Boxoffice-August.11.1975

. . . "White
. . July
Baltimorean Sells Closed
Theatres for 'Recycling'
BALTIMORE—FoUowing the sale ot
the
Rome circuit's Harlem Theatre and its conversion
to a church, a story appeared about
the facility in the July 19 Morning Sun.
The article by-lined by Antero Pietila
in said part: "West Baltimore's Harlem
Theatre, which originally was built as a
house of worship, has become a church
again. The Rev. Raymond Kelly jr.. who
bought the 1.500-.seat theatre for S70,000,
sees unlimited opportunities there for his
75-member Harlem Park Community Baptist
Church. Tm not interested in the most
beautiful church." he says. 'I'm interested
in a church that has outreach to the community,
because we need it."
|t may seem incredible that a 75-membjr
congregation that used to meet in Kelly's
home was able to raise $24,000 toward a
church building in just 15 months but Kelly
promises the surprises won't end there . . .
Repair and refurbishing is continuing and
Kelly already is planning a series of concerts.
He has kept the stage and the movie
projector so that the church can be locale
of occasional stage and movie shows.
"Around the turn of the century, the
structure was built as a Methodist church
and subsequently it was occupied by other
congregations before being turned into a
'I theatre. want to project five years ahead
in my thinking,' the Rev. Kelly says.
"That explains why he, a former assistant
pastor at Douglas Memorial Community
Church, rejected the idea of buying a storefront—^the
traditional starting point for a
budding black congregation. Instead, he got
in touch with Sol Klein, an East Baltimore
real estate man who has made turning old
theatres into religious places his specialty.
"Klein, a founding member of Beth
Jacob Congregation, has a picture of Pope
Pius XII in his office for the benefit of his
Catholic customers. His philosophy is to do
anything 'as long as I make a dollar and
everybody is happy.'
"He had been trying to sell the Harlem
Theatre, once a mecca of the big bands, for
nine months when Kelly made his first inquiries
with just $4,000 in cash. The pastor
was told to raise more money. When Kelly's
congregation moved in, it began a thorough
refurbishing job. The pastor and a dozen
other members can be seen working in the
church for hours every day and one of their
first—and most difficult tasks—was to remove
from the floor layers of chewing gum
generations of moviegoers had left there.
"Although he is about to repaint it. Kelly
eventually also plans to take down the marquee
of the theatre ... As for Klein, he is
complaining that there are not enough old
movie theatres available to be converted into
churches. "I have four or five ministers on
my waiting list but not a single theatre for
sale.' he said. "It seems they all are makimg
mcuiey (he.se days.' "
City to Consider Theatre Permit
HAMMONTON, N.J.— An application
for clearance to build a walk-in movie theatre
was slated to be considered at a recent
mjeting of the city planning board.
BALTIMORE
Jrviiig (;ldber};, lor the p;ist year office
manager of Allied Theatre Equipment
Co. here, left the organization July 2.5. He
originally came to this city from the firm's
Philadelphia branch. .According to David
Hall of Allied here. Goldberg makes his
home in Philadelphia with Mrs. Cioldberg
and their two children.
Bob Nethcn, president of Claude Neon
Signs, Mrs. Nethen and three of their six
children—Mark, Jennifer and Jeffrey—are
spending a week in Ocean City at a condominium
named "Irene" . . . Alan Nethen,
vice-president, Claude Neon Signs, and Mrs.
Nethen returned July 28 from a one-week
holiday in Ocean City. Their two children
Heather and Alison accompanied them on
the
vacation.
Harry Connolly, owner of Litsingcr Sign
Co. and for many years with Wagner Sign
Service as East Coast representative here,
was one of the co-chairmen of th^^ Sign
Contractors Ass'n of Maryland crab feast,
held Saturday (9) at Bud's' Cafe, 3919 East
Lombard St. Assistant co-chairman of the
stag affair was Elmer Jefferson, a Claude
Neon Signs tube bender.
William Paul Sherak, weighing six pounds
and 1 1 ounces, was born to Madeleine
Sherak, wife of R/C booker Tom Sherak.
July 14 at the Greater Baltimore Medical
Center. This is the couple's first son and
third child, two daughters having preceded
William. You can be sure Tom was in the
delivery room during the birth, beaming
with joy. He commented: "After wrapping
the infant, the nurse walked over to hand
him to me. My remark was, "Bring him
back when he's four years old." The entire
delivery room staff broke out in laughter.""
The bris was held Tuesday, July 22, at the
Sherak household, with many local dignitaries
attending. Among exhibitors on hand
for the festivities were: Irwin R. Cohen.
head of R/C Theatres: Aaron Seidlei.
executive vice-president, R/C Theatres; Boh
Rappapiort, Rappaport Theatres, and Jack
Fruchtman of JF Theatres.
Sareba Maslow, executive-secretary to
Irwin R. Cohen, head of R/C Theatres,
celebrated her birthday July 31. What made
it a doubly haippy day was that she lost t\\\:
more pounds, according to a usually reliable
and highly authoritative source!
Phil Glazer, chief of Associated Pictures,
reported that he"s breaking Indcpendcm
Internationars "Blazing Stewardesses" in
this city September 3 at several hardlo|is
and drive-ins. At the same time in Washington,
D.C., William Mishkin's "Intimate
Teenagers" will be breaking in five area
theatres . . . Phil and Mrs. Glazer returncil
July 28 from Scranton, Pa., where they
visited their son Charles at camp.
Mrs. Alice Banik, formerly cashier ami
in charge of the candy department ,it the
Boulevard Theatre lor the p:ist eight years.
recently was made manager of this Durkce
house . 13 Donald Miller, business
agent for lATSE Local 181, spent the day in
Harri.sburg. Pa., attending a meeting of the
I,ATSE"s fourth district, which includes
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, District
of Columbia and Virginia.
Roland Bruscup, president of lATSE
Local 181. and .Mrs. Bruscup July 21 returned
from a 16-day vacation. They visited
Bush Gardens Old Country in Virginia for
several days, then went on to Williamsburg,
Jamestown and Newport News, all in Virginia.
They also were in Maryland"s Eastern
Shore area and later sipent a week in Ocean
City with Mrs. Audrey Hawkins, Roland"s
sister. They ran into some rain but that did
not deter Roland from getting in some fishing
.. . lATSE officers Donald Miller (business
agent of Local 181) and Roland Bruscup.
local president, went fishing recently
on the Chesapeake Bay on Roland"s boat,
the Pelican. "Donald wound up taking home
a basket of tomatoes from my garden—but
no fish." chuckled Roland.
Lou Cedrone, Evening Sim film critic,
discussing Claude Leiouch's "And Now My
Love," said: "The directness and simiple romanticism
of this Lelouch movie are enough
to recommend it."
"Part 2 Walking Tall" opened Wedr.esday
(6) at Harford Mall Cinema. Patterson, Security
Mall Cinema, Jumpers Cinema.
Town, Timonium Cinema and Super 170
Drive-In . . . Sixteen area theatres booked
the Cloris L^eachman starrer, "Crazy Mama""
Line Fever" opened Wednesday
(6) at the Boulevard, Jumpers Cinema.
Campus Hills Cinema, Governor Ritchie
Drive-In. Elkridge Drive-In, Northpoint
Drive-In, Timonium Drive-In and Village.
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BOXOFFICE I. 1975 E-7