Boxoffice-September.01.1951
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DON'T DO<br />
ANOTHER THING<br />
until you have read every v\^ord of<br />
this advertisement about M-G-M's<br />
ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD!
^<br />
The SKY'S The Limit!<br />
How BIG is M-G-M's new triumph?<br />
The possibilities<br />
are endless as they<br />
were in the case of such immortal<br />
masterpieces of heart-appeal as<br />
Paramount's "Going My Way,"<br />
RKO's "The Bells of St. Mary's" and<br />
M-G-M's "The Stratton Story."<br />
It's good for all of us in film business<br />
when a picture appears with<br />
Bigness of inspiration, humor, tears<br />
and thrills!<br />
Words cannot describe<br />
this story of a tough baseball manager<br />
who "talked to angels," the little<br />
M-G-M's<br />
ANGELS<br />
IN THE<br />
OUTFIELD<br />
girl who "actually saw them" and<br />
the pretty news -gal who put both<br />
in the headlines.<br />
When you book "Angels In The<br />
Outfield" put a glowing endorsement<br />
into your lobby at once!<br />
We<br />
guarantee you, just as you guarantee<br />
your patrons, that it is one of the<br />
year's greatest entertainments packed<br />
with exciting action and laughs and<br />
M-GM presents<br />
-ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD^ starring<br />
PAUL DOUGLAS 'JANET LEIGH • with Keerian Wynn<br />
Lewis Stone • Spring Byington • Bruce Bennett • and introducing<br />
Donna Corcoran • Screen Play by Dorothy Kingsley and George<br />
Wells • Based on a Story by Richard Conlin • Produced and<br />
Directed by Clarence Brown<br />
soul-satisfaction
^ a^ a^{Z^<br />
.^^rv^^^,<br />
^^INQ<br />
4^A<br />
Warner Bros, brinc<br />
Streetcar<br />
ELIA KAZAN PRODUCTION'<br />
1
iftAe^^t^a^ne^J c^m^^Atotih?v^^rict^^<br />
irHE<br />
SCREEH ALL THE FIRE OF<br />
PRODUCED BY<br />
CHARLES K.FELDMAN<br />
VIARLON BRANDO ,<br />
EJIAMS DIRECTED BY ELIA KAZAN d,str,butedby WARNER BROS. W<br />
lEll-E WILLIAMS as presented on the stage bv irene mayer selznick<br />
^<br />
IZEAND<br />
CRITICS AWARD PLAY
-^•r^Af<br />
irS HERE!<br />
The thriller that's out of this world as Patricia Neal cringes at the approach of the robot in 20th Century-<br />
Fox's "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The supersonic story of spacemen versus the earth is already being<br />
acclaimed for its realistic approach to the miracle of interplanetary communication. It's ready for September<br />
dates!<br />
( Advertisement)
I AMES<br />
, AN<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published in Nitis Sectional Editions<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
M^ JERAULD Editor<br />
:ATHAN COHEN.... Executive Editor<br />
-SSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
SPEAR Western Editor<br />
L THATCHER-.Equipment Editor<br />
lOHN G, TINSLEY..Advertising Mgr.<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Editorial Offices; 9 RocliefeUer Plaza, New<br />
^ork 20. N. Y. John G. Tinsley. Advertising<br />
Manager; James M. Jerauld, Editor;<br />
Cliester Friedman. Editor Showmandlstr<br />
Section; Lou H. Gerard. Editor Promotion<br />
Section; A. J. Stocker. Equipment Advertising.<br />
Telephone COlumbus 5-6370.<br />
Publication Offices; 825 V.in Brunt Blvd..<br />
Kansas City 1. Mo. Nathan Cohen, Executive<br />
Editor; Jesse Shlyen, Managing Editor;<br />
Morris Schlozman, Busirress Manager.<br />
I L That^-'her. Editor The Modern Thentre<br />
Section; Herbert Roush. Sales Manager.<br />
Telephone CHestmit 7777.<br />
Central Offices: Editorial—634 S. Michigan<br />
Ave.. Oilcago 5. 111. Jonas Perlberg.<br />
Telephone WEbster 9-4745. Advertising<br />
35 East Wiicker Driie. Chicago 1. 111.<br />
Bwlng Hutchison and E. B. Yeck. Telephone<br />
ANdover 3-3042.<br />
Western Offices: Editorial and Film Adverluiing—6404<br />
HoUyviood Bid.. Hollywood<br />
28, Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Telephone<br />
GLadstone 1186. Equipment «nd<br />
Non-Film Advertising—672 S. LaFayette<br />
Park Place. Los Angeles, Calif. Bob Wettsteln.<br />
manager. Telephone Dllnklrk 8-2286.<br />
Washington Offices: Al Goldsmith, 1365<br />
National Press Bldg. Phone Metropolitan<br />
0001. Sara Young, 932 New Jersey N.W.<br />
London Offices: 47. Gloucester Terrace.<br />
Lancaster Gate, W. 2. Telephone Piddington<br />
7509. John Sullivan, mantger.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section is included<br />
in the first issue of each month.<br />
The PROMOTION Section is included in<br />
the third issue of eat'h month.<br />
Albany: 21-23 Walter .\ve.. M. Berrigan.<br />
Birmingham: Tile News. Eddie BadRCr.<br />
Boston: Frances VV. Harding. Lib. 2-9305.<br />
Charlotte; 216 W. 4th. Pauline Gr.fflth.<br />
Cincinnati: 4029 Blading. LUUan Lazurus.<br />
Cleveland: Elsie Loeb. Fairmount 1-0046.<br />
Dal.as: 612V> W. Jefferson, Frank Bradley.<br />
Denver: 1645 Lafayette. Jack Rose.<br />
Des Moines: Register-Tribune. Russ Schoch.<br />
Detroit: Fox Theatre Bldg., H, F. Reves.<br />
Indianapolis: Route 8, Box 770, Howard<br />
M. Rudeaux, GA 3339.<br />
Memphis: 707 Spring St., Null Adams.<br />
Milwaukee: 2556 N. 3rd. C. W. Kraemer.<br />
Minneapolis; 2123 Fremont, So., Les Rees.<br />
New Haven; 42 Church, Gertrude Lander.<br />
New Orleans: Frances Jordan. N.O. States.<br />
Okla. Citv: Terminal Bldg.. Polly Trindle.<br />
Omaha: 911 51st St , Irving Baker.<br />
Philadelphia: 5363 Berks, Norman Shigon.<br />
Pittsburgh: R. F. Klingensmllb, 516 Jeannette.<br />
WilHnsburg. Churchill 1-2809.<br />
: Ore. Portland. Arnold Marks. Oregon<br />
Journal. Advertising: Mel Hickman. 907<br />
Terminal Sales Bldg.. ATwater 4107.<br />
St. Louis; 5149 Rosa, David Barrett.<br />
Salt Lake City: Deseret News, H. Pearson.<br />
San Antenio: 326 San Pedro. B-39280.<br />
L. J. B. Ketner.<br />
San Francisco; Gail Lipman. 25 Taylor St..<br />
Ordway 3-4812. Advertising; Jerry Nowell.<br />
Howard Bldg.. 209 Post St.,<br />
YUkon 6-2522.<br />
Seattle; 1303 Campus Pkwy. Dave Ballird.<br />
In Canada<br />
Calgary: The Albertan, Helen .\nderson<br />
Montreal; 4330 Wilson. Roy Carralchael.<br />
St. John; 116 Prince Edward. W. McNulty.<br />
Toronto: R. R. 1. York Mills. M. Oalbraltli.<br />
V.ancouver: Lyric Theatre Bldg.. Jack Droy.<br />
Winnipeg: 282 Ruperts. Ben Sommers.<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Entered as Second Class matter at Post<br />
Office. Kansas City. Mo. Ser.ional Edition.<br />
$3.00 per year; National Edition. $7.50.<br />
SEPTEMBER 1, 1951<br />
Vol. 59 No. 18<br />
ONDERING the report by Audience<br />
Research, Inc.. that the national average of penetration<br />
of motion picture advertising has dropped<br />
from 20 per cent to 11 per cent since 1945, we<br />
began to wonder how much this might be tied<br />
into matters other than reduction of national<br />
(pre-selling) advertising. Somehow we feel that<br />
a number of conditions within the industry have<br />
contributed to the growing lack of public knowledge<br />
of pictures in advance of their local showings.<br />
This, of course, is an important contributing<br />
factor to the lowered attraction power of<br />
specific pictures. Totted up, it may account<br />
ROOT OF TROUBLE<br />
appreciably for the general decline of the boxoffice<br />
prior to the upsurge in recent weeks.<br />
The pre-selling term has been largely applied<br />
to advertising that is done by the picture companies<br />
through the consumer magazines, network<br />
radio and other national media. But there is<br />
also pre-selling as it was and should be done by<br />
exhibitors. Contrary to the finger-pointing at<br />
exliibitors charging them with dereliction in the<br />
merchandising of pictures, we feel that this lowpenetration<br />
condition is not of their making,<br />
except for the other internal conditions which<br />
are contributory.<br />
Among the causes are the changes in modus<br />
operandi of the industry generally. The pictureby-picture<br />
method of selling and buying that<br />
replaced block-booking; the speeding up of clearance;<br />
multiple day-and-date runs; bidding for<br />
runs that carries right up to within a day or two<br />
of need for a picture are among the so-called<br />
reforms that have hurt rather than helped. The<br />
fluctuations in release dates and availabilities,<br />
the lack of an assured backlog of jiroduct that<br />
could be advertised in advance are further restraints<br />
on promotional effort that should be<br />
exercised by the exhibitor. This does not exclude<br />
affiliated theatre companies. Often pictures are<br />
rushed into release without benefit of any preopening,<br />
let alone pre-selling, advertising whatsoever.<br />
And when such an action is followed by<br />
rapid play-off in the subsequent run houses, that<br />
very important factor of "word-of-mouth" is<br />
lost. This "you-see-it-now-or-not-at-all" method<br />
of operation is ruinous.<br />
To one degree or another these problems are<br />
S|)read over the country. There appears to be<br />
no solution nationally; it has to be brought about<br />
locally. Arbitration might solve it. But everybody<br />
talks about arbitration and nothing beyond<br />
talk is taking place. Then, again, when arbitration<br />
was in effect through the 1940 consent decree,<br />
90 per cent of the cases involved clearance.<br />
And in the multi-million dollar antitrust suits,<br />
clearance is also the underlying cause.<br />
So it would seem clearance is the problem to<br />
attack. With its solution in hand, there would<br />
be a solid base from which to work toward<br />
eliminating the contingent problems. Exhibitors<br />
and the rest of the industry could then devote<br />
more and proper attention to selling the picture,<br />
keeping the public better informed all the way<br />
up to the line that leads to the boxoffice.<br />
Quarter Century of Service<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. is 25 years old<br />
this week and the company's executive heads and<br />
personnel are justifiably proud of the record of<br />
service rendered to exhibitors throughout the<br />
past quarter century. Long ago, "Mission Accomplished,"<br />
could have been written across the<br />
record for, early in its career, the company had<br />
succeeded in making it possible for exhibitors<br />
to save time and money in the purchase of<br />
equi])ment and supplies necessary to their opertions.<br />
Further, there is the record of accomplishment<br />
in creating and helping to develop and perfect<br />
many new devices that have made substantial<br />
contributions to the continuing improvement in<br />
the sight and sound of motion pictures. All of<br />
which aided in the growth and progress of the<br />
industry as a whole.<br />
In our editorial commentary on the formation<br />
of National, which appeared in the issue of September<br />
18, 1926, we said, in part:<br />
"The newly merged organization has within<br />
its grasp possibilities to do much good for the<br />
industry—and that, by passing along to the<br />
power . . .<br />
exhibitor the saving that can be made through<br />
The writer had a<br />
its large<br />
talk with<br />
buying<br />
one of the company's officials who<br />
stressed the purpose of the organization as one<br />
to increase service to exhibitors . . . selling them<br />
goods at lower prices. He further stated that<br />
exhibitors would benefit in many ways ..."<br />
out.<br />
This purpose seems to have been well carried<br />
Walter E. Green, president, has been with<br />
National since its inception. He is prone to look<br />
forward, planning for the future and continuing<br />
grov/th of the industry. As he did 25 years ago,<br />
he envisions still further progress for the motion<br />
picture "as the world's greatest entertainment<br />
medium" and for its theatres. What's more, he<br />
is a genuine movie fan and the enthusiasm,<br />
pride and optimism that he holds for this business<br />
are thorough-grained.<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. deserves the<br />
plaudits of the industry for a job well done.<br />
(Xx. JUtf^v^
LIFE<br />
SUPPED A cog; STORY<br />
UNFAIR. MAYER TELLS EDITOR<br />
Magazine Publishes Parts<br />
Of Industry's Answer<br />
To Crepe Hanging<br />
NEW YORK—Arthur L. Mayer's reply to<br />
the hotly criticized Life magazine article<br />
counting ten over the film industry was<br />
released by the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations early in the week. Life published<br />
portions of it in the issue which<br />
reached the newsstands Thursday (30).<br />
Mayer wrote that Life's article "slipped<br />
a cog somewhere and got pretty far off<br />
the track" and did a real, if unintentional.<br />
dLsservice to the industry.<br />
People still look to the movies as their<br />
prime entertainment, Mayer insisted, and<br />
they don't watch television seven days and<br />
seven nights a week.<br />
Mayer says the magazine survey "slipped<br />
up" and told a one-sided story by using a<br />
strip of photos of five closed theatres, "with<br />
no equally quick indication that for every<br />
closed house approximately four new theatres<br />
have opened." It would have been easy<br />
to balance the story, he wrote, by showing<br />
photographs of a few of the hundreds of new<br />
theatres, "each a vote of confidence in the<br />
public's continued interest in the movies."<br />
He really warmed up in a succeeding paragraph<br />
which read: "And just to keep your<br />
'3,000 theatres have closed in the U.S.' from<br />
their interests and continue to plan for their<br />
future in the movie business. Always two<br />
ways of telling a story.<br />
"We are sorry that your writer thinks the<br />
optimism so evident among those who know<br />
our business is 'whistling in the graveyard.'<br />
Unfortunately, that is the tone of his entire<br />
article. He simply brushes off anything that<br />
is upbeat and underscores the downbeat.<br />
becoming one of those dream-statistics, Take my word for it, the present optimism is<br />
I<br />
must offer for the record that your<br />
genuine, bona fide and real because it is<br />
figure is<br />
about 2,000 off the mark! There are always based on facts and experience.<br />
theatres opening and closing, in good times "The days of fear passed some months ago;<br />
and bad (like drugstores or magazines), so<br />
the exact number isn't too important—just<br />
it is unlike<br />
ceased<br />
Life<br />
being<br />
to<br />
news.<br />
get a<br />
The<br />
story<br />
new<br />
after it has<br />
developments<br />
so your figures aren't too ridiculous.<br />
are the news.<br />
"To those 'in the know' your opening, "Apparently," he continues, "the notes of<br />
name-dropping paragraph must bring a some of your research workers got lost or<br />
smile—except that one doesn't expect that misplaced. When Robert J. O'Donnell. general<br />
sort of thing from Life. 'Vou mention Louis<br />
manager of Interstate Circuit in Texas.<br />
B. Mayer's departure from Metro-Goldwyn- was interviewed he mentioned that his theatres'<br />
Mayer and Warner Brothers' near sale of<br />
attendance was up 10 per cent over a<br />
their movie interests. Those are good names year ago. This cheerful bit of research was<br />
with which to lead off a story—but we all lost. Several other industry leaders gave<br />
know that neither incident was tied up with your researchers interesting cheerful data<br />
'the boxoffice is down,' as you imply. Mr. which, apparently, did not fit into the<br />
Mayer has announced his intention to continue<br />
'survey.' I, myself, when interviewed pointed<br />
in the movie business. The Warner out that in 1939 the theatres of America<br />
brothers refused the $25,000,000 offer for grossed $673,000,000 and in 1948 (the last<br />
Life Prints Industry Protests<br />
NEW YORK—The Letters to the Editors column of the September 3<br />
issue of Life<br />
gave brief mention to letters of protest from Jack Kirsch, president. Allied Theatres<br />
of Illinois; J. P. Adler, president, Adler Theatre Co., Marshfield, Wis., and six paragraphs<br />
from the letter of Arthur L. Mayer, COMPO executive vice-president.<br />
The heading was "Trouble in Hollywood." In contrast, it carried a letter from<br />
R. W. Duncan of Wilmington, Calif., saying his family had seen one movie in six years.<br />
The magazine commented:<br />
"Life erred in saying that 3,000 movie theatres closed in 1950. The 3,000 closings took<br />
place, according to a responsible source, over a two-year period— 1949-50. Although<br />
Life did not specify the ratio of theatres opening to theatres closing, it did point out<br />
that 'there are more theatres in operation now than ever before.' But with weekly<br />
attendance down from 90,000,000 in 1946-48 to 50,000,000 to 55,000.000 in 1950, trouble<br />
is still, as Life said, supercolossal in Hollywood."<br />
Total space came to about one and one-half columns.<br />
In addition to<br />
letting Kansas<br />
Citians see how<br />
great was the public<br />
interest in its<br />
current attraction,<br />
Fox Midwest's Orpheum<br />
took this<br />
means of hitting<br />
back at Life's allegations<br />
of em-pty<br />
theatres. The advertisement<br />
appeared<br />
in four column<br />
measure in<br />
last T u c s d a y's<br />
(Aug. 28) Kansas<br />
City Star. The<br />
line, three and<br />
four deep, extended<br />
for nearly a<br />
block.<br />
year for which we have a report from the<br />
Census Bureau) they took in $1,569,000,000. up<br />
133 per cent. The major picture companies<br />
last year made a profit of $50,000,000. almost<br />
three times as great as reported in 1940.<br />
Those figures were also too cheerful for the<br />
'survey.'<br />
"Of course movie attendance has declined<br />
since those lush days of 1946-47, when there<br />
was a scarcity of autos, refrigerators, etc..<br />
with plenty of money around. This decline,<br />
however, is being shared by virtually every<br />
other retailer catering to the mass consumption<br />
market. Department store-going has<br />
fallen off just about as much as movie-going.<br />
This decline we, like they, do not regard as<br />
other than temporary. Metro-Goldwyn-<br />
Mayer alone has $52,000,000 invested at present<br />
in unreleased negatives. Paramount is<br />
spending 25 per cent more than it did last<br />
year for its new movies. The same spirit of<br />
confidence animates every other major studio.<br />
Those are the sort of statistics that really<br />
tell the story of today's movie situation.<br />
"In the last few years there have been<br />
many, many millions of dollars spent by<br />
hard-headed exhibitors to rejuvenate old<br />
theatres and erect new ones. The Department<br />
of Commerce reports an increase of 1.446<br />
indoor theatres and 2.580 drive-in theatres,<br />
an increase of 21 per cent in the total number<br />
of U.S. theatres. Didn't the exhibitor who<br />
told you that 40 per cent of existing theatres<br />
are going to close also mention that many<br />
new ones are opening? He. him.self. has just<br />
opened a $450,000 theatre in Venice. Calif.<br />
A few other examples: Quimby theatres are<br />
putting $750,000 into a theatre and shopping<br />
center just outside of Fort Wayne, Ind.<br />
A half-million dollar theatre is nearing completion<br />
in Washington. D. C. In New York<br />
City, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co..<br />
no suckers for dying industries, are erecting<br />
one of the finest neighborhood houses ever<br />
built.<br />
"Of course, television is tough competition.<br />
So is night baseball, prize fights, lovemaking<br />
and reading Life. We expect and hope they<br />
will all flourish."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
: September<br />
Ohio ITO Draws Up<br />
Movietime Queries<br />
COLUMBUS, OHIO—Action on the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign will be taken by the<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio at a<br />
meeting of the board of dii-ectors called for<br />
September 11.<br />
Approval is expected, but not until after<br />
some extended comment on trade practices.<br />
Martin G. Smith, head of the Ohio unit,<br />
favors "enthusiastic and wholehearted cooperation,"<br />
he writes in a bulletin to members,<br />
but he wants all Ohio independents,<br />
whether or not Allied members, to express<br />
themselves.<br />
Smith asked Leo Jones of Upper Sandusky<br />
to offer some suggestions for a bulletin in<br />
advance of the meeting and Jones led off his<br />
reply with the following:<br />
"This bulletin is written solely for the<br />
purpose of affording every independent exhibitor<br />
in Ohio—whether or not a member<br />
of this organization—indoor or drive-in—<br />
an opportunity to express his views to our<br />
board of directors before that body recommends<br />
cooperation in a campaign that will<br />
cost him money.<br />
"I am sure you are willing to spend money<br />
to bring extra money into your boxoftice, but<br />
I am equally sure that if you do go all out<br />
and make a few bucks extra, you want to<br />
be rewarded for your efforts by being able to<br />
keep those bucks."<br />
Jones says he doesn't want to be "forced<br />
to play, during the campaign and after, only<br />
pictures of the type made available to me<br />
this summer because of extortionate film rentals<br />
and other onerous terms demanded by<br />
the distributors for their occasional boxoffice<br />
hits."<br />
He then asks a series of questions. One<br />
is: Can an exhibitor buy every major company's<br />
product and select the pictures he<br />
desires?<br />
Another reads: "Don't you think you could<br />
put on a terrific 'Back to the Movies' campaign<br />
if you could play top attractions each<br />
week so as to prove to your patrons that<br />
Movies Are Better Than Ever'?"<br />
Need New Publicity Slant,<br />
Say Wald and Krasna<br />
NEW YORK—Jerry Wald and Norman<br />
Krasna, producers for RKO, recommend that<br />
future advertising and publicity be concentrated<br />
on the skilled workers, rather than the<br />
white collar workers. They point to the increased<br />
earning power and improved living<br />
standards of the skilled trades, as opposed to<br />
the fixed level of income and decreased buying<br />
power of the white collar workers.<br />
The producing team does not advocate<br />
dropping the white collar worker as a publicity<br />
target, but believes that every avenue<br />
of approach to craftsmen and their families<br />
should be explored. If television is keeping<br />
the skilled working class home nights, they<br />
think it should be utilized as an advertising<br />
and publicity medium.<br />
The pair also recommends that publicity<br />
be channeled through tradepapers of all industries,<br />
labor pubhcations and mass media<br />
magazines and papers. The producers maintained<br />
that the industry hasn't taken advantage<br />
of economic changes and averred<br />
that "business is there for those who are<br />
willing to go after it."<br />
Movietime Sweep to Hit<br />
New York on Thursday<br />
NEW YORK—Details of the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign will be explained to local<br />
exhibitors Thursday (6) at a gathering scheduled<br />
for 9:30 a. m. in the RKO 58th Street<br />
Theatre.<br />
Exhibitors from all over the metropolitan<br />
district, salesmen and other persomiel from<br />
the exchanges, and home office staffs of<br />
distributors are expected to attend.<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell will be the principal<br />
speaker. The Rev. William Alexander, pastor<br />
of the First Christian church of Oklahoma<br />
City, who also operates a drive-in at San Antonio,<br />
and Arthur B. Mayer, executive vicepresident<br />
of the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations, also will speak.<br />
The meeting has been called by Edward<br />
Rugoff. president of the Metropolitan Motion<br />
Picture Theatres Ass'n, who will preside, with<br />
Harry Brandt, president of the ITOA; Wilbur<br />
Snaper, president of Allied Theatre Owners<br />
of New Jer-sey: Maurice Miller, head of<br />
the New Jersey TOA unit, and Fred Schwartz,<br />
chairman of the Organization of the Motion<br />
Picture Industry of the City of New York,<br />
acting as co-chairmen.<br />
O'Donnell will report on his national tornand<br />
the Movietime U.S.A. plans. The tour<br />
reached a new high in enthusiasm and attendance<br />
at Atlanta Tuesday (28) with over<br />
3,000 exhibitors and distribution employes<br />
from Georgia, Termessee and Alabama present<br />
at the Fox Theatre.<br />
The campaign will get under way with a<br />
national radio hookup September 24.<br />
O'Donnell, accompanied by Arthur B.<br />
Mayer, left Atlanta for Jacksonville, where<br />
another gathering was held Wednesday. They<br />
flew to New Orleans for a Thursday rally,<br />
and from there to St. Louis for a big Friday<br />
meeting.<br />
This wound up a strenuous two weeks for<br />
O'Donnell, with his next gathering scheduled<br />
for Albany September 5, followed by New<br />
York, September 6; Pittsburgh, September 7,<br />
and Chicago, September 10. Other dates may<br />
be added.<br />
Full page ads are scheduled in newspapers<br />
in 92 cities of 100,000 or more population and<br />
half-page ads in 1,533 papers in 1,318 cities<br />
up to 100,000 population. All will appear<br />
October 1. The total readership is figured<br />
at 52,000,000. This is said to be the biggest<br />
single effort of the kind ever tried by the<br />
industry.<br />
Movietime Down South Campaign<br />
Launched for Atlanta Area<br />
ATLANTA—Exhibitors from Georgia, Tennessee<br />
and Alabama and employes from the<br />
local exchanges turned out en masse for the<br />
Movietime U.S.A. rally at the Fox Theatre<br />
Tuesday (28).<br />
It was a civic event as well, with George<br />
C. Biggers, president of Atlanta Newspapers,<br />
Inc., owners of the Atlanta Constitution and<br />
Atlanta Journal, taking a prominent part.<br />
He said he had asked his editors to give<br />
every possible cooperation to the campaign.<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell gave the highlights of<br />
his current tour, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive<br />
vice-president of the Council of Motion<br />
Picture Organizations, paid tribute to<br />
TOA and Allied to Hold<br />
Joint Memphis Drive<br />
MEMPHIS—A joint two-day convention<br />
of Tristates Theatre Owners, a TOA<br />
affiliate, and Midsouth Allied has been<br />
called for October 16, 17 at the Gayoso<br />
hotel here in cooperation with the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. drive. A parade led by film<br />
stars down Main street is planned.<br />
The announcement that the two rival<br />
exhibitor organizations would meet together<br />
for the first time electrified a mass<br />
meeting of approximately 700 film industry<br />
personnel Monday (27) in a thi-eehour<br />
session at the Malco Theatre.<br />
R. J. O'Donnell, national Movietime director,<br />
addressed the gathering. M. A.<br />
Lightman sr., president of Malco Theatres,<br />
was named general chairman of the<br />
Movietime drive in the midsouth area.<br />
both O'Donnell and Sam J. Briskin, Hollywood<br />
campaign coordinator.<br />
Mayor Hartsfield of Atlanta welcomed the<br />
visitors. Nat Williams, Georgia exhibitor, introduced<br />
the speakers, with A. B. Padgett of<br />
the Wilby-Kincey Theatres acting as master<br />
of ceremonies.<br />
The campaign will be known in the south<br />
as Movietime Down South, U.S.A. A parade<br />
preceded the theatre meeting, with Nat Williams,<br />
E. D. Martin and C. L. Patrick of Martin<br />
Theatres; Mack Jackson of Alexander<br />
City, Ala., president of the Alabama Theatres<br />
Ass'n; Tommy Thompson of Columbus, president<br />
of Motion Picture Theatre Owners and<br />
Operators of Georgia; Jay Solomon of the<br />
Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Arkansas,<br />
Mississippi and Temiessee; Robert Moscow<br />
of Atlanta, and Mayer and O'Donnell<br />
riding in open cars.<br />
Contact 300 Screen Players<br />
For Personal Appearances<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Final machinery for the<br />
organization of star tours in connection with<br />
the Movietime U.S.A. celebration has been<br />
set up under the supervision of Samuel J.<br />
Briskin, Hollywood chairman for the nationwide<br />
boxoffice jubilee sponsored by COMPO.<br />
Working in close liaison to line up barnstorming<br />
celebrities are the Screen Actors<br />
and Artists Managers Guilds, the Hollywood<br />
Coordinating Committee and the talent<br />
heads of all studios. Tliese groups are checking<br />
a list of 300 potential availabilities, and<br />
each star on the list has been contacted by<br />
means of personal letters from Ronald<br />
Reagan and George Murphy, urging participation.<br />
Plans call for simultaneous appearances by<br />
the players and other industry personnel in<br />
the capitals of each of the 48 states on October<br />
8. Following the initial dates, the barnstormers<br />
will fan out into nearby communities<br />
for a week, making appearances at<br />
service clubs, schools, churches and other<br />
gatherings. There will, however, be no theatre<br />
appearances.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
1, 1951
^cd4€ Se^nt^<br />
Government Report for June<br />
Shows Sharp Business Gain<br />
Bureau of Internal Revenue says increase<br />
in general admission tax collections wa^<br />
largest for any one month since 1947: total for<br />
year now only about 7 per cent below figure<br />
for same 1950 period.<br />
-X<br />
NPA Tightens Reins Further<br />
On Theatre Construction<br />
Situation for prospective builders of theatres<br />
appears even more hopeless due to steel<br />
and copper shortages; NPA official doesn't<br />
expect easement before next year.<br />
*<br />
Ned Depinet Asks Successor<br />
As President of COMPO<br />
Feels the job should go to another since his<br />
term expired in May; points out delay caused<br />
by details on Movietime U.S.A. drive, but<br />
says election should take place soon.<br />
New Orleans Exhibitors Vote<br />
For Movietime Cash Aid<br />
Indoor theatres to pay five cents a seat and<br />
drive-ins ten cents a car speaker for campaign<br />
in exchange area; action taken at enthusiastic<br />
gathering Thursday i30) of 1,500<br />
showmen.<br />
H. J. Yates Is Not Selling<br />
Interests to L. B. Mayer<br />
President of Republic Pictures, on return<br />
from Europe, states emphatically there is no<br />
truth to rumors and no approach has been<br />
made by Mayer or any Wall Street group.<br />
Newsreel Trailers to Aid<br />
U.S. Defense Bond Drive<br />
Five special 45-minute subjects available for<br />
showing at rate of one a week, starting with<br />
the August 30 issues; an elaborate press book<br />
for exhibitors' use will be mailed directly.<br />
*<br />
Hollywood Communist Probe<br />
To Begin September 17<br />
Will hold at least a week of on-the-spot<br />
hearings which committee counsel Frank S.<br />
Tavenner said he hoped would end the fouryear<br />
marathon investigation.<br />
-X<br />
Richard F. Walsh Intends<br />
To Organize TV Field<br />
Head of lATSE regards television as another<br />
branch of the entertainment business,<br />
he says, and he will go into it; points out<br />
union has been training TV projectionists.<br />
*<br />
Italy Remits Sum of $3,200,000<br />
In Frozen U.S. Film Funds<br />
Its first in.stallment, re.sulting from agreement<br />
signed last May. authorizes shipment of<br />
31 'i per cent of blocked funds for two-year<br />
period starting last June.<br />
10<br />
MGM Group Sales in Year<br />
Netted 3,500 Contracts<br />
NEW YORK—A 12-month test of selling<br />
groups of films to exhibitors has resulted<br />
in more than 3,500 contracts, William F.<br />
Rodgers, MGM distribution vice-president,<br />
His statement followed a BOXOFPICE<br />
states.<br />
story the preceding week saying that small<br />
town exhibitors are supplying an increasing<br />
percentage of the total film gross.<br />
It was the first departure in years from<br />
tlie MGM policy of running its business on<br />
a weekly basis, and has never been announced<br />
as company policy. Rodgers said that the<br />
results had been as good as were expected<br />
and illustrated exhibitor confidence in the<br />
fairness of MGM methods of doing business.<br />
The films have been sold in groups of 12.<br />
Three groups have been contracted for and<br />
a fourth is now' on the market. MGM has<br />
retained the right to designate the value of<br />
the films and the contracts contain cancellation<br />
privileges.<br />
The test originated when small town exhibitors<br />
told MGM salesmen of their difficulties<br />
in getting to exchange centers remote<br />
from their theatres. The word was passed<br />
along by branch managers to the home office.<br />
The group plan was then drawn up and<br />
offered the exhibitors by the salesmen, who<br />
also spread the word among other exhibitors.<br />
Because it was a test, MGM made no announcement<br />
at the time. Now the results indicate<br />
that MGM will continue selling pictures<br />
in groups to exhibitors of the type<br />
with whom they have been dealing on a<br />
group basis.<br />
Niles Appeals to COMPO<br />
For Film Rental Slashes<br />
ANAMOSA, lA.—In a telegram sent to R. J.<br />
O'Donnell at the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations headquarters. 1501 Broadway,<br />
New York City, Charles Niles, treasurer of<br />
the Allied States Ass'n, made a plea for reduction<br />
of film rentals. The full text of his<br />
wire follows:<br />
"I am well aware that film rentals are not<br />
a part of COMPO, but it is ironical that outrageous<br />
demands are being made here in Iowa<br />
and Nebraska for top product right at the<br />
time the Movietime campaign is getting under<br />
way. We in Allied know we need the<br />
campaign and need it badly. We in Allied<br />
have done and will do everything possible to<br />
make it a great success, but cannot you or<br />
someone get the word to the big guns to call<br />
off the dogs and curtail their greed at least<br />
until the Movietime U.S.A. is over?<br />
"You and Arthur Mayer are doing a great<br />
job and I personally hate to see all your work<br />
and efforts being destroyed at the grass<br />
roots by avarice. What better answer is there<br />
to that infamous article in Life than top pictures<br />
on every screen in the country with big<br />
audiences in attendance? But this is impossible<br />
if exhibitors are unable to negotiate for<br />
top pictures, such as 'Here Comes the Groom,'<br />
"That's My Boy' and 'Captain Horatio Hornblower.'<br />
In case of 'David and Bathsheba'<br />
Fox is violating the law by fixing admission<br />
prices so that not only the exhibitor is being<br />
gouged, but the public as well, by upped admissions."<br />
Cole Urges Eliminating<br />
'Cheap' in<br />
Film Ads<br />
DALLAS—Col. H. A. Cole, co-chairman<br />
of Texas COMPO Showmen, is sending<br />
out instructions to eliminate the word<br />
"cheap" from all advertising, publicity,<br />
and any other references to the theatre,<br />
movie industry, or prices. The reason for<br />
this is that one of fhe meanings of the<br />
word 'cheap' to quote from Webster is:<br />
"Worthless, hence not prized or esteemed."<br />
It is being suggested that the<br />
word inexpensive be used in its place.<br />
Referring to the movies as "cheap entertainment<br />
for the American family,"<br />
leaves the feeling or impression of worthlessness,<br />
which is certainly not the idea<br />
the industry w-ants to express.<br />
The word "inexpensive," on the other<br />
hand, as in "inexpensive reci-eation,"<br />
leaves the impression of getting a great<br />
deal of a good product for the money,<br />
which is the more desirable impression.<br />
Chicago Loge May Secede<br />
From Salesmen Colosseum<br />
CHICAGO—The Chicago loge of the Colosseum<br />
of Motion Picture Salesmen has voted<br />
to ignore the Colosseum's national convention<br />
scheduled for October 27 in St. Louis, and<br />
hence by inference withdraw from the organization.<br />
Action was spurred by acceptance<br />
of a $7 weekly salary boost by the organization's<br />
attorney, David Beznor, on behalf of all<br />
film salesmen in the union group.<br />
The local unit, which had been trying to<br />
secure a wage boost from distributors, was<br />
miffed by Benzor's concession, one Chicago<br />
spokesman terming it "inconceivable that the<br />
Colosseum bargaining committee would consider<br />
it, let alone accept it." The distributors,<br />
besides the wage hike, granted country salesmen<br />
an additional $1 for daily expenses. A<br />
local spokesman called the increase "far<br />
from what was demanded." He pointed out<br />
that salesmen still have no job security and<br />
are not granted severance pay in the event<br />
of dismissal. By terms of the contract, salesmen,<br />
in accepting the salary raise, will be<br />
bound until October 1953.<br />
Another meeting of the Chicago loge will be<br />
held September 7 to vote on the secession and<br />
whether or not to boycott the national convention.<br />
Skouras and Truman Talk<br />
WASHINGTON—Spyros Skouras on Monday<br />
(27) went to the White House and<br />
talked with President Truman for 15 minutes<br />
on a subject not connected with the<br />
film industry. The 20th Century-Pox president<br />
would reveal nothing further about<br />
his talk with the President.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
THERE'S NO-<br />
Bar ABSOLUTELY NO<br />
BUSINESS<br />
iir wm^ WW mr wm- mr ww ww wm^ mF-<br />
LIKE 2a CENTURY-FOX<br />
BUSINESS!<br />
°^f/>,<br />
AND POSITIVELY<br />
NO LINE-UP LIKE<br />
THIS FOR SHOWMEN<br />
EVERYWHEKEI<br />
''««Jci<br />
"^^a^^V""^<br />
MEET ME AFTER<br />
THE SHOW<br />
The Biggest Betty Grable<br />
Technicolor Musical in 4<br />
years! It's your big, big date!<br />
MR. BELVEDERE<br />
RINGS THE BELL<br />
TheChampion Clifton Webb hit<br />
si nee "Cheaper By The Dozen"!<br />
From the Broadway stage<br />
show "The Silver Whistle."<br />
The<br />
THE FROGMEN<br />
Underwater Commandos<br />
are doing sock business with<br />
that WAM cast — Widmark,<br />
Andrews and Merrill!<br />
PEOPLE WILL TALK<br />
Zanuck and Mankiewicz do<br />
it again in their first picture<br />
since "Eve" starring Cary<br />
Grant and Jeanne Crain.<br />
P<br />
THE DAY THE<br />
EARTH STOOD STILL<br />
A science-fiction<br />
exploitation<br />
sensation! Watch for Big news ^<br />
soon about how hep show<br />
men can clean up!<br />
f<br />
JHAHKS TO<br />
€EHTURY^FOX!
Vefinite Business Boom'<br />
Seen by C. P. Skouras<br />
LOS ANGELES—Theatre business is curlently<br />
registering a "definite increase" and<br />
will gain momentum during the next six<br />
months, Charles P. Skouras, president of<br />
National Theatres and the Fox West Coast<br />
circuit, reported at a general meeting Thursday,<br />
August 23, to launch the 16th annual<br />
national fall drive for the chain.<br />
The meeting followed a similar session held<br />
the day before in San Francisco.<br />
"Never have I had greater confidence in<br />
the motion picture industry than I have today,"<br />
Skouras told the 250 theatre and district<br />
managers, bookers, film buyers, adver-<br />
. . . will continue as the<br />
tising-publicity representatives, real estate,<br />
purchasing and merchandising personnel. He<br />
reiterated an earlier comment that filmdom's<br />
place in American life is "well established<br />
and assured," and that the "beautiful,<br />
capacious theatre<br />
finest medium of entertainment."<br />
DRIVE EXTENDS TO DEC. 18<br />
The 16th annual national showmanship<br />
campaign got under way August 29 and will<br />
continue through December 18.<br />
There is "no reason to fear the future,"<br />
Skouras declared, emphasizing that despite<br />
the many problems that have arisen in<br />
the past several years, the circuit is in "sound<br />
shape" and the outlook for the future was<br />
"never brighter." He had praise for the<br />
strong product lineup for the next six months,<br />
but warned against overconfidence.<br />
Large-screen theatre TV equipment—the<br />
Swiss-developed Eidophor system recently acquia-ed<br />
jointly by his circuit and 20th Century-<br />
Pox—will be installed in many showcases as<br />
soon as color television is available, which<br />
may be about a year from now, Skouras said.<br />
George Bowser, FWC general manager,<br />
echoed Skoui-as' optimism, although admitting<br />
the first five months of this year were<br />
the "most depressing" he had ever experienced.<br />
He cautioned against overselling pictures<br />
which are known to be weak, pointing<br />
out that money now being spent on entertainment<br />
is on a selective basis and that the<br />
patron "should not be misled."<br />
Detailing the upcoming showmanship campaign,<br />
Dick Dickson. FWC's southern California<br />
division manager, declared: "We're on<br />
the upgrade and we are going ahead."<br />
LEVE VOICES ENTHUSIASM<br />
Forthcoming product was outlined by M.<br />
Spencer Leve, FWC's northern California division<br />
chief, who said better busine.ss is being<br />
recorded throughout the country and added<br />
that "even the newspaper columnists and<br />
critics have .switched their tunes and are<br />
.singing the praises of the current movies.<br />
Enthusiasm and optimi.sm are the keynote<br />
today, and not without just reason."<br />
Bow.ser announced the results of the recently<br />
concluded ninth annual Charles<br />
Skouras Showmanship drive, which found<br />
FWC's .southern California division first and<br />
the northern California segment in second<br />
spot. A total of $31,000 in bonuses was distributed<br />
to managers and bookers and Bowser<br />
declared that henceforth theatre managers<br />
are to be referred to as "showmen exhibitors."<br />
Full speed ahead—that's the slogan for<br />
National Theatres' 16th annual showmanship<br />
drive, details of which were outlined<br />
by Charles P. Skouras (at rostrum),<br />
president of NT and the Fox West Coast<br />
circuit, at the chain's headquarters in<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
Fox to Award $15,000<br />
KANSAS CITY—Awards totaling $15,000<br />
will be made by 20th Century-Fox for the best<br />
exploitation campaigns on "The Day the<br />
Earth Stood Still." Charles Einfeld, vicepresident<br />
in charge of publicity, advertising<br />
and exploitation, made the announcement in<br />
addressing a group of Fox Midwest theatre<br />
managers and executives here.<br />
The contest will run from October 1 to January<br />
2 and will be open to all exhibitors playing<br />
the picture during that period. First<br />
prize will be $1,000 in defense bonds.<br />
Large teaser ads will start the campaign<br />
this month in all exchange centers except<br />
New York and Los Angeles.<br />
Free 24-sheets will be given to every first<br />
run house buying billboard space and three<br />
teaser trailers, plus the regular production<br />
trailer, will be available.<br />
Two-sided 15-second, 30-second and oneminute<br />
records will be provided for radio<br />
use, plus one-minute spots.<br />
Special "Showmen's Kits" are being made<br />
up and will be sent to theatres which request<br />
them. The kits contain stills, special publicity<br />
material, proofs of advertising, samples<br />
of novelty accessories and a "Showman's<br />
Manual."<br />
Rhoden Sounds 'Selling' Keynote;<br />
Einfeld Sights Attendance Boom<br />
KANSAS CITY — "The keynote of our<br />
convention this year is SELLING! Selling<br />
individual pictm-es: selling our industry, and<br />
selling our individual theatres on the local<br />
level." Thus did Elmer C. Rhoden, president<br />
of Fox Midwest Amusement Corp., open the<br />
22nd annual meeting of his circuit's managers.<br />
Ho.spitalized by a leg injury, Rhoden's<br />
prepared statement was read to the delegation<br />
by Senn Lawler, director of advertising<br />
for the circuit.<br />
Rhoden's message contained a highlighting<br />
of conditions that contributed to the business<br />
drop that occurred during t'ne early<br />
part of this year, cited the uptrend that has<br />
been moving ahead since May and fiirnished<br />
statistics that bode well for the future. He<br />
announced a contest covering a 16-wsek period<br />
to continue the drive for further business<br />
improvement.<br />
Charles Einfeld, vice-president in charge<br />
of advertising for 20th Century-Fox, was the<br />
principal speaker at the afternoon -.ession<br />
of the gathering. "We have unlimited faith in<br />
the future," he said. "As a production company,<br />
we will invest more than $100,000,000<br />
in pictures in the next two years. That represents<br />
our faith in the industry's future."<br />
Einfeld stressed the quality of product<br />
coming from all studios, in addition to pictures<br />
in current release. "We will have a<br />
renaissance—a resurgence of attendance," he<br />
said, "the like of which we have never known<br />
in this business. We may have a couple of<br />
rough months due to the world series, the<br />
fall opening television and radio shows—but<br />
you will have the greatest pictures from all<br />
studios with which to combat this competition.<br />
In normal years four or five big pictures<br />
were a season's limit. But I can name<br />
15 or 20 big pictures that will be released<br />
within the next few months."<br />
In addition to outlining the merchandising<br />
campaigns on eight 20th-Fox films to be<br />
released between now and the end of the<br />
year, Einfeld stressed the need for stepping<br />
up promotional effort at the point-of-sale.<br />
He offered to spend even money with exhibitors<br />
on cooperative advertising—dollar for<br />
dollar. "Free money," he termed it, which,<br />
he said, had not had many takers. He made it<br />
clear that this applied to every size town,<br />
not merely key cities and not alone for<br />
newspapers, but "everything."<br />
Einfeld urged the exhibitors to extend<br />
themselves beyond administrative duties. "It<br />
isn't enough to get the chewing gum off the<br />
carpet; it isn't enough to put in new chairs,"<br />
he said. "If you don't get people to sit in<br />
those chairs, they'll be new for a long time.<br />
We have too many administrators and not<br />
enough showmen. We must get out and work<br />
to stimulate business. We must find the<br />
hidden values in pictures and go out and<br />
sell them."<br />
Set Wald-Krosna Previews<br />
NEW YORK— "The Blue Veil" and "Behave<br />
Yourself." the two first pictures of Jerry<br />
Wald and Norman Krasna on the RKO schedule,<br />
will be shown to exhibitors by means of<br />
sneak previews early in September. The<br />
showings, with the exception of New York,<br />
will be in theatres in the evening around<br />
8:30 and seats will be reserved for exhibitors<br />
who want to attend. There will be no<br />
screenings in projection rooms.<br />
12 BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
T//^ IndustrV Ufl'lOnS Ask<br />
Senate Group Kills<br />
Hniico I<br />
House Tax av l.lanco Clause<br />
X<br />
WASHINGTON—The senate finance committee<br />
on Friday i24), working on a new tax<br />
bill, threw out a house-passed provision which<br />
would have allowed a corporation in a closely<br />
controlled group only one $25,000 surtax exemption<br />
and only one minimum excess profits<br />
tax credit.<br />
The Virginia Motion Picture Theatre Owners<br />
Ass'n had testified against the house provision<br />
at committee hearings.<br />
The senate unit also reversed the house in<br />
voting to kill a provision imposing a withholding<br />
tax on dividends, interest and royalties.<br />
House tax experts had predicted these<br />
taxes would net an estimated $300,000,000 annually.<br />
The committee left in the tax bill a housepassed<br />
requirement that any company paying<br />
interest must report to the Treasury any such<br />
payments over $100, with discretion placed in<br />
the Secretary of the Treasury to requiring<br />
the reporting of lesser payments.<br />
A similar provision applying to dividends<br />
was enacted last year. Committee chairman<br />
Senator Walter F. George (D., Ga.i said that<br />
his unit feels proper reporting under these<br />
requirements would prevent any tax evasion<br />
and thus make up the estimated $300,000,000<br />
tax loss.<br />
Official Films, Fairbanks<br />
Dissolve Partnership<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Only a few weeks after<br />
the merger was announced, the partnership<br />
between Official Films and Jerry Fairbanks<br />
Productions, TV filmmaking unit, has<br />
been dissolved. The divorcement was decided<br />
at a special board meeting of Official Films<br />
in New York with the explanation that a "detailed<br />
study" had revealed "greater all-around<br />
efficiency" can best be achieved if the two<br />
divisions operate individually.<br />
Under the new setup, the Fairbanks unit<br />
returns to independent status, with Sid Rogell<br />
as executive vice-president in charge of studio<br />
operations and Austin Sherman as secretary<br />
and a board member. Fairbanks is president<br />
and board chairman.<br />
Official will continue to sell and distribute<br />
the Faii'banks video output as part of its TV<br />
operations. However, Fairbanks and Rogell<br />
are relinquishing their posts on the Official<br />
board of directors.<br />
Robert Walker, Actor, Dies;<br />
Succumbs After Sedative<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Robert Walker, actor, age<br />
32, who made a comeback in films after his<br />
drinking escapades had threatened to cut<br />
short his career, died Tuesday night (28) in<br />
his Hollywood home after a sedative had been<br />
given to him. Late in 1948 Walker went to<br />
Topeka, where he entered the Menninger<br />
Psychiatric clinic for treatment of his alcoholic<br />
ways.<br />
The last picture Walker made was for<br />
Paramount, where he appeared with Helen<br />
Hayes in "My Son, John." The film has not<br />
been released. Pi-evious films included<br />
"Strangers on a Train" for Warner Bros.,<br />
"Vengeance Valley" "See Here, Private Hargrove"<br />
and "What Next, Corporal Hargrove"<br />
for<br />
MGM.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951<br />
Taft-Hartley Change<br />
Agnew and Sif f Appointed<br />
To Salary Control Board<br />
WASHINGTON — Neil F. Agnew, former<br />
vice-president at Paramount and Selznick<br />
International and now a consultant to independent<br />
film distributors, and Philip E. Siff,<br />
a former director of Selznick International<br />
and United Artists, have been named to the<br />
Salary Stabilization Board three-man committee<br />
to study the salary control problems<br />
of the screen, radio, stage and television.<br />
Chairman of the group will be Roy Hendrickson,<br />
former personnel director of the<br />
Department of Agriculture.<br />
The committee will confer with employers<br />
and employes in the talent field and will<br />
make confidential recommendations to the<br />
board as to stabilization of compensation.<br />
No<br />
public hearings will be held.<br />
One board official says that the scope of<br />
the committee, which was scheduled to travel<br />
around the nation taking testimony, may<br />
have to be cut drastically. He pointed out<br />
that the house had cut down to $1,000,000 the<br />
requested $3,000,000 appropriation for the<br />
board covering the current fiscal year. If the<br />
senate upholds the house action, the Salary<br />
Stabilization committee will have much less<br />
money to spend.<br />
The three-man panel to study pay problems<br />
of talent in the motion picture and other<br />
entertainment fields held its first meeting<br />
Thursday (30), but confined the discussion to<br />
organizational and planning matters.<br />
Several salary aspects peculiar to the entertainment<br />
industries were docketed for<br />
special inquiry, however, including the problem<br />
of "percentage deals" where performers<br />
receive pay partly on a salary basis, partly on<br />
a share of the profits; and that of "interlocking<br />
types of compensation," involving<br />
talent earning their livings from more than<br />
one industry, for example, a screen player<br />
who also appears on radio, television or both.<br />
Next meeting won't be held until the middle<br />
of September, Hendrickson said, but in the<br />
meantime some informal meetings with entertainment<br />
industry executives may be held<br />
by the individual members.<br />
American Magazine Adds<br />
Entertainment Section<br />
NEW YORK—The American magazine is<br />
adding an entertainment department with<br />
the September issue, selecting its choice of the<br />
best family entertainment in motion pictures,<br />
radio, TV and recordings each month. The<br />
Crowell-Collier publication thus joins other<br />
magazines of general circulation and its own<br />
Woman's Home Companion in acknowledging<br />
the popular interest in such a section.<br />
The magazine's new feature uses photos and<br />
text in describing its pick of motion picture<br />
entertainment. Exceptional radio and video<br />
programs and latest record releases are similarly<br />
covered.<br />
WASHINGTON—A senate labor subcommittee<br />
considering a bill to amend the Taft-<br />
Hartley act introduced by Senator Hubert H.<br />
Humphrey (D., Minn.), Taft-Hartley coauthor<br />
Robert A. Taft (R., Ohio) and Senators<br />
Nixon and Cain, Republicans of California<br />
and Washington, respectively, on Monday<br />
(27) heard film industry labor union<br />
pleas for elimination of the requirement of<br />
union shop elections in the film industry.<br />
lATSE and Screen Actors Guild representatives<br />
also asked the senators to abolish the<br />
present provision for a 30-day waiting period<br />
before an employe is required to become a<br />
member of the contracting union in a "union<br />
shop," insofar as it applies to actors and<br />
studio craft workers.<br />
Testifying for lATSE was international<br />
representative Roy Brewer. Appearing for<br />
SAG were John Dales jr., executive secretary,<br />
and Richard Carlson, director.<br />
Carlson said that the 30-day clause cuts<br />
employment opportunities for professional<br />
actors, particularly small part and bit players<br />
who already earn less than $5,000 a year<br />
on the average. The 30-day delay in joining<br />
the actors union, according to Carlson, permits<br />
"thousands of persons who are not professional<br />
actors, and who have no intention<br />
of trying to make a livelihood in motion picture<br />
work, to deprive professional actors of<br />
sorely needed jobs."<br />
Senator Nixon, after hearing the film industry<br />
union witnesses, immediately introduced<br />
a bill amending the Taft-Hartley act<br />
to cut the 30-day period down to two days<br />
for the film industry, but said the period<br />
could not be eliminated entirely as asked by<br />
Carlson.<br />
Brewer said that "increasingly serious" unemployment<br />
among studio craft workers could<br />
be alleviated by passage of the bill. "A pool<br />
of skilled employes is essential to the future<br />
success of the motion picture industry," he<br />
said, "and nothing could be more harmful<br />
than the dissipation of this pool by an invasion<br />
of outsiders who do not intend to stay."<br />
VISIT BOXOFFICE PLANT — 20th<br />
Century-Fox executives Charles Einfeld<br />
and Peter Levathes, with Alec Moss, look<br />
over the shoulder of Ben Shlyen at the<br />
20th-Fox "answer" to Life magazine's recent<br />
article on the industry. The scene is<br />
the office of the publisher at his Kansas<br />
City headquarters.
Ir<br />
VEMBER'S<br />
IMPORTANT PLATING TIME DEMANDS<br />
THE IMPORTANT ATTRACTIONS<br />
OF<br />
And for your immediate requirements, play all the ten<br />
champion grossers available now and in October in<br />
y^iTm^J^<br />
Paramount's List With The <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Lift:<br />
DATE<br />
TITLE<br />
JOHN PAYNE<br />
DENNIS O'KEEFE<br />
Yes, November<br />
Passage West<br />
ARLEEN WHELAN<br />
JULY<br />
is<br />
a vital<br />
The Big Carnival<br />
Peking Express<br />
JOSEPH COTTEN<br />
CORINNE CAlVEl<br />
EDMUND GWENN<br />
boxoffice<br />
month—<br />
AUGUST<br />
That's My Boy<br />
with its three<br />
Warpath<br />
Here Comes The Groom<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
/^ Place M The Sun<br />
EDMONO OeSIEN<br />
FORREST TUCKER<br />
BING CROSBY<br />
FRANCHOT TONE<br />
MONTGOMERY CLIFT<br />
SHELLEY WINTERS<br />
DEAN lAGGER<br />
HARRY CAREY<br />
lANE WYMAN<br />
ALEXIS SMITH<br />
ELIZABETH TAYLOR<br />
holidays: Election<br />
Day, Armistice Day,<br />
PtftlBtRG AND SEAIONS<br />
Rhubarb<br />
Thanksgiving.<br />
Crosswinds ZZ^<br />
lOHN PAYNE<br />
RHONDA FLEMING<br />
FORREST TUCKER<br />
Paramount's three<br />
OCTOBER<br />
Darling, How Could You!<br />
lOAN FONTAINE<br />
MONA FREEMAN<br />
lOHN LUND<br />
great November<br />
NovEMPER<br />
When Worlds Collide<br />
Submarine Command<br />
WILLIAM HOIOEN<br />
NANCt OLSON<br />
WILLIAM BENDII<br />
releases are the<br />
Detective Story<br />
KIRK DOUGLAS<br />
WILLIAM ema<br />
ELEANOR PARMR<br />
catht odonneli<br />
outstanding<br />
Hong Kong<br />
RHONDA FLEMING<br />
merchandise you need:<br />
DECEMBER<br />
???Hope Comedy<br />
(TO Bt TITLED Bf TH[ PUBLIC IN BIG COAST TO COAST POLL)
SPECTACLE OF INTERPLANETARY THRILLS!<br />
Most amazing of all science -fiction entertainment.<br />
From the producer of "Destination Moon."<br />
OimDSGOIllDE<br />
Color by TECHNICOLOR<br />
Produced by Directed by ,<br />
GEORGE PAL • RUDOLPH MATE<br />
Screenplay by Sydney Boehm<br />
Based on a novel by Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie<br />
The Korean adventure of the U.S.S. Tiger Shark — Filmed in cooperation<br />
with the U. S. Navy and the Department of Defense.<br />
[\mmm §mmm<br />
starring<br />
WILLIAM HOLDEN- NANCY OLSON<br />
WILLIAM BENDIX DON TAYLOR<br />
•<br />
A JOHN FARROW Production • Produced by JOSEPH SISTROM<br />
Directed by JOHN FARROW • Story and Screenplay by Jonathan Latimer<br />
The tense, terrific<br />
Broadway hit-play becomes<br />
a screen attraction of top boxoffice stature.<br />
KIRK ELEANOR WILLIAM<br />
DOUGLAS PARKER BENDIX<br />
WILLIAM WKLER'S production of sidney kingslevs<br />
detective S'toiy<br />
Also starring<br />
CATHY O'DON NELL<br />
Produced and Directed by WILLIAM WYLER • Screenplay by PHILIP YORDAN<br />
and ROBERT WYLER • Based on the play by SIDNEY KINGSLEY ^
Hughes Leases 3 Theatres<br />
For Woman' Premiere<br />
LOS ANGELES—Regarded as precedential,<br />
inasmuch as it involves direct action by a<br />
production executive to line up suitable showcases<br />
for a new film, is the takeover on a<br />
rental basis of three first run theatres here<br />
by Howard Hughes, RKO Radio's managing<br />
director of production, for a day-date run of<br />
"His Kind of Woman."<br />
Hughes leased the Orpheum, downtown de<br />
luxe house, from Sherrill C. Corwin's Metropolitan<br />
circuit: the Hawaii in Hollj'wood,<br />
owned by Al Galston and Jay Sutton: and<br />
Fox West Coast's El Rey. in the Wilshire<br />
district. "His Kind of Woman," starring Jane<br />
Ru.s.sen and Robert Mitchum, opened in the<br />
three houses Friday, August 31. The theatres<br />
have a combined seating capacity of more<br />
than 4.100.<br />
Customarily, RKO Radio product is given<br />
its local first run in the Hillstreet and Pantages<br />
theatres here, but Hughes reportedly<br />
was eager to open "Woman" prior to the<br />
Labor day holiday—and such booking would<br />
have been impossible in those two houses,<br />
which currently are day-dating "Alice in<br />
Wonderland" and have an inflexible lineup of<br />
several other new features in prospect for<br />
the next several weeks.<br />
The Orpheum. only southland showcase<br />
boasting large-screen theatre television equipment,<br />
was darkened by Corwin this spring<br />
after a variegated career as a first run, a<br />
vaudeville house and a combined stage-screen<br />
venture. At the time it was shuttered Corwin<br />
announced it was impossible for him to continue<br />
its operation on a profitable basis because<br />
of the paucity of acceptable first run<br />
fare.<br />
"His Kind of Woman" has already opened<br />
in Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia.<br />
The Orpheum-Hawaii-El Rey loop marks<br />
the second major change in the Los Angeles<br />
metropolitan area's first run lineup. On<br />
Wednesday, August 29. Universal-International<br />
withdrew from the five-theatre daydate<br />
circuit involving FWC's Ritz, Vogue,<br />
Studio City and Culver and the United Artists<br />
chain's United Artists to make its product<br />
available for bidding. First U-I release<br />
to be booked under the new system was<br />
"Francis Goes to the Races." which opened at<br />
the United Artists and two FWC houses, the<br />
Ritz and Iris.<br />
$L050,000 Antitrust Suit<br />
Filed in New York<br />
NEW YORK—Lavellon Amusement Corp.<br />
of East Rockaway, N. Y.. has filed an antitrust<br />
suit against Loew's, Inc., Paramount,<br />
Columbia, Universal, United Artists and Century<br />
Theatres in a move to upset the clearance<br />
situation. The plaintiff seeks $1,050,000<br />
in triple damages.<br />
Lavellon complaint concerns the 14-21 -day<br />
clearance over the Criterion at East Rockaway<br />
in favor of Century's Fantasy at Rockville<br />
Center, the Valley Stream in Valley<br />
Stream, the Lynbrook at Lynbrook, and the<br />
Baldwin at Baldwin, all on Long Island. The<br />
Lavellon company contends that the RKO-<br />
Loew product split constitutes restraint of<br />
trade.<br />
C. E. Smith Rejoins RKO<br />
As Acting Division Head<br />
NEW YORK—Cresson E. Smith, well-known<br />
sales executive formerly with RKO, has been<br />
named acting western division manager for<br />
the company by Robert Mochrie, vice-president<br />
and general sales manager. He will fill<br />
in during the absence of J. Herb Maclntyre<br />
from division headquarters in Los Angeles.<br />
In recent years Smith has operated his<br />
own orange ranch in California. Before going<br />
west about five years ago he had been<br />
with RKO for 15 years in various sales executive<br />
posts. At one time he acted as special<br />
representative for Phil Reisman, vice-president<br />
in charge of the foreign department,<br />
on special assignments abroad.<br />
On the Television Front<br />
Theatre TV Hearing<br />
Scheduled Sept. 10<br />
NEW YORK — Theatre television developments<br />
popped on several fronts during the<br />
week.<br />
The Federal Communications Commission<br />
indicated that it would hold a hearing September<br />
10 on granting wavelengths to theatres.<br />
Moves were started to get various<br />
branches of the industry together to discuss<br />
a united front at the hearing.<br />
Senator McFarland of Arizona, chairman<br />
of the senate interstate commerce committee,<br />
announced hearings would be held September<br />
5 and 6 on Senator Benton's bill to set up a<br />
citizens advisory commission on radio and<br />
television.<br />
Uncertainties on the extent of theatre use<br />
of the Ray Robinson-Randolph Turpin fight<br />
began to clear up in spite of the charge of<br />
75 cents per seat demanded by the International<br />
Boxing club. Some theatres will raise<br />
rates to $2, a few may hold to their regular<br />
admission scales, but most are expected to<br />
charge at least $1.25.<br />
S. H. Fabian decided to transfer his Albany<br />
television projector frcm the Palace to the<br />
Grand in order not to irritate the regular<br />
film trade at the Palace, a 3,600-seat house.<br />
The Grand has 1,550 seats. A $2 charge will<br />
be made and a B film will be booked to fill<br />
out the program.<br />
In Chicago Balaban & Katz decided to add<br />
the 4,400-seat Uptown to the list of houses<br />
showing the fight. This means the battle will<br />
go on either by means of the tube-to-film or<br />
direct TV projection in the State-Lake, Uptown<br />
and Tivoli, a total of 13,000 seats at $2<br />
each.<br />
In the meantime, reports spread that RKO<br />
was having difficulty booking enough theatres<br />
to show the films of the fight to cover its<br />
guarantee to the International Boxing club<br />
and that the fight picture project would be<br />
dropped in favor of a $300,000 television<br />
agreement with Pabst Brewing Co. The International<br />
Boxing club flatly denied that it<br />
would sell home television rights to the fight.<br />
RKO had until Saturday to sign enough exhibition<br />
contracts to cover its $325,000 guarantee.<br />
a 1 RUSSELL<br />
Hi - ,^^myk^mm itmHoa<br />
rFIVE-ST.VK PREMIKKK PACKS 'EiM IN CHICAGO—A view of the throng that<br />
stood out in front of the Roosevelt Theatre in Chicago for the premiere of "His Kind<br />
of Woman." Appearing in person were the five top stars of the film, namely Jane<br />
Russell, Robert Mitchum. Vincent Price, Marjorie Reynolds and Tim Holt. So great<br />
16<br />
was the clamor for seats that personal appearances were extended to two shows instead<br />
of the pre-planned single.<br />
I<br />
Good Color on TV Is Still<br />
Years Away, Says DuMont<br />
PITTSBURGH — Good color television is<br />
still "some years away," Dr. Allen B. DuMont.<br />
president of Allen B. DuMont Laboratories.<br />
Inc., told members of the Theta XI fraternity<br />
at their 87th annual convention here<br />
during the week.<br />
"The high cost of color receivers." he said,<br />
"makes their purchase prohibitive." He<br />
pointed out that a 10-inch color receiver is<br />
listed at approximately $500.<br />
Dr. DuMont said completion of the radio<br />
relay system linking the east and west coasts<br />
for television transmissions was an important<br />
advance, but he declared that the industry's<br />
biggest problem was still the lifting<br />
of the "freeze " on construction permits for<br />
new stations.<br />
Pittsburgh, he pointed out, is especially<br />
hard hit by the freeze, because it has only<br />
one TV station.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
NPA Okays Permits<br />
For 38 Theatres<br />
WASHINGTON—Thirty-eight applications<br />
for permission to build film theatres were<br />
granted by the National Production Authority,<br />
August 8 and 9, although NPA said that<br />
no express permission was necessary in the<br />
cases. The action was made public on<br />
Wednesday (22).<br />
The applications were submitted on forms<br />
prescribed under the M4A ban on amusement<br />
construction, but NPA said that the 38<br />
were exempt from M4A for one or another<br />
of the following reasons: d) The builders<br />
already had in their possession enough of<br />
the controlled materials to complete building;<br />
(2) the proposed building had been commenced<br />
before the deadline; (3) the theatres<br />
involved would require less than the maximum<br />
amounts permitted of controlled materials.<br />
Thirty of the applications covered driveins;<br />
four asked permission to build standard<br />
theatres, and there was one request to make<br />
additions to an existing standard theatre.<br />
Listing of applications and costs follow:<br />
CONVENTIONAL THEATBES<br />
Hastings, Neb.— Arthur Doht, $5,350.<br />
Creslview. Fla.—Neal Robinson and Tom Barrow,<br />
$21,500<br />
St. Petersburg, Fla.—Florida State Theatres, $35,500.<br />
Quincy, Wash.— Ebert & Butler Co., $41,180.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES<br />
Albuquerque. N. M.— Marlin Butler, $16,965.<br />
Bakerslield, Calil.—Five-Star Drive-In Theatre, Inc.,<br />
$34,000,<br />
Crone, Tex.—Sherman L. Hart, $13,275.<br />
Dallas. Tex.—C. A. Gallia and C. W. Hannes,<br />
$23,000,<br />
Douglas, Ariz.—W. P. Wickersham and B. J. Leavitt,<br />
$8,500.<br />
Douglas, Ariz.—Tri-Delta Amusement Co., $13,000.<br />
Eau Gallie, Fla.—Brevard Theatres, $30,000.<br />
Enosburg, Vt.—Enosburg Dnve-In Co., $8,163.<br />
Fayetteville, N. C—H, B, Meiselman, $12,715.<br />
Fort Worth. Tex.— D. B. Atwood and W. L. Ballenger,<br />
$12,800,<br />
Franklin City. Pa.—Joseph Yale Einbinder, $24,350,<br />
Hancock County, Ind.—lacob M. Smiler, $65,500.<br />
Harrisonburg, Va.—Valley Enterprises, Inc., $6,820-<br />
Hondo, Tex.—Ray L. Jennings, $21,511.<br />
Kinston. N. C—G. M. Hoodard, $10,575.<br />
Lewistown, Me.—Royal J, Boldue and John J,<br />
Boldue, $7,450<br />
Lily, Ky.—James B. Minnix, $6,900,<br />
Mailow, Okla.— O, L. Smith, $12,050,<br />
McCamey, Tex.—H. Ford Taylor, $10,700-<br />
Memphis. Tenn.— N. A, Cook jr., $2S,800.<br />
Murphy. N. C—P. J. Henn, $7,700.<br />
Orange, Miss.—John F. Whitney, $7,083.<br />
Oxford. Miss.— J, R. Adams, $7,400.<br />
Plantsville. Conn.—James A. Holmes, $40,500.<br />
Pompano. Fla.—Angelo C, Monalo, $7,465.<br />
Roswell, N. M.—Tom Grilling, $10,800.<br />
Roxboro, N. C—O. T. and C. B. Kirby, $7,450.<br />
Slaton. Tex.— Childress Theatres, $18,181.<br />
Vienna. Ga.—Vienna Theatre, remodeling, $26,000<br />
Winnsboro, La.—George B. Elom, $11,385.<br />
Winslow. Ariz.—Vaughan Taylor, $46,873.<br />
Snader Telescriptions, Inc.,<br />
Names District Managers<br />
NEW YORK— Pour di.stnct<br />
managers have<br />
been named by Snader Telescriptions Sales,<br />
Inc., as part of an expansion move being<br />
conducted by Reuben Kaufman, president,<br />
and Oliver A. Unger, vice-president. The<br />
new men are Sam Wheeler, Washington;<br />
Albert Bezel, Detroit: Leonard Mintz, Philadelphia,<br />
and Robert Hartgrove, Dallas. More<br />
appointments are scheduled.<br />
Nine films from Sir Alexander Korda lia\e<br />
been acquired for both theatre and television<br />
use, the television use to follow immediately<br />
after theatre exhibition with no intervening<br />
residual selling. The company also<br />
has four other films to be handled in the<br />
same way.<br />
Nate Golden to Address<br />
TESMA, TEDA Sessions<br />
Kiddy Admissions Drop;<br />
Adult Prices Hit Record<br />
WASHINGTON—Admission prices for children<br />
dropped to the lowest figure since 1944,<br />
but adult admission prices in the 34 largest<br />
cities reached all-time high levels during the<br />
first half of 1951, according to a Bureau of<br />
Labor Statistics study in connection with the<br />
cost-of-living index, it was revealed Tuesday<br />
(28).<br />
Adult prices reached record levels by the<br />
end of the first quarter and then fell slightly,<br />
but were still second highest of record in the<br />
second quarter.<br />
The adult admissions price index during<br />
the first quarter rose from 73.1 per cent over<br />
the prewar average at the end of 1950 to 78<br />
per cent higher at the end of IVIarch. Previous<br />
all-time high was 74.3 per cent in September,<br />
1949. The index receded slightly to<br />
75.9 per cent over prewar levels in the second<br />
quarter of the year.<br />
Tlie children's admission price index, 58.2<br />
per cent over prewar at the start of 1951,<br />
dropped in the first quarter to 56.3 per cent<br />
and then fell even more sharply to 49 per<br />
cent in the second quarter.<br />
Combining the two indexeis, admission<br />
prices as a whole rose in the first quarter to<br />
an all-time record 75.1 per cent over prewar<br />
and then fell off to 72.3 per cent in the second<br />
quarter. This compares to the previous<br />
record high for the combined indexes of 71.9<br />
per cent in September 1949.<br />
Federal Ticket Tax Take<br />
Below Previous Year<br />
WASHINGTON—The Treasury department<br />
on Saturday (25) revealed that general admission<br />
taxes collected by the federal government<br />
in the fiscal year ended June 30,<br />
1951, had dropped $24,750,000 below the total<br />
collections during the previous 12 months.<br />
Admission tax collections for the 1951 fiscal<br />
year reached $346,491,715, compared to<br />
$371,244,019 in fiscal 1950. These figures include<br />
collections from the 20 per cent levy<br />
on concerts, legitimate theatres and sports<br />
activities as well as from film theatres.<br />
July admissions tax collections were $28,-<br />
620,413, as compared to $29,247,204 in July<br />
of last year and $25,516,809 in June of 1951.<br />
The July collections covered June admissions.<br />
and showed that through that month boxoffice<br />
receipts were continuing below the<br />
comparable 1950 period, although June 1951<br />
grosses were considerably higher than the<br />
month before.<br />
Amusement License Taxes<br />
$4,931,000 During 1951<br />
WASHINGTON—A total of $4,931,000 in<br />
license taxes and $12,885,000 in sales and<br />
gross receipts taxes were paid to the states<br />
by amusement enterprises in the fiscal year<br />
1951, according to a state tax collections<br />
compilation made public on Monday (26) by<br />
the Census bureau.<br />
LOS ANGELES—Nathan Golden of the<br />
U.S. Department of Commerce will be one<br />
of the notables who ^^_^ ~~<br />
will address the Thca- '~ '<br />
H<br />
tre Equipment a ii d<br />
Supply Manufacturer.s'<br />
Ass'n in its annual<br />
convention at the<br />
Ambassador hotel here<br />
October 11, 12 and 13.<br />
According to the program<br />
plans at the<br />
TESMA west coast offices,<br />
there will be<br />
boai-d of directors<br />
meetings of both that Nathan Golden<br />
group and the Theatre<br />
Equipment Dealers Assn, which meets at the<br />
Ambassador in conjunction with TESMA, on<br />
the morning of the 11th.<br />
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS<br />
An all-industry luncheon is .scheduled for<br />
that noon and the first afternoon will find<br />
both associations conducting their regular<br />
business meetings, at which time the results<br />
of the morning elections will be announced.<br />
On the second noon, TESMA will give a<br />
luncheon for its members and TEDA will<br />
open the day with its annual breakfast.<br />
There will be an open forum at 2:00 p. m.,<br />
October 12 to which everyone in the industry<br />
is invited. Golden's address will precede the<br />
forum and other industry figures will be<br />
heard at this time. Representing TEDA at<br />
the roundtable will be Ken Douglas of Capitol<br />
Theatre Supply Co., Boston: B. F. Shearer<br />
of B. F. Shearer Co., of the west coast, and<br />
Nash Weil of Wil-Kin Tlieatre Supply Co.,<br />
Atlanta. The representatives of the manufacturers<br />
have not yet been selected. All industry<br />
problems will be openly discussed at<br />
the forum.<br />
The annual banquet will be held the evening<br />
of October 12 following the National<br />
Carbon cocktail hour. TESMA Secretary Roy<br />
Boomer is arranging the entertainment program<br />
and expects it to surpass anything the<br />
conventioners have seen in prior years.<br />
CONTRIBUTORS TO PARTY<br />
The following TESMA members have<br />
voluntarily contributed funds for a sponsored<br />
party to be held Satm-day night, October 13:<br />
Adler Silhouette Letter Co., Automatic Devices<br />
Co., Ballantyne Co., Goldberg Brothers,<br />
Gordos Corp., Heywood-Wakefield Co., Kollmorgen<br />
Optical Co., Krispy Kist Korn Machine<br />
Co., Miniature Train Co., Motiograph,<br />
Inc., Payne Pi'oducts Co., Neumade Products<br />
Corp., RCA, C. S. Ashcraft Mfg. Co., Bausch<br />
and Lomb Optical Co., Mission Dry Corp.,<br />
DeVry Corp., LaVezzi Machine Works, GoldE<br />
Manufacturing Co., Hal Huff Mfg. Co.,<br />
Minneapolis Securities Corp., Wenzel Projector<br />
Co.<br />
Cue to Have Film Article<br />
NEW YORK—Cue magazine will devote<br />
part of its November 10 issue to Movietime<br />
U.S.A., with pictures on next year's production<br />
and exhibition plans. Included will be<br />
a survey of the entertainment habits of the<br />
metropolitan New York audiences.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 17
Talk About<br />
Nm<br />
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naf Ad Campaigns!<br />
bination<br />
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AT THIS ONE!..<br />
Seat-selling sockeroo FULL-COLOR ads<br />
in 50,773,473 copies of national<br />
magazines and Sunday newspaper<br />
supplements — numerical circulation<br />
enough on readership statistics to reach<br />
every moviegoer in the country!<br />
-lOUELUO. PARSONS<br />
OWARD HUGHES presents<br />
nCHUM-JftMlRUSSEU<br />
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«
: September<br />
LETTERS<br />
Suggest 'Flood Relief Drive'<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
I've just read the letter from K. H. and<br />
Edna Gaston to BOXOFFICE on the subject<br />
of a "Disaster Fund." I am very much interested<br />
in a fund such as they mentioned.<br />
I had hoped that would be the outcome of<br />
the fund that was raised in our behalf.<br />
No one knows how much it meant to us<br />
when we received the help that put us back<br />
in business. I'm sure there are many small<br />
town exhibitors who, if some disaster such as<br />
flood, fire, tornado, etc., should strike, would<br />
find it impossible to rebuild. No one is<br />
immune to disaster! Probably the ones who<br />
would feel the blow the strongest would be<br />
the little fellows. It would take a lot of<br />
thinking and planning to get a plan into<br />
effect but I believe it can be done. It might<br />
be a good idea to pay according to seats<br />
or total value or receive help accordingly.<br />
We have followed the stories of the floods<br />
in Kansas and Mi.ssouri and have felt that<br />
we could sympathize with those who have<br />
suffered such great losses. We would be very<br />
glad to help in any way to aid these unfortunate<br />
fellow e.xhibitors.<br />
Why not a 'Flood Relief Drive?" Who<br />
wouldn't be willing to donate one night's receipts<br />
from a film or even from popcorn<br />
to help them clean up and repair their theatres?<br />
Does it sound impossible? Maybe in<br />
some industrial ranks it would be, but not<br />
in the movie industry. It has been done,<br />
I<br />
KNOW!<br />
Let's hear what others think of these ideas.<br />
JIM MOTE<br />
Friendship Theatre<br />
Sterling. Okla.<br />
(Editor's note: In the August 11 issue of<br />
BOXOFFICE, it was reported that an areawide<br />
theatre party for exhibitors who suffered<br />
damages in the devastating flood of the<br />
Kansas and Missouri rivers is being planned<br />
by the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n).<br />
Vadis" will rack up grosses that will make<br />
all of us sit up in amazement, mark my<br />
words. Then, when the first third-dimensional<br />
picture gets into the theatres equipped<br />
to handle it, a new era will be born, and we'll<br />
all be happy once again.<br />
In closing, I cannot understand why 20th<br />
Century-Fox led the parade recently in a<br />
"Movies Are Better Than Ever" public relations<br />
campaign, and then turned around and<br />
gave us press books with the lousiest ads I<br />
have ever seen and titles such as "No Way<br />
Out," "The Man Who Cheated Himself," "I<br />
Can Get It for You Wholesale." etc.<br />
Manager,<br />
Elmdale Theatre,<br />
Ottawa, Ontario.<br />
FRED LEAVENS<br />
Bridgeport Defeats Texas<br />
For Little League Title<br />
WILLIAMSPORT. PA.—The Bridgeport,<br />
Conn., team defeated Texas for the Little<br />
League championship, 3-0, here Saturday<br />
(24) in the windup of the 1951 season. This<br />
year teams from the 48 states competed.<br />
National news coverage was given the<br />
games, with newspaper men from all the syndicates,<br />
from the states of the home games,<br />
newsreel cameramen. CBS, and a crew from<br />
Emerson Yorke Studios which will produce a<br />
short on the game.<br />
Eight teams came here for the finals:<br />
Stamford, Conn.; Potter-McKean, Pa.: Pensacola,<br />
Fla.: Fairmont, W. Va.: Austin, Tex.:<br />
Portland. Me.; San Bernardino, Calif., and<br />
Chicago.<br />
Ann Blyth With Gregory Peck<br />
Ann Blyth will star with Gregory Peck in<br />
U-I's "The World in His Arms."<br />
175 Republic Films<br />
Leased lo KTTV<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In what is believed to be<br />
the largest sale of its kind yet consummated.<br />
Republic's newly formed video subsidiary.<br />
Hollywood Television Service, Inc., has disposed<br />
of 175 films of varying vintage to station<br />
KTTV. video outlet here, owned by the<br />
Los Angeles Times. KTTV leased the pictures<br />
for a year's time and is permitted two<br />
runs of each subject within that period.<br />
No films starring Roy Rogers or Gene<br />
Autry are involved. The former has instituted<br />
litigation seeking to enjoin Republic<br />
from disposing of the starrers he made under<br />
the company banner to TV for commercial<br />
purposes, while Autry has gone on record that<br />
he. too, will resort to legal action should any<br />
of his Republic sagebrushers be peddled to<br />
video.<br />
Of the 175 subjects, 101 are westerns with<br />
such names as Donald "Red" Barry, Sunset<br />
Carson, Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Steele;<br />
48 are half-hour episodes of cliffhangers, and<br />
the balance are featiu'es toplining Bruce<br />
Cabot, James Gleason, Charles Bickford,<br />
Mary Boland. Joseph Schildkraut and other<br />
players.<br />
The American Federation of Musicians will<br />
receive 5 per cent of the gross from the<br />
transaction.<br />
Crawford Going on Tour<br />
NEW YORK — Broderick Crawford will<br />
start a personal appearance tour September<br />
10 for four territorial campaigns on "The<br />
Mob" (Col). He will stop at Loew's theatres<br />
in Syracuse and Rochester that day and will<br />
appear September 12 at Basil's Lafayette,<br />
Buffalo: Fox. Detroit, September 21; Fox, St.<br />
Louis. September 25. Whirlwind tours of<br />
neighboring cities in each territory will be<br />
sandwiched in.<br />
Prescribes Basis for Success<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
It is a theatre owner's duty to see that his<br />
theatres are equipped with the newest in<br />
sound and projection equipment, seats, and<br />
everything required to make his operation<br />
successful in this respect. I would venture<br />
to .say that the up-to-date, properly managed<br />
theatres are still open and doing fairly well<br />
If a theatre owner cannot keep his theatre<br />
modern and really managed, then he should<br />
sell it or clo.se it, which probably has been<br />
the reason why many theatres have closed.<br />
you don't get the results from an old rundown<br />
car that you do from a new well-kept<br />
one.<br />
The exhibitor depends on Hollywood for<br />
his product. It disturbed me when Hollywood<br />
announced some time ago that it would<br />
produce pictures on smaller budgets. Several<br />
pictures were produced on smaller budgets,<br />
many good ones, but they just did not have<br />
the boxoffice appeal. This lasted for a period<br />
of .several months and now more expensive<br />
pictures like "The Great Caruso" and "Show<br />
Boat" are doing phenomenal business. Watch<br />
the budgets increase once again with resultantly<br />
better pictures and boxoffice. "Quo<br />
WOKK ON 1().\ CONVENTION PL.ANS— Si Fabian i<br />
seated, center), general chairman<br />
for the Theatre Owners convention, meets with his "working" committee in the<br />
board room of the Fabian Theatre Co. in New York City to complete the plans, agenda<br />
and entertainment for the national conclave to be held September 23-'Z7 at Hotel .\stor<br />
in New York. Seated, left to right: Gael Sullivan, executive director; Herman Levy,<br />
general counsel; Fabian; Charles E. Lewis, assistant general chairman, and Phil<br />
Barling, convention coordinator. Standing: Edward Fabian and Maurice Miller.<br />
20 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
1, 1951
'h<br />
^Xl^^^<br />
^fipfi<br />
t<br />
grossed<br />
BIG, too,<br />
in Providence,<br />
Hartford, New Haven,<br />
Waterbury, Fall River,<br />
Lawrence, New Bedford.<br />
JSiUSi^ TOPPING<br />
"HARVEY" BUSINESS<br />
in Scranton, Pa.<br />
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.<br />
Bethlehem, Pa.<br />
start a shower at your boxoffice. '^-^^ Book it now!
7Hc*t €Utd Sv€Ht^<br />
Suhsequeni Runs Ads<br />
^AVID A. LIPTON of Universal-International<br />
and William K. Hollander of<br />
Balaban & Katz tried a cooperative ad<br />
stunt for two subsequent runs that could<br />
prove useful elsewhere. Thirty B&K Chicago<br />
neighborhood houses joined with U-I<br />
to buy display space for the openings of<br />
"Pi-ancis Goes to the Races" and "Little<br />
Egypt."<br />
The plan dominated the amusement<br />
pages, made the pictures seem more important<br />
than the usual directory ads could<br />
have done, and took advantage in a big<br />
way of the previous selling done on first<br />
runs. Business was good.<br />
Ti-ansferring some of the impact of first<br />
run exploitation to the subsequents has<br />
been a goal for some time. Twentieth<br />
Century-Fox hoped to achieve it when it<br />
proposed shortened runs in Philadelphia<br />
a year or two ago. RKO and Loew's have<br />
been combining display space and directory<br />
ads in New York newspapers for years. At<br />
present the problem is being approached<br />
in a different way by splitting the day-anddate<br />
subsequent bookings in Detroit.<br />
Lipton"s plan might lose some of its<br />
punch with week-in-and-week-out repetition<br />
on all pictures, but it is effective in<br />
boosting business on the top product. There<br />
is no reason why the downtown opening<br />
fireworks should be left to smoulder after<br />
one big flash.<br />
That 20th-Fox Ad<br />
J_IFE magazine editors may be expert in<br />
selecting pictures to prove a point, no<br />
matter how far off the beam the point<br />
may be, but Spyros P. Skouras and Charles<br />
Einfeld are not amateurs. Take a look at the<br />
two-page spread in last week's <strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
with this big caption: "NOW IT IS 'DAVID<br />
AND BATHSHEBA' THAT IS SUPER-<br />
COLOSSAL."<br />
That's the Life makeup in reverse. None<br />
of those theatres are closed, and the remaining<br />
four pictures of the layout give<br />
the impression that something important<br />
is being done to exploit important pictures.<br />
An industry service, we call it—or, to<br />
use an old-fashioned expression, striking<br />
while the iron is hot—also the exhibitors.<br />
Where's That Cameraman?<br />
LIFE'S photographer—the one who collected<br />
the pictures of closed theatres<br />
could have gotten a crowded lensful any<br />
day last week around mid-Manhattan<br />
houses—and we mean around, not just in<br />
front of the boxoffices.<br />
It has become a standing joke in the<br />
last two months to remark: "Musta stopped<br />
advertising." if the Radio City Music Hall<br />
line is less than a half block long. "Show<br />
Boat" is there now—sixth week!<br />
But not everybody hangs around the<br />
Music Hall waiting to get in. The Roxy,<br />
with "Meet Me After the Show" and the<br />
Milton Berle-Dagmar stage show, did a terrific<br />
gross the first week. The Paramount,<br />
with "That's My Boy," had a tidy figure.<br />
The Rivoli started "David and Bathsheba"<br />
By JAMES M.JERAULD<br />
with a take that Monte Salmon described<br />
as a record and Lynn Farnol qualified as<br />
"phenomenal." "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
rolled along at a merry pace in its fourth<br />
week at the Criterion.<br />
Those summer doldrums!<br />
Rate Boosting<br />
THE good old goose that lays the golden<br />
egg will get a pain in his long neck if<br />
an epidemic of rate boosting sets in among<br />
theatres showing TV pictures of fights<br />
while they are happening. There's talk<br />
of a $2 charge for the Robinson-Turpin<br />
fight September 12.<br />
Some houses upped scales for the Louis-<br />
Bivins fight in Baltimore and business was<br />
spotty. Theatres now showing these fights<br />
are pioneers in an undertaking that can<br />
develop into something important. Costs<br />
should be kept down by both the International<br />
Boxing Club and exhibitors until the<br />
TV installations reach the point where<br />
overhead comes down. Audience resentment<br />
against upped scales must be considered<br />
until the project proves itself. Pi'ice-conscious<br />
patrons might decide to wait 24 or<br />
48 hours for the RKO pictures.<br />
Nature Is<br />
Wonderful<br />
JEFF LIVINGSTON, who publicizes J.<br />
Arthur Rank pictures in this country,<br />
writes<br />
"Hollywood may have a monopoly on<br />
animal stars, what with Francis, the mule;<br />
Rhubarb, the cat: Bonzo, the chimpanzee;<br />
Lassie, the dog, and all the others, but England<br />
claims the honor of introducing the<br />
first crustacean personality to the screen.<br />
The candidate to the growing list of nonhuman<br />
stars is Louella—a lobster. Louella<br />
is importantly cast in Julian Wlntle's new<br />
suspense story, 'Hunted.' "<br />
Many years ago Paramount introduced<br />
trained fleas in a picture, but the bright<br />
lights cooked 'em.<br />
Next?<br />
Trailer Novelty<br />
^LLIED leaders have a promotion idea<br />
that's so good it's a wonder nobody<br />
thought of it before. Members attending<br />
the convention at the end of October will<br />
be able to step into a room and be photographed<br />
saying anything they want to say<br />
about their theatres and forthcoming<br />
product.<br />
Prints will be made and delivered to<br />
them for use just before the trailers start<br />
in their theatres. Good idea? It brings<br />
the exhibitor before the audience and supplies<br />
a personal note to the announcement<br />
of the following program.<br />
Mayer to Speak on Radio<br />
NEW YORK—Arthur L. Mayer, executive<br />
vice-president of the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations, will supply details of<br />
the Movietime U.S.A. drive on Bill Leonard's<br />
"This Is New York" radio program over Columbia<br />
Broadcasting System at 9 a. m. Monday<br />
(3).<br />
Warners to Receive<br />
Award of Pioneers<br />
NEW YORK—•Pioneers of the year" to be<br />
honored at the 12th annual dinner of Motion<br />
Picture Pioneers will be Harry M., Jack L.<br />
and Albert Warner. Jack Cohn, president,<br />
has notified the Warner brothers that they<br />
were the unanimous choice of the board of<br />
directors.<br />
This will be the first time that the organization<br />
has honored more than one individual<br />
in this way. The brothers will be given a<br />
plaque and also individual "pioneei--of-theyear"<br />
scrolls. The dinner is scheduled for<br />
mid-November.<br />
The Warner company is celebrating the<br />
silver anniversary of talking pictures this<br />
year. The brothers began as exhibitors in<br />
1905 at Youngstown, Ohio, where they acquired<br />
a projector and showed "The Great<br />
Train Robbery." Their first theatre was at<br />
New Castle, Pa. Their first production effort<br />
was in 1917, "My Four Years in Germany,"<br />
a film based on Ambassador James W.<br />
Gerard's story. They began pioneering in<br />
sound in the early 20s and finally introduced<br />
sound pictures in 1926 with the cooperation<br />
of the Western Electric Co., Eastman<br />
Kodak, RCA Victor, Thomas A. Edison,<br />
Inc., and others.<br />
Recipients of the Pioneers' award have been<br />
Gus S. Eyssell in 1948, Cecil B. DeMille in<br />
1949 and Spyros P. Skouras in 1950.<br />
David Golding Will Head<br />
Goldwyn's Ad-Publicity<br />
NEW YORK — David Golding, until recently<br />
publicity manager for 20th Century-<br />
Fox, has been named<br />
as director of advertising<br />
and publicity for<br />
Samuel Goldwyn Productions,<br />
Inc., by<br />
James A. Mulvey,<br />
president. Martin S.<br />
Davis, who has been<br />
with the company for<br />
the past four and onehalf<br />
years, will stay as<br />
assistant director.<br />
Golding will take<br />
David Golding<br />
over his new job September<br />
4. He represented<br />
Goldwyn in Great Britain during 1946<br />
and 1947.<br />
To Film Allied Members<br />
At National Convention<br />
NEW YORK—Exhibitors who attend the<br />
National Allied convention at the Biltmore<br />
hotel. New York, October 28-November 1, will<br />
be able to take home personal messages to<br />
their patrons on 35mm sound film. Prints<br />
will be furnished without cost by National<br />
Screen Service.<br />
This novelty has been arranged as one of<br />
the convention features. Each exhibitor will<br />
be able to tell his patrons about his trip to<br />
New York, screening of new pictures and the<br />
bright prospects for the moviegoing public.<br />
Specific reference will be made to the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign, which will be in full<br />
swing by that time.<br />
Prints will be prepared as rapidly as possible<br />
so that exhibitors may screen them in<br />
their theatres upon their return.<br />
22 BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951
I^^&JS&/<br />
WESTERN<br />
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" DISC JOCKEy»» IS A MATHRii . ^<br />
CONTESr MET WlfH OVEfiWHELM^w; I"^ '*^'^''^'- ^ISC JOCKEY<br />
JOCKEYS. BROADCASTS EACH, '"'*^«"«»^ ^«0M DENVER DISC<br />
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«*LPH BATscHaer PA«,«euNr rHEAr«<br />
F«?4<br />
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day yesterday with 11^<br />
wcked<br />
at had come<br />
Ihe cast li<br />
e a Who's Who of po^<br />
Produced by<br />
MAURICE DUKE<br />
Directed by Will Jason<br />
Story and Screenplay by Clark E.<br />
Reynolds<br />
fc .ROCKY MOUHTAIHNIWS '^ii
: September<br />
'i¥MfCiUMd ^e^iwt<br />
By<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
September Production Starts With 39;<br />
Columbia Leads the Lineup With 11<br />
At hand is the industry's 1951-52 season<br />
one upon which the trade's best brains are<br />
concentrating an allout effort to win back<br />
that "lost audience" which can restore motion<br />
pictures to their former levels of prosperity<br />
and popularity. And, for the first<br />
month of the new season, the productional<br />
branch is concentrating on the busine.ss it<br />
knows best—the manufacture of new screen<br />
fare to serve as the focal point for filmdom's<br />
combined drumbeating efforts.<br />
At month's beginning, a tally revealed the<br />
majors and independents combined were<br />
planning a total of 39 new starting subjects,<br />
ranging from high-budgeted, multistar offerings<br />
to medium-bracketed bread-and-butter<br />
subjects. This pace is about on a par<br />
with August's 41-picture total, and reflects<br />
a substantial increase over the output during<br />
the late spring and early summer months.<br />
Topping the lineup, and setting a new<br />
speed record, is Columbia, where 11 features<br />
are in the blueprinting stage; while Warners<br />
copped place position with a lineup of six<br />
newcomers. At 20th Century-Fox. however,<br />
where the sound stages are already bursting<br />
with six productions in work, September will<br />
see no new ones starting.<br />
Here's the lineup, by studios:<br />
COLUMBIA—A whooping total of 11<br />
starting subjects are in the lineup at this<br />
studio—four of which will be made under the<br />
guidance of the Stanley Kramer production<br />
unit. Kramer will, in rapid succession, gun<br />
"Death of a Salesman," starring Fredric<br />
March, with Laslo Benedek megging; "Pour<br />
Poster," in which Rex Harrison and Lilli<br />
Palmer will be the only cast members, and<br />
Irving Reis the director; "My Six Convicts,"<br />
with Millard Mitchell and John Beal as the<br />
topliners, Hugo Fregonese directing, and "The<br />
Sniper," uncast at this point, Edward<br />
Dmytryk at the megaphone. Judy Holliday<br />
will star in "The Marrying Kind," a Bert<br />
Granet production, which George Cukor directs;<br />
Loretta Young is the tophner in Producer<br />
Buddy Adler's "The Mother," to be<br />
megged by Rudy Mate. Technicolor cameras<br />
will turn on "The Golden Hawk," Sam Katzman's<br />
picturization of a pirate novel by Frank<br />
Yerby. Pat O'Brien has the starring role in<br />
"Battle Stations," a navy yarn to be produced<br />
by Wallace MacDonald, who will also roll<br />
"The Harem Girl." a comedy toplining Joan<br />
Davis. Scheduled as a historical western in<br />
color, but uncast early in the period, is<br />
"Montana Territory," to be produced and directed,<br />
respectively, by Colbert Clark and Ray<br />
Nazarro; while Gene Autry rides thataway<br />
in "Night Stage to Galveston," being produced<br />
by Armand Schaefer under the Autry<br />
Productions banner.<br />
INDEPENDENT — With distribution arrangements<br />
to be .set upon its completion,<br />
camera work began in August's final days<br />
on "Three for Bedroom C," Gloria Swanson's<br />
first film since "Sunset Boulevard," under<br />
the productional guidance of Edward L.<br />
Alperson and Milton Bren. The project is<br />
apart from Alperson's multiple-picture releasing<br />
deal with 20th Century-Fox. With<br />
James Warren in the male lead, the opus, a<br />
romantic comedy, is being megged by Bren,<br />
who also supplied the screenplay. Jack Broder<br />
Productions will gun "The Bushwhackers."<br />
a John Ireland starrer, with Rod Amateau<br />
directing and Realart to handle distribution.<br />
Three others are being made prior to the negotiation<br />
of releases. Aspen Productions,<br />
headed by Directors Robert Wise and Mark<br />
Robson, will gun "The Long Chance," a gambling<br />
expose localed in Reno, with Theron<br />
Warth producing. Wise megging; and Sid<br />
Kuller launched "Actor's Blood," written and<br />
being directed by Ben Hecht, with Edward<br />
G. Robinson and Marsha Hunt in the leading<br />
roles. A behind-the-iron-curtain drama,<br />
"Escape to Freedom," is being readied by<br />
William F. Broidy Productions as a Roddy<br />
McDowall starrer, with Wesley Barry directing<br />
and Kristine Miller in the femme lead.<br />
It is regarded as probable that this one will<br />
wind up as a Monogram release, since Broidy's<br />
Five<br />
Republic Tinters;<br />
Ten From Warners<br />
The swing toward color photography<br />
grows apace. Shortly after Dore Schary,<br />
MGM production chieftain, disclosed that<br />
at least half of Leo's 1951-52 output will<br />
be tinted, two other studios made known<br />
their intentions also to concentrate more<br />
heavily on color in their upcoming lineups.<br />
Republic will have at least five tint<br />
jobs on its slate for the new season. "Bal<br />
Tabarin," to be filmed on location in<br />
Paris, will be photographed in the newly<br />
developed three-tint Trucolor, the same<br />
process utilized on "This Is Korea," the<br />
documentary just going into national release.<br />
That system also is employed on<br />
two Judy Canova starrers, "Honeychile"<br />
and "Oklahoma Annie," while John<br />
Ford's "The Quiet Man," toplining John<br />
Wayne, is being photographed in Technicolor.<br />
Over at another valley studio, Warners,<br />
the prospects are that a minimum of ten<br />
features will be in color—several of them<br />
in the company's own, recently developed<br />
system. Currently before the cameras,<br />
and employing that three-hued process,<br />
is a Randolph Scott starring western,<br />
"Carson City." Technicolor graces<br />
"Bugles in the Afternoon," "Tiie Crimson<br />
Pirate," "Big Trees," "About Face."<br />
"Where's Charley?" "She's Working Her<br />
Way Through College" and "Distant<br />
Drums," while several other projected<br />
vehicles also are destined for tint filming.<br />
film output has heretofore been earmarked<br />
for that company.<br />
LIPPERT—For release through this company,<br />
the provocatively titled "For Men Only"<br />
is nearing the sound stages as a cooperative<br />
effort involving William and Edward Nassour<br />
and actor Paul Henreid. The latter stars in,<br />
directs, and produces in association with the<br />
Nassours, with Margaret Clark booked for<br />
the femme lead in the exploitation drama.<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER—Leo, which<br />
recently announced a 40-picture-minimum<br />
slate for 1951-52, tees off the new season with<br />
three properties. Dorothy McGuire, Van<br />
John.son and Louis Calhern topline Producer<br />
Lawrence Weingarten's "The Invitation," the<br />
story of a woman who learns that her father<br />
"bought" her a year of happiness, which<br />
Gottfried Reinhardt directs. "Young Man in<br />
a Hurry," a romantic comedy, marks the film<br />
debut of Russell Nype. current Broadway<br />
stage sensation, who co-stars with Ruth Roman<br />
and Denise Darcel under Mitchell Leisen's<br />
direction. William H. Wright and Gottfried<br />
Reinhardt are co-producing. June<br />
Allyson stars in "Bowery to Bellevue," an<br />
Armand Deutsch production, directed by<br />
John Sturges, and based on the career of<br />
Dr. Emily Dunning Barringer, first woman<br />
ambulance doctor and surgeon in the history<br />
of American medicine.<br />
MONOGRAM—Two pictures, both of the<br />
outdoor variety, are on the docket at this<br />
studio. Walter Mirisch. recently appointed<br />
executive producer for Monogram and its<br />
sister company. Allied Artists, will personally<br />
supervise "Rodeo," a Cinecolor opus dealing<br />
with the bronc-busting trade, starring Jane<br />
Nigh and to be megged by William Beaudine.<br />
Also on deck is "Northwest Territory,"<br />
sixth in F>i'oducer Lindsley Parsons' Royal<br />
Canadian Mounted Police actioners based on<br />
the James Oliver Curwood stories and featuring<br />
Kirby Grant and the canine player,<br />
Chinook. The director is Frank McDonald.<br />
PARAMOUNT—Nautical nonsense is the<br />
theme of "At Sea With the Navy," which<br />
stars Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in something<br />
of a sequel to their recent success, "At<br />
War With the Ai-my." The service comedy,<br />
to be megged by Hal Walker, will be made by<br />
Hal Wallis Productions. The studio's other<br />
planned starter is "This Is Dynamite," starring<br />
William Holden as a reporter who is<br />
instrumental in smashing a big-city underworld<br />
syndicate. Irving Asher's production<br />
will be directed by William Dieterle.<br />
REPUBLIC—Under the guidance of Producer-Director<br />
Joseph Kane, camera work is<br />
slated on "Hoodlum Empire," based on a<br />
series of gangland exposes written for the<br />
International News Service by Bob Considine<br />
but, as the month began, without a cast.<br />
Two others fall into the series western classification.<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane stars in "Captive<br />
of Billy the Kid," to be produced and<br />
megged by Harry Keller, while Rex Allen is<br />
the topliner in Producer Edward J. White's<br />
"The Last Musketeer" which William Witney<br />
will direct. Sidney Picker is the producer<br />
and Estelita Rodriguez the star of<br />
"Girl From Panama," another in the studio's<br />
series of comedies with music featuring the<br />
Latin-American actress.<br />
RKO RADIO—Producer Gabriel Pascal's<br />
on-again-off-again "Androcles and the Lion,"<br />
victim of many postponements since its making<br />
was originally announced, is on again,<br />
and apparently definitely, for this month.<br />
With Chester Erskine at the megaphone, the<br />
24 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
1, 1951
.k _.<br />
. . . William<br />
. . . "Bloodline,"<br />
. . . After<br />
. . . Edward<br />
. . The<br />
. . MGM<br />
. . Republic<br />
high-budget version of George Bernard<br />
Shaw's play has Alan Young title-roling and<br />
a large cast in which Jean Simmons and<br />
Victor Mature are prominent. Two others<br />
will start under sponsorship of Producers<br />
Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna. Set for topline<br />
in "Cowpolce," a story of the rodeo circuit,<br />
is Robert Mitchum, which will be directed<br />
by Nicholas Ray, while the other W-K offering<br />
is "Clash by Night," starring Paul<br />
Douglas and Barbara Stanwyck in a picturization<br />
of the Clifford Odets play. Fritz Lang<br />
is the director and Harriet Parsons the associate<br />
producer.<br />
UNITED ARTISTS—Completing his commitment<br />
with this company, Stanley Kramer<br />
—now affiliated with Columbia on a multipicture,<br />
long-term deal—is rolling "High<br />
Noon," big-budgeted western starring Gary<br />
Cooper, with Fred Zinnemann megging and<br />
Carl Foreman functioning as associate producer.<br />
In the top supporting roles are Katy<br />
Jurado, star of Mexican films, and Otto<br />
Kruger.<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL — Busiest<br />
producer on this valley lot during the month<br />
will be Aaron Rosenberg, under whose<br />
guidance camera work will be launched on<br />
both of the studio's scheduled starting subjects.<br />
Gregory Peck and Ann Blyth are the<br />
co-stars of "The World in His Arms," a picturization<br />
of one of Rex Beach's stories of<br />
adventure and intrigue in Alaska, which<br />
Raoul Walsh directs. Topliners in "Red Ball<br />
Express," a story of the motor transport corps<br />
on the European front in World War II, will<br />
be Jeff Chandler and Alex Nicol, with a megaphonist<br />
still to be set as the month began.<br />
WARNER BROS.—Military subjects—one<br />
concerned with the present Korean conflict,<br />
the other dealing with World War II— dominate<br />
the schedule. Under the banner of<br />
United States Pictures, Producer Milton<br />
Sperling will gun "Retreat, Hell!" a story<br />
of the First Marine division's heroic retreat<br />
from the Chongjin reservoir in Korea, with<br />
Joseph Lewis directing: while, under the productional<br />
supervision of Rudi Fehr, Gordon<br />
Douglas will meg "Darby's Rangers," based<br />
on the European exploits of Col. William O.<br />
Darby and his commandos. As the month began,<br />
however, neither opus had been cast.<br />
Likewise sans thespians were two other projected<br />
starters, "Springfield Rifle," a historical<br />
western to be produced by Louis P.<br />
Edelman, and "The Big League," a biography<br />
of the famed baseball pitching star, Grover<br />
Cleveland Alexander, which is on Bryan Poy's<br />
production docket. Joan Crawford will step<br />
before the cameras as the star of Producer<br />
Robert Sisk's "This Woman Is Dangerous,"<br />
a romantic drama to be megged by Felix<br />
Feist, and Virginia Mayo and Ronald Reagan<br />
are the topliners in a comedy with music,<br />
"She's Working Her Way Through College,"<br />
another Edelman production to be directed by<br />
Bruce Humberstone.<br />
William Hammerstein II<br />
To Produce for Paramount<br />
As his first production chore for the studio,<br />
William Hammerstein II, of the famed show<br />
business family, will hold the reins on Paramount's<br />
new musical, "The Golden Circle"<br />
A. Wellman's next directorial job<br />
at MGM will be "Letter From the President"<br />
a historical western, is being<br />
scripted for 20th Century-Fox by James Ag-ee.<br />
Sharp Literary Mart Upturn;<br />
Three Purchases by MGM<br />
Bolstered by MGM's purciiase of thi-ee originals,<br />
the literary market registered a sharp<br />
upturn during the period, contributing<br />
thereby to the new-found aura of optimism<br />
as concerns the 1951-52 season just getting<br />
under way. To Leo's lair went "You for Me,"<br />
a romantic comedy by William S. Roberts,<br />
which will serve as a vehicle for Dean Miller,<br />
young TV actor recently handed a term<br />
ticket; "The Seven Souls of Clement O'Reilly,"<br />
by Paul Gallico, which will be scripted by<br />
Helen Deutsch and produced by Edwin H.<br />
Knopf, and "Night Before Christmas," a suspense<br />
drama by Steve Sekeley, to be produced<br />
by John Houseman . accounted<br />
for two purchases, both published<br />
magazine stories. "Toughest Man in Tombstone,"<br />
by Robert Pinkerton, appeared in<br />
Ti-ue magazine, while "Red Horizons," by Tod<br />
Hunter Ballard, was serialized in Esquire<br />
reposing for many years in Warners'<br />
story vault, "Ethan Frome," from the<br />
novel by Edith Wharton and the play based<br />
thereon by Owen and Donald Davis, was purchased<br />
from that company by Stanley Kramer,<br />
who added it to his schedule for Columbia<br />
distribution. The play won the Critics<br />
Circle award in 1936 . . . Wally Kline, independent<br />
filmmaker, acquired "Private Mc-<br />
Gonigle's Moneybelt," a comedy by Dean<br />
Riesner, and is collaborating with the author<br />
on the screenplay. He plans a production<br />
"Born in Paradise,"<br />
start late this fall . . .<br />
a novel about Hawaii's early cattle barons by<br />
Armine Von Tempski, was picked up by<br />
Price-Merman Productions, the newly formed<br />
independent headed by Writer-Director Will<br />
Price, L. B. "Doc" Merman, Maureen O'Hara<br />
and John Payne. With Price megging, O'Hara<br />
and Payne co-starring, the subject will be<br />
shot in Technicolor.<br />
House Peters. Silent Star,<br />
To Appear in Autry Film<br />
After 23 years of retirement. House Peters,<br />
silent screen topper, is returning for his first<br />
talking role in "The Old West," the new<br />
Gene Autry sagebrusher being made for Columbia<br />
release .<br />
booked two established<br />
character actresses for picture assignments.<br />
Elsa Lanchester joining the cast of<br />
"Young Man in a Hurry" and Una Merkel<br />
being set for "The Merry Widow" . . . Alan<br />
Mowbray was inked to lend his comedy talents<br />
to "Androcles and the Lion" at RKO<br />
Radio . King Brothers signed Gene<br />
Evans for a starring role in their next independent<br />
venture, "The Syndicate" . . . Paramount<br />
nabbed Yul Brynner, current Broadway<br />
sma.sh as the star of "The King and I."<br />
to a non-exclusive multiple-picture ticket<br />
Arnold was set by 20th-Pox for<br />
a top role in "Belles on Their Toes."<br />
Warners Ink Ted Sherdeman<br />
To Writer-Director Pact<br />
A current industry trend—two- and threeply<br />
contracts calling for services in several<br />
categories—was again manifested when Warners<br />
signed Scenarist Ted Sherdeman to a<br />
writer-director ticket. He's collaborating with<br />
George W. Yates and Dan Mainwaring on<br />
"This Woman Is Dangerous" as his first<br />
assignment under the contract . Republic<br />
. .<br />
hoisted its option for another year on Megaphonist<br />
Philip Ford, whose next will be "Bal<br />
Tabarin."<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 69: Hurricane lashes Caribbean<br />
region, 100 killed; Seoul celebrates day o!<br />
liberation; Korea war goes on despite talks; Berlm<br />
TV newsreel; small car sets 12<br />
fights<br />
speed<br />
Reds with<br />
marks; hydroboat skims to world s record;<br />
bull whip expert shows his skill; archery champs in<br />
U.S. tourney.<br />
News of the Day, No. 303: Reds break off Korea<br />
truce parleys; hurricane wreaks havoc in tropics;<br />
mud traps battleship; picturesque visitor; archery<br />
championships; new speed records; whip wizard.<br />
Paramount News. No. 2: Square rigger arrives from<br />
Jamaica alter the big wind; baseball s newest<br />
Italy;<br />
Rhubarb- piper's dream comes true; truce talks on<br />
again, olf again; sportsmen with an aim; archery<br />
tournament; Australian whip expert.<br />
Universol News, No. 485: Hurricane; Korea; Seoul<br />
liberation day; Italian ship; sports—speed runs,<br />
Australian cowboy.<br />
Wamer Palhe News. No. 4: Disaster: Fort Dix—<br />
13 die as let plane hits GIs; Jamaica—hurricane<br />
lashes at West Indies; Portland—fire rages in northwest<br />
forest; crisis in Korea; Edinburgh—march of the<br />
New York— fashions go back to school; Sugar<br />
clans-<br />
Ray and Turpin sign to tight; British Columbiareckless<br />
redskins ride again; magic» midget sets lb<br />
speed marks.<br />
Movietone News. No. 70: US. holds giant army air<br />
iorc= maneuvers- Gromyko here for Japanese peace<br />
treaty; California air crash kills 50; first air force<br />
Medal ol Honor, Argentina labor hails the Perons;<br />
helicopter used by girl aerialist; Little league world<br />
series; women's three-mile swimming race.<br />
News of the Day. No. 200: Four thousand parachuters<br />
hit the silk; Iran faces crisis; 50 perish as<br />
airliner crashes- giant rally backs Peron and wile;<br />
girl aerialist gives New York a thrill; Little league<br />
world series; super rodeo; Crusade for Freedom.<br />
Paramount News. No. 3: Sheriff's rodeo; plane<br />
crash in California; Gromyko brings Soviet^ peace<br />
formula- aeriahst spurs "Clothes for Korea drive;<br />
mammoth Peron rally in Argentina; airborne test in<br />
North Carolina; Crusade for Europe.<br />
Universal News. No. 486: Maneuvers; Peron rall-y;<br />
Gromyko arrives; plane crash in California; hellcopter<br />
girl; rodeo; Little league baseball.<br />
Warner Pathe News. No. 5: Paratroopers in biggest<br />
war games; California—50 die in superliner air<br />
•<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 34B: Korea—UN troops battle<br />
Reds rain and mud; Ethiopia—replacements for<br />
Korea; Paul Hoffman surveys India's needs; news<br />
in brief—San Francisco, Paris, New York, BerUn;<br />
pinball craze worries Japan; Scotland—gathering<br />
of the clans.<br />
Telenews Digest. No. 35A: Tokyo—Ridgway visits<br />
wounded; Maryland—Russian weapons demonstrated;<br />
Japan—Yoshida thanks US. for treaty. Californiaairliner<br />
crash kills 50; Bernarr MacFadden tells of<br />
parachute jump; secret test site for US A-bombs in<br />
Nevada.<br />
Two Hallmark Productions<br />
Have Change in Titles<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Following his return to<br />
Hollywood, after personally supervising numerous<br />
test dates of his newest production,<br />
"Secrets of Beauty," Kroger Babb, president<br />
Hallmark Productions, Inc., announced that<br />
a new title and campaign would be set for<br />
the picture before its national release this<br />
fall. An analysis of all dates played, convinced<br />
the Hallmark president that the title<br />
and "women-only policy" did not attract a<br />
sufficient number of women in the middleage<br />
bracket.<br />
The picture is now scheduled to go into<br />
general release for mixed audiences, under<br />
the title, "Why Men Leave Home." It will<br />
be followed six weeks later in all situations<br />
by Hallmark's "The Best Is Yet to Come,"<br />
starring Ruth Warrick and Ginger Pi-ince.<br />
It played test dates in the south early this<br />
year, under the tag, "One Too Many," but<br />
was shelved to await release of "Why Men<br />
Leave Home," and combined distribution.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951<br />
25
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs<br />
are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as<br />
"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.<br />
.\lice in Wonderland (Souvaine)
h<br />
Amss<br />
the country<br />
- in /ess<br />
t/ian a minute!<br />
Some day soon, a jet plane will leave<br />
New York at 9 A.M. . .<br />
And be in California — at 9 A.M.!<br />
So fast are modern jets, they come close<br />
to following the sun in its flight across the<br />
continent. Speed? Yes. But in manufacture,<br />
the story is different!<br />
The all-precision jet engine takes almost<br />
four times as much machining as<br />
World War II aircraft. It's long work —<br />
but defense deadlines are short!<br />
To speed up jet assembly lines, the<br />
plane-makers have learned amazing production<br />
tricks. And they've learned an<br />
amazing traffic trick, too.<br />
When ordering and shipping parts, the<br />
makers of the world's fastest planes use<br />
the world's fastest service — Air Express!<br />
Whether your business is jets or jewelry,<br />
here are the unique advantages you can<br />
enjoy with regular use of Air Express:<br />
IT'S FASTEST — Air Express gives the<br />
fastest, most complete door-to-door pick<br />
up and delivery service in all cities and<br />
principal towns, at no extra cost.<br />
IT'S MORE CONVENIENT— One call to<br />
Air Express Division of the Railway<br />
Express Agency arranges everything.<br />
IT'S<br />
DEPENDABLE — Air Express provides<br />
one-carrier responsibility all the way<br />
and gets a receipt upon delivery.<br />
IT'S PROFITABLE—Air Express expands<br />
profit-making opportunities in distribution<br />
and merchandising.<br />
For more facts call Air Express Division<br />
of Railway Express Agency.<br />
^^AIREXPmS<br />
GETS THERE FIRST<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
; September 1, 1951<br />
27
Theatre Construction, Openings, Sales<br />
CONSTRUCTION:<br />
Columtia, Ky.—A. C. Willis and F. X. Merkley has<br />
slar:ed construction on the Adair Drive-In on BurkesviUe<br />
hiahv/ay.<br />
Crane'. Tex.—A new drive-in is planned by the<br />
Theatre Enterprises, Inc.<br />
announce construction to start<br />
Sky-View Drive-In on Highway 84 to accommodate<br />
Goldthwaile, Tex.—Mr. and Mrs.<br />
soon<br />
Philip<br />
on<br />
,, , ,<br />
Nickols<br />
the new<br />
. .<br />
, ,<br />
Huntsville, Ala.—Construction on the Lyric is nearing<br />
200 cars.<br />
completion lor a September opening. Fritz<br />
Thomas<br />
Illiopolis.<br />
is manager.<br />
lU.—Construction has been startecJ on<br />
the new Illiopolis which is to replace the old<br />
Illiopolis destroyed by on explosion July 5, 1950<br />
Opening is expected by October 1 and the cost will<br />
be approximately S30,OC0.<br />
Ncztiona Heights. Pa.—Construction is nearing completion<br />
on the outdoor theatre in Harrison township.<br />
Nelson Bond is general manager.<br />
OPENINGS:<br />
Albion, Pa.—Paul Remaley has opened the new<br />
l.'.aple iJrive-In on Route 18, midway between Albion<br />
Crete. 111.—Frcnk J. Kinney and A. L. Legal hove<br />
ocened their Souk Trail Drive-In.<br />
'Denver, Colo.—The Lake Shore Drive-In, I.OOO-car<br />
capacity, has been opened here by A. P. Archer<br />
and Joe H. Dekker, owner of the Civic Theatres Co.<br />
Foiiharen, Mass.—The Fairhaven Drive-In, 800-car<br />
capacity, has opened on Route 6. Operation will be<br />
jointly by Nathan Yamins Theatres and E. M. Loew<br />
Theatres. ,, ,, „ , ,<br />
Falls City. Neb.—The Breezy Hill Drive-In has been<br />
opened here by Oscar Johnson. Car capacity is 404.<br />
Fort Stockton. Tex.—The Drive-In, showing 16mm<br />
Hlms, was due for a late August opening. James<br />
Dwyer and P. D. Weddle are the owners. Car capacity<br />
will be around 100.<br />
Georgetown, 111.—A new drive-in, owned and operated<br />
bv J. W. Humrichous, hcs been opened here.<br />
Hondo, Tex.—An opening date for the Hondo Drivein<br />
v.-ill be announced soon, according to Harry A.<br />
Hammill.<br />
Kinston. N. C.—H. B. Meiselman, operator oi the<br />
Meiselman chain, has opened the Park here. Walter<br />
Pov/ell is the manager.<br />
Loveland, Colo.—The Luv-Vu Drive-In, car capacity<br />
300, hcs been opened here.<br />
MacCamey, Tex.—The Circus Drive-In has been<br />
opened .here by Theatre Enterprises.<br />
Mason City. Iowa—The Dumont was opened here<br />
New Orleans, La.—The Airline Drive-In, owned by<br />
Teddv Solomon, opened August 21.<br />
Odessa. Tex.—The Altec Theatre, a 1,500-seat<br />
H&H house, was opened recently.<br />
Rocky Mount, N. C.—A new drive-in, the Hiway<br />
301, has been opened here.<br />
Springtield, Mass.—Joseph Levin of Embassy Pictures<br />
opened a new drive-in here recently.<br />
Upper Sandusky. Ohio—Lee Jones has opened the<br />
Indian Trail Drive-In on Route 23 near here to accommod
-,<br />
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
BOXOFFICE NUGGETS<br />
O<br />
The Pottsville (Pa.) Drive-In recently purchased<br />
a used firetruck for use in transporting<br />
patrons' children around the grounds<br />
free. The truck was outfitted with padded<br />
benches, and is a stellar attraction with the<br />
kiddies and their parents nightly before the<br />
show. Manager Charlie Poorman designed an<br />
animated firehouse which adds great realism<br />
to the attraction, with cartoon figures popping<br />
in and out the sides of the structure.<br />
Firehouse was built with the combined aid of<br />
Jack Lynch, concession manager; Francis<br />
Wilson, theatre officer, and Joe Lynch, doorman.<br />
Irving Hillman, manager of the Empress<br />
Theatre, Danbury, Conn., promoted an excellent<br />
newspaper co-op ad on "Alice in<br />
Wonderland" from Mallove's jewelry store,<br />
tied in with a free admission gimmick for<br />
kids. The ad, 13x5%, plugged the "Alice in<br />
Wonderland" wristwatch and announced<br />
that every child who purchased such a<br />
watch during a specified week would receive<br />
with it a free ticket to see the picture at the<br />
Empress. The space included a sizable display<br />
ad for the theatre. The merchant paid<br />
for the free tickets.<br />
Paul Purdy, ad manager for the East Windsor<br />
(Conn.) Drive-In, has been using special<br />
copy with his newspaper ads to stress certain<br />
institutional features of the drive-in. Typical<br />
of these is an ad which led off: "It's one of<br />
America's finest outdoor theatres, where airconditioning<br />
is by nature." Copy at the bottom<br />
of the ad suggested: "Why not skip<br />
supper and make it a light snack at our wellstocked<br />
concesh-e-teria?" The copy varies<br />
with each change of program.<br />
A. C. Detwiler, manager of the Braddock<br />
Drive-In Theatre, Frederick, Md., has a clever<br />
device for boosting the concession sales, with<br />
a free admission gimmick at the end of the<br />
bait.<br />
He sells a Refreshment Thrift ticket for<br />
$5 which is good for purchases in the<br />
amounts of 5, 10. 25 and 50 cents. When the<br />
card is completely punched, it entitles the<br />
holder to one free admission.<br />
The card stipulates that it must be used<br />
within a six-month period.<br />
Bill Hayes, manager of the Norwalk (Conn.)<br />
Drive-In, used a special newspaper ad for<br />
the last two days of "Show Boat." Below the<br />
regular display ad, copy ran along these<br />
lines: "WE REGRET that despite the hundreds<br />
of requests from our patrons, we will<br />
not be able to extend the engagement of, etc.<br />
We are sincerely sorry that capacity audiences<br />
forced us to turn away so many people . . .<br />
WE RECOMMEND to those who have not yet<br />
seen 'Show Boat' that they plan to attend<br />
the Drive-In tonight or tomorrow, etc., etc."<br />
Fred Greenway, manager of the Palace<br />
With no showboat available in Kingston,<br />
N. Y.. City Manager Fred Bertholdi and Manager<br />
Don Bornkessell borrowed a small pleasure<br />
boat from a yard on the nearby Hudson<br />
river to exploit "Show Boat." They mounted<br />
the skiff on a trailer placarded with theatre<br />
dates, and manned it with an usher and<br />
cashier dressed nautically. The float was<br />
towed around the community's business area<br />
with a p. a. system in the jeep that pulled<br />
the boat. The Kingston Theatre is a Walter<br />
Reade unit.<br />
in Hartford, Conn., engaged a sailboat to<br />
patrol the beachfront area with huge display<br />
banners advertising the playdates of<br />
"Show Boat."<br />
The entire fleet of 100 trucks operated by<br />
the United News Co. in Philadelphia carried<br />
bumper strips on "Captain Horatio Hornblower"<br />
which opened at the Mastbaum.<br />
o<br />
^^u<br />
l/l/au Of f\ecord<br />
Several of the syndicate writers recently reported the "first"<br />
drive-in church on the site of an outdoor motion pictnre theatre<br />
in Boston.<br />
For the record. Charles Lane, manager of the New Haven<br />
(Conn.) Drive-In was the first theatreman to establish regular<br />
Sunday outdoor church services as a community venture. He inaugurated<br />
this idea more than a year ago and last August was<br />
awarded a Citation of Honor by BOXOFFICE for originating the<br />
public relations tieup.<br />
Few, if any, exhibitors followed Lane's idea.. Yet, for solidifying<br />
relationship with the clergy; as a special convenience for<br />
families who can thus attend church without dressing up and with<br />
mmimum loss of time from their Sunday outings; and as an effective<br />
method of getting the public acquainted with the novelty<br />
and advantages of outdoor theatres, Sunday church services appear<br />
to have material as well as spiritual graces.<br />
On the subject of records: In 1931 Paul Glase, manager of<br />
the Fabian Embassy Theatre. Reading. Pa., launched a weekly |i<br />
house program. For 20 years the town's merchants have supported ||<br />
the pamphlet with advertising which relieves the theatre budget<br />
of printing costs.<br />
M<br />
M<br />
Today the Moviegoer is still a highly successful enterprise with P<br />
no dearth of advertisers. It contains 16 pages of interesting mo- p;<br />
tion picture news and shopping information. It includes movie |:;<br />
information for all the Fabian theatres in Reading. ||<br />
A self-sustaining house program that has endured for 20 sue- M<br />
cessive years is a novelty in this industry.<br />
^<br />
Ray Gingell. two-time winner of a BOXOFFICE Citation of p<br />
Honor, proves that showmanship con.-es naturally to the alert<br />
^<br />
manager. Gingell manages a neighborhood "art" house — the<br />
'<br />
Hiser, Bethesda, Md. J<br />
Even while the customers were still storming the boxoffice U<br />
to see and hear their idol of screen and records in "The Great Caruso," Gingell booked Mario Lanza's previous two attractions<br />
^<br />
on a double bill and cleaned up when he played "That Mid- ;<br />
night Kiss" and "Toast of New Orleans."<br />
'^<br />
— Chester Friedman<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 1. 1951 — 197 — 29
Guardsmen and Their War Gadgets<br />
Beat Annual Fair<br />
Jack Crouthers, manager of the Harrod<br />
Theatre in Harrodsburg, Ky., had been running<br />
a series of amateur talent shows on<br />
Thursdays as a summer business stimulant,<br />
and doing all right with them. The final<br />
week's .show fell on a night when the annual<br />
fair in Harrodsburg was offering cutrate<br />
tickets.<br />
To offset the unexpected competition.<br />
Crouthers got busy thinking up a hypo for<br />
this particular night and came up with a<br />
fine idea. He dedicated the show to the<br />
local national guard members, who were delighted<br />
and cooperated in every way possible.<br />
They loaned Crouthers a variety of military<br />
equipment, including machine guns, helmets,<br />
rocket launchers, etc., for a lobby display and<br />
kept a man on duty to explain the gadgets<br />
and answer questions.<br />
On the night of the show, the national<br />
guard unit paraded through the city to the<br />
theatre accompanied by the high school band,<br />
stirring up a lot of excitement. Advance radio<br />
plugs and newspaper stories drew attention<br />
to the special show and the parade.<br />
A committee representing the national<br />
guard's service battery .selected one of the<br />
Queen Contest Ties In<br />
To Local Promotion<br />
A successful promotion to bring the Harbor<br />
Theatre into a community celebration was affected<br />
by Manager Dan Bzovi in Ecorse,<br />
Mich., a downriver subui'b of Detroit.<br />
Ecorse, located on the Detroit river, holds<br />
an annual celebration highlighted by boat<br />
races. Tlirough Bzovi's tie-in, selection of a<br />
queen was made at the theatre two weeks in<br />
advance, with extensive publicity resulting.<br />
Twenty-five local beauties competed for the<br />
title, and with each one busy inviting friends<br />
and relatives to see them on the stage of the<br />
Harbor, the competition drew a capacity house<br />
with an overflow crowd of about 500.<br />
The contest itself was worked into a twohour<br />
stage show. Prominent disk jockeys<br />
and television stars and three football players<br />
from the Detroit Lions were on hand as<br />
participants and judges of the contest. Part<br />
of the entertainment was obtained from a<br />
dramatic and dance school.<br />
The promotion was arranged through the<br />
Ecorse Businessmen's Ass'n of which Bzovi<br />
is a member.<br />
Star Photos Distributed<br />
By Local Newspaper<br />
The assistant manager of a London suburban<br />
theatre is credited with making an<br />
effective tieup for "Born Yesterday" with<br />
the Southend Times. A. Levinson of the<br />
Odeon Theatre, Southend, contacted the editor<br />
and arranged to supply autographed<br />
photos of the star of the film to the first<br />
500 readers who requested the photos by<br />
mail.<br />
The paper published a story with full<br />
credits. The accessories thus received excellent<br />
distribution and came into the hands of<br />
persons who really appreciated the offer.<br />
Competition<br />
local beauties as National Guard Personality<br />
Queen. She was crowned on the stage during<br />
the show and received a bouquet of flowers.<br />
A photo and story of this broke in the<br />
Harrodsburg Herald.<br />
Writes Crouthers, "With the extra effort<br />
expended, the result was good business on a<br />
night which otherwise could have been a sad<br />
memory."<br />
Huge Board of Stills Set<br />
In Front for 'Dividend'<br />
An enormous display board, profusely<br />
covered with stills, was created by D. M.<br />
Dillenbeck, manager of the Rialto in Bushnell,<br />
111., on "Father's Little Dividend." The<br />
board, set up in front of the theatre, attracted<br />
notable attention from passersby.<br />
Front door panels made an attractive flash,<br />
and Dillenbeck used inside panels along the<br />
boxoffice wall, again employing the lavish use<br />
of stills.<br />
For street ballyhoo, three boys walked<br />
around town wheeling baby carriages properly<br />
bannered. They were accompanied by<br />
a little girl dressed in a quaint party frock,<br />
with a parasol, wheeling a doll buggy attractively<br />
decorated with colorful crepe paper.<br />
Truck With Neon Signs<br />
Illuminates 'Thing'<br />
Patrons See Themselves<br />
On Screen of Drive-In<br />
Vincent Youmatz, manager of the Sky-Vue<br />
Drive-In at Torrington, Conn., gave patrons<br />
an opportunity to see themselves on the big<br />
screen and helped to boost his business on<br />
two separate nights. Youmatz advertised that<br />
a professional photographer would be on hand<br />
to film early arrivals at the theatre. After<br />
the films were processed they were screened,<br />
with most folks coming back to see how they<br />
looked "in pictures."<br />
Socko Campaign Adds<br />
Additional S$$ to<br />
'Sirocco' Gross<br />
The catchline. "Bogart Is Socko in<br />
'Sirocco,' " was used extensively by Adam<br />
Goelz, manager of the Town Theatre in Baltimore,<br />
and paid off well, according to his<br />
reports.<br />
Goelz built a special front with the catchline<br />
in huge cutout letters beneath the marquee.<br />
The line was used again for a street<br />
ballyhoo. Goelz had an usher strolling around<br />
town with an open umbrella imprinted with<br />
the slogan.<br />
Twenty-five thousand table tents imprinted,<br />
"Try the new 'Sirocco' Socko Bacardi," were<br />
distributed in 350 bars and cocktail lounges.<br />
Reverse side carried the theatre ad. The<br />
cards were promoted from Churchill, Ltd.,<br />
wholesale liquor dealers, and cost the theatre<br />
nothing.<br />
Goelz personally called on TV and radio<br />
announcers with several bottles of the<br />
"Sirocco" Bacardi, gave each of them a cocktail,<br />
and wound up with a record number of<br />
plugs for "Sirocco is Socko" on WFBR,<br />
WWIN, WCBM, WITH, WAAM-TV and<br />
WBAL-TV. He also called on newspapers,<br />
armed with the "Sirocco" beverage, which<br />
resulted in extra publicity.<br />
Off-the-amusement-page ads were used in<br />
addition to the regular spots. Goelz reports<br />
that his business with this picture was better<br />
than average and gave him the best opening<br />
day in over two months.<br />
Lucky Number Heralds<br />
Distributed for Dual<br />
Eugene Plank, manager of the Reading<br />
I Pa.) Drive-In, promoted several merchant<br />
ads to pay for the cost of printing and mailing<br />
3,000 heralds on "Mystery Submarine" and<br />
"The Black Cat."<br />
The circulars were numbered and contained<br />
an invitation for folks to check their number<br />
against a list of 15 lucky ones posted<br />
at the concession stand. Those whose numbers<br />
corresponded with any on the list received<br />
free guest tickets.<br />
Aside from the benefits gained from the<br />
wide distribution of the heralds, the candystand<br />
sales took a nice boost.<br />
For "The Thing," Tom Daley, manager of<br />
the Imperial Theatre in Toronto, had a sign<br />
made with the title of the picture in neon<br />
letters. Across the top was the catchline,<br />
"Natural or supernatural?" Border for the<br />
display was made of luminous paint. The<br />
sign was affixed to one side of the theatre's<br />
service truck which toured the city and<br />
environs in advance and during the run.<br />
dinner at a local restaurant, plus gifts which<br />
Cohen had promoted, and were guests on<br />
opening night.<br />
Surprise for Teresa'<br />
War brides named "Teresa" living in the<br />
Hartford (Conn.) area were invited, through<br />
a newspaper announcement, to contact Lou<br />
Cohen, manager of the Poll Theatre, for a<br />
surprise. Upon proper identification, the<br />
brides and their husbands received a free<br />
Dairy Aid tor 'Flesh'<br />
R. Casey, assistant manager of the Savoy<br />
Cinema, Walsall, England, promoted the cooperation<br />
of a local dairy for "Flesh and<br />
Blood." The tie-in line, "Field's milk builds<br />
'Flesh and Blood,' " was used in window displays<br />
of all stores handling the product. The<br />
firm bannered a fleet of 12 delivery trucks<br />
with five-foot posters, using the same slogan<br />
with credits.<br />
30 — 198 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 1.1951
. .<br />
Personal Angle Plus<br />
Full Routine Bally<br />
Sells 'Kon-Tiki'<br />
The Indiana state premiere of "Kon-Tlki"<br />
at Keith's Theatre in Indianapolis got the<br />
full treatment from Manager Dal Schuder<br />
who reports that he was rewarded with a<br />
fine turnout on opening night and good allaround<br />
business. Schuder mailed personal<br />
letters to every librarian in the city, inviting<br />
them to the opening night performance as<br />
guests. They were also asked to display the<br />
book, "Kon-Tiki," with tie-in copy.<br />
Two thousand special heralds sent to doctors,<br />
dentists and lawyers in Indianapolis was<br />
another direct mail promotion.<br />
Twenty-eight-inch letters were cut out and<br />
painted with red Day-Glo for the marquee.<br />
Special lobby displays were used four weeks<br />
in advance of playdate.<br />
Free radio time on WIBC, WIRE, WFBM<br />
and WISH netted many mentions for the picture,<br />
and Schuder got the stations' disk<br />
jockeys to throw in a plug when playing the<br />
record, "Kon-Tiki."<br />
Window displays of books were arranged<br />
with Stewart's, Inc., the William H. Block<br />
Co., L. S. Ayer's and Wasson's department<br />
stores. Stewart's also used window displays<br />
in suburban branch stores.<br />
Advance art and stories made all the Indianapolis<br />
papers, and large display ads were<br />
used in advance and currently.<br />
Charleston Contest<br />
Boosts 'Moonlight'<br />
A Charleston contest staged in conjunction<br />
with "On Moonlight Bay" stimulated extra<br />
business and helped to publicize the picture<br />
opening for Joe Burns, manager of the Glove<br />
at Gloversville, N. Y. Burns promoted $150<br />
in merchandise awards for the winners, including<br />
two Bulova watches, a Parker 51<br />
pen<br />
and pencil set and costume jewelry. For street<br />
ballyhoo, he had a couple of ushers walk the<br />
business section wearing raccoon coats. Signs<br />
plugged the picture playdates.<br />
Still Time to Arrange<br />
Back to School Show<br />
Arnold Kirsch, manager of the Zenith<br />
in the Bronx, has completed plans for a<br />
Back to School show on the last Saturday<br />
before school opens. He made a co-op<br />
deal with a local shoe store which is<br />
paying for a giveaway of school supplies<br />
to the first 500 children attending the<br />
show. The merchant is displaying a window<br />
card and a sign inside the store announcing<br />
the show and free gifts, and<br />
gets reciprocal screen advertising in a<br />
special trailer Kirsch is using to plug the<br />
show.<br />
A 40x60 in the lobby and color windowcards<br />
in neighborhood stores are helping<br />
to publicize the event.<br />
Diploma-Type Sheet<br />
Sets Up 'Moonlight'<br />
A novelty movie calendar was used by<br />
G. E. Robinson, manager of the Odeon Theatre,<br />
St. Thomas, Ont., to announce his August<br />
bookings.<br />
The circular, rolled up and tied with a red<br />
ribbon, revealed only the words: "Diploma (in<br />
bold type) to excellent entertainment .<br />
Odeon Theatre." Upon unrolling, one found a<br />
display ad for "On Moonlight Bay" . . . "One<br />
of the outstanding hits this month." The<br />
reverse side headed, "Hang me up," listed the<br />
month's<br />
attractions.<br />
Five thousand of these "diplomas" were distributed—some<br />
at the theatre, a quantity<br />
handed out on the streets, and the rest to<br />
the theatre's mailing list.<br />
Merchant ads offset the cost of this unique<br />
herald which, writes Robinson, pwDduced excellent<br />
results.<br />
Mrs. Hazel Florian, manager of the Strand<br />
in Winsted, Conn., has been using program<br />
cards in postcard size to announce the week's<br />
bookings. The cards are a bright shade and<br />
are headed, "Keep Me for Your Movie Guide."<br />
Music in 'Rich, Young'<br />
Utilized (or Tie-Ins<br />
At Norwich, Conn.<br />
Music tie-in possibilities for "Rich, Young<br />
and Pretty" were utilized in varying degrees<br />
by Joseph Boyle, manager of the Poll Theatre,<br />
Norwich, Conn., in a vigorous campaign.<br />
Boyle learned that a dance was scheduled at<br />
the armory, with Tex Beneke and his orchestra<br />
as the chief attraction. He was successful<br />
in getting Beneke to play several of<br />
the picture tunes during the evening, with<br />
a mention for "Rich, Young and Pretty"<br />
each time.<br />
Radio station WICH played the music<br />
from the record album, with spot plugs for<br />
the picture, and aired the Vic Damone star<br />
interview platter.<br />
Full window displays were promoted at<br />
the three leading music stores, and the picture<br />
tunes were played over the house public<br />
address system for exits and intermissions.<br />
Five hundred postcards obtained from the<br />
Hollywood Roosevelt hotel were addressed<br />
locally to the theatre's mailing list, and sent<br />
back to Hollywood from where they were<br />
mailed to the Norwich patrons. The message<br />
was a pitch for the picture and stars,<br />
with a filmland flavor.<br />
Boyle planted a newspaper contest, asking<br />
girls to write letters on the query, "Would<br />
you rather be rich, young or pretty?" Theatre<br />
passes were awarded for the best answers.<br />
A lobby display featured a cutout figure<br />
of Jane Powell, set up in the mirror section<br />
of the main lobby; a miniature candy-stand<br />
display with tiny dolls representing the<br />
characters in the picture, and the use of<br />
teaser cards spotted throughout the theatre.<br />
A classified ad hidden-name contest ran<br />
in the Norwich Bulletin-Record the day before<br />
opening and opening day, and Boyle<br />
promoted a newspaper co-op ad from the<br />
Eaton Chase Co. tied in with records and<br />
albums of the picture score. The rural area<br />
was reached by display ads in the Jewett<br />
City, Plainfield and Moosup papers.<br />
This unusual wcry to display a 24-sheet attracted plenty of attention in Atlanta<br />
when Manager Charles Mion, ovimer, mounted it on a truck and sent it around<br />
town to sell "I Was an American Spy" at his Rialto Theatre. Pictured from left<br />
to right are Harry Goldstein of the releasing company. Allied Artists; Arthur<br />
Bromberg, Monogram-Allied Artists southern franchise holder; Claire Phillips,<br />
author of the story and heroine of the real-life drama in the film, and Charles<br />
Mion. The author visited Atlanta for the opening day booking.<br />
Diamond in Bowl Turns<br />
Attention to 'Sirocco'<br />
Ed Camp, assistant manager of the Warner<br />
Theatre in Washington, tied up with a<br />
local jeweler for a lobby stunt on "Sirocco."<br />
An usheret in colorful garb attended a<br />
table on which was set a bowl filled with<br />
rhinestones. Among them was one genuine<br />
diamond. Patron were invited to try to pick<br />
out the diamond by selecting only one stone<br />
and bringing it to the jeweler for appraisal.<br />
The stunt was repeated for six days, during<br />
which time the merchant ran newspaper<br />
co-op ads and announced the diamond hunt<br />
over the radio. Camp advises that the device<br />
was successful in drawing long lines to the<br />
Warner boxoffice.<br />
Prints 12-Page News<br />
Samuel P. Cornish, manager of the Niantlc<br />
(Conn.) Theatre, publishes a weekly tabloid<br />
called the Niantic News which is distributed<br />
free on Thursdays to some 5,000 area residents.<br />
The paper, a 12-page job, reports local activities<br />
in addition to news on forthcoming attractions<br />
and movie notes.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showrmandiser :: Sept. 1, 1951 — 199 — 31
Annual Baby Contest<br />
Improves Relations<br />
With Townspeople<br />
To foster good relations with the public,<br />
local authorities, tradespeople and the newspaper,<br />
C. H. G. Evill, manager of the Majestic<br />
Cinema, South Woodford, England, recently<br />
promoted his second annual baby competition.<br />
The contest was spaced over two months<br />
with prizes presented to winners on the theatre<br />
stage. The Woodford Times was cosponsor<br />
of the promotion. Nine merchants<br />
donated prizes valued at $125, including two<br />
large silver cups for top winner in each of<br />
two classes.<br />
The newspaper gave the contest more than<br />
400 inches of free space, including pictures<br />
of the contestants, the winners, etc. An entry<br />
form was published regularly in the<br />
Times and additional forms were distributed<br />
through clinics, baby welfare centers, hospitals<br />
and merchants who cooperated in the<br />
promotion.<br />
Evill had the mayor, his wife and other<br />
prominents on a judges panel which selected<br />
five outstanding photos from which final decisions<br />
were made. Prizes and the silver cups<br />
were displayed in the theatre foyer and<br />
more than 300 entries were received. The<br />
contest was started as a goodwill promotion<br />
by Evil last year. Its success prompted Evil<br />
to continue it.<br />
Displays Boost Interest<br />
In 'Bird of Paradise'<br />
Window tieups and an attractive lobby<br />
display helped "Bird of Paradise" for Norman<br />
Duncan, manager of the Strand Theatre,<br />
Vancouver, B. C.<br />
Duncan arranged displays at the windows<br />
of United Airlines and Canadian Pacific Airlines<br />
as well as at the Worrell Furniture Co.<br />
The Owl drug store featured a "Bird of<br />
Paradise" waffle and advertised this special<br />
through window signs and cards over the<br />
fountain.<br />
In the theatre lobby, color blowups and<br />
litho cutouts were placed against a background<br />
of a bamboo blind, decorated with<br />
palms and bamboo poles. The di-splay was<br />
moved to the front window of the Chinese<br />
temple during the current playdates.<br />
This One Had Strangers<br />
And Friends Guessing<br />
Fred Reeth, manager of the Capitol<br />
Theatre at Madison, Wis., had patrons<br />
guessing over a simple lobby stunt he<br />
used to promote "Strangers on a Train."<br />
Reeth set up a simple display card with<br />
copy selling the thrills and suspense<br />
angles of the picture. Just over the sign<br />
board, he placed a covered Mason jar<br />
not quite filled with water. Before closing<br />
the container, he dropped a half<br />
dozen camphor balls inside.<br />
The globules kept bobbing up and<br />
down in the water, confusing most of<br />
the spectators who couldn't quite figure<br />
out the gimmick.<br />
Old Materials Build<br />
New Flash Fronts<br />
A flash front constructed from old beaverboard<br />
and furring strips helped to promote<br />
current interest in "Go for Broke!" at the<br />
Lyric in Waycross, Ga.<br />
The front was constructed by Manager Carl<br />
Carter, who covered the two side pieces with<br />
six-sheets and stills and made up an overhead<br />
board with huge cutout letters spelling<br />
out the title. A concealed loud speaker was<br />
used to amplify records and martial music.<br />
Accordmg to Carter, the theatre did above<br />
normal business during the playdates.<br />
A front of similar design was used in conjunction<br />
with "The Great Caruso," and in<br />
this case the music score from the picture was<br />
played over the loudspeaker system.<br />
A leading music store offered "The Great<br />
Caruso" record albums to theatre patrons<br />
holding lucky tickets each night during the<br />
playdate. The record giveaway was advertised<br />
through an A-board placed on the curb in<br />
front of the theatre and in window signs at<br />
the sponsor's store.<br />
Merchant Tieup and<br />
Amateur Show Top<br />
Birthday Month<br />
Last month the Floyd Theatre circuit observed<br />
an 11th anniversary celebration so<br />
Ted Munson. manager of the Hardee Theatre<br />
in Wauchula, Fla., tied in local merchants<br />
to give the house one of its biggest<br />
boxoffice booms.<br />
Munson sold seven participating businessmen<br />
100 admission tickets every week at a<br />
slightly reduced rate. The storekeepers gave<br />
the tickets away to customers making a ptirchase<br />
of $1 or more. Tickets were valid on<br />
Tuesdays only and the added stimulus of<br />
700 admissions each week through this tieup<br />
was largely responsible for a general acceleration<br />
of theatre admissions throughout the<br />
drive.<br />
Each merchant was supplied with window<br />
signs announcing the ticket giveaway and<br />
was credited with announcement on a trailer.<br />
According to the Hardee manager, the merchants<br />
benefited by gaining new customers<br />
and through expanded goodwill with regular<br />
patrons.<br />
Throughout the month, Munson staged an<br />
amateur show every Friday to boost attendance.<br />
Winners were selected from five contestants<br />
each week and finalists competed on<br />
the fifth week for a grand prize.<br />
Red Cross and Navy Help<br />
Build 'Frogmen' Bally<br />
Monroe Kaplan, manager of the Strand,<br />
Delaware, Ohio, joined in the Red Cross campaign<br />
to recruit blood donors as part of his<br />
campaign for "The Frogmen."<br />
On opening day of the picture, the navy<br />
brought an amphibious duck to town and<br />
stationed it in front of the theatre, drawing<br />
interest to the film and the navy recruiting<br />
drive. Every person who registered with the<br />
Red Cross blood bank was given a ride<br />
through Delaware in the navy duck.<br />
The navy brought along a public address<br />
system and, as the vehicle toured the town,<br />
announcements were made on the navy and<br />
bloodbank tieins as well as the picture playdates.<br />
Kaplan himself donated blood to the Red<br />
Cross, with the newspaper using his photo and<br />
a story for extra coverage and publicity for<br />
the picture.<br />
Model in Lobby Plays<br />
Records From 'Pretty'<br />
Two weeks prior to the opening of "Rich,<br />
Young and Pretty," Norman Levinson, assistant<br />
manager of the Poll Theatre, Hartford,<br />
Conn., had an attractive model in the<br />
lobby playing MGM records from the film<br />
in the theatre lobby. A lobby card invited<br />
patrons to ask "Mi.ss Rich, Young and<br />
Pretty" to play favorite selections from the<br />
picture.<br />
The services of the model were promoted<br />
from a school in return for a courtesy card<br />
in the lobby. Record albums and an electric<br />
phonograph were promoted from a music<br />
store.<br />
Two thousand photographs of Jane Powell<br />
were distributed, with an imprint on the back<br />
advertising the playdates.<br />
'!^:^^^^<br />
lames I. King, publici^y manager ior Keiths<br />
Memorial Theatre, Boston. Mass., used this<br />
street ballyhoo to promote interest in "The<br />
Prince Who Was a Thief." Oriental motif was<br />
provided by costume as the "harem girl"<br />
mingled with crowds in downtown Boston.<br />
Navy Recruiters Lend<br />
Display for 'Frogmen'<br />
Harry Schreiber, manager of the Palace.<br />
Columbus, Ohio, had excellent cooperation<br />
from the navy recruiting service in conjunction<br />
with "The Frogmen."<br />
The theatre had the use of an amphibious<br />
duck for street ballyhoo which was bannered<br />
on both sides with signs advertising the picture<br />
playdates. stars, etc. The vehicle had<br />
pennants strung from the bow and stern to<br />
the radio antenna which extended high above<br />
the driver's seat.<br />
In the theatre lobby, an exhibit of equipment<br />
used by the underwater commandos attracted<br />
wide attention. Supporting the exhibit<br />
was a 40x60 blowup giving a pictorial<br />
record of frogmen achievements, from a recent<br />
issue of Argosy magazine.<br />
32 — 200 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 1. 1951
. . but<br />
I<br />
Vet 'Frogmen' Allend<br />
Dinner, Screening<br />
In Paper Tieup<br />
First-Born Contest Pays<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong> 'Dividend'<br />
The Ritz Theatre In Abbeville, La., tied in<br />
with local merchants in promoting a firstborn<br />
contest in connection with the opening<br />
of "Father's Little Dividend" and received<br />
plenty of front-page publicity in the local<br />
newspaper via the stunt.<br />
Full page ads announcing the stunt and<br />
the impressive list of prizes were carried in<br />
the paper, while liberal editorial mention<br />
was also given. Manager S. J. Campisi reports<br />
that the ballyhoo generated considerable<br />
interest over the film, which paid<br />
dividends at the boxoffice.<br />
Live Cyrano Quizzes<br />
Patrons at Opening<br />
In Vancouver, B. C.<br />
Publicist C. B. Taylor and Manager Ed Miller<br />
of the Center Theatre in Buffalo gave<br />
'•The Frogmen" a big advance ballyhoo which<br />
was launched when Jerry Evarts, columnist<br />
for the Courier-Express, helped to seek local<br />
veterans who had served with the underwater<br />
commandos.<br />
About 25 veterans responded from the western<br />
New York area. They were guests of<br />
Evarts and the theatre management at a<br />
dinner on opening night of the picture. Navy<br />
recruiting officers also attended the dinner<br />
and the following Center premiere.<br />
An exhibit of equipment used by frogmen<br />
along with other paraphernalia attracted<br />
large crowds to the theatre lobby, both in<br />
advance and during the current playdates.<br />
On opening night, mobile searchlights stationed<br />
in front of the theatre were trained to<br />
the skies and attracted crowds of curious spectators.<br />
For street ballyhoo, a man dressed in<br />
frogman's outfit patrolled the downtown<br />
shopping area, with sandwich posters announcing<br />
the picture playdates.<br />
The Courier-Express ran photos of the local<br />
frogmen attending the dinner and devoted<br />
considerable space to publicizing the exploits<br />
of the underwater demolition teams during<br />
the war, with picture and theatre credits.<br />
Navy A-boards throughout western New<br />
York were posted with one-sheets advertising<br />
the Center attraction.<br />
Sewing Machine Gift<br />
Promotes 'He Ran'<br />
Rufus Shepherd, manager of the United<br />
Artists Theatre in Detroit, and Charles Baron,<br />
United Artists exploiteer, tied up with the<br />
Home Sewing Machine Co. for a giveaway in<br />
conjunction with "He Ran All the Way." A<br />
Home sewing machine is seen in the film production<br />
in a closeup scene with the principals.<br />
A new machine valued at $175 was offered<br />
as a door prize on the last night of the picture's<br />
showing. Every person who attended<br />
received a drawing coupon and therefore did<br />
not have to be present in order to claim the<br />
prize.<br />
Through the Home firm, displays were arranged<br />
in approximately 200 retail stores<br />
throughout the Detroit area handling their<br />
appliances. The company also took two newspaper<br />
co-op ads.<br />
In a separate deal, Cunningham drug stores<br />
used a full-page newspaper co-op with a<br />
photo reproduction of Shelley Winters, tieing<br />
in suntan lc4.ions and cosmetics. Theatre playdates<br />
received prominent mention, and each<br />
of the stores displayed window advertising<br />
tied in with the theatre booking.<br />
Pet Show Finals Staged<br />
On Stage at Ilion, N. Y.<br />
Good public relations and a packed house<br />
were the result of a tieup made by Bill Connolly,<br />
manager of the Capitol in Ilion, N. Y.<br />
Connolly learned that the local recreation<br />
director had been conducting a pet show competition<br />
at the city's four playgrounds, and<br />
offered the use of the Capitol stage for the<br />
finals. He set it up for a Saturday afternoon,<br />
and the first three winners of each of<br />
the four contests made a stage appearance<br />
with their pets.<br />
Prizes were promoted for the winners of the<br />
finals, and the runnersup received theatre<br />
passes.<br />
Quartets Compete<br />
Birk Richards conducted a harmony quartet<br />
contest in behalf of "On Moonlight Bay"<br />
Advertises Coo] Theatre<br />
at the Warner Theatre in Reading, Pa. Entrants<br />
were signed up at a booth in the lobby,<br />
and winners received nationally promoted<br />
[J prizes. about the weather .<br />
DRIVMN RAMP LIGHTS<br />
OmVE'lH THEATRE MFS.° CD.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Sept. 1, 1951 : :<br />
The recent heat wave in Lexington, Ky.,<br />
may have wilted some of the population, but in<br />
the case of Harold Sliter, manager of the<br />
Ben Ali Theatre, it only served to give him<br />
an idea. He made up a special display for<br />
the outer lobby, with copy: "Everybody talks<br />
... we DO something<br />
about it! It was 93 in Atlanta, 92 in<br />
Chicago, 96 in Louisville, 94 in Lexington . . .<br />
and as cool as a pool in the Ben Ali, thanks<br />
to our huge air conditioning plant."<br />
— 201 —<br />
Patrons of the Vogue Theatre, Vancouver,<br />
B. C, were surprised to find a real live Cyrano<br />
in the lobby on opening night of "Cyrano de<br />
Bergerac." Elegantly costumed to represent<br />
the dashing swordsman was Jack Cullen, disk<br />
jockey for station CKNW, who was prevailed<br />
upon to act the part by Al Jenkins, manager<br />
of the Vogue.<br />
Cullen interviewed folks as they arrived at<br />
the theatre, and later did a playback of the<br />
proceedings on his radio program. A special<br />
guest on opening night was Miss Vancouver,<br />
beauty contest winner, who was photographed<br />
in the lobby with the pseudo Cyrano. A<br />
story and photo of this broke in the Vancouver<br />
dailies.<br />
Jenkins tied in with the Lansdowne racetrack<br />
for a Cyrano day on which four horses<br />
were named for, respectively, Jose Ferrer,<br />
Vogue Theatre, Cyrano de Bergerac, and<br />
United Artists. This stunt alone was responsible<br />
for enormous publicity and repetitive<br />
mentions.<br />
A "Cyrano" Sundae was featured by a<br />
chain of seven restaurants, and a coloring<br />
contest in the Vancouver Daily Province, with<br />
theatre tickets as prizes, resulted in some<br />
extra publicity.<br />
Editor Authors Book<br />
Which Ties in 'Sun'<br />
D. J. Shepherd, manager of the Embassy at<br />
Johnstown, Pa., capitalized on a local promotion<br />
to exploit "Follow the Sun." Ben Coll,<br />
managing editor of the Johnstown Tribune,<br />
is the author of a book of poems entitled<br />
'"I Love Golf." One of the poems is dedicated<br />
to Ben Hogan whose career is depicted in the<br />
motion picture.<br />
Shepherd contacted Coll and arranged for<br />
an exhibit of letters the author had received<br />
from famous people, with comments on the<br />
book of poems. The exhibit, which included<br />
letters from General Eisenhower, General<br />
Bradley, Bing Crosby and many other renowned<br />
personalities and golfers, attracted<br />
crowds of townspeople to the theatre to see<br />
the display and "Follow the Sun."<br />
Shepherd arranged for window tieups with<br />
sporting goods stores and bookshops.<br />
S3
Ideas From Pressbook<br />
Work Well<br />
And Rate Newspaper Co-Op Ad<br />
A. J. Kalbeier, manager of the Indiana<br />
Theatre and the East 50 Drive-In, Washington,<br />
Ind., has been utilizing pressbook suggestions<br />
to garner extra publicity on coming<br />
and current shows.<br />
The Washington Democrat sponsored a<br />
contest on page one on "Go for Broke." Prizes<br />
of cash and theatre passes were offered for<br />
the most humorous and original Sad Sack<br />
replies to a "90-day wonder." The contest<br />
ran on three successive days, with the paper<br />
publishing a two-column cut of picture scenes.<br />
Readers were required to fill in the comments<br />
of the characters in each scene.<br />
ATTENTION!<br />
A coloring contest was sponsored by the<br />
Washington Herald and local merchants on<br />
"Show Boat." The cooperating merchants<br />
purchased a full-page newspaper ad, with one<br />
open-face type letter of the title appearing<br />
in each ad. Readers were invited to cut<br />
out the letters, paste them on a piece of cardboard,<br />
and color them. Each entry had to<br />
be accompanied by a statement on "Why I<br />
want to see the new Technicolor movie, 'Show<br />
Boat.' "<br />
Across the top of the page appeared a cut<br />
of the showboat, the stars, rules of the contest,<br />
and a large head. "Here comes the<br />
Equipment and Concessions Manufacturers<br />
THEATRE<br />
/<br />
. . Dealers and Services .<br />
/<br />
OWNERS OF AMERICA<br />
CONVENTION AND TRADE<br />
SHOW<br />
Hotel Astor, New York City, Sept. 23 thru 27<br />
There are still a limited number of booths available at the Giant<br />
Trade Sho-w. Here is your opportunity to meet with the buying<br />
po-wer of over 8,000 representative theatres from all over the<br />
country plus the exhibitors and theatremen within a radius of<br />
several hundred miles of New York City who will attend this<br />
important exhibit of theatre equipment, TV apparatus, concession<br />
merchandise and equipment, and service organizations.<br />
V<br />
Write • Wire • Or 'Phone for Booth Spate<br />
THEATRE OWNERS OF AMERICA, 1501<br />
Broadway<br />
New York 1 8. N. Y. Telephone Wisconsin 7-9350<br />
THE GREATEST EXHIBITOR CONVENTION<br />
AND TRADE SHOW IN FIFTY YEARS<br />
'Show Boat' of values." Theatre credits were<br />
prominently displayed in the layout. The<br />
newspaper ran publicity stories on page one.<br />
directing readers to the contest and the ad<br />
layout.<br />
Kalberer went back to the Democrat to<br />
promote a seven-day serialization in pictures<br />
which ran two weeks prior to the<br />
opening of "Samson and Etelilah." Box<br />
announcements on page one directed newspaper<br />
readers to the page on which the<br />
feature appeared each day.<br />
All local milk companies cooperated in<br />
sponsoring a Milkman's party for "The Milkman"<br />
at the East 50 Drive-In. The dairies<br />
provided free ice cream and milk drinks for<br />
every patron during the engagement of "The<br />
Milkman." and sponsored a full-page newspaper<br />
ad announcing the party and the picture<br />
playdates. According to Kalberer, the<br />
stunt doubled the regular theatre attendance.<br />
Lobby Teaser Plugs<br />
'Angels' Far Ahead<br />
Norm Levinson, assistant at the Poli Theatre,<br />
Hartford, devised a far-in-advance teaser<br />
stunt to encourage interest in "Angels in the<br />
Outfield." A 40x60 display in the lobby invites<br />
patrons to "Win Guest Tickets." On the<br />
board is a cartoon sketch of two angels playing<br />
baseball in the outfield, drawn by the<br />
theatre sign artist. Copy reads: "Name<br />
this MGM comedy. Write your selected title<br />
and cast on a card and drop it in this box.<br />
Here's a hint. The title has four words and<br />
the stars' initials are P. D. and J. L."<br />
Twenty-five pair of guest tickets will be<br />
awarded for correct answers, and a list of the<br />
winners and the picture title will be sniped<br />
on the board when the playdate is established.<br />
Diving Contest Assists<br />
Auburn, N. Y./Frogmen<br />
Joe Schwartzwalder, manager of the Auburn<br />
(N. Y.I Theatre, promoted an underwater<br />
swimming and diving contest at a<br />
nearby lake as part of his campaign for<br />
"The Frogmen." A notice of the contest was<br />
posted at the YMCA swimming pool.<br />
Crinoline Stunt on 'Boat'<br />
Citizens of Perth Amboy, N. J., were treated<br />
to the sight of a southern belle, escorted by<br />
"Cap'n Andy," strolling through the streets<br />
handing out heralds on "Show Boat." This<br />
was one of many ballyhoos devised by Billy<br />
Saxton, manager of the Majestic there. The<br />
girl, attractively garbed in picture hat and<br />
crinoline, was the theatre's candy-stand attendant.<br />
One of the ushers did the Cap'n<br />
Andy stint.<br />
Plays Up Local Actor<br />
Ernie Grecula, ad-publicity director for<br />
Hartford (Conn.'> Theatres, got busy with the<br />
newspapers when he discovered that Mike<br />
Kellin, a local actor, has a prominent supporting<br />
role in "At War With the Army."<br />
The item was played up for news stories and<br />
art breaks in the dailies.<br />
DRIVE-IN SCREEN COATING<br />
Aisi Masking and Cotnplati Paint Line<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFQ. CO.<br />
."';":•;<br />
34 202 — BOXOFTICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 1, 1951
Krim Files Answer<br />
To D of J Move<br />
NEW YORK—Arthur B. Krim, president<br />
of United Artists, on Friday i31> filed an answer<br />
to the Department of Justice move designed<br />
to remove him and his law partners<br />
from what the department calls "interests."<br />
Harold Lasser of the Justice department<br />
obtained an order July 30 from the three<br />
judges of the statutory court, which heard the<br />
antitrust case, requiring United Artists and<br />
Universal Pictures to show cause why the<br />
antitrust decrees applying to those companies<br />
should not be amended so that Krim, Robert<br />
S. Benjamin and Louis Philips—all members<br />
of the law firm of Philip, Nizer, Benjamin &<br />
Krim—should not be removed as officers of<br />
these firms because of their "conflicting interests."<br />
Krim admits he is a member of the law<br />
firm, but denies that there are any common<br />
officers in the companies. He also says Philips<br />
is not an officer of Paramount, although<br />
he is assistant general counsel, and he states<br />
he resigned as president of Eagle Lion in 1949.<br />
Flobert S. Benjamin, he states, resigned<br />
as a director of Pathe Industries, Inc.. and<br />
as counsel in February 1951.<br />
Krim says the purchase of Eagle Lion added<br />
only about 5 per cent to the United Artists<br />
product and did not constitute restraint of<br />
trade.<br />
The Justice department emphasized the fact<br />
that Eagle Lion has an antitrust suit pending<br />
against Loew's, Inc., and RKO. Krim says<br />
this suit was assigned to Pathe Industries by<br />
Eagle Lion and so far as he knows is still<br />
pending.<br />
The show cause order is scheduled for a<br />
hearing October 25.<br />
Justice Dept. Antitrust<br />
Unit Eyes Football Deal<br />
NEW YORK—The Department of Justice<br />
has notified Jerome Marks of the fair television<br />
practices committee that the antitrust<br />
division will consider his complaint that the<br />
National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n has no<br />
right to keep football telecasts from home<br />
sets. The NCAA recently decided to limit<br />
the number of the telecasts to home sets<br />
so that the member colleges can study the<br />
effects of television on attendance.<br />
Nathan L. Halpern, president of Theatre<br />
Network Television, early last month closed<br />
a deal with NCAA lining up weekly telecasts<br />
of college football games for theatre presentation.<br />
Nine Annual Film Reports<br />
Qualify in Competition<br />
NEW YORK—Nine annual reports of film<br />
companies have qualified for Highest Merit<br />
citations from the Financial World in the<br />
annual competition conducted by Weston<br />
Smith.<br />
One of these will be selected as "best of<br />
the industry" and will be presented the<br />
bronze "Oscar of Industry" at the annual<br />
awards banquet to be held October 29 in<br />
the Statler hotel. Last year's award went<br />
to 20th Century-Fox.<br />
The companies qualifying this year are Columbia,<br />
Walt Disney, Loew's, Monogram,<br />
Paramount, RKO, Republic, 20th Century-<br />
Fox and United Paramount Theatres.<br />
Albany Movietime Rally<br />
Is Changed to Sept. 5<br />
Buffalo Leaders Prepare<br />
For September 10 Rally<br />
BUFFALO—Bill Dipson, executive vicepresident<br />
of Dipson Theatres, and George H.<br />
Mackenna, general manager of the Lafayette<br />
Theatre, and Dave Miller, manager of the<br />
Buffalo U-I office, presided at a second big<br />
powwow Monday i27> in the Variety Club to<br />
complete details for the Movietime U.S.A.<br />
meeting to be held September 10 in the Erlanger<br />
Theatre, at which Bob O'Donnell will<br />
be the principal speaker.<br />
Salesmen from the various exchanges will<br />
contact all exhibitors in the exchange area<br />
and inform them of the importance of attending<br />
the meeting which, it is hoped, will line<br />
Buffalo solidly with the other camps supporting<br />
the back-to-the-boxoffice drive.<br />
The photo shows Dave Miller, left, U-I<br />
manager, distributor chairman, and William<br />
Brereton, Basil Theatres, publicity chairman,<br />
talking over Movietime plans.<br />
Farnol Heads Movietime<br />
Publicity in New York<br />
NEW YORK—Lynn Farnol, public relations<br />
director of the Organization of the Motion<br />
Picture Industry of New York City, will handle<br />
local Movietime U.S.A. publicity, working<br />
in cooperation with the national publicity<br />
committee and with Charles E. McCarthy, coordinator<br />
of publicity, advertising and exploitation.<br />
Raymond F. Hodgdon Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Raymond Fallon Hodgdon,<br />
62, former RKO theatre manager in the<br />
metropolitan area, died last Saturday at his<br />
home in Flushing after an illness of several<br />
weeks. He became an RKO theatre manager<br />
in 1933. During World War II he served as<br />
a captain with the 105th Infantry.<br />
Newsreels to Pool on Japan Treaty<br />
NEW YORK—Newsreels will pool service<br />
on Japan treaty coverage. The State department<br />
has ruled there is no room for each reel<br />
plus reporters, commentators, radio and television<br />
men and still cameramen.<br />
ALBANY—A large attendance was predicted<br />
at the all-industry Movietime U.S.A.<br />
rally at the Delaware Theatre September 5.<br />
Co-chairmen Jack Goldberg and Harry Lament<br />
said a check of reports from salesmen<br />
on pledges by exhibitors and managers indicated<br />
that industry men who have seldom<br />
visitsd here in recent years will be present.<br />
The meeting was postponed one day to<br />
Wednesday.<br />
The co-chairmen sent a letter to 250 situations<br />
in the exchange area saying it was<br />
"the most important" the exhibitors had<br />
ever received, "because it concerns you, the<br />
welfare of your family, and your future<br />
livelihood in the moving picture business."<br />
The meeting will map the district's participation<br />
in Movietime, in which "producers,<br />
distributors and exhibitors are combining<br />
nationally for the first time in 50 years to<br />
overcome a prevailing and unwarranted misconception<br />
and lethargy affecting motion<br />
pictm-es."<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell, national chairman<br />
and general manager of the Interstate circuit<br />
in Texas, will speak.<br />
"If you wish to keep this business healthy<br />
and profitable, come yourself and bring cashiers,<br />
doormen and projectionists," stated the<br />
letter. "Let us prove that we are unified in<br />
this effort to preserve and revitalize our<br />
industry."<br />
A conference of local publicity representatives—Abe<br />
Bernstein, Ed Wall and Gerry<br />
Atkin—was held Monday (27) to prepare<br />
newspaper releases on the meeting.<br />
C. Elmer Nolte Jr. Named<br />
Head of Maryland Drive<br />
BALTIMORE—Lauritz Garman, president<br />
of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of<br />
Maryland, appointed C. Elmer Nolte jr.,<br />
Durkee circuit executive, as chairman of<br />
the Maryland Movietime drive. Nolte, in<br />
turn, appointed Joseph G. Smart, city manager<br />
Loew's Theatres, and Meyer Leventhal,<br />
Lord Baltimore Theatre, as his co-chairmen.<br />
Others appointed to the executive committee<br />
included the following:<br />
Jerry Adams<br />
N. C. Haefele<br />
Leon Back<br />
Sam Isaacson<br />
Stanley Baker<br />
Morris Mechanic<br />
Oscar Apple<br />
Harold DeGraw<br />
John P. Codd<br />
Pete Prince<br />
Rodney Collier<br />
I. M. Rappaport<br />
Sam Galanty<br />
Howard Savitz<br />
Louis Gaertner<br />
Fred Schcmberger jr.<br />
Lauritz Gorman<br />
Milton Schwaber<br />
Harry Goldberg<br />
Jack Sidney<br />
Charles Grimes<br />
Mrs, Mildred Wa'.sh<br />
The committees follow<br />
Finance—Milton Schwaber, chairman; Jack<br />
Levin and Meyer Leventhal.<br />
Special Events—Leon Back.<br />
Ladies—Mrs. Leon Back.<br />
Publicity a'nd Advertising—Jack Sidney.<br />
The next meeting of the executive committee<br />
was to be held on Friday (31) at the<br />
League offices at which time committees will<br />
be filled and campaign will be mapped out<br />
to start the drive on October 8 in the state<br />
capitol at Annapolis to coincide with the<br />
national opening in the other state capitals.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 N 35
. . . Edwin<br />
. . Denise<br />
. . Sidney<br />
. . William<br />
. .<br />
. . Wolfe<br />
. . Lige<br />
. . Hal<br />
. .<br />
I MGM<br />
B R O A D W Ay<br />
Durtus Bishop jr., MGM midwestern sales<br />
manager, returned to Chicago following<br />
a brief visit to the home office . . . Paul Douglas,<br />
star and Clarence Brown, producerdirector,<br />
came to New York before going to<br />
the opening of "Angels in the Outfield"<br />
(MGM) at Loew's Penn, Pittsburgh, September<br />
. . Olin H. Clark, eastern story head<br />
7 .<br />
for MGM, addressed the third fiction writers<br />
conference at Marlboro college, Marlboro, Vt.<br />
Willis, MGM art director, left for<br />
Hollywood over the weekend following a short<br />
vacation here.<br />
Charles Simonelli, eastern advertising and<br />
publicity manager for U-I, and Jeff Livingston,<br />
eastern advertising manager, left for<br />
Hollywood at the weekend for talks with<br />
David A. Lipton, vice-president in charge of<br />
advertising and publicity.<br />
Henri Diamant-Berger, French producerdirector,<br />
was here for conferences with<br />
Walter Futter on final scenes for their joint<br />
film. "The Amazing Monsieur Fabre" .<br />
H. M. Bessey, executive vice-president of<br />
Altec Service Corp., completed a six-week<br />
tour, including meetings on the coast . . .<br />
Robert Mitchum appeared at the Paramount<br />
Wednesday (29) in behalf of his latest film,<br />
"His Kind of Woman" . Garfield,<br />
who left WB after eight years of<br />
press-agenting to become eastern director<br />
of advertising and publicity for Samuel Goldwyn<br />
Productions, has resigned to become exploitation<br />
director for CBS.<br />
William J. Heineman and Max E. Youngstein<br />
of UA returned from a series of oneday<br />
regional sales meets for discussions of<br />
fall product . Darcel will leave for<br />
Hollywood Tuesday to start work in "Young<br />
Man in a Hurry" iMGM) . . . Maurice N.<br />
Wolf of the MGM exhibitor relations department<br />
stopped off at the home office en route<br />
from a vacation in the Thousand Islands to<br />
his home in Boston.<br />
. . Ronald Millar,<br />
M. L. Simons, assistant to H. M. Richey<br />
at MGM, was on vacation . Lyon<br />
of the MGM studio publicity department came<br />
back from a cruise Friday (31 1 and will leave<br />
for the coast Monday .<br />
British writer, has gone to the coast for an<br />
MGM assignment . . . Burton Lane, composer,<br />
is in town after finishing work on<br />
"Huckleberry Finn" for MGM Rosson,<br />
.<br />
Lee Katz and James Basevi stopped off here<br />
on their way to Boston for exterior shots on<br />
MGM's "Sometimes I Love You."<br />
Linda Darnell and David Rose came in<br />
from Jamaica after completing "Saturday<br />
Island" there. She left for London Saturday<br />
(li to complete interior shots . . .<br />
Philip A. Waxman was in town to confer<br />
with UA vice-presidents William J. Heineman,<br />
in charge of distribution, and Max<br />
E. Youngstein, director of advertising, publicity<br />
and exploitation, on "The Big Night,"<br />
Joseph A. Walsh,<br />
which he produced . . .<br />
head of branch operations for Paramount,<br />
went to Detroit and Cincinnati last week on<br />
an inspection tour of Howard Minsky's mideastern<br />
division.<br />
William Pine, co-producer of "Crosswinds,"<br />
returned to Hollywood after a series of<br />
meetings with Jerry Pickman, director of advertising,<br />
publicity and exploitation for Paramount<br />
.<br />
Cohen, president of Warner<br />
Bros. International, arrived from London.<br />
He had been abroad for five weeks visiting<br />
branches in England, Ireland and Paris.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Robert Wise, who produced "The Long<br />
Chance" with Mark Robson for UA release,<br />
is here for conferences on distribution problems<br />
Brien, special events director<br />
at United Artists, joined Douglas Fairbanks<br />
jr. in Chicago and then went to Oak<br />
Ridge, Term., for the opening of "Mister<br />
Drake's Duck" . . Elizabeth Eisenhart,<br />
magazine contact at 20th-Fox, has been given<br />
the new post of special publicity contact by<br />
Stirling Silliphant, publicity manager .<br />
Mitchell Rawson of the MGM home office<br />
publicity department is vacationing at Saratoga<br />
Springs.<br />
Ginger Rogers and her mother and Tom<br />
Helmore and Dorothy Adams, screen actors,<br />
arrived from Hollywood to appear on Broadway<br />
in "Love and Let Love," new play by<br />
Louis Verneuil, who will also act in the play<br />
at the Plymouth, opposite the Music Box,<br />
where June Havoc, Reginald Owen and Shepperd<br />
Strudwick are completing a year's run<br />
in "Affairs of State," Verneuil's most recent<br />
play. Nancy Kelly and Angela Lansbury also<br />
got in from Hollywood for Broadw^ay stage<br />
engagements in the fall.<br />
HONOR EUROPE.iN CHIEFS—Phil Reisman, RKO vice-president in charge of<br />
foreign distribution, hosted a luncheon at the 21 Club honoring visiting European executives<br />
Joseph Bellfort, general manager, and Elias Lapinere, general sales manager.<br />
Among those attending, clockwise: Reisman, Ned E. Depinet, Robert Mochrie, Elias<br />
Lapinere, Sol Schwartz, William Clark and Joseph Bellfort.<br />
British Royal Film<br />
Show Rule Changed<br />
NEW YORK—The country of origin will<br />
not figure in the selection of a film for the<br />
Royal Film Performance November 5 at the<br />
Odeon Theatre, London, but member companies<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America<br />
have joined in expressing the hope that<br />
a British film will be chosen because this is<br />
the year of the British Festival. Heretofore<br />
American and British films have alternated<br />
each year.<br />
When the snowings started in 1946 the<br />
choice was "A Matter of Life and Death," a<br />
British film distributed in this country by<br />
U-I as "Stairway to Heaven." The following<br />
year Samuel Goldwyn's "The Bishop's Wife"<br />
was chosen. In 1948 the selection was "Scott<br />
of the Antarctic," a J. Arthur Rank picture.<br />
In 1949 the choice was "That Forsyte Woman"<br />
I, and last year "The Mudlark." made<br />
by 20th Century-Fox in England, was the<br />
nominee. This selection stirred some criticism<br />
in Great Britain on the ground that it was<br />
an American production even though made<br />
in England.<br />
The Cinematograph Trade Benevolent fund<br />
committee receives all funds for the show-ings<br />
and names a selection committee composed<br />
of three members of the British Film Producers<br />
Ass'n, three distributors of American<br />
films and three exhibitors having no connection<br />
with production. Nominations may<br />
also be made by any producer and submitted<br />
to the committee by September 22. Prints<br />
must be available at that time in London.<br />
Under the new plan, suggested in London<br />
and submitted to the MPAA by Fayette W.<br />
Allport, the film chosen cannot have been<br />
shown anywhere in Europe and the showing<br />
should be a world premiere.<br />
Brandt Picks 11 Aides<br />
On Pioneers Committee<br />
NEW YORK—Harry Brandt, chairman of<br />
the entertainment sub-committee of the<br />
Foundation of Motion Picture Pioneers Fund<br />
Committee, has added 11 members to the<br />
group. The committee will seek talent for<br />
the program of events planned for the fall.<br />
Abel Green is co-chairman, with Y. Frank<br />
Freeman and Marvin Schenck as co-chairmen<br />
on the coast.<br />
The new members are: William Morris and<br />
Ben Kalcheim of the William Morris Agency:<br />
Gus S. Eyssell of the Radio City Music Hall:<br />
A. J. Balaban, Sam Rausch and Arthur<br />
North of the Roxy Theatre; Harry Anger,<br />
General Artists Corp.; Harry Romm and<br />
Lou Wasserman, Music Corp. of America:<br />
Robert Weitman, United Paramount Theatres;<br />
Joe Vogel, Loew's, Inc., and Al Rylander.<br />
Columbia.<br />
Paramount Int'l Workers<br />
Win Raise, End Strike<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount International and<br />
home office employes reached an agreement<br />
Tuesday i28) that ended a strike of about<br />
a week. The employes won wage increases<br />
averaging 9'l' per cent, with the guarantee<br />
of an increase at the end of one year, based<br />
on the consumers price index of the U.S.<br />
Department of Labor for this area, according<br />
to Russell Moss, business agent for<br />
MPHOE Local H-63. The original demand<br />
was for a 10 per cent increase.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
. . . Rhoda<br />
. . . Zelda<br />
. . Pete<br />
. . Dick<br />
: September<br />
. . Ethel<br />
. . Harold<br />
. . Johnny<br />
. . Walter<br />
. . Sonny<br />
. . Etta<br />
reissues<br />
NEW YORK<br />
By<br />
TED GOTTFRIED<br />
FILMROW<br />
.<br />
TTA WELCOMED LeRoy Fuhrman, Victoria<br />
Theatre, Watertown; Abe Levin, Elwood<br />
Theatre, Newarli; and Sy Londer, Astor Theatre,<br />
.<br />
Poughkeepsie, last week V.<br />
Segal, head booker at Monogram, was on a<br />
two-week vacation Rosen, Long<br />
Island-Brooklyn salesman for U-I, returned<br />
from a vacation tour during which he covered<br />
seven states . . . Willie Schutzer,<br />
former UA Brooklyn salesman, was injured<br />
when he was struck by a bus.<br />
Joyce Schwartz, 20th-Fox bUler, is wearing<br />
a ring presented to her by David Gershon<br />
Boxer. RKO typist-clerk, is leaving<br />
to continue her education . Goldberg<br />
resigned at Warners due to ill health<br />
Goldstein of the UA branch returned<br />
last week after a six-week absence<br />
due to a leg injury . Hogan, UA<br />
shipping department, has returned from his<br />
vacation . Feinstein is the new<br />
Bernard<br />
office boy at MGM .<br />
of U-I welcomed his son home on leave.<br />
Ben Levine left his senior booker's post at<br />
UA Friday (31) to enter the clothing industry.<br />
He had been in the film industry 24<br />
years . Fishman, booker at 20th-Fox.<br />
is on vacation . Israel of Monogram<br />
celebrated a birthday.<br />
Karl Harte, former head booker and office<br />
manager for WB in Albany, has joined UA's<br />
New York exchange as a booker . . . The<br />
two-ton safe which had been with UA since<br />
is inception has finally been junked.<br />
Theatre Guild to Sponsor<br />
'River' Presentations<br />
NEW YORK—The Theatre Guild will sponsor<br />
the presentation of "The River." according<br />
to Lawrence Langner and Theresa Helburn,<br />
guild directors, and William J. Heineman,<br />
distribution vice-president of United<br />
Artists, which is releasing it. Previously the<br />
only films sponsored by the guild were "Henry<br />
V" and "Hamlet," in both of which Laurence<br />
Olivier starred.<br />
The guild will participate in the September<br />
10 opening at the Paris Theatre here and<br />
then recommend it to its subscribers in 21<br />
cities throughout the country. The film has<br />
also been selected as the first to be presented<br />
to its members by the Show-of-the-Month<br />
club.<br />
Judy Garland to Palace<br />
NEW YORK—Judy Garland, who returned<br />
recently from a stage tour in Europe, has<br />
been signed by Sol A. Schwartz, president of<br />
RKO Theatres, for a reserved-seat run at<br />
the Palace Theatre. She will leave for the<br />
coast to rehearse the program.<br />
Paramount Dance Date Set<br />
NEW YORK—The annual dinner dance<br />
of the Paramount Pictures club will be held<br />
at the Hotel Commodore November 2. A top<br />
band will provide music. Square-dancing is<br />
scheduled and stars will also appear.<br />
'Bathsheba Out Front Second Week;<br />
'Jim Thorpe Opens Strong at Astot<br />
NEW YORK—"David and Bathsheba"<br />
(20th-Foxi continued to do sensational business<br />
in its second week at the Rivoli after<br />
a remarkable opening during a heat wave<br />
and the apex of the vacation season, actually<br />
playing to several thousand more than during<br />
the first week.<br />
"Meet Me After the Show," a product of<br />
the same company, aided by personal appearances<br />
of Milton Berle and Dagmar. almost<br />
equaled its tremendous business of the previous<br />
week at the Roxy, when the theatre<br />
had its highest nonholiday opening week<br />
figure since 1947.<br />
"Jim Thorpe—All American" (WBi opened<br />
strong at the Astor. "Show Boat" (MGMi,<br />
which has been going over big at Radio City<br />
Music Hall, actually drew larger audiences<br />
during its sixth week than the previous week.<br />
The same was true of "Oliver Twist" (UA) in<br />
its fourth week at the Park Avenue. "Alice<br />
in Wonderland" (RKO) held firm in its fifth<br />
week at the Criterion, as did "Kind Lady"<br />
(MGM) in its third week at the Trans-Lux<br />
52nd Street. All in all, 14 of the 21 films reported<br />
in the following table did better than<br />
average business.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
-Jim Thorpe—All American (WB)..<br />
" ol Hoflmcmn (Lopert)<br />
"<br />
DU— Tale<br />
21st<br />
Capitol—The Law and the Lady (MGM 2nd<br />
Cntenon— Alice in Wonderlond (RKO), 5th wk<br />
55th Street—Hills of Ireland (World Travel), 14th<br />
Globe The Secret of Convict Lake (20th-Fox),<br />
4th wk 110<br />
Holiday—Fugitive Lady (Rep) 90<br />
Loevifs State—Iron Man (U-1), 115<br />
2nd Vfk<br />
Mayfair-My Outlaw Brother (UA) 90<br />
Palace— Criminal Lawyer (Col), plus vaudeville....lOO<br />
Paramount-That's My Boy (Para), plus stage<br />
show, 4th wk 110<br />
Park Avenue— Oliver Twist (UA), 4th wk... 148<br />
Radio City Music Hall—Show Boot (MGM). plu<br />
stage<br />
6th<br />
nd Bathsheba (20th-Fox), 2nd wk .200<br />
Roxy—Meet Me After the Show (20th-Fox), plus<br />
stage show 170<br />
Sutton—Kon-TiW (RKO). 21st wk 82<br />
Trans-Lux Madison Avenue The Emperor's Nightingale<br />
(Rembrandt), 15th wk 80<br />
Trans-Lux 52nd Street—Kind Lady (MGM), 3rd<br />
wk 120<br />
Victoria—Bright Victory (U-1), 4th wk 105<br />
Warner-Force of Arms (WB), 2nd wk 110<br />
World—Women Without Names (Lopert), 3rd wk ,105<br />
Star Personals, Promotion<br />
Put Over Philly "Woman'<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Business in the first<br />
runs had its ups and downs in the latest<br />
period. A contingent of stars making personal<br />
appearances plus a live-wire promotion campaign<br />
helped boost the average of "His<br />
Kind of Woman" at the Goldman to 140.<br />
Boyd—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 4th wk, .. 70<br />
Earle—They Got Me Covered (RKO); Up in Arms<br />
(RKO) , 50<br />
Fox—Meet Me After the Show (20th-rox), 2nd wk 75<br />
Goldman—His Kind of Woman (RKO) 140<br />
Mastbaum—Captain Horatio Homblower (WB),<br />
2nd wk 115<br />
Midtown—Night Into Morning (MGM) 80<br />
Randolph—Show Boot (MGM), 8th wk 50<br />
Stanley—Jim Thorpe—All American (WB) 120<br />
Stanton—Pickup (Col) 105<br />
'Boy' Will Be Noisy<br />
In Buffalo Long Time<br />
BUFFALO—The big<br />
boxoffice noise in this<br />
town is still "That's My Boy" in its second<br />
week and keeping the turnstiles going at a<br />
fast pace. It will go way over an average<br />
holdover engagement at the Century.<br />
"Sirocco" at the Lafayette is also going to<br />
end up with one of the best weeks in a long<br />
time at this Basil house. Elsewhere, things<br />
were quiet, with both "Belvedere" and "He<br />
Ran All the Way" being only fair grossers.<br />
"Hornblower" sounded taps after its third<br />
week at the Center.<br />
Buffalo-He Ran All the Way (UA) 80<br />
Center—Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB), 3rd<br />
wk 75<br />
Century— That's My Boy (Para). 2nd wk 115<br />
Cinema—The Red Shoes (UA). 3rd wk 85<br />
Lafayette—Sirocco (Col) 100<br />
Paramount Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell<br />
(20th-Fox) 90<br />
Teck—Strictly Dishonoroble (MGM); Kind Lady<br />
(MGM), 2nd d. t. wk 75<br />
Newcomers Net Baltimore<br />
Good Week as 'Boy' Grows<br />
BALTIMORE—Business is still on the upswing,<br />
with newcomers taking the play away<br />
from the holdovers. "Meet Me After the<br />
Show," "Peking Express" and "He Ran All<br />
the Way" got the lion's share but one holdover,<br />
"That's My Boy," was right up with<br />
the bigger breadwinners.<br />
Century—He Ran All the Way (UA) 108<br />
Keith's—That's My Boy (Para), 4th wk 117<br />
Maytair-Warpath (Pnra) 106<br />
New—Meet Me After the Show (20th-Fox) 134<br />
Stanley—Peking Express (Para) 118<br />
Town—Never Trust a Gambler (Col) 100<br />
Valencia—Teresa (MGM), 2nd wk 105<br />
'Place in Sun' Given Big<br />
Opening at the Capitol<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount and the Capitol<br />
Theatre management combined to give "A<br />
Place in the Sun" an elaborate opening with<br />
about 1.000 invited guests who included newspaper<br />
and syndicate writers and Broadway<br />
celebrities.<br />
There was coverage by WQR and the<br />
Mutual network, with Warren Hull interviewing<br />
guests, and also by newsreels and<br />
radio, with the usual searchlights and police<br />
details to keep the theatre entrance<br />
open.<br />
One of the features of the lobby ceremonies<br />
was the presentation of "most deserving of a<br />
place in the sun awards" to five persons.<br />
Montgomery Clift, star of the picture, received<br />
one: another went to Albert Senft, who<br />
served three times as president of Cinema<br />
lodge and has done much work in rehabilitating<br />
war veterans; Mary J. Thompson, a major<br />
in the American Woman's Hospital Reserve<br />
Corps; John Flannery jr., president of the<br />
Children's Bus Service, and Donald Darcy,<br />
chairman of the Red Cross commerce and industry<br />
division.<br />
Heads Official Films<br />
NEW YORK—William R. Goodheart jr. has<br />
been elected president of Official Films following<br />
the resignation of Aaron Katz as<br />
president and member of the board. Official<br />
makes 8mm and 16mm films for home and<br />
institutional use and also produces for television.<br />
'Little Egypt' to Mayfair<br />
NEW YORK—"Little Egypt," U-I feature<br />
starring Rhonda Fleming and Mark Stevens,<br />
will open at the Mayfair following the current<br />
"My Outlaw Brother," which started<br />
August 22.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;<br />
1, 1951 37
. . . John<br />
. . Harry<br />
. . Mary<br />
. . Abe<br />
BUFFALO<br />
rimer F. Lux, general manager of Darnell<br />
Theatres and Buffalo city councilman at<br />
large, has been nominated for president of<br />
the council by a 2-to-l margin. Huge majority<br />
was rolled up for Lux at the primaries and<br />
his many friends in the industry were instrumental<br />
in piling up the victory. George H.<br />
Mackenna. general manager of the Lafayette<br />
Theatre, was campaign manager. Elmer is<br />
a former manager of the RKO Buffalo exchange<br />
... A 1,000-slice birthday cake, with<br />
a $100 ring in one of the slices, was distributed<br />
the other evening to the first thousand<br />
patrons at the Delaware Drive-In at<br />
Tonawanda. The cake was the big feature<br />
of the theatre's third anniversary celebration<br />
and there were added gifts for patrons.<br />
Max M. Yellen, head of the company operating<br />
the Century Theatre, was host at his<br />
big annual party at his country estate near<br />
East Aurora, N. Y., last Monday i27). and<br />
what a party it was! All the managers of the<br />
Buffalo distributing companies were present,<br />
as were the executives of the downtown theatres<br />
and several visiting home office officials.<br />
The banquet served at dinnertime, in the<br />
huge dining room that accommodates some<br />
100 persons, was out of this world.<br />
Frances Anderson, manager of the Cinema<br />
in Rochester, did so well with "Kon-Tiki" at<br />
the Kodak town house that the picture was<br />
held for a fifth week, which is going some<br />
and doesn't support Life magazine's idea<br />
that the smaller houses are not doing so well<br />
Zimmerman, manager of the Niagara,<br />
a United Paramount community house,<br />
is motoring through New England on a twoweek<br />
vacation . Phelan, for many<br />
years secretary to Vincent R. McFaul, general<br />
manager of the Shea theatres, has resigned<br />
and aumors say that a wedding is in<br />
the offing.<br />
Robert T. Murphy, general manager of the<br />
Century Theatre, is vacationing for a couple<br />
of weeks. He needed a vacation after counting<br />
the take on the run of "That's My Boy,"<br />
which cracked records at this big Buffalo first<br />
run . Fellerman, sales head of U-I's<br />
special film division, was in Buffalo last weekend<br />
for conferences with Dave Miller, local<br />
U-I branch manager.<br />
Francis X. Bushn:
. . Larry<br />
. . Fred<br />
. The<br />
. . Harry<br />
Louis Grossman Wins<br />
'The Thing' Contest<br />
NEW YORK—First prize of $500 in the<br />
metropolitan contest conducted by RKO on<br />
"The Thing" went to Louis Grossman, manager<br />
of the RKO Alden, Jamaica. The contest<br />
was for the best campaigns and business<br />
on the picture during the period between<br />
June 4 and August 1.<br />
Second prize, $250, went to Daniel Cohen,<br />
manager of Loew's Borough Park, and third,<br />
$200, went to Sam Ferstenberg, RKO Castle<br />
Hill.<br />
Other prizewinners in the first run division<br />
were: Alexander Pluchos, $150. RKO New<br />
Rochelle; Joe MacDonald, $100, Skouras Park<br />
Plaza: George Langbart, $50, Randforce circuit.<br />
First prize in the second run classification.<br />
$250, went to Larry Stark, Loew's Victory;<br />
second, $125, to Harry Padva, Interboro Coliseum;<br />
third, $75, to Sid Stromberg. Triangle;<br />
fourth, $50, to Charles Barron, Trans-Lux<br />
Colony.<br />
20th-Fox Uses 550 Spots<br />
For 'People Will Talk'<br />
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox is<br />
using 550 spot radio announcements in the<br />
metropolitan area for the run of Darryl F.<br />
Zanuck's "People Will Talk," which opened<br />
at the Roxy Theatre Wednesday (29). WCBS,<br />
WOR, WNEW. WMCA, WINS and WMGM<br />
are the principal outlets.<br />
The spots consist of one-minute. 20 second<br />
and 15-second announcements. In addition,<br />
special live announcements are made on the<br />
Dorothy and Dick WOR program.<br />
Garfield Leaves Goldwyn<br />
For CBS Radio Network<br />
NEW YORK—Sidney Garfield has resigned<br />
as director of eastern publicity and advertising<br />
of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, according<br />
to James A. Mulvey, president. He<br />
will become exploitation director for the<br />
Columbia Broadcasting System radio network,<br />
effective September 10. Before joining<br />
Goldwyn, Garfield was with Warner Bros,<br />
eight years, handling special publicity assignments.<br />
Roger Pryor in Ad Post<br />
NEW YORK—Roger Pryor, who was featured<br />
in a score of Hollywood films from<br />
1943 to 1946, has been elected vice-president<br />
in charge of radio and television in the New<br />
York office of Foote, Cone & Belding, advertising<br />
agency. Pryor, son of the late<br />
Arthur Pryor, famous bandleader, joined the<br />
agency in 1947 and has been announcer for<br />
Theatre Guild of the Air and other important<br />
radio programs.<br />
WB Sets Tradeshow Dates<br />
NEW YORK—"Painting the Clouds With<br />
Sunshine" will be nationally trade.shown<br />
Wednesday (5) and distributed October 6.<br />
"Come Fill the Cup" will be nationally tradeshown<br />
September 12 and distributed the week<br />
of October 30. Both are Warner Bros, pictures.<br />
R. L. Jordan in Publicity<br />
Post at Alexander Smith<br />
NEW YORK—Robert L. Jordan has been<br />
named as publicity manager for Alexander<br />
Smith, Inc., a new post. Jordan will handle<br />
public relations and publicity activities for<br />
Alexander Smith. Inc., and its three operating<br />
divisions—carpet, linoleum and special<br />
products.<br />
Jordan has had varied experience in both<br />
the advertising and publicity fields. He was<br />
account executive for L. Richard Guylay and<br />
Associates. Prior to that he was with World<br />
Video, Inc., Long Island College of Medicine<br />
and the Red Cross.<br />
Holiday to Play Brandt<br />
Stage Revue in Sept.<br />
NEW YORK—The Holiday Theatre, renamed<br />
from the Gotham, when it became a<br />
first run theatre in April, will become a<br />
legitimate house September 24 when "Bagels<br />
and Yox," a Yiddish musical revue in English,<br />
will open its Broadway run. The attraction,<br />
which has been produced by Harry Brandt.<br />
Al Beckman and John Pransky, was first<br />
announced to open at the Globe and then at<br />
the Mayfair, both operated by Brandt Theatres.<br />
However, neither of the other houses<br />
has backstage facilities and dressing rooms.<br />
'Medium' to Open Sept. 5<br />
With Benefit for ANTA<br />
NEW YORK—T^ie American National Theatre<br />
and Academy will receive the entire<br />
proceeds from the opening of "The Medium"<br />
at the Sutton Theatre September 5. Prices<br />
will be $10, $7.50 and $5, with all seats reserved.<br />
The regular scale will start the following<br />
day. ANTA is raising money to support<br />
the legitimate theatre throughout the<br />
nation. Helen Hays is president and Robert<br />
W. Dowling of City Investing Co. is chairman.<br />
Delegate Sponsors 'River'<br />
NEW YORK — Sir Benegal Rau, Indian<br />
ambassador to the United I^ations, will represent<br />
his government and officially sponsor<br />
the opening of "The River," a Jean Renoir<br />
film, at the Paris Theatre September 10. Al.so<br />
attending the opening will be Rajeshwar Dial,<br />
minister to the United Nations, and his wife;<br />
French Ambassador Henri Bonnet, Senators<br />
Herbert Lehman and Irving Ives, Mayor Vincent<br />
Impellitterl and others.<br />
N. Y. 'Widow' Date Set<br />
NEW YORK—"The Reluctant Widow," a<br />
Two Cities British film, will open Friday (7)<br />
at the Trans-Lux 60th Street Theatre, according<br />
to Fine Arts Films, American distributor.<br />
It was directed by Bernard Knowles<br />
and produced by Gordon Wellesley, and deals<br />
with love and espionage on the eve of Waterloo.<br />
Jack Boyd to Hallmark<br />
WILMINGTON, OHIO—Kroger Babb, president<br />
of Hallmark Productions, has appointed<br />
Jack Boyd, who has been general manager<br />
for American Theatres at Albany, as zone<br />
manager for the Albany-Buffalo areas.<br />
ALBANY<br />
.<br />
n familiar face has disappeared from Filmrow.<br />
Helen I. Wisper resigned as office<br />
manager and head booker at 20th -Fox after<br />
serving with the company for 15 years.<br />
Johnny Wilhelm, booker in the Pittsburgh<br />
exchange the last two years and previously<br />
in the Buffalo branch seven years, is her<br />
successor . Haas, chief engineer for<br />
Fabian Theatres, was on an inspection of<br />
theatres and drive-ins in this area. He<br />
intends vacationing in Delaware following<br />
his return to New York. The Plaza,<br />
Schenectady, used its Magnascope lenses to<br />
produce sharper detail for "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
Cowen, manager of Proctor's,<br />
Troy, and Dick Murphy, manager of<br />
the Plaza, Schenectady, went on vacations.<br />
Police searched for a young bandit who<br />
slugged William Jefforts, assistant manager<br />
of Warners' Avon in Utica with a revolver,<br />
struck Walter Borthwick, an usher, and<br />
escaped with $400 . . . Phil Baroudi reported<br />
disappointing business with "Meet Me After<br />
the Show." He has theatres in North Creek,<br />
Warrensburg and Indian Lake .<br />
Lament<br />
is featuring free fire engine rides at<br />
the Riverview Drive-In at Rotterdam Junction.<br />
He bought an old one from a nearby<br />
junk dealer and started giving rides around<br />
the road inside the ozoner to children and<br />
their parents. The truck, which carries 30.<br />
still has the name of a town fire department<br />
painted on the side.<br />
The Times-Union is bringing Hopalong<br />
Cassidy (Bill Boyd) to Albany for a "ranch<br />
party" September 29. A free ticket will be<br />
given to each child who saves 14 consecutively<br />
numbered coupons (in the paper) and brings<br />
them to the T-U . Madison placed<br />
special copy on the appearance of Melvyn<br />
Douglas and Signe Hasso, stars of "Glad<br />
Tidings," at the Saratoga Spa Theatre Tuesday<br />
at a Movie Matinee arranged by Betty<br />
Parry of station WXKW. Miss Parry's regular<br />
program was broadcast from the stage.<br />
Special prizes for women were offered. The<br />
picture was "Show Boat." The in-person date<br />
by Douglas and Miss Hasso was the first in<br />
which top performers from the Spa summer<br />
theatre had visited an Albany film house.<br />
Warner Sales Heads Hold<br />
Product Talk at Albany<br />
ALBANY—Fall product was discussed<br />
at a meeting of Warner Bros,<br />
Thursday (30)<br />
sales executives here. Jules Lapidus, eastern<br />
and Canadian division manager, presided.<br />
Those attending were Norman J. Ayers. eastern<br />
district manager, from New York, and the<br />
following branch managers: Ray S. Smith,<br />
Albany: George W. Horan. Boston; Matthew<br />
Sullivan jr., Buffalo; Max Birnbaum, New<br />
Haven, and Ben Abner, New York.<br />
BEST SPECIAL TRAILEI?^<br />
PRODUCED A DELIVERED IN<br />
DOUBLE-QUICK.<br />
fAnywhere/<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 39
HART<br />
C ABRAMOFF of Atlanta Theatres, who had<br />
just returned from a vacation, commented<br />
that a inaiiaKers meeting is held every week,<br />
at which plans for<br />
advertising and exploitation<br />
are laid.<br />
Showcards, radio<br />
time, programs and<br />
all mediums are used<br />
to sell the attractions<br />
playing at their theatres.<br />
Abramoff said<br />
that if good product<br />
was available so theatres<br />
could offer a<br />
good show to the<br />
public every day for<br />
six months straight, the industry would have<br />
nothing to fear from television.<br />
Abramoff has a very good grasp of the<br />
problems confronting the industry.<br />
Lack of showmanship hits you square in the<br />
face when you register at a hotel in the Philadelphia<br />
area. There are no programs in the<br />
hotel rooms, no window cards on the desks<br />
or standees in the lobbies—not a single thing<br />
to tell you that there are motion picture theatres<br />
in town. So, out of curiosity, I checked<br />
several hotels and talked with managers and<br />
desk clerks. They all told me the same story<br />
—that nobody ever offers to place any material<br />
of this sort in the hotels.<br />
I have not seen a merchant tie-in since I<br />
have been in town and nobody seems to have<br />
promoted any tieup space in the newspapers.<br />
Well, boys, the business can be had, you know,<br />
if you want it—and the more people you tell<br />
about your shows, the more people will come.<br />
But if you hide your shows from the public,<br />
how can they know what is playing?<br />
The more you tell the more you sell!<br />
Jack Greenberg was keeping busy nowadays<br />
with theatres in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.<br />
David E. Brodsky of the company bearing<br />
his name reported he had nearly completed<br />
the interior decoration of the Victoria Theatre<br />
at Shamokin, Pa., including new curtains<br />
and drapes.<br />
Brodsky also mentioned a job the company<br />
BEATS<br />
.By HARRY HART.<br />
was doing at Eastern Baptist Theological<br />
seminary in Philadelphia and St. John's<br />
church at Carlisle, Pa. Another job, the Notre<br />
Dame at Baltimore, is nearing completion.<br />
The firm manufactures stage curtains and<br />
draperies as well as doing interior decorating.<br />
Guy Hunt of the Hunter circuit out of Wildwood,<br />
N. J., who was on Filmrow booking, said<br />
that the circuit's de luxe resort theatres would<br />
start closing for the winter about September<br />
15.<br />
Ralph Price of Berlo Vending Co. and I had<br />
quite a chat about people we both knew in the<br />
south. His father lives in Atlanta.<br />
At the South City Drive-In, Charley Goldfine<br />
and cousin Harry Rothstein were getting<br />
ready to start the show in the very nice 1,200-<br />
car drive-in, which has a playground and<br />
also a Kiddieland with a train ride, a boat<br />
ride, horse ride and several other rides that<br />
are charged for. The rides open Sunday afternoon.<br />
I noticed that no motion picture theatre<br />
advertising appears in the Where to Go This<br />
Week publication, which is distributed by the<br />
hotels of Philadelphia and is published by the<br />
Travelers Publishing Co. I think the theatres<br />
are missing a bet in not going after the tourist<br />
trade.<br />
Eddie Gabriel blew his horn for me at the<br />
Capitol exchange. The firm often identifies<br />
it.self over the telephone by blowing a trumpet.<br />
The exchange was run for many years by<br />
Eddie's father. Eddie took over in 1931 and<br />
has operated it ever since.<br />
Harry Botwick of Paramount Theatres was<br />
out of town on business. He operates the<br />
Town. Rosevelt and Nixon theatres.<br />
Jack Beresin of Berlo Vending Co. had just<br />
returned from a business trip to New York<br />
and was very busy.<br />
David Milgram of Milgram Theatres said<br />
that indoor houses may be holding their own<br />
but are not gaining any, but that drive-in<br />
business had increased over last year.<br />
The Milgram houses are on the move with<br />
showmanship and a managers meeting is held<br />
every week.<br />
Larry Ruch, district manager for Ellis The-<br />
TALK .VUOl r UDMAN'— Willlaii.- (loldinan, presidt'iit of tlie Goldman Theatres,<br />
fourth from left, poses with, left to right: Perry Leiber. RKO studio publicist; Tim<br />
Holt, Vincent Price, Marjorie Reynolds and Robert Mitchum on the occasion of the<br />
stars' appearance at the Goldman Theatre, Philadelphia, in behalf of "His Kind of<br />
Woman." The four stars with Jane Russell made five personal appearances at the<br />
Goldman Theatre on opening day.<br />
atres, returned from a vacation in Michigan<br />
with his parents. They did some fishing.<br />
Martin Ellis of Ellis Theatres reported that<br />
a 13-week drive was being planned for this fall.<br />
He called in Larry Ruch to give me details of<br />
Ellis Theatres' 18th annual showmanship<br />
derby which will start September 23 and end<br />
December 29. It will be operated on a point<br />
system. Grosses, advertising, goodwill and<br />
community activity will also count, along with<br />
housekeeping. Prizes will be presented every<br />
week. I am sure that the showm.en of this<br />
circuit will have a good time competing with<br />
each other. You can see when you pass the<br />
different houses that showmen operate them.<br />
Benjamin Fertel of Colonial Amusement<br />
Co. said he had found that air conditioning<br />
was very important. He commented that lots<br />
of people who were critical of motion pictures<br />
admitted when pinned down that they had<br />
not even seen a show in many months but<br />
were quoting hearsay, Fertel stressed the<br />
importance of getting people out of their<br />
homes not only for the theatres but for the<br />
benefit of everybody in business from the<br />
taxicab operator to the largest merchant in<br />
town. Which goes to prove again that businessmen<br />
and showmen have to work together.<br />
He reported that concession business was<br />
surprisingly steady.<br />
William I. Greenfield talked about the city<br />
tax on admissions, which amounts to 10 per<br />
cent, and cited an example of a 45-cent admission.<br />
Seven cents of it was federal tax<br />
and four cents was city tax, which makes a<br />
total of 30 per cent taxes on each admission.<br />
And this is in addition to the city license on<br />
each theatre of $100 a year, plus a sign tax on<br />
their marquees.<br />
He said that exploitation definitely pays<br />
off and there must be a constant use of it if<br />
it is to have the most effect.<br />
Greenfield also said that more good pictures<br />
are needed to bring people back into<br />
theatres. He believes that long uptown runs<br />
are causing a shortage of pictures in the<br />
neighborhoods.<br />
Robert Lavin, secretary of the United Motion<br />
Picture Theatres organization of eastern<br />
Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware,<br />
told me that the group has been dormant<br />
but is now expecting to become more<br />
active. Lewen Pizor, president of the association,<br />
was out of town all week so I did not<br />
get to see him.<br />
have been asked by many people what I<br />
I<br />
thought was wrong with attendance in the<br />
greater Philadelphia area, and from my observations<br />
and comparison with other sections<br />
of the country, I would say that lack<br />
of exploitation that stimulates community interest<br />
and goodwill among local merchants,<br />
plus failure to take advantage of merchant<br />
tieups and definitely too few personal contacts<br />
with the patrons are among the major<br />
causes of slack business. I have seen very<br />
little personal contact business as no showman<br />
has said to me, "I meet my patrons and<br />
ask how they are," or, "I get to know my<br />
patrons by their names." It must be remembered<br />
that people like to be flattered by being<br />
remembered, and if a showman gets to know<br />
patrons on that basis he has built goodwill<br />
that cannot be bought.<br />
have met some mighty fine folks here in<br />
I<br />
Philadelphia and I fully believe that once they<br />
get the campaign rolling to get people out of<br />
their homes it will help increase boxoffice<br />
receipts. But it will have to be a long-range<br />
program.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951
. . United<br />
. . William<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Y<br />
. . Charlotte<br />
. . Four-Paws<br />
. . Helen<br />
. . Laura<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . . Goliath<br />
. . . Sara<br />
, . . National<br />
. . . Morton<br />
. . . The<br />
. . . Metro<br />
. . . RKO<br />
. . Doris<br />
. . Booker<br />
. .<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
\xrilliam Goldman, Inc., has brought suit<br />
against Stanley Co. of America seeking<br />
$83,583 in damages, alleging that the defendant<br />
failed to turn over the State Theatre,<br />
when its lease expired, in the same condition<br />
as it received it. The State was erected in<br />
1928 by Mercantile & Theatre Properties,<br />
which gave a 20-year lease to the Stanley<br />
Co. Goldman purchased the property May<br />
31, 1946, and took over operation when Stanley's<br />
lease expired.<br />
Charles Argentine and James Morosco,<br />
operators of the Keith Theatre in Burgettstown.<br />
Pa. settled out of court a legal action<br />
in which the distributors charged the<br />
two exhibitors were guilty of inaccuracies in<br />
their reports on grosses with percentage deals.<br />
.<br />
Trouble is brewing: in some local situations<br />
with certain exhibitors claiming that they<br />
are the victims of a muddled crazy-quilt pattern<br />
of cross-clearances Arti-sts,<br />
which had threatened to drop National Film<br />
Service from physical handling of its film,<br />
has kissed and made up . Clark,<br />
who has been on a leave because of a back<br />
ailment, is no longer handling National Film<br />
Service's business at his Philadelphia office.<br />
The office has been switched to New York<br />
. . . A. M. Ellis has purchased the Warner<br />
building and will transfer his offices there before<br />
the end of the year.<br />
William Goldman is no longer bidding for<br />
Metro product in his first run houses. Metro<br />
is splitting its product between Stanley-<br />
Warner and Goldman theatres. However,<br />
when an especially desirable picture becomes<br />
available, the decision as to its run is decided<br />
by a toss of a coin . . . Marines from Philadelphia's<br />
navy yard marched with the<br />
famous marine corps drum and bugle corps<br />
from Washington in preshow ceremonies on<br />
Tuesday i28i evening for the premiere of<br />
"The Flying Leathernecks" at the Randolph.<br />
Brig. Gen. Clayton C. Jerome, director of<br />
marine aviation, was present at the special<br />
performance, all proceeds of which were<br />
donated to the Marine Corps War Memorial<br />
Foundation, Inc. Funds will be used for the<br />
largest battle monument of its kind, depicting<br />
the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.<br />
The Office of Price Stabilization, as a result<br />
of a campaign waged by the Philadelphia<br />
Inquirer, may issue an order requiring vending<br />
machines in theatres to reduce the price<br />
of soda from a dime to nine cents because of<br />
the elimination of the Pennsylvania beverage<br />
sales tax. Operators point out that if such a<br />
change is ordered, it will a complicated and<br />
expensive process since it will require changing<br />
of the coin slots in the machines.<br />
The Frankford Theatre, which was a last<br />
run Paramount Theatres' house, will be demolished<br />
. . . Allied is doing the booking and<br />
buying for the Keswick, Glenside. since the<br />
death of Al Fisher . . . Bill Mansell. Warner<br />
Bros, branch manager, is COMPO distribution<br />
representative in this area.<br />
Leonard Mintz, Snader Pi'oductions' representative,<br />
attended a New York policy<br />
meeting with Oliver Unger, national sales<br />
director. Discussion centered on plans for<br />
release of ten British films which the company<br />
plans to make available within the next<br />
.<br />
Vacations at RKO include<br />
six months . . .<br />
Lorraine Howard, Jean Donner, Ed Fisher<br />
Rita Kelmar, Monogram<br />
and Josie Marcellina . . .<br />
assistant-booker, spent a vacation at<br />
Cape Cod, Mass. B. Yablin,<br />
Monogram biller, is leaving September 9th to<br />
get married . & Y Supply Co. has redecorated<br />
its offices and has installed air<br />
conditioning.<br />
Members of the motion picture colony are<br />
gracing local footlights this season. Ann<br />
Sothern and Robert Cummings will star in<br />
"The Philemon Complex" at the Forrest<br />
October 1. Ginger Rogers is due September<br />
3 to star in "Love and Let Love" at the Forrest.<br />
Other stars who appear locally are Tom<br />
Hemore, Olga San Juan, Charles Boyer,<br />
Charles Laughton, Cedric Hardwicke and<br />
Agnes Moorehead.<br />
Industryites were sorry to hear of the<br />
death of Charles H. Goodwin, president of<br />
Quality Premiums and a pioneer in the industry.<br />
He once booked and handled a circuit<br />
of 20 houses. He was also state secretary<br />
of the old Exhibitors league and the chairman<br />
of the board of managers of MPTO of<br />
Eastern Pennsylvania for 14 years. At one<br />
time he managed the Exhibitors Film exchange.<br />
He was a Mason, a member of Variety<br />
Club, Anglers Club of Ventnor and<br />
Atlantic City Racing Ass'n.<br />
Norman Shigon, local correspondent for<br />
BOXOFFICE, is serving his clerkship before<br />
becoming a lawyer with Alfred M. Klein,<br />
who is the "Philadelphia Lawyer" for the<br />
Evening Bulletin . Theatre is<br />
.<br />
. . . George<br />
scheduled to reopen the day after Labor<br />
day and Joe Engel are handling<br />
Lux product in this territory<br />
Resnick, partner in the Del Amusement Co.,<br />
has recuperated nicely from a heart attack<br />
which he suffered in Atlantic City.<br />
. . . Everett<br />
Stanley-Warner Theatres has lost the lease<br />
on the Aldine in Wilmington<br />
Callow. Stanley-Warner publicity head, was<br />
on vacation. His secretary, Hortense Shalita,<br />
pinch-hit for Kathleen McNamee, Ted<br />
Schlanger's secretary, while she was vacationing<br />
. . . Frank Gallus has closed the Ritz in<br />
Mays Landing, N. J. . , . Mrs. Helen Barden,<br />
U-I ledger clerk, has resigned because of ill<br />
health ... A new bride at U-I is Mrs. Laura<br />
Reeves, general clerk.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
William Mansell, WB branch manager,<br />
went to Pittsburgh for a district meeting .<br />
Mary Ann McKenna, U-I general clerk, underwent<br />
an appendectomy . Westcott,<br />
U-I clerk, was married Saturday<br />
Betty Klein, former 20th-Fox telephone operator,<br />
is in Europe Barden. U-I<br />
ledger clerk, resigned effective August 31 . . .<br />
John Bachman, well known in this territory<br />
since he was salesman for WB, died in<br />
Charlotte, N. C.<br />
Jacl{ Goldman, former <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Pictures'<br />
booker now in the army, will be married<br />
September 2 and his bride will return to<br />
Spokane, Wash., with him.<br />
Eugene F. Haines Retires<br />
CAMDEN—Eugene F. Haines, assistant<br />
treasurer of the RCA Victor division of Radio<br />
Corp. of America, retired Friday (31) after<br />
50 years with the company. He started in<br />
1901 as office boy and timekeeper in the<br />
Eldridge R. Johnson machine shop which<br />
turned out early phonographs, bicycles and<br />
other products.<br />
WASHINGTO<br />
The Park in Lexington Park is celebrating<br />
its third anniversary this month with<br />
a "Film Festival of Hits." All the merchants<br />
in St. Mary's county, and the two newspapers<br />
are cooperating. Telegrams are being<br />
received from the studios signed by the stars,<br />
producers and executives congratulating the<br />
theatre on its anniversary. Jack Fruchtman<br />
is the general manager.<br />
. . . Jessie Weeks, Earl<br />
Warner Theatres: Lloyd Hadaway resigned<br />
as Savoy manager<br />
CharUe Grimes<br />
Yates's secretary, quit . . .<br />
and Lou Ribnitzki returned from vacations<br />
visited the 20th-Fox office. He<br />
appeared at Loew's theatres in the interest<br />
of "David and Bathsheba." which will open<br />
Tom Halligan<br />
at the Palace September 12 . . .<br />
came in to book the Williamsburg Theatre<br />
Young's husband is recovering from<br />
an appendectomy. District Manager Ed Callahan<br />
and his assistant, John Felony, conferred<br />
with local manager Glenn Norris and<br />
sales manager Ira Sichelman.<br />
The O'Leary's are sending postcards from<br />
Ocean City . Curran, John O'Leary's<br />
secretary, was married to George Wadzeki in<br />
Francis Xavier church . Joe Davidson<br />
and wife from Cleveland were visitors . . .<br />
Joann Dinsmore resigned. Charlotte Ann<br />
Hiser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hiser<br />
of Hiser Theatres, will attend Randolph-Macon<br />
College for Women at Lynchburg . . .<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Harley Davidson, Independent<br />
Theatre Service, are visiting relatives in<br />
Canada.<br />
Fred Schanberger, Keith's Theatre, Baltimore,<br />
made one of his rare visits to Filmrow<br />
Screen Service is back in its<br />
old quarters at 920 New Jersey Ave. N. W.<br />
Gerber, District Theatres, returned<br />
from a Cape Cod vacation . . . Dan<br />
Weinberg came in from Frederick to book<br />
Eugene Kramers, District Theatres,<br />
were vacationing in Cape Cod.<br />
Josephine Evans of Paramount and hubby<br />
celebrated their silver wedding anniversary<br />
booker Ida Barezofsky's parents<br />
celebrated their golden wedding anniversary<br />
sales manager Al FoUiard was on<br />
a vacation ... At Monogram Blanche Hare<br />
is the new cashier. She resigned from UA .<br />
Manager Milton Lipsner spent Wednesday<br />
visiting the Baltimore exhibitors . . . Phyllis<br />
Folk is returning to her home in Mount Savage<br />
to enter college.<br />
. . . Ethel Michalson is<br />
Max Cohen, Minerva Films, spent several<br />
days in New York<br />
Art Levy's new secretary at UA.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951 41
Overseas Film Bill Cut<br />
Overruled by Senate<br />
WASHINGTON—The senate on Friday (24)<br />
returned appropriations to Voice of America<br />
and related activities, including the overseas<br />
film information program, to the figure<br />
authorized by the house-passed bill<br />
making fLscal year 1952 appropriations for<br />
the State department.<br />
The house had cut $30,000,000 from the<br />
administration budget request for these activities<br />
of $115,000,000. The senate appropriations<br />
committee had made a further cut of<br />
$23,000,000 down to $63,000,000.<br />
The senate group further specified sums<br />
of money for each type of activity. The<br />
overseas film program was given only $2,785,-<br />
409, compared to last year's $11,803,000 spending<br />
and a budget request for fiscal 1952 of<br />
$13,074,000. A high State department official<br />
described the committee appropriation as<br />
a "liquidation figure," which would permit<br />
no new films and completion of those under<br />
way in only a minimum number of language<br />
versions.<br />
The senate, in reversing the appropriations<br />
committee and returning the appropriation<br />
for Voice of America and related activities<br />
to $85,000,000, did not specify which programs<br />
would get the added money. Neither<br />
did the house bill. Hence it is impossible<br />
at this stage to guess whether the senate<br />
action in restoring some of the funds would<br />
have very much effect on the State department's<br />
overseas film program.<br />
Red Hollywood Campaign<br />
A Failure, Lasky Says<br />
NEW YORK — Tlie September issue of<br />
Cosmopolitan magazine lists an article. "The<br />
Strange Story of the Hollywood Ten." by<br />
Victor Lasky, author and newspaperman, who<br />
recently spent a month in Hollywood and<br />
attended Washington hearings on un-American<br />
activities. He points out that the Reds<br />
never had much success in influencing the<br />
actual content of films, and that even in<br />
their heyday "the overwhelming majority<br />
of persons connected with the movies" detested<br />
them.<br />
Court Stay Halts Mexico<br />
50-50 Split on Films<br />
MEXICO CITY—A temporary injunction<br />
has delayed enforcement of the Mexican lawscheduled<br />
to go into effect Sept-ember 15<br />
under the terms of which theatres would be<br />
compelled to devote half their playing time<br />
to Mexican films. The time is now divided<br />
about 60-40 in favor of U.S. films.<br />
A new session of Congress opened Saturday<br />
il). An appeal will be made by both<br />
Mexican exhibitors and American distributors<br />
against enforcement of the measure.<br />
Westrex Men to Coast<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Recording managers of<br />
Westrex Corp. from Asia, South America and<br />
Europe are here for a conference on new recording<br />
techniques and equipment. Those<br />
present include: W. E. Kollmyer, India: J.<br />
Cuevas, Brazil; R. J. Engler, England: W.<br />
L. Bell. Paris; F. H. Hotchkiss, New York;<br />
R. E. Warn, J. G. Frayne, R. W. Wight and<br />
Gordon R. Glennan, Hollywood.<br />
Film Industry Firms Drop<br />
In Last Quarter of 1950<br />
WASHINGTON—For the first time since<br />
1943, the number of firms in the film industry<br />
dropped from one quarter to another.<br />
The Commerce department on Tuesday (28)<br />
revealed that in the last quarter of 1950<br />
about 200 new firms entered the Industry,<br />
but 300 went out of business.<br />
At the end of 1950, the number of separate<br />
business firms in all branches of the film<br />
industry stood at 15,000. The figure for September<br />
1950 was 15,100.<br />
The slight drop rever.sed a trend which had<br />
been in operation since December 1943, when<br />
there were 11.500 firms in the industry. December<br />
1943 also marked the end of a trend,<br />
but a downtrend. The number of firms had<br />
been dropping steadily until that time since<br />
the Department of Commerce began collecting<br />
the figures in 1939.<br />
Thus, the 11,500 firms in December 1943,<br />
was the low point in the years for which<br />
figures have been kept.<br />
Another record was set. The 200 new firms<br />
reported for the last 1950 quarter was the<br />
lowest number of new firms since the Commerce<br />
Department began making figures<br />
available at the end of 1947.<br />
Greek Film Allocation<br />
Same as for Last Year<br />
WASHINGTON—The Bank of Greece issued<br />
a resolution, dated June 7, authorizing<br />
an allocation of $500,000 for the importation<br />
of U.S. motion picture films during the year<br />
ending June 30. 1952, the same amount that<br />
was allocated during the previous year. The<br />
$500,000 shall be made available in four quarterly<br />
installments of $125,000 from free dollar<br />
holdings of the Bank of Greece. The<br />
amount authorized shall be used in the first<br />
place to cover print costs of motion pictures<br />
imported from the United States, as well as<br />
the value of pertinent advertising material<br />
and transportation charges to the port of<br />
destination. Any balance left over after these<br />
initial payments shall be used for the payment<br />
of film royalties.<br />
Approximately 400 feature films are released<br />
annually in first run theatres of Greece, about<br />
70 per cent of which are U.S. productions. At<br />
the end of 1950 there were 198 indoor motion<br />
picture theatres in operation with a total<br />
seating capacity of about 95,000. During the<br />
hot summer months all but one or two air<br />
conditioned theatres close and their projection<br />
and sound equipment is transferred to<br />
open-air theatres which run two evening performances<br />
daily from about 7:30 to 12 p. m.<br />
Methylene Chloride Use<br />
Restricted by NPA<br />
Is<br />
WASHINGTON—The National Production<br />
Authority on Wednesday i29) banned the<br />
sale of methylene chloride without NPA<br />
authorization. It is a chemical used in the<br />
manufacture of non-inflammable photographic<br />
film.<br />
Allocation is necessary, NPA explained, because<br />
shortages of the product are slowing<br />
down deUvery to necessary defense programs.<br />
One important u.se is in the manufacture of<br />
paint remover used in the de-mothballing<br />
operations of the navy and air force.<br />
197 Films Produced<br />
By Japan in 1950<br />
WASHINGTON—There were 20 feature<br />
film producing firms in Japan during 1950,<br />
of which five are considered to be major<br />
producers. These five firms produced a total<br />
of 197 of the 216 features made in 1950. In<br />
1949 a total of 156 features were produced<br />
by 15 companies. The five major producers<br />
have a total of nine studios with 35 stages.<br />
In the postwar period, the most successful<br />
Japanese feature film, a drama, was produced<br />
at a cost of 38,000,000 yen, which compares<br />
with the average production cost of<br />
15,000,000 yen per picture, exclusive of tax.<br />
The Japanese government does not render<br />
financial assistance to the film industry.<br />
Japanese production techniques are not comparable<br />
to that of United States film producers,<br />
principally because of a lack of funds<br />
for importing modern equipment. A definite<br />
market exists for United States motion picture<br />
equipment if foreign exchange allocations<br />
were available for such imports. i360<br />
yen equals U.S. $1.00.) Credit facilities are<br />
extremely tight and to keep down the cost of<br />
production Japanese film companies tend to<br />
turn out low-budget films. This emphasis on<br />
quick turnover contributes to the industry's<br />
difficulties in competing with foreign films.<br />
There are only tw'o known firms in Japan<br />
which produce 35mm raw- stock film. Total<br />
production of these two firms during 1950<br />
was 124,250,000 feet. Consumption of rawstock<br />
film was estimated at 102,344,105 feet<br />
during 1950 and Japan reportedly exported<br />
12,000,000 feet to India. Since Japanese rawstock<br />
film is not considered comparable in<br />
quaUty with that of the United States and<br />
certain other countries, it is improbable that<br />
foreign film companies w-ould use any large<br />
volume of Japanese raw film unless foreign<br />
exchange for the importation of raw film<br />
was not available.<br />
Good Market in Hong Kong<br />
For U.S. Booth Materials<br />
WASHINGTON—There are 41 motion picture<br />
theatres in the colony of Hong Kong<br />
w-ith a total seating capacity of 39,179. United<br />
States projection and sound equipment predominates.<br />
More than half of the theatres<br />
have installed new projectors and practically<br />
all have installed new sound equipment since<br />
the war. About ten theatres are equipped<br />
with locally assembled sound equipment which<br />
may require replacement in the near future.<br />
The United States is also the principal supplier<br />
of arc lamps.<br />
There is a good market in Hong Kong for<br />
projector accessories and replacement parts,<br />
screens, rewind reels and projector carbons.<br />
The need for projector carbons is urgent.<br />
The last shipment of carbons from the United<br />
States was reportedly received in September<br />
1950 and there is a growing demand for<br />
replacements. British projector carbons are<br />
being ordered more often and United States<br />
suppliers are fearful that they will lose this<br />
market.<br />
Seventeen theatres have some form of air<br />
conditioning, 12 being cooled by mechanical<br />
refrigeration and five with forced draft fans.<br />
The potentialities for selling air conditioning<br />
equipment are limited to new theatres as it<br />
would mean too great a capital outlay for<br />
most of the older theatres.<br />
42 BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER.<br />
(Hollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager)<br />
Name Charles Gleil<br />
In CBS Reshuffle<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Appointment of Charles<br />
Glett as vice-president in cliarge of network<br />
services at the Hollywood end of the Columbia<br />
Broadcasting System's radio and television<br />
enterprises keynoted a reshuffling of<br />
the CBS executive structure here in preparation<br />
for the fall season. Glett formerly was a<br />
vice-president in charge of TV for the Don<br />
Lee network. A motion picture industry veteran,<br />
he was at one time associated with<br />
David O. Selznick's Vanguard Pictures. Glett's<br />
new duties will be shared by Harry Ackerman<br />
as vice-president in charge of radio and TV<br />
programming.<br />
Among other personnel shifts was the selection<br />
of Irving Fein, one-time studio publicist,<br />
as director of publicity and exploitation<br />
for the CBS radio division, with Robert<br />
Meyer handling press information for the TV<br />
segment.<br />
Launching a new expansion program, Jerry<br />
Fairbanks Productions secured a long-term<br />
lease on stage space and office facilities at<br />
the Rockett studios on Sun.set boulevard here.<br />
The video film firm will immediately start<br />
two new series of half-hour shows—a mystery-drama<br />
group and a dramatic format,<br />
while three other series are slated to begin<br />
filming this fall.<br />
With Mike Stokey set as chairman, the<br />
National Society of Television Producers, of<br />
which Louis D. Snader is president, is organizing<br />
a committee to study labor relations,<br />
wage scales and working conditions within<br />
the video industry. Tlie organization is also<br />
setting up a title registration bureau similar<br />
to that operated by the Motion Picture Producers<br />
Ass'n.<br />
Production of six more in his half-hour<br />
"Racket Squad" crime exposes has been<br />
launched by Hal Roach jr. at the Roach studios<br />
in Culver City.<br />
Succeeding Sherman Harris, who resigned<br />
to form his own TV unit, Rudy Flothow has<br />
been named producer on Stars Over Hollywood,<br />
half-hour video series being turned out<br />
by Revue Productions.<br />
To Expound Processing<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Sidney Solow of Consolidated<br />
Film Laboratories will contribute a discussion<br />
of film processing, from negative to<br />
positive prints, to "The Arts and Sciences of<br />
Motion Pictures,'' the all-industry compendium<br />
being prepared under sponsorship of<br />
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and<br />
Sciences.<br />
Joe Pasternak Offers<br />
His 45th Musical<br />
HOLLYWOOD — With the launching<br />
Wednesday (5) of "The Merry Widow" at<br />
MGM, Producer Joe Pasternak has set<br />
Joe Pasternak<br />
up some kind of a<br />
record—45 musicals<br />
in 14 years.<br />
The tunefilm specialist<br />
began his<br />
Hollywood career in<br />
1937 with a series<br />
of hits starring<br />
Deanna Durbin at<br />
Universal, and<br />
swung over to MGM<br />
in 1941. His credits<br />
include "Anchors<br />
Aweigh." " A Date<br />
With Judy," "The<br />
Toast of New Orleans" and the current<br />
"The Great Caru.so," on which his associate<br />
was Jesse L. Lasky sr.<br />
Following "The Merry Widow." Pasternak<br />
will gun "Skirts Ahoy" and "Because<br />
You're Mine."<br />
Executive Travelers<br />
East: With a backlog of three pictures<br />
being readied for Paramount release. Nat<br />
Holt left for New York to discuss advertising<br />
plans with the company's homeoffice executives.<br />
West: James R. Grainger. Republic's executive<br />
vice-president in charge of sales and<br />
distribution, checked m for a week of studio<br />
huddles on current and forthcoming product.<br />
* * *<br />
East: Philip A. Waxman. independent producer<br />
who has just completed a John Barrymore<br />
jr. starring vehicle for United Artists<br />
release, planed out for Gotham for sales<br />
discussions with UA toppers.<br />
East: Robert Thomsen, MGM producer,<br />
took off for Washington to research a melodrama<br />
which he will send before the cameras<br />
this<br />
fall.<br />
West: Joseph M. Schenck, 20th Century-<br />
Fox studio executive, returned from New<br />
York after ten days of huddles with Spyros<br />
Skouras, company president, concerning details<br />
of the impending divorcement of 20th-<br />
Fox and National Theatres.<br />
Studio Crafts Strike<br />
At 30-Day Provision<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Contending that<br />
certain<br />
phases of the Taft-Hartley act are "unjust<br />
and oppressive" as concerns the employment<br />
of motion picture workers, representatives of<br />
two top union organizations, the Screen Actors<br />
Guild and the lATSE, appeared before a senate<br />
labor subcommittee early in the week in<br />
Washington. Immediately after that hearing,<br />
Senator Richard Nixon of California introduced<br />
a bill amending the controversial Taft-<br />
Hartley legislation.<br />
Representing SAG were Richard Carlson<br />
and John Dales jr., while Roy M. Brewer<br />
appeared for lA. They asked that a provision<br />
for a 30-day waiting period before an employe<br />
is required to become a member of the<br />
contracting union in a "union shop" be struck<br />
out entirely, or at least greatly shortened,<br />
and stressed that the members of their respective<br />
unions are in jeopardy because the<br />
Taft-Hartley provision has "encouraged<br />
thousands of casuals" to take a great number<br />
of one- to three-day jobs away from established<br />
studio workers.<br />
The amendment introduced by Senator<br />
Nixon calls for the 30-day waiting period to<br />
be cut to two days.<br />
Echoes of the 1945 studio strike resounded<br />
when the U.S. court of appeals set aside a<br />
National Labor Relations Board decision<br />
which had ordered Warners, MGM and Columbia<br />
to rehire 24 men who had been involved<br />
in that walkout. The NLRB ruling<br />
held that the three studios had discriminated<br />
against the men. and took the case to the<br />
district court of appeals for enforcement of<br />
its rehire order. However, the court ruled<br />
that the men were engaged in a "wildcat"<br />
strike and that the studios consequently were<br />
not obligated to re-employ them.<br />
Actress Gloria Swanson, one of the stars<br />
developed by Jesse L. Lasky sr., will speak<br />
at the first annual Milestone dimier to be<br />
staged Wednesday (12) by the Screen Producers<br />
Guild, honoring Lasky for his "historic<br />
contributions" to the industry.<br />
Ten-Percenters in Court<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Two ten-percenters were<br />
involved in legal machinations when agent<br />
Helen Ainsworth filed a $120,000 action<br />
against Harold Rose, also of the talentpeddling<br />
fraternity, charging Rose with inducing<br />
actress Corinne Calvet to break her<br />
managerial contract with the Ainsworth firm<br />
and sign with him.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 43
Blurbers<br />
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES<br />
REO Radio<br />
Under a newly instituted policy of interchanging<br />
assignments, JOHN SPRINGER, magazine contact in<br />
the company's eastern drumbeating department,<br />
checked in Irom New York lor two weeks, while<br />
LINN UNKEFER, magazine department head on the<br />
local stall, journeyed to Manhattan for a similar stay.<br />
Brieiies<br />
Columbia<br />
Producer-Director Rolph Staub and a camera crew<br />
lensed the annual shenfi's rodeo at the Los Angeles<br />
Coliseum Sunday (26) as a lorthcoming entry in the<br />
Screen Snapshot series.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Producer George Bilson will roll two Leon Errol<br />
two-reel comedies, "The Impractical Joker" and one<br />
as yet untitled, next month.<br />
Cleffers<br />
Paramount<br />
JOHNNY BURKE and JAMES VAN HEUSEN will<br />
write the
\ ^1<br />
lens "The Four Poster."<br />
"Cripple Creek" is being photographed by HENRY<br />
FREULICH<br />
Metro<br />
JOSEPH RUTTENBERG is the<br />
Man m a Hurry." Named <<br />
JACK GREENWOOD.<br />
Monogram<br />
"Northwest Territory" is being photographed by<br />
WILLIAM SICKNER, with REX BAILEY as assistant<br />
director and EDWARD I. KAY as musical director.<br />
Paramount<br />
EDWARD RUWE was booked as technical<br />
adviser<br />
on "Green Gold of Nevada."<br />
"Somebody Loves Me" will be<br />
Technicolor by GEORGE BARNES.<br />
photographed in<br />
RKO Radio<br />
EDWARD KILLY is functioning as unit manager<br />
on "Androcles and the Lion," with LLOYD RICHARDS<br />
as assistant director and JUD ADDISS as dialog<br />
director.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
HENRY WEINBERGER is handling the assistant<br />
director chores on "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie."<br />
Dance routines for "I Don't Care" will be staged<br />
by SEYMOUR FELIX.<br />
United Artists<br />
ELMO WILLIAMS will edit the Stanley Kramer<br />
production, "High Noon."<br />
Universal-International<br />
DOROTHY REID was signed as dialog director on<br />
"Francis Covers the Big Town."<br />
Warners<br />
New art direction assignments include EDWARD<br />
CARRERE to "Retreat, Hell," CHARLES CLARKE to<br />
"She's Working Her Way Through College," STAN-<br />
LEY FLEISHER to "Four Chaplains" and LEO KUTER<br />
to "U.SS, Marblehead."<br />
Title<br />
Changes<br />
Monogram<br />
"<br />
"Ride 'Em Cowboy to BRONC RIDER.<br />
"Ghost Raiders" to WHISTLING HILLS.<br />
"Lone Star Lawman" to TEXAS LAWMEN.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
"Road Agent" to TRAIL GUIDE.<br />
United Artists<br />
"Henry Morgan" to HIGH NOON.<br />
Universal-International<br />
"Robert Barrat" to SON OF ALI BABA<br />
•The Door" to THE STRANGE DOOR<br />
Carl K. Hittleman Signed<br />
To U-I Producer Contract<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Carl K. Hittleman, who<br />
has produced a number of pictures for release<br />
through the Lippert organization, has<br />
been signed to a long-term exclusive contract<br />
by Universal-International. He checked<br />
on the lot immediately, bringing with him<br />
several story properties, from which his initial<br />
assignment will be selected.<br />
Hlttleman's last chore for Lippert was "Little<br />
Big Horn."<br />
WB Inks Ted Sherdeman<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Scenarist Ted Sherdeman<br />
was inked to a writer-director ticket by Warner<br />
Bros., where his first assignment will be<br />
to collaborate with Dan Mainwaring and<br />
George W. Yates on the script of the upcoming<br />
Joan Crawford starrer, "This Woman Is<br />
Dangerous."<br />
A'wards to T'wo Warner Films<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Certificates of merit were<br />
awarded two Warner Bros, releases, "On<br />
Moonlight Bay" and "I Was a Communist<br />
for the FBI," by the Southern California<br />
Motion Picture Council, of which Mrs. William<br />
A. Burke is president. The group is<br />
affiliated with the National Screen Council,<br />
which each month selects the "best family"<br />
picture 'Which is awarded the BOXOPFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon plaque.<br />
^(^ LOGANS may come and slogans may go,<br />
^^ the industry can organize to its teeth<br />
for business-boosting campaigns—such<br />
as the upcoming Movietime U.S.A. drive—but<br />
trends apparently will go on forever.<br />
Contemporary releases are reflective of two<br />
such cun-ent drifts in picture-making procedure.<br />
One of them is the notable number of features<br />
which find their genesis and motivation<br />
in fantasy and/or whimsy. Since the birth<br />
of motion pictures, those ingredients have<br />
been the foundation and structure of animated<br />
cartoons, and in that field they have,<br />
during recent years, attained king-sized proportions<br />
in the feature-length output stemming<br />
from the inspired ink-pots-and-pens<br />
operations of the Walt Disney organization.<br />
And at times in the past the whimsical approach<br />
has been applied to more conventional<br />
picture-making—the "Topper" films of several<br />
seasons ago, for example.<br />
Now. however, the latter are appearing on<br />
past, present and future productional agenda<br />
in precedential quantities. To the forefront<br />
of the companies placing heavy emphasis on<br />
such product is Universal-International. This<br />
studio is sponsoring the "Francis" pictures,<br />
which developed into a series following the<br />
release of the original film about the "talking<br />
mule" a year or so ago. Due for distribution<br />
in the immediate future is the second in the<br />
group, "Francis Goes to the Races," while a<br />
third, "Francis Covers the Big Town," is now<br />
before the U-I cameras. It is not necessary<br />
to remind exhibitors—or the occasional HoUywoodians<br />
who pay some attention to picture<br />
grosses—how the initialer of the series scored<br />
at the nation's boxoffices.<br />
Having enjoyed so much financial success<br />
with a mere mule, U-I's brass in its pursuit<br />
of fantasy delved deeper into the animal<br />
kingdom. Of recent vintage is "Bedtime for<br />
Bonzo," in which the human mummers vied<br />
with a scene-stealing chimpanzee—and on<br />
which feature nobody lost money. Just having<br />
been tossed to Cinemania's film appraisers<br />
is still another of similar—albeit more subtle<br />
— ilk, "You Never Can Tell," in which the<br />
principal characters are a deceased dog and<br />
horse, returned to earth in human form to<br />
solve a mystery. And a right smart morsel<br />
of escapist entertainment it is, one whose<br />
fiscal future may easily parallel the records<br />
of "Francis" and "Bonzo."<br />
Characteristic and entirely praiseworthy<br />
entries in the cycle have been shown by<br />
Paramount and MGM. From the former came<br />
"Rhubarb," produced for that company by<br />
William Perlberg and George Seaton, and describing<br />
the adventures of a cat which inherits<br />
a baseball team: while MGM is soon<br />
to distribute "Angels in the Outfield," another<br />
baseball comedy in which heavenly messengers<br />
are prominently to the fore. This<br />
one was produced and directed by Clarence<br />
Brown.<br />
Carrying fantasy into a different and even<br />
more imaginative field, inasmuch as they<br />
treat speculatively with things to come, are<br />
the pseudo-science-fiction features—of which<br />
there have been several in the recent past,<br />
and examples of which are present on current<br />
and future schedules. This trend kicked<br />
off when, almost simultaneously, Lippert Pictures<br />
released "Rocketship XM" and Eagle<br />
Lion presented the George Pal production,<br />
"Destination Moon." Lippert at present is<br />
plugging "Lost Continent," now in prerelease<br />
engagements, while Pal's first for Paramount,<br />
"When Worlds Collide," has just been given<br />
its tradescreening. A story of Martian invaders,<br />
"The Day the Earth Stood Still," has<br />
been completed by 20th Centiu-y-Fox, and<br />
Pal, again for Paramount, has begun preliminary<br />
work on "War of the Worlds," from the<br />
H. G. Wells story. And, to cite but one of<br />
several others, RKO Fladio enjoyed considerable<br />
success with its release of "The Thing<br />
From Another World."<br />
It seems probable that the trend will reach<br />
an all-time high in Stanley Kramer's planned<br />
production of "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T,"<br />
the extremely imaginative creation of Ted<br />
Geisel, cartoonist-humorist, under the nom<br />
de plume of Dr. Seuss. This will be made<br />
as a part of Kramer's multiple-picture, longterm<br />
deal to produce for Columbia release.<br />
Undertaking to bring the works of Dr.<br />
Seuss to the screen with the retention of as<br />
much as possible of their originality, as concerns<br />
essence, atmosphere and techniques, is<br />
a brave, challenging—and perhaps hazardous<br />
—productional venture, even for Filmmaker<br />
Kramer, who long since estabhshed, through<br />
"Home of the Brave," "The Men," "Cyrano de<br />
Bergerac," etc., that he has no timidity about<br />
exploring uncharted motion picture fields. It<br />
is such intrepid sallies into the unproven<br />
and the sometimes-surprising financial rewards<br />
with which they were crowned—that<br />
have won for Kramer a high niche among<br />
Hollywood's ranking producers.<br />
As one of his initial steps in preparing<br />
for the filming of "5,000 Fingers," Kramer<br />
has retained Roy Rowland to direct the opus<br />
and to work with Dr. Seuss on the screenplay.<br />
Megaphonist Rowland has some very definite,<br />
interesting and original opinions regarding<br />
fantasy and whimsy, and how they should<br />
apply to the screen in general and to his current<br />
assignment particularly.<br />
He is planning to have every detail of the<br />
picture—even unto specially built sets—mirror<br />
the aura of the Geisel technique.<br />
At first blush that would appear as a<br />
tough chore, one which must, per se, bring<br />
forth a radical departure from formula picture-making.<br />
But if consideration is given to the past<br />
performances of Producer Kramer and Director<br />
Rowland, the venture can be considered<br />
an odds-on favorite to attain Its projected<br />
goal.<br />
BOXOFFICE : : September<br />
1, 1951 45
. . . Mrs.<br />
. . Bonie<br />
. .<br />
A Place in the Sun Shines Brightest<br />
At Los Angeles; 'Rich' Beats Par<br />
LOS ANGELES—Still the brightest first<br />
run attraction in town was "A Place in the<br />
Sun," which hit a solid 200 per cent in the<br />
second stanza of its advanced-price engagement.<br />
The only other attractions exceeding<br />
normal takes were "Rich, Young and Pretty."<br />
which reached 125 per cent in its first week,<br />
and "Alice in Wonderland." also at 125 in its<br />
second stanza.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Beverly Canon—Kon.Tild (RKO), 18th wk 70<br />
Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown, Wilshire<br />
Meet Me Aher the Show (20th-Fox),' Thii Is<br />
Korea (Rep) 100<br />
Downtown, Hollywood Poramounts Thai's My Boy<br />
(Para), 3rd wk 85<br />
Egyptian, Loew's State—Rich. Young and Pretty<br />
(MG)il), plus, at State only, Montana Desperadoes<br />
(Mono) _ _1Z5<br />
Fine Arts—A Place in the Sun (Para), 2nd wk. 200<br />
Four Star—Native Son (Classics), 3rd wk 80<br />
HiUstreet, Pontages—Alice in Wonderland (RKO),<br />
2nd wk _I25<br />
Laurel—Tales oi Hoffmann (Lopert), advanced<br />
prices, 13th wk _ 90<br />
United Artists, Culver, Studio City, Vogue, Ritz—<br />
Iron Man (U-I), The Man With My Foce (UA),<br />
2nd wk - 90<br />
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern—Coptoia<br />
Horatio Homblower (WB), 3rd wk 90<br />
'Alice' Tops Fiscal Frisco;<br />
Bogart Works His Beat<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—"Alice in Wonderland"<br />
did exactly what was expected of her and<br />
boosted the Golden Gate Theatre into first<br />
spot honors with a loud 185 per cent in the<br />
first week. Meanwhile, Humphrey Bogart<br />
worked the other side of the street as usual<br />
and blasted away at second place with 180<br />
per cent honors in "Sirocco."<br />
Cinema—The Frogmen (20lh-Fox), 5th wk 90<br />
Fox—Captain Horatio Homblower (WB); Let's Go<br />
Navy (Mono), 2nd wk 120<br />
Golden Gate—Alice in Wonderland (RKO) 185<br />
Orpheum—Sirocco (Col); When the Redskins Rode<br />
(Col)<br />
Paramount—That's My Boy (Para), 2nd wk<br />
180<br />
150<br />
St. Francis—A Place in the Sun (Para) 160<br />
United Artists— Cyrano de Bergerac (UA), 5th wk...l65<br />
Warfield—Strictly Dishonorable (MGM) 90<br />
'Show Boat' Sizzles at 225<br />
In Fourth Seattle Week<br />
SEATTLE—Top rating of the week in<br />
Seattle is still MGM's Technicolor production<br />
of "Show Boat." In the fourth week of its<br />
run, it batted out a sizzling score of 225<br />
per cent. Business was generally above average<br />
all around.<br />
Blue Mouse—On Moonlight Bay (WB); Fugitive<br />
Lady (Rep), 4th d. t, wk 130<br />
Coliseum—Meet Me After the Show (20th-Fox);<br />
Boadblock (RKO) 150<br />
Fifth Avenue—Alice in Wonderland (RKO),<br />
2nd<br />
..150<br />
Liberty—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM); Kind<br />
Lady (MGM), 2nd wk 1<br />
Music Box—Jungle Headhunters (RKO); Tokyo File<br />
212 (RKO), 2nd wk<br />
Music Hall—Show Boat (MGM); Night Into<br />
Morning (MGM), 41h wk 2<br />
Orpheum—Cyrano de Bergerac (UA); The iFirst<br />
Legion (UA)<br />
i<br />
Paramount—That's My Boy (Para); The Mem<br />
With My Foce (UA), 2nd wk 1,<br />
Newcomers Beat Holdover<br />
Attractions in Denver<br />
DENVER—"Second Woman" and "Copacabana,"<br />
at the Aladdin, Tabor and Webber,<br />
tied for top percentage with the Paramount,<br />
which was showing "Disc Jockey" and "Let's<br />
Go Navy." The three-theatre unit topped<br />
the town for money.<br />
Aladdin, Tabor, Webber—Second Woman (UA);<br />
Copacobana (UA) 150<br />
Broadway—Show Boat (MGM), 6th wk. 100<br />
Denham—Warpath (Para) ^100<br />
Denver, Esquire— Coptain Horatio Hornblower<br />
(WB), G.I. Jane (LP), 2nd wk 100<br />
Orpheum— Alice in Wonderlond (RKO), 2nd wk 50<br />
Paramount— Disc Jockey (Mono); Let's Go Navy<br />
(Mono)<br />
J50<br />
Vogue—Happiest Days of Your Life (London) "I...'l25<br />
DENVER<br />
T^ick Fullem, who sold for Republic a few<br />
years ago. has returned to the same job,<br />
where he succeeds Jack McElhinney, resigned<br />
. Walth, Columbia manager's<br />
secretary, vacationed in California . . . W. H.<br />
Turpie, division manager for IVIanley, conferred<br />
with Arlie Beery, district man.<br />
Tom Bailey, Lippert Pictures franchise<br />
owner, left on an extended sales trip north<br />
Floyd Brethour, secretary at Lippert,<br />
will be quitting soon to start raising a<br />
family, with the first one on its way .<br />
Among those .seen on Filmrow were Lou<br />
Higdon. Roswell; Marlin Butler, Albuquerque;<br />
Hal Hawk, Salt Lake City, and Paul Rothman,<br />
Colorado Springs.<br />
Altec Directors Meet<br />
Held in Los Angeles<br />
LOS ANGELES—A two-day meeting of the<br />
board of directors of Altec Lansing Corp. and<br />
Altec Service Corp. was held here recently<br />
at the companies' Beverly Hills offices. It was<br />
attended by G. L. Carrington, president; A.<br />
A. Ward and H. M. Bessey, vice-presidents,<br />
and officers including D. C. Collins. T. H.<br />
Blodgett. W. J. Alford jr., A. C. Conrow and<br />
R. C. Tripp. The monthly meeting of the<br />
directorate is customarily held in New York.<br />
Frank Horrigan Dead<br />
PHILIPSBURG, MONT.—Frank W. Horrigan,<br />
55. prominent businessman and wellknown<br />
public figure, died here in August.<br />
He was a leading political figure and served<br />
three terms in the state legislature before<br />
becoming county commissioner. At the time<br />
of his death, he owned and operated the<br />
Granada Theatre here and the Pix Theatre in<br />
Drummond.<br />
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Boy' Hits 145 in Portland;<br />
Sig Sneak of 'Groom'<br />
PORTLAND — "That's My Boy," playing<br />
day and date at both the Orpheum and Oriental,<br />
hit a high of 145 and was held at the<br />
Orpheum. Monday night (27) the Orpheum<br />
staged a sneak preview of "Here Comes the<br />
Groom." The theatre was a sellout by 8:15<br />
p. m. and so many fans were in line that<br />
Manager Glenn Hughes repeated the preview<br />
performance, the first time in the theatre's<br />
history.<br />
Broadway—Cyrano de Bergerac (UA) 130<br />
Orpheum and Oriental—Thot's My Boy (Para) 145<br />
Paramount—Alice in Wonderland (RKO) 90<br />
United Artists—Strictly Dishonorable (MGM) 80<br />
Reopens in Douglas, Ariz.<br />
DOUGLAS, ARIZ.—Closed for three days<br />
for the installation of new equipment in the<br />
projection booth, the Grand Theatre has<br />
been reopened. It is managed by Mrs. G. W.<br />
Cook, who also manages the Lyric Theatre<br />
here.<br />
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13 BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
. . Francis<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . Milt<br />
. . The<br />
. . Jim<br />
. . Maury<br />
f! Elden Pollock Opens L O S ANGELES<br />
New Skagit Drive-In<br />
MOUNT VERNON, WASH.—The Skagit<br />
Drive-In was opened to the pubUc two weeks<br />
ago by Owner-builder Elden D. Pollock after<br />
construction had interested passing motorists<br />
Tt was a double celebration for Lon Hoss, U-I gram film salesman, took off on a swing<br />
sales manager. He received congratulations around his territory . . . N. Valdair has reopened<br />
the La Habra Theatre in La Habra,<br />
on his 62nd birthday and 40th wedding anniversary<br />
Lichtenfield, operator of the dark for several months.<br />
.<br />
Clinton Theatre, planed out for Atlantic<br />
Business called Ed Budd of the B. F. Shearer<br />
Co. to Phoenix .<br />
City to visit relatives . . . Walter Branson,<br />
for months. The theatre has many unique<br />
Schwartz, operator<br />
of the Rio and Bridge theatres in San<br />
RKO western division sales chief, pulled in<br />
features. The grounds were opened an hour<br />
from Gotham for huddles at the local branch.<br />
before showtime the first night to permit<br />
Francisco, was a visitor . . . Don Gillian, U-I<br />
public inspection of the lot and building facilities<br />
by daylight. Extra attendants were Harry Nace jr. and Vince Murphy of the manager .<br />
Among booking and buying visitors were salesman, has been transferred to Seattle as<br />
Ritz in Long Beach has<br />
on hand to explain operation of the theatre. Nace chain in Phoenix; Leo Fisher, operator been reopened by Guy Black.<br />
Souvenir booklets describing the ozoner's unusual<br />
convenience and service facilities were and Mildred Kassin, Valley Theatre, Cama-<br />
of the Rosemead Theatre in Rosemead; Philip<br />
Social notes: The Filmrow club has been<br />
organized with a nucleus membership of<br />
given out.<br />
rillo . . . Les Abbott of the B. F. Shearer office<br />
was married Tuesday (28) to Joyce Cook<br />
Stan Lefcourt, UA; Ben Peskay, producers'<br />
A delegation of Seattle Filnrrow people attended<br />
the opening and saw a central air in the Hollywood First Methodist church.<br />
representative; Izzy Berman of the Eastland<br />
chain; Mel Evidon, Columbia; Sol Mahler,<br />
heating and ventilating system not duplicated<br />
elsewhere in the world, so far as is known. Theatre shutterings included the closing of Vinnicof circuit; Bill Warner, UA; Gus Gunderson.<br />
Pacific Drive-Ins, and Jim Finkler<br />
The Mount Vernon-designed and Skagit the Avon in Southgate by Vic Dikes, while<br />
county-manufactured, individual speakerheater<br />
units and other features have aroused more of his houses, the Garvey in Garvey their names .<br />
Jimmy Edwards disclosed he will darken two and Milt Smith of the booking office bearing<br />
Nicholson, operator of<br />
widespread interest in theatre trade circles. and the Montrose in Montrose. Edwards, the Marcal and Bard's Adams, left for New<br />
Earl Dralle, former Bellingham theatre meantime, sold his Monterey in Monterey York on a product hunt.<br />
employe who has been manager of Pollock's Park to Prank Harris, who recently acquired<br />
J. J. Jameson, head of the Kansas City<br />
Lyric Theatre for the past 18 months, is the Cameo from the Edwards chain . . .<br />
and Denver shipping and inspection bureaus,<br />
manager of the new drive-in, which is on Herb Turpie, western district manager for<br />
conferred with Manager Lynn Petz here . . .<br />
the highway between Burlington and Mount the Manley Popcorn outfit, left for Denver<br />
Jim Ricketts jr., former head booker at<br />
Vernon. E. M. "Eddie" Snow is the local on a business trip.<br />
Paramount, is back on the job. He resigned<br />
theatres' general manager.<br />
Jack Zamski, U-I salesman, resigned to some time ago to return to Des Moines, his<br />
enter private business Cohen of the home town. He succeeds Robert Cuming,<br />
.<br />
McHugh Polio Luncheon United Artists office, checked out for Kansas who resigned.<br />
City on business . . . Tom Quinn, formerly of<br />
Is Given at Ocean House Roy Dick.son's booking service, has joined the<br />
Mrs. Esponde Still Is Owner<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A capacity crowd of film Vinnicof circuit as booker, replacing Jack<br />
BIOLA, CALIF.—A ten-year lease on the<br />
figures and socialites were on hand when Sharriff, who has moved over to the Realart<br />
Biola Theatre building has been sold to<br />
the Jimmy McHugh polio foundation, sponsored<br />
by the veteran songwriter, staged a visitor was Rex Ochs of Kroger Babb's Hall-<br />
exchange as office manager ... A Filmrow<br />
Carter Ashley and Bradley Fish, it was revealed<br />
by Mrs. Alda Esponde, who owns the<br />
benefit luncheon August 30 at the Ocean mark Productions.<br />
property. A mistaken impre,ssion got into the<br />
House in Santa Monica. Dr. Albert C. Bower,<br />
inventor of a new junior-size respirator, was Bill Kohler of the Eastland circuit has been newspapers in mid-August that Ashley and<br />
the guest of honor. Audrey Totter, Jeanne transferred from his managerial post at the Fish had bought the theatre. Mrs. Esponde<br />
Grain and Mrs. Henry Ginsberg were among Largo to the Kinema in the same capacity explained that Bradley and Fish took up the<br />
those in attendance.<br />
Bateman, Republic western division<br />
sales head, checked in from San Fran-<br />
operated the showcase since last February.<br />
lease from Alan Yengoian of Fresno, who had<br />
cisco, accompanied by James R. Grainger, The Biola was built by Mrs. Esponde and her<br />
distribution topper . . . Cliff Harris, Mono-<br />
late husband Mike, who died two months ago<br />
Fulfilling a long-cherished dream, the Motion<br />
Picture Relief fund, of which Jean<br />
Hersholt is president, will open new offices<br />
Wednesday (5) in its own building here. For<br />
the past several years the organization has<br />
been leasing space in another building.<br />
• • •<br />
All major studios have pledged full support<br />
to Dore Schary, MGM production chieftain<br />
and chairman of the Los Angeles branch of<br />
the American Relief for Korea committee.<br />
Schary was host at a studio luncheon attended<br />
by industry, civic, religious and business<br />
leaders, and at which Douglas Fairbanks jr.,<br />
ARKC national chairman, outlined the needs<br />
of the war-torn Korean populace.<br />
Glen Spencer to Reopen<br />
Tacoma Proctor Soon<br />
TACOMA—Redecoration of Glen Spencer's<br />
Proctor Theatre is being rushed to completion<br />
for an early September opening. Theatre<br />
Drapery Supply of Seattle is doing the<br />
job, which includes the installation of a new<br />
main curtain to cover the old arch, plus<br />
ceiling-to-floor drapery on two sides of the<br />
proscenium wall. The decorating is in the<br />
modern trend with large free-hand painted<br />
scroll designs.<br />
The outstanding designs are being executed<br />
by A. Mushkin of the Theatre Drapery Supply<br />
firm.<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 1, 1951
. . H.<br />
. . George<br />
. . Exhibitors<br />
. . Jim<br />
. . Betty<br />
. . M.<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
: September<br />
SEATTLE<br />
John Hamrlck Theatres was awarded a cita-<br />
' tion by the army and air force last week<br />
in recognition of "the spirit and public service<br />
rendered in materially aiding the recruiting<br />
service" by the theatres. The citation<br />
was presented to John Hamrick by Lieut. Col.<br />
Robert A. Harris.<br />
The second meeting of the newly organized<br />
COMPO Showmen was held at the Olympic<br />
hotel Tuesday last week. Will J. Conner,<br />
executive vice-president of John Hamrick<br />
Theatres, and Sam Davis, MGM manager,<br />
were chosen co-chairmen for the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign in the Washington, northern<br />
Idaho and Alaska area. Al Weider, RKO,<br />
is publicity chairman and Fred Mercy jr.,<br />
Yakima theatreman, is finance chairman.<br />
Al Weider, RKO exploiteer, was here work-<br />
.<br />
. . . Clarence<br />
ing on "The Flying Leathernecks," which will<br />
open at the Orpheum Smith.<br />
Paramount western division manager, and his<br />
wife returned from Alaska and went to British<br />
Columbia prior to going back to Los<br />
Angeles . B. Sobottka. vice-president of<br />
Hamrick Theatres, renewed an old acquaintenceship<br />
with Lauritz Melchior and wife<br />
during the opera star's visit here<br />
Hill, manager of exchange<br />
operations<br />
for 20th-Fox, was at the local exchange last<br />
week.<br />
Gil Schoeffler, manager of the Roxy in<br />
DO n<br />
NOW<br />
Customers Are Coming Back<br />
To The Theatre . . .<br />
KEEP THEM COMING<br />
WITH FIRST CLASS<br />
ACCOMMODATIONS<br />
See Us About Replacing<br />
Your Worn Out Equipment<br />
On RCA's Easy Terms!<br />
Enumclaw, was back on the job after a twoweek<br />
vacation . Bailey has resigned<br />
as RKO booker and is now in business for<br />
himself, distributing special films . . . Mrs.<br />
Robert Messinger. assistant cashier at RKO,<br />
is vacationing in California . . . Sam A.<br />
Shirley, MGM representative for Alaska and<br />
Honolulu, was here . . . Jimmy Beale, Columbia's<br />
Portland manager, was in on business.<br />
.<br />
Warren Lemon, pioneer theatreman of the<br />
Pacific northwest, died last week . . . Sammy<br />
Siegel, Columbia exploiteer, returned from<br />
Salt Lake City where he arranged a campaign<br />
Morrie Segel is the<br />
for "Pickup" . . . new United Artists salesman for the Portland<br />
area. He replaces Mike Powers, who joined<br />
20th-Fox to cover eastern Washington<br />
Harold Harden, office manager of United<br />
Artists, returned to work from his first vacation<br />
in four years.<br />
Earl Keate, UA, was in Portland working<br />
on "Cyrano de Bergerac" . . . Following the<br />
success of the soft ice cream dispenser at the<br />
Liberty Theatre, the Music Hall has installed<br />
a similar machine . . . Bill Shartin, president<br />
of the Northwest Theatrical Enterprises, now<br />
has his office in the Lippert building . . .<br />
Fred Danz, general manager of Sterling Theatres,<br />
was home a few days with a cold . . .<br />
ZoUie Volchock, city manager for Sterling,<br />
was in Port Angeles on an inspection tour .<br />
Jack Engerman, manager at Lippert, planned<br />
a weekend fishing trip in the San Juan Islands.<br />
He recently beat Bud Brody, manager<br />
at National Screen, at a game of golf by<br />
shooting a double eagle on a 500 -yard par<br />
five hole.<br />
Frank Shannon of Popcorn Supply Co. was<br />
to leave soon on a business trip east . . . Jim<br />
Hone, secretary of the Independent Theatre<br />
Operators of Washington and Walter Coy<br />
and Paul Westlund, exhibitors, were on a<br />
yachting trip in Canadi?.n waters . . . Tony<br />
Hartford. National Screen salesman, was in<br />
eastern Washington . Matthews,<br />
NSS booker, has been promoted to secretary<br />
to Bud Brody, manager.<br />
Emil Wingard, assistant shipper, and Sharlo<br />
McConnell, bookkeeper, both of NSS, will be<br />
married in Walla Walla September 12 . . .<br />
Gordon Wallinger. Monogram booker, was on<br />
vacation . on the Row included<br />
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Darby of Naches: J. Bowling,<br />
Sky view Drive-In. Everett; Mrs. M. Goodrich,<br />
Everson; Mike Barovic, Sumner and<br />
Puyallup: Eddie Snow of Mount Vernon; Fay<br />
Honey, North Richland, and Ed Hickey and<br />
Howard McGhee of the Midstate Amusement<br />
Corp.<br />
Salt Lake Salesmen<br />
Set lor ISovietime<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Salesmen of the Salt<br />
Lake exchange area are lined up and ready<br />
to go on the Movietime U.S.A. campaign<br />
following a meeting early this week. Under<br />
supervision of Giff Davison, RKO branch<br />
chief and distributor chairman for the drive,<br />
the managers met and outlined the campaign<br />
as it would be carried forward by their salesmen.<br />
According to information coming from<br />
the meeting, all that's holding up the cam.-<br />
paign now is need for pressbooks and banners<br />
and other material for the salesmen to<br />
carry into the territory with them.<br />
800 Attend Mo-vietime<br />
Drive at Denver<br />
DENVER — Movietime U.S.A. received its<br />
start here at the Denham, with about 800<br />
industry folks attending. All exchanges and<br />
other places on Filmrow closed for the event.<br />
Pat McGee, general manager for the Cooper<br />
Foundation Theatres, was chairman of the<br />
meeting.<br />
The Rev. William Alexander, dynamic<br />
Oklahoma City pastor and politician, gave<br />
a well-received inspirational talk. He told<br />
the listeners they could be proud to be numbered<br />
in the film industry and related how<br />
the motion picture folk had sold more w-ar<br />
bonds per capita than any other industry;<br />
how their hearts were bigger than any others,<br />
as attested by the many worthy causes supported<br />
by Variety Clubs all over the world,<br />
and that there were fewer divorces per capita<br />
by far in the movie industry than in any<br />
other.<br />
He asserted that if any one could not honestly<br />
support the industry, he would do the<br />
business a favor by getting out of it.<br />
He was followed by Bob O'Donnell. national<br />
head of the campaign, who told of<br />
what was expected to be accomplished by the<br />
drive. He told of the huge ad campaign,<br />
using dailies in most every large city in the<br />
country for display ads, and aimounced the<br />
Hollywood personality tours that would be<br />
organized and on the road soon after the<br />
campaign started. One group will visit every<br />
state capital, where they will make personal<br />
appearances, not at theatres, but at gatherings,<br />
be interviewed by the press and radio,<br />
make radio talks, etc., and then fan out to<br />
towns as many as is possible in a week.<br />
It is up to the local committee to arrange<br />
the timetable for the tours.<br />
WESTE<br />
337 COLDEN GATE AVE.* HE 1-8302.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO l.CALIR<br />
.<br />
. . . Carl<br />
Eddie Yarbrough, west coast exploiteer for<br />
20th-Fox, was here setting up the campaign<br />
for "David and Bathsheba," to open at the<br />
Fifth Avenue Theatre September 26 . . . Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Frank L. Newman sr. celebrated a<br />
wedding anniversary this week M.<br />
Mesher, Washington district manager for<br />
Evergreen, was on a vacation, as was Frieda<br />
Renicks, switchboard operator<br />
Mahne, Evergreen purchasing and merchandise<br />
manager, was on a business trip to the<br />
Oregon district.<br />
Vera Miles has been inked as the femme<br />
lead in Lippert Productions' "For Men Only."<br />
THEATRE 7ALE/<br />
.ARAKEL1AN>|^<br />
15 TAVLOn St.<br />
PHONE PROSPECT 5-71'46<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
1, 1951
,<br />
201<br />
. . Homer<br />
. . Stopping<br />
. . Julian<br />
. . . Vern<br />
. . Al<br />
. . Ditto<br />
. . The<br />
. . Hal<br />
UA Sales Drive Discussed<br />
At Four One-Day Meets<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—United Artists' Drive<br />
AH the Way With UA campaign, scheduled<br />
to start early in October, was discussed at a<br />
one-day sales session held here Tuesday (28),<br />
with William J. Heineman. vice-president in<br />
charge of distribution presiding.<br />
Max E. Youngstein, vice-president and director<br />
of advertising, publicity and exploitation,<br />
and Bernard G. Kranze, executive assistant<br />
to Heineman. are conducting a series<br />
of four one-day meets.<br />
Those present: James Velde. western district<br />
manager, and the following branch managers:<br />
Ralph Clark, San Francisco; Bud<br />
Austin, Salt Lake City; Clarence Olson, Denver;<br />
A. J. Sullivan. Seattle, and Richard<br />
Carnegie. Los Angeles.<br />
Heineman. Youngstein and Kranze left for<br />
New Orleans after the session to open the<br />
second meeting August 29 at New Orleans.<br />
Warren Lemon's Career<br />
Covered Show Business<br />
SEATTLE—Funeral services for Warren F.<br />
Lemon, a pioneer of the motion picture business,<br />
were held here recently. Lemon began<br />
his career as an usher in the old Pantages<br />
Theatre and was associated at one time with<br />
the late David Wark Griffith.<br />
A native of Augusta, Mont., Lemon came to<br />
Seattle as a child. As a young man. he went<br />
to the San Francisco Bay area and managed<br />
several theatres. It was during this period<br />
that he took various jobs with Griffith, also<br />
working for Warner Bros, and World Films<br />
in L. A. before moving to New York. There<br />
Lemon worked as a company manager for the<br />
Shuberts in Manhattan for several years before<br />
returning to Seattle in 1929. He was<br />
associated with Confidential Reports and Columbia<br />
Picures until his retirement in 1948.<br />
He was a charter member of Local B22. Theatre<br />
Employes Union.<br />
Two Theatres Reopening<br />
In Frisco Bay Section<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Two downtown<br />
theatres<br />
in the Bay area are being reopened<br />
following several months of inactivity. The<br />
Blumenfeld circuit will open its Esquire theatre<br />
in Oakland on August 31 with a subsequent<br />
run policy. Fox West Coast is reopening<br />
its United Nations Theatre with a moveover<br />
policy from its first run Fox Theatre.<br />
Eight Nevada Checking<br />
Actions Are Settled<br />
CARSON CITY, NEV. — Eight percentage<br />
suits pending in the U.S. district court of<br />
Nevada have been ended by full payment of<br />
the claims filed by United Artists. U-I. Columbia.<br />
Paramount. 20th Century-Fox. Loew's.<br />
Inc.. RKO and Warner Bros, against Thomas<br />
L. Karren, former operator of the Fallon and<br />
Lawanna theatres, Fallon, Nev.<br />
lor Quick AcHonI<br />
for<br />
YOUR<br />
TH EATRE<br />
.THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.<br />
Fin« Arts BldJ. Portland 5. Ortoon<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
J^r. and Mrs. Earl jp^tfew of Del Rey have<br />
purchased ,<br />
the "tbeatre ' Confectionery<br />
busipess there from Mr. and Mrs. 'Richard<br />
For "Go for Broke!" at the<br />
Lavelle . . .<br />
Irving Theatre, the army and air force recruiting<br />
service furnished a display of equipment<br />
in the theatre lobby. An interesting<br />
sidelight to this outstanding display offered<br />
by a neighborhood house, was the fact that<br />
residents of the district could .send free radio<br />
messages to relatives overseas right from the<br />
lobby of the theatre.<br />
.<br />
Glenn H. Caldwell, manager of the Del Mar<br />
Theatre in San Leandro, died. He was a<br />
Nancy Guild, the<br />
native of Peoria, 111. . . .<br />
actress, was married in Redwood City to<br />
Ernest Martin. Broadway producer and spent<br />
her honeymoon here at the<br />
Del Monte lodge recently were Louella Parsons,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Adolphe MenjoU, Fred<br />
Waring and Mr. and Mrs. Tim McCoy.<br />
Six hundred Tribune newsboys were treated<br />
to a free show, popcorn and candy one day<br />
Bill Blake-Mark Ailing treatment for its<br />
opening at the Golden Gate. The premiere<br />
night will be a benefit affair for marine<br />
Korean war wounded. John Wayne, Janis<br />
Carter and Robert Ryan and others will be<br />
there. Brass bands supplied by the marine<br />
corps and parades down Market street will<br />
be a part of the campaign . . . Charles Thall,<br />
manager of the California Theatres Ass'n,<br />
returned from a vacation spent in the southern<br />
part of the state.<br />
Graham Kislingbury, district manager for<br />
North Coast Theatres, and wife celebrated<br />
their fifth wedding anniversary and their<br />
baby girl's third bii'thday . . . Jim Barry,<br />
Western Theatrical Equipment head, celebrated<br />
his 11th anniversary x-ecently . . Mike<br />
.<br />
Newman. Columbia exploiteer, is accompanying<br />
Beverly Michaels, star of "Pickup," on a<br />
trip east. Anne Belfer of North Coast Theatres<br />
worked up a schedule for the star, including<br />
interviews by newspaper critics, on<br />
radio and television. Anne al.so is working on<br />
the opening of "Bright Victory," and has<br />
arranged a busy interview schedule for Jim<br />
Backus, here for promotion of the opening<br />
at the United Artists.<br />
.<br />
Bob Schnltz, RCA representative here, was<br />
on a trip through the territory hitting<br />
Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake . . E. I.<br />
.<br />
Rubin, popcorn man around town, moved into<br />
a new home last week . . . Guy Meek and<br />
Everett Nolen, Palo Alto Drive-in. were on<br />
the Row . Gray was in from his<br />
Rancho Drive-In in San Pablo lunching<br />
with Carl Scott. Columbia salesman . . . Al<br />
Castle of the Westside Theatre in Newman<br />
was along the Row, as was Murray Lafayette<br />
of National Heaters, Inc., of Los Angeles.<br />
Ben Stevensen. Moonlite Movies. Santa Clara,<br />
was in visiting with his brother Rex of Trans-<br />
California Theatres Harvey jr.<br />
was here from the Village Theatre in<br />
Sacramento enjoying some of our local fog.<br />
The Terrace Drive-In here has come up<br />
with ladies' night. Every Monday and Tuesday<br />
women are to be admitted free and<br />
given pieces of a 52-piece set of dinnerware.<br />
And as if that isn't inducement enough,<br />
mothers will be presented a complimentary<br />
5x7 portrait of children under 10 years of age.<br />
The Bel Air Drlve-ln at Eureka has installed<br />
a new reader board and letters . . .<br />
Nat Goldensen of Greenville was on the Row<br />
last week . Mrs. Goldie Cowley,<br />
Boyes Springs exhibitor, and Harry Sarber.<br />
Joe Batt, Farrell Art Service, returned<br />
from vacation at Catalina. His bo.ssman.<br />
Jack Farrell, left on a several-week tour in<br />
British Columbia . annual golf tournament<br />
of Variety Tent 32 will be September<br />
20 .<br />
Grubstick. Lippert Pictures, won<br />
the Los Angeles Variety Club golf tournament<br />
and donated his prize to the Los Angeles<br />
charity fund for children . Gruber.<br />
office manager at RKO here, is shifting to<br />
city salesman, replacing Johnny Cummings,<br />
who joined the Panero circuit headquarters<br />
just opened at the 25 Taylor bldg.<br />
last week at the New Peerlex Theatre in<br />
Oakland. L. J. Williams is manager . . .<br />
Isabelle Fletcher, secretary to Sid Weisbaum Sam Shirley, MGM representative for<br />
of the Sunny-Mount, is resigning to join her Honolulu and Alaska, was at the local exchange.<br />
He left Monday for Honolulu . . .<br />
husband, who returned recently from service<br />
in Korea.<br />
W. R. Tomlinson. Republic salesman, became<br />
papa of a baby girl named Janis Ann<br />
"Flying: Leathernecks" is being given the<br />
Shattuck of Truckee's Donner Theatre<br />
suffered a heart attack recently and is<br />
recuperating at home.<br />
The title of the RKO picture, "Road Agent,"<br />
has been changed to "Trail Guide."<br />
f<br />
PRINTING COMPANY<br />
THIRTY-FOUR HYDE STREET<br />
SAN FRANCISCO 2. CAUFORNIA<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951 49
. . Vacation<br />
. .<br />
. . . Alan<br />
. . . Clarence<br />
. . Al<br />
. . George<br />
. . Dick<br />
CELEBRITIES ATTEND OPENING—Stars, executives, business and civic leaders<br />
were among the first-nighters when Fox West Coast staged a gala opening of its new<br />
$450,000 Fox Theatre in Venice, Calif. At right is an exterior shot of the de luxe showcase,<br />
showing a segment of the thousands of autograph hunters and klieg lights. An<br />
attractive hostess greets George Bowser, left, FWC general manager.<br />
PORTLAND<br />
TWrartin Foster, managing director of the<br />
Guild Theatre, has leased the Broadway,<br />
a 400-seater in Tacoma, Wash. Like the<br />
Guild here, he will operate it as an art house.<br />
The Broadway opened Friday (31) with<br />
"Trio." The Guild here will undergo a complete<br />
remodeling soon, Foster reports. A<br />
new front, larger lobby, new seating and air<br />
conditioning units will be installed. A store<br />
adjacent to the present lobby will be converted<br />
into several large offices.<br />
Harold Lake. J. J. Parker theatres controller,<br />
entertained Oregon film notables at<br />
the Astoria salmon derby. One of his guests<br />
aboard his boat in the Columbia river was<br />
Gov. Douglas McKay . returnees:<br />
Herbert Royster. Mayfair manager, returned<br />
from two weeks at Long Beach. Wash., and<br />
Mrs. Hildegard Peterson. Lippert office manager,<br />
back from eastern Oregon . . . Charles<br />
Powers, 20th-Fox manager, was at his summer<br />
home on Lake Oswego . . . Tommy Williams<br />
of Republic is another Filmrowite vacationing.<br />
.<br />
Walter Hoffman, Paramount, was in town<br />
working on "That's My Boy," "A Place in the<br />
Sun." and "Here Comes the Groom"<br />
Wayne Thiriot, Paramount manager, was at<br />
home convalescing after several weeks in<br />
the hospital . . . Lucille Bishop, Paramount<br />
QUICK THEATRE SALES!<br />
Selling theatres is our business. Live<br />
orgonization, quick results. When others<br />
fail, give us a try, past record of sales<br />
is our proof.<br />
UNITED STATES COVERAGE<br />
Inquiries Answered lrnn\ediate\y<br />
Write Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr.<br />
FRED B. LUDWI6, Realtor<br />
4229 N. E. Broadway Portland 13, Ore.<br />
cashier, is back to work after a long illness<br />
Wieder was at RKO . Lange,<br />
RKO manager, reports that wife was in<br />
Los Angeles. Their son-in-law and daughter,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Finn Sagild. sailed last week<br />
on the He de France for Paris. They'll be<br />
met by Sagild's parents and will motor to<br />
Copenhagen to take up residence. Sagild was<br />
an exchange student last year at the University<br />
of Oregon.<br />
Herb Mclntyre, western district manager<br />
for RKO, was on an indefinite leave due to<br />
illness. Cresson Smith of Los Angeles was<br />
pinch-hitting . Oxtoby of WB returned<br />
from a three day sales meeting session in<br />
San Francisco . . . Max Bercutt was expected<br />
in town to work on "Jim Thorpe—All American."<br />
His campaign will feature a round trip,<br />
all expenses paid, to the Rose Bowl New<br />
Year's day football game in Pasadena. Eight<br />
Portland merchants will back the campaign<br />
Hill, branch operations manager,<br />
was at 20th-Fox.<br />
Arthur Greenfield arranged a special<br />
screening of rushes from U-I's new film,<br />
"Bend of the River." at the Star preview<br />
theatre. The film was made on the slopes<br />
of Mount Hood this summer and stars James<br />
Stewart. Attending the screening were members<br />
of the cast, including assistant director<br />
Philip Bowles . DeWaide, formerly<br />
of Portland, resigned as branch manager for<br />
U-I in Seattle to enter private business.<br />
Skouras Drive Bonuses<br />
Awarded at FWC Rally<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Fox West Coast Theatres<br />
held a general meeting of managers<br />
from the northern California area. A contingent<br />
of executives headed by Charles P.<br />
Skouras, president, and George Bowser, general<br />
manager, were present. Spence Leve,<br />
northern California division manager, was<br />
host. Bonus checks were given out for the<br />
recent Charles Skouras Showmanship campaign,<br />
totaling over $11,000. Jack Gunsky,<br />
manager of the Fox Californian in Watsonville.<br />
was aw-arded a citation and a check for<br />
$250 as outstanding showman of the drive.<br />
SALT LAKE<br />
"tjt R. "Bud" Austin of Denver, who suc-<br />
. . R. J.<br />
ceeded the late Carroll Trowbridge as<br />
manager for United Artists here, received a<br />
hectic initiation into his new job. He arrived<br />
in Salt Lake to be called almost immediately<br />
into a sales meeting in San Francisco.<br />
When he returned, he rushed back to<br />
Denver to pack up and bring his family to<br />
Salt Lake and their new home .<br />
Leahy and Donald E. Parker of Spokane took<br />
over as new manager and assistant, respectively,<br />
of the Lyric Theatre. They succeed<br />
Warren D. Butler, who left Salt Lake last<br />
week for Indianapolis to head the advertising<br />
department of the Indianapolis Amusement<br />
Co. He had been here eight years and<br />
had served as president of the Salt Lake<br />
Motion Picture club, predecessor to the Variety<br />
tent. Mrs. Butler and son will move<br />
to Indianapolis later.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Swonson are parents<br />
Carl Linde,<br />
of a baby girl, their first . . .<br />
Paramount salesman in Montana, was in<br />
for a sales meeting . Frank H. Smith,<br />
. .<br />
Paramount manager, was in Idaho for a special<br />
sales meeting.<br />
Visitors on Filmrow included Harold Wirthwein.<br />
Monogram western sales manager;<br />
Mike Vogel, U-I; N. R. Anderson, Lewistown,<br />
Mont., and James EUett, Loa, Utah . . .<br />
Graham Susman. Monogram salesman, was<br />
in Denver on vacation.<br />
Clyde Griffin, Phoenix,<br />
Now Yuma City Manager<br />
PHOENIX—Clyde Griffin, manager of the<br />
Fox Theatre here, has been transferred by<br />
Fox West Coast Theatres to Yuma, where he<br />
takes over post as city manager of the Lyric<br />
and the Yuma. Griffin replaces Jim Swanson,<br />
resigned. Also involved in the shift is<br />
Sam Bagwell, who moves up from the Vista,<br />
Phoenix moveover house, to fill in as manager<br />
of the Fox. Robert Huey switches from<br />
assistant manager of the Fox to manager<br />
of the Vista. Bagwell's assistant will be<br />
Orila Lettre, formerly in charge of concessions<br />
at the Fox.<br />
Both Griffin and Bagwell started their<br />
careers at the Fox. breaking in as ushers.<br />
Griffin became a member of the staff in<br />
1938 and was joined two years later by<br />
Bagwell.<br />
U-I Thank-You Ad Makes<br />
Impression in Oregon<br />
Portland— .An excellent example of public<br />
relations on the part of the motion<br />
picture industry was demonstrated here<br />
last week (27) when Universal-International<br />
ran advertisements in both the<br />
Oregon Journal and the Oregonian thanking<br />
the people of Oregon, state, county<br />
and federal agencies for the many courtesies<br />
extended to the film company. The<br />
company sent a production company to<br />
the Mount Hood area, about an hour east<br />
of Portland, to film "Bend of the River."<br />
James Stewart headed the cast. The production<br />
unit was on location about four<br />
weeks.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;; September 1, 1951
"People<br />
: September<br />
WITH EVERYTHING DRIVE<br />
OPENED AT FMW CONVENTION<br />
SELL<br />
Einfeld and Levathes<br />
Are Major Speakers<br />
At Two-Day Confab<br />
KANSAS CITY—Fox Midwest Amusement<br />
22nd annual<br />
Corp. managers concluded their<br />
fall convention Wednesday (29) with new<br />
enthusiasm directed toward the forthcoming<br />
16-week sales drive in which the theme<br />
will be, "Sell Pictures With Everything You've<br />
Got."<br />
Sparked by an address prepared by President<br />
Elmer C. Rhoden, who was unable to<br />
preside at the convention because of an injury,<br />
the theatremen heard the film industry<br />
lauded for its valiant comeback in recent<br />
months. They were told that now it was<br />
their duty to make the motion picture theatre<br />
the place to go. Rhoden's address was<br />
read to the convention by Senn Lawler, FMW<br />
director of advertising.<br />
Highlighting the meeting was the presence<br />
of Charles Einfeld, 20th-Fox vice-president<br />
in charge of advertising; Peter Levathes, vicepresident<br />
of 20th Century-Fox Television<br />
F>roductions. and Alec Moss from the 20th-<br />
Pox home office.<br />
OUTLINES NEW CAMPAIGNS<br />
Einfeld outlined advertising and promotion<br />
campaigns on Fox pictures to be released<br />
between now and the end of the year. These<br />
included "David and Bathsheba," "The Desert<br />
Fox, ' Will Talk," "No Highway in<br />
the Sky," "The Day the Earth Stood Still,"<br />
"Anne of the Indies" and "Kangaroo." Kits<br />
containing promotional material on each of<br />
these pictures were given to the FMW managers<br />
at the meeting.<br />
Alec Moss described the merchandising<br />
facets of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."<br />
citing it as an exploitation natural that<br />
would capture the imagination of the public.<br />
From here Moss went to New Orleans to<br />
attend the ninth annual convention of the<br />
Science-Fiction Ass'n on behalf of the film.<br />
Smith Cady jr. of the Chase Candy Co. at<br />
the Tuesday morning session discussed merchandising<br />
confectionery. A round-table discussion<br />
was conducted by R. P. Brous preceding<br />
luncheon. Peter Levathes opened the<br />
afternoon session with a discussion of the<br />
new Eidophor television process as it applies<br />
to the motion picture theatre.<br />
TELLS OF EIDOPHOR TV<br />
The equipment has been developed in the<br />
last ten years at Zurich, Switzerland, and<br />
now is ready for trial. It will be placed in a<br />
theatre network and is expected to be in<br />
operation within two years.<br />
Levathes said that a theatre network will<br />
be set up across the nation, with one of the<br />
central studios planned for Kansas City.<br />
He described the Eidorphor process this way:<br />
Eidophor is a departure in television reception<br />
in that it is a combination receiverprojector<br />
type of gear suitable for installation<br />
in theatre projection booths. Programs would<br />
be picked up on "TV sound waves" from the<br />
originating point and sent to a central studio<br />
in each city, from which in turn the waves<br />
would be transmitted to the theatres.<br />
Rhoden's Reasons for Optimism<br />
KANSAS CITY — While Elmer C.<br />
Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest Amusement<br />
Corp., was unable<br />
to preside at<br />
the 22nd annual<br />
FMW managers<br />
meeting here this<br />
week because of injuries<br />
suffered on a<br />
recent visit in California,<br />
his address<br />
to the convention<br />
was read by Senn<br />
Lawler, circuit advertising<br />
and publicity<br />
head.<br />
Elmer C. Rhoden<br />
Filled with confident<br />
expressions of ever-greater theatre<br />
business, Rhoden's address said that<br />
"things look far different than they did a<br />
few months ago."<br />
"Our business," said Rhoden, "is much<br />
better. We've had a few outstanding pictures<br />
new house records have been<br />
. . . established . . . Even Wall Street . . . now<br />
is telling its investors to buy amusement<br />
shares as they are underpriced."<br />
"We are all fortunate people to be associated<br />
with this great industry, one that<br />
has been so kind to us, so let's resolve today<br />
that we will assume a higher regard for the<br />
jobs we fill."<br />
He illustrated his new faith in the industry<br />
by emphasizing that the value of<br />
film companies' equity stocks have increased<br />
$30,000,000 in 30 days, because "the<br />
public believes in our future," and he<br />
added, "It appears that our job is to see<br />
that the pictures are sold."<br />
A better inventory of entertainment<br />
values is at the command of the theatreman<br />
today, Rhoden said, and there is<br />
a "new and receptive audience awaiting<br />
their exhibition."<br />
"There is only one job for us to do, and<br />
this is to SELL them!" He urged "a lot of<br />
showmanship, extra shows and extra activities<br />
. . . Drag out your old showmanship<br />
tricks and never overlook the power of<br />
There the image would be received by the<br />
equipment and simultaneously projected on<br />
the picture screen in full color. The image<br />
would be of nearly as high quality as the<br />
films which would be shown in conjunction<br />
with the TV performance.<br />
Tlie equipment, he said, would not be<br />
limited to 20th-Fox theatres, but would be<br />
sold to theatres of other groups, and individuals<br />
who will join in the network project.<br />
A final trial of the equipment in Zurich<br />
late in September will be witnes.sed by film<br />
company engineers. A color trial in the U.S.<br />
projected for late this year.<br />
FMW managers were told of the new<br />
is<br />
16-week sales drive, in which Rhoden set<br />
aside four special weeks as the basis of the<br />
ballyhoo. Today, we must glamoi-ize the<br />
motion picture theatre. Make it the place<br />
to go."<br />
"After listening to Peter Levathes," who<br />
also spoke at the convention, "you are<br />
convinced of our place in the commercial<br />
television field, and when the final gong is<br />
rung, the public will be seeing great sporting<br />
events and events of national and local<br />
interest in the leading motion picture theatres.<br />
All of these signs point to future<br />
growth and development of our business<br />
and we all should feel very happy today<br />
because of this sudden change in our outlook."<br />
Rhoden, in comparing the busine.ss statistics<br />
of the years 1946 and 1950, told his<br />
managers that there is no similarity between<br />
film business and national income.<br />
In 1946, he said, film business had its<br />
greatest boom, yet national income was<br />
much lower than in 1950, when film business<br />
suffered one of its worst years.<br />
He blamed the 1950 slump on overtaxed<br />
household budgets and, he added:<br />
"Now, today, the barometer has swung<br />
back to our favor. The sales of household<br />
appliances have collapsed. The decline<br />
in the sale of television sets and<br />
radios has made front-page stories. The<br />
great drain on the household budget for<br />
appliances has stopped and from now on<br />
the motion picture theatre will get a<br />
greater percentage of the household dollar.<br />
This calculation is no idle conjecture,<br />
but is based upon actual past business experience."<br />
Rhoden closed his address by asking his<br />
managers to "hold a full appreciation" of<br />
their jobs as theatre managers.<br />
"You have a responsibility to our company,<br />
of course," he said, "but your great<br />
responsibility is to your theatre and the<br />
place it holds in the community. Whether<br />
that theatre has the prestige and respect<br />
of your community depends entirely upon<br />
your management of it and upon your personal<br />
conduct as the head of that institution."<br />
showmanship campaign.<br />
Rhoden told the managers that the drive,<br />
so far as Fox Midwest is concerned, is a local<br />
one, and he added: "Tlie formula is simple,<br />
but in the long run, the man who is going to<br />
win, is the one who sits down and carefully<br />
plans 16 weeks of consistent activities; keeping<br />
only one thought in mind, and that is selling<br />
his pictures."<br />
In his closing remarks to the convention,<br />
the FMW president said:<br />
"We have an army of approximately 125<br />
salesmen of motion picture entertainment<br />
going into our towns to sell admission tickets.<br />
I am a great believer in the power of momentum;<br />
if we can start out our fall season<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
1, 1951 MW 51
Nick Sonday Captures<br />
Top Prize<br />
In Skouras Drive; Other Winners<br />
KANSAS CITY—The 22nd annual managers<br />
convention of the Fox Midwest Amusement<br />
Corp. this week<br />
was climaxed by tlit<br />
announcement by President<br />
Elmer Rhodon<br />
of the winners in tlv<br />
recently conclucii<br />
Charles P. SkoiiiL,<br />
Showmanship d r i v .<br />
and the related Rhoden<br />
Weeks campaign.<br />
Named as Fox Midwest's<br />
"Showman of<br />
the Charles P. Skouras<br />
drive" was N. J. "Nick"<br />
N. J. "Nick" Sonday<br />
Sonday, manager of<br />
the Uptown here. In the five Fox Midwest<br />
divisions, the winners were: District 1, Sonday;<br />
C. A. "Cobby" Stewart of the Grand,<br />
Topeka district 2; Dennis Montee. Tucker,<br />
Liberal, Kas., district 3; Phil Hill, Lincoln,<br />
Belleville, 111., district 4, and Joe Ruddick. Fox,<br />
Sedalia, Mo., district 5.<br />
Rhoden Weeks winners were: district 1<br />
(Kansas city^— Sonday ; Roger Ruddick, Isis;<br />
Krueger Dillender, Rockhill; Sam Naster,<br />
Lincoln; Roy North, Benton, and Howard<br />
McMurdy, Linwood.<br />
Fox Midwesl Opens<br />
New Fall Campaign<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
with big, banner weeks, that in itself will<br />
create a good aftermath of business,<br />
"As you return home, spread the enthusiasm<br />
of this meeting to your theatre staffs,<br />
and to your friends; proclaiming in a loud<br />
voice the virtues of our great motion pictures.<br />
Remember, we can't expect the public<br />
to be enthused about motion pictures if<br />
we are not. We are selling the greatest show<br />
on earth."<br />
Division of the prize awards for the forthcoming<br />
fall drive will find a total of $2,500<br />
in prizes on each of the four special weeks.<br />
The final award of another $2,500, called the<br />
Sweepstakes award, will be divided among the<br />
districts which show the best overall performance<br />
against 16-week drive quotas. It<br />
will be shared solely by theatre managers<br />
who complete or exceed their 16-week drive<br />
BOOK IT<br />
WAHOO is<br />
NOW!!!<br />
U»e world's most tfirilling<br />
screen game. Now being used<br />
successfully by hundreds of "indoor<br />
and outdoor theatres all over America.<br />
Send for complete details. Be sure<br />
and give seating or car capacity.<br />
Hollywood Amusement Co.<br />
,831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, III.<br />
District 2—Berdell Funke, Orpheum. Jop-<br />
Un; Bob Rothrock. Paramount, Joplm;<br />
Ricardo Menichetti, Colonial, Pittsburg;<br />
Jerry Hayes, Fox, Beatrice, Neb.; Ralph<br />
Stokes, CoffeyviUe; R. J. McOwne, Oakland,<br />
Topeka.<br />
District 3—H. F. "Buddy" Brown, Miller,<br />
Wicliita; Willis Shaffer, Fox, Hutchinson;<br />
Jimmy MiUspaugh, Eldorado, Eldorado;<br />
George Cornwall, Sandra, Wichita; Bill Welton,<br />
Burford, Arkansas City; James O.<br />
"Speed" Martin, Orpheum, Wichita.<br />
District 4—Phil Hill, Lincoln, Belleville, III.;<br />
Glenn Carroll, Broadway, Cape Girardeau;<br />
Al Spargur. Orpheum, Marion; Leon Koch,<br />
Stadium, Mount Vernon; B. M. Montee, Illinois,<br />
Jacksonville, 111.<br />
District 5—Ralph Wallace, Grand, Moberly;<br />
Richard Powell, Jewell, Springfield; Jack Golladay.<br />
Lyric, Boonville; George Painter,<br />
Kickapoo, Springfield; Tyndall Lewis, Gillioz,<br />
Springfield, and Gene Klncaid, DeGraw,<br />
Brookfield.<br />
District standings in the Rhoden Weeks<br />
drive found district 2, headed by E. J. Haas,<br />
in first place; district 1, headed by Leon Robertson,<br />
in second place, and district 3, headed<br />
by F. C. Souttar, in third place.<br />
quotas. The .special weeks' awards will be<br />
divided among the theatre managers who<br />
make their individual special week quotas.<br />
Tlie entire campaign will be heralded by<br />
the "Sell Pictures With Everything You've<br />
Got" theme, and with the added slogan;<br />
"Sell with Enthusiasm, Originality, Ballyhoo<br />
. . Lobby, Screen, Front, Radio, Newspaper,<br />
.<br />
Heralds, Direct Mail. Tieups. Prevues<br />
and Faith in the Motion Picture as the<br />
World's Best Entertainment."<br />
Elmer Rhoden in Hospital;<br />
Recovering From Injury<br />
KANSAS CITY—Elmer C. Rhoden. president<br />
of the Fox Midwest Amusement Corp..<br />
is in St. Luke's hospital here recuperating<br />
from injuries received while in California recently.<br />
While on the coast, Rhoden was injured<br />
by a horse and after his return home<br />
complications developed in his leg.<br />
A blood clot formed and it was at first believed<br />
that it would be necessary to operate<br />
on the FMW president. However, at midweek<br />
he was reported as recovering satisfactorily<br />
after treatment and that surgery would<br />
not be necessary.<br />
Stage Show Will Herald<br />
'Hoffmann' Bow at Kimo<br />
KANSAS CITY—The opening of "Tales of<br />
Hoffmann," forthcoming on September 21,<br />
was causing more excitement in the Dickinson<br />
Theatre Operating circuit this week than<br />
anything since the chain pioneered the showing<br />
of art films at its Kimo Theatre here.<br />
A three-act, 15-minute stage show, furnished<br />
by the Arthur Murray dance studio<br />
here, was on the boards to precede the opening<br />
of the film each night through the opening<br />
week.<br />
AHEAD ON MOVIETIME<br />
Blank and Wolcott<br />
Head Iowa Setup<br />
DES MOINES—Movietime Iowa U.S.A. got<br />
off to a flying start Monday (27) at a pep<br />
rally of Iowa exhibitors and distributors at<br />
the Paramount Theatre here. Speaking before<br />
an estimated 150 exhibitors, distributors<br />
and office employes and their families, the<br />
Rev. William Alexander, pastor of the First<br />
Christian church in Oklahoma City and<br />
operator of a drive-in in Texas, said. "If you<br />
don't believe in show business, why not do<br />
yourself, your company and your town a favor<br />
and resign."<br />
William McCraw of Dallas, executive director<br />
of Variety Clubs International, said:<br />
"We talk about motion pictures being in a<br />
questionable position when 60 million people<br />
go every week. There is no industry that has<br />
contributed so much to the welfare of the<br />
soldier, sailor or marine as the motion picture<br />
industry . . . There is no industry better<br />
than the average of its enthusiasm."<br />
Head men of the Iowa participation in<br />
Movietime U.S.A. will be A. H. Blank and Leo<br />
Wolcott, latter of Eldora. Milt Feinberg of<br />
National Screen Service is in charge of publicity.<br />
His committee includes Ivan Fuldauer,<br />
Art Farrell, Don Allen. Ben Kubby will arrange<br />
for speakers.<br />
The executive committee includes Harold<br />
Field, Myron Blank, W. F. DeFrenne. Dale<br />
McFarland. Milton Weiss, Rudy Eaulds, Nate<br />
Sandler, Al Schuyler, Charles Hies, James<br />
Yannis, Art Thiele, Mrs. Carl Parsons. Charles<br />
Niles. Charles Jones. Vic Shipright, Dick Phillips,<br />
Ed Kugle, A. C. Myrick, and Herman<br />
Field. Finance committee is composed of Don<br />
Smith, chairman; Bill Curry, Leo McKekneay<br />
and Al Myrick.<br />
Don Hicks is chairman of the distribution<br />
committee, composed of Robert Conn. Gerry<br />
McGlynn, Julian King, Paul Webster, Charles<br />
Calgarri, Lou Levy, ByTon Shapiro, Leon<br />
Mendelson, Don Conley, Bill Johnson and<br />
George Baumeister.<br />
Minneapolis Committees<br />
Are Busy on Preparations<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Local committees continue<br />
to pound away on the preliminaries for<br />
Movietime U.S.A. on the Minneapolis level,<br />
holding meetings at least once a week to map<br />
plans for doing this territory's part in the<br />
bigger national campaign.<br />
Chairman Eddie Ruben was notified by C.<br />
E. McCarthy of the national committee that<br />
press sheets would be available for distribution<br />
here after Labor day and that trailers<br />
soon will be forthcoming for theatres. It's<br />
planned to have every exhibitor along with<br />
the public on their toes for the CBS radio<br />
network show September 24, giving the drive<br />
its inaugural national break, Ruben said.<br />
The five places chosen for the regional<br />
Movietime meetings will be Minneapolis, f»r<br />
southern Minnesota and the twin cities; St.<br />
Cloud, for central Minnesota; Huron, S. D.,<br />
and Grand Forks, N. D., for their states. The<br />
dates haven't been decided yet.<br />
Stand-in Gets Break<br />
Bob Scott, signed as stand-in to J. Carrol<br />
Naish in Paramount's "The Denver and Rio<br />
Grande," was promoted to railroad telegrapher<br />
in the picture.<br />
S2<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: Septemtier 1, 1951
. . . Lanae<br />
. .<br />
DES<br />
MOINES<br />
Tl/hen Sandra Lihs, 13. was visiting in Davenport<br />
recently, she attended a theatre<br />
bank night and was selected to draw the<br />
tickets for the awards. The first one she<br />
drew was for Mi"s. Herman Lih.s—her mother.<br />
who had registered for the drawings 18 years<br />
ago. Mrs. Lihs was not present and missed<br />
out on the prize . . . Patricia Ann Sullivan,<br />
assistant manager of the Hollyw-ood Theatre<br />
in Sioux City, has been married to Gene<br />
Peters of Sioux City.<br />
The Meredith Publishing Co., Des Moines,<br />
has purchased an interest in the Princeton<br />
Film Center, Inc., Princeton, N. J. The film<br />
center is a well-known industrial motion<br />
picture concern . . . The Schaller Theatre<br />
in Schaller has reopened after being closed<br />
two weeks for extensive remodeling and redecorating.<br />
Owners are Mr. and Mrs. J. H.<br />
Twenty-one children participated<br />
Feldhans . . .<br />
in a Mr. and Miss America of 1965<br />
contest at the Grand Theatre in Wellman<br />
in connection with the showing of "Father's<br />
Little Dividend." Loving cups were given as<br />
prizes . . . The 61 Drive-In at Maquoketa observed<br />
its first birthday August 20 through<br />
August 23. During the celebration, $1 admitted<br />
a full carload of people. A surprise<br />
gift was given to those in each car and free<br />
balloons were given the youngsters.<br />
Manager Max of the Max Theatre in Sibley<br />
says, "You cannot tell me that younger folks<br />
don't enjoy the better things of life." Recently<br />
in the showing of "The Great Caruso,"<br />
at least half of those attending were students.<br />
"That is surely a distinct compliment to our<br />
schools and the student body," Max says . . .<br />
The Starlite Drive-In at Cedar Falls was<br />
closed temporarily to allow completion of a<br />
widening job on Highway 218 . . . Manager<br />
Lloyd Einfeldt of the Dana Theatre in Danbury<br />
is warning his popcorn customers not<br />
to eat the piece of paper in the bag, for it<br />
is a free guest ticket to the Dana.<br />
The Roxie at Peterson has been closed for<br />
two weeks to enable Mr. and Mrs. Rollie<br />
Klinefelter to take a vacation. The Klinefelters<br />
went to Canada to visit their daughter<br />
Tew. Columbia billing clerk, has<br />
been promoted to assistant booker. Taking<br />
over her old duties in the billing department<br />
is a new employe, Florence Milton . . . Byron<br />
Shapiro, Columbia manager, is back from a<br />
Chicago sales meeting.<br />
Pre-Labor day vacations were enjoyed by<br />
Bert Thomas, Warners: Clara Henkel, Warners:<br />
Nancy Ti-ost. Columbia: Betty Knutson<br />
and Jo Elliott of NSS: Irene Line, Universal,<br />
and Ruby Zeller, Nathan Sandler Theatre<br />
Enterprises. Ruby drove to San Francisco<br />
with her brother and then flew back. Gary<br />
Sandler, Nate's son, was home for the weekend<br />
from Ft. Riley, Kas., where he has been<br />
assigned to an infantry division.<br />
Leon Mendelson, Warner manager, and his<br />
wife announced the engagement of their<br />
daughter Ruth. No date has been set for the<br />
wedding. Ruth is a student at the University<br />
of Iowa . . . Al Ungerman, Universal booker,<br />
found life a Uttle more tiring during his<br />
two weeks of national guard training. After<br />
returning last weekend, he took Monday off<br />
to recuperate!<br />
Ralph Olson, Universal salesman who was<br />
suffering from a foot infection, is now recovering<br />
from an infection on his hands.<br />
Doctors finally found that sulfa was the<br />
remedy and Olie will soon be like new .<br />
Also looking chipper on the Universal selling<br />
staff is Morrie Friedman who is much slimmer<br />
due to his self-imposed diet . . . Many,<br />
many exhibitors came to Des Moines Monday<br />
morning to attend the Movietime Iowa U.S.A.<br />
meeting at the Paramount Theatre. Among<br />
those who stayed over to do .some booking<br />
were Nate Rosenthal. Waterloo; Lewie Lepowitz,<br />
Madrid: Al Hanson, Atlantic; I. C.<br />
Jenson, Iowa Falls; Dwight Hansen, Eddyville;<br />
Ludy Bosten, Muscatine; Clint Bahensky,<br />
Albert City: Harry Pulley, Kanawah;<br />
Glen Maxson, Jewell; Sam Shlaes, Mollne,<br />
and Robert Danico, Rock Island.<br />
Quad City Theatre Owners<br />
Hear Pep Talk at Outing<br />
DAVENPORT, IOWA—Quad-City theatre<br />
owners were told recently by Mike Simmons of<br />
MGM's public relations office in New York<br />
City, that "the motion picture theatre will<br />
continue to play an important part in the<br />
communities of America." Speaking at a<br />
dinner which climaxed a day's activities at<br />
Short Hills Country club, Simmons told the<br />
tive of Waterloo, is making good as an actress<br />
in Hollywood. She is currently appearing in<br />
"The Hollywood Story" on her Universal-<br />
International contract, made her debut as a<br />
starlet in "Bright Victory" and "is currently<br />
working on "The Treasure of Lost Canyon."<br />
Seven Iowa Theatres<br />
Change Ownership<br />
DES MOINES—Several theatres in Iowa<br />
have changed hands during the last few<br />
weeks. The Lake at Lake View has been sold<br />
to C. P. McConnell by Lee Henry. The State<br />
at Bridgewater is now the property of Mr.<br />
and Mrs. W. H. Peters of Colfax. The house<br />
was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Ogden.<br />
The Early at Early was bought by Dick<br />
Waters from A. W. Schramm. Waters is continuing<br />
the old schedule of shows—Tuesday<br />
and Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday.<br />
The Park at Port Dodge has been sold by<br />
C. V. Porter to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Shade of<br />
Franklin, Neb., and William Algood of Fort<br />
Dodge. The Shades own the Dodge, Fort<br />
Dodge, and newspapers in Franklin and<br />
Friend, Neb. Algood, formerly manager of<br />
the Dodge, is now with the Fort Dodge National<br />
bank. He will manage both the Park<br />
and the Dodge. A Ufelong resident of Fort<br />
Dodge, Algood is a World War II veteran.<br />
The Park is a 350-seat house. The new<br />
owners said they expect to make some improvements.<br />
The Columbus in Columbus Junction is the<br />
sole property of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Oakes.<br />
They have purchased the interest of Ludy<br />
Bosten in the house. The Oakeses and Bosten<br />
had been partners since 1936. Remodeling<br />
plans are being made by the new owners.<br />
The Garnaville Theatre at Garnaville has<br />
been leased by Harley Moore of St. Paul,<br />
Minn., where Moore has managed a theatre<br />
owners, "The theatre brings people to the<br />
community, and is an indirect source of business<br />
for any city." He said improved promotion<br />
work and better movies would keep the<br />
industry as a leading entertainment medium.<br />
Ninety-three owners and members of the<br />
press and radio attended the dinner, which<br />
followed a full day's activity of golfing and<br />
social activity at the country club.<br />
for the last ten years. The Plainfield at Plainfield<br />
has been purchased by Lloyd Koob and<br />
Kenneth B. Orcutt from Mrs. Florence<br />
lulia Adams Climbing<br />
Mason. The new owners will show pictures<br />
four nights a week and plan to remodel the<br />
WATERLOO, IOWA—Julia Adams, a na-<br />
house.<br />
DON'T WAIT<br />
LUVERNE, IOWA—Mr. and Mrs. William<br />
Fox of Madison, Wis., have purchased the<br />
Vern Theatre here from Mr. and Mrs. Robert<br />
Thomas.
ITEMS FROM HERE AND THERE<br />
•The new Crest Theatre, a unit in tlie Commonwealth<br />
circuit, figures prominently in<br />
the tremendous expansion program now taking<br />
place in Great Bend. Kas., of which you<br />
may have read or heard lately. Tribune editor<br />
Will Townsley estimated the program<br />
would run between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000<br />
and word was sent to Kansas City that 500<br />
more workers were urgently needed in the<br />
western Kansas city. The business district<br />
gained another bright new front late in 1950<br />
when work was finished on the new Crest<br />
Theatre. It is one of the first motion picture<br />
theatres in Kansas designed for eventual use<br />
of television if Commonwealth decides to employ<br />
the new entertainment medium. The<br />
cost of the work done on the Crest (the former<br />
Kansas) exceeded $125,000.<br />
Art Farrell, whose transfer to Perry, Iowa,<br />
trading city management with Al Hansen in<br />
Atlantic. Iowa, was reported recently in BOX-<br />
OFFICE, will continue his work as advertising<br />
manager for Pioneer Theatres in addition.<br />
Pioneer owns downtown and drive-in theatres<br />
in ten central Iowa cities and towns<br />
The Pawnee Drive-In of North Platte.<br />
Neb., contributed to the Lincoln county flood<br />
relief drive . . . One thousand women attended<br />
the cooking school at the Dodge Theatre in<br />
Dodge City, Kas.<br />
The "Miracle Horses" performed at the<br />
Tower Drive-In at Holdredge. Neb., owned<br />
and operated by Ervin Coyle. The highly<br />
trained animals, called the most highly<br />
^^^/W
. . . Jay<br />
. . Also<br />
. . Gladyce<br />
. . Among<br />
Wide Missouri' loBovi K A N S A S CITY<br />
In 3 Cities Oct. 11<br />
KANSAS CITY—MGM's much-heralded<br />
"Across the Wide Missouri" will make its<br />
world premiere bow in three Missouri cities on<br />
October 11. Bernie Evens, MGM exploiteer<br />
here, said that preliminary plans for the<br />
debut are being laid out and that MGM is<br />
"going all-out" for the event.<br />
The film will bow at Loew's State in St.<br />
Louis, the Capitol in Jefferson City and at<br />
the Midland here. Following the openings in<br />
those three cities saturation bookings will be<br />
set up in the Kansas City and St. Louis trade<br />
territories.<br />
Poles Found in Colorado<br />
For TEI's Paola Ozoner<br />
PAOLA, KAS.—Officials of Theatre Enterprises,<br />
Inc., said here late in August they<br />
are ready to start almost immediately on the<br />
construction of the drive-in to be located at<br />
the south side of the road on the curve west<br />
of the Osawatomie-Paola airport. TEI purchased<br />
the site some time ago.<br />
The Griffith company has finally secured<br />
the giant poles, which must be 55-feet in<br />
length, for the screen tower. As soon as the<br />
poles arrive from Colorado work will start.<br />
Pat Silverio to Rialto.<br />
Holding Part of Old Job<br />
ST. JOSEPH. MO.—Patrick Silverio has<br />
become manager of the Rialto Theatre. He<br />
succeeds Mrs. Helen Surber, who was transferred<br />
to a Topeka theatre.<br />
Silverio was formerly in charge of the Jo<br />
Theatre but was appointed temporary manager<br />
of the Rialto after the departure of<br />
Mrs. Surber. Although relinquishing managerial<br />
duties at the Jo, he will remain on<br />
the staff of the downtown theatre, handling<br />
advertising and publicity matters.<br />
To Vacation on Ranch<br />
BROKEN BOW. NEB. — Actor Marlon<br />
Brando jr. has scheduled a vacation at the<br />
Roe Black ranch in the Sand Hills near here<br />
with the Allan Blacks. His parents are spending<br />
two months at the new summer home on<br />
the Roe Black ranch near here, where the<br />
elder Brandos keep several hundred head of<br />
cattle. Bud, a visitor at the ranch last year,<br />
created a sensation with his appetite for<br />
Nebraska steaks.<br />
All Sanitary Materials and Janitor<br />
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STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
'IIIHillilTlll<br />
tJarold W. "Chick" Evens, 20th-Fox exploiteer,<br />
is recuperating satisfactorily at St.<br />
Luke's hospital from injuries he suffered<br />
when struck by an automobile in front of the<br />
Orpheum Theatre. Evens' brother, Bernie,<br />
MGM exploiteer, said that "Chick" suffered<br />
a compound leg fracture and injuries necessitating<br />
skin grafts. He will remain at St.<br />
Luke's for at least another two weeks, Bernie<br />
said, and probably will spend another ten<br />
weeks recuperating at home.<br />
Edward Heiber, representative of Souvalne<br />
Selective Films, was in town last week for the<br />
screening of Lou Bunin's "Alice in Wonderland,"<br />
which Souvaine is distributing. It is<br />
understood that the film has been booked to<br />
play a large number of local situations.<br />
Eddie Golden's daughter. Penny, 11, was renamed<br />
"Miss Starlight" by her family last<br />
week after her participation in the Starlight<br />
Theatre production of "Babes in Toyland."<br />
Golden said that Penny was one of about 80<br />
children selected from nearly 500 to appear in<br />
the outdoor theatre production. Tryouts were<br />
held about a month ago and Penny was notified<br />
that she had won a part. She appeared as<br />
a toy soldier in the finale.<br />
Mrs. Fannie N. Porter, 87, of Kansas City,<br />
Kas., who died Monday (27) at Providence<br />
hospital, was the mother of Bill Porter, formerly<br />
of Stebbins Theatre Equipment Co. on<br />
Filmrow. Mrs. Porter also was the motherin-law<br />
of C. H. Badger, general manager of<br />
the Stebbins company.<br />
L. J. Kimbiiel, manager of Mi-ssouri Theatre<br />
Supply, recently sold new Everfrost soda<br />
bars to Dickinson Theatres for the Pic at St.<br />
John, Kas., and the Ritz at Stafford, Kas. . . .<br />
Woody Latimer of L&L Popcorn Co., says<br />
he now is in the paper cup business, and has<br />
supplies of cups from seven ounces up in the<br />
warehouse available for shipment to any<br />
point in the area.<br />
.<br />
Homer Strowig of Abilene, Kas.. was on<br />
Filmrow Tuesday . . Richard Strickland,<br />
3-year-old grandson of R. R. Biechele of<br />
Consolidated Agencies, was injured Sunday<br />
when he was accidentally shot in the face by<br />
a playmate. The youngster is recovering satisfactorily<br />
at Providence hospital. The .22<br />
calibre bullet struck the youngster on the<br />
right side of the nose and lodged in the left<br />
side of the neck.<br />
Zella Faulkner's husband Fred is hospitalized<br />
at Lakeside hospital after an emergency<br />
operation . at Consolidated Agencies,<br />
Gertrude McCarty, bookkeeper, and her husband<br />
are vacationing in Minnesota . . . Ruth<br />
Hannon has resigned at Monogram and has<br />
been replaced by John Warnicke.<br />
Tom Edwards, exhibitor at Farmington,<br />
Mo., and a former Kansas Citian, came<br />
through town this week on his way to<br />
Pocatello, Ida., for the funeral of his mother<br />
Wooten, Kansas Drive-In operator<br />
and president of Allied Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Kansas and Missouri, attended<br />
the Denver Movietime meeting this week and<br />
described it as "inspiring."<br />
J. Leo Hayob of the Mary Lou at Marshall<br />
was on Filmrow . Penrod.<br />
executive secretary of the Kansas-Missouri<br />
Theatre Ass'n, said that the next meeting<br />
of the KMTA board of directors would be<br />
held here September 19 . KMTA<br />
members planning to attend the national<br />
TOA convention in New York in mid-September<br />
are Dale and Frieda Danielson,<br />
Dream and Mecca, Russell; Stanley Durwood,<br />
Durwood circuit: Elmer Rhoden jr.. Commonwealth<br />
Theatres, and J. A. Becker, head<br />
of Associated Theatres in Independence.<br />
Tentative date for the all- industry<br />
COMPO-sponsored Movietime U.S.A. drive<br />
here has been set for September. Harold<br />
Lyon, managing director of the Paramount,<br />
is exhibitor cliairman for the drive and<br />
Russell Borg, WB manager, is distributor<br />
chairman. It is expected that Bob O'Donnell<br />
and the Rev. Bill Alexander will be here for<br />
the September rally.<br />
Carl White's Son Married<br />
OMAHA—Carl Lake White, son of Carl<br />
White, owner of the Quality Theatre Supply<br />
Co., and Mary Alice Leary were married recently<br />
at Holy Name church. The younger<br />
White is studying medicine.<br />
May Boost Auditorium Rents<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—City council is considering<br />
a boost in rental charges for the Municipal<br />
auditorium, sufficient to cover depreciation<br />
and interest and principal payments on<br />
outstanding bonds. These have never been<br />
covered by the amount of operating profits.<br />
This year's revenues will be approximately<br />
$201,000, or 3U' per cent more than in 1950,<br />
according to the management's estimates.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 55
. . Millard<br />
. . Janet<br />
. . Hal<br />
. . . 20th<br />
. . Comments<br />
. . MGM<br />
. . H.<br />
. . Max<br />
TKI-STATEKS—Betty Rosholm, Miss Omaha, highlighted a. meeting held in<br />
Omaha by Tri- States circuit managers to kick off the annual circuit drive. Miss<br />
Omaha, in the bathing suit in the above photo, was brought to the session by Jim<br />
Castle, Paramount publicist, in a stunt for "A Place in the Sun" and "Rhubarb." Seen<br />
standing are Ted Emerson, Bernard Dudgeon, Bill Toney, District Manager William<br />
Miskell, Stanley Blackburn, Wally Kemp, A. Don Allen, Kermit Carr, Vernon Carr,<br />
Marvin Graybeal, Fred Teller and Jimmy Redmond. Kneeling are Jimmy Pickett,<br />
Bruce Shelton, Loren Landkamer, Lou Kozal and Jim Castle. A local version of<br />
Rhubarb the cat was on the floor (not seen in photo).<br />
OMAHA<br />
"Mj- and Mrs. Vem Lindholm, operators of<br />
the Ainsworth Theatre at Ainsworth,<br />
Warners office staffers held their annual<br />
picnic at Carter lake . . . Beverly Tyler, U-I<br />
contract clerk, is convalescing at home after<br />
an emergency appendectomy and Inez Miller,<br />
also on the Universal staff, has returned<br />
after hospitalization . . . Dode Kosiut, MGM<br />
cashier, is shortstop on the Omaha girl's softball<br />
team that gained the finals in the state<br />
tournament<br />
. Brocker is the new<br />
secretary to MGM office manager Evelyn<br />
Cannon, and Ruth Schaefer is the new receptionist.<br />
Jack Andrews, Paramount salesman, reports<br />
that his son Jack jr.. who served in<br />
the navy on the carrier Bataan, has received<br />
his discharge and will enter the University<br />
of Nebraska ... Mr. and Mrs. Dwane Lockman,<br />
operators of the Stuart, Neb., theatre,<br />
are in Colorado for two week's vacation<br />
Elton Benson, manager of the Granada<br />
. . .<br />
at<br />
Norfolk, Neb., is temporarily a bachelor. His<br />
wife is visiting her sister who is ill at Kearney<br />
. were exceptionally praiseworthy<br />
at MGM's trade screening of "Angels<br />
in the Outfield" . also reports lots of<br />
extended runs for "Show Boat" in the Omaha<br />
area.<br />
Neb., became parents of a baby son named<br />
Stephen<br />
. Rethwisch, owner of<br />
the Victory Theatre at Tilden. Neb., and a<br />
F. A. Van Husan of 'Western Theatre<br />
crack<br />
Supply<br />
presented Oscar Hanson of Theatre Book-<br />
player on Tilden's baseball team in the<br />
state league, is now a member of the golfing<br />
ing Service an electric lantern as a goingaway<br />
present. Mr. and Mrs.<br />
brigade. Unofficial reports are that he fired<br />
a 73 on<br />
Hanson are taking<br />
their daughter to Hartford. Conn.,<br />
the Neligh course . . . Georgia Racely<br />
of the Royal<br />
where<br />
Theatre at O'Neill was confined<br />
to her home more than a week with the<br />
she will take further psychiatric training,<br />
then tour New England and eastern Canada<br />
flu . . . A. G. "Tidy" Miller has received<br />
word<br />
Century-Fox last week<br />
that<br />
screened<br />
his son Pat is now in Korea with<br />
"People Will<br />
an<br />
Talk" at<br />
infantry Grand Island, Norfolk<br />
division that has been assigned<br />
and Sioux City . S.<br />
front Conroy of the<br />
line duty . Gross, 20th-Fox exploiter,<br />
visited Omaha<br />
Roxy Theatre at Shelton and the Moon at<br />
for advance work on<br />
Gibbon has left for<br />
"David and<br />
a two-week trip through<br />
Bathsheba."<br />
the Black Hills and Yellowstone . . , Don<br />
Beatrice Schrciber, MGM contract clerk, Campbell. State Theatre exhibitor at Central<br />
has resigned and will return to her hometown<br />
of New York. She has accepted a posiball,<br />
where he has a wheat ranch.<br />
City, is spending considerable time at Kimtion<br />
in the accounting department of MGM's Walter Hagedorn of the Rialto Theatre at<br />
New York exchange effective September 10 Cozad, Neb., is vacationing in Colorado . . .<br />
. . . Bob Hirz, Warner salesman, turned Mary Ann Olson, 20th-Fox manager's secretary,<br />
and Roy Casey, 20th cashier, are away<br />
farmer on his vacation, spending the time<br />
with relatives near Plattsmouth.<br />
on vacations . . . Another vacationer is<br />
Opal Woodson, United Artists booker, who<br />
is in Colorado . Rosenblatt, RKO<br />
manager transferred here from Des Moines<br />
recently, has moved his family over to the<br />
home he recently purchased.<br />
Filmrow visitors included O. R. Eleeson of<br />
Wagner. S. D.; Arnold Johnson, Onawa. Iowa;<br />
OUie Schneider, Osceola. Neb.; Tony Polonka,<br />
Shelby. Neb.; Irwin Beck, Wilber, Neb.: Bill<br />
Tammen. Yankton, S. D.; Myron Kluge,<br />
Platte Center, Neb., and Carl Rummell of<br />
Silver Creek, Neb.<br />
Clarence Blubaugh at UA<br />
OMAHA—Clarence R. Blubaugh, veteran<br />
of the film industry and once 20th-Fox<br />
branch manager here, has joined the United<br />
Artists staff as salesman. After leaving the<br />
business here. Blubaugh was in the real<br />
estate business in Florida.<br />
Wareham Remodeling<br />
For Early Reopening<br />
MANHATTAN. KAS.—M. B. Smith, district<br />
manager for Commonwealth Theatres,<br />
said the Wareham Theatre ought to be ready<br />
for reopening early in September. He added<br />
that nine technical theatre construction men<br />
have been pulled off other Commonwealth<br />
constructions and have been in Manhattan<br />
since August 8 to speed the Wareham job.<br />
"The Wareham is one of the best theatres<br />
in our circuit of 67 indoor and 15 drive-in<br />
theatres," Smith stated, "and Manhattan has<br />
been good to us and we are doing our best<br />
to make the theatre better than ever." Dick<br />
Orear, purchasing agent, was one of the men<br />
brought in this month. He ordered all new<br />
lounge furniture by long distance telephone<br />
and had it shipped air freight.<br />
A modernized marquee with lighted plastic<br />
letters, a re-designed front with four glass<br />
doors, new carpets, new seats and other accoutrements<br />
are in Commonwealth's "better<br />
than ever" modernization program. The boxoffice<br />
wUl be moved to the east front to make<br />
way for the new doors. The stage will be refurnished<br />
and new drapes installed. The circuit<br />
got a top priority on its order for the<br />
600 new seats to replace those on the flooded<br />
main floor.<br />
Streeter Modern Theatre<br />
Ready to Open Sept. 15<br />
STREETER. N. D.—The Modern Theatre<br />
is expected to open on or about September 15<br />
and will seat 300 people. The building is made<br />
of concrete blocks with a brick front. It<br />
will be air conditioned.<br />
Roland Remboldt. the owner, will operate<br />
the theatre himself and has contracted first<br />
run films for this situation, near Jamestown.<br />
The exterior of the building was almost<br />
completed by mid-August and Windier<br />
Scher of Napoleon, the contractor, said the<br />
Modern will be able to open on scheduled<br />
time.<br />
Omaha Film Men Start<br />
Home Building Business<br />
OMAHA—Norman Nielson and A. A. Renfro<br />
formed the Norman Nielson Co. and have<br />
gone into the home building business. The<br />
two were associated for 20 years with RKO.<br />
Renfro as manager, Nielsen as a salesman.<br />
They are completing one house, have another<br />
under way and a third planned. Renfro is a<br />
partner in the Theatre Booking Service.<br />
Voices Tuned in Iowa<br />
MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA—A vocal<br />
quartet<br />
contest was held at the RKO Orpheum<br />
Theatre for "On Moonlight Bay." The contest<br />
was open to any men's, women's, mixed or<br />
children's quartet. The contestants were required<br />
to sing the title song of the picture.<br />
The winner received a record player, records<br />
and cigaret lighters.<br />
More Loop Parking<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Opening of two large new<br />
automobile parking ramps downtown, accommodating<br />
more than 1,500 cars, is expected<br />
to help loop first run theatre business.<br />
BOXOmCE :<br />
: September 1, 1951
^ —<br />
: September<br />
'<br />
. . . The<br />
. . TTie<br />
. . Abbott<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . Charlie<br />
. . Martie<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
Bottineau, N. D., Gets<br />
Its First Drive-In<br />
BOTTINEAU, N. D.—Work progressed so<br />
rapidly on the Bottineau Drive-In that<br />
George Squire announced an August opening<br />
date for the new ozoner located about two<br />
and one-half miles northeast of town on<br />
the Lake road on a site just south of the<br />
Country club golf course. Squire purchased<br />
the acreage and plans continuing improvements<br />
on the site. The theatre is back 200<br />
yards from the road right-of-way which was<br />
recently rebuilt and is now a fine, new<br />
streamlined road.<br />
The theatre's site is on a natural slope,<br />
allowing for better parking. About 200 cars<br />
can be accommodated at the present time in<br />
a semicircular arrangement. The elliptical<br />
screen faces east with its back to the road.<br />
The fireproof, concrete and concrete brick<br />
projection center was built partially subsurfaced<br />
so as to leave a minimum obstruction<br />
of view above the ground level. Equipment<br />
came from Chicago and electrical<br />
power will be furnished by the REA, which<br />
erected a new power line to the site.<br />
This is Bottineau's first venture in outdoor<br />
theatres and Squire had not decided<br />
on the number of program changes a week<br />
that would be a permanent policy but he<br />
would not operate on Sundays under his present<br />
plans, he said.<br />
Six Months' Remodeling<br />
Completed in Bloomfield<br />
BLOOMFIELD, NEB.—Marking the completion<br />
of a six-months remodeling program,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Al Leise, new owners of the<br />
Star TTieatre, held a grand opening of the<br />
house early in August. TTiere has been almost<br />
a complete changeover of equipment<br />
and facilities since the Leises took over the<br />
theatre last January.<br />
The front was remodeled and modernized<br />
with multi-colored neon lighting and the<br />
lobby was streamlined with the addition of a<br />
refreshment counter and restrooms. Seating<br />
capacity was enlarged and new seats added,<br />
giving more comfortable spacing. Technical<br />
equipment was improved and a new screen<br />
installed. Both interior and exterior were redecorated.<br />
With each admission on opening night,<br />
patrons received a free treat coupon for use<br />
at the Corner Drug Store fountain. It was<br />
also provided the following night for the<br />
overflow crowd that couldn't get in to the<br />
grand opening.<br />
IS<br />
IT ACTION YOU WANT?<br />
Possibly more theatres are sold through our<br />
offices in the areas in which we operate than<br />
most other mediums combined. No listing<br />
fee— Multiple service.<br />
HAHRY BUCK HAHRY SAVEHEIDE<br />
405 Pence Building, 509 Securities Bldg.<br />
Minneapolis 2. Minn. Des Moines 9, Iowa<br />
R. M. COPELAND HARRY BUCK and<br />
1719 Wyondolle. ALEXANDER VALOS<br />
Suite 205<br />
1114 Blum Bldg.<br />
Kansas City, Mo. Chicago 5. Illinois<br />
SAVEREIDE THEATRE BROKERS<br />
Largest Exclusive Theatre Broken in America<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
•Phe Empress, neighborhood house here, advertised<br />
a moneyback guarantee for<br />
"Queen for a Day" which it showed on a<br />
twin bill along with "Best of the Badmen"<br />
Morning Ti'ibune runs the Parents'<br />
Magazine small fry picture ratings every<br />
Saturday as "a guide to the week's movies<br />
for the youngsters 8 to 16." Ted Mann, North<br />
Central Allied president, suggests that outof-town<br />
exhibitors get their newspapers to do<br />
likewise.<br />
John K. Sherman, critic for the Minneapolis<br />
Star, had many nice things to say about<br />
Mary Seibel, actress-daughter of Ed Seibel,<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co. advertising and<br />
publicity head, in his review of the Old Log<br />
summer theatre's performance of "Voice of<br />
the Turtle," in which Miss Seibel, here on a<br />
vacation from New York, played the feminine<br />
lead. "Miss Seibel's return from New York<br />
to play the love-scarred Sally is good news,"<br />
wrote Sherman. "Her winsome girlishness<br />
exerts a real appeal and her acting is skillful<br />
enough to conceal the craft that goes into it."<br />
"Chuck" Bliss, U-I booker, was vacationing<br />
in northern Minnesota . Fish, Goldwyn<br />
representative, visited Fay Dressell, RKO<br />
manager . Swartz, UA manager, attended<br />
a Chicago sales meeting .<br />
Turner, MOM Minnesota salesman,<br />
. . Mel<br />
and his<br />
Mimiesota . . .<br />
family vacationed in northern<br />
Hiram Potvin. Cass Lake, Minn., exhibitor,<br />
Lowell Kaplan,<br />
was a Filmrow visitor . . .<br />
Berger circuit buyer and booker, vacationed<br />
at Breezy Point.<br />
Condolences to Bill Crystal, former local<br />
branch manager and salesman now an Atlanta,<br />
Ga., businessman, whose father here<br />
died . Minnesota state fair broke all<br />
attendance records Sunday with a tm-nout<br />
of 145,833 . . . The Minnesota Amusement Co.<br />
is awaiting a proposition from the attorneys<br />
of Martin and Lewis, the comedians, in settlement<br />
of their alleged breach of contract to<br />
appear in person with their stage show at<br />
Radio City Theatre here last month.<br />
There's every indication that Paramount<br />
week, September 2-8, will be the biggest one<br />
in playdating in the history of the local exchange,<br />
according to Arnold Sharten, booking<br />
manager. "That's My Boy" is in Radio City<br />
here and there's saturation booking around<br />
the territory for "Passage West," he points<br />
out.<br />
. . . North<br />
"Once in 3,000 Years," the trailer for "David<br />
and Bathsheba," was shown in all Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. theatres prior to the picture's<br />
opening at the Century here<br />
Central Allied in its current bulletin urges<br />
every exhibitor in the territory to get 100 per<br />
cent behind the Movietime U.S.A. drive.<br />
Jimmy Nederlander, Lyceum manager, flew<br />
to Detroit to spend the weekend with his<br />
parents and brothers . Fox was<br />
in from Milwaukee to look after his Alvin<br />
theatre . . . Ralph May, MGM district manager,<br />
is vacationing in and around the Twin<br />
Cities . . . Televising of the Maxim-Murphy<br />
championship fight hit theatres a second time<br />
within a week where it counts the most—the<br />
boxoffice. The other occasion was the All<br />
Stars-Cleveland football game.<br />
The Alvin here has opened its burlesque<br />
season. The legitimate roadshow season also<br />
gets under way tomorrow with Edward Everett<br />
Horton at the Lyceum for two weeks in<br />
his hit comedy, "Springtime for Henry" .<br />
Bennie Berger's Gopher had Sioux Indians<br />
on its stage doing war dances on the opening<br />
day of "Warpath" . . . Leonard Gruenberg,<br />
RKO district manager from New York, was<br />
here to visit his parents .<br />
Lebedoff,<br />
circuit owner, was preparing to join his pal,<br />
Sid Gillman, to help the latter coach the<br />
University of Cincinnati football team .<br />
Sid Volk, circuit owner, vacationed for two<br />
wrecks at Breezy Point.<br />
Speeches by Zanuck, Babb<br />
Heard at Pioneer Meet<br />
CARROLL, IOWA—More than 30<br />
persons<br />
attended the Pioneer Theatre Corp. showmanship<br />
conference recently at Hotel Burke here.<br />
Those attending included managers from the<br />
ten Pioneer towns in Iowa and officials from<br />
MGM, Fox, Paramount, RKO, Universal and<br />
National Screen Service.<br />
Harold Field, owner of the Pioneer circuit,<br />
called the parley to "help get film exhibition<br />
back on the road to prosperity where it belongs."<br />
One of the features was the playing<br />
of the tape recording of the talk by Darryl<br />
F. Zanuck at the 20th-Fox convention, expressing<br />
confidence in the indu.stry's future<br />
and calling for a united effort of all branches<br />
to solve current problems. Kroger F. Babb,<br />
independent producer, concluded the two-day<br />
session presiding at a roundtable discussion<br />
of showmanship.<br />
Peter Nepote Is Speaker<br />
KEOKUK, IOWA—Motion pictures from an<br />
international aspect was the topic of a talk<br />
by Peter Nepote, manager of the Keokuk<br />
Frisina theatres, at a recent luncheon of the<br />
Rotary club in Hotel Iowa here. The motion<br />
picture, he declared, unlocks many doors to<br />
the peace and progress of the world, but as<br />
one of the best means of communication, also<br />
lends itself to propaganda as is the case in<br />
Russia. One of the most backward countries<br />
in the world, China, has only 150 motion picture<br />
outlets for 450 million people in comparison<br />
to 21,000 outlets in the United States.<br />
Russia is almost up with the U.S. in this respect<br />
with 18,000, but all of its theatres are<br />
government -owned and are used to sell Communism<br />
to the people.<br />
Hallmark Zone Head<br />
WILMINGTON, OHIO—Ray Tipton, Charlotte,<br />
N. C, publicist, has been promoted by<br />
Hallmark Productions to manager of the<br />
Minneapolis-Des Moines exchange zone.<br />
klsf SPECIAL TRAILEf?^<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
1, 1951 57
"<br />
Arthur de Stefano, National Supply<br />
Celebrate 2Sth Anniversaries<br />
KANSAS CITY—Coincident with the September<br />
3 celebration of the National Theatre<br />
Supply Co. 25th anniversary, Arthur "Count"<br />
de Stefano, branch manager here, marks his<br />
25th year with NTS. He is one of three NTS<br />
branch managers who began their affiliation<br />
with the company at the time of its organization<br />
in 1926.<br />
Even more, this year marks de Stefano's<br />
32nd year in the motion picture industryyears<br />
in which, he said, "both the film industry<br />
and National have shown a continued but<br />
gradual expansion."<br />
NO TIME PAYMENTS IN '17<br />
"Back when I<br />
started in the industry at the<br />
age of 17, supply companies just sold projectors<br />
and supplies for them. There weren't<br />
any time payments then. An exhibitor bought<br />
supplies and had just 90 days to pay for them.<br />
Consequently, theatremen bought just what<br />
they had to have—no extras of any kind."<br />
With the institution of credit and financing,<br />
theatremen soon turned their attention<br />
toward glamorizing theatres, de Stefano said.<br />
ARTHUR DE STEFANO<br />
The result was a tremendous increase in the<br />
stocks carried by theatre supply houses, now Dawson, who operates two subsequent run<br />
including carpeting, draperies and other accessories<br />
theatres in Louisville, Ky.; W. Alvin Hodges,<br />
to add beauty.<br />
general manager of the Joy Theatres circuit,<br />
Currently, de Stefano said, he holds high New Orleans: E. H. Marx, vice-president and<br />
enthusiasm over the ever-increasing importance<br />
general sales manager of Ampro Corp., Chi-<br />
of concessions in theatre operations. cago; Harry M. Paul, currently district sales<br />
"Not too many years ago—in fact, just before<br />
World War II—there were many class first salesman in Memphis in 1926, and his<br />
representative for RCA, who was de Stefano's<br />
A houses which would not even sell popcorn. fellow National branch managers, R. L.<br />
Now, only ten years later, virtually all of the Bostick, Memphis and Dallas, and W. Gillespie<br />
Milwain of New Haven.<br />
big and small houses are developing bigger<br />
concessions. Some started selling popcorn<br />
only, then added candy.<br />
"In 1948, National pioneered the<br />
TEI Goes Ahead on Airer,<br />
sale of<br />
beverages in theatres in this area. Today, Replacing Steel by Wood<br />
only three yeai's later, we're almost in the<br />
NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.—Construction of<br />
food business, too—handling canned foods,<br />
beverages and the like for theatres and<br />
drive-ins."<br />
IN EXHIBITION, TOO<br />
De Stefano, a veteran of World War I who<br />
frankly admits he fibbed about his age to<br />
get in the army at 15, began working for<br />
Southern Theatre Equipment Co., operated<br />
by Oscar S. Oldknow, on June 19, 1919, the<br />
day he was discharged from the army.<br />
Two years later he opened the Lyric Theatre<br />
at Ennis, Tex., and the next year he went<br />
to San Marcos, Tex., to manage theatrical<br />
properties for F. W. Zimmerman.<br />
"Then," he recalled, "they had film deposits.<br />
You couldn't just sign your name to<br />
a contract and get your film. In those days,<br />
you put up a 10 per cent deposit on each and<br />
every film you ordered."<br />
Subsequently, de Stefano retiu'ned to<br />
Southern Theatre Equipment Co., and when<br />
that firm was succeeded by National in 1926,<br />
he was sent to Memphis to open an office. He<br />
was transferred to Los Angeles in 1937.<br />
From Los Angeles, de Stefano returned to<br />
Dallas in 1941 to succeed the late J. I. Roberts,<br />
who was killed in an auto accident. He<br />
came to Kansas City in November 1943 after<br />
a short leave of absence.<br />
Among the industry figures who began<br />
their early association with de Stefano are<br />
H. H. Hunt, exhibitor now operating eight<br />
iheatres in Cincinnati and Columbus; R. P.<br />
a new theatre started last week (21) on a<br />
five-acre site southeast of Wyuka cemetery.<br />
The drive-in will be the property of Theatre<br />
Enterprises, Inc., which owns the two local<br />
theatres, the Pioneer and the Arbor.<br />
Carlton AUman, manager of the local TEI<br />
houses, said the 34x48 screen of the new<br />
situation will be so placed on the site that<br />
cars will face southeast in viewing the films.<br />
AlUnan also stated that his company first<br />
planned to postpone construction because of<br />
the shortage of steel caused by the war effort,<br />
and then decided to go ahead, using wood to<br />
replace steel wherever possible.<br />
W. C. Silver Leases Ridge<br />
BRECKENRIDGE, MO. — W. C. Silver,<br />
owner of the Silver Theatre in Cameron, Mo.,<br />
has leased the Ridge Theatre here from Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Robert Weber and reopened the<br />
house last month. Present plaiis call for two<br />
picture programs a week, on Wednesday and<br />
Saturday nights.<br />
Fluffy, Near 20, Dies<br />
VALENTINE, NEB.—Mr. and Mrs. Harold<br />
Dunn, operators of the Jewel Theatre, are<br />
mourning the loss of Fluffy, their pet gray<br />
cat which would have been 20 years old in<br />
February. The Dunns' affections now will be<br />
concentrated on Tuffy, a mere infant. Tuffy,<br />
white Persian, will be 16 in October.<br />
'Boy' Earns 2nd Week,<br />
Record at Omaha<br />
OMAHA — "That's<br />
My Boy" gained the select<br />
rank of boxoffice hits at the Orpheum<br />
last week, doing a 200 per cent business. Tri-<br />
States District Manager William Miskell, who<br />
held the picture over at the Orpheum, said it<br />
was only the fourth film in the Orpheum's<br />
history to remain for a second week.<br />
Other first runs had less spectacular runs.<br />
"Strictly Dishonorable" was a bit disappointing<br />
at the Paramount. Walt Disney's "Alice<br />
in Wonderland" fell below average in its<br />
third week at the Brandeis.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Omaha—Kind Lady (MGM): No Questions Asked<br />
(MGM) 95<br />
Orpheum—That's My Boy (Para) .200<br />
Paramount—Strictly Di.honorable (MGM) 95<br />
RKO Brandeis— Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 3rd<br />
wk 95<br />
Stale—Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (2bth-Fox)'-...'.105<br />
Town—Heart of the Rockies (Rep); Silver Canyon<br />
(Col), Kill the Umpire (Col) _ 95<br />
Three Ne'wcomers Survive<br />
State Fair Competition<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Three newcomers commanded<br />
considerable boxoffice attention the<br />
past week. They were "His Kind of Woman,"<br />
"Meet Me After the Show" and "Warpath,"<br />
in about that order. Holdovers were still much<br />
in the limelight. It was the third week for<br />
"The Frogmen" and the second for "Captain<br />
Horatio Hornblower" and "On Moonlight<br />
Bay." The Minnesota state fair was tough<br />
competition for the showhouses.<br />
Century—A Song to Remember (Col) 100<br />
Gopher— Warpath (Parii 105<br />
Lyric—The Law and the Lady (MGM) 85<br />
Orpheum—His Kind of Woman (RKO) 115<br />
Pan—On Moonlight Bay (WB), 2nd wk 100<br />
Pix—The Frogmen (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 100<br />
Radio City—Meet Me Alter the Shovir (20th-Fox) 110<br />
State—Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB), 2nd wk. 110<br />
World—Bond Street (AA) 90<br />
'My Boy' and 'Kon-Tild'<br />
Lead Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—"Kon-Tiki" and "That's<br />
My Boy" continued to take local first run<br />
honors, grossing 180 and 175, respectively. It<br />
was the seventh and final week for "Kon-<br />
Tiki" at the Kimo and the second week<br />
for "That's My Boy" at the Paramount. "Flying<br />
Leathernecks" at the Missouri also had<br />
a good first week and was held over.<br />
Kimc^Kon-Tiki (RKO), 7th wk 160<br />
Midland-He Han All the Way (UA); Skipalong<br />
Rosenbloom (UA) 90<br />
Missouri—Flying Leathernecks (RKO); Fury oi the<br />
Congo (Col) 150<br />
Orpheum—David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox),<br />
roadshow<br />
No<br />
Paramount—That's My Boy (Para), 2nd wk<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Grana Apachė .175<br />
Drums (U-1), Hollywood Story (U-I)<br />
Hiawatha Airer Started<br />
HIAWATHA, KAS.—Hiawatha's drive-in<br />
theatre, which has been only a signboard<br />
the many months, took a step toward actuality<br />
this month when Reynolds & Son started<br />
work on the construction. There was considerable<br />
earth-moving activity and five 55-<br />
foot poles were set the first day of labor.<br />
Newt Reynolds has not announced a date of<br />
completion but stated it would probably be<br />
early next year. The outdoor theatre is<br />
one of the Griffith Theatres enterprises.<br />
To Build O'Neill Drive-In<br />
O'NEILL, NEB.—The Danceland pavilion<br />
grounds north of town will be the site of a<br />
new drive-in. Work will start as soon as the<br />
building is torn down.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
TOA<br />
SESSION SLATED IN OCTOBER<br />
JOINT ALLIED-TRISTATES<br />
Two-Day Unity Gathering<br />
Arranged in Midsouth<br />
Movietime Drive<br />
MEMPHIS—A joint two-day convention of<br />
two rival exhibitor organizations has been<br />
called for October 16, 17 at the Gayoso hotel<br />
here—with a pai-ade led by film stars down<br />
Main street—as part of the plans for joining<br />
in COMPO's nationwide Movietime U.S.A.<br />
jubilee campaign.<br />
Announcement that Tristates Theatre Owners,<br />
a TOA affiliate, and Midsouth Allied<br />
would meet together for the first time in<br />
history electrified a mass meeting of 600 to<br />
700 motion picture industry people Monday<br />
in a three-hour session at Malco Theatre.<br />
K. K. King, Searcy, Ark., president of Tristates,<br />
and John Mohrstadt, Hayti, Mo., president<br />
of Midsouth Allied, backed by their<br />
boards and executive committees, made the<br />
announcement of the joint meeting.<br />
STARS TO ATTEND SESSION<br />
Schedules of motion picture stars on national<br />
tour.s as part of the Movietime U.S.A.<br />
program will be arranged so they will be here<br />
to attend the convention and lead the Main<br />
street parade with bands, floats, marching<br />
units and all the decorations of a Fourth of<br />
July celebration.<br />
With film companies closing during the<br />
mass meeting and exhibitors gathered from<br />
all parts of the Memphis trade territory,<br />
R. J. O'Donnell, national Movietime director,<br />
found a cheering and enthusiastic reception.<br />
Exhibitors decided to do a 100 per cent<br />
job with Movietime. Use of the trailers, featuring<br />
four to seven minute excerpts from<br />
20 great films, was decided upon by exhibitors.<br />
O'Donnell told of the national contest to<br />
select the typical movie family in America.<br />
Exhibitors decided to join in this contest.<br />
Entry blanks will be obtained from lobbies of<br />
theatres and families will write essays on why<br />
they think they are the typical movie family.<br />
Winners will be selected for the cities and<br />
for the states and the family winning the<br />
national contest will have a week in Hollywood,<br />
meeting stars and watching the production<br />
of pictures "behind the scenes."<br />
A CLEANUP TIME, TOO<br />
O'Donnell said: "Movietime U.S.A. is cleanup<br />
time. Make your theatres as attractive as<br />
possible. Television, on a 12xl9-inch screen,<br />
will never be as clear and easy to watch as<br />
the theatre screens.<br />
"Nothing can stop the movies."<br />
O'Donnell hailed the joint Tristate and<br />
Allied convention as being indicative of the<br />
new feeling of friendliness and cooperation<br />
within the picture industry. He said the<br />
jubilee will get under way October 1. It will<br />
be concentrated in October and November,<br />
but will continue a full year.<br />
M. A. Lightman sr., president of Malco<br />
Theatres, was named general chairman of<br />
Movietime U.S.A. in the mid.south area. Other<br />
committees were named as follows:<br />
Nathan Flexer, Waverly, and W. F. Ruffin<br />
Leaders of Jacksonville Industry<br />
Launch Movietime Down South<br />
^<br />
89%f#<br />
ATLANTA—A giant rally of members of<br />
the motion picture industry in this area was<br />
held at the Fox Theatre here Tuesday (28)<br />
at<br />
10:30 a. m. to plan participation in the forthcoming<br />
Movietime U.S.A. campaign.<br />
The rally was called after a meeting of film<br />
executives in the office of MGM District<br />
Manager C. E. Kessnich where preliminary<br />
plans for this area's campaign were laid. The<br />
area drive will be titled Movietime Down<br />
South—U.S.A.<br />
Attending the first Movietime rally at the<br />
MGM exchange in Atlanta were, seated in<br />
above photo, left to right: Guy C. Brown,<br />
Motion Picture Advertisers; C. E. Kessnich,<br />
jr.,<br />
Covington, representing Tennessee exhibitors.<br />
Arkansas—Sam Kirby and Roy Cochran,<br />
both of Little Rock.<br />
Mississippi—Max Connett, Newton, and T.<br />
E. Williams, Clarksdale.<br />
K. K. King, Searcy, Ark., representing Tristate<br />
Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Tennessee<br />
and Mississippi.<br />
John Mohrstadt, Hayti, Mo., representing<br />
Allied Theatre Owners of the Midsouth.<br />
Frank Carter, WB manager, representing<br />
film companies.<br />
Bob Bostick, manager of National Theatre<br />
Supply Co., representing the supply houses.<br />
M. A. Lightman jr., Malco executive, coordinating<br />
secretary.<br />
MGM: Emery Austin, MGM; Paul Wilson,<br />
20th-Fox; Fred Nash and J. B. Dumestre<br />
III, Southeastern Theatre Equipment Co.;<br />
Howard Wallace, Wallace Films, and James<br />
Bellow, Astor Pictures. Standing: Ira Stone,<br />
RKO; D. E. Benton, Benton Bros. Film Express;<br />
Jim Hart, Lippert; A. B. Padgett,<br />
Wilby-Kincey Theatres; George Jones,<br />
Universal: Jimmy Hobbs, Monogram; Eddie<br />
Brauer, Republic; Nash Weil and Charles<br />
W. Fortson, Wil-Kin Theatre Supply; Bob<br />
Goldsmith, National Theatre Supply; Bill<br />
Kelly, U-I; Robert Stevens, Paramount;<br />
Charles Durmeyer, Southern Automatic<br />
Candy Co., and George Tarrant, NSS.<br />
state Theatres, four members from exhibition,<br />
one of whom is Bolivar Hyde, president of<br />
Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida, one<br />
member from each of the Florida film exchanges,<br />
a representative from lATSE, a<br />
representative of Variety, state school superintendent<br />
and the executive vice-president of<br />
the state Chamber of Commerce.<br />
The treasurer committee includes Leon D.<br />
Netter, B. B. Garner, Carl Floyd, Mitchell<br />
Wolfson, Mrs. Ed Claughton, Maurice Hensler,<br />
Richard Beck, Bill Cumbaa, R. E. Cannon,<br />
E. G. Chumley, Sheldon Mandell, Rufus Davis<br />
and Roy Benjamin.<br />
Five publicity regions were set up—at<br />
Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg,<br />
Miami and Tallahassee.<br />
Attending the early meeting were B. B.<br />
Garner, Talgar Theatre Co.. Lakeland; E. G.<br />
Chumley, Paramount, Jacksonville; R. E.<br />
Cannon, Cannon Theatres, Live Oak; Paul<br />
Hargette, Columbia, Jacksonville; Fred Hull,<br />
MGM, Jacksonville; Nat Williams, Thomasville;<br />
Louis Leffler, Stein Theatres. Jackson-<br />
Movietime Kickoff<br />
Held at Jacksonville<br />
JACKSONVILLE—Bob O'Donnell appeared<br />
before local film industryites at the Florida<br />
Theatre here Wednesday (29) in the kickoff<br />
meeting of this area's Movietime U.S.A. campaignville;<br />
Joel Stein, Stein Theatres, Jacksonville;<br />
The appearance of O'Donnell preceded a<br />
Sheldon Mandell, St. Johns Theatre,<br />
business meeting of the committee organizing<br />
the COMPO drive. This committee had In, Jacksonville; Leon Netter, president, Flor-<br />
Jacksonville; R. E. Beck, Normandy Drlvemet<br />
earlier in the month and set up preliminary<br />
ida State Theatres, Jacksonville; J. L. Carting<br />
arrangements, including the namright,<br />
Florida State Theatres, Daytona Beach;<br />
of subcommittees for the drive.<br />
George Hoover, Florida State, Miami; Howard<br />
The steering committee was headed by<br />
Pettengill, Guy A. Kenimer and LaMar<br />
LaMar Sarra and Guy Kenimer from Florida Sarra, Florida State, Jacksonville.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951<br />
S£<br />
59
. . Dave<br />
. . Arthur<br />
. . H.<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
BisT SPECIAL TRAILEff^<br />
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AND PRODUCED LIKE A BIG<br />
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Juit What Doc Ordered for BO. Tonic<br />
mtS^k<br />
W)W6l<br />
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IvaPiattt-lhtRedMillCuties %<br />
WRITE,<br />
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H. G. ARENSON'S<br />
ROAD SHOW ATTRACTIONS<br />
3450 Selwyn Ave. Phone 40-553<br />
Charlotte 7, North Carolina<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
TV/Trs. Gene Dyer gave her husband a surprise<br />
birthday party at the Variety Club<br />
Saturday night. He is a salesman for Screen<br />
Guild here . Cash is respacing seats<br />
in the Victory in Camerton, cutting down the<br />
number of seats but making more room between<br />
rows .<br />
Phillips of the Strand<br />
in Wahalla, S. C. was on Filmrow\<br />
Walter Powell, manager of the Park in<br />
Kinston, became father of a baby son named<br />
Sam Cloninger of the 20th-<br />
Walter jr. . . .<br />
Fox booking department returned from a<br />
vacation in Canada . . . C. A. Dandelake of<br />
the Tar and Colonial in Tarboro is planning<br />
a vacation to the west coast in September.<br />
. , . Rosa<br />
Effective September 1, all theatres operated<br />
by Stewart Theatres and Everett Enterprises<br />
were to be incorporated into one parent<br />
company. Stewart & Everett Theatres, Inc.<br />
Worth Stewart will be president of the company<br />
and H. H. Everett chairman of the<br />
board.<br />
RKO items: Salesman Bill Sims and wife<br />
visited relatives in Memphis, La Grange and<br />
Ripley, Tenn. L. Robinson jr. and<br />
.<br />
family had his father and mother from New<br />
York as guests . . . Vacationers included Virginia<br />
Kidd, Ann Morris, Ruth Westerland,<br />
Betty Huneycutt, Nena Ritch, Lib Tobb and<br />
Kunda<br />
Manager Rovy Brannon<br />
is the new switchboard operator . . . Dorothy<br />
Ritchie has taken a leave because of illness<br />
. . . Russ Morgan, exploiteer, and Dave Prince,<br />
district manager, were in.<br />
George O'Hanlon has been cast as a cowpoke<br />
in Warners' "The Lion and the Horse."<br />
Motel Light Out Till<br />
Judge Settles Issue<br />
ST. PETERSBURG— It's lights out for a<br />
St. Petersbui-g Beach motel owner, at least<br />
for the time being. Circuit Judge O. L. Dayton<br />
jr. granted a temporary injunction to<br />
John J. Donnelly, manager of Gulf Wind<br />
Drive-In, who testified that Edward F. Kosir<br />
deliberately shone a spotlight in the faces<br />
of theatregoers.<br />
"It was a war of nerves," declared Donnelly.<br />
"You never knew when it (the light)<br />
was coming on." The theatre manager told<br />
the court a floodlight erected on the roof of<br />
Kosir's motel about 160 feet from the drivein,<br />
was aimed at the theatre audience. He<br />
said it had been turned on three or four<br />
times recently for periods of 10 to 15 minutes.<br />
Once, police had to be called to turn<br />
off the light. Donnelly said.<br />
Larry W. Long, realtor who lives near the<br />
theatre, testified that the spotlight shone<br />
in the eyes of theatre patrons, but in his<br />
opinion it could not be directed down toward<br />
the ground.<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
TV/Temphis first run business continued at a<br />
lively clip. The Warner held "Alice in<br />
Wonderland" for a second week and wonderful<br />
business was reported. Loew's Palace<br />
described its opening of "Strictly Dishonorable"<br />
as better than average, and "Sirocco"<br />
had a strong opening at the Malco. The<br />
Strand had long lines of customers at the<br />
boxoffice as "The House on Telegraph Hill"<br />
got under way. Loew's State reported first<br />
class business with "Mask of the Avenger."<br />
DOn'T KILL THE MW UJITH.THE FLUTE<br />
A good sound system should be capable<br />
of reproducing the entire sound<br />
frequency range recorded on the film<br />
from the lowest 40 cycle tones of the<br />
bass viol to the 10,000 cycle tones of<br />
the flute.<br />
mOTIOGRflPH SOUnO SySTEfDS<br />
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the best balanced, most complete tonal range; life-like reproduction; delicate<br />
shadings of voice; musical qualities never before approached; uniform<br />
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to over 1,000 cars — ALL built to the one same tligh standard of quality.<br />
WU-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, INC.<br />
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DeVry and other Drive-In Equipment<br />
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Complete 16mm Exchange<br />
PLANS, CONSTHUCTION. DATA<br />
More lor your dollar.<br />
BRADY MOVIE SERVICE<br />
10341/j South 20th Si. Birmingham. Ala.<br />
Phone 54-1362<br />
"Everything for the theatre except film"<br />
COMPLETE THEATRE SUPPLIES<br />
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Prompt, Courteous Service<br />
DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE & SUPPLY CO.<br />
1014 North Slappey Drive Albany. Ga.<br />
Phone 3431 — Night Phone 2015<br />
Saturday kiddy matinees have grown to<br />
four in Memphis. The Linden Circle. Memphian,<br />
Rosemary and Airway theatres stage<br />
these shows approved by the Better Film<br />
Council for children .<br />
Alabama was<br />
scheduled to be selected at the Shoals Theatre<br />
in Florence, Ala., August 30 to compete<br />
in the Mrs. America contest September 9 In<br />
Asbury Park, N. J.<br />
Ed Doherty of Exhibitors Service tells of a<br />
new wrinkle in the theatre business at Fort<br />
Smith. Drive-in restaurants and soft drink<br />
stands have started showing free 35mm films.<br />
So, when the time came for theatre owners<br />
to negotiate a new contract with their union<br />
operators, showmen took the position the<br />
union should insist on union operators at the<br />
restaurants. How it will come out Doherty<br />
doesn't know.<br />
Speaking of oldtime showmanship: Down at<br />
Helena, Ark., Gail Miller, operator of the<br />
Plaza Theatre, is trying out something new.<br />
Her advertisements go something like this:<br />
"Come On to My House." She names the stars<br />
who will be seen and says there will "be<br />
plenty of everything." She does not advertise<br />
the name of the picture.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Null F. Adams have issued<br />
invitations to the wedding of their niece.<br />
Nancy Clark Tucker, to Edward Earl Blaine<br />
at the Union Avenue Baptist church August<br />
30. Adams is local representative for BOX-<br />
OFFICE and city editor of the Press Scimitar.<br />
Francis X. Bushman was scheduled for two<br />
days of interviews and personal appearances<br />
here in advance of "David and Bathsheba,"<br />
in which he plays King Saul.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
. . Mr.<br />
. . Manager<br />
m<br />
MIAMI<br />
lloulevard Drive-In wound up its square<br />
dance contest grand finals, conducted in<br />
cooperation with Tom Thumb Donuts, with<br />
the awarding of gold wrist watches to the<br />
winning couple. Manager Burton Clark reports<br />
there was a most enthusiastic response<br />
to the nightly square dance sessions. He<br />
provided an orchestra and instruction for<br />
patrons.<br />
The Gateway Theatre in Fort Lauderdale,<br />
one of Wometco's largest houses, is proving<br />
to be one of the most popular. Set in the<br />
midst of a shopping center, with parking for<br />
more than 1,000 cars, the theatre draws excellent<br />
audiences both matinee and evenings.<br />
.<br />
Claughton's first run Embassy and Variety<br />
theatres ran "summer special," offering two<br />
first run features, "Home Town Story" and<br />
The Olympia is giving<br />
"Tarzan's Peril" . . .<br />
a local boy a break by engaging him for<br />
a singing engagement in September . . .<br />
Jackie Willie, alligator wrestler who worked<br />
in "The Barefoot Mailman" when it was<br />
filmed here in south Florida, is to be featured<br />
in the letter carriers' float in Miami's<br />
Labor day parade Bernard<br />
Lopata of Brandt's Roosevelt seems to be doing<br />
a little talent scouting locally for a future<br />
presentation of the musical, "Pal Joey." The<br />
Roosevelt is continuing its stage presentations<br />
which, for the time, have eliminated movies.<br />
The Mayfair Art Theatre plans another<br />
showing of oil paintings. Hilda Huglin is the<br />
For the "Disc Jockey" opening at<br />
artist . . .<br />
the Lincoln and Town theatres, Lenny Kent,<br />
featured in the film, appeared on stage. He is<br />
appearing at a local .supper club . . . Arlene<br />
Dahl, who recently headlined the Olympia's<br />
stage show, was invited to be guest of honor<br />
at a luncheon for the benefit of the United<br />
Cerebral Palsy Ass'n chapter.<br />
Miami got a new 800-seat theatre recently,<br />
but it won't be open to the public. An openair<br />
type, the theatre has been built at International<br />
airport for the 435th troop carrier<br />
wing.<br />
Mrs. Teresa Cohen, mother of Mrs. Mitchell<br />
Wolfson, died recently . . . E. E. Branscome<br />
has sold the 616-seat North Miami Theatre<br />
at 12615 West Dixie Highway to M. A. Kirkhart,<br />
theatre operator of Taylorville, 111.<br />
Branscome, who is a candidate for mayor of<br />
North Miami, declined to say whether a condemnation<br />
notice tacked on the theatre by a<br />
North Miami building inspector had figured<br />
in his decision to sell. Branscome had described<br />
the condemnation notice, listing 13<br />
electrical and plumbing code violations, as a<br />
"political maneuver." He said he will rent an<br />
office in the theatre building for his campaign<br />
for mayor. The sale price of the theatre<br />
was not divulged.<br />
. . . Recent addition to<br />
The attractive young lady with the pleasant<br />
voice, who is the new receptionist in Claughton's<br />
main office, is Maryanne Baucino. Originally<br />
from Connecticut, she calls herself "a<br />
southerner now"<br />
Claughton's accounting department is Mrs.<br />
Lillian Claughton's cousin, Joe Beaman. He<br />
formerly held a post with the federal government<br />
. and Mrs. Edward Claughton<br />
have returned after a three-day holiday in<br />
Cuba. With them on the trip were Ed jr.,<br />
Suzi Claughton and a guest.<br />
The Coral Way Auto Theatre, according to<br />
owner E. J. Melnicker, is pleased with the<br />
results of its daily radio "Gables Station" program,<br />
which came about through a tie-in with<br />
a food market. The current bill at the Coral<br />
Way is discussed and there is a quiz gimmick<br />
in which the winner receives passes<br />
to the theatre. Melnicker continues to improve<br />
the facilities of the Coral Way. Melnicker<br />
believes that theatre people should<br />
protest to newspapers against higher advertising<br />
rates charged to theatres. He sees no<br />
reasonable basis on which newspapers can<br />
make this discrimination in charge.<br />
While Dave Goyen, manager of the Shores<br />
Theatre, is on vacation, William Hall has<br />
been moved up from the Boulevard to pinchhit.<br />
Hall is much Impressed by the children's<br />
Saturday shows at the Shores, a neighborhood<br />
which draws from a larg-e residential<br />
community.<br />
Carl Lowery, former manager of the Colony<br />
Art Theatre in Miami Beach, has been<br />
named manager of the Coral in Coral Gables.<br />
Daniel Cohn, who was assistant at the<br />
Beach, is the new manager of the Colony.<br />
Two-Day Sales Meeting<br />
By WB in New Orleans<br />
NEW ORLEANS—John F.<br />
Kirby, southern<br />
sales manager for Warner Bros., presided<br />
over a two-day meeting of southeast and<br />
southwest representatives of the company,<br />
held here last Monday (27) and Tuesday (28).<br />
Among those attending were I. F. Dolid,<br />
home office executive; W. O. Williamson jr.,<br />
southeastern district manager; Ralph lannuzzi<br />
and H. C. Vogenpohl, branch manager<br />
and assistant branch manager, respectively, in<br />
Atlanta; G. Livingstone, Charlotte manager;<br />
R. H. Dunbar, Jacksonville manager; Luke<br />
Conner, New Orleans manager; Ed Williamson,<br />
Dallas manager; Frank Carter, Memphis<br />
manager; Don TuUius, Oklahoma City<br />
manager, and Doak Roberts, southwestern<br />
district manager.<br />
[2jQ(o)|wO{L[Lg<br />
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BOXOFTICE :: September 1, 1951 61
. . Ike<br />
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ATLANTA<br />
TTistors on the Row were Mose Lebovitz,<br />
Grand Amusement Co., Chattanooga:<br />
Milton Frackman. Lincoln, Key West, and<br />
Liberty, Hollywood, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy<br />
Jarell and son, Ritz and Roxy, Commerce;<br />
Louis Hutchins, Ritz, Austell; Mrs. Walter<br />
Brackin and Mr. and Mrs. Movak of Ozark.<br />
Ala. . . . Bill Pine of Pine and Thomas was<br />
a visitor and .said Paramount will film a<br />
pirate story near Jekyll Island at Brunswick.<br />
Ga. John Payne and Arlene Dahl will head<br />
the cast of 150 members. Extras will be recruited<br />
from Little Theatre groups throughout<br />
the state. At least $400,000 will be expended<br />
on sets, since it will be necessary to<br />
build a pirate ship and island castle. The picture<br />
will be filmed in Technicolor and the<br />
story will be about slaves. One scene will be<br />
a slave market with 200 Negroes up for sale.<br />
Y. Frank Freeman. Paramount, was responsible<br />
for the picture being filmed in Georgia.<br />
.<br />
Jimmy Bello, Astor salesman, checked in<br />
from eastern Tennessee Katz. Kay<br />
Films, checked in from New York . . . Milton<br />
Frackman has taken over the operation of<br />
the Flagler Theatre. Miami . Theatre<br />
Supply Co. placed a Moviecone soft ice<br />
cream dispenser in the Empire Theatre here<br />
and manager reports very good business . . .<br />
R. L. Price is father of a daughter named<br />
Gay Ann. R. L. is an official of the Theatre<br />
Roland Fairchild. Florida<br />
Service Co. . . .<br />
representative for Realart. checked in at the<br />
local office for a sales meeting.<br />
"Seven Days to Noon" opened at the Peachtree<br />
Art Theatre and is playing to capacity.<br />
The Atlanta movie critics gave this one a<br />
good writeup. The story deals with civil defense,<br />
and mip Philips, head of the Atlanta<br />
civil defense area, was present when the<br />
picture was tradescreened. He set up a<br />
registration booth in the lobby of the theatre<br />
that created a great deal of interest. The<br />
film is distributed in this territory by Wallace<br />
Film Exchange.<br />
Other visitors were Bob Cannon, Cannon<br />
Theatres, Lake City and Live Oak, Fla.; Walter<br />
Griswold, Lam Amusement Co., Rome;<br />
Roy Mitchell, Mountain Theatre, Stone Mountain<br />
. . . Charlie King of the Exhibitors Service<br />
Co. is moving to Jacksonville, Fla., September<br />
4 to open the company's new office<br />
which will be located in the Masonic building<br />
suite 417.<br />
Thompson, Tuskegee; E. D. Martin, Columbus,<br />
and Tommy Thompson, Hawkinsville.<br />
Bill Specht, veteran film salesman, is seriously<br />
ill at Grady hospital. Bill's wife is also<br />
sick and the rest of his family are in Germany.<br />
Bill would appreciate hearing from his<br />
old friends scattered throughout the Atlanta<br />
and Charlotte territories . . . Al Cain, assistant<br />
Paramount division manager, was at<br />
the local office . . . Lewis Waits, salesman for<br />
Capital City Supply, returned from a trip to<br />
south Georgia . Clark of Jackpot<br />
combined business with pleasure on a<br />
tour through the north Georgia mountains<br />
and east Tennessee.<br />
Airer, Declared Outside<br />
City, Operates on Sunday<br />
ATHENS. TENN.—The city of Athens will<br />
not close the Starlite Drive-In Theatre on<br />
Sundays, it was decided after City Attorney<br />
J. Tom Taylor found the place is outside the<br />
corporate limits. Joint owners of the theatre.<br />
James Owen. C. W. Dake and Glenn<br />
Dake. had previously sought to enjoin the<br />
city from attempting to close the place on<br />
Sunday. They contended it was not within<br />
the city limits.<br />
More than a year ago in a referendum, the<br />
drive-in, as well as a large area surrounding<br />
the city, was voted into the city. The management<br />
of the theatre filed a bill enjoining the<br />
city from incorporating that section. The<br />
case was still pending when a private act of<br />
the legislature was passed, validating the referendum<br />
with the exception of the drive-in<br />
area.<br />
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Irene Beasley resigned at RKO to accept<br />
a position as bookkeeper at the Lockheed aircraft<br />
plant In Marietta . Burdett, former<br />
booker now in the armed forces, sailed<br />
from New York for duty in Europe . . . Jack<br />
Elwell, Dixie Drive-In Theatres, suffered<br />
a heart attack and died. Jack was 56 years<br />
old and spent more than 30 years in the<br />
film business. He formerly was home office<br />
representative for MGM. He was also with the<br />
Martin circuit for several years.<br />
Visitors on the Row: Wiley Crews, San<br />
Marco Theatres, Boca Grande, Fla.; Hugh<br />
Martin, M&M circuit, Leesburg, Fla,; O. L.<br />
Redfern, Sylacauga, Ala.; Charlie Wade, Clanton,<br />
Ala.; P. J. Gaston, Griffin, Oa.; G. W.<br />
Yeager, Fairmont; H. G. Willoughby, Birmingham;<br />
Cecil Harwell, State, Bessemer; Bill<br />
Yarbough, Hartwell; Jay Solomon, Chattanooga;<br />
William Green, Palmetto; Mack Jackson.<br />
Alexander City; Buddy Reynolds. Greensboro;<br />
Al Morgan. Union Springs; Frank<br />
Don't Get Caught Short<br />
REPLACE OR REPAIR SOUND AND PRO-<br />
JECTION EQUIPMENT NOW WHILE<br />
OUR STOCKS ARE COMPLETE.<br />
UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP.<br />
no Franklin St Tampa, F<br />
MONARCH<br />
Theatre Supply, Inc.<br />
Nei7<br />
fi/ount<br />
492 So. Second St.<br />
Memphis, Tenn.<br />
BOXOFTICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951
TEXAS EXHIBITORS SIGNING UP<br />
FOR MOVIETIME PROMOTIONS<br />
Here are two camera shots taken at the indoctrination breakfast<br />
held in the Adolphus hotel at Dallas Monday when 55 distributor<br />
salesmen and supervisors received their final instructions before<br />
starting a two-week campaign of caJls on all Texas exhibitors in<br />
behalf of the Movietime in Texas campaign.<br />
The salesmen will help exhibitors plan local activities.<br />
By FRANK BRADLEY<br />
DALLAS — Fifty-five distributor salesmen<br />
and their supervisors from the 13 or so<br />
branches here soft-pedaled their business of<br />
selling product this week and started enrolling<br />
the active participation of Texas theatremen<br />
in the Movietime in Texas—U.S.A.<br />
campaign.<br />
Every exhibitor in the state, from the<br />
large metropolitan centers to the small hamlets,<br />
was to be contacted in the two-week<br />
period (August 27 to September 10) and lined<br />
up on just what he will do in the big fall<br />
campaign.<br />
The salesmen and supervisors received their<br />
final instructions and equipment at an indoctrination<br />
breakfast held Monday at the<br />
Adolphus hotel. There they were thoroughly<br />
instructed in their duties by the Texas<br />
COMPO showmen leaders: Col. H. A. Cole,<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell, John J. Houlihan. Al<br />
Reynolds, Paul Short, Phil Isley, William C.<br />
McCraw and Charles E. Carden.<br />
15 REGIONAL PEP MEETINGS<br />
Every exhibitor will be urged to attend one<br />
of the regional pep rallies scheduled from<br />
September 10 to 19. Colonel Cole, Short,<br />
Isley and Conrad Brady will speak at the<br />
following pep sessions:<br />
September 10—Majestic Theatre, Houston;<br />
arranged by Al Lever and Sonny Martini.<br />
11—Jefferson at Beaumont: arranged by<br />
Fred Menton and O. W. McManus.<br />
12—Majestic in San Antonio: Eph Charninsky<br />
and George Watson.<br />
13—Ritz in Corpus Christi; Bruce Collins<br />
and Rubin Frels.<br />
14—Arcadia in Harlingen; Lew Bray and<br />
Ed Brady.<br />
17—Waco in Waco: C. B. Stewart and Ed<br />
Newman.<br />
18—Rembert in Longview: Fred Menton and<br />
Bill Morrow.<br />
19—Bowie in Brownwood: J. T. Hughes.<br />
McCraw, Mike Rice, Preston Smith, Harley<br />
Sadler and Henry Reeve wiU appear on the<br />
rally programs in the following order.<br />
September 10 — Wichita Theatre, Wichita<br />
Falls: arranged by Jim Unger and Martha<br />
McSpadden.<br />
11—Paramount at Amarillo; Dub Blankenship.<br />
12—Lindsey in Lubbock; Dub Blankenship<br />
and Jack King.<br />
13—Paramount in Abilene: Henry Reeve<br />
and Wally Akin.<br />
17—Worth in Fort Worth; Frank Weatherford<br />
and L. C. Tidball.<br />
18—Scott in Odessa; Maggie Scott and<br />
John Fostor.<br />
19—Plaza in El Paso; John Paxton.<br />
Reynolds stressed the importance of the<br />
15 regional pep meetings similar to the Majestic-Dallas<br />
rally except on a smaller scale.<br />
"I was interested in hearing that Windy<br />
Daniels of Seguin has chartered a bus to<br />
bring a load of theatre personnel and their<br />
families to the regional meeting in San<br />
Antonio," he commented.<br />
"By this time you all know pretty well what<br />
this Texas COMPO campaign is all about,"<br />
stated Colonel Cole in his opening remarks.<br />
"While the boxoffice dollars are our ultimate<br />
objective, the stimulating of the exhibitors<br />
with a new enthusiasm for showmanship is<br />
our immediate goal during this two-week period<br />
beginning August 27. It was a real inspiration<br />
to me when I heard of a luncheon<br />
meeting in Abilene, arranged voluntarily by<br />
local exhibitors, recently and to learn that<br />
some of the men drove more than 100 miles to<br />
the meeting."<br />
"You are naturally going to meet with some<br />
resistance," Reynolds counseled. "When the<br />
going is really rough, then another exhibitor<br />
can often persuade a fellow exhibitor to join<br />
in the cooperative action of Movietime in<br />
Texas. When this happens pick out the name<br />
of the exhibition committee member closest<br />
to the town you are in and telephone him."<br />
Cole introduced Bob Euler as the exhibitor<br />
and Frank Rual, Paramount salesman,<br />
as the salesman in a realistic demonstration.<br />
Frank Rual started the presentation, carefully<br />
going, page by page, over the campaign book<br />
with Euler, who offered occasional remarks<br />
indicating natural exhibitor resistance. Rual<br />
appropriately suggested several good exploitation<br />
ideas as the presentation moved to a<br />
climax.<br />
In the sales process, Frank endeavored a<br />
number of times to close the deal on a fivecent<br />
a seat pledge for COMPO. "Only one way<br />
to lick this problem," said Rual on his remarks<br />
which closed the deal, "we must get together<br />
and draw the people back into the<br />
theatres, and our other problems will solve<br />
themselves."<br />
"Omaha, Neb., was the first city I was in<br />
after the Life magazine of August 13 hit<br />
the stands," O'Donnell said. "This was the<br />
edition with the article stomping the theatre<br />
industry. We must aggressively fight back<br />
against such malicious material and be prepared<br />
to defend ourselves against such slanted<br />
articles as this one. We should see that every<br />
employe and friend of the industry gets a<br />
copy of 'Speak Up, Movie Folk! It's Your<br />
Industry They're Knocking!' by Silas F.<br />
Seadler, and reprinted from BOXOFFICE<br />
magazine.<br />
REACTION IS TERRIFIC!<br />
"Since leaving Dallas I have also been In<br />
Minneapolis, Detroit, New York, New Haven,<br />
Boston, Indianapolis, Chicago, Washington<br />
and Denver, and it has always given me a<br />
great thrill to tell how our organization and<br />
plans developed from the original idea in the<br />
Colonel's mind. The reaction everywhere I<br />
have been has been terrific. I have been<br />
greeted by mayors, governors, fine ministers<br />
and civic leaders. Their reaction has been<br />
one of wholehearted and sincere interest in<br />
the success of our campaign.<br />
"I like to see originality at work in the different<br />
state organizations, such as the idea<br />
used in Colorado tor financing its program.<br />
Instead of taxing the theatres five cents a<br />
seat, they sell the exhibitor 'Shares in Showmanship.'<br />
"Let's sell 'Fine motion picture entertainment.'<br />
This is the golden jubilee year of the<br />
industry and we have a great array of pictures.<br />
We have been afraid of TV, but ac-<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 sw 63
ExhibHors Line Up for Movietime<br />
Snapped at the big indoctrination breakfast for the Movietime in Texas drive were<br />
Al Reynolds, at the speakers rostrum, left; John Houlihan, center, and at right Alfred<br />
Delcambre, advertising committee assistant chairman, and C. E. Garden, campaign<br />
expediter, in a meeting room conference.<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
tually there is no comparison with what we<br />
have to offer. We have a great superiority.<br />
both in the size of the image and quality.<br />
"Let's sell Movietime as clean-up and dressup<br />
time. Everyone I talk to is going for the<br />
story about the exchanges and other businesses<br />
on Filmrow putting up flags, bunting,<br />
banners, streamers and playing records.<br />
"Personality tours will be an important<br />
part of our program. Top producers, directors,<br />
writers, stars, all want to be a part of this<br />
great program. Here in Texas the stars will<br />
descend on Austin on Monday. October 8. A<br />
luncheon will be held to which all exhibitors<br />
are to bring newspaper publishers and representatives<br />
to meet the personalities and the<br />
governor. In serving as hosts we must be gracious<br />
and send these personalities back to<br />
Hollywood or New York with a feeling of<br />
goodwill and a desire to come back.<br />
"I want to tell you about the great exposition<br />
that is being planned in New York for<br />
next spring. It will run for ten days, and<br />
interesting exhibits of properties and art<br />
objects used in the movie industry will be on<br />
display and properly shown. The cost of this<br />
exposition will be defrayed by the sale of<br />
programs and admission price. It is later<br />
planned to send this interesting exhibit<br />
around the 48 states, for all the country to<br />
benefit thereby.<br />
"Being drafted for this job of national director<br />
is the greatest honor I have ever had.<br />
We have never had a rougher and a tougher<br />
job. I am just not tired when I get such<br />
enthusiastic responses as I have been receiving.<br />
It is all so exhilarating."<br />
William C. McCraw, chairman of the speakers<br />
bureau, emphasized that speaking engagements<br />
should be made properly and the speakers<br />
built up locally so that attendance will be<br />
good.<br />
Phil Isley, head of the personality tours,<br />
said: "We've got to get behind this program<br />
with everything we've got. Let's not let the<br />
Colonel and O'Donnell down. Let's make<br />
Texas a mark to shoot at. Exhibitors today<br />
are selling the greatest and best entertainment<br />
in the world."<br />
It was announced that the allied industries<br />
— the carriers, popcorn companies and supply<br />
houses—had given generously to the personality<br />
tours cause.<br />
Colonel Cole brought up an interesting idea<br />
in his remarks closing the meeting. "I had<br />
a nephew who was a film salesman, so I<br />
know what you men go through. I want to<br />
say that the motion picture industry has been<br />
somewhat deficient in one respect. They<br />
have ambassadors but they haven't been<br />
using them as such. You men are the only<br />
contacts between New York, Hollywood and<br />
the Main streets of the state. Unfortunately<br />
you fellows have fallen into a rut. together<br />
with your bosses. You are the ambassadors<br />
for the motion picture distributors, not just<br />
for this campaign, but for all time. Only<br />
you have the contacts necessary to bind this<br />
industry together, and you can do it.<br />
"I may be premature, and I may be dreaming,<br />
but I hope not. If this campaign comes<br />
near to approaching the success I see in sight,<br />
I would want to talk to the exhibitors of this<br />
state on the idea of keeping the office of<br />
Texas COMPO Showmen open from now on<br />
ad infinitum. I would like to see one week<br />
out of each quarter of a distributor salesman's<br />
time turned over to us (Texas COMPO<br />
Showmen) from now on indefinitely. I would<br />
like to see you men become true ambassadors<br />
and really do a great job for the industry. I<br />
believe O'Donnell and I may be able to sell<br />
this idea in New York at another luncheon.<br />
"I would also like to see a monthly meeting<br />
of publicity and newspapermen. We<br />
would bring together the best thoughts, ideas<br />
and exploitations to be used by exhibitors all<br />
over the state. In other words I figure that<br />
this COMPO program is not just a good<br />
shot in the arm, but a good continuous health<br />
treatment. Perhaps this industry needs to<br />
keep on taking vitamins, a dynamic food.<br />
That is my final idea that I hope will leave<br />
a lasting impression on the industry, bringing<br />
regularly needed energies to it and not just<br />
remain a shot in the arm."<br />
Carrots Lure Customers<br />
DEL RIO, TEX.—Mrs. Paul J. Poag, acting<br />
manager for Val Verde Theatres here, had<br />
the mayor present a bouquet of carrots to a<br />
mule in front of the Ritz during the run of<br />
"Francis Goes to the Races."<br />
Tembo'io Premiere<br />
At Melba in Dallas<br />
DALLAS—George Bertholon, former production<br />
manager for Paramount in Hollywood<br />
and now associated with Paul Short<br />
Productions, arrived here with the master<br />
print of "Tembo" for the approval of Paul<br />
Short and Raymond Willie. "Tembo" is owned<br />
by R. J. O'Donnell, Howard Hill and Bud<br />
McKinney.<br />
"Tembo" will have its world premiere in<br />
the Melba Theatre September 20. with Howard<br />
Hill making personal appearances. This<br />
will be one of the important pictures to be<br />
featured by Texas COMPO Showmen in the<br />
Movietime in Texas campaign this fall.<br />
The picture, in Anscocolor, took more than<br />
two years to make. It is the first showing<br />
wild animals of all kinds being killed by<br />
the bow and arrow alone. Westbrook Van<br />
Voorhis, March of Time commentator, is the<br />
narrator.<br />
All of those viewing the master print were<br />
enthusiastic about its boxoffice potential. No<br />
major releases have been set and this will be<br />
held up until figures have been compiled on<br />
runs in the Texas territory. Three major<br />
distributors are interested in the picture and<br />
have been soUciting R. J. O'Donnell. Bertholon<br />
returned to the coast by plane Friday<br />
evening.<br />
Art LaMan Is Appointed<br />
Cauger Representative<br />
INDEPENDENCE, MO.—The A. V. Cauger<br />
Service Co. here has named Art LaMan as<br />
its representative in eastern Oklahoma, replacing<br />
H. H. Judkins, who no longer is<br />
connected with the film advertising business.<br />
In western Oklahoma the Cauger representative<br />
is M. R. Van Dam.<br />
The Cauger Company, established here in<br />
1933, services theatres with merchant trailers<br />
on a local and national basis. Exhibitors<br />
wanting more screen ads should contact the<br />
Independence office.<br />
LaMan has been connected with theatre<br />
promotions for several years and in the<br />
advertising and publicity business at Pryor,<br />
Okla., for nine years. He now lives at 2211<br />
E. 14th St., Tulsa.<br />
Louis Charninsky Leading<br />
Dallas CofC Members<br />
DALLAS—Louis Charninsky, who is described<br />
as "an expert on memberships," is<br />
the subject of an illustrated full-page article<br />
in the Dallas magazine. Charninsky has been<br />
manager of the Capitol, an Interstate house,<br />
for the past 19 years.<br />
Charninsky belongs to 17 organizations. He<br />
is a life member of the Chamber of Commerce,<br />
an honor he won by getting 100 new<br />
members. This year he has obtained 120 and<br />
is a strong contender for one of two television<br />
sets offered by Arthur L. Kramer jr.<br />
and Robert L. Thornton jr., co-chairmen of<br />
the membership committee.<br />
Hallmark Zone Head<br />
WILMINGTON, OHIO—Bud Banniza has<br />
been promoted to manager of the Oklahoma-<br />
New Mexico zone by Hallmark Productions.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951
. . The<br />
. .<br />
. . . Tony<br />
. . "Cocaine,"<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
.<br />
•The Rev. William Alexander of Oklahoma<br />
City, a partner in the Hl-Park Drive-In<br />
here, appeared on the stage during the showing<br />
of Hallmark's "The Prince of Peace" .<br />
Enjoying vacations were Mrs. Bulwer Lytton,<br />
Majestic, and Mrs. Marie Shaw, Empire, both<br />
doorwomen Joy Theatre has installed<br />
a new Cool-a-Matic office cooling<br />
system.<br />
Curly Rebecca, Aztec Theatre stagehand,<br />
returned recently from a motor trip in his<br />
new car to Hot Springs, Little Rock, New<br />
Orleans and other southern points . . . Permin<br />
Sada, assistant skipper to Manager<br />
Nachio Torres at the Alameda Teatro, had<br />
Tommie Neate, floor<br />
a heavy head cold . . .<br />
supervisor at the Aztec, recently became a<br />
benedict. The bride was Marion Rose, local<br />
dramatic stage director.<br />
George Kazcmar, assistant manager-treasurer<br />
at the Empire, is mighty proud of his<br />
two pet brown and white hamsters . . .<br />
Edna Word, State Theatre cashier whose husband<br />
is a professional stock racing car driver,<br />
left recently via motor to join daredevil Dick<br />
Word, who is making runs between Kansas<br />
City and St. Louis. She calls it her breathtaking<br />
vacation trip.<br />
famous Mexican film star Emilio Tuero . . .<br />
A. R. Pena and daughter Gloria of the Alamo<br />
Theatre, Alamo, Tex., and Mateo Vela, Iris<br />
Theatre, Alice, were among the recent callers<br />
to book product at the Clasa and Azteca<br />
film exchanges.<br />
Mrs. Van, blond cashier at the Majestic,<br />
celebrated another birthday September 1 by<br />
working . a film to expose<br />
the dope peddling racket, was unveiled at<br />
the Kelly Drive-In for a midweek showing<br />
. . . Claire Phillips, the noted American spy,<br />
was in town Thursday (23) for appearances<br />
at an Interstate theatre in conjunction with<br />
the opening of a Monogram spy drama.<br />
With a few cooling showers to settle the<br />
dust, the thermometer dropped down to<br />
around the 95-mark, which helped to increase<br />
theatre attendance somewhat here<br />
Garza, former theatreman who<br />
has since turned detective, has graduated<br />
from the taxi cab inspector detail to a regular<br />
plainclothesman with the San Antonio<br />
police department.<br />
Emile Meyer has been signed for the top<br />
villain role in Paramount's "Shane."<br />
Two-Day Sales Meeting<br />
By WB in New Orleans<br />
NEW ORLEANS—John F.<br />
Kirby, southern<br />
sales manager for Warner Bros., presided<br />
over a two-day meeting of southeast and<br />
southwest representatives of the company,<br />
held here last Monday (27) and Tuesday (28).<br />
Among those attending were I. F. Dolid,<br />
home office executive; W. O. Williamson jr.,<br />
southeastern district manager: Ralph lannuzzi<br />
and H. C. Vogenpohl, branch manager<br />
and assistant branch manager, respectively, in<br />
Atlanta; G. Livingstone, Charlotte manager:<br />
R. H. Dunbar, Jacksonville manager: Luke<br />
Conner, New Orleans manager; Ed Williamson,<br />
Dallas manager: Frank Carter, Memphis<br />
manager: Don Tullius, Oklahoma City<br />
manager, and Doak Roberts, southwestern<br />
district manager.<br />
Clinton Airer Robbed<br />
CLINTON, IOWA—A thief who apparently<br />
knew the combination opened the safe at the<br />
drive-in here and took $159 in bills, leaving<br />
behind $155 in silver. The safe door was<br />
found ajar by Cashier Helen Brown when<br />
she reported for duty. The theatre canteen<br />
had been entered as well and, of some $15<br />
there, only one paper dollar was taken. Manager<br />
of the theatre is P. D. AUeman.<br />
The Clasa-Mohme film, "Little Dark<br />
Angels" (With English subtitles i. played the<br />
Texas Theatre in Austin to better than average<br />
business. These Mexican-made productions<br />
have been bringing very good results<br />
wherever Latin-American-Spanish audiences<br />
gather . , . Claude Aniol is to handle<br />
publicity for the "Siege and Fall of the<br />
Alamo" picture which RKO will film locally<br />
with actor-producer John Wayne. Senor A.<br />
Ybarra will act as dialog director and technical<br />
adviser. The epic was planned to be<br />
made in Mexico, but last-minute plans by<br />
the company made the necessary switch of<br />
location.<br />
Visitors included Bill Menn of the Karnes<br />
Vic Theatres, Karnes City, who is an employe<br />
of Dave Smason there: Juan Monsivais,<br />
Kenedy; Mrs. Alli-son Burkhalter, Marine,<br />
Fort Worth; Howard Metzger. Star Drive-In,<br />
Brownsville; G. R. Trevino, Alta Vista, Beeville;<br />
Miguel Benitez and son Junior, Weslaco:<br />
John A. Flache, Alameda, Lamesa; C.<br />
J. White, Princess, Sanderson; Mr. and Mrs.<br />
I. Garcia, Ti'opical, Fabens; Prof. E. E. Stowell<br />
of the Illinois college, who is representative<br />
for Clasa-Mohme, Inc., there. The professor<br />
had just returned from a vacation trip<br />
to Mexico City.<br />
Jimmie Powers, former assistant managertreasurer<br />
at the Palace Theatre, now is Pvt.<br />
James Powers with the Texas national guard<br />
on maneuvers at Camp Polk, La. His .successor<br />
at the Alamo Plaza house is Jimmy<br />
Slattery.<br />
Red River Dave McEnery, WOAI-TV star<br />
who recently returned from a summer vacation<br />
in Hollywood with his wife Alberta,<br />
played a one-nighter in Moulton at the<br />
Cotton Grove hall Saturday night (25) . .<br />
,<br />
Senorita Amelia Tuero, Mexican singing and<br />
dancing star, made personal appearances at<br />
the Zaragosa Theatre here recently in a special<br />
all Latin-American stage .show presentation.<br />
Miss Tuero is the daughter of the<br />
WAREHOUSES<br />
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LUBBOCK — 1405 Avenue A<br />
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E. L. Evans, Jr., FE-0O2S E. L. Evans, Sr., YU-3377<br />
EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SALES<br />
DARDEN WAREHOUSE, 1209 Commerce at San Jacinto Street<br />
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SOUTHEASTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO., 214 S. Liberty, New Orlean<br />
LET US SELL YOUR THEATRE<br />
Coniidcntiol listiiigs invited. 30 years of theatre<br />
management. protection. Your Member Dallas<br />
Chaniber of Commerce. Best of references<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 65
Dallas Variety Minstrel Show Sets<br />
Town Rocking With Applause<br />
DALLAS—Judging by the full house and<br />
the applause from the audience, the Black<br />
and Tan Scandals presented by the Variety<br />
Club of Dallas on the Roof Garden of the<br />
Adolphus hotel was a complete success. The<br />
price of each ticket entitled the holder to a<br />
turtle in the coming Turtle derby September<br />
8.<br />
The Scandals were directed and produced<br />
by Rex Van. Rip Giersdorf of KRLD directed<br />
the musical part and the interlocutor<br />
was Jim Crocker. The end men and comedians<br />
were Judge Robert Hall, Rex Van,<br />
Buddy Harris, "Booger" Marshall, Johnny<br />
Hicks and "Pappy" Dolsen.<br />
The chorus consisted of Vernon Elder,<br />
Libbey Grosberg, Zell Marshall. Buddy Harris,<br />
Leonard Waites, Stormy Meadows, Polly<br />
Giersdorf, Johnny Hicks, Dick Hamann. Amy<br />
Keese, Mary Jack Patton. John Rejebian,<br />
Rex Van, Barbara Gilliland. Blllie Graetz.<br />
"Pappy" Dolsen, Frank Bradley, Judge Robert<br />
Hall, John Worrell, Betty Worrell, Kathryn<br />
Henderson, Dixie Branche, Jan Gall,<br />
Ruth Jenkins. Ermagene Jordan, Harvey Jordan,<br />
John Patton, Mrs. Charlie Darwill,<br />
Charlie Darwill, Wilbur Marshall, Dub Zacha,<br />
Gladys Zacha, Margaret McDonald, Eunice<br />
Jenkins, Arlan Kerr.<br />
The program was as follows:<br />
S^i^drack Jim Worrell<br />
Basin Street _ Mary Dell AnderEon<br />
A Good Man<br />
Johnny Hicks<br />
Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose _....Polly Giersdorf<br />
Dance Time<br />
Bobby Bixler<br />
Tired _ Mary Jack Patton<br />
Danny Boy _ John Rejebian<br />
Long, Tall, Brownskin Gal Rex Van<br />
Some of These Days Dixie Branche<br />
I Got Plenty of Nothm' Dub Zacha<br />
I'm Alabamy Bound "Booger" Marshall and<br />
Entire Company<br />
Good fellowship followed many of the rehearsals,<br />
which were three nights a week beginning<br />
August 5. Some extra effort had to<br />
PROJECTOR PARTS<br />
Simplex and Powers<br />
LAMPHOUSE PARTS<br />
Strong, Peerless,<br />
Mazda<br />
REFLECTORS<br />
Strong. Peerless.<br />
Mazda, Gardner &<br />
Others<br />
CARBONS<br />
For all lamps<br />
PROJECTION LENSES<br />
All sizes in Coated<br />
Series I and U. Also<br />
Used Lens<br />
Complete Projection<br />
and<br />
Sound Equipments<br />
and<br />
Screens<br />
Sliown in the final act of the Variety<br />
Club minstrel show in Dallas are, standing,<br />
left: Rex Van, director and producer;<br />
Jimmy Crocker, KRLD-TV, interlocutor,<br />
and seated, VV. L. "Booger" Marshall.<br />
be endured in the form of dress rehearsal and<br />
the final blacking up on Saturday night. The<br />
cleanup afterwards was another ordeal. The<br />
cast was beginning to get used to the mechanics<br />
of blacking up by the time the Sunday<br />
television show over KRLD was over.<br />
Those viewing the TV show at 4 p. m., ending<br />
with a commentary about the Variety<br />
Club by John H. Rowley, chief barker, said<br />
it was a fine production.<br />
A thank you letter from John H. Rowley,<br />
received during the following week, was appreciated<br />
by the cast.<br />
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES<br />
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and<br />
STAR POPCORN<br />
MACHINES<br />
Exit Lights<br />
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Perfumes
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The world premiere of "Jim Tliorpe—All<br />
American" in Muskogee, Okla., was a festive<br />
event with sentiment added for George<br />
Proctor, partner there for Rowley United<br />
Theatres. The premiere climaxed nearly<br />
40 years of featuring pictures handled<br />
by the Warner brothers, started when<br />
Harry Warner sold First National pictures<br />
to Proctor. The two have remained friends<br />
ever since. Proctor is shown at left above<br />
in front of the boxoffice when after-hour<br />
demand required him to sell tickets to the<br />
premiere.<br />
Hollywood stars appeared at the twocity<br />
premiere in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma<br />
City they had Governor and Mrs. Johnston<br />
Murray and Roy Turner, former governor,<br />
as their dinner guests. Shown at<br />
right are, left to right: James Brown, Warner<br />
leading man, and his wife; Phyllis<br />
Thaxter, who is Thorpe's wife in the film;<br />
Mrs. Murray and the governor.<br />
William Small, 50 Years a Showman,<br />
Recalls Days as Showboat Trouper<br />
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLA.—Showboat<br />
trouper William Small, now manager of the<br />
Victoria Theatre here, celebrated his 50th<br />
anniversary in show business recently and recalled<br />
vividly the days when he started in<br />
the industry with the big river boats.<br />
Small said he was with such boats as the<br />
Columbia, French's New Sensation and the<br />
famed Golden Rod. The recent playing of<br />
the film, "Show Boat," at the Victoria served.<br />
Small said, to bring back memories o£ his<br />
own experiences.<br />
"We played them all," he said. "One night<br />
it would be in the big towns such as Cincinnati.<br />
The next at Brown's Landing, with<br />
not a house in sight. This was during the<br />
season of 1910, 1911 and 1912. The stage<br />
offering consisted of a stock company of<br />
about 20 persons and usually five acts of<br />
vaudeville with six musicians in the pit.<br />
Patrons always judged the show by the band<br />
so showboats featured the bands above their<br />
stage attractions. The bands usually carried<br />
one or two soloists and their programs were<br />
so diversified that they had an appeal for all.<br />
"On each of the three boats I trouped with<br />
I had some unusual experiences. When I<br />
boarded the Columbia at Hickman, Ky., I<br />
did not know she was leaking badly. On near-<br />
Ing Keokuk, Iowa, I asked for my release<br />
without salary, and got off the boat at<br />
Keokuk. Imagine my surprise and thankfulness<br />
when I learned next morning that the<br />
old Columbia had sunk just north of the<br />
city and that all actors and musicians had<br />
to swim ashore, losing all their possessions.<br />
"My second experience that stands out as<br />
unusual was when I was aboard the Golden<br />
Rod. This was the queen, the flagship of all<br />
that<br />
showboats, as modern as any theatre of<br />
day, with electric lighting, opera chairs, ample<br />
dressing rooms, running water and a good<br />
stage.<br />
"Well, one of the worst things to plague<br />
anyone running the waters of the Ohio,<br />
Green, Missouri or Mississippi rivers, was<br />
malaria. When the Golden Rod was playing<br />
New Madrid. Mo., I came down with malaria.<br />
A doctor was called and I was carried ashore,<br />
where I passed out. Seven days later when<br />
I came to I was lying in a bed in a St.<br />
Louis hotel. It .seems that the doctor also was<br />
a trombone player and on finding my musicians<br />
union card, he arranged with the St.<br />
Louis musicians to take care of me.<br />
"There were two things I always carried<br />
with me—my union card and a little chamois<br />
grouch bag fastened around my neck. In the<br />
grouch bag was enough money for a railroad<br />
ticket home, regardless of what part of the<br />
country I might get stranded in.<br />
"My third showboat was French's New<br />
Sensation. Old Captain French had retired<br />
before I became a member of the cast, but<br />
he still liked to visit the boat. Just about<br />
every time he came aboard he managed to<br />
fall overboard. His knees were wobbly and he<br />
would lose his balance while walking the<br />
gangplank. It was my Job to help fish him<br />
out.<br />
"I am frequently asked if I think that<br />
showboats will ever come back to their former<br />
popularity. In my humble opinion the<br />
showboats of yesteryear have gone the same<br />
route as vaudeville and some other forms of<br />
entertainment. They will not return, at least<br />
not as they formerly were presented."<br />
Edward Arnold in<br />
'Belles'<br />
Edward Arnold has joined Myrna Loy and<br />
Jeanne Grain in 20th-Fox's "Belles on Their<br />
Toes."<br />
Westerns-Features-Serials<br />
Tower Pictures Co.<br />
HAROLD SCHWARZ<br />
302 S. Harwood St. Dallas 1, Texas<br />
Phones C-7357 and R-3998<br />
Book It Now—The Roodshow that ploys nothing<br />
but winning dotes—Timely as today's heodlines—<br />
Flashy Lobbies—Sound Cars—A pleasing<br />
Boxoftice Hypo—<br />
Wire — Phone — Write<br />
MACK ENTERPRISES<br />
706 W. Grand—Oklahoma City, Okla.<br />
MACK ENTERPRISES, Presents<br />
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SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
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Higliest reputation lor linow-how<br />
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ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists!<br />
3305 Carutli. Dallas, Texas<br />
Telephones: EM 0238 EM 7489<br />
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951<br />
66-A
. . Free<br />
AROUND THE SOUTHWEST<br />
The new Plaza Theatre opening last month<br />
was attended by more than 600 persons<br />
on opening day, it was reported by O. O.<br />
Dickenson and O. K. Whitfield, who spent<br />
several busy weeks remodeling and making<br />
ready for tlie gala premiere at Madisonville,<br />
Tex. The film program was interrupted at<br />
6:30 opening night for a dedicatory program<br />
with Buddy Wakefield serving as emcee.<br />
Wyatt Sawyer, Church of Christ minister,<br />
opened with a prayer and took occasion to<br />
praise the new owners on their announced<br />
policy of bringing in only first class, clean<br />
and decent movies, and closing the theatre on<br />
Sunday nights. The chamber of commerce,<br />
Lions club and Rotary, as well as the superintendent<br />
of schools, also got in on the dedication.<br />
Owners Dickenson and Whitfield<br />
were introduced and responded briefly. A<br />
BOOK IT<br />
WAHOO is<br />
NOW!!!<br />
the world's most thrilling<br />
screen game. No
. . Peggy<br />
. . The<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
Tim Thorpe—All American" did a "fine" dayand-date<br />
run in tlie WB-owned Midwest<br />
and Warner houses iiere following its world<br />
premieres in the state, according to Paul<br />
Townsend. city manager for the WB situations.<br />
The film played in the two houses one<br />
week, opening with fanfare that included India:Ts<br />
in full dress and two Hollywood players,<br />
Phyllis Thaxter and James Brown, from<br />
Openers in the city's downtown<br />
the studio . . .<br />
situations this week included "Captain<br />
Horation Hornblower" at the Midwest, "Here<br />
Comes the Groom" at the new Harber, "Meet<br />
Me After the Show" in the Criterion and<br />
Cooper Foundation's suburban house, the<br />
Plaza; "Flying Leathernecks" at the Center,<br />
"The Strip" at the Warner, and "Pickup" and<br />
"Revenue Agent" dualed at the State.<br />
Springlake will close its summer program<br />
of entertainment following a big Labor day<br />
salute Monday (3). Roy Staton, who operates<br />
Springlake, said this summer has been one<br />
of the most successful in history , . . William<br />
Brooker of Columbia Pictures' publicity department<br />
in New York was in town promoting<br />
"Pickup" for its State booking. He went on<br />
to Tulsa . Sims, who has been assistant<br />
manager at the Center for the past couple<br />
of months, is back from a two-week vacation.<br />
She was cashier at the State and Center<br />
for about five years before her promotion<br />
to assistant to Dean Davis, manager of the<br />
Center.<br />
Helen Jean Cook is a new ledger clerk at<br />
Paramount, succeeding Helen Dumont, who<br />
moved to Texas . Paramount Pep club<br />
held a piciiic for its members and their families<br />
recently at Will Rogers park . . . Filmrow<br />
visitors Monday (27 1 included J. D.<br />
Wilbanks of Spearman, Tex.; Frank Nordean<br />
of Konawa and Maud, Layton Carter of the<br />
Chief at Seminole, Paul Campbell of the<br />
Sun at Pauls Valley, Bill Jones from the Harmony<br />
at Sand Springs, Fred Collier of Kiowa<br />
and his brother Howard of the Oak at<br />
Hartshorne, R. M. Freed from Valiant and<br />
Claude Thorp of Ryan.<br />
As a welcome to Midwest City children,<br />
just back from vacation, and to compliment<br />
school children now waiting the ding-dong<br />
for classes to resume. Mrs. Ethel Dinkins,<br />
manager of the Skytrain, and her staff entertained<br />
at a free Back-to-School matinee<br />
August 17. Ray Whitley, western player from<br />
Hollywood, was a special guest. Whitley's<br />
wife appeared with him in a program to entertain<br />
the kiddies.<br />
Wheelbarrow Is New Mode<br />
Of Travel to Drive-In<br />
FERNANDINA, FLA.—Ed Beach, operator<br />
of the Drive-N Theatre, thought that when<br />
two patrons rode up on a horse, he had<br />
reached the limit of unusual modes of transportation.<br />
A few weeks later came some<br />
motorcycles, then several bicycles and parking<br />
space had to be arranged for them. Then<br />
came two girls, one pushing a wheelbarrow<br />
in which the second rode.<br />
Dagmar Wynter Signed<br />
Dagmar Wynter, who began her screen<br />
acting career in South African films, has<br />
been given the second feminine leading role in<br />
Warners' "The Crimson Pirate."<br />
GRIGGS<br />
CHAIRS<br />
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Comfort — the minute<br />
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WRITE FOR CATALOG<br />
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GRIGGS EQUIP\1ENT CO.<br />
Belton, Texas<br />
WE HAVE IT M !<br />
Single Bill Heodline Features<br />
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Double Bill Features — Westerns<br />
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ENKINS & D OURGEOIS<br />
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DALLAS 1, TEXAS<br />
PRospect 2408<br />
MEMPHIS: 408 So. Second St.<br />
NEW ORLEANS: 218 So. Liberty Si.<br />
The Gaiety Theatre opened its fall season<br />
of burlesque Thursday (30) . . . "Hohday on<br />
Ice of 1952" is booked for the Stockyards Coliseum<br />
September 8-12 for nightly performances,<br />
plus a matinee on September 9. Tickets<br />
are selling for $2.95, $1.95 and $1.25 . . .<br />
The June sales tax report is just in and shows<br />
theatres and tent shows did a 12.91 per cent<br />
increa.se in comparison to June 1950. Other<br />
amusements and athletic events recorded a<br />
2.83 increase. Less returns were filed this<br />
past June, however. The same report from<br />
the Oklahoma state tax commission li.sted an<br />
11.39 per cent increase in use taxes for theatres<br />
and tent shows during June. Other<br />
amusements showed a 36.89 per cent decrease<br />
in use taxes.<br />
The Skyview ozoner, in cooperation with<br />
the highway patrol, did a traffic safety pitch<br />
each evening between pictures for a week,<br />
with a trooper discussing a different phase of<br />
safety in each lecture period. A trooper delivered<br />
the three-minute lecture. The Skyview<br />
safety program was a forerunner of .similar<br />
programs to be conducted in drive-ins<br />
over the state as a part of Govei'iior Murray's<br />
safety week.<br />
Ralph Drewry of Tulsa attended the world<br />
premiere of "Jim Thorpe— All American" at<br />
Muskogee August 20 . . . Jeanne Camp, who<br />
has been doing secretarial work in the Variety<br />
Turtle derby office at Monogram this<br />
summer, has resigned to return to the University<br />
of Oklahoma at Norman as a junior.<br />
Jeanne was one of 31 girls to be appointed<br />
coed counselor for this school year. Her<br />
mother is Blanche Camp, cashier at Paramount.<br />
Replacing Jeanne in the Variety<br />
office is Jody Bond, daughter of Green Bond<br />
of the accounting office at Video Independent<br />
Theatres.<br />
RCA DRIVE-IN EQUIPMENT<br />
RCA's line of Drive-in Speakers and Junction Boxes<br />
is so complete there is no need for "shopping<br />
around." In addition to extra durable, long lasting<br />
finishes, there are plastic covered junction boxes<br />
that glow in different colors to add glamour.<br />
You'll find other outstanding features such as:<br />
ROADWAY LIGHT . . . enables patrons to see<br />
where they are driving on ramp areas.<br />
POST LIGHT . . . makes it easy for patrons to<br />
guide cars to correct locations.<br />
Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
IN DALLAS<br />
IN HOUSTON<br />
2010 Jackson Street<br />
Telephone Prospect 7-3571<br />
CONCESSION SIGNALS . . . two types available.<br />
REALISTIC SOUND REPRODUCTION...<br />
with the rich tone for which RCA is famous.<br />
Come in and let us help you select the proper equipment<br />
for your drive-in, based on our wide experience<br />
in this particular field.<br />
1622 Austin<br />
Telephone Capitol 9906<br />
BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT<br />
lOth Fl., 2nd Unit. Santa Fe Bldg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas. Tex.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 1, 1951 66-C
VUom^te SetteftlUHSuex.MOyN ABOUT YOUR THEATRE?<br />
lo win public favor, your theatre needs:<br />
PATRON<br />
COMFORT<br />
CHARM of COLOR<br />
HARMONY of<br />
DESIGN<br />
'Improvement<br />
PAYS...<br />
Do It<br />
\ NOW!<br />
MODERN<br />
THEATRE<br />
Theatre improvements are reported<br />
in detail in the monthly<br />
Modem Theatre section of<br />
BOXOFFICE. The hows and<br />
whys are detailed and pictured<br />
to make them easy for you to<br />
use in your own theatre, for<br />
your own local needs.<br />
Be sure to read this big, wellplanned<br />
section, issued the<br />
first Saturday of each month.<br />
Improvements are cm investment that pays.<br />
Many a closed house lacks only the extra appeal<br />
of color, design and patron comfort.<br />
Thousands of passive ticket buyers can be<br />
changed into enthusiastic supporters by extra<br />
eye appeal, comfort appeal of an improved<br />
modern building.<br />
BOXOFFICE, from every angle, gives you<br />
information you need and inspires you with<br />
courage to do as others are doing to make<br />
your business hum.<br />
Keep up with the times—ahead of the demands. The<br />
public is flocking back to pictures, disappointed with other<br />
forms of entertainment. Is your house clean and wholesome,<br />
attractive at all times?<br />
The information offered is invaluable<br />
for any progressive<br />
exhibitor.<br />
Always out front<br />
with leadershipplans—<br />
methods<br />
OXOFFICE<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
'<br />
MOVIETIME CORPS IN ILLINOIS<br />
ORGANIZED AT CHICAGO RALLY<br />
John Balaban, Jack Kirsch<br />
Preside at Confab<br />
To Set Up Drive<br />
CHICAGO—Motion picture exhibitors, distributors<br />
and publicity men from the Chicago<br />
and downstate Illinois areas, met in a<br />
spirited conclave last Thursday morning i23)<br />
at the Blackstone hotel to set up the machinery<br />
for Chicago's participation in<br />
COMPO's Movietime U.S.A. fall campaign.<br />
John Balaban, president of Balaban & Katz<br />
Corp., and Jack Kirsch, president of Allied<br />
Theatres of Illinois, co-chairmen of the drive,<br />
presided.<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell, national director of<br />
I<br />
the Movietime campaign, presented a progress<br />
I<br />
report on the rapidly maturing projects for<br />
the drive and made a .spirited plea for cooperation<br />
in the Illinois and Indiana states,<br />
both financially and in the various activities<br />
being set up to promote favorable reaction<br />
to motion pictures by the public and<br />
to "plug" forthcoming product of the studios.<br />
MANY SPECIAL EVENTS<br />
O'Donnell explained that many special<br />
events will be staged during the winter and<br />
spring to give impetus to the campaign which,<br />
he said, although originally planned for<br />
October and November, will now be extended<br />
throughout the year. He emphasized that thLs<br />
campaign was in no w-ay a temporary alleviation<br />
for current motion picture ills.<br />
"This is no shot-in-the-arm effort," O'Donnell<br />
said, "with the best available pictures<br />
bunched for a temporary effort. There are<br />
many fine productions scheduled and we can<br />
expect a continuity of superior product for<br />
as far into the future as we can now see.<br />
We intend to'continue this effort until the<br />
public is made thoroughly aware that it<br />
is only the movie theatre that offers the<br />
best entertainment."<br />
Among the plans outlined for Movietime<br />
U.S.A. was a spectacular campaign kickoff<br />
on the CBS Lux Radio Theatre September<br />
24. Under this plan, he said, each major<br />
studio will present a portion of its outstanding<br />
picture, with the stars to dramatize<br />
their roles. The show will be tape-recorded,<br />
the first time in 17 years that a Lux program<br />
has not been "live."<br />
TOXJR BY 250 HOLLYWOOD FOLK<br />
Other plans include a national tour by 250<br />
Hollywood celebrities, who will visit the 48<br />
state capitals on October 8, and from there<br />
fan out to make speeches and appearances<br />
in as many cities as po.ssible. Selection of<br />
a Typical American Movie Family, both<br />
locally and nationally, with appropriate prizes,<br />
was also discussed, as was the presentation<br />
of large ads in 1,750 newspapers throughout<br />
America: also the use of billboards, radio<br />
and television programs and other planned<br />
activities.<br />
Arthur Mayer, COMPO executive, decried<br />
the type of derogatory articles, bemoaning<br />
the unhappy fate of the movies, appearing<br />
in national magazines like Life and Fortune.<br />
Leaders for 12 Movietime Zones<br />
Appointed by Indiana Showmen<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Plans for regional collaboration<br />
in the Council of Motion Picture Organizations'<br />
Movietime U.S.A. campaign were<br />
outlined by industry leaders in a meeting at<br />
Keith's Theatre here.<br />
Employes of all theatres and film exchanges<br />
attended the morning meeting at which Bob<br />
O'Donnell, general manager of Interstate Theatres<br />
and former chief barker of Variety<br />
International, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive<br />
vice-president of COMPO, were principal<br />
speakers.<br />
Maurice Brazee, city manager of the<br />
Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co.. and<br />
Earl Cunningham, general manager of the<br />
Fountain Square Theatre, were exhibitor cochairmen<br />
for the meeting. Foster Gauker of<br />
MGM was distributor chairman.<br />
An exchange area committee, representing<br />
12 zones, was set up under the general chairmanship<br />
of G. R. Prank and Thomas O. Mc-<br />
Cleaster, distributor co-chairmen, and W. A.<br />
Carroll, exhibitor chairman for Indiana.<br />
The committee comprises, by zones:<br />
Indianapolis — Foster Gauker, distributor<br />
chairman: M. Brazee and Earl Cunningham,<br />
exhibitor co-chairmen.<br />
John R. Boices Purchase<br />
Full Theatre Ownership<br />
WARSAW, IND. — John R. and Gladys<br />
Boice, operators of the Strand Theatre here<br />
since 1932, have acquired full ownership of<br />
the Centennial Theatre building here, with<br />
the purchase of the remaining 50 per cent of<br />
the stock in the Widaman-McDonald corporation.<br />
The Boices purchased the original 50 per<br />
cent of stock in 1948 from the estate of Dr.<br />
Angus C. McDonald. This purchase was contested<br />
by Nick Mailers, circuit operator who<br />
had held a lease on the Centennial since 1931,<br />
but after hearings and appeals in three courts<br />
the sale to the Boices was upheld by the supreme<br />
court in May 1951.<br />
Boice said he plans to close the Strand and<br />
reopen in the Centennial following expiration<br />
of the Mailers lease, reportedly in two<br />
years.<br />
The Centennial was completed in 1916 by<br />
Allan Widaman, his father and Dr. McDonald.<br />
East St. Louis House Sold<br />
In Real Estate Package<br />
EAST ST. LOUIS—A parcel of real estate<br />
involving commercial properties at 215-223<br />
Collinsville Ave., including the 1,100-seat Avenue<br />
Theatre, has changed hands for the first<br />
time since 1904. Sanford Ruttenberg, a Chicago<br />
investor, brought the properties from the<br />
John C. NuUsen Investment Co.<br />
Rushville — Beanard Brager, distributor<br />
chairman: Richard Pell and Jim Haney, exhibitor<br />
co-chairmen.<br />
Columbus — Claude McKean, distributors;<br />
J. P. Finneran and Al Thompson, exhibitors.<br />
Evansville and Vincennes—R. L. Brentlinger,<br />
distributors; Oscar Fine and Gus<br />
Hargis, exhibitors.<br />
Bedford and Bloomington—Sam Oshry, distributors:<br />
Arthur Clark and Fred Doughty,<br />
exhibitors.<br />
Terre Haute — Abe Gelman, distributors;<br />
Jack Flex and Stanley Cooper, exhibitors.<br />
Fort Wayne—T. O. McCleaster, distributors;<br />
Al Borkenstein and J. R. Boice, exhibitors.<br />
Louisville—W. C. Hames, distributors: Sam<br />
J. Switow and Earl Payne, exhibitors.<br />
Muncie—G. R. Frank, distributors: Vic<br />
Sicilia and Arthur Arveson, exhibitors.<br />
Kokomo—Gene Tunick, distributors: Sam<br />
Neall and Tim Cleary, exhibitors.<br />
Logansport—W. K. Embleton, distributors;<br />
H. Lisle Krieghbaum and W. T. Studebaker,<br />
exhibitors.<br />
Lafayette—B. N. Peterson and Ted Liabtag,<br />
distributors, and Harry Frederickson and<br />
Robert Jackson, exhibitors.<br />
Tent 10 Golf Tourney<br />
Attracts 250 Guests<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Two hundred and fifty<br />
members and guests of Indianapolis Variety<br />
Tent 10 attended the annual golf tournament<br />
at the Indianapolis Country club. Ernest<br />
Miller, local exhibitor, won a trophy for low<br />
gross, with 77. The presentation was made<br />
by Chief Barker Tom McCleaster.<br />
Claude McKean, chairman of the affair,<br />
gave Rus.sell Bleeke of U-I a wrist watch,<br />
the door prize. William Leihr, Terre Haute,<br />
was low handicap winner. Prizes for longest<br />
drives were given to R. Shraeder of Terre<br />
Haute and John Abel of Louisville. Their<br />
drives were 271 yards and 270% yards, respectively.<br />
Speakers included Lieut.-Gov. John Watkins,<br />
Mayor Phillip Bayt, "Red" Mackey,<br />
athletic director of Purdue university, and<br />
Warner Bros, featured player Gene Baxter.<br />
McCleaster was master of ceremonies.<br />
Special award winners were Herschel Weinberg,<br />
Louisville: Louis Cole, Louisville, and<br />
Abe Gelman, Columbia. Over 220 prizes were<br />
given. Burdette Peterson, chairman of the<br />
Heart fund, said all profits would be used for<br />
charity.<br />
Death Takes Henry Raiss, 79<br />
LOUISVILLE—Henry Raiss, 79, operator of<br />
the Oak, Park. Ideal and Tower theatres,<br />
died at his home here.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951<br />
67
. . . Milt<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . George<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
ST .<br />
LOUIS<br />
fJarry Kahan, head of the Harry Kahan<br />
Film Delivery Service, and his wife left<br />
for a vacation at Hot Springs . . . Bill Weiss<br />
is the new southern Illinois salesman for<br />
Screen Guild Productions. Bill traveled the<br />
St. Louis territory for Republic for 14 years.<br />
His addition to the Screen Guild organization<br />
will enable George Phillips, co-owner of<br />
the company, to devote his time to the eastern<br />
Missouri territory, while Herman Gorelick,<br />
co-owner, will handle St. Louis and St.<br />
Louis county.<br />
William Dillon, owner of the Dillon Theatre,<br />
Morehouse, Mo., and his wife, on their<br />
first vacation in many years, plan to visit<br />
their son, Kennard. a master sergeant with<br />
the air force in Michigan. Later they plan<br />
a visit to Niagara Palls and vicinity . . .<br />
Mrs. O. W. McCutcheon of Blytheville, Ark.,<br />
has returned home after about ten days in a<br />
Memphis, Tenn., hospital, where she went for<br />
a complete checkup and a rest.<br />
F. J. Lee, manager. United Artists, leaves<br />
August 28 for a business conference of the<br />
company's southern district in New Orleans<br />
Cohen, United Artists western division<br />
sales manager, was a visitor here before<br />
going on to Chicago. He will be in New<br />
Orleans for the conference of United Artists<br />
southern district managers.<br />
Exhibitors seen along Filmrow included<br />
Bernie Palmer, booker - buyer, Columbia<br />
Amusement Co., Paducah. Ky.: John Rees,<br />
Wellsville; Wayne Smith. Egyptian Drive-In,<br />
Herrin: Rani Pedrucci, feature booker, and<br />
Johnny Giachetto, short subjects booker.<br />
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Frisina Amusement Co., Springfield; Dick<br />
Fisher, Willow Springs; Frank X. Reller,<br />
Wentzville; Kenneth Hirth, Pacific; Eddie<br />
Rosecan, Hannibal; A. H. Boemler, Upper<br />
Alton, and Joe Goldfarb, Alton.<br />
Helen Pausch, United Artists booker, is<br />
making plans for her two-week vacation September<br />
Bob Hoff, sales manager, the<br />
8 . . . Ballantyne Co., made a brief visit to Arch<br />
Hosier, St. Louis Theatre Supply Co., en route<br />
back to Omaha from an eastern trip . . .<br />
George Kerasotes, general manager, Kerasotes<br />
Theatres, Springfield, is taking things<br />
easy at his home these days. He recently<br />
visited Mayo clinic at Rochester, Minn., for<br />
a checkup.<br />
Arch Hosier, St. Louis Theatre Supply Co.,<br />
visited Rolla, Lebanon and Sullivan and also<br />
took time for a brief visit to the Red Cro.ss<br />
training camp at Kaiser, Mo., where one of<br />
his daughters is a trainee . . . Lou Brown,<br />
office manager for Columbia, has purchased<br />
a five-room residence in Bel-Nor. They will<br />
move in about October 1, he hopes . . . Jim<br />
Rust, shipping clerk. National Theatre Supply,<br />
is home after spending several weeks in a<br />
local hospital. He hopes to return to work<br />
soon.<br />
The first<br />
television show at the new Shenandoah<br />
Theatre, 1,100-seater, promises to be<br />
a gala event. Lou Jablonow, general manager<br />
for Sam Komm Theatres, plans to invite a<br />
number of sports celebrities, sports writers and<br />
radio announcers to see the boxing championship<br />
to be televised here exclusively at the<br />
theatre . and Mrs. George Faith, Linn.<br />
Mo., owners of the Linn Theatre there, motored<br />
on a vacation jaunt to New York City<br />
and other eastern points. Their program will<br />
include a show in Radio City's famed Music<br />
Hall.<br />
.<br />
. . . The<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Forbes, Court Theatre,<br />
Vienna, spent a couple of days at the State<br />
Fail- in Sedalia Jonas, manager<br />
of the Rollamo, Rolla, underwent an appendectomy<br />
in a hospital there<br />
court of appeals here recently denied Hallmark<br />
Productions a rehearing in its injunction<br />
suit against Arthur C. Mosley, sheriff of<br />
St. Louis county, and the owners of the Skyline<br />
Drive-In. Bridgeton. The litigation involved<br />
a showing of the film "Mom and<br />
Dad," which was stopped by St. Louis county<br />
authorities.<br />
A lot fronting 13 feet on the west side of<br />
Sixth street and 55 feet on the Market street<br />
cutoff, which was sold to Marie 'V. Browne<br />
for use as a parking lot, at one time was part<br />
of the site of the famed old Hippodrome Theatre<br />
that was operated by Frank Talbot, a<br />
local motion picture pioneer. The Hippodrome<br />
was noted for its animal acts and other<br />
unusual vaudeville offerings in conjunction<br />
with silent films.<br />
The Quincy Drive-In, West Quincy, has<br />
added a four-coach streamlined miniature<br />
train as one of its attractions for youngsters.<br />
It carries 19 children on each trip. The fire<br />
truck also continues on the job each night<br />
to provide rides for the kiddies . . . Roy Disney,<br />
nephew of Walt, visited Russ Bovim,<br />
manager of Loew's State. Just out of college,<br />
Roy was on his way to Hollywood to<br />
take a job in his uncle's organization, Roy's<br />
First Run Business<br />
Booms in Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—Business boomed at first run<br />
houses. Premiere festivities for "Flying<br />
Leathernecks" gave the Woods a stellar week,<br />
and the Chicago, with "The Guy Who Came<br />
Back" and a stage show headed by Dinah<br />
Shore, had a hefty week. "That's My Boy"<br />
and a stage show had another big week at<br />
the Oriental.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Chicago—The Guy Who Come Back {20th-Fox),<br />
plus stage show 135<br />
Grand—Never Trust a Gambler (Col); Pickup<br />
(Col)<br />
Oriental That's My Boy (Para), plus stage sho<br />
iin<br />
2nd vk. .125<br />
Palace—Alice in Wonderland (RKO); Nature's<br />
Hali Acre (RKO), 3rd wk 125<br />
Roosevelt—Peking Express (Para); Two of a Kind<br />
(Col), 2nd wk 100<br />
State-Lake Captain Horatio Homblower (WB).<br />
2nd<br />
.120<br />
.Surf—Kon- Tiki (RKO), 3dr wk. ...<br />
..120<br />
Woods—Flying Leathernecks (RKO)<br />
Ziegleld—Tales of HoHmann (LP), 18th<br />
'My Boy' Scores 200<br />
At Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — <strong>Boxoffice</strong> receipts at<br />
local first run theatres were strong last week.<br />
Circle—Passage West (Para) 100<br />
Indiana— That's My Boy (Para); Two Gals and a<br />
Guy (UA) _..._ 200<br />
Keith's—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 2nd d. t<br />
wk<br />
_ 50<br />
Loews—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM); No<br />
Questions Asked ( MGM) 120<br />
Lyric Captain Horatio Homblower (WB), 2nd<br />
d- t. wk 75<br />
father, Roy O. Disney, is president of Walt<br />
Disney Productions.<br />
Francis X. Bushman comes to town September<br />
1 to help boost the run of "David and<br />
Bathsheba," which opens at the St. Louis<br />
Owners of the<br />
Theatre September 7 . . .<br />
St. Charles Drive-In recently worked out a<br />
satisfactory agreement with the newly organized<br />
St. Charles operators union and<br />
pickets were withdrawn from in front of the<br />
theatre.<br />
Harry Miller of Festus, vacationing in<br />
Minnesota, met the champion angler of the<br />
Minnesota lakes in the person of Eddie Rosecan,<br />
owner of the Rialto in Hannibal<br />
Pete Medley, manager of the<br />
.<br />
McCutcheon<br />
Theatres at Sikeston, and his wife are vacationing<br />
in Florida . Airway, the North,<br />
Ronnie's and the Manchester drive-ins in<br />
St. Louis county are playing a first run engagement<br />
of "Warpath" day and date. The<br />
Airway and Manchester are owned by Midwest<br />
Drive-In Tlieatres, controlled by Phil<br />
Smith of Boston, Mass. The Wehrenberg<br />
family owns Ronnie's and has a 50-50 interest<br />
with Clarence Kaimann in the North.<br />
Airer Custodian Beaten<br />
MIDLOTHIAN, ILL.—A 61-year-old cleanup<br />
man and night watchman at the Twin<br />
Open Air Theatre, 87th and Cicero, was<br />
severely beaten recently when four holdup<br />
men were foiled in an attempt to rob the<br />
theatre's safe of $4,000. Carmen Dradzo received<br />
multiple lacerations about the head<br />
when one of the thugs pistol-whipped the<br />
attendant when he resisted their attempts to<br />
make him lie down on the floor of the concession.<br />
The bandits worked from 1:30 until<br />
4;00 a. m. before giving up in their attempt<br />
to open the safe.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 1, 1951
. . Mrs.<br />
. . Jack<br />
. .<br />
INDIANAPOLIS Kerasoles Takes Over<br />
fXTalter Titus jr., division sales manager, was<br />
at Republic. He also visited circuit heads<br />
in the city and at Fort Wayne, with Manager<br />
Ernest Smith of<br />
Bernard Bregar . . . the Devon at Francesville vacationed in<br />
the Grand Smoky mountains. While there,<br />
Mr. and<br />
he made a record catch of trout . . .<br />
Mrs. Gorrell of the Isis at Winamac are vacationing<br />
in Colorado Springs . . . Joseph St.<br />
Amand of the Flora, Flora, was vacationing in<br />
New York.<br />
Jack Sloan of the State at Windfall advanced<br />
to the last round of the Tipton city<br />
golf tournament . Hilda Long of the<br />
Hippodrome. Sheridan, reports that the office<br />
of her theatre was entered by burglars and<br />
ransacked. Nothing was taken . . . Carol Morris,<br />
biller at Columbia, and Gene Morgan<br />
were married Sunday (26). The couple will<br />
reside in Denver.<br />
Phillis Shackleford has left Paramount and<br />
joined Warners as assistant biller . . . Laura<br />
Heidenrich, former secretary at United Artists,<br />
is the mother of a baby girl, born at<br />
the Methodist hospital here . Dowd,<br />
manager of the Los Angeles Republic exchange,<br />
while talking to Gene Tunick of Lippert<br />
Pictures here over the telephone, informed<br />
him he was playing with Bob Hope<br />
at the Variety Club annual golf tournament<br />
there.<br />
Lillian Wright is the new assistant manager<br />
at the Lyric here. She formerly was<br />
cashier at the Indiana . . . D. J. Kelski, now<br />
manager at the Cantor circuit, has resigned.<br />
He did not discuss any future plans .<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. installed American<br />
Bodiform chairs in Evansville's Smartest<br />
Drive-In, operated by the Evansville Outdoor<br />
Amusement Corp.<br />
Seen on Filmrow were Marjorie McKean,<br />
Weil, Greenfield: Fletcher Brewer, State,<br />
Lafayette: R. L. Norton, Key, Red Key: W.<br />
C. Kohlhorst, Fairy, Napanee: Earl Payne,<br />
Switow circuit, Louisville; Harry Van Noy,<br />
Van Noy, Middletown; E. L. Ornstein, Ornstein<br />
circuit, Marengo, and Nick Palkos,<br />
Diana, Tipton.<br />
Peoria, III, Theatre<br />
SPRINGFIELD. ILL. — The Great States<br />
(Balaban & Katz) Rialto Theatre in Peoria<br />
has been sold to Kerasotes Theatres, it was<br />
jointly announced by George Kerasotes, general<br />
manager of Kerasotes Theatres, Springfield,<br />
and David Wallerstein, Great States<br />
Theatres executive, Chicago.<br />
Great States operates the Madison, Palace<br />
and Apollo theatres in Peoria and Kerasotes<br />
operates the Varsity and Beverly, neighborhood<br />
theatres. The Rialto seats 1,500 and<br />
has been operated on a first run policy by<br />
Great States. It will continue as a first run<br />
outlet under Kerasotes management, with<br />
the first booking "Jim Thorpe—All American"<br />
when the firm takes over Saturday (1 1<br />
Frank Larkin, manager of the Varsity and<br />
Beverly, will also assume the management of<br />
the Rialto. This makes 18 units in the Kera-.<br />
sotes circuit, which now has houses in<br />
Springfield, Havana, Canton, Pekin, Peoria.<br />
Chillicothe. Decatur, Rantoul, Onarga and<br />
Highland, 111.<br />
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Chicago Theatre Throws<br />
Show for Scrap Iron<br />
CHICAGO—The Gayety Theatre will<br />
open<br />
its doors for a free show September 1 to help<br />
the critical scrap iron shortage in south Chicago.<br />
Manager Edward N. Brown made the<br />
announcement that the motion picture house<br />
at 9207 Commercial Ave. would play host to<br />
the general public. It is one of the Alex<br />
Manta & Jack Rose Theatre Corp. houses.<br />
Admission is free with the deposit of two<br />
pounds of scrap. Joint sponsor is the Kiwanis<br />
club of south Chicago. When theatregoers<br />
come to the show at 9:00 a. m. they will deposit<br />
their scrap iron in the street in front<br />
of the theatre. A collector has been engaged<br />
to pick up the iron and will write a check<br />
for the scrap at current prices in favor of the<br />
club. The Kiwanians, in turn, will divide the<br />
amount between Boy Scout organizations in<br />
the Calumet district. "Chip of the Flying U"<br />
will be the feature at the free show, which is<br />
open to children and adults.<br />
Charles K. Peck jr., author of "Yankee<br />
Buccaneer," will write the screenplay for U-I.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 1, 1951 69
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Amusement Co. Drops<br />
Suit Against City<br />
SKOKIE, ILL.—The Skokie Amusement<br />
Co., operator of the newly opened Sunset<br />
Drive-In at McCormick and Touhy avenues,<br />
dismissed its $1,000,000 damage and injunction<br />
suit against the village of Skokie, its officials<br />
and the Illinois Drive-In. Attorney Philip<br />
R. Toomin, representing the plaintiffs, said,<br />
"We decided to bury the hatchet after we<br />
won the other ca.se in Illinois supreme court<br />
last March, now that the theatre is opened<br />
and operating."<br />
The legal battle began in superior court<br />
when the owners of the 18-acre theatre<br />
site obtained a mandamus order directing the<br />
village of Skokie to issue the drive-in a building<br />
permit. The federal case was filed when<br />
the permit was held up pending an appeal.<br />
The only defense offered in the federal case<br />
was that comity between state and federal<br />
courts required awaiting the outcome of the<br />
appeal.<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
pire caused the closing of Ben Marcus'<br />
Campus at Ripon. Damage was mo.stly<br />
from smoke, but the house will remain closed<br />
for six weeks to allow complete renovation<br />
August board meeting of the Allied<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin<br />
was combined with an outing at the summer<br />
home of Ray Trampe. This is a custom<br />
^egun by the late Charles W. Trampe and<br />
being carried on by his sons.<br />
Exhibitors Poster Service, operated by<br />
Frank Fischer, will close its doors after September<br />
30. Frank left National Screen Service<br />
a year ago to start his own poster company.<br />
A very good offer from one of the<br />
local breweries makes the closing necessary<br />
Jahnke reports excellent business<br />
with Mexican pictures at his south side<br />
Royal.<br />
Harry Perlewitz has reopened the Colonial.<br />
One of the largest subsequent run houses in<br />
the city, it was closed most of the summer<br />
migrating to Milwaukee for the<br />
Wisconsin state fair upped business during<br />
fair week . . . Several Milwaukee exhibitors<br />
went to Chicago to confer with Bob O'Donnell,<br />
chairman of COMPO's Movietime U.S.A.<br />
program.<br />
Joe Imhof, United Artists manager, has added<br />
Jack Dione to his staff to handle sales in<br />
Encouraging to<br />
the northern territory . . .<br />
everyone are the reports of closed theatres<br />
being reopened. Fox Wisconsin reopened its<br />
Riviera on the southside. The Tivoli, which<br />
had been open only on weekends, now is running<br />
full schedule. Joe Malits will reopen<br />
his Myra at Palmyra next month, and on<br />
August 25 Harry Perlewitz reopened the<br />
Parkway, which the Fox Wisconsin circuit<br />
closed last April.<br />
After two weeks of showing "Odette," the<br />
Downer, Milwaukee's prestige house, will follow<br />
with "Oliver Twist" . Artists<br />
cashier Esther Ohm returned from a week<br />
of vacationing at Antigo . Goldman,<br />
U-I manager, left for a two-week visit to the<br />
west coast, accompanied by his wife.<br />
CHI C A GO<br />
yavier Cugat signed a deal for a two-week<br />
engagement starting September 6 at the<br />
Theatremen and<br />
Oriental for $25,000 . . .<br />
businessmen in the neighborhood of the<br />
Adelphi Theatre on the north side mourned<br />
the death of Ludwig Sussman in Edgewater<br />
hospital after suffering a heart attack.<br />
He wa.s 64 years old and had operated<br />
the Adelphi for 25 years.<br />
The premiere of RKO's "His Kind of<br />
Woman," held last week at the Roosevelt,<br />
was sold out completely for the first two<br />
shows. Stars Jane Russell and Robert<br />
Mitchum appeared on the stage for the first<br />
shows. Admission prices are 98 cents all day<br />
instead of the usual 55 cents to 1 p. m., 65<br />
to 5 and 98 thereafter . McLaughlin,<br />
head of McLaughlin Trucking Co., has replaced<br />
the late Christian Otto as head of<br />
the United Film Carriers Ass'n.<br />
.<br />
Minsky's Rialto, featuring films and burlesque,<br />
is now charging $1.25 for evening<br />
admissions, an increase from 98 cents<br />
New RCA sound and projection<br />
. . .<br />
and screen<br />
have been installed in the Fort Theatre in<br />
Rock Island Sands is pinch-hitting<br />
as band leader at the Chicago Theatre for<br />
Louis Basil, on leave of absence.<br />
It is reported that the Garrick, Loop theatre<br />
owned by Balaban & Katz, may be<br />
converted into commercial stores. The house<br />
has been closed for several months. B&K<br />
also owns the ten-story building housing<br />
the theatre . P. Lamsky was<br />
named co-manager of the Astor Theatre .<br />
Leonard Utecht, former manager of the Lake<br />
and Manor in Oak Park for Essaness circuit,<br />
has joined Balaban & Katz as relief<br />
manager . Burke of Theatre Associates,<br />
Minneapolis, spent the weekend in Chicago<br />
Alliance circuit theatre in Kokomo,<br />
Ind., is trying out the Sam Gertz Screen<br />
Quiz game.<br />
Hert Chatkin, manager of Century Theatre,<br />
. . . Lee<br />
is vacationing in Wisconsin<br />
Campbell has leased the Rio in Edinburg,<br />
111., for five years from Albert Vetter. After<br />
modernization, he will reopen it as the Palace<br />
Lee ha-s been appointed manager<br />
of the Brad in Bradford . Lett,<br />
sales manager for Western Films, was a<br />
Max Levinson, for a<br />
business visitor . . .<br />
quarter of a century a leading distributor<br />
of theatre draperies and stage curtains, etc..<br />
is retiring from business and will make his<br />
home with his son in San Francisco.<br />
S. J. Gregory of the Alliance circuit returned<br />
from a California business trip . .<br />
.<br />
Dean Brown was named manager of the<br />
Fowler (Ind.) Theatre by the Alliance circuit<br />
Frank and George Reel joined<br />
the staff of the Alliance circuit in Terre<br />
Haute . 66 Drive-In at LaGrange is<br />
using radio promotion. Manager Ken Prickett<br />
tied in with an oil company to sponsor broadcasts<br />
with theatre passes as reward to mc/-<br />
torists interviewed on the program. The<br />
results were very good . advertising<br />
billboai'ds are being used extensively by<br />
RKO in boosting showings of "His Kind of<br />
Woman."<br />
Comedian Billy House has joined Patricia<br />
Medina and Johnny Sands in the cast of<br />
"Aladdin and His Lamp," a Monogram film.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
: September<br />
Bingo Ruled Illegal<br />
By Canton Judge<br />
CANTON, OHIO—Bingo, which in some<br />
areas is a more potent competitor of theatres<br />
than television, has been held illegal<br />
here by Stark County Common Pleas Judge<br />
D. Deane McLaughlin. He ruled that<br />
regardless of the nature of the sponsor,<br />
bingo is a lottery and therefore illegal under<br />
the laws of Ohio.<br />
Clayton Loder, commander of a war veterans<br />
organization, brought the test case<br />
June 8 and asked for a declaratory judgment<br />
to determine the legality of bingo when<br />
played for charitable purposes. The bingo<br />
operator, as a rule, makes substantial profits<br />
from the operation and seeks to circumvent<br />
the law itself by making token donations to<br />
charity. Judge McLaughlin declared. Bingo drives.<br />
parlors in Canton were closed last spring.<br />
Bank Night and Bingo Ruled<br />
Illegal at Alliance<br />
ALLIANCE, OHIO—Theatre bank nights,<br />
bingo and other "schemes of chance" are<br />
illegal and prohibited by the Ohio constitution,<br />
according to a recent ruling by municipal<br />
Judge Harry S. Wykoff. The judge said<br />
that these games are illegal even when operated<br />
for charity.<br />
He gave the ruling in a case involving<br />
Marsch Theatres, which operates three theatres<br />
and has bank night each Wednesday,<br />
offering prizes up to $1,000. Judge Wykoff<br />
said such bank nights should be halted by<br />
law enforcement officers. However, any police<br />
action in Alliance is expected to be delayed<br />
until after final appeals are made.<br />
Mayor Harley R. Ewing said copies of the<br />
opinion would be sent not only to the theatre<br />
operators, but also to any others who appeared<br />
to be engaged in schemes of chance.<br />
Paul G. Trunick, 49, Dies<br />
In Boating Accident<br />
CORAOPOLIS. PA.—Paul G. Trunick, 49,<br />
building contractor and operator of the<br />
Penn-Lincoln Drive-In on Route 22-30 near<br />
Imperial, drowned recently (21) in Curve<br />
lake near Peterborough, Ont., when his 18-<br />
foot boat apparently swamped during a<br />
storm. His son Robert, who had accompanied<br />
him on a fishing trip, was in a nearby town<br />
purchasing supplies when the accident occurred.<br />
The empty boat was found the next<br />
day and Trunick's body was recovered on<br />
August 23. He was a native of Clarksburg,<br />
W. Va.<br />
Besides his son, Trunick is survived by his<br />
wife Kathryn, daughter Thelma, his father,<br />
a brother and a sister.<br />
Several weeks ago, Anthony DeAscentis,<br />
23, manager of the Colonial Drive-In on<br />
Route 51, was drowned in Lake Erie.<br />
Ochs and Schwyn Circuits<br />
Deal on Indiana Ozoners<br />
CLEVELAND—Herbert Ochs, head of the<br />
Ochs-operated drive-in circuit, and Jack<br />
Armstrong, general manager of the Carl<br />
Schwyn circuit of Bowling Green, together<br />
announced consummation of a deal whereby<br />
the Schwyn interests take over the Wayne<br />
and Sunset drive-ins at Fort Wayne, Ind.,<br />
on a long-term lease effective September 1.<br />
Maurice White to Head<br />
Cincinnati Movietime<br />
KATO Holds Two Meetings<br />
To Discuss Tax Relief<br />
LOUISVILLE — The Kentucky Ass'n of<br />
Theatre Owners has held two regional meetings<br />
to discuss elimination of the state admissions<br />
tax and to talk about showmanship<br />
and methods of increasing theatre attendance.<br />
The meetings, called for the various<br />
congressional districts, started August 6 with<br />
a meeting at Mayfield, where Director C. K.<br />
Ai-nold explained plans for showmanship<br />
First District Dii'ector Ned Greene and<br />
Jack Keller approved the plan and also<br />
approved one seeking tax relief.<br />
The second meeting was held at Sanders<br />
court near Corbin on August 23 and it was<br />
emphasized that if the existing state admissions<br />
tax were eliminated theatre owners<br />
would be able to make money. The tax now<br />
is 10 per cent. It was revealed that the theatre<br />
owners would ask various attorneys to<br />
initiate suit soon to have the statute declared<br />
void as being both confiscatory and<br />
discriminatory under the Kentucky Constitution.<br />
E. L. Ornstein, C. K. Arnold and Ralph<br />
McClanahan make up the committee in<br />
charge of the conferences.<br />
Variety Tent I Outing<br />
On Next Sunday<br />
PITTSBURGH—Rain or shine, the Variety<br />
Club will hold its outing Sunday. September<br />
9, at Camp O'Donnell near Warrendale. A<br />
beef and lamb barbecue and a corn roast<br />
will be served from 3 o'clock in the afternoon.<br />
A sports program will start at noon and<br />
there will be motion pictures, vaudeville and<br />
dancing in the evening. The big party is for<br />
Variety Club members, their families and<br />
their guests.<br />
CINCINNATI—The Movietime U.S.A. kickoff<br />
meeting here August 22 followed the national<br />
pattern with<br />
much success. The<br />
meeting was held at<br />
the Variety elubrooms<br />
and they were filled to<br />
capacity. Representatives<br />
of all the distribution<br />
companies, Cincinnati<br />
and many outof-town<br />
exhibitors attended.<br />
Maurice White, local<br />
exhibitor who was<br />
asked by Martin Smith,<br />
Maurice White president of ITOO, to<br />
be acting chairman, was prevailed upon to<br />
become permanent chairman of Movietime<br />
Cincinnati U.S.A. Credit for the terrific attendance,<br />
in addition to the fine efforts of<br />
Maury White in sending out 600 letters, was<br />
due to the work of Rube Shor. secretarytreasurer<br />
of West Virginia Allied, who contacted<br />
all associated members of his organization.<br />
Bob O'Donnell and COMPO Counsel Bob<br />
Coyne made the principal addresses, with<br />
the recording of Rev. Alexander's speech being<br />
played here as it was elsewhere following<br />
the initial success with it at the inaugural<br />
Movietime in Texas meeting. Movietime U.S.A.<br />
was outlined in detail locally.<br />
O'Donnell and Coyne had held a meeting<br />
that morning in Indianapolis and were given<br />
a hand for being real troupers when they<br />
arrived later in Cincinnati. Ti'ueman Rembusch<br />
drove them to this city in order not<br />
to disappoint those attending the meeting<br />
here at 2 p. m. After their two meetings<br />
August 22. the men left at 6 p. m. for the<br />
Movietime gathering scheduled in Chicago<br />
the next day.<br />
Along with William Perlberg, producer-director-writer<br />
George Seaton will produce<br />
"Somebody Loves Me" for Paramount.<br />
Schwyn Chieftain Says Business Is Better<br />
CLEVELAND — Jack Armstrong, general<br />
manager of the Carl Schwyn circuit, operating<br />
a chain of five outdoor and six indoor<br />
theatres, is a practical optimist. He believes<br />
the picture business is on the upswing and<br />
he bases his optimism on the simple fact that<br />
"the business is there if you go and get it."<br />
He has been going after the business in the<br />
situations in which he is interested, using all<br />
media of advertising.<br />
"We have excellent response to our TV advertising<br />
programs." Armstrong said. "In most<br />
of our situations our business is better this<br />
year than it was during the same months<br />
last year."<br />
The Schwyn outdoor theatres are Van<br />
Del. Delphos: Skylite, Portage; Springbrook,<br />
Lima; Wayne and Sunset, Fort Wayne. Ind.<br />
Indoor theatres owned by the circuit are the<br />
Clazel, Lyric, Bowling Green: State, Napoleon;<br />
State, Paramount, Lyric, Toledo. JACK ARMSTRONG<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
1, 1951 ME 71
. . Joe<br />
. . . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . "Movietime<br />
. . Bus<br />
co-chairmen<br />
. . W.<br />
. .<br />
. . . The<br />
; September<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
. . . J. L.<br />
n large crowd of Filmrow friends were<br />
guests of Ed Troll, Charles Szewczyk and<br />
Charles Blatt. exhibitors, at the Somerset<br />
Country club last week (23K Enjoyed by all<br />
were golf, billiards, pool, cards, and excellent<br />
Harmon,<br />
food and refreshments<br />
manager of the Chicora Drive-In, guaranteed<br />
"the finest in family movies" over his signature<br />
on "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain"<br />
. . . David Green's Beacon in the Squirrel<br />
Hill di.strict presented the initial city showing<br />
of 20th-Fox's "Of Men and Music" . . .<br />
Andy Chakeres of McKeesport's Vogue Terrace<br />
and Somerset's Roof Garden Drive-In<br />
was in New York on business . De-<br />
Mann, 'Warner Theatre projectionist, and<br />
family vacationed.<br />
Bernard "Dutch" Lauth, Fulton projectionist,<br />
has recuperated after an operation in<br />
Lou Hanna of Acme-<br />
Mercy hospital . . .<br />
Franklin-Hanna enterprises, reports that<br />
while he vacationed with his family in<br />
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RUSH PLAY DATES AND SELECTIONS—<br />
WRITE—WIR£—PHONl—FOR TERMS<br />
A. I. ST. CLAIR<br />
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ATLAS THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Gordon Gibson. Mgr.<br />
402 Miltenberger St., GRant 1-4281. Pittsbursh, Pa.<br />
MOTIOGRAPH — MIRROPHONIC<br />
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SAM FINEBERG<br />
TOM McCLEARY<br />
84 Van Broom Street<br />
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Phone Express 1-0777<br />
er • How's Your Equipment?<br />
Atlantic City, he saw a number of familiar<br />
faces, including the Bart Dattolas of New<br />
Kensington, the Morris Nafts of McKees<br />
Rocks, Leonard Perers of Greenfield avenue,<br />
Bob Kimelman and family of the Co-op<br />
office, Irv Jacobs of MGM, Howard Minsky<br />
of Paramount, Rose Leibhart of 'Warner<br />
Bros., and others of the industry.<br />
VV. M. Lod^e, McConnellsburg exhibitor. Ls<br />
hospitalized in Washington . . . J. M. Carroll,<br />
20th-Fox auditor, was at the local branch<br />
Sunset Beach Drive-In near Washington,<br />
Pa., celebrated its fifth anniversary<br />
with gifts for adults, including electric mixer,<br />
tire and tube, free popcorn and souvenirs to<br />
. . . Cpl. Arthur<br />
kiddies for a full week, with four bicycles as<br />
awards plus a Phil Lewis stage show and fireworks<br />
. . . Sgt. Karl Eagle, son of the Charles<br />
Eagles of the Stanley here, was awarded the<br />
American Spirit Honor medal at Camp Gordon,<br />
Ga.<br />
Daniel Neuman, sign artist<br />
Neuman,<br />
for<br />
son of<br />
the Warner<br />
circuit, is at Mitchell Field following a furlough<br />
which he enjoyed here<br />
Murray, who is<br />
.<br />
manager of the<br />
. . George<br />
Casino for<br />
the new season, is a former burlesque comedian.<br />
Casino shows are being produced here<br />
by Eileen Hubert. Motion picture shorts<br />
have been eliminated.<br />
.<br />
Blair county's top male and female quartets<br />
competed at Fabian's State in Altoona in<br />
an "On Moonlight Bay" contest, the stage program<br />
being broadcast by WRTA . L.<br />
Dunn. Cochranton exhibitor and contractor,<br />
has been awarded another state highway<br />
construction job in Conneaut township on his<br />
bid of $64,823 . . . Marion Marshall of "That's<br />
My Boy" made personal appearances on stage<br />
at Dipson's Plaza in Erie and served as ticket<br />
seller for a half hour. Directed by Jerome<br />
Pickman. Paramount's publicity chief. Miss<br />
Marshall awarded 15 prizes for costumes and<br />
beards in connection with Erie's Centennial<br />
events Oriental and Family theatres<br />
at Rochester, Pa., were closed for three<br />
days out of respect for the late Emil Winograd<br />
The Ambridge at Ambridge. cooperating<br />
. . . with Refrigeration Engineering,<br />
staged a Crosley console television set giveaway<br />
plus twenty $75 gift certificate awards.<br />
Mrs. I. C. Mishler, widow of the Altoona<br />
Theatre pioneer, participated in the exploitation<br />
campaign for "Iron Man" when Cindy<br />
Garner and Frank Van were Altoona visitors.<br />
Arthur Frozio, Fabian city manager, and<br />
Jack Day, manager of the Strand, honored<br />
the U-I guests at a luncheon in Altoona's<br />
Penn-Alto hotel ... A Jerrold community<br />
antenna system will bring television reception<br />
to Bellefonte. The system is being used successfully<br />
in the Panther Creek Valley, in<br />
PottsviUe and in Mahoney City in eastern<br />
Pennsylvania, and is being installed in Harrisburg<br />
and Lock Haven . and trolley<br />
fares are being increased throughout the entire<br />
area . John<br />
"<br />
H. Harris, Moe Silver and Fred Beedle announce<br />
that Bob O'Donnell will be here Friday<br />
(7) to report on final plans for the campaign<br />
which opens within a few weeks .<br />
The Rialto at Evans City is scheduled to reopen<br />
September 14 for weekend operation.<br />
Mrs. Bessie E. Kihchel of the Kihchel at<br />
Jeannette has been on the sick list . . . The<br />
Fulton, which did only about 70 per cent of<br />
capacity business on its last boxing show<br />
via television to screen, will increase admission<br />
price to $2.60, all taxes included, for the<br />
September 12 return match of Sugar Ray<br />
. . . Warren<br />
Robinson and Randy Turpin<br />
Caro of the Theatre Guild was here regarding<br />
bookings for the Nixon . . . The Astor in<br />
Syracuse, N. Y., being renovated for early<br />
opening, has been acquired under lea.se by<br />
Tony Ripepi, Joe Volpe and Bert M. Stearn<br />
M. A. Silver Tenth Anniversary<br />
Showmanship drive, with all Warner theatres<br />
in the zone participating, extends from September<br />
2 to November 10. Harry M. Kalmine,<br />
circuit's general manager, who directed the<br />
local zone for a long period prior to Silver's<br />
arrival here ten years ago, and Harry Goldberg,<br />
advertising director, were here to launch<br />
the new showmanship season campaign.<br />
'My Boy' Hits Big 215<br />
In Cleveland Stale<br />
CLE'VrELAND—"That's My Boy" was the<br />
biggest thing in town last week, grossing a<br />
sensational 215 per cent in its first seven<br />
days. People also liked "The Secret of Convict<br />
Lake" which piled up a very satisfactory<br />
130 at the Palace. Grosses all down the line<br />
showed a definite and sustained upswing with<br />
baseball and the Cleveland Indians as the<br />
hottest competition.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Allen—Capiain Horatio Homblovrer (WB), 2nd<br />
wk<br />
Hippodrome — The Texas Rangers (Col);<br />
115<br />
Loma<br />
Doone (Col) 100<br />
Lower Mall— Alice in Wonderland (Souvaine) 100<br />
Ohio Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM), 3rd d. t.<br />
wk 120<br />
Palace—The Secret of Convict Lake (20th-Fox)....130<br />
State—That's My Boy (Para) _ 215<br />
Slillman—Passage West (Para) 75<br />
Tower—Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (20th-Fox),<br />
2nd d t wk 110<br />
Four Cincinnati Houses<br />
Go Over Par in Period<br />
CINCINNATI—A slight improvement was<br />
noted in the latest period, with four of the<br />
downtown theatres reaching par and over.<br />
"Alice in Wonderland" (RKO) was moved to<br />
the Lyric for a third downtown week and<br />
"Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell" remained in<br />
the Capitol Theatre for a holdover week.<br />
MGM's "Kind Lady" was advertised locally<br />
as "The Killer and the Kind Lady."<br />
Albee—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 2nd wk 120<br />
Capitol-Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (20th-Fox) .100<br />
Grand—The Tall Target (MGM); Kind Lady<br />
(MGM) 90<br />
Keiths—Warpath (Para) 85<br />
Lyric—On MoonUght Bay (WB), 3rd d. t. wk 110<br />
Palace—Sirocco (Col) 110<br />
'Hornblower' Hits High,<br />
Held Over in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH — "Captain Horatio Hornblower"<br />
at the Stanley was the high man and<br />
won a holdover. Other offerings hit under<br />
par.<br />
Fulton—House on Telegraph Hill (20th-Fox); Ohl<br />
Susanna (Rep) 50<br />
Harris— Sirocco (Col) _ 75<br />
Penn—The Law and the Lady (MGM) 75<br />
Stanley—Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB) 110<br />
Warner—On Moonlight Bay (WB), 2nd d. t. wk. 90<br />
Reopens at Aliquippa<br />
ALIQUIPPA. PA.—The Temple here was<br />
reopened August 31 with "Samson and<br />
Delilah" featured. Dark in recent months,<br />
the house is a Notopoulos circuit operation.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;<br />
1, 1951
. . . Amusement<br />
WEST VIRGINIA<br />
. . . Tlie Rivesville council expects<br />
. . . Sky-View<br />
T^ewey Marraccini, Exhibitors Service's quarter-of-a-century<br />
key man in central<br />
West Virginia, and his wife vacationed at La<br />
Porte, Ind.<br />
to receive $3,200 from amusement taxes<br />
for the current fiscal year<br />
Drive-In near Phillippi offered Toby Stroud<br />
and the Blue Mountain Boys in a stage show<br />
tax at Fairview will bring in<br />
only $150 this year.<br />
The Palace Furniture Co. employes at<br />
Clarksburg and members of their families,<br />
totaling more than 200. had a grand afternoon<br />
outing and picnic at Warner's Skyline.<br />
They enjoyed swimming, soft ball, lawn tennis,<br />
horseshoe contests, riding a tiny train<br />
and feeding several dozen animals. Dinner<br />
was served on the patio adjoining the theatre's<br />
. . . Speedway<br />
refreshment building Drive-In near Clarksburg featured "Children<br />
of the Sun." a nudist film, and "Mad Youth"<br />
. . . Victoria at Wheeling presented Virginia<br />
Mayo Enchanted roses to 1.000 ladies at the<br />
opening of "Captain Horatio Hornblower."<br />
Wheeling's budget for the current year<br />
shows that the city anticipates $33,000 from<br />
its amusement tax. Net July receipts from<br />
the state's new soft drink tax was $186,952.06.<br />
Upholstering. Repairing,<br />
Rearranging & Installing.<br />
1<br />
EXPERT<br />
THEATRE SEATS
. . John<br />
. . Bob<br />
. . Jack<br />
. .<br />
. . . Norman<br />
. . Penny<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
n ttention, Oidtimers! If you want to brush<br />
up on how your fellow exhibitors looked<br />
some 30 years ago, ask Hazel Mack of NSS<br />
to show you the photo she has of an industry<br />
outing held back in 1918. Picture includes<br />
B. Horwitz. Howard Reif, Meyer Fine, Jack<br />
Sogg. Frank Greenwald. Art Ehrlich and<br />
many others.<br />
Sanford Leavitt of Washington Circuit took<br />
FOR SALE<br />
Complete Booth Equipment<br />
Including<br />
GENERATORS AND<br />
SOUND SYSTEM<br />
ALL IN PERFECT CONDITION<br />
MAX GEALER<br />
ASSOCIATED THEATRES<br />
1326 Dime BIdg. Detroit 26, Mich,<br />
woodward 3-1520<br />
Thehtre EquipniEnT Co.<br />
L O L THEATRE CONCESSION<br />
INCREASED PROFITS - DECREASED WORRIES<br />
PERSONAUZED SUPERVISED SERVICE<br />
DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR THEATRES<br />
2937 SI. Aubin Detroit 7, Mich.<br />
Phone Te. I33S2 Te. 13884<br />
Distributors<br />
(111 y 71 UL);l ;)?})) ,„ ,he state of<br />
Michigan<br />
RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />
106 Michigan St., N. W.. Grond Hapids 2, Mich.<br />
his family to see Niagara Falls and during<br />
the 36-hour trip ran into the Al Sunshines of<br />
Advanads and the Manny Stutzes of Four<br />
Continent Films. The Stutzes were en route<br />
to Toronto . . . Max Mink, manager of the<br />
RKO Palace, played host to all Korean veterans<br />
in uniform for the opening of "Flying<br />
Leathernecks" . Bixler, former Warner<br />
now doing<br />
.<br />
salesman in the Toledo territory, is<br />
Jack Gertz of the Jack L. Gertz Enterprises<br />
He 35-<br />
exploitation for Paramount in his home<br />
is now a hotel owner. bought the state of Texas.<br />
room Mountain Manor located at Saluda,<br />
N. C, said to be 2,900-feet above sea level Jerry Wechsler, local Warner branch manager,<br />
Nate Schutz<br />
was briefed on coming Warner attrac-<br />
and modern in all details . . . has taken the Almira Theatre out of summer<br />
tions and sales policies at a district sales<br />
mothballs and is reopening it on Labor<br />
meeting held last week in Pittsburgh<br />
day . . . Albert W. Dolan, projectionist and Lillian Behm, receptionist at the U-I exchange,<br />
is on vacation . . . RKO home of-<br />
pioneer member of lATSE Local 160, died this<br />
past week. He had been projectionist at fice auditor Dan Rosenberg is a local RKO<br />
Loevv's State Theatre. Surviving are three branch visitor . . . Visitors of the week included<br />
sons, Albert W. jr.. William G. and Robert A.<br />
George Carmack of Carmack Theatre,<br />
Bluffton; Ellsworth Staup from Delphos,<br />
Frank Slavik of Middlefield, AI Ploenes from<br />
Akron and Joe Calla of Canton.<br />
John Osborne and Weldon Walters of West<br />
Virginia Theatrical Enterprises with headquarters<br />
in Wheeling. W. Va.. were on Filmrow<br />
booking for the Capitol Theatre at Steubenville<br />
and the Super 30 Drive-In at North<br />
Canton Thompson is handling<br />
.<br />
the local roadshow engagement of "Tales of<br />
Hoffmann" for Lopert Films. Picture opens<br />
September 7 at the Hanna Theatre, the town's<br />
only legitimate theatre.<br />
All the MGM-ers spent last Tuesday (21i<br />
at Geneva-on-the-Lake to enjoy the MGM<br />
Pep club's annual summer picnic. Program<br />
included swimming, dancing, miniature golf<br />
and. of course, eating . Silverthorne.<br />
manager of the Hippodrome, had as guests<br />
one matinee last week, 500 members of the<br />
Cleveland School Safety Patrol, headed by<br />
Capt. Arthur Roth, head of the Cleveland<br />
Police Safety Dept. They saw "The Texas<br />
Rangers" and "Lorna Doone," the current<br />
movie program.<br />
J. S. Jossey, missing most of the summer<br />
because of his health, is back in circulation<br />
again and looking fit as a fiddle . . . Martin<br />
G. Smith, ITOO president, after a prolonged<br />
convalescence following an operation, is back<br />
at his desk and, according to his own statement,<br />
"feeling fine." His voice, now in the<br />
whispering stage, is guaranteed to be back in<br />
full vigor within 24 months.<br />
Herbert Ochs Opening<br />
Ninth Airer in Canada<br />
CLEVELAND—Herbert Ochs will spend the<br />
next four weeks in Canada, officiating at the<br />
opening of his ninth dominion drive-in, the<br />
Star Top Theatre in Ottawa. Tlie ozoner<br />
had a scheduled opening date for August 30.<br />
Jack Ochs, who is in charge of circuit booking,<br />
is spending two weeks visiting the circuit's<br />
units.<br />
'Rhubarb' Pursues Tasty Golf Balls<br />
For scenes in "Rhubarb" Producer William<br />
Perlberg used fish balls rolled into the shape<br />
of golf pellets and the cat, "Rhubarb," pursued<br />
them with gusto.<br />
Independent Poster Suit<br />
Against NSS Settled<br />
CLEVELAND—An antitrust action against<br />
National Screen Service, all distributors and<br />
Nat Barach, representing National Screen<br />
as Cleveland branch manager, filed last year<br />
by the Independent Poster Rental Co., has<br />
been settled out of court, according to attorney<br />
Samuel T. Gaines.<br />
Independent Poster Rental Co. was formed<br />
by a local group headed by Jack L. Gertz.<br />
The action charged NSS and all of the defendants<br />
with monopolistic practices "achieved<br />
by defendant National Screen Service through<br />
the concert of action on the part of all<br />
defendants which made it impossible for the<br />
plaintiff to carry on its business in a fair,<br />
open and competitive market."<br />
Plaintiff asked triple damages in the<br />
amount of $45,000. Terms of the settlement<br />
were not disclo.sed.<br />
Burglars Rob Akron House<br />
Three Times in Ten Days<br />
AKRON—For the third time in 10 days,<br />
burglars visited the Tivoli Theatre, but this<br />
time owner Jack Flemm said that soft drinks,<br />
popcorn and potato chips seemed to be the<br />
only loot taken. Entrance was gained through<br />
a ventilating window in the rear of the<br />
theatre.<br />
Previously burglars broke into the office<br />
and projection booth and took loose change,<br />
wrapped money, flashlights and tools. He<br />
estimated damage to the building and value<br />
of the stolen goods at SIOO. Flemm said that<br />
on the first two occasions, the burglars apparently<br />
hid in the theatre after the final<br />
show and then escaped through an exit door.<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
pjavid and Bathsheba" will play the RKO<br />
Grand soon and "Tales of Hoffmann" will<br />
have a roadshow engagement at the art<br />
World in October . Howard, who<br />
majored in journalism at Ohio State, has<br />
succeeded Marian Sweeting as John Barcroft's<br />
assistant in his local publicity office.<br />
Mrs. Sweeting had been associated with Barcroft's<br />
publicity interests for the past 10<br />
years.<br />
Audrey Lee Jacobs of Columbus has been<br />
appointed executive secretary of Hallmark<br />
Productions at Wilmington. She has held a<br />
secretarial position with the Farm Bureau<br />
Insurance office here for the past eight years<br />
Nadel, Citizen theatre editor,<br />
said in a column that installation of theatre<br />
TV is "in the offing" for at least one Columbus<br />
theatre and perhaps several. "When<br />
it arrives it will launch a new phase of show<br />
business here," Nadel said.<br />
Johnny Jones, Dispatch columnist, advocated<br />
"one big talent week" for Ohio State,<br />
university in which talent scouts and others<br />
would be invited, along with radio, television<br />
and stage representatives . . . The Hadacol<br />
Caravan show will appear September 5 at<br />
the grandstand in the Ohio state fairgrounds.<br />
Names to appear, for boxtop admissions, include<br />
Dick Haymes, Carmen Miranda, Rochester,<br />
Jack Dempsey and Candy Candido.<br />
This is the first appearance of the Hadacol<br />
show here.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 1, 1951
300 NEW ENGLAND EXHIBITORS<br />
KICK OFF MOVIETIME DRIVE<br />
'We're on Our Way Up/<br />
Arthur Mayer Avers<br />
At Boston Rally<br />
BOSTON — "We are on om- way up. The<br />
tide is turning. With your help we are going<br />
to make Movietime U.S.A. into Boomtime<br />
U.S.A."<br />
This was the inspirmg word given to more<br />
than 300 exhibitors, representing more than<br />
400 theatres throughout New England, who<br />
gathered at the Bradford hotel here last week<br />
for the Movietime in New England-U.S.A.<br />
kickoff luncheon. The speaker was Arthur<br />
Mayer, executive vice-president of COMPO.<br />
"I believe that this is the most important<br />
meeting ever held in this city," declared Martin<br />
Mullin, one of the New England co-chairmen<br />
for the Movietime campaign.<br />
Sam Pinanski, TOA president, emphasized<br />
that TOA is behind the drive 100 per cent.<br />
Other speakers and head-table leaders<br />
present were R. J. O'Donnell, general manager<br />
of the Interstate circuit of Texas and<br />
national director of the Movietime drive; Bob<br />
Coyne, COMPO; Nathan Yamins, Fall River;<br />
E. X. Callahan, Boston, and Harry Browing,<br />
publicity head for the campaign.<br />
"In a way I am glad that that article appeared<br />
in Life magazine," Mayer said. "It<br />
excites the fighting spirit of om- exhibitors.<br />
We are seeking to answer them by placing an<br />
article in Look and, perhaps, in Collier's."<br />
O'Donnell related plans for the forthcoming<br />
campaign.<br />
"On September 24 the Lux Radio Hour Theatre<br />
program will be called 'A Salute to the<br />
Industry' and will have six scenes over the<br />
air from six unreleased films," he said. "On<br />
October 1 there will be a nationwide newspaper<br />
campaign to cost $400,000 all listing<br />
and exploiting 20 outstanding films. On October<br />
8, and lasting four days, there will be a<br />
'personality campaign' when stars, directors,<br />
writers and producers will be sent to the<br />
capitals of each state to lunch with the governors.<br />
Later they will fan out to the principal<br />
cities and towns to visit newspapers and<br />
to make radio appearances."<br />
Arthur Lockwood, treasurer for Movietime<br />
in New England, explained that exhibitors<br />
are being asked to make per-seat contributions<br />
to the war chest, based on five cents a<br />
seat for first runs, three cents for subsequent<br />
runs and two cents for others.<br />
125 Attend Rally<br />
Held at New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN—Warner circuit managers<br />
and Poll circuit showmen joined area exhibitors<br />
in swelUng to more than 125 the total<br />
of theatremen at the first Movietime U.S.A.<br />
meeting here. Mayor William Celentano addressed<br />
the group gathered at the Bijou<br />
Theatre to hear Bob O'Donnell outline the<br />
showmanship campaign in his capacity as<br />
national chairman. The group also heard<br />
recorded talks by Bill McCraw and the Rev.<br />
William Alexander. In addition to O'Donnell's<br />
talk, Robert Coyne, COMPO corporation<br />
counsel, was also heard in person.<br />
The committee for Movietime in New England-U.S.A. greets Robert J. O'Donnell,<br />
national chairman of the campaign, on his arrival in Boston. Left to right:<br />
E. X. Callahan, division manager for 20th-Fox, distributor chairman; Martin J.<br />
Mullin, president of New England Theatres; O'Donnell; Samuel Pinanski, president<br />
of American Theatres Corp., and Nathan Yamins, president of Yamins Theatres<br />
and director of National Allied.<br />
RKO Albee Resumes Issue<br />
Of Scrip; Good on Popcorn<br />
PRO'VIDENCE—The RKO Albee, resuming<br />
a practice that v/as discontinued shortly<br />
after the start of World War II, is featuring<br />
books of tickets in denominations of $1, $3,<br />
$5 and $10 that save the purchaser 10 per<br />
cent on admissions. The "Kiddy books" are<br />
valued at $1. The books are redeemable at<br />
any RKO theatre in continental United<br />
States.<br />
An additional feature offered by the local<br />
RKO house, one that has never been presented<br />
heretofore, makes it possible for the<br />
purchasers of these special books to apply<br />
tickets toward the purchase of popcorn or<br />
any other refreshment on sale in the theatre<br />
concession.<br />
To announce and popularize the ticket<br />
books. Manager Dave Levin prepared a<br />
dramatic display in the Albee lobby, "suggesting"<br />
that the books would make excellent<br />
gifts for anniversaries, Christmas and all<br />
special occasions. The stunt, while not new,<br />
is newsworthy and is stimulating considerable<br />
interest here.<br />
New Haven Zone Winners<br />
Named by WB Circuit<br />
NEW HAVEN— Winners in the .second half<br />
the Warner Theatres Best Summer show-<br />
of<br />
manship drive were Murray Howard, manager<br />
of the Warner Worcester, $100; Irving Hillman<br />
of the Empress, Danbury, $50, and John<br />
Scanlon of the Warner, Torrington, $25.<br />
Thirty-six theatres in the zone which has its<br />
headquarters here competed with original<br />
campaigns involving no-cost promotions.<br />
The campaigns will now be forwarded to<br />
New York to compete in the national contest.<br />
John Hesse, district manager, praised the<br />
novel and exhaustive programs produced by<br />
the theatre managers.<br />
Stamford Ridgeway<br />
Opened by P. S. Purdy<br />
STAMFORD, CONN.—The new 1,200-seat<br />
Ridgeway Center Theatre, of which Paul S.<br />
Purdy, formerly with Kounaris & Tolls Theatres,<br />
is general manager, was opened here<br />
Thursday (30).<br />
The theatre is part of a huge shopping center<br />
in suburban Stamford. Features of the<br />
project include rocking chair seats in the<br />
loge and fully upholstered spring-back chairs<br />
in the main auditorium.<br />
"The Ridgeway," Purdy said, "will have<br />
just about everything that any theatre anywhere<br />
has to please the patron, including free<br />
parking for every patron's car."<br />
Willard Rogers to Retire<br />
From Hotel Operations<br />
HARTFORD—Willard B.<br />
Rogers, president<br />
and general manager of the Bond Hotel Co.<br />
here the last 15 years, will retire from the<br />
hotel field in the next few weeks.<br />
In addition to his hotel duties, Rogers has<br />
been president of the First National bank<br />
and head of the Will Rogers Drive-In Theatre<br />
Corp. of Manchester. It is understood<br />
that he will retain his interests in the latter<br />
two organizations.<br />
Joseph F. Dietle Dies<br />
NEW HAVEN—Joseph F. Dietle, 50, veteran<br />
stagehand at the Roger Sherman Theatre<br />
here, died following a heart attack last week<br />
(221. Dietle started work at the old Hyperion<br />
Theatre here, now the Loew's College, and<br />
later spent a number of years in New York<br />
as electrician and stagehand for Broadway<br />
productions, including the long engagement<br />
of "Oklahoma!" He was financial secretary<br />
and treasurer of Local 74 of lATSE.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 NE 75
. . . The<br />
. ol I<br />
. .<br />
. . . The<br />
. . . Johnny<br />
. . Robert<br />
. . Murray<br />
. . Lorraine<br />
FALL RIVER<br />
Tt is reported that Nathan Yainins and William<br />
S. Canning are now co-owners of the<br />
Somerset Playhouse, with Alan Lee being<br />
retained as manager. The house presents<br />
flesh shows during the summer and motion<br />
pictures in the winter . . . The Center, managed<br />
by Ray Allard, reopened following its<br />
customary summer closing . . . Herman<br />
Duquette, assistant Strand director, became<br />
father of a baby son.<br />
"That's My Boy" played for one week simultaneously<br />
at the Durfee and Capitol theatres.<br />
The Capitol reopened after having been<br />
closed during the greater part of the summer<br />
Somerset Drive-In reported exceptionally<br />
good patronage, with hundreds of<br />
prospective patrons being tm-ned away due to<br />
lack of space at the opening of "Samson<br />
and Delilah."<br />
Shows at the Westport and Dartmouth<br />
drive-ins are advertised together now in the<br />
local press . . . Carl Zeitz, Academy manager,<br />
chairman of this year's Jimmy fund<br />
drive, has secured permission from the community<br />
to hold a tag day next month.<br />
Recent visitors at the Academy were Pvt.<br />
Manuel Rodrigues who has since left for<br />
overseas service, and Violet Chadwick, women's<br />
air force, both former employes .<br />
Mrs. Hazel Robertshaw, Durfee cashier, is<br />
enjoying her annual vacation.<br />
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To Convene Dec. 4<br />
BOSTON—Cinerama, a three-dimension<br />
motion picture proce.ss, and theatre television<br />
will be important subjects in discussions arranged<br />
for the annual convention of Independent<br />
Exhibitors of New England, a unit<br />
of Allied States, at the Copley-Plaza hotel<br />
here December 4.<br />
Paul Raibourn of Paramount Pictures has<br />
been invited to discuss Paramount's Telemeter,<br />
subscription TV device.<br />
James Guarino has been appointed general<br />
convention chairman with these state chairmen:<br />
Herbert Brown, Massachusetts; May<br />
Bruno, New Hampshire; Frank LePage,<br />
Maine; Andrew Tegu, Vermont; and these<br />
members at large: Norman Glassman, lENE<br />
president; Leonard Goldberg, Leslie Bendslev,<br />
Walter Mitchell, Al Lourie, Irving<br />
Isaacs, David Rodgdon and Melvin Safner.<br />
Providence Albee Show<br />
Aids Crippled Children<br />
PROVIDENCE—The Crippled Children and<br />
Adults of Rhode Island, an organization<br />
doing considerable good work among the<br />
handicapped in this state, recently benefited<br />
from a gala kiddy show put on by the Whalen<br />
Jewelry Co., in cooperation with the RKO<br />
Albee Theatre. Advertised as a "Merry-Go-<br />
Round of Fun Show," and with a mere fivecent<br />
admission for kiddies and ten-cents<br />
for adults, a banner performance was presented.<br />
Featured in person was Mr. Sweep,<br />
who regaled the audience with stories, games<br />
and audience participation stunts. Included<br />
in his agenda were balloon games, jumbled<br />
words contests, indoor baseball and group<br />
singing.<br />
A "prize auction" was held, with cartons<br />
of bubble gum and T-shirts offered lucky<br />
contestants. Every child present was given<br />
free candy, and special contests for adults<br />
carried valuable gifts of jewelry and silver<br />
as major prizes.<br />
In addition to the huge stage show, a<br />
capacity audience also witnessed a riproaring<br />
western drama, cartoons, comedies<br />
and other short subjects.<br />
The event was heralded well in advance<br />
with trailers running at all performances for<br />
two weeks. Thousands of heralds were distributed<br />
in the territory and the jewelry<br />
store, sponsor of the affair, gave liberal window<br />
space and used good newspaper promotion.<br />
Providence Metropolitan<br />
Reopens After Shutdown<br />
PROVIDENCE—The Metropolitan<br />
Theatre<br />
recently reopened for the season after its<br />
brief shutdown. The local house will again<br />
feature first runs with occasional re-runs of<br />
request pictures.<br />
The house will also present one or twonight<br />
stands of Broadway-bound musicals<br />
and plays, with frequent concert appearances<br />
of outstanding orchestras and or soloists.<br />
Joseph lananccone Named<br />
HARTFORD—Joseph lananccone has been<br />
named a.ssistant manager of the Norwalk<br />
Theatre, pari of New England Theatres circuit.<br />
The manager is John R, Patno, former<br />
assistant manager of the AUyn.<br />
WORCESTER<br />
.<br />
T eo Lajoie, manager of the Capitol, and his<br />
family have returned from a vacation at<br />
Oak Bluffs . . . Bill Bendix canceled his week<br />
at the Playhou.se to return to Hollywood to<br />
make recordings of his radio show. "Life of<br />
Riley" Stringer, film composer<br />
and owner of the Lakeside in Putnam, has<br />
bought a 150-year-old house near the theatre<br />
The Red Barn, Westboro, plans to<br />
., . extend its stock season into October.<br />
Richard Kallagher, manager of the Strand<br />
in Southbridge, is cooperating with ten merchants<br />
in a money-saver plan . . . Harold<br />
Hall was in Gardner subbing at the Orpheum<br />
during the vacation of Raymond Bourgeois<br />
Uptown in Gardner begins its winter<br />
schedule September 6.<br />
Herbert Rothschild has rejoined the Warner<br />
as assistant manager . . . Roger Kavanaugh<br />
of the Loew's Poll Elm Street, his<br />
son and daughter-in-law returned from a<br />
vacation in New York . Soucie.<br />
relief cashier at the Warner, is entering the<br />
WAC ... Ed Kelliher. doorman at Loew's<br />
Poll, has been in St. Vincent hospital . . .<br />
Paul Lempicki. Capitol's assistant manager,<br />
on vacation.<br />
Walter Sullivan, operator at the Poll, spent<br />
his vacation in upstate New York . . . Mike<br />
Haddad of the Elm Street's stage crew has<br />
been on vacation . Howard, manager<br />
of the Warner, recently moved into a<br />
new home with a beautiful garden. He<br />
spent the second week of his vacation working<br />
on it.<br />
Charles Rafferty of the Capitol has returned<br />
from a vacation in Falmouth . . . Bob<br />
Bergin. assistant manager of the Poll, went<br />
to New York and Cape Cod on his vacation<br />
Murphy of the Poll is back on<br />
the job after a vacation . . . Lyonhurst in<br />
Marlboro, long the home of name bands,<br />
was reopened as a ballroom by Joe Pezzella<br />
. . . Bill Lemoine. operator at the Capitol,<br />
spent his vacation at Webster Lake . . Frank<br />
.<br />
Dunn, engineer at the Poll, reports a fine<br />
time at Lake Champlain, N. Y.<br />
STAR APPEARS AT BOSTON—Claudette<br />
Colbert, starred with Ann Blyth<br />
in i:-I's "Thunder on the Hill," which<br />
world-premiered in Boston recently, aided<br />
in advance promotion for the picture.<br />
She is pictured above with E. Myer Feltman.<br />
Boston branch manager, left; John<br />
J. Scully, district manager, and PhiHp<br />
Gerard, eastern publicity manager, right.<br />
BOXOFTICE<br />
;<br />
: September 1, 1951
. . Josephine<br />
. . Sam<br />
BOSTON<br />
Arthur Stein, manager of the Rex in<br />
Cambridge for Joseph Levine, has been<br />
promoted to supervisor of both the Rex and<br />
the Round Hill Drive-In at Springfield which<br />
Levine opened recently. Harry Golden was<br />
named Rex manager. He has been employed<br />
by the E. M. Loew circuit and the U-I and<br />
MGM exchanges.<br />
Budd Rogers, vice-president of Realart<br />
Pictures, conferred with Joseph Levine and<br />
Joseph Wolf of Embassy Pictures on the<br />
distribution of two new Jack Broder productions,<br />
"The Basketball Fix" and "The Two<br />
Dollar Bettor," which are being distributed<br />
by all Realart franchise-holders. Embassy<br />
will handle these films in the New England<br />
territory, available after the first of September<br />
Samuel Pinanski, president of<br />
. . . American Theatres Corp., completed negotiations<br />
for the theatre television showing of<br />
the Robinson-Turpin fight on the evening<br />
of September 12 at the Pilgrim Theatre,<br />
Boston's only theatre with the large-screen<br />
television equipment.<br />
Bob Selberg, operator of the Palace in Old<br />
Orchard, Me., is plamiing to keep the house<br />
open all winter this year, the first time in<br />
the history of this seaside town that the<br />
residents will have off-season motion pictures.<br />
Selberg is planning three weekly<br />
changes . . . Because the government has<br />
clamped down on the building of new theatres.<br />
Louis Score of Randolph, Me., has been<br />
unable to put up a new house on the site of<br />
the Randolph Theatre which burned a year<br />
ago. He plans to reconstruct a theatre from<br />
the ruins, salvaging as much critical material<br />
as possible.<br />
William Deitcli of Rhode Island will shortly<br />
reopen the Thornton Theatre in Riverpoint.<br />
while in Lexington, Mass.. Fred Viano will<br />
reopen the Lexington, closed during August<br />
. . . E. M. Loew's Center Theatre here has<br />
initiated a new policy featuring one-week<br />
runs of films immediately following their<br />
first run. starting with "The Secret of Convict<br />
Lake," which completed a run at the<br />
Metropolitan. Nick Lavidor is manager.<br />
Harry Zeitz, president of Zeitz Theatres of<br />
New Bedford, maintains that he has put up<br />
the largest billboard in New England in the<br />
center of New Bedford advertising his three<br />
theatres. The billboard reads, "Movies Are<br />
Your Best Entertainment" and then lists the<br />
Zeitz air conditioned houses.<br />
Ernest Israelson, a nephew of Nathan<br />
Yamins, is resigning as head buyer and booker<br />
for Yamins Theatres to enter the textile business<br />
on November 1. when he and his family<br />
will return to Fall River. No replacement has<br />
been announced by the Yamins organization,<br />
which headquarters at 260 Ti-emont St. . . .<br />
Louis Gordon, president of Lockwood & Gordon<br />
Enterprises, has entered the Pratt Diagnostic<br />
hospital for observation. He will remain<br />
there until after Labor day.<br />
Bill Koster, executive director of Variety<br />
Club of New England, and Jim Britt. radio<br />
sportscaster. spoke at Newport. R. I., before<br />
the Chiefs of Police Ass'n on the Jimmy fund<br />
drive, arranged by Edward Fay and Meyer<br />
Stanzler, co-chairmen in the Rhode Island<br />
Phil Bloomberg<br />
To Treat 'His Boys'<br />
Salem, Mass.—Phil Bloomberg, operator<br />
of the Plaza Theatre here, will treat<br />
"his" boys and coaches of the Little Baseball<br />
league here to a showing of a popular<br />
baseball film following the closing of the<br />
leagues' first season soon.<br />
Bloomberg, who was elected president<br />
of the Rotary club for a year starting in<br />
July 1950, organized the league for boys,<br />
8 to 10, the first in the city's history.<br />
Rotary sponsored the league and bought<br />
uniforms for the players, while the city<br />
provided a playing field.<br />
The club will host the Little leaguers at<br />
a dinner.<br />
territory. Because of his radio commitments,<br />
Britt was flown to Newport and back in a<br />
plane sponsored by the governor of Rhode<br />
Island in order to be present at the meeting.<br />
The Strand at Somerville and the Harvard<br />
in Cambridge, both operated by New England<br />
Theatres, started August 31 on a full-week<br />
policy, having been running weekends only<br />
during the summer . Paul, former<br />
shipper at the Film Exchange Transfer, has<br />
moved to the shipping room of 20th-Fox to<br />
replace Dick Kelly, who has been moved upstairs<br />
to the booking department . . . Frank<br />
Keller, booker at 20th-Fox, has found an<br />
apartment in Boston and moved his family<br />
here from Albany . Buccarelli,<br />
20th-Fox biller, has resigned.<br />
GOODWILL AWARD AND BANKNIGHT<br />
will get the people out of their homes away from the<br />
radio and television<br />
And to Your Theatre<br />
There are over 100 theatres in the New England territory<br />
proving it every week.<br />
IT'S<br />
THE LEGAL WAY AND THE PROVEN WAY<br />
Write or call us and we will see you<br />
GOODWILL ADVERTISING COMPANY<br />
22 Church Street Liberty 2-9305 Boston, Mass.<br />
^<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 77
. . . Bernie<br />
. . . Lou<br />
. . Clarence<br />
. . Morris<br />
. . Arthur<br />
. . Maurice<br />
. . Charlie<br />
'<br />
. . . Thelma<br />
. . Marshall<br />
. . Ann<br />
H ARTFORD Boslon Patronage NEW HAVEN<br />
IJarry F. Shaw, division manager; Morris<br />
Mendlesohn, legal department: Lou<br />
Brown, advertising-publicity, and Lee Rosenberg,<br />
engineer, were among Loew's Poli circuit<br />
men in town on various matters . . . Anthony<br />
Pacacini, chief ramp attendant at the<br />
Pike Drive-In, Newington, is marking his fifth<br />
year at that ozoner . Fiske, former<br />
Colonial aide, has been released from<br />
the air force on a dependency claim.<br />
Jack Mitchell, Colonial projectionist, spent<br />
the weekend at his Brattleboro. Vt., summer<br />
home. Jack owns a farm in the southern Vermont<br />
town and goes north occasionally "just<br />
to rest" . . . Michael Piccirillo, Rialto manager,<br />
got back from an auto vacation trip.<br />
Pfe. Jim Doran, former student assistant<br />
at the Poli, was in from Texas on furlough<br />
Stevens, assistant at the Princess,<br />
is due back September 5 from a vacation.<br />
George E. Landers, division manager, E. M.<br />
Loew's Theatres, announced the resignation<br />
of Harold Cummings, manager of the Riverdale<br />
Drive-In, West Springfield. Sam Schechter,<br />
manager of the circuit's Court Square,<br />
Springfield, is doubling between the two theatres,<br />
pending appointment of a permanent<br />
replacement . Bell. Columbia exploiteer<br />
working on "The Magic Face," had<br />
circus tieups and street sound truck promotion<br />
for the E. M. Loew's opening.<br />
Jim Hughes, Loew's Poli chief of service,<br />
vacationed along the Connecticut shoreline<br />
Brown of Loew's Poli circuit and his<br />
family visited in Delaware . Shulman<br />
of Shulman Theatres and his family got<br />
back from a month's stay at Lebanon Country<br />
club.<br />
Fred Gerstenberg has been named assistant<br />
manager of the Victory, New London, replacing<br />
William Landers, who has been recalled<br />
to the army . Pouzzner was in<br />
the area from Boston . Lowe,<br />
engineer on the Warner circuit, is home from<br />
New Brunswick . . . Pvt. Bob Repefitti, formerly<br />
on the staff of the ATC Capitol. New<br />
London, is now doing special services entertainment<br />
work at Ft. Monmouth, N. J.<br />
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162 Newbury Street Boston<br />
In General Upturn<br />
BOSTON—The upswing in attendance continued<br />
last week with first runs, second runs<br />
and neighborhoods all reporting more patronage.<br />
Holdovers continued to gross well downtown.<br />
"Thunder on the Hill" at the Astor<br />
pulled better grosses in its second than in<br />
its first week.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—Thunder on the Hill (U-I), 2nd wk 130<br />
Boston—Jungle Headhunters (RKO) 110<br />
Exeter Stre.: Kon-Tilci ;,=tKO), 7th wk 110<br />
Memorial— Alice m Wonderland (RKO), 3rd wk. 130<br />
Metropolitan— Captain Horatio Homblower (WB):<br />
Let's Go Navy (Mono), 2nd wk 115<br />
Paramount and Fenway—Lost Continent (LP);<br />
a.l. Jane (LP) 90<br />
State and Orpheum Sirocco (Coi); Smuggler's<br />
Gold (Col) 115<br />
"That's My Boy' Grosses 150<br />
To Pace Hartford Runs<br />
HARTFORD—"That's My Boy" did well at<br />
the Allyn. Other openings included "Mr.<br />
Belvedere Rings the Bell," "Night Into Morning"<br />
and "Tomorrow Is Another Day."<br />
Allyn—That's My Boy (Para); Varieties on Parade<br />
(LP) 150<br />
E M Loew—The Magic Face (Col); Corky oi<br />
Gasoline Alley (Col), 2nd wk 100<br />
Poll -Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (20th-Fox);<br />
Nevada Badmen (Mono) 105<br />
Palac- Night Into Morning (MGM); North oi the<br />
Great Divide (Hep) 90<br />
Reg 1.— Hard. Fast and Beautiful (RKO); Lost<br />
Planet Airmen (Rep) E5<br />
Strand-Tomorrow Is Another Day (WB); Two<br />
Gals and a Guy (UA) 110<br />
T-wo Reach Average Gross<br />
In Ne'w Haven Heat Wave<br />
NEW HAVEN—Business was average or below<br />
at the downtowns, as heat and humidity<br />
continued.<br />
College—Rich, IToung and Pretty (MGM); When<br />
the Redskins Rode (Col), 2nd wk 90<br />
Loews Poll -Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (20th-<br />
Fox); Chain oi Circumstance (Col) 100<br />
Para-Tiount- Lost Continent (LP); G.I. Jane (LP) 70<br />
Roger Sherman—Thunder on the Hill (U-I); The<br />
Lion Hunters (Mono) 100<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
•The C&F Theatres, operators of the Carlton<br />
and Majestic, have opened a suite of<br />
offices in the Barnaby building. The move<br />
was necessitated by the sale and subsequent<br />
razing of Fay's Theatre, long a landmark in<br />
this city. The Sheraton-Biltmore hotel has<br />
taken a long term lease on the site formerly<br />
occupied by the theatre and will use it as<br />
Albert J. Clarke,<br />
another parking lot . . .<br />
genial manager of the Majestic, returned to<br />
his post recently after his annual vacation.<br />
Dave Levin, RKO Albee manager, is spending<br />
more and more time, as the days roll<br />
along, back on the job after a long tussle<br />
with virus pneumonia which was so serious<br />
he was hospitalized for a while . . . Mark<br />
Hodosh, capable assistant at the Albee, had<br />
his hands full during Levin's long illness but<br />
came through with "banners flying," despite<br />
the huge crowds the local house had to handle<br />
every day during the long stand of "Alice<br />
in Wonderland."<br />
Francis R. Wilson Dies<br />
MANCHESTER, CONN.—Francis R. Wilson.<br />
48. for the last 20 years projectionist at<br />
the State, died at Manchester Memorial hospital<br />
following a brief illness. He was a<br />
member of the Manchester Radio club.<br />
'DKO has exclusive release of the Robinson-<br />
Turpin and Saddler-Pep fights, and exhibitors<br />
are happy that the events neither<br />
will be broadcast nor telecast . . Loew's<br />
.<br />
Bridgeport and New Haven managers and<br />
representatives of press and radio were invited<br />
to meet Denise Darcel at the Taft this<br />
week (281. Denise was appearing at Baybrook<br />
Inn, and is featured in "Westward the<br />
Woman" and the forthcoming "Family Man"<br />
to be released by Metro . Pitkin,<br />
son of Barney, the RKO manager, enlisted in<br />
the marines.<br />
Edward Bibba, manager of the Merritt at<br />
Bridgeport, is leaving Warner Theatres for a<br />
dressed poultry enterprise. George Harvey<br />
of the Palace, Torrington, is also resigning<br />
to go into other business. John Scanlon of the<br />
Warner is keeping an eye on both houses.<br />
The Strand, Waterbury, oldtimer operated<br />
by Poli, Warner and Loew's, is up for sale<br />
Chasin of the 20th-Fox staff was<br />
vacationing in New Jersey . Lieb of<br />
the Bailey circuit office has decided on a<br />
niu:sing career . . . The Colonial. Canaan, is<br />
running a few well-placed ads in its mailed<br />
weekly program to defray cost.<br />
NEW HAMPSHIRE<br />
The Colonial Theatre in Portsmouth is serving<br />
as a temporary church for the newly<br />
established Saint Catherine parish in that<br />
city. The first mass was celebrated in the<br />
motion picture house last Sunday (26) . .<br />
.<br />
The John Wayne fil>n, "Sands of Iwo Jima,"<br />
had special interest for Manchester people<br />
when it was shown at the Rex because Rene<br />
Gagnon, the cjueen city's own marine hero<br />
of the historic flag-raising, was shown in the<br />
picture. Similar local interest was attached to<br />
a newsreel at the Strand which showed Gilbert<br />
Provencher of Manchester staging a<br />
one-man show at the Institution of Physical<br />
Medicine and Rehabiliation in New York City.<br />
ALBERT DEZEL PROD., INC.<br />
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Now Booking Yol<br />
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BOXOFFICE ;: September 1, 1951
Variely Ini'l Session<br />
At Toronto in Fall<br />
TORONTO—The semiannual conference of<br />
International Clubs Variety is planned for<br />
Toronto early in October to coincide with the<br />
visit of Princess Elizabeth and Prince<br />
Philip, the latter being an honorary member<br />
of the London, England, tent.<br />
Preparations for the conclave were discussed<br />
at a dinner meeting of Toronto Tent<br />
28 in the clubrooms this week (28\ when<br />
preliminary consideration also was given to<br />
the 1952 Variety International convention<br />
April 28-May 1 at Las Vegas, Nev.<br />
Ti-ibute was paid at the dinner to the cooperative<br />
support of Toronto newspapermen<br />
and radio announcers for the recent annual<br />
benefit baseball game which resulted in the<br />
raising of $48,000 for the club's chief project,<br />
the Variety vocation school for physically<br />
handicapped boys.<br />
Motion Picture Industry<br />
Called Too Sensitive<br />
TORONTO—Stan Helleur, colorful film<br />
critic for the Toronto Telegram, has taken<br />
issue with charges of smearing Hollywood<br />
personnel and pictures which, he said, emanated<br />
from an industry source in New York as<br />
a defense move, presumably COMPO-inspired.<br />
Helleur pointed to some members of the<br />
industry who held to the view that he was responsible<br />
to their business rather than to the<br />
newspaper that employed him. The Telegram<br />
reviewer contended that the film industry<br />
was oversensitive and inclined to complain<br />
unnecessarily. "It's had its share of<br />
bad publicity, to be sure, but rarely w-ithout<br />
justification," he commented.<br />
"When prominent individuals within the<br />
industry get into difficulty, it's news, as much<br />
as when basketball players sell games or<br />
when cadets crib their exams at West Point.<br />
We are convinced that what the industry is<br />
most concerned about is the fact that anyone<br />
should be allowed to criticize adversely<br />
any of the hundreds of pictures coming out<br />
of Hollywood."<br />
He grouped films with baseball clubs and<br />
hockey teams, all of which are panned if<br />
the need be justified.<br />
Helleur gave his own boxscore for film reviews<br />
over a period of six weeks, the ratings<br />
being: Good, 20: fair, 6, and bad, 4.<br />
"Our humble advice to the industry would<br />
be to keep improving its batting average the<br />
way it has been doing in past months and the<br />
problem of criticism will take care of itself,"<br />
he concluded.<br />
Production Ending Near Montreal<br />
On Canada's First Color Feature<br />
MONTREAL—Production of Canada's first<br />
motion picture in color, filmed entirely on<br />
location, is being completed at St. Adolphe<br />
de Howard in the Laurentians. First in a<br />
series of Canadian historical films by the<br />
new producing company of Carillon Productions,<br />
it stars Paul Dupuis, Ginette Letondal,<br />
Jacques Auger. Guy Hoffman, Gabriel Gascon,<br />
Paulette DeGuise, Aime Major, Lionel<br />
Villeneuve, Don McGill and a host of others,<br />
with the current Ryerson Press documentary<br />
book, "The Immortal Scoundry" by J. H.<br />
Cranston, as the basis for the film. Carillon<br />
Pi'oductions has waited until now, when the<br />
end of its first film was in sight, to make even<br />
a preliminary announcement about it.<br />
This all-Canadian, French-language production<br />
is an account of the turbulent career<br />
of Etienne Brule, early Coureur de Bois and<br />
erstwhile friend of Samuel de Champlain,<br />
founder of Quebec. Brule's dramatic character<br />
and destiny was closely connected with<br />
the early history of both French and English<br />
forces in Canada, involving also the Huron<br />
and Iroquois nations. Efforts were made to<br />
represent these contrasting elements in accurate<br />
detail, with special advisers to reproduce<br />
faithfully the Indian life of the times.<br />
Carillon Productions' first aim is to reflect<br />
the nation's heritage through Canadian<br />
John Bickell, Financier,<br />
Dies at New York City<br />
TORONTO—John P. Bickell, Toronto<br />
financier, died in New York City from a heart<br />
attack in his 68th year to terminate a spectacular<br />
career in which he was credited with<br />
having amassed many millions of dollars.<br />
For years, he was closely associated with the<br />
late N. L. Nathanson, serving as vice-president<br />
of Famous Players Canadian Corp. when<br />
Nathanson was president of the chain. He was<br />
also close to two Canadians in England, Lord<br />
Beaverbrook and Beverley Baxter, British<br />
M.P.<br />
The head of three northern Ontario gold<br />
mines, Bickell made his fortune in mining<br />
gambles and also In speculations on the stock<br />
and grain markets. At the time of his death,<br />
he was chairman of the board of Maple Leaf<br />
Gardens, Toronto's big sports arena. His<br />
Toronto home had an estimated $450,000<br />
value alone.<br />
talent, creative ability and technical standards.<br />
Backgrounds of Canadian life will be<br />
shown to the rest of the world, training additional<br />
native talent for films and television<br />
and retaining as much as possible<br />
of it for home development. A more than<br />
merely academic interest in episodes from<br />
Canada's historical past will also be fostered.<br />
Experienced actors and technicians and a<br />
story of vivid action assure the standards of<br />
this first production. Producer-director Mel<br />
Turner believes that Carillon Productions<br />
will make important contributions to a combined<br />
French and English Canadian point of<br />
view, meeting as it does on the common<br />
ground of history. Insisting that the ideas<br />
and cooperation of Father Emile Legault and<br />
Les Compagnons have been vital from the<br />
start. Turner also pays tribute to his associates<br />
and the large cast, including "such<br />
oldtimers as Jacques Auger, who have proven<br />
of immense value to the producers as a leveling<br />
influence in enabling the combined directors<br />
to obtain greater finesse."<br />
Harmony reigns at the location, where a<br />
tented city provides most of the accommodation.<br />
Bilingual French and English speaking<br />
teams profit from the invaluable collaboration<br />
of Indian personnel. "Etienne Brule-<br />
Gibier-de-potence," as the film is called in<br />
French, is the result of the vision and outlets<br />
of French language distributors.<br />
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Russell Maynard Obtains<br />
Hamilton, Ont., Savoy<br />
HAMILTON, ONT.—Russell Maynard, a<br />
former exhibitor, will take over the operation<br />
of the Savoy here following termination of<br />
the lease by Odeon Theatres. The Savoy,<br />
which seats 1,180, has been operated for many<br />
years, originally under a stage policy, roadshows,<br />
stock company and motion pictures.<br />
Maynard has had wide experience in the theatre<br />
business out has been a representative<br />
for a Toronto brewery for some years. A<br />
brother Robert operates the Francis in Ottawa<br />
and formerly was a theatre manager in<br />
Montreal.<br />
Neon Products Profit<br />
Amounts to $184,041<br />
MONTREAL—Net profit of Neon Products<br />
of Western Canada for the fiscal year ending<br />
April 30 amounted to $184,041, equal to $3.21<br />
on the common after preferred dividends and<br />
compared w'ith $121,246 or $2.06 for the previous<br />
fiscal year. Gross revenue rose to $2,-<br />
694,145 from $2,057,179 and income taxes increased<br />
to $158,300 from $100,200.<br />
G. W. Sweeny, president, says steel controls<br />
prohibit further purchases of sheet steel for<br />
fabrication of displays. Company Is faced<br />
with cessation of this type of work when present<br />
inventories are used around the end of<br />
this year.<br />
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BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 K 79
. . . Gus<br />
. .<br />
. . Henry<br />
. . Joe<br />
VANCOUyER<br />
Dalph Connor, who worked at the Plaza here<br />
a few years ago, has been appointed<br />
assistant at the Odeon in Victoria, succeeding<br />
Nick Banton, who resigned to return to<br />
England.<br />
Jack Reid and Lou Segal of JARO have<br />
left to attend the JARO convention in Toronto<br />
Gerry Winkler, formerly with a<br />
. . . local advertising concern, has joined the<br />
Famous Players publicity department here.<br />
He will assist Beverly Clark, who succeeded<br />
her father, who died recently after 26 years<br />
with the circuit, as district publicity director<br />
Hoeck, who resigned from the Lux<br />
Theatre staff, is now a Canadian Pacific<br />
trainman here.<br />
Frank Soltice, manager of the Pines Drive-<br />
In at Penticton in the Okanagan, writes:<br />
"The last rain we had here was June 30.<br />
CsfAtke COST -<br />
'intewni etQUM«I<br />
You can buy cheaper lamps, or more ex<br />
pensive lamps . . . but when you conside<br />
Quality (irsi you cane buy a better lamp fo<br />
the money Model 4570 Lightmasier provide<br />
(rom 45 lo 80 amperes of brilliant, sparklmj<br />
light for even ihe largest screens.<br />
rxou> uUnq Bctdonliine...<br />
However, on August 10, 11 we played 'Henry<br />
the Rainmaker' and it rained like the devil<br />
for the two nights. Since then no rain.<br />
Might suggest for dry areas they try the same<br />
thing." Vancouver was in its 70th day without<br />
any rain. All lumber operations have<br />
Hymie Singer, former exhibitor who operated<br />
the Rio in Victoria and the State here,<br />
been suspended, throwing 15,000 lumberjacks<br />
out of work, and forcing over 100 mills to<br />
is now in the real estate business in Calgary<br />
. . . Lilian Harrison of RKO was on vacation<br />
close due to lumber shortages.<br />
at West Summerland where her father operates<br />
Raymond, Alta., is going to use its Opera<br />
the Rialto in that Okanagan town . House as a school. The council will borrow<br />
George Steele. 36. partner and manager of $175,000, to buy the house and convert it to<br />
the Cascades Drive-In at Burnaby, died last school use.<br />
week . . . Ted Kergin, projectionist at the<br />
Ladysmith Odeon, won the fishing derby Going or coming from vacations: Irene Falvey,<br />
Tom Winchester and Peggy Menzies of<br />
trophy, catching a 7-pound. 14-ounce coho.<br />
About 350 Vancouver island fishermen competed.<br />
the Dominion: Madge Allison. R. J. Hayter<br />
and Mary Lou Popou. Sovereign Films;<br />
Rose<br />
Model 4570 Hilntenjity Projtctioo<br />
ARC LAMPS<br />
Isman, Warners: Doug Isman. IFD: Fred<br />
Wilson, Strand: Bob Myers and Judy Kennedy.<br />
Plaza: Jackie McDermott, MGM, and<br />
Bob Harris, Paradise.<br />
Talking of hobbies, Arthur Lorimer, assistant<br />
at the International Cinema, has come<br />
up with a good one: namely, growing orchids.<br />
This involves a great deal of study and work.<br />
Art proves his point by always having flowers<br />
on his desk at the Cinema . Altomare,<br />
who sold his Vogue at Fernie in the Crows<br />
Nest Pass district, has taken over the Roxy<br />
and Gem in Grand Forks in the interior from<br />
Harry Phillet of Service Theatres. The two<br />
theatres seat 710; population of the town is<br />
1.800 . . . Cecil Steele, who operates a circuit<br />
in northern British Columbia, has sold his<br />
250-seat Reo at Smithers to C. A. Goodacre<br />
of that town. Steele will continue to operate<br />
the theatres at Vanderhoff and Burns Lake<br />
on the Prince Rupert-Prince George CNR<br />
line.<br />
The State on east side, which has been<br />
closed for the last few months, has been<br />
leased by Stage Productions, Ltd.. to Charlie<br />
Nelson and Izzie Walters, night club owners<br />
of Victoria and here. The house, a 1,000-<br />
seater, will play stage shows and films at<br />
popular prices. The State is the former Pantages<br />
vaudeville house, and is two blocks<br />
from the Hastings, the only theatre with<br />
stage shows in Vancouver at present.<br />
Dale Abbott opened his new 300-car Starlight<br />
Drive-In at Estevan, Sask. . . . Famous<br />
Player partner P. W. Mahon opened his 600-<br />
car Pines Drive-In near Prince Albert, 100<br />
miles north of Saskatoon . Phillet of<br />
Vancouver opened his reconstructed Studio<br />
at Moose Jaw, Sask. It was the old Strand<br />
and had been closed for the past 17 years. It<br />
now seats 525 .. . The Sunset Drive-In was<br />
opened at Regina. It was built at a cost of<br />
$130,000, covers 30 acres and will hold 500<br />
cars. The new outdoor theatre is right next<br />
door to the Famous Players Queen City<br />
Drive-In.<br />
Private Screening Held<br />
BOSTON—Carroll W. Howell loaned his<br />
Idle Hour Theatre in Hardwick, Vt., recently<br />
for a<br />
J. M. Rice & Company<br />
private screening of the Swedish<br />
film, "While the City Sleeps." for John<br />
202 Canada Building<br />
Gunther. writer, and 30 guests. The film is<br />
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada<br />
the Swedish entry in a foreign film competition.<br />
Gunther, who is spending the sum-<br />
Complete Theatre Equipment & Supplies mer at Caspian lake, is one of the judges.<br />
Vancouver Business<br />
Runs Hot and Cold<br />
VANCOUVER—Business ran hot and cold<br />
at first runs here last week, stronger pictures<br />
doing well while others did only so-so. "Show<br />
Boat" continued to lead the way in its fourth<br />
week at the Capitol. "The Great Caruso," in<br />
its sixth downtown week, was still doing above<br />
average at the Dominion. "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
opened big at the Orpheum with extra<br />
shows being given for the juveniles at morning<br />
matinees. The Canadian Pacific national<br />
exhibition opened its 11 -day run to increased<br />
business.<br />
Capitol—Show Boot (MGM), 4th wk Excellent<br />
Cmema—No Questions Asked (MGM); Up in Arms<br />
(RKO) , reissues _ _ Average<br />
Dominion—The Great Caruso (MGM), 6th d. t.<br />
wk _ Good<br />
Hastings—Danger Zone (LP), plus stage show Good<br />
Orpheurr.—That's My Boy (Pa.'a), 2nd wk Fair<br />
Paradise—Come on Leathernecks (Rep); The<br />
Leathernecks Have Landed (Rep), reissues Fair<br />
Plaza—Mask of the Avenger (Col); Father Takes<br />
the Air (Mono) _ Fair<br />
Strand—Passage West (Para); Star Spangled<br />
Rhythm (Para), reissue _ Fair<br />
Studio—Brief Encounter (IARO> Fair<br />
Vogue The Secret of Convict Lake (20th-<br />
Fox)<br />
_,..Average<br />
New Toronto Film Season<br />
Starts With Big Fair<br />
TORONTO—The new motion picture<br />
season<br />
here started with the opening of the<br />
76th Canadian National exhibition, which<br />
brought many thousands of visitors. Making<br />
their bow were "Show Boat," "Here Comes<br />
the Groom," "That's My Boy." "Happy Go<br />
Lovely" and "Alice in Wonderland." Terminating<br />
15 weeks at the Hyland was "The<br />
Browning Version," a house record.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Biltmore—Abilene Town (UA); Paris Underground<br />
(UA), reissues 95<br />
Fairlawn—Mask of the Avenger (Col); My True<br />
Story (Col) 90<br />
Hylar.d-The Browning Version (JARO), 15th wk. 75<br />
linpencl-Here Comes the Groom (Para) 140<br />
Loews—Show Boat il.^GM) _140<br />
Odeon— Cyrano de Bergerac (UA), 2nd wk 90<br />
Shea s and Egimron— That's My Boy (Para) 125<br />
Tivoli and Capitcl- Strangers on a Train CWB);<br />
According to Mrs. Hoyle ,l.(ono) „ 90<br />
University and No:lo-.v.'.—Htf^py Go Lovely (RKO) 110<br />
Uptown—Strictly Dishonorable (MGM), 2nd wk. 90<br />
Victoria—AUce in Wonderland (RKO) 100<br />
Gen. Wolie Statue Deal Off<br />
TORONTO—It seems that Toronto will<br />
have no General Wolfe statue for University<br />
avenue after all, the civic board of control<br />
having recanted on its decision to buy the<br />
monument to the British general, who conquered<br />
Canada from France, for S5.000 in<br />
New York. The count is therefore even, the<br />
board having previously turned down the<br />
offer of a statue for the same thoroughfare in<br />
honor of the native-born Mary Pickford. The<br />
city fathers heard protests both ways on each<br />
of the statues.<br />
Competitor on Stage<br />
TORONTO—"Show Boat," on the screen of<br />
Loew's, has a local rival in the stage presentation<br />
of the musical show at the Melody Fair,<br />
a tent theatre at Dufferin Park racetrack.<br />
The stage production, scheduled for two<br />
weeks, will close the first ten-show season<br />
here on September 8 after considerable success.<br />
Top price at Loew's is 80 cents whUe<br />
that for Melody Fair is $3.40.<br />
Leo Gorcey will star in Monogram's "Win,<br />
Place and Show,"' to be directed by William<br />
Beaudine for Producer Jerry Thomas.<br />
eo BOXOFTICE :: September 1, 1951
. . Before<br />
. . Paul<br />
. . On<br />
. . Denise<br />
. . Eugene<br />
. .<br />
. . The<br />
. . Helen<br />
. . Canadian<br />
Fire Drill Empties House<br />
58 Seconds After Alarm<br />
SACKVILLE, N. B.—When a matinee of<br />
"Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" drew a packed<br />
house of children at the Vogue Theatre here<br />
recently, Manager Denis Murphy decided to<br />
call a fire drill. The building was emptied 58<br />
seconds after the gong.<br />
The Vogue is a Walker-affiliated house. To<br />
promote the showing of the picture Murphy<br />
had his candy counter attendant Geneva<br />
Boudreau wheel a baby carriage through<br />
downtown streets, during and preceding the<br />
playdates.<br />
TORONTO<br />
TJl^y Chinn, private secretary to Arch H.<br />
Jolley of the MPTA of Ontario, is<br />
sporting a new diamond ring but not for that<br />
certain reason. She won the ring in a songquiz<br />
contest on radio station CKEY . . . Down<br />
from the North Country was Cecil Smith who<br />
operates the Regent at Chapleau and the Empire<br />
at Thessalon. He was on a vacation tour<br />
which included western Ontario where he<br />
was once a theatre manager.<br />
Manager Mac MacKimmon of the Famous<br />
Players' Village in a suburban section sneakpreviewed<br />
"Happy Go Lovely" before it opened<br />
a regular engagement at the University and<br />
Nortown . Frost, manager of the<br />
Odeon at Brantford, put on an attractive<br />
campaign for "The Browning Version," which<br />
has just finished 15 weeks at the Toronto Hyland<br />
. his disappearance from his<br />
London, Ont., home at 4 a. m., Ken Johnston,<br />
manager of the Odeon there, had delivered<br />
prints of two films, donated by the Rank<br />
Organization, to the Canadian naval ship<br />
which is in quarantine at Erieau with polio<br />
suspects aboard.<br />
W. P. Covert, lATSE vice-president and<br />
business manager of the projectionists local<br />
here, has returned to his home in Leaside<br />
after a six-week siege of illness in a local<br />
hospital . . . Sarah Churchill, daughter of the<br />
British statesman, is getting big publicity<br />
in connection with her appearances with the<br />
stock company at the Niagara Falls, Ont.,<br />
summer theatre.<br />
It's no holiday time for Secretary A. H.<br />
Jolley because he is up to a high point in<br />
advance work for the third annual convention<br />
of the Motion Picture Industry Council<br />
at Montreal, September 24-26. His correspondence<br />
extends from coast coast . . .<br />
to<br />
FPC district supervisor Fitzgibbons at Windsor<br />
is watching the situation closely because<br />
of increasing unemployment following the<br />
closing of Windsor automobile and related<br />
plants on account of government restrictions.<br />
Mrs. Jules Bernstein, wife of the former<br />
manager of Toronto Loew's for 30 years, is<br />
seriously ill in Los Angeles where they are<br />
living a retired life.<br />
Revival Is Doing Well<br />
TORONTO — The International Cinema<br />
continued for a second week the revival of<br />
"One Hour With You," while the Towne<br />
Cinema opened an unlimited engagement of<br />
"Kon-Tiki." The Savoy had for its second<br />
foreign-language picture the Italian-made<br />
"Frustration," which was held for a second<br />
week.<br />
MONTREAL<br />
pill Trow, president of Montreal Poster Exchange<br />
and Quebec Cinema Booking, Ltd.,<br />
has returned from his club at Notre Dame<br />
du Laus, where he was host to a five-day<br />
fishing party. Guests included John Ganetakos,<br />
executive of United Amu.sement Corp.;<br />
Alfred Perry of Toronto, general manager of<br />
Empire-Universal: Mickey Isman. Montreal<br />
manager for that company, and T. A. Metcalfe<br />
of Toronto, general manager for Sovereign<br />
Film Distributors.<br />
Larry Sheehan of the advertising department<br />
of United Amusement sent a card to<br />
"the gang" from Edinburgh, Scotland, where<br />
he attended the gathering of the clans . . .<br />
Bob Giles of the film contract department<br />
of United Amusement won the trophy for his<br />
company at the annual golf tournament at<br />
Rosemere Country club by scoring a neat 66 . . .<br />
The local staff of Paramount will work hard<br />
on the company's Confidence drive, which will<br />
start September 2 and continue until December<br />
1 . . . Sam Glasier, special advertising<br />
representative in Canada for 20th-Fox,<br />
was in Montreal for exploitation of "David<br />
and Bathsheba," due to open soon at the<br />
Orpheum.<br />
.<br />
. . . Charles S.<br />
.<br />
Edgar Hamel, accountant for Quebec<br />
Cinema Booking, has left for Saranac Lake,<br />
N. Y., to participate in the four-day contract<br />
bridge tournament there Venne,<br />
district manager for International Film Distributors,<br />
announced it will release the current<br />
version of "Fabiola"<br />
Chaplin of Toronto, Canadian general manager<br />
of United Artists, visited Filmrow<br />
I. Levit, manager for Columbia Pictures here,<br />
motored with his wife to Toronto for four<br />
days.<br />
Constance Frigon, secretary to Eugene<br />
Venne, spent a weekend with friends at<br />
Thetford Mines . Poirer, secretary<br />
to W. Trow, was a guest at the Manoir Pinoteau<br />
at Lac Tremblant for a week . . . Lois<br />
Currie, booker's secretary at Columbia, flew<br />
to her native Nova Scotia to spend her annual<br />
holiday . sales trips were Romeo<br />
Goudreau of Paramount, traveling in Beauce<br />
county, and John Levitt of Columbia, who is<br />
in the Matane district . . . Exhibitors visiting<br />
Filmrow included Mr. and Mrs. R. Drouin<br />
of the Zacarie at St. Zacarie, Que.; E. Beaumont<br />
of the Bienville at Levis and the<br />
Laurier in Quebec, and A. Sicard of the Acton<br />
at Acton Vale.<br />
Mae West is coming to the Gayety for two<br />
weeks in her famous "Diamond Lil" . . .<br />
Screen star Ralph Bellamy has been signed<br />
by Len Wheatley for the AU-Star Red Feather<br />
show which will mark the reopening<br />
September 11 of the renovated His Majesty's<br />
Theatre . Kent, which has also been<br />
renovated, reopened August 24 with a new<br />
policy of first run films. It started with the<br />
British mystery film," So Long at the Fair."<br />
which is also running concurrently at the<br />
Avenue Kane, the Boop-boop-a-<br />
.<br />
Doop girl of the 1920s, followed Fifi D'Orsay<br />
at the Continental Pacific Railways<br />
sponsored the production by Producers<br />
.<br />
Famous Films of London, of a pictorial record<br />
of the voyage of a cargo ship from London<br />
to Montreal.<br />
Television dipped into the past to add<br />
a new item to the feminine wardrobe. At the<br />
Electrolux convention in the Mount Royal,<br />
delegates and their wives were somewhat<br />
startled, as well as amused, by the spectacle<br />
of "television lounging bloomers," which received<br />
perhaps more attention than any<br />
other part of the television show. They are<br />
described as of brown velveteen, with white<br />
eyelet embroidery just below the knee. Dorothy<br />
Booth directed the fashion show which<br />
was coordinated by lona Monahan.<br />
U-I Crew at Lunenburg<br />
To Film 'World in Arms'<br />
ST. JOHN—Universal has a crew of technicians<br />
in Lunenburg, top commercial fishing<br />
port of the maritimes, shooting 1860<br />
period scenes in the seal fishery. The technicians<br />
are headed by Gilbert Km-land, production<br />
manager of U-I. The work included<br />
rigging out two fishing schooners to dovetail<br />
with 1860. The shooting is for "The World<br />
in His Arms," which will star Gregory Peck<br />
and will feature men of the Lunenburg fishing<br />
fleet.<br />
Build at Sturgis. Sask.<br />
STURGIS, SASK.—A new theatre is<br />
under<br />
construction here for Sam Holmberg and C.<br />
H. "Buster" Grass. The house will seat 450<br />
persons and will cost about $30,000 equipped.<br />
The theatre will measure 45x90 feet. It will<br />
open about October 1 and will operate six<br />
days a week.<br />
Steps Out as Ring Villain<br />
Wee Willie Davis has stepped out of his<br />
character as a ring villain and will play the<br />
role of a slave driver and harem guard in<br />
Monogram's "Aladdin and His Lamp."<br />
Announcing the second anniversary<br />
CALGARY THEATRE POSTER EXCHANGE<br />
We -wish to thank our man-y Customers for their past<br />
patronage and assure them of continued good service.<br />
THEATRE POSTER EXCHANGE handling all types<br />
of advertising accessories, as well as the Poblocki<br />
all<br />
aluminum poster frames and displays.<br />
F. KETTNER, Manager<br />
609A—8lh Ave. West, Calgary, Alberta<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 81
. . M.<br />
. . Manager<br />
M A R I T I M E S<br />
percy Fielding, manager of Goudey's Theatre,<br />
Barrington Passage, N. S., is a patient<br />
at Dawson Memorial hospital at Bridgewater,<br />
N. S. Member of a family which has<br />
been active in exhibition in the maritimes for<br />
the last half-century. Fielding has been directing<br />
a theatre established by a Boston<br />
gum manufacturer in his home town for<br />
the last six years. A brother, Art, also a<br />
veteran of theatre operation, is located in<br />
Bridgewater as owner of the Capitol and<br />
Avon. Both brothers were with the Spencer<br />
chain for many years. Art was at one time<br />
general manager with headquarters in St.<br />
John.<br />
A film about woodcock in Nova Scotia recently<br />
was given featured attention in program<br />
promotions of the Community at Yarmouth.<br />
N. S. Special advertising was used<br />
for the single reeler . . . When Buddy Rogers<br />
and his wife were guests of a large summer<br />
hotel at St. Andrews, N. B., on the international<br />
border, they were keenly interested in<br />
the afternoon and night films screened at<br />
the hotel's theatre.<br />
The Franklin & Herschom chain featured<br />
the Robinson-Turpin fight films. While they<br />
were at the Vogue and Family in Halifax,<br />
they were tied in with special ads aimed at<br />
the crews of Briti.sh and American war vessels,<br />
then on a merged visit to Halifax. There<br />
were about 7,000 sailors from the ships and<br />
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the fight pictures presented keen appeal to<br />
many of them.<br />
Drive-in shows have been introduced at<br />
the Pine Tree Lake Cabins near Shelbourne,<br />
N. S. Outdoor films wiU continue until mid-<br />
September . G. Basha, recently named<br />
to the Canadian senate, visited St. John to<br />
arrange for film supplies for his new Humber<br />
Theatre at Humbermouth, Nfld.<br />
Bert Edwards, concessions manager at the<br />
Vogue in Halifax since F&H opened that<br />
house three years ago, drove to St. John recently<br />
on a visit. Edwards went from St.<br />
John to Halifax to open the Vogue concessions.<br />
He was accompanied on his visit to<br />
St. John by his wife and children and he<br />
visited with Ken Grass, for whom he worked<br />
in St. John and who formally opened the<br />
Vogue candy stand.<br />
Starting of drive-in programs in the maritimes<br />
has been advanced because of earlier<br />
darkness. Early in the summer, the films<br />
could not be thrown on the screens until 10<br />
p. m., but at the end of the season program<br />
starts can be made by 7:30 . . . Although<br />
single bills are used as a rule at the Valley<br />
Drive-In in Springhill. N. B., a double bill<br />
recently was shown. Another drive-in location<br />
reportedly is being considered near<br />
Springhill.<br />
Renovation Completed<br />
At St. John Regent<br />
ST. JOHN—The Regent here has been<br />
overhauled by Manager Herman Kerwin.<br />
The interior has been redecorated in pastel<br />
blue with white trim.<br />
The front is in fine cast aluminum and<br />
plate glass. Indirect lighting prevails in the<br />
tiled lobby and the walls and ceiling have<br />
been done in pastel blue and peach. Curtains<br />
and drapes at the stage have been renewed.<br />
New sound equipment has been installed,<br />
along with about a dozen hearing<br />
aids. Air conditioning has been improved.<br />
The Regent is at a corner location in the<br />
north end. The Regent, only north end theatre,<br />
is in the F&H setup. Seating capacity<br />
is 860.<br />
FPC to Pay 30 Cents<br />
TORONTO—A dividend of 30 cents for the<br />
thii-d quarter of 1951 was declared by Famous<br />
Players Canadian Corp., payment to be made<br />
September 30 to common shareholders of<br />
record on September 22. The quarterly dividend<br />
was raised this year from 25 to 30 cents<br />
on the strength of increased company revenue.<br />
Two Sales Meetings<br />
TORONTO—General Manager F. H. Fisher<br />
of J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors has announced<br />
that the company, formerly known<br />
as Eagle Lion Films of Canada, will stage<br />
a sales meeting September 8-10 at the Royal<br />
York hotel. Monogram of Canada, affiliated<br />
with the Canadian Rank interests, will have<br />
a sales meeting here at the same time, according<br />
to General Sales Manager Frank<br />
Vaughan.<br />
Three-Dimension Films<br />
At National Exhibition<br />
TORONTO—stereoscopic type of cartoon<br />
films, produced by Norman McLaren of the<br />
National Film Board, is being featured at the<br />
Canadian National exhibition, the synthetic<br />
three-dimensional pictures being presented<br />
in the theatre of the Ontario board of censors<br />
in the provincial government building.<br />
People in the audience are given polarized<br />
glasses to produce the effect, the technical<br />
answer being the use of two sets of flat drawings<br />
with a perspective for each eye. This<br />
is a step from the old method of producing a<br />
film with two cameras, the len.ses of which<br />
are spaced in the position of human eyes.<br />
The stereoscopic films at the National exhibition<br />
are "Now Is the Time" and "Around<br />
Is Around." which were given a preview before<br />
invited guests on Thursday night
iafuring<br />
Scfcreen<br />
mr^redentation<br />
SEPTEMBER 1, 1951
General Contractors<br />
Caldwell and Scott<br />
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida<br />
Draperies<br />
Knoxville Scenic Studios<br />
Knoxville, Tennessee<br />
When You're in Miami, Be Sure to<br />
SEE THIS ULTRA-MODERN THEATRE<br />
You've probably never seen a theatre as ultra-modern or as completely<br />
equipped as the Dade County Auditorium. Specially designed for the best<br />
possible staging of any kind of presentation, this Clancy stage features complete<br />
flexibility, push-button convenience and full safety.<br />
The stages of a high percentage of the large theatres throughout the<br />
world are Clancy- designed, Clancy- manufactured, Clancy- rigged. And<br />
Clancy experience and skill have resulted in highly efficient stages in<br />
thousands of small theatres.<br />
If you plan to build a new theatre or remodel your present theatre, it<br />
will pay you handsomely to see Clancy about the stage.<br />
Any Size Stage— t/.^.CMSfCK'<br />
Anywhere in the World— Any Time<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951
n_<br />
you'll<br />
meet<br />
TtOUPESFTTE<br />
SEE ANY OF THE FOUOVtlSG DE.ALERS OR USE COUPON FOR<br />
OBTilSISG LITERATURE<br />
Strong<br />
trouper<br />
high intensity<br />
arc<br />
spotlights<br />
everywhere..<br />
Yes. yctik'i me^ Snsag Trae^c-s cifiiinkfxa—is tttaQtres. otsmss. uadilumn;,<br />
betels, ice siMms mA schools and college^ wlwjiLtiLi a skofy. teczfiig smw-<br />
A sfcoip. bfflGort spot . . . qaet. flickeriess, portable . . . s roan wMmot<br />
Ibe Bse of beovy l uimM a eqavaeat wbea yoa ase tbe Stioag Tnaper or<br />
r;5e4r Co.<br />
r -r Ca.<br />
Tie Tioapu Higb latoeitr Arc SpoHigbt is ided for Ibeatie^ u»ditai iu«i a<br />
oews. betels, ice sbows. scboob. colleges sad lodges. It draws oaly 10 wi t<br />
' res<br />
fraa ooy I10-«alt A.C caaieaiews oallet. As adjsstaU^ self-fegalat^ treri<br />
loiMci s oa artegral port of Ibe base. No bea*y lulMtiog eqovMeat nafkra<br />
A two-eleoKot larioMe focal leagtb kas systai oad siienJ gins raAec-.'<br />
occoart for nacb of tbe tJfiLiaM.y of Ibis spotlight. It bas oa in l uawliL cc<br />
coatioL A trat of onboas bans oae boar oad 20 auaates at 21 lahs oad ^i<br />
oaiDefes. TW Trsoper is eosfljr disosseaUed for shippng.<br />
Where Would You Be<br />
WITHOUT A MARQUEE<br />
In trouble, thafs sure, for nothing tokes the place of your changeable copy attroction board when it comes<br />
to selling shows at lowest cost.<br />
That's why it's important that you have the best possible display ond thot you use it properly. If s mode to<br />
be changed, not to carry permanent messages.<br />
Be sure that your panels ore lorge enough to really attract attention ... to accommodate ample selling<br />
copy. Big boards and good copy ARE GEHING THE BUSINESS TODAY AS ALWAYS!<br />
VMGNER WINDOW-TYPE FRAMES AND GLASS<br />
UNITS<br />
Because of their stronger construction, plus the fact<br />
that they can be irtstolled before installing the glass,<br />
they ore the only frames which con be built without<br />
limitation of size, and which con be economically serviced<br />
through open windows and without removing<br />
WAGNER TRANSLUCENT PLASTIC LETTERS<br />
The cosiest chonged of oil letters. Eicliisi»e xindproof<br />
slotted method of mounting prevents freering,<br />
sliding or bloaring off. The only letters that con be<br />
stocked in storoge ^vithout donger of vorping. Five<br />
sizes in fi>e gorgeous colors, the widest range on the<br />
market. Also slotted aluminum letters in the largest<br />
3nd<br />
WAGNER LOW COST STEEL PANEL<br />
ASSEA'IBLIES FOR DRIVE-INS<br />
i?2t_ S2- Z2Z-1069. Ot?*' p3ta=ts pe«riit^><br />
Letters mount directly on the poaels. Ho At-eotcbing<br />
bors required. Ponels bi porceloiii eao^wl gvoronteed<br />
ten years ogainst crockirtg, crazing, diipping<br />
or discolorotton bv reoson of the etemcuts. Poaels<br />
in long lasting boked enamel at two-thinfe tlie price<br />
of<br />
porcelain.<br />
stw<br />
fO« ^^<br />
-too<br />
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{WAGNER SIGN SERVICEJNC<br />
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:.•••••••••••>•••••»••••••••••••»•••••»•••••••••••<br />
••<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: September 1. 1951
let<br />
us custom-design<br />
a carpet for you...<br />
,-:fe Theater, in Miami Beach,<br />
:: recently ricarpeted its lobbj,<br />
.i^Li^'.ine, jiairs and aisles.<br />
A close-up oj the carpet custom-designed<br />
for the Carib Theater by Alexander Smith<br />
and Masland stylists. It cost no more<br />
than regular-line carpet.<br />
at no extra cost!<br />
When you call in your local Alexander Smith-Masland<br />
Carpet Contractor, you get not only expert advice and<br />
installation...you can also get custom-design at no extra cost.<br />
Leading st\-lists<br />
at Alexander Smith and Masland are ready<br />
to create new carpet designs for your theater tor the same<br />
sensible price as carpet from our regular line.<br />
So when vou need carpet, call in specialists. Call in your<br />
Alexander Smith-Masland Carpet Contractor.<br />
m
'JiK<br />
SEPTEMBER 1, 1951<br />
o n t n t<br />
Framing the Picture S. L. Mitchell 8<br />
Standby Power Insures <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Receipts H. F. Reves 11<br />
Panoramic Vision Gives Dramatic Improvement in<br />
Screen Presentation Leonard Satz 12<br />
Theatreman Invents Unit to Carry Drive-in<br />
Sound Through Car Radios 14<br />
Florida Theatre Is Designed for Pushbutton Operation 18<br />
Concession Installation Costs<br />
Revealed for First Time Nevin I. Gage 33<br />
A Manual of Preventive Maintenance, Part IV L. E. Pope 24<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
Cine' Clinic 44 Advertising Index 52<br />
Drive-ins 46 ^^^^ Equipment and<br />
Developments 53<br />
Readers' Service Bureau 51 Literature 57<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
About People and Product 59<br />
Beauty of color, fabric and design in theatre draperies is an<br />
integral part of the atmosphere of quiet luxury and charm which<br />
the patron finds so inviting in modern motion picture houses, and<br />
helps to focus his attention on the screen itself. The rose velour<br />
contour curtain in the Dade County Auditorium. Miami, Fla., is<br />
of preselective type offering a great variety of graceful formations.<br />
The tormentor legs and teaser border are of turquoise knobby<br />
velour while the concert curtain is of lime velour. The cyclorama<br />
draperies and intermediate draw curtains are greenish-beige linen.<br />
I ELEVISION may offer the fireside<br />
comfort of slippers and pipe, but it<br />
cannot duplicate the thrill of going out<br />
for entertainment nor the aesthetic satisfaction<br />
of viewing a motion picture in<br />
a modem theatre where beautiful design<br />
and decoration and perfection of<br />
technical equipment contribute subtly<br />
to the patron's enjoyment of the film.<br />
Realizing this, theatremen will keep<br />
the patron's comfort and pleasure firmly<br />
in mind when equipping and decorating<br />
their properties, striving to create<br />
an atmosphere so pleasant that it is a<br />
veritable invitation to "come again."<br />
The presentation on the screen can<br />
be definitely enhanced by the draperies<br />
which surround it and draw<br />
attention to it by their texture, color and<br />
movement, as one author points out in<br />
this issue. The characteristics of good<br />
picture framing in the modern theatre<br />
are discussed in interesting detail.<br />
The patron's visual comfort and<br />
pleasure ore vital factors in screen<br />
presentation. In the article on panoramic<br />
vision it is suggested that<br />
the effective picture area in theatres<br />
be increased through a higher level of<br />
auditorium lighting and a larger picture<br />
image.<br />
No less important to the patron is<br />
clear sound, uninterrupted by power<br />
breaks. Power is the essential key to<br />
the theatreman's business, and he must<br />
provide his own alternative to public<br />
utility power, as shown in an informative<br />
review of the advantages and essential<br />
need of a standby system.<br />
Drive-in theatremen will be interested<br />
in the new sound transfer unit which<br />
may be used to carry sound through the<br />
speakers of car radios, providing a<br />
unique service to patrons.<br />
Careful attention to all facets of<br />
screen presentation will help both indoor<br />
and outdoor exhibitors to build<br />
areater boxoffice.<br />
I. L. THATCHED, Managing Editor HERBERT ROUSH, Sales Manager<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section of BOXOFFICE is included in the first issue of each month.<br />
Editorial or general business correspondence should be addressed to Associated Publications,<br />
B25 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansos City 1, Mo. Eastern Recresentative: A. J. Stocker. 9 Rockefeller<br />
Plaza. New York 20. N Y.; Central Representatives: Ewing Hutchison and E. E. Yeck. 35<br />
East Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, 111.; Western Representative: Bob Wettstein, 672 South<br />
Lafayette Park Place, Los Angeles 5, Calif.
DRAPERIES<br />
Simple, but beautiful and dramatic, is the "picture frame" at the Gateway Theatre, Fort Lauderdale,<br />
Fla. The aqua contour curtain harmonizes with the palm-green masking legs and borders. In contrast,<br />
the proscenium wall is rust-colored. The eggshell satin screen curtain is enhanced with an especially designed<br />
mural of tropical foliage done with hand painted dyes<br />
FRAMING THE PICTURE<br />
Beautiful<br />
Draperies Enhance the Film and Lure the Patron Back<br />
by S.<br />
L MITCHELL*<br />
H .AVE YOU EVER asked yourself this<br />
question—"Why do we frame a picture?"<br />
When we think about it the answer is<br />
obvious—to enhance and direct attention<br />
to the picture itself. Yet we have all seen<br />
frames in homes and picture galleries that<br />
cried so loudly. "Look. I'm the frame! Am<br />
I not beautiful?" that we forgot the picture<br />
inside. So had the person who selected<br />
the frame. If we agree that, after all,<br />
the "play's the thing," then our moving<br />
picture frame should not distract but<br />
should complement and focus attention on<br />
the picture within. So what are some of<br />
the characteristics of good picture framing<br />
as used in our modern theatres today?<br />
One of the keynotes of modern design<br />
is simplicity. In decorating our homes the<br />
gilded, ornate frame that enclosed grandfather<br />
has gone to the attic. The word<br />
"functional" has been stressed more and<br />
more in recent times. Picture frames, as<br />
well as chairs and beds, are designed with<br />
more thought given to their reason for existence.<br />
Good design today dictates that<br />
This photograph of the Martin Theatre, Sylacauga, Ala., shows an interesting drapery treatment<br />
of the wing wall. The valance is of deep green rayon damask, the front curtain is chartreuse,<br />
and the masking legs and borders are dusty rose. Marine lite is depicted on the aqua<br />
screen curtain of rayon ripple repp. The sidewall is enriched with pleated gold fabric overlaid<br />
with white diagonals; the decorative panel in the lower corner ties in with the curtain mural.<br />
"Knoxville Scenic S'tudios,<br />
Inc.
we plan a frame that will not distract but<br />
will serve best its function of focusing attention<br />
on our picture.<br />
Mere simplicity, however, is not enough.<br />
We take great pains and pay good money<br />
to artists for beautiful walls and carpets.<br />
We bend over backward to give our customer<br />
a comfortable seat to relax in. We<br />
be at ease and enjoy his sur-<br />
want him to<br />
roundings. The picture frame, since it is<br />
a part of these surroundings, must be in<br />
harmony with them. Furthermore, while<br />
being simple and in good taste, as well as<br />
fitting in harmoniously with the over-all<br />
decor, the frame must be beautiful in itself<br />
if it is to attain the maximum results in<br />
fulfilling its purpose.<br />
With these characteristics — simplicity,<br />
harmony and beauty — in mind, let us<br />
analyze ways in which these maximum<br />
results can be secured. We should consider<br />
styles, fabrics, colors, as well as the<br />
components of a good picture frame, and<br />
how they can be used to direct attention<br />
to and enhance the main feature of the<br />
house, the picture itself.<br />
STYLES DO CHANGE<br />
Style is one of those elusive things that<br />
is hard to define although we can readily<br />
recognize it when a good-looking, welldressed<br />
woman walks by. Style in theatre<br />
decoration had remained for a long time<br />
under the influence of the court theatres<br />
of Louis Xrv and the gingerbread palaces<br />
of our grandfathers. Theatre owners vied<br />
with each other in "gilding the lily."<br />
Ostentation was the keynote. Curtains<br />
were embellished with braids and beads.<br />
Somber backgrounds were garnished with<br />
tassels and tinsels, and walls and ceilings<br />
had to be covered with intricate ornamentation.<br />
Confusion held sway with distracting<br />
details. But modern architects and<br />
designers have finally been admitted to<br />
our picture palaces, and a pleasing theatre<br />
today is a far cry from the ostentatious<br />
temple of the Belasco era.<br />
THE USE OF MODERN FABRICS<br />
Fabrics themselves have changed in this<br />
evolution. Modern theatre fabrics lean<br />
more to solid colors rather than the heavy<br />
patterns of a few years ago. We still find<br />
patterns, but they are in the bold designs<br />
of carpets, murals, and wall fabrics. These<br />
are balanced by plain colors in the curtains<br />
just as in our modern homes, restaurants<br />
and offices, we balance florals and patterns<br />
with plain solid colors. As a result, we<br />
achieve in our theatres simplicity and<br />
smartness far more pleasing than the<br />
raucous confusion of yesterday's multicolored<br />
textiles.<br />
Brocatels, tapestries and heavily woven<br />
jacquards have been replaced by soft materials<br />
that are rich looking and drape<br />
better. Here we are indebted to modern<br />
chemistry and the strides taken by the<br />
manufacturers in the development of ny-<br />
S. L. Mitchell<br />
Ions, rayons, synthetic satins, ersatz silks,<br />
fiber glass and plastic ad infinitum. Also<br />
very appealing is the fact that these new<br />
materials are much kinder to the exhibitor's<br />
purse.<br />
Another contribution of modern chemistry<br />
is the perfecting of flameproofing<br />
compounds. We have available permanently<br />
flameproofed fabrics that will meet<br />
the most rigid requirements of the varied<br />
state fire codes. This is even possible with-<br />
( Continued on following page)<br />
Exquisite color drama has been achieved in the draperies of the Carib Theatre, Miami Beach, Fla. The<br />
contour curtain is of tangerine hammered satin, with the first masking legs and border of emerald green satin, and<br />
the second pair of legs of deep bottle-green plush. The theme of the theatre has been carried out in the screen<br />
curtain of translucent turquoise rayon ripple repp, decorated with a hand-dyed mural of marine life found in the<br />
Caribbean waters.<br />
BOXOFTICE :: September 1, 1951
Framing the<br />
Picture<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
out marring the beauty, color and draping<br />
qualities of the curtains.<br />
COLOR BECOMES IMPORTANT<br />
Just as heavy fabrics have given way to<br />
soft flowing, lighter-weight materials.<br />
color has changed its face. Exhibitors used<br />
to cry, "Give me any color as long as it's<br />
red!" Somber colors around the screen<br />
were recently considered necessary to<br />
avoid distraction and minimize any light<br />
reflection that might reduce the visibility<br />
of the picture. But our ideas have changed,<br />
just as the fallacy of the pitch-dark movie<br />
house has been exploded in favor of illumination<br />
sufficient for the patron to<br />
avoid possible hazards in getting to and<br />
from his seat.<br />
Modern theatre decor, including our picture<br />
frame, has changed complexion to<br />
lighter hues and pastel tones. We are also<br />
more conscious today of the effects colors<br />
can have on our audience, psychologically<br />
and even physically. We no longer cry for<br />
just red, but have even used green, once<br />
taboo, since we have "discovered" that it<br />
rests the human eye. Psychologists have<br />
convinced us that cheerful and harmonious<br />
colors give our patron an inward satisfaction<br />
and, perhaps even unconsciously, an<br />
urge to come again.<br />
THE FRAMING ELEMENTS<br />
Having all these new fabrics and colors<br />
of the spectrum at cur disposal, how can<br />
we use them most effectively to frame our<br />
picture? Draperies on a typical stage will<br />
begin with a valance and. perhaps, cascades<br />
or proscenium legs. Just back of this curtain<br />
frame we have a front curtain, separating<br />
in the center and traveling to the<br />
sides. Often, this proscenium setting is<br />
in the form of a contour curtain, as illustrated<br />
in the accompanying photographs<br />
The contour curtain in the Varsity Theatre, Martin, Tenn., is of dusty rose hammered satin<br />
with harmonizing masking legs and borders of aqua and eggshell figured damask. Scolloped, egg<br />
shell-colored rayon satin forms the screen curtain.<br />
of the Carib and Gateway theatres. As<br />
this curtain rises, by means of a series<br />
of cables, it forms its own valance and<br />
cascades. Incidentally, all curtain movements<br />
and light changes are handled by<br />
remote control from the projection booth.<br />
Several feet behind this setting is the<br />
.screen, framed at the top by a grand drape,<br />
or teaser, and at the sides by tormentor<br />
legs. Covering the screen itself is a title,<br />
or screen, curtain. The opening of this<br />
curtain provides a dramatic focus of attention<br />
as the picture begins. A recent<br />
development in the screen curtain has been<br />
the introduction of unusual mural effects.<br />
Through the use of dyes on soft materials,<br />
colorful and distinctive designs may be<br />
achieved without losing qualities inherent<br />
in draped curtains. The photographs illustrate<br />
most effectively the results accomplished<br />
through this new technique.<br />
When the stage is used for live shows or<br />
other programs there will be a background<br />
of drapes, curtains across the stage and<br />
legs to mask the sides, commonly called<br />
the cyclorama or "cyke." Here modern<br />
practice calls for subordinate backgrounds,<br />
plain materials and neutral colors, so<br />
(Continued on page 16)<br />
In the Taylor Theatre, Gate City, Va , the<br />
festoon valance and cascades are of rust<br />
colored panne plush. The front curtain is made<br />
of turquoise figured damask, while the masking<br />
legs and borders are of copper-toned satin<br />
sheen. A screen curtain of gold figured rayon<br />
satin complements these colorful draperies.<br />
10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
STANDBY POWER INSURES<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
RECEIPTS<br />
byHAVILANDF. REVES<br />
X HE ONE ESSENTIAL scrvice required<br />
for successful, and even safe, operation of<br />
the motion picture theatre today is electric<br />
light and power. The basic commodity<br />
sold, an image upon the screen transmuted<br />
into a creative work of art or information,<br />
would be at most a tiny transparency in<br />
a lifeless machine without the touch of<br />
electricity. So, what are you doing, Mr.<br />
Exhibitor, to safeguard that essential key<br />
to your business life?<br />
Power failures occur rarely in some<br />
areas, frequently in others. The history of<br />
the public utility in a given area for<br />
reliability of service must be scanned carefully<br />
in planning the protection of power<br />
supply. The writer has the good fortune<br />
to live in an area where reliability of service<br />
has been assured since the dawn of the<br />
motion picture business by a power company<br />
that has kept both production<br />
capacity and distribution facilities steadily<br />
in advance of a phenomenal growth of<br />
demand. But other sections are less favored,<br />
and flickering lights and brownouts, symptoms<br />
of potential trouble, are only too<br />
likely to increase in frequency as the power<br />
demand goes up with booming defense<br />
demands.<br />
When utility power fails, an electric generating<br />
plant like this Onan will take over the job<br />
of safety lighting, projection and sound system<br />
requirements, and essential operating mechanisms<br />
in the theatre. This is an easily<br />
installed, portable model.<br />
Alternative power for theatres is a simple<br />
safeguard which can protect the exhibitor's<br />
boxoffice. Years ago elaborate precautions<br />
were commonly taken to assure electric<br />
supply for theatre exit lights. Special<br />
cable was laid direct to the theatre from<br />
the utility substation, in a separate conduit,<br />
so that lights would be available whatever<br />
happened. And it was hooked up in<br />
such a way that it would remain in use,<br />
through central station battery supply or<br />
otherwise, even in the event of a general<br />
power failure. Some such installations remain,<br />
but the average theatre today has<br />
no such elaborate tie-in, as the spread of<br />
large and small houses throughout the<br />
neighborhoods multiplied the number of<br />
theatres to the point where continuing special<br />
power lines of this nature seemed impractical.<br />
Each exhibitor today must<br />
provide his own alternative source.<br />
Standby power failure protection tor theatres<br />
permits carrying on normal business without<br />
loss of revenue. This Ready-Power engine<br />
generator set when equipped with an auto<br />
matic standby control will automatically supply<br />
current in the event of outside power failure.<br />
Essentially, this means an independent<br />
generating plant capable of handling<br />
the necessary load for the length of assumed<br />
power failure. The familiar type of<br />
electrically driven motor-generator set<br />
obviously cannot be utilized for this purpose,<br />
since the electrical power supply itself<br />
is needed to run the set.<br />
The first specification is the determination<br />
of capacity of the unit needed, which<br />
will be importantly reflected in total cost<br />
of the installation. It is unnecessary to<br />
provide for every device in the theatre, or<br />
even for the all-time peak demand of the<br />
house. A conservative measurement of<br />
needs can be worked out, and of course this<br />
means that a responsible manager must<br />
have the authority to see that operation<br />
is kept within that capacity during periods<br />
of standby operation.<br />
The basic demands to be met, approximately<br />
in order of importance, are:<br />
Safety lighting.<br />
Projection and sound system requirements.<br />
General house lighting.<br />
Electric power is the essential key to the<br />
theatreman's business life. Installation of<br />
standby power will protect him in this vital<br />
respect and will also win public goodwill. With<br />
current supplied by two, six-volt storage batteries,<br />
this Fairbanks-Morse generating set is<br />
electrically started and stopped by push button<br />
controls located on the engine panel, or<br />
at remote stations installed within 250 feet of<br />
the<br />
plant.<br />
Essential operating mechanisms, especially<br />
heating, air conditioning and stage<br />
equipment.<br />
Auxiliary house equipment, such as popcorn<br />
machines, beverage venders.<br />
Sign, marquee, and other advertising<br />
lighting.<br />
The approximate demands for these<br />
various factors, and the limits within which<br />
they can be controlled by judicious management<br />
must be carefully assessed for<br />
the individual house. In the case of driveins,<br />
the factors differ by the omission of<br />
heating and the greater spread of safety<br />
lighting. With the various desirable load<br />
requirements at hand the exhibitor will be<br />
in a position to discuss plant size with the<br />
electrical contractor, and to determine how<br />
the demand can best be matched with the<br />
cost of various plant capacities to meet his<br />
own standard of an economically wise investment.<br />
Why have a standby plant at all? True,<br />
it is required, in one form or another, to<br />
have auxiliary power by legislation in<br />
some instances. Every exhibitor is familiar<br />
with the varying requirements for exit<br />
lights and knows that his responsibility to<br />
the public demands extra precautions,<br />
regularly inspected, here. Complete power<br />
failure may be so rare that regular sources<br />
of supply may be adequate in some instances.<br />
An auxiliary plant should, however, have<br />
greater capacity than that required for<br />
basic safety, enough to assure keeping the<br />
picture on the screen when the plant is<br />
in service. This is a sound investment in<br />
operating equipment because it guarantees<br />
the operator that he can hold his house<br />
and continue to do business when the<br />
emergency occurs. It is, in fact, a form of<br />
insurance of boxoffice receipts. It hurts if<br />
you have to give out the equivalent of<br />
rain-checks and close down the show. But<br />
the knowledge by patrons that the exhibitor<br />
has thought enough of their convenience<br />
and enjoyment to go to extra expense<br />
to guarantee them a program will be<br />
appreciated and will result in a sizable increment<br />
in goodwill.<br />
f Continued on page 22)<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 11
PANORAMIC VISION<br />
GIVES<br />
DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT<br />
IN SCREEN PRESENTATION<br />
by<br />
LEONARD SATZ*<br />
At IS VERY gratifying to report<br />
that exhibitors all over the country are<br />
showing increased interest in the subject<br />
of panoramic vision. Even those exhibitors<br />
who employ no technical men have heard<br />
enough about the new theory that they<br />
now demonstrate an awareness of the desirability<br />
to greatly increase the effective<br />
picture area in their theatres.<br />
The Society of Motion Picture and Television<br />
Engineers at their 69th semi-annual<br />
convention held in New York last April<br />
presented papers on the sub.iect as well as<br />
a discussion on recommended auditorium<br />
A listing of these papers will<br />
lighting. I<br />
appear at the end of this article.) The two<br />
subjects go hand in hand, and combined<br />
they offer the theatre owner and operator<br />
what I consider the first really dramatic<br />
improvement in picture presentation in<br />
over 20 years.<br />
Briefly, such improvement is a combination<br />
of larger picture images, special<br />
proscenium treatment and a higher level<br />
of illumination in the auditorium, without<br />
distracting lighting fixtures and with<br />
downlighting so directed and planned as<br />
to eliminate the possibility of "washing<br />
out" the picture image. In the event a<br />
modernization in lighting is not possible<br />
at this time, then larger effective picture<br />
area by itself offers a compromise.<br />
For too many years now, a picture width<br />
equal to one-sixth the maximum viewing<br />
*Raytone Screen Corp.<br />
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distance has been the accepted formula.<br />
A picture image width equal to one-fourth<br />
the maximum viewing distance is much<br />
more dramatic and at the same time more<br />
pleasing to the eye. Visual acuity, the<br />
ability of the eye to perceive detail, is improved—even<br />
though in some few cases<br />
the brightness of the picture image will<br />
decrease somewhat because the available<br />
light has to be spread out over a wider<br />
screen area. This can be compensated for.<br />
in the majority of cases, by changing from<br />
old six element lenses to new four element,<br />
treated lenses w-ith higher F speeds and<br />
correspondingly greater light transmission.<br />
Acceptance of the theory of panoramic<br />
vision has been forthcoming for some time<br />
now, as indicated by the papers outlined at<br />
the end of this article. Incidentally, particular<br />
attention should be paid to the<br />
report of the Screen Brightness Committee<br />
which details the high percentage of theatres<br />
throughout the country that are<br />
operating at standards way below par. The<br />
Eastman Kodak Co., General Electric Co.,<br />
prominent architects and oculists are<br />
agreed that larger effective picture area is<br />
of the utmost importance. In a discussion<br />
on screens, S. K. Guth of General Electric<br />
has established that the percentage of<br />
visual field in binocular vision that is seen<br />
by the human eye when viewing a screen<br />
image width of one-sixth the maximum<br />
viewing distance is approximately .42 or<br />
less than one-half of one per cent! This<br />
is based on W equaling the value 15.0. A<br />
mm<br />
35^>rrr,i<br />
/n panoramic vision the effective screen image width W-W should be minimum one-fourth the<br />
maximum viewing distance. The areas A, B, C and D, shown within dotted lines, should not be<br />
dork but cleverly illuminated at levels up to one-half the picture brightness, without stray light<br />
hitting the screen.<br />
picture width of 4W (one-fourth the maximum<br />
viewing distance) would give a percentage<br />
of visual field of .94. A picture<br />
width of 3W would give 1.7 and 2W would<br />
give 3.8.<br />
Let's transpose all this into laymen's<br />
terms and the answer is that the old<br />
formula of one-sixth the viewing distance<br />
is entirely inadequate. The patron should<br />
see a greater percentage of the front of<br />
the theatre as actual motion picture. And<br />
the surrounding area should not be dark<br />
but should extend the effective picture<br />
area; the motion picture in the center of<br />
the stage and a gradual transposition extending<br />
out through the proscenium walls<br />
—the light value of the picture being the<br />
greatest—and the surrounding area gradually<br />
tapering off. Tests conducted by Guth<br />
have demonstrated that observers selected<br />
brightness for surrounding area at higher<br />
levels than ever thought possible. (Approximately<br />
one-half the average picture brightness<br />
— without any stray light on the<br />
screen.)<br />
The papers referred to above will be<br />
published in the SMPTE journal for September<br />
1951 according to tentative plans.<br />
It is the writer's firm opinion that the exhibitor<br />
cannot afford to disregard these<br />
articles. Long years of research went into<br />
these presentations. This great advancement<br />
in screen technique is ours for the<br />
asking but it is up to the exhibitor to take<br />
advantage of the idea and put it to worthwhile<br />
use. Now is the time.<br />
Report on Screen Brightness Committee<br />
Theatre Survey.<br />
W. W. LoziER, Chairman. Screen Brightness<br />
Committee. SMPTE.<br />
The Screen Brightness Committee has<br />
undertaken a survey of screen brightness<br />
in 100 representative motion picture theatres<br />
in this country. Progress to date<br />
will be reported.<br />
New Approaches Developed by Relating<br />
Film Production Techniques to Theatre<br />
Exhibition.<br />
Benjamin Schlanger and William A.<br />
HOFFBERG, Theatre Engineering and<br />
Architecture Consultants. New York.<br />
A larger screen, camera angles, factors<br />
of psychophysical vision and auditorium<br />
viewing are considered relative to the<br />
development of more flexible screen<br />
cinematography. Screen masking, sur-<br />
I Continued on page 30)<br />
12 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
IT DOES SOMETHING TO FOLKS!<br />
Once having Motiographs; a theatreman never buys any other<br />
projector.. .actually becomes hostile when anyone suggests that he<br />
change. What can you do with people like that? Thinking it<br />
over,<br />
Motiographs must be quite satisfactory.<br />
Learn why. For literature write<br />
America's Oldest Manufacturer of Projection Equipment<br />
4431 W. Lake St. Chicago 24,<br />
• SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
• PROJECTION lAMPS • IN-CAR SPEAKERS • MOTOR-GENERATORS<br />
Export Division (Except Canada)<br />
Frazar & Hansen, Ltd., 301 Clay Street<br />
San Francisco 11, California
THEATREMAN INVENTS UNIT<br />
TO CARRY DRIVE-IN SOUND<br />
THROUGH CAR RADIOS<br />
D.'rive-in rpTEATREMEN who are beginning<br />
to be plagued with material shortages<br />
in maintaining in-car speakers at<br />
their situations will be much interested in<br />
a recently patented device by which the patron<br />
may listen to the show on his own car<br />
radio speaker.<br />
The unit is the invention of R. J. Singleton,<br />
assistant manager of the Eagle Drivein<br />
Theatre, Hobbs, N. M. Singleton, who<br />
also is an employe of an electrical company,<br />
handled the maintenance for the incar<br />
speakers at the theatre, and said that<br />
he was forced by hard work into creating<br />
the device.<br />
The Singleton sound transfer unit is a<br />
small black box at the end of an extension<br />
cord. The box has a knob on it to regulate<br />
the volume of sound. The back of the box<br />
has a plug, or metal finger, which is inserted<br />
in a jack, or hole, in the dashboard<br />
of the car.<br />
Theatremen will naturally wonder about<br />
the patron's reaction to having his car fitted<br />
for the device, and whether it might<br />
mar the surface of the automobile dashboard.<br />
Singleton explains that there is no<br />
marring whatever, as the unit mounts<br />
under the dash. Most cars already are<br />
equipped with holes drilled under the dash,<br />
and the Singleton invention fits these<br />
holes. However, if there are no holes, it is<br />
necessary to drill a %-inch hole, which is<br />
finished with a chrome rim.<br />
The car installation consists of a standard<br />
telephone jack with connecting wires<br />
to the radio speaker only in the case of a<br />
permanent magnet speaker. If the radio<br />
has an electrodynamic speaker, then it is<br />
necessary to use a special jack so the<br />
speaker field coil only may be energized<br />
with six volts of direct current.<br />
It readily may be seen, therefore, that<br />
there is no current at all pulled from the<br />
car battery, unless the car radio speaker<br />
is electrodynamic. In the latter case, during<br />
a normal film program, this field coil<br />
will use slightly less than half an ampere<br />
of battery current. If the battery is any<br />
good at all this amount of current can't<br />
possibly harm it. The small amount of<br />
current used is due to the fact that the<br />
radio is off at all times, only the speaker<br />
being used.<br />
Most cars already hove holes under the dash,<br />
but it is sometimes necessory to drill o Va-inch<br />
hole which is finished with a chrome rim, in<br />
no way marring the appearance of the car.<br />
It is not necessary for the drive-in owner<br />
to provide a battery charger for possible<br />
use by customers, as it is unnecessary<br />
in nine out of ten cases. The offer of such<br />
a service might only frighten the patron<br />
who has to use his battery when there is<br />
no reason to be alarmed.<br />
Rigging the cars for this type of reception<br />
is a simple matter, which will require<br />
an experienced man an average of 30 minutes<br />
a car. Time checks have shown the<br />
following periods required:<br />
Ford products<br />
5 to 15 minutes<br />
General Motors products 10 to 15 minutes<br />
Chrysler products 10 minutes<br />
Packards ....1 hour<br />
Studebakers<br />
45 minutes<br />
These figures are based on standard<br />
equipment radios. All other brands, such<br />
as Motorola, Firestone, etc., require about<br />
30 minutes.<br />
Drive-in operators may wonder if installation<br />
of the sound transfer system<br />
might make it impossible for them to attract<br />
the type of patrons who might not<br />
This is<br />
want their cars fitted for the unit.<br />
not true, because with each unit sold to<br />
the theatre. Singleton furnishes three jacks.<br />
One is installed in each speaker taken<br />
down, and the speaker is numbered. If the<br />
patron does not have the installation on<br />
his auto, then a speaker may be given him<br />
at the boxoffice by an attendant who takes<br />
his name, address, license number, and the<br />
speaker number. The Singleton unit will<br />
plug into this speaker, and the inventor<br />
believes that the theatre stands much less<br />
chance of losing the speaker.<br />
Singleton does not claim that the theatre<br />
owner can get completely away from<br />
in-car speakers with his installation, but<br />
he points out that the speakers can be<br />
taken in out of the weather each night and<br />
kept in good shape with practically no<br />
maintenance on them. Also, it is not necessary<br />
to have nearly so many speakers,<br />
possibly only one-third of the number now<br />
in use. There is nothing in the unit, he<br />
.says, that weather of any kind can hurt<br />
with the execption of the volume control,<br />
and only dust can hurt that. It is a simple<br />
matter to clean.<br />
The theatre owner should bear in mind<br />
that he cannot change to this system without<br />
advance notice. It must be advertised<br />
to the public at least three weeks in advance<br />
of theatre installation in order to<br />
get the automobiles ready for the unit.<br />
The sound transfer system is installed<br />
in the Eagle Drive-In Theatre, and has<br />
been favorably received by the patrons.<br />
Singleton believes his unit produces improved<br />
sound quality, as the auto radio<br />
speaker has less resistance to sound, giving<br />
the theatre much more volume range with<br />
the present amplifier.<br />
Another feature is that when at the theatre<br />
a hard-of-hearing person may plug<br />
a set of earphones into the sound transfer<br />
unit after it is plugged into the car, and<br />
everyone in the car may enjoy the theatre<br />
sound at normal volume range.<br />
DRIVE-IN SIGNS<br />
ILLUMINATED<br />
MODEL F-20 S MODEL F-20 H<br />
Standing Type Honging Type<br />
20 INCH LUCITE PLATE<br />
.y"<br />
minaiiiviii<br />
The Singleton sound transfer unit, as shown<br />
above, is a small box at the end of an extension<br />
cord, which plugs into a hole in the dashboard.<br />
The knob on top regulates the volume of sound.<br />
Plastic Admission and Directional Signs<br />
At Dealers Everywhere. Send for Brochure<br />
Write Today<br />
Associated T. & R. Co., 354 W. 44th St., New York 18, N. Y.<br />
14 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
youth—your best customer f<br />
Not only now but in the future.<br />
Youth buys plenty of concessions and<br />
they buy even more— when "Easy-In,<br />
Easy-Out" Kroehler Push-Back* Seats<br />
are installed in your theatre.<br />
Modern Kroehler Push-Back Seats<br />
make your concessions counters easy to<br />
reach and far easier to buy from.<br />
Profit by the "word of mouth advertising"<br />
a comfort-conscious youth can<br />
give your theatre.<br />
Modernize NOW!<br />
Wire or write the nearest office!<br />
Here's the normal,<br />
nfortableloungeir<br />
position of the<br />
sh-Back Theatre<br />
the body slide<br />
back.<br />
*Futly protected by pote<br />
KROEHLER<br />
3— Relax, chair slides<br />
back to normal, comfortable<br />
position— no<br />
standing up, no incon*<br />
venience.<br />
^^i^AiMfic£<br />
"<br />
THEATRE SEATS<br />
E<br />
WORLD'S FINEST THEATRE SEAT
YOUR DOUBLE CH^€k ON<br />
PROFIMBLE<br />
THlitR/<br />
amn<br />
the Picture<br />
(Continued from page 10)<br />
that there is no distraction from what is<br />
being presented on the stage.<br />
THE FRAME IN ACTION<br />
But to return to our picture screen, we<br />
have it framed with curtains, simple but<br />
beautiful to look at and in harmony with<br />
the rest of the theatre. To this we add<br />
the magic ingredient, movement. Let us<br />
assume an ideal situation before the running<br />
of the picture. The house lights are<br />
on and the stage curtains are closed. Our<br />
customer walks in, feels the soft carpet<br />
under his feet, glances at the attractively<br />
decorated lobby and is ushered to a comfortable<br />
seat. As he relaxes and looks<br />
around him the cares of the day begin to<br />
leave him. His mentality may be low and<br />
his taste nil but the decor and colors<br />
around him provide an "atmosphere" that<br />
consciously or uncon.sciously he likes. His<br />
eyes rest on the curtain facing him— beautiful<br />
in itself because of its richness<br />
A STUB ROD BOX<br />
and its<br />
AT THE DOOR<br />
soft folds. His attention, of course, wanders.<br />
But suddenly it is riveted as the<br />
house lights dim and the contour curtain<br />
Control System<br />
in front of him slowly rises in flowing<br />
y,t<br />
cascades and rippling festoons. Before<br />
him is a new scene, a gorgeous array of<br />
tropical loveliness—large, bold splotches<br />
the box office. of multicolored<br />
.<br />
-^e<br />
splendor (in just the right<br />
Ken.emb^vt.^
Upon entering the lobby of The Paradise, Los Angeles' new 1300 seat theatre,<br />
there's an atmosphere that invites patrons to relax in luxurious comfort.<br />
Installed under this beautiful RCA custom-loomed carpeting is Spongex, the<br />
sponge rubber rug cushion that never mats down. With all the comfort it adds<br />
underfoot Spongex keeps carpeting costs down. ..for Spongex also adds years of<br />
life to all carpets.<br />
The Paradise Theatre installs<br />
Or Ull"t#V the sponge rubber rug cushion<br />
under MxdA. carpeting<br />
for carpet economy and luxurious comfort<br />
Spongex adds years of extra life to all carpets<br />
Spongex will last for carpets to come<br />
Spongex makes all carpet more luxurious<br />
to reduce maintenance costs<br />
Spongex creates no dust or lint— is moth and<br />
vermin proof —<br />
gets no musty smell—is always<br />
springy, no matting down— has no dirt catching<br />
crevices— is easily vacuumed or damp-wiped.<br />
nnniinrv<br />
V Irug cushion, w<br />
oruNucA<br />
SPONGE RUBBER<br />
Ask your RCA Theatre Supply Dealer, or your carpeting contractor,<br />
about Spongex today.<br />
Identify it by its distinctive green and gray color. Or write us for samples and information.<br />
THE SPONGE RUBBER PRODUCTS COMPANY<br />
416 Derby Place Shelton, Conn.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: September 1, 1951<br />
17
DIM<br />
BRIGHTEN<br />
BLEND<br />
POWERSTAT<br />
DIMMING<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
A COMPLETE LINE TO<br />
SERVE EACH APPLICATION<br />
I<br />
NON-INTER-<br />
LOCKING TYPES<br />
available In<br />
monuotly -operated<br />
and molor-driven<br />
models in capacities<br />
from 1,000 to 30,000 watts<br />
2 PACKAGED UNITS<br />
'<br />
compact<br />
facilities<br />
in one cobinet<br />
for dimming<br />
control.<br />
Offered in 6 - 1000<br />
wait and 3, i, 5, 6<br />
2000 watt packoge<br />
3 INTERLOCKING TYPES<br />
for large switchboard<br />
installations.<br />
2000 and 5000 watt<br />
assemblies con be<br />
mastered ond<br />
grond mastered. "\;*l<br />
4 POSITIONER CONTROLS<br />
troller<br />
providing<br />
tor stolion operation<br />
of noninterlocking<br />
motordriven<br />
POWERSTAT<br />
SEND FOR COMPLETE INfORMATION<br />
SUPERIOR ELECTRIC CO SBl,<br />
tusroi. toiudcr/cuT ^R<br />
2091 DCMERS AVENUE, BRISTOL, CONN.<br />
Please send literature on the following items<br />
of POWERSTAT Light Dimming Equipment.<br />
ID 2 a 3 D 4 a<br />
CO. ADDRESS.<br />
POSITION<br />
The stage of the beautiful theatre in the Dade County Auditorium, Miami, Flo., is shown<br />
here, with the contour curtain in one of many formations which may be created Each of nine<br />
festoons can be set instantly for any height, and the setting automatically controls both the<br />
distance of travel and the speed of the motor, so that all festoons start and stop simultaneously.<br />
FLORIDA THEATRE IS DESIGNED<br />
FOR PUSHBUTTON OPERATION<br />
Theatremen who visit Miami, Fla., will<br />
see a thoroughly modern theatre in the<br />
Dade County Auditorium. Particularly<br />
noteworthy is the fact that the theatre<br />
has been designed for complete flexibility,<br />
economical pushbutton operation and<br />
maximum safety.<br />
The stage of this extraordinary theatre<br />
is enhanced with a beautiful contour<br />
curtain which can be drawn into a great<br />
variety of formations. It is the product of<br />
J. R. Clancy. Inc. There are nine festoons,<br />
each of which can be automatically set<br />
for any desired position. In addition, the<br />
travel of the curtain can be stopped at any<br />
intermediate position. All festoons start<br />
and stop at the same time regardless of<br />
the shape of the curtain formation.<br />
A battery of 66 sets of counterweights,<br />
complete with locking rail, strip light and<br />
outrigger brackets, light bridge, sound<br />
horns and paint frame, is controlled by a<br />
Clancy contour curtain control board. The<br />
curtain also may be operated from the<br />
projection booth.<br />
The asbestos curtain, 63x32 feet, is electrically<br />
operated by a special mechanism.<br />
In case of fire, heat-actuated controls<br />
automatically close the opening tight in<br />
30 seconds. At five feet from the floor,<br />
the curtain is checked by hydraulic shock<br />
absorbers, and ten of the 30 seconds are<br />
taken for the last five feet of closing, an<br />
inportant safety precaution which permits<br />
persons under the curtain to get clear.-<br />
The Dade County Auditorium theatre<br />
also features a Clancy orchestra lift and<br />
console lift spotted at stage level. The orchestra<br />
lift will accommodate a full symphony<br />
orchestra. A Clancy revolving stage.<br />
30 feet in diameter, can be operated at<br />
nine speeds in either direction. Momentary-contact<br />
control permits starting from<br />
and stopping at any position.<br />
This photograph of the contour curtain control<br />
board shows the simplicity of control of the<br />
curtain formations. The contour curtain also<br />
may be operated from the projection booth<br />
'Seemanship' Is Important<br />
Some exhibitors center their managerial<br />
activities upon such essential matters as<br />
advertising and exploitation to the virtual<br />
exclusion of attention to what is put on<br />
the screen as far as the technical equipment<br />
and practice is concerned. The difficulty<br />
is that they have let theii' concern<br />
with showmanship overbalance the proper<br />
emphasis they should give to "seemanship."<br />
18 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
. . found<br />
'<br />
I<br />
^^ MODEL ^V SOUNDHEAD<br />
--FEATURES —<br />
«»« -4 ?" Academy J\^' ' °^*"' 50%<br />
OM 'o<br />
. 0.08 P.rc.„ "?,' !""•" Model<br />
,<br />
9^<br />
lenl-"' ."""«• ''«M° 'r oJ:'"'"'" *»''<br />
njron o<br />
to oilow for ."oiler '">' va,>,i 'Pfinq<br />
mounted on r,U?',I ' *'"'"" »' fiU<br />
SIMPLER OPERATION<br />
Ballantyne engineering skill has<br />
simplified soundhead operation<br />
to a foolproof, almost mechanical<br />
procedure. The guess work is<br />
gone.<br />
GREATER ACCESSIBILITY<br />
Sensational new innovations in<br />
design and construction provide<br />
greater accessibility to the interior<br />
of the soundhead for<br />
threading, ac 'Ctments, and parts<br />
replacements. Operators will welcome<br />
these startling improvements<br />
. only in the<br />
Royal Soundmaster Model 9.<br />
THE<br />
FLAWLESS FIDELITY<br />
Skillful engineering now gives<br />
you ALL of the sound on the<br />
sound track ... the high tones<br />
and the low tones ... the shouts<br />
and the whispers ... in perfect<br />
clarity and fidelity.<br />
It is with considerable pride that<br />
The Ballantyne Company, in this<br />
year, the Silver Anniversary of<br />
Sound in the Theatre, announces<br />
this outstanding advancement in<br />
sound reproduction. Operators<br />
and theatre owners alike will appreciate<br />
the many new and revolutionary<br />
features found in the<br />
Royal Soundmaster Model 9-<br />
BALLANTYNE COMPANY<br />
1 707-1 7 Davenport St. Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.<br />
G"' box of !,<br />
"'Ol'c'or driv. „,•„,„<br />
c":w\^ "-ii'° ''-•--'<br />
bronze<br />
'mootli<br />
• One low«r . ,<br />
Boed iprockef drive, f, ,<br />
»"'• ond<br />
opero<br />
iooder,o';,::;s:<br />
(ormica wL!° """O "'P" driven h .<br />
• All ,1, n.<br />
' En-ire "L'p'i"'""<br />
"" "~' """'°"°''' '"'<br />
ond Seor" b°o, "r^lj"*!' 'P'ockef o.„<br />
nblv<br />
?"-.n. .id'e"o7°,r-„„^-.-i.*;r":<br />
^o f.o,.e,„bl,d fo';.„,,.-"<br />
»°undtjeod and<br />
""ptTtrrfe,"'"""^--"-'-'''''<br />
;','• Hopo:..,:;a';it'„ '"""»• 'or Ion,<br />
po.ition'"" Po..l.on,„a pod '""'' * I'l^ o-i-JftX"""'" ""I"""!"* 'y"'<br />
roller. .top, ,„<br />
titer<br />
la<br />
'-c'or, d.„°1.7 »»0' '.p, Witt, ^°;-<br />
nouiina ol c<br />
'•Placement<br />
Ployej new<br />
'-..on ?;pe"::rti-<br />
^^^^^^<br />
""m*<br />
*'y<br />
'f'le'.?kl'""'°°'' ""am of o<br />
ogain!<br />
vibrot,<br />
"• '""' operating<br />
• Adiu.toble motor ""O'or<br />
ment moon<br />
of<br />
^° 'o;Pa.itiv..li,„<br />
°^ **'"'<br />
Scon<br />
^O'<br />
^oiib'e7ri„''r.?„'!^r„'„°; me seoled<br />
'>"<br />
' '<br />
entering lognd-<br />
Hordened ond q,ou„h<br />
''°'-<br />
""'!'" "o'oieXr'morrno"' '"ecio,<br />
to base of '<br />
p7o """ at'<br />
I<br />
'oundheod.<br />
Pio,, ,1*'. before placing on<br />
•"" Po.li;onC:V,'°""'le
, It<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY CO<br />
CELEBRATES A QUARTER<br />
CENTURY OF SERVICE'<br />
W. E. Green<br />
President, National Theatre Supply Co.<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. will begin<br />
celebrating its 25th anniversary September<br />
3. The company was organized in the<br />
comparative calm of 1926 preceding the<br />
whirlwind that followed the introduction<br />
of sound with its sweeping realignment of<br />
^heatre ownerships and the chaos of the<br />
1929 market collapse.<br />
was a stormy era for a new company,<br />
but it came through, clinging to the idea<br />
that a company that could supply most of<br />
the equipment needs of exhibitors on liberal<br />
credit terms had a place in the industry.<br />
Most of the leading executives and a<br />
number of field employes are still with the<br />
company. There are 16 of these.<br />
W. E. Green, president, and his associates<br />
started out with a sales argument<br />
based on service. It is no longer an argument:<br />
it is a tradition, but to keep the<br />
emphasis where it began the company is<br />
starting a sales drive based on the theme,<br />
"A Quarter Century of Service to Theatre<br />
Owners."<br />
Green spends very little time looking at<br />
the past; he is busy planning for the futuj;e.<br />
and it is his boast that everyone in<br />
tne organization, from himself down to the<br />
porters, is enthusiastic about the future<br />
of the industry.<br />
"It's the world's greatest entertainment<br />
medium," he says often.<br />
Those early days were exciting, however,<br />
he admits, and some of them seem more<br />
agreeable in retrospect than they were<br />
when events were crowding each other<br />
along a trail where there were no guideposts.<br />
In 1926 Vitaphone was born. On<br />
Broadway, the Warner Bros, were playing<br />
the first sound picture— "Don Juan,"<br />
with John Barrymore. Across the street,<br />
John Gilbert was featured in "The Big<br />
Parade" and New York's most luxurious<br />
motion picture palace, the Paramount, had<br />
just opened.<br />
Green and his aides had the conviction<br />
that a national equipment supply company<br />
could save exhibitors a lot of time<br />
and expense by supplying all their equipment<br />
items, including Simplex projection<br />
and sound equipment. Peerless<br />
Magnarc and National Excelite Projection<br />
arc lamps. Walker screens, Alexander<br />
Smith carpet, Governair air conditioning,<br />
Hertner transverters. American Blower<br />
fans and air washers, Bevelite letters and<br />
poster cases. National draperies and other<br />
items. Not all of them came at once. In<br />
the intervening years items have been<br />
added, including GPL videofilm and direct<br />
projection theatre television systems.<br />
Obviously the idea was sound. Green,<br />
who has a flair for understatement, says<br />
the company has "flourished."<br />
Veterans of the first days included : Oscar<br />
S. Oldknow, Los Angeles; A. T. Crawmer,<br />
Minneapolis: Louise Ferguson, Denver;<br />
N. C. Haefele, Baltimore; J. H. Kelley,<br />
Cincinnati; Bertha Kreinik, Buffalo: G. C.<br />
Lewis, Philadelphia; G. J. Libera and B. A.<br />
Benson, warehouse; F. J. Masek, Cleveland;<br />
J. J. Morgan, Denver; Marion Oviatt, Kansas<br />
City; O. A. Peterson, Minneapolis;<br />
M. B. Smith, Los Angeles, and N. F. Williams,<br />
Pittsburgh.<br />
At first, general headquarters were in<br />
Chicago, with H. A. R. Dutton as president<br />
and W. E. Green and Oscar S. Oldknow as<br />
vice-presidents. In 1928 Green was named<br />
president and Oldknow continued as vicepresident.<br />
Other officers are: R. N. Harder, treasurer;<br />
R. B. La Rue, secretary, and R. H.<br />
Richardson, assistant secretary and assistant<br />
treasurer.<br />
In 1930 the general offices were moved<br />
to New York at 92 Gold St., which is one<br />
of the narrow streets in the south shadow<br />
of the Brooklyn bridge. The company became<br />
part of General Precision Equipment<br />
Corp. when that corporation was formed<br />
in 1936.<br />
Branch offices are located in Albany,<br />
Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, New Haven,<br />
New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte,<br />
Dallas, Memphis. New Orleans, Oklahoma<br />
City, Omaha, Denver. Los Angeles, San<br />
Fi-ancisco, Seattle, Chicago, Cincinnati,<br />
Cleveland, Des Moines, Detsoit, Indian-<br />
NTS Executives Enthusiastic About Future of the Industry<br />
Oscar S. Oldknow<br />
Executive Vice-President<br />
R H Richardson<br />
Assistant Secretary -Treasurer<br />
W. J. Turnbull<br />
Sales Promotion Manager<br />
20 The MODEHN THEATRE SECTION
ON£SCR££H<br />
... FOR TELEVISION<br />
AND REGULAR<br />
PROJECTION!<br />
A. F. Baldwin John W. Servies<br />
Manager NTS Export Department<br />
apolis, Kansas City. Milwaukee. Minneapolis.<br />
Pittsburgh and St. Louis. A central<br />
warehouse is maintained in Chicago.<br />
The company claims to have led the way<br />
in many important equipment improvements.<br />
It cites among these the Simplex<br />
X-L projectors and sound systems, Simplex<br />
drive-in speakers, Excelite arc lamps.<br />
Walker screens. Bevelite letters, a new<br />
type of popcorn machine and the GPL<br />
videofilm and direct projection television<br />
machines.<br />
More than 300 persons are on the payroll<br />
and the sales force totals 125 when<br />
District Supervisor and Manager of<br />
Carpet and Purchasing Departments<br />
fully staffed. These service 13,500 exhibi- I<br />
tors, ranging from 200-seat houses to the<br />
Radio City Music Hall. Green estimates<br />
that the salesmen travel a total of 1.400.000<br />
miles a year.<br />
The company takes pride in its credit<br />
plan which permits exhibitors to pay for<br />
equipment over a period of years while<br />
having the assurance of service. This<br />
service includes items ranging from the<br />
supplying of thumb tacks to technical consultation<br />
in the laying out of a projection<br />
room or drive-in. In emergencies service<br />
will be supplied twenty-four hours a day.<br />
The general office staff includes: John<br />
W. Servies, district supervisor and manager<br />
of the purchasing and carpeting departments,<br />
assisted by J. E. Scully jr.; Willard<br />
J. Turnbull, sales promotion department<br />
manager; John E. Currie. drive-in theatre<br />
department manager, assisted by C. J.<br />
Reinke; A. J. Lindsley. advertising manager:<br />
A. E. Meyer, projection equipment<br />
department manager; Harry Epting, air<br />
conditioning department manager; John<br />
Goshorn, theatre seating department manager;<br />
A. J. Baldwin, manager of National<br />
Theatre Supply export; R. G. Haire,<br />
Movie-Cone concession department specialist;<br />
R. H. Richardson, general accounting<br />
department manager.<br />
Branch managers are: R. P. Rosser jr.,<br />
Chicago; J. H. Kelley. Cincinnati; F. J.<br />
Masek, Cleveland; A. C. Schuyler, Des<br />
Moines; C. Williamson, Detroit; B. N.<br />
Peterson, Indianapolis; A. de Stefano,<br />
Kansas City; A. J. Larsen. Milwaukee:<br />
A. T. Crawmer, Minneapolis; G. K. Slipper,<br />
Omaha; N. F. Williams. Pittsburgh; W. C.<br />
Earle, St. Louis: R. J. Mauro, Albany;<br />
N. C. Haefele, Baltimore; H. J. McKinney,<br />
Boston; V. G. Sandford, Buffalo; W. G.<br />
Milwain, New Haven; A. G. Smith, New<br />
York; W. J. Hutchins, Philadelphia: J. C.<br />
Brown, Atlanta: R. D Turnbull, Charlotte;<br />
John £. Currie<br />
Manager of Drive-In Department<br />
A. J. Lindsley<br />
Advertising Manager<br />
,-«* "#»<br />
A. E. Meyer<br />
Manager Projection Equipment Department<br />
R. L. Bostick, Dallas and Memphis; T. W.<br />
Neely, New Orleans; J. I. Watkins. Oklahoma<br />
City; J. B. Stone, Denver; Lloyd C.<br />
Ownbey, Los Angeles: H. H. Randall. San<br />
Fi-ancisco; O. L. Chiniquy, Seattle.<br />
B. A. Benson is in charge of the warehouse.<br />
Simplicity Keys Drapery<br />
In the modern motion picture theatre<br />
proper drapery plays a vital role in blending<br />
structural design with the graceful and<br />
harmonious, soft lines of rich and colorful<br />
fabrics. Good theatre drapery is not<br />
just a hit-and-miss affair, but a matter of<br />
careful planning. Before commencing a<br />
decorating job it is important that a complete<br />
detailed plan of the construction of<br />
the interior and the stage be taken into<br />
consideration. The most important things<br />
to consider are the sight lines because no<br />
theatre owner wants to lose any seats.<br />
Simplicity should be the keynote of the<br />
stage, and meticulous attention should be<br />
paid to type and color of drapery material.<br />
"PANTEX," The New/ Special<br />
Vinyl screen surface . . . Highest<br />
brightness gain ever achieved<br />
for a diffusive screen . . . Every<br />
seat perfect. ..No limited<br />
vievi^ing angle as obtained with<br />
a beaded surface.<br />
^^_„,^»-^2<br />
ifTONE<br />
SCREEN<br />
CORPORATION<br />
I6S CLERMONT AVENUE • BROOKLYN 5 NfW vo«K<br />
FOR L "T^f<br />
GREATER<br />
JZ^'i0<<br />
LIGHT<br />
i<br />
II 1 III<br />
tANSMISSION I<br />
€^^S<br />
Light increase of 15% to 60% available!<br />
Change over from old 6 element<br />
^<br />
COMPANY,<br />
You Can't Buy<br />
A GOOD<br />
Rec t i f i e r<br />
for Less!<br />
Strong RecUflers are<br />
the only rectifiers<br />
on the<br />
market which are especially<br />
designed, manufactured<br />
and tested in one plant together<br />
with and for<br />
use with motion picture projection<br />
arc lamps. This is highly important, as<br />
efficient operation of each type and rating of arc<br />
necessitates a rectifier specifically engineered to its<br />
particular requirements.<br />
There is<br />
a dependable Strong Rectifier for every type<br />
projection lamp: 2-Tube • 4-Tube • 6-Tube • Single<br />
and Three Phase fVIodels for<br />
• Rotating Feed Angular Trim High Intensity<br />
• Copper Coated Coaxial High Intensity<br />
• 1 K.W. High Intensity<br />
• Low Intensity<br />
All assure smooth output current, long life,<br />
temperature, and Hexihility in<br />
control.<br />
low operating<br />
THE STRONG ELECTRIC CORP.<br />
CITY PilRK AVE. TOLEDO %. OHIO<br />
REr LECTORS<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1. 1951 21
If you have a problem in power<br />
supply (or a construction job; lighting<br />
an airfield or boat landing; power<br />
and light for a tourist court, summer<br />
camp or restaurant; lighting and heating<br />
country schools or churches; or<br />
for any other similar purpose, get the<br />
facts about dependable Fairbanks-<br />
Morse Generating Sets.<br />
They are available in capacities from<br />
600 to 35,000 watts, A.C. or D.C., and<br />
equipped with manual, remote or automatic<br />
starting devices. For details, see<br />
the Fairbanks-Morse dealer nearest<br />
you, or write Fairbanks, Morse<br />
f^^ ac Co., Chicago<br />
^<br />
5, III.<br />
Fairbaiwks-Mohse,<br />
o name worth remembering<br />
THE ASHCRAFT C-70<br />
PROJECTION LAMP<br />
Suprex Projection at its best is obtained<br />
with the Ashcraft C-70. Either 7mm carbons<br />
from 45-50 amperes or 8mm up<br />
to 68 amperes.<br />
Precision operation at all currents. Ball<br />
and Roller bearings throughout— 14"<br />
high speed reflector.<br />
THE ASHCRAFT SELENIUM<br />
RECTIFIER<br />
50 to 1 10 Amps.<br />
3 phase-190 to 240 Volts<br />
Suitable for all types of<br />
lamps, long life - high efficiency<br />
ond smooth operation.<br />
36-32 Thirty-Eighth Street Long Island City I, N. Y.<br />
Standby Power Insures<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
Receipts<br />
(Continued from page 11)<br />
It might be worth while going out of the<br />
way to make the public conscious of the<br />
existence of a standby plant, and to<br />
capitalize upon it as a prestige factor for<br />
the house just as the wide-awake showman<br />
does with his other modern equipment.<br />
Outdoor showmen go much further.<br />
They install the power plant, brilliantly<br />
painted, right in the center of the midway,<br />
where its throbbing motors can be seen<br />
and heard dramatically by every visitor.<br />
It is a part of the atmosphere of showmanship<br />
that goes with the midway.<br />
Theatre owners cannot do just that. For<br />
one thing the noise of the plant must be<br />
reduced to the point where the audience<br />
is not disturbed. But token showmanship<br />
can be used to impress the patrons with<br />
the physical presence of the plant. Nearly<br />
everyone gets a kick out of "watching the<br />
engines." In some installations, it may be<br />
possible to give the public a view, through<br />
glass, of the equipment, a look "behind<br />
the scenes." Or the installation of switch<br />
and meter panels may be made in such a<br />
position that they are open to public inspection,<br />
although properly safeguarded<br />
against pranksters. Careful labeling can<br />
make an educational, dramatic presentation<br />
to your patrons.<br />
In a drive-in, the plant could be given<br />
a place outside the wall, which would serve<br />
as a shield against the sound, and could<br />
draw the attention of patrons entering or<br />
leaving. One word of caution—such showmanlike<br />
display must be presented in an<br />
intelligent, dignified manner, not flamboyantly.<br />
It is not normally necessary to provide<br />
for all six classes of power needs in the<br />
standby plant, and the cost, original investment,<br />
maintenance, and actual operating<br />
can be kept down<br />
cost ( including fuel t ,<br />
accordingly. Customers can still enjoy the<br />
show, even if your concession stand cannot<br />
pop any more corn; and exterior display<br />
lighting can be temporarily dispensed<br />
with and still not cause any permanent<br />
damage to business, as exhibitors learned<br />
during wartime regulations.<br />
De luxe operation might make it desirable<br />
to provide ample capacity for all<br />
possible needs, but this will prove profitable<br />
only for the exceptional house. If power<br />
interruptions are very frequent and sustained,<br />
such equipment might well be<br />
economically sound. In that case, it serves<br />
in reality, as an auxiliary power plant,<br />
rather than merely as standby.<br />
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Normally, the objective of the exhibitor<br />
will be to select the type of installation<br />
that will do the job adequately with the<br />
lowest cost. That is likely to prove somewhat<br />
confusing at first approach, because,<br />
under most conditions, the investment and<br />
upkeep costs are not parallel in different<br />
types of equipment. Here it is necessary to<br />
have clear thinking about the purposes and<br />
normal use of the plant as a standby service,<br />
not as a continuous source of power.<br />
Experience in the power plant industry<br />
appears to indicate that gasoline-driven<br />
engines are the favorite type for standby<br />
use, especially in the smaller theatres. This<br />
does not mean they are the only type, or<br />
that they are necessarily superior, either<br />
generally or in any specific situation. In<br />
general, the capital cost of the gasoline<br />
units is lower than that of the diesel types,<br />
and this looks like a logical prime consideration<br />
with the exhibitor.<br />
COMPARISON WITH DIESEL UNIT<br />
On the other hand, the cost of operation<br />
is lower with diesel units, in common experience,<br />
compared to gasoline. This factor<br />
should not have too much bearing in<br />
standby installations, because it is assumed<br />
that the need for such use will be infrequent,<br />
and rarely for any protracted length<br />
of time. Thus, the saving on original investment<br />
can well offset a slightly higher<br />
cost in actual operation. If the plant is<br />
to be used as a source of continuous power,<br />
the opposite reasoning will probably prevail,<br />
and each situation requires individual<br />
consideration.<br />
Other power sources are available, especially<br />
natural gas, and conditions of local<br />
supply and cost will be an important factor<br />
in determining whether such a source<br />
merits competitive consideration.<br />
In planning an installation, the exhibitor<br />
must select equipment that is reasonable<br />
in relation to the service to be demanded,<br />
in ruggedness and ability to deliver, as<br />
well as in basic rated capacity. It must be<br />
capable of delivering sustained power over<br />
several hours, but need not have the<br />
specifications necessary for a plant designed<br />
for constant 24-hour service, in<br />
view of the timing characteristic of show<br />
business. The possibility of service interruptions<br />
extending through one or two<br />
shows makes a battery installation a dubious<br />
possibility, even if the problems of<br />
adjusting the electrical characteristics of<br />
any practical battery output to the needs<br />
of theatre installations were solved. A generating,<br />
rather than primarily a storage,<br />
plant appears to be the logical solution for<br />
the theatre.<br />
Another essential choice must be made<br />
in the method of starting the plant. Several<br />
possibilities exist, ranging from manual<br />
cranking to automatic line transfer.<br />
The latter is the most desirable for assured<br />
ease in changeover from pole line to isolated<br />
plant supply and back, but it is<br />
also by far the most complicated and the<br />
most expensive.<br />
By this method, when a power interruption<br />
occurs, the line from the utility<br />
(Continued on page 26)<br />
22 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
"THE BEST AT THE CREST"<br />
Crest Theatre,<br />
Oceanside, California,<br />
where every detail of<br />
construction, equipment and<br />
appointments was designed<br />
to assure patrons "The<br />
Best at the Crest."<br />
includes Heywood-Wakefield Comfort<br />
*i^^Mf/f<br />
HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD "ENCORE" MODEL TC 701 CHAIRS-are installed<br />
throughout the beautiful and luxuriously appointed 1,000-seat<br />
Crest.<br />
Confidence Well Justified—<br />
"The Best" Proves Sound<br />
Policy— "When we built the<br />
Crest," says owner Erwin<br />
Sklar, "it was the determination<br />
to offer patrons the best in<br />
entertainment in the finest,<br />
most comfortable surroundings.<br />
The selection of Heywood-<br />
Wakefield 'Encore' Chairs was<br />
one of the most important steps<br />
in our planning for comfort.<br />
Since our opening in March,<br />
this poUcy has been amply repaid,<br />
both in steady patronage,<br />
and in the enthusiastic comments<br />
of patrons."<br />
HEYWOOD<br />
WAKEFIELD<br />
Theatre Seating Division<br />
MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN<br />
FROM<br />
COAST TO COAST, the experience<br />
of operators demonstrates<br />
the dollars-and-cents value<br />
of Heywood-Wakefield comfort in<br />
assuring full value for your investment<br />
in new construction or modernization.<br />
Your nearest Heywood-<br />
Wakefield distributor wUl gladly<br />
cooperate in making extra comfort<br />
an extra-profit feature of your<br />
theatre.<br />
Sales Offices in: Baltimore, Boston,<br />
Chicago, New York<br />
SEE OUR ADVERTISEMENT "COMFORT IS OUR BUSINESS" IN "TIME'<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 23
**LWAYS important to the exhibitor, good<br />
maintenonce of the physicol structure which houses<br />
his theatre achieves even greater value in view<br />
of material shortages and governmental building<br />
restrictions.<br />
After comp'eting his recommendations concerning<br />
flashing, L. E. Pope, purchasing agent for<br />
Fox Midwest Amusement Co., discusses the<br />
stollation and core of roof drainage systems<br />
Further, he advises protective treatments for sky<br />
lights and monitors, stacks and ventilators, an<br />
the gravity water tonk and tower. Regular clean<br />
ing, painting and sealing ore required.<br />
PART<br />
IV<br />
11. Flashing-—Continued<br />
In localities where we have freezing conditions, parapet walls<br />
should not be flashed from the roof to the coping. This will cause<br />
the inside of the fire wall that has been flashed to freeze the<br />
moisture-saturated wall and jxpand on the flashed side, breaking<br />
loose the fire wall construction and will sometimes push the fire<br />
wall off of the building at the roof level. Be sure you have a<br />
bonded flashing endorsement in conjunction with roof bond or<br />
that the same guarantee applies to the flashing that you have on<br />
your roof if it is not a bonded job.<br />
Where the felt flashing turns up against a wall, it is desirable<br />
to support this bend and to make it less abrupt by fitting all<br />
along the corner formed by the deck and the wall, a triangular<br />
cant strip made by sawing through the diagonal of a 4x4-inch<br />
timber. The primary rule in fashioning and installing flashings<br />
is to make sure that they seal the upper edges of all projections<br />
and divert rain and snow onto the roof or into the drainage<br />
elements. Copper is the preferred sheet metal to be used for<br />
counter-flashings or valley and does not require maintenance<br />
other than to see that it stays fastened and the joints are<br />
soldered. When galvanized sheet metal is used for flashing or<br />
watersheds, it should be painted every three years.<br />
Lead and zinc are durable metals and are used at plumbing<br />
5D 5E 5F<br />
Illustrations 5A to Sf<br />
Types of skylights and sash shown above are, 5A: hip skylight; 5fi;<br />
ridge or double-pitch skylight; 5C: monitor sash; 50. sawtooth roof and sash;<br />
5f flat top skylight, and 5F : sawtooth skylight.<br />
5C<br />
vent stacks,, some skylight work and as shields under exposed<br />
bolted structures where a ductile metal is needed for a squeeze<br />
fit to exclude water.<br />
12. Roof Drainage and Water Disposal<br />
Eave troughs and leaders or downspouts should be used on<br />
penthouses, monitors and other small structures to convey the<br />
rainwater down to the main roof. This avoids wash or wear from<br />
drip upon the roof below. Adequate size and number of conductors<br />
should be provided to carry away the rainfall from<br />
the main roof so as to avoid an accumulation of water to a depth<br />
which may reach above the heights of the wall flashings. The conductor<br />
heads or roof drains should be fitted with screen or perforated<br />
heads which will prevent clogging of the leaders with<br />
leaves or rubbish and should have secure flashing elements between<br />
them and the roof membrane. An overflow should be<br />
provided to prevent a blocked drain backing up water above<br />
flashing. Where metal gutters, eave troughs, valleys and leaders<br />
or conductor pipes are exposed, they should be cleaned three or<br />
four times a year and, if made of metal which coorodes, should<br />
be wire-brushed and painted very two or three years.<br />
13. Guttering, Downspouts and Roof Drains to Sewer<br />
Guttering and downspouts made of copper are considered<br />
one of the most durable types. Due to the cost of copper, many<br />
buildings use galvanized iron or other materials for guttering and<br />
downspouts. It is very important to keep all gutters and downspouts<br />
in good repair. Where gutters and downspouts are not<br />
made of materials that will resist moisture and the elements,<br />
such as metals, painting or protective coatings should be applied<br />
at regular intervals. This will cost a fraction of what the repairs<br />
and replacement will cost and often damage done to the building<br />
is greater than the replacement cost of gutters and downspouts:<br />
much more costly than good maintenance. iSee Illustration<br />
No. 1.1<br />
Roof drains should be cormected to sewers of ample capacity<br />
to carry considerable amount of water. It is good practice to<br />
extend sewer from ground or street level with steel sewer pipe<br />
at least ten feet above the ground level as downspouts are of lightweight<br />
material and easily damaged. Where sewers connect to<br />
downspouts in alleys or roadways, heavy guard rails should be<br />
placed around same. Where there are no sewers to connect to<br />
downspouts, make sure that water is carried far enough from<br />
the building to prevent it from seeping back to building which is<br />
apt to damage the foundations and footings.<br />
24 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
A MANUAL OF PREVENTIVE<br />
MAINTENANCE FOR THE THEATRE 4<br />
REPAIRS WITH GOOD MAINTENANCE<br />
by L E. POPE<br />
14. Pitch Pockets<br />
Where pipe, guy wires, braces or any other items go through<br />
the roof or are supported to the roof, it should extend through<br />
a pitch pocket as an added protection against leakage at this<br />
point. Where such supports or items extend into or through the<br />
roof and there is apt to be vibration from wind or other cause,<br />
such pitch pockets should be filled with mastic material that will<br />
not lose the bond between the roof and such items.<br />
15. Skylights and Monitors<br />
Skylights are of many shapes and the structures for holding<br />
and supporting the glass panels are frequently of intricate and<br />
complicated construction. Since they are usually made of steel<br />
and galvanized sheets, they should be painted frequently (every<br />
two or three years) to minimize rusting. If possible, the cap<br />
strips should be removed and the putty seal replenished before<br />
the supporting ribs are painted. The metal parts on the under<br />
condensation drains kept free of dirt. Where corrugated wire glass<br />
/. Open joint in coping.<br />
2. Crocked, loose or missing coping<br />
units.<br />
3. Defective flashing at parapet.<br />
4. Faulty or unprotected mortar joints<br />
in<br />
parapet.<br />
5. Poor grade of mortar or joints<br />
not pointed or filled with mortar.<br />
6. Joints of cornices, sills and projecting<br />
elements not properly<br />
sealed.<br />
7. Porous or poorly glazed brick surfaces.<br />
8. Acid attack by sulphur dioxide in<br />
damp weather.<br />
9. Capillary attraction of "earth<br />
moisture" at ground level.<br />
10. Moisture from cooling towers or<br />
air washers on or within the<br />
building.<br />
11. Defective or inadequate conductor<br />
heads, drains or leaders causing<br />
an overflow of water down the<br />
wall surface.<br />
12. Absence of drip-grooves or lips on<br />
projecting trim members causing<br />
an increase in volume of water-<br />
is used, the anchor clips and supporting steel should be painted<br />
as often as the skylight unit. The same rule applies to steel or<br />
wooden monitor sash units. (See Illustrations 5A to 5F.<br />
16. Stacks, Ventilators, Process Exhausts<br />
Commercial and office buildings usually have a chimney or<br />
smoke stack providing the channel for discharge of smoke and<br />
gases from the heating plant. Brick masonry units are usually a<br />
continuation of one or two walls of the building and require the<br />
same maintenance care as well be outlined for the exterior wall.<br />
Steel stacks which may serve as an extension to the masonry<br />
chimney or as the complete passageway from the boiler are<br />
fashioned from steel plates or sheets riveted or welded at the<br />
joints and are held erect by guy wires or stiff-leg bracings. Good<br />
care requires frequent painting of the exterior surfaces using<br />
metal and Inhibitive coatings. The interior surfaces are usually<br />
ignored. The guy wires, fittings and other brace members should<br />
be given special attention as the numerous stands and shoulders<br />
collect dirt and moisture which hastens corrosion.<br />
Roof ventilators, dust-collecting cones, exhaust outlets and<br />
exposed piping are subject to rapid deterioration and require<br />
cleaning and renewal of protective coatings at least every two or<br />
three years. Fumes and gases expelled through these ports may<br />
require extra precautions and the preparation of coverings resistant<br />
to chemical action.<br />
1 7. Gravity Water Tank and Tower<br />
Another roof structure which should be cleaned and painted<br />
often is the supporting tower and water storage tank. This may<br />
afford auxiliary water supply and pressure<br />
for use within the building or supplement<br />
the automatic sprinkler system for fire protection.<br />
If the tank is made of steel, inhibitive<br />
and other metal paints should be<br />
applied. For wooden tanks the circular<br />
iron hoops and fittings should be coated<br />
with an inhibitive paint before the wooden<br />
staves and other wooden members receive<br />
the linseed oil base application.<br />
The tower structure and auxiliary<br />
equipment is fabricated of many small<br />
parts, which means many joints and fastenings<br />
to be sealed with paint coatings.<br />
Recommended practice is to empty,<br />
clean, dry and paint the interior of the<br />
steel tank at intervals. (See Illustration<br />
No. 6.)<br />
flow down the wall.<br />
ILLUSTRATION<br />
NO<br />
(Continued next month)<br />
Illusfration No. 6<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 25
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BOXOFFICE :: September 1. 1951 27
Theatre TV<br />
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Receipts<br />
(Continued from page 26)<br />
sketchiest sort, and additional improvements<br />
are needed to give customers the<br />
same sense of constant physical betterment<br />
of plant which has characterized indoor<br />
showmen as they kept abreast of changing<br />
conditions, and installed sound equipment,<br />
air conditioning, improved screens<br />
and projection, and better lighting. An<br />
assured continuity of power service is one<br />
of the ways the drive-in operator can find<br />
to fit into a steady improvement program.<br />
The use of such plants as the main<br />
power source has not been discussed in this<br />
article, but it has a significant place in<br />
the total picture for the house beyond the<br />
power lines. Theatres serviced by a regular<br />
electric company will rarely, if ever, find<br />
that it is desirable to install an isolated<br />
plant designed to provide their entire<br />
needs. The costs, efficiency and normally<br />
assured supply of central station production<br />
are universally in its favor. Otherwise,<br />
those of us who are mechanically minded<br />
at least, would all have private electric<br />
plants in our basements at home.<br />
Probably the most remarkable development<br />
of this type is the portable drive-in<br />
circuit operated by John Rohr of Pine<br />
River, Minn., who moves his Mobil-In theatre<br />
operation to three different towns a<br />
week on a regular schedule. This installation<br />
uses a genuine portable plant, with a<br />
truck and trailer to carry everything. Two<br />
three-kilowatt units furnish the power by<br />
a careful balancing of load.<br />
Other remote theatres may profitably<br />
install a totally independent plant as their<br />
only power source. This will especially be<br />
the case in resort or remote rural areas,<br />
in other countries and overseas where<br />
power supply may not be available. This<br />
goes for indoor shows, of course, as well<br />
as outdoor houses, whether drive-ins or<br />
walk-ins.<br />
There is a tempting possibility of utilizing<br />
the plant capacity for regular load,<br />
since the investment is there already, and<br />
reducing the outside electric bill. But the<br />
wise exhibitor will pass this by. The<br />
normal use of such a plant is as a standby<br />
and it should be kept in topnotch condition<br />
at all times and not operated steadily.<br />
The normal hazards of continuous operation<br />
would combine to defeat the very purpose<br />
of having the plant by increasing wear<br />
and decreasing its life so that it might not<br />
be available when actually needed as an<br />
emergency standby. Occasional use for<br />
testing purposes and to assure continued<br />
maintenance in optimum operating condition<br />
is, on the other hand, very desirable.<br />
Standby power, judiciously planned and<br />
selected, can be a relatively inexpensive<br />
addition to the theatre plant, becoming at<br />
once a protection to the patrons, a guarantee<br />
of their enjoyment and insurance for<br />
the theatreman's boxoffice receipts in the<br />
event of electrical interruption. It's worth<br />
thinking about.<br />
28 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
: September 1 ,<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
29
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in every focal length<br />
I. L Thatcher to Edit<br />
Modern Theatre<br />
I. L. Thatcher has joined the staff of<br />
BoxoFFicE as managing editor of the<br />
Modern Theatre Section, succeeding<br />
Kenneth Hudnall, who resigned to take<br />
a post with Meredith Publishing Co.,<br />
Des Moines.<br />
Thatcher for the past 12 years has<br />
been editor of Hardware and Farm<br />
Equipment, a trade publication for retail<br />
implement and hardware dealers,<br />
and has written extensively for Builders<br />
Supply News and other trade<br />
journals dealing with new construction,<br />
remodeling, equipment, maintenance<br />
and merchandising.<br />
During Thatcher's editorship. Hardware<br />
and Farm Equipment won a number<br />
of awards for editorial merit and<br />
achievement as well as the highest<br />
award for association trade magazines<br />
in the contest conducted by the International<br />
Council of Industrial Editors.<br />
Panoramic Vision<br />
(Continued from page 12)<br />
round and auditorium environment are<br />
also considered.<br />
30<br />
Clear<br />
Crisp Pictures<br />
with<br />
SUPER SNAPLITE<br />
f/l.9<br />
PROJECTION LENSES<br />
KOLLA\OIM;irK<br />
up to 7 inches.<br />
Ask for Bulletins<br />
207 and 209<br />
e<br />
COItrOKATIOK<br />
2 Frqnklin Avenue • Brooklyn 11, N. Y.<br />
YOU GET MORE LIGHT WITH SUPER SNAPLITE'<br />
New, Improved WENZEL THEATRE<br />
Manufacturers of:<br />
Projectors, Sound Heads, Bases, Mogozincs,<br />
Sound Systems, Replacement WX46<br />
Parts, Accessories, etc.<br />
Send for Complete Descriptive<br />
Literature.<br />
WENZEL PROJECTOR<br />
Amplifier<br />
CO.<br />
2505-19 S. STATE STREET CHICAGO 16, ILL.<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Luminance Discrimination of the<br />
Human Eye.<br />
E. M. LowRY, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester,<br />
N. Y.<br />
The effect of the luminance to which<br />
the eye is adapted on its ability to discriminate<br />
differences in luminance, and<br />
the effect of the visual angle on this<br />
ocular function are discussed. Luminance<br />
discrimination depends on whether the<br />
observer's attention is fixed on a highlight<br />
or shadow region as is shown by<br />
data on threshold luminance in scenes<br />
in which the luminance varies widely.<br />
Photometric Factors in the Design of<br />
Motion Picture Auditoriums.<br />
H. L. Logan, Holophane Co., Inc.. New<br />
York.<br />
The photometric factors involved in designing<br />
the visual environment in a motion<br />
picture theatre so as to promote the<br />
comfort, enjoyment and safety of the<br />
audience are discussed.<br />
Surround Brighttiess: Key Factor in<br />
Viewiiig Projected Pictures.<br />
Sylvester K. Guth, General Electric<br />
Co., Cleveland, Ohio.<br />
The problem of providing general lighting<br />
in areas where projected pictures are<br />
viewed and the effects of such lighting<br />
upon the projected pictures are analyzed.<br />
New data are presented which illustrate<br />
the effect of surround brightness on<br />
visibility and on viewing comfort. These<br />
data provide a simple basis for establishing<br />
surround brightnesses in auditoriums<br />
for optimum viewing.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Look what remodeling can do for rest rooms . .<br />
when you install American -c$tat!daifd plumbing fixtures<br />
• These rest rooms in the Merchants and Manufacturers<br />
Building at the State Fair Grounds, Louisville,<br />
Ky., are excellent examples of old, unsanitary<br />
wash rooms which have been made modern, sanitary<br />
and attractive to patrons by the installation of<br />
beautiful, gleaming American-Standard plumbing<br />
fixtures.<br />
And these same high quality fixtures can do the<br />
same job for your rest rooms. Whatever your requirements—whether<br />
your rest rooms have a light<br />
or heavy volume of traffic— you'll find in the complete<br />
American-Standard line exactly the right<br />
equipment for your installation. Ask your plumbing<br />
contractor for information about them and<br />
write for a free copy of our Better Rest Room<br />
Guide to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary<br />
Corporation, Dept. MT-9. Pittsburgh 30, Pa.<br />
t<br />
"<br />
e<br />
.,^<br />
^_^_^<br />
SANISTAND URINAL FOR WOMEN<br />
This view of the women's rest room shows the Sanistand fixture<br />
the new American-Standard urinal for women. This new fixture,<br />
which is designed to offer women the same convenience and sanitation<br />
the standing urinal does men, is constructed entirely of easy-to-clean<br />
genuine vitreous china. Its variety of attractive colors blend or contrast<br />
with any scheme. The slanted rim, extended lip, ample bowl and outlet<br />
encourage cleanliness, make rest rooms easier to clean and keep clean.<br />
When used in modernization work, the Sanistand urinal can usually<br />
replace a water closet in the same compartment. It is available with either<br />
hand or foot operation and features the quiet, efficient siphon vortex<br />
flushing action with jet.<br />
Sen'ing home and inilmln: AMERICAN ST«ND»RO • AMERICAN BLOWER • CHURCH SEATS • DETROIT LUBRICATOR • KEWANEE BOILERS • ROSS HEATER • TONAWANOA IRON<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 31
ARISTOCRAT"<br />
/UPS POPCORN<br />
SALES 10%!!!<br />
• When the Granada Theater at Lawrence, Kansas modernized its<br />
Snack Bar a<br />
New Manley Aristocrat was installed and Sales went up. Yes, in spite of the<br />
addition of many other items at the new stand popcorn sales were 10% higher<br />
than the previous year when only popcorn was sold, so writes Manager, J. D.<br />
King of the Granada.<br />
This increase in popcorn sales can be attributed to the pulling power of the<br />
Manley machine, its eye appeal and to the Profit Spot of the Aristocrat . . . the<br />
new Cascade Kettle. It's this new kettle that increases the vield. Many theaters<br />
report yields jumping from $100 or $110 to $160 and higher.<br />
And, during rush hours you can count on the Aristocrat keeping<br />
right on popping fresh, hot, delicious popcorn as fast as<br />
customers can carr)' it away. If you want to enjoy the extra<br />
profits that a Manley Aristocrat can deliver see your Manley<br />
representative today or use the coupon below-.<br />
M.inlcv, Inc., Depi. BO 9-1-51<br />
1920 Wyandocte St., Kansas City 8, Mo.<br />
Please have a Manley man call with more information<br />
on the new Manley Aristocrat and bring me your<br />
booklet, "How to Make Big Profits from Popcorn ".<br />
Address<br />
SALES AND SERVICE OFFICES IN 17 CITIES<br />
SEE YOUR TELEPHONE DIRECTORY<br />
City<br />
State<br />
32 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
ADDED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRESSIVE EXHIBITORS<br />
.MeAA^^<br />
Concession Installation Costs<br />
Revealed for First Time<br />
Survey of Theatre Refreshment Sales—Part 1<br />
by NEVIN I. GAGE<br />
X HE FAST PACE of development<br />
achieved by motion picture theatres in becoming<br />
a major factor in serving light refreshments<br />
to the American public has set<br />
a record probably unequalled by any other<br />
industry selling the same merchandise.<br />
Sales of confections in theatre lobbies in<br />
the past five years have quadrupled in volume.<br />
Much of this increase has been accomplished<br />
in the past three years.<br />
Today approximately 95 per cent of all<br />
indoor theatres sell refreshments of some<br />
kind, according to the Survey of Theatre<br />
Refreshment Sales conducted for the industry<br />
by BoxoFFicE and the Modern Theatre.<br />
A preview of the trends in products<br />
sold by indoor theatres, revealed in the<br />
survey, was presented in the August 4<br />
issue. Further details will follow later.<br />
Theatre owners, managers, and circuit<br />
executives have cooperated in providing<br />
extensive information to obtain a composite<br />
picture of not only product sales but also<br />
of management methods, policies and assignment<br />
of responsibilities for operating<br />
their concessions. They have likewise<br />
pooled information on the amount of investment<br />
in their concession installations<br />
for purposes of comparison. All these factors<br />
are indicative of the increasing attention<br />
being given to each specialized phase<br />
TABLE I<br />
CONCESSION INVESTMENT<br />
CIRCUIT THEATRES<br />
250 seats and under $ 600<br />
251 to 500 seats 1,525<br />
501 to 1,000 seots 2,100<br />
1,001 seats and over 3,600<br />
NON-CIRCUIT THEATRES<br />
250 seats and under $ 800<br />
251 to 500 seats 1,150<br />
501 to 1,000 seats 2,000<br />
1,001 seats and over 3,000<br />
of the business by successful operators.<br />
Substantial investments have been made<br />
in concession service equipment, amounting<br />
to as much as $8,000 to $9,000 for large<br />
downtown houses. Some may run higher,<br />
but the average Is less.<br />
Table II<br />
CONCESSION OPERATING METHODS<br />
Th^„f,^^ Theatre- Leased<br />
Theatrei Operated to Con-<br />
SEATING CAPACITY stands cessionaire Total<br />
250 seats and under.. .100% Z% 100%<br />
251 to 500 seats 92 8 100<br />
501 to 1,000 seats 86 14 100<br />
1,001 sees and over 63 37 100<br />
Total of oil theotres 87% 13% 100%<br />
TYPE AND LOCATION<br />
Downtown First Run 75%. 25% 100%<br />
Downtown Sub. Run 91 9 100<br />
Neighborhood Houses .... 77 23 100<br />
S moll Town Theatres 92 8 100<br />
Total ot all theatres 87% 13% 100%<br />
OWNERSHIP<br />
Non-Circuit Houses 94% 6% 100%<br />
Circuit Theatres 77 23 100<br />
Total of all theatres 87% 13% 100%<br />
Percentages are shown by seating capacity, type,<br />
location and ownership ior cross reference.<br />
Profits in refreshment sales have been<br />
widely publicized, but the cost side of the<br />
picture is not to be overlooked. This includes<br />
investment in equipment and fixtures<br />
of various types, service units, lighting<br />
and decoration. In addition there is<br />
maintenance and operating expense. Some<br />
report very low figures, however, in comparison<br />
with other houses of the same size<br />
and type. This may indicate either an underestimation<br />
of their investment or a very<br />
limited refreshment service which might be<br />
greatly increased by expansion.<br />
Most theatremen who have enjoyed real<br />
success in this adjunct of their service to<br />
Concession<br />
Management<br />
In the accompanying report on the<br />
industry survey of refreshment sales<br />
theatremen are given for the first<br />
time a comparative picture of concession<br />
installation costs and management<br />
methods and policies.<br />
This study, which is representative<br />
of a cross-section of theatres by size<br />
and type of house, is made available<br />
through the participation of independent<br />
and circuit exhibitors in the<br />
Survey of Refreshment Sales in Motion<br />
Picture Theatres. This research<br />
has been undertaken by BOXOFFICE<br />
and The MODERN THEATRE so that<br />
theatremen might have authentic<br />
average figures and policies with<br />
which they could compare their own<br />
operations.<br />
A study of product merchandising<br />
as rtvealed by the survey will be published<br />
in the next issue.<br />
the public have applied the principles of<br />
showmanship to refreshment merchandising.<br />
This has been reflected in both the<br />
attractiveness of their stands and the appealing<br />
displays or methods of stimulating<br />
interest in their popcorn, candy, soft<br />
drinks and other snack items.<br />
A surprising uniformity is therefore revealed<br />
in the survey averages of concession<br />
installation cost's when comparing<br />
those of non-circuit and circuit houses of<br />
various sizes. Averages for theatres according<br />
to seating capacity are given.<br />
In some metropolitan areas where theatre<br />
concessionaires operate the stands on<br />
a contract basis, the complete setup is especially<br />
designed and installed by the concessionaires.<br />
Graduating downward are<br />
the more modest booths and automatic<br />
soft drink coin machines provided by concession<br />
operators.<br />
CONCESSION f/ANAGEMENT<br />
As in the Theatre Candy Survey, also<br />
made by <strong>Boxoffice</strong> and Modern Theatre,<br />
information was given on methods of concession<br />
management. A slight increase,<br />
from 12 to 13 per cent, was shown in the<br />
total number of conventional houses serviced<br />
by theatre concessionaires. This may<br />
(Continued on following page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 33
. . The<br />
FOR GKBATeH<br />
DUMOND JUBILEE<br />
7S Years of fine<br />
candy<br />
For the best candy values, see your<br />
Chase representative . . .wire or write:<br />
Chase Candy Company, St. Louis 16,<br />
Missouri or San Jose, California.<br />
Concession<br />
Survey<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
represent an actual gain or it may be influenced<br />
by the inclusion of soft drink machine<br />
concessionaires. A substantial number<br />
of theatres have recently installed soft<br />
drink services. A fair proportion are in the<br />
form of cup machines. Others are of the<br />
manual fountamette dispenser type.<br />
Although 94 per cent of the non-circuit<br />
houses operate their own refreshment<br />
counters, they revealed a one per cent gain,<br />
to six per cent of the total, favoring the<br />
service of the concessionaires.<br />
On the other hand, the cir«uits show a<br />
NON-CIRCUIT THEATRES<br />
tendency toward circuit-operated concessions.<br />
StUl some of the largest circuits in<br />
the country have their booths and vending<br />
machines operated by concessionaires.<br />
Those who prefer this specialized service<br />
account for 23 per cent of circuit theatres;<br />
77 per cent operate their own stands.<br />
Arrangements with the concessionaires<br />
vary among the circuits. Where the concessionaire<br />
operates the complete stand, he<br />
may supply trained attendants and provide<br />
the equipment and -supplies. In other cases<br />
the theatre will employ the personnel.<br />
Some circuits contract with several conconcessionaires<br />
located in various parts of<br />
the country to serve the theatres in their<br />
(Continued on page 37)<br />
STEADY INCOME<br />
Beautiful Stainless Steel Mills Gum Venders<br />
Mills Gum Venders make profits<br />
regularly without attention from<br />
anyone . stainless steel finish<br />
assures lasting beauty. Capacity is<br />
.^15 1-cent pieces of gum in six selective<br />
columns.<br />
Price now only $27.50. Order<br />
today, and get special low price<br />
direct gum purchase deal with American<br />
Chicle Co.<br />
• MILLS AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISING CORP.<br />
4150 Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, 39, Illinois<br />
POPCORN BOXES<br />
Automafic Or Regular Closure<br />
Attractive Design at LOWEST Prices<br />
1,000 or 1,000,000<br />
WRITE FOR SAMPLES<br />
DORE POPCORN COMPANY<br />
5913 W. North Ave, Dept. M. Chicago 39, III.
Better Drinks and Faster Service<br />
Mean More and Bigger Profits<br />
for YOU with a DISPENS-O-MATIC<br />
FOUNTAINETTE<br />
The Finest Cold Drink Dispenser Ever!<br />
The new smart-looking, well-designed DISPENS-O-MATIC<br />
fountainette will help you serve better drinks and at the same<br />
time make more money from soft drinks!<br />
Features galore! Serves carbonated and/or still water drinks. Famous<br />
DISPENS-O-MATIC carbonator delivers 60 gallons of carbonated<br />
water per hour, assuring every drink sparkling and zestful. Light in<br />
weight, yet sturdily constructed for continuous, trouble-free operation.<br />
Has no electrodes, no solonoids, no relay boxes, and no belts or pulleys<br />
to get out of order.<br />
4-STAGE COOLING SYSTEM<br />
All-dry, fully automatic, 4-stage cooling system assures quick positive<br />
heat removal and a constant drink temperature of 40 degrees or less<br />
with 72 degrees incoming water temperature, at the rote of four or<br />
more 6-ounce drinks per minute!<br />
Powered by Servel's famous "Supermetic" refrigeration unit with big<br />
1 3 hi. P. motor, it delivers cold drinks at all times—in any climate.<br />
Its hermetically sealed compressor and motor unit has no belts, or<br />
pulleys—never requires oiling.<br />
CHECK THESE OUTSTANDING FEATURES<br />
1. Stainless steel SELMIX valve mixes syrup and carbonated water in exact<br />
proportions. Capillary action preserves sparkling carbonation in the finished<br />
drink. Self-sealing volve provides positive cut-off, prevents ofter-drip.<br />
EQUIPPED WITH THE BEST:<br />
SERVCL Supermetk Refrigeration<br />
and the Famous<br />
5ELMIX Dispensing<br />
39' 2" high. 28" wide, 22" deep.<br />
Syrup tank capacity, approx. 1 gal.<br />
Pressurized syrup tanks, approx. 2 gals.<br />
Caibonator motor. A.C. '4 h.p.. 110 volt.<br />
Refrigeration motor, A.C. 1/3 h.p.. 110 volt.<br />
jction; finish sprayed enamel or stainless steel.<br />
Head<br />
now being used for the fountain syrups of<br />
COCA-COLA • CANADA DRY * PEPSI-COLA<br />
NEDICK'S ORANGE^ VERNOR'S GINGER ALE<br />
HIRE'S ROOT BEER and OTHER FAMOUS NAMES<br />
Available in these models:<br />
Carbonated water flo-control delivers even rate of flow of seltzer regardless<br />
of number of taps being used at same time.<br />
2. Patented syrup control assures an even rate of flow of syrup at the<br />
valve when tank ranges from full to near empty.<br />
3. Fourth and last stage of 4-stage cooling system assures constant 40 degree<br />
temperature of drinks. Stainless steel cooling and carbonated water coils<br />
cost in aluminum insures cold "first" drink at all times.<br />
chamber 4. Storage permits refrigeration with ice if electricity fails temporarily<br />
or if greater capacity is needed during peak periods.<br />
Shut-off carbonated water conveniently located outside 5. valve for of unit.<br />
Available with 1, 2 or 3 dispensing heads, or with any combination of<br />
dispensers and pressure valves. Where pressure valves are used, stainless<br />
steel syrup tanks ore conveniently located in the cabinet below.<br />
t<br />
Single Dispenser for
!<br />
ness.<br />
Frozen Novelties Boost<br />
Concession Volume<br />
When George and Robert Peterson<br />
opened the Geneva Drive-In Theatre in<br />
the busy southeastern corner of San Fi-ancisco,<br />
Calif., they realized that a complete<br />
and well stocked snack bar vi^ould contribute<br />
greatly to mounting sales and satisfying<br />
profits.<br />
Functional equipment speeds snack bar service<br />
at the Geneva.<br />
Check the pjusses of<br />
4» the only popping oi<br />
butterlike flavor<br />
#> pours readily in all k<br />
of weather<br />
•I" costs less per bag<br />
produces fewer "dud<br />
ll'% the golden colored popping<br />
oil that will bring more silver<br />
to your popcorn tfand.<br />
Made of American Ingredients— Always Available!<br />
The Cinesnax frozen novelty unit shown<br />
above accounts for a heavy percentage of<br />
sales the year around. The Plexiglas top<br />
makes it possible for the customer to see<br />
the items on display in the partitioned<br />
cabinet, and to serve himself if he wishes.<br />
The Petersons installed the complete line<br />
of Cinesnax bar equipment, including the<br />
hot dog warmer, popcorn warmer, and<br />
nine-unit baby bottle warmer. They have<br />
found that modern, functional equipment<br />
reduces labor, and enables customers to<br />
receive prompt service.<br />
The Geneva is located on a crosstown<br />
freeway, and situated next to the Bay<br />
City's famed Livestock Exposition Auditorium,<br />
commonly called the "Cow Palace,"<br />
a spot everyone knows how to reach.<br />
Furthermore, it enjoys the finest weather<br />
belt in the city, having a minimum of fog,<br />
which means usually fair climate all year<br />
long.<br />
Brighten up the house for better busi-<br />
Make your theatre look like new<br />
and it will act like new ... at the boxoffice.<br />
Remodeling pays, do it now!<br />
POPCORN<br />
BOXES<br />
6 DIFFERENT SIZES<br />
Ready For Immediate<br />
Delivery<br />
Made by C. F. Simonln's Sons Inc. phiia.34,Pa.<br />
POPPING OIL SPECIALISTS TO THE NATION<br />
Write for<br />
Samples and Prices<br />
KONTNEY CARTON CO.<br />
36<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Concession<br />
Survey<br />
(Continued from page 34)<br />
areas. Also there are cases where one<br />
operator may handle the popcorn and<br />
candy while another will service the drink<br />
machines. All such contracts are negotiated<br />
by the circuit concession manager,<br />
who maintains close contacts with both<br />
the concessionaires and theatre managers,<br />
exercising influence on methods used,<br />
brands sold, and keeping detailed records<br />
of sales.<br />
::jyi,
Profit with<br />
Cjn/eeaSpo6<br />
Orangeade & Dispensers<br />
Manager Given Credit<br />
For Concession Gain<br />
The concession department of the<br />
Lauderdale Drive-In Theatre at Fort Lauderdale,<br />
Fla., has enjoyed an 18 per cent increase<br />
in business due to a number of improvements<br />
made over a period of months.<br />
The refreshment bar was redesigned for<br />
maximum efficiency and new equipment<br />
and special decorative features were added,<br />
but Phillip C. Matthews, partner and manager<br />
of the theatre, believes that the employment<br />
of a new concession manager has<br />
been the largest single contributing factor<br />
to the increased business.<br />
This man, Carl Rodberg, does all of the<br />
buying for the concession and efficiently<br />
runs this part of the theatre. He specifies<br />
The pylon surmounting this attraction<br />
absolute cleanliness,<br />
board<br />
with all employes in<br />
at the Lauderdale Drive-In Theatre extends<br />
white,<br />
45<br />
and prompt and courteous service. feet above the ground, and the signature may<br />
Through his careful buying and management<br />
he has produced gross business equal<br />
be seen for a mile on either side.<br />
to or above the national average for drivein<br />
theatres.<br />
any item chosen by taking only one or two<br />
The steps<br />
Lauderdale<br />
from their stations.<br />
concession counter<br />
This was achieved<br />
is<br />
only<br />
by careful<br />
24 feet long, but has been<br />
planning of<br />
so<br />
the<br />
efficiently<br />
layout. The<br />
arranged behind menu consists<br />
that<br />
of<br />
it produces<br />
the usual five<br />
an average<br />
cent items,<br />
plus<br />
of 50 per<br />
hot<br />
cent<br />
dogs,<br />
or more<br />
barbecue<br />
of the<br />
beef<br />
gate<br />
sandwiches,<br />
with a simple<br />
popcorn, ice<br />
menu. Bottle<br />
cream, coffee<br />
coolers were<br />
and doughnuts.<br />
removed, and two Orange-Crush Thirst- The concession is located in a building<br />
Aid drink dispensers were installed, as well which also houses rest rooms and projection<br />
booth, in the center of the theatre<br />
as a completely new back-bar. A snowcone<br />
machine also was added. The area.<br />
entire This building was outlined with tricolored<br />
neon which comes on at the breaks,<br />
concession is so arranged that the four<br />
regular employes can serve the customer<br />
(Continued on page 40)<br />
THE MODERN<br />
a rich fruit orongeade<br />
METHOD OF<br />
— The<br />
SERVING<br />
Green<br />
Spot Way. Mixed in a jiffy.<br />
SERVE THE FINEST — costs you less.<br />
juice In each 12-oz. can there is the of<br />
more than 80 Valencio Oranges concentrated.<br />
Makes 5 gallons of REAL FRUIT<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Celebrates Its<br />
ORANGEADE costing you $1.82'/2—you<br />
take in $10.00!<br />
• GREEN SPOT MAJESTIC DISPENSER<br />
Model 420, "FOUNTAIN OF JUICE"<br />
refrigerated dispenser designed to<br />
dispense Green Spot Orange- Ade.<br />
The golden ade gushes up from<br />
center and showers down with<br />
dramatic taste tempting appeal.<br />
Contact your local theatre supply<br />
or write direct<br />
MAJESTIC<br />
ENTERPRISES, LTD.<br />
959 Crenshaw Blvd. -Los Angeles 19, Cal.<br />
Anniversary<br />
A QUARTER CENTURY<br />
OF SERVICE TO THE<br />
THEATRE OWNER<br />
NATIO NAL<br />
Motion »'«CT<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Art Linkletter says:<br />
IF THEY CAN HEAR<br />
they'll hear me for Mars oii "People are Funny"<br />
Howdy Doody says:<br />
IF THEY CAN SEE<br />
they'll see me for Mars on "Howdy Doody"<br />
Look and Collier's say:<br />
IF THEY CAN READ<br />
they'll read the Mars ads in our magazines<br />
Tliey,"of course, are the millions who<br />
will buy candy bars by MARS this fall<br />
Super-showman Art Linkletter, one of radio's top M.C.'s,<br />
makes "People are Funny" fun for people to listen to. And he<br />
keeps right in there pitching for MARS Milky Way and Forever<br />
Yours—on a top time spot, Tuesday nights on CBS!<br />
WB<br />
^^r:*""^^^*':^<br />
-=3*SI»>^«>-JMI*^<br />
Manager Given Credit<br />
For Concession Gain<br />
(Continued from page 38)<br />
Theaters everywhere report a steadily<br />
increasing volume in these popular 10^-size Nestle bars!<br />
Af^t.<br />
Nestle's Crunch,<br />
Milk and Almond Bars<br />
also available<br />
in 5c sizes—<br />
Both 5c<br />
and 70c sizes<br />
packed TOO count<br />
and 24 count<br />
Nationally advertised-a national favorite for 30 years!<br />
Nestles Cho
EllTIGr LUX/ Vice President and<br />
General Manager, Darnell Theaters, Inc., operating<br />
17 theaters in Ohio, New York, Kentucky,<br />
Virginia and Maryland,<br />
says:<br />
''WE SELL A LOT OF CHEWING GUM<br />
AT OUR CONCESSION COUNTERS.<br />
irS GOOD, PROFITABLE BUSINESS<br />
FOR OUR THEATERS."<br />
Yes..Xhewiiig Gum Improves<br />
Your Profit Picture!<br />
It Pays To Display and Sell<br />
Your Patrons' Favorite Brands<br />
# People just naturally like to chew gum for your theater . . . Display Wrigley's<br />
Spearmint, Doublemint, "Juicy Fruit"<br />
at the movies, and they buy their favorite<br />
brands on impulse when they see those and other popular, fast-selling brands of<br />
brands displayed. Take advantage of this chewing gum where patrons can easily<br />
fact to build extra good will and revenue see and buy them. It's good business.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 41
RESEARCH<br />
for<br />
BUREAU<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTTTUTE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive information regularly, as released, on<br />
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
D Acoustics<br />
Lighting Fixtures<br />
D Air Conditioning g Plumbing Fixtures<br />
n Architectural Service<br />
q Projectors<br />
D "Black" Lighting<br />
(-, p„je
22 Cases of Soft Drinks<br />
Sold in<br />
Four Hours<br />
On Black P^-iday, July 13, when the Missouri<br />
and Kaw rivers flooded large sections<br />
of the Kansas Citys, Ronald Means, manager<br />
of the Oak Park Theatre, a neighborhood<br />
house in Kansas City, Mo., rightly<br />
surmised that the local water supply would<br />
be impaired, and possibly cut off. In this<br />
event, they would be unable to use their<br />
cup vending machine. Planning for his patrons'<br />
comfort, he hurriedly ordered 18<br />
cases of Coca-Cola, which he felt would be<br />
ample through Saturday and Sunday, since<br />
the greatest sales the Oak Park Theatre<br />
had ever enjoyed totaled 25 cases in a<br />
week.<br />
However, they were nearly sold out by<br />
Saturday night, and Means had his wife<br />
on the telephone early Sunday morning<br />
trying to buy from any and all sources.<br />
She finally obtained 110 cases of soft<br />
drinks, mostly Coca-Cola, from a large<br />
retail grocery store.<br />
The old cooler which had formerly stood<br />
in the concession stand was still avaOable<br />
in the storage room, and he placed this<br />
in the lobby, loaded with the bottled<br />
drinks. Additional bottles were packed in<br />
ice in wash tubs placed by the cooler. Mrs.<br />
Means and the concession girl served the<br />
theatre patrons, and Means was kept busy<br />
replenishing the supply.<br />
In four hours on Sunday night they<br />
sold 22 cases of the drinks at 10 cents a<br />
bottle. The bottles were really cold, and<br />
the thirsty Kansas Citians were truly appreciative.<br />
They will doubtless long remember<br />
the refreshing drinks obtained<br />
at the theatre when it was almost impossible<br />
to buy the bottled goods any<br />
where, and the water supply had completely<br />
disappeared in many low pressure<br />
areas. The Oak Park has a capacity of<br />
950 seats, and normally sells about 700<br />
cup vended drinks a week. The entire 110<br />
cases of bottled drinks were sold before<br />
the end of the flood week.<br />
Vast Popcorn Acreage<br />
Lost to Flood<br />
Rains and floods in Missouri and Kansas<br />
washed out 22,000 acres of popcorn<br />
which will materially reduce the 1951 yield<br />
for those states. It is impossible to forecast<br />
the effect of this loss upon the total crop<br />
for this year, but it is known that the loss<br />
of just one more growing area, perhaps due<br />
to an early frost in northern Iowa such as<br />
was experienced last year, would create a<br />
definite shortage.<br />
On the other hand, according to C. G.<br />
Manley of Manley, Inc., continued good<br />
weather from now through harvest would<br />
make the situation considerably brighter.<br />
It costs no more to have a good color<br />
scheme than it does to have a poor one.<br />
Study thoroughly the problems involved,<br />
then give your theatre a harmonious new<br />
dress that will make it show up to the best<br />
possible advantage.<br />
MELLOS<br />
POPCOBN<br />
Is the Cream of the Crop<br />
1. CONSISTENT, UNIFORM QUALITY<br />
Highest popping throughout the year. Every<br />
lot laboratory-tested. We test — we don't<br />
guess!<br />
2. MORE ATTRACTIVE, TASTIER, MORE<br />
TENDER<br />
Customers always come back for more once<br />
they have tasted its delicious flavor.<br />
3. ATTRACTIVE SILVER SCREEN BOXES<br />
Popcorn boxes available. Real sales boosters.<br />
4. MORE RETAIL SALES PER BAG<br />
Means more profits to you. Mellos Popcorn<br />
is worth $5 to $10 more per bag than average<br />
corn because of higher popping volume.<br />
A trial order will convince you.<br />
We are Dealers in POPCORN. PEANUTS<br />
and SUPPLIES<br />
••WHERE QUALITY IS fflGHER THAN PRICE!"<br />
MELLOS PEANUT COMPANY<br />
Los Angeles Chicago<br />
637 Towne Avenue 724 W. Randolph Street<br />
d<br />
fck<br />
Who Else But Hollywood Offers You a Fall Line<br />
Of Candy Bars With All These Advantages?<br />
HERE THEY ARE ... 7 DIFFERENT DELICIOUS CANDY BARS<br />
ALL PROVEN TOP MONEY MAKERS I<br />
PAYDAY<br />
Vanilla fudge<br />
center covered<br />
with smooth caramel<br />
. . . rolled<br />
in crisp, freshted<br />
neanuts.<br />
BUTTERNUT<br />
Crunchy peanuts<br />
in rich caramel<br />
center . . . coated<br />
with delicious<br />
milk chocolate.
.. f^eAOAcnes!<br />
for your<br />
~~^--"~x^_<br />
eye-strained customers^<br />
for YOU, Mr. Theatre<br />
Owner . . . you can fill every<br />
seat . . . down front ... on the<br />
side or in the middle ... with<br />
MPPYCUSWMeRS ,<br />
NO GLARE<br />
CUSTOM<br />
EEN<br />
NO PERFORATIONS lo dot voor<br />
potront'cyes.No ey« strain fror<br />
SAY PLEASED PATRONS EVERYWHERE!<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
;31B Secgnd tvtnit. Siattli 1. Wisbmtton<br />
ElPOm OlSmiBUIOR; Fll«2«8 t HUNSEN. ITO.. 301 Cltt SI . S«N FRINCISCO<br />
C«MO«: DOMINION SOUND EOIIIPMENI. ITD. . OFFICES IN All PRINCIPAl CITIES<br />
Protect Your Projector Lens!<br />
DIT MCO PORTHOLE BLOWER<br />
Keeps hemdk<br />
with lipstick<br />
liisi as Essential for Indoor Houses<br />
as it is for Drive-ln Theatres.<br />
delicately coated 1<<br />
drive-ins, keeps dust,<br />
insects<br />
tering<br />
port.<br />
projection<br />
projection<br />
Assures<br />
optical gl<br />
port hole open<br />
ings.<br />
Bl<br />
ry exh<<br />
A PAYING<br />
INVESTMENT!<br />
hief lint. laden<br />
ouge, etc., off<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
.729 Baltimore Ave. KANSAS CITY 6, MO.<br />
The Modern Theatre:<br />
Perhaps you would like to print this<br />
little article in one of your issues. I would<br />
like to see it in print to shake up some of<br />
these hams.<br />
With about 800 motion picture operators<br />
at present out of work due to the many<br />
closings, some of which will never reopen,<br />
it is, in my opinion, the end of the<br />
"light-up, thread-up man" which we have<br />
in so many booths today. Of these 800 out<br />
of work, I would venture to say that only<br />
50 of these are what we call projectionists.<br />
I am the owner of ten small theatres<br />
and, much to my regret, started out with<br />
operators; in other words, "light-up,<br />
thread-up men." Because of carbon waste,<br />
out-of-focus pictures, chopped off changeovers,<br />
no knowledge of lamp house carbonmirror<br />
focus, no knowledge of electricity<br />
outside of a flashlight battery, no knowledge<br />
of emergency remedies, I decided to<br />
hire two experienced projectionists for two<br />
of my best places at a salary almost double<br />
what I was paying my operators.<br />
In the first year the carbon cost of these<br />
two houses dropped to half, and there was<br />
not one call for service on sound or machines<br />
where there had been an average<br />
of four calls a year previously. Changeovers<br />
between pictures are done with a<br />
fader, there is no chopped off music, and<br />
pictures are always in focus, both color<br />
and black and white. These men have<br />
knowledge of emergency measures in case<br />
of breakdown, and any unusual operating<br />
conditions are immediately checked and<br />
reported to me. Indeed, it was such a<br />
pleasure to have these two projectionists<br />
working for me that I replaced all my<br />
"light-up, thread-up men" in the balance<br />
of my houses with projectionists with lots<br />
of experience. Although my salaries are<br />
higher, my operating expenses were cut<br />
over a period of time.<br />
Not one of these projectionists uses any<br />
cue marker or scratches or marks film In<br />
any way. They all have knowledge of sound<br />
systems and are able to keep same in top<br />
condition. Carbons are burnt up to within<br />
one inch, and all single reels kept single<br />
to burn up odd pieces. All of my projectionists<br />
could pass an electrical exam or a<br />
state motion picture operator's exam with<br />
ease. I would like to say that, from my<br />
experience, projectionists are few and far<br />
between. I said projectionists, not operators.<br />
If you want to make a brief check, ask<br />
your operator these few simple questions:<br />
Why has the rotating shutter more than<br />
one blade?<br />
If one rectifier burned out. how would<br />
you connect the one rectifier to both machines<br />
to have both arcs burning at the<br />
same time during changeover?<br />
What are the "diamonds" used for on<br />
every leader of film?<br />
What is the amp. limit on a No. 6 wire?<br />
(Continued on page 50)<br />
NET WEIGHT 119 POUNDS<br />
$25<br />
DOWN<br />
Balance $10 Monthly<br />
ALL WEATHER SCALE<br />
FOR OUTSIDE LOCATIONS<br />
The head and post of this penny weighing<br />
scale ore made of pure aluminum. When<br />
highly polished and anodized it takes on a<br />
satin silver finish and mokes it look like o<br />
piece of jewelry. It looks nice with any fixtures<br />
and will also stand the weather. This<br />
scale can also be operated inside.<br />
WRITE FOR PRICES<br />
Imented and Made Only by<br />
WATLING<br />
Manufacturing Company<br />
4650 W. Fulton St. Chicago 44, III.<br />
Est. 1889—Telephone: Columbus 1-2772<br />
Cable Address: WATLINGITE, Chicogo<br />
44 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
i<br />
^^^^^<br />
"'^^<br />
ate<br />
\awp,<br />
«^« ^,,„ ,«-, «" * ,„ ,een ««» "<br />
, „„,<br />
I .Ht S^«'*''<br />
„....-"•"•*"<br />
», ^ )<br />
SVront<br />
( ) Sltonl (\ccWts.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951<br />
45
A Manual of Drive-ln<br />
Design and Operation<br />
SELECTING PROJECTION AND SOUND EQUIPMENT
Experience has proved that uncoated lenses do not permit a sufficient<br />
quantity of light to reach the screen, so fo achieve the best projection results<br />
anti-reflection coated lenses must be used fay the drive-in theatre. This<br />
Simplex projector, which is thus equipped, is installed at the Grand River<br />
Drive- In Theatre, Detroit, Mich.<br />
Since the large size drive-in screens require that the projection booth<br />
be located several hundred feet back, high intensity arc lamps must be<br />
used. In the photograph above of the Ballantyne projection equipment used<br />
by the Hi-Way Drive-ln Theatre, Bay St. Louis, Miss., a Strong Mogul lamp<br />
may be seen mounted on the projector.<br />
amperes to 140 amperes, but the higher amperage arcs require<br />
the use of a glass filter between the lamphouse and the picture<br />
aperture to prevent the excessive heat from damaging the film.<br />
These glass filters frequently cause a light loss of up to 25<br />
per cent and this loss tends to eliminate any assumed advantage<br />
that might be gained by the use of the higher current.<br />
Many devices have been, and are being, used to reduce the<br />
excessive heat generated by these high intensity lamps but the<br />
best solution to the problem is to use the 70-ampere arc. The<br />
question that has not been answered in anyone's satisfactions is<br />
why use additional current, burn an excessive quantity of carbons<br />
and shorten the life of the equipment just to produce light that<br />
cannot be transmitted to the screen?<br />
POWER SUPPLY FOR ARC LAMPS<br />
Two types of power supply are available for the operation on<br />
the arc lamps, motor-generator sets and amplifiers. The motorgenerator<br />
sets cost more to install but are cheaper to operate,<br />
while the rectifiers are cheaper to install but are more costly to<br />
operate. Either power source will give satisfactory results if their<br />
capacity is sufficient to operate the lamps at their required maximum<br />
capacity.<br />
IN-CAR SPEAKERS<br />
Equally as important as good projection is first-quality sound.<br />
Most of the in-car speakers on the market are of good quality<br />
and the variation in cost is largely due to the type of housing<br />
provided for the speaker unit, a cast aluminum housing naturally<br />
costing more than a light stamping. Altogether too much emphasis<br />
is being given to the size of the cone used in the speakers.<br />
The fact is that a three-inch cone is adequate for use in an<br />
automobile if the amplification is of sufficient volume. A cast<br />
housing has a tendency to provide clearer reproduction than does<br />
a stamped housing and eliminates the metallic vibrations so common<br />
to stamped housings so that the cast housing is the more<br />
desirable. Also, the cast housing will absorb more mechanical<br />
punishment without causing trouble.<br />
JUNCTION BOXES<br />
Many types of junction boxes are available, with or without<br />
lights, lighted domes and carhop signals. As previously stated, it<br />
is my opinion that it is far less costly and certainly far more<br />
efficient to light the ramp area with Moonlight floodlighting than<br />
to provide the costly little glow lights that do nothing in the way<br />
of general illumination while the picture is on the screen.<br />
Each junction box provides connections for two in-car speakers<br />
and these junction boxes should be of a neat design that is<br />
pleasing to the eye; they should have a secure fastening to attach<br />
them to the speaker posts; should contain terminals that permit<br />
connecting the speaker terminals with the ramp wiring; should<br />
contain the highest quality impedance matching transformers,<br />
and should be designed to permit easy access for repairs or connections.<br />
When a junction box has all of the items mentioned<br />
above it is the proper item for a drive-in theatre.<br />
POWER<br />
REQUIREMENTS<br />
Piactically all in-car speakers are designed to require about<br />
one-quarter of one watt per unit so that a 500-car theatre would<br />
require an amplification system of a minimum of 125 watts of<br />
wt.<br />
(Continued on the following page)<br />
A double shutter allows more light to reach the screen for a longer<br />
period of time than is the case with a single shutter mechanism, and is<br />
a Must for drive-in theatres if maximum results are to be obtained from<br />
the projection equipment. The RCA-Brenkert installation shown above,<br />
with double shutters, is in use at the Cowtown Drive-ln Theatre, Fort<br />
Worth, Texas.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 1, 1951 47
A Manual of Drive-ln Design and Operation<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
With more than a<br />
500-foot projection<br />
throw the Motiograph<br />
projectors installed in<br />
the booth at the Geneva<br />
Drive-ln Theatre, San<br />
Francisco, Calif., often<br />
must cut heavy fog as<br />
well as darkness to get<br />
the picture on the<br />
screen. To get this difficult<br />
job done, Ashcraft<br />
Super-High arc lamps,<br />
burning Lorraine carbons<br />
were installed.<br />
^vN<br />
\^<br />
Light Diffusing<br />
Vinyl<br />
Surface<br />
SUPER-LITE<br />
SCREEN<br />
Uniform Light To All Seats<br />
CLEARER-BRIGHTER<br />
LARGE SCREEN TV PICTURES AND REGULAR<br />
PROJECTION<br />
SHIPPED FOLDED OR ROLLED<br />
All<br />
Dealers<br />
VOCALITE SCREEN CORP.<br />
Roosevelt, N. Y., U.S.A.<br />
•^^OWCs<br />
power. It is advisable lu in^^Lai; a dual<br />
channel amplifier system to prevent chance<br />
of all sound in the theatre being killed by<br />
failure of a one-stage amplifier.<br />
As motor-generator sets for the projector<br />
arcs come in various sizes, from 7'2<br />
hp to 40 hp, the current required for their<br />
operation should be obtained from the<br />
manufacturer of the equipment. In providing<br />
underground service for motor-generator<br />
sets it must be recognized that copper<br />
used for underground service must be<br />
heavier than that required for overhead<br />
service as there is practically no heat dissipation<br />
from underground wire.<br />
(Continued next month)<br />
ILLINOIS FIREWORKS CO.. INC.<br />
DANVILLE. ILL. • PHONE 1716 • BOX 792<br />
Old Type Lens<br />
YOUR THEATRE is<br />
as modern<br />
as the IMAGE en YOUR SCREEN<br />
Protect your investment . . . Build Profits . . .<br />
^ith B&L Super Cinephor Lenses<br />
Don't lose patrons by projecting dim, eye-straining<br />
images. B&L lenses bring your audiences today's<br />
finest image quality . . . brighter, sharper pictures<br />
with edge-to-edge brilliance and contrast. Build<br />
steady patronage, steady profits, with B&L lenses.<br />
44% to 100% Brighter<br />
^C^CC^ for complete information to Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
An Outdoor Theatre Within the City<br />
DRAW CROWDS<br />
WITH FIREWORKS I<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
Boost Your<br />
Attendance<br />
with<br />
LIBERTY<br />
FIREWORKS<br />
The World's Finest Fireworks<br />
Greater brilliance, color, flash and noise.<br />
Send for our 56-page catalog in three colors<br />
containing Displays from $25.00 to $1,000.00.<br />
At Direct From Factory to You Prices!<br />
prompt response, use the postage-free blue postcard<br />
for<br />
in this issue, statmo this ad's l(ey number, 46-A.<br />
Ramps are of sodded earth at this Florida drive-in theatre.<br />
A metropolitan location was chosen for<br />
the attractive Main Street Drive-In Theatre<br />
in the center of a heavily populated<br />
area of Jacksonville, Fla. The 700-car outdoor<br />
theatre has a paved hold out area<br />
to accommodate 400 cars.<br />
The ramps differ from most of the construction<br />
seen in the south, which are<br />
either paved completely or covered with<br />
shell, clay or limestone. At the Main Street<br />
Drive-In the ramps are sodded earth with<br />
paved driveways between ramps.<br />
Insects at Drive-ins<br />
Killed by a Fog<br />
Joe Hornstein, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., has<br />
been made exclusive distributor of "Magic<br />
Fog" tubes which have obtained remarkable<br />
results in banishing mosquitoes and<br />
other insects from drive-in theatres. The<br />
tubes are manufactured by Magic Fog, Inc.,<br />
Litchfield, 111.<br />
Joe Hornstein, Inc., plans to distribute<br />
"Magic Fog" through authorized theatre<br />
supply dealers in various key cities of the<br />
United States. The tubes and related products<br />
may, of course, be obtained through<br />
The concession building is 45 feet long<br />
with two side entrances and a center door<br />
exit in the front. Cafeteria-style layout of<br />
concessions handles traffic two ways, and<br />
the counters on each side of the cash<br />
register are identical in layout and products<br />
sold. Coca-Cola, Orange-Crush, milk,<br />
coffee, ice cream and snow cones in four<br />
flavors are popular items, in addition to<br />
popcorn, candy, chewing gum and cigars.<br />
Hot dogs and barbecued sandwiches also<br />
are sold.<br />
Joe Hornstein, Inc., in the trade areas it<br />
customarily serves.<br />
The application of "Magic Fog" to combat<br />
mosquitoes and other insects is very<br />
simple. The tube containing the formula<br />
to destroy the pests is attached to the exhaust<br />
of an automobile or truck, and when<br />
the engine is running a very fine fog is<br />
distributed into the air, killing the insects<br />
that come into contact with it. The fog, as<br />
it settles, sets up a protection against<br />
mosquitoes.<br />
Farther information about "Magic Fog"<br />
may be obtained by theatremen through<br />
their local theatrical supply dealer.<br />
LIBERTY DISPLAY FIREWORKS CO.<br />
1210 So. 17th Ave. Maywood, Illinois<br />
Suburb West of Chicago<br />
Telephones Maywood 2110 and 2111<br />
yo^ulck cJDeliueru<br />
ON<br />
EPRAD<br />
(Formerly "TECA")<br />
IN-THE-CAR<br />
SPEAKERS<br />
EPRAD'S broad line offers a speaker to fit<br />
your budget! There is a model for every situation.<br />
Hurry! Place your order today to<br />
assure quick delivery. EPRAD'S five yeors of<br />
performance prove complete dependability<br />
and lowest maintenance cost.<br />
EPRAD<br />
111 MICHIGAN — TOLEDO, OHIO<br />
For Better Service<br />
And Higher Profits<br />
EVERY DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
NEEDS THE<br />
niirrrTrDIA * concession on wheels.<br />
DUrrC I CI\IA . .Hot and cold compartments.<br />
HOT BOX WARMER'ioiiy'Roii'J°^iiy<br />
PORTO-FOUNTAIN., ^/-l'<br />
Ask for descriptive literature, prices and delivery<br />
THE WALKY-SERVICE CO.<br />
401 Schweiter Bldo. WIchiU, Kanj.<br />
EOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951 49
EVERYBODY-<br />
Is<br />
Switching<br />
TO THE<br />
HANOVER<br />
continuous<br />
CARBON BURNER<br />
From the little houses to the top circuits—exhibitors<br />
are building $$$ profits by cutting<br />
carbon<br />
costs.<br />
5-YEAR PRODUCT GUARANTEE<br />
against inferior materials and workmanship<br />
and against normal wear and tear.<br />
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE<br />
You have 5 days from the time you receive<br />
the unit to install and test it thoroughly.<br />
- FEATURES -<br />
• Any operator con install it . . . quickly, easily<br />
in a Suprex type lamp.<br />
• Parts<br />
don't wear out—no maintenance cost.<br />
• Precision built, completely automatic.<br />
• Pre-heats incoming carbon.<br />
• No disruption or loss of light in changeover.<br />
• Eliminates uncertainty of burning period of any<br />
size carbon stab.<br />
• Pays for itself immediotely by using accumulated<br />
waste.<br />
NORPAT SALES, INC.<br />
45 W. 45th St., New York 19, N. Y.<br />
Cables: Norpatcreat, New York<br />
Dear "Doc";<br />
Please send C.O.D. a Hanover Continuous Carbon Burner at<br />
$77.50. I will Install it immediately. If not satisfied after<br />
5 days from date unit is received, I may return it for<br />
full<br />
refund.<br />
Lam
READERS' BUREAU For<br />
further information<br />
regording products advertised or mentioned in this issue, use<br />
the postage-paid reply cards below.<br />
NEW EQUIPMENT and DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Briefed from the full description starting on page 53<br />
OFFER 'ALICE' THEATRE BALLOONS P-774<br />
series of Timely novelty balloons fe;itures characters from<br />
the Walt Disney fllin, and has been brought out hy the<br />
Eagle Rubber Co. as a theatre sales item.<br />
STURDY THEATRE SAFE ANNOUNCED P-775<br />
The attractively finished tlieatre safe has a tour-tumbler combination<br />
lofli and burglar resisting spindle.<br />
MOWER HAS 20-INCH CUTTING EDGE P-776<br />
The unit Is designed for use at dri\e-ins and the 20-inch<br />
cutting edge enables rapid maintenance work.<br />
VINYL THEATRE TV SCREEN P-777<br />
The ail vinyl screen has no mtton bacit and is especially<br />
suited to large-screen theatre telecasts. It Is manufactured<br />
by Raytone Screen Corp.<br />
LIQUID GERMICIDE FOR THEATRES P-7S2<br />
is a The cleaner compound combining synthetic<br />
soap,<br />
detergent, a germicide, wetting agent and penetrant with<br />
water softeners and emulsiflers.<br />
TRIMMER-TYPE MOWER FOR DRIVE-INS P-783<br />
The gasoline mower can trim within two inches object.<br />
of an<br />
The unit is announced by Moto-Mower Co.<br />
PRE-MIX ORANGE-CRUSH DISPENSER P-784<br />
L'olorfui The dispenser acts as a sales and has<br />
stimulator<br />
been perfected after two years of experimentation by the firm.<br />
FREEZER MAKES MILK SHAKES P-7S5<br />
The Sweden Freezer Mfg. Co. has variation<br />
developed a<br />
of the 1-190 CTintlnuous soft ice cream freezer.<br />
OFFER ONE-GALLON FIRE EXTINGUISHER P-7S6<br />
The unit is reported to offer highly effective protection<br />
against electrical and flammable liquid fires, and is introduced<br />
hy Buffalo PMre Appliance Corp.<br />
VINYL PLASTIC TILE FLOORING P-7S7<br />
The flooring combines features durability<br />
of rugycdiiL'Ss.<br />
and attractiveness and is announced by B. F. Guodriclt.<br />
SCREEN PAINT APPLIED WITH BRUSH P-788<br />
Interior The snow-wiiile coating may also applied by<br />
be<br />
spray gun or roller applicator. It is introduced by Drive-ln<br />
Theatre Mfg. Co. No primer Is necessary.<br />
CHOCOLATE DRINK FOR THEATRES P-789<br />
Old Colony Cocoa Crcmc, introdured Orange-Crush, is<br />
by<br />
said to liave a rich and distinctive chocolate flavor.<br />
SELF-CONTAINED CONDITIONER P-790<br />
The attractively styled unit is sizes and<br />
available In four<br />
can be adapted for beating with a simple adjustment.<br />
UNIT CUTS FLOOR MAINTENANCE P-791<br />
The macliine has a 12-lneh cleaning expanse, which sim-<br />
16mm UNIT RECORDS, PROJECTS P-77S<br />
Tlie unit provides a means of commentary<br />
directly recording plifies the tasks of scrubbing, waxing, polishing and buffing.<br />
on edge of<br />
or musical bacliground magnetiwlly<br />
DISPENSER SERVES HOT, COLD DRINKS<br />
film.<br />
P-779<br />
PLASTIC WALL FINISH IN 27 COLORS P-792<br />
is The new plastic finish introduced hy Armstrong<br />
the<br />
Cork Co. Material has a higlily poiislied finish.<br />
The up to 12 drinlts per minute and<br />
unit is said to serve<br />
has seven pushbutton selectivity. It is hitroduced hy the<br />
Drink-Master and has a syrup capacity of 925 drtoks.<br />
Corp..<br />
POWERFUL DRIVE-IN SPOTLIGHT P-7S0<br />
LITERATURE<br />
Providing 100.000 candlepovver with 300-watt rating,<br />
only a<br />
Briefed from the descriptions on page 57<br />
tlie unit concentrates its entire light output in a long-<br />
throw, narrow-flooding beam.<br />
DISPENSER FEATURES THERMAL CONTROL<br />
P-7gl POPCORN PRESSBOOK PRINTED L-13S9<br />
The attractive, 34-page booklet help to<br />
Orange juice dispenser said by manufacturer to insure<br />
is available as a<br />
is theatre mncession merchandisers. The booklet illustrated<br />
and temperature. The unit holds over two<br />
proper flavor<br />
to show how to sell buttered corn.<br />
gallons and is introduced by Majestic Enterprises. Ltd.<br />
DISCUSS SOFT ICE CREAM UNIT L-1390<br />
The new four-page booklet covers direct<br />
the Electro Freeze<br />
dispensing soft ioe cream machines.<br />
PROSCENIUM TREATMENT BROCHURE L-1391<br />
The colorfully illustrated 16-page booklet illus-<br />
contains<br />
trations of types of curtain control equipment, and a section<br />
devoted to stage safety. It Is published by J. R. Clancy, Inc.<br />
LOUVERS SUBJECT OF BOOKLET L-1392<br />
colorfully The illustrated booklet available to<br />
is made<br />
exhibitors by Bcnjamhi Electric Mfg. Co.<br />
UNIFORM CATALOG ISSUED 1-1393<br />
The catalog contains illustrations theatre<br />
of uniforms for<br />
attendants and refreshment service personnel.<br />
FLUORESCENT LIGHTING CATALOG L-1394<br />
Catalog 48 contains material on the recessed<br />
advantages of<br />
Incandescent and fluorescent lighting.<br />
ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS BULLETIN L-1395<br />
file Spero EHectric Corp. 52-page catalog contains material<br />
on the five lines of electrical products.<br />
DISCUSS RESILIENT FLOORING L-1396<br />
The new type tile floor is discussed in a eolortul brochure<br />
published by the Flintcote Co.<br />
STANDBY POWER A SUBJECT L-1397<br />
booklet The pictures uiuts rangmg 2,000-watt<br />
from 350 to<br />
output. It is published by Howard Industries, Inc.<br />
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER BOOKLET L-139S<br />
The illustrated booklet on automatic protec-<br />
sprinkler fire<br />
tion systems lias bceu published by the Grinnell Co.<br />
FIRE PROTECTIVE PAINT DISCUSSED L-1399<br />
Tills colorfully Illustrated brochure Ocean<br />
published by<br />
Chemicals Corp. contains the results of several tests.<br />
PLASTIC WALL PANEL FEATURED L-1400<br />
Marsh Wall Products. Inc. brochure discusses plastic finished<br />
ajid wall ceiling panel and contains a sample.<br />
CHANGEABLE LETTER BOOKLET L-1401<br />
Tlie signs ate illustrated and described illustrated<br />
in an<br />
booklet available to theatremen from the Tablet & Ticket Co.<br />
PUBLISH FLOOR CLEANING BROCHURE L-1402<br />
The new brochure contains simple rules proper care<br />
on<br />
and maintenance of asphalt flooring.<br />
MAINTENANCE TOOL PRESENTED L-1403<br />
A sponge mop with built-in wringer is announced in a<br />
Minute Mop Co. folder published recenliy.<br />
PUBLISH COLOR HARMONY KIT L-1404<br />
The Imperial Paper & Color Corp. complete<br />
kit comes<br />
with sketching materials, a pad of color plimning sheets and<br />
aL'tuai crayons representing the ten basic decorator colors.<br />
DISCUSS UPHOLSTERY MATERIAL L-1405<br />
The all plastic material is introduced colorfully illus-<br />
in a<br />
trated booklet issued by the Masland Duraleather Co.<br />
TILE COLOR BOOKLET ,;^'^^'^<br />
A colorful brochure showing the 15 basic plastic tile colors<br />
published by the Stylou Corp.<br />
DISCUSS TYPHOON CONDITIONERS L-1407<br />
The complete Typlioon packaged line in the<br />
is described<br />
attractive booklet issued by the tirm.<br />
PRESENT SOUND CONDITIONING SYSTEM L-1408<br />
The noise preventive system Is the subject of an informative<br />
booklet available to theatreraen from the Celotex Corp.<br />
DRIVE-IN LIGHTING LINE PRESENTED L-1409<br />
The lighting units are described in a bulletin<br />
catalog<br />
published by the Steber Mfg. Co.<br />
CATHODE LAMPS DESCRIBED L-1410<br />
cold Hie cathode lamp aids air-borne<br />
in the control of<br />
bacteria and is featured in a folder published by Kuesch<br />
Electric Co. A lew sample installation photos are contained.<br />
DESCRIBE DECORATIVE MATERIAL<br />
L-14U<br />
The new type plastic material for use ta theatre restyling<br />
is announced in a folder available from the Decora Corp.<br />
WARM AIR FURNACE DISCUSSED L-1412<br />
Operational methods of the oil fired furnace are explained<br />
in folder from Steel Products Engineering Co.<br />
PORTABLE CARPET BEATER DISCUSSED L-1413<br />
The unit with a vacuum dust mliector is Introduced In a<br />
nild Floor Machine Co. folder.<br />
How to Use These<br />
READERS' BUREAU COUPONS<br />
I. Fill out completely a leparate coupon<br />
for eoch New Equipment item.<br />
News article or Literature reference<br />
(above) which interests you. Likewise<br />
for each Advertising Product (reverse<br />
side of this sheet) about which you<br />
want more information. Put only one<br />
key number in each square.<br />
JOHN Q. DOE<br />
„,, QUEEN<br />
SIh and MAIN<br />
NEWBERN s<br />
%U±.<br />
ALA.<br />
he<br />
MODERN THEATRE Sei<br />
2. Use the outer card to request one<br />
to four items, both cardt if requesting<br />
five to eight.<br />
3, When you have filled out the coupons<br />
for each request, detach the<br />
postcards and mail. No postage<br />
needed in the U.S. (Affix stomp in<br />
Canada.)
READERS' BUREAU<br />
For literature on products advertised or mentioned in this issue, see other<br />
side of this sheet and read how to use the postcard coupons below.<br />
PRODUCTS ADVERTISED IN THIS ISSUE<br />
ADMISSION SIGNS<br />
Associated Ticket & Reoister Co 14-A<br />
Edgar Bowman 5S-A<br />
ATTENDANCE BOOSTERS<br />
of Flowers Hawaii 56-A<br />
ATTRACTION BOARDS AND LETTERS<br />
Adier Silhouette Letter Co 54-A<br />
Poblocki & Sons Co 57-C<br />
Wajncr Sign Service 5-A<br />
BOXOFFICES<br />
Poblocki & Sons Co 57-C<br />
CANDY<br />
Chase Candy Co 34-A<br />
Henry Heide, Inc 37-A<br />
Hollywood Candy Co 43-A<br />
Mars. Inc 39-A<br />
Nestle's Chocolate Co 40-A<br />
Peter Paul, Inc 29-A<br />
CARBONS<br />
See Projector Carbons<br />
CARBON SAVERS<br />
Norpat Sales Co 50-A<br />
Payne Products Co. (Cron-D-Matic) 5S-B<br />
CARPET<br />
Snith-Masland Carpet Co 6-A<br />
CARPET CLEANING MATERIALS<br />
Jcrctaydon, Inc 60-B<br />
Magicleaner. Inc 22-C<br />
CARPET CUSHIONING<br />
Sponge Rubber Products Co 17-A<br />
CONCESSION EQUIPMENT. DRIVE-IN<br />
Walky Service Co 49-D<br />
CONCESSION CONTRACTORS<br />
Sportservice Corp 43-C<br />
CURTAIN CONTROLS AND TRACKS<br />
Automatic Devices Co 26-C<br />
J. R. Clancy. Inc 3-A<br />
Vallcn. Inc 26-A<br />
DISPUY FRAMES AND EASELS<br />
Peoples Display Frame Co 42-A<br />
DRINK DISPENSERS, Soft Drinks<br />
See Fountainettes<br />
DRINKS. SOFT<br />
Coca-Cola Co 2-A<br />
Dad's Root Beer Co 40-B<br />
Majestic Enterprises, Ltd 3S-A<br />
Mission Dry Corp 39-B<br />
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATORS<br />
Fairbanks, Morse & Co 22-A<br />
D. W. Onan & Sons Co 26-B<br />
FILM CABINET SIGNALS<br />
Ohio Products Co 2S-C<br />
FILM SPLICING DEVICE<br />
Griswold Machine Works 59-A<br />
FIREWORKS for DRIVE-INS<br />
Illinois Fireworks Co 4S-C<br />
Liberty Display Fireworks Co 49-B<br />
FOUNTAINETTES<br />
Dad's Root Beer Co 40-B<br />
Dispensers, Inc 35.<br />
Majestic Enterprises, Ltd 38- A<br />
FOUNTAIN SYRUPS<br />
See Drinks, soft<br />
GUM, CHEWING<br />
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co 41-A<br />
GUM VENDING MACHINE<br />
Mills Industries, Inc 34-B<br />
KIDDIE RIDES for DRIVE-INS<br />
Miniature Train Co 49-A<br />
LIGHTING CONTROLS, HOUSE & STAGE<br />
Superior Electric Co IS-A<br />
MOTOR GENERATORS<br />
Hertner Electric Co 55-A<br />
PUYGROUND EQUIPMENT for DRIVE-INS<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co 44-B<br />
PLUMBING FIXTURES<br />
Amer. Radiator & Std. Sanitary Corp...31-A<br />
POPCORN BOXES AND SACKS<br />
Dore Popcorn Co 34-C<br />
Kontney Carton Co 36-A<br />
Manley, Inc 32-A<br />
Mellos Peanut Co 43-B<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
Manley, Inc 32-A<br />
POPCORN PRIZES<br />
Eppy & Co.. Samuel 37-B<br />
POPCORN SCOOPS<br />
Speed-Scoop 40-C<br />
POPCORN SEASONING (OIL)<br />
Manley, Inc 32-A<br />
C. F. Simonin's Sons, Inc 35-A<br />
POPCORN AND SUPPLIES<br />
Dore Popcorn Co 34-C<br />
Manley. Inc 32-A<br />
Mellos Peanut Co 43-B<br />
POPCORN WARMERS<br />
Hollywood Servemaster. 34-D<br />
Inc<br />
POSTER FRAMES AND EASELS<br />
Peoples Display Frame Co 42-A<br />
Poblocki & Sons Co 57-C<br />
PROJECTION ARC LAMPS<br />
Ashcraft Mfg. Co 22-8<br />
Strong Electric Corp 45-A<br />
PROJECTION LENS PROTECTOR<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co 44-B<br />
PROJECTION LENSES<br />
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co 4S-A<br />
Kollmorgen Optical Corp 30-A<br />
Raytone Screen Corp 21-A<br />
PROJECTION AND SOUND<br />
The Ballantyne Co 19-A<br />
International Projector Corp 1-BC<br />
Motiograph, Inc 13-A<br />
Wenzel Projector Corp 30-<br />
PROJECTION AND SOUND SERVICE<br />
RCA Service Co 2S-A<br />
PROJECTOR CARBONS<br />
National Carbon Co 27-<br />
PROJECTOR PARTS<br />
LaVezzi Machine Works 56-B<br />
RECTIFIERS. PROJECTION<br />
Strong Electric Corp 21-B<br />
REFRESHMENT CART, DRIVE-IN<br />
Walky Service Co 49-D<br />
REEL-END SIGNALS<br />
Ohio Products Co 2S-C<br />
RIDES—See Kiddie Rides<br />
SAND URNS<br />
GoldE Mfg. Co 54-C<br />
SCALES, PENNY WEIGHING, FORTUNE<br />
Watling Mfg. Co 44-C<br />
SCREEN PAINT<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co 44-B<br />
SCREENS for INDOOR THEATRES<br />
Raytone Screen Corp 21-A<br />
B. F. Shearer Co 44-A<br />
Vocalite Screen Corp iS-B<br />
SCREEN TOWERS for DRIVE-INS<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co 44-B<br />
SEATING. CONVENTIONAL THEATRES<br />
American Seating Co 2S-B<br />
Griggs Equipment Co 37-C<br />
Hcywood-Wakefield Co 23-A<br />
Ideal Seating Co 57-A<br />
Kroehler Mfg. Co 15-<br />
SIGNS. DIRECTIONAL. Etc.<br />
Associated Ticket & Register Co 14-A<br />
Edgar S. Bowman 58-A<br />
SPEAKERS. IN-CAR, for DRIVE-INS<br />
The Ballantyne Co 19-A<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co. 44-B<br />
Theatre Equipment Co 49-C<br />
International Projector Corp 1-BC<br />
SPOT LAMPS<br />
Strong Electric Corp 4-A<br />
STAGE RIGGING & EQUIPMENT<br />
J. R. Clancy, Inc 3-A<br />
STAGE SHOWS<br />
Amusement Enterprises 59-B<br />
THEATRE FRONTS<br />
Poblocki & Sons Co 57-C<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES<br />
National Theatre Supply :^-B<br />
S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp 57-B<br />
TICKET BOXES<br />
General Register Corp 16-A<br />
TICKETS<br />
Toledo Ticket Co 60-C<br />
UNIFORMS. USHER, Etc.<br />
Marcus Ruben. Inc 60-A<br />
VACUUM CLEANERS<br />
General Electric Co 54-B<br />
Ideal Industries, Inc 59-C<br />
National Super Service Co., Inc 50-B<br />
"WALK-IN" OUTDOOR THEATRES<br />
The Ballantyne Co 19-A<br />
Q
EQUIPMENT Sr<br />
DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Series of 'Alice' Balloons P-774<br />
For Sale in Theatres<br />
A timely series of<br />
novelty balloons feat<br />
u r i n g characters<br />
from "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
has been<br />
brought out by the<br />
Eagle Rubber Co.,<br />
Inc., as a sales item<br />
in theatres.<br />
The display card<br />
balloon assortment<br />
effectively merchandises 48 novelty balloons<br />
imprinted with Alice, Dee and Dum,<br />
the Queen, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Walrus<br />
and the Carpenter.<br />
Two dozen of the balloons on the card<br />
are long airships, one dozen are large<br />
rounds, and one dozen are head and body<br />
balloons. All are imprinted and sell for 5<br />
cents each.<br />
Sturdy Safe Introduced P-775<br />
To Theatre Market<br />
The Gary Safe Co.<br />
-t^^ introduces a sturdy,<br />
attractively finished<br />
safe to the theatre<br />
market.<br />
Finished in eyecatching,<br />
attractive<br />
green enamel, with a<br />
silver -toned interior,<br />
the safe has a green<br />
felt lining in the bottom,<br />
and chromeplated,<br />
engine-turned<br />
jeweled finish on doors. The doors are of<br />
heat-treated, hardened high-carbon steel.<br />
The safe has a four tumbler combination<br />
lock, burglar resisting spindle, relocking<br />
device, one-inch steel fabricated body<br />
and is triple welded. Capacity, 450 cu. in.<br />
Gasoline Rotary Mower P-776<br />
With 20-Inch Cut<br />
A 20-inch gasoline rotary mower designed<br />
especially for grounds maintenance<br />
work at drive-in theatres is introduced by<br />
Pood Machinery & Chemical Corp.<br />
The mower is equipped with a two h. p.<br />
four-cycle engine and has a side trimmer<br />
unit which permits cutting to within onehalf<br />
inch of the outside measurements on<br />
the sides and one inch in front.<br />
Exceptional balance and maneuverability<br />
are particular features of the unit, as<br />
reported by the manufacturer. The cutting<br />
heights can be simply adjusted from<br />
V/2 inches to 3 inches. The cutting blade<br />
is fully guarded. The mower is of a streamlined<br />
design and has a crinkle green finish.<br />
FOR MORE<br />
INFORMATION<br />
USE Readers'<br />
Bureau Coupons, page 51<br />
Vinyl Screen for Theatre TV P-777<br />
And Regular Projection Use<br />
An all vinyl screen for use both with<br />
large screen theatre television and for<br />
normal projection use is introduced by<br />
Raytone Screen Corp.<br />
The all vinyl screen does not have a<br />
cotton back, and is said by the manufacturer<br />
to give an extreme high brightness<br />
gain together with perfect diffusion.<br />
16mm Recorder-Projector<br />
Announced by RCA<br />
P-778<br />
A new 16mm recorder-projector, providing<br />
a means of directly recording commentary<br />
or musical background magnetically<br />
on the edge of 16mm film, has been introduced<br />
by RCA.<br />
To record with the unit it is necessary<br />
only to turn a switch and talk or play<br />
music into a plug-in microphone. After<br />
the recording is completed, another control<br />
may be set for immediate playback, and<br />
if revisions are needed or if re-recording<br />
of the film is desired an electronic erase<br />
head may be activated by another simple<br />
control. A mechanical safeguard prevents<br />
accidental erasing.<br />
Recording on the RCA 400 magnetic<br />
sound projector requires no special preparation<br />
or studio facilities and eliminates<br />
the time normally consumed in waiting for<br />
processing of a photographic track.<br />
Hot and Cold Dispenser Serves P-779<br />
Twelve Drinks a Minute<br />
A hot and cold four drink dispenser<br />
which serves up to 12 drinks per minute<br />
and has seven pushbutton<br />
selectivity is<br />
introduced by the<br />
Drink-Master Corp.<br />
The unit has a<br />
syrup capacity of 925<br />
drinks, and will hold<br />
as many as 750 cups.<br />
The dimensions of<br />
the cabinet are as<br />
71x24x33<br />
follows:<br />
inches.<br />
No syrup solenoid<br />
valves or syrup pump<br />
are used in the Drink-Master, and the complete<br />
upper half of the cabinet is under<br />
constant refrigeration. The unit is supplied<br />
with a standard compressor and National<br />
coin mechanism.<br />
The operator has a choice of two hot and<br />
two cold noncarbonated drinks, including<br />
hot coffee, with or without cream and<br />
sugar, hot chocolate, hot soup and hot or<br />
cold coffee and tea.<br />
Outdoor Spotlight for Use<br />
At Drive-In Theatres<br />
P-780<br />
A powerful outdoor spotlight providing<br />
100,000 candlepower with only a 300-watt<br />
rating is announced by Stonco Electric<br />
Products Co.<br />
The new unit is designed to concentrate<br />
its entire light output in a long-throw,<br />
oval-shaped, narrow floodlighting beam.<br />
Made of non-corrosive, heavy-duty cast<br />
aluminum throughout, the spotlight has<br />
a universally adjustable cast-aluminum<br />
swivel arm to fit a variety of standard<br />
interchangeable accessories such as flat<br />
base, weatherproof junction boxes. Up to<br />
five units can be mounted on a single<br />
cluster light assembly.<br />
BOXOFFICE :; September 1, 1951 53
ADLER<br />
New Low-Cost<br />
"SECTIONAD"<br />
(TRADE MAKE)<br />
CHANGEABLE LETTER DISPLAYS<br />
ADLER GLASS-IN-FRAME DISPLAYS<br />
"REMOVAL-PANEL" FRAMES<br />
'THIRD DIMENSION" PLASTIC and CAST<br />
ALUMINUM LETTERS<br />
V/RITE FOR FREE CATALOG.<br />
ADLER SILHOUETTE LETTER CO.<br />
J021a West 36th St. Chicago 32, III.<br />
NEW! GOLDE<br />
MOD-URN<br />
SAND URN<br />
tippir<br />
He . Lorge<br />
3city in leak proof diamond<br />
etched and polished chrome column.<br />
Polished top of triple plated chrome<br />
steel. Colors: Ebony Block, Mondorir<br />
Red trim ol top and bottom. • Writ<br />
for bulletin No. 501.<br />
At better theatre supply dealers.<br />
mits easy turning in a short radius. The<br />
|<br />
entire reel assembly may be easily removed<br />
for sharpening without disturbing side<br />
frames, tie rods, deck, etc. The gentle engaging<br />
cone clutch is controlled from the<br />
handle bar.<br />
•<br />
Pre-Mix Dispenser Boosts<br />
P-784<br />
Beverage Sales<br />
A colorful pre-mix<br />
dispenser has been<br />
\.<br />
announced by the Orrange-Crush<br />
Co. as a<br />
beverage sales boost-<br />
'X er for theatres. Per-<br />
'v^^^^^^^f^ fected after two years<br />
'<br />
?^W^^Kf<br />
°^ engineering, the<br />
J^j^^^^S^k^; unit is to be distributed<br />
through the firm's<br />
outlets. A fully guarinteed<br />
compressor using<br />
Fi'eon-12 refrigerant<br />
assures cooling<br />
of syrup and water<br />
from 75 to 42 degrees within five minutes.<br />
Dismantling, cleaning and reassembling<br />
can be done in 15 minutes. Essential valve<br />
parts are constructed of stainless steel.<br />
Freezer Model Designed P-785<br />
For Making Milk Shakes<br />
The Sweden Freezer Mfg. Co. announces<br />
the development of a variation of the popular<br />
1-190 continuous soft ice cream freezer.<br />
This model, to be used specifically for<br />
making milk shakes, is especially suitable<br />
for large-volume installations.<br />
Outstanding feature of the new machine<br />
is the way it permits mass production of<br />
milk shakes, and at the same time allows<br />
stabilized quality and portion control.<br />
It is capable of high-speed production of<br />
milk shakes, eight a minute on the average,<br />
measures 27x21x31 inches, and may be<br />
placed on backbar, counter, or on a special<br />
frame or reserve mix storage cabinet. The<br />
machine is completely self-contained, requiring<br />
only connections to cooling water<br />
supply, drain, and electrical power source.<br />
One-Gallon Fire Extinguisher P-786<br />
For Theatre Protection<br />
A one-gallon fire extinguisher which is<br />
reported to offer highly effective protection<br />
against electrical and flammable<br />
liquid fires is introduced by Buffalo Fire<br />
Appliance Corp. Internal air pressure<br />
forces out a continuous stream of liquid for<br />
a distance of 30 feet. Internal corrosion<br />
is minimized by a drying agent and the extinguisher<br />
liquid will not freeze at normal<br />
temperature.<br />
Vinyl Plastic Tile Flooring P-787<br />
For Theatre Lobbies<br />
A new type vinyl plastic asbestos tile<br />
flooring which combines the features of<br />
ruggedness, durability and attractiveness<br />
is announced by B. F. Goodrich.<br />
Designed for use in theatre lobbies and<br />
restrooms, the flooring can be installed on,<br />
.above or below grade. It is fire resistant<br />
and is resistant to mild solutions of acid<br />
or such solvents as gasoline, naphtha and<br />
alcohol. It is offered in 18 colors, and<br />
comes in 9x9-inch sizes.<br />
MOTORS<br />
SM'^ OnemW<br />
TO BRING<br />
PEOPLE<br />
»RE THE<br />
INTO<br />
MORE<br />
YOUR THEATRE!<br />
GIVE EXOTIC PRINCESS ALOHA<br />
ORCHIDS<br />
... for that Opening Night ... for a Special Picture<br />
Promotion ... for "Family Night" at your<br />
theatre ... for any Special Event such as your<br />
anniversary date or reopening . . . give dainty, lovely,<br />
exotic orchids—the flower that flatters every woman<br />
. . . flown direct to your theatre from Hawaii. These<br />
beautiful Princess Aloha orchids will help you fill<br />
every seat in the house . . . bring in NEW PATRONS<br />
... and bring back OLD PATRONS! Tested and<br />
proven ... the MOST SUCCESSFUL promotion ever<br />
planned ... and it's all here in one package at the<br />
special low price of only SlOO for a limited time<br />
nly!<br />
DEPT. B081<br />
FLOWERS OF HAWAII, LTD.<br />
670 LaFayette Park Place, Los Angeles 5, Calif.<br />
(Growing Ranges, Hilo, Hawaii)<br />
HERE'S THE SPECIAL<br />
1000 BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS,<br />
IN COLORED FOIL HOLDER<br />
100<br />
DEAL<br />
PLUS — AT NO EXTRA COST •<br />
12 triple orchid corsages in foil<br />
2 gorgeous Hawaiian flower leis<br />
^<br />
Complete, specially prepared advertising<br />
kit.<br />
F.O.B. WEST COAST<br />
Also Availab'e ...<br />
$25—S50—$75 promotions<br />
*<br />
SPECIAL OFFER GOOD ONLY<br />
OCTOBER 1, 1951<br />
UNTIL<br />
•<br />
Interior White Screen Paint P-788<br />
Applied With Brush or Spray<br />
Interior snow white screen coating which<br />
can be applied by brush, spray gun or<br />
roller applicator, is introduced by Drivein<br />
Theatre Mfg. Co.<br />
No primer is necessary in using the<br />
dense, snow white, satin finish paint, and<br />
two coats properly applied on surfaces not<br />
previously painted is said to produce a<br />
screen that permits clear-cut projection.<br />
One coat will successfully refinish most<br />
previously painted surfaces. Two coats<br />
must be allowed to di-y overnight. The<br />
paint will cover from 350 to 400 square<br />
feet per gallon with one coat on average<br />
surfaces.<br />
New Chocolate Drink P-789<br />
Ready for Theatres<br />
Old Colony Cocoa Creme has been introduced<br />
by the Orange-Crush company<br />
after extensive tests on the product by the<br />
drink firm.<br />
The drink is said by the manufacturer to<br />
have a rich and distinctive chocolate<br />
flavor. With complete promotional support,<br />
it will soon be ready for market in<br />
ten-ounce bottles throughout the country.<br />
Air Conditioning Unit P-790<br />
Is Self-Contained<br />
A completely self-contained, attractively<br />
styled air conditioning unit is announced<br />
by the Brunner Mfg. Co.<br />
Available in four sizes, 3, 5, IVz and 10<br />
h.p., the unit can be adapted for heating<br />
with a simple installation of a heating coil.<br />
Each unit is equipped with a noise-reducer<br />
blower fan, while the larger units<br />
have two fans. A drain pan takes water<br />
formed by condensation from the coils and<br />
directs it into the sewer. Only electrical<br />
and water pipes are necessary for installation.<br />
Floor Maintenance Unit P-791<br />
Has 12-Inch Expanse<br />
A floor maintenance unit with a 12-inch<br />
cleaning expanse, which simplifies the<br />
tasks of scrubbing, waxing, polishing and<br />
buffing, is introduced by the Regina Corp.<br />
The unit has two brushes which revolve<br />
in opposite directions, creating the larger<br />
cleaning expanse. It is powered by a I4-<br />
h.p. motor and is extremely lightweight.<br />
Scrubbing brushes are easily detached and<br />
replaced with polishing brushes or reversible<br />
buffing pads which are provided with<br />
the unit.<br />
Plastic Wall Finish P-792<br />
In 27 Colors<br />
LAVEZZI MACHINE WORKS<br />
4635 WEST LAKE STREET CHICAGO 44, ILLINOIS<br />
A new plastic finish for wall and ceiling<br />
panels is introduced to the theatre market<br />
by the Armstrong Cork Co.<br />
The plastic wall covering has a highly<br />
polished finish and is available in a variety<br />
of design combinations and in 27 different<br />
colors. Many of the colors may be used<br />
together to achieve a harmonious design.<br />
The wall finish is especially suitable for<br />
installation in theatre restrooms.<br />
56<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
The following concerns have recently<br />
filed copies of interesting descriptive literature<br />
with the Modern Theatre Information<br />
Bureau. Readers who wish copies may<br />
obtain them promptly by using the Readers'<br />
Bureau postcard in this issue of The Modern<br />
Theatre.<br />
L-1389 An attrac-<br />
"^ TivE, 34-page "But-<br />
J'<br />
'f<br />
ter Corn Press Book"<br />
is now available from<br />
Supurdisplay, Inc. as<br />
a help to theatre concession<br />
merchandisers.<br />
The booklet is<br />
Illustrated with drawi<br />
n g s<br />
r.\y'V'Vhh<br />
,<br />
photographs<br />
^;^a» and cartoons on how<br />
to sell butter corn.<br />
Subjects discussed include: newspaper<br />
advertising, radio spots, screen trailers,<br />
contests, newspaper feature articles, background<br />
displays, vending counter displays,<br />
lobby displays, training of vending attendants,<br />
special sales costumes and care and<br />
maintenance of equipment.<br />
L- 1390—A NEW FOUR-PAGE booklet covering<br />
the Electro R-eeze direct dispensing<br />
soft ice cream machines is now available<br />
from the Port Morris Machine & Tool<br />
Works. Model lOP, 20P and 25P are illustrated,<br />
and specifications and advantages<br />
of each unit are listed.<br />
L-1391—PROscENitnvi treatments is the<br />
subject of a colorfully illustrated 16-page<br />
booklet now available on request from J. R.<br />
Clancy, Inc. The booklet contains illustrations<br />
of several Clancy installations, plus<br />
a section on curtain control equipment.<br />
Another section is devoted to stage safety<br />
and safe planning and contains a blueprint<br />
of a stage installation job.<br />
L-1392 Sky-Glo laminated louvers are<br />
the subject of a colorfully illustrated new<br />
booklet made available to exhibitors by<br />
Benjamin Electric Mfg. Co. Illustrations,<br />
specifications and special features of the<br />
louvers are included in the booklet.<br />
EHL<br />
jruja.-E-rL>ijOLJL csuoilsLyL<br />
Now tor the first time, a single custom-built chair is offered in 32 different models—16<br />
different construction combinations—each in either retractoble or conventional type, which<br />
can now be intermixed, with uniformity of end standards retained.<br />
This Ideal engineering triumph— revolutionary in principle—makes possible<br />
a production method that permits the greatest chair values in the<br />
history of show business.<br />
IDEAL CHAIRS FOR<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
• Attractive<br />
• Comfortable<br />
• Serviceable<br />
No scratching, tearing or pinching<br />
hazards. Back and seat in natural<br />
finish or durable enamel. Baked<br />
enamel finished gray Iron standards.<br />
Ball tiearJng hinges. Rust-resisting<br />
hardware.<br />
TREMENDOUS SAVINGS<br />
FOR THE EXHIBITOR<br />
• NEW "WONDER HINGE"—full flooting, full<br />
compensating, self-aligning, absolutely frictionless,<br />
completely silent. AH working ports fully<br />
enclosed. Automatic, foolproof sea tlifting<br />
echanism.<br />
• NEW<br />
• NEW LUXURIOUS COMFORT —<br />
improved relationship of position of<br />
bock to seat.<br />
• NEW DESIGN IN END STANDARDS<br />
—more passing room—new, stronger<br />
seot pan.<br />
• NEW EASE IN REUPHOLSTERING<br />
irvice, more<br />
n be quickly<br />
• NEW STEEL BACK PANEL—completely<br />
covers the seat—prevents pinching hazards.<br />
No protruding nuts, bolts or screws<br />
to snog or tear clothes<br />
• NEW ATTRACTIVE<br />
or hose.<br />
STYLING — closed<br />
panel, fuil length center standards.<br />
• NEW ECONOMY OF MAINTENANCE—<br />
design for greater<br />
upholstery protection.<br />
screws<br />
Exceptionally easy to rei<br />
replace upholstered<br />
• NEW EASE OF IN-<br />
STALLATION — with<br />
any floor condition,<br />
in any location.<br />
S^ SEE YOUR IDEAL DEALER OR WRITE TODAY FOR LITERATURE AND PRICES<br />
1 1] ^il<br />
[tlKlli<br />
A nn Street; N. W.<br />
Grand Rapids' Michigan<br />
L-1393—A 1951 catalog of uniforms for<br />
theatre attendants and refreshment service<br />
personnel was recently published by<br />
Shane Uniform Co. The brochure contains<br />
illustrations on new styles and colors, plus<br />
a special discussion of new washable materials<br />
to be used in making uniforms.<br />
L-1394 Catalog 48, containing material<br />
on the advantages of recessed incandescent<br />
and fluorescent lighting as well as a series<br />
of fixtures and data, is available to exhibitors<br />
from the Kirlin Co.<br />
L-1395 The Spero Electric Corp. presents<br />
a new 52-page catalog which contains<br />
material on the five lines of electrical<br />
products: fluorescent luminaires, reflectors,<br />
floodlights, vapor-proof units and<br />
materials for electrical construction.<br />
For A Healthier Box Office<br />
Dress up your stage!<br />
ATTRACTIVE<br />
STAGE SETTINGS<br />
at Equally Attractive Prices.<br />
Send measurements of your stage.<br />
CURTAIN CONTROLS with '/JP MOTOR only $99.50<br />
\A<br />
ALL STEEL CURTAIN TRACK, per ft. only $2.19<br />
Amazing values in Blowers. Air<br />
Washers. Exhaust Fans. Write for<br />
details NOW and BEAT THE HEAT.<br />
Special! 11.000 CFM Evaporative<br />
Cooling Outfit, slightly used. $495.<br />
S.O.S. CINEMA<br />
SUPPLY CORP.<br />
Dept. C, 602 W. 52 ST., N. Y. 19. Cable: SOSOUND<br />
It's<br />
Still<br />
For the best in theatre front design,<br />
construction and attraction<br />
value ...<br />
Marquee Potter Coiet<br />
Box Office Signi<br />
Drive-in Signs and Attraction Beards<br />
Ca» or Wrife^^.^.<br />
f'lTUtffCtZl'Am sens<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951<br />
57
For<br />
YOUR<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Engraved<br />
our exclusive<br />
process on lucite<br />
to youj<br />
specifications.<br />
LAMOLITE<br />
ILLUMINATED PRICE ADMISSION SIGNS<br />
Our enlarged plant facilities assure<br />
OVERNIGHT service from coast to coast.<br />
Plastic Signs Engraved lor the Entire Theatre<br />
Send lor Folder 'Pot oend<br />
Edgar S.<br />
682 Sixth Av<br />
Bowman<br />
New York 10, N. Y.<br />
Think of the<br />
BIG MONEY<br />
You Can<br />
Save!<br />
t you thousands of dolla<br />
Cut Carbon Costs 25%<br />
CRON-O-MATIC<br />
Fully Automatic<br />
CARBON SAVER<br />
uses stubs of all lengths without any preparation.<br />
It's no longer necessary to guess whether<br />
or not a carbon stub will burn a full reel.<br />
No matter how short it may be. simply insert<br />
in the holder. When entirely consumed,<br />
it is<br />
the new carbon goes into use without losing the<br />
light. The Cron-0-Malic in no way interferes<br />
with the regular operation of the lamp.<br />
Adaptable to Ashcraft "D", Brenkert-Enarc,<br />
Peerless Magnarc and Strong Mogul lamps.<br />
Only $52.50. Quickly pays for itself . . . then<br />
goes on to make money for you.<br />
PAYNE PRODUCTS CO., Cron-O-Motic Division<br />
24SS W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor. Michigan<br />
( ) Please send free literature on Cron-O-Motic<br />
Carbon Saver.<br />
( ) Please ship Cron-O-Matic Carbon Saver,<br />
( ) C.O.D., including postage<br />
( ) Remittance herewith.<br />
NAME<br />
THEATRE<br />
STREET .<br />
CITY<br />
& STATE<br />
Dealer Inquiries<br />
Invite<br />
EXPORT: Frazar & Hansen, Ltd., San Francisco,<br />
New York, Los Angeles<br />
L-1396—A NEW TYPE resilient tile flooring<br />
is introduced to the theatre market in<br />
a colorful brochure published by the Flintkote<br />
Co. The booklet contains information<br />
concerning the durability, economy and<br />
beauty of the tile, and the fifteen bright<br />
colors in which the tile is offered are pictured.<br />
L-1397 Standby power plants are the<br />
subject of an informative booklet available<br />
to theatremen from Howard Industries,<br />
Inc. A series of units ranging from<br />
350 to 2,000-watt output are pictured, with<br />
specifications, adaptations and particular<br />
features listed,<br />
L-1398—A BEAUTIFULLY illustrated booklet<br />
on an automatic sprinkler fire protection<br />
system for checking fires at their<br />
start has been published by the Grinnell<br />
Co. Discussed in the booklet are the subjects<br />
of scientific research since 1882, interpretive<br />
engineering, tailored-to-fit installation<br />
and operative methods of the<br />
.system.<br />
L-1399 Ocean Chemicals Corp. introduces<br />
a new- fire-protective paint to the<br />
theatre market via a colorfully illustrated,<br />
informative booklet now available. The<br />
booklet contains the results of several test<br />
experiments with the new paint material,<br />
plus a detailed outline of the composition<br />
of the paint. The manner in which it prevents<br />
flames from spreading also is discussed.<br />
L-1400—A type of plastic finished wall<br />
and ceiling panel is featured in a newbrochure<br />
issued by Marsh Wall Products,<br />
Inc. Installation procedures are detailed,<br />
and a sample of the paneling is included<br />
111 the booklet.<br />
L-1401 — Changeable letter signs are<br />
illustrated and described in a new booklet<br />
published by the Tablet & Ticket Co. The<br />
brochure also contains details regarding<br />
the size and letter space on the signs, plus<br />
complete specifications information.<br />
L-1402 Easy cleaning of asphalt tile<br />
floors is the subject of a new brochure<br />
issued by the Asphalt Tile Institute. The<br />
folder contains simple rules and recommendations<br />
on the proper care and maintenance<br />
of asphalt flooring. Specific instructions<br />
on the type of soap or cleaner<br />
and wax to be used also are included.<br />
L-1403 — A SPONGE MOP with built-in<br />
wringer is announced as a time-saving<br />
maintenance tool by the Minute Mop Co,<br />
in a folder published recently. The specifications<br />
and adaptability of the unit are<br />
discussed, and a list of the jobs which may<br />
be completed simply with the aid of the<br />
mop is included.<br />
L-1404—A NEW interior decorating aid,<br />
entitled the "Color Harmony Kit" is<br />
available from the Imperial Paper & Color<br />
Corp. The kit is complete w-ith sketching<br />
materials, a pad of color planning sheets,<br />
and actual crayons representing the ten<br />
basic decorator colors. Each planning<br />
sheet, when sketched, will point out as<br />
many as six completely different color<br />
schemes to color-style a room.<br />
L-1405—A NEW TYPE of all plastic upholstery<br />
material is introduced in a colorfully<br />
illustrated booklet issued by the Masland<br />
Duraleather Co. The booklet contains<br />
a sample piece of the upholstery material.<br />
A second pamphlet offered is devoted<br />
to a type of punch shears for cutting<br />
the upholstery and tape for stitching.<br />
L-1406 The Stylon Corp. has published<br />
a new and colorful brochure showing the<br />
fifteen basic plastic tile colors now available.<br />
The well illustrated booklet contains<br />
interesting decorative ideas which may be<br />
developed with the tile.<br />
L-1407 The complete line of Typhoon<br />
packaged air conditioners and evaporative<br />
condensers is described in a booklet issued<br />
by the air conditioning firm. Specifications<br />
and rating tables for each of the<br />
units is presented, plus a page of instructions<br />
on how to select an evaporative condenser.<br />
Dimensional diagrams show how<br />
the packaged units are installed.<br />
L-1408 — A SOUND conditioning system<br />
providing relief from noise by way of a<br />
suspended acoustical ceiling is the subject<br />
of an informative booklet available<br />
from the Celotex Corp. The brochure contains<br />
several drawings and a special section<br />
devoted to installation procedures.<br />
L-1409—A line of drive-in lighting units<br />
described in a new catalog bulletin published<br />
is<br />
by Steber Mfg. Co., now available<br />
to theatremen. A series of layouts showing<br />
the lighting units in operation are contained<br />
in the booklet, plus additional information<br />
on installation procedures and<br />
specifications.<br />
L-1410—A COLD cathode lamp which aids<br />
in the control of air-borne bacteria is featured<br />
in a folder recently published by<br />
Ruesch Electric Co. The brochure contains<br />
a few sample installation photos,<br />
illustrations of the unit itself and a specifications<br />
chart.<br />
L-1411—A NEW TYPE plastic dccoratlve<br />
material for use in theatre restyling is announced<br />
in a colorful folder now available<br />
from the Decora Corp. The booklet<br />
contains samples of the decorative plastic.<br />
L-1412 The operational methods of a<br />
new oil fired forced warm air furnace are<br />
explained in a folder published by the<br />
Steel Pi-oducts Engineering Co. The booklet<br />
discusses the humidifier unit, the air<br />
conditioning blower, the heat exchanger<br />
and the adaptation for summer cooling. A<br />
unique method of combustion also is described.<br />
L-1413—A portable carpet beater with<br />
vacuum dust collector is introduced by the<br />
Hild Floor Machine Co. in a brochure just<br />
published. The folder contains illustrations<br />
of the unit in operation, specifications<br />
and a list of special features incorporated.<br />
The most beautiful theatre in the world<br />
would be a "bust" without good projection.<br />
Clean-cut pictures and clearly defined<br />
sound are, therefore, musts!<br />
58 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
aboui PEOPLE / and PRODUCT<br />
Ideal Seating Co. recently installed 1,010<br />
Mercury chairs for the army and air force<br />
motion picture service at the F^. Huachuca<br />
Theatre No. 3, according to William<br />
Gedris, president of Ideal. The firm also<br />
recently installed Challenger chairs in the<br />
Pine Cone Theatre, Brookings, Ore.<br />
Wallace C. Gilbertson, vice-president<br />
in charge of sales, Fremont Rubber Co.,<br />
announces the appointment of Frank Fi'ey<br />
as factory representative in Georgia, Alabama<br />
and Florida. Frey previously had<br />
been employed in selling various types of<br />
hard surface and wool goods.<br />
The Chase Candy Co's "Nickel Nak"<br />
boxes and 24-count cartons have been<br />
awarded honorable mention in the confections<br />
division of the annual carton competition<br />
sponsored by the Folding Paper<br />
Box Ass'n of America. The carton features<br />
a parade of candies, in cartoon style, and is<br />
lithographed in full color.<br />
Milton M.<br />
Schwartz was recently<br />
named director of<br />
advertising and promotion<br />
of Ideal Pictures<br />
Corp., by president<br />
A. L. Blinder.<br />
Schwartz was formerly<br />
director of newsstand<br />
promotion for<br />
Esquire magazine.<br />
Harry T. Blandford has been appointed<br />
chief cost accountant of the Liquid Carbonic<br />
Corp. Since joining the firm in 1949<br />
as financial analyst, he has served in the<br />
development of various systems and procedures.<br />
Leroy Nickerson, projectionist at Loew's<br />
Poll Majestic Theatre, Bridgeport, Conn.,<br />
and Mrs. Nickerson are observing their<br />
sixth wedding anniversary.<br />
Pabco Products, Inc. (formerly the Paraffine<br />
Companies, Inc.i has just received a<br />
"Highest Merit Award" citation for distinguished<br />
achievement in annual reporting.<br />
The citation was issued by Financial<br />
World magazine in recognition of the excellence<br />
of Pabco's annual financial statement<br />
to its stockholders.<br />
In a special bulletin mailed to over 100<br />
exhibitors who have signed contracts to<br />
show at the 1951 NAMA convention and<br />
exhibit, to be held in Cleveland November<br />
12-15, B. N. Osmond, convention and exhibit<br />
manager, offered a supply of convention<br />
attendance promotion stickers for use<br />
of exhibitors on all mail.<br />
More than 150,000 similar stickers were<br />
used to promote attendance at the 1950<br />
convention. The red and white stickers<br />
extend an invitation to the receiver to<br />
visit the convention.<br />
Hector Mazzueretie is marking his fifth<br />
year as projectionist at the Strand Theatre,<br />
Winsted, Conn.<br />
Fred Abronzino, projectionist at E. M.<br />
Loew's Theatre, Hartford, Conn., is expected<br />
home in early fall, following a leave<br />
of absence, visiting relatives in Italy.<br />
Thomas C. Young has been elected to<br />
the board of directors of Pabco Products<br />
Inc. filling the unexpired term of Henry<br />
Rosenfeld, who died earlier this year.<br />
Young is president of Pacific Roofing Co.,<br />
wholly owned subsidiary of Pabco.<br />
Best Splicer Buy for<br />
Theatres, Exchanges, Studios<br />
THE GRISWOLD SPLICER<br />
For 35mtn Sound and Silent Films<br />
Here are two big reasons why<br />
1. Exclusive design features reduce splicing to a<br />
ter of seconds and assure a square splice on a frome<br />
line every time with true film alignment and uniform<br />
spacing of perforations.<br />
2. Sturdy, all metal construction gives a lifetime<br />
of trouble-free splicing service.<br />
for details and price write our<br />
National Distributor<br />
,.Aau/nia3a'
I<br />
I<br />
Laurie Cavanaugh, former director of<br />
member and public relations for the National<br />
Automatic Merchandising Ass'n, has<br />
resigned to join the promotion department<br />
of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Mrs.<br />
Vivian A. Peterson, Cavanaugh's assistant,<br />
is taking over editorial, public relations<br />
and promotional responsibilities tentatively.<br />
S.O.S. Launches New<br />
TV Camera<br />
^FALL<br />
and<br />
WINTER<br />
WEIGHT<br />
Creators of<br />
Distinctive<br />
Uniforms<br />
for<br />
Every<br />
Purpose<br />
Write for full<br />
information<br />
Samples<br />
and<br />
illustrations<br />
will follow.<br />
A(a/icuo^^U6m^He.<br />
Our 81st Year.<br />
Horold J. D'Ancona, Pres.<br />
Dept. B, 625 S. State St., Chicogo 5, III.<br />
Not a Liquid,<br />
render. Soap Foam<br />
or Alkali. NOTH-<br />
ING to .\dd or<br />
ML\!<br />
Clamorene has<br />
heen awarded the<br />
York Seal of<br />
quality for institutional<br />
THEATRE CARPET<br />
AND RUG MAINTENANCE<br />
NOW MADE EASY<br />
products<br />
bj- the York Research<br />
Corporation<br />
of Connecticut,<br />
official testing<br />
laboratoy for<br />
.\meric,in Hotel<br />
Industry.<br />
No Experts or Special Equipment<br />
Necessary With<br />
"GLAMORENE"<br />
Sprinkle 0"— Brush In—<br />
Vacuum Oft— Dirt's Out<br />
in<br />
A Jiffy<br />
Makes Carpets Glamorous<br />
• CLEANS carpets like new, absolutely<br />
dry. ready to walk on in<br />
15 to 30 minutes, even wet,<br />
in<br />
stormy weather.<br />
REMOVES food film, grease, oil.<br />
tar<br />
etc<br />
NO SHRINKAGE! odor!<br />
dust! No dry rot!<br />
• RAISES cruslied pile. Revives<br />
colors. Dustless!<br />
• LOW PRICED, economical to use.<br />
Slashes labor costs.<br />
JERCLAYDON. I<br />
eert hv; Write for FREE Sample!<br />
Koad, Ueit. 10. Mi,<br />
NC.<br />
r^:^' WLATIONAL<br />
by<br />
I<br />
Ill f.llH<br />
Throufihout Canada: G. H. Wood & Company, Ltd.<br />
TICKETS of every description<br />
Specialists since 1910<br />
THE TOLEDO TICKET COMPANY<br />
^ 118 Erie St. Toledo 2, Ohio ^<br />
Frank T. Roche and Lawrence V. Keefe,<br />
sales manager and manager of the packaging<br />
division of the Lily-Tulip Cup Corp.,<br />
respectively, were killed recently in an<br />
automobile collision. Keefe had been with<br />
the firm since 1928, while Roche started<br />
in the firm's New York sales office in<br />
1929.<br />
Roche was vice-president of the Paper<br />
and Twine Ass'n., and belonged to the<br />
Paper club of New York. Keefe was a<br />
member of the Packaging Institute, the<br />
Frozen Food Locker Ass'n, and the Dairy<br />
Industries Supply Ass'n.<br />
Certain-teed Products Corp. has boosted<br />
production five-fold on its Pirestop<br />
Bestwall and made this gypum wallboard<br />
with a built-in fire barrier available for<br />
the first time nationally. The product is<br />
now being produced in plants in Port<br />
Dodge, Iowa; Sigurd, Utah: Acme, Tex.,<br />
and Akron, N. Y.<br />
New Display Frames<br />
At Reduced Cost<br />
A new method of producing extruded<br />
aluminum display frames at a reduction<br />
in labor and cost has been developed by<br />
Peoples Display Pi'ame Co. The old method<br />
in which frames were made much on the<br />
order of wooden picture frames by soldering<br />
four sides together, has been discarded<br />
in favor of a newer method by which the<br />
frames are produced from a single length<br />
of extruded aluminum. Samples of the<br />
new type frames are shown being displayed<br />
by the model above.<br />
The world premiere showing of the new<br />
Auricon "Super 1200," 16mm studio and<br />
TV production camera, was held recently<br />
at the spacious showrooms of S.O.S. Cinema<br />
Supply Corp., New York City. It was enthusiastically<br />
received by several hundred<br />
prominent producers and TV executives<br />
from all parts of the country.<br />
The camera embodies many advanced<br />
optical and electronic improvements.<br />
Selfblimped,<br />
the "Super 1200" is claimed to<br />
excel any existing 16mm studio camera<br />
for single or double system sound.<br />
Unusual features include rock-steady<br />
movement; three separate finder systems;<br />
1,200-feet magazines for 33 minutes, continuous<br />
shooting; internal rackover with<br />
reflex viewer; automatic turrent; manual<br />
or automatic dissolving shutter.<br />
Pearson Candy Co. has purchased Trudeau<br />
Candies Inc., according to an announcement<br />
by Oscar G. Trudeau, president.<br />
The Pearson firm will continue to<br />
manufacture many of the items in the<br />
Trudeau line, in addition to the bars they<br />
have been making. The officers of Pearson<br />
Candy Co. are J. A. Pearson, president;<br />
C. P. Pearson, secretary and treasurer;<br />
George E., O. F. and Henning Pearson,<br />
vice-presidents, and Herb Jehn, general<br />
manager.<br />
The National Ass'n of Fan Manufacturers<br />
has elected John M. Pi-ank, president<br />
of the Ilg Electric Ventilating Co., as president<br />
of the group, which consists of 12<br />
leading companies manufacturing ventilating<br />
and centrifugal fans, unit heaters and<br />
air conditioning equipment.<br />
A & M Karagheusian, Inc., recently announced<br />
an across-the-board price reduction<br />
of 5 to 11 per cent on aU-wool open<br />
lines, 5 to S'^ per cent on blends, and an<br />
8 ' 2 per cent reduction on all-wool contract<br />
qualities.<br />
60 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
0)(0FflCf(DDDi^J]]i/^UJD5<br />
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT<br />
PICTURES Much BeHer Picture<br />
An open forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subsequent-run<br />
Than Trailer Shows<br />
showings of pictures. One (•) denotes a new contributor: two (»*) is one who OIERRA PASSAGE (Mono) — Wayne<br />
has been reporting for six months or longer; (•••) a regular who has been<br />
Morris, Lola Albright, Alan Hale jr.<br />
reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors.<br />
This is a good western that excels in all<br />
respects. It is a much better picture<br />
than the trailer shows. We made a nice<br />
opinions<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
and wouldn't have paid to see it profit on it and it pleased our action fans.<br />
myself. Played Wed., Thurs.—Josef Nehring, Okay, Monogram. Played Thurs.. Fri.,<br />
Fortunes of Captain Blood (Coll—Louis<br />
Floodwood Theatre. Floodwood, Mirm. Rural Sat. Weather: Heat wave.—Ken Christianson.<br />
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D.<br />
Hayward, Patricia Medina, George Macready.<br />
and small town patrons. *<br />
This pleased a slightly above average number<br />
of walk-ins and nine-centers, but scared Toast of New Orleans (MGM) — Mario<br />
*<br />
Small town patrons. ** *<br />
away a lot of 40-centers that usually come Lanza, Kathryn Grayson, David Niven. I<br />
these days. Even so, doubled with "Counterspy<br />
Meets Scotland Yard." it did average "The Great Caruso," and it really paid off.<br />
waited to play this one until after I ran<br />
did okay on our double feature nights<br />
Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather; Hot—Terry Axley.<br />
at the boxoffice. It is better than most of I had the biggest Friday ever and Saturday, New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural, small<br />
this costume type, but will never stand alone. with a $300 jackpot to help, was solid. My town patrons. * * •<br />
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, patrons loved it. "Texas Rangers" (Col.<br />
Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small town, George Montgomery, Gale Storm, Jerome<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Courtland) was co-featured. It is mighty fine<br />
for Fri., Sat. and is short and snappy, which Katie Did It (Para)—Ann Blyth. Mark<br />
Her First Romance (Col1—Margaret O'-<br />
is what my action fans go for. Weather:<br />
Stevens, Cecil Kellaway. This is a nice light<br />
Brien, Allen Martin jr., Jimmy Hunt. I have<br />
Clear.—Don Donohue. Novato Theatre, Novato,<br />
Calif. Small town, rural patrons. * * did a nice business at the boxoffice, and that<br />
comedy that proved very entertaining. It<br />
a daughter the same age as Margaret O'Brien<br />
was supposed to be in this picture, and in<br />
tells most of the story. Played Thurs. through<br />
the same grade of school, but if she acted Vengeance Valley (MGM)—Burt Lancaster, Sat. Weather: Splendid. — M. W. Mattecheck,<br />
Mack and Lark Theatres, McMinn-<br />
that silly, I would either spank her or take Robert Walker, Joanne Dru. Big story, big<br />
her to a psychiatrist! However, this picture cast, big outdoor shots of "God's Country" ville, Ore. City and rural patrons. * * *<br />
drew well and is very entertaining if one is (Colorado), plus lots of promotion, made a<br />
not too discriminating. We had a brand new big boxoffice. You'll have a hard time finding<br />
a western that will have more universal Rhonda Fleming, Bruce Bennett. As a pic-<br />
Last Outpost. The (Para)—Ronald Reagan,<br />
print on it. Thanks, Columbia. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Hot.—Marcella Smith, Vinton appeal. Women liked it, too. Metro did herself<br />
proud on this crowd-pleaser. You can't<br />
ture, good—at the boxoffice. punk. Fri. was<br />
Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small town patrons.<br />
afford not to use it. Played Sun., Mon., slightly below average. I lost. "The Company<br />
the poorest since Good Friday, Sat. was<br />
Tues. Weather: Rain.—Bob Walker, Uintah She Keeps" (RKO-Lizabeth Scott, Jane<br />
Last of the Buccaneers (Col>—Paul Henreid.<br />
Jack Oakie, Karin Booth. This is a<br />
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small town, rural patrons.<br />
• • • small town dud, although well acted. The<br />
Greer. Dennis O'Keefe) was co-featured, a<br />
lot of color film wasted. The story is farfetched.<br />
I sure ruined a dandy weekend with Watch the Birdie (MGM)—Red Skelton, Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre. No-<br />
story definitely not for rural areas. Weather:<br />
this one. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.— Arlene Dahl. Ann Miller. Red Skelton didn't vato, Calif. Small town, rural patrons. * *<br />
Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, mean a thing here, as I did about 15 per<br />
Kas. Small town and rural patronage. * * * cent below normal. Played Wed., Thurs.— Let's Dance (Para)—Betty Hutton, Fred<br />
Josef Nehring, Floodwood Theatre, Floodwood,<br />
Minn. Rural and small town patrons. (?) with a bunch of pictures this last month<br />
Astaire, Roland Young. I have been blessed<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
that have clinked loudly and this is one of<br />
UFather's Little Dividend (MGM)—Spencer<br />
Tracy. Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett.<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
them. Maybe the weather is too nice—<br />
don't know. I think it is time that they retired<br />
Fred Astaire, whose cadaverous appear-<br />
Again steep competition in a neighboring Blues Busters (Mono)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz<br />
community. However, even so this drew fairly<br />
well, and as we all know by this time, it ture, termed "cute" by patrons—a good Bow-<br />
females—around here, at least. Played Sat.,<br />
Hall, Adele Jergens. This is a nice little picance<br />
does little to ta stir the emotions of the<br />
really is a swell picture. If it doesn't draw, ery Boys show. Too many summer activities Sun. Weather: Too nice. — Josef Nehring,<br />
it is due to some cause other than the picture.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot.— Boys boxoffice. Business only fair. Played and small town patrons. *<br />
kept this from doing the usual good Bowery Floodwood Theatre, Floodwood, Minn. Rural<br />
Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur.<br />
Ohio. Small town patrons. ' * * Tues., Wed. Weather: Heat wave.— *<br />
Ken<br />
Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Mating Season. The (Para)—Gene Tierney.<br />
Go for Broke! (MGM)—Van Johnson, Warner<br />
Anderson, Lane Nakano. This war picture Father's Wild Game (Mono)—Raymond kept the kids at home. Played Sun., Mon.—<br />
Small town patrons. * * * John Lund, Miriam Hopkins. This is a very<br />
good comedy for family trade but the title<br />
did good strong average business. It gives Walburn. A fairly good program picture that M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, CotuUa,<br />
the people a different feeling toward American-born<br />
Japanese and has plenty of war<br />
Tex. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
humor, but is not as good as "Battleground."<br />
Mr. Music (Para)—Bing Crosby. Nancy<br />
Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cool and He Suggests Mario Lanza Olson, Charles Coburn. This is a fair musical<br />
rainy.—Walter Austin, Plains Theatre, Plainview,<br />
Neb. Small town, rural patrons. * *<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot.—L. Brazil jr.. New<br />
that did below average business here. Played<br />
Singing Popular Songs<br />
W/^REAT CARUSO, THE (MGM) — Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patrons.<br />
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone (MGM)—<br />
\JI Mario Lanza, Ann Blyth, Dorothy<br />
Marjorie Main, James Whitmore, Ann Kirsten. "Ves, I was talked into it but<br />
Passage West (Para)—John Payne, Dennis<br />
Dvorak, Play this, by all means. It's a sleeper. have no regrets as it drew well on our<br />
O'Keefe, Arleen Whalen. This is a great<br />
Anyway, I think it is for the small towns. midweek change. It is strictly classical<br />
big western in Technicolor which should do<br />
Right now, with the Kettle series on, Marjorie<br />
Main will bring them in for you. You and Lanza's voice overcome what the<br />
music from beginning to end but the story<br />
business any piace and make you some<br />
money. Play it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
can expect to do a little above average on patrons don't understand. I received a lot<br />
Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre,<br />
this one. Played with "The Showdown" of praise from the music lovers and there<br />
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. *<br />
(Rep), on Thurs., Fri.. Sat. Weather: Excellent.<br />
— Howard C. Bayer, Iowa Theatre, see a high class show occasionally. I'm Samson and Delilah (Para)—Hedy Lamarr,<br />
were no complaints. I think people should<br />
* '<br />
Schleswig, Iowa. Farm patrons. * ' * sure if Lanza were starred in a picture in Victor Mature, George Sanders. We played<br />
which he sang songs that everyone could this two nights, and both nights there were<br />
Toast of New Orleans (MGM)—Kathryn understand, it would be a boxoffice winner.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. and believe you me, they really hurt. Also,<br />
other activities going on in and around us.<br />
Grayson, Mario Lanza, David Niven. The<br />
bellowing bull didn't do much here. I had —Walter Austin, Plains Theatre, Plainview,<br />
Neb. Small town, rural patrons. * * (Continued on next page)<br />
the weather was unbearably hot. In spite of<br />
the lowest midweek in a long time and didn't<br />
make expenses. I agree with my patrons'<br />
O<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Sept. 1, IS,";!
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
here it should have been on the bottom Midway Drive-In, Ascutney,<br />
bracket.<br />
Vt.<br />
all this, we Played<br />
Small<br />
Fri.,<br />
didn't do too badly on it. It<br />
Sat.<br />
is a<br />
Weather:<br />
town<br />
Hot.—<br />
.'<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Bob<br />
wonderful<br />
Walker,<br />
picture and a must<br />
Uintah<br />
for every<br />
Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
Small<br />
theatre. I want<br />
town<br />
to play it again some<br />
and rural<br />
time,<br />
patronage. » •<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
as many people regretted having missed it.<br />
There wa.s not one<br />
20th<br />
unfavorable comment from<br />
CENTURY-FOX<br />
Double Crossbones (U-D—Donald O'Connor,<br />
those who did see it, and that is really unusual.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot. Anne poor<br />
AU About Eve<br />
Helena Carter, Will (20th-Fox)—Bette Davis,<br />
Geer. This is very<br />
Baxter, George<br />
entertainment,<br />
Sanders. We had two<br />
made for the weakminded—and<br />
not too<br />
Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, schools of thought on this one—some<br />
good for<br />
did<br />
them.<br />
like<br />
Technicolor<br />
Ohio. Small town patrons. • * ' it, some does<br />
didn't. The<br />
not make<br />
so-called<br />
a picture.<br />
intelligentsia<br />
You still have<br />
to<br />
(a few have<br />
of 'em) came and<br />
a story.<br />
were<br />
Played SO Sun. through thrilled.<br />
Tues<br />
Tripoli (Para) — Maureen O'Hara, John The guys and<br />
Weather:<br />
gals who keep me out<br />
Splendid.—M. W.<br />
of the<br />
Mattecheck, Mack<br />
Payne, Howard DaSilva. They liked it and red weren't<br />
and Lark<br />
too<br />
Theatres,<br />
enthused . . . i liked<br />
McMinnville, Ore. City<br />
it, if<br />
the boxoffice take was good, in spite of the that and<br />
helps.<br />
rural<br />
Played<br />
patrons. • • .<br />
Fri., Sat., Sun.—Frank E.<br />
hot weather. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small Frenchie (U-I)<br />
Hot.—Frank<br />
—<br />
Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, town, Joel<br />
rural patrons.<br />
• • •<br />
McCrea, Shelley<br />
Winters, Paul<br />
Mont. Small town and rural patronage. • * •<br />
Kelly. This was a last minute<br />
American booking<br />
Guerrilla<br />
to<br />
in<br />
replace<br />
the<br />
a<br />
Philippines<br />
sure-clinker from another<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
(20th-Fox)—Tyrone Power,<br />
company.<br />
Micheline It was<br />
Prelle,<br />
a happy deal as it<br />
Born Tom not<br />
Ewell.<br />
only<br />
to Be Bad<br />
This is<br />
(RKO)—Joan<br />
a good made a httle<br />
Fontaine,<br />
picture. Although<br />
money but paid off<br />
war pictures<br />
the clinker<br />
Robert Ryan, Zachary<br />
are I<br />
Scott. Here<br />
not too<br />
is a problem<br />
popular<br />
would<br />
here, we<br />
have run, and also left<br />
did average<br />
my people<br />
picture for a small<br />
business<br />
town that<br />
with it.<br />
did average<br />
Played Mon<br />
satisfied. Played Wed Thurs —<br />
Tues.,<br />
business for us and<br />
Wed. Josef<br />
Weather:<br />
Nehring,<br />
it pleased the fairer<br />
Hot.—Harland<br />
Floodwood<br />
sex.<br />
Rankin,<br />
Theatre Floodwood,<br />
Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Hot. —<br />
Rankm Ken<br />
Enterprises, Chatham,<br />
Minn. Small Ont. Small<br />
town and rural patronage.<br />
^ ,<br />
town, rural<br />
Christianson, Roxy patrons. • • <<br />
.<br />
Theatre, Washburn,<br />
N. D. Small town patrons. * *<br />
Dancing Frenchie<br />
in the Dark (U-I) —<br />
(20th-Fox)—William<br />
Joel McCrea, SheUey<br />
Powell, Winters,<br />
Never a<br />
Betsy<br />
Dull Moment Drake, Mark<br />
Paul Kelly.<br />
(RKO)—Irene<br />
Stevens.<br />
This didn't<br />
Dunne,<br />
This do is<br />
extra<br />
a very,<br />
business<br />
Fred<br />
very<br />
for us.<br />
MacMurray, William<br />
good<br />
Demarest. This<br />
picture—what<br />
The<br />
do<br />
weather<br />
I care<br />
was against it<br />
was<br />
about the<br />
Played<br />
a happy gross?<br />
Thurs., Fri.,<br />
It is<br />
windup after a long<br />
a Sat.<br />
line<br />
picture<br />
of RKO<br />
that only<br />
Weather: Hot —<br />
Wilham Ktarland<br />
clinkers, and<br />
Powell<br />
on this picture, we<br />
and Mark Rankin,<br />
Stevens Rankin<br />
finished<br />
could put<br />
Enterprises, Chatham,<br />
over,<br />
with<br />
not<br />
10 per<br />
saying<br />
cent above<br />
a<br />
Ont.<br />
word SmaU town,<br />
for normal—and Betsy<br />
I do<br />
Drake.<br />
rural patrons. * » *<br />
I<br />
just<br />
mean checked<br />
finished. the<br />
Played Motion<br />
Sat., Sun.<br />
Picture<br />
Josef<br />
Almanac Outside the<br />
and<br />
Wall<br />
Nehring,<br />
she (U-D-Richard<br />
isn't<br />
Floodwood<br />
even hsted. If<br />
Theatre, Ploodwood,<br />
she is Basehart<br />
new, then Marilyn Maxwell,<br />
I<br />
Minn.<br />
can say<br />
Signe<br />
Rural and<br />
Betsy<br />
Hasso.<br />
small town patrons. * •<br />
Drake This is<br />
is a a<br />
star. Played Fri., pretty fair prison drama<br />
Sat. Weather:<br />
that I<br />
Windy doubled<br />
and with<br />
clear.—George "Korea Patrol" (UA)<br />
They Got Me Covered Pace,<br />
to<br />
(RKO)—Reissue.<br />
Post<br />
shghtly<br />
Theatre, above<br />
Igloo, midweek<br />
business. I<br />
S. D. Ordnance<br />
Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour. This worker personally<br />
is a very<br />
patrons.<br />
don't<br />
• • •<br />
care too<br />
much for these midweek<br />
good comedy double bills,<br />
with plenty but<br />
of laughs. Bob<br />
thus far they have worked out fairly Hope and Dorothy Lamour<br />
weU<br />
are excellent.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Business was above<br />
Fair—Carl<br />
average. Played Wed<br />
F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Hot. — O. Fomby, Paula Reports<br />
Juneau,<br />
on<br />
Wis.<br />
Pictures<br />
Rural<br />
and small town patronage. • «<br />
Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patrons.<br />
Need Not Be Dull<br />
Spy Hunt (U-I) — Howard Duff, Marta<br />
M. FREIBURGER of<br />
Thing From Another World, The (RKO— £J<br />
the Dewey Theatre<br />
at Dewey, Okla.,<br />
Toren, Philip Friend. This is a good picture<br />
Kenneth takes us to<br />
Tobey,<br />
task<br />
for the middle of the week that<br />
Margaret<br />
has<br />
Sheridan, James with the following:<br />
suspense. Played Wed.,<br />
Young.<br />
Thurs.<br />
It did above<br />
Weatheraverage<br />
business, and "Many of the reports on pictures<br />
this one has suspense.<br />
which Warm.— L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden.<br />
I would say, play it. you print are almost<br />
Played<br />
meaningless.<br />
Ark. Small<br />
Sun.,<br />
I<br />
town patrons. • • •<br />
Mon. Weather: Hot and dry.— think what most of us<br />
Terry<br />
want to<br />
Axley, New know<br />
Theatre, England, Ark. is what was the audience<br />
Rural<br />
reaction<br />
and to<br />
small town patronage. • • *<br />
a<br />
picture, and did it show<br />
WARNER<br />
a BROS.<br />
profit, a loss<br />
Where or<br />
Danger did it<br />
Lives (RKO) —<br />
break even."<br />
Caged (WB) Robert<br />
— Eleanor Parker, Agnes<br />
Mitchum, Now,<br />
Faith<br />
now,<br />
Domergue,<br />
Mr. Moorehead,<br />
Freiburger.<br />
Ellen<br />
Claude Rains.<br />
We think<br />
Corby. This is the story<br />
This is one<br />
our contributors<br />
of<br />
of those<br />
report<br />
a woman's<br />
pictures that should<br />
with a<br />
prison—<br />
fine touch,<br />
politics, injustices, etc<br />
for<br />
not have<br />
the It IS<br />
been<br />
most<br />
filmed.<br />
part.<br />
a<br />
The story<br />
We<br />
good<br />
like<br />
picture<br />
their with<br />
little<br />
a non-draw title<br />
is brutal.<br />
When you<br />
"extracurricular" Played<br />
see the trailer, you have<br />
remarks,<br />
Tues.,<br />
seen and believe<br />
Wed.—Frank Sabin, Majestic<br />
all<br />
many<br />
of<br />
of<br />
it that you want our<br />
Theatre,<br />
readers<br />
to see.<br />
feel<br />
You stay<br />
the<br />
Eureka,<br />
at home.<br />
same. How<br />
Mont. SmaU town and rural<br />
Played<br />
about it?<br />
Sun. through Wed.<br />
Do the<br />
patronage.<br />
rest<br />
* * of «<br />
Weather: Fine.—<br />
you want merely<br />
M. W.<br />
a stereotyped<br />
Mattecheck, form, Mack and Lark<br />
with all<br />
Theatres,<br />
of them Dodge City<br />
McMinnville,<br />
sounding<br />
Ore. City and<br />
much<br />
(WB)—Reissue.<br />
alike?<br />
Errol Flynn<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Olivia DeHavilland. If you want a picture<br />
that IS really good, just go up to the attic<br />
look in that old trunk, and drag out an old<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Take Care of My Little Girl (20th-Pox)— one. Why can't they make good ones like this<br />
Down Dakota Way Jeanne Craine, (Rep)—Roy Rogers<br />
Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor. any more? It sure is a peach. Play it Played<br />
Dale Evans, Pat Brady.<br />
This IS<br />
This<br />
very nicely<br />
is the best<br />
done and will bring Fri.,<br />
out the<br />
Sat. Weather: Hotter than you-knowwhere.<br />
— Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre<br />
offering I've had from Roy gals in<br />
for many a moon.<br />
town—the ones that were sorority girls<br />
Busmess was up, too, so age and the<br />
didn't hurt<br />
ones that<br />
this<br />
wish they had been. The Cedarvale, Kas. SmaU town and rural patronage.<br />
, , ,<br />
one. This is the first of<br />
results<br />
this<br />
will<br />
series that show good<br />
I've<br />
bo-xoffice. I showed<br />
used in the past two a<br />
years<br />
small<br />
that has been<br />
profit, thanks to Fox for selling it<br />
worth the difference right.<br />
in price. Played<br />
Played Tues., Wed.,<br />
Goodbye,<br />
Fri.,<br />
Thurs.<br />
My Weather-<br />
Fancy (WB)—Joan Crawford<br />
Sat. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah<br />
Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato<br />
Robert Young,<br />
Theatre,<br />
Frank<br />
Novate,<br />
Lovejoy. SmaU towns!<br />
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small town,<br />
Cahf.<br />
rural patrons.<br />
» • « age. grew up<br />
Small town<br />
beware!<br />
and You'll<br />
rural<br />
get<br />
patron-<br />
some of the gals out that<br />
, ,<br />
with Crawford, but that's all The<br />
picture is too long and it drags all the way<br />
Rodeo King and the Senorita (Rep)—Rex<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
through. I took a lacing. It is strictly for<br />
Allen, Mary Ellen Kay, Buddy Ebsen.<br />
the big<br />
This OJackie time.<br />
Robinson Played<br />
Story,<br />
Tues.,<br />
IS one of Rex<br />
The Wed., Thurs<br />
Allen's<br />
(UA)—Jackie<br />
best. There is plenty of Robinson,<br />
Weather:<br />
Ruby Dee,<br />
Clear.—Don<br />
Louise<br />
Donohue,<br />
action but<br />
Beavers.<br />
Novato<br />
not too much,<br />
This<br />
Theatre,<br />
is<br />
and his singing is a good<br />
Novato,<br />
baseball Calif.<br />
story.<br />
good.<br />
Although Small<br />
Busine.ss was<br />
we town<br />
were<br />
and rural<br />
just about average,<br />
patrons. «<br />
comments<br />
we still<br />
somewhat late playing it,<br />
favorable. found it<br />
Played Friday. Weather- doing extra business.<br />
Hot.— O. Fomby,<br />
Played Mon., Paula<br />
Tues Raton Pass Theatre, Homer, La<br />
(WB)—Dennis<br />
Wed.<br />
Morgan, Patricia<br />
Weather: Hot. —<br />
Small town patrons. » .<br />
Harland<br />
»<br />
Rankin! Neal, Steve Cochran.<br />
Rankin A weU made western<br />
Enterprises, Chatham, Ont. Small with love and action. Dennis<br />
Singing Guns<br />
town, Morgan is<br />
(Rep) —<br />
rural<br />
very<br />
Vaughn<br />
patrons. • • •<br />
Monroe<br />
good, also the rest of the cast. Business was<br />
Ella Rames, Walter Brennan. This only<br />
is a very Men, average.<br />
The Played Fri.,<br />
pleasing<br />
(UA)—Marlon Sat.<br />
Brando,<br />
little western<br />
Teresa<br />
Weather:<br />
in color. The price Wright,<br />
Warm with<br />
Everett Sloane.<br />
showers.—D.<br />
was too high<br />
Everyone W. Trisko,<br />
should<br />
Ritz<br />
for<br />
see<br />
me to put it on the bottom<br />
Theatre,<br />
this picture<br />
Jerome, Ariz.<br />
to<br />
half<br />
appreciate Mining<br />
the<br />
patrons.<br />
of a<br />
sacrifice<br />
double where<br />
a few<br />
* • •<br />
it belongs, so it played men made for the rest of us.<br />
to below average<br />
We had many This<br />
business<br />
Side of the<br />
on Law<br />
Fri., Sat who thanked<br />
(WB)—Viveca Lindfors,<br />
us for<br />
Vaughn<br />
showing it.<br />
Monroe and<br />
has<br />
business<br />
no draw<br />
Kent<br />
here<br />
Smith.<br />
and'<br />
Janis Paige.<br />
I had was A<br />
a<br />
program<br />
little above average. many tell me The co-feature,<br />
that<br />
picture<br />
they<br />
which<br />
don't<br />
seemed<br />
like<br />
to him please<br />
on "It's a Small my double<br />
World"<br />
the (UA) was<br />
screen, but most<br />
unusual<br />
of them<br />
and<br />
liked the story.<br />
It's something very good. Played feature Tues., Wed., patrons. Played Thurs.<br />
Thurs., Fri. Sat<br />
different in<br />
Weather: western<br />
Hot.—Terry fare,<br />
Axley, but Weather: New Theatre,<br />
Fair and cool.—Rene L. Garneau, England, Ark. Rural, smaU town patrons. • • *<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : Sept. 1, 1951
An Interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. Tlie plus and minus signs indicate degree of<br />
merit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to date regularly.<br />
This department serves also as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title<br />
b Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by compony, in the order of release, see Feoture Chart.<br />
++ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary 4+ is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.<br />
m3:cc:><br />
'tZ3:Q:o.Szo<br />
+
REVIEW<br />
DIGEST<br />
H Very Good: + Good; — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary ++ is rated 2 pluses, — os 2 minuses.<br />
I<br />
i 1<br />
1215 Halls of Montezuma (113) War-Dr. .20th.Fox 12-23-50 +<br />
950 Hamlet (142) Drama U-l 7-10-48 #<br />
1269 Haopy Go Lovely (88) Musical RKO 6-16-51 +<br />
1265 Hard, Fast and Beautiful (76) Drama.. RKO 6- 2-51 +<br />
1197 Harriet Craig (94) Drama Col 10-28-50 -H<br />
1198 Harvey (104) Comedy U-l 10-28-50 ++<br />
Havana Rose (..) Drama Rep<br />
1248 Heart of the Rockies (67) Western Rep 4- 7-51 +<br />
1267 He Ran AM lite Way (77) Drama UA 6- 9-51 +<br />
1276 Here Comes tlie Groom (114) Rom-Com. .Para 7- 7-51 +f<br />
1256 Her First Romance (73) Comedy Col 5- 5-51 +<br />
1195 He's a Coclieyed Wonder (77) Comedy Col 10-21-50 +<br />
1177 Hioh Lonesome (80) Western UA 8-19-50 +<br />
1208 Hijlivray 301 (83) Drama WB 12- 2-50 ±:<br />
1292 Hioliwayman, The (82) Drama Mono 8-25-51 +<br />
1280 His Kind of Woman (120) Drama RKO 7-21-51 +<br />
1198 Hit Parade of 1951 (85) Musical Rep 10-28-50 +<br />
1193 Holiday Rhythm (59) Comedy LP 10-14-50 +<br />
1259 Hollywood Story (77) Mys-Or U-l 5-19-51 +<br />
1259 Home Town Story (61) Drama MGM 5-19-51 ±<br />
1270 Hoodlum, The (61) Drama UA 6-16-51 +<br />
1198 Hot Rod (61) Drama Mono 10-28-50 +<br />
1239 House on Telegraph Hill (93) Drama. 20th-Fo)( 3-17-51 +<br />
1216 Hunt the Man Down (68) Drama RKO 12-23-50 ±<br />
1277 Hurricane Island (71) Drama Col 7-14-51 ±<br />
1244 I Can Get It for You Wholesale<br />
I<br />
(91) Drama 20lh-Fox 3-24-51 +<br />
1177 1 Killed Geronimo (63) Drama UA 8-19-50 ±<br />
1173 1 Shot Billy the Kid (59) Western LP 8-5-50 +<br />
1246 I Was an American Spy (85) Drama Mono 3-31-51 ±<br />
1252 I Was a Communist for the FBI<br />
(84) Drama WB 4-21-51 + +<br />
1223 I'd Climb the Highest Mountain<br />
(88) Drama 20th-Fox 1-20-51+ +<br />
1167 If This Be Sin (72) Drama UA 7-22-50 ±<br />
1189 I'll Get By (83) Musical 20th-Fox 9-30-50 H<br />
±<br />
±<br />
1148 In a Lonely Place (94) Drama Col 5-20-50+ +<br />
1261 In Old Amarillo (67) Western Rep 5-26-51 +<br />
1208 Indian Territory (70) Western Col 12- 2-50 +<br />
1237 Inside Straight (87) Drama MGM 3-10-51 ± ±<br />
1260 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison<br />
(87) Drama WB 5-19-51 ± ±i<br />
1246 Insurance Investigator (60) Drama Rep 3-31-51+ ±<br />
1276 Iron Man (82) Drama U-l 7-7-51+1 +<br />
J<br />
1192 Jaclcpot. The (85) Comedy 20th-Fox 10- 7-50 + -H-<br />
1269 Jim Thorpe—All American (107) Drama. .WB 6-16-51 ++ -H<br />
982 Joan of Arc (165) Drama RKO 10-30-48 -ft -H<br />
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle<br />
(63) Comedy Mono ±<br />
Joe Palooka in Triple Cross Drama ( . ) . . . Mono<br />
1294 Journey Into Light (88) Drama 20th-Fox 9- 1-51 —<br />
125SJunole Headhunters (65) Travel RKO 5-12-51+ it<br />
K<br />
Kangaroo Kid. The (73) Western UA<br />
1203 Kansas Raiders (80) Western<br />
1250 Katie Did It (81) Comedy<br />
U-l<br />
U-l<br />
11-18-50 ±<br />
4-14-51 ±<br />
±<br />
±<br />
Kentucky Jubilee (75) Comedy LP —<br />
Kefauver Crime Investigation<br />
(52) News 20th-Fox +<br />
1172 Killer That Stalked New York (79) Drama. Col 7-29-50 ± —<br />
(Reviewed as Frightened City)<br />
1210 Kim (113) Drama MGM 12- 9-50 ++ H<br />
1272 Kind Lady (78) Drama MGM 6-23-51 + +<br />
1190 King Solomon's Mines (105) Drama MGM 9-30-50 ++ +<br />
1168 Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (103) Drama WB 7-22-50 +<br />
1247 KonTiki (68) Adv-Dr RKO 4- 7-51 ± ±<br />
1222 Korea Patrol (57) Drama UA 1-13-51— —<br />
L<br />
1285 Lady and the Bandit. The (79) Drama. .Col 8-11-51 + ±<br />
1165 Lady Without Passport. A (72) Drama.. MGM 7-15-50 + ±l<br />
1194 Last of the Buccaneers (79) Drama Col 10-14-50 + it<br />
1250 Last Outpost. The (87) Outd'r- Drama. . Para 4-14-51+ it<br />
1278 Law and the Lady (104) Comedy MGM 7-14-51 ±:<br />
1220 Law of the Badlands (60) Western RKO 12-30-50 +<br />
+<br />
It .. Leave to the Marines (..) Comedy. LP<br />
1240 Lemon Drop Kid. The (91) Comedy Para 3-17-51 ff<br />
1177 Let's Dance (112) MusCom Para 8-19-50 ff<br />
+<br />
±<br />
+<br />
+<br />
1176 Lite of Her Own. A<br />
1214 Lightning Guns (55)<br />
(108) Drama<br />
Western<br />
MGM 8-12-50 ++<br />
Col 12-16-50 +<br />
1286 Let's Go Navy (68) Comedy Mono 811-51+<br />
1230 Liohtning Strikes Twice (91) Drama WB 2-10-51 it<br />
1290 Lilli Marlcne (85) Drama RKO 8-18-51 it<br />
±<br />
=<br />
1254 Lion Hunters. The (73) Drama Mono 4-28-51 + it<br />
1255 Little Big Horn (82) Western LP 6-2-51+ it<br />
1283 Little Egypt (82) Comedy U-l 8-4-51+ +<br />
1238 Long Dark Hall. The (87) Drama UA 310-51 it it<br />
1181 Lonely Heart Bandits (60) Western Rep 9- 2-50* it<br />
1267 Lorna Doone (84) Rom-Com Col 5-26-51 + it<br />
H-
H Very Good; + Good; Poor; = Very Poor. In the summory ++ is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. REVIEW DIGEST<br />
CD xa > lZ :Ett £e 2q<br />
1274 Peking Express (S5) Drama Para<br />
1291 People Against O'Hara (103) Drama MGM<br />
-51 It<br />
1287 People Will Talk (110) Comedy 20tli-Fox<br />
1183 Petty Girl. The (S7) Comedy Col<br />
1279 Pickup (78) Drama Col<br />
1263 Pier 23 (60) Dr.-.ma LP<br />
1288 Pistol Harvest (60) Western RKO<br />
1282 Place in the Sun, A (122) Drama .... Para<br />
1289 Pool of London (86) Drama U-l<br />
1225 Prairie Roundup (53) Western Col<br />
1219 Prehistoric Women (74) Drama UA<br />
1212 Prelude to Fame (78) Mus-Dr U-l<br />
1171 Pretty Baby (92) Comedy WB<br />
1221Piide of Maryland (60) Drama Rep<br />
1266 Prince Who Was a Thief (88) Drama U-l<br />
1187 Prisoners in Petticoats (60) Drama Rep<br />
1256 Prowler, The (92) Drama UA<br />
1203 Pyumy Island (69) Drama Col<br />
Q<br />
1238 Quebec (85) Drama Para<br />
1244 Queen for a Day (107) Drama UA<br />
R<br />
Racket, The (..) Drama RKO<br />
1200 Raiders of Tomahawk Creek (55) Western. .Col<br />
1235 Raton Pass (84) Western WB<br />
123S Rawhide (86) West-Dr 20th.Fox<br />
1288 Red Badue of Courage (69) Drama... MGM<br />
1214 Redhead and the Cowboy (82) Drama Para :<br />
1187 Redwood Forest Trail (67) Western Rep<br />
1184 Return of Jesse James, The (75) Western.. LP<br />
1216 Revenue Agent (72) Drama Col :<br />
1230 Rhythm Inn (71) Musical Mono<br />
1276 Rich, Young and Pretty (95) Musical.. MGM<br />
1232 Ridin' the Outlaw Trail (56) Western Col<br />
1180 Right Cross (90) Drama MGM<br />
1201 Rio Grande (105) Sup-West Rep :<br />
1204 Rio Grande Patrol (60) Western RKO :<br />
1284 Roadblock (73) Diama RKO<br />
Roaring City (50) Drama LP<br />
1192 Rocky Mountain (S3) Sup-West WB :<br />
1284 Rodeo King and the Senoiita (67) West.. Rep<br />
1217 Rogue River (79) Western UA :<br />
1229 Rough Riders of Durango (60) Western.. Rep<br />
1185 Rookie Fireman (63) Drama Col<br />
1229 Royal Wedding (93) Musical MGM<br />
1284 Rhubarb (95) Comedy Para<br />
1206 Rustlers on Horseback (60) Western Rep ]<br />
S<br />
1247 Saddle Legion (60) Western RKO<br />
1182 Saddle Tramp (76) Western U-l<br />
1275 St. Benny, the Dip (88) Comedy UA<br />
10S4Samson and Delilah (128) Drama Para]<br />
1254 Santa Fe (89) Western Col<br />
Saturday's Hero (111) Drama Col<br />
1278 Savage Drums (70) Adv-Dr LP<br />
1245 Scarf, The (86) Drama UA<br />
Sea Hornet ( . . ) Drama Rep<br />
1258 Sealed Cargo (90) Mys-Dr RKO<br />
1213 Second Face. The (72) Drama UA ]<br />
1226 Second Woman, The (91) Drama UA<br />
1274 Secret of Convict Lake, The (S3) Dr.20th-Fox<br />
1274 Secrets of Monte Carlo (60) Drama Rep<br />
1195 September Affair (103) Drama Para]<br />
1180 Shakedown (SO) Drama U-l<br />
1211 Short Grass (82) Western Mono 1<br />
1268Slrow Boat (108) Musical MGM<br />
1182 Showdown, The (86) Drama Rep<br />
1217 Sierra Passage (80) Western Mono ]<br />
1272 Silver Canyon (70) Western Col<br />
1246 Silver City Bonanza (67) Western Rep<br />
Silver Raiders (55) Western Mono<br />
1273 Sirocco (98) Drama Col.<br />
1264 Skipaiong Rosenbloom (73) Comedy UA<br />
1183 Sleeping City, The (85) Drama U-l<br />
1259 Smugijler's Gold (64) Adv-Dr Col<br />
1252 Smuggler's Island (75) Drama U-l<br />
1263 Snake River Desperadoes (54) Western Col<br />
1226 So Long at tiie Fair (85) Drama UA<br />
1243 Soldiers Three (92) Drama MGM<br />
1194Soulhside 1-1000 (73) Drama Mono 1<br />
1229 Spoilers of the Plains (67) Western Rep<br />
Stagecoach Driver (..) Western Mono<br />
1218 Stage to Tucson (82) Western Col 1<br />
1121 Stars in My Crown (90) Drama MGM<br />
1222 Steel Helmet, The (84) Drama LP<br />
1168 Stella (83) Comedy 20th-Fox<br />
1271 Stop That Cab (60) Comedy LP<br />
1214 Storm Warning (91) Drama WB 1<br />
1269 Strangers on a Train (101) Drama WB<br />
1270 Streetcar Named Desire, A (125) Drama.. WB<br />
1273 Strictly Dishonorable (95) Drama MGM
I<br />
Fingerprints<br />
i:<br />
No<br />
!<br />
0©Kim<br />
ture productions by company in order of release. Number in square Is noHonal release dote. Running<br />
e IS in porentheses. Type ot story is indicoted by letters ond combinations thereof as follows- (C)<br />
nedy; (D) Drama; (CD) Comody-Dromo; (F) Fontosy; (M) Musicol; (W) Western; (SW) Superwestern<br />
Hease number follows. U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner. O denotes color photogphy.<br />
For review dates and Picture Guide page numbers, see Review Digest.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
LiPPERT<br />
M-G-M<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
Fuller Brush Girl, The (85) C..239<br />
(S Right Cross (90) D..104<br />
ilj Cherokee Uprising (57) W. .4944<br />
Lucille Hall. K-lili.' AIIuti<br />
June Allyson. KiMrdo .Montalb.in, Dick Powell<br />
\Vli;r. Wilson, .\ndy Hyde, Lois<br />
Rookie Firemon (63) D. .311<br />
HaU<br />
[Ij Border Rangers (57)<br />
.W..4933 BTo Please a Lady (102) C..105 iJi; Modern Marriage, A<br />
liartcm .MacUuit. M. Ileyiiolds. B. Williams<br />
(66) D..5119<br />
lion Barry. Wally Verno<br />
Blake<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Clark Gable<br />
Robert Clarke, Reed Hadley, Margaret Field<br />
OLost of the Buccaneers (79).. D.. 341 55 Holidoy Rhythm (59)<br />
.4911 m Miniver Story, The (104) D. .106 B5 Hot Rod (61)<br />
I'.iiil Ilinrcid, .I.vk llakic, Karin Boolh<br />
D..49le<br />
Mary Beth Hughes, David Street. Wally Vernon Greer Garson. Walter Pidgeon<br />
James Lydun. Gloria Winters. Art Baker<br />
Between Midnight & Down (89) D..328<br />
m Next Voice You Hear, The (83) D. .110 2|j Blues Busters<br />
.M:irk Slincns. Il.il.- Storm<br />
(64) C. .4916<br />
James Whitmore, Nancy Davis<br />
Leo Gorcey, Adele Jergcns,<br />
Raiders of Tomah'k Creek (55) W..362<br />
Huntz Hall<br />
l!il ttte<br />
Horriet Croig (94) D..323<br />
g] Dial 1119 (75) D..107<br />
is} Joe Polooka in the Squared<br />
.l(ian Criiwfni.l. Allyn .loslyn. Wendell Corey<br />
Marshall Tliompson, Virginia Field, Andrea King Circle (63)<br />
Emergency Wedding (78) C..332<br />
C..5117<br />
a stars in My Crown (90) D . . 40 Joe Kirkwood jr.. James Gleason<br />
l.iirv I'ark;. Ilia M.-rkel. Barbara Hale<br />
Joel McOea, Ellen Drew. Dean Stockuell 51 Southside<br />
Pygmy Islond (69) D .342<br />
1-1000 (73) D. .AA17<br />
|<br />
m ©Two Weeks With Love (93) . .M. .108 Don DeFore, Andrea King,<br />
,l'il,;ir:v UVi. rrullir. ;Vrin S-ivage, Hal id Bruce<br />
George Toblu<br />
Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban, Louis Caibem<br />
(Texan Meets Cal'ity Jone (71) W. .303<br />
Chain Gong (70) D..3I3<br />
lKjn;:las Keniiedv. .Marjorie Lord<br />
!<br />
0©King Solomon's Mines (105) D..109<br />
Blazing Sun (70) W..246<br />
5J Outlaw Gold (51) W. .4954<br />
Stewart Granger, Richard Carlson. Deliorah Kerr Johnny Mack Brown. Jane Adams. Myron Healy<br />
Kille That Stalked N. Y. (79) .338<br />
(S Father's Wild Gome (61) C. 5125 I<br />
Jane<br />
Reed, C. .111<br />
Andy<br />
Mickey Knoney, Terrv Moore, William Demarest<br />
Marjorie .Main, James Whitmore, Ann Dvorak<br />
Lightning Guns (55) W. .361<br />
m Coll of the Klondike (67) D. .4920<br />
Anne Gwynne. Tom NejU, Kirby Grant<br />
Chir;.. SMrrell. Smiley Burnetle<br />
SS Short Grass (82)<br />
Tougher They Come, The W. .AA18<br />
(69) . .0. .305<br />
Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs, J. M. Brown<br />
U,i:,ne M-irris. I'reslun Foster. Kay Buckley<br />
i ©Pagan Love Song (77) M..112 gl Sierra Passage (80) W..S107<br />
Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Jlinna Gombell Wayne Itlorris, Lola Albright, Alan Hale jr.<br />
(Kfvieued as Krightened City)<br />
E\clyn Kryes, William BLshop<br />
He's a Cockeyed Wonder (77).. C. 340<br />
S, Bandit Queen (70)<br />
Barbara Britton, Philip<br />
W. .5001<br />
WUlard Parker<br />
El Mrs. O'Molley and Mr.<br />
Molone (69)<br />
Raymond \V.Ubiirn, Gary Gray,<br />
m Outlows of Texas (56)<br />
Whip Wilson, Phyllis Coutes,<br />
liarwell<br />
W. .4945<br />
Clyde<br />
Great Manhunt, The (97) D..331<br />
(Rev. as Stale Secret) Duuglis Falibanks jr.<br />
Flying Missile, The (92) D..335<br />
Henry (lUnii Kurd. ViMCa Lindlnrs.<br />
eStage to Tucson (82)<br />
O'.Neiil<br />
W. .354<br />
l;,id tVimirou. U;nne Morris<br />
Proirie Roundup (53) W..363<br />
Gasoline Alley (77) C..301<br />
Scotly Itickelt. Jiiiimv Lydon<br />
Gene A utry ond Mounties (70). .W. .351<br />
Born Yesterday (103) C..344<br />
,li]ily Hnlli.ln. William llolden, Crauford<br />
Brod.<br />
Operation X (79) D..333<br />
IMa tril i: Knlcn-tiu. Peggy Cummins<br />
Revenue Agent (72)<br />
D..312<br />
l'i.iiila« Kruncdy. .lean Onslow Stevens<br />
Wllles.<br />
Counterspy Meets Scotlond<br />
Yard (67) D..307<br />
Howard St. John. Amanda Blake<br />
Yank in Korea, A (73) D. .346<br />
Ridin' the Outlow Troil (56) . . .W. .264<br />
PAI Jennings of Oklahoma (79) D..327<br />
"M" (88) D. .347<br />
n.iu.l Wane, Adler<br />
lluuard [iaSiha, Lutlier<br />
My True Story (67) D..308<br />
Willaril Parkrr. Il-lru Walker<br />
Flame of Stamboul (68) O. .314<br />
Tcxans Never Cry (70) W..352<br />
Fort Savage R o ders (54) W. .365<br />
©Valentino (108) D..320<br />
Elsanor l';frkrr. Anthony Carlson<br />
Dexter, K.<br />
OSonta Fe (89) W. .330<br />
ItanduliJh Scott. JanLs Carter, Jerome Court land<br />
Fury of the Congo (69) D . . 329<br />
Johnny Weissni'iller, Sherry Moreland<br />
Whirlwind (70) W..354<br />
Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette<br />
Brove Bulls, The (1 08) D . . 321<br />
Mel prrrer. Mirnshua. Anihunv (Juinn<br />
Her First Romance (73) C. .358<br />
Mar;;aret 0-Rrlrn. All, in Martin ^r,<br />
©When the Redskins Rode (78) W..339<br />
Jon Mary faille. James Seay<br />
Mall.<br />
Smuggler's Gold (64) D. .315<br />
Cam.r.in .Milcliell. Amruida Blake<br />
Snake River Desperadoes (54) W .<br />
Oiarles Slgrrett. Smiley Burnette<br />
OLorno Doone (84) C..336<br />
Barbara Hale. Itlchard Eandell<br />
Greene. Ron<br />
OTexos Rangers, The (74) W..325<br />
(ieorte Mnnlnnmerv. Gale Storm<br />
Chino Corsair (67) D. .316<br />
Jon Hall, Lisa Ferraday. Ron Randell<br />
Silver Canyon (70) W..355<br />
Oene Autry, Champion, Oall Dails<br />
Sirocco (98) D . . 348<br />
Humphrey Bogart. Lee J. Cobb, Marts Toren<br />
©Hurricane Island (71) D..349<br />
Two of o Kind (75) D. .350<br />
Edmnnd ORrlen. Llzibcth Scott, Terry Moore<br />
Big Gusher (68) D.306<br />
Wayne .Morris. I're.slon Foster, Dorothv Patrick<br />
Bonania Town (S6) W..367<br />
©Mask of the Avenger (83) D. .359<br />
John Perek. Anilmny Qulnn, Jody Lavrrance<br />
Whistle at Eaton Falls, The (96) D..322<br />
Llovd Brld;.s, liorivlhv Olill<br />
Never Trust o Gambler (79) . . .D. .326<br />
l>,ine n.irk, Cathy OMlonnell. Tom Dr.ike<br />
Pickup (79) D , . 357<br />
Bi'verly Michaels. Hugo Haas. Allan .Msun<br />
Cyclone Fury (54) W..368<br />
Charles Starrett. Smiley Burnette<br />
Chain of Circumstance (68).... D..<br />
Richard Gr.tyson. Margaret Field<br />
Saturday's Hero (111) D..318<br />
John Perek. Donna Reed<br />
Lady and tho Bandit, The (79). .D. .337<br />
Lnui.s llayitard. Patricia Jledln;.<br />
©Sunny Side of the Street (71). M .<br />
I-'ranklc I,:ilne. Tlillv WA^rW, Terry Moore<br />
©Magic Face, The (89) D. .<br />
l.nl!i-r Ailler, P:itriri:i Knl-lll<br />
Corky of Gasoline Alley (80). . . D. . 302<br />
Hills of Utoh (70) W. 356<br />
S] Three Desperate Men (69) W. .5009<br />
Preston Foster, Jim Davis, Virginia Grey<br />
Don't Lie (55) ...D..5015<br />
Richard Traiis, 8ld Melton, Sbeila Ryan<br />
M Mask of the Dragon (55) D. .5013<br />
Eicbard Travis. Sid Mellon. Sheila Ryan<br />
1 Stop That Cab (60) C..5014<br />
Sid .Melton. Iris Adrian. Marjorie Lord<br />
m Danger Zone (56) D. .5017<br />
HiiKh lieaumont, Edward Travis<br />
Brophy, R.<br />
m Pier 23 (60) D. .5018<br />
Hush Beaumont. Ann Savage<br />
a Roaring City (60) D. .5016<br />
Hugh Beaumont, Richard Travis<br />
I<br />
Kentucky Jubilee (75) C. .5007<br />
Jerry Colonna, Jean Porter, James Ellison<br />
iS Little Big Horn (82) W..5003<br />
John irehuid, .Marie Windsor, Uovd Bridges<br />
S Savage Drums (70) W. .5001<br />
Sabu, Lita Baron, Sid Slelton<br />
B6.I. Jane (62) C. .5012<br />
Jean Porter, Tom Neal, Iris Adrian<br />
53 Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (54) M. .5019<br />
All-Star Minstrel .Show<br />
IS Varieties on Parade (67) ....M..5020<br />
Jackie Coogiin, ;U1-Star lievue<br />
E Lost Continent, The (84) D. .5004<br />
Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke. Chick Chandler<br />
jWoteh the Birdie (72) C..113<br />
51] Colorado Ambush (52) W..495:<br />
Red Skelton. Arlene Dahl, Ann Miller<br />
Johnny Mack Brown. LoU Hall, Myron Healy<br />
j Grounds for Marriage (90) ...C..114 m Bowery Battalion (69) C..5111<br />
Van Johnson. Kathryn Grayson, Paula Raymond Leo Gorcey. Hinitz Hall, Bowery Boys<br />
(113) D..11S gI©Blue Blood (72) D. .4904<br />
Errol Flynn, Dean Stockuell, Paul Lukas<br />
Bill Williams. Jane Nigh, Arthur Shields<br />
I<br />
Magnificent Yankee, The (88).. D.. 116<br />
Louis Calhern. Arm Harding, Eduard Franz<br />
! ©Vengeance Volley (82) SW..117<br />
Burt Uncaster. Robert Walker, Joanne Dru<br />
ICouse for Alorm (73) D..118<br />
Luretta Young, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Cowling<br />
m Three Guys Named Mike (90) . .0. .119<br />
Jane Wyman, Van Johnson, Howard Keel<br />
Ml Inside Straight (87) D . . 123<br />
Daiid Brian, Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan<br />
SO©Royal Wedding (93) M..121<br />
Fred Aslaire, Jane i'owell, Peter Lawford<br />
@SJ Father's Little Dividend (82) C..124<br />
Spencer<br />
S Soldiers<br />
Tracy, Joan<br />
Three<br />
Bennett,<br />
(92)<br />
Elizabeth Tavlor<br />
D..126<br />
Walter Pidgeon. Stewart Granger, David Niven<br />
BD SjSGreat Caruso, The (110) ..M..127<br />
Mario Lanza, Ann BlyLb, Dorothy Kirsten<br />
SI Home Town Story (61) D..128<br />
Donald Lynn. Marjorie<br />
SGo for<br />
Crisp. Jeffrey<br />
Brokel (92)<br />
Reynolds<br />
D..129<br />
Van Johnson. Warner Anderson<br />
Ethel Barrymore. Maurice Evans, A. Lansbury<br />
; Strictly Dishonorable (95) 0.131<br />
Ezio Pinha, Janet Leigh, .Millard Mitchell<br />
j©Show Boot (108) M..135<br />
Kathryn Grayson, Houard Keel, Ava Gardner<br />
i<br />
Low and the Lady (104) C. .136<br />
Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Marjorie Main<br />
9 Teresa (103) D..137<br />
Pier Angeli, John Erlcson, Patricia Collinge<br />
m Toll Target, The (78) D . . 1 39<br />
l»ick Powell. Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjoil<br />
E Strip, The (85) D . . 140<br />
Mickey Rooncy, Sally Forrest. .MoniM Lewis<br />
[7] People Against O'Hora (103). . .D. .201<br />
Spencer Tracy, John llodiak, Dt,ana Lvnn<br />
S3 Angels in the Outfield (1 02) . . . ! D . . 202<br />
Paul Dout-liLs, Janet Leigh<br />
e©Mr. Imperium (87) M .<br />
Lana Turner, Plnza. Barry Sullivan<br />
Ffelo<br />
Si Red Badge of Courage (69) D. .204<br />
Audie Murphy, Bill Mauldln<br />
S Abilene Troil (64) W. .4946<br />
Whip Wilson, Andy Oyde, Noel Nelll<br />
H Rhythm Inn (71) M. .5115<br />
Jane Frazee. Kirby Grant. Charles Smith<br />
a Vicious Years, The (81) D. .5191<br />
Tommy Cook, Gar .Moore, Sybil Merrltt<br />
S Navy Bound (60) C. .5120<br />
Tom Neal, Regis Tourney. Wendy Waldron<br />
m Man From Sonora (54) W. .5141<br />
Johnny Mack Brown, Lyle Talbot, Lee Roberts<br />
51 Gypsy Fury (63) D. .5192<br />
Viieca Lindfors. Christopher Kent, R. Brent<br />
gl Lion Hunters, The (73) D..5109<br />
Johnny Sheffield, Ann Todd, Morris Ankrum<br />
S Canyon Raiders (54) W. .5151<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight, Phyllis Coales<br />
51: I Was an American Spy (85) . D. .AA19<br />
Ann Dvorak, Gene Evans. Dougla.s Keiuiedy<br />
I<br />
Ghost Chasers (69) C. .S112<br />
Huntz Hall. Leo Gorcey. Bo'iery Boys<br />
g; Blozing Bullets (51)<br />
.5142<br />
Joiinny .Mack Brown. Lois Hall<br />
SJ ©Covolry Scout (78)<br />
.5101<br />
Audrey Long. Bod Cameron, Ji Davis<br />
m Nevada Badmen (58) .<br />
.5152<br />
Whip WUson, Fuzzy Kniglit, Phyllis Coates<br />
IS According to Mrs. Hoyle (60) . . D. .5122<br />
Spring Byington. Tanls Chandler, Brett King<br />
^ Night Into Morning (86) D. .130 iffCaso Monona (73)<br />
Ray .Milland, John llodiak. Nancy Davis<br />
Robert Oarke. Virginia Welles<br />
Questions Asked (81) D..132 an Father Takes the Air (61) .<br />
Arlene Dahl. George Murphy, Barry SuHivan Raymond Walbiirn. Wdter Callet<br />
i ©Excuse My Dust (82) M. .133 ^ Montana Desperadoes (51) . .<br />
Red Skelton, Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey Johnny Mack Brown, Lois Hall<br />
Kind<br />
I<br />
Lady (78) D..134<br />
U Yukon Manhunt (62) D. .5123<br />
Kirby (Srant, Chinook. Oall Davis<br />
511 Stogecooch Driver (52) W. .S153<br />
Whip Wilson<br />
li Let's Go Novy (68) C. .5113<br />
Leo Gorcey. Huntz Hall. Tom Neal<br />
5f ©The Highwayman<br />
Philip Friend. Wanda<br />
?Disc Jockey (80)<br />
M. .AA21<br />
Ginny SImms, Michael O'Shea. Jane Nigh<br />
Oklahoma Justice (56) W..5144<br />
-Inhnny Mack Brown<br />
a Wanted: Deod or Alive (59) . . W . . 5154<br />
Whip Wilson, Anrtv Hide<br />
51! Joe Polooka in Triple Cross ( . . ) D . . 51 1<br />
Joe Kirkwood, Cathy Downs<br />
ga ©Flight to Mors ( . . ) D . . 51 03<br />
Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell
I<br />
Belle<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
|l©Tr!poli (95) D. .5005<br />
Maureen O'Hara, Jolui Payne, Phillip I!ced<br />
a(SlLet's Dance (112) MC. .5006<br />
Betty Hutlon, I"'red .\slaire. lioland Vuiiiig<br />
Mr. Music (113) MC. .5007<br />
Bing (^'osby, Nancy Charles Coburn<br />
Olson.<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
a Outrage (75) D..103<br />
.Mala Puners. Tod<br />
SWalk Softly,<br />
.Andrews,<br />
Stranger<br />
Robert<br />
(81)<br />
Clarke<br />
...D..102<br />
Joseph Cotten, Valll, Spring Bylnglon<br />
jCossino to Korea<br />
Narrator—Qricntin Reynolds<br />
(58) D..5008<br />
©Copper Canyon (84) W..S003<br />
Hay Milland, lledy Lamarr, Macdoiiald Carey<br />
Dark City (97) D..5004 iia Rio Grande Patrol (60) W. .108<br />
Cliarlton Heston, Llzabeth Scott, Dear) Jagger Tim Holt, Jane .Ni-h. Richard .Martin<br />
@ Mad Wednesday (77) C 166<br />
Harold Lloyd. Francps Ramsden<br />
IB ©Joan of Arc (165)<br />
D. .IK<br />
Ingrld Beigman. Jose Ferrer. Francis L. Sulllvai<br />
US Experiment Alcatraz (58) ....D..107<br />
John Howard, l.yruje Carter, DLton<br />
.loan<br />
P Never a Dull Moment (89) C..106<br />
Fied Mac.Murray. Andy Uevlne, Irene Dunne<br />
H Where Danger Lives (84) D. .024<br />
Robert Mitchum. Claude Rains. Faith Doraergue<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
[D Frisco Tornado (60) .<br />
Allan Lane, Eddy Wallei<br />
511 Hit Parade of 1951 (85) . . .<br />
John Carroll, Eslclila Rodriguez<br />
H Rustlers on Horseback (60) ..W..4968<br />
Allan Lane. Claudia Harretl. Eddy Waller<br />
(il North of Greot Divide (67) . . .W. .4944<br />
I!oy Rogers. Pi^nny Edwards. Gordon Jcioes<br />
a Under Mexicoli Stars (67) . . . .W. .4954<br />
K.-x Allen, linrothy Patrick<br />
gg Mocbefh (85) D..5003<br />
llisoii Welles. Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'llcrlihv<br />
Rio Grande (105) SW . . 5004<br />
John Wayne. Maureen O'Hara, Ben Johnson<br />
Missourians, The (60) W..4974<br />
Monte Hale. Paul Hurst, L>7i Thomas<br />
i California Passage (90) ....W..5005<br />
Forrest Tucker. Adele M.ara. JIra Davis<br />
1<br />
©Trail of Robin Hood (67) ..W..4946<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones<br />
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
20TH CENTURY-FOX<br />
Fireboil, The (83) D..023<br />
.Mhkey Rootuy. p.it G'Krien, Beverly Tvler<br />
« Mister 880 (90) C. 024<br />
Mi-Gulre<br />
Burt l.ancNsier, D.irothy<br />
No Woy Out (106) D..025<br />
Linda Darni'll. Riehard McNally<br />
Wldmark. S.<br />
(iM'll Get By (83) M..027<br />
Gloria Dellaven. Deimis Day, June Haver<br />
Two Flogs West (92) D. .029<br />
Joseph Collen. Linda Harnell<br />
All About Eve (138) D. .030<br />
Bittc Havls. Antic Baxter, Gcoi'gc Saniler<br />
Jackpot, The (85) C. .031<br />
James Stewart, Barbara Hale, Patricia Medin<br />
©American Guerrilla in the<br />
Philippines (105) D..032<br />
Tyrone Power, .Mielielioe I'relle<br />
For Heaven's Soke (92) C. .033<br />
Clifton Webb. Joan Bennett, Robert Cljmr<br />
]At War With tlie Army (93) . C. .5014<br />
Uean Martin. Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen<br />
September Affair (103) D..5012<br />
Joall !'\intalne. Joseph Cotten, Jessica Tandy<br />
13 ©Great Missouri Raid, The (85) D. .5013<br />
Wendell Corey. Ellen Drew. Mai'donald Carey<br />
m Vendetta (84) D. .167<br />
Faith Domergue, (3eorge Dolenz, Hillary Brooke<br />
[S Hunt the Man Down (68) D..111<br />
M.iry Anderson. Gig Young, Lynne<br />
SLOW o( the Badlonds (60)<br />
Roberts<br />
W..113<br />
Kii'li.nd .-ilarl IM.X<br />
IT' Company She Keeps, The (83) . .D. .109<br />
LiZiilidli Sell, Jam- (Ireer. Ilennis O'Keefe<br />
ED Double Deal (65) D..112<br />
Marh' Windsor. Richard Denning. Fay Baker<br />
@ Gambling House (80) D..110<br />
Victor .\laliue. Terry Moore. William Bendix<br />
iCry Donger (79) D..115<br />
Dick Powell. Rhonda Erdraan<br />
Fleming. Richard<br />
i<br />
Pride of Maryland (60) D. .5023<br />
.Stanley Clem.ails. I'eggy .Stew.art. Frankle Darro<br />
Le Grond (90) D..5006<br />
Vera Rulslon. John Carroll<br />
ID Spoilers of the Plains (67) . . . .W. .5041<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones<br />
gU Missing Women (60) D..S02S<br />
Penny Edwards. James .Milllcan<br />
a Night Riders of Montana (60) .W. .5059<br />
Allan Lane, tlaudla Barrett, Chubby Johnson<br />
Mudlark, The (99)<br />
.101<br />
Ah Golii Ray<br />
Man Who Chcoted Himself (81) D. .102<br />
Lee J. Cdlib. .l;iTii- Wvatt. John Dall<br />
©Halls ot Montezuma (113) ...D. 103<br />
Richaid Woln„Mk. Waller Palanee. Maiden<br />
Karl<br />
©Call Me Mister (95) M..104<br />
Betty Grahle. Dan Dalley. Dale Robert.son<br />
©I'd Climb the Highest<br />
Mountoin (88) D..105<br />
Susaii llasward, Willi. Calhoun<br />
Lundigan, R.<br />
13th Letter, The (85) D 107<br />
Linda D.irnell. Charles Boyer. Michael Ri<br />
..ill<br />
i Mating Season, The (101) C..5016<br />
Gene Tierney. John Lund. Mhiara Hopkins<br />
{©Samson and Deiiioh (128) ..D..5010<br />
Victor Mature. Hedy Lamarr. George Sanders<br />
Moily (83) C..5011<br />
(Kev. as The Goldbergs)<br />
Gertrude Berg. Philip Loeb<br />
©Quebec (85) D..5017<br />
jr., John Barrymore Corlnne Calvet, P. Knowles<br />
Lemon Drop Kid, The (91 ) C .<br />
Bob Hope. Marilyn Ma.\well, Lloyd Nolan<br />
Payment on Demand (90) ....D.<br />
Bette Davis. Barry Sullivan. Kent Taylo<br />
H Torzan's Peril (79) D..172<br />
Lex Barker, Virginia Huston, Macready<br />
George<br />
la Thing From Another World (86) D..174<br />
Eduard Franz, Margaret Sheridan. James Arness<br />
El Kon-Tiki (68) D..173<br />
Thor lleyerdahl, Knut Haugland<br />
a Saddle Legion (60) W..117<br />
Tim Holt. Dorothy Malonc, Richard Martin<br />
as Footlight Varieties (61) M..116<br />
Jack Paar. Red Buttons, Leon Errol<br />
ai My Forbidden Past (70) D..114<br />
Ava Gardner. Melvyn Douglas, Robert Mitchum<br />
Silver City Bonanza (67) ....W..5051<br />
li« Allen. Buddy Ebsen, Mary Ellen Kay<br />
Cubon Fireball (78) MC..5007<br />
Estelita Rodriguez. Warren Douglas<br />
©Oh! Susanna (90) D. .5008<br />
Rod Cameron, Adrian Tucker<br />
Booth, Forrest<br />
Insurance Invastigator (60) ..D..5026<br />
Richard Denning, .\udrcy Long. HUlarv Brooke<br />
Heart of the Rockies (67) ...W,.S042<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards. Gordon Jones<br />
Thunder in God's Country (67) .W. .5052<br />
Rex Allen, Mary Ellen Kay, Buddy Ebsen<br />
©Sword of Monte Cristo (80) ..D..106<br />
George .Monlgnmery. Berry Kroeger, P. Cord;<br />
Lucky Nick Cain (87) D. 108<br />
George R.ift. Cohen Gray. Goldner<br />
Charles<br />
©Bird of Paradise (100) D..109<br />
l.oiiis Jourd.Hi. Ikhr.i Paget, Jeff Ch.mdle<br />
Of Men and Music (85) M. .137<br />
Artur liiiliinsleiri, Jan Peerce. Ja,scha Heifetz<br />
You'i<br />
(Rt<br />
•<br />
Crime Invest. (52) . .0. .138<br />
1 the Novy Now (93) . .C. .110<br />
II.S.S, Teakettle) Gary Cooper<br />
Get It fo<br />
I Con<br />
Wholesale (91) D..111<br />
Dan liailey. Srisan Hayward<br />
14 Hours (91) D. .114<br />
Paul Douglas. Richard Bel Geddi<br />
Basehart. B.<br />
Appointment With Danger (90) D. .5019<br />
Alan Ladd, Jan Sterling. Phyllis Cahert<br />
©Last Outpost, The (87) D. .5020<br />
Ronald Ueagan, lUionda I'leming. Peter H.mson<br />
Dear Brat (82) D . . 5021<br />
Mona Freeman, Edward Arnold, Billy DeWoIfe<br />
Trio (92) CD.. 5030<br />
Jean Simmons, Michael Rennle, Anne Crawford<br />
[g Tokyo File 212 (84) D..I75<br />
Florence Marly, Robert Peyton<br />
1 Sealed Cargo (90) D..1U<br />
Diuia Andrews, Claude Rains, Carta Balenda<br />
m ©Jungle Headhunters (65) D. .177<br />
Lewis Cotlow, All Native Cast<br />
g] Hard, Fast and Beautiful (76) D..119<br />
Claire Trevor. Sally Forrest, Carleton Young<br />
Bl ©Best of the Bodmen (84) ,,..W..176<br />
Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Jack Buetel<br />
Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas (60)<br />
Michael Chapin. Ellene Janssen<br />
In Old Amarillo (67) W. .5043<br />
Roy Rogers. Estelita Rodriguez. Penny<br />
Edwards<br />
Wells Forgo Gunmaster (60) . . W. .5061<br />
Jlary Ellen Kay<br />
Bullfighter and the Lady (87) D. .5009<br />
Robert Stack, Gilbert Roland. Vlrgi nia Grey<br />
Million Dollar Pursuit (60) . . . .D. .5028<br />
I'enny Edwards. Gr;uit Withers rman Bodd<br />
] Fighting Coast Guard (86) . .<br />
Briiui Donlevy. Forrest Tucker. Ella<br />
j Secrets of Monte Carlo (60) .D..5030<br />
Warren Douglas, Lois Hall, June Vincent<br />
Folio the Sun (77) D..112<br />
Glenn Forii. Anne Baxter. O'Keefe<br />
Dennis<br />
Rawhide (86) SW..113<br />
Tyrone Power. Susan Hayward, Hugh Marlow<br />
©On the Riviera (89) MC . . 1 1<br />
Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney, Corlnne Calvet<br />
©Half Angel (77) D 116<br />
l.oretla Youii£. Joseoh Keli<br />
Cotten. Ceejl<br />
House on Telegroph Hill (93) ..D..117<br />
l.'ielinid B.i.^ehart, Valenllii.a Cortesa<br />
As Young As You Feel (77) ...C..120<br />
Monty Woolley, Tlielma Rltter, David Wayne<br />
©Possage West (80) W. .5022<br />
John Payne, Arleen Whel.in, Dennis O'Keefe<br />
Ace In the Hole (112) D. .5023<br />
KJrlE Douglas, Jan Sterling, Porter Hall<br />
SI ©Happy Go Lovely (88) *<br />
David Niien. Vera-Ellen, Cesar liomei<br />
m ©Alice In Wonderland (75) I<br />
(Walt Disney cartoiin)<br />
m The Dakota Kid (60) W. .5067<br />
Michael Chapin, EUene Janssen, James Bell<br />
SI Rodeo King and Senorita (67) W. .5053<br />
Rex Allen, Mary Ellen Kay, Buddy Ebsen<br />
EH Fugitive Lady (78) D..5011<br />
Janls Paige, Binnle Barnes<br />
Guy Who Come Back, The (91) D. .1l8<br />
Paul Douglas. Joan Bennett. Linda Darnell<br />
©Take Core of Little Girl (93) M..119<br />
Je.inne Crain, Jeati Peters, Dale Robertson<br />
tSFrogmen, The (96) D,.122<br />
Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Richard Wldmark<br />
Peking Express (85) D. .5024<br />
Joseph Cotten. Corlnne Calvet, Edmund Gwenn<br />
Thot's My Boy (100) C. .5026<br />
Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Hu55ey<br />
Ruth<br />
©Worpath (95) D..502S<br />
Edmond O'Brien, Dean Jagger, Forrest Tucker<br />
ED Flying Leothernecks (102) D. .261<br />
John Wayne. Robert Ryan. Janls Carter<br />
S His Kind of Woman (120) D. .20><br />
Robert Mitchum.<br />
a Behave<br />
Jane<br />
Yourself<br />
Russell,<br />
(..)<br />
Vincent Price<br />
CD..<br />
Farley Granger, Shelley Winters<br />
El This Is Korea (SO)<br />
Fort Dodge Stampede (60).<br />
Secret of Convict Lake, The (83) D<br />
Glenn Ford. Gene Tierney. Elliel Barrymoi<br />
No Highwoy in the Sky (98) . . . .D.<br />
James Stewart. Marlene Dietrich<br />
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (88) C. .<br />
Clifton Webb. Joanne Dm, Hugh Marlowe<br />
Here Comes the Groom (114) ..C..5101<br />
Bing Crosby. Jane Wyraan. Franchot Tone<br />
U On the Loose (74)<br />
Joan Evans. MelvvTi Douglas<br />
D. .202<br />
Place in the Sun, A (122) D. .5102 [il Rocket, The (60) D. .<br />
Montgomery Clift. Elizabeth Taylor<br />
Rhubarb (94) C. .5103<br />
R.iliirt Milchum. Lizabcth Scott<br />
^ Drums in the Deep South (87). . .D. .<br />
Bay Milland, Jan Sterling, Gene Lockbart<br />
James Craig. Barbara Payton<br />
Lilli Marlene (85) 0. .203<br />
Lisa Danjely, Hugh McDermott<br />
EE Arizona Monhunt (60) W..<br />
Jlirh.iei Chaiiiii. I5ilene J.mssen<br />
tS Hovano Rose (..) D.<br />
Estelita Rodriguez, Hugh Herbert<br />
34 Womon in the Dork ( . . ) D<br />
Penny Edwards. Ross Elliott<br />
gU Sea Hornet ( . . ) D<br />
Rod Cameron, Adele Mara<br />
©Meet Me After the Show (86) M..125'<br />
llitty Gr.ihlo. .Maedonihl Carey, Rory Calhoun<br />
People Will Talk (110) C 126<br />
Carv Gram. Je^uine Train<br />
Millionoire for Christy, A (90).. C. 127<br />
Fred Mac.Murray, Eleanor Parker, Carlson<br />
R.
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.<br />
!<br />
©On<br />
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
UNITED ARTISTS g 1°<br />
One Minute to Twelve .D. .203<br />
E (75) . . .<br />
Lars h:ln^lltl. Olaf Ittrg^trom, Gunnel Brostrom<br />
"If Second Focc, The (72) D. .204<br />
Klla l:,i:n.-. li.nice Bennrtt, Rita Jolllison<br />
li Kangaroo Kid, The (73) W. .037<br />
VeJa ,Min Uurg. Jui-li O'.Mahoney<br />
@Two Lost Worlds (60) D..202<br />
Laura Elliot. Jim .^rntss, Gloria Petroff<br />
X ©Prehistoric Women (74) ....D..20S<br />
Laurette Luez. .Allan NLvon, -Slara Lynn<br />
H Border Outlaws (58) W. .260<br />
Siiade Cniil.y, .Maria Hart, Bill Edwards<br />
'3^ Three Husbands (78) C. .642<br />
Ivic .\r(l.ii. Kralyn Williams, Warrlcic<br />
Kuth<br />
511 ©Rogue River (79) W..201<br />
Itory Calboun, Peter Graves, EUye Marshall<br />
S] Wicked City, The (76) D. .206<br />
.M.iria .Monlra. Lilli Palmer. J. P. Aumont<br />
So: Mister Universe (79) C..208<br />
.l.i-t Carwn. .lanis Paige, Bert Lalir<br />
Ts; Koreo Patrol (57) D . . 21<br />
Iticliard Emory. Benson I'onn, Terl Duna<br />
a Sun Sets at Down, The (7J) . . .0. .046<br />
Waller Heed, Sally Parr. Philip Sham<br />
m They Were Not Divided (102)<br />
Edward Underdown, Ralph Clanton<br />
Blue Lamp, The (84) D . . 01<br />
Jack Wjirner. .limmy Hanley. Dirk Bogarde<br />
Naughty Arlette (86) C..226<br />
My Outlaw Brother (80) D..209<br />
(l!.v. as My Brother, the Outlan-)<br />
Second Woman, The (91) D. .639<br />
Kciliert YiiNrig. Bi'lsy Dralie, John Sutton<br />
Circle of Conger (85) D. .207<br />
Itay Mii!:iT!(j. Patricia Hoc, Marius Goring<br />
So Long o t the Fair (85) D. .270<br />
Badmon's Gold (56) W. .262<br />
Scarf, The (86) D. .644<br />
Long Dork Holl, The (87) D. .214<br />
Mix llirrliin. Lilll rainier<br />
Ouecn for a Day (107) D. .645<br />
When I Grow Up (90) D..21S<br />
Skipolong Roscnbloom (73) . . .213<br />
Max Itiisfnljloom. Max Baer. Jacliie Coogan<br />
Oliver Twist (105) D. .216<br />
Man From Planet X (72) D..647<br />
Try and Get Me (92) D. .643<br />
(kcv. Sound Fury) Lovejoy<br />
.as of Frank<br />
First Legion, The (86) D. .648<br />
ni.irlps Buyer. Lyle Bettger. Carroll<br />
Leo G.<br />
Odette (100) D..652<br />
Anr;.i .N'lasle. Trevor Howard, Marius Goring<br />
Prowler, The (92) o. .650<br />
Van Hcflln. E\elyn Keyes, John Ma.\well<br />
[S Fabiolo (96) D. 651<br />
m Mon With My Foce, The (75) . .D. .659<br />
IS Three Steps North (85) D..657<br />
Lloyd Bridges, Lea Padoianl, ,Mdo Fabrizl<br />
i<br />
He Ran All the Way (78) D. .646<br />
John Garfield, Shelley Winters<br />
i Cyrano de Bergeroc (113) ....D..660<br />
.lose |.'errer. Mala Powers, William Prince<br />
The (61 ) D . . 653<br />
Lawrence Tlerney, Alienc Roberts<br />
UNiVERSAL-INTl<br />
Hamlet (142) 0..101<br />
Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Basil Sydnev<br />
©Wyoming Mail (87) SW. .931<br />
Stephen .McXally, A. Smith, Howard da Silva<br />
Woman on the Run (77) D. .932<br />
Ann Sheridan, Robert Keith, Dennis O'Keefe<br />
©Kansas Raiders (80) W.<br />
Aiidie Miirphv, Brian lionlevy<br />
Milkmon, The (87) C.<br />
Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, Jimmy Di<br />
Deported (88) D.<br />
.Marta Toren, Claude Dauphin, Jeff Cham<br />
Undercover Girl (83) D . . 1 05<br />
Alexis Smith, Scott Brady. Gladys George<br />
Mystery Submarine (78) D. .106<br />
Marta Toren, Macdonald Carey, Robert Douglas<br />
Prelude to Fame (78) MD . . 1 80<br />
Guy Rolfe, Kathleen Byron, Jeremy Spenser<br />
©Frenchie (80) W. .108<br />
Joel McCrea, Shelley Winters, Paul Kelly<br />
tiHarvey (104)<br />
C..107<br />
James Stewart. Peggy Dow, Josephine Hull<br />
Under the Gun (83) D . . 109<br />
Richard Conte, Audrey Totter. Sam Jaffe<br />
©Tomohawk (82) SW..110<br />
Van Heflin. Yvonne DeCarlo, Preston Foster<br />
Target Unknown (90) D..111<br />
Mark Stevens, Don Taylor. Joyce Hold<br />
Operotlon Disaster (101) D..113<br />
John .Mills, Richard Attenborough, Helen Cherry<br />
Bedtime for Bonzo (83) C..112<br />
Ronald Reagan. Diana Lynn, Slezak<br />
Walter<br />
Abbott and Costello Meet the<br />
Invisible Mon (82) C..116<br />
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Nancy Guild<br />
Groom Wore Spurs, The (81) . . .C. .114<br />
Ginger Rogers, Joan Davis, Jack Carson<br />
Air Cadet (94) CD.. IIS<br />
Stephen McNally, Ales N'lml, Gail Russell<br />
Up Front (92) C . . 1 1<br />
D.ivid Wayne. Tom Ewell. Marina Bertl<br />
©Double Crossbones (76) MC..119<br />
Donald OTonnnr, Helena Carter, Will Geer<br />
Mo and Pa Kettle Back<br />
on the Form (80) C .117<br />
Mariorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Randall<br />
Meg<br />
Fat Man, The (77) D..120<br />
J. Scott Smart. Rock Hudson, Julie London<br />
Katie Did It (81) C..122<br />
Ann Blyth, Mark Stevens, Cecil Kellaway<br />
©Smuggler's Island (75) D..121<br />
Jeff Chandler, Evelyn Keyes, Philip Friend<br />
©Apache Drums (75) W.,123<br />
Stephen McNally, Coleen Wiilard Parker<br />
Gray.<br />
Hollywood Story (77) D..124<br />
Richard Conte. Henry Hull. Julia Adams<br />
Froncis Goes to the Races (88) . .C. .125<br />
Donald O'Connor. Piper Laurie<br />
©Prince Who Was a Thief (88) . . D . . 126<br />
Tony Curtis. Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellanav<br />
Comin' Round the Mountain (77) C. .127<br />
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Dorothy Shay<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
!<br />
Gloss Menagerie, The (107) . . . .D. .007<br />
Jane Wyman, Ivirk Douglas, Gertrude Lawrence<br />
West Point<br />
I<br />
Story, The (107) ..D..009<br />
James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Doris Day<br />
jC Breakthrough (91) D..010<br />
David Brian, John Agar. Lovejoy<br />
Frank<br />
a Highway 301 (83) D..012<br />
Steve Cochran. Virginia Grey. Gaby Andre<br />
B Storm Worning (91 ) D . . 014<br />
Ginger Rogers. Ronald Reagan, Doris Day<br />
gi Enforcer, The (88) D. .015<br />
Humiihrey Bogart, Zero de Corsia<br />
Mostel, Ted<br />
m ©Sugorfoot (80) WD. .016<br />
Randolph Scott. Adele Jergens, Raymond M^issey<br />
511 Lightning Strikes Twice (91) D. .019<br />
Ruth Roman. Richard Todd, M. .McCambrldge<br />
S ©Lullaby of Broadway (91) ..A<br />
Doris Day, Gene Nelson, S. Z. Sakall<br />
a Raton Pass (84) W. .021<br />
Dennis Morgan, Patricia Neal, Steve Cochran<br />
2]]0nly the Valiont (105) SW..022<br />
Gregory Pei*, Barbara Payton. Ward Bond<br />
\S<br />
I Was o Communist for the<br />
FBI (84) D. .023<br />
Frank Lovejoy, Dorothy Hart. Philip Carey<br />
H Goodbye, My Foncy (107)<br />
Joan Crawford, Robert Young,<br />
U Along the Great Divide (88) . SW. .025<br />
Kirk Douglas. Virginia Mayo, John Agar<br />
IS Inside Wolls of Folsom<br />
Prison (87) D . . 026<br />
Steve Cochran, David Brian, Philip Carey<br />
51 ©Fort Worth (80)<br />
Randolph Scott. David Brl.ai<br />
Moonlight Boy (95) M . . 029<br />
Doris Day. Gordon MacRac, Jack Smith<br />
FOREIGN<br />
BRITAIN<br />
FILMS<br />
Alice in Wonderland (80) 8-18-51<br />
(Sc.oiaine) Carol Marsh, Stephen Murray<br />
Another Shore (77) 3-17-51<br />
(Pentagon) . .Robert Bc.itty, Lister<br />
M.<br />
Appointment With Crime (90) 3-17-51<br />
(Four Continents) .W. Hartnell, R. Beatty<br />
.<br />
Chance of a Lifetime (90) 2-17-51<br />
(Ballentiiii) .Basil Bedford, Miles<br />
. B.<br />
Exchonge Girl (83) 8-18-51<br />
(Films Int'l) .Michael Tolande Donlan<br />
. Ronnie,<br />
Hue and Cry (82) 1-20-51<br />
. (Fine Arts) .ALastair Sim. Jack Warner<br />
Inheritance, The (90) 3-10-51<br />
Jean Simmons, Derrick DeMarney<br />
It's Hard to Be Good (93) 1-13-51<br />
(Pentagon) . .Jimmy Hanlcy. Anne Oawlord<br />
Jacqueline Misbehaves (76) .. 2-17-51<br />
(Ellis).. Hugh Williams, Carla Lehmami<br />
Lost Holiday (88) 12-9-50<br />
(.Stratford) . .Alec Guinness, Beatrice Campbell<br />
Lost People, The (89) 10-14-50<br />
(Pentagon) .Dennis Price, Zetterllng<br />
. Mai<br />
Manioc on Wheels (76) 7-14-51<br />
(Int'l) . .Dirk Bogarde, Bon.ar CoUeano<br />
No Orchids for Miss<br />
Blandish (92) 4-14-51<br />
(Renown) .Jack LaRue, Travers<br />
. Linden<br />
Pink String and Seoling<br />
Wax (75) 10-14-50<br />
(Pentagon) . .Google Withers, John Carol<br />
Rats of Tobruk (85) 7- 7-51<br />
(David Brill) . .Grant Taylor, Peter Finch<br />
Seven Doys to Noon (93) 2-17-51<br />
(Distinguished) .Barry Jones, Su..ne<br />
. Olive<br />
Tales of Hoffmann (138) 4-21-51<br />
(Upcrt) . .Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann<br />
Third Time Lucky (93) 10-28-50<br />
Pentagon) .Glynis Johns, Walsh<br />
. Dermot<br />
Tony Draws a Horse (90) . . 6-23-51<br />
.<br />
(Fine .\ns).. Cecil Parker, Anne Crawford<br />
You Can't Fool on Irishman (65) 2- 3-51<br />
(Bell) .Tommy Dugg.in, Shirl Conway<br />
.<br />
CZECHOSLOVAKIA<br />
FRANCE<br />
Dream Ballerina (78) 8-18-51<br />
(A.F.E) Violette Verdy, Romney Brent<br />
Face to the Wind (85) 7-28-51<br />
(W. R. Katzell) . .Pierre Larquey, Jane .Morlel<br />
God Needs Men (95) 5-26-51<br />
. (;\FE) .Pierre Fresnay. Madeleine Robinson<br />
Lady Panome (97) 8-18-51<br />
(Diseina) Louis Suzy Delair<br />
Jouvet.<br />
L'AffaIre (92) 2- 3-51<br />
(International) . .Cladc Dauphin. Anne Veinon<br />
Lovers of Verona, The (90)... 8-18-51<br />
(Souvaine) .\nouk Aimee. Serge Reggiani<br />
Monon (91) 2- 3-51<br />
(DLscina) . .Cecile Auclair<br />
Aubrey. Michel<br />
MiqueHe (83) 7-28-51<br />
. (Disclila) .Louis Jouvet. Daniele Delorme<br />
Oh, Amelia (86) 6- 2-51<br />
(Lu.\) . .Danielle Darrieux. Je.in Des.iiiiy<br />
Orpheus (86) 10-14-50<br />
(Discina) .Jean Peritt<br />
. Marais, Francois<br />
Poris 1900 (76) 12-9-50<br />
(Mayer-Kingslcy) . .Documentary<br />
Red Angel, The (97) 2-24-51<br />
(Spalter)..Tiida Thamer. Meurisse<br />
Paul<br />
Sinners, The (98) 2-3-51<br />
(LopiTt) .Suzy Prim, . Serge Reggiani<br />
Souvenir (100) 11- 4-50<br />
. (I'athc) .Michi'le Morgiin. Jean Marais<br />
Sylvie and the Phantom (84) 10-21-50<br />
(Discina) . .Odette Joyeus, Frani-uis I'vih-r<br />
Ways of Love (120) 1-13-51<br />
(Burstyn) Sylvia Bataille. St. Saens<br />
George<br />
GERMANY<br />
Film Without a Nome (79) 10-28-50<br />
(Friedherg-Katz) . . Hildegarde Ncff<br />
S Cloudburst ( . . ) D .<br />
Hohert Preston. Bllzahelh Sellers<br />
ra Pardon My French (81) C<br />
'511 Two Gals ond a Guy (70) C. .654<br />
111 Obsessed (77) D..<br />
In 1(1 Karrar. Geraldlne Fitzgerald<br />
our in a Jeep (97) D. .<br />
Meeker<br />
Ii.ri l.lnilf.T.s. Ralph<br />
S ONew Mexico (84) D 649<br />
M St. Benny, the Dip (81) C. .658<br />
H Obsessed (77) D. .<br />
David I'errar, Geraldlne Fitzgerald<br />
83 Mister Drake's Duck (81) C. .655<br />
Doiiclas I'-airbanks jr., Yolande Donlan<br />
Gold Raiders (. .) D<br />
George O'Brien, ghellah Ryan<br />
Iron Man (82) D..130<br />
Jeff Chandler. Evclvn Keves. Stephen .McNallv<br />
©Mark of the Renegode (81) . . .D. .129<br />
Ricarilo Montalban, Cyd Cliarisse<br />
©Cottle Drive (77) W..128<br />
Joel JlcCrea. Dean Stoctwell. Leon Ames<br />
©Little Egypt (82) CD. .131<br />
Rhonda FleniinB, Mark Stevens. Nancy Guild<br />
You Never Con Tell (78) D . . 1 32<br />
Pick I'owell. Peggy I'ow, Joyce Holden<br />
Thunder on the Hill (84) D. .133<br />
Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth<br />
5i] ©Copt. Horatio Hornblower (117) D. .030<br />
Gregory I'eck. Virginia Mayo<br />
E Jim Thorpe—All American (107) D. .101<br />
Burt Lancaster. Charles Bickford. P. Thaxter<br />
51! Force of Arms (100) D. .102<br />
William Holden. Nancy Olson. Frank Lovejoy<br />
Day (90).. 0.. 103<br />
ITALY<br />
Angelo (97) 11- 4-50<br />
(S.Mlera) . . Itenato Baldlni. Umberto Spadaro<br />
Bullet for Stefano, A (96) 11-18-50<br />
(Lux)..Rossano Brazzl. V. Cortesa<br />
Doctor, Beware (90) 2-24-51<br />
(Academy). .Vlttorlo DeSica. A. Magn.uii<br />
Flesh Will Surrender (96) 11- 4-50<br />
(Lux)..Aldo Fahrizi. Amadeo Fabrizl<br />
Mill on the Po (96) 12-23-50<br />
(Lu\).. Carla del Poggio. Jacques Serrias<br />
Thrill That Kills, The (80) 8-18-51<br />
(Dist.) Foscn Gla.lietti, Jacque Sernas<br />
Two Orphans, The (92) 11- 4-50<br />
(Glohe) . .Maria Denis, Osvaldo Valenti<br />
MEXICO<br />
Roncho Grande (97) 5-19-51<br />
(Azteca) ,, Jorge Negrete. Calavaras<br />
Trio
. 3-23-51<br />
.11-17-50<br />
Short subjects, tisted by company, in<br />
release, second the date of review<br />
review, ff Very Good. + Good, i: Fa<br />
der of release. Running time follows title. First dote is notional<br />
BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotes is roting from BOXOFFICE<br />
— Poor. = Very Poor. Indicates color photography.<br />
h<br />
Columbia<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. D.ile Rating Rcv'd<br />
ASSORTED COMEDIES<br />
3423 Innocently Guilty (16) .. 12-21-50 it 3-24<br />
3413 He Flew the Shrew (161/2)1-11-51 + 3-17<br />
3414Weddino Yells (16)<br />
3425 The Awful Sleuth (16). 4-19-51 i:<br />
.<br />
3416 Fun on tlie Run (16). . 5-10-51 ±<br />
3426 Woo Woo Blues (16) 7- 2-51 +<br />
. .<br />
2- 8-51 + 3-10<br />
3424 Wine, Women and Bong<br />
(I51/2)<br />
2-22-51 -f<br />
3415 Blonde Atom Bomb (17) 3- 8-51 +<br />
CANDID MICROPHONE<br />
(One-Reel<br />
Specials)<br />
3553 Subject No. 3 (lOJ/a) . . 2-15-51<br />
4- 3-17<br />
3554 Subject No. 4 (11) 4-12-51 + 4-14<br />
3555 Subject No. 5 (lO/s).. 6-14-51 ± 6-23<br />
3556 Subject No. 6 (10) 8-15-51<br />
CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY<br />
3652 The China Doll (11) .. .12-28-50 + 2-24<br />
3653 Havana Madrid (ID.).. 4-12-51+ 5-5<br />
3654 New Yorl< After Midnight<br />
(11) 6-28-51 H 7-21<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
(Technicolor<br />
Reissues)<br />
3604 The Foolish Bunny (S)..12- 7-50 +f 12<br />
3605 Midnijhl Frolics OYz) 1-11-51+ 3<br />
3606 The Carpenters (S) 2- 8-51 + 3<br />
3607 Poor Liltlc Butterfly (8) 3-15-51<br />
3608 Jitterbug Knights (71/2) 4-15-51 + 4<br />
3609 Birds in Love (S) 5-17-51 zt 6<br />
3610 Air Hostess (8) 6-21-51+ 6<br />
3611 The Egg Hunt (71/2).- 7-26-51+ 7<br />
3612 Merry Manal/z) 5-17-51 + 6-23<br />
3859 Hollywood Pie Throwers<br />
(9/2) 6-21-51 ± 7-21<br />
3860 The Great Director (9) . 7-19-51<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
3404 A Snitch in Time (16/2 12- 7-50 12-30<br />
3405 Three Arabian Nuts (16) 1- 4-51 ± 3-24<br />
3406 Baby Sitter's Jitters (16) 3- 1-51 + 3-17<br />
3407 Don't Throw That Knife<br />
(16) 5- 3-51 5-26<br />
3408 Scrambled Brains (16).. 7- 5-51 + 7-21<br />
TWO-REEL SPECIALS<br />
3440 A Day With the FBI<br />
(19) 7-21-51 -ft 5-26<br />
VARIETY FAVORITES<br />
3953 Milt Britton and Band<br />
(11)<br />
3954 Brokers Follies<br />
12-21-50<br />
(11)... 2-22-51 + 3-31<br />
WORLD OF SPORTS<br />
3805 Army's Ail-American (10) 2-22-51 + 3-31<br />
3806 Quebec Sports Holiday<br />
(8I/2) 4-12-51 +5-5<br />
3807 Mr. Tennis (9) 4-26-51 + 5-26<br />
380S Future Major Leaguers<br />
(11) 5-31-51 + 6-23<br />
3809 Sunshine Sports (10) . . . 6-28-51 it 7-21<br />
3810 Anglers Aweigh (10).. 7-26-51<br />
SERIALS<br />
3140 Overland With Kit Carson 2-15-51 + 3-10<br />
15 Chapters (reissue)<br />
3160 Roar of the Iron Horse.. 5-31-51 +6-2<br />
15 Chapters<br />
Metro-Gol
SHORTS CHART<br />
TECHNICOLOR CARTUNES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
6322 Three Lazy Mice (7) .1<br />
. .<br />
6323 Chew Chew Baby (7). .1<br />
6324 Dippy Dinoniat (7)...<br />
6325 Adventures of Tom Thumb<br />
(7)<br />
6326 Woody Dines Out (7)...<br />
6327 Andy Panda Goes Fishino<br />
(7)<br />
6328 Springtime Serenade (7) 5<br />
6329 Junole Jive (7) '<br />
6330 Who's Cookin' Who? (7).<br />
6331 Pied Piper of Basin Street<br />
(7)<br />
6332 100 Pytimies and Andy<br />
Panda (7)<br />
6333 The Fox and the Rabbit<br />
(7)<br />
50<br />
50 H<br />
51 +<br />
51 + 3<br />
51 + 6<br />
VARIETY VIEWS<br />
6341 Battle of the Bulne (9) 1-22-51 +<br />
6342 Brooklyn Goes to Beantown<br />
(9) 2-19-51 +<br />
6343 Sprinolioard to Fame (9) 3- 5-51 ±<br />
6344 Hickory Holiday (9) 4-30-51 ±<br />
6345 Finny Business (9) 5-21-51 +<br />
6346 Clubhy Cub (9> 6-18-51 ff<br />
6347 Romeo Land (9) S- 6-51 +<br />
6348 Monkey Island (9) 9-10-51 ± 7<br />
WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
6351 Puny Express (7) 1-22-51 -f<br />
6352 Sleep Hanpy (7) 3-26-51 +<br />
6353 Wicket Wackey (7) 5-28-51 ±<br />
6354 Slino Shot e^'a (7) . . . 7-23-51 -t-<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
2-10<br />
4-21<br />
5-12<br />
6-30<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Ratinj Rev'd<br />
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
7305 Duck Sonp to Nuts (7) 1- 6<br />
7306 Flowers for Madame (7) 2- 3<br />
7307 Life With Feathers (7). 3- 3<br />
7308 Peck Up Your Troubles<br />
(7)<br />
7309 Odor-Ahle Kitty (7)... 4-21<br />
7310 Book Revue (7) 5-19<br />
7311 Staocfrioht (7) 6-23<br />
7312 Sioux Me (7) 7-21<br />
7313 The Stupid Cupid (7) . . 9- 1<br />
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
7720 Hare We Go (7) 1-6<br />
7721 Rabbit Every Monday (7) 2-10<br />
7722 Bunny Huoiied (7) 3-10<br />
7723 Fair-Haired Hare (7).. 4-14<br />
7724 Rabhit Fire (7) 5-19<br />
7725 French Rarebit (7) 6-30<br />
7726 His Hare Raising Tale<br />
(7) 811<br />
51 -f<br />
51 +<br />
51 -f<br />
51 +<br />
51 H-<br />
51<br />
2-17<br />
4-21<br />
4-21<br />
FEATURETTES<br />
7103 Ace of Clubs (20) 1-27-51<br />
7104 Roarino Guns (19)<br />
(teissuc) 3-31-51<br />
7105 Hunting the Hard Way<br />
(20) 5-26-51<br />
7106 Law of the Badlands (20) 8- 4-51<br />
HIT PARADE OF GAY NINETIES<br />
7802 Old Family Album (10) 12-16-50 + 2-17<br />
7804 Childhood Days (10)... 2-10-51<br />
7805 In Old New York (9) . . 4-28-51<br />
7806 Musical Memories (9).. 6-30-51<br />
lOE McDOAKES COMEDIES<br />
7402 So You're Goinj to Have<br />
an Operation (10)... 12- 2-50 — 1)<br />
7403 So You Want to Be a<br />
Handyman (10) 1-13-51 ± ]<br />
7404 So You Want to Be a<br />
Cowboy (10) 4-14-51 ± i<br />
7405 So You Want to Be a<br />
',<br />
Paperhanner (10) 6- 2-51 +<br />
7406 So You Want to Buy a<br />
Used Car (10) 7-28-51<br />
MERRIE MELODIES<br />
(Color)<br />
7706 A Fox in a Fix (7).. 51 +<br />
7707 Canned Feud (7)<br />
1708 Putty Tat Trouble (7)<br />
7709 Corn Plastered (7)<br />
7710 Scent-lmental Romeo (7) 3-24<br />
7711 A Bone for a Bone (7) . . 4-7<br />
7712 Hound for Trouble (7).. 4-28<br />
7713 Early to Bet (7) 5-12<br />
7714 Room and Bird (7) 6- 2<br />
7715 Chow Hound (7) 6-16<br />
7716 We.irino of the Grin (7) 7-14<br />
7717 Leghorn Swagoled (7).. 7-28<br />
7718 Cheese Chasers (7) 8-25-
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips<br />
f5i)TUi}£<br />
Mmm<br />
(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE REVERSE SIDE)<br />
When Worlds Collide F<br />
Science-Fiction Drama<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
Paramount (S106) 81 Minutes Bel. Nov. '51<br />
Patrons seeking an escape from workaday troubles—and<br />
they should be legion—will be fascinated, thrilled and entertained<br />
by this outstanding science-fiction picture. Produced<br />
by George Pal, from the novel by Edwin Balmer and Philip<br />
Wylie, it is better than "Destination Moon" because it relies<br />
on realistic miniatures of a deserted New York and a<br />
crumbling, fire-ridden world to achieve its striking effects.<br />
Properly exploited, it will build on strong word-of-mouth and<br />
become a boxoffice winner. Vividly photographed in Technicolor,<br />
the shots of a tidal wave engulfing f-ferald Square<br />
and a new s ar striking the earth with devastating force<br />
are magnificently done. Fantastic as it is, the story holds<br />
interest throughout and winds up with a small band of<br />
humans landing on a new planet—making a sequel practically<br />
a must. Barbara Rush and Peter Hanson are fine in<br />
romantic roles. Rudolph Male directed.<br />
Richard Derr, Barbara Rush. Peter Hanson, lohn Hoyl. Larry<br />
Keating. Hayden Rorke. Judith Ames, Stephen Chase.<br />
Submarine Command<br />
Paramount (5107) 87 Minutes Rel. Nov. '51<br />
What sounds like a war picture is actually a first-rate<br />
blending of submarine action to thrill the male patrons and<br />
on-land romance to intrigue the women fans. With William<br />
Holden and Nancy Olson (previously teamed in "Sunset<br />
Boulevard" and "Force of Arms") heading the cast and giving<br />
fine portrayals, picture should do good business generally<br />
and clean up in action houses. The World War II episode,<br />
told via flashback, takes place on the last day of fighting and<br />
is packed with excitement. The climactic scene, a combined<br />
land-sea-air rescue of American prisoners from Korea,<br />
makes a thrilling finale. The submarine sequences are realistic<br />
and technically correct. William Bendix, playing a serious<br />
role for a change, is just as effective as he is playing his usual<br />
comedy parts and Don Taylor is outstanding as a brash navy<br />
flier on the make for Holden's wife. Directed by John Farrow.<br />
William Holden, Nancy Olson, William Bendix, Don Taylor,<br />
Arthur Franz. Moroni Olsen, Peggy Webber, Darryl Hickman.<br />
An American in Paris<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
MGM { ) 115 Minutes Rel.<br />
Even the most prejudiced of the industry's critics cannot<br />
gainsay that no other entertainment medium could come<br />
even close to approaching the screen in presenting a subject<br />
so pictorially dazzling, and with a production framework<br />
so spectacularly beautiful, that it will leave spectators literally<br />
breathless. Add to those factors a superbly executed<br />
score stemming from the music of George Gershwin;<br />
Gene Kelly's terpsichorean artistry; Technicolor photography<br />
that is probably an all-time best for the process; and a supporting<br />
cast one member of which, Leslie Caron, is sure to<br />
emerge a top-bracket star. Produced by Arthur Freed on this<br />
lush and lavish scale, masterfully directed by Vincenfe<br />
Minnelli, the offering cannot fail to excite wide favorable<br />
comment and paralleling patronage in all its bookings.<br />
Certainly there is an abundance of exploitable material<br />
which, if diligently developed, can contribute to the picture's<br />
popularity and profit potential.<br />
Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guetary,<br />
Nina Foch.<br />
Angels in the Outfield<br />
Comedy<br />
MGM (202) 98 Minutes Rel. Sept. 14, '51<br />
During the time when this highly imaginative blend of<br />
baseball, metaphysics and the spiritual confines itself to the<br />
limits of fantasy, it is highly diverting, laugh-laden entertainment.<br />
In a few sequences, however, it attempts to become<br />
dramatic, and such Bible-waving passages flirt with the<br />
maudlin. Fortunately, the whimsy dominates the proceedings<br />
most of the route, so it appears safe to predict that the<br />
picture will be appreciated by a high percentage of ticket<br />
buyers and will, resultantly, account lor itself substantially<br />
on the ledgers of those showmen who play it and take<br />
advantage of its many obvious exploitable ingredients, not<br />
the least of which is the topicalness of its baseball background.<br />
Producer-Director Clarence Brown mounted and<br />
piloted the film creditably, and extracted convincing and<br />
ingratiating performances from a cast sufficiently nameweighted<br />
to add materially to the offering's magnetism.<br />
Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, Spring Byington,<br />
Lewis Stone, Bruce Bennett, Donna Corcoran.<br />
F<br />
F<br />
Journey Into Light<br />
This Is Korea<br />
20lh-Fox (132) 88 Minutes Rel. Oct. -51 Republic (5127)<br />
Assets of this oft-depressing photoplay are limited to its<br />
productional creation of authentic atmosphere and backgrounds,<br />
and the selection of well-typed character actors to<br />
reflect, respectively, the Skid Row of an American metropolis<br />
and the human derelicts who are its habitues. Since neither<br />
offers cheerful subject matter, the picture's appeal to the<br />
average taste will be comparably restricted, particularly<br />
inasmuch as the story—and those who delineate it—are anything<br />
but convincing. Produced independently by Joseph<br />
Bernhard and Anson Bond, from an original yarn by the<br />
latter, the film misses its goal especially on two counts,<br />
scripting and direction. Whatever initial success it may<br />
encounter will have to stem from the cast's drawing power<br />
wherein, parenthetically, lies its best exploitation approach.<br />
Stuart Heisler directed.<br />
Sterling Hoyden, Viveca Lindfors, Thomas Mitchell, Ludwig<br />
Donath. H. B. Warner, Jane Darwell.<br />
Cyclone Fury<br />
Columbia (368) 54 Minutes Rel. Aug. '51<br />
Long since, the "Durango Kid" established his durability<br />
in the person of Charles Starrett— as a righter of wrongs and<br />
dispenser of frontier justice. Herein Starrett sashays through<br />
another sagebrush adventure that falls into the established<br />
pattern, although with perhaps a shade less emphasis on<br />
action elements. As produced by Colbert Clark and directed<br />
by Ray Nazarro, v/ho have teamed on countless preceding<br />
westerns co-starring Starrett and his comedy saddle-pal,<br />
Smiley Burnette, the opus makes valid use of stock footage<br />
to bolster its production values, particularly a wild horse<br />
stampede which comes as a climax to the plot. In its prescribed<br />
booking category the offering classifies as adequate<br />
and will be accepted as such by the pre-sold "Durango Kid"<br />
fans, toward whom any merchandising efforts can be directed<br />
along routine lines, while the short running time can be<br />
regarded as an asset.<br />
Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Fred Sears, Clayton Moore,<br />
Bob Wilke, Louis Lettieri, George Chesebro.<br />
50 Minutes<br />
P<br />
^<br />
Documentary<br />
(Trucolor)<br />
ReL Aug. 10, '51<br />
Fabricators of celluloid fiction dealing with the current<br />
conflict in Korea are going to find it extremely difficult, if<br />
not impossible, to duplicate in such fare the air of hard-bitten<br />
realism and front-line authenticity that characterizes this<br />
exceptionally well-made and compelling subject. It was<br />
filmed by the U.S. navy and the U.S. marine corps under<br />
the supervision of John Ford, veteran Hollywood megaphonist<br />
and rear admiral in the U.S. navy reserve. Into the graphic<br />
document Ford put every ounce of his picture-making knowhow—and<br />
that is considerable—to bring to the screen an<br />
illuminating story of modern warfare and how it is being<br />
conducted in battle-scarred Korea. Carefully avoiding melodramatics<br />
and with the minimum of political implications,<br />
stars are the- combat heroes themselves, the material with<br />
its<br />
which they are waging their fight, and the displaced and<br />
hopeless South Korean civilian populace. Its topicalness<br />
makes the offering a sure-fire companion piece that will add<br />
interest and prestige to any program.<br />
Pardon My French<br />
TJftYnFFirF .=;pnt,ember 1. 1951 1901<br />
F<br />
'"""''<br />
United Artists ( ) 81 Minutes Rel. Aug. 10, '51<br />
Scanty indeed are the assets that can be tallied up for<br />
this offering. Its headliners—Merle Oberon and Paul Henreid<br />
—evaluate as reasonably potent marquee material; while<br />
the production was localed and photographed entirely in the<br />
picturesque and, on occasion, spectacularly beautiful southern<br />
coast of France. Beyond those points, however, there is<br />
little to be recommended, since the feature—although purcoii.<br />
portedly a light romantic comedy— is ineptly written, badly<br />
centra' edited, and directed with a ponderous touch by Bernard<br />
Vorhaus. Showmen who book it, and the spectators who<br />
view it, are very likely to register some criticism of another<br />
of the film's handicaps—a badly recorded sound track which<br />
at times renders the dialog almost unintelligible. The picture's<br />
exhibition fate in this country is far from bright. Peter<br />
Cusick and Andre Sarrut are credited as the co-producers.<br />
Paul Henreid, Merle Oberon, Paul Bonifas, Jim Gerald, Dora<br />
Doll. Martial Rebe, Lauria Daryl.
. . And<br />
. . And<br />
. .<br />
. . More<br />
. . And<br />
. . Tom<br />
. , With<br />
, .<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"An American in Paris"<br />
Gene Kelly, an ex-GI, decides to stay on in Paris ofier the<br />
war because of his love for the city, and dabbles at being<br />
an artist while living on a small pension. Among his neighbors<br />
is Oscar Levant, a concert pianist, who introduces Gene<br />
to a singing star, Georges Guetary. Guetary is m love with<br />
Leslie Caron, a pretty French girl, and they plan to be x,<br />
married. Then Gene encounters Nina Foch, wealthy Amen- /-si +-<br />
can, who falls in love with him and uses her money to help<br />
him' in his painting career. However, Gene meets Leslie and<br />
they fall madly in love, although she refuses to tell him<br />
who she is. Guetary overhears Leslie bidding Gene a final,<br />
tearful goodbye—and frees her from her promise so she<br />
and Gene can continue their romance.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Breathlakingly Beautiful . . . With the Magic of Paris in<br />
the Spring . the Immortal Melodies of George Gershwin<br />
Here Is the New Season's Outstanding Entertainment<br />
Treat.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"When Worids Collide"<br />
When astronomers learn that a new star, Bellus, and a new<br />
planet, Zyra, are heading toward the earth and will arrive in<br />
nine months to cause tidal waves, earthquakes and complete<br />
destruction, they aie scoffed at by the United Nations.<br />
However, Larry Keating decides to build a rocket which<br />
will fly a select group of people to Zyra and he secures<br />
financing from John Hoyt, a millionaire invalid. Keating's<br />
daughter, Barbara Rush, is engaged to Peier Hanson, a doctor,<br />
but she falls in love with Richard Derr, a pilot. As drawings<br />
are held for the 43 people who will go on the rocket,<br />
Derr believes he will not be essential but Hanson persuades<br />
him to go. As the earth starts to crumble, Keating orders the<br />
young people on the rocket and he forces Hoyt to stay behind<br />
with him. The modern Noah's Ark gets off successfully and<br />
eventually lands on Zyra.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Most Astounding Picture Ever Produced ... A Modern<br />
Noah's Ark Leaves the Destroyed Earth to Land on a New<br />
Planet . Amazing Than "Destination Moon."<br />
THE STOflY:<br />
"Angels in the Outfield"<br />
Paul Douglas is the terrible-tempered, abusive manager of<br />
the Pittsburgh Pirates, languishing in seventh place in the<br />
National league. Janet Leigh, a newspaper reporter, blasts<br />
him in a story, and when the Pirates drop into the cellar<br />
Douglas goes into another torrent of invectives. Amid a clap<br />
of thunder an angel appears to bawl him out, promising that<br />
if he will calm down the Pirates will win a few games.<br />
Douglas, astonished, does so, and the team embarks on a<br />
winning streak. When a small orphan girl. Donna Corcoran,<br />
discovers an angel standing behind every Pirate player, the<br />
story becomes a national issue, and Douglas's ouster as<br />
manager is demanded on the grounds he is "emotionally<br />
unstable." At a subsequent trial Douglas is upheld; the<br />
Pirates win their final game and the pennant, and he wins<br />
Janet.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
It's Warm . . . It's Human . . . It's Got a Heart . . . It's<br />
Laden With More Thrills Than a Homer With the Bases<br />
Loaded . More Laughs Than Any Comedy You've<br />
Seen in Months.<br />
THE STORY: "This Is Korea"<br />
There is no formal plot, the assembled footage having been<br />
supplied by marine and navy combat photographers. This<br />
footage centers for the most part around the Seventh Fleet<br />
and the First Marine Division and their mutual support<br />
of and cooperation with the Eighth Army in the Korean<br />
conflict. The battle sequences record the endless series of<br />
advances and withdrawals made by the marines and their<br />
use of such modern weapons as automatic rifles, bazookas,<br />
rockets and flame-throwers to inflict casualties upon enemy<br />
troops and destroy their positions. Other scenes show the<br />
air support lent by carrier-based navy planes and marine<br />
aviators, while there is footage of a death-dealing barrage<br />
from the guns of the U.S.S. Missouri.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
.<br />
The Most Human and Dramatic Story of Our Time<br />
Thrilling, Authentic, Spectacular Front-Line Footage . . .<br />
Takes You Right Into the Battlefields ... To Show<br />
That<br />
You<br />
What Our Boys Are Doing in Korea.<br />
j-50<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Submarine Command"<br />
On the last day of World War II the Tiger Shark, a submarine<br />
with a record of sinking 18 Japanese ships, encounters<br />
three enemy ships and sinks two before a Jap zero plane<br />
looms up. As the submarine dives, her captain is left on top<br />
and dies while William Holden, now in charge, refuses to go<br />
up and risk losing the ship. For this, Holden earns the contempt<br />
of William Bendix, chief torpedoman. After the war,<br />
Holden marries Nancy Olson and is happy except for being<br />
buried in paper work at the Navy Yard. His wife's efforts to<br />
get him an outside job only makes Holden more bitter. He<br />
asks for command of the recommissioned Tiger Shark, which<br />
is sent to Korea. In a land-sea-air rescue action, the Tiger<br />
Shark, under Holden's command, does valiant work and is<br />
sunk. With the respect of Bendix again, Holden is able to<br />
go back to his wife.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Romantic Team of "Sunset Boulevard" in a Touching<br />
and Thrilling Romance of a War-Torn World . Between<br />
Loyalty to His Captain and His Duty to His Ship and<br />
Crew.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Journey Into Light"<br />
Sterling Hayden, popular New England village minister,<br />
has an alcoholic wife whose indiscretions attain a climactic<br />
high when she comes to Sunday morning services staggering<br />
drunk. His parishioners insist that he send her away for<br />
medical care or resign. He decides on the latter alternative.<br />
Shortly thereafter, in a fit of dipsomaniacal depression, she<br />
commits suicide. Spurning the sympathies of his former<br />
flock, the rector flays them as hypocrites, denounces his<br />
faith and departs for the city, where he degenerates into<br />
a Skid Row bum. After a stormy, sordid. Godless period,<br />
Hayden finds himself, religion and his former calling<br />
through love for Viveca Lindfors, blind daughter and aide<br />
of Ludwig Donath, a preacher who operates a slums mission.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
.<br />
Power-Packed Drama . . . The Story of a Man Who<br />
Skidded to the Depths ... To Wallow in the Bottomless Pit<br />
. . . But Was Brought Back to Normalcy of Despair<br />
Through a Tender and Touching Love.<br />
THE STORY: "Pardon My French" THE STORY: "Cyclone Fury"<br />
Merle Oberon, a Boston schoolteacher, inherits a French<br />
chateau in Cannes, but discovers the residence is full of<br />
squatters, led by an indigent composer, Paul Henreid. She<br />
undertakes legal action to evict them, but Henreid cues the<br />
squatters to make her stay as uncomfortable as possible.<br />
They become such pests that Merle renews her demand<br />
that they leave—and to her surprise Henreid leads them<br />
away. Alone in the chateau in a storm. Merle flees in terror,<br />
winds up in Henreid's arms and begs the squatters to return.<br />
She begins caring for Henreid's four children—whose mother<br />
is dead—while he writes a new concerto. When he receives<br />
a royalty check they plan a celebration, but Paul<br />
fails to keep the date; Merle packs to return to Boston, but<br />
at the last minute decides her future life lies with Henreid.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Pardon the Laughs . . . Excuse the Romantic Riot . . . But<br />
You'll Never Pardon Yourself ... If You Don't See the Year's<br />
Most Enjoyably Frantic Comedy ... A Sophisticated, Sparkling<br />
Treat.<br />
Clayton Moore, suspected of having murdered a rancher<br />
who owns a herd of wild horses, wins a contract to supply<br />
riding horses to the army, admitting that he expects to find<br />
the animals on the grazing land of the murdered man. But<br />
Charles Starrett, a government agent who also masquerades<br />
as the "Durango Kid," spikes Moore's deal by producing the<br />
dead man's heir, an adopted 11 -year-old Indian lad. Starrett<br />
wins the contract for the boy and thwarts Moore's attempt<br />
to kill the youngster. Next Moore makes a deal with the government<br />
that if Starrett and the Indian youth don't deliver<br />
within two days, Moore can have the contract. However,<br />
Starrett and his pal Smiley Burnet.te enlist the aid of the<br />
Indian boy's tribe, round up the nags<br />
Moore to confess he is a murderer.<br />
in time and force<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Another Thrilling Sago of the Roaring West . the<br />
"Durango Kid" Riding the Justice Trail . Smiley<br />
Burnetts Hitting a New All-Time High in Laughs.
I $45.50.<br />
I Comic<br />
I<br />
Bast<br />
I<br />
Bingo<br />
I<br />
ATES: 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four inaertions for price oi three<br />
IxOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
LCUefilOG HOUSE<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Theatre manager vrantcd. I'ositlon permanent<br />
reliable person. Midwest situation. Send salary<br />
squired, experience and photo first letter. Boxfice.<br />
4377.<br />
Motion picture theatre boolier, male or female,<br />
ir Immediate opening. Cite experience and startig<br />
salary required. Reply P. 0. Box 3J, Hichlond,<br />
Va.<br />
Help wanted. Theatre manager. State esperiice<br />
salary and required. Bosoffice. 4396.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Operator wants job. Over 20 years with last etniloyer.<br />
House sold, reason for this ad. Refrence.<br />
H. A. Garrett. Truman. Ark.<br />
Projectionist, experienced. Prefer Texas. Availlible<br />
September 15. Wire Lester Graves, 409<br />
IVest Elm St., Tyler, Tex.<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
Dartaway: Two sensational<br />
>f skill. Dartaway Enterprises,<br />
with more action, $3.50 thousand cards.<br />
Also other games. No\elty Games Co., 1434<br />
[Bedford Ave.. Brooklyn 16, N. Y.<br />
Giveway New 1951 car. No cost to theatre,<br />
5,000 popidation Merchant Ad-<br />
towns or over.<br />
Irertlsing tieup. Interstate Theatre Service, 1115<br />
Armour, Kans.as City, Missouri.<br />
books available as premiums, giveaways<br />
!at your kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newssfand<br />
editions. Comics Premium Co., 412B, Greennii'h<br />
St., N. Y. C. Publications for premiums<br />
(iwliisively) since 1939.<br />
Yuik IS, N. Y.<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
Popcorn machines, all makes, $100 up. Kettles<br />
for ail makes popcurn maciiincs. CAiu^olidated Confections,<br />
1314 So. H'aba.sh Ave., Qiicago, HI.<br />
Burch, Manley, Cretors, Star, all electric French<br />
y types. 50 Hollywood type, theatre special<br />
titric poppers fiiim $250. Karmelkorn Equipiiil.<br />
120 s. Ilalsicd, Chicago 6, HI.<br />
For sale: de luxe Star popcorn machine, 2 years<br />
old. with heavy popping unit. A-1 condition.<br />
Write King Theatre, Ida Grove, Iowa.<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets<br />
1(10.000, $26.70; 10.000, $7.80: 2.000. $4.95<br />
Each change in adjulsslon price. Including changf<br />
In color, $3 exira. Double numbering extra<br />
Caall F(I,B. Kansas City, Mo. with order. Kan<br />
sas City Ticket Co., 109 \\. 18th St., Kansa,-<br />
City. Mo<br />
Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of<br />
our special printed stub rod tickets tw driTc-lii!^<br />
Safe, distinctive, easy to check, Kansas Cilj<br />
Ticket Co.. Depi. 10, 109 W. 18th St., "Flln<br />
8, Row," Kansas City Mo.<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Heavy duty bucket blade exhaust fans at last<br />
year's prices: 12" —$25.50; 16"—$37.50; 18"<br />
Prompt deliveries all sizes blowers and<br />
air wasliers. Send for details. Dept. C, SOS.<br />
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New York<br />
19, N. Y.<br />
Just InstaHed refrigeration. Sacrificing National<br />
Sirocco $5,000 CFM blower and washed air system,<br />
consisting of motors, starters, Allis-Chalmers<br />
B8L pump. Horton hydraulic drives with remote<br />
controls. 41H"x61" dual metal deflector. All<br />
equipment used one season only and in A-1 condition.<br />
Cost $3,850 new. First replies, first<br />
served. $1,600. Uptown Theatre, Marble Falls.<br />
Tei.<br />
THEATRICAL PRINTING<br />
Window cards, programs, heralds. Photo-Offset<br />
Printing. Cato Show Printing Co.. Cato. N. Y.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
Popcorn machines, half price. Wiener, Hamburger,<br />
Sno-Cone, Peanut Roa,sters, Bun Warmers.<br />
Poppers Supply. 146 Walton St., .Mlanta, Ga.<br />
Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of<br />
our special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins.<br />
Safe, distinctive, easy to check. Kansas City<br />
Ticket Co., Dept. 10. 109 W. 18th St., "Film<br />
Kmv," Kan.sas City 8, Mo<br />
Drive-ins, don't delay. Improve your light and<br />
s"iinrl this sea.son. Send for S.OS. li.st stating<br />
vniir car capacity. Dept. C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply<br />
Clip , 602<br />
W. 52nd St., New York 19, N. Y.<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
You can't tell 'em from new! Holmes Educator,<br />
$605; Simplex SP. $995, with Strong baby<br />
arcs, rectifiers, $1,295. .Ml rebuilt like new dual<br />
outfits with amplifier and speaker. 2 H. 1. generators,<br />
$595. Time deals invited. Dept. C, S.OS.<br />
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New<br />
York 19, N. Y.<br />
For sale: 450 in-a-car speakers .and complete<br />
booth equipment for inexpensive drive-in. all for<br />
$2,500. Write John Whipple, Box 7, Muleshoe,<br />
RCA Economy Amplifier speaker and two soundheads,<br />
all for $350. Guaranteed, ATSCO, 936<br />
E, Market St., Akron, Ohio. Ask for list of other<br />
equipment.<br />
For sale: Two GE 60" regulation aviation searchlights<br />
with generators. Guaranteed to he in excellent<br />
operating condition. $1,000 each, f,0-b,<br />
Wichita. Sullivan Independent Theatres, 725 West<br />
Douglas Ave., Wichita. Kas.<br />
Complete booth equipment. I KW lamphouses<br />
with Hertner 40/80 generator. Simplex projectors,<br />
sound system, soundheads fused 12 months).<br />
Ecorse Theatre, Ecorse, Mich.<br />
For Sale: Ashcraft lamps, Knelsley rectifiers.<br />
Century heads. Century amplifier, RCA soundheads,<br />
Altec speaker; additional equipment included for<br />
booth, such as 5-point pedestals, monitor, ett?.<br />
Only thing needed would be screen. Russell U.<br />
Olnhauscn. 4034 Cloverlea St., Pittsburgh 27, Pa.<br />
Best offer takes 600 used chairf<br />
nicatre. South Bend 15, Ind.<br />
River<br />
Park<br />
Going for song! New metal V marquee. Beautiful<br />
25x12 built-in sections easy to move. Also,<br />
4 aluminum-covered front doors, very nice. Also,<br />
super beautiful velour screen curtain. Five colors<br />
track motor complete, bought new, used 15 months.<br />
Cost five grand, what am I offered? E. J. Hunter.<br />
Colquitt,<br />
Ga.<br />
Star gives value! That's what thousands exhibitors<br />
say! Strong 1 KW lamphouses and rectifiers,<br />
rebuilt, $595; Simplex A-15 sound system, complete,<br />
rebuilt, $975; Super-Simplex mechanisms,<br />
rebuilt, $850 pair; 2-unit electric ticket register,<br />
rebuilt, $129,50; Western Electric 206 soundheads,<br />
rebuilt. $195 pair. What do you need?<br />
Star Cinema Supply, 441 West 50th St.. New<br />
York 19, N. Y.<br />
For sale: Asbestos curtain, 26x36', In good<br />
condition. Can be seen at the Edina Theatre,<br />
50th and France South, Minneapolis, Minn.<br />
Comptete booth with D6 Simplex rear shutter,<br />
two screens, 2 popcorn machines, P. A. system and<br />
mike and spotlight; also booth supplies. Individual<br />
selling, very reasonable. G. C. Rainwater. 408<br />
North Tyler, Amarlllo, Tex.<br />
If you have been needing two Brenkert "&iarc"<br />
lamps and Century 65-100 generator, you had<br />
better take these for $1,100. Used two seasons in<br />
drive-in. C. S. "Casey" Mitchell, 457 B. Southlawn,<br />
Birmingham, Mich. Ml-4-4973.<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW<br />
Exhibitors are going for our tempered Masonite<br />
marquee letters. Here's why. 4" —35c; 8" —50c:<br />
10"—60c; 12"—85c; 14"—$1.25: 16"—$1.50.<br />
Dept. C, SOS. Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W.<br />
52nd St., New York 19, N. Y.<br />
You're selling your picture—make It bright!<br />
Flameproofed, fungusproofed plastic screens, 39%c<br />
ft.; arc lamp reflectors, 20% off: coated lenses<br />
(25% more light), $100 pair: rectifier bulbs, 15<br />
amp., $4.59. Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.,<br />
602 W. 52nd St., New York 19, N. Y.<br />
Replacement speakers for Simplex Senior in-car<br />
speakers, manufactured by Jensen, $1.95 each;<br />
leatherette. long wearing, plastic coated with<br />
twill backing, colors; blue, brown, red and green.<br />
Regular $2.10 yard, only $1.75: coated lenses,<br />
F2.0 speed, $99. Holmes 16mm Rex sound projector,<br />
complete, new, special, $369. Drlve-in<br />
speaker ramp switch panel, with post light, transformer.<br />
19-inch ra(* mounting, new, $175. With<br />
cabinet. $195. Minimum order $10; 25 per cent<br />
with order, balance CO.D. Joe Homsteln. Inc.,<br />
3330 Olive St.. St. Louis 3, Mo.<br />
SIGNS<br />
Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns.<br />
Avoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experience<br />
needed for expert work. Write for free samples.<br />
Joiin Rahn, B-1329, Central Ave., Chicago<br />
51, HI.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
Theatre For Sale: Selected listings In Oregon<br />
and Wasnington now available. Write tor list.<br />
Theatre Exchange Co., Fine Arts Bldg., Portland,<br />
Ore.<br />
Build double parking Drive-In theatres under<br />
franchise Patent 2,102,718. reissue 22,766. Up to<br />
30% more seating capacity with little additional<br />
cost. Louis Josserand, 3710 Mt. Vernon, Houston,<br />
Tex.<br />
Pacific Northwest theatres for sale. Write In<br />
Bowron, sales manager. Theatre Sales (Dlv.),<br />
Fred B. Ludwig, Brk, 4229 N. K. Bro«dway,<br />
Portland 13, Ore.<br />
Private listings—Good situations In Texas that<br />
will bear strict Investigation. Information only<br />
at Southland 'Hieatre Brokers, 408 S. Harvtood,<br />
Dallas. Phone Randolph 8922.<br />
For Sale: 250-seat theatre. Northwestern Illinois<br />
1,500 population. Large rural area with four<br />
apartments above theatre makes a nice Income.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4374.<br />
Outstanding small town theatre, thriving central<br />
Texas blackland farming district. Excellent equipment,<br />
290 fully upholstered seats. Exceptional<br />
value. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4372.<br />
Ohio. 250-seat theatre for<br />
dition, best location, colleg<br />
12,000. Price under $8,000.<br />
ware, Ohio.<br />
sale; excellent coni<br />
town, population<br />
Steve Pontes, Dela-<br />
Want a theatre in S. W. Kansas town with drawing<br />
population of 1.200 to 1.500? Building and<br />
equipment. Good deal for sale or lease to right<br />
man. Doctor says slow down, <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4381.<br />
Newest and latest drive-in theatre in Houston,<br />
Tex. Ultramodern in every respect. Nearest theatre<br />
to 350,000 population. All new equipment.<br />
Now operating profitably. For sale, $200,000<br />
cash. Long term lease on land. P. 0. Box 13216,<br />
Houston 19, Tex.<br />
Upto<br />
Florida, Modern, de luxe equipped, new building,<br />
parking lots; 700 seats. In town of 6,000.<br />
Only theatre. Cost over $100,000. Will sell<br />
fi.xtures and rent building, or sell ,ill. $25,000<br />
will handle. C. H. Caudell, Danca Theatre, Wallace,<br />
N. C.<br />
Theatre for sale. Modern new 420-seat. Two<br />
and one half years old. Air conditioned, modern<br />
cryroom. Excellent business. Located in rlL+j<br />
farming area, at 4-corner intersection. Dissolving<br />
partnership. An excellent buy. Robert Hodd,<br />
Abbotsford, Wis.<br />
Florida theatre for sale, downtown Tampa.<br />
Lease with options to renew. Low rent, low flat film<br />
rales, 325 seats. Simplex equipment; $6,750 buys.<br />
l.ODO-cup capacity Drink-O-Mats, factory rebuilt<br />
with Cliangemakers for 5c or 10c operation; Write 0. J. Reynolds, Rex Theatre, 1118 Franklin,<br />
3 fl.ivor selections, $875; 4 flavor selections, $925, Tampa 2, Fla.<br />
FOB New York. Coldrinx, Inc.. 234 West 56th<br />
St., New York, N. Y,<br />
West Texas. Long established, only theatre.<br />
Excellent possibilities. $18,500 complete. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
4397.<br />
$54,000, with terms. Dallas area, exceptionally<br />
live town of 4,000; only theatre. 500 seats.<br />
Corner brick building included. $20,000 1951<br />
profit indicated. Beautiful home available. Exclusive.<br />
Arthur Leak, Specialist, 3305 Caruth,<br />
Dallas,<br />
Tex.<br />
Finest area northwest Arkansas. Broiler country.<br />
Well equipped masonry building. Only show<br />
growing trade center. $12,500 handles. $10,000<br />
yearly profit per owner. Exclusive. Arthur Leak,<br />
3305 Caruth, Dallas, Tex.<br />
One Southwest's best investments. Modem 500-<br />
car drive-in. City 60,000. One other drive-in<br />
here. $5,000,000 payroll factory signed. Reactivated<br />
huge military seems certain. New major<br />
highway should double traffic access. Highly<br />
profitable, yet must sell. Natural causes. $50,000<br />
handles. Qualified prospects, please. Exclusive.<br />
Arthur Leak, Specialist, 3305 Caruth, Dallas, Tej.<br />
Near Waco. Modern, highly profitable drive-in,<br />
city 30.000. Finest projection, sound. Excellent<br />
record earnings. $31,000 handles. Also, same<br />
area, modern drive-in, including apartment.<br />
$28,500 down. Also, near Little Rock, very modern<br />
drive-in; concessions run 45% $22,000<br />
tickets.<br />
down. Exclusive, Arthur Leak, 3305 Caruth,<br />
Dallas,<br />
Tex.<br />
West Texas thriving city 60,000, making strides.<br />
1,485-seat operation doing well, excellent potential.<br />
$31,000 handles. Everything for gracious living<br />
conditions. Exclusive. Arthur Leak, 3305 Caruth,<br />
Dallas,<br />
Tex.<br />
For Sale: Theatres, drive-ins. Leonard<br />
Schrader, 509Mr East Green, Champaign,<br />
Phone 9094, collect.<br />
Theatre, central Ohio. 54x80' brick building,<br />
with apartment. Ill health forces sale. J. F.<br />
.tones. Frcdericklown. Ohio.<br />
Theatre for sale. Parker Theatre, Parkei<br />
For sale or lease, 14 theatres and 1 drive-in in<br />
towns population 4,000 and up. Buyer must have<br />
$250,000 in cash. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4400.<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
Theatre, Nebraska, western Iowa, northern Kansas.<br />
No brokers. Over 400 seaxs. Town 1.800<br />
population or over. Confidential. Experienced. L.<br />
J. BurKitl. Sparta. Wis.<br />
Sell your theatre privately. 32nd year. Highest<br />
reputation, know-how. Arthur Leak. Theatre<br />
Specialist, 3305 Caruth. Dallas. Tei;,<br />
Sold my theatres. Want to lease drive-ln with<br />
purchase option. Substantial advance rent. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
4386.<br />
Theatre wanted in western North Carolina by<br />
executive who likes climate. All replies strictly<br />
confidential. Give full details. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4399.<br />
Theatre in eastern North Carolina, by executive<br />
whose wife is a native of that section and wishes<br />
to return there to live. All replies strictly codfidenlial.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>. 4398.<br />
Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri. Ample<br />
financing. Non-competitive. 2,500 minimum population.<br />
Bo.xoffice. 4393.<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quotati(Hi.<br />
Fensin Beating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Chair supplies, lilverythlng for theatre cbalra.<br />
ensin Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
Used chairs, guaranteed good. AdTise quantity<br />
wanted. I'hotographs mitiled with fjuotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
Seat Covers: Sewed combinations, all makes, all<br />
:y!es. Send your s;imple for quotation. Fensin<br />
eating Co.. tlilca^jo 5.<br />
Patch-0-Seat cement. Patching cloth, sotveot,<br />
tc?. Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Upholstery Fabrics: All kinds. All colors. Send<br />
your sample for matching. Fensin Seating Co..<br />
Chicago 5<br />
No mere torn seats: Repair with the original<br />
Patch-A-SeaL Complete kit, $6. General Chair<br />
Co., Chicago 22. 111.<br />
Chair Parts: We furnish most any part you require.<br />
Send sample for price, brackets, backs<br />
and seats. General Chair Co., 1308 Elston Ave..<br />
Chicago 22. III.<br />
Several thousand used opera chairs now In<br />
stock. Can furnish any amount you request. Full<br />
upholstered back, insert panelback, boxspring and<br />
spring edge seat. Write for photo and state<br />
amount and incline. We also manufacture new<br />
chairs. General Chair Co., 1308-22 Elston Ave..<br />
Chicago 22. III.<br />
Many years in the seating business is your<br />
guarantee. Good used chairs are not too plentiful<br />
but we have the pick. Full upholstered, pand<br />
badt and many other styles. We furnish proper<br />
slope or level standards to fit your floor. AH<br />
size 18x21-inch chairs. Our prices are lowest.<br />
Write for exact photo and price. We furnish parta<br />
for all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic<br />
coated leatherette 25x26-lnch, all colors, 65c ea.<br />
Chicago Used Chair Mart, 829 South State St..<br />
Chicage 5. III.<br />
No more loose chairs: Get "Flrmastone" Anchor<br />
cement, $5 per box. General Chair Co., Chieactt<br />
23, 111.<br />
Got chair problem? Look at these values and<br />
cheer up. 300 Ileywood veneer, $4.75; 500 American<br />
panelback, spring cushion, excellent. $4.95;<br />
293 rebuilt Andrews inserted panelback sprlBg<br />
cushions. $4,95: 223 rebuilt late International<br />
fully upholstered with spring-edge cushions, $8.96.<br />
Send for Chair Bulletin, Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema<br />
Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New York 19.<br />
N. Y.<br />
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Heavy motorized dolly. $895; re-recorders. 35mm,<br />
$395; Moviola large preview 35mm machine, $1,696;<br />
.Maurer late type E recording system, complete.<br />
Original cost $4,775. Excellent, $3,695. Auricon<br />
Super 1.200 cameras, prompt delivery, $2,649.50;<br />
Micro synchronizer 4-way 16/35mm combination,<br />
$195; Bell & Howell 35mm step printer, $995;<br />
5000W sunspots on stands. $77.50; new 35ram<br />
continuous sound picture printers. $995; new<br />
Bridgamatic 16mm automatic developing machines<br />
Jr.<br />
(plus tax), $995. Cash paid for used<br />
equipment. Trades taken, Dept. C, SO.S. Cinema<br />
Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St.. New York 19.<br />
N. Y.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 1, 1951<br />
^•
100% SOCK<br />
REVIEWS ON<br />
M G M's "AMERICAN<br />
I INI r AK Id • (Technicolor)<br />
Typical sample of all trade paper reviews<br />
is this one from MOTION picture DAILY:<br />
(A front Page Review)<br />
"Nothing quite like M-G-M's 'An<br />
American In Paris' has come from<br />
Hollywood. It has Gene Kelly's<br />
finest performance, Gershwin's<br />
music, new faces and fine talents.<br />
A new milestone in film musicals.<br />
Entertainment with a capital<br />
E.'^<br />
M-G-M presents "AN AMERICAN IN PARIS" lo (he music of George Gershwin starring GENE KELLY and introducing LESLIE CARON with OSCAR LEVANT < GEORGES<br />
GUETARY* Nina Foch« Color by TECHNICOLOR •Story and screenplay by Alan JayLerner* Lyrics by IraGershwin* Directed by VincenteMinnelli* Produced by ArthurFreed
•<br />
)llll<br />
I<br />
|"JIM THORPE-ALL AMERICAN"<br />
BURT LANCASTER -CHARLES bickford<br />
STEVE COCHRAN<br />
• PHYLLIS THAXTER oi,«Mb,MICHAa CURTIZ<br />
JimThorp„
iki<br />
ladway<br />
Bright-Lights Are Blazing The News That<br />
THE MOTION PICTURE<br />
DUSTRY SCORES AGAIN!<br />
The lone Oklahoma Indian who became<br />
America's greatest all-around athlete<br />
is the new champ of the boxoffice /<br />
f<br />
^^<br />
%^ Boom-time business— beating ''Moonlight Bay''<br />
and "Flame and the Arrow" in Philly<br />
Cleveland/ Atlantic Cityf Tulsa ( Carlisle! Oklahoma City!^^<br />
Muskogee/<br />
Happy holdover to you^<br />
r'\ LOOK FORWARD f GO FORWARD^<br />
(dtu^ with JIM THORPE-ALL AMERICAN'<br />
and WARNER BROS ft
PiaURL<br />
OF THE *<br />
WEEK<br />
striking ad and poster art for 20th Century-Fox's out-of-this-world thriller, "The Day the<br />
Earth Stood Still," points up the strange, unearthly calibre of this top science-fiction<br />
film. Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal and Hugh Marlowe, the interplanetary spinetingler<br />
is released this month!<br />
(Advertisement)
T^uj^ o^t^7?2(>&(m7^c^^<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published in Nine Sectional Editions<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
JAMES M. JERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN... Executive Editor<br />
lESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
I, L. THATCHER....Equipment Editor<br />
lOHN G. TlNSLEY..Advertising Mgr.<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Editorial Offices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New<br />
York 20, N. Y. John G. Tlnsley, Advertising<br />
Manager: James M. Jerauld, Editor:<br />
Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser<br />
Section: Lou H. Gerard, Editor Promotion<br />
Section: A. J. Stocker, Bquipraent Advertising.<br />
Telephone COlumbus 5-8370.<br />
Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd..<br />
Kansas City I. Mo. Nathan Cohen, Executive<br />
Eklltor: Jesse Shlyen. Manaelng Editor:<br />
Morris Schlozraan, Business Manager.<br />
I. L. Thatrtier, Editor The Modern Theatre<br />
Section: Herbert Roush. Sales Manager,<br />
T.li-phone CHestnut 7777.<br />
Central Offices: Editorial—624 S. Mlchi-<br />
;,iri Ave., Clilcago 5. 111. Jonas Perlberg.<br />
Trlephone WEbster 9-4745. Advertising<br />
:5 East Wacker Drive. Chicago 1, 111.<br />
Kwing Hutchison and E. E. Yeck. Telephone<br />
ANdover 3-3042.<br />
Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising—6404<br />
Hollywood Bid., Hollywood<br />
28, Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Telephone<br />
GLadstone 1186. Equipment and<br />
Non-Film Advertising— 672 S. LaFayette<br />
Park Place. Los Angeles, Calif. Bob Wettslein,<br />
manager. Telephone DUnkirk 8-2286.<br />
Washinjiton Offices: Al Goldsmith, 1365<br />
.National Press Bldg. Phone Metropolitan<br />
110111- Sara Young. 032 New Jersey N.W.<br />
London Offices: 47. Gloucester Terrace.<br />
Lancaster Gate, \V. 2. Telephone Paddlngton<br />
7509. John Sullivan, manacer.<br />
The MODER.N THEATRE Section is included<br />
in the first issue of each month.<br />
The PROMOTION Section is included in<br />
the third issue of eacto month.<br />
.\lbany: 21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan.<br />
Birmingham: Tlie News, Eddie Badger.<br />
Boston: Frances W. Harding, Lib. 2-9305.<br />
Charlotte: 216 W. 4th,<br />
Pauline Griffith.<br />
Cincinnati: 4029 Reading, Lillian Lazarus.<br />
Cleveland: Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 1-0046.<br />
Hallas: 612V4 W. Jefferson, Frank Bradley.<br />
Iienver: 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose.<br />
I'es<br />
Moines: Register-Tribune, Russ Schoch.<br />
Ketroit: Fox Theatre Bldg., H. F. Reves.<br />
Indianapolis: Route 8, Box 770, Howard<br />
M. Rudeaux, OA 3339.<br />
.Memphis: 707 Spring St., Null Adams.<br />
Milwaukee: 2556 N. 3rd. C. W. Kraemer.<br />
Minneapolis: 2123 Fremont, So., Les Rees.<br />
New Haven: 42 Church, Gertrude Lander.<br />
New Orleans: Frances Jordan. N.O. States.<br />
Ilkla. City: Terminal Bldg., Polly Trlndle,<br />
(Imalia: 911 51st St., Irving Baker.<br />
Philadelphia: 5363 Berks, Norman Shigon.<br />
Pittsburgh: R. F. Klingensmith, 516 Jeannettc,<br />
n'llkinsburg, Churchill 1-2809.<br />
Portland, Ore. : .\rnold Marks, Oregon<br />
Journal. -Advertising: Mel Hickman, 907<br />
Terminal Sales Bldg.. ATwater 4107.<br />
SI. Louis: 5149 Rosa, David Barrett.<br />
Salt Lake City: Deseret News, H. Pearson<br />
San Antonio: 326 San Pedro, B-392S0,<br />
L. J. B. Kctner.<br />
San Francisco: Gail Lipman, 25 Taylor St..<br />
Ordway 3-4812. Advertising: .Terry Nowell,<br />
Howard Bldg., 209 Post St..<br />
YUkon 6-2522.<br />
Siattle: 1303 Campus Pkwy, Dave Ballard.<br />
In Canada<br />
Calgary: The .\lbertan, Helen Anderson.<br />
Montreal: 4330 Wilson, Roy Carmlchael.<br />
St. John: 116 Prince Edward, W, McNultv<br />
rnrnnto: R, R. 1. York Mills. M. Galbrailh<br />
Vancouver: Lyric Tlleatre Bldg., Jack Drny<br />
Winnipeg: 282 Ruperts, Ben Summers,<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Entered as Second Class matter at Post<br />
Office. Kansas City, Mo. Seotional Edition.<br />
$3,00 per year: National Edition, $7.50<br />
SEPTEMBER 8, 1951<br />
Vol. 59 No. 19<br />
SIGNS OF BETTER TIMES<br />
•<br />
NTHUSIASM is rife again in our business!<br />
Not only does this stem from the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. meetings that have been held around<br />
the country, it is generated to a considerable<br />
extent by the upsurge of business that began late<br />
in May and is steadily gaining in strength.<br />
We have frequently pointed out the need for<br />
enthusiasm as an essential to showmanship,<br />
whether it be used in the merchandising of a picture<br />
or in developing interest in the theatre.<br />
per se. With tastes for entertainment so variable,<br />
the instance is rare when an enthusiastic approach<br />
will be miscarried. Nevertheless, the current<br />
causes for a revival of the showmanship<br />
spark are soundly based in a consistently good<br />
output of picture fare and the new confidence<br />
which this has given to theatremen, producers<br />
and distributors. And the public!<br />
Another sign of a new and progressive spirit<br />
is the "one - for - all - and - all - for - one" attitude<br />
evinced at industry gatherings. For instance: Tn<br />
Kansas City last week. Charles Einfeld. vice-<br />
I)resident in charge of advertising and publicity<br />
for 20th Century-Fox. told the gathering of Fox<br />
Midwest Theatre managers about the merits of<br />
releases coming from other studios, as well as<br />
from his own. He mentioned competitors' product<br />
by name, as well as giving brief descriptions<br />
of some of these pictures. There was similar<br />
instance at the Commonwealth Theatres meeting<br />
held this week when Frank Whitbeck of the<br />
MGM studio. Archie Herzoff of Universal-<br />
International studio and Steve Broidv. president<br />
of Monogram, sjwke enthusiasticallv about the<br />
seneral product imorovement. naming pictures<br />
from other studios. This is an encouragins sign,<br />
for it carries forward the sellins of the industrv.<br />
as well as a particular brand or individual picture.<br />
That inspires confidence in the industry<br />
as a whole and. of course, enthusiasm, which is<br />
bound to exemplifv itself in merchandising to the<br />
public, both to and through the theatre.<br />
Putting selling effort, for product and institution,<br />
at the top of the list of ways to increase<br />
attendance. Howard Jameyson, president of Commonwealth,<br />
exhorted his managers to disregard<br />
budget when it comes to giving pictures the<br />
stronger selling that they merit, either for their<br />
entertainment qualities or because of soecial<br />
merchandising facets. He gave to his theatre<br />
managers similar authority for making property<br />
improvements—and institutional selling.<br />
Jameyson colorfully described such a course as<br />
taking "a calculated risk." But he was not being<br />
reckless, in this instance, because such a jiolicy<br />
had more or less been tried by his circuit and<br />
found to be successful in showing increases in<br />
attendance, whereas more conservative policies<br />
had shown patronage losses. Nevertheless, this<br />
is an unusual thing, which is another sign of<br />
confidence in the future of this business, of<br />
which only a short while ago there was some<br />
despair.<br />
At the outset of announcement of the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign, we concluded a commentary<br />
on this page as follows: "This Jubilee campaign<br />
must not be just a flash-in-the-pan that will<br />
fade out in .30 days. It must have the solid<br />
strength that will give it enduring value. To<br />
achieve that, there must be a continuance of good<br />
showmanship, coupled with a continuing release<br />
of pictures worthy of the extra effort. In other<br />
words, there must be a carrying forward of the<br />
teamwork—the unitv—thus far achieved through<br />
COMPO."<br />
It is therefore gratifying that R. J. O'Donnell<br />
has announced that the campaign will be extended<br />
as a celebration of the golden anniversary of<br />
the establishment of the first motion picture theatre.<br />
We are glad to see this recognition made of<br />
the theatre, because that, again, will bring about<br />
a selling of the institution, which cannot be overstressed.<br />
Yes, the signs of the times are better—much<br />
better—than they have been for a long time.<br />
Thev will continue to be good and to improve,<br />
so long as enthusiasm continues to back up the<br />
merchandising of the "goods" we have to sell.<br />
When a Knock Is<br />
a Boost<br />
That recent Life magazine article is turning<br />
out to be a blessing in disguise. It has stirred an<br />
industry resentment that has resulted in an increase<br />
of institutional advertising by theatres<br />
around the country and otherwise stepping up<br />
Itromotional activity. Further, it has tended to<br />
bring strong support to the industry from newspapers.<br />
Local and syndicated columns and editorials<br />
by the bushelful have taken a favorable<br />
stand for the industry.<br />
.Additionally, the confidence of continuing, if<br />
not increasing, public interest in motion pictures<br />
is evidenced by the introduction of motion picture<br />
sections or departments by national magazines<br />
that have never before given much attention<br />
to this entertainment medium. American<br />
magazine leads off its new section with two<br />
pages devoted to films, giving much less space<br />
to radio-TV and records. And that erudite Saturday<br />
Review of Literature has begun to review<br />
pictures in recognition of their importance to<br />
their readers.<br />
\JL^ yMJL2^y^
NEW YORK MOVIETIME RALLY<br />
JAMS RKO 58TH ST, THEATRE<br />
Biggest Industry Gathering<br />
Since the Bond Drives<br />
Of World War II<br />
NEW YORK—The rally in behalf of<br />
Movietime U.S.A. at the RKO 58th St. Theatre<br />
Thursday (6) was the biggest industry<br />
gathering since the War Savings Bonds<br />
gatherings of World War II. The theatre<br />
seats more than 3,000 persons and it was<br />
jammed.<br />
It was an all-industry holiday, with most<br />
of the home offices of distributors, practically<br />
all of the exchanges, and offices of National<br />
Screen Service, concessionaires and equipment<br />
dealers closed so workers could attend.<br />
Managers and staffs of many theatres in the<br />
metropolitan area also were present, along<br />
with an imposing group of executives.<br />
ODONXELL. .4LEX.\NDER SPEAK<br />
Among the company heads present were:<br />
Nicholas M. Schenck, Jack Cohn, Barney<br />
Balaban. Spyros P. Skouras and Sol Schwartz.<br />
In honor of the occasion the theatre was<br />
completely decorated with banners and other<br />
accessories. Even the marquee was changed<br />
for the day and a special platform was built<br />
on the stage in time for the opening of the<br />
.se.ssion at 9:30 a. m.<br />
The principal speakers were: Robert J.<br />
G'Donnell, national director of the campaign,<br />
and Rev. William Alexander, clergyman and<br />
operator of a Texas drive-in. Both stopped off<br />
here on their national tour in behalf of the<br />
drive. Arthur L. Mayer, representing the<br />
Council of Motion Picture Organizations,<br />
spoke briefly.<br />
Tlie Reverend Alexander, who has the Will<br />
Rogers gift for homespun philosophy and<br />
humorous down-to-earth stories, held the<br />
huge audience in the palm of his hand for<br />
the better part of an hour. He said he knew<br />
of nothing that even approached the movies<br />
in the way of entertainment and that one of<br />
the three rules for making a success of<br />
Movietime U.S.A. was "perspiration" to get<br />
the campaign rolling. He had the audience<br />
singing a campaign song and then had them<br />
get up and cheer him at the end of his<br />
speech.<br />
AMONG OTHERS WHO ATTENDED<br />
O'Donnell told of a plan, still in the discussion<br />
stage, to select a typical American movie<br />
family to .send on tour of the country during<br />
the drive.<br />
Fred Schwartz, Ed Rugoff. Harry Brandt,<br />
Wilbur Snaper and Maury Miller were four<br />
co-chairmen, representing the Organization<br />
of Motion Picture Industry of the City of<br />
New York, which has been working on a promotional<br />
campaign for some time and is cooperating<br />
with COMPO. Rugoff is president<br />
of the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres<br />
Ass'n; Harry Brandt is president of the Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of America: Wilbur<br />
Snaper is president of Allied Theatre<br />
Owners of New Jersey; Fred Schwartz is viceiiro.sident<br />
of the Century Circuit, and Maurice<br />
Rev. William Alexander addresses a<br />
luncheon meeting of motion picture men<br />
at the Cosmopolitan hotel in Denver after<br />
the Movietime U.S.A. Rocky Mountain<br />
area kickoff rally at the Denham hotel.<br />
Well-known filmites seen are Mayer Monsky<br />
(forefront), U-I Denver branch manager;<br />
rear, Joe Stone, National Theatre<br />
Supply branch manager; Larry Starsmore,<br />
president, Westland Circuit; and<br />
Don Alexander jr. of Alexander Films,<br />
Colorado Springs.<br />
Miller heads the New Jersey TOA unit.<br />
All the National Screen accessories that<br />
were ready were put on display. They were<br />
elaborate, and included balloons, valances,<br />
streamers, 24-sheets, three-sheets, one-sheets,<br />
40x60's, six-foot standees, ad slugs, stills and<br />
mats.<br />
In addition to the personalities mentioned<br />
above those present included:<br />
Columbia—A. Montague and Art Schmidt.<br />
MGM—William F. Rodgers, John Joseph, E. M.<br />
Saunders, Charles M. Reagan, John Byrne, H. M.<br />
Richey, M. L. Simons and Louis Allerhand.<br />
Paramount—Al Schwalberg, E. K. (Ted) O'Shea,<br />
Hugh Owen and Jerry Pickmon.<br />
RKO Pictures— Robert Mochrie, S. Borret McCormick.<br />
RKO Theatres— Horry Mandel and William Howard.<br />
Twentieth Century-Fox—William Gehring, AI Lichtman,<br />
Edward Aaron, Arthur Silverstone, Jonas Rosenfield,<br />
Rodney Bush and Charles Einfeld.<br />
United Artists—William J. Heineman, Bernard<br />
Kranze, Max E. Youngstein, Francis Winikus, Al<br />
Tamann, Not Nothanson and Edward Mullen.<br />
Universol-lnternationol—John J. O'Connor, Charles<br />
Feldmon, Maurice Bergman and Phil Gerard.<br />
Worner Bros.—Harry Goldberg, Horry Kalmine, Lou<br />
Kaufman, Frank Marsholl and Zeb Epstein.<br />
Herman Robbins and George Dembow were present<br />
from Notional Screen Service.<br />
Representatives of industry unions included Richard<br />
F, Walsh, Herman Gelber, Sol Pernick, Thomas<br />
Murtha and Jerry Choiken.<br />
From advertising agencies— E. J. Churchill, John<br />
Hertz jr. and Monroe Greenthal.<br />
Independent theatre owners and circuit representotives<br />
were: Max A. Cohen, Robert Weitman, David<br />
Weinstock, Leo Brecher, Joseph Seider, Julius Joelson,<br />
David T. Kotz, Sam Rinzler, Sam Rosen, Sol Strossberg,<br />
Russell Downing, Jack Doily, Chorles Hacker<br />
and Sidney Goldman.<br />
A. J. Richard, Walton Ament, Edmund Reek, M. D.<br />
Clofine and Thomas Mead represented the newsreels.<br />
Radio Tribute to Films<br />
Over CBS Sept. 24<br />
NEW YORK—Lux Radio Theatre will<br />
present<br />
16 Hollywood stars in scenes from their<br />
outstanding hits at 9 p. m. September 24 over<br />
the Columbia Broadcasting System network<br />
as a salute to the film industry.<br />
96 Hollywood Names<br />
Ready for Junkets<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Ninety-six representatives<br />
of filmdom's elite in the fields of acting, production,<br />
direction and writing have enlisted<br />
as the first volunteers and vanguard of a<br />
group of more than 200 to tour the nation as<br />
ambassadors-at-large during the COMPOsponsored<br />
Movietime U.S.A. celebration,<br />
which tees off October 8. As lined up by the<br />
Screen Actors Guild, Artists Managers Guild,<br />
Hollywood Coordinating Committee and studio<br />
talent heads, the junketeers are:<br />
Ployers—Dona Andrews, Roscoe Ates, Ward Bond,<br />
Billie Burke, Spring Byington, Joseph Collelo, Macdonold<br />
Corey, Charles Coburn, Broderick Crawford,<br />
Nancy Dovis, Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, William Demorest,<br />
Billy de Wolfe, Don Duryea, Mel Ferrer, Mono<br />
Freeman, Reginald Gardiner, Kathryn Grayson, Paul<br />
Harvey, William Holden, William Lundigan, Frank<br />
Loveioy, Dorothy Lomour, Viveca Lindfors, John Lund,<br />
Joyce McKenzie, Virginia Mayo, Michael O'Shea, Monica<br />
Lewis, Roddy McDowoll, George Murphy, Dennis<br />
O'Keefe, Debro Paget, Gregory Peck, Walter Pidgeon,<br />
Ronald Reagan, Donna Reed, Sheila Ryan, Charles<br />
Storrett, Craig Stevens, Borry Sullivan, Regis Toomsy,<br />
Forrest Tucker, Raymond Wolburn, Richard Widmark<br />
and Chill Wills.<br />
Producers— Irving Asher, Robert Bossier, Bryan Foy,<br />
Arthur Hornblow jr., George Jessel, Edward Knopf,<br />
Jesse L. Lasky sr., Sol Lesser, William Perlberg, Sol C.<br />
Siegel, Robert Sisk, Anthony Veiller, Walter Wanger,<br />
Corey Wilson and Sam Zimbalist.<br />
Directors—Edward Bernds, Frank Copra, Delmer<br />
Doves, Cecil B. DeMille, Henry King, Leo McCarey,<br />
George Marsholl, George Sidney, George Stevens end<br />
King Vidor.<br />
Writers—Sy Bartlett, Richard Breen, Charles Brackett,<br />
Oscar Brodney, Valentine Dovies, Helen Deutsch,<br />
Irwin Gielgud, Ivan Goff, Howard J. Green, Edmund<br />
Hortmonn, F. Hugh Herbert, Virginia Kellogg, John<br />
Larkin, Emmet Lovery, William Ludwig, Mary McCall,<br />
Richard Murphy, Sloan Nibley, Frank Nugent, Allen<br />
Rivkin, George Seoton, Leonard Spigelgoss and Karl<br />
Tunberg.<br />
All appearances are subject to picture commitments,<br />
and those unable to take part in<br />
the nationwide Movietime openings will participate<br />
in subsequent events, it was explained<br />
by Samuel J. Briskin, Hollywood chairman.<br />
A highlight of the year-long celebration will<br />
be the "Golden Jubilee" observance of the<br />
opening of the first exclusively motion picture<br />
theatre in Los Angeles in 1902. The touring<br />
celebrities will meet the public in schools,<br />
service clubs, chm-ches and similar organizations,<br />
but will make no theatre appearances.<br />
Bamberger Promoting Use<br />
Of Movietime Speakers<br />
NEW YORK—Use of speakers in each exchange<br />
area to tell civic organizations about<br />
Movietime U.S.A. has been advocated by Leon<br />
J. Bamberger. RKO sales promotion manager<br />
and head of the drive speakers' bureau, in a<br />
letter sent all area exchange chairmen. With<br />
it went a kit containing 11 speeches.<br />
Bamberger suggested that one person on<br />
each local committee be named bureau chairman<br />
and that he contact exchanges, exhibitor<br />
organizations, supply dealers and others for<br />
persons to address civic organizations. He<br />
asked that after speakers have been obtained,<br />
the chairman urge all exhibitors and<br />
exchange managers to arrange for engagements<br />
locally. Exhibitors also were asked to<br />
personally address their own audiences. Travel<br />
expense would be borne by the exhibitor requesting<br />
a speaker.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951
MORE COLOR FILMS AND STARS<br />
ON NEW MONOGRAM PROGRAM<br />
45 Features to Be Made<br />
At a Steady Rate of<br />
Four Each Month<br />
TORONTO—More color<br />
pictures than they<br />
ever released before, a more important star<br />
roster, the filming of popular stories by name<br />
authors—several of them literary classics<br />
and a greatly augmented producer contingent<br />
were all reflected in the confidence with<br />
which Steve Broidy, president of Monogram<br />
and Allied Artists, announced his companies'<br />
1951-52 season. Forty-five feature films, to be<br />
made at a steady rate of four a month, were<br />
detailed to a meeting of the Monogram Canadian<br />
distributing representatives at the King<br />
Edward hotel here Friday (7).<br />
PLAN 13 IN CINECOLOR<br />
More than one-fourth of the entire output<br />
will be filmed in Cinecolor, he said. These<br />
will be six high-budget Allied Artists productions,<br />
one Walter Wanger special and six<br />
Monogram productions. "The 100 per cent increase<br />
in color films," Broidy said, "is a result<br />
of the highly satisfactory returns we had<br />
on our six color specials released last season."<br />
The balance of the variegated Monogram program<br />
will include 32 films with all types of<br />
entertainment planned for the modern market,<br />
the company president stated.<br />
The entire program, Broidy revealed for<br />
the first time, will be under the supervision<br />
of newly appointed executive producer Walter<br />
Mirisch. "Furthermore," he added, "the door<br />
will be kept wide open for any producer who<br />
can augment this program with product which<br />
measures up to the caliber of our already<br />
scheduled films."<br />
Several other innovations for its Hollywood<br />
studios were noted in Monogram's schedule,<br />
including a heavier use of topical stories and<br />
the casting of two stars in the western product.<br />
The six Johnny Mack Brown films, for<br />
instance, will co-star Jimmy Ellison, while<br />
the six in the Whip Wilson series will have<br />
Jim ("Red Ryder") Bannon and Fuzzy<br />
Knight in support.<br />
THREE FROM WALTER WANGER<br />
The Allied Ai-tists program will include<br />
three Walter Wanger productions. First to<br />
go will be "Yellow Knife," based on the Saturday<br />
Evening Post serial, "Buccaneer of<br />
the Barrens," by Robert Ormond Case. John<br />
Tucker Battle, who scripted "The Frogmen,"<br />
has been signed to do the screenplay. Second<br />
on the Wanger program will be "Queen of<br />
the Universe," an original story by Ben<br />
Hecht, with Sherman Lowe doing the screenplay,<br />
followed by "Beauty and the Beast."<br />
Scott R. Dunlap will produce "The Police<br />
Story" with the cooperation of the Los Angeles<br />
police department and "Battle Zone."<br />
timely war drama. Scheduled as a Walter<br />
Mirisch production on the Allied Artists slate<br />
is "The Black Knight." the story of Richard<br />
the Lion-Hearted.<br />
Heading the Monogram Cinecolor program<br />
will be Wanger's "Aladdin and His Lamp,"<br />
augmented by six Monogram specials includ-<br />
AT KANSAS CITY MEETING<br />
The Monogram sales and production executives who met in Kansas City are (seated)<br />
in the usual order: G. Ralph Branton, member of the board; Steve Broidy, president;<br />
Morey Goldstein, general sales manager; Harold Mirisch, vice-president. Standing: L.<br />
E. Goldhammer, eastern sales manager; John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity;<br />
Ed Morey, vice-president; Lloyd Lind, supervisor of exchanges; James Prichard,<br />
southwest division sales manager; Walter Mirisch, executive producer, and Harold<br />
Wirthwein, western sales manager.<br />
KANSAS CITY—At a two-day session here<br />
(September 4, 5) Monogram Pictures Corp.<br />
sales and production executives discussed policies<br />
and plans for the marketing of the company's<br />
1951-52 product output. Steve Broidy,<br />
president, was highly enthusiastic, particularly<br />
about the high-budget all-color specials<br />
to be released both as Monogram and Allied<br />
ing "Hiawatha," to be produced by Mirisch;<br />
"Flat Top," to be produced with the cooperation<br />
of the U.S. navy; "Wagons West," starring<br />
Rod Cameron, to be made by Vincent<br />
M. Fennelly; "The Rose Bowl Story," which<br />
will bring the traditional game and event<br />
to the screen; "Wild Stallion" and "Little<br />
Shepherd of Kingdom Come."<br />
Leo Gorcey with Huntz Hall, under the<br />
guidance of Producer Jerry Thomas, will lead<br />
the Bowery Boys in four films, including<br />
"Bowery Leathernecks" and three others to<br />
be announced shortly. Johnny Sheffield will<br />
again star in two of the Bomba, the Jungle<br />
Boy series, which will be "African Treasure"<br />
and "Jungle Girl," with Mirisch as producer.<br />
Two Wayne Morris starrers, "Submarine<br />
School," to be filmed with the cooperation<br />
of the U.S. navy at New London, Conn., and<br />
"Starlight Canyon," will be produced by<br />
Lindsley Parsons.<br />
Wild Bill Elliott, newly acquired western<br />
star, will appear in two outdoor specials, to<br />
be filmed in sepia tone, "The Longhorn" and<br />
"Vengeance Trail." Stanley Clements will<br />
launch his new Monogram contract with "Jet<br />
Job" and "Army Bound," to be produced by<br />
Ben Schwalb. The topical pictures will be<br />
Artists productions. Announcement thereon,<br />
made at Toronto, appears in the adjoining<br />
columns.<br />
Addressing the convention of the Commonwealth<br />
Theatres, Inc., also meeting at Kansas<br />
City, Broidy urged that promotional activities<br />
be extended throughout the 365 days in<br />
the year, not held to special occasions.<br />
based on fast-moving events taken from the<br />
front pages.<br />
The popular James Oliver Curwood stories<br />
starring Kirby Grant and featuring Chinook,<br />
the canine star, will be produced by Lindsley<br />
Parsons. They are "Yukon Gold" and "Timber<br />
Wolf." From William F. Broidy Productions<br />
will come two action pictures, "Escape<br />
to Freedom," starring Roddy McDowall, and<br />
"Sea Tiger." Two collegiate pictures to be<br />
made against athletic backgrounds are scheduled.<br />
The entire western program will be produced<br />
by Vincent M. Fennelly.<br />
Zanuck Back From Europe<br />
After Production Talks<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Darryl Zanuck, 20th<br />
Century-Fox<br />
production head, has returned from<br />
Europe. While his trip abroad was primarily<br />
a vacation, he met with production aides<br />
while over there on plans for a number of<br />
films, including "Five Fingers," now in production<br />
at Ankara; "Diplomatic Courier" and<br />
"Snows of Kilimantaro." Locations are still<br />
to be chosen for the last two.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
^uiu ^e^tU<br />
Movietime Campaign Trailer<br />
To Represent All Companies<br />
MPAA advertising committee decides on<br />
unillied representation, but postpones setting<br />
date; 20th-Fox to issue its own reel late this<br />
month, RKO early in October: R. J. O'Donnell<br />
given progress report.<br />
Dept. of Justice May File<br />
Again in UA - U-I Case<br />
Next move awaited of D of J in its complaint<br />
to district court that the two companies have<br />
common officers and directors and UA should<br />
be required to sell its assets bought from Eagle<br />
Lion Classics.<br />
Philadelphia Family Drive-In<br />
Asks Majors for $255,000<br />
Antitrust action filed by Sablosky interests,<br />
.seeking triple damages from 1949 to date, is<br />
the first frontal attack on clearance practices<br />
in the Philadelphia area.<br />
*<br />
UA Sales Drive Is Started<br />
Month Ahead of Schedule<br />
October date discarded by W. J. Heineman,<br />
distribution head, to take advantage of booming<br />
business; campaign to continue to end of<br />
year with Max E. Youngstein as coordinator.<br />
*<br />
Subpenas for 40 Witnesses<br />
In Hollywood Red Probe<br />
The hearings, scheduled to be resumed in<br />
Hollywood September 17, with Rep. John S.<br />
Wood as chairman, are expected to take from<br />
two to three weeks.<br />
Catholic War Veterans Plan<br />
Cooperation With MPAA<br />
Now working out a program designed to<br />
prevent criticism of films on political grounds;<br />
move resulted from talks between Joyce<br />
O'Hara of MPAA and Donald J. McQuade,<br />
CWV national commander.<br />
AFM Extends Wage Pacts<br />
With Studio Musicians<br />
American Federation of Musicians signs<br />
two-year agreement with major studio instrumentalists<br />
to January 15, by "mutual consent."<br />
according to James C. Petrillo, president.<br />
Industry to Unify Requests<br />
For Theatre TV Channels<br />
Representatives of Allied, TOA, National<br />
Exhibitors Television Committe and distributors<br />
to coordinate strategy for appearances<br />
before FCC at gathering Monday (10) at<br />
MPAA New York headquarters.<br />
-X<br />
RCA to Show Its Color TV<br />
In New Series of Tests<br />
Broadcasters, distributors and dealers to<br />
view compatible, all-electronic system at<br />
Radio City, New York; demonstrations begin<br />
Monday (10 » ; set owners to see them in homes<br />
m tlack and white.<br />
Fox Divorcement Plan<br />
Ready for Stockholders<br />
NEW YORK—Stockholders of 20th Century-Fox<br />
Film Corp. will meet October 4 to<br />
approve the theatre divorcement plan and<br />
reorganization required by the Department<br />
of Justice consent decree. Notices, accompanied<br />
by proxy statements, were mailed<br />
Thursday (6). The new picture corporation<br />
and the new theatre corporation have not<br />
been named yet. The boards of directors of<br />
each will be authorized to do this.<br />
Each new company will have 3,000,000<br />
shares, all of one class and with equal<br />
voting rights. Holders of 20th-Fox will be<br />
entitled to the same number of shares in<br />
the new theatre company that they now hold<br />
in the picture company, but within three<br />
months after the splitup no officer, director<br />
or agent of the new picture corporation who<br />
owns one-half of 1 per cent of the shares of<br />
the new theatre corporation can retain control<br />
of it. He must either dispose of it or<br />
deposit it with a voting trustee to be named<br />
later. The trustee will be required to sell<br />
the stock within six months.<br />
The reorganization will become effective<br />
on or before June 7, 1953. No directors have<br />
been chosen for either as yet. Stock options<br />
are outstanding on 64,700 shares of 20th-Fox<br />
common at $25.25 per share and 21,700 at<br />
$25.87'2 per share. If these are exercised<br />
by Sept. 26, 1952, the expiration date, the<br />
new theatre company will be required to<br />
issue a share for each picture company share<br />
transferred in this way.<br />
TO SELL UNDELIVERED STOCK<br />
Any stock of the two new companies undelivered<br />
after three years will be sold. On<br />
June 30, 1951, National Theatres, which is<br />
a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of 20th-Fox,<br />
was interested in 541 theatres in the United<br />
States. The corporation also owned all the<br />
15,337 common shai'es of Roxy Theatre, Inc.,<br />
and preferred stock with $225,000 face amount.<br />
The picture company will transfer to the<br />
new theatre company 5,058 shares of Roxy<br />
common in exchange for the same number<br />
of shares of the new theatre company. The<br />
house may be operated by the new theatre<br />
company, or a subsidiary, or it may be leased.<br />
Within 60 days after transfer of the old<br />
corporation stock to the new corporations an<br />
application will be made in New York for<br />
dissolution of 20th-Fox.<br />
The divorcement will not affect the 20th-<br />
Pox foreign holdings. At present the company<br />
has 66 per cent in Hoyt's Theatres, Ltd.,<br />
which operates 170 theatres in Australia, a<br />
voting interest of 50 per cent and an equity<br />
interest of approximately 75 per cent in the<br />
stock of Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., which<br />
operates 50 theatres in New Zealand and a<br />
49 per cent interest in Metropolis and Bradford<br />
Trust Co., Ltd., which has about 55 per<br />
cent voting control and about 45 per cent<br />
ownership in the voting shares of Gaumont-<br />
British Rcture Corp., Ltd., which in turn<br />
controls a circuit of 260 theatres in Great<br />
Britain and also produces pictures. In addition,<br />
other subsidiaries have interests in theatres<br />
in Egypt, Colombia and Chile, interests<br />
of 43 per cent, 50 per cent and 100<br />
per cent in three theatres in South Africa,<br />
and a 50 per cent interest In a theatre in<br />
Holland.<br />
No capital gains taxes will be involved in<br />
the transfer. Assets of the new picture corporation<br />
are figured at $108,054,000. These<br />
are made up as follows; Cash, $14,023,000;<br />
notes and accounts receivable, $9,736,000; inventories,<br />
$59,128,000; advances to outside<br />
producers, $951,000; prepaid operating expenses<br />
and supplies, $499,000; investments<br />
and other assets, $9,983,000; plant and equipment,<br />
$13,737,000.<br />
Liabilities and capital are listed as follows;<br />
Current liabilities, including funded<br />
debt of $2,000,000 due currently, $16,588,000:<br />
long-term debt, $7,021,000; reserve for contingencies,<br />
$3,992,000: stockholders investment,<br />
$80,453,000.<br />
The theatre company assets are figured at<br />
$55,520,000 divided as follows; Current assets,<br />
including $11,250,000 of cash, $15,200,000; investments<br />
and other assets, $2,445,000; property,<br />
plant and equipment, $37,875,000.<br />
Liabilities are given as follows: CiU'rent<br />
liabilities, including funded debt of $1,860,000<br />
—$9,356,000; long-term debt, $25,410,000; reserve<br />
for contingencies. $1,045,000; stockholders<br />
investment, $17,744,000.<br />
1950 LIABILITIES AND ASSETS<br />
In the annual report for 1950 for 20th<br />
Century-Fox as at present operating, total<br />
assets and liabilities were listed as $129,779,732<br />
for the film units and $84,991,787 for the<br />
theatre units. Domestic film rentals paid by<br />
National to 20th-Fox have been running<br />
about 25 per cent of the total receipts. In<br />
1949 the total was 25 per cent, in 1950, 26<br />
per cent, and for five months of 1951, 24 per<br />
cent.<br />
As previously published, the consent decree<br />
required that National drop 91 theatres<br />
and four parcels of real estate within two<br />
years from June 7, 1951. Just before the<br />
decree was entered 31 of these theatres were<br />
closed and seven were operated part-time.<br />
Divestiture of three others had been ordered<br />
previously by the expediting court.<br />
There are conditions attached to further<br />
divestiture in which the operations of competitors<br />
figure. These cover 57 situations.<br />
In 108 situations, if a competitor is unable<br />
to acquii-e films, divestiture may be ordered<br />
later.<br />
Skouras to Fly to Zurich<br />
And Check on Eidophor<br />
NEW YORK — Spyros P. Skouras, 20th<br />
Century-Fox president, plans to fly to Zurich<br />
within two weeks to see what progress has<br />
been made in adapting the new Swiss<br />
Eidophor system of theatre television to the<br />
use of color. The company has said it will<br />
demonstrate the system here this fall and<br />
Skouras would like to show it at the stockholders'<br />
meeting October 4, but there is<br />
some doubt if it will be ready by that time.<br />
The company and Columbia Broadcasting<br />
System have reached an agreement allowing<br />
the film company to use the CBS color television<br />
system in the development of Eidophor<br />
for theatre use. General Electric will manufacture<br />
the equipment.<br />
10 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 8, 1951
L<br />
6ie^-^.<br />
SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST<br />
(in the 20th Century-fox Showmanship Sensation I<br />
THE DAYa<br />
t\\miA\<br />
I<br />
^nnd/or adver-<br />
5^:j,:°Er£-'-,<br />
theatre any
26 PRIZES TOTALING<br />
WHO COME UP WITH |l<br />
/<br />
Shl^^i^^S<br />
ich kit contains:<br />
FREE SHOWIMANSHIP KIT!<br />
''— Yours for the asking!<br />
Chockful of ideas and material<br />
to help you plan a<br />
hard-hitting Selling C<<br />
»aign on<br />
OD STILL'<br />
fff ADVERTISIHG PROOFS. . . PUBUCITY<br />
STORIES. . . STILLS. . . REPRODUCTION ART..W<br />
SCEME MATS. . . SAMPLES OF HmLVt<br />
ACCESSORIES... TABimimbPAGE<br />
._,_i;i<br />
SHOCK HER ^" onW^pecialiy compiled<br />
f'leSev. "8,//-.,<br />
I<br />
SHOWMAN'S MANUAL that gives detailed<br />
information<br />
obout -, fj^Ti^/j^fMij|or any theatre<br />
TEASER TRAILFRS... RADIO CAMPJUGH...<br />
FREE SPOT AHHOUHCEMEHT RECORDS. .<br />
GRATIS TWENH-FOUR SHEH POSTERS<br />
how to sell and exploit "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD<br />
STILL" on the screen, in the lobby, out front,<br />
on the billboards, in newspaper advertising and<br />
publicity . . . tv. - radio - direct mail I<br />
'••"WW!../,,'<br />
'•'"'«WnoN '<br />
TDl/ y.. -<br />
''<br />
EXPLOITATION DEPARTMENT<br />
Write or wire fo 20th Century-Fox Film Corp.<br />
444 West 56th St., New York City
15,0®® FOR $HOWMEN<br />
CKO CA<br />
MOOD<br />
First Prize<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Second Prize<br />
^750<br />
U.S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Third<br />
«500<br />
Prize<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Fourth Prize<br />
$<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
f<br />
Fifth Prize<br />
$<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Sixth Prize<br />
M50<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Next 10<br />
MOO<br />
Prizes<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Next 15 Prizes<br />
$ 75<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
Next 100 Prizes<br />
Next 195 Prizes<br />
$ 50<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND<br />
THE PICTURE<br />
IS<br />
TERRIFIC! WILL LIVE UP<br />
TO EVERY EFFORT YOU MAKE<br />
TO PUT IT OYER BIG ! I<br />
Study the title!<br />
Magnetic! Arouses curiosity!<br />
The theme is in the domain of<br />
science-fiction. Off the beaten path!<br />
Space ships, thinking robots, disintegrating<br />
rays, life machines, all those<br />
weird and strange things that appeal<br />
to the untold millions who enjoy the<br />
unusual in<br />
screen entertainment.<br />
U. S. SAVINGS BOND
RUIES FOR $15,000 CONTEST ON<br />
"UK MT ni EARIN SIOOO SHU"<br />
ENTRY DmTE^ All entries must be postmarked on or before midnight of January 15, 1952.<br />
THE JUDGINCi Judging will be based upon the best and most productive advertising, exploitation<br />
and publicity campaigns for ''The Day the Earth Stood Still."<br />
In judging winners, consideration will be given to the nature of the run, the class of house,<br />
its location and business produced, in order to permit equal competition between small town<br />
theatres, neighborhood houses and downtown de luxe theatres.<br />
HOW TO ENTEn^ l. Submit a written summary of the advertising, exploitation and publicity<br />
campaign you stage for your engagement of "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL," documented<br />
with newspaper tear sheets, photos and other specimens.<br />
This summary may be in any form you elect, whether letter, memo, scrapbook, folder,<br />
etc., and may be of any length or dimension. However, judging will be done solely on the basis<br />
of the factors outlined in these Rules. Elaborateness of campaign books or of presentations will<br />
have no bearing whatever on the decision of the judges.<br />
jBMwecotJBSlS<br />
The lodging ^^^^joWowing--<br />
of t»^<br />
be<br />
composed<br />
ROBERT<br />
B.<br />
W\LB^<br />
2. This summary must in all instances include the<br />
following specific Information, in addition to an<br />
outline of the campaign activities themselves:<br />
(a)<br />
Size of theatre (seats)<br />
(b) Population and type of<br />
community .<br />
(c)<br />
Run given "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD<br />
STILL" .<br />
Circuii<br />
tor<br />
(d)<br />
Percentage of normal business<br />
(e) Receipts for engagement (optional)<br />
3. Send your summary by first class mail to<br />
SOL SCH\NW«<br />
THE DAYTHE EARTH STOOD STILL COMMITTEE<br />
^ ^ -tW Orpheum<br />
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.<br />
Preside "'<br />
r°M.w York, N.Y.<br />
New<br />
444<br />
Theatres Inc. V/est 56th Street, New York 19, N.Y.<br />
VlMTt" BROOKS^<br />
Thete judges will select the best entries. Their decision<br />
will be final and the winners will be notified<br />
by telephone or telegraph. Entrants agree that all<br />
summaries submitted in the contest art the property<br />
CHESTER «.l«i'*^«<br />
Shownnondise<br />
of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation and that<br />
Editor<br />
Section -BoxoH.c the same and/or material or ideas therein contained<br />
may be freely copied or otherwise used by<br />
or through said corporation.<br />
In case of a lie, duplicate prizes will be awarded.<br />
This contest is subject to federal, state end local<br />
regulations.<br />
There's No Business Like 2oiBusiness!i<br />
CENTURY- FOX
20th-Fox Wanb to Know:<br />
If Radio Frequencies<br />
Can Be Used for TV<br />
WASHINGTON — Twentieth Century-Fox<br />
on Thursday (6i asked the Federal Communications<br />
Commission to include as one of<br />
the issues to be considered in the forthcoming<br />
November theatre television hearings the<br />
feasibility of using the frequencies now assigned<br />
to motion pictures as an industrial radio<br />
service for theatre television. These are<br />
the frequencies utilized for mobile transmission<br />
by film units on location.<br />
Twentieth-Fox pointed out that if it proved<br />
advisable to allocate these frequencies for<br />
theatre television, the commission would not<br />
have to assign frequencies for this purpose<br />
which might have to be taken away from<br />
some other use, since there would be no interference<br />
with the .service using these bands<br />
now.<br />
In a petition filed by Attorneys Welch, Mott<br />
& Morgan and Dwight, Royall, Harris, Koegel<br />
& Caskey, 20th-Fox expressed the opinion<br />
that theatre TV legally could be included as<br />
an industrial radio service. If the commission<br />
finds the present regulations on industrial<br />
radio services cannot be applied to theatre<br />
TV, 20th-Fox noted, the provisions could be<br />
easily amended if, as a result of the hearings,<br />
it is concluded that theatre TV should be<br />
. . .<br />
regulated under these rules.<br />
The 20th-Fox petition said the frequencies<br />
which have been assigned to the motion picture<br />
radio service "are quite suitable for theatre<br />
television purposes<br />
"These frequencies are adequate in range,<br />
could be used effectively by a theatre television<br />
system, and could be assigned on a<br />
shared basis to the theatre television industry.<br />
Such would effect a further economy in<br />
frequency allocation; would eliminate the<br />
problem of using frequencies already allocated<br />
to common carriers or those allocated to the<br />
fixed and mobile services, and others: and<br />
would in no way prejudice the other services<br />
now operating or proposing to operate<br />
in the frequency bands specified."<br />
All possibilities of establishing theatre television<br />
should be studied, 20th-Fox said, because<br />
the planned service "holds great<br />
promise of rendering to the American people<br />
a new facility through which educational,<br />
public service, entertainment, and other programs<br />
of vital interest and fine quality can<br />
be presented to the public ..."<br />
Expect More Than $26,000<br />
At B&K Houses on Fight<br />
CHICAGO—The theatre telecast of the<br />
Sugar Ray Robinson-Turpin fight September<br />
12 in three houses of Balaban & Katz circuit<br />
can gross the circuit more than $26,000 in the<br />
event of a sellout for the bout.<br />
The B&K chain has added the Uptown<br />
Theatre, 4,320-seater, to its other two big<br />
screen-rigged houses, State-Lake and Tivoli.<br />
for the event which will give it the benefit<br />
of 13,100 seats. Admissions will be upped to $2.<br />
The circuit has been pushing installation<br />
at the Uptown and Marbro theatres, but only<br />
the former will be readied in time for the<br />
bout. Installation at the Marbro would give<br />
B&K big-screen TV in all its major locations<br />
here.<br />
RKO Wins First TV Round<br />
In Special Events Battle<br />
NEW YORK—Behind the scenes there<br />
has been a battle during the past three<br />
weeks to decide whether special events<br />
shall stay off the air and go into theatres<br />
pending further development of theatre<br />
television.<br />
Round 1 has been won by RKO. There will<br />
be no newsreel, radio or television coverage<br />
of the Ray Robinson-Randy Turpin fight<br />
Wednesday (12).<br />
Round 2 will come when the receipts are<br />
totaled up. If, as expected, the income from<br />
the film to be made by RKO-Pathe exceeds<br />
the $300,000 which two important advertisers<br />
were willing to pay for the home television<br />
rights, future important special events will<br />
be shared by theatre television and films<br />
until the time comes when enough theatres<br />
will be equipped with TV to make the films<br />
unprofitable.<br />
NETWORK OF 17 THEATRES<br />
Big stakes are involved. The International<br />
Boxing Club knows that if the fight goes to<br />
home and tavern TV receivers the Polo<br />
Grounds gross will be hit hard. The club<br />
expects the total to reach $750,000—a figure<br />
reminiscent of the old Dempsey-Tunney<br />
grosses— if there is no air competition. Theatre<br />
operators know that if the fight should<br />
go on the air attendance would be "cut to<br />
pieces," as Robert Mochrie, vice-president<br />
in charge of distribution for RKO, describes<br />
it.<br />
A large operator, who preferred not to have<br />
his name used, put it another way. He said<br />
flatly that grosses would fall off more than<br />
25 per cent.<br />
Theatre television has not reached the<br />
point where it can compete for important<br />
special events. Nathan L. Halpern, president<br />
of Theatre Network Television, which<br />
is handling the booking of the TV rights,<br />
expects 17 theatres to use the attraction.<br />
Advanced admissions will be required. Even<br />
so the income to the International Boxing<br />
Club would not go over $30,000, just about<br />
one-tenth of what would be required to take<br />
the attraction away from Pabst or Gillette.<br />
GUARANTEE NOT DISCLOSED<br />
Mochrie says it might take two, three or<br />
four years for theatre installations to reach<br />
the point where exhibitors, acting as a<br />
group, could out-bid the advertisers.<br />
"In the meantime," he said, "the habit of<br />
seeing of special events in homes and taverns<br />
would become more fixed. We want entertainment<br />
and special events in theatres."<br />
For a number of years, RKO made pictures<br />
of heavyweight fights. Others were not<br />
considered worth while. That was before<br />
television. Boxing promoters retained ownership<br />
of the films. RKO Pathe produced them<br />
and received a share of the gross. Some of<br />
the grosses were big.<br />
When television began to take hold in a<br />
big way about three years ago RKO decided<br />
not to compete.<br />
"Now," says Mochrie, "television has fallen<br />
into a pattern. In addition, sponsors of<br />
special events know it has hurt their business,<br />
so we have gone back into the competition<br />
to take a huge gamble. We had to put<br />
up a guarantee with a deadline of September<br />
1."<br />
Mochrie wouldn't say what the guarantee<br />
was. He derided a story in a trade paper<br />
that it would be $20,000 and pointed out that<br />
with a $300,000 offer already in hand the<br />
boxing promoters wouldn't be interested in<br />
that tiny sum.<br />
He had some anxious moments before September<br />
1. The boxing promoters were getting<br />
cocky. Ringside seats were sold out three<br />
days after they were put on sale August 1.<br />
He appealed to circuit heads across the country<br />
and they came through with enough orders<br />
to cover the guarantee.<br />
There are some unique angles to the preparation<br />
and distribution of this fight film.<br />
RKO will invest $500,000 in this fight and<br />
the Willie Pep vs. Sandy Sadler fight that<br />
will follow. That is a lot of money for two<br />
20-minute subjects—a world's record, in fact.<br />
For the first time a film company will try<br />
to get a picture all the way across the country<br />
and to Europe the day following the<br />
event. This competes with TV newsreels and<br />
makes the old-fashioned newsreel coverage<br />
seem archaic. Twelve hundred prints will be<br />
made—another record.<br />
Truman's Video Speech<br />
Is Light Competition<br />
NEW YORK—President Truman's inauguration<br />
of coast-to-coast television Tuesday<br />
night at the opening of the Japanese peace<br />
treaty conference in San Francisco failed<br />
to make any measurable impression on theatre<br />
grosses in the east.<br />
It went on at 10:30 (eastern daylight saving<br />
time). Unlike President Roosevelt's muchpublicized<br />
fireside chats, which used to be<br />
considered 15 to 20 per cent competition Sunday<br />
evenings, this speech was not an important<br />
competitive factor for theatres, according<br />
to circuit heads.<br />
No theatres equipped to show television<br />
carried the talk, although they could have<br />
made arrangements with any of the four<br />
networks—NBC, CBS, ABC and Du Mont.<br />
Technically, the pictures were good, according<br />
to tho.se who saw them at home or<br />
in taverns, but the fact that the program<br />
was a milestone in the development of TV<br />
didn't seem to make much impression.<br />
The new microwave relay chain carried<br />
the telecast as far east as Omaha where it<br />
hooked up with the existing connections of<br />
the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. It<br />
was estimated that 12,740,000 receivers could<br />
have been tuned in, as the networks pooled<br />
their facilities. Another similar hookup was<br />
scheduled for the signing of the treaty Saturday<br />
(8).<br />
One result probably will be another speedup<br />
of the Bell system facilities. The program<br />
calls for an extension from Kansas<br />
City through Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City,<br />
Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.<br />
Another microwave relay will connect<br />
Nashville, Chattanooga and Lynchburg,<br />
W. Va., with the existing hookup.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951 15
Senate Committee Trims<br />
Non-Profit<br />
WASHINGTON—E x h i b i t o r s stand to<br />
achieve a large share of their request for<br />
equal competitive opportunity taxwise with<br />
non-profit institutions as a result of the<br />
senate finance committee's action Friday (31)<br />
in severely trimming the broad admission tax<br />
exemptions granted these organizations in the<br />
house tax bill.<br />
The senate committee did not eliminate the<br />
house provision entirely, but it went a long<br />
way in its recognition of the Council of Motion<br />
Picture Organizations' arguments presented<br />
to it by Allied Board Chairman Abram<br />
F. Myers.<br />
AWAIT FULL SENATE ACTION<br />
The committee decision, which still must<br />
be accepted by the full senate and by a<br />
house-senate conference before it can become<br />
effective, would keep the admissions tax on<br />
all film showings by nonprofit groups, including<br />
religious, charitable and educational<br />
ones. The tax also would be retained on admissions<br />
to any kind of entertainment given<br />
in a motion picture theatre, and on cooperative<br />
and community center film houses.<br />
The definition of religious organizations was<br />
narrowed by the committee to churches or<br />
groups of churches; only those charitable organizations<br />
supported primarily by public<br />
contributions would be eligible for tax exemptions:<br />
and educational institutions actually<br />
would have to have a faculty to be able to<br />
take advantage of the admissions levy waiver.<br />
The house provision freeing symphonies<br />
and operas supported substantially by public<br />
contributions was retained, however.<br />
The industry won another victory Friday<br />
when the committee voted approval of a<br />
house provision exempting passes from the<br />
admissions tax and permitting theatres to<br />
base the tax on reduced-price tickets on the<br />
amount actually charged instead of the present<br />
rule of basing the tax on free and reduced<br />
admissions on the regular established<br />
price.<br />
ONE FILM INDUSTRY SETBACK<br />
The film industry did receive one setback,<br />
however, when the committee threw out the<br />
house-approved "business use" exemption<br />
from the excise tax on film and photographic<br />
equipment. This provision would free<br />
rawstock and other film and equipment used<br />
by the studios and exhibitors from the tax.<br />
The committee, however, reduced the house<br />
rate on both film and photographic apparatus<br />
from 20 per cent to 15 per cent, but this was<br />
not much of a consolation prize.<br />
Although film industry comment has been<br />
scarce, the indu.stry appears fairly well satisfied<br />
with the actions of the senate finance<br />
committee. Myers, chairman and witness for<br />
COMPO at committee tax hearings, reserved<br />
full comment because of the tentative nature<br />
of such actions before specific bills are reported,<br />
but said he would be "gratified" if<br />
the final bill bore out Friday's reports.<br />
The committee, according to members interviewed<br />
on Tuesday (4). felt that definite<br />
concessions had been made in correcting<br />
inequities as between the film industry and<br />
charity and nonprofit competition. Although<br />
MPAA still hopes to get more favorable action<br />
Tax Bill<br />
on rawstock and film equipment and Myers<br />
fears that some of the favorable actions may<br />
be overturned in final committee actions, the<br />
members believe that the tax bill will not be<br />
changed respecting the film industry.<br />
More on the doubtful side is the fact that<br />
even after the finance committee reports a<br />
bill, it will still be subject to change on the<br />
floor of the senate and in the eventual senatehouse<br />
conference.<br />
Committee members point out that under<br />
the terms of the draft they are preparing It<br />
is "clear" that no film could be shown taxfree<br />
and that other tax-free competition has<br />
been lessened.<br />
Four Columbia Players<br />
To Tour 40 Key Cities<br />
NEW YORK — Four Columbia stars will<br />
make personal appearances in 40 key cities<br />
during the next four weeks to publicize "Saturday's<br />
Hero," "Pickup" and "The Mob."<br />
The first and longest tour started September<br />
5 when Beverly Michaels, featured<br />
in "Pickup," attended the opening of the<br />
film at Loew's, Indianapolis. She will also<br />
visit Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and<br />
other eastern cities.<br />
Broderick Crawford, starred in "Tlie Mob,"<br />
starts his jaunt in Syracuse and Rochester<br />
September 10 and then moves through western<br />
New York, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri<br />
as the picture has saturation bookings in<br />
those territories.<br />
John Derek and Donna Reed, starred in<br />
"Saturday's Hero," arrived in New York September<br />
4 and will remain until the New York<br />
opening at the Victoria September 11. They<br />
will then begin a tour in Oklahoma City and<br />
swing through the midwest and east, covering<br />
Detroit, Cincinnati. Cleveland and other key<br />
cities.<br />
Nat'l Theatre Supply Gets<br />
35 Theatre TV Orders<br />
NEW YORK—National Theatre Supply has<br />
received 35 orders from exhibitors for theatre<br />
TV equipment in the last 60 days. Twelve<br />
of the houses have signed for Videofilm system<br />
and 23 have ordered the Simplex direct<br />
projection system, both of them manufactured<br />
by General Precision Laboratories.<br />
National Theatre Supply, which is the only<br />
company offering both types of theatre TV<br />
systems, reported strong exhibitor attendance<br />
at its special TV "clinics" in principal cities<br />
in the south and west during August.<br />
Banquet for Film Dog<br />
NEW YORK—Flame, the German shepherd<br />
dog that appears in "You Never Can Tell"<br />
(U-I) will be guest of honor at a dinner to<br />
be given by the National Dog Welfare Guild<br />
September 24 at the Savoy Plaza hotel. National<br />
Dog week will be observed September<br />
24 to September 30. Flame will lead a parade<br />
in Chicago September 29 and will make personal<br />
appearances in Boston September 12 at<br />
the RKO Boston Theatre with a tour to<br />
follow.<br />
Eric Johnston Expects<br />
To Quit ESA Oct. 24<br />
WASHINGTON—Eric Johnston expects to<br />
resign as economic stabilization director on<br />
October 24 and return to active leadership<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America.<br />
Johnston took a nine-month leave of absence<br />
from his position as MPAA president in January<br />
to take the government defense job, and<br />
will quit nine months to the day after being<br />
sworn in, according to Kenneth Clark, MPAA<br />
public information director.<br />
"He has no plans to stay any longer than<br />
October 24—or to quit any sooner," Clark declared.<br />
He denied flatly that Johnston had<br />
asked President Truman for permission to<br />
leave—either on October 24 or earlier—because<br />
of his inability to see eye to eye on<br />
policy matters with his superior. Defense<br />
Mobilization Chief Charles E. Wilson, as has<br />
been reported by Washington newspaper columnists.<br />
There is nothing surprising about<br />
his contemplated departure from the government,<br />
Clark said. It is coming off exactly<br />
as scheduled and announced, he pointed<br />
out, unless unforeseen circumstances intervene.<br />
Johnston expressed the hope a new economic<br />
stabilization director could be found as<br />
soon after October 24 as possible so that he<br />
could return to his MPAA job.<br />
In the interim Johnston plans to go to<br />
Europe for several weeks and bring back<br />
a report to President Truman on economic<br />
conditions there.<br />
The New York Times, generally complimentary<br />
to the MPAA president, carried a<br />
Washington dispatch Monday which stated:<br />
"If he has further ambitions politically his<br />
withdrawal from the administration's defense<br />
mobilizations team in October would not hurt<br />
him should the RepubUcans next year be<br />
thinking of a west coast running mate for<br />
their nominee."<br />
The N. Y. Herald-Tribune, in a laudatory<br />
editorial Tuesday, said, "we should like to see<br />
Mr. Johnston remain longer in a field where<br />
so much remains to be done. At the least, we<br />
can expect that this will not be his last<br />
appearance in public life. There will be other<br />
calls, and we have no doubt he will respond<br />
to them. Mr. Johnston in all his undertakings<br />
has shown himself energetic, resourceful<br />
and imaginative. Besides, he has<br />
always been a good Republican."<br />
Four Declare Dividends;<br />
Paramount to Pay 50c<br />
NEW YORK—Du-ectors of Paramount Pictures<br />
Corp have voted a quarterly dividend<br />
of 50 cents per share on the common, payable<br />
September 28, 1951, to holders of record<br />
September 19.<br />
The board of directors of Loew's, Inc., has<br />
voted a quarterly dividend of 37 '2 cents per<br />
share, payable September 29, to stockholders<br />
of record September 14.<br />
Republic has declared a dividend of 25 cents<br />
a share on the preferred stock, payable October<br />
1 to stockholders of record September<br />
12. The action was taken at a board meeting<br />
August 30.<br />
A dividend of 10 cents per share on the<br />
outstanding capital stock of RKO Theatres<br />
Corp. has been voted by the board, payable<br />
October 14 to stockholders of record September<br />
28.<br />
16 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
kumr!<br />
/^^^k<br />
A year in the making! Thousands in the<br />
cast! For the millions who thrill to excitement<br />
and romance in the rugged West<br />
M-G-M presents a new and won-<br />
. . .<br />
derful Technicolor adventure.<br />
I/- 6-1/<br />
CURK GABLE<br />
ACROSS<br />
THE WIDE<br />
MISSOURI<br />
•Mtfi^N •<br />
im mm<br />
i^ni ismu<br />
M ft<br />
ALBANY- 9/17-2 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1052 Broadway<br />
ATLANTA-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
20th-Fox Screen Room<br />
197 Walton St., N.W.<br />
BOSTON 9/17-2 P.M.<br />
M-G-M Screen Room<br />
46 Church Street<br />
BUFFALO-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
290 Franklin Street<br />
CHARLOTTE 9/17-1 :30 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
308 S. Church Street<br />
CHICAGO-9/17-1 :30 P.M.<br />
H. C. Igel's Screen Room<br />
1301 S. Wabash Avenue<br />
CINCINNATI 9/17-8 P.M.<br />
RKO Palace BIdg. Screen Roon<br />
16 East Sixth Street<br />
CLEVELAND-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
2219 Payne Avenue<br />
DALLAS-9/17-2:30 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1803 Wood Street<br />
DENVER-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
Paramount Screen Room<br />
2100 Stout Street<br />
DES MOINES-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1300 High Street<br />
DETROIT-9/17-1:30P.M.<br />
Max Blumenthal's Sc. Rm.<br />
2310 Cass Avenue<br />
INDIANAPOLIS-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th-Fox Screen Room<br />
326 North Illinois Street<br />
JACKSONVILLE-9/17-8 P.M.<br />
Florida State Screen Room<br />
128 East Forsyth Street<br />
KANSAS CITY- 9/17-1 :30 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1720 Wyandotte Street<br />
LOSANGELES-9/17-2P.M.<br />
United Artists' Screen Room<br />
1851 South Westmoreland<br />
MEMPHIS-9/17--12 Noon<br />
20th-Fox Screen Room<br />
151 Vance Avenue<br />
MILWAUKEE-9/17-1 :30 P.M.<br />
Warner Screen Room<br />
212 West Wisconsin Avenue<br />
MINNEAPOLIS-9/17-2P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1015 Currie Avenue<br />
NEW HAVEN-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
2ath-Fox Screen Room<br />
40 Whiting Street<br />
NEW ORLEANS-9/17-1 :30 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
200 South Liberty Street<br />
NEW YORKN. J. -9/17-2:30 P.M.<br />
M-G-M Screen Room<br />
630 Ninth Avenue<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
10 North Lee Street<br />
OMAHA 9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
1502 Davenport Street<br />
PHILADELPHIA 9/17-11 A.M.<br />
M-G-M Screen Room<br />
1233 Summer Street<br />
PITTSBURGH-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
M-G-M Screen Room<br />
1623 Boulevard of Allies<br />
PORTLAND-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
B. F. Shearer Screen Room<br />
1947 N. W. Kearney Street<br />
ST. LOUIS 9/17-1 P.M.<br />
S'Renco Art Theatre<br />
3143 Olive Street<br />
SALT LAKE CITY-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
216 East First Street, South<br />
SAN FRANCISCO-9/17-l:30 P.M.<br />
20th- Fox Screen Room<br />
245 Hyde Street<br />
SEATTLE-9/17-1 P.M.<br />
Jewel Box Preview Theatre<br />
2318 Second Avenue<br />
WASHINGTON-9/17-2 P.M.<br />
RKO Screen Room<br />
932 North Jersey Avenue, N.W.<br />
M-G-M's BANNERLINE TRADE SHOWS SEPT. 14th<br />
(Except Jacksonville which is Sept. 18th)<br />
The screen's new young sweethearts in a roaring romance!<br />
ALBANY
Door-to-Door Calls Sell<br />
'Cyrano<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In times such as these,<br />
when boxoffice takes are not always as<br />
healthy as might be expected, the "get-outand-work"<br />
formula is in the forefront as a<br />
prescribed remedy.<br />
The efficacy of that prescription has been<br />
demonstrated, and soundly, in several current<br />
and recent instances, of which the intensive<br />
door-to-door campaign initiated by the diligent<br />
drumbeating department of Stanley<br />
Kramer Productions on behalf of "Cyrano<br />
de Bergerac" is a prime example.<br />
As blueprinted by George Glass, Kramer's<br />
vice-president in charge of publicity and advertising,<br />
the plan called for a saturation<br />
doorbell-ringing drive during the recent popular<br />
price engagement of "Cyrano" in Los<br />
Angeles, which formula was repeated when<br />
the Jose Ferrer starrer opened at the Mission<br />
Theatre in San Diego.<br />
Initiated a week prior to the picture's<br />
opening in that southern California city, the<br />
campaign called for the employment of four<br />
college girls, each of whom was assigned a<br />
different section of San Diego in which to<br />
work. In five days they covered more than<br />
2,500 houses, hitting alternate blocks so that<br />
word-of-mouth would spread. The collegiennes<br />
handed out numbered chances on free<br />
tickets to a special "Cyrano" showing, along<br />
with a brochure describing the United Artists<br />
release, and discussed reasons why the picture<br />
should be patronized by family groups.<br />
As in the Los Angeles campaign, the Kramer<br />
organization discovered that more than 75<br />
per cent of the television set owners among<br />
those interviewed claimed they simply "didn't<br />
bother" to go to the movies any more. However,<br />
a preponderant majority of this group<br />
indicated they would again trek to a theatre<br />
to .see an unusual and outstanding motion<br />
picture of the "Cyrano" type.<br />
The door-to-door drives in Los Angeles<br />
and San Diego have been interpreted by<br />
Kramer representatives as an indication that<br />
attendance can be increased by as much as<br />
200 per cent through a serious and intelligent<br />
effort to call to the attention of potential<br />
moviegoers the availability of top-grade film<br />
entertainment in motion picture theatres.<br />
Further, the success of the campaigns has led<br />
Kramer to the conclusion that it will be<br />
utilized in connection with his forthcoming<br />
release.s—including "High Noon," currently<br />
before the cameras for UA release, and "Death<br />
of a Salesman," which he is making as part<br />
of a multiple-picture deal with Columbia.<br />
RKO Circuit Realignment<br />
NEW YORK—A realignment of field<br />
forces<br />
has been made by William W. Howard, RKO<br />
Theatres vice-president. Jay Golden, division<br />
manager, has been put in charge of the RKO<br />
New England and upper New York state<br />
theatres and will be stationed at the Palace<br />
in Rochester. Ben Domingo has been made<br />
Boston city manager.<br />
Millroy A. Anderson has been made division<br />
manager for Los Angeles and San<br />
Francisco. Washington, D. C., has become<br />
a part of the Russ Emde division, with<br />
Emde stationed in Newark, N. J.<br />
in California<br />
Ringing doorbells has rung the bell for<br />
top grosses in popular-priced openings of<br />
Producer Stanley Kramer's "Cyrano de<br />
Bergerac," the Jose Ferrer starrer being<br />
released by United Artists. Teresa Fancher<br />
(left), a San Diego State college<br />
student and one of four "Cyrano" girls<br />
who canvassed San Diego homeowners<br />
on behalf of the picture, is shown here<br />
discussing the film with Mrs. Norma<br />
Washkovich and her three-year-old<br />
daughter Jan.<br />
To Test Theatre Television<br />
For Civil Defense Use<br />
NEW YORK—Theatre television as a<br />
training technique for civil defense workers<br />
will be tested at 9 a. m. Saturday (15 1 when<br />
an hour-long live program originating in<br />
Washington will be seen by 11,000 trainees<br />
in the New York Paramount, Warner Bros.<br />
Stanley in Philadelphia, Loew's Century in<br />
Baltimore and RKO Keith in Washington.<br />
By means of telephone circuits, the trainees<br />
will be able to ask questions of the instructors,<br />
who will be seen and heard giving their<br />
answers.<br />
The project was announced Thursday (6i<br />
jointly by Millard Caldwell, federal civil defense<br />
administrator, in Washington and in<br />
New York by Robert H. O'Brien, secretarytreasurer<br />
of United Paramount Theatres, and<br />
Nathan L. Halpern, president of Theatre<br />
Network Television. O'Brien said that theatre<br />
television will provide "the most effective<br />
system of large-.scale training yet devised."<br />
Use of theatres for civil defense training,<br />
at hours when they are unoccupied, was first<br />
suggested by O'Brien. Halpern arranged for<br />
the use of the theatres participating in the<br />
test. If it is successful, others will follow,<br />
increa-sing in national coverage as more theatres<br />
install television equipment. Now there<br />
are 26 in 17 cities so equipped, and the number<br />
is expected to rise to 100 before the end<br />
of the year.<br />
Sunday News Section<br />
In Color on Films<br />
NEW YORK—The New York Sunday News<br />
will devote its entire Coloroto Magazine Section<br />
to motion pictures Sunday, November 11,<br />
as the Movietime U.S.A. campaign gets into<br />
full swing following the visits of stars and industry<br />
personalities to the 48 governors of<br />
states October 8.<br />
This will be the third annual issue of this<br />
type. Last year's 40-page section had a fullcolor<br />
photo of Janet Leigh with 11 inside<br />
pages in color and nine in black and white.<br />
Scenes from 47 pictures released by nine companies<br />
were included. It was regarded at that<br />
time as the greatest promotional aid ever given<br />
by a newspaper to the industry.<br />
Leading sales and advertising executives<br />
commented on it. This year's issue will be on<br />
a similarly elaborate scale. Because the publication<br />
date ties in with the Movietime U.S.A.<br />
campaign so completely its appearance is<br />
awaited with general interest.<br />
It is quite probable that the Council of Motion<br />
Picture Organizations will order copies<br />
in advance for shipment to exhibitor groups<br />
and circuits and men taking an active part in<br />
the drive.<br />
The editorial content will show scenes and<br />
personalities from films to be released on or<br />
after November 11. Most of the pictures will<br />
be in full color, reproduced by the News-<br />
Dultgen color reproduction method which is<br />
used by many slick paper magazines, as well<br />
as a number of leading newspapers.<br />
The Sunday News circulation now totals<br />
4,000,000. Of these, about 2,000,000 are sold in<br />
New York City and the metropolitan area,<br />
and the other 2,000,000 are sold coast-tocoast<br />
outside of the New York area. The<br />
movie section is the only one of its kind. Its<br />
contents are in addition to the regular film<br />
coverage in other sections of the paper.<br />
MGM Sets 42 Screenings<br />
For 'Angels' in Field<br />
NEW YORK—MGM field sales executives<br />
have scheduled 42 "closer-to-home" screenings<br />
for "Angels in the Outfield" to get as<br />
many exhibitors as possible to see the film.<br />
Nine additional screenings will also be lined<br />
up. These 51 are in addition to the regularly<br />
scheduled trade showings in each branch<br />
area.<br />
Minneapolis, with the nine screening dates<br />
still to be scheduled, heads the list on the<br />
number of showings, with Dallas, second,<br />
with eight screenings. Cleveland, Des Moines,<br />
Detroit, Kansas City and Washington are<br />
next with three each. An MGM executive<br />
will be on hand at each of the screenings to<br />
personally greet theatre owners. Invitations<br />
which have gone out do not limit the screenings<br />
to MGM accounts because the company<br />
feels all theatre owners should see it.<br />
Twenty-nine of the showings were held<br />
during the week of September 3. One will<br />
be held September 10, two September 11,<br />
eight September 12, two September 13 and<br />
one September 14. One has been scheduled<br />
for September 17, two September 18, one September<br />
25 and one October 2.<br />
Coronet Selects 'Bathsheba'<br />
NEW YORK—"David and Bathsheba" has<br />
been selected as Coronet's Movie of the<br />
Month for October, it was announced by<br />
C. John Crockett, motion picture editor.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
I<br />
. .<br />
Minneapolis Circuit<br />
Sues MGM on Bids<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— Paul Mans and associates,<br />
independent circuit operators, have filed suit<br />
against MGM to compel it to sell pictures to<br />
the Richfield, suburban theatre, without requiring<br />
the house to bid competitively for<br />
the 28-day slot with the independent suburban<br />
Edina.<br />
The Mans group seeks to force MGM to sell<br />
to the Richfield by negotiation. It also wants<br />
to recover damages alleged to have been sustained<br />
in consequence of the MGM action.<br />
The amount is to be determined by the court.<br />
The Mans group charges that the Edina,<br />
being five miles away from the Richfield,<br />
actually is not a competitor; that the Edina<br />
is not even a 28-day situation regularly, but is<br />
classified as having 35-day availability, and<br />
that other distributors here are servicing the<br />
Richfield without competitive bidding.<br />
MGM contends that the consent decree<br />
compels it to call for competitive bids when<br />
two such theatres as the Richfield and Edina<br />
both seek the first 28-day runs on the same<br />
picture.<br />
At the same time, Ben Friedman, Edina<br />
owner, declaring that distributors are "crucifying"<br />
his Edina by refusing to grant it 28-day<br />
availability and keeping it in the 35-day slot,<br />
expects to file suit against the major distributors.<br />
He charges "discrimination" against his<br />
theatre which has, however, landed some first<br />
28-day runs of important pictures in his area<br />
by competitive bidding.<br />
Schedule Industry X-Rays<br />
At Will Rogers Hospital<br />
NEW YORK—Mass chest X-rays will be<br />
given all members of the entertainment industry<br />
who apply at the Hotel Astor, September<br />
24, 25 as a result of cooperation between<br />
the board of directors of the Variety Clubs-<br />
Will Rogers Memorial hospital and the Theatre<br />
Owners of America convention committee.<br />
The New York Department of Health will<br />
make the X-rays. There will be no charge<br />
and confidential reports will be sent to those<br />
undergoing the tests.<br />
Martin F. Bennett Heads<br />
RCA Equipment Sales<br />
CAMDEN, N. J.—Martin F. Bennett, RCA<br />
theatre sales representative in the eastern<br />
region, has been appointed sales manager of<br />
the theatre equipment sales section of the<br />
RCA engineering products department. He<br />
succeeds J. F. O'Brien, recently promoted to<br />
the post of salesmanager of RCA's theatre,<br />
visual and sound section.<br />
Before joining RCA in 1946, Bennett was<br />
with Warner Bros. Theatres for 14 years as<br />
super vi.sor of sound projection in the New<br />
York area.<br />
Free Shows for Texas Kids<br />
NEW YORK—Texas exhibitors associated<br />
with the Council of Motion Picture Organizations<br />
will honor National Kids Foundation<br />
day September 22 with free morning shows<br />
for children in all Texas theatres in cooperation<br />
with Kiwanis clubs, according to<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell, co-chairman of the<br />
Movietime drive in Texas as well as national<br />
campaign director.<br />
Mississippi Jury Awards<br />
$450WO in Trust Suit<br />
TEXAS<br />
RESPONDS TO DRIVE<br />
DALLAS—Filmrow Postman A. J.<br />
Knowles delivered over 30 pounds of firstclass<br />
mail to Charles E. Carden (center<br />
in above photo), executive director and<br />
entrepreneur, and Mrs. J. E. Gribble<br />
(left), secretary of Texas COMPO Showmen<br />
at 2008-A Jackson St. After seeing<br />
this Labor day mail accumulation Carden<br />
is happy but concerned about the number<br />
of hours required to process all of it,<br />
and also the fact that he had to take<br />
money out of his own pocketbook to pay<br />
for the franked mail, besides the petty<br />
cash box.<br />
Most of the mail came from theatre<br />
owners and operators all over Texas,<br />
pledging money, publicity and public relations<br />
effort in behalf of the coming<br />
Movietime in Texas—U.S.A. campaign<br />
beginning September 20. Much of the mail<br />
consists of accessory orders for banners,<br />
car bumpers, buttons, posters, etc.<br />
Movietime in Texas Has<br />
Campaign Theme Song<br />
DALLAS—There is to be a campaign theme<br />
song 'n' everything for Movietime in Texas-<br />
U.S.A. Charles R. Meeker jr., managing director<br />
of state fair musicals at State Fair<br />
auditorium here, has written revised lyrics<br />
to the familiar tune, "When the Bloom Is on<br />
the Sage," and they were introduced by a<br />
vocalist at the recent salesmen-supervisor<br />
meeting at the Adolphus hotel. Here's how<br />
it<br />
goes:<br />
When it's Movietime in Texas<br />
That's the time for family fun.<br />
Every silver screen in Texas<br />
Has a thrill for everyone.<br />
AH across this mighty nation.<br />
See the ever-growing throng<br />
For pleasure, they go to the picture show<br />
Where the entertainment's strong.<br />
Everyone needs relaxation<br />
From the daily, workday scene;<br />
And will find a real vacation<br />
Any night on any screen.<br />
Folks agree, for entertainment<br />
It's the great American way .<br />
So without a wait, let's CELEBRATE<br />
MOVIETIME IN U.S.A.<br />
I<br />
VICKSBURG, MISS. — A seven-monthlong<br />
jury trial ended here Saturday (1) with<br />
the award of $450,000 damages to two former<br />
Greenville, Miss., theatre owners who had<br />
charged major film companies with violations<br />
of the antitrust laws and with con-<br />
.spiracy in restraint of trade.<br />
Joe Applebaum and Bertram E. Sims,<br />
former owners of the Center Theatre, Greenville,<br />
received $150,000 actual damages, tripled<br />
under the terms of the antitrust laws. They<br />
had sought $600,000 damages.<br />
In their complaint, the former operators<br />
charged that they were unable to book first<br />
run or high quality pictures for the Center<br />
and because of this, were forced to close the<br />
theatre. They charged that the film companies<br />
would rent, lease or sell films only to<br />
theatres owned by them or by stock companies<br />
controlled by them.<br />
Defendants were Paramount Gulf Theatres,<br />
Paramount Film Distributing Corp.,<br />
Warner Bros., Universal, United Artists,<br />
20th-Fox. RKO, Columbia and Republic. The<br />
defendants are expected to appeal the verdict.<br />
Langley Theatre in Chicago<br />
Files Suit for $366,000<br />
CHICAGO—The Langley Theatre has filed<br />
a $366,000 antitrust action in Chicago federal<br />
court for alleged damages under the old<br />
Chicago zoning and clearance system dating<br />
back to 1933. The complaint was filed by attorney<br />
John F. Sullivan on behalf of the Langley<br />
Theatre, formerly owned and operated by<br />
Sidney Mussman and Abraham Redman. The<br />
house, which has been shuttered for five<br />
years, names the eight majors in addition to<br />
the Balaban & Katz Corp. and Warner circuits.<br />
Although such restraint cases are temporarily<br />
suspended here for lack of legal<br />
advice to hurdle the current statute of<br />
limitations, the Langley case reportedly asks<br />
that the suit be admissible under the Paramount<br />
decree of 1937, which suspends existing<br />
limitations.<br />
Miami Tivoli Operating Co.<br />
Seeks $792,361 Damages<br />
NEW YORK — A triple-damage antitrust<br />
suit asking $792,361 damages was filed<br />
Wednesday (5) in U.S. district court by<br />
Charles, Lester, Ethel and Alvin Walder,<br />
trustees of the Tivoli Operating Corp. of<br />
Miami, Fla., against Paramount, RKO Pictures,<br />
20th Century-Fox, Warner Bros, and<br />
Columbia. Affiliates of the companies and a<br />
large number of individuals also were made<br />
defendants.<br />
The complaint charged heavy losses during<br />
1928-36 through a denial of product by<br />
the defendants at fair rentals, and an expensive<br />
deal with Paramount enterprises from<br />
1937-47 made to obtain product.<br />
Look Spread on 'Queen'<br />
NEW YORK—Look Magazine has scheduled<br />
for its September 15 issue a doubletruck<br />
spread on the filming of "The African<br />
Queen" (UA).<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 8, 1951 19
.,^-"<br />
RKO^s New-Seasoi<br />
Out For foli<br />
In Terrifii<br />
# Hit of Hits in Chicago (Woods<br />
...In Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas<br />
City, Albany . . . Booked as the<br />
big LABOR DAY ATTRACTION in<br />
Boston, Philadelphia (Randolph),<br />
New Orleans, Washington, Baltimore<br />
and a score of other key<br />
spots!<br />
HOWARD HUGHES presents<br />
JOHN WAYNE • ROBERT RYAN<br />
"FLYING LEATHERNECKS"<br />
An EDMUND GRAINGER Production<br />
with DON TAYLOR • JAN IS CARTER<br />
JAY C. FLIPPEN . WILLIAM HARRIGAN<br />
Directed by NICHOLAS RAY • Produced by EDMUND GRAINGER<br />
color<br />
Screenplay<br />
by TECHNICOLOR<br />
by JAMES EDWARD GRANT
i^ants Battle<br />
h\}xoffice Honors<br />
iHpenings<br />
««3e£te^<br />
nb/c/overs/<br />
• Top money for the Roosevelt,<br />
Chicago ... In Philadelphia<br />
(Goldman), New Haven, Houston<br />
...Opening this v^^eek and next in<br />
key runs throughout the country<br />
. . . HOLIDAY ATTRACTION AT<br />
THE NEW YORK PARAMOUNT<br />
BEGINNING AUGUST 29thJ<br />
HOWARD HUGHES presents<br />
ROBERT MITCHUM • JANE RUSSELL<br />
."HIS KIND OF WOMAN"<br />
A John Farrow Production<br />
with VINCENT PRICE • TIM HOLT • CHARLES McGRAW<br />
Produced by ROBERT SPARKS • Directed by JOHN FARROW<br />
Written by FRANK FENTON and JACK LEONARD
. . THE<br />
: September<br />
fHe«i €UtcC Svcitt^<br />
>By JAMES M.JERAULD<br />
liflle Rock Goes<br />
To A Movie •<br />
An Armistice?<br />
QOULD it be a trend?<br />
Some weeks ago Abram P. Myers,<br />
Allied general counsel and chairman of<br />
the board, addressed the Virginia Motion<br />
Picture Theatre Owners Ass'n, a TOA unit.<br />
Later Col. H. A. Cole, the Allied warrior<br />
of many years standing from Texas, arrived<br />
in New York with Robert J. O'Donnell<br />
to ask for distributor assistance in a<br />
statewide business-boosting campaign. The<br />
sales managers agreed in less than an hour<br />
at an Astor hotel luncheon and in a fewdays<br />
the Texas idea had spread into a<br />
movement now called Movietime U.S.A.<br />
Now word comes from Memphis that<br />
Tri-States Theatre Owners, a TOA affiUate.<br />
and Mid-South Allied are going to<br />
have a joint convention October 16, 17 and<br />
are going to combine the business sessions<br />
with the Movietime U.S.A. celebration.<br />
Other signs of a changing attitude had<br />
appeared previously. Myers led the joint<br />
battle for ticket tax removal before Koi'ea<br />
exploded. Then he acted as industry<br />
spokesman in opposing the tax-free nonprofit<br />
organization battle before the Senate<br />
Finance Committee.<br />
Many exhibitor leaders in many places<br />
seem to be making more progress than<br />
speeches these days—with benefits for the<br />
industry as a whole.<br />
Publicity Improving<br />
£RNEST EMERLING'S theatre publicity<br />
department at Loew's, Inc., started<br />
collecting newspaper items favorable to the<br />
picture business some time ago. Then the<br />
Schine publicity department headed by<br />
Seymour Morris began the same thing.<br />
Others are doing it, too.<br />
These all add up to creation of an impression<br />
that the industry has many<br />
friends in spite of the superciliousness of<br />
some magazines, writers and commentators.<br />
The subtle development of this new public<br />
relations approach can become important.<br />
It may have some connection with<br />
the increasing number of reports that theatre<br />
business is picking up. The public<br />
likes to climb on the band wagon with a<br />
winner.<br />
Andrew Bernhard in the Pittsburgh Post-<br />
Gazette recently wound up a column on<br />
television and movie attendance with this<br />
sage observation:<br />
"As a friend of mine pointed out the<br />
other day, the fashion of blaming TV for<br />
lower movie attendance overlooks several<br />
things." Then he pointed out night baseball<br />
and football, drive-ins and strawhat<br />
theatres. He concluded by predicting film<br />
men would figure out how to get their<br />
share of the entertainment dollar.<br />
A. S. Kany in the Journal-Herald. Dayton,<br />
took a different approach: he made a<br />
survey among local theatremen to learn<br />
their opinions.<br />
He quoted several theatremen as saying<br />
business was on the upturn and played up<br />
a statement by J. Elmer Redelle, a Dayton<br />
manager, which read: "A good picture in<br />
one house will stimulate trade in general.<br />
With all houses doing well in the product<br />
lineup, this may account for some of the<br />
current increase."<br />
Newspapers in Corning, N. Y., and nearby<br />
Elmira gave considerable space to the fact<br />
that Connie Mack, owner of the Philadelphia<br />
Athletics, wanted to go out to see<br />
a picture in the evening after having finished<br />
a nine-hour motor trip. Mack is 89<br />
years old.<br />
Things like this are all on the plus side.<br />
Breaking Clearances<br />
^HERE are two ways of breaking up clearance<br />
systems and each of them can stir<br />
up a chain of events that nobody can foresee.<br />
One way is through an antitrust suit<br />
—the method used in the Jackson Park<br />
case in Chicago. The situation there has<br />
been chaotic ever since.<br />
The other is by competitive bidding—<br />
proved method of increasing film rentals.<br />
In some places each major distributor<br />
has his own clearance formula. In others<br />
long-established practices have been left<br />
undisturbed and there are simultaneous<br />
second runs.<br />
New York is one of these. Because more<br />
than 1,000 theatres are involved and about<br />
225 of these are circuit houses few exhibitors<br />
have wanted to plunge into a free-forall.<br />
Skouras Theatres Corp. filed a suit<br />
against RKO in a dispute over product,<br />
but it was settled out of court. What is<br />
known as the RKO-Loew split has been left<br />
intact. Now along comes a Long Island exhibitor<br />
who has filed an antitrust suit to<br />
break this up.<br />
The outlook is growing complicated in the<br />
metropolitan area as elsewhere. Long runs<br />
on Manhattan are increasing—six and<br />
seven weeks at the Music Hall. This sends<br />
the distributors of showcase pictures on a<br />
search for houses and upsets the expectations<br />
of the subsequent operators.<br />
It has happened before. Remember the<br />
World War II situation after money really<br />
began to circulate? But this time there<br />
are antitrust complications added.<br />
Radio Going Strong<br />
pADIO isn't so anemic as many television<br />
enthusiasts profess to think. Of the $24,-<br />
131,000 in new business signed by the American<br />
Broadcasting Co.—a record, by the<br />
way—$17,323,000 goes to the radio network<br />
and $6,808,000 to the television network.<br />
The TV boys make a lot of noise, but the<br />
radio salesmen do a lot of business.<br />
The River' Story in SEP<br />
NEW YORK—The Saturday Evening Post,<br />
in its September 8 issue, features an article<br />
on United Artists' "The River." Titled, "We<br />
Made a Movie—Without Hollywood," and<br />
written by Melvina McEldowney, wife of<br />
Producer Ken McEldowney, and Pete Martin,<br />
this gives a behind-the-scenes account<br />
of the making of the first full-length Technicolor<br />
film in India.<br />
„jot m="''<br />
Pictured above ore tots of happy people<br />
lore yoo one<br />
of them'l woitrngfoseeBETTV GRABLE in 20Th Cen.<br />
tury-Foxi Technicolor musicol, MEET ME AFTER THE<br />
SHOW, the current ottroclion ot the Artonios Theolre.<br />
L-ttle Rock patrons recently cheered MGM's SHOW-<br />
BOAT ond THE GREAT CARUSO . . . Worner's ON<br />
MOONLIGHT BAY . . . Disney's ALICE IN WONDER-<br />
LAND<br />
. . . and other fine pictures. It's greot to rtioke<br />
JO many people hpppy, ond with a grtot deal of pride<br />
we announce these coming ottroctions- JIM THORPE,<br />
ALL AMERICAN . . THE FLYING LEATHERNECKS<br />
PEOPLE AGAINST OHARA . . DAVID AND<br />
BATHSHEBA . . THAT'S MY BOY . , ond mony others!<br />
A\kaMiai<br />
AmuiUH—U Comfuuuf<br />
AD HITS BACK AT LIFE ARTICLE<br />
This institutional ad was used by the<br />
Arkansas subsidiary of Rowley United<br />
Theatres as a reply to the controversial<br />
Life magazine article. Says J. F. Thames,<br />
jr.. advertising and publicity director of<br />
the circuit, "Although we are consistently<br />
using institutional advertising for our<br />
theatres, the unfortunate and unfavorable<br />
Life magazine article gave us excellent<br />
reason for another ad." Jim Carberry,<br />
Little Rock city manager, collaborated<br />
with Thames in preparation of the<br />
ad which occupied three columns by ten<br />
inches in the Arkansas Democrat and the<br />
Arkansas Gazette, Sunday, August 26.<br />
Finkelstein Leaves Lopert<br />
To Form New Company<br />
NEW YORK—Edward Finkelstein has resigned<br />
as executive assistant to I. E. Lopert,<br />
president of Lopert<br />
Distributing Corp.<br />
Finkelstein, with Lopert<br />
for four years,<br />
will form a new distributing<br />
company<br />
with Sanford Weiner.<br />
The new firm will<br />
handle theatre and<br />
television film and also<br />
partially will finance<br />
independent productions<br />
for these media.<br />
Edward Finkelstein "The Emperor's Nightingale"<br />
will be the first release to theatres.<br />
Before joining Lopert, Finkelstein was with<br />
MGM International, in charge of scheduling<br />
and casting, and with RKO, where he directed<br />
narration of films for distribution to<br />
foreign countries.<br />
22<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951
EXHIBITORS AHENTION!<br />
Do You Want 60 Million People<br />
At Home Or Going To Theatres?<br />
In these two fight pictures the<br />
theatres of America have an opportunity<br />
of playing to the tremendous<br />
audience of ardent fight fans willing<br />
to pay to see the fights.<br />
But - even more - the theatres can<br />
now attract the millions of regular<br />
movie fans who remain home on the<br />
night of big competitive entertainment<br />
events.<br />
FOR THE FIRST TIME, alert and farseeing<br />
showmen have the opportunity<br />
of assuring themselves |n advance<br />
of boxoffice special events which will<br />
not be seen or heard elsewhere.<br />
WIRE OR PHONE YOUR NEAREST RKO<br />
EXCHANGE NOW ABOUT BOOKINGS FOR:<br />
THi<br />
VSfOR».D<br />
turpAy<br />
V<br />
7/<br />
OF<br />
RKO<br />
RADIO<br />
»omp, onsh
ALICE AND THE DOOR KNOB DISCUSS A WAY FOR HER<br />
TO SEE WHERE THE MYSTERIOUS WHITE RABBIT WENT<br />
August Blue Ribbon Award to<br />
RKO's 'Alice in Wonderland'<br />
By VELMA WEST SYKES<br />
\X7ALT DISNEY'S animated screen version of the Lewis Carroll classic, "Alice in<br />
Wonderland" (with additions from "Through the Looking Glass"), is the winner of<br />
the BOXOPFICE Blue Ribbon Award for August. National Screen Council members<br />
voted this honor as family entertainment to the latest Disney feature cartoon, which is<br />
released through RKO Radio. Done in Technicolor with a dream-like quaUty of people<br />
and places, the sequences of the book are changed somewhat but it is a very recognizable<br />
Alice and the characters have a delightful familiarity that appeals to the<br />
memory of grownups as well as to the children's imaginations. Lushly produced by the<br />
master of cartoon fantasy, it lives up to other Disney productions that have made<br />
motion picture history in the artist's chosen specialty. Alice and 'her Wonderland playmates<br />
come to life on the screen in strictly never-never, wholly imaginative manner,<br />
realism in reverse proportions.<br />
THE WHITE RABBIT (WHO WAS THE CAUSE OF IT ALL)<br />
AND THE RED QUEEN /HO USED A FLAMINGO MALLET<br />
Last August RKO Radio won the Award<br />
with Disney's "Treasure Island." a picture<br />
made in England with a cast of live actors,<br />
largely English. This is the first Blue Ribbon<br />
winner for RKO since that time, so<br />
whether Disney makes cartoon fantasies of<br />
children's classics or uses real actors and<br />
settings, he seems to please family audiences.<br />
Then again, it may be the stories<br />
that have become family traditions help to<br />
win these Awards. The present winner is<br />
doing splendid first run business, its boxoffice<br />
gross around 160 per cent. Neighborhood<br />
and subsequent run houses should do<br />
equally well, in spite of holdovers of several<br />
weeks in most key spots.<br />
Disney Has Nine Plaques<br />
The Disney Blue Ribbon Plaques go back<br />
to 1938 with "Snow White and the Seven<br />
Dwarfs" winning for February of that year.<br />
The maestro of animation now has nine<br />
winners to his credit, three of which (."Song<br />
of the South" "So Dear to My Heart" and<br />
"Treasure Island") are partly or altogether<br />
made with live actors. Others working on the<br />
production of "Alice in Wonderland" who<br />
have previously won Blue Ribbon Plaques<br />
include Directors Clyde Geronimi, and Hamilton<br />
Luske, as well as Production Supervisor<br />
Ben Sharpoteen. Such old stage and screen<br />
favorites as Ed Wynn and Sterling HoUoway<br />
get this Award representation for the first<br />
time—only because of their voices.<br />
In the BOXOFFICE issue for July 7. this<br />
was the reviewer's reaction to the Disney<br />
opus; "Long acknowledged the master of the<br />
motion picture animation field. Walt Disney<br />
herewith presents his imaginative version<br />
of another beloved childhood cl.^ssic. In<br />
doing so he successfully surmounted what<br />
must have been difficult and exacting<br />
artistic and technical problems to bring to<br />
the screen the true whimsical flavor of the<br />
Lewis Carroll story with a minimum of distortion<br />
and without altering the characters.<br />
That it w'ill be a must-see item for movie<br />
patrons of all ages is a foregone conclusion."<br />
Among the comments which NSC members<br />
inscribed on their ballots were these few<br />
taken from those in the different representative<br />
groups:<br />
"This gorgeous picture, 'Alice in Wonderland,'<br />
is refreshingly charming and delightful<br />
for young and old."—Martha A. Burt,<br />
G.F.W.C., Better Films Council, Greater St.<br />
Louis . . . "Doubly enjoyable if you take<br />
some small fry along." — Herm Sittard,<br />
Richfield News, Minneapolis.<br />
"'Alice in Wonderland' is wonderful!"<br />
Irwin Allen, KLAC, Los Angeles . . . "Delightful—lovely<br />
for parent and child alike.<br />
Mine was pleased." — Mrs. John J. Butler,<br />
Lewiston (Me.) schools and clubs.<br />
"Disney at his best brings thrills to both<br />
young and old."—Mrs. J. K. Beretta, San<br />
Antonio Motion Picture Council . .<br />
comparable—a classic."—Flo Beach<br />
"In-<br />
Rowe,<br />
WSLB, Ogdensburg, N. Y.<br />
HERE THE MAD HATTER AND THE MARCH HARE AWAIT<br />
GUESTS FOR THAT VERY ODD 'UNBIRTHDAY PARTY"<br />
uunui I lUL<br />
Production Staff<br />
Producer W.-^lt Disney Witli the Voices o/....Kathryn Be.'iumont<br />
Production Supervision ..Ben Sharpsteen (Alice), Ed Wynn (Mad Hatter >. Jerky<br />
^. ,<br />
^ ^ CoLONNA (TVfarc^i Hard, Sterling HOL-<br />
Directors<br />
Clyde Geronimi,<br />
LOWAY (.Cheshire Cat
: September<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 71: Fighting Hares in North<br />
Korea; Czech envoy gets cold reception, Iran and<br />
England in oil deadlock; Bernarr Macfadden, at 83,<br />
parachutes into Hudson river; skyline lashions; Robinson,<br />
Turpin get into shape; grandma trains to swim<br />
channel; U.S. water skiing championships.<br />
News ol the Day. No. 201: Korea lighting flares<br />
as truce parleys stall; Macfadden parachutes; cool<br />
reception for Czech envoy; getting ready for the<br />
fight; water ski championship; amateur slugfest;<br />
big<br />
buy U.S. defense bonds<br />
Paramount News. No. 4: VFW parade in New<br />
York; Hollywood—premiere in the of "Place Sun";<br />
Turpin and Sugar Ray set for battle; Boy Scouts<br />
New York from world jamboree; Pennsylvania—Little<br />
league baseball; arrive in<br />
unusual<br />
Macfadden's<br />
birthday.<br />
Universal News. No. 487: VFW parade; lumber<br />
yard fire; Macfadden jumps from plane; Governor<br />
Warren visits California GIs in Japan; Turpin, Robinson<br />
training; amateur boxing; water skiing.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 6: General Van Fleet<br />
readies front for Red truce; Philadelphia— six-alarm<br />
US. and Israel sign treaty of friendship; Oklahoma<br />
hails "Jim Thorpe—All American"; new Czech<br />
fire;<br />
envoy gets cold VS. welcome; Governor Warren<br />
in Japan; Macfadden; San Francisco —pro football<br />
Bears vs. 49ers; England— top British and U.S. amateur<br />
boxers meet.<br />
Movietone News. No. 72: U.S. -Philippine defense<br />
treaty; Dewey back from Far East tour; U.S. jet<br />
fighters based in England; wounded flown to hospital<br />
ship; little sister's beauty contest; priest high<br />
dives to raise money; sports—army, navy start football<br />
training; driver cr'acks up in 200-mile race.<br />
News of the Day. No. 202: Philippines and US<br />
sign defense pact; Dewey home, urges Pacific defense<br />
pact; diving padre; baby monkey; Pans reveals<br />
new fall-winter modes; army starts building<br />
new football team.<br />
Paramount News, No. 5: Army and navy make prefall<br />
headlines; Paris— fall-winter fashions; U.S.-Phihppine<br />
defense treaty; Florida—babes in the palms;<br />
U.S. defense bonds.<br />
Universal News, No. 488: Dewey returns; global<br />
existence; helicopter lands on hospital ship; army<br />
and navy football practice; gymnastics meet in Germany;<br />
hot-rod racers; auto classic.<br />
Warner Pathe News. No. 7: Coach Blaik builds<br />
whole new army team; Philippines and U.S. sign<br />
defense treaty: Dewey home, gives views on Far<br />
East; Puerto Rico—new U.S. boomtown; helicopter<br />
ambulance in sea test; Sacramento, Calif.—lending<br />
library for toys; red hot rods; California— children's<br />
golf.<br />
Telenews Digest. No. 35B: Washington—Czech envoy<br />
rebuked; North Carolina—war games take to<br />
the air; Korea—road work, army style; news briefs<br />
VF^, Major Holohan, W. Averell Harriman, Yugoslavia's<br />
Independence day. Boy Scouts return, class<br />
for dog owners; Annapolis—middies drill for grid<br />
grind.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 36A: U.S. bombers hit Red<br />
capital in Korea; Ethiopians get U.S. weapons training;<br />
US. family seeks son's release from Reds:<br />
Germany--60,000 Jehovah's Witnesses meet; Francedaring<br />
priest stunts for church; France—crack Alpine<br />
troops in maneuvers; Paris— Pierre Balmain fashions<br />
Ernest W. Stiles Appointed<br />
Hallmark Chief Controller<br />
WILMINGTON, OHIO—Ernest W. Stiles of<br />
Dayton, Ohio, has been appointed chief controller<br />
for Hallmark Productions, Inc., it was<br />
announced this week by Kroger Babb, president.<br />
Stiles will be located at the motion<br />
picture company's world headquarters in<br />
Wilmington. He has been controller and<br />
assistant secretary for the Ohmer Corp. of<br />
Dayton for the past 15 years, having joined<br />
that organization 26 years ago.<br />
Lees Promotes J.<br />
M. Lydon<br />
BRIDGEPORT. PA..—John M. Lydon, who<br />
has been in charge of the James Lees & Sons<br />
Co. show room here, has been named assistant<br />
director of the retail merchandising clinic at<br />
Glasgow, Va., where Lees retail partners receive<br />
weekly courses in floor coverings. He<br />
will assist William Chipley, director, starting<br />
September 10.<br />
LETTERS<br />
Would Replace Gripes With Work<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
Gripe! Gripe! Gripe! Sometimes I get the<br />
impression the motion picture industry is<br />
composed of chronic complainers. It certainly<br />
is easy to find something to complain<br />
about!<br />
Let me ask some of you exhibitors this:<br />
If you were in combat, face to face with the<br />
enemy, what would you do? Complain?<br />
Would you lie down and say "What's the use,<br />
I'm just something from the past?" No, you<br />
wouldn't! You would fight like hell because<br />
everything you stood for would be at stake,<br />
including your life.<br />
This is how I feel about the motion picture<br />
industry. If we would all get out and<br />
fight, instead of complaining, the accomplishments<br />
would be unlimited. We have the<br />
best source of entertainment at the lowest<br />
price. There is no other place on earth where<br />
people can go and enjoy hours of relaxation<br />
and entertainment of high caliber, such as<br />
"Show Boat," "King Solomon's Mines," and<br />
"Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm," for<br />
50 cents or a dollar.<br />
If Hollywood would eliminate the cycles,<br />
trying to outdo one another by flooding the<br />
industry with the "Shoot 'Em Up Pete" and<br />
"Cops and Robbers" type of product, we would<br />
all benefit.<br />
Exhibitors should get out of their head the<br />
foolish idea that the industry is a thing of the<br />
past. If they would get out and contact people,<br />
house-to-house and in organizations, and<br />
convince them that we have the best source<br />
of entertainment at the least price, it would<br />
be a big step forward. I know, because I have<br />
made it my policy, in my spare time, to make<br />
a house-to-house survey and discuss with my<br />
potential moviegoers the motion picture industry.<br />
With pictures of the caliber of "I'd Climb<br />
the Highest Mountain" and "The Great Caruso,"<br />
you will find that you have no difficulty<br />
in gaining their confidence. You will be<br />
CENTRAL AMERICA DEAL — Jack<br />
Thomas (left), vice-president. Hallmark,<br />
Productions, Inc., is seen signing<br />
for distribution of all Hallmark pictures<br />
in Central America and the Panama<br />
Canal Zone. Contracts were finalized in<br />
Hallmark's Wilmington, Ohio, headquarters<br />
with Henry H. Ronge (seated), head<br />
of Distributors, Inc., Panama City, and<br />
Ronge's New York representative Walter<br />
Gould. The deal includes Hallmark's two<br />
new productions, "Why Men Leave<br />
Home" and "The Best Is Yet to Come."<br />
astonished at some of the things you will<br />
learn, to say nothing of the terrific amount<br />
of goodwill you will build that will mean dollars<br />
at the boxoffice.<br />
Let's all support Movietime U.S.A. and work<br />
because this conce'rns each of us associated<br />
with the industry and everything we have<br />
is at stake. In my case it's my bread and<br />
^^ttev.<br />
Manager,<br />
Ord Theatre,<br />
Ordway, Colo.<br />
NEAL LLOYD<br />
Grassroots Memo<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
The next time anything happens to the<br />
industry, like the atomic attack on the part<br />
of one magazine called Life, why couldn't<br />
the president of COMPO appear on the<br />
screens of all theatres in the country, via<br />
newsreel and counteract the damage which<br />
any adverse publicity might do?<br />
Life magazine promised to publish the letter<br />
that Mr. Mayer wrote in rebuttal to the<br />
attack on our business, but it is now a matter<br />
of record that only five paragraphs appeared.<br />
However, prior to Mr. Mayer's letter or any<br />
letter of protest to the editors of Life, the<br />
damage had already been done. It's easy to<br />
do harm, but not so easy to retract, which,<br />
of course. Life did not do, but added insult<br />
to injury with another dig at the business in<br />
their editorial note at the end of the letter<br />
that Mr. Mayer of COMPO wrote.<br />
It can now be said, no doubt, by many theatre<br />
managers, who have had contact with<br />
their Life reading patrons, that most of<br />
them thought the article slanted, unjust to<br />
our business, just the same as people in the<br />
industry did. The statements that Life made<br />
were so asinine, so much forced lies, that<br />
even a child reader of Life could see through<br />
the attempt to get over a point on the part<br />
of the editors: an attempt to discredit the<br />
motion picture industry; an attempt to boost<br />
television stock or sales or what have you,<br />
in these days when television sets are gathering<br />
dust in the warehouses, and when folks<br />
have learned to handle television like radio,<br />
to select their favorite programs and not to<br />
spend needless hoiors watching the dug-up<br />
vaudeville acts that are featured.<br />
So, again, the suggestion, when there is an<br />
attack of such great impact as that cast<br />
against us by Life, we respond by having a<br />
representative of the industry appear in all<br />
newsreels as quickly as possible following<br />
publication of the article, carrying a message<br />
to the patrons in the theatre which will<br />
tell the true side of the picture.<br />
There is plenty of good public relations the<br />
newsreels could be doing now, eliminating<br />
some of the sports and other material that<br />
the average audience does not care so much<br />
about. If shorts can be made about the industry—and<br />
more should be made—then the<br />
brains that put together the newsreels should<br />
be able to inject, now and then, something<br />
good about the movies, the stars and the<br />
theatres.<br />
All lines of business toot their horns in<br />
more ways than one. and it's high time that<br />
we tooted ours, only louder than the rest.<br />
Manager,<br />
Center Theatre,<br />
Hickory, N. C.<br />
EARLE M. HOLDEN<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951 25
0^^^^<br />
y^jtrlMjmxxuji comfit out u^cHt . . . , ^<br />
JUST WHAT THE<br />
~/t^ ^(B/UOii<br />
SHOWMAN ORDERED<br />
Extra... out-of-this-world action<br />
and story!<br />
Extra . . . out-of-the-ordinary<br />
exploitation potential!<br />
Extra... mammoth pre-sold<br />
audience!<br />
Extra... high-powered appeal!<br />
All the extras that add up to that...<br />
"'t^nutAe4 eJji^^
. .<br />
. . Stanley<br />
: September<br />
. .<br />
^oU
fMMOoesry f SAto<br />
''groom'' ^2 A GREAT<br />
p/crcfR^-A^P ^0(V<br />
f'lL Pur /rooiVA/<br />
OA/ PAPBR THAT<br />
r%<br />
smmoE<br />
dEfmfjooi<br />
You swell showmen who have<br />
played it to complete print<br />
capacity during Paramount Week<br />
are phoning - writing - wiring<br />
that business is j am-up I In<br />
many spots the best ever for<br />
the guy listed in the credits as/ ^^^<br />
ing's best in years helped make this<br />
THE BIGGEST PARAMOUNT WEEK EVER.<br />
More theatres played Paramount features,<br />
news and shorts than even last<br />
year's all-time record!<br />
B,<br />
BIATG -Diivur-vvrm<br />
JANE ^^ '^^^^^ JJ^^ESXS .fw^ccMO TPMCKor iKAWCHOT _^ JAMES<br />
RosBT'WMm Smith -moNE-^moti<br />
HERE COMES THE GROOM<br />
^kb ROBERT KEITH and introducing AWA MARIA ALBERGH£TTI<br />
Produced and Directed by FRMKCAPRA<br />
•<br />
Assocate Producer IRVlHG ASHER • Screenp/a/ by V/RO/W/A W\W t/PR<br />
i.MM O'SRIfN and MYLES CONNOLLY • Story by ^OSERT RISK/N and L/AM O'BRIEN
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
This chart records the performonce of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs<br />
are reported, rotings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentoge in<br />
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as<br />
"normal," the figures show the gross roting above or below that mark.<br />
\ce in the Hole iParai
w Doxoffice<br />
Champ<br />
^'IRON MAN" starring JEFF CHANDLER • EVELYN KEYES • STEPHEN McNALLY ' with ROCK HUDSON • JOYCE HOLDEN<br />
Screenplay by GEORGE ZOCKERMAN and BORDEN CHASE • Based on the story by William R. Burnett Directed by JOSEPH PEVNEY • Produced by AARON ROSENBERG • A Oniversal- International Picture
Book These<br />
Hallmark Profit -Makers<br />
for<br />
Fall!<br />
HALLMARK PRODUCTIONS M<br />
•/^eO^ees. HALLMARK BLDG.<br />
WILMINGTON, OHIO<br />
-6rMe^ OA?ees: BEVERLY HILLS • CHICAGO<br />
CLEVELAND • TORONTO • MEXICO CITY<br />
AUCKLAND • HONGKONG • CALCUTTA<br />
KARACHI • ATHENS • CAIRO • PARIS<br />
Fire Prevention Cartoon<br />
Prepared by Filmack<br />
CHICAGO—A new one-minute cartoon<br />
film, publicizing Fire Prevention week, is now<br />
available from Filmack Trailers. The trailer,<br />
produced for the National Board of Fire Underwriters<br />
by Dave Fleischer studios in Hollywood,<br />
points at all of the fire hazards in<br />
the home and how to correct them.<br />
New RKO Series Sept. 14<br />
NEW YORK—The first of a new RKO<br />
Pathe Special series, to be called "Here Comes<br />
the Band," will be released September 14,<br />
according to Harry J. Michalson, president of<br />
RKO Pathe. The series will replace the<br />
"This Is America" series.<br />
WB "Cup' Screenings Now Sept. 19<br />
NEW YORK—Trade screenings on "Come<br />
Fill the Cup" (WB) have been set back<br />
from September 12 to September 19. National<br />
release date will be October 20.<br />
y^ulck oLJelllueru<br />
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(formerly "TECA")<br />
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and lowest maintenance cost.<br />
See your Independent Dealer or Write<br />
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111 MICHIGAN TOLEDO, OHIO<br />
Extended Stage Shows<br />
At Cleveland Circle<br />
CLEVELAND—Due to the succe.ss of its<br />
Sunday vaudeville policy, the Circle Theatre,<br />
1,875-seat house located in the thickly<br />
populated Euclid-East 105th St. area, is<br />
extending the policy to four days a week,<br />
Thursday through Sunday.<br />
E. J. Stutz, manager of the Circle, announces<br />
that starting in September he will<br />
present the four-day vaudeville policy featuring<br />
acts and orchestras picked from the<br />
juke box parade of best sellers.<br />
Erskine Hawkins' Tuxedo Junction band<br />
headed the first autumn revue opening September<br />
6. Other revue headliners booked included<br />
Songstress Peggy Thomas, Candy Johnson's<br />
band, Rosita (Chicken) Lockhart and<br />
Bill Bailey, billed as the "dancing preacher."<br />
Contracts are now being negotiated for the<br />
appearance of Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan,<br />
Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong and Larry<br />
Steel's revue.<br />
Circle Theatre policy as announced by<br />
Stutz will be four performances daily, five<br />
on Sunday and a special "midnight musical<br />
jamboree" on Saturday. Popular prices will<br />
•<br />
prevail.<br />
The Euclid-East 105th St. area is one of the<br />
most competitive in the city. It has five fulltime<br />
theatres with a total seating capacity of<br />
10.220 seats. Loew's Park (3,287 seats) and<br />
the University (917 seats) play a straight<br />
picture policy without outside attractions of<br />
any kind. The 1,326-seat Alhambra has a<br />
250-seat TV lounge as an added attraction.<br />
Keith's East 105th St. Theatre (2,815 seats<br />
has no hard and fast set policy. Sometimes<br />
it plays straight pictures. Sometimes it augments<br />
the screen attraction with stage presentations.<br />
The Circle is the only one to<br />
date to announce an extended stage show<br />
policy.<br />
Shift 20th-Fox Releases<br />
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox has<br />
advanced "Man of Two Worlds," Technicolor<br />
film starring Tyrone Power, Ann Blyth and<br />
Michael Rennie from December to November<br />
release, and has set back "Kangaroo,"<br />
starring Maureen O'Hara and Peter Lawford,<br />
from November to December.<br />
'<br />
^foi^ to ^akatct. .pent a ^u&jCeatf<br />
CYCL§RAMIC CUSTOM<br />
SCREEN<br />
GIVES YOU "CENTER SEAT VISION'<br />
i -. From every seat in the house!<br />
Manufactured by<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
2318 SECOND AVE. • SEATTLE, WASHINGTON • Eliol 8247<br />
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• cuui. ooliwioit<br />
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32<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
a<br />
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
Touring Screen Trailer<br />
Wins Honor Roll Place<br />
George Payette jr., manager of the Maryland<br />
Theatre. Hagerstown, Md., topped the<br />
list of Honor Roll showmen during August<br />
with an original idea he conceived to take<br />
coming attraction trailers direct to the<br />
public. Payette mounted a projector on a<br />
truck, toured the surrounding countryside and<br />
arranged free motion picture shows in parks<br />
and public places. Several of the "free shows"<br />
which included cartoons as well as the trailers,<br />
were sponsored by local merchants who<br />
advertised in the newspapers. Payette was<br />
awarded a BOXOPFICE Citation for his exceptional<br />
ingenuity and showmanship.<br />
Ralph Lanterman. city manager for Walter<br />
Reade Theatres in Morristown. N. J., and<br />
winner of a special Citation from BOX-<br />
OFFICE in behalf of Youth month in 1948.<br />
was awarded the August Citation for public<br />
relations. Lanterman's participation in civic<br />
projects recently earned him the title of Outstanding<br />
Citizen of the Year and a scroll presented<br />
by his fellow townsmen.<br />
Two Loew's Theatres<br />
managers received<br />
Citations for<br />
outstanding promotions<br />
submitted to<br />
the Showmandiser<br />
section during the<br />
month. They are<br />
Boyd Sparrow, Warfield<br />
Theatre. San<br />
Francisco, window<br />
display, and Frank<br />
Manente, Esquire,<br />
Toledo, lobby display.<br />
A stage wedding arranged in behalf of<br />
"Francis Goes to the Races," in which the<br />
principals were two mules, earned a Citation<br />
for ballyhoo for Milton Harmon, manager of<br />
the Palace, Milwaukee.<br />
A Citation for general tieup was awarded<br />
to Fred Trebilcock, manager of the University<br />
Theatre in Toronto. For "As Young as You<br />
Feel," Trebilcock arranged a beauty clinic<br />
in the theatre lobby through a tieup with a<br />
national cosmetic firm.<br />
Irving Hillman, manager of the Empress<br />
Theatre, Danbury. Conn., topped entries for<br />
display ads with a series of layouts plugging<br />
air conditioning. Nick Tornichio, manager of<br />
the Vernon, Mount Vernon, Ohio, received<br />
a Citation for co-op ads.<br />
The Citation for outstanding front contributed<br />
by Ben Haines, manager of the<br />
Yucca Theatre. Roswell. N. M.. and a Citation<br />
presented to Herman Berlin. Laurelton<br />
IN. Y.) Theatre, completed the list of Honor<br />
showmen for August.<br />
Fred Trebilcock<br />
George Payette jr. Frank Manente<br />
Boyd Sparrow<br />
^jrot the (job ^yrhead<br />
Our correspondence and files for the past year reveals that<br />
six theatre managers—each an active exploitation man who contributed<br />
ideas regularly to this department—have resigned from<br />
theatre business to seek greener pastures.<br />
That should giv« theatre executives something to ponder.<br />
There was a time when the resources and progress of a circuit<br />
were measured in terms of its manpower capacity for showmanship.<br />
That embraced the physical operation of the theatre as<br />
well as merchandising.<br />
During that period, for both newcomer and veteran there was<br />
incentive in the promise of advancement. There were material<br />
gains as well as personal achievement beckoning as an ever- %<br />
present source of inspiration. By the current standards of living, g,<br />
then, he was an affluent citizen. Morale was at high peak and p<br />
permeated through the theatre staff from top to bottom. There %<br />
was personal pride evident in all ranks, and enthusiasm for work '<br />
was exceeded only by the individual's personal initiative and<br />
ambition.<br />
During the past two decades, however, the position of the<br />
^<br />
thea'tre manager has lost most of its glamor. Enthusiasm and<br />
ambition have been replaced by something akin to fear of the t<br />
future among large numbers of theatre personneL That is ap- =5.<br />
parent when one considers that six veteran theatremen discard 1^<br />
long years of service and experience to engage in other fields of .-;<br />
'<br />
are many times that number unrecorded.<br />
endeavor. Where there are six instances of record, it is likely there ;^^<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE Siiowmandiser :: Sept. 8, 1951 — 203 — 33
Military, Blood Bank<br />
Cooperate to Exloit<br />
'Leathernecks'<br />
Extensive cooperation with the local recruiting<br />
service of the local marine office<br />
and veterans groups in Syracuse, N. Y., helped<br />
to exploit "Flying Leathernecks." Sol Sorkin,<br />
manager of RKO Keith's Theatre, placed<br />
six-sheet posters on the recruiting booths in<br />
the downtown business section, and onesheets<br />
and tie-in copy on all recruiting<br />
boards.<br />
An exhibit of equipment was placed in the<br />
lobby ten days prior to opening, with uniformed<br />
personnel on hand to demonstrate<br />
the mechanisms to the public. Another exhibit<br />
of marine corps equipment was displayed<br />
in the main window of the Grant store in<br />
downtown Syracuse.<br />
With the assistance of the press, a search<br />
was instituted for local Purple Heart veterans<br />
who fought in Korea. These wounded men<br />
were guests of the theatre on opening night<br />
and were interviewed on two radio stations<br />
and both local television stations.<br />
A blood donor drive was instituted with<br />
the cooperation of the press and radio stations.<br />
On opening night, a parade headed<br />
by a drum corps, the marine detachment, a<br />
tank and motorized artillery units was one<br />
of the highlig^its of the campaign.<br />
Through a co-op arrangement with the distributor,<br />
500 window cards with theatre imprint<br />
were distributed throughout the Syracuse<br />
area, and the theatre's regular newspaper<br />
and radio budgets were stepped up.<br />
Sorkin tied in with station WSYR and<br />
WSYR-TV in promoting a harmony quartet<br />
contest on "On Moonlight Bay." Ed Murphy,<br />
popular Syracuse disk jockey, sent out a call<br />
for male quartets on his daily morning show<br />
from 7 to 9 a. m. and on a 15-minute TV<br />
evening program. Eliminations were held on<br />
the evening show, with the finalists appearing<br />
on the stage of Keith's opening night of<br />
the picture. A record player, record albums<br />
and Evans cigaret lighters were given to<br />
winning contestants.<br />
The Columbia record distributor arranged<br />
for window displays in music and record<br />
stores throughout the city, with full theatre<br />
tje-ins. Disk jockeys on every radio station<br />
were supplied with records of song hits heard<br />
in the motion picture, and each publicized the<br />
theatre playdates following the songs.<br />
On Saturday night prior to opening, Sorkin<br />
arranged for Arthur Murray dance instructors<br />
to give an exhibition of the turkey<br />
trot on the theatre stage.<br />
All theatre advertising announced that persons<br />
attending on opening day wearing raccoon<br />
coats would be admitted free.<br />
Paul Rager Distributes<br />
10,000 Circulars Weekly<br />
Paul Rager. manager of the Sky-Vue Drivein<br />
Theatre, Lancaster, Pa., uses 10,000 weekly<br />
programs to adverti.se coming show^s. The<br />
programs are imprinted with serial numbers<br />
which, if checked with a list posted at the<br />
theatre, entitle the holders to free admission.<br />
Front and back pages of the circular carry<br />
institutional copy on special services offered<br />
to patrons, with the inside spread devoted to<br />
ad cuts on attractions booked for exhibition<br />
during the following week.<br />
'w^ ^^fWW^K^fi<br />
^.y^heacl<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
It does not speak well for an industry<br />
when the morale of its manpower begins<br />
to ebb and youthful hopes and ambitions<br />
are abandoned to frustration.<br />
Stanley Durwood, general manager for<br />
Durwood Enterprises in Kansas City, told<br />
us not long ago that he estimates there is<br />
a S20,000 investment in a manager after<br />
one year with his organization.<br />
Losing a theatre manager who has 15<br />
years of experience is, therefore, a financial<br />
loss. Multiplied by six, or 60, or m-aybe<br />
600 veteran theatremen, it becomes a loss<br />
in dollars and cents—and more important,<br />
in experienced manpower.<br />
The industry still has many problems<br />
to solve. One of them is how to keep its<br />
trained manpower enthused and inspired<br />
and interested in theatre management and<br />
showmanship. It is asa urgent problem.<br />
When the quality and experience of<br />
manpower ceases to improve, it begins a<br />
down-hiU course and progress within the<br />
industry will cease.<br />
Perhaps, some day, soon, exhibitors and<br />
circuit heads, during their forums, will<br />
start a program of research, fact-finding<br />
and reform for re-instilling morale and<br />
enthusiasm among theatre managers.<br />
It is essential that such a program be<br />
started without too much delay. We can<br />
ill afford to lose any trained showmen.<br />
They are necessary for the job ahead.<br />
— Chester Friedman<br />
Dummy on Top Roof<br />
Exploits '14 Hours'<br />
Tiff Cook, manager of the Capitol Theatre<br />
in Toronto. Ont., used a dummy stunt on the<br />
ledge of the building roof to focus attention<br />
on "14 Hours." A dummy of a man was<br />
placed in a jumping position on the corner of<br />
the roof. Two banner signs nearby were lettered<br />
with the title of the picture. Spotlights<br />
illuminated the figure which was visible during<br />
evening hours as well as in the daytime.<br />
A loudspeaker from the theatre public address<br />
system was hooked up on the roof, and<br />
at peak hours Cook broadcast prepared copy<br />
and punchlines. The stunt stopped traffic.<br />
Contest on Five Stations<br />
Airs Indianapolis's 'Boat'<br />
strong radio and newspaper publicity was<br />
promoted by Howard Rutherford, manager<br />
of Loew's Theatre. Indianapolis, for "Show-<br />
Boat. " Ail three daily newspapers published<br />
art and feature stories and gave the picture<br />
excellent reviews. Contests were planted with<br />
transcribed interview records on radio stations<br />
WIBC. WFBM. WIRE. WISH and<br />
WXLW. All disk jockeys were serviced with<br />
record albums of the picture tunes which<br />
resulted in additional publicity.<br />
Special lobby displays, window tieups and<br />
signs on jukeboxes drew attention to the<br />
playdates. Four hundred Red cabs carried<br />
Diunper strips.<br />
Underwater Fighters<br />
Roam in Streets for<br />
'Frogmen' Run<br />
Bob Deitch, manager of the Capitol in<br />
Union City. N. J., had several ushers dressed<br />
as frogmen distribute some 5,000 heralds on<br />
the streets to ballyhoo his showing of "The<br />
Frogmen." The boys wore authentic suits<br />
such as used by the navy underwater demolition<br />
teams and attracted much attention<br />
as they strolled through the main business<br />
section of Union City and North Hudson.<br />
Attached to the suits were signs with appropriate<br />
copy.<br />
The heralds were long and narrow, about<br />
4I2XI5, and unusually attractive, with a<br />
startUng shot of a frogman and copy imprinted<br />
in green on yellow post card stock.<br />
Five thousand of these heralds were distributed<br />
as newspaper inserts on local newsstands<br />
and by newsboys who sell the late<br />
pink edition of the New York Daily News and<br />
Daily Mirror.<br />
Deitch ran a teaser trailer slipped into the<br />
newsreel for two weeks before opening, and<br />
displayed a lobby 40x60 featuring a montage<br />
of newspaper headlines and photos depicting<br />
the U.S. navy frogmen in combat training.<br />
A two-column cut with caption credits made<br />
the Union City Hudson Dispatch and the<br />
Jersey Observer.<br />
According to Deitch. the campaign attracted<br />
a lot of attention and resulted in favorable<br />
word-of-mouth publicity.<br />
Original 'Boat' Film<br />
Sheds New Publicity<br />
Fred Barthel, manager of the Margie<br />
Grand Theatre in Harlan, Ky., made capital<br />
of a coincidence in the theatre's history to<br />
exploit "Show Boat."<br />
Barthel learned that the theatre opened<br />
in 1929 with the original film version of<br />
"Show Boat." The woman who owned the<br />
theatre at that time, and for whom the theatre<br />
is named, has been ill for several years<br />
and mostly confined to her home. However,<br />
at the invitation of Barthel, she came to<br />
see the new "Show Boat" with her son and<br />
daughter on opening day, resulting in newspaper<br />
and radio publicity.<br />
The mayor of Harlan, acting on the suggestion<br />
of Barthel, designated the Sunday during<br />
playdate as Margie Noe "Show Boat"<br />
day in commemoration of the original booking<br />
exactly 22 years ago to the day.<br />
Following through on this angle, Barthel<br />
promoted a newspaper contest asking readers<br />
to submit the names of the players in the<br />
1929 "Show Boat." Passes were awarded for<br />
the most complete lists of the cast.<br />
The local disk jockey plugged the picture<br />
and songs for five days in advance.<br />
14 Stores in Co-Op Ad<br />
Fred Godwin, manager of the Wellston in<br />
Warner Robins, Ga., promoted a double truck<br />
newspaper co-op ad in the Warner Robins<br />
Sun on "I Can Get It for You Wholesale."<br />
The two-page layout was cost-free for the<br />
theatre, and included picture ad mats in addition<br />
to a banner streamer. "We can't get it<br />
for you wholesale but we can give it to you<br />
at lowest possible sale prices." Fourteen merchants<br />
sponsored the tieup.<br />
34 — 204 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser<br />
: : Sept. 8, 1951
State Guards Drill<br />
On Street to Boost<br />
Macon, Ga., 'Broke'<br />
This float with girls in bathing suits<br />
made the rounds of Macon, Ga., for<br />
"On the Riviera,"<br />
Jack Herndon, manager of the Grand Theatre,<br />
Macon, Ga., tied up with the army for<br />
cooperation in exploiting his showing of "Go<br />
for Broke!" Signs advertising the film were<br />
posted on recruiting booths, and a booth was<br />
set up in front of the theatre during the run.<br />
Herndon borrowed several articles of mihtary<br />
equipment from the national guard for<br />
display in the tlieatre lobby, and had flags<br />
draped up the stairs leading to the balcony.<br />
He invited a small detachment of the national<br />
guard to see the picture on opening<br />
night. They drilled as they came down the<br />
street, gave an exhibition of presenting arms<br />
in front of the theatre, and left a guard out<br />
front to watch the rifles while they saw the<br />
show. This created a nice flurry of excitement<br />
and resulted in newspaper publicity.<br />
To exploit "On the Riviera," Herndon had<br />
an attractive float made which, with several<br />
pretty girls in bathing suits decorating it,<br />
made the rounds of the town and parked in<br />
front of the theatre periodically. In addition<br />
to regular signs, the float sported the line,<br />
"Peaches From the Beaches of the Riviera."<br />
Single Bill Beats Par<br />
At Clinton, Mich.<br />
"Go for Broke!" played the Chnton cMich.i<br />
Theatre as a single feature, in contrast to the<br />
theatre's usual double bills, and did above<br />
average business as a result of Manager F. L.<br />
Fitzpatrick's exploitation efforts.<br />
Fitzpatrick contacted the national guard in<br />
a nearby city and arranged for an exhibit of<br />
machine guns, carbines, a grenade launcher,<br />
mortar, a bazooka, gas masks and a modern<br />
switcliboard. This display was set up in the<br />
theatre lobby and moved to a store window<br />
on Main street during the run.<br />
DRIVE-IN IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS<br />
and junction boxes complete with<br />
transformer to match any impedance.<br />
Also replacement speaker cones (Jensen)<br />
any sixe.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
,"' VciirM.<br />
Co-Op Ads and Window Displays<br />
Are Plentiful for 'Wonderland'<br />
An example of the type of<br />
cooperation wiiich exhibitors<br />
can expect when they play<br />
"Alice in Wonderland," is offered<br />
by the campaign submitted<br />
to tlie Showmandiser section<br />
by Tom Muchmore, manager<br />
of the Warner Fresno<br />
(Calif.) Theatre. Muchmore<br />
had no assistance from the<br />
film distributor and set up his<br />
local tieups through correspondence<br />
and personal contacts.<br />
Full window displays were<br />
obtained from Hocket &<br />
Cowan Music Co., Shelley<br />
Music Co., Gearhart Music<br />
Co., Finn's Music Co., Kress,<br />
Woolworth, Grant's, Thrifty<br />
Drug Co., Long's Drug Store,<br />
Hendrick's department store<br />
and many others.<br />
SOAP<br />
COFFEE 1 2:*r<br />
All displays were tied in<br />
with music and merchandise<br />
tieups and drug stores featured<br />
a Mad Hatter sundae<br />
An oil «.-"'*<br />
"""^ *-'''"' ""ff'*'*'<br />
and distributed color photos to fountain customers who ordered the special.<br />
The theatre's regular radio advertising was augmented by numerous plugs via<br />
disk jockey tieups. Lobby setpieces were enhanced with character blow-ups in color<br />
and a phonograph played "Alice" recordings almost two weeks in advance to stimulate<br />
interest in the playdates.<br />
Muchmore arranged for display posters on all newsstands and at all stores<br />
which sell magazines through the American News Co. He set a full page newspaper<br />
co-op ad sponsored by a food market which featured a coloring contest of the<br />
picture's characters. Eight other merchants who offered "Alice" products and byproducts<br />
also cooperated with newspaper co-op ads, each of which included full<br />
theatre and picture credits.<br />
Ivan Ackery Promotes<br />
Pre-Heidt Talent Test<br />
Eliminations for Horace Heidt's Youth Opportunity<br />
show are being conducted by Ivan<br />
Ackerv, manager of the Orpheum in Vancouver,<br />
B. C, several weeks prior to Heidt's<br />
scheduled appearance in the city. The Youth<br />
Opportunity show is sponsored by the Vancouver<br />
Sun and presented by the Optimists<br />
club, with proceeds going to aid the club's<br />
youth service work.<br />
Ackery made arrangements to conduct the<br />
eliminations on the theatre stage on several<br />
Friday nights preceding Heidt's engagement<br />
at the Forum. More than 200 acts have been<br />
screened at the Orpheum thus far, with three<br />
of the winners scheduled to appear at the<br />
Forum September 12.<br />
The Vancouver Sun gives the weekly shows<br />
at the Orpheum abundant publicity.<br />
Welcome for Hoboes<br />
Doc Twedt, manager of the Chief Theatre,<br />
Britt. Iowa, mailed postal cards welcoming<br />
all delegates to the national hobo convention,<br />
after obtaining a list of the delegates from<br />
convention officials. The cards were imprinted<br />
with the insigne of the organization,<br />
and the message reminded delegates that the<br />
hobo headquarters are at the Chief Theatre.<br />
531 SALAD DRESSING ^49*<br />
Preview Comments<br />
Stimulate 'Voice'<br />
An advance screening of "The Next Voice<br />
You Hear<br />
." . . yielded wonderful comment<br />
cards, later incorporated in newspaper ads,<br />
and gave the picture the best business in<br />
six months at the Valley Theatre, Eddyville,<br />
Iowa. Exhibitor Dwight Hanson reports that<br />
ministers, Sunday school teachers and the<br />
town's civic leaders were invited to the<br />
screening. Their reactions to the picture<br />
were used, under their individual names, in<br />
the newspaper ads.<br />
To obtain extra publicity for the theatre's<br />
coming attractions and to promote movies<br />
generally, Hanson writes a column for the<br />
Eddyville Tribune under a by-line, with the<br />
title, the Observation Post.<br />
Hanson also does a Teen-Time disk jockey<br />
stint on KBOE. To maintain listener interest,<br />
he recently promoted a $50 watch which<br />
was offered to the winner of a novel contest.<br />
On several successive days, Hanson played<br />
the Russ Morgan recording of "Go, Go, Go."<br />
The radio audience was invited to count the<br />
number of times the word "go" is used in the<br />
recording and submit the figure with a brief<br />
letter.<br />
Hanson believes in continual showmanship.<br />
BOXOFTICE Showmandiser<br />
:<br />
:<br />
Sept. 8, 19S1 — 205 — 35
w<br />
//<br />
IV&lLfMS^ERE[|»l<br />
•fo-DAY The Man Who Makes Loy£ IV/rn Music to-day<br />
#Passaqe West<br />
TECHNICOLOR MON.TUE. TECHNICOLOR<br />
DON'T GIVE ART WORK<br />
THE OLD BRUSHOFF<br />
A Showman Who Designs and Builds Theatres Offers<br />
a Few Hints on How to Brush Up Your Brush Work. For<br />
the Exhibitor or Manager Who Has to Make His Own<br />
Signs, Here Are a Few Tips on How to Improve the General<br />
Appearance of Your Display Work.<br />
By RUFUS BLAND<br />
(Condensed Irom a series oi articles appecjring m<br />
the Tipster, house organ of the Martin circuit.)<br />
It is neither the policy nor intent of Martin<br />
Theatres to make theatrical artists out of<br />
our managers or other employes. The information<br />
set forth here is for anyone who<br />
wishes to take advantage of it in order to<br />
make their exploitation work easier and more<br />
attractive.<br />
A fellow showed me a banner recently<br />
which he spent all morning and part of the<br />
evening painting. It was a nice job. He<br />
could have done the same thing in an hour<br />
if he had known a few tricks and short cuts.<br />
These can be learned by spending five minutes<br />
a day practicing on old newspaper or<br />
wrapping paper.<br />
Most theatres have an old table or easel<br />
suitable for banner work. It is more practical<br />
to work on an elevated surface, tilted from<br />
40 to 50 degrees. Stretch out your working<br />
paper, anchor it with thumbtacks in the<br />
corners, and you are ready for your first<br />
practice session.<br />
You will need some ruled lines across the<br />
paper. To save time, hold the yard.stick in<br />
,vour left hand with the upper edge perpendicular<br />
to the paper. Set your left hand<br />
across the bottom of the table or easel and<br />
adjust the yardstick so that the top is<br />
precisely where you want the uppermost rule<br />
to be. Now take pencil in your right hand.<br />
place the point at the top of the stick and<br />
steady it with your forefingers. By holding<br />
the stick in an upright position and drawing<br />
your left hand across the bottom of the table<br />
with the pencil steady at top, you can make<br />
your rule with one stroke. Adjust the position<br />
of your left hand on the rule to get the<br />
other guide rule lines at the desired intervals.<br />
If newspapers are used for practice, turn<br />
the paper sideways and use the column spaces<br />
for guide lines. Try the practice strokes first.<br />
Illustrated on this page is a style chart. It<br />
will give you an idea of how to properly hold<br />
your lettering brush. The brush should be<br />
held lightly between the thumb and index<br />
finger. This enables free movement for<br />
swinging curves, semireverse movements, etc.<br />
Work from your shoulder joint and you will<br />
get better guide control. Don't get obsessed<br />
with the idea that you are too nervous or<br />
cannot hold the brush in the position. Some<br />
of the best artists are shaky.<br />
Now practice working off the point of the<br />
brush with the handle almost at a 90 degree<br />
angle with the paper. If the paint does not<br />
flow from the brush fast enough and evenly,<br />
reload it and swiftly flatten it on a paper pad.<br />
Keep the brush worked out to a point while<br />
working. You will learn from experience that<br />
The V<br />
columns.<br />
ork on this 26x35-inch card is<br />
Leit, example oi the handicrait of Rulus<br />
Bland, illustrating the use of star cutout<br />
designs end sign posts. These can<br />
be used several times if washable paint<br />
is employed.<br />
when the paint is too thin, the results will<br />
be poor.<br />
The illustration on this page is a reproduction<br />
of a card 26x35 inches, made in two<br />
hours with a No. 7 round red sager brush.<br />
Several mistakes and errors will be noted<br />
placed there purposely. Close examination<br />
may reveal that the artist neeeds a bit of<br />
brushing up in the art since it has been about<br />
12 years since I used a brush regularly.<br />
Objectively, let's criticize the handiwork.<br />
1. The word "lettering" should be script<br />
type, upper and lower case, to conform with<br />
others.<br />
2. The underline was unnecessary.<br />
3. There is not ample spacing between<br />
"brushes" and "should" on the top line.<br />
4. The letters do not lean exactly parallel<br />
with each other and the wording is of minor<br />
importance, therefore could be smaller in<br />
size.<br />
5. The entire card is overcrowded, with insufficient<br />
spacing and not enough margin.<br />
These criticisms should be studied and care<br />
should be taken to avoid these errors. Eyefocus,<br />
it will be observed, falls on the word,<br />
"Practice," deliberately placed as an eyecatcher<br />
and formed with scattered type of<br />
letters to balance composition.<br />
Alphabet letters are formed in Gothic type<br />
showing both upper and lower case. With<br />
freehand practice you will be able to make<br />
them in single stroke movements. The formation<br />
of the letters should be studied so that<br />
when your brush touches the paper, you will<br />
make the strokes with confidence. That fiveminute<br />
practice session each day wiU soon<br />
have you making your brush strokes as firmly<br />
and surely and as automatic as putting your<br />
hand out the window of your car to signal.<br />
All brush styles are based on Gothic, Roman<br />
and Italic lettering. Once these are<br />
mastered, the other variations come easily<br />
nalyzed by showman Bland in the above<br />
LETTEMNGr^rushesS/iculd<br />
JSe ^eldbetween Jndex<br />
Singer ^nd %unib<br />
Typical Brush Movements<br />
///////// \>\\\A\(((0)))sccmmmv\7W<br />
^slefghtjfetaHDpi^^<br />
36 — 206— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser<br />
: : Sept. ?, 1951
RUFUS BLAND .<br />
. .<br />
A THUMBNAIL SKETCH<br />
The Martin Tipster, house organ for<br />
the Martin circuit of theatres, recently<br />
published a series of articles on showcard<br />
design, layout and lettering. The<br />
author of the series is Rufus Bland, theatre<br />
designer and architect for the circuit,<br />
with headquarters at Columbus, Ga.<br />
Bland's experience includes a course he<br />
completed in commercial sign writing,<br />
theatrical art and display. He has also<br />
worked with a number of outstanding<br />
artists in the amusement field and from<br />
them learned many useful tricks of the<br />
trade. In the series, he offers helpful<br />
suggestions for theatre managers who,<br />
either from choice or circumstance, dabble<br />
with their own sign work. Bland<br />
has kindly consented to permit BOX-<br />
OFFICE to offer a condensation of his<br />
articles for the benefit of readers interested<br />
in enlarging their own scope of<br />
ability and skill with the brush.<br />
and naturally.<br />
It is advisable to use water colors for banners<br />
and show cards since they are the most<br />
economical and can be dry-cleaned out of<br />
your clothes. To protect your masterpieces<br />
from the weather, apply a coat of brushing<br />
lacquer or white shellac.<br />
As part of your regular practice sessions,<br />
try snapping the brush off at the ends of<br />
letters and corners as this is one of the key<br />
ways to speed in art work. Formation of letters.<br />
the spacing and layout are most important<br />
considerations.<br />
Try to avoid anything fancy like putting<br />
long tails on the "R" or "S." Ornamentation<br />
takes more experience, and with preliminary<br />
lack of training, will make the finished show<br />
card look more amateurish than professional.<br />
After you have mastered the rudiments of<br />
speed combined vvitli good lettering, you can<br />
consult pressbooks for special style of lettering<br />
which may carry out the "atmosphere"<br />
or "theme" of the picture. Usually the artist<br />
who makes up the advertising layouts for<br />
pressbooks is familiar with the characteristics<br />
of the picture and his style is generally in<br />
keeping. This is especially true in illustrations<br />
showing the banners and posters available<br />
at the exchanges or National Screen<br />
Service which are reproduced in pressbooks.<br />
Study layout and design in pressbooks; it<br />
will help you in preparing your own posters.<br />
Play up whichever factors have greatest sales<br />
appeal in your location—the title, the star.<br />
or perhaps some featured player who outi-anks<br />
the star in local appeal.<br />
Don't neglect playdates. They are important<br />
and should make an impression on the<br />
potential patron. Observe that when the<br />
circus comes to town the first thing you notice<br />
on the posters is the date.<br />
Star designs lettered with the names of the<br />
film stars are frequently effective and sometimes<br />
necessary on banner layouts. For this<br />
purpose, it will save time to make star cutouts,<br />
which can be washed off and relettered<br />
for newer pictures.<br />
In striving to improve your art work, keep<br />
an open mind on criticism. Learn to distinguish<br />
between praise and flattery and accept<br />
constructive criticism so that you can try<br />
to correct any weak points.<br />
Antique Motor Car Show Plus Race<br />
And Street Stunt Promote 'Dust'<br />
Fox Midwest theatremen in Wichita, Kas.,<br />
promoted an effective tieup on "Excuse My<br />
Dust" which played at the Miller Theatre. It<br />
was made with the Joyland-Hillside Amusement<br />
Park by C. C. Murray, city manager<br />
for Fox Midwest, and Harold Brown, manager<br />
of the Miller.<br />
The amusement park sponsored an antique<br />
auto show presented by the Horseless Carriage<br />
club of the Midwest. More than 20<br />
automobiles were exhibited and an estimated<br />
crowd of 30,000 took advantage of the free<br />
exhibition. Large signs throughout the park<br />
and one placed atop the Crosley fire engine<br />
carried full information on the playdates at<br />
the Miller.<br />
Part of the tieup included a race of the<br />
antique vehicles. During the races, a commentator<br />
delivered a running comentary interspersed<br />
with plugs for the pictm-e. The<br />
theatremen offered a Red Skelton trophy to<br />
the winner of the race which was so successful<br />
that the management of the park contemplates<br />
an exhibit on an annual basis.<br />
The two showmen set up an opening night<br />
premiere for "Excuse My Dust," with the<br />
Horseless Carriage club participating. The<br />
cars were driven to the front of the theatre<br />
and the guests escorted to seats in a reserved<br />
section. A special staff dressed in oldfashioned<br />
police costumes was on hand to<br />
control the crowds which collected.<br />
Abundant newspaper publicity helped to<br />
arouse interest in both the auto race and the<br />
picture. The amusement park ran newspaper<br />
co-op ads advertising the screen program and<br />
the race.<br />
For additional street ballyhoo, Murray had<br />
the sign shop build a miniature compo board<br />
automobile which was carried aroimd the<br />
Starlet in Altoona<br />
For 'Iron' Buildup<br />
Jack Day. manager or the Strand in<br />
Altoona. Pa., believes Hollywood should send<br />
more of contract stars and players into the<br />
smaller towns, as such visits are lucrative,<br />
publicitywise and at the boxoffice.<br />
U-I recently had Starlet Cindy Garner, who<br />
appears in "Iron Man," on tour and one of<br />
her stops was in Altoona. Day and Arthur<br />
Frozio, city manager for the Fabian circuit,<br />
arranged a series of radio interviews on disk<br />
jockey shows and sports broadcasts tor Miss<br />
Garner. She also was honor guest at a press<br />
luncheon and visited the Veterans hospital.<br />
Each event was covered by staff reporters<br />
for the daily papers.<br />
Arrangements were also made to have the<br />
starlet model new fall fashions for women at<br />
Gable's store.<br />
PORT HOLE BLOWERS<br />
i-.cctturr in ANY praiiction boofK la<br />
byfi. dvitmd I'Oir »t> cptical iliii. CUarcr<br />
i.ction.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
/.i',.Vch<br />
streets on shoulder straps by a theatre employe<br />
wearing duster, motor cap and goggles.<br />
Extra $$ on "Dust'<br />
When A. J. Kalberer, manager of the Indiana<br />
Theatre in Washington, Ind., learned<br />
that a local boy, Frank Miller jr., has a role<br />
in "Excuse My Dust," he notified the newspapers<br />
and thus got some extra publicity for<br />
the booking. Both the Washington Democrat<br />
and the Herald ran a story with a onecolumn<br />
cut of Frankie, as he is known locally,<br />
including a plug for "Excuse My Dust."<br />
Kalberer reports the publicity was worth<br />
extra ticket sales.<br />
CLEARINB<br />
HOUSE<br />
I Continued from Inside back cover)<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE (Cont'd)<br />
Drivc-in theatre in good east Te.ias town; good<br />
lease; $2S,UUti. I^ess than tivo-year payout. Ted<br />
E. Waggoner. Box 6. South San .\ntonio, Tex.<br />
37S-spcaker drive-in theatre in good west Texa.s<br />
oil to«n; iiuiirly sixteen thousand in territory.<br />
$33.0tiU will handle, about three-year payout.<br />
B. G, Ted Waggoner, Box South San Antonio. Tex.<br />
For sale; The very best drive-in theatre listing 1<br />
have ever had. COO speakers in coastal town of<br />
125. out) population. $70,000 down, less than<br />
ihree-year payout. If you want a theatre that<br />
will it. gross over .$2,000 every weeli. this is Ted<br />
B. Waggoner. Box li. South San jVntonio, Tex.<br />
Small town theatre in Oklahoma. Nice profit:<br />
will handle. E. 6,<br />
$6,000 Ted Waggoner, Box<br />
South San .\nloiiio, Tex.<br />
Neighborhood house in Texas City, showing good<br />
profit :uid building every day. Good lea^e on<br />
building; $5,000 will handle. Ted E. Waggoner,<br />
Box G, South San /Vntonio, Tex.<br />
Theatres for sale: 1 have opened a briinch office<br />
in l';ilestiTii'. Ti'X. . to give better service to east<br />
ri\:is anil l,nuisiana territory, with L. S. Ducotc.<br />
Hiix I;;;, l^lk^tine. Tex., in charge. Plenty good<br />
li^tini;s. Teil K. Waggoner. Box G. South San<br />
Aiilonio,<br />
Tex.<br />
MOKt CLASSIKIEU ON<br />
l\>iII)E BACK COVER<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser<br />
:<br />
:<br />
Sept. 8, 1951 — 207 — 37
: September<br />
THE 1951 T.O.A. CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW is the<br />
most important gathering of theatremen in many years.<br />
Thjs will be a workin g convention. Every important topic relating<br />
to up-to-the-minute management, policy, operations and concessions<br />
will be discussed. An important feature of the convention will<br />
be the big Trade Show at which the manufacturers, dealers, concession<br />
merchandise and merchandising will be on display and<br />
where you can talk over, first-hand, your requirements and problems<br />
for the year ahead. A golden opportunity for both buyers and sellers.<br />
An elaborate program of entertainment has been arranged by the<br />
convention committee and will feature the T.O.A. Showboat trip up<br />
the historic Hudson River (hosted by Coca-Cola), lunches, theatre<br />
parties, fashion show, broadcast studios, the big banquet and a<br />
special program for the ladies.<br />
ALL EXHIBITORS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND REGARDLESS<br />
OF AFFILIATION. THIS IS A CONVENTION TO HELP SOLVE<br />
THE PROBLEMS OF ALL EXHIBITORS AND THE BUSINESS<br />
AGENDA WILL COVER EVERY SUBJECT OF CURRENT AND<br />
COMING IMPORTANCE.<br />
LMPORTANT TOPICS<br />
FOR DISCUSSION:<br />
• Know your industry.<br />
• Distributor-exhibitor<br />
public relations.<br />
• Government regulations on<br />
supplie.
Bufialo's Movietime<br />
Rally September 14<br />
BUFFALO—Robert J. O'Donnell, national<br />
Movietime U.S.A. director, will address a huge<br />
Buffalo exchange area rally September 14 at<br />
2 p. m. in the Erlanger Theatre. The time<br />
was changed from an earlier date because<br />
O'Donnell was unable to attend then.<br />
William Brereton, chairman of the Movietime<br />
area publicity committee, conferred with<br />
Charles B. Taylor, Edward Meade, Earl Hubbard<br />
and Jerry Westergren, members, in the<br />
Lafayette Theatre building.<br />
More than 1,000 are expected to attend the<br />
Buffalo gathering on Friday the 14th.<br />
Dave Miller is the distributor chairman and<br />
George H. Mackenna and William Dipson are<br />
exhibitor co-chairmen.<br />
Philadelphia Exhibitors<br />
To Support Movietime<br />
NEW YORK — A group of Philadelphia's<br />
exhibitors set September 12 as the date<br />
for a meeting to organize a Movietime U.S.A.<br />
drive in their city at a conference here Monday<br />
(3) in the headquarters of the Council of<br />
Motion Picture Organizations. Attending the<br />
meeting were: Sidney Samuelson, Albert<br />
Cohen and Paul Kilmen, all of Philadelphia,<br />
and Robert J. O'Donnell, campaign director;<br />
Arthur L. Mayer, COMPO executive vicepresident,<br />
and Robert W. Coyne, COMPO<br />
special counsel.<br />
The Philadelphia group had planned a special<br />
Philadelphia industry drive and the<br />
raising of a fund to increase theatre attendance.<br />
They said they would mesh this<br />
with the national drive. Ai-rangements were<br />
made by telephone with J. J. O'Leary, Scranton<br />
exhibitor; Ted Schlanger and William<br />
Manzell, the latter chairman of the Philadelphia<br />
distribution committee, to stage a<br />
mass industry meeting September 12 at 9:30<br />
a. m. at either the Mastbaum or Boyd theatres.<br />
Virginia Movietime Group<br />
Names Booth Chairman<br />
HAMPTON. VA.—James Booth has been<br />
elected chairman of a committee of Virginia<br />
peninsula exhibitors which will plan their<br />
participation in Movietime in Virginia U.S.A.<br />
Other members are Leonard Gordon, Herbert<br />
Morewitz, David Garvin jr., John Bateman,<br />
Jes.se Odum and Bill Jasper.<br />
The action followed a report by Carlton<br />
Duffus on activities at the New York headquarters<br />
and another by Gordon on Washington<br />
activities. The exhibitors voted to<br />
contribute five cents a seat or car stall toward<br />
the campaign.<br />
Others attending the meeting included Mrs.<br />
Beulah Turley, Jerome Gordon, James Booth,<br />
Gene Spaugh. Mrs. Frances Finch, Charles<br />
Taylor, Harry Fekas, George Shackleford and<br />
Leo Greenwood.<br />
Albany Movietime Kickoff<br />
Attended by 300 Filmites<br />
ALBANY—Three hundred members of<br />
the<br />
film industry heard pleas by Robert J. O'Donnell,<br />
national chairman of Movietime U.S.A.;<br />
Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president of<br />
COMPO, and local speakers for unstinted cooperation<br />
by "every man and woman who<br />
makes his living in the business." The<br />
Movietime kickoff meeting was held at the<br />
Delaware Theatre here Wednesday.<br />
The 2' 2 -hour meeting was described as<br />
"one of the largest and finest ever held<br />
here." Speakers emphasized that Movietime<br />
is a promotion "to sell motion pictures and<br />
the motion picture industry and to insure<br />
the continuance of our bread and butter."<br />
O'Donnell praised industry participation in<br />
patriotic and philanthropic campaigns and<br />
termed the Movietime drive a "bundles for<br />
the motion picture industry" drive. He said<br />
that at future industry luncheons, exhibitors<br />
should bring a newspaper publisher, radio<br />
executive or some other important person in<br />
the communications media. He explained<br />
that stars, producers and directors would<br />
not make theatre appearances, but that exhibitors<br />
would have a chance to arrange for<br />
appearances of screen names in town for 15<br />
minutes.<br />
Mayer said an organization like COMPO is<br />
imperative to the industry to meet increasingly<br />
severe outside competition, to combat<br />
forces hostile to the industry and to overcome<br />
the traditional antagonisms and rivalries<br />
of groups and individuals in the film<br />
world.<br />
Details of the area organization were outlined<br />
by Jack Goldberg, co-chairman for<br />
Movietime; Joe Miller of Menands Drive-In,<br />
and Sylvan Leff, Utica and Watertown exhibitor.<br />
Harry Lamont said ten regional meetings<br />
will be held within the next two weeks.<br />
He praised exhibitors attending the gathering<br />
and asked further cooperation.<br />
Recorded comments by the Rev. Bill Alexander<br />
of Oklahoma City were heard by the<br />
exhibitors.<br />
Attending the kickoff meeting were Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Sarto Smalldone, Malta Drive-In;<br />
Mrs. Mary Bird, Modern, Manchester Depot,<br />
Vt.; Geraldine Van Ornum, Willsboro and<br />
Essex; Jules Perlmutter, Lake George and<br />
Watervliet; P. Chase Hathaway and Edward<br />
Stevenson, Hathaway Drive-ins; Isadora<br />
Bernstein, Palace, Schenectady; Bob Johnson<br />
and H. L. Gilladuet, Smalley Theatres,<br />
Cooperstown; Bob Case, 9-W Drive-In, Kingston;<br />
Morris Klein, Hiway Drive-In, Coxsakie;<br />
Sam Davis, Phoenicia.<br />
George Seed, Fabian Cohoes manager; Sid<br />
Summers, Warner city manager, Troy; Jack<br />
Swarthout, American, Troy; Gerry Schwartz,<br />
Bob Lamont, Howard Cammer, Alan Burnett,<br />
Nick Pasula and George Day, Lamont Theatres;<br />
Lou Goldstein, Schuyler and Vail Mills<br />
drive-ins; Mrs. Mary Jarvis, Delmar, Delmar;<br />
Mrs. Mary Flynn, Upstate Theatres, Albany;<br />
Mike Scala, Strand, Johnstown; Phil Baroudi,<br />
Warrensburg and North Creek; Johnny Gardner,<br />
Colony, and Sid Dwore, Cameo, Schenectady;<br />
Clarence Dopp, Poland and Frankford;<br />
Arthur Murtanto, Clinton, Clinton.<br />
Also Joe Saperstein, Alex Sayles, Gus<br />
Graves, Larry Cowen, Leo Rosen, Phil Rapp,<br />
Lou Rapp, Dick Murphy and Fred Gau,<br />
Fabian; Andy Roy. Utica city manager for<br />
Warners; George Schenck, Tri-State Automatic<br />
Candy Corp.; Chick Mlinarik, exchange<br />
service workers union; Winifred Allen,<br />
exchange front office workers locals; Rocco<br />
Memole and John Sammons, Delaware projectionists;<br />
Max Friedman, Gerry Atkin and<br />
John Brousseau, Warner Theatres.<br />
Washington Exhibitors Vote<br />
5 Cents a Seat for Drive<br />
WASHINGTON — Local exhibitors on<br />
Thursday i6) voted to contribute 5 cents per<br />
seat to the carrying out of the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign here.<br />
The program will get under way with a<br />
luncheon October 8, which will be attended<br />
by a group of screen stars.<br />
Griffis Arrives in U.S.<br />
NEW YORK—Stanton Griffis, American<br />
ambassador to Spain and chairman of the<br />
Paramount executive committee, arrived<br />
Tuesday i4) by plane and went to Memorial<br />
hospital for a physical checkup. He said he<br />
had not been feeling well for a number of<br />
weeks.<br />
AT \V.\SH1N(;T0N kickoff—Among those attending the Washington kickoff<br />
luncheon of COMPO to hear plans for participation in Movietime U.S.A. were, left to<br />
right: Arthur Mayer, executive vice-president of COMPO; William Crockett; Robert J.<br />
O'Donnell, chairman of the campaign activities; state Senator Ben Pitts of Virginia,<br />
and Robert W. Coyne, special counsel for COMPO.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 8, 1951 N 39
. . . Marguerite<br />
. . . Judge<br />
. . . Joseph<br />
. . Chune<br />
Philadelphia Clearance<br />
Setup Attacked In Suit<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The first frontal attack<br />
on clearance practices in this area has been<br />
unleashed by Sablosky interests with a suit<br />
in the district court here by the S&S Family<br />
Drive-In against the major distributors. The<br />
antitrust suit seeks triple damages in the<br />
amount of $255,000. The plaintiff charges<br />
that it suffered damages of $25,000 in 1949,<br />
$30,000 in 1950, and $30,000 in 1951 up to the<br />
date of institution of the suit.<br />
The Family Drive-In, a de luxe 700-car<br />
ozoner opened in June 1949, also seeks a better<br />
run. It is asking that it be given product<br />
"immediately following first run in central<br />
city Philadelphia," but suggests it also<br />
would be willing to bid competitively against<br />
the Chester Pike Drive-In, five and one-half<br />
miles from the Family and run by an independent<br />
exhibitor.<br />
The Family charges that it should get better<br />
product "because the whole system of<br />
clearances radiating from first run Philadelphia<br />
is unjustified, arbitrary and discriminatory<br />
against independent exhibitors."<br />
The major distributors, through a conspiracy,<br />
"have relegated the Family to a<br />
position wherein it has been able to play<br />
films licensed by said distributors only after<br />
.such films are six months to four years old,"<br />
the Family claims.<br />
At present, the only other theatre in Clifton<br />
Heights is the Clifton, which gets product<br />
14 days after the Stanley-Warner Lansdowne.<br />
The latter is seven days after the<br />
S-W Waverly in Drexel Hill, which is seven<br />
days after such key run houses as the Paramounfs<br />
Tower and the S-W 69th Street The-<br />
Set Ticket Committees<br />
For MP Pioneers Fund<br />
NEW YORK—John J.<br />
O'Connor, chairman<br />
of the distributors' ticket committee of the<br />
Fund Committee of the Foundation of Motion<br />
Picture Pioneers; Si Fabian and Sam<br />
Rmzler, co-chairmen of the ticket sales committee<br />
for local exhibitors, and George Dem-<br />
atre in the 69th street shopping district.<br />
The Family alleges that last May and June<br />
the distributors offered it product if it would<br />
bid in competition "against the Waverly or<br />
against theatres preceding it<br />
in hierarchy of<br />
runs, starting from key run at 69th Street."<br />
The plaintiff claims that to accede to such<br />
an arrangement would be to accept "an exorbitant<br />
penalty for such a run" since the<br />
circuits which operate these theatres could<br />
absorb the higher rentals but that the independent<br />
exhibitor would find himself running<br />
a losing proposition. As the complaint<br />
puts it, "bidding in such a situation is thus<br />
a blind and part of a vicious system whereby<br />
the independent operator must pay exorbitant<br />
rates as the price for equality with affiliated<br />
or favored theatres."<br />
The plaintiff also charges that competitive<br />
bidding is a farce inasmuch as it has knowledge<br />
that sealed bids are sometimes disclosed<br />
to affiliated or favored exhibitors in<br />
advance.<br />
From a reading of the complaint it appears<br />
that the plaintiff would be wilhng to<br />
get product on the same basis as the Chester<br />
Pike Drive-In, which was recently given a<br />
run of 14 days after first run Chester. Chester<br />
is 14 days after first run Philadelphia,<br />
except for the Boyd in Chester, which gets<br />
its films immediately after the Fox in Philadelphia.<br />
However, while the Family might<br />
be content with a similar arrangement, it<br />
is seeking a total revision of clearance practice<br />
and is asking for a run "immediately<br />
following their first run in central city Philadelphia.<br />
Newman. Samuel Pinanski, Isador Rappaport,<br />
John Balaban, Sidney Lust and Jack Kirsch.<br />
In addition to Oscar Neu. Alan Freeman<br />
and Charles O'Reilly, co-chairmen of the<br />
suppliers' and tradesmen's division, the committee<br />
will include: Izzy Purse, Albert Senft<br />
and Jake Starr.<br />
Broadway<br />
gam L. Seidelman, former foreign sales<br />
manager for Eagle Lion Classics, will return<br />
September 14 from a 14-week trip abroad<br />
Chapman, film actress who<br />
completed "Blonde Blackmail" for Lippert in<br />
England, returned to America on the Liberte.<br />
Marcel Dalio. French film actor who plays in<br />
20th Century-Fox pictures, was also aboard<br />
Learned Hand, retired chief justice<br />
of the U.S. Supreme Court, who worked on<br />
the film industry's antitrust decision, and<br />
wife, sailed on the Mauretania for England<br />
Sistrom, Paramount producer,<br />
and Warren Duff, writer, left for England on<br />
the first leg of a sLx-week tour in search of<br />
story ideas for a film dealing with the Middle<br />
East.<br />
Alfred E. Daff, director of world sales for<br />
Universal, got back from Hollywood on the<br />
final lap of a seven-week trip around the<br />
world, during which he conferred with the<br />
company's foreign distribution forces . . .<br />
Hal Rosson and Lee Katz. production unit<br />
men for MGM's "Sometimes I Love You,"<br />
left for Hollywood following a trip east for<br />
Charles C. Moskowitz.<br />
exteriors . . .<br />
vice-president and treasurer of Loew's, Inc.,<br />
has returned to New York from a coast visit<br />
. . . Alfred E. Corwin. publicity director of<br />
the New York office of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America, was back at his desk after<br />
a two-week vacation.<br />
for Souvaine<br />
. Pinthanon.<br />
bow, managing<br />
director<br />
chairman for the suppliers' and tradesmen's<br />
to Aid Tradepapers<br />
division, have<br />
MPP<br />
of United Cinema Co., operating<br />
five<br />
set the complete membership<br />
for<br />
NEW<br />
theatres in<br />
their divisions. Meetings<br />
YORK—A tradepaper subcommittee<br />
Bangkok. Thailand,<br />
of the<br />
stopped<br />
groups of will<br />
the<br />
off in<br />
be held<br />
Foundation New<br />
of shortly to work<br />
Motion<br />
York on<br />
Picture<br />
a trip<br />
out<br />
Pioneers<br />
around the<br />
a<br />
program fund<br />
world<br />
for handling<br />
committee has<br />
. .<br />
been<br />
. Maurice N. Wolf,<br />
ticket<br />
formed.<br />
sales<br />
Jack<br />
MGM exhibitor<br />
Alicoate<br />
to the<br />
events which<br />
relations field<br />
of<br />
the Fund<br />
Film staff, is<br />
Daily<br />
Committee<br />
and Martin<br />
back<br />
plans<br />
Quigley<br />
from a vacation<br />
to<br />
sr.<br />
to<br />
sponsor of<br />
during Quigley<br />
the<br />
the coming Publications Thousand<br />
are<br />
Islands . . .<br />
months.<br />
co-chairmen.<br />
Mary<br />
Pickford<br />
A. Montague Other<br />
of Columbia<br />
members<br />
has<br />
are<br />
and<br />
Jay<br />
returned<br />
Emanuel.<br />
from a<br />
WUliam Jay Emanuel<br />
European trip<br />
J.<br />
and will<br />
Heineman of United<br />
Publications; spend several<br />
Artists had<br />
Abel Green.<br />
days in New<br />
already<br />
Variety;<br />
York<br />
been<br />
before<br />
named co-chairmen<br />
Maurice leaving<br />
with<br />
Kann, for<br />
Quigley<br />
the coast.<br />
O'Connor<br />
Publications;<br />
on the<br />
Charles<br />
distributors'<br />
E. Lewis.<br />
ticket Showmen's<br />
committee. Trade<br />
Others<br />
Review; Don<br />
are:<br />
Lichtman, 20th<br />
Mersereau. Century<br />
Film Daily;<br />
-Fox; William<br />
Morton Sunshine. F.<br />
Independent;<br />
Robert Mochrie, RKO;<br />
Warner<br />
Rodgers, MGM; Mo<br />
Club Golf<br />
Wax, Sept.<br />
Film 21<br />
Bulletin, Alfred<br />
W. Shlyen,<br />
and Ben<br />
Schwalberg, Paramount;<br />
BOXOFFICE.<br />
NEW YORK—The Warner club will stage<br />
Ben Kalmenson,<br />
its annual golf tournament September 21 at<br />
Warner Bros.; James R. Grainger.<br />
the Westchester Country club. Prizes will<br />
Republic,<br />
be<br />
and Morey Goldstein, Monogram.<br />
awarded both club members and their<br />
Others<br />
guests<br />
on the local exhibitors group are: M'Carthy Due Back Sept. 20 who win in the various competitions.<br />
George Skouras, Sol Schwartz, Fred J. NEW YORK — John G. McCarthy, vicepresident<br />
in charge of international affairs David Golding<br />
Schwartz, Harry Kalmine, Julius Joelson, Saul<br />
Strausberg. Max<br />
Goes to Coast<br />
A. Cohen, David Weinstock, of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, will<br />
Joe Seider and<br />
NEW<br />
Eugene<br />
YORK—David Golding.<br />
Picker. The<br />
new advertising<br />
and<br />
out-oftown<br />
arrive here from Europe September 20. During<br />
an extended stay abroad he discussed in-<br />
exhibitors<br />
publicity director for<br />
sub-committee, Samuel<br />
which<br />
Goldwyn<br />
Productions, left<br />
is<br />
headed by<br />
for<br />
E. V. Richards<br />
Hollywood to see<br />
and<br />
a<br />
George ternational trade with government officials rough<br />
Skouras,<br />
cut of "I<br />
will<br />
Want<br />
also You"<br />
include: Robert<br />
and to study<br />
J. O'Donnell,<br />
forthcoming<br />
and industry leaders in most of the European other<br />
Mitchell Wolfson, productions.<br />
A. H. Blank, Frank He is due<br />
L. countries.<br />
back September 11.<br />
Milton Goodman, salesmanager of the 16mm<br />
division of Screen Gems, Inc., a subsidiary<br />
of Columbia Pictures, became father of a<br />
baby daughter named Helen Marsha. The<br />
Goodmans also have a 3-year-old boy<br />
Isadore Levy, president of Mercury Film<br />
Laboratories, and Mrs. Levy have announced<br />
the engagement of their daughter Marilyn to<br />
Ronald Stanley Saland of Brooklyn, who is<br />
taking a medical course at New York university.<br />
Henry Souvaine, president of Souvaine<br />
Selective Pictures, will return September 10<br />
from a two-month survey of new film product<br />
in France and Italy. He attended the<br />
International Film Festival at Venice with<br />
Jean de Vesins of the Union Generale Cinematographique,<br />
continental representative<br />
40<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
ATTENTION: PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND EXPLOITATION EXECUTIVES:<br />
ADVERTISING! RATES, N. Y. NEWS COLOROTO:<br />
I time Circulation<br />
4C0L0R f ?11,800 4,100,000 Coast-to-Coast<br />
fULLPAGE-^ $7,100 2,400,000 \YC& Suburbs<br />
'""""'"'")[ $4,700 1,700,000 Balance of U.S.<br />
Fractional page units also available in 4-color<br />
or 2-color. Monoroto available in any size (50<br />
lines min.) at $9.50 per line for Full Run; $6.20<br />
for (;ity and Suburban: $3. 55 for balance of U.S.<br />
CLOSING DATES FOR NOVEMBER 11th ISSUE:<br />
September 28th—deadline for 4-color or 2-color.<br />
October 13th—deadline for monoroto.<br />
The New York News has set November 11th as publication date for the annual<br />
motion picture issue of its Sunday Color Rotogravure Magazine. Circulation<br />
over 4,000,000 Coast-to-Coast ; over 2,400,000 in New York City and its suburbs.<br />
This all-movie issue on November 11th is the climax of New York News'<br />
custom of featuring a movie star in full color on the front cover of the Sunday<br />
magazine more than 40 iveeks each year! All this leads up to the coming<br />
all-movie issue. Its publication November 11th is timely support, four million<br />
strong, of the motion picture industry's October-November campaign<br />
and slogan "It's Movie Time U. S. A."<br />
Your advertisement in this issue can be seen by many millions of movie-minded<br />
people. The News' Sunday editors are preparing page after page of pictures and<br />
stories on forthcoming releases, studio activities, etc. An entire issue<br />
devoted only to new films—and many photos in full<br />
color.<br />
You can use 4-color, or 2-color, or monoroto in this issue. Space in color<br />
rotogravure closes six weeks in advance. See closing dates and rates.<br />
A full page in 4-color, in 4,000,000 copies circulated nationally,<br />
costs less than $3 per thousand familes reached.<br />
Contact: Advertising Department<br />
NEW YORK NEWS<br />
News Building, New York 17<br />
Tribune Tower, Chicago 11<br />
155 Montgomery St., San Francisco 4<br />
1127 \^"ilshirc Blvd., Los Angeles 17<br />
CI nn
eissues<br />
Rep)<br />
. . . Donald<br />
. . John<br />
. . Helen<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Mary<br />
. .<br />
'People in Roxy Record As Cloudy<br />
Labor Day Weekend Packs Broadway<br />
NEW YORK—A cloudy Labor day weekend,<br />
which kept New Yorkers away from beach<br />
resorts, made business jump at most of the<br />
Broadway film palaces. The Main stem was<br />
packed, both with the natives and visitors,<br />
with the result that grosses were the best in<br />
many weeks.<br />
The Roxy, with "People Will Talk" plus<br />
an ice revue on the stage, had the best Sunday<br />
gross in the theatre's history and one<br />
of the best Labor day weekends. Another<br />
20th-Fox picture, "David and Bathsheba," did<br />
the. highest Sunday business of its engagement<br />
and had a third week that was just<br />
a shade below the four-year record opening<br />
week's gross. Two new Paramount pictures,<br />
"A Place in the Sun" at the Capitol and<br />
"Rhubarb" at the Globe, had smash opening<br />
weeks with lines forming daily during the<br />
holiday period. "Show Boat" again had a<br />
bigger week than the previous one In its<br />
seventh at the Radio City Music Hall and<br />
"His Kind of Woman" had a strong opening<br />
week at the Paramount.<br />
Among the other new films, "The Wooden<br />
Horse," which started a first run policy at<br />
the small Trans-Lux 72nd Street, gave the<br />
theatre its highest gross to date. "Pickup,"<br />
the first Hollywood film to play the World,<br />
home of Italian films, had a strong opening<br />
week. Such longer runs as "Alice in Wonderland,"<br />
in its sixth week at the Criterion, and<br />
"Oliver Twist," in its fifth week at the Park<br />
Avenue, were higher than previous weeks.<br />
After the pre-Labor day rush, only four<br />
new films opened, two of them foreign-made<br />
pictures in art houses. They included "The<br />
Medium," "The Reluctant Widow" and "The<br />
People Against O'Hara."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor— fim Thorpe—All American (WB), 2nd wk 135<br />
Bijou—Tales ol Hoifmann (Lopert), 22nd wk. of<br />
two-a-day 105<br />
Capitol-A Place in the Sun (Para) 175<br />
Criterion—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 6th wk 125<br />
55th Street—Man of Aran (Classic); Edge of the<br />
World (Classic) , 100<br />
Globe—Rhubarb (Para) 150<br />
Loews State—Iron Man (U-I), 3rd wk 110<br />
Mayfair—Litllo Egypt (U-1) 115<br />
Palace—Passage West (Para), plus vaudeville.. ..105<br />
Paramount—His Kind of Woman (RKO), plus stage<br />
show 125<br />
Park Avenue—OUver Twist (UA), 5th wk 150<br />
Radio City Music Hall—Show Boat (MGM), plus<br />
stage show, 7lh wk 140<br />
Rivoli—David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox), 3rd wk...l80<br />
Roxy—People Will Talk (20th-Fox), plus stage<br />
show 170<br />
Sutton— Kon-Tiki (RKO), 22nd wk 85<br />
Trans-Lux Madison Avenue Her Panelled Door<br />
(Souvaine) 100<br />
Trans-Lux 52nd Street—Kind Lady (MGM), 4th<br />
vk. 120<br />
Trans-Lux 72nd Street—The Wooden Horse<br />
(Snader) 150<br />
Victoria—Bright Victory (U-1), 5th wk. , 100<br />
Warner— Painting the Clouds With Sunshine (WB) 115<br />
V/orld—Pickup (Co:) 125<br />
"Groom' Like New Broom<br />
Sweeps Buffalo Clean<br />
BUFFALO—Bing put over a boxoffice bang<br />
in "Here Comes the Groom" and it topped<br />
the field this week, with the Labor day<br />
weekend bringing in a lot of visitors, especially<br />
from acro.ss the border. The Paramount<br />
picture's opening, by the way, was<br />
the best in a year and a half. "Jim Thorpe"<br />
also clicked following a strong advance campaign<br />
and a lot of exploitation. "The People<br />
Against O'Hara" was up to average but<br />
"That's My Boy" finally slid a bit in its<br />
third week. "Iron Man" had a satisfactory<br />
week and the Bunin "Alice" did well.<br />
Butfalo—The People Against O'Hora (MGM) 95<br />
Center—Jim Thorpe—All American (WB) 105<br />
Century—That's My Boy (Para). 3rd wk 95<br />
Cinema—Alice in Wonderland (Souvaine) 100<br />
Lalayette-Iron Man (U-I) 95<br />
Paramount—Here Comes the Groom (Para) 115<br />
Teck—He Ran All the Way (UA), 2nd wk £5<br />
"David and Bathsheba' Leads<br />
Philadelphia With 210 Mark<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Stay-at-homes<br />
during<br />
the Labor day weekend helped to boost first<br />
run grosses to respectable proportions. "David<br />
and Bathsheba" led the city with a strong<br />
210 at the Fox. "A Place in the Sun" garnered<br />
165 at the Boyd.<br />
Aldine—Rich. Young and Pretty (MGM)... _...170<br />
Boyd—A Place in the Sun (Para) 165<br />
Earle—Fugitive Lady ( 125<br />
Fox-David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox)..- 210<br />
Goldman—His Kind of Woman (RKO), 2nd wk 85<br />
Mastbaum— Captain Horatio Homblower (WB), 3rd<br />
90<br />
Midtown—Happy Go Lovely iRKO)<br />
Randolph—Flying Leathernecks (RKO) 110<br />
Stanley— Jim Thorpe—All American (WB), 2nd wk. 87<br />
Stanton—Passage West (Para) 130<br />
"Groom" Best Man in Baltimore<br />
As Holiday Takes Light Toll<br />
BALTIMORE—A holiday weekend of good<br />
weather held business down a bit but the<br />
boxoffice generally continues its upward<br />
trend. Exceptionally strong pictures this week<br />
are the rule and almost all are doing above<br />
average business. "Here Comes the Groom"<br />
scooped the city with its 136. Running a close<br />
second was "Flying Leathernecks" at 130, with<br />
"Rich, Young and Pretty" hard on its heels<br />
at 128. "People Will Talk" started strongly<br />
at 119.<br />
Century—Rich. Young and Pretty (MGM) 128<br />
Hippodrome—Flying Leathernecks (RKO) 130<br />
Keith's—Here Comes the Groom (Para) 136<br />
Maylair—Warpath (Pjri In v.-k 101<br />
New—Meet Me Alter the Show I20;h-Fox), 2nd wk. 112<br />
Stanley— Jim Thorpe— All American (WB) 109<br />
Town—People Will Talk ..' ;h-Fox) 119<br />
Valencia—He Ran All the Way (UA) 2nd wk. 93<br />
Syd Gross Joins Bernhard<br />
As Ad-Publicity Head<br />
NEW YORK— Syd Gross joined Bernhard<br />
Productions Tuesday i4i to coordinate publicity,<br />
advertising and promotion on the company's<br />
product and to work closely with 20th<br />
Century-Fox, through which Bernhard is<br />
releasing three films. Gross resigned from<br />
the Israel Independence Bond Campaign to<br />
take the new post.<br />
Gross was formerly director of advertising,<br />
publicity and exploitation for Film Classics,<br />
Inc. When Film Classics was merged into<br />
Eagle Lion Classics he went along as codirector<br />
of publicity, advertising and exploitation.<br />
Before joining Film Classics in<br />
1947 he was advertising-publicity director<br />
for the Rivoli Theatre.<br />
His first assignment with Bernhard wiU be<br />
on "Journey Into Light."<br />
Grandson for A. Schneider<br />
NEW YORK—A son was born to Stanley<br />
and Mrs. Schneider at Woman's hospital<br />
August 30. A. Schneider, vice-president and<br />
treasurer of Columbia Pictures, is the paternal<br />
grandfather.<br />
NEW YORK<br />
By<br />
TED GOTTFRIED<br />
FILMROW<br />
BELABORING THE DAY; Representing<br />
RKO at Lake Placid over the Labor day<br />
weekend was Jimmy MacDonald, shipper . . .<br />
Goldie Ostrofsky, MGM booker's clerk, returned<br />
from the three-day vacation wearing<br />
an engagement ring . . . Herman Garriss,<br />
MGM newsreel-shorts booker, rested at Hackettstown,<br />
N. J., throughout the three days.<br />
Warner home office secretary Lucy Puglisi,<br />
with the company for the past five years,<br />
is leaving to go to Hunter college . . . Also<br />
leaving for college are Mona Irwin, Monogram<br />
clerk, and Jeanette Guss, MGM exchange;<br />
Jeanette will enroll at City college<br />
Schwartz is the new booker's<br />
assistant at U-I . . . Mike Kleinberg, formerly<br />
of the RKO boxoffice department, was<br />
in on leave from the navy . Anderson,<br />
inspector, has been retii-ed by Bonded<br />
Films, and Sarah Lucarini has been re-hired<br />
after a temporary layoff.<br />
It's a baby boy for Lillian Pataky Weiss,<br />
former RKO branch manager's secretary . . .<br />
About to become a mother-in-law is Mae<br />
McGee, UA inspector, whose daughter Dolores<br />
will middle-aisle it September 29.<br />
Mrs. McGee was just back from an Atlantic<br />
. . , Cal Leeder, WB office<br />
City vacation<br />
manager, has a right to be proud of those<br />
pictures he shot on his Maine trip . . . Harry<br />
Margolis, MGM head booker, is back from<br />
two weeks at Asbury Park . Levy,<br />
sales clerk at MGM, returned after two weeks<br />
Also back were Nat Goldberg,<br />
upstate . . .<br />
assistant branch manager, and Sadie Cohen,<br />
contract clerk.<br />
Etta V. Segal, head booker, has returned<br />
to Monogram following a vacation . . . Grace<br />
Cordova, Monogram contract department, is<br />
back from a Puerto Rico journey . . . Frances<br />
Paperello, MGM biller, vacationed at a dude<br />
ranch near Great Barrington, Mass. .<br />
Ethel Curtis, RKO typist-clerk, also left on<br />
vacation over the weekend . Greenberg,<br />
Republic head shipper, is planning a<br />
Fallsburg vacation in October . Einfrank,<br />
UA forelady. left for the Catskills<br />
over the weekend to spend her vacation as a<br />
guest of her sister, with the whole family<br />
joining in the celebration of her seventh<br />
wedding anniversary September 12 . . . Mary<br />
Mayham, MGM bookkeeping machine operator,<br />
will celebrate her second wedding anniversary<br />
September 10.<br />
Mort Nathanson Resigns<br />
As Para. Publicity Head<br />
NEW YORK—Mort Nathanson, publicity<br />
manager for Paramount Pictures since 1947,<br />
has resigned, effective September 14,<br />
Nathanson was publicity director for Liberty<br />
Films when that company was acquired<br />
by Paramount and he became Paramount<br />
publicity manager at that time.<br />
No successor has been named, but it Is<br />
expected that Herb Steinberg, a member of<br />
the publicity department, will take over.<br />
Louise Sultan Is Married<br />
NEW YORK—Louise B. Sultan, office assistant<br />
in the New York headquarters of<br />
BOXOFFICE, was married September 1 to<br />
Alan J. Popick, musician, now in the army.<br />
42 BOXOFFICE :<br />
; September 8, 1951
Helen<br />
: September<br />
. . Schine's<br />
. . Returned<br />
. . The<br />
. . Francis<br />
. . The<br />
. . "The<br />
ALBANY<br />
•phird dimensional screen effects were discussed<br />
by Frank Stenger and Mildred<br />
Aiello over station WOKO, after Stenger<br />
read a newspaper story quoting a man now<br />
in Canada who had worked on such a plan<br />
for the Festival of Britain. Stenger said it<br />
would be odd and perhaps slightly frightening<br />
if trains seemed to come off a third-dimension<br />
screen "right at the audience" and "go<br />
through the balcony" . Times Union's<br />
Watch Tower column reported motion pictures<br />
are the most popular entertainment<br />
for the army in Korea. In one recent month,<br />
movie audiences in Korea totaled 2,220,665.<br />
At present there are 550 16mm projectors<br />
in Korea. By bicycling the projectors as well<br />
as the film, about 700 locations are showing<br />
movies four nights a week.<br />
.<br />
"David and Bathsheba" will open in the<br />
Ritz September 19 for a minimum run of<br />
three weeks at $1.25 top and at Charles Gordon's<br />
Olympic in Utica September 26 on the<br />
same schedule. The regular top at the Ritz<br />
. . is 75 cents Phil Engel, 20th-Fox exploiteer,<br />
came here from Boston to arrange advertising<br />
and exploitation. Francis X. Bushman,<br />
silent screen star who has a role in<br />
"David," will stop here on his tour of the<br />
The Ritz drew a good -sized<br />
country . . .<br />
house for a Tuesday night sneak preview of<br />
"Mr. Drake's Duck," English-made comedy<br />
starring Douglas Fairbanks jr. and released<br />
by Souvaine Productions. Due to a booking<br />
mixup, the print did not arrive at the theatre<br />
by 8:30, advertised starting time. Al Swett,<br />
temporarily in charge of the theatre, informed<br />
patrons that there had been a delay for reasons<br />
beyond his control, and that he would<br />
start "New Mexico," interrupting it when the<br />
"Duck" print arrived.<br />
.<br />
The Vail Mills Drive-In near Gloversville<br />
staged a dog show from 7:15 to 8 p. m. Wednesday.<br />
Children under 15 were invited to enter<br />
their canines Glove, Gloversville,<br />
presented a Saturday morning kiddy<br />
show, admission for which was a register receipt<br />
from the Acme supermarket . . . Melvyn<br />
Douglas and Signe Hasso came down from<br />
Saratoga, where they played the leads in the<br />
new stage comedy, "Glad Tidings," at the<br />
Spa Summer Theatre, to appear at the Madison<br />
for the opening of a series of afternoon<br />
programs broadcast from the stage by station<br />
WXKW. When Betty Parry, conductor<br />
of the program, asked Douglas how he arranged<br />
his screen-stage career as "the husband<br />
of a congresswoman," the star replied.<br />
"I am no longer the husband of a congress-<br />
Gahagan Douglas, who had<br />
I<br />
woman."<br />
been a member of the house of representatives<br />
for several terms, unsuccessfully ran<br />
for U.S. senator from California last November.)<br />
Joe Miller arranged a Labor day fireworks<br />
display for the Menands Drive-In on the<br />
Albany-Troy road .<br />
vacationers:<br />
Saul J. Ullman, upstate general manager for<br />
Fabian; Oscar J. Perrin, manager of the<br />
Ritz. and Pat Patterson, manager of the<br />
Leland. Patterson .spent six days in New-<br />
York visiting his brother Merrill, dean of<br />
Marietta (Ohioi college, and seeing Broadway<br />
shows. He also renewed acquaintance<br />
with an army buddy. Pat McGee, now general<br />
manager of Cooper Foundation Theatres,<br />
Denver.<br />
Brett, Rosenow at Kenmore;<br />
Richard Carroll Installed<br />
BUFFALO—Richard Carroll, who has been<br />
associated with several local film distributing<br />
offices in the capacity<br />
of booker, has<br />
been named manager<br />
of the Kenmore Theatre,<br />
which is now under<br />
the management<br />
of William Brett and<br />
William P. Rosenow.<br />
Carroll was manager<br />
at the Kenmore for a<br />
brief period under its<br />
Paramount management.<br />
Brett and Rosenow<br />
Richard Carroll took over the operation<br />
from United Paramount, which had<br />
been running the house the past few years<br />
since the split-up of the Shea-Loew interests<br />
in Buffalo. United Paramount is retaining<br />
the lease on the theatre building.<br />
The Kenmore is in the heart of Kenmore,<br />
largest incorporated village in New York,<br />
located on the northern outskirts of Buffalo.<br />
The new managers plan a number of improvements<br />
in the theatre. Both have had a<br />
quarter century of experience in exhibition<br />
in western New York.<br />
Downsville, N. Y., Opens<br />
Its New Colchester<br />
DOWNSVILLE, N. Y.—Cliff Hall has given<br />
this town of approximately 3,000 population<br />
a theatre with his newly opened Colchester,<br />
and thereby hangs quite a tale, according to<br />
Ralph Mauro of the National Theatre Supply<br />
Co. branch in Albany, who has made several<br />
trips recently to the town and theatre.<br />
Downsville had been without a theatre for<br />
about three years, since the former one was<br />
destroyed by fire. The townspeople recently<br />
organized, bought shares, and converted a<br />
quonset garage into the Colchester Theatre.<br />
It is a very satisfactory job, according to<br />
Mauro.<br />
With an opening scheduled for 7 p. m., the<br />
NTS man was just finishing up the sound<br />
accompanied by hammer-<br />
equipment at 6:15,<br />
ing on all sides. The volunteer fire department—some<br />
52 able-bodied men—had turned<br />
out earlier in the day to install the seats.<br />
James W. Gerard Dies<br />
SOUTHAMPTON, N. Y.—James W. Gerard<br />
died September 6 at his summer home here.<br />
Gerard was 84 years old and had been<br />
ambassador to Germany for the United States<br />
prior to the country's entry into World<br />
War I. His experiences in the Germany of<br />
Kaiser Wilhelm caused him to write two<br />
books, "My Four Years in Germany" and<br />
"Face to Face with Kaiserism." The first<br />
was made into a motion picture in 1918 by<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Beverly Ott to 20th-Fox<br />
NEW YORK—Beverly Ott. formerly with<br />
the Dell Publications' coast office, will join<br />
the 20th Century-Fox New York publicity department<br />
as fan magazine contact September<br />
17. The department is supervised by Robert<br />
Fleisher.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
•That party given by Max M. Yellen, president<br />
of the Century Theatre Corp., is the<br />
talk of the town. Mike Simon, manager for<br />
Paramount Detroit and formerly manager<br />
here, attended the event. The presentation<br />
was made by Elmer F. Lux, general manager<br />
of Darnell Theatres and city councilman, who,<br />
by the way. has won the Democratic nomination<br />
for president of the council. The banquet<br />
served by Mr. and Mrs. Yellen was "out<br />
of this world." Charlie Kosco, 20th-Fox manager,<br />
took the record for putting away one<br />
dozen corn fritters at one sitting and hollering<br />
for more. About 35 branch managers<br />
and theatre executives were guests.<br />
The Variety Club will start a series of Saturday<br />
night parties and Sunday evening buffet<br />
previews on Sunday evening, September<br />
Richard T. Kemper, zone manager<br />
16 . . .<br />
for Dipson Theatres, and Jack Grood, manager<br />
of the Chez Ami. have been named members<br />
of a committee to stage a benefit vaudeville<br />
show this fall in a downtown theatre<br />
for the benefit of the club.<br />
George C. Diestel, 53, local photographer<br />
and artist whose brush and camera lens<br />
won him fame and friends the country over,<br />
is dead. For a score of years he did publicity<br />
work for Shea Theatres, the Lafayette and<br />
other amusement places . . . Joseph B. Clements,<br />
manager of the Paramount here for the<br />
past few years, resigned, effective October 1.<br />
He has not as yet announced his plans for<br />
the future, but is planning a motor trip to<br />
Quebec in October . X. Bushman<br />
will be in Monday and Tuesday (10, 111 on<br />
his nationwide tour to aid in the promotion of<br />
"David and Bathsheba," arriving here from<br />
Toronto, where he was featured several nights<br />
in the Jimmy Durante show at the Canadian<br />
National exhibition.<br />
Charles Brackett will make a Technicolor<br />
film entitled "Niagara" in the world-famed<br />
mecca of newlyweds. It is rumored that<br />
Tyrone Power will be the star. Production<br />
will start next spring . Bohemian<br />
Girl," a 1923 film made in England, was<br />
shown in the Dryden Theatre of the Eastman<br />
House in Rochester . marines participated<br />
in the ceremonies attending the opening<br />
of "Flying Leathernecks," at the Palace<br />
in Rochester. The ceremonies began with a<br />
buffet supper in the Seneca hotel for three<br />
bemedalled marine vets of the Korean war.<br />
The next day at noontime a squadron of jets<br />
from the national guard air wing at Niagara<br />
Falls flew over Kodak town, dipping their<br />
wings in a .salute to "Flying Leathernecks."<br />
In the evening of the same day. American<br />
Legion and other veteran units paraded to the<br />
Palace to participate in ceremonies on the<br />
stage when the three decorated vets were<br />
guests of honor.<br />
BEST SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951 43
: September<br />
n<br />
HART<br />
TRAVELER'S observation: Exhibitors who<br />
read reports on promotions (Showmandiser<br />
section of BOX-<br />
OFFICE) by other exhibitors<br />
are very seldom<br />
found crying<br />
about business.<br />
Vincent Tate, Motiograph<br />
sga<br />
dealer who has<br />
complete service shop<br />
and sales room in<br />
Forty Fort, suburb of<br />
Wilkes-Barre, was installing<br />
a Hi-Power<br />
generator and three<br />
Ashcraft hydro arc<br />
lamps in the Paramount Theatre. Tate says<br />
Ashcraft lamps are the only ones designed<br />
to use 7, 8 and 9mm copper-trimmed carbons.<br />
Reflectors are 15-inch high speed.<br />
Tate also is installing equipment at the<br />
Moonlight Drive-In being built by the Rizzo<br />
brothers at West Wyoming. Pa. It's a 400-<br />
car theatre.<br />
He reports that the demand for Cycloramic<br />
screens grows as exhibitors who have installed<br />
them praise the improved visibility<br />
they provide.<br />
Norman Saunders, business agent for Local<br />
120 of Pittston, is in charge of the Tate repair<br />
and maintenance service. He has been<br />
a member of Local 120 for 26 years.<br />
When asked the secret of his steady business,<br />
Tate replied, "Service, quality merchandise<br />
and a genuine desire to help exhibitors<br />
obtain the best equipment." His experience<br />
includes some theatre operation.<br />
Jack Mahon was at work at the United<br />
Paramount offices in Wilkes-Barre, but Louis<br />
Finske was out of town. Mahon said the<br />
circuit was planning to make a motion picture<br />
featuring children in every town it<br />
operates a theatre. Frank Jones, booker,<br />
commented that the booking problem was<br />
growing more complicated.<br />
Frank Kovaletz, manager of the Paramount<br />
in Wilkes-Barre, related that the<br />
theatre features quality pictures, such as<br />
"The Wizard of Oz," 'Huckleberry Finn."<br />
etc., with four cartoons instead of westerns,<br />
at its Saturday morning kiddy shows. Many<br />
parents accompany the children to these programs.<br />
Both the local newspaper and the<br />
PTA have commended the Paramount management.<br />
George Sanderson is making the hometown<br />
films featuring children for the circuit.<br />
The cast usually includes about 100<br />
youngsters from 4 to 15 and only two adults.<br />
The plot revolves about the kidnaping of one<br />
of the kids and his return home safely. These<br />
localized movies have proved to be good<br />
promotion, since the parents of every child<br />
and their friends are sure to see the film.<br />
George Bettinger, district manager for<br />
Comerford at Wilkes-Barre, was in New York<br />
on a vacation.<br />
Bill Walsh, manager of the Comerford<br />
Theatre there, emphasized the motion pictiu-e<br />
industry should always strive to sell<br />
goodwill as well as pictures. He uses radio<br />
BEATS<br />
.By HARRY HART.<br />
time, store tieups and newspapers in goodwill<br />
promotions. Recently he had 42 cutout<br />
donkeys made and distributed them to playgrounds<br />
around the city, offering passes to<br />
children who pinned the donkeys' tails on.<br />
Of course, the donkeys were replicas of<br />
Francis in "Francis Goes to the Races."<br />
He recently promoted a radio station in<br />
picking up the tab for a preshowing of<br />
"Valentino." The station offered tickets to<br />
a screening ten days in advance to women<br />
who phoned in and reported they remember<br />
Valentino, the silent screen star. The screening<br />
was in a small art house around the<br />
corner from the Comerford, and the station<br />
had to ask women to stop calling after it had<br />
distributed 250 tickets, the capacity of the<br />
house.<br />
The station made recordings of comments<br />
by the women after they had seen the picture<br />
and played them over the air.<br />
Another goodwill builder Walsh has instituted<br />
is to send an usher out front when all<br />
seats in the lower floors are filled and announce<br />
that only balcony seats and standing<br />
room are left. I call this showmanship; he<br />
calls it good public relations.<br />
At the offices of Comerford Theatres irj<br />
Scranton, Public Relations Director Harry<br />
Spiegel, who has been in show business more<br />
than 40 years, predicted that good stage<br />
shows may be televised over large-screen<br />
theatre TV in the near future. He recalled<br />
that the Comerfords were the first showmen<br />
in Pennsylvania to sign up with Warner<br />
Bros, for sound when it came In. Spiegel<br />
is confident that the business is still in its<br />
infancy and that great things will develop<br />
soon.<br />
Frank and Angelo Scavo, who operate the<br />
Oak Hill Drive-In, were busy giving free<br />
pony rides to children and handing out comic<br />
books. The Oak Hill is the nearest drive-in to<br />
Scranton. It opened Memorial day and was<br />
Motiograph-equlpped by Vincent Tate Supply<br />
Co. of Wilkes-Barre. The airer is very<br />
neat and well-drained, with a very nice<br />
concession stand which the brothers also<br />
operate themselves. This theatre uses a great<br />
amount of newspaper space, the brothers believing<br />
that you have to tell people that you<br />
have a show.<br />
The Scavos formerly operated an indoor<br />
theatre. The drive-in operation is a new<br />
venture for them, but it looked as if they<br />
were getting their share of patronage.<br />
I went over to see the new Moonlight<br />
Drive-In being built by Joseph Rizzo on<br />
Shoemaker avenue in West Wyoming, the<br />
first theatre for the town. The 400-car<br />
situation expects to open about September<br />
14. The picture size will be 41x54 feet and<br />
it also has a holding area for about 200 cars.<br />
There is a moonglow lighting system and the<br />
ozoner is equipped with a Motiograph Hi-<br />
Power generator and Motiograph equipment<br />
throughout. A very neat concession stand will<br />
be operated by the owners.<br />
Joseph at one time operated a small drivein<br />
with a blast system which he says whetted<br />
his appetite for show business. I predict a<br />
very good business for this neat drive-in.<br />
Nicholas Markanich of Altec Service Co.<br />
was completing the wiring of the booth and<br />
we had a lot to talk about as I had not<br />
seen him since his transfer from Virginia<br />
to Pennsylvania. He had been working 24<br />
hours without stopping.<br />
The Circle Drive-In, which is situated on<br />
top of a mountain on Route 6 out of Scranton.<br />
was opened Sept. 10, 1949. It has a<br />
very pretty boxoffice and an attraction board.<br />
There are double exits and a turnaround at<br />
the boxoffice which permits people to come<br />
in, turn around and leave without driving<br />
through the theatre. It also has a flowing<br />
well. A view of the entire Anthracite valley<br />
can be had from the theatre. Comic books<br />
are given children on certain nights of the<br />
week.<br />
Manager Marvin Sands was making sure<br />
that the Star-Lite Drive-In at Tunkhannock,<br />
Pa., was clean as a pin. He told me that<br />
handbills, programs, window cards and newspaper<br />
advertising were used by the theatre<br />
as well as signs on all roads that lead to<br />
the theatre. He believes in letting people<br />
know where the theatre is and what is playing.<br />
He said "The Prince of Peace" created<br />
a lot of goodwill as well as bringing many<br />
new patrons to the theatre.<br />
Sands believes that every effort to help<br />
one's community pays off and he takes a<br />
very active part in all civic affairs. His<br />
father is associated with him in business<br />
and is also a substitute mail carrier out of<br />
the local postoffice. The drive-in operates<br />
its own concession stand and has a holding<br />
available on the local airport grounds which<br />
is adjacent to the theatre.<br />
At the Dietrich Theatre in Tunkhannock,<br />
Manager Roy Brown was evidently out of<br />
town as I could not locate him.<br />
On September 1, the Cerra brothers and<br />
their partners, operators of the Ideal Drive-In<br />
at Lake Newton near Carbondale, w-ill celebrate<br />
their third anniversary of operation.<br />
Tony and Joseph Cerra and their father<br />
also operate a bottling plant in Carbondale.<br />
Michael Farrell, oldtime showman, was on<br />
hand to greet me at the Midvalley Drive-In.<br />
It handles 1,000 cars. Farrell said that for<br />
special shows, a weekly mailing list of 1.800<br />
postcards brings people in. The theatre sponsors<br />
a Little league baseball team which gets<br />
the theatre a lot of free publicity, not to<br />
mention goodwill.<br />
The ramps are 43 feet apart and the speaker<br />
posts are 22'- feet apart, making for plenty<br />
of room and patron comfort. The theatre<br />
also has twin Moonglow lighting systems and<br />
is designed so that It can be emptied in<br />
about seven minutes.<br />
Farrell was in special services during the<br />
last war and told me about some of the<br />
theatres that he helped build and operate for<br />
the entertainment of troops overseas.<br />
During a recent Philadelphia visit Ben<br />
Amsterdam, who is past 70, greeted<br />
me at Atlantic Theatres. He is one<br />
of the grand old showmen we have left<br />
today. He cited .some things showmen need<br />
to do to bring people back to the theatres and<br />
among them was better theatres with more<br />
comfort as people's standard of living is<br />
higher today than ever and dirty restrooms<br />
will drive patrons away, he said. He stressed<br />
the need of making the patron comfortable<br />
and modernizing theatres wherever possible.<br />
44 BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951
. . . Neighborhood<br />
. . . Home<br />
. . . Cashier<br />
. . . Jake<br />
. . Office<br />
. . Anna<br />
. . Booker<br />
. . Elaine<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . . James<br />
. . Eddie<br />
. . The<br />
. . Alan<br />
. . Jackie<br />
. . The<br />
. . Charles<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
pilmrow Bowling league held its first meeting<br />
Friday night at the Hi-Slcor bowling<br />
alleys on 14th street N. W. President of the<br />
league is Jesse Smith. Joan Taylor is secretary-treasurer.<br />
Exchanges participating in<br />
the league are 20th-Fox, RKO, U-I, Warners,<br />
Columbia, Highway Express, Clark Film and<br />
Republic, and the All-Stars, made up of personnel<br />
from the exhibitor circuits and smaller<br />
exchanges.<br />
Agnes Turner, RKO cashier, conducted her<br />
luncheon meeting Wednesday of the Soroptimist<br />
club at the Willard hotel. She was given<br />
a lei of baby orchids, which was flown from<br />
Honolulu and sent by one of the club members<br />
now residing there . Jesse<br />
Smith has returned from his vacation with<br />
an unusual array of fish stories.<br />
Harley Davidson and his family have returned<br />
from a trip to Toronto where they<br />
visited relatives they had not seen for 14<br />
years. Harley Davidson jr. entered medical<br />
college of Virginia in Richmond .<br />
Marsh Gollner came in from Salisbury, Md.,<br />
to visit Filmrow. He is a new grandfather<br />
Theatres closed the Lee<br />
Theatre, Falls Church, Va., September 4, permanently.<br />
Evelyn Mason was married to Otho Crockett<br />
.. . Cashier Caroline Nassau took a trip<br />
to Logansport, Ind., to visit her fiance's folks<br />
over the weekend . Manager John<br />
O'Leary has been promoted to salesman .<br />
Hal Marshall, formerly with Paramount, now<br />
is connected with the Philadelphia and<br />
Washington offices of 20th-Fox to handle<br />
publicity.<br />
Metro news: Edith Hislop has returned<br />
from a Canada . vacation in De-<br />
Vaughn, file clerk, will marry Tommy Arnold<br />
September 14. She was given a shower<br />
Friday by the girls of the office . . . Joe<br />
Kronman has been laid up with a bad hand.<br />
He caught it in a buzz saw while working<br />
around the house over the holiday weekend.<br />
. . .<br />
Monogram home office executive J. P.<br />
Friedhoff was an exchange visitor . . The<br />
.<br />
new cashier is Blanche Hayre, formerly assistant<br />
cashier at United Artists . . . Booker<br />
Al Wheeler is traveling the territory temporarily<br />
. . . Jane Harrell visited Filmrow<br />
Wednesday . . . Lillian Lee, Paramount bookkeeper,<br />
Sam<br />
is vacationing in Boston Knight, shipper, is on a two-week vacation<br />
office auditor Allan Adams celebrated<br />
a wedding anniversary Thursday .<br />
Sales Manager Herbert Thompson is preparing<br />
to enter Casualty hospital for surgery.<br />
.<br />
. . . Shipper<br />
U-I hello girl Myrtle Friess spent Labor<br />
day weekend visiting her mother in Albany<br />
Walter Bangs celebrated a<br />
birthday Friday Doner, formerly<br />
with U-I, now is employed in the Sidney<br />
Republic cashier Clare Cunningham<br />
Lust office . . .<br />
is spending her vacation in Louis-<br />
ville, Ky., visiting her daughter and family<br />
Flax's secretary Ann Dinkel is<br />
vacationing in Reading, Mass.<br />
Richard Lester is resigning to join the Fairfax<br />
county troopers. Eddie Ringer is replacing<br />
him in the shipping department .<br />
Office Manager Albert Landgraf is spending<br />
a two-week vacation at home.<br />
Jerome Baker to Manage<br />
RKO Washington House<br />
WASHINGTON—Jerome Baker has been<br />
named as manager of RKO Keith's by William<br />
Howard, vice-president of RKO Theatres.<br />
Baker has been with the company for<br />
23 years in St. Paul, Cincinnati, New York<br />
and Rochester. The appointment will become<br />
effective September 12.<br />
HARRISBURG<br />
nU of central Pennsylvania, as well as the<br />
state itself, including the governor and<br />
other high officials, turned out to honor the<br />
former Carlisle Indian school athlete, Jim<br />
Thorpe, at the premiere of the film "Jim<br />
Thorpe—All American." The premiere took<br />
place at the Comerford in Carlisle. Thorpe, on<br />
his first visit since leaving the school where he<br />
became famous; Phyllis Thaxter, and others<br />
from the picture, were on hand. Dedication<br />
of a marker in Thorpe's honor by Gov. John<br />
S. Fine, a dinner attended by more than 500<br />
people and the Hollywood-type premiere attracted<br />
thousands to the county seat. John<br />
Gibbons, manager, arranged the program,<br />
which was covered by the press, radio station<br />
WOR with Barbara Wells at the mike and<br />
sportscaster Harry Wismer of ABC.<br />
One of tiie bills before the long session of<br />
the state legislature in its last few weeks<br />
of meeting would authorize second class<br />
townships to collect taxes on amusement admissions.<br />
Introduced by Senator George B.<br />
Stevenson, the proposal was referred to the<br />
senate's local government committee.<br />
Continuing the trend toward bigger exploitation<br />
of pictures. Regent Manager Sam<br />
Oilman and assistant Ken Steckline arranged<br />
some stunts for "Teresa." They<br />
handed out several thousand Diary of a<br />
Bride heralds; set up a milk-bottle-holder<br />
tieup and had 24 sheet billboards touring the<br />
city on a truck. One thousand newspapers<br />
were imprinted with the eight-column<br />
streamer line "Teresa Arrives in Harrisburg<br />
Today."<br />
Exploitation arranged by Joe Murdoch,<br />
Senate manager, for the film "The Prowler"<br />
included tieups with stores in which he gave<br />
away old stills with each picture frame purchased.<br />
He also had the local Nash auto distributor<br />
banner new cars with blurbs about<br />
the picture. The new machines toured the<br />
entire area.<br />
Vacationers to and from Harrisburg houses<br />
were Spike Todorov, assistant manager of<br />
the State, and his family, in New "ifork; Flo<br />
Steigleman, State, at Ocean City, Md.; Sam<br />
Oilman, manager of Loew's Regent, and his<br />
wife Esther, on their annual trip to Cleveland<br />
to see the Cleveland Indians on their home<br />
ground. From the Hill in Camp Hill, Jimmy<br />
Tritt went to the shore, Barry Oyler to Texas,<br />
Mrs. Gene West to Washington and Manager<br />
D. S. Blosser to New Jersey; Francis S.<br />
DeVerter, Rio manager, was at home, and<br />
Mrs. Estella Hicks, Rio, visited relatives.<br />
'Mr. Peek-A-Boo' Set<br />
NEW YORK—"Mr. Peek-A-Boo." UA release<br />
starring Joan Greenwood and Bourvil,<br />
French comedian, will open at the Trans-<br />
Lux 60th Street Theatre following the run of<br />
"The Reluctant Widow," which started September<br />
7.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
n mass meeting will be held at the Boyd<br />
Wednesday (12 1 at 9:30 a. m. when the<br />
part to be played locally in the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. campaign will be dtscussed. Arthur<br />
Mayer, executive secretary of COMPO, and<br />
Bob O'Donnell, head of the Movietime drive,<br />
will speak. Exchanges will be closed until<br />
noon so that all personnel can attend.<br />
.<br />
Paramount Decorating Co. is redecorating<br />
the Westway in Baltimore .<br />
Stanley-<br />
Shapiro Theatre Co., which operates the<br />
Uptown and Colony, has filed notice with the<br />
Pennsylvania department of state for a certificate<br />
of withdrawal from doing business<br />
in Pennsylvania Gabriel, Capitol<br />
Film Exchange, reports that 13 Hal Roach<br />
comedies are being released in this area<br />
through Capitol . father of Nat Abelove,<br />
Exchange Finance Co. office manager,<br />
Betty Klein, former 20th-Fox telephone<br />
died . . .<br />
operator, is now in<br />
Paris.<br />
Harry Norman Ball is chairman of the<br />
Variety golf tournament which will be held<br />
at the Philmont Country club September 14<br />
Schwartz, Y&Y salesman, left<br />
for a business trip on the coast . . . Ted<br />
Dorf, also a Y&Y salesman, has gone to New<br />
Mexico on a business trip ... Ed Gallner,<br />
MOM exploiteer, has returned from his vacation<br />
Elayne Gerber, Columbia branch<br />
. . . manager's secretary, has announced her engagement<br />
to Charles Bellak, men's sportswear<br />
manufacturer.<br />
Virginia Grayner, Columbia assistant cashier,<br />
soon will be married to Donald Caldwell<br />
Charlotte B. Yablin, Monogram<br />
. . .<br />
biller, will be married Sunday (9).<br />
. . . Ted<br />
Ed Rosenbaum, UA publicist, was on a<br />
Grace Line cruise to South America ... Ed<br />
Tracht, former local projectionist now in<br />
business in Chicago, was in town<br />
Hummel, Warner building elevator operator,<br />
has resigned Strulson, Cincinnati,<br />
is<br />
.<br />
now New Jersey salesman at 20th-<br />
Fox. Shep Bloom, former New Jersey salesman,<br />
now is city salesman. Herman Hirschorn,<br />
former city salesman, now is manager.<br />
.W Blumberg, who has been Circle manager<br />
for many years, has resigned from his as-<br />
sociation with the Stanley-Warner Co. . . .<br />
Ruth Murphy, S-W booking department, was<br />
on vacation Sampere, S-W contact<br />
department, resigned B.<br />
Roth's Royal in Hummelstown has had its<br />
name changed to the Standard<br />
will book and buy for the Center in Minersville.<br />
The Center, a new theatre, is being<br />
opened by A. P. Kronk.<br />
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BOXOFTICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951 45
FETE RKO FOREIGN PUBLICIST—RKO publicity executives gathered for a<br />
luncheon at the Gloucester House, New York, last week to fete one of their members,<br />
Elias Lapinere, continental European advertising and publicity director and general<br />
sales manager, on the occasion of Lapinere's first trip to the home office. Seen, left<br />
to right: Don Prince, eastern publicity director; Terry Turner, director of exploitation;<br />
Perry Lieber, studio publicity director; Rutgers Neilson. foreign publicity director; S.<br />
Barret McCormick, director of advertising, and Lapinere.<br />
Justice Dept. May File<br />
Again in UA, U-I Case<br />
NEW YORK—The industry awaited with<br />
interest during the week the next move of the<br />
Department of Justice in its complaint to<br />
the U.S. District Court that United Artists<br />
and Universal-International have common<br />
officers and directors and that UA should be<br />
required to put up for sales its assets bought<br />
from Eagle Lion Classics. The overall charge<br />
is violation of the consent decrees.<br />
Both UA and U-I filed answers to the show<br />
cause order signed by the court, which set<br />
a hearing for October 25. The Department<br />
of Justice can now undertake to break down<br />
the answers with new briefs or can stand<br />
on its original filing. It gave no indication<br />
of what it w^ould do.<br />
U-I made a general denial, saying that<br />
while Robert Benjamin is a member of its<br />
board, he is neither a UA officer nor director.<br />
UA made the same statement, adding that<br />
Benjamin is simply a part-time adviser to<br />
Arthur B. Krim, UA president. UA also said<br />
that purchase of ELC prevented the dissolution<br />
of both companies and insured continuation<br />
of distribution competition with<br />
the majors.<br />
UA is represented by Phillips. Nizer. Benjamin<br />
& Krim and U-I by Adolph Schimel.<br />
Schwalberg Will Preside<br />
At 3-Day Sales Meeting<br />
NEW YORK—A.<br />
W. Schwalberg. president<br />
of Paramount Film Distributing Corp., will<br />
preside over a three-day meeting of division<br />
sales managers here Wednesday (12). This<br />
will be the first meeting of the sales heads<br />
since the company convention last April.<br />
How to sell product during the current sales<br />
drive will be the main topic.<br />
Among tho.se attending will be: Hugh<br />
Owen, eastern and southern division manager;<br />
Howard G. Minsky, mid-eastern division<br />
manager; J. J. Donohue, central division<br />
manager; M. R. Clark, south central division<br />
manager: George A. Smith, western division<br />
manager; Gordon Lightstone, Canadian general<br />
manager. Barney Balaban, Adolph<br />
Zukor, Paul Raibourn. E. K. iTed) O'Shea,<br />
Oscar Morgan. Jerry Pickman, Sid Blumenstock,<br />
Robert J. Rubin, Monroe R. Goodman,<br />
Fred Leroy, Arthur Dunne. Martin Friedman,<br />
Harold Beecroft, Joseph A. Walsh, George<br />
Schur and Sid Mesibov also will attend.<br />
Wolfgang Wolf Resigns<br />
Austrian MPEA Post<br />
NEW YORK—Wolfgang Wolf. Austrian<br />
managing director of the Motion Picture Export<br />
Ass'n since Jan. 1, 1947, has resigned,<br />
according to Irving A. Maas. vice-president.<br />
He has been succeeded by Louis Kanturek,<br />
European manager, who has shifted headquarters<br />
from league to Vienna due to<br />
Czechoslovakian restrictions on films.<br />
Wolf arrived in Vienna, his native city,<br />
with the U.S. army as deputy film officer of<br />
the information services. He then took over<br />
organization of the MPEA office which he expanded<br />
into the largest Austrian film distributor.<br />
Wolf is in Venice for conferences<br />
with Motion Picture Ass'n of America officials<br />
regarding possible assignments.<br />
Fox Annexes 24 Theatres<br />
In Australia, Victoria<br />
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Twentieth<br />
Century-Fox<br />
has acquired 24 theatres in South<br />
Australia and Victoria. The deal was closed<br />
by Hoyt's Theatres, a 20th-Fox subsidiary,<br />
for control of Waterman Bros, outdoor holdings.<br />
Majority of the theatres are located in<br />
Adelaide suburbs.<br />
Ernest TurnbuU of Hoyt's announced the<br />
purchase. Clyde Waterman said that a new<br />
company, Hoyt's Ozone Theatre Corp.. w-ill<br />
be organized to operate the houses. Turnbull,<br />
John Glass and G. McPhee will be directors<br />
representing Hoyt's, while Clyde, Donald and<br />
Keith Waterman will sit on the board to<br />
represent their interests.<br />
General Precision Reports<br />
Drop in Quarter Net<br />
NEW YORK—Consolidated net income of<br />
General Precision Equipment Corp. for the<br />
second quarter of 1951 ending June 30 was<br />
$183,035, compared with a consolidated net<br />
of $195,662 for the same period in 1950. The<br />
1951 net was equivalent to 30 cents per<br />
share, compared with 33 cents the previous<br />
year.<br />
Sales for the three-month period were<br />
$7,654,493, compared with $6,779,814 for the<br />
same quarter in 1950.<br />
A dividend was declared Tuesday (7) by the<br />
board of 25 cents per share, payable September<br />
14 to stockholders of record August 24.<br />
Italian Film Wins Award<br />
At 1951 Venice Festival<br />
VENICE, ITALY—"Path of Hope." Italian<br />
language film to be distributed in the U.S.<br />
by Lux Film Distributing Corp., has been<br />
awarded the David O. Selznick "Golden<br />
Laurel" international prize for 1951 for best<br />
"promoting mutual understanding among<br />
peoples of the free and democratic world."<br />
James Clement Dunn, American ambassador<br />
to Italy, announced the winner in a presentation<br />
ceremony at the Venice Film Festival.<br />
The five other productions competing for<br />
the "Golden Laurel" award were: "Justice<br />
Est Faite," from France: "Medan Staden<br />
Sover," from Sweden: "Herrliche Zeiten,"<br />
from Germany; "Four in a Jeep, " from Switzerland,<br />
and "Trio," from Great Britain.<br />
"Four in a Jeep" was released in the U.S.<br />
by United Artists while "Trio" was released<br />
here by Paramount.<br />
The "Golden Laurel" award and the "Silver<br />
Laurel" medals were presented this year<br />
for the second time. They are for motion<br />
pictures produced by Europeans in Europe.<br />
Of the 32 1951 productions competing, seven<br />
were in English, five in French, nine in<br />
German, six in Italian, four in Swedish and<br />
one was a multilingual. These were screened<br />
to juries of American Press, press agencies<br />
and broadcasting companies in Berlin, London,<br />
Paris, Rome and Stockholm. The six<br />
productions which were voted winners of the<br />
"Silver Laurel" medals in their respective<br />
language groups became the nominees for the<br />
"Golden Laurel" award and were voted on<br />
by secret ballot by a jury at the Museum<br />
of Modern Art in New York.<br />
Ambassador Dunn opened the envelope<br />
containing the name of the winning film at<br />
the Venice Film Festival September 1. Members<br />
of the "Golden Laure!" jury who gave<br />
the final award to "Path of Hope" were: Ellis<br />
Arnall, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Gardner Cowles,<br />
Otto R. Harbach, John Gunther, Rene<br />
d'Harnoncourt, Edward R. Murrow, Herbert<br />
Bayard Swope and James P. Warburg.<br />
Abraham Schneider Adds<br />
To Columbia Holdings<br />
WASHINGTON—A b r a h a m<br />
Schneider<br />
picked up 100 shares of Columbia Pictures<br />
common stock between July 11 and August<br />
10. bringing his total holdings to 7,866 shares<br />
and warrants for another 12.500, the SEC reported<br />
Thursday (30i in its monthly statement<br />
on security transactions and holdings of<br />
corporation officers and directors.<br />
Delayed reports of Harold J. Mirisch of<br />
Monogram disclosed that he had acquired a<br />
total of 1,200 shares of that company's $1 par<br />
common stock in five transactions during<br />
February. April and May.<br />
Also disclosed was the sale of 1,000 shares<br />
of Universal Pictures $1 par common stock<br />
in April by John G. Eidell, reducing his holdings<br />
to 5.475 shares.<br />
George A. Brownell Named<br />
Director of Loew's, Inc.<br />
NEW YORK—George A. Brownell, partner<br />
in the law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell,<br />
Sunderland & Keindle. was elected a member<br />
of the board of Loew's, Inc., Wednesday (5).<br />
He will fill the vacancy caused by the death of<br />
David Warfield.<br />
46 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
: September<br />
MEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER.<br />
(Hollyioood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager)<br />
Actors Renominate<br />
Reagan and Holden<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The annual awards banquet,<br />
at which a new slate of officers and directors<br />
also will be announced, will be staged<br />
early in February of next year by the Screen<br />
Writers Ouild, which appointed Everett Freeman<br />
chairman of the arrangements committee<br />
for the event. Kudos will be distributed<br />
to the scriveners of what are adjudged<br />
the best-written scenarios in the fields of<br />
comedy, musicals, dramas and westerns, as<br />
well as the Robert Meltzer award for the<br />
best picture depicting the contemporary<br />
American scene.<br />
With word that they are "much encouraged"<br />
at the way their case was received, Richard<br />
Carlson of the SAG board of directors and<br />
John Dales jr., executive secretary, returned<br />
from Washington, where they testified before<br />
a senate subcommittee which is considering<br />
changes in the Taft-Hartley law. The SAG<br />
representatives and Roy M. Brewer, lATSE<br />
executive, asked the solons to amend a Taft-<br />
Hartley clause which calls for a 30-day "cooling-off"<br />
period before new studio employes<br />
are required to join a union.<br />
Meantime Pat Somerset, SAG assistant<br />
executive secretary, was re-elected president<br />
of the AFL's California State Theatrical Federation<br />
and the AFL's California State Federation<br />
of Labor.<br />
Incumbent President Ronald Reagan, and<br />
William Holden, first vice-president of the<br />
SAG, head the ticket of 23 players chosen by<br />
the organization's official nominating committee<br />
for offices and positions on the board<br />
of directors. Ti-easurer George Chandler was<br />
renominated for another one-year term, while<br />
other nominees included Walter Pidgeon and<br />
John Lund, second and third vice-presidents,<br />
and Paul Harvey, recording secretary.<br />
Named candidates for three-year terms on<br />
the board were Louise Beavers, Chick Chandler,<br />
Nancy Davis, Rosemary De Camp, Frank<br />
Paylen, Robert Keith, Bud Linn, Cliff Lyons,<br />
Tyrone Power, Regis Toomey and Lurene<br />
Tuttle. George Murphy and Lyle Talbot were<br />
nominated for two-year terms, and Fred<br />
Clark and Rhys Williams for one-year terms.<br />
Finalists, from which one will be selected<br />
as the "best-directed" picture released during<br />
the May 1-June 31 quarter, have been nominated<br />
by members of the Screen Directors<br />
Guild. The candidates are "Cyrano de Bergerac,"<br />
megged by Michael Gordon; "The<br />
Great Caruso," Richard Thorpe: "Show Boat,"<br />
George Sidney, and "Strangers on a Train,"<br />
Alfred Hitchcock.<br />
SAG Initiates Test of TV<br />
Protective Provision<br />
Hollywood—In what is generally regarded<br />
as a test case, the Screen Actors<br />
Guild has made its first move to enforce<br />
a protective television provision in its<br />
basic contract with the producers by serving<br />
legal notice on Robert L. Lippert Productions<br />
that SAG'S contract with that<br />
company is to be canceled, effective in 60<br />
days.<br />
SAG charges Lippert sold to television<br />
several theatrical features made after<br />
Aug. 1, 1948, without negotiating an agreement<br />
for additional payment to the thespians<br />
involved for TV rights. SAG members<br />
will be prohibited from working in<br />
any Lippert productions after November<br />
5 unless a satisfa.ctory adjustment has<br />
been made prior to that time.<br />
Lippert spokesmen said the matter has<br />
been placed in the hands of I. F. Chadwick,<br />
president of the Independent Motion<br />
Picture Producers Ass'n, of which organization<br />
the Lippert production company<br />
is a member.<br />
Two More Star Tours<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Ttt^o more star tours of<br />
military bases have been okayed by the Hollywood<br />
Coordinating Committee. Audrey Totter<br />
will leave September 26 on a four-week<br />
junket to the Korean war front and hospitals<br />
and bases in Japan, while a troupe headed<br />
by Keenan Wynn was to fly out over the<br />
weekend for the Offutt air force base and<br />
nearby veterans hospital in Omaha.<br />
To Resume Red Ryder<br />
HOLLYWOOD—stage and office space has<br />
been secured at Republic by Stephen Slesinger<br />
for the resumption of his Red Ryder<br />
TV series starring Jim Bannon. Camera work<br />
will be launched immediately.<br />
Joe Palooka Moves<br />
Into Video Field<br />
Hollywood — Joe Palooka, the comic<br />
strip, after ten starring features for<br />
Monogram release since 1946, passed into<br />
the hands of Bernard Luber and Robert<br />
Maxwell, who wall turn out a series of<br />
30-minute video subjects based on the<br />
Ham Fisher cartoon characters. Luber<br />
and Maxwell also are producing a Superman<br />
series for television.<br />
The ten "Palooka" films for Monogram,<br />
all starring Joe Kirkwood jr., were produced<br />
by Hal E. Chester. Terminating<br />
the series is "Triple Cross."<br />
Video Filmmakers<br />
Plan Association<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Preliminary steps toward<br />
the formation of a new association of video<br />
film manufacturers, similar in aims to the<br />
National Society of Television Producers, were<br />
taken at a planning session attended by representatives<br />
of ten TV companies. Participating<br />
were spokesmen for Jerry Fairbanks Productions,<br />
Flying A Productions (the Gene<br />
Autry company 1, William F. Broidy, Frederick,<br />
TVA (The Bud Abbott-Lou Costello<br />
firm I, Primrose Productions, Frank Wisbar,<br />
Screen Associates, Bing Crosby Enterprises<br />
and the Roy Rogers TV unit.<br />
Here for a ten-day survey of the local video<br />
field, and to bolster its lineup through the<br />
purchase of additional theatrical features,<br />
are executives of Motion Pictures for Television,<br />
Inc., formerly known as Flamingo<br />
Films. The latter firm was recently merged<br />
with Teleinvest, Inc., into the new company.<br />
Making the trek from New York were Matty<br />
Fox, board chairman and also an executive<br />
of United Artists; Elliott Hyman, president<br />
of the TV organization, and Sy Weintraub,<br />
vice-president.<br />
G. Ralph Branton, one of the majority<br />
stockholders of Monogram and also active in<br />
TV production, set Lee Savin as producer of<br />
his new "Gentleman Burglar" video film<br />
series, toplining George Brent. Branton plans<br />
13 of the half-hour subjects, the first to get<br />
under way late this month.<br />
A new series of 30-minute TV film dramas<br />
based on the exploits of Congressional Medal<br />
of Honor winners is being planned by Russell<br />
Wade and Scenarist William Bowers. The<br />
films will be photographed in 16mm in color.<br />
Fred<br />
Sersen Leaves Fox<br />
health caused Fred Ser-<br />
HOLLYWOOD—111<br />
sen to resign as director of photographic<br />
effects for 20th-Fox. He was with the company<br />
and its predecessor. Fox Films, since<br />
1917. Sersen, who has been succeeded by Ray<br />
Kellogg, his assistant, will continue in an<br />
advisory capacity.<br />
Shifts to General Service<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Headquarters of Jack Broder<br />
Productions, independent unit releasing<br />
through Realart, have been shifted from the<br />
Samuel Goldwyn studios to General Service.<br />
Next on the Broder slate is "The Bushwhackers,"<br />
to star John Ireland and Wayne<br />
Morris.<br />
BOXOfTICE :<br />
8, 1951 47
: September<br />
WHEN<br />
Cinemarua's railbirds hang a<br />
nickname on a certain type of motion<br />
picture, it means that films of that<br />
ilk are being produced in abundant numbers<br />
and are probably here to stay. Witness: Hoss<br />
operas, soap operas, cliff-hangers, whodunits,<br />
chillers, etc., ad infinitum.<br />
To the long and venerable list of such<br />
designations has been added a new one: The<br />
space opera, as applicable to the current<br />
and apparently limitless cycle of sciencefiction<br />
photoplays. Two of them were unfurled<br />
during a recent week for the edification<br />
of Hollywood's celluloid appraisers. They<br />
were Paramount's "When Worlds Collide,"<br />
produced by George Pal and directed by Rudolph<br />
Mate, and 20th Century-Fox's "The<br />
Day the Earth Stood Still," filmed under the<br />
productional aegis of Julian Blaustein and<br />
piloted by Robert Wise.<br />
Both are arresting and praiseworthy e.xamples<br />
of how far the Hollywood imagination<br />
can reach in plumbing the possibilitiesbe<br />
they ever so remote—of the atomic future.<br />
Which of the pair will be the more enthusiastically<br />
received and financially supported by<br />
the ticket-buying public only future entries<br />
on showmen's ledgers can answer.<br />
The Paramount opus, conceived and manufactured<br />
with the characteristic flair for<br />
fantasy that has been the hallmark of Producer<br />
Pal's picture-making career, has certain<br />
advantages, in this opinion. First, it enjoys<br />
the unquestionable benefits of Technicolor<br />
photography. Further, it makes no<br />
compromise with the limitless extremities of<br />
its basic subject matter. On the other hand,<br />
the offering from the wizards of Westwood,<br />
while it is just as impressive in projecting<br />
its Buck Roger-ish facets, explores a new—<br />
and perhaps hazardous—avenue for films of<br />
its type. It undertakes sallies into philosophy<br />
and preachment, thereby adding a serious<br />
note to a type of picture which heretofore<br />
has been fantasy In Its most radical form.<br />
But regardless of comparative opinions of<br />
the respective qualities of the two features,<br />
and with a weather eye to past performances,<br />
it seems a reasonable assumption that<br />
both will account for themselves substantially<br />
when the season's grosses are compiled.<br />
Further, the two have another characteristic<br />
in common. Both are being offered to<br />
the public without benefit of .so-called top<br />
thespian names.<br />
If they enjoy the praise and patronage<br />
which is being so widely predicted for them,<br />
it will establish two things: The space opera<br />
is here to stay, and the atom is mightier than<br />
the star.<br />
posedly impregnable hold on sagebrush celluloid<br />
matter is being threatened by rank<br />
furriners.<br />
The scriveners and producers of outdoor<br />
subjects of the oater variety—or a reasonable<br />
facsimile thereof—seem to have discovered<br />
that the Jameses, et al.. had their counterparts<br />
who operated in England during the<br />
17th and 18th centuries, and whose general<br />
modus operandi differed but little from that<br />
of America's own prize collection of outlaws.<br />
There were, for example, Dick Turpin,<br />
Thomas Wilmot, William Cady and Zachary<br />
Howard. In the ruthless, sanguinary activities—real<br />
or legendary—of such. English gentry<br />
are to be found virtually all of the ingredients<br />
that are elements of the standard<br />
western film: Horses, chases, stagecoach<br />
holdups, swordplay (instead of fisticuffs),<br />
chivalry and gunplay (with the muzzle-loading<br />
pistol replacing the six-gun). Everything,<br />
in fact, with the exception of cattle-rustlin".<br />
Undismayed by such slight variations, Hollywood<br />
producers are pouncing upon the<br />
British brigands' lives and loves as themes<br />
of features which, despite their English accents,<br />
are spittin' images of formula horse<br />
operas. Witness the following trio:<br />
"The Lady and the Bandit." a current Columbia<br />
release, which stars Louis Ha.vward<br />
as Turpin and was produced and directed, respectively,<br />
by Harry Joe Brown and Ralph<br />
Murphy.<br />
"The Highwayman," soon to go into distribution<br />
under the Allied Artists banner,<br />
made by Producer Hal E. Chester and megged<br />
by Lesley Selander.<br />
"The Brigand, " with .Anthony Dexter as a<br />
highwayman—Spanish, for a change—which<br />
is now in work as an Edward Small production,<br />
with Phil Karlson directing, for Columbia<br />
release.<br />
Mighty unpatriotic, it might be considered,<br />
and certainly calling for the immediate organization<br />
of the SFTPOABIRTDTSSB—Society<br />
for the Preservation of American Badmen's<br />
Inalienable Right to Dominate the<br />
Silver Screen's Banditry—to which this column<br />
applies for charter membership.<br />
Teet Carle's Paramount praisery broadcasts:<br />
"Continuing a record-making boxoffice pace<br />
throughout the country. Hal Wallis' 'That's<br />
My Boy' concluded its first week at the Oriental<br />
Theatre. Chicago, with a gross that topped<br />
by 12 per cent the sensational business done<br />
by 'Showboat.' "<br />
RKO Stages Debuts<br />
For Three New Films<br />
HOLLYWOOD—It was a busy week for<br />
RKO drumbeaters as the Howard Hughes<br />
company staged gala screenings of three new<br />
releases.<br />
"His Kind of Woman." starring Robert<br />
Mitchum and Jane Russell, was given a triple<br />
premiere August 31 at the Orpheum, Hawaii<br />
and El Rey theatres here. Mitchum and Miss<br />
Rus.sell sparked the opening with a marathon<br />
appearance stint covering all three<br />
showcases.<br />
San Francisco was the scene of the western<br />
premiere Tuesday (4) of "Flying Leathernecks."<br />
produced for RKO by Edmund<br />
Grainger. The producer and cast toppers, including<br />
John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Janis<br />
Carter and Don Taylor, planed north to participate<br />
in the festivities at the Golden Gate<br />
Theatre.<br />
That opening was followed Wednesday (5i<br />
by a star-studded press premiere of "The Blue<br />
Veil," the second Jerry Wald-Norman Krasna<br />
production for RKO release, at the Carthay<br />
Circle. The event was given coverage by station<br />
KFWB, the armed forces radio service<br />
and the Columbia Broadcasting System's<br />
western network.<br />
Columbia's "Five," produced and directed<br />
by Arch Oboler, was given its western premiere<br />
at the United Artists circuit's Four<br />
Star Theatre, sparked by 30 minutes of television<br />
coverage over station KTTV, on August<br />
28.<br />
Next evening, Warners tossed a "star and<br />
sports" preview-premiere of "Jim Thorpe-<br />
All American" at the Warner Holl>ivood Theatre,<br />
at which athletic celebrities mingled<br />
with film notables. Among those in attendance<br />
were four members of Thorpe's 1912<br />
Olympic Games team—Alma Richards, Jim<br />
Donohue, Fred Kelly and George Retzer—<br />
and screen stars including Ann Miller, 'Virginia<br />
Mayo, Bill Boyd, Roy Rogers and<br />
Charles Coburn. The event was broadcast<br />
over station KFWB and through the facilities<br />
of the armed forces radio service.<br />
Thursday night (30) 20th-Pox pulled out<br />
all the stops for the western premiere -^f its<br />
Biblical spectacle, "David and Bathsheba."<br />
which opened recently at the Rivoli in New-<br />
York. The local bow of the Gregory Peck-<br />
Susan Hayward starrer, attended by both of<br />
the topliners, was staged at Grauman's Chinese<br />
complete with grandstands, George<br />
Fisher as the forecourt emcee and other premiere<br />
trappings. The guest list included more<br />
than 150 celebrities.<br />
Following its world premiere Wednesday<br />
(12) in Cleveland. "A Millionaire for Christy."<br />
filmed by Bert Priedlob's Thor Productions<br />
for distribution by 20th-Fox. has been set<br />
for saturation booking in 50 Ohio theatres.<br />
The comedy, megged by George Marshall,<br />
stars Fred MacMurray and Eleanor Parker.<br />
While on the subject of trends, shed a passing<br />
tear for Jesse and Frank .Tames, William<br />
Clarlie Quantrell, the Dalton boys, the<br />
Younger brothers, and all the other badmen<br />
of the early west whose nefarious pursuits<br />
have been the basis of innumerable<br />
action films. Their time-honored and sup-<br />
48<br />
Metro made one called "Show Boat," to<br />
which Carlean intelligence doubtlessly referred.<br />
While it is common practice for a<br />
major distributor to compare grosses on current<br />
films with those of his own preceding<br />
releases, it is seldom—if ever—that such comparisons<br />
are made with the output of another<br />
company— a hazardous, and perhaps slightly<br />
unethical, procedure.<br />
Warners' "A Streetcar Named Desire" will<br />
have its western opening at the Warner Beverly<br />
Theatre in Beverly Hills Wednesday<br />
(19). It was world-premiered August 31 at<br />
the Warner Theatre in Atlantic City.<br />
Joanne Dru for Femme Lead<br />
Joanne Dru will star opposite Dale Robertson<br />
in 20th-Fox's "Return of the Texan."<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951
ATTENTION: PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND EXPLOITATION EXECUTIVES:<br />
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Contact: Advertising Department<br />
This all-movie issue on November 11th is the climax of New York News'<br />
custom of featuring a movie star in full color on the front cover of the Sunday<br />
magazine 7nore than 40 weeks each year! All this leads up to the coming<br />
all-movie issue. Its publication November 11th is timely support, four million<br />
strong, of the motion picture industry's October-November campaign<br />
and slogan "It's Movie Time U. S. A."<br />
Your advertisement in this issue can be seen by many millions of movie-minded<br />
people. The News' Sunday editors are preparing page after page of pictures and<br />
stories on forthcoming releases, studio activities, etc. An entire issue<br />
devoted only to new films—and many photos in full<br />
color.<br />
You can use 4-color, or 2-color, or monoroto in this issue. Space in color<br />
rotogravure closes six weeks in advance. See closing dates and rates.<br />
A full page in 4-color, in 4,000,000 copies circulated nationally,<br />
costs less than $3 per thousand familes reached.<br />
NEW YORK NEWS<br />
News Building, New York 17<br />
Tribune Tower, Chrcago 11<br />
155 Montgomery St., San Francisco 4<br />
1127 Wilshire Blvd.. Los Angeles 17
comedy<br />
. . ...<br />
: September<br />
"<br />
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES<br />
Barnstormers<br />
Columbia<br />
JOHN DEREK and DONNA REED, stars of "Saturday's<br />
Hero," left for New York Tuesday (4) to begin<br />
a tour that will take them throughout the east and<br />
midwest in behalf of openings of the picture.<br />
Monogram<br />
HUNTZ HALL of the Bowery Boys was master ol<br />
ceremonies Labor day eve (2) at the Gage Drive-In<br />
in Bell, Calif-, at the selection and crowning of<br />
"Miss Bellflower of 1951."<br />
Participating in the dedication ceremonies Saturday<br />
(1) of the new Lincoln playground in East Los<br />
Angeles was KIRBY GRANT, who stars in Producer<br />
Lindsley Parsons' action series based on the James<br />
Oliver Curwood stories.<br />
Paramount<br />
PRODUCER NAT HOLT, EDMOND O'BRIEN and<br />
"<br />
FORREST TUCKER took off on a barnstorming junket<br />
on behalf of their new film, '"Warpath, with<br />
O'Brien and Holt to visit Cleveland, Columbus,<br />
Youngstown and Akron, and Tucker covering Boston,<br />
Ballimore, Charlotte and Jacksonville.<br />
Briefies<br />
Columbia<br />
Maxie Rosenbloom and Max Baer are starring in<br />
"Mental Giants," two-reeler being produced by<br />
Hugh McCoHum and directed by Ed Bernds, from<br />
a script by EUwood UUman,<br />
Cleffers<br />
Monogram<br />
MARLIN SKILES is scoring "Fort Osage."<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Producer Samuel Goldwyn set CARL BOND as<br />
musical editor on "I 'Want You." for which the<br />
score is being written by LEIGH HARLINE.<br />
Republic<br />
"The Sea Hornet" is being scored by DALE<br />
BUTTS.<br />
Loanouts<br />
Universal-International<br />
DAN DAILEY, borrowed from 20th-Fox, will star in<br />
"Great Companions," to be produced by Albert J,<br />
Cohen and megged by Lou Breslow from a story<br />
by Gene l^arkey.<br />
Meggers<br />
Independent<br />
Replacing James V. Kern, who bowed out because<br />
of a conflicting commitment, HAROLD SCHU-<br />
STER will direct Producer Michel Kraike's "The<br />
Hundred Grand Bachelor," The romantic comedy<br />
will star Luther Adler<br />
Metro<br />
"Autobahn," upcoming Pier Angeli starrer, will<br />
be directed by ANDREW MARTON for Producer<br />
Richard Goldstone.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
CURTIS BERNHARDT will direct the Wald-Krasna<br />
production, "Pilate's Wife," a Biblical story being<br />
scripted by Clare Boothe Luce.<br />
The Wald-Krasna production unit added "Elizabeth<br />
and Robert Browning, Their Love Story" to its<br />
upcoming slate and handed the directorial chore<br />
CURTIS BERNHARDT.<br />
to<br />
Universal-International<br />
GEORGE SHERMAN was assigned the directorial<br />
reins on "Steel Town," the Leonard Goldstein production,<br />
toplining Ann Sheridan, Howard Duff and<br />
John Lund.<br />
Options<br />
Columbia<br />
ARTHUR FRANZ was inked for the title role in<br />
Producer Stanley Kramer's "The Sniper," on which<br />
Edna and Edward Anhalt are functioning as associate<br />
producers.<br />
ALF KIELLIN, Swedish actor, has been ticketed<br />
lor "My Six Convicts." Producer Stanley Kramer<br />
booked RUSS CONWAY for the film being directed<br />
by Hugo Fregonese, with Millard Mitchell and John<br />
Beal in the leading roles. JAY ADLER, stage<br />
actor, was given a role.<br />
Tagged for a part in "Sound Off," military musical<br />
starring Mickey Rooney, was HELEN FORD. It is<br />
being produced and directed, respectively, by Jonie<br />
Taps and Richard Quine.<br />
Inked for "Captain Blood, Fugitive," starring<br />
Louis Hayward, was TED DE CORSIA. Ralph Murphy<br />
megs the Harry Joe Brown production.<br />
Producer Stanley Kramer pooled DA'VID ALPERT,<br />
little theatre actor, lor the Fredric March starrer',<br />
"Death of a Salesman." Based on Arthur Miller's<br />
play, the opus is being directed by Laslo Benedek.<br />
Independent<br />
Jack Broder Productions, releasing through Realart,<br />
signed WAYNE MORRIS to star with John Ireland<br />
in "The Bushwhackers," which Rod Amoteau<br />
piloting.<br />
is<br />
Metro<br />
TV comedian JACK CARTER and RICHARD HAYDN,<br />
the latter on loanout from Paramount, were set<br />
for roles in "The Merry Widow," which stars Lana<br />
Turner and Fernando Lamas under Curtis Bernhardt's<br />
direction. Joe Pasternak will produce the<br />
Technicolor musical, based on Franz Lehar's<br />
operetta. THOMAS GOMEZ was signed lor the<br />
film.<br />
Radio and screen character actor HANLEY STAF-<br />
FORD joined the cast of the Russell Nype-Ruth<br />
Roman comedy, "Young Man in a Hurry" The Gottfried<br />
Reinhardt-WiUiam H, Wright production is being<br />
directed by Mitchell Leisen. SHELDON LEONARD,<br />
WILL WRIGHT, EMMET VOGAN, CAMERON GRANT,<br />
BESS FLOWERS, ISABEL RANDOLPH, EMORY PAR-<br />
NELL and FRAN ANDERSON were signed.<br />
Fourteen - year - old CHRISTINE WALLAS was<br />
given a long-term acting pact.<br />
RUTH ROMAN was inked for "The Invitation," the<br />
Dorothy McGuire-Van Johnson vehicle, which Gottfried<br />
Reinhardt is megging for Producer Lawrence<br />
Weingarten.<br />
LOUIS CALHERN joined Dean Stockwell, Danny<br />
Kaye and Gene Kelly in "The Adventures ol Huckleberry<br />
Finn."' Technicolor musical version of the<br />
Mark Twain story, which will be megged by<br />
Vincenle Mmnelli for Producer Arthur Freed,<br />
Monogram<br />
PAT MITCHELL, 10-year-old player, JOHN CRAW-<br />
FORD and WARREN DOUGLAS were cast in Producer<br />
Lindsley Parsons' "Northwest Territory,"<br />
which stars Kirby Grant and the canine actor<br />
Chinook, under Frank McDonald's direction. TRIS-<br />
TRAM COFFIN, DON HARVEY and SAM FLINT<br />
joined the cast.<br />
Cast in "Rodeo," Cinecolor western starring Jane<br />
Nigh, were JOHN ARCHER and WALLACE FORD<br />
The Walter Mirisch production is being directed<br />
by William Beaudine.<br />
Paramount<br />
ALAN YOUNG will star with Bob Hope in "T'he<br />
Military<br />
"<br />
Policeman, to be produced by<br />
Harry Tugend.<br />
Cast in her third straight Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis<br />
comedy was MARION MARSHALL, booked lor the<br />
Hal Wallis production, "At Sea With the Navy"<br />
The megaphonist<br />
DICT was cast.<br />
is Hal Walker. RICHARD BENE-<br />
Cast additions lor ""Son of Paleface,"' toplining Bob<br />
Hope, Jane Russell and Roy Rogers, were RICH-<br />
ARD MARTIN, DON PORTER and ALBERT SHARPE.<br />
Frank Tashlin is megging the comedy western for<br />
Producer Robert Welch.<br />
Seven-year-old BEVERLY WASHBURN was signed<br />
for "Shane," the Technicolor western starring Alan<br />
Ladd, Jean Arthur and Van Heflin, which is being<br />
produced and directed by George Stevens.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
WILLIAM TALMAN to "The Korean Story."<br />
JOHN HOYT and LOWELL GILMORE to ""Androcles<br />
and the Lion" Cast as a centurion in the Gabriel<br />
Pascal film was CHARLES IRWIN. The film version<br />
of the George Bernard Shaw play, toplining Alan<br />
Young, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature, is being<br />
megged by Chester Erskine<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
BETTE DAVIS will make a "guest" appearance in<br />
""Phone Call From a Stranger,"" which stars her<br />
husband, Gary Merrill, and Michael Rennie. Also<br />
set lor the Nunnally Johnson production w*!"-!! Io"ri<br />
Negulesco is megging, were BEATRICE STRAIGHT,<br />
Broadway actress, and TED DONALDSON, juvenile<br />
actor.<br />
Character actor DAN "WHITE was booked for the<br />
George Jessel production, "Wait Till the Sun Shines,<br />
Nellie," which Henry King is megging. The topliners<br />
are Jean Peters and David Wayne. Stage<br />
actor CHARLES WATTS was ticketed for a featured<br />
role.<br />
SCOTT BRADY was handed an option hoist calling<br />
for one picture during 1952.<br />
Set for a featured role in "Way of a Gaucho," to<br />
be produced in Argentina by Philip Dunne, was<br />
EVERETT SLOANE. The title-roler is Rory Calh->un.<br />
Femme lead opposite Dale Robertson m "Return<br />
the Texan" is JOANNE DRU. The Frank Rosenberg<br />
of<br />
production is being filmed under the direction<br />
of Delmer Daves.<br />
United Artists<br />
IAN MacDONALD, ROBERTA HAYNES, and LEE<br />
VAN CLEFF. stage actor, were signed for "High<br />
Noon."* Also set for the Gary Cooper starring western,<br />
which is being produced by Stanley Kramer<br />
and directed by Fred Zinnemann. were TOM LON-<br />
DON, JAMES BROWN, TED STANHOPE, SHEB WOOL-<br />
LEY, ROBERT WILKE, WILLIAM PHILLIPS LON<br />
CHANEY and THOMAS MITCHELL.<br />
Universal-International<br />
-iked for a character role<br />
hnicolor actioner starring<br />
James Stewart The Aaron Rosenberg production is<br />
being directed by Anthony Mann.<br />
Contractee BARBARA KNUDSON was assigned a<br />
supporting role in the Tony Curtis-Piper Laurie<br />
vehicle, ""Son of Ali Baba,'" which is being produced<br />
by Leonard Goldstein and megged by Kurt Neumann,<br />
WILLIAM REYNOLDS and PALMER LEE were signed.<br />
JOHN McINTIRE was ticketed for a role in "The<br />
World in His Arms."<br />
AUDIE MURPHY was handed a long-term exclusive<br />
contract and the title role in "The Hair Trigger Kid."<br />
a Technicolor western to be produced by Albert<br />
J. Cohn.<br />
Danish actress BODIL MILLER was signed to a<br />
long-term contract.<br />
JOHN WARBURTON, GIL STUART and LEE LIND-<br />
SAY drew supporting parts in ""Bronco Buster,""<br />
which stars John Lund and Scott Brady under Budd<br />
Boetticher"s direction. It is a Ted Richmond production.<br />
GENE LOCKHART was inked for a character lead<br />
in the Donald 0"Connor starrer, ""Francis Covers the<br />
Big Town,"' which Arthur Lubin is megging for<br />
Producer Leonard Goldstein. SILVIO MINCIOTTI ol<br />
New York"s Teatro Italiano was signed<br />
Warners<br />
Fourteen-year-old DARIA MASSEY will portray one<br />
of Danny Thomas's daughters in "111 See You in<br />
My Dreams,'" musical starring Thomas, Dons Day<br />
and Frank Lovejoy, which Louis F, Edelman produces.<br />
The megaphonist is Michael Curtiz.<br />
Inked lor the Cary Grant-Betsy Drake starrer.<br />
"Room for One More,'" was JOHN RIDGELY. Norman<br />
Taurog directs the Henry Blanke production. RAY<br />
PAGE, Broadway actor, and RANDY STUART were<br />
booked.<br />
Inked to a term contract, GINGER CROWLEY, lormer<br />
orchestra vocalist, makes her film debut in the<br />
Virginia Mayo starrer, ""She's Working Her Way<br />
Through College," which Bruce Humberstone will<br />
meg for Producer William Jacobs.<br />
Scripters<br />
RKO Radio<br />
"Desert Passage" is being penned by NORMAN<br />
HOUSTON as a Tim Holt starring westeri<br />
"<br />
vhlch<br />
will be produced this fall by Herman Schloi<br />
Story Buys<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
"The President"s Lady," a novel by Irving Stone<br />
dealing with President Andrew Jackson and his wife,<br />
Rachel, was acquired and assigned to Sol C. Siegel<br />
to produce. It will be filmed in Technicolor.<br />
Technically<br />
Independent<br />
The Sid KuUer production, ""Actor"s Blood," will<br />
be edited by OTTO LUDWIG.<br />
Monogram<br />
Crew assigned to "Rodeo" includes ED MOREY<br />
JR., assistant director; HARRY NEUMANN, cameraman;<br />
art<br />
technician.<br />
COOPER,<br />
MARTIN<br />
sound<br />
OBZINA, director, and CHARLES<br />
Paramount<br />
DICK MUELLER will be the Technicolor consultant<br />
on "Somebody Loves Me," with CHARLES O'CURRAN<br />
set as dance director.<br />
RICHARD BLAYDON was named production manager<br />
on Hal Wallis Productions' '"At Sea With the<br />
Navy."" DANIEL FAPP is lensing the picture with<br />
BUDDY COLEMAN as assistant director.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
GEORGE AMY will edit ""Clash by Night," for<br />
which the femme wardrobes are being designed by<br />
MICHAEL WOLFE.<br />
"Androcles and the Lion" will be lensed by HARRY<br />
STRADLING.<br />
Producer Edmund Grainger has retained DR. HENRY<br />
DE YOUNG, one-time Korean minister to Gen.<br />
Douglas MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo, as<br />
technical consultant on "The Korean Story."<br />
United Artists<br />
Stanley Kramer Productions set RUDOLPH STERNAD<br />
as art director on "High Noon."<br />
Warners<br />
Named assistant directors on '"Retreat, Hell!" were<br />
AL ALLEBORN and OREN HAGLUND. WARREN<br />
LYNCH will photograph the picture.<br />
Assignments to "She's Working Her Way Through<br />
College" include TRAVILLA, as wardrobe designer,<br />
end WILL CLINE to the lensing job. DON PAGE<br />
will be the assistant director.<br />
Title<br />
Changes<br />
Columbia<br />
"Captain Blood Returns'" to CAPTAIN BLOOD.<br />
FUGITIVE.<br />
Paramount<br />
'"Green Gold ol Nevada"" (Pine-Thomas) to GIANT<br />
TIMBER.<br />
50 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951
NPA Okays Building<br />
Of New Drive-In<br />
BAKERSPIELD, CALIF.—The green light<br />
has been given to the owners of the 99 Drive-<br />
In here by the National Production Authority<br />
to go ahead with construction of a new ultramodern<br />
drive-in on Shalimar drive in East<br />
Bakersfield, it was revealed by Lloyd Miller,<br />
co-owner of 99 and the South Chester airers.<br />
Construction will be started as soon as materials<br />
can be assembled. The exhibitors already<br />
have on hand a good part of the projection<br />
and sound equipment required.<br />
The 99 with its immense screen tower, is<br />
the first thing seen by automobile travelers as<br />
they enter the environs of Bakersfield on<br />
Highway 99, "the busiest street in the world,"<br />
1,000 miles long. The South Chester is at the<br />
south gateway to Bakersfield, a beacon to<br />
traffic pouring along Highway 99. over the<br />
Ridge mountains from southern California.<br />
With the new ozoner. East Bakersfield will<br />
get its first open-air theatre. East Bakersfield<br />
has a larger population than the incorporated<br />
city of Bakersfield, close to 40.000. There is<br />
no break between the two halves of the city,<br />
nor between them and Oildale, the three<br />
teeming communities that make up the 130.000<br />
population of greater Bakersfield.<br />
In the incorporated city of Bakersfield, Fox<br />
West Coast dominates the field with four big<br />
showcases. Preferred Theatres has one, and<br />
the Carnakis family has two showcases and<br />
an airer.<br />
In Oildale to the north, and in communities<br />
to the south, Jim Banducci dominates the<br />
field with three big showcases and a projected<br />
drive-in. In East Bakersfield, the Lemucchi<br />
family operates the immense Tejon<br />
showcase and the somewhat smaller, but completely<br />
modern Granada. The Lemucchis and<br />
the Banduccis formerly were an integrated<br />
chain, but separated about two years ago.<br />
There is one other showcase in East Bakersfield.<br />
the Rialto, which runs only Mexican<br />
pictures and caters to the large Mexican<br />
population there.<br />
No Filmdom Associates<br />
At Bob Walker Funeral<br />
OGDEN. UTAH—Although none of the<br />
stars with whom he had worked and who<br />
had been his associates for the past ten<br />
years was present, many gigantic floral offerings<br />
marked Hollywood's tribute to Robert<br />
Walker at funeral services in Ogden this<br />
week. The services for the actor, who died<br />
last week at his Santa Monica home, were<br />
conducted by a former bishop of the Mormon<br />
church.<br />
Actress Jennifer Jones, former wife of the<br />
star and mother of his two sons, did not attend.<br />
The rites were held in Ogden, where the<br />
actor was reared, at the request of his parents,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Walker. Hollywood<br />
personalities who sent floral offerings<br />
included Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Tracy, Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock, David O. Selznick,<br />
Dore Schary, Pat O'Brien and Jennifer<br />
Jones.<br />
Martin Obzina to Mono.<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Martin Obzina has been<br />
appointed art director for Monogram, succeeding<br />
David Milton, who resigned recently<br />
to join William F. Broidy Productions.<br />
Ca^ecutlae<br />
East: Producer Samuel Goldwyn and Mrs.<br />
Goldwyn returned from a three-week vacation<br />
in Honolulu.<br />
West: Lester Koenig, Paramount associate<br />
producer, returned to the studio after a business<br />
trip to New 'Vork.<br />
West: David Golding, newly appointed publicity-advertising<br />
director for Samuel Goldwyn<br />
Productions, came in from Manhattan<br />
for huddles with Goldwyn and the latter's<br />
west coast publicity director, Al 'Vaughan.<br />
West: Charles Simonelli, U-I eastern advertising-publicity<br />
chief, and Jeff Livingston,<br />
eastern advertising manager, planed in for a<br />
series of huddles with David A. Lipton, vicepresident<br />
in charge of advertising and publicity,<br />
and Al Horwits, head of the studio<br />
drumbeating department. Meantime Archie<br />
Herzoff, studio advertising manager, planed<br />
to Kansas City to addre.ss the annual meeting<br />
of the Commonwealth circuit.<br />
West: George Slaff, general counsel for<br />
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, returned to his<br />
studio post after a ten-day vacation in the<br />
east.<br />
East: Alfred E. Daff, world sales director<br />
for U-I, arrived from New Zealand, completing<br />
a six-week global tour of the company's<br />
foreign distribution centers. Daff planned a<br />
week's stay at the valley studio, huddling<br />
with President Nate J. Blumberg and Leo<br />
Spitz and William Goetz, production heads,<br />
before returning to his New York office.<br />
East: Sidney Lanfield, MGM director, headed<br />
for Chicago to begin a week of location<br />
filming at the Great Lakes naval training<br />
station on "Skirts Ahoy," a musical starring<br />
Esther Williams and Vivian Blaine.<br />
West: Here from Washington for a brief<br />
stay was Edward Hayes, State department<br />
official, for huddles concerning the selection<br />
of a Hollywood filmmaker to act as administrative<br />
supervisor of motion picture production<br />
in Germany's western zone.<br />
East: West coast delegates to a two-day<br />
meeting called by Monogram-Allied Artists<br />
in Kansas City (4, 5) included President<br />
Steve Broidy; Harold Mirisch. vice-president;<br />
Walter Mirisch, executive producer:<br />
G. Ralph Branton, nominee for the board of<br />
directors: Harold Wlrthwein, western sales<br />
manager, and John C. Flinn. advertisingpublicity<br />
director.<br />
West: George Cukor. who will meg Judy<br />
Holliday's next starring picture at Columbia,<br />
planed in from New York after eastern huddles<br />
with Miss Holliday.<br />
Peggy Dow Starts Drive<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Peggy Dow, U-I contractee,<br />
planed to Washington to participate in<br />
a meeting of the President's committee on<br />
National Employ the Physically Handicapped<br />
week. She was a guest of honor and speaker<br />
at the session, at which a special screening<br />
of U-I's "Bright Victory," in which she stars<br />
with Arthur Kennedy, was held.<br />
^njOAjt^elenA,<br />
ARRIVE FOR MOVIETIME—Pat Mc-<br />
Gee, general manager of Cooper Foundation<br />
Theatres and general chairman for<br />
the Movietime U.S.A.—Rocky Mountain<br />
Area, greets J. C. Hunter, left, president<br />
of Talbot Theatres of Tulsa, and Buck<br />
Weaver, Paramount manager in Oklahoma<br />
City, as they arrive by plane in<br />
Denver for the Movietime kickoff meeting<br />
there.<br />
Movietime Session<br />
In Salt Lake Soon<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—"Inspired by the great<br />
pictures coming up, heartened by the pickup<br />
of business all over the country, confident<br />
that the time is right, the motion picture<br />
industry is about to launch the biggest national<br />
promotion ever organized—a campaign<br />
which will have the support of Hollywood<br />
producers, national film distributors and<br />
some 23,000 exhibitors, IT'S MOVIETIME—<br />
U.S.A."<br />
This is the opening paragraph in a letter<br />
that went out this week to all exhibitors in<br />
the Salt Lake exchange area to start the<br />
ball rolling on Movietime campaign in the<br />
territory. The letter noted that every branch<br />
of the industry will participate in the "drive<br />
to make every man, woman and child in this<br />
country motion picture conscious." There<br />
will be the old-fashioned hoopla, excitement<br />
and showmanship.<br />
The letter then explains the details of the<br />
drive, when it will start, how the stars will<br />
participate and what will be done. It notes<br />
that for two weeks the film salesmen of all<br />
the companies are being relieved of their<br />
selling duties and will devote all of their<br />
energies to calling on the exhibitors, explaining<br />
the details of the campaign.<br />
"With all of us behind this drive; we are<br />
confident that we will reassert what should<br />
never have needed any assertion—that in<br />
all the world there is no entertainment<br />
comparable for quality or cost to the entertainment<br />
now being shown in the theatres of<br />
America day in and day out."<br />
A meeting of the committee was scheduled<br />
this week to map plans for a conclave of exhibitors<br />
in the tristate area of Utah, Idaho<br />
and Montana to be held in Salt Lake City<br />
as near September 20 as possible. The reason<br />
for this date is that the fall golf tournament<br />
of Variety Tent 38 is scheduled then.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 8, 1951 51
. .<br />
. .<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
Asa result of a meeting between C. E. Mc-<br />
Donald, district manager of Fox West<br />
Coast Theatres, and a San Carlos newspaperman,<br />
the Carlos Theatre parking lot will<br />
remain open free to commuters and shoppers<br />
until a thorough investigation is made of<br />
any commitments made by FWC when it first<br />
built the theatre and parking lot . . .<br />
Mario J. Menconi is the new manager of the<br />
Lincoln in Lincoln. Menconi has been in the<br />
theatre business for the last 18 years associated<br />
with T&D Junior Enterprises, which<br />
operates theatres throughout California. His<br />
latest assignment was in Placerville.<br />
University of California extension division<br />
here is offering a new course for theatregoers.<br />
"The Spectator as Critic." The course<br />
is designed to enhance the knowledge, critical<br />
judgment and appreciation of the spectator<br />
in the realm of the theatrical arts . . .<br />
In tow-n from Hollyw^ood were Gail Patrick<br />
and Dennis Morgan. Cecil Kellaway was injured<br />
and had to leave the cast of "Three<br />
Wishes for Jamie" while here.<br />
Suit was filed by the husband and children<br />
of a San Francisco woman who died<br />
three days after .she suffered a fall in the<br />
State Theatre in south San Francisco. The<br />
complaint filed asks for $100,000 as a result<br />
of her death. Defendants named were the<br />
State Theatre. Manager Monty Crooks, United<br />
California Theatres and Golden States Theatres.<br />
The California State Fair opened with a<br />
bang with varicolored balloons being re-<br />
NEXT TINAE 1 OWN A<br />
Tv4EATBE-\M U9IN'<br />
f<br />
PROGRAMS.'<br />
PRINTING COMPANY<br />
THIRTY-FOUR HYDE STREET<br />
SAN FRANCISCO 2. CALIFORNIA<br />
leased and thereby revealing a giant redwood<br />
statue of Youth, the fair theme .<br />
Telenews Theatre of San Francisco celebrated<br />
its 12th anniversary by presenting free<br />
gardenias to the women . . . Bii'thday celebrations<br />
also were held for Mike Smith, regional<br />
manager of army motion picture service,<br />
and Emogene Macarty, army motion picture<br />
service, who returned from Portland<br />
and celebrated her birthday September 5.<br />
Western States Popcorn Supply Co., headed<br />
by Bob Boaz, has become consolidated with<br />
Oakland Popcorn Supply. Headquarters will<br />
be at 1730 East 12th St. in Oakland. The<br />
firm will carry a new and complete line of<br />
popcorn and popcorn supplies . . .<br />
Bros.-Barnum & Bailey circus has<br />
Ringling<br />
come to<br />
town. The crowds waiting in line to secure<br />
tickets proved that everybody loves a circus.<br />
Tuesday night (4) saw the special preview<br />
opening of the western premiere of<br />
"Flying Leathernecks" at the Golden Gate<br />
Theatre. On stage w-ere stars John Wayne,<br />
Robert Ryan. Janis Carter and Don Taylor.<br />
Also present was Producer Edmund Grainger.<br />
A 50-piece marine band, 400 military personnel<br />
and an honor guard were present. Mark<br />
Ailing manages the Golden Gate.<br />
Back in town for a short visit from his<br />
Washington post was Charles Shutt, who is<br />
here with camera crews to film proceedings<br />
of the Japanese peace treaty and the Pacific<br />
pact signing. Shutt is w-ith Telenews<br />
Productions. Also working like a beaver on<br />
the political scene is Frank Vail, cameraman<br />
for WB Pathe News here.<br />
Robert Lippert, Lippert Theatres and Lippert<br />
Pictures, hosted a party for 80 in celebration<br />
of his 25th wedding anniversary .<br />
Adele Kotite, Golden State circuit, returned<br />
from her vacation . . . Mel Klein, Columbia<br />
exchange, complained of a stiff neck—the result<br />
of sitting in a direct draft . . . All<br />
Filmrow disappeared Friday preparatory to<br />
the three-day holiday . . . Mike Newman,<br />
publicist, put on a great campaign for<br />
"Pickup" at the Orpheum and did a little<br />
picking up himself in the way of a terrific<br />
cold.<br />
Charles McBride, United California Theatres,<br />
died August 31 following an illness.<br />
McBride had been assistant to Roy Cooper<br />
and had been W'ith the organization for about<br />
Una Harrington, biller at<br />
ten years . . .<br />
Warner Bros., was married September 1 . . .<br />
Warner Bros.' Ernestine DeRyan, booker's<br />
.secretary, fractured her leg and is recuperating<br />
at the St. Francis hospital . . . Carroll<br />
Bradley of Ed Rowden Theatre Service is<br />
handling the Movie Sweepstakes for the<br />
San Francisco exchange area. Bradley formerly<br />
was w'ith United Artists Theatres.<br />
Bob McNeil, United California Theatres,<br />
is home recuperating after a recent illness<br />
. . . Phyllis Velterline, receptionist for United<br />
California Theatres, returns to her job September<br />
10 after an absence since November<br />
. . . Russell M. Derego, with army and air<br />
force motion picture service for the last<br />
three years, resigned to enter the submarine<br />
service. Nancylee Sadler of the same organization<br />
went to Reno and Tahoe for three days.<br />
Jerry Collins, booker at United California<br />
Theatres, is home from the hospital and get-<br />
. . . Reports<br />
Mike Smith, regional<br />
ting along nicely . . .<br />
manager of AMPS, went to Seattle and Portland,<br />
rushed back to the office here to spend<br />
one day, then took off for Alaska . . . After<br />
a record-breaking run, "Kon-Tiki" leaves the<br />
Vogue Theatre and on September 12 "Seven<br />
Days to Noon" opens ... A second unit of<br />
"The Brigand" spent a week at Olancha near<br />
Lone Pine, Calif., filming background for the<br />
film which stars Anthony Dexter<br />
are that Orson Welles has purchased<br />
a building in Carmel which he will use as<br />
a television laboratory.<br />
Steve Trenka Opens New<br />
City-Vu Airer at Billings<br />
BILLINGS, MONT.—Billings' newest drivein,<br />
the City-Vu Drive-In, opened this summer<br />
a mile east of town just off Highway 10. It<br />
has three-way exits which open onto two<br />
highways for quick and safe departure.<br />
Steve Trenka, who opened the ozoner, has<br />
been busy nearly a year on the new theatre<br />
and did most of the work himself. Only the<br />
complicated RCA equipment needed outside<br />
help to install. Trenka has been a resident<br />
of Billings since 1931 when he came from<br />
Pennsylvania. He also owns an apartment<br />
house here and the Trenka Ai-my and Navy<br />
store.<br />
Albert Castle Promoted<br />
By West Side Theatres<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Albert H. Castle, manager<br />
«f the Newman and Gustine district<br />
for West Side Theatres, has been appointed<br />
assistant to the vice-president and general<br />
manager, a new position at the headquarters<br />
in Livermore. Matthew Trotter succeeds<br />
Castle as district manager.<br />
Los Angeles Reshuffle<br />
LOS ANGELES—A further reshuffling of<br />
Fox West Coast's first run lineup here was<br />
made Friday i7i when Lippert 's "Lost Continent"<br />
and "Highly Dangerous" opened at<br />
the Los Angeles, Uptown and Vogue theatres,<br />
replacing 20th-Fox's "People Will Talk."<br />
The latter opus, however, remained for a<br />
second week in two other FWC houses, the<br />
Wilshire and Loyola.<br />
r speciAL \<br />
fRAlLBRs<br />
iMOnOI PICIURE<br />
LSERVICE COJ<br />
Q5HYDESI. Stnlranciscol^f.<br />
OERAID l.^a»l«^ES.<br />
THEATRE /ALE/<br />
7146<br />
52 BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: September 8, 1951
. . Tim<br />
. . Edna<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
, Six<br />
/'<br />
i<br />
DENVER<br />
/Changes in the Fox Intermountain managers<br />
lineup include the retirement of<br />
Jim Hughes as city manager at Alliance.<br />
Neb. He is succeeded by Ralph Roe. former<br />
city manager at Delta, Colo. Neil Ross, city<br />
manager at Montrose, has been moved to<br />
Delta to make way for Ed Nelson, formerly<br />
at Montrose, but recently promoted to city<br />
manager at Laramie, Wyo. Nelson was moved<br />
back to Montrose at his own request, since<br />
he had too many things there that required<br />
his personal attention. Charlie Allum, city<br />
manager at Walsenburg, is filling in at Laramie<br />
temporarily, and Lloyd Gladson, a,ssistant<br />
city manager at Las Vegas. N. M., will fill<br />
in at Walsenburg. Lewis Boucher, assistant<br />
at Laramie, is relieving Chet Miller, city<br />
manager at Sterling, who is on leave. Russ<br />
Page, assistant city manager at Sheridan,<br />
Wyo.. has been promoted to a similar post at<br />
Rock Springs. Wyo.<br />
Mel Madero, manager of the Paramount.<br />
Cheyenne, is father of a baby son . . . Allied<br />
Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres has<br />
set its winter board of directors meeting for<br />
January 15. when officers will be elected .<br />
Jack Allender has returned to Denver, this<br />
time as salesman for 20th-Fox. He was here<br />
prior to 1940 as salesman for Universal.<br />
Joe Stone, manager for National Theatre<br />
Supply, has moved into a new home .<br />
George Frantz, theatre engineer, has started<br />
on an inventory and inspection tour of the<br />
properties of Rialto Theatres, belonging to<br />
E. J. Schulte, Casper, Wyo. The tour is being<br />
made for insurance and other purposes, and<br />
will include, among other properties, about<br />
12 theatres in Colorado and Wyoming.<br />
Tom Smiley, Realart general manager, is<br />
entertaining his parents, who are visiting<br />
here from then- home in Cincinnati. This<br />
week Smiley visited the Realart exchange in<br />
Salt Lake City . Ahlers, contract<br />
clerk at Paramount, is taking a rest because<br />
of recent illness . . . Sherry Richardson,<br />
Rochester, N. Y., is the new phone girl at<br />
Paramount . Holt was through Denver<br />
twice recently because of personal appearances<br />
being made in South Dakota.<br />
Lou Shapiro, head of the RKO location department,<br />
was in Denver making arrangements<br />
for the shooting of "Korea," some of<br />
which will be shot at Colorado Springs, Colo.<br />
Exhibitors seen on Pilmrow included John<br />
E. Hobbes. Cimarron. N. M.: Robert Smith.<br />
Steamboat Springs; Burl Lingle, Estancia,<br />
N. M.; Lloyd Greve, Eagle; Mrs. Mary Lind,<br />
Rifle; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hall, Akron; Dorrance<br />
Schmidt. Bridgeport, Neb.; Fred Anderson,<br />
Easton; Neal Beezley, Burlington;<br />
John C. Wood, Springer. N. M.; Glen Wittstruck,<br />
Meeker; Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Ervin.<br />
Kremmling; Frank Naccarato, Trinidad, and<br />
Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Mischoff. Lovell, Wyo.,<br />
who liad just returned from a vacation trip<br />
that included New York City.<br />
Earl Ridenour to Durango<br />
As Basin Drive-In Manager<br />
DURANGO, COLO.—Earl Ridenour, owner<br />
of Basin Amusement Co., has been appointed<br />
manager of the Basin Drive-In Theatre.<br />
He had been in the theatre business before<br />
he organized his amusement company<br />
here.<br />
Vavid'Sets Ten-Year Record With 300<br />
At Grauman's Chinese in Hollywood<br />
LOS ANGELES—Several strong new attractions,<br />
bolstered by intensified showmanship<br />
campaigns including star-studded premieres<br />
and exceptionally heavy Labor day<br />
weekend trade, spawned record-shattering<br />
grosses in a number of local houses. Topper<br />
of the week was "David and Bathsheba,"<br />
which zoomed to a smashing 300 per cent in<br />
two theatres and set a record for the last<br />
ten years at one of them, Grauman's Chinese.<br />
Hitting the 200 per cent level were "Five"<br />
and "His Kind of Woman," the latter opening<br />
in a new first run unit comprising the<br />
Orpheum, Hawaii and El Rey. Outstanding<br />
figures also were posted by "A Place in the<br />
Sun," at 190 per cent in its third stanza;<br />
"People Will Talk," achieving 140 per cent in<br />
its opening week, and "Jim Thorpe—All<br />
American," also at 140 per cent for the first<br />
stanza.<br />
{Average Is 100)<br />
Beverly Canon—Kon-Tiki (RKO), 19th wk 70<br />
Chinese, Globe—David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox) 300<br />
Downlovirn, Hollywood Paramounts— That's My<br />
Boy (Para),<br />
4''<br />
Egyptian, Loew State Rich, Young and Pretty<br />
_ (MGM), 2nd<br />
Arts—A Place in the Sun (Para), advanced<br />
pru 3rd ..190<br />
Star—Five (Col) 200<br />
HiUstreet, Pontages-Alice in Wonderland (RKO)<br />
lour days of 3rd wk 100<br />
Laurel Tales oi Hoifmann (Lopert), advanced<br />
prices, 14th wk 100<br />
Los Angeles, Vogue, Wilshire, Uptown, Loyola-<br />
People Will Talk (20th-Fox) 140<br />
Orpheum, Hawaii, El Rey—His Kind of Woman<br />
(RKO) _ 200<br />
United Artists, Iris, Ritz Francis Goes to the<br />
Races (U-I) 100<br />
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern—Jim<br />
Thorpe—All American (WB) 140<br />
Holdovers in Frisco;<br />
'Cyrano' Sixth Leads All<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—"Cyrano de Bergerac"<br />
moved over to the Esquire Theatre for its<br />
sixth week on Market street and came up<br />
with a loud 180 per cent high. The opening<br />
of the double UA bill, "The First Legion"<br />
and "Three Steps North," marked up a 150<br />
per cent high.<br />
Esquire—Cyrano de Bergerac (UA), 61h wk 180<br />
Fox—Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (20th-rox),<br />
Cavalry Scout (Mono) - 120<br />
Golden Gate—AUce in Wonderland (RKO), 2nd<br />
vk.<br />
Orpheum— Sirocco (Col); When the Redskins Rode<br />
(Col), 2nd wk<br />
Paramount—That's My Boy (Para), 3rd wk<br />
S't. Francis—A Place in the Sun (Para), 2nd wk<br />
United Artists—The First Legion (UA), Three Steps<br />
North (UA)<br />
United Nations—Captain Horatio Hornblower<br />
(WB), 3rd wk<br />
Warfield—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM)<br />
'Leathernecks' Sets New Record<br />
In Denver With 300 Gross<br />
DENVER—Three holdovers and a twin bill<br />
ji>]<br />
i^'<br />
to move is the record set up for the week.<br />
Staying are "Flying Leathernecks," which set<br />
a record at the Broadway; "Here Comes the<br />
Groom," with the best gross of the year at<br />
the Denham, and "His Kind of Woman" and<br />
"Murder Without Crime" at the Orpheum.<br />
Moving to the Rialto was "Frogmen" and<br />
"14 Hours" after a fine week at the Denver<br />
and Esquu-e.<br />
Broadway—Flying Leathernecks (RKO) 300<br />
Denham—Here Comes the Groom (Para) 150<br />
Denver, Esquire—The Frogmen (20th-Fox);<br />
Hours (20th-Fox) 175<br />
14<br />
Orpheum—His Kind ol Woman (RKO); Murder<br />
Without Crime (Mono) 150<br />
Paramount, Webber—Comin' Round the Mountain<br />
(U4); Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (LP) 100<br />
Vogue Happiest Days of Your Lite (London).<br />
2nd wk 90<br />
'Hornblower' Leads Seattle;<br />
Three Ties for Second Place<br />
SEATTLE—The pre-Labor day week was an<br />
exceptionally good one, with all attractions<br />
drawing well above average.<br />
Blue Mouse—On Moonlight Bay (WB); Fugitive<br />
Lady (Rep), 5th d, t wk 175<br />
Coliseum—Meet Me After the Show (20th-Fox);<br />
Roodblock (RKO), 2nd wk 175<br />
Fifth Avenue— Alice in Wonderland (RKO),<br />
3rd wk 125<br />
Liberty—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM), 3rd wk. 130<br />
Music Box—Four in a Jeep (UA) 120<br />
Music Hall Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB);<br />
St. Benny the Dip (UA) 200<br />
Orpheum—Cyrano de Bergerac (UA); The First<br />
Legion (UA), 2nd wk .....175<br />
Paramount—That's My Boy (Para), 3rd wk .150<br />
A. L. Schafer Buried<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Services were held<br />
Wednesday (5) for A. L. "Whitey" Schafer,<br />
director of still photography in the Paramount<br />
studio publicity department, who sustained<br />
fatal burns in a yacht explosion in<br />
Bremerton, Wash.<br />
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. . Andy<br />
. . Arthur<br />
. . Ray<br />
. . Paramount<br />
. . Exhibitor<br />
: September<br />
. .<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
•pack on the job at his Gardens Amusement<br />
Co. after a fishing expedition to the<br />
Sierras, was Max Gardens Devine<br />
.<br />
mot the actor), who has been managing the<br />
Strand Theatre for the past nine years, has 600-car ozoner in Douglas . Vogel,<br />
left that post to become a short subjects popcorn processor headquartering in Hamburg.<br />
Iowa, popped in (pun intended) to<br />
booker for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph<br />
visit<br />
Co. employe relations department . . .<br />
Bernie<br />
Vic Hunt, who heads National Theatre<br />
Wolf, division chief for National Screen Service,<br />
headed for San Francisco on a business<br />
Supply's popcorn department.<br />
Bernie Leavitt, local theatre impresario,<br />
trek.<br />
and partner W. B. Wickersham have started<br />
construction on their new 250-car drive-in<br />
What's expected to be one of the biggest<br />
between Douglas and Bisbee, Ariz. It's designed<br />
to resemble Ft. Cochise, historical<br />
social blowouts to hit Filmrow in years is<br />
slated for October 6 at Griffith park when<br />
stockade, and will be equipped with TECA<br />
the newly formed Filmrow club holds its<br />
first annual picnic. With Ben Peskay head-<br />
speakers, a 60-foot screen, and Century<br />
sound and projection. The ozoner, occupying<br />
a 20-acre site, will be open about mid-<br />
October. Leavitt and Wickersham also operate<br />
the Silver Dollar Drive-In in Phoenix.<br />
ing the arrangements committee, plans call<br />
for a ball game between exhibitors and branch<br />
managers, games, races, hot dogs and other<br />
trappings . . . Bill Alford, formerly a booker<br />
with the Earl Streebe circuit, has taken over<br />
bIst SPECIAL TRAILEftg<br />
DO [T<br />
NOW<br />
Customers Are Coming Back<br />
To The Theatre . . .<br />
KEEP THEM COMING<br />
WITH FIRST CLASS<br />
ACCOMMODATIONS<br />
See Us About Replacing<br />
Your Worn Out Equipment<br />
On RCA's Easy Terms!<br />
the Desert Hot Springs Theatre from H. L.<br />
Plymise.<br />
Ed Budd of the B. F. Shearer Co. sold two<br />
Motiograph units for installation in new<br />
drive-ins in Arizona—the Tonto, a Parker-<br />
Bronson enterprise in Winslow with a 400-<br />
car capacity, and George Diamos' Sunset, a<br />
It was stogie-passing time for Jim Dillon,<br />
assistant to George Bowser, Fox West Coast's<br />
general manager. The baby son has been<br />
named James Joseph jr. . . . With Herb Mc-<br />
Intyre, RKO western district manager.<br />
taking a leave of absence for reasons of<br />
health. Cress Smith, formerly with United<br />
Artists, has assumed his duties pending Mc-<br />
Intyre's recovery.<br />
Wholesale managerial shifts were recorded<br />
in the Fox West Coast circuit following the<br />
resignation of Don Green, who resigned as<br />
manager of the Mesa. Green was replaced by<br />
Freddie Dee, moving over from the Lido. Dee<br />
was succeeded by Dick Mason, shifting from<br />
the Ravenna, where the manager's post was<br />
. , . Looking and<br />
filled by Rick Williams<br />
feeling fine. Bill Foy of FWC's maintenance<br />
and purchasing department is back on the<br />
job after a recent operation.<br />
Tax on Tax Finds No<br />
Second in Porterville<br />
PORTERVILLE. CALIF. — A proposal to<br />
sock a 3 per cent entertainment tax on local<br />
theatres died at a recent meeting of the<br />
city council when no one would second the<br />
motion. In fact, all tax increase proposals<br />
died for want of a second.<br />
It would seem, at least in central California,<br />
that the steady march of confiscatory<br />
tax proposals are going to find a<br />
scarcity of seconds from now on. The same<br />
thing has happened in all major cities of the<br />
area from Sacramento clear down to Bakersfield.<br />
People don't want any more taxes.<br />
Everett Howell, manager for the three<br />
local theatres, told the council that theatregoers<br />
are already paying a 20 per cent tax.<br />
SE ATT LE<br />
.<br />
R/Tary Martin, formerly with Warners, is<br />
joining the staff of Manley-Burch Popcorn<br />
Co.. as office manager . . . Paramount<br />
newsreel cameraman C. L. Edwards, who has<br />
been seriously ill, is now well on the road to<br />
recovery Strawick, owner of the<br />
Auto View Drive-In. Spokane, was on the<br />
Row . . . A. L. "Whitey" Schafer. Hollywood<br />
studio photographer for Paramount, died<br />
from burns received in a boat explosion at<br />
Bremerton. The tragedy occurred when the<br />
stove aboard a 42-foot cruiser on which Schafer<br />
was a guest blew up. burning him severely.<br />
He was vacationing in the northw-est at the<br />
time of the accident.<br />
. . . Vic Stewart, branch<br />
Jack Engerman. Lippert manager, is going<br />
to New York soon for a week or ten days .<br />
Charley Gray. Manley-Burch salesman, while<br />
on a trip through eastern Oregon and eastern<br />
Washington, stopped to take in the annual<br />
George Smith, Paramount<br />
EUensburg rodeo . . .<br />
western division sales manager from<br />
Los Angeles, is spending two weeks on Vancouver<br />
Island<br />
manager for Warner Bros., has returned from<br />
a sales meeting in San Francisco.<br />
Also recently returned from San Francisco<br />
is A. J. Sullivan, manager for United Artists,<br />
who attended a sales meeting . . . Paramount<br />
week. September 2-8. has been most successful<br />
here with a 100 per cent booking during the<br />
the week, according to Ralph Haden. Paramount<br />
booker . . . L. O. Seley. Manley-Burch<br />
manager, has returned from a two-week jaunt<br />
around the Olympic peninsula and down to<br />
Seaside with his family . employes<br />
Ted Hackley and Mary Anne Pantano<br />
are back at work after their vacations, and<br />
John Kent, western Washington salesman,<br />
has just started his vacation<br />
Lewis, Lippert salesman, has returned from<br />
an eastern Washington trip.<br />
Those at 20th-Fox who have just returned<br />
from vacations include Dot Larmore. biller.<br />
who was at Sun Valley, and Jim Robinson,<br />
head shipper, who is back from Banff and<br />
Lake Louise. Emmy Galloway, booker secretary,<br />
is due back soon from her vacation to<br />
Iowa. While Robinson was enjoying himself<br />
in Canada, his stand-in. assistant shipper<br />
Morley Briggs, was in Swedish hospital,<br />
leaving the shipping job up to office manager<br />
Jim Brooks.<br />
Bud Brady, manager for National Screen<br />
Service, is being visited by his uncle, Harry<br />
Brady, of San Francisco . visitors<br />
in town included White Center theatre owner<br />
Walter Coy; Mike Barovic, Tacoma and<br />
Frank Willard, in from Parkland.<br />
WESTERN<br />
337C0LDEN(iATEAVE.«HE I-S302.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO 2.CALIF.<br />
Robert Hope Manages<br />
Motor-In for Lippert<br />
VISALIA. CALIF.—Robert Hope has been<br />
named manager of the Motor-In Theatre on<br />
Mooney boulevard. Ed Stokes, district manager<br />
of Robert L. Lippert Theatres, made the<br />
appointment. The new manager succeeds Otto<br />
Schmitt, who has resigned.<br />
Hope comes to Visalia from Fresno and<br />
numerous years in show business. He was<br />
associated with FWC and is a past president<br />
of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce.<br />
The Motor-In was constructed in 1947.<br />
QUKK THEATRE SALES!<br />
Selling theatres is our business. Live<br />
organization, quick results. When others<br />
tail, give us a try, past record of sales<br />
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UNITED STATES COVERAGE<br />
Inquiries Answered Immediately<br />
Write Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr.<br />
FRED B. LUDWIG, Realtor<br />
4229 N. E. Broadway * Portland 13, Ore.<br />
54<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8. 1951
Great Falls Liberty<br />
Cuts Its 30lh Cake<br />
GREAT FALLS, MONT—Raising of a<br />
bright new curtain on a recent mid-August<br />
evening symbolized 30 years of motion picture<br />
exhibition at the Liberty Theatre. The newcurtain<br />
was part of an over-all redecorating<br />
and refurbishing project, the completion of<br />
which was marked as part of an anniversary<br />
memorial ceremony.<br />
A five-tiered birthday cake having a twofoot<br />
diameter at the base was divided among<br />
the Liberty's patrons and a prize was awarded<br />
the moviegoer guessing its total weight correctly.<br />
Face-lifting for the 1,700-seat theatre began<br />
early in July and cost more than $30,000.<br />
Chartreuse monk's cloth tapestry was suspended<br />
around all walls to eUminate echoes and<br />
spread air cooling uniformly. Balcony, loges<br />
and the last six downstairs rows were<br />
equipped with new seats. The interior was<br />
repainted, with chartreuse the dominant color<br />
and trimming in green and gray. New drapes<br />
and title curtain were also added.<br />
Some "oldtimers" were on hand to celebrate<br />
the anniversary. First and foremost was<br />
Bill "Skipper" Steege, who became manager<br />
a few weeks after the theatre opened in 1921<br />
and held that position until he retired two<br />
years ago. Mazie Richardson, whom Steege<br />
says has probably the longest continuous<br />
record as a theatre cashier in the U.S., and<br />
who has been with the Liberty since its<br />
opening, was also present. Engineer Bernard<br />
Finus was another charter staff member.<br />
Projectionists John Ca.se, Roy McCallum<br />
and Art Moc have been at the Liberty since<br />
sound came in in 1928. Bruce I. Steinmetz,<br />
who died early in August, was also a member<br />
of the latter group.<br />
TEI Constructs Second<br />
Drive-In at Carlsbad<br />
CARLSBAD, N. M.—Theatre Enterprises<br />
has purchased a seven-acre tract of land a<br />
mile and a half north of town on the Artesia<br />
highway for a drive-in. Pi-eliminary work<br />
will begin there next week or the following,<br />
it was stated by Bill Bartlett, city supervisor<br />
for TEI. The land was bought from<br />
H. C. Dickson on the west side of the highway.<br />
Additional land may be bought, Bartlett<br />
added.<br />
Construction is expected to be completed<br />
by next spring, Bartlett said. The new theatre,<br />
tentatively named the Corral, will be<br />
able to accommodate 400 cars, the same<br />
capacity as the Fiesta Drive-In in south<br />
Carlsbad.<br />
Theatre Enterprises will continue to operate<br />
the Fiesta, the supervisor said. The purpose<br />
of the new theatre is to permit a larger<br />
variety of pictures to be shown.<br />
Volunteer for Korea Relief<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Industry leaders, including<br />
Y. Frank Freeman, Jack L. Warner, Samuel<br />
Goldwyn, Jean Hersholt, Bob Hope, Harry<br />
Cohn, Charles P. Skouras, Loretta Young,<br />
Jack Benny, Walter Pidgeon and Jennifer<br />
Jones, have voluntesred their services as<br />
members of the Los Angeles branch of the<br />
American Relief for Korea committee, of<br />
which Dore Schary is chairman. The group<br />
is collecting used clothing for the ravaged<br />
people of war-torn Korea.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951<br />
Australian<br />
Tradepaper Favors<br />
Higher Minimum Admission<br />
By WILLIAM BEECHAM<br />
Australian Bureau, BOXOFFICE<br />
PERTH, W. A.—The Australasian Exhibitor<br />
(Sydney) is calling for uniformity in admission<br />
prices at cinemas throughout the country,<br />
and suggests:<br />
"Surely for three hours entertainment Is.<br />
6d. is little enough to ask for." It adds:<br />
"Compare what we give and what we ask<br />
with the money demanded for football, fights<br />
and racing. This criminal generosity on our<br />
part is doing grave hurt to all sections of a<br />
great industry and hurting it at a time when<br />
it should be building its defenses against the<br />
threatened encroachments of television and<br />
other forms of amusement.<br />
"If we want to remain the principal form of<br />
entertainment for the masses we must have<br />
enough money to provide for the comfort<br />
and enjoyment of our patrons. Already there<br />
is being exposed to the public view too much<br />
evidence that we are a band of folk just<br />
scratching for a living.' Once that impression<br />
grows stronger we will find ourselves<br />
and our offerings losing all appeal to people<br />
seeking luxury and enjoyment of the highest<br />
class as an escape from their own less colorful<br />
existence. No one will want to pay money<br />
to go from a drab home to a drab theatre."<br />
Those statements are full of solid sense.<br />
Many of us recall when vaudeville was the<br />
principal form of entertainment for the<br />
masses. But it was overwhelmed by the motion<br />
picture and it gradually faded almost<br />
out of existence. Who knows what the future<br />
will bring forth? In the past half-century<br />
we have seen so many changes in life<br />
that almost anything is possible.<br />
The industry here is seriously concerned<br />
over the matter of Sunday screenings. Some<br />
little while ago four Western Australian<br />
cinemas were granted permission by the state<br />
government to charge usual admission rates<br />
on Sunday evenings, but the Motion Picture<br />
Exhibitors Ass'n was strongly against such<br />
a move, and the matter of film supply is<br />
still in doubt. New Sunday screenings have<br />
been started in Sydney, and the MPEA says:<br />
"The board of management of the association<br />
places on record its emphatic opposition<br />
to the opening of theatres on Sundays for<br />
commercialized entertainment and directs<br />
President A. R. Payne to take whatever steps<br />
he may deem necessary to uphold the policy<br />
of the organization to keep theatres closed<br />
on the Sabbath. The commercialized screening<br />
of films on Sunday would, in the opinion<br />
of the board, antagonize a large section of<br />
the community, besides breaking up the<br />
friendly employe-employer relationship that<br />
has existed over the years."<br />
But the Chief Secretary has for years tried<br />
to encom-age the screening of films on Sundays,<br />
and some of the distributors are extremely<br />
favorable to Sunday openings. Just<br />
what the outcome of the moves in the various<br />
states (Queensland is also moving in the<br />
same direction) will be, remains to be seen.<br />
Vic Hobler, South Pacific general manager<br />
for Hallmark Productions, tells us that "She<br />
Shoulda Said No," did remarkable business<br />
in Tasmania despite the coldest weather for<br />
almost a century. In September this fea-<br />
W<br />
ture will be offered at the State Theatre,<br />
Melbourne, a house holding 3,371 people.<br />
Hats off to Ernest Turnbull, managing director<br />
of Hoyts Theatres, who arranged for<br />
every Australian soldier serving in Korea to<br />
receive from his organization a leather writing<br />
case containing a ball point pen, a writing<br />
pad, envelopes and a calendar. Being on behalf<br />
of a motion picture organization, however,<br />
this gift passed almost unrecorded in<br />
the general Austrahan press.<br />
Hoyts Theatres is to handle the distribution<br />
of the. Italian feature "Bitter Rice" and<br />
the Danish feature "We Want a Child" itself<br />
and it will offer these releases outside its<br />
own circuit.<br />
At the recent Queensland MPEA conference<br />
considerable discussion took place on<br />
the matter of television in relation to the<br />
film industry, but members were generally<br />
of the opinion that they had insufficient<br />
knowledge to come to anything like finality<br />
on any questions. But they were most decided<br />
on the matter of the public screening of<br />
16mm films free of charge, and they urged<br />
that legislation should be provided to prevent<br />
such screenings being indiscriminately used<br />
in unlicensed premises.<br />
Noel Monkman of Monkman Productions<br />
is now starting a color feature on the Queensland<br />
Great Barrier reef. He has signed a<br />
contract with Armand Denis. New York, and<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Denis will arrive in Australia<br />
early next year to join Monkman.<br />
Waddington's Theatres reports a net profit<br />
of £5,779 for the financial year ended Nov.<br />
30, 1950. This was an increase of £684. and<br />
the ordinary dividend has been raised from<br />
6 per cent to 7 per cent.<br />
Payroll of Centre Theatre<br />
Is Stolen at Salt Lake<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Intermountain Theatres,<br />
which has been victim of several holdups<br />
recently, had another theft to ponder last<br />
week. When Herbert Schoenhart, house<br />
manager, arrived at the Centre on Thursday<br />
morning, he discovered that a cabinet<br />
containing envelopes with pay for the house's<br />
34 employes had been entered and the envelopes<br />
stolen.<br />
There was no evidence of forced entry into<br />
the theatre and officers and theatre executives<br />
reported that entry to the cabinet had<br />
been made by key. The thief had made off<br />
with $1,000.82, the payroll. Early this week<br />
an envelope containing $890 of the missing<br />
money was returned to the theatre.<br />
Lucille Ball to TV<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Shooting space has been<br />
secured at General Service studios by CBS<br />
and the Desilu Corp., headed by Desi Arnaz<br />
and Lucille Ball, for the filming of 52 halfhour<br />
TV films starring the bandleader and<br />
his actress-wife.<br />
55
. . The<br />
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ITEMS<br />
. . . C. H.<br />
.<br />
Phe Motor Vu Theatre staff at Coos Bay,<br />
Ore., celebrated the ozoner's first birthday<br />
this summer. One night a big cake, donated<br />
by Gamer's bakery, was cut by the staff for<br />
patrons. Posing for a staff picture in the<br />
Coos Bay Times were A. E. McDuffee, Mrs.<br />
W. M. Callahan, Mrs. H. E. Smith, Mrs. E. C.<br />
Stephens, Mrs. McDuffee (manager), Dick<br />
Scales, Mrs. Harold Perkins, Jack DeLong,<br />
Oscar Johnson and E. P. Long<br />
Smith, owner of the Columbia Theatre at St.<br />
Helens, Ore., instituted a new booking policy.<br />
"We are going to show all important pictvires<br />
in Helens as close to the first run showing<br />
in Portland as possible," said Smith. Suiting<br />
the deed to the word, he canceled out "Halls<br />
of Montezuma" until later and booked in "The<br />
Last Outpost" Aladdin Theatre at<br />
3017 S. E. Milwaukie in Portland, which<br />
closed in June for complete remodeling and<br />
modernization, will reopen some time in September.<br />
I. Geller and S. Maizels are the<br />
managers.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Clark, owners and<br />
operators of the Molalla Theatre at Oregon<br />
City, increased admission prices from 50 to 60<br />
cents for adults . . . Charles Bostwick was in<br />
the Joseph, Ore., area this summer looking for<br />
a site for a drive-in. He said on his departure<br />
that he had not yet acquired a site<br />
but was still in the market for about three<br />
acres. Bostwick said that federal building<br />
regulations would not permit a brand new<br />
operation but that he intended to move in an<br />
outfit from the coast. He hopes to locate<br />
within about a mile of town.<br />
The 45th Street Theatre in Seattle was<br />
singled out recently for special commendation<br />
by civic leaders who work on programs for<br />
children's leisure time activities. Mrs. Lloyd<br />
Holtz. all-city chairman for the Seattle Council<br />
of Parents and Teachers' movie committees,<br />
pointed to the excellence of the Saturday<br />
matinee programs selected by Manager<br />
Jack Neville. At considerable expense,<br />
she said, a number of special children's films<br />
replaced the regular bookings and the theatre's<br />
matinees were among the best in the<br />
city. Mrs. Holtz said the children's matinees<br />
at the 45th Street Theatre have always been<br />
above average and that Neville has been a<br />
leader in this field. She urged that parents<br />
support the policy and send children to motion<br />
pictures on Saturday afternoons instead<br />
of sending them unaccompanied at mght.<br />
BOXOFFICE readers will remember Jack<br />
Neville from a SHOWMANDISER article this<br />
spring, which quoted him about how to organize<br />
properly and present special children's<br />
shows. Conscientiously working w'ith<br />
civic groups was suggested by the theatre<br />
ownar as implicit in the success of the selects<br />
showings for youth. The BOXOFFICE<br />
article was mentioned in the Seattle North<br />
Central Outlook.<br />
The first in a long list of renovations for<br />
the Evergreen theatres in Spokane can now<br />
be seen at the Fox. Jack Hamaker, Evergreen<br />
manager, is lording it over 1,400 square<br />
yards of wool carpeting that cover the foyer,<br />
spacious mezzanine and main floor aisles.<br />
Cost of the carpet alone, aside from labor,<br />
was $24.60 per yard. The new carpet has a<br />
pile length three times higher than the wartime<br />
carpet it replaced. It was sewed in one<br />
piece and laid completely in a single evening.<br />
Similar procedure was followed in covering<br />
the grand staircase, said to be the<br />
largest in the northwest. Color tones combine<br />
chartreuse with lime and blue, a scheme<br />
that interior decorators would have frowned<br />
upon 20 years ago, Hamaker said. The Fox<br />
is soon to have new drapes, loge seats (some<br />
of which will be installed on the main floor)<br />
and new usher costumes to harmonize with<br />
the decorations. While the Fox is going to be<br />
the beauty queen of the northwest, improvements<br />
are also planned for Evergreen's other<br />
two Spokane hou.ses, the State and the<br />
Orpheum.<br />
Earl Fisher, operator of Earl's Drive-In on<br />
Division street in Portland, was brought into<br />
district court on two charges of violating<br />
regulations of the state wage and hour commission.<br />
For employing a minor girl without<br />
a permit, Fisher was fined $25 and given a<br />
60-day suspended sentence. The second charge<br />
was for employing a woman 48 hours a week.<br />
This charge also drew a suspended sentence.<br />
Bids will be called soon in Aberdeen for<br />
marquee alterations to the former Warner<br />
Theatre and the New Bijou Theatre, as w'ell<br />
as the New Hoquiam Theatre at Hoquiam.<br />
Aberdeen Theatres Inc.. which recently purchased<br />
the Warner, plans to rename the three<br />
houses the Aberdeen, Bijou and Hoquiam.<br />
The Jefferson Theatre at Whitehall, Mont.,<br />
has installed new coated lenses in its projectors.<br />
The comparatively new improvement<br />
in motion picture projection makes the Jefferson<br />
one of the few small theatres in the<br />
state so equipped.<br />
The Starlite Drive-In east of Colorado<br />
Springs on Highway 24 has added a 30-foot,<br />
gasoline-powered train to its playground below<br />
the screen. The choo-choo will run over<br />
nearly 1,000 feet of track and will carry a<br />
full free-load of 24 children or 12 adults.<br />
Paul Rothman, Starlite Theatre manager, explained,<br />
"It was designed so that Mom and<br />
Dad can ride along with the little folks." The<br />
ozoner already has some teeters, slides and<br />
swings for kids and provides meal service<br />
for the customers who desire to arrive at<br />
the theatre before showtime.<br />
The Luv-Vu Drive-In was a mass of mud<br />
after the mountain floods last month. But<br />
other than stopping business for several days,<br />
damage did not appear too bad at the Loveland,<br />
Colo., situation. The projection room,<br />
where the most damage could have been done,<br />
was not hurt except for some water in the<br />
room<br />
. . . Lieut. Thomas Peace, theatre officer<br />
at Camp Carson, received his promotion<br />
to captain at the Colorado Springs installation.<br />
Salt Lake City's theatre stickup man struck<br />
for a second time within 48 hours last month,<br />
forcing a Centre Theatre cashier to hand<br />
over $150. A similar holdup the previous<br />
night took $75 from the Capitol Theatre.<br />
Cashier Joan Youngberg said a man in a maroon-colored<br />
shirt stepped up and asked, "Is<br />
it too late to see a whole show?" Then, just<br />
as she was preparing to hand him a ticket,<br />
he thrust a gun at her and said, "Hand it<br />
over or I'll blow your brains out!" She handed<br />
over most of the money and. as she leaned<br />
forward, the bandit warned her. "Don't you<br />
dare push a button!" Assistant Herb<br />
Schoenhardt said later several witnesses saw<br />
the gunman run east on Third South street<br />
to Floral street.<br />
Ready to jump off the blueprints into actual<br />
construction are plans for a brand new theatre<br />
on the corner of 16th and Cleveland place<br />
in Denver, opposite the Majestic building.<br />
The theatre will be another feather in the<br />
Fox Intermountain circuit cap and is reported<br />
to contain every new comfort and knickknack<br />
in the amusement book, with special<br />
emphasis on television. Seating capacity will<br />
be 1,250, with construction to start in late fall.<br />
C. A. Baur Goes to Juneau<br />
To Relieve Shearer House<br />
JUNEAU. ALASKA—C. A. Baur. manager<br />
of the Roxy Theatre in Bremerton, Wash.,<br />
for nine years, is taking a working vacation<br />
here until September 15 while Ted Heyder,<br />
manager of the Capitol Theatre, is south for a<br />
vacation and rest. The Capitol, like the<br />
Roxy, is a B. F. Shearer theatre and Baur has<br />
been associated with the Shearer theatres<br />
for a number of years.<br />
The B. F. Shearer Co. operates eight theatres<br />
in Washington and Alaska, and the<br />
theatre equipment end of his business is responsible<br />
for decorating the Fourth Avenue<br />
Theatre in Anchorage and other Lathrop enterprises,<br />
and theatres in Juneau and Ketchikan.<br />
Ml-, and Mrs. Shearer last visited in<br />
Alaska a dozen years ago and have many<br />
friends throughout the territory. Baur<br />
brought the good wishes of his boss to those<br />
in Juneau.<br />
Remote Colorado Town<br />
Shows 2 Nights Week<br />
BRECKENRIDGE, COLO.—Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Lester Adrian, operators of the Dillon and<br />
Breckenridge theatres, have reopened the<br />
latter following a complete remodeling and<br />
redecorating job. The exterior now takes on<br />
the appearance of a theatre with bright red<br />
and white trimming, and the interior has been<br />
repainted and seats reconditioned. An exit<br />
has been installed on the east side of the<br />
house so there are now three exits.<br />
The Adrians also instituted a new policy.<br />
Shows at the Dillon, in this remote mountain<br />
town, will now be on Fridays instead of Monday<br />
nights. And the Breckem-idge Theatre<br />
is open for business on Sundays and Fridays,<br />
with two shows nightly.<br />
New Pact for Esther<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Esther Williams, currently<br />
starring in "Skirts Ahoy," has been handed<br />
a new long-term contract at MGM. The former<br />
champion swimmer will next appear in<br />
"One Piece Bathing Suit," to be followed by<br />
"Everybody Swims" and "The Girl Prom<br />
Rector's." Completed, and due for release<br />
next month, is "Texas Carnival," in which<br />
she stars with Red Skelton and Howard Keel.<br />
Edward Kelly to Springs<br />
COLORADO SPRINGS—Edward J.<br />
Kelly,<br />
who has been manager of a theatre in Greeley.<br />
Colo., for the past year, has been made<br />
manager of the 8th Street Drive-In here. A<br />
native of Minneapolis. Kelly was a navy pilot<br />
diu-ing World War II and returned to show<br />
business after serving as principal of an elementary<br />
school for a year after the war.<br />
56 BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
Municipal Leader Asks<br />
Ticket Tax Reshuffle<br />
CEDAR CITY, UTAH—A reshuffling of<br />
amusement tax revenue was demanded by<br />
Dr. Pi-eston L. Jones, mayor of Nephi. during<br />
the recent Utah Municipal league convention<br />
here this past week. Dr. Jones, president of<br />
the league, said that amusement taxes should<br />
be refunded to cities in which they are collected<br />
to help combat spreading juvenile<br />
delinquency. He said that cities do not have<br />
the funds to combat hoodlumism, but the<br />
tax moneys would provide the wherewithal<br />
for the fight.<br />
If the money collected from places of<br />
amusement, such as theatres, dance halls<br />
and carnivals were put into the communities<br />
in which they were collected, the communities<br />
could build recreation centers and<br />
parks, the speaker declared, and thereby<br />
furnish places for youngsters to play. He said<br />
that "municipalities are caught between<br />
rising costs and rising national taxes without<br />
getting any increased revenue for city<br />
projects,"<br />
His appeal came as hoodlumism was<br />
spreading in many Utah communities and<br />
strong police powers were being invoked to<br />
curb a wave of beatings and unprovoked attacks<br />
by teenage gangs on adults and other<br />
teenagers,<br />
Bakersfield Nile Does<br />
Well on Matinees<br />
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.—The Nile Theatre,<br />
one of the largest here, has had a very .successful<br />
matinee season during the summer<br />
school vacation. Ruth Mack, assistant manager,<br />
said this is the first summer the Nile<br />
had tried matinees. First run pictures have<br />
been exhibited.<br />
The Nile joined with the Fox West Coast<br />
group here in the fight against the city entertainment<br />
tax of 10 per cent, which the<br />
showmen lost after a tough battle to the<br />
higher courts, extending over several years.<br />
The Nile, owned by Pr-eferred Theatres of<br />
Long Beach, is managed by Louis B. Peldo.<br />
Three Fox West Coast theatres in Bakersfield<br />
are running matinees, the Kern, the<br />
California and the Rex, and all have reasonably<br />
good daylight boxoffice.<br />
The Nile, the Kern and the California get<br />
85 cents a seat, and $1.05 for loges. The Rex<br />
gets 50 and 65 cents.<br />
Mesa Drive-In at Pueblo<br />
Opened by Westland<br />
PUEBLO, COLO.—The Westland Tlieatres<br />
has opened its new 995-car Mesa Drive-In<br />
here. The ozoner has a unique safety feature<br />
in a sidewalk that runs from the concession<br />
stand to the playground area, with<br />
posts along the way so that cars cannot run<br />
over it. The projection booth is on top of<br />
the concession stand, and in back of some<br />
seats for walk-ins, sort of a roof garden idea.<br />
There are seats for 100 walk-ins.<br />
Fred Wade in Newcastle<br />
NEWCASTLE, WYO.—Frederick E. Wade<br />
of Cheyenne has taken over the management<br />
of the Starlight Drive-In. He replaces<br />
Bernie Kearney, who left in July to rejoin<br />
his family in California. Kearney had been<br />
in Newcastle as manager of the theatre<br />
since May this year. His home was in California.<br />
Unique Frontier Town Theatre Was<br />
Literally Hewn From Mountainside<br />
HELENA, MONT.—Little by little, Frontier<br />
Town has grown until, recently, its builder<br />
believed it was ready for a theatre, and so<br />
Frontier Town Theatre, Montana's most<br />
unusual theatre, was built. Tliis replica of an<br />
early-day frontier town was patiently constructed<br />
over a period of four years by John<br />
R. Quigley of Avon, Mont.<br />
Located about 900 feet from Highway 10<br />
and nearly topping scenic MacDonald Pass,<br />
the site of Frontier Town overlooks one of<br />
the most breathtaking views in the northwe.st.<br />
From here a visitor may look far out<br />
over Montana's majestic mountains or down<br />
into a snug, peaceful valley. Frontier Town<br />
Theatre, in keeping with the town for which<br />
it was named, is authentic western in style<br />
and has combined, in an amusingly clever<br />
way, all the glitter and color of the Gay<br />
Nineties with the rustic informality of the<br />
old west.<br />
Space for the theatre was literally hewn<br />
from the mountainside. Two huge boulders<br />
which were once inside the mountain now<br />
stand guard at the theatre entrance. Only<br />
one modern touch was permitted during the<br />
erection of the building—wall-length, plate<br />
glass picture windows were placed on the<br />
entrance side so the beauty of the outdoors<br />
scene might be brought inside.<br />
Inside, the peeled log walls are decorated<br />
with such important signs as, "Everybody<br />
Look Purdy" and "Leave Yore Guns at Thuh<br />
Door." A large poster, featuring the photograph<br />
of a local Helena citizen attired in<br />
oldtime garb with the title of horse thief, offers<br />
a reward of $5,000 dead or alive. All<br />
woodwork is hand-hewn and put together<br />
without nails and the large, circular stage<br />
has the honor of being the only revolving<br />
stage in Montana, Stage Ughts, cleverly<br />
fashioned from shiny tin cans, cast a cheerful<br />
light upon the crimson and gold draw<br />
curtains, which, upon close inspection, turn<br />
out to be pieces of dyed burlap, complete with<br />
gay, gold-colored rope ties.<br />
At the far end of the building is a "grub<br />
bench" (western version of a modern snack<br />
bar) where patrons may help themselves to<br />
refreshments, then .seat themselves at a handmade<br />
table and watch the show. Natural color<br />
burlap table covers are decorated with horae<br />
heads and cattle brands and ai-e all made by<br />
Doris Marsolais Marshall, director of the<br />
theatre.<br />
Oldtime motion pictures are a specialty of<br />
the Frontier Town Theatre and are exceptionally<br />
popular with teen-age groups, eager to<br />
see the stars of yesterday.<br />
Frontier Town Theatre has been selected<br />
as one of 64 locations for a nationally advertised<br />
acting contest sponsored by Photoplay<br />
magazine. To compete, contestants must be<br />
under 25 years of age. Winners will go to the<br />
Pasadena Playhouse where a final winner will<br />
be selected for screen tests.<br />
Mrs. Marshall is a dramatics teacher and<br />
her pupils contribute a great deal of entertainment<br />
at the Frontier Town Theatre. Her<br />
husband, Walter Marshall, is publicity and<br />
business manager for the theatre and has had<br />
considerable experience in show business and<br />
radio work.<br />
Frontier Town Theatre had its grand opening<br />
a few weeks ago and already the Wednesday<br />
kiddy matinees, referred to as "lollipop<br />
parties," have become a tradition. In<br />
addition to the regular moving pictures, oldfashioned<br />
melodramas in which both juvenile<br />
and adult actors participate bring back<br />
memories of "the good old days."<br />
Informality is the keynote at this mountaintop<br />
theatre. If the audience feels like<br />
square dancing after the show, there's plenty<br />
Nor are<br />
of straw to slick up the cement floor.<br />
there complaints against chewing gum or<br />
popcorn, for there are no dry cleaning worries<br />
in this theatre. Lots of good soap suds<br />
and mountain spring water clean everything<br />
in .short time.<br />
THE NEW STAR AT FRISCO—When Columbia's "Pickup" bowed at the Orpheum<br />
in San Francisco, Beverly Michaels, its star, was enthusiastically received by the press<br />
in her suite at the St. Francis hotel, as is evidenced by the smiles of newspaper writers<br />
sitting with her. "Pickup" is Miss Michael's first starring picture and this her first press<br />
conference. Advance art breaks and feature stories were on the street a few hours after<br />
her arrival. Stories centered around the theme, "Hollywood is seeking new faces." On<br />
opening day Miss Michaels did four personal appearance shows at the theatre and was<br />
introduced by assistant manager Don Beltz, who has been groomed as an emcee by<br />
North Coast District Manager Graham Kislingbury. Pictured above at the luncheon<br />
are, left to right: William Hogan, drama editor of the Chronicle; Mike Newman, Columbia<br />
publicist; Hortense Morton, Examiner; Kislingbury and Beltz; two unidentified<br />
press representatives; Anne Belfer, North Coast publicist; William Steif, the News;<br />
Miss Michaels, and Fred Johnson, Call-Bulletin.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951 57
. .<br />
Bagdad in<br />
Buys First<br />
PORTLAND—The first television to be seen<br />
in Portland may be the closed-circuit type and<br />
it probably will be in the Bagdad Theatre, according<br />
to reports here. Tom Blair, Oregon<br />
manager for Western Amusement Co. and<br />
Jones Enterprises, joint owners of 24 theatres<br />
in Oregon and others in California, said<br />
delivery of equipment for direct-screen theatre<br />
TV has been promised by March 1, 1952.<br />
It was learned the cost of such equipment<br />
is about $33,000 a unit. The firm Blair represents<br />
has bought the first two units to be sold<br />
on the west coast. The second probably<br />
will go into a Los Angeles theatre.<br />
Blair recently attended a Los Angeles sales<br />
meeting at which the system was explained<br />
and orders taken. The firm will attempt to<br />
place a unit in operation in a Denver theatre<br />
in time for showing the world series to<br />
theatregoers. Like Portland, Denver has no<br />
television whatsoever at present.<br />
FIRST FROM NTS<br />
The first indication that theatre largescreen<br />
television was planned here came in a<br />
telegram from National Theatre Supply Co.,<br />
in Los Angeles, announcing that the Bagdad<br />
had placed an order for a Simplex .system.<br />
General Precision Co. is the manufacturing<br />
firm. "Closed circuit" presentation of events<br />
to theatre audiences via national television<br />
network has often been discussed here, as<br />
elsewhere, as the answer of theatre owners<br />
to competition by open circuit telecasts.<br />
The closed-circuit presentation, it is explained<br />
to theatre owners in the west unfamiliar<br />
with the eastern workings, requires<br />
no television station for there is no<br />
broadcasting. TV cameras at the scene of<br />
baseball games, prizefights, etc., pick up the<br />
program, feed signals into telephone circuits<br />
which funnel them into theatres in the national<br />
hookup, and the theatre TV equipment<br />
projects it onto the screen.<br />
The projection on a large screen is a major<br />
trick in itself. For technical reasons, it has<br />
been found best to trap the TV screen's images<br />
on film, then project the film the same way<br />
that motion pictures usually are projected.<br />
CONTRACT FIGURE IS 833,000<br />
It is the equipment to do this last job for<br />
which owners of the Bagdad Theatre have<br />
contracted to pay $33,000. It has been developed<br />
to a point where its manufacturers<br />
claim there is only a 60-second time lag between<br />
receipt of the images on the TV viewing<br />
tube and their projection from dried and<br />
finished film on the theatre screen.<br />
The Bell telephone system inaugurated<br />
transcontinental television last week (4) with<br />
the telecast of the Japanese peace treaty conference<br />
in San Francisco. A coaxial cable<br />
connects Portland with California points. The<br />
reason theatre TV may be the first in this<br />
area, however, is because the FCC is not<br />
authorizing construction of any new private<br />
television stations at the immediate time.<br />
GO Northwest Theatremen<br />
Hear of Large-Screen TV<br />
SEATTLE—Seattle has a television station<br />
piping programs into homes but television<br />
broadcasts in theatres, now an actuality in the<br />
Portland, Circuit House,<br />
West Coast Theatre-TV<br />
east, are just around the corner in the w-est.<br />
They were explained to Seattle and northwest<br />
theatre owners and exhibitors at a<br />
luncheon in the Spanish ballroom of the<br />
Olympic hotel last month. The speaker was<br />
John Sims of New York, commercial manager<br />
of the motion picture division of General<br />
Precision Laboratories.<br />
More than 60 exhibitors were in attendance<br />
to hear Sims tell of the great success<br />
of experimental telecasts in nine theatres on<br />
the east coast with a total of 22,000 seats. The<br />
telecasts use screens of normal size. Sims<br />
said complete telecasts of one major football<br />
game a week are contracted for and negotiations<br />
are under way with New York producers<br />
to telecast one Broadway show a w^eek.<br />
When the service will be available in the<br />
northwest is indefinite, Sims said, but it<br />
will be at best another year.<br />
Judge Upholds Majors<br />
In Percentage Suits<br />
GREAT FALLS, MONT.—U.S. Judge<br />
Charles N. Pi-ay has sustained the complaints<br />
of RKO. Loew's, 20th Century-Fox<br />
and Warner Bros, by rejecting motions by<br />
three local exhibitor defendants to dismiss<br />
the companies' percentage actions. The actions<br />
were brought by Theo F. Kluth, administratrix:<br />
Helen Clavier, Orpheum Theatre<br />
Co., and Thomas W. Grady. The Montana<br />
theatres involved are the Orpheum, Conrad:<br />
the State and Orpheum, Cut Bank, and<br />
the Roxy and Orpheum, Shelby.<br />
The defendant-exhibitors had made motions<br />
seeking to dismiss each action, requiring<br />
a separate statement of each claim of<br />
each plaintiff and seeking a statement of<br />
further details concerning the alleged fraud.<br />
Open Drive-In in New Mexico<br />
SILVER CITY, N. M.—Ray Johnson and<br />
Herbert Johnson have opened the first<br />
drive-in theatre in Grant county. It is<br />
located on the Silver City-Central highway,<br />
about four miles east of here.<br />
VISIT LOCATION >!! 1 — GeorRt' Sidney,<br />
MOM director, who was on location<br />
for "Scaramouche" at Golden Gate Park<br />
in San Francisco, had two visitors drop<br />
in to watch him at work with his unit.<br />
They are Langdon C. Wingham, left,<br />
manager of the MGM San Francisco exchange,<br />
and Boyd Sparrow, manager of<br />
Loew's Warfield in Frisco, right.<br />
De Luxe Cine Bujazan<br />
Is Opened at Tijuana<br />
TIJUANA, MEXICO—The luxurious new<br />
Cine Bujazan, seating 2,350 per.sons and heralded<br />
as the largest theatre in Lower California,<br />
has been opened after two years of construction.<br />
All the materials for the de luxe<br />
house, except the seats, were acquired in<br />
the U. S.<br />
The curtain, measuring 22 by 12 meters, the<br />
projectors and sound system all were U. S.<br />
products. The stage area measures 22 by 8<br />
meters.<br />
Admission price to the house is five pesos<br />
(58 cents') for orchestra seats and foirr pesos<br />
(46 cents I for seats in the rear section. The<br />
theatre has no balcony. At present the highest<br />
admission charged here is 4.10 pesos (47<br />
cents).<br />
In addition to the Cine Bujazan, the same<br />
operators have two theatres in Tijuana. The<br />
same corporation operates theatres in San<br />
Luis, Sonora, Mexicah and Tecate, has one<br />
theatre in Ensenada and plans another in<br />
that citv.<br />
SALT LAKE<br />
The Gem Theatre, de luxe downtown second<br />
run showhouse which was sold recently<br />
to Consolidated Theatres, was reopened<br />
after extensive remodeling and redecorating.<br />
Robert Braby continues as manager .<br />
Mrs. John Angwin, owner of the Central<br />
Theatre at Mountain View, Wyo., was scheduled<br />
to undergo an operation this week.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Al Hemmingway (he's a<br />
shipping clerk at Paramount) became parents<br />
of a baby daughter, theu- first child . . .<br />
J. W. Naylor of Boise was a post-holiday<br />
visitor along Filmrow.<br />
Managers of theatres affiliated with Associated<br />
Amusements met recently in Salt Lake<br />
to discuss publicity and promotions enterprises.<br />
Most interesting to come from the<br />
meeting were two gimmicks of Vic Walker<br />
of Ely, Nev., who had an old jalopy rigged<br />
up, painted and reupholstered and given<br />
away at a midnight show, and who devised<br />
a song title contest in collaboration with<br />
Ely merchants to plug "Show Boat."<br />
Touch of autumn in the atmosphere and<br />
a lull in booking activity for local exchanges<br />
heralded the coming of the fall season. The<br />
indoor theatres look forward to some good<br />
business . . . Remodeling of the Gem Theatre<br />
is going forward under supervision of<br />
M. S. Smart and other executives of Consolidated<br />
Theatres, which recently purchased<br />
the house.<br />
Movie Sweepstakes Open<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Movie Sweepstakes, an<br />
audience game, opened at the El Rancho<br />
Drive-In near San Jose south of here recently.<br />
Art Jolley and Lou Athes of Salt Lake City,<br />
national representatives, and CaiToll Bradley<br />
of Ed Rowden Theatre Service, local franchise<br />
holder, were present at the opening<br />
along with a number of northern California<br />
circuit officials. The first night the game<br />
played to near capacity, according to Paul<br />
Catalina. owner of the theatre. He also reported<br />
an increase of 30 per cent in concession<br />
sales.<br />
58<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951
Following<br />
Fox Is Rebuilding<br />
Fort Scott House<br />
FORT SCOTT, KAS.—Demolition began<br />
last week (13) on the front of the Fox Liberty<br />
Theatre as the first step toward the erection<br />
of one of the state's finest theatres at the<br />
site, 113 South Main St. Perry Barber, engineer<br />
and construction superintendent from<br />
Kansas City, started witli a three-man crew<br />
which will be augmented this week or next.<br />
Barber and L. B. Sponsler, Fox manager here,<br />
said no date could be set at this time for<br />
completion of the new Fox theatre as it is<br />
"definitely a big job."<br />
An eight-foot barricade was erected in front<br />
of the theatre as demolition continued. The<br />
stucco front, which fell fii-st before the sledge<br />
hammers, was placed on the theatre in 1929,<br />
when a special craftsman from Italy superintended<br />
the stuccoing of the building. The<br />
plans call for an ultra-modern Hollywood<br />
type theatre front, enlarged lobby and foyer<br />
and increased seating capacity.<br />
The demolition crew, under Barber, has<br />
just completed renovation of the Fox Plaza<br />
Theatre in Ottawa, which had 18 feet of<br />
water in the lobby and auditorium during the<br />
recent flood. New theatre .seats, stored here<br />
months ago for use in the remodeled Liberty<br />
when the time came, were rushed to Ottawa<br />
to replace the seats destroyed by the flood<br />
waters there.<br />
Arnold W. Slater Drowns;<br />
FMW Chief Electrician<br />
KANSAS CITY—Arnold W. Slater, 44, chief<br />
electrician of a five-state area for Fox Midwest<br />
Theatres, was drowned in the Lake of<br />
the Ozarks near Gravois Mills, Mo., over<br />
the Labor day weekend. Slater, who disappeared<br />
Saturday night while on a camping<br />
trip with friends, apparently drowned while<br />
swimming.<br />
Highway patrolmen sand Slater left the<br />
camp about 6 p. m. Satiu'day night. His<br />
clothes were found on the lake bank about<br />
50 yards from where the body later was<br />
found. Slater was born in Campbell, Neb.,<br />
and had been a resident of Kansas City since<br />
childhood. He had been employed by FMW<br />
for 17 years.<br />
He is survived by his mother, a sister, a<br />
brother and a half-brother.<br />
J. E. Hughes, 64, Retires;<br />
Alliance, Neb., Manager<br />
ALLIANCE. NEB. — After more than 35<br />
years in the theatre management business,<br />
J. E. Hughes has retired. He has been in<br />
Alliance 42 years, most of the time as manager<br />
of the Alliance Theatre. He came here<br />
from Lincoln originally to be city electrician.<br />
Now 64, Hughes said he plans to use his<br />
retirement to get acquainted with his family,<br />
do some fishing and see an occasional movie.<br />
To Assist City Manager<br />
MASON CITY, IOWA—George E. Mullare,<br />
who has been managing the Palace and<br />
Strand theatres, will assist Maynard Nelson<br />
as city manager and will be directly in charge<br />
of the Strand. It is expected to make the<br />
Palace a de luxe A theatre in the Central<br />
States group.<br />
Commonwealth Circuit<br />
Intensifies Promotion<br />
KANSAS CITY—Expanded advertising is<br />
the basis of the new season's operations for<br />
Commonwealth Theatres,<br />
Inc. The managers<br />
of this 80-theatre<br />
midwestern circuit<br />
heard their executive<br />
heads urge them to<br />
step up their promotional<br />
efforts all along<br />
the line, not only for<br />
individual attractions<br />
but also for the instik.<br />
. , tution.<br />
_„^ X*' ,\ an encouraging<br />
report on the<br />
I<br />
Howard Jameyson<br />
ness. Howard E. Jameyson, president of the<br />
circuit, pulled out all stops when he urged<br />
(.^^.^.g^t yg^j..^ busi-<br />
his managers to increase their space in<br />
newspapers and to disregard budget, when<br />
required, to give pictures the advertising<br />
they merited, either by their quality or special<br />
merchandising facets. "To hell with<br />
budget," he declared, "let's sell our pictures<br />
and our theatres as they deserve to be sold."<br />
CITES CALCULATED RISKS<br />
Jameyson gave a graphic illustration of<br />
what he termed "calculated risks" in the<br />
operations of this business. He cited improvement<br />
in theatre properties as one such<br />
risk; larger ads in newspapers another.<br />
"Sometimes they fail in their purpose to increase<br />
business, but usually they succeed."<br />
He expressed unbounded confidence in the<br />
future of motion pictures and pointed to<br />
his circuit's record for the past year as one<br />
evidence. Currently grosses at Commonwealth's<br />
indoor theatres are running 4'^ per<br />
cent ahead and at drive-ins business is<br />
up 14 per cent.<br />
Robert Shelton, Commonwealth general<br />
manager, advocated longer runs for the better<br />
pictures and shortened runs for the<br />
poor ones. He also urged that greater attention<br />
be given not only to thoroughly selling<br />
each attraction but also to the institutional<br />
side of the business. In this latter<br />
connection, he urged the Commonwealth<br />
managers to repeat newspaper ads reprinting<br />
"I Am a Movie Fan," which appeared on the<br />
cover of BOXOFFICE for June 23, 1951.<br />
E. C. RHODEN TALKS<br />
Elmer C. Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest<br />
Theatres, recuperating from a leg injury,<br />
made an unexpected appearance at the Tuesday<br />
luncheon. He was quite optimistic about<br />
the gain in theatre attendance. He said<br />
that the Labor day weekend showed a 20<br />
per cent rise, and the outlook for the coming<br />
year was exceptionally bright.<br />
"Compared with television, motion pictures<br />
on the theatre screen still have a technique<br />
and quality that cannot be surpassed and<br />
will continue to be the preference of the<br />
masses," he concluded.<br />
Speakers at the afternoon session w-ere<br />
Steve Broidy, president of Monogram Pictures,<br />
here for a meeting with his sales<br />
and studio executives, and Frank Whitbeck<br />
of the MGM studio. Broidy gave a rousing<br />
talk on showmanship, pointing to the need<br />
for its application 365 days a year—not just<br />
for occasional instances.<br />
Whitbeck, who is in charge of trailer production<br />
for Metro, told the gathering that<br />
exhibitors continually blame the product for<br />
poor business when they are at fault in not<br />
promoting the stars and selling personalities<br />
on their past records. He also said that<br />
wideawake exhibitors can gross extra dollars<br />
by publicizing the new personalities that are<br />
being introduced, naming Monica Lewis,<br />
Fernando Lamas and Leslie Caron. "It isn't<br />
what you're going to sell— it's the enthusiasm<br />
that counts." He also advocated the selling<br />
of outstanding producers on their past<br />
records when their new productions will be<br />
shown.<br />
and how much en-<br />
In speaking on trailers<br />
thusiasm they can engender, Whitbeck explained<br />
that the trailers are made for the<br />
entire world and are not localized. Exhibitors<br />
can inject their own local tieins by<br />
watching for certain angles they know will<br />
fit in with their own community, he said.<br />
Trailers on several upcoming MGM features<br />
were shown at the meeting.<br />
Following Whitbeck's talk, Jameyson presented<br />
the idea of making an occasional<br />
trailer without scenes from the picture and<br />
inviting the public to take a chance and<br />
show faith in the manager by coming to<br />
the theatre when the picture is shown.<br />
The belief of some persons that television<br />
will supplant motion pictures is based on a<br />
serious drop in attendance at theatres in<br />
large cities, Jameyson said. After a .survey<br />
of small communities where one in every<br />
three homes was equipped for television.<br />
Commonwealth decided the TV problem was<br />
centered in large cities. Jameyson also<br />
learned that people still like their movies,<br />
regardless of TV. He gave high admission<br />
prices, inadequate parking facilities and<br />
"spit and polish" formality as three reasons<br />
for lower attendance in metropolitan areas.<br />
At the Wednesday morning session, Archie<br />
Herzoff, Universal-International studio advertising<br />
and promotion manager, outlined<br />
forthcoming U-I product, giving a preview<br />
of newspaper advertising and promotional<br />
plans for nearly a score of pictures.<br />
The banquet featured a talk by Ben Shlyen,<br />
publisher of BOXOFFICE, on the future of<br />
the industry. Others who spoke briefly were<br />
Broidy and Harold Miri-sch of Monogram,<br />
Howard Jameyson and Robert Shelton. Arthur<br />
Cole of the local Paramount office was master<br />
of ceremonies.<br />
E. J. LaMarre Follows Late<br />
Roy Sullivan at Varsity<br />
ASHLAND. ORE.—R. P. Corbin, district<br />
manager of Oregon-California Tlieatres, owners<br />
and operators of the Varsity Theatre here,<br />
this month announced the appointment of<br />
E. J. LaMarre, longtime resident and well<br />
known Ashland businessman, to fOl the theatre<br />
managerial post left vacant by the recent<br />
death of Roy Sullivan, who had been manager<br />
for the last 18 months. LaMarre formerly<br />
owned a drug store here.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951 MW 59
Commonwealth Crowns Two Kings,<br />
Jack Kemp and Richard Wommack<br />
KANSAS CITY—Jack Kemp and Richard<br />
Wommack received the two top awards in<br />
Commonwealth Theatres 15-week managerial<br />
contest for the promotion of business.<br />
Trophies were presented at the circuit's annual<br />
convention dinner Tuesday (4i in the<br />
ballroom of Hotel Muehlebach. Kemp, who<br />
was crowned King of the Sun. is manager of<br />
the Gillioz Theatre. Monett, Mo. Wommack<br />
earned the title of King of the Moon as manager<br />
of the Ozark Drive-In in Harrison, Ark.<br />
Runnerup as King of the Moon, the drive-in<br />
operators contest, was Henry Seamans of<br />
the Drive-In, Fayetteville, Ai-k. He received<br />
a belt buckle.<br />
For their heroic efforts during the flood<br />
disaster during July the following were aw^arded<br />
pins: Douglas Lightner, Wareham, Manhattan,<br />
Kas.; Phil Blakey. Riverside, North<br />
Kansas City, Mo.; Ed Weaver. Drive-In. Lawrence,<br />
Kas., and Ralph Pullen. Fort Wood.<br />
Waynesville, Mo. The following from Commonwealth's<br />
home office also were honored<br />
with pins: Lloyd Morris. M. B. Smith, Dick<br />
Orear, Jack Braunagel, Lee Miller. Fred<br />
Mehmel, Walter Kirkham, Bob Wolf, Roy<br />
Tucker and Charles Tyron.<br />
Other pins were handed to the following:<br />
Earl Douglas, Uptown, Carrollton, Mo., for<br />
his efforts in behalf of power reduction; K.<br />
K. King, Rialto. Searcy, Ark., as Tristates<br />
Theatre Owners Ass'n president:<br />
Frank Kennedy,<br />
Norton, Norton, Kas.. for being tops<br />
in original advertising: Houston Sterrett. Palace,<br />
Kinsley, Ka«., 20 years service; Bob<br />
Marchbank, southern division manager, 15<br />
years service; Walter Kirkham, booker', 15<br />
years service, and Ray Holmes, Ritz, Garden<br />
City, Kas.. for duties as convention chairman.<br />
Convention Sidelights<br />
The climax at the banquet of the "southern<br />
rebels" in gray uniforms marching in to<br />
the tune of "Dixie" was quite a surprise. They<br />
furnished plenty of comedy and caused hilarious<br />
laughter with their jolly antics. The<br />
northern forces, wearing union undersuits<br />
with their flaps hanging out, brought the<br />
loudest guffaws. All this ceremony took place<br />
for the crowning of Jack Kemp as King of<br />
the Sun. Kemp wowed the the audience<br />
and even those on the stage in his role as<br />
General Jackson. K. K. King was amusing<br />
as a Confederate sergeant with his thick<br />
"suh" drawl.<br />
Another unexpected number that pepped<br />
up the crowd wa.s the passing out of assorted<br />
fruit, including lemons. Bob Walters was at<br />
the microphone and urged not to throw those<br />
lemons away. He said you never know what<br />
you will find in a lemon. Sure enough, several<br />
started looking and found paper rnoney<br />
of various denominations. Walters bought<br />
Howard Jameyson's lemon for one dollar<br />
and found several bills.<br />
Elmer Rhoden jr. arranged a parade of<br />
banners carried by attractive girls in bathing<br />
suits as tantalizing a.s the Petty girls. The<br />
banners advertised forthcoming feature pictures<br />
from each distributing company.<br />
A clever gag was the recorded voice of Dore<br />
Jack Kemp (right), wlio was crowned<br />
King: of the Sun in t'ommonwealth's 15-<br />
week managerial drive for business, and<br />
Richard Wommack (left), who won the<br />
title of King of the Moon. Kemp is<br />
manager of the circuit's Gillioz Theatre<br />
at Monett, Mo., and Wommack manages<br />
the Ozark Drive-In at Harrison, .Ark.<br />
Schary. MGM production head, timed to interrupt<br />
Frank Whitbeck, head of MGM's advertising<br />
department, as he addressed the<br />
gathering. Every few minutes a voice from<br />
a box w-as heard, "Well, when are you going<br />
to tell 'em." Whitbeck continually talked<br />
back, saying he would get to it. Finally, after<br />
Whitbeck praised "Quo Vadis" to the sky.<br />
Schary was heard again, this time saying<br />
"thank you for the pitch, almost up to the<br />
picture itself."<br />
It was good to see several Monogram-Allied<br />
executives from Hollywood and New York at<br />
the meetings and the dinner, namely: Steve<br />
Broidy, Harold Mirisch. Morey Goldstein, G.<br />
Ralph Branton. L. E. Goldhammer, John c.<br />
Flinn. Ed Morey, Lloyd Lind, Jim Prichard.<br />
Walter Mirisch and Harold Wirthwein. Also<br />
it was good to see Archie Herzoff, Universal<br />
studio advertising manager.<br />
Tom Collins is an after-dinner speaker we<br />
never grow tired of hearing. The City Bank<br />
& Trust Co. executive has spoken before<br />
all types of gatherings and always seems to<br />
fit in with every crowd. His fast way of<br />
telling stories one after the other keeps everyone<br />
in a constant uproar. He was formerly<br />
an editor at the old Kansas City Journal-Post<br />
and is widely known to motion picture men.<br />
having spoken at many of their meetings for<br />
more than a decade.<br />
Arthur Cole, who was the master of ceremonies,<br />
did an excellent job as usual. He<br />
always regales the crowd with the story on<br />
his tuxedo. He explained the Commonwealth<br />
barbecue dinner could not be held at Elmer<br />
Rhoden's Star-Lane Farm this year because<br />
Rhoden sold the farm. He jestingly attributed<br />
this to Life magazine article's mfluence.<br />
Tri-States in Contest<br />
DES MOINES— Tri-State Theatres is sponsoring<br />
a series of beauty contests throughout<br />
Iowa to determine the state's entry for the<br />
national Mrs. America title. Cooperating are<br />
local chambers of commerce.<br />
Theatres in Iowa Get<br />
New Look for Fall<br />
DES MOINES— Several theatres in Iowa<br />
have just announced completion of remodeling<br />
programs in time for the back-to-school<br />
bell.<br />
At Britt, H. S. "Doc" Twedt held a formal<br />
opening of his remodeled Chief Theatre. Free<br />
gifts were presented all persons attending the<br />
performances, matinee and evening. The<br />
Chief has a completely new interior and continues<br />
to carry out the Indian motif.<br />
At Ottumwa, installation of 120 additional<br />
car stalls and speakers at the drive-in theatre<br />
has been completed by Manager Jake<br />
Cohen. There are now 652 speakers at the<br />
theatre on the municipal airport. Cohen said<br />
there still is room for<br />
more stalls.<br />
development of 300<br />
A new refrigeration system is in operation<br />
at the Iowa Theatre in Onawa. Arnold Johnson<br />
is manager and Roy Lepovitz, owner.<br />
At Mason City, the old State has reopened<br />
under a new name, the Band Box. There is<br />
a new look about the house—new seats, new<br />
air conditioning, new screen, new sign, new<br />
carpet, new projection and sound, a modern<br />
concession bar and new front. Harry Miller,<br />
29, is the new manager of the theatre. He<br />
has long been known around Mason City in<br />
show business, having worked as house manager<br />
at the old State.<br />
The Newell Theatre at Newell has reopened<br />
after being closed an entire month for redecorating<br />
and remodeling. New tile was<br />
laid, new draperies hung, new lighting installed<br />
and the walls have been decorated with<br />
four panels of flamingoes.<br />
New lamp houses were installed and the<br />
sound units overhauled at the Tripoli Theatre<br />
in Ti-ipoli, according to Manager George<br />
Lindsley.<br />
In Grinnell, the brick on the Iowa Theatre<br />
has been pointed and new eave spouting and<br />
gutter installed.<br />
George Summers Opening<br />
New Royal at Unionville<br />
UNIONVILLE. MO.—George W. Summers<br />
will play host at an "open house" Wednesday<br />
afternoon (12 1 when he takes the wrap<br />
off his new Royal Theatre here. It replaces<br />
the 400-seater which bui-ned last spring. The<br />
new Royal will then open for business the<br />
evening of September 12.<br />
Showman Summers will screen a new picture<br />
for exhibitors and invite townspeople in<br />
the afternoon with light refreshments served<br />
afterwards. Several theatre friends from Kansas<br />
City and the trade territory are expected<br />
to attend.<br />
Two Owners Open Drive-In<br />
At Morris; Prize for Name<br />
MORRIS, MINN. — Leonard Perkins and<br />
George Dripps. owners of the enterprise,<br />
opened Morris's new drive-in during August.<br />
The theatre is located on Highway 28 one<br />
and one-half miles east of Morris. The ozoner<br />
will operate nightly.<br />
No name has been chosen yet for the theatre<br />
but they will conduct a name contest<br />
during September and offer a cash prize for<br />
the name selected.<br />
BO<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8. 1951
. . Several<br />
. . Another<br />
. . Bernice<br />
Norman Rice Closes<br />
Desk After 35 Years<br />
ALGONA, IOWA—Norman C. Rice, after<br />
35 years at the helm of the Call and Iowa<br />
theatres here, has disposed of his interest in<br />
the businesses to the Central States Theatre<br />
Corp. Rice is one of the veteran theatremen<br />
of the middlewest. He came to Algona in<br />
1911 and went into the real estate business<br />
with Paul Zerfass. In 1916 he entered the<br />
theatre field at the Call Opera House, which<br />
at that time specialized in stage entertainment.<br />
'<br />
As the business expanded. Rice installed<br />
sound in the Call and the theatre was known<br />
as one of the outstanding entertainment centers<br />
in north Iowa. On April 18, 1937, the<br />
Call Opera House burned. On July 6, 1937,<br />
Rice took over the State Theatre, which had<br />
In the mean-<br />
been built by Gail Pettit in 1936.<br />
time, he had also sold part of his interest to<br />
Central States. The new organization continued<br />
to operate the State, which then became<br />
the Call, and also the Iowa Theatre in<br />
Algona. Mrs. Rice also had taken an active<br />
part in the theatre operation.<br />
MAC Sells One Theatre,<br />
Ends One Partnership<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Additional steps have<br />
been taken by the Minnesota Amusement Co.<br />
toward completion of the theatre divorcement<br />
provisions of the Paramount consent decree<br />
with disposal of one theatre in Eau Claire<br />
and termination of a partnership in La<br />
Crosse, Wis., by purchase of the partner's interest<br />
in two houses.<br />
The MAC sold to Sheldon Grengs, circuit<br />
owner, its 498-seat C house, the Oklare, for<br />
an undisclosed price. Grengs also has the<br />
Hollywood, a first run theatre, in Eau Claire.<br />
MAC retains three Eau Claire houses, the<br />
State, Badger and Cameo.<br />
Required by the Paramount consent decree<br />
to end its partnerships, the MAC bought<br />
from Eddie Ruben (Welworth circuit) his<br />
50 per cent interest in the two La Crosse<br />
theatres, the Hollywood and Fifth Avenue,<br />
giving it complete ownership. The consideration<br />
was not stated by Harry B. French,<br />
MAC president.<br />
MAC previously had relinquished two theatres<br />
each in downtown Minneapolis and St.<br />
Paul and houses in a half-dozen or more of<br />
the territory's other towns, besides ending a<br />
partnership with the late L. J. Ludwig in<br />
Jamestown, N. D., and several others.<br />
More TV at Drink Places<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Night clubs and theatre<br />
bars here will make a bigger play for Saturday<br />
afternoon trade the coming fall by showing<br />
the televised fotball games on much<br />
larger screens.<br />
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DES MOINES<br />
Xirhen the old Strand Theatre marquee in<br />
Iowa City was torn down last week, it<br />
marked the passing of another landmark.<br />
For the old marquee had advertised films at<br />
the Strand since 1917 and dated back to the<br />
early flicker days when the theatre was the<br />
Nickelodeon. A bright, shiny, new sign has<br />
taken the place of the old marquee . . . About<br />
30 theatre managers from northeast Iowa<br />
attended a screening at the Waverly Theatre.<br />
After the showing, the managers were guests<br />
at a luncheon at the Hotel lowan.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Don Brown of Strawberry<br />
Point have purchased a theatre in LaFarge,<br />
Wis. The theatre was built in 1947 and has<br />
The Lyric at Marcus held a<br />
400 seats . . .<br />
gala reopening following a period of darkness<br />
during which Mr. and Mrs. Ed Delaney<br />
took their annual vacation ... A screening<br />
of "The Blue Veil" was held September 6 at<br />
the Orpheum in Des Moines.<br />
Emerson Winters reports another occurrence<br />
at his always-jumping Empress Theatre in<br />
Indianola. During a recent Roy Rogers matinee.<br />
Manager Winters sighted a little gii-1<br />
wandering about inside the theatre. When<br />
she stooped to look under a vacant seat he<br />
asked if she had lost anything. "Oh, please<br />
help me find the aisle!" the little girl said<br />
tearfully. Winters explained that they were<br />
standing in the aisle, and it ran from the<br />
lobby to the screen. The Uttle girl broke down<br />
completely. "My mama told me to SIT on<br />
it," she wept, "so she can find me when she<br />
picks me up at 4 o'clock."<br />
Charlie Recker, Buffalo Center, is completing<br />
a remodeling job on his theatre there.<br />
It has remained open .<br />
newly<br />
decorated house is Don McCree's theatre at<br />
Newell, which has reopened after extensive<br />
remodeling .<br />
Filmrowers took advantage<br />
of the three-day Labor day weekend<br />
for short trips. Myrtle Bechtel, Warner cash-<br />
ier, spent the time at her cottage at Clear<br />
Lake Dykstra and Mildred<br />
.<br />
Holden, both of Universal, journeyed to Chicago<br />
Lou<br />
and the Ozarks, respectively Levy, Universal branch manager, left September<br />
Jean<br />
1 for a two-week vacation Post, Universal salesman, has been called for<br />
his annual officers training period, September<br />
10-21 in North Carolina.<br />
Back to Flooded Office<br />
MANHATTAN, KAS.—TEI City Manager<br />
Dave Dallas has moved his office back to the<br />
State Theatre building. Forced to evacuate<br />
by the flood here, he had maintained his<br />
headquarters at the Campus in Aggieville.<br />
E. W. Anderson Builds Airer<br />
O'NEILL. NEB.—E. W. Anderson of Sioux<br />
City is constructing the new drive-in two<br />
miles north of here which was reported in<br />
the last issue of BOXOFFICE. He has purchased<br />
the old Danceland building at the<br />
location on Highways 20-281 for the site of<br />
the theatre. Construction will begin in a<br />
very short time.<br />
IS<br />
IT ACTION YOU WANT?<br />
Possibly more theatres are sold through our<br />
offices in the areas in which we operate than<br />
most other mediums combined. No listing<br />
fee— Multiple service.<br />
HARRY BUCK HARRY SAVEREIDE<br />
405 Pence Building, 509 Securities Bldg.<br />
Minneapolis 2. Minn. Des Moines 9, Iowa<br />
R. M, COPELAND HARRY BUCK and<br />
1719 Wyandotte. ALEXANDER VALOS<br />
Suite 205 1114 Blum Bldg.<br />
Kansas City. Mo. Chicago 5. Illinois<br />
SAVEREIDE THEATRE BROKERS<br />
Largest Exclusive Theatre Brokers in America<br />
ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES FROM US<br />
White Japcnese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $13.95<br />
South American Yellow Hybrid Per 100 lbs. 10.00<br />
(Packed in 50 lb. bogs)<br />
Liquid "Popsit Plus" Seasoning Per Case 15.50<br />
(Pocked 6 gallons per case)<br />
"Seazo" Coconut Oil Seasoning Per 50 lbs. 15.00<br />
Morton's Popcorn Salt Per Case 2.95<br />
lOc Popcorn Boxes, 2 ounce Per 1000 11.25<br />
10c Popcorn Boxes, VA ounce Per 1000 10.00<br />
1 lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.80<br />
1 lb. Popcorn Bags, fiat bottom, white Per 1000 2.20<br />
1/2 lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.20<br />
11/2 lb. Popcorn Bogs, pinch bottom, white Per 1000 1.95<br />
Special Softex Va lb. Bags, white Per 1000 2.00<br />
Printed Sacks, 1 lb. flat bottom, white Per 1000 3.10<br />
Printed noiseless, 1 lb. pinch bottom Per 1000 4.60<br />
Prices Subject to Change Without Notice<br />
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
1121-23 High St. Des Moines, Iowa<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951<br />
61
: September<br />
OMAHA<br />
T airy Caplane. Brandeis manager, was spending<br />
his vacation getting acquainted with<br />
the youngest addition to the Caplane family,<br />
a baby girl His mother is visiting here from<br />
Cleveland . . .Carl W. Erne of Wall Lake.<br />
Iowa, and partner August Fisher are among<br />
the world's leading popcorn producers. Erne,<br />
who has served two terms as president of<br />
the National Popcorn Ass'n, and Fisher annually<br />
contribute 10 to 12 million pounds to<br />
Iowa's total as the leading popcorn producer<br />
in the nation.<br />
Drive-ins at Council Bluffs. Sioux City.<br />
Hastings and Grand Island. Neb., in the Tri-<br />
States circuit all featured special fireworks<br />
displays Labor day night and reported good<br />
results despite cold, damp weather . . . William<br />
Miskell. Tri-States district manager, believes<br />
the fine quality of recent releases is<br />
clearly shown in two consecutive pictures at<br />
the Orpheum, "That's My Boy" and "Here<br />
Comes the Groom." Rarely are pictures held<br />
at the Orpheum for second week runs, but he<br />
said the reception these two pictures received<br />
clearly warranted holding over.<br />
The marine corps recruiting poster tieup<br />
with "Flying Leathernecks" at the Brandeis<br />
was highly successful, Manager Larry Caplane<br />
reported ... A move is under way to<br />
have PTA representatives help keep order<br />
at suburban houses. The plan worked wonders<br />
near the close of the school season last<br />
spring.<br />
When Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell" is presented<br />
at the University of Nebraska Coliseum<br />
September 25 by the First Drama quartet,<br />
the theatre-in-the-round seating arrangement<br />
will be used, a plan evolved by playerdirector<br />
Charles Laughton. Laughton, Charles<br />
Boyer, Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Agnes<br />
Moorehead will use the conventional Omaha<br />
Theatre stage September 26.<br />
Connie Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.<br />
A. G. Miller, owners of the Miller Theatre<br />
in Atkinson. Neb., recently underwent an<br />
appendicitis operation at Norfolk and was<br />
attended by her sister, Mercedes, a registered<br />
nurse from Chicago. Connie will enter<br />
Duchesne college in Omaha this fall . . .<br />
"David and Bathsheba" will be at the Paramount<br />
September 13.<br />
N. B. Cresswell Resigns;<br />
Remodeling Soon on Bev<br />
LEAVENWORTH, KAS.—N. B. Cresswell<br />
resigned here recently as manager of the<br />
Fort Drive-In and Beverly Miller, general<br />
manager, who announced the resignation,<br />
said he would personally take over the theatre's<br />
operations.<br />
Miller added that remodeling work will<br />
start soon for the fall reopening of the Bev<br />
Theatre. Plans include ramping the floor,<br />
reconstructing side walls, installation of more<br />
upholstered seats and two-passenger love<br />
seats, and a cryroom.<br />
Roy Rogers Co. in Toy Deal<br />
With Scottsbluff Firm<br />
SCOTTSBLUFF. NEB. — Scottsbluff may<br />
become the yo-yo capital of the United States.<br />
The All-Western Plastics Co. has signed a<br />
$2,000,000 contract with Roy Rogers Enterprises<br />
for the manufacture of a yo-yo bearing<br />
the movie cowboy's name. The two companies<br />
are formulating plans for launching<br />
a nation-wide yo-yo contest for boys and<br />
gii-ls.<br />
The toy will be called the Roy Rogers<br />
Roundup Top and will be made of plastic<br />
materials.<br />
ischfeger<br />
Allis-Chalmers<br />
Cutler- Hammer<br />
Northwest Airlines<br />
International Harvester<br />
Glenn Caldwell Dies<br />
DAVENPORT. IOWA — Glenn<br />
Caldwell,<br />
former manager of the Orpheum here, died<br />
of a heart attack in San Leandro, Calif.<br />
Caldwell, a native of Peoria, Iowa, was manager<br />
of the local house for about ten years.<br />
During the second world war. he served with<br />
the medical supply corps at Schick hospital,<br />
Clinton, and at Oxford. England.<br />
U. S. Air Force<br />
U. S. Navy<br />
Micro Switch<br />
General Mills ><br />
and Many OtfMl-<br />
Bob Thomas Buys Theatre<br />
STRAWBERRY POINT. IOWA—Bob E.<br />
Thomas has purchased the Orpheum Theatre<br />
here from Mr. and Mrs. Duskin Savereide<br />
and will take possession Sunday (2i.<br />
Thomas formerly was owner of the Vern<br />
Theatre at LuVerne. Iowa.<br />
Otto Ludwig will edit the Sid KuUer production,<br />
"Actor's Blood."<br />
Yes, it takes g<br />
skill<br />
2269 Ford Parkway<br />
St. Paul 1, Minnesota<br />
to produce fine m^ion pictures.<br />
Ell 11 ik.ir\i iCTnicc ik.1^ V<br />
FILM INDUSTRIES, INC<br />
208 So. LaSalle<br />
Chicago 4, lliinoi<br />
As One Other Fisk Once Said:<br />
It's Time to Retire!'<br />
Theatre lot on the square. Operated<br />
successfully for 50 years. No agents.<br />
Cosh. Deal can include 3 business<br />
buildings also on square.<br />
Phone or Write<br />
CHARLIE FISK<br />
Phone Butler 113 BUTLER, MO.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951
Movietime Kickoff<br />
17th at Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—Industry representatives<br />
at a luncheon meeting here this week selected<br />
Monday, September 17, for the all-industry<br />
Harold Lyon<br />
Russell Borg<br />
Movietime kickoff meeting. Robert J. O'Donnell,<br />
Dallas, national Movietime director, and<br />
the Rev. William Alexander, Oklahoma orator,<br />
will speak at the session, which will open at<br />
the Orpheum Theatre at 10 a. m. From 500<br />
to 1,000 exhibitors and film folk are expected<br />
to attend.<br />
Harold Lyon, managing director of the<br />
Paramount Theatre and exhibitor chairman<br />
for the Movietime drive in this area; Russell<br />
Borg, WB branch manager and Movietime<br />
distributor chairman for the area, and Don<br />
Walker, WB field publicity representative and<br />
Regional Rallies Dated<br />
In Minneapolis Area<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—With action by Chairman<br />
Eddie Ruben in setting dates for regional<br />
meetings and appointment of squads to<br />
carry the boxoffice apathy knockout ammunition<br />
to those gatherings, the stage was<br />
being further set for the territory's participation<br />
in the Movietime U.S.A. campaign. There<br />
will be September exhibitor rallies as follows:<br />
For Minnesota theatre owners—Owatonna,<br />
11; Marshall. 12, and Brainerd, 13.<br />
North Dakota—Fargo, 11; Grand Forks, 12,<br />
and Minot, 13.<br />
South Dakota—Huron, 13, and Eau Claire.<br />
11.<br />
With Harry B. French as chairman, .squad<br />
No. 1 will comprise A. W. Anderson, Woody<br />
McBride, Leo Peterson, George Gould and<br />
Woody Fraught, and it will take the Movietime<br />
message to Owatonna, Marshall and<br />
Huron exhibitors. Ted Mann is chairman of<br />
squad 2 which includes Harry Green. Cal<br />
Nygaard, Fay Dressell and LeRoy J. Miller,<br />
with Brainerd and Eau Claire on their itinerary.<br />
Ruben himself will head squad 3. He'll be<br />
assisted by W. H. Workman, Harold Field,<br />
Ralph Pielow, Charlie Winchell and S. D.<br />
Kane, and they'll visit Fargo, Grand Forks<br />
and Minot for the regional meetings in those<br />
cities.<br />
Another large rally was held September 4<br />
at the Northwest Variety Club here, when all<br />
branch managers and salesmen were briefed<br />
in regard to thsir assignments in lining up<br />
every territory exhibitor for the greatest industry<br />
drive in history.<br />
The branch managers and salesmen were<br />
thrilled by executive committee member<br />
Harry Greene's recital of the campaign's details.<br />
"It'll be the biggest single campaign in<br />
advertising's history," he declared. "But it's<br />
up to all of us to follow that up and get the<br />
maximum results."<br />
Both Ruben and W. H. Workman, chairman<br />
for the distributors, declared they never had<br />
been so enthusiastic before over an industry<br />
drive. "It gives us the chance to do something<br />
that should have been done before,"<br />
said Workman.<br />
Speakers stressed that "the campaign will<br />
be as great a success as we in the industry in<br />
this territory care to make it."<br />
publicity chairman for the Movietime drive,<br />
led off the luncheon meeting.<br />
Also attending the meeting were Allied Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Kansas and<br />
Missouri representatives Jay Wooten, Hutchinson,<br />
Allied president; Bill Silvers, Cameron,<br />
Mo., and Fred Harpst, general manager<br />
for Allied here. Kansas-Missouri Theatre<br />
Ass'n was represented by Dale Danielson,<br />
KMTA president; C. E. Cook, MaryvUle. Mo.,<br />
and Gladyce Penrod, executive secretary.<br />
Nebraska territory.<br />
Allied Members Asked<br />
To Protest Tax Measure<br />
KANSAS CITY— Allied Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Kansas and Missouri recently<br />
sent out bulletins to its members ui-ging that<br />
they write their senators in Washington protesting<br />
against a measure which would<br />
exempt schools and charitable institutions<br />
from collecting the 20 per cent federal<br />
amusement tax.<br />
Fred Harpst, general manager for Allied<br />
here, said he hoped all Allied members would<br />
lodge strong protest as soon as possible<br />
against any such exemptions.<br />
Joseph Meyer Married<br />
OMAHA—o^oseph Meyer, owner of the S&M<br />
Film Service, was married recently to Mrs.<br />
Stella Vann, principal buyer for Herzberg's<br />
store. They were married at Papillion, Neb.<br />
Witnesses were Meyer's son by a former<br />
marriage, Leland. and Leiand's wife. Meyer<br />
is widely known thi'oughout the Iowa and<br />
Dick DeVries to Reseat Ritz<br />
CORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA—Dick DeVries<br />
of the Ritz Theatre plans to reseat soon<br />
with Kroehler pushbacks.<br />
A "DAVID" POSE— E. C. Khoden jr., of<br />
Commonwealth Theatres and Hugh<br />
Sivered, manager of the Plaza Theatre<br />
in Kansas City, pose with Francis X.<br />
Bushman and Walter (Goliath) Talun in<br />
front of the Plaza where the 20th -Fox<br />
traveling studio exhibit stopped. Left to<br />
right: Bushman, Rhoden, Talun and<br />
Sivered.<br />
Indian Motif Used<br />
In Chief Remodeling<br />
BRITT, IOWA—H. S. "Doc" Twedt held a<br />
formal opening in mid-August for his remodeled<br />
and redecorated Chief Theatre. Free<br />
gifts were given to all persons attending the<br />
matinee and evening opening shows, roses for<br />
th ladies, cigars for the men and candy for<br />
the kids. Twedt has carried out a steady<br />
program of improving the Chief since he became<br />
the owner four years ago. The most<br />
recent improvement gives the theatre a completely<br />
new interior and continues to carry<br />
out the Indian motif in keeping with the<br />
name.<br />
Artists of the Dahlstrom & Weinberger Co.<br />
of Minneapolis painted murals on the walls<br />
depicting Indians hunting buffalo, Indian<br />
teepees and covered wagons. The murals are<br />
in brown and white on a background of old<br />
rose. Panels near the ceiling have been painted<br />
in green, red and white. New drapes were<br />
hung on the stage and, under lights, the<br />
colors blend in a beautiful effect. Lobby,<br />
foyer and restrooms were redecorated to give<br />
the Chief the most unique styling in northern<br />
Iowa.<br />
Minneapolis Radio City<br />
On Next Video Hookup<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Harry B.<br />
French, Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. president, has been notified<br />
by parent United Paramount Theatres<br />
that the Radio City Theatre here will be included<br />
in the closed TV theatre circuit, starting<br />
with the Saddler-Pep fight. The programs<br />
are piped exclusively to theatres for their big<br />
TV screens. French was told the "mechanics"<br />
to permit this are being worked out, but was<br />
not given any of the details. It remains to<br />
be seen, he says, whether the inclusion is to<br />
be accomplished through arrangement with<br />
one of the two local TV stations, KSTP or<br />
WTCN, for the cable hookup, or otherwise.<br />
Inability to obtain a cable hookup kept the<br />
Radio City from participating in the showing<br />
of the previous exclusive theatre TV fights.<br />
The fact that there is no TV station or<br />
theatre television in Des Moines to link up on<br />
the cable extending through that city also<br />
was a factor in keeping the Radio City out<br />
of the closed theatre circuit, French explained.<br />
John Tarr Books Stager<br />
PRATT, KAS.—John Tarr, manager of the<br />
Barron Theatre, booked the Stars and Stripes<br />
Revue of 1951 for the stage Sunday (191.<br />
The show was sponsored by the Junior Chamber<br />
of Commerce, is produced by Tom Drake<br />
Attractions of Kansas City and includes radio,<br />
stage and television stars. It played at 2,<br />
7:15 and 9:15 p .m. Tarr was at the theatre<br />
in Gcodland until it closed for the season<br />
this summer and, before that, was at the<br />
helm of Best Theatre in Independence, Kas.<br />
Open Community Theatre<br />
GARNAVILLO. IOWA — More than two<br />
years efforts were culminated last week when<br />
the Garnavillo community theatre opened<br />
its doors. The house got its start in the minds<br />
of the community. Stock was sold to local<br />
residents whose interest was in seeing this<br />
town have the type of theatre to which it<br />
could point with pride. Harley Moore has<br />
leased the new theatre and presided at opening<br />
night festivites.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951 63
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . Eight<br />
. . About<br />
. .<br />
ITEMS FROM HERE AND THERE<br />
\X7aIter Lovan ol the Park Theatre at Eldorado<br />
Springs, Mo., celebrated his return<br />
to work after a long illness by throwing<br />
an all-color cartoon show for his kid patrons<br />
on a recent Saturday morning. Admission<br />
was free . . Manager Ira M. Grain of the<br />
.<br />
Jack-Rabbit Drive-In at Fairbury, Neb., has<br />
doubled the size of the picture at the airer<br />
with a new 24x32-foot screen ... A Grand<br />
Island, Neb., youth admitted taking part in<br />
robbery of the drive-in theatre there recently.<br />
Much damage but little loot resulted from<br />
a burglary at the Skylark Drive-In at St.<br />
Joseph, Mo., on the Belt highway. Groundkeepers<br />
Roland Adams and Mile Crippen discovered<br />
the crime when they came to work.<br />
Doors were pried open at the boxoffice, concession,<br />
projection booth and storeroom. A<br />
cigaret machine was also pried open and<br />
smokes and money taken. Crowbars were<br />
used.<br />
During the collection for cerebral palsy at<br />
an Omaha theatre, a volunteer held the collection<br />
jar while a small lad with a crippled<br />
arm emptied his pockets to make the jar<br />
jingle. "You had better save something for<br />
carfare," the volunteer finally told the boy.<br />
"Oh. that's all right, ma'am," he answered.<br />
"I can walk and I don't need it!"<br />
The Corral Drive-In at Webster City, Iowa,<br />
received repairs following severe damage it<br />
suffered in a summer windstorm. Manager<br />
Art Downard said the engineer from Minneapolis<br />
who designed the screen tower decided<br />
it would have to be torn down and started<br />
over. It took two w-eeks to complete the job<br />
after the wind pulled supporting poles out of<br />
the ground from eight inches to two feet.<br />
There was insurance! . Bonham Theatre<br />
at Fairbury, Neb., set up a booth in its<br />
lobby to sign up blood donors . entries<br />
were received for the amateur contest<br />
Manager George Willhoite staged at the Star<br />
Theatre in Warrensburg, Mo. Manager Willhoite<br />
personally provided the piano music.<br />
The remodeled Hollywood Theatre at<br />
Estherville, Iowa, now has aisles down both<br />
sides of the building, replacing the former<br />
center aisle and ramp. Included in the revamping<br />
job was moving the restrooms from<br />
the basement to the main floor lobby and installing<br />
all new facilities in them. New<br />
lighting and a lowered ceiling are changes<br />
in the front lobby. New popcorn and confectionery<br />
facilities were also provided in the<br />
lobby. Redecorating and painting were done<br />
by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jeanotte, owners of the<br />
Hollywood . State Theatre at Shenandoah,<br />
Iowa, moved its concession from a little<br />
room to the left of the lobby into the middle<br />
of the lobby, Manager Bob Holdridge reports.<br />
The new stand contains all the features of<br />
the old but with a soft drink dispenser added.<br />
Beginning August 29, 30, the State Theatre<br />
in Hatton, N. D., added a midweek show to<br />
its regular schedule of two weekend shows.<br />
Three program changes a week are the new<br />
order: Wednesday-Tliursday, Friday-Saturday,<br />
Sunday-Monday. There are two shows<br />
nightly on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays,<br />
and one apiece beginning at 8 o'clock<br />
the other three nights, running. Art Leno<br />
owns the situation.<br />
Emma Holmes, manager of the Leigh Theatre<br />
at Leigh, Neb., announced "There Will Be<br />
NO SHOW Dm-ing the Fair August 24, 25<br />
and 26. Let's ALL Go to the Colfax County<br />
Fair." She reopened August 28 with "The<br />
Savage Horde" . 20 Sterling, Kas.,<br />
merchants sponsored a bathing beauty contest<br />
at the Royal Theatre August 31. Girls<br />
from the Alden and Sterling communities<br />
were eligible and reported to Manager Floyd<br />
Lorimer. Floyd said "There will be no Hollywood<br />
contracts awarded" but he promised the<br />
girls a lot of fun and first prize of $15 and<br />
15 passes, second prize $10 and 10 passes and<br />
a third of $5 and five.<br />
The Highway 13 Drive-In at Richmond. Mo.,<br />
which was closed for two weeks because of the<br />
flood, got open again last month. An extensive<br />
cleanup job began as soon as flood<br />
waters receded and, as a protection to the<br />
customers, the drinking water supply was<br />
tested for purity. The parking lot was<br />
sprayed for flies and mosquitoes. Once reopened,<br />
however, more improvements are being<br />
made at the ozoner. A walkaway is being<br />
constructed around the concession and a<br />
patio with outdoor table and chaii's was<br />
erected. And there is new playground equipment<br />
including slides, swings, trapeze, benches,<br />
merry-go-round, teeters, etc.<br />
Urban Stolpman has decided to name his<br />
entertainment center the Big Stone Drive-In<br />
Theatre. The entire back of the screen tower<br />
will carry the sign, which will be lettered<br />
in luminous paint. That, in tm-n, will be<br />
illuminated by floodlights. The operation is at<br />
Four big lights<br />
Big Stone City, S. D. . . .<br />
atop telephone poles now flood the entrance<br />
to the West O Outdoor Theatre at Lincoln,<br />
Neb., making the city's newest drive-in still<br />
safer. The management has painted the<br />
screen tower with "light-killing" paint to reduce<br />
glare. The ozoner has also inaugurated<br />
a policy of more double features.<br />
An electric light on the floor under some<br />
draperies caused a fire at the Omaha Theatre<br />
recently. The blaze was extinguished after<br />
it burned some of the drapery and scorched<br />
a portion of the ceiling. An alarm was sounded<br />
by employes cleaning up after the show.<br />
The Delpheum Theatre at Delphos, Kas.,<br />
reopened August 19 with fresh paint and, they<br />
claimed, "fresh shows." Something else new<br />
is the free show every Tuesday-Wednesday.<br />
There is a feature, cartoon, and every adult<br />
receives a gift ticket worth, to someone, $10<br />
in cash. The whole town is welcome ... A<br />
siren summoned the fire department to a<br />
citizen's home in Gothenburg, Neb. A pile<br />
of lumber from the recent remodeling of<br />
the Sun Theatre was on his lot and somehow<br />
Good Public Relations<br />
In Missouri Valley<br />
Missouri Valley, Iowa—.-V special program,<br />
"Thy Neighbor's Voice," with Robert<br />
Mills singing hymns of inspiration,<br />
has been heard daily each morning Monday<br />
through Friday, at the Rialt« Theatre<br />
here. The idea is to provide fine music<br />
for shoppers during the hot summer days.<br />
The air conditioned facilities of the theatre<br />
are provided free of charge by W. B.<br />
Franke, manager.<br />
Iowa had its first<br />
had become ignited . . .<br />
strawhat theatre this year. A converted Mack<br />
truck garage on Highw-ay 1 north of Milford<br />
served the purpose and, manned by a Grinnell<br />
college professor and 12 of his students,<br />
made its debut with Noel Coward's "Blithe<br />
Spirit." The final curtain fell September 3.<br />
The figures are now in on the cost of renovating<br />
the Plaza Theatre in Ottawa, Kas.,<br />
after the flood. The house reopened August<br />
12, as has been reported in these columns,<br />
but Harold Foster now comes forward with<br />
an itemized statement. The theatre was refurnished<br />
with new and larger seats, new<br />
carpet, drapes and stage curtain, new screen<br />
and lighting and complete redecoration. At<br />
the height of the flood, water stood 24',2<br />
inches over the stage. Before the redecoration<br />
started, the house was washed with highpressure<br />
hose and sprayed with disinfectant.<br />
The air conditioning was sealed and not damaged.<br />
So, the total expense for renovating<br />
the theatre will exceed $25,000, Foster said.<br />
Walter Sayler, manager of the Dakota Theatre<br />
at Wishek, N. D., advertised the appearance<br />
of the Wishek high school band in the<br />
MGM "News of the Day" reel. The film included<br />
scenes of the Minneapolis Aquatennial<br />
parade in which the local band took part .<br />
John Baxter jr., projectionist at the State<br />
Theatre in Auburn, Neb., spent his vacation<br />
with relatives at Sunflower, Kas. Jack Headley<br />
substituted in the booth during Baxter's<br />
absence.<br />
Chuck Rees, manager of the Sherman Theatre<br />
at Goodland, Kas., got a nice story in the<br />
newspaper about his mammoth new cooling<br />
plant this summer. The News printed a twocolumn<br />
photo and a one-column story about<br />
it. Rees also got in a quote, to wit: "The<br />
theatre is in the best condition it has ever<br />
been but we are going to make it even better."<br />
Glen Dickinson Replies<br />
To Life Movie Article<br />
KANSAS CITY—Theatreman Glen W.<br />
Dickinson jr., general manager of Dickinson<br />
Operating Co.. joined the parade of showmen<br />
answering the recent article in Life magazine<br />
with a telegram to Henry R. Luce, Life editor<br />
in chief. Dickinson's telegram read:<br />
"We consider your vicious attack on the<br />
motion picture industry ... to be extremely<br />
biased and not representative of all the facts.<br />
We are independent theatre owners operating<br />
43 theatres in Missouri. Illinois, Kansas, Iowa<br />
and Arkansas. Our business is better now<br />
than any time since 1946 and is up 50 per cent<br />
over prewar.<br />
"We are certain that the motion picture<br />
industry is too big. too competent and too<br />
healthy to be seriously hurt by the vicious<br />
antimovie propaganda campaign current in<br />
newspapers and magazines. However, we bitterly<br />
resent it.<br />
"In all fairness we ask that you print another<br />
article showing the bright side of theatre<br />
business; the number of new theatres<br />
built and planned since the war; the excellent<br />
business on good pictures; the increasing<br />
quality of pictures. When radio first hit the<br />
market exhibitors rushed to sell their theatres.<br />
Many newspapers did the same. With<br />
television they are not selling. The United<br />
States is big enough to absorb new forms of<br />
entertainment while improving the old, so<br />
why all the propaganda?"<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951
. . . Lowell<br />
. . . Ditto<br />
. . Saul<br />
, . The<br />
. . Joe<br />
. . The<br />
. . Mel<br />
Ass n of Kansas City<br />
Outing on Sept. 24<br />
KANSAS CITY—The second annual fall<br />
outing and golf tournament of the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of Kansas City is to be held<br />
at the Milburn Golf and Country club on<br />
Monday, September 24. It will be a stag<br />
affair featuring a liandicap golf tournament,<br />
cards and other competitions for prizes. The<br />
events will begin at 1 p. m., continuing<br />
through the evening.<br />
The following committee chairmen were<br />
appointed; Robert A. Withers, tickets; Louis<br />
Sutter, golf tournament; Finton Jones, prizes;<br />
Richard Brous, games; Joe Redmond, publicity.<br />
Members may bring local guests, provided<br />
they are from outside the industry or outof-town<br />
industry people.<br />
Kansas City Bowlers<br />
Start 1951-52 Season<br />
KANSAS CITY—The Pilmrow Bowling<br />
league men's and women's teams opened the<br />
1951-52 season Friday (7) at Tierney-'Wheat<br />
alleys. The men's league was to elect officers,<br />
but the women's division had carryover<br />
officers, elected at the leist meeting in the<br />
spring.<br />
Six women's league teams' were to enter<br />
the fracas this year. Officers for the women's<br />
league are Betty Oehlschlager of Fox Midwest,<br />
president; Marge Sarpolis, Columbia,<br />
vice-president; Mary Heuei.sen, WB, secretary;<br />
Jerry Summers. Columbia, secretary, and<br />
Betty Randolph, Columbia, sergeant at arms.<br />
MAC Seeks Winter Show<br />
From Martin and Lewis<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— If Martin and Lewis will<br />
play a date at the Radio City Theatre here<br />
this winter they can square themselves with<br />
the Minnesota Amusement Co. for their<br />
eleventh hour alleged breach of contract to<br />
appear there with their stage show last month.<br />
Negotiations are being conducted between the<br />
MAC and the comedy team.<br />
MAC charged it spent a substantial sum in<br />
advance exploitation and advertising for the<br />
comedians, having been notified of their cancellation<br />
only three days prior to the scheduled<br />
opening.<br />
Art LaMan Is Appointed<br />
Cauger Representative<br />
INDEPENDENCE, MO.—The A. V. Cauger<br />
Film Service company has named Art LaMan<br />
as its representative in eastern Oklahoma,<br />
replacing H. H. Judlins, who no longer is<br />
comiected with the film advertising business.<br />
In western Oklahoma the Cauger representative<br />
is M. R. Van Dam.<br />
LaMan has been connected with theatre<br />
promotions for several years and in the advertising<br />
and publicity business in Pryor,<br />
Okla., for nine years.<br />
U l/oM SvuMx Suux 1S99<br />
STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co.<br />
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MINNEAPOLIS<br />
n favorable business background for the<br />
boxoffice in this territory is presaged by<br />
the fact that agricultural income was up 23<br />
per cent for the first five months of 1951<br />
in comparison with the same months a year<br />
ago. Urban dwellers also are receiving more<br />
income because of longer hours of work and<br />
higher wages . Wolf, veteran local<br />
film man, went to San Antonio, Tex., to visit<br />
the drive-ins in which he is financially interested.<br />
He also will visit Dallas and Houston<br />
before returning to Minneapolis.<br />
The Princess and Metro, two local neighborhood<br />
theatres under the same ownership,<br />
ran coupons in the Shopping News entitling<br />
the holders to receive one free admission<br />
with each paid admission, good for three<br />
days . Mali-sow, 20th-Fox southern<br />
Minnesota salesman, has been promoted to<br />
the post of assistant to M. A. Levy, district<br />
manager . damage suit of W. L.<br />
Grouse, Eveleth, Minn., exhibitor, against Columbia<br />
for alleged breach of contract has<br />
been settled out of court. The court action<br />
resulted when Columbia playdated "All the<br />
King's Men" in adjacent Virginia for a second<br />
run ahead of its Eveleth first run in<br />
alleged violation of Crouse's contract.<br />
Another evidence of the local boxoffice revival<br />
was the fine business turned in at the<br />
Century here by the reissued "A Song to<br />
Remember." The picture moved over to the<br />
Pix for a second loop week and continued to<br />
attract large crowds . opening night<br />
audience at "Springtime for Henry" at the<br />
Lyceum here included one 93-year-old and<br />
another 80-year-old Edward Everett Horton<br />
fan. They were the mother and aunt of the<br />
screen actor who appeared in person in the<br />
play at the local Lyceum. They drove from<br />
California to be here.<br />
Charlie Winchell, Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co., a.ssistant to President Harry B. French,<br />
is back from a northern Minnesota vacation,<br />
spent fishing and relaxing . . . Marion<br />
Walker, Minnesota Amusement Co. city manager<br />
at Minot, N. D., reports his daughter<br />
won the title of Miss North Dakota. He will<br />
accompany her to the Atlantic City pageant<br />
where she will represent the Flickertail state<br />
Kaplan, Bennie Berger circuit<br />
buyer and booker, is back at his desk after<br />
a Breezy Point, Minn., vacation.<br />
Clarence Hill, 20th-Fox home office representative,<br />
was a visitor . Turner, MOM<br />
Minnesota salesman, is back from his vacation<br />
Don Alexander of the Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. publicity and advertising<br />
staff . . . Trailers in the Twin Cities<br />
RKO theatres advertise the forthcoming engagement<br />
of the Broadway musical comedy<br />
hit, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," at the<br />
RKO Palace in Chicago, marking its debut<br />
as a legitimate showhouse. The trailers urge<br />
patrons visiting Chicago to be sure to see<br />
the musical comedy and advise that the<br />
managers of the RKO theatres here will have<br />
seat reservations made for them.<br />
Ev Seibel, Minnesota Amusement Co. publicity<br />
and advertising head, is back from<br />
a tour of all the circuit's South Dakota situations<br />
during which he contacted newspaper<br />
publishers and editors personally. He says<br />
that the newspaper people are highly optimistic<br />
over the business outlook because the<br />
best crops in years are assured.<br />
Shift Several Managers<br />
In Outstate Iowa Houses<br />
DES MOINES—A number Of changes in<br />
management in Iowa theatres have been reported<br />
here recently.<br />
Floyd Lewis, manager of the Zephyr in<br />
Burlington, has been named to head the<br />
drive-in there. He succeeds Ted Belles, who<br />
has moved to Fremont, Neb, Irving Heller,<br />
manager of the Palace, now is in charge of<br />
the Zephyr also.<br />
Dale Ball is new manager of the State in<br />
Holstein. Pi-ojectionist at the State will continue<br />
to be Eugene Peterson. Ball came to<br />
Holstein from Sioux City. Byron C. Waltz<br />
of Rock Island has been named manager<br />
jr.<br />
of the Esquire in Davenport by Tri-States.<br />
He replaces Horace Spencer, who takes over<br />
the LeClaire in Molina. Waltz started for<br />
Ti-i-States as assistant manager of the Capitol,<br />
Davenport, in 1949. He later became<br />
manager of the Garden. F>rior to taking his<br />
new job in Davenport, Waltz managed the<br />
Rocket in Rock Island.<br />
Borge Iverson is new manager of the Rialto<br />
and Princess in Boone. He succeeds S. N.<br />
Fangman, theatreman for nearly 20 years.<br />
Iverson is from Dubuque, where he was manager<br />
of the Dubuque Drive-In. He has been<br />
in theatre business since 1928. Fangman has<br />
taken a theatre job m Fremont, Neb. Succeeding<br />
Iverson at the Dubuque post is Joseph<br />
Cole of Fremont, Neb., a veteran of 22 years<br />
in theatre business.<br />
John G. Banks is the new manager of the<br />
Avery in Garner. A graduate of Iowa State<br />
college, he succeeds Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury,<br />
who are returning to South Dakota. Erwin<br />
Braner of Fort Dodge succeeds Robert Malmquist<br />
as manager of the Cresco Theatre in<br />
Cresco, a house owned by Central States.<br />
Malmquist is manager of the King in Albia.<br />
Dismissal of Airer Suit<br />
Asked in Nebraska Court<br />
LINCOLN, NEB.—Dismissal of a suit growing<br />
out of construction of the North Platte<br />
Drive-In was asked in a brief filed in the<br />
state supreme court. A Lincoln county district<br />
court awarded Cartwright & Wilson<br />
Construction Co. $2,485 allegedly due as the<br />
balance of the company's commission for<br />
construction of the theatre on a cost-plus<br />
basis.<br />
W. L. Smith, for whom the 500-car drive-in<br />
was built, contends he had to spend $1,954 to<br />
rebuild the ramps so they would drain properly<br />
and $1,000 to repair the screen after it<br />
blew down.<br />
Four Employes Resign<br />
MANHATTAN, KAS.—Dave Dallas, city<br />
manager for TEI here, has just announced<br />
the resignation of four of his employes. Several<br />
of them have been with the circuit for a<br />
number of years. They include Helen Waugh,<br />
secretary to Dallas; Dick Wagner, employed<br />
at the Sky-vue Drive-In, and Ted Fitzgerald<br />
and Mary O'Donnel, Campus.<br />
Satisfaction — Always<br />
MISSOURI<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager<br />
Phone BAItimore 3070<br />
115 W. 18lh Kansas Cily 8, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951 65
T<br />
. . Herbert<br />
. .<br />
^.-.d<br />
: September<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
TXr E. Truog, United Artists branch manager,<br />
who has been ill for the last few<br />
weelis, now is at the home of his daughter<br />
under the care of a private nurse. Bud<br />
Truog. W. E.'s son and office manager at UA,<br />
said last weekend that his father's condition<br />
was fair . . . John Graham, salesman at<br />
UA for the last 17 years and a partner with<br />
Commonwealth In a theatre at Warrensburg,<br />
resigned effective September 8. Graham said<br />
he would spend a few weeks fishing.<br />
Winnifred Peterson of Lippert returned<br />
Tuesday (4) from a vacation trip to Des<br />
Moines . . . The girls at Columbia were looking<br />
forward to the opening of the bowling<br />
season Friday (7). Three Columbia girls are<br />
officers in the women's Filmrow Bowling<br />
league. Tom Baldwin, branch manager, and<br />
the salesmen at Columbia bought the bowling<br />
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POPSIT PLUS<br />
Liquid Popcorn Seasoning<br />
Butter-Like Flavor, Color and Aroma<br />
L. & L. POPCORN CO.<br />
116 West 18th St. Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Golden Theatre Service<br />
A complete Buying, Booking and<br />
Advisory Service for EXHIBITORS<br />
Eddie Golden<br />
130 W. 18th St. Victor 5504 Kansas City, Mo.<br />
outfits for the Columbia team and Ben Marcus,<br />
division manager, is sponsor.<br />
Ralph Ferris, booker at Columbia, was ill<br />
during the week . . . Gene Livingstone, third<br />
shipper at Columbia, has resigned to take a<br />
job with the Coca-Cola Co. . . . Columbia<br />
had a huge display on "Pickup" at the Commonwealth<br />
Theatres convention Tuesday (4i.<br />
The display was about seven feet high and<br />
seven feet wide. Attention was attracted to it<br />
by whistling sound effects.<br />
Eddie Golden's daughter Penny added newlaurels<br />
to her crown last week when she became<br />
a model for Macy's department store.<br />
The 11-year-old youngster, who the preceding<br />
w-eek had a part in the Starlight Theatre<br />
production of "Babes in Toyland," appeared<br />
in the Macy ad in the Kansas City<br />
Star modeling a chambray dress.<br />
Elmer C. Rhoden sr., president of Pox<br />
Midwest Amusement Corp., returned to work<br />
Tuesday (4) after hospitalization because of<br />
an injury sustained while on a visit in California<br />
. Carnes, manager of the<br />
Kimo, scheduled screenings of his next attraction,<br />
"Tales of Hoffmann." for 10 a. m.<br />
Monday (10) for radio commentators, music<br />
critics and music department heads, and at<br />
2 p. m. Tuesday (ID for women's club heads.<br />
Carnes w'orked up several unusual exploitation<br />
stunts for the film, including street<br />
ballyhoo, stage show, etc.<br />
Louis Patz, National Screen Service manager,<br />
returned home from the hospital Tuesday<br />
i4i after five days hospitalization necessitated<br />
by a bad attack of blood poisoning.<br />
He received treatment for the ailment, but<br />
is not expected to return to his desk for a<br />
full day until Monday (17).<br />
Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Caager of the A. V.<br />
Cauger Service Co. spent the Labor day<br />
holiday in Colorado Springs. They stopped<br />
in several western Kansas towns to visit<br />
theatremen on their way to Colorado .<br />
Russell Oliver, Cauger representative, went<br />
to St. Louis last week.<br />
Supervise Flood Work<br />
MANHATTAN, KAS.—Frank Nelson of<br />
the<br />
TEI mechanical department in Dallas was<br />
here to supervise reconstruction work on the<br />
Stat€ Theatre, which suffered severe flood<br />
damage.<br />
'Groom' Grosses 200<br />
As Kansas City Pacer<br />
KANSAS CITY—First runs took on new<br />
life in Kansas City, in spite of weather<br />
ranging from extreme heat, through heavy<br />
rains to cool weather. Every first run in the<br />
city reported over normal grosses. "David and<br />
Bathsheba" at the Orpheum did exceedingly<br />
well and "Here Comes the Groom" at the<br />
Paramount brought in such crowds that the<br />
house doubled average for the week. "Rich,<br />
Young and Pretty" at the Midland and "Meet<br />
Me After the Show" at the four-house Fox<br />
Midwest combination raked in 150 per cent<br />
in opening weeks.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Kimo—Lilli Marlene (RKO)<br />
.<br />
lOQ<br />
Midland— Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM) '!!: 150<br />
Missouri—Flying Leathernecks (RKO); Fury of<br />
the Congo :^:.<br />
,<br />
wk 130<br />
Orphaum-David and Bathsheba (20th-Foxy, "roadshow<br />
... ._<br />
Excellent<br />
Paramount—Here Comes the Groom (Para) 200<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Granada—Meet Me<br />
After the Show (20th.Fox); Fugitive Lady (Rep),.150<br />
Two Omaha Bills<br />
Net<br />
Substantial 125<br />
OMAHA—Two second-week offerings went<br />
over good and another was billed for a second<br />
week at Omaha first runs. "That's My<br />
Boy," fourth film in the Orpheum Theatre's<br />
history to be held over at that house, did<br />
125 per cent.<br />
"Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell" scored 110<br />
at the State. "Captain Horatio Hornblower,"<br />
after a 115 week at the Paramount, was moved<br />
to the Omaha. Two Abbott and Costello reissues<br />
at the Omaha, "Little Giant" and "The<br />
Time of Their Lives," clicked for 125.<br />
Omaha—Little Giant (Realart); The Time of Their<br />
Lives (Realart) ..<br />
J25<br />
Orpheum—That's My Boy (Para); California Passage<br />
(Rep), 2nd wk 125<br />
P^l?°""l-Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB) 'ZlIS<br />
HKU Brande-.s— Sirocco (Col).. 105<br />
State—Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (Mth-Fox)',^<br />
Ancr wk '22Q<br />
Town—Daughter oi the West (UA); Cowboyand<br />
the Prize Fighter (UA); Rhythm Inn (Mono) .... 95<br />
Product, Weather, Holiday<br />
Add to r/Iinneapolis Gross<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— Business continued on the<br />
upgrade with stronger product helping to<br />
keep the boxoffice fires burning. The Labor<br />
day weekend, with cool,<br />
cloudy weather, also<br />
was a stimulus. "David and Batlisheba," at<br />
advanced admissions, "That's My Boy" and<br />
"Flying Leathernecks" were the newcomers<br />
attracting large turnouts.<br />
Century—David and Bathsheba (20th-Fox) 200<br />
Gopher—Warpath (Para), 2nd wk. 90<br />
Ly^'^—Meet Me After the Show (2bth-Fox), 2nd<br />
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Radio City-Thafs My Boy (Para) 125<br />
Orpheun-.<br />
S^R<br />
—Flying Leathernecks "(RKO) MS<br />
5. ?<br />
°' Woman ^?u"^'"„^i°'' (RKO), 2nd wk 105<br />
State—The Tall Target :KGM) gn<br />
World—On Moonlight Bay (WB), 3rd wk ''""'Z 90<br />
Max McCoy Shifts to Fox<br />
OMAHA—Max McCoy has resigned as<br />
U-I<br />
salesman and joined 20th-Fox to cover the<br />
same South Platte territory. McCoy entered<br />
the film industry in 1938 in St. Louis.<br />
He was a paratrooper in 'World 'War II.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951
MOVIETIME ORGANIZATIONS<br />
UNDER WAY IN SIX STATES<br />
Chairmen Appointed at<br />
Atlanta, New Orleans<br />
and Jacksonville<br />
and Bolivar Hyde of Lakeland.<br />
JACKSONVILLE—The motion picture industry<br />
of Florida will participate in the<br />
Movietime U.S.A. campaign under the leadership<br />
of J. L. Cartwright of Daytona Beach<br />
Sheldon Mandell<br />
of the St. Johns Theatre will serve as<br />
secretary in the fall promotion.<br />
Cartwright, district manager for Florida<br />
State Theatres, and Hyde, circuit executive,<br />
were elected at a statewide gathering of industry<br />
men at the Florida Theatre here last<br />
week. More than 700 exhibitors and film folk<br />
heard Robert J. O'Donnell of Dallas, national<br />
Moyietime director, and Arthur L. Mayer.<br />
executive director of COMPO, explain the objectives<br />
and details of the forthcoming sellthe-motion-picture-industry<br />
drive.<br />
EARLY FILM PRODUCTION<br />
Richard Peck, local exhibitor, was chosen<br />
chairman of the finance committee and Howard<br />
Pettengill, Florida State Theatres, was<br />
appointed publicity chairman.<br />
Guy Kenimer, local Florida State official,<br />
opened the Movietime in Florida session.<br />
Harold ColJee, executive vice-president of<br />
the Florida Chamber of Commerce, spoke on<br />
"The Movie Industry in Florida from a Business<br />
Standpoint," recalling that there was<br />
considerable early film production activity<br />
in Jacksonville from 1907 to 1916.<br />
Nat Williams of the MPTO of Georgia and<br />
national TOA leader, introduced O'Donnell<br />
and Mayer.<br />
"The purpose of the Movietime celebration,"<br />
O'Donnell said, "is to focus attention on the<br />
unique position the motion picture has won<br />
in the last 50 years as the center of each<br />
community's entertainment and to call the<br />
public's attention to the superior quality of<br />
pictures to be released in the coming year.<br />
"Contrary to recent published reports, there<br />
are now more motion picture theatres in the<br />
country than ever before, the most recent<br />
figure given by the Department of Commerce<br />
being 23,120. This figure represents 19,797<br />
conventional four-wall theatres and 3,323<br />
drive-ins.<br />
BUSINESS UP 7 PER CENT<br />
"Most recent surveys conducted by the<br />
industry show that these theatres are now<br />
doing a business 7 per cent in excess of their<br />
business last year. They are patronized by<br />
nearly 60,000,000 persons each week, or more<br />
than the number that went to the polls in<br />
the last presidential election. American theatres<br />
represent an estimated investment of<br />
$2,740,000,000, employ 180,000 persons and have<br />
an annual payroll of more than $2,000,000.<br />
"The motion picture industry feels that<br />
the achievement in building this vast business<br />
from its humble beginnings 50 years<br />
ago calls for a suitable celebration so that<br />
the public will realize what has been accomplished."<br />
On visits to state capitals, scheduled for<br />
Many of the film folk who attended the Movietime in Florida rally at the<br />
Florida Theatre in Jacksonville had luncheon in the George Washington hotel.<br />
Seen above, seated in usual order: Arthur L. Mayer, COMPO executive; J. L. Cartwright,<br />
elected state Movietime chairman; Robert J. O'Donnell, national Movietime<br />
leader, and Nat Williams, Thomasville, Ga. Rear row: Sheldon Mandell,<br />
named Movietime secretary; Guy Kenimer, who presided; C. H. Devers of the Normandy<br />
Drive-In, and Howard Pettengill, named publicity chairman.<br />
October 8, Hollywood personalities will participate<br />
in ceremonies with the governors<br />
and other state dignitaries and then will<br />
visit several of the principal cities of each<br />
state. On these visits it is planned to have<br />
the Hollywood delegation appear before civic<br />
groups, visit schools and other institutions<br />
and speak over the radio.<br />
Industry historians agree that the opening<br />
on April 16, 1902, of Tally's Electric Theatre<br />
in Los Angeles was the first theatre<br />
in this country devoted exclusively to the<br />
showing of motion pictures.<br />
Levere Montgomery Heads<br />
Movietime in Dixie Drive<br />
NEW ORLEANS—L. C. Montgomery was<br />
named chairman of the Movietime U.S.A. in<br />
Dixie drive at the joint exhibitor-distributor<br />
meeting here last week (30). Preliminary<br />
arrangements were assigned to a<br />
committee composed of N. L. Carter of New<br />
Orleans, Abe Berenson of Gretna and Harold<br />
Bailey of New Orleans. Publicity headquarters<br />
have been established at 223 South Liberty<br />
St. Robert J. O'Donnell, Dallas, national<br />
chairman of the Movietime campaign, and<br />
Arthur Mayer. New York, executive vicepresident<br />
of COMPO, addressed some 1,000<br />
exhibitors, distributors and industry employes<br />
at the Joy Strand.<br />
Mayer described the industry's drive to<br />
create new stars.<br />
"The lack of new faces is one of the things<br />
that has hurt the boxoffice and is a greater<br />
threat than television," he said. A star<br />
makers contest to find new talent will be<br />
conducted, he explained.<br />
The meeting, attended by persons from<br />
Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Alabama,<br />
was presided over by Montgomery, who is<br />
president of Delta Theatres. Carter, president<br />
of Paramount Gulf Theatres, heads the advisory<br />
committee.<br />
Among those seated on the speakers' platform<br />
were H. A. Arata, MGM office manager;<br />
D. M. Brandon, Transways film delivery service;<br />
H. G. Plitt, division manager for Paramount<br />
Gulf Theatres; Ken Giddens, Mobile<br />
exhibitor; A. S. Johnson, lATSE; Joy Houck,<br />
president of Joy Theatres; Abe Berenson, vicepresident<br />
of Allied Tlieatre Owners of the<br />
Gulf States, and Isadore Lazarus of the<br />
Lazarus Theatres.<br />
Ed Martin Heads Drive<br />
In Three-State Area<br />
ATLANTA—E. D. Martin of Martin Theatres,<br />
Columbus, was appointed chairman of<br />
the Movietime Down South campaign steering<br />
committee at the all-industry rally held at<br />
the Fox Theatre here last week.<br />
The motion picture industry in sections of<br />
Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama will combine<br />
their efforts for the fall promotion.<br />
Co-chairmen with Martin are J. H. Thompson,<br />
Martin & Thompson Theatres, Hawkinsville;<br />
A. B. Padgett, United Paramount Theatres;<br />
Mack Jackson, Alexander City, Ala.,<br />
and Jay Solomon, Independent Theatres,<br />
Chattanooga.<br />
Distributor chairmen for this area are C. E.<br />
Kessnich, MGM; OUie Williamson jr., WB;<br />
Dave Prince, RKO, and James Frew, U-I.<br />
On the publicity committee are Leonard<br />
Allen. Emory Austin, J. D. Woodward and<br />
Russ Morgan.<br />
R. J. O'Doruiell, national Movietime director,<br />
Dallas, and George C. Biggers, president<br />
of Atlanta Newspapers, Inc., spoke.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951 SE 67
. . . Sam<br />
. . . MGM<br />
. . Dinah<br />
. . The<br />
ATLANTA<br />
p A. Edniundson jr. and Gene Skinner of<br />
Dixie Drive-In Theatres have just returned<br />
from a business trip to Augusta, Savannah<br />
and Macon . . . George Bell, attorney<br />
for Monogram Pictures, died August 31 . . .<br />
Mrs. Pearl Bach, widow of the well-known<br />
showman Louie Bach, passed away August<br />
30 as detailed elsewhere on the news pages<br />
Sherman, U-I office manager, is<br />
Mrs. Mescal Knighton<br />
off on vacation . . .<br />
and Mrs. Barbara Benson of the U-I exchange<br />
are vacationing together in Baltimore<br />
. . U-I Cashier Nancy Hannah spent<br />
.<br />
the long weekend visiting her father in<br />
Jasper, Ala.<br />
Ike and Harry Katz paid a visit to their<br />
Washington and Charlotte offices while returning<br />
home from a business trip to New-<br />
York. On their return to Atlanta, Ike immediately<br />
left for a visit at the New Orleans<br />
office of their Kay Film Co. . . . Paul Jenkins<br />
jr. recently joined the Kay sales force and<br />
is covering Alabama. Kay branch manager<br />
W. H. "Rudy" Rudisill checked in from a<br />
business trip to Jacksonville.<br />
Faye Jones of Columbia is to be married<br />
early in November to Webb Vermilya of the<br />
Atlanta office of Interstate Life . . . Traveling<br />
auditor Jack Hollicher visited the Columbia<br />
exchange . . . Paramount publicity man<br />
Leonard Allen flew to Jacksonville to cover<br />
ton from Carbon Hill, Ala.. Sid Laird of the<br />
West Point Amusement Co. at West Point,<br />
Ga.. Mr. and Mi-s. Fred Weis of Weis Theatres<br />
at Savannah, Tommy Thompson from<br />
Hawkinsville, and Nat Williams of Thomasville,<br />
Ga.<br />
Ruby Morgan resigned from MGM to enter<br />
the law business . Shore also resigned<br />
there in favor of homemaking for her<br />
husband and young son . . . The stork flew<br />
over Piedmont hospital and paid a visit to<br />
Kitty Mann, leaving a little Mann weighing<br />
6 pounds, 14 ounces . . . Jim Bolas spent his<br />
vacation resting at home . entire<br />
MGM office force sends birthday greetings to<br />
Joe Johnson, who is on leave of absence at<br />
Oliver General hospital in Augusta . . . Nettie<br />
Yancey returned from her honeymoon<br />
manager Russel Gaus is away<br />
on vacation.<br />
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an assignment immediately after the Movietime<br />
Down South meeting adjourned . . .<br />
Paramount has added some new employes at<br />
the local exchange: Ruth Evans in the booking<br />
department. Alma Smith in bookkeeping,<br />
Evelyn Williamson among the contracts . . .<br />
Booker Dave Goodson is real enthused over<br />
his new sailboat and is spending all his Paramount<br />
spare time at Altoona lake.<br />
Branch manager Fred Dodson is away from<br />
his 20th-Fox desk and confined at home with<br />
Wedding bells will ring<br />
a slight illness . . .<br />
for Patsy Hutto and Clyde Baa-ber next Saturday<br />
(15). He is connected with Atlanta<br />
Transit Co. and she's with 20th-Fox . . .<br />
Booker Robin Hood vacationed in old Mexico<br />
. . . Connie Bailey went to Columbia, S. C,<br />
on a vacation.<br />
FUmrow \isitors were Mack Jackson of the<br />
Strand and Jackson theatres at Alexander<br />
City, Ala., Roy Mitchel from the Mountain<br />
Theatre at Stone Mountain, Ga., Audrey Wilson<br />
of Ti-ussville, Ala., John Radney of the<br />
Bama at Alexander City, E. D. Martin from<br />
the Martin circuit offices in Columbia, Ga.,<br />
Bob Cannon from Lake City, Fla., Jay Solomon<br />
of Independent Theatres at Chattanooga,<br />
Lewis Hutchins from the Ritz at<br />
Austell, Ga., R. J. Home and George Thorn-<br />
Fred McCallum to Manage<br />
Birmingham Auditorium<br />
BIRMINGHAM — Fred McCallum. longtime<br />
Birmingham theatre manager, has been<br />
named manager of the<br />
Municipal auditorium<br />
a'<br />
by the city commission<br />
here. He assumed<br />
his new post September<br />
1. McCallum re-<br />
- - signed as manager of<br />
Waters Starlight<br />
Drive-In to accept the<br />
new position.<br />
A native of Birmingham,<br />
McCallum was<br />
Fred McCaUum<br />
connected with Wilby-<br />
Kincey Theatres for<br />
13 years. He served in<br />
Birmingham as house manager of the Alabama<br />
Theatre and manager of the Strand.<br />
Before returning to Birmingham to take<br />
over management of the Starlight, he was<br />
manager of the W-K Kingsport Theatre in<br />
Kingsport. Tenn.<br />
McCallum is married and the father of<br />
two children. As manager of Municipal auditorium,<br />
he succeeds the late Ted Brownell.<br />
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R. T. Mullens Appointed<br />
To Tallahassee Airer<br />
TALLAHASSEE—R. T. Mullens has been<br />
appointed manager of the Drive-In Theatre<br />
here, by B. B. Garner, president of Talgar<br />
Theatres. Mullins has been employed by<br />
Florida State for some 15 years in Tampa,<br />
St. Petersburg and Plant City. Several years<br />
ago, he resigned and published the Eustis<br />
Lake Region News for four years. He succeeds<br />
A. E. Scruggs, who will now become<br />
assistant to Tom Hyde, general manager of<br />
the chain.<br />
WIL-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, INC.<br />
Atlanta, Georgia Charlotte, North Carolina<br />
"Everything for the theatre except film"
Capitol at Miami Adopts<br />
Spanish Film Policy<br />
MIAMI — Wometco's Capitol Theatre in<br />
downtown Miami has long pursued a policy,<br />
particularly in the summer, of showing Spanish-language<br />
films three days a week. The<br />
large Spanish-speaking population of this<br />
area, greatly augmented in summer, made<br />
such a program profitable. The theatre<br />
began, August 20, a permanent Spanishlanguage<br />
policy. The beginning of the plan<br />
was given a great sendoff with representatives<br />
from 22 Latin countries taking part in<br />
ceremonies.<br />
At 9 p. m., 22 beautiful girls, each representing<br />
a different Latin American country,<br />
carried the flags of these countries on stage.<br />
The city of Miami loaned the flags for the<br />
occasion. After the flags were arranged, the<br />
consul representatives, headed by Dean<br />
Valeries, took their places beside them for<br />
the ceremonies.<br />
Flynn Stubblefield and Richard Treccase,<br />
for Wometco Theatres, presented Dean<br />
Valeries with a key to the Capitol Theatre,<br />
officially informing him that the house in<br />
the future will play only Spanish-language<br />
pictures.<br />
Tuscaloosa Theatremen<br />
Appear to Ask Tax Relief<br />
TUSCALOOSA, ALA.—Repeal of the city's<br />
5 per cent amusement tax has been requested<br />
by representatives of local theatres.<br />
The city commission took no formal action<br />
on the question. In appearing before the<br />
commission theatremen pointed out that the<br />
tax was levied as a wartime measure during<br />
World War II. They told the commission<br />
that they were facing a hardship in operating<br />
their houses due to competition.<br />
It was suggested that a tax of one-fourth<br />
or one-eighth of one per cent on gross receipts<br />
of all businesses be enacted to replace<br />
the amusement tax.<br />
W. I. Richards to Manage<br />
Haines City Florida<br />
HAINES CITY, FIA.—W. I. Richards has<br />
taken over as manager of the Florida Theatre.<br />
He came here from McLean, 111., and has<br />
had 20 years previous service in theatre work.<br />
His wife and son Dale, a junior in high school,<br />
will join him here.<br />
Coy Conrad, who has been manager of the<br />
Florida, is leaving Haines City to accept a<br />
position with the Carl Riedel Funeral home<br />
in Kissimmee.<br />
KNOXVILLE
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. . W.<br />
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MEMPHIS<br />
R^ A. Lightman sr., president of Malco Theatres,<br />
returned from an extended business<br />
trip to New York. During his absence<br />
Lightman was elected general chairman of<br />
the midsouth Movietime U.S.A. celebration,<br />
which will be launched at a joint meeting of<br />
Tristates Theatre Owners, TOA affiliate, and<br />
Midsouth Allied October 16, 17. Another attraction<br />
was a new grandson, Russell Louis<br />
Lightman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lightman.<br />
Richard Lightman, an executive at<br />
Malco, has three sons.<br />
Robert McCord, newspaperman, has entered<br />
the army. He is the son of M. S. Mc-<br />
Cord, vice-president of Malco Theatres . . .<br />
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The New York Giants and Chicago Bears<br />
played football at Crump stadium here under<br />
the sponsorship of Memphis Variety Tent 20<br />
and the Knights of Columbus. M. H. Brandon,<br />
president of Film Transit, was chairman<br />
of the game for Variety . A. Smith<br />
and C. B. Smith, partnership, have bought<br />
jr.<br />
Rives Theatre at Rives, Mo., from A Burch,<br />
effective September 1. They will book and<br />
buy in Memphis.<br />
Improved theatre attendance in Memphis<br />
and the territory has resulted in reopening of<br />
the Gem at Brownsville, Tenn., by C. A.<br />
Rowls, owner, after it was closed for about<br />
one year . Cotham has bought<br />
the Lobelville Theatre, Lobelville, Tenn., and<br />
will book and buy in Memphis . . . Memphis<br />
for several days sweltered under the most<br />
severe heat wave in eight years.<br />
J. Fred Brown has set up headquarters in<br />
the M&M building across the street from<br />
Malco Theatres. The office number is 302.<br />
Brown operates the Temple Theatre and the<br />
Skyvue Drive-In at Fort Smith, Ark.: Nevada<br />
and Gem at Prescott, and four Ozark showhouses<br />
at Salem, Black Rock, Hardy and Melvin.<br />
Ark. . Owens, Universal booker,<br />
has resigned to become office manager at<br />
Columbia . Jones, office manager,<br />
Columbia, has resigned to become branch<br />
manager of Kay Film Exchange in Memphis.<br />
R. B. Cox, owner of the Eureka, Batesville,<br />
Miss., and retired postmaster at Batesville,<br />
writes Memphis friends from Los Angeles<br />
where he has been vacationing that he was<br />
married recently in Los Angeles to a former<br />
Batesville girl and will soon be home with his<br />
bride . . . Two new drive-ins are about ready<br />
to open. R. B. Lowrey, owner, expects his<br />
new 600-car Star Lite Drive-In, a first run,<br />
to be ready for opening October 1. John Ryan<br />
and Mike Ryan, brothers, are building a new<br />
200-car drive-in near Trumann. Ark., which<br />
they expect to open by October 15. Both<br />
drive-ins are represented in Memphis by<br />
Exhibitors Services.<br />
J. J. Walters, Aberdeen, Miss., and J. D.<br />
McAlpin, Louisville, were here getting prices<br />
on equipment and making arrangements to<br />
build a new drive-in in their home towns .<br />
Midsouth exhibitors shopping and booking<br />
on Filmrow included Guy Amis, Princess,<br />
Lexington, Tenn.; Louise Mask. Luez, Bolivar,<br />
Tenn.; Mrs. H. A. Fitch, Erin, Erin, Tenn.;<br />
Nathan Flexer, Mi-De-Ga, Waverly, Tenn.;<br />
J. F. Singleton. Tyronza, Marked Tree and<br />
Trumann, Ark., exhibitor; K. K. King. Rialto<br />
and Plaza. Searcy; Sam Kirby, Nabor. Little<br />
Rock, and Roy Cochran, Juroy. North Little<br />
Rock.<br />
Other e.vhibitors seen on Filmrow included<br />
Orris Collins, Capitol and Majestic, Paragould;<br />
L. F. Haven jr., Imperial, Forrest<br />
City; John Mohrstadt, Hayti, Mo.; Lyle Richmond,<br />
Missouri, Senath; John Ray, Kennett,<br />
Mo.; Arthur and Earl Elkin. Elkin and Victory.<br />
Aberdeen, Miss., and Dwight Blissard,<br />
Okolona at Okolona, Miss.<br />
MIAMI<br />
The North Miami Theatre, recently sold by<br />
E. E. Branscome to M. A. Kirkhart coincident<br />
with reports that it did not conform<br />
to certain safety regulations, used a Sunday<br />
ad to good effect. The new owner stated:<br />
"After recent careful inspection. Chief Willis<br />
of the state fire marshal's office reports this<br />
theatre is completely safe and using good<br />
housekeeping methods."<br />
The engagement was announced Sunday<br />
of Beverly Jean Armstrong, daughter of Dr.<br />
and Mrs. James L. Armstrong, and Edward<br />
N. Claughton jr., son of the Claughtons who<br />
own a theatre circuit here and in Tampa.<br />
The wedding will take place December 22 in<br />
Miami Shores Community church. Young<br />
Claughton attended Miami High, served one<br />
year in the navy, graduated from Duke university<br />
and is a law student at the University<br />
of Florida.<br />
. . . Florida residents<br />
Arthur Price of Wometco, who was scheduled<br />
to leave here because of his health, has<br />
changed his plans. His doctor has okayed<br />
The West Hollywood<br />
the Miami climate . . .<br />
Drive-In put on an amateur show for children,<br />
consisting of an acrobatic dog show,<br />
on a recent Saturday<br />
Jon Hall and his wife Frances Langford were<br />
recent vacationers in Miami Beach.<br />
The women's groups of Variety Children's<br />
hospital hosted an open house in the hospital<br />
on a recent afternoon. The women's<br />
volunteer board, which just celebrated its<br />
first birthday, and the women's volunteer<br />
committee participate in fund raising and<br />
service activities at the hospital, main project<br />
of the local tent. One of the next projects,<br />
in addition to sewing service and work<br />
in the hospitality shop and nurses aide service,<br />
is building a fence for Rosebud. Rosebud<br />
is a donkey given the hospital, and she<br />
needs a strong fence to pen her in. The<br />
donkey, plus a collection of small birds, forms<br />
the nucleus of a small zoo which the group<br />
plans to start for the entertainment of the<br />
children. Mrs. Jack Newalk is chairman of<br />
the committee to raise money for the fence.<br />
Film actor Bob Preston, who opens at<br />
Brandt's Roosevelt in the stage presentation<br />
of "Detective Story," was host at a cocktail<br />
party for the press and others prior to the<br />
play's debut . Andrews, manager of<br />
Florida States' Sheridan, is pleased to see<br />
that queue at the boxoffice for "Here Comes<br />
the Groom. " thinks the best advertising<br />
for the film is word-of-mouth.<br />
Mel Haber, co-manager of the Miracle Theatre<br />
in Coral Gables, who has been seriously<br />
ill in the hospital, now is home recuperating.<br />
Assisting manager Franklm Maury in Haber's<br />
absence is Charles Rich, who came to Miami<br />
about a year ago from New Pork.<br />
Marlin Skiles is scoring "Fort Osage" for<br />
Monogram release.<br />
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T<br />
Dallas Variely Tenf<br />
Holds Annual Derby<br />
DALLAS—Because of the Turtle derby<br />
Saturday (8i. the Dallas Variety tent held Its<br />
regular meeting on August 27. Owen Killingworth.<br />
Dixie Theatre, Athens, Tex., was<br />
inducted as a member.<br />
It was announced that the recent Carnival<br />
week, August 16-18, had brought in the largest<br />
amount of funds for the Boys Ranch in<br />
many years. Credit was given to "Booger"<br />
Marshall, Rex Van, Vincent Lee and Ed<br />
Gall for their special efforts in making this<br />
such a successful event.<br />
Mike Rice, chairman of the Turtle derby<br />
committee, gave final instructions to barkers<br />
on last minute sales of tickets and obtained<br />
volunteers to work at . the derby. He gave<br />
credit to Wallace Walthall for his generosity<br />
in planning to give the proceeds from his<br />
Star Drive-In run of "Birth of a Nation"<br />
on September 2, 3 to the derby fund for the<br />
Boys Ranch.<br />
A minute of silence was observed in memory<br />
of the death of two club members: Henry<br />
Bell, banker in Tyler, Tex., and Malcom<br />
Kenny, associate member from Houston. A<br />
report was made on the condition of V. W.<br />
Crisp, former BOXOPFICE correspondent,<br />
and C. J. Wheeler, former salesman for RKO.<br />
Two visitors were Jack Deakins, Palace,<br />
Floydada, and Ed Leather, Palace, Paducah.<br />
Charlie Darden, chairman of the membership<br />
committee, said his committee had approved<br />
the following new members; Walter<br />
Whitfield Boyd, booker, Lippert Pictures. Phil<br />
Cavaretta, manager tor the Chicago Cubs,<br />
and Lewis H. Bader, Candy Mountain Kiddyland.<br />
Julius J. Schaefer Dead;<br />
Boothman at Palace<br />
DALLAS—Julius J. Schaefer, projectionist<br />
at the Palace Theatre for many years, died<br />
while on duty September 3 at about 7;30<br />
p. m. Schaefer also had been in charge of the<br />
National Theatre Supply repair and mechanical<br />
department for some 15 years and was<br />
considered one of the finest craftsmen on<br />
Simplex mechanisms.<br />
"Charlie Holcomb and the other boys," accw'ding<br />
to Sam Berry, "did the scrubbing up<br />
for him and assembling of gears and parts<br />
but Schaefer always put the finishing touches<br />
on the work and checked and double-checked.<br />
If the mechanism was com.pletely assembled<br />
and developed the slightest knock he would<br />
completely dismantle and reassemble it with<br />
his own hands."<br />
Schaefer originally was from Abilene, Tex.<br />
He was a charter member of Local 249 and<br />
was given a gold card by the union in 1949<br />
for his unfailing service and loyalty to the<br />
organization. He was its president 28 times.<br />
Funeral services were held from Marrs-<br />
Mundy-Quill funeral home Thursday (6) at<br />
9;30 a. m.<br />
Plan Blankenship Airer<br />
CROSBYTON, TEX.—Wallace B. Blankenship,<br />
president and founder of Wallace Theatres,<br />
announced the purchase of 12 'L- acres<br />
of land, located about midway between Crosibyton<br />
and Ralls, Tex., on the Lubbock highjway,<br />
where his firm will, cor^trtlct a; new<br />
'drive-in.<br />
Comedies and Musicals<br />
Fare the Best in Dallas<br />
DALLAS—Light, summery musical and<br />
comedy entertainment was what they seemed<br />
to be buying at the theatres in the latest<br />
business period, as the following three higher<br />
percentages will attest:<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Dallas—House on Telegraph Hill (20th-Fox) 105<br />
Majestic—Comin' Round the Mountain (U-I) 95<br />
Melba—Cattle Drive (U-I) 110<br />
Palece—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM) 130<br />
Rialto—tJp in Arms (RKO); They Got Me Covered<br />
(RKO). reissues 125<br />
United Artists—Kind Hearts and Coronets (UA),<br />
repeat run 120<br />
Tent 22 Completes<br />
Turtle Race Plans<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Variety Tent 22<br />
board of directors Tuesday (4) completed<br />
plans were made for the Turtle derby which<br />
will be held Septeinber 15 at the Stockyards<br />
coliseum. C. H. Weaver of Paramount is<br />
chairman of the 1951 derby that is to offer<br />
33 prizes totaling $6,000.<br />
The board named Bill Slepka of Okemah<br />
chairman of the copper dripping salvage program.<br />
He will assume responsibility for supervising<br />
the operation of the program with<br />
the film delivery service and the equipment<br />
dealers. The salvage program is to begin in<br />
Oklahoma immediately with Slepka writing<br />
the exhibitors about the campaign.<br />
Chief Barker J. C. Hunter of Tulsa will go<br />
to Toronto, Ont., October 4-6 to attend the<br />
mid-winter meeting of Variety International.<br />
He was invited by Marc J. Wolf to participate<br />
in a roundtable discussion. The topic assigned<br />
to him is "The Importance of Making Variety<br />
an Important Civic Institution."<br />
The next Variety board session is October 8.<br />
Trade Wind at La Marque<br />
Opened by Long Theatres<br />
LA MARQUE, TEX.—The Trade Wind<br />
Drive-In was opened the last of August by<br />
Joe Brown, manager of the Long Theatres<br />
interests here. Located on Ninth avenue near<br />
the 21st street intersection, the new theatre<br />
has 700 speakers plus accommodations for 100<br />
persons on the snack bar patio, he said.<br />
Neon was installed around a huge mural of<br />
a sailing ship that backs the screen tower and<br />
gives the ozoner its name. The projection<br />
room is located above the snack bar at the<br />
rear of the theatre. A specially created<br />
Bausch & Lomb lens creates a sharp focus<br />
along the 497 feet between screen and projectors.<br />
Except for the use of searchlights illuminating<br />
the skies, there were no special<br />
dedication ceremonies opening the circuit's<br />
Trade Wind.<br />
Close House for Vacation<br />
AUBURN, ALA.—In order to provide employes<br />
a vacation, the War Eagle Theatre<br />
here closed Saturday (25). It will reopen<br />
Sunday, September 9.<br />
Birthday Gifts by Airer<br />
DOTHAN, ALA.—Free ice<br />
cream, balloons<br />
and comic books were distributed as the Skyvue<br />
Drive-In, a Martin-Davis theatre, celebrated<br />
its second birthday.<br />
Oklahoma Initiates<br />
Movietime Activity<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Preliminary plans for<br />
Movietime in Oklahoma — U.S.A. were discussed<br />
at the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma<br />
directors monthly meeting here Tuesday (2).<br />
Morris Loewenstein, Oklahoma City, TOO<br />
president, was elected general chairman for<br />
the campaign. He is to appoint co-chairmen<br />
to assist him in setting up the state organization.<br />
M. W. Osborne, 20th-Fox manager, was<br />
elected distributor chairman.<br />
The board named Loewenstein, E. R. Slocum<br />
of El Reno, TOO chairman, and J. C.<br />
Hunter, Tulsa, regional TOA vice-president, to<br />
represent the state organization at the TOA<br />
convention September 23-27 in New York at<br />
the Astor hotel.<br />
Directors attending were Slocum, Loewenstein,<br />
Hunter, Phil Hays of Bartlesville,<br />
Charley Procter of Muskogee, Bill Slepka of<br />
Okemah, H. D. Cox of Binger, Eddie Holt of<br />
Coalgate, Ray Hughes of Heavener, Vance<br />
Terry of Perry, Mrs. Avece Waldron of Lindsay,<br />
Bob Walker of Broken Arrow, Glen<br />
Thompson and Ted Butterfield, Oklahoma<br />
City.<br />
Slocum presided at the meeting in the<br />
Black hotel. Next session will be October 8.<br />
Long Theatres Opens New<br />
Airer Near 55-Acre Park<br />
TEXAS CITY—The 700-car drive-in that<br />
was constructed by Long Theatres on the<br />
Palmer highway near Texas City's 55-acre<br />
municipal park and swimming pool was ready<br />
to open on schedule late in August. Joe<br />
Brown, manager of the Long theatres in Texas<br />
City, supervised the building project. David<br />
Hendrick & Co. of Waco was the designer<br />
and builder.<br />
The drive-in will be operated on a 12-month<br />
basis. The manager will be H. C. Clements,<br />
who moved to Texas City from Freeport<br />
earlier in August.<br />
Fain and McManus Sketch<br />
500-Car Airer for Jasper<br />
JASPER, TEX.—Wood Fain of Woodville,<br />
Tex., and F. W. McManus of Jasper, owners<br />
and operators of the Texas Theatre in Jasper,<br />
will soon begin the construction of a 500-car<br />
capacity drive-in for Jasper.<br />
The new theatre will be located on the<br />
Jasper-Kirbyville highway, and will be<br />
equipped with a playground for children.<br />
Jasper is one of the smallest cities in Texas.<br />
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NEW ORLEANS; 218 So. Liberty SI.<br />
BOXOFTICE :: .Septejnbej.8,.1951 sw 71
. . Bob<br />
DALLAS<br />
Get designs of Peter Wolf, from Broadway<br />
to State Pair Musicals, were to go on<br />
exhibition Friday (7) at the Coronet Theatre,<br />
according to Sarah Cabbell, art director. Included<br />
in the two-week show were sketches<br />
from his first Broadway production, "Sweethearts,"<br />
with Bobby Clark, 'The Devil's Disciple,"<br />
"She Stoops to Conquer" and others.<br />
Past Starlight Operetta sets will include<br />
"Show Boat," "Rose Marie," "Pal Joey" and<br />
"Anything Goes," plus scenes from the current<br />
season's State Fair musicals. Wolf is<br />
now at work on the agricultural exhibit<br />
for the State Fair of Texas.<br />
Herald "Cuz" Goodman, the son of a par-<br />
Durability in<br />
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Belton, Texas<br />
son, was on the billing with "The Country<br />
Parson" at Horse Shoe Drive-In at Ballinger,<br />
Tex. . . . J. B. Beeson was in Dallas<br />
last week and announced that he plans to<br />
open the Red Raider, 1.000-car drive-in in<br />
Lubbock, about October 1. His manager and<br />
partner is W. O. Bearden. This drive-in<br />
promises to be one of the finest in the southwest.<br />
It will be equipped with car heaters.<br />
Lew Bray and Ed Brady have kept busy<br />
in Harlingen, Tex., contacting all the theatre<br />
owners in the area urging them to bring<br />
their families to the pep rally which will<br />
be held at the Arcadia Theatre at 10 a. m.<br />
September 14. Speaker will be the Rev.<br />
Harry V. Hamblen, well-known Baptist minister.<br />
The three trailers to be used by theatres<br />
for Movietime in Texas were made under the<br />
personal supervision and direction of Paul<br />
Short, division manager for National Screen<br />
and chairman of the advertising and publicity<br />
department of Texas COMPO showmen.<br />
The music is supplied by an organ, marimba<br />
and xylophone, and features the following<br />
numbers: "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon<br />
You," "Deep in the Heart of Texas" and<br />
"There's No Business Like Show Business."<br />
Stormy Meadows, Blevins Popcorn Co. and<br />
BOXOFFICE advertising representative, has<br />
been doing a big job in promoting Movietime<br />
in Texas tieins with other major business<br />
enterprises in Dallas. She has arranged with<br />
Henry English of Red Ball Motor Freight to<br />
have Movietime bumper strips on more than<br />
600 of their trucks which reach all parts of<br />
the ff.S. Earl Wyatt, president of Wyatt<br />
Grocery chain, has agreed to have all shopping<br />
bags stamped with Movietime in Texas<br />
—USA in more than 20 stores in the area.<br />
Announcement strips will be used at the<br />
cashier counters. Skillerns Drug chain in<br />
Dallas has also agreed to show banners and<br />
strips around cashier counters of their more<br />
than 20 popular stores.<br />
Claude York, United Artists branch manager,<br />
went to New Orleans Wednesday (29)<br />
for a district meeting . Davidson,<br />
head booked at UA, resigned effective August<br />
31 to go with Index Booking Co.<br />
Howard Cole, 75, Dies;<br />
Bonham Showman<br />
BONHAM, TEX.—F\ineral services were<br />
held at the First Christian church at 10 a. m.<br />
Tuesday for Major Howard S. Cole, 75, Bonham<br />
showman and civic leader, who died at<br />
his home on Sunday. He was the brother of<br />
H. A. Cole, Dallas, co-chairman with Bob<br />
O'Donnell of the Texas COMPO committee.<br />
Cole was born in New York and raised in<br />
Atlanta, Ga., where he attended school. He<br />
was employed by American Baptist Publishing<br />
Society, and finally acquired a business<br />
and operated the Cole Book & Art Co.<br />
He entered the service during World War I<br />
and emerged as captain. He served on General<br />
Pershing's general staff in France. After<br />
the war, he invited his brother H. A. to join<br />
him in the theatre business in Ranger, Tex.<br />
After some years he moved to Bonham and<br />
built an unusually successful business in 20<br />
years.<br />
Major Cole operated four houses, three<br />
downtown theatres and one drive-in outside<br />
the city. He was founder and for five years<br />
chairman of the Bonham Community Chest,<br />
and during World War II was chairman of<br />
the Fannin county Red Cross.<br />
Surviving are his wife, three sons, H. S. jr.<br />
of Houston, B. O. of Fort Worth, and Brantley<br />
of Savannah, Ga.; a daughter, Mrs. D. D.<br />
Redman of Dallas, and his brother H. A.<br />
Broadway actor Ray Page has been booked<br />
for Warners' "Room for One More."<br />
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300 More Theatres<br />
In Carolinas Alone<br />
CHARLOTTE—Refutations of the conclusions<br />
about the state of tlie motion picture<br />
industry which appeared in Life<br />
magazine are not confined to the industry<br />
alone. Recently the Charlotte News printed<br />
the following, written by Emery Wister, motion<br />
picture editor, in his Show' Nuff column:<br />
"In a lengthy article a few weeks ago Life<br />
magazine referred to America's motion picture<br />
theatres as a dying business and said that<br />
3,000 theatres had closed their doors within<br />
the past few years. Leave us not bore you<br />
with facts or figures. Instead let us complete<br />
the story the article left untold.<br />
"In the Carolinas alone there are over<br />
1,000 theatres, 300 more than there were<br />
three years ago. In this three-year period<br />
only 35 cinema houses have closed their doors,<br />
and these include six or seven that were destroyed<br />
by fire. Most of the others were driveins,<br />
outdoor theatres that ambitious speculators,<br />
anxious to make a fast buck, had<br />
opened in nearly every available cow pasture.<br />
Most represented investments of between<br />
$3,000 and $4,000. Most drive-ins cost from<br />
$50,000 to $100,000.<br />
"In Charlotte alone there are now 23 theatres,<br />
including seven drive-ins. Before the<br />
war there were 13. In Lincolnton, a much<br />
smaller town, there are six theatres, double<br />
the three before the war. A new drive-in at<br />
Asheboro gives that town three theatres and<br />
business is better than it has ever been.<br />
"No doubt many theatres have closed.<br />
Anyone in the motion picture industry will<br />
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Harwood & Jackson Sts. PR. 240S<br />
tell you that the country is "over-seated,"<br />
that too many cinema houses have been built.<br />
But many of these that have closed were old,<br />
dilapidated houses and in many, many cases<br />
theatres were built to replace them.<br />
"Theatre business has been off. Television<br />
has hurt some and poor pictures have hurt<br />
the cause even more. But with the quality of<br />
movies definitely on the upgrade the money<br />
is flowing back into the boxoffices. Film exchange<br />
and theatre managers say business is<br />
up as much as 25 per cent since April.<br />
"Actually theatre business was so good in<br />
this country that thousands of new ones were<br />
built after the war. This meant the boxoffice<br />
butter was spread so thin that many felt<br />
the pinch and some starved to death. It will<br />
be a good thing if some do close and reduce<br />
the number of seats.<br />
"Does this sound like the business is dying?"<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
R/rr. and Mrs. Horace Falls of Dallas spent<br />
the Labor weekend in Oklahoma City<br />
Short of National Screen Service<br />
in Dallas was at the local office Friday (31<br />
. . . R. Lewis Barton has opened a new Capitol<br />
Hill Theatre, the Chieftain, at 3400 Southwest<br />
29th. The Chieftain, with the finest<br />
and latest in equipment, including Latex<br />
sponge rubber cushioned seats and air conditioning,<br />
opened with a double bill. National<br />
Theatre Supply supplied all equipment except<br />
the seats.<br />
. . .<br />
Row visitors included Walsie Campbell.<br />
Newkirk; Paul Campbell. Wynnewood; Les<br />
Nordean. Konawa: Frank Nordean, Maud,<br />
The<br />
and Bernard McKenna jr., Tulsa<br />
Criterion in Sapulpa, owned by A. A. Moulder,<br />
has one of the new 2x1 ticket machines now<br />
being distributed by NTS. This makes the<br />
third installation in the state.<br />
The J. C. Hunters of Tulsa spent Labor<br />
day weekend in Colorado Springs. They flew<br />
back Monday for the Variety and TOO board<br />
sessions the next day . and Mrs. Bill<br />
Slepka of Okemah plan a two-week holiday<br />
to New York City, Niagara Falls and Canada.<br />
While in New York, they will attend<br />
the Theatre Owners of American convention,<br />
September 23-27 at the Astor hotel.<br />
E. R. Slocum, El Reno, offers a student<br />
admission ticket for 35 cents, including tax.<br />
which he handles through the schools and<br />
the PTA . and Mrs. H. D. Cox,<br />
Binger, also plan to attend the TOA parley<br />
in New York in late September . I.<br />
Wilson, Amarillo. and Johnny Fagin, Borger.<br />
were here on business and attended the<br />
monthly Theatre Owners of Oklahoma board<br />
of directors open meeting at the Black hotel.<br />
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Others attending the TOO board session<br />
included R. V. McGinnis and Earl Snider,<br />
Tulsa; Mrs. L. H. Goerke. Canton; Mrs.<br />
Kathryn Hendricks and Henry Simpson.<br />
Bristow; Paul Stonum. Anadarko; Paul<br />
Townsend, Gordon Leonard, R. T. Williams.<br />
M. W. Osborne. Dave Hunt, Don Tullius.<br />
C. A. Gibbs. Mike Carmichael, Roger Rice<br />
and Frank McCabe, all of this city.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951 73
SOUTHWEST<br />
pex Wootan, owner of<br />
the Lantex Theatre,<br />
which burned to the ground August 5,<br />
plans to rebuild the Llano, Tex., house as<br />
soon as possible. Until the Lantex resumes,<br />
all shows will be in the Llano Theatre in<br />
North Llano, also owned by Wootan. The<br />
•showman and owners of adjacent buildings<br />
all expressed appreciation to the Fredericksburg<br />
and Mason fire companies who got<br />
there 30 minutes after the alarm. Llano<br />
firemen got the fire under control but the<br />
out-of-town boys stood by until danger<br />
passed. Theatre damage was estimated at<br />
$50,000, a total loss, only partially covered.<br />
Wootan saved the film and some equipment.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hammill announced<br />
the opening of the Hondo Drive-In the end<br />
of August. The theatre is situated a mile<br />
west of Hondo, Tex., on Highway 90.<br />
T. L. Duke is the new manager for Long's<br />
Drive-In just out of Angleton, Tex. He assumed<br />
his duties for the circuit in midT<br />
August. Duke was manager of the Sweeny<br />
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: September<br />
ED ARTHUR AND HERB BENNIN<br />
HEAD ST. LOUIS MOVIETIME<br />
Over 800 Attend Session<br />
At Missouri Theatre to<br />
Form Organization<br />
By DAVE BARRETT<br />
ST. LOUIS—Bob O'Donnell of Dallas, national<br />
chairman of the Movietime U.S.A. campaign,<br />
and Arthur Mayer of New York City,<br />
executive vice-president of COMPO, stirred<br />
crusader-fervor some 800 men and women<br />
to<br />
from all ranks of the film business who attended<br />
this territory's organization meeting<br />
at the Missouri Theatre here Friday morning<br />
(31).<br />
The meeting elected the following to conduct<br />
the St. Louis area program:<br />
Exhibitor chairman, Edward B. Arthur,<br />
president of the St. Louis Amu.sement Co.,<br />
with Tom Bloomer, Belleville. III., and Frank<br />
Plumlee, Farmington, Mo., as co-chairmen.<br />
Distributor chairman, Herb Bennin, manager<br />
for MGM.<br />
ON PUBLICITY COMMITTEE<br />
Publicity committee—Russell Bovim, Loew's<br />
State Theatre, St. Louis, chairman; A<br />
B. Jefferis, Piedmont, Mo., president of Midcentral<br />
Allied; Bob Johnson, Fanchon &<br />
Marco, St. Louis; Dave Jones, Kerasotes<br />
Theatres, Springfield, and Herb Washburn,<br />
manager for National Screen Service, St.<br />
Louis.<br />
Frank Plumlee acted as moderator of the<br />
meeting which was followed by a luncheon<br />
for O'Donnell and Mayer at the Sheraton<br />
hotel.<br />
Mayer, who opened the formal program of<br />
the gathering, said it was one of the finest<br />
and largest that he had encountered on his<br />
national tour on behalf of Movietime U.S.A.<br />
He expressed confidence that men and women<br />
of common sense and goodwill in the motion<br />
picture industry will eventually work out a<br />
plan for real cooperation between all elements<br />
in the business that shall accomplish<br />
all of the legitimate objectives of the indu.stry.<br />
He said that many other industries have<br />
long since realized that such industrywide<br />
teamwork is for the benefit of everyone in it.<br />
NEW FACES PLANNED<br />
He told of COMPO plans to bring new<br />
blood and faces into the film industry, and of<br />
the motion picture exposition that is to open<br />
next March in Grand Central Palace, New<br />
York, and later to tour the country. In connection<br />
with the campaign for new stars, he<br />
said that Harry C. Arthur, head of Fanchon<br />
& Marco, had come up with an excellent plan<br />
for a national campaign to find new film<br />
faces.<br />
Commenting on the recent Life article, he<br />
said that if any men and women of the motion<br />
picture business are not willing to fight<br />
to preserve their industry "they deserve the<br />
fate Life is predicting for them."<br />
With optimism for the future, he said that<br />
theatre business is picking up in all parts of<br />
the country, with average gains of from 6 to<br />
20 per cent being reported for key centers.<br />
Industry unity was indicated by those in<br />
(Davis 1 1 Press photo)<br />
Leaders for the Movietime campaign in the St. Louis area are seen with national<br />
leaders of the big fall drive. Left to right: Frank Plumlee, Farmington, Mo., cochairman<br />
for eastern Missouri; Herb Bennin, MGM manager, distributor chairman;<br />
Edward B. Arthur, St. Louis Amusement Co., exhibitor chairman; Arthur Mayer,<br />
COMPO; Bob O'Donnell, and Tom Bloomer, co-chairman for southern Illinois.<br />
attendance at the Missouri Theatre gathering.<br />
For instance, on the stage were such men as<br />
Harry C. Arthur and his brothers, who are not<br />
affiliated with any exhibitor organization;<br />
A. B. Jefferis of Piedmont, Mo., Midcentral<br />
Allied president; officials of the MPTO of<br />
St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern<br />
Illinois; exhibitor members of COMPO but<br />
otherwise unaffiliated; representatives of the<br />
film salesmen, front and back office unions<br />
of the local exchanges, the projectionists,<br />
stagehands and theatre service unions—a real<br />
cross-section of the film industry in this area.<br />
O'Donnell in an inspirational talk outlined<br />
Photographed at the Indianapolis meeting<br />
for Movietime U.S.A. are M. Brazee,<br />
left, general manager of Greater Indianapolis<br />
Amusement Co.; K. J. O'Donnell,<br />
and Earl Cunningham, right, general<br />
manager of the Fountain Square Theatre,<br />
Indianapolis.<br />
plans for Movietime U.S.A. Important points<br />
that he brought out were:<br />
$750,000 is to be spent in a national campaign<br />
this fall to make America really motion<br />
picture entertainment conscious.<br />
All distribution companies have consented<br />
to have their salesmen do educational work<br />
on behalf of the campaign "at the grass<br />
roots."<br />
A great pressbook that will cost $50,000 to<br />
produce is to be made available to exhibitors<br />
in all territories.<br />
The big drive is to be kicked off with a gigantic<br />
radio salute to the film industry on<br />
the Lux Hour the night of September 24.<br />
In the period October 1 to October 5 fullpage<br />
adverti.sements are to appear in all<br />
newspapers of cities of 100,000 population or<br />
more. In cities under 100,000 population, there<br />
are to be half-page advertisements.<br />
The third great step in the program will<br />
be the tour of .some 250 film personalities.<br />
This movement will start with dinner meetings<br />
in every state capital to be attended<br />
by the governor, other state officials, civic<br />
and business leaders, etc., and five or six<br />
of the film personalities. Then after the dinners<br />
the Hollywood visitors are to fan out in<br />
different directions and in that week every<br />
important city and town will be visited.<br />
Special trailers will tell of the many great<br />
pictures soon to reach the screens of the<br />
country.<br />
Speaker bureaus are being set up in various<br />
parts of the country to provide men<br />
and women to speak on motion picture subjects<br />
at various meetings.<br />
Rally in Keith's Theatre<br />
Opens Indiana Movietime<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana exhibitors<br />
launched the Movietime U.S.A. drive in a<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951 75
. . Dorothy<br />
. . The<br />
. . Al<br />
. . R.<br />
. . Norma<br />
:<br />
September<br />
Arthuii<br />
and Bennin<br />
Head Movietime<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
meeting at Keith's Theatre here at which<br />
industry leaders, including R. J. O'Donnell,<br />
Robert Coyne. Trueman Rembusch and Mark<br />
Wolff spoke.<br />
Excitement ran high at the morning meeting,<br />
aided by musical selections including.<br />
"There's No Business Like Show Business."<br />
Trueman Rembusch told the large turnout<br />
of exhibitors the basic purpose for the meeting<br />
and Robert Coyne explained the scope of<br />
the nationwide drive. O'Donnell reiterated his<br />
previous talks at meetings in Dallas and Minneapolis<br />
and other cities of the nation, describing<br />
in detail the workings of the Movietime<br />
drive and explaining the part Indiana<br />
exhibitors were expected to play.<br />
Illinois All-Industry Rally<br />
At Chicago Esquire Monday<br />
CHICAGO—The all-industry Movietime in<br />
lUinois-U.S.A. pep meeting will be held at<br />
the Esquire Theatre here starting at 10:15<br />
Monday morning (10).<br />
"Every man and woman deriving their<br />
livelihood from motion pictm-es are invited<br />
and urged to attend," Jack Kirsch and John<br />
Balaban, state co-chairmen declared in bulletins<br />
addres.sed to fellow industryites all over<br />
the state.<br />
"Be there and treat yourself to one of the<br />
most inspiring and productive efforts of a<br />
lifetime. You owe it to yourself, to your fellow<br />
exhibitors and to your industry to take<br />
an active part in this most important undertaking."<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell. national Movietime<br />
director, will speak.<br />
Ira B. Dyer Will Build<br />
New Drive-In at Albany<br />
ALBANY, IND.—Construction of a drive-in<br />
for the Albany area will begin in the near<br />
future. Ira B. Dyer, owner of the Clinton<br />
Theatre, plans to build the 300-car theatre<br />
on the lot adjacent to his home on Highway<br />
90 near the new hospital.<br />
Dyer has had previous drive-in experience,<br />
having built and operated a 600-car theatre<br />
at Ocala, Fla.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
n fter a two-month vacation in Hawaii, Dennis<br />
Day returned here to open his allstar<br />
show at the Coliseum during the first<br />
four days of the Indiana state fair August<br />
30-September 2 . . . Manager Claude McKean<br />
of Warner Bros, attended the division sales<br />
meeting in Pittsburgh .<br />
13-24 Drive-In<br />
at Wabash was opened by Syndicate Theatres.<br />
James Cleary is the manager of the 600-car<br />
project.<br />
Booker Al Chew, RKO. vacationed in northern<br />
Michigan . McCormick is<br />
the new biller at Columbia . Gerathy<br />
of the National Theatre Supply Co. is<br />
vacationing at home . Blankenbaker<br />
of the Pastime at Richmond has leased the<br />
"V" at Veedersburg from William Wallace,<br />
who will leave September 2 for Phoenix, Ariz.,<br />
for his daughter's health . H. Robinson<br />
of the Majestic at Springfield, Ky., was a<br />
visitor. He hasn't been on Filmrow in years<br />
and was quite surprised at the many changes.<br />
. . . Exhibitors<br />
Ted Mendlessohn, United Booking Service,<br />
was in Detroit on business. Ted reports that<br />
drive-in business is running from 25 to 40<br />
per cent ahead of last year<br />
seen on Filmrow: C. W. Krebs. Dolle circuit,<br />
and S. J. Switow, Louisville: John Micu,<br />
Indiana State, and Larry Shubnell, Fort<br />
Wayne; Grant Henley, Carthage.<br />
The girls at 20th-Fox gave a party in<br />
honor of Joan Noffke who will be married<br />
September 22 to Ward Snodgrass. There were<br />
15 present.<br />
Three New Drive-Ins Bow<br />
In Northern Indiana<br />
FORT WAYNE—Three new drive-in theatres<br />
were opened in recent weeks in northern<br />
Indiana. Mailers Bros, of Fort Wayne opened<br />
the Skyvue at Portland and another near<br />
Bluffton. Each cost approximately $60,000,<br />
and will accommodate 300 cars. Two fires hit<br />
the Bluffton enterprise while it was under<br />
construction, causing a lo.ss of S8,000.<br />
Alex Kalafat of Garrett, who recently sold<br />
his indoor there, opened the Tri-Hi Drive-In<br />
near there. This, too, is a 300-car drive-in<br />
costing approximately $60,000.<br />
All three drive-ins were designed, built,<br />
and equipped by Theatre Equipment Co.,<br />
Toledo.<br />
Chicago First Runs<br />
Get Hefty Grosses<br />
CHICAGO—Chicago's Loop houses had a<br />
very good week. All the first run theatres<br />
had hefty grosses. The Chicago had a banner<br />
week with "He Ran All the Way," plus a<br />
stage show headed by Marilyn Maxwell and<br />
Jack Carter. Premiere festivities with personal<br />
appearances of the stars gave the<br />
Roosevelt a fine week with "His Kind of<br />
Woman." "Four in a Jeep" booked in strong<br />
at the Ziegfeld. "That's My Boy," plus a<br />
stageshow, was strong in a third week at the<br />
Oriental and "Flying Leathernecks" at the<br />
Woods had a stellar second week.<br />
Chicago<br />
He<br />
(Average Is iOO)<br />
3 All the Way (UA), plus stage<br />
Grand—Never Trust a Gambler (Col); Pickup<br />
(Col), 2nd wk 105<br />
Oriental—That's My Boy (Para), plus stage show.<br />
3rd ..120<br />
-Alice in Wonderland (RKO); Nature's Half<br />
Acre (RKO), 4lh wk 120<br />
Roosevelt—His Kind of Woman (RKO) 125<br />
State-Lake—Captain Horatio Homblower (WB),<br />
3rd .115<br />
-Eon-Tild (RKO), 4th wk<br />
.115<br />
United Artists—Strictly Dishonorable (MGM);<br />
14 Hours (20th-Fox). 2nd wk 110<br />
World Playhouse—Teresa (MGM), 6th wk 115<br />
Woods—Flying Leathernecks (RKO), 2.nd wk 125<br />
Ziegleld—Four in a Jeep (UA) 120<br />
State Fair Gives Lift<br />
To Indianapolis Figures<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — State fair visitors patronized<br />
local first run theatres in substantial<br />
numbers.<br />
-Happy Go Lovely (RKO), Roadblock<br />
(RKO<br />
Indiana—That's My Boy (Para); Two Gals and a<br />
Guy (UA), 2nd wk<br />
Keith's—The Second Woman (UA)<br />
Loews—He Ran All the Way (UA); My True Story<br />
(Col)<br />
Lyric—Mark of the Renegade (U-I), Saddle Legion<br />
(RKO)<br />
Tom Edwards' Mother Dies<br />
ST. LOUIS—Mrs. T. M. Edwards of Pocatello.<br />
Ida., mother of Tom Edwards of Edwards<br />
& Plumlee Theatres, Farmington, Mo.,<br />
and president of the MPTO of St. Louis, eastern<br />
Missouri and southern Illinois, died suddenly<br />
August 28 from a heart attack. Edwards,<br />
who flew to the funeral, had visited his mother<br />
about three weeks ago, stopping in Pocatello<br />
en route home from the COMPO conference<br />
in Los Angeles. At that time her<br />
health appeared excellent.<br />
To Plan Convention<br />
ST. LomS-^Bob Lightfoot, president of the<br />
St. Louis lege of the Colosseum of Motion<br />
Picture Salesmen of America, called a meeting<br />
at the Melbourne hotel Saturday il) to<br />
discu.ss local plans for the national meeting<br />
of the Colosseum to be held at the Sheraton<br />
hotel here October 26-28.<br />
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WB Salesmen Meet<br />
CHICAGO—Members of the midwest sales<br />
force of Warner Bros, held a two-day meeting<br />
at the Blackstone hotel. Roy Haines,<br />
western division sales manager, presided.<br />
Among those present were Harry Seed, district<br />
manager, and the following branch<br />
managers: A. J. Shumow, Chicago; Joseph<br />
Baringhaus, Detroit: Nat Marcus, Milwaukee,<br />
and Art Anderson, Minneapolis.<br />
SUMNER, ILL.—Martin T. Atkui.s, former<br />
the 300-seat Idaho Theatre, was to<br />
take over its operation again Saturday (1).<br />
Ralph Clark, who had purchased the theatre<br />
from Atkins several years ago, was called into<br />
the army last October and his wife had been<br />
operating the theatre since that time.<br />
THEStTRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 NORTH ILLINOIS STREET<br />
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA<br />
"Everything for the Theatre"<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8. 1951
; September<br />
'Wide Missouri' to Bow<br />
In 3 Cities Oct. 11<br />
KANSAS CITY—MGM's much-heralded<br />
"Across the Wide Missouri" will make its<br />
world premiere bow in three Missouri cities on<br />
October 11. Bernie Evens, MGM exploiteer<br />
here, said that preliminary plans for the<br />
debut are being laid out and that MGM is<br />
"going all-out" for the event.<br />
The film will bow at Loew's State in St.<br />
Louis, the Capitol in Jefferson City and at<br />
the Midland here. Following the openings in<br />
those three cities saturation bookings will be<br />
set up in the Kansas City and St. Louis trade<br />
territories.<br />
Elmer J. Brownlee Named<br />
Manager at Superior<br />
SUPERIOR, WIS.—Elmer J. Brownlee of<br />
Faii'mont, Minn., has been appointed manager<br />
of the Princess Theatre here by the Bishop<br />
Theatre Co. of Minneapolis, owner of the<br />
house. Brownlee completed his 23rd year in<br />
show business on September 3. He started as<br />
an usher here, later became a projectionist<br />
and for the last ten years managed theatres<br />
here.<br />
Brownlee will modernize the front of the<br />
Princess and will make a few other changes.<br />
Sheldon Grengs Buys<br />
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. — Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co. has sold the O'Klare Theatre here<br />
to Sheldon Grengs. owner of the Hollywood<br />
Theatre. MAC has operated the O'Klare for<br />
many years, ever since the holdings of the<br />
Finkelstine & Teuben Co. were taken over<br />
by the Minnesota firm. It will continue to<br />
operate the State, Badger and Cameo here.<br />
The lease of the O'Klare Theatre building<br />
goes with the transaction. The house seats<br />
500 persons.<br />
Theatre 'Follows the Sun'<br />
STERLING, ILL. — The State Theatre<br />
booked two added attractions recently that<br />
tied in with the recent golf tournament at<br />
Tam O'Shanter course. One was a newsreel<br />
showing Ben Hogan in action winning the<br />
local tournament and the other was a short,<br />
"How Hogan Plays Golf."<br />
GOLIATH IN CHICAGO—Exhibitors<br />
from the Chicago area posed with Walter<br />
Talun, who portrays the giant, Goliath,<br />
in "David and Bathsheba," upon his recent<br />
visit to Chicago. Pictured here, left<br />
to right, John Semedalis, Chicago exhibitor;<br />
Roy Moon, aOth-Fox central division<br />
manager; Goliath; Tom Gilliam,<br />
Chicago, 20th-Fox manager, and Jack<br />
Kirsch, president of Allied Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Illinois.<br />
William Exton Takes Over<br />
Two Kenosha, Wis., Houses<br />
KENOSHA, WIS.—The Vogue and Hollywood<br />
theatres here have been taken over by<br />
William Exton, who also operates the Roosevelt<br />
for the Nor-Wes Theatre Co. The Vogue<br />
and Hollywood had been operated by the<br />
Standard-Gateway Theatres, but were closed<br />
for the summer. The Vogue was reopened<br />
for Ringling Bros, circus.<br />
In discussing show business today, Exton<br />
said; "My theatre business is better today<br />
than at any other time in the last three years."<br />
Mate for North Airer<br />
Opened in Anderson<br />
ANDERSON, IND.—Manager Tom Harmeson<br />
opened Ander.son's new South Drive-In<br />
on Highway 67 just east of the junction with<br />
No. 9 recently. Harmeson said the South<br />
embraces all the advantages he has gathered<br />
from visiting numerous other theatres already<br />
in operation.<br />
The entrance is illuminated with pylon<br />
lights and the boxoffice has a car port that<br />
is paved and protected from rain and bad<br />
weather. Instead of driving past the screen<br />
tower and turning around to park, patrons<br />
drive directly toward the screen tower, which<br />
faces the highway. The center building<br />
houses concession, office, booth and restrooms.<br />
The front of the stand is glassed-in<br />
and there is a concrete patio with chairs for<br />
lounging. Harmeson has purchased playground<br />
equipment and will fence in the play<br />
area, which was not ready for the theatre<br />
opening.<br />
Tlie operators of the theatre are the same<br />
men who have run the drive-in north of the<br />
city for the past five years. The officers<br />
are P. H. Dee of Chicago, president; Tom<br />
Harmeson of Anderson, vice-president and<br />
general manager: S. J. Gregory of Chicago,<br />
secretary, and Claude Harmeson, Indianapolis,<br />
treasurer. The four men comprise the<br />
board of directors.<br />
The South's grand opening started at 6;00<br />
p. m. and Mr. and Mrs. Harmeson greeted<br />
many of the friends who have attended the<br />
North Drive-In in the past.<br />
Chase Just Like Movie<br />
on August 25 and the Hollywood on September<br />
3. These houses will now be independent was apprehended here recently following a<br />
CHICAGO—A near north side holdup man<br />
of any theatre chain.<br />
short chase after he had shoved a note at<br />
In discussing the future of the theatres, Mrs. Gertrude Leon, cashier of the Covent<br />
Exton said that he intends to keep them open Theatre, which read; "This is a stickup! Hand<br />
the year round. The kind of pictures shown over your money." Mrs. Leon shoved $14 to<br />
will be determined by the demands of patrons<br />
in the areas in which the houses are alerted theatre employes. The assistant man-<br />
him and and then pressed a buzzer that<br />
located. Exton has operated the Roosevelt ager and doorman rushed out and chased the<br />
here for about 13 years, coming to Kenosha culprit into a dead end street but he got<br />
with the Standard chain in 1933 after operating<br />
four theatres in Muncie, Ind., for several phone police. The law then caught him a<br />
away when one of them went back to tele-<br />
years. Before that he was publicity agent short haul away. The holdup man was<br />
identified as Kenneth Thurman. who was<br />
released from prison last September after<br />
serving 14 years for robbery.<br />
Schneider Resigns<br />
Bill<br />
GALVA. ILL.—William D. Schneider of<br />
Amboy, who served as relief manager of the<br />
Galva Theatre after it was purchased by the<br />
Marchesi Bros. Co., has resigned as manager<br />
of the Amboy Theatre to enter the insurance<br />
business in the tri-cities, it was heard here.<br />
PREMIERE RECEPTION HELD—Executives of Balaban & Katz circuit and<br />
RKO attended a reception held at the Blackstone hotel in Chicago just before the<br />
world premiere of Edmund Grainger's "Flying Leathernecks" at the Woods Theatre.<br />
Pictured here, left to right: Duncan Kennedy, B&K; Walter Branson, RKO; John P.<br />
Diomey and David Wallenstein, B&K; Ned E. Depinet, RKO; William Hollander,<br />
B&K; Sam Gorelick, RKO, and Harry Lustgarten, B&K.<br />
Holiday Using Giveaways<br />
ROUND LAKE PARK. ILL.—The Holiday<br />
Theatre is using several giveaways this summer.<br />
Monarch bicycles are presented in a<br />
tieup with the merchants here and in the<br />
Pox Lake section. Five bikes were given in<br />
all. Wednesday and Thursday nights, free<br />
dishes are given to women patrons for a fivecent<br />
service charge in addition to theatre<br />
admissions.<br />
George Barnes will photograph "Somebody<br />
Loves Me" in Technicolor for Paramount.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
;<br />
8, 1951 77
. . .<br />
Suspicious<br />
. . John<br />
. . Fred<br />
. . Lester<br />
ST .<br />
LOUIS<br />
^XZith the municipal opera in its last week,<br />
the principal amusement parks scheduled<br />
to close their 1951 seasons after Labor day<br />
and even the Admiral, the world's greatest<br />
inland excursion boat, looking forward to<br />
di-j'dock for another season, the St. Louis<br />
film industry has reached the period when<br />
motion picture theatres are reopening after<br />
a summer hiatus. The Shubert, at Grand<br />
near Olive, reopened August 29 and the Capitol,<br />
at Sixth and Chestnut, resumed operation.s<br />
August 30.<br />
Speaking of reopenings, it is anticipated<br />
that the recent sale of the Avenue Theatre<br />
building in East St. Louis to the Ruttenberg<br />
Building Corp. of Chicago, headed by Sanford<br />
S. Ruttenberg, for an indicated S285.000. will<br />
bring about an early resumption of shows at<br />
the Avenue, the oldest theatre in that city.<br />
In addition to the theatre, the building contains<br />
four ground-floor stores and two large<br />
office suites on the second floor. The Avenue<br />
was padlocked on May 28 by federal<br />
revenue agents and subsequently its equipment<br />
was sold at auction to help satisfy<br />
$23,000 in taxes alleged due Uncle Sam. The<br />
sale netted only about $1,300.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller of Festus, Mo<br />
were vacationing at Detroit Lakes, Minn.!<br />
where the fishing is great. Shortly after their<br />
arrival several days ago they enjoyed some<br />
bass caught by the greatest fisherman of the<br />
lakes. Eddie Rosecan, who owns the Rialto<br />
at Hannibal . . . Bill Powell, district manager<br />
for Midwest Drive-In Theatres, left for a<br />
busmess trip to Indianapolis. Mrs. Powell 1=<br />
visiting their daughter in Alabama and Bill<br />
will join her later for a brief stay.<br />
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Sidney Sayetta, resident manager for Midwest<br />
drive-ins, including the Airway and<br />
Manchester here, the Gem at St. John's Station,<br />
the Overland at Overland and the<br />
Beverly Theatre at University City, has become<br />
engaged to Charlotte Dubinsky of St.<br />
Louis. The wedding will take place next<br />
winter.<br />
Exhibitors seen along Filmrow included Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Wayne Smith of the Egyptian Drive-<br />
In at Herrin, 111.; Tom Edwards, Tom jr. and<br />
Frank Plumlee of Edwards & Plumlee Theatres,<br />
Parmington, Mo.; Herman Tanner, Vandalia,<br />
and C. W. Locke, Times Theatre, Memphis,<br />
Mo.<br />
Harry Hynes, manager of U-I, visited De-<br />
Soto. Mo., and other eastern Missouri towns<br />
. . .<br />
F. J. Lee, United Artists manager, returned<br />
August 31 from a sales conference in<br />
New Orleans<br />
. Allen, MGM southwest<br />
district manager with headquarters in Dallas,<br />
arrived August 28 to spend most of the week<br />
in St. Louis<br />
.<br />
Joseph, attorney for<br />
several theatres in the St. Louis area, Mrs.<br />
Joseph and their daughter Sallie are vacationing<br />
in Michigan<br />
.<br />
Kropp, cogeneral<br />
manager for the Wehrenberg Theatres,<br />
and Mrs. Kropp are going to the Lake<br />
of the Ozarks for a couple of weeks.<br />
Arthur Georgen, writing in the South Side<br />
Journal's "I Remember Cherokee Street" series,<br />
took film folks' memories away back<br />
when he recalled the Best Theatre "at the<br />
alley on the north side of Cherokee street,<br />
between Jefferson and Indiana; the Best Tent<br />
Show, the old Vandora, the Favorite Theatre,<br />
the old Crawford and the Family Tent<br />
Show in the site of the present Casa Loma<br />
dance hall. He also wrote of roller skating<br />
around the seats after the show in the present<br />
Cinderella Theatre. Memories of movies<br />
starring Fatty Arbuckle. Buster Keaton, Lillian<br />
Gish, Charlie Chaplin and cowboys and<br />
Indians who made Hopalong Cassidy "look<br />
like a Sunday school teacher."<br />
The Armo Skydome in the southern part<br />
of St. Louis has worked out a deal with<br />
a cola bottling concern under which five<br />
bottle caps plus a 5-cent service charge are<br />
good for an admission at the theatre on Saturday<br />
nights for children. "Free western<br />
movies and cartoons" is the way the deal is<br />
being advertised by the soda company.<br />
The Missouri state fair of 1951, which<br />
closed at Sedalia the night of August 26, drew<br />
a total attendance of 433.062 for nine days,<br />
an increase of 73,041 over 1950, when the fair<br />
played for eight days. Rain on the closing<br />
day held attendance to 36,350.<br />
Harry H. Haas, Paramount manager, was<br />
in Cairo, 111., and Paducah, Ky., last week<br />
of a nervous teen-ager who<br />
drove into the St. Louis Amusement Co.'s<br />
St. Ann Drive-In. Patrolman John Luby<br />
started an investigation and found four other<br />
lads in the auto's trunk. The manager of<br />
the drive-in arose to the occasion. Solomonlike,<br />
he decreed: "If they want to get in that<br />
badly, they can see the show free," and did<br />
they appreciate his ruling!<br />
The Capitol Theatre at McLeansboro, 111.,<br />
a unit of Dickinson Theatres. Inc., Mission,<br />
Kas.. has recently installed new seats.<br />
Paramount First Run<br />
At St. Louis Ozoners<br />
ST. LOUIS—For the second successive<br />
week, four of the leading county drive-ins<br />
are day-dating a Paramount picture first run.<br />
This is the first time Paramount product<br />
has been shown first run in an ozoner.<br />
"Peking Express" opened August 29 at the<br />
Airway and Manchester, owned by Midwest<br />
Drive-In Theatres controlled by the Philip<br />
Smith interests of Boston: Ronnie's Drive-<br />
In. owned by Wehrenberg Theatres, and the<br />
North Drive-In. jointly owned by the Kaimann<br />
and Wehrenberg interests. The previous<br />
week the four ozoners had screened "Warpath."<br />
Both Paramount films were obtained for<br />
the drive-in first runs on straight rental<br />
deals. Usually the Fanchon & Marco-St.<br />
Louis Amusement Co. houses play Paramount<br />
first run but F&M did not seek this<br />
particular pair. No bidding was thus involved.<br />
This was not the first instance of<br />
county drive-ins here getting first run film<br />
from the major distributors.<br />
There is little real competition for first<br />
run product in St. Louis. F&M. its affiliates<br />
and associates, have the Ambassador, Fox.<br />
Missouri, St. Louis and Shubert theatres for<br />
first runs, while the opposition comes from<br />
Loew's State and Orpheum. The Loew<br />
houses follow a policy that doesn't force F&M<br />
into competitive bidding on its regular product<br />
source and Loew's has MGM product<br />
and the other companies it needs.<br />
To Illinois Allied Board<br />
CHICAGO—Jack Kirsch, president of<br />
Allied Theatres of Illinois, announced Jack<br />
Clark of the Tiffin Theatre here and Leonard<br />
Bland of Oak Enterprises were elected members<br />
of the board of directors at the last<br />
meeting. Clark is chairman of Allied of Illinois<br />
Ass'n publicity and promotional committee.<br />
Myra Stroud Is Queen<br />
Of Spaghetti Eaters<br />
St. Louis— INIyra Stroud, managing secretary<br />
of the Motion Picture Theatre<br />
Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and<br />
Southern Illinois, won the title of Spaghetti-Eating<br />
Queen of St. Louis, and<br />
Tommy Byrne, pitching star for the St.<br />
Louis Browns became Spaghetti-Eating<br />
King in a contest between a team of<br />
six members of the Women's Advertising<br />
club and six stars of the Browns. Myra<br />
not only won a 15-pound ham for her<br />
spaghetti-eating but also grabbed a S5 attendance<br />
prize.<br />
Spaghetti consumption was not the<br />
"basis for winners. Form and finesse were<br />
the deciding factors. Myra dropped her<br />
spaghetti into a tall beer glass, then drank<br />
it like so much Falstaff. The clincher<br />
was when she used a funnel in the closing<br />
moments of the contest.<br />
Myra later accompanied a delegation<br />
of some 350 persons to Sedalia to attend<br />
St. Louis day at the State Fair. Arthur<br />
H. Babler, district manager for .Alexander<br />
Film Co.. also made the trip.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8. 1951
: September<br />
Marvin Harris Buys<br />
4 Toledo Theatres<br />
TOLEDO—Marvin S. Harris, for tlie last<br />
eight years manager of the 3,400-seat Paramount,<br />
both while it was under lease to<br />
Balaban & Katz and later when it was taken<br />
over by the Carl Schwyn circuit, has resigned<br />
and purchased a chain of four theatres from<br />
Toledo Theatre Enterprises.<br />
The theatres include the Avalon, 3301<br />
Monroe St., the Lyric, 1225 Broadway, and<br />
the Mystic at 709 Bush St., all in Toledo, and<br />
the LaFrance in nearby Swanton. Harris<br />
plans to remodel each of the neighborhood<br />
houses to attract family groups. He is chief<br />
barker of Variety Tent 30 here.<br />
Edward Bush, veteran manager of the<br />
State, de luxe neighborhood house in Toledo,<br />
also Schwyn operated, has been named to<br />
replace Harris as manager of the Paramount,<br />
and for the time being is handling two jobs.<br />
Michigan Allied Praises<br />
Retiring Secretary<br />
DETROIT—Tribute to Charles W. Snyder,<br />
Its<br />
who is retiring as executive secretary of Allied<br />
Theatres of Michigan to join Film<br />
Truck Service in an undisclosed executive<br />
capacity, was voiced by Ed C. Johnson, president<br />
of Allied, confirming friendly relations<br />
between the principals despite "this sudden<br />
turn of events."<br />
Extending wishes for Snyder's continued<br />
success in his new field, Johnson said that<br />
"he has firmly established his friendship and<br />
goodwill with many Allied exhibitorg. His<br />
association with us has been extremely<br />
pleasant and profitable." He paid special<br />
tribute to Snyder for "his constant efforts to<br />
aid the small independent exhibitor," which<br />
has added many members to Michigan Allied,<br />
and concluded that "he will still be one of<br />
us through the years that follow."<br />
John Hobolth Is Injured<br />
In Motor Car Accident<br />
DETROIT — John Hobolth of<br />
the upstate<br />
Hobolth circuit was injured near Imlay City<br />
and his car w^recked when he was forced off<br />
the road by another motorist. Hobolth's car<br />
turned over two or three times. He was taken<br />
to Hurley hospital in Flint for treatment,<br />
where it was found he had a broken ankle<br />
and fractured ribs, in addition to bruises.<br />
'Horrors' Show Impresario<br />
Settles Down in Toledo<br />
TOLEDO—Jack Baker, known professionally<br />
as Dr. Silkini, who for the past 16 years<br />
has been presenting his "Asylum of Horrors"<br />
at theatres, has bought a home here. Mrs.<br />
Baker is expecting a visit from the stork in<br />
October.<br />
'Hoffmann' to Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Neil Tailing, manager of the<br />
Cinema, has booked "Tales of Hoffmann" on<br />
a roadshow basis. It is set to follow "Kon-<br />
Tiki." which opens September 7, and will<br />
tentatively play the first week of October.<br />
The deal was set by Lopert Productions.<br />
TaUing will handle exploitation for the engagement,<br />
as well as house operation.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951<br />
Expansion of<br />
Staggered Releases<br />
Awaits Court Sanction at Detroit<br />
DETROIT — With commitments on the<br />
staggered release plan here by additional<br />
companies dependent upon formal court approval.<br />
20th-Fox was going ahead with playing<br />
out the first group of eight pictures under<br />
the plan and ironing out the individual problems<br />
that arose.<br />
Objections, some of them vociferous, were<br />
made by some independent exhibitors, usually<br />
based on specific problems in a local situation,<br />
but the bulk of exhibitor opinion appears<br />
to be strongly in favor of continuing<br />
the program. Popular reception, while not<br />
widely expressed, likewise appears favorable.<br />
No house will be permitted to improve its<br />
run situation, Joseph J. Lee, 20th-Fox manager,<br />
who has been the guiding spirit of the<br />
plan, pointed out. Some attempt was apparently<br />
made in this direction, aimed at giving<br />
a specific house a better position than it enjoyed<br />
before the staggered plan started.<br />
One east side exhibitor complained that he<br />
had had his clearance set back from seven to<br />
Drive-In Owner-Attorney<br />
Sues Contracting Firm<br />
CLEVELAND—The Miles Drive-In Theatre<br />
Co. has filed suit for $86,883 against Selby<br />
Construction Co. for alleged failure to pay<br />
certain material men, laborers, suppliers and<br />
subcontractors with claims totaling $34,481 in<br />
the construction of the new airer in Warrensville<br />
Heights. The theatre company is an<br />
operation of Samuel T. Haas, local lawyer.<br />
U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. was named codefendant<br />
in the suit filed in common pleas<br />
court.<br />
Several liens have been placed against the<br />
property, it was charged, and demands for<br />
payment have been refused. An additional<br />
$32,402 is due other claimants and another<br />
sum of $20,000 will be needed to correct work<br />
by the contractors, the petition added.<br />
Four Closed Theatres<br />
Are Reopened in Ohio<br />
CLEVELAND—Several theatres closed during<br />
the summer have reopened. Tlie Grand<br />
at Salem opened September 1. W. S. Rawson<br />
of the Scio, Scio. has opened the Roxy at<br />
Canfield: Ralph J. Adams and Terry Callaghan<br />
have opened the Town at Marblehead.<br />
In Cleveland the Doan. closed all last season,<br />
opens September 16 following completion<br />
of a thorough renovation, which included installation<br />
of a new screen, new sound equipment<br />
and all new interior decorations.<br />
Charles Gottlob, owner, named Robert Reich<br />
manager. Reich formerly managed the Jewel<br />
Theatre.<br />
Fire at Johnstown Airer<br />
JOHNSTOWN, PA.—A fire at the Westmont<br />
Drive-In caused damage estimated at<br />
$3,000. The blaze broke out in the refreshment<br />
building and was first noticed about<br />
7:30 a. m. Westmont firemen, who put out<br />
the fire, said the counter, ceiling and equipment<br />
was damaged extensively. It is believed<br />
that the fire started from a short circuit<br />
in a heating machine used to store buns.<br />
ME<br />
14 days after the prior house in his own<br />
neighborhood, but it was indicated that this<br />
was a specific freak situation on a particular<br />
availability, and not a regular result of the<br />
plan. Cases like this indicated that problems<br />
remain to be cleared away before complete<br />
satisfaction of all parties is assured, but a<br />
large fund of goodwill and patience In working<br />
them out were widespread here. Detroit<br />
exhibitors appear agreed that it Is an important<br />
test step in working out modification<br />
of industry practices in the interest of improving<br />
the boxoffice, and that it must be<br />
given a fair trial here.<br />
Immediate future of the plan looked dark,<br />
with even 20th-Pox unable to offer a second<br />
block of pictures to go through the staggered<br />
release setup. Lack of product made it impossible<br />
to assemble enough pictures for one<br />
company to carry on the idea alone at this<br />
time, and the procedure was being temporarily<br />
suspended accordingly after the first<br />
group is played out through last runs.<br />
Cleveland Salesmen Hold<br />
Annual Summer Event<br />
CLEVELAND—The summer outing of the<br />
Salesmen's club was voted the best affair<br />
held to date by the 40 members and friends<br />
who assembled at Sam Lichter's home on<br />
Lake Shore boulevard. Big event of the day<br />
was a baseball game in which the DUBS,<br />
managed by Jerry Lipow of MGM, beat the<br />
FLUBS, managed by Irving Marcus, by a<br />
score of 28-22. Only ones not nursing lame<br />
ligaments the next day were the oldsters who<br />
either took their baseball vicariously over<br />
TV or enjoyed a friendly game of gin rummy.<br />
Harry Weiss, club president, and Joe Longo,<br />
RKO exploiteer, excelled on the baseball field,<br />
according to report. Marshall Fine of Associated<br />
circuit and Ernie Sands, Warner<br />
salesman, finished the day by attending a<br />
football game in Akron.<br />
John C. Green Stricken;<br />
Early Canada Showman<br />
DETROIT—John C. Green, said to have<br />
been the first man to exhibit motion pictures<br />
in Canada, died at Vegreville, Alta., at<br />
the age of 84. He had been in show business<br />
over 60 years and was still on the road as a<br />
professional magician at the time of his<br />
death. At one time he was district manager<br />
for Famous Players in Ontario. His daughter<br />
survives.<br />
George Tice Resigns<br />
PITTSBURGH — George Tice. Columbia<br />
manager for more than two years, resigned<br />
this week. Jack Judd, city sales representative,<br />
was in New York. He was reported in<br />
contact with Sam Galanty. district manager,<br />
who makes his headquarters in Washington.<br />
Reports indicated that Tice may remain with<br />
the company here, takmg over the city sales<br />
post. The local branch also received the<br />
resignation of Bob Ruskin as a field sales<br />
representative. He is returning to his home<br />
in New York to enter the legal profession.<br />
79
DETROIT<br />
T^ave Idzal did a hangup campaign on selling<br />
"M" at the Fox only to have to pull<br />
it despite excellent business after six days,<br />
because of a previous booking of "Spike<br />
Jones" . Charlie Snyder is now in his new<br />
. .<br />
office on the tenth floor of the Fox Theatre<br />
building . . . Murray Devaney. RKO manager,<br />
takes the cake for solid concentration<br />
in his perambulations along the Rialto.<br />
Charles Simpson of Exhibitors Service was<br />
the real pioneer of two-way radio on the<br />
Filmrow. He has been quietly offering it as<br />
an extra superservice in handling film delivery<br />
for three years . . Jack Hurford's<br />
.<br />
household has a further addition, a 14-weekold<br />
cocker spaniel . . . M. F. Gowthorpe,<br />
Butterfield president, w'as on a quick New<br />
York trip . . Joseph Miskinis has closed<br />
.<br />
the Alden in Dearborn indefinitely, and operator<br />
Ray Bonner has moved to the Model,<br />
which continues on a Mexican picture policy.<br />
George Juckett of the Crystal, who likes to<br />
make frequent road trips in between his regular<br />
stands, is hoping the doctors will find<br />
=EXPERT=<br />
Upholstering. Repairing,<br />
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THEATRE SEATS<br />
DONOHUE SEATING SERVICE<br />
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Phone Webster 3-5424<br />
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PERSONALIZED SUPERVISED SERVICE<br />
DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR THEATRES<br />
2937 St. Aubin Detroit 7. Mich.<br />
Phone Te. 13352 Te. 13884<br />
FLOWERS for<br />
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LORENZEN'S<br />
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TOwnsend 8-6232<br />
1G457 Woodward Ave., Detroit 3, Mich.<br />
THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
|
. . . The<br />
. . Several<br />
. . William<br />
Rainbo, Used in Life,<br />
Always Was Shaky<br />
DETROIT—The film industry here looked<br />
over the recent "obituary" of the motion picture<br />
business in Life magazine with considerable<br />
cynicism. The Life article featured<br />
the front of the closed Rainbo Theatre<br />
here for lease as a store. The industry here<br />
decided that if the would-be mourners could<br />
come up with nothing more impressive than<br />
the little Rainbo to support their belief in<br />
the decline of the industry, they had little<br />
to worry about.<br />
This house is a 252-seater, recognized since<br />
its erection in the '30s as a marginal operation.<br />
It did business for years almost literally<br />
on the overflow busine.ss from its two giant<br />
neighbors across the street—the 1,900-seat<br />
Riviera and 1,400-seat Annex, both operated<br />
by United Detroit Theatres for years. The<br />
corner represented the outstanding case of<br />
overseating in the local area, the only suburban<br />
center with three houses.<br />
The Rainbo was operated with a special<br />
exploitation policy for several years, but its<br />
small size has made profitable operation a<br />
problem familiar to other small house owners.<br />
The Rainbo was taken over by Jack Broder<br />
and Associates, but disposed of a couple of<br />
years ago when Broder concentrated his activities<br />
in production. However, it was in<br />
effect returned when the new owner was<br />
unable to keep the operation going, and has<br />
been operated as a unit of the Van Houdt<br />
Corp.'s small circuit until it closed a few<br />
months ago.<br />
Changing character of the neighborhood<br />
has made this intersection where the three<br />
houses are located a good shopping center,<br />
but has decreased its drawing power as an<br />
amusement center. The obvious economic<br />
result is that the property can return considerably<br />
more in commercial rental than<br />
a small marginal theatre would be able to<br />
pay, and that conversion to a store is a sound<br />
move for the realty owner.<br />
The big Annex, architecturally one of the<br />
finest key houses in the area, ran into difficulties<br />
earlier, and was closed last fall after<br />
unsuccessful operation by the short-lived<br />
Goldhar-Zimner circuit. Details of this<br />
transaction, still awaiting court action, have<br />
been reported at length in BOXOFFICE during<br />
the past six months. The owners tried<br />
to make a deal with the city to convert it into<br />
a parking lot or garage to e.scape the high<br />
taxes, again illustrating the economic truth<br />
that changing neighborhood characteristics,<br />
original overseating and a potential use of the<br />
property that can give a better return on<br />
investment may logically seal the fate of a<br />
once-successful house, without reflecting any<br />
general decline of the industry itself.<br />
Louis Slavik Manager<br />
TILTONSVILLE. OHIO—The Palace Theatre<br />
here now is under the management of<br />
Louis Slavik. The theatre formerly was managed<br />
by Robert McConaghy.<br />
SERV ICE-QU ALITY-PRICE<br />
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Potato Chips Exclusively ior the Thoatra Trade.<br />
VETERAN FOOD PRODUCTS, INC.<br />
Elliott 6439 Mt. Ave. Detroit U. Mich.<br />
Phone Wfllnut 1-551S<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
Celig J. Seligman, vice-president and general<br />
manager of Northio Theatres Corp., the<br />
United Paramount subsidiary in Ohio and<br />
Kentucky, became father of a second boy<br />
named Brad Stuart . Cain of<br />
Louisa, Ky., took over the Strand Theatre,<br />
F^-estonburg, Ky., from John Allen and Tom<br />
Mead, effective September 1. Cain now has<br />
five theatres in his circuit . . . Ray Frisz, general<br />
manager of the Chakeres circuit in<br />
Springfield, underwent surgery.<br />
Saul Bragin and Sid Jacobs of Warners,<br />
Pittsburgh, made one of their rare visits to<br />
the city . . . Charles Behlen of Lexington, Ky.,<br />
brought his young son and daughter with him<br />
Harold Raives, zone<br />
to the exchanges . . .<br />
manager for Schine, Cleveland, brought Bennett<br />
Goldstein, new booker, who replaced Bud<br />
Gilliam, around to meet exchange people . . .<br />
Lester Rosenfeld of Charleston, W. Va., was<br />
in. He said he was leaving for a month's<br />
cruise through South American waters, with<br />
Harry McHaffie of Marmet, W. Va. Also in<br />
the city was Fred Helwig of Charleston, W.<br />
Va.<br />
H. George Fetick and his wife are on a trip<br />
through the western part of the U.S. Fetick<br />
operates a local booking and buying agency<br />
annual golf tournament of the Cincinnati<br />
Variety Club was most successful,<br />
with more than 400 guests in attendance, in<br />
spite of rainy weather. Each guest received a<br />
prize. In addition to local film and theatremen,<br />
there were many out-of-town guests and<br />
local civic leaders . . . The Tenthree Society<br />
held a luncheon meeting September 5 to discuss<br />
plans for the coming year. Mrs. M. Dennis<br />
is president of the women's organization.<br />
Names of committee chairmen will be announced<br />
later.<br />
Gil Sheppard, Columbus salesman, RKO,<br />
resigned September 1 to enter radio advertising<br />
work . local distributing companies<br />
have put into effect new availability<br />
schedules in the city. Some subsequent run<br />
houses now are receiving pictures 21 days<br />
after completion of first run engagements.<br />
Prior to this, fifth Sunday was the first subsequent<br />
run availability.<br />
Mrs. Rita Kuhlman, secretary to George<br />
Dahlmeyer, office manager, WB, underwent<br />
an operation at Christ hospital . . . Chester<br />
Stacey's wife was in Christ hospital for an<br />
operation. Stacey is in charge of Warnere'<br />
shipping department.<br />
First Airer Opened<br />
SPENCER, W. VA.—This community's first<br />
drive-in theatre was opened this week. It is<br />
located one mile east of Spencer on U.S.<br />
Route 119, and is owned by Joe Giboney.<br />
Closes North Ohio Contract<br />
CLEVELAND — Scott Lett, representing<br />
We-stern Adventure Productions of Charlotte,<br />
N. C, closed a contract here recently with<br />
E. J. Stutz and Robert Snyder for northern<br />
Ohio distribution of a series of five new outdoor<br />
action pictures through their Four Continents<br />
exchange. Starred in the pictures are<br />
Lash LaRue and Fuzzy St. John.<br />
Margaret Field will play a lead in Lippert<br />
Productions' "For Men Only."<br />
Change in Parking Hours<br />
Fought by Exhibitors<br />
FAIRMONT, W. VA.—Downtown theatre<br />
operators successfully fought proposed extension<br />
of the hours of operation of parking<br />
meters to 9 p. m. Theatremen said the move<br />
would wreck their business and result in a<br />
lo.ss to the city from admission taxes. The<br />
city board of directors deferred putting the<br />
new plan into immediate effect. Under the<br />
original revised traffic plan approved by the<br />
board two weeks ago, it was planned to put<br />
half-hour meters in operation on Adams<br />
street from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m., instead of<br />
9 a. m. to 6 p. m. as at present.<br />
Mayor James H. Hanway said that a trial<br />
of the 30-minute meters would be made before<br />
the hours of operation are extended.<br />
Theatre owners said that business would<br />
be driven out of town if patrons had no<br />
place to park. They pointed out that the city<br />
is getting 2 cents on each adult ticket sold<br />
and that there would be a resultant Io.ss from<br />
admission taxes. It was pointed out that the<br />
suggestion for an extension of parking meter<br />
operations was made by the Fau-mont Parking<br />
Lot Authority in an effort to increase revenue<br />
at the Mid-City Motor park.<br />
Drive-In Near Weston Planned<br />
WESTON, W. VA.—Another drive-in in<br />
central West Virginia is planned for construction<br />
several miles north of Weston on U.S. 19.<br />
Five acres of the O. C. Smith farm have been<br />
secured by Lovett & Co., DeVry equipment<br />
distributor, Clarksburg. The Weston Democrat<br />
reports the theatre may open in the<br />
and the entire establishment, with a restaurant,<br />
fall,<br />
will be completed by next spring.<br />
NPA approval has not come through.<br />
Theatre<br />
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PITTSBURGH<br />
T\ W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" was exhibited<br />
at the Super Castle Drive-In near<br />
New Castle. The production is being released<br />
by Crown Film Co. here . . . The<br />
first 25 ladies named Teresa were admitted<br />
free at the Dattola in New Kensington where<br />
"Teresa" was the attraction . . . Cleveland<br />
Indians Bob Lemon and Al Rosen appeared<br />
recently at Dipson's Plaza in Erie . . . Mrs.<br />
Marie Robinson was named Mrs. Indiana at<br />
a contest on stage at the Manos in Indiana,<br />
Pa. . . . Committees are being named for<br />
the Allied MPTO convention here November<br />
26, 27.<br />
Washington, Pa., Arena bowling alleys are<br />
out of business because of the city's 10 per<br />
cent gross amusement tax. Cecil Milam,<br />
owner and operator, states that his business<br />
showed a loss of $1,000 last season, plus his<br />
time and investment. In order to save the<br />
roller skating rink, he was forced to close<br />
the bowling alleys . . Screen Guild exchange<br />
.<br />
has two park benches which are car-<br />
ried outside daily for the convenience of<br />
employes and exhibitors who enjoy taking a<br />
breather .<br />
. . Exhibitors Service Co. filed<br />
suit in Greensburg against Mario Battiston,<br />
operator of the Ritz at Export, for $732.75.<br />
The messenger service claims this amount is<br />
due for a balance on an agreement made<br />
July 3. 1943.<br />
The Capitol at Butler, a Pennler-Notopoulos<br />
operation, wliich had been dark during the<br />
summer, has reopened . Morgan, television<br />
star who had proven very popular in<br />
personal appearances at four Manos circuit<br />
theatres some weeks ago, recently did four<br />
more one-day shows for the circuit at houses<br />
in Latrobe, Vandergrift, Ellwood City and<br />
Tarentum . Brevak, assistant to Ken<br />
Hoel. advertising director for the Harris<br />
amusement enterprises, has resigned to join<br />
the local Walker & Downing advertising<br />
agency . Drive-In near Uniontown<br />
recently featured WPDX radio stars in<br />
person . Erie Plaza shopping center<br />
merchants staged their Ford car giveaway<br />
Wednesday at Dipson's Plaza . Prince<br />
at Ambridge, which Warners recently sold and<br />
which will be closed and out of business before<br />
October 1, staged a Back-to-School party<br />
Saturday morning, featuring a cartoon show.<br />
The Pi-ince building was purchased and will<br />
be occupied by Timney Electric & Furniture<br />
Co.. now housed in a building adjoining the<br />
theatre.<br />
The fire engine which exploits attractions<br />
Complete Sound ond Projection Service<br />
ATLAS THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Gordon Gibson, Mgr.<br />
402 kiltcnberger St., GRant 1-4281, PittsburBh, Pa.<br />
MOTIOGRAPH — MIRROPHONIC<br />
SAM FINEBERG<br />
TOM McCLEARY<br />
84 Van Braam Street<br />
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.<br />
Phone Express 1-0777<br />
Movits Are Better Than Ever - How's Your Eouipmenl?<br />
.<br />
.<br />
at Associated Drive-In Theatres broke down<br />
in the heart of the Golden Ti-iangle and<br />
stopped traffic for 20 minutes. A wheel fell<br />
off the fire truck at Washington<br />
staged a Zombie party and show at midnight<br />
Friday S. Waugaman. formerly<br />
of Vandergrift, who recently purchased<br />
the Ligonier at Ligonier, now makes his<br />
home in the latter community. Waugaman<br />
also is the owner and proprietor of the Carol<br />
New faces on Filmrow include<br />
in Bolivar . . .<br />
Bill Plutis, who recently reopened the<br />
Olympic in Verona, owned by his father Sam<br />
Plutis, and Alex Manant, who has just reopened<br />
the Grand in Carnegie. At a later<br />
date the Manants will reopen the Dixie<br />
there. Vincent J. Car,so is licensing and booking<br />
for the Manants.<br />
Johan Purcell, 17-year-old son of the Manos<br />
circuit booker George Purcell, attended the<br />
Canadian exposition in Toronto . . . Nelson,<br />
son of Carolyn Horey of Atlas Theatre Supply,<br />
vacationed in Phoenix . . . Carl Ferrazza<br />
is back at his Ritz post after serving<br />
as relief manager for Loew's at Dayton and<br />
Toledo.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
A $212,000 television antenna system will<br />
bring television reception to the Charleroi<br />
and Brownsville districts on a subscription<br />
Manos at Uniontown staged a<br />
basis . . .<br />
Philco console television giveaway . . . Asylum<br />
of Horrors on stage was featured Labor day<br />
eve midnight at the Memorial in McKeesport<br />
to School Revue style show<br />
was preesnted Friday afternoon at Shea's in<br />
Bradford R. Rieger, associated<br />
with the Warner circuit for two years at<br />
Tarentum, Washington and Oakland, has<br />
been named manager of the Ritz in New<br />
Kensington, succeeding Joseph A. Finch, who<br />
resigned to enter the shoe business. Rieger's<br />
sister Beverly is assistant manager of Warner's<br />
Harris at Tarentum.<br />
Frank A. Orban jr., Somerset county exhibitor<br />
and district attorney, was busy with<br />
grand jury duties last week, in one day presenting<br />
and being awarded indictments of<br />
three men on four murder counts. These indictments<br />
were among 46 returned by the<br />
jury to Judge Thomas F. Lansberry. Exhibitor<br />
Orban won the Republican nomination<br />
for the district attorney post, to retain his<br />
office, and it is expected that he will be<br />
a big winner at the general election in November<br />
. Poster Exchange is<br />
selling special Technicolor animated cartoon<br />
singing jingle refreshment trailers from<br />
Filmack. "And we're really selling them," says<br />
Eli Kaufman, the independent poster man<br />
concession stand of the ABC Drive-In,<br />
Route 88. Economy township, was entered one<br />
night recently. A box of candy bars was the<br />
only thing reported missing.<br />
Helen Cacheris of Washington, who plans<br />
menus for the army services, is a daughter<br />
of Jim Jaffurs, Glassport exhibitor. She was<br />
featm-ed recently in Carnegie and Mademoiselle<br />
magazine and was a guest of Betty<br />
Crocker radio network programs . . . Joseph<br />
Heidenkamp jr. of Glen Arden Drive here<br />
was one of 11 photographers given screen<br />
credits for RKO's amazing and beautiful<br />
short subject "Nature's Half Acre." Heidenkamp<br />
has thousands of feet of color film on<br />
birds and nature and various of his reels<br />
are in general circulation at schools . . . The<br />
once famous Grandin Opera House at Tidioute.<br />
erected in 1875 and dark for many<br />
years, is to be put to use as a farm machinery<br />
storehouse by its owner. Tidioute hotel man<br />
Bill Anderson.<br />
The Star at Monessen reopened for weekend<br />
operation ... A complete football uniform<br />
was awarded at the Saturday kiddy matinee<br />
in the Penn at Uniontown . . . The<br />
Joseph Bells, Fayette City exhibitors, were<br />
Filmrow visitors with Joe jr., and baby daughter<br />
Mary Kathleen . Manos jr., son<br />
of the vice-president of the Monessen Amusement<br />
Co.. will enter Duke university . . .<br />
George Moore, manager of the Meade in<br />
Meadville, expects to move into his new<br />
ranch-type home next month. Moore was a<br />
Fox and 20th-Fox sales representative for<br />
more than a quarter of a century until two<br />
years ago . . . Romeo Chiappini, outdoor exhibitor,<br />
is mourning the death of his mother,<br />
Mrs. Maria Baccioni Chiappini, 89, of Jeannette<br />
. . . Jack DeWaal. RKO auditor, has<br />
been on duty at the local exchange.<br />
Shirley Temple and her husband Charles<br />
Black, naval officer, and Shirley's daughter<br />
Linda Susan enjoyed a vacation at Rolling<br />
Rock Country club near Ligonier . . . Ladies<br />
Theatrical club members made collections at<br />
district drive-in for three nights for the<br />
Cerebral Palsy Foundation . Dapper<br />
Dan share of the Walcott-Charles fight.<br />
$8,810.18, was turned over by I. Elmer Ecker<br />
to John D. Walsh, Fulton manager and Variety<br />
Club chief barker, to be used for Camp<br />
O'Connell where underprivileged children enjoy<br />
summer vacations.<br />
Loew's Penn date for the Frankie Laine<br />
stage show is the week of September 21 . . .<br />
Larry Knee has been promoted by the Warner<br />
circuit from the Rowland in Wilkinsburg<br />
to the downtown Warner, succeeding Al Singer<br />
who has resigned his theatre managerial<br />
duties after nearly a score of years with the<br />
company to enter the sales field for modern<br />
Colonial Homes here . . . Mrs. August Macedonia,<br />
a 24-year-old bride of five weeks, was<br />
named Mrs. Altoona at the State in Altoona<br />
... At the contest in the Embassy at Johnstown,<br />
Mrs. Ruth Friedline, 25, of Kernville,<br />
was crowned Mrs. Johnstown. Last year's<br />
Johnstown queen, Mrs. Betty Eileen McAllister,<br />
formerly of Moxham, went on to win<br />
the crown of Mrs. America last September.<br />
.<br />
Joseph Rieger has replaced J. Albert Finch<br />
as manager of Warners Ritz in New Kensington.<br />
Finch has joined a shoe store there as<br />
manager . Earnest Sterns of Associated<br />
Drive-In Theatres vacationed at Hershey,<br />
Walter Austin, lATSE Local 444<br />
Pa. . . .<br />
vice-president of New Kensington, vacationed<br />
Littlestone. former operator of the<br />
independent Brushton theatre, now closed, is<br />
managing Warners' Belmar in the Homewood<br />
district L. Wadkins, Manos circuit<br />
city manager at Latrobe, is back on the<br />
job after taking time out for an operation and<br />
recuperation.<br />
William Buchheit, son of the Manos circuit<br />
executive and Mrs. Bernard H. Buchheit.<br />
has enrolled as a freshman at Duke university<br />
... A washing machine and portable<br />
ironer were among gifts presented to patrons<br />
of the Starlite Drive-In near Uniontown the<br />
night of Labor day. Fireworks were featured<br />
there and also at the Westmont in Johnstown,<br />
Sunset Beach at Claysville. Starlite at Wexford,<br />
Lakevue and Route 19, near Washing-<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951
. . The<br />
. . Ken<br />
. . Fred<br />
. . Grant<br />
. . Home's<br />
. . The<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . Labor<br />
ton. and Maple on Route 30 . . . Manny Pearson<br />
was here exploiting "Angels in the Outfield."<br />
A 16mm sound newsreel service (Warner-<br />
Pathe). consisting of ten monthly releases, has<br />
been set up in western Pennsylvania by the<br />
Pittsburgh Press. So far. 132 school districts<br />
representing 250 schools have signed up for<br />
the service which is furnished without charge,<br />
except for handling by the Audio-Visual Aids<br />
library at Pennsylvania state college.<br />
The original manuscript of "Angels in the<br />
Outfield" was presented to Branch Rickey<br />
Thursday night (6). Presentation at Forbes<br />
field, prior to the Pirate-Cincinnati game,<br />
was made by Clarence Brown, producer-director<br />
and winner of a half-dozen BOX-<br />
OFFICE Blue Ribbon awards: Paul Douglas,<br />
who plays the loud-mouthed Pirate manager<br />
who reforms, and Father P. R. Grady of<br />
Scranton university, who wrote the story<br />
under the nom de plume of Richard Conlin.<br />
They were here for the world premiere of<br />
the MGM picture at Loew's Penn Friday (7).<br />
The Pirates, who played the Cardinals that<br />
night, attended the premiere in the afternoon.<br />
Johnny Harris' "Ice-Capades of 1952" currently<br />
is in its premiere engagement here at<br />
The Gardens . Hoel, Harris publicist,<br />
was in Ti-oy, N. Y., in connection with Harris'<br />
"Ice Cycles" show . . . Jacques Kahn of the<br />
Warner circuit publicity department is back<br />
on the job here after vacationing in Baltimore<br />
. Casino "on the Diamond"<br />
downtown has a new front.<br />
Joe Hahn, 76-yeflr-old doorman at Loew's<br />
Penn, was the feature "People" story in last<br />
Sunday's Family magazine section of the<br />
Press. In nine years on the job, six days a<br />
week, he has never been absent or late and<br />
has collected more than 3.000,000 tickets. He<br />
has thus greeted an estimated crowd four<br />
and one-half times the population of Pittsburgh.<br />
Manager Bill Elder states that Hahn<br />
has an ear cocked for lobby gossip on coming<br />
attractions and that the silver-haired, genial<br />
doorman is "a pretty accurate forecaster."<br />
Earle W. Sweigert is the new "main line"<br />
sales representative here for RKO. For a<br />
number of years he had been associated with<br />
Paramount as district manager . . . The newly<br />
opened offices of Blatt Brothers Theatres at<br />
1705 Boulevard of the Allies are freshly<br />
painted and poli.shed, and everything is In<br />
good order . Serrao joined with his<br />
Kittanning high school class of '36 in its 15th<br />
reunion. He manages the Circle at New<br />
Kensington.<br />
John and Garnett Bello are parents of a<br />
new daughter. John is manager of the Liberty<br />
at Mercer. The Bellos also have a young<br />
son.<br />
'Things Are Bad All Over'<br />
COLUMBUS — Admission to the Hadacol<br />
Caravan show at the State fairgrounds was<br />
originally announced as two boxtops. A week<br />
later the admission was reduced to one boxtop<br />
"for adult or child." Dick Haymes, Carmen<br />
Miranda, Rochester, Jack Dempsey and<br />
others are in the show.<br />
Takes Bartender Role<br />
The role of a bartender in Columbia's<br />
"Death of a Salesman" has been handed to<br />
Jess White.<br />
MONUMENT TO 'THOKPE'—At the<br />
third and final of tricity premieres of<br />
Warners' "Jim Thorpe— All American" at<br />
Carlisle, Pa., the famed football player<br />
appeared along with other notables. Pictured<br />
here, left to right: Carl Thorpe, and<br />
his father, Jim Thorpe, Phyllis Thaxter,<br />
Gov. John S. Fine and Gen. Arthur Trudeau.<br />
They are standing around a stone<br />
monument dedicated "In recognition of<br />
Jim Thorpe, student of Carlisle Indian<br />
school . . . Olympic champion at Stockholm<br />
And in 1950 voted the<br />
in 1912 . . . greatest athlete and football player of the<br />
first half of the 20th century. "<br />
The film<br />
also prem-iered at Oklahoma City and<br />
Muskogee, Okla.<br />
'Crossbones' Day-Dates<br />
At 4 Cleveland Airers<br />
CLEVELAND—They're all<br />
doing it—indoor<br />
and outdoor theatres alike, day and date<br />
booking, that is. A recent Wednesday edition<br />
of the Plain Dealer carried a 2-column. 9-<br />
inch ad announcing the first Cleveland<br />
simultaneous showing at fom- drive-in theatres.<br />
The picture was "Double Crossbones"<br />
(U-Ii. Involved were the East Side, Euclid<br />
Avenue, Fairview and West Side. There are<br />
ten drive-in theatres in the immediate vicinity<br />
of Cleveland.<br />
The same edition of the Plain Dealer announced<br />
the showing of "Kon-Tiki" in eight<br />
indoor theatres with overlapping opening<br />
dates. These were the Park, Parkville; Berea,<br />
Berea and Vine; and Willoughby starting August<br />
15; Pairmount and Mayland, starting the<br />
19th, and the Lorain-Fulton, Madison and<br />
Ezella, starting the 23rd.<br />
250 Patrons Win Prizes<br />
UNIONTOWN. PA.—Prizes valued at $3,000<br />
were awarded to 250 lucky winners at the<br />
grand finale of "Country Store" at the State<br />
Theatre here.<br />
WB Parley in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH — Warner executives Jules<br />
Lapidus, Mike Dohd and Normay Moray conferred<br />
with managers of the F. D. Moore<br />
and the Bob Smeltzer districts. Among those<br />
present were Jack Kalmenson. Pittsburgh;<br />
Jerry Wechsler, Cleveland: Claude McKean,<br />
Indianapolis: Jim Abrose. Cincinnati: Pete<br />
DeFazio, Washington, and Bill Mansell, Philadelphia.<br />
"Night Before Christmas," a suspense<br />
drama by Steve Sekeley, has been acquired by<br />
MGM.<br />
Frank Orban to Build<br />
Central City Theatre<br />
CENTRAL CITY, PA.—A new theatre will<br />
be opened here on the site of the Central,<br />
which was destroyed by fire in November<br />
1950. The property has been purchased from<br />
a coal company, which had owned it, by<br />
Frank A. Orban jr., Cairnbrook and Hooversville<br />
exhibitor. Orban. a former member of<br />
the Pennsylvania legislature, was a practicing<br />
attorney at Somerset for a number of<br />
years. In January he was named district<br />
attorney of Somerset county and resigned<br />
his general assembly duties. He is the Republican<br />
nominee to retain his district attorney<br />
post. Plans for the new Central City<br />
theatre are not announced. The Central had<br />
been managed for many years by Bert M.<br />
Redfoot, Windber exhibitor and veteran in<br />
the industry.<br />
WEST VIRGINIA<br />
puis Drive-In and restaurant celebrated<br />
their first anniversary with drawings for<br />
$50 and $25 defense bonds and a 15-pound<br />
ham. Its feature was "I'll Get By" and the<br />
Schoolboy Patrol band furnished special<br />
music style revue, "Fashions in<br />
.<br />
Loveliness," was a special stage feature at<br />
the Capitol in Wheeling.<br />
Gus Gianakos has resigned as manager of<br />
the Manos in Grafton and he has opened a<br />
clothing store there . and Mrs. Jack<br />
Marks of Clarksburg departed for Indianpolis<br />
where the pioneer West Virginia exhibitor<br />
will enter a ho.spital for another operation.<br />
Morgantown council expects to collect $18,-<br />
000 in amusement taxes for the current fiscal<br />
year .<br />
amusement tax at Parkersburg<br />
will yield approximately $16,000 for the year<br />
Town municipality lists $308 as<br />
the amount expected to be returned this year<br />
from its amusement tax.<br />
A diamond ring belonging to Dale Warner<br />
was stolen from the administration building<br />
of Warner's Skyline Theatre near Clarksburg<br />
Wednesday last week day<br />
.<br />
night fireworks were featured at several outdoor<br />
theatres in the mountain states, including<br />
the Pine View near Reedsville and Warner's<br />
Skyline.<br />
Another Grandchild<br />
ELKINS. W. VA.—<br />
child, was born here<br />
Mrs. Nicholas Giovan<br />
for Exhibitors<br />
daughter, their fourth<br />
recently to Mr. and<br />
. Papa manages the<br />
Manos and Elkins here and the mother is the<br />
former Bessie Manos. Her parents, Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Michael Manos of Greensburg, Pa., were<br />
here for the event.<br />
OUTSTANDING CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ENClNeiRINO<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8. 1951<br />
83
. .<br />
. . The<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
TV Is Greater Threal<br />
To Luce, Says Smith<br />
Cam Reichblum and his wife entertained M. D. Downs, mother of Mrs. Hazel Solether<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Reichblum of Pittsburgh<br />
over the weekend . . . Julius Lamm, cided to fill the tank for her car and set<br />
of the Falls Theatre at Chagrin Falls, de-<br />
COLUMBUS—Life and "nme magazines<br />
manager of the Uptown Theatre, and his forth solo for Wheeling, W. Va., it is worthy<br />
have a lot more to fear from television than<br />
wife were in Chicago to attend the funeral of note. Mrs. Downs recently celebrated her<br />
movies have, said Martin Smith, president of<br />
of Mrs. Lamm's brother, Ludwig Sussman, 84th birthday . . . Marie Roessel,<br />
the<br />
U-I Independent<br />
cashier,<br />
Theatre Owners of Ohio, in<br />
well-known pioneer exhibitor . . . Tony Stern is vacationing . . . Advance a<br />
publicity<br />
recent<br />
on<br />
bulletin to members.<br />
of Ohio Drive-In Theatre Corp., has sold his "David and Bathsheba," slated to play Warners'<br />
Allen Theatre at advanced prices, in-<br />
picture producer is what is biting Henry Luce<br />
"Maybe his ignominious failure as a motion<br />
Shaker Heights home. His wife and two<br />
daughters are temporarily in New York.<br />
cludes distribution of 20, 24-sheets, 50,000 and explains his malice toward the industry,"<br />
bookmarks in the Cleveland hbrary system, said Smith. "His mortician,<br />
I. J. Schmertz,<br />
Coughlan,<br />
20th-Fox manager,<br />
thinks<br />
passed<br />
15,000 four-color tabloids to special groups he has laid out and buried the<br />
out the cigars after the<br />
movies,<br />
arrival of a granddaughter<br />
but<br />
and a splash front. The Cleveland Public he had the wrong corpse in the<br />
born<br />
casket.<br />
to his daughter, Mrs. Esty<br />
Our<br />
Library and all of its 20 branches have arranged<br />
special art displays on the picture<br />
guess that what he buried<br />
Dobbs,<br />
was<br />
Cleveland.<br />
the<br />
Esty has two<br />
Luce<br />
sons<br />
publications<br />
which television<br />
.<br />
George<br />
two<br />
Davis<br />
had made 'old<br />
of<br />
hat.'<br />
the Liberty Theatre at weeks in advance of playdate.<br />
The news event which the<br />
Wellsville<br />
citizen<br />
got that tan<br />
sees<br />
playing golf where,<br />
on<br />
television today will be insipid<br />
it's said, he does most of his film buying.<br />
Bill Kunzman, who<br />
when<br />
has<br />
Henry<br />
been with National tries to warm it over in his<br />
Carbon periodicals.<br />
Co. for the past 42 years, is retiring<br />
Mr. and Mrs. John Hagedorn of the Flushing<br />
Theatre at Flushing have returned from<br />
all the<br />
on<br />
"After<br />
November a<br />
1. He time-consuming<br />
will attend the National<br />
survey, in which<br />
Allied and SMPE wrong<br />
conventions<br />
people appear to<br />
.<br />
noble<br />
have been<br />
a three-week vacation in Texas ... J. Knox experiment<br />
interviewed.<br />
of<br />
Life<br />
vaudeville has just<br />
revival come<br />
started<br />
forth<br />
at<br />
with a<br />
Strachan, manager, set up a WAC and WAF the<br />
story<br />
RKO<br />
that<br />
Palace<br />
might<br />
Theatre September<br />
have seemed<br />
6 with<br />
convincing a<br />
recruiting station in the foyer of the Allen<br />
few<br />
the Spike Jones company<br />
months ago but which is<br />
of 44<br />
Theatre<br />
presented<br />
pretty<br />
during<br />
on<br />
ridiculous<br />
the engagement of "Force of<br />
as of<br />
a two-a-day<br />
the date<br />
reserved<br />
of its<br />
seat<br />
publication.<br />
policy.<br />
Arms,"<br />
This was<br />
attracting both recruits and patronage<br />
.. . Ralph<br />
the policy at the Palace back in<br />
"Television's<br />
1926 and<br />
great contribution is the instantaneous<br />
Bevington's new 498-seat its revival is being watched<br />
Mohawk throughout the<br />
transmission of important and<br />
Theatre at Waynesburg, now nearing country with keen interest. Three interesting<br />
completion,<br />
shows will<br />
events by sight and sound. People<br />
is scheduled to open November 1. be presented on Saturday and<br />
Vogel<br />
Sunday<br />
Building<br />
during<br />
no longer are content to wait for hours,<br />
Co. of Wellsburg designed, the seven-day engagement.<br />
much less days and weeks, to learn what is<br />
engineered and constructed the building . . .<br />
going on. Television has limitations<br />
Sidney<br />
which<br />
Cooper, UA branch manager, was in Moe Gertz has left the Jack L. Gertz Enterprises<br />
and has returned to Chicago . ment medium ... but as a medium for<br />
cannot be overcome as an art and entertain-<br />
New York to attend the first company convention<br />
the<br />
under the new regime . . . Betty Herbert Miller is trying out a new policy at instantaneous depiction of great events it has<br />
Bluffestone, UA booker, is on vacation.<br />
the Ritz Theatre. Once a month he is devoting<br />
four days of the<br />
no rival.<br />
Harry<br />
week to the<br />
Buxbaum, presentation<br />
March of<br />
Paramount manager, and<br />
"Consider the demise of the of<br />
Jewish Time.<br />
pictures. The<br />
family<br />
Ritz is<br />
are<br />
located<br />
enjoying a Cape Cod vacation As a novelty, MOT caught<br />
. . .<br />
in a<br />
on for a while.<br />
predominantly<br />
Marian<br />
Jewish<br />
Ward,<br />
neighborhood.<br />
secretary to J. S. Jossey,<br />
It<br />
is enjoying<br />
in retrospect her recent vacation in Lieut. Donald Wolf, son<br />
offered little in the way of entertainment<br />
and the<br />
of Warner<br />
pompous,<br />
Ohio<br />
bombastic shouting of the<br />
and around Boston . . . Visitors of the week zone manager Nat Wolf, was<br />
off-screen<br />
scheduled announcer soon<br />
to sail<br />
became a bore.<br />
included Walter Steuve of Findlay, Ellsworth with his armored outfit for Germany<br />
But the main<br />
September<br />
it<br />
reason for its failure was that<br />
Staup from Delphos, Jack Gutilla of De- 4 .. . Kroger Babb,<br />
was a<br />
president<br />
one-topic<br />
of Hallmark<br />
Productions, has announced<br />
newsreel and the pictures<br />
Graf and Sylvan Goldfinger, Scheftel-Burger<br />
district manager.<br />
participation It<br />
were old stuff<br />
his when they<br />
active<br />
reached the screen.<br />
with words and<br />
became<br />
deeds known<br />
in<br />
as<br />
the<br />
"Time Drags Its Feet'<br />
Movietime U.S.A. campaign<br />
and was quickly<br />
. . .<br />
The Jack<br />
RKO<br />
and<br />
yanked from regular theatres<br />
Palace policy for the Robinson- Miriam Stone are the newest<br />
and relegated<br />
Turpin<br />
Mr. to<br />
and Mrs.<br />
newsreel houses. When<br />
fight night (12) was not yet set. unit team to join Hallmark.<br />
those<br />
Manager<br />
They<br />
houses<br />
are graduates<br />
from the TV was out of<br />
succumbed to television, MOT<br />
Max Mink said. Decision is complicated<br />
by the fact that the Palace wUl be<br />
field.<br />
luck—and out of business."<br />
showing vaudeville that week. Tentative plans<br />
call for a $2.40 admission charge for the Prince in Ambridge, Pa., Raymond J. Gorman Dies<br />
fight, but whether this will be just for the<br />
fight or whether it will include<br />
To<br />
screen and.<br />
Close<br />
or<br />
Soon<br />
PITTSBURGH-Raymond<br />
for Good<br />
J. Gorman, 55,<br />
president of lATSE Local 3 for<br />
stage<br />
a dozen years.<br />
entertainment will be decided this week. AMBRIDGE, PA. — The Prince Theatre died in Mercy hospital. He had been employed<br />
at the<br />
building here has been sold by Warner Theatres<br />
to Timney Electric & Furniture<br />
It's not unusual for a<br />
Stanley<br />
grandmother<br />
and<br />
to want<br />
Warner theatres<br />
to<br />
Co.<br />
visit her<br />
and was a<br />
grandchildren, member of the<br />
but when union 35<br />
Mrs.<br />
years.<br />
The two-story brick building houses the theatre,<br />
jewelry store, kiddies' store, grill, barber Resurrection church and burial was in<br />
Solemn requiem high mass w-as sung in<br />
shop,<br />
Calvary<br />
cemetery. He is survived by his wife<br />
millinery shop and second floor offices.<br />
Timney spokesmen said the purchase Wilma, a brother and two sisters.<br />
was for a planned expansion program and as<br />
HEADLINE NEWS...<br />
an investment property. The theatre will<br />
close on or before October 1 and will no John DeAngelis to Open Airer<br />
For Your Theatre longer<br />
Screen<br />
be used as a film house.<br />
FOLLANSBEE. W. VA. — A new outdoor<br />
THE<br />
theatre will<br />
TRUTH be<br />
ABOUT THE<br />
opened near<br />
SMOKE here by<br />
OF HELL<br />
John<br />
DeAngelis. The owner formerly was a partner<br />
""COCAINE—The dope thrill that kills— 'Molester' Jumps to Floor in the Blue Moon Drive-In enterprise<br />
"DEVIL'S<br />
at<br />
HARVEST-Thc devil's dope harvest<br />
;;<br />
Wellsburg, " "NARCOTIC—The dope narcotic<br />
Of<br />
but sold<br />
Theatre<br />
his interest to<br />
From Balcony<br />
Camillo<br />
Cionni.<br />
""MARIHUANA-The smoke of hell<br />
AKRON— A 32-year-old Akron man who<br />
jumped from the second floor balcony to the<br />
t-ich of tlie Above Full Lenjth, 2-Hour Feature<br />
first floor Titles<br />
of the Forum Theatre on August<br />
26. is being held by police. He is<br />
RUSH<br />
Lamar<br />
PLAY DATES AND SELECTIONS— Quiggle and has been charged with annoying<br />
WRITE—WIRE—PHONE— FOR TERMS both the candy girl and the assistant manager,<br />
a<br />
A.<br />
woman. Unable to get<br />
I. ST.<br />
through the<br />
CLAIR<br />
W. Va.-Ky. manager's office door,<br />
Representative<br />
which the a.ssistant<br />
Box 310, Beckley, W.<br />
manager Vo.<br />
had locked. Quiggle jumped to the<br />
main floor, where a doorman captured him.<br />
84<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8, 1951
. .<br />
,^<br />
John<br />
. . Ern<br />
. . Mary<br />
. .<br />
LOUISVILLE Samson' Grosses 135 COLUMBUS<br />
According to Kentucky Revenue, a report<br />
compiled by the departments of finance<br />
and revenue, tax revenue on amusement i combined)<br />
for July 1951 was $137,652.54, whereas<br />
the figure for July 1950 was only $125,133.73,<br />
a gain of $12,518.81. With a gain of better<br />
than $45,000 during July and June over the<br />
same months in 1950, it indicates an upward<br />
trend in boxoffice receipts.<br />
W. R. Shafer, who not so long ago sold the<br />
majority of his theatre interests in this locality<br />
and moved to Florida to resume similar<br />
interests, recently added to his interests the<br />
Florida Theatre at Daytona Beach .<br />
Charles B. Wells jr. of the Falls City Theatre<br />
Equipment Co. staff has returned following an<br />
extensive vacation trip to Oklahoma and the<br />
southwest.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Fred May of the Royal Theatre<br />
at Carrollton, Ky., have announced the<br />
birth of a daughter named Mundy Sue, who<br />
was born at a hospital here . . . Exhibitors<br />
seen on the Row recently included Louis<br />
Chowning of the Sky-Line Drive-In at Madison,<br />
Ind., Tom Speer, Moni-oe Theatre, Monroe<br />
City; E. L. Ornstein, Rialto Theatre,<br />
Marengo; Fred May, Royal Theatre, Carrollton,<br />
and Robert Enoch, State and Grand<br />
theatres, Elizabethtown.<br />
C. K. "Buddy" Arnold, chairman of the<br />
KATO showmanship committee and executive<br />
director of the Arco and Melody theatres,<br />
Bardstown, Ky., stopped on the Row en<br />
route to Indianapolis to attend the opening<br />
session of the Movietime U.S.A. program at<br />
Mrs. Robert<br />
the Keith Theatre there . . .<br />
Marshall, daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Clyde Marshall of the Columbian Theatre,<br />
Columbia, was stricken with polio and was<br />
taken to St. Joseph's infirmary here for<br />
treatment ... A joint meeting of the showmanship<br />
and convention committees of the<br />
Kentucky Ass'n of Theatre Owners was scheduled<br />
for August 30 at the Pendennis club<br />
here. The annual KATO convention place<br />
and date was to be set.<br />
Somerset, Pa., Will Vote<br />
On Blue Law Question<br />
SOMERSET, PA.—The question of legalizing<br />
Sunday films in Somerset borough will<br />
appear on the ballot at the November 6<br />
election.<br />
Petitions asking for a special vote<br />
were presented to the borough council. They<br />
contained the signatures of 1,075 persons.<br />
A total of 560 was required to get the question<br />
on the ballot. Council has approved a<br />
resolution certifying the petitions to the<br />
county commissioners for the referendum.<br />
Returns From Vacation<br />
SARANAC, MICH.—Wayne Stebbins. manager<br />
of the Saranac Theatre here for Callier<br />
Enterprise, has returned home after a vacation<br />
in Kentucky and Tennessee.<br />
Celebrates 20th Anniversary<br />
ROCHESTER, PA.—Twentieth anniversary<br />
of the Oriental here was celebrated with the<br />
exhibition of "That's My Boy."<br />
Audie Murphy has been given the title<br />
role in U-I's "The Hair Trigger Kid."<br />
To Pace Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH—Golden Triangle theatres<br />
perked up and only one attraction failed to<br />
hit par. U-I premiered "Iron Man" at the<br />
J. P. Harris. Biggest hit on the barometer<br />
was "Samson and Delilah" at the Warner.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Fulton Cyrano de Bergercic (UA), popular prices.. 100<br />
Harris-Iron Man (U I) 110<br />
Penn—Rich, Young and Pretly (MGM) 100<br />
Stanley—Captain Horatio Homijiowor (WB),<br />
2nd wk 75<br />
Warner—Samson and Delilah (Para), popular<br />
prices -. 135<br />
Thorpe' Is AU-Star<br />
At Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—Five of the eight downtown<br />
pictuies drew better than average business.<br />
"Jim Thorpe— All American" was in first<br />
place, hitting a happy 160 per cent at Warners'<br />
Allen. "Iron Man" was another top<br />
grosser. It registered 130 at the Hippodrome.<br />
Second week of "That's My Boy" at Loew's<br />
State continued to draw crowds. "Flying<br />
Leathernecks" opened very big at the RKO<br />
Palace. Downtown business was helped by<br />
crowds going to the ballgame, some gravitating<br />
to the theatres. Neighborhood houses,<br />
however, were hurt by baseball.<br />
Allen—lim Thorpe—All American (WB) 160<br />
Hippodrome—Iron Man (UI) 130<br />
Lower Mall—Odette (UA) 80<br />
Ohio Jesse James and Return of Frank James<br />
(20th-Fox), reissues 80<br />
Palace—Flying Leathernecks (RKO) 120<br />
State—Thot's My Boy (Para), 2nd wk 115<br />
Stillman—Warpath (Para) 75<br />
Tower-Texas Rangers (Col); Loma Doone (Col),<br />
2nd d. t. wk 115<br />
"Alice' and 'Cyrano' Battle<br />
For So-So Cincy Honors<br />
CINCINNATI—It was a fair week at the<br />
boxoffice with no outstanding grosses anywhere,<br />
a 120 figure on "Cyrano" topping the<br />
town. The weather was unusually hot. Disney's<br />
"Alice" probably took what honors there were<br />
with a 100 per cent mark for its third week<br />
hereabouts.<br />
Albee—Cyrano de B<br />
Capitol—Mr. Belvedi<br />
2nd wk<br />
>rac (UA)<br />
Rings Bell (20th-Fox),<br />
Grand—The Lady and the Bandit (Col); Road<br />
block (RKO)<br />
Keith's—The Strip (MGM)<br />
Lyric—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 3rd d. t. v<br />
Palace—Happy Go Lovely (RKO) ..110<br />
.<br />
Holdovers and Newcomers<br />
Push Up Level in Detroit<br />
DETROIT—The general business level was<br />
surprisingly high here despite—or perhaps<br />
because of—hot weather. Individual top attractions<br />
did excellent summer business although<br />
a number of the holdovers were still<br />
going strong.<br />
Adams—Happy Go Lovely (RKO) 120<br />
Cinema—Orpheus (Discmo); Miquelte (Discina) ... 85<br />
Fox—"M" (Col); Two oi a Kind (Col) 130<br />
Madison—Wagon Wheels (Para); Desert Gold<br />
(Para), reissues 80<br />
Michigan—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 2nd wk 100<br />
Palms-State—Captain Horatio Homblower (WB),<br />
.125<br />
United Artists—Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM)<br />
The Tall Target (MGM). 2nd wk 100<br />
Give Up Regent Square Lease<br />
PITTSBURGH—John and Steve Kobak<br />
have given up the lease on the Regent Square,<br />
1035 South Braddock Ave., and Francis H,<br />
McKnight, owner, has turned over management<br />
to Harry Fleishman of the Brighton in<br />
Brighton Place, city. McKnight, former Pittsburgh<br />
real estate broker, at one time represented<br />
the Roxian in McKees Rocks and the<br />
Brighton for banking Interests.<br />
RyTembers of the board of directors of the<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio<br />
wiU meet here Tuesday (ID to discuss Movietime<br />
U.S.A. and "other vitally important matters"<br />
. . . Henry Fickensher, manager of<br />
the Gallon Theatre, and Charles Alcorn, associate<br />
manager, have purchased a motel near<br />
St. Cloud, Fla., and plan to move there this<br />
fall. The ill health of Alcorn's daughter<br />
Jamie prompted the move. Name of the new<br />
manager of the Gallon will be announced<br />
soon.<br />
Mickey Tuton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.<br />
A. J. McNabb of Grandview, has been cast in<br />
the new Mickey Rooney picture, "Sound Off."<br />
Mrs. Tuton's 21-month-old daughter Michele<br />
is a member of the Screen Childi-en's Guild<br />
of Hollywood. She and her mother are models<br />
.<br />
.. Maloney, now an employe of<br />
the Lattimer-Stevens Co. in Columbus, appears<br />
in several scenes of "Flying Leathernecks,"<br />
which showed last week at the Palace.<br />
Maloney was a member of the marine<br />
corps when the picture was shot at Oceanside,<br />
Calif.<br />
MGM screened "Angels in the Outfield" at<br />
the Livingston, courtesy of Fred Rowlands .<br />
Director Howard Foust of the Ohio state fair<br />
said that the 1952 fair might be a 30-day<br />
exposition in celebration of Ohio's sesquicentennial.<br />
This year's fair was an eight-day<br />
affair. The nightly Horace Heidt show at the<br />
fair and other attractions proved substantial<br />
opposition to Columbus theatres.<br />
Dick Larkins, athletic director of Ohio<br />
state university, said he wasn't sure that the<br />
Ohio State-Indiana and Ohio State-Michigan<br />
football games would be shown locally<br />
over WLW-C despite an unofficial announcement<br />
that the NBC video network would telecast<br />
these games this fall. He said many details<br />
remain to be worked out prior to an<br />
official announcement. The Indiana game<br />
will be played in Ohio stadium October 20<br />
and the Michigan game at Ann Arbor November<br />
22.<br />
Edmond O'Brien, star of Paramount's "Warpath,"<br />
and Producer Nat Holt were Columbus<br />
visitors in advance of the showing of the<br />
picture at Loew's Broad. Holt was busy greeting<br />
Columbus friends, including Harry<br />
Schreiber, since he formerly was RKO division<br />
manager at Cleveland . Westmore made<br />
personal appearances at the Palace in Lancaster,<br />
Ohio, in connection with a test showing<br />
of Hallmark's "Secrets of Beauty," since<br />
retitled "Why Men Leave Home." Mayor<br />
Harold Brandon of Lancaster proclaimed a<br />
Beauty Week in honor of the showing.<br />
Joan Trickier has been promoted from home<br />
office receptionist to secretary to Robert<br />
Wood, home office manager, and Robert<br />
Little to director of routes at Hallmark Productions<br />
of Wilmington . McGavran<br />
Koebel, theatre editor of the Ohio State<br />
Journal, and her husband are vacationing in<br />
the south . . . Beverly Michaels, who has the<br />
title role in Columbia's "Pickup," will meet<br />
the pre.ss and make radio appearances during<br />
a one-day stay here September 11 in advance<br />
of opening of the picture at Loew's Broad.<br />
James V. Kern will direct "The Hundred<br />
Grand Bachelor" which Michel Kraike will<br />
produce.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951 85
: September<br />
New Louisville First Run Is Tribute Bingo Ruled Legal<br />
To 'Home Made Theatre Operator By Dayton Judge<br />
FEATURES MICH-AEL SWITOW<br />
Boyd Martin's column In the Courier-<br />
Journal gave the human interest story behind<br />
the policy switch at the Kentucky Theatre.<br />
He said the change will be more significant<br />
than the mere inauguration of a new policy.<br />
It is the heritage a noble little Jewish immigrant<br />
of indefatigable industry and honesty<br />
left to his widow and his three sons.<br />
"This little man whose vision it was to have<br />
an important place in the community as a<br />
motion picture operator and exhibitor was<br />
Michael Switow," wrote Martin. He came<br />
from Russia in 1884 at the age of 18 and<br />
eventually got to Shelbyville, Ind., where he<br />
and his wife operated a restaui-ant and candy<br />
store.<br />
When the movies came along and Shelbyville<br />
needed a motion picture theatre, Michael<br />
Switow and his helpmate, after the day's work<br />
was over for ordinary people, pushed the<br />
tables and chairs in the i-estaurant out of<br />
the way, hung up a screen and exhibited the<br />
nickel dreadfuls put out by Biograph, Pathe,<br />
Essenay and others experimenting with the<br />
new invention. The modest candy counter<br />
supplied what has now become the difference<br />
between financial success and failure<br />
in the modern motion picture palace.<br />
From Shelbyville to New Albany and then<br />
to Jeffersonville was a mere realization of a<br />
vision Michael had. It was to the effect that<br />
if hard work could realize a profit on one<br />
small investment, three times as much work<br />
might realize three times as much dough<br />
on three investments.<br />
ESTABLISHES SMALL CHAIN<br />
So he established real motion pictm-e theatres<br />
of the silent era until he had a small<br />
chain of them, increasing his power to secure<br />
rentals. Before 'World War I he disposed<br />
of his wider interests in small towns in<br />
Indiana and concentrated on his Jeffersonville<br />
and New Albany properties and expanded<br />
his interests in Louisville.<br />
He opened the Rex—or Novelty, as it was<br />
then called—and startled the natives by introducing<br />
contrasts in doormen. One was<br />
BEST SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
LOUISVILLE—The Kentucky Theatre became<br />
huge; the other a midget. The Novelty was<br />
a first run situation Thursday (30) and so called because it had the first mirror<br />
thereby hangs a tale or two. In preparation screen in Louisville.<br />
for the event the house has had an interior In 1914, Switow joined the Long interests,<br />
overhaul, new seats, new carpeting and many Fred J. Dolle and others in building the<br />
new appointments to give it a bright new Alamo. This was the first of the large down-<br />
look. The opening attraction will be "Mr.<br />
Belvedere Rings the Bell," followed by<br />
"Fabiola" and "Cyrano de Bergerac" in that<br />
order. Admissions will be the same as Louisville's<br />
other first runs on Fourth street.<br />
Prior to its present rejuvenation, the Kentucky<br />
had a face-lift in 1940. Performances<br />
were continued during the redecorating work.<br />
town first run houses. With other businessmen,<br />
Michael built the Kentucky Theatre,<br />
whose policy then was to show first run<br />
films just as soon as the first run theatres<br />
got through with them, and at prices lower<br />
than the first run houses asked.<br />
It would seem that Michael's sons—Sam,<br />
Harry and Fred, are not only sustaining their<br />
father's reputation for thoroughness and<br />
progress but are doing just about what he<br />
would have done had he been alive to do it,<br />
Martin's column concluded.<br />
S. J. Switow is listed as operator of the<br />
Kentucky in its new policy.<br />
TOLEDO<br />
\lt7illiam E. Simpson, 40, vice-president in<br />
charge of sales for the Trailway Arts Co.,<br />
local billboard advertising firm, died . . . Edward<br />
Y. Flanigan, 59, managing director of<br />
WSPD and WSPD-TV and a vice-president of<br />
the Fort Industry Co., died. He was a former<br />
president of the Ohio Ass'n of Broadcasters<br />
and a member of Variety Tent 30.<br />
Oscar E. Anderson, 63, father of Mis. Jean<br />
Negulesco, died. His daughter is the former<br />
Ruth Anderson, model and actress and wife<br />
of a motion picture director in Beverly Hills,<br />
Calif. His wife Grace also survives.<br />
When the Rivoli brought "The Whistle at<br />
Eaton Falls" to its screen, it had an advance<br />
ticket, sale to fill the 2,700-seat house for<br />
two showings and then some, according to<br />
Howard Feigley, manager. Toledo industries<br />
purchased the tickets and made them available<br />
to employes. The film, which deals with<br />
everyday problems of capital and labor, was<br />
brought to the attention of the Northwestern<br />
Ohio Industrial Council, and factory managements<br />
treated workers to the show.<br />
Pittsburgh Nixon Sets Up<br />
Legitimate Bookings<br />
PITTSBURGH—The new Nixon's legitimate<br />
season bookings for the most part are indefinite,<br />
but productions expected for the<br />
fall and winter include "The Autumn Garden,"<br />
with Fredric March and Florence Eldridge.<br />
opening around October 29; Edward G.<br />
Robinson in "Darkness at Noon," tentatively<br />
dated for November 19; "The Happy Time,"<br />
"Oklahoma!," "Stalag 17," "The Rose Tattoo,"<br />
"The Country Girl," "Mister Roberts," "Kiss<br />
Me, Kate," "The Moon Is Blue," "Bell, Book<br />
and Candle," "Member of the Wedding" and<br />
others. "Tales of Hoffmann" opened as a<br />
roadshow at the Nixon September 2.<br />
Edmond O'Brien Appears<br />
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO—Edmond O'Brien<br />
made a personal appearance here to give<br />
"Warpath," his new film, a sendoff at the<br />
State Theatre.<br />
DAYTON—Bingo conducted for charitable<br />
purposes is legal in Dayton, according to a<br />
ruling by Judge Calvin Crawford, who held<br />
the game, unless operated for private profit,<br />
is not a criminal offense under the laws of<br />
Ohio. This ruling contradicts other rulings<br />
given recently in cases at Alliance and Canton.<br />
Tlie Dayton case grew out of a suit by the<br />
801 Recreation Ass'n. which sought to have<br />
police restrained from interfering with bingo.<br />
Last May Judge Crawford ordered a temporary<br />
halt to arrests by Dayton police of<br />
bingo operators conducting games for charity.<br />
City trial counsel Maurice Gilbert contended<br />
that all forms of bingo are illegal<br />
under the state constitution and that the<br />
state laws which penalizes commercial bingo<br />
only does not legalize other forms of bingo.<br />
Judge Crawford, who pointed to similar<br />
decisions in Greene county and Franklin<br />
county, said that the legislature in 1943<br />
provided that persons could be punished for<br />
operating bingo, only if they were acting for<br />
their own profit.<br />
He pointed out that his decision is "not a<br />
license for indiscriminate schemes of chance<br />
nor an invitation to fraud to masquerade as<br />
charity. Each project is to be examined on its<br />
own merits." The city still can appeal the<br />
decision or it can try cases on the basis of<br />
their merits, the judge added.<br />
Burgettstown Suits Ended<br />
PITTSBURGH — Three percentage suits<br />
filed against Charles Argentine and James<br />
Morosco, operators of the Keith Theatre at<br />
Burgettstown, Pa., by RKO, Paramount and<br />
Loew's. Inc., have been settled out of court<br />
by full payment of the claims.<br />
It's a Small World<br />
COLUMBUS—Edmond O'Brien, screen star,<br />
found a local double in Chet Long, ace WBNS<br />
and WBNS-TV newscaster. Their resemblance<br />
is so striking that John Bohannan,<br />
editor of the Columbus Star, had a picture<br />
taken of the two together. O'Brien was here<br />
in advance of "Warpath" at Loew's Broad.<br />
AKRON<br />
J oew's Theatre held a teenage premiere from<br />
7:30 to 9 p. m. to highlight the opening<br />
of "Rich, Young and Pretty." Young people<br />
attending the show danced in the lobby to<br />
tunes from the film, played by Clark Reid,<br />
disk jockey at WAKR. A fashion show was<br />
given by the Radio Tee-Vee Workshop of<br />
Cleveland. Free doughtnuts and soft drinks<br />
were served. There was no additional charge<br />
for the festivities.<br />
Special preview of "Jim Thorpe—All American"<br />
was held at the Strand at 8:30 p. m.<br />
Tuesday (28) with all proceeds being turned<br />
over to the Bantam Football fund. The proceeds<br />
will be used to pay medical expenses for<br />
gridders injured during practice or actual<br />
games. The Bantam teams are composed of<br />
lightweight kids.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951
Norwich Theatres<br />
Untie Parking Knot<br />
HARTFORD — One Connecticut community's<br />
theatres apparently have solved the<br />
problem of adequate parking facilities.<br />
In Norwich, eastern Connecticut city of<br />
30,000 population, three theatres—Loew's Poll,<br />
Warner Palace and the independent Lord<br />
are reaping the benefits of sufficient parking<br />
space in the downtown area of a town where<br />
inadequate parking was once the normal<br />
situation.<br />
A short 36 months ago, Norwich opened its<br />
400-car capacity municipal parking lot, adjacent<br />
to the railroad station. The lot was<br />
opened through the ever-persistent efforts<br />
of such key theatremen as Harry F. Shaw,<br />
division manager of Loew's Poli-New England<br />
Theatres, and Joe Boyle. Loew's Poll manager<br />
at Norwich. They convinced the mayor and<br />
other officials of the city that the lot would<br />
certainly more than pay for itself in the form<br />
of attracting new trade.<br />
Shaw's promise has more than come<br />
through. More and more stores are being<br />
opened in the downtown area and, generally,<br />
theatre trade is picking up all the while and<br />
has been attributed in some respect to the<br />
parking lot. There is a 25-cent day charge<br />
and 10-cent evening charge.<br />
Sam Schechter Elevated<br />
To Theatre Supervision<br />
HARTFORD — George Landers,<br />
Hartford<br />
division manager of the E. M. Loew circuit,<br />
announced the promotion of Sam Schechter,<br />
manager of the Court Square at Springfield,<br />
to supervision of two additional theatres, the<br />
Riverdale Drive-In at West Springfield and<br />
the Holyoke State. Schechter will continue<br />
to manager the Springfield house, it is understood.<br />
Harold Cummings, former manager of the<br />
west Springfield and Holyoke locations, recently<br />
resigned.<br />
Three Pictures Beat Par<br />
In Hartford Heat Finale<br />
HARTFORD — Tlie last real stretch of<br />
summer weather hit both downtown and<br />
subui'ban runs, with Paramount's "That's My<br />
Boy" and MGM's "The People Against<br />
O'Hara" among the week's brighter spots.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Allyn—That's My Boy (Para); Varieties on Parade<br />
(LP), 2nd wk 140<br />
E, M. Loew—The Prince VVho Was a Thiel (U-I),-<br />
Marshal oi Heldorado (LP) 100<br />
Palace—The Law and the Lady (MGM); Portrait<br />
of Claire (SR) 75<br />
Poll—The People Against O'Hara (MGM), The Tall<br />
Target (MGM) 115<br />
Regal— Devil's Sleep (SR), High School Girl (SR) 65<br />
Strand- Force of Arms (WB), The Hoodlum (UA). .105<br />
Walter Stuart Joins ESA;<br />
Quits as Theatre Manager<br />
NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASS. — Walter<br />
Stuart, manager of the Community Theatre,<br />
an American Theatre Corp. house, resigned,<br />
effective September 1, to take a position in<br />
the Economic Stabilization Agency. He will<br />
be a field relations officer in t'ne Boston<br />
regional district.<br />
Before coming here, Stuart was with<br />
M&P Theatre Corp. at New London and before<br />
that was manager of Publix houses in<br />
Hartford and New Haven. He will continue<br />
to live here.<br />
OFF TO WARS—About 50 local theatremen<br />
attended a farewell party at De-<br />
Nino's restaurant given for Sol Karp, assistant<br />
at the State Theatre, who was<br />
recalled to active duty by the navy. Left<br />
to right: Karp; Norman Levinson, assistant<br />
at the Poll, and Edward Salone,<br />
chief of service staff, State.<br />
Hal O'Day Is Appointed<br />
Manager of Needham<br />
BOSTON—Stanley Sumner, general manager<br />
of the suburban Needham Theatre, formerly<br />
the Paramount, has appointed Hal<br />
O'Day as house manager. O'Day got his industry<br />
start with the Interstate circuit working<br />
up from an usher to assistant manager<br />
and manager. When Interstate opened the<br />
Avon Drive-In, O'Day was selected to head<br />
the staff.<br />
A quartermaster in the naval reserve,<br />
O'Day saw active duty in World War II as a<br />
midshipman after receiving training at Princeton<br />
university. Recently he was recalled<br />
for service of several months, which he completed<br />
two weeks ago.<br />
"The Needham Theatre will follow closely<br />
the policy of the University Theatre in Cambridge,<br />
for which Stanley Sumner is also<br />
the general manager," he said. "We will use<br />
the 'upside-down' policy of playing the first<br />
feature ahead of the second feature two days<br />
a week, and we are planning to add Review<br />
days on Wednesdays, both of which policies<br />
have proved successful in Cambridge. We<br />
also are working out some special exploitation<br />
stunts to emphasize the fact to Needham residents<br />
that the Needham Theatre is now under<br />
new management to assure them of the best<br />
in theatre entrtainment."<br />
Boston Pays Tribute<br />
To Flying Marines<br />
BOSTON—Starting with a band concert on<br />
the Gen. Douglas MacArthur mall of the<br />
Common, followed by a colorful parade to<br />
the RKO Keith Memorial Theatre, Boston's<br />
"Salute to the Flying Leathernecks" thrilled<br />
thousands standing along the line of march<br />
to the capacity-filled theatre, where the stage<br />
ceremonies took place. In the parade was<br />
the band from the Charlestown navy yard,<br />
marching marines in dress blues, and commanders<br />
of various veterans organizations.<br />
Col. Paul Hines, post commander of the<br />
Legion of 'Valour, paid tribute on behalf of<br />
the city, to the marine corps and officially<br />
welcomed Col. James A. Peeley, commandant<br />
of the marine air detachment at Squantum,<br />
veteran flying leathernecks whose experiences<br />
range from the Solomons in World War II to<br />
Korea. Feeley introduced to the theatre audience<br />
Sgt. Lawrence "Jim" Corbett, 78-yearold<br />
retired leatherneck, resplendent in his<br />
dress uniform of the vintage of 1906.<br />
Another honored guest was one of the<br />
original flying leathernecks, J. L. Makohin,<br />
a native of Newton, Mass., who pioneered<br />
military aviation with the late Hap Arnold<br />
and Billy Mitchell. He traced the history of<br />
the flying leathernecks from the earliest<br />
days to the era portrayed in the Howard<br />
Hughes production. Several proud bearers of<br />
combat medals in marine action in Korea<br />
were given thunderous ovations by the audience<br />
as they were introduced by Colonel<br />
Feeley.<br />
A barrage of newspaper coverage, outdoor<br />
posting, radio and TV promotion, saturation<br />
subway billing and marine recruiting posters<br />
rounded out the campaign.<br />
Hartford Sneak Previews<br />
Reach Saturation Point<br />
HARTFORD — Sneak previews have been<br />
breaking out like a rash in this area lately.<br />
Both circuit and independent houses have<br />
been holding the advance showings of major<br />
Hollywood product, with the number far exceeding<br />
the normal amount of past seasons.<br />
Some theatremen contend that extensive<br />
use of the sneak preview method of drawing<br />
trade will be detrimental to long-range trade.<br />
One circuit house, it was pointed out, recently<br />
held a sneak preview weekly more than four<br />
or five weeks in succession.<br />
1951 Jimmy Drive Under Way<br />
BOSTON—One of the first contributions<br />
to the 1951 Jimmy fund drive came in unsolicited<br />
from Ai'chbishop Cushing of Boston.<br />
He wrote: "May God bless all who are<br />
identified with the Jimmy drive for cancer<br />
research among children. It's one of<br />
the greatest charities ever sponsored. It<br />
deserves universal support. The story of<br />
its accomplishments to date are an inspiration.<br />
I am delighted to forget for a<br />
moment my own needs to send the fund<br />
the enclo.sed check for $500."<br />
Martin Mullin, president of the Cancer<br />
Research Foundation, was on 'WNAC-TV<br />
for the kickoff of the drive with Jim Britt<br />
during the Braves game Sunday.<br />
Jake Asadorian, Manchester (N. M.)<br />
Drive-In, took in nearly $100 on the first<br />
night's collections. He played the trailer<br />
and had car-to-car collections. This<br />
amount was more than double the entire<br />
take of last yeai-'s drive there.<br />
Nat Ross, who has opened his new independent<br />
distributing company, gave to the<br />
Jimmy drive the first check on his first<br />
contract as a goodwill gesture.<br />
Sonia Zarsky, secretary to E. Harold<br />
Stoneman of Interstate Theatres, is planning<br />
a social cocktail party among her<br />
friends. She is donating the refreshments<br />
and is asking her friends to donate to the<br />
Jimmy drive.<br />
BOXOFFICE : : September 8, 1951 NE 87
. . . Mrs.<br />
. . Beth<br />
. . Janet<br />
. . . John<br />
. . Back<br />
HARTFORD<br />
Tim McCarthy, Warner Strand manager, had been commuting daily between his New<br />
' visiting Atlantic City on his vacation, happened<br />
to bump into an ex-Hartfordite, A. J.<br />
Haven home and the Meriden first run.<br />
Nick Brickates, manager of the Garde at<br />
Vanni, now in the theatre business in New<br />
New London, was fishing off New London<br />
Jersey. Some years ago, Vanni was manager<br />
with Ted Kerry, the night club owner, and<br />
of the Palace in Hartford . . . Harry Hoff,<br />
got a 12-pound bluefish and about 40 porgies<br />
Warner Strand house electrician, is home<br />
E. Petroski, manager of Warner<br />
from a vacation jaunt to Lake Candlewood,<br />
Palace at Norwich, capitalized on the exploitation<br />
fact that John Garfield has been tour-<br />
Danbury and Saratoga Springs . . . Morris<br />
Keppner of the Burnside in East Hartford,<br />
ing New England summer stock this season<br />
moves into his new home in West Hartford<br />
with appropriate newspaper plugs for his<br />
late in October.<br />
run of "He Ran All the Way."<br />
Clarence Bell, Columbia promotion man.<br />
Back from vacations: George Haddad of<br />
huddled with George E. Landers, Hartford<br />
the Gem, Willimantic; Nick E. Brickates,<br />
division manager of E. M. Loew's Theatres.<br />
Garde, New London; Russ Barrett, Capitol,<br />
on the September 7 opening of "Sirocco"<br />
Willimantic; John Petroski, Palace, Norwich<br />
Mary Grady of the Hartford Theatre<br />
Circuit is back from a vacation trip to<br />
and Irving Hillman, Empress, Danbury.<br />
Buffalo . Kaplan. Al Schuman and Tillie Pysyk, assistant manager of Loew's<br />
Gus Schaefer. all of the HTC. were in New Poll at Norwich, is marking her 16th year in<br />
Haven for the screening of "David and Bathsheba."<br />
circuit in that city for a decade before shift-<br />
show business. She was with the Warner<br />
ing to the Poll circuit . . . Eve Arden the<br />
Lou Franciose, formerly at the State in<br />
actress and Brooks West, her leading man,<br />
Jewett City, is now selling furniture for Sears<br />
were married August 17 at the Shelton farm<br />
Roebuck in Norwich . Neal is the<br />
home of Stanley Amster. real estate executive<br />
for Warner Bros. . . . Jack Sanson of the<br />
new cashier and Nancy Rowe candy girl at<br />
the Eastwood in East Hartford.<br />
Warner State at Manchester is on the general<br />
committee for the Manchester Cigar<br />
Frank Morin, formerly manager of the<br />
Regal, is back in town following a Cape Cod Harvest Festival Queen contest.<br />
vacation. His future plans were not disclosed.<br />
Ginger Rogers, in the east to do her first<br />
Morin managed the downtown Warner house<br />
stage role in 20 years, told Allen M. Widem,<br />
for 11 years prior to his resignation . . .<br />
Hartford Times motion picture editor, that<br />
Whalen Jewelers sponsored a children's show<br />
some day she would like to write a musical.<br />
August 29 at Loew's Poll, with all proceeds<br />
"Not just some great contribution to American<br />
culture," she said, "but something that'll<br />
going to the Hartford Times Summer Farm<br />
Fund.<br />
let the audience sit back and really enjoy<br />
Willard B. Rogers, president of the Will itself. I think an audience, be it film or<br />
Rogers Drive-In Theare Corp., Manchester, stage, looks forward more to comedy, because<br />
wrote a guest editorial for the editorial page it gives 'em a chance to relax. Maybe it<br />
of the Hartford Times the other day. Rogers, doesn't ask them to think, as serious drama<br />
long an advocate of luring more business into does, but it certainly provides as much entertainment."<br />
the metropolitan Hartford area, contended<br />
that "taxes continue to mount, operating costs<br />
M. J. Daly, manager of the Center Theatre<br />
with a record of 35 years in independent<br />
in every business continue to mount—yet the<br />
city officials put off from year to year the<br />
exhibition, recently was named to a $71 a<br />
dangerous traffic situation."<br />
week position as probation officer here but<br />
A pair of youths wanted in connection with has continued to manage the first run, foreign<br />
film house, which operates only in the<br />
a Sunday night burglary of the Glendale<br />
Theatre at Worcester. Mass., fell into the evenings and continuously on Saturdays was<br />
hands of Connecticut state police because Sundays . from a vacation was<br />
their car had only one headlight illuminated. Joseph S. Boyle of Loew'.s Poll at Norwich.<br />
He visited Syracuse.<br />
Irv Cooper, formerly manager of the Palace<br />
and Strand Theatres, Stamford, is now in Drive-ins throughout the area continue to<br />
the real estate business . . . Tony Masella, stress numerous off-screen attractions in extensive<br />
advertising. The Air-Line at Chicopee<br />
manager of the Palace at Meriden, has<br />
bought a new home in Wallingford. Tony Falls, Mass., offers a picnic grove and playground.<br />
Lou Schaefer. manager of the<br />
Round-Hill at Springfield, announced the<br />
opening of a free kiddy playground.<br />
Loew's, Inc., owner of the Loew's Poll<br />
BpOK IT NOW!!! Strand Theatre building in Waterbury, has<br />
the property up for sale. The theatre, built<br />
WAHOO is ^he world's most thriliing<br />
screen game. Now being used tion picture theatre but previously had been<br />
in 1913, was used in recent years as a mo-<br />
successfully by hundreds of indoor operated as a vaudeville house . . . Pfc. Bill<br />
and<br />
Daugherty,<br />
outdoor<br />
ex-manager of the Lockwood &<br />
theatres all over America.<br />
Gordon Plaza Theatre at Windsor who was<br />
Send for complete details. Be sure in town on a five-day furlough from his air<br />
and give seating or car capacity.<br />
force base on Long Island, has been handling<br />
duties as projectionist at the base.<br />
Hollywood Amusement Co.<br />
Jack Repass, son of the late Charles L.<br />
831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, III. Repass, for many years manager of the Crown<br />
Theatre in Hartford and a leader in exhibition<br />
circles, walked off with the batting<br />
championship of the third naval district subway<br />
service league this sea.son. Repass, who<br />
has played in several minor leagues, hit .507<br />
in 17 games. Playing three positions in the<br />
infield, he scored 26 runs, drove in 22 on 33<br />
hits in 65 times at bat. He is now stationed<br />
at the St. Albans, N. Y., naval hospital.<br />
'Boy' Biggest Since '48<br />
At Met in Boston<br />
BOSTON—"That's My Boy" at the Metropolitan<br />
pulled down the biggest Boston gross<br />
of any film since both "Sitting Pretty" and<br />
"Sorry, Wrong Number" played the same<br />
house in 1948, with admissions the same. In<br />
fact, the second Martin and Lewis comedy<br />
outgrossed "At War With the Army" at the<br />
same theatre. Other first runs held up well.<br />
The candy and concession department at<br />
the Metropolitan topped the alltime take for<br />
the first week of the popular comedy.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—Thunder on the Hill (U-I), 3rd wk 125<br />
Boston— Iron Man (U I): Gypsy Fury (Mono) ...110<br />
Exeter Sireel— Kon-Tiki (RKO), 8th wl: 100<br />
Memorial—Alice in Wonderland (RKO), 4th wk 9U<br />
Metropolitan—That's My Boy (Para); When I Grow<br />
Up (UA) 275<br />
Paramount and Fenway Warpath (Para); Varieties<br />
on Parade (LP) 85<br />
State and Orpheum—Mask of Avenger (Col);<br />
The Strip (MGM) 90<br />
'Boy' Sets Pace in New Haven;<br />
'Woman' Good; "Pickup' Grows<br />
NEW HAVEN—Tlie best showing on the<br />
main stem was made by the Paramount,<br />
where "That's My Boy" was dualed with<br />
"Varieties on Parade." "His Kind of Woman"<br />
was welcome kind of motion picture fare at<br />
the Roger Sherman, too.<br />
College—Pickup (Col); Blackmail (Rep) 105<br />
Loew's Poll— Sirocco (Col); Corky of Gasoline<br />
Alley (Col) 95<br />
Paramount— That's My Boy (Para); Varieties on<br />
Parade (LP) 150<br />
Roger Sherman—HU Kind of Woman (RKO); Roadblock<br />
(RKO) 115<br />
Loew's Shifts to Wednesday<br />
HARTFORD— E. M. Loew's Theatre has<br />
shifted to a Wednesday opening for new<br />
product temporarily.<br />
MANAGER MEETS STAR—Edgar<br />
Lynch, manager of tlie Roger Sherman<br />
Theatre at New Haven, interviewed Claudette<br />
Colbert at the Westport Country<br />
Playhouse during her recent appearance<br />
in "Island Fling" there. The photo<br />
shown above was used in the New Haven<br />
press in advance of the opening of "Thunder<br />
on the Hill."<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: September 8. 1951
. . From<br />
. . . The<br />
. .<br />
Publicity Men Unile<br />
To Aid Movietime<br />
BOSTON—Martin J. Mullin, Samuel Pinanski,<br />
Nathan Yamins and Edward X. Callahan,<br />
co-chairmen for the Movietime in New<br />
England campaign, have appointed Harry<br />
Browning as publicity chairman with Paul<br />
Levi as assistant.<br />
Members of the Browning-Levi committee<br />
will be Jack Saef, James "Red" King, Bob<br />
Newhook, Max Finn, Phil Engel, Art Moger,<br />
A. Van Leer. Floyd Fitzsimmons, Ralph Banghart,<br />
John McGrail, Joe Mansfield, Dick<br />
Stephens, Alvin Margolian, Harry Kirchgessner.<br />
Herbert Copellman, Ray Feely and Frank<br />
Lydon.<br />
Browning also will serve as expediter of<br />
the campaign. Maurice Wolf has been named<br />
head of the speakers bureau.<br />
The following will act as state publicity<br />
chairmen:<br />
Massachusetts, James "Red" King; Maine,<br />
Ralph Tully; New Hampshire, Albert W.<br />
Foley; Vermont, Frank A. Vennett; Rhode<br />
Island, Albert Clarke.<br />
State publicity liaison men: eastern Massachusetts.<br />
Dick Stephens; western Massachusetts,<br />
John McGrail; Maine, Ralph Banghart;<br />
New Hampshire, Phil Engel; Vermont,<br />
Floyd Fitzsimmons; Rhode Island, Arnold<br />
Van Leer.<br />
Good Newspaper Breaks<br />
Scored on 'Jim Thorpe'<br />
WORCESTER—Murray Howard, manager<br />
of the Warner, capitalized on some good<br />
newspaper breaks while playing "Jim Thorpe<br />
—All American." A publication had mentioned<br />
that Thorpe's professionalism in sports<br />
was exposed by disappointed gamblers, but<br />
a columnist of the Worcester Gazette contradicted<br />
the statement, and showed, instead,<br />
that the original story on the matter had appeared<br />
in the Worcester Telegram.<br />
In a top-page spread, he recounted how Roy<br />
Johnson of the Telegram had tracked the<br />
story down in 1913 and got it confirmed from<br />
the manager of the Winston-Salem club in<br />
the Carolina league, who was visiting in suburban<br />
Southbridge. The story was a sensation<br />
in its day.<br />
Other newspaper breaks included a sports<br />
column on Thorpe's athletic achievements<br />
and a recollection of his playing days for the<br />
Worcester baseball club in the Eastern league.<br />
It also was recalled that Burt Lancaster,<br />
who portrayed Thorpe on the screen, had<br />
played here as a vaudeville acrobat, and that<br />
Dick Wesson also had been here in vaudeville<br />
as a member of the Wesson Brothers.<br />
Young Langner Dickers<br />
Hartford in Stage Chain<br />
HARTFORD—The Center Theatre is the<br />
center of negotiations between Philip Langner,<br />
son of the Theatre Guild's Lawrence<br />
Langner, and Maurice Greenberg, owner of<br />
the 1,200-seat local house, for an eight-week<br />
legitimate theatre season this fall, according<br />
to reliable sources.<br />
The same sources say that the stage project<br />
is part of a national circuit embracing a<br />
number of key cities including Pittsburgh and<br />
Detroit. The Center Theatre here has been<br />
used in the past for both stage and screen<br />
attractions.<br />
BOSTON<br />
Toe Cohen has sold his interest in the Saxon<br />
* Theatre in Fitchburg and is devoting all<br />
his time to the buying and booking for theatres<br />
in this area .<br />
Bellows Falls,<br />
Vt., comes word that Margaret McEvoy, cashier<br />
at the Opera House, operated by Interstate<br />
Theatres, subbed for Manager Ray<br />
Kiniry while he was on vacation . . . Julian<br />
Rifkin of the Rifkin circuit has accepted the<br />
co-chairmanship with Sam Goldstein for theatres<br />
in western Massachusetts for the Movietime<br />
New England-U.S.A. drive.<br />
UA's "The River" has been booked at the<br />
Beacon Hill Theatre for an extended run<br />
starting September 27. The film will play<br />
two-a-day at advanced prices of $2.40 top.<br />
Joe Mansfield, UA publicist, and Tom Dowd,<br />
manager of the Beacon Hill, are working on<br />
a big campaign for the film . . . Al Daytz,<br />
president of Daytz Theatre Enterprises, reports<br />
he is handling the buying and booking<br />
for the three theatres of the Morse & Rothenberg<br />
circuit; the Adams in Adams, the Roxbury<br />
in Roxbury and the Mohawk Drive-In<br />
in North Adams. The company also is buying<br />
and booking for the new Pioneer Drive-In<br />
at Orange, opened by John Whitney on Labor<br />
day.<br />
Officials of 20th-Fox gave a luncheon for<br />
50 Massachusetts exhibitors who heard recordings<br />
of speeches from Spyros Skouras,<br />
Al Lichtman, Charles Einfeld and Darryl<br />
Zanuck on the new 20th-Fox product and<br />
advertising plans. Following the luncheon at<br />
the Statler, where Manager James Connolly<br />
addressed the group, the exhibitors attended<br />
a screening of "The Desert Fox" at the Fox<br />
Little Theatre.<br />
Jean Fedeli, daughter of exhibitor Fred<br />
Fedeli, will be married to James Brackett of<br />
Woonsocket October 27. Fred and his son<br />
Edwin operate the Rialto in Worcester and<br />
the Southern in Norwood. Edwin's wife and<br />
two small sons were in Manhattan, Kas., at<br />
the time of the flood and were rescued by<br />
neighbors when the water rose. Another of<br />
Fred's sons, Fred jr., will return to Dartmouth<br />
college for his junior year. He is the regular<br />
center on the varsity squad and was captain<br />
of the freshman football team his first<br />
year.<br />
Arthur Mabey, manager of Interstate's<br />
State Theatre in Milford, jumped the gun on<br />
. .<br />
his competitors by decking out his theatre for<br />
a prefall movie campaign early in August.<br />
He displayed lobby and foyer posters of coming<br />
attractions with special lighting effects<br />
, Massachusetts Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
has installed new Century Western Electric<br />
sound with new Ashcraft arc lamps and Century<br />
projectors at the Beacon Hill Theatre,<br />
removing this city's first Vitaphone sound<br />
system, which was installed 21 years ago when<br />
the Beacon Hill was the Beacon Theatre. The<br />
new equipment will be ready for the opening<br />
of UA's "The River," September 27,<br />
In Fall River, two theatres which have been<br />
closed for several months, will open later this<br />
month. The Embassy, owned by William Purcell,<br />
will open with the Yamins office doing<br />
the buying and booking, while Jack Saranga<br />
is reopening the Royal. Saranga also operates<br />
the Madison in Jamaica Plains.<br />
Manuel Lima, manager of the Neponset<br />
Drive-In, arranged a 13-week "misspelling"<br />
contest which was tied in with 80 local merchants.<br />
Stilphen Motors, local Ford dealer,<br />
donated a 1951 sedan which has been on<br />
display for several weeks at the theatre, as<br />
grand prize. There were weekly prizes, also<br />
donated by merchants. On the final day of<br />
the drawing for the Ford, there were over<br />
50,000 eligible entries in the huge drum at<br />
the theatre.<br />
Sam Davidson of Cameo Screen Attractions<br />
of 50 Melrose street has taken over the space<br />
next door at 48 Melrose for a display room<br />
for his new dinnerware patterns. This is the<br />
space formerly occupied by Regal Pictures<br />
before the firm moved to 246 Stuart .<br />
Stephen Elie. son of Curt Elie, well known in<br />
the district, received a cup for the best all<br />
around camper for the season in the junior<br />
section of the Trinity camp in New Hampshire.<br />
Mrs. George Clark of Chicago, mother of<br />
Lieut. Comdr. Lloyd J. Clark, vice-president<br />
of Middlesex Amusement Co.. died in her<br />
sleep. Clark, who was recalled to the navy<br />
a few days ago, was granted an emergency<br />
leave from the Bureau of Ships office, Washington,<br />
to attend the services.<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
Two popular recording artists will appear<br />
around the middle of September in another<br />
of the occasional bookings of stage attractions<br />
at Loew's State. They are Patti<br />
Page and Guy Mitchell, who will be starred<br />
on a five-act variety bill . . . Tlie Metropolitan<br />
Theatre recently reopened after a<br />
brief summer vacation with "That's My Boy"<br />
Avon Cinema held "Kon-Tiki" for<br />
two weeks.<br />
Eve Arden starred in "Here Today" at<br />
Matunuck's Theatre-by-the-Sea. Other appearances<br />
of Hollywood favorites on the<br />
strawhat stock circuit included Miriam Hopkins<br />
in "Told to the Children," and Lawrence<br />
Tibbett in "Rain," Newport Casino Theatre.<br />
Harry Feinstein Named<br />
NEW HAVEN—Harry Feinstein, Warner<br />
Theatres zone manager here, appointed<br />
Herbert Copeland as film buyer to succeed<br />
Burritt G. Jacocks, who recently resigned.<br />
Copeland has been with the Warner chain<br />
for many years in various capacities, including<br />
zone managership in Atlantic City,<br />
supervision of foreign houses, and executive<br />
positions in buying and booking at the main<br />
office in New York.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 8. 1951 89
. . . Murray<br />
. . While<br />
. .<br />
. . . Manchester<br />
: September<br />
2 Drive-ins Opened<br />
In Boston Section<br />
BOSTON — Massachusetts Theatre Equipment<br />
Co. has installed the entire booth<br />
equipment, and Phil Lowe of the Theatre<br />
Candy Co. has designed and installed the<br />
concession buildings at two new Massachusetts<br />
drive-ins, completed within five days of each<br />
other.<br />
The first, the 450-car Pinehurst on Route<br />
3 at Billerica, is owned by Aldrich Forward<br />
of Winchester and Jim Sheeran of Woburn<br />
and was built by Bradford Saunders Co.<br />
Sheeran is the manager and buyer and<br />
booker. It may be expanded to 600 cars in<br />
another year. The booth is equipped with<br />
Century water-cooled projectors, Ashcraft<br />
water-cooled arc lamps and has a dual sound<br />
amplification system. The Co-op in-car<br />
speakers have a six-inch cone, manufactured<br />
by Diecast Aluminum Speakers, Inc., of St.<br />
Louis. The concession building, designed by<br />
Lowe of Theatre Candy Co., ha.s overhead<br />
garage-type doors opening on to the breezeway<br />
and a two-lane cafeteria stand with<br />
plenty of room for both workers in the rear<br />
and patrons in the front. It can easily be<br />
converted into a four-lane stand when the<br />
theatre itself is expanded to more cars.<br />
A natural brook runs through one side<br />
of the property, forming a swimming pool<br />
which is open to the public.<br />
The second new open-airer to open its<br />
doors around Labor day is the Pioneer Valley<br />
Drive-In on Route 2 between Orange and<br />
Athol. This 500-car theatre was built by<br />
John Whitney & Son Construction Co. with<br />
complete Century water-cooled projectors.<br />
Ashcraft water-cooled arc lamps and Co-op<br />
in-car speakers. The concession building is<br />
probably the largest stand in New England<br />
for the number of cars.<br />
A huge picture-glass window forms the<br />
front of the stand so patrons can easily view<br />
the screen from lounge chairs inside. The<br />
two-lane cafeteria style counter can readily<br />
be converted into a four-lane counter. This<br />
theatre has a 574-foot throw. The buying and<br />
booking for this theatre is handled by Daytz<br />
Theatre Enterprises.<br />
Ted Harris Due to Reopen<br />
Hartford State Sept. 15<br />
HARTFORD—Back from a six-week Los<br />
Angeles vacation trip, Ted Harris, managing<br />
director of the 4,200-seat State, the city's<br />
largest combination film-vaudeville house,<br />
disclosed plans to reopen September 15 following<br />
the annual summer shuttering. The<br />
reopening attraction, he said, will be Guy<br />
Lombardo and his orchestra.<br />
Ted's brother Sam, also associated with the<br />
Harris Bros. Theatre interests, has returned<br />
from a vacation cruise to South America.<br />
LYNN<br />
T awrence Burke, assistant manager of the<br />
Paramount, has been promoted to manager<br />
of the Merrimac Theatre in Lowell,<br />
which was closed during the summer. Gene<br />
Malenfort, .student manager, succeeds Burke<br />
at the Paramount. The Paramount had<br />
Frankenstein on the stage in person with a<br />
midnight horror picture.<br />
•m^'-'i't- «t:<br />
LEAVES WARNER CIRCUIT — Max<br />
Melincoff brought to a close on Labor<br />
day 22 years association with Warner<br />
Theatres of New England, the last 20<br />
of which as district manager at Boston.<br />
He was to announce his new association<br />
soon.<br />
WORCESTER<br />
paul Lempicki, assistant manager of the<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Capitol, vacationed in Ocean City, N. J.<br />
Howard of the Warner arranged<br />
a midnight show for Labor day<br />
Johnny DiBenedetto. acting manager of<br />
Loevv's Poli, sneak-previewed "Angels in the<br />
Outfield" playing a summer stock<br />
date in Fitchburg, William Bendix said he<br />
hopes to tour again next season, but will play<br />
a comedy instead of a .serious play . . . "The<br />
Chocolate Soldier" closed the season at the<br />
Playhouse . . . Fifi D'Orsay, former film<br />
actress, did big business in a three-day stand<br />
at the State Line Casino in Dudley.<br />
Henry Cummings got an unusual greeting<br />
on his first day as manager of the Greendale.<br />
Thieves entered the theatre at night<br />
and took the safe containing $500. Later the<br />
safe was found in an adjacent t
: September<br />
. . Jean<br />
. . . Here's<br />
Henry A. Morion, 60,<br />
Of Winnipeg Dies<br />
WINNIPEG—Henry A. Morton. 60, president<br />
and managing director of the Odeon-<br />
Morton Theatres in Winnipeg and Saskatoon,<br />
died Wednesday evening (29) in Misericordia<br />
hospital following a short illness.<br />
Born in Minsk, Russia, Morton emigrated<br />
to the U.S. at the age of 14, and in 1914 came<br />
to Winnipeg and entered the theatre business<br />
as a doorman. Later he acquired and<br />
managed several theatres until 1941, when<br />
he became a partner with Odeon Theatres in<br />
Winnipeg and Saskatoon, remaining in that<br />
capacity until his death.<br />
Morton was a member of the Variety Club,<br />
the Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, the<br />
Masonic lodge, B'nai B'rith, Shaarey Zedek<br />
synagogue, the YMHA, a charter member of<br />
the Glendale County Club, past president of<br />
the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors<br />
Ass'n and a member of the Saskatchewan Exhibitors<br />
Ass'n.<br />
Surviving are his wife Eva Rebecca, a<br />
daughter Elaine, a son Paul, all of Winnipeg,<br />
and three sisters. Funeral services were held<br />
in the Shaarey Zedek synagogue.<br />
P. R. Fielding Improves<br />
After Serious Illness<br />
BRIDGEWATER, N.<br />
S.—Percy R. Fielding,<br />
owner-manager of the Goudey Theatre in<br />
Barrington Passage, who became ill with<br />
pneumonia while convalescing after an operation<br />
at a Halifax hospital, now is recuperating<br />
at the Bridgewater hospital.<br />
He is hoping he will be able to get his<br />
share of deer during hunting season. He<br />
missed golfing and trout fishing while confined<br />
to the two hospitals. Perce has been in<br />
film exhibition for over 30 years in the maritimes,<br />
and has been located at Barrington<br />
Passage the last six years as owner of the<br />
Goudey.<br />
The theatre was built for a Boston gum<br />
manufacturer, a native of the Atlantic seashore<br />
town. Prior to taking over the Goudey,<br />
Fielding was manager of a number of maritime<br />
theatres. He is a brother of Art Fielding,<br />
owner of the Avon and Capitol at Bridgewater,<br />
and Mrs. Frank Audas, who with her<br />
husband operates the Gem at Parrsboro, N. S.<br />
All three were theatre managers in the<br />
Spencer chain for many years, with Art Fielding<br />
general manager of that lineup for about<br />
a dozen years. Mrs. Audas managed two<br />
Spencer theatres at Amherst. N. S.. with her<br />
husband in charge of projection, before they<br />
took over the Gem at nearby Parrsboro.<br />
Winnipeg Lyceum Opens<br />
After Modernization<br />
WINNIPEG — Western Tlieatres Lyceum,<br />
ace key run on the main stem, piloted by<br />
Harry Gray, had a gala reopening as a newly<br />
modernized de luxe house. Large ads in the<br />
dailies proclaimed the following new innovations<br />
for living room comfort; saucer shaped<br />
floor, scientifically selected color decoration.<br />
Walker moulded plastic seamless screen and<br />
modern no-glare concealed lighting.<br />
The Lyceum is the first theatre in Winnipeg<br />
to offer Kroehler push-back lounge<br />
chairs. Photos and illustration demonstrated<br />
to the public how the push-back .seats<br />
operate.<br />
Theatreman Reported<br />
Seen at Windsor, Ont.<br />
TORONTO—The disappearance of Kenneth<br />
Johnston, manager of the London<br />
Odeon, remains one of the top mysteries of<br />
the day here. Last word on the missing theatreman,<br />
who disappeared on August 13, was<br />
that a man answering his description was<br />
seen boarding a plane for Vancouver by airport<br />
officials at Windsor, Ont.<br />
No word had been received from Johnston<br />
anywhere up until the end of August.<br />
MONTREAL<br />
The long, welcome Labor day weekend which<br />
started Saturday saw staffs of Filmrow<br />
offices relaxing in the country or at the seaside,<br />
and in some cases visiting New York<br />
and other American cities. Canadian Thanksgiving<br />
will be celebrated earlier than usual<br />
this year, on October 8, so that this is not the<br />
last opportunity staffs will have for a long<br />
weekend, but it nevertheless marks the end<br />
of the summer holiday season.<br />
Some of the Filmrow personnel were still on<br />
their summer vacation when Labor day arrived,<br />
but to others it was like an extension<br />
of their holiday. At the office of J. Arthur<br />
Rank, Robert Johnson, manager, returned;<br />
Jeanne Paquin had left for the southern<br />
states; salesman George Koppelman was relaxing<br />
at Manitou lodge and Mrs. A. Gendron<br />
of the revision department was at her<br />
summer residence in Woodland, Que. Cardinal<br />
Films Manager Ted Atkinson and wife<br />
were enjoying a holiday near Mont Laurler,<br />
and Orval Fruitman, head booker at Empire-<br />
Universal, was in the Laurentians.<br />
An exhibitor from Malartic in the Quebec<br />
mining region visited Filmrow. He is Benoit<br />
Lehous of the Malartic Theatre . . . Maurice<br />
Fontaine of the poster department of Ur.ited<br />
Amusement Corp. distributed cigars to his<br />
fellow workers following the arrival of a baby<br />
son named Yves . Cavall, Canadian<br />
singing ace of a decade ago who made good in<br />
Paris, has returned to his home town, opened<br />
at the Continental.<br />
Film producers have given consideration to<br />
production of a film dealing with the career<br />
of the late Brother Andre, miracle worker,<br />
who is commemorated in the building of the<br />
magnificent shrine here. According to Fitz.<br />
columnist of Montreal Gazette, the latest<br />
plan to produce such a picture has been turned<br />
down by the ecclesiastical authorities.<br />
Her fellow Canadians rejoice to learn that<br />
Barbara Ann Scott, former Olympic and<br />
world figure skating champion, has been selected<br />
to succeed Sonja Henie as star of the<br />
Hollywood Ice Revue, at a salary reported<br />
to be in excess of $100,000 a year . . . About<br />
75 students from Canadian universities are<br />
encamped at Lake Ouareau where they are<br />
continuing their studies by the aid of educational<br />
films.<br />
Believed to be the first attempt by a newspaper<br />
to produce a colored film showing the<br />
processes of production of a daily journal,<br />
the Adverti-ser of Adelaide, South Australia,<br />
has distributed to schools in that state a<br />
documentary entitled "Your Morning Paper,"<br />
The premiere showing was attended by the<br />
viceregal party and many leading citizens.<br />
New Sillery Opened<br />
In Suburban Quebec<br />
MONTREAL—Mayor Gerald Guay and the<br />
council of Sillery were present when the new<br />
Sillery Theatre in that Quebec city suburb<br />
opened its doors for the first time recently.<br />
Situated on St. Michael street in the heart<br />
of Sillery, the new theatre seats 616 persons<br />
with air conditioning and staggered seating.<br />
The latest in cine-photographic and sound<br />
equipment will assure technical perfection.<br />
The building is entirely fireproof.<br />
Ample space around the theatre offers<br />
easy parking to motorists.<br />
Two double programs will be presented<br />
each week from a large choice of Hollywood<br />
f.lms in both French and English.<br />
Women will profit from the free distribution<br />
of "DuBarry" chinaware.<br />
The Sillery Theatre is under the management<br />
of Harold Vance, assisted by J. Foisy,<br />
N. Pepin and H. Gervais.<br />
Sackville Manager Sends<br />
Cards of Get Well Wishes<br />
SACKVILLE, N. B.—Denis Murphy, manager<br />
of the Vogue Theatre here, has started<br />
sending get well cards to patients in the<br />
local hospital, giving in addition a free pass<br />
to the theatre.<br />
The small card, imprinted with blue, expressed<br />
the hope that the recipient will recover<br />
quickly and be able to return to the<br />
shows at the Vogue. On the reverse side is<br />
the line: Good for one admission at the<br />
Vogue.<br />
Headed: "To You in the Hospital!" the<br />
card reads:<br />
"Just thinking about you and wanting to<br />
say here's hoping you're feeling better today<br />
hoping, as well, that before very<br />
long you'll be back to the movies again, all<br />
well and strong."<br />
Murphy sees that the cards are distributed<br />
to all the hospital patients once a week and<br />
also to those who are sick or injured at their<br />
homes in the Sackville area and at Mount<br />
Allison university, located here.<br />
Harold Isaacs Succeeds<br />
John Warr for GTS Co.<br />
ST. JOHN, N. B.—Harold Isaacs has become<br />
branch manager of the local office for<br />
General Theatre Supply Co., which covers<br />
the maritimes. Announcement of the change<br />
in management was made by C. E. Yonson,<br />
secretary of GTSE, at the Toronto headquarters.<br />
Isaacs is a graduate of the University<br />
of London in electrical engineering and<br />
communications. He worked with radio and<br />
radar in War II and was on projection and<br />
sound maintenance in Germany, France, Holland<br />
and Belgium. Crossing to Canada, he<br />
went with Muzak, designing and installing<br />
the systems, and joined his present company<br />
in 1949.<br />
Isaacs succeeds John Warr, who has gone<br />
to Montreal. Warr had been branch manager<br />
here since it was established last year.<br />
Francis Bushman on Stage<br />
TORONTO—Francis X. Bushman, screen<br />
veteran, made a personal appearance at the<br />
Famous Players Victoria here September 6<br />
for the opening of "David and Bathsheba."<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951 E 91
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . . The<br />
. . Walt<br />
: September<br />
. .<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
Tvan Ackery, manager of the Orpheum, had<br />
more than 1,000 orphans and crippled children<br />
as his guests at a morning show en<br />
opening day of "Alice in Wonderland." Two<br />
children were chosen as Alice and the Mad<br />
Hatter. They were given a day at the Pacific<br />
National exhibition as guests of Famous<br />
Players and the Vancouver Sun. They decorated<br />
the winner of the "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
handicap at the Pacific National racetrack.<br />
The publicity gave the Disney picture a big<br />
sendoff at the Orpheum. It is doing good<br />
business in spite of the fact that local critics<br />
panned the picture.<br />
The clerk at Hotel Vancouver who turned<br />
Bing Crosby down when he went to check in<br />
at the hotel because he didn't recognize<br />
Crosby in his fishing outfit, got a trip to<br />
Hollywood to play a part in a Bob Hope picture<br />
as a hotel clerk turning Bing Crosby<br />
away from the hotel ... J. Hill, supervisor<br />
of exchanges for 20th-Fox, was here from<br />
New York looking over the local branch .<br />
After 91 days without rain, Vancouver had its<br />
first downpour and theatremen are hoping<br />
the hot, dry spell is over. However, the forest<br />
closing is still in effect, with much unemployment<br />
in mills and lumber camps. It looks<br />
like a tough winter for the workers unless<br />
weather conditions improve soon.<br />
The Famous Players drive-in at Nanaimo on<br />
Vancouver Island has added Fotonight .<br />
Two outdoor theatres in the Vancouver district<br />
are playing Sunday midnight shows,<br />
with business only fair . . . The circuits, Odeon<br />
and Famous Players, are trying to lease or<br />
sell some suburban theatres in Vancouver to<br />
independent exhibitors . . . The girl chosen<br />
as queen of the Festival of Britain, Judy<br />
Breen, was a recent visitor here on her w'orld<br />
tour. She was greeted by Gerry Sutherland<br />
and Jack Reid of the JARO organization and<br />
entertained before leaving for Australia.<br />
Sylvia Barlow, cashier at the Ridge, won<br />
the beauty contest as Miss English Bay and<br />
will compete in the British Columbia beauty<br />
contest at the PNE exhibition . . . Margarite<br />
Negrave resigned from the Orpheum staff and<br />
will join the Vancouver Sun.<br />
The conciliation board to decide the dispute<br />
between Famous Players and Odeon<br />
circuit and the projectionist union will consist<br />
of J. Watt, chairman. Douglas Calladine<br />
of the Studio Theatre will represent the projectionists,<br />
and Rowe Holland, local lawyer,<br />
will represent the circuits. Booth workers<br />
want a 50-cent hourly increase and have<br />
turned down a cost of living bonus plan that<br />
would have meant a boost of about 17 cents<br />
an hour. Rates now range from $2 to $2.15<br />
an hour. The board of three will decide on<br />
the points in dispute and will meet within<br />
- the next ten days.<br />
. . .<br />
Three former professional hockey players<br />
are interested in the outdoor theatre being<br />
built near Red Deer, Alta. The drive-in,<br />
which is midway between Calgary and Edmonton,<br />
is expected to be open this month.<br />
Vacationers<br />
It has a 400-car capacity<br />
were Ethel Fry and Orville Burrell, Plaza;<br />
Via Bedford, MGM; Paul MacEwen and<br />
Wally Woolridge, Strand; Harry Pearson and<br />
Bob Foster, Orpheum, and Anne Thompson,<br />
Park.<br />
"Ace in the Hole." which has been playing<br />
to fair grosses, will open its second downtown<br />
run here at the Dominion under the new<br />
title of "The Big Carnival" . . . Bill Guss,<br />
MGM Calgary manager, spent his vacation<br />
at St. John, his hometown in the maritimes<br />
Hastings Theatre in Vancouver held<br />
the first showing of the Walcott-Charles<br />
fight pictures as part of a double bill, plus a<br />
stage show. Business was above average.<br />
ASN Distributing Short<br />
On Ducks for Calvert<br />
MONTREAL—A new 16mm film, in full<br />
Anscocolor, on Canadian migratory waterfowl,<br />
is now available for free screenings by<br />
sportsmen's groups and lovers of the great<br />
outdoors. Entitled "Meet the Ducks." it is<br />
now being distributed by the Benograph division<br />
of Associated Screen News for Calvert<br />
Distillers of Canada.<br />
The primary purpose of the film is to show,<br />
in pictorial form, the results obtained by<br />
Ducks Unlimited in a decade of hard work<br />
in wildlife conservation. The fact is stressed<br />
that the survival of the many species of ducks<br />
is entirely dependent on an adequate breeding<br />
stock each year. Modern construction<br />
equipment, including bulldozers and draglines,<br />
are seen building the dams and digging the<br />
canals which store up water to create suitable<br />
marshlands. These soon attract the<br />
ducks, and through proper water control, safe<br />
breeding grounds result. Airplanes are used<br />
both for reconnaissance and survey work to<br />
see that the work of Ducks Unlimited is not<br />
undone either by nature or by man.<br />
A good cross-section of the duck family is<br />
seen in beautiful winter and autumn plumage—mallards,<br />
gadwalls, shovellers, canvasbacks,<br />
redheads, scaups, and the any other<br />
waterfowl so dear to the hunter's heart.<br />
Interested groups owning or having access<br />
to 16mm sound projectors can borrow<br />
a print of "Meet the Ducks" by contacting<br />
the Benograph Film Libraries in Montreal,<br />
Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Chase<br />
16mm Home Movie Service, St. John, N. B.<br />
End of Hot Weather Aids<br />
Vancouver Grosses<br />
VANCOUVER—With the near end of the<br />
summer holiday season and the end of the<br />
hot spell. Vancouver theatres had their best<br />
business in months. "Show Boat" left the<br />
Capitol after four weeks of big business.<br />
"Alice in Wonderland" did above average<br />
business at the Orpheum.<br />
Capitol—Show Boat (MGM), 4th wk Good<br />
Cinema—Torzon's Peril (RKO); Sealed Cargo<br />
(RKO) _<br />
Good<br />
Dominion— I Was a Communist for the FBI (WB);<br />
They've Got Me Covered (RKO), reissue Fair<br />
Hastings Yukon Manhunt (Mono), plus stage<br />
„show<br />
Good<br />
Paradise—Salerno Beachhead (SARO); Fighting<br />
Sullivans (SARO), reissues .<br />
Good<br />
Plaza—Naked City (U-I): Brute Force (U-I)<br />
reissues<br />
Fair<br />
Strand—Hard. Fast and Beautiful (RKO); Vendetta<br />
(RKO) Good<br />
Studio—The Seventh Veil (lARO), reissue; split<br />
with The Second Woman (UA) ...Average to good<br />
Closed for Funeral<br />
OTTAWA—All local theatres, with one exception,<br />
closed during matinee performances<br />
August 30 after a civic day of mourning was<br />
declared for the funeral of Mayor Grenville<br />
W. Doowin, who died of a heart attack.<br />
Elmo Williams will edit the Stanley Kramer<br />
production, "High Noon." for United Artists.<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
TJecent personnel changes at the film exchanges<br />
found Len Norrie, head booker<br />
with WB, taking a similar post with Empire-<br />
Universal; Doc Allan Selig, formerly with UA,<br />
now is head booker at WB; Lionel Slavin.<br />
WB poster clerk, is now WB assistant booker;<br />
Albert Lowe, former Columbia shipper, now<br />
is Empire-Universal assistant booker, and<br />
the new booker at Selznick-AUiance is Earl<br />
Faintlit.<br />
Proof that good pictures can beat hot<br />
weather and the absence of vacationing Winnipeggers<br />
is borne out by the tremendous<br />
success of three smash hits currently showing<br />
here. "The Great Caruso" is now in its<br />
eighth week, "Show Boat" is enjoying tremendous<br />
popularity at the Met in its fourth<br />
week, and Walt Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
has the whole town out at the Capitol.<br />
J. EmsUe is temporary house manager at<br />
the State, Winnipeg, in the absence of B. H.<br />
Sommers, w'ho is supervising the Winnipeg<br />
Treasure Chest in the Mclntyre block .<br />
Meyer Nackimson, RKO manager, has returned<br />
from holidaying in California . . .<br />
Mort Calof, Vogue, St. Vital, and Bill Minuk,<br />
Corona, Weston, have returned from a short<br />
holiday south of the border.<br />
A photostat of a wire sent by Walt Disney<br />
to the publisher of the Winnipeg Tribune was<br />
published in the newspaper. The message<br />
read; "F. S. Auger, vice-president and publisher<br />
of the Winnipeg Tribune . . Would<br />
.<br />
appreciate your inviting Winnipeg orphans<br />
to special showing 'Alice in Wonderland.'<br />
Capitol Theatre, Winnipeg, as your guests<br />
and mine. Regards . Disney." Upon<br />
receipt of the wire, arrangements were made<br />
between Bill Novak of the Capitol and the<br />
orphanages for a special showing of the picture<br />
at the theatre at 10 a. m. Orphan children<br />
living in private homes also were invited.<br />
Tickets were made available to them<br />
at the want ad counter of the Tribune,<br />
and were applied for by foster parents.<br />
Harry Hurwitz, supervisor for Odeon-Morton<br />
Theatres, reports the following managerial<br />
changes: Bill Popham, former Winnipegger,<br />
transferred from the Tivoli, Saskatoon,<br />
to the Beacon, Winnipeg; Bill Russell,<br />
from the Victory, Saskatoon, to the<br />
Tivoli; Art Stein, assistant manager of the<br />
Beacon, Winnipeg, to the Saskatoon Victory.<br />
Dave Saifeer, who had been manager of the<br />
Beacon, is manager of the Garrick, key run<br />
Odeon-Morton theatre in Winnipeg.<br />
Joe Harris, who was booker-salesman for<br />
Empire Universal since returning from overseas<br />
in 1946, has left that post to join Jack<br />
Zaitzow's organization as manager of the<br />
Roxy and Princess in Melville, Sask.<br />
A. D. Camp to Crawley<br />
OTTAWA—F. R. Crawley, president of<br />
Crawley Films. Ltd.. has appointed Alexander<br />
Donald Camp, specialist in editing educational<br />
films, to the position of editor in the<br />
educational unit. Camp, a film veteran of 15<br />
j-ears. has been with the British Lion Corp.<br />
and Technicolor, Ltd., in England and Crown<br />
Films and has served with the Indian army<br />
public relations film unit.<br />
92 BOXOFFICE :<br />
8, 1951
: September<br />
. . The<br />
Sarah Churchill Makes<br />
Fast PA for Len Harris<br />
BURLINGTON, ONT.—Len Harris had a<br />
big moment in his career as a theatre manager<br />
wlien he arranged a spur-of-the-moment<br />
personal appearance by Sarali Cliurcliill<br />
with her latest pictm-e, MGM's "Royal Wedding,"<br />
at his Roxy Theatre here. Learning<br />
that the ex-prime minister's daughter was to<br />
be in Niagara Falls, Ont., to judge a Miss<br />
Canada pageant while she is appearing in<br />
this region in the play, "Gramercy Ghost,"<br />
Manager Harris contacted her that afternoon<br />
and asked if she would make a brief<br />
stage appearance in the neighboring city here.<br />
The English star enthusiastically con.sented.<br />
Harris contacted Miss Churchill at 4;00<br />
p. m. Between then and her p.a. at 8:15,<br />
the local radio sound truck was sent to the<br />
theatre, a banner welcoming the star to the<br />
theatre was hung over the entrance at 5:00<br />
p. m., and a local florist made up and donated<br />
a handsome floral tribute. An enthusiastic<br />
audience was on hand to greet her and the<br />
moviegoers in this 6,000-population town received<br />
a real thrill, since it was the first time<br />
a star had ever appeared with their own<br />
picture here.<br />
Many Film Personalities<br />
Aid Air Force Convention<br />
From Western Edition<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Film personalities lent<br />
assistance when the Air Force Ass'n held its<br />
annual convention here, highlighted by a<br />
"Wing Ding" program staged Friday f24) at<br />
the Hollywood Bowl. Bob Hope and James<br />
Stewart—the latter served as chairman of the<br />
AFA's pageant committee—were masters of<br />
ceremonies and the entertainment program<br />
was produced and directed by Mervin LeRoy.<br />
Participating entertainmentwise were Dean<br />
Martin and Jerry Lewis, Kathryn Grayson,<br />
Marge and Gower Champion, Dinah Shore,<br />
Hope and Stewart, while serving as hosts and<br />
hostesses were June Allyson, Anne Baxter,<br />
Jeanne Crain, Clark Gable, Ava Gardner,<br />
Gary Grant, June Haver, John Hodiak, William<br />
Holden, Howard Keel, George Murphy,<br />
Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Tyrone Power,<br />
Rosalind Russell, Randolph Scott, Barbara<br />
Stanwyck, Forrest Tucker, Lana Turner,<br />
Clifton Webb, Richard Widmark, Shelley<br />
Winters, Esther Williams and Loretta Young.<br />
Louis B. Mayer was chairman of the Hollywood<br />
Bowl program.<br />
M A R I T I M E S<br />
. . . The<br />
Dert Girouard, manager of the Paramount<br />
and Capital, Amherst, N. S., has been<br />
screening pictures in the mornings and afternoons<br />
for children at the summer camps near<br />
Amherst. Girouard has been looking after<br />
his own projecting for the shows<br />
mayor of Halifax was one of the notables<br />
participating in the unveiling of Miss Cinderella<br />
at the Armview in Halifax recently.<br />
Singing and dancing numbers were provided<br />
by the princesses in the Cinderella pageant.<br />
The unveiling ceremony was held between<br />
pictures at the double-bill Armview.<br />
. . . During the<br />
"Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison" was<br />
barred to children under a stipulated age<br />
limit when it was shown for three days at<br />
the Paramount in Halifax<br />
warm weather, Famous Players has been<br />
stre.ssing air conditioning in its advertising<br />
for the Halifax Paramount. The ads and the<br />
cool air have proved patronage builders in<br />
recent weeks.<br />
The first double bill to be shown at the<br />
Valley Drive-In near Fredericton, N. B.,<br />
normally a single bill house, consisted of<br />
"The Dead Don't Dream" and "Who Killed<br />
'Doc' Robbin?" Children under 13 are admitted<br />
to the drive-in free of charge.<br />
Denis Murphy, manager of the Vogue at<br />
Sackville, N. B., had a special yellow cardboard<br />
cover placed around all the milk bottles<br />
delivered in Sackville for two days when<br />
"Top o' the Morning" was shown at the<br />
Vogue. Murphy also distributed paper napkins<br />
bearing ads for the film to all restaurants<br />
and lunchrooms in the town. Tlie<br />
Vogue is a Walker-owned house. Murphy,<br />
who is assisted at the theatre by his wife,<br />
came to the Vogue from the Capitol at Halifax,<br />
where he had been head usher.<br />
The George Scaplens of St. John recently<br />
celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.<br />
Scaplen was employed by Fred G. Spencer,<br />
founder and head of the Spencer chain, for<br />
about 20 years . lobby of the Vogue,<br />
Sackville, N. B., has been redecorated . . .<br />
Saturday is Hoedown night at the Gaiety,<br />
Halifax, with oldtime dancing given top attention<br />
between features.<br />
Employes of the Empire, Halifax, held thensecond<br />
annual picnic at Prince's lodge. The<br />
affair was arranged by a committee of two,<br />
N. C. Petropolis, owner, and John S. Aliotis,<br />
manager . . . Winfield Newman, manager of<br />
the Maple Leaf, Campobello Island, N. B.,<br />
knows all his regular customers by their first<br />
names. He has been a lifelong resident of<br />
the border island.<br />
The New Brunswick branch of the lATSE<br />
has been negotiating with all except two St.<br />
John theatres for another cost of living<br />
bonus for union projectionists. The balance<br />
of the St. John houses are being asked for<br />
escalator clauses in the contracts in addition<br />
to hikes in wages. The union gave these matters<br />
special attention at its recent annual<br />
meeting at Moncton. E. A. Chase of St.<br />
John was installed as union president at<br />
that meeting, succeeding Aubrey Sprague<br />
of Fairville. Negotiations between the union<br />
and the film exhibitors have been in progress<br />
for about a month.<br />
Top Film Lineup Greets<br />
Winnipeg on Holiday<br />
WINNIPEG—For the Labor day weekend,<br />
key runs here trotted out some of Hollywood's<br />
best entertainment. To capture holidayers<br />
staying in town, the Odeon played<br />
"On Moonlight Bay," the Garrick showed<br />
"Francis Goes to the Races"; the Met ran<br />
"Rich, Young and Pretty"; "The Last Outpost"<br />
reopened the Lyceum; at the Capitol<br />
"That's My Boy" rolled them in the aisles,<br />
and for the action fans the Grand showed<br />
"Little Big Horn" and the Walcott-Charles<br />
world's heavyweight title bout. All neighborhood<br />
houses exhibited their finest product to<br />
entice the kiddies on their last day of freedom<br />
before going back to school. Exhibitors<br />
usually expect a drop in revenue the first<br />
two weeks of September as parents are busy<br />
buying school supplies.<br />
Will Not Sell Savoy<br />
HAMILTON. ONT.—A report that Odeon<br />
Theatres would give up the Savoy Theatre<br />
here has been denied officially. The report<br />
had said that the Savoy would be taken over<br />
by Russell Maynard, former exhibitor now<br />
with a Toronto brewery, but Odeon this week<br />
said there was no truth in the report.<br />
Film 'Zapata' in Valley;<br />
To Shoot Two in Mexico<br />
From Western Edition<br />
SAN ANTONIO—Scenes for 20th-Fox's<br />
"Viva Zapata" were filmed at Nuevo Laredo,<br />
Mexico, and Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Roma,<br />
Tex. The forthcoming release stars Marlon<br />
Brando, Jean Peters and others.<br />
From Mexico comes news that Stanley<br />
Kramer, UA producer of Hollywood, was in<br />
Mexico recently to sign Senorita Katherine<br />
Jurado, who will portray a native role in<br />
Kramer's last UA picture to be titled "High<br />
Noon."<br />
Actor, director and producer John Wayne<br />
most likely will do "The Alamo" in the Mexican<br />
republic. The eight-for-one value of the<br />
dollar and saving on taxes make production<br />
costs much cheaper than in the United States.<br />
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THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
STATE<br />
POSITION<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8, 1951 93
: September<br />
y^Ui^^te Setter 7^UKSf^--WOyN ABOUT YOUR THEATRE?<br />
To win public favor, your theatre needs:<br />
PATRON<br />
COMFORT<br />
CHARM of COLOR<br />
HARMONY of<br />
DESIGN<br />
'Improvement<br />
PAYS... ~<br />
Do It<br />
. NOW!<br />
MODERN<br />
THEATRE<br />
Theatre improvements are reported<br />
in detail in the monthly<br />
Modem Theatre section ol<br />
BOXOFFICE. The hows and<br />
whys are detailed and pictured<br />
to make them easy for you to<br />
use in your own theatre, for<br />
your own local needs.<br />
Be sure to read this big, wellplanned<br />
section, issued the<br />
first Saturday of each month.<br />
The information offered is invaluable<br />
for any progressive<br />
exhibitor.<br />
Always out front<br />
with leadership^<br />
plans— methods<br />
Improvements are an investment that pays.<br />
Many a closed house lacks only the extra appeal<br />
of color, design and patron comfort.<br />
Thousands of passive ticket buyers can be<br />
changed into enthusiastic supporters by extra<br />
eye appeal, comfort appeal of an improved<br />
modern building.<br />
BOXOFFICE, from every angle, gives you<br />
information you need and inspires you with<br />
courage to do as others are doing to make<br />
your business hum.<br />
Keep up with the times—ahead of the demands. The<br />
public is flocking back to pictures, disappointed with other<br />
forms of entertainment. Is your house clean and wholesome,<br />
attractive at all times?<br />
OXOFFICE<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
8. 1951
fl)(0fflCf(DDDiiJJ]i/iJJD5<br />
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT<br />
PICTURES<br />
An oven forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subsequent-run<br />
showings of pictures. One (•) denotes a new contributor; two (**) is one who<br />
has been reporting for six Tnonths or longer; (•••) a regular who has been<br />
reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
711 Ocean Drive (Col)—Edmond O'Brien,<br />
Joanne Dru, Otto Kruger. Doubled with<br />
"Blondie Hits the Jackpot" to below average<br />
business. Perhaps we played it on the wrong<br />
days. Perhaps they all saw it somewhere else<br />
—we'll never know. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Fair and warm.—Rene L. Garneau, Midway<br />
Drive-In, Ascutney, Vt. Small town,<br />
'<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Valentino (Col)—Anthony Dexter, Eleanor<br />
Parker, Richard Carlson. Ugh! Why do they<br />
foist pictures like this on small towns? More<br />
better they had left Valentino rest in peace!<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—M. W.<br />
Long, Lans Theatre, Lansing, Iowa. Small<br />
town, rural patrons. * * *<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Excuse My Dust (MGM)—Red Skelton,<br />
Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey. MGM is<br />
certainly putting out the good ones of late.<br />
Red Skelton was just as funny as ever and<br />
as usual filled the house. Let's have more<br />
like this. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Good.<br />
—T. M. Patton, Scenic Theatre, Lexington,<br />
111. Small town patrons. ' * '<br />
Go for Broke! (MGM)—Van Johnson,<br />
Warner Anderson, Lane Nakano. An equal<br />
production to "Battleground," with the story<br />
well done. It has army life, romance, humor<br />
and action shots. Business was very good<br />
considering the weather and economic conditions.<br />
Play it, if you can buy it right. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Humid and hot.—D. W.<br />
Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining<br />
patrons. * * *<br />
Grounds for Marriage (MGM)—Van Johnson,<br />
Kathryn Grayson, Paula Raymond. This<br />
drew above average here the second night<br />
and was very good. It drew the gray-heads<br />
and pleased almost everyone. Personally, I<br />
thought it silly but it did business. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Hot.—Ken Christianson,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small<br />
town patrons. ' *<br />
UKim (MGM)—Errol Flynn, Dean Stockwell,<br />
Paul Lukas. This has taught me a lesson.<br />
Business being what it is, in the future<br />
I am going to be very cautious in my buying.<br />
This might be a good picture for some<br />
communities, but not for me. One hardly<br />
caught a glimpse of Errol Flynn (just as<br />
well) and nobody could understand the dialog.<br />
We paid too much for it. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Warm. — Marcella Smith,<br />
Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small<br />
town patrons. * * *<br />
Next Voice You Hear . . . , The (MGM)—<br />
James Whitmore, Nancy Davis, Gary Gray.<br />
Here's a picture we did a little more work<br />
on, and it was a funny thing—it didn't do as<br />
much as it should have. It is a wonderful<br />
picture but it came at the wrong time of the<br />
year, with farmers working day and night<br />
now out in the fields. Play this one, as it<br />
has a good story and should do above average<br />
business. Played Tues., Wed. Weather:<br />
Perfect. — Howard C. Bayer, Iowa Theatre,<br />
Schleswig, Iowa. Farm patrons. * * *<br />
Painted Hills, The (MGM)—^Lassie, Paul<br />
Kelly, Gary Gray. A good entertaining action<br />
picture in color, which drew well and<br />
showed a profit. Play it. I used it Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patrons.<br />
Stars in My Crown (MGM)—Joel McCrea,<br />
Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell. This is a mighty<br />
fine picture to show and see. Played Mon.,<br />
Tues. Weather: Warm.—L. Brazil jr., New<br />
Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patrons.<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
Hot Rod (Mono)—James Lydon, Art Baker,<br />
Gil Stratton jr. An extra good program picture<br />
which drew in extra business. Played<br />
Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot. — Terry<br />
Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural,<br />
small town patrons. * * *<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Branded (Para)—Alan Ladd, Mona Freeman,<br />
Charles Bickford. One of the best westerns<br />
I have ever had the privilege of playing<br />
and it did above average business. If you<br />
haven't played this, better book it. Played<br />
Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—M. W.<br />
Long, Lans Theatre, Lansing, Iowa. Small<br />
town, rural patrons. • • •<br />
Lawless, The (Para)—Macdonald Carey,<br />
Gail Russell, John Sands. A few more clink-<br />
Selective Deals Changed<br />
His Closing Plans<br />
tJALPH RASPA of the State Theatre at<br />
Rivesville, W. Va., who has been<br />
neglecting these columns recently, sends<br />
in a few comments:<br />
"Business isn't good but better than it<br />
usually has been during the past few<br />
summers. This is due to the fact that<br />
most of my companies have been selling<br />
me selective deals, not forcing any pictures<br />
down my throat. They have also<br />
been a little more decent about film rentals.<br />
This means a lot to a little guy like<br />
me. Those two factors, selective deals<br />
and decent rental, are the basis for an<br />
Operation Survival for small town theatres<br />
like mine.<br />
"Because of these last two factors, I<br />
only closed part of the time this summer.<br />
I had planned to close all summer.<br />
A little more consideration from several<br />
other companies can go a long way toward<br />
making this business a pleasure, and can<br />
give us the fighting spirit to fight other<br />
competitive entertainment."<br />
Bouquets to Several<br />
Actors in Picture<br />
QOODBYE, MY FANCY<br />
(WB)—Joan<br />
Crawford, Robert Young, Frank Lovejoy.<br />
Don't let anyone tell you that Joan<br />
Crawford is through. She gets better with<br />
every picture, but Eve Arden almost stole<br />
the show. This guy Frank Lovejoy is<br />
going places. I had him four nights on<br />
two different shows and they really liked<br />
him. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.<br />
— M. L. Dubose, Majestic Theatre,<br />
Cotulla, Tex. Small town patrons. * * *<br />
ers like this and we will be out of business.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs.—Josef Nehring, Floodwood<br />
Theatre, Floodwood, Minn. Small town<br />
and rural patronage.<br />
* •<br />
My Friend Irma Goes West (Para)—John<br />
Lund, Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn. I did not<br />
see this one as I was way up north fishing,<br />
but by the boxoffice take here it is very good<br />
and did better than the first Irma picture.<br />
Quite a few told me that Jerry Lewis stole<br />
the show, and that if he had not been in it,<br />
that it would have flopped. Played Sat., Sun.<br />
Massacre River (Mono) — Guy Madison, Weather: Cold.—Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre,<br />
Sturgis, Sask. Rural patrons. * * *<br />
Rory Calhoun, Carole Mathews. This one did<br />
good business and is a darned good western<br />
that should take anywhere. It is interesting Passage West (Para)—John Payne, Dennis<br />
from the start and held the audience quiet O'Keefe, Arleen Whelan. A religious western<br />
with plenty of action and a good story.<br />
for more than an hour—which is something<br />
these days. All exhibitors must agree that Business was average despite hot weather.<br />
Madison and Calhoun did It's a very good job<br />
too bad Arizona couldn't have some of<br />
of acting in this one. Played Wed., Thurs. that Kansas and Missouri rain. Played Sun.,<br />
Weather: Fair.—Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre,<br />
Sturgis, Sask. Rural patrons. • * • Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patrons. * •<br />
Mon. Weather: Hot.—D, W. Trisko, Ritz<br />
*<br />
Tripoli (Para) — Maureen O'Hara, John<br />
Payne, Howard DaSilva. For some reason<br />
this Technicolor drama failed to draw and I<br />
just managed to break even on the engagement.<br />
It is not strong enough for Sunday.<br />
Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.—<br />
E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey,<br />
Olda. SmaU town patronage. • * *<br />
Union Station (Para) — William Holden,<br />
Nancy Olson, Barry Fitzgerald. This went<br />
over big—it was different. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Sun.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka,<br />
Mont. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Outrage (RKO)—Mala Powers, Tod Andrews,<br />
Robert Clarke. A fairly good show but<br />
even with the extra advertising, it failed to<br />
click at the boxoffice. Played Tues., Wed.<br />
Weather: Hot.—Terry Axley, New Theatre,<br />
England, Ark. Rural, small town patrons.<br />
Sealed Cargo (RKO)—Dana Andrews,<br />
Carla Balenda, Claude Rains. Mediocre at<br />
best, slow in getting going and dark all the<br />
way through. Business was poor for my place.<br />
The product from RKO is the hardest to put<br />
across to my patrons. The only one that did<br />
business was "The Thing." Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre,<br />
Novate, Calif. Small town, rural patrons.<br />
* *<br />
Tarzan and the Amazons (RKO)—^Reissue.<br />
Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Johnny<br />
Sheffield. This reissue pleased the Fri. -Sat.<br />
crowd and business was good. They like the<br />
old Tarzan better than the new one. Weath-<br />
(Conttnued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : Sept. 8, 1951
'<br />
The<br />
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
er: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre,<br />
Dewey, Okla. Small town patrons. • * *<br />
REPUBUC<br />
Dakota Kid, The (Rep)—Michael Chapin,<br />
Eilene Janssen, James Bell. This is the first<br />
of a series of westerns where two children<br />
(Red and Judy) are the hero and heroine. I<br />
did not see it but the remarks were favorable<br />
and I think this is a novel idea. It<br />
drew well. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm.<br />
—Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur,<br />
Ohio. Small town patrons. * •<br />
Sands of Iwo Jima (Rep)—John Wayne,<br />
John Agar, Adele Mara. A fast moving film<br />
that in our opinion is better than "Battleground,"<br />
and aU this is due to the superb<br />
acting of veteran John Wayne. Not one bad<br />
comment. We played it very late and if you<br />
have not played it, then do so. You won't<br />
be sorry. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Fair.<br />
—Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis,<br />
Sask. Rural patrons. • •<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX<br />
As Young as You Feel<br />
(20th-Fox)—Monty<br />
WooUey, Thelma Ritter, David Wayne. We<br />
were stuck for a Sunday show and set this<br />
one in. The stars and the story are not<br />
strong enough to draw. It would make a<br />
nice weekend picture. Business was sadly<br />
off. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot.<br />
—Walter Austin, Plains Theatre, Plainview,<br />
Neb. Small town, rural patrons. • *<br />
For Heaven's Sake (20th-Fox) — Clifton<br />
Webb, Joan Bennett, Robert Cummings.<br />
Belvedere is beginning to lose his attraction<br />
by being overplayed. After seeing the other<br />
Belvedere portrayals Clifton Webb has done,<br />
"For Heaven's Sake" was a bit of a disappointment.<br />
The picture moved slowly at<br />
first, but after the plot got under way, it was<br />
entertaining. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Warm and clear.—George Pace, Post Theatre,<br />
Igloo, S. D. Ordnance worker patrons. • • •<br />
Lucky Nick Cain (20th-Fox)—George Raft,<br />
Charles Goldner, Colleen Gray. This was<br />
too slow and dark. However, it is okay for<br />
support. I played it under "Half Angel."<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear.-Don<br />
Donohue, Novato Theatre, Novate, Calif.<br />
Small town and rural patrons. • •<br />
Oh, You Beautiful Doll (20th-Fox)—June<br />
Haver, Mark Stevens, S. Z. Sakall. I used<br />
this oldie for a 4-H Club benefit and had<br />
most disappointing results. The kids didn't<br />
sell many tickets and competition of the<br />
Stampede at Grand Junction was too much<br />
for it. It just did normal midweek business<br />
with all the push we gave it. It seemed like<br />
everyone that saw it made a point of coming<br />
over to tell me what a grand picture it was,<br />
and they weren't just kidding. If you haven't<br />
used this and musicals hold up for you, this<br />
is enough for any change. Played Wed<br />
Thurs. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah<br />
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. SmaU town and rural<br />
patronage. • • .<br />
Two FUgs West (20th-Pox)—Joseph Gotten<br />
Linda Darnell, Jeff Chandler. Co-featured<br />
with "Square Dance Katy" (Mono), this gave<br />
us excellent weekend business. Played Fri<br />
Sat. Weather: Fair and hot. — Rene l'<br />
Garneau, Midway Drive-In, Ascutney Vt<br />
Small town, rural patrons.<br />
•<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Golden Gloves Story, The (UA)—James<br />
Dunn, Dewey Martin, Gregg Sherwood. Our<br />
faces were very red after playing this one,<br />
as we played it up big and doubled billed it<br />
with a Monogram picture with Roddy Mc-<br />
Dowall called "The Big Timber." Everyone<br />
was wild over that one, as it is a lumber picture<br />
that really has a good story, with action<br />
and comedy. This is the first time it happened<br />
to us, but the second feature should<br />
have had the top billing here. Played Wed<br />
Thurs. Weather: Good. — Sam Holmberg,<br />
Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Rural patrons.<br />
Fighting Kentuckian (Rep)—John Wayne,<br />
Vera Ralston, Philip Dorn. When I saw this<br />
the first time, I couldn't help thinking it<br />
smelled, but I had so many customers tell<br />
me how it was one of the best they'd seen,<br />
that I began to like it better as the run wore<br />
on. However, business was not in the sensational<br />
class—just average for this change.<br />
It's old and caution should be used in going Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. SmaU<br />
back<br />
town<br />
for it. Played<br />
patrons.<br />
. . •<br />
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:<br />
Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Pruita,<br />
Colo. Small town, rural patrons. • * •<br />
High Lonesome (UA)—John Barrymore jr.,<br />
Chill Wills, John Archer. A very good western<br />
in color, with a different story and very<br />
interesting. John Barrymore jr. shows definite<br />
promise as an actor, but Chill Wills is<br />
my patrons' favorite. I doubled with "It's a<br />
Small World" to average business. Played<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—Carl F. Neitzel,<br />
Mrs. Mike (UA) — Dick Powell. Evelyn<br />
Keyes. J. M. Kerrigan. We have found serious<br />
pictures are our best grossers for the<br />
midweek change.<br />
This one did excellent business<br />
all three nights. "The Leathernecks<br />
Have Landed" (Rep), a reissue and our second<br />
feature, is too old to have much interest<br />
today, but the title has some drawing power<br />
Played Tues., Wed.. Thurs. Weather- Fair<br />
Kicked Around a Year:<br />
Did Well on Midweek<br />
J^D FROM CLEVELAND, THE (Rep)—<br />
George Brent, Lynn Ban, Rusty<br />
Tamblyn. After kicking this around for<br />
nearly a year, looking for a good spot for<br />
it, I finally put it in midweek with "Navy<br />
Bound" (Mono). The result was a midweek<br />
125 per cent, and I made some<br />
money as well as winning some new patrons.<br />
The picture isn't sold as a big production,<br />
but it does feature the Cleveland<br />
Indians, and in a baseball town, that<br />
means something. This should be good to<br />
play before the season is over. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Rain and cool.—<br />
Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau,<br />
Wis. Small town patrons. * • »<br />
warm.—Rene L. Garneau, Midway Drive-In<br />
Ascutney. Vt. Small town,<br />
*'<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Tulsa (UA)—Susan Hayward, Robert Preston,<br />
Pedro Armendariz. Here is a picture<br />
that you can be well satisfied with, greeting<br />
your customers when they leave the theatre<br />
How they will enjoy telling you so after it<br />
IS a real picture !—Harland Rankin. Rankin<br />
Enterprises, Chatham,<br />
rural patrons.<br />
Ont. SmaU town<br />
. » .'<br />
UNIVERSAI^INTERNATIONAL<br />
Adam and Evalyn (U-D—Stewart Granger<br />
Jean Simmons, Edwin Styles. This is not<br />
for small towns and we could not understand<br />
the dialog. This is becoming monotonous.<br />
It is almost like watching the old silent<br />
movies. From now on I am going to buy only<br />
pictures in which they speak clear, concise<br />
American. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot.—<br />
Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur.<br />
Ohio. Small town patrons. • • •'<br />
Air Cadet (U-D—Stephen McNaUy. Alex<br />
Nicol, Gail Russell. Here is a picture that<br />
is packed with action and comedy. General<br />
comments were, "Boy, I am sure glad I saw<br />
it," as it was really good—a small town natural.<br />
Business was good. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Rain.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy<br />
Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town patrons.<br />
» •<br />
Curtain CaU at Cactus Creek (U-D—Donald<br />
O'Connor, Gale Storm, Walter Brennan.<br />
This is another sleeper that did above<br />
An Exploitation Angle<br />
Suggested for 'Mr. 880'<br />
J^EFERRLNG to a comment on "Mr.<br />
880" by Virgil Anderson of C-B Theatre,<br />
Bucklin, Mo., Max M. Younkin of<br />
Huron, S. D., suggests a better exploitation<br />
angle:<br />
"Virgil Anderson should have advertised<br />
the show as: 'Authentic—it actuaUv hanpened.'<br />
normal business and was thoroughly enioved<br />
here^ Played Sat.. Sun. Weather: Okay-<br />
Josef Nehring, Floodwood Theatre. Floodwood,<br />
Minn. SmaU town and rural patronage.<br />
, ,<br />
^U-I'-Ann Blyth,<br />
D.fff'^r'pn"''"?, Duff, Howard<br />
George Brent. This is a nice weekend<br />
picture. You wiU have no trouble sa^?sfv!ns<br />
P^'"-<br />
Welther'^Ho? weatner.<br />
"^e^'S^f<br />
Hot. —"^H Harland f Rankin, Rankin<br />
Francis Goes to the Races<br />
O (U-I)<br />
Connor, -Donald<br />
Piper Laurie, Cecil KeUaway. Top<br />
Jli''^f^^"'"J^'"'"^"'^^'^h laugh overlays<br />
the other. Business was weU over average<br />
^e two hottest days of the year slowed<br />
ake<br />
the<br />
plus the fact that two towns north and<br />
played it for a ^p „K f^ week<br />
me,<br />
ahead of<br />
which doesn't leave too much for<br />
Played me<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Hotter 'n hell<br />
^°^^'° "^^atre,<br />
ci^r =?^°.n°^"^-<br />
Novato.'<br />
oaiir. SmaU town, rural patrons. • •<br />
r^u'^/arpXons."'^*"^'"-<br />
^'^^^ «-^"<br />
^;<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Colt .45 (WBi -Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman<br />
Zachary Scott. The title is<br />
he<br />
good<br />
boxoffice<br />
^d<br />
figures were okay; but the<br />
ture<br />
pTc-<br />
IS a poor vehicle for Randy Scott<br />
"^^"'^"^<br />
E fabi^<br />
Okay'-Fra^<br />
l^ajestic M- ^f'^fmo^?<br />
. • Theatre, Eureka,<br />
SmaU Mont.<br />
town, rural patrons. ...<br />
Dallas (WB)-Gary Cooper, Ruth<br />
Steve Roman,<br />
Cochran. This drew better than it<br />
should. I think these superwesterns are<br />
being run into the ground. Gary Cooper is<br />
00 wonderful an actor to be put in a ham role<br />
like this one. Oh, yes, Warners-did he<br />
Ruth<br />
marry<br />
Roman or adopt her for his granddaughter?<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather-<br />
Warm. - Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre.<br />
McArthur, Ohio. SmaU town patrons. •••<br />
Flame and the Arrow, The (WB)—Burt<br />
Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Robert Douglas<br />
This IS a good picture which drew favorable<br />
comment, even though it is old. I suppose<br />
the action suited my patrons. Played Sun<br />
Mon. Weather: Dry and hot.—Terry Axley'<br />
New Theatre, England, Ark. Small town patrons.<br />
, , ,<br />
I Was a Communist for the FBI (WB)—<br />
Frank Lovejoy, Dorothy Hart, Philip Carey<br />
Not for smaU towns— business was off The<br />
picture itseU is mighty fine. Everybody<br />
should see it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather-<br />
Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre Novato,<br />
Calif. SmaU town, rural patrons. • •<br />
West Point Story (WB)—James Cagney<br />
Virginia Mayo, Doris Day. This is a nice<br />
picture and has a lot of entertainment. It is<br />
not nearly as good as "Yankee Doodle Dandy"<br />
but It's stiU a good show that played in the<br />
red at the boxoffice. The worst Sun Mon<br />
Tues. m years. Weather: Fair.-BiU Leonard,<br />
Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. SmaU<br />
town and rural patronage. » » »<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
Coin' to Town (Astor) — Reissue. Norris<br />
Goff, Chet Lauck. Lum an' Abner are dead<br />
pigeons for me, even here in Arkansas. The<br />
first run years ago did okay, but no dice<br />
now. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather-<br />
Rainy to warm.—Terry AxJey, New Theatre<br />
England, Ark. Rural and smaU town patronage.<br />
. . «<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : Sept. 8, 1951
^n mUrpretlve anolysis of roy and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate degree of<br />
nerit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to dote regularly.<br />
This department serves also os on ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title<br />
s Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company, in the order of releose, see Feature Chort.<br />
++ Very Good; + Good; Poor; =
Para<br />
REVIEW DIGEST ++ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Po In the summary -H- is rated 2 pluses, == as 2 minuses.<br />
1197 Harriet Craig (94) Drama Col 10-28-50 ff<br />
U9S Harvey (104) Comedy U-l 10-28-50 4+<br />
Havana Rose (..) Drama Rep<br />
1248 Heart of the Rockies (67) Western Rep 4- 7-51 -f<br />
1267 He Ran All the Way (77) Drama UA 6- 9-51 +<br />
1276 Here Comes the Groom (114) Rom-Com . . Para 7- 7-51 +1<br />
1256 Her First Romance (73) Comedy Col 5- 5-51 +<br />
1195 He's a Cockeyed Wonder (77) Comedy Col 10-21-50 +<br />
1177 High Lonesome (SO) Western UA 8-19-50 +<br />
Highly Dangerous (..) Drama LP<br />
1208 Highvray 301 (83) Drama WB 12- 2-50 =t<br />
1292 Highwayman, The (82) Drama Mono 8-25-51-1-<br />
Hills of Utah (70) Western Col<br />
1280 His Kind of Woman (120) Drama RKO 7-21-51 -f-<br />
U98 Hit Parade of 1951 (85) Musical Rep 10-28-50 +<br />
1193 Holiday Rhythm (59) Comedy LP 10-14-50 -|-<br />
1259 Hollywood Story (77) Mys-Dr U-l 5-19-51 -f<br />
1259 Home Town Story (61) Drama MGM 5-19-51 ±<br />
1270 Hoodlum, The (61) Drama UA 6-16-51 -f-<br />
1198 Hot Rod (61) Drama Mono 10-28-50 -f<br />
Hotel Sahara (96) Comedy UA<br />
1239 House on Telegraph Hill (93) Drama. 201h-Fox 3-17-51 +<br />
1216 Hunt the Man Down (68) Drama RKO 12-23-50 ±<br />
1277 Hurricane Island (71) Drama Col 7-14-51 ±<br />
I<br />
1244 I Can Get It for You Wholesale<br />
Drama 20th-Fox 3-24-51-1-<br />
(91)<br />
1246 I Was an American Spy (85) Drama Mono 3-31-51 ±<br />
1252 I Was a Communist for the FBI<br />
(84) Drama WB 4-21-51 -|-<br />
1223 I'd Climb the Highest Mountain<br />
tt Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summory ++ is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. REVIEW DIGEST<br />
1
. .W.<br />
. . D<br />
j Sovoge<br />
luare is national release date. Running<br />
>»ure productions by company in order of release. Number in s<br />
e is in parentheses. Type of story is indicated by letters ond combinations thereof OS follows: (C)<br />
•nedy; (D) Dromo; (CD) Comedy-Droma; (F) Fontasy; (M) Musi, :al; (W) Western; (SW) Superwestern.<br />
eose number follows. U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Aw< ird Winner. Q> denotes color<br />
aphy.<br />
photog-<br />
For review dates ond Picture Guide page numbers, see Rei 'iew Digest.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Horriet Craig (94) D. .323<br />
Jcian Crawford, Allyn Corey<br />
JosliTi, Wendell<br />
Emergency Wedding (78) C. .332<br />
Larry Parks, Ina .Merkel. Barbara Hale<br />
Pygmy Islond (69) D. .342<br />
Juhiiny Welssmulier, Ann David Bruce<br />
Savage.<br />
©Texon Meets Cal'ity Jane (71) W. .303<br />
Chain Gong (70) D..313<br />
Kenjicdy, .Marjorie Lord<br />
Ii(iiis:la.s<br />
Blazing Sun (70) W..246<br />
Killer That Stalked N. Y. (79) D..338<br />
LIPPERT<br />
M-G-M<br />
a Dial 1119 (75) D..107<br />
.Marshall Tliompson. Andrea lilng<br />
Virginia Field,<br />
I] Stars in My Crown (90) D . . 40<br />
Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew. Dean StockueU<br />
a ©Two Weeks With Love (93) . .M. .108<br />
Jane Powell, Blcardo llontalban, Louis Calhcrn<br />
I t>©King Solomon's Mines (105) D..109<br />
Stewart Granger. Rlch.ird Carlson. Deborah Kerr<br />
(llevieivcd as Kriglltened City)<br />
Evelyn Keyes. VVUllam Bishop<br />
Bandit Queen (70)<br />
511 Mrs. O'Molley .<br />
He's o Cockeyed Wonder (77).. C. 340 Barbara Brltton, PhUip Reed. Wi;<br />
Molone (69)<br />
Mickey Uooney. Terry Moore, William Demarest<br />
Marjorie Main. Ja<br />
Lightning Guns (55) W. .361<br />
Cliarl.'s Starretl. Smiley Burnette<br />
Tougher They Come, The (69) . .D. .305<br />
Wayne Morris, Preston Foster, Kay Buckley<br />
Three<br />
I Desperate Men (69) W. .5009<br />
Preston P'oster, Jim Davis, Virginia Grey<br />
Flying Missile, The (92)<br />
.335<br />
BWofch the Birdie (72) C..113<br />
Olenn Konl. Viveci Lindfors, Henry O'Neill<br />
Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl, Ann MUler<br />
OStage to Tucson (82) . .<br />
.354<br />
Hi Grounds for Marriage (90) ...C..114<br />
Pod Cjitneron. Wayne Morris<br />
Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Paula Raymond<br />
Prairie Roundup (53) . .<br />
. . .W. .363<br />
miSQKim (113) D..11S<br />
Gosoline Alley (77) C..301<br />
Errol Flynn. Dean Stockwell, Paul Lukas<br />
Sarity Kpckhit. JImmv Lydon<br />
Gene Autry and Mounties (70). W. .351<br />
Born Yesterday (103) C..344 [S Steel Helmet, The (84) D..5006<br />
Judy Uolllday, William Uolden, Brod. Crauford Gene Evans, Steve Brodle. James Edwards<br />
Operation X (79) D . . 333<br />
g] Magnificent Yankee, The (88).. D.. 116<br />
Kdward 0. Kol)inson, Peaty Cummins<br />
Loiiii Calhcrn. Ann Harding, Eduard Franz<br />
Revenue Agent (72) D. .312<br />
ilil ©Vengeance Valley (82) SW..117<br />
houglas Ivi-nnedy, ,lean Wllles, Onslow Steiens<br />
Hurl l.ajicaster. Robert Walker, Joanne Dru<br />
Counterspy Meets Scotland<br />
gS Fingerprints Don't Lie (55) ...D..5015 II Cause for Alarm (73) D..118<br />
Yord (67) D. .307 Elcbard Traria, Bid Melton, SUella Ryan<br />
Loretta Yeung, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Cowling<br />
Howard St. Jolin, Amanda Blake<br />
Yank in Koreo, A (73) D. .346<br />
Ridin' the Outlaw Troil (56) . .264<br />
OAI Jennings of Oklohomo (79) D. .327 SS Mask of the Drogon (55) D S Three Guys Homed Mike (90) ..C..I19<br />
"M" (88) D. .347 Blchard Travis. Sid Melton, Sheila liya<br />
Jane Wyman, Van Johnson. Howard Keel<br />
Maiut Wajiie. Howard DaSllva. Luther Adler<br />
a Inside Straight (87) D..123<br />
My True Story (67) D . . 308<br />
David Brian, Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan<br />
Willard Parker. Helen Walker<br />
g USRoyol Wedding (93) M..121<br />
Flame of Stomboul (68) D . . 314<br />
(Yed Astaire. Jane Powell, Peter Lawford<br />
Texoni Never Cry (70) W..352 HSfop That Cab (60) C..5014<br />
Fort Sovoge Reiders (54) W..36S Sid Melton. Iris Adrian, Marjorie Lord<br />
©Volentino (108) D..320<br />
Eleanur Parker. Anthony Dexter. T! Carlson<br />
©Santa Fe (89) W. .330<br />
QiU Father's Little Dividend (82) C..124<br />
K.andolph Scott. Janis Carter, Jerome Courtlanii<br />
Spencer Tracy. Joan Bennett. Elizabeth Taylor<br />
Fury of the Congo (69) D. .329<br />
a Soldiers Three (92) D..126<br />
Johnny Weissmiiller. Sherry Moreland<br />
Walter Pidgeon. Stewart Granger, David Niven<br />
Whirlwind (70) W .354 M Donger Zone (56) D. .5017 gS U ©Great Caruso, The (110) ..M..127<br />
Ocne Autry, Smiley Burnette<br />
Hiii;h Beaumont, Edward Brophy, R. Travis<br />
Mario Lanza, Ann Bljth. Dorothy Klrsten<br />
5| Pier 23 (60) D. .5018<br />
Hugh Beaumont. Ann Savage<br />
Brave Bulls, The (108) D. .321 a Roaring City (60) D. .5016 ©Painted Hills,<br />
I The (68) D. .125<br />
Mel Ferrer. MIroslava. Anthony Qjiinn<br />
Hugh Beaumont, Rlciiard Travis<br />
Lassie, Paul Kelly. Gary Gray, Ann Doras<br />
Her First Romance (73) C. .358<br />
Marearel O'Brien. Allan Martin jr.<br />
©When the Redskins Rode (78) W..339<br />
Jen Hall. Mary Castle, James Seay<br />
Smuggler's Gold (64) D. 315 a Kentucky Jubilee (75) C. .5007 51 Home Town Story (61) D..128<br />
Cameron Mi'chell, Amanda Blake<br />
Jerry Colonna, Jean Porter, James Ellison<br />
Donald Crisp. Jeffrey Lynn, Marjorie Reynolds<br />
Snake River Desperadoes (54) W .366<br />
H Go for Broke! (92) D..129<br />
Oiarles Slarretl. Smiley Burnette<br />
Van JoLnson, Warner Anderson<br />
©Lorna Doone (84) C..336<br />
Biirbara Hale. Blchard Greene. Ron Randell<br />
©Texas Rongers, The (74) ....W..325<br />
Night Into Morning (86) D..130<br />
George Montgomery. Gale Storm<br />
liay -Milland. Jotin Hodiak, Nancy Davis<br />
China Corsair (67) O. .316<br />
1<br />
Little Big Horn (82) W . . 5003 No Questions Asked (81) D..132<br />
Jon Hall, Lisa Ferraday. Ron Randell<br />
John Ireland, Marie Windsor, Lloyd Bridees<br />
Arlene Dahl. George Murphy, Barry Sullivan<br />
Silver Canyon (70) W..35S<br />
Drums (70) W. .5001 ©Excuse My Dust (82) M . . 1 33<br />
GeJie Autry, Champion, Qall Davis<br />
Sabu. Lita Baron, Sid Melton<br />
Red Skelton, Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey<br />
Kind Lady (78) D. .134<br />
Ethel Barrymore. Maurice Evans. A. Lansbury<br />
Sirocco (98) D. .348 S G.I. Jone (62) C..S012 Strictly Dishonorable (95) D..131<br />
Humphrty Bogart, Lee J. Cobb, Marta Toren<br />
Jean Porter. Tom Neal. Iris Adrian<br />
Ezio Plnba. Janet Uigh, Millard Mitchell<br />
©Hurricane Island (71) D..349 a Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (54) M. .5019 ©Show Boat (108) M..13S<br />
Two of a Kind (75) D. .350 All-star Minstrel Show<br />
Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ava Gardner<br />
Eilmond OBrlen, Liwbeth Scott. Terry Moore iS Varieties on Parade (67) ....M..5020 Low and the Lady (104) C..136<br />
Big Gusher (68) D . 306 Jackie Cougan, All-Star Revue<br />
Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Marjorie Main<br />
Wayne MorrlJ. Preston Foster, Dorothv Patrick<br />
Teresa (103) D..137<br />
Bononio Town (56) W..367<br />
Pier Angeli, John Erlcson, Patricia CoUlnge<br />
©Mask of the Avenger (83). . . D .359<br />
John Dere k. Anthony giilnn. Jody Lavrrance<br />
Whistle at Eaton Falls, The (96) D. .322<br />
(a ©Rich, Young and Pretty (95).. M.. 138<br />
Lloyd BrIdtfS, Dorothy fiish<br />
51 Lost Continent, The (84) D. .5004 Jane Powell, Vic Daraone, Danielle Darricux<br />
Never Trust a Gombler (79) . . . 326 Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke, Chick Chandler<br />
n.irie na'k, Cathy O'Donnell. Tom Drake<br />
Pickup (79) D. .357<br />
EI Tall Target, The (78) D. .139<br />
Beverly Mlrbielj, Hino Hus. Allan Nixon<br />
Dick Powell. Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou<br />
Cyclone Fury (54) W. .368<br />
H) Strip, The (85) D..140<br />
Cliarles Starrftt. Smiley Birrnetfe<br />
Mickey Rooney. Sally Forrest. Jlonioa Lewis<br />
Choln of Circumstance (68).... D..<br />
K rhird Gravson. Margaret Field<br />
Soturday'i Hero (111) D..318<br />
a People Against O'Hara (103). . . D. .201<br />
John Derek. Donna Rred<br />
Spencer Tracv. Jnim Hodiak. Diana Lvnn<br />
Lody ond the Bandit, The (79). .D. .337<br />
S Angels in the Outfield (102). . . .D. .202<br />
I.ooli Hayward. P.ntrleia Medina<br />
Paul Douglas. Janet Leigh, Keenan Wvnn<br />
©Sunny Side of the Street (71). M. .<br />
m ©Mr. Imperium (87) M . . 203<br />
F-.inkle Laine. Blllv Daniels, Terry Mnnre<br />
Lana Tomer. Eaio Pttvia. Barry Sullivan<br />
©Moglc Foee, The (89) D. .<br />
m Red Badge of Courage (69). . . .D. .204<br />
Luther Adler. Patricia Knleht<br />
m Leove If to the Marines (..)... D . . 5005 Audie .Murphy. Bill Mauldln<br />
Corky of Gasoline Alley (80)... D. 302 Sid Melton, Mara Lynn<br />
Hills of U toh (7 9) W. .356<br />
©Magic Carpet, The (. .) C. . ID As You Were (57) D. .5023 ©Across the Wide Missouri (81) SW.<br />
I.neill,. Ball. John Acar<br />
William Tracy, Joe Sawyer<br />
Clark G.ibie. John Hodiak<br />
Criminal Lawyer (74) D. . ST Highly Dangerous (. .) D. .5029 Man With a Cloak ( . . ) D<br />
Pit O'Brien. Jane Wyitt. Jerome Cowan<br />
Dane Hark. Margaret Lockwood<br />
Barbara Sianuyek. Joseph Cotlen<br />
Mob, The (. .) D. @ Sky High ( . . ) D . . 5024 ©Texos Cornivol (77) M.<br />
Brotlerck Crawtortl. Betty Buehler<br />
Kill Mellon. Mara Lynn<br />
Red Skelton. Esther Williams<br />
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden W FBI Girl (. .) D. .5002<br />
Lnnd (..) D..<br />
C'-sar Itomern. George Brent<br />
Johonv Weissmiiller. Angela Greene<br />
5f Unknown World (..) D..5101<br />
Kid From Amarillo. The (. .). . .W. .<br />
nnice Kellojg. Marilyn Nash<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
[|] Joe Polooka in the Squared<br />
Circle (63) C..5117<br />
Joe Kirkwood jr.. James Gleason<br />
51 Southside 1-1000 (73) D. .AA17<br />
Don DeFore, Andrea IClng, George Toblaa<br />
H Outlaw Gold (51) W. .4954<br />
Johnny Mack Brown. Jane Adams. Myron Heaiy<br />
a Father's Wild Game (61) C..5125<br />
Raymond Walburn, Gary Cray. Jane Darwell<br />
SS Outlaws of Texos (56) W. .4945<br />
Whip Wilson. Phyllis Coates. Andy Clyde<br />
511 Call of the Klondike (67) ....D..4920<br />
Anne Gwynne, Tom Neal, liirby Grant<br />
a Short Grass (82)<br />
W. .AAll<br />
Rod Cameron. Cathy Downs, J. M. Brown<br />
SJ Sierra Passage (80) W..5107<br />
Wayne >lorri3, Ula Albright, Alan Hale jr.<br />
ES Colorado Ambush (52) W..495S<br />
_ Johnny Mack Brown. l>ols Hall. Myron Healy<br />
in Bowery Battalion (69) C..S1I1<br />
Bowery Leo Gorcey,<br />
H ©Blue<br />
Huntz<br />
Blood<br />
Hall.<br />
(72)<br />
Boys<br />
D. .4904<br />
Bill WlUiams. Jane Nigh, Shields<br />
Arthur<br />
:£ Abilene Trail (64) W. .4946<br />
Whip Wilson. Andy Clyde. Noel Nelll<br />
31 Rhythm Inn (71) M. .5111<br />
Jane Frazee, Kirbv Grant. Charles Smith<br />
51 Vicious Years, The (81) D. .5I»1<br />
Tommy Cook, Gar Muore. Sybil Merrltt<br />
S Navy Bound (60) C. .5120<br />
Tom .Neal. Regis Toomey. Wendy Waldron<br />
53 Men From Sonera (54) W. .5141<br />
Johnny Mack Brown, Lyle Talbot. Lee RoberU<br />
a Gypsy Fury (63) D..519J<br />
Viveca Lindfors. Christopher Kent. R. Brent<br />
@ Lion Hunters, The (73) D..5109<br />
Johnny Sheffield. Ann Todd, Morris Ankrum<br />
a Canyon Raiders (54) W..51S1<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight, Phyllis Coates<br />
51 I Was an American Spy (85) . D. .AA19<br />
Ann Dvorak. Gene Evans. Douglas Ketuiedy<br />
m Ghost Chasers (69) C. .5112<br />
Huntz Hall. Leo Gorcey. Bowery Boys<br />
dj Blazing Bullets (51)<br />
Johnny .Mack Brown. Lois Hall<br />
S ©Covolry Scout (78)<br />
Audrey Long. liod Cameron. Jim<br />
.5142<br />
.5101<br />
51! Nevada Badmen (58) . . . .5152<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. Phyllis Coates<br />
gS According to Mrs. Hoyle (60). D 5122<br />
Spring Byington. Tanls Chandler, Brett King<br />
m Caso Monona (73)<br />
Robert CTarke. Virginia Welles<br />
m Father Tokes the Air (61) . . .<br />
Rajmond Walburn. Walter Catlett<br />
^ Montana Desperadoes (51) ...<br />
Joluiny Mack Drown. Lois Hall<br />
m Yukon Manhunt (62) D. .5123<br />
Kirbv Grant, Chinook, Gall Davis<br />
51 Stogecooch Driver (52) W. .5153<br />
Whip Wilson<br />
i<br />
Disc Jockey (80) M. .AA21<br />
Gimiv Simms. Michael O'Shea. Jane Nigh<br />
Oklahoma Justice (56) W..5144<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
S Wanted: Dead or Alive (59) . . W. . 5154<br />
Whip Wilson. Andy Ovde<br />
511 Joe Palooka in Triple Cross ( . . ) O . . 51 1<br />
Joe Kirkwood, Catbv Downs<br />
a ©Flight to Mors (. .) D. .5103<br />
.Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell<br />
H Yellow Fin (..) DM.. 5108<br />
Wayne Morris. Damian O'Flynn<br />
5i] Elephant Stampede (..) D..5110<br />
Johnny Sheffield. Donna Martell
'llHj<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
©Tripoli (95) D..500S<br />
HMuieen Ollar,). .Inhn r:ijne, Phillip Reed<br />
©Let's Donee (112) MC. .5006<br />
Betty lliitton. Fred Astiilre, Roland Young<br />
Mr. Music (113) MC..5007<br />
Billg C'nisliy, Nancy Charles Cohilrn<br />
Olson,<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
E ©Joon of Arc (165) D. .118<br />
Ingrid Bergman. Jose Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan<br />
Experiment Alcolroz (58) D..107<br />
John Houard, Lynnc Carter, Joan<br />
H Never a Dull Moment (89)<br />
Dixon<br />
C..106<br />
Kre{l MacMurray. Andy Devlne, Dunne<br />
Irene<br />
g3 Where Danger Lives (84) D. .024<br />
Robert Mitchura, Claude Rains, Domergue<br />
FalUi<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
EH North of Great Divide (67) . . .W. .4944<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones<br />
m Under Mexicoli Stars (67) W. .4954<br />
Rex Allen, liorothy Patrick<br />
€3 Macbeth (85) D. .5003<br />
Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan rt'Heriihv<br />
Rio Gronde (105) SW . . 5004<br />
Jolin Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Ben Jolinson<br />
Missourions, The (60) W..4974<br />
Monte Hale, Paul Hurst, Lyn Thomas<br />
Itl California Passage (90) ....W..500S<br />
Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara. Jim Davis<br />
SI ©Trail of Robin Hood (67) ..W..4946<br />
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
20TH CENTURY-FOX | |°<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones<br />
September Affair (103) D..5012<br />
Joan Fontaine. Joseph Ctitten. Jessica Tandy<br />
|©Greot Missouri Raid, Tlie (85) D. .5013<br />
Wendell Corey, Ellen Drew, Mai.'donald Carey<br />
Vendetta (84) D. .167<br />
Faith Dumergue, Hillary Brooke<br />
George Dolenz,<br />
Hunt the Man Down (68) D..111<br />
.M.iry Anderson, Gig Young. Lynne Roberts<br />
Low of the Badlands (60) W..113<br />
Tim Holt, liiohard Joan Dixon<br />
Alartin,<br />
Company She Keeps, The (83) . .D. .109<br />
LizalH'th Scott, Jane Greer, Demds O'Keefe<br />
Double Deal (65) D..112<br />
Marie Windsor, Richard Denning, Fay Baker<br />
Gambling House (80) D..110<br />
Victor M.ature. Terry Moore, William Bendli<br />
Cry Donger (79) D..115<br />
Hick Powell. Rhonda Richard Brdman<br />
Fleming,<br />
m Pride of Marylond (60) D. .5023<br />
Stewart, Stanley<br />
S Belle<br />
Clemints, Peggy<br />
Le Grond (90)<br />
Frankle Darro<br />
D,.5006<br />
Vera lialston. John Carroll<br />
] Spoilers of the Ploins (67) W. .5041<br />
Roy Rogers, Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones<br />
! Missing Women (60) D, .5025<br />
Penny Edwards, J.imcs Mllllcan<br />
i Night Riders of Montana (60) .W. .5059<br />
Allan Lane, Oaudla Barrett, Chubby Johnson<br />
Redhead and the Cowboy (82) D.<br />
Glenn Ford, lUionda Fleming, Alan lie<br />
Mating Season, The (101) ..,.C..5016<br />
Gene Tlerney, John Lund, Mirlara Hopkins<br />
©Samson and Delilah (128) ..D..5010<br />
Victor Mature, Hed> Laniarr. George Sanders<br />
Molly (83) C..5011<br />
(::ev\ as The Goldliergs)<br />
Gertrude Berg, rhlllp Loeb<br />
©Quebec (85) D.,5017<br />
jr., John Barrytrore Corlnne Calvet. P. Knowles<br />
Lemon Drop Kid, The (91) C. .5018<br />
Bob Hope. Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nol.-in<br />
inpayment on Demand (90) ....D..171<br />
Bette Davis, Barry Sullivan, Kent Taylor<br />
lUl Tarzan's Peril (79) D..172<br />
Lex Barker. Virginia Huston. George Macready<br />
Thing From Another World (86) D, .174<br />
Ediiard l'>anz, Margaret Sheridan, James Arness<br />
a Kon-Tiki (68) D..173<br />
Thor Heyerit.ihl, Knut Haugland<br />
ID Soddle Legion (60) W..117<br />
Tim Holt. Dorothy Malone, Richard Martin<br />
M] Footlight Varieties (61) M..116<br />
J.ick Paar, Red Buttons, Leon Errol<br />
lU My Forbidden Past (70) D..114<br />
Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas, Robert Mitchum<br />
El Silver City Bonanza (67) ....W..5051<br />
Rex Allen. Buddy Ebsen, Mary Ellen Kay<br />
Cuban Fireball (78) MC..5007<br />
[U<br />
Eslelita Rodriguez. Warren Douglas<br />
SSl ©OhI Susonna (90) D. .5008<br />
Rod Cameron, Adrian Tucker<br />
Booth, Forrest<br />
§3 Insurance Investigator (60) ..D..5026<br />
Richard Denning, Audrey Long, Hillary Brooke<br />
a Heart of the Rockies (67) ...W..5042<br />
Roy Rogers. Penny Edwards. Gordon Jones<br />
[8] Thunder in God's Country (67) .W. .5052<br />
Rex Allen, Mary Ellen Kay. Buddy Ebsen<br />
Appointment With Danger (90) D. .5019<br />
Alan Ladd, Jan Sterling, Phyllis Calvert<br />
©Lost Outpost, The (87) D. .5020<br />
Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Peter Hanson<br />
Dear Brat (82) D..5021<br />
Mona Freem.in, Edward Arnold, Billy DeWidfc<br />
Trio (92) CD.. 5030<br />
Jean Simmons, Michael Rennle, Anne Crawford<br />
Tokyo File<br />
I<br />
212 (84) D..175<br />
Florence Marly, Robert Peyton<br />
51 Sealed Cargo (90) D..118<br />
Dan» Andrews, Claude Bains, Carla Balenda<br />
[g ©Jungle Headhunters (65) D . . 1 77<br />
Lewis Cotlow, All Native Cast<br />
[3 Hard, Fost and Beautiful (76) D..119<br />
Claire Trevor. Sally Forrest, Carleton Young<br />
ai ©Best of the Badmen (84) ....W..176<br />
Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Jack Buetel<br />
\T} Buckoroo Sheriff of Texas (60) W. .5066<br />
.Michael Chapin. Ellene Janssen<br />
31 In Old Amarillo (67) W. .5043<br />
Roy Rogers, Estelita Rodriguez, Penny Edwards<br />
a Wells Forgo Gunmoster (60) ..W..5061<br />
Allan Lane, Mary Ellen Kay<br />
EH Bullfighter ond the Lady (87) D..5009<br />
Robert Stack, Gilbert Roland, Virginia Grey<br />
19 Million Dollar Pursuit (60) . . . .D. .5028<br />
Penny Edwards, Grant Withers, Norman Budd<br />
[S Fighting Coast Guard (86) ...D..5010<br />
Brian Donlevy, Forrest Tucker, BUa Rabies<br />
i<br />
Secrets of Monte Carlo (60) .D..5030<br />
Warren Douglas, Lois Hall, June Vincent<br />
GiPassage West (80) W. .5022<br />
John Payne, Arleen Whelan, Dennis 0"Keefe<br />
Ace in the Hole (112) D. .5023<br />
Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Porter Hall<br />
m ©Happy Go Lovely (88) M, .262<br />
David Niven, Vera-EUen. Cesar Romero<br />
m U©Alice in Wonderland (75). . D. .291<br />
(Walt Disney cartoon)<br />
m The Dakota Kid (60) W. .5067<br />
Michael Chapin, Ellens Janssen, James Bell<br />
!ll Rodeo King and Senorita (67) W..5053<br />
Bex Allen, Mary Ellen Kay, Buddy Hbsen<br />
81 Fugitive Lody (78) . . 501<br />
Jarils Paige, Binnle Barnes<br />
Pelting Express (85) D. .5024<br />
Joseph Cotten, Corlnne Calvet, Edmund Gwcnn<br />
That's My Boy (100) C. .5026<br />
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewie, Hussey<br />
Buth<br />
©Warpath (95) O , . 5025<br />
Bdmond •"Brien, Dean Jagger, Forrest Tucker<br />
.261<br />
EI Flying Leathernecks (102) I<br />
Jotui V\'ayne. Robert Ryan, Janls<br />
m His Kind of Woman (120)<br />
Carter<br />
D. .20><br />
Robert Mitchum. Jane Rus.sell, Price<br />
VUlcenl<br />
gi Behove Yourself (..) CD..<br />
Farley Granger, Sbelley Winters<br />
a This Is Korea (50 Doc. .5127<br />
El Fort Dodge Stampede (60). . . .W. .5062<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane. Mary Ellen Kay<br />
^ Adventures of Cpt. Fabion(IOO) D. .5101<br />
Errol Flj-nn, Michelbie Prelle<br />
Here Comes the Groom (114) . .C. .5101<br />
Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman. Pranchot Tone<br />
Place in the Sun, A (122) D. .5102<br />
Montgomery Clift. Elizabeth Taylor<br />
Rhubarb (94) C..5103<br />
Ray Milland, Jan Lockhart<br />
Sterling, Gene<br />
B On the Loose (74)<br />
D<br />
Joan Evans, .Melvyn Douglas<br />
51 Rocket, The (60) D.<br />
Robert Mitchum, Lizaliclh Scott<br />
El] Drums in the Deep South (87). . .D.<br />
James Craig, Barbara Payton<br />
Lilli Morlene (85) D.<br />
LLsa Daniely. Hugh McDermott<br />
511 Arizona Manhunt (60) W..<br />
Michael Cliapln, Eilene Janssen<br />
Havana Rose . . ) 51 ( D<br />
Estelita Rodriguez. Hugh Herbert<br />
SS Woman in the Dark { . . ) D<br />
Penny Edwards. Ross Elliott<br />
gi Seo Hornet ( . . ) D<br />
Rod Cameron, Adele Mara<br />
[6] aSlaughter Troil (..)...<br />
Brian Donle^T. Virginia Grey<br />
.<br />
©Crosswinds (93) D. .<br />
.lohn Pavne. Rhcmda Fleming<br />
Darling, How Could You! (96). .C.<br />
Joan Font.aine, John Lund<br />
Something to Live For (..)....D.<br />
Ray MlUand, Joan Fontaine
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
UNITED<br />
ARTISTS<br />
Of<br />
UJ<br />
CO<br />
UJ<br />
><br />
O
'<br />
12-21-50<br />
. •<br />
6-28-51<br />
: Donald's<br />
I<br />
Cold Storage (7) . .<br />
I Merbabies<br />
Short subjects, listed by company, in order of releose. Running time follows title. First dote is notionoi<br />
release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dates is roting from BOXOFFICE<br />
review. ++ Very Good. + Good. ±. Foir. — Poor. = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography.<br />
'i\<br />
Columbia<br />
oj. No, Title Rel. Date Ratino ReVd<br />
ASSORTED COMEDIES<br />
123 Innocently Guilty (16) ±<br />
.<br />
-U3 He Flew the Shrew (I6I/2) 1-11-51 114 Wedding Yells (16).... 2- 8-51 +<br />
194 Wine Women and Bong<br />
(151/2) 2-22-51 +<br />
U5 Blonde Atom Bomb (17) 3- S-51 +<br />
;25Thc Awful Sleuth (16).. 4.19-51 ±<br />
iae Fun on the Run (16) 5-10-51<br />
. .<br />
'j26 Woo Woo Blues (16) ... 7- 2-51 +<br />
±<br />
CANDID MICROPHONE<br />
(One-Reel Specials)<br />
153 Subject No. 3 (IO1/2) . . 2-15-51 +<br />
;54 Subject No. 4 (11).... 4-12-51 +<br />
555 Subject No. 5 (IOI/2) . 6-14-51 ±<br />
556 Subject No. 6 (10).... 8-15-51<br />
CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY<br />
The China Doll (11) .. .12-28-50 -f 2-24<br />
653 Havana Madrid (10.)..<br />
652<br />
4-12-51+ 5- 5<br />
654 New York After Midnmht<br />
(11) 6-28-51 ++ 7-
SHORTS CHART<br />
TECHNICOLOR CARTUNES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
6322 Three Lazy Mice (71... 12- 4-50<br />
6323 Chew Chew Baby (7) .12-25-50<br />
. +f<br />
6324 Dippy Diolomat (7) ... 1-15-51 +<br />
2-17<br />
3-17<br />
6325 Adventures of Tom Thumb<br />
(7) 2-12-51 3-10<br />
-i-<br />
6326 Woody Dines Out (7)... 3-19-51 -f 3-24<br />
6327 Andy Panda Goes Fishino<br />
4-23-51 5-19<br />
(7)<br />
6328 Sprinotime Serenade (7)<br />
-f<br />
5-14-51 ± 5-12<br />
6329Junole Jive (7) 6-18-51+ 6-23<br />
6330 Who's Cookin' Who? (7) .<br />
7-16-51<br />
6331 Pied Piper of Basin Street<br />
(7) 8-20-51<br />
6332 100 Pyomies and Andy<br />
(7) Panda 9-17-51<br />
6333 The Fox and the Rabbit<br />
(7) 10-15-51<br />
VARIETY VIEWS<br />
6341 Battle of the Bulge (9) 1-22-51 + 2-17<br />
6342 Brooklyn Goes to Beantown<br />
(9) 2-19-51 + -<br />
"<br />
6343 Sprmohoard to Fame (9) 3- 5-51 rt<br />
6344 Hickory Holiday (9) 4-30-51 ±<br />
6345 Finny Business (9) 5-21-51 -f<br />
6346 Clubby Cub (9> 6-18-51 ++<br />
6347 Romeo Land (9) 8- 6-51 -f<br />
6348 Monkey Island (9) ... 9-10-51 ±<br />
WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
6351 Puny Express (7). ..<br />
6352 Sleep Haptiy (7)<br />
6353 Wicket W.ickey (7><br />
6354 Sling Shot 6% (7)<br />
1-22-51 +<br />
3-26-51 +<br />
5-28-51 ±<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
2-10<br />
4-21<br />
5-12<br />
7-23-51 + 6-30<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating I<br />
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
7305 Duck Soun to Nuts (7) 1- 6-51<br />
7306 Flowers for Mrnlame (7) 2- 3-51<br />
7307 Life With Feathers (7) . 3- 3-51<br />
7308 Peck Up Your Troubles<br />
(7) 3-24-51 +<br />
7309 Odor-Able Kitty (7)... 4-21-51<br />
7310 Book Revue (7) 5-19-51<br />
7311 Stagefright (7) 6-23-51<br />
7312 Sioux Me (7) 7-21-51<br />
7313 The Stupid Cupid (7) . . 9- 1-51<br />
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
7720 Hare We Go (7) 1- 6-51 + 2-17<br />
7721 Rabbit Every Monday (7) 2-10-51 + 4-21<br />
7722 Bunny Hugged (7) 3-10-51 + 4-21<br />
7723 Fail-Haired Hare (7).. 4-14-51+ 6-2<br />
7724 Rabbit Fire (7) 5-19-51 ff 6-30<br />
7725 French Rarebit (7) 6-30-51<br />
7726 His Hare Raisino Talc<br />
(7) 8-11-51<br />
FEATURETTES<br />
7103 Ace of Clubs (20).... 1-27-51<br />
7104 Roaring Guns (19)<br />
(reissue) 3-31-51<br />
7105 Hunting the Hard Way<br />
(20) 5-26-51<br />
7106 Law of the Badlands (20) 8- 4-51<br />
HIT PARADE OF GAY NINETIES<br />
.<br />
7802 Old Family Album (10) 12-16-50 +<br />
2-10-51<br />
2-17<br />
7804 Childhood Days (10)<br />
7805 In Old Nev* York 19).. 4-28-51<br />
7806 Musical Memories (9) . . 6-30-51<br />
JOE<br />
McDOAKES COMEDIES<br />
7402 So You're Going to Have<br />
an Operation (10)... 12- 2-50 - 11<br />
7403 So You Want to Be a<br />
Handyman (10) .... 1-13-51 ±<br />
7404 So You Want to Be a<br />
Cowboy (10) 4-14-51 ±<br />
7405 So You Want to Be a<br />
Paperhanger (10) 6- 2-51 +<br />
7406 So You Want to Buy a<br />
Used Car (10) 7-28-51<br />
MERRIE MELODIES<br />
(Color)<br />
7706 A Fox In a Fix (7).<br />
7707 Canned Feud (7) 2<br />
T70S Putty Tat Trouble (7)<br />
7709 Corn Plastered (7)<br />
7710 Scent-lmenlal Romeo (7)<br />
7711 A Bone for a Bone (7) .<br />
7712 Hound for Trouble (7) .<br />
7713 Early to Bet (7)<br />
7714 Room and Bird (7)<br />
7715 Chow Hound (7)<br />
7716 Wearing of the Grin (7) 7<br />
7717 Leghorn Swaggled (7).. 7<br />
7718 Chetse Chasers (7) 8<br />
20-51 + 3-31<br />
3-51<br />
24-51 4+<br />
3-51 +<br />
24-51 ff<br />
7-51 +<br />
28-51 +<br />
12-51 H<br />
2-51 +<br />
16-51 + 7-14<br />
14-51<br />
28-51<br />
25-51<br />
4-14<br />
4-21<br />
4-28<br />
6- 9<br />
6- 2<br />
6- 9<br />
7-14<br />
SPORTS PARADE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
7504 Ski in the Sky (10) . . . 1-13-51 7505 Will to Win (10) 2-24-51 7506 Rocky Eden (10) 4-7-51 +<br />
7507 Hawaiian Sports (10) . . 5-12-51 +<br />
7508 Birds and Beasts Were<br />
There (10) 6-16-51 +<br />
7509 Making Mounties (10).. 7-14-51<br />
7510 Kings of the Outdoors<br />
(10) 8-18-51<br />
TECHNICOLOR SPECIALS<br />
7004 My Country 'Tis of Thee<br />
(20) 2-17 +<br />
7005 Neighbor Next Door (20) 3-17-51 -H-<br />
7006 Stranger in the<br />
Lighthouse (20) .... 5- 5-51 1+<br />
7007 Sons of the Plains (19) 6- 9-51<br />
7008 Enchanted Islands<br />
+<br />
(20) 8- 4-51<br />
VITAPHONE NOVELTIES<br />
7603 Blaze Busters (10) 12-30-50 +f<br />
7604 Animal Antics (10) 1-20-51 +<br />
7605 Horse-Hide Heroes (10) 3-10-51 +<br />
7606 Anything for Laughs (10) 4-21-51 ±<br />
7607 World of Kids (10) 6-23-51 +<br />
7608 Disaster Fighte/s (10).. 8-11-51<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
3-31<br />
4-14<br />
5-26<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
Monogram<br />
LITTLE RASCALS<br />
.<br />
(Reissues)<br />
4990 Heart Are Thumps (19). 10-10-50<br />
4975 IVlush and Milk (18) . . .10-14-50<br />
4991 Three Smart Boys (11) .10-24-50<br />
4976 Kid Fiom Borneo (19) . .10-28-50<br />
4992 Rushin Ballett (11) 11- 7-50<br />
4977 Lucky Corner (17) 11-11-50<br />
4993 Glove Taps (11) 11-21-50<br />
4979 Anniversary Trouble<br />
(19) 11-25-50<br />
4994 Night N Gales (11) 12-5-50<br />
49S0 Mike Fright (18) 12- 9-50<br />
4978 Beginner's Luck (19) .. .12-23-50<br />
4931 Little Papa (19) 1- 5-51<br />
4982 Pooch, The (21) 1-20-51<br />
Public Relations<br />
Republic<br />
SERIALS<br />
5081 Desperadoes of the West 12-23-50<br />
12 Chapters<br />
5082 Flying Disc Man From<br />
Mars 3-17-51<br />
12 Chapters<br />
5083 Perils of the Darkest<br />
Jungle 6- 9-51<br />
12 Chapters (reissue)<br />
5084 Don Daredevil Rides Again<br />
12 Chapters<br />
THIS<br />
WORLD OF OURS<br />
(Trucolor)<br />
4979 France (9) 10-15-50<br />
4980 Holland (9) 11-30-50<br />
1950-51 SEASON<br />
5071 London (9) 1-15-51<br />
5072 Portugal (9) 2-15-51<br />
5073 Spain (9) 3-15-51<br />
5074 England (9) 4-15-51<br />
5075 Hawaii (9) 5-15-51<br />
5(17/-. Greece (9) 6-15-51<br />
5077 Belgium (9) 7-15-51<br />
SPECIALS<br />
9495 The Battle for Korea (9) 7- 1-50<br />
Independents<br />
Spanish Texas (10)<br />
Nationwide Pictures + 11-11<br />
Grandma Moses (25) AF ff 12- 2<br />
Mystery of the Flying Saucers (8)<br />
Hoffberg ff 1-20<br />
The Village Tale (35)<br />
Palestine Films 1-27<br />
Salzburg Fiesta (12/2) Hoffberg<br />
ff<br />
+ 5-5<br />
The Beautiful Blue Danube<br />
+ (I21/2) Hoffberg 5-5<br />
SHORTS REVIEWS<br />
The Anvil Chorus Girl<br />
Para. (Popeye Champion) 7 Mins.<br />
Fair. When Popeye and Bluto see<br />
Olive Oyl running a smithy, they<br />
outdo each other with feats of<br />
strength to impress her. Bluto has<br />
the upper hand when the trusty can<br />
of spinach comes to the rescue. One<br />
s'wallo^w and Bluto's back is to the<br />
wall, nailed by the anvils he'd been<br />
tossing arounci. Nevertheless, Bluto<br />
gets the job of helper. But Olive<br />
Oyl leaves with Popeye.<br />
Casper Comes to Clo'wn<br />
Para. (Casper Cartoon) 8 Mins.<br />
Good. Casper, the little ghost who<br />
doesn't want to scare people, makes<br />
friends v/ith Bro^wnie, a little bear<br />
cub. Casper trains Bro^wnie to be a<br />
juggler. Bro-wnie winds up in a circus<br />
juggling on a tight rope. A<br />
violent ope escapes and goes after<br />
Brov/nie. Casper appears on the<br />
scene and the ape runs back into his<br />
cage. Casper is a hero. He and<br />
Bro^wnie become the stars of the<br />
circus.<br />
Party Smarty<br />
Paramount (Noveltoon) 8 Mins.<br />
Good. Baby Huey, the overgro^wn<br />
duck, goes to Oscar's birthday party.<br />
The party cro^wd gang up on Huey<br />
and get rid of him. A fox breaks up<br />
the party, and while chasing the<br />
other ducks bumps into over.';i?;ed<br />
Huey. Huey out^wits !he fox and becomes<br />
a hero. This is a nat^ural fcr<br />
the Kiddy Sho^ws.<br />
She-Sick Sailors<br />
Para. (Popeye Champion) 6 Mins.<br />
Good. A cute satire in which Bluto<br />
persuades Olive Oyl that he is<br />
Superman by phoneying up several<br />
terrific feats of strength. Popeye cannot<br />
stop the psuedo strong man. from<br />
running a^way with Olive Oyl. Spinach<br />
finally comes to the rescue and<br />
Popeye saves his siAreethsart and<br />
exposes Bluto.<br />
Antique Antics<br />
RKO (Screenliner) 8 Mins.<br />
Very good. A satiric commentary<br />
pokes delightful fun at a duet of old<br />
screen melodramas. The first of the<br />
pair is "The Gambler's Lament," or<br />
"Wrecked by Roulette," a smouldering,<br />
early 20th century indictment<br />
of the evils of "them thar games of<br />
chance." The second is "Treachery<br />
at the Embassy," which proves, in<br />
the good old-fashioned style, that<br />
virtue, sir, al^ways triumphs.<br />
Here Comes the Band<br />
RKO (Special) 17 Mins.<br />
Good. Unique formations combined<br />
with martial and s^wing music<br />
make for pleasant entertainment.<br />
The subject presents the gro^wth,<br />
training and perfectly cadenced end<br />
product of the University of Michigan<br />
Band. This short is a musi for<br />
college to^wns and will probably<br />
prove equally successful in other locales.<br />
The Old MiU<br />
RKO (Disney Cartoon) 9 Mins.<br />
Fair. The occupants of a windmill<br />
are startled by a storm which sets<br />
the machinery of the mill in motion.<br />
li<br />
The thunder, lightning and rain subside<br />
OS da^wn breaks through. Highlight<br />
of the subject is the unique<br />
musical rendition started by the<br />
frcgs and picked up by o'.her animals.<br />
Prison With a Future<br />
RKO (This Is America) 14 Mina.<br />
Good. The rehabilitation of female<br />
prison inmates, as conducted<br />
at the Marysville Reformatory for<br />
Women in Ohio, is presented in an<br />
interesting and comprehensive manner.<br />
The reasoning behind the treatment<br />
and training of wromen prisoners<br />
is explained by superintendent<br />
Marguerite Reilly. The progressive<br />
system, which teaches various skills<br />
while allowing inmates a maximum<br />
of freedom, makes interesting film<br />
fare.<br />
Cheese Chasers<br />
WB (Merrie Melody) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Hubie and Bertie, the mice,<br />
eat so much cheese that they become<br />
sick and decide to commit<br />
suicide by giving themselves up to<br />
Claude, the cat. Claude thinks he<br />
must be going crazy and tries to get<br />
a gigantic bulldog to massacre him.<br />
The dog can't figure it out and ends<br />
up chasing the dogcatcher's wagon,<br />
this being his own method of ending<br />
it<br />
all.<br />
Disaster Fighters<br />
WB (Vitaphone Novelty) 10 Mins.<br />
Very good. A thrilling film .'bowing<br />
rescuers at work during hurricanes<br />
and floods, this short subject<br />
portrays nature on the rampage in<br />
a series of exciting scenes. The accompanying<br />
narration, which was<br />
written by Robert Youngson, who<br />
also directed, keeps up with the<br />
fast pace of the action.<br />
Enchanted Islands<br />
WB (Technicolor Special) 20 Mina.<br />
Very good. The beautiful color<br />
alone makes this short a prize, although<br />
the musical numbers and<br />
narration also rate high. The locale<br />
is Hawaii, and many facets of that<br />
colorful land are used to build a<br />
film which amounts to sheer artistry.<br />
There is swing for the kids, thrills<br />
for sportsm.en, humor for everyone<br />
and, to repeat, color to dazzle the<br />
eye.<br />
His Hare Raising Tale<br />
WB ((Bugs Bunny Special) 7 Mina<br />
Good. Bugs Bunny tells his<br />
nephew the exciting events of his<br />
career. Included are Bugs, as a<br />
baseball star, a vaudevillian, a<br />
bo.xer and a rocket-propelled moon<br />
explorer. When his nephew is doubtful.<br />
Bugs says if it isn't true, he<br />
hopes to be run down by a street<br />
car. He is.<br />
So You Want to Buy a Used Car<br />
WB (Joe McDoakes Comedy) 10 Mins.<br />
Fair. Alice McDoakes talks Joe<br />
into trading in their car for a newer<br />
model- The salesmen at the Cagey<br />
Used Car Lot spot Joe a mile away.<br />
After some 'over-used-car' gags, Joe<br />
is sold his own car which had been<br />
repainted while he was looking of.<br />
other vehicles. Joe promptly wrecks<br />
the car for the insurance, only to<br />
find that he isn't covered. The Mc-<br />
Doakes end up on a bycicle built for<br />
two.<br />
10<br />
BOXOFFICE BooldnGuide<br />
: : Sept. 8, 1951
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips<br />
(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE REVERSE SIDE)<br />
mrmn mmm<br />
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine F<br />
Warner Bros. 90 Minutes Rel.<br />
(Teclinicolor)<br />
Sinful Las Vegas and sensational Hollywood—the west's<br />
most highly touted glamour spots—furnish the backgrounds<br />
and atmosphere for as bright and breezy a musical comedy<br />
as has rolled off the screen capital's tunefilms assembly line<br />
in many seasons. Photographed in sparkling Technicolor,<br />
the picture has everything necessary to appeal to the tastes<br />
of that wide segment of ticket buyers who consider mirthand-melody<br />
offerings the best bets as escapist en ertainment.<br />
It necessarily follows, then, that the feature is a natural<br />
for top grosses in all of its bookings— and to make such<br />
appraisal the more substantial, there is a wide assortment of<br />
factors that cry for effective exploitation—most especially<br />
locales, cast and the music. Other praiseworthy ingredients:<br />
Highly original dance numbers staged by LeRoy Prinz, impressive<br />
production mountings by William Jacobs, and the<br />
lightning-paced direction of David Butler.<br />
Dennis Morgan, 'Virginia Mayo. Lucille Norman, Gene Nelson,<br />
S. Z. Sakall, Virginia Gibson, Tom Conway.<br />
The Day the Earth Stood Still<br />
F Fantasy<br />
Drama<br />
20th-Fox (123) 92 Minutes Rel. Sept. '51<br />
Initiating a marked departure irom the format of the current<br />
extensive cycle of pseudo-science, adventure yarns,<br />
this melds its Buck Roger-ish facets with a sizable measure ot<br />
interplanetary soul-searching and preachment. Whether the<br />
buyers of such highly imaginary fiction will welcome the<br />
mixture probably will depend upon how adroitly the film<br />
is exploited. The fantasy angles are exper.ly and impressively<br />
injected, and other production details, under the<br />
guidance of Julian Blaustein, are comparably effective. Performances—especially<br />
the contributions by Patricia Neal<br />
and Michael Rennie—are acceptable, albeit there is no marquee<br />
magic in the cast to add great weight to the feature's<br />
drawing power. Thus, the offering must stand or fall on its<br />
subject matter, which, obviously, will furnish the backbone<br />
for merchandising. Robert Wise's direction establishes as<br />
much tempo and suspense as the script permitted.<br />
Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe. Sam Jaife,<br />
Billy Gray, Frances Bavier, Lock Martin.<br />
Disc Jockey<br />
F<br />
Variety<br />
Musical<br />
Monogram-Allied Artists (AA21) 77 Minutes Rel. Aug. 26, '51<br />
For short-haired music lovers, most especially those who are<br />
fans of the radio specialists from whose widespread activities<br />
the title was derived, here is a brimming measure of the<br />
tunes they like as well as a look-see at many of the topnotchers<br />
who record them and the plotter spinners who freight the<br />
airways with them. And that adds up to a package of unusual<br />
variety entertainment that should be saleable in any<br />
community in sufficient quantities to make the feature a<br />
successful engagement. In those territories covered by one or<br />
more of the many jockeys who appear in the film, there is<br />
a rare opportunity for smart merchandising at the local level.<br />
While the story serves as little more than a framework for<br />
the musical talent, it is sufficiently meaty for convincing interpolation.<br />
A praiseworthy job by both Producer Maurice<br />
Duke and Director Will Jason.<br />
Ginny Simms, Tom Drake, lane Nigh, Michael O'Shea, Lenny<br />
Kent, Russ Morgan, Tommy Dorsey, Red Nichols.<br />
The Well<br />
United Artists (- 88 Minutes Rel.<br />
Because there are no top-bracket names in the cast, this will<br />
call for a touch of smart merchandising if it is to enjoy in<br />
its initial showings the capacity business to which its multitudinous<br />
merits entitle it. There is plenty therein upon<br />
which such exploitation can be hung, with emphasis on the<br />
opportunity for cooperation from civic and social leaders and<br />
groups interested in the furtherance of tolerance. For showmen<br />
who take advantage thereof, there should be rich rewards,<br />
in both revenue and the patriotic satisfaction of forcefully<br />
exhibi ing a feature which so stirringly projects an intelligent,<br />
masterfully written, convincingly produced, excellently<br />
enacted and brilliantly directed treatise on racial<br />
prejudices and the hazards they pose for any community.<br />
Despite the ruggedly uncompromising treatment of its basic<br />
subject matter, the picture is heartwarming as well as suspenseful.<br />
Leo Popkin and Russell Rouse directed.<br />
Richard Rober, Barry Kelly, Henry Morgan, Christine Larson,<br />
Tom Powers, Robert Osterloh, Gwendolyn Laster.<br />
The Mob<br />
Columbia (-<br />
Broderick Crawford is coming dangerously close (from the<br />
standpoint of his own thespian career) to being typed as a<br />
plug-ugly kind of politician, grafter or cop. That he makes<br />
his characiers stand out does not take away from the fact<br />
that they are all of a piece and limiting so far as roles for<br />
him are concerned. In the tradition of violence and the law<br />
versus gangsterism, this one is potent stuff and full of<br />
suspense angles. Where that type of picture pays off at the<br />
boxoffice, this should go top-side, but should be relieved, if<br />
possible, by something lighter and prettier underneath. Based<br />
on a story from Collier's magazine called "Waterfront," it<br />
allows for exploitation features v/hich exhibitors can ballyhoo<br />
to advantage. Broderick Crawford as an Academy Award<br />
winning star has marquee value in most situations. Robert<br />
Parrish directed.<br />
Broderick Crawlord, Betty Buehler, Richard Kiley, Otto Hulett,<br />
Matt Crowley, Neville Brand, Ernest Borgnine.<br />
Saturday's Hero<br />
Columbia (318) 111 Minutes Rel. Sept. '51<br />
With the West Point scandal fresh in the mind of the public<br />
as well as other news stories about the "kept men" on college<br />
campuses, this should have a boxoffice impact extending<br />
beyond the football season. Sports page tieups are<br />
indicated in exploiting it. John Derek, in his portrayal of<br />
a boy who wanted to get an education, taking what looked<br />
like the easy way of earning it, has one of his best roles.<br />
Donna Reed's part seems confused and even somewhat sinister<br />
so far as the hold her uncle has on her, and tries to<br />
exert on the football star. This struggle of a boy who cares<br />
about books but has to give so much time to football that he<br />
cannot do the required work is helped by Alexander Knox's<br />
biting sarcasm as the professor who sees a scholar wasted<br />
on the gridiron. The ending is not too clearly happy but the<br />
picture has provocative appeal as topside entertainment.<br />
David Miller directed.<br />
John Derek, Donna Reed, Sidney Blackmer, Alexander Knox,<br />
Elliott Lewis, Otto Hulett, Howard St. John.<br />
Obsessed<br />
F<br />
Mystery<br />
Drama<br />
United Artists ( ) 77 Minutes Rel. Sept. 7, '51<br />
Mystery addicts will have little trouble figuring out from<br />
scratch who done it, and such telegraphing of the ultimate<br />
outcome will detract considerably from the picture's chance<br />
of commanding their suspenseful attention. Olher than that,<br />
the feature has just about all of the assets and liabilities of<br />
the usual British-made offering of its medium-bracket budget<br />
category. In the former group are to be found sensitive,<br />
acceptable performances; solid, authentic and atmospherically<br />
ingratiating production values. Among the latter, to the forefront<br />
are the leisurely pace and the stressing of dialog at the i<br />
expense of action. By the same logic, the film confronts Amer-<br />
!j^^^<br />
|<br />
icon showmen with the well-known problems as concerns<br />
such English fare: Unknown names and a lack of standard<br />
merchandising angles. As a supporting feature, or topside<br />
in the so-called art houses, it will get by. Maurice Elvey<br />
directed.<br />
David Farrar, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Roland Culver, Jean<br />
Cadell, Mary Merrall, Horcourt Williams, Ronald Adam.<br />
Sunny Side of the Street<br />
Columbia (- 71 Minutes<br />
1296 BOXOFFICE September 8, 1951 1295<br />
TP<br />
^<br />
Musical<br />
(Supercinecolor)<br />
Rel. Sept. '51<br />
Here's one for the juke-box trade that gives the exhibitor<br />
such names as Frankie Laine and Billy Daniels for the marquee,<br />
while the exploitation field is wide open on this jump>ing-jive<br />
piece of celluloid. The story is inane, on the corny<br />
side and the efforts of Jerome Courtland to imitate (as the<br />
script calls for him to do) these maestros of swing-singing is<br />
little short of ludicrous. But since audiences are used to<br />
weak stories in the lushest of musicals, and since Frankie<br />
himself sings three hit numbers and Billy Daniels has a feature<br />
number, there will be those who will enjoy it for what<br />
it is. Terry Moore and Jerome Courtland are pleasing sweethearts<br />
in an adolescent sort of way, the color is good, and the<br />
scenes in television studios will have interest. The film<br />
has a lot of selling points, at the bobby-sox level. Richard<br />
Quine directed.<br />
Franke Laine, Billy Daniels, Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland,<br />
Toni Arden, Audrey Long, Dick Wesson, Lynn Bari.
. . And<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STORY: "The Well-<br />
On her way to school, a Negro child falls into an abandoned<br />
well. Her family, worried about her disappearance, calls the<br />
sheriff, who treats the matter as a routine incident, but discovers<br />
she had been seen earlier that morning in the company<br />
of a man—a white man. The search is accelerated and<br />
a transient, who admits he had bought flowers for the little<br />
that he kidnapped her. Gossip and rumors spread; without 51 .<br />
warning, the situation suddenly gets out of control; mob action<br />
and race riots appear imminent. Then it is discovered<br />
the child is at the bottom of the well, and now the same men<br />
Negroes and whites—who were about to kill each other,<br />
join together in harmony to rescue the little girl.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
A Little Girl Disappears . Terror Is on the Loose .<br />
^s Decent Men and Women Are Turned Into a Savage Mob .<br />
By a Spark of Blind Hate ... In One Horrifying Moment.
'<br />
New<br />
UES: 15c per word, minimum S1.50, cash with copy. Four insertions ior price oi three.<br />
J]<br />
)SING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
* Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. •<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
ant house manager; permanent position,<br />
ukl.ilinm:!. neighborhood situation. SUite<br />
,ir\ rxikcted, late photo, experience, de-<br />
.M MiHu'c. 4402.<br />
re manager. State age. number of years<br />
it> as theatre manager and lecommendannljut<br />
L. Cochou'ty, Avon Theatre. South<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Iperator wants job. liver 20 years with last em-<br />
(T ilciiisi.' sold, reason for this ad. Refirc<br />
II A Garrett, Truman. Ark.<br />
!:i^<br />
Dependable,<br />
non-drinker<br />
Prefer Ohio, but can<br />
i-l Lee Kramer, 521 N.<br />
wenty years experience, manager, booker, buyer,<br />
n. Hi'st nfrrence';. ,\vail:iblc now.<br />
44114<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
P)artaway: T«o sensatinnal new ttieatre game:<br />
i^kill, Dartaway Enterprises. Inc., Shavsnee. Kas<br />
Bingo wittt more action, $3.50 tliousand cards.<br />
other games. Novelty Games Co., 1434<br />
Itoiil .\ve., Brooklyn 16, N. Y.<br />
iiveway New 1951 car. No cost to theatre.<br />
ns 5.000 population or over. Merchant .\di<br />
ini; tleup Interstate Theatre Service, 1115<br />
1 .\rmour. K.insas City. Mi.s.souri.<br />
;omic books available as premiums, giveaways<br />
vnur kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newsiicl<br />
editions. Comics Premium Co.. 412B, Greenli<br />
.^i.. N. Y. C. Publications for premiums<br />
rhuiiely) since 1939.<br />
Bmgo die-cut cards. 75 or 100 numbers, $3.50<br />
M Premium Products, 339 W. 44th St.. New<br />
ik IS. .N. V.<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
•n machnics, all makes, $100 up. Kettles<br />
lakes popcorn machines. Consolidated Con-<br />
1314 So. Wabash Ave.. Chicago, 111.<br />
Buich. Manlcy, Cretors. Star, all electric French<br />
tyiies. 50 Holiynood type, theatre special<br />
ctric |io|ipers finm $250. Karmelkorn Equipnt.<br />
1211 S. llilsied. Chicago 6, HI.<br />
For sale: de luxe Star popcorn machine, 2 years<br />
1, with heavy popping unit. .\-l condition,<br />
•ite Kins Theatre, Ida Grove, Iowa.<br />
Popcorn trailer with l.irge Binch gas heat pop-<br />
.itid 1 ivilh peanut vvarmer. $500. West Theatre,<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Just installed refriscration. Sacrificing National<br />
$5,000 CF.M blower and washed air sysm,<br />
consisting of motors, starters, .41Iis-Chalmers<br />
IrOLVo<br />
)L pump. Horton hydraulic drives with remote<br />
introls. 41J^".';61" dual metal deflector. A\[<br />
luipracnt used one season only and in A-1 condion.<br />
Cost $3,850 new. First replies, first<br />
rved. $1,500. Uptown Tlieatre, Marble Falls,<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
Want to buy state rights good roadshow. Feair<br />
lop reissue. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4391.<br />
For sale: Not a theatre, but if you are tired<br />
ighting playdales. rentals, crowds .and help shortie,<br />
I have a 1.200-acre de luxe "A" house-type<br />
uich for $125,000. It will make over $15,000<br />
;r year, not counting any live stock receipts,<br />
ood hunting and fisWng, a perfect place for<br />
lowman to retire. Will or trade theatre<br />
sell for<br />
it is a good one, Ted E. Waggoner, Box 6,<br />
outh San .\ntonio, Tex.<br />
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Complete Maurer BM recunliiig system, $2,495:<br />
lovlola Soiiriclpjx UllS rebiijll. $1,095; heavy cusimized<br />
Holly, $975; Belhowell Specialist outfit,<br />
2.350 originally, $1,495; .\uricon Super 1200<br />
imeras, prompt delivery, $2,649; Micro synchroizer,<br />
4-way 16/35mm combination, $195: Bell<br />
nd Howell 35mm step printer, $995; 500W Sunpots<br />
on stands, $77.50: new 35mm continuous<br />
ound. picture printers, $995: new Brldgamatic<br />
r, 16mm automatic developing machines (plus<br />
"") $995. Cash paid for used equipment. Trades<br />
.<br />
en. S.n S. Cinema Supply C04 W. 52nd<br />
Corp..<br />
'I.. .Nrw Vurk in. X Y.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
Popcorn machines, half price. Wiener. Ha<br />
urger. Sno-Cone, Peanut Roasters, Bun Warme<br />
'oppors Supply, 146 Walton St., Atlanta, Ga.<br />
Drive-ins, don't delay. Improve your light and<br />
ound this season. Send for S.O.S. listing, stating<br />
far cap.-.city. S O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.,<br />
W, 52nd SI . New Vi.ik ]9 S. Y<br />
OXOFFICE September 8, 1951<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of<br />
our special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins.<br />
Safe, distinctive, easy to check. Kansas City<br />
Ticket Co., Dept. 10, 109 W. 18th St., "Film<br />
Row." Kansas City 8, Mo.<br />
For sale: 450 in-a-car speakers and complete<br />
booth equipment for inexpensive drive-in. all for<br />
$2,500. Write John Whipple, Box 7. Muleshoe,<br />
RCA Economy Amplifier speaker and two soundheads,<br />
all for $350. Guaranteed. ATSCO. 930<br />
E. Jlarket St., Akron, Ohio. Ask tor list of other<br />
equipment.<br />
For sale: Two GE 60" regulation aviation searchlights<br />
with generators. Guaranteed to be in excellent<br />
operating condition. $1,000 each, f.o.b.<br />
Wichita. Sullivan Independent Theatres. 725 West<br />
Douglas Ave.. Wichita. Kas.<br />
Complete booth equipment. 1 KW lamphouses<br />
with Hertner 40,^80 generator. Simplex projectors,<br />
sound system, soundheads (used 12 months).<br />
Ecorse Theatre, Ecorse. Mich.<br />
For Sale: .\shcraft lamps. Kneisley rectifiers,<br />
Century heads. Century amplifier. RCA soundheads.<br />
Altec speaker: additional equipment included for<br />
hootti. such as 5-point pedestals, monitor, etc.<br />
Only thing needed would be screen. Russell U.<br />
Olnhaiisen. 4034 Cloverlea St.. Pittsburgh 27. Pa.<br />
Goino for sona! New metal V marquee. Beautiful<br />
25x12 built-in sections easy to move. Also.<br />
4 aluminum-covered front doors, very nice. .\lso.<br />
super beautiful velour screen curtain. Five colors<br />
track motor complete, bought new. used 15 months.<br />
Cost five grand, what am I offered? E. J. Hunter,<br />
Colriiiitt,<br />
Ga.<br />
Star oivcs value! That's what thousands exhibitors<br />
say! Strong 1 KW lamphouses and rectifiers,<br />
rebuilt, $595; Simplex A-15 sound system, complete,<br />
rebuilt, $975: Super-Simplex mechanisms,<br />
rebuilt, $850 pair: 2-unit electric ticket register,<br />
rebuilt, $129.50; Western Electric 206 soundheads,<br />
rebuilt. pair. $195 Wtwt do you need?<br />
Star St., Cinema Supply. 441 West 50th New<br />
York 19. N. Y.<br />
1,000-cup capacity Drink-0-Mats, factory rebuilt<br />
with Ctiangemakers for 5c or 10c operation;<br />
3 flavor selections. $875; 4 flavor selections. $925,<br />
FOB New York. Coldrinx, Inc.. 234 West 56th<br />
St.. New York. N. Y.<br />
Equipment, beautiful theatre. Duke. Okla.; Complete<br />
booth equipment. 280 upholstered seats, air<br />
conditioner. Star popcorn machine, electric water<br />
fountain, aisle and lobby rugs, etc., $7,500. Call<br />
or write Ernest Cr.aig. Granite. Okla.<br />
Holmes sweet Holmes! Educators (Ma7.d:i<br />
lamps). $605; with W. soundlieads, Biliy<br />
E.<br />
Strong arcs, rectifiers, special $995. All riljiiilt<br />
like new. dual outfits with amplifier and speaker<br />
Time deals invited. SOS. Cinema Supply Corp .<br />
61)4 W. -iliid St . York 19. N. Y.<br />
Chair-ity bejins at 3.0.3, 300 Heyivood veneer,<br />
$4.75 293 rebuilt Andrews inserted panelback.<br />
spring cushion, $4.95; 223 rebuilt Late International,<br />
fully upholstered, with spring edge cushions.<br />
$8.95. Send for Chair Bulletin. S.O.S.<br />
Cinema Supply Corp.. 604 W. 52nd St.. New York<br />
19. N. Y.<br />
For sale. Can be seen in operation at Bama<br />
Tliealre. Town Creek. Ala. Two Simplex Acme projectors,<br />
complete with magazines; pair of large<br />
Acme lamps, manufactured by Strong, with 10^4"<br />
reflector two slightly used rectifiers; pair of new<br />
Ross lenses, built in soundheads: pair of heavy<br />
duty pedestals: one RCA amplifier. All for $1,000.<br />
Mrs. James W, Robinson, Bama Theatre, Town<br />
Creek,<br />
Ala.<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW<br />
Replacement speakers for Simplex Senior in-car<br />
speakers, manufactured by Jensen, $1.95 each:<br />
leatherette, long wearing, plastic coated with<br />
twill backing, colors: blue, brown, red and green.<br />
Regular $2.10 yard, only $1.75; coated lenses.<br />
F2.0 speed. $99. Holmes 16mm Rex sound projector,<br />
complete, new. special. $369. Drive-in<br />
speaker ramp switch panel, with post light, transformer,<br />
19-inch rack mounting, new, $175. With<br />
cabinet, $195. Minimum order $10: 25 per cent<br />
with order, balance C.O.D. Joe Hornsteln, Inc.,<br />
3330 Olive St.. St. Louis 3. Mo.<br />
Play up attractions<br />
marquee letters.<br />
with<br />
4"—35c:<br />
tempered<br />
8"—50c:<br />
Masoniie<br />
10'— liiir.<br />
12"—85c: 14"—$1.25: 16"— $1.50. S.O.S<br />
Cinema Supply Corp., 604 W. 52nd St., New York<br />
19. N. Y.<br />
3-T-R-E-T-C-H your $$$ at S.O.S. Rectifier<br />
bulbs. 15 amp. $4.59; coated lenses (25% more<br />
light). $100 pair: intercom telephones, $9.95.<br />
S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 604 W, 52nd St..<br />
New York 19. X. Y.<br />
SIGNS<br />
Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns.<br />
Avoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experience<br />
needed for expert work. Write for free samples.<br />
John R.ahn. B-1329. Central Ave., Chicago<br />
51. 111.<br />
THEATRICAL PRINTING<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
Theatre, Nebraska, western Iowa, northern Kansas.<br />
No brokers. Over 400 Town seats.<br />
1.800<br />
population or over. Confidential. Experienced. L.<br />
J. Burkltt, Sparta. Wis.<br />
Sell your theatre privately. 32nd year. Highest<br />
reputation, know-how. Arthur Leak, Theatre<br />
Specialist. 3305 Caruth. Dallas. Tex.<br />
Sold my theatres. Want to lease drive-ln with<br />
purchase option. Substantial adv.ance rent. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
4386.<br />
Theatre wanted in western North Carolina by<br />
executive who likes climate. All replies strictly<br />
confidential. Give full details. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4399.<br />
Theatre in eastern North Carolina, by executive<br />
"hose wife is a native of tiiat section and wishes<br />
to return there to live. All replies strictly confidential.<br />
Bo.xoffice, 4398.<br />
Oklahoma, Kansas. Arkansas. Missouri. Ample<br />
nancing. Non-competitive. 2,500 minimum poplalion.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4393.<br />
Colorado. New Mexico, $1,000 monthly profit,<br />
minimum. Ample finances. Confidential. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
4403.<br />
Theatres wanted: Have opened branch office in<br />
Palesiine. Tex,: have several good prospects fur<br />
good theatres. Ted E. Waggoner, Bo.x South<br />
6,<br />
San Antonio, Tex., or L. S. Ducote, Box 127,<br />
Palestine,<br />
Tex.<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quotation<br />
Fensin Seating Co.. Chicago 5<br />
Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chain<br />
ensui Sealing Co., Chicago 6<br />
Used chairs, guaranleed good. Advise qiiantilj<br />
wanted. Pholograplis mailed with quotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
Seat Covers: Sewed combinations, all makes, all<br />
styles. Send your sample for quotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Patch-0-3eat cement. Patching cloth, solvent,<br />
eti:. Fensin Sealing Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Upholstery Fabrics: All kinds. All colors. Send<br />
your sample tor matching. Fensin Seating Co..<br />
Chicago 5<br />
Tighten loose chairs with Permastor<br />
cement. Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
No more torn scats: Repair with the original<br />
Patch-A-Seat. Complete kit. $6. General Chair<br />
Co.. Chicago 22. 111.<br />
Chair Parts: We furnish most any part you require.<br />
Send sample brackets, hacks<br />
for price,<br />
and seats. General Cliair Co.. 1308 Elston Ave..<br />
Chicago 22. III.<br />
CLfflRlOG HOUSf<br />
Several thousand used opera chairs now In<br />
stock. Can furnish any amount you request. Full<br />
upholstered back, insert panelback. boxspring and<br />
spring edge seat. Write for photo and state<br />
amount and incline. We also m,anufacture new<br />
chairs. General Chair Co.. 1308-22 Elston Ave.<br />
Chicago 22. III.<br />
Many years in the seating business is yom<br />
guarantee. Good used chairs are not too plentiful<br />
but we have the pick. Full upholstered, panel<br />
bat'k and many other styles. We furnish propei<br />
slope or level standards to fit your floor. All<br />
size 18x21-inch chairs. Our prices are lowest.<br />
Write for exact photo and price. We furnish parts<br />
for all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic<br />
coated leatherette 25x26-lnch. all colors. 65c ea.<br />
Chicago Used Chair Mart, 829 South State St.,<br />
Chicago 6, ill.<br />
No more loose chairs: Get "Firmastone" Anchor<br />
cement, $5 per box. General Chair Co., Chicago<br />
23, 111.<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets.<br />
100.000, $26.70; 10,000. $7.80; 2.000. $4.05<br />
Each change in admission price, including chang.<br />
In color. $3 extra. Double numbering extra<br />
F.O.B. Kansas City, Mo. Cash with Kansas<br />
order.<br />
City Ticket Co.. 109 W. IStb Kansas<br />
St..<br />
City. Mo,<br />
Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples ot<br />
our special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins<br />
Safe, distinctive, easy to check Kansas Citv<br />
Ticket Co., Dep!. 10, 109 W. 18th St., "Flln'<br />
Row." Kansas City 8. Mo<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
Theatre For Sale: Selected listings Id Oregon<br />
and Washington now available. Write for list.<br />
Theatre Exchange Co.. Fine Arts Bldg., Portland,<br />
Build double parking Drlve-In theatres under<br />
rr.anchlse Patent 2.102.718. reissue 22.756. Up to<br />
30*^ more seating capacity with little additional<br />
cost. Louis Josserand. 3710 Mt. Vernon. Houston,<br />
Tex.<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE (Cont'd)<br />
Pacific Northwest theatres for sale. Write In<br />
Bowron, sales manager. Theatre Sales (Dlv.),<br />
Fred B. Ludwig. Brk. 4229 N. E. Broadway.<br />
Portland 13. Ore.<br />
Private listings—Good situations ui Texas that<br />
will bear strict investigation. Information only<br />
at Southland Theatre Brokers. 408 S. Harwood.<br />
Dallas. Pbone Randolph 8922<br />
Ohio. 250-seat theatre for sale; excellent condition,<br />
best location, college town, population<br />
12.000. Price under $8,000. Steve Polites. Delaware.<br />
Ohio.<br />
Newest and latest drlve-in theatre in Houston.<br />
Tex. Ultramodern in every respect. Nearest theatre<br />
to 350.000 population. All new equipment.<br />
Now operating profitably. For sale. $200,000<br />
cash. Long term lease on land. P. 0. Box 13216,<br />
Houston 19. Tex.<br />
Florida. Modern, de luxe equipped, new building,<br />
tiarking lots; 700 scats. In town of 6,000.<br />
(Inly theatre. Cost over $100,000. Will seU<br />
fi.xtures and rent building, or sell all. $25,000<br />
will handle. C. H. Caudell, Danca Theatre. Wallace.<br />
N. C.<br />
Florida theatre for sale, downtown Tampa.<br />
Lease with options renew. Low rent, low fliit film<br />
to<br />
rates. 325 seals. Simplex equipment; $6,750 buys.<br />
Write 0. J. Reynolds, liex Theatre. 1118 Franklui,<br />
Tampa 2. I'ia.<br />
West Texas. Long established, only theatre.<br />
Excellent possibilities. $18,500 complete. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />
4397.<br />
$54,000, with terms. Dallas area, exceptionally<br />
live town of 4,000; only theatre. 500 seats.<br />
Corner brick building included. $20,000 1951<br />
profit indicated. Beautiful home available. Exclusive.<br />
Arthur Leak. Specialist. 3305 Caruth,<br />
Dallas,<br />
Tex.<br />
Finest area northwest Arkansas. Broiler country.<br />
Well equipped masonry building. Only show<br />
growing trade center. $12,500 handles. $10,000<br />
yearly profit per owner. Exclusive. Arthur Leak,<br />
3305 Caruth. Dallas. Tex.<br />
One Southwcst's best investments. Modern 500-<br />
car drive-in. City 60,000. One other drive-in<br />
here. $5,000,000 payroll factory signed. Reactivated<br />
huge military seems certain. New major<br />
highw.ay should double traffic access. Iligldy<br />
profitable, yet must sell. Natural causes. $50,000<br />
handles. Qualified prospects, please. Exclusive.<br />
Arthur Leak, Specialist, 3305 Caruth, Dallas, Tex.<br />
Near Waco. Modern, highly profitable drive-in.<br />
city 30,000. Finest projection, sound. Excellent<br />
record earnings. $31,000 handles. Also, same<br />
area, modern drive-in, including apartment.<br />
$28,500 down. Also, near Little Rock, very modern<br />
drive-in; concessions run 45% tickets. $22,000<br />
down. Exclusive. Arthur Leak, 3305 Caruth.<br />
Dallas,<br />
Tex.<br />
West Texas thriving city 60,000, making strides.<br />
1,485-seat operation doing well, excellent potential.<br />
$31,000 handles. Everything for gracious living<br />
conditions. Exclusive. Arthur Leak. 3305 Caruth,<br />
Dallas.<br />
Tex.<br />
Theatre, central Ohio. 54x80' brick building,<br />
with apartment. Ill health forces sale. F. J.<br />
Jones. Fredericktown. Ohio.<br />
Theatre for sale. Parker Theatre, Parker, Pa.<br />
For sale or lease. 14 theatres and 1 drive-in in<br />
towns population 4.000 .and up. Buyer must have<br />
$250,000 In cash. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. 4400.<br />
Theatre for sale or lease: Recently remodeled.<br />
568 seats. Air conditioned. Two tenants. Owner<br />
can live in building. Subsequent run. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />
4401,<br />
Theatre for sale; Dovmstate Illinois. Building<br />
and equipment, two years old. 650 seats. Town<br />
11.000. Franke, 2520 Leiand, Chicago 25, 111.<br />
Theatre in north central Kansas. Seats 288.<br />
:o competition for 18 miles. Gross $1,500<br />
lunthly. K.ashfinder, Wichita, Kas.<br />
Theatre in good small Kansas town. No close<br />
competition. Doing good business. Kashfinder.<br />
Wichita. Kas.<br />
Theatre in Wichita. Kas. Seats 365. Yearly<br />
ume $40,000. Building leased. Terms on realable<br />
price. ICashfiuder, Wichita, Kas.<br />
Florida: Downtown. 850-seat. first and secpnd<br />
run, newly reconditioned theatre; formerly leased<br />
Paramount 16 years. Will sell or lease. 15% gross,<br />
long term, for ten thousand cash. John Gillooly.<br />
128 17th Ave. No., St. Petersburg. Fla.<br />
For sale. Wisconsin theatre; 1.500 population.<br />
Xo competition, very good equipment. Grossing<br />
$600 per week. $25,000 down, balance like rent,<br />
including very good building. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. 4405.<br />
Kansas City. Mo., neighliorhnod theatre. Potentials<br />
for live wire showman. Long lease, low rent,<br />
good concessions. Books open. Reasonable, terms.<br />
Xo brokers, <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. 4406.<br />
Rocky mountains. Excellent county seat town.<br />
.\ew projection, sound. Netting over $10,000.<br />
Long Full $29,000, Terms. Box-<br />
lease. price,<br />
office. 4380.<br />
MORE CLASSIFIED ADS<br />
ON PAGE 37
-'.y<br />
V<br />
SHOWMANSHIP<br />
^ PROFITS!<br />
SI^ACCESSORIES<br />
...at LESS than the t^04^ Off ^^Ufit^CfU^/<br />
THE "PEOPLE WILL TALK"<br />
DOOR HANGER<br />
^of<br />
ci^<br />
Si<br />
each<br />
Here's a great BARGAIN in SHOWMANSHIP! 20th Century. Fox, to<br />
prove the value of NOVELTY Accessories . . . has prepared the colorful,<br />
die-cut exploitation items you see on this page! Each NOVELTY is an<br />
item of outstanding value and eye-appeal! And each item is priced far below<br />
the actual cost of printing. In fact . . . 20th Century-Fox is absorbing a<br />
sizeable portion of the printing cost . . . and NATIONAL SCREEN SERV-<br />
ICE is charging NOTHING for the sale and distribution services being<br />
rendered!<br />
That gives YOU . . . these sensational exploitation values ... at just a<br />
fraction of what they actually cost to print!<br />
You can't afford to pass up this monev-saving opportunit>', to MAKE MORE<br />
MONEY with these 20th Century-Fox Hits! Use these NOVELTY Acces-<br />
put the "BUSINESS" back in SHOW BUSINESS! Ask at your<br />
sories to<br />
local 20th Century-Fox or NSS exchange.<br />
colorful hanger for door-knobs,<br />
milk bottles, telephones, car<br />
doors, etc.<br />
THE 4-COLOR 'BELVEDERE'<br />
BELL<br />
THE "BATHSHEBA" PROCESS<br />
COLOR COUNTER CARD<br />
for streamers and hangers, in lobb>',<br />
under marquees, or away-from-theatre,<br />
in merchants' windows, over soda<br />
fountains, bars, doorways, etc.<br />
stands on its own easel in your boxoffice,<br />
or merchants'windows, on counters, soda<br />
fountains, bars, restaurant tables, etc.<br />
Each novelty contains space for imprint<br />
of theatre<br />
name and play dates.<br />
\Qc^^<br />
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