of fluting in graded 

shades of soft green. But the main character 

of this view lies in the hand decorations 

around the entrance door areas. The 

background color here is the canyon red 

of the ceiling while the motif, the same as 

at the top of 

the refreshment bar only in 

greater scale, is executed in chartreuse, 

white and blue-green, accented with tangerine. 

The necessary but unaesthetic radiator 

is practically unnoticed through painting 

it the canyon red of the dado. Smart 

lighting completes this thoroughly modern 

lobby by means of overhead egg-crate 

fixtures that give a clean, crisp effect to 

{Continued on next page) 


' 

RESEARCH BUREAU 

for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTITUTE 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City 1, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

5-7-49 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive information regularly, as released, on 

the following subjects for Theatre Planning: 

n Acoustics G Lighting Fixtures 

n Air Conditioning Plumbing Fixtures 

n Architectural Service 

fn Projectors 

D "Black" Lighting 

n Projection Lamps 

n Building Material 

D Seating 

n Carpets 

D Coin Machines ^ Signs and Marquees 

n Complete RemodelingD Sound Equipment 

n Decorating 

Television 

n Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts 

n Drive-In Equipment D Vending Equipment 

D Other 

Theatre 

Seating 

Address 

City 

State 

Subjects 

Capacity 

Signed 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience 

in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN 

THEATRE RED BOOK (Nov. 20, 1948). 

Ready for 

Another 35 Years 


the area. Here is an interior that is ready 

for another 35 years of service, with just 

occasional changes of color for good 

maintenance and patron appeal. 

Nor is it just the lobby that has been renovated. 

All the Empress's rooms wear the 

same inviting look. For another example, 

take our illustration showing the view the 

patrons have as they ascend the stairs 

from the lobby to the balcony. No fuddyduddy 

atmosphere is left over here from 

the past to spoil the general effect. This 

area is treated with as much care as that 

below. The same deep blue-green as downstairs 

is applied to the back wall, and its 

great length is broken up by intervals of 

vertical fluted treatment in light green 

and white, against which floral compositions 

are set at the heads of the stairs. 

These compositions, the same technique 

of stipple and line, are given a bolder color 

scheme here consisting of chartreuse and 

white, but greater amounts of canyon red 

and bold tangerine. 

fig. 4. Composition in the rear of the Empress 

Theatre stairwell the patron sees in going 

down from the balcony. 

Our last illustration shows the composition 

in the rear of the stairwell that the 

patrons see on going down from the balcony. 

With side walls of chartreuse, and 

background in canyon red, this abstract 

composition takes away the stair-well's 

bareness with its chartreuse, turquoise and 

tangerine coloring, sparked by black and 

white, without distracting the patrons' 

eyes so he neglects his footing. 

The Empress may be a landmark, but 

she has the virtue of being one with a future 

as well as a past. She is retaining her 

sentimental past associations and still 

capitalizing on them by a firm and successful 

advance into the future. We commend 

her as an example to others of her type. 

RESULTS 

NEW YORK 

April 21, 1949 

^ÔUR SCORE SHEET shows 

that BOXOFFICE consistently 

pulls more inquiries than the second 

and third publications combined. 

And this does not include 

the inquiries you refer to us 

through your Reader Service department. 

On a basis of cold 

figures 

BOXOFFICE certainly deserves 

the support of any concern 

which seeks to sell the theatre 

trade. 

A Theatre Equipment Advertiser* 

•Letter in our files for examination. 

The writer is a regular advertiser 

in The tÔDERN THEATRE Section 

of BOXOFFICE. 

The 

This Issue of 

MODERN THEATRE 

is the largest regular issue 

in its history: larger than 

any theatre magazine's 

regular equipment section 

published during the past 

decade or more . . . including 

equipment and refreshment 

sections combined! 

BOXOfflCf 

MEANS 

BUSINESS 


^ ^^« 

Conditio^ 

Condition 

'1 

-n 

Complete, A-to-Z air conditioning-cooling, 

filtering, dehumidifying - all wrapped up in a 

package and ready for installation, 

practically 

before your next change of program. No ducts to 

build, no walls to tear down. Just make electrical 

and plumbing connections and flick a switch. 

Presto !-you can advertise this added attraction 

"Comfortably Air Conditioned by Typhoon." 

Rugged Typhoon packaged units - modern air 

conditioning at the lowest dollar cost per ton. 

TYPHOON Packaged Units rasy #o InstM, Economical in Upkeep 

SAVING IN RErWGERATION: 

25% less refrigeration needed-no loss in 

ducts. ..no wasteful cooling of upper area. 

ZONE CONTROL: 

Individual thermostats give even temperature 

throughout the house. 

OVERSIZED COOUNG COILS: 

Insures full -rated capacity under toughest 

operating conditions. 

NOTE: Heating coils can 

be inserted in units if desired 

QUIET OPERATION: 

Sound baffled cabinet, floating spring base 

and low speed compressor eliminate noise, 

vibration. 

UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE: 

If one unit is being serviced, other units 

are not affected. 

DEHUMIDIFYING ACTION: 

Over-size coil with high percentage of 

prime surface make for better moisture 

removal. 

^ 

l"^''" Model ^°^' 

tio^'^'" Liable ^°' 

theaters 

^^.^,to- 

needsti 

y 

ûoo^'^ 

^Tineisari 

BALCO? 

TYPE /pE 

if^ 

EATBE i^gjgi 

TYPHOON AIR CONDITIONING CO., INC. 

794 UNION STREET • Dept. MT5. BROOKLYN 15. N. Y. 

BOXOFHCE :: May 7. 1949 

55

XÂRTicuLARLY noteworthy in theatre 

decorating is the job recently completed 

on Community Circuit's striking new Richmond 

Theatre in Cleveland. 

The Richmond with 1,800 seats all on one 

floor was designed by Weinberg, Laurie & 

Teare. Director of decorating was Leroy 

Kendis of Blaine, Perrigo & Sternberg Associates. 

Novelty Scenic Studios performed 

the work on wall coverings, applique, 

draperies, tufting and stage curtains. 

Side walls of the auditorium of the new Richmond Theatre, Cleveland, were treated with green 

satin and gray velour. The satin extends around stage, creating on illusion of taking the audience 

right onto the stage. Application of the wall coverings was handled by Novelty Scenic Studios. 

Let's 

Take a Look at the 

NEW RICHMOND THEATRE 

Recently Opened in Cleveland, Ohio 

Upper photo. Foyer walls of the Richmond Theatre are oak finished in dove gray. The face of 

the candy stand is white plastic; the frame around the stand is red and white plastic. Lower 

photo. Gunmetal plastic, ornamented with white rosettes, is used for wall treatment. The doors 

are padded and covered with green leatherette. 

The main color scheme is gray, green 

and cheri-y red. The carpet combines a 

sprawling gray feather pattern on a cherry 

background. These colors are repeated in 

the Bodiform chairs. 

In the lobby, one sidewall consists of 

padded panels in gunmetal plastic, ornamented 

with white plastic rosettes. Cireen 

velour padded suifaces over the doors are 

augmented with upholstery buttons in a 

novel scroll-patterned effect. The opposite 

wall has green velour over padding, ornamented 

with white enameled metal scrollwork. 

The dado is of striated plywood finished 

in a soft gray tone. Etoors are padded 

and covered with green leatherette trimmed 

with brass nails. Field of the ceiling was 

painted with silver leaf and glazed. Sides 

and border areas were painted green to 

harmonize with the velour on the walls. 

Foyer walls are oak finished in dove 

gray. The ceiling is buff and green with 

silver leaf in the center. Doors are padded 

with gray leatherette. The frame around 

the candy stand is red and white plastic 

and the face of the stand is white plastic. 

Side walls of the auditorium were treated 

with a combination of emerald green 

satin and gray velour. For a distance of 

50 feet from the stage, the emerald green 

and the stage itself is of the same material 

and color, focusing eyes of audience 

from walls to stage, forming a continuous 

treatment that creates the illusion of taking 

the audience right on to the stage. Side 

walls of the auditorium are covered with 

gray velour on which are superimposed 

large single baroque feathers. Hidden behind 

the center vein of each feather are 

soft red lights which glow pleasingly but 

not sufficiently to distract the eye during 

the screen entertainment. These baroque 

figures meet the solid green drapes that 

extend to the stage on both sides. The 

auditorium ceiling is done in patterns in 

different levels with hidden lights to stress 

the outlines of the patterns. The rear 

wall has alternating strips of emerald green 

satin and gray velour. 

Also attractively decorated is the ladies' 

room. The walls of this room are finished 

in alternating stripes of chartreuse and 

gray. Chairs at the makeup mirror are 

covered with plastic, and have a letter R 

on top. Lounge chairs and settee are covered 

with chartreuse fabric trimmed with 

black fringe. 

56 


EXCLUSIVE WITH W A GNER 

ONLY WAGNER WINDOW-TYPE FRAMES 

permit openings of any size in one panel, making it unnecessary to )oin tooether a 

series of small signs. Most economical to maintain — lamps, neon and glass can 

replaced in any section without disturbing other portions and WITHOUT 

REMOVING FRAMES. 

ONLY WAGNER TRANSPARENT PLASTIC LETTERS 

are adjustable as to friction — can be made to slide on the bars with case or 

to fit so snugly that they will not blow off in the strongest wind. Complete safety 

is 

assured. 

ONLY WAGNER PLASTIC LETTERS 

can be stacked without warping. They're strong and shock-proof. The gorgeous, 

deep, jewel-like colors . . . red, green, blue, amber and blacK ... go all the way 

through. No maintenance is ever required. 4". 8". 10" and 17" sires. 

ONLY WAGNER ALUMINUM LETTERS 

come in so many styles, colors and sizes; 4". 6", 8", 10", 12", 16", 24". 30". 

ONLY WAGNER LETTERS 

ith their patented slotted method of mounting, prevent freezing to the sign. 

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NAME 

THEATRE 

STREET 

I'le.ise send BIG free catalog on Wagner theatre display equipment, 

Ihr largest line In the world. 

I 

1_ 

CITY AND STATE 


^ Economy 

GRIGGS EQUIPMENT CO. 

Belfon. Texas 

I 

am interested in: 

Seating a nevr theatre 

Reseating a theatre 

Repairing seats in my theatre 

Please send me iniormation. 

Name 

Theatre 

City 

GRIGGS 

EQUIPMENT 

COMPANY 

Exhibitors have found 

Griggs' line of- Theatre 

Chairs to be fine—in price 

and quality] One of the 

popular chairs is Griggs' 

No. 20 MBW—built with 

solid steel standards, formsitting 

backs and seat, 

mounted at just the right 

angle. The upholstery is 

Du Font's "Fabrilite" and a 

choice of colors offered 

on birch or maple face veneers. 

An extended metal 

back protects seat from being 

scraped by person sitting 

behind. Ball bearing 

and rubber cushion hinges. 

This is an ideal chair at a 

fair pricel See onel Griggs' No. 20 MBW Theatre Chair 

Manufacturers and Suppliers of 

in Belton, Texas 

fine Theatre Seating 

Offices in Dallas, 2008 Jackson St.; in Memphis, 410 South Second Street. 


Marion, Ind., Is Site 

Of RCA Tube Plant 

Ground has been broken at Marion, Ind., 

for a new manufacturing center being 

erected by the RCA tube department for 

the mass-production of 16-inch directview 

picture tubes for television. 

Gov. Henry F. Schricker of Indiana officiated 

at the ceremony which marked the 

beginning of construction on the building. 

Plans are for a one-story modern brick 

and steel structure, air conditioned and 

fluorescent - lighted throughout. The 

building is tentatively expected to be completed 

by early fall and will provide 100,- 

000 square feet of manufacturing space. 

At present plans are under way to install 

temporary production machinery in the existing 

plant buildings, which provide 160,- 

OOO square feet of factory space. The plant 

is expected to produce their first 16-inch 

metal picture tubes by this summer. 

/i/ameYourStain! 

It won't mar the lasting beauty of 

Varlar Stainproof Wall Covering 

Two Firms Join TESMA 

The TESMA Tattler announces two new 

members of the Theatre Equipment and 

Supply Manufacturers Ass'n. They are 

Huffs Manufacturing Co., 659 W. Jefferson 

Blvd., Los Angeles, makers of carbon 

coolers, aligners, cushions and air chutes, 

and Weaver Manufacturing Co.. 1353 E. 

Firestone Blvd., Los Angeles, manufacturers 

of electric changeovers, foot switches 

and aluminum reels. 

Bevelite Plastic Letters 

On Belasco Marquee 

The Belasco Theatre of Los Angeles 

makes good use of Bevelite plastic marquee 

letters in calling attention to the featured 

stage attraction, "French Artists Models." 

STAINS 

of all 

kinds wash right off beautiful stainproof Varlar and 

quickly, too, with ordinary soap and water! Ink, food, hair tonic, 

cold cream, crayon, shoe polish ... all the common "indelible" staining 

agents, plus many uncommon ones . . . wipe right off this remarkable 

new modern wall covering. 

Wherever interior walls are exposed to the wear and tear of everyday 

living, Varlar brings fresh, lasting beauty and protection. Varlar 

resists fire, water, steam, bacteria and vermin, too ... is not affected 

by hundreds of agents which ruin ordinary wall coverings. 

Stainproof Varlar has no surface coating to crack or peel. No 

brittle plastic "skin" to chip or discolor. Varlar's rich new coloring 

and stain resistance go clear through and last for life! 

Theatre foyers, lounges and restrooms may now enjoy durable 

wall beauty of life-long wear, unsurpassed for low-cost maintenance. 

The constant abuses of public wear, from adults and children both, 

wash right off beautiful, durable Varlar stainproof wall covering. All 

93 styles . . . florals, plaids, weaves, pictorials, stripes and tones . 

go up easily as wallpaper. 

. 

HOT GREASE 

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\ 

New 450-Seat Theatre 

For Williamsport, Ind. 

C. A. Christy, owner and operator of the 

Williamsport, will lease the new 450-seat 

theatre now under construction by the 

Warren County Theatre Corp. at Williamsport, 

Ind. Site for the new theatre was 

sold to the corporation by Christy who 

expects to close the old house. 

Incorporators of the project, expected 

to cost $40,000, are Desmond Abel, Alfred 

V. Ringer, Rainey Shannon and Gilberie 

Springman. Christy will retain an option 

for future purchase of the house. 

Smear, splatter, write or even walk on a free test sample of Varlar! 

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The auditorium of the Empire Theatre of Bay 

City, Mich., has four aisles, giving easy access 

to the 1,500 Push-Bock seats. The seats are 

arranged in a parquet circle and arranged so 

that each provides an unobstructed view of the 

theatre's large screen. 

X HE Recent opening of the 1,500- 

seat Empire Theatre in Bay City, Mich, 

brought to completion a block-long recreation 

center owned and operated by 33-yearold 

Art Narlock. The new center houses 

the city's largest theatre, newest cocktail 

lounge and a 24-lane bowling alley. 

The Empire was designed by architects 

Bennet and Straight. Arthur H. Alarie is 

the manager of the house. 

The new theatre boasts a Macotta tile 

two-story front, set off by a modernistic 

marquee and a sign tower which looms 

more than 50 feet above the street. 

Theatre Is Final Unit 

In 

Bay City/ Michigan 

Recreation Center 

Opening of the Empire Theatre brings to completion a project started about three years ago, 

giving Bay City, Mich., a recreation center which is one of the finest in the country. The center 

houses the theatre, 24-lane bowling alley and the city's newest cocktail lounge. 

Plate glass doors open into a large lobby 

with an eye-appealing refreshment counter. 

The counter is accessible from both the 

lobby and the foyer. Leather-covered doors 

from the lobby give away into a carpeted 

foyer, with overstuffed modern-type furniture. 

Lobby illumination is provided by 

indirect cove lighting. 

In the auditorium the sound-absorbing 

cinder-block walls were painted in pastel 

shades to blend in with the red and blue 

lighting. The cove ceiling lights show up 

the acoustically designed ceiling which 

aids in providing ideal sound reception. 

The auditorium has four aisles, giving 

easy access to the Empire's Push-Back 

seats, furnished by the Kroehler Co. The 

seats are arranged in a parquet circle and 

each provides an obstructed view of the 

theatre's large screen. 

On opening night. Mayor M. Raleigh 

Rabedioux of Bay City, cut through satin 

ribbons looped from lobby doors, to place 

the new theatre in operation. The Empire 

was festooned with banners and the lobby 

filled with congratulatory bouquets of 

flowers. A huge searchlight pierced the 

sky, calling special attention to the new 

cinema. 

CREDITS: 

Air Conditioning: Carrier 

Carpets: Alexander Smith Crestwood 

Decorating: Michigan Architectural Decorators 

Marquee Letters: Wagner. 

Projectors: Brenkert 

Seats: Kroehler Push-Back 

Sound: RCA 

Stage Curtains: Mort Green 

Supplies: National Theatre Supply 


SMPE Issues Report 

On Films in Video 

The first comprehensive report on developments 

in the production and processing 

of motion pictures for television program 

materials and developments in recording 

televisipn programs, is off the press. Available 

through the Society of Motion Picture 

Engineers, the report of the cooperative 

developments made by film and television 

engineers was compiled by a group of 32 

specialists within the society's television 

committee. Earl I. Sponable. SMPE president, 

has announced. 

The booklet includes a four-page bibliography 

of technical papers and treatises on 

all phases of the field. It is organized under 

five main headings and covers cameras, 

composition, subject lighting, properties, 

titles, processing of 35mm negatives and 

prints and 16mm reversal, negative and 

positive, the transfer from film to television 

signal, film emulsion, TV picture tube 

phosphors and film exposure. The publication 

also includes a discussion of the historical 

background of television and color 

television systems. 

The publication is available to motion 

picture and television engineers at 75 cents 

a copy, from the Society of Motion Picture 

Engineers. 342 Madison, New York. 

IP 

Plaza Opens in Dallas 

Night view of the new Plaza Theatre at 

r>allas shows the brightly lighted front and 

\ 

marquee. The 800-seat Plaza is owned by 

M. S. White, well known Dallas exhibitor 

and former film man. 

NEW ADC EQUIPMENT 

Now Available 

SPROCKET MACHINE 

For an efficient and accurate 

Curtain Control Operation 

STOP, START AND REVERSE 

MACHINE 

The last word for control ot 

curtain movement. 

Complete particulars from 

Automatic Devices Co. 

.showman knows it 

Every .siiiarl 

takes a smart. i)loasanl-lookinf: 

Colors designed by 

theatre as well as ieliir

Left: Arches used on the Airway Theatre were designed and 

-V manufactured fcy Unit Structures, Inc., Peshtigo, Wis. In using 

these arches structural components such as trusses and heavy 

beams were entirely eliminated. 

Laminated Arches Used 

To Simplify Construction 

The Airway Theatre in Milwaukee is believed to be 

the first theatre in which semi-circular laminated 

wood arches were used to support the structure. 

Above: Entrance to theatre, showing the novel canopy, stainless 

steel entrance doors, boxoffice and poster frames. Below: Audi 

torium of the Airway looking toward the rear. Seating capacity 

is 700. The walls, which are painted Quaker blue, are decorated 

with drawings of different types of aircraft. 

M., iLWAtTKEE's newBst theatre, the 

Airway, located just across the city limits 

to the south, includes several novel features. 

The theatre was designed by Myles E. 

Belongia, a pioneer in designing and building 

quonset-type theatres. As far as is 

known this is the first theatre in which 

semicircular laminated wood arches are 

used for the auditorium structure. The 

arch spans are 52 feet wide which gives a 

radius height of 26 feet. The contour of 

the arches has been found to be ideal for 

projection, sound and air 

conditioning. 

With the use of such arches. Belongia 

explains, the wall heights were cut down 

one-third from the conventional height 

and structural components such as trusses, 

heavy beams, etc. were entirely ehminated. 

Also speed and ease of construction were 

factors in the decision to use this type of 

arch. After the foundations were in place, 

the building was totally enclosed within 

two weeks after starting on the erection of 

the arches. 

Due to the conditions of the site and lot 

size, the lobby and foyer portion of the 

building, including toilet rooms, concession, 

office, etc. were placed in a separate onestory 

wing arranged in an L-shaped, just 

off the main auditorium. The lobby and 

foyer wing is constructed of a combination 

of Lannon stone, structural steel and plate 

glass. The large canopy in front adds considerably 

to the attractiveness of the house. 

The floor of the lobby is covered with 

rubber mats, while the foyer is carpeted. 

In the lobby, fluorescent lighting is used: 

in the foyer, neon cove lighting. The lighting 

in the auditorium is provided by recessed 

coves and brackets. 

The color scheme in the Airway is blended 

to make the interior particularly inviting. 

The colors used were cocoa for the 

lobby, orchid for the foyer, Quaker blue for 

the auditorium. Wall paper was used in 

decorating the lounges. Carpeting is maroon 

which harmonizes well with the 

various shades in the walls. 

The auditorium walls are appropriately 

CREDITS: 

Acoustical Materials: Celotex, Nuwood 

Air Conditioning: American Foundry & Furnace, 

Arc 

Modine 

Lamps: Strong-Mogul 

Display Frames: Poblocki 

Lenses: 

Projectors: 

Super-Snaplite 

Ballantyne 

Seats: Ideal Seating 

Sound: 

Ballantyne 

decorated with outline drawings of various 

types of aircraft, including giant balloons. 

Before the shows start and during intermissions 

when the lights are on, there are 

many friendly arguments among patrons 

as to the correct names of the aircraft 

shown in the drawings. Patrons of the 

Airway are particularly aviation conscious 

as the theatre is located only a few miles 

north of the largest airport in Wisconsin 

and one of the largest in the middle west. 

General Mitchell field. 

The new house has two complete heating 

systems. A large system takes care of the 

auditorium and a small system heats the 

lobby, foyer, toilets, etc. By using this arrangement 

it is possible to eliminate heating 

of the auditorium, with the exception 

of about four hours a day. 

An attractive refreshment counter in the 

lobby where popcorn, soft drinks and candy 

are served, adequately takes care af patrons' 

needs. 

The Airway is a suburban house and is 

strictly functional in design. It was opened 

January 18. Howell Theatres. Inc., Milwaukee, 

the owner and operator, also operates 

the Avalon in Milwaukee and the Greendale, 

about ten miles southwest of Milwaukee. 

The total cost of the Airway is reported 

to be about $85,000 for the building, 

exclusive of equipment and land. 


\ 

^HOME COMFORT' 

HELPS MEET VIDEO 

by H. V. WILLIAMS 

Soles Manager, Theatre Seat Diy., 

Kroehler Mfg. Co. 

jt\ LTHOUCH 

tele- 

Vision today is still in 

its infancy, there is 

every indication that 

it may slow down the 

turnstiles in many 

places of amusement. 

Bigger and better video 

shows are popping up 

every month and if 

more and more people 

prefer to look and 

listen right on the 

family acres with all the comforts of home, 

the job of the exhibitor in attracting patronage 

becomes greater than ever. 

Two of these home comforts which the 

theatremen must provide in meeting this 

competition is "home comfort" and the 

pleasure of not having to become a human 

"pogo-stick" by jumping up and down in 

a theatre seat every time another patron 

enters or leaves your aisle. 

All prosperous theatremen are in agreement 

that the more comfortable and attractive 

the house, the more popular it 

becomes and the larger its steady patronage 

grows from year to year. The stress 

on comfort has been dominant in recent 

years. There was practically no competition 

back in the old silent days of the 

nickelodeon, but. even then, the one which 

was the most attractive and offered the 

latest type of piano-player and the most 

comfortable seats had faster moving turnstiles. 

It was soon after this embryo stage, when 

the big family event of the week was going 

to the movies, that expeditious exhibitors 

began "dolling up" their houses from lobby 

to the screen. These were still the days, 

however, when open air theatres operated 

during warm weather on roof tops and in 

vacant lots ; nd customers were handed 

cushions as they entered to insure the 

best seating comfort the owners had to 

offer. 

Serious theatre competition began back 

in the early twenties with the advent of 

the little crystal set and a pair of earphones. 

It was the change or transition 

of Morse code into voice and sound brought 

right into the home. It was radio. Seating 

and comfort began to be a major factor 

in keeping and building houses. 

Now comes television, and seating comfort, 

we feel, becomes even more important 

than ever. It was with the introduction of 

Push-Back seats that we introduced to 

solve this very important problem of providing 

seating comfort and relaxed and uninterrupted 

viewing. We like to feel that 

AT THEATRES 

THREAT 

Kroehler foresaw the coming danger of 

theatre "televitis" when it pioneered the 

development of push-back seats back in 

1938. 

During the past year the sale of Kroehler 

Push-Back seats has jumped terrifically, 

and two of the latest important theatres 

to "go Kroehler" are the Pickwood 

in Lx)s Angeles and the Magnolia in Seattle. 

'Floor 

Is Manager's Post, 

Says Loew's Bulletin 

E. M. Loew, head of the E. M. Loew's circuit, 

which has its headquarters in Boston, 

has started issuance of bulletins concerned 

primarily with theatre operation. These 

bulletins are being sent to all managers in 

the 70-theatre circuit in New England and 

eastern U. S. In his initial bulletin, Loew 

declared 

"Prom time to time important messages 

will be sent you from the home office in 

the form of bulletins. In every case much 

thought will be given to the contents of 

AIR-RITE 

For NEW Construction 

and Remodeling . . 

these publications and so I request that 

you study them and follow through in carrying 

out the thoughts expressed. You will 

kindly keep these bulletins in a ring binder 

and go over them from time to time. 

"At this time there are a few points I 

want to bring home. It is my request that 

a point to make certain that 

you make it 

these 

AIR-RITE is the result of 12 years 

of rich experience in manufacturing, 

engineering, and the installation of Theatre 

Air Conditioning Equipment. 

requests receive your immediate attention. 

"The manager's post is on the floor and 

not in the office. 

"The 'floor' is the control room, the lookout, 

the very nerve center of a theatre, 

from which a manager may survey the 

entire field of his operation and keep his 

staff up to peak efficiency. It is from the 

floor that the manager can check sound 

and projection. It is from the floor that 

the manager can control his staff. It is 

from there that the manager can greet his 

patrons and welcome them as guests. 

"It is only from the floor and not the 

office that a manager by personal example 

can inspire his staff to put into action 

that principle which is the heart beat of 

our business! 

"The public be pleased. 

"As I pointed out in the opening paragraph, 

bulletins will be sent out to you 

from time to time from the home office. 

They will deal with all phases of theatre 

operation, from booking to selling popcorn; 

from cleaning supplies to ushers' uniforms. 

It is my desire these messages will prove 

helpful in operating your theatre." 

INCREASES YOUR 

THEATRE TRAFFIC AND PROFITS 

Write today for literature on our Blowers 10,000 to 60,000 

CFM., Washers, Hydraulic Variable Speed Drives, Motors, 

Double Deflection Grills. 

We Furnish FREE Engineering Service. Write for name of nearest dealer. 

NATIONAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

523 Wyandotte Kansas City, Mo. 

BOXOFHCE May 7, 1949 65

TOP-QUALITY HOUSEKEEPING 

PROTECTS THEATRE INVESTMENT 

by SIDNEY SCHOEN* 

•Standards of housekeeping change 

with the times just as standards of living 

change with the introduction of new labor 

saving devices. In keeping with this progress, 

you can't use early 20th century 

cleaning and sanitation methods for the 

luxurious, new $500,000 theatres now being 

constructed, without seeing deterioration 

sometimes within a matter of a few months. 

The modern theatre has passed the 

period of simple soap-and-water treatment. 

Cleanliness and sanitation today is 

a highly specialized science. It is acquired 

in the modern theatre only as the result of 

The modem theatre utilizes many new 

*President of the Universal Chemical Co., 

land. 

scientific research and it requires specially 

trained services for each particular problem. 

Cleve- 

THIS IS WHAT ^

WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN 

SEAT COVERINGS? 

A Report Based on Late Information Received from Manufacturers 

X ODAY, exhibitors may get theatre 

seat-covering materials with lots of durability 

and style. There is a wide choice 

of textures and colors from which they 

may choose, and with the help of a decorator 

or theatre supply dealer, work out unusual 

but practical treatments in color 

and design. 

Modern Theatre has checked on late 

developments in the field and passes along 

the following report based on data received 

from manufacturers who specialize in 

supplying the theatre trade. 

BOLTA PRODUCTS 

Boltaflex all-plastic upholstery was developed 

after several years of intensive experimentation 

in the Bolta Laboratories at 

Lawrence. Mass. Specially formulated to 

withstand vigorous abuse. Boltaflex is 

guaranteed against cracking, chipping 

peeling and the manufacturers say that 

over a ton of pressure must be exerted 

before the material can be stretched permanently 

out of shape. Boltaflex has been 

found to be noninflammable and flameresistant. 

It resists stains and washes 

easily and can be quilted, draped, tufted, 

channeled and stitched with ease. Decorative 

designs of almost any type can be 

worked into it by means of a special trapunto 

process. Boltaflex has a safe, leather 

like grain and sells for only a fraction of 

the cost of actual leather. 

COLUMBUS COATED FABRICS 

This firm produces a scientifically compounded 

vinyl resin plastic which is 

securely anchored to a firm fabric base, 

forming a long wearing and attractive 

fabric for seats and chairs of all kinds. 

A new series of ten colors has been 

placed on the market, which includes yellow, 

chartreuse, green, red, antique ivory, 

luggage tan, saddle tan, brown, gray and 

blue. 

The base fabric supporting the coating 

is a heavy twill, and the finished goods, in 

an attractive antique finish, is highly 

resistant to grease, oil. 

alcohol, most acids, 

scuffing and abrasion. It cleans readily 

with mild soap and water. Goods with 

flame-resistant qualities are made to 

customer specifications in factory runs. 

DU PONT CO. 

DuPont Fabrilite vinyl plastic coated 

fabric is widely used for theatre seat reupholstery. 

It has outstanding resistance 

to scuffing and abrasive wear. The tough 

coated surface resists cracking from flexing 

over a wide temperature range and the 

firm bond of the coating to the fabric provides 

protection against peeling or blistering 

of the film. A wide range of colors can 

be supplied to harmonize with most any 

decorative scheme. 

It is practical because it can be scrubbed 

with soap and water, and maintained with 

a little paste wax to keep it in tip-top appearance. 

Fabrilite vinyl plastic coated 

fabric is manufactured in regular and fireresistant 

grades. An outstanding quality 

of Fabrilite is its bone-dry finish. No matter 

what weather conditions exist, theatre 

seats upholstered in Fabrilite are dry, and 

free from tack. 

FIRESTONE PLASTICS CO. 

Firestone's upholstering product Velon, 

is available in two forms. For the first, 

fine Velon yarns are woven into materials 

with the appearance and smooth finish of 

conventional fabrics, but possessing the 

added advantages of durability and simplicity 

of care. The second is called Flex, 

and is a calendared sheeting somewhat 

similar to leather, but with long wearing 

qualities associated with fine plastics. 

Woven Velon can be cleaned with soap 

and water as it is nonabsorbent. It is 

made in a large variety of patterns, including 

plaids, stripes, small herringbones 

and monotones. Because the colors are an 

integral part of the yarn they stay bright 

during the full life of the fabric. 

Velon Flex is an attractive and sturdy 

The Zephyr chair, manufactured by the Southern 

Desk Co. is Boltaflex upholstered. This allplastic 

upholstery is guaranteed against cracking, 

chipping and peeling. 

plastic that is particularly suitable for 

theatre use. Styled by Faber-Birren, the 

colors range from muted pastels to bold 

modern tones, covering 19 shades in all. 

In both forms, Velon is fire-resistant to 

a high degree. The plastic cannot encourage 

fire to spread, as it will not support 

combustion. 

GOODALL FABRICS 

Goodall offers seat coverings in woven 

and plastic fabrics. Two of their popular 

lines are the Redo, which is a cotton fabric 

coated with plastic, and Claremont, a nonpile, 

wool-face weave fabric. Both are 

available in a wide range of colors and 

textures. 

Redo is color styled by Dorothy Liebes. 

It is flame resistant and can be specially 

processed to meet exacting standards. The 

material has high tensile strength, yet is 

pliable and flexible. 

Goodall fabrics are blended to resist all 

types of soil and abuse. They are nonclinging 

and may be cleaned easily and 

quickly. 

TEXTILEATHER CORP. 

Tolex vinyl resin leathercloth can be 

used with deep spring cushion construction 

as well as the so-called hard cushions. It 

is well adapted to theatre seating where 

the upholstery must take rough everyday 

usage. 

Tolex is produced in a wide range of eyeappealing 

colors, patterns and finishes. 

Specially processed Tolex called Tolex F. R. 

is fire resistant. In order to gain approval 

for the use of this product in large communities, 

Tolex F. R. was submitted to fire 

resistance authorities and was certified to 

be satisfactorily fire resistant. 

U. S. PLYWOOD CORP. 

is 

U. S. Plywood's vinylite plastic sheeting 

called Kalistron. The wearing qualities of 

this sheeting are due primarily to the fact 

that the color is applied to the back of a 

transparent sheeting and that it is therefore 

impossible to remove the color from 

the face of the sheet. A suede-like flocking 

on the back of the Kalistron gives further 

protection from the underside. 

Kalistron Is available in 29 standard 

colors and can be produced in any color 

to match a submitted swatch at a nominal 

additional cost. The material is 54 inches 

wide and is sold in rolls of approximately 

35 rurming yards per roll. 


New Porcelainized Finish 

For Push-Back Seats 

The Kroehler Mfg. Co., producers of 

Push-Back chairs, are featuring a new 

porcelainized finish which the manufacturer 

claims will eliminate the necessity of 

repainting metal theatre chair backs. 

Theatre men will welcome this added 

feature to the Push-Back chair line as the 

repainting of chair backs is one of the 

major maintenance problems in the average 

theatre. 

Neon Sign Copy Is Changed 

By Rearranging Letters 

A neon sign with interchangeable letters, 

suitable for announcing coming attractions, 

calling attention to special items at 

the refreshment counter, new seats, etc., 

has been announced by the Neco Mfg. Co. 

The sign which is available with a font of 

letters, figures, and novelties, enables the 

exhibitor to change messages in a matter 

of seconds by merely replacing the letters 

either sound or silent speeds. Selective 

speed change is accomplished mechanically 

so there is no change in blower speed. A 

second feature is "theatrical type" framing, 

which adjusts the position of the film 

in the gate without moving the aperture 

plate. Rewinding of film is automatic 

and does not require changing reels. The 

four-stage amplifier in the projector delivers 

a full ten-watt output with less than 

5 per cent distortion throughout the 16mm 

recording range. 

Petrone, Typhoon sales manager, to restrictions 

placed by many cities on the 

use of water for air conditioning purposes 

and to the growing number of air conditioning 

installations in areas where water 

is scarce. 

The condensing coils in the new units 

are prime surface, are constructed of continuous 

lengths of seamless copper tubing, 

pitched to allow rapid gravity flow of condensed 

liquid refrigerant. This feature is 

a redesigned blower which blows dry air 

through the coil instead of drawing in 

moist air. For these condensers, Typhoon 

engineers blueprinted a special pump, consisting 

of a bronze impeller and shaft connected 

directly to a standard quarter horse 

power motor, with the pump impeller and 

casing immersed in the tank. 

Cretors Large-Volume Popper 

Is Now in Full Production 

C. Cretors & Co. announce that tlieir new 

giant display model 44 popping unit which 

30 SIGNS'! 

PRICE OF ONE 

r^vTkOO 

New Evaporative Condensers 

Announced by Typhoon Co. 

New Typhoon evaporative condensers in 

three, five, eight and ten-ton models have 

been announced by James F. Dailey, president 

of the Typhoon Air Conditioning Co. 

being used and plugging in others as he 

would radio tubes. Variety in color is available 

too as the letters come in five different 

colors. Further details may be obtained by 

writing Neco Mfg. Co., Auburn, Ind. 

Single Case, 16mm Projector 

Is Added to RCA Line 

The RCA visual products group announces 

a new single-case addition to the 

400 series of 16mm sound motion picture 

projectors, which will be known as the RCA 

400 Junior. The new projector will be 

available in June. 

The compact design of the new model 

was achieved by incorporating the eightinch 

speaker in the lid of the case, which 

doubles as the speaker baffle. The speaker 

may be placed adjacent to the projector, 

or it can be placed next to the screen 

through the use of a 50-foot cable. 

A unique feature of the 400 Junior is the 

use of high-speed gears made of nylon. 

Among the operational features claimed 

for the new projector is constant cooling at 

The condensers are designed for use with 

freon, methyl chloride and other common 

refrigerants. 

Increased need for evaporative condensers 

of this type was ascribed by Don V. 

has a capacity of two pounds of corn a 

popping is now in full production. The unit 

is 72x30x56 inches in size and is trimmed 

in stainless steel. It comes equipped with 

model 41 popping unit, seasoning pump 

and two drawers. The popper can be furnished 

with either gas or electric popping 

units. 

Instantaneous Voltage Regulator 

Currently Offered by Superior 

Superior Electric Co. announces a 500 

VA instantaneous electronic voltage regulator. 

The unit, cataloged as Stabiline 

type IE51005, is stated by the manufacturer 

as possessing the same characteristics 

of workmanship and performance as Stabiline 

voltage regulators of higher capacities. 


Product Improvements Announced 

By Carbons, Inc. 

Prom coast to coast, Lorraine carbons 

are gaining in popularity in theatres, including 

drive-ins, Ed Lachman, president 

of Carbons, Inc., stated in announcing improvements 

in the Lorraine carbons. Lachman 

specifically mentioned a newly developed 

super 8mm carbon for 70 amps, or 

better which will burn brighter, steadier 

and more economically. Also mentioned 

was a star-cored copper coated 9mm for 

drive-ins and theatres demanding more 

light in nonrotative lamps. Lachman 

claims with his 13.6 super hi-intensity 

combination, earlier drive-in shows are 

possible. 

Several new dealers have been appointed 

and according to Lachman, in a short 

time there will be full coverage for the entire 

country. 

New Color Lighting Accessory 

By the Amplex Corp. 

The Amplex Corp. of Brooklyn announces 

the development of a new lightweight 

Par-38 color clip with an interchangeable 

louver designed to cut off side 

spill of either white or colored light. The 

on the outside for glareless lighting. Additional 

information may be obtained from 

the W. H. Long Co., 61 W. Hubbard St., 

Chicago 10, HI. 

Four-Faucet Drink Dispenser 

Cools Ten Gallons an Hour 

The Superior Refrigerator Mfg. Co. of 

St. Louis, is manufacturing a self-contained 

soft drink dispenser called the Sodamaker. 

The four-faucet unit is 36 inches 

wide. 30 inches deep and 41 inches high. 

A thermostatically controlled water 

cooler of special design stores ten gallons 

of cold water and has a cooling capacity 

of ten gallons an hour. The manufacturers 

claim the Sodamaker will produce sparkling 

water and carbonated sweet sodas at 

very low cost. Additional information may 

be obtained from the Superior Refrigerator 

Mfg. Co., 1608 Pine St., St. Louis 3, Mo. 

NEW POPCORN BLOWER 

Gets Rid of Floor litter 

in Vs THE TIME! 

color clip fits any Par-38 spotlight or 

floodlight reflector lamp, the company announces. 

Additional information can be 

obtained from the Amplex Corp., 728 Atlantic 

Ave., Brooklyn 17, New York. 

All-Weather Fluorescent Lights 

Dominate Theatre Front 

The W. H. Long Co. of Chicago recently 

introduced a line of fluorescent lights for 

outside use. Included are vertical, horizontal 

and ceiling lights. 

The vertical fixture, known as Post-Lite, 

which is illustrated, is five feet nine inches 

long and 12 inches in diameter. The glass 

globe is 48x10 inches. Illumination is provided 

by eight 40-watt fluorescent tubes. 

The chassis of the Post-Lite is constructed 

of aluminum. Light globes are of 

heavy glass and are rubberset and weatherproof. 

The glass is frosted inside and ribbed 

IDEAL 

"Hand -Type" CLEANER 

with Popcorn Blowing Attachments 

Now, with the new IDEAL CLEANER KIT, you can get rid 

of all kinds of floor litter in 

1/3 the time needed for sweeping. 

With the IDEAL Cleaner comfortably strapped over his 

shoulder, the clean-up man simply starts at rear of theatre and 

walks back and forth between the seat rows blowing the 

debris toward the front of the auditorium. The specially designed 

plastic handle is curved just right for an easy comfortable 

grip, and the nozzle end is so shaped that the air stream 

is parallel to the floor. Keeps dust raised to a minimum. No 

waste motion — no time lost stooping to dislodge wedged 

particles. Takes just minutes — instead of hours — to blow 

every bit of litter to the front of the theatre, where it can be 

scooped up in a jiffy . . . Cleaner weighs just 9V2 lbs., yet 

delivers full 2/3 horsepower. Built for years of trouble-free 

service. 

Ask for free demonstration in your theatre. 

jTDFAL 

COMPLETE POPCORN BLOWING KIT 

FOR PRICE OF A HOUSEHOLD 

VACUUM CLEANER 

Kit includes Cleaner; Hose and Con* 

nection; Shoulder Strap; Curved, 

plastic Handle and Nozzle. Other 

attachments for Vacuum Cleaning 

and Spraying. 

IVi fht AU'furpotK Cleaner 

Blows! Vacuums! Sprays! 

Sprays Insecti- Vacuums carcides 

and de- pets, seats, 

odorants deep drapes to 

into cracks sparkling 

and crevices. cleanliness. 

DISTKIBUTED THROUGH AMERICA'S LEADING WHOLESALERS 

IDEAL INDUSTRIES, Inc., 

Sycamore, Illinois 

Canadian Dittrlbutor: Irving Smith. Ltd.. Montreal 


69

*JUe4^'fie Qi4XiA

Holly Projector Fire Control 

Protects Equipment, Personnel 

A fire-control unit developed by the manager 

of the Holly Theatre in Chicago, of- 

Auxiliary fire shutter installed in a Simplex 

head. The white arrow points to the shutter. 

fers a new approach to an old problem 

elimination of projector film fires. 

The Holly fire control functions automatically 

to insert a safety shutter between 

the arc and the film, extinguish the arc, 

and shut down the projector motor. The 

inventor claims the high operational speed 

prevents ignition of the film under all conditions 

including: Film breakage anywhere 

in the projector, from magazine to magazine; 

reduction in film speed (adjustable 

to cut at 50 per cent to 95 per cent of 

normal speed) ; 

powerline failure; mechanical 

failure. 

The control prevents the arc light and 

heat from striking the film unless the film 

is moving at normal speed through the 

projector. The equipment is rugged and 

compact and may be installed in the field 

on any projector in a few hours time. The 

control is entirely electrical in operation 

and there are no trick mechanical gadgets 

or delicate mechanical parts to get out of 

order. No change in operational procedure 

is required; there is nothing new for the 

operator to learn, nor to forget. Controls 

on a pair of Simplex projects have been 

in operation at the Holly Theatre since 

June 1948 and have operated to the satisfaction 

of the theatre management and 

projectionists. The fire control has been 

subjected to extensive tests by the electrical 

bureau of the city of Chicago. The 

results of these tests are said to have 

proven that the control will prevent projector 

film fires, regardless of the age or 

condition of the equipment. 

Additional information on the Holly fire 

control may be obtained from Nathaniel 

G. Kamen, Holly Theatre, 1500 W. Pullerton 

Ave., Chicago 14, 111. 

ROBERT H. URLING— Owner 

and Operator, Wayne Theatre, 

Wayne, West Virginia—says: 

"The theatre I operate is 

small but I know that I can 

compete with the biggest and 

best by using RCA sound 

and service." 

To get the benefits of RCA Service 

—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY, 

INC., Radio Corporation of America, 

Camden, N. J. 

"^ 

/ Most Economical 

Unit on the Market! 

Adv. 

BETTER PROJECTION LIGHTING 

For Theatres of Every Size 

PEERLESS 

MAGNARC 

ARC LAMPS 

Undisputed leader in field of high 

intensity projection lighting for both 

small and large theatres. 

"Eqwipmenf and Suppliet for Evtry Theotre Need" 

PEERLESS 

HY-CANDESCENT 

ARC LAMPS 

Ideal light source for drive-in 

theatres and extremely large indoor 

theatres. 

NATIONAL 

aeDgPBii'inii 

...FOR APPLICATIONS WHERE 

COST IS IMPORTANT! 

• Tickets Readily Grasped from Easy- 

Reading Dispenser Tabs 

• Magazine Loading Ticket Units— Sturdily 

Mode, Attractively Finished 

• Additional Magazines May Be Added 

• Rub-Proof SoNn Chrome Top Plate 

At Better Theatre Supply Dealers 

GoldE Manufacturing Co. 

1220-A W. Madison St., Chicago 7, U.S.A. 

ini rn "third dimension" 

AULlIi SILHOUETTE LETTERS 

— PLASTIC AND CAST ALUMINUM — 

"REMOVA-PANEL" Glass-in-Frome Unit. 

ADLER SILHOUETTE LETTER CO. 

302 I W. 36th St., Chicago 145 1 Bwey. N.Y.C. 


RCA Announces Hi-Enarc Lamp 

With Water-Cooled Jacket 

The Hi-Enarc lamp, announced by the 

RCA theatre equipment section, employs 

a high-speed reflector, 9mm positive carbon 

and water-cooled jacket to give theatre 

screens a 25 per cent increase in light, 

company officials claim. The H-Enarc is 

designated as a special optional feature to 

the Brenkert Enarc. 

Described as "immensely significant for 

drive-ins" by Sales Manager J. F. O'Brien, 

the lamp is said to assure drive-in exhibitors 

bright, clear-screen images. The 

water-cooled jacket carries away excessive 

heat, maintaining the original diameter of 

the carbon at the arc, and thus providing 

even distribution of light. Carbon consumption 

is also reduced and a heat filter 

is not necessary, O'Brien explained. The 

new lamp is available through independent 

RCA theatre supply dealers. 

Large Variety of Carded Balloons 

Being Offered by Pioneer Rubber 

More and more theatre managers are 

realizing the value of toy balloons as 

audience builders and profit producers at 

kiddy shows. They may be used as giveaway 

come-ons, as the basis for contests 

that youngsters like, and they may be displayed 

and sold at refreshment service 

counters. 

Three new balloon sales cards are available 

from the Pioneer Rubber Co. A threepanel 

card No. 49C, displays 12 different 

types of balloons. 

The card carries a total 

of 14 dozen balloons in many shapes, sizes 

and colors. Card 46C shows four appealing 

pups holding a complete three dozen stock 

of head balloons. Comical cats, inflatable 

ear bunnies, clowns, animals, etc. The 

third card, No. 43C, carries a stock of 

spiral, serpentine, knobby and airship designs, 

some of which inflate to a size as 

large as 5x24 inches. 

More information on these balloons may 

be obtained by writing to the Pioneer Rubber 

Co., 1001 Tiffin Road, Willard. Ohio. 

NEW ELM THEATRE OFFERS DRAFTLESS COMFORT WITH 

ANEMOSTATîr Diffusers 

Today, hundreds of theatres 

throughout the country provide 

draftless comfort m every seat in 

the house . . . thanks to Anemostat 

HERE'S WHY ANEMOSTAT AIR DIFFUSERS 

GIVE YOU THESE BENEFITS 

The Anemostat Air Diffuser 

is distinguished by the exclusive 

feature of aspiration 

. . . drawing room air into 

the device where it is mixed, 

in the unit, with supply air 

before it is discharged in a 

multiplicity of planes. 

72 

Use Anemostat Air Diffusers 

to eliminate air distribution 

problems in existing heating, 

ventilating and air conditioning 

systems. If you are 

installing a new system, be 

sure Anemostats are included 

in the specifications. 

DRAFTLESS Aspirating air-diffusers 

ANEMOSTAT CORPORATION OF AMERICA 

10 EAST 39th STREET, NEW YORK 16, N. Y. 

RlPktSlNTATIVCi IN PRINCIPAL CITICS 

Air Diffusers. Due to their aspiration 

effect, Anemostats prevent 

stale air pockets, equalize temperature 

and humidity, permit a 

high number of air changes per 

hour. There are never any drafts. 

^ 

"No 

Air Conditioning 

System 

Is Better Than 

Its Air Distribution" 

Six Gallon Water Coolers 

Developed by Temprite 

Two new models of six-gallon capacity 

have been added to a line of self-contained 

drinking water coolers 

manufacturedf'^ 

• 

by Temprite Products 

Corp. The new units 

are companion models 

to the company's 

heavier duty, ten-gallon 

water coolers. 

On the new coolers 

a stainless steel footpedal 

type flow control 

will be offered as optional 

equipment. The 

f i n g e r-tip pressure 

button operates independently 

of the foot pedal and either 

push button or foot pedal may be used as 

desired. The coolers have a streamlined 

stainless-steel top with drain and bubbler 

assembly which offers an antisplash guard 

and prevents users' lips from coming into 

direct contact with the nozzle. Water flow 

is automatically regulated to provide a 

steady stream of drinking water, regardless 

of outside water pressure variations of 

as much as 20 to 80 pounds. The new 

Temprite units may be obtained with 

hermetic condensing units using either an 

air cooled or water-cooled condenser and 

can be equipped with transformers for 

special electrical connections. 

Further information can be obtained 

from the Temprite Products Corp., 47 Piquette 

Ave., Detroit 2, Mich. 


Pendulum Principle Is Utilized 

On Signal Developed by Canadian 

A reel signal invented 

by J. G. Jackson 

of Port Alberni. 

B. C. is being marketed 

in the U.S. by 

the American Theatre 

Supply Co. of 

Seattle. 

The signal utilizes 

the principle of the 

common pendulum, 

and has no springs, 

cams or tumbling 

weights to get out of 

order. The pendulum 

is mounted eccentrically 

on the end of the reel spindle by 

means of a simple bracket so designed that 

it fits any standard make of projector. 

When the reel spindle attains a certain 

speed the pendulum swings back and forth 

causing a small hammer inside the bell to 

make contact with its rim, giving a soft 

toned warning. The bell rings for ten to 

15 seconds and then stops as the shaft 

speed exceeds the tuned frequency of the 

pendulum. It requires no setting or shutting 

off and will not ring in the middle of 

a reel. To time the signal to suit different 

size reel hubs, it is only necessai'y to adjust 

the small counterbalance at the top 

of the pendulum shaft. 

Additional information on the Jackson 

reel signal may be obtained from the 

American Theatre Supply Co., Seattle, 

Wash. 

into an ordinary electric socket, and the 

time clock and thermostat set. The remaining 

operations are automatic. 

Further information may be obtained 

from the Hydro-Mist division of Tempo 

Industries, Inc., 531 State St., Glendale. 

Calif. 

of motion picture projection. 

IMPART; 

Automatic Projector Changeover 

Activates by Electronic Means 

The Rand Laboratories of Cleveland 

have developed a modulation projector 

changeover, which is said to eliminate the 

element of human error in the changeover 

This invention 

has been privately demonstrated to 

industry leaders at the Ritz Theatre, Passaic, 

N. J., member of Fabian circuit. 

With this method, changeover is accomplished 

by electronic means. An inaudible 

subsonic note is printed on the trailing end 

of the sound track of each reel of film 30 

feet from the end. This activates the mechanism 

which cuts off the projector being 

operated and with split-second precision 

starts the second projector so that 

the correct frame of film on the first 

reel 

is precisely followed by the succeeding film 

on the second reel. The entire unit is encased 

in a metal container. 

The changeover unit is scheduled to be 

mass produced and marketed in the early 

future by one of the national theatre 

equipment manufacturers. 

TO YOUR 

PRESENTATIONS 

THE STRONG TROUPER 

CARBON ARC SPOTLIGH 

Portable Insecticide Vaporizer 

Operates Automatically 

A portable electric-steam-vapor i z e r 

manufactured by Tempo Industries holds 

44 ounces of insecticide and dispels the 

solution at its maximum striking power 

under heat and pressure. According to the 

manufacturer, one filling will treat a minimum 

of 500,000 cubic feet at a considerable 

saving over conventional applicators. 

Hydro-Mist solution, or other approved 

insecticide, is safe for warm blooded 

animals but is sudden death to flies, moths, 

gnats, silverfish, roaches, beetles, ants and 

other similar insects and pests. The new 

exterminator weighs a little over eight 

pounds and needs only to be filled, plugged 

Produces a sharp, snow-white, uniformly iiluminated spot 

far surpassing in brilliancy any incandescent or verticil 

arc spotlight, and equalling many large theatre type spotlights 

... a light such as is obtainable only with high 

intensity 

I^âsily 

arcs. 

operated. 

Employs a silvered glass reflector and two-element variable 

focal length lens system. 

Draws only 10 amperes from any 110-vnlt A.C. convenience 

outlet. .V highly efficient, adjustable, self-regulating transformer 

which is m integral part of the base reduces the 

current supply to a low arc voltage, for the first time making 

possible a high intensity arc spotlight without the use 

of heavy rotathig equipment. 

Automatic arc control maintains constant arc gap and a 

steady light, free from liiss or flicker. A trim of carbons 

burns one hour and 20 minutes at 21 volts and 45 amperes. 

Horizontal masking control. Can be angled at 45 degrees 

in eacli direction. Color boomerang contains six slides and 

ultraviolet filter holder. 

.Mounted on casters. Easily disassembled for shipping. 

Use the coupon to obtain further details, prices and name of your nearest dealer. 

THE 

STRONG 

ELECTRIC CORP. 

"The World's Largeit Manufacturer 

of Projection 

Please send free literature, prices and name of the nearest dealer in Strono Spotlights. 

n 

Name- 

Company- 

Street . 

City and State. 


New Guardian Safe by 

Diebold 

Gets Underwriters' Okay 

A new safe designed to protect valuables 

from fire, theft or malicious damage, has 

been announced by Diebold, Inc. A threetumbler, 

key-changing combination lock 

secures the door and permits the owner to 

reset the lock to any desired combination 

at will. Known as the Diebold Guardian 

line, the safes carry the class C tested fire 

rating from the Underwriters Laboratories 

and Safe Manufacturers National Ass'n 

and comply with the U.S. Bureau of Standards 

specifications. Although designed 

primarily for fire 

protection, the safe also 

bears Underwriters approved relocking device 

label which means a preferential safe 

burglary insurance discount for users. For 

additional information write Diebold, Inc., 

Canton, Ohio. 

"Numba Tumbler" for 

Giveaways 

Will Mix 20,000 Tickets 

A hopper for use in awarding prizes at 

theatre giveaways is being offered to the 

trade under the name of Numba Tumbler. 

The unit consists of a cylindrical hopper 

with wood ends and Lucite sides, pivoted 

on a chromium-plated tubular steel base. 

The hopper is 12 inches long and 15 inches 

in diameter and will tumble and mix 20,- 

000, Ixl-inch tickets. A five-inch opening 

in the center of one end permits access to 

the tickets. This opening requires no cover, 

since the axis of the cylinder is inclined 

at 20 degrees and 

works the tickets to 

the back of the drum 

when it is rotated. 

The unit weighs 

about 18 pounds and 

is low enough for a 

child to reach into 

and pull out tickets. 

The first unit of its 

kind was made by 

Ray Brenner, city 

manager for Y&M 

Management Corp. in 

New Castle, Ind., for 

his own use in conducting cash night. 

Interest 

of other theatre managers in the 

gadget prompted Brenner to arrange for its 

manufacture on a production basis, and 

the Numba Tumblers are now distributed 

by National Theatre Supply. 

Polka-Dot Floor Tile 

Permits Styling 

Flexibility 

Polka-dot tile which are conventional 

9x9-inch rubber floor tile with center cuts 

which are interchangeable have been announced 

by the Fremont Rubber Co. An 

example of what can be accomplished is 

illustrated. Additional advantages of the 

polka-dot tile are its use in conjunction 

with Fremont's recently announced Duocut 

tile with removable square sections. 

Additional information may be obtained 

from the Fremont Rubber Co. 103 Mc- 

Pherson Highway, Fremont, Ohio. 

Lightweight 16mm Projector 

Announced by Bell & Howell 

A new, lightweight 16mm projector, 

model 185 Pilmosound, has been announced 

by Bell & Howell. Light enough for the 

average person to carry without strain, the 

one-case Fihnosound weighs 35 pounds and 

8 ounces, while the two-case units are 

balanced with 30 pounds for the projector 

unit and from 15 to 40 pounds for the 

speakers, depending on the size. All new 

Filmosounds are equipped with 1,000-watt 

projection lamps and have the straightline 

optical system to utilize all light output 

of the lamps. 

Single units have a six-inch speaker 

mounted on the door in the side of the 

case. Two-case models are equipped with 

8 or 12-inch or power speakers. All the 

projectors are equipped with the standard 

two-inch lenses, but lenses with longer or 

shorter focal length are available to consumers. 

Additional information is available from 

Bell & Howell, Chicago, 111. 

Perfection in Projection 

is 

Standard 

with Super Cinephor Lenses 

Successful theatre operators constantly seek perfection in projection. 

They know that profits are dependent on projecting sharp, uniformly 

brilliant screen images. That is why the overwhelming majority of 

new theatres shown in the current Theatre Catalog were equipped 

with Bausch & Lomb projection lenses. Perfection in projection 

will be the standard in your theatres, too, if you use Bausch & 

Lomb lenses. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., 720-E St. Paul St., 

Rochester 2, N. Y. 

BAUSCH & LOMB 

OPTICAL COMPANYwROCHESTER 1, N. Y. 


^^^:5^V 

New Aerosol-Type Deodorizer 

Destroys Odors Quickly 

An aerosol-type deodorizer recently introduced 

by the Rex Research Corp. deodorizes 

within seconds, 

according to 

H. W. Moburg, president 

of the company. 

Called Thur-O-Aire, 

the deodorizer contains 

Pinzone. an agent 

credited with the ability 

to destroy undesirable 

odors quickly. 

To operate the deodorizer 

the protective cap 

is removed from the 

valve on the top of the 

12-ounce container and the valve is 

pressed resulting in a fine, mist-like spray. 

For a short time after spraying there is a 

faint fragrance in the air which soon disappears 

leaving a fresh, pleasing atmosphere. 


the Rex Research Corp.. Toledo. 

service, saving steps and at the same time 

protecting receipts, according to the manufacturer. 

Production of the Robotcashier has been 

started and literature which will be released 

shortly may be obtained by writing 

to Money-Meters, Inc., 17 Warren St., 

Providence 7, R. I. 

Tackless Method of Laying Carpet 

Is Demonstrated by Mohawk Troupe 

Mohawk Carpet Mills is conducting a 

series of demonstrations on its recently developed 

Roberts tackless method of laying 

carpet. 

John Pollard, director of the Mohawk 

schools, is in charge of the troupe of four, 

which includes besides himself. Bud Mc- 

^! t-}- 

Quatters, Ed Prybycien and John Underwood, 

the driver of their newly acquired 

truck. 

A new slide presentation on the handling 

of Peerage-Anchortuft carpet has been 

added to the demonstration. This carpet 

can be cut at any place and at any angle 

and the carpet tufts remain intact. According 

to the manufacturer, areas damaged 

after the carpet has been laid can be 

removed at any time and a new strip of 

carpet inserted without visible change in 

the installation. 

Whether or not television is ever installed 

in all theatres, the exhibition of motion 

pictures is still going to be the big 

revenue producer. 

Special 

Drawer Construction 

Is Feature of Neumade File 

An all-steel slide file cabinet with five 

specially constructed drawers, divided to 

hold all types of 2x2 inches slides. Readymounts, 

glass, etc. has been announced by 

the Neumade Products Corp. 

The cabinets which are 15 inches wide, 

12 inches deep and 13 inches high, are said 

to be dustproof and safe for special slide 

filing. The cabinet is built similar to Neumade 

filmstrip cabinet model MFe and may 

be used for stacking when building a library 

of both filmstrips and slides. 


Neumade Pi-oducts, 427 W. 42nd St., New 

York. 

Coin Suspension Is Feature 

Of New Robotcashier 

Coins dropped into the new Robotcashier, 

developed and patented by Money- 

Meters, Inc., fan out and are suspended in 

midair between two glass plates and remain 

in that position until they disappear 

into the cash vault. 

Coupled with other built-in protective 

features, the Robotcashier is suitable for 

use at theatre refreshment counters. The 

coin-receiving device in effect provides an 

automatic cash register, thereby speeding 

}^ms^^M^w:Ar^!^m:mmK^mM^'fm^wpmjMr^^^mmv-ri7^ 

New Luxury Underfoot that saves on Rug Overhead 

>^RUG CUSHION 

Ilereisa iiov\,eiilircK tliffert-nt rugciishion 

that gives you two big advantages 

Made of 

virgin rubber, Spnf>,i'x* lias 

millions of liny air cells that literally 

"float" 

rugs on air— give them a feel 

af luxurious softness. 

Spongcx has greater cushioning power 

— will give your rugs \ cars of longer 

life, and save you rug-money. 

You'll find Spongex has none of the 

drawbacks of ol(l-st^le carpet underlay. 

It's comj)letely sanitary. Smooth 

surface doesn't attract lint—has no 

dirt-catching crevices—can be cleaned 

quickly with just soap and water. 

Spongex is completely moth and vermin-proof. 

It's non-skid— will never 

stretch out of shape, buckle or mat 

down, .^sk your carjieling contractor 

about Spongex rug cushion now, or 

write for sani[)le to Sponge Rubber 

Products Co., 284 Derby Place, 

Shelton. Conn. 


|^g»V 

N. W. HUSTON—Owner, Liberty 

Theatre in Columbus and Maywood 

Theatre in Galena, Kans.—says: 

"The regular RCA Service 

we have maintained since we 

installed RCA sound eighteen 

years ago has been of vital 

importance in our business." 




Camden, N. J. 

Adv. 

iû^md /4

. . . folder 

. . folder 

The following concerns have recently 

filed copies of interesting descriptive literature 

with the Modern Theatre Information 

Bureau. Readers who wish copies may 

obtain them promptly by addressing the 

firms listed: 

Breuer Electric Mfg. Co., 5100 Ravenswood 

Ave., Chicago 40. 111. . . . "The Tornado 

Method." a 34-pa°e book recently released 

covering in detail problems of plant 

and institution floor care and maintenance, 

equipment necessai-y and steps to be followed 

in caring for various types of flooring. 

The Ballantyne Co., 

1707-11 Davenport 

St., Omaha 2, Neb. ... A general catalog, 

covering the latest in the company's line of 

theatre sound and projection equipment 

with photos and facts as well as a two 

page spread of pictures of the plant. Also 

a special brochure on drive-in sound and 

projection equipment with photos and descriptions. 

Bevelite marquee letters. 

National Theatre Supply . . . circular on 

The circular includes 

a reproduction of a four-color illustration 

used by the Studebaker Corp. in 

an ad, showing how Bevelite letters were 

used at the Carthay Circle Theatre, Hollywood, 

in announcing the new Studebaker 

car. 

. . bulletins 123 and 14A describing 

SwivELiER Co.. 30 Irving Place. New York 

3, N. Y. . 

new incandescent spot and channel 

lighting fixtures: also information on 

Swivelier's newly designed color clips and 

color lenses. 

Buffalo Forge Co., Buffalo, N. Y. . . . 

circular descriptive of available bulletins 

on fans and air conditiong equipment made 

by the company. 

Marsh Wall Products, Inc., Dover, Ohio 

containing actual color samples 

of Marlite, a plastic-finished wall and ceiling 

panel that is said to combine smart 

styling with speed and economy of installation. 

Also included were swatches to indicate 

the colors in w'hich the various Marlite 

patterns are available, plus information 

on product uses. 

Royal Metal Mfg. Co., 175 N. Michigan 

Ave.. Chicago 1. 111. ... 16 and 32-page 

catalogs describing their Royalsteel and 

Royalchrome lines of tube furniture. Both 

catalogs feature several new designs. 

Gould Storage Battery Corp.. Trenton, 

N, J. . . . new 16-page catalog covering battery 

units for stationary service. The catalog 

contains illustrations, descriptions and 

engineering specifications of several lines 

of glass jar batteries suitable for standby 

service and emergency theatre lighting. 

Research Products Corp., 1015 E. Washington 

Ave., Madison, Wis. . . . descriptive 

material on two new lightweight washable 

air filters, which have just been introduced 

to the trade. Constructed of light-gauge 

aluminum, the Alumaloy filters are said 

to be easily cleaned and recharged. 

Goodall Decorative Fabrics, 525 Madison 

Ave., New York 32, N.Y. . of 

actual samples of fibers and fabrics used 

in Goodall blended-for-performance fabrics. 

Today's theatrical equipment has been 

developed to the point where it can give 

the exhibitor the right type of equipment 

to place the best screenfare before his patrons 

in a worthy manner. 

W^ 

M. M. MESHER— District Manager, 

Hamrick-Evergreen Theatres, 

Portland, Oregon— says: 

"RCA Service is dependable 

and we have found it to be 

most valuable for the excellent 

operation we always 

strive to maintain." 




Camden, N. J. 

Adv. 

"^^ 

THE NEW 

WB-600 BASE 

Designed more speciiically with Drive-In 

Theatres in mind. An up-tilt angle of 25° is 

possible virith this base and a down-tilt angle 

of approximately 28'. 

The center of gravity is kept low by the unusual 

lines of this base and assures practically 

complete absence of vibration. 

\i the oldest, most experienced technicians, 

engineers and producers of Black Light materials and / 

equipment, Switzer has the know-how that assures f 

satisfaction. 

Fascinating murals and dramatic atmospheric 

^ effects are easily and inexpensively created with 

GLO-CRAFT 

PERMANENT FLUORESCENT PAINTS AND LACQUERS 

and 

THEATRICAL BLACK LIGHT EQUIPMENT 

Front of base has a large shelf 

for tools, carbons, etc. The base 

is made in 2 sections to facilitate 

handling. Base itself weighs 

about 350 lbs., uncrated. 

Literature sent upon request. 

WENZEL PROJECTOR CO 

2505-19 S. STATE ST. CHICAGO 16, ILLINOIS 

S. 0. S. Catalog Saves You Many Dollars 

THEATRE & MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT 

The new 1949 S.O.S. Bargain Cat.ilog, the largest of its 

type In the industry, offers pages .and pages of exceptionally 

good bviys. If you haven't already requested your FREE 

copy do so' immediately before the supply runs out. Savings 

of 2.5"^ to I0'"o and More! Listing every type of equipment— 

New. ^^(ll. Rebuilts—many Government surplus materials—All 

Fullv Guaranteed, 

S.O.S. CINEMA SUPPLY CO RP. »'''!«" ".""n^ 


I 

EVERYTHING 

that's RIGHT 

for the DRIVE-IN 

DeVRY "12000 Series" theatre equipment assures 

you a perfect show night after night. Troublefree 

. . . easy to service . . . economical to maintain. 

Sound head and picture mechanism is one 

unit . . . silent chain drive. . . . Priced to fit your 

budget. 

DeVRY also builds low distortion amplifiers, perfectly 

matched with DeVry built-in sound heads 

and speaker systems. Units available from 20 

watts up to 250 watts. 

Nezi' DeVRY In-Car SPEAKERS include every 

advancement in acoustical 

DeVHY CORPORATION 

design, mechanics and electronics. 

War pertected 5-in 

Alnico V P.M. Speaker Units. 

Individual volume control 

High tensile aluminum alloy 

construction. . . . Speaker 

cones "treated" to resist 

weather. 

1111 Aimitage Ave., Chicago 14, 111. 

t»IT-5-7 

We are interested in equipment for , | 

Please send literature and suggestions. 

Name 

Address 

City. 

State. 

^-^Î^^DeVry 

ALERT 

Ideal 

SHOWMEN 

Are Ordering 

Slide -Back 

Chairs 

see 

830 Ninth Atmiu*. New York, N. Y. 

7U N. E. Fint Arenu*. Miami, Fla. 

314S OUT* St., SI. Louis, Mo. 

I 

I 

ahoui PEOPLE I 

Appointment of O. 

W. Martin to the position 

of director of 

field operations for 

Dant & Russel Sales 

Co., acoustical division, 

has been announced 

by Thos. W. 

Dant, president of the 

company. Martin assumed 

his new position 

on April 1. He will 

maintain headquar- 

O. W. Martin 

ters at 120 S. LaSalle St., Chicago. 

The new field operations director, Dant 

points out, will take over an extensive 

merchandising and sales campaign featuring 

P^r-Tex perforated acoustical tile 

and Dantore incombustible acoustical tile. 

Edward Auger, 67, who retired several 

years ago as national office representative 

of RCA in the theatre field, died suddenly 

in the lobby of the Statler hotel on April 

4 while attending the SMPE convention. 

Auger, who was widely known among theatre 

men. was attending the meeting as a 

private observer. 

Bell & Howell, of Chicago, recently entered 

the film manufacturing industry with 

the purchase of the principal assets of the 

Kryptar Corp. of Rochester, N. Y. The 

announcement came from Charles H. 

Percy, B&H president. 

Garver Electric Co., manufacturers of 

projection rectifiers, has purchased a new 

building which will house its manufacturing 

facilities. The building is of two story, 

brick and steel construction, and contains 

FREE TRIAL OFFER 

ifc Portable Theatre 

Cleaner 

rORMA1>0 

the 3-in-l Cleaner for ALL Theatre Cleaning 

— it blows — it vacuums — it sprays 

Now you can try this powerful, portable theatre cleanez 

in your own theatre and judge the savings in time and labor 

and the better cleaning—before you purchase. 

and PRODUCT 

6500 square feet of floor space. The building 

is located in the center of Union City, 

Ind. The company specializes in electronic 

products. 

Leonard L. Radner, Detroit lawyer, has 

formed the Theatre Air Conditioning Corp. 

to specialize in package air conditioning 

installations for theatres. The corporation 

has already made a number of installations 

in theatres in the Detroit area, and 

is now taking over the distributorship for 

the American Thermal Industries of Detroit, 

manufacturer of an air conditioning 

unit for national distribution. Salesrooms 

are located at 7649 Hamilton Ave. 

W. C. DeVry, president of the DeVry 

Corp., Chicago, reports that many thousands 

of the new weather-proofed 1949 

model DeVry in-car speakers are being installed 

in drive-ins throughout the country. 

is 

Marsh Wall Products, Inc., Dover, Ohio, 

completing a $300,000 building program 

that will mean greatly expanded facilities 

for the production of Marlite plasticfinished 

wall and ceiling panels. The 

building program is part of the expansion 

plan announced when Marsh became a subsidiary 

of the Masonite Corp. 

William C. Eddy, president of Television 

Associates, Chicago, announces that arrangements 

have been completed for the 

Radio Corp. of America to distribute the 

complete Television Associates line of specialties. 

Their newest development is a 

continuous film reel adaptable to television 

and motion picture projectors. 

Cleans auditoriums quickly without effort,—under seaia 

and bet^veen aisles vîthout stopping—bloivs all trash before it. 

With simple attachments, it becomes a lightweight, strong 

suction vacuum cleaner carried from the shoulder for stairways, 

carpels, upholstery, drapes, screens. No cumbersome machine 

to lift upstairs or tip on inclined floors. 

Another attachment mokes it a powerful, penetrating deodorant 

and insecticide sprayer. 

Three Necessary Maintenance Machines in 

One! 

Now used by hundreds of theortres with complete satisfaction 

for better cleaning at lower cost. 

•Trade Mark Reg. U.S. Pat. OH. 

Wr/fe Today for Details of Free Trial Offer 

D K t U t K ELECTRIC MFG. CO. 5132 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago 40, Illinois 

78 

Tha MODERN THEATBE SECTION

Theodore Hall, veteran in the field of 

light projection and designer of the new 

Motiograph-Hall high intensity reflector 

type arc lamp, is pictured at Pittsburgh 

demonstrating the new lamp at the Atlas 

Theatre Supply. Shown left to right are 

Milton Gibson, Hall and Ben Stahl. 

Dr. Willis H. Carrier, chairman emeritus 

of the Carrier Corp., was honored at 

a testimonial dinner, April 13, by the North 

American branch of the Newcomen Society 

of England as "the father of air conditioning." 

Leaders of industry, finance, 

commerce and science from the U.S. and 

Canada attended. Newcomen is a society 

which honors persons who have contributed 

or are contributing to the material 

progress of mankind. Others recognized by 

Newcomen in recent years include Thomas 

Alva Edison, Cyrus Curtis, J. J. Bausch, 

John D. Rockefeller sr. and Daniel Willard. 

The Theatre Equipment & Supply Co., 

Milwaukee, announces the distribution 

store has been moved from 641 N. Seventh 

to Filmrow, 1009 N. Seventh. 

icing, according to Adolph Goodman, manager 

of district sales for the company. Of 

the independent theatres, 15 are drive-ins. 

A NEW sound service company, the Eastern 

Theatre Sound Service, was opened recently 

in Rocky Mount, N. C, by M. F, 

Harrod, Harrod was formerly service engineer 

for Altec for 20 years, 

Joseph L. Eastiwick, president of James 

Lees & Sons Co. of Bridgeport, Pa., states 

the company established an all-time high 

in net sales in 1948, of $53,644,841. In an 

annual report to Lees stockholders, Eastiwick 

said the carpet and hand-knitting 

yarn manufacturing company expects to 

maintain a continued high volume of business. 

The report showed record earnings 

of over four million dollars, or $5.68 a 

share on the common stock. 

Winston Churchill's address on March 

31 and Harold Stassen's on April 1, at 

MIT's international midcentury convocation 

of world scientists, were heard exclusively 

over Altec Lansing loudspeakers. 

W. W. Watts, vice-president in charge of 

the RCA engineering products department, 

announces new 1 o w - c o s t distribution 

charges on films recorded on RCA equipment, 

made possible by the potential volume 

of television film production. 

'\ 

E. R. Murphy announces that the Lima 

Speaker Co., Inc., formerly of Lima, Ohio is 

in business at Port Wayne, Ind., under the 

name of the Lima Mfg. Co. Tlie speaker 

formerly made at the Lima, Ohio plant is 

now being manufactured at the new location. 

RCA Service Co. announces 77 independent 

houses in 28 states have signed 

sound-service agreements. The marked 

increase in the number of theatre circuits 

which have signed recently with the company 

has been matched by a similar increase 

in the number of independent exhibitors 

who have contracted for the serv- 

PRECISION MADE 

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Once you've used Ihem, you'll agree that the built-in precision 

and trouble iree periormance of La Vezzi parts do much to 

hasten repair jobs and help you to the better projection that 

delights patrons, 

SpecUy La Vezzi SUPER-SERVICE Parts for 

all your replacements! Your Theatre Supply Dealer has them. 

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COLORED RUBBER LINK MATTING 

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Corrugated ridges in the links scrape the dirt from the feet traveling across the mat, 

trap it in the openings, keep it out of sight, prevent tracking throughout the theatre 

and onto expensive carpets, thus reducing cleaning and redecorating costs. 

Comfortable to walk on. 

Provides a sure-grip, slip-proof surface, prevents accidents. Eliminates the dangers 

of slipping on wet floors, reduces the liability of lawsuits. Safe even with high heels. 

Mon-trip beveled edge. 

Links are woven on galvanized, rust-resisting spring steel wire to form mats of any 

desired shape up to 8 feet in width and of any length. 

Rolls up for easy, quick removal of dirt. 

Available in your choice of design, pattern, emblem or lettering in any combination 

of ten colors: brick red, black, light brown, dark brown, grey, orange, white, dark 

blue, light green and dark green. 

We also offer Counter-Tred Matting for use at candy counters and popcorn machines; 

perforated corrugated matting for lobbies and Tile-Top Sponge Matting for aisles. 

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80 

LE ROY J. FURMAN— In charge 

of operations "Monarch" Division, 

Gamble Enterprises, Inc., New York, 

N. Y.—says: 

"We have just extended our 

RCA Service agreement, and 

included Projection Room 

Parts. We believe it is a good 

investment." 




Camden, N. J. 

VINYL PLASTIC COATED LEATHERETTE 

Ideal for Upholstering Seats, Etc. 

All 

Colors — Widths — Qualities 

Priced from 80c Yard. Write for Samples. 

MANKO FABRICS CO., 

Inc. 

247-13 Jamaica Ave., Bellerose 6, N. Y. 

Adv. 

Forrest Dunlap has become sales manager 

of the theatre seating division of 

Griggs Equipment Co. of Belton, Tex. 

The association of Dunlap with the 

Griggs Co., managed by C. V. Griggs, culminates 

a longtime friendship between 

C. V. Griggs Forrest Dunlap 

these two theatre chair men, each having 

been in the business for 26 years. 

Dunlap's office is in the heart of Filmrow 

in Dallas at 2008 Jackson St. Other 

Griggs offices are in Memphis, managed 

by Harlan Dunlap, and Shreveport, managed 

by Alon Boyd. 

Thomas J. Hargrave, president of Eastman 

Kodak Co., has been elected a vicepresident 

and member of the board of directors 

of the Armed Forces Communication 

Ass'n. 

The purpose of the association 

is to assist the military services toward 

maintaining the best in communications 

and photography as part of the country's 

preparedness. David Sarnoff of RCA is 

president of the association. 

H. P. Niemann has 

been elected president 

and member of the 

board of directors of 

the Hertner Electric 

Co. of Cleveland, according 

to Herman G. 

Place, president of 

General Precision 

Equipment Corp. of 

which the Hertner 

Electric Co. is a subsidiary. 

Niemann was 

H. P. Niemarin 

vice-presi dent and 

general manager of the Hertner Electric 

Co. for the past two years. He succeeds 

C. C. Dash who retired after 30 years of 

service with Hertner. 

Orange-Crush and Old Colony sales 

representations from the entire U. S. recently 

met in Chicago's Sheraton hotel for 

the first general sales meeting of the 

Orange-Crush Co. Plans for renewed sales 

activity during the coming peak bottling 

season were made at the two-day session. 

Bill Kunzmann of the National Carbon 

Co. has completed arrangements for the 

National Carbon Co. cocktail party to be 

given during the TESMA-TEDA conventions 

at the Stevens hotel, Chicago, in 

September. Bill says the party will be 

bigger and better than ever. 

INDEX 

OF ADVERTISING IN THE MODERN 

THEATRE SECTION 

Adler Silhouette Letter Co. 71 

American Mat Corp 79 

American Pop Corn Co 37 

American Seating Co 2, 3 

Anderson & Wagner, Inc. 36 

Anemostat Corp. of America ~ 72 

Angelica Jacket Co 86 

Automatic Devices Co 63 

Ballantyne Co 51 

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co 74 

Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co 10 

Bolta Co 63 

Breuer Electric Mfg. Co ,78 

Burke, J. E., Co 47 

Calumet Coach Co 46 

Century Projector Corp. 66 

Chrysler Corp., Airtemp Division 7 

DeVry Corp 78 

Drincolator Corp .- 27 

Elizabeth Iron Works 42 

Forest Mfg. Corp , 76 

General Register Corp 45 

Giesler, I. R. and Associates 36 

GoldE Mfg. Co 71 

Goodall Fabrics, Inc. 5 

Gordos Corp. 70 

Griggs Equipment Co 58 

Heywood-Wakeiield Co 20 

Hires, Charles E., Co ,...37 

loe Homstein Co - 78 

Icecreamolator 29 

Ide, Sherwood Co., Inc 31 

Ideal Industries, Inc 69 

Ideal Seating Co 6 

International Projector Corp. Back Cover 

Irwin Seating Co 9 

Kollmorgen Optical Corp. .s 61 

Kroehler Mfg. Co 24 

LaVezzi Machine Works. 79 

Maley Construction Co 46 

Manko Fabrics Co., Inc 80 

Manley, Inc 33 

McCorty, J. A., Seed Co. 34 

Mosaic Tile Co 21 

Motiograph, Inc 47 

National Carbon Co., Inc 12 

National Engineering & Mfg. Co - 65 

National Theatre Supply 71 

Novelty Scenic Studios, Inc 70 

Orange Crush Co 35 

Onan, D. W. & Sons, Inc 76 

Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co 11 

Poblocki & Sons 9 

RCA Service, Inc 71, 76, 77, 80 

RCA, Theatre Division 40. 41 

Reversible Collar Co 70 

Simonin of Philadelphia 34 

S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp .77 

Speed-Scoop 37 

Sponge Rubber Products Co 75 

Sportservice, Inc. .- 45 

Strong Electric Corp 49, 73 

Supervend Corp. *t 

Switzer Brothers, Inc 77 

Tbeatrecroit Mig. Co 43 

Typhoon Air Conditioning Co.. Inc 55 

United States Air Conditioning Corp 23 

Vallen. Inc 80 

Wagner Sign Service. Inc 57 

Walky Service Co 34 

Wenzel Projector Co 77 

Whitney-Blake Co 43 


BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

BookiiiGuide 

FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART 

SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS 

BOXOFFICE 

FIRST RUN REPORTS 

This chart shows the records made by 

pictures in five or more oi the 21 key cities 

checked. As new runs ore reported, ratings 

ore added and averages revised. 

BAROMETER 

TOP HITS 

OF THE WEEK 

*The Red Shoes- 

Kansas City 200 

Mr. Belvedere Goes to College 

Seattle 200 

Computed in terms of percentage in 

relation to normal grosses. With 100 

per cent as "normal." the figures 

show the percentage above or below 

thai mark.

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

ABOUT 

PICTURES 

Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this 

department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made 

by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor 

has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor 

is a regular of one year or mxyre. who receives a token of our appreciatUyn. All 

exhibitors welcome. 

COLUMBIA 

Black Eagle, the Story of a Horse (Col) 

William Bishop, Virginia Patton, Gordon 

Jones. This will get by for the lower half of 

your double feature. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Not good.—R. V. Fletcher, Lyric 

Theatre, Hartington, Neb. Small town patronage. 

• * * 

Congo Bill (Col)—Serial. I am now playing 

this serial every Saturday. This serial 

will do as much for you as your picture will, 

I think. Everyone that comes will ask if 

"Congo Bill" has been on the screen yet. 

Play it. It is hot and will make you some 

cash. If you are like me, you need it. Times 

are not like they used to be.—Johnny Kime, 

State Theatre, Roseboro, N. C. Rural patronage. 

* * • 

Coroner Creek (Col)—Randolph Scott, Marguerite 

Chapman, George Macready. This is 

a top western. It is one of Scott's best pictures. 

The fight is plenty brutal. It brings 

gasps from the ladies and the men whisper to 

their next-seat neighbor. Most of the kids 

are glued to their seats. The color is the 

best. Columbia has ever had in Cinecolor. 

Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Clear and 

warm,—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown, 

Md. Small town 

* 

patronage. 

Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart, 

John Derek, Allen Roberts. This is very 

well done and Bogart is fine as the lawyer. 

Business was average. Where your patrons 

like this type of picture, it should do well. 

Played Sun. through Thurs. Weather: Good. 

A. E. Shepard jr., Clinton Theatre, Clinton, 

* 

Conn. General patronage. 

My Dog Rusty (Col)—Ted Donaldson, John 

Lilel, Ann Doran. This is a good picture but 

it really isn't about a dog. It is a natural for 

a small town. I singled with a cartoon arid a 

two-reel comedy for a short show and was 

able to get one extra show in Saturday, which 

meant more ticket-buyers. Double features 

are on the way out here. Played Saturday 

only. Weather: Mild.—Kenneth Clem, Earle 

Theatre, Taneytown, Md. Small town potronage. 

* 

Last Days of Bool Hill (Col)—Charles Starrett, 

Smiley Burnette, Virginia Hunter. This 

little western did pretty well, as Charles 

Starrett is well liked here, and the antics of 

Smiley Burnette kept up the comedy end. 

This type of show does just as well as does 

the high class western and is not nearly as 

expensive. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Good.— I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. 

Small town and rural patronage. * * * 

Mating of Millie, The (Col)—Glenn Ford, 

Evelyn Keyes, Ron Randell. "Why don't you 

get all your pictures like this one?" they 

asked coming out. It's full of laughs without 

being smutty. The photography was good but 

the print was pretty cut up. Why don't we 

get more like this? We could use them. 

Played Sat. (preview), Sun., Mon. Weather- 

Rainy and cool.—William J. Harris, Crown 

Theatre, Lincoln, Ark. Small town patronage. 

* 

EAGLE LION 

Amazing Mr. X, The (ED— (Formerly "The 

Spiritualist"), Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari, Cathy 

Downs. Personally, I liked this one but it 

laid an egg at the boxoffice. The acting was 

good but the sound and photography weren't 

so good. Action was absent until near the 

end of the picture. It won't go over in an 

action house such as mine. My advice to 

small town exhibitors is to lay off this one. 

Business was simply awful. Adult entertainment. 

— Played 'Thursday only. Weather: 

Mild. "Art" V. Phillips, Raymond Theatre, 

Cromona, Ky. Mining and small town patronage. 

* * 

Gas House Kids Go West (ED—Carl "Alfalfa" 

Switzer, Benny Bartlett, Rudy Wissler. 

My patrons went for this in a big way and 

were pleased 100 per cent. Did some extra 

business with it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Cold and stormy.—Ray S. Hanson, Fox Theatre, 

Fertile, Minn. Rural and small town, patronage. 

* 

T-Men (EL)—Dennis O'Keefe, Mary Meade, 

Alfred Ryder. This is the type 1 like but apparently 

the public didn't agree, as crowds 

were below average. Rough in spots but those 

who came liked it. Very good acting and the 

story is full of suspense. Played Thurs., Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Cold and wet.—R. W. Burgess, 

Roxy Theatre, McCluskey, N. D. Rural patronage. 

FILM CLASSICS 

Buck Privates (FC)—Reissue. Lee Bowman, 

Alan Curtis, Abbott and Costello. How 

old can an Abbott and Costello picture get 

and still do business? This is the second time 

we played this picture and we did better 

than the first time. We bought it right and 

figure we did fine at the boxoffice. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Walt Saylor, Dakota 

Theatre, Wishek, N. D. Small town and 

* 

rural patronage. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Act of Violence (MGM)—Van Heflin, 

Robert 

Ryan, Janet Leigh. Leo slipped on this one, 

but our patrons do not care for crime dramas. 

Heflin did a good job but business was very 

poor. Crime does not pay for us, either! 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—A. E 

Shepard jr., Deep River Theatre, Clinton, 

* 

Conn. General patronage. 

tJEaster Parade (MGM) — Judy Garland, 

Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford. Paid too much, 

as usual, but had average or a little above 

average business, due no doubt to showing 

it Palm Sunday. Good color and sound and 

of course Irving Berlin music. It should hit 

anywhere. Played Sun., Mon. Warm and 

fair.—Joe and Mildred Faith, Linn Theatre, 

* 

Linn, Mo. Small town patronage. 

OEaster Parade (MGM) — Judy Garland, 

Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford. This is a very 

lovely musical worth preferred playing time 

on any screen. Our patrons really go for 

Technicolor musicals when they are not too 

Slow Night and Rain 

But Drew Full House 

FIGHTER SQUADRON (WB)—Edmond 

O'Brien, Robert Stack, John Rodney. 

I have hesitated to write before because 

I am new in theatre business, but 

I must tell you about our run of 'Tighter 

Squadron." We ran it on Thurs., Fri. 

nights. Thursday is our slow evening, 

plus a full week of rain, yet we had a full 

house. This, to me, is a modern miracle, 

the color photography is magnificent, the 

cast is first rate, and the picture pleased 

90 per cent of my customers.—Mrs. Joyce 

C. Graham, Portland Theatre, Portland, 

Tex. Oil field, Latin American, and farm 

patronage. 

• 

Donald O'Connor Dances 

In Nostalgic Fashion 

FEUDIN', FUSSIN', AND A-FIGHTIN' 

(U-I) —Donald O'Connor, Marjorie Main, 

Percy Kilbride. This drew in spite of a 

local ball game giving us competition. 

Donald O'Connor is really clever and I 

hope he makes a lot more musicals in the 

near future. To people of my generation, 

there is something nostalgic about his 

dancing and singing that you don't find 

in most modem musicals. Played Tuesday.—Marcella 

Smith, Vinton Theatre, 

McArthur, Ohio. Small town patronage. 

highbrow. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Good.—H. J. Partridge, Lyceum Theatre, Gull 

Lake, Sask. Small town patronage. 

Homecoming (MGM)—Clark Gable, Lana 

Turner, Anne Baxter. Although long and a 

bit slow, they came and seemed to enjoy it. 

Many good comments, especially from the 

ladies. And remember, it's usually mama 

who makes up papa's mind as to whether we 

see a movie tonight or not. Played Sun., Mon 

Weather: Fair.—Lloyd Hutchins, Pangbburn 

Theatre, Pangburn, Ark. Small town patron- 

* * * 

age. 

Julia Misbehaves (MGM)—Greer Garson, 

Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford. Julia misbehaved 

at the boxoffice for us! There was 

something about the feature that just didn't 

click here. The boxoffice was definitely off 

and we had many adverse comments. I would 

not advise giving it your best playing time 

and it is not worth the price asked. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Walt Sayler, 

Dakota Theatre, Wishek, N. D. Rural and 

small town patronage. 

Search, The (MGM)—Montgomery Clift, 

Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna. We did 

a lot of extra advertising, both by newspapers, 

special cards to all boxholders, and 

lots of word-of-mouth advance boosting to 

the "solid citizens." We hadn't seen it before 

our patrons did, so we had a few anxious 

moments lest we'd oversold it. But when we 

saw we had lots of repeats among patrons 

and heard them rave, we relaxed. It deserved 

our best playing time, some told us.—R. E. 

Halstead, Tri-Town Theatre, Lindstrom, Minn. 

Rural and small town patronage. 

Yankee, A (MGM)—Red Skelton, 

Southern 

Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl. This is another 

typical Skelton picture. With equal consideration, 

"The Fuller Brush Man" (Col) outentertained 

and out-grossed this. This MGM 

epic failed to do par business at this location. 

Doubled with an oldie from Fox, "If I'm 

Lucky." I believe we satisfied entirely those 

who came, but possibly this Skelton picture 

had run in too many theatres in Wichita before 

my playdate. Played Tues., Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Mild and crisp.—Jim Dunbar, 

Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent run 

patronage. 

MONOGRAM 

Bad Boy (Mono)—Lloyd Nolan, Jane Wyatt. 

Audie Murphy. 'This is another good picture 

similar to "He Walked by Night." Comments 

on it were good. Weather: Fair.—L. Brazil 

jr„ New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town 

patronage. 

Jiggs and Maggie in Court (Mono)—Joe 

Yule, Rente Riano, George McManus. I believe 

this series is improving some, for my 

patrons laughed more at this one than at the 

others. Played Thurs., Fri.. Sat. Weather: 

Good—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * * 

Hocky (Mono) — Roddy McDowall, Edgar 

Barrier. Nita Hunter. Here is a swell weekend 

picture that played to above average 

business. While there have been too many 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 7, 1949

dog pictures of late, we felt this one fitted 

the purpose for us. Played Fri., Sot. Weather: 

Cold.—Walt Sayler, Dakota Theatre, Wishek, 

N. D. Rural and small town patronage. * 

Rose of the Rio Grande (Mono)—Reissue. 

Movita, John Carroll, Antonio Moreno. If 

you have any Spanish patrons, they will flock 

to see this little picture. John Carroll is always 

good in every feature. It held up on a 

double bill for average business. Played 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain. — R. C. Walker, 

Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. 

Smuggler's Cove (Mono) — Leo Gorcey, 

Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell. Double featured 

with a Durango Kid western (Col) to above 

average business. This Bowery Boys is full 

of laughs, with a reasonably sane story. I 

recommend it as one of the 'best with the 

Bowery Boys. Played Saturday. Weather: 

Good.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, 

Colfax, 111. Small town and rural patronage. 

* 

PARAMOUNT 

Accused. The (Para)—Loretta Young, Robert 

Cummings, Wendell Corey. This is another 

psycho picture. Someone ought to 

psychoanalyze some producers. Business was 

poor. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Cool.—John G. .Anderson, Raymond Theatre, 

City Island, N. Y. Community patron- 

* * • 

age. 

Albuquerque (Para)—Randolph Scott, Barbara 

Britton, Catherine Craig. Randy Scott 

always brings in a good crowd. This one did 

good business at the boxoffice. It is in color, 

with beautiful scenery and plenty of action. 

Play it and see what I mean. Played Wednesday. 

Weather: Cool.—Frank D. Fowler, Princess 

Theatre, Mocksville, N. C. Rural patronage. 

Isn't It Romantic? (Para)—Veronica Lake, 

Mona Freeman, Mary Hatcher. It looks like 

sticking with Paramount mearis starving to 

death for us. This is the fifth Paramount failure 

in a row. Why do they waste their talent 

on trivial trash? It is unfunny, uninteresting 

and unprofitable. In fact, it didn't make expenses 

and I couldn't sit through it myselfl 

Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and 

warm.—Mrs. Pat W. Murphy, Queen Theatre, 

Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage. 

• • * 

Miss Tatlock's Millions (Para)—Wanda Hendrix, 

Barry Fitzgerald, John Lund. Personally, 

I thoroughly enjoyed this different type 

of comedy. However, I could not find any patrons 

to push their coins across the ticket 

machine. This comedy has set an all time 

low with the major's product. This is one 

that Paramount will have to adjust. Those 

of you that have to play after ten theatres, as 

Weather: 

Theatre, 

Cloudy 

Wichita, 

and cool.—Jim 

Kas. 

Dunbar, 

Subsequent 

Roxy 

run patronage. 

I do, stay far, far away from this one. Played 

three days too many—Tues., Wed., Thurs. 

* 

Mr. Reckless (Para)—William £ythe, Barbara 

Britton, Walter Catlett. This is another good 

little programmer from Pine-Thomas that 

pleases everyone. Lots of comedy, plenty of 

action. It could have had a better ending 

but they can't put everything in right. With 

a crop of B pictures like this, I wouldn't have 

any fears about the future. It pleased everyone 

and held up fairly well in spite of a 

basketball tournament. Doubled with "Phantom 

Valley," which is okay, too. Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Good.—R. C. Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. * * * 

My Own True Love (Para)—Melvyn Douglas, 

Phyllis Calvert, Wanda Hendrix. I turned 

on the fan after this show. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good.—R. V. Fletcher, Lyric 

Theatre, Hartington, Neb. Small town patronage. 

* 

Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Para)—Edward 

G. Robinson, Gail Russell, John Lund. 

An entertaining mystery picture which did 

average business. The picture is okay but it 

did not draw, so we only broke even. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger. 

Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. 

Small town patronage. • • * 

Paleface, The (Para)—Bob Hope, Jane Russell, 

Robert Armstrong. I ran this picture hot, 

but you don't have to do this. Hot or cold, 

it will do well at your boxoffice—just book 

it and play it and back up from the door and 

give them room. They will be there. It is one 

of Paramount's best pictures—so good I will 

play it on a second run soon. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Cool.—Johnny Kime, State 

Theatre, Roseboro, N. C. Rural and small 

town patronage. • • » 

So Evil, My Love (Para) — Ray Milland, 

Ann Todd, Geraldine Fitzgerald. Another 

picture that didn't pay expenses. Ray Milland 

does not draw here and it is definitely 

no good for this small town. Played Tues., 

Wed. Weather: Nice.—E. C. Holt, Freeburn 

Theatre, Freeburn, Ky. Mining and small 

town patronage. * * * 

RKO RADIO 

Bambi (RKO)—Reissue. Disney feature 

cartoon in Technicolor. We did just fair business 

on this one. In fact, since "Three Caballeros" 

have been disappointed in Disney's 

films, except "Song of the South." Played 

Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—H. J. 

Partridge, Lyceum Theatre, Gull Lake, Sask. 

• 

Small town patronage. 

Berlin Express (RKO)—Merle Oberon, Robert 

Ryan, Charles Korvin. This picture was 

a little old and we felt we might as well get 

it over with some time. As expected, it didn't 

go over in our situation so well.—Harland 

Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small 

town patronage. • » * 

OBesf Years of Our Lives, The (RKO) — 

Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews. 

This is one of those pictures that appear about 

once in a decade and it is so good it appeals 

to everyone. It carries three stories 

simultaneously and there isn't a dull moment 

in it. It is educational and it gives the returned 

veteran a break by showing some of 

his rehabilitation problems. It ran three 

nights and held up well in spite of bad roads 

and miserable underfoot weather. Play it 

and advertise it. Played Wed., Sat., Sun. 

J. C. Van House, Sun Theatre, Kenesaw, Neb. 

Small town and rural patronage. • « * 

Enchantment (RKO)—David Niven, Evelyn 

Keyes, Teresa Wright. This is strictly a 

woman's picture — a typical English-type 

talkie. Business was 'way off. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Cloudy and cool.—John G. 

Anderson, Raymond Theatre, City Island, NY. 

Community patronage. * » * 

Every Girl Should Be Married (RKO) — 

Gary Grant, Betsy Drake, Diana Lynn. Gary 

Grant, as usual, came through with fJying 

colors. There is plenty of good comedy 

throughout. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Fair.—Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, 

S. D. Small town patronage. « * * 

Fighting Father Dunne (RKO)—Pat O'Brien, 

Darryl Hickman, Una O'Connor. This is the 

best Catholic picture ever made, in our idea. 

It had a wonderful story and was a great 

moral-builder. We wish more boys had a 

man like Father Dunne to handle them. This 

was well liked by all who came but we didn't 

make very much money on account of the 

weather. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold, 

windy and bad.—Dorothy Hickok (Mrs. 

Lewis), Dream Theatre, Effingham, Kas. Rural 

and small town patronage. * * » 

Fort Apache (RKO)—John Wayne, Henry 

Fonda, Shirley Temple. This is one picture 

that has a western background but definitely 

did not go with our rural patrons. We gave 

our best playing time but boxoffice receipts 

it 

were very poor. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Cold.—Walt Sayler, Dakota Theatre, Wishek, 

N. D. Rural and small town patronage. * 

Magic Town (RKO)—James Stewart, Jane 

Wyman, Ned Sparks. I was disappointed in 

this one—not in the picture but in the crowd. 

Why they stayed away, I don't know. I considered 

it a better than average picture and 

those that saw it seemed to enjoy it but it 

was one of the worst Sun., Mon. crowds in xi 

long time. Weather: Warm and fair.—E. C. 

Holt, Freeburn Theatre, Freeburn, Ky. Mining 

and small town patronage. * • 

Race Street (RKO)—George Raft, William 

Bendix, Marilyn Maxwell. In my opinion 

this is a good show for it holds the interest 

of all clear through to the end. George Raft 

and William Bendix play jam-up roles and 

they keep the interest going. Doubled with 

a Columbia comedy, "Rolling Down to Rio," 

which rolled them in the aisles. Everybody 

was happy and well satisfied with the bill of 

fare both nights. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Fine. — I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, 

Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage. 

OSo Dear to My Heart (RKO)—Burl Ives, 

Bobby DriscoU, Luana Patton. This picture 

cannot be praised too highly— for the small 

town, at least. We spent about $10 pushing 

if and had fine results, no doubt helped by 

the national campaign. There are no "gun 

molls" and "gats," no drinking and no tough 

characters. It is just a simple, heart-warming 

story richly told, with a good moral. 

Disney rang the bell for us. This is just who' 

our patrons want. If producers will type this 

formula and give us more, it will get us off 

the rocks. The color is beautiful. Play it 

and push it. Played Sat. (preview). Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Good. — William J. Harris, 

Crown Theatre, Lincoln, Ark. Small town patronage. 

Station West (RKO)—Dick Powell, Jane 

Greer, Agnes Moorehead. An interesting picture. 

Lots of suspense, with a sprinkling of 

comedy. Favorably received by my customers. 

Played Wed., Sat. Weather: Gpod. 

M. W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, McMinnville, 

Ore. Rural and city patronage. 

Station West (RKO) — Dick Powell, Jane 

Greer, Agnes Moorehead. I consider this one 

of the best westerns I have ever seen. The 

dialog is very snappy, which is one of the 

main reasons for the picture's excellence. The 

other reason is Dick Powell. For my money 

he can't be beat as a western actor. It did 

okay financially, too. Doubled with "Cartoon 

Carnival." Played Fri., Sat.—Norris Kemp, 

Pine Cone Theatre, Brookings, Ore. Small 

town and rural patronage. 

Timber Stampede (RKO)—Reissue. George 

O'Brien, Marjorie Reynolds. This is a very 

good western and it seems that O'Brien's 

westerns are all good and end up well. Lots 

of action and a good story combined. The 

comedy, a two-reeler, is always good, too, 

and they make a fine program. Played Wednesday. 

Weather: Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium 

Theatre, Roscoe, S. D, Rural patron- 

* * * 

age. 

Velvet Touch, The (RKO)—Rosalind Russell, 

Leo Genn, Claire Trevor. Very good but not 

exactly a small town show. However, your 

Rosalind Russell fans will enjoy same. I double 

billed this and did fairly well. Played 

Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—Terry Axley, 

New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural and small 

town patronage. 

Tarzan and the Mermaids (RKO)—Johnny 

Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Linda Christian. 

Doubled this with "Arizona Ranger" to poor 

weekend business. Our people do not come 

in strong for Tarzan—except the reissues. 

Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather Fair.—Earl 


BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: May 7, 1949

FEATURE CHART 

Feature productions, listed by companr. in order of release. Number in square is national 

release date. Production number is at right Number in parentheses is running time, as 

hirnished by home ofUce of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recommended 

5i~" J*^®" '*°^®' ^^—^ Picture Guide page number. Symbol O indicates BOXOFFICE 

Blue SibboD Award Winner. Symbol © indicates color photography. 

r JULY 3 

g 

(93) Comedy 928 (77) 

U\ 

Drama %04 

FULLER BRUSH MAN THUNDERHOOF 

Ued Skclton 

I'reston Foster 

H—May 15—Pa-932 Mary Stuart 

[T] (55) Western 968 William Bishop 

Rûly 10—PG-949 

BLAZING ACROSS THE 

PECOS 

R—July 17—PG-9S1 

g 

(83) Drama 826 

CANON CITY 

Scott Brady 

Cllarles liussell 

DeForest Kelly 

U—June 26—PG-944 

^ 

JULY 10 

JULY 17 

(103) Musical 829 (113) Com-Mus 831 

UQEASTER PARADE QA DATE WITH JUDY 

Astalre 

Jane Powell 

l''red 

ludy Garland 

Baizabetb Taylor 

Peter Lawford 

Wallace Beery 

Ann Miller 

R-ûne 26—PG-946 

R—May 29—PG-938 

(69) Drama 4717 |T) (55) Western 4762 

[n] (65) Mystery 4718 

JINX MONEY COWBOY CAVALIER THE SHANGHAI CHEST 

Leo Qorcey 

Jimmy Waliely 

IJuland Winters 

Iliintz Hall 

"'Cannonball" Taylor Manton Moreland 

i;—May 22—PG-935 

JULY 24 JULY 31 

|2i] (70) Drama 829 

SHED NO TEARS 

Wallace Ford 

June Vincent 

Robert Scott 

R—Aug. 14—PG-960 

[is] (54) Western 4757 

BACK TRAIL 

Jolinny Mack Brown 

.Mildred Coles 

Raymond HattoD 

^ 

(90) S'Western 939 

©CORONER CREEK 

Itandolph Scott 

It—June 6—PG-940 

^ (65) Musical 953 

ARKANSAS SWING 

lloosier llotshots 

Hûly 24—PG-953 

i25] (82) Drama 4801 

316 FATHOMS DEEP 

Lon Ctlaney 

Vrthur Lake 

Tiuiis Chandler 

R—June 12—PQ-941 

AUGUST 7 

[5] (79) Drama 827 [a] (61) Drama 831 Reissues 

THE AMAZING MR. X LADY AT MIDNIGHT [i9| (86) Comeds' 84; 

(formerly THE 

Richard Denning HOLD THAT GHOST 

SPIRITUALIST) Frances Rafferty 

Abbott-Costello 

Turhan Bey 

Ralph Dunn 

Ljnn Barl 

ji9) 

Nana Bryant 

(96) Comedy S5( 

Cathy O'Donnell R—July 24—PG 954 HIRED WIFE 

R—Aug. 7—PG-958 

Ilo.salind Russell 

Brian Aherne 

(104) Drama 830 

THE SEARCH 

Montgomery CUft 

Aline MacMahon 

R—Mar. 20—PG-914 

AUGUST 14 

AUGUST 21 

|i2] (54) Western 967 (87) Drama 941 

TRAIL TO UREDO LULU BELLE 

Cli.irles Starrett 

Dorothy Lamour 

Smiley Burnette 

George Montgomery 

Jim Baniion 

Albert Dekker 

Virginia Maxey 

Otto Kruger 

Rûly 17—PG-951 Rûne 19^PO-943 : 

[U (79) Drama 4719 (53) Western 475: 

MICHAEL O'HALLORAN 

[15] 

FIGHTING RANGER 

Scotty Beckett 

lolinny Mack Brown 

Allene Roberts 

Tommy Cook 

Isabel Jewell 

R-ûne 19—PG-944 

Itaymond Hatton 

[2] (106) Musical 4720 

©EMPEROR WALTZ, 

THE 

Bijig Crosby 

Joan Fontaine 

Uiciiard Haydn 

Lucille Watson 

K—May 8—PO-928 

Reissue 

(126) 

l9] 

Dr R7-3508 

THE CRUSADES 

Loretta Young 

Henry Wilcoxen 

^ (86) Comedy 4721 §0] (62) Drama 4722 

[U (109) Drama 4723 

DREAM GIRL 

BIG TOWN SCANDAL SO EVIL, MY LOVE 

Betty Hutton 

Philip Reed 

Kay Milland 

.Macdonald Carey 

Hilary Brooke 

Ann Todd 

Virginia Field 

Patric Knowles 

R—May 8—PO-93: 

Stanley Clements 

Darryl Hickman 

R—May 22—PG-933 

Geraldine Fitzgerald 

Leo G. Carroll 

R—May 22—PG-933 

^ 

(116) Drama 472 

FOREIGN AFFAIR, A 

lean Arthur 

John Lund 

Marlene Dietrich 

William Netf 

Boyd Dails 

R—ûne 12—PO-941 

Special 

[3] (172) Com-Dr 9(M 

THE BEST YEARS OF 

OUR LIVES 

Fredric March 

Myrna Loy 

Dana Andrews 

K—Dec. 7—PO-769 

|8| (60) M'drania 712 

TRAIN TO ALCATRAZ 

I 'un Barry 

.):iiieL Martin 

K—July 17—PG-962 

Group 5 

nj (90) Western 817 

(RETURN OF THE 

BADMEN 

Randolph Scott 

liobert Ryan 

Anne Jeffreys 

R—May 23—PG-934 

[^ (70) Oufr-Mus 732 

©EYES OF TEXAS 

Roy Rogers 

Lynn Roberts 

Andy Devine 

Rûly 24—PG-9S3 

Special 

(76) Musical 991 

©MELODY TIME 

Andrews Sisters 

Roy Rogers 

Dennis Day 

R—May 22—Pa-934 

Reissue 

Reissue 

Reissue 

ge) (89) Drama S-4 (71) Comedy S-3 (66) Western HC22 

KING OF THE TURF 

|23) 

RUNAWAY DAUGHTER 

|30] 

THE SHOWDOWN 

Adolphe Menjou 

Barbara Stanwyck 

William Boyd 

Dolores CosteUo 

Robert Yotmg 

Kussell Haydeo 

g 

(88) Outd'r-Dr 715 

THE GALLANT LEGION 

William Elliott 

R—May 29—PG-938 

(60) Western 

m 

756 

MARSHAL OF 

AMARILLO 

Allan "Rocky" Lane 

Special 

|h] (97) Drama 96: 

THE VELVET TOUCH 

Rosalind Russell 

Leo Genu 

Claire Trevor 

Sydney Greenstreet 

R—July 24—PO-954 

\io\ (60) M'drama 716 

DAREDEVILS OF THE 

CLOUDS 

Robert Livingston 

Mae Qark 

James Cardwell 

R—July 31—PG-955 

[9] 61) Gutd'r-Dr 4802 

JUNGLE GODDESS 

George Reeves 

(91) Drama 823 

STREET WITH NO 

NAME, THE 

Mark Stevens 

Lloyd Nolan 

Barbara Lawrence 

B—July 10—Pa-960 

(90) Drama 663 (83) Comedy 664 

BAD 

(79) 

SISTER 

Drama 666 (78) Mus-Com 665 (80) Drama 676 (109) Drama 668 (89) Comedy 667 (891 Drama 61 

ABBOTT & COSTELLO 

Margaret 

MAN-EATER 

Lockwood 

OF FEUDIN', FUSSIN' THE END OF THE ©TAP ROOTS 

MR. PEABODY AND LARCENY 

MEET FRANKEN- 

Ian Hunter 

KUMAON 

AND A-FIGHTIN' RIVER 

Van Heflin 

THE MERMAID 

lohn Paj-np 

STEIN 

Dennis 

Sabu 

Donald O'Connor 

Sabu 

Susan Ha>-ward 

William Powell 

Joan Caulfield 

Price 

Abbott 4 CosteUo Joanne P-ige 

Percy Kilbride 

Bihi Ferreira 

W;u-d Bond 

.\nn Blyth 

Dan 

R—June 

Dnryea 

12—PG-942 Lon Chaney 

Wendell Corey 

B-ûne 19—PO-943 Esmond Knight R—July 3—PO-947 Irene Hervey R— Aug. 14—PG-959 

Bela Lugosl 

R-ûne 26—PG-945 

Torln Thatcher 

Andrea King 

Rûly 3—Pa»47 

R-ûne 26—PG-945 

R-Îuly 10—PO-949 

[3] (99) Musical 728 

©ROMANCE ON THE 

HIGH SEAS 

Jack Carson 

Janis Paige 

Don DeFore 

R—June 12—PG-942 

K 

o 

t- 

Oct. (601 West-Reissue 

THE LAW COMES TO 

TEXAS 

"Wild Bill" lauott 

Oct. (66) West-New Eel 

SUNSET CARSON RIDES 

AGAIN 

Sunset Carson 

(102) Drama 824 (85) Drama 821 (67) Drama 825 

MINE OWN 

DEEP WATERS THE CHECKERED COAT 

EXECUTIONER Dana Andrews 

Tom Conway 

Burgess Meredith 

Cesar Romero 

Noreen Nash 

K—June 19—Pa-944 Jean Peters 

Hurd Hatfield 

Dean Stockwell R—Aug. 7—PG-957 

R-ûly 3—PG-948 

jT) (89) Drama 576 

FOUR FACES WEST 

Joel McCrea 

Frances Dee 

Charles Bickford 

R—May 22—PG-933 

Reissues 

[17] (82) Drama 730 

FLOWING GOLD 

Garfield-OBrleD 

(71) Drama 729 

GOD'S COUNTRY AND 

THE WOMAN 

Nov, (62) West-Reissue 

RETURN OF DANIEL 

BOONE 

"WUd Bill" BUlott 

Dec. (58) West-Reissue 

LONE STAR PIONEERS 

"WUd BUI" ElUott 

m 

Reissues 


ROSE OF WASHINGTON 

SQUARE 

Tyrone Power 

(92) Drama 

SLAVE SHIP 

Wallace Beery 

(58) Drama 589 (109) Com-Dr 582 

BORROWED TROUBLE TIME OF YOUR LIFE 

William Boyd 

James Cagney 

Andy Devine 

William Bendlx 

Wayne Morris 

Jeanne Cagney 

R—May 22—PO-933 

Jan. (72) West-New Rel 

©STALLION CANYON 

Ken Kurtls 

Jan. (56) We«t-Reissue 

FRONTIERS OF '49 

"WUd BUI" Eailott 

^ 

31) (101) Drama 731 

KEY LARGO 

Humphrey Bogart 

Edward G. Robinson 

Lauren Bacall 

Lionel Barrymore 

R-ûly 10—PG-949 

Feb. (61) West-Reissue 

MAN FROM 

TUMBLEWEEDS 

"WUd BUI" BUlott 

Mar. (55) West-Reissue 

IN EARLY ARIZONA 

"WUd BUI" ElUott 

(106) Musical 826 (89) Musical 836 (61) Drama 82 

WALLS OF JERICHO ©THAT LADY IN FIGHTING BACK 

Linda Darnell 

ERMINE 

Paul Langton 

Cornel Wilde 

Betty Grable 

Cary Gray 

.\nne Ba.\ter 

Itouglas Fairbanks jr. Jean Rogers 

R—July 10—PG-950 Cesar Romero R—Oct. 

833 

30—PG-982 

Walter Abel 

R-ûly 17—PG-951 

(76) Comedy 583 

TEXAS, BROOKLYN 

AND HEAVEN 

R-ûly 24—PG-954 

g 

(85) Drama 587 

PITFALL 

Dick Powell 

R—Aug. 7—PO-957 

[14] (118) Comedy 702 

|2l] (80) M'drama 73 

©LIFE WITH FATHER 

EMBRACEABLE 

William PoweU 

YOU 

Dane Clark 

Irene Dunne 

Geraldine Brooks 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Z. SakaU 

Edmund Gwenn 

Wallace Ford 

Z:isu Pitts 

Rûly 31—PO-96S 

R—Aug. 33—PG-850 

Mar. (72) West-New Rel 

RIO GRANDE 

Sunset Carson 

Evohn Keys 

. ) Dr-Relssue 

Feb, ( . 

LORNA DOONE 

Margaret Lockwood 

Apr. { . . ) West-Reissue 

TAMING OF THE WEST 

"Wild BUI" ElUott 

May (..) West- Reissue 

PIONEERS OF THE 

FRONTIER 

"WUd Bill" Elliott 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 7, 1949 

^^

I 

I 

II 

\UGUST 28 

(70) Adi-lirama 942 

BLACK ARROW 

is Hayward 

t Blair 

rge Macready 

Buchaiua 

Williams 

July 10—PG-949 

^ 

HE RETURN OF 

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES 

SEPTEMBER 4 

f3l] 1 79) Western 982 

QTHE STRAWBERRY 

ROAN 

(Jene Aulry 

rliampion 

Gloria 

Jack Holt 

l(—.Mar. 

Henry 

6—PG-907 

[Tj (98) Musical 901 

©LUXURY LINER 

.lane I'otteli 

Laurtlz Melciilor 

George Breot 

Frances Gilford 

K—Aug. 21—PO-96a 

[5] (82) Drama 4726 

BEYOND GLORY 

.Man Ladd 

Donna Reed 

George Macready 

George Coulourls 

Ucnry Travers 

R—July 19—PQ-944 

^r| (60) M'drama 718 [u] (61) M'drama 717 

|l5] (60) Western 757 

SONS OF ADVENTURE OUT OF THE STORM DESPERADOES OF 

LyTiii RobcrU R—Sept. 25—PO-971 DODGE CITY 

11—Dec. 4—PG-992 [5] (67) Outd'r-Mus 733 R—Sept. 11—PO-968 

[y] (90) Drama 719 ©NIGHTTIME IN 

|l^ (60) Western 741 

ANGEL IN EXILE 

NEVADA 

©SON OF GOD'S 

Jobn CarruU 

Roy Rogers 

COUNTRY 

It—Jail. 1—PG-1000 R—Oct. 30—PG-981 R—Sept. 25—PO-971 

(81) Drama 4801 Reissues 

Reissue 

[3] (62) Western HC23 

WILDFIRE 

HIDDEN GOLD 

Jchard Arlen 

William Boyd 

Auj. 21—PO-962 Uussell llayden 

(81) Comedy S-6 

L3J 

rHATS MY BOY 

.limniy Durante 

SEPTEMBER 11 

1i (53) Western 4763 g9] (69) Drama 4720 [5] (66) Musical 4721 

IVER TRAII^ THE GOLDEN EYE THE MUSIC MAN 

•my Wakfly 

Ituland Wuiters 

K—July 24—PC-953 

rlstine Larson 

Claire Trevor 

(107) Blog-Dr AAIO 

[U 

^ Taylor 

Cbarles Blckford OTHE BABE RUTH 

STORY 

wmiam Bendii 

R-ûly 31—PO-9S5 

(70) Outd'r-Dr S29 Reissues 

E WINNERS CIRCLE (82) Drama 835 

tan Wllles 

WAKE UP 

IRISH 

lorcan Karlry 

SCREAMING 

Tyrone Power 

ihnny Longden 

Betty Grable 

.\nne Baxter 

—Aug. 7—I'G-957 Victor Mature 

Cecil Kellaway 

(125) Drama 534 

BLOOD AND SAND 

lyrone Power 

(82) Cnmedy 670 (88) Drama 671 (90) Comedy 672 

E TOUCH OF VENUS THE SAXON CHARM FOR THE LOVE OF 

I Gardner 

Uobert Montgomery MARY 

:k Hayraes 

Susan Hayward 

Deanna Durbln 

bert Walker 

John Payne 

Edmond O'Brien 

Aug. 28—PG-964 R—Sept. 11—PG-967 Don Taylor 

R—Sept. 4—PG-966 

FEATURE CHART 

OCTOBER 16 1 

^ (56) Western 165 

j] (66) Drama 916 |i6] (76) Western 903 (91) Drama 128 (70) Spec-Act 104 [7] (68) Drama 113 

GENTLEMAN FROM BLACK EAGLE. THE WALK A CROOKED TRIPLE THREAT SURRENDER, DEAR EL DORADO PASS 

NOWHERE 

STORY OF A HORSE MILE 

Itichiu-d Oane 

Gloria Jean 

Charles Starrctt 

Warner Bajcter 

William Bishop 

Dennis O'Keefe 

Gloria Henry 

David Street 

Smiley Buraotte 

Fay Baker 

Virginia Patlon 

It—Sipl. 11—PO-968 H—Oct. 9—PG-976 Don McGuire 

Blena Verdugo 

Luis Van Rooten 

Gordon Jones 

gs] (62) Act-Mus 954 

R—Oct. 9—PG-975 Steve Darrell 

K—Oct. 2—PO-973 R—Sept. 4—PG-965 

R—Dec. 

SINGIN' SPURS 

11—PO-993 

Hoosier Uotshots 

[sj (76) Outdr-Dr 901 ^(64) (95) Docum 902 ^ (62) Drama 903 Reissues 

©NORTHWEST ©OLYMPIC GAMES IN THIS CORNER ge] (102) Mystery 734 [3] (83) M'drama 904 fio] (73) Drama 905 

THE SCAR (also ©ADVENTURES OF 

STAMPEDE 

OF 1548 

Scott Brady 

INTERNATIONAL LADY HOLLOW TRIUMPH GALLANT BESS 

Joan Leslie 

(2 versions) 

Annabel Shaw 

George Brent 

Paul ilenreld 

(jallant Bess 

James Oalg 

BUI Stem, Commen. Jimmy MllUcan 

Basil Rathbone 

Joan Bennett 

Cameron Mitchell 

Jack Oakle 

Ted Husing 

R—Sept. 4—PO-966 

Se] (117) Drama 737 Bduard Franz 

Audrey Long 

Chill WUls 

R—Sept. 25—PO-971 


MY SON, MY SON 

Leslie Brooks 

Fuzzy Knight 

Brian Aherne R—Aug. 21—PG-961 B^luly 31—PQ-956 

|io] (72) Comedy S-5 

FLIRTING WITH FATE 

Joe E. Brown 

(99) Drama 837 

THE LUCK OF THE 

Lee J. Ctobb 

R—Sept. 4—PG-968 

SEPTEMBER 18 SEPTEMBER 25 OCTOBER 2 

^ 

g 

(90) Comedy 902 

A SOUTHERN YANKEE 

Red Skelton 

Arllne Dabl 

Brian Donlevy 

B—Aug. 7—PO-968 

^ 

(89) Drama 4801 

SORRY, WRONG 

NUMBER 

Barbara Btaawyct 

Burt Lancaster 

Ann Richards 

Wendell Corey 


oupl 

Special 

Group 2 

Group 6 

Special 


IRIETY TIME ^ (114) Com-Dr 962 [4] (63) Mystery 905 [uj («6) Mystery 822 (48) Docum 907 

KXl Brrol 

iiOOD SAM 

BODYGUARD 

MYSTERY IN MEXICO DESIGN FOR DEATH 

G.try tVjoper 

Igar Kennedy 

Lawrence Tiemey 

William Lundigan R—Jan. 1—PG-893 

ick Taar 

Ann Sberidan 

I'rlscllla Lane 

Jacqueline White 

Group 6 

iwkle 

t^dmund Lowe 

Philip Reed 

Rlcardo Cortw 

Carle 

[19] (79) M'drama 821 

-loan Lorrlng 

Steve 

-July 7—PO-95S 

Brodie 

Tony Barrett 

Uûly 31—Pa-956 R—Sept. 4—PO-9«5 B—July 3—PQ-948 RACE STREET 

R-ûly 3—PO-948 

[is] (65) M'drama 4802 155] (87) Comedy AA8 rj] (65) Western 4754 

[10] (66) Adi 4726 

JOE PALOOKA IN THE DUDE GOES WEST THE SHERIFF OF SMUGGLER'S COVE 

WINNER TAKE ALL FAidle Albert 

MEDICINE BOW 

Iveo Gorcey 

R—Aug. 28— PO-963 Gale Storm 

JoUiuiy Mack Brown Bowery Boys 

It-May 1—PO-926 

Hj (56) Western 4767 

THE RANGERS RIDE 

Jimmy Wakely 

Group 1 

(88) Drama 

THE PEARL 

I'edro Armendarlz 

Miiria Elena Marques 

K—Feb. 21—PO-903 

(78) Drama 822 (139) Drama 638 (68) Comedy 840 

ESCAPE 

©FOREVER AMBER THE GAY INTRUDERS 

Rex Harrison 

Linda Darnell 

John Emery 

Peggy Cummins 

Cornel WUde 

Taraara Geva 

WUIlam Hartnell It—Oct. 18—PG-866 Lclf Erickson 

Normal Wooland 

Roy Roberts 

R-ûne 5—PG-940 

(64) Mystery 839 R—June 12—PG-942 

THE CREEPER 

Bduardo Clannelli 

(77) Drama 584 

[10] (61) Western 594 [it] (126) West-Dr 585 

VICIOUS CIRCLE, THE 

|5] (57) Docum 586 [rj (81) Comedy 590 [s] (62) Western 592 

|l5] (90) Comedy 591 

Conrad Nagel 

FALSE PARADISE RED RIVER 

OLYMPIC CAVALCADE THE GIRL FROM STRANGE GAMBLE AN INNOCENT AFFAIR 

Fritz Kortner 

Wmiam Boyd 

John Wayne 

Bill Stern, narrator MANHATTAN 

William Boyd 

(Also DON'T TRUST 

Lyle Talbot 

Montgomery Gift R—Sept. 11—PG-968 Dorothy Lamour 

YOUR HUSBAND) 

Philip Van Zandt 

Walter Brennan 

§5] (65) Jungle Dr (Jeorge 

588 

Montgomery 

Fred MacMurray 

R—June 5—PG-939 

Joanne Dru 

Oiarles Laughton 

K—Sept. 4—PO-966 

B—July 17—PO-952 URUBU 

Hugh Herbert 

George Breakstone 

R—Sept. 25—PG-972 

R—Aug. 21—PG-961 

903 

[Tj (90) Drama 714 

MOONRISE 

Dane CJlark 

OUl Russell 

Ethel Barrymore 

B—Sept. 18—PG-970 

(Tj (60) Western 758 

DENVER KID 

Reissues 

[Tj (108) Comedy S-7 

DUKE OF WEST POINT 

Louis Hayward 

Joan Fontaine 

[T] (88) Comedy S-8 

MISS ANNIE ROONEY 

Shh-ley Temple 

OCTOBER 9 

[a] (99) Comedy 903 

JULIA MISBEHAVES 

Greer Garsoa 

Waller PldceoD 

Peter Lawford 

EUzabelta Taylor 

Cesar Romero 

R—Aug. 14—PQ-960 

fg] (88) Comedy 4802 

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC? 

Veronica Lake 

IVlary Uatcber 

.Motia Freeman 

Billy DeWolfe 

R—Aug. 21—PG-962 

Group 1 

[Y] (92) Drama 901 

RACHEL AND THE 

STRANGER 

Loretla Young 

William Holden 

Robert Mltctaum 

R—Aug. 7—PO-9B8 

(96) Com-Dr 842 

^©APARTMENT FOR 

PEGGY 

Jeanne Craln 

William Hnldcn 

Edmund Gwenn 

Gene Lockhart 

Biindy Stuart 

R—Sept. 18—PG-969 

[T] (86) Mus-Com 801 

©TWO GUYS FROM 

TEXAS 

Dennis Morgan 

Jack Carson 

Dorothy Malone 

R—Aug. 7—PO-958 

g 

(80) Drama 802 

©ROPE 

James Stewart 

John Dall 

Farley Granger 

Constance Collier 

R—Aug. 28—PO-963 

[9] (81) M'drama 803 

SMART GIRLS DON'T 

TALK 

Virginia Mayo 

Bruce Bennett 

Robert Hutton 

R—Sept. 25—Pa-971 

Sept. (86) Dr. New Bel Nov. (62) Mys. New Rel 

©SOFIA 

Gene Raymond 

R—Sept. 11—P(i-967 

INNER SANCTUM 

Oct. (76) Mdr New Rel 

©MIRACULOUS 

JOURNEY 

R—Aug. 21— Pn-962 

Mary Beth Hughes 

R—Oct. 9—PG-97B 

Nov. (67) Mys. New Bel 

APPOINTMENT WITH 

MURDER 

John Calvert 

R— (let- 16—PO-978 

Dec. (75) Dr. New Rel 

©UNKNOWN ISUND 

Virginia Grey 

PhUip Beed 

B—Nov. 27—rO-989 

Jan. (69) Dr-New Rel. 

THE JUDGE 

Milbum Stone 

Katherine DeMille 

Feb. (65) Doc.-Eeissue 

JACARE 

Frank Buck 

Feb. (77) Doc. -Reissue 

INDIA SPEAKS 

BIchard Halliburton 

Feb. (76) Dr. New Rel 

©STATE DEPART- 

MENT, FILE 649 

William Lundigan 

R—Mar. 5—PO-1016 

Mar. (77) Dr. New Rel 

AUSKA PATROL 

Richard Travis 

Helen Westcott 

M.u. (70) Dr. New Bel Apr. (74) Com. New Rel 

AMAZON QUEST 

Tom Neal 

Carol Mathews 

.\pr. (63) Mys. New Bel 

SEARCH FOR DANGER 

John Calvert 

Albert Dekker 

THE LOVABLE CHEAT 

Charles Ruggles 

B—Apr. 9—PO-1025 

Apr, (76) Dr. New Rel 

©DAUGHTER OF 

THE WEST 

Philip Reed 

R—Apr. 2—PG-1023-A 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuicle : : May 7, 1949

FEATURE CHART 

check running time with local exchanges


ECEMBER 18 DECEMBER 25 JANUARY 1 

T:!i Oiitd'r-Dr 134 (US) Comedy 107 

IGLE JIM 

BLONDIE'S SECRET 

iny TV'eisimuller 

I'enny Singleton 

lli-c. 20—l>G-l>97 

Arthur Lake 

(61) Mus-West 151 l:—Dec. 4—PO-991 

OKY MOUNTAIN 

4EL0DY 

-im. 29—I'G-IOOS 

(fiO) nram:i 909 

E STRANGE 

VIRS. CRANE 

rjorie Lord 

)trt Shayne 

h Brady 

rre Watkln 

-Oct. 30—rG-981 

(66) Comedy 4805 [iD (61) Drama 4823 [T] (81) Drama AA12 (66) Comedy 4727 

[U [9] (57) Western 4841 (74) Western AAll 

S3] (67) M'drama 4829 (66) Western 4861 

;GS and MAGGIE THE FEATHERED STRIKE IT RICH TROUBLE MAKERS 

J22] 

CRASHING THRU 

IN COURT 

SERPENT 

Itiid Cameron 

Leo Gorcey 

BAD MEN OF 

INCIDENT 

GUN RUNNER 

Whip Wilson 

TOMBSTONE 

Warren Douglas 

-Dec. 4—I'0-9!n Uoland \Vinter.s 

Itorilla Granville 

Bowery Boys 

Jimmy Wakely 

.Andy Clyde 

Barry Sullivan 

Jane Frazee 

Cannonball Taylor 

Iteverly Jons 

It-Nov. 27—PG-989 

Marjorle Reynolds 

Robert Osterloh 

Noel Neill 

Carol Forman 

R—Dec. 18—PO-995 Joyce C)ompton 

R-ân. 1—P(^999 

i 

issue 

I 

(57) Mu3-West 872 

OLD CALIENTE 

»y Koiêr.1-98T 

R—Dec. 11—PG-993 Randolph Scott 

^«7) Outa'r-Mw to 

[5] (57) Mdrama 802 

(60) Western 863 Reissues 

(56) Western 8705 

]j] 

JTHE FAR FROITIER ROSE OF THE YUKON 

SHERIFF OF WICHITA ia (58) Western 873 GREAT STAGECOACH 

Roy Rogers 

Steve Brodie 

.Mian Lane 

FRONTIER PONY ROBBERY 

Andy DeTlne 

Myrna Dell 

Lyn Wilde 

EXPRESS 

jy] (56) Western 8701 

R-ân. »»—PO-1007 William Wright 

Bddie Waller 

Roy Rogers 

SAN ANTONIO KID 

R-ân. 29—PG-1007 

R—Mar. 5—PO-1015 

[7] (56) Western 8702 [7] (55) Western 8704 

CHEYENNE WILDCAT SHERIFF OF LAS 

VEGAS 

L 

(100) Western 849 (63) Drama 851 (1«8) Drana 901 

LLOW SKY 

TROUBLE PREFERRED UTHE SPIAKE PIT 

'egory Peck 

ret;gy luiudsen 

Olivia de Havlllaid 

)ne Baxter 

Charles Russell 

Leo Genn 

ichard Wldmark 

Lynn Roberts 

Mark Stevens 

Jbert .Arthur 

Celeste Holm 

5-Nov. 27— Pfi 990 

Glenn Langan 

R—Nov. 13—PG-986 

a (83) Drama 574 

niEN OF ATLANTIS 

iria Montez 

Pierre Aumont 

iinis O'Keefe 

Dec. 25— PG-998 

r 

Reissues 

[T) (121) Drama 598 

GUEST IN THE HOUSE 

,\nne BiLxter 

(91) Drama 597 

U] 

LADY OF BURLESQUE 

Barbara Stiinv\7ck 

(77) Comedy 684 (76) Adv-Dr 635 (100) Comedy 685 

lEXICAN HAYRIDE BUSH CHRISTMAS YOU GOTTA STAY 

ud Abbott 

Cliilis Rafferty 

HAPPY 

ou Cost el lo 

Helen Grieve 

Joan Fontaine 

irtinia Grey 

John Fernside 

Jimmy Stewart 

uba Jlalina 

Nicky Yardles 

F,ddie Albert 

r-Dec. 11—PG-994 

Itoland Young 

R—Nov. 6—PG-984 

(82) Comedy 902 Reissues 

(102) Drama 903 (103) Drama 906 

THAT WONDERFUL 

(94) Drama 949 THIS WAS A WOMAN A LETTER TO THREE 

URGE 

JOHNNY APOLLO Sonia Dresdel 

WIVES 

Tyrone Power 

Tyrone Power 

Barbara White 

Jeanne Grain 


Gene Tlerney 

Walter Fitzgerald 

Linda Darnell 

Reginald Gardiner 

(76) Drama 950 Cyril Raymond 

Ann Sothern 

.Arleen Wlialen SHOW THEM NO R—Jan. 8—PG-1002 Kirk Douglas 

R—Nov. 27—PQ-990 MERCY 

R—Dec. U—PO-993 

Cesar Romero 

Si] (60) Drama 600 59] (99) Drama 601 

VALIANT HOMBRE THE LUCKY STIFF 

Duncan Renaldo 


Leo Carrlllo 

Brian Donlevy 

John Lite) 

Claire Trevor 

Barbara BlUlngsley R—Jan. 29—PO-1008 

R—Jan. 8—PG-1001 

(90) Drama 686 

AN ACT OF MURDER 

Fredric March 

Bdmond O'Brien 

Florence Eldrldge 

Geraldlne Brooks 

B—Sept. 4—PO-965 

(94) Drama 687 

THE FIGHTING 

O'FLYNN 

Douglas Fab-banks jr. 

Helena Carter 

Richard Greene 

R—Jan. 15—PG-1004 

'fe -^ 

^ 

(75) Drama 809 [T] (90) Musical 810 

THE DECISION OF ©ONE SUNDAY 

CHRISTOPHER BLAKE AFTERNOON 

Alexis Smith 

Dennis Morgan 

Robert Douglas 


Cecil KeDaway 

Don DeFore 

J.anis 

Ted Donaldson 

Paige 

I!—Dec. 4—PG-992 R—Dec. 18—PG-995 

Dec. (741 Drama 1366 Jan, (S6I Comedy 1144 Jan. (78) Drama 372 

THE SCARLET CUW IN THE NAVY STATE POLICE 

Basil Rathbone Abbott and Costello William Lundigan 

Dick Powell Constance Moore 

Dec. (66) Drama 736 

LOST IDENTITY 

Rav Miiland 

Sally Ellers 

Jan. (64) Drama 882 

Jan (77) Comedy 1245 ARMORED CAR 

WHO DONE IT? Cesar Romero 

Abbott and Costello Robert Wilcox 

^ 

(91) Drama 811 

WHIPLASH 

Dane Clark 

Alexis Smith 

Zachary Scott 

Eve Arden 

R— Dec. 25—Pa-998 

Feb. (81) Drama 783 Feb. (74) Drama 1303 

THE INVISIBLE RAY MB. BIG 

Boris Karloft 


Bela Lugosi 

Gloria Jean 

Feb. (73) Drama 1107 

THE INVISIBLE 

Feb. (65) Musical 134 

WOMAN 

GIVE OUT SISTERS 

Virginia Bruce 

Dan Dailey 

Maria Montez 


]29] (110) M'drama 812 

©ADVENTURES OF 

DON JUAN 

Errol Flynn 

Viveca Llndfors 


Alan Hale 

R— Dee. 25—P(J-998 

Mar. (96) Musical 878 

YOU'RE A 

SWEETHEART 

Alice Faye 

Murphy 

George 

Mar. (85) Musical 795 

THREE SMART GIRLS 

Deanna Durbln 

Ray Miiland 

Apr. (64) Drama 1058 

SKI PATROL 

Philip Dom 

Lull Desto 

Apr. (58) Drama 1184 

NORTH OF THE 

KLONDIKE 

Broderick Crawford 


I SHOT 

' 

FEATURE CHART 

I 

FEBRUARY 12 

[lo] (61) Musical 114 

LADIES OF THE 

CHORUS 

Ailele Jergens 

Maribii Monroe 

liiuid Brooks 

It—Jan. 22—PO-1005 

FEBRUARY 19 


|6] (93) Drama 919 (59) Western 953 [2] (85) Drama 925 Reissue 

(75) Comedy 923 2| (88) Drama 941 

©BLANCHE FURY ©RIDE, RYDER. RIDE ©RED STALLION IN [9] (171) Drama 985 

IT MIRANDA 

ALWAYS RAINS 01 

Valerie Hobson 

im Bannon 

THE ROCKIES SINCE YOU WENT 

SUNDAY 

Glynis Johns 

Stewart Granger 

Google Withera 

Little Brown Jug 

.\rthur Franz 

AWAY 

Griffith Jones 

Jack Warner 

Walter Fitzgerald R— Mar. 12—PG-1D17 Jean Heather 

Claudette Colbert 

Google Withers 

R—Sept. 18—PG-969 

John McCallum 

Jim Davis 

Jennifer Jones 

John McCallum 

It—Mar. 12— PO-1017 

Red Stallion 

Shirley Temple R—Jan. 15—PG-1003 

R—Mar. 19—PO-1019 Joseph Gotten 

[n] (82) Drama 914 ^ (HI) Drama 915 

^ (93) Drama 916 

[4] (98) Mystery 917 

25| (79) Drama 919 m (93) Musical 9 

ACT OF VIOLENCE COMMAND DECISION ©THE SUN COMES UP 

FORCE OF EVIL 

THE BRIBE 

©TAKE ME OUT TO 

Van Hcflin 

Clark Gable 

lohn Garfield 

leannelte MacDonald 

THE BALL GAM 

Robert Taylor 

Robert Ryan 

Walter Pidgeon 

Beatrice Paanoo 

Lloyd Nolan 

Frank Sinatra 

Ava Gardner 

Janet Leigh 

Van 

Thomas Gome« 

Johnson 

Esther Williams 

Claude Jannan jr. 

(Carles Laughton 

Marie Wlndaor 

Mary Astor 

Brian Donlevy 

Lewis Stone 

Gene Kellj 

John Hodiak 

R—Jan. 

U— Dec. 25—PG-997 R—Dec. 25—rG-997 

1—PO-999 Betty Garrett 

Lassie 

R—Feb. 12—PG-IOIO 

R—Jan. 8—PG-1002 

R—Mar. 12—PQ-1018 

(13] (64) Comedy 4830 

[22] (87) Drama AA15 

(S4) Western 4862 g (71) Drama 4806 m (78) Drama Ai 

[6] (66) Drama 4803 JU 

HENRY, THE 

BAD BOY 

JOE PALOOKA IN THE jUN law JUSTICE 

BOMBA, THE JUNGLE MASSACRE RIVEH 

RAINMAKER 

Lloyd Nolan 

BIG FIGHT 

Jimmy Wakely 

BOY 

It—Apr. 9—PG-lOi 

lohnny Sheffield 

William Tracy R—Jim. 22—PG-1006 

Joe Kirkwood 

[15] (105) Drama AA13 

Peggy Ann Garner 

[2] (110) Drama 48 

R.iymond Walburn 

Leon Errol 

MY BROTHER 

Walter Catlett 

2o| (54) Western 4852 

R—Mar. 6—PG-1018 TEMPTATION 

R—Feb. 26—PG-1014 JONATHAN 

HARBOR 

.Mary Stuart 

LAW OF THE WEST 

Michael Denlsoo 

Slmone Simon 

R-ân. 29—PG-1007 Johnny Mack Brown 

R—Apr. 16—PO-1027 

I!—Mar. 19—PG-102(1 

l8| (88) Western 4811 

^WHISPERING SMITH 

.\lan Ladd 

Robert Preston 

Donald Crisp 

Brenda Marshall 

R—Dec. 11—PG-994 

FEBRUARY 2G 

(81) Drama 137 (77) Drama 138 [3] (59) Mystery 122 [io] (66) Comedy 108 g7] (68) Mu8-Com 116 (78) Western 182 (lOOl Drama 1 

SLIGHTLY FRENCH SONG OF INDIA BOSTON BLACKIE'S BLONDIE'S BIG DEAL MANHATTAN ANGEL ©THE BIG SOMBRERO KNOCK ON ANY DOO 

Dorothy Lamour R—Feb. 26—PG-1014 

Gene Autry 

Humphrey Bogar\ 

CHINESE VENTURE Penny Singleton 

Gloria J«an 

Don Ameche 

C%amploD 

John Derek 

(95) Drama 139 Chester Morris 

Arthur Lake 

Ross Ford 

.lanis Carter 

R—Apr. 16—PQ-1027 George Macready 

THE AFFAIRS OF A Maylia 

Larry Simms 

Patricia White 

Allene Roberts 

Willard Parker 

R—Feb. 12—PG-1010 

ROGUE 

Richard Lane 

Marjorie Kent R—Nov. 20—PO-988 (78) Western 140 

R—Feb. 26—PG-1013 

.leaji Pierre Aumont R—Mar. 26—PG-1021 R—Mar. 26—PG-1021 

THE WALKING HILLS 

K—Feb. 19—PG-1012 

Randolph Scott 

Ella Raines 

Group 5 

Group 5 

(85) Drama 916 (60) Western 919 

A WOMAN'S SECRET BROTHERS IN THE 

Maureen O'Hara 

SADDLE 

MelvyTl Douglas 

Tim Holt 

Oloria Grahame 

Richard Martin 

K—Feb. 12—PG-1009 Steve Brodie 

It—Mar. 5—PO-1015 

g 

MARCH 5 

T| (93) Drama 4812 

ALIAS NICK SEAL 

\udrey Totter 

rhomas Mitchell 

George Macready 

R-ân. 22—PO-1003 

MARCH 12 

(1] (69) M' drama 804 [15] (72) Mus-Com 8804 Reissue 

\T\ (106) Drama 803 (61) Drama 806 

[ib] 

(DAUGHTER OF THE JAMBOREE 

(58) Western 874 

[U (69) Drama 809 (89) Drama BOS S] (60) Western 

[22] WAKE OF THE RED HIDEOUT 

DUKE OF CHICAGO ©THE RED POIY OEATH VALLEY 

JUNGLE 

|l5] (67) Mus-West 8803 SAGA OF DEATH WITCH 

Adrian Booth 

t'um BrowD 

.Myrna Loy 

R—Mar. 19—PG-1020 NIGHT TRAIN TO VALLEY 

lohn \Vayne 

Lloyd Bridges 

Audrey Long 

Robert Milcauni 

Reissue 

MEMPHIS 

Roy Rogers 

Gall Russell 

Ray CollUls 

R—Apr. 2—PG-1024-A Louis Calhertj 

[7] (55) Western 8703 

|J5| (70) Mus-West SSOl it] 

(69) Mus-West 8802 ,\dele Mara 

Sheila Ryan 

( . ) Western 808 Peter Mlia 

. 

Gig 

VIGILANTES OF SING. NEIGHBOR, 

0, MY DARLING 

Young 

R—Apt. 9—PG-1026 HI 

R—Jan. 

DODGE CITY 

SING 

CLEMENTINE 

8—PQ-1001 

CASTAWAY 

B—Feb 19-7-PU-l«ll RANGER AND THE 

LADV 

^ (81) West-Dr 

fT] (60) Western 4816 ju] (67) Drama 4817 

[J] (60) Western 48 

JESSE JAMES SON OF BILLY THE RIMFIRE 

SON OF A BAD MA'i 

Preston Foster 

KID 

James Milllcan 

Lash LnRiie 

Barbara Brltton 

Lash LaRue 

Mary Beth Hughes 

Fuzzy St. John 

John Ireland 

Fuzzy St. John 

Reed Hadle; 

Reed Hadley 

R—Apr. 2—Pa-I034-A 

R—Feb. 12—PO-1009 

^ 

MARCH 19 

MARCH 26 

Special 

Group 6 

Group 5 

Special 

(102) Drama 953 (94) Drama 921 (63) M'drama 9U Reissue 

ENCHANTMENT THE GREEN PROMISE THE CLAY PIGEOR 

(128) Drama 

David Niven 

Robert Paige 

BiU WUliana 

PRIDE OF THE 

Teresa Wright 

Marguerite Qiapman Barbara Hale 

YANKEES 

Evelyn Keys 

Walter Brennaa 

Richard Qutne 

Garv Cooper 

Farley Granger U—Mar. 12—PG-1017 Richard Loo 

Teresa Wright 

R—Dec. .11—PG-993 

B—Feb. 19—PQ-lOia 

g 

APRIL 2 

IT] (103) Comedy 48 

©EL PASO 

John Payne 

Gall Russell 

Sterling Hayden 

George "Gabby" Hayei 

R—Mar. 12—PO-1018 

GUNFIGHTERS 

R— Apr. 23—PQ-lOSOf 

Reissue 

m (59) Western 8' 

(94) Comedy 907 Reissue 

(93) Drama 909 

CHICKEN EVERY 

(99) M'drama 948 A MAN ABOUT THE 

SUNDAY 

THIS IS MY AFFAIR HOUSE 

Dan Dailey 

Robert Taylor 

Kieron Moore 

Celeste Holm 

Barbara Stanwyck 

Margaret Johnston 

Colleen Townsend 

Victor McLaglen 

Dulcie Gray 

-Man Young 

Guy Middleton 

R—Dee. 18—PG-996 

R—Jan. 29—PG-1008 

(120) Drama 910 (69) Corned; 912 (81) Comedy 9U 

DOWN TO THE SEA IN MISS MINK OF 1949 ©MOTHER IS A 

SHIPS 

Jimmy Lydon 

FRESHMAN 

Lionel Barrymore 

Lois Collier 

L,oretta Young 

Richard Widmark 

Van JohnsoD 

Dean Stockwell 

Rudy Vallee 

R—Feb. 1»—PO-1012 

Barbara Lawrence 

R—Mar. 6—PO-1016 

Reissues 

(77) Dram.i S 

HANGOVER SQUARE 

George Sanders 

(84) Drama 9 

THE LODGER 

Merle Oberon 

(83) Drama 602 

COVER-UP 

William Bendix 

Dennis O'Keefe 

Barbara Britton 

Art Baker 

R—Feb. 26—PO-1014 

(71) Art-Dr 603 

JIGSAW 

Fr:uichot Tone 

Jean Wallace 

Marc Lawrence 

Myron McCormick 

R—Mar. 19—PG-1019 

|T) (111) Drama 6 

IMPACT 

Brian Donlevy 

Ella Raines 

Helen Walker 

R—Mar. 26— Pn-102] 

[18] (87) Drama 688 

CRISS CROSS 

Burt Lancaster 

Yvonne De(^rlo 

Dan Duryea 

Stephen McNally 

R—Jan. 22—PG-1005 

(90) Comedy 689 

FAMILY HONEYMOON 

Claudette Colbert 

Fred MacMurray 

Rita Johnson 

William Daniels 

R—Dec. 18—Pa-995 

1^ (87) Comedy 690 (82) Drama 6 

THE LIFE OF RILEY ©RED CANYON 

William Bendll 

\nn BIyth 

Rosemary OeCamp George Brent 

lames Gleason 

Howard Dutt 

Beulah Boodl 

Edgar Buchanan 

R—Feb. 12—PG-lOOe B—Feb. 12—PO-1008 

[12] (86) Drama 813 

|T9| (06) Comedy 814 

FLAXY MARTIN JOHN LOVES MARY 

Virginia Mayo 

Ronald Reagan 

Zachary Scott 

Jack Carson 


Wayne Morris 

Tom D'Andrea 

Edward Arnold 

R—Jan. 22—PG-1006 R—Jan. 29—PG-1008 

^ 

(88) Drama 815 

©SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS 

Joel McCrea 

Alexis Smith 

Zachary Scott 


CT (87) Comedy 816 

A KISS IN THE DARK 

David Nlven 

lane Wyman 

Victor Moore 

Wayne MorrU 

R—Mar 6—PO-lOie 

[j] (77) Drama 8 

HOMICIDE 


Helen Westcott 

Robert Alda 

\1onle BlUf 

R—Mar 12— PO-101 

(81) Drama 

Int'l 

Oeative 

FRANCOIS VILLON 

It— ,luly 17—PO-952 R—Aug. 14—PO-960 

(90) Comedy 

(105) Drama 

Siritiky-Intl 

Films Int'l 

PORTRAIT OF SYMPHONIE 

INNOCENCE 

PASTORALE 

R—July 24—PO-954 R—Sept 25—PG-972 

(98) Drama 

Disctna 

BLIND DESIRE 

§ 

uKou^^ 

(105) Drama 

Azteca Films 

LA MORENA DE Ml 

COP LA 

R—Aug. 28—PG-963 

(96) Drama 

Artkino 

MURDERERS AMONG 

US 

(92) Drama 

Superfilm 

THE LOVES OF DON 

JUAN 

R—Oct. 

2—PG-974 

(75) Comedy 

Superfilm 

THE MERRY CHASE 

R—Oct. 2—PG-974 

(92) M'drama 

Gramercy 

MARRIAGE IN THE 

SHADOWS 

R—Oct. 2—PG-973 

(83) Mus-Dr 

Dasa-Mohme 

LA BARCA DE ORO 

R—Oct. 2-PO-973 

(65) Drama (87) Drama 

Lopert Discina Int'l 

WHERE WORDS FAIL RUY BLAS 

R—Oct. 9—PG-976 R—Oct. 23—PG-980 

(105) M'drama 

Superfilm 

WHEN LOVE CALLS 

R—Oct. 16—PG-978 

(98) Musical 

aasa-Mohma 

LA REINA DEL 

TROPICO 

(102) Drama 

Film Right Int'l (IM) Drama 

BACK STREETS OF FUns mt • 

PARIS WOMAN HUNT 

R_Oct. 30—PG-981 B—Not. 6—PG-984 


.12-18-48 

REVIEW DIGEST 

and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index- 

E 

P 

g ^ 

11 

A 

987 Accused. The (100) Para 11-20-48 ^ 

997 Act of Violence (82) MGM 12-25-48 

1022 Adventure in Baltimore (89) RKQ.. 3-26-49 

+ 

+ 

998 Adventures of Don Juan (110) WB. .12-25-48 ff 

956 Adventures of Gallant Bess (73) EL.. 7-31-48 ± 

1012 Affairs of a Rogue, The (95) Col... 2-19-49 + 

1033 Africa Screams (79) UA 5- 7-49 + 

1006 Alias Nick Beal (93) Par^ 1-22-49 ft 

965 An Act of Murder (90) U-l 9- 4-48 + 

998Anoel on the Amazon (86) Rep 12-25-48 ± 

982 Angry God. The (57) UA 10-30-48 = 

969 Apartment for Peggy (96) 20-Fox 9-18-48 44 

978 Appointment With Murder (67) FC 10-16-48 ± 

B 

1006 Bad Boy (87) Mono 1-22-49 + 

995 Badmen of Tombstone (74) Mono. .. .12-18-48 + 

1028 Bark'eys of Broadway, The (109) 

MGM 4-16-49 ff 

969 Behind Locked Doors (61) EL 9-1S-4S + 

982 Belle Starr's Daughter (87) 20-Fox 10-30-48 ± 

964 Betrayal. The (183) Astor 8-28-48 ± 

1033 Bio Cat. The (75) EL 5- 7-49 ± 

1025 Big Jack (85) MGM 4- 9-49 ± 

1027 Big Sombrero, The (78) Col 4-16-49 + 

965 Black Eagle, the Story of a Horse 

(76) Col 9- 4-48 + 

969 Blanche Fury (93) EL 9-18-48 — 

935 Blonde Ice (73) FC 5-22-48 ± 

1021 Blondia's Big Deal (68) Col 3-26-49 ± 

991 Blondia's Secret (68) Col 12-4-48 ± 

985 Blood on the Moon (88) RKO 11-13-48 ++ 

1016 Bomba. the Jungle Boy (71) Mono.-. 3- 5-49 + 

lOZl Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture 

(59) Col 3-26-49 ± 

897 Boy With Green Hair. The (82) RKO 11-20-48 ± 

1023-A Bride of Vengeance (95) Para 4-2-49 ± 

1010 Brihe, The (98) MGM 2-12-49 + 

1015 Brothers in the Saddle (60) RKO... 3- 5-49 ± 

Bungalow 13 (65) 20-Fox 

c 

1013 Canadian Pacific (97) 20-Fox 2-26-49 + 

1010 Canterbury Tale, A (90) EL 2-12-49 + 

1012 Caught (88) MGM 2-19-49 -f 

Challenge of the Range (56) Col 

1019 Champion (99) UA 3-19-49 ff 

996 Chicken Every Sunday (94) 20-Fox . ff 

1015 City Across the Ri.er (90) U-l 3- 5-49 ff 

1012 Clay Pigeon. The (63) RKO 2-19-49 + 

970 Code of Scotland Yard (60) Rep 9-18-48 -f 

1032 C- Man (76) FC 4-30-49 + 

997 Command Decision (111) MGM 12-25-48 ff 

1013 Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's 

Court. A (107) Para 2-26-49 -f 

943 Corridor of Mirrors (96) U-1 6-19-49 — 

984 Countess of Monte Cristo, The 

(77) U-l 11- 6-48 ± 

Courtin' Trouble (56) Mono 

1014 Cover-Up (83) UA 2-26-49 ff 

Creeper. The (64) 20-Fox 

Crime Doctor's Diary (..) Col 

lOOSCriss Cross (87) U-l 1-22-49 + 

Crooked Way. The (89) UA 

972 Cry of the City (95) 20-Fox 9-25-48 ± 

D 

1000 Dark Past (75) Col 1- 1-49 + 

1020 Daughter of the Jungle (69) Rep 3-19-49 ± 

1023-A Daughter of the West (81) FC. 4- 2-49 + 

1030 Death Valley Gunfighter (60) Rep. 4-23-49 -f 

992 Decision of Christopher Blake 

(75) WB 12- 4-48 — 

Denver Kid. The (60) Rep 

1029 Desert Vigilante (56) Col 4-23-49 ± 

896 Design for Death (48) RKO 1-31-48 + 

968 Desperadoes of Dodge City (60) Rep. 9-11-48 + 

980 Disaster (60) Para 10-23-48 ± 

1007 Don't Take It to Heart (90) EL... 1-29-49 ± 

1012 Down to the Sea in Ships (120) 

20-Fox 2-19-49 ff 

926 Dude Goes West, The (§7) Mono... 5- 1-48 + 

1024-A Duke of Chicago (59) Rep 4- 2-49 ± 

986 Dulcimer Street (112) U-l 11-13-48 ± 

988 Dynamite (67) Para 11-20-48 ± 

E 

1017 E.isy Money (94) EL 3-12-49 ± 

1031 Edward, My Son (110) MGM 4-30-49 ff 

993 El Dorado Pass (56) Col 12-11-48 ± 

ff 

-f 

+ 

-f 

+ + 

ft + 

± 

± ff 

+ ± 

+ + 

-f ft 

ff 

ff 

+ 

ft 

+ 

-f 

ft 

-f 

ft 

ff 

+ 

+ 

ft 

± + + ++ 

± + -f + 

++ +t 

± + + ± 

+ -f + 

+ + - + 

ff 

ff 

+ 10+2- 

± 7+2- 

7+2- 

9+1- 

7+5- 

2+3- 

2+ 

10+2- 

8+ 

f 

± 5+4- 

± 2+7- 

ff 10+ 

4+4- 

+ 9+1- 

± 7+2- 

9+ 

5+4- 

± 7+5- 

- 1+3- 

5+2- 

4+4- 

4+1-

An interpretative analysis of opinions deducted from the language of lay 

and trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree 

of favor or disfavor of the review. This department serves also as an 

ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is 

Picture Guide Review page number. In parentheses after title is running 

BOXOFFICE review date. Listings cover 

time. Date following distributor is 

current reviews. It is brought up to date regularly. 

various signs and their combinations is as follows: 

The meaning of the 

IT Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. 

In the summary H is rated as 2 pluses; = as 2 minuses. 

1

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 


A. London^ State Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small 

* 

town, rural and college patronage. 

They Won't Believe Me (RKO) — Robert 

Young, Susan Hayward, Jane Greer. This 

did not draw too well. I liked it mysell and 

the ending was really a surprise. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather Cold. — Marcella 

Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small 

town patronage. » * * 

REPUBLIC 

Angel and the Badman (Rep).—John Wayne, 

Gail Russell, Harry Carey. 1 picked this one 

up in exchange for clinkers I had bought. I 

expected big things but business was just a 

li'tle over average for the change. It is a 

good picture, with plenty of action and "love 

s uff." Should do well in small action houses 

where it hasn't played before. Played Saturday 

only. Weather: Good.—Fred G. Weppler, 

Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town and 

* 


Angel in Exile (Rep)—John Carroll, Adele 

Mara, Thomas Gomez. Good story and plenty 

of action but we lost money. The poorest 

midweek for months. A very poor title was 

Dossibly the reason for such a low gross. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Fair.—Earl A. 

London, Stale Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small 

* 

town, rural and college patronage. 

Angel on the Amazon (Rep)—George Brent, 

Vera Ralston, Brian Aherne. You can pass 

this one up or double it— it didn't take here. 

Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, 

Ont. General patronage. 

* * • 

Daughter of the lungle (Rep)—Lois Hall, 

James Cardwell, William Wright. This is a 

Tarzan type of picture, with a female playing 

the leading role, and it did okay. I ran this 

with a good comedy short and had good average 

draw. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Warm.—L. Brazil jr., New Theatre, Bearden, 

Ark. Small town patronage. * * * 

Driftwood (Rep)—Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan, 

Dean Jagger. Showed to lots of kids 

and many "old kids." They rated it ten-plus, 

no-minus. A fine show for small towns. It is 

far ahead of most big town hits. Played 

Tues., Wed. Weather: Okay.—Frank Sabin, 

Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town 

patronage. * * 

Fabulous Texan, The (Rep)—William Elliott, 

John Carroll, Catherine McLeod. Regardless 

of what anyone says, I think, and my patrons 

think, that it is one of the best western pictures 

we played this year; and the crowd on 

the second night proved that it took well. My 

advice is that if you have a weak night, put 

this in there and you will come throuah with 

flying colors. Played Sat., Mon. Weather: 

Good.—Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, 

Sask. Rural patronage. * * * 

Hi, Neighbor (Rep) — Reissue. Lulubelle 

and Scotty, Jean Parker. If you want to please 

your patrons and pull in a few extra dollars, 

you'd better play this reissue. One of the 

most entertaining comedies you'll find anywhere. 

Of course Roy Acuff's name helped 

to pull them in. If your patrons like corn, 

vou'll find it here by the bushel.—James C. 

Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small 


* * * 

Old Lob Angeles (Rep)—William Elliott, 

John Carroll, Catherine McLeod. We had only 

fair business but the picture is well done— 

good story and plenty of action. Played Fri , 

ât. Weather: Fair.—Earl A. London, State 

Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small town, rural and 

college patronage. 

Plunderers, The (Rep)—Rod Cameron, Ilona 

ABOUT 

PICTURES 

Massey, Adrian Booth. This was good for a 

one-day run. I made the mistake and ran it 

two days and had a letdown the second day. 

Good color and good action in this western. 

Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Clear.—Frank 

D. Fowler, Princess Theatre, Mocksville, N. C. 

Rural patronage. * * 

Timber Trail (Rep)—Monte Hale, Lynne Roberts, 

Paul Hurst. This did good, average 

business and pleased quite well on a weekend. 

The color is grand and it was well received 

by my weekend patrons. Play it. 

Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—H. J. 

McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man. Small 

* 

town and rural patronage. 

Twilight on the Rio Grande (Rep)—Gene 

Autry, Sterling Holloway, Adele Mara. This 

is be.ter than the usual run and we had 

good comments from the Saturday night 

"shoot-'em-up" crowd. It is a Saturday night 

natural for the small town situation. Played 

Friday also. Weather: Moderate.—Joe and 

Mildred Faith, Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo. Small 

* 


Wake of the Red Witch (Rep)—John Wayne. 

Gail Russell, Gig Young. This is a big picture, 

well performed. John Wayne is a drawing 

card in my situation. Strong competition, 

but business was above average. All favorable 

comments. Played Sat., Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Fair and cool.—O. Fomby, Paula 

Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. 

* * * 

Wyoming (Rep)—William Elliott, Vera Ralston, 

John Carroll. Maybe there is something 

in the name of a western, as for some reason 

not known to us, this feature did above average 

business lor us. If you haven't played it, 

try it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—Walt 

Sayler, Dakota Theatre, Wishek, N. D. Rural 

* 

and small town patronage. 

SCREEN GUILD 

Blockheads (SG)—Reissue. Laurel and 

Hardy, Patricia Ellis. If your patrons go for 

these clowns, this will provide them plenty 

of laughs. Business was average. Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Fair.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, 

Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. * * * 

Highway 13 (SG)—Robert Lowery, Pamela 

Blake. The Screen Guild did a nice job on 

this picture. In fact, it drew better than some 

of the new westerns and better than average 

for us. Played Fri., Sot.—L. Brazil jr., New 

Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. 

Hollywood Bam Dance (SG)—Ernest Tubb 

and Texas Troubadours, Lori Talbott, Helen 

Boyce. I advertised this one as mostly corn, 

but I didn't know how corny it really wasl 

I have never been so ashamed of a picture 

in my life. It could go over, with a good feature 

as top half, on a double bill. However, 

never, never again for me. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good.—Fred G. Weppler, 

Colonial Theatre, Colfax, III. Small town 

* 

patronage. 

and rural 

I Shot Jesse James (SG)—Preston Foster, 

Barbara Britton, John Ireland. It was nice to 

see a crowd in the theatre on midweek and 

this brought them in. A dandy picture for 

the small town. A good story with a good cast 

that pleased everyone. Don't pass it up. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Fair and warm. 

—E. C. Holt, Freeburn Theatre, Freeburn, Ky. 

Mining and small town patronage. * * * 

20th 

CENTURY-FOX 

OApartment for Peggy (20th-Fox)—Jeanne 

Grain, William Holden, Edmund Gwenn. This 

is an excellent comedy which was appreciated 

by all and was a pleasure to show. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Not good. 

—R. V. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, 

Neb. Small town patronage. * * * 

-'Apartment for Peggy {20th-Fox)—Jeanne 

Grain, William Holden, Edmund Gwenn. 1 

was amazed at the frankness in the way the 

"facts of life" were brought out, but it was 

all done in such an inoffensive way that it 

turned out to be an extremely sweet picture. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Hobart H. 

Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Small 


Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox)—George 

Montgomery, Rod Cameron, Ruth Roman. This 

is just a Saturday western. We didn't have 

as many kids as we usually do. The trailer 

was a little misleading and the parents didn't 

send the kids on Saturday afternoon. Played 

Saturday only. Weather: Clear. — Kenneth 

Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown, Md. Small 

* 


Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox)— George 

Montgomery, Rod Cameron, Ruth Roman. Too 

many westerns this season, but here is one 

with a different twist. The film rental is too 

high but it is good for a day's run in a small 

town like ours. 1 made a mistake and played 

it on our best time. Played Mon., Tues. 

Weather: Rain.— Frank D. Fowler, Princess 

Theatre, Mocksville, N. C. Rural patronage. 

Chicken Every Sunday (20th-Fox) — Dan 

Dailey, Celeste Holm, Colleen Townsend. A 

good show, I thought, but business was off 

on this one. I don't *hink it was a good vehicle 

for Dan Dailey. He is more at home in musicals. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues.—A. E. Shephard, 

jr., Essex Square Theatre, Clinton, Conn. General 

patronage. 

Colonel Effingham's Raid (20th-Fox) — 

Charles Coburn, Joan Bennett, William Eythe. 

Phooey! Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Good 

—Tom Hetherington, Musicland Theatre, Kaslo, 

B. C. Small town patronage. 

(This is a record for brevity, we believe). 

Cry of the City (20th-Fox)—Victor Mature, 

Richard Conte, Betty Garde. This is a good 

action drama which did average business. 

It is a little weak on star power but we broke 

even with it. Played Sun., Mon. Weathet. 

Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, 

Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. * * * 

Deep Waters (20th-Fox) — Dana Andrews, 

Cesar Romero, Jean Peters. This is in sepiatone 

and is a wonderful picture that will work 

in any theatre. The combination of photography, 

sound, actors and story will please 

the most critical fan. Played Wed. and Sat., 

when we were having weather about the 

same as Sitka—worse than Walker's description.—J. 

C. Van House, Sun Theatre, Kenesaw. 

Neb. Small town and rural patron- 

* * * 

age. 

Forever Amber (20th-Fox)—Linda Darnell. 

Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene. This is a very 

good pic'ture—a little too long, but the color, 

Business was 

story and acting make up for it. 

fair. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Cool.—John G. Anderson, Raymond Theatre, 

City Island, N. Y. Community patronage. * * * 

Foxes of Harrow (20th-Fox)—Rex Harrison, 

Maureen O'Hara, Richard Haydn. This picture 

did average business and we had several 

good comments on it. You won't go 

wrong in playing it. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Fair.—H. J 

McFall, Lyric Theatre, 

Russell, Man. Small town and rural patronage. 

Fury at Furnace Creek (20th-Fox)—Victor 

Mature, Coleen Gray, Glenn Langan. Whew! 

This is some rough one. If you have patrons 

that like westerns in the raw, they will eat 


12 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 7, 1949

this one up. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain 

and cool.—Joe and Mildred Faith, Linn Theatre, 

Linn, Mo. Rural and small town patronage. 

Luck ol the Irish. The (20;h-Fox)—Tyrone 

Power, Anne Baxter, Cecil Kellaway. This is 

just a picture. We didn't break any records 

but we had bad weather. Part ol the film 

is in green and I think it was a little too 

dark. Played Wednesday only. Weather: 

Rain.—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown, 


* 

paironage. 

Luck oj the Irish, The (20th-Fox)—Tyrone 

Power, Anne Baxter, Cecil Kellaway. Can 

anyone tell us what is the drawback to this 

picture? We played it right of'er St. Patrick's 

day but the date didn't help the boxoflice at 

our place. It had a beautiful ending. The 

first and last reels were in green color. I saw 

it three or four times but I never got the 

s ory of it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Nice, 

for a change this year.—Dorothy Hickok (Mrs. 

Lewis), Dream Theatre, Effingham, Kas. Rural 


* * * 

Road House (20th-Fox)—Ida Lupino, Celeste 

Holm, Richard Widmark. I can't say enough 

about the acting in this—one good scene after 

another. The picture is one that is different 

for theatre patrons. If Fox will sell it right, 

don't miss it. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Fair.—Frank D, Fowler, Princess Theatre, 

Mocksville, N. C. Rural patronage. * * 

Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (20th-Fox)—June 

Haver, Lon McCallister, Walter Brennan. This 

one was swell entertainment from any angle 

you looked at it. The Technicolor was wonderful, 

story excellent, and the cast superb. 

It is a pleasure to give your theatre patrons 

such wholesome and entertaining movies as 

this one. This was a natural and down-toearth 

story that had its app>eal for young and 

old alike. Congratulations, TC-F and Darryl 

F. Zanuck. Give us more of this kind. Business 

was average. Played Sun., Mon. Weather- 

Fair and warm. "Art" V. Phillips, Havmond 

Theatre, Cromona, Ky. Mining and small town 

patronage. 

* 

That Wonderful Urge (20th-Fox) —Tyrone 

Power, Gene Tierney, Reginald Gardner. This 

was not up to expectations. Comments on 

it were only fair. Played Sun., Tues. Weather: 

Good.—M. W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, Mc- 

Minnville, Ore. Rural and city patronage. * * * 

Walls of Jericho. The (20th-Fox)—Cornel 

Wilde, Linda Darnell, Anne Baxter. People 

liked it very much. The story is different 

and seemed to hold the interest of everyone. 

We had many favorable comments. Played 

Sun,, Mon,, Tues. 'Weather: Just fair.—Bill 

Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. 

Small town and rural patronage, * * * 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Angry God, The (UA)—Alicia Parla, Casimiro 

Ortega, Maria Forastieri. This one was 

the biggest waste of film that I have ever had 

the misfortune to witness in my years in thea're 

business, It was photographed in Mexico, 

then taken to Hollywood where the sound 

was dubbed in, with English spoken by the 

all native cast. The talking was out of synchronization 

with the action. The color was 

inferior to any I have ever seen. I spent the 

evening crfter the first show was over apologizing 

to what few patrons I did have that 

nigh*. Business was awful. Played — Thursday 

only. Weather: Fair and warm. "Art" 

V. Phillips, Raymond Theatre, Cromona, Ky- 

Mining and small town patronage. * * 

Body and Soul (UA)—John Garfield, Lilli 

Palmer, Hazel Brooks. This is an oldie but "is 

really good movie entertainment. I didn't 

expect too much but was pleased at the number 

of people who came out to see this. The 

fight at the end of the picture is very real. 

Women won't go too much for this but the mer 

will eat it up. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Clear.—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown, 


* 

patronage. 

Carnegie Hall (UA)—Marsha Hunt, William 

Prince, Frank McHugh. Sorry to say it but 

I have to— i! flopped here, but that was no 

fault of the picture. Those that love music 

praised it but here too many like slapstick 

comedy and westerns. The rougher they can 

make them, the better they "like 'em, and 

more come than ever. So I guess that's what 

we exhibitors have to watch—just book what 

the majority like. Played Sat., Sun. and had 

the lowest gross in years. Weather: Good.— 

W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe 

S. D. Rural patronage. * * * 

Four Faces West (UA) — Joel McCrea, 

Frances Dee, Charles Bickford. Another good 

horse opera that will help you out on a bad 

day in the week. All the rural boys will come 

out to see this one. They like a lot of gun 

play and fighting. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: 

Cool.—Johnny Kime, State Theatre, Roseboro, 

M, C. Rural patronage. • • • 

Henry 'V (UA) — -Lawrence Olivier, Robert 

Newton. Strictly a class picture, but I enjoyed 

it. Thanks to the advance man. Bob Howard. 

we did very well with it. We ran a matinee 

for the schools, which resulted in an overflow 

house, and at night the adults came to 

see what it was all about. Olivier was wonderful, 

of course. Played Wednesday. 

Weather: Rain.—A. E. Shepard jr.. Deep River 

Theatre, Clinton, Conn. General patronage. 

' 

* 

So This Is New York (UA)—Henry Morgan, 

Rudy Vallee, Hugh Herbert. BOXOFFICE, 

Harrison's Report, Variety, Film Daily and 

Hollywood Reporter all gave this superclinker 

a plus in your Review Digest. Why? 

There must be a reason but. Brother Exhibitor, 

if you show it you should have your head 

examined. If the salesman even mentions it, 

throw him out.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, 

Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage. * * 

Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven (UA) — Guy 

Madison, Diana Lynn, James Dunn. No wonder 

this company is in such a mess, if this is 

what it sells for top product! I put it on 

Sun., Mon., but exhibitors, beware of this. 

It is good only for a double bill. Weather: 

Good.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * * 

Time of Your Life, The (UA)—James Cagney, 

William Bendix. If you have a college town 

situalion, play this whenever the students car 

come. It is good for this type of trade, but not 

good for the average small town. We had an 

extra good midweek. Played Tues., Wed. 

Weather: Fair.—Earl A. London, State Theatre, 

Olivet, Mich. College, small town and 

* 


UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein 

(U-D—Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lenore Auberl. 

This picture is quite clever, but for me, 

it fared poorly at the boxoflice. What else 

counts? Played Sun., Mon.—Norris Kemp, Pine 

Cone Theatre, Brookings, Ore. Small town 

and rural patronage. 

* * 

All My Sons (U-D—Edward G. 

Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians. 

Robinson, 

We liked 

this picture and it's a good thing, for it cost 

us about 30 bucks to see iti Too, too much 

heavy drama for our customers. You could 

have shot a cannon through the place and 

not hit a soul. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Fair and warm.—Joe and Mildred Faith, Linn 

Theatre, Linn, Mo. Rural and small town patronage. 

* 

Bush Christmas (U-D- "Chips" Rafferty, 

Helen Grieve, John Fernside. This one we 

could have booked, then dropped into the 

ash can. We sang the blues and so did the 

patfons. And the green trailer on it: "Oh, 

brother! Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: " Fair. 

—A. J. Benya, Paramount Theatre, Connelsville. 

Pa. General second run patronage. ' * 

Black Bart (U-1) — Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan 

Duryea, Jeffrey Lynn. This is good western 

drama with beautiful color and acting. Fine 

acting and a suspenseful story with a different 

ending which some didn't like. Percy Kilbride 

is great and a scene-stealer. Crowds 

were average. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. 

Weather: Cool and damp.—R. W. Jurgess, 

Roxy Theatre, McCluskey, N. D, Rural patronage. 

* * * 

Countess of Monte Cristo, The (U-1)—Sonja 

Henie, Olga San Juan, Michael Kirby. This 

is another picture with delicatessen acting. 

The only good thing about the picture is the 

skating. Played Tues,, Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Cool.—John G. Anderson, Raymond Theatre, 

City Island, N. Y, Community patronage. * * * 

Frontier Gal (U-D—Yvonne DeCarlo, Rod 

Cameron, Andy Devine, I made the mistake 

of playing this midweek. It is good enough 

tor the Sunday change. The Technicolor is 

excellent and the print is good, for an old 

film. Played Wed,, Thurs, Weather: Fair.— 

Ray S. Hanson, Fox Theatre, Fertile, Minn. 

' 

Rural and small town patronage. 

Seventh Veil, The (U-I)—James Mason, Ann 

fodd, Herbert Lom, London Symphony orches- 

!ra. This was a good picture and our people 

like it. Average attendance for a Wednesday. 

Weather: Cold.— J. E, Rougeau, Club Theatre, 

Seven Sisters Falls, Man, Rural and small 


WARNER BROS. 

Adventures of Robin Hood. The (WB)—Reissue, 

Errol Flynn, Olivia DeHavilland, 

Claude Rains. This is good and so far has 

outgrossed any midweek show I've played 

since last fall. Print excellent and color good. 

Play it and make a few bucks. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Scraping the bottom.—Ray 

S. Hanson, Fox Theatre, Fertile, Minn, Rural 

* 


WJohnny Belinda (WB)—Jane Wyman, Lew 

Ayres, Charles Bickford. This is one of the 

best pictures to come out of Hollywood for 

years. The deaf and mute people simply 

were rejoicing and I didn't know there were 

so many in my community. It just does the 

heart good to play such a natural. One of 

our town's most beloved men was killed on 

the second day I played it, so naturally business 

was off, but play it. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Fair and cold,—Paula Welch. Star 

Theatre, Rising Star, Tex. Small town and 

* 


Key Largo (WB)—Humphrey Bogart, Edward 

G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall. This is a 

good picture but was a flop at the boxoffice. 

I guess I played it too late, but I liked the 

show. It is not too strong but will do okay 

on your best days of the week. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Good.—Johnny Kime, State 

Theatre, Roseboro, N. C. Rural and small 

town patronage. * * • 

Romance on the High Seas (WB)—Jack Carson, 

Janis Paige, Don DeFore. Excellent entertainment 

that pleases all. This gal, Doris 

Day—watch her. She doesn't have to sing. 

Carson is always good. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Fair.—Ray S. Hanson, Fox Theatre, 

Fertile, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. 

* 

Voice of the Turtle, The (WB)—Ronald Reagan, 

Eleanor Parker, Eve Arden. We had 

way below average business on this though 

it pleased those who came. The stars were 

okay but I guess the title kept them away. 

Plaved Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair,—Arthur E. 

Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. 

Small town patronage. * * * 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide May 7, 1949 13

' 

Mama 

SHORTS REVIEWS 

Opinions on the Current Short Sub/ecfs- 

Buddy Rich & Orchestra 

Columbia (Thrills ol Music) 10 Mins. 

Good. Jack Eigen, disk jockey, presides cs 

the orchestra plays and Betty Bonney sings 

"A Man Can Be a Wonderful Thing," with 

a little doubt expressed as to whether a man 

always is wonderful. Steve Condos does some 

great dancing to "Great Head" and Buddy 

Rich makes the drumsticks fly in doing "Kicks 

with Sticks." 

The Candid Microphone 

Columbia (No. 2 in series) 101/2 Mins. 

Good. Allen Funt is master of ceremonies 

as he has been in this program on the air 

and again provokes frustration in persons 

who don't know they are being photographed 

and recorded. The best bit in this second in 

the Columbia series finds Funt annoying an 

auto mechanic who has been called to fi.x 

fiis car. The discovery he has been made the 

target of a joke sends the mechanic into gales 

of laughter. 

Cheyenne Cowboy 

Univ.-Int'l (Musical Western) 23 Mins. 

Good. A pleasing three-reel musical vj-hich 

can take the place of the supporting feature if 

the top 'eature is a heavy drama. Una Romay, 

formerly featured with Xavic-r Cugat's band, 

has some name value and Tex Williams and 

his Western Ca avan is a lively musical aggregation. 

Williams sings two songs, "A 

Man's Best Friend Is a Woman" and "That 

Good Old Western Music" and his caravan 

warble a couple more tunes. There's also a 

mild plot about a ranch owner who learns the 

reason for losses on his property. 

Just a Little North 

Univ.-Int'l (Variety 'View) 10 Mins. 

Good- Another interesting travelog dealing 

with Montreal, sometimes referred to n: "the 

Paris of the North." lim Boles, a Br.,-^klyn 

boaster, and Court Benson, a French .",anadian, 

compare the relative importance of the 

two cities they represent. The shots of Montreal 

show it to be a city of modern .='kysrrapers 

as well as old-world r!;arm. The 

.short finishes up with some skiing shots on 

Canada's dangerous Mount Baldy. 

Ted Weems and His 

Orchestra 

Univ.-Int'l (Name Band Musical) IS Mins. 

Good. A first-rate musical short in which 

the popular band leader and the Modernaires 

quartet put over several popular tunes. 

Weems and his orchestra play "Weemola" 

and "125 Kelton" as the opening numbers 

and then the Modernaires sing "You Came 

a Long Way from St. Louis" and "Hair of 

Gold." Whistler Elmo Tanner and the Barretts, 

dance team, do their stuff to the tune 

of "Nolo." 

Batter Up 

(Sports Newrs Reviews) 

Warner Bros. 10 Mins. 

Good. A timely and entertaining selection 

of shots of baseball greats, including Babe 

Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and of climactic events 

in important games. Current baseball stars 

also are shown. No one who loves and follows 

the national pastime can fail to be impressed. 

Those with only a passing interest 

will be entertained by views of the milling 

crowds and of U.S. presidents, past and present, 

throwing out the first ball. 

Camera Angles 

Warner Bros. (Technicolor Adventure) 10 Mins. 

Good. A novel short in Technicolor which 

takes the spectator behind the scenes in some 

of the leading Hollywood studios to watch 

ace still men posing the stars for publicity 

pictures. Sonja Henie, Alexis Smith, Hedy 

LaMarr, Barbara Bates and Andy Russell 

smile obligingly for the photographers and 

Jack Carson, as usual, clowns for the still 

artists. Several unusual camera angles are 

shown. 

Cinderella Horse 

Warner Bros. (Sports Parade) 10 Mins. 

Good. There is so much human interest 

and emotion in this film that its appeal will 

not be limited to lovers of fine horseflesh. It 

is the story of a colt accidentally named 

that had all the earmarks of a racer 

" 

but failed to realize its promise until a new 

owner turned it from a trotter into a pacer. 

Then, renamed Doctor Stanton, the horse 

merged as a real champion. 

Drums of India 

Warner Bros. (Technicolor Special) 20 Mins. 

Good. Effective shots of life in India, occupied 

by some 300,000,000 people of differeni 

races, creeds and castes. Scenes of a snake 

charmer open the short, then follow highly 

interesting scenes of Indians occupied with 

various ways of making a living and celebrating 

festivals. The history of the country is 

well presented through many shots of the 

architecture of different periods. 

Heart of Paris 

Warner Bros. (Technicolor Special) 20 Mins. 

Very good. A splendidly photographed 

In the Newsreels 

Movietone News, No. 34: The Communisi 

advance to south imperils Nationalist China; 

King George and the Commonwealth premier; 

v/ar orphans here for adoption; sugar crop 

in Puerto Rico; the Trumans and Weizmanns 

mj

Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public 

FEATURE REVIEWS 

The Stratton Story 

MGM (- -) 106 Minutes Rel. July 8, '49 

Out of the life story of one of modern baseball's most 

heroic and exciting figures has been molded a motion picture 

lavishly endowed to be the standard bearer in proving 

the widely accepted trade theory that "good pictures can 

still do top business." This one is not only good— it is 

indisputably great. While it must be designated as lundamen'ally 

a baseball opus, the subjec! offers so much solid 

entertainment that its appeal will be universal. Whether oi 

not he story adheres to the true facts in the career of Pitcher 

Monty Siratton—who lost a leg in a hunting accident, then 

made a phenomenal athletic comeback—it brims over with 

suspense, action, pathos, romance and wholesomeness. Performances 

generally are tops—with James Stewart, in :he 

title role, at his all-time best—while Sam Wood directed 

wi.h consummate skill and understanding. 

Orij 

(inartr 

tlitalr' 

We Were Strangers 

p 

Adwenture 

Drama 

Columbia (143) 106 Minutes Rel. May '49 

John Huston scores another directorial triumph in this stirring 

and explosive drama of the Cuban rebellion against 

dictatorship in the early 1930s. Under his expert guidance, 

'enni'er Jones gives a vivid portrayal of a fiery vengeful 

Cuban- girl and John Garfield is excellent, too, in one of his 

brooding, dramatic parts. However, Gilbert Roland contributes 

the finest male acting as a happy-go-lucky philosophical 

revolutionary. Another silent days star, Ramon 

Novarro, returns to play a vivid character bit. The combination 

of Jones and Garfield, plus the publicity Huston recently 

r-^ceived from his Academy awards, shoultj result in strong 

business in every type of theatre. The story, which is filled 

•'ith exci'ement, terror and suspense, has a tremendous 

dramatic and emotional impact. "There are a few torrid love 

s enes to please the women and action aplenty to satisfy the 

rnle fans. It will rank with the best of the season 

'• 

James Stewart, June AUyson. Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead, 

Bill Williams, Bruce Cowling, Cliff Clark. 

'ennifer Jone^, John Garfield, Pedro Armendariz, Gilbert 

Roland, Ramon Novarro, Wally Cassell, David Bond. 

The Forbidden Street 

20 h-Fox (904) 88 Minutes Rel. June '49 

When 20th-Fox Producer William Perlberg invaded England 

to make this screen version of the best seller, "Britan- 

Mews," he took with him two strong Hollywood stars and 

II. c: 

his own director. The happy result has the picture displaying 

the best face's of both English and American production 

The former is demonstrated in the authenticity of backgrounds 

and atmosphere and in the performances of a 

wisely chosen supporting cast while the latter reflects itsell 

in the stars' thespic contributions and the picture's tempo 

and technical details. While in its early sequences the 

feature is sufficiently sordid to be a bit depressing, about 

mid-!ootage it has a change of pace and takes on so much 

charm that it will send spectators away in a buoyant mood 

and singing its praise. Such word-of-raouth and the magneti.sm 

of the topliners should assure success. Directed by 

Jean Negulesco. 

F 

Africa Screams 

Adventure 

Comedy 

United Artists (610) 79 Minutes Rel. May 27, '49 

Abbott and Costello are up to their old laugh-provoking 

antics, but in an African jungle setting, in their latest feature 

fun-fest. With their strongest supporting cast to date—including 

Frank Buck and Clyde Beatty for a little straightfaced 

wild animal training. Max Baer and his big brother, 

Buddy, for some strong-arm stuff, and Hillary Brooke to contribilte 

some nea; blond villainy and sex appeal— this should 

be a boxoffice winner wherever the comedy team is popular. 

The neighborhoods and small town audiences will eat 

it up. It's all the broadest sort of hokum with the timid 

Costello being forced to join an African expedition and 

being trapped in a lion's cage, captured by man-eating cannibals 

and aided by an enamored orangoutang while the 

disgusted Abbott stews. Shemp Howard is a riot as a neai;- 

sighted gunner. Directed strictly for howls by Charles Barton. 

F 

Dana Andrews, Maureen O'Hara, Dome Sybil Thorndike, 

Fay Complon, A. F. Malthews, Diane Hart, Ann Butchart. 

Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Clyde Beatty, Frank Buck, Hillary 

Brooke, Max Baer, Buddy Baer, Joe 

Besser. 

Streets oi San Francisco 

Republic (810) 60 Minutes 

F 

Drama 

Rel. Apr. 15, '49 

Built around a yarn which has as its main theme the 

redemption of a tough juvenile delinquent is a cops-androbbers 

picture which is not sufficiently hefty in story, ac- 

'on or suspense to qualify it for anything but the supporting 

niche on the average dualers, a spot to which it further 

is relegated through the absence of marquee magnetism 

in the cast. Performances are adequate—considering the 

material with which the mummers were supplied—but 

spectators may find that Moppet Gary Gray is getting into 

their hair because he is given too much to do and is none 

too expertly directed in over-stressed dialog. The youngster 

portrays the son of a slain mobster taken into a policeman's 

home for the purpose of extracting from him information 

regarding the remaining members of a gang and the hiding 

place of its loot. Directed by George Blair. 

Robert Armstrong, Mae Clarke, Gary Gray- Wally Cassell, 

Richard Benedict, John Hamion, J Farrell MacDonald. 

V.ill 

;, S' 

The Younger Brothers 

F 

Western Drama 

(Technicolor) 

Warner Bros. (823) 77 Minutes Rel. May 28, '49 

Present were many of the necessary ingredients to make 

a super western ou' of this biographical sketch of one of 

America's most notorious early-day bandit gangs. But the 

assembling thereof missed that exalted—and currently highly 

profitable—category by a wide margin. Perhaps it was because 

the producer and writer were too eager to circumvent 

sagebrush formula that both historical accuracy and established 

galloper procedure were kicked all over the range. 

But they were and, resultantly, it appears that only the most 

fanatical of western fare fans will find enough in the picture 

to engender much enthusiasm. None too hefty as concerns 

drawfiig power, members of the cast are further hobbled 

by a yarn, situations and dialog which fold under them. 

Technicolor photography and the scenic backgrounds it ensnares 

are, therefore, the film's best assets. Directed by 

Edwin L. Marin. 

Wayne Morris, Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett, Geraldine Brooks, 

Robert Hutton, Alan Hale, Fred Clark, James Brown. 

Home in San Antone 

Columbia (152) 61 Minutes Rel. Apr. 15, '49 

F 

Action 

Musical 

For situations which enjoy hillbilly music and plots along 

corny lines, this has the usual elements for the lower half. 

Popular and hillbilly tunes are sprinkled through a bizarre 

story that often becomes farcical. Kleptomaniac Uncle Zeke 

(Lloyd Corrigan) has just about beggared his family so that 

they may have to sell their old homestead which has become 

Harmony Inn. Uncle Zeke takes things, the family pays tor 

them— such things as a clock for a birthday present for Ma, 

overwhelmed by his thoughtfulnessi Roy Acuff and his 

Smoky Mountain Boys meander along incognito as radio 

scouts, about the time some real thieves steal a jeweled 

statue, and Uncle Zeke is suspected. By some fluke. Uncle 

Zeke wins the $100,000 radio prize, and the thieves are 

captured by grandpappy, who supplies slaphappy comedy 

from a wheel chair. Fair in its field. Ray Nazarro directed. 

Roy Acuff, Jacqueline Thomas, Bill Edwards, George Cleveland, 

Lloyd Corrigan, William Frowley, Dorothy Vaughn. 

Exper 

MinF 

1034 BOXOFHCE 

gcner? 

The Big Cat 

Eagle Lion (928) 75 Minutes Rel. 

F 

Outdoor Drama 

(Technicolor) 

Filmed in refreshingly subdued Technicolor against ruggedly 

beautiful natural Utah backgrounds, the pic.ure's 

greatest values lie in nature's contributions thereto. The 

scenery and the animal sequences—most especially a 

realistic fight between a dog and a cougar—should be sufficient 

to make the average ticket-buyer feel that he has 

had his money's worth when he catches the feature on 

either side of a tandem booking. Also recordable in the assets 

column is the cast, with several weighty names. In 

view of which possibilities, it seems unfortunate that a 

stronger, fnore believable story was not concocted to weld 

them together. The literary department is the offering's 

weakest and it rotates around the marauding cougar and 

settlers' efforts to bag him, with too many extraneous situations, 

most of which telegraph themselves, intervening. Directed 

by Phil Karlson. 

Lon McCallister, Peggy Ann Gamer, Preston Foster, Forrest 

Tucker, Skip Homeier, Sara Haden, Irving Bacon. 

Miy 7, 1949 1033

. John 

. . Jennifer 

EXPLOITIPS 

Suggestions for Selling; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs 

SELLING ANGLES: 

"We Were Strangers" 

Jennifer Jones and John Garfield are tfie strongest selling 

names but also play up John Huston, the director, who received 

two Academy awards in March for his direction o! 

"Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Also mention comeback 

roles lor Ramon Novorro and Gilbert Roland, silent days 

stars, to attract the oldsters. Use character stills of the two 

Strangers Until We Learned to Dance." ° "' 

CATCHLINES: 

An Explosive Story of Violent Lives—Lived Dangerously 

Huston, Academy Award Winner, Directs Another 

Outstanding Drama of Love and Hate . Jones 

and John Garfield in the Year's Most Fascinating and Exciting 

Film. 

The Strange Tale of China Valdes, a Woman of ViolenJ 

Hates and Fierce Love, and Tony Fenner, a Tough Guy 

With a Conscience . . . Love, Hate and Frenzy in a Dictator- 

Ridden Nation.

UTES: 10c per word, "liniTiiim $1.00. cash with copY- Four insertions for price ol three. 

LOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication dote. Send copy and answers to 

Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. • 

HELP WANTED 

Winted: Asiistint m.uiacer for Drlt»-lJl Ihta- 

OnB with conceisiun uperiaoci gltuj pr«f- 

;l. 

'mtt. Write Jeiails, ejpencace, r«l«reBces and 

iur Mptcied in (Irst letter. Columbia Amuseut 

C» . Paducali. Ky. 

Wanted: lluusf manuKiT or experienced assistant 

at lino\vs theatre uperatlun, for Norfulli and 

.rlsmuiith. Virginia territory. Airmail special 

livery guallfiraliuns and salary expected. Box- 

Ice. 

A-.'i426. 

Projectionists uanted. Experienced and reterce.< 

reiiulred. .No drifters, steady, sober absote 

requirement; 7 nights, 1 matinee. Good pay. 

ixofflce. A-3327. 

Experienced drlve-in theatre manager. Must be 

lallfli'd In every phase of operation and not 

yrald of work. Good references required. Eddie 

iseph Theatres. Austin, Tex 

I 

I; 

Wanted: Projectionists that know projection 

wlh operation, located In Norfolk and Porlsouth. 

VIrcinla. Airmail, special delivery quail 

cations and salary rxperted. Boxoffice. A-3428. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

mm buyer, fioolier, desiras position with the- 

.r« circuit. Thoroughly experienced, excellent 

(erences. Boxoffice A-8412. 

Manager, all phases. Managed drive-ins and 

cwed houses, knows iiromollon. exploitation and 

iveaways. Married, two eliilclren. prefer small 

iwn with available houslna. Salary or percentate. 

oMfflce. A-3t24 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

New SOS Catalog bits best seller list. Bihlbi- 

•5 ire bujiiig: Changeovers with foctswitches. 

1195; Intercomleleiihones, $9,95; 7x9 ft. spring 

ler screens, $39 50: baby spotlltes, $7.45; coin 

ingers, $149.50; 15 amp. rectifier bulbs. $4 95; 

aiitlful stage settings, lavish velour and satin. 

77.50; automatic curtain machines. $129,50; 

lutlc soundscreens, 39>4c sq. ft ; 

Dual Wenzel 

• 

Superior prejector outfits with RCA type 

mpUfler; Iwo-vvny speaker; coaled lens: IKW 

clamps; rectifiers, worth $4,600. now $2,960, 

Buy 11 on time), llept. C. SOS, Cinema Sup- 

Ij Corp,. 60i W. 52nd St.. New York 19. 

Draperies, curtains, steel tracks, automatic curiin 

machines. Send for dimension form for 

uotallons, Fred's Theatre Service. Vina. Ala, 

Neon tubing; Ueplacement lubes for your theae 

at 50c per foot. new. Write for descriptive 

teraturc Vogel Neon Mfg. Co., P. 0. Box 3183. 

Qiarlllo. 

Texas, 

Brand new 20-lon FSAIRCO refrigeration packe 

unit, ciimplete. re.idy lo install (never been 

ncraled) Will sell for $4,250 f,o,b, Austin, 

ddie J.isriili, l!..\ liiir,, Aiislin, Te\ 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

Complete booth equipment, time deal Invited, 

lual Simplex outfit, F. S. projertors: lenses, 

000 ft, magazines, cliangeovers. soundheads; Peerss 

LI arcs; rectifiers; speakers, good condition. 

795; Dual DcVry XD transportables, complete, 

'ijiillt. $595; RCA low frequency folded baffles, 

rth $300. $99. "5; Simplex mechanisms from 

9 50. 1949 catalog ready. Dept. C. S.O.S. 

lema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St.. New 

rk 19 

23 years "sale by mail" Insures square deal 

/re. SO.onn customers the world over built 

OS .and keep buying here because SOS sells for 

»s, 1949 catalog ready. Dept. C. SO.S. 

taema Supply Corp.. 602 VV. 52nd St,, New 

ork 19, 

Reconditioned Powers 6B mcch.inisms, $76 each. 

'.omfrice. A-3409. 

Two Holmes S5mm sound projectors. Altec Voice 

f the Theatre SOS speaker. W3-11 Altec arapllier 

with monitor speaker and cabinet, and misc. 

tipplies. Also AA21A 1500 watt AC electric 

utomatic plant with 32 volt starting, Robert B, 

IcCracker. S02 8tb St.. North. Fargo. N. D 

Pair XD DeVry tranôrlables. 35dub. comlete. 

$400. like new. Pair of Holmo wlucUori, 

5mm, cnmflete. $500, like new. J. Arth, 1101 

'niversity Ave,. Bronx. N. Y. 

Bargain: Two Simplex machines, Wenzel sousd, 

cw plastic screen, electric rewind, film cabinets. 

Icctrlc change-over, etc I'opcora machines. 450 

eats. 222 Amarillo Bldg . Amarille. Tex. 

Complete theatre eriuiiiment. Like new Cenuries, 

cnmiilete hnotli. screen, seats; $2,995. 

.. L. Dossey. Colmesneil. Texas. 

Sell: two Holmes projectors, complete with 

oimd. 35mm. Used 60 days. Theatre closed. 

bargain. Tom Williams. Exchange Bldg., Biringham, 

Ala. 

(Blowers, ball-bearing, vari.ible speed drive, belts 

i pulleys. $47 50 up. Reynolds Mfg. Co., 412 

bsp ect N. B.. Grand Rapids. Mich. 

(Bargain! Complete KCA sound system for Powi. 

rebuilt Powers head. Strong rectifiers, moars, 

rewinder. reels. Steropton. Numerous booth 

quipment all A-1 condition: ideal for small thea- 

A Milo llellaveii. Walerville, Ohio. 

Super-Simplex mech.inism used in drive-in thea- 

.-e. Including generator, sound system. Brenkert 

raps. All fur $1,800 fo.b. .\ustin. Eddie 

oseph. Box 1015. Austin. Tex. 

iOXOFFICE May 7. 1949 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

Drive-In owners are IlocKinn lo .New York by 

plane, train and car and saving ihelr evenaes 

many limes! Time deals too! AU makes In-car 

ipeakcrs In stock, try 'em before you buy 'em. 

fompieie booth out/its with high inlensliy arcji, 

$1595 up; New 500 watt Western Electric Booster 

amplifiers. $650: Driveway entrance and exit 

Signs. Illuminated, $22,50; Burial cable. 6c ft.; 

Super Snapliie fl.9 lenses from $125, Special 

[irive-ln catalog section ready. Depl. C. S,O.S, 

Cinema Suiiply Corp,, 602 W, 52nd St,, N,Y, 19. 

STUDIO 

AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

100 page Sturelab catalog ready. Sent free to 

Film Producers, lab technicians, recording engineers 

and cinemen, Everylliing for studio, labor.itory 

and cutting room. New 16ram sound printers, 

$585; spill 35mm tape recorders, .$1,500; 

Composite sound moviola. $495; Schustck 35/ 

Itimm reduction printer. $1,250; Arriflex newsreel 

camera, 4 lenses, complete. $795; Slop watch 

film timer. $24.75; Clnejihone 35mm recorder. 

$495: Neumade combination 16/35mm automatic 

film cleaner. $360 value. $194,60; Cianl Spotlight 

Tripods. 8' high, $9,95; Bardwell 5000W 

floodlights. $111.75; 1/12 IIP Sjuchronous motors. 

$39,50; Houston 16mm develoiiers. $3,485. 

llept. C. S,0 S, Cinema Supply Cor]),. Bn2 W, 52nd 

St,. Ni-n York lil. 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

Theatre For Sale: Selected listings in Oregon 

and Washington now available. Write for list. 

Tlieatre E.xchange Co.. Fine Arts BIdg . Portland, 

(Ire, 

theatres For Sale: For choice selection of 

.Northwest Theatres, wTile Irv Bowron. mgr.. Theatre 

Sales Division, John L. Gr.ay. Realtor. 3418 

S, E- Hawthorne Blvd.. Portland 15. Oregon. 

Build double parking drlve-in theatres under 

franchise paUnt .No. 2,105.718, reissue No. 

22.756 and Improvements, patent pending. Up 

to SO per cent more seating capacity with little 

additional eost. Louis Josserand. architect. 5908 

S Hain St.. Houston. Tex. 

$65,000 paying out under 3 years. $46,000 down. 

Only theatre, beautifully equipped. Missouri Ozark 

ricli p,iyroIl farming center. Arthur Leak, 3422 

KInmnre, 

Pallas, 

Enjoy life Lake Texhoma 6th largest U.8, near 

Dallas, 4 -Star Simplex, upholstered seals. $11,000. 

$6,500 down. Leal!. 3422 Kinmore. Dallas, 

For theatres, eonlaet J. C, Butler. .\BC Broker 

Co,. Bonded Brokers, Ore.. Ida., Wash,. Board of 

Trade Bids,. Portland. Ore, 

Theatres Denver territory with and without really 

licensed broker; Shooker. 313 Colorado BIdg., 

Dnnver, 

Theatre business for sale in doMmtown Vietorla, 

British Columbia, Canada, now being remodeled 

into one of ttie finest in Canada, 560 seats, 

great opportunity for large Income, apply Hymie 

Singer. State Theatre, 142 E, Hastings St., 

Vancouver. B. C. Can. 

Southern Illinois, population over 2.000, brick 

bldg, 325 seats, extra lot, booth, sound equipment, 

excellent condition, concession, new M.anley 

machine. OUicr Interests, home in Chicago 

reason for selling. $14,000. terms. L. E, 

Teachman. Royalton. 111. 

Theatre and soda shop in small Florida town. 

Good equipment. Priced lo sell together or single. 

Boxoffice A-3408. 

Theatre—Only one: 225 new Kroehler push-back 

seats, heart new oil field, owner other Interests: 

good lease. $50 monthly, Bslabli.shed 8 years. First 

$15,000 takes it. E. M. Graybllle, San Miguel, 

Calif, 

Excellent 440-seat theatre with bowling alleys 

basement, located In north-central state. Only 

in 

theatre in town of 3.300. with nearest competition 

14 miles; $92,000. with $50,000 down, balance 

at 4%. Boxoffice. A-34I7. 

Thcatro For Sale: Sm.all town; large rur.al trade: 

nearly new equipment: 240 veneer seats; $10,000 

or can finance. George Crooks. Browning. Mo. 

For Sale: New California drive-in theatre. Surrounded 

by 150.000 popiilalion: 670 in-car speakers; 

250 car heaters: large Simplex projection 

equipment; 60-font picture; grounds all "black 

top"; 50-foot high marquee. Due to business interests 

in the east, will sell at cost. Don't write 

unless you mean business. Not for lease. W. A. 

Tharp. 321 S. Indiana St . Dunkirk. Ind. 

Drive-in theatre for sale in Louisiana; new 

equipment; 250 cars; $12,500 cash. An opportunity. 

Boxoffice. A-3420. 

Texas small town nnneompelilive theatres. 

$4.flon up. Locations and descriptions on request. 

E. Montgomery, 400 N. Ashbel. Baytown. 

Texas. 

322-seat theatre and 38-acrc ranch, central 

California, no competition, year round good business 

in resort and rural patron.age. $32,500 for 

theatre lease and r.aneh. complete: a fair deal 

with quick payout Boxoffice. A-3429^ 

Absent owner leasing new building, equipment, 

only theatre thriving Mississinni small towTi: 

$205 month. Five years. Option buy; $1,500 

advance rent required. State finances, qualifications. 

Boxoffice, A-3430, 

THEATRES FOR SALE (Cont'd) 

Theatre, l>ade Cuuniy, .Mu 

overhead, seats 242. $5,UUU. 

31st . Kansas CJty, Mo. 

CUflfiinC HOUSE 

wv'll v'tjiiipiied, low 

Mcllugh, 1128 E, 

Drive-in theatre, 500-car, to leiuse; newly KCA 

equipped; established; ISro of gross with $4,000, 

Guarantee, If you 'act" quickly; $40,000 cash 

advance required. It. J. Becker, Winchester, Va. 

(3581 after 6:30). 

Western Maryland; three circuit houses, none 

competitive situations, good leases and etpilpment. 

Can be handled free and clear for $27,500. Operating 

on comfortable profit. Will furnish other 

Information to Interested parties. Boxoffice. 

A-3431. 

Drive-in theatre. Individual speakers, living 

quartiT.s; $9,800, S, Holland, Klnston. N. C. 

Theatre For Sale: Net gross around $450 per 

week; good equipment: town of 1.000 population 

in Arkansas; $15,000 cash will handle, terms on 

balance. Gus J. Haasc. Theatre Brokers, 409 

McCall BIdg,. Memphis. Tenn. 

Here's opportunity for theatre man lo really increase 

gross of $10,000 in llirlving Oklahoma 

town of 1,000. Good climate. $4,000 down, 

with big brick building hicluded. Boxoffice. 

A-3432, 

The biggest bargain we have ever ottered. In 

Tennessee. 50 miles from Memphis, town about 

nan iioinilatlon. Attractive theatre including brick 

liiiilding in good condition; cushioned bottom seats. 

Simplex machines. Cost over $27,000; for immediate 

sale, price $10,000, Gus J. Ilaase. Theatre 

Brokers. 409 Mrl'.ill BIdg,. Memphis. Tenn. 

One of the nicest theatres in town of over 7.000 

population In Arkansas. First rate and prarlleally 

new eituipment; full cushioned seats and very .iltraetive. 

Price $35,000, real estate not Inrluded. 

Gus J. Ilaase, Theatre Brokers, 40!) McCall BIdg,, 

Memphis, Tenn. 

Idaho: Snake River V,alley. brick bidg.. incl 

370 seats. Brenkerl, Peerless, Simplex; lOl.-i 

gross. $27,000. price $55,000. $20,000 down. 

Thialre Exchange. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. Ore. 

family. Price $25,000. $17,500 down. Tlleatre 

Exchange. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland, Ore, 

Washington: North central; 1946 frame bldg,. 

incl 280 seats. Simplex throughout. i948 gross 

$18,000. Price $25,000. $18,500 down. Theatre 

Exrliange. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. Ore. 

California; Northern coast. Concrete bldg.. lease. 

358 seats; $3,000 now eiiuipmenl. About $400 

mo. net. Price $15,000. Some terms. Theatre 

Exchange, Fine Arts Bldg, Portland, Ore. 

Oregon: Near Portland. 19411 concrete bldg. 

le:Lse Over 500 seats. Simplex throughout. 1948 

gross appros. $30,000. Price $45,000. $25,000 

down. Theatre Exchange. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. 

Ore. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Rebuilt Popcorn Machine for sale. Fully guaranteed. 

Price from $150. Consolidated Confections. 

1314 S. Wabash, Cllicago 6, IlL 

Bargain prices in used and completely reconditioned 

popcorn machines, Blevlns Popcorn Co,. 

Nashville, Tenn. 

Burch, Manley, Cretors, Advance, all electric 

french fry types. 50 Hollywood type, theat/e 

specLol electric poppers from $260. Karmelltom 

Biiuipment. 120 a, H.-dsted, Chicago 6, III. 

Reiiuilt popcorn macbtnei, tiolf price. Write 

for list. Drlve-in poppers, bargain. Poppers Supply, 

Boi 888, Atlanta. Oa. 

Free 56-page 1949 catalog of Awurd-WlnniDK 

Popcorn and Concession Equipment and Supplies. 

Blevins Popcorn Co.. Popcorn Villa4;e, Nashville 

Tenn. 

One new Snow Cone machine, $225. Jayhuwk 

Popcorn Co.. Atchison. Kas. 

Star popcorn machines. All models. Popcorn 

supplies. Central Pojicorn Supply Co., 45 Arch 

St.. New Britain. Conn. 

Manley .Model 47. Used two months. Listed 

at $850; will sell at $500. LeRoscn. 3703 St. 

.lohn. Kansas City. Mo. 

Sun-Pufft. Ilawkeye dime liot impcorn vendors, 

$37,50; Long-E;ikins Rotary, peanut roasters, coplirr 

kettles, Norlhsldc Sales Co., Indlanola. Iowa, 

POPCORN SUPPLIES 

Attractively pt inled popcorn cartons for sale. 

lOc size, $6 M; 25c size, $17,50 M. Fabian 

Konlney. 609 N A,shland. Green Bay, Wis. 

Bee-Hive Hybrid—belter than ever for '49; in 

cartons, the Family-Size "Premiere" is the latest 

thing. Blevins Popcorn Co.. Popcorn Village, 

Nashville. Tenn. 

Popcorn, the cream of the Hybrid crop. Popcorn 

boxes, attractive glossy red 10c size. Special 

popcorn salt and butter fbivored popcorn 

Oregon: Columbia Gorge. 1940 frame bldg.. incl. 

seasoning. Truly the tried and tested Ingredients 

for superbly perfect poiicorn. For price list, 

2.'iS siats Slmiilex. Peerle-ss. KCA. Good for 

write Super Pufft Popcorn Ltd.. 83 Duke St., 

Toronto. Ont. 

Idaho: Boise Valley. 1947 concrete block bldg. 

incl 24" seats. Simplex. Brrnkert. Soundmaster, 

Business increasing. $22,000, $12,500 down. 

Theatre Exchange. Fine Arts Bldg., Portland, Ore. 

Washington: North central. Two brick lildjs,, 

including 1.000 se.ats. Mo'iogranh: Brenkert 

Motiograiih: 5-year net over $100,000 Price 

$100,500; $40,000 down. Theatre Exchange. 

Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. Orc^ 

Oregon: Willamette Valley, concrete bldg. lease. 

470 seals. Simplex. Strong. lU'A, 1948 gross 

over $30,000, Price $75,000; $32 500 down. 

Theatre Exchange. Fine Arts lildg,. Portland. Ore, 

Oregon: Portland. Concrete bldg.. Incl. "25 

seats. Simples, Peerless. RCA. Approx. $30,000 

vear gross. $75,000. $30,000 down. Theatre 

Exchange Co.. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. Ore 

Washington: Southwestern; frame bldg. lea.se; 

2tlll seats. Simplex. Peerless. RCA. Family sriup. 

Price $20,000; $15,000 dovm. Theatre Exchange. 

Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland. Orc^ 

Oregon: CniLst: frame bldg. lease. Simjilex, 

Peerless. RCA. Pappa, Mamma. Price $12,500, 

$0,000 donn. Tlleatre Exchange. Fine Arts Bldg,, 

Portland. Ore, 

THEATRES WANTED 

Sell your theatre privately. Oonfldentlal correspondence 

Invited. Leak 'Hieatre Sales. 3422 

Kinmore, Dallas. 1100 Orchard Lane. Des 

Moines. Iowa. 

Want to lease or buy one or several theatres. 

Midwest, Independent operator. Confidential, Boxoffice. 

A-3415, 

Florida: Have several clients wanting good situations. 

Must stand investigation. All information 

strictly confidential. Harry G, Elmore. Jr. 

Realtor. 942 Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 

Theatre central or eastern Nebraska. No brok 

ers. Over 400 seats, town 1,800 population or 

over. Rigid examination. Experienced. L. 

Burkitt. Sparta. Wis. 

CONSTRUCTION 

Experienced general contractor is interested in 

bidding in part or whole on construction of drivein 

or conventional theatres in central states area. 

Write or wire David Sledge. May-Bill. Inc. 

Frankfort. Ky. 

Hybrid popcorn of the finest quality, $6.75 per 

cwt. Write for qu.intity prices. Attention: Charles 

.lacobsen. Box 444. Lake View. Iowa. Quirk El»- 

vators, Odebolt. Iowa. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

Comic books again available as premiums, giveaways 

at your kiddy shows. Large variety latest 

48-page newsstand editions. Comics Premium Co., 

412B Greenwich St.. New York Oty. 

Bingo with more action. $2.75 thousand cards. 

Also other games. Novelty Games Co., 1434 Bedford 

Ave., Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Theatre Managers: Something new! Dartaway. 

A game of skill, legal in any state. Terms reasonable. 

P.ick your theatre. No theatre ton big 

or too small. For information, write or call 

.limmle Sleplna. ,\ztec Theatre. Shawnee. Kas. 

Free 105 piece dinnerware sets to giveaway. 

Guaranteed boxoffice stimulator. No cost to 

theatre. Interstate Theatre Service. 1115 E. 

Armour. K. C. . 

Mo. 

Bingo die-cut cards. 75 or 100 numbers, $3 

per M. Bingo Screen Dial $30, Any dial to suit 

your condition. Premium Products, 354 W. 44th 

SI,. N, V, 18. 

Ballyhoo with blowups, cutouts, black and white, 

sepia, tinted, mounted. Any size. Low prices. 

T'cnty-four-hour service, Lincoln Reproductions, 

202 West Wayne, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Barrel of Fun kid show. "Mr. Sweep," kid Idol, 

in person, with games, contests, prizes. Free 

rliiti memliiT cards. Free trailer, mats. etc. 

Write S'cpp Kid Club. YMCA, Meriden, Conn. 

Play Dartaway, sensational new movie game. 

Pack your theatre with this new game of skill. 

Playing in over 100 theatres. Legal in any state. 

Give us a trial. Terms. Reasonable. Write Jimmie 

Steiiina. Shawnee. Kas Milrose 70;(1 

AIR CONDITIONING 

Heavy duty blowers, ball-bearing equipped, 

15,000 cfm to 50,000 cfm. Air washers, all 

sizes. Hydraulic drives, two and four speed 

motor and controls. Immediate delivery. Dealers 

wanted. National Engineering and Mfg. Co., S19 

Wyandotle St.. Kansas City. Mo. 

Complete air conditioning equipment; variable 

5 hp motor, 25,000 SFC fan; air washer, spray 

type, complete with recirculating pump; reasonable. 

Boxoffice. A-30SS 

Complete packaged evaporative coolers : air 

washers; blowers; air supply grilles. All sizes, 

prompt delivery. Alton Mfg. Co., 1112 Ross 

Ave., Dallas. Tex. 

MORE CLASSIFIED 

ON PAGE 34 

29

Theatre 

Equipment 

_ 

. . 

,ife-\ike sound •''^P^ 

^^ 

... and 

m 

MANUFACTURED BY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION • BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY

Boxoffice-May.07.1949

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