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TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS 23,000<br />
JUvi rloiimt IJjduAJi JncwjiJ/tu<br />
TO A Convention: 3 -Page<br />
Report on 1949 Meeting;<br />
Public Relations Okayed<br />
Page* 8. 9, 10<br />
COVER STORY: Blue Ribbon<br />
Award Goes to Warner Brothers'<br />
'Look for the Silver Lining'<br />
Page 22<br />
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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION<br />
Includtno Ihi Scdional Newi Pagts of All Editions<br />
.1 the I'oit om« SEPTEMBER 17, i.. 1949<br />
if March 3 1879<br />
'i-r.i^ lui-i.
THE BIGGEST KISS<br />
IN MOVIE HISTORY!<br />
M-G-M presents its great<br />
New TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL!<br />
"THAT MIDNIGHT<br />
KISS"<br />
starring<br />
KATHRYN<br />
GRAYSON<br />
JOSE ..<br />
ITURBI<br />
with<br />
ETHEL BARRYMORE<br />
KEENAN WYNN<br />
J. CARROL NAISH • JULES MUNSHIN<br />
THOMAS GOMEZ • MARJORIE REYNOLDS<br />
and introducing<br />
MARIO LANZA<br />
COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR<br />
Screen Play by Bruce Manning and Tamara Hovey<br />
Directed by NORMAN TAUROG<br />
Produced by JOE PASTERNAK<br />
A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE<br />
Worl<br />
break<br />
Theai<br />
Sweei<br />
cals;
Il<br />
SMACK!<br />
(in Technicolor)<br />
World ^<br />
Premiere in Philadelphia<br />
breaks 20 -year record of Boyd<br />
Theatre for first week. M-G-M's<br />
Sweetheart of Technicolor Musicals<br />
is headed for terrific long run!
i<br />
J! -^rML<br />
INGRID<br />
\<br />
BERGMAN<br />
J JOSEPH -,<br />
COTTE^l<br />
MICHAEL<br />
BOTIIf<br />
NEW<br />
STANDOUll<br />
MFRtD HITCHCOCK'S<br />
vaosn<br />
L n^i<br />
COLOK B'<br />
TECHNlCOLOi<br />
ARC<br />
WARNE<br />
t-
SMASHES<br />
i<br />
Hot<br />
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tmmm mm mm ^^<br />
l^t*k»<br />
LIGHTNINC/cet Geared
':(<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
PIBIISHED IN NINE SECTIONAL EOITIONS<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
JAMES M. lERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN Executive Editor<br />
JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
Western Editor<br />
FLOYD M. MIX Equipment Editor<br />
General Manager<br />
RAYMOND LEVY<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Editorial Oilices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 2U.<br />
N. Y. Raymond Levy, General Manager; James M.<br />
Jerauld, Editor; Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser<br />
Section; A. J. Stocker, Eastern Representative.<br />
Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-6371, 5-6372. Cable<br />
address: "BOXOFFICE, New York."<br />
Central Oliices: 624 South Michigan Av«.« Chicago<br />
5, 111. Jonas Perlberg, Manager; Ralph F. Scholbe,<br />
Central Representative. Telephone WEBster 9-4745.<br />
Western Oliices: 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood<br />
28, Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone<br />
1186.<br />
Washington Oiiices: 6417 Dahlonega Road, Alan Herbert,<br />
Manager. TelephoBe, Wisconsin 3271. Filmrow:<br />
932 New Jersey, N. W. Sara Young.<br />
London Oiiices: 136 Wardour St., John Sullivan, Manager.<br />
Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6.<br />
PublicalioD Oiiices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City<br />
1, Mo. Nathan Cohen, Executive Editor; Jesse Shlyen,<br />
Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager.<br />
J, Herbert Roush, Manager Advertising Sales<br />
and Service. Telephone CHestnut 7777-78.<br />
Other Publications; BOXOFFICE BAROMETER, published<br />
in November as a section of BOXOFFICE;<br />
THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a<br />
section of BOXOFFICE.<br />
ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan.<br />
ATLANTA— 163 Walton. N. W., P. H. Savin.<br />
BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger.<br />
BOfflON-Frances W. Harding, Lib. 2-9305.<br />
BUFFALO- 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schrader.<br />
CHARLOTTE—216 W. 4th, Pauline Griffith.<br />
CINCINNATI—4029 Reading Rd., LiUian Lazarus.<br />
CLEVELAND—Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046.<br />
DALLAS—4525 Holland, V. W. Crisp, J8-9780<br />
DENVER— 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose, TA 8517.<br />
DES MOINES— Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch.<br />
DETROIT— 1009 Fox Theatre Bldg., H. F. Reves.<br />
Telephones: WOodward 2-1100; Night, UN-4-02I9.<br />
HARTFORD- 109 Weslborne, Allen Widem.<br />
HARRISBURG, PA.—Mechanicsburg, Lois Fegan.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Rt. 8, Box 770, Howard M. Rudeaux,<br />
MIAMI—66 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manton E. Harwood.<br />
2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow.<br />
MEMPHIS—707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462.<br />
MILWAUKEE—3057 hfo. Murray Ave., John E. Hubel.<br />
WO 2-0467.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— 29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees.<br />
NEW HAVEN—42 Church St., Gertrude Lander.<br />
NEWARK, N. J.—207 Sumner, Sarct Carleton.<br />
NEW ORLEANS—Frances Jackson, 218 So. Liberty.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—216 Terminal Bldg., Polly Trindle<br />
OMAHA— Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes.<br />
PHILADELPHIA—5363 Berks St., Norman Shigon.<br />
PITTSBURGH—86 Van Braam St., R. F. Klingensmith<br />
PORTLAND, ORE.—Edward Cogan, Nortonia Hotel,<br />
llth and Stark.<br />
RICHMOND—Grand Theatre, Sam Pulliom.<br />
ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Deseret News, Howard Pearson.<br />
SAN ANTONIO—211 Cadwalder St., San Antonio<br />
L. J. B. Kelner.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO — 25 Taylor St., Gail Lipman,<br />
ORdway 3-4612.<br />
SEATTLE—928 N. 84th St., Willard Elsey.<br />
TOLEDO—4330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline, LA 7176.<br />
IN CANADA<br />
CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm, Campbell.<br />
MONTREAL—4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael.<br />
Walnut 5519.<br />
ST. JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNulty.<br />
TORONTO—R. R. No. I, York Mills, Milton Galbraith.<br />
VANCOUVER- 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy.<br />
VICTORIA—938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman.<br />
WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin.<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Entirid as Seconil Class matter at Post Otfict, Kansas City, Mo.<br />
SKtiotml Edition, $3.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50<br />
OXOFFICE<br />
LIF THOSE RESTRAINTS<br />
7 •^^ HE evidence has been building up for a long<br />
time that concerted and aggressive action will be undertaken<br />
by the industry in combatting unfair and discriminatory taxai<br />
tion. This is further emphasized in remarks made by Eric<br />
Johnston in his address at the convention of the Theatre Own- i<br />
ers of America, as follows:<br />
"Through collaborative effort, we can do more than improve the good<br />
name of the industry. We can also improve its good fortune. It is time<br />
vre stopped being easy marks on the tax front—the favorite target for<br />
taxation in Washington, in state capitals, and in municipalities.<br />
"We are perfectly willing to carry our share of the tax load. We<br />
|<br />
always have. But we do complain—and rightly— at being singled out<br />
for unfair and discriminatory taxes. I think we are on solid ground with<br />
a two-fold position on discriminatory taxation.<br />
"First, the motion picture is a free medium of expression which<br />
should have the same rights as the press, and should receive equal \<br />
treatment at the hands of all legislatures.<br />
"Second, the motion picture is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Here in<br />
America, as elsewhere around the world, it fills a vital public need in<br />
bringing information, entertainment and relaxation to the great masses<br />
of people. Stalin and Tito wouldn't be buying American films—far from<br />
it—unless they clearly recognized the motion picture as a necessity.<br />
"We have already joined hands against the wartime federal admissions<br />
tax which lays so unfair a burden on the moviegoing public. It was<br />
one of the first evidences of this growing spirit oi collaboration within<br />
our industry."<br />
Charles Sawyer, secretary-of the U,S- Department of Commerce,<br />
addressing the same group, held out a vague assurance<br />
on the possibilities of tax reduction when he declared,<br />
"There is general agreement that wartime excise taxes should<br />
be repealed as soon as possible." What made this vague was<br />
the qualification: "Here, as elsewhere, the problem for the<br />
government is to replace or lose the revenue which comes<br />
from this source. At a time when we are undertaking to stimulate<br />
consumer expenditures, we should survey carefully the<br />
possibility of reducing taxes which discourage such expenditures."<br />
Mr. Sawyer made no comment on the fact that, through<br />
increased consumer expenditures, which would result from<br />
the elimination of nuisance taxes, the government treasury<br />
would be replenished by added tax income derived from increased<br />
business profits and higher personal incomes.<br />
However he concurred with Mr. Johnston on the vital pubhe<br />
need of the motion picture when he said, "We in America<br />
have a stake in the maintenance of the solvency and strength<br />
of the movie industry. We w^ant to make life in America pleasant,<br />
and you make one of the great contributions to that end.<br />
In order that you may continue, you must operate your business<br />
at a profit." There will be wide agreement with that.<br />
Of further significance is this parallel to Mr. Johnston's<br />
remarks:<br />
"In America, motion pictures are produced without (federal) censorship,<br />
without control of subject matter by the government. They are as<br />
free as our press. In nearly every other country of the world the motion<br />
picture lies under the heavy hand of government regulation ... I know<br />
iifelowirraiil<br />
i( scope oi*<br />
liexcesave"<br />
^ieiiiipaclky9l<br />
Jshouldoiia<br />
Inltetopirt<br />
(iBiiniied by tb*<br />
W"<br />
uollier-iii'l<br />
iiiiilv oi intoiA<br />
In<br />
ComnK<br />
In lespooM to<br />
jgndieds i enui<br />
iiillracti»e
im<br />
that the industry prizes its freedom . . . The product you sell is a powerlul<br />
force in our society,"<br />
There is basis in that, as well as in Mr. Johnston's like remarks,<br />
to warrant the lifting of restraints that are placed upon<br />
the scope of the motion picture's public influence and service<br />
by excessive and discriminatory taxation; and upon its worldwide<br />
impact by other restrictions which our government can<br />
and should aid in removing.<br />
hi the tax picture as a whole, collaborative effort must be<br />
continued by the various elements of the industry with one<br />
another—and vnlh other businesses where there is a community<br />
of interest.<br />
In<br />
Commendation<br />
In response to requests from their branch managers and<br />
hundreds of exhibitors. National Screen Service has produced<br />
an attractive 40x60 on "I Am a Movie Fan," which may be used<br />
in lobby and front frames. As a service to the industry's public<br />
relations endeavors, NSS is making this display available<br />
at nominal cost. One of the first orders came from a circuit<br />
which already had made up 30x60s of its ovm. This same<br />
circuit also used "I Am a Movie Fan" in full-page newspaper<br />
advertisements.<br />
The anonymous author of this epic tribute to the motion<br />
picture should be very proud of the extent to which his fine<br />
interpretation is being carried to the public. It has been used<br />
in many newspaper editorials; in advertisements; by columnists;<br />
in programs and house organs; by exhibitor associations to<br />
their memberships and in general promotions; on mailing<br />
cards; in letters; in stockholder report brochures; in trailers and<br />
various other forms. And it has even served to bring competitors<br />
together, as note the foUowring excerpt from a letter<br />
received from a progressive small-town theatre ovimer:<br />
"You've published several reproductions of your (June 25) cover. "I<br />
Am a Movie Fan,' and, knowing how vitally interested you are in helping<br />
build better public relations, I took the liberty of getting the advertising<br />
manager of the Sentinal to get the rest of the theatres in the county<br />
to go in on a cooperative ad. I'm especially proud of the fact that it is<br />
cooperative, as I feel we are getting somewhere when the little fellow,<br />
like me, and the big circuits can work together in tackling our problems.<br />
I wanted to put our signatures on the bottom, but the rest thought<br />
it more effective as you see it (without signature)."<br />
We are not being immodest in any praise that we may<br />
here or otherwise give to "I Am a Movie Fan," because we<br />
didn't write it. We merely had the good fortune to have been<br />
chosen by its author as the vehicle through which to bring<br />
it to the attention of the people of our industry. Their recognition<br />
of its inspirational values and its worth in fostering public<br />
goodwill was spontaneous. And all those who have made<br />
good use of it in this direction are to be commended. Nevertheless<br />
there is a measure of gratification to us in the widespread<br />
use to which "I Am a Movie Fan" has been put by exhibitors<br />
and others in America, Canada and England in that<br />
BOXOFFICE has thereby rendered a service to our great industry.<br />
^it~<br />
Paramount Case Defendants<br />
May Ask 30-Day Extension<br />
However, chances for the government to<br />
agree to any delay in the September 20 deadline<br />
for submitting proposed antitrust decrees<br />
and findings look very slim.<br />
Ohio Drive-ins Organize<br />
For Vigorous Campaign<br />
Plans to form five committees authorized<br />
at the first regular meeting of the new Ohio<br />
Drive-In Theatres Ass'n in Columbus; Frank<br />
Nolan of Athens, Ohio, heads the group.<br />
*<br />
SIMPP to Aid in Fighting<br />
'Boundaries' Censorship<br />
Joins MPAA with pledge to support Louis<br />
DeRochemont's legal moves to lift Memphis<br />
censorship; producer now seeking local exhibitor<br />
to bring test case against Lloyd Binford,<br />
the Memphis censor.<br />
Use of More Children's Films<br />
Asked by Leon J. Bamberger<br />
Tells exhibitors at New Jersey Allied convention<br />
in Atlantic City that many showmen<br />
could benefit from the MPAA Children's Film<br />
Library as a part of the public relations effort.<br />
*<br />
Herbert Yates to England<br />
For Frozen Funds Talks<br />
Republic president will sail September 21<br />
for conferences with executives of British<br />
Lion on possible uses of company's blocked<br />
English pounds; also will visit continental<br />
countries.<br />
United Front Possibility<br />
Is Visioned by Zukor<br />
Veteran Paramount executive, at New Jersey<br />
Allied meeting, says concerted effort<br />
needed to gain public's respect. Both sides<br />
have sometimes used wrong methods, he says.<br />
Amendment to Aid Industry<br />
Abroad Killed by Senate<br />
Reciprocal trade agreement acts extension<br />
passed, but Senator Knowland's move to protect<br />
film business from unfair overseas treatment<br />
defeated by 54 to 27 vote.<br />
Edgar Hatrick, Gen'l Manager,<br />
News of the Day, Is Dead<br />
Veteran newsreel producer and pioneer in<br />
silent film serials dies in Colorado Springs at<br />
63; handled all of William Randolph Hearst's<br />
film interests.<br />
*<br />
Allied of Indiana Bulletin<br />
Praises Chicago Meeting<br />
Trueman Rembusch, who represented Allied<br />
States Ass'n at session, says important<br />
achievement of public relations conference<br />
was getting all segments to understand each<br />
other's problems better.
COOPERATIVE SPIRIT PREVAILS<br />
AS TOA OKAYS P. R. PROGRAM<br />
By IVAN SPEAR<br />
LOS ANGELES—With cooperation and caution the dominant<br />
convention notes, some 750 delegates to 1949's annual meeting<br />
of the Theatre Owners of America met here September 12<br />
through 15 in what virtually evei-yone ia attendance, as well as<br />
outside observers, agreed was probably the most carefully implemented,<br />
efficiently conducted and effective gathering of showmen<br />
in motion picture history.<br />
Representing 6,500 theatres with a seating capacity of more<br />
than 9,000.000, the TOA conventioneers assembled for the first<br />
time in the heart of the film production world to map and take<br />
action on such controversial issues as television, the federal<br />
amusement tax, competitive bidding, 16mm competition, censorship,<br />
exhibitor-distributor relations, legislation, industry unity<br />
and a host of related subjects. To these subjects was devoted the<br />
major amount of attention and discussion.<br />
Keynoting the industry's views on television and the potential<br />
threat of that entertainment medium to motion pictures was a preconvention<br />
statement by Arthur H. Lockwood, retiring TOA president,<br />
who called for a "joint approach of producers and exhibitors"<br />
to the problem and opined that such a study "is not to be centered<br />
in any one city."<br />
GET WARNING ON TELEVISION<br />
Delegates to the conclave were warned on the second day of<br />
the convention, September 13, that television has mushroomed into<br />
a gigantic industry during the past three years, that more than 80<br />
per cent of TV set owners are attending motion pictures less frequently,<br />
and that by the end of 1950 some 5,000,000 television receivers<br />
will be in operation throughout the U.S. These statistics<br />
were supplied by Marcus Cohn, the TOA's video consultant, who<br />
urged that film industry representatives, to meet the TV threat, must<br />
push for allocations of special video frequencies and take other direct<br />
action to bring back their lost customers.<br />
In complete agreement with Cohn's analysis, the video committee<br />
recommended a special assessment be levied to defray the cost of<br />
hearings at which the FCC will be asked to allocate channels for<br />
theatre television. Committee members agreed also that theatre<br />
video is economically feasible. Charles P. Skouras outimed Fox<br />
West Coast's plans for installation of television equipment and Si<br />
Fabian reported that his TV installations<br />
have resulted in increased attendance.<br />
On the same day Paramount demonstrated<br />
the latest "interim" model of its theatre TV<br />
system at the Ambassador Theatre m the<br />
Ambassador hotel, convention headquarters.<br />
Dubbed the "Paralent," the portable device<br />
includes a radically new film-drying unit<br />
which processes film within a few seconds.<br />
TOA conventioneers witnessed a jiersonal illustration<br />
of the system when their entrance<br />
into the theatre was picked up by TV cameras<br />
and the images were flashed on the<br />
screen shortly after they were seated.<br />
Video came in for further discussion September<br />
14 when the TOA's television committee,<br />
headed by Mitchell Wolfson, presented<br />
a detailed report on the subject and,<br />
m the Ambassador Theatre, RCA staged a<br />
demonstration of its theatre television system.<br />
Tempered optimism characterized the conventioneers'<br />
approach to the repeal of federal<br />
admission taxes. As one of the gathering's<br />
honored guests, Secretary of Commerce<br />
Charles Sawyer made a keynote address at<br />
a luncheon session September 13 in which the<br />
In the upper photo, Samuel Pinanski (second from left), new<br />
president of TOA, meets informally with (L to R), S. H. Fabian,<br />
member of the board; -Mitchell Wolfson, vice-president, and Gael<br />
Sullivan, executive director. In the lower panel (L to R) are Ted<br />
Gamble, retiring board chairman; Arthur Lockwood, retiring president<br />
and new board cliairtaan; Charles P. Skouras, treasurer; and<br />
Robert Coyne, member of the board.<br />
%•<br />
government official declared himself "greatly<br />
impressed" with the arguments that have<br />
been advanced for the levy's appeal. He did<br />
not, however, hold out any immediate hope<br />
that the legislation can be abolished. The<br />
amusement tax was discussed further at a<br />
meeting of the TOA's taxation committee,<br />
of which Morris Loewenstein is chairman,<br />
on the following day.<br />
Speaking for the cause of all-industry cooperation<br />
and the necessity for an all-out<br />
public relations campaign was Ned E. Depinet,<br />
president of RKO and chairman of the<br />
INFORMAL MOMENTS AT THE CONVENTION: In the left<br />
photo, two veterans, A. H. Blank of Des Moines (L), and Frank<br />
Newman of Seattle meet Starlet Betty Lynn. In the next photo<br />
(L to R) are Roy Cooper, San Francisco; Ed Zorn, Pontiac, III.;<br />
John Balaban, Chicago, and Samuel G. Levin, San Francisco. Third<br />
photo shows M. A. Lightman (L) of Memphis with Leonard Goldenson,<br />
Paramount Theatres chief; Ned Depinet, RKO president, and<br />
Francis Harmon, MPAA vice-president and head of its communityexhibitor<br />
relations program. Photo at right has (L to R) W. F.<br />
Crockett, Virginia Beach, Va., M. L. Hurley, Clovis, N. M., and Roy<br />
Cooper of San Francisco in committee sessions. All delegates received<br />
an opportunity to participate in the convention affairs.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
il<br />
^<br />
.'W.<br />
m<br />
Fafen,<br />
ind Gael<br />
• ar( W<br />
a: preiarer;<br />
and<br />
industry's conference committee which recently<br />
staged the widely-acclaimed unity<br />
meeting in Chicago. Reporting on that session<br />
in a speech delivered September 13,<br />
Depinet contended the Chicago conference<br />
provided a "historic opportunity for the foundation<br />
of public relations unity in our industry,"<br />
and reiterated that the screen "belongs<br />
to the free peoples of the world; we<br />
shall guard it well in their name."<br />
Earl Hudson, chairman of the TOA's public<br />
relations committee, declared in his report<br />
—presented on the same day—that public relations<br />
means "public respect," and urged exhibitors<br />
to carry this message direct to their<br />
local press and radio representatives. Such<br />
community endeavor, he declared, can help<br />
immeasurably in eliminating the "sensationalism"<br />
with which many newspaper, radio<br />
and magazine outlets handle motion picture<br />
news.<br />
Hudson's report, calling for the TOA to<br />
appoint a permanent representative on the<br />
all-industry council, was approved by the<br />
convention delegates It also calls for each<br />
TOA affiliate to create its own public relations<br />
committee.<br />
All-industry cooperation is bringing forth<br />
concrete results through the return of showmanship<br />
to exhibition and distribution, it<br />
was declared by Al Lichtman, 20th Century-<br />
Fox distribution executive, who spoke at the<br />
public relations session September 13.<br />
A blast at regional censorship, through<br />
which he declared much film entertainment<br />
is rendered innocuous—and is therefore keeping<br />
millions of potential moviegoers out of<br />
the theatres—was delivered by Producer Samuel<br />
Goldwyn at a luncheon meeting at which<br />
he was host September 14. Goldwyn pointed<br />
out that the industry adheres to strict selfregulation<br />
through the MPAA's production<br />
code administration and urged exhibitors to<br />
launch a determined fight against "petty"<br />
censorship groups in their own communities.<br />
Topflight production representatives met<br />
with exhibitor leaders at a dinner on the evening<br />
of September 14, followed by an open<br />
forum during which mutual problems were<br />
discussed. Eric Johnston, MPAA president;<br />
Dore Schary of MOM, and Y. Prank Freeman<br />
of Paramount, were spokesmen for the producers<br />
and speaking for the exhibitor segment<br />
were Ted Gamble, Sam Pinanski, new<br />
TOA president, and F. H. (Rick) Ricketson.<br />
That open forum failed, however, to develop<br />
the fireworks which some delegates had<br />
expected. Keynote of the talks was mutual<br />
cooperation to benefit all of the industry's<br />
branches.<br />
Sounding an optimistic note, Schary proclaimed<br />
himself satisfied with the manner<br />
in which exhibitors have handled his pictures,<br />
blasted "pressure groups" and predicted it<br />
What Was Done and Said at TOA:<br />
Samuel Pinanski, president of American<br />
Theatres Corp., Boston, was elected president,<br />
and Denver was picked as the 1950<br />
convention site.<br />
Arthur Lockwood, retiring president,<br />
was named chairman of the board, and<br />
other officers elected were: Mitchell Wolfson,<br />
Miami, and Sherrill Corwin, Los Angeles,<br />
vice-presidents; Charles P. Skouras,<br />
Los Angeles, treasurer; Edward Zorn, Pontiac.<br />
111., secretary; Herman Levy, New<br />
Haven, general counsel; Ben Strozier, Rock<br />
Hill, S. C, and Claude Mundo, Little Rock,<br />
co-chairmen finance committee; Gael Sullivan,<br />
executive director.<br />
The board of directors was increased<br />
from seven to 13, with the following elected;<br />
Ted R. Gamble, Portland Ore; J. J.<br />
O'Leary, Scranton, Pa.; Robert Wilby, Atlanta;<br />
Si Fabian, New York; Nat Williams,<br />
Thomasville, Ga.; Leonard Goldenson, New<br />
York: Robert J. O'Donnell, Dallas; Morris<br />
Loewenstein. Oklahoma City; Max Connett,<br />
Newton, Miss.; Robert Coyne, New York;<br />
B. D. Cockrill, Denver; William Ruffin,<br />
Covington, Tenn., and R. R. Livingston,<br />
Lincoln, Neb.<br />
Delegates approved the industrywide<br />
public relations program, voted to name a<br />
permanent member to the all-industry<br />
committee, and recommended that each<br />
TOA affiliate appoint its own public relations<br />
committee.<br />
The television committee reported that<br />
theatre TV is economically feasible and<br />
recommended that a special assessment be<br />
levied to defray the cost of hearings at<br />
will be a "bonanza year in terms of quality,<br />
which the FCC will be asked to allocate<br />
channels for theatre television.<br />
Opposition to competitive bidding was<br />
reiterated by a committee headed by Walter<br />
Reade jr. which recommended that if<br />
it becomes necessary to engage in bidding,<br />
an exhibitor-distributor committee be established<br />
to work out a uniform fair trade<br />
code, with court approval, and this committee<br />
also establish a system of arbitration.<br />
The convention approved the recommendations.<br />
Eric Johnston, president of the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of America, recommended<br />
that a series of producer-exhibitor forums<br />
be held in Washington for mutual exchange<br />
of helpful ideas.<br />
Samuel Goldwyn asked for an overhauling<br />
of the Production Code to bring<br />
it up to current standards, and urged a<br />
strong, militant industry fight against<br />
censorship on national and local levels.<br />
Charles Sawyer, secretary of commerce,<br />
said he was greatly impressed with the<br />
arguments against the admissions tax and<br />
said there is general agreement that wartime<br />
excise taxes should be repealed as<br />
soon as possible, but the problem is still<br />
to replace or lose the revenue which comes<br />
from this source.<br />
Ted Gamble, retiring chairman of the<br />
board, reported that boxoffice receipts are<br />
up 10 per cent over 1948. He also said<br />
that the more than 1,000 drive-in theatres<br />
have done more to attract new patronage<br />
to the theatre than anything that has happened<br />
to the industry in many years.<br />
in terms of prestige and importance to<br />
Hollywood."<br />
Johnston, discussing television, taxation<br />
and other problems, suggested that a series<br />
of exhibitor-producer seminars be held in the<br />
film capital for the mutual exchange of helpful<br />
ideas. Through such "collaborative effort,"<br />
he declared, the industry's good name<br />
can be improved.<br />
Pinanski emphasized that production and<br />
distribution should be made aware of the<br />
tremendous investment in exhibition, far<br />
above that in the other two branches of the<br />
business, and said that among all three "there<br />
must be an awareness" of underlying problems.<br />
He called for "constructive" thinking<br />
instead of "feuding."<br />
Ricketson called exhibitors, large and small,<br />
the primary and greatest strength of the industry,<br />
and said that an "essential weakness"<br />
is that many showmen regard producers as<br />
adversaries. The public relations problem,<br />
he declared, must be approached on the local<br />
level.<br />
Maintenance of a high level of production<br />
to service 13,000,000 theatre seats was urged<br />
by Gamble, who said the industry cannot<br />
afford a product shortage. He hailed the allindustry<br />
public relations program as a "life<br />
saver" and called for a new and harmonious<br />
(Continued on page 10)<br />
MORE INFORMAL MOMENTS: At left is a sextet of directors.<br />
Standing (L to R) are Ed Zorn, Pontiac, 111.; E. D. Martin, Columbus,<br />
Ga.; and, seated, Gus Metzg-er, Los Angeles; Al Pickus, Stratford,<br />
Conn., Robert Livingston, Lincoln, Neb.; and Pat McGee, Denver.<br />
In second photo, Louis Montez, president of Mexico's exhibitor association,<br />
(C) registers as R. J. O'Donnell (R) and Gabriel Alarcon,<br />
Mexico City, watch. Third photo has Betty Lynn at 20th-Fox booth<br />
posed with Roy Martin, Columbus, Ga.; C. L. Patrick of the Martin<br />
circuit; C. W. Rodgers, Cairo, 111., and Harold Farmer, of Rodgers circuit.<br />
At right, are Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Williams, Union, Mo.; Duane<br />
Medley, McCutcheon circuit; A. L. Matrici, St. Louis; Loren Mc-<br />
Cluster, of McCutcheon circuit, all from Missouri.
TOA CONVENTION<br />
Propose a Code to Police Bidding<br />
LOS ANGELES— "Unalterable"<br />
opposition<br />
to compulsory competitive bidding or<br />
the use of competitive bidding to obtain increased<br />
film rentals was once again affirmed<br />
by TOA via a report presented before<br />
the convention by Walter Reade jr. of<br />
the exhibitor-distributor relations committee.<br />
If, however, it becomes necessary to engage<br />
in competitive bidding in any given<br />
area, the committee urged the establishment<br />
of a uniform fair trade code and<br />
recommended formation of a committee<br />
of distributors and exhibitors who would<br />
create such a code subject to the approval<br />
of either the Supreme Court or the Department<br />
of Justice.<br />
The Reade conunittee further recommended<br />
that "proper written notice" be<br />
rendered each affected exhibitor and that<br />
"sufficient stipulated time" be contained<br />
in such notice as to the date when the<br />
bid would be due.<br />
Further recommendations of the committee:<br />
1. Because of lack of uniform availabilities,<br />
it "definitely" urged a method be<br />
devised by the distributor-exhibitor committee<br />
to remedy such hardship cases as<br />
exist; and that the same committee establish<br />
an arbitration tribunal to air exhibition<br />
and distribution complaints.<br />
2. That the TOA executive committee<br />
request distributors to furnish sufficient<br />
prints to meet requirements in each territory.<br />
3. That distributors return to the prewar<br />
practice of releasing featizres to military<br />
posts a "sufficient number" of days after<br />
exhibitor's run.<br />
the local<br />
4. It asked the convention to resolve<br />
that TOA is imalterably opposed to advanced<br />
admission price pictures whether<br />
such boosts are created by contract demand<br />
or by insistence on "increased, imfair<br />
and unjust percentage arrangements."<br />
5. That the existing National Screen<br />
Service committee be continued and commended<br />
for its work.<br />
6. That distributors be asked to make<br />
available sufficient advertising material in<br />
each exchange area to combat shortages<br />
in advance of a given picture's release.<br />
The report was approved without alteration.<br />
Convention<br />
(Continued from page 9)<br />
set of relationships among all three branches.<br />
Freeman, acting as moderator, pledged that<br />
the majority of Hollywood's 30,000 craftsmen<br />
will not "violate our trust" and will "strive<br />
at all times to make you feel proud of this<br />
member of your family."<br />
Schedule for the closing day, September 15,<br />
included the delivery of other committee reports—covering<br />
legislation, taxation, 16mm<br />
competition, theatre equipment and concessions—and<br />
further discussion by Depinet of<br />
the Chicago industry unity conference.<br />
Producer<br />
Edward Small was host at a luncheon<br />
for the delegates, and reports were presented<br />
at a business session by TOA officers including<br />
Ted Gamble, Charles Skouras, Gael<br />
Sullivan and Herman M. Levy. Five new<br />
films in the industry's public relations shorts<br />
dealing with "behind-the-scenes" life in Hollywood<br />
were screened through arrangements<br />
made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts<br />
and Sciences, and Fox West Coast unreeled<br />
the "safety" films which it made and exhibited<br />
in its theatres last year.<br />
Windup of the convention was the president's<br />
dinner, at which Louis A. Johnson,<br />
secretary of defense, was the featured speaker.<br />
Entertainment comprised Hollywood's "All-<br />
Star Salute," a musical show produced and<br />
directed by Joe Pasternak of MGM, with<br />
George Jesse! as master of ceremonies.<br />
Goldwyn on Censorship;<br />
Following are excerpts from Samuel Goldwyn<br />
's attack on censorship at the convention:<br />
"I think it Is about time that we all joined<br />
to do something about this awful millstone<br />
around the neck of the motion picture industry.<br />
For a group of intelligent people,<br />
able to look out for their own interests, we<br />
—and I mean all of us—have shown ourselves<br />
to be weak-kneed and spineless. We<br />
have permitted ourselves to be frightened<br />
to death by the shadow of organized pressure<br />
groups whose total membership sometimes<br />
represents no more than the half dozen<br />
names printed on their letterhead. What's<br />
more, we have taken, lying down, the laws<br />
of those states and countless cities which<br />
provide for censorship of our business.<br />
"I am opposed to censorship, in principle<br />
and in practice. Our fear of what the censors<br />
will do keeps us from portraying life as it really<br />
is. We wind up with a lot of empty, little<br />
fairy tales that do not have much relation to<br />
anything—and, particularly, do not have much<br />
relation to bringing into theatres the huge<br />
public over the age of 30 which so consistently<br />
stays away.<br />
"I, myself, have had as little trouble with<br />
censors as anyone in this industry. So, when<br />
I say that censorship must go, I am certainly<br />
not asking for the license to make<br />
pictures which offend public decency in the<br />
slightest. But I am saying that once we<br />
have exercised the self-regulation that we do,<br />
and have turned over our pictures to you for<br />
exhibition, we both have the right to be<br />
free from the interference of petty, smallminded,<br />
single-tracked dirt-sniffers who feel<br />
that they have to justify their official existence<br />
by using their scissors instead of their<br />
heads.<br />
"The censors know, as well as you and I<br />
$1,386,000,000 Paid<br />
In<br />
1948 Admissions<br />
LOS ANGELES—Charles Sawyer, secretary<br />
of commerce, gave delegates to<br />
TOA some statistical data on the motion<br />
picture industry. Here are some of his<br />
figures:<br />
1. In 1948, the public paid $1,386,000,000<br />
to get into motion picture theatres.<br />
2. The investment in the industry Is<br />
$2,700,000,000 of which aU but $160,000,-<br />
000 is in theatres.<br />
3. The industry employed 248,000 individuals<br />
in 1948 and paid them $664,000,-<br />
000 in salaries and wages.<br />
4. The federal government alone received<br />
nearly a half billion dollars in<br />
taxes; stockholders received $74,000,000 in<br />
dividends.<br />
In 1948, motion pictures took close to<br />
56 per cent of all the money paid on<br />
spectator amusements.<br />
"It was a good year," he said. "Not as<br />
good as 1946 or 1947 but better than any<br />
previous year."<br />
do, that within the ranks of the motion picture<br />
industry, we exercise the highest degree<br />
of voluntary regulation and self-discipline.<br />
We know our responsibilities to the American<br />
public and we have accepted them<br />
willingly. Once a picture has the seal of<br />
the production code, it is fit to be shown<br />
any place—except as far as the arrogant,<br />
dictatorial censorship boards around the<br />
coimtry are concerned.<br />
"Don't get the impression that I am in complete<br />
agreement with everything in the production<br />
code and the way it is interpreted<br />
by my good friend, the benevolent keeper<br />
of our conscience, Joe Breen. It is my firm<br />
belief that the time has come to bring that<br />
code up to date, to conform to the changes<br />
that have taken plaae during the 19 years<br />
since it was first adopted. It needs overhauling,<br />
revamping and renovating. That is<br />
a problem that we in Hollywood have to<br />
face honestly and frankly. But that is essentially<br />
the problem of the producers.<br />
"But the problem of local and state censorship<br />
is one which affects you as much<br />
as it does us. It is a sorry state of affairs<br />
when only 25 per cent of the population<br />
above the age of 30 are moviegoers. It may<br />
be an exaggeration of what is possible as a<br />
practical matter, but if everybody between<br />
the ages of 31 and 60 went to the movies<br />
once a week, pictures would take in an extra<br />
$800,000,000 a year. But you will never attract<br />
those people to your theatres regularly<br />
as long as all that can be offered<br />
them, as a rule, are pictures from which<br />
most of the vital juices and reality have been<br />
removed because of fear of what some censor<br />
might do.<br />
"Censorship is defended on the ground that<br />
motion pictures reach a tremendously wide<br />
audience which includes young people and so,<br />
the audience must be wrapped in cotton to<br />
keep it from coming into contact with any<br />
harsh facts of life. I would like to point out<br />
that the newspapers of America reach as<br />
many people in a day as we reach in a week.<br />
Take a few minutes, some time, to go through<br />
any newspaper and notice how much of it Is<br />
devoted to murders, divorce, sex, corruption,<br />
brutality, crime, horrors of all sorts. This Is<br />
necessary, because they must report life as<br />
they find it. And yet, no one would think of<br />
censoring the press."<br />
10 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
T<br />
HEADLINE IN N. Y. POST, SEPT. 12th, 1949<br />
STUMPOVER!<br />
GOOD YEAR<br />
•4Juu;<br />
aj.<br />
AHEAD!<br />
"THAT MIDNIGHT KISS' (Technicolor)<br />
Philadelphia record-breaker!<br />
"MADAME BOVARY'<br />
4th Big Week, Capitol, N. Y.<br />
'THAT FORSYTE WOMAN" (Technicolor)<br />
Next at Radio City Music Hall.<br />
'THE RED DANUBE'<br />
The Big Picture's 4-city World Premiere soon.,<br />
"ADAM'S RIB'<br />
Coast Preview calls it<br />
'INTRUDER IN<br />
THE DUST'<br />
55-city Southern Premiere soon.<br />
funniest in 10 years.<br />
'BATTLEGROUND'<br />
World Premiere, Astor, N. Y., Nov. 11th.<br />
r<br />
"THE DOCTOR AND THE GIRL"<br />
Glenn Ford .Charles Coburn . Gloria De Haven. Janet Leigh<br />
"BORDER INCIDENT"<br />
Ricardo Montalban . George Murphy<br />
"TENSION"<br />
Richard Basehart • Audrey Totter • Cyd Charisse<br />
Barry Sullivan<br />
"DEATH IN THE DOLL'S HOUSE"<br />
Ann Sotherri . Zachary Scott . Gigi Perreau<br />
"CHALLENGE TO LASSIE" (Uchni.olor)<br />
Edmund Gwenn • Donald Crisp • Geraldine Brooks • Lassie<br />
"CONSPIRATOR"<br />
Robert Taylor . Elizabeth Taylor<br />
"ON THE TOWN" (Uchnicolor)<br />
Gene Kelly • Frank Sinatra . Betty Garrett • Ann Miller<br />
Jules Munshin . Vera-EUen<br />
"MALAYA"<br />
Spencer Tracy • James Stewart • Valentina Cortesa<br />
Sydney Greenstreet • John Hodiak . Lionel Barrymore<br />
"NANCY GOES TO RIO" (Uckmcolor)<br />
Ann Sothern . Jane Powell . Carmen Miranda . Barry Sullivan<br />
"SIDE STREET"<br />
Farley Granger • Cathy O'Donnell<br />
James Craig • Paul Kelly<br />
"STARS IN MY CROWN"<br />
Joel McCrea . Ellen Drew . Dean Stockwell<br />
"AMBUSH"<br />
Robert Taylor • John Hodiak • Arlene Dahl<br />
"BLACK HAND"<br />
J. Carrol Naish • Teresa Celli<br />
"KEY TO THE CITY"<br />
Clark Gable « Loretta Young . Frank Morgan<br />
"EAST SIDE,<br />
WEST SIDE"<br />
Barbara Stanwyck . James Mason • Van Heflin<br />
Ava Gardner . Cyd Charisse<br />
"PLEASE BELIEVE ME"<br />
Deborah Kerr • Robert Walker . Mark Stevens<br />
Peter Lawford<br />
"ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" (UMcolo,)<br />
Betty Hutton . Howard Keel . Frank Morgan<br />
Edward Arnold • Keenan Wynn • J. Carrol Naish
THE WEEK'S TELEVISION DEVELOPMENTS<br />
WORLD SERIES INTO THEATRES;<br />
BEGINS NEW EXHIBITION ERA<br />
Fabian Reportedly Paying<br />
$10,000 for Rights to<br />
Show in One Theatre<br />
NEW YORK—For the first time in theatre<br />
and television history the forthcoming<br />
world series baseball games will be<br />
shown next month via large-screen video<br />
equipment in at least one and possibly<br />
four theatres.<br />
A deal has already been set to televise<br />
the contests at the Fabian Pox Theatre,<br />
Brooklyn, with an RCA unit providing instantaneous<br />
projection.<br />
MORE NEGOTIATIONS START<br />
Negotiations are expected to be completed<br />
momentarily to bring the games to the New<br />
York Paramount Theatre and the Chicago<br />
Theatre, Chicago, via the indirect off-thefilm<br />
Paramount projection method. The Chicago<br />
is a Balaban & Katz house recently<br />
equipped with a large-screen video unit.<br />
There is also some likelihood that the series<br />
may be shown over an RCA unit at a theatre<br />
in Baltimore.<br />
Tlie Fabian deal was signed September 9<br />
by Samuel Rosen, treasurer and vice-president<br />
of Fabian Theatres, acting for Si H.<br />
Fabian, president, and Paul Jonas, sports<br />
director of Mutual Broadcasting Co., acting<br />
for Baseball Cormnissioner A. B. Chandler.<br />
It is reported that Fabian will pay $10,000<br />
for the rights, the money to go to a special<br />
welfare fmid for ball players of both leagues.<br />
The deal with Fabian, and with all other exhibitors<br />
who also sign, includes carrying the<br />
commercials of the Gillette Safety Razor Co.,<br />
which is sponsoring the series on television<br />
and radio. None of the theatre payments will<br />
go to Gillette or WOR and Mutual, the station<br />
and network which will transmit the<br />
games.<br />
The Fox Theatre will use the same experimental<br />
RCA large-screen video xmit used last<br />
June for the championship heavyweight fight<br />
televised from Chicago. The equipment was<br />
removed after the fight and Fabian ordered<br />
a permanent installation from RCA for delivery<br />
late this year.<br />
PRICE STILL A QUESTION<br />
At this time, Rosen and Fabian are still<br />
trying to decide whether to bUl the world<br />
series as an added attraction with the scheduled<br />
film program and show both at the<br />
single, regular admission price. This was<br />
the policy used for the fight telecast. As an<br />
alternative, now under consideration, they<br />
might charge an advanced admission and<br />
drop the regular film program. They expect<br />
to set the policy by the end of the week<br />
(September 23 or 24). Fabian was in Hollywood<br />
September 12-15 to attend the TOA<br />
convention and did not return to New York<br />
until the weekend.<br />
Another problem to be decided is the question<br />
of delay or postponement due to bad<br />
weather. The exhibitor who carries the telecast<br />
will have a restless, disappointed audience<br />
on his hands unless he makes special<br />
preparations for such emergency, Rosen<br />
pointed out.<br />
If Paramount signs the television deal and<br />
the Baltimore house also comes in, the games<br />
can be shown to a maximum of 12,399 seated<br />
patrons plus another 1,200 to 1,500 standees<br />
at a single performance.<br />
The Fox has 4,060 seats and room for about<br />
500 standees; the New York Paramount has<br />
3.650 seats plus room for 300 to 500 standees;<br />
the Chicago has 3,869 seats and also can<br />
handle about 500 standees, and the Baltimore<br />
Theatre can seat about 820 and hold<br />
another 100 standees.<br />
No matter which of the leading pennant<br />
contenders wins, the games can be televised.<br />
All of the pennant leaders are located in<br />
cities with either coaxial or relay facilities:<br />
New York, Boston, Detroit and Cleveland,<br />
the American league pace-setters, and Brooklyn<br />
and St. Louis, the top National league<br />
contenders.<br />
Fox West Coast Reveals Its<br />
WASHINGTON—Twentieth Century-Fox was not speaking in generalities when It<br />
informed the Federal Communications commission last week that it is ready to establish<br />
the coimtry's first theatre television circuit, with an initial west coast chain of<br />
24 houses, the moment the goverrmient agency gives the word.<br />
In general, 20th-Pox said theatre in television is technically feasible, the time for<br />
its introduction to the public has arrived, distribution of the programs is not the<br />
function of a common carrier, and the FCC should authorize a west coast 20th Century-Fox<br />
theatre television service and allocate such frequencies as are required for<br />
that service.<br />
Fox named theatres, detailed its transmission plans and submitted potent arguments<br />
for special theatre TV channels in a scholarly 98-page report and petition to<br />
the communications agency. The technical material was prepared under the direction<br />
of Earl Sponable, director of research, and under the immediate supervision of<br />
H. J. Schlafly, director of television research, and Mcintosh & Inglis, consulting radio<br />
engineers.<br />
The 20th-Fox brief contains much of Interest to exhibitors everywhere, though<br />
emphasis is on establishment of a California setup. The plans, the report says, are<br />
"no sketchy outline or figment of the imagination," but a "concrete proposal naming<br />
theatres, points of program origination and locations of microwave distribution stations<br />
in an area of southern California extending from' Santa Ba^^bara, 80 miles northwest<br />
of Los Angeles, to El Centre in the Imperial valley, 150 miles to the southwest.<br />
CIRCUITS TO BE CAREFULLY SELECTED<br />
The plans call for service to a group of 24 theatres, carefully selected so as to<br />
represent every type of problem that could reasonably be expected anywhere in the<br />
country. The area contains the third largest metropolitan population in the U.S. as<br />
well as an isolated town which is the center of an agricultural community.<br />
A transmitting station on Lookout Mountain park would normally be the central<br />
distribution station, but the link between this station and San Pedro Hill would be<br />
reversible so that either station could act as point of origin for other distribution<br />
stations. Under ordinary conditions, programs would originate either in Grauman's<br />
Chinese Theatre, a theatre television studio or at some remote point requiring the<br />
use of mobile pickup equipment. They would be relayed to Lookout Mountain park<br />
for retransmission to 12 theatres and other distribution stations at San Pedro Hill,<br />
Saddle Peak, Santiago Peak, Palomar, Mt. Laguna and Red Mountain. The latter would<br />
transmit to the other theatres in the group of 24.<br />
The Los Angeles and Hollywood theatres are ElPort.al, Highland, Grauman's Chinese,<br />
Los Angeles, Uptown, Carthay Circle and Loyola. The others are: Alex, Glendale;<br />
Academy, Pasadena; Golden Gate, Belvedere Gardens; California, Huntington Park;<br />
Dome, Ocean Park; Village, Westwood; Crest, North Long Beach; West Coast, Lxmg<br />
Beach; Cabrillo, San Pedro; Fox, Inglewood; Fox, Riverside; Pox, San Bernardino:<br />
Fox, Pomona, El Centro, El Centro: Fox, San Diego, and Arlington, Santa Barbara.<br />
After a discussion of t,echnical engineering details, the report concludes that a<br />
"practical, workable and economical system can be constructed to a large number of<br />
theatres by employing only two channels."<br />
In discussing types of programs, the report points out that the development of<br />
theatre television will be dependent upon its ability to provide fine entertainment to<br />
vast numbers of people, regardless of the geographical locale involved, at a price they<br />
can afford. The goal would be to remove good professional entertainment from the<br />
luxury class for presentation to audiences which appreciate it but otherwise could<br />
not afford it.<br />
One suitable type of programming would be Broadway-type, legitimate theatrical<br />
productions of which 60 to 80 open each year in New York. The presentation of good<br />
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12 BOXOFnCE :: September 17, 1949
"oiffl:<br />
will carry the world series into<br />
Fabian's Metropolitan Theatre in<br />
Brooklyn.<br />
.tbstrif'<br />
/7 Theatre TV Units Built;<br />
Para. Speeds Its System<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount and RCA have<br />
built 17 theatre television systems for installation<br />
in United States and Canada. In<br />
addition, it was revealed that Paramount has<br />
five more systems in the manufacturing process<br />
and RCA has one more plus orders for 24<br />
large-screen units for Fox West Coast theatres<br />
to be built if the Federal Communications<br />
commission approves pending applications<br />
for special theatre TV frequency channels.<br />
In the television equipment field, the big<br />
news of the week was Paramount's demonstration<br />
of its highly-accelerated high-speed<br />
f Im processing technique for theatre video.<br />
Heretofore, Paramount's television projected<br />
televised events on the screen within 60 seconds.<br />
The new equipment in which telecasts<br />
are photographed, developed and dried<br />
cold in a few seconds throws the telecast<br />
on the screen within 20 seconds.<br />
Paramount shipped a portable model to<br />
show its new technique at the TOA convention.<br />
The price is to be below $25,000, it was<br />
ns for 24-Theatre TV Circuit<br />
music by nationally famous oi>era and concert groups, symphony orchestras, musical<br />
artists and ballet groups would provide excellent program material. More top vaudeville<br />
entertainers than ever before v/ould be seen via theatre television. Sporting events<br />
of a national and local character would be presented.<br />
Theatre television can also perfoi-m a significant service to the community and<br />
nation. Public service programs, including those of a civic, religious and educational<br />
natui-e, would be shown in dramatic form. For instance, more effective assistance would<br />
be provided to Red Cross, Community Chest, cancer and similar drives. Police, fire<br />
and local safety organizations could, in cases of emergency, utilize theatre television<br />
to provide courses of instruction to a great number of people at one time. Mass education<br />
projects could be developed for nonperformance hours. A community news service<br />
could be inaugurated on a daily, on-the-spot basis. Actually, program possibilities are<br />
seen as unlimited.<br />
"One revealing illustration of what theatre television will mean to the public," the<br />
report continues, "is to be found in a comparison of the present outlets for legitimate<br />
theatrical productions with those which would be created by the advent of theatre television.<br />
The Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles, which incidentally is the only adequate<br />
legitimate theatre in the city, has a seating capacity of 1,656 and books, on the average.<br />
15 roadshows per season. Generally speaking a dramatic presentation runs two to<br />
three weeks and a musical from three to four.<br />
CAN REACH 39,525 PATRONS SIMULTANEOUSLY<br />
"Based on its seating capacity and assuming eight performances a week, the largest<br />
number of people who could possibly see a legitimate show at the Biltmore in any one<br />
week would be 13,248, or in three weeks, 39,744. The average admission price at the<br />
Biltmore is $3.50 plus tax for musicals and $2.50 plus tax for dramatic productions.<br />
"On the other hand, assume petitioner's Los Angeles theatre television plan is in<br />
operation. Conceivably, the rights of the show 'South Pacific' could be purchased and<br />
produced, not with a roadshow group, but with the original Broadway cast. The performance<br />
would originate in a special television studio and be transmitted, not to one<br />
theatre alone, but to the 24 in the Los Angeles area specified in the plan described<br />
herein, which theatres have a total seating capacity of 39,525. Therefore, it would be<br />
possible for 39,525 persons to see the masical at a single performance, as compared with<br />
the 39,744 who could see it at the Biltmore during the course of a three-week run.<br />
"Based on the present estimated population figures for the city of Los Angeles,<br />
approximately 0.63 per cent of its people can now see a legitimate show at the Biltmore<br />
in one week. If only the 24 theatres in petitioner's Los Angeles plan were involved,<br />
15 per cent of the same population would be able to see the production by means of<br />
theatre television. Furthermore, they would be able to see it conveniently and at a<br />
much lower price."<br />
The report states that "to the best of petitioner's knowledge," there are no cable<br />
systems of sufficient quality available, that "coaxial cable or wire is not, from a technical<br />
standpoint, the answer to the needs of theatre television," and that the cost of<br />
coaxial cable would make its use prohibitive. Lacking "satisfactory" cable or wire<br />
facilities, radio frequencies must be used, it adds.<br />
In conclusion, the report says it has established "not only the basic need for a<br />
theatre television service, but that such a service, competitive in nature, can operate<br />
within a sufficiently narrow portion of the radio spectrum to warrant the immediate<br />
allocation of frequencies for its use."<br />
It concludes that one system, performing all required transmission functions, can<br />
operate with two channels, each channel having a radio frequency bandwidth of 30<br />
megacycles, and that 360 megacycles of spectrum space would provide facilities for at<br />
least six competitive systems m a given community or area.<br />
announced. The unit was designed in cooperation<br />
with Raytheon Mfg. Co. and supervised<br />
by Richard Hodgson, director of technical<br />
operations for Paramount. Engineers<br />
were able to set up the portable equipment<br />
within a few hours.<br />
Additional purchases and leases of theatre<br />
television systems were announced during the<br />
week. Samuel P.nanski, TOA's new president,<br />
has leased an RCA unit for the Pilgrim<br />
Theatre in Boston and he hopes to have it<br />
ready for the world series.<br />
Of the 12 RCA sets, including the one slated<br />
for Pinanski, ten are direct, instantaneous<br />
system units. The remaining two use an indirect,<br />
off-the-film system, which employs a<br />
similar principle used by all the Paramount<br />
theatre television receiver-projectors.<br />
Warner Bros, and 20th-Fox each have two<br />
direct and one off-the-film RCA sets. These<br />
companies have spent large sums in cooperating<br />
with RCA on the development of largescreen<br />
television research and equipment.<br />
The U.S. army also has three RCA theatre<br />
sets for use by its motion picture services<br />
department. The 11th set will be leased<br />
by Fabian Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, for the<br />
world series. This is the same set used last<br />
June by the Fox Theatre to telecast the<br />
heavyweight championship fight from Chicago.<br />
Fabian has ordered a permanent RCA<br />
unit to be installed in the Fox Theatre early<br />
next year. The 12th existing set, RCA's most<br />
recent model, was used for demonstration<br />
purposes at the TOA convention.<br />
COST ABOUT $25,000<br />
Each direct transmission RCA set costs $25,-<br />
500. Off-the-film units have been selling for<br />
about $35,000. The camera alone, in the offthe-film<br />
unit, costs $11,000 to $12,000. RCA<br />
expects the cost-per-set to decrease as soon<br />
as they are produced in larger numbers. The<br />
large-screen sets are for sale and not for<br />
lease, according to the latest merchandising<br />
RCA poUcy.<br />
Four Paramount receiver-projectors have<br />
already been installed in the Paramount<br />
Theatre, New York, and the Chicago Theatre,<br />
Chicago, both of which may telev'.se<br />
the series; the Imperial Theatre. Toronto:<br />
and station KTLA, Los Angeles.<br />
MGM Conference on Sales<br />
Is Set for Mid-October<br />
NEW YORK—An MGM fall sales conference<br />
that is expected to last a week has been<br />
scheduled by William P. Rodgers, vice-president<br />
and general sales manager. It w-ill be<br />
held at the Astor hotel here starting October<br />
17. Final details will be completed when<br />
Rodgers returns from the coast in a few days.<br />
Attending will be 46 men from the field<br />
and about 20 from the home office, including<br />
executives and assistants to field sales<br />
managers. Those from the field will be the<br />
five sales managers, their field assistants,<br />
district managers and branch managers. It<br />
will be the first mass get-together of the<br />
field and home office selling forces since the<br />
company held its Silver Anniversary conference<br />
eight months ago at the Culver City<br />
studio.<br />
I<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
13
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UA Has 15 Films to May;<br />
Expects 10 More in '50<br />
NEW YORK—United Artists has 15 pictures<br />
lined up for release between September 1,<br />
this year, and May, next year, and expects<br />
to have ten more for the balance of the 1949-<br />
50 season which ends next September.<br />
"Things are looking up and we have the<br />
biggest advance program in years," says Howard<br />
LeSieur, advertising and publicity head.<br />
"Independents are finding it easier to raise<br />
money."<br />
LeSieur made his statement at a luncheon<br />
at the Stork club last week.<br />
Big campaigns are in work on three of the<br />
15 on the current schedule. Jack Dempsey<br />
will make a national tour of important cities<br />
in advance of "The Big Wheel" (tentative<br />
title I which was produced by the Popkin-<br />
Stiefel-Dempsey group. Dempsey has a share<br />
in the investment. The film stars Mickey<br />
Rooney with Thomas Mitchell.<br />
The Samuel Bischoff production, "Mrs.<br />
Mike," is another for which the company<br />
has important plans. It stars Dick Powell<br />
and Evelyn Keyes.<br />
The first 15 include: "Red Light," George<br />
Raft and Virginia Mayo, a Roy Del Ruth<br />
production; "Without Honor," Laraine Day,<br />
Dane Clark and Franchot Tone, a Robert<br />
and Raymond Hakim, Nasser production;<br />
"The Big Wheel" (tentative title), Mickey<br />
Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Mary Hatcher,<br />
Michael O'Shea, Lina Romay, a Popkin-<br />
Stievel-Dempsey production; "A Kiss for Corliss,"<br />
Shirley Temple and David Nlven, produced<br />
by Colin Miller; "Mrs. Mike," Dick<br />
Powell and Evelyn Keyes, Samuel Bischoff<br />
producer; "Gun Crazy" (tentative title) Peggy<br />
Cummins and John Dall, King Brothers;<br />
"Wayward Angels," Paul Henreid and Catherine<br />
McLeod, produced by Edward J. and<br />
Harry Lee Danziger; "Indian Scout," George<br />
Montgomery and EUen Drew, Edward Small,<br />
producer; "Champagne for Caesar," Ronald<br />
Colman, Celeste Holm and Barbara Britten,<br />
produced by Harry M. Popkin and George<br />
Moskov; "Quicksand," Mickey Rooney, Peter<br />
Lorre, Barbara Bates and Jeanne Cagney,<br />
Rooney- Stiefel production; "Love Happy,"<br />
Harpo, Chico, Groucho Marx, a Mary Pickford-Lester<br />
Cowan production; "Dead on<br />
Arrival," Edmond O'Brien and Pamela Britton,<br />
Harry M. Popkin production; "The<br />
Whip," Dan Duryea, Gale Storm and Michael<br />
O'Shea, Hal E. Chester producer; "Johnny<br />
One-Eye," Wayne Morris, Pat O'Brien and<br />
Dolores Moran, Benedict Bogeaus production;<br />
"The Men," Marlon Brando and Teresa<br />
Wright, Stanley Kramer production.<br />
Universal Loss Down<br />
For 39Week Period<br />
NEW YORK—A Universal Pictures Co. financial<br />
statement released September 12<br />
shows that the company's loss for the 39<br />
weeks ended July 30 Is $934,789 less than that<br />
for the coiTesponding preceding period. The<br />
figures are $775,018 for the latest period compared<br />
with $1,709,807 for the previous one.<br />
For the 13 weeks ended July 30, the company<br />
reported a loss of $309,776 for it and its<br />
subsidiaries, compared with a loss of $1,942,-<br />
674 in the corresponding period of the preceding<br />
fiscal year, a difference of $1,632,898.<br />
Four Exhibitor Groups<br />
Endorse P. R. Program<br />
NEW YORK—Four exhibitor associations<br />
this week gave approval to the formation<br />
of an industrywide public relations mechanism,<br />
as recommended at the Chicago<br />
Conference this month.<br />
Approval was given by Allied Independent<br />
Theatres of Kansas and Missouri, Theatre<br />
Owners of America, Metropolitan Motion Picture<br />
Theatre Ass'n of New York and Independent<br />
Theatre Owners Ass'n of New York.<br />
National Allied to Vote<br />
P. R. Stand in October<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—National Allied's formal<br />
stand on the industry public relations program<br />
will await the convention to be held<br />
in Minneapolis October 24-26. This was decided<br />
Wednesday at a closed business session<br />
of New Jersey Allied members at their 30th<br />
anniversary convention here.<br />
In the meantime—probably within two<br />
weeks—the New Jersey unit will hold a special<br />
meeting for discussion of the program.<br />
Abram F. Myers, national board chairman<br />
and general counsel, who attended ' the sessions<br />
here, said there would be general discussion<br />
in the meantime among the autonomous<br />
regional units. No opposition has developed,<br />
he said, but the board of directors<br />
wants to hear sentiment from all quarters<br />
before formulating the policy of the organization.<br />
Many inquiries have floated into his<br />
office, he said, as to whether Allied was<br />
about to drop its militant stands on industry<br />
problems.<br />
To clear up this point he told the Jersey<br />
unit that this is "no happy honeymoon," because<br />
there always will be points of conflict<br />
between buyer and seller. He said he and his<br />
associates felt there was an area of agreement<br />
upon which all industry elements could<br />
unite to improve public relations, but predicted<br />
the directors would include reservations<br />
in its approval so that no large "bureaucracy"<br />
could develop. He repeated his Chicago<br />
suggestion that a research program should<br />
be started, so that there can be clearer imderstanding<br />
of the sources of bad industry public<br />
relations and he expressed the hope that there<br />
might be a committee with strong political<br />
influence to work in behalf of the industry.<br />
Wilbur Snaper, newly elected president of<br />
the Jersey unit, said that "on the surface it<br />
looks like a good idea." He was referring to<br />
the public relations program.<br />
Walker in New RKO Post<br />
NEW YORK—J.<br />
Miller Walker, RKO general<br />
cotmsel, has been elected a vice-president<br />
of RKO Radio and its parent company,<br />
Radio-Keith-Orpheum by the board of the<br />
latter company. He retains his present position<br />
of secretary of both companies.<br />
33 Features.. 6 Shorts<br />
On Lippert Lineup<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Simultaneously with the<br />
announcement that the corporate name of<br />
Screen Guild Productions<br />
has been dropped<br />
in favor of Lippert<br />
Productions, Inc., the<br />
production-distribution<br />
company headed by<br />
Robert L. Lippert disclosed<br />
plans for the<br />
manufacture and release<br />
of 33 features<br />
and six shorts on the<br />
1949-50 program.<br />
The lineup includes<br />
three high-budgeters,<br />
four intermediate entries,<br />
six "Black Rider" westerns, four fea-<br />
Robert L. Lippert<br />
tures starring Don Barry and 12 programmers,<br />
plus the shorts.<br />
Since June 1, six pictures on the new season's<br />
schedule have been completed, and<br />
Lippert declared a total of 20 will be finished<br />
by the first of the year. He said financing<br />
for the whole program has been set.<br />
In the high budget category, "The Baron<br />
of Arizona" will roll early next month, with<br />
Carl K. Hittleman producing, Samuel Fuller<br />
writing and directing. Also in the higher<br />
bracket are "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,"<br />
based on the Jules Verne story, to be filmed<br />
in color, with Fuller and Hittleman again<br />
teamed; and "Square Dance Jubilee," recently<br />
completed by Producer Ron Ormond<br />
and now in the cutting rooms. Starring Don<br />
Barry, it features 25 stellar individual acts.<br />
BEING READIED LIST<br />
Being readied for release is "Deputy Marshal,"<br />
produced by WiUiam Stephens, costarring<br />
Jon Hall and Frances Langford. It<br />
will be followed by "Fort Disaster," story of<br />
early frontier days; "Return of the James<br />
Gang," to topline Barbara Britton and Preston<br />
Foster; and "Tales of Captain Kidd,"<br />
which will bring that pirate up to date for<br />
a modern treasure hunt.<br />
In the medium budget niche are "Treasure<br />
of Monte Cristo," already completed, toplining<br />
Glenn Langan and Adele Jergens;<br />
"Corny Rhythm," hillbilly musical to star<br />
Jerry Colonna; "The Lock and the Key,"<br />
from the novel by Frank Gruber, who will<br />
also script and direct; and "Operation Haylift,"<br />
story of the U.S. air force's effort to<br />
feed starving cattle during last year's severe<br />
blizzards.<br />
Ron Ormond will produce the series of six<br />
"Black Rider" westerns, in which top sagebrush<br />
personalities will be starred. These<br />
are all slated for completion before Jan. 1.<br />
1950, and will be followed by four features<br />
starring Don Barry.<br />
Winding up the feature program will be:<br />
"The Dalton Gang," "Red Desert," "Tough<br />
Assignment," "Radar Patrol," "Daredevils of<br />
the Highway," "Western Pacific," "Montana<br />
Badlands," "Highway Patrol," "The Great<br />
Jewel Robbery," "The Abilene Kid," "Sierra<br />
Crossroads" and "Hollywood Varieties of<br />
1950."<br />
The Lippert company will make its bow in<br />
the short subjects field with six one-reelers<br />
in color, featuring the "Western Kids"<br />
moppets ranging in age from 3 to 10. Titles:<br />
"The White Phantom," "Showdown at Sunup,"<br />
"Hal's Half Acre," "Last of the Good<br />
Guys," "Hurry-Along Harrigan" and "Bar-<br />
Bar-Black Sheep."<br />
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16<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
PRESENT PRICES TO CONTINUE,<br />
3,000-HOUSE CHECK REVEALS<br />
Exhibitors Unimpressed<br />
By B'way Reductions;<br />
Cite Current Costs<br />
By WALTER WALDMAN<br />
NEW YORK—Exhibitors throughout the<br />
country will generally continue their present<br />
admission prices for some time to come,<br />
according to a BOXOPTTCE survey covering<br />
about 3,000 theatres.<br />
The theatremen queried included executives<br />
of national, affiliated circuits and<br />
heads of local chains, operating first run<br />
and neighborhood houses.<br />
Reductions of 25 to 30 cents made by first<br />
run Broadway and mid-Manhattan theatres<br />
during the past nine months (reported by<br />
this publication in the September 10 issue)<br />
have apparently had no effect on their determination<br />
to maintain present admission<br />
levels. They also were unswayed by recent<br />
cuts advertised by several large clothing<br />
chains.<br />
HAD BEEN OVERPRICED<br />
The general exhibitor consensus was that<br />
Broadway theatres have long been overpriced<br />
and were due for a reduction. The circuit<br />
officials interviewed said that none of their<br />
houses ever approached the Broadway admissions<br />
of $2.40, $1.80 or $1.50. Sam Rosen,<br />
treasurer and vice-president of Fabian Theatres,<br />
which has about 50 theatres in New<br />
York state. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and<br />
Virginia, said his top first run price has<br />
been about 74 cents.<br />
He also said that while most theatre admissions<br />
have increased less than 35 per<br />
cent since 1940, the prices of other commodities<br />
and services have gone up 100 to 200<br />
per cent during the same period.<br />
Sol A. Schwartz, general manager of RKO,<br />
whose 100-plus theatres cover 12 states from<br />
New York to California, said he does not see<br />
how admissions can be reduced at this time<br />
with operating costs as they are today. The<br />
circuit has made minor increases for its theatres<br />
presenting vaudeville. Fourteen theatres,<br />
excluding the Palace, New York, now<br />
show vaudeville once a month. The increases<br />
apply to the vaudeville dates only.<br />
Max A. Cohen, head of Cinema circuit,<br />
which has about 17 theatres in New York<br />
City, Yonkers, Lyndhurst, N. J., and North<br />
Tarrytown, declared that present film rental<br />
charges rule out any admission reductions.<br />
SHEA UPS ITS SCALE<br />
The Jamestown Amusement Co. (Shea Enterprises)<br />
does not plan to cut admissions,<br />
according to Ray Smith, buying official and<br />
assistant to E. C. Grainger, president. He<br />
said that the circuit raised prices several<br />
months ago five to ten cents in many of Its<br />
46 theatres located in New England, New<br />
York, Pennsylvania and the midwest.<br />
Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of Paramount<br />
Theatres, expressed the view that<br />
business generally was improving and better<br />
pictures were on the way. Therefore, he<br />
added, this is not the time to think of cutting<br />
admissions.<br />
The present Paramount circuit and affili-<br />
Established Customers,<br />
Clearance Top Problems<br />
ATLANTIC CITY — Problems of the old<br />
established customer and some form of agreement<br />
on clearance are two of the most important<br />
problems facing the industry today,<br />
declared Andy W. Smith jr., vice-president<br />
and general sales manager of 20bh Century<br />
Fox, at the 30th anniversary convention of<br />
Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey.<br />
Both arise out of the antitrust decision.<br />
Smith said time and, above all, a realistic<br />
approach and complete cooperation will be<br />
required. Distributors and exhibitors will<br />
have to get together to "talk these things out,"<br />
he said. He did not state specifically that<br />
he thought there should be a joint approach<br />
to the Department of Justice and the court<br />
on these, but that was the impression he left<br />
on the minds of his listeners.<br />
"You know," he said, "that in many areas<br />
we have reduced clearances and made our<br />
pictures available to theatres ^t an earlier<br />
date. While this arrangement is advantageous<br />
to our customers, it has created a problem<br />
due to the fact that each individual distribution<br />
company has a different clearance<br />
and availability arrangement for its customers.<br />
This has created confusion and leaves<br />
a theatre owner In a position where there<br />
is a great uncertainty as to the plctiu-es he<br />
will receive and when he will receive them.<br />
He plays some pictures early; others late,<br />
and it is not a good arrangement.<br />
"The practical side of the matter indicates<br />
ates, totaling about 1,400 theatres, have no<br />
plans for reductions, he said. He did not,<br />
however, rule out the possibility of minor<br />
local adjustments, but doubted whether partnership<br />
holdings would cut prices now. He<br />
indicated that it was still too early to predict<br />
the policies of the new United Paramount<br />
Theatres circuit to be organized soon<br />
under the terms of the consent decree, but<br />
he did not think the new chain would reduce<br />
admissions.<br />
Both Warners and National Theatres, with<br />
total holdings of nearly 1,100 theatres coastto-coast,<br />
also discounted the possibility of<br />
price cuts. Dan Michalove, vice-president of<br />
National Theatres, said the only changes that<br />
have been made recently, or will be made<br />
are those connected with shifts in run. When<br />
a house moves up from second to first run<br />
the admission rises in line with first run<br />
policies. By the same reasoning when a first<br />
run house goes to second run, appropriate<br />
reductions go into effect.<br />
The recent 25-cent cut by Loew's Capitol<br />
Theatre, New York, does not mean that the<br />
other 130 Loew's theatres will reduce their<br />
that, unless there is a pattern of clearance<br />
and unless a theatre owner knows just where<br />
he is, there is confusion and misunderstanding<br />
and resultant loss of revenue on all<br />
sides.<br />
"It is my eonsidered opinion that theatre<br />
owners can do more toward solving this problem<br />
than I, as a distributor, can do. But I<br />
should like to be of every possible help to<br />
you in solving this problem which is so important<br />
to all of us."<br />
In discussing the court prohibition against<br />
favoring old customers Smith said 20th-Pox,<br />
like other companies, had depended on old<br />
customers and that these customers and the<br />
distributors had built their business together.<br />
"We are no longer in a position where we<br />
can serve this old customer without finding<br />
ourselves arbitrarily refusing to deal with a<br />
competitive theatre. This leaves the old customer<br />
in some instances with a theatre and<br />
with no pictures and this certainly is not good.<br />
"I have always been a great believer in<br />
talking out problems face to face, and I am<br />
presenting these problems here today in the<br />
hope that we may be able to get together<br />
and talk them out and find a way of solving<br />
them to our mutual advantage.<br />
"This is not going to be accomplished overnight.<br />
It will require the most careful study<br />
and consideration of the best interests ef all<br />
involved, but I know that if we put our minds<br />
to it we will reach a happy solution."<br />
prices, said one of the circuit executives.<br />
The Capitol reduced weekday admissions because<br />
they were slightly out of line with<br />
prices charged by other Broadway theatres,<br />
but elsewhere Loew's admissions conform to<br />
local scales, he added.<br />
Harry Brandt, head of the Brandt Theatres,<br />
summed up the situation by saying<br />
that motion pictures are the least expensive<br />
form of entertainment and the public gets<br />
more than its money's worth at present admissions.<br />
He said he has no intention of cutting<br />
prices for his 145 theatres in New York,<br />
New England, Florida and New Jersey.<br />
Memphis Censor Approves<br />
'Intruder in the Dust'<br />
MEMPHIS—"Intruder in the Dust," MGM's<br />
entry in the recent Negro tolerance cycle, has<br />
been passed by Lloyd T. Binford, chairman<br />
of the Memphis board of censors, and will<br />
open October 11 in Oxford, Miss.<br />
The picture will open in Memphis October<br />
12 followed by other dates in the Mississippi,<br />
Tennessee and Louisiana territories.<br />
Binford recently banned Louis DeRochemont's<br />
"Lost Boundaries," released by Film<br />
Classics.<br />
ni9«<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
17<br />
it
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Arnall's New Target<br />
FLLIS ARNALL, president of the Society<br />
of Independent Motion Picture Producers,<br />
is now gunning for booking combines<br />
and local monopolies, and when he<br />
starts gunning something usually happens.<br />
He loves a controversy, he is not averse to<br />
publicity for himself, he has an outstanding<br />
talent for dramatic statements, and<br />
he pops into the halls of Congress and<br />
the offices of government departments so<br />
fast newspapermen can't keep up with him.<br />
Now he says the Department of Justice<br />
should go to work on these two problems.<br />
This is a neat little state of affairs that<br />
Allied has sidestepped during all the long<br />
years it has been fighting distributors inside<br />
the courts and out. Several prominent<br />
Allied leaders are heads of booking combines.<br />
Because the antitrust decrees require picture-by-picture<br />
selling and because Arnall<br />
is a former attorney general of Georgia<br />
his moves will bear watching.<br />
Many industry leaders active in the public<br />
relations movement would like to see litigation<br />
reduced, or eliminated, but Arnall<br />
and some of the SIMPP members are not<br />
among them.<br />
TV Progress Swiit<br />
JJOW<br />
the pace of theatre television development<br />
has speeded up in recent<br />
months was demonstrated dramatically at<br />
the Theatre Owners of America convention.<br />
Paramount's apparatus for transferring<br />
television pictures to film in a theatre<br />
booth has been speeded up so the<br />
operation can be done by one man in 20<br />
seconds, which is 46 seconds faster than it<br />
was a few months ago. What's more, the<br />
cost has been reduced.<br />
With the new arrangement, an electronic<br />
shutter on the television receiver takes care<br />
of the difference in speed between the 24<br />
frames-per-second standard film and the 30<br />
pictures-per-second used in television.<br />
Any day now "WBKB, Chicago, and KTLA<br />
in Los Angeles will have filmed television<br />
programs ready for fast syndication to theatres<br />
or to other stations.<br />
British Unions Agitated<br />
IXITrH one-third of their number idle<br />
and financing so difficult for producers<br />
that more curtailment is in sight,<br />
film union leaders are getting into a panic<br />
in Great Britain. They still oppose a cut<br />
in the 45 per cent quota in spite of the fact<br />
that it can't be filled and was in itself a<br />
major cause of the production slump. They<br />
foresee much of the British production financed<br />
by U.S. frozen funds, and they are<br />
worried about the rumors that the quota<br />
might be dropped.<br />
Some of the talk is just talk—a manifestation<br />
of the general jitters.<br />
Community Newsreels<br />
HMONG the interesting possibilities of<br />
future theatre television mentioned in<br />
the 20th Century-Pox brief submitted to<br />
18<br />
By JAMES M. JERAULD<br />
the Federal Communications commission<br />
are community newsreels.<br />
During the course of the years many<br />
enterprising exhibitors have supplemented<br />
the national newsreels with 16mm films<br />
made by themselves on local events and<br />
have found them a boxoffice stimulant.<br />
The fresher they were, the stronger they<br />
were as attractions. How these things will<br />
work out in practice will be demonstrated<br />
on the coast in a 24-theatre hookup soon<br />
after wave lengths have been allocated.<br />
Showmanship<br />
^OWN at Nantucket there is a theatre<br />
which uses a Boston buying service. It<br />
gets the very latest releases—practically<br />
all top attractions from all the major companies—plays<br />
them two nights as a rule,<br />
two shows per night. Often the owner<br />
doesn't know what films are coming.<br />
The exploitation consists of pasting up<br />
three six-sheets for a week's attractions<br />
on the front of the house. If a six-sheet<br />
fails to arrive, the janitor paints the name<br />
of the attraction on white paper.<br />
The first show is supposed to start at<br />
7:30 p. m. If the house fills up before that<br />
time—and it usually does during the summer—the<br />
doors are closed and the program<br />
starts.<br />
It's a great life—like the days during the<br />
war when all'the manager had to do was<br />
get out of the way of the crowds as he<br />
unlocked the door.<br />
Altec Service Sales Drive<br />
Mark 12th Anniversary<br />
NEW YORK—Altec Service Corp. opened<br />
its 12th anniversary sales drive September<br />
12 and it will run 12<br />
weeks, according to<br />
H. M. Bessey, executive<br />
vice-president. It<br />
is the first all-serviceall-products<br />
drive to be<br />
organized on a national<br />
scale by the<br />
company. Cash prizes<br />
are offered competing<br />
sales representatives,<br />
including inspectors,<br />
field and business<br />
L. D. Ntetter jr.<br />
managers and division<br />
chiefs.<br />
L. D. Netter jr., national sales representative,<br />
is drive captain and the drive committee,<br />
which will allocate the prizes in each<br />
sales territory, is headed by Paul Thomas,<br />
treasurer. Before joining Altec in 1947, Netter<br />
was manager ot the nontheatrical department<br />
of Eagle Lion.<br />
To Attend Allied Confab<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Acceptances ot invitations<br />
to attend National Allied States convention<br />
here October 24-26 were received this week<br />
from W. F. Rodgers, MOM sales manager;<br />
George Murphy, president of the Screen Actors<br />
Guild and screen star, and Chill Wills,<br />
film actor. The Chicago delegation alone<br />
will number 40.<br />
Public Relations Idea<br />
Clicks in<br />
Rural Area<br />
HAYTI, MO.—A way of doing an industry<br />
public relations job in a rural area<br />
has been demonstrated<br />
here by J. C.<br />
Mohrstadt, owner of<br />
the Joy Theatre in<br />
this 2,000-population<br />
community. So successful<br />
was the experiment<br />
that Allied<br />
States Ass'n, of which<br />
Mohrstadt is a member,<br />
is recommending<br />
J. C. Mohrstadt the idea as "just<br />
about as sound and constructive a plan<br />
that has come along for public relations<br />
at the local level."<br />
Mohrstadt called a meeting to be held<br />
at his theatre to present some of the<br />
trade problems to his community. Realizing<br />
that not every small town can have<br />
its own public relations meetings, with<br />
representatives of film companies and<br />
advance screenings as an attraction, he<br />
invited exhibitors from nearby small<br />
towns to be present, and to bring along<br />
some of their civic leaders.<br />
As a result, when the session opened,<br />
the auditorium of the Joy Theatre was<br />
filled with mayors, councilmen, the<br />
clergy, professional men and other representative<br />
residents of a half dozen communities.<br />
The branch and district managers<br />
of three distributing companies<br />
came in for the trip and three film salesmen<br />
and the manager of a theatre supply<br />
company were present. For the first time,<br />
,<br />
y<br />
. . . Signed<br />
. .<br />
ite W'<br />
'''!.,•( Bill*<br />
^oUcfMXiod ^e^icnt<br />
Miramar Signs Lloyd jr.<br />
As 'Dog's Life' Star<br />
Aspiring independent production outfits<br />
continue to come and go—often without ever<br />
having shot a foot of film—but on occasion<br />
an organization will bob up with announcement<br />
of a project sufficiently off the beaten<br />
track to merit more than passing attention.<br />
Such is the case with Miramar Films, newlyorganized<br />
independent, which has signed Harold<br />
Lloyd jr., son of the famous bespectacled<br />
comedian, to star in "A Dog's Life," Miramar's<br />
initial filmmaking try, slated to go into work<br />
this month on location in Michigan. Young<br />
Lloyd—he's only 18—will play the comedy role<br />
without glasses. It's his second screen assignment,<br />
by the way, he having made his screen<br />
debut in Samuel Goldwyn's "With All My<br />
Love."<br />
Miramar's top personnel includes Producer<br />
Ray Pierson, Director Harold Erickson and<br />
Edward Greening, midwestern industrialist.<br />
Meantime another new independent—Ventura<br />
Pictures, set up by Producer Frank Melford<br />
and Megaphonist John Rawlins—plans<br />
a late September start on "The Boy From Indiana,"<br />
first of three to be made for Eagle<br />
Lion release. It will star Lon McCallister.<br />
Over Columbia way. Actor Robert Cummings<br />
secured a release for "The Glass Heart,"<br />
based on the Marty Holland novel, which he<br />
will not only produce but essay the starring<br />
role<br />
therein.<br />
And Playwright-Scenarist Philip Yordan,<br />
bagging the screen rights to "Big Blonde,"<br />
the Dorothy Parker short story, asked for and<br />
received a release from a pending 20th-Century-Fox<br />
commitment in order to devote full<br />
attention to developing the Parker property<br />
as an independently made film. He'll launch<br />
production on it after winding up a writing<br />
assignment for Samuel Goldwyn.<br />
MGM Inks Thorpe to Meg<br />
Words'<br />
"Three Little<br />
MGM assigned Richard Thorpe to direct<br />
"Three Little Words," film version of the careers<br />
of Songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry<br />
Ruby . . . Blake Edwards is scripting the<br />
Warner remake of Ring Lardner's "Elmer the<br />
Great," to star Jack Carson . . . William Berke<br />
will meg "Operation Haylift," to be produced<br />
for Lippert Productions by Actor Joe Sawyer<br />
. . . RKO set Steve Fisher to script "Roadblock,"<br />
which is on Alex Gottlieb's production<br />
slate . . . Phil Ford is megging the Monte<br />
Hale oater, "Pioneer Marshal," for Republic.<br />
Seven Stories Purchased;<br />
U-I Buys Three Yarns<br />
still plugging along at a steady pace was<br />
the story market, with Universal-International—embarking<br />
on a literary spree by<br />
purchasing three properties—accounting for<br />
nearly half of the total of seven sales. To<br />
U-I went "Pauline Cushman," a Civil War<br />
spy story by Sam Shaw, being scripted by<br />
Gerald Adams for Producer Aaron Rosenberg;<br />
"Flame Blue Glove," murder mystery<br />
by Lois Eby and John C. Fleming, also for<br />
Rosenberg; and "Yangtse Pirate," by Herbert<br />
Margolis and Louis Morheim. Ted Richmond<br />
will produce it . . . Harry Tugend sold<br />
By<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
his original musical, "I'll Get By," to 20th<br />
Century-Fox and was set to develop the<br />
screenplay for production by William Perlberg.<br />
It'll be in Technicolor . . . Actor Louis<br />
Hayward went for "Dick Turpin Rides to<br />
York," by Jack DeWitt and Duncan Renaldo,<br />
and plans to produce and star in it, probably<br />
Film rights to "Flame," upcoming<br />
in England . . .<br />
magazine serial by George W. George<br />
and George F. Slavin, went to F>roducer Jack<br />
Schwarz for his independent slate . . . "Gaunt<br />
Woman," a screenplay by Dale Van Every<br />
based on a novel by Edmund Gilligan, was<br />
purchased by RKO Radio. It concerns a<br />
Gloucester fisherman and is localed in the<br />
Grand Banks area of the North Atlantic.<br />
Thomas and Schwarz Deny<br />
Report of Splitting Up<br />
ain't so—the repdrt that Harry Thomas<br />
It<br />
and Jack Schwarz, the head men of Equity<br />
Pictures, were splitting up. each to go his<br />
separate way. At least, so say Messrs. Thomas<br />
and Schwarz, who ought to know.<br />
Instead, Thomas and Schwarz—who have<br />
produced 11 films to date for Eagle Lion release—point<br />
out that that they are broadening<br />
their activities, with Equity Pictures continuing<br />
to function with EL as the distributor,<br />
while the producers also will make independent<br />
pictures on their own. Equity will<br />
continue to make pictures based on the "Red<br />
Ryder" comic strip, starring Jim Bannon;<br />
Schwarz, who recently completed "Forbidden<br />
Jungle," will turn out six others during the<br />
coming year under his own banner, and<br />
Thomas, who has just returned from New<br />
York, is formulating production plans which<br />
will be announced later.<br />
MGM Casts Richard Carlson<br />
In 'King Solomon's Mines'<br />
Among morsels of casting news during the<br />
period was the booking of Richard Carlson<br />
by MGM for one of the male leads opposite<br />
Deborah Kerr in "King Solomon's Mines,"<br />
due to roll on location in Africa later this<br />
fall . . . Evelyn Keyes was handed the stellar<br />
femme role in the Columbia semidocumentary,<br />
"The Killer That Stalked New York" .<br />
Lynne Roberts will be Tim Holt's leading<br />
lady in "Dynamite Trail" over at RKO Radio<br />
to a term ticket by Producer Hal<br />
Wallis, Francoise Rosay, French character<br />
actress, will journey to Hollywood for a role<br />
in "September," new Wallis entry for Paramount<br />
release . . . Jeff Chandler, a comparative<br />
screen newcomer, will co-star with<br />
Marta Toren in Universal-International's<br />
"Deported," which will be filmed in Italy . . .<br />
Edward Norris joined the cast of "The Wolf<br />
Hunters" at Monogram.<br />
U-I Signs Aubrey Schenck<br />
To Long-Term Contract<br />
Aubrey Schenck, formerly with 20th Century-Fox<br />
and for the past several years an<br />
executive producer at Eagle Lion, has joined<br />
Universal-International as a producer on a<br />
long-term ticket. Unassigned as yet, his last<br />
chore was the EL entry, "Port of New York,"<br />
not yet released.<br />
'Dr.<br />
Freud' Biography<br />
On 20th-Fox Docket<br />
Come to ponder on it, it's odd that<br />
while Cinemania was going through its<br />
lengthy cycle of celluloid devoted to<br />
psychology, psychiatry and related subjects—a<br />
cycle which, at this writing,<br />
appears to have tapered off pretty well<br />
nobody ever bobbed up with the notion of<br />
doing a picture about the man who had<br />
so much to do with the development of<br />
those sciences.<br />
That oversight is at long last being<br />
remedied by 20th Century-Fox with the<br />
announcement that "Dr. Freud." a biography<br />
of the eminent psychiatrist, has<br />
been added to its upcoming schedule, with<br />
Julian Blaustein assigned to produce. The<br />
screenplay is being written by Charles<br />
Kaufman, but the choice of an actor for<br />
the title role is being delayed until the<br />
return of Headman Darryl F. Zanuck<br />
from his current European tour.<br />
Paramount Lists 20 Films<br />
Completed or on Stages<br />
Backlogs, backlogs. Everybody's thinking<br />
about backlogs.<br />
Comes now Paramount, as 1949 approaches<br />
its last quarter, with a tally of 20 pictures<br />
completed or before the cameras, eight ol<br />
them to go into distribution before the end<br />
of the year and the remainder an assurance<br />
of a steady flow of product well into 1950.<br />
Already in pre-release engagements are<br />
"Top O' the Morning," with Bing Crosby, and<br />
the Hal Wallis production. "Rope of Sand."<br />
These will be followed, ere the old year<br />
passes, by another Wallis opus, "My Friend<br />
Irma"; "Song of Surrender," with Wanda<br />
Hendrix and Claude Rains; Alan Ladd in<br />
"Chicago Deadline"; "Red, Hot and Blue,"<br />
starring Betty Hutton; "The Heiress," with<br />
Olivia DeHavilland; and Bob Hope in "The<br />
Great Lover."<br />
The advent of 1950 will be the signal for<br />
distributing other completed product including<br />
"Dear Wife," two Wallis Productions—"Bitter<br />
Victory" and "The File on Thelma Jordon"<br />
Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
"After Midnight," "Copper Canyon," "Riding<br />
High," "Sunset Boulevard," "The Lie," 'Taney<br />
Pants," "Let's Dance" and "United States<br />
Mail." The latter three are currently in production.<br />
A Record of 150 Westerns<br />
For Johnny Mack Brown<br />
One hundred and fifty—yep, count 'em,<br />
150—westerns is a powerful lot of sagebrushers<br />
in which to have ridden thataway, pardner.<br />
Achieving that impressive record is Johnny<br />
Mack Brown, who has been ridin' the Monogram<br />
range for several years, and who hit<br />
the 150-picture mark with the recent completion<br />
of "Western Renegades." To commemorate<br />
the milestone, the cast and crew<br />
of the picture presented Brown with a miniature<br />
silver-studded saddle for his trophy<br />
room. A former All-American grid star,<br />
Brown entered films some two decades ago<br />
and since 1940 has been featured predominantly<br />
in western fare.<br />
BOXOFHCE September 17, 1949 19
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FAIRMOUNT,<br />
W.VA.<br />
SPRINGFIELD, 0.<br />
WHEELING<br />
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CHARLESTON<br />
Every new "Roseanna" opening<br />
'the real McCoy when it comes to<br />
sensational boxoHice performance!<br />
...Scores of theatres reporting<br />
grosses from 200% to 400% over<br />
average... Many reporting top business for months and months,<br />
and some hitting new all-time highs!...Watch the openings this<br />
week and next, of the sensational show that brings that wonderful<br />
''Roseanna" glow to boxoffice business everywhere!<br />
\<br />
ROSEANNA McCOY<br />
starring<br />
FARLEY GRANGER • CHARLES BICKFORD<br />
RICHARD BASEHART • GIGI PERREAU<br />
and introducing JOAN EVANS<br />
Directed by IRVING REIS<br />
• RAYMOND MASSEY<br />
• Screeopby by JoHd ColUer • Director of Photogr«phy Lee G«rmes^ AAC<br />
Distributed by RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC<br />
mm^m
Look for the Silver Lining' (WB)<br />
Wins August Blue Ribbon Award<br />
By VELMA WEST SYKES<br />
QNE of those tuneiul screen biographies, "Look for the Silver Lining," a Warner Bros.<br />
picture, is the August winner of the BOXOPPICE Blue Ribbon Award. National Screen<br />
Council members selected it as the family film release of the month, thus paying tribute<br />
to June Haver and Ray Bolger's teamwork with Gordon MacRae. With the revival of vaudeville<br />
over the country, this Technicolor film with vaudeville touches fits into the entertainment<br />
mood of the moment. It is Warners' second Blue Ribbon picture for the 1948-49<br />
season, its last winner being "Johnny Belinda," an entirely different type of film, for November.<br />
Based on the life of musical comedy star Marilyn Miller, the story is symbolic of<br />
the period rather than an accurate biographical sketch.<br />
RAY BOLGER CALLS A LITTLE GIRL OUT OF THE AU-<br />
DIENCE TO DANCE WITH HIM, STARTING HER CAREER<br />
As reviewed in BOXOFFICE for July 2,<br />
"Look for the Silver Lining" gets this appraisal:<br />
"Down through the years, screen<br />
biographies of departed greats of the theatre's<br />
golden era have proven reliable to win critical<br />
acclaim and audience satisfaction and shekels<br />
—with Warner Bros, to the forefront of the<br />
more successful projectors of such fare.<br />
Seldom, if ever, before have the Burbank<br />
Brudern—or any other film-makers, for that<br />
matter—concocted a picture of that ilk more<br />
convincingly, ingratiatingly or entertainingly."<br />
The review goes on later to say, "the feature's<br />
every frame oozes promise of top profits."<br />
That this is true is told by the Barometer<br />
gross average from 21 key cities, which scored<br />
129 playing at the duU season of the theatre<br />
year.<br />
Impressed by Beauty<br />
Of the three principal actors, only Ray<br />
Bolger has been a Blue Ribbon winner before,<br />
both his other Plaques being earned in 1939.<br />
For June Haver and Gordon MacRae these<br />
are firsts. Of the production staff, this is the<br />
second for Producer William Jacobs, the<br />
sixth for Director David Butler and the eighth<br />
for Musical Director LeRoy Prinz. Others<br />
will receive their first Plaques.<br />
Screen Council members commenting on<br />
their post card ballots about the winning film<br />
seemed to be impressed with its beauty. "This<br />
is a delightful treat," wrote Genevieve Hackett,<br />
Kansas City, motion picture chairman of<br />
the D.C.C.W. "It has everything—beauty,<br />
music, color, dancing and an excellent cast.<br />
Ray Bolger is tops."<br />
Elaine A. Drooz of WABY, Albany, comments<br />
on a trend:<br />
"We are going back to musicals that have<br />
always ranked high. This has some plot<br />
much good music, and some excellent production<br />
numbers."<br />
And here's interesting news:<br />
"The audience reaction on 'Look for the<br />
Silver Lining' was terrific. We have had<br />
many phone calls requesting another run."—<br />
H. B. Schuessler, Rome (Ga.) News and Lam<br />
Amusement Co.<br />
"Briefly, this picture had everything from<br />
an entertaining standpoint—fine theme, good<br />
acting, and it was wholesome, too. My family<br />
joins me in saying, 'It's a great picture.' "<br />
Anne Hayes, KCMO, Kansas City.<br />
"This is an entertaining production enriched<br />
by hauntingly lovely music, exquisite<br />
dancing, fine dramatic values, and beautiful<br />
Technicolor. It is too good to miss the family<br />
rating."—Mrs. Wm. A. Burk, S. Calif. Motion<br />
Picture Council, Los Angeles.<br />
Eastern Committee, G. F. W. C:<br />
"Threaded with the music of the title song<br />
and full of enchanting lyrics of the past, flashbacks<br />
take one through the early vaudeville<br />
days of Marilyn Miller and, later, highlight the<br />
succeeding theatrical successes in which she<br />
was the beloved sweetheart of Broadway. June<br />
Haver plays the part of Miss Miller with winsome<br />
ease and grace, and Ray Bolger displays<br />
his inimitable and dashing agility as a dancer<br />
in the role of her friend Jack Donohue. The<br />
production is staged in magnificent Technicolor,<br />
and in spite of a few sad moments is<br />
lavish with gaiety and verve—an exemplification<br />
of the adage that 'the show must go on.'<br />
The Jerome Kern-Youmans-Herbert-Hammerstein<br />
tunes, joyous and lilting, will send<br />
audiences away humming the old-time favorites,<br />
and should make a newer generation more<br />
receptive to sweet, restful music. Family."<br />
Marilyn Miller June Haver<br />
Jack Donohue<br />
Ray Bolger<br />
Frank Carter<br />
Gordon MacRae<br />
Pop Miller<br />
Charlie Ruggles<br />
Mom Miller<br />
Rosemary DeCamp<br />
Claire Miller<br />
Lee Wilde<br />
Ruth Miller<br />
Lynn Wilde<br />
The Cast<br />
Production Stafi<br />
Executive Producer Jack L. Warner<br />
Produced by<br />
William Jacobs<br />
Directed by David Butler<br />
Screenplay bj/....Phoebe and Henry Ephron,<br />
Marian Spitzer<br />
Story by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby<br />
Photographed by. ...Peverell Marley, A. B.C.<br />
Art Director<br />
John Hughes<br />
Film editor Irene Morra<br />
Sound by Francis J. Scheid,<br />
David Forrest<br />
O<br />
.-.<br />
Henry Doran<br />
Dick Simmons<br />
Shendorff S. Z. Sakall<br />
Himself Walter Catlett<br />
Ballet Specialty<br />
George Zoritch,<br />
Gleg Tupine<br />
Violet ^ Lillian Yarbo<br />
Mr. Beeman<br />
Paul E. Burns<br />
Doctor<br />
Douglas Kennedy<br />
Dialog Director Herschel Daugherty<br />
Technical Adviser<br />
....Mecca Graham<br />
Technicolor Director Natalie Kalmus<br />
Associate<br />
Mitchell Kovaleski<br />
Set Decorator F^ed M. MacLean<br />
Gowns by<br />
Travilla<br />
Men's Costumes by Marjorie Best<br />
Makeup Artist<br />
Perc Westmore<br />
Musical Numbers staged and directed<br />
by<br />
LeRoy Prinz<br />
Musical Direction<br />
Ray Heindorf<br />
This Award is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstandinii merit<br />
and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, radio<br />
film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational organizations.
RIBBON<br />
AWARD<br />
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"LOOK FOR<br />
THE SILVER<br />
LINING"<br />
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No Unanimty on Duals,<br />
Pete Wood Learns<br />
COLUMBUS, OHIO—When Al Lichtman,<br />
vice-president of 20th Century-Fox, came out<br />
against double features recently, Pete Wood,<br />
secretary of Independent Theatre Owners of<br />
Ohio, decided to find out what sales executives<br />
of other distributing companies thought<br />
about the twin bill policy. There was no<br />
unanimity on the subject.<br />
A. Montague, Columbia's general sales manager,<br />
said that the "decision as to whether<br />
or not double bills are necessary is one that<br />
rests purely in the laps of the men who own<br />
and operate theatres. If theatres want to<br />
run double features we do not intend to<br />
interfere with their policy; and, on the other<br />
hand, if they do not want to run double bills<br />
we will be glad to serve them on a single<br />
feature basis."<br />
"Personally," Montague remarked, "I think<br />
distributors have talked too much about<br />
whether or not double features are a menace.<br />
I believe it is purely an exhibitor's problem,<br />
if it be a problem at all."<br />
Paul Lazarus jr., assistant to the president<br />
of United Artists, said that his company is<br />
"diametrically opposed to the dissipation of<br />
top product by the showing of two top features<br />
together."<br />
"But," he added, "there is no point in taking<br />
an ostrich-like attitude. The double feature<br />
is here, evidently to stay. Our opposition<br />
to the showing of two top-bracket films<br />
together does not conversely mean that we<br />
favor the showing of what you call "trashy"<br />
films. It must be realized, I think, that no<br />
producer starts out to make a bad picture.<br />
Some pictures turn out better than others.<br />
The exhibition phase of the industry has a<br />
responsibility, however, to production to lessen<br />
the pain of the less successful production<br />
efforts. In this way, therefore, there is<br />
a beneficial aspect to the second feature."<br />
As for A. W. Schwalberg jr., vice-president<br />
and general sales manager of Paramount, the<br />
double feature "is like the tariff," or any<br />
other political issue dragged through the<br />
years—no decision is reached.<br />
His personal viewpoint is that a show<br />
should consist of one good feature and a<br />
number of balanced shorts, including a<br />
newsreel. "It is quite apparent, however,<br />
that a vast majority of theatre customers<br />
prefer the two-picture deal. There are a<br />
great many people who feel as I do. Yet,<br />
during the course of my contacts with exhibitors,<br />
they maintain that any time they<br />
tried to run a single feature show, the results<br />
were unsatisfactory. My own feeling is that<br />
it is going to become increasingly difficult<br />
to maintain the double feature pattern."<br />
Schwalberg said that production costs made<br />
it necessary—at least at Paramount—to eliminate<br />
the so-called little picture, and he assumes<br />
that other companies are facing the<br />
same problem.<br />
Pittsburgh Tops Branches<br />
In Astor Sales Campaign<br />
NEW YORK—Pittsburgh is leading the<br />
Astor Pictures exchanges and franchise holders<br />
in the Bob Savini 45th Anniversary Drive<br />
which will end September 30. Minneapolis<br />
is in second place, Philadelphia is third and<br />
Cleveland in fourth place with Boston, Canada<br />
and New York City trailing.<br />
Savini, president of Astor Pictures, has returned<br />
from an extended trip of exchanges<br />
to discuss the new product as well as the<br />
reissues starring Bill Elliott, the East Side<br />
Kids and Bela Lugosi. He went as far west<br />
as California, Washington and Oregon. ^<br />
TWA Exploits RKO Short<br />
NEW YORK—Transcontinental<br />
& Western<br />
Air, Inc., is cooperating with RKO in<br />
the exploitation of the RKO Pathe short,<br />
"Airline Glamour Girls," The one-reeler<br />
highlights the career of a TWA air hostess.<br />
Theatre<br />
Construction,<br />
Openings and Sales<br />
CONSTRUCTION:<br />
Bointree. Mass.—Ground broken for construction of<br />
open air tfieatre.<br />
Dallas, Tex.—Construction begun on $85,000 tlieatre<br />
lor Jerry Jobe.<br />
Edmonton, Alia.—6Q0-seat Odeon Theatre under<br />
construction for Isadore SftcJker.<br />
Edmonton, Alta. — Avenue Theatre in planning<br />
stages for Odeon Theatres.<br />
Legal, Alta.—Legal Theatre, 500 seats, under way<br />
by Arthur Lamarche.<br />
Notwalk, Ohio—$80,000, 500-001- drive-in under construction.<br />
Plattsburg, N. Y.— Nev/ drive-in under construction.<br />
Presque Isle, Me.—Ground broken for construction<br />
ol new theatre for Charles Brooks.<br />
Raymondville, Tex.—Work to begin soon on construction<br />
of 600-car drive-in for R. N. Smitli, with<br />
Jack Corrigan set as architect.<br />
Roswell, N. M.—New drive-in to be built by World<br />
Theatrical Enterprises.<br />
Troy, Ala.—Plans under jvay for construction of<br />
300-cctr drive-in for new company headed by Marvin<br />
H. Carter, president.<br />
Uvalde, Tex.—400-car drive-in under way for Jack<br />
Pickens.<br />
Williston. N. D.—Snyder Theatre Co. constructing<br />
800-seat, $150,000 theatre.<br />
OPENINGS:<br />
Albany. N. Y.—Town Hall Theatre, 750 seats, $160,-<br />
000. designed by M. J. DeAngelis, architect, opened<br />
by Ernie Wolfe.<br />
Beatrice. Neb.—Holly Theatre reopened alter renovations.<br />
, , T i_.<br />
Boston. Mass.—Avon Drive-In opened by Interstate<br />
Theatres.<br />
Bumside. Conn.—Morris Keppner opened new Burnside<br />
Theatre.<br />
Cleveland, Ohio—Lake Theatre. 1,600 seats, opened<br />
by Associated Theatres.<br />
Cleveland. Ohio—Madison Theatre, 1,600 seats,<br />
$500,000, opened by P. E. Essick and Howard Reif of<br />
the Modern circuit.<br />
Collins, Iowa—Collins Theatre opened by R. L.<br />
Johnson.<br />
Detroit, Mich.—Chopin Theatre reopened.<br />
Magnolia. Ark.—Cameo Theatre, 700 seats, opened<br />
by Robb & Rowley.<br />
Memphis. Tenn.—Fourth Street Drive-In, 300 cars,<br />
opened by Ed Blair.<br />
New Haven. Conn.—440-seal Avon Theatre reopened<br />
by Fred Dandio and Tony Terrazano.<br />
Now Haven. Conn.—Lords Baltic, 410-seat renovated<br />
house, reopened byi Edward Lord.<br />
Shawnee, Kas.—Aztec Theatre reopened after remodeling<br />
by Dickinson Theatres, Inc.<br />
Shenandoah. Iowa—Mayfair Theatre opened by<br />
Virgil Harbison.<br />
, „ u<br />
Suring, Wis.—Suring Theatre opened by the Bertch<br />
family.<br />
Swan River. Man.—Crescent Theatre, 400 seats,<br />
opened by Conrad Auguston.<br />
Tumwater. Wash.—Sunset Drive-In opened by A.<br />
L. Berg and F. S. Miller.<br />
Nafional Popcorn Crop Above Par<br />
But Somewhat Down From 1948<br />
KANSAS CITY—The 1949 crop of popcorn<br />
will start moving to elevators before the end<br />
of the month, to be shelled, graded, bagged<br />
or canned and merohandised. The- national<br />
crop is reported better than the average for<br />
the last ten years but somewhat down from<br />
last year's big yield, due partially to the<br />
fact that some popcorn is still on hand from<br />
the big 1948 crop.<br />
The harvest of Missouri and Kansas popcorn<br />
will be under way shortly, and will be<br />
on its way to elevators in North Kansas City-<br />
Tarkio, Mo., by October 1. It is already under<br />
way in Texas and the harvest is moving<br />
northward through Oklahoma. It will wind<br />
up in Illinois and Ohio. The states mentioned<br />
are the top producers, but some popcorn<br />
comes from Colorado, Indiana. Tennessee,<br />
Kentucky and Nebraska.<br />
Charles G. Manley, vice-president of Manley,<br />
Inc., said approximiately 100,000 acres is<br />
24<br />
planted in popcorn in the U.S. "That's a<br />
mighty small acreage for any crop," he said,<br />
"so the farmers all have their crops contracted<br />
by elevators before it is even planted.<br />
There is no government control on the crop<br />
but there is a pretty sharply defined hmit<br />
on demand."<br />
Top production this year will come from<br />
either Iowa or Illinois, he said. There's between<br />
15,000 and 20,000 acres planted in the<br />
two states, and the final production figures<br />
will not be known until the end of November.<br />
"Here in Missouri," Manley said, "we are<br />
going to be pretty happy about the popcorn<br />
crop. We will get more bushels than last<br />
year and from less acreage. It has been a<br />
wonderful growing season."<br />
A good average yield is 1,800 pounds an<br />
acre and on the basis of 100,000 acres under<br />
cultivation the 1949 production can hit 180,-<br />
000,000 pounds.<br />
SALES:<br />
Diagonal. Iowa—Diagonal Theatre sold to Clyde<br />
Hicks by Chamber of Commerce.<br />
EUwood City. Pa.— Blue Sky Drive-In sold to John<br />
FcAforite and Joe Glorioso by John Wincek and Albert<br />
R. Tate.<br />
Gronlsburg, Wis.—Grand Theatre by Joe Murray<br />
to Sidney Sigerson.<br />
Moron. Tex.—Capital Theatre to R. E. Blailock by<br />
V. E. Davis.<br />
,<br />
Limon, Colo.—£actus Theatre to Sam Feinslein and<br />
Charles McCarthy by Roy Steele.<br />
South Lyons. Mich.—Lyons Theatre to Rex Kinne<br />
by Edward C. Carrow.<br />
Springfield. Mo.—Granada Theatre sold to Dickinson<br />
Theatres, Inc., by Harry Neal.<br />
Springfield. Mo.— Dickinson Theatres, Inc., purchased<br />
the Tower Theatre from Wayne Frederick.<br />
Warner Bros. Distribute<br />
'Task Force' Brochure<br />
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, has prepared<br />
an eight-page brochui-e on "Task Force,"<br />
starring Gary Cooper, which includes official<br />
U.S. navy auxraft carrier photographs as well<br />
as scenes from the film. Comments are supplied<br />
by Adm. Louis Denfield, chief of naval<br />
operations; Adm. C. T. Durgin, deputy chief<br />
of naval air operations, and Adm. W. P.<br />
Halsey, retired.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
'<br />
Ede;<br />
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
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Jack Hamilton, who recently endorsed<br />
our 40 Club idea, has one of<br />
his own which is making new paitrons<br />
for the 9W Drive-In at Kingston,<br />
N. Y. Cued from the first letters<br />
of "The woman is requested to<br />
pay," Hamilton introduced a "Twirp"<br />
season, publicized through a series<br />
of ads in cartoon style. On Twirp<br />
nights, men are admitted to the theatre<br />
free when accompanied by a<br />
woman, but it's the woman who pays<br />
for her admission and the federal<br />
tax on her escort's admittance.<br />
It's a takeoff on a popular Leap<br />
year promotion and a reverse slant<br />
on Ladies day at the ball parks. At<br />
any rate, Ha
Tieups<br />
With Noted Racing Figures<br />
Help 'Dan Patch' in Pacer Country<br />
Shown above is the miniature race track window display originated by lohn S. Falco to promote<br />
"The Great Dan Patch." The toy horses were borrowed Irom a local harness racing<br />
enthusiast, and an art;st drew the track, the grandstand, fence and theatre signs.<br />
Letter-Writing Contest<br />
Assists 'Summertime'<br />
A contest, promoted with the cooperation<br />
of the local newspaper, helped "In the Good<br />
Old Summer Time." Bill Frlese, manager of<br />
the Rivoli, La Crosse, Wis., invited fans to<br />
select their favorite tune from the picture<br />
score and submit letters explaining why it<br />
was the writer's favorite in 20 words or less.<br />
Frlese promoted 12 record albums for winners<br />
and gave additional runnersup free<br />
theatre tickets.<br />
26<br />
John S. Falco, manager of the State, Beloit,<br />
Wis., capitahzed on the longtime love<br />
of horses and harness racing in this area<br />
in this campaign for "The Great Dan Patch,"<br />
with help from some of the area's most noted<br />
racing figures.<br />
Falco arranged for Charley Smith, veteran<br />
horse trainer, who actually saw Dan Patch<br />
make some of his record races, to harness one<br />
of his best pacers to a sulky and parade the<br />
downtown streets the Friday preceding opening<br />
and the opening Saturday morning.<br />
He arranged with Miss Dixon, local owner<br />
of harness horses, to use eight toy horses and<br />
riders which she secured at various fairs and<br />
races, in a window display that attracted the<br />
attention of all passersby. A sign artist made<br />
up a track on a showcard, drew a grandstand<br />
and fence and put theatre and playdates on<br />
the card. Falco placed the toy pacers and<br />
trotters on the track simulating an actual<br />
race, with the black horse, depicting Dan<br />
Patch, paced as lead horse. Pictures of Joe<br />
Patchem, sire of Dan Patch, and the famous<br />
racer, also were borrowed from the Dixons<br />
and placed in the window with appropriate<br />
cards.<br />
From the Victory Acres farm, Falco promoted<br />
a personal appearance by Victory<br />
Patch, great granddaughter of the pacer. A<br />
white stall was made for the lobby and a<br />
pedigree was posted. Special boxes at the<br />
top of the preopening and opening day newspaper<br />
ads called attention to the filly's appearance.<br />
The names of 110 persons who bought tickets<br />
to see the harness races in Elkhorn were obtained.<br />
They were sent a penny post card<br />
good for one admission as special guests of<br />
the management during the showing of the<br />
film. Response was excellent, Falco said,<br />
and the goodwill it created among horselovers<br />
was inestimable.<br />
On the Saturday preceding the opening a<br />
radio was placed on the sidewalk and the<br />
races at Elkhorn were broadcast to passing<br />
shoppers. Spot announcements in front of<br />
and in back of the one-hour program were<br />
purchased by the theatre to plug "Dan Patch."<br />
A lobby display offered "actual scenes of<br />
the greatest harness racer of them all." Behind<br />
the display board was a 35mm slide projector<br />
which automatically fed 17 different<br />
scenes obtained from splicing the trailer on<br />
the film. A date strip was injected into the<br />
machine and the display paid off since holdout<br />
crowds watched the miniature show while<br />
waiting for seats. Falco promoted the equipment<br />
from a local camera store.<br />
Harness racing equipment, promoted from<br />
a local distributor, was grouped into a display<br />
over the concession stand. Window<br />
cards were distributed, folded flyers were<br />
stuffed into Sunday newspapers and extra<br />
space was promoted from sports editor of the<br />
local paper to aid the promotion stunt.<br />
Sand Display in Window<br />
Helps 'Sword in Desert'<br />
A window guessing contest helped highlight<br />
the booking of "Sword in the Desert" for Lou<br />
Cohen, manager of the Poll Theatre, Hartford,<br />
Conn. A large punch bowl filled with<br />
sand was displayed in the window of a downtown<br />
five and dime store. Passersby and<br />
store customers were invited to guess the<br />
weight of the sand, with free<br />
theatre tickets<br />
as a stimulant for their curiosity and accuracy.<br />
— 308 —<br />
Visiting Sea Cadets<br />
Furnish Tiein Plug<br />
For 'Down to Sea'<br />
The Famous Players Paramount in Halifax,<br />
N. S., went all-out on promotion for<br />
"Down to the Sea in Ships" with the total<br />
cost of the exploitation amounting to $2,<br />
which was spent to hire an extra man to<br />
watch the nightly lineup of customers.<br />
Starting within the house with a display<br />
of a ton and a half of relics and showpieces<br />
loaned by local supply dealers, the campaign<br />
was highlighted by a tiein with a parade<br />
of 100 visiting sea cadets from Britain<br />
and Sweden.<br />
Everything from a needle to an anchor<br />
filled the lobby, giving any landlubber an<br />
eyeful of the days when iron men sailed<br />
wooden ships. The entire staff was dressed<br />
in dungarees, sou'westers, sweaters and oil<br />
skins. The girls at the refreshment bar were<br />
dressed as galley cooks, the doorman was an<br />
admiral and the cashier was the skipper.<br />
Signal flags proclaimed the film and the<br />
black sou'westers were lettered in white with<br />
the title. A youth dressed in seagoing garb<br />
paraded around with the title painted on<br />
his chest and back.<br />
The Navy league paraded through the city<br />
accompanied by a band and the sea cadets.<br />
Leading the parade were two Paramount<br />
usherettes in their regular uniforms and<br />
carrying a banner which read, "The Paramount<br />
Theatre welcomes a group of lads<br />
who go 'Down to the Sea In Ships'." The<br />
parade ended at the front door of the theatre<br />
where the mayor of Halifax welcomed the<br />
visitors and the naval chief of staff delivered<br />
an official naval welcome. The two addresses<br />
were carried by station CJCH and<br />
newspaper representatives gave the whole affair<br />
a big play, with special mention of the<br />
Paramount.<br />
At the conclusion ot the parade, the cadets<br />
were Invited into the picture and the crowd<br />
followed, leaving standing room only.<br />
Assistant Manager Don HoUoway was in<br />
charge of the stunt, with Manager Freeman<br />
Skinner cooperating on details.<br />
Dictaohone Tieup Starts<br />
'Top O' the Morning' Talk<br />
with the cooperation of the local dictaphone<br />
distributor in Kansas City, Babe Cohn,<br />
manager of the Paramount, arranged an effective<br />
lobby display on "Top O' the Morning."<br />
A Dictaphone Time Master was installed<br />
in the lobby along with an operator<br />
furnished at the expense of the distributor,<br />
and patrons were invited to send a "Top O'<br />
the Morning" greeting to a veteran in any<br />
local hospital. Stunt provided a public service<br />
gesture that had people talking about the<br />
picture far In advance of opening.<br />
Palms Used in False Front<br />
Real palm leaves added an authentic touch<br />
to the front of the Mission Theatre in Santa<br />
Barbara, Calif., during the running of<br />
"Daughter of the Jungle." The decorative<br />
scheme, which included murals of palm leaves<br />
across the front and surrounding the attraction<br />
boards, was carried out by Douglas Lace,<br />
assistant to Norman W. Lofthus at the Mission.<br />
The real palms completely covered the<br />
boxoffice and formed an edge for the two<br />
front attraction boards.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Sept. 17, 1949<br />
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Superstitions Used<br />
In Mystic Picture<br />
Bally in England<br />
H. Clayton-Nutt, manager of the Broad-<br />
)way Cinema, Eccles, Lanes., England, played<br />
on the superstitions of people to promote<br />
"Silent Dust," a picture dealing with Egyptian<br />
mystics.<br />
Three thousand envelopes were imprinted<br />
with "This may bring you luck. The ancient<br />
Egyptians thought it would bring one luck<br />
to carry sand in a wallet upon one's person.<br />
Enclosed is some sand in the hope you may<br />
have luck whilst carrying it around. Open<br />
this package on or before Saturday." A small<br />
quantity of sand was enclosed in each envelope<br />
along with a slip of paper imprinted,<br />
"You are lucky to be reminded of 'Silent<br />
Dust' and will be unlucky if you miss seeing<br />
it at the Broadway Cinema, etc." On the reverse<br />
side, copy read: "This is where you can<br />
be really lucky. Send a post card to the<br />
manager of the Broadway Cinema, telling the<br />
story of any stroke of luck you may have<br />
experienced since you received this package<br />
of sand. Free complimentary tickets will be<br />
awarded to those submitting the best stories."<br />
Clayton-Nutt reports that the stunt caused<br />
quite a bit of talk, created interest and<br />
helped to focus attention on the film. Many<br />
responses and comments were received from<br />
patrons, and one lady informed him that she<br />
had sent her package of sand to a little boy<br />
at a vacation resort.<br />
Paramount in New York<br />
Hails Fall Hits in Lobby<br />
In the most elaborate advance lobby display<br />
in its history, the Paramount Theatre<br />
in New York is boosting coming attractions<br />
for the company's latest lineup of films. Running<br />
the entire length of the 90-foot grand<br />
lobby, the display comprises 12 specially constructed<br />
shadowboxes measuring 9x6 feet<br />
which run parallel on either side of the lobby<br />
and flank an advance display which measures<br />
30x8 feet above the arch at the head of the<br />
lobby. Each of the individual pieces are of<br />
three-dimensional scope and are illuminated<br />
by fluorescent lighting. The frames are hand<br />
carved and decorated with gold leaf.<br />
The display, suggested by Paramount publicity<br />
director Jack Mclnerney, was designed<br />
by Hal Pereira and executed by Max Fine<br />
Signs.<br />
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Stores in Lexington, Ky.,<br />
Give Generously to 'Oz'<br />
Five local stores tied up with John Hutchings,<br />
manager of the Ben Ali Theatre, Lexington,<br />
Ky., to display merchandise and tiein<br />
copy on "The Wizard of Oz." One window<br />
was completely devoted to a display of "Wizard<br />
of Oz" books and a large credit card.<br />
Kresge's played up the music angle in its display<br />
and also used a credit card on the counter<br />
of the music department.<br />
Joyland pleasure park, home of the largest<br />
swimming pool in town, permitted the display<br />
of a poster at the entrance gate to the<br />
pool. The playdates were likewise plugged in<br />
each of Lexington's six organized playgrounds.<br />
Gratis plugs were received from the Man<br />
on the Street program and a local disk jockey<br />
played the hit tunes from the picture with<br />
credits.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 17, 1949<br />
Fabianites Run Gamut of Contests<br />
In 35 th Year Showmanship Drive<br />
Sparked by the offer of attractive prizes,<br />
managers of the 44 Fabian theatres in New<br />
York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, have delivered<br />
an array of promotion campaigns,<br />
tieins and publicity stunts throughout the<br />
month of August that will serve as a reminder<br />
of the circuit's 35th anniversary celebration<br />
for many months to come.<br />
An overall master plan for the showmanship<br />
campaign worked out by Edgar Goth,<br />
Fabian publicity and promotion director, and<br />
Sam Rosen, secretary-treasurer of<br />
the chain,<br />
included suggestions for managers on a wide<br />
variety of contests and tieins. Throughout<br />
the anniversary month, bulletins, carrying<br />
reports of various ideas used by Fabian managers,<br />
were issued.<br />
Most popular of the promotion managers<br />
carried out were contests, ranging all the<br />
way from beauty to skill in milking a goat,<br />
with local merchants furnishing prizes, with<br />
cooking schools, stage weddings, pie eating<br />
contests also being used by many.<br />
Manager George Kemp of the Paramount in<br />
Stapleton, N. Y., promoted an all-expense<br />
vacation for two to Bermuda for the winner<br />
of a bathing beauty contest. Prizes included<br />
transportation via Colonial Airlines, plus a<br />
complete going-away outfit. Two other contests,<br />
patterned after suggestions sent out<br />
by Goth, were to choose a Tarzan and a<br />
Sweater girl. All costs incident to staging<br />
and selling these contests were paid for by<br />
the merchant sponsors.<br />
Every Wednesday evening the Paramount<br />
featured a teen-age jam session featuring local<br />
teen-age bands, which ranged from eightpiece<br />
to 22-piece aggregations. During three<br />
successive Tuesday evening programs, industrious<br />
Kemp engineered a Wild West jamboree<br />
with a local cowboy band of six and<br />
a community sing.<br />
Other stunts on the Paramount's calendar<br />
for August included a novelty attraction<br />
called the Battle of the Chords, with cham-<br />
pionship barber shop quartets competing, a<br />
contest to pick Staten Island's most popular<br />
sandlot baseball player, with 14 prizes promoted<br />
for the winner; a weight lifting contest,<br />
and flowers to the women patrons each<br />
Sunday.<br />
City Manager Earl Westbrook lined up contests<br />
to lure patrons to the Norva in Norfolk,<br />
Va., with each event having a separate sponsor.<br />
On the docket were an Apollo contest,<br />
a public wedding with a 12-day honeymoon<br />
to Bermuda as an inducement, a Breakfast<br />
in Hollywood program, a Miss Fabian Theatres<br />
contest and a Dodge car giveaway.<br />
In Harrisburg, Pa., Gerry Wollaston tied<br />
up with the Hotpoint distributor and the<br />
Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. for a cooking<br />
school. Four weekly matinees were devoted<br />
to the school with an admission charge.<br />
There were $1,500 in prizes and co-op ads.<br />
Schenectady Fabian houses tied in with a<br />
local store on a pony giveaway in connection<br />
with special cartoon shows.<br />
Although a subsequent run house, the Palace<br />
on Staten Island, N. Y., proved the type<br />
of the house doesn't matter when a little aggressive<br />
showmanship is applied. Highlighting<br />
the month, were the opening ceremonies<br />
which featured a salute to Fabian Theatres<br />
with a massing of colors by various veteran<br />
organizations, presentation of a bouquet by<br />
the board of trade to Mrs. DeHart, builder<br />
of the theatre, and introduction of surviving<br />
members of the Narragansett Minstrel show<br />
that opened the Palace 35 years ago and a<br />
personal appearance by film star Vera-Ellen.<br />
The Staten Island Drive-In took advantage<br />
of its space to hold a square dance every<br />
Saturday night with a professional caller and<br />
cash prizes.<br />
Also included in the campaign were many<br />
tributes to Si H. Fabian, head of the circuit,<br />
arranged by local managers and presented in<br />
ceremonies which were presided over, in<br />
many cases, by the mayors of the cities.<br />
BOXOFFICE NUGGETS<br />
A "barber shop quartet" contest held on<br />
the stage of Loew's Poll Theatre, Hartford,<br />
was conducted by Norman Levinson, assistant<br />
manager, in conjunction with "In the<br />
Good Old Summertime." The contestants,<br />
in white tonsorial get-up complete with<br />
flowing moustachios, sang in groups of four,<br />
and the winners were chosen by audience<br />
applause.<br />
Extensive merchant plugging with window<br />
and interior displays of records and sheetmusic<br />
publicize the event in advance, and<br />
Levinson reports a packed house the night<br />
of the contest.<br />
One hundred and fifty Empire Sea cadets<br />
and officers from the United Kingdom, New<br />
Zealand and Australia, who are touring Canada,<br />
were guests of Wannie Tyers, manager<br />
of the Odeon Theatre, Toronto, to see "Home<br />
of the Brave." The stunt rated extensive<br />
news breaks in the local press. The cadets<br />
marched from downtown Toronto to the<br />
Odeon and staged a drill in front of the theatre<br />
before going in to see the film.<br />
— 309 —<br />
In connection with the opening of Loew's<br />
New Show season. Matt Saunders, manager<br />
of Loew's Poll, Bridgeport, Conn., promoted<br />
a full page of art and publicity stories on<br />
future theatre bookings in the Bridgeport<br />
Sunday Post. The paper used scene mats<br />
from various coming attractions, star heads<br />
of popular Hollywood players w'ho will appear<br />
in these films, and ran a three-column story<br />
emphasizing the fine pictures which have<br />
been booked to play at the Poll.<br />
To plug the opening of the new Skyvue<br />
Drive-In, TEI City Manager Dave Dallas of<br />
Manhattan, Kas., sent out a post card addressed<br />
to every motor car owner in his<br />
county. The card stressed the fact that "the<br />
movies have been motorized and that Hollywood<br />
and Detroit had joined forces" to bring<br />
motorists the latest in entertainment. The<br />
card also was an invitation to visit the new<br />
drive-in, any Monday through Thursday<br />
night, as the circuit's guest.<br />
27
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The Technicolor spectacle you have been<br />
waiting for is now ready for its crosscountry<br />
day-and-date premiere on Columbus<br />
Day (October 12). Get in on this one!<br />
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Door County, Wis., Cherries Focus<br />
Interest in Pie-Eating Contest<br />
When a pie-eating contest attracts<br />
statewide attention and garners publicity<br />
in leading newspapers throughout the<br />
state, it becomes a bit more than just a<br />
theatre attraction. According to Herb<br />
Graefe, manager of the Door Theatre,<br />
Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the stunt originally<br />
was launched to serve as a civic and institutional<br />
device to focus attention on<br />
Door county, known as the greatest cherry<br />
producing area in the world.<br />
The campaign book received at the<br />
Showmandiser, which contains an unprecedented<br />
amount of newspaper publicity, including<br />
numerous front-page stories and<br />
photos, attests to the interest created over<br />
a wide area.<br />
There were several novel features connected<br />
with Graefe's idea. The contest<br />
was open to all children 12 years or under,<br />
and required that contenders register for<br />
the contest by filling out a blank published<br />
under the sponsorship of the Door<br />
County Advocate, and submit a 25-word<br />
slogan on why they like to eat cherry pie<br />
Free Drive-In Coupon<br />
Draws New Patrons<br />
To celebrate the first anniversary of the<br />
Twilite Drive-In at Saginaw, Mich., R. D.<br />
Ashmun, head of Ashmun Theatres circuit,<br />
offered a free admission coupon in newspaper<br />
advertising as an anniversary gift to<br />
patrons.<br />
Presented as "our anniversary gift to you,"<br />
the coupon idea brought much bigger attendance<br />
for the week and promoted a lot of goodwill<br />
among regular customers, Ashmim said.<br />
It also acquired many new customers who<br />
were not in the habit of attending the drivein.<br />
The coupon, plus federal tax, admitted the<br />
car and driver any night, Monday through<br />
Friday. It read:<br />
"FREE ADMISSION COUPON<br />
"Admit Car and Driver<br />
"This coupon plus federal tax admits car and<br />
driver upon presentation any night starting<br />
Monday, August 22, through Friday, August 26 "<br />
Spaces were left for the name and address<br />
of patrons using the free coupon.<br />
Ashmun reported that business for the<br />
year at the drive-in has been very satisfactory<br />
and that concession sales have been up<br />
to par. The Twilite concession is operated<br />
by Jacobs Bros. Sportservice. The drive-in<br />
plays major product seven days after second<br />
run.<br />
Drive-In Program Cover<br />
Lists Comforts for All<br />
Ever on the alert to keep folks informed<br />
of the particular comforts and advantages<br />
offered by the drive-in, Pearce Parkhurst,<br />
manager of the drive-in, Lansing, Mich., uses<br />
the cover of his theatre program to good purpose.<br />
Headed, "Extra! Good News for the whole<br />
family," the copy following is a plug for the<br />
free open-air dance pavilion and the play-<br />
30<br />
made with Door County cherries. From<br />
the tremendous entry list, 25 were selected<br />
to compete in the contest.<br />
The finals were set up for a Saturday<br />
night performance on the theatre stage.<br />
Graefe then provided an incentive for<br />
filling the house during the matinee by<br />
conducting the elimination contests during<br />
this early show. The 25 contestants<br />
were divided up into groups of five, with<br />
one winner selected from each group to<br />
perform in the finals at the evening show.<br />
A large loving cup and additional prizes<br />
donated by public-spirited business firms<br />
were awarded the winner and the runnersup.<br />
All pies consumed during the contest<br />
were provided by a baking concern,<br />
and the winner received the cup from<br />
the county cherry pie baking queen of<br />
this year's state fair.<br />
Two Hollywood juvenile actors, Claude<br />
Jarman jr. and Dean Stockwell, sent congratulatory<br />
telegrams to the winner, injecting<br />
their personal comments and men<br />
tion of current screen attractions.<br />
ground for children with pony rides, swings,<br />
see-saws, etc.<br />
Around the border of the program are<br />
sketches of various members of the family,<br />
i.e., mom, dad, grandma, the teen-agers, the<br />
youngsters and the baby. Under each sketch<br />
is a balloon with copy extolling the particular<br />
attraction each one finds at the drive-in<br />
such as "No parking worries," "Come as you<br />
are," "We all stay seated together," "Baby<br />
bottles warmed free," "Smoke if<br />
you like," etc.<br />
Theatre Publicity Pegged<br />
On Local Tar in Newsreel<br />
Lily Watt, manager of the Florida Theatre,<br />
Kings Park, Glasgow, Scotland, promoted art<br />
and newspaper stories in the Daily Mail and<br />
the Daily Record as the result of her discovery<br />
that one of the crew members of the<br />
HMS Amthyst, seen in a recent issue of the<br />
Movietone newsreel, is a resident of Kings<br />
Park. The newsreel pictures showed the<br />
young sailor as the Amethyst put in at Hong<br />
Kong harbor.<br />
Miss Watt invited the family of the young<br />
tar to see the newsreel on the Florida screen,<br />
and had photographs taken of the parents<br />
examining the film closeups. Both newspapers<br />
ran the photo, with fine plugs for the<br />
current screen program.<br />
Disk Jockey Uses Quiz<br />
On Theatre Attractions<br />
Vic Wintle, manager of the Manring Theatre,<br />
Middlesboro, Ky., has a regular tieup<br />
with a disk jockey on the local radio station<br />
which affords him a daily plug on his current<br />
program. The broadcast features a quiz<br />
on current attractions, and the question is<br />
framed in such a way that the title of the<br />
picture is mentioned, or the stars playing in<br />
it, or the Manring Theatre. Contestants ai-e<br />
asked to supply the missing information, and<br />
passes are awarded for correct answers.<br />
— 312—<br />
20-Page Supplement<br />
Used to Ballyhoo<br />
'Baby' in Joliet<br />
A 20-page newspaper supplement in the<br />
Joliet Herald-News was the ambitious and<br />
effective promotion successfully undertaken<br />
by George F. Mahoney jr., manager of the<br />
Rialto, Joliet, 111., with assistance from Ben<br />
Katz, U-I field representative, in connection<br />
with "Yes, Sir, That s My Baby."<br />
The newspaper was sold on the idea of<br />
getting out the 20-page special section around<br />
full-page advertisements by merchants specializing<br />
in baby apparel, milk products and<br />
other infant necessities. A dairy, for example,<br />
used cuts of a dozen local youngsters,<br />
with copy: "Yes sir, these were our babies,<br />
now growing up on rich, creamy, etc."<br />
Kresge's ad was keyed to the theme, "It costs<br />
so little to outfit an angel."<br />
The Eagle Store, specializing in Storkline<br />
furniture and accessories for babies, used the<br />
line: "Plan your baby's future." A second<br />
dairy, in its full page ad, used a large scene<br />
cut from the film production, headed: "No<br />
question about it. Yes sir, Joliet babies like<br />
Weber's, etc."<br />
A cafeteria stressed "It's an honor to serve<br />
babies with special high-chair equipment,<br />
etc." Sears, Roebuck took a full-page ad<br />
headed, "You'll be proud to say 'Yes, Sir,<br />
That's My Baby' with Sears furnishings."<br />
The Block & Kuhl Co. used a similar idea on<br />
infants' wearing apparel. A sketch of a woman<br />
admiring her Laundromat was used by a<br />
Westinghouse dealer, with the tiein line,<br />
"Women everywhere are saying, 'Yes, Sir,<br />
That's My Baby.' "<br />
"For Baby's Comfort" was the angle used<br />
by the Midwest Supply Co., dealers in oil<br />
bui-ners and fuel stokers. Florists, a photographer,<br />
two maternity hospitals, several laundries,<br />
a jeweler and shoe firms specializing<br />
in baby shoes all weffe represented with display<br />
ads.<br />
Every advertisement included mention of<br />
the theatre booking of "Yes, Sir, That's My<br />
Baby." Most of them were illustrated with<br />
scene and star cuts from the picture.<br />
The front page of the supplement was filled<br />
with a scene cut and headed, "Theatre Supplement<br />
. . . Joliet Herald News." For editorial<br />
text in the 20-page section, the newspaper<br />
used large cuts illustrating scenes from<br />
the film and dozens of publicity stories.<br />
The special supplement was part of the regular<br />
Herald-News edition mailed to subscribers<br />
and sold at newsstands on August 23, the<br />
day before the picture opened.<br />
Top Boston Locations<br />
Are Landed for 'Magic'<br />
Three of the choicest locations in town<br />
were landed for window displays by Jim<br />
Shanahan, publicist for the State and Orpheum,<br />
Boston, on the two-theatre engagement<br />
of "Black Magic."<br />
The Jordan Marsh Co., New England's largest<br />
department store, used three complete<br />
windows, one of which displayed a "Black<br />
Magic" gown against a glamorous backdrop,<br />
the other two an artistic arrangement of stills<br />
from the film production and credit cards.<br />
Filene's department store tied the picture<br />
in with a display of "Black Magic" perfume,<br />
and I. J. Pox, located next door to the Orpheum,<br />
attired its window manikins in<br />
"Black Magic" velvet gowns.<br />
BOXOFFICE Shovimiandiser :: Sept. 17, 1949
TOr<br />
ii,<br />
the N. Y. Mirror<br />
—and tops at delighting crowds at more than 1,250<br />
dates, many of<br />
which topped "Connecticut Yankee,"<br />
"Welcome Stranger" and "Emperor Waltz."<br />
That's why right now your Number 1 Boxoffice<br />
Star's up-to-the-minute hit is top<br />
exhibitor-choice. Right now national magazines<br />
are singing its praises— and this month<br />
Bing'll be back on the air singing its songs<br />
and selling this heart -warming show for<br />
you as only he can! So play it right now!<br />
f<br />
"^ISgr^^v,<br />
It's The Latest<br />
Gold-Getter in<br />
IPARAMOUNT'S GOLD RUSH<br />
OF '49<br />
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Ballyhoo Tricks<br />
[rttts \<br />
Natural curiosity attracted<br />
plenty of passersby<br />
to this still, right,<br />
for "Great Gatsby." Stunt<br />
was used by Dick Fink,<br />
assistant manager, Orpheum,<br />
Portland,<br />
Ore.<br />
mSyracii<br />
The public got a kick watching this street<br />
ballyhoo perambulate the streets of Cumberland,<br />
Md., when John Manuela, manager of<br />
the Strand, played "Lady Gambles." Rear of<br />
the barrels had picture and theatre credits.<br />
At right, giant dice lettered<br />
with copy plugging<br />
"Lady Gambles"<br />
was an eye-catcher used<br />
by Fred Leavens, manager<br />
oi the Circle Theatre<br />
in Toronto. Cubes<br />
served as advance and<br />
current comment provoker.<br />
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"In the Good Old Summertime" was exploited by D. C. Murray, manager<br />
of the Indiana Theatre at Marion, Ind., with this old-fashioned,<br />
but effective, street stunt.<br />
J. F. Thomas, assistant city manager for Robb & Rowley Theatres<br />
in Little Rock, Ark., promoted a new car and an eye-filling<br />
ballyhoo for the Arkansas Theatre booking of "The Girl From<br />
lones Beach."<br />
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Outdoor ballyhoo for "Return of October" at the Oxford in Nova<br />
Scotia, attracted both adult and kiddy attention, according to<br />
Manager L. P. Charlton.<br />
Exhibitor Glen Hall built this perambulating monster to draw<br />
attention to "Unknown Island" dates at the Hall, Cassville, Mo.<br />
The eyes vreie animated.<br />
32 314 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 17, 1949<br />
SOXOFT-
D<br />
Newspaper Editorial<br />
Greets<br />
Vaudeville<br />
At Syracuse, N. Y.<br />
Vaudeville returned to the Paramount in<br />
Syracuse on the wave of a citywide promotion<br />
put on by Dick Feldman, manager, and<br />
Irving Cantor, manager of the affiliated<br />
Eckel Theatre.<br />
A full-page newspaper cooperative ad in<br />
the Post-Standard was sponsored by merchants<br />
to welcome the return of live talent<br />
to the city. The page was headed by a banner<br />
streamer playing up the fact that the<br />
Paramount policy would now include eight<br />
big acts of vaudeville in addition to fine<br />
screen entertainment.<br />
The Post-Standard ran a "Welcome Back"<br />
editorial urging the citizens of Syracuse to<br />
support the new policy. This broke on the<br />
second day. Two hundred jumbo window<br />
cards plugging the new setup were distributed<br />
throughout the city and environs.<br />
The cashiers conducted a personalized telephone<br />
campaign to inform local phone subscribers<br />
that vaudeville was returning. Extensive<br />
newspaper publicity was obtained in<br />
the Herald-Journal, the Polish News, the<br />
Italian Gazette and several weekly pubUcations.<br />
Gratis spot plugs were promoted over radio<br />
station WSYR. WAGE and WNDR.<br />
All local<br />
disk jockeys also welcomed the return of<br />
vaudeville with spot plugs and via interviews<br />
with the performers on the opening show.<br />
Proclaims 'Dan Patch'<br />
An elaborate lobby display stimulated interest<br />
in "The Great Dan Patch" for Bill<br />
Porter, manager of the Boulevard Theatre,<br />
Minneapolis. The display was constructed<br />
in the form of a horseshoe covered with silver<br />
foil. Stills from the picture were set<br />
In the center of the<br />
horseshoe were a cutout from the three-sheet<br />
poster and cutout letters spelling out the title.<br />
Porter displayed a sulky in front of the<br />
theatre with signs calling attention to the<br />
picture playdates. Porter reports that the<br />
extra exploitation effort lifted boxofflce<br />
Silver Foil Horseshoe<br />
against this background.<br />
,.. s 5o»lev Tbes-<br />
. „1 o eje-Siig<br />
. .. Tie ^'" t"''<br />
grosses.<br />
Makes 'Adventure' Co-Op<br />
Manny Winston, manager of the Wicomico,<br />
Salisbury, Md., developed an attractive fourcolumn<br />
by eight-inch newspaper cooperative<br />
ad which helped to exploit "Adventure in<br />
Baltimore." With more than 60 per cent of<br />
the space devoted to the film attraction, ad<br />
copy was cued: "For an adventure in motoring,<br />
drive a new Hudson; and for an adventure<br />
in entertainment, see 'Adventure in Baltimore.'<br />
"<br />
Portable PA on Street<br />
Tells About 'Window'<br />
A. Fred Serrao, manager of the Circle in<br />
New Kensington, Pa., used a novel street<br />
ballyhoo to promote "The Window." A young<br />
man was dispatched to the business section<br />
of town, carrying a portable public address<br />
system and a card lettered with picture title,<br />
playdates, etc. He walked along the streets<br />
announcing the merits of the film through<br />
the amplifier, attracting marked attention.<br />
The first Mo/or Screen Improvement X "> ^^"^Y ^^'"'^ • • •<br />
HALLMARK S<br />
THE LAWTON STORY OF<br />
princeIfpehcl<br />
Even Distribution of IJght<br />
Elimination of Backstage Reverheraliun<br />
White Clear Through — and slays' White<br />
"Exclusive<br />
laminated<br />
Color Control<br />
Construction<br />
yivid Realism to Color Projection<br />
* PlI Awliei r»r<br />
Greater Depth and Clarity in black and white<br />
MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED<br />
EXCLUSIVELY BY<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
Sold Exclusively in Export by<br />
LOS ANGEKS -POIITUND-SEUnE'StN FRANCISCO<br />
Eitcutivi Olfices: 231B Stcond Aflnye. Seitllc I. WlshiD|(on<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmaiidiser :: Sept. 17, 1949<br />
FRAZER & HANSEN, LTD.<br />
EXPORT DIVISION<br />
301 Clay Street San Francisco 11. California<br />
— 315 — 33
Theatre Patrons Get<br />
found their names posted in the classified<br />
columns of the paper each day.<br />
A tieup with the Fred Astaire studio pro-<br />
vided for free dance lessons to the first 100<br />
theatre patrons attending daily throughout<br />
the engagement of the picture. In addition,<br />
the studio ran two display cooperative ads<br />
which totaled over 700 lines of free space,<br />
with prominent picture and theatre credits.<br />
Mullane's candy company cooperated by<br />
providing an attractive model to ballyhoo the<br />
picture, distributing candy kisses enclosed in<br />
envelopes Imprinted with theatre copy.<br />
Pogue's department store ran a large cooperative<br />
newspaper ad and built window and<br />
counter displays around the "Anna Lucasta"<br />
beret.<br />
The Yellow Cab Co. placed cards in its<br />
fleet of 300 cabs. This tieup was based on<br />
the angle of Paulette Goddard being the cabbies'<br />
favorite movie star. The cards carried<br />
complete plugs for picture and playdate.<br />
Special fashion art was planted in the Cincinnati<br />
daily newspapers and two of them<br />
used special art spreads. An advance lobby<br />
setpiece and a flash front during the current<br />
engagement helped to attract patronage.<br />
Cowgirl Star Makes<br />
Personals for 'Gal'<br />
As part of the campaign in behalf of "The<br />
Gal Who Took the West" through the southeastern<br />
part of the country, U-I had Patricia<br />
Alphin of the cast appear in several of the<br />
cities where the picture was scheduled to<br />
premiere.<br />
WRITE..WIRE In Tampa, Fla., Elmer Hecht, manager of<br />
the Parl£ Theatre, promoted considerable publicity<br />
for the picture by capitalizing on Miss<br />
Alphin's personal appearance. Despite the<br />
yiUiCi^l^.mGmt: BLDG.WILMINGTON.OHIOllSee<br />
fact that he had only 12 hours advance notice<br />
of her arrival, Hecht arranged an elaborate<br />
luncheon which was attended by representatives<br />
of all newspapers, radio stations<br />
Our Ad in Modem Theatre Section<br />
and exhibitors from neighboring towns.<br />
The starlet was interviewed over radio<br />
,.. A STEEL SCREEN TOWER station WFLA and WALT, and the Tampa<br />
Daily Times ran a special pictorial layout.<br />
Miss Alphin also appeared at the Ybor City<br />
Rotary club.<br />
Projectionist Constructs<br />
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MAIN BUFFALO. jAposs BROS.<br />
Free Dance Lessons<br />
In Xucasta' Tieup<br />
A number of local tieups helped to exploit<br />
"Anna Lucasta" at the Palace in Cincinnati.<br />
Nate Wise, publicity director for RKO Theatres<br />
here, and Elwood Jones, manager of<br />
the Palace, arranged a classified contest in<br />
the Times-Star which netted 600 lines of free<br />
space, with passes offered to readers who<br />
OR PHONE<br />
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Oscar Micheaux is NOT authorized to<br />
book the picture, "THE BETRAYAL."<br />
All bookings MUST be approved by<br />
ASTOR PICTUHES CORPORATION, who<br />
control exclusive distribution rights.<br />
Display for 'Red Witch'<br />
An attractive lobby set-piece was built to<br />
exploit "Wake of the Red Witch" by John<br />
Mitckes, projectionist at the Apollo, Belvidere,<br />
111. Mitckes, who has been making a<br />
study of art in addition to his regular duties<br />
as operator, made a cutout of a large sailing<br />
vessel similar to the Red Witch. The ship<br />
was placed against a colorful background<br />
representing the sea with waves. The sails<br />
of the ship were covered with stills of action<br />
highlights from the film production, and lettered<br />
in the center with the star names. The<br />
title of the film was lettered across the hull<br />
of the ship, with playdates on the foreground.<br />
Plane Tows 'Stable Sign<br />
Jack Clements, manager of the Strand,<br />
Wildwood, N. J., used an airplane towing<br />
banners over Wildwood and adjacent towns<br />
to ballyhoo "Come to the Stable." Cross<br />
trailers were used in other theatres of the<br />
Hunt circuit. Telephone calls were made to<br />
phone subscribers announcing the playdates,<br />
and Clements contacted the local clergymen<br />
with information on the film. One-minute<br />
spots over WMID aided.<br />
— 316 —<br />
CLEARING HOUSE<br />
(Continued from inside<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
back cover)<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets.<br />
100,000, $23.95; 10,000, $6,85; 2,000, $4.46.<br />
Each change in admission price, Includine change<br />
iji color, $3.00 extra. Double numbering extra.<br />
Shipping charges paid to 500 miles. Cash with<br />
order. Kansas City Ticket Co., Dept. 9, 1819<br />
Central, Kansas City, Mo.<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
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Parts (or all chairs. Send sample for Quotation.<br />
Fensln Seating Co., Cliicago 5.<br />
Patch-0-Seat cement. Patching cloth, solvent,<br />
etc. Fensln Seating Co., Chicago 6.<br />
Tiglitcn loose chairs with Permastone anchor<br />
cement. Fensln Seating Co., Ctilcago 6.<br />
Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chairs.<br />
Fensln Beating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quantity<br />
wanted. Photographs mailed with quotation. Ftnsln<br />
Beating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
No more torn seats: Repair with the original<br />
Patch-A-Seat. Complete kit, $6. General Chair<br />
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Chair Parts: We furnish most any part ;ou require.<br />
Send sample for price, brackets, backs<br />
and seats. General Chair Co.. 1308 Elston A<br />
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'
INTEREST IN PUBLIC RELATIONS<br />
SHOWN AT N. J. ALLIED MEET<br />
[C0««<br />
,ol'<br />
Lachman, Simons, Novins,<br />
Kindel Are Speakers<br />
On Industry Topic<br />
(See Also Pages 16, 17 and 40)<br />
ATLANTIC CITY — Public relations was<br />
one of the livest topics of discussion both in<br />
the meetings and in the hotel corridors at<br />
the 30th annual convention of the New Jersey<br />
Allied unit. The unit has been acutely<br />
conscious of public relations problems during<br />
the past year. It was one of the first in the<br />
country to join with representatives of civic<br />
groups and major distributors in fighting censorship<br />
and other legislation last winter. Its<br />
efforts paid off.<br />
Ed Lactanan, retiring president, referred<br />
to this in his opening address. On the second<br />
day of the convention three major distributor<br />
representatives discussed the Chicago conference<br />
and the reactions. Ed Kindel of Baltimore<br />
gave some of the details of the plan<br />
being pushed there by all the theatres in the<br />
city. Benny Berger of North Central Allied<br />
said he saw "new hope" for improved relations<br />
both outside and inside the industry and<br />
made a plea for a spread of the Smith-Berger<br />
conciliation plan.<br />
SIMONS LAUDS P. R. PROGRAM<br />
Mike Simons, assistant to H. M. Richey in<br />
charge of exhibitor relations for MGM, was<br />
the first to point out the significance of the<br />
Chicago industry conference.<br />
"I am convinced," he said, "that 99 per<br />
cent of all bhe people I have met in show<br />
business—and I have met a lot of them—want<br />
to make their business something to be<br />
prouder of. Most of us need only the guidance;<br />
I believe that guidance is nearer at hand now<br />
than ever in the new determination that we<br />
must all hang together lest we most surely<br />
hang separately. The declaration at Chicago<br />
is a milestone in oiu" business—a landmark<br />
that points the way to the future; the handwriting<br />
on the screen of a bigger theatre<br />
than any ever built or operated—the hall<br />
that's to house our reputations and to preserve<br />
our legacy for the generations to come.<br />
"It is needless for me to say that the<br />
declaration is not enough; that every principle<br />
must be put into practice.<br />
"It's an uphill fight, when our critics keep<br />
saying we don't make good pictures—for us<br />
to keep reciting, as we can do, a list of 40 or<br />
50 hit pictures of the past year in rebuttal.<br />
"HISTORIC," SAYS NOVINS<br />
Louis Novins, eissistant to Barney Balaban,<br />
Paramount president, who was one of the<br />
speakers at the Chicago meet, said the conference<br />
"souglit to forget the past and build<br />
for the future."<br />
Like the previous speakers, he described it<br />
as "historic," an effort to get together in<br />
the one area where agreement can be reached.<br />
The keen exhibitor interest in the Baltimore<br />
campaign now getting started was evident<br />
the minute Ed Kindel of the Maryland<br />
Allied unit was called upon. Many questions<br />
were asked.<br />
Only three theatres in that city are not<br />
Seen at the New Jersey Allied unit convention in Atlantic City are, left to right,<br />
Harry Lowenstein, past president; Wilbur Snaper, newly elected head; Leon J. Bamberger,<br />
RKO sales promotion manager; and Irving Dollinger, Allied board chairman.<br />
Snaper Elected Jersey Allied Head<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—Wilbur Snaper of South<br />
River, N. J., was elected president of the New<br />
Jersey Allied unit at the third day's session<br />
contributing 10 cents per seat toward the<br />
campaign, he said. He described these as<br />
"really distressed theatres—hardship cases."<br />
He also said that about 40 per cent of the<br />
theatres in the campaign are Allied members.<br />
"We are approaching this from a new slant,"<br />
he stated; "we are not going to hit the customers<br />
on the head and tell them to go tc<br />
the movies. Our approach is more subtle; we<br />
want to show people what they can get out of<br />
the movies."<br />
He described the "backbone" of the campaign<br />
as the newspapers. He said the spacing<br />
of five-column ads dominate the pages, so<br />
that something appears in some paper, including<br />
the neighborhood publications, each<br />
day. The ads do not appear on the amusement<br />
Images, and the papers have cut the 55<br />
cents-per-line rate to 30 cents for the campaign,<br />
which will carry through to December.<br />
The American Oil Co. and laundries are cooperating<br />
by giving free use of outdoor space.<br />
The radio is being used. Slugs are appearing<br />
on the bottom of newspaper columns and<br />
editorial support is forthcoming.<br />
"We have $17,500 in the bank now," Kindel<br />
said, "but this will not be enough."<br />
In reply to a question from Irving Dollinger,<br />
Kindel said the entire ad campaign had been<br />
laid out in advance. He also told Dollinger<br />
of the 30th anniversary convention here on<br />
Wednesday. He succeeds Ed Lachman.<br />
Other officers named were: Vice-president<br />
for North Jersey, Louis Gold of Newark: vicepresident<br />
for South Jersey, Samuel Frank,<br />
Hammonton: secretai-y, Sidney Stern of Elizabeth:<br />
treasurer, Haskell Block of Newark:<br />
assistant treasurer, Sidney Franklin of Newark:<br />
sergeant at arms, William Basile; directors<br />
for three-year terms, John Harman, Herbert<br />
Lubin and Joseph Siccardi.<br />
A chairman of the board will be elected<br />
by the board at the next meeting to be held<br />
in about two weeks.<br />
Misallocation of terms of percentage pictures<br />
was the topic of lively discussion at the<br />
final business session. It was contended that<br />
this has resulted in bad returns for both exhibitors<br />
and distributors, and has taken away<br />
the incentive for pressing good pictures in<br />
order to earn an extra dollar to tide over the<br />
"rough spots" on weak films.<br />
It was contended that in South Jersey<br />
which is served out of the Philadelphia exchange<br />
the major company representatives<br />
are not living up to the commitments of their<br />
general sales managers. A film committee<br />
consisting of Irving Dollinger, Louis Gold and<br />
Wilbur Snaper will confer with home office<br />
sales executives.<br />
The final feature of the convention was a<br />
banquet Wednesday night at which Adolph<br />
Zukor and Abram F. Myers were the speakers.<br />
that the use of color was contemplated.<br />
National Screen Service has supplied a kit<br />
containing banners, cards and other aids, but<br />
there has been no mailing campaign.<br />
Andy W, Smith jr., vice-president in charge<br />
of sales of 20th Century-Fox, inquired whether<br />
the merchants had been approached.<br />
Kindel said they have given space.<br />
Harry Lowenstein asked: How about films?"<br />
Kindel said these were being used.<br />
George Schaefer to Coast<br />
For Kramer Pact Talks<br />
NEW YORK—George J. Schaefer, general<br />
sales representative for Stanley Kramer Productions,<br />
left for the west coast September 15<br />
for two weeks of conferences with Kramer,<br />
company president, and George Glass, exploitation<br />
and publicity vice-president.<br />
Schaefer will discuss the renewal of his<br />
contract with the producer, which calls for<br />
three per cent of the gross on Kramer pictures<br />
released by United Artists. UA has<br />
already distributed "So This Is New York,"<br />
"Champion" and "Home of the Brave," and<br />
will also handle "The Men," soon to go into<br />
production. The unfreezing of Kramer's<br />
funds in foreign countries will also come up<br />
for discussion. Schaefer said.<br />
,• :«« BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 35
. . . Agnes<br />
. . Jacques<br />
. . Al<br />
.<br />
BROAD\NAy<br />
ytrUUam F.<br />
Rodgers, MGM sales vice-president,<br />
is expected to arrive from Hollywood<br />
September 21 after a stopover in Chicago . . .<br />
Hank Linet, Universal-International eastern<br />
advertising manager, and Charles Simonelli,<br />
national exploitation head, have left for Atlanta<br />
to attend the opening of "The Gal Who<br />
Took the West" Chabrier, president<br />
of Pa the Cinema, returned from the west<br />
.<br />
coast September 15 . . . Charles Schlaifer.<br />
head of Charles Schlaifer & Co,, is back from<br />
Lake Tarleton, N. H., where he held a series<br />
of discussions with Walter Jacobs, director<br />
. . . Charles<br />
of the No Name Summer Theatre, regarding<br />
plans to televise summer stock<br />
LeMaire, director of wardrobe and executive<br />
designer for 20th Century-Fox, is in New<br />
York for two weeks of screenings of "Prince<br />
of Poxes" and to study new fashion trends.<br />
. . .<br />
E. Z. Walters, controller of Altec Service,<br />
is in New York from the coast . . . Carey<br />
Wilson, producer _ of MGM's "The Red<br />
Danube," is in Manhattan for a stay at the<br />
Waldorf-Astoria. At the same hotel are such<br />
other MGM personalities as Janet Leigh,<br />
starred in "Danube," and Kathryn Grayson<br />
and her husband, Johnnie Johnston<br />
Joseph Cotten. Selznick star; Andre Kostelanetz<br />
and his opera star-wife. Lily Pons, as<br />
well as Producer Hal Wallis and Murray Silverstone,<br />
president of 20th Century-Fox International,<br />
were among the entertainment<br />
world figures on the Queen Mary which<br />
docked September 12.<br />
Nicholas Joy, 20th-Fox player, returned<br />
from Europe on the De Grasse September 14<br />
Moorehead, Warner Bros, player,<br />
sailed for Europe on the Queen Mary September<br />
Jeanne Crain, 20th-Pox star,<br />
14 . . . and her husband. Paul Brinkman. are in New<br />
York to publicize "Pinky." whitfh opens at<br />
the RivoU late in September . . Maurice<br />
.<br />
Segal, formerly with 20th-Fox and with Century<br />
Theatres, has joined Paramount's pressbook<br />
department . . . Maurice "Red" Silverstein,<br />
director of Latin American for Loews<br />
International, is the proud father of a daughter,<br />
Pamela Jane, born to his wife, the former<br />
Betty Brj'ant, Australian film star, at<br />
Jewish Memorial hospital.<br />
.<br />
William A. Scully, U-I general sales manager,<br />
was in Albany and Buffalo during the<br />
week . . . Phil Gerard, eastern publicity manager,<br />
has returned to New York from Nashville,<br />
Birmingham and Atlanta Margolies<br />
has returned from London where he<br />
concentrated on the American publicity campaign<br />
on Warner Bros.' "Stagefright," which<br />
Alfred Hitchcock has been filming there.<br />
. . .<br />
Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of<br />
Paramoimt, and E. K. "Ted" O'Shea. assistant<br />
general sales manager; Hugh Owen<br />
eastern and southern division manager, and<br />
Jerry Pickman, assistant ad and publicity<br />
director, attended the 30th anniversary convention<br />
of Allied Theatre Owners of New<br />
Jersey in Atlantic City Barney Balaban.<br />
Paramount president, and A. W. Schwalberg,<br />
general sales head, have gone to the coast foi<br />
studio conferences with Y. Frank Freeman<br />
Henry Ginsberg and Cecil B. DeMille. Waltei<br />
Seltzer, representing Hal Wallis on the coast,<br />
Is in New York for a series of meetings with<br />
Max E. Youngstein, Paramount director of<br />
national advertising and publicity, on "My<br />
Friend Irma."<br />
George Shupert, director of comjmercial<br />
operations of Paramount's television department,<br />
planed to Los Angeles and addressed<br />
the TOA convention there September 13 . .<br />
Stirling Silliphant, special promotions manager<br />
for 20th Century-Fox, attended the<br />
Schine circuit annual theatre managers' meeting<br />
in Syracuse September 14 and went from<br />
there to the Schine meeting in Columbus,<br />
Ohio, September 16.<br />
. .<br />
Harry M. Kalmine, Warner Theatres president,<br />
has left for the west coast . . .<br />
David<br />
D. Home, foreign sales manager for Film<br />
Classics, has returned to New York from a<br />
Max<br />
five-week business trip to Europe .<br />
Shulgold, head of Crown Film Co., Pittsburgh,<br />
is in New York for conferences with<br />
R. M. Savini, president of Astor Pictures . . .<br />
Carroll Puciato, Realart general manager in<br />
charge of exchange operations, has left for<br />
Boston to confer with Joe Levine, franchise<br />
holder there.<br />
Charles F. Hynes Dies<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Services were held September<br />
16 for Charles F. Hynes, 49, veteran<br />
trade paper man, who died here September<br />
13 after an illness of several years. Burial<br />
was in Fort Snelling national cemetery.<br />
Hynes had been associated with Rim Daily,<br />
Motion Pictiu-e Daily and Greater Amusements.<br />
Berle Returning to TV<br />
NEW YORK—Milton Berle will return to<br />
the NBC television network with the Texaco<br />
Star Theatre September 20 at 8 p. m., eastern<br />
daylight time. During the summer he<br />
completed a Warner Bros, film, "Always<br />
Leave Them Laughing."<br />
Set for<br />
Comed'y Role<br />
Stuart Erwin has been ticketed for a comedy<br />
role in Columbia's "A Mother for May."<br />
AT $100,000 DINNER—Eddie Cantor,<br />
right, an active worker in the Israel<br />
cause, emphasizes the importance of the<br />
United Jewish Appeal to Max M. Yellen,<br />
owner of the 20th Century Theatre, Buffalo,<br />
and treasurer of the UJA, who invited<br />
100 of his friends to pay $1,000 each<br />
to have dinner at his home in Orchard<br />
Beach, where they also met the film and<br />
radio comedian.<br />
Bergman Film Leads<br />
B'way First Runs<br />
NEW YORK— 'Under Capricorn," Ingrid<br />
Bergman's first new picture since her Rossellini<br />
news headlines, did smash business in<br />
its first week at the Radio City Music Hall,<br />
where it was the only important new picture<br />
of the week. The other first run leaders on<br />
Broadway were "White Heat," unusually<br />
strong in its second week at the Strand, where<br />
Xavier Cugat headed a big stage show, and<br />
"Jolson Sings Again," which had a big fourth<br />
week at Loew's State. "Sword in the Desert,"<br />
in its third week at the Criterion, and "Top<br />
O' the Morning," in its second week at the<br />
Paramount, also held up well and the three<br />
J. Arthur Rank films, "Hamlet," "The Red<br />
Shoes" and "Quarter,," continued their long<br />
runs while two Korda films, "Dolwyn" and<br />
"Saints and Sinners," did well in small houses.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—Lost Boundaries (FC), llth wk _... 95<br />
Bijou—The Hed Shoes (EL), 47th wk 95<br />
Capitol Madame Bovory (MGM), plus stage<br />
show, 3rd wk 95<br />
Criterion Sword in the Desert (U-I), 3rd wk 110<br />
Globe—The Crooked Way (UA), 2nd wk S5<br />
Gotham—Animal Crackers (Para); Duck Soup<br />
(Para), reissues, 3rd wk 95<br />
Little Carnegie Saints and Sinners (Korda-<br />
.•<br />
London Films) - .....100<br />
Loew's State—lolson Sings Again (Col). 4th wk 120<br />
Mayfair The Kid From Cleveland (Rep), 2nd wk... 85<br />
Palace Blondie Hits the Jackpot (Col), plus<br />
Vaudeville 105<br />
Paramount Top O' the Morning (Para), plus<br />
110<br />
stage show, 2nd wk -<br />
Park Avenue—Hamlet (U-I), 50th wk. oi two-a-day 95<br />
Radio City Music Hall—Under Capricorn (WB),<br />
plus stage show 130<br />
Rivoli—Come to the Stable (20th-Fox), 7th wk 100<br />
Roxy—I Was a Male War Bride (20th-Fox), plus<br />
stage show, 3rd wk 105<br />
Strand—White Heat (WB), plus stage show,<br />
2nd wk 120<br />
Sutton—Quartet (EL), 25th wk 90<br />
Victoria—The Window (RKO), 6th wk 90<br />
Second Week of 'Kiss'<br />
Grosses<br />
115 in Quaker City<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Business in first nm<br />
theatres remained good^ with two new offerings<br />
and cool weather lielping to swell boxoffice<br />
receipts. First place was captured by<br />
a holdover which had its world premiere in<br />
the Quaker town. The picture. "That Midnight<br />
Kiss." playing at the Boyd, scored 115.<br />
Aldine—Madame Bovary (MGM), 3rd wk 100<br />
Boyd—That Midnight Kiss (MGM), 2nd wk 115<br />
Earle—The Big Steal (RKO) 100<br />
Fox—Come to the Stable (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 70<br />
Goldman In the Good Old Summertime (MGM),<br />
4th wk 50<br />
ICarllon—Miqhtv Joe Young (RKO), 2nd wk 100<br />
Mastbaum—White Heat (WB), 2nd wk 110<br />
Stanley—Top O' the Morning (Para), 2nd wk 75<br />
Stanlon—The Doolins of Oklahoma (Col) 67<br />
'Heiress' to Open First<br />
At Radio City Theatre<br />
NEW YORK—WiUiam Wyler's "The Heiress,"<br />
starring Olivia DeHavilland, Montgomery<br />
Clift and Ralph Richardson, will open<br />
here at the Radio City Music Hall following<br />
the run of "Under Capricorn," according to<br />
A. W. Schwalberg, Paramount vice-president<br />
and general sales manager. It will be the<br />
first showing of the feature anywhere.<br />
Mrs. Nat Liebeskind Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Mrs. Teresa K. Liebeskind,<br />
wife of Nat Liebeskind, distributor and exhibitor<br />
in the South American market, died<br />
suddenly September 13. The Liebeskinds had<br />
been married 32 years. Pimeral services were<br />
held September 16 at the Campbell funeral<br />
church.<br />
38 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
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'<br />
AT PHILADELPHIA THEATRE OPENING—Crowds formed in line early to attend<br />
the recent opening of the new City Line Theatre in Philadelphia. The house,<br />
shown in the upper photograph, is the hub of a $5,000,000 shopping center development.<br />
Proceeds from the opening performance at the new theatre on August 31 went<br />
to the Variety Club camp for crippled children in memory of the late Harry Fried.<br />
Edward Emanuel, chief barker of Tent 13, is shown in the lower photograph accepting<br />
a check from Harry M. Penneys, general manager of the Fried Theatre Management<br />
Corp. Smiling their approval are William L. Brooker, commander of the Variety<br />
Post of the American Legion, and left to right John, Irving and Bernard Fried, sons<br />
of the late theatreman.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
lyrany prominent exhibitors showed up at<br />
the world premiere (liD of David S.<br />
Moliver's new game, Quizo, in his Airport<br />
Theatre at 71st and Elmwood streets ... A<br />
landslide business was recorded by Mickey<br />
Rappaport's Natalie Drive-In, Mount Carmel,<br />
Pa., when it played "Tulsa." This was the<br />
first instance in this vicinity of a drive-in<br />
playing first run product . . Starlet Patsy<br />
.<br />
Garrett, known to millions as the Chesterfield<br />
Girl, was the last of a parade of stars<br />
to appear in the Music Hall of Atlantic City's<br />
Steel Pier.<br />
The New Hope Recreation center in the<br />
artist's colony in New Hope, Dela., opened<br />
its adult film program Saturday (17) with<br />
the showing of "Brief Encounter." Justin<br />
Herman and Sol Jacobson have selected the<br />
films, a feature and a documentary short,<br />
• ! ,<br />
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TO ANNOUNCE ?<br />
VseAFILMACK<br />
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SSPECIAL TRAILER^<br />
1^ To Help Put It Across! j^<br />
r I L M A C K<br />
CHICAGO 1327 S. Wabash Ave.<br />
NEW YORK 619 West 54th. St.<br />
to be shown the third Saturday of each month<br />
through May. All proceeds donated at the<br />
screenings will be turned over to the New<br />
Hope Memorial Gymnasium fund . . . Melvin<br />
Fox annoimces that his rubber walled Pennypak,<br />
once known as the Holme, will have<br />
its seating capacity increased to 2,000 from<br />
its present 1,000. Air conditioning and other<br />
renovations will cost about $75,000 .<br />
Beckett, MGM juvenile film star,<br />
. Scotty<br />
came to<br />
.<br />
town unannounced.<br />
. . .<br />
Marion Bozym, MGM bookkeeper, has left<br />
the firm . . . Emma Roat, MGM cashier,<br />
has returned from a fishing trip to Rockhall,<br />
Md. . . . Sam ScuUi, booker, reports<br />
that he will stay home on his vacation . . .<br />
Dave Titleman, MGM booker, has returned<br />
from vacation Benny Harris of American<br />
Film Co. says the Greenhill Theatre<br />
screened the "Stephen Foster Story" Thursday<br />
(15) for its Pennsylvania premiere . . .<br />
Capital Films has a new window display<br />
of Dogpatch, U.S.A., which shows L'il Abner<br />
and his schmoos. Eddie Gabriel, the exchange's<br />
manager, hopes exhibitors will bring<br />
Dogpatch to their houses by booking "L'll<br />
Abner."<br />
David and Ned Yaffe of YY Supply Co.<br />
have come back from Wachapreague, Va.,<br />
with documented evidence to back up their<br />
story of catching 40 fish . . . The Y&Y Supply<br />
Co. is handling the Y&Y Odor Control<br />
System for scent conditioning . . . Edna<br />
Laurelli, U-I assistant cashier, is on vacation,<br />
as is U-I shipper Peter Clccotta . . .<br />
Joe Horn, U-I traveling auditor, is visiting<br />
the local office . . . Dr. Harold Schwartz,<br />
son of branch manager George Schwartz, is<br />
father of his second son.<br />
Shep Bloom is a new salesman for 20th-<br />
. . Meryle Conover, 20th-Pox assistant<br />
Pox .<br />
cashier, was married Saturday (17) ... Boxoffice<br />
Pictures' booker Jack Goldman broke<br />
his finger in football practice . . . Screen<br />
Guild's Dollar Collection Roundup drive has<br />
been extended from September 24 to October<br />
8, according to Philadelphia Manager Harry<br />
Brillman. This extension makes it possible<br />
for later playdates furnished by exhibitors<br />
to be included in<br />
the drive.<br />
Screen Guild booker Janet Hallard is on<br />
Republic is greasing its gears<br />
vacation . . .<br />
to get ready for its Salesman's week to be<br />
held from November 6-12 . . . Many exhibitors<br />
are helping in the promotion of Pennsylvania<br />
week October 17-24 . . . Lillian Rudner,<br />
National Screen Service bookkeeper, had<br />
her honeymoon cut short when her father<br />
Charles was killed in an automobile accident.<br />
Lou Blaustein, National Screen Service<br />
credit manager, went to University hospital<br />
for a physical checkup . . . The Jeffries Theatre<br />
in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia<br />
recently ran an ad featuring "HeUfire<br />
in Trucolor" . . . Marie Wilson, star of<br />
"My Friend Irma," arrived Thursday (15)<br />
to help in the drum beating for this picture,<br />
which is scheduled to come to the Stanley<br />
soon. One of the publicity tricks worked up<br />
by Paramount exploiteer BiU Brooker is a<br />
round-the-clock marathon from 10:30 a. m.<br />
to 5 p. m.<br />
During this time she will cut into<br />
every program on WCAU, the city's CBS<br />
outlet. Also, she will concoct the biggest<br />
salad ever made, using the case of a giant<br />
searchlight as a bowl, and making enough<br />
salad to supply six institutions.<br />
Ralph Garman, Paramount head booker,<br />
is on vacation . . . Bill Brooker, Paramount<br />
drumbeater, went to Lewistown, Pa., to set<br />
up a test campaign on "Song of Surrender,"<br />
which showed at the Miller Theatre. Brooker<br />
made a fast jump from there to Atlantic<br />
City where he set up Paramount's display<br />
for the Allied convention of New Jersey at<br />
the Ritz-Carlton hotel.<br />
'Outside the Walls' Crew<br />
Films Location Shots<br />
PHILADELPHIA—U-I has sent a film crew<br />
to take location shots at the Eastern penitentiary<br />
for the forthcoming picture, "Outside<br />
the Walls." This is the first Hollywood<br />
contingent to take locations or backgrounds<br />
since the Warners group, which came here<br />
to shoot some of the footage for "Pride of the<br />
Marines."<br />
A young local actor, Richard Basehart, who<br />
received his spurs as a hedgerow trouper,<br />
stars in the picture. The story involves the readjustment<br />
of an imprisoned juvenile delinquent<br />
who is released 16 years after having<br />
been jailed at the age of 14.<br />
The Hollywood troupe is headed by the<br />
director and writer of the screenplay, Crane<br />
Wilbur, and Aaron Rosenberg, the film's producer.<br />
Also included are several score of<br />
technicians and a publicity staff headed by<br />
Paul Kamey. The party is quartered at the<br />
Ritz-Carlton hotel.<br />
Only the all-male scenes are being shot in<br />
Philadelphia. The Universal crew is shooting<br />
sound sequences unlike the general run of<br />
location companies. The film people have<br />
secured the aid of the police to keep the<br />
curious from straying into camera range at<br />
shots taken in the Philadelphia General hospital,<br />
on the University of Permsylvania campus,<br />
at a bus station, in a popular sqxiare, in<br />
a flophouse, a saloon, Independence Hall, and<br />
the Eastern penitentiary.<br />
38 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
. . . The<br />
. . Margaret<br />
. . Returning<br />
. . "Spud"<br />
. . Sara<br />
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Goldman Petition Up<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
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of tit<br />
In Philadelphia 21st<br />
PHILADELPHIA—Counsel for the majors<br />
and the Goldman interests will go into court<br />
Wednesday (21 1 to argue Goldman's petition<br />
to divest Warner Bros, of its theati'es in<br />
Philadelphia. The arguments will be before<br />
Judge Kirkpatrick of federal court "on the<br />
merits of reforming the final petition to<br />
amend the decree" wdth divestiture or a ban<br />
on cross-licensing of product as the remedy.<br />
Judge Kirkpatrick's calendar is filled with<br />
industry cases these days. On Thursday (15),<br />
he was to have heard the suit filed against<br />
seven majors by Jack Greenberg for improved<br />
clearance for his Harbor Theatre, Stone Harbor,<br />
N. J. Greenbei-g has petitioned for<br />
availability on part with Wildwood, N. J.<br />
Judge Kirkpatrick had set aside two days<br />
for the presentation of the case, but a heavy<br />
docket forced him to call lawyers into conference<br />
and, as a result, the suit was rescheduled<br />
for 10 a. m. October 10. This happens<br />
to be the date set for the second Goldman<br />
suit against the majors, but the arguments<br />
next Wednesday may have some bearing on<br />
further developments in the long, drawn-out<br />
litigation.<br />
Fall Fashion Preview Ad<br />
Run in Philadelphia<br />
PHILADELPHIA—"It is customary for<br />
smart specialty shops to show their fall<br />
fashions well in advance of the season," so<br />
said advertising copy which the Fox Theatre<br />
ran recently in metropolitan daUies.<br />
The message continued: "We, too, have had<br />
unprecedented showings almost each week of<br />
our Fall Fashions in Entertainment. For the<br />
first time anywhere, with the cooperation of<br />
20th Century-Fox and their laboratories, we<br />
have previewed our coming attractions to<br />
capacity audiences during the summer<br />
months.<br />
"Some of our patrons already have seen<br />
such hits as: 'Come to the Stable," 'I Was a<br />
Male War Bride,' 'Father Was a Fullback,'<br />
'Everybody Does It.' They (the patrons)<br />
know the great entertainment in store for<br />
the fall season.<br />
"No pig in a poke, no taking our word<br />
for it. Those who have seen these fine pictures<br />
can assure you that as far as the Fox<br />
Theatre is concerned, more than ever before<br />
motion pictures provide your best entertainment."<br />
The Variety Club women's committee for the<br />
welfare drive prepared to open booths at<br />
the Statler and Willard hotels. Mrs. Fi-ank<br />
Boucher and Mrs. Clark Davis opened a booth<br />
in the lobby of the Shoreham hotel Tuesday<br />
Stony Creek (Va.) Drive-In was<br />
closed several weeks for repairs following a<br />
fire in the booth.<br />
Paramount's "The Great Lover" was sneakpreviewed<br />
at the Warner Theatre Wednesday<br />
evening . . . Charlie Freeman was here from<br />
Charlotte to book the Paramount theatres in<br />
Lynchburg and Charlottesville and the Capitol,<br />
Rialto and Dan theatres in Danville, Va.<br />
. . . Rina Cursi returned to Washington . . .<br />
l/ir. and Mrs. Frank Jones, Midway Drive-In,<br />
Galax, Va., became the parents of a baby<br />
daughter . . . Tom Halligan was on Filmrow<br />
booking the Williamsburg Theatre.<br />
Tom LeCompte was vacationing . . . Robert<br />
Miller has replaced Ruth Starr in the contract<br />
department at RKO vacationists<br />
.<br />
included Ralph Collett, Helen Paul-<br />
son and Dorothy Morrow. The Olmstead<br />
Knoxs were vacationing in Atlanta and<br />
Florida.<br />
.<br />
Metro items: Office Manager Joe Kronman<br />
and his wife celebrated their 20th wedding<br />
anniversary . . . Raymond Dean is new<br />
assistant shipper Dempkish<br />
spent her vacation in and around Boston . . .<br />
Shipper Aaron Armentrout has returned from<br />
a vacation in Atlantic City, New York and<br />
the Shenandoah vaUey.<br />
.<br />
At 20th-Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Sichehnan<br />
spent a week at Grossingers in New York<br />
Inspector Thelma Eltinge still was<br />
state . . .<br />
ill . . . Cashier Emily Watts reported that<br />
her son was out of the hospital and with<br />
her while she was vacationing in Kansas and<br />
Indiana Manager Glenn Norris spent<br />
Thursday<br />
. .<br />
conferring with Morton Thai-<br />
himer and Sam Bendheim at Richmond . . .<br />
Doris Hardin has been promoted to the booking<br />
department . Young's husband<br />
Ben and son Dick returned from Miami<br />
Beach, where they visited son Herbert.<br />
.<br />
Harry Katz of the Kay Film Co. supervised<br />
the local branch while Ann Hanower vacationed<br />
in New York with her mother, who<br />
flew from California .<br />
Valentine was<br />
back with the Independent Theatre Service<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Lust flew to California<br />
. .<br />
Query opened the new<br />
700-seat Center Theatre at Marion, Va., Friday<br />
night 1 16 1. He will open the new 550-seat<br />
Salt Theatre at Saltville, Va., on September<br />
19, and the new 750-seat Trail Theatre at<br />
Big Stone Gap, Va., on October 1.<br />
Clare Cunningham spent the weekend with<br />
ner son in Bristol, Tenn. . . . Booker May<br />
Feldman at Screen Guild was in first place<br />
in the collection drive . . . The Keyser Theatre<br />
at Keyser, W. Va., owned by Mrs. Newt<br />
Carskadon, celebrated its tenth anniversary<br />
September 25.<br />
RKO Sets Tradeshowings<br />
Of Five New Features<br />
NEW YORK—RKO has scheduled tradeshowings<br />
of five new features in all exchange<br />
centers on September 20, 21 and 22. The single<br />
exception is Seattle, where the pictures<br />
will be screened the day previous to the regular<br />
showing.<br />
"I Married a Communist," starring Laraine<br />
Day and Robert Ryan, will be shown September<br />
20; "Arctic Fury" will be shown the same<br />
day; "They Live by Night," starring Farley<br />
Granger and Cathy O'Donnell, will be shown<br />
September 21, and "Strange Bargain," with<br />
Jeffrey Lynn and Martha Scott, will be shown<br />
the same day. "Masked Raiders," a Tim<br />
Holt western, will be shown September 22.<br />
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Fabian Will Speak on TV<br />
At RCA Demonstration<br />
NEW YORK—S. H. Fabian, president of<br />
Fabian Theatres, will talk on theatre television<br />
September 28 at a Radio Corp. of<br />
America demonstration of its newest TV<br />
equipment at the annual TESMA-TEDA convention<br />
at the Hotel Stevens, Chicago.<br />
The RCA display wUl include the latest<br />
Brenkert projectors, the new Brenkert Hi-<br />
Enarc and supertensity lamps, weatherproof<br />
In-car speakers and junction boxes featuring<br />
dual-beam roadway and post lighting, drive-in<br />
sound systems and a new series of vinyl plastic<br />
theatre screens. The theatre equipment<br />
section of the engineering products department<br />
will hold a meeting of its sales representatives<br />
and dealers at the hotel September<br />
23, 24.<br />
CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER—John Turner, former Warner Bros, film buyer<br />
here, is feted by associates on his appointment as Philadelphia branch manager for<br />
United Artists.<br />
At the dinner were, left to right, Stewart Aarons, WB legal department;<br />
Mark Silver, UA district manager; Ted Schlanger, WB Philadelphia zone manager;<br />
Paul Lazarus jr., executive vice-president and assistant to Gradwell Sears, UA president;<br />
Turner; Eddie Schnitzer, UA sales manager, and Lester Krieger, assistant zone<br />
manager, WB Philadelphia Theatres. A television set given Turner by his friends<br />
is<br />
shown on the table.<br />
.- 1;<br />
»»<br />
BOXOFHCE September 17, 1949<br />
39
Bamberger Asks for Use<br />
Of More Children's Films<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—Many exhibitors are not<br />
using the recommended films for children's<br />
matinees because they are under the impression<br />
that the list has been played out, it developed<br />
at the New Jersey convention.<br />
In a discussion which developed as a result<br />
of a speech by Leon J. Bamberger of RKO,<br />
it was made clear that a green paper list of<br />
new product can be obtained for these shows,<br />
and Andy W. Smith jr. of 20th Century-Fox<br />
said complaints that prints are not available<br />
could be eliminated by transferring prints<br />
from one exchange to another and by furnishing<br />
additional prints. He promised his<br />
cooperation.<br />
Bamberger made a plea for greater use of<br />
the children's show films as a part of the<br />
public relations effort.<br />
He said the Children's Film Library, now<br />
in its third year of operation, is being used<br />
by over 3,500 theaties "and more are availing<br />
themselves of its advantages every<br />
month." The library, he said, now contains<br />
55 features, the titles of which are about<br />
equally divided among Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of America members. He urged his hearers<br />
to get a copy of the booklet obtainable at<br />
the MPAA New York offices, 28 West 44th<br />
St., and pointed out that it contains many<br />
suggestions for securing civic cooperation in<br />
putting on the shows.<br />
Bamberger pointed out that only one print<br />
of each film is kept in an exchange and<br />
service is on a "first come, first sei-ved" basis.<br />
In addition to the listed films, sales managers<br />
have agreed to furnish recommended<br />
films out of regular release, provided they<br />
have completed all possible nms in each<br />
situation. In addition, it is possible to play<br />
a highly recommended film Saturday mornings<br />
at the usual matinee prices, provided<br />
adults pay the regular fare. This is in cases<br />
where the film has been booked on the<br />
regular weekend program.<br />
"As so many pictures carry the CPR or<br />
CPA endorsement, this enables you to use<br />
the special CPL (Children's Film Library)<br />
pictures on only those Saturdays that you<br />
do not happen to have a recommended attraction<br />
on your regular program, and, therefore,<br />
you can keep a larger reserve of available<br />
material," Bamberger said.<br />
He pointed out that during the past year<br />
34 features had been put in the highly recommended<br />
category.<br />
Bamberger then said exhibitors should receive<br />
regularly a green sheet called "Joint<br />
Estimates of Current Motion Pictiires" published<br />
by the MPAA, and that if they were<br />
not receiving it they should ask to be put<br />
on the mailing list.<br />
It was this reference to a green sheet which<br />
developed the fact that many Jersey Allied<br />
members had not heard of it.<br />
Year of Victory, Declares Lachman<br />
At A/ew Jersey Allied Convention<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—In his annual report<br />
to Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey presented<br />
at the opening session of the 30th<br />
annual convention at the Ritz-Carlton Ed<br />
Lachman, president, described 1949 as a year<br />
of victory, both nationally and in the state.<br />
"That the pictm-es produced for a free<br />
market will exceed in quality those made for<br />
the controlled market, there can be no doubt,"<br />
he declared in discussing the effects of the<br />
antitrust decisions.<br />
"It should be the duty of every Allied unit,<br />
including that of New Jersey, to see, to watch,<br />
and even to police, so divested theatres do<br />
not continue the obnoxious practices of unreasonable<br />
clearances, print preferences, price<br />
discrimination and over-bidding in certain<br />
situations," he asserted.<br />
In his discussion of New Jersey legislative<br />
problems, Lachman said they had been<br />
a "constant threat," the most serious of which<br />
was a censorship bill fostered by "powerful<br />
political forces in Newark." With the<br />
help of other organizations this bill had been<br />
defeated and had saved exhibitors much "aggravation<br />
and annoyance."<br />
Lachman described a coming referendum<br />
on bingo as a threat to show business, and<br />
he called for a miited front in combating it,<br />
because it is a "hot potato" in an election<br />
year. He proposed an educational campaign<br />
against this "insidious type of gambling."<br />
Among the state public relations activities,<br />
he reported, was active cooperation with Gov.<br />
Alfred E. DriscoU in his efforts to secure<br />
employment for the physically handicapped,<br />
numerous addresses before Parent-Teacher<br />
groups, an active effort in behalf of National<br />
Brotherhood week, and a share in the<br />
bond drive, in which Lachman served as cochairman.<br />
Lachman was warm in his praise of George<br />
Gold, chairman of the legislative committee,<br />
and of Albert "Gabby" Gebhart, office manager<br />
for the unit.<br />
A, nominating committee was named to<br />
bring in a report for a slate of officers to<br />
be named Wednesday. The members were:<br />
George Gold, chairman; Haskell Block, recording<br />
secretary; David Snaper, Sidney<br />
Stern, Harry Lowenstein, Irving DoUinger<br />
and A. Louis Martin.<br />
Other committees named: Reception—Lou<br />
Gold, chairman; Haskell Block, Harry H.<br />
Lowenstein, William Basil, Morris Fogelson,<br />
Harry Kridel, Sam Frank, Herb Lubin, John<br />
Harwan, David Silverman, George Gold, Sidney<br />
Stern, John Fioravante; ladies—Mrs.<br />
Harry H. Lowenstein, chairman; Mrs. Edward<br />
Lachman, Mrs. Lou Gold, Mrs. George Gold,<br />
Mrs. Irving DoUinger, Mrs. Haskell Block,<br />
Mrs. Morris Fogelson, Mrs. Sidney Stern, Mrs.<br />
Lou Baurer, Mrs. Lou Martin, Mrs. Henry<br />
Brown, Mrs. John Fioravante; golf—Lee Newbury,<br />
chairman; Sam Frank, Henry Brown,<br />
Joe Siccardi; resolutions—George Gold, chairman;<br />
Jack Unger, Irving DoUinger, Louis<br />
Baurer.<br />
Jersey Convention Notes<br />
Atlantic City<br />
A TLANTIC CITY was brUliantly illuminated<br />
late Monday night. Fire whistles blew<br />
and the Steel pier became a mass of flames<br />
and sparks. Nearly everybody in the city, including<br />
most of the Allied delegates, turned<br />
out to watch the spectacle. As a result, everybody<br />
was up imtU 5 a. m. and the Tuesday<br />
session started late.<br />
* * *<br />
A golf tournament was scheduled for Tuesday<br />
afternoon, but a southeast wind accompanied<br />
by high surf, a pelting rain and occasional<br />
mists kept the would-be golfers indoors.<br />
* * *<br />
A coming New Jersey referendum on<br />
whether or not bingo shall be legalized is<br />
scheduled for a concerted camijaign of opposition<br />
by Allied. Wives of the delegates<br />
have only an academic interest in this. They<br />
played bingo Tuesday afternoon at a long<br />
table in one of the public rooms of the Ritz<br />
Carlton. And had fiui!<br />
* * *<br />
Ed Kintel of Baltimore aroused the enthusiasm<br />
of the delegates by describing the<br />
highlights of the public relations campaign<br />
there. At the end of his talk he received a<br />
telephone call and came back and announced<br />
a film carriers' strike had started.<br />
* * *<br />
There was a run on the soft drink, candy<br />
and popcorn booths near the entrance to the<br />
ballroom. About 200 delegates to a pottery<br />
makers' convention stopped for samples. They<br />
all looked like exhibitors— vei-y prosperous.<br />
* » *<br />
Benny Berger of Northwest Allied, who gets<br />
things off his chest in his convention speeches,<br />
came into the convention room and sat beside<br />
Andy W. Smith jr. of 20th-Fox. They chatted<br />
amicably—they are joint authors of the<br />
Smith-Berger conciliation plan—but that<br />
didn't prevent Berge* from a rapid-fire discharge<br />
of verbal shots about the "robbers and<br />
bandits" who have been grinding dovra the<br />
independents for lo these many years.<br />
* * •<br />
Abram F. Myers, boai'd chairman and general<br />
counsel of the national organization, arrived<br />
Tuesday afternoon just in time to go<br />
into a closed session of the board and the<br />
Atlantic seaboard representatives.<br />
* * *<br />
Andy W. Smith jr. of 20th-Fox stirred a<br />
lively chuckle while mentioning big pictures<br />
coming from a number of companies. Among<br />
them he spoke of the success of "Jolson Sings<br />
Again" and advised those present to book it<br />
"if they feel they can afford it."<br />
Para. Ships 52,913 Prints<br />
During Special Week<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount made a total<br />
of<br />
52,913 film shipments during the company's<br />
Paramount week, September 4 to 10, according<br />
to A. W. Schwalberg, vice-president and<br />
general sales manager. The product went to<br />
18,437 theatres in the U.S. and Canada to<br />
achieve almost 100 per cent saturation,<br />
Schwalberg said.<br />
Paramount week, which was dedicated to<br />
the placing of the company's trademark for<br />
some product or service on every screen<br />
in the country, inaugurated the "Gold Rush<br />
of 49" sales drive, ending December 5.<br />
40 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
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,i Affions<br />
D of J, Treasury Okay<br />
Para. Income Tax Plan<br />
WASHINGTON—The Justice and Treasury<br />
departments have approved an arrangement<br />
whereby Paramount stockholders will pay an<br />
income tax on only the 50 per cent portion<br />
of the new theatre company dividends they<br />
actually receive imder the terms of the decree<br />
voting trusteeslrip plan.<br />
The trusteeship plan will withhold the remaining<br />
50 per cent of the theatre company<br />
dividends, pending the sale by the stockholders<br />
of their shares in either the theatre<br />
company or new picture company. They will<br />
pay an Income tax on this 50 per cent when<br />
they receive the accumulated dividends.<br />
The theatre and picture company stock<br />
will be issued and the theatre stock placed<br />
in the hands of a trustee (the Bank of New<br />
York and Fifth Avenue bank) , when the present<br />
Paramount Pictures, Inc., is dissolved and<br />
separate production-distribution and theatre<br />
organizations are established. The trusteeship<br />
plan was designed to assure separate ownership<br />
of the new companies.<br />
Paramount Dickering for<br />
Sale<br />
Of Home Office Building<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount Pictures, Inc., is<br />
negotiating for the sale of the Paramount<br />
home office building to the Prudential Insurance<br />
Co. for approximately $9,250,000. If<br />
the deal goes through, the money will be<br />
turned over to the new picture company that<br />
will be organized before the end of the year<br />
as required by the consent decree. The new<br />
theatre company. United Paramount Theatres,<br />
also to be set up, will then form a<br />
subsidiary company which will lease the<br />
building from Prudential.<br />
25-Day Construction Job<br />
Ends With Ozoner Opening<br />
POUGHKEEPSIE—Harry Lament's 600-car<br />
Overlook Drive-In was opened to capacity<br />
audiences here just 25 days after the start of<br />
construction. Originally scheduled for a Labor<br />
day opening, the event was held up by<br />
minor hitches, including a lost shipment of<br />
equipment from the Ballantyne Co. of Omaha.<br />
The only incompleted work was laying of calciimi<br />
chloride to bind the surface and prevent<br />
dust blowing.<br />
The first bill was "California" and "Alexander's<br />
Ragtime Band." The program will<br />
change three times a week. Admission is 60<br />
cents. A crew of 20 is employed under the<br />
direction of Gerald Schwartz, Lamont's partner.<br />
Lamont expects to keep the drive-in in<br />
operation until the middle of November.<br />
INCORPORATIONS<br />
—ALBANY—<br />
Evans Drive-In Corp.: To conduct an openair<br />
theatre and store bu.sine.ss in Evans, Erie<br />
county; capital stock $200,000, $100 par value.<br />
Incoi-porators: Christian F. Reitler, 1204 4th<br />
Ave., Ford City, Pa.; Elmer Riefler, 37 Westview<br />
Ave., Hamburgh, N. Y., and Christ Otto,<br />
257 Union Ave., Kittanning, Pa.<br />
Hollow Brook Drive-In Theatre Corp.: To<br />
carry on business in New York; 200 shares,<br />
no pai\<br />
Public amusement and<br />
Hogue Enterprises:<br />
recreation enterprises in the Bronx; $20,000,<br />
$100 par; Katherine and Gerald Hogue, 525<br />
W. 238th St.; Laurence D. Kieran, 15 Broad<br />
St.<br />
S & K Film Distributors: Motion picture<br />
business in New York: 100 shares, no par.<br />
Approved FlameproofIng Co.: To conduct a<br />
wholesale and retail flameproofing business<br />
in Kings county; capital stock, 100 shares,<br />
no par. Incorporators: Maldwin L. Fertig,<br />
2770 Kingsbridge Terrace; Ruth Rosenberg,<br />
3004 Cruger Ave.: Samuel W. Smith, 196<br />
Quenting Rd., New York.<br />
The Television Corp.: To conduct business<br />
in television, radio, motion pictures and advertising<br />
in New York; capital stock, $50,000,<br />
$50 par. Incorporators: Crawford Hill, 2 E.<br />
55th St., New York; James J. Flanagan,<br />
Scarsdale; William H. Radebaugh, Hartsdale.<br />
Cinema Souvenir Corp.: Printing, engraving,<br />
lithographing and publishing business in<br />
New York; capital stock, $20,000. $100 par.<br />
Homell Drive-In Theatre Corp.: 200 shares,<br />
no par; Harry A. Rachlin, Erie County Bank<br />
Bldg.; Alfred M. Zisser, 148 Baynes St., Buffalo;<br />
Agnes Baldwin, 65 Kenview Ave., Kenm.ore.<br />
Sears and Kelly Back From Coast<br />
NEW YORK—Gradwell L. Sears, United<br />
Artists president, and Arthur W. Kelly, executive<br />
vice-president, returned over the<br />
weekend from a week's trip to Hollywood to<br />
discuss new distribution deals and financial<br />
arrangements for forthcoming pictures by<br />
independent producers.<br />
NO<br />
PERFORATIONS<br />
20% MORE LIGHT<br />
and BETTER VISION from<br />
EVERY SEAT!<br />
Edgar B. Hatrick Is Dead;<br />
News of the Day Official<br />
NEW YORK—Edgar B. Hatrick, 63, vicepresident<br />
and general manager of News of<br />
the Day and Cosmopolitan Productions, died<br />
at Colorado Springs, Colo., according to word<br />
received here. He was a pioneer in the newsreel<br />
and silent film serial fieldsi and handled<br />
all the film interests of William Randolph<br />
Hearst, publisher.<br />
During the first World War Hatrick served<br />
in this country and in France under George<br />
Creel, chief of the U.S. information service,<br />
and later assembled the first comprehensive<br />
documentary films of the war. He was the<br />
father of Mrs. James Stewart, wife of the<br />
film star.<br />
Other survivors are his wife. Mrs. Jessie<br />
Hatrick: a son, Edgar B. Hatrick jr. of New<br />
York; another daughter, Mrs. Ruth Braddy<br />
of Larchmont, N. Y., and two sisters, Mrs.<br />
George Shindle and Miss Estelle Hatrick of<br />
Lansford, Pa.<br />
Grayson, Lanza on Tour<br />
NEW YORK—Kathryn Grayson and Mario<br />
Lanza, MGM players, who recently appeared<br />
at the opening of "That Midnight Kiss" at the<br />
Boyd Theatre, Philadelphia, are continuing<br />
their tour. Their schedule; September 12,<br />
Loew's Poll, New Haven; 14, Loew's State,<br />
Cleveland: 15, 16, Loew's State, St. Louis;<br />
17, Loew's Midland, Kansas City.<br />
USED THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
All lots in A-1 condition at only $3.75 each. Now<br />
loc^ated along Canadian border. All choits guaranteed<br />
and iull refund will be made if dissatisfied.<br />
Terms offered if so desired. ^<br />
Contact us<br />
today while the selections are unlimited.<br />
ALBANY THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
1046 BROADWAY Phone 5-5055 ALBANY. N. Y.<br />
lii^l^il FLOODLIGHTS<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
,<br />
n"<br />
accordsaw*"'<br />
id<br />
to<br />
fcfor<br />
. street<br />
Serkowich Gets Special<br />
UA Promotion Position<br />
NEW YORK—Howard LeSieur, United Artists<br />
advertising-publicity dii-ector, has named<br />
Ben Serkowich special representative for the<br />
Hakim Bros, film, "Without Honor." Serkowich<br />
wUl assist Al Tamarin, publicity head,<br />
and Mori Krushen, exploitation head, in a<br />
campaign to promote the film, which will be<br />
released early this fall.<br />
Co-starring with Marilyn Maxwell in "The<br />
Last Count," a U-I film, will be Gale Storm<br />
and Richajrd Basehart.<br />
CYCL«RAMIC<br />
The FIRST<br />
Major Screen<br />
Improvement in<br />
30 Years!<br />
Custom Screen<br />
I<br />
*Potent opplied for<br />
Perfect Soond<br />
TransnilssioD • Elitnigatign<br />
^~'---i^^-v-":-:-M<br />
o< Backstage Reverberation • Perfect Visieii in Front<br />
Rens • Setter Side Vision<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN.<br />
THE MAGIC SCREEN OF<br />
THE FUTURE NOW!<br />
Inc.<br />
630 Ninth Avenue New York<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
41
ALBANY<br />
IJarry Lamont will relinquish operation of<br />
the Strand in Philmont September 30.<br />
Fred Herbs, owner and currently manager for<br />
Lamont, will conduct it after that date. Lamont<br />
has been operating in Philmont for<br />
ten years. The Strand seats 300 .. . Inclement<br />
weather affected attendance at the<br />
Labor day matinee at Harry Lamont's Vails<br />
Mills Drive-In and eventually forced discontinuance<br />
of a stage performance by Jerry<br />
& Sky, radio artists. It rained at 11 in the<br />
morning and during the afternoon. The<br />
show was called off at 4 o'clock. Lamont<br />
said that about 100 persons stayed through<br />
the old-fashioned dancing and stage show.<br />
. .<br />
Harry Lamont will shutter his drive-in at<br />
Leeds the end of September and close ozoners<br />
at Kingston, Vails Mills, Lake George and<br />
Middletown about the first of November .<br />
Lou Golding, former upstate manager for<br />
Fabian, now general ma,nager for Wihner &<br />
Vincent Theatres, visited the new Overlook<br />
Drive-in at Poughkeepsie. He was accompanied<br />
by Joe Eagan of the Fabian maintenance-operation<br />
department and Nat Lapkin,<br />
chief of realty. Fabian interests are expanding<br />
drive-in operations in New York. Pennsylvania<br />
and Virginia.<br />
WUliam A. Scully, U-I general sales manager,<br />
and Fred Meyers, eastern division manager,<br />
conferred with Gene Vogel, branch manager,<br />
on sales policies . . . Arthur Newman,<br />
Republic manager, attended a regional sales<br />
meeting in New York . . . Judy Canova and<br />
her Hollywood radio show will play September<br />
24 at the armory in Schenectady.<br />
Exhibitors making the round of exchanges<br />
included Johnny Capano, State. Troy; Morris<br />
Slotnich, Wateiville and Oriskany Falls, and<br />
Kingsiey Ryan, Ausable. Ryan retired from<br />
the State, Keesville, last summer. The house<br />
now is said to be dark. Keesville has another<br />
theatre, the Rex, now in operation ... "I Was<br />
a Male War Bride" was moved to the Ritz<br />
after a good week at the Strand.<br />
The Mohawk and Saratoga drive-in theatres<br />
were joined by the Royal and the Paramount<br />
for an automobile giveaway. The<br />
drive-ins are operated by Fabian-Hellman,<br />
while the indoor houses are run by Neil Hellman.<br />
Extra newspaper advertising space was<br />
used in dailies in the area in connection<br />
with the giveaway, arranged in cooperation<br />
with Gateway Motors.<br />
Herman L. Ripps, assistant eastern division<br />
manager for Metro, was among film men<br />
attending the wedding in Buffalo of Elmer<br />
Lux's daughter and Bob Kallet, son of Mike<br />
Kallet and a staffer in Kallet offices at<br />
Oneida. Lux, now Donald Schine's partner<br />
in Darnell Theatres Corp., which operates<br />
the Rialto, Massena, among others, formerly<br />
served as RKO manager in Buffalo. Young<br />
Kallet works with his uncle Sid on booking<br />
assignments.<br />
J. J. Milstein loins Cinecolor<br />
HOLLYWOOD—J. J. Milstein has joined<br />
Cinecolor Corp. as special sales representative,<br />
resigning as sales manager for the Du<br />
Art Film Corp. in New York to take the<br />
Cinecolor assignment His background in<br />
sales dates back to 1923 when he joined MGM<br />
as sales manager for the area covering Los<br />
Angeles to Kansas City. He was also at one<br />
time worldwide sales manager for Republic.<br />
Tebay Named to UA Post<br />
NEW YORK—Charles H. Tebay has been<br />
named manager of the United Artists office<br />
in Trinidad by Arthur W. Kelly, executive<br />
vice-president.<br />
Paul Waller Manager<br />
At Grand in Albany<br />
ALBANY—The resignation of Milt Schosberg<br />
at Fabian's Grand brought Paul Waller<br />
into the 1,500-seater from the Leland and Lou<br />
Rosenfeld, onetime manager of the Strand,<br />
Schenectady, back into the organization as<br />
chief at the Leland. Johnny Gottiiso, who<br />
had been assisting on a part-time basis at<br />
the Palace since he underwent an operation<br />
18 months ago, now is Waller's assistant.<br />
Frank Cunningham retired as Grand assistant.<br />
Waller celebrated his 16th anniversary as<br />
manager of the Leland on Labor day. He<br />
helped reopen the theatre in July after renovation<br />
necessitated by a fire in February.<br />
Waller began as assistant treasurer of Proctor's<br />
Fifth Avenue in 1920 under Billy Quade.<br />
He later served at the Palace in Newark<br />
under Lou Golding.<br />
Rosenfeld recently was a theatreman in<br />
Detroit. Gottuso worked up from usher to<br />
assistant manager of the Palace. Schosberg<br />
had been with Fabian five or six years after<br />
working for Schine and Paramount. Cunningham<br />
served with Fabian for about five<br />
years.<br />
Schroon Lake Theatres<br />
Report Lower Grosses<br />
SCHROON LAKE, N. Y.—Theatres in this<br />
area ended the 1949 summer season with reports<br />
of diminishing grosses through August.<br />
The drop in receipts was attributed to the<br />
fact that since early July all of the many<br />
camps scattered within a ten-mile area near<br />
here had been operating under a self-imposed<br />
quarantine due to the polio epidemic<br />
in other sections of the state. No polio cases<br />
were reported from this county during the<br />
summer and as an added precaution the<br />
camps voted unanim^sly to break camp one<br />
week earlier this year in comparison to prior<br />
seasons.<br />
Charles Deitcher Dies;<br />
Schenectady Showman<br />
SCHENECTADY — Charles Deitcher, 53,<br />
well-known local exhibitor, died at Ellis hospital<br />
here after suffering a heart attack.<br />
Deitcher had conducted the Lincoln here<br />
for several years. Prior to that he was at<br />
the Palace in Schenectady. He also was a<br />
partner of Isador Bernstein and had been<br />
an active exhibitor for about 15 years. He is<br />
survived by his wife, a son Robert and a<br />
brother. Services were held in Albany at the<br />
Silberg Memorial chapel with burial in<br />
Sharah Tephilah cemetery, Troy.<br />
THE NEW DRYDEN THEATRE—The above is an architect's conception of the<br />
entrance to the Drydcn Theatre at the north end of the Eastman House in Rochester,<br />
N. Y. The theare is named after Mr. and Mrs. George B. Dryden of Evanston, 111.,<br />
who have contributed 8200,000 for the project. Mrs. Dryden is a niece of George Eastman.<br />
The theatre will be of the stadium-type and have a seating capacity of about<br />
600. The George Eastman House is the home of George Eastman, founder of the Eastman<br />
Kodak Co. It will be an institute for the "display and demonstration of the art<br />
and science of photography."<br />
McCabe Joins Eagle Lion<br />
As Syndicate Contact<br />
NEW YORK—Tom McCabe, recently syndicate,<br />
magazine and newspaper contact man<br />
for Margaret Ettinger, has been named syndicate<br />
and column contact for Eagle Lion by<br />
Leon Brandt, advertising, publicity and exploitation<br />
director. McCabe also has been<br />
connected with 20th Century-Fox. The Eagle<br />
Lion contact staff now consists of Ruth Cosgrove,<br />
handling fan and national magazines<br />
and radio; Phil Cowan, in charge of tradepapers<br />
and daily newspapers, and McCabe.<br />
42<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
New Anglo-U.S. Pact<br />
To Stir Up Debate<br />
LONDON—The withdrawal of Universal-<br />
International from the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of America B pool is thought here to have<br />
strengthened the hand of the board of trade<br />
in the negotiations for a new Anglo-American<br />
monetary agreement due before the end of<br />
the year. The board is expected to demand<br />
a more specific agreement calling for more<br />
U.S. showing of British product and increased<br />
investments of frozen funds in British production,<br />
in return for the $17,000,000 remittable<br />
in dollars.<br />
The board recently approved the remittance<br />
of $500,000 to American companies beyond<br />
the $17,000,000 as an interim sum for the<br />
earnings of British films in the U.S. for the<br />
six months ending Dec. 31, 1948. The final<br />
sum for the period is not expected to exceed<br />
$4,000,000. U.S. remittances for British films<br />
are .decreasing fast and could become nonexistent<br />
by the end of this year. This is not<br />
because fewer British films are showing in<br />
the U.S., but because of altered Anglo-<br />
American relations. Joint production deals<br />
and purchases of British negative rights may<br />
help to promote exhibition in the U.S. but<br />
don't help Britain doUarwise.<br />
Disagreement over details of a new Anglo-<br />
American agreement is certain and may delajr<br />
a decision imtil early in 1950. It will<br />
center around a formula for estimating British<br />
film earnings. U.S. film men want to<br />
use as a base all boxoffice receipts less distribution<br />
costs and import duties. The board<br />
of trade wants taken into accoimt dollar payments<br />
to American stars and other advances<br />
In connection with British production, and<br />
the earnings to be computed on an absolute<br />
net basis.<br />
Final Republic Meeting<br />
Addressed by Yates<br />
NEW YORK—Republic held its third and<br />
last in the current series of sales meetings at<br />
the home office September 15, 16, with James<br />
R. Grainger, executive vice-president in<br />
charge of sales and distribution, presiding.<br />
Herbert J. Yates, president and chairman of<br />
the board, described forthcoming product.<br />
Other home office executives present were<br />
Edward L. Walton, assistant general sales<br />
manager; Walter L. Titus jr., division manager;<br />
John Curtin, executive assistant to<br />
Grainger; A. E. Schiller, manager of branch<br />
operations; Richard Yates, service depart-<br />
"nt, and John Alexander, contract department<br />
manager.<br />
Branch managers were William Murphy,<br />
New York; Norman Silverman, Philadelphia;<br />
Arthur Newman, Albany; Leon A. Herman,<br />
Buffalo; Frank Dorvin, Boston; Jerome<br />
Lewis, New Haven; I. T. Sweeney, Pittsburgh;<br />
George H. Kirby, Cincinnati; Jake Flax,<br />
Washington; E. H. Brauer, Atlanta; J. H. Dillon,<br />
Charlotte, and Harold Laird, Tampa.<br />
Release Two Jewish Films<br />
NEW YORK—Elias Marks and David Fine<br />
of Jewish Films Distributors have arranged<br />
with Globe Film Distributors for the release<br />
of "Long Is the Road," postwar feature made<br />
in Germany, and "Sing, Molly, Sing," starring<br />
Molly Picon. They will be part of an all-<br />
Jewish program opening soon at the Stanley<br />
Theatre. Both are spoken in Yiddish and<br />
have English titles.<br />
Adolph Zukor Appeals<br />
For Industry Unity<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—Speaking at the<br />
dinner which closed the New Jersey Allied<br />
30th anniversary convention, Adolph<br />
Zukor, chairman of the board at Paramount,<br />
made an earnest plea for cooperation<br />
between all branches of the<br />
industry.<br />
"There has been bad feeling in the<br />
past," he said. "Distributors have made<br />
mistakes and exhibitors have made mistakes.<br />
At times exhibitors have taken<br />
advantage of distributors. Perhaps in the<br />
future Allied and the rest of us can work<br />
together. We will gain the respect of the<br />
public if we do. Let's settle our disputes<br />
among ourselves and not in front of the<br />
public."<br />
Zukor said he was now 77 years old, but<br />
that he was still looking into the future.<br />
"Public relations should have been<br />
studied 20 years ago," he continued. "I<br />
have no animosity. I am sorry that I<br />
did not meet Abram F. Myers 20 years<br />
ago. Things might have been different.<br />
"Any salesman or exchange manager<br />
can become arrogant. If they do, why<br />
not take up the problem with the higher<br />
officers of a company? I am sure you<br />
will get proper treatment. We are all<br />
in the same boat. We all want to make<br />
a good living out of this business and to<br />
send our children to college. We all<br />
ought to be proud of this business.<br />
"You are bound to have competition,<br />
but we can solve the differences that<br />
arise between us without saddling a tremendous<br />
lawyers' expense on the industry.<br />
Lawyers make more money than the rest<br />
of us.<br />
"It Is high time we faced the future.<br />
I am not afraid of divorcement. I think<br />
exhibitors and distributors can work together.<br />
I want to see the business<br />
healthy and respected, and I think we<br />
—all of us—have the manpower and<br />
the brainpower to make it that way."<br />
'Heiress' Tradeshowings<br />
Will Be Aimed at Women<br />
NEW YORK—The Paramount trade and<br />
exhibitor screenings on the William Wyler<br />
production of "The Heiress" will be held in<br />
small, intimate theatres in branch cities for<br />
the wives, mothers, daughters and friends<br />
of exhibitors beginning October 3, according<br />
to A. W. Schwalberg, vice-president and general<br />
sales manager.<br />
Wherever possible, the screenings will be<br />
scheduled in the afternoon, the most convenient<br />
time of day for women, to whom the<br />
picture has a special appeal. Invitations are<br />
also being sent to women prominent in public<br />
life, the heads of organizations and clubs,<br />
newspaper women and society leaders. This<br />
is in line with Paramovmt's effort to promote<br />
word-of-mouth publicity on the film.<br />
New York to See 'Manon'<br />
NEW YORK—Vog Film Co. has scheduled<br />
"Manon," French film, for a New York opening<br />
in the fall. The players are Cecile Aubry.<br />
Woolf Quiis Rank Job;<br />
Odeon Shares Decline<br />
Michel Auclair, Serge Reggiani and Gabrielle<br />
Dorziat. The story deals with Parisian black<br />
markets and the British blockade of Palestine.<br />
LONDON—^Two developments in the J. Arthur<br />
Rank film empire during the week were<br />
the official resignation of John Woolf as<br />
joint managing director of General Film Distributors<br />
and a decline in the market value<br />
of ordinary shares of Odeon Theatres, Rank<br />
parent company.<br />
Woolf took over his position in 1945. Teddy<br />
Carr continues as sole managing director for<br />
the present. Odeon shares dropped two shillings,<br />
sixpence in five days to 12 shillings,<br />
threepence. The fir.?l of the year they were<br />
quoted at 31 shilling.s, ninepence.<br />
Woolf will now go to work on organizing<br />
a production plan in which independent<br />
American producers have been asked to participate.<br />
He is said to have good financial<br />
backing and would finance U.S. independent<br />
production in England after suitable stories,<br />
directors and stars are lined up. In return,<br />
he would get American distribution rights.<br />
His British distribution company is already in<br />
the process of organization. His new move<br />
puts him in competition with Rank, who has<br />
had Earl St. John, one of his top officials,<br />
in the U.S. trying to make cooperative production<br />
deals with American producers.<br />
J. Patrick Rooney Named<br />
Palsy Group Director<br />
NEW YORK—Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount<br />
vice-president and president of the<br />
United Cerebral Palsy Ass'ns, has appointed<br />
J. Patrick Rooney executive director of health<br />
group. Rooney has been associate director<br />
of the American Social Hygiene Ass'n since<br />
1946. Previously, he was on the staff of the<br />
New York War Fund and a field representative<br />
of the National Recreation Ass'n. Dr.<br />
Winthrop Morgan Phelps of Baltimore, medical<br />
director of the Children's Rehabilitation<br />
Institute, is medical adviser of the UCPA.<br />
Buy "I'll Get By'<br />
Harry Tugend's original musical, "I'll Get<br />
By," has been bought by 20th Century-Fox<br />
for production by William Perlberg.<br />
TKIO AT •QUAHTET' — Philip Cohen,<br />
left, co-owner of the new Cinema Theatre,<br />
Rochester, N. Y.; John Co>'ne. public<br />
relations man for the house, and Morris<br />
P. Slotnick, the other owner, at the<br />
opening; of Eagle Lion's "Quartet." The<br />
overall campaign was handled l>y^,,Max<br />
Miller, EL field representative.: ;:.
Loew's, Inc. and Television Retailer<br />
Join to Boost Each Other's Business<br />
NEW YORK—For the next three months, a<br />
prominent New York apphance chain which<br />
sells a large volume of television sets<br />
is going to promote patronage for<br />
Loew's, Inc. neighborhood theatres<br />
and Loew's, in turn, is going to boost<br />
business at the store. It's a case of<br />
prospective competitors joining up<br />
to build their trade.<br />
Several months ago, Joseph Rudnick,<br />
co-owner of Sunset Appliance<br />
Stores, Inc., sold a lot of television<br />
sets and won his company a substantial<br />
amount of free publicity by<br />
offering free tickets to Broadway<br />
hit shows with each TV set purchased.<br />
The idea worked so well, it<br />
was borrowed by R. H. Macy & Co.<br />
Rudnick then decided to apply the<br />
same prom.otion to motion picture<br />
theatres.<br />
He approached Loew's executives<br />
Oscar A. Doob, Ernest Emerling and<br />
Eugene Picker—interested them in<br />
the idea, and the plan will go on a<br />
three - month experimental basis<br />
Aa MOW ui ui<br />
shortly. During the 90-day period.<br />
Sunset will buy annual passbooks<br />
SuNsn Appliance Stores, .<br />
at full price—from Loew's, good for<br />
Kckarf &3S2A<br />
one pair of admissions any day of<br />
the week, matinee or evening. During<br />
this period, the company will<br />
Types of advertisements being used'.<br />
give one of these passbooks with each purchase<br />
of a television set or any other major<br />
appliance. The tax will be prepaid, and the<br />
passes will be good at any of Loew's neighborhood<br />
houses.<br />
Tied into the deal is a promotion plan<br />
which will plug both the theatres and the<br />
store. Sunset will publicize Loew's programs<br />
over its three television programs, which<br />
total five horns a week—with .Emerling,<br />
Loew's director of advertising and publicity,<br />
supervising copy regarding the circuit's attractions.<br />
The tieup was advertised on the amusement<br />
page of the Daily News of September 9 in<br />
'Christopher Columbus'<br />
Gets Key City Openings<br />
NEW YORK—Universal-International has<br />
booked "Christopher Columbus," J. Arthur<br />
Rank Technicolor film starring Fredrlc<br />
March, for Columbus Day openings at the Victoria,<br />
New York; Keith's, Cincinnati; Allen,<br />
Cleveland; Malco, Memphis; Adams, Detroit;<br />
Lafayette, Buffalo; Rivoli, La Crosse, and<br />
Loew's situations at Loew's, Canton Valentine,<br />
Toledo; Majestic, Bridgeport; Poll,<br />
Hartford; Poll, Norwich; Poll, Waterbury;<br />
State, Norfolk; State, Richmond; Ohio, Columbus;<br />
Grand, Atlanta, and Loew's in Dayton,<br />
Houston and Louisville.<br />
To Reissue Jungle Films<br />
NEW YORK—U.S. reissue rights to "Baboona"<br />
and "I Married Adventure," Martin<br />
Johnson jungle films, have been acquired by<br />
Commander Pictures of 1790 Broadway. The<br />
first was originally released by 20th Century-<br />
Pox and the second by Columbia. They will<br />
be released as a double feature program.<br />
42-B<br />
page of the Daily News of September 9 in<br />
ad and a two-column, 163-line Loew's ad.<br />
GO TO THE MOVIES<br />
FREE^<br />
FOR 1<br />
WHOLE YEAR!<br />
Iff Waiting for You Now at Sunt*) Appllant* Stora*<br />
YOUR SUHSETIOEWS YEAt HOKOF GUEST<br />
TICKCTS FOR YOUR NEICHBORHOOO<br />
LOEW'S THEATRE<br />
OalluOHAdiuaaiAir^r AnrTimt OBCtaWr^t. laiSiWnk,<br />
IWga ^art Br tuhy^r- to Wnd-<br />
CAU MOW u Xkkm i-XiA<br />
BHOW SEASO^J.<br />
N'oa orih lOCtV S CREATEK M<br />
LOEW'S ^!i^<br />
MOVIE SEASON!<br />
two ads—a three-column, 163'-line Sunset<br />
The Sunset ad was headed: "Go to the<br />
Movies Free for One Whole Year!" Details<br />
of the offer and instructions for getting the<br />
passbooks filled the rest of the ad.<br />
The two-column Loew's ad briefly mentioned<br />
the Simset offer, but played up "Loew's<br />
Greater Movie Season" and new films.<br />
The phrase "Hollywood's clicking' used by<br />
Loew's is one recommended at the Chicago<br />
public relations meeting.<br />
Donahue & Coe is the advertising agency<br />
for Loew's and Sunset.<br />
If the tieup is successful, it will be continued<br />
beyond the three-month period and<br />
Loew's may try it out of town.<br />
Zanuck Delays Arrival;<br />
Now Expected Monday<br />
NEW YORK—Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century-Fox<br />
vice-president in charge of production,<br />
is now expected to arrive from Europe<br />
Monday (19). The home office had expected<br />
him the previous Monday but he delayed departure<br />
from Paris. He will come by air.<br />
Spyros P. Skouras, company president, has<br />
said that after a New York conference with<br />
Zanuck lasting about a week, both of them<br />
will then go to Hollywood.<br />
Eastman House Date Set<br />
ROCHESTER—George Eastman House will<br />
be opened to the public November 9, according<br />
to Dr. C. E. Kenneth Mees, president.<br />
Plans are to make it a world center for an<br />
exhibition of photography as an art and<br />
science. About the same time, construction<br />
of the Dryden Theatre, to cost $200,000, will<br />
be started.<br />
20lh-Fox to Release<br />
30 Films in '49-50<br />
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will<br />
release 30 productions during the 52-week<br />
1949-50 selling season, or a minimum of two<br />
features a month, according to Andy W.<br />
Smith jr., general sales manager. The company<br />
will distribute only three or four independently-produced<br />
features, including two<br />
from Nat Holt and at least one from Edward<br />
L. Alperson.<br />
All of the independently-produced features<br />
will be in Cinecolor and in the higher-budget<br />
classification, in contrast to the 1948-49 season<br />
when 12 lower-budget or "B" features<br />
were released. Only the Nat Holt production<br />
of "Canadian Pacific" was in Cinecolor, the<br />
balance being 60 to 70-minute features produced<br />
by Sol M. Wurtzel, Frank Seltzer, Reliance,<br />
Belsam and Marcel Hellman.<br />
The 20th-Fox total for 1948-49 was 36 features.<br />
MGM and Universal-International will<br />
definitely release more features in 1949-50<br />
than in the previous selling season while<br />
RKO and Warner Bros, are also expected to<br />
increase their monthly releases.<br />
New Bill Elliott Series<br />
Due for Early Release<br />
NEW YORK—A second series of eight Wild<br />
Bill Elliott westerns wiU be released this fall<br />
by Astor Pictures, according to R. M. Savini,<br />
president. With the release this month of<br />
"Pioneers of the Frontier," the current series<br />
of eight Elliott westerns will have been distributed.<br />
Previously released and now being booked<br />
during the Bob Savini 45th Anniversary drive<br />
are "The Law Comes to Texas," "Return of<br />
Daniel Boone," "Lone Star Pioneers," "Frontiers<br />
of '49," "The Man From Tumbleweeds,"<br />
"In Early Arizona" and "Taming of the West,"<br />
as well as the eighth Vi the series.<br />
Western Electric Plans<br />
Capital Stock Increase<br />
NEW YORK—^Western Electric Co. will<br />
hold a special meeting of stockholders September<br />
27 to submit a proposal to increase<br />
the authorized capital stock from 9,000,000<br />
shares to 10,500,000 shares, according to<br />
Stanley Bracken, president. The proceeds<br />
from the proposed issue, which will be offered<br />
pro rate to stockholders, would be used<br />
largely for the repayment of outstanding<br />
indebtedness.<br />
The board gf directors has declared a<br />
dividend of $1 per share on the outstanding<br />
capital stock, payable September 30 to stockholders<br />
of record September 23.<br />
Norman Westwood Buried;<br />
Was Orient Film Attache<br />
NEW YORK—Funeral services were held<br />
September 15 for Norman Westwood, 62, representative<br />
for many years of U.S. companies<br />
in the Orient, who died September 13 in<br />
Harkness Memorial Pavilion. Before the last<br />
war, when he was a prisoner of the Japanese<br />
for four years, he was associated with<br />
United Artists and Universal-International in<br />
China. Later he represented Arthur Bank tn<br />
Japan. He leaves a daughter and two grandchildren.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
I<br />
At Theatre<br />
Owners of America Convention<br />
'^- ^.Jin? two<br />
There were evidently a good many chuckles in the conversations<br />
at the TOA luncheon tables in Los Angeles this week, judging<br />
from photographs which emanated from convention hall. Here<br />
are three of the groups snapped by a BOXOFFICE cameraman.<br />
At the left is Ned Depinet, (C) RKO's president, flanked by Harry<br />
Warner (L) and Jack Warner. In the center photo with the broad<br />
grin on his face is that veteran of production, Harry Sherman, visiting<br />
with E. C. Rhoden (L), president of Fox Midwest theatres and<br />
F. H. Ricketson, president of Fox Intermountain theatres. In the<br />
third photo, Y. Frank Freeman, standing a.t right, apparently has<br />
related another of his top grade stories to George Skouras who<br />
stands next to him and Spyros Skouras jr., son of the 20th-Fox<br />
president, and his companion at the right, Pat DiCicco, vice-president<br />
of the United Artists Theatres circuit.<br />
ncieose<br />
^'^<br />
• ?:;:-£ Co.<br />
.ojf.olileK Sep-<br />
.. ., i :o<br />
increase<br />
!«M<br />
, iDi<br />
to<br />
.,•.. j:«rdiii?<br />
'-<br />
T:e P""*^<br />
;- -. nil be »'<br />
.:.:"Ti:.tlit«'^<br />
UA Negotiating Deal<br />
For British Films<br />
NEW YORK—United Artists, which recently<br />
announced 15 American features for<br />
release from September to May, is negotiating<br />
with Anatole DeGrunewald and Anthony<br />
Asquith, British producers, for the<br />
American distribution rights to "O, Mistress<br />
Mine," the picturization of the Broadway<br />
stage success, and several other features for<br />
worldwide release.<br />
Asquith and DeGrunewald, who have<br />
formed World Screenplays, Ltd., to make the<br />
features in E:ngland, formerly produced for<br />
Alexander Korda. The deal is being arranged<br />
by Arthur W. Kelly, UA executive<br />
vice-president. The last British feature for<br />
UA distribution was "Just William's Luck."<br />
which was generally released in December<br />
1948 but has had very few bookings to date.<br />
If the deal for "O, Mistress Mine" is<br />
closed, it would not be released in the U.S.<br />
before next summer, according to Howard<br />
LeSieur, UA advertising, publicity and exploitation<br />
director.<br />
Gala Opening for 'Gal'<br />
At Atlanta Paramount<br />
ATLANTA—Many festivities centered<br />
around the Universal-International opening<br />
of "The Gal Who Took the West" at the<br />
Paramount Theatre here September 14 as<br />
part of the 450-theatre southern territorial<br />
kickoff of the film out of the Atlanta, Charlotte<br />
and Memphis exchanges. Charles Coburn,<br />
co-star, was present and there was a<br />
parade featuring stage coaches and cowgirls<br />
in full western regalia.<br />
Charles Simonelli, U-I executive in charge<br />
of national exploitation, and Henry A. Linet,<br />
eastern advertising manager, came for the<br />
affair. Phil Gerard, eastern publicity manager,<br />
accompanied Coburn on his tour of key<br />
cities, which included Nashville. Birmingham,<br />
Memphis, Charlotte, Macon and Knoxville.<br />
Lees Opening Extensive<br />
Advertising Campaign<br />
BRIDGEPORT, PA. — James Lees & Sons<br />
Co. will place 65 full-page advertisements,<br />
most of them in full color, in Sunday supplements<br />
throughout the country in the next few<br />
weeks to promote Home Fashion Time, home<br />
furnishings industry drive starting September<br />
22. The carpet company, which also sells its<br />
products to theatres, has scheduled full pages<br />
in the Saturday Evening Post, American<br />
Home, House Beautiful, House & Garden and<br />
Sunset.<br />
RKO's "The Bail Bond Story" will be released<br />
as "A Dangerous Profession."<br />
'Magic' Gets Top Billing<br />
In Girl's Channel Try<br />
NEW YORK—Newspaper photographs<br />
showing Shirley May France attempting<br />
to swim the English Channel conspicuously<br />
featured her accompanying rowboat<br />
with the name Black Magic painted in<br />
large letters on the sides.<br />
This was part of the payoff for the financial<br />
aid given by Edward Small, producer<br />
of the film, "Black Magic," to Miss<br />
France and her retinue.<br />
When she, her father and trainer arrived<br />
in England for the channel swim<br />
early this summer, they ran short of<br />
funds. Small in exchange for future<br />
exploitation services placed 1,000 pounds<br />
of frozen earnings at their disposal. This<br />
was about $4,000.<br />
Although Shirley faUed to cross the<br />
channel, she will go ahead with a personal<br />
appearance tour mapped by Small<br />
and United Artists, distributor of the film.<br />
Small also will see to it that she has a<br />
chance for a Hollywood career. When<br />
news of her failure reached him. Small<br />
said she was still "America's sweetheart"<br />
and that he intended to stand by her.<br />
NEFC to File Papers<br />
In Sacramento, Cal.<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Articles of incorporation<br />
were slated to be filed in Sacramento, Calif.,<br />
this week for the National Exhibitors Film<br />
Corp.. which was organized recently by a<br />
group of the nation's leading exhibitors to<br />
supply financing for independent production.<br />
Decision to file the incorporation papers<br />
was reached by the NEFC's officers and directors—all<br />
of whom are here to attend the<br />
first annual national convention of the Theatre<br />
Owners of America—at an informal meeting<br />
just a few days after the Secirrities and<br />
Exchange commission in Washington, D. C.<br />
approved the organization's corporate setup.<br />
Additional exhibitor members will be recruited<br />
by the NEFC, which plans to create<br />
a $10,000,000 fund for bank-rolling independent<br />
filmmakers in an effort to bolster what<br />
NEFC leaders view as an alarming di-op in<br />
the flow of such product.<br />
Presiding at the meeting was Si Fabian,<br />
temporary president, the huddle being attended<br />
by Sam Pinanski, treasurer; Robert<br />
Coyne, secretary; Ben Trustman, legal counsel,<br />
and directors including Edward Silverman,<br />
Sol Lesser, Mitchell Wolfson, J. J.<br />
O'Leary, Sherrill Corwin, MjTon Blank. M. A.<br />
Lightman, Ted G. Gamble, Arthur Lockwood,<br />
George Skouras and Col. Robert Haynes.<br />
New Disney Cartoon Series<br />
Opens With 'Nutshell'<br />
NEW YORK—The 11th Walt Disney series<br />
of one-reel Technicolor cartoons for RKO release<br />
opens with "All In a Nutshell." starring<br />
Donald Duck. Three specials in the new series<br />
will be "Toy Tinkers," December 16; "The<br />
Brave Engineer," April 7. and "Morris, the<br />
Midget Moose," June 30.<br />
Six rereleases will augment the regular<br />
series. The four already selected are "Lone-<br />
.some Ghosts." "Farmyard SjTnphony," "How<br />
to Ride a Horse" and "Brave Little Tailor."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
42-C
Soviet Films Win Prizes;<br />
U. S. films Draw Crowds<br />
NEW YORK—Though Soviet films won<br />
most of the prizes, American films drew the<br />
audiences at the fourth International Film<br />
Festival which closed recently at Marienbad,<br />
Czechoslovakia, where 20 nations entered 30<br />
features and 59 shorts, according to the Motion<br />
Picture Export Ass'n. Irving A. Maas,<br />
vice-president and general manager, had arranged<br />
for American participation earlier in<br />
the year.<br />
The U.S. films shown were "Johnny Belinda"<br />
and "Ti'easure of Sierra Madre (WB).<br />
Now "Arabian Nights" (U-I) is in its 14th<br />
near-capacity week in Prague, and "The Adventures<br />
of Robin Hood" (WB) is approaching<br />
its sixth week in Pilson.<br />
Latest reports from Yugoslavia are that<br />
"Madame Cirrie" (MGM) opened to 100 per<br />
cent business and became the first American<br />
first run to show at the Boegrad, leading theatre,<br />
since 1941. The film also was doing well<br />
in Zagreb, Skoplje and Ljubljana. "Tarzan's<br />
Secret Treasure" (MGM scored in the last<br />
named city with a 30-day simultaneous run<br />
at the Tivoli and Moskva. "A Night in Casablanca"<br />
(UA) opened to capacity in Zagreb<br />
and did well in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Skoplje.<br />
Other MPEA features being currently released<br />
were "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"<br />
(Col), "Watch on the Rhine" (WB) and<br />
"Gulliver's Travels" (Para).<br />
In Vienna, "In the Navy" (U-Ii was doing<br />
near-capacity day-and-date at the Schottenring<br />
and Elite and may overtake "Springtime<br />
in the Rockies" f20th-Pox), which was ending<br />
its second month at the Opern. "Mark<br />
Austria Invites Filming<br />
By American Companies<br />
NEW YORK ^ American production of<br />
films in Austria is the object of a visit to<br />
this country of two officials of the Austrian<br />
ministry for trade and reconstruction. Dr. Eugen<br />
Lanske and Dr. Harald Langer-Hansel,<br />
who were entertained September 13 at a Motion<br />
Picture Export Ass'n luncheon at the<br />
Harvard club. Irving Maas, MPEA vicepresident<br />
and general manager, was host.<br />
Lanske is chief of the ministry's industrial<br />
division, which includes films, and Langer-<br />
Hansel head of the section for tourism and<br />
traffic. They were accompanied by Dr.<br />
Franz Leitner, Austrian consul in New York,<br />
and Dr. Martin Fuchs, head of the Austrian<br />
consulate information and cultural service.<br />
The visiting officials left the next day for<br />
Hollywo6d to confer with production heads<br />
and inspect studios. Others at the luncheon<br />
were John G. McCarthy, William B. Levy,<br />
Herbert J. Erlanger, Frank J. Alford and<br />
Bernard Mazer, all of MPEA, and Alfred F.<br />
Corwin, MPAA New York director of information.<br />
'Columbus' Break in Coronet<br />
NEW YORK—Coronet magazine will carry<br />
an eight-page pictorial synopsis on "Christopher<br />
Columbus," J. Arthur Rank-Universal-International<br />
film in Technicolor, in its<br />
October issue.<br />
42-D<br />
of Zorro" (20th-Fox) was in its sixth week<br />
at the Urania. Doing well in the provinces<br />
were "In Old California" and "Pardon My<br />
Sarong (U-I>, "It Happened on Fifth Avenue"<br />
(Mono), "Two-Faced Woman" (MGM),<br />
"To Each His Own" (Para). "Dakota" (Rep)<br />
and "Anchors Aweigh" (MGM).<br />
In Sofia, "The Life of Emile Zola" (WB)<br />
was still packing the Republica after its sixth<br />
week. It had been shown there in 1940 and<br />
again in 1946. Several more MPEA films are<br />
slated for future release.<br />
In Indonesia, "The Story of Dr. Wassell"<br />
(Para) in a 17-day run at the Capitol and<br />
Grand in Batavia set a new record for total<br />
grosses day-and-date. Opening strongly<br />
were "Night and Day" (WB) at the Menteng<br />
and Globe and "Wnite Savage" (U-I at<br />
the Cinema Palace and Astoria. On first run<br />
in Soerbaya "The Pirate" (MGM) ran eight<br />
days at the Rex and Luxor, and "Call Northside<br />
777" (20th-Fox) ran a day longer at the<br />
Capitol. In Handoeng, "Green Dolphin<br />
Street" (MGM)), on first run at the Elita,<br />
outlasted by two days the eight-day playing<br />
time of "Ride 'Em Cowboy" (U-I) at the<br />
"Varia, but the latter film got the bigger<br />
gross.<br />
In Japan the MPEA hits were "The Yearling"<br />
(MGM), "Welcome Stranger" (Para),<br />
"Mrs. Miniver" (MGM), "Long Voyage" (UA),<br />
"I Remember Mama" (RKO) and "Unfinished<br />
Business (U-I), Other releases were<br />
"The Treasure of Sierra Madre" (WB), "Road<br />
to Rio" (Para), "The Exile" (U-I) and "The<br />
Ghost of Mrs. Muir" (20th-Fox). Just opening,<br />
were "The Pearl" (RKO) and "White<br />
Cliffs of Dover" (MGM).<br />
Reisman Assigns Spiegel<br />
To RKO Post in Germany<br />
NEW YORK—Marc M. Spiegel has been<br />
assigned RKO home office representative in<br />
Germany by Phil Reisman, vice-president in<br />
charge of foreign distribution, because of his<br />
knowledge of the country and the language.<br />
He has been handling special RKO assignments<br />
for fom- years. He left for Paris September<br />
11 for conferences with Elias Lapinere,<br />
Eui'opean sales manager.<br />
Spiegel will headquarter in Frankfort. Other<br />
RKO offices will be maintained in Berlin,<br />
Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg for the<br />
independent operations which will start the<br />
first of the year. The RKO space in those<br />
cities will be in the premises of the Motion<br />
Picture Export Ass'n where the company will<br />
handle the sale and booking of its films, with<br />
physical distribution through MPEA.<br />
New Italian Film Shown<br />
At Modern Art Museum<br />
NEW YORK—"Under the Sun of Rome,"<br />
an Italian language feature which will be<br />
released by United Artists, was screened publicly<br />
for the first time in this country at the<br />
Museum of Modern Art September 8 in celebration<br />
of the current "Twentieth Century<br />
Italian Art exhibition. The film, which has<br />
a cast of nonprofessionals, will open at the<br />
Avenue Playhouse in October.<br />
20th-Fox Will Open<br />
5 German Branches<br />
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will<br />
operate five branches in the western zones of<br />
Germany after January<br />
1, according to<br />
Murray Silverstone<br />
Murray Silverstone,<br />
vice-president and<br />
head of the company's<br />
foreign operations.<br />
He discussed the<br />
plans for Germany on<br />
his retm-n to the U.S.<br />
September 12 following<br />
a three-month tour of<br />
Europe and the Middle<br />
East.<br />
At present the<br />
MPEA is handling the<br />
sales and physical distribution of film in Germany<br />
for 20th-Pox and nine other member<br />
companies. After December 31 its activities<br />
will be reduced to those of a service organization<br />
for 20th-Fox, Paramount, RKO,<br />
Universal-International and Warners. It will<br />
handle film inspection, vault storage and<br />
the physical distribution of prints only for<br />
these companies. They will do their own<br />
selling and booking. The remaining MPEA<br />
members—MGM, Colimibia, United Artists,<br />
Monogram and Republic—will do their own<br />
selling, booking and physical distribution.<br />
LITTLE DANGER OF FLOODING<br />
To date, RKO, MGM and 20th-Fox have<br />
reported progress in establishing branch offices.<br />
The MPEA "exchange" cities since the end<br />
of the war have been Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen,<br />
Dusseldorf, Frankfort, Munich and<br />
Stuttgart.<br />
When the member companies b^in selling<br />
on thwr own aft,er January 1, they will<br />
operate in four or fi^ of these exchanges.<br />
Silverstone thought there was a little danger<br />
of the MPEA-affiliated companies flooding<br />
the German market with product. They<br />
all have agreed to limit exports to 15 films<br />
each.<br />
He said that 20th-Fox will distribute its<br />
own newsreel in the occupation area. This<br />
reel will probably compete with one now handled<br />
by the state department, which has<br />
taken over the administration of the U.S.<br />
zone from the army. The government newsreel,<br />
"Welt Im Film," consists of clips supplied<br />
by the American newsreel companies,<br />
footage shot by state department and military<br />
agencies and British newsreel clips. At<br />
this time there is no indication that the<br />
State department will withdraw the newsreel<br />
even though it will compete with private<br />
reels.<br />
MIDDLE EAST GREAT MARKET<br />
Silverstone then discussed the Middle East<br />
which he said can become one of our greatest<br />
overseas film markets. He refen'ed particularly<br />
to the new state of Israel, and said<br />
that its influx of 1,000,000 educated displaced<br />
persons from Europe was of great interest<br />
to distributors and exhibitors. There is a<br />
constant demand for high quality product,<br />
and also a need for new theatres in Israel,<br />
he declared. Spyros P. Skouras, president of<br />
20th-Fox, has already reported that the company<br />
plans to build four theatres in Israel<br />
and one in Alexandria, Egypt.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
ilDl<br />
KelieiFunc<br />
Hourf.,.
NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER<br />
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager<br />
Britain Is Big Question<br />
In Foreign Film Net<br />
LOS ANGELES—Tempered optimism as to<br />
the amount of foreign revenue U.S. filmmakers<br />
may expect in the coming year keynoted<br />
remarks emanating from Eric Johnston, president<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America,<br />
at a press confeemce staged after his arrival<br />
here for the Theatre Owners of America convention.<br />
American motion picture companies now<br />
are receiving 38 per cent of their total film<br />
rentals from countries outside the U.S., Johnston<br />
disclosed, somewhat lower than last year,<br />
when dollar remittances from Britain were<br />
unrestricted. It is "anybody's guess," he<br />
added, as to what will happen after next<br />
June, when the present dollar agreement with<br />
Britain, whereby the U.S. industry receives<br />
$17,000,000 annually, will terminate.<br />
The MPAA chieftain reiterated, in some detail,<br />
the many trade deals through which<br />
American film companies arrange to convert<br />
such merchandise as textiles, wood pulp, cement<br />
and oil—produced in foreign lands—into<br />
dollars in exchange for celluloid. The industry<br />
has "done very well on remittances" in<br />
the past year, Johnston added, declaring that<br />
he hopes "we can do better" in 1950.<br />
The MPAA executive planned to check out<br />
September 17 for Europe on a joint mission<br />
for the Economic Cooperative administration<br />
and the MPAA. He will visit Greece, Turkey<br />
and other countries and will conduct an extensive<br />
survey of the motion picture situation<br />
abroad.<br />
Start on Chest Film<br />
HOLLYWOOD — United Productions of<br />
America laimched production on a Community<br />
Chest sales training picture, "It's Up to<br />
Us." The film will open with an introduction<br />
by George J. O'Brien, Community Chest<br />
campaign chairman in the Los Angeles area.<br />
Working with UPA are Commimity Chest<br />
executives Guy Thompson, campaign director,<br />
and Ben Wells, chairman of the sales<br />
committee. Also cooperating are Thornton<br />
Sargent of Pox West Coast Theatres, the<br />
Screen Actors Guild and Screen Writers<br />
Guild.<br />
Relief Fund Cards on Sale<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Christmas isn't as far away<br />
as you think. The Motion Picture Relief<br />
Fund has already launched its annual sale<br />
of yuletide greeting cards, proceeds from<br />
which are used throughout the year to purchase<br />
toys, clothing and layettes for the children<br />
of the fund's beneficiaries. Lucile Brown<br />
is chairman of the sales drive committee.<br />
AT TOA CONVENTION—Shown in the<br />
accompanying picture, taken at one of<br />
the exhibits during the recent TOA convention<br />
in Los Angeles, above, are Mr.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Walker, Fruita,<br />
Colo., and bottom, Mr. and Mrs. Victor C.<br />
Anderson, Orem, Utah.<br />
lA Wins in Dispute<br />
Over Decorators<br />
HOLLYWOOD—One of the jurisdictional<br />
tangles which was a primary cause of the<br />
1946 studio strike—a dispute over whether<br />
the lATSE or the Brotherhood of Painters<br />
should represent set decorators in the film<br />
foundries—has been written off the books.<br />
The lATSE came out the winner when the<br />
National Labor Relations Board finally got<br />
around to counting ballots cast last May by<br />
the set decorators, who were offered their<br />
choice of lA or painters brotherhood affiliation.<br />
Last spring's vote-tallying had been<br />
delayed because all the ballots were challenged.<br />
Of 36 ballots accepted (challenges against<br />
15 others were sustained by the NLRB), the<br />
lA made a clean sweep, with the set decora-<br />
thus coming under lA jurisdiction.<br />
tors<br />
Hal Roach Will Start<br />
New TV Film Series<br />
HOLLYWOOI>—Hal Roach sr., who some<br />
months ago disclosed he was abandoning<br />
theatrical film production to devote his entire<br />
time to the TV film market, early in<br />
1950 will start on a series of 52 television<br />
pictures based on American corporations and<br />
how they operate. Under the overall title,<br />
"Industrial U.S.A..," the films will have a<br />
running time of 30 minutes each. They are<br />
being underwritten by the corporations involved<br />
and time on TV stations will be purchased<br />
by brokerage firms representing the<br />
industrialists. The pictures also will be<br />
shown in schools and brokerage houses.<br />
* * *<br />
Pi-oducer Nat Holt is using television to<br />
introduce his new acting find. Dale Robertson,<br />
to the industry and public. Robertson<br />
was presented both live and in film clips from<br />
Holt's "Fighting Man of the Plain," made<br />
for 20th-Fox release, over the CBS video<br />
outlet in Los Angeles, Station KTTV, on<br />
September 12. Holt plans to use the same<br />
TV introduction procedure for Robertson on<br />
a national basis just prior to the November<br />
release of the picture.<br />
* * *<br />
With the purchase of more than 18,000<br />
television receivers in the Los Angeles area<br />
during August, total number of sets in operation<br />
rose to 186,777. it was reported by the<br />
Southern Calif. Radio & Electrical Appliance<br />
Ass'n in its monthly report. The tally of Los<br />
Angeles area TV sets has jumped more than<br />
46,000 in the last 90 days. Estimated at five<br />
viewers per set, television addicts in the area<br />
now total nearly 1.000,000.<br />
* * *<br />
Hollywood gossiper Erskine Johnson, in assooiation<br />
with Coy Watson, has incorporated<br />
Johnson-Watson Productions to turn out a<br />
weekly TV Hollywood newsreel, covering spot<br />
news and "behind-the-scenes" activities in<br />
filmmaking. The reels will be distributed by<br />
TeeVee Films, Inc. Johnson will write and<br />
narrate, with Watson directing, photographing<br />
and editing.<br />
* * •<br />
Manning J. Post has been set by Gordon<br />
LeVoy's Television Enterprises to produce 26<br />
video films for sponsorship by Proctor and<br />
Gamble. Post's Pyramid Pi-oductions will<br />
launeh filming early next month at the Hal<br />
Roach studios.<br />
DeMille, Lasky Honored<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Cecil B. DeMille and Jesse<br />
L. Lasky were awarded lifetime honorary<br />
membership in the Society of Motion Picture<br />
Art Directors at a dinner meeting held September<br />
15 at the Bel Air hotel.<br />
BOXOFTICE September 17, 1949 43
. "The<br />
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES<br />
Barnstormers<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
JEANNE CHAIN, WILLIAM LUNDIGAN and ETHEL<br />
WATERS, who have the lopUnes in "Pinky," will<br />
make personal appearances when the lilm opens<br />
in New York.<br />
Blurbers<br />
Independent<br />
Freelance praiser WILLIAM HEBERT will handle<br />
the advertising, publicity and exploitation chores<br />
lor Louis Mandel Productions, Inc., recently lormed<br />
by Mandel in association with Larry Parks and<br />
Betty Garrett. First film lor the company will be<br />
"Stakeout," starring Parks.<br />
Cleffers<br />
Paramount<br />
FRANZ WAXMAN has begun recording the score<br />
for "Sunset Boulevard," using the studio's symphony<br />
orchestra.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Producer-Director Don Hartman set ROY WEBB to<br />
compose the musical score for "Christmas Gift."<br />
Republic<br />
Musical direction on "Rock Island Trail" will be<br />
handled by JERRY ROBERTS.<br />
"Pioneer Marshal," upcoming Monte Hale starring<br />
western, will be directed by PHIL FORD.<br />
Universal-International<br />
MILTON SCHWARZWALD will score "The Bowie<br />
Knife" and "Frame-Up," with FRANK SKINNER assigned<br />
"Sierra" and "Deported," and WALTER<br />
SCHARF composing scores for "Double Crossbones"<br />
and "The Last Count."<br />
Meggers<br />
Film Classics<br />
ARCHIE STOUT will photograph "Never Fear" for<br />
Producers Ida Lupino and Collier Young.<br />
Lippert Productions<br />
first two properties to be filmed by BARNEY<br />
SARECKY since he joined the company to head a<br />
new production unit will be "Radar Patrol" and<br />
"Daredevils of the Highway."<br />
Monogram<br />
WILLIAM BEAUDINE was signed to direct "Blue<br />
Grass of Kentucky" for Producer Jeffrey Bernerd.<br />
Republic<br />
"Radar Patrol vs. Spy Kings" will be directed by<br />
FRED BRANNON. Franklin Adreon is producing the<br />
12-chapter serial.<br />
Options<br />
Columbia<br />
EVELYN KEYES draws the lemme stellar assignment<br />
in "The Killer That Stalked New York," story<br />
of a deadly epidemic, to be produced by Robert<br />
Cohn.<br />
British character actor MELVILLE COOPER was<br />
signed for a featured comedy part in "The Petty<br />
Girl." A supporting spot in the film, starring Joan<br />
Caulfield and Robert Cummings, went to AUDREY<br />
LONG. Broadway comedienne MARY WICKES and<br />
LYN THOMAS were set for the picture.<br />
STUART ERWIN was set for a comedy role in<br />
"A Mother for May." Added to the cast was SIG<br />
RUMAN. Norman Foster directs.<br />
LOIS HALL was inked for the femme lead opposite<br />
Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette in "Frontier<br />
Outpost." Ray Nazarro directs and Colbert<br />
Clark produces. Set for a role was JOCK O'MAHONEY.<br />
Metro<br />
RJCHARD CARLSON was set for one of the male<br />
leads opposite Deborah Kerr in "King Solomon's<br />
Mines," to be produced in Africa by Sam ZimbaHst,<br />
Assigned to "Devil's Doorway" was FRANK Mc-<br />
GRATH.<br />
Signed to a long-term pact was the dance team<br />
of MARGE and GOWER CHAMPION. First film under<br />
their new contract will be "Show Boat."<br />
FERNANDO LAMAS, Argentine actor and baritone,<br />
was signed to a contract.<br />
Monogram<br />
GAIL DAVIS and MILBURN MOPANTE were booked<br />
for supporting roles in "Six Gun Mesa," new Johnny<br />
Mack Brov»Ti western being megged bv Wallace Fox<br />
and supervised by Eddie Davis. Added to the roster<br />
vrere STEVE CLARK, STAN'^Y AND"FWS, FRANK<br />
McCARROLL, PAUL CRAMER, DENNIS MOORF,<br />
MYRON HEALEY, MARY GORDON and CARL MAT-<br />
THEWS.<br />
JANE ADAMS draws the femme lead in "Master-<br />
Minds." new Bowery Boys comedy being produced<br />
by Jan Grippo. Added to the cast were CHESTLri<br />
CLUTE, KIT GUARD, SKELTON KNAGGS, WILLIAM<br />
YETTER and MINERVA URECAL. Jean Yarbrough<br />
directs.<br />
EDWARD NORRIS was signed for a starring role<br />
with Kirby Grant, Jan Clayton and Helen Parrish<br />
in Lindsiey Parsons' production, "The Wolf Hunters."<br />
Paramount<br />
Producer Hal Wallis picked up his option on the<br />
services of actor DON DEFORE for another year.<br />
FRANCOISE ROSAY, French character actress, has<br />
been signed by Producer Hal Wallis for a featured<br />
spot with Joan Fontaine and Joseph Gotten in<br />
"September."<br />
RKO Radio<br />
DICK CLAYTON joined the cast of "With All My<br />
Love," the Samuel Goldwyn production which is<br />
being megged by David Miller, with Ann Elyth,<br />
Farley Granger and Joan Evans in the toplines.<br />
A featured role in the Claude Rains starrer, "The<br />
White Tower," was hatided JUNE CLAYWORTH.<br />
Ted Tetzlaff is directing.<br />
Stage actor KEITH ANDES has been signed to a<br />
long-term contract.<br />
Tim Holt's leading lady in "Dynamite Trail" will<br />
be LYNNE ROBERTS. REGIS TOOMEY, CLEO<br />
MOORE, ROBERT SHAYNE, ROSS ELLIOTT, JOHN<br />
DEHNER, DON HARVEY, DENVER PYLE and DON<br />
HAGGERTY are set for the supporting cast.<br />
Set to star in the Polan Banks production, "Carriage<br />
Entrance," were AVA GARDNER and ROBERT<br />
MITCHUM. Robert Stevenson will direct.<br />
CLAUDETTE COLBERT and ROBERT RYAN will star<br />
in the Skirball-Manning production, "Blind Spot."<br />
Republic<br />
Title role in the Sidney Picker production, "Blonde<br />
Bandit," goes to DOROTHY PATRICK with GERALD<br />
MOHR. ROBERT ROCKWELL, MONTE BLUE and<br />
LARRY BLAKE signed for supporting parts.<br />
Assigned to a top featured role in "Rock Islcmd<br />
Trail" was BARBRA FULIER, Set for the chief<br />
comedy role was CHILL WILLS. Added to the cast<br />
of the Paul Malvern production was ADRIAN BOOTH.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Hcfnded a role in Producer Nunnally Johnson's<br />
Gregory Peck vehicle. "The Gunfighters," was<br />
ALBERT MORIN.<br />
United Artists<br />
BONITA GRANVILLE, DICK KERR and JOHN<br />
EMERY were set for topline roles in Freedom Productions'<br />
"Guilty of Treason."<br />
Universal-International<br />
ROC HUDSON was set to portray Ca'ptain Kidd in<br />
the Donald O'Connor comedy, "Double Crossbones,"<br />
with CHARLES McGRAW also booked for the picture.<br />
HAYDEN RORKE and STANLEY LOGAN were<br />
signed for featured roles. The film will be produced<br />
by Leonard Goldstein and directed by Charles<br />
Barton.<br />
Inked for supporting roles in "Comanche Territory"<br />
were JOHN CASON. STAN JOLLY. STANLEY PLY-<br />
STONE, JOHN CAT^PENT-ER, JASPER PALMER. EM-<br />
METT LYNN. FELICE RICHMOND and LEW HARVEY.<br />
Leonard Goldstein produces the Maureen O'Hara and<br />
Macdonald Carey vehicle. George Sherman directs.<br />
GAIL STORM and RICHARD BASEHART are set<br />
to star with Marilvn Maxwell in the AoTon Rosenberg<br />
production, "The Last Count," which Crane<br />
Wilbur will direct.<br />
Supporting spots in "Ma and Pa Kettle Go to<br />
Town" went to LFNNIE RREMMAN, CHARLES MOR-<br />
TON and MARGARET BERT.<br />
JESSICA KRAIKE, 8-year-old daughter of Produce-<br />
Michel Kraike, makes her screen bow in "Sierra,"<br />
which her folher is producing.<br />
JOSEPH PEVNEY was set for a role in "Outside<br />
the Wall." Also assigned to the Marilyn Maxwell<br />
and Richard Basehart topliner was CHARLES DRAKE.<br />
Warners<br />
Chinese actress BO LINS was inked for a role in<br />
"After Nightfall." STANLEY CHURCH, onetime mavor<br />
of New Rochelle, N. Y.. was cast in the Bryan Fnv<br />
production. LOIS AUSTIN, BTGIOW SAYER, WAR-<br />
REN DOUGLAS and JOHN MORGAN join the cast.<br />
Additions to the cast of Producer Jerry Wa'M's<br />
Eleanor Parker starrer. "Locked In," oTe WILLIAM<br />
HAADE and SANDRA GOULD. John Cromwell megs.<br />
Scripters<br />
Metro<br />
"American in Paris" is being developed by ALAN<br />
TAY LERNER as an original screenplay, based on<br />
the George Gershwin composition.<br />
Monogram<br />
Actor-writer Charles Lang has been signed by<br />
Producer Lindsiey Patsons to do the screen treat-<br />
ment on "Killer Shark," next Roddy McDowall starrer.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
"Bunco Squad" is being scripted for Producer<br />
Lewis Rachmil by GEORGE CALLAHAN.<br />
United Artists<br />
Producer Samuel Bischoff<br />
signed LENORE COFFEE<br />
to screenplay "Yesterday's Promise."<br />
Universal-International<br />
MARTIN JUROW and RICHARD LANDAU will script<br />
"Air Cadet" from an original idea by Jurow.<br />
Warners<br />
Remake of "Elmer the Great," based on the Ring<br />
Lardner story, is being scripted bv BLAKE EDWARDS.<br />
Jack Carson will have the title role.<br />
On loan from MGM, LUTHER DAVIS is penning<br />
the screen treatment of "A Lion Is in the Streets.^'<br />
novel by Adria Locke Langley, which will be ^produced<br />
by William Cagney as a starring vehicle<br />
for his brother James.<br />
Story Buys<br />
Independent<br />
Actor Louis HaVward acquired "Dick Turpin Rides<br />
to York," by Jack De'Witt and Duncan Renaldo, and<br />
plans to produce and star in the film in England.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Get By." on original musical by Harry Tugend,<br />
"I'll<br />
was purchased cfnd assigned to William Perlberg<br />
for production. Tugend is writing the script.<br />
Technically<br />
Metro<br />
ARLINGTON VALLES will design the costumes for<br />
"Kim."<br />
CHARLES ROSHER will be the lenser on the Technicolor<br />
musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," which<br />
George Sidney will direct with Betty Hutton in the<br />
title role.<br />
Monogram<br />
Production crew on "Six Gun Mesa" comprises<br />
HARRY JONES, assistant director; HARRY NEUMANN,<br />
camera; JOHN KEAN, sound mixer, and JOHN C.<br />
FULLER, cutter.<br />
Production crew for "Master Minds" includes<br />
MARCEL LE PICARD, camera: WILLIAM CALIHAN,<br />
assistant director, and WILLIAM AUSTIN, film editor.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
White Tower" will be edited by SAMUEL<br />
E. BEETLEY.<br />
Producer Walter Wanger ticketed JAMES WONG<br />
HOWE to photograph "Love and Friend," the up-<br />
.coming Greta Garbo-James Mason starrer, which will<br />
be produced in Italy.<br />
Republic<br />
ELLIS W. CARTER is lensing "Blonde Bandit,"<br />
with NATE BARRAGER as assistant director; ARTHUR<br />
HILTON, lilm editor, 5>d FRANK HOTALING, art<br />
director.<br />
With JACK MARTA as cameraman, other crew<br />
members assigned to "Rock Island Trail" include<br />
NATE EDWARDS, unit manager; DICK MODER, assistant<br />
director; ARTHUR ROBERTS, film editor, and<br />
FRANK ARRIGO, art director.<br />
ROBERT MARK, studio makeup department head,<br />
was signed to a new contract.<br />
PEGGY GRAY, head of the studio hairdressing<br />
department for the past 14 years, was signed to a<br />
new contract.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Crew assigned to "The Gun Fighter," new Gregory<br />
Peck starrer, includes JOE BELM, unit manage;;<br />
JOHNNY JOHNSTON, assistant director; ARTIE MIL-<br />
LER, cameraman, and RICHARD IRVINE, art director.<br />
Universal-International<br />
"Deported" will be lensed by WILLIAM DANIELS.<br />
Lieut. Comdr. K. D. IAIN MURRAY, RNR, authority<br />
on pirate lore, was signed as technical adviser for<br />
the Donald O'Connor comedy, "Double Crossbones."<br />
Warners<br />
ROBERT HAAS was set as art director for the<br />
Jerry Wald-Charles Feldman production, "The Glass<br />
Menagerie."<br />
Title Changes<br />
Independent<br />
Producer Frank Seltzer switched the handle on his<br />
upcoming "Blood Money" to WRONG GUY.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
"The Bail Bond Story," starring George Raft, will<br />
be released as A DANGEROUS PROFESSION.<br />
United Artists<br />
Samuel Bischoff's forthcoming production purchased<br />
under the title of "Father's Day," will be filmed<br />
as YESTERDAY'S PROMISE.<br />
Universal-International<br />
Title switches include COMANCHE TERRITOSY<br />
for "The Bowie Knife"; THE BIG FRAME for "Frame-<br />
Up," and OUTSIDE THE WALL for "The Last Count."<br />
I<br />
44<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
Square Dance Experts<br />
'^<br />
- -= J!e!5,<br />
»ili be<br />
"i in.<br />
[v-Fox<br />
- f:!«'- '«,*!<br />
For 'McCoy' Premiere<br />
HOLLYWOOD — The scheduled western<br />
premiere September 16 of Samuel Goldwyn's<br />
"Roseanna McCoy" at the RKO Pantages<br />
here was to be highlighted by a Roseanna<br />
Square Dance Jamboree on the stage of the<br />
showcase. Intricacies of the new dance craze<br />
were to be demonstrated by Bob Osgood,<br />
square dance caller, and 48 experts in the<br />
art. Farley Granger and Joan Evans have<br />
the toplines in the new Goldwyn film for<br />
RKO release.<br />
* i: *<br />
William Wyler's Paramount production,<br />
"The Heiress," starring Olivia DeHavilland,<br />
Montgomery Clift and Ralph Richardson,<br />
will be given its world premiere next month<br />
at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.<br />
Meantime it was ^iven a special preview<br />
showing September 13 for 200 wives of delegates<br />
to the first annual national Theatre<br />
Owners of America convention and was<br />
screened at the Ambassador Theatre in the<br />
Ambassador hotel, Los Angeles.<br />
* * *<br />
Striving for a mass key city premiere in<br />
every section of the country on Columbus<br />
day, U-I executives have lined up 20 dates for<br />
J. Arthur Rank's "Christopher Columbus" in<br />
addition to the scheduled opening of the<br />
feature at the Victoria Theatre in New York.<br />
Meantime U-I's "The Gal Who Took the<br />
West" was given its territorial world premiere<br />
in Nashville and Memphis, September 14, as<br />
part of 450 dates set by the company's Atlanta,<br />
Charlotte and Memphis exchanges. As<br />
part of the advance promotion campaign,<br />
players including Charles Coburn left for<br />
Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Memphis<br />
and Charlotte to make radio appearances<br />
and meet newspaper representatives.<br />
500,000 School Children<br />
To See Task Force' Stills<br />
HOLLY'WOOD—Through the cooperation<br />
of the Los Angeles board of education and<br />
Warner Bros., producers of "Task Force,"<br />
the story of naval carrier aviation, starring<br />
Gary Cooper, half a million school-age children<br />
in Los Angeles will have an opportunity<br />
for a more thorough knowledge of the U.S.<br />
navy air arm. Every school in the city and<br />
county of Los Angeles will display prominently<br />
during the next month a pictorial board with<br />
photos of naval carriers and planes and production<br />
stills made for "Task Force" aboard<br />
the<br />
USS Antietam.<br />
Robert Young to 'Love'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Robert Young has been<br />
signed to star in "Here Lies Love," an original<br />
screenplay by Robert Smith, which will<br />
be produced by Mort Briskin and Smith at<br />
Motion Picture Center studios. "Here Lies<br />
Love" will be the first film on a proposed<br />
three-picture production schedule. James V.<br />
Kern was signed to direct, with shooting to<br />
start next month. No release has been set.<br />
m<br />
HILE they display admirable enterprise,<br />
the salesmanship plans of Pine<br />
and Thomas pose other interesting<br />
possible ramifications.<br />
P. & T., the pair of erstwhile press agents,<br />
widely known as the "Dolla* Bills" and now<br />
producing independently for Paramount distribution,<br />
have broadcast their intentions to<br />
devote 15 weeks out of every year to road trips,<br />
this time to be incorporated into the production<br />
schedules of their upcoming pictures, so<br />
that they can feel out exhibitor and audience<br />
desires in the way of cinema entertainment.<br />
Thomas, who believes divorcement of theatres<br />
from producing companies will render it<br />
imperative for filmmakers to become salesmen<br />
as well, personally went out with Partner Pine<br />
some time ago to ballyhoo two of their recent<br />
films, "Albuquerque" and "El Paso." That experience,<br />
he declared, "proved that it pays<br />
off in dollars and cents when you personally<br />
go out and sell your product."<br />
Now they plan a five-week road trip in connection<br />
with each of the three pictures they<br />
will turn out for Paramount's 1949-50 program,<br />
talking with film salesmen, theatre operators<br />
and the cash customers, and following<br />
completion of their current production, "The<br />
Eagle and the Hawk," will embark on a preliminary<br />
three-week tour through the western<br />
sector.<br />
"In that manner we will find out what kind<br />
of pictures they want, see first hand the needs<br />
of the exhibitor, and be able to produce a<br />
picture that will satisfy the patron and make<br />
money for the exhibitor," Thomas explained,<br />
adding:<br />
"The man who doesn't get out and sell his<br />
picture will find himself out of business. We<br />
intend to sell our product."<br />
Assuming for a moment that other filmmakers<br />
agree with Thomas' prediction that<br />
producers who fail to devote a portion of their<br />
time to selling their brain-children will go<br />
bankrupt, and also assuming that such contemporaries<br />
decide to follow the P. & T. example,<br />
the nation's exhibitors are going to<br />
be busy little beavers. In fact, they'll have<br />
little time for anything other than listening<br />
to sales presentations by producers, which<br />
augmented by routine pitches by established<br />
film peddlers traveling out of 31 exchange<br />
centers—will add up to a lot of salesmanship.<br />
And, as a by-product, an endless series of<br />
devastating hangovers for the besieged theatremen.<br />
Probably, however, the showmen need not<br />
worry too much about that alarming prospect.<br />
The environs of Hollywood are still too attractive<br />
to Imagine many producers, either independent<br />
or major, deserting their swimming<br />
pools and klabiasch sessions to beat the hinterland<br />
bushes for bookings.<br />
Monogram's Lou Lifton advises that "Gloria<br />
Jean, who recently completed a featured role<br />
in Allied Artists" There's a Girl in My<br />
Heart.' has been selected to judge a beauty<br />
contest, one of the top events in the California<br />
Chiropractic Ass'n-sponsored Grand<br />
Festival and Barbecue."<br />
At which barbecue the piece de resistance<br />
was spare ribs, no doubt.<br />
Prom RKO came word that more than a ton<br />
of "the world's finest mountain climbing<br />
equipment" was shipped from the French<br />
Alps for use in sequences of "The White<br />
Tower," which has begun work at the studio<br />
after completion of location filming abroad.<br />
The equipment, the communique added, includes<br />
such "rare and specialized items" as<br />
pitons. cramptons, ice axes, primus stoves,<br />
rucksacks and karabiners.<br />
With all those "rare and specialized items"<br />
at their disposal, both Praise Pvmdit Perry<br />
Lieber and his planting chief, Nat James,<br />
should henceforth be able to climb their way<br />
out of the inevitable morning fogs which<br />
surround the mountain tops of RKO's praisery.<br />
An interesting prospect is posed by the<br />
announcement that Charles P. Skouras, National<br />
Theatres and Fox West Coast president,<br />
has accepted an invitation by J. Arthur<br />
Rank to be the British film tycoon's guest<br />
this fall at Rank's shooting lodge in England.<br />
Remembering what happened in Britain<br />
to the American motion picture industry following<br />
J. Arthur's last hands-across-the-sea<br />
wooing of Hollywood cooperation, it is suggested<br />
that Uncle Charlie select his guns and<br />
ammunition with meticulous care.<br />
Producer Sol Siegel switched the tag on<br />
his upcoming Betty Grable starrer at 20th-<br />
Century-Fox to "My Blue Heaven" from<br />
"Storks Don't Bring Babies."<br />
Lo! the facts of life come to Westwood!<br />
Paramount's publicist-in-chief seems determined<br />
to earn for himself designation as<br />
Siegel, the sorrowful space-snatcher. Witness<br />
the following lugubrious intelligence<br />
from liis department:<br />
"On-the-spot films of the first rescue operations<br />
in the aftermath of the Ecuador earthquake<br />
were made by Paramount News cameramen<br />
and rushed to the U.S. from Quito.<br />
The films appear in the issue of the newsreel<br />
which opens here . . . Another tragedy, the<br />
most terrible forest fire in French history<br />
which killed 80 persons and destroyed entire<br />
villages, is included in the issue. Also shown<br />
is the interment in Jerusalem of Theodor<br />
Herzl, founder of Zionism, after his body was<br />
flown from Vienna."<br />
This reel is just one laugh after another!<br />
Frank Seltzer Switches<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Independent<br />
Producer<br />
Frank Seltzer switched his headquarters from<br />
General Service studios to the Hal Roach lot<br />
in Culver City. His next picture, "Wrong<br />
Guy," Is slated for an early camera start,<br />
with distribution arrangements to be negotiated<br />
later.<br />
Enlarge Western Studio<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Additional proof, if such<br />
were needed, that sagebrushers are here to<br />
stay as a cinematic staple came when 20th<br />
Century-Fox launched a complete remodeling<br />
program on the western street at the<br />
Westwood studio.<br />
Next Pine-Thomas Film<br />
HOLLYWOOD—"The Outcast," an original<br />
screenplay by Geoffrey Homes, will be the<br />
next William H. Pine-William C. Thomas<br />
production for Paramount. An action romance<br />
with a Mexican background, the picture<br />
will be shot on location.<br />
8 ,<br />
i<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 45
~<br />
AoocCM' ^cficnt<br />
T^AVID COPLAN, who until recently was<br />
managing director of United Artists in<br />
Britain, has bought all the shares of a small<br />
distributing company, International Film<br />
Renters, in association with Sir Sidney Clift,<br />
chairman of the 33 theatre Clift circuit, and<br />
Major Andrew Holt, the banker and financier<br />
who is a large shareholder in the company<br />
which publishes the Daily Express. Sir Sidney<br />
Clift will be chairman of the company's<br />
new board of directors, and Coplan managing<br />
director. Joining them as a director<br />
is David Griffith, who is president of the<br />
Kine Renters Society.<br />
IFR will distribute Film Classics product<br />
in Britain including Ida Lupino's picture,<br />
"Not Wanted," and Louis DeRochemont's<br />
"Lost Boundaries." In addition, four Cinecolor<br />
subjects are on the books. These are<br />
"The Daughter of the West," "Unknown<br />
Island," "Miraculous Journey" and "State<br />
Department." Coplan revealed that plans<br />
are in hand to distribute British product<br />
and they will either acquire films or produce<br />
them here under his supervision. Coplan<br />
leaves for the U.S. within the next week for<br />
a three-week visit, during which time he<br />
hopes to negotiate further deals with American<br />
independent producers.<br />
* « *<br />
ONE CHEERFUL SIGN that the<br />
business<br />
may be getting back on its feet is the large<br />
number of waiting lines at the big west end<br />
cinemas during the past two weeks. Practically<br />
every large house playing any kind<br />
of a reasonable program had larg« crowds<br />
waiting for admission and if the film were<br />
a good one the queues were little short of<br />
phenomenal compared with business during<br />
the summer months. As an example, MGM's<br />
showcase house, the Empire, which is playing<br />
"The Barkleys of Broadway," was seen<br />
by your correspondent to have people at the<br />
pay box at 10:15 a. m. on a Saturday morning<br />
waiting to go in and the same kind of<br />
business is being done at the larger neighborhood<br />
houses in the suburbs.<br />
Although the Astaire-Rogers film is doing<br />
very good business many of the pictures<br />
playing the Empire recently have not enjoyed<br />
such success and this<br />
may be the reason<br />
for the new policy which Sam Eckman<br />
jr. announced last week. Very shortly this,<br />
the largest cinema in London's west end,<br />
will go over to a combination of film and<br />
stage shows which will Include plans for a<br />
32-piece orchestra, a corps de ballet and a<br />
chorus of 26 precision dancers. In making<br />
the announcement Eckman says "Our target,<br />
frankly, is to make the Empire the<br />
showplace of the nation, meaning to Britain<br />
what the Radio City Music Hall, New<br />
York, means to America. We shall continue<br />
to present MGM's outstanding American<br />
and Briti-sh films as in the past with other<br />
leading British pictures also introduced in<br />
the programs, but in addition we will present<br />
stage shows and spectacles of every form<br />
on a scale not previously seen in this country.<br />
The Empire theatre originally opened in<br />
1884 and it has been a cinema under MGM's<br />
management since Nov. 8, 1928, almost 21<br />
years ago. It seems more than likely that<br />
the changeover to the new policy will be<br />
timed to coincide with the 21st anniversary.<br />
A pleasant coincidence is that the last live<br />
46<br />
By JOHN SULLIVAN<br />
show there was "Lady Be Good," which<br />
starred Fred and Adele Astaire and, as stated<br />
above, the current attraction is Fred Astaire's<br />
"The Barkleys of Broadway."<br />
* • *<br />
THE SECTION OF THE RANK organization<br />
which makes films for children is one<br />
that receives li,};tle publicity but does consistently<br />
good work in supplying clean and<br />
wholesome entertainment for the hundreds<br />
of children's cinema clubs In existence in<br />
Britain and overseas. At the Venice Film<br />
Festival awards were announced recently to<br />
three films produced by this unit. One of<br />
them, "One More River," took first prize in<br />
the section of films for children under seven<br />
years and second prizes were won by "Riders<br />
of the New Forest," made for children between<br />
seven and 11 years, and "Trapped by<br />
the Terror" for children of 11 to 15 years.<br />
The only British feature film to receive an<br />
award at Venice was Ealing's "Kind Hearts<br />
and Coronets," which was cited for the best<br />
art direction of the year. A more appropriate<br />
award for this picture would have<br />
been for the best screenplay and dialog, but<br />
it is probable that the piercing satire which<br />
is peculiarly English would have been lost<br />
on the Italian judges. "Scott of the Antarctic"<br />
was not entered for an award at<br />
Venice but was shown there and the International<br />
Catholic Cinema Organization<br />
gave it a certificate of commendation, pointing<br />
out that it demonstrated the best qualities<br />
in humanity.<br />
« « «<br />
THE SYDNEY BOX PRODUCTION,<br />
"Diamond City," which Is the first serious<br />
attempt to make a "western" type picture in<br />
Britain, will have its premiere on September<br />
22 simultaneously in London, Johannesburg<br />
and Kimberley.<br />
This is a story built around the early days<br />
of the Dominion of South Africa and the<br />
tough diamond miners who were the first<br />
settlers<br />
there.<br />
It is the first time that a J. Arthur Rank<br />
picture has opened at the same time in<br />
London and abroad. The film is of particular<br />
interest to the inhabitants of Kimberley<br />
since the location scenes were shot<br />
there and many of the local police were<br />
used in the picture. If the film is successful<br />
it may mark the start of several other<br />
outdoor action subjects by British companies.<br />
George Minter of Renown, for one, is known<br />
to be considering the idea of filming a story,<br />
"The Trap," with a Canadian background<br />
out of doors in Wales where there are many<br />
localities similar to the Canadian forests.<br />
• • *<br />
OPENING LAST WEEK at the New Gallery<br />
and Tivoli is the last film made by<br />
Wessex Film Productions before leaving the<br />
Rank group to produce for Korda. It Is<br />
titled "Dear Mr. Prohack" and Is based on<br />
a novel by Arnold Bennett. Produced by<br />
Ian Dalrymple it was directed by Thornton<br />
Freeland and stars Cecil Parker, Glynis Johns<br />
and Dirk Bogarde.<br />
"Dear Mr. Prohack" is a simple, pleasant<br />
little comedy which tells of a senior civil<br />
servant, head of the British Treasury, who<br />
rules his department like a dictator but<br />
who cannot control his own finances when he<br />
unexpectedly inherits a fortune. He is an<br />
easy mark for all the crooks and confidence<br />
men who approach him with wildcat schemes<br />
and is heartily glad when it looks as though<br />
he has lost his fortune and can return to<br />
the Treasury. By a stroke of irony, however,<br />
he finds that one of the more risky<br />
speculations has doubled his fortune. In<br />
spite of that he decides that it Is better to<br />
have a job and goes back to work.<br />
The first half of the film is brilliant comedy,<br />
well written with sparkling dialog in<br />
a satirical vein but unfortunately it degenerates<br />
into farce towards the end—and<br />
not very good farce at that. There is a<br />
brilliant performance from Parker and a<br />
completely delightful one from Miss Johns.<br />
The picture opened to good press notices<br />
here and should do better than average<br />
business since there is a constant demand<br />
for comedy at present. Its purely British<br />
allusions make it a doubtful proposition for<br />
the U.S. market, but suitably trimmed it<br />
could be an art house booking.<br />
« * *<br />
THE FIRST STEP in what should prove a<br />
move toward better labor relations was<br />
taken last week when a Joint Industrial<br />
council for the British film industry was<br />
inaugurated. The JIC will consist of members<br />
delegated by each of the labor unions<br />
working in films and by members representing<br />
the producers association. At a meeting<br />
this week the constitution was approved and<br />
the council should become operative before<br />
the end of this month.<br />
The main job facing JIC when it convenes<br />
its first meeting is the negotiating of agreements<br />
for new salary scales and conditions<br />
of employment at studios here. For some<br />
months the old wage agreement has been<br />
inoperative, although employers and unions<br />
alike have been adhering to the terms. Some<br />
time ago the employers gave notice that they<br />
would terminate the agreement and the institution<br />
of the PIC means that a new scale<br />
can be worked out more easily than if separate<br />
agreements have to be negotiated and<br />
signed with each union.<br />
Three unions are represented: Ass'n of<br />
Cine Technicians, wlikh looks after cameramen,<br />
assistant directors and other technical<br />
crew; National Ass'n of Theatrical and Kine<br />
Employes, which has for Its members the<br />
craft grades of plasterers, carpenters, etc.,<br />
and also makeup staff and wardrobe personnel;<br />
Electrical Trades Union, which controls<br />
all the electricians employed in studios. In<br />
the past there has been considerable dissatisfaction<br />
among film studio staff with<br />
certain inequitable rates of pay which are<br />
inevitable when three separate bodies are<br />
negotiating rates for their members and one<br />
of the main tasks of the JIC will be to<br />
arrange a joint agreenient for all grades.<br />
* • «<br />
BROOKLYN-BORN ROD GEIGER.<br />
who<br />
bought "Open City" in Italy and took a<br />
small fortune with it in America, seems to<br />
have settled permanently in England with<br />
an annoimced program of four feature pictures<br />
to be made here during the next year<br />
or two. Co-producer with Nat Bronsten of<br />
the Edward Dmytryk film, "Give Us This<br />
Day," which has just been completed at<br />
Denham, Geiger has now branched out on<br />
his own with a new company.<br />
On the board of directors with Geiger is<br />
Sir George Franckenstein, who was formerly<br />
Austrian ambassador to Britain and was<br />
granted British citizenship because of his<br />
constant friendship with this country. Also<br />
a director of the company is actor Bonar<br />
Colleano who has been released from his<br />
Rank contract to join Geiger.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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Gross on Vaudeville Lifted to 140;<br />
Other Los Angeles Business Slow<br />
LOS ANGELES—With holdovers the rule<br />
and new bills the exception, first run takes<br />
spiraled downward, the deflation being aggravated<br />
by a continuing hot spell. In the<br />
second week of its revived stage-and-screen<br />
policy the Orpheum finished out in front of<br />
Its competitors, snagging 140 per cent with<br />
eight acts of vaudeville and "Post Office Investigator"<br />
on the screen.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Belmont, Culver, El Rey, Iris, Million Dollar<br />
Stampede (Mono); Angels in Disguise (Mono)....IlC<br />
Chinese, StcTte, Uptown, Loyola Come to the<br />
Stable (20th-Fox): House Across the Street (WB),<br />
2nd wk -...- 105<br />
Downtown, Hollywood Paramounts Rope of Sand<br />
(Para), 3rd wk 90<br />
Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire In the Good Old<br />
Summertime (MGM), 2nd wk 90<br />
Fine Arts—The Red Shoes (EL), 37th wk 70<br />
Tour Music Halls Movie Crazy (MPS); Sinister<br />
Journey (UA), reissue 70<br />
Orpheum Post Oitice Investigator (Rep), plus<br />
vaudeville 140<br />
Four Star Lost Boundaries (FC), 6th wk 110<br />
Guild, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists—Abbott<br />
and Coslello Meet the Killer (U-I): Joe Palooka<br />
in the Counterpunch (Mono), 2nd wk 60<br />
Pontages, Hillslreet—Easy Living (RKO); Follow<br />
Me Quietly (RKO), 2nd wk 100<br />
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern White<br />
Heal (WB), 2nd wk 100<br />
'Roseanna' Tops Denver<br />
With 140 Per Cent<br />
DENVER—Preschool shopping took its toll<br />
at the boxoffice of most first runs. "Rosearuia<br />
McCoy" did 140 at the Broadway, where<br />
it held, and also at two of the drive-ins.<br />
"In the Good Old Summertime" turned in<br />
a good week at the Orpheum.<br />
Aladdin—Come to the Stable (20th-Fox)- The Lost<br />
Tribe (Col), 4th d. t. wk 100<br />
Broadway, East and West drive-ins Roseanna<br />
McCoy (RKO) _ 140<br />
Denhcrm—Top O' the Morning (Para), 3rd wk 90<br />
Denver, Esquire, Webber Anna Lucasta (Col);<br />
Hold That Baby (Mono) ,..100<br />
Orpheum—In the Good Old Summertime (MGM);<br />
October Man (ED- 120<br />
Paramount, Rialto Johimy Stool Pigeon (U-I);<br />
Kazan (Col) lOf<br />
Stable," day and date at the United Nations,<br />
and the Warfield with "Trail of the Yukon"<br />
chalked up a potent 180 per cent. "White<br />
Heat," dualed with "The Lovable Cheat" at<br />
the Fox, also rang up 180 per cent. "Abbott<br />
and Costello Meet the Killer," paid vidth<br />
"Silent Conflict" at the Orpheum, registered<br />
150 per cent.<br />
Esquire Anna Lucasia (Col); Air Hostess (Col),<br />
3rd d. t. wk 100<br />
Fox—White Heat (WB); The Lovable Cheat (FC)..I80<br />
Golden Gate—Easy Living (RKO); Against the<br />
Wind (EL)<br />
- 135<br />
Orpheum Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer<br />
(U-1): Silent Conflict (UA), reissue 150<br />
Paramount, State Top O' the Morning (Para);<br />
Skyliner (SG) - 128<br />
St. Francis—Any Number Can Play (MGM), 3rd<br />
wk. 90<br />
United Artists—Black Magic (UA), 3rd wk 150<br />
United Nations, Warfield Come to the Stable<br />
20th-Fox); Trail ol the Yukon (Mono) 180<br />
"War Bride' Chalks Up 200<br />
At Seattle 5th Avenue<br />
SEATTLE—Brilliant sunshine kept down<br />
gi'osses, but most houses managed to chalk<br />
up fair returns. "I Was a Male War Bride"<br />
was the standout with the first 200 percentage<br />
in many months at the Fifth Avenue.<br />
Blue Mouse Once More, My Darling (U-I); The<br />
Mysterious Desperado (RKO), 2nd d. t. wk 60<br />
Coliseum The Blue Lagoon (U-1); Far Frontier<br />
(Rep) 110<br />
Filth Avenue— I Was a Male War Bride (20th-Fox);<br />
Followr Me Quietly (RKO) 200<br />
Liberty—The Great Gatsby (Para); Blondie Hits<br />
the Jackpot (Col) 90<br />
Music Box Look for the Silver Lining (WB) ; One<br />
Last Fling (WB), Eth d. t. wk 150<br />
Music Hall — Lost Boundaries (FC); California<br />
Straight Ahead (FC), reissue 150<br />
Orpheum—It's a Great Feeling (WB); Post Office<br />
Investigator (Rep), 2nd wk 100<br />
Paramount Rope of Sand (Para); Jiggs and Maggie<br />
in Jackpot Jitters (Mono) -....115<br />
PORTLAND<br />
'Stable,' "Heat' Register 180<br />
As Leaders in Frisco<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Trade at first runs here<br />
continued at a brisk pace. "Come to the<br />
for Quick
'<br />
1<br />
DENVER<br />
Tack Cleary, foiinerly with Fox Intermountain<br />
Theatres, and later manager of the Vogue,<br />
Denver, has organized the Western States<br />
Theatre Exchange and will deal in sales and<br />
trades of theatres. He has established an<br />
office at 436 Broadway . . . Monday noon<br />
luncheons are being resumed by the Rocky<br />
Mountain Screen club. You usually have to<br />
get there early to gel a table, what with the<br />
food being tops. Thursday night screenings<br />
wUl again start for the fall and winter in the<br />
screening room at 8:30 p. m.<br />
Garry Klein, son of Richard Klein, general<br />
manager of Black Hills Amusement Co.,<br />
is confined to a Rapid City, S. D., hospital<br />
with polio . . Marie Wilson, star of "My<br />
.<br />
Friend Irma," was in Denver garnering some<br />
fine publicity for the film, which wUl open<br />
at the Denham. She is making a toiu' of 18<br />
key cities . . . Tom Bailey is taking on the<br />
distribution of Lippert Productions in the<br />
Denver and Salt Lake territories.<br />
Elaborate Exhibits Form Backdrop<br />
For Seattle Orpheum Anniversary<br />
These four employes have been with Seattle's Orpheum Theatre since it opened<br />
in 1937. As a result they were honored when Marvin Fox, manager, organized an elaborate<br />
22nd Anniversary celebration. Left to right: Morgan Denton, engineer; Lester<br />
McJannet, stage manager; Alfred McKay, stagehand, and Martin O'Malley, stagehand.<br />
Harold L. Beecroft, Dallas, southwestern<br />
district manager for Eagle Lion, was in on<br />
a sales mission, conferring with M. R. Austin,<br />
local manager . . . Joe Emerson has a<br />
new Olds convertible, and some of the more<br />
inquisitive want to know why he didn't buy<br />
red.<br />
Out-of-town theatre folk seen on Filmrow:<br />
Elden Menagh, Fort Lupton; Neal Beezley,<br />
Burlington; Walter Houser, Lafayette; Dave<br />
Warnock, Johnstown; Floyd Bigger, Scottsbluff;<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Prank Roberts, Lincoln,<br />
Neb.; J. H. Roberts, Fort Morgan; Lyle Myer,<br />
Yuma; L. C. Scheiddeger, Seibert; Dr. P. E.<br />
Rider and son Gene, Wauneta, Neb.; E. J.<br />
Tuey, Grants, Neb.<br />
Rio at Richmond, Calif»<br />
Sold to Paul Aglietti<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—J. Leslie Jacobs, theatre<br />
broker, reports that the Rio Theatre in<br />
Richmond has been sold by Henry Lazzerini<br />
and Von Smith to Paul Aglietti, an experienced<br />
exhibitor who plans many improvements<br />
to the front of the building and equipment.<br />
The Cortland Theatre here has been sold<br />
to Robert Borovoy, formerly of the Rex in<br />
Oakland by Gingerich and Ray. Ray contemplates<br />
development of oil lands in Texas<br />
while Gingerich will continue with the operation<br />
of his Sunset Theatre here.<br />
SEATTLE—Marvin Pox, manager of Hamrick-Evergreen's<br />
Orpheum, made a real occasion<br />
of his house's 22nd aimiversary celebration.<br />
Among the highlights were a backstage<br />
party for press and radio, elaborate<br />
Osburn, Ida., Ozoner Slated<br />
OSBURN, IDA.—B. J. Dickinson & Garrett<br />
will begin construction on a 300-car<br />
drive-in here soon. Dickinson and Garrett<br />
are Wallace, Ida., men. Osburn is located<br />
halfway between Wallace and Kellogg. The<br />
drive-in will be equipped with Royal Sound<br />
Master car speakers and booth equipment by<br />
the Holmes Projector Co., represented in this<br />
area by L. S. Brown.<br />
exhibits and the tossing of balloons from the<br />
theatre on opening day.<br />
Fox began preparations for the event over<br />
two months in advance. He collected old<br />
stills, oat-of-date equipment and newspaper<br />
clippings. Several days before the launching<br />
of his anniversary program, which consisted<br />
of "White Heat," "The House Across the<br />
Street" and a Flicker Flashback short, he<br />
really had something to show.<br />
Back stage he set up the display, which<br />
included easels of scenes from Academy award<br />
winners; photos of stars who have appeared<br />
on the theatre's stage and screen; blowups<br />
of the theatre's opening ads; shots of historic<br />
events; new and modern projection<br />
equipment and a variety of other subjects.<br />
Then he had press and radio reporters back<br />
stage to see the exhibits. He served cocktails.<br />
All this resulted in a generous amount<br />
of publicity.<br />
On opening day he brought the material<br />
into the foyer where it made an attractive<br />
exhibit. All this was carried in the ads along<br />
with the annomicement that balloons, carrying<br />
cash and passes would be dropped from<br />
the theatre roof the morning of the opening.<br />
Bombs were set off to further bally the event<br />
and as a result he had a huge crowd gathered<br />
about the house.<br />
Further publicity was garnered when the<br />
papers ran a photo of four employes who<br />
had been with the theatre since it opened.<br />
They were: Morgan Denton, engineer; Lester<br />
McJannet, stage manager; Alfred McKay and<br />
Martin O'Malley, stagehands.<br />
BOXOFFICE WANT ADS PAY<br />
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Film Cowboy in Montana<br />
SIDNEY, MONT.—Appearing recently at<br />
the NYA hall here with Johimy Lingo and<br />
his Blue Mountain gang was Rex King and<br />
Sundy, his horse. King, star of western films,<br />
was the most popular man in town with the<br />
younger set during his two-day appearance<br />
when he taught many small cowboys the art<br />
of rope spinning and how to shoot a gun 30<br />
times without reloading.<br />
Glenn Coffey Manages Ritz<br />
HAYWARD, CALIF.—The Ritz Theatre<br />
here, new half-million dollar showcase,<br />
opened September 7 with Glenn H. Coffey<br />
of Alameda in charge. He formerly was manager<br />
of Golden State and Blumenfeld theatres<br />
in the area. The 945-seat Ritz is a first<br />
run house.<br />
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you with any problem iwhatsoever<br />
relating to Theatres . . .<br />
indoor or drive-in.<br />
RCA-BRENKERT MAKES<br />
CUSTOMERS<br />
327 Golden Gate Ave. HEmlock 1-8302<br />
San Francisco,<br />
Calii.<br />
jlJlliS.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
49
. . Vandalism<br />
. . The<br />
. . Thys<br />
.,<br />
•<br />
PARTNERSHIP FORMED—A new partnership,<br />
Popkin-Stiefel-Dempsey Productions,<br />
gets rolling on the set of "The Big Wheel" as Jack Dempsey, second, from left,<br />
former heavyweight champion, meets with Harry M. Popkin, left, and Sam Stiefel,<br />
right, his new associates. The film stars Mickey Rooney, center, standing next to<br />
blond EUye MarshaU, featured in "Champagne for Caesar," another Popkin production.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
n bandit held up the Paramount Theatre<br />
here and escaped with $125. Assistant<br />
Manager Edwin Gtoodford was forced to open<br />
the safe and surrender the cash . . . Another<br />
holdup took place when $1,750 was taken<br />
from the Roosevelt Theatre. The robber was<br />
waiting at noon when Manager Arthur Wodell<br />
and Assistant Robert Olsen arrived to transfer<br />
the funds to the bank.<br />
Felix Hoffman, known to all local Filmrowers<br />
and theatremen, died recently. Among<br />
the pallbearers were Mark Ailing, manager<br />
of the Golden Gate Theatre ; Howard Creighton,<br />
his assistant; Prank O'Leary, electrician,<br />
and Al Dunn, manager of the Orpheum.<br />
Bill Laurie of the Vista in Isleton was taken<br />
to the hospital with appendicitis . . . The<br />
unofficial ban against theatres and public<br />
meetings in Grass Valley has been lifted.<br />
The ban was put into effect due to the polio<br />
scare . at the Empire Theatre<br />
in Placerville has mounted recently and Tom<br />
Hall, manager, has asked filmgoers to report<br />
any acts of vandalism immediately.<br />
"Rope of Sand," which opened at the St.<br />
IDEAL<br />
MODERN<br />
THEATRE<br />
SEATING<br />
(^mnJiCi^iieddi<br />
UNderhiU 1-7571<br />
187 Golden Gala Ave. San Francisco 2. Cilii.<br />
SO<br />
Francis, had a splendid promotion with a<br />
tiein between the theatre and a local jewelry<br />
store. About $1,800 worth of diamonds were<br />
given away and a display of diamonds worth<br />
a quarter of a million dollars was shown in<br />
the theatre lobby.<br />
.<br />
Agnes Cannon, cashier at Monogram, was<br />
vacationing in Merced . . Georgia Brandon<br />
is the new girl at the Warners exchange.<br />
She hails from Mill Valley . . . Joe Hanley,<br />
office manager at WB, returned from his vacation<br />
at Pinecrest . . . Mike Carney, army<br />
motion picture service, visited the Row . . .<br />
Ruth Gilbert, secretary to J. Saul, theatre<br />
broker, has been following the Tokyo Rose<br />
treason trial with much interest. She attended<br />
one of its sessions.<br />
Seems as if the Walter Pieddey Co., theatrical<br />
supply house, has the corner on rear<br />
screen projection in San Francisco. The new<br />
Post Theatre at the Presidio and the Nob<br />
Hill are the only two rear screen theatres<br />
in the city. Both are equipped with new<br />
Century projectors. The Post is scheduled to<br />
open September 20 and is equipped with Ideal<br />
chairs from Preddey.<br />
Harry Ostler, formerly of the American<br />
Theatre, Winnemucca, Nev., was visiting on<br />
Filmrow . Cortland, operated by Robert<br />
Ginnerich, has been sold to Bob Borovoy,<br />
former manager for Arthur Barnett at the<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur<br />
Rex in Oakland , . .<br />
Barnett of the Rex, Oakland, are again on<br />
the go. A post card was received from Havana,<br />
Cuba.<br />
The Ritz, Huron, Calif., has been opened<br />
THEATRE /ALE/<br />
J.D.ARAKELIAN<br />
IS rAVLOK SA N TMHCISCO 2<br />
PHONE PROSPECT S-7146<br />
by R. D. Ruff. Sound and projection equipment<br />
and Ideal chairs were installed by Preddey<br />
. . . Mr. and Mrs. Scott Chestnutt of the<br />
Columbia in Firebaugh have started extensive<br />
remodeling. They will install Ideal chairs.<br />
. . .<br />
Randall Goldenson, who operates the Tobin<br />
at Tobin, has opened the new Plumas. The<br />
Hal<br />
theatre is a quonset-type structure<br />
Miller and Bob Coffman were in town. They<br />
are preparing to open the new Vecino Theatre<br />
in Chico.<br />
K. O. Bemis, manager for the Walter Preddey<br />
Co., left for Chicago to attend the annual<br />
Burt Schweitzer, Los<br />
trade convention . . .<br />
Altos, is new manager of the Altos, succeeding<br />
Davis Petersen who left to take over duties<br />
with Western Theatrical Equipment Co.<br />
Schweitzer has been assistant manager at the<br />
Altos since it opened last spring. His appointment<br />
was announced by Hal Honore, district<br />
manager.<br />
. .<br />
Tony Mistlin, Metro Motors and formerly<br />
with RKO exchange, bought a new Hudson.<br />
The following day, he bought a new house<br />
in Marin. The next day he married Joan<br />
Phillips in Reno, and then honeymooned at<br />
Lake Tahoe ... At the Variety Club, the<br />
board of canvasmen decided that since their<br />
social activities are one of the main features<br />
of the club and since they want the forthcoming<br />
season to top past seasons, they would<br />
appoint Paul Spier as chairman of activities.<br />
Spier is publisher of the local Amusement<br />
Guide publication . Dick Flynn is the new<br />
manager of the Variety Club, replacing S.<br />
Lewicki.<br />
Clarence Wasserman, Roxy, Sacramento,<br />
was seen along Filmrow having lunch with<br />
his old school chum, Earle Williams of Royal<br />
Amusements, Ltd. . . . Peter Fat, Royal Phillippine<br />
Films, went to Los Angeles on business<br />
. . . Earl Lyons is new salesman at<br />
Eagle Lion here.<br />
Chan Carpenter, salesman at Film Classics,<br />
is the father of a babji girl named Catherine<br />
Louise . Winkel has taken over the<br />
buying and booking of his own theatres from<br />
Affiliated. They are the Pix, Oakland, Rio,<br />
Rodeo and the Times in Richmond.<br />
Mathew Allen Is Stricken;<br />
Manager of El Capitan<br />
LOS ANGELES—Mathew Allen, 61, part<br />
owner and manager of the El Capitan Theatre<br />
in Hollywood since 1941, died at his North<br />
Hollywood home Saturday l3) after a long<br />
illness. Born in Chicago, Allen had been engaged<br />
in show business since the age of 13.<br />
He was a company manager for Producer<br />
John Golden in New York for more than 15<br />
years.<br />
Allen initiated the policy of taking live<br />
shows to ai-my camps during World War I.<br />
He came to California as company manager<br />
for Hem-y Duffy at the old El Capitan in<br />
1923. He managed and produced more than<br />
150 plays there. When that theatre was sold<br />
to Paramount, Allen and his partners bought<br />
the present El Capitan and booked in Ken<br />
Murray's Blackouts, which ran continuously<br />
until it closed two weeks ago for a New York<br />
run. Services were conducted Tuesday with<br />
interment at Los Altos.<br />
Composes Two U-I Scores<br />
Walter Scharf will compose the scores for<br />
the U-I "Double Crossbones" and "The Last<br />
Count."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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S E ATT LE<br />
. .<br />
n mong Modern Theatre Supply Service managers<br />
who attended a meeting here were<br />
R. L. Schultz, district sales manager for<br />
RCA; Stub Schultz, service manager; W. D.<br />
Cooley and Harold Gray, Seattle; Harry<br />
Quackenbush, Spokane; Spence Egan, Great<br />
Palls, Ont., and Louis Gibbs and Don Howard,<br />
Portland . Roy Brown, formerly with<br />
Evergreen circuit and Ted Gamble Enterprises,<br />
has been named general manager of<br />
the Jesse Jones Theatres in Portland and<br />
Dallas, Ore.<br />
Joe Rosenfield will open his new drive-in<br />
on Spokane's East Sprague street soon . . .<br />
Among those attending the Ellensbm'g, Wash,,<br />
rodeo were Bud Brody, branch manager for<br />
National Screen Service, and Bill Shartin,<br />
northwest manager for FC . Rodenburg,<br />
secretary to Ralph Abbett, Monogram<br />
head, has moved to California, and has been<br />
succeeded by Elizabeth Nichols.<br />
Jack Thatcher, Northwest Film Service<br />
driver for the last 22 years, has retired to<br />
his ranch on Whidby Island . . . Sterling<br />
circuit's nine suburban houses have launched<br />
a program of Saturday afternoon kiddy shows<br />
with the opening of school . Fay,<br />
manager for Astor and Special Attractions,<br />
flew to San Francisco . . . Mercedes Cleveland<br />
has joined the office staff of Favorite<br />
Films.<br />
Frances Seeger of 20th-Pox's cashier department<br />
is recovering from an appendectomy<br />
in Providence hospital . . . 'Vic Gauntlett,<br />
advertising manager for Evergreen circuit,<br />
addressed the Olympia Kiwanis as a representative<br />
of Seattle's Chamber of Commerce<br />
and Mayor William F. Devin on that city's<br />
centennial celebration . . . Frank L. Newman<br />
sr. of the same company attended the<br />
TOA convention in Los Angeles.<br />
Among those on Filmrow were Peter Koppinger,<br />
Montesano; Earl Stierwalt, McCleary;<br />
Loren Wahl, Bellingham; Art Zabel, Olympia,<br />
and Martin Brown, Yakima.<br />
Groups Move to Oppose<br />
Return of Fast Time<br />
LOS ANGELES—Opposition to daylight<br />
saving time, retirrn of which will be voted<br />
upon at a special statewide election November<br />
8, has been officially registered by the<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Southern<br />
be appointed as mem-<br />
California and Arizona. Four of the organization's<br />
directors will<br />
bers of the recently formed Citizens Committee<br />
Against Daylight Saving Time.<br />
All southern California drive-in operators<br />
also are waging an active campaign against<br />
the fast-time proposal, as are farmer associations,<br />
tavern and restaurant owners and<br />
other business groups.<br />
Rites for Ben Reingold<br />
SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—Private services<br />
were held for Ben Reingold, 60, former branch<br />
manager for 20th Century-Fox in St. Louis,<br />
who died here September 7 of a heart attack.<br />
Reingold retired from the post about a year<br />
ago. Survivors include the widow, Mrs.<br />
Vivian Reingold; a sister and brother, and<br />
his nephew John Evans who is in charge of<br />
the U.S. navy film booking office in Los<br />
Angeles.<br />
Bakersfield Tax Suit<br />
Into Final Phase<br />
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF .—Local<br />
Fox theatres<br />
have filed the final brief in their suit<br />
to nullify the city amusement tax of 10 per<br />
cent on all admissions over 15 cents. The<br />
brief was submitted to Judge Frederick E.<br />
Stone of Tulare. The final document was in<br />
reply to the city's answer to an opening brief.<br />
Judge Stone's ruling will decide whether<br />
the city may spend $213,000 already collected<br />
since the tax was imposed. The money has<br />
been impounded in a special bank account<br />
pending outcome of the suit. The final brief<br />
contends that the tax has singled out nine<br />
theatres as a minority of amusement enterprises<br />
in Bakersfield, and that it levies 50<br />
per cent of the total burden of business license<br />
taxes on the theatres.<br />
It was pointed out that the theatres have<br />
a gross revenue of less than $2,000,000 a year,<br />
while the other 2,237 nonamusement business<br />
licenses in Bakersfield have a gross revenue<br />
of more than $110,000,000. It also was stated<br />
that the city collects $61,000 per year from<br />
the plaintiffs, while the average tax per year<br />
for all other nonamusement businesses is $56.<br />
The theatres held that the tax exempts a<br />
"large majority," numbering more than 172,<br />
of other amusement enterprises.<br />
Plaintiffs are the Bakersfield Fox Theatre<br />
Corp. and the Fox Paradise Theatre Corp.<br />
They ask the court for an injunction against<br />
the tax, a judgment, and refund of collections<br />
to stub-holding patrons.<br />
The plaintiffs request that, after stubholders<br />
have been paid back, remaining funds<br />
be distributed to public and charitable organizations,<br />
such as the Community Chest,<br />
Red Cross, the National Infantile Paralysis<br />
Ass'n and the Boys' club. They also maintain<br />
that the proposition as presented to the public<br />
on the ballot in 1947, was of a "misleading<br />
character."<br />
According to City Attorney J. Kelly Steele,<br />
the tax is not discriminatory because the<br />
amusement industry is "a luxury business"<br />
and so can be taxed higher than other businesses,<br />
so long as the tax is not confiscatory.<br />
As to the proposition when voted upon<br />
and approved, Attorney Steele said: "the<br />
ballot was publicly discussed, copies of the<br />
ordinance were circulated, and the matter<br />
was aired over the radio and in the newspapers."<br />
Megaphonists Charter<br />
New Filmmaking Unit<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Aspen Productions has<br />
been incorporated as an independent filmmaking<br />
unit by megaphonists Mark Robson<br />
and Robert Wise, with Theron Warth drawing<br />
the post of production chief. Robson recently<br />
directed Producer Stanley Kramer's<br />
"Home of<br />
the Brave," while the next assignment<br />
for Wise will be "Ring Waterfront 3"<br />
for Producer Sol C. Siegel at 20th Centuryr<br />
Fox.<br />
The new outfit is currently lining up a<br />
group of story properties.<br />
Nathan Boasberg Dies<br />
LOS ANGELES—Nathan Boasberg. 59,<br />
former<br />
owner of the Ritz Theatre, Inglewood,<br />
died at his home here. Services were held<br />
at the Home of Peace mausoleum. Boasberg<br />
is survived by his wife and a sister.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
pirst local utilization of the "Proclamation<br />
and Pledge of the Motion Picture Industry"<br />
which was adopted at the recent public relations<br />
conference in Chicago, was reported<br />
from the Hawaii Music Hall Theatre in Hollywood.<br />
The Al Galston-Jay Sutton operation<br />
is prominently di-splaying a 40x60 blowup of<br />
the resolution in the lobby. Fred Jacks,<br />
United Artists western district chief, checked<br />
in from a trip to New York and Dallas.<br />
Sam Narthanson moved his N&R Associates<br />
Headed<br />
publicity offices to Hollywood from the Row<br />
Solomon, Monogram sales manager,<br />
underwent a successful operation at<br />
Cedars of Lebanon ho.spital and the prospects<br />
all point to a speedy recovery . . .<br />
for a New York vacation are M. Rochlin, operator<br />
of the Campus Theatre, and the missus.<br />
. . 'Visiting from Escondido<br />
. . .<br />
D. C. Thomason has acquired the Rampart<br />
Theatre on Temple Avenue . . Jack<br />
.<br />
Chazen and Al Olander took over Harry Hollander's<br />
Savoy .<br />
Dominic Grillo, former<br />
was Joe Markowitz . . .<br />
Cleveland exhibitor, reopened the Aloha<br />
Theatre here after extensive remodeling<br />
Up from San Diego on buying and booking<br />
expeditions were Ford Bratcher and Leo Hamacher.<br />
Paul Davis, formerly a booker for RKO,<br />
takes over the booking chores for the new<br />
Mr. and Mrs.<br />
United Artists circuit setup . . .<br />
James Banducci, OUdale and Bakersfield theatre<br />
owners, and Arnold Anderson of the<br />
California Theatre, Ont., were on the Row<br />
booking and buying ... In from New York<br />
for local confabs was Al O'Keefe, U-I executive.<br />
Actress Gale Storm Ends<br />
Term Contract With U-I<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Assertedly because of dissatisfaction<br />
with the roles handed her by<br />
the studio, actress Gale Storm parted company<br />
with Universal-International, her term<br />
contract being washed out. On loan from<br />
U-I, she had just completed a stint opposite<br />
Dan Durj-ea in Producer Hal Chester's "The<br />
Whip," for United Artists release, and was<br />
next to have gone into "Outside the Wall"<br />
at the valley studio.<br />
Formerly with Monogram, Miss Storm<br />
swung over to U-I about three months ago.<br />
^ei0^ PROJECTION<br />
AND<br />
SOUND<br />
II^EAI<br />
lUEAL SEATING<br />
SLIDE -BACK<br />
Projection<br />
Equipment & Maintenance Co.<br />
1975 South Vermont Avenue. Phone: REpublic 0711<br />
Los Angeles 7, Colifornia<br />
NEO-SEAL BURIAL WIRE<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE DEUVERY<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 50-A
I<br />
First<br />
Hawaiian Island Drive-In<br />
Opened by Consolidated Circuit<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
^he west side of Salt Lake City isn't the only<br />
section of town getting theatres. A stadium-type<br />
showhouse, first in the area, is<br />
expected to be opened on Highland drive this<br />
fall by the Joseph L. Lawrence Theatres . . .<br />
Another theatre is rapidly being constructed<br />
a little east and north of this one by distributing<br />
executives.<br />
Chilly nights and frosty cold weather In<br />
the Intel-mountain region are making drive-in<br />
operators wonder how much longer their season<br />
will last. None has closed as yet, but<br />
with Helena, Mont., already reporting 12<br />
inches of snow, it looks as if the northern<br />
ones can't stay open much longer<br />
talk along Filmrow is that several<br />
. . . The<br />
drive-ins<br />
around Salt Lake will bid for first run pictures<br />
next season.<br />
Shown above is a view of the screen from inside Honolulu's new drive-in, the first<br />
in the Hawaiian Islands. Projection room and snack bar are housed in the low building<br />
to the left, located in the center of the parking ramps. The outline of Hawaii's famed<br />
Diamond Head is in the background.<br />
HONOLULU, T. H.—The first drive-in theatre<br />
in the Pacific has been opened here.<br />
Against a background of the rugged green<br />
Koolau range the 90-foot-high screen tower<br />
and surrounding walls of dull rose blend<br />
harmoniously with the everchanging colors of<br />
the mountains and the billowy cloud formations<br />
of Hawaii. Capacity is 750 cars.<br />
The new drive-in is one in the chain of<br />
the Consolidated Amusement Co., which pioneered<br />
motion pictures in Hawaii in 1920 when<br />
it consti-ucted the first permanent theatre in<br />
Honolulu. Plans for the drive-in were drawn<br />
by George M. Petersen, well-known designer<br />
of numerous east coast drive-ins and author<br />
of many articles on the subject.<br />
The Consolidated firm had been considering<br />
for several years the possibility of a<br />
drive-in in the Islands, but it was not until<br />
later in 1948 that final arrangements were<br />
made with contractor E. E. Black of Honolulu.<br />
At this time the Honolulu Construction<br />
& Draying Co. began filling the ten acres<br />
of low ground with 140,000 cubic feet of<br />
earth brought from nearby Mount Tantalus.<br />
Situated at the intersection of two main<br />
arteries, the di-ive-in is located midway between<br />
Honolulu's downtown business district<br />
and famed Waikiki Beach. Seventy-five per<br />
cent of the 380,000 persons liviiig on the<br />
island of Oahu, close to half of the total<br />
population of all eight Hawaiian Islands, are<br />
within a two-mile radius of the theatre.<br />
Its entrance faces world-renowned Diamond<br />
Head while the screen, 54x42 feet, is slanted<br />
directly at Punchbowl, National Memorial<br />
cemetery of the Pacific, burial place of Eniie<br />
Pyle and thousands of World War II dead.<br />
Girl attendants provide each car with<br />
printed instructions giving all necessary information<br />
about parking, use of facilities and<br />
procedure after the show is over.<br />
In the interest of the younger set three<br />
rows of benches have been installed in front<br />
of the ramps where children may sit should<br />
they become restless in family cars. A limited<br />
number of pedestrians also may also<br />
occupy the benches, capable of seating some<br />
200 persons. Stationary speakers of stable<br />
sa-B<br />
volume aa-e installed for seated patrons.<br />
The in-car Simplex speakers, distributed<br />
by National Theatre Export of New York,<br />
were installed by Consolidated of Hawaii.<br />
Since the annual average temperature of<br />
Honolulu is 74.9 degrees, the drive-in, under<br />
present plans, will operate 365 days a year.<br />
The show time will vaiy according to when<br />
the sun sets but, due to Honolulu's location<br />
within the tropic zone, there is scarcely more<br />
than an. hour's difference in the length of<br />
days between summer and winter. Another<br />
advantage of a drive-in theatre in Hawaii is<br />
that there is no long twilight period as on<br />
the mainland with night darkness falling<br />
shortly after sunset. At present the two<br />
ticket windows open at 6 o'clock in the evening<br />
and the first show goes on at 7:30.<br />
Kenneth Means has retiu-ned to Hawaii to<br />
manage the drive-in, following a number of<br />
years on the mainland where he held several<br />
similar positions. Assistant manager is Wallace<br />
Branco, formerly of the Waikiki Theatre.<br />
Traffic lights have been installed at the<br />
main entrance by the city. The policy is<br />
double bills of rereleases, changing Wednesdays<br />
and Sundays. Admission is 65 cents for<br />
adults, 25 for children between the ages of 6<br />
and 12, with free admission for those under<br />
6 years old.<br />
The screen tower is capped on the entrance<br />
side by a slanting roof of glazed green<br />
Cubana Tapered Mission tile, handled in<br />
Honolulu by the Peerless Roofing & Paint<br />
Co. for the mainland concern of Gladding,<br />
McBean & Co. Flex-Board for the seven<br />
foot-high fences, which i-un halfway around<br />
on either side of the tower, was furnished<br />
by the Honolulu Iron Works.<br />
Para. Personnel in Show<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Four Paramount players<br />
and two members of the studio's music department<br />
staged an hour-long show for the<br />
annual convention of the Los Angeles County<br />
Peace Officers Ass'n September 14. Appearing<br />
were William Bendix, William Demarest,<br />
Jean Ruth, Patti Thomas and the songwriting<br />
team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.<br />
Benjamin J. Kalmenson, vice-president of<br />
Warner Bros., was a visitor. He said business<br />
across the country looks "very good" . . .<br />
Marie WiLson paid an all-day visit to Salt<br />
Lake to hypo interest in "My Friend Irma,"<br />
the radio program as well as the show. She<br />
visited Mayor Earl J. Glade and spoke at a<br />
luncheon of a local civic group. She was accompanied<br />
by her mother and Bob Quinn,<br />
Paramoimt field representative.<br />
Everytime they hear fire engines racing<br />
near Second South street, staffers at Intermountain<br />
Theatres get the jitters these days.<br />
The July 4 fire in offices in the Capitol Theatre<br />
building was followed by a trash blaze<br />
in the alley, which brought out engines, and<br />
a week later a short circuit in the same alley<br />
caused smoke and brought the engines again.<br />
Nevin McCord, manager, says he dreams false<br />
alarms these days.<br />
Salt Lake was having more than its share<br />
of Italian films this week. "Paisan" went into<br />
the Capitol, and th^ Cinem.a Arts Theatre,<br />
which recently opened in the new Film Center<br />
building on Filmrow, had "Shoe-Shine"<br />
as the second production on its schedule . . .<br />
Charles M. Pincus, manager of the Utah, returned<br />
from a two-week vacation to San<br />
Francisco.<br />
Melford-Rawlins Firm<br />
To Make Three for EL<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Release through Eagle<br />
Lion has been set for three pictures to be<br />
turned out on the 1949-50 slate by Ventura<br />
Pictm-es, new independent formed by Frank<br />
Melford and Director John Rawlins. Initialer<br />
will be "The Boy From Indiana," outdoor<br />
drama to star Lon McCallister, for which<br />
the original screenplay has been written by<br />
Otto Englander.<br />
Dunsmuir Airer to Open Soon<br />
DUNSMUIR, CALIF.—The 450-car drivein<br />
being built by M. E. "Jack" Hammond of<br />
Mount Shasta City on Highway 99 north of<br />
here will open this month. The airer will<br />
operate eight months a year, weather permitting.<br />
Murph'y Builds at Alamosa, Colo.<br />
ALAMOSA, COLO. — Construction of a<br />
$100,000, 450-car drive-in on the Alamosa-<br />
Monte Vista highway has been started by<br />
Murphy Theatres.<br />
BOXOmCE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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Picket Utah Theatre<br />
At 'Brave' Opening<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Negro and white signcarriers<br />
started picketing the Uptown Theatre<br />
Tuesday (13) after the opening of "Home<br />
of the Brave," protesting against the theatre's<br />
policy of making Negroes sit in the<br />
balcony.<br />
A similar segregation policy is practiced by<br />
all local theatres and amusement, restaurant<br />
and similar business in general A fight<br />
against such segregation has been carried to<br />
the Utah supreme court, but no ruling has<br />
been made yet to alter the situation.<br />
The Uptown Theatre pickets represented<br />
what they called the "Young Progressives<br />
of Utah." They carried signs saying, "Good<br />
Picture . . Lousy Theatre," and distributed<br />
.<br />
mimeographed sheets which read:<br />
"You are about to see a movie which will<br />
show some of the dangers of racial prejudice.<br />
If you are not a Negro you can sit<br />
anjTvhere in the theatre. But the Negro<br />
people must sit in the balcony. They have<br />
no choice. This is the hypocritical policy of<br />
the management of this theatre and other<br />
theatres in Salt Lake City. Notice that<br />
everyone pays the same price, but the Negro<br />
people must pay the same price for the<br />
poorest seats. This is how profits are made<br />
from racial discrimination in Salt Lake City.<br />
Segregation forces everyone who is not white<br />
to live in the most undesirable homes, where<br />
they pay the same high rents."<br />
The declaration opposed all segregation. It<br />
demanded patrons go to the office of the<br />
Uptown manager and demand that he end<br />
the policy of discrimination.<br />
The Uptown is one of the Joseph L. Lawrence<br />
theatres. It is managed by Harry B.<br />
Ashton. No effort was made to remove the<br />
pickets who attracted a large crowd to the<br />
theatre.<br />
Paramount Chieftains<br />
Address LA Exchange<br />
LOS ANGELES — The sales<br />
and booking<br />
staff of the local Paramount exchange were<br />
addressed by Henry Ginsberg, studio chief;<br />
A. W. Schwalberg, vice-president in charge<br />
of distribution, and George A. Smith, western<br />
division manager, during a three-day session<br />
devoted to the company's Gold Rush of 49<br />
drive. Ginsberg recently addressed a similar<br />
Gold Rush meeting in Denver.<br />
Schwalberg junketed out from his New<br />
York headquarters for the meeting and to<br />
attend the Theatre Owners of America convention<br />
here September 12-15. The Paramount<br />
meetings were staged September 12-14.<br />
The studio executive declared a new creative<br />
spirit is evident in Hollywood and is<br />
reflecting itself in the production of better<br />
pictures. He predicted that with the coming<br />
of divorcement January 1, "production and<br />
distribution will become one entity, and that<br />
means we have to make good together."<br />
"Distribution is the right aiTn of production<br />
and is responsible for its success," Ginsberg<br />
said. "We must understand each other's<br />
problems. It is an obligation and a responsibility<br />
that we have to each other."<br />
Sohwalberg commented on the "fine spirit"<br />
prevailing at the studio and declared that it<br />
is "up to us in the distribution department<br />
to provide the necessary encom-agement for<br />
continued production of boxoffice pictures."<br />
Steady Flow of U.S. Film Supplies<br />
Into Australia as Result of Pact<br />
By WILLIAM BEECHAM<br />
Australian Representative, BOXOFFICE<br />
PERTH, W. A.—F. McN. Ackland, chief executive<br />
of the Motion Picture Distributors<br />
Ass'n of Australia, said recently that by an<br />
agreement negotiated between the Commonwealth<br />
government and American producers<br />
on the basis of dollar remittances and dollar<br />
restrictions, a continuity of film supplies<br />
from the United States has been achieved.<br />
* * *<br />
A deputation of picture theatremen in<br />
western Australia recently asked Prime Minister<br />
Chifley to abolish the entertainment tax<br />
on the lower priced seats in cinemas. The<br />
deputation was led by C. G. Norton of the<br />
local Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, and<br />
after some discussion the prime minister said<br />
that the question would come before the federal<br />
cabinet. Norton said that his association<br />
had received many complaints from the<br />
public who objected to the heavy tax on<br />
seats—"a tax," he reminded Chifley, "which<br />
ranges from 25 to 30 per cent." Exhibitors<br />
here are of the opinion that entertainment<br />
tax should not exceed one-sixth of the admission<br />
price.<br />
* * *<br />
J. O. Alexander, Commonwealth film censor<br />
since 1942. confesses that he has a zest<br />
for films and that he often goes to a cinema<br />
for entertainment after a day of censorship<br />
screenings. Alexander states that no Australian<br />
films have been cut for censorship in<br />
the last three years. He admits that he has<br />
no fixed ideas as to what should come within<br />
the realms of censorship. "Censorship cannot<br />
remain static," he says. ''While censorship<br />
must never give a lead, it must always<br />
be ready to follow changing social conditions<br />
very closely." As to what was expressly forbidden,<br />
he mentioned "the sinking in of the<br />
boot" (kicking a man while down), any new<br />
criminal technique such as the forgery of<br />
fingerprints, scenes indicating the name of<br />
alleged poisons on bottles, and prolonged<br />
kisses in love sequences. Alexander adds that<br />
he has a rule never to read a book that has<br />
been filmed before attending a screening<br />
of it. To be a film censor, he says, requires<br />
"a fairly good education, a keen sense of<br />
humor, a good store of general knowledge,<br />
and experiences in rubbing shoulders with the<br />
world so as to know all the answers."<br />
» * »<br />
When a holdup man tried to rob the Princess<br />
Theatre in Melbourne recently, the cashier<br />
Miss Eve Fennelly was alone in the boxoffice.<br />
The man entered and put a hand in<br />
a pocket as if holding a gun. He demanded<br />
the takiags. Miss Fennelly tried to stall for<br />
time, as she was expecting other staff members<br />
to come back from dinner. She pretended<br />
to misunderstand him and asked for<br />
which night his seat was booked. Then when<br />
the man repeated his threat and told her<br />
to hand over the money, she told him he was<br />
taking a great risk for only a few shillings.<br />
Then another man appeared and the holdup<br />
man ran off, threatening Miss Fennelly with<br />
"I'll be back for you." When police searched<br />
the locality, they found no trace of the culprit.<br />
« * «<br />
C. E. Sticht, an Australian who now is<br />
assistant director to Prank Capra of Paramount<br />
and who arrived on a visit to Australia<br />
recently, said: "Cowboy films could be<br />
made in Australia very cheaply on sheep or<br />
cattle stations. No costiimes would be needed,<br />
and no special sets. The films could be made<br />
outdoors." Sticht now is looking for story<br />
material and facilities for American motion<br />
picture interests if they decide to make a<br />
film in Australia.<br />
* • «<br />
Australian Producer A, K. McCreadie says<br />
that the Australian film industry has<br />
emerged from its swaddling clothes. "In the<br />
past, production was intermittent, and because<br />
there was no continuous employment,<br />
artists and technical men were lost to Australia.<br />
Today the scene has changed. New<br />
studios have been built incorporating the<br />
newest ideas and equipment, including the<br />
latest cameras and sound recording equipment.<br />
Now it seems that it was a miracle<br />
that any films at all were prcxiuced in the<br />
old studios. As the key to success is continuity<br />
of production. Embassy Pictures has<br />
drawn up a long-range production plan calling<br />
for two features diu'ing the next 12<br />
months. But as technical staff members are<br />
trained, production will be stepped up to four<br />
features a year, and eventually it is hoped<br />
to produce six films annually."<br />
* * *<br />
It is officially announced that a British<br />
film unit soon will make a film based on the<br />
childhood of Eileen Joyce, Australian pianist,<br />
in Australia. Ealing plant and facilities will<br />
be used, although the production will not be<br />
one of that company's.<br />
* * *<br />
If the Geelong city council's plan for a<br />
site for the erection of a national memorial<br />
is carried out, the Plaza Theatre there will<br />
cease to function, since it is proposed that<br />
the site be purchased for £17,000.<br />
-^•l.'.I^Jill.^<br />
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Can You Afford It?<br />
*<br />
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Manley Popcorn Machines and Supplies<br />
Los Angeles 7, Calif.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
50-C
. . who<br />
'Lost' Theatregoers<br />
Seek New Formula<br />
HOLLYWOOD—There is a "lost tribe" of<br />
30.000.000 potential tlieatregoers which is "fed<br />
up with formula fare" and can only be lured<br />
back to the boxoffice through "new and vital<br />
ideas" in film entertainment.<br />
That is the essence of a speech delivered<br />
by Producer Stanley Kramer—via telephone<br />
from his office in Hollywood—before the<br />
fourth national convention of the Pai'aplegic<br />
Veterans of America in New York. During<br />
the telephonic addi-ess Kramer also discussed<br />
his forthcoming "The Men." which deals<br />
with the problems of paralyzed veterans. It<br />
will be nxade for United Artists distribution.<br />
The "lost tribe," Kramer declared, consists<br />
of onetime regulars now seen in theatres<br />
"rarely if at all . . . They are older people,<br />
thinking people . insist that entertainment<br />
can and should have something<br />
vital in content . . . The formula film is<br />
out. The starring combination is no longer<br />
insurance. Ours is an expanding market in<br />
which new ideas are the surest-fire commodity."<br />
New Screen at Laurel<br />
LAUREL, MONT.—A new Cycloramic custom-made<br />
screen has been installed at the<br />
Royal Theatre here by Elmer Jackson, who<br />
purchased the theatre a year ago. He has<br />
altered and enlarged the foyer, redecorated,<br />
installed new seats throughout the building,<br />
replaced projectors with new, modern machines<br />
and sound equipment and has otherwise<br />
expended a considerable on renovation.<br />
More Original Film Stories Sought<br />
NEW YORK—Film producers are using<br />
more original story material than ever before<br />
and are looking less to<br />
the stage and literary<br />
field, according to Hal<br />
Wallis, producer for<br />
Paramount. He believes<br />
that the story is<br />
now the most impor-<br />
tant item in a picture's<br />
success but that stars<br />
will add immensely to<br />
the film's boxoffice<br />
value. His recent "Rope<br />
of Sand" was an original,<br />
Wallis said.<br />
Hal WalUs<br />
Wallis, who has been<br />
supervising the filming of scenes on location<br />
in Italy for his Joan Fontaine-Joseph Cotten<br />
pictures, "September," may make a picture<br />
for Paramount in England before June<br />
14, 1950, but only if he finds a story suitable<br />
for filming there. He sees little advantage<br />
in making a picture there Just to use up his<br />
own or Paramount's blocked funds because<br />
the average British-made film must have one<br />
or more American players to insure its success<br />
in the U.S. This would mean an added<br />
dollar investment of close to $500,000 for<br />
the players, director, etc., Wallis said. Under<br />
the terms of the Anglo-American agreement,<br />
if a portion of American blocked<br />
pounds are not invested by the owner prior<br />
to June 14, 1950, they will be used for<br />
philanthropic purposes.<br />
Filming abroad is advantageous only when<br />
the backgrounds call for foreign locations.<br />
as in the case of "September," Wallis said.<br />
However, the studio scenes of this film will<br />
all be made at Paramount's Hollywood studio,<br />
starting November 1. Francoise Rosay, the<br />
French character actress, will come to<br />
America to play an important supporting<br />
role. Wallis found the Italian film workers<br />
were helpful and less costly than American<br />
technicians but that costs of filming in Italy<br />
had risen approximately 25 per cent in the<br />
past year, or since various American companies<br />
have been making features there.<br />
In addition to "September," Wallis will<br />
also start production of "The Furies," from<br />
the Niven Busch novel and starring Barbara<br />
Stanwyck, Wendell Corey and Walter Huston,<br />
November 1. He has completed three<br />
others, "Rope of Sand," "My Friend Irma"<br />
and "File on Thelma Jordon," on his recently-renewed<br />
12-picture deal with Paramount.<br />
Wallis also plans two more for 1950,<br />
a sequel to "Irma," with Marie Wilson, John<br />
Lund and Martin & Lewis, and "No Escape,"<br />
starring Burt Lancaster. The proposed British-made<br />
picture may come later as his contract<br />
with Paramount is a flexible one and<br />
calls for either three or four pictures yearly.<br />
Wallis made "So Evil My Love" in England<br />
for Paramount release in 1948.<br />
Although Wallis believes that shorter<br />
shooting time and other economies have reduced<br />
production costs in Hollywood during<br />
the past year, his productions still average<br />
$1,500,000 in cost. He believes bank financing<br />
for independent producers will remain difficult<br />
as long as the "frozen funds" situation<br />
continues.<br />
If It's Good Promotion<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
some one will<br />
report it in .<br />
Fresh from the scenes of the activities each week come constant<br />
reports of merchandising of films. Most of these are ideas vou<br />
can use for your own promotion. All of them are interesting and<br />
most of them are profitable in other similar circumstances. Make<br />
full use of these practical ideas by practical showmen, many of<br />
whom you may know<br />
Motion pictures lend themselves ideally to good advertising. The public interest is<br />
high.<br />
Capitalize on the interest that already exists and increase your attendance<br />
with proved ideas.<br />
50-D BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
- ft<br />
Illegal Tax Refunds<br />
Only $60 to Patrons<br />
MOLINE, ILL.—Moline theatre patrons,<br />
who paid out $25,844.71 under the 4 per cent<br />
amusement tax which recently was declared<br />
illegal and ordered rescinded, asked for only<br />
•<br />
$60.45 refunds, it was disclosed by Mrs. August<br />
Brissman, city clerk. The theatre customers<br />
had to surrender their ticket stubs<br />
to get their money back.<br />
Of the remaining amount which was collected<br />
the city will receive 75 per cent and<br />
the theatres will retain 25 per cent under<br />
an agreement concluded with the city council.<br />
The city's share will amount to $19,338.19<br />
which goes into the general fund. The theatres<br />
will realize $6,446.07.<br />
Four theatres had actually paid into the<br />
city a total of $9,443.46 collected as the tax.<br />
The other two theatres operated by Tri-<br />
States Theatre Corp. withheld payment while<br />
the tax was contested in court but deposited<br />
a check for $12,000 with the city as earnest<br />
to take care of their share in the settlement<br />
agreement. The sum of $2,386.41 was refunded.<br />
Salesman Black Feted<br />
At Fort Wayne Dinner<br />
FORT WAYNE, IND.—Local exhibitors, and<br />
film salesmen covering the northeastern portion<br />
of Indiana, gave a dinner for Gayle<br />
Black, Warner salesman, in celebration of<br />
his 25 years in the film business. Gayle was<br />
transferred to Indianapolis as city salesman<br />
after one-quarter of a century in the<br />
northeastern territory. The dinner was held<br />
at the Yacht club here. Among those present<br />
were Peter Mailers, John Micu, George<br />
Heliotos, Roger Scherer, George Reef, Earl<br />
Penrod, George Devine, Clayton Bond, Frank<br />
Warren, James Kaylor and Norman Linz.<br />
A. H. Poos, St. Louis, Talks<br />
On Youth Cinema Clubs<br />
ST. LOUIS—Albert H. Poos, district supervisor<br />
for the St. Louis Amusement Co., was<br />
to speak at a meeting of the Better Films<br />
Council of Greater St. Louis in Vandervoort's<br />
auditorium at 10:30 a. m. Friday (16) on<br />
"Organization and Operation of Youth Cinema<br />
Clubs."<br />
Harry C. Arthur has been a leader in the<br />
sponsoring of Youth Cinema clubs since that<br />
movement was started by Mrs. A. F. Burt,<br />
founder of the Better Films council several<br />
years ago. Several of the St. Louis Amusement<br />
Co. houses operate Youth Cinema clubs.<br />
•<br />
Driver in St. Louis Collision, Fatal<br />
To Francis Kaimann, Held for Jury<br />
ST. LOUIS — The funeral of Francis S.<br />
Kaimann, 33, co-owner of five theatres and<br />
the North Drive-In<br />
and treasurer of the<br />
Balka Corp., operator<br />
of several theatres in<br />
north St. Louis, was<br />
held at St. Stephen's<br />
Evangelical church,<br />
Monday morning (12).<br />
Kaimann died at a<br />
hospital in Clayton of<br />
injuries suffered in an<br />
automobile collision at<br />
VWWfc Beliefontaine and<br />
Chambers roads in St.<br />
Francis S. Kaimann Louis county the night<br />
of September 6.<br />
A coroner's jury recommended that Florence<br />
Higginbotham, 63-year-old retired school<br />
teacher, driver of the automobile that struck<br />
Kaimann's car, be held for the grand jury<br />
after it returned a verdict of homicide. Miss<br />
Higginbotham did not testify at the inquest<br />
on advice of counsel. Cornelia Coulter, who<br />
'was riding with Miss Higginbotham, testified<br />
that she did not see the stop sign at the intersection,<br />
where the collision took place, and<br />
did not believe Miss Higginbotham did. Deputy<br />
Sheriff Charles Adams said the sign is<br />
close to a telephone pole and that "it is worn<br />
and dirty and somewhat hard to see."<br />
Miss Higginbotham's car struck Kaimann's<br />
automobile in the rear as it passed<br />
along^ Bellefontaine road, causing it to go<br />
out of control and crash into a telephone<br />
pole. Kaimann suffered a fractured skull,<br />
fractures of both arms and internal injuries.<br />
He was rushed to the county hospital where<br />
a number of blood transfusions were given.<br />
Seventeen men from Filmrow donated blood<br />
and an equal number volunteered.<br />
Kaimann, who resided on the Bellefontaine<br />
road at Spanish Lake, is survived by his wife,<br />
a son Kenneth, a sister and a brother Clarence<br />
H. He was a son of the late Stephen<br />
A. Kaimann, who built the first motion picture<br />
theatre in north St. Louis, the O'Pallon<br />
Park on Florissant avenue west of Warne<br />
avenue. He learned the motion picture business<br />
under the guidance of his father, growing<br />
up with the industry. He had been active<br />
in the affairs of the Motion Picture<br />
Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri<br />
and Southern Illinois for a number of<br />
years. He also was district chairman of<br />
Council Grove district of Boy Scouts.<br />
Friends of the famUy were requested in<br />
lieu of flowers to send contributions to the<br />
Boy Scout Memorial trust fund.<br />
Ben B. Reingold Dead<br />
ST. LOUIS — Benjamin B. Reingold, 64,<br />
former manager for 20th Century-Fox, died<br />
of heart disease in Santa Monica, Calif.,<br />
where he had been living since his retirement<br />
here 18 months ago. Pi-ior to coming<br />
to St. Louis as manager in 1928, Reingold had<br />
served as a salesman in Omaha and as manager<br />
in Des Moines. He is survived by his<br />
wife.<br />
Host Rotarians at Theatre<br />
JACKSON'VILLE, ILL. — Rotarians and<br />
their wives recently were entertained by<br />
B. M. Montee, Fox Midwest resident manager,<br />
at the annual theatre party at the<br />
Illinois. A buffet luncheon was served in<br />
the lobby by the Dunlap hotel, after which<br />
the men and women enjoyed "Top O' the<br />
Morning."<br />
Lee Thompson Shifted<br />
CLINTONVILLE, WIS.—Lee Thompson of<br />
Green Bay has succeeded Gerald McMillan<br />
as manager of the Times and Grand theatres<br />
here. McMillan was transferred to the S&M<br />
theatres in Marshalltown, Iowa. Thompson<br />
formerly was manager of the Time in Oshkosh.<br />
Defense Waives Argument<br />
On South Bend Suit Brief<br />
CHICAGO—The defense in the South Bend<br />
Auto Drive-In antitrust suit waived argument<br />
over the brief submitted by Seymour Simon,<br />
attorney for the plaintiff, asking that the<br />
decision in the Paramount case be considered<br />
as having a bearing on the suit. Judge<br />
John P. Barnes directed Simon to present<br />
his argirment regarding relativity of the<br />
Paramount case. The defense contended that<br />
since some points in the Paramount case<br />
had been remanded to the next lower court,<br />
it should not be considered as having bearing<br />
in the South Bend case.<br />
STARLITE DRIVE-IN OPENED—Formal opening ceremonies were held recently<br />
at the Starlite Outdoor Theatre on Cass street in Preble, Wis. Town chairman Henry<br />
Katers snipped the ribbon across the main entrance, witnessed by Phyllis Kessler, who<br />
was crowned Miss Starlite. Others looking on are Stan Karatz, left, of the theatre<br />
company and Robert LeCoque, right, theatre manager, and members of the drive-!n<br />
service<br />
staff.<br />
.gfljalW'<br />
I<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 51
. . Among<br />
'<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
Toe Woodward, local manager for Delft Theati'es<br />
and affiliates who broke his leg in<br />
three places in August, now is able to be<br />
about again on crutches. Woodward fractured<br />
his leg shortly after returning from his<br />
Prank Fischer, who resigned<br />
vacation . . .<br />
as salesman for National Screen here, has<br />
opened an office at 714 West State St. on<br />
Pilmrow, handling a line of posters.<br />
Carl Michel, C&M Sales, has returned from<br />
a swing around his territory in the interests<br />
of jingle contest activities . . Whenever<br />
.<br />
Mayor Frank Zeidler cannot appear personally<br />
to welcome celebrities in show business,<br />
F. R. Peterson, his secretary, pinchhits.<br />
Peterson once was a department head<br />
with Fox Amusement Co. and Standard Theatres<br />
before taking the position with the<br />
mayor.<br />
Ray Bonner, local manager for Gallagher<br />
Films of Green Bay, Wis., was on a business<br />
trip to northern Wisconsin . . . Mrs. Pauline<br />
L. Melcher, mother of Harry Melcher of Eskin<br />
Theatres, died recently ... An Italian film,<br />
"Mama," starring Benl Giglio, will be shown<br />
at the Astor in the Italian section of town,<br />
the first Italian film to be shown at this<br />
theatre for some time.<br />
"White Heat" was held over for a second<br />
week at the Warner ... A Spanish language<br />
film, "La Cortesana," was shown at the<br />
World on the south side, where there is a<br />
large Mexican population . . . Mary Mucci,<br />
cashier at 20th-Fox, will be married September<br />
24 to Raoul Castelani.<br />
Employes of<br />
Monogram and Film Service<br />
THEATRE<br />
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were the guests at a picnic at the summer<br />
home of Charles Ti-ampe at Phantom Lake,<br />
Wis. . the judges for the showing<br />
of "Father Was a Fullback" will be William<br />
L. Ainsworth of Fond du Lac, Wis., president<br />
of National Allied; Si Fabian of Theatre<br />
Owners of America, and Lou Little, football<br />
coach at Columbia university.<br />
For the opening of the new Sports arena<br />
here next April, Milwaukee Progress week<br />
will be held. The committee for this event<br />
is headed by H. J. Fitzgerald, head of Fox-<br />
Wisconsin Amusement Corp.; P. R. Peterson,<br />
secretary to Mayor Frank Zeidler, and Angela<br />
Provinzano of the Alamo and Mozart theatres<br />
here. The new arena is being built onto<br />
the present block-long, block-wide auditorium<br />
near downtown Milwaukee. The entire structure<br />
will be two blocks long and one block<br />
wide when completed. The arena portion will<br />
cost about five million dollars and will seat<br />
about 1,300 persons . . . Erv Clumb, manager<br />
of the Towne, is taking two weeks' vacation.<br />
The Alhambra Theatre here recently was<br />
the scene of a flower show in which a group<br />
of models from three department stores posed<br />
with a collection of corsages. The occasion<br />
was the convention of the Telegraph Delivery<br />
Service of Wisconsin-upper Michigan group<br />
... At the new Bertch Theatre, recently<br />
opened at Suring, Wis., equipment consists<br />
of RCA sound, Mohawk carpeting, RCA projectors,<br />
RCA lamp houses and screens, all<br />
furnished by Vic Manhardt & Co. of Milwaukee.<br />
Author Named on Marquee<br />
MILWAUKEE—When the<br />
Towne Theatre<br />
offered "Any Number Can Play," latest Clark<br />
Gable vehicle, it took note of the fact that<br />
the author of the novel from which the film<br />
was adapted was written by a local author.<br />
On the top line of the Towne marquee the<br />
management placed the line "By Milwaukee's<br />
own author Edward Harris Heth."<br />
Perfect Soond<br />
Transmission • Ellrainatian<br />
of Bickstige Reverberation • Perfect Vision in Front<br />
Rows • Better Side Vision<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN.<br />
THE MAGIC SCREEN OF<br />
THE FUTURE NOW'<br />
Inc.<br />
3146 OUve LUcQS 2710 St. Louis<br />
'Jolson' Second Week<br />
Leads Chicago at 190<br />
CHICAGO—Labor day crowds and chilly<br />
weather gave Loop houses a fine week. Outstanding<br />
newcomer was "Lost Boundaries,"<br />
which bowed in strong at the Grand. The<br />
Palace also had a fine week with "Roughshod"<br />
and another week of vaudeville. "Jolson<br />
Sings Again" had a sensational second week<br />
at the Woods and the Chicago had a top<br />
second week with "Top O' the Morning," plus<br />
a stage show headed by Alan Young and<br />
Liberace.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Chicago Top O' the Morning (Pard), plus stage<br />
show, 2nd wk 130<br />
Garrick Reign oi Terror (EL); Sleeping Car to<br />
Trieste (EL), 2nd wk 105<br />
Grand—Lost Boundaries (FC) -...130<br />
Oriental Black Magic (UA), plus stage show,<br />
2nd wk. -- 125<br />
Palace—Roughshod (RKO), plus vaudeville 140<br />
Riallo Miracle ol Liie (Jewel), 5th wk 115<br />
Roosevelt—Manhandled (Para); The Big Cat (EL),<br />
2nd wk „..10O<br />
Selwyn—The Red Shoes (EL), 38th wk.,<br />
roadshow<br />
Good<br />
Slate-Lake—Rope of Sand (Para) 115<br />
Studio—Ingagi (Dezel); Ubangi (Dezel) 105<br />
United Artists—Madame Bovory (MGM), 2nd wk...l05<br />
Woods—Jolson Sings Again (Col), 2nd wk 190<br />
World Playhouse—The Quiet One (M-B), 2nd wk,..120<br />
"Summertime' Grosses 130;<br />
Best in Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Despite the Indiana State<br />
Fair, an all-week event, first run grosses<br />
held therr own. Fair visitors patronized the<br />
theatres at night and boosted attendance.<br />
Nights have been unusually cool and outdoor<br />
amusements suffered a setback.<br />
Circle— You're My Everything (20th-Fox); The Lost<br />
Tribe (Col) 105<br />
Keiths—It's a Great Feeling (WB); The Counterpunch<br />
(WB), 2nd wk 90<br />
Loew's In the Good Old Summertime (MGM);<br />
Air Hostess (Col), 7 days 130<br />
Lyric Brimstone (Rep); Post Office Investigator<br />
(Rep) 95<br />
Delavan, Wiau, Theatre<br />
Offers Student Prices<br />
DELAYAN,<br />
WIS. — Manager Bud Campbell<br />
has announced new admission prices for<br />
the Delavan Theatre. Prices will be 40 cents<br />
until 7 p. m. on week days and until 1 p. m.<br />
on Sundays and holidays. In the evenings<br />
tickets will sell for 50 cents. A special student<br />
ticket has been set at 30 cents for Monday<br />
through Friday and will<br />
be available to<br />
students up to 18 years old. Children up to<br />
12 years old will continue to pay 14 cents. All<br />
prices include the tax.<br />
Shift to Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—The Brokau Theatre<br />
at<br />
Angola and the Star at Freemont are now<br />
booking from the Indianapolis exchanges,<br />
transferred from Chicago offices.<br />
ST.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. ^^.c'.'mT'<br />
Bomb Breaks Theatre Windows<br />
HIGHLAND, ILL.—Several windows in the<br />
B 'be<br />
Town Theatre were broken recently when a<br />
bomb exploded near the rear of the house.<br />
'3tl;r,<br />
Marshall Harry Rimbach said the explosive<br />
was dynamite or black powder in small quantity.<br />
"lid<br />
=a17d"*e5!I?<br />
floodlights<br />
'Usii,:,<br />
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'Projff! ,<br />
52 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 'OXOFTir,
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Dave Nelson Leases ST. LOUIS<br />
McNair at St. Louis<br />
ST, LOUIS—Dave Nelson, veteran theatre<br />
manager, film salesman and branch manager<br />
and In recent months executive manager for<br />
Midcentral Allied Independent Theatre Owners,<br />
has taken a ten-year lease on the 583-<br />
seat McNair Theatre at 2869 McNair Ave.,<br />
owned and operated for the past 20 years by<br />
Walter A. Thimmig, who started his film<br />
career in 1910 by opening the Gem in Marissa,<br />
111. It is understood that Nelson wUl have<br />
the option of buying the theatre outright at<br />
the end of five years, or, if he so desires, he<br />
can let the lease rmi for the full ten years<br />
and then exercise another option to extend<br />
the lease for an additional ten years. The<br />
effective date of the deal, it is understood,<br />
will be October 1.<br />
Nelson started his career as a theatre manager<br />
back in the days when the Skouras<br />
brothers, Harry Koplar, Fred Wehrenberg<br />
and Billy Goldman were the big figures in<br />
the local exhibition field. Several years ago<br />
he entered the distribution end of the business<br />
as salesman for Republic. Later he was<br />
sent by that company to Des Moines to manage<br />
the branch there. He held that post for<br />
about two years, when he returned to St.<br />
Louis to become organizing manager for<br />
Midcentral Allied. He will, of course, devote<br />
his entire tim.e to the McNair Theatre.<br />
During his career Thimmig has operated<br />
theatres in Lenzburg, Marissa, New Athens,<br />
Coulterville, Tilden, DuQuoin and Sparta, 111.,<br />
and Salina, Kas. With his brother he also<br />
operated the old Midway Theatre on the<br />
site of the present 5,000-seat Fox Theatre.<br />
Morton Gottlieb Equips<br />
Car With Mobile Phone<br />
ST. LOUIS—Morton S. Gottlieb, local<br />
sales representative for Joe Homstein, Inc.,<br />
has installed a mobOe phone unit in his<br />
automobile and can be reached at any point<br />
in the territory he travels, including Illinois,<br />
Missouri and parts of Arkansas and Kentucky.<br />
The unit comes in handy In moments<br />
of difficulty too, as it is on a similar wave<br />
band with the Illinois state police. On one<br />
occasion, the salesman reports, he got lost<br />
and was directed back to a main highway by<br />
the state police station at DuQuoin, 111.<br />
Funeral for Ivan H. Rouse<br />
ST. LOUIS—The funeral of Ivan H. Rouse,<br />
a projectionist for the Ivanhoe Theatre, was<br />
held Saturday.<br />
lyfildrcd Rauth, owner of the Ritz at Rolla,<br />
. . George Wai-e, 20th-Fox<br />
Mo., and booker-buyer for the R. E.<br />
Carney Theatres, returned from a vacation<br />
spent in Cuba .<br />
salesman, was in New York attending a conference<br />
of the bargaining committee of the<br />
Colosseum . . . Kathi-yn Grayson and Mario<br />
Lanza, Hollywood singing stars, were to make<br />
personal appearances September 16 at Loew's<br />
State Theatre here.<br />
Hall Walsh, Warner district manager, was<br />
in Des Moines . . . I. W. Rodgers, for many<br />
years a motion picture exhibitor, was convalescing<br />
after a recent operation at Cairo,<br />
111. . . . Tonuny James and Paul Krueger of<br />
St. Louis, and Tom Edward, Parmington,<br />
Mo., are among exhibitors from this area at<br />
the TOA convention in Los Angeles.<br />
Dan Patch night was celebrated September<br />
9 at the Fairmount Raceways in Madison<br />
county, Illinois. The feature race honored<br />
the great pacer, and the winner was given a<br />
trophy contributed by Dennis O'Keefe, star<br />
of the film . . . Missouri exhibitors in town<br />
included Russell Armentrout, Louisiana, and<br />
Ralph and Clifford Hough, Lebanon . .<br />
.<br />
Other visitors included Jimmy Frisina,<br />
Springfield, and Joe Lyman, Whitehall, 111.<br />
The St. Louis JVIunicipal Opera, which<br />
closed its 1949 season September 5, broke aU<br />
attendance records during its 31 years of operation,<br />
with almost 900,000 spectators for the<br />
87 performances given this year. Two performances<br />
wei-e rained out . . . Petersburg,<br />
111., health authorities have lifted the partial<br />
quarantine which for two weeks barred children<br />
under 16 from public gatherings, because<br />
of the polio situation. The Salem Theatre<br />
there is operated by Lloyd Pearson.<br />
Loew's, Inc., and Paramount, in compliance<br />
with a stipulation reached for defendant<br />
Christ Zotos, have dismissed their federal<br />
court suits against him in connection<br />
with a dispute involving film rentals. The<br />
cases were dismissed at the cost of the defendant.<br />
Secret Service Warns<br />
Of New Bogus Money<br />
ST. LOUTS — Jackson N. Krill, agent in<br />
charge of the Secret Service office here, has<br />
warned local merchants, hotels, theatres,<br />
banks, etc., to be on guard against bogus $10<br />
and $20 bills that are being circulated here,<br />
at Kansas City, Memphis and other midwestern<br />
cities. The $20 bills are on the Federal<br />
Reserve bank of St. Louis and bear the<br />
face plate number of C43. The back plate<br />
number is 592 and the serial number is<br />
H95621073C. The color of the bills is lighter<br />
than the legitimate one and the paper quality<br />
is poor. The signature of W. A. Julian,<br />
former treasurer of the United States, also is<br />
irregular.<br />
The $10 bills are on the Federal Reserve<br />
bank of Richmond, Va., and were made by a<br />
photoengraving process. All bear the serial<br />
number in the upper right and lower left hand<br />
corners. It is E269689959A. The check letter<br />
and face plate number is F28. Hamilton's<br />
face is not well executed. The quality of the<br />
paper is good but it lacks red and blue silk<br />
fibers through it.<br />
St. Louis Earnings Levy<br />
May Reach $8,000,000<br />
ST. LOUIS—The city earmngs tax collections<br />
for the fiscal year which ends next<br />
April probably will reach $8,000,000 city controller<br />
Milton Carpenter told the board of<br />
estimate and apportionment. This is $500,-<br />
000 more than was estimated by the most<br />
optimistic supporters of the municipal income<br />
tax law when it was being considered. The<br />
city collected $2,803,575 from the tax from<br />
April 12 to August 21. This did not include<br />
any payment from those persons who report<br />
on an annual basis, so the rate of collections<br />
will be increased during the balance of the<br />
fiscal year.<br />
The state enabling act permitting the city<br />
earnings tax expires next June but city officials<br />
hope to have the law extended indefinitely.<br />
A proposal advanced to the board<br />
of freeholders, drawing up a new city charter,<br />
would give the city the power to levy such a<br />
tax without state permission.<br />
Charter Real Estate Firm<br />
ST. LOUIS—The Komm Realty & Investment<br />
Co., the New Shenandoah Theatre<br />
building, has been incorporated by H. Komm,<br />
E. K. Jablonow and M. Komm, members of<br />
the family of the late Sam Komm, head of the<br />
mm<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
53
Larry Woodin Arranges<br />
Own World Premiere<br />
From Mideast Edition<br />
WELLSBORO, PA,—An article in the August<br />
20 issue of BOXOFPICE related how<br />
Larry Woodin, manager<br />
of the Arcadia<br />
Theatre in Wellsboro,<br />
Pa., developed his own<br />
Film Festival to promote<br />
the motion picture<br />
industry and his<br />
own boxoffice totals in<br />
a four - week August<br />
_ ^^^^<br />
^i ^^^^H program. Accompany-<br />
^H """H^^^^H ^'^S ''^^ article was a<br />
^^^^j^^^^^^H photo erroneously des-<br />
^y^^^^^^^^l ignated as that<br />
Manager Woodin.<br />
Larry Woodin Woodin's correct likeness<br />
appears herewith.<br />
Woodin reports another example of his<br />
alertness that paid off well. In checking<br />
his booking he noticed "Top O' the Morning"<br />
was scheduled at the Aixadia on the same<br />
date as the premiere in Connecticut, so got<br />
the local band together, and with some other<br />
civic cooperation, promoted the "world premiere"<br />
of the film at Wellsboro, with resulting<br />
lineups at the boxoffice. He reports his<br />
August Anniversary month promotions added<br />
up to the biggest month in the Arcadia's history.<br />
Goetz Theatre Celebrates<br />
18th Year in Monroe, Wis.<br />
MONROE, WIS.—The Goetz Theatre celebrated<br />
its 18tli anniversary for a week recently,<br />
during which "The Great Dan Patch"<br />
was featured with "Bad Boy." For part of the<br />
week, the MGM short "Some of the Best"<br />
was shown. It was booked also at the Chelet<br />
Theatre. Both houses are owned by Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Chester J. Goetz, Robert Goetz and<br />
Nathan Goetz. The Goetz was built in 1931<br />
and the Chelet was acquired in 1939.<br />
'Joan' Demand Holds Up<br />
From Midwest Edition<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—If this territory Is a criterion,<br />
the fears that have been expressed<br />
that Ingrid Bergman's affair in Italy would<br />
injure "Joan of Arc" at the boxoffice are<br />
groundless. The picture, now being sold<br />
again, is going bigger than it did before, according<br />
to the reports reaching Filmrow.<br />
Fort Branch Star Leased<br />
FORT BRANCH, IND.—The Star Theatre<br />
here has been leased from its owner, Mrs.<br />
Barbara Gwaltney, by B. Bennett, owner of<br />
theatres in Calhoun, Ky. Ralph Gentry of<br />
Fort Branch has been named manager.<br />
THEJsyrRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 NORTH ILLINOIS STREET<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
INDIANA<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
fJIts. Hollis Bass, operator of the Ritz,<br />
Owensville, has been called to the bed-<br />
. . . Peggy Swing,<br />
side of her mother in Enid, Okla., who is<br />
critically ill . . . Mrs. Iva Moore, operator<br />
of the Orpheum at Mitchel, has remodeled<br />
her home . . . Meri Whallon is the new secretary<br />
to Jack Dowd, manager at Republic,<br />
succeeding Elaine Van Splinter . . . Jane<br />
Lyons, assistant booker at Republic, was vacationing<br />
EL managers<br />
secretary, has resigned to join the Affiliated<br />
booking staff. Affiliated's Dorothy Robison<br />
has left for the west coast to live.<br />
Gus Heinrich, office manager at Columbia,<br />
reports his brother Fred Heinrich died<br />
September 2 in Miami after a lingering illness<br />
. . . Mrs. Elnor Roth, booker at RKO,<br />
and Joan Chapman, stenographer, are vacationing<br />
. . . Carl Miller, salesman at Midwest<br />
Theatre Supply, is vacationing at home . . .<br />
Harry Hayes, salesman at UA, is in Kansas<br />
City, visiting relatives.<br />
R. S. Weilert of the Ritz, Alexandria, is a<br />
hay fever sufferer . . . Exhibitors on Filmrow:<br />
Floyd Morrow of the drive-in at Shively, Ky.;<br />
John Micu, Indiana and State, Fort Wayne;<br />
Al Borkenstein, Wells, Fort Wayne; William<br />
Studebaker, Logan, Logansport; Harry Van<br />
Noy, Middletown; Walter Weil, Greenfield;<br />
William Handley, Rembusch circuit, Franklin.<br />
Sam Abrams, FC manager, announces first<br />
run pictures booked for the week of Septem-<br />
included "Not Wanted," and "Daugh-<br />
ber 7,<br />
ter of the West" in the Strand at Louisville,<br />
and "C-Man" at the Rialto, "Lost Boundaries"<br />
at the Scoop and "State Department,<br />
File 649" in the National.<br />
. .<br />
The personnel at Warners is very enthusiastic<br />
over the first week standing in the<br />
All-star drive. Reports indicate the local<br />
exchange exceeded the first week's quota .<br />
Joe Million, operator of the East Side Auto<br />
Theatre here, reports his attendance far beyond<br />
expectations.<br />
Theatre Games Crackdown<br />
Promised at Marion, Ind.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Grant County Sheriff<br />
Vaughn Treber is preparing to crack down<br />
on Marion theatres, vhich he alleges are operating<br />
lotteries. Treber says he intends to<br />
move against the theatres in Marion, although<br />
at a conference in the attorney general's<br />
office he failed to get a "clear-cut<br />
opinion" as to whether or not the games are<br />
illegal. However, he said, a deputy attorney<br />
general indicated to him the theatre games<br />
—screeno, wahoo, extra and bingo—are illegal.<br />
If and when there is a crackdown at<br />
Marion it might have a statewide effect,<br />
since scores of other theatres sponsor similar<br />
games as a customer drawing card. Deputies<br />
for Ti-eber have been taking names of<br />
the game winners for several weeks in the<br />
event they have to be subpenaed. However,<br />
before the crackdown becomes effective, theatre<br />
managements will be warned and arrests<br />
will be made if they refuse to stop the<br />
games.<br />
E. J. Alfery Sells Theatres<br />
HANCOCK, WIS.—E. J. Alfery has sold<br />
his theatres at Hancock and Plainfield to<br />
Carl Willihngany of Ripon, Wis. The new<br />
owner took possession September 1.<br />
Rob Fort Wayne Auditorium<br />
FORT WAYNE, IND.—Thieves cracked the<br />
safe in the Quimby auditorium boxoffice recently<br />
and escaped with $650. The safecrackers<br />
had hidden in the auditorium until<br />
after the show. The safe was opened by<br />
punching in the combination, probably with<br />
the aid of a heavy hammer or a sledge.<br />
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54<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
. . Danny<br />
. . The<br />
. . Sam<br />
»<br />
Child Labor Violations<br />
In Theatres, Drive-Ins<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Child labor laws in Indiana<br />
are "virtually impossible" to enforce,<br />
because of an undermanned state staff and<br />
a lack of cooperation with police officials in '<br />
various cities, according to Mrs. Rose Schaffner,<br />
director of the labor department bui-eau<br />
of women and children. The bureau said<br />
that approximately 10,000 childi-en between<br />
the ages of 14 and 18 are working legally under<br />
state permits, but several times this number<br />
are employed illegally.<br />
The most common violations are drive-ins,<br />
restaurants, theatres, bowling alleys and drug<br />
stores. Mrs. Schaffner said the most common<br />
violations are of employers permitting<br />
minors to work later than 7 p. m., persons<br />
hiring minors without requiring working permits<br />
and employers failing to requu'e proof<br />
of age from doubtful job applicants.<br />
Mrs. Schaffner's bureau has only two inspectors,<br />
one in Indianapolis and the other<br />
in Kokomo, who check on reported violations.<br />
She said it would take a staff as large as the<br />
state police force to enforce the state law.<br />
The bureau has time only to check on places<br />
where complaints have been made formally,<br />
and makes no routine inspections of businesses<br />
and industries where children are employed.<br />
Alexandria, Ind„ Theatre<br />
Faces Additional Delay<br />
ALEXANDRIA, IND. — Construction of<br />
a<br />
theatre in the 400 block on North HaiTison<br />
street by R. S. and Hope Weilert, halted in<br />
mid-July by a temporary injunction granted<br />
to the city, was further delayed when Judge<br />
Offutt of the Hancock county circuit court<br />
continued the writ till the October term<br />
which opens November 14.<br />
The case was transferred from Madison<br />
county, in which Alexandria is situated, on a<br />
change of venue. The city requests that the<br />
temporary writ be made permanent, alleging<br />
that the lot line of the theatre site extends<br />
approximately three feet into the alley<br />
at the rear. The city also asks $500 damages<br />
and costs of the legal action.<br />
Another temporary injunction issued<br />
against the Weilerts in July, based on a city<br />
zoning ordinance, has been dissolved in the<br />
Henry county circuit court.<br />
Judge Offcutt ruled that his court could<br />
render no final decision because it was technically<br />
on vacation, but decided that arguments<br />
and briefs could be presented again.<br />
Films Council Fashion Show<br />
CHICAGO — Mrs. Lloyd S. Van Schoyck,<br />
president of the Better Films Council of<br />
Chicagoland, said her organization plans a<br />
fall fashion festival for its members and<br />
guests along with a preview and tea, Wednesday<br />
(21) at 1 p. m. at the Surf Theatre.<br />
The fashion show wiU be under the direction<br />
of Virginia McMillian of Oak Park.<br />
Members of the council will model. Mrs.<br />
James Carr is social chairman.<br />
Drive-In Petition Granted<br />
HUNTINGTON, IND.—The board of public<br />
works has granted a petition to vacate certain<br />
streets and alleys in the Modern Home<br />
annex in the extreme northeastern part of<br />
the city where a drive-in is to be constructed.<br />
Eighty-five property owners protested the<br />
ground is needed for city expansion.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
CHICAGO<br />
Wacation^ are over. Everybody is back on<br />
the job. Chicago's Filmrow put on full<br />
steam with drives at all exchanges and publicity<br />
men working overtime to spark new<br />
product at first run houses. At midweek<br />
nearly half-a-million youngsters returned to<br />
school and matinee business dipped, mostly<br />
at outlying houses. The Railroad fair has<br />
about two more weeks to go. Over 2,000,000<br />
have attended the fair, which brought in<br />
thousands of out-of-towners upping attendance<br />
at all Loop theatres.<br />
Vaudeville has returned to the Palace of<br />
the LubUner & Booth circuit in Cicero, featuring<br />
five big time acts every Saturday and<br />
Sunday, plus a film direct from a two-week<br />
run in the Loop. Other outlying houses are<br />
planning stage shows, discovery contests and<br />
giveaways and other stimts to spark business<br />
. . . Variety Club members were saddened by<br />
the death of Philip Simon, 67 . . . "One<br />
Woman's Story," U-I's latest J. Arthur Rank<br />
release, bowed in very strong at the Surf<br />
Theatre.<br />
now located in<br />
Clyde Elliott Attractions is<br />
new offices at 900 South Wabash Ave. . . .<br />
Leo Pillot, former Publix Theatres publicist<br />
and New York exploiteer, was in town with<br />
Sid Caesar, whom he now manages. He covered<br />
the town from the Railroad fair to the<br />
Maywood park harness races all in a day.<br />
Jo Stafford day will be observed at the Railroad<br />
fair September 21 as part of the publicity<br />
program Seguin has set up for her<br />
Chicago Theatre appearance September 23.<br />
. . . Saul<br />
The Sun-Times columnist is back at his<br />
desk after a four-week vacation absence<br />
Herald-American scribe Nate Gross has<br />
. . .<br />
also returned after an extended European<br />
jaunt . . . Chebby Hahasiak, NSS poster<br />
clerk, is the father of a son born September<br />
Goldman,<br />
5 and named Chubby<br />
Variety Pictures, went to Bloomington to enroll<br />
his daughter Elaine in Indiana university,<br />
his alma mater.<br />
WORK FOR CHEST — Heading<br />
the<br />
amusements and recreation division of<br />
the Community Chest drive in Chicago<br />
are, left to right: John Balaban of B&K<br />
and Harris Silverberg of National Screen<br />
Service, co-chairmen; Chaleton Blunt,<br />
chairman of the citywide campaign, and<br />
W. K. Hollander, amusement group<br />
chairman.<br />
Judith Koral, Monogram office manager,<br />
will become the bride of Sidney Mesirow<br />
September 25 at the Belden Stratford hotel<br />
. . . Irving Mandel, head of Monogram and<br />
Variety chief barker, left on a motor trip<br />
throughout the south .<br />
Kaplan, manager<br />
of local Dezel offices, has returned from<br />
a Miami vacation . . . Dick Sachsel came in<br />
from Florida to say hello to pals at Variety<br />
Club . Kaye will do a week's stage<br />
stand at the Chicago Theatre October 7, with<br />
"Father Was a Fullback" on the screen.<br />
Marie "Irma" Wilson will put in a day here<br />
September 22 to help publicize "My Friend<br />
Irma," opening the following day at the<br />
Chicago . Variety Club is planning a<br />
gala Mask-O-Ween carnival for Halloween<br />
night . . . Albert J. Hirsch, Miami Variety<br />
member, came in town with books of sweepstake<br />
tickets for the Widener races at Hialeah<br />
park February 10. The proceeds from<br />
the sale of the tickets will go to Variety's<br />
pet charity in Miami, the Children's hospital.<br />
Faith Bacon was a visitor at Variety Club<br />
with her husband James Buchanan. She<br />
chatted with Moe Wells, Morrie Salkin and<br />
Ralph Kettering about the days when she was<br />
a Ziegfeld chorine, and later a fan dancer.<br />
She recalls appearing at the Chicago Century<br />
of Progress fair with Tyrone Power, Arthur<br />
Lake, Grant Withers and many others. Her<br />
salary then was more than the combined pay<br />
of Power, Withers and Lake ... Dr. Herbert<br />
Kalmus, president and general manager of<br />
Technicolor, Inc., and his bride stopped en<br />
route to New York.<br />
. . .<br />
. . . Gov.<br />
. . .<br />
Harold Wirthwein, western division sales<br />
manager for Monogram, returned to his Los<br />
Angeles headquarters after a meeting here<br />
Plans to organize an Illinois drive-in organization<br />
are being discussed<br />
Adlai Stevenson signed a night racing bill<br />
which means more competition for theatres<br />
here The theatre and amusement division<br />
under Irving Mack has raised $268,371<br />
for the United Jewish Welfare drive here.<br />
Eddie GUmartin has been appointed assistant<br />
manager of the B&K Tivoli . . . Pete<br />
Pisano, assistant at Warners Capitol, broke<br />
his leg while on a fishing trip and is hospitalized<br />
at Joliet . . . S. J. Gregory, vice-president<br />
and Pete Panagos, promotion manager<br />
of Alliance circuit, have returned by plane<br />
from a tour of their Washington state theatres<br />
. . . Dick Galvin has been named assistant<br />
at the Capitol Theatre, Bill Dart assistant<br />
at the Avalon, Harry Chronos assistant<br />
at the Highland and Tom Greenan, assistant<br />
at the Shore Theatre, all of Warner<br />
circuit . . . It's a boy for<br />
Henrotin hospital. Hal is<br />
the Hal Tates at<br />
WAIT announcer<br />
. .<br />
Fred Mathew of Motiograph has returned<br />
to local headquarters after a business<br />
trip in western territory . . Ernest Goldberg<br />
.<br />
is back on the job after a short stay at the<br />
W. C.<br />
Norwegian American hospital . . .<br />
Fields oldies, "The Bank Dick," and "My Little<br />
Chickadee," which ran four weeks at the<br />
World, are filling seats in a big way at the<br />
Cinema . "How Much Do You Owe?" is<br />
being shown at the United Artists Theatre.<br />
It was released Thursday (15) to all first run<br />
theatres and eventually will be shown in 18,-<br />
000 throughout the country.<br />
55<br />
i
'<br />
Tom Sawyer, Formerly the Orpheum,<br />
Opened in Hannibal by Frisina<br />
HANNIBAL, MO. — The Tom Sawyer, a<br />
1.400-seater formerly known as the Orpheum,<br />
was formally opened by the Frisina circuit<br />
Wednesday evening (14).<br />
The theatre, one of the finest in this section<br />
of the country, was kept open during a<br />
remodeling and modernization program that<br />
cost upwards of $50,000. In addition to structural<br />
changes, includmg a new marquee, front<br />
and electric signs, the improvement program<br />
involved new equipment.<br />
Many out-of-town visitors were scheduled<br />
to participate in ceremonies, including top<br />
officials or the Frisina Amusement Co. of<br />
Springfield, 111., which controls the Tom<br />
Sawyer and the 750-seat Star here.<br />
The name of the theatre was changed to<br />
Tom Sawyer because of the local traditions<br />
associated with that hero created by the<br />
Mark Twain.<br />
Widened Drive-In Entrance Asked<br />
FOND DU LAC, WIS.—Samuel G. Coates,<br />
owner of the new drive-in here, has asked<br />
county commissioners for authority to cut a<br />
60-foot wide entrance to parking places from<br />
North Main street boulevard so that a more<br />
direct entrance can be made from the main<br />
thoroughfare. He has requested that the city<br />
do the work for which he will pay. Commissioners<br />
took the matter under advisement.<br />
Coates, Feme Coates and Loula Beckman<br />
have formed a new corporation, known as the<br />
Lake Park Outdoor, Inc., to operate the drivein.<br />
A capital of 100 shares of common stock<br />
SIGNS<br />
MARQUEES<br />
^ATTRACTION<br />
BOARDS<br />
W/?/T€ Off m/f£<br />
at no par value was authorized,<br />
capital will be $10,000.<br />
Minimum<br />
To Build 700-Car Drive-In<br />
Near Lake Geneva, Wis.<br />
LAKE GENEVA, WIS.—A 700-car drive-in<br />
theatre is to be built by Standard Theatres,<br />
Inc., on a 15-acre site recently acquired by<br />
the company near here. Construction will be<br />
started early next spring, and the drive-in<br />
is expected to be ready for opening by Memorial<br />
day. Features of the new drive-in,<br />
which will be about six miles from here, will<br />
include a playground and pony rides for children.<br />
A 50-foot screen tower will be erected.<br />
A name for the drive-in has not yet been<br />
selected, according to L. F. Gran, manager<br />
of Standard Theatres, Inc.<br />
Start Flora, 111., Theatre<br />
FLORA, ILL.—J. E. Spalding of the Flora<br />
Amusement Co. has awarded contracts for<br />
the construction of a brick, concrete and steel<br />
900-seat theati'e building on the south side<br />
of East North avenue. The contractor, Norman<br />
Bryden of Flora, has started razing of<br />
the old buildings now on the site. The new<br />
building also will contain two office spaces,<br />
on either side of the theatre lobby. The front<br />
of the building is to be glazed tile.<br />
Spalding now owns the 900-seat Florine and<br />
360-seat Roxy here.<br />
Clarksville, Ind., Drive-In Open Soon<br />
JEFFERSONVILLE, IND.—A $75,000 drivein<br />
being constructed in Clarksville on the<br />
road to New Albany was nearing completion<br />
for a September opening. Work was started<br />
late m July by the Clarksville Drive-In Co.,<br />
composed of Theodore J. Atkins, Clarksville,<br />
and Gilbert Bowling and John L. Bell, Louisville.<br />
Beckemeyer, Dl., Theatre Open<br />
BECKEMEYER, ILL.—The 250-seat Clinton<br />
owned by Deaae DuComb, reopened recently<br />
after being closed several w«eks due<br />
to a license dispute with city officials. While<br />
closed the theatre was redecorated and the<br />
sweet shop was enlarged. The theatre will<br />
operate four nights a week, Friday, Saturday.<br />
Sunday and Monday,<br />
The Jensens had operated the hou.se for 32<br />
years before it burned down.<br />
Renovate Urbana Princess<br />
URBANA, ILL.—The Princess Theatre here<br />
was reopened recently with a completely remodeled<br />
front and interior redecoration.<br />
Center-Brook Under Way<br />
MARTINSVILLE, IND.—The new 500-car<br />
Center-Brook Drive-In is under way for the<br />
Center-Brook Drive-In Theatre, Inc. The<br />
theatre is on Road 67 and will cost $75,000.<br />
To Open at Camdenton<br />
CAMDENTON, MO —A 150-car drive-in being<br />
constructed on Route 5 adjacent to the<br />
high school by E. E. Hopkins of Lebanon,<br />
Mo., was scheduled tc open on Saturday (1).<br />
'Perfect Woman' Contest<br />
Conducted by Tom Pacey<br />
WINNIPEG—Tom Pacey, Odeon manager,<br />
is running a letter contest in conjunction<br />
with the Odeon's current showing of the<br />
British picture, "The Perfect Woman."<br />
First contest of its kind here in years,<br />
Pacey's invites married men to write him an<br />
open letter saying why they think they are<br />
married to the perfect woman. Through<br />
numerous tieups, Pacey is able to offer the<br />
prize-winning letter a pair of ladies' shoes,<br />
a bouquet of flowers, a permanent wave,<br />
blouse and skirt ensemble, a photograph,<br />
dinner for two at the Marlborough hotel and<br />
tickets to the Odeon.<br />
Pacey received mention in BOXOFFIC^<br />
last year for a campaign he staged in connection<br />
with the Odeon's showing of "The<br />
October Man."<br />
Show Indian Program<br />
TORONTO—The Famous Players'<br />
University<br />
here screened an Indian film program<br />
consisting of "Chhota^Bhai," by the Indian<br />
novehst, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, and three<br />
short subjects before a large gathering of<br />
invited guests September 11.<br />
ftrasote<br />
[lillitolt!<br />
!*.'»"'<br />
Buy<br />
,Hi of t!it<br />
f"<br />
neKenso»"<br />
as M («»'<br />
pljBs<br />
tlie cool*''''<br />
liter<br />
,lli(llist«M"<br />
WM<br />
SI iHeJK jrtStoml'B*<br />
CbondlerviD<br />
Has New Git<br />
CH.OTLES':--'<br />
'-'<br />
ledy, it'' '<br />
Clundleniif I<br />
seat<br />
tomplcrf<br />
lecenlly<br />
anitliiral tls'- 'a'<br />
anielin? bi' i«: u<br />
iislalled ir. thf to:<br />
He lobby cfia arid<br />
ninstotiif A>7it<br />
imh and papritf ui"<br />
He lobby,<br />
LB,HettiiigetMfi<br />
on the L E Vy\:sr<br />
BOW is operata; u.v<br />
drive-m<br />
ind Mc:;<br />
Seopen Fnriitlc '.<br />
PAIRPIELD v.:<br />
totre,<br />
r<br />
las to .•><br />
tianaee:<br />
feyti...<br />
Art Policy ior Y-<br />
BLOOMIXGTr<br />
*f VoaceN:.-j-.<br />
fm-LeeTs^;-'.<br />
sontlis:'.-<br />
^D\mS£RVIC£<br />
MiQPion. /nownp<br />
"Sign and Lighting Specialist3<br />
ior Over a<br />
Quarter Century.'<br />
Plan Two Illinois Drive-Ins<br />
LINCOLN, ILL.—Steve Bennis, theatre operator<br />
at Lincoln and Freeport, 111., and Gus<br />
Constan, operator at Decatur and Danville,<br />
will build new drive-ins here and in Freeport.<br />
Both situations will accommodate 400<br />
cars with a hold-back area of 200 to 300 cars<br />
to be added later.<br />
'(rsity<br />
Hewb: -<br />
KDI.v:<br />
Slpply<br />
c<br />
'« insia:;.<br />
REASONABLE<br />
PRICES<br />
xs-oooooeooooooooooo-os.<br />
EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE<br />
Personalized Service<br />
St. Louis Theatre Supply Company<br />
Aicb Hosier<br />
3310 Olive Street. St. Louis 3, Mo.<br />
Telephone JEflerson 7974<br />
Flora, Dl., Drive-In Opens<br />
FLORA, ILL.—The 500-car Flora Drive-In<br />
of Jones, Inc., headed by Harry Jones, Lawrenceville,<br />
opened recently and has been doing<br />
nice business. Jones and his associates<br />
also own other drive-ins at Gordon Junction<br />
near Robinson, 111., and in Indiana.<br />
Jensens to Rebuild Theatre<br />
CLAY CITY, IND.—Mr. and Mrs. Bud Jensen<br />
plan to reconstruct their Photoplay Theatre<br />
which was recently destroyed by fire.<br />
HE TAKES THE CAKE!—Irving Mack<br />
of the Filmack Trailer Co., Chicago, celebrates<br />
his 54th birthday and receives<br />
greetings from Variety Chief Barker Irving<br />
Mandel and Jack Kirsch, Allied Theatres<br />
head, at the Variety clubrooms in<br />
Chicago.<br />
Duniageli...<br />
^•1 Of 1^;,"-<br />
'''ifflatei<br />
>'»iOO<br />
fORT V,<br />
ttnis<br />
ot ,<br />
56<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
,<br />
•<br />
j',<br />
Kerasotes Acquires<br />
Chillicothe Building<br />
CHILLICOTHE, ILL.—Sale of the Palace<br />
Theatre building to Kerasotes Bros., Springfield,<br />
by Prank J. Rolan was completed with<br />
the filing of the transaction in the recorder's<br />
office at the courthouse. The price was not<br />
disclosed. Rolan has owned the building for<br />
many years, leasing it to the Kerasotes, operators<br />
of the Palace ever since he went out<br />
of the theatre operating business himself.<br />
The Kerasotes have not announced their<br />
plans as to future operation of the Palace<br />
after the completion of theii' new theatre,<br />
which Is being reconstructed in the old Sim.-<br />
set Theatre building on the west side of<br />
North Second street.<br />
William Galligan Takes<br />
Over Glen Ellyn Theatre<br />
GLEN ELLYN, ILL.—Sixteen years to<br />
the<br />
day after they opened the Glen Theatre here<br />
on Sept. 3. 1933, Elwyn Seymo"ur and wife<br />
turned over operation to William D. Galligan<br />
& Associates of Chicago, who recently<br />
purchased the hou.se.<br />
Seymour, who has been in poor health the<br />
Ijst six years, will retire to his home on<br />
Portage lake near Onekama, Mich.<br />
Galligan has been associated with the Balaban<br />
& Katz circuit in Chicago the last 20<br />
years. With the exception of the war years<br />
he managed the E.squire since its opening in<br />
1938. He was instrumental in planning and<br />
construction of that theatre, long considered<br />
as most representative of the modem motion<br />
picture theatre.<br />
- wsjiinttion<br />
•'-<br />
w.? ol the<br />
."-'r^ in years,<br />
" T.'etiman<br />
!.-•;<br />
'x are<br />
"-•.<br />
Thnujli<br />
.:.- 'i oli'er tie<br />
' .:"» shoes,<br />
':r.jr,er.:<br />
i<br />
a conlogiom<br />
J.<br />
lave,<br />
;r.v;[i!raph,<br />
.;,, ho;eI and<br />
XOfflCE<br />
?-,::' t'mver-<br />
.: :,.T. jroaiu<br />
:m Indian<br />
•.;.;(: and :hree<br />
ir,t<br />
ra<br />
jjilienns ol<br />
Chandlerville Theatre<br />
Has New Glass Front<br />
CHANDLERVILLE, ILL.—Mrs. R. L. Kennedy,<br />
who has owned and operated the 240-<br />
seat Chandlerville Theatre here since 1946,<br />
recently completed extensive improvements.<br />
Structural glass now covers the front. New<br />
carpeting has been laid and a concession bar<br />
installed in the lobby. Nu-Wood finishes<br />
the lobby ceiling and also the walls above the<br />
wainscoting. A striking color scheme of maroon<br />
and paprika mtet the eye as one enters<br />
the lobby.<br />
L. B. Hettinger Manages Drive-In<br />
LOVINGTON, ILL.—The drive-in located<br />
on the L. B. Hettinger farm west of this city,<br />
now is operating under the management of<br />
Hettinger, who has taken the place of George<br />
Carroll in the theatre organization. Heck<br />
Randol continues as the projectionist. The<br />
drive-in now operates on Saturday, Sunday<br />
and Monday nights until further notice.<br />
Reopen Fairfield Uptown<br />
FAIRFIELD, ILL.—The 430-seat Uptown<br />
Theatre, which was closed for the summer,<br />
was to reopen Sunday (11 >. Bob Johnson,<br />
manager of the house, says it will operate<br />
every night in the week except Tuesdays.<br />
Art Policy for Von-Lee<br />
BLOOMINGTON, IND.—Arthur Clark of<br />
the Vonderschmitt circuit will reopen the<br />
Von-Lee Theatre here with an art policy this<br />
month after students enroll at Indiana university.<br />
EARLY SHOWMAN—I. Walter Rodgers,<br />
who began his career in 1893 at the<br />
age of 18, is shown in the accompanying<br />
picture with his wife in front of their<br />
home at Cairo, 111. Operator of a motion<br />
picture theatre for several years, he was<br />
the first president of the St. Louis MPTO.<br />
A son Carson now is president of Rodgers<br />
Theatres, Inc., with a circuit of 18<br />
houses.<br />
$75,000 Drive-In for Carmi<br />
CARMI, ILL.—Construction is to begin<br />
immediately on a $75,000 drive-in on U.S.<br />
460 about one mile east of the city limits. A<br />
corporation to own and operate the theatre<br />
is being formed by Herbert W. Newcomb of<br />
Carmi. S. R. Stanley of Crossville and Bertis<br />
B. Wilkins of Enfield. 111. The ten-acre<br />
site will provide space for 500 cars. The<br />
owners hope to have it ready for opening<br />
early next spring.<br />
'Joe Young' in Springfield<br />
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.—A feature of a campaign<br />
by Orpheum Manager M. E. Berman<br />
was the appearance on streets of the traveling<br />
"Mighty Joe Young" display. Mayor Harry<br />
Eielson posed for a photograph as he shook<br />
hands with the mighty gorilla on the truck.<br />
Buy Oquawka, 111.,<br />
State<br />
OQUAWKA. ILL.—George P. Thye and his<br />
wife, who early in May sold the Strand Theatre<br />
(now the Mark Twain) in Perry, Mo., to<br />
C. R. Paisley, have purchased the State here<br />
from Mr. and Mi-s. George Richardson. Since<br />
selling the house in Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Thye<br />
have been residing in Burlington, Iowa.<br />
John Greenmore Shifted<br />
SHELBYVILLE, ILL.—John Greenmore of<br />
Springfield has been named manager of the<br />
Roxy here by the Frisina circuit, succeeding<br />
James Fenoglio. who recently purchased the<br />
Aida Theatre in Oglesby, 111. Martin Holeman,<br />
former owner of the Aida. has purchased<br />
a theatre in Fort t)odge. Iowa.<br />
O. R. Sebring Visits Peru, 111.<br />
PERU, IND.—O. R. Sebring, former manager<br />
of the Webb, Isis<br />
and Wallace theatres,<br />
was a visitor during the city's centennial celebration.<br />
New Installations Complete<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — The Midwest Theatre<br />
Supply Co., distributors of RCA equipment,<br />
has installed new Brenkert projectors, magazine<br />
bases and lamps in the Indiana Theatre<br />
here.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
Damage Rochelle, 111., Screen<br />
ROCHELLE, ILL.—Manager William Kassul<br />
of the Hub Theatre reported vandals<br />
broke into his theatre recently and slashed<br />
three holes in the screen. The damage was<br />
estimated at $500.<br />
Fort Wayne Palace Cuts Price<br />
FORT WAYNE—The Palace is<br />
advertising<br />
new low prices, with adults 30 cents from 1<br />
to 6 p. m., Monday through Friday, and 50<br />
cents on Saturday, Sunday and evenings.<br />
Children Ere 16 cents at all times.<br />
IBOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
i
Tell . . and Sell<br />
Scores of busy little messages<br />
go out every week to over 23,000<br />
subscribers —and they get a tremendous<br />
response!<br />
Every exhibitor is<br />
busy— buying,<br />
selling, renting, hiring. All this is<br />
made easier<br />
and more profitable<br />
with the classified ads in Clearing<br />
House each week.<br />
^<br />
READ • USE • PROFIT BY—<br />
Classified Ads<br />
in<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Cost very little . . . easy to write . . . easy to read . . . pay big<br />
dividends ... 10c per word per issue.<br />
Four Insertions /or Price of Three<br />
58 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
•0«Of^CE<br />
\
Vaudeville Ups Gross<br />
To 175 at Twin City<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The Orpheum again went<br />
to town with vaudeville plus "Roughshod"<br />
on the screen. It was the second vaudeville<br />
unit to play the house and did as well as the<br />
first. The only newcomers were "Calamity<br />
Jane and Sam Bass" and "My Brother Jonathan,"<br />
both of which came through satisfactorily.<br />
There were plenty of holdovers. It<br />
was the second week for "Top O' the Morning,"<br />
"Home of the Brave" and "Mighty Joe<br />
Young," all good boxoffice performers.<br />
(Average is 100)<br />
Aster Hangover Square (2Qth-Fox); The Lodger<br />
(20th-Fox), reissues 90<br />
Gopher Special Agent (Para): Kazan (Col) 95<br />
Lyric—Home ol the Brave (UA), 2nd wk 110<br />
Orpheum Roughshod (RKO), plus vaudeville 175<br />
Pan—Mighty Joe Young (RKO), 2nd wit 100<br />
Pix—Wuthering Heights (FC), reissue ..^ 100<br />
Radio City—Top O' the Morning (Para), 2nd wk....l25<br />
Slate—Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (U-I) 100<br />
World—My Brother Jonathan (Mono) 100<br />
Video, Drive-Ins, Taxes<br />
Up at KMTA Conclave<br />
";%>'-f<br />
'Not Wanted' Hits 130<br />
To Top Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—Ti-ade at first runs here<br />
continued at a brisk pace. "Not Wanted," day<br />
and date with "C-Man" at the downtown<br />
Esquire and the outlying Apollo, chalked up<br />
a rugged 130 per cent to pace newcomers to<br />
local screens. In a second stanza at the Paramount,<br />
"Top O' the Morning" continued to<br />
show strength with a rating of 125 per cent<br />
and was held for a third round. "The Red<br />
Shoes" went into a 21st week of its recordbreaking<br />
run at the Kimo.<br />
Esquire, ApoUo—Not Wanted (FC), C-Mon (FC)....130<br />
Kimo—The Red Shoes (EL), 21sl wk 145<br />
Midland—The Doolins ol Oklahoma (Col); The<br />
Secret Garden (MGM) 100<br />
Paramount Top C the Morning (Para), 2nd wk 125<br />
RKO Missouri—The Big Steal (RKO); An Old-<br />
Fashioned Girl (EL) 105<br />
Roxy—My Little Chickadee (U-1); The Bank Dick<br />
((J-l), reissues S5<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway Abbott & Costello Meet<br />
the Killer (U-I) 75<br />
'Morning' Chalks Up 160<br />
To Lead Trade in Omaha<br />
OMAHA — "Top O' the Morning" easily<br />
topped the boxoffice parade here. Crosby pictures<br />
always prove to be the magnet of the<br />
year for local patrons. "White Heat" and<br />
"Kazan" at the RKO Brandeis Theatre drew<br />
heavily, but other first runs did not fare so<br />
well. The holiday weekend was a help generally.<br />
Omaha—It's a Great Feeling (WB), 2nd d. t. wk;<br />
Rose ol the Yukon (Rep) 90<br />
Orpheum Top O' the Morning (Para) 160<br />
Paramount Scene oi the Crime (MGM) 85<br />
RKO Brandeis—White Heat (WB); Kazan (Col)....135<br />
State—In the Good Old Summertime (MGM), 2nd<br />
wk 95<br />
Town Nighttime in Nevada (Rep); Design ior<br />
Death (RKO); split with Strike It Rich (Mono);<br />
Manhattan Angel (Col); Ranger and the Lady<br />
(Col) 115<br />
Twin City Parley Slated<br />
On Twin Bill Trouble<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—President Bennie Berger<br />
of North Central Alhed will call Minneapolis<br />
members together soon to try to get<br />
them to reach an agreement to curb double<br />
featuring, now on the increase. With A<br />
pictures being used on the twin biUs, for<br />
the first time, Berger says it's "an alarming<br />
situation." Exhibitors using the A pictures<br />
on the dual bills claim they're driven to the<br />
policy by the fact that competitors are getting<br />
earlier clearance.<br />
MARIE WILSON<br />
KANSAS CITY—With television, drive-ins,<br />
public relations, concessions and court opinions<br />
among the subjects to be discussed during<br />
the various business sessions, and reports by<br />
TOA officials of proceedings at the recent<br />
national conclave at Los Angeles among other<br />
features, the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n<br />
will hold its 31st annual convention Tuesday<br />
and Wednesday (20, 21 1 at the Muehlebach<br />
hotel here.<br />
Other subjects will include national, state<br />
and local taxation, applied showmanship, new<br />
product to be released during the 1949-50<br />
season, exploitation and advertising, according<br />
to Senn Lawler, general chairman. Elmer<br />
Bills, Salisbury, Mo., KMTA president, will<br />
be the presiding officer at the various business<br />
sessions, and all members will be asked<br />
to participate in discussions.<br />
National TOA officials expected to be present<br />
at the convention, including several new<br />
officers elected at the national conclave last<br />
Monday (12), wiU include Herman Levy, general<br />
counsel, and Gael Sullivan, executive<br />
director. Several members of the national<br />
executive committee, returning from the Los<br />
Angeles gathering, also are expected to be<br />
present.<br />
Preceding the two-day convention, the<br />
third annual film golf tournament will be<br />
held at the Santa Fe Country club. The<br />
tourney wHl begin at 1:30 p. m., and prizes<br />
will be awarded at a buffet supper at 6:30<br />
p. m. Preparations for the tournament are<br />
being supervised by a committee which includes<br />
Robert Shelton, Martin Stone, Tom<br />
Baldwin and Ralph Morrow sr.<br />
Marie Wilson, who is starred in the Paramount<br />
production, "My Friend Irma," will<br />
arrive early Tuesday to be a guest at the<br />
initial luncheon. She will be given a special<br />
award of the Columbia Broadcasting system<br />
by Karl R. Koerper, executive director of<br />
radio station KMBC here, during the luncheon.<br />
The speaker at the banquet Wednesday<br />
night climaxing the two-day convention will<br />
be Joseph I. Breen. vice-president of the<br />
JOSEPH I. BREEN<br />
MPA and of the Production Code Administration.<br />
An RCA tape recorder given by<br />
L. J. Kimbriel of the Missouri Theatre Supply<br />
Co. win be awarded as an attendance<br />
prize during the banquet.<br />
Attendance at the 1949 KMTA convention,<br />
according to an estimate based on advance<br />
registrations, was expected by officials of the<br />
two-state organization to exceed that at its<br />
earlier gatherings here. The convention committee<br />
headed by Lawler includes R. R.<br />
Biechele, Robert Shelton and George Baker.<br />
All convention activities will be centered<br />
at the Muehlebach hotel, and the official program<br />
arranged by Lawler and BiUs will be<br />
as follows:<br />
TUESDAY<br />
10:00 a. m.—Registration, mezzanine desk.<br />
12:15 p.m.—Luncheon, Trianon room, with<br />
Marie Wilson, "My Friend Irma,"<br />
as special guest.<br />
1:30 p.m.—Business session.<br />
5:30 p.m.—Cocktail party, ballroom, given by<br />
Alexander Film Co., Exliibitors<br />
Film Deliver}', L&L Popcorn Co.,<br />
Manley, Inc., Paramount Theatre<br />
and Shreve Supply Co.<br />
8:00 p.m.—Screening, "Jolson Sings Again,"<br />
courtesy of Columbia Pictures at<br />
Paramount and 20th-Fox projection<br />
rooms.<br />
WEDNESDAY<br />
10:00 a.m.—Business session.<br />
12:15 p.m.—Luncheon, grill.<br />
1:30 p.m.—Business session.<br />
7 :00 p. m.—Banquet, ballroom.<br />
Cutout of 'Mighty Joe'<br />
OMAHA—When Larry Caplain, manager of<br />
the Brandeis, showed "Mighty Joe Young,"<br />
he carved out a giant-sized ape cutout to<br />
stand in the lobby. One arm of the ape extended<br />
out in such a fashion that any young<br />
woman could be held about the waist. Caplain<br />
offered to take a picture free of any<br />
girl who wanted to accept the hospitality.<br />
»ra*<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 MW 59
.<br />
To<br />
. . Filmrow<br />
. . Steven<br />
. . Roberta<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
DES MOINES<br />
. . . Enos<br />
JS rthnr Greenblatt, sales manager for Screen<br />
Guild, was a visitor . . . Paul Webster, Republic<br />
manager, spent three days in Chicago<br />
attending a sales meeting<br />
Manfredini and Lois Weiland. EL; Zora Fini,<br />
Monogram, and Helen Clarke, Republic, gave<br />
Joanne Hoffman, Republic, a dinner party<br />
prior to her leaving for the University of<br />
Iowa.<br />
. . .<br />
Filmrowers were anxiously awaiting reports<br />
on the condition of Metro biller Irma White's<br />
two sons who are hospitalized at Iowa Lutheran<br />
hospital here with polio. At this writing<br />
they were coming along fine . . . Jackie<br />
Barclay, Paramount, was on vacation<br />
Don Hicks, Paramount branch manager, attended<br />
a Chicago meeting.<br />
Elaborate plans were made for a personal<br />
appearance in Des Moines of Corinne Calvet<br />
and John Bromfield on September 19. Jim<br />
Castle, Paramount exploiteer, made a couple<br />
of trips to arrange luncheon and dinner<br />
meetings, radio interviews, etc. The promotion<br />
is publicity for "Rope of Sand." Miss<br />
Calvet will be hostess to French war brides<br />
at the noon luncheon . Lee Harris, Monogram,<br />
. .<br />
and Helen Knop, Warners, spent the<br />
weekend with Helen's folks in Rockwell City<br />
'<br />
.r Uj ' '<br />
i iTr c<br />
TO ANNOUNCE ?<br />
UseA F/LMACK^<br />
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JUST FOR YOU<br />
. . . C. A. Bedford, owner of the Molo Theatre<br />
in Moulton, has been named superintendent<br />
of schools at Udell. He formerly was<br />
principal of the school.<br />
Max Godlove, exhibitor at Milo, has bought<br />
additional farm land to help keep him busy<br />
. . . W. J. Whaley, Deep River, was on the<br />
Row . . . Max Rosenblatt, RKO manager,<br />
held an office screening of "Roseanna Mc-<br />
Coy" at the Paramount screening room.<br />
A clever publicity stunt for "So Dear co<br />
My Heart" was used by Mrs. Pauline Hill<br />
of the State Theatre, Clarence, Iowa. She<br />
mailed valentines to children in her community<br />
and advertised the forthcoming film<br />
with a written invitation to the theatre on<br />
the back . employes are not too<br />
happy about the new parking meters which<br />
hne High street, making it necessary to pay<br />
for parking in front of the exchanges during<br />
working hours . Chapman, Warners,<br />
is vacationing at Spirit Lake.<br />
.<br />
V. L. Mauro, auditor, was at Warners . . .<br />
Earl Kerr was here from Colorado to book<br />
. . . Barbara Bumgarner, U-I secretary, was<br />
vacationing Ward has been<br />
transferred from the Washington Universal<br />
branch to the exchange here to handle the<br />
booking. With his wife and two children,<br />
he is living at the Brown hotel and searching<br />
for a home!<br />
First Night Party Slated<br />
For Allied States Parley<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Exhibitors who attend<br />
the national Allied convention here next<br />
month won't want for entertainment. S. D.<br />
Kane, North Central Allied executive counsel,<br />
said a big night club party will be staged<br />
the first night. On the second night the<br />
American Seating Co. and National Theatre<br />
Supply wiU be joint hosts at a cocktail party.<br />
Manny Brown Appointed<br />
OMAHA—Manny Brown, formerly with<br />
Paramount at Buffalo, is the new Film Classics<br />
manager here.<br />
He succeeds Sol Reif.<br />
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OMAHA<br />
T McKechneay, Tri-States Theatres treasurer<br />
from Des Moines, was to arrive here,<br />
then go on to Grand Island for several days<br />
with District Manager Bill Miskell . . . Bill<br />
Wink, Warners salesman, is a Colisseum representative<br />
in new contract negotiations.<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
Howard Kennedy, Broken Bow exhibitor,<br />
attended the Theatre Owners of America<br />
convention Margaret Smith, U-I<br />
secretary, vacationed in the eastern states<br />
and Canada . Jack Andrews, Paramount<br />
salesman, went to Canada over Labor day.<br />
Walter Austin, Plainview exhibitor, went<br />
fishing in Minnesota . . . Bill Nedley, MGM<br />
booker, went dove hunting and bagged a crow.<br />
Only at the office did he have to eat it . . .<br />
Ruth Moberg, United Artists cashier, is vacationing<br />
Don McLucas, United Artists<br />
. . . manager, entered St. Joseph's hospital for<br />
Hymie Novitsky, 20th-<br />
blood transfusions . . .<br />
Fox salesman, was out with a severe cold<br />
Hazel McLaughlin is a new inspector at<br />
. . .<br />
United Artists, replacing Dorothy Reiner, who<br />
resigned.<br />
Joe Smith, former film salesman here who<br />
recently sold his theatre at Laurens, Iowa,<br />
stopped off for several days in Omaha en<br />
route to a Las Vegas, Nev., vacation . . .<br />
Max Meyers, Columbia home office representative<br />
from New York, was in town . . .<br />
Dorothy Weaver, 20th-Fox bookkeeper, is vacationing<br />
. . . Lois Brown, picture report<br />
girl at Paramount, was married to Jim Rush<br />
of Omaha.<br />
Mrs. Georgia Rasley, O'Neill exhibitor, has<br />
been ill. She is the mother of Warren Hall,<br />
Betty Keaslin, Warners<br />
Burwell exhibitor . . .<br />
contract clerk, is vacationing in Minnesota<br />
. . Visitors on Filmrow included Ralph Martin,<br />
Moorehead, and Mr. and Mrs. Omar Nel-<br />
.<br />
son, Soldier, Iowa; iaura Moorehead and<br />
Earl Barclay, Stromsburg; Frank Cook, David<br />
City; Harold Schnoonover, Aurora; W. G.<br />
Horstman, Odebolt, lowa; Bob Kruger, Uptown,<br />
Sioux City; Olie Schneider, Osceola;<br />
Elmer Wulf, Kingsley, Iowa; Arnold Miererdiers,<br />
Pender; H. O. Qualsett, Tekameh; Phil<br />
Lannon, West Point; Spec Nelson, Utica, and<br />
Paul Plummer and Jeannette Shoeneman,<br />
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60 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
Melvin B. Halvorson Now<br />
Owns Peru, Neb., Theatre<br />
PERU, NEB.—Melvin B. Halvorson, formerly<br />
of Bagley, Minn., and wife have moved<br />
here and taken over the Peru Theatre, which<br />
they purchased early in August from Robert<br />
Kempkes, who entered Peru State college here<br />
to complete a teaching course.<br />
Happy New Movie Year Proclaimed<br />
By Pioneer Theatres in Iowa<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Pioneer Theatres, a circuit<br />
in Iowa headed by Harold Field, with and some of the local managers found it<br />
with the theatre. Bumper strips were used<br />
Halvorson became the owner of the Peru<br />
Theatre as a result of a trip he and his wife head offices here,<br />
rather simple to get them on cars in the<br />
made with their son-in-law Paul Clark Maxwell<br />
from Bagley to Peru around August 1.<br />
launched a ten-city<br />
drive-ins.<br />
fall Happy New Movie<br />
On September 3, a Saturday, all Pioneer<br />
They decided they would like to live here<br />
Theatres offered a special midnight "New<br />
Year campaign with a<br />
and learned of the desire of Kempkes to dispose<br />
of the theatre in order to pursue his<br />
and horns distributed to patrons. Special<br />
Year show," with noisemakers, balloons, hats<br />
broad special campaign.<br />
college work. As a result the Halvorsons purchased<br />
the Peru after arranging with Martin teaser-type 14x22 and<br />
Year's policy and the other with special clips<br />
Hundreds of<br />
trailers were used, one denoting the New<br />
Heuer for a long-term lease on the building. 12x18 window cards<br />
advertising the special midnight show.<br />
They took over September 1 after settling were distributed to<br />
The promotion's main purpose is to acquaint<br />
the public with the fact that the 1950<br />
their affairs in Bagley.<br />
stores and placed in all<br />
strategic spots. The<br />
film product is coming to it four months<br />
cards carried the line,<br />
early, Field explained at his headquarters<br />
Sues Theatre Over Fall<br />
"1950 Starts With September."<br />
Each local<br />
Pioneer Theatres also set up a special<br />
here.<br />
WARRENSBURG, MO.—A motion picture<br />
advertising poster pasted and shellacked on chamber of commerce Harold Field queen contest in its ten situations. Each<br />
the sidewalk in front of the Star Theatre was asked to have the cards distributed so local high school football homecoming queen<br />
here is blamed for a fall over which Flora as partly to disguise the fact that it's a will be presented a loving cup by the local<br />
Maxwell has sued Commonwealth Theatres theatre promotion.<br />
theatre and be taken to an outstanding<br />
and George Wilhoite, Star manager. She asks This teaser campaign resulted in a number<br />
of front page newspaper stories in variferent<br />
and novel campaign also is planned<br />
college game during the season. Another dif-<br />
$20,000 damages for Injuries she charges she<br />
received when the poster slipped as she<br />
ous situations. During the campaign's second for November.<br />
stepped on it.<br />
week new cards were distributed with copy, Edward C. "Bud" Benjamin, former Warner<br />
Bros, exploiteer here, handled the as-<br />
"1950 Starts With September, a Happy New<br />
Okay Heart Fund Hats<br />
Year for You, a Great New Movie Era," signment of setting up the Pioneer Theatres<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—For the second successive tipping off that promotion was connected fall campaign.<br />
year, North Central Allied Is lifting its ban<br />
on collections at member theatres to permit<br />
the Northwest Variety Club again to pass<br />
Ball Players Are Guests Joseph Ryan to Go West<br />
the hat for its heart hospital fund. The<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co., which ordinarily BEDFORD, IOWA—Members of the Bedford<br />
MADISON, S. D.—Joseph H. Ryan, who recently<br />
sold his interest in the Lyric and<br />
turns thumbs down on theatre collection, Bruins baseball<br />
is<br />
club and their families<br />
expected to do<br />
were guests<br />
likewise.<br />
of the management of the Rialto State theatres here to the Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co., is planning to move to California.<br />
Theatre here last week to see "It Happens<br />
Every Spring," a film about the St. Louis Ryan said he decided to retire because of<br />
Gateway Air Conditioned Cardinals. Hosts were owners, Mr. and Mi's. illness. He had been in the theatre business<br />
WEST HOPE, N. D.—Installation of air Wilbur Young.<br />
here since 1932.<br />
conditioning equipment was completed recently<br />
in the Gateway Theatre.<br />
Theatre Operation Suspended<br />
Ticket Tax Totals Up<br />
COGSWELL, N. D.—Operation of the Cogswell<br />
Theatre, along with<br />
More Capacity to Minnesota House<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Reflecting continued boxoffice<br />
prosperity in the state,<br />
the Enterprise<br />
BROWNS VALLEY, MINN. —<br />
newspaper,<br />
The Roxy<br />
federal<br />
has been suspended<br />
amusement<br />
tax collections still<br />
by C. R. Jordan,<br />
Theatre here is being enlarged, raising its<br />
who intended to accept<br />
show gains over<br />
a position either in<br />
capacity by several hundred. Leo Beck is<br />
the corresponding<br />
Fargo<br />
peak periods of<br />
or Devils<br />
a year ago.<br />
Lake, N. D. Jordan and his<br />
owner.<br />
Those for last<br />
father has<br />
month, just<br />
published the<br />
announced, were<br />
Enterprise since<br />
$664,000, compared to $651,000 for August<br />
1906.<br />
Marcus, Iowa, Liberty Open<br />
1948, a $13,000 increase.<br />
MARCUS, IOWA — The Lyric Theatre,<br />
which has been closed for some time due<br />
Showman Buys Home<br />
to<br />
an injury suffered by the owner, recently ANOKA, MINN.—Roy Boots, manager of To Wichita Theatre Staff<br />
opened.<br />
the State Theatre here, purchased the demonstration<br />
house constructed by DeLong- been appointed assistant manager at the<br />
WICHITA—Mrs. Gladys Robertson has<br />
TEI Transfers Eugene Akins<br />
Walters here last spring.<br />
Tower Theatre here.<br />
PARSONS, KAS.—Eugene Akins has been<br />
transferred by the TEI circuit from manager<br />
at the Flat River Theatre to assistant manager<br />
"for TEI here.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 61
.<br />
I<br />
KANSAS<br />
Toseph A. Walsh, New York, Paramount<br />
'<br />
manager of branch operations, conferred<br />
with Harry R. Hamburg, manager, and other<br />
branch officials and then left for DaUas .<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Harry Hays, UA executive in Indianapolis<br />
and formerly with the local Paramount<br />
branch, was a visitor here while on vacation<br />
Don Davis, RCA-Victor district manager,<br />
returned from St. Louis and left several<br />
days later for southern Missouri.<br />
The new home office building of the Durwood<br />
circuit at 1806 Baltimore will be formally<br />
opened with a reception there September<br />
23. beginning at 3 p. m., according to Stan<br />
Durwood, vice-president and general man-<br />
"<br />
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ager . . . George Reagan, 20th-Fox salesman,<br />
sustained minor injuries in an automobile<br />
accident near Wamego, Kas. . .<br />
.<br />
Ralph Gregory has joined the home office<br />
staff of the Dickinson circuit.<br />
Another meeting of the Kansas City film<br />
luncheon club is being planned for October 3<br />
at Bretton's restaurant . . . Larry Biechele,<br />
Film Classics salesman, was in Missouri territory.<br />
Ardyth Wingett, secretary at RCA-Victor,<br />
flew to Los Angeles for a Labor day visit<br />
with relatives and friends . . . Dorothy Murphy,<br />
Kansas-Missouri Alhed unit office manager,<br />
returned from a vacation spent in Niles,<br />
Mich., and Chicago . . . Betty Caruso, Monogram<br />
cashier, flew to Chicago for Labor day<br />
. . . Jennie Schubert, stenographer at MGM,<br />
was vacationing at various points in Tennessee.<br />
C. M. Parkhurst, Kansas-Missouri Allied<br />
unit general manager, returned from Kansas<br />
territory for the meeting of its board of directors<br />
at its offices here Tuesday (13) . .<br />
An educational film library will be available<br />
soon to patrons of the North Kansas City<br />
public library, with 11 new titles to be added<br />
each month for use by schools and civic organizations,<br />
according to Mrs. E. C. Wuest,<br />
librarian.<br />
Kansas theatre operators seen on Filmrow<br />
included J. H. Neeley, Star, Hays; A. Y. Breeden,<br />
Welling, Natoma; Jay Wooten, Drive-<br />
In, Hutchinson; G. J. Johnson, Lakin, Lakin;<br />
J. L. Dunbar, Roxy, Wichita, and Albert<br />
Orear, Rio, Bonner Springs . . .<br />
Among Missouri<br />
showmen were Charles Mohler, DeRay,<br />
Joplin; Wallace Melon, Lathrop, Lathrop;<br />
Charles Fisk, Fisk, Butler, and Ken Winklemeyer,<br />
Casino, Boonville.<br />
Free Show to Competition<br />
OMAHA—The night that "Easy Living"<br />
opened on the Brandeis screen, the Los Angeles<br />
Rams, shown in the picture, were playing<br />
an exhibition football game here with<br />
the New York Giants. To show there were<br />
no hard feelings due to outside competition,<br />
members of the Rams team were invited to<br />
see the picture free.<br />
Jerry Roberts will handle the musical direction<br />
on Republic's "Rock Island Trail."<br />
Kansas City Business<br />
In Salute to Films<br />
KANSAS CITY—The attention of executives<br />
in all fields of business endeavor will<br />
be focused on films when the Kansas City<br />
Chamber of Commerce sponsors a special<br />
Motion Picture Industry on Parade luncheon<br />
Wednesday (21) in the ballroom of the<br />
Muehlebach hotel here, and a capacity crowd<br />
is expected to attend the event. Herbert H.<br />
Wilson, Chamber of Commerce president, will<br />
open the luncheon meeting. The principal<br />
speaker will be Joseph I. Breen, vice-president<br />
of the MPA and of the Production Code<br />
Administration.<br />
One of the features of the limcheon wUl be<br />
the appearance of Marie Wilson, star of the<br />
Paramount production "My Friend Irma."<br />
The ballroom will be decorated with ixjsters,<br />
stills and other film advertising material, and<br />
a special souvenir" edition of BOXOFFICE<br />
will be distributed. Motion pictures will be<br />
taken at the opening of the luncheon, rushed<br />
to a local laboratoi-y for developing and printing,<br />
and shown as the climax of the luncheon<br />
with projection equipment which wUl be installed<br />
especially for the event.<br />
Arthur H. Cole, industry representative at<br />
Paramount, is general chairman of preparations.<br />
Assisting committeemen include Louis<br />
Patz, decorations; Senn Lawler, statistical<br />
information; Barney Joffee, projection equipment;<br />
George Baker, motion pictures; M. D.<br />
Cohn and Howard Burkhardt, talent; B. J.<br />
McKenna, popcorn; Felix Snow, projectionists,<br />
and Stan Durwood and Finton Jones,<br />
special details.<br />
Lynne Roberts will be Tim Holt's leading<br />
lady in "Dynamite Trail," an RKO picture.<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:: September 17, 1949
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I'KRKOjittim<br />
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Kansas-Missouri Allied<br />
Gains 25 New Members<br />
KANSAS CITY—The addition of 25 new<br />
members em-olled during the last ten weeks<br />
by the Kansas-Missoui-i Allied imit was reported<br />
by C. M. Parkhui-st, general manager,<br />
at the monthly meeting of its board of directors<br />
here last Tuesday 1 13 1<br />
New members from Kansas included E. J.<br />
May, Lyric, Cottonwood Falls: Cliff Johnson,<br />
De Luxe, Bucklin; John J. Wehner, Royal,<br />
Rossville; Louis E. Stein, Drive-In, Parsons;<br />
R. F. Fite, Fite, El Dorado; K, H. Gaston,<br />
Mayflower, Florence; C. D. Sproule, State,<br />
Hutchinson; Robert Sproule, Iris Di-ive-In,<br />
Hutchinson; Jesse DeLong, Ute, Mankato;<br />
Sam Abend, Jayhawk, Kansas City; Ray<br />
Musselman, Roach, Lincoln; George P.<br />
Moore, Moore, Plainville; J. N. Welty, Midway,<br />
Hill City; W. R. Horton jr., Jayhawk, Atwood;<br />
Alex Sniderman, Strand, Concordia, and K.<br />
H. Ehret, Star, Clay Center.<br />
Included in new members from Missouri<br />
are Russell R. Benton, Jewel, Clarence; C. L.<br />
Summers, Jasper, Jasper; Virgil Harbison,<br />
Tarkio, Tarkio; W. E. Korsmeyer, Family,<br />
Kirksville; R. O. Robinson, Grant, Grant<br />
City; E. E. Jameson, Vogue, Lees Simimit;<br />
Shelby O. Armstrong, Karyl, Milan; Charles<br />
L. Mohler, DeRay, Joplin, and L. E. Wells,<br />
Gillham, Kansas City.<br />
Diablos Top Kansas City<br />
Film Bowling League<br />
KANSAS CITY—Standings of teams in the<br />
Filmrow Bowling league here, reported by<br />
Bob McKlnley, secretai-y, after the initial<br />
week of competition, were as follows:<br />
Team Won Lost<br />
Diablos 3<br />
Fox Trotters 3<br />
Sharpshooters - 2 1<br />
Fox Terriers 2 1<br />
Film Delivery No. 1 2 1<br />
Michaels 1 2<br />
Warners 1 2<br />
20th-Fox 1 2<br />
Film Delivery No. 2 .. 3<br />
MGM .._<br />
..__ 3<br />
Sponsors for several of the teams in the<br />
league still are needed, according to Ray St.<br />
James, president. An enti-y fee of $10 is paid<br />
by a sponsor, who in some cases buys shirts<br />
for the team chosen.<br />
Venice Award to 'Chante'<br />
From Canadicm Edition<br />
MONTREAL—A Canadian film, "Chante<br />
Jeunesse," has won first prize for short subjects<br />
at the Venice Film festival. It was<br />
one of the Canada Carries On series issued<br />
last spring under the English title "It's Fun<br />
to Sing." The film features the Leslie Bell<br />
Singers of Toronto. This award from the International<br />
Exhibition of Cinematographic<br />
Art is the third won by the National Film<br />
Board within a week. Last week two animated<br />
films, "Hen Hop" and "Piddle De<br />
Dee" won prizes at the Brussels Film festival.<br />
Theatre Host to Patrons<br />
CLAPLIN, KAS.—W. M. Wheatly and wife<br />
played hosts to the community on a Tuesday<br />
night recently at their Lux Theatre in celebration<br />
of the fnst anniversary of the motion<br />
picture house.<br />
Buys Ewing, Neb., House<br />
EWING, NEB.—Waldo Davis has purchased<br />
the Eldorado Theatre here from A.<br />
Mueting.*<br />
Kenneth Wagner, Iowa Theatreman,<br />
Seeks Fame as Cartoon Creator<br />
WILTON JUNCTION, IOWA—"Everybody<br />
loves a circus." That's the theory on which<br />
Kenneth A. Wagner, 38, manager of the<br />
Wilton Theatre here, has based years ol<br />
planning and work leading up to what he<br />
hopes will be his "big moment" in the comic<br />
strip field.<br />
Ever since Wagner won a $100 prize in<br />
a national art contest 20 years ago he has<br />
been interested in art work, and planning a<br />
cartoon series based on circus life. Recently<br />
he presented his idea and sample strips to a<br />
half-dozen newspaper syndicates, and at the<br />
moment it's a good bet that one of them<br />
buys it.<br />
The strip is called "Spangles," intended<br />
for daily and Sunday publication. It is a<br />
sort of Grand Hotel of circus life. It's a<br />
happy strip, with humor, fun, pathos and<br />
an inside picture of life under the big top.<br />
There are such characters as Pop Jingle, the<br />
circus owner; Pee Wee, the clown; Buck<br />
West, the cowboy star, and Swifty King, the<br />
wild animal trainer. And there's Sally Jones,<br />
the bareback rider, and Cecille LaVerse, the<br />
ex-aerialist, who's wardrobe mistress.<br />
Wagner has been enthused about circuses<br />
and the entertainment world since' he<br />
was in grade school. Born in Council Bluffs,<br />
he attended grade school there and was<br />
graduated from high school at Mason City.<br />
For years, after he won that art prize. Ken<br />
worked as a commercial artist for a lithographic<br />
firm which has a national reputation<br />
for show and dance band posters. It<br />
was like working for a circus.<br />
Even back in those days, Wagner had<br />
created the title Spangles and had started<br />
Lyceum in Minneapolis<br />
Starts 28-Day Pictures<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The Lyceum, legitimate<br />
roadshow house, got off to a good start this<br />
week with its new 28-day availability film<br />
pohcy, offering "The Stratton Story" for its<br />
opener. The pictiu-es will fill in between road<br />
attractions. The theatre's newspaper ads proclaimed<br />
"Top Pictures at Suburban Pi-ices."<br />
The 28-day availability puts the house in<br />
the same clearance class as first run neighborhood<br />
and suburban theatres and also<br />
makes it, in effect, a second run downtown<br />
theatre for the pictures of MGM, 20th-Fox<br />
and Warner Bros., the companies which acceded<br />
to its demand for this clearance. Admission<br />
is 60 cents, the same as at the 28-<br />
day neighborhood and suburban 28-day<br />
houses. Like most of the uptown 28-day theatres,<br />
too, the Lyceum has matinees only<br />
on Saturdays and Sundays.<br />
With fewer legitimate roadshows touring<br />
this season, the pictm'e policy, it is hoped<br />
by the management, will be the theatre's<br />
"salvation."<br />
Owl Shows at Drive-In<br />
LINCOLN, NEB.—The Starview Drive-In,<br />
managed by Herman Gould, has been granted<br />
permission by the Lancaster county commissioners<br />
to operate midnight shows each<br />
Saturday night until October 1.<br />
Ellis W. Carter is lensmg "Blonde Bandit"<br />
for Repubhc.<br />
developing characters for the strip. Seven<br />
years ago Wagner leased the Wilton Theatre<br />
here, with living quarters for his family in<br />
an apartment over the theatre. Five years<br />
ago he opened his photographic studio (he'd<br />
always been a camera fiend; in his apartment.<br />
Wagner also has tried his hand at writing<br />
and has sold a number of articles on<br />
photography to such magazines as Popular<br />
Science, Popular Photography and Home<br />
Moviemakers. For a while—although it didn't<br />
pay off—he produced a home newsreel—<br />
local film feature—which he showed in his<br />
theatre.<br />
"I even produced and filmed a home movie<br />
called 'The Rescue of Nancy Smith,' in which<br />
I had my son Ken jr. in the hero's role. That<br />
was back in 1940. The boy was 5 then," said<br />
Wagner.<br />
Since Wagner's theatre operates evenings,<br />
he has worked over his di-awing board during<br />
the day. Mrs. Wagner, the former Lavina<br />
Stevens of Mason City, has become a firstclass<br />
assistant in the photo studio. She<br />
does the developing and the mounting of<br />
pictures. The son also is a help. He takes<br />
over the popcorn sales at the theatre much<br />
of the time. The Wagners also have two<br />
daughters, Diane 9, and Linda 6.<br />
There is, naturally, a chance that "Spangles"<br />
won't sell. However, some top-ranking<br />
syndicate editors have given high praise to<br />
Wagner's ideas, work and his knowledge of<br />
the tanbark. He lives "on needles and pins"<br />
waiting that big moment when the strip has<br />
been placed.<br />
Slight Effect on Films<br />
From Freight Embargo<br />
KANSAS CITY—While 38 cities and towns<br />
with theatres in the Kansas City exchange<br />
area have been affected by the freight embargo<br />
resulting from the Missouri Pacific<br />
strike, 31 of them are being served by the<br />
Exhibitors Film Delivery. The seven remaining<br />
localities are being included temporarily<br />
in regular runs or exhibitors are transportng<br />
prints to and from points on truck routes.<br />
No railroad service other than Missouri Pacific<br />
is available in the 38 cities and towns.<br />
Teacher Operates Theatre<br />
BUCKLIN, MO.—Vii-gil Anderson, new<br />
music instructor in the Bucklin High school,<br />
has purchased the CR Theatre from Clifford<br />
Byler. Anderson came here from Ossian,<br />
Iowa. The CR will operate every night except<br />
Tuesday.<br />
Don Smith to Storm Lake<br />
STORM LAKE. IOWA—Don Smith has<br />
been named assistant manager to the city of<br />
Pioneer Theatres in Storm Lake, W. L. Hill<br />
has announced. Smith, a former Buena Vista<br />
college student, succeeds Jim Bye.<br />
Free Show for School Pupils<br />
HAMILTON, MO.—W. B. Presley, owner of<br />
the Till Theatre, invited all school children<br />
to a free show the afternoon of September 6,<br />
the opening day.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
f<br />
63
i<br />
Philip Winslow and S. A. Oellerich<br />
To Build Second Waterloo Drive-ln<br />
WATERLOO, IOWA—Waterloo, home of<br />
the first di-ive-in in the state, will have a<br />
second outdoor theatre with a 700-car capacity.<br />
Phihp E. Winslow and Stephen A.<br />
Oellerich, partners in the Starlite Drive-In<br />
Theatre Co., have puixhased a 20-acre tract<br />
of land on Highway 20 east of the new Waterloo<br />
city limits.<br />
Purchase price of the tract from Sam J.<br />
Bowers, a farmer, was $12,500. The new<br />
drive-in will be located at the southeast corner<br />
of the Bowers farm. Construction is<br />
scheduled to begin immediately.<br />
No name has been chosen. With construction<br />
of the theatre, Winslow and Oellerich<br />
will have theatres bordering Waterloo on two<br />
sides. The existing theatre is on Highway<br />
218 between Waterloo and Cedar Falls. It<br />
also has a 700-car capacity.<br />
Estimated cost of the new drive-in is<br />
$150,000.<br />
"We planned back in 1946 to build two<br />
theatres," the partners said. "This is part<br />
of our long-range program." The drive-in<br />
has met with huge success here in its operations<br />
from April until late November.<br />
Winslow said he and his partner conducted<br />
a survey recently and found that more<br />
than 90 per cent of the audience was over<br />
30 years of age and that 87 per cent of that<br />
figure brought children in their automobiles.<br />
"Drive-ins have caught on in Waterloo and<br />
this second theatre will give the residents<br />
of surrounding communities better facilities<br />
for entertainment," they said.<br />
About 70 persons will be employed in the<br />
two theatres next season.<br />
Filler Is Modernized<br />
FILLER, N. D.—Lawrence Bonaventura,<br />
who took over the Filler Theatre last May,<br />
siSMwS<br />
S^^ffl<br />
SAH FRANCISCO (3)<br />
CALIFOIVNIA<br />
64<br />
has completed modernization work that cost<br />
more than $10,000 and included new sound<br />
equipment and complete redecoration, the<br />
latter by G. R. Linder Theatre. Decorators,<br />
Inc., of Minneapolis. Bonaventura came here<br />
from Nashwauk, Minn.<br />
The decorative theme on the walls is that<br />
of an oasis with huge palmdates and flamingoes,<br />
rose-colored background and the scenery<br />
in white and brown.<br />
Star in Warrensburg, Mo.,<br />
Gets New Sound, Lights<br />
WARRENSBXJRG, MO.—The Star Theatre<br />
was closed several nights for installation<br />
of a new RCA-Brenkert sound system and<br />
new lights. The Star's old lights and sound<br />
system were moved to the smaller Mainstreet<br />
Theatre, which was to reopen September 11<br />
after being closed for the summer. The<br />
Mainstreet was repainted and redecorated. It<br />
will play second runs and westerns. George<br />
Wilhoite is manager of the Star.<br />
Sol Frank and Associates<br />
To Build Second Drive-In<br />
WELLINGTON, KAS.—Construction of a<br />
500-car drive-in has been started at a site<br />
on Route 160 east of here by Sol Prank and<br />
associates. The new open air theatre, to be<br />
known as the Trail Drive-In, will be ready<br />
for opening next spring. Projection and other<br />
equipment will be fui^nished by the National<br />
Theatre Supply Co. Fi-ank and his partners<br />
also operate the Trail Drive-In recently<br />
opened at I»ratt, Kas.<br />
A Grand Forks Drive-In<br />
GRAND FORKS, N. D.—Construction of a<br />
drive-in theatre was to be started about<br />
September 15 on a site near here by Joe<br />
Floyd of Sioux Falls, S. D. Floyd operates<br />
drive-ins in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Huron,<br />
S. D.<br />
Local Group Operates Theatre<br />
RUSHFORD, MINN.—The new Trojan Theatre<br />
has been opened here by a group of local<br />
businessmen who formed a corporation called<br />
the Rushmore Theatres, Inc. Organizers of<br />
the firm are Mat Barry, Clarence Loerch,<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
BOXOFnCE:<br />
Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE. 52 issues per year (13 of which contain<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section).<br />
n $3.00 FOR 1 YEAR D $5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D $7.00 FOR 3 YEARS<br />
n Remittance Enclosed Send Invoice<br />
THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
STATE..<br />
POSITION<br />
Daniel S. Frinzing and Roy R. Stephans.<br />
Mat Barry will be manager of the 435-seat<br />
house.<br />
The building was constructed with local<br />
materials, the front being trimmed with Biesanz<br />
stone from Winona, Minn., quarries. All<br />
doors and trims are made of birch, with natural<br />
blond finish, while the outside walls are<br />
of slag blocks.<br />
Commonwealth Reopens<br />
Summit in Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—The 877 -seat Summit<br />
Theatre here, operated by the Commonwealth<br />
circuit, was reopened September 9 following<br />
extensive remodeling and redecorating. Improvements<br />
include a new marquee, an enlarged<br />
boxoffice and a snack bar. New carpeting<br />
and seating has been installed. The<br />
house was built by the late Barney Corrigan<br />
about 35 years ago, and it was operated for<br />
many years by the late Mrs. Rose Burkey.<br />
It is one of the oldest theatres in the Kansas<br />
City area.<br />
Saturn in Langford, S. D.<br />
Undergoes Renovation<br />
LANGFORD, S.<br />
D.—A renovation program<br />
at the Saturn Theatre here, executed by<br />
Burnell Bengtsson, included installation of<br />
Voice of the Theatre sound, new projectors<br />
and arc lamps and construction of a cry<br />
room with bottle warming service. The cry<br />
room was equipped with toys and games for<br />
the tots. Other improvements included laying<br />
of tile floor in the lobby and foyer and<br />
installation of air conditioning equipment.<br />
The Saturn was closed only one night.<br />
Following the one-night closing Bengtsson<br />
presented the first ten women and men patrons<br />
that night gifts from the stage and a<br />
bouquet of roses to the oldest woman present.<br />
Philip, S. D. Gem Reopens;<br />
Remodeling Continues<br />
PHILIP, S. D.—Fred Haberly is continuing<br />
renovation of the Gem Theatre here following<br />
its reopening late in August after a shutdown<br />
since May 16, when the remodeling was<br />
started. Installation of new seats and rebuilding<br />
of the front is being completed while<br />
the show is in operation. Previously the auditorium<br />
floor was lowered to give a greater<br />
slope for seats, the walls were refinished and<br />
the entire interior redecorated.<br />
A Monett, Mo., Drive-In<br />
MONETT, MO.—J.<br />
Glenn Caldwell, owner<br />
of the Princess in Aurora, and Glenn L. Hall<br />
of the Hall Theatre in Cassville have agreed<br />
on plans for construction of a drive-in here.<br />
Shoo-Fly Drive-In Opened<br />
WINNER, S. D.—The Shoo-Fly Drive-In<br />
was opened here recently by owner Don King<br />
with Mrs. William Whitford as manager.<br />
Theatre Front Repainted<br />
STERLING, KAS.—The front of the Royal<br />
Theatre here was repainted during the summer.<br />
Maysville Anne Repainted<br />
MAYSVILLE, MO.—R. H. Meek redecorated<br />
the interior of his Theatre Anne during<br />
the week it was closed while the DeKalb<br />
county fair was under way.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • «<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
. . .<br />
TOE BLOUSTINE, assistant cashier for Pox<br />
in Kansas City, who has been managing<br />
the Roanolie for L. J. Lenhart of the Lee<br />
in Clinton, Mo., has been replaced by Art<br />
Johnson, who will run the theatre in addition<br />
to his new duties as<br />
John<br />
cashier for the<br />
Educational branch<br />
manager of the Benton in<br />
W. Creamer,<br />
Kansas City, received<br />
a $25 check from the advertising department<br />
of Paramount Famous Lasky. It<br />
was for an idea in promoting Harold Lloyd's<br />
new picture, "Welcome Danger."<br />
« * «<br />
George Baker, son of R. P. "Peck" Baker,<br />
has assumed duties as manager at the Publix's<br />
Newman in Kansas City, replacing<br />
Holden Swiger who has been promoted to<br />
Dallas to become manager of the Palace .<br />
Sunday shows won in a recent<br />
. .<br />
Chillicothe,<br />
Mo., vote.<br />
* * *<br />
Seen on Filmrow in Kansas City: George<br />
Shilkett, Rex, Joplin; J. D. Wineland, New<br />
Baxter, Baxter Springs, Kas.; S. E. Wilhoit,<br />
Grand and Princess, Springfield, Mo.; W. E.<br />
Thowe, Colonial, Alma, Kas., and Strand,<br />
Eskridge. Kas.; J. P. Philips, Lyric, Colby,<br />
Kas.; Harry T. Till, Auditorium, Braymer,<br />
Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Sharer, Plaza, Brookfield,<br />
Mo.; H. F. Higgins, Princess, St. Marys.<br />
Kas.<br />
Activity in Theatre Sales<br />
Reported in Midwest<br />
Partner Sells Out<br />
SIDNEY, IOWA—Byron V. Hopkins has<br />
sold his interests in the Sidney Theatre here<br />
to his partner. Earl E. Cowden. Cowden and<br />
Hopkins bought the Sidney from Ralph Hossie<br />
six years ago. They have remodeled and<br />
installed new equipment since. Hopkins, who<br />
formerly also operated a theatre at Scribner.<br />
Neb., continues to own a theatre at<br />
Bellevue, Neb.<br />
Grantsburg Grand Sold<br />
GRANTSBURG, WIS.—The Grand Theatre<br />
here has been sold to Sidney Sigurdson<br />
of La Crosse, Wis., by Joe Murray, former<br />
owner who plans to return to North Dakota.<br />
Sigurdson is new to theatre operation. He<br />
formerly was a plant foreman. The sale<br />
-was handled by Harry Buck of Savereide<br />
Theatre Brokers of Minneapolis.<br />
Take Over Everly, Iowa, Theatre<br />
EVERLY, IOWA—Mr. and Mrs. Palmquist<br />
of Hartley have taken over the mortgage of<br />
the Cozy Theatre here from Richard Arndt<br />
of Ruthven. They plan to open the theatre<br />
In several weeks. The Palmquists operated<br />
the Cozy before it was sold to Arndt. Palmquist<br />
is a former postmaster of Hartley.<br />
Buys Lakin, Kas., House<br />
LAKIN, KAS.—Operation of the Lakin<br />
Theatre here was taken over last Sunday (11)<br />
by G. L. Johnson, who recently purchased<br />
the house from Fred Munson. Johnson is<br />
new to show business. Munson has not disclosed<br />
his plans for the future.<br />
Thurston Ogden Buys Theatre<br />
BRIDGEWATER. IOWA—G. O. Dunkerson<br />
has sold the State here to Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Thurston Ogden of Tucumcari.<br />
too MILLION DOLLARS<br />
WORTH OF MOVIES!<br />
FlttT OK MR<br />
20th Aimit'tTScirv<br />
FILM FESTIVAL LISt<br />
il won * rlLLOW !<br />
ANO MANT MOKE<br />
All Yours For<br />
Less Than $15<br />
r*ii "» ««><br />
after being shuttered for a week to permit<br />
redecorating. "Top O' the Morning" was the<br />
reopening attraction, starting its thii-d week<br />
downtowTi . . . Sidney Chaplin and wife<br />
stopped here en route back to California after<br />
a 13-month European tour. They visited Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Charlie Weiner, local UA salesman.<br />
Sidney is a brother of Charlie, the former<br />
screen comedian himself, and is a UA director.<br />
Reporting a new high in advance season<br />
ticket sales, the Minneapolis Symphony orchestra<br />
attributed the gain in part to "better<br />
business generally in the entertainment field."<br />
The Northwest Variety Club will resume<br />
its Saturday night open houses during the<br />
ensuing football season which starts here<br />
September 24 with Minnesota pitted against<br />
Washington, Ted Bolnick, chief barker, announces.<br />
Special entertainment will be provided<br />
for the Saturday nights, Bolnick says.<br />
As hitherto, members will be privileged to<br />
bring guests for the occasions.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
65
ii.pvm i^' *v iPM ' w'i j ii^^^.^v u " W V^ V V^M,! v"v"v» V^'^-^.^'^rv<br />
SUPER SALESMAN !<br />
The Industry's Market ior Purchase or Sale of Equipment. Theatres, Service<br />
• ClasBilied Ads 10c P«i Word. PdyobI* in Advonc*. MhiiiOMin 11.00. Diiplay Rot»« on [1»qo«ai •<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
1. Hcrlner homonljl [ene/jtor, 811-I6O amps.<br />
85 mils rtieosiuis (or Suprex oiKfjiion. including<br />
___ jfLinteei] _<br />
meter and xjliuje reguuior panel.<br />
cwidltion. Ideal ror dtlie-ln or large theatre. A<br />
buy at present djy prices for t70U- 2. Western<br />
Eleelric soiMid equlpmeni, serviced and euar^nited<br />
coniJiUon. Wide range apertures, motor ycneralor,<br />
Brown ii Brockmeyer motors, 75 u-illi ol jiudio,<br />
41, 42 jfid luo 43 jmpliNers mwdmcd. Ideal<br />
lor Uiiie-in or large Ilie.ilre, ('JllU 3. Clncinnail<br />
Time recorder iujnd euuiMDienl. oierhauled<br />
and eojrjnired condiiion Tuo Scoit Ballanlynt<br />
ampHllers, Bictllent lor stojII Iheutre, $350<br />
P.rblle Ch.iir Instjlbdon to. 318 FJIni Bldf.<br />
2108 r.iyne Ave., Cleieljnd. Ohio<br />
Comolete^ PorLiOle 35inm sound projecL_. ,<br />
lit. fno 35mni Holmes Ijmp sojnd projeciors<br />
«tlh 2m mngJzjnes ft. Amplifier and speaker In<br />
Mse, S750 »U0 Datlle beaded, roll-up type<br />
screen In Mareiproal cirrylns ullh screen<br />
c.ise<br />
tripod*. S75 Write. lUre. plione. Jeanne Moore<br />
15 E OWo Chlc;jgo 11, 8222<br />
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fiio Complete Simplex projectors,<br />
eonslsllng of eli.>n6eo»ers, lenses, magazines Uid<br />
l"0 Gcnerjl Ekciric copper mtlde Good<br />
reciiflers.<br />
fondlllon. Inquire American Tliejire, 3621 Main<br />
" " - :jko. Ind<br />
Bargain pnees, Lou miensiiy lamps, rectifiers,<br />
molor Generator sets, rlieoslals. sound heads amplifiers.<br />
spe:ikers. one s>ncroIllm purlabte 35mm<br />
projector; «oimd Pair Preddty DC HJ lamps and<br />
rectifiers Many oiliei Hems U( us knoi\ jonr<br />
m'eJs Siebbfn^ Tlie.Urr Eiiuipment Co. 1804<br />
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THEATBE SEATING<br />
Sei'eral ihouund used upnolitered oper<br />
on hand We are headquarters lor the<br />
ilie used chair crop. We pick the lots thai \*t<br />
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h.iie parts for all makes of cti.urs Also, leathereile<br />
25\25 in. all colors, 55c ea Good qualli)<br />
fhlesRO llJed Chair .Marl, h2\) So Siaie Si ,<br />
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Ftnsin Chiir malotenaoce beadQuarters tia« all<br />
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labrlci uid Ibestre cbair supplies. Bend us<br />
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rlgbt In your Ibealre also Kensln Sealint;<br />
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1,200 Used Sprtng cushioned theatre cbalrs.<br />
11.60 ea.. ud }3.50 ea complete. Immediate<br />
,<br />
delivery. Ruisdl Cbalr. 2567 McCleU&n, Detroit.<br />
MicbPbooe LENoi 3445.<br />
CiedlOGHOUSt<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
Theatre: Otegun couniy seal io»n Owner sjjs<br />
cleared $900 last month alter pd)ing manager's<br />
salary and all expenses. Nice ne* place to ll^e<br />
Included in deal, $16,000 cash will handle Theatre:<br />
Abuut one hour's drite from metropolitan<br />
Portland. An easy lining can be made by mosi<br />
anyone here. Situated the heart one of the<br />
In of<br />
most scenic spots In America. S15.000 Includes<br />
modern bulldlrtg. Theatre: County<br />
selling 2,500 pupulailon Ouner on account ol<br />
oilier tnleresis EXisy terras "ith only S5.00U<br />
do«n Theatre I'oriland suburban Neiv bouiti<br />
equhpmeni. good district. Ji2,5U0 lull price<br />
.Mljjht consider some terms. Write us for hifuirT>allon<br />
nn ihrse and many other good Iheaire bii)3<br />
Theatre Exchange Co., 21' Coternor BIdg . fun<br />
land 4. Ore<br />
THEATRES FOB SALE<br />
Clark<br />
CU:t<br />
'eric<br />
,<br />
erty<br />
p.,,<br />
"Pal<br />
cr/^<br />
66 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 ^OXOFTic,
l"A"JiTn"''''<br />
Target at Detroit<br />
DETROIT—The film industry was taken<br />
to task for deficiencies of public relations<br />
consciousness in connection with the conference<br />
at Chicago devoted to that very project<br />
by a local newspaper critic and by an exhibitor<br />
leader here. Helen Bower, motion<br />
picture editor of the Detroit Free Press, led<br />
off with a caustic comment that it was difficult<br />
for a newspaperman to understand why<br />
no information on the conference had been<br />
given to the press.<br />
Taking up the criticism, Sam Carver, vicepresident<br />
of the Michigan Independent Theatre<br />
Owners, asked, "Where was the smart<br />
showmanship of the advertising and publicity<br />
men, when they overlooked the daily<br />
press?" Pointing to the public relations value<br />
of the speeches and resolutions in the conference,<br />
Carver said that probably "when<br />
the news is stale a few weeks later ,somebody<br />
will send the newspapers a two-paragraph<br />
statement about the meeting. What a<br />
wonderful chance to have hit the newspapers<br />
at the right time and given the millions<br />
of theatregoers some real great news."<br />
New Building Code Goes<br />
To Akron City Council<br />
AKRON—A new building code designed to<br />
spur construction and protect public safety<br />
has been submitted to the Akron city council,<br />
ending a five-year task by the city plarming<br />
commission. The code, which bears the approval<br />
of the city building department, contains<br />
369 pages and was completed after<br />
numerous hearings.<br />
The committee failed to reach an agreement,<br />
however, on two points, and decided<br />
to leave to city council. These were whether<br />
billboards should be permitted across from<br />
public buildings and parks, and whether clay<br />
pipe should be used for sewage underneath<br />
homes.<br />
An ordinance for the licensing of electricians,<br />
plumbers, heating and sign men will<br />
be introduced to city council. Councilman Leo<br />
Laney said that the city is facing large damage<br />
suits if the city building department<br />
doesn't staj-t checking the structures on<br />
which it issues building permits.<br />
Ohio's New Drive-ln Assn<br />
Begins 5 -Point Campaign<br />
Mike Single Stricken;<br />
Dunlo, Pa., Exhibitor<br />
DUNLO. PA.—Mike Single, 58, veteran exhibitor,<br />
who died after a heart attack, had<br />
been in the motion picture business 39 years<br />
to the day. He began his career here in 1910.<br />
He was one of the first licensed projectionists<br />
in the Johnstown area. He operated the<br />
Dunlo Theatre here, the Lilly at Lilly, the<br />
Palace at Beaverdale and the recently buUt<br />
New Theatre at Cresson. Born in Austria,<br />
he was a retired employe of Mountain Coal<br />
Co.<br />
Surviving are his wife Susie and the following<br />
children: Mary, wife of George Novak,<br />
Beaverdale: George and Joe, theatre managers,<br />
both of Dunlo, and Helen, Sue and<br />
Catherine, all at home. Funeral services were<br />
conducted at SS. Peter and Paul's Greek<br />
Catholic chui-ch, Dunlo, and burial was in<br />
the church cemetery.<br />
Theatre Owners of Ohio<br />
To Meet September 20<br />
COLUMBUS—One of the best-attended<br />
conventions of the Independent Theatre Owners<br />
of Ohio is expected when President Martin<br />
Smith, Toledo, bangs the gavel for the<br />
opening session September 20 at the Deshler<br />
Wallick hotel here. The convention will continue<br />
through Thursday, September 22.<br />
Two special meetings are scheduled for<br />
the first day, the first for small town theatre<br />
owners and the second for drive-ins, an<br />
innovation this year. On Wednesday there<br />
will be a general meeting at 1 p. m. and the<br />
annual banquet at 7 p. m. The convention<br />
will close with a single meeting at 1 p. m.<br />
Thursday when there will be a general business<br />
session and election of officers and<br />
COLUMBUS — An organization of five<br />
committees to conduct a vigorous campaign<br />
on behalf of Ohio drive-in theatres was authorized<br />
at the first regular meeting of the<br />
new Ohio Drive-In Theatres Ass'n here.<br />
Frank Nolan, Athens, president, will appoint<br />
members of committees soon on taxation,<br />
daylight savings repeal, insurance rates,<br />
highway safety and general business-getting<br />
activities.<br />
The committees will seek to prevent passage<br />
of new local or state taxes, seek repeal<br />
of daylight savings in 30 Ohio cities, set up<br />
an exchange of business-getting ideas, work<br />
with the state highway department for<br />
greater trafifc safety and conduct a survey<br />
of insurance rates.<br />
A resolution was passed limiting membership<br />
on the board of directors to outdoor<br />
theatre owners. Incorporators of the nonprofit<br />
group are Nolan, Mrs. Ethel Miles,<br />
secretary and Horace Abrams, Cleveland,<br />
member of the board. Other officers who<br />
were continued in office until the next meeting<br />
in March 1950 are Prank Yassenoff, Columbus,<br />
vice-president, and Jack Armstrong,<br />
Bowling Green, secretary.<br />
About 40 attended, including eight new<br />
members. A membership campaign to enroll<br />
all 130 Ohio drive-in operators is plarmed-<br />
Use of Fox Donated<br />
DETROIT—Complete facilities of the Fox<br />
Theatre here have been turned over to the<br />
central volunteer bureau of the Council of<br />
Social Agencies for September 19 by David<br />
M. Idzal, managing director. Dr. Lillian M.<br />
GUbreth, mother in "Cheaper by the Dozen,"<br />
and "Woman of the Year" in 1948, will speak<br />
at the third annual presentation of volunteer<br />
awards by the bm-eau. The bureau is a<br />
Red Feather agency.<br />
Milt Jacobson Reopens<br />
Grand Rapids Theatre<br />
DETROIT—The Fox Theatre in Grand<br />
Rapids is being reopened by MUton Jacobson,<br />
who has had the house since last year,<br />
with a new policy of artistic and foreign<br />
films. The theatre, once known as the Rialto,<br />
is being rechristened the Art, to signalize the<br />
new policy, and mark the departure from<br />
stage shows formerly booked there. Bookings<br />
for the house will be taken over by William<br />
Clark of Clark Theatre Service.<br />
Civil Rights Case Dismissed<br />
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO—Unable to reach a<br />
verdict, a jury in the civU rights case of William<br />
Settos, owner and operator of the Liberty<br />
Theatre here, was dismissed in Municipal<br />
court by Judge Harry W. Snodgrass.<br />
The jury deliberated nearly one hour and<br />
voted 10 to 2 for acquittal. Settos had been<br />
accused of denying admission to his theatre<br />
to two Negroes.<br />
CHAKERES LEADERS—Here are the eight Chakeres Theatre, Inc. managers who<br />
were cited for improving their gross business over the previous year. They received<br />
cash awards at the recent annual Chakeres managers meeting in Springfield, Ohio,<br />
recently. Sitting, left to right, are: Grant Frazee of the Fairbom, Fairfield; Nick<br />
Condello of the State, London; Eric Hanimel of the Shelby, Shelby^ille, Ky., and<br />
Jack Frazee of the Gloria, Urbana. Standing: Dale Brooks of the Logan, Logan; Hal<br />
Watts of the Grand, Circleville; Harry Wilson of the Markay, Jackson, Ohio, and<br />
Stan Ridge of the Louvee, Wellston.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17. 1949<br />
ME 67
. . . WSPD-TV,<br />
Partners of Community Circuit Host<br />
Managers of Exctianges at Detroit<br />
'Kid' Boosted to 200;<br />
First in Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—"The Kid From Cleveland"<br />
did sensational business at the gtillman, with<br />
capacity crowds for each performance doubling<br />
the average take. "White Heat" at the<br />
Hippodrome was another big hit, with a score<br />
of 160. "Slattery's Hurricane" brought the<br />
Allen 145, and "Roseanna McCoy" went to<br />
a happy 125 at the Palace.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Allen—Slattery's Hurricane (20th-rox) 145<br />
Esquire—Lost Boundaries (FC), 7th wk 185<br />
Hippodrome—White Heal (WB) 160<br />
Lower Mall—The Last Stop (Times) - HO<br />
Ohic^The Great Gatsby (Para), 2nd d. t. wk 100<br />
Palace—Roseanna McCoy (RKO) 125<br />
State—Madame Bovary (MGM) 105<br />
StiUman—The Kid From Cleveland (Rep) 200<br />
DETROIT-Tables were reversed in<br />
intraindustry<br />
relations here when Charles A.<br />
Komer and Adolph and Irving Goldberg<br />
played host to all local exchange managers<br />
in a day-long gathering at the swanky Franklin<br />
Hills Country club. Komer and the Goldberg<br />
twins operate Community Theatres, one<br />
of the largest circuits in Michigan, and decided<br />
to inaugurate the gathering as an annual<br />
event, strictly social with no business<br />
discussions allowed. At future meets they<br />
plan to add sales managers and other home<br />
office executives to their roster of guests.<br />
The program included a luncheon, with<br />
golf and swimming afterward, dinner, then<br />
a lively program of evening entertainment.<br />
Place cards were Dunhill cigaret lighters with<br />
each guest's monogram engraved thereon.<br />
Exchange and district managers attending<br />
TOLEDO<br />
'Duth Elgutter, theatre editor of the Toledo<br />
Times, celebrated the first anniversary<br />
of her coliunn. Shifting Scenes. The column<br />
devotes itself largely to the entertainment<br />
world, with an occasional change of locale<br />
to larger fields of human interest . . . Abe<br />
Ludacer, manager of Loew's Valentine, and<br />
his wife Shirley are on a three-week trip<br />
to California.<br />
The Tex Ritter Western Festival, originally<br />
booked for the Sports arena September 21, has<br />
68<br />
L A I<br />
l\ A J55nfs<br />
100% HYBRID SOUTH AMERICAN MUSHROOM.<br />
permanently treated, 30 volume, moisture prooi<br />
bags, POPCORN S6.50 per 100 lb. bag<br />
RETURN STANDARD 10c COMIC BOOKS 3c ea.<br />
POPULAR BRANDS CANDY 78c and 75c per<br />
box, 24/Sc bars. Chewing Gum, GOc per box.<br />
(48 boxes prepaid shipment).<br />
5c Popcorn Bags<br />
$1.20 per 10c Popcorn Bags 1.70 per M<br />
(50M PREPAID)<br />
REFINED CORN OIL 20c per lb., in 400 lb.<br />
drums, prepaid.<br />
Complete line of nationally advertised theatrical<br />
equipment. Special factory prices.<br />
We are manufacturers distributors for all<br />
popular brands of candy, confections and<br />
equipments.<br />
Free Candy and Brock Balloons for BROCK<br />
KIDDIE MATINEE. Write for complete details.<br />
UNIVERSAL SOUND MOVIE CO.<br />
CALHOUN, EY.<br />
included Donald Woods, Warners; Jack Zide,<br />
Allied Films; Carl Shalit and Edward Hochstim,<br />
Columbia; Clair Townsend, Eagle Lion;<br />
Joseph J. Lee, 20th-Pox; George Lefko, Film<br />
Classics; Frank J. Downey and Frank Hensler,<br />
MGM; Edward Stuckey, Paramount;<br />
Samuel Seplowin, Republic; Hatton Taylor,<br />
RKO; William Flemion and Albert Dezel,<br />
Screen Guild; Moe Dudelson and Sidney<br />
Bowman, United Artists, and Ben Robins,<br />
Universal.<br />
In addition there were James F. Sharkey,<br />
Samuel Barrett and Fred Sturgess of Cooperative<br />
Theatres of Michigan, to which<br />
the Community group belongs; Samuel Goldberg,<br />
father of the twins, and John Carlisle,<br />
Detroit News columnist.<br />
Shown in the picture, left to right: Komer,<br />
Woods, Sharkey. Stuckey, Irving Goldberg,<br />
Shalit and Adolph Goldberg.<br />
been shifted to September 25 so that both<br />
a matinee and evening show can be offered<br />
Fort Industi-y Co.'s Toledo<br />
television station, plans to broadcast some<br />
of the high school football games, but viewers<br />
will not know until ju^ after game time<br />
what game they will see. Since there are six<br />
high school football teams in the city, this<br />
is expected to prevent any drop at the schools'<br />
boxoffices. The schools figure that the advance<br />
information of a telecast may cut down<br />
the crowds both at the event and at any<br />
other game scheduled at the same time.<br />
Cleveland and Detroit<br />
Keglers Meet in March<br />
CLEVELAND—Floyd Akins, secretary of<br />
the Detroit Nightingales, and his wife were<br />
here to set up tentative dates for the spring<br />
bowling series between the Detroit team and<br />
th Motion Picture Operators Local 160 team<br />
of Cleveland. Tentative dates were set for<br />
March 7 and March 21. First of the series<br />
will be played in Detroit with the final games<br />
to be rolled here.<br />
The first contest between the bowlers of<br />
the two cities was played last year and at<br />
that time it was hoped that the event could<br />
be made an annual affair.<br />
Art Films to Johnstown<br />
JOHNSTOWN, PA.—Sixteen feature pictures<br />
will be exhibited during the new season<br />
of the Film society at the Cambria library<br />
September 22 through April 24. Season membership<br />
is $5. The program will include films<br />
from Sweden, Russia, England, FYance, Mexico,<br />
Italy and Greenland.<br />
'Jennie' Grosses 150 to Pace<br />
First Runs in Detroit<br />
DETROIT—The Michigan state fair and<br />
Silver cup boat races proved stiff competition<br />
for local theatres. Best gross of the<br />
week was recorded at the Cinema on the second<br />
week of "Portrait of Jennie," with 150<br />
per cent. Second place honors went to the<br />
Palms-State and "Rope of Sand," which<br />
grossed 125.<br />
Adams—In the Good Old Summertime (MGM) 100<br />
Cinema—Portrait of Jennie (EL), 2nd wk 150<br />
.^<br />
Downtown Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer<br />
(U-I); Flaming Fury (Rep) 100<br />
Fox—Slattery's Hurricane (20th-Fox); The Devil's<br />
Henchmen (Col) 120<br />
Madison-Mr. Soit Touch (Col); Lost Tnbe (Col),<br />
2nd d. t. wk ^<br />
9=<br />
IvlichigcJn Top O' the Morning (Para): The House<br />
Across the Street (WB) -120<br />
,<br />
Palms-Slate—Rope of Sand (Para); Hold That Baby<br />
(Mono)<br />
-;,, nn<br />
Jnited Artists—Anna Lucasta (Col); Kazan (Col) 9U<br />
"Morning' Doubles Average<br />
At Cincinnati Albee<br />
CINCINNATI—"Top O' the Morning" doubled<br />
normal business at the Albee and was<br />
held over for a second week, a rare distinction<br />
at that house. Other fiSst rvms were near normal,<br />
although "Mighty Joe Young" gained<br />
120 at the Palace.<br />
Albee Top O' the Morning (Para); Song of India<br />
(Col) ..<br />
200<br />
Capitol—Madame Bovary (MGM), 2nd wk 90<br />
Grand—The Secret Garden (MGM) 90<br />
Keiths—Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (U-I), 2nd wk 105<br />
Lyric-Gone With the Wind (MGM), reissue 110<br />
Palace—Mighty loe Young (RKO); Make Mine<br />
Laughs (RKO) 120<br />
Shubert—It's a Great Geeling (WB); Arctic Manhunt<br />
(U-I), 2nd d. t. wk 30<br />
"Great Sinner' Scores 110<br />
As Tops in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH—Trade generally at downtown<br />
first i-uns was dull, with holdovers plentiful.<br />
"The Great Sinner" at the Perm was<br />
the top newcomer with a rating of 110 per<br />
cent. "Lost Boimdaries," in a third stanza at<br />
the Warner, continued to show strength by<br />
carding 120 per cent.<br />
Fulton—Once More. My Darling (U-1) 80<br />
Harris—Mr. Soft Touch (Col), 6 days 70<br />
Penn The Great Sinner (MGM) 110<br />
Ritz—Black Magic (UA), 2nd d. t. wk 80<br />
Senator—Yes. Sir. That's My Baby (U-I). 2nd d. t.<br />
wk 80<br />
Stanley—The Great Gatsby (Para) 85<br />
Warner—Lost Boundaries (FC), 3rd d. t. wk 120<br />
Show for Score Writer<br />
AKRON—The Copley Theatre recently<br />
screened "Once More, My Darling," lor members<br />
of the Harvey S. Firestone jr. family,<br />
including daughter Elizabeth, who wrote the<br />
musical score for the film. With her was her<br />
grandmother, Mrs. Harvey S. Firestone sr., a<br />
well-known composer and pianist.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
-J %WSi
. . Ritz<br />
. . George<br />
I<br />
P I<br />
T T S B U R G H<br />
Tjorothy Tice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.<br />
George Tice, was married to William Finn<br />
jr. A reception followed at the Jacktown<br />
hotel. The bride is a daughter of the Columbia<br />
manager. The bridegroom is manager<br />
of the Park Theatre at Munhall.<br />
Tavern owners with television sets who<br />
sell only beer are subject to an amusement<br />
tax amounting to 20 per cent of their U-<br />
cense. The Pennsylvania legislature passed<br />
a measure exempting the 19,000 taprooms in<br />
the state that sell both liquor and beer from<br />
paying amusement tax on video. However,<br />
the malt beverage law covering the 2,000<br />
cafes that retail only beer and ale, was not<br />
amended, and under a Supreme Court decision<br />
they'll have to pay.<br />
Terry Tony Hatfield, great-grandniece of<br />
Devil Anse Hatfield, who knows the real<br />
McCoy about the Hatfield feud, appeared on<br />
the stage of the Fulton here to defend her<br />
family. The Fulton presented her to exploit<br />
Samuel Goldwyn's "Roseanna McCoy"<br />
. . . Theatre management, a new course,<br />
limited to seniors only, has been added at<br />
Carnegie Tech drama school, with Dick<br />
Hoover, general manager of the Pittsburgh<br />
Playhouse in charge.<br />
Don Mungello, Burgettstown exhibitor,<br />
ripped out the six bowling aUeys which he<br />
installed only a year or so ago. He did so,<br />
he says, before his business was taxed out<br />
of business . . . Variety Club held a membership<br />
meeting and buffet supper Monday<br />
(12) ... M. A. Sargent, manager of Warner's<br />
Latonia in Oil City, staged a special<br />
campaign for "Task Force" . . . Alvin Seller's<br />
Vox at Ligonier was the first theatre in the<br />
area, following Pittsburgh, to offer "The Red<br />
Shoes" for a week at roadshow prices . . .<br />
The Clark at Suterville is no longer an account<br />
of the Star booking agency.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Rankin, Bridgeville<br />
theatre owners, celebrated their golden<br />
wedding anniversary during a month's vacation<br />
on the west coast . . . Nick Goldhammer,<br />
Monogram-Allied Artists' executive, was<br />
here on business with Abe Weiner, local<br />
manager, who is being honored by a special<br />
September business drive which observes his<br />
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Order Your Screen Coating and<br />
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DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
't\'X°"<br />
third anniversary with the company here . . .<br />
Mannie Brown, newly appointed RKO salesman,<br />
made a tour into West Virginia, had<br />
auto and highway trouble and quit . . . Allied<br />
MPTO directors failed to meet last<br />
Friday afternoon, regular monthly meeting<br />
day.<br />
Show business at work and play, with the<br />
latter prevailing Tuesday midnight, September<br />
20, is the theme of the lATSE Local 171<br />
40th anniversary banquet. The affair is<br />
scheduled from 11 p. m. to 3 a. m.<br />
Big Slim and his Oklahoma Boys appeared<br />
in person at the Starlite Open Air<br />
Theatre near Uniontown . . . Patrons in attendance<br />
at the regular Saturday night show<br />
at the Sky-Hi Drive-In at Cranberry may<br />
remain for a change of program midnight<br />
show at no extra cost . . . Family Drive-In<br />
at New Kensington bids for the kiddies by<br />
offering free comic books and colored .<br />
balloons<br />
John D. Rossino, manager of the<br />
. . . El Rancho Drive-In at Bridgeville, Is seeding<br />
the front lawn and planting evergreens.<br />
A distraction at the El Rancho is night<br />
football games with giant lighting systems in<br />
the property adjoining the outdoor theatre.<br />
Harry Long, 58, vice-president of Bert M.<br />
Steam's licensing combine, died recently.<br />
He suffered a heart condition and had entered<br />
Mercy hospital several weeks ago. Long<br />
formerly was division manager for Loew's<br />
Theatres. Services were conducted here at<br />
Samson's and the burial was in Detroit.<br />
Surviving are his wife, Edith Johnson Long,<br />
a sister Blanche and brothers Walter E.<br />
and C. Robert Long.<br />
Max ShuJgold of Crown Film Co. was in<br />
New York on business . . . John W. Robison,<br />
Bedford projectionist, and his wife have<br />
adopted a 16-month-old girl. John was associated<br />
with Ace and John Stuckey at<br />
Everett for a number of years before going<br />
to Bedford nearly a decade ago . . . Charlie<br />
Sheftic was scheduled to stage a dinner at<br />
the Somerset Country club in celebration<br />
of the opening several months ago of the<br />
Richland Drive-In near Johnstown . . . Because<br />
of the polio condition at Butler, health<br />
authorities delayed the opening of schobls<br />
and put a wider curb on gatherings of persons<br />
under 18. One of the bans was on<br />
theatres.<br />
Louis Rothenstein,<br />
Cambridge Springs exhibitor,<br />
is a candidate for council there . . .<br />
The Austin Interrantes of Philipsburg are<br />
vacationing in New York . . . Drew Kolb of<br />
MOlheim has been enjoying a Canadian fishing<br />
vacation . . . C. L. Hall, Clarence exhibitor,<br />
is back on the job following an 11,400-<br />
mile auto tour to Alaska . Curtz,<br />
Paramount booker, has resigned . . . Ray<br />
Allison, Altoona-Johnstown exhibitor, and his<br />
bride are at home following an extended<br />
honeymoon .<br />
its Kiddy Klub September 17.<br />
at New Kensington st.arts<br />
Dismissal of the mandamus proceedings in-<br />
by John Perry, Belle Vernon exhibi-<br />
stituted<br />
tor and former burgess of that borough, is requested<br />
by the borough's solicitor in Fayette<br />
county court. Perry is trying to regain the<br />
office of burgess, lost dui'ing a term he spent<br />
in the Allegheny county workhouse on an<br />
assault charge brought by a former employe.<br />
kini's Asylum of Horrors at Shea's in Bradford;<br />
Richard E. Sylvers at the Manos in<br />
Uniontown; Vaughn Monroe orchestra at<br />
the Warner in Erie; Freddie Martin orchestra<br />
at the State in Johnstown and the<br />
Manos in Greensburg; Louis Prima's orchestra<br />
at the Columbia in Sharon, and Dipson's<br />
Bradford at Bradford; Hawkshaw Hawkins<br />
the Nuluna in Sharon.<br />
at<br />
Frank Panoplos, Clairton exhibitor, is at<br />
the Mayo clinic at Rochester, Minn., where<br />
he underwent an operation . . Bob Kimbel,<br />
.<br />
Republic shipper, was injm-ed slightly in an<br />
auto accident . . . Mrs. Dom Serrao, mother<br />
of Bill, Fred and Roxy, Arnold-New Kensington-Ford<br />
City exhibitors, is recuperating<br />
at home after being hospitalized . . . The<br />
Butler at Butler will inaugurate a regular<br />
Tuesday amateur show starting September<br />
20 . . . The Manos at Uniontown and the<br />
Veterans council will present the reissued<br />
"Story of G.I. Joe," opening October 3.<br />
. .<br />
Filmrow's F-11 union plans a Halloween<br />
party October 28 . . . Republic's new head<br />
cashier is George Wain of Homestead. He<br />
became the father of a son the day he reported<br />
on the job Paramount sneakpreviewed<br />
.<br />
"The Great Lover" Tuesday evening<br />
(13) at Loew's Penn . . . The Variety<br />
Club crew hosted the September 16 family<br />
nite party.<br />
The Variety Club previewed "People Are<br />
Important," which depicts the work of the<br />
Allegheny County Community Chest. The<br />
short was produced by James Baker of Mode-<br />
Art Pictures . . . Frances Langford and Jon<br />
Hall are here for appearances at the Better<br />
Homes exposition September 17-23 at West<br />
View park . . . The Oaks at Oakmont played<br />
a two-day engagement of "The Red Shoes"<br />
. . . Owners and managers of drive-in theatres<br />
met September 13 in the Plaza bmlding<br />
downtown.<br />
National Theatre Brokers<br />
To Distribute Turn-Key<br />
PITTSBURGH—National<br />
Theatre Brokers<br />
now is Pittsburgh-Philadelphia-Washington<br />
area distributor for the Ballantyne Co. Turn-<br />
Key Drive-In, which will be featured at the<br />
TESMA trade show in Chicago, September<br />
26-28. Andrew F. Battiston, NTB general<br />
sales manager, recently flew to Omaha where<br />
he completed negotiations with Ballantyne.<br />
Leo Isaacs Dies<br />
PITTSBURGH—Leo Isaacs died here Tuesday<br />
evening following a long illness. A former<br />
local film laboratory owner and commercial<br />
producer. Isaacs was a Colimibian salesman<br />
for a long period and recently was a<br />
representative of Alexander Theatre Supply.<br />
S<br />
stage shows in the area included Dr. Sll- m.^^<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
First Runs at Drive-ins<br />
Up in Cleveland Area<br />
CLEVELAND—Drive-ins, once regarded as<br />
stepchildren of the industry, are now looked<br />
upon favorably by distributors. A few years<br />
ago. the ozoners could buy pictures only after<br />
the last neighborhood run. Now things have<br />
changed to such an extent that two drive-ins<br />
in this area, the Fairview and Wicliffe, belonging<br />
to the chain operated by Horace<br />
Abrams, showed first runs. Monogram's<br />
"Smart Woman."<br />
"This was not a precedent," a Monogram<br />
official said. "It was just a trial booking to<br />
see what the public reaction would be."<br />
It was found that this is not the first such<br />
booking in this area. Peter Wellman recently<br />
played "Not Wanted" in all of his<br />
Youngstown theatres, indoor and outdoor, on<br />
a day-and-date basis.<br />
Herbert Ochs, who controls and operates<br />
18 drive-ins, says he played first runs m<br />
his Dayton Drive-In as far back as 1942.<br />
The picture played was "Corregidor." The<br />
Wayne Drive-In at Fort Wayne, frequently<br />
spot-books first runs, Ochs says, and these<br />
included "Tarzan and the Magic Mountain,"<br />
"The Judge Steps Out," "Roughshod,"<br />
"Tulsa," "Massacre River," "Mom and Dad"<br />
and "Prince of Peace."<br />
Inasmuch as no objections have been voiced<br />
by exhibitors rumring indoor theatres, it may<br />
be assumed that the drive-ins pick up pictures<br />
which indoor theatres have passed up.<br />
Four Affiliated Circuit<br />
Units to Get New Signs<br />
DETROIT—Walter Horstman of Horstman<br />
& Co. reports award of contracts for simultaneous<br />
jobs involving both signs and marquees<br />
for four theatres by Afliliated circuit.<br />
The Ritz at Flint and three Detroit houses<br />
the Plaza, East End and Lakewood—are involved<br />
in the deal. Total amount is over<br />
$50,000, making it one of the largest sign<br />
jobs in this territory in several seasons.<br />
Hart Theatre Renovated<br />
HARTFORD, MICH.—The Hart Theatre,<br />
operated by Lillian Stembaugh, has been<br />
renovated with asphalt tile floors laid in<br />
restrooms, a lobby and confection store added,<br />
new carpeting laid in auditorium, seats<br />
recovered and new projection and sound<br />
equipment installed.<br />
Wexford, Pa., Opening Soon<br />
WEXFORD, PA.—The new 1,000-car capacity<br />
drive-in theatre here on Route 19 is<br />
being constructed by the J. B. H. Enterprises<br />
and will be named the Starlite. Joe Volpe,<br />
McKeesport drive-in owner and swimming<br />
pool operator, is president of the corporation,<br />
and members include James H.<br />
Nash, Bert M. Stearn, Harry Hendel and<br />
other representatives of the Cooperative Theatre<br />
Service of Pittsburgh, a licensing and<br />
booking combine. RCA equipment is installed<br />
and the Starlite will be opened before<br />
the end of<br />
September.<br />
To Start 650-Car Drive-In<br />
CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO—A drive-in is scheduled<br />
to be erected soon near the Pickaway<br />
county fairgrounds to be operated by Harley<br />
Bennett of Chillicothe. It will occupy eight<br />
acres of land and serve 650 cars.<br />
Big year-Round Drive-In<br />
Starts in Dayton Center<br />
DAYTON—A $3,000,000 shopping center to<br />
include a 1,300-car year-around drive-in, will<br />
be constructed on Par Hills avenue, a short<br />
distance south of David road here. Robert F.<br />
Poorman, president of Dayton Film, Inc., is<br />
one of three men named as operating agents<br />
for Da-Film Theatres, Inc., which will construct<br />
the center. He said the fireproof theatre<br />
of brick facing will cost about $500,000.<br />
Completion of the theatre is set for November.<br />
The shopping units will extend north and<br />
south from the screen tower and will provide<br />
space for 26 stores. Poorman said the<br />
project win be the first outdoor theatre built<br />
in the northern states for year-around patronage.<br />
In-car electric heaters will keep auto<br />
interior temperatures at 70 degrees except in<br />
coldest weather. The 1,300-car capacity will<br />
be twice that of any drive-in operating in<br />
this<br />
area.<br />
There will be parking facilities for 1,200<br />
cars in addition to the 1,300 in the theatre<br />
itself. Concession cars will be used to bring<br />
soft drinks to the cars, and artificial moonlight<br />
will be provided to eliminate darkness<br />
normally present in a drive-in. Fried chicken<br />
dinners will be served in the cars from 6 to<br />
8 p. m.<br />
The other two operating agents are Arthur<br />
W. Kemp, president of Autocrat, Inc., and<br />
Ralph Gross, secretary of the Dayton Bar<br />
Ass'n.<br />
Winograd Bros. Open Theatre<br />
ROCHESTER, PA.—The Winograd brothers<br />
staged a grand opening for their new Family<br />
Theatre on Hinds street, directly across from<br />
the Oriental. A light brick front has a<br />
V-shaped marquee with the name Family doubled<br />
above changeable letter frames and neon<br />
trim. The boxoffice is centered and built out<br />
to the sidewalk with doors on either side.<br />
The new theatre was opened during Rochester's<br />
centennial and while the Oriental was<br />
celebrating its 18th anniversary.<br />
Harry L. Widom, architect, plamied the<br />
sti-ucture for the Winograd family and Alexander<br />
and Superior supply houses furnished<br />
equipment. The building is fireproof and has<br />
a thermostat-controlled cooling and heating<br />
system. Decorating has been done with subdued<br />
coloring and lighting. There is a small<br />
platform stage with draw cm'tains and exits<br />
on either side. Mike Winograd, manager of<br />
the Rochester Amusement Co. who announced<br />
the plans for construction of the Family two<br />
years ago, and his associates received many<br />
messages of congratulation from a large<br />
opening audience. Newspapers in Beaver<br />
county cooperated with the owners-managers<br />
in connection with the opening.<br />
Philippi, W. Va., Skyview Open<br />
PHILIPPI. W. VA—The Skyview Drive-In<br />
was opened by Alex Silay and Steve Medve<br />
at Berryburg on Route 77, about six miles<br />
out of town. Virginia Howell, secretary to<br />
D. E. Lovett, whose firm installed the DeVry<br />
projection and sound equipment, will manage<br />
the operation, representing one of the few<br />
women drive-in theatre managers in the<br />
country.<br />
Silay and Medve also own the Lido Theatre<br />
here, along with several other indoor theatres<br />
in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The<br />
partners are also associated in the Sunset<br />
Drive-In, Clarksbui-g. Lovett & Co., Clarksbm-g,<br />
engineered the theatre and supervised<br />
construction. One hundred engraved invitations<br />
to the opening were mailed to exhibitors<br />
and industry leaders, and a fireworks<br />
display was a special attraction at the kickoff<br />
showing.<br />
First In-Pittsburgh Airer Open<br />
PITTSBURGH—The Silver Lake Drive-In,<br />
only outdoor theatre located within the city<br />
of Pittsburgh, staged a grand opening September<br />
9. Located on Washington boulevard,<br />
just below Frankstown avenue, the ozoner is<br />
ten minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.<br />
Souvenirs were distributed to kiddies. Free<br />
dancing is a feature. Alexander Theatre Supply<br />
furnished RCA equipment and the Tri-<br />
State Automatic Candy Corp. operates two<br />
refreshment buildings. Gabe Rubin, proprietor<br />
of the dowTitown Art Cinema, is manager<br />
of the Silver Lake.<br />
Build at Cuyahoga Falls<br />
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO—Slaff Amusement<br />
Co., Cleveland, is building a one-story<br />
85x300-foot theatre here on State road between<br />
Chamberlain and Maitland streets, with<br />
parking facilities for 900 automobiles. The<br />
theatre will cost approximately $400,000.<br />
George Ebeling of Cleveland is the architect.<br />
AN IN -THE -CAR SPEAKER<br />
That's<br />
COMPLETE<br />
Proven Dependable<br />
See Us for<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
for THEATRES and DRIVE-INS<br />
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Write for FREE LITERATURE<br />
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ADAMS 8107<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 71
. .<br />
. . . Sam<br />
. . . Gregoi-y<br />
. . . W.<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . Barney<br />
. . Saul<br />
. . George<br />
. . Harry<br />
. . George<br />
. . Jim<br />
. . Ben<br />
i<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
IJal Marshall, Paramount publicity repre-<br />
. . .<br />
sentative, was all set for a full three-day<br />
program for Corinne Calvet's personal appearance<br />
when the deal was called off. The<br />
Hal Wallis stai- became ill in Toronto and<br />
cancelled her Cleveland engagement<br />
Charles Roberts, assistant manager at the<br />
Ohio, was yanked out of active duty by an<br />
appendectomy from which he now is convalescing<br />
nicely.<br />
. . "Mighty<br />
Marie Weigler, secretary to United Artists<br />
Manager Sidney Cooper', has returned from<br />
a visit with relatives in Boston .<br />
Joe Young" got some nice national publicity<br />
as one of the names to be identified on the<br />
popular Twenty Questions program .<br />
Urban Anderson has resigned as manager<br />
of the State and Ohio theatres, Uhrichsville,<br />
owned by the Tuscarawas Amusement<br />
Co. He joined the organization four years<br />
ago, soon after his army discharge. Future<br />
plans will be announced soon.<br />
Max Miller, Eagle Lion publicity representative,<br />
was here working on an exploitation<br />
campaign for "The Black Book," opening soon<br />
at the Allen . . . "Lost Boundaries," now in<br />
its eighth week at the Esquire, will run at<br />
least one more week. In Toledo at the Palace,<br />
the picture played five weeks. Warner Theatre,<br />
Youngstown, reports a tremendous opening<br />
following an extensive exploitation program<br />
during which screenings were held for<br />
selected groups.<br />
Herbert Ochs, drive-in circuit operator, left<br />
on a tour of his 11 outdoor theatres in Canada<br />
. . . Lou Opper of Novelty Scenic Studios<br />
was here from New York to make final arrangements<br />
to decorate the new Mapletown<br />
Theatre being built by Frank Gross and<br />
Fi-ank Porozinski.<br />
Shep Bloom left to report to the 20th-Fox<br />
branch in Pittsburgh. He has been covering<br />
the river ten-itory for the local 20th-Fox<br />
office . . Frank Masek, National Theatre<br />
.<br />
Supply Co. manager, has installed all new<br />
Simplex sound and projection equipment in<br />
the Mansfield reformatory, Mansfield; Lima<br />
State hospital, Lima, and the Cleveland State<br />
Mrs. Nazera Zegiob, owner of<br />
hospital . . .<br />
the Elvira, Dreamland and Pearl theatres.<br />
Lorain, underwent an operation at St. Luke's<br />
hospital here.<br />
Visitors were scarce along Filmrow. Spotted<br />
were Joe Robins, Paul Ellis, WaiTen; Bill<br />
Twigg, Youngstown; R. Ulmer, Lonet, Wellington;<br />
R. Mazzochi and booker Dale Brugman,<br />
Mumac, Middlefield, and the Arkon<br />
regulars . . . Herb Ochs, whose Canadian<br />
drive-in chain now numbers 11, will add two<br />
more next spring. He has permits to build<br />
one in Sarnla, just across from Detroit, and<br />
another at Sault Ste. Marie.<br />
A golf contest between Eddie Johnson and<br />
Nat Walken playing against Louis Gross and<br />
Joe Ti-unk at the Tippecanoe Country club<br />
in Yoimgstown ended in a draw. Another<br />
meet is planned to decide which of the four<br />
is the champion . . . Manny Glick, former<br />
partner of Peter Welhnan at the Harbor<br />
Theatre, Ashtabula Harbor, has joined the<br />
Universal Chemical Co. and is learning from<br />
Sid Schoen how to keep new theatres looking<br />
new and how to make old theatres look new.<br />
Edward Rabb tmiied over his Copley Theatre,<br />
Akron, recently to the Hai-vey Firestone<br />
jr. family for a private family screening of<br />
"Once More, My Darling" for which their<br />
daughter Elizabeth wrote the musical score.<br />
The Metropolitan Theatre building at 5012<br />
Euclid Ave., has been sold by M. B. Horwitz.<br />
Jack Shulman, H. H. Felsman, attorney, and<br />
William Bialosky, real estate dealer, for a<br />
Work started this week<br />
reported $120,000 . . .<br />
on M. B. Horwitz' new de luxe theatre in<br />
Ben L. Ogron of Ohio<br />
Cuyahoga Falls . . .<br />
Theatre Supply Co. has closed the following<br />
deals: Motiograph projection and sound at<br />
the Chardon Drive-In; Motiograph equipment,<br />
including sound and projectors at the<br />
new Skyview Drive-In on Route 20, and Ideal<br />
chairs for the new Mapletown Theatre here.<br />
Lester Dowdell is back at his job as United<br />
Artists office manager after a record threeweek<br />
convalescence following an operation<br />
. . . Jack Bernstein, recently arrived from<br />
Toronto to succeed Han-y Walders as RKO<br />
manager, spent his first two weeks in town<br />
getting acquainted with local exhibitors.<br />
For Role in The White Star'<br />
June Clayworth has been ticketed for a<br />
featured role in the Claude Rains starrer,<br />
"The White Tower," an RKO film.<br />
'BOUNDARIES' STAR—Henry Greenberger, left, owner of the Esquire Theatre<br />
in Cleveland, and his sons, Leonard and Harold, are snapped with Richard Hylton,<br />
star of "Lost Boundaries," which was in its seventh week at the Esquire. Hylton<br />
was a. guest of the Greenbergers at a luncheon and was interviewed by newspaper<br />
and radio reporters during his day in Cleveland. Harold Greenberger, at right, is<br />
manager of the Esquire.<br />
Remember<br />
When—<br />
By ELSIE LOEB<br />
. . . Oscar Ruby managed<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. . Gradwell<br />
CLEVELAND — Bill Raynor was Hippodrome<br />
manager<br />
the Pathe exchange Ross was<br />
Paramount district manager . . . John Royal<br />
was manager first of the Hippodrome and<br />
then of the Palace . . . Frank Rembusch was<br />
president of the Motion Picture Congress of<br />
America Rose was Universal<br />
branch manager Roberts was<br />
20th-Fox district manager . Reilly was<br />
with Columbia . Resnick managed<br />
the UA exchange . . . Ralph Redman managed<br />
the Memphis Theatre . . . Mike Resnick<br />
had his M&G exchange in the Film building.<br />
Max and Joe Shagrin both operated their<br />
Youngstown theatre . . . Andy Sharick was<br />
local Universal publicity man .<br />
Sears managed the First National exchange<br />
in Cleveland . . . Ward Scott was 20th-Fox<br />
manager . . . William Shalit was UA manager<br />
. . . Fred Schram had the Zenith Film<br />
Co. . . .<br />
fice manager<br />
Fred Scheberman was<br />
. . . Charlie School<br />
Warner of-<br />
was MGM<br />
cashier.<br />
Bill Shartin headed the Grand National<br />
. . . Justin<br />
. . Marvin Samuelson was assistant<br />
.<br />
local exchange . . . Harry Seed was Pittsburgh<br />
Carl Scheuch<br />
Warner manager . . . was with Import Films . . . Jim Sharkey was<br />
Columbia district manager . Schwartz<br />
managed the Uptown Theatre<br />
Spiegle was Paramount ad sales manager . . .<br />
Leonard Shlesinger was Warner booker . . .<br />
Harris Silverberg was RKO branch manager<br />
Schonfeld was with UA . . . Morris<br />
Segal owned the Majestic Pictures of Cleveland<br />
and Cincinnati . . . B. D. "Buck" Stoner<br />
was MGM booker . . Jack Skirball was Educational<br />
sales manager . . . L. P. Stewart was<br />
with Art Morrone's Superior Motion Picture<br />
Supply Co .<br />
manager at the Hippodrome.<br />
Remember when Joe Trunk was a leading<br />
Youngstown theatre djyner . . . Rube Traube<br />
was selling Tone-a-Graph sound equipment<br />
Truesdale was with the<br />
RKO Palace<br />
man . . . P. R.<br />
and later<br />
Touney<br />
was MGM publicity<br />
managed the Lincoln<br />
. . .<br />
. .<br />
. . Sherman<br />
Theatre in Cleveland Ted Teschler was<br />
assistant manager at the Mall Theatre . . .<br />
Bill Twigg was Paramount ad sales manager.<br />
Bob Sable was with Tri-States Pictures<br />
. . . Tom Sample represented International<br />
Enterprises . . . Frank Turner was with Superior<br />
Theatre Supply Co. . . . Eugene Vogel<br />
sold MGM pictiu-es in the Cleveland exchange<br />
August Valentour, Paramount<br />
territory . . .<br />
ad sales manager, was transferred to Pittsburgh<br />
. Morton Van Praag was sales manager<br />
for Advertising Trailer Service Corp.<br />
Vojae was Columbia booker.<br />
Louis Van Baalen was booker at Paramount<br />
E. Van Horn represented Air Controls,<br />
Inc., in this territory . . . A. K. Veech was<br />
with Warner Bros.<br />
Harold Wendt was with FBO .<br />
Webster was manager of the Hodkinson exchange<br />
. . . Louis Weintz was Columbia cashier<br />
.. . Bill Weiss was affiliated with Meyer<br />
Fisher in the Fisher exchange . . . Ralph<br />
Walsh was Waraer theatre district manager<br />
. . . C. J. Ward was a member of the Pox<br />
Wilmot Warren managed the Lake<br />
staff . , .<br />
Theatre, a Warner house at that time . . .<br />
Bill Watmough was a booker at the MGM<br />
W. D. Ward was selling "Ten<br />
exchange . . .<br />
Nights in a Bar Room" . Wiegand<br />
was Warner contact manager.<br />
CALKr,-<br />
''si 5<br />
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'ti m I-,.<br />
ht T;t<br />
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72 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
5
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. . This<br />
> was<br />
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Ambridge, Pa„ Manager<br />
To Lead Songs at Console<br />
Ambridge, Pa.—The Ambridge Theatre<br />
pipe organ, which has not been in use for<br />
many years, will be heard again by patrons<br />
in Conununity Sing programs featuring<br />
the mammoth organ with Manager<br />
Bill Hock at the console. Hock was<br />
featured organist at theatres for many<br />
years prior to the advent of sound and<br />
talking pictures. After a long absence<br />
from the console, he is practicing some<br />
of the oldtime hits as well as the popular<br />
tunes of today, in which the audience<br />
will participate by singing. In addition to<br />
the organlogue, guest bands, singers and<br />
novelties will be introduced from the<br />
stage, and participa^te in what is to be<br />
known as Beaver Valley's Musical festival.<br />
Nightingale League<br />
To Begin 25lh Year<br />
DETROIT—The Nightingale club, Pllmrow<br />
bowling organization, will start its 25th season<br />
September 22 at the Palmer Park recreation<br />
alleys on McNichols road, according to<br />
P. H. Akins, secretary. With the silver anniversary<br />
plans in the background, expectations<br />
are that this will be the best season of<br />
competition in many years.<br />
Sponsors for this season, most of them having<br />
a tradition of sponsorship dating far<br />
back, will be National Theatre Supply, Ernie<br />
Forbes Theatre Supply, McArthur Theatre<br />
Equipment Co., Lorenzen flower shop, Detroit<br />
projectionists Local 199, Brenkert, National<br />
Carbon Co. and Altec Sound Service.<br />
Secretary and Mrs. Akins are going to<br />
Cleveland to assist in the formal opening<br />
of the 1948-49 bowling season there, and<br />
scout the play in the Cleveland projectionists<br />
Local 160 league. A match between the two<br />
cities will be played this season again, and<br />
Detroit bowlers count on retaining the trophy<br />
in this city.<br />
Victory Theatre Sold<br />
In Calhoun, Ky.<br />
CALHOUN, KY.—The Victory Theatre here<br />
has been sold to Mitchell & Survant of<br />
Owensboro by B. Bennett of the Universal<br />
Sound Movie Co. The theatre, formerly the<br />
Ritz, was pui'chased by Bennett in 1941. Universal<br />
Sound Movie Co. operates the Palace in<br />
Owensboro as well as several small town theatres<br />
in Indiana. Bennett recently leased the<br />
Star Theatre at Fort Branch, Ind., from its<br />
owner Mrs. Barbara Gwaltney.<br />
Celebrate Anniversary<br />
FORT WAYNE, IND.—Celebrating its<br />
25th<br />
anniversary, the Rialto Theatre here booked<br />
a series of outstanding films.<br />
Pennsylvania Leads Recreation<br />
HARRISBURG—Pennsylvania leads all<br />
states in the number of communities with<br />
recreation services for their residents. The<br />
state planning board discloses that 623 Pennsylvania<br />
communities have some type of<br />
planned recreation program.<br />
Confinued Public Relations Needed<br />
In Film Industry, Broadcaster Says<br />
CLEVELAND — "Hollywood has become<br />
aware that the film industry is completely<br />
dominated by public acceptance, and that a<br />
continuing gesture to maintain the public's<br />
favor is a necessity," Sidney Andorn, local<br />
radio commentator, told his listeners recently<br />
in a broadcast designed to acquaint<br />
them with the term "public relations," particularly<br />
as applied to the motion picture industry.<br />
Andorn told his hsteners that during the<br />
lush war years the film industry grew fat<br />
and lazy and did nothing to keep alive the<br />
public's interest in pictures and players.<br />
Now, realizing the error of its ways, the industry<br />
is trying to recapture the public with<br />
personal appearances of boxoffice names and<br />
by putting its best foot forward.<br />
"In slow, but very firm steps," he said,<br />
"there is moving into our consciousness the<br />
fact that an organization—big business, a<br />
corporation, a firm of attorneys, a show— is<br />
composed of individuals, of people exactly<br />
like the people who buy the big business's<br />
product . enlightenment carries with<br />
it the knowledge that all organizations are<br />
as capable of making mistakes as are the people<br />
of whom it is made up.<br />
"In order to explain these mistakes, in<br />
order to keep the reputation of the organization<br />
favorable in the public eye, there has<br />
grown up a profession known as public relations.<br />
For years and years we've had press<br />
agents, people whose game it is to try and<br />
DRIVE-IN HELPMATE — The better<br />
half does her share of the work at the<br />
Town and Country Drive-In at Cheat<br />
Lake, W. Va,, near Morgantown. Pictured<br />
above is Mrs. William Cobum as<br />
she meets patrons in the refreshment<br />
center. The Coburns formerly operated<br />
the theatre then y-clept the Cheat Drivein,<br />
using 16mm projectors, but recently<br />
installed DeVry 35mm projectors with<br />
high intensity arc lamps and DeVry intar<br />
speakers from Lovett & Co. of Clarksburg.<br />
The Town and Country is located<br />
near the Cheat Lake, on Fairchance pike.<br />
get facts favorable to their employers printed<br />
for free in the papers, carried gratis on the<br />
air. And for years and years we have had<br />
publicists, who made it a career to protect<br />
their employer, to try to keep out the press<br />
and away from the radio anything which<br />
might seem detrimental to their employers.<br />
"Now, there has come about a joining of<br />
the two, whose job it is to keep the public<br />
informed more or less completely about the<br />
activities of their organizations, to soft pedal<br />
the mistakes, to pull out all stops on the accomplishments.<br />
This new job seeks to keep<br />
the organization constantly before the public<br />
in a favorable light.<br />
"But, like the people they represent, these<br />
public relations experts are people, too, subject<br />
to the assets and liabilities of all of us<br />
people. So. when things are going good, are<br />
sailing, they are apt to slack up in the effort<br />
with which they try to keep the public<br />
pleased. Then, when things begin going<br />
badly, when the light of their organization<br />
is not too favorable with the public, they<br />
become frenzied in their efforts to sell out<br />
to say, via every available medium—we're<br />
nice people, nothing's wrong with us, see<br />
what we're doing, how alert we are, how<br />
aggressively we operate?<br />
"For a period of about ten years, the film<br />
industry, aided, of course, by the war, was doing<br />
beautifully at the boxoffice, so Hollywood<br />
retrenched within Hollywood. Few stars or<br />
players left to appear in the hinterlands.<br />
Few were the promotional activities originated<br />
in Hollywood's publicity offices and<br />
fanned out to reach the nation's key cities.<br />
"The industry all oi a sudden found things<br />
dropping off at the boxoffice. They discovered<br />
a conspicuous lack of interest in the<br />
things the film industry was doing. So Hollywood<br />
got on its toes. Now, we here in Cleveland,<br />
like the rest of the nation, are getting<br />
an influx of stars, featured players, stunts.<br />
They are sending out name talent in vaudeville<br />
troupes to please the public.<br />
Obviously. Hollywood realizes that you<br />
can't ignore the public when you're in the<br />
business of catering to the public. Nor can<br />
you decide to periodically ignore the public<br />
and hand them gratuities only when it's convenient<br />
to you ... I think Hollyi^'ood sees<br />
now that there was a mistake of omission<br />
made by its public relations people who represent<br />
the film corporation, which, in turn, is<br />
composed of people."<br />
Yorktown at Cleveland<br />
Celebrates Birthday<br />
CLEVELAND—The Yorktown. operated by<br />
Triangle Theatres, celebrated its second birthday<br />
with Manager Charles Shannon as host.<br />
The celebration lasted most of the week.<br />
Vaudeville was presented three nights and<br />
the fh-st 100 lady patrons received orchids.<br />
The public also had a chance to win a sixweek<br />
supply of baked goods from a cooperating<br />
bakery by guessing the weight of a 118-<br />
pound cake in display in the lobby. The<br />
theatre was decorated inside and out with<br />
permants.<br />
To Vote on Sunday Films<br />
AVONMORE, PA.—Tlie Sunday film issue<br />
will be settled here at an election on November<br />
8.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 73<br />
, jc't
. . William<br />
. . Peter<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
'<br />
DETROIT<br />
\Tera, Willis, former assistant manager of<br />
. . .<br />
the Highland Park Theatre, is an old<br />
schoolmate of Dorothy Harrison of Allied<br />
Films FeUx L. Goletz, owner-manager<br />
of the Moran. in talking about traffic hazards<br />
around the house, had a big three-car<br />
smash at the next corner on the occasion<br />
of your scribe's visit to prove it . . . Joseph<br />
Pickering has moved from the Moran to<br />
the Garden, replacing Emil Setzke jr. . . .<br />
Sidney Turer, Universal booker, admits he<br />
has reached the ripe old age of 32.<br />
Harry W. Irons, former manager of the<br />
Ypsilanti Drive-In, has joined the Van Upholstering<br />
Co. . . . L. L. Leonard closed the<br />
Turner Theatre, only house at Turner, last<br />
DELUXE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
BRENKERT PROJECTORS,<br />
* RCA SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
* RCA RECTIFIERS<br />
* RCA SOUND SCREENS<br />
*BRENKERT LAMPS<br />
* INTERNATIONAL CHAIRS<br />
MOHAWK CARPET<br />
*HORSTMAN MARQUEES<br />
*ADLER LETTERS<br />
CENTURY GENERATORS<br />
*KOLDRINK BARS<br />
STAR POPCORN MACHINES<br />
NEUMADE PRODUCTS<br />
COINOMETER CHANGERS<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR<br />
SPECIALTY<br />
ERNIE FORBES<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Film Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.<br />
Days<br />
Nights<br />
WO 1-1122 VE 7-1227<br />
WO 1-1123<br />
.<br />
. . .<br />
Saturday Collins, former manager<br />
at the Palace and National, is ticket<br />
superintendent for the Michigan state fair<br />
Mac McMillen of the Colonial was stage<br />
manager at the Coliseum for the state fair,<br />
with Al (Kelly) Dear in a similar post for<br />
the Tex Ritter show at the grandstand.<br />
. . .<br />
J. Oliver Brooks, head booker of the Butterfield<br />
circuit and one of the best-loved<br />
figures on Filrmow, was official judge in<br />
the pigtail contest at the state fair . . .<br />
Frank J. Bettelli, now with the Technicolor<br />
studio in Los Angeles, sends greetings to<br />
friends back home W. P. Dawson of<br />
the Roxy and wife have returned from a<br />
visit with their granddaughter in Los Angeles,<br />
where he also made a deal with 20th-<br />
Pox studios for the Vari-Tork, which he invented<br />
. . . Raymond E. Moon, 20th-Pox<br />
division manager, was back home here a<br />
couple of days visiting old scenes and friends.<br />
. . B. Griffin, a<br />
Jack Zide of Allied Films is enthusiastic<br />
over the record of "Paisan," held for a<br />
fourth week at the Krim .<br />
newcomer to the show business, has taken<br />
over the Manchester, only theatre in Manchester,<br />
from Bert Bell . . . Irving Katcher<br />
of the Willis and Russell is organizing a<br />
neat job of cooperative advertising for independent<br />
theatres. Ralph Forman assisted<br />
on the early editions.<br />
Max Bembaum, manager of the Filmrow<br />
drug store, is back from Miami, where he<br />
was in the middle of the recent hurricane<br />
. . . Aivid Kantor, former head of Arvid<br />
Display Service, has taken over the western<br />
Michigan territory, with headquarters at<br />
Grand Rapids, for Republic, replacing W. J.<br />
"Gus" Embach . William R. Stebbins<br />
and Mrs. Clara Stebbins, now managing<br />
the Film Exchange building, have christened<br />
themselves the "Gold Dust Twins" . . .<br />
Moe Dudelson, UA district manager, was<br />
away on a trip to the Cincinnati office.<br />
Walter Collins, longtime city salesman for<br />
Warners here, was guest of honor at a farewell<br />
dinner Thursday at Variety Club. He<br />
is being transferred to his long -sought quest,<br />
a west coast post, at Portland, Ore. Joe<br />
Varinghaus, office manager, is moving up to<br />
city<br />
sales.<br />
Don Figuero, operator of a circuit in Cuba,<br />
visited Dan Lewis of W&W. He also is as-<br />
.<br />
sistant secretary of state for Cuba . . . Louis<br />
Lutz. RKO chief at Grand Rapids and former<br />
manager of the Uptown in Highland<br />
Park; Michael Oakum, Toronto circuit operator,<br />
and Miguel Carranza, bull fight promoter,<br />
were Lewis' other visitors of the week<br />
. . . Henry Zapp was musical director of<br />
the hillbilly concert at Walter Collins' sendoff<br />
party Simon has been working<br />
nights getting the trailers out for the<br />
usherettes at the state fair.<br />
Sidney E. Golos, formerly with a premium<br />
company in New York, has opened the new<br />
NOW-<br />
THEATRE SEATS<br />
Upholstered, Repaired, AnyTvhere. Better Materials.<br />
Workmanship Gucrronteed. Prompt Service,<br />
Reasonable.<br />
JOHN HEIDT<br />
1507 W. EirbT Detroit 8. Mich.<br />
Phone: TYlei 7-801S<br />
S&G Theatre Premium Service in the Film<br />
Exchange . . . William "Boots" Scharun of<br />
Universal Theatre Premiums has moved his<br />
offices into the basement of the Film building<br />
. . . Clair Townsend is sporting a new<br />
super rug presented by Sol Krim . . . Ann<br />
Rogell of General Theatre Service and Genevieve<br />
Santer, wife of George H. Santer of<br />
the Radio City, were among the charming<br />
usherettes at the state fair.<br />
Butterfield Books<br />
Stage Attraction<br />
DETROIT—Fi-ankie "Sugar Chile" Robinson<br />
will make his first appearances in nine<br />
towns through his home state, except for<br />
Detroit appearances and a few one-nighters,<br />
on a four and one-half week tour opening<br />
September 22 over the Butterfield circuit.<br />
The Boyle Woolfolk agency signed with Herbert<br />
M. Eiges, manager for Sugar Chile. The<br />
deal includes a complete package show, with<br />
four supporting acts and a leader and two<br />
sidemen to form the nucleus of the house<br />
orchestra.<br />
Routing for the unit includes: Michigan<br />
Theatre, Jackson, September 22-24; Michigan,<br />
Lansing, 25-28; Michigan, Muskegon,<br />
29-October 1; Capitol Flin, October 2-5; Temple,<br />
Saginaw, 6-8; Michigan, Aim Arbor, 9-12;<br />
Oakland, Pontiac, 13-15; State, Kalamazoo,<br />
16-19, and Bijou, Battle Creek, 21-23.<br />
THEATRE<br />
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DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR THEATRES<br />
2937 St. Aubin<br />
Phone Te. 13352<br />
Detroit 7,<br />
Mich.<br />
Te. 13884<br />
FILM EXCHANGE DRUGS<br />
ITie Showmen's Drug Store<br />
Drugs * Cosmetica * Prescriptions<br />
Personal Service Irom Two Showmen<br />
MAX BERNBAUM JACK GALLAGHER<br />
Pharmacist<br />
Manager<br />
Phone CLiilord 1527, CLilford 3694<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
McARTHUR THEATRE<br />
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454 COLUMBIA ST WEST - DETROIT I. MiCH<br />
IDEAL SLIDE BACK CHAIRS<br />
Phone: CAdillac 5524<br />
Thealrp Sign and Marquee Maintenance<br />
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DrraoiT-:<br />
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74 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
'OXOFTicr
;; - -f Fill<br />
^j Het-<br />
. ic ilOIK<br />
Allied of Michigan<br />
To Meet October 3-5<br />
DETROIT—Operation of drive-ins and the<br />
problems created by television will occupy<br />
prominent spots on the agenda at the convention<br />
of Allied Tlieatres of Michigan, to<br />
be held at the Book-Cadillac hotel, October<br />
3-5. KejTiote in the fields is slated to be<br />
given by Trueman Rembusch, president of<br />
Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, who<br />
also will talk on film buying.<br />
The current industry public relations program<br />
will be presented by President William<br />
L. Ainsworth of Allied States, chairman of<br />
the industry coordinating committee. Ainsworth's<br />
talk will be given at the luncheon<br />
Tuesday (4).<br />
Abram P. Myers, counsel of Allied, will present<br />
his annual talk to exhibitors Tuesday<br />
afternoon.<br />
Other problems expected to be prominent<br />
in the convention discussion will include<br />
film delivery, which provoked a lively debate<br />
last year, and relations with the national<br />
poster service companies.<br />
Social program will be a heavy one for this<br />
convention, with a cabaret party at the Elmwood<br />
hotel in Windsor, Ont., Tuesday night,<br />
and a banquet in the .^abian room of the<br />
Hotel Tuller on Wednesday, preceded by a<br />
cocktail party in the Variety Club rooms.<br />
Ladies at the convention will have a luncheon<br />
on Tuesday at Dearborn Inn, followed<br />
by a tour through Greenfield Village, and<br />
a luncheon and card party on Wednesday at<br />
Variety Club.<br />
Frolic, Detroit, Dark Again;<br />
Folds After 3 Weeks<br />
DETROIT—The Frolic Theatre, formerly<br />
the Davison, small north end house, has<br />
folded after about three weeks of operation<br />
under Edward James Prilick, who had refurnished<br />
and tailored the house to cater to<br />
the Negro neighborhood in which it is located.<br />
Prilick had added a colored stage show policy<br />
to accompany the pictures. Several operators<br />
have tried rimning straight pictures in<br />
the past, including Detroit's only commercial<br />
experiment with 16min shows. However, they<br />
gave up and the house had been closed for<br />
over a year when PriUck tried it.<br />
Speaker Thieves Jailed<br />
CLARKSBXIRG, W. VA.—Two dozen in-car<br />
speakers, cut and stolen from junction boxes<br />
at Warners Skyline Drive-In some weeks ago,<br />
have not been located, but the thieves have<br />
been apprehended and are in jail in Kentucky.<br />
Owners Charles and Dale Warner<br />
played a part in locating the robbers with an<br />
assist from an exhibitor friend. The thieves<br />
now have been implicated in various other<br />
crimes. Loss of the speakers cut the ozoner's<br />
car capacity for accoimnodations by one<br />
tenth.<br />
Detroit Film Bowling<br />
Starts With 8 Teams<br />
DETROIT—Pilm Bowling league got rolling<br />
here Monday (12). The lineup of teams has<br />
been compiled by Al Levy of 20th-Fox, secretary.<br />
The teams:<br />
Allied—Captain Don Pill, Rohert Lenox,<br />
Jack Susami, Jack Haynes and Jack Zide.<br />
Cooperative — Captain Aj-t Trombley, Al<br />
Levy, John Dembek, Irving Belinsky and<br />
Pred Sturgis.<br />
Monogram—Captain Jack Saxe, Robert<br />
Lamb, Walter Corey, Emil Beck and Prank<br />
Barr.<br />
RKO—Captain Eddie Loye, Walter Goryl,<br />
Max Blumenthal, Eric Clarry and Harvey<br />
Trombley.<br />
Republic—Captain Burt Holmes, Lou Metzger.<br />
Max Bembaum, Eddie Sullivan auid Carl<br />
Dorst.<br />
S&G Premiums—Captain Earl England, Sid<br />
Golos, Art Koskie, Johnny Gentile and Robert<br />
Misch.<br />
Theatrical — Captain William Pasanen.<br />
Dave Kaplan, Robert Haskins, Julius Pavella<br />
and Jake Sullivan.<br />
United Artists—Captain Sid Bowman, Stanley<br />
Malinowski, Robert Buermele, Ralph Forman<br />
and Ruby Graff.<br />
Midway Open at Clarion<br />
CLARION, PA.—The Midway Drive-In was<br />
opened this week by N. C. Sherman of New<br />
Bethlehem. It had been scheduled to open<br />
July 22 but the state department of labor<br />
and industry did not approve the screen.<br />
Alterations were started at that time and the<br />
job now meets all specifications. The ozoner<br />
is located seven miles south of Clarion on<br />
Route 66 on the Clarion-New Bethlehem road.<br />
»——••••••••••—<br />
HOME FOR SALE<br />
IN<br />
ROSEDALE PARK<br />
This house has doions of 6xtia features found<br />
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Being sold to close estate.<br />
• Bungalow type<br />
• Three bedrooms—two on first floor<br />
• Seven rooms, including sunroom, plus breakfast<br />
nook<br />
• Full, dry basentent, with lavatory<br />
• Tile bathroom<br />
• Attic space, suitable for extra room (and<br />
additional bathroom)<br />
• Oil yacuum-steom heat<br />
• Insulation in two bedrooms, bath and hallway<br />
• Large fruit cellar<br />
• Huge closet space—one suitable as sewing<br />
room<br />
• Deep linen closet<br />
• Electric stove and refrigerator<br />
• Paved side drive<br />
• Two-car garage, excellent condition<br />
• Some awnings, storm windows<br />
• Lot 54x120 feet<br />
• Attractively landscaped<br />
• Boulevard street<br />
For this attractive buy in one of Detroit's best<br />
residential neighborhoods, write or call c/o<br />
Boxoffice, 1009 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1. Mich.<br />
Phone woodward 2-1100.<br />
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• Interchangeable Right or Left Hand<br />
Coin Delivery<br />
and Sound Service<br />
RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />
106 Michigan St., N. W., Grand Rapids 2, Mich.<br />
Telephone GLendaie 4-8852 Nights and Sundays 3-2413<br />
i)i««i''<br />
jjjtn<br />
Nick Tornechio Named<br />
POSTORIA, OHIO—Nick Tornechio, former<br />
assistant manager of Schine's Theatre<br />
in Bucyrus, has assumed new dutiees as manager<br />
of the Civic here. A native of Crestline,<br />
he had been with the Bucyrus for two and<br />
one-half years.<br />
OFFICE OR DESK SPACE TO RENT<br />
Excellent location for anyone contacting show business, or anyone<br />
seekmg central downtown location.<br />
Write or phone c/o BOXOFFICE, 1009 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich. Phone WOodword 2-1100<br />
jfr't<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
ME 75
. . Aunt<br />
. .<br />
•.<br />
I<br />
WEST VIRGINIA<br />
•Phe Stop the Music show presented with the<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Style Revue at the Capitol<br />
in Wheeling was sold out several days in<br />
advance of the playdate . . . The Bridgeport<br />
Junior Women's club offered a Fall Fashion<br />
show, presented by Parsons-Souders, at the<br />
Pierce in Bridgeport, managed by Joe Feeney<br />
. . . Free peanuts, popcorn and a pair of<br />
eye goggles were given to kiddies at the first<br />
anniversary party of the new Victoria in<br />
Wheeling, operated by Steve Manas.<br />
. . .<br />
An attendant at the Valley Drive-In on<br />
Route 60 near St. Albans was held up and<br />
Don Schultz,<br />
robbed of approximately $90 . . .<br />
manager of the Lee, Fairmont, is back on<br />
Brick work is<br />
the job after a vacation . . .<br />
Hearing completion on the new theatre at<br />
Buckhannon George Tice, Columbia<br />
manager at Pittsburgh, visited with West<br />
Virginia exhibitors.<br />
Charles E. Warner's Clarksburg Skyline<br />
Drive-In gang closed the swimming season<br />
at a second outing at Garland West's pool<br />
in Buckhannon. Following an afternoon of<br />
swimming, the Skyline crew enjoyed a wiener<br />
roast. Mrs. West, wife of the Buckhannon<br />
exhibitor and outdoor theatre owner, baked<br />
a big chocolate cake. The following day the<br />
Skyline management and employes held a<br />
chicken fry and picnic at the Clarksburg<br />
theatre property. This was followed by a<br />
Warner crew watermelon party and special<br />
screening.<br />
Steede Amusement Co. of High Point, N. C,<br />
is informing exhibitors in West Virginia and<br />
Kentucky of illegal showings of "Confessions<br />
of a Vice Baron," "Highway Hell" and<br />
"Juke Joint Girl" . . . Art Pierce has quit<br />
as manager of Fairmont's Starlite Drive-In.<br />
He is a veteran legitimate theatre manager<br />
and agent and formerly was connected with<br />
the Warner circuit at Fairmont . . . Mario<br />
Lanza got a great reception at the Capitol<br />
In Charleston . Bunie, with the<br />
Garrett Snuff Varieties, appeared on the<br />
stage of Garland West's Colonial in Buckhannon<br />
September 15.<br />
.<br />
Ted Laskey presented Big Slim and his<br />
cowboy show in person at the Starlite Drive-<br />
In at Fairmont . . . Forrest R. Jarvis jr.,<br />
seaman in the navy, son of Jarvis the Great<br />
magician, who formerly was an exhibitor at<br />
Everettville, is now serving aboard the destroyer<br />
TJSS Brownson . The Grove Drive-<br />
In at Elm Grove<br />
.<br />
staged a midnight spook<br />
Two new passenge?<br />
show last Saturday . . .<br />
car tires were awarded to a lucky patron at<br />
the Starlite in Fairmont Monday evening . . .<br />
Parkersburg theatre operators vetoed the<br />
"on-cuff" ticket plan and got a feature story<br />
MID-WEST THEATRE SUPPLY CO., Inc.<br />
"EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE"<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR<br />
SPECIALTY<br />
1638 Central PorkwaV' Cincimiati 10. Ohio<br />
CHerry<br />
7724<br />
CHorry<br />
7725<br />
writeup in the Sentinel. They said a good<br />
plan for Hollywood would be to make good<br />
pictures. The quote: "It's a wonder Hollywood<br />
hasn't thought of it—a few good<br />
movies."<br />
air. and Mrs. J. C. Shanklin, Ronceverte,<br />
attended the TOA convention in Los Angeles.<br />
The Shankllns plan to retui-n home via Tacoma,<br />
Seattle, Vancouver, B. C, and other<br />
Canadian points. They will be home about<br />
October 1. Shanklin is president of the<br />
MPTO of West Virginia and a national director.<br />
He served on the producer, distributor,<br />
exhibitor committee at the convention .<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Phelan and their young<br />
daughter also attended the convention. The<br />
Phelans operate the Roxy and Star theatres<br />
in Clendennin.<br />
Cowboy-Attired Bandit<br />
Robs Columbus Theatre<br />
COLUMBUS—Dolled up in western togs,<br />
including a sombrero and a green scarf, a<br />
young bandit held up the Old TraU, Academy<br />
westside house, and escaped with $25. Donna<br />
Thompson, working her first night as cashier,<br />
told sheriff's deputies the "cowboy" poked<br />
a blue steel revolver through the window and<br />
said: "This is a stickup. Give me all your<br />
money."<br />
Reviewer Writes Takeoff<br />
On 'I<br />
Am a Movie Fan'<br />
CLEVELAND—Omar Ranney,<br />
motion pictui-e<br />
editor of the Press, inspired by the "I<br />
Am a Movie Fan" verses that appeared in<br />
BOXOFFICE, wrote a piece called "I Am a<br />
Movie Reviewer" that goes like this:<br />
"In a week I have traveled almost everywhere.<br />
The Bering sea and the Mexican<br />
border. On the ball diamonds of the American<br />
league and the range country of Arizona in<br />
the 1880s.<br />
"I have set foot in the stinking wartime<br />
concentration camps of the Nazis and I have<br />
come away horrified. Danced to 'Sweet<br />
Georgia Brown' in the prohibition days of<br />
the roasting 1920s. Stood on a far-off island<br />
and watched a baby seal learn to swim.<br />
"Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones and Mr. Toad<br />
of Toad Hall are friends of mine. I have<br />
heard the frightening hoofbeats of the Headless<br />
Horseman, heard what Lou Boudreau told<br />
Bob Feller when it was time to put m<br />
another pitcher, heard the shrill cries of the<br />
kittiwakes off the Alaskan coast.<br />
"I have almost gone to sleep in a gang war.<br />
(Almost, I said). Chased bandits through<br />
lettuce fields of southern California, and, by<br />
sheer daring and brute strength, helped rescue<br />
a man from quicksand. Rode herd in a<br />
cattle drive (yipee-I-ay).<br />
"I have stood face to face with Connie<br />
Mack, a white-face bull, President Truman,<br />
a bracero, a woman scorned, an Arctic fox,<br />
Bernarr MacPadden, a cormorant and Satchell<br />
Paige.<br />
"Fact, fiction and the most dreadful hokimi<br />
have brimmed my cup.<br />
"Heaven help me, I am a movie reviewer."<br />
This is the result of reviewing, Ranney<br />
said, all in one week, the following pictures:<br />
"Mr. Soft Touch," "Stampede," "The Great<br />
Gatsby," "The Last Stop," "Ichabod and Mr.<br />
Toad," "Seal Island," "Border Incident," various<br />
newsreels and "The Kid From Cleveland."<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
ni Sugarman and Lee Hofheimer of the<br />
H&S Theatres opened the World art<br />
house at its new location, the former Alhambra<br />
at High street and Lane avenue,<br />
with 'Quartet." On the same day the former<br />
World, renamed the Little, began its revival<br />
policy with a showing of "State Fair." The<br />
Little has a special reduced student price in<br />
the evenings.<br />
Fred Rowlands had the first local showing<br />
at the Main neighborhood of two revivals<br />
the W. C. Fields-Mae West comedy, "My<br />
Little Chickadee," and Olsen and Johnson's<br />
"Crazy House." The Palace recently played<br />
Fields' "The Bank Dick" and "Never Give<br />
a Sucker an Even Break" . . "Holiday on<br />
.<br />
Ice of 1950" will come to the Ohio State<br />
Fairgrounds Coliseum October 7 to play<br />
through October 16 . . . Fall meeting at Beulah<br />
Park racetrack is providing opposition for<br />
theatres . . . Dr. Silkini's "Asylum of Horrors"<br />
will play a midnight date at the Palace<br />
September 23.<br />
.<br />
Sonja Henle's new husband is a former<br />
Bexley resident—Winthrop Gardiner jr., now<br />
a New York socialite and aviation executive.<br />
While here he tested planes for Curtiss-<br />
Wright . . Jeanne Dhume and Parke<br />
Cushnie, two former local actors, are in the<br />
cast of "Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?"<br />
at the Golden Spike Theatre in Hollywood.<br />
Cushnie, who uses the stage name Parke<br />
McGregor, has been in several recent pictures.<br />
Dizzy Gillespie opens the Palace's fall season<br />
of name band attractions on September<br />
19 . . . Virgil Jackson and John Murphy,<br />
Uptown, have started weekly amateur shows<br />
with awards of $10, $3 and $2 and a grand<br />
prize of $20 at the end of eight weeks.<br />
The stolen automobile of William S. Cunningham,<br />
former Colymbus Citizen theatre<br />
editor now in the Paramount studio publicity<br />
department, was found burned near the<br />
Berwick golf course. The car was stolen from<br />
a parking lot while Cunningham and his<br />
wife Betty were here on vacation.<br />
Television news: Robert Thomas, national<br />
sales manager for WBNS, has been named<br />
sales manager of WBNS-TV . . . Test pattern<br />
for WBNS-TV is scheduled to be on<br />
the air this week in preparation for the start<br />
of regular programming around October 1.<br />
The Columbus Dispatch station will have such<br />
CBS stars as Jack Benny, Ken Mui-ray and<br />
the Goldbergs. A giant microwave antenna<br />
which will receive TV programs beamed from<br />
Dayton has been erected at the 40th floor<br />
level of the LeVeque Lincoln tower. Antenna<br />
of WTVN has been placed atop the<br />
same skyscraper.<br />
'Red Shoes' Benefit Set<br />
YOUNGSTOWN—The first<br />
day's performances<br />
of "The Red Shoes" at the Belmont<br />
and Newport theatres here September 19 will<br />
be for the benefit of the Children's Concert<br />
series of the Youngstown Symphony orchestra.<br />
Proceeds from the advance sale of tickets<br />
will go to the women's committee of the Symphony<br />
society, which sponsors the five concert<br />
children's series. Special ticket booths<br />
for the benefit performances will be set up<br />
in two department stores and one downtown<br />
drug store.<br />
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Vaudeville Circuit<br />
Starts in Michigan<br />
DETROIT—Vaudeville has been organized<br />
in a suburban and outstate circuit of theatres<br />
to use the Palace Theatre shows. Territory<br />
involved completely surrounds but bypasses<br />
the Motor city, which has a complete<br />
absence of a regular vaudeville policy.<br />
The Harbor Theatre, located about ten miles<br />
south of downtown in the downriver suburb<br />
of Ecorse, will be the key house for the<br />
suburban area, beginning its unit September<br />
18 upon a split-week basis, playing Sunday<br />
through Tuesday.<br />
Prices will be advanced from 50 to 60<br />
cents for adults and from 20 to 25 cents for<br />
children for the stage shows plus a second<br />
run class B picture. The Harbor, operated<br />
by Andrew and Daniel Bzovi, was opened<br />
under a year ago as a straight motion picture<br />
house.<br />
During the other four days the house will<br />
continue its present policy as a key or third<br />
run film house, playing standard double bills<br />
at the old admission prices. Vaudeville acts<br />
are being booked through the Mount Clu<br />
agency, New York.<br />
The Harbor will follow Toledo, 55 miles<br />
south, and precede dates set for the Harold<br />
Bernstein circuit at Bay City, 100 miles north,<br />
and a theatre at Flint, 60 miles north, allowing<br />
easy jumps for acts between bookings.<br />
Toledo Firm Producing<br />
Electric Display Sign<br />
TOLEDO—Baldwin Electric Co. here has<br />
placed in production a double-faced, moving<br />
message, electric display sign, said to be the<br />
product of more than two years of development<br />
and testing. Each face of the sign can<br />
cari-y both moving film and still displays,<br />
illuminated and in color.<br />
The case of the standard model has face<br />
panels 8x2.4 inches with a depth of 314 inches,<br />
and opens like a suitcase for film changes.<br />
Heading the firm, which was organized recently,<br />
are Samuel W. Poore, president; Fred<br />
S. Young, vice-president, and Bernard J.<br />
Toth, secretary-treasurer. All thi-ee are officers<br />
of the Pioneer-Toledo Corp.. which manufactures<br />
printing equipment.<br />
Big Headaches Seen<br />
In Tickets on Credit<br />
Detroit—Proposals for a credit system<br />
for theatre patrons were strongly condemned<br />
by Sam Carver, vice-president of<br />
Michigan Independent Theatre Owners,<br />
who asked: "What would happen if the<br />
customer delays payment? Would you<br />
stop him from coming to the theatre?"<br />
Carver also pointed out the problem<br />
that would arise if a customer forgot to<br />
bring his credit card to the theatre when<br />
he came, asking, "Would you stop him<br />
or his family from coming?"<br />
Psychologically, he added, the effect of<br />
small payments made each time the patron<br />
comes to the house is vastly different<br />
from the cumulative effect he would get<br />
when he got a bill for several dollars'<br />
worth of theatre attendance at the end<br />
of the month, and urged exhibitors, "We<br />
have enough headaches now—let's stick<br />
to the cash business."<br />
Popularity of Foreign Films Gains<br />
CLEVELAND—Foreign films,<br />
which fought<br />
for recognition here before the war, have<br />
found a resurgence of interest locally within<br />
the last two or three years.<br />
Locally, in addition to the Lower Mall,<br />
which introduced foreign films here, the Esquire<br />
spots such product and the University<br />
plays them second run. Other Ohio theatres<br />
with established foreign policy include the<br />
Liberty at Akron; World, Columbus; Art,<br />
Dayton; Guild. Cincinnati; Little Theatre,<br />
Yellow Springs, and occasionally the Majestic,<br />
Lima.<br />
In prewar days foreign films were introduced<br />
at the Penn Square here, but found it<br />
rough going when only a small group of the<br />
intelligentsia would support them. The policy<br />
was just begmning to catch on when the war<br />
halted the importation of film. After the<br />
war, the Lower Mall introduced the policy to<br />
excellent business.<br />
Local distribution has been a problem in<br />
LOUISVILLE<br />
"Vhe 1949 Amphitheatre season was reported<br />
as the second most successful in the 11-<br />
year history of musicals at the Iroquois Park<br />
show place . Goldberg of Realart,<br />
Cincinnati, returned to his home here<br />
after a two-week trip through West Virginia.<br />
Joe advises that for the second anniversary<br />
of the opening of the Craigsville Drive-In,<br />
Craigsville, W. Va., owner A. A. Richards<br />
booked the film "PittsbiU'gh" as a compliment<br />
to his wife who hails from the Steel<br />
city.<br />
In keeping with the atmosphere of an allwestern<br />
theatre, the new Rodeo here lists on<br />
its admission sign "Oldtimers 25 cents,"<br />
"Buckaroos 15 cents," then on the restroom<br />
doors are Usted "Cowboys" and "Cowgirls"<br />
From the office of the Kentucky<br />
respectively . . .<br />
Ass'n of Theatre Owners comes word<br />
that the names of all paid-up members will<br />
be listed in the souvenir program of the<br />
convention which is now in the making. The<br />
program will be elaborately illustrated. Convention<br />
plans are going along at full speed,<br />
and present indications foretell one of the<br />
biggest conventions ever held by the organization.<br />
Exhibitors seen on the Row recently included<br />
Tom Speer, Monroe, Moru-oe City,<br />
Ind.; F. X. Merkley, Rialto, Columbia; R. H.<br />
Robertson jr.. Majestic, Springfield; George<br />
Lindsay, Lindsay, Brownsville; Edwin St.<br />
Clair, St. Clair, Lebanon Junction; R. L.<br />
Gastrost, Victory, Vine Grove; Frances Wessel.<br />
Royal, Carrollton; James Howe, Richland,<br />
CarroUton; Eugene Martin, New Ace,<br />
Brandenburg, and James Totten, Lake View<br />
James F. Willard<br />
Drive-In, Pendleton . . .<br />
of the Strong Electric Corp. of Toledo spent<br />
several days here inspecting recent installations<br />
of equipment in the territory.<br />
.<br />
. . . Also stopping<br />
A. Edward Campbell of the Skyway Drive-<br />
In here is father of a baby daughter named<br />
Jean Bernard of the Sunset<br />
Drive-In, Bowling Green, stopped over en<br />
route to Bryn Mawr, Pa., for a short vacation<br />
in his home town<br />
over en route on a vacation trip to Canada<br />
were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Marshall of the<br />
although currently Bernard Rubin,<br />
this field,<br />
head of Imperial Pictures, state rights distribution<br />
group, claims to be the largest distributor<br />
of foreign films in the state. Taking<br />
advantage of Cleveland's large foreign population,<br />
Rubin aims his pictures at theatres<br />
in special language groups, playing Himgarian<br />
pictui-es .at the Moreland and Lorain-<br />
Fulton theatres; Polish films at the Jeimings<br />
and Eclair theatres; Italian pictures at the<br />
Mayfield, etc.<br />
Rubin says he now has enough<br />
foreign product to supply a theatre with an<br />
established foreign policy. He does not ask<br />
for preferred playing time but books the<br />
films on the theatre's off days.<br />
Rubin has been in show business since 1932.<br />
His first job was selling theatre valances.<br />
Then he sold theatre promotions. He later<br />
joined Lee Goldberg's Feature Rights exchange<br />
as salesman and was well established<br />
as manager of the exchange when he was<br />
called into military service.<br />
Columbian, Columbia . . . Another visitor<br />
was Jim Howe of Carrollton who stopped<br />
off on his trip up the Mississippi and Ohio<br />
rivers on the Delta Queen.<br />
The Skyway and Parkway drive-ins still<br />
are bidding for first run product and joined<br />
up in booking "Take One False Step" for<br />
day and date runs. Instead of the 65 cents<br />
admission usually prevailing for first class<br />
first run product, 49 cents was top fare for<br />
adults with children under 12 free as usual<br />
. . . Continuous matinees were in evidence<br />
at a number of suburban houses on Labor<br />
day.<br />
"Gone With the Wind" retmned to the<br />
local scene for showing in both the East<br />
and Dixie drive-ins with one show nightly.<br />
Regular prices prevailed . . The Scoop, on<br />
.<br />
its new policy of single features, brought<br />
in "Lost Boundaries." The National offered<br />
another stage show-film program. A variety<br />
show took over the stage while a double<br />
bill was featured in "Model Wife" and "State<br />
Department, File 649." Loew's double billed<br />
"The Great Sinner" and "Music Man," while<br />
the Rialto showed "You're My Everything"<br />
and "C-Man," and the Strand featured "Not<br />
Wanted" and "Daughter of the West." Held<br />
over for second Louisville weeks were "White<br />
Heat" at the Mary Anderson and "Top O'<br />
the Morning" at the Brown, both as singletons.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Gray, Gray Theatre at<br />
Brodhead, Ky., have returned from a tenday<br />
vacation at Virginia Beach, Va.<br />
Lancaster Liberty Sold<br />
LANCASTER, OHIO—Erway Briner, owner<br />
of the Liberty here since 1934, has sold it to<br />
the Lancaster Amusement Co., headed by<br />
Shea Enterprises, which also owns the Lyric.<br />
Briner wiU devote more time to his stable<br />
of racing horses. Fred Lahrmer, Lyric manager,<br />
will take charge of the Liberty.<br />
Open Greensburg, Pa., Drive-In<br />
GREENSBURG, PA.—The F&G Drive-In<br />
has been opened on Route 71. four miles west<br />
of Greensburg.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
77
Columbus Art Policy<br />
To Larger Theatre<br />
COLUMBUS—The World, north side art<br />
house, has moved its poUcy to the Alhambra.<br />
situated on North High street near Ohio<br />
State, Manager Charles Sugarman said. The<br />
new World will continue under the same<br />
management, the H&S Theatres, owned by<br />
Al Sugarman and Lee Hofheimer. The theatre<br />
will be associated with a national syndicate<br />
headed by Vance Schwartz, Louisville,<br />
Ky.<br />
The old World was renamed the Little<br />
Theatre and will show domestic films.<br />
H&S Theatres will continue to operate the<br />
325-seat house, first in Columbus to show<br />
foreign films as a regular policy. Manager<br />
Sugarman said that the change is being<br />
made because of the great success of the<br />
foreign-language and English-film policy.<br />
The change to the 450-seat Alhambra will<br />
make the theatre more accessible to Ohio<br />
State students. Many departments at the<br />
university, particularly foreign language and<br />
speech, encourage their students to attend<br />
showings of foreign films as a laboratory<br />
project.<br />
Extensive remodeling was carried out at the<br />
new World, including a modern, indirectly<br />
lighted auditorium and attractive lobby, revamped<br />
marquee and restrooms.<br />
Musical Stage Show Set<br />
For Capitol at Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Bebop versus Dixieland will<br />
be<br />
the issue in the special one-shot musical stage<br />
show concocted by United Detroit Theatres<br />
for the Capitol Theatre. Art Mardigian and<br />
his Beboppers, complete with goatees and<br />
berets, and Art Gillis and His Dixie Five, both<br />
well known in their fields, will be the contestants<br />
in this extra traffic-bringing promotion.<br />
Each side will have its own master<br />
of ceremonies, in the persons of two local<br />
disk jockeys, John Slagle of WXYZ, who is<br />
an authority on Dixieland, and Robin Seymour<br />
of WKMH, who will handle the bebop<br />
side. A big first run house, the Capitol usually<br />
plays a straight film policy.<br />
Newport, Ky„ Music Hall<br />
Damaged by $5,000 Fire<br />
NEWPORT, KY.—Fire damage to the Music<br />
Hall Theatre, one of the oldest motion picture<br />
houses in northern Kentucky, has been<br />
estimated at between $3,000 and $5,000.<br />
Flames, which were confined to the stage and<br />
rear room, started in a large switch box.<br />
Woodrow Bressler, Dayton, owner of the theatre,<br />
said the sound system was damaged and<br />
would have to be repaired or a new one<br />
installed. Bressler took over the theatre May<br />
1. He also operates the Dayvue Theatre, Dayton,<br />
and the Riverview Drive-In east of<br />
Dayton.<br />
Matinee Stage Show Given<br />
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO—The first afternoon<br />
stage show ever presented at a drive-in<br />
in this area was held at the North side,<br />
where Denver Bill and his Colorado Ranch<br />
Hands, a western musical group heard twice<br />
daily on WFMJ, Youngstown, were offered.<br />
Denver Bill used the refreshment stand as<br />
a stage, and hooked his microphone to the<br />
in-car sound system.<br />
Films by Buses Illegal<br />
Except in<br />
Necessity<br />
DETROIT—Tiansportation of commercial<br />
motion picture films by public bus has been<br />
banned in the state by the Michigan Public<br />
Service comjnission for reasons of safety, except<br />
'"when no other form of transportation<br />
is available."<br />
Some towns upstate have been served regularly<br />
by bus transportation of films, and<br />
such deliveries are occasionally made to<br />
theatres served regularly by film carriers or<br />
otherwise for special shipments, particularly<br />
in the case of late shipment.<br />
A hearing was held on the petition of the<br />
Greyhound Bus Co. to carry film, as it formerly<br />
did extensively, and was opposed by<br />
Arnold Renner, state fire marshal, and by<br />
Film Truck Service, principal carrier in the<br />
state.<br />
Course in Silent Films<br />
At Cleveland College<br />
CLEVELAND—Cleveland college of Western<br />
Reserve imiversity is offering for the first<br />
time this year a 16-week course on the best<br />
silent films in motion picture history. The<br />
course, which costs $6 for the 16-week series,<br />
will begin September 20 and will continue<br />
weekly untU January 24, 1950, with the usual<br />
Christmas holidays.<br />
The eight classifications studied during the<br />
course include the following films: Drama<br />
•Way Down East" (UA, 1920), "Greed" (MGM,<br />
1924) and "Sunrise" (UA, 1927); western<br />
drama— "Wild Bill Hickock" (Para, 1923) and<br />
"The Pony Express" (Para, 1925) ; farce— "The<br />
Strong Man" (FN, 1926) and "The General"<br />
(UA, 1927); crime— "The Unholy Three"<br />
(MGM, 1925) and "Underworld" (Para, 1927);<br />
docimientary— "Chang" (Para, 1927); war<br />
drama—"The Birth of a Nation" (UA, 1915)<br />
and "What — Price Glory" (20th-Fox, 1926);<br />
jazz age "Are Parents People?" (Para, 1925)<br />
and "Dancing Mothers" (Para 1926), and<br />
fantasy— "The Headless Horsemen" (Hodkinson,<br />
1922) and "Peter Pan" (Para, 1924).<br />
'Peace' Preview Too Distant<br />
DETROIT—Helen Bower, film critic<br />
of the<br />
Detroit Free Press, publicly "declined with<br />
thanks" an invitation to a screening of "The<br />
Prince of Peace," which was given a first run<br />
booking at the Drayton Plains Drive-In, 30<br />
miles northwest of Detroit, on September 18.<br />
Explaining that she would "wait until the<br />
picture is to be released in Detroit," Miss<br />
Bower commented, possibly facetiously, that<br />
"the situation suggests the rather terrifying<br />
possibility of critics having to become mobile<br />
units and cover outlying counties to keep<br />
the public informed on new pictures." The<br />
film is distributed ay Hallmark Productions.<br />
Twins to Blair Mooney<br />
CLEVELAND—Blair Mooney, son of Milton<br />
A. Mooney who heads Cooperative Theatres<br />
of Ohio, is the father of twin sons born at<br />
University hospital. The youngsters have<br />
been named Pat and Mike. The twins are<br />
Milt Mooney's first grandchildren.<br />
To Portray Captain Kidd<br />
Roc Hudson will portray Captain Kidd in<br />
Universal's "Double Crossbones."<br />
Saturday Matinee Crowd<br />
Escapes Fire at State<br />
BELLWOOD, PA.—Several hundred children<br />
were evacuated from a Saturday matinee<br />
at the State when film in a projection<br />
machine caught fire. Smoke quickly filled<br />
the auditorium and office and poured from<br />
second story windows of the building on<br />
Main street. Projectionist Jerry Smith of<br />
Altoona was uninjured. Bellwood volunteer<br />
firemen, working a block away in preparing<br />
for their festival, arrived at the theatre within<br />
a few minutes, dormed gas masks and used<br />
chemicals to extinguish the burning film and<br />
other equipment in the projection booth.<br />
Flames were confined for' the most part to<br />
the fireproofed room but firemen removed<br />
some of the soundproof decorations to get at<br />
the flames which were threatening to spread<br />
to the auditorium. Damage was covered by<br />
insurance, according to the management,<br />
and the theatre was closed for several days<br />
while a repair crew from Johnstown was on<br />
the job. The State was remodeled recently<br />
and new decorations were installed along with<br />
other fixtures and equipment.<br />
Henry Wilcoxon to Visit<br />
On Behalf of 'Samson'<br />
CLEVELAND—Henry Wilcoxon, starred in<br />
Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
will spend November 1, 2 here. Hal Marshall,<br />
Paramount special publicity representative,<br />
says he has arranged four speaking engagements<br />
for the DeMille ambassador of goodwill<br />
as well as two cocktail parties.<br />
Talks will be made before group heads of<br />
the Cleveland Federation of Women's Clubs,<br />
religious groups, fashion experts of local department<br />
stores and representatives of the<br />
board of education and local colleges. All<br />
meetings will be held at the Carter hotel.<br />
Sam Isaac New Manager<br />
Of Whitesbiitg Theatres<br />
WHITESBURG, KY. — Nineteen - year - old<br />
Sam Isaac, a student at Virginia Polytechnical<br />
Institute, has been named manager of<br />
the Kentucky Theatre here and of the new<br />
Isaac Theatre now under construction. His<br />
father J. E. Isaac of Cumberland has been<br />
in show business for 30 years, coming to<br />
Kentucky in 1922 after operating theatres<br />
in Norton, Va., for several years.<br />
Mrs. Rose Seyboldt Dies<br />
ERIE, PA.—Mrs. Rose A. Seyboldt, 73, wife<br />
of exhibitor Joseph Seyboldt of the Gem<br />
here, died in her residence September 9.<br />
Surviving in addition to her husband are<br />
three sons, Arthur, Eugene and Joseph;<br />
seven daughters, Mrs. Joseph Riley, Mrs. J. R.<br />
Barrow, Mrs. William McGinnis, Josephine<br />
and Rose Seyboldt, all of Erie; Mrs. Leo<br />
English, Oil City, and Mrs. Frank Sandrock,<br />
Franklin; a brother, Andrew Schwanz, and<br />
a sister, Mrs. John Dardish, both of Titusville,<br />
and 13 grandchildren. Requiem mass<br />
was sung at St. Andrew's church Tuesday<br />
morning.<br />
Former Film Censor Dies<br />
PHILADELPHIA, PA.—Mrs. Lucy (Haws)<br />
Love, for nine years a member of the Pennsylvania<br />
board of movie censors, died last<br />
week of a heart attack at her home in St.<br />
David. A former secretary of the censor<br />
board, she resigned from this work in 1948.<br />
78<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
I
At Kickoff of ATC Circuit's Fall Festiva<br />
BOSTON—A three-point program to increase<br />
motion picture attendance was<br />
launched by the American Theatres Corp. at<br />
its Fall Movie Festival kickoff meeting here.<br />
The program, introduced by ATC President<br />
Samuel Pinanski, emphasized "Bring 'em in.<br />
Keep 'em Coming and Keep 'em Happy."<br />
Pinanski told ATC executives that some<br />
30,000,000 persons go to the show every week.<br />
"But there still are 60,000,000 who do not attend,<br />
an imtapped source of new patrons that<br />
offers a gold mine of opportunity for extra<br />
business," he said. "Go after new patrons.<br />
"Keep your regular patrons coming, showafter-show,<br />
week-after-week. Sell them with<br />
traditional ATC showmanship—extra activities,<br />
special promotions, courteous service.<br />
"Keep 'em happy by making the visits of<br />
both old and new patrons a happy and satisfying<br />
leisure-time activity."<br />
Each exchange manager spoke at the meeting<br />
for 20 minutes on his forthcoming product,<br />
stressing selling and exploitation angles,<br />
and emphasizing the importance of oldfashioned<br />
showmanship in selling film to the<br />
public. Shown at the top of the page are<br />
film men who spoke. Seated, left to right:<br />
Al Kane, Paramount; John Scully, U-I; E.<br />
X. Callahan, 20th-Fox; William Scully, U-I;<br />
Pinanski; James Winn, UA, and Boss Cropper,<br />
RKO. Standing: Arnold Van Leer, Paramount;<br />
Abe Bernstein, U-I; Tom O'Brien,<br />
Columbia; Myer Feltman, U-I; Jack Brown,<br />
Paramount; Bill Horan, WB; John Moore,<br />
Paramount; Tom Donaldson, U-I; Harry<br />
Kirshgessner, NSS; Al Daytz, WB; Benn<br />
Rosenwald, MGM; Ben Babchick, MGM; Gus<br />
Schaefer, RKO; Sam Berg, 20th-Fox; Phil<br />
Engel, 20th-Fox; Terry Turner, RKO; Irving<br />
Mendelson, UA, and Ralph Banghart, RKO.<br />
Shown at the right are ATC managers.<br />
Top panel: Harry Goldberg, Pilgrim; Wilfred<br />
Tully, Esquire; Abner Pinanski, city manager;<br />
Harry I. Wasserman, district manager;<br />
Henry Kalis, Mayflower, all of Boston. Second<br />
panel: Francis Sergi, Eggleston Square,<br />
and Robert Hanson, Plaza, P.oxbury; George<br />
Sweeney, Jamaica, Jamaica Plain; J. J.<br />
Dempsey, district manager. Third panel:<br />
Hugh Martin, Hancock Village, Chestnut Hill;<br />
Francis McManus, district manager; Morris<br />
Stretletsky, Egyptian, Brighton; John Donahue,<br />
AUston, Allston. Panel 4: Albert Kay,<br />
Humboldt; John Buckley, Warren, and Norton<br />
Shapiro, Rivoli, all of Roxbury; District<br />
Manager Dempsey; Edward Frizzel, Dudley,<br />
Roxbury. Panel 5: Joseph Lourie, Oriental,<br />
Mattapan; Melvin Meyers, Franklin Park,<br />
Dorchester; Thomas Green; Paul St. Louis,<br />
Morton, Dorchester; Nathan Levin, Roxie,<br />
Roxbury, and District Manager Wasserman,<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
2nd<br />
2nd<br />
',',<br />
,<br />
•,<br />
'<br />
Mythical Figures Form Floor Design<br />
In Theatre Built by Peter Latchis<br />
NEWPORT, N. H.—This is more than a<br />
story of the opening of a modern new theatre.<br />
It's a story of a most unusual theatre<br />
for which the owner himself was architect,<br />
builder, engineer, superintendent, foreman<br />
and a laborer.<br />
The new ultra-modern Latchis Theatre,<br />
just opened here, was built without the aid of<br />
blueprints to the specifications of owner Peter<br />
D. Latchis, one of northern New England's<br />
best-known exhibitors.<br />
Latchis' dream was fulfilled after 15 months<br />
of construction work. The 60xl08-foot building<br />
seats 1,000 persons. The main foyer is<br />
bright with color in the floor pattern, which<br />
has Latchis' original designs, such as a double<br />
rainbow, the sun's rays, the moon. Atlas<br />
carrying the world on his shoulders, the<br />
world within a five-pointed star, Apollo and<br />
his chariot and Sagittarius, the archer who<br />
was half man and half horse.<br />
The projection room has been built outside<br />
the theatre walls, and the 17x32-foot stage<br />
has double-decker dressing rooms on either<br />
side. The entii'e structure opens onto Main<br />
street, and absorbs a space once occupied by<br />
the private dining room of the Newport hotel.<br />
Another entrance to the theatre is from the<br />
present dining room of the establishment.<br />
Latchis started his career as a film exhibitor<br />
in Hinsdale and row operates several theatres<br />
throughout this area.<br />
To Build on Brockton Airport<br />
BROCKTON, MASS.—-Work has started on<br />
this city's first drive-in to be built in the<br />
southwest corner of the Brockton airport by<br />
the Brockton Drive-In, Inc. It is expected to<br />
be ready for occupancy "before the snow<br />
flies" but will not open until early spring.<br />
The corporation is made up of the principal<br />
stockholders of Brockton Airways, Inc., the<br />
treasurer being Nat A. Tj-ager, manager. A<br />
capacity of 975 cars is planned.<br />
The Izzo Construction Co. of Johnston,<br />
R. I., has been given the contract for the<br />
grading and ramping. Contracts for the remaining<br />
phases of the project will be let soon.<br />
Niantic, Conn., Theatre Started<br />
NIANTIC, CONN.—Ground has been broken<br />
VseAFILMACK ^<br />
SPECIAL trailer!<br />
.<br />
To<br />
Help Put It Across!<br />
F I L M A C<br />
CHICAGO 1327 S. Wabash Ave.<br />
NEW YORK 619 West 54th. St.<br />
NEO-SEAL BURIAL WIRE<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE<br />
DELIVERY<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
for a new 685-seat theatre, to be called the<br />
Niantic, with completion of the building expected<br />
by March 1, 1950. The new theatre<br />
is on Main street, between the Niantic Bowling<br />
alleys and Dousis' clothing store. A large<br />
parking area is planned in the rear of the<br />
site.<br />
The project is being underwritten by the<br />
newly organized Niantic Theatre Corp., consisting<br />
of Alphonse Dubreuil, Waterford contractor<br />
who is in charge of construction;<br />
George Deligeores, owner of the Niantic<br />
bowling alleys, and Samuel Cornish, Harrison,<br />
N. Y., exhibitor.<br />
Suspends Plymouth Project<br />
PLYMOUH, MASS.—An application for a<br />
permit to operate a drive-in suburban in<br />
Manomet, which has been on file at the office<br />
of the board of selectmen, has been withdrawn<br />
by Lionel J. Moreau, who thus sidestepped<br />
a concerted attempt by opponents for<br />
a selectman to take a vote on the question.<br />
The matter was considered closed without the<br />
selectmen committing themselves.<br />
Burnside Opens Sept. 14<br />
HARTFORD—The Burnside Theatre, 800-<br />
seat house built by Burnside Theatre Corp.,<br />
Morris Keppner, president, opened September<br />
14.<br />
Maurice Safner to Build<br />
KILLINGLY, CONN.—Maurice Safner of<br />
Danielson has announced plans for construction<br />
of a new drive-in on the west side of<br />
Route 12, in the Elmville section.<br />
LYNN<br />
Owampscott theatregoers are becoming impatient<br />
over the delay in starting the proposed<br />
$200,000 picture house on the shore<br />
road. The town meeting voted almost unanimously<br />
for the theatre and the necessary<br />
permits have been obtained from the selectmen<br />
and building department.<br />
The treasury of the North Shore Players,<br />
which brings Edward Everett Horton and<br />
other noted stars to the Marblehead High<br />
school every summer, is short Tuesday's receipts<br />
of $2,278 and police have a mystery<br />
on their hands. John L. Washburn, co-manager,<br />
was taking the money in a bag to the<br />
bank and his auto only went 100 yards from<br />
the school when the money was missed.<br />
Mrs. 'Washburn and two companions had<br />
changed places and a front door of the car<br />
was partly open.<br />
Alfred Michalski, former manager of the<br />
Circle in Manchester, Conn., died recently<br />
after an illness of two years. He left the<br />
Warner staff here to go to Connecticut shortly<br />
after his marriage to Yvonne Kerry, 'Warner<br />
cashier. He was given treatment; for a<br />
year at the 'Will Rogers sanitarium and<br />
seemed much improved when he returned to<br />
his home here several months ago.<br />
Leo Barber, Warner operator and president<br />
of the Lynn Central Labor union, made an<br />
auto trip with his family through the Great<br />
Lakes region.<br />
Three New Pictures<br />
Gross 135 in Boston<br />
BOSTON—Labor day weekend business got<br />
off to a shaky start, but brightened on Sunday<br />
to solid boxoffice. Most of the first runs<br />
had new product, some starting as early as<br />
the previous Wednesday and Thursday.<br />
"Come to the Stable" at the Memorial was<br />
a decided hit and held. "In the Good Old<br />
Summertime" at Loew's State and Orpheum<br />
did not reach the holdover figure. "Top O'<br />
the Morning" at the Met and "Rope of Sand"<br />
at the Paramount and Fenway were both<br />
strong for second stanzas. 'Vaudeville was still<br />
going well at the Boston. Another good gross<br />
was registered at the Astor with the opening<br />
of "Roseanna McCoy."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Aslor—Roseanna McCoy (RKO) 135<br />
Beacon Hiil Guaglio (Lux), 2nd wk 110<br />
Boston ^Aictic Manhunt (U-I), plus stage show.. ..130<br />
Exeter Street—Girl in the Painting (U-I); They<br />
Mel at Midnight (MGM) 130<br />
Majestic—The Red Shoes (EL), 42nd wk 90<br />
Mayflower—Not Wanted (FC), 6th wk 115<br />
Memorial—Come to the Stable (20th-Fox); Make<br />
Mine Laughs (RKO) 135<br />
Metropolitan Top O' the Morning (Para); Forgotten<br />
Women (Mono) 135<br />
Paramount and Fenway Rope of Sand (Para);<br />
Do\pra Dakota Way (Rep) 125<br />
State and Orpheum In the Good Old Summertime<br />
(MGM) 100<br />
Top O' the Morning' Pulls 150<br />
To Lead Hartford Grosses<br />
HARTFORD—With area<br />
drive-ins starting<br />
to close for the season, first run houses are<br />
getting back more of their steady trade.<br />
Among holdovers were Paramount's "Top O'<br />
the Morning" and Columbia's "Mr. Soft<br />
Touch."<br />
Allyn Top C the Morning (Para); Special Agent<br />
(Para) , wk 150<br />
Center—Gone With the Wind (MGM) 100<br />
E. M, Loew's—Mr. Solt Touch (Col); Kazan (Col),<br />
2nd wk 75<br />
Poll-Come to the Stable (20th-Fox); The Valiant<br />
.'.<br />
Hombre (UA) 100<br />
Palace Cobrcf Woman (fiealart); White Savage<br />
(Realart), reissues T'. 60<br />
Regql—Movie Crazy (MPSC); Roughshod (RKO).... 70<br />
State — Angels in Disguise (Mono), plus stage<br />
show 120<br />
Strand—White Heat (WB); Moke Mine Laughs<br />
(RKO) , wk 140<br />
'White Heat' Grosses 110<br />
To Pace Ne'w Haven<br />
NEW HA'VEN—Matinees were poor, but<br />
evening takes were good, especially after rain<br />
and cooler weather sent holiday celebraters<br />
indoors.<br />
Bi]Ou—The Window (RKO); The Lost Tribe (Col)....100<br />
College In the Good Old Summertime (MGM);<br />
Air Hostess (Col), 2nd d. t. wk 65<br />
Loews Poll Madame Bovory (MGM); The ludge<br />
Steps Out (RKO) 98<br />
Paramount Top O' the Morning (Para); Special<br />
'<br />
Agent (Para) 100<br />
Roger Sherman White Heat (WB); Make Mine<br />
Laughs (RKO) 110<br />
Edgar Bergen Visits Friend<br />
HARTFORD—While in town for a booking<br />
at the State Theatre, Edgar Bergen took time<br />
off from his busy schedule to visit a friend.<br />
Donald Davis of Hollywood, an employe of<br />
the Music Corp. of America in New York who<br />
is a medical patient at St. Francis hospital.<br />
SERVICING THEATRESdRllfE INS<br />
CANDY POP CORN DRINKS<br />
COMPLETE CONCESSION SDPPLIES<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
loxorrirj
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BOSTON<br />
lyjayor Curley's failure to go ahead with<br />
plans lor the underground garage beneath<br />
Boston Common was attacked by Patrick<br />
J. McDonough, governor's aide, who is<br />
campaigning for the mayoralty. He challenged<br />
the mayor to tell the people of Boston<br />
"what he has done to meet the critical<br />
parking problems besides installing the parking<br />
meters." Theatremen long have been<br />
anticipating the building of the huge underground<br />
garage as a stimulant to theatre<br />
business. The inadequate parking facilities<br />
have long been considered a vital problem<br />
which would be alleviated by the erection<br />
of the underground space.<br />
A parade and reception welcomed home<br />
Harold RusseU of Watertown, famed handless<br />
war veteran who won an Oscar for his<br />
work in "The Best Years of Our Lives." He<br />
recently was elected national commander of<br />
the AMTVETS at Des Moines. Gen. William<br />
Blake of the VA and the army band from<br />
Murphy General hospital were on hand to<br />
greet the popular actor and veteran at the<br />
South station.<br />
. . .<br />
Lynn Curtis, owner of the Strong Theatre,<br />
Burlington, Vt., has closed his theatre for<br />
several weeks for complete alterations. He<br />
will reopen around the end of October<br />
Phil Berler took a flying trip to Washington<br />
and the Atlanta exchanges for buying and<br />
booking for the E. M. Loew southern driveins<br />
.. . Florence Buckley, shorts booker at<br />
E. M. Loew's, spent her vacation at the Basin<br />
Harbor club in Vergennes, Vt., on Lake<br />
Champlain . . . Adeline Struzzeiro. secretary<br />
at Independent Exhibitors, visited York<br />
Beach, Me., on a weekend.<br />
Following a stay of six weeks at the Jane<br />
Brown Memorial hospital. Providence, Teddy<br />
Rosenblatt is now at home where he must<br />
remain quietly for another month before getting<br />
back to the theatre . . . Herman Rifkin<br />
flew to New York to talk with Steve Broidy<br />
before the latter left for the coast.<br />
Thomas DePalma closed Sanford Hall, Medway,<br />
the last of June and reopened it September<br />
11 for Sundays all day and Wednesday<br />
and Thursday nights, his regular schedule.<br />
During the summer he renovated the<br />
theatre with new carpets, a new screen and<br />
repainting throughout. The house seats 375<br />
The E. M. Loew circuit wUl reopen the<br />
. . .<br />
Taconic, Williamstown, September 16, after<br />
shuttering the theatre for the summer.<br />
Joe Levine of Embassy Pictures, New England<br />
distributor for the two W. C. Fields<br />
reissues, "The Bank Dick" and "My Little<br />
Chickadee," which is booked for the Center<br />
Theatre, gave a press dinner at Locke-Ober's<br />
restaurant followed by a preview of the films<br />
at the Center . . . Harry Segal has installed<br />
a new television set in his snack bar on<br />
Filmrow which lends a festive air to his restaurant<br />
. . . The world premiere of MGM's<br />
"The Red Danube" is scheduled for the State<br />
and Orpheum theatres September 22 with<br />
Director Carey Wilson and star Janet Leigh<br />
due to attend.<br />
The cooling system installed at the Elms<br />
Theatre, Millbury, helped business substantially<br />
during the hot summer days, according<br />
to Dominic Turturo, owner. Before the<br />
installation, business was down to rock bottom,<br />
he said, but when the new system was<br />
put in and properly advertised, grosses were<br />
back to normal. "Ninety-eight per cent of<br />
my patrons told me they came in to cool<br />
off," Turturo said. The Elms is .situated six<br />
miles from Worcester. T\irtmo has booked<br />
"Joan of Arc." which has not played<br />
Worcester.<br />
. . .<br />
Vincent O'Brien, who has been with the<br />
E. M. Loew circuit the last few years, has<br />
been transferred to the Capitol, Everett, a<br />
Warner Theatres house. He recently married<br />
Virginia Grady of Pawtucket, R. I. Anthony<br />
Boschetto has replaced him at the Universal,<br />
Fitchburg, O'Brien's last E. M. Loew post<br />
to Larry Laskey, E. M. Loew<br />
partner, the Hollywood, Charlestown, will reopen<br />
the latter part of September for weekends<br />
only, playing Friday and Saturday<br />
Eugene<br />
nights and all day Sundays<br />
Mielnkoush of the Victoria, Chicopee, has<br />
applied for membership in Independent Exhibitors.<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
ly/Torris Keppner opened his new 702-seat<br />
Burnside Theatre in suburban Hartford<br />
on September 14. Seating, projection machines<br />
and other equipment was supplied by<br />
the National Theatre Supply Co. . . .<br />
The<br />
remodeled Jodoin Theatre at Baltic was reopened<br />
with "Adventure in Baltimore" on<br />
the screen and vaudeville. Admission for the<br />
opening show was $5. A manager for the<br />
house had not been appointed by Ed Lord before<br />
the opening . . . The 1,020-seat Community<br />
at Fairfield is being remodeled by the<br />
Fishman circuit.<br />
. .<br />
"White Heat" was a holdover at the Roger<br />
Sherman, where second weeks are unusual<br />
Film Classics' "Not Wanted" is a coming<br />
. . .<br />
attraction at the same theatre . . . Bill Brown<br />
of the Bijou played a laugh record and piped<br />
the laughter to the boxoffice and front of the<br />
theatre in connection with showings of<br />
"Movie Crazy" . The Dixwell is the second<br />
Fishman house to feature Miss Connecticut,<br />
recent winner in a statewide bathing beauty<br />
Tim O'Toole's son Buddy, a guest<br />
contest . . .<br />
on Meadow Street, brought greetings from<br />
the retired Columbia manager, now in Fort<br />
Lauderdale.<br />
Hannah Ginsburg, secretary to Carl Goe,<br />
Warner exchange manager, left to spend the<br />
remainder of her vacation at Plum Point . . .<br />
Dick Cohen of Monogram vacationed in<br />
Maine . . . Athan Prakas, operator of the<br />
Rivoli in Bridgeport, visited with his family<br />
in Long Island, where he is chairman of an<br />
emergency hospital project for his native<br />
town in Greece.<br />
Earl Wright, Columbia salesman, sustained<br />
a back injury while diving during the Labor<br />
day holiday . . . Phil Humphrey, RCA district<br />
engineer, was given a toy terrier for his<br />
birthday . . . Phil Sherman of the Hamilton,<br />
Waterbury, returned with his family from a<br />
Canadian vacation The Niantic Theatre<br />
Corp. of<br />
. . .<br />
East Lyme filed a certificate of incorporation<br />
on August 22, and East Coast<br />
Theatres, Inc.. Norwalk. filed similar papers<br />
on August 25.<br />
Ramp Identification Lights<br />
SAVES TME — ELMraATES CONFUSION<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
pauI Howland, Providence Journal film<br />
critic, is seriously ill in a local hospital<br />
. . James E. Darby, brother of Charley<br />
Darby, Avon Cinema manager, and a New<br />
Haven resident, recently visited his brother<br />
while on a trip here .<br />
Center, Pawtucket,<br />
celebrated Paramount Encore week,<br />
presenting two feature attractions, with a<br />
complete change of program each day. "California"<br />
and "Calcutta" inaugurated the schedule<br />
with "Golden Earrings" and "Albuquerque,"<br />
and "Perils of Pauline" plus "I Walk<br />
Alone" as other double feature billings.<br />
Charles R. Darby, Avon Cinema manager,<br />
is hitting Italian language newspapers and<br />
radio programs hard and often in conjunction<br />
with the forthcoming screening of "Guaglio,"<br />
Italian film . . . Albert J. Siner. recently<br />
appointed manager of the Strand, succeeding<br />
the late Edward C. Reed, received considerable<br />
publicity in the local and surrounding<br />
newspapers and on the radio. His appointment<br />
was a popular one.<br />
The scheduled visit and reception for Corinne<br />
Calvet, star of "Rope of Sand," which<br />
was to have taken place in the Sheraton<br />
hotel here September 12, was cancelled because<br />
of a change in Itinerary which takes<br />
Miss Calvet to Canada. Montreal replaces<br />
Providence on the schedule of personal appearances.<br />
Maurice Druker, manager at the State, arranged<br />
a special preview of "Home of the<br />
Brave" for newspaper and radio men . . .<br />
The Rev. Russell J. McVinney, bishop of the<br />
Providence diocese, through the Majestic<br />
Theatre management, arranged for a private<br />
showing of "Come to the Stable" for all nuns<br />
of the diocese. The presentation took place<br />
in the nurses home at St. Joseph's hospital.<br />
With Labor day officially winding up the<br />
outdoor season and school opening, thousands<br />
of families returned from seashore resorts<br />
and local theatre managers looked for a sharp<br />
upswing in attendance. Hampered by record-breaking<br />
hot weather and an unusually<br />
heavy scheduled of outdoor concerts, festivals<br />
and block dances, operators were welcoming<br />
a return to normal fall business.<br />
Harold Lancaster, manager of the Strand,<br />
Pawtucket, is lining up a tremendous number<br />
of attendance gifts for his annual cooking<br />
school. The first session will be held<br />
Bert Slater, Rhode Island<br />
September 26 . . .<br />
Theatrical Supply Co. head, returned from<br />
an extended vacation and swordfishing trip<br />
in and around Block Island.<br />
New Haven Drive-In Sued<br />
By Concession Operator<br />
NEW HAVEN—The New Haven Drive-In<br />
Theatre, Inc., North Haven, was named defendant<br />
in a $10,000 suit filed in superior<br />
court by Ralph Palcigno of Meriden alleging<br />
that he was not permitted to continue operation<br />
of a concession stand in accordance<br />
with the terms of a contract. Falcigno claims<br />
that he made an era! agreement on April 2.<br />
1949. with Charles M. Lane, president and<br />
treasurer of the drive-in, to operate the concession<br />
stand. After providing equipment,<br />
merchandise and labor, he was to receive 30<br />
per cent of the gross income. Payments were<br />
made until May 27, when the management<br />
disclosed plans to terminate the contract.<br />
Falcigno claims that his business w-as destroyed,<br />
and that he suffered loss as a result.<br />
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BOXOFFICE Sentember 17, 1949<br />
83
. . Walter<br />
. . Lew<br />
. . Ann<br />
. . Mary<br />
.<br />
.<br />
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CONNECTICUT GOLFERS DINE—Some of the men who joined in the annual golf<br />
tournament of the MPTO of Connecticut at New Haven walked out with a raft of<br />
prizes. Seated, left to right: George Wilkinson, Albert Pickus, Marshall Baldwin, Capt.<br />
WiUiam Schatzman, Tom Wilson and James Reardon. Standing: Carl Goe, Henry<br />
Germaine, Harry Rosenblatt, Max Hoffman, Barney Pitkin, B. E. Hoffman, Herman<br />
Levy and Sam Weber.<br />
HARTFORD<br />
rjan Schuman, son of the Hartford Theatres<br />
executive, has left for Switzerland<br />
where he will study the violin for a year at<br />
the Geneva Conservatory of Music. He has<br />
been a student at the Julius Hartt School of<br />
Music, was graduated from Dartmouth college,<br />
and attended the Cummington School<br />
of Art for two seasons .<br />
Mello, Loews<br />
Poll stage manager, spent a few weeks at<br />
Saratoga Springs. N. Y., on his vacation.<br />
. .<br />
Norm Levinson, Loew's Poll assistant,<br />
viewed the featherweight matches at the auditorium<br />
the other night Lee Peigen,<br />
.<br />
Poll student assistant, is back from a Connecticut<br />
shoreline vacation . Gilberto<br />
is the new usherette at the Princess . . . Tom<br />
Grace of the Eastwood has switched his<br />
kiddy film shows from Tuesday afternoons<br />
to Saturday matinee performances.<br />
John D'Amato, manager of the Palace.<br />
Perakos circuit theatre in New Britain, returned<br />
from a vacation in the middle west<br />
... A thief stole the bicycle owned by Peter<br />
Lund of the Palace in Meriden, but is was<br />
recovered shortly afterward . . . Charlie<br />
Aaron, manager of the Victory, New London,<br />
reports resumption of a two-ciay a week<br />
vaudeville policy.<br />
.<br />
Elmer Lloyd was relief projectionist at the<br />
Eastwood while Walter Myotka was on the<br />
Jack Gordon of Gordon's entertainment<br />
sick list . . .<br />
bureau checked in from a week's<br />
vacation in upstate New York . Gus Soderberg.<br />
Palace projectionist, is<br />
. .<br />
home from a<br />
Baltimore vacation Chesky, Palace<br />
student assistan";, intends to vacation in<br />
the south for a few weeks, starting September<br />
29.<br />
Jay Hass, Loew's Poll doorman, is home<br />
Jerry Evans,<br />
from a Detroit vacation . . .<br />
U-I promotion man, covered Hartford,<br />
Bridgeport, New Haven and Norwich on<br />
"Sword in the Desert." He held a meeting<br />
. . .<br />
on the film here with Lou Cohen, Norman<br />
Levinson, Bob Gentner, Lee Feigin and Walter<br />
Chesky of Loew's Hartford theatres<br />
Bill Gilwech, Poll projectionist, and his wife<br />
Martha, are home from a vacation . . .<br />
New<br />
price policy of 12 cents for children and 32<br />
cents for adults during weekday matinees,<br />
and 20 cents for children and 44 cents for<br />
adults on Sundays and evenings has gone into<br />
effect at the Victory in New London. Manager<br />
is Charlie Aaron.<br />
Harry Schwartz is the new doorman at the<br />
Allyn . E. Clark has joined the cashiers<br />
crew at E. M. Loew's . . .<br />
Umberto<br />
Abronzio, E. M. Loew projectionist, returned<br />
from a vacation at Sound View.<br />
.<br />
Estelle O'Toolc, executive secretary to Henry<br />
L. Needles, Hartford district manager for<br />
Warner Theatres,, has returned to her desk,<br />
following a vacation trip to Nantucket Island<br />
.Harry<br />
with her husband and children<br />
Green of the Alexander Film<br />
.<br />
Co. came<br />
through the north.ern Connecticut territory<br />
. . . Tom Carey has recarpeted the office at<br />
Carey Theatrical Enterprises . . . Two bu-thday<br />
parties are on the Grecula famUy schedule<br />
this month with Ernie jr. to mark his first<br />
birthday and Penny to observe her eighth.<br />
Doug Amos of Lockwood & Gordon looked<br />
over the newly opened Danbury Drive-In . . .<br />
Bill Moore, former assistant at the Regal,<br />
is managing this new location. The circuit<br />
plans to continue operations at the new spot<br />
as long as weather permits.<br />
Brookie LeWitt of Glackin & LeWitt Theatres<br />
has launched a new dish giveaway at<br />
the Arch Street in New Britain . . . Joe Borenstein.<br />
Warner Strand manager, reports<br />
starts via station WHAY in New Britain.<br />
James O'Brien of the Rialto is marking his<br />
26th year as a motion picture projectionist<br />
in the Connecticut area. The Hartfordite<br />
joined the ranks of boothmen back in 1923,<br />
when he went to work for the late Charles<br />
L. Repass. Repass at that time operated<br />
one or two night stands in the area and in<br />
1931 moved into the Crown here as manager<br />
for independent interests. O'Brien went<br />
along to the Crown and was assigned projectionist<br />
duties. O'Brien remained at the<br />
Crown until early 1949, when he shifted to<br />
the booth at the Rialto. Repass died in<br />
1947.<br />
On Gershwin Composition<br />
Alan Jay Lerner is writijig an original<br />
screenplay for Metro on the George Gershwin<br />
composition, "An American in Paris."<br />
Zeitz Bros. Renovate<br />
Porlland, Me., Civic<br />
PORTLAND—The Civic Theatre, owned by<br />
the Zeitz Bros, of New Bedford, has been<br />
undergoing complete renovation and redecoration<br />
for the last four months with the<br />
theatre remaining open on its regular schedule.<br />
Most of the work was completed during<br />
the night and early morning hours before<br />
the theatre opened at 11 a. m.<br />
Costing in the neighborhood of $200,000,<br />
the plans and actual work were drawn up<br />
and executed by a crew of workmen, contractors<br />
and artists employed by the Zeitz<br />
circuit of which Harry Zeitz is president.<br />
A feature of the remodeling is the air conditioned<br />
metal boxoffice furnished in upholstered<br />
leather with two ticket machines<br />
handled by two cashiers.<br />
Two huge marquees designed by C. I. Brink<br />
were installed. Inside the house the 250-foot<br />
lobby was replastered and redecorated with<br />
new lighting fixtures, new frames and new<br />
paneled glass doors. All new carpeting was<br />
added as well as new stage fixtures. American<br />
Seating Co. furnished the 2,000 new seats<br />
and the entire house is air conditioned by<br />
York machines.<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
pddie Harrison of the Bijou has installed a<br />
new RCA sound system . . .<br />
George E.<br />
Freeman of Loew's Poji is in the midst of an<br />
extensive campaign on a New Movie Season,<br />
with plenty of plugging being accomplished<br />
through newspapers, radio, and merchants in<br />
the interests of forthcoming theatre bookings.<br />
Ed Carroll's Riverside Park-In Theatre in<br />
Agawam is the first^f the Springfield area<br />
drive-ins to close down for the season .<br />
George E. Landers, Hartford division manager,<br />
E, M. Loew circuit, came through on<br />
business.<br />
'Shoes' in 43rd Week<br />
Moves to Copley<br />
Boston—After a record-breaking 43-<br />
week run at the Majestic Theatre "The<br />
Red Shoes" moved to the Copley Theatre<br />
on Copley Square, which was unshuttered<br />
to allow the popular English film<br />
to continue its Boston showing. The same<br />
roadshow price policy continues on the<br />
two-a-day basis. Another Eagle Lion<br />
release, "Quartet," replaced the film at<br />
the Majestic for an extended run.<br />
The Copley Theatre, built by the late<br />
E. E. Clive more than two decades ago,<br />
has not played a picture since "Stairway<br />
to Heaven" in March 1947. Last winter<br />
the Boston Repertory Co. took over the<br />
house for a short season of stock. The<br />
Shubert organization, controller of the<br />
theatre, has made a new entrance to<br />
the theatre from Huntington avenue, allowing<br />
foot traffic from that area as well<br />
as from the frontage on Stuart street.<br />
Mike Cavanaugh, Shubert manager, is<br />
hopeful that "The Red Shoes" is a forerunner<br />
of a series of roadshow film engagements<br />
at this 1,000-seat theatre.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
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Dallas Firm to Make<br />
Small Drive-In Units<br />
DALLAS—The Cross Roads Theatre Co. has<br />
been organized here under the general managership<br />
of H. K. Canington, long active in<br />
the motion picture industry in this area, to<br />
manufacture and distribute prefabricated<br />
drive-in units.<br />
The unit of metal and steel consists of a<br />
screen tower, screen, side-screen wings, attraction<br />
board, concession stand, stage boxoffice<br />
and booth. The front side of the screen<br />
structure houses a concession stand, which<br />
also forms the stage and the attraction board<br />
over it, permitting several lines of lettei-ing.<br />
NOT FOR COMPETITION<br />
"These drive-in units are neither intended<br />
as a competition to existing outdoor theatres,"'<br />
CaiTington said, "nor ai-e they planned for<br />
larger cities and towns. They are intended<br />
primarily to supply the need for inexpensive<br />
drive-ins in the smaller communities where<br />
the population-to-profit possibility ratio would<br />
not permit the erection of an expensive or<br />
elaborate theatre. The interest already displayed<br />
in these prefab units has demonstrated<br />
they they have a very definite place in this<br />
newest type of show business.<br />
"It is a well recognized fact that almost<br />
anyone can build a drive-in theatre; but, just<br />
as in the manufacture of automobiles, one<br />
at a time and by hand, the excessively expensive<br />
car would be prohibitive except to a limited<br />
few of the vei-y rich. However, through<br />
the application of assembly line production<br />
methods, the cost of automobiles is now within<br />
the present price range. Likewise, assembly<br />
line production of prefabricated di'ive-in units<br />
will reduce their cost and make their construction<br />
price within the limits of smaller<br />
town operation."<br />
The iuiits are of steel and metal and will<br />
be available in two models—standard and de<br />
luxe. They differ only slightly in design and<br />
in material and vary only slightly in price.<br />
Both are designed for a maximum audience<br />
of about 350 cars. The engineers, headed by<br />
a well known structural steel designer who<br />
has lately completed several large buildings<br />
in the area, claim that a Cross Roads theatre<br />
can be erected in two days, using only two<br />
nonskilled mechanics.<br />
SHIPPED READY TO USE<br />
Peeling that the exhibitor can best determine<br />
his needs for projection and concession<br />
equipment, the Cross Roads plan does not<br />
include this equipment. The entire imit is<br />
flexible in that it may be used as a drive-in<br />
theatre, as an airdome theatre, with seats<br />
and for seasonal operation where weather<br />
conditions restrict year-around business, and<br />
as a restam-ant drive-in, serving food and<br />
drinks. By simply reversing the position of<br />
the concession stand, the owner has all needed<br />
facilities for self-sei-vice or car hop service<br />
to patrons who watch a changing series of<br />
short subjects which insures rapid customer<br />
The complete unit can be shipped, ready for<br />
assembly and erection, by truck or by freight<br />
anywhere in the nation. It can be erected on<br />
approximately five acres of leased land and<br />
serve as a tester of location as well as a permanent<br />
outdoor theatre, Carrington said.<br />
Baby Show on Stage<br />
PALACIOS, TEX.—A baby show on the<br />
stage of the Capitol Theatre recently augmented<br />
the regular screen fare.<br />
Foreign, Art Films<br />
In Dallas Through<br />
DALLAS—Foreign and art films have<br />
gained unprecedented prominence in recent<br />
years among local theatregoers, a far cry<br />
from the feeble beginnings of 12 years ago,<br />
when Elmer Scott, Civic Federation executive,<br />
first started screening foreign and outstanding<br />
domestic films at the new Scott Hall, the<br />
first formal cinema art program for Dallas.<br />
A former Sears official, Scott resigned in<br />
1915 to work in the city department of public<br />
welfare. He founded the federation two<br />
years later, and in 1924 received the first<br />
Linz award, a citation for community service.<br />
That first year at Scott Hall, in 1937, saw<br />
Dallas getting a big dose of art pictures. The<br />
French industry was represented by "Mayerling,"<br />
"The Baker's Wife," "Harvest," "Ballerina"<br />
and "The Life and Loves of Beethoven."<br />
The Viennese film, "Orphan Boy of<br />
Vienna," and the Chinese celluloid accomplishments,<br />
"Son of China" and "Clcoda."<br />
were shown. There were German films,<br />
such as "Maedchen in Uniform," and Spanish<br />
films, such as "La Paloma." A documentary,<br />
"The Yellow Cruise," was shown and<br />
the silent films of the 1920s held their own<br />
with stars such as Rudolph Valentino, Douglas<br />
Fairbanks and Charles Chaplin featured.<br />
The group soon found the programs popular<br />
enough to warrant weekend showings for<br />
ten months of the year, which Is the policy<br />
still in effect today. Patrons began selecting<br />
their fare by putting in requests the year<br />
before.<br />
It was not, however, until three years ago,<br />
that art films gained real prominence here.<br />
On Christmas eve, 1946, the' downtown Telenews<br />
Theatre inaugurated a new feature picture<br />
policy as an exclusively art house. A<br />
scattering of outstanding foreign and art<br />
films had shown at other downtown theatres<br />
but a good majority of foreign product was<br />
Frost, Tex„ Theatre Sold<br />
FROST, TEX.—Ross 'Willoughby has sold<br />
the Frost Theatre to J. Jantz of Oklahoma<br />
City. Jantz, a retired army man, bought the<br />
Willoughby home and will move his family to<br />
town soon.<br />
Reopen Talco, Tex., House<br />
TALCO, TEX.—The Strand has been reopened<br />
after a modernization. A new front<br />
and boxoffice were added, and new projection<br />
equipment installed.<br />
BXisiness Rise in South Texas<br />
SAN ANTONIO—Due largely to a bumper<br />
crop in the San Antonio and south Texas<br />
territory, both of the Latin-American film<br />
exchanges—Azteca Films and Clasa-Mohme<br />
expect to do an increased amount of business<br />
for the fall and winter. Inasmuch as<br />
the local theatres are optimistic for a brisk<br />
trade during the coming months, the return<br />
of vaudeville at the Majestic did a rushing<br />
business proving that flesh shows are much<br />
in demand by the theatre patrons these days.<br />
Two westside theatres—the National and<br />
Zaragoza—had stage shows and features.<br />
Gain Prominence<br />
Three Theatres<br />
bypassing Dallas.<br />
The Telenews became the<br />
first commercial theatre with a foreign film<br />
policy. It's first film was the Engli.sh-made<br />
"Notorious Gentleman." English films have<br />
predominated but other masterpieces shown<br />
at the Telenews included the Italian films,<br />
"To Live in Peace," "Open City" and "Paisan."<br />
The theatre, owned half and half by Telenews<br />
Corp. and Interstate Theatres, is managed<br />
by Jim Preddy.<br />
Even with the Telenews, Dallas still was<br />
not getting enough foreign product. So,<br />
seven months ago the Coronet Theatre was<br />
opened by Alfred N. Sack of the Sack<br />
Amusement Enterprises. This house in its<br />
short history has shown French, German,<br />
English, Spanish, Yiddish, Swedish, Italian,<br />
Russian and Danish films.<br />
Opened as an experiment to learn if there<br />
existed a worthwhile market in the Dallas<br />
territory for art pictures, the Coronet has<br />
enjoyed solid patronage. Visitors come each<br />
week from Longview, Tyler, Denton, Arlington,<br />
Fort 'Worth, Hillsboro and other distant<br />
points. There is widespread interest in<br />
operatic films at the theatre. To date, nine<br />
operas or opera stories have been presented.<br />
They have been most widely attended, sharing<br />
near equal honors with the French<br />
"down-to-earth" films.<br />
Outside of the Coronet and Telenews, there<br />
are no other fuUtime art houses in the south,<br />
with the exception of the Peachtree Art in Atlanta.<br />
These types of attractions are shown<br />
at intervals at the River Oaks in Houston,<br />
the Variety in Austin, the Broadway in Galveston<br />
and the 25th Street in 'Waco. The<br />
Josephine, an independent house in San Antonio,<br />
has been playing musical and operatic<br />
films in recent months and the Poche In<br />
New Orleans divides its time between unusual<br />
films and roadshow attractions.<br />
Dan W. James Launches<br />
His Swank Persian Club<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Dan W. James, president<br />
of the James Hotel Co. and assistant<br />
chief barker of the Variety Club of Oklahoma,<br />
opened the swank Persian dine-anddance<br />
room in the .Skirvin hotel with an invitational<br />
formal-dress affair attended by local<br />
and visiting dignitaries.<br />
The room was con^ferted from the Silver<br />
Glade room where the Theatre Owners of<br />
Oklahoma has held its dances. John Carroll,<br />
Hollywood producer-actor: Glenn McCarthy,<br />
Houston oil and hotel man and film producer;<br />
Governor and Mrs. Turner and Mayor and<br />
Mrs. Allen Street were among those at the<br />
The James company operates the Skirvin.<br />
Skirvin Tower and Black hotels.<br />
Fashion Review Staged<br />
BRYAN, TEX.—A 30-minute style show was<br />
held on the stage of the Palace Theatre here<br />
in cooperation with a local department store.<br />
Burqlars Miss 51,000<br />
HOUSTON — The Stude. a neighborhood<br />
house, was broken into, according to D. L.<br />
Murray, manager, but the intruders passed<br />
up a safe containing more than $1,000.<br />
,11.1'<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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eissues<br />
fails to arrive, etc., and the program is<br />
changed at the last minute. But the programs<br />
are out, so the public finds out later.<br />
Except for addition of a section of seats<br />
and erection of light towers, work on the<br />
big east deck of the Cotton Bowl has been<br />
completed. Consulting Engineer Frank W.<br />
Chappell has promised that the last detail<br />
of the $470,000 Cotton Bowl improvement program<br />
will be finished by September 20, four<br />
days before Southern Methodist University<br />
plays Wake Forrest. The new deck will seat<br />
7,912 persons, boosting- the bowl's seating capacity<br />
to 75,347. Since SMU plays eight of<br />
their ten scheduled games at home this year,<br />
the hotels report they are booked .solid already<br />
and are appealing to the public for<br />
rooms for weekend guests during football<br />
season.<br />
Reissues Gross 150<br />
To Lead in Dallas<br />
DALLAS—Two W. C. Fields reissues,<br />
"The<br />
Bank Dick" and "My Little Chickadee,'<br />
topped the town with a score of 150 per cent<br />
at the Coronet. Second place honors went<br />
to "Africa Screams" with 110 at the Rialto.<br />
Others were normal or lower.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Capitol Jacare (FC); India Speaks (FC), reissues.. 70<br />
Coronet—The Bank Dick (Realart); My Little<br />
Chickadee (Realart) , 150<br />
Majestic—White Heat (WB) 100<br />
Melba—The Big Cat (EL) 95<br />
Palace— It's a Great Feeling (WB) 100<br />
Riaito—Africa Screams (UA) 110<br />
Telenews—The Purple Heart (20th-Fox), reissue.... 85<br />
Tower Top O' of the Morning (Para), 2nd d. t.<br />
wk 100<br />
Good Business for New Airer<br />
DUBLIN, TEX.—The newly opened Tower<br />
Drive-In is catching on with -residents of this<br />
area, report owners R. L. Roberts and W. C.<br />
Mauldin.<br />
Quik-Serv for<br />
Profits<br />
The flve-gaited show horse playing the role<br />
of Jubilee in the new Majestic film, "Sand,"<br />
is a Dallas product. His registered name is<br />
Sun's Red Shadow. His sire was Sun Beau<br />
and his dam Joanna Jean, two famous show<br />
horses owned by Cleo George of Dallas.<br />
Charlie Wise, general manager of the Phil<br />
Isley Theatres, has returned from a trip to<br />
California. This was his first flight. He<br />
went there to confer with Isley, who has<br />
spent the summer in California.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • «<br />
n B. MOMAND is<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
the head of a nucleus of<br />
an Allied States unit foi'med in Oklahoma<br />
City recently . . . Pat McGee, manager<br />
of the Capitol and Criterion in Oklahoma<br />
City, announces that Publix, which operates<br />
the two houses, will take over the Victoria.<br />
McGee will become manager of the Victoria<br />
and continue as director of the Criterion and<br />
Capitol.<br />
Fourth Dallas Airer Slated<br />
DALLAS—The Dallas suburbs will get their<br />
fourth new drive-in within 12 months. It<br />
will be a $100,000, 700-car layout on Highway<br />
67, a mile south of Garland. James McQuaid<br />
of Tyler and C. J. Leon of Dallas are owners.<br />
A private road will be built for the drive-in<br />
connecting Highway 67 and nearby Shiloh<br />
road so that cars may enter from either road,<br />
McQuaid said.<br />
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We install any Chair for anyone at any place.<br />
For information, write<br />
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Drive-In Radio Contest<br />
ODESSA, TEX.—Millard Jones, owner and<br />
general manager of the Cactus Drive-In, is<br />
running a Mystery Voice contest over radio<br />
station KECK here. Listener participation<br />
in the contest requires a blank obtainable<br />
only by persons attending the ozoner. Drawings<br />
are held weekly and the first prize is a<br />
$50 savings bond.<br />
Build at Raymondville<br />
RAYMONDVILLE, TEX.—R. N. Smith Theatres<br />
has begun work on a 600-car drlve-in<br />
south of the city limits. Among the featiu^es<br />
of the plant will be individual speakers and<br />
a snack bar.<br />
Pecos Eighth Anniversary<br />
FORT STOCKTON, TEX.—The Pecos Theatre<br />
obeserved its eighth birthday with a<br />
week of specially booked films, according to<br />
Manager G. C. Moses.<br />
D-l Model. Also available with ice cornpartment.<br />
Stainless steel. Other sizes.<br />
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BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 87
. . G.<br />
L<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
. .<br />
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daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Griffith of<br />
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Only MANLEY delivers<br />
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Angeles Rams triumphed over the New York<br />
Bulldogs here at Alamo stadium by a score<br />
of 21 to 14. Many of the Rams have played<br />
in motion pictures . . . WOAI's 570-foot TV<br />
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. . .<br />
Dudley Early is now conducting the Show<br />
World amusements column for the Austin<br />
American The leading first runs here<br />
for the week were "The Big Steal" at the<br />
Aztec and "Mighty Joe Young" at the Majestic<br />
. . . "Manhandled" had a three-day<br />
first run at the Texas.<br />
Gerard Ebeier has sold his Runge Theatre,<br />
Runge, to Rosa Willoughby. Ebeier plans to<br />
operate a drive-in, which will open shortly<br />
Don Donaldson, newly appointed sales<br />
. . .<br />
representative for Monogram now handling<br />
the San Antonio and south Texas territory,<br />
was in town meeting exhibitors.<br />
The Palace, Roysce City, which had been<br />
remodeled, was destroyed in a big downtown<br />
fire on Labor day, according to a press dispatch<br />
. . . Danny McCarthy is back in town<br />
from a successful swing through east Texas<br />
with his "Bob and Sal" roadshow picture<br />
which has been doing big business.<br />
O. C. Miller of Lubbock, new Paramount<br />
salesman for this territory, was here calling<br />
upon the trade . . . Pedro Infante,<br />
Mexican film star, who was injured in an<br />
airplane accident several months ago, has<br />
recovered and has been booked for midnight<br />
appearances here at the Alameda, National<br />
and Guadalupe September 17.<br />
Mrs. Sally Gomez, office secretary for<br />
Zaragoza Amusement Co., is enjoying a brief<br />
respite in Tampico, Mexico . J. Lucchesse<br />
is on the board of directors for the<br />
newly opened West Side State bank . . .<br />
Henry Diaz, former manager of the Guada-<br />
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lupe Teatro, now is in the insurance business.<br />
Ignacio Torres, general manager of Zaragoza<br />
Amusement Co., spent the Labor day<br />
holiday in Corpus Christi . . . Gustavo Lavenant<br />
of the Haydee, Dilley, was the only<br />
exhibitor to visit the exchanges during the<br />
week . . . Two first run pictures were showing<br />
at neighborhood houses—"Angel in Exile"<br />
was at the Hi-Ho, and "Holiday Camp" played<br />
the Josephine.<br />
Eph Charninsky, head of Southern Theatres,<br />
spent the weekend in Dallas on business<br />
. . . Gregory Salas, 56, was killed in an<br />
auto accident near Sweetwater while returning<br />
from Lubbock. His brother-in-law<br />
Alfred Pena is a local motion picture machine<br />
operator.<br />
Film Theatres for Adults<br />
Are Suggested by Critic<br />
HOUSTON—The division of motion picture<br />
theatres was offered as a solution by Hubert<br />
Roussel, drama critic of the Houston Post,<br />
to a charge by New York theatre pundit<br />
George Jean Nathan, who declared that films<br />
have been outgrown by the American public<br />
and that Hollywood is making no practical<br />
effort to appeal to the maturing dramalover.<br />
"What Nathan didn't bother himself to<br />
figure out," commented Roussel, "is exactly<br />
the method by which motion pictures could<br />
bring about the indicated adjustment. If it<br />
is true that the Hollywood drama in general<br />
is too innocuous and insulated against ideas<br />
for one developing part of the audience, it is<br />
even more true that any major revision of<br />
its content in the direction Nathan suggested<br />
would quickly baffle, incense and drive out<br />
of the playhouse a much larger and indispensable<br />
part of its clientele."<br />
Roussel went on to say that "the obvious<br />
answer to Hollywood's problem is a division<br />
of theatres.<br />
"Some of the public is undoubtedly weary<br />
of patterned and juvenile drama. By comparison<br />
with the general audience, this division<br />
is small, but its absence is felt. The<br />
sensible way to get it back is to set aside<br />
some of the cinema houses for adult drama,<br />
and then to furnish them steadily, not once<br />
in a while, with films matching in depth and<br />
variety of ideas any works to be found in<br />
the living theatre.<br />
"The larger tabernacles could again be<br />
given over exclusively to melodrama, Esther<br />
Williams and popcorn, and their audience<br />
would no longer be annoyed by occasional<br />
visits from strange and disturbing interlopers."<br />
First Motion Pictures in Atlanta<br />
Drew Scorn From Public in 1895<br />
From Southeast Edition<br />
ATLANTA—Atlanta had one of the first<br />
motion picture shows in the world and didn't<br />
like it. In fact the show did not draw a<br />
single patron during the first three days it<br />
was open at 25 cents a head. Now Atlanta<br />
motion picture patrons maintain 47 theatres.<br />
C. Francis Jenkins told the story of the<br />
first show here in the Satui-day Evening<br />
Post in 1929. The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce<br />
has a copy on file. Jenkins wrote<br />
about buying one of the first motion picture<br />
cameras and seeking a place to show "its<br />
amazing action to an astonished public."<br />
NOBODY CAME FOR 3<br />
DAYS<br />
"I found out that there was a place at the<br />
Cotton States exposition in Atlanta and wired<br />
for it," Jenkins related. "I was assigned a<br />
little green shack in the center of the exposition<br />
grounds." The site was on the present<br />
athletic field at Piedmont park.<br />
With only a few days in which to make<br />
pictures for the exposition, Jenkins called<br />
on Anna Bella, heroine of the "Black Crook,"<br />
for some serpentine and butterfly dances,<br />
and upon Carmencita, Broadway!s favorite,<br />
for some Spanish dances. He hastened to<br />
Niagara Falls for some action pictures of the<br />
falling waters as well as the spectators hustling<br />
around. Then he shot a scary picture<br />
of the Black Diamond Express hurtling by.<br />
"I put up a sign, 'Motion Pictures Inside, 25<br />
Cents,' and waited for my first customer,"<br />
Jenkins said, "but nobody came. A great<br />
many people stopped to read the sign then<br />
shook their heads and said it couldn't be.<br />
For two days I did not have a single patron.<br />
"On the third day the manager of the<br />
park came around to check up, and when he<br />
found that I had not taken in a cent, he<br />
ordered me out. I think he originated that<br />
expression, 'Go hire a hall.' I had to beg<br />
him to look at the show himself.<br />
"He told me that he wanted the building<br />
for a sort of rest and recreation center, and<br />
I could show my pictures if I wanted to do<br />
so free of charge. So we changed the sign to.<br />
'Come inside and rest and see motion pictures.'<br />
"<br />
GIVEN $15 IN DONATIONS<br />
On the first day of free exhibitions Jenkins<br />
received $15 in donations to help him develop<br />
his motion picture show. From day to day<br />
his crowds grew and the donations helped<br />
him in a substantial way.<br />
The Cotton States and International exposition<br />
was in 1895. By 1900 picture shows<br />
were beginning to spring up all over the country.<br />
Lieut. Jim Anderson, probably a Confederate<br />
veteran, opened the first picture<br />
theatre in Atlanta in 1900. It was on Peachtree<br />
street opposite the old Aragon hotel, on<br />
the present site of the Winecoff hotel.<br />
Atlanta people, however, did not take kindly<br />
to this show, either. Somebody got out an<br />
injunction complaining of the squeaky noise<br />
that came through a phonograph horn over<br />
the door. The city council protested that<br />
such a place, dark at that, would promote<br />
"too intimate wooing." That was before it<br />
was called "necking." So Lieutenant Anderson<br />
closed the show up.<br />
Later, O. D. Posey, Decatur businessman,<br />
opened the Elite on Peachtree street, and<br />
made about $40,000 out of it. Then William<br />
Oldknow built the old Alcazar and the development<br />
really started.<br />
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: 1;, '^ BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
89
Sound Stage Localion<br />
Sought by Joe Rock<br />
DALLAS—Joe Rock, Hollywood producer,<br />
is in Texas seeking a location for a sound<br />
stage to serve as an auxiliary to his Hollywood<br />
setup. He is known to have surveyed<br />
the old army buildings at Camp Wolters,<br />
Mineral Wells, and he has asked about the<br />
big exhibit halls at Fair Park between state<br />
fair seasons. Most of the previous rumors<br />
of film studios in Texas have been promotional<br />
in design. But Rock, who has been<br />
making fUms since 1916, is thinking along<br />
different lines.<br />
"Texas is a good location for outdoors,<br />
rural-type or frontier films," he says. "California<br />
has limitations. Arizona and New Mexico<br />
can only be Arizona and New Mexico. I<br />
can find outdoor spots anywhere within 300<br />
miles of Dallas that could be Texas, New<br />
England, Iowa or Czechoslovakia. Some sort<br />
of auxiliary sound stage around Dallas would<br />
be a practical investment, which I am prepared<br />
to make if I find anything suitable.<br />
When I wouldn't be using it I could rent it."<br />
Ordinarily film studios take companies on<br />
location for outdoors scenes or process actors<br />
against backgrounds filmed anywhere from<br />
Whitehall, London, to the streets of Dallas.<br />
Interiors are filmed in Hollywood studios.<br />
"But here's what happens," Rock went on.<br />
"Suppose we are on location in Texas. It<br />
rains or grows overcast. We have to lay<br />
around until the weather clears. We have<br />
outdoors weather trouble in Los Angeles, too.<br />
But on such days we can move indoors and<br />
shoot our interior scenes. This is an enormous<br />
saving in picture costs. In other words,<br />
we are making some sort of film, rain or<br />
shine. That's why I would like to have a<br />
big stage in Texas."<br />
He must come to Texas, he says, for at<br />
least 16 pictures. His first, which will start<br />
in a month or two, is called "Huntsville" and<br />
part of it will be filmed at the state penitentiary.<br />
The central idea is rehabilitation<br />
and the story is an original one by Garland<br />
R. Farmer of the Henderson, Tex., News.<br />
Broadcasts from the prison also figure.<br />
Chartered at Uvalde<br />
UVALDE, TEX.—Star Dust Drive-In has<br />
been granted a 50-year charter. Authorized<br />
capital stock was listed at $9,000. Incorporators:<br />
George D. FitzSimmons, J. C. Dunn<br />
and Robert D. Dunn.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY Bad Publicity Hurls<br />
pxhibitors here for an exhibitors meeting,<br />
conducted by Henry Wilcoxon, star of<br />
Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
included Mr. and Mi-s. Johnny Jones of<br />
Shawnee; W. F. Deaton and J. L. Kelley,<br />
Alva; Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Lord of Moore;<br />
A. D. Smith of Dawson; John M. Buffo,<br />
Hartshorne; L. Guthrie and Corley Guthrie,<br />
both of Wheeler, Tex.<br />
Others were Lamar Guthrie, Enid; C. B.<br />
Reeder, Ponca City; Mr. and Mrs. Robert<br />
L. Barton, Del City; M. H. DeFord, Anadarko;<br />
Barry King, Britton; Mr. and Mrs.<br />
John Gray, Chickasha; John Thomas, Kingfisher;<br />
D. V. Terry, Woodward; Wesley and<br />
LeRoy Hodges, Anadarko, and Roger Rice,<br />
Glen D. Thompson, Glen D. Thompson jr.,<br />
Cliff White jr., Frank McCabe, Roy Avey jr.,<br />
Richard King, John J. King, R. E. McFarland,<br />
A. B. McFarland, Reggie Pappas, Paul<br />
Rice, Sam Brunk and C. H. Buck Weaver,<br />
all<br />
of Oklahoma City.<br />
Ed BeUew joined the Henry Wilcoxon caravan<br />
here. He has joined Paramount in a<br />
pubhc relations capacity. He was with United<br />
Artists for 11 years, including three years<br />
he spent in the army. He was headquartered<br />
in St. Louis as field representative for UA.<br />
Jimmy Gillespie of 20th-Fox, Dallas, was<br />
in town . . . Morris Loewenstein, TOO president<br />
and TOA secretary, and his wife of<br />
Oklahoma City went to Los Angeles and<br />
. . . Film<br />
the TOA parley. Ditto for Charles Freeman<br />
of the Cooper Foundation here<br />
work on "The Rock Island Trail," a Republic<br />
picture which is being made at Haileyville<br />
near McAlester, has started. In the film are<br />
Grant Withers and Bruce Cabot. The filming<br />
is in color.<br />
Remodeled Queen Reopens<br />
MERKEL, TEX.—The Queen Theatre has<br />
reopened after undergoing a complete modernization<br />
job, making it, according to the<br />
weekly Merkel Mail, "the very finest little<br />
theatre in all west Texas."<br />
Manager N. T. Hodge said the improvements<br />
include a new concrete floor, new<br />
seats, a stepped-up air conditioning system,<br />
a new green tile front, a V-shaped marquee,<br />
and enlarged foyer.<br />
Warners Borrow Luther Davis<br />
Warners has borrowed Luther Davis from<br />
MGM to screenplay "A Lion Is in the Streets."<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
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THEATRE
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. . many<br />
'GWTW Demand Rises<br />
With Death of Author<br />
From Southeast Edition<br />
ATLANTA—"Gone With the Wind," which<br />
has grossed a phenomenal $38,000,000, as a<br />
film and has been among best sellers in<br />
literary form for more than 13 years, is shooting<br />
to new heights of popularity. Both the<br />
film and book are in greater demand now<br />
than at any time since the film was premiered<br />
here in December 1939. The death of<br />
author Mai^aret Mitchell after being struck<br />
down by an automobile has stimulated new<br />
interest in her story.<br />
All available copies of the book have been<br />
sold and Atlanta bookstores report they have<br />
himdreds of orders for the volume. At the<br />
same time, C. E. Kessnich, official of MGM,<br />
reported that theatres throughout the south<br />
are bidding for a showing of the fOm, but<br />
only a nominal number of prints now are in<br />
circulation. He said interest in the film has<br />
not waned one bit in its 10-year history and<br />
it has played to capacity audiences everywhere<br />
it has shown.<br />
Thousands of autos jammed evei-y artery<br />
leading to the Piedmont Drive-In recently<br />
when the film was shown. Walt Meyer, manager<br />
of the drive-in, said autos were "backed<br />
up for three miles in all directions" almost<br />
an hour before showtime.<br />
Kessnich said the picture probably would<br />
be taken out of service by the end of this year.<br />
At the same time, a number of theatres in<br />
this area are making plans for a memorial<br />
showing at which a number of Hollywood<br />
stars would appear. Funds from this showing<br />
would go to the Margaret Mitchell Memorial<br />
at Grady Memorial hospital.<br />
Theatre Manager Proves<br />
Good Ball Club Captain<br />
From Southeast Edition<br />
EUTAW, ALA.—Roth Hook, owner of<br />
several<br />
theatres in central Alabama, not only is<br />
a theatre manager. He's a baseball manager,<br />
too.<br />
Hook pUoted the Aliceville baseball team<br />
to a very successful season this year. His<br />
team was rated one of the best seen in this<br />
county since the Pickens County league after<br />
World War I.<br />
Now he's being urged to get into the Black<br />
Belt league next year.<br />
They tell some good stories on Hook. He<br />
lives theatres and baseball. Once during a<br />
game in Aliceville he started shelling peanuts,<br />
eating the hulls and throwing the nuts<br />
over his shoulder.<br />
On one other occasion, they say. Roth was<br />
lighting a cigar with his auto lighter. When<br />
he finished he shook the lighter well and<br />
threw it out the window. He didn't realize<br />
what he had done until he was five miles<br />
down the road.<br />
Visit San Antonio Office<br />
SAN ANTONIO—Recent visitors to the<br />
Interstate city office included Raymond B.<br />
Willie, Interstate assistant general manager,<br />
Dallas: Charles Freeman, Interstate vaudeville<br />
booker. New York, and Louis Charninsky,<br />
suburban theatre manager, Dallas.<br />
Television Actress in Debut<br />
Television actress Betty Root will make<br />
her screen debut in Monogram's "The Wolf<br />
Hunters."<br />
HOUSTON<br />
^ore than $30,000 was raised for<br />
the Hous-<br />
.<br />
ton Variety Club's boys home project at<br />
the two-night millinery festival at the Shamrock<br />
hotel. At the $25-a-plate events, hats<br />
were auctioned off by George Jessel and<br />
Hedda Hopper. Special guests included film<br />
actor John Carroll and singer Monica Lewis<br />
Holdovers were plentiful at local theatres.<br />
. .<br />
"Gunga Din" went into a second week<br />
at the River Oaks. "White Heat" went eight<br />
days at the Kirby after a crowded week at<br />
the Metropolitan. "In the Good Old Summertime"<br />
earned a four-day holdover at<br />
Loew's State. "The Girl From Jones Beach"<br />
started the trend earlier this month with a<br />
nine-day encore at the Kirby.<br />
First runs have been showing up more frequently<br />
at Houston's subsequent run houses.<br />
"Home in San Antone" played the Texan.<br />
"The Scar" bowed in at the Delman. "Frieda"<br />
was shown at the Uptown . . . Ross Vallone,<br />
manager of the Eastwood, recently returned<br />
from a Mexico City vacation and planned<br />
the staging of a show for back-to-school<br />
children<br />
. . . Anne Molesworth, assistant<br />
manager of the River Oaks, was back from<br />
her vacation, during which time she supervised<br />
a tonsillectomy for her son Charles jr.<br />
playing "Holiday" for a week, the<br />
River Oaks brought in "The Louisiana Story"<br />
which opened big. according to Art Meyer,<br />
manager.<br />
That smilinir ticket-taker at the Kiiby is<br />
Birdie Taylor . . . Charlie Evans of the Houston<br />
Chronicle is president of the newly formed<br />
Pi-ess club . . . Alvin Guggenheim, assistant<br />
manager of the Metropolitan, returned from<br />
a vacation<br />
. . . Henry Wilcoxon. beating the<br />
drums for "Samson and Delilah," visited here<br />
long enough to meet with several groups.<br />
Ray Hay, manager of the Kirby, was entertained<br />
by the Emmett brothers, Dickinson exhibitors,<br />
at a barbecue dinner .<br />
Cope.<br />
Houston writer, has a theatrical article in<br />
the October issue of Holland's magazine . . .<br />
Simon King, Houston projectionist, has gone<br />
to Jasper, Ala. . . . Paul Hochuli, drama<br />
critic of the Houston Press, has "retired" the<br />
uniform he wore as an extra in the Pine-<br />
Thomas film "The Eagle and the Hawk" . . .<br />
Con Brady, Interstate publicist, was back at<br />
work after a three-week vacation.<br />
Free Vaudeville Show<br />
Given for Handicapped<br />
DALLAS—A free vaudeville show was given<br />
Friday night (1) for handicapped persons<br />
who came in wheel chairs, on crutches, canes,<br />
stretchers and with Seeing-Eye dogs into<br />
Fair Park casino. Many had never seen a<br />
stage show before. The show started as an<br />
idea of Goodwill Industries, which employs<br />
150 handicapped men and women, and snowballed<br />
into a giant community project. Every<br />
handicapped person in Dallas county was<br />
invited. Free transportation was provided<br />
for all who asked. A sheriff's posse of 30<br />
cars hauled many of the guests, and Continental<br />
Ti-ailways donated a bus for the evening.<br />
Professional entertainers donated their talents<br />
to put on a topflight two-hour show.<br />
Title Role to Dorothy Patrick<br />
The title role in the Republic film, "Blonde<br />
Bandit," wiU be played by Dorothy Patrick.<br />
Autry Theatres Sale<br />
Reported in Dallas<br />
DALLAS—Negotiations are reported in<br />
progress for the sale of Gene Autry's four local<br />
theatres to Robb & Rowley Theatres.<br />
The four Autry theatres, the Cliff Queen,<br />
Kessler, Hill and Beckly, have been owned<br />
and operated by Autry, Lloyd Rust and Ed<br />
Blumenthal for the last three years. All<br />
papers should be complete by the end of the<br />
week and the report says that R&R is to take<br />
over on October 1.<br />
Deals also are reported in the making for<br />
the sale of the Lucas Theatre here to Alfred<br />
Sack. The Lucas, owned by L. R. Robertson,<br />
has been leased to Mon Witcher for a couple<br />
of years but no definite information has<br />
been secured as to when the sale deal is to<br />
be completed. Sack now owns the Coronet<br />
in Dallas and operates it on a foreign picture<br />
policy.<br />
R. L. Hall Quits as Manager<br />
Of Aztec at Van Alstyne<br />
VAN ALSTYNE, TEX.—R. L. "Ran" Hall<br />
has resigned as manager of the Aztec Theatre<br />
here to accept an administration position<br />
with the Sherman, Tex., school system.<br />
He will head a newly created public relations<br />
department. He has been at the Aztec, a<br />
Lutzer Brothers house, since September 1937.<br />
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BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
91
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92 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
100 Aiiend Goodwill<br />
Rally ai Hayii, Mo.<br />
HAYTI. MO.—More than 100 persons were<br />
guests of John Mohrstadt, local exhibitor, at<br />
a public relations gathering followed by a<br />
cafeteria luncheon recently at the Joy Theatre<br />
here. Mohr.stadt owns the Joy and Missouri<br />
theatres here and a drive-in on Route<br />
61 south of town. The first motion picture<br />
public relations gathering ever held in southeastern<br />
Missouri brought together men and<br />
women of all professions for a program designed<br />
to give them a better understanding<br />
of the film industry and its aims and objectives.<br />
Duke Clark, Paramount district manager<br />
in Dallas, told how the home town theatre<br />
was a part of the community, that the industry<br />
was a comparatively new one with only<br />
37 years to its credit, and that it deals in a<br />
highly perishable commodity saleable during<br />
only a brief span.<br />
Clark emphasized the theatre industry has<br />
made some mistakes, just as any other industry<br />
makes mistakes, but that motion picture<br />
workers had profited by them and are<br />
striving always to o;ive the public better pictures<br />
that would meet general approval.<br />
Among film executives present were L. W.<br />
McClintock, manager, and Tom Donahue,<br />
salesman. Paramount; Robert Bostick, National<br />
Theatre Supply Co., district manager;<br />
Nelson Towler, manager, and John Osbourne,<br />
salesman, Warners, all of Memphis. William<br />
Kroeger, manager of the Portageville<br />
Theatre, also attended.<br />
R. C. Cobb's Civic Projects<br />
Include Search for Barn<br />
FAYETTE, ALA.—R. C.<br />
Cobb, manager of<br />
the Richards Theatre here, is quite busy<br />
with civic promotions. As president of the<br />
Payette Chamber of Commerce, young Cobb<br />
is member of a committee to find a suitable<br />
site and raise necessary funds for a new livestock<br />
barn and facilities to serve Payette<br />
and adjacent counties.<br />
He also is a member of a committee to select<br />
Fayette county's representative in the<br />
statewide Maid of Cotton contest.<br />
Grand 25th Anniversary<br />
At Cartersville, Ga.<br />
CARTERSVILLE, GA.—The Grand Theatre<br />
here recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.<br />
The house was opened in 1924 with<br />
the first showing of "Wanderer in the Wasteland,"<br />
the first color film shown in the area.<br />
The house was built by Manning & Wink<br />
with A. R. Shoemaker as manager. Shoemaker<br />
now is in charge of all technical work<br />
for Martin Theatres in this district. Jesse<br />
L. Marlowe is manager of the Grand.<br />
William Elliott Named<br />
WAYCROSS, GA.—William T. Elliott of<br />
Macon has been named manager of the Ritz<br />
Theatre here by John Harrison, city manager<br />
for Georgia Theatres Co. In addition to<br />
managerial duties, Elliott also will be in<br />
charge of advertising and publicity for local<br />
theatres.<br />
Wedowee House<br />
Free Passes to<br />
WEDOWEE, ALA.—Passes are being awarded<br />
to persons whose names appear in the<br />
weekly newspaper ad of the Wedowee Theatre.<br />
Me'iselman Loses Round<br />
In Suit for First Runs<br />
Film Will Be Started<br />
In New Orleans Soon<br />
NEW ORLEANS—Plans to produce and direct<br />
a feature picture here, the title of which<br />
will be "Angry Waters," were announced last<br />
week by Rene Plaissetty, a native of this city.<br />
Plaissetty says that he will use local players<br />
in supporting roles, bit parts and as extras.<br />
The complete Picture will be filmed in and<br />
about New Orleans, natural settings being<br />
used wherever possible.<br />
Jeanne Cezane, Parisian actress, has been<br />
selected for the leading feminine role and<br />
will fly to New Orleans soon and a 16-man<br />
crew of technicians will arrive from Hollywood<br />
to begin shooting about October 25.<br />
Plans are to complete the feature in eight<br />
weeks. Plaissetty also said negotiations have<br />
been completed with Film Classics, for national<br />
distribution of the production. The<br />
story, which was written by Plaissetty, concerns<br />
a Parisian girl who comes to New Orleans<br />
just prior to World War II and falls<br />
in love with a naval officer, only to have<br />
the war bring dark complications into their<br />
lives. Plaissetty says .he has been in European<br />
film production for most of the past 27<br />
years and has directed for Pathe. Gaumont<br />
and Metro, having produced and directed<br />
some 266 pictures in France. England, and<br />
the United States.<br />
"Angry Waters" will be the second picture<br />
which Plaissetty has produced in New Orleans.<br />
A musical, "Chungking Follies," was<br />
made at the Municipal auditorium during<br />
the early stages of the recent war.<br />
John Norman Fendley Dies;<br />
Andalusia, Ala., Manager<br />
ANDALUSIA, ALA. — John Norman Fendley.<br />
41, manager of the Martin and Ritz theatres<br />
for the Martin circuit here, died of a<br />
heart attack in the Martin lobby. Fendley,<br />
a war veteran, was a civic leader in Andalusia,<br />
coming here three and a half years<br />
ago from the army. He was a veteran of 26<br />
years in theatre business. He joined the<br />
Martin circuit in 1940 after managing his own<br />
theatre at Marion, Ala. He was manager<br />
at Roanoke, Ala., when he joined the army.<br />
Survivors include his wife and son. Burial<br />
was in Oneonta, Ala.<br />
Successor to Fendley as Martin manager<br />
here is Norman "Boots" Adams. He was first<br />
manager when the circuit established a theatre<br />
here. He had been sei-ving as Martin<br />
manager in Americus, Ga. Adams has assumed<br />
his duties here. He had been serving<br />
as vacation relief for Duke Stalcup, Martin<br />
manager at Opelika.<br />
Ronald C. Chaney in Jail<br />
MEMPHIS—Ronald C. Chaney, sailor, who<br />
identified himself as the son of Lon Chaney<br />
jr., film star, pleaded guilty to attempted<br />
felony recently and was fined $10 and<br />
sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse. The<br />
state charged he and another sailor attempted<br />
to pawn an electric fan stolen from a hotel.<br />
CHARLOTTE—A request by H. B.<br />
Meiselman<br />
Theatres for an injunction to restrain<br />
seven distributors from licensing first run<br />
films to three Charlotte theatres has been<br />
dismissed by Federal Judge Wilson Warlick<br />
in the antitrust suit through which Meiselman<br />
hopes to attain first run product for his<br />
Center Theatre here<br />
Meiselman asked that three first runs be<br />
denied A pictures unless the Center also received<br />
them.<br />
This was the first ruling in the case since<br />
last March when Judge Warlick granted<br />
MGM a dismissal from the case on the<br />
grounds that its system of competitive bidding<br />
for product provided the Center with<br />
ample opportunity to secure first run films.<br />
Warlick, In the latest ruling, said it had<br />
not been proven that the defendants conspired<br />
to prevent the Center from obtaining<br />
first run films and added that there was "no<br />
evidence that the Sherman antitrust act has<br />
been violated."<br />
"It must be shown," he said, "that the defendants<br />
conspired as a group to prevent<br />
the Center from obtaining films before it<br />
can be termed a violation of the law." However,<br />
he added, it was up to a jury to decide<br />
whether such a violation existed.<br />
No date has been set for actual trial of<br />
the suit. The next step in the case, unless<br />
Meiselman decides to appeal to the circuit<br />
court of appeals, will be hearing of the main<br />
issues, primarily Meiselman's charge of conspiracy<br />
to prevent him from obtaining first<br />
run product.<br />
The next term of district court wiU be<br />
held next month. The calendar for this term<br />
has been completed, however, thus virtually<br />
precluding the possibility that the case will<br />
come up until the next term in April 1950.<br />
Meiselman, who operates a chain of theatres,<br />
filed the suit last December 7 and said<br />
that unless his theatre was able to obtain<br />
top-quality films it would be forced to close.<br />
He said that the Center had lost $10,000<br />
since its opening two months earlier and that<br />
he faced the loss of his entire $250,000 investment.<br />
The three theatres named in the suit are<br />
the Carolina, Imperial and Broadway, all<br />
controlled by H. P. Kincey interests. Distributor<br />
defendants are Warner Bros., RKO,<br />
Paramount, 20th-Fox, Universal, United Artists<br />
and Columbia.<br />
A. S. Clark Is Appointed<br />
Evergreen, Ala., Manager<br />
EVERGREEN, ALA.—A. S. Clark is new<br />
manager of the Pix Theatre here, succeeding<br />
Gene Raynor, who returned to his home in<br />
Fitzgerald, Ga., because of ill health. Clark,<br />
who has been with the Martin chain three<br />
years, comes to Evergreen from the Martin<br />
Theatre at Canton, Ga.<br />
Palmetto Theatre Leased<br />
PALMETTO, FLA.—Howard Smith of Orlando<br />
took possession of the Palmetto Theatre<br />
here September 1 after leasing the house<br />
from Mrs. Margaret King. Smith said no<br />
change would be made in personnel and that<br />
he would erect a new building later if patronage<br />
justifies it.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
SE<br />
93<br />
SfiH"
. . Robert<br />
. . Romola<br />
J<br />
'Morning' Grosses 110<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
1 LlCuQ 11 6W UricallS CcoU Lett, manager here for Screen GuUd,<br />
NEW ORLEANS—''Top O' the Morning" served on the newspaper committee for<br />
topped the town with 110 per cent at the Employ the Physically Handicapped week<br />
Joy. Other first runs were near normal. "In observance here Hardy, wife of<br />
.<br />
the Good Old Summertime" grossed 102" at Harry Hardy, district manager of Wilbythe<br />
State.<br />
Kincey Theatres here, has qualified for mem-<br />
(Average Is 100) bership in the Quarter Million Round Table<br />
Joy—Top O- the Morning (Poja) • 110<br />
^f Life Insurance Women, composed "^ of out-<br />
Orpheum—Roseanna McCoy (RKO) 98<br />
Saenger^whiie Heat (WB) 100 standmg life Underwriters.<br />
Slate—In the Good Old Summertime (MGM) 102<br />
_ , , „ ,.<br />
Charlie Picquet, operator of the Carolma<br />
Theatres in Southern Pines and Pinehmst,<br />
is recovering after an eye operation recently<br />
at Duke university. He had been ill since<br />
late May . Saxton, who has been<br />
'Rope of Sand' Grosses 112<br />
To Pace Atlanta<br />
ATLANTA — Cooler weather moved into<br />
Atlanta bringing better first run business<br />
with it. High point of the week was "Rope<br />
of Sand" at the Fox with 112 per cent.<br />
Fox—Rope of Sand (Para) 112<br />
Loew's Grand—In the Good Old Summertime<br />
(MGM), 2nd wk 110<br />
Paramount—Slattery's Hurricane (20th-Fox) 104<br />
Roxy—Top C the Morning (Para), 2nd d. t. wk.-.lOI<br />
New Screen at Stuart, Fla.<br />
STUART, FLA.—The Lyric has been<br />
equipped with a new radiant vinyl plastic<br />
screen. Manager Wayne R. Page is planning<br />
other equipment replacements.<br />
BLOWUPS<br />
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MIAMI, FLORIDA *<br />
Standard<br />
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PRE-FABRICATED STEEL<br />
SCREEN TOWERS<br />
connected with Exhibitors Service here for<br />
five years, has opened his own business, Saxton's<br />
Service, providing all theatre services<br />
except management.<br />
The Charlotte Theatre will reopen in about<br />
30 days following an extensive program of<br />
modernization. Eveiything but the four walls<br />
was torn down. T. A. Little and S. W. Graver,<br />
who will operate the theatre, said that new<br />
restrooms, lounging parlors, new seats, drapes,<br />
lighting fixtures and sound equipment will<br />
be installed. A new name also will be selected.<br />
Several members of the Theatre Owners of<br />
North and South Carolina attended the convention<br />
of Theatre Owners of America in Los<br />
Angeles: C. A. Holliday, Pentagon; J. W.<br />
Holatia, Aurora; Gary Caudell, Wallace; H. E.<br />
Wessinger, Lexington; Ben Strozier, Rock<br />
Hill; S. S. Stevenson- and wife, Rock Hill;<br />
George Carpenter and Verne Benfield, Valdese;<br />
H. E. Buchanan and wife, Hendersonville;<br />
Carl Bamford and wife, Asheville;<br />
Worth Stewart, Charlotte, and Robert Bryant<br />
and wife of Rock Hill.<br />
Supporting Roles in 'Six Gun Mesa'<br />
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Milburn Morante.<br />
><br />
Gael Sullivan to Talk<br />
At Carolinas Session<br />
CHARLOTTE—Gael Sullivan, executive director<br />
of the Theatre Owners of America,<br />
will speak at the get-together of the Theatre<br />
Owners Ass'n of North and South Carolina<br />
here October 23, 24. Sullivan's acceptance<br />
of the invitation was an'anged at a meeting<br />
of the program comjnittee last week, held in<br />
the office of Mrs. Walter Griffith, executive<br />
secretary.<br />
Sullivan is a lormer assistant postmaster<br />
general and also former chairman of the<br />
Democratic national committee. Mrs. Griffith<br />
said that Herman Levy, general counsel<br />
of the TOA, also will attend the meeting and<br />
other figures prominently identified with the<br />
motion picture industry will be invited.<br />
The meeting will be held in the Charlotte<br />
hotel and will be in lieu of the annual convention<br />
which formerly h^s been held the<br />
last of January and first part of February.<br />
Now no convention will be held until October<br />
1950 and officers elected at the past convention<br />
will serve until that time.<br />
Hank Heam is chairman of the program<br />
comm^ittee with Roy Smart, L. L. Theimer<br />
and Bob Bryant.<br />
Future of Gutted Theatre<br />
Undecided at Savannah<br />
SAVANNAH—No decision has been made<br />
on the future of the Savannah Theatre, local<br />
house owned by Fred G. Weis, which was<br />
gutted by fire twice early last year. Weis<br />
was conferring with his contractor Will H.<br />
Artley on the fate of the historic theatre,<br />
while the city council demanded immediate<br />
a'ction on the ruins, which it termed unsafe.<br />
It was believed that Weis would decide to<br />
rebuild the house with apartments on a second<br />
floor, but there was a possibility that<br />
the entire building wonld be razed. The theatre<br />
company obtained a city permit to close<br />
off sidewalks around the theatre with a fence<br />
to keep persons from approaching the standing<br />
walls.<br />
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Campaign for Election<br />
On Blue Law Question<br />
CARTERS'VILLE, GA. — A campaign to<br />
override Georgia's Sunday blue laws is<br />
growing in intensity here. An election was<br />
forced through a petition filed by J. L. Marlowe,<br />
manager of the two local Martin Theatres.<br />
A counter-petition was filed by the<br />
local Ministerial Assti.<br />
Both sides have stepped up their campaigns<br />
of advertising, letter writing and vote appealing.<br />
Marlowe has claimed in his ads that<br />
the vote also will affect Sunday entertainments<br />
such as baseball games and golf. However,<br />
City Attorney Colquitt Finley says the<br />
vote will affect only motion pictures.<br />
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ATLANTA, GA.<br />
75 Vance<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
1414 Cleveland<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
315 So. Church<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
Aid Drive for Handicapped<br />
CHARLOTTE—"The Stratton Story," the<br />
dramatic picture of the baseball pitcher who<br />
came back after losing a leg, was shown here<br />
recently as promotion for Employ the Physically<br />
Handicapped week. Manager A. B.<br />
Craver sent invitations to hundreds of employers,<br />
heads of civic organizations, and persons<br />
interested in aiding the handicapped to<br />
attend a special show at the Mabor Theatre.<br />
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94<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
E. H. Hays Named<br />
Atlanta SE Manager<br />
ATLANTA—John W. Mangham. president<br />
of Screen Guild Productions of Georgia and<br />
United Film Distributors,<br />
has appointed Edward<br />
H. Hays as his<br />
Atlanta manager, succeeding<br />
Kenneth R.<br />
Smith, who has resigned<br />
to becom.e advertising<br />
representative<br />
for radio station WFLA<br />
in Tampa, Fla.<br />
Hays has been engaged<br />
in motion picture<br />
distribution locally<br />
for the last 18<br />
Edward H. Hays<br />
yeai-s. Most of his experience<br />
was with United Artists as booker<br />
and later as office manager and salesman.<br />
For the last nine months Hays has covered<br />
the Tennessee, north Georgia and north<br />
Alabama territory for Screen Guild and<br />
United Film.<br />
Appointed to succeed him in the territory<br />
is Eddie Foster, who has 22 years experience<br />
as a film salesman. Foster started with Paramount,<br />
remained with that firm for eight<br />
years, then joined Columbia to remain there<br />
for about the same length of time. He then<br />
joined Republic and recently resigned from<br />
that company to manage a drive-in in Knoxville,<br />
Tenn., in which he was financially interested.<br />
Lynn Dunn, who formerly represented United<br />
Artists and RKO for some ten years,<br />
has joined Screen Guild and United Film<br />
to represent them in south Georgia, southeast<br />
Alabama and Florida. Dunn more recently<br />
has been manager of the theatre in<br />
Sylvania, Ga., and formerly was buyer-booker<br />
and general manager for the Dixie Amusement<br />
Co., Swainsboro, Ga.<br />
Raymond Edwards will continue to cover<br />
the middle Georgia and middle Alabama zone<br />
for the firms.<br />
In making the personnel changes, Mangham<br />
said that his interests in Western Adventure<br />
Productions and in Western Adventure<br />
Pictures, together with his other interests,<br />
were consuming such a large portion<br />
of his time that it was necessary to delegate a<br />
major part of the responsibility and supervision<br />
of the Atlanta office to Hays. Mangham<br />
has been in distribution in this area<br />
for 30 years. Screen Guild and United Film<br />
are two separate organizations. Screen Guild<br />
distributes first run product, primarily, while<br />
United Film handles rereleases. Both corporations<br />
are handled by the same sales force<br />
and office organization.<br />
Brighton. Ala., Fox Sold<br />
To Birmingham Couple<br />
BRIGHTON, ALA.—The Fox Theatre here<br />
has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. J. L.<br />
Phillips of Birmingham from Moore and<br />
Stripling. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips took over<br />
the 300-seat house in July and one of the<br />
former owners, Herbert Moore, remained<br />
with them until September 10 to assist in the<br />
management. The new owners have made<br />
some minor improvements.<br />
George Callahan Is scripting RKO's "Bunco<br />
Squad" for Producer Lewis Rachmil.<br />
Showman Rings Doorbells to Study<br />
Desires of Patrons First Hand<br />
MIAMI—John L. Griffin, manager of<br />
Claughton's Royal Theatre in downtown<br />
Miami, is one manager who is not content<br />
to study patron reaction with an eye to boosting<br />
attendance only from the confines of his<br />
theatre.<br />
Griffin, in an effort to provide, and keep<br />
providing, the kind of pictures and the sort<br />
of sei-vice that Royal theatregoers appreciate,<br />
went out and rang doorbells and got his opinions<br />
right from the source. He made a fiveday<br />
house-to-house canvass, choosing as typical<br />
a neighborhood as possible, and asking<br />
direct questions of Mr. and Mrs. Miami. He<br />
did not overlook the juvenile trade, either,<br />
but canvassed a couple of playgrounds and<br />
talked to the kids.<br />
Griffin's findings made an interesting study.<br />
This enterprising and original approach fired<br />
the imagination of Edward N. Claughton,<br />
owner of many theatres and widely known<br />
in show business, and it was at Claughton's<br />
suggestion that a large display easel appeared<br />
in the Royal's street lobby.<br />
65% WANT MUSICALS<br />
The result was Griffin prepared a poster,<br />
titled "I Run a Movie," and set it up on an<br />
easel which was easily seen by all patrons<br />
and passersby.<br />
Griffin said that in making his canvass<br />
he was prepared for all kinds of receptions.<br />
"People were more surprised than anything<br />
else," Griffin discovered. They seemed to<br />
find it hard to believe that it was actually<br />
the manager of the Royal Theatre who had<br />
taken the trouble to call in person. Some<br />
were frank to state they 'didn't think a<br />
manager would do that."<br />
As soon, however, as they realized the situation,<br />
practically everyone was cooperative<br />
and cordial. Griffin talked mostly, of course,<br />
to women, though he found that the men<br />
he happened to find at home went out of<br />
their way to help him. One man was so<br />
pleased at Griffin's attention that he took<br />
him around the neighborhood and introduced<br />
him to friends.<br />
To Griffin's query as to what type of pictures<br />
brought them into the theatre, about 65<br />
per cent said musicals; 30 per cent preferred<br />
drama and adventure, and the balance was<br />
a tossup among westerns and other types.<br />
Many people named the films they would<br />
go to the Royal to see, some of which already<br />
had been shown there.<br />
CHILDREN SPEAK UP<br />
Asked what were the most outstanding impressions<br />
which he got from his survey. Griffin<br />
said he came away with two impressions:<br />
People are not going to movies because<br />
"stories aren't good enough." Films do not<br />
have strong enough plots to hold the interest<br />
of the viewer. Griffin was given as an example<br />
the titles of several recent pictures in<br />
which well-known stars appeared, but the<br />
story on which the star's performance himg<br />
was too slight and the patron came away<br />
unsatisfied.<br />
"Not enough variety" was the second outstanding<br />
criticism. Most people, having seen<br />
a musical, for instance, were then in the<br />
mood for something else—drama perhaps. But<br />
the entire Miami area, they complained,<br />
seemed either to be flooded with musicals<br />
or with heavy drama, or with some particu-<br />
'I AM A MANAGER'<br />
I<br />
Following a five-day doorbell-riiiging<br />
canvass of a typical Miami, Fla.,<br />
neighborhood. Manager John Grijiin<br />
of the Royal Theatre wrote the following<br />
and displayed it prominently on<br />
a lobby poster.<br />
RUN A MOVE<br />
The movie fan is my bread and butter,<br />
God bless 'em, wish there were<br />
more of them. The movies are a large<br />
part of my life—and I love it. The<br />
movies, to my patrons, is the place to<br />
go for laughs, tears, excitement, action,<br />
escape from boredom, even education—it<br />
all adds up to entertainment.<br />
I<br />
RUN A MOVE<br />
Each day I hope the people who visit<br />
my theatre are made a little happier by<br />
what I have been able to bring them.<br />
In their dreams or visions they are playing<br />
the parts my screen brings to them..<br />
They see the glamor of Hollywood and<br />
its stars, also adventure, travel and<br />
experiences that Ihey would not have<br />
in a lifetime, all because . . .<br />
I<br />
RUN A MOVE<br />
I have seen kids look at me, not as<br />
a businessman who sells popcorn,<br />
candy and tickets, but as a man who<br />
opens the door to their little minds.<br />
They see me as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry,<br />
Donald Duck, Dumbo, Bambi, maybe<br />
Trigger—whatever their little hearts<br />
desire. They cheer the cowboy, they<br />
shoot the villain, they laugh, they cry,<br />
all because . . .<br />
I<br />
RUN A MOVE<br />
And when people make a special<br />
fort to tell me how much they enjoyed<br />
the program, I know then, I have done<br />
a good job and I am then proud, because<br />
. . .<br />
I<br />
RUN A MOVE<br />
JOHN L.<br />
GRIFFIN.<br />
lar type of fUm. The patron stayed home<br />
as a result untU movie fare offered a change.<br />
Griffin had a wonderful time talking to<br />
the children. They were free with their<br />
opinions and wanted to be helpful. Mostly<br />
they seemed to run to cowboy and adventure<br />
pictures. Much interest, however, was shown<br />
in a teen-age musical type. As an experiment<br />
along these suggested lines. Griffin tried<br />
a double-bill, teaming "A Date With Judy"<br />
and "Daniel Boone." He was rewarded with<br />
a big house. "Luxury Liner" is booked for<br />
a future showing.<br />
Griffin feels that the juvenile trade should<br />
receive serious attention as well as adult.<br />
He<br />
believes that service to the small fry is service<br />
to their parents, and if he is to run a<br />
theatre along popular and successful lines<br />
he must go after the goodwill of the whole<br />
family.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949<br />
95
. . Francis<br />
Theatre Loss Is Slight<br />
In Florida Hurricane<br />
CORAL GABLES, FLA.—Reports from<br />
various parts of the state indicate that while<br />
some theatres were damaged by the hurricane<br />
which recently swept across the peninsula<br />
loss generally was not large. Considering<br />
the many drive-in theatres which have been<br />
built in Florida, damage to the various outdoor<br />
projects also was relatively slight.<br />
The outdoor theatre on the Auburndale<br />
road near Winter Haven was heavily damaged,<br />
the screen tower and the fence surrounding<br />
the theatre having been swept away.<br />
The roof of the new Auburn Theatre at Auburndale<br />
was damaged by water, but operation<br />
was resumed when power lines were<br />
restored. The Ace Theatre in Auburndale<br />
for Negro patrons was slightly damaged.<br />
The screen tower of the drive-in theatre<br />
between Clearwater and Largo was blown<br />
down, and the ticket office was demolished.<br />
Poncing also was blown away. The roof of<br />
the new Palms Theatre now nearing completion<br />
in West Palm Beach was blown off<br />
by the high winds.<br />
R. M. Daugherty Is Named<br />
Jacksonville Manager<br />
TAMPA—Florida State Theatres has transferred<br />
R. M. Daugherty, manager in the<br />
Tampa area, to Jacksonville, to become manager<br />
of theatres there. Replacing Daugherty<br />
in Tampa is Walter B. Lloyd who comes to<br />
Florida from Hartford, Conn.<br />
Florida State dominates the Tampa and<br />
Jacksonville area, v.ith seven houses here<br />
and ten in Jacksonville.<br />
Operate Lake City Carver<br />
LAKE CITY, FLA.—The Carver Theatre<br />
here is being operated by Floyd C. Hassler<br />
and Rogers A. Getford. All-Negro films and<br />
stage shows will be featured. The building<br />
is of modern brick construction. Since its<br />
recent opening, the theatre has met with<br />
great success. Getford has long operated<br />
Negro theatres successfully in Florida.<br />
Nick Marlenis Manager<br />
ST. PETERSBURG — Nicholas Marlenis,<br />
Tarpoon Springs, has been named manager<br />
of the Gulf Winds Drive-In, at which George<br />
Mitcheley, Austin, Tex., has been acting<br />
manager for the last six months. P. Mc-<br />
Whirter, Clearwater, owner of the drive-in,<br />
plans improvements at the ozoner to be<br />
started sometime this month.<br />
BIRMINGHAM<br />
p M. Kennedy, district manager for Wilby-<br />
Kinoey Theatres, has been a busy traveler<br />
these days. After a week in New York City<br />
on a business trip, Kennedy returned for a<br />
two-day visit, then left for the TOA convention<br />
in Los Angeles . Falkenburg,<br />
Alabama manager, and his wife accompanied<br />
Miss Alabama (Frieda Roser)<br />
to Atlantic City for the Miss America contest.<br />
Mrs. Betty Crum, secretary to R. M. Kennedy,<br />
has returned from a vacation in Memphis<br />
. . . Charles Mizelle, Wilby-Kincey auditor,<br />
was making his rounds in the city . . .<br />
Two projectionists were back after a long<br />
siege of illness. They are N. A, Kriel, Ritz,<br />
and S. W. Whatley, Ensley.<br />
Bill Coury, Ritz manager, won quite a<br />
spread on the visit of Charles Coburn, plugging<br />
"The Gal Who Took the West." Coburn<br />
was accompanied here by Phil Garrard, U-I,<br />
New York City, and Al Burke, U-I publicist<br />
from Atlanta. Coury planted a two-column<br />
picture of Coburn on page one of the Birmingham<br />
News, showing the star visiting<br />
children's hospital . . . W. H. Harper, Galax<br />
projectionist, is back from a Mobile vacation<br />
and S. T. Gaston, Woodlawn, is back<br />
after two months in Miami with his family.<br />
John W. Geiger died recently in Atlanta.<br />
He was the husband of Mrs. MUdred Geiger,<br />
former secretary to Prank V. Merritt, general<br />
manager of Acme Theatres. Mrs. Bessie Curl,<br />
wife of Harry M. Curl, general manager for<br />
Commimity Theatres here, accompanied the<br />
body from Atlanta to Mimcie, Ind., for burial.<br />
Curl, who was in Atlanta on business, brought<br />
his wife back to Birmingham .<br />
Douglas, assistant<br />
. . John<br />
general manager of<br />
W.<br />
Acme<br />
Theatres, has returned from vacation.<br />
Dale M. Riley, sales promotion manager<br />
of Motion Picture Advertising Service, New<br />
Orleans, spoke at a meeting of the Birmingham<br />
Advertising club . . . Ralph Root jr.,<br />
who will graduate from Georgia Tech in December,<br />
visited his parents after taking a<br />
State department examination. He is a son<br />
of Ralph A. Root, business manager for the<br />
MPMO Local. Root's daughter, Mrs. Gloria<br />
Savoldi, visited here on her way back to her<br />
home in Deland, Fla.<br />
J. A. Jackson, former manager of the Empire,<br />
is booking an October 1 opening for his<br />
new drive-in near Clanton. Jackson, here for<br />
a visit, said that it had been reported that<br />
he was associated with a theatre circuit in<br />
Birmingham. He named, however, as his associates.<br />
Dr. W. P. Wilson and Mrs. Myrtle<br />
H. Wilson, both of Chilton county . . . Bob<br />
Tarwater, EL manager, Atlanta, was a visitor.<br />
. . . Charles<br />
Lewis Worthington, manager of Auto Movies<br />
No. 1 on the Bessemer Super highway,<br />
and his wife have returned from an Atlanta<br />
visit . . . Jimmy Trent, Five Points projectionist,<br />
is returning September 26 to resume<br />
his studies at Georgia Tech<br />
Pike, Melba projectionist, was off to California<br />
for a two weeks' vacation . . Ralph<br />
.<br />
Walker, projectionist at the Gary in Fairfield,<br />
Ala., will be married to Elaine Amason<br />
September 25.<br />
. . .<br />
C. H. Copeland, Neely Theatre, Oneonta,<br />
and B. Ward Wright of Wright Theatres,<br />
Gadsden, were among exhibitors visiting here<br />
Don Waters, managers of Waters' Roebuck<br />
Drive-In, returned from his vacation<br />
. . . Back-to-school parties were held by<br />
Penney's store at the Ensley Theatre and the<br />
Palace. The store awarded free tickets . . .<br />
Barbara Jean Stracener is new cashier at<br />
the Galax. She replaces Irene Levette.<br />
IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS;<br />
SPEAKER POSTS<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
"k.c',"mT'<br />
SERIALS<br />
2—Thrill Serials Ready to Book<br />
WESTERNS<br />
52—^Western Releases Every Year<br />
FEATURES<br />
52—Big Star Features<br />
Send for Our New List of Pictures<br />
W. M. HICHAHDSON. ASTOH PICTUHES CO.<br />
OF GA., INC.<br />
163 Walton St. Atlanta 3. Ga. Main 9845<br />
R. A. (BOB) KELLY, DIXIE FILMS, INC.<br />
218 S. Liberty St. New Orleans 13. La.<br />
Magnolia 5812<br />
JENKINS 4 BOURGEOIS, ASTOH PICTUHES CO.<br />
HoTwood & lackson Sts. Dallos 1, Tex.<br />
Prospect 7-2408<br />
96 BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
. . Miamians<br />
-'SiinDe.<br />
'''<br />
'akiii<br />
a<br />
'' ^ a son<br />
'--^ 13! If<br />
•Blilliwi<br />
Educational Value<br />
Seen in Most Films<br />
MIAMI— "Just What part motion pictures<br />
should play in education is perhaps more a<br />
matter of discrimination than of opinion,"<br />
according to an article written by Dick Lowe<br />
and published in a recent Sunday Miami<br />
Daily News on a page devoted to news of<br />
school children. "For in many high schools<br />
and universities, films, in one form or another,<br />
have become an accepted part of the<br />
curriculum, just as in the armed services<br />
the movie was found to be an invaluable<br />
training aid.<br />
"But these were mostly specially produced<br />
films, of no value except for their specific<br />
purpose. A more interesting question is:<br />
Does the ordinary, run-of-the-mill film have<br />
any educational value? Prom this stems another<br />
question: Should the average film be<br />
produced with education in mind?<br />
"My answer to the first question is simple<br />
and emphatic. It is yes. Most fUms are<br />
produced with careful attention to detail,<br />
especially with regard to modes of dress,<br />
habits of life in period pictures, and the use<br />
of special machinery or techniques in crime<br />
dramas, outdoor adventures and the like.<br />
"How many of us today have a pretty good<br />
idea of how a cowboy goes about roping a<br />
steer, for instance, or of how the FBI tracks<br />
down a kidnapper or a bank robber?<br />
"Whether we ever intend to do these things<br />
ourselves is unimportant, for every bit of<br />
knowledge which seeps into our brains, and<br />
sticks, makes the brain a more malleable and<br />
useful instrument for everyday use. Like<br />
muscles, the brain needs exercise to stay in<br />
top form.<br />
"But whether film should be produced as<br />
a medium of education is another matter.<br />
Here opinion enters the picture. One producer<br />
might feel that young people should<br />
be taught a certain thing, another might<br />
feel this unsuitable.<br />
"Matters of religion and morals would come<br />
in for considerable rough treatment if the<br />
fUms attempted to educate people about them<br />
under the guise o^ntertainment. Except for<br />
the maintenance of a general high moral<br />
tone, films should confine themselves to matters<br />
of fact and leave the matters of opinion<br />
up to the individual.<br />
"Opinions are, after all, formed correctly<br />
only when a person is in possession of the<br />
salient facts. If the facts are presented impartially<br />
and accurately, the indivdual then<br />
has a fair chance ot arriving at a proper<br />
conclusion."<br />
MIAMI<br />
. . .<br />
. . . Bill Brandt of the<br />
John H. Auer, associate producer-director for<br />
Republic, left here on his way to Buenos<br />
Aires to make arrangements for completing<br />
"The Avengers" The first run house,<br />
Sheridan, in Miami Beach is playing "Gone<br />
With the Wind"<br />
Brandt circuit and Lee Shubert of the legitimate<br />
theatre dynasty are mentioned by<br />
George Bourke as representing the B&S syndicate<br />
rumored to be bidding for the currently<br />
defunct Copa City, a fabulous showplace<br />
designed by Norman Bel Geddes. which<br />
opened here last season.<br />
Color motion pictures of the Mayan ruins<br />
in Yucatan, Mexico, were the feature of the<br />
first fall meeting of the Miami Movie Makers.<br />
Also shown were two national prize-winning<br />
films from the Amateur Cinema league.<br />
Miami Movie Makers members filmed the<br />
.<br />
Yucatan pictures while on a recent trip there<br />
Lou Marks, manager of a local club,<br />
.<br />
is<br />
.<br />
one of Mack Sennett's original Keystone<br />
Kops . named Hatfield or Mc-<br />
Coy were invited to attend the opening of<br />
"Roseanna McCoy" at Paramount's Florida<br />
and Cinema theatres.<br />
. . .<br />
Ryt Hassan D'Suesse is resigning as manager<br />
of the Colony Theatre, reputedly to<br />
undertake a project which will bring some<br />
"really fabulous premieres" to the Miami area<br />
Wometco now bills its Boulevard Drivein<br />
as "America's Finest, Most Beautiful<br />
Drive-In Theatre" . . . The S. Gordon Spradleys<br />
became parents of a baby girl. He is<br />
the manager of Wometco's Capitol . . . George<br />
Hoover, Paramount general manager here, is<br />
responsible for bringing the popular Freddie<br />
Calo, rumba pianist, to the Olympia. Hoover<br />
spotted him in a Havana club. Now Calo<br />
plays at two night spots here.<br />
Hammond Ritz Lease Denied<br />
LAFAYETTE, LA.—Gilbert Romero of<br />
the<br />
McComb Theatre here has not leased the<br />
Ritz Theatre at Hammond, La., as recently<br />
reported in the trade press.<br />
20% MORE LIGHT<br />
and BETTER VISION from<br />
EVERY SEAT!<br />
'Bovary' Listed as Best<br />
By Jacksonville Group<br />
JACKSONVILLE — The Motion Picture<br />
Council of Jack.sonville at its monthly meeting<br />
in the Seminole hotel made its selection<br />
of the outstanding films to be shown<br />
in Jacksonville during the month. The selection<br />
was made from a list of advance attractions<br />
furnished by local theatre managers.<br />
"Madame Bovary" was picked as the best,<br />
with "Come to the Stable," "House of Strangers"<br />
and "It's a Great Feeling" also in the<br />
desirable list.<br />
Car Crashes Into Theatre<br />
GADSDEN, ALA — An intoxicated driver<br />
caused minor damage at the Coosa Theatre<br />
here, when his car crashed into the front<br />
of the theatre after ramming a utility pole.<br />
Both the driver and a passenger were treated<br />
for minor injuries.<br />
T. R. Parish Is Manager<br />
CLAYTON, ALA.—New manager of the<br />
Clayton Theatre is T. R. Parish of Clayton.<br />
He succeeds Thomas Ventress. Parish was<br />
in the drug business a nimiber of years and<br />
more recently was connected with the Clayton<br />
Banking Co.<br />
Repairs Hurricane Damage<br />
AUBURNDALE, FLA.—Grant Raulerson,<br />
manager, is supervising repairs at the drivein<br />
theatre here, badly damaged by the recent<br />
hurricane.<br />
Madison Theatre Sold<br />
MADISON, FLA.—Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Owens<br />
sold the Greenville Theatre to Ernest Handley<br />
and E, B. Jones.<br />
To Vote in Spruce Pine, N. C.<br />
SPRUCE PINE, N. C—An election to determine<br />
whether or not voters want motion pictures<br />
shown here on Sundays is scheduled<br />
for September 20.<br />
AMERICAN DESK<br />
MANUFACTURING COMPANY<br />
Manuiacturers of Theatre Seating<br />
Mr. W. A. Prewitt, Jr.. 223 South Liberty St.<br />
New Orleans. La. Ph: Magnolia 6571<br />
"A FRIENDLY<br />
EXHIBITOR<br />
SERVICE<br />
JIMMY WILSON<br />
WILSON-MOORE ENT., INC.<br />
89 Cone S(. Atlanta<br />
'<br />
CYCWMIC<br />
The FIRST<br />
Major Screen<br />
Improvement in<br />
30 Years!<br />
Custom Screen<br />
*Patent applied for<br />
Perfect Soond<br />
TransinissiOD • Elinisation<br />
ol Btckstage Reverberatkin • Perfect VIsien in Front<br />
Rows<br />
tetter Side Vision<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN.<br />
THE MAGIC SCREEN OF<br />
THE FUTURE NOW!<br />
Inc.<br />
714 N. E. First Avenue Miami, Florida<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
97
. . . Fox<br />
. . Mr.<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
Premiere of 'Dust'<br />
llmong those from Memphis and nearby<br />
cities attending the TOA convention at<br />
Los Angeles were Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Lightman<br />
sr., Malco Theatres, Memphis: Mr. and<br />
Mrs. W. F. Ruff in, sr., Covington: Mr. and<br />
Mrs. L. A. Weaver, Airways, Memphis: Henry<br />
Haven, Forrest City, Arlc., and R. L. Bostick,<br />
National Theatre Supply Co., Memphis . . .<br />
It's<br />
New!<br />
It's Beautiful!<br />
It's<br />
Comfortable!<br />
It's<br />
Economical!<br />
Spring Edge Seots .. Face Padded Backs<br />
Cast Iron Standards .. Ball Bearing Hinges<br />
For complete information write:<br />
SOUTHERN DESK COMPANY<br />
Theatre Seating<br />
Division<br />
P. 0. Box 630 HICKORY, N. C.<br />
98<br />
MONARCH<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY, Inc.<br />
Neil Blount<br />
492 So. Second St.<br />
Memphis. Tenn.<br />
NOW DISTRIBUTING<br />
EXCLUSIVELY<br />
lorrhmne<br />
CHRBONS<br />
In Memphis Film Area<br />
V/rite for trial trim — Sfote size.<br />
TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
318 So. Second St.<br />
Memphis, Tenn.<br />
1<br />
W. R. Scruggs, RKO head shipper, and his<br />
wife, secretary there, were on vacation.<br />
N. B. Blount, manager of the Monarch<br />
Theatre Supply Co., was on a trip through<br />
sections of Tennessee . . . J. B. McGovern,<br />
auditor, was working at Paramount . . . Mrs.<br />
Margaret Jones of Los Angeles, former cashier<br />
at 20th-Fox, visited the exchange here<br />
Family club held a wiener roa.st at<br />
Riverside park . and Mrs. Bonnie Mc-<br />
Carley were vacationing from 20th-Fox. Mc-<br />
Caxley is a salesman there and his wife is a<br />
booker. They are visiting in the Smoky<br />
mountains and Blue Ridge mountains in<br />
Tennessee and Virginia.<br />
. .<br />
W. C. Kroeger, Shannon and Maxon, Portageville;<br />
James W. Seay, Grand at Cardwell<br />
and Arbyrd, and J. C. Mohrstadt, Joy and<br />
Missouri, Hayti. were among Missouri exhibitors<br />
on Filmrow Two sets of brothers<br />
who are exhibitors were among visitors. They<br />
are Burris and Henley Smith, Imperial, Pocahontas,<br />
Ark., and Fred and Zell Jaynes, Joy,<br />
West Memphis.<br />
Arkansas exhibitors seen on Filmrow included<br />
Willis Houch, Joy, Magnolia; Benny<br />
Hugger, Clinton, Clinton; Harold Jemison,<br />
Liberty, North Little Rock, and Airway, Little<br />
Rock; Horace Stanley, Radio, Bebee;<br />
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Spicer, 71 Drive-In,<br />
Ft. Smith; Don Landers, Radio, Harrisburg;<br />
J. R. Keller, Joiner, Joiner; E. J. Smith, Victory,<br />
Altheimer; C. W. Tipton, Tipton circuit,<br />
Manila; W. C. Sumpter, Cotton Bowl, Le-<br />
Panto; Roy Bolick, Kaiser, Kaiser: W. R.<br />
Lee, Rice, Des Arc, and Gem and New, Heber<br />
Springs, and Moses Sliman, Murr, Osceola,<br />
and Lux, Luxora.<br />
From Mississippi cajne Fitz Farris, Harlem,<br />
Clarksdale; J. M. Mounger, Mart, Calhoun<br />
City; J. C. Bonds, Von, Hernando;<br />
Jack Watson, Palace, Tunice, and W. R. Tutt,<br />
Savoy, Tunica . . . M. E. Rice jr.. Rice, Brownsville;<br />
Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; J. L. Denning,<br />
YMCA, Bemis; J. A. Petty, Wayne,<br />
Waynesboro; W. T. Willis, Munford, Munford;<br />
Onie and Amelia Ellis, Mason, Mason, and<br />
Harry Shaw and Aubrey Webb, Webb, Ripley,<br />
were here from Tennessee cities.<br />
Charles Coburn Appears<br />
In Charlotte for 'Gal'<br />
CHARLOTTE—Charles Coburn, the motion<br />
picture character actor, was here last week<br />
in behalf of the October 18 world premiere of<br />
"The Gal Who Took the West." Coburn<br />
made several personal and radio appearances<br />
in the city and also spoke from the stage of<br />
the Imperial Theatre where the picture will<br />
open. The Imperial was one of the 500<br />
southern theatres selected for the day-anddate<br />
premiere.<br />
Coburn's visit followed closely that of Patricia<br />
Alphin, film starlet, also here in connection<br />
with the picture.<br />
Receipts Off 5.3 Per Cent<br />
BIRMINGHAM—Theatre receipts in Alabama<br />
were down 5.3 per cent in June as compared<br />
with May, according to the University<br />
of Alabama's bm'eau of business research. In<br />
comparison with the same month a year ago,<br />
June receipts in Alabama theatres were off<br />
1.9 per cent.<br />
Set for October 11<br />
OXFORD, MISS.—The world premiere of<br />
"Intruder in the Dust," the motion picture<br />
based on the novel by William Faulkner of<br />
Oxford, Miss., has been set for October 11 at<br />
the Lyric Theatre there by MGM. The premiere<br />
date was disclosed the day after the<br />
Memphis board of censors unanimously approved<br />
the picture for showing on local<br />
screens.<br />
The day following the Oxford premiere the<br />
pictiu'e will open at Loew's theatres here and<br />
in Nashville. On succeeding days of the same<br />
week, it will open in from 50 to 55 theatres<br />
in the Memphis trade territory. The picture<br />
was filmed near Oxford last spring.<br />
Clarence Brown, director of the pictiu'e and<br />
a graduate of Tennessee university, will attend<br />
the Oxford premiere, according to Emery<br />
Austin, MGM publicity director. Claude Jarman<br />
jr., star of the film and a native of<br />
Nashville, will be present if he has completed<br />
Nashville, Chattanooga, Little Rock and<br />
work on a current film. Both are expected<br />
to be in Memphis later.<br />
Critics from Atlanta, Birmingham, Knoxville,<br />
other cities will attend the premiere. The<br />
governors of Mississippi and adjoining states<br />
have been invited to be special guests. The<br />
Lyric at Oxford is owned and operated by<br />
Bob Williams, who is mayor there.<br />
"Intruder in the Dust" is the story of a<br />
Negro accused of killing a white man and<br />
who is saved from a mob when a small boy<br />
and an old school teacher present evidence<br />
to show that he is innocent.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • •<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
VISITORS on Atlanta Filmi-ow last week:<br />
Frank Merritt, Marvin Wise theatres,<br />
Birmingham; W. T. Murray, formerly manager<br />
of the Grand in Atlanta and now manager<br />
of the Empire in BiAiingham (Murray<br />
is recovering from a serious eye ailment<br />
which necessitated several operations during<br />
the last few months^ ; Joe Steed of the<br />
Southern States Co., Ensley, Ala.; F. E.<br />
Williamson, Williamson, Winter Haven, Fla.;<br />
S. H. Borisky, Independent Theatres, Chattanooga:<br />
Mesdames Margaret Ware and W.<br />
D. Kimbro, Greensboro, Ga.; Mrs. L. W. Holland,<br />
Madison, Madison, Ga.<br />
Razing of old buildings for the erection of<br />
a new million-dollar theatre and office building<br />
at 14 and 16 North Harvey, Oklahoma<br />
City, is going forward, the building operations<br />
being in charge of Midwest Enterprises, of<br />
which John Sinopoulo is president. It will<br />
be named the Midwest Theatre. The atmosphere<br />
will be Spanish.<br />
* * *<br />
H. A. Niver, expert organ technician, is<br />
building up a trade among theatres on the<br />
repair of organs and the reinstating of<br />
these instruments in regular programs. The<br />
old organ sounds good in a theatre after the<br />
squeakies have been holding sway, Niver says<br />
. . . Sol Davidson is opening his new theatre<br />
at Cordell, Okla., soon, which makes the<br />
second one for him there. Both houses are<br />
named Ritz and are built on much the same<br />
plan, seating 450.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
I
. . Howard<br />
. . Marie<br />
. . Grover<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . On<br />
. . Two<br />
ATLANTA<br />
C'uneral services were held for Cecil R. Pearson,<br />
47-year-old foniier theatre owner<br />
. . . Nineteen-year-old Jaculyn Hyde became<br />
Miss Fulton County of 1949 at the beauty<br />
pageant held on the stage of the Lakewood<br />
Theatre before a packed house. Latecomers<br />
had to be turned away. Sponsors plan to<br />
make the contest an annual affair.<br />
. . .<br />
Mel Brown of the Peachtree Art and the<br />
Montgomery Drive-In, Savannah, is back<br />
Max<br />
from a business trip to Charlotte<br />
Holden, Astor, Charlotte, returned there after<br />
visiting the local Madison exchange . . . Mrs.<br />
Grace Hammond, office manager, Madison, :s<br />
back at her desk from a New York trip . . .<br />
Ralph McCoy. Film Classics manager, left<br />
on a trip to Tennessee . Wallace,<br />
manager of Sack Amusement Enterprises.<br />
Charlie Dermeyer,<br />
checked in at his office . , .<br />
Southern Automatic Candy Co., is back from<br />
a Florida trip.<br />
A new arena-type theatre to star noted<br />
Broadway and Hollywood stars will open here<br />
September 20. The theatre will be known as<br />
the Penthouse and it will be located on the<br />
swank roof of the Ansley hotel. The Roof<br />
has been transformed into a plush semicircular<br />
theatre in the center of which plays<br />
will be presented each night and on Sundays.<br />
Edward Everett Horton will star in the first<br />
play, "Springtime for Henry" . Wilson,<br />
star of "My Friend Irma," was a visitor.<br />
J. D. Woodward has been appointed manager<br />
of the Peachtree Art Theatre, according<br />
to Melvin Brown, director. Woodward, formerly<br />
with Warners, says the theatre will continue<br />
its policy of bringing back popular films<br />
with first run pictures being shown most of<br />
the time. Already booked are "Hamlet" and<br />
"The Red Shoes," both of which enjoyed long<br />
runs here.<br />
Blackstone, veteran magician whose tour<br />
was interrupted when he was sent to an<br />
Atlanta hospital with a severe attack of<br />
asthma, signed a contract to appear at the<br />
Quik-Serv for<br />
Profits<br />
Front-side views D-5 model, compact, IGVs s(l"<br />
stainless steel. Other sizes: Contact: FORREST<br />
DUNLAP, JR.<br />
QUIK-SERV<br />
FOUNTAINETTE, INC.<br />
211 S. Pearl P7-3470 Dallas<br />
Tower February 21-23 . . . Henry Wllcoxon,<br />
one of the stars of "Sam.son and Delilah,"<br />
will arrive November 12 to plug the film.<br />
Leonard Allen, Paramount publicity expert,<br />
said Wilcoxon would be here four days.<br />
. .<br />
On the Row booking were C. S. Pitman,<br />
Pitman, Gadsden, Ala.: J. P. Stokley. Roxy,<br />
Crawford; Sidney Laird and L. J. Duncan,<br />
West Point Amusement Co.. West Point;<br />
Clyde Sampler, Duncan & Richards Theatres<br />
in Georgia; Abe Soloman, Chattanooga, and<br />
O. C. Lam, Lam Amusement Co.. Rome . . .<br />
Roy Prewitt, southern sales manager for<br />
American Desk Co., Temple, Tex., checked in<br />
after a Florida trip . . . Babe Cohen, formerly<br />
of Atlanta, is confined to a hospital in New<br />
Orleans . Ann Mayo, Eagle Lion accounting<br />
department, is back at her desk after a<br />
trip to New Orleans.<br />
W. C. Moore, owner of the Fox, Brighton.<br />
Ala., has sold his theatre to J. Lewis Phillips<br />
. . . Harry Cury, general manager. Community<br />
Theatres, Birmingham; R. E. Hook.<br />
Gordo, Gordo, Ala.; Earnest Ingram, Lineville,<br />
Ala., and Ashland, Ala., theatre owner; John<br />
R. Moffitt, State, Montgomei-y; H. Powell,<br />
Oxford, Oxford, Ala.; Dave Regan, Roxy,<br />
Selma, Ala.; Leon Robbins, Lincoln, Gainesville,<br />
Fla.; C. S. Dunn, Havana, Havana, Fla.,<br />
and John T. Ezell, former member of Atlanta<br />
Filmrow now in Daytona Beach, Fla., were on<br />
the Row visiting.<br />
Back at his post after visiting his daughter<br />
in St. Louis, Mo., was O. S. Barnett, office<br />
manager. Monogram . and Mrs. Arthur<br />
C. Bromberg, president. Monogram Southern,<br />
are back from Sea Island . . . Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Abe Brown, owners of the K&B Soda Co., are<br />
visiting with friends in New York . the<br />
in<br />
Row was Jules Goldman of Warner Bros,<br />
Indianapolis.<br />
George Oldham, co-owner of the Cumberland<br />
Amusement Co. in Tennessee, died at<br />
his home in Winchester, Tenn., after a long<br />
Sam M. Berry of the National<br />
illness . . .<br />
Theatre Supply Co., Dallas, his wife and<br />
daughter returned there after visiting friends<br />
here . Parsons, southern district<br />
manager. Eagle Lion, is back after visiting<br />
in Memphis with the new manager, Nelson<br />
Towler.<br />
Martin Theatres Buys<br />
Auburn-Opelika Airer<br />
AUBURN, ALA. — The Aubum-Opelika<br />
Drive-In has been purchased by Martin Theatres<br />
for $130,000 from former owners John<br />
Gazes and Louis Soult of Auburn.<br />
According to a deed filed in the probate<br />
office, the transaction was the largest private<br />
business deal in Lee county this year.<br />
Duke Stalcup. manager of Martin's Martin<br />
and Ritz theatres in Opelika, has taken over<br />
management of the drive-in.<br />
Ralph Mann Is Manager<br />
At Monroeville Theatre<br />
MONROEVILLE, ALA.—Ralph Mann, formerly<br />
of Montgomery, has been named manager<br />
of the Monroe Theatre here, succeeding<br />
L. P. Head, operator for the last year who<br />
is moving to Hazlehurst, Miss., where he will<br />
manage the Hazle Theatre. Both the Monroe<br />
here and the Hazlehurst house are affiliated<br />
with the Fred C. McClendon and Sam Wilson<br />
circuit.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
jWr Brocato has purchased the Lake Theatre<br />
in Campti, La., from R. L. Gifford and<br />
has changed the name to Hedy Rose . . . The<br />
Buck and Rose theatres, both Paramount-<br />
Richards operations at Hattiesburg. Miss.,<br />
W. A.<br />
have been closed indefinitely . . .<br />
Prewitt, As.sociated Theatres head, and Mrs.<br />
Clara Mae Collier have opened their Airport<br />
The Idle<br />
E>rive-In at Greenwood, Miss. . . .<br />
Hour, a 250-car drive-in, has been opened at<br />
Yazoo City, Miss., by F. M. Sigrest.<br />
Bill Keith, former local UA manager now in<br />
charge at Kansas City office, was in several<br />
days as was UA representative from Dallas,<br />
Billy Briant . holdovers were included<br />
in last week's lineup. "Top O' the Morning"<br />
continued at the Joy, while "Roseanna Mc-<br />
Coy" moved from the Orpheum to RKO's<br />
holdover house, the Liberty, for a second<br />
downtown week. "Mighty Joe Young" was the<br />
new feature for the Orpheum. Loew's State<br />
featured "The Great Sinner." "The Fighting<br />
Kentuckian" was showing at the Saenger.<br />
The Poche presented "Symphonic Pastorale."<br />
"Hellfire" was at the Globe, and "It's a Great<br />
Feeling" was at the Tudor. The Joy Strand<br />
double-billed "If You Knew Susie" and "Rainbow<br />
Valley." "The Freak" was at the Rio.<br />
The Lyceum doubled "The Dark Mirror" and<br />
"Road to Big House."<br />
On the Row were C. E. Cooper, booker, W.<br />
W. Page circuit, Robelene, La.; Hank Jackson,<br />
booker, A. L. Royal Theatres, Meridian,<br />
Miss.; Jimmy Harris, Pix manager, Pascagoula,<br />
Miss.; Charlie Levy, Harlem, Thibodaux;<br />
Sam Pasqua, operator of the Gonzales<br />
and Pasqua theatres in Gonzales, Carville in<br />
Carville, and the Sorrento in Sorrento and<br />
Union in Union, La.; Teddy Solomon, Palace<br />
and Lyric, McComb, Miss.<br />
D. A. Barre, 64. for the past nine years<br />
in the bookkeeping department of Joy Theatres,<br />
died September 5 from a heart attack<br />
at his home here . . . Barbara Dupuis, Dixie<br />
Film stenographer, was home ill . . . Judy<br />
Whitney is the new switchboard operator and<br />
receptionist at Joy Theatres . . . C. J. Briant,<br />
MGM manager, underwent an operation at a<br />
local hospital last week.<br />
T. G. Worthman Appointed<br />
EUFAULA, ALA.—T. G. Wortham, former<br />
manager of a theatre in Roanoke, Ala., has<br />
assumed duties as manager of the Martin<br />
Theatre here, succeeding L. G. Smith, who<br />
was transferred to the Roanoke house.<br />
''!.'.UJ!II.7.<br />
TO ANNOUNCE ?<br />
VseAFILMACK<br />
. To<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERJ<br />
Help Put It Across!<br />
F I L M A C<br />
CHICAGO 1327 S. Wabash Ave.<br />
NEW YORK 619 West 54»h. St.<br />
«r !,>'« BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949 99
'<br />
'<br />
.'.<br />
JyNO New Drive-ln Theatres Slated<br />
For Nashville; Other Building<br />
NASHVILLE, TENN.—Two new drive-ins<br />
and one new theatre are slated for Nashville.<br />
Ted Goldblatt, owner of the Pen Shop here,<br />
has started construction of a $50,000 drive-in<br />
on Gallatin Road and Old Hickory boulevard.<br />
The drive-in will have a capacity of<br />
600 cars. Contractor is Thomas Griffing of<br />
Dallas, Tex.<br />
Meanwhile, L. O. Bing, owner of Bing's<br />
Nursery in Madison, has petitioned for a<br />
zoning change in order to build a similar<br />
drive-in about a quarter mile north of Due<br />
West avenue.<br />
Crescent Amusement Co. now operates the<br />
only local drive-in. This firm has been<br />
granted a permit for construction of a theatre<br />
and several other buildings for stores<br />
and recreational purposes on Hillsboro Road.<br />
The project will cost an estimated $200,000.<br />
Marr & Holman is the architectural firm.<br />
Crescent has not, as yet, been given permission<br />
to build a large parking area in the rear<br />
of the proposed recreational center, since a<br />
number of persons living in the area filed<br />
objections to the parking area.<br />
Charleston North 52 Airer Opens<br />
CHARLESTON, S. C—The new North 52<br />
Drive-in was opened recently by Consolidated<br />
Theatres, Inc., of Charlotte. F. H. Beddingfield,<br />
president of the company, attended<br />
the opening of the new drive-in, construction<br />
of which was supervised by H. M.<br />
Gibbs, manager of the circuit's High Point,<br />
N. C, theatre. The drive-in has accomm.odations<br />
for about 500 cars. The screen was<br />
designed and built by the Bulcraft Corp.,<br />
Florence, and was erected by the Wilhoit<br />
Erecting Co., Florence. The Truluck Construction<br />
Co. held the grading contract and<br />
General Contracting Co., Charleston, the<br />
building contract.<br />
Jim Gaylard to New Drive-In<br />
TROY, ALA—Jimmy Gaylard, manager of<br />
Wilby-Kincey's Enzor Theatre here, has resigned,<br />
effective October 1, to become manager<br />
of the new Starlight Drive-In, for a<br />
November 1 opening on the Brundidge road.<br />
The theatre will have room for 300 cars<br />
on eight ramps and will feature in-car speakers.<br />
In addition to his duties as manager, Gaylard<br />
also wUl serve as treasurer of Troy Drive-<br />
In Theatres, Inc. Other officers are Marvin<br />
H. Carter, president; Sigmond Rosenbei-g,<br />
vice-president, and Rudolph Blumentritt,<br />
secretary. The board of directors include the<br />
officers and Dr. Oscar Edge.<br />
100<br />
TICKETS<br />
MACHINE<br />
FOLDED<br />
-A-eeURAGY-<br />
SPEED<br />
One of Gaylard's last promotions before<br />
leaving the Enzor was a big back-to-school<br />
party. Free drinks were included, along with<br />
free balloons and school supplies. Six paiis<br />
of blue jeans were attendance prizes. A 30-<br />
minute stage show also was presented.<br />
October 1 Opening Planned<br />
SAVANNAH—A tentative opening date of<br />
October 1 has been set by Harris Robinson,<br />
president of the Dixie Drive-In Theati-es circuit,<br />
for opening of the new Dixie Drive-In<br />
under way on Route 80 here. The new<br />
ozoner will cover a 12-aci-e tract and will<br />
have a capacity of 700 cars on twelve ramps.<br />
The entire area will be paved, according to<br />
Horace Denning, Dixie Drlve-In official.<br />
Harry C. Herr jr., who wUl manage the theatre,<br />
said the landscaping will be seraitropical<br />
in style with many palm trees, tropical<br />
shrubs, plants and large lawns.<br />
Christmas Opening Is Planned<br />
HAZLEHURST, GA.—A tentative Christmas<br />
opening has been set for the new Jeff<br />
Davis Theatre, under way here for Stein<br />
Theatres. The building is located on Latimer<br />
street and will be built of jumbo brick<br />
in a modernistic design. It will measure<br />
125x50 feet and will seat approximately 800<br />
persons, according to F. L. Alig, general manager<br />
for the circuit.<br />
Here to supervise the start of construction<br />
were L. A. Stein, circuit president; Louis Leffler,<br />
controller, Jacksonville; F. L. Alig jr.,<br />
and B. J. Nickelsen, manager of the construction<br />
department for J. N. Bray Co.,<br />
Valdosta.<br />
Opened<br />
Augusta Drive-In<br />
AUGUSTA, GA. — The 650-car, 100-seat,<br />
Skyview Drive-In was opened here recently.<br />
The Skyview features a 65-foot brick screen<br />
tower.<br />
Open Manchester, Ga., Circle<br />
MANCHESTER, GA.—The Circle Drive-In<br />
was opened recently on the Manchester-<br />
Warm Springs highway by owner H. R. Richards.<br />
McRae Drive-In Is Opened<br />
HAZLEHURST, GA.—The new McRae<br />
Drive-In on the Hazlehurst-McRae highway<br />
about 2y2 miles outside of McRae opened recently,<br />
with a policy of two shows nightly,<br />
one at 7:45 and the cither at 9:45.<br />
RESERVED SEAT '^W<br />
TICKETS<br />
SOUTHWEST TICKET<br />
& COUPON CO.<br />
2110 CORINTH 8TSEET<br />
DALLAS (H-7185) TEXAS<br />
TICKETS<br />
To Start Drive-In Job Soon<br />
ALEXANDER CITY, ALA.—Ground work<br />
on Alexander City's first drive-in is expected<br />
to get under way in about a month, according<br />
to Mack Jackson, local theatre owneroperator.<br />
The 300-car drive-in is located on<br />
a five-acre plot that was the city's first<br />
airport. In-car speakers and a 54-foot-square<br />
screen will<br />
be features.<br />
Bartow, Fla., Airer Planned<br />
BARTOW, FLA.—Charles R. Hanson, former<br />
owner and manager of the Bradenton<br />
Drive-In, has sold his interest in that situation<br />
to build a 400-car airer here. The new<br />
drive-in will be located at the intersection<br />
of Route 10 and Kessenger Springs road,<br />
two miles south of town. The drive-in will<br />
have a 48-foot screen, in-car sjjeakers, concessions<br />
stand and lounges.<br />
Sky Chief Opening Soon<br />
PENSACOLA, FLA.—The West Pensacola<br />
Civitan club will sponsor the opening of the<br />
new 600-seat Sky Chief Theatre here soon<br />
and receive a share of the gross. Clinton<br />
Vucovich, who operates a theatre in Warrington<br />
as well as the Belmont and Pen in<br />
Pensacola, is the owner and operator.<br />
Build at Madisonville, Tenn.<br />
MADISONVILLE, TENN. — J. G. Hill of<br />
Maryville and his associates are building a<br />
new drive-in east of town near Jack's Tourist<br />
court.<br />
To Improve Drive-In Site<br />
WAYNESVILE, N. C—Homer West and<br />
Clayton Mehaffey, owners of the recently<br />
opened drive-in here, plan further developments<br />
of the area into a recreational center.<br />
Open Winter Park Drive-In<br />
WINTER PARK, FLA.-The 400-car Ri-<br />
Mar Drive-In Theatre recently completed<br />
near here has been opened by Ben Rivers,<br />
Jack Martin and Sam Manning. Motiograph<br />
projection equipment and Western Electric<br />
sound have been installed. A fountain with<br />
colored lighting is one of the architectural<br />
features. Amber floodlights are used during<br />
intermisisons. Mrs. Martha Satterfield is in<br />
charge of the concession stand.<br />
To Open October 15<br />
QUINCY, FLA.—Interstate Enterprise's new<br />
theatre here will be opened about October 15.<br />
Prentiss Huddleston, Tallahassee, is architect<br />
and Albritton-Williams is contractor.<br />
Nashville, Ga., Ozoner Opened<br />
NASHVILLE, GA.—The Sun-Set Drive-In<br />
on the Ray City highway south of here has<br />
begun nightly operations. The new theatre<br />
is operated by Billy Tygart.<br />
Douglas, Ga., Sky View Opens<br />
DOUGLAS, GA.—The Sky View Drive-In,<br />
one-half mile outside the city limits, was<br />
opened recently by Mrs. Richard McLendon<br />
and John Y. Brown, brother and sister, from<br />
Fitzgerald.<br />
To Be Produced in Italy<br />
The Greta Garbo-James Mason starrer for<br />
RKO, "Love and Friend," will be produced<br />
by Walter Wanger in Italy .<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949<br />
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WINNIPEG DRIVE-IN OPENING—At the recent opening of<br />
Winnipeg's first drive-in those responsible for the open-air house<br />
lined up for ai group shot. Left to right: Engineer Fleming; D.<br />
Tallman, excavating contractor; Lyie Boyce, Minneapolis, architect;<br />
E. Hall, electrical contractor; H. A. Gray, manager of the drive-in;<br />
Mayor R. L. Fennell of Fort Garry, who officially opened the drivein;<br />
J. Miles, president, Western Theatres, Ltd.; E. A. Zorn, western<br />
division manager. Famous Players; R. S. Miles, general manager,<br />
Western Theatres, and Architect Liebenberg, Minneapolis.<br />
Exhibitors Win Support<br />
On Fast Time Fight<br />
WINNIPEG—Local exhibitors are winning<br />
considerable support from labor unions and<br />
other organizations in a drive to defeat daylight<br />
savings time in referendums to be held<br />
in the city and neighboring suburbs this fall.<br />
The campaign took on definite shape with<br />
the formation of the Standard Time league.<br />
It will approach community clubs, home and<br />
school associations and other service groups.<br />
A program of press and radio publicity is being<br />
lined up.<br />
An eight-man executive staff was elected,<br />
with Ken Beach, secretary of the Manitoba<br />
Motion Picture Exhibitors' Ass'n, as secretary.<br />
Other executives are A. Birkett, running<br />
trades; Father William Turney, A. Montague<br />
Israels, Mrs. J. M. Owens, S. Herbst, needle<br />
trades unions; E. Parkes, representing the<br />
travehng pubhc; A. Cowley, Local 119, Teamsters'<br />
union, and S. R. Miles, representing<br />
the film industry.<br />
The executive staff is drafting plans for<br />
speedy action. Beach said its organization<br />
followed previous independent efforts by the<br />
industry to beat fast time.<br />
Vaudeville Show Booked<br />
At Winnipeg Playhouse<br />
WINNIPEG—An attempt to bring vaudeville<br />
back is being made by Bill Moore, veteran<br />
Negro showman who was associated<br />
with the Beacon stage shows for many years.<br />
Moore will present a vaudeville unit at the<br />
Playhouse for one week, starting October 10.<br />
He will play two shows nightly and matinees<br />
twice a week, charging $1 and 75 cents. Moore<br />
will not show any pictures.<br />
For his first bill, he has lined up a show<br />
headed by "Ivory Joe" Hunter, boogie-woogie<br />
pianist, with Paul Stradelman and Trudy<br />
Randall, the Stuart-Arnold dancers, the Two<br />
Zephyrs, Jack and Jenny, Russ Wyse jr.. and<br />
Peggy Womack, Frank Payne as master of<br />
ceremonies, and the Alvers Family circus.<br />
Jail for Fight at Theatre<br />
CALGARY—A shooting fracas at the Variety<br />
Theatre early in August was climaxed<br />
last week by the sentencing for two years of<br />
Kenneth R. Dunlap, Moose Jaw, and for six<br />
months of his partner Robert Boyle. A third<br />
man, Douglas Seigner, struggled with the<br />
two men at entrance to the Variety, then ran<br />
into the lobby, pursued by Dunlap who shot<br />
Seigner in<br />
the abdomen.<br />
Two Branch Managers Quit<br />
International in Canada<br />
TORONTO—Two branch managers have<br />
followed Dave Griesdorf in resigning from<br />
International Film Distributors. Griesdorf<br />
stepped out as president and managing director<br />
to become general manager of Odeon<br />
Theatres of Canada. Now comes word that<br />
Jack Bellamy has resigned as IFD branch<br />
manager at St. John to join Canadian Paramount<br />
at Toronto. G. L. Chernoff, branch<br />
manager at Montreal, was named successor<br />
to Ed English, veteran representative of 20th<br />
Century-Fox in that city.<br />
Meanwhile Nat Taylor, head of 20th Century<br />
Theatres, Toronto, has become president<br />
of International Film Distributors.<br />
Bing Crosby Officiates<br />
At Jasper Tournament<br />
JASPER—Competing in the recent Totem<br />
Pole golf tournament here, Bing Crosby officiated<br />
at the opening ceremonies in the absence<br />
of the lieutenant governor of Alberta.<br />
He hit the first ball, and gave a $5 reward<br />
to the caddie who recovered it. Crosby won<br />
the contest in 1947. A total of 180 entries<br />
had been listed when registrations were<br />
closed. The opening day qualifying round was<br />
won by G. Cameron, Miami, Okla.<br />
Paradise Valley Theatre<br />
To Be Opened Sept. 22<br />
CALGARY—Completely rebuilt and with<br />
new equipment throughout, the theatre operated<br />
by Mr. and Mrs. William Risk at Paradise<br />
Valley was to be reopened September 22.<br />
Seating 200 persons, the remodeled theatre<br />
has a modern front. The auditorium has been<br />
completely redecorated. Programs will be<br />
changed twice weekly. Mr. and Mrs. Risk also<br />
operate the Bellvale Theatre at Bella Coola,<br />
B. C.<br />
'Adam' Premiere Slated<br />
At Odeon in Winnipeg<br />
WINNIPEG—The North American premiere<br />
of the British picture, "Adam and<br />
Evaline," will be held here September 23 in<br />
conjunction with British Trade week, says<br />
W. G. Coventry, United Kingdom trade commissioner<br />
here. The picture will play the<br />
Odeon, and Manager Tom Pacey plans a<br />
gala premiere with plenty of dignitaries in<br />
attendance.<br />
New Members Added<br />
To Maritime Allied<br />
ST. JOHN — Twenty-five New Brunswick<br />
and Prince Edward Island exhibitors have<br />
been added to the membership rolls of the<br />
Maritime Allied Exhibitors Ass'n. Among<br />
them were George A. Walters, manager of<br />
the Capitol and Prince Edward, Charlottetown,<br />
and Harold Gaudet, owner of the Capitol,<br />
at Summerside, both on Prince Edward<br />
Island.<br />
New Brunswick exhibitors were J. A. Williams,<br />
owner of the Capitol. Chipman; James<br />
Mitchell, Capitol manager here; Peter J.<br />
Leger, owner of the Opera House, Bathurst;<br />
Joe LeBlanc, owner of the Capitol, Shediac;<br />
Winfield Newman, Maple Leaf manager,<br />
Campobello Island; Charles Staples. Queen<br />
owner, St. Stephen: Harrison Howe, manager<br />
of the local Paramount; Les Sprague,<br />
manager of the Gaiety, Pairville; Jack Butler,<br />
owner of the Moncton Imperial, and<br />
Tommy O'Rouke, owner of the Gaiety, Minto.<br />
Others were Harry Adkins, Victory owner,<br />
Richibucto, and Roxy, Buctouche; Edgar A.<br />
Neal. manager, Capitol, Woodstock; Colin<br />
Danson, co-manager, Strand. Sussex: Walter<br />
R. Golding, owner. Community, West St.<br />
John; W. W. O'Fenety, owner, Capitol and<br />
Gaiety, Fredericton; R. R. Kertson, owner.<br />
Opera House, Grand Falls; Mitchell Franklin,<br />
vice-president, Franklin & Herschom. St.<br />
John: Joseph McCaivey, owner, Capitol. Tracadie;<br />
W. A. Richards, manager, Opera<br />
House, Newcastle: Gordon Gazeley, manager.<br />
Paramount and Capitol, Campbellton; L. D.<br />
Pollock, owner. Corner, Petitcodiac; Mrs.<br />
Emma Fournier. owTier, Arcadia, St. Leonard,<br />
and Mrs. Helen Nesbit. owner. Star. Edmundston.<br />
Fourth Art Theatre Setup<br />
At Hyland in Toronto<br />
TORONTO—A new policy has been adopted<br />
for the Odeon Hyland here making it<br />
the fourth local theatre to specialize in class<br />
films. The theatre is offering unusual motion<br />
pictures for adult audiences, according<br />
to the announcement of Manager Vic Nowe,<br />
the first attraction being the British feature,<br />
"Portrait From Life." A teaser campaign was<br />
used in advance of the plan conmiencing<br />
September 12.<br />
The other class theatres here are the International<br />
Cinema, Towne Cinema and King,<br />
the last of which concentrates on foreignlanguage<br />
films.<br />
BOXOFFICE September 17, 1949 E 101
. . The<br />
. . Don<br />
. . . Ann<br />
reissues<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
Dookers in British Columbia report that exhibitors<br />
in the province are asking for<br />
more musical films and fewer western pictures.<br />
Patrons apparently want the lighter<br />
forms of screen fare, and boxoffice grosses<br />
seem to prove it . . . Norma Saddlemyer, cashier<br />
at the Northland operated by Famous<br />
Players at Flin Plon, Manitoba, vacationed<br />
here. She said that business in Fhn Flon<br />
has been improving steadily. Much impressed<br />
with local theatres, she rated them on a par<br />
with the best in the Dominion.<br />
. . .<br />
Frank Dwyer, a newcomer to show business,<br />
has been appointed assistant manager<br />
at the Cinema to succeed Ronald Huston, who<br />
resigned because of his health .<br />
Colman,<br />
head of Trans-Canada Films, and his<br />
Gus<br />
wife were on vacation in Alaska<br />
Hoeck and his wife, both members of the Lux<br />
Theatre staff, were hoUdaying at San Francisco<br />
and points south of the border . . .<br />
John Jackson, MGM booker, was on vacation<br />
. . . Betty Rendall, Eagle Lion secretary, was<br />
Bedford, MGM cashier, was at a<br />
ill . . .<br />
dude ranch in the Cariboo section for a vacation.<br />
The Vancouver Film Exchange club elected<br />
the following new officers: President,<br />
Douglas White, Warner Bros., and secretarytreasurer,<br />
Elizabeth Alexander, Sovereign<br />
Films . Alberta Theatres Ass'n has<br />
petitioned the provincial government to<br />
amend regulations to conform with a recent<br />
ruling by a labor board that theatres need<br />
not have more than one operator in the<br />
booth. The decision was handed down by<br />
Justice McLaurin, and applies to all theatres<br />
regardless of size. The projectionists<br />
local is expected to appeal the ruling, of-<br />
reported.<br />
ficials<br />
Frank Troy, recently appointed Vancouver<br />
branch manager of Theatre Confections, arrived<br />
here from Toronto. He succeeds Kevin<br />
Fitzgibbons, who was transformed to Toronto<br />
. . . James Carter, 65, doorman at the Capitol<br />
Theatre here, collapsed and died while at<br />
work September 6. He is survived by his<br />
wife.<br />
Presaging development of the Canadian<br />
drive-in field by Paramount, Famous Players<br />
Canadian Corp., has established a special<br />
drive-in theatre department. The first project<br />
to be built by the circuit will be five miles<br />
from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. It will<br />
have a capacity of 550 cars. The outdoor<br />
spot will not in any way interfere with plans<br />
for a 1,000-seat theatre at Nanaimo, which<br />
NEW SALES CHIEF —R. E. Ferguson<br />
has been appointed sades manager of<br />
Gaumont Kalee, Ltd., Canadian theatre<br />
equipment company which Is a unit of the<br />
J. Arthur Rank Organization but also<br />
represents more than 40 U.S. manufacturers<br />
in the Canadian fields The announcement<br />
is made by E. L. Harris, general<br />
manager.<br />
now has two houses with a total seating capacity<br />
of 1,500. Famous Players also will<br />
build some drive-in theatres on the mainland,<br />
officials here said.<br />
The talent quest sponsored by the Daily<br />
Province opened at the Odeon-Hastings Theatre.<br />
The newspaper is giving the show good<br />
publicity. It will run for 11 weeks, with the<br />
winner getting a trip to Hollywood; Roy<br />
Gordon of Seattle is master of ceremonies<br />
Thompson, manager of the Odeon-<br />
Dunbar Theatre, launched a British film<br />
festival on September 13. A different film,<br />
each an award nominee, is being shown each<br />
night.<br />
. . Empire<br />
Vancouver was flooded over the Labor day<br />
weekend with counterfeit $10 bills. Theatres<br />
and merchants were victims. Most of the<br />
bogus bills which theatres cashed were passed<br />
at midnight shows. Police believe they have<br />
smashed the ring with the arrest of two suspects<br />
Agencies,<br />
at the fair grounds .<br />
equipment supply house, has been appointed<br />
distributors for western Canada for<br />
Flamort fire retardants.<br />
Screens — Arc Lamps — Rectifiers — Lenses — Carbons — Theatre Chairs<br />
J. M. RICE & CO.<br />
202 Canada BIdg. Winnipeg, Manitoba<br />
Phone 25371<br />
'GWTW Reissue Tops<br />
With 115 in Toronto<br />
TORONTO—The Labor day rush subsided<br />
at local theatres, but attractions were held<br />
over at eight first runs. "Top O' the Morning,"<br />
"Look for the Silver Lining" and "The<br />
Stratton Story" proved to be headline pictures.<br />
For its first anniversary week, the<br />
Odeon Toronto offered a revival of "Gone<br />
With the Wind."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Billmore—Not Wanted (FC), 4th wk 90<br />
Danforth, Humber and Hylond—Welcome Stranger<br />
(Para); Where There's Life (Para) ..--^^. ^-- 95<br />
Imperial—Look lor the Silver Lining (WB), 2-na<br />
^.^<br />
IUd<br />
Loew's—The stratton Story (MGM). 2nd wk ......105<br />
Odeon Toronto—Gone With the Wind (MGM),<br />
reissue<br />
.^....... -^. 115<br />
;<br />
Shea's Capitol and Nortown—Top O the Morning<br />
(Para), 2nd wk .;---„„<br />
'"^<br />
Tivoli—House ol Strangers (20th-Fox); Doll Face<br />
(20th-Fox), reissue<br />
_<br />
i.— i;V 'ioniu '<br />
University and Eglinton—Come to the Stable (ZOth-<br />
Fox), 2iid wk ;• ••-,-• U5<br />
Uptown—The Gal Who Took the West (U-I) 100<br />
'Morning' Is<br />
Best Grosser<br />
At Vcmcouver Theatres<br />
VANCOUVER—Trade at first runs here<br />
showed improvement, with the Labor day<br />
holiday and returning vacationists helping.<br />
"Top O' the Morning" at the Capitol was out<br />
in front, with "Any Number Can Play" at<br />
the Orpheum next best. "Ma and Pa Kettle"<br />
at the Vogue was good, and reissues of "The<br />
Trail of the Lonsome Pine" and "Geronimo"<br />
dualed at the Cinema also drew well.<br />
Capitol—Top C the Morning (Para) Excellent<br />
Cinema Trail of the Lonesome Pine (Para);<br />
Geronimo (Para) Good<br />
,<br />
Dominion Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
(20th-Fox); Tucson (20th-Fox) Average<br />
Orpheum—Any Number Can Play (MGM) Good<br />
Paradise Bomba, the Jungle Boy (Mono);<br />
Stampede (Mono) '"if<br />
Plaza—Bed Canyon (UA); Leave It to Henry<br />
- (Mono) Average<br />
Strand—You're My Everything (20th-Fox) Fair<br />
State Marked Woman (Col), reissue, plus<br />
stage show- Moderate<br />
Studio—The Guinea Pig (EL) -^Fair<br />
Vogue—Ma and Pa KelUf (U-I) Good<br />
'Stratton Story' Tops Trade<br />
At Calgary First Runs<br />
CALGARY—With a backward glance at a<br />
good summer season, local first run managers<br />
are anticipating an equally good fall.<br />
"The Stratton Story" at the Palace topped<br />
first runs here.<br />
Capitol—John Loves Mary (WB) - Good<br />
Grand—The Big Cat (EL); Blondie Hits the<br />
Jackpot (Col) Go°5<br />
Palace—The Stratton Story (MGM). .- Very good<br />
Bigger Ticket Tax Share<br />
Asked by Toronto Board<br />
TORONTO—Because of<br />
the belief that the<br />
city is not getting its fair share of the 20<br />
per cent provincial amusement tax, the city<br />
board of control has decided to ask the Ontario<br />
government for a greater portion of the<br />
levy, perhaps 90 per cent.<br />
Mayor Hiram McCallum expressed the<br />
view that Toronto theatre patrons are contributing<br />
the bulk of the tax and it should<br />
be returned to the city to defray rising hospital<br />
costs. The tax is collected under the<br />
Hospitals tax act.<br />
COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
Everything For Your Theatre<br />
An Expert Repair Department<br />
102<br />
IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS AND<br />
JUNCTION BOXES<br />
FOR REPLACEMENT lOBS<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
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New Quonsets in<br />
TORONTO<br />
Qorinne Calvet, French film personality, appeared<br />
at a press conference here arranged<br />
by Win Barron, Paramount promotional<br />
specialist . . . Manager Howard Elliott<br />
has reorganized his Saturday morning film<br />
club for juveniles at the Fairlawn. For the<br />
show on September 10, he offered free comic<br />
books as a special inducement.<br />
. . . Six features<br />
The Dr. Leslie Bell Singers, Toronto allgirl<br />
choir which has been featured in several<br />
short subjects, drew huge crowds at a series<br />
of concerts in the bandshell at the Canadian<br />
National Exhibition have<br />
been given adult ratings by the censor board.<br />
They are "Slattery's Hurricane," "Madame<br />
Bovary," "The Great Sinner," "File on Thelma<br />
Jordon," "Any Number Can Play" and "Anna<br />
Lucasta."<br />
George Murphy, MGM star, is scheduled<br />
to represent the Screen Actors Guild at the<br />
all-industry meeting of the national committee<br />
of Motion Picture Exhibitors' Ass'ns<br />
of Canada at Ottawa October 12, 13. Chairman<br />
J. J. Fitzgibbons has invited representfrom<br />
all branches of the industry to<br />
take part in the deliberations . . . Featured<br />
as organists at the Canadian National exhibition,<br />
Toronto, were Kathleen Stokes, for<br />
years a great theatre artist of Toronto, and<br />
Ronnie Padget from the Odeon and Gaumont<br />
theatres in England.<br />
Manager Fred Thompson of the suburban<br />
Rex in London, Ont., has introduced china-<br />
i<br />
I<br />
Montreal Area<br />
MONTREAL — With quonset-type theatres<br />
going: up in this area in increasing<br />
numbers, Perkins Electric Co. announces<br />
the supplying of equipment to seven such<br />
houses, including the local Dieppe, pictured<br />
adjacently, and the Caribou, shown<br />
above, in Ste. Anne des Monts. Third<br />
quonset theatre to open recently was the<br />
Royal, built by J. Emile Berthiaume in<br />
Malartic.<br />
Other quonset theatres to open shortly<br />
are located in St. Lin, by Georges Patenaude<br />
and Ovide Charette; Sutton, by Normand<br />
Joncas; I'Epiphanie, by Massicotte<br />
& Lachapelle, and a 700-seater in Beauharnois,<br />
by Adrien Lapierre.<br />
Equipment for the Dieppe includes<br />
RCA Brenkert projectors, Royal Sound<br />
Master sound equipment, Kroehler Push-<br />
Back seats and Fiberglas drapes.<br />
. .<br />
ware premiums which are being offered four<br />
nights each week . Famous Players Canadian<br />
has appointed Robert Eves of its head<br />
office staff to handle promotion on the 19<br />
British features recently secured through<br />
Rank's Eagle Lion of Canada here. Eves formerly<br />
was supervisor of suburban theatres<br />
here.<br />
Earl St. John a Visitor<br />
TORONTO—A Toronto visitor was Earl St.<br />
John, executive producer of the J. Arthur<br />
Rank Organization in England, here after a<br />
tour of the States. He expressed the view<br />
that Hollywood companies would make pictures<br />
in England and other countries for<br />
the absorption of frozen funds.<br />
'Quartet' Ends 22nd Week<br />
TORONTO—The record engagement of<br />
"Quartet" at the International Cinema finally<br />
reached its conclusion at the end of<br />
the 22nd week and was followed by a revival<br />
of "Wuthering Heights." At the Towne<br />
Cinema, "PygmaUon" went four weeks and<br />
was succeeded by "Lost Boundaries."<br />
William Guss Recovers<br />
CALGARY—William Guss, MGM branch<br />
manager, has returned to his desk after a<br />
recent illness. As the retiring president of<br />
the Calgary lodge of B'nai B'rith, Guss has<br />
been appointed Canadianism chairman of<br />
the district grand lodge.<br />
Power Cuts Now to Prevent<br />
Drastic Winter Shortage<br />
TORONTO—Complaints have been general<br />
among theatre owners and other commercial<br />
users that the public has been lulled into<br />
the belief that no extensive restrictions on<br />
the use of power will be ordered in Ontario<br />
cities for the winter by the Provincial Hydro-<br />
Electric commission.<br />
Because of assurances that the situation<br />
was normal, some theatres went ahead vrith<br />
the installation of new signs and lighting effects<br />
only to find that exterior and advertising<br />
illumination would be banned again<br />
after October 1. Chairman R. H. Saunders<br />
of the commission replied that such restrictions<br />
in the fall months will be a guarantee<br />
against more drastic measures later in the<br />
season. Meanwhile, exhibitors are preparing<br />
to put their independent power-generating<br />
units back into service for lighting theatre<br />
fronts.<br />
World Champion Skater<br />
Set for Canada Ice Show<br />
OTTAWA — T. P. Gorman, Ottawa impresario,<br />
said Barbara Ann Scott will not<br />
appear before Hollywood cameras for many<br />
months to come. As president of the National<br />
Sports Enterprises, Inc., Gorman asserted the<br />
Olympic and world champion skater was<br />
under contract with his company for a Canadian<br />
ice show, "Skating Sensations of 1950,"<br />
which will open its tour at Winnipeg October<br />
10 and continue on tour till late in March.<br />
According to press reports, Walt Disney was<br />
planning to have Miss Scott in a picture with<br />
Dick Button, the American skater who captured<br />
the world and Olympic titles for men.<br />
Gorman said Barbara Ann would not be available,<br />
intimating that Hollywod producers had<br />
had their chance to obtain her services.<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
\<br />
T ena Home played to tremendous business<br />
at Don Carlos' Casino for one week, performing<br />
at a dinner and dance show each<br />
evening. Carlos is reported to have paid<br />
$10,000 for Miss Home and a trio which<br />
accompanies her. The Casino operator says<br />
he came out slightly ahead.<br />
The Paris blossomed out with practically<br />
a quarter-page ad in the dailies announcing<br />
a new dinnerware giveaway to women attending<br />
the house. The china offered is a<br />
69-piece Blue Willow service for eight persons.<br />
A 10-cent service charge is added, and<br />
a new piece is given each week, except in<br />
the case of larger pieces which require two<br />
tickets. The St. Boniface house opens daily<br />
at 5:45 p. m. and usually plays double bills<br />
of later runs.<br />
Famous Players has taken extra large ad<br />
space to plug its coming lineup of features<br />
at its downtown houses. The pictures include:<br />
"The Berkleys of Broadway," "The<br />
Stratton Story," "Look for the Silver Lining,"<br />
"Come to the Stable," "Portrait of Jennie,"<br />
"You're My Everything," "In the Good Old<br />
Summertime," "The Great Sinner," "Any<br />
Number Can Play," "Rope of Sand" and<br />
"The Heiress."<br />
Lionel Hampton and a company of 31 are<br />
coming for a one-night stand dance and concert<br />
at the auditorium, September 24. The<br />
troupe is being presented by A. K. Gee of<br />
Celebrity Concerts series.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1949
30XOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
|ATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART<br />
SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS<br />
BookinGuide<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
FIRST RUN REPORTS<br />
This chart shows the records made by<br />
key cities<br />
pictures in live or more of the 21<br />
checked. As new runs are reported, ratings<br />
are added and averages revised.<br />
BAROMETER<br />
TOP HIT<br />
OF THE WEEK<br />
(Not an average)<br />
Top O' the Morning<br />
Cincinnati 200<br />
Kansas City 175<br />
'e<br />
SUtB."
i<br />
•<br />
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
ABOUT<br />
PICTURES<br />
Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this<br />
department is devoted for the most pan to reports on subsequent runs, made<br />
by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new. two stars means the exhibitor<br />
has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor<br />
IS a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All<br />
exhibitors welcome.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Batman and Robin (Col)— Serial. This is a<br />
good serial for our situation. It caused quite<br />
a bit of comment at first.—W. S. Punk, Star<br />
Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Small town and<br />
farm patronage. • * •<br />
Dark Past, The CCoD—William Holden, Lee<br />
J. Cobb, Nina Poch. Doubled this with "Make<br />
Believe Ballroom" iColi, which we were gla'd<br />
we had. It diversified our program and everybody<br />
was happy. Played Wed., Thurs.—Harland<br />
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
Small town patronage. • * •<br />
Destroyer (Coll—Reissue. Edward G. Robinson,<br />
Marguerite Chapman, Glenn Pord.<br />
Yes, it's a reissue, but it is also a swell action<br />
picture. I played it on Pri., Sat. to good<br />
business and showed a profit. Plenty of action<br />
when the destroyers are sinking submarines.—<br />
E. M. Preiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey,<br />
Okla. Small town patronage. * • •<br />
Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart,<br />
John Derek, AUene Roberts. This is an<br />
excellent epic for its kind, but business<br />
smelled. There was plenty of action but still<br />
it failed to draw even an average crowd.<br />
This should kill business in small towns completely.<br />
We would have been better off to<br />
have passed this one entirely. Doubled with<br />
"Philo Vance's Secret Mission" to 75 per cent<br />
business. Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon.,<br />
Tues. Weather: Clear and hot.—Jim Dunbar,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Second and<br />
third downtown run patronage. * .*<br />
Mutineers, The (Col)— Jon Hall, Adele<br />
Jergens, George Reeves. This is another<br />
little Columbia production that did well. My<br />
audience liked it very well and ball games<br />
both nights did not hui-t us. Played Mon.,<br />
Tues. Weather: Fair.—L. D. Montgomery,<br />
Melba Theatre, Oakwood, Tex. Small town<br />
and rural patronage. *<br />
Sahara (CoH—Reissue. Humphrey Bogart,<br />
Bruce Bennett. This reissue is still a good<br />
picture and it pleased good business. Men<br />
dying of thirst in the desert do not make a<br />
pleasant subject for a picture, but this is<br />
something different. Played Pri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Warm.—E. M. Freibui'ger, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
Alimony (ED—Martha 'Vickers, John Beal,<br />
Hillary Brooke. This is a fairly good picture<br />
which should please the adult trade. Played<br />
Mon., Tues.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden,<br />
Ark. Small town patronage. * ' *<br />
Big Cat, The (ED—Preston Foster, Lon<br />
McCallister, Peggy Ann Garner. This picture<br />
had a fair draw but that was all. I had no<br />
kick from customers but the picture was sold<br />
too high to me.—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre,<br />
St. Stephen, S. C. Small town and fai-m patronage.<br />
* ' '<br />
Hold That Ghost (EL i—Reissue. Bud Abbott,<br />
Lou Costello, Joan Davis. This is an<br />
oldie that topped all A&C pictm-es except<br />
"Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein."<br />
Business was fine both nights. My only complaint<br />
was from headaches caused by the<br />
shrieks and screams of the kid patrons.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Mrs.<br />
Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre, Holliday, Tex.<br />
Oil field patronage. • • •<br />
Lost Honeymoon (EL)—Franchot Tone, Ann<br />
Richards, Tom Conway. This is old but is a<br />
honey of a comedy and was well received here.<br />
Played Friday. Weather: Hot. — Charles<br />
Osbonie, Presidio Theatre, Presidio, Tex.<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
*<br />
Shamrock Hill (ED—Peggy Ryan, Ray Mc-<br />
Donald, Trudy Marehall. This is the biggest<br />
waste of time, film and money that I have<br />
ever played. Stay off this picture—it smells.<br />
We had the worst receipts of the year and<br />
it was definitely the fault of the picture.<br />
Played Wednesday. Weather: Good.—W. S.<br />
Funk, Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Small<br />
town and farm patronage. * * *<br />
FILM CLASSICS<br />
Amazon Quest (PC)- Tom Neal, Carole<br />
Mathews, Carole Donne. After struggling<br />
along thi-ough the first half of the picture<br />
to figure out what all the talkie-talk was<br />
about, the kids were finally rewarded with<br />
some swell animal action for the last couple<br />
of reels. This needs support. Played Pri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Fair.—Mrs. Pat Murphy,<br />
Queen Theatre, Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage.<br />
* * •<br />
Daughter of the West (PC i—Philip Reed,<br />
Martha Vickers, Donald Woods. This is similar<br />
to the great picture, "Ramona." The picture<br />
is a little different and is educational<br />
and entertaining. As it is in color, this makes<br />
it better than the average. Comments on it<br />
were good. Played Sat. (preview). Sun.<br />
Weather: Warm.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre,<br />
Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. * * •<br />
Junior G-JMen (FO—Serial reissue. This<br />
reissue is a better serial than you can buy<br />
today. If you can save money and give better<br />
product, then play it.—W. S. Funk, Star<br />
Theatre, St. Stephen,. S. C. Small town and<br />
farm patronage. * * »<br />
Things to Come (PC )—Reissue. Raymond<br />
Massey, Margaretta Scott. Good movies, like<br />
good books, never grow old. This one proved<br />
it. The photography is tops, the acting excellent,<br />
and the story is above average. If you<br />
have not played this picture, do so. Don't be<br />
afraid to advertise it and your return will be<br />
good. Film Classics releases are moneymakers<br />
for us. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Hot.—Charles Osborne, Presidio Theatre,<br />
Presidio, Tex. Small town<br />
*<br />
patronage.<br />
Have Money in Reserve<br />
It Picture Not Played<br />
JIGGS AND MAGGIE IN COURT<br />
(Mono)—Joe Yule, Renie Riano, George<br />
McManus. The "sophisticate" who can't<br />
laugh and enjoy this old-fashioned piethrowing<br />
bee is too dead to go to a show.<br />
I have yet to have a complaint on a<br />
Maggie-and-Jiggs, and this is the best to<br />
date. I still think more like this and less<br />
of the tear-jerkers would help us all, and<br />
the boxoffice results prove it. If you<br />
haven't run any of this series yet, brothers,<br />
I envy you, for you've got money in<br />
reserve—when you start using Jiggs and<br />
Maggie. Let's have more Barney Gerard.<br />
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot.—Robert<br />
C. Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
Small town and rural patronage. * * *<br />
Spanish-Dubbed Reissue<br />
A Hit With Patrons<br />
MOTIN ABORDO (MGM) — (Reissue of<br />
"Mutiny on the Bounty" in Spanish).<br />
Charles Laughton, Clark Gable. In English<br />
this was one of the all-time greats<br />
and it does not lose any of its punch by<br />
being dubbed in Spanish. It is remarkable<br />
how well the lips match when you<br />
consider they are speaking English and<br />
the dialog you hear is Spanish. The Mexican<br />
trade really enjoyed this one. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot and dry.<br />
Charles Osborne, Presidio Theatre, Presidio,<br />
Tex. Small town patronage. *<br />
LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS<br />
Last of the Wild Horses (LPi —James Ellison,<br />
Mary Beth Hughes, Jane Piazee. This<br />
they enjoyed, although tractors may have replaced<br />
horses on the farms. They still love<br />
westerns and horses in our community. Played<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather;, Warm.—Harland Rankin,<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage.<br />
* '<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Big Jack (MGM)—Wallace Beei-y, Marjorie<br />
Main, Richard Conte. A swell show for a small<br />
town, as it has a wettem background. It is<br />
with regret that we play the last picture of the<br />
old reliable Wallace Beery. We made a profit.<br />
Played Sun., Mon.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.<br />
* • •<br />
Bribe, The (MGM)—Robert Taylor, Ava<br />
Gardner, Charles Laughton. Ouch! Metro<br />
should be ashamed to' put its label on this<br />
one. All the stars were miscast, in my opinion.<br />
Once again Metro threw its top stars<br />
into this—merely forgot to give them a good<br />
story. My patrons like action but this didn't<br />
have anything to satisfy them. Please, no<br />
more of this type, or of the last five or six<br />
Metro has released. Doubled with "The<br />
Amazing Mi-. X" (EL) to 85 per cent business.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Clear<br />
and hot.—Jim Dunbajr, Roxy Theatre, Wichita,<br />
Kas. Second and third downtown run<br />
patronage. * *<br />
Bride Goes Wild, The (MGM)—Van Johnson,<br />
June Allyson, Butch Jenkins. Thank<br />
you, exhibitors, for your raves on this one.<br />
I passed it up for a long time, but you finally<br />
sold me. It's everything you said. Never have<br />
I had a comedy to equal this one. It loosened<br />
a heck of a lot of seats, but it was worth it.<br />
If you haven't played it. don't let it go by.<br />
Played Sim., Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot.<br />
R. C. Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
Rural patronage. * * *<br />
Command Decision (MGM)—Clark Gable,<br />
Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson. I took in exactly<br />
$2.83 over the film rental on a Sun.,<br />
Mon. playdate. In my estimation, this picture<br />
should mean death to any small town<br />
exhibitor. It is too slow-moving for my type<br />
of patronage. The customers here do not<br />
care about military strategy. Weather: Fair.<br />
Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax,<br />
111. Small town and rm-al patronage.<br />
Force of Evil (MGM)—John Garfield, Beatrice<br />
Pearson, Thomas Gomez. Star an unknown<br />
femnie and this picture failed to jell.<br />
We had complaints and walkouts. Don't play<br />
it if you can skip it. I took a loss on it.<br />
Played Tuesday.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
*.;Little Women (MGM) — June Allyson,<br />
Peter^ Lawford, Margaret O'Brien. Leo makes<br />
'em, as proved by this feature and its good<br />
i-eception. This played all over town before<br />
it hit the Roxy and still there were persons<br />
who came and saw this masterpiece. It has<br />
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BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 1949
~<br />
Pedro<br />
Para<br />
been a pleasuie<br />
-JUDt jflvsw- Give us<br />
more of these. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
to in<br />
again have your roar<br />
the Roxy. Leo. Business was 125 per<br />
leissue<br />
cent<br />
for the three days, doubled with Screen<br />
Guild's streamliner, "The Hat Box Mystery."<br />
Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cloudy<br />
and hot.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita,<br />
Kas. Second and third dowijtov^Ti run<br />
patronage. • •<br />
Romance of Rosy Ridge iMGM)—Van<br />
Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, Janet Leigh. Good<br />
old Metro and I had to quit speaking about<br />
the time this came out, so I had to go back<br />
into the boneyard for this. Business wasn't<br />
high, but neither was the rental! However,<br />
the picture has everything—cast, storj-, comedy,<br />
locale, etc. It is a small town natural.<br />
If they had used color on this, it would have<br />
been really big. If you passed it up like I<br />
did, here's one I'd say to go back and pick<br />
up. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot.<br />
—Robert C. Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita,<br />
Colo. Small town and rural patronage. " * *<br />
QStratton Story, The (MGM)—James Stewart,<br />
June Allyson, Frank Morgan. This is<br />
an exceptionally fine production that will<br />
appeal to all, young and old ahke. Also, it<br />
IS a very fine piece of acting. It is a picture<br />
that gets under your skin. Played Wed.<br />
thi-ough Sat. Weather: Splendid.—M. W.<br />
Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, McMinnvilie, Ore.<br />
City and rm-al patronage. * ' *<br />
yXake Me Out to the BaU Game ^MGM)—<br />
Prank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly.<br />
This is really super. Some stayed to see it<br />
over again. I gave away a baseball glove, bat<br />
and ball on opening day and word-of-mouth<br />
advertising took care of the rest. Everybody<br />
loved it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot.—<br />
Mrs. Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre, HoUiday,<br />
Tex. Oil field patronage. * * *<br />
C-Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM)—<br />
Prank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly.<br />
This is good but did not do the business it<br />
should have done. Quite a number of our<br />
people do not like Frank Sinatra. The picture<br />
has a perfect title and a good story combining<br />
baseball and vaudeville. Kelly's songand-dance<br />
numbers were not up to standard<br />
but I believe that the picture is worth preferred<br />
playing time in small towns at a reasonable<br />
flat rental. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Pair.—E. A. London, State Theatre,<br />
Olivet, Mich. Rural and small town patronage.<br />
* •<br />
Three Godfathers (MGM1—John Wayne,<br />
Armendariz. Hari-y Carey jr. This was<br />
not too hot and didn't go over so big. The<br />
people seemed divided on this as to their<br />
likes. Played Fri., Sat. — Harland Rankin,<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage.<br />
* • •<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Accused, The iPara)—Loretta Yoimg, Robert<br />
Cunxmings, Wendell Corey. I knew in advance<br />
what to expect, but it wasn't quite as<br />
bad as I thought it would be. I did make<br />
expenses, but nothing more. Played Wed.,<br />
Thm-s. Weather: Fair.—Mrs. Pat Murphy,<br />
Queen Theatre, HoUiday, Tex. Oil field patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
Alias Nick Beal ( )<br />
— Ray Milland,<br />
Audrey Totter, Thomas Mitchell. This is a<br />
fantasy that did not click. From a production<br />
standpoint, it is satisfactory. From an<br />
Waiting for This Type:<br />
Turned Out for It<br />
MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM (Col) —<br />
Jerome Courtland, Ruth Warrick, Ron<br />
Randell. This is what they were waiting<br />
Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury,<br />
Ont. Small town patronage. * « *<br />
entertainment standpoint, it has slight value.<br />
Played Sun. through Tues. Weather: Splendid.—M.<br />
W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, Mc-<br />
Minnvilie, Ore. City and rural patronage. * * *<br />
Big Clock, The (Para) — Ray Milland.<br />
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'SuUivan. Now<br />
here is one that fails to click. A few will<br />
like it—the majority won't. Laughton is<br />
hard to understand, but he sure can act!<br />
Prank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont.<br />
Small town patronage. • * •<br />
Big Town Scandal (Para) —Philip Reed,<br />
Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements. This is<br />
not bad for a double bUl, but is strictly B<br />
stuff. It is a far-fetched basketball stoi-y<br />
and the crime angle overshadows the sports<br />
angle, so it gets a cold shoulder at the boxoffice.<br />
You'll never miss anything if you never<br />
play this one. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Hot.—Robert C. Walker, Uintah Theatre,<br />
Pruita, Colo. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
* • »<br />
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,<br />
A (Para)—Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming, Sir<br />
Cedi'ic Hardwicke. Fantasy supreme, with<br />
Bing crooning his way through in his usually<br />
fine tradition. However, the fantasy was a<br />
bit too far-fetched to please most fans. Between<br />
"The Emperor Waltz" and this, Paramoimt<br />
will start wondering why Bing's draw<br />
is lagging. Most fans are far from happy<br />
about his casting lately. Doubled with "Case<br />
of the 'Baby-Sitter" (LP) to 90 per cent business.<br />
Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Cloudy and sijltry.—Jim Dunbar,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Second and<br />
third downtown run patronage. * *<br />
Dynamite (Para) — William Gargan,- Virginia<br />
Welles, Richai'd Crane. This is okay<br />
and was doubled over the weekend to satisfaction.<br />
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm.—<br />
Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
Small town patronage. * * •<br />
The Best Free Short<br />
Put Out, He Thinks<br />
SOME OF THE BEST (MGM)—Trade<br />
short. This is the best free short put out<br />
by any film company. I was actually<br />
proud that I had played it. Attendance<br />
was light because of the county fair and<br />
it was played with "Clay Pigeon" (RKO),<br />
which was a weak sister. I think every<br />
theatre should play "Some of the Best."<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.<br />
Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax,<br />
111. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
Wanda<br />
Miss Tatlock's Millions (Para ) —<br />
HendrLx, Barry Fitzgerald, John Lund. We<br />
didn't have much luck with this one and it<br />
didn't draw enough for film rental and house<br />
expenses, so use your own judgment. If you<br />
can buy it right, the picture isn't so bad,<br />
and it does have quite a few laughs. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and hot.—Mayme<br />
P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.<br />
Small town patronage. • * •<br />
CWelcome Stranger (Para)—Bing Crosby,<br />
Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald. I played<br />
a return date on this and it did all right.<br />
You can't beat this pair of stars. Played<br />
Wed., Thm-s. Weather: Pair.—Bill Leonard,<br />
Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. Small town<br />
and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
^'^^lispering Smith (Para)—Alan Ladd, Robert<br />
Preston, Brenda Marshall. Customers<br />
were disappointed in this one. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat., but it failed to draw them in. Weather:<br />
Hot and sulti-y.—C. E. McMurchy, Memorial<br />
Hall Theatre Co., Ltd., Reston, Man. Small<br />
town and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Adventure in Baltimore (RKO) Robert<br />
It<br />
Has Entertainment:<br />
What Patrons Want<br />
MOTHER IS A FRESHMAN (20th-<br />
Fox)—Loretta Young, Van Johnson, Rudy<br />
Vallee. This picture is a "must" for all<br />
small towns. It sure has entertainment,<br />
and that is what my patrons want. Played<br />
Thurs., Fri. W. S. Funk, Star Theatre,<br />
St. Stephen, S. C. Small town and farm<br />
patronage. * » »<br />
Young, Shirley Temple, John Agar. This is<br />
just another picture, neither good nor bad,<br />
but it has some comedy in it. The few who<br />
came were pleased. I took a loss. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
CBest Years of Our Lives, The (RKO)-<br />
Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews.<br />
This did good business at regular admissions.<br />
Comments all were good on it. I gave them<br />
a 10-minute recess at the end of the sixth<br />
reel. It is tops in entertainment. Played<br />
Tues., Wed.—Prank Sabin, Majestic Theatre,<br />
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
Enchantment (RKO)—David Niven, Evelyn<br />
Keyes, Parley Granger. Our customers' comments<br />
were all to the bad. It was not liked<br />
and we took a splendid licking, as it is just<br />
not the type our patrons want. It can be<br />
used as the lower half of a double bill. Played<br />
Tues. through Wed. Weather: Splendid.—M.<br />
W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, McMinnvilie,<br />
Ore. City and rural patronage. ' *<br />
Indian Agent (RKO)—Tim Holt, Nan Leslie,<br />
Noah Beery jr. This is the usual Tim<br />
Holt western, well made and good acting from<br />
all participants. Doubled with "Rusty Leads<br />
the Way" from Columbia to slightly above<br />
average gross. Played Saturday only. Weather:<br />
Pair.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre,<br />
Colfax, 111. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
Joan of Arc (RKO)—Ingrid Bergman, Jose<br />
Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan. This is truly a<br />
great film. Wonderful acting and beautiful<br />
color. The advanced price hui't us some, and<br />
the fact that the peso dropped about the time<br />
we played this cut off some of om- acrossthe-border<br />
trade. Still we did okay and have<br />
no complaints, for it is a pleasure to play a<br />
picture hke this. Played Stm., Mon. Weather:<br />
Pair. — Charles Osborne, Presidio Theatre,<br />
Presidio, Tex. Small town<br />
*<br />
patronage.<br />
Melody Time (RKO)—Roy Rogers, Sons of<br />
the Pioneers, and Ethel Smith with Disney<br />
cartoons. I played this one for the kids but<br />
it was away above their heads. We had a lot<br />
of walkouts half way through it. Pass it up<br />
for our money. Weather: Cold and cloudy.<br />
C. E. McMurchy, Memorial Hall Theatre Co.,<br />
Ltd., Reston, Man. Small t-owa and rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
^Pride of the Yankees (RKO)—Reissue.<br />
Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Walter Brennan.<br />
Reissuing this splendid picture was good<br />
business for both RKO and the exhibitor.<br />
We've shown a few corny reissues, so it's a<br />
pleasure to get this type. Played Fri., Sat.,<br />
Sun. Weather: Okay.—Frank Sabin, Majestic<br />
Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small towTi and<br />
rural patronage.<br />
* •<br />
Station West (RKO)— Dick Powell, Jane<br />
Greer, Agnes Moorehead. This played to one<br />
of my lowest Saturday grosses this year—and<br />
in my situation, Saturday night is my life<br />
blood. It was a well-made whodunit western,<br />
which I enjoyed—but then I do not pay to<br />
see my own pictures. Played Saturday only.<br />
Weather: Fair.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial<br />
Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small tovm and rural<br />
patronage.<br />
•<br />
Tarzan's Magic Fountain (RKO) — Lex<br />
(Continued on page 4)<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Sept. 17, 1949
III M<br />
EHHS a Great Help<br />
To Small Town Shows<br />
f^ E. McMurchy, president of Reston<br />
Memorial Hall Theatre Co., Ltd. at<br />
Reston, Manitoba, sends in Ills first reports<br />
this week, with these introductory<br />
remarks:<br />
"Exhibitor Has His Say' is a great<br />
help to the small town theatres. More<br />
Canadian exhibitors should give their<br />
comments on pictures."<br />
Exhibitor Has His Say<br />
(Continued from pag« 3)<br />
Barker, Brenda Joyce, Evelyn Ankers. This<br />
probably will make Tnoney in some spots but<br />
we always lose on the Tarzan pictures. In<br />
fact, none of the low-bracket pictures show<br />
a satisfactory profit here. This picture is<br />
very cute and Lex Barker is a handsome specimen<br />
as well as a good actor. The animal<br />
shots are excellent. Played Tues., Wed.<br />
Weather: Fair.—E. A. London, State Theatre,<br />
Olivet, Mich. Rural and small town patronage.<br />
• *<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Winter Wonderland (Rep)—Lynne Roberts,<br />
Charles Drake, Roman Bohnen. With the<br />
temperature at 102, 1 doubled this with "Spoilers<br />
of the North," turned up the air conditioning<br />
and advertised it as a cool trip back<br />
to winter! "Winter Wonderland" really<br />
pleased and the mountains of snow helped<br />
them forget the heat. Both pictures are old<br />
but they made a nice program that did average<br />
business. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Hot.—Robert C. Walker, Uintah<br />
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small town and rural<br />
patronage. • * *<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX<br />
Chicken Every Sunday (20th-Fox) — Dan<br />
Dailey, Celeste Holm, Colleen Townsend. This<br />
is a good picture that drew well on our midweek<br />
change and seemed to satisfy our regulars—which<br />
is quite a feat in these times.<br />
Played Tues. through Thurs. Weather: Fair<br />
and hot.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre,<br />
Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage.<br />
Cry of the City (20th-Fox)—Victor Mature,<br />
Richard Conte, Betty Garde. My customers<br />
liked this one, which is unusual for this kind<br />
of picture. Our only beef on this kind is<br />
that they are always labeled "Adult," and<br />
that hurts the family trade here. Played<br />
Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Hot.—H. J. Partridge,<br />
Lyceum Theatre, Gull Lake, Sask. Rural<br />
and town patronage. * •<br />
Letter to Three Wives, A (20th-Fox)—<br />
Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern.<br />
This is one picture that should be seen from<br />
the start or you have a bunch of dissatisfied<br />
people, who never got the drift of the stoi-y<br />
and gripe about that phase. It is a pretty<br />
good picture but should be shown after the<br />
audience has all been seated. Played Sun.,<br />
Rained for Two Days:<br />
Came for Reissue<br />
IT AIN'T HAY— (LP) —Reissue. Bud<br />
Abbott, Lou Costello. It rained for two<br />
days straight and still they came to see<br />
this. It very nearly topped the house<br />
record. We did not think this was up to<br />
the standard set by this pair, but anyway,<br />
it paid. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Rain.—L. E. Wolcott, Qulnlan Theatre,<br />
Quinlan, Tex. Small town and rural<br />
patronage. *<br />
Mon. Weather: Pair and hot.—Mayme P.<br />
Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.<br />
Small town patronage. * * *<br />
Mother Is a Freshman (20th-Fox)—Loretta<br />
Young, Van Johnson, Rudy Vallee. Here's<br />
another fine picture from a company that<br />
has put out many good pictui-es. This one<br />
will please all audiences. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Good.—W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theatre,<br />
Challis, Ida. Small town and country<br />
patronage. ' *<br />
Rose of Washington Square (20th-Fox)—<br />
Reissue. Tyrone Power, Al Jolson, Alice Faye.<br />
This is a good reissue, since Jolson has been<br />
clicking lately, and it does okay. Played Wed.,<br />
Thms. Weather: Warm.—Harland Rankin,<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town<br />
patronage. ' * *<br />
Trouble Preferred (20th-Fox) — Peggy<br />
Knudsen. Lynne Roberts, Charles Russell.<br />
This is strictly a program picture but on the<br />
weekends, it is action that they like. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Warm.—Harland<br />
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small<br />
town patronage.<br />
• * *<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Daring Cabailero (UA)—Duncan Renaldo,<br />
Leo Carrillo, Kippee Valez. This is an average<br />
western which pleased the plowboys on<br />
Fri., Sat. No complaints and no comments,<br />
but we showed a profit.—E. M. Freiburger,<br />
Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town<br />
patronage. • • *<br />
Girl From Manhattan, The (UA)—Dorothy<br />
Lamour, Charles Montgomery, Charles<br />
Laughton. From some of the reports, I<br />
thought this would be a flop. However, the<br />
picture seemed okay to me and I even made<br />
a little profit on it. Our new minister liked<br />
it, too. Comments were good and it drew<br />
well. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Cool.<br />
L. Brazil jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark.<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
' * * *<br />
Calls Randolph Scott<br />
The Best Loved Star<br />
FRONTIER MARSHAL (20th-FOX) —<br />
Randolph Scott, Cesar Romero, Nancy<br />
Kelly. This is a very good picture, well<br />
named, and the best-loved star in these<br />
parts is Randolph Scott. What more can<br />
one want? We would like more of this<br />
type. Played Monday. Weather: Hot.—<br />
L. E. Wolcott, Quinlan Theatre, Quinlan,<br />
Tex. Small town and rural patronage. •<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
Countess of Monte Cristo, The (U-D—Sonja<br />
Henie, Olga San Juan, Michael Kirby. Don't<br />
be afraid to play this one. This picture has<br />
lots of comedy and the skating is good. Played<br />
Wednesday. Weather: Hot.—W. L. Stratton.<br />
Lyric Theatre, Challis, Ida. Small town and<br />
country patronage.<br />
* '<br />
Tap Roots (U-D—Van Heflin, Susan Hayward,<br />
Boris Karloff. I enjoyed this very<br />
much, but my patrons were bored until the<br />
battle scene in the last reel. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Fair. — Mrs. Pat Murphy,<br />
Queen Theatre, HoUiday, Tex. Oil field patronage.<br />
* • *<br />
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (U-D—Donald<br />
O'Connor, Gloria DeHaven, Charles Coburn.<br />
My best gross in 20 weeks—but even that<br />
wasn't a high gross. Extra advertising and<br />
local radio plugs by Universal accounted for<br />
the greater part of the extra gross. I played<br />
it here the week after its world premiere<br />
in Chicago. The picture was well liked by<br />
all, and the predominant comment was<br />
"cute!" Played Sim., Mon. Weather: Fair.<br />
Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax,<br />
111. Small town and rm-al patronage.<br />
*<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Casablanca (WB)—Reissue. Humphrey Bo-<br />
Invited the Ministers:<br />
That Type of Show<br />
C-'SO DEAR TO MY HEART (RKO) —<br />
Burl Ives, Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten.<br />
This is the best Walt Disney I ever played.<br />
However, the gross was 'way below that of<br />
"Melody Time." I invited the ministers of<br />
our area to be my guests (since it is "that<br />
kind" of show), and I know they enjoyed<br />
it. The polio scare, although there were<br />
few cases in this area, is affecting my<br />
gross. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.<br />
—Fred C. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax,<br />
III. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
gart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid. This is<br />
one of Bogart's and Bergman's best. It<br />
pleased everyone. What has become of Dooley<br />
Wilson? He was really good. Conrad Viedt<br />
was tops as the villain. In my opinion he<br />
was one of our best actors, but just never<br />
did seem to make top billing. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Hot.—Charles Osborne, Presidio<br />
Theatre, Presidio, Tex. Small town patronage.<br />
*<br />
Life With Father (WB)—Irene Duime, William<br />
Powell, Elizabeth Taylor. This is a swell<br />
picture. Play it, by all means. We played it<br />
on the weekend on a percentage basis, and<br />
sme were surprised. Weather: Sultry and<br />
hot.—C. E. McMurchy, Memorial Hall Theatre<br />
Co., Ltd., Reston, Man. Small town and<br />
*<br />
rural patronage.<br />
My Dream Is Yours (WB)—Jack Carson,<br />
Doris Day, Lee Bowman. This is one of the<br />
swellest pictures I have ever played. Advertise<br />
this picture big. It will please all who<br />
come—and all will come. It appeals to every<br />
class of customer. Played Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Good.—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre,<br />
St. Stephen, S. C. Small town and farm patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
South of St. Louis (WB)—Joel McCrea,<br />
Alexis Smith, Zachary Scott. This is truly<br />
one of the great action pictures. I have played<br />
several of this type in the last few months.<br />
I feel that ihis is aiyong the very top. I<br />
would say, play it. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
Weather: Warm. — L. E. Wolcott, Quinlan<br />
Theatre, Quinlan, Tex. Small town and rural<br />
patronage.<br />
'<br />
That Hagen Girl (WB)—Shirley Temple,<br />
Ronald Reagan, Rory Calhoun. I made lots<br />
of the gossipy old maids mad in my advertising<br />
on this one, but after seeing the picture<br />
they complimented me on showing it, for<br />
it really taught them a good lesson. The picture<br />
is most interesting all the way through<br />
and it had my patrons guessing as to how<br />
it would turn out. I did average business on<br />
it, which these days, is good business. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair one night, storm<br />
the next.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon,<br />
Fla. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
* •<br />
This Theatre and You (WB)—Public relations<br />
short. This is one short that every<br />
theatre should be proud to show. It is excellent<br />
in every way.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre,<br />
Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage.<br />
* * •<br />
Wonderful Picture<br />
Pleased Everyone<br />
SEARCH, THE (MGM) —Montgomery<br />
Clift, Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna.<br />
This is a wonderful picture that pleased<br />
everyone. It did good business and the<br />
rental was fair. Played Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Hot.—C. E. McMurchy, Memorial<br />
Hall Theatre Co., Ltd., Reston, Man.<br />
Small town and rural patronage. *<br />
Llli to 111 1*' '<br />
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BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 1949<br />
'"or<br />
^^
Alphabetical Pkfure Guide Index and<br />
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
/•»:<br />
i o<br />
CD
++ Very Good; + Good: — Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary 'tt is rated as 2 pluses; — as 2 minuses.<br />
-li.^ •<br />
S
.<br />
'<br />
975<br />
++ Very Good; + Good; ± Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary ^ is rated as 2 pluses: = as 2 minuses.<br />
.2-C<br />
1<br />
z<br />
+ + -<br />
t -<br />
+ #<br />
I «<br />
^<br />
'+!<br />
M<br />
+ 5H<br />
'<br />
-<br />
Wl<br />
: - I-!-<br />
il-<br />
: S-)<br />
- 12-1-<br />
: H<br />
--<br />
W<br />
+ UH<br />
14<br />
;-!<br />
w<br />
5tl<br />
- -<br />
m<br />
1 1 w<br />
Si!-<br />
Outcasts of the Trail (60) Rep.<br />
971 Out of the Storm (61) Rep... 9-25-48<br />
Outlaw Brand (57) Mono<br />
Outlaw Country (60) LP<br />
1024-A Outpost in Morocco (92) UA 4- i-4V 2:<br />
P<br />
±<br />
980 Paleface, The (91) Para 10-23-48 4+<br />
888 Paradine Case, The (117) EL 1- 3-48<br />
1003 Parole, Inc. (87) EL 1-15-49 +<br />
903 Pearl, The (77) RKO 2-21.48<br />
897 Piccadilly Incident (88) MGM 2- 7-48<br />
1013 Place of One's Own, A (95) El 2-26-49<br />
983 Plot to Kill Roosevelt, The (83) UA 11- 6-48<br />
983 Plunderers, The (87) Rep 11-6-48<br />
999 Portrait of Jennie (90) EL 1- 1-49<br />
1071 Postotf ice Invcstijator (60) Rep.... 9-17-49<br />
1018 Prejudice (58) MPSC 3-12-49<br />
1066 Prince of Foxes (111) 2D-Fox 8-27-49<br />
1026 Prince of Peace (formerly The Lawton Story)<br />
(111) Hallmark 4- 9-49<br />
1030 Prince of the Plains (60) Rep 4-23-49<br />
: I+S<br />
Q<br />
m 11023-A Quartet (120) EL<br />
4- 2-49 tt<br />
hi<br />
Quick on the Trigger (54) Col<br />
R<br />
948 Race Street (79) RKO 7-3-48<br />
958 Rachel and the Stranger (92) RKO.. 8- 7-48<br />
983 Racing Luck (66) Col 11- 6-48<br />
Rangers Ride, The (56) Mono<br />
1009 Red Canyon (82) U-l<br />
2-12-49<br />
1047 Red, Hot and Blue (85)<br />
1063 Red Light (84) UA<br />
1042 Red Menace, The (87) Rep..<br />
Para.<br />
1011 Red Pony, The (89) Rep...<br />
952 Red River (126) UA<br />
1019 Red Stallion in the Rockies (84)<br />
980 Red Shoes, The (134) EL<br />
Renegades of Sonora (60) Rep...<br />
979 Return of October, The (89) Col.<br />
1017 Ride, Ryder, Ride (59) EL<br />
1041 Riders of the Whistling Pines<br />
6-25-49<br />
8-20-49<br />
6- 4-49<br />
2-19-49<br />
7-17-48<br />
EL 3-19-49<br />
..10-23-48<br />
. .<br />
10-23-48<br />
.. 3-12-49<br />
(70) Col 6- 4-49<br />
)4lMl024-A Rimfirc (67) LP 4- 2-49<br />
4|4 a055 Rim of the Canyon (70) Col 7-23-49<br />
5.5 1056 Ringside (62) LP 7-23-49<br />
Iji]<br />
'974 Road House (95) 20-Fox 10-2-48<br />
Rogues' Regiment (86) U-l 10-9-48<br />
T it + « H 1053 Roll Thunder Roll! (58) EL 7-16-49<br />
963 Rope (80) WB 8-28-48<br />
1050 Rope of Sand (110) Para 7- 2-49<br />
+ t « w<br />
1063 Roseanna McCoy (S9) RKO 8-20-49<br />
1007 Rose of the Yukon (59) Rep 1-29-49<br />
+<br />
ṯ +<br />
!-!•<br />
3-<br />
1037 Roughshod (88) RKO 5-21-49<br />
1022 Rustlers (60) RKO 3-26-49<br />
977 Rusty Leads the Way (59) Col 10-16-48<br />
11029 Rusty Saves a Life (68) Col... 4-23-49<br />
+ ^<br />
S<br />
1031 Sand (77) 20-Fox<br />
4-30-49<br />
1029 Saraband (95) EL<br />
4-23-49<br />
1057 Savage Splendor (60) RKO<br />
7-30-49<br />
967 Saxon Charm, The (88) UA... 9-11-48<br />
2+5<br />
ji5il04S Scene of the Crime (95) MGM. 6-25-49<br />
4. 1028 Scott of the Antarctic (111) EL 4-16-49<br />
967 Sealed Verdict (83) Para 9-11-48<br />
St<br />
1022 Set-Up, The (72)<br />
Hit<br />
RKO 3-26-49<br />
1035 Shamrock Hill (70) EL 5-14-49<br />
, If^<br />
^lll032 Secret Garden, The (90) MGM 4-30-49<br />
963 Secret Land, The (71) MGM 5-28-48<br />
Hi<br />
1049 Secret of St. Ives, The (76) Col... 7- 2-49<br />
1001 Shen Comes Home (60) LP 1- 8-49<br />
Sheriff of Medicine Bow (55) Mono<br />
t015 Sheriff of Wichita (60) Rep 3- 5-49<br />
.057 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (103) RKO 7-30-49<br />
.003 Shockproof (79) Col 1-15-49<br />
998 Siren of Atlantis (83) UA.<br />
12-25-48<br />
.056 Sky Dragon (64) Mono<br />
7-23-49<br />
I+!<br />
.059 Sky Liner (60) LP<br />
8- 6-49<br />
i-i<br />
a*<br />
.059 Slattery's Hurricane (S3) 20-Fox.. 8- 6-49<br />
023-A Sleeping Car to Trieste (95) EL 4- 2-49<br />
.010 Slightly French (81) Col<br />
2-12-49<br />
It!<br />
971 Smart Girls Don't Talk (81) WB. 9-28.48<br />
.008 Smoky Mountain Melody (61) Col. 1-29-49<br />
Smuggler's Cove (66) Mono<br />
986 Snake Pit, The (108) 20-Fox 11-13-48<br />
024 Snowbound (85) U-l 3-26-49<br />
993 So Dear to My Heart (82) RKO.<br />
967 Sofia (83) FC<br />
964 Song Is Born, i-Sl A (110) RKO...<br />
!-' 014 Song of India (77) Col<br />
Hi 072 Song of Surrender (92) Para<br />
pi Son of Billy the Kid (60) LP. .<br />
Hi 932 So This Is New York (79) UA. . .<br />
.12-11-48<br />
9-11-48<br />
. 8-28-48<br />
. 2-26-49<br />
. 9-17-49<br />
+<br />
+ -<br />
+ ±<br />
+ ±<br />
+ +<br />
++<br />
+ ±<br />
+ i<br />
5-15-48 + +<br />
+ +<br />
+ +<br />
+<br />
+ ±<br />
It!-<br />
± + ++ H- +<br />
+ ± + -f ff<br />
+ ± -H- + + ff<br />
+<br />
+ +<br />
+ ++ +<br />
+ +<br />
+ + + + +<br />
+ + + +<br />
+ + + + + ff<br />
± + + +<br />
+ + + 4+ + +<br />
+ + +<br />
ff<br />
± +<br />
+<br />
++ +f<br />
+<br />
T+ + ff<br />
+ + +<br />
± ± + + ++<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+ +<br />
+ ff +<br />
ft ff<br />
+ + + ±<br />
+ + ++ ++<br />
fl-<br />
H-<br />
+<br />
W<br />
±<br />
-<br />
ff<br />
+<br />
++ + flff<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+ +<br />
+ +<br />
+ +<br />
tt + # ff<br />
± +<br />
+ ++ ff<br />
+<br />
+ +<br />
+ ± +<br />
+<br />
+ + + H ±<br />
+ +<br />
+ + +<br />
+ + ++ ++ ff<br />
++ + +• + ff<br />
++<br />
ff ++ H<br />
+<br />
•H- + +++ +<br />
=t + + +<br />
+<br />
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11 iftOXOFFICE BookinGuide :<br />
: Sept. 17, 1949
FEATURE CHART<br />
Feature productions, listed by company, in order of release. Number in circle is oa<br />
release date. Production number is at right. Number in parentheses is running tia<br />
furnished by home office of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recomm*<br />
R—is review date. PG—is Picture Guide page number. Symbol U indicates BOXO]<br />
Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Symbol O indicates color photography.<br />
I SHOT<br />
Week<br />
Ending<br />
Dec<br />
18<br />
Dec<br />
25<br />
Jan<br />
1<br />
Jan<br />
8<br />
Jan<br />
15<br />
Jan<br />
22<br />
Jan<br />
29<br />
Feb<br />
5<br />
Feb<br />
12<br />
Feb<br />
19<br />
Feb<br />
26<br />
Mar<br />
5<br />
Mar<br />
12<br />
Mar<br />
19<br />
Mar<br />
26<br />
Apr<br />
2<br />
Apr<br />
9<br />
Apr<br />
16<br />
Apr<br />
23<br />
Apr<br />
30<br />
May<br />
7<br />
Moy<br />
14<br />
Moy<br />
21<br />
(79) Drama<br />
SHOCKPROOF<br />
Cornel Wllde-P. Knleht<br />
John Baragrey<br />
15—Pn-1003<br />
R—Jan.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
(73) Outd'r-Dr 134<br />
JUNGLE JIM<br />
Johnny Welssmuller<br />
g|! (61) Act-Mus 151<br />
Smoky Mountain Melody<br />
a (68) Comedy 107<br />
BLONDIE'S SECRET<br />
Penny Singleton<br />
Arthor Lake<br />
R—Dec. 4—PO-991<br />
135<br />
(75) Drama la<br />
THE DARK PAST<br />
William Holden-Nlna Foch<br />
Lee J. Cobb-Adele Jergeiis<br />
li—Jan. 1—PO-1000<br />
(79) Western 181<br />
LOADED PISTOLS<br />
Gene Autry-Cliamplon<br />
Barbara Brltlon-CWll Wills<br />
R—Jan. 8— PO-1001<br />
S] (56) Western 166<br />
Challenge of the Range<br />
Charles Starrett<br />
Smiley Bumette<br />
Paula Raymond<br />
H (61) Musical 114<br />
LADIES OF THE CHORUS<br />
Adele Jergens-M. Monroe<br />
Rand Brooks<br />
R—Jan. 22—PQ-1005<br />
(81) Com-Dr 137 S (93) Drama<br />
lijl (76) Drama<br />
SLIGHTLY FRENCH ©BUNCHE FURY ©STATE DEPARTMENT,<br />
D. Lamour-Don Ameche V. Hobson-S. Granger<br />
FILE 649<br />
J. Carter-W. Parker<br />
Walter Fitzgerald<br />
William Lundlgan<br />
R_Fcb. 12—PO-1010 R—Sept. 18—PG-969 R—Mar. 5—PO-1016<br />
(77) Jungle-Dr 138 @ (59) Western 953<br />
SONG OF INDIA<br />
©RIDE, RYDER, RIDE<br />
Sabu-Gall Russell<br />
Jim Bannon<br />
(95) Drama 139 Little Brown Jug<br />
The Affairs o( a Rogue R—Mar. 12—PG-1017<br />
E] (57) Mystery 122 [3 (85) Outd'r-Dr 925 g] (77) Drama<br />
BOSTON BLACKIE'S ©Red Stallion in the Rockies ALASKA PATROL<br />
CHINESE VENTURE Arthur Franz-Jean Heather Richard Travis<br />
Chester Morrls-Maylla Jim Davis-Red Stallion Helen Westcott<br />
R—Mar. 26— PG-1021 R—Mar. 19—PG-1019<br />
gg (60) Comedy 108<br />
BLONDIE'S BIG DEAL<br />
P. Slngleton-Artbur Lake<br />
Larry Slmms-Marjorle Kent<br />
R—Mar. 26-PO-1021<br />
m (68) Mus-Com 116<br />
MANHATTAN ANGEL<br />
Gloria Jean-Ross Ford<br />
Patricia White<br />
R—Nov. 20— PG-988<br />
m (78) Western 185 a (88) Melodrama 941 g (70) Drama<br />
9THE BIG SOMSRERO<br />
It Always Rains on Sunday AMAZON QUEST<br />
Gene Autry-Blena Verdugo GooKie Witllers-Jack Warner Tom Neal<br />
(78) Drama 140 John McCallum<br />
Carol Mathews<br />
THE WALKING HILLS R— Mar. 12—PG-1017<br />
(100) Drama 1»1<br />
El (76) Drama<br />
KNOCK ON ANY DOOR<br />
©DAUGHTER OF<br />
II. Boeart-John Derek<br />
THE WEST<br />
G. Macready-Allene Roberts<br />
Philip Reed<br />
R—Feb. 26—PG-1013<br />
R—Apr. 2— PO-1023-A<br />
rs] (68) Drama 112 El (89) Drama 9l5<br />
RUSTY SAVES A LIFE BROKEN JOURNEY<br />
Teil DnnaWson-Glorla Henry Phyllis Calvert-M. Grahame<br />
(U (56) Western 168<br />
DESERT VIGILANTE<br />
fTS) (62) Act-Miis 152<br />
HOME IN SAN ANTONE<br />
Roy Acu(f-J. Thomas<br />
Bill Edwards<br />
The Modemalres<br />
a (60) Ad?-Dr<br />
101<br />
THE MUTINEERS<br />
Jon Hall-Adele Jergens<br />
OeorRe Reeves<br />
R—Apr. 23—PG-1029<br />
(85) Adv-Dr 142<br />
THE UNDERCOVER MAN<br />
Glenn Ford-Nina Foch<br />
J. Whitmore-Barry Kelley<br />
R—Mar. 26— PQ-1021<br />
(106) Adv-Dr 143<br />
WE WERE STRANGERS<br />
Jennifer Jones-John Garfield<br />
Pedro Armendarlz<br />
Gilbert Roland<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
aa (60) Drama 900<br />
The Strange Mrs. Crane<br />
Marjorle Lord-Robert Shayne<br />
Ruth Brady-Pierre Watkln<br />
R—Oct. 30—PG-981<br />
m (82) Com-Dr 912<br />
AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL<br />
Gloria Jean-Jimmy Lydon<br />
Frances Rafferty-J. Hubbard<br />
R— Dec. 18— PG-996<br />
a (75) Com-Fant 923<br />
MIRANDA<br />
Glynis Johns-Griffith Jones<br />
Google Wlthers-J. McCallum<br />
R—J.m. 15—PG-1003<br />
James Donald-F. L. Sullivan<br />
R—June U—PG-1044<br />
H (88) Act-Dr 927<br />
©TULSA<br />
Su^an Hayward-R. Preston<br />
Pedro Armendarlz<br />
R—Mar. 26—PG-1022<br />
gg (111) Drama 920<br />
©Scott of the Antarctic<br />
John Mills-Derek Bond<br />
H. Warrender-J. R. Justice<br />
R—Apr. 16—PC-1028<br />
g (58) Western 964<br />
©ROLL. THUNDER. ROLL<br />
J. Bannon-Llltle Brown Jug<br />
Gmmett Lynn-Marin Sails<br />
R—July<br />
16—PC-1053<br />
(120) Com-Dr 915<br />
QUARTET<br />
Hermionc Baddeley-C. Parker<br />
Dick Bogarde-Merr.vn Johns<br />
R—Apr. 2—PG-1023-A<br />
FILM CLASSICS<br />
H (69) Melodrama<br />
THE JUDGE<br />
Mllburn Stone<br />
Katherlne DeMlUe<br />
IE (63) Mystery<br />
SEARCH FOR DANGER<br />
.lohn Calvert<br />
Albert Dekker<br />
(72) Melodrama 144 (95) HIst-Dr 921 TS (74) Comedy<br />
THE LOST TRIBE ©SARABAND<br />
THE LOVABLE CHEAT<br />
Johnny Welssmuller<br />
Stewart Grancer-J. Greenwood rh.irlie RuRgles<br />
Myrna Dell-Elena Verdugo F. Ro'tnv-Flora Uob^on<br />
P. A. Garner-Richard Ney<br />
R_May 14—PG-1036 R— Apr. 23— PG-1029 R—,\nr. 9— PO-in25<br />
(75) Oiitd'r-Dr 928' 1? (76) Drama<br />
Western 161<br />
Hii (55)<br />
LARAMIE<br />
©THE BIG CAT<br />
C-MAN<br />
rtiarlcs Starrett-Fred Sears L. McCalllster-P. Ann Garnet De.4n Jagger-John Carradine<br />
Smilev Burnelte-Tom Ivo Preston Foster<br />
Edith .\twater-HaTrv Landers<br />
R—June 4—PG-1041 R—May 7—PO-1033 R— Apr. 30—PG-1 032<br />
LIPPERT M-G-M MONOGRAM PARAMOU<br />
R—Jan. 8— PO-loui<br />
m (62) Oufr-Dr 4810<br />
SHEP COMES HOME<br />
Robert Lowery-Margla Dean<br />
Billy Rlmbley<br />
@ (60) Western 4811<br />
FRONTIER REVENGE<br />
Lash LaHue<br />
Fuzzy St. Jobo<br />
lU (60) Western<br />
OUTLAW COUNTRY<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
Fuzzy St. John<br />
4812<br />
m (58) Drama 4813<br />
HIGHWAY 13<br />
Robert Lowery-Pamela Blake<br />
Michael Whalen-Dan Seymour<br />
R—Jan. 1—PG-IOOO<br />
SI (81) West-Dr 4814 g| (93) Drama 916 m (87) Drama AA15<br />
JESSE JAMES ©THE SUN COMES UP BAD BOY<br />
Preston-Foster-B. Britton J. MacDonald-Uoyd Nolan Lloyd Nolan-Audie Murphy<br />
John Ireland-Reed Hadley C. Jarman jr. -Lassie a (54) Western 4852<br />
R—Feb. 12—PO-1009 R—Jan. 8—PG-1002 LAW OF THE WEST<br />
H (60) Western 4816 g) (98) Melodrama 917<br />
Son of Billy the Kid THE BRIBE<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
Robert Taylor-Ava Gardner<br />
Fuzzy St. John<br />
53 (67) Western 4817<br />
RIMFIRE<br />
J. Mllllcan-Mary Beth Hughes<br />
Reed Hadlev<br />
R—Aug. 2--PO-1024-A<br />
H (60 Western 4815<br />
SON OF A BAD MAN<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
Fuzzy St. John<br />
m (119) Musical »1«|<br />
©WORDS AND MUSIC<br />
Judy Garland-Oene Kellj<br />
Mickey Rooney<br />
R—Dec. 11—PG-994<br />
H (106) Super-West 911<br />
©3 GODFATHERS<br />
J. Wayne-Harry Carey jr.<br />
P. Armendariz-Ward Bond<br />
R— Dec. 4—PG-992<br />
(88) Drama 912<br />
THEY MET AT MIDNIGHT<br />
Anna Neagle-M. Wilding<br />
Reginald Owen-M. Laurence<br />
R—Feb. 7—PG-897<br />
m flOO) Musical 913<br />
©THE KISSING BANDIT<br />
Frank Sinatra-K. Grayson<br />
C. Charisse-J. Carrol Nalsh<br />
R—Nov. 20—PO-988<br />
53 (82) Drama<br />
ACT OF VIOLENCE<br />
Van HelUn-Robert Ryan<br />
Janet Letgh-Mary Astor<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-997<br />
914<br />
51 (111) War Drama 916<br />
COMMAND DECISION<br />
Clark Gable-W. Pldgeon<br />
V. Johnson-Brian Donlevy<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-997<br />
C. Laugbton-John Hodlak<br />
R—Feb. 12—PG-1010<br />
m (79) Drama 919<br />
FORCE OF EVIL<br />
John Garfield-B. Pearson<br />
Thomas Gomez-Marie Windsor<br />
R—Jan. 1—PG-999<br />
[D (93) Mus-Com<br />
©TAKE ME OUT TO<br />
THE BALI GAME<br />
Fianh Sinatra-f. Williams<br />
R—Mar. .12—PG-1018<br />
Drama<br />
(S (88)<br />
CAUGHT<br />
J. Mason-Barbara Bel Geddes<br />
Robert Ryan-Curt Bots<br />
R—Feb. 19—PG-1012<br />
@ (121) Drama 922<br />
©LITTLE WOMEN<br />
June Allyson-Peter Lawtord,<br />
M. O'Brlen-E. Taylor<br />
R—Feb. 26—PG-1014<br />
g§ (58) Drama 4818 gl (85) Com-Dr 924<br />
OMOO-OMOO<br />
BIG JACK<br />
Ron Randell<br />
M. Main-Wallace Beery<br />
Pedro Decordoba<br />
R. Conte-Edward Arnold<br />
R—July 9—PG-1051 R—Apr. 9—PG-in25<br />
51 (110) Musical 925<br />
U©Barkleys of Broadway<br />
Fred Astalre-Glnger Rogers<br />
Oscar Levant-Blllle Burke<br />
R—Anr. 16— PG-1028<br />
(70) Comedy 4811<br />
JIGGS AND MAGGIE<br />
N COURT<br />
Joe Yule-Renie Rlano<br />
R— Dec. 4—PG-991<br />
a (61) Mystery 4823 a (91) Com-Wei<br />
The Feathered Serpent ©THE PALEFACE<br />
Roland Winters<br />
Bob Hope-Jane Ri<br />
Keye Luke<br />
R—June 11—PG-1043<br />
H] (81) Drama<br />
STRIKE IT RICH<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
Bonlta Granville<br />
R—Nov. 27—PG-989<br />
d] (66) Comedy<br />
TROUBLE MAKERS<br />
Leo Gorcey<br />
Bowery Boys<br />
IS (57) Western<br />
CRASHING THRU<br />
Whip Wilson<br />
.\ndy Clyde<br />
R. Armstrong-John<br />
R—Oct. 23—PO-91<br />
AA12<br />
4727<br />
4841<br />
m (74) Western AAU<br />
BABMEN OF TOMBSTONE<br />
Barry Sullivan<br />
Marjorle Reynolds<br />
R—Dec. 18—PG-996<br />
S (68) M'drama 4829<br />
INCIDENT<br />
W. Douglas-Jane Frazee<br />
R. Osterlob-J. Compton<br />
B—Jan. 1—PG-999<br />
@ (56) Western<br />
GUN RUNNER<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
CannonbaU Taylor<br />
-Noel<br />
Neill<br />
4861<br />
51 (64) Comedy 4830<br />
HENRY. THE RAINMAKER<br />
W. Tracy-R. Walburn<br />
Walter Catlett-Mary Stuart<br />
R—Jan. 29—PG-1007<br />
H (66) %ama 4803<br />
Joe Palooka in the Big Fight<br />
Joe Kirkwood<br />
Leon Errol<br />
R—Feb. 26—PG-1014<br />
51 (64) Western 4862<br />
GUN LAW JUSTICE<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
CannonbaU Taylor<br />
m (71) Melodrama 4806<br />
Bomba, the Jungle Boy<br />
Johnny Sheffield<br />
Peggy Ann Garner<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1016<br />
921IIIS (78) Melodram.i 4826<br />
TEMPTATION HARBOR<br />
Siraone Simon-Robert Newton<br />
R—Mar. 19—PG-1020<br />
918j[l) (55) Western 4853<br />
TRAILS END<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
Max Terhune-Kay Morley<br />
Keith Richards<br />
(100) Drama<br />
THE ACCUSED<br />
L. Young-R. Cummin<br />
W. Corey-Sam Jaffe<br />
R—Nov. 20—PG-981<br />
S (68)<br />
Drama<br />
DYNAMITE<br />
William Gargan-V.<br />
R. Crane-I. Bacon<br />
R—Nov. 20—PG-98|<br />
\S (84) Drama<br />
MY OWN TRUE LO'<br />
Phyllis Calvert-M. 1<br />
Wanda Hendrti-Blnnlj<br />
R—Dec. 11—PG<br />
H (89) Super-Wi<br />
©WHISPERING SMI<br />
Alan Ladd-Robert Pi<br />
Donald Crisp-B. Mi<br />
R—Dec. 11—PG-9i<br />
H) (93) Drama<br />
ALIAS NICK BEAL<br />
Audrey Totter-T. MlKl<br />
George Macready<br />
R—Jan. 22—PG-IOI<br />
[a (103) Super-We<br />
©EL PASO<br />
John Payne-Gail Rui<br />
S. Hayden-"Gabby"<br />
R—Mar. 12—PG-10<br />
S) (77) Melodrama 4S04<br />
TUNA CLIPPER<br />
Roddy McDowall-E. Verdugo<br />
Roland Winters<br />
R—Mar. 19—PG-1020<br />
53 (69) Comedv 4816 P (107) Fantasi<br />
FIGHTING FOOLS ©A Connecticut Yai<br />
Leo Gorcey<br />
King Arthur's<br />
Bowery Boys<br />
Bing Crosby-R. Flen<br />
R—July 23—PG-1056 R—Feb 26—PG-1<br />
Q] (64) Mystery 4824<br />
SKY DRAGONS<br />
Roland Wtnfers-Keye Luke<br />
Tim Rvan-Noel Nelll<br />
R—July 23—PG-1056<br />
•Tl (55) Western 486;<br />
ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE<br />
limmy Wakely<br />
CannonbaU Taylor<br />
Reno Browne<br />
(fl (92) Cost<br />
BRIDE OF VENi<br />
P. Goddard-John<br />
M. Carey-Albert<br />
R—Apr. 2—PO-<br />
8 BOXOmCE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 194 lOJorf,^<br />
I'-ft-H!:<br />
"^
J^koSlI'<br />
I CHEATED<br />
UNITED<br />
UNIV.-INT'L<br />
WARNER<br />
KO RADIO<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
(lUU) Super-West 849 li:a (!e Arden<br />
_ 1-Siij -B;i 1—PG-1000<br />
R— -Nm. 27— PG-990<br />
R— Dec. 25— PO-998<br />
'<br />
Coojedy 992 a (60) Western 863<br />
U (6U) Western 60» (90) Drama 686<br />
nu<br />
Dear to My Heart SHERIFF OF WICHITA<br />
VALIANT HOMBRE AN ACT OF MURDER<br />
es-Beulab Bondl<br />
.\lUn Lane-Lyn Wilde<br />
Duncan Renaldo-L. Carrlllo Fredric Marcb-E. O'Brien<br />
DriscoU-Luana Patten Eddy Waller<br />
John Lltel-B BUllngsley Florence Eldrldgo-0. Brooks<br />
11—PO-993 R—Mar. 5— PG-1016<br />
I!—Jan. 8— PO-lOOl 1!—Sept. 4—PG-965<br />
(102) Drama 903 m (99) Com-Dr 601<br />
gi (110) Melodrama 812<br />
THIS WAS A WOMAN THE LUCKY STIFF<br />
©Adventures of Don Juan<br />
Sonia Dresdel-B. White D. Lamour-Brian Donlevy<br />
Errol Flynn-V. Lindfors<br />
AteLBM<br />
W. Fitzgerald-C. Raymond Claire Trevor<br />
Robert Douglas-Alan Hale<br />
_J»-5» !«-FO-l<br />
I!—J.in. 8—rG-1002 I!—Jan. 29—PG-1008<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-998<br />
• llW<br />
(ik<br />
»«*<br />
irul<br />
it HI Ml<br />
Fantasy 914<br />
» "'die Fountain<br />
rker<br />
Joyce<br />
22—PG-1005<br />
) Mys-Dr 916 m (69) Ad»-Dr 804<br />
lAN'S SECRET<br />
Daughter of the Jungle<br />
t'Hara-M. Douglas Lois Halt-James Cardwell<br />
Grahame<br />
Sheldon Leonard<br />
12—PG-1009 I!—Mar. 19—PO-1020<br />
2) Drama 953<br />
NTMENT<br />
Xlten-Ieresa Wright<br />
keys-F. Granger<br />
. 11—PG-993<br />
Western<br />
the Saddle<br />
919<br />
in<br />
tlt-Rlcbard Martin<br />
iVodie<br />
. 5—PG-1015<br />
918<br />
Melodrama<br />
„,,,. ,,,, „, UY PIGEON<br />
PSIWIU y|,j„s.Barbara Halt<br />
ilB9 «e-' m Quine-Rlchard Loo<br />
19—PG-1012<br />
.(*»-«J!<br />
Drama 921<br />
3EEN PROMISE<br />
Paige-M. Chapman<br />
Brennan<br />
12—PQ-1017<br />
Comedy 920<br />
t in Baltimore<br />
foung-S<br />
Temple<br />
26—PO-1022<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
I<br />
(103) Drama 906<br />
A Letter to Three Wives<br />
leanne Crain-Linda Darnell<br />
Ann Sothern-Ivirk Douglas<br />
li— Dec. 11—PG-993<br />
(94) Comedy 907<br />
Chicken Every Sunday<br />
Dan Dailey-Celeste Holm<br />
Colleen Townsend-A. Young<br />
R— Dec. 18—PO-99fi<br />
(93) Melodrama 909<br />
A Man About the House<br />
Kieron .Moore-M. Johnston<br />
Dulcie Gray G. Middleton<br />
I!— J.in. 29—PG-1008<br />
H) (106) Act-Dr S03<br />
Wake of the Red Witch<br />
John Wayne-Gail Russell<br />
Adele Mara-Glg Young<br />
R—Jan 8—PG-1001<br />
B (61) Drama 807<br />
HIDEOUT<br />
Adrian Bootb-Uoyd Bridges<br />
Ray Collins-Sheila Ryan<br />
R—Apr. 9—PG-1025<br />
II (59) Drama 809<br />
DUKE OF CHICAGO<br />
Tom Brown-Audrey Long<br />
Grant Wlthers-Paul Harvey<br />
R—Apr. 2—PG-1024-A<br />
H (89) Drama 805<br />
©THE RED PONY<br />
Myma Loy-Robert Mltchum<br />
Louis Calbem-Peter Miles<br />
R—Feb. 19—PO-1011<br />
a (60) Western 864<br />
Death Valley Gunfighter<br />
Mian Lane-Eddy Waller<br />
Jim Nolan-Gall Davis<br />
R— Apr. 23—PG-1030<br />
(1201 Drama 910<br />
Down to the Sea in Ships<br />
L. Barrymore-R. Widmark<br />
Dean Stockwell<br />
If—Feb. 19—PG-1012<br />
169) Comedy<br />
MISS MINK OF 1949<br />
Jimmy Lydon-Lols Collier<br />
Richard Lane<br />
R—July 2.3—PG-1055<br />
912<br />
(81) Comedy 91 i<br />
©Mother Is a Freshman<br />
Loretta Young-Van Johnson<br />
Rudy Vallee-B. Lawrence<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1016<br />
ARTISTS I<br />
(83) My'terv 602<br />
COVER-UP<br />
W. Bendix-Dennls O'Kecfe<br />
Barbara Britton-Art Baker<br />
R—Feb. 26—PO-1014<br />
gj (71) Mystery 60.'<br />
JIGSAW<br />
Francbot Tone-Jean Wallace<br />
M. Lawrence-M. McCormick<br />
R—Mar. 19—PG-1019<br />
Jory<br />
a (111) Drama 605<br />
IMPACT<br />
Brian Donlevy-Ella Raines<br />
Helen Walker<br />
R—Mar 26—PG-1021<br />
Drama 922 B (60) Western 851 (fi-i Hist-West 908<br />
T-UP<br />
PRINCE OF THE PLAINS ©CANADIAN PACIFIC<br />
(tyan-Audrey Totter .Monte Hale<br />
Randolph Scott-Jane Wyatt<br />
Tobias-Alan Baxter Shirley Davis<br />
26—PG-1022 R—Apr. 23—PO-1030<br />
I Carrol<br />
R—Feb.<br />
Nalsh-Vlctor<br />
26—Pn-1013<br />
Jl (60 Drama 810 (711 Drama 905<br />
Streets of San Francisco<br />
THE LAW<br />
Robert Armstrong<br />
Tom Conway-Steve Brodie<br />
Mae Clarke-Gary Grey<br />
R—May 7—PG-1034<br />
S (80) Drama<br />
©THE LAST BANDIT<br />
William Elliott<br />
Andy Devlne<br />
R—Feb. 19—PG-1011<br />
5f 671 Out'r-Mus<br />
©SUSANNA PASS<br />
Rny Rogers<br />
Dale Evans<br />
R. Osterloh-B. BUllngsley<br />
R—Jan. 15—PG-1004<br />
|<br />
(94) Com-Dr 681<br />
THE FIGHTING O'FLYNN<br />
Douglas Fab-banks jr.<br />
Helena Carter-R. Greene<br />
R—Jan. 15—PG-1004<br />
ID (87) Drama<br />
CRISS CROSS<br />
B. Lancaster-Y. PeCarlo<br />
D. Duryea-S. McNally<br />
R—Jan. 22—PG-1005<br />
(90) Comedy 68<br />
FAMILY HONEYMOON<br />
C. Colbert -Fre* MacMurray<br />
Rita Jobnson-W. Daniels<br />
R—Dec. IS—PG-995<br />
|§ (87) Comedy 690<br />
THE LIFE OF RILEY<br />
W. Bendix-R. DeCamp<br />
James Gleason-Beulab Bondi<br />
R—Feb. 12—PG-1009<br />
(82) Outd'r-Dr 691<br />
©RED CANYON<br />
,\nn Blyth-Genrge Brent<br />
Howard Duff-E Buchanan<br />
n—Feb. 12—pn-)no9<br />
(75) Comedy 69<br />
MA AND PA KETTLE<br />
M. Main-Percy Kilbride<br />
Richard Long-Mec Randall<br />
T)_Anr. 2—Pn-in24-A<br />
BROS.<br />
688 _ (86) Drama 813<br />
FLAXY MARTIN<br />
Virginia Mayo-Z. Scott<br />
Dorothy Maione-T. D'Andrea<br />
R—Jan 22—PG-10n6<br />
H (96) Comedy 814<br />
JOHN LOVES MARY<br />
R. Reagan-Jack Carson<br />
W. Morris-Edward Arnold<br />
R—Jan. 29—PO- 1008<br />
51 (88) Hist-Dr 816<br />
©SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS<br />
Joel McCrea-AlexIs Smith<br />
Zachary Scott-D. Malone<br />
R—Feb. 19—PG-lOll<br />
51 (87) Comedy 811^<br />
A KISS IN THE DARK<br />
David Niven-Jane Wyman<br />
Victor Moore-Wayne Morris<br />
R—Mar 5—PG-1016<br />
g (77)' Melodrama 817<br />
HOMICIDE<br />
Robert Douglas-H. Westcott<br />
Robert Alda-Monte Blue<br />
R—Mar 12—PG-1018<br />
gi (101) Miis-Cnm R2(<br />
©MY DREAM IS YOURS<br />
Jack Carson-Dennis Day<br />
Lee Bowman-Eve Arden<br />
R—Mar. 19—PG-1020<br />
806 51 (89) Drama 60!<br />
THE CROOKED WAY<br />
John Payne-Ellen Drew<br />
Sonnv Tufts<br />
R—May 14—PO-1035<br />
842 ig (94) Drama 821<br />
FLAMINGO ROAD<br />
J. Crawford-S. Greenstreet<br />
H (921 Drama 607<br />
OUTPOST IN MOROCCO<br />
George Raft-M. Windsor<br />
Akim Tamlroff-John Lltel<br />
R— Apr, 2—PG-1024-A<br />
Western 923 ID (6(1) Western Si! (83) Comedy 913<br />
ns<br />
FRONTIER INVESTIGATOR Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
t-Blchard Martin Mian Lane-Eddy Waller (^irfon Webh-Sblrley Temple<br />
flyer-Steve Brodie Roy Barcroft<br />
Tom Drake-Alan Young<br />
26—PO-1022 R—May 21—PG-1038 R—Apr. 9—PO-1026<br />
Thriller 925 "fl IRO) Western 852 (79) Cost-Dr 914 (621 Western<br />
NDOW<br />
Law of the Golden West THE FAN<br />
THE GAY AMIGO<br />
rlscoU-Barbara Hale Mnnte Hale<br />
Jeanne Crain-M. Carroll Duncan Renaldo-Armida<br />
dy-Buth Roman Paul Hurst<br />
G. S.andcrs-Richard Greene !.pn rarrillo-Joe Sawyer<br />
14—PG-1035<br />
R_Anr. 9—PG-in26 R—Mav 28—PG-1040<br />
ffi4) Drama<br />
5B (inn) Drama 60t|<br />
TUCSON<br />
CHAMPION<br />
limmy I.vdon<br />
Kirk Dnuelas-M. Maxwell<br />
Penny Edwards<br />
.\. Kennedv-Ruth Roman<br />
'<br />
R—June 4—PG-1041 R—Mar. 19—P0-1019<br />
BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 1949<br />
I (91) Drama 69'<br />
CITY ACROSS THE RIVER<br />
.
I<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
.'(ID<br />
I<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
Week<br />
Ending<br />
I<br />
May<br />
28<br />
Jun<br />
4<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
EAGLE LION FILM CLASSICS LIPPERT M-G-M MONOGRAM PARAMOUf<br />
(70) Outd'r-Mus 183<br />
Riders of the Whistling Pines<br />
CiL-ne Autry-Jimmy Lloyd<br />
Patricia Wbite-Champton<br />
R—June 4—PG-1041<br />
(71) Mus-Com 930<br />
SHAMROCK HILL<br />
Peggy Kyan-Ray McDonald<br />
Trudy Marshall<br />
It—May 14—PO-1036<br />
5i (79) Musical 105 (131) Drama 990<br />
Make Believe Ballroom DUEL IN THE SUN<br />
.lerorae Courtland<br />
(95) Mys-Melodrama 922<br />
Kiilh Warrlck-Frankle Lalne SLEEPING CAR TO TRIESTE<br />
11-May 21— PG-in37 Jean Kent-Albert Lleven<br />
a ((!1) Mystery 109 (117) Drama 991<br />
CRIME DOCTOR'S DIARY THE PARADINE CASE<br />
Jun<br />
Warner Baxter<br />
(72) Drama 931<br />
11 S. Piinne-Lols Maxwell ALIMONY<br />
It—June 11—PG-1043 Martha Vlckers-John Beal<br />
(90) Hlst-Dr 14S (96) Comedy 992<br />
Jun LUST FOR GOLD<br />
MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS<br />
Ida Lupino-Glenn Ford<br />
HIS DREAM HOUSE<br />
18 Olg Young-W. Prince<br />
(93) Cora-Dr 959<br />
It—May 28—PG-1039 A CANTERBURY TALE<br />
(81) Drama 146 (90) Com-Fantasy 939 m (91)<br />
Jun JOHNNY ALLEGRO DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART<br />
George Raft-Nlna Foch<br />
Ricliard Greene-A. Drayton<br />
25 George Macready-W. Geer Patricia Medlna-R. Bird<br />
R—June 25— PG-1047 R—Jan. 29—PG-1007<br />
^ (76) Melodrama 103<br />
Jul<br />
2<br />
Jul<br />
9<br />
Jul<br />
16<br />
Jul<br />
23<br />
Jul<br />
30<br />
Aug<br />
6<br />
Aug<br />
13<br />
Aug<br />
20<br />
Aug<br />
27<br />
Sep<br />
3<br />
Sep<br />
10<br />
Sep<br />
17<br />
Sep<br />
24<br />
Oct<br />
1<br />
THE SECRET OF ST. IVES<br />
Richard Ney-Vanessa Brown<br />
Henry Danlell<br />
R—July 2—PG-1049<br />
m (56) Western 162<br />
THE BLAZING TRAIL<br />
Charles Starrett-Fred Sears<br />
Smiley Burnette-M. Stapp<br />
R—Aug. 13—PG-1061<br />
Draraa<br />
NOT WANTED<br />
Sally Forrest-Keefe Brasselle<br />
Leo Penn—Dorothy Adams<br />
R—June 25—PG-1048<br />
gi (68) Mus-M'drama 4810 @ (92) Super-West<br />
MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM ©STREETS OF LAREI<br />
Jimmie Oans-Lee While William Holden-W. B(<br />
Sue England-V. A. Borg M. Carey-Mona Freema<br />
R—Feb. 12—PG-IO:'<br />
gS (112) Drama 926 [a (58) Western 4854 H (96) Myatery<br />
EDWARD, MY SON WEST OF ELDORADO MANHANDLED<br />
S. Tracy-Deborah Kerr .lohnny Mack Brown<br />
D. Lamour-SterMng E<br />
Ian Htinter-Leueen MacGratb Max Terhune<br />
Dan Duryea-Irene Hen<br />
B—Apr. 30—PG-1031<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-IOJT<br />
63 (57) Comedy 4827<br />
LEAVE IT TO HENRY<br />
Raymond Walburn<br />
Walter Catlett-Gary Gray<br />
R—May 28—PG-1040<br />
H (60) Melodrama 4819 @ (94) Mus-Com 927<br />
ARSON. INC.<br />
©NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER<br />
R. Lowery-Anne Gwynne Red Skelton-E, Williams<br />
Marcia Mae Jones<br />
R—May 21-PG-1037<br />
R. Montalban-K. Wynn<br />
R—May 21—PG-1038<br />
S (64) Comedy<br />
HOLD THAT BABY<br />
Leo Gorcey<br />
Bowery Boys<br />
(91) Drama 924<br />
m (106) Drama 929 ID (102) Drama AA13 a (88) Com-Dra<br />
Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill<br />
OTHE STRATTON STORY MY BROTHER JONATHAN SORROWFUL JON<br />
It<br />
David Farrar-Greta Gynt<br />
James Stewart<br />
Michael Denlson-Dulcie Gray Bob Hope-Lucille<br />
,*liil»«<br />
Marius Goring-R. Huntley<br />
June AUyson<br />
W. Demarest-B. Cab (ll-tUtSi<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-997<br />
R—May 7—PG-1034<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-10,<br />
|u| (65) Drama 102 (96) Melodrama 964<br />
m (62) Drama 4120 61 (102) Drama 93C|pl (56) Western 4864 OKg<br />
KAZAN<br />
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER<br />
RINGSIDE<br />
ANY NUMBER CAN fLAY BRAND OF FEAR<br />
Stephen Dunne-Joe Sawyer Jack Warner-Jane Hylton<br />
Don Barry<br />
Dark Gable-Alexis Smith Jimmy Wakely<br />
Lois Maxwell-Zoro<br />
George Cole-Bill Owen<br />
Tom Brown<br />
W. Corey-Audrey Totter CannonbaU Taylor<br />
I!—July 2—PG-1049 R—Mar. 6—PG-1016<br />
R—July 28—PG-1066 R—June 4—PG-1042<br />
El (65) Drama IIB (90) Drama 993<br />
(60) Drama 4823<br />
63 (64) Drama 4813 g| (70) Drama<br />
li'hilii! «1{B m<br />
Law of the Barbary Coast PORTRAIT OF JENNIE<br />
SKY LINER<br />
FORGOTTEN WOMEN SPECIAL AGENT K vouiE mm »<br />
Gloria Henry-Stephen Dunne Jennifer Jones-Joseph Cotten<br />
Richard Trails-Pamela Blake<br />
gg (78) West-Drama AA9 William Eythe-Georga tulim omit<br />
Adele Jereens<br />
Ethel Barrymore<br />
Rochelle Hudson<br />
MASSACRE RIVER<br />
Laura Elliot-Paul Vl<br />
UlBllll l-l« ><br />
R—July 16— PG-1054 R—Jan. 1—PG-999<br />
R—Aug. 6—PO-1059<br />
Gu.v Madison-Rory Calhoun R—Apr. 30—PG- HMO<br />
(90) Western-Dr 147 (62) Documentary 944<br />
(102) Mus-Com 932 m (59) Western 4842<br />
Dun (Kg i(M<br />
The Doolins of Oklahoma BLACK SHADOWS<br />
@ln the Good Old Summertime SHADOWS OF THE WEST<br />
lEWETLV iFUIIN<br />
Randolph Scott-John Ireland Filmed in African<br />
Judy Garland-Van Johnson Whip Wilson<br />
Idlii'Jill (ni ki IM<br />
(70) West-Dr 186 Congo Jungles<br />
S. Z. Sakall-Spring Bylngton Andy Clyde<br />
RIM OF THE CANYON<br />
R—June 25—PG-1048<br />
i-tugsi li-j* H<br />
(86) Drama 148 dl (93) Drama 960 HI (97) Documentary-Drama<br />
d] (110) Drama 923 3 (67) Western 4820 [D (91) Drama Dtm mill nil<br />
ANNA LUCASTA WOMAN IN THE HALL LOST BOUNDARIES<br />
THE GREAT SINNER TRAIL OF THE YUKON THE GREAT GA' ^ni \m<br />
Paulette Goddard-B. Crawford Ursula Jeans-CecU Parker Beatrice Pearson-Mel<br />
m<br />
Ferrer<br />
Gregory Peck-Ava Gardner Klrby Grant-Suzanne Dalbert Alan Ladd-Betty Field<br />
''''«<br />
John Ireland-WilUam Bishop (95) Drama<br />
Susan<br />
U«l ki<br />
Douglas-Richard Hylton<br />
Walter Huston<br />
R—Aug. 6—PG-1059 Macdonald Carey<br />
HiIK<br />
R—July 16—PG-1054 DEDEE<br />
R—July 2—PG-1050<br />
iB<br />
R—July 2—PG-1050<br />
R—Apr. 30—PG-1<br />
(0) (60) Drama H (77) Drama 940<br />
m (78) Western 4822 H (57) Western 4855<br />
LONE WOLF AND HIS LADY WATERLOO ROAD<br />
GRAND CANYON<br />
RANGE JUSTICE<br />
Ron Randell-June Vincent (72) Comedy<br />
Richard Arlen<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
Alan Mowbray<br />
DOWN MEMORY LANE<br />
Mary Beth Hughes<br />
Max Terhune<br />
R—July 30—PG-1056 Blng Crosby-W. C. Fields<br />
R—Sept. 3—PG-1068<br />
^ (54) Western 164 a (94) Comedy<br />
51 (114) Drama 931 83 (74) Qrama 4808<br />
SOUTH OF DEATH VALLEY EASY MONEY<br />
MADAME BOVARY<br />
Joe Patooka tn\he Counter<br />
Charles SUriett-Gall Davis Greta Gynt<br />
Jennifer Jones-James Mason Punch<br />
Smiley Burnette<br />
Dennis Price<br />
Louis Jourdan<br />
Leon Errol-Joe Klrkvood<br />
R—Aug. 13—PG-1061 R—Mar. 12—PG-1017<br />
R—July 30—PG-1066<br />
@ (61) Drama 120 (89) Drama 001<br />
13 (78) Drama H (94) Mystery 935 gj (60) Western- 4843<br />
AIR HOSTESS<br />
THE BLACK BOOK<br />
Treasure of Monte Cristo SCENE OF THE CRIME HAUNTED TRAILS<br />
lioss Ford-Gloria Henry Robert Cummlngs-A. Dahl<br />
GTienn Langan<br />
Van Johnson-Arlene DaU m (66) Comedy 4812<br />
William Wright<br />
Richard Basehart-4. Barker<br />
Adele Jergens<br />
Gloria DeHaven-Tom Drake JIGGS AND MAGGIE IN<br />
R—July 23—PG-1055 K—May 21—PG-1«38<br />
Steve Brodle<br />
R—June 25—PG 1048 JACKPOT JITTERS<br />
(93) Drama 149 (94) Drama 961<br />
[U (98) Musical ?i (78) Western AA14<br />
MR. SOFT TOUCH<br />
A PLACE OF ONE'S OWN<br />
©THAT MIDNIGHT KISS STAMPEDE<br />
Glenn Ford-Bvclyn Keyes James Mason-M. Lockwood<br />
Kathryn Grayson-M. Lanza Rod Cameron-Gale Storm<br />
hi<br />
R—Sept. 10—PG-1069<br />
(75) Drama 004<br />
Ethel Barrymore<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
ZAMBA<br />
R—Apr. 30—PG-1031<br />
(..) Western 184<br />
The Cowboy and the Indians<br />
Gene Autry-Sheila Ryan<br />
Frank Rlchardo-Ctaamplon<br />
61 (69) My.stcry 110<br />
THE DEVIL'S HENCHMEN<br />
Warner Baxter<br />
Mary Beth Bughea<br />
R—Sept. 10—PG-1069<br />
m (56) Western 163<br />
The Horsemen of the Sierras<br />
Charles Starrett<br />
Smiley Burnette-Lols Hall<br />
R—Sept. 10—PG-1069<br />
(95) Drama 966<br />
AGAINST THE WIND<br />
Jack Warner-S. Slgnoret<br />
Robert Beatty-G. Jackson<br />
R—June 4—PO-1042<br />
(87) Drama 942<br />
ONCE UPON A DREAM<br />
Google WiUicrs-G. Middleton<br />
Griffith Jones-Betty Lynne<br />
R—July 9—PG-1061<br />
(85) Drama 914<br />
THE WEAKER SEX<br />
Cecil Parker-Ursula Jeans<br />
Joan Hopkins-Derek Bond<br />
R—July 16—PG-1053<br />
19 ( . . ) Drama<br />
THE DALTON GANG<br />
Robert Lowery-D. Barry<br />
Betty Adams<br />
It) ( . ) Drama<br />
RED DESERT<br />
Don Barry-Tom Neal<br />
Margia Dean<br />
53 ( • • ) Western<br />
DEPUTY MARSHAL<br />
Ion Hall-Frances Langford<br />
F. Foran<br />
H (92) Drama<br />
41 (55) Western 4866 a (198) Musical<br />
THE SECRET GARDEN ROARING WESTWARD TOP 0" THE MORNH<br />
Margaret O'Brien<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
Blng Crosby-Ann Blytt<br />
Herbert Marshall-D. StockweU Cannonball Taylor<br />
Barry Fitzgerald<br />
R—Apr. 30—PG-1032<br />
R—Aug. 6—PG-1 060<br />
a (98) Comedy<br />
The Doctor and the Girl<br />
Glenn Ford-Janet Leigh<br />
Charles Coburn<br />
R—Sept. 10—PG-1070<br />
U] (63) Comedy 481S<br />
i^NGELS IN DISGUISE<br />
;.eo Gorcey<br />
Bowery Boys<br />
53 (66) Drama<br />
BLACK MIDNIGHT<br />
Roddy McDowall<br />
a (105) Drama<br />
ROPE OF SAND<br />
Burt Lancaster-C.<br />
Paul Henreld<br />
R-July 2—P0-10(<br />
L'«it«iii<br />
:''. 1.-<br />
Oct<br />
8<br />
( . Drama 007<br />
•<br />
TRAPPED<br />
Lloyd Bridges-John Hoyt<br />
Barbara Payton-James Todd<br />
la] ( . . ) Drama<br />
CALL OF THE FOREST<br />
R. Lowery<br />
M. Sherrin<br />
D (56) Western 485r<br />
VESTERN lENEGADES<br />
Tobnny Hack Brown<br />
Oct<br />
15<br />
Oct<br />
22<br />
(98) Drama Oil<br />
OBSESSION<br />
Robert Newton-Sally Gray<br />
Nanton Wayne-Phil Brown<br />
?i3 ( ) Musical<br />
. .<br />
SQUARE DANCE JUBILEE<br />
Don Barry-Spade Cooley<br />
Mary Beth Hughes<br />
13 (119) Drama "?)(..) Western 482<br />
THE RED DANUBE<br />
VOLF HUNTERS<br />
Walter Pidgeon-Peter Lawford Klrby Grant-Helen Parrlsh<br />
Ethel Barrymore<br />
Tl (103) Comei<br />
•l\\ FRIEND IRMfl<br />
niana L^Tip-Don Dd<br />
Marie Wilson-Jnhn<br />
R—Aug. 20—PG-1<br />
Oct<br />
29<br />
iS ( . . ) Western<br />
APACHE CHIEF<br />
Alan Curtis-Tom Neal<br />
Carol Thurston<br />
(95) Aot-Dr<br />
111 BORDER INCIDENT<br />
R. Mo?)lalban-J. Mitchell<br />
George Mtirphv-H. DnSilva<br />
R—Aug. 27—PG-1065<br />
51 (..) Western 4844 'a (9.1) Drama]<br />
RIDERS OF THE DUSK ^ONG OF SURRENQ<br />
IVhip Wilson<br />
U'and.i Hendrix<br />
Macdonald Carey<br />
10 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 194
jiUt<br />
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WARNER<br />
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KO RADIO REPUBLIC 20TH-FOX<br />
I<br />
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UDGE STEPS OUT<br />
tbtrn-A. Knox<br />
Tobias<br />
14—PG-1U35<br />
West-Dr 926<br />
HOD<br />
Ing-G. Grabame<br />
21—PG-1037<br />
(91) Drama<br />
<br />
THE LADY GAMBLES<br />
B. Slan»yck-S. McNally<br />
K. I'resloii-H^ditli Barrett<br />
R—May 14-i'G-103l)<br />
(B (84) Drama 698 as (94) Outd'r-Dr SH<br />
ILLEGAL ENTRY<br />
COLORADO TERRITORY<br />
Howard Duff-Marta Toren Joel McCrea-Vlrginia Mayo<br />
George Brenl-Oar Moore Henry llull>D. .Malone<br />
II—June 18— PG-1046 li—May 21—PG- 1038<br />
(86) Drama 697<br />
ONE WOMAN'S STORY<br />
Ann Todd-Claude Rains<br />
Trevor Howard<br />
II—June 4—PG-1042<br />
Western 002 an (60) Western 86<br />
(69) Comedy 701 (78) Drama 82f<br />
'AG ECOAC H KID THE WYOMING BANDIT<br />
WOMAN HATER<br />
GIRL FROM JONES BEACH<br />
It-Richard Martin Allan "Rocky" Lane<br />
Stewart Granger-R. Squir« Virginia Mayo-Eddie Bracken<br />
mell-Joe Sawj'er Eddy Waller<br />
Susan Hayward-Debra Paget<br />
Edwiije FeuUlere<br />
Ronald-Reagan-Dora Drake<br />
18—PG-1046 R—July 30—PG-1053 R—June 18—PG-1946<br />
«—Sept. 3—PG-1067 R—June 25—PG-1047<br />
Adv-Fantasy 061 S (60) Western 854<br />
m (94) Drama 611<br />
JOE YOUNG SOUTH OF RIO<br />
THE GREAT DAN PATCH<br />
ttbtCa loore-Ben Johnson Monte Hale-Paul Hurst<br />
Dennis O'Keefe<br />
trong-F. McHugb R—Aug. 13—PG-1062<br />
Gail Russell<br />
28—PG-1039<br />
R—July 23—PG-1056<br />
Drama 005 H (60) Semidocum 812<br />
(75) Melodrama 700 m (106) Musical 82!<br />
l«|<br />
I ME QUIETLY FLAMING FURY<br />
JOHNNY STOOL PIGEON ©LOOK FOR THE SILVER<br />
Lundigan-Jeff Corey Roy Roberls-David Wolfe<br />
Dan Duryea-Howard Duff<br />
LINING<br />
Shelley Winters<br />
June Haver-Ray Bolger<br />
9—PG-1051 R—July 16—PG-1053<br />
R—July 23—PG-1055 R—July 2— PG-1049<br />
mi nil ta Drama 001 g (87) Drama 830 (94) Musical-Comedy 920<br />
[D (105) Romance 704 El (64) Comedy 830<br />
ni« MtiartAi S STEAL<br />
THE RED MENACE ©YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING<br />
©THE BLUE LAGOON ONE LAST FLING<br />
• on III l#BttI! Ultchum-Jane Greer Robert Rockwell<br />
Dan Dailey-Anne Baxter<br />
Jean Simmons-Noel Purcell Alexis Smith-Z.achary Scott<br />
Bendls<br />
Hanne Axman<br />
Anne Revere-Shari Robinson<br />
Donald Houston<br />
R^uly 9—PG-1051<br />
18—PG-1045 R—June 4—PG-1042 R—July 9—PG-1052<br />
R—Aug. 6—PG-1060<br />
Patrick-Nestor Palta George Cooper<br />
Drama 006<br />
(83) Drama 921<br />
|US|<br />
ITLAW<br />
SLATTERY'3 HURRICANE<br />
111!<br />
M^<br />
mil<br />
,»««<br />
sell-Jack Beutel<br />
luston-T. Mltcbell<br />
Travelog<br />
SPLENDOR<br />
B Travelog<br />
"<br />
30—PG-1057<br />
004<br />
Drama 00<br />
VING<br />
lature-Lucille Ball<br />
Scott -Sonny Tufts<br />
13—PG-1062<br />
Drama 051<br />
MtCOY<br />
Massey<br />
I Blckford-P. Granger<br />
20—PG-1063<br />
Western 007 Ul (60) Drama 816 (105) Comedy 923<br />
lOUS DESPERADO FLAME OF YOUTH<br />
I Was a Male War Bride<br />
>Marjorie Lord Barbra Fuller<br />
Cary Grant-Ann Sheridan<br />
Martin<br />
Ray McDonald<br />
Marion Marshall-Randy Stuart<br />
27—PO-1066<br />
R—Aug. 1.3—PG-1062<br />
Drama<br />
BARGAIN<br />
lOtt<br />
ynn<br />
Comedy<br />
INE LAUGHS<br />
er-Dorls Day<br />
rIev-Joan Davis<br />
13—PG-1062<br />
Cartoon 90?<br />
DD AND MR. TOAD<br />
by<br />
3by-BasiI Rafhboiie<br />
3—PG-1067<br />
m (90) Outd'r-Dr 814<br />
©BRIMSTONE<br />
Rod Cameron-Adrian Bootb<br />
Walter Brennan<br />
R—Aug. 20—PG-1064<br />
If (60) Western 867<br />
BANDIT KING OF TEXAS<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane<br />
Eddy Waller<br />
a (99) Melodrama 606<br />
TOO LATE FOR TEARS<br />
Lizabeth Scott- Dan Duryea<br />
D. DeFore-Arthur Kennedy<br />
R—Apr. 16— PG-1028<br />
(101) Melodrama 919<br />
HOUSE OF STRANGERS<br />
Richard Conte-E. G. Robinson<br />
(67) Butd'r-Mus 843 (95) Drama 921<br />
©DOWN DAKOTA WAY COME TO THE STABLE<br />
® (89) Drama<br />
Loretta Young-Celeste Holm<br />
The Kid From Cleveland Hugh Marlowe<br />
George Brent-Lynn Bar! R—June 25—PG-1047<br />
Tf (60) Melodrama 815<br />
Post Office Investigator<br />
Warren Douglas<br />
Veronica Lake-Lbida Darnell<br />
Richard Widmark<br />
R—Aug. 6—PG-1059<br />
H (105) Melodrama<br />
BLACK MAGIC<br />
Orson Welles-Nancy Guild<br />
(94) Drama 924<br />
THIEVES' HIGHWAY<br />
Richard Conte-Jack Oakle<br />
V. Cortese-Lee J. Cobb<br />
R—Sept. 10—PG-1070<br />
(84) Comedy 925<br />
FATHER WAS A FULLBACK<br />
Fred MacMurray-M. O'Hara<br />
Bettv LjTm-Rudv Vallee<br />
R— \ug. 20—PG-1064<br />
Akim Tamiroff-F. Latlmore<br />
R—Aug. 27—PG-ioee<br />
(94) .Mystery 696|<br />
TAKE ONE FALSE S1 EP<br />
William Povvell-M. Hurt<br />
8. Winters-James Gleaj on<br />
R—June 4—PG-1041<br />
(85) West-Dr 6<br />
©CALAMITY JANE AND<br />
SAM BASS<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo-Howard Duff<br />
R—June 11—PG-1044<br />
m (113) Drama 82;<br />
THE FOUNTAINHEAD<br />
Gary Cooper-Patricia Neal<br />
Raymond Massey-Kent Smith<br />
K—June 25—PG-1048<br />
(84) Coraedy-Drama 702 m (85) Comedy 831<br />
Abbott and Costello Meet the ©IT'S A GREAT FEELING<br />
Killer, Boris Karloff Dennis Morgan-Doris Day<br />
R—Aug. 13—PG-1061 Jack Carson-Bill Goodwin<br />
R—Julv 30—PG-1058<br />
(92) Drama Tflf<br />
ONCE MORE MY DARLING<br />
Robert Montgomery-A. Blytb<br />
lane Cowl<br />
R—July 30— PG-1057<br />
(51 (114) Com-Mys 901<br />
WHITE HEAT<br />
James Cagney-Virginla Mayo<br />
Edmond O'Brien<br />
R—Aug. 27—PG-1065<br />
(81) Musical 705 51 (69) Drama 902<br />
©Yes Sir, That's My Baby The House Across the Street<br />
Donald O'Connor<br />
Wayne Morris<br />
Charles Coburn-G. DeHaven Janis Paige-Bruce Bennett<br />
R— Aug. 20—PG-1064 R—Aug. 20—PG-1063<br />
(85) Western 706<br />
©The Gal Who Took the West<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo<br />
Charles Coburn<br />
Scott Brady<br />
(100) Actlon-Dr 709<br />
SWORD IN THE DESERT<br />
Dana .\ndrews-Marta Toren<br />
Stephen McNally-H. French<br />
R—Sept. 3—PO-1068<br />
(79) Drama 707<br />
ABANDONED<br />
Dennis O'Keefe-M. Rambeau<br />
Gale Storm<br />
55 (116) War Drama 903<br />
©TASK FORCE<br />
Gary Cooper-Jane Wyatt<br />
Wayne Morris-W. Brennan<br />
R—Sept. 3—PG-loeS<br />
ai (117) Drama 904<br />
©UNDER CAPRICORN<br />
Ingrid Bergm,in-J. Cotten<br />
Michael Wilding<br />
. . Drama<br />
(104) Drama 70S<br />
©Christopher Columbus<br />
)<br />
CHAIN LIGHTNING<br />
Frederic March-F. L. Sullivan Humphrey Bogart<br />
Florence Eldridge<br />
Eleanor Parker<br />
H (<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
U<br />
E<br />
a.<br />
2I<br />
I<br />
2<br />
o<br />
15 3a.<br />
u<br />
0£<br />
o<br />
<<br />
REISSUES<br />
(Cont'd)<br />
Apr. [a («4) Mystery<br />
Murders in the Rue Morgue<br />
Beia Lugosl<br />
Apr. [S (60) Mystery<br />
THE RAVEN<br />
Boris Karlotf<br />
.May (S (63) Drama<br />
IDOL OF THE CROWDS<br />
May ga (86) Comedy<br />
RIDE EM COWBOY<br />
.May a (86) Comedy<br />
KEEP EM FLYING<br />
inly S (76) Drama<br />
WHITE SAVAGE<br />
July a (701 Drama<br />
COBRA WOMAN<br />
June 24 (85) Comedy<br />
MOVIE CRAZY<br />
Harold Llojd<br />
.\iigust 1 (83) Drama<br />
TABU<br />
July [S (102) Musical 928<br />
©THE WIZARD OF OZ<br />
ludy Garland-Frank Morgan<br />
June B (90) M'drama 4823<br />
GERONIMO<br />
Preston Foster-Ralph Morgan<br />
June 551 (99) Drama 4822<br />
Trail of the Lonesome Pine<br />
F. MacMurray-S. Sidney<br />
Mar. (96) Musical 878<br />
YOU'RE A SWEETHEART<br />
Alice Kaye-George Murpby<br />
Mar. (89) Musical 795<br />
THREE SMART GIRLS<br />
Deanna Durbin-Ray Milland<br />
Apr. (64) Drama 1058<br />
SKI PATROL<br />
Philip Dorn-Luli Deste<br />
Apr. (58) Drama 1184<br />
NORTH TO THE KLONDIKE<br />
is. Crawford-Lon Chaney<br />
June (73) Thriller 1279<br />
Frankenstein Meets Wolfman<br />
Bela Lugosi-Lon Chaney<br />
June (65) Thriller 1317<br />
THE MAO GHOUL<br />
Turban Bey-Ekelyn Ankers<br />
July (61) Drama 1135<br />
MUTINY IN THE ARCTIC<br />
Richard Arlen-Andy Devlne<br />
July (61) Drama 1165<br />
BOMBAY CLIPPER<br />
Maria .Montez-Turhan Bey<br />
Ian. iS (58) Western 873<br />
FRONTIER PONY EXPRESS<br />
Roy Rogers-Mary Hart<br />
Feb. S (58) Western 874<br />
SAGA OF DEATH VALLEY<br />
Roy Rogers-Doris Day<br />
May m (59) Western 875<br />
RANGER AND THE LADY<br />
Roy Rogers<br />
May B (59) Western 876<br />
COLORADO<br />
Roy Rogers-Gabby Hayes<br />
Feb. (99) Melodrama 948<br />
THIS IS MY AFFAIR<br />
.'ntiert T.aylor-B. Stanwyck<br />
liar. (77) Drama 951<br />
HANGOVER SQUARE<br />
t.inda Darnell-George Sanders<br />
Mar. (84) Mystery 952<br />
(HE LODGER<br />
Merle Oberon-G. Sanders<br />
May (93) Drama 953<br />
GUADALCANAL DIARY<br />
Preston Foster<br />
May (99) Drama 954<br />
THE PURPLE HEART<br />
Dana Andrews<br />
lune (88) Drama 956<br />
HOUSE ON 92nd STREET<br />
Signe Hasso<br />
June (103) Musical 955<br />
MY GAL SAL<br />
Rita Haywortb-Vlclor Mature<br />
Jan. tS (121) Drama 598<br />
GUEST IN THE HOUSE<br />
.\nne Baxter-Ralph Bellamy<br />
Jan. Q] (91) Mvs-M'dr 697<br />
LADY OF BURLESQUE<br />
Barbara Stan\iyck-M. O'Shea<br />
Dec. nil (97) Drama 807<br />
Ungels With Dirty Faces<br />
lames Cagney-Pat O'Brien<br />
Dec. EH (95) Melodrama 808<br />
THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT<br />
a. Raft.-A. Sheridan<br />
Apr. a (134) M'drama 818<br />
SERGEANT YORK<br />
Gary Cooper-Joan Leslie<br />
\pr. [g (77) Drama 819<br />
CASTLE ON THE HUDSON<br />
John Garfield-Ann Sheridan<br />
.Tune SI (102) Drams 826<br />
CASABLANCA<br />
H. Bogart-I. Bergman<br />
June H (85) M'drama 826<br />
G-MEN<br />
James Cagney-Ann Dvorak<br />
OXOFFICE BookinGuide Sept. 17, 1949<br />
11
.<br />
.<br />
7-17<br />
. 9-16<br />
SHORTS CHART<br />
Short subjects, listed by company, in order of release. Running time iollows<br />
title. First date is national release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE.<br />
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: -H- Very Good.<br />
+ Good, — Fair, — Poor, = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography.<br />
Columbia<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Ratim ttei'i<br />
ASSORTED<br />
COMEDIES<br />
1432 He's in Again a&Zf)<br />
1433 Miss in a Mess (1%)<br />
1424 Radio Riot (16)<br />
1425 Sunk in the Sink (16)<br />
1434 Trapped by a Blonde<br />
(I51/2) 4- 7<br />
1435 Flung by a Fling (16).. 5-12<br />
1426 Microspook (16) 6-9<br />
1436 Clunked in the Clink (16) 7-13<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2411 Waiting in the Lurch<br />
(151/2) 9-8<br />
CO' OP FAVORITES<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
1605 A Boy aiia His Dog (7). 1- 6 ±<br />
1606 Soring Festival (8) 3-17 +<br />
1607 Indian Serenade (8) 5- 5<br />
1608 Two Lazy Crows (7) 7-13<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2601 The Foxy Pup (7) 9- 1<br />
COLOR RHAPSODIES<br />
1503 Coo-Coo Bird Dog (6) ... 2- 3<br />
1504 Grape Nutty (6) 4-14 1505 Cat-Tastrophy (6) 6-30 +<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
1444 Nothinr But Pleasure<br />
(17) 3-Sl +<br />
1445 A Rookie's Cookie (17) 5-19<br />
. .<br />
1446Craiy Like a Fox (I8V2) 6-16<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2431 Three Blonde Mice (16).. 9-29<br />
COMMUNITY SINGS<br />
16S3 No. 3 III Magic (91/2) .12-23<br />
1664 No. 4 Bouquet of Rotes<br />
(9
. No.<br />
*»*[. "iGooi<br />
r^t SI<br />
1*1..<br />
U +<br />
a-<br />
li) 1<br />
117)<br />
14<br />
b«piM+i<br />
*»m....<br />
hffl<br />
7-1!<br />
«*m...M<br />
•id).... Hi<br />
BDOl COMED0<br />
-<br />
%I».H1+ " ^ ' (<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
-|D).,..tB<br />
..HI +<br />
H<br />
TPAISQUES<br />
."» SUSI<br />
• msi .1>7<br />
: SKUT5C0PES<br />
1r r u-u<br />
•r»;!i..,l!-l!+ !<br />
>u +<br />
(Mm n<br />
I III<br />
„„,,,, ,<br />
59<br />
ii<br />
Ml 111,... I- 1 T<br />
MM 1)1 1'S +<br />
« W<br />
J<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
01 Satisfied Saurians (9).... Mar. +<br />
FEMININE WORLD<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
01 Talented Beauties (Vyvyan<br />
Conner) (11) June +<br />
MARCH OF TIME<br />
1. 14. No. 15 Battle for<br />
Germany (19) Oct.<br />
1. 14, No. 16 America's New Air<br />
Power (19) Nov.<br />
1, 14, No. 17 Answer to Stalin<br />
(19) Nov.<br />
1. 14, No. IS Watchdogs of the<br />
Mail (18) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
I. IS, No. 1 On Stage (IS) Jan.<br />
1.15, No. 2 Asia's New Voice<br />
(18) Feb.<br />
1. 15, No. 3 Wish You Were Here<br />
+<br />
+<br />
++<br />
H<br />
+<br />
+<br />
MOVIETONE ADVENTURES<br />
©Portrait of the West (8) Oct.<br />
. Dec. +<br />
rfMffllM " H>©Way of the Padres (S) .<br />
SlQLandscape of the Norse<br />
(8) Jan.<br />
Quaint Quebec (8) April<br />
Golden Transvaal (S) May<br />
Maine Sail (S) Aug.<br />
is Realm of the Redwoods<br />
(8) Sept.<br />
ttAhoy, Davy Jones (11) Oct.<br />
MOVIETONE SPECIALTY<br />
11 Struggle for Survival (9) . . Feb. ff<br />
12 The Hunter (S) Aug.<br />
t3 Shadows in the Snow (9). .Sept.<br />
MOVIETONE MELODIES<br />
it I'll 'f )>! Charlie Barnet and His Band<br />
^hlla (11) July<br />
MOVIETONE<br />
w,,i;i....u-n-<br />
"l*lU)12-»<br />
CBSIUIIQ<br />
Wti. ii'« « '*<br />
MM I"<br />
...i-a<br />
?*....«» +<br />
•( MS +<br />
^l!l-"5<br />
IHftlHl<br />
.J.5 +<br />
OS -rir:<br />
mQA"<br />
I'**<br />
NEWS<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
SPORTS<br />
Football Finesse (10) Sept. +<br />
Olympic Water Wizards<br />
(9) Nov.<br />
6 Yankee Ski-Doodle (9) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
1 Foaled for Fame (10)... Feb.<br />
2 Neptune's Playground<br />
(8) April<br />
"S:Cil|i3 Beauty and the Blade (9) . .May<br />
4 Future Champs (9) July<br />
,1.7 •<br />
1.<br />
,iiJL<br />
BltllBl<br />
1<br />
3-12<br />
7-23<br />
++ 10-16<br />
12- 4<br />
1-29<br />
3- 5<br />
(IS)<br />
Mar. 3-26<br />
I. IS, No. 4 Report on the Atom<br />
(20) Apr.<br />
15, No. 5 Sweden Looks Ahead<br />
(18) May H- 5-21<br />
15, No. 6 It's in the Groove<br />
(19) June 6-18<br />
15, No. 7 Stop— Heavy Traffic!<br />
(IS)<br />
July<br />
1. 15, No. S Farming Pays Off<br />
(IS)<br />
Aug.<br />
L 15, No.9 Policeman's Holiday<br />
(IS)<br />
Sept. -H- 9-17<br />
1- 8<br />
2-12<br />
+ ++<br />
3-12<br />
7- 2<br />
7-30<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+ TERRYTOONS<br />
m<br />
Auiutt<br />
of Pearl Pnreheart (7) .Oct. . .<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
4 The Hard Boiled Egg (7). Sept<br />
5 Mighty Mouse and the Mysterious<br />
Stranger (7) Oct.<br />
6 The Talking Magpies in Free<br />
Enterprise (7) Oct.<br />
7 Mighty Mouse in Triple<br />
Trouble (7) Nov.<br />
8 Talking Magpies in Out Again,<br />
n<br />
^ in Again (7) Nov.<br />
"<br />
9 Mighty Mouse in the Magic<br />
Slippers (7) Dec.<br />
Talking Magpies in<br />
Goony Golfers (7) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
LThe Wooden Indian (7)... Jan.<br />
2 Talking Magpies in the Power<br />
of Thought (7) ...... .Jan.<br />
3 Mighty Mouse in the Racket<br />
Buster (7) Feb.<br />
tSourpuss in Dingbat Land<br />
(7) Mar.<br />
5 The Talking Magpies in the<br />
Lion Hunt (7) Mar.<br />
SThe Talking Magpies in the<br />
Stowaways (7) Apr.<br />
7 Mighty Mouse in a Cold<br />
Romance (7) Apr.<br />
1 The Kitten Sitter (7) May<br />
I Hook, Line and Sinker<br />
(7) (reissue) May<br />
9 The Talking Magpies in<br />
Happy Landing (7) June<br />
) ! Catnip Capers (7) Reissue. June<br />
"ighty Mouse in the Catnip<br />
Gang (^7) June<br />
The Talking Magpies in Hula<br />
a Hula (7) July<br />
),! >The Lyin' Lion (7) July<br />
-.j I Mrs. Joiws' Rest Farm<br />
! I Sourpust in the Cowed<br />
; Pushcart (7) Sept.<br />
I Trutkload of i A Trouble<br />
(7) Oct<br />
i Mighty Mouse in the Perils<br />
3-12<br />
8-14<br />
3-12<br />
Universal-International<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Dale Rating Rev'd<br />
ANSWER MAN SERIES<br />
3398 Home of the Icebero (8) 8-23 -f<br />
LANTZ CARTUNES<br />
(Technicolor— Reissues)<br />
3325 Nutty Pine Cabin (7) Oct.<br />
4321 Pantry<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Panic (7) 11-22 +<br />
4322 Hollywood Matador (7).. 12-13<br />
4323 Mouse Trappers (7) . , , . 1-24<br />
4324 Hams That Couldn't Be<br />
Cured (7) 2-21<br />
4325 The Screw Driver (7) 3.14<br />
4326 Ace in the Hole (7) 4-4 -f<br />
4327 Goodbye, Mr. Moth (7) . . 5- 2 -f<br />
4328 Jukebox Jamboree (7) . . . 5-30 -|-<br />
4329 The Loan Stranger (7) . . 6-27<br />
4330 Dizzy Acrobat (7) 7-25 +<br />
4331 Dizzy Kitty (7) S-22<br />
4332 Cow Cow Boogie 9-19<br />
(7) . . . .<br />
4333 The Screwball (7) 10-17<br />
MUSICAL WESTERNS<br />
10-30<br />
5-28<br />
6-18<br />
6-18<br />
9- 3<br />
2-12<br />
5- 7<br />
5-21<br />
6-18<br />
9- 3<br />
Prod. No.<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
SHORTS CHART
SHORTS REVIEWS<br />
Opinions on the Current Short Subjects<br />
Wild Bill Hickock<br />
Columbia<br />
(15-Episode Serial)<br />
First episode 20 Mins. Others average 15 Mins.<br />
Very good. A re-release of a popular serial<br />
of several years back, this has excellent name<br />
value today because William Elliott, the star,<br />
has since become a top western star and is<br />
now making action features for Republic. The<br />
title, too, is a natural for youngsters and<br />
action-minded fans. The opening episode,<br />
"Law of the Gun," is a little slow in getting<br />
the stoi-y under way but the second, "Stampede,"<br />
is full of Indian action and stampeding<br />
herds, and the others are equally exciting.<br />
Monte Blue. Frankie Darro and the slowtalking<br />
Roscoe Ates are other familiar players.<br />
Sammy McKlm is natural as a young<br />
deputy for Hickock.<br />
Hollywood's Happy Homes<br />
Columbia {Screen Snapshots) 10 Mins.<br />
Very Good. As if to refute all the news<br />
stories about Hollywood's high percentage of<br />
divorces, this short shows some of the outstanding<br />
examples of happy homes in the<br />
movie colony. Eddie Cantor, his wife, Ida,<br />
and their five girls are shown in an old film<br />
strip and Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee, when<br />
they had only one son; Bebe Daniels and<br />
Ben Lyon and other oldtimers are also<br />
glimpsed. More recent happy screen couples<br />
include the Charles Starretts, Burns & Allen<br />
and Gale Storm and Dorothy Lamour and<br />
their husbands.<br />
Policeman's Holiday<br />
20th-Fox (March of Time) 19 Mins.<br />
Very good. Dramatic and interesting issue<br />
showing how Scotland Yard actually operates<br />
in tracking down a killer. The title is derived<br />
from the fact that the Yard's operations are<br />
witnessed by a New York detective in London<br />
for a holiday. As a matter of courtesy the<br />
New Yorker is invited to observe the British<br />
crime-busting agency at work.<br />
Airline Glamour Girls<br />
RKO (Screenliner) 9 Mins.<br />
Good. An entertaining short revolving<br />
around the training and duties of a typical<br />
airplane hostess. Young girls will be especially<br />
interested in the tale of a successful<br />
office worker who Ijecomes bitten by the<br />
hostess bug and starts on a round of studies,<br />
beauty exercises, postui-e and makeup to fit<br />
her for the job. A pretty young blond hostess<br />
for TWA does a capable acting job in<br />
the leading role.<br />
RKO<br />
Hoodoo<br />
(This Is America)<br />
17 Mins.<br />
Good. Most patrons will be amazed to learn<br />
how many Americans have their private superstitions.<br />
Two centuries ago, it was natural<br />
for people to believe in witches and secret<br />
charms, but today enlightened folk still<br />
are afraid of black cats, Friday, the 13th,<br />
walking under ladders, etc. As an example,<br />
few buildings have a 13th floor while hotel<br />
guests would never sleep in a room numbered<br />
"13" but they have no qualms about sleeping<br />
in the same room if marked "12A." Many<br />
firms make millions out of marketing rabbits'<br />
feet, horseshoes and four-leaf clovers.<br />
RKO<br />
Rollinq Thrills<br />
(Pathe Sportscope) 8 Mins.<br />
Good. This Sportscope release packs action<br />
and thrills into a review of a popular<br />
sport, roller skating. An estimated 17,000,000<br />
skaters indulge in roller hockey, the roller<br />
derby or just plain sidewalk skating. The<br />
derby has men's and women's teams each tak-<br />
Ing over the floor for skating at breakneck<br />
speed. The roller champions are also shown.<br />
Bad or Putty-Tat<br />
Warner Bros. (Merrie Melody) 7 Mins.<br />
Fair. This illustrates that silliness isn't<br />
always humor. Tweetie-Pie lives in a birdhouse<br />
protected by barbed wire from Sylvester,<br />
the cat. The latter resorts to various<br />
devices to make a mouthful of the bird, such<br />
as sawing down the birdhouse and making a<br />
model of a female bird. Children may like it.<br />
Down the Nile<br />
Warner Bros. (Technicolor Special) 20 Mins.<br />
Good. This is a travelog for tourist-minded<br />
folk of scenes along the Egyptian river, from<br />
the Congo regions to the Mediterranean.<br />
Most of the emphasis is on relics of earlier<br />
days, including the temples of Karnak, temple<br />
of Rameses, the obelisks. King Tut's tomb,<br />
the Sphinx and the pyramids, ^t ends with<br />
scenes of the old and new in Cairo.<br />
The Gray Hounded Hare<br />
Warner Bros. (Bugs Bunny Special) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Real imagination and humor. Bugs<br />
visits a dog track, gets infatuated with the<br />
electrical rabbit and decides to save her from<br />
the pursuing canines. He either knocks out<br />
or outruns the pack, finally catches up with<br />
the rabbit and kisses her. A violent short<br />
circuit makes Bugs the center of an electrical<br />
display.<br />
Often an Orphan<br />
Warner Bros. (Merrie Melody) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Charlie Dog needs a home and tries<br />
to sell himself to farmer Porky Pig but isn't<br />
very good at it, being> evicted repeatedly.<br />
Finally, Porky tries a stunt that had been<br />
worked on Charlie before—taking him off<br />
for a picnic and then abandoning him—but<br />
this time Charlie drives off, leaving Porky<br />
by the roadside.<br />
So You're Having In-Law<br />
Trouble<br />
(Joe McDoakes Comedy)<br />
Warner Bros. 10 Mins.<br />
Good. An always timely subject amusingly<br />
put over by George O'Hanlon in the lead.<br />
Relatives of both Joe and his wife arrive for<br />
uninvited visits, bringing a yovmg vamp with<br />
them. When they eat up all the food, break<br />
furniture and begin fighting among themselves,<br />
Joe orders them out. His wife goes,<br />
too, but returns when she sees the vamp<br />
making passes at Joe.<br />
Sports New and Old<br />
Warner Bros. (Sports Parade) 10 Mins.<br />
Good. Sport-loving Americans will be interested<br />
to see how enthusiastically the<br />
Egyptians go in for the same kind of games<br />
popular here. Among these, the fUm shows,<br />
are tennis, volley ball, soccer, paddle tennis,<br />
gymnastics, sailing, swimming, diving and<br />
horse racing, all along the banks or on the<br />
waters of the storied Nile.<br />
Wafer Wizards<br />
Warner Bros. (Sports Parade) 10 Mins.<br />
Good. Underwater swimming beauties pass<br />
the air hose around at Wickiwachee Springs,<br />
Fla., clown around and then show their skill<br />
in graceful swimming formations. The rest<br />
of the reel is devoted to exciting shots of<br />
aquaplaners and water skiiers, showing the<br />
latest in the way of risky stimts on smooth<br />
and rough surfaces.<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 72: New American Legion<br />
commander; GAR's final encampment;<br />
P.D.R. jr. takes a bride; Greek king sees successful<br />
assault on guerillas; Naples water<br />
fiesta; football training; vacation schooner.<br />
News of the Day, No. 202: Greeks crush<br />
Red guerillas; Legion elects World War II<br />
"vet"; new bride for P.D.R. jr..; American<br />
youth design new autos; Puero Rico's police<br />
on alert; Notre Dame football starts '49 season;<br />
pigskin stars visit Variety hospital.<br />
Paramount News, No. 5: Football training;<br />
fall shoe fashions; spotlight on the Balkans.<br />
Universal News, No. 280: Craig heads American<br />
Legion; Pandit Nehru on goodwill visit<br />
to Tibet; German wagon; "Mrs. Dynamite";<br />
girls baseball; Giants' training; Aquazanies.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 7: F.D.R. jr.;<br />
Gary Cooper; Legion officers; Bevin and<br />
Cripps; GAR encampment; Santa's workshop;<br />
Charleston fashions; football all-star<br />
game.<br />
•<br />
Movietone News, No. 73: International<br />
economies; President Truman on tour; fatal<br />
crash marks national air race at Cleveland;<br />
Miss America; twin convention; national tennis;<br />
cold water marathon; channel swim.<br />
News of the Day, No. 203: Parleys begin<br />
British dollar conference; MacArthur confers<br />
on Reds in Asia; Shirley May fails in<br />
channel swim; tragedy mars air race; Miss<br />
America preview parade; greatest tennis<br />
match.<br />
Paramount News, No. 6: Truman; Shirley<br />
May France; Robeson concert erupts into<br />
violence; big dollar question; British-U.S.-<br />
Canada talks; tennis.<br />
tJniversal News, No. 281: Dollar crisis;<br />
whaling; Miss America; fire in Philadelphia;<br />
Shirley May France; battle of Peekskill.<br />
Warner Pathe New§- No. 8: Air racescrash;<br />
the Camden killer; money conference;<br />
Miss America; Shirley May France; men's<br />
tennis.<br />
•<br />
All American News, No. 360: Virginia Union<br />
imiversity students on sightseeing tour in<br />
Paris; unique class for children with weak<br />
eyesight at the Baker school in Richmond;<br />
Harlem "Y" youngsters spend day in Palisades<br />
park in New Jersey; George Watson,<br />
theatre manager of Lexington, Ky., is amateur<br />
radio operator; air base in Lockbourne,<br />
Ohio, boa'sts four green card honor men;<br />
American Legion parade in Philadelphia.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 36A: Yugoslavia—war<br />
of nerves; Turkey—search for Noah's Ark;<br />
Japan—Undersecretary of War Tracy Voorhees<br />
calls on Japan's supreme occupation<br />
commander; Brooklyn Red Cross headquarters—three-year-old<br />
Susan Giardina celebrates<br />
her birthday; New York—the Aero<br />
Medical Ass'n demonstrates new Arctic survival<br />
gear; marines test battle tactics.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 36B: Peekskill—Robeson<br />
concert starts riot; Cleveland—Odom<br />
killed in plane crash; Washington—economic<br />
conference; Italy—miniature war; Washington-President<br />
Truman returns to Washington;<br />
California—naval midshipmen on summer<br />
training mission inspect new aircraft<br />
for the fleet; Mexico—Diego Rivera, shown<br />
at work in liis secluded Mexican studio.<br />
r<br />
11<br />
14<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Sept. 17, 1949
^Opinions on Current Productions; fxp/o/f/ps for Selling to the Public<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS<br />
The Heiress<br />
Paramount (- -) lis Minutes Rel.<br />
Olivia DeHavilland, who won an Academy award in 1946<br />
for "To Each His Own," will be a strong contender for the<br />
coveted "Oscar" for 1949 because of her superbly sensitive<br />
portrayal of the shy, plain girl who falls in love with a penniless<br />
fortune-hunter. Another Academy award winner, William<br />
Wyler, produced as well as dy-ected and has faithfully<br />
recreated the somber mood of this powerful tale of heartbreak<br />
and poignant romance in the Washington Square of 100<br />
years ago. The picture will have a tremendous appeal to<br />
women fans and, while the action may occasionally be too<br />
slow-moving for male patrons, they cannot fail to be impressed<br />
by the many dramatic highlights. The fame of the<br />
stage play will create advance interest in key cities and the<br />
name draw of the three stars will insure strong grosses in<br />
all except action houses.<br />
Olivia DeHavilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson,<br />
Miriam Hopkins, Vanessa Brown, Ray Collins.<br />
Song of Surreflder<br />
Paramount (4904)<br />
92 Minutes<br />
F<br />
TP<br />
Drama<br />
Rel. Oct. 28, '49<br />
Against a background which sketches the morals, the<br />
prejudices and the atmosphere—and which gives an impression<br />
of unusual authenticity—of New England at the turn of<br />
the century is projected a love story which is remarkable for<br />
its tenderness and the delicacy with which it is told. Showmen<br />
will recognize at a glance that such qualifications add up<br />
to what the trade calls a woman's picture, which is more<br />
or less synonymous with a money picture. The extremely<br />
critical may decide that the film's early sequences move too<br />
slowly, because much footage is devoted to the painting of<br />
backgrounds and characterizations, but such leisurely pace<br />
is more than compensated by the last half, when the performances<br />
by the trio of topliners are given a chance to take<br />
full advantage of the script's dramatic impact, and Mitchell<br />
Leisen's sensitive direction brings the yarn to its engrossing<br />
and emotional climax.<br />
Wanda Hendrix, Claude Rains, Macdonald Carey, Andrea<br />
King. Henry Hull, Elizabeth Patterson. Art Smith.<br />
The Great Lover<br />
F<br />
Comedy<br />
Paramount (4909) 80 Minutes Rel. Dec. 28, '49<br />
Several cuts below the high standards established by his<br />
recent pictures, this Bob Hope starrer makes it necessary for<br />
the comedian to enlist all of his sizable bag of tricks to generate<br />
its too-few and too-scattered moments of humor, which<br />
at no time reach the dialog-drowning hilarity normally associated<br />
with his screen appearances. Doubtlessly Hope's<br />
popularity will provide enough business to establish the picture<br />
as a profitable booking venture, but even the most<br />
devout of his followers are apt to opine that it is far from his<br />
best. The screenplay—and there's the rub—specializes in<br />
gags—albeit many of them fail to jell. Hope is a newspaperman<br />
escorting a troupe of youngsters (a burlesque of Boy<br />
Scouts) on a European tour, on the return from which he gets<br />
himself involved with a card-sharp murderer and a romance<br />
with a duchess. Directed by Alexander Hall.<br />
Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Roland Young, Roland Culver,<br />
Richard Lyon. Gary Gray, Jerry Hunter.<br />
In, ti cent<br />
cost<br />
~5unt^<br />
theatrf<br />
Under Capricorn F a.°"Zor)<br />
Warner Bros. (904) 117 Minutes Rel. Oct. 8. '49<br />
The celebrated Hitchcock touch endows this unusual entry<br />
wi;h m.oments of high drama, suspense and engrossment<br />
and, of course, the inevitable shock sequence which is that<br />
veteran director s stock in trade. Those elements, bolstered<br />
by the brilliancy of the topline stars, the appeal of Technicolor<br />
and other lush productional trappings,* should generate<br />
enough appeal to account for highly satisfactory bookings<br />
in first run and moveover situations. lust what kind of wordol-mouth<br />
reaction it can expect to help subsequent showings<br />
probably will depend upon individual tastes. Many<br />
may adjudge the picture overlong and there undoubtedly<br />
will be some objections to its mid-Victorian theatrical approach.<br />
But additional assets may be found in its locale and<br />
era—meticulously ensnared in a story of life and love in<br />
Australia when its citizenry was largely ex-convicts, during<br />
the early 19th century. Alfred Hitchcock directed.<br />
Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding, Margaret<br />
Leighton. Cecil Parker, Denis O'Dea, Jack Watling.<br />
Post Office Investigator<br />
F<br />
Action<br />
Drama<br />
Republic (815) 60 Minutes Rel. Sept. 10, '49<br />
Republic seems to have found a successful formula for<br />
turning out action programmers with a realistic, documentary<br />
flavor. Like the recent "Flaming Fury," which dealt with<br />
the arson squad, this shows the activities of post office inspectors<br />
in tracing criminals who use the mails for illegal<br />
purposes. While name value is mild, the picture will make a<br />
strong supporting feature for the average dual bill. Under<br />
George Blair's able direction, the film has a minimum of<br />
contrived story twists and the romantic angle is only brought<br />
in near the close. The climax has both suspense and excitement.<br />
Audrey Long is attractive and convincing as a coldblooded<br />
accomplice of a master thief who deals in stolen<br />
rare stamps and Warren Douglas does a good acting job<br />
as the likable young mailman who unwittingly helps her<br />
double-cross her confederate. Marcel Journet is outstanding<br />
as the suave stamp criminal.<br />
Audrey Long, Warren Douglas, JeH Donnell, Marcel Journet,<br />
Dodd, Vera Marshe, Richard Benedict.<br />
Jitiunie<br />
The Fighting Kentuckian<br />
F<br />
Historical<br />
Drama<br />
Republic ( ) 100 Minutes Rel.<br />
Purportedly based on an obscure page from American<br />
history, this specializes in incidents, and although many of<br />
them are entertaining and action-laden the screenplay which<br />
weaves them together is so patently contrived, meandering<br />
and unconvincing that the highlights lose much of their effectiveness.<br />
The fact, however, that John Wayne currently is hotter<br />
than a bandit s pistol at the boxoffice should in itself be<br />
sufficiently potent to assure the offering a fair measure of<br />
financial success; but it appears unlikely that reactions of<br />
initial spectators will add to the film's popularity. Localed in<br />
Alabama and concerning the settlement there of followers<br />
of Napoleon, exiled because of their loyalty to the emperor,<br />
the plot is built around a romance between a refugee gentlewoman<br />
and a Kentucky frontiersman. Wayne's performance<br />
is as good as his material permits, but even he cannot<br />
hurdle literary shortcomings. Directed by George Waggner.<br />
John Wayne, Vera Ralston, Philip Dorn, Oliver Hardy, Marie<br />
Windsor, John Howard, Hugo Haas, Grant Withers.<br />
Barbary Pirate<br />
Columbia (212) 64 Minutes Rel.<br />
F<br />
Adventure<br />
Drama<br />
This uses one of the dramatic incidents of history, the<br />
determined resistance of the new and weak United States to<br />
the tribute paid to that pirate-de-luxe, the Bey of Tripoli, by<br />
its merchant ships. While done in melodramatic fashion and<br />
without the use of name stars, it is a good lower half entry<br />
and has angles which will be useful for exploitation. The<br />
fiction which ties the historical facts together uses a romance<br />
between an officer, disguised for spying purposes as a traitor,<br />
and the sister of an ardent patriot on one of the boats captured<br />
by the Bey. While they are held in prison, the "traitor"<br />
becomes a trusted (well, more or less) employe of the Bey<br />
and with the help of a servant girl connected with an underground<br />
movement, exposes the U.S. official who has been<br />
sending information to the Bey enabling him to know when<br />
every ship sailed. Lew Landers directed.<br />
Donald Woods, Trudy Marshall, Lenore Aubert, Steian Schnabel,<br />
Ross Ford, John Dehner, Matthew Boultan.<br />
1072 BOXOFTICE<br />
V,<br />
be<br />
Arctic Manhunt<br />
Univ.-Int'l (695)<br />
69 Minutes<br />
F<br />
Rel. May '49<br />
The Arctic backgrounds and the life and customs of an<br />
Eskimo community aie more interesting than the melodramatic<br />
chase sequences of this modest-budget programmer.<br />
The picture lends itself to exploitation in action houses but,<br />
because it lacks marquee value, it will otherwise be relegated<br />
to the supporting spot in neighborhood duals. The<br />
story, which seems dragged in to pad out the striking scenes<br />
made on the Arctic tundra, is<br />
contains only a few dialog sequences. It deals with a young<br />
criminal who completes a prison term for his part in a $250,-<br />
000 robbery and then flees to Alaska with the hidden loot.<br />
He loses his money in the snow but finds temporary happiness<br />
by aiding the simple Eskimos before the insurance<br />
investigators catch up with him. Carol Thurston gives a<br />
narrated by Russ Conway and<br />
refreshing performance as an educated Eskimo girl. Ewing<br />
Scott directed.<br />
Mikel Conrad, Carol Thurston, Wally Cassell, Harry Harvey,<br />
Helen Brown, Paul E. Burns, Jack George, Quianna.<br />
September 17, 1949 1071
. . . The<br />
. . Here's<br />
. . Seeking<br />
. . Searing<br />
. . And<br />
. . Where<br />
. With<br />
. . With<br />
. . Tender<br />
. . The<br />
. . Over<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
, . . Love<br />
. . . Swashbuckling<br />
, . The<br />
. . Bob<br />
. . The<br />
. . Olivia<br />
. . Swamping<br />
. . And<br />
. . That<br />
. . Adventure,<br />
. . The<br />
. . He's<br />
EXPLOITIPS<br />
Suggestions for Selling; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"Under Capricorn"<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"The Heiress"<br />
Contact local distributors of astrology magazines and arrange<br />
to snipe covers with copy such as: "Interested in<br />
astrology? Then don't foil to see what happens to a woman<br />
born 'Under Capricorn.' " Tieups are indicated with bookstores<br />
and libraries on the novel by Helen Simpson on which<br />
the film was based. In view of her recent headline-snatching<br />
activities, Ingrid Bergman's name should be liberally<br />
splashed around your marquee and lobby. Offer free admission<br />
to the first ten persons who can prove they were born<br />
"Under Capricorn."<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Ingrid<br />
.<br />
. . . It's Ingrid<br />
Alfred Hitchcock's Greatest Dramatic Triumph . . .<br />
Bergman's Most Sensational Screen Romance . . . The Tense,<br />
Unforgettable Drama of Australia a Century Ago . . . The<br />
Land Down Under . Men Went to Forget.<br />
You May Love Henrietta<br />
Bergman<br />
You May Hate Henrietta . . .<br />
But You'll Never Forget Henrietta<br />
.<br />
in Her Most Masterful Portrayal . . . Gay<br />
Deadly . to Rule ... Or Ruin.<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
nale<br />
ChL<br />
Compare OJivia DeHavilland's portrayal of "The Heiress"<br />
to her Academy award winning role in "To Each Her Own"<br />
and last year's "The Snake Pit." Play up Montgomery Clifi,<br />
who rose to fame in only two previous pictures, and Miriam<br />
Hopkins, in her return to films after a six-year absence. The<br />
stage play had a year's run on Broadway and toured the<br />
country. Arrange bookstore tieups for window displays of<br />
Henry James' "Washington Square," from which this was<br />
adapted.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
A Powerful Stage Play Becomes a Greater Motion Picture<br />
and Hate Behind the Bolted Doors of a Washington<br />
Square Mansion . DeHavilland Gives Another<br />
Portrayal of<br />
Academy Award Caliber.<br />
A Truly Great Motion Picture With the Dramatic Portrayal<br />
of the Year . Poignancy of DeHavilland, the Romanticism<br />
of Clift, the Dramatic Power of Richardson in a Heart-<br />
Rending Tale . . . What Was the Secret of the Bolted Door?<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Post Office Investigator"<br />
Audrey Long and Warren Douglas recently starred in<br />
another Republic feature, "Homicide for Three." Use "Wanted"<br />
window cards with photos of Miss Long and copy pertaining<br />
to the picture at your theatre. As the picture deals with collectors<br />
of rare stamps, contact local philatelist groups for<br />
displays of rare stamps and invite leading stamp experts to<br />
the first showing. Jeff Donnell was a Columbia contract<br />
player, appearing in leading roles in a dozen features.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Thrilling Entertainment Based on Facts from Official Files<br />
True Story About the Unsung Heroes of the Post<br />
Office Department ... A Postman's Life Seems Like a Routine<br />
Affair—Until He Becomes Involved in a Game of Murder and<br />
Grand Larceny.<br />
A Young Postman Falls for a Lovely Girl and Becomes.<br />
Involved in Grand Larceny and Double Cross . Thrill<br />
Story About the Men You Never See or Hear About But Who<br />
Keep a Constant Vigil Over the Mails.<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Song of Surrender"<br />
Exploit the December-and-May romantic motif with a newspaper<br />
contest on "Why Older Men Make the Best Husbands"<br />
or something similar in subject matter. Award a special<br />
prize to the. married couple in your community which boasts<br />
the greatest difference in age between husband and wife.<br />
The title could be tied into displays of perfume and cosmetics,<br />
and could also be the basis for an amateur song-writing<br />
contest, with a local disk jockey, music teacher or orchestra<br />
leader as the judge.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
An Emotional Milestone Compelling Story of a<br />
Young and Beautiful<br />
Husband Much Older .<br />
.<br />
Torn Between Loyalty to a<br />
. . .<br />
Love for a Young, Handsome<br />
Girl<br />
and Wealthy Suitor.<br />
The Screen Brings All Its Genius ... To the Most Gripping<br />
Love Story That Ever Haunted Three Hearts ... So Tender<br />
The<br />
in Its Telling ... So Rich in Its Remembrance<br />
Kind of Movie the<br />
. . .<br />
Whole World Has Been Asking For<br />
The Kind of Picture You'll Never Forget.<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"The Fighting Kentuckian"<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"The Great Lover"<br />
For your lobby centerpiece prepare a large compo-hoard<br />
map of the Alabama territory which is the locale for the film<br />
and illustrate it with suitable action stills. Stage a "Kenlucky"<br />
night for residents of your community who hail from<br />
that state. Stimulate the interest of school children, particularly<br />
those studying American history, through displays on<br />
bulletin boards. Award inexpensive prizes for the best "reviews"<br />
wriiten by students, and use some of them as a part<br />
of your advertising-exploitation campaign.<br />
Try for tieups with men's shops, slanting copy to read:<br />
"Bob Hope Says You, Too, Can Be a 'Great Lover'—In That<br />
Nev/ Made-to-Measure Gabardine Suit." Get local high<br />
schools to launch a "Great Lover" popularity contest. Use<br />
suitable stills from the picture for a chuckle-provoking "Lessons<br />
in Love" layout, perhaps as a shadow-box display in<br />
your lobby. Another possible lobby layout: Stills of Valentino,<br />
Barrymore, John Gilbert and others of filmdom's "great<br />
lovers," topped by comedy shots of Hope in his new picture.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
One Kiss From Her Lips . . . Set a Whole Territory Aflame<br />
Action Galore . the Fabulous Fighting<br />
Kentuckians<br />
. Romance Aplenty . the Screen's<br />
Most Exciting Soldier of Fortune.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
. . . . That<br />
. a<br />
Those Boudoir Eyes Reckless Nose<br />
Fighting Chin .<br />
Rock You Right<br />
. It's All<br />
Out of<br />
Hope—and<br />
That Chair .<br />
Smile Wide . . . He'll<br />
a One-Man Riot<br />
... In the Rib-Wrecker of the Year.<br />
An Unforgettable Saga of Gold, Vengeance and Glory .<br />
. .<br />
Of One Man Among Men ... Of One Love Among Loves<br />
... As History's Boldest Adventurers Go on the March .<br />
Toward a New Ehipire.<br />
More Guffaws Than "The Paleface" . . . Funnier Than<br />
"Sorrowful Jones" . the Screen With Waves<br />
of Laughter . Hope Will Convulse You as a Cut-Rate<br />
Casanova . . . It's Almost More Than Human Ribs Can Stand.<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Arctic Manhunt"<br />
This can be exploited with inexpensive stunts such as a<br />
doorman or cashier dressed in fur outfits complete with<br />
parkas or a walking ballyhoo man dressed in an Eskimo<br />
outfit passing out handbills. Simulated blocks of ice made<br />
of beaverboard around the boxoffice or theatre front will<br />
attract a'.tention. Give guest tickets to the patrons who can<br />
name the most songs suitable for an Arctic climate, such as<br />
"Baby, It's Cold Outside," "Button Up Your Overcoat," etc.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Roaring Adventure Drama of the North . Six<br />
Months Filming in the Rugged Alaskan Wastelands .<br />
Through 1,000 Trackless Miles of Danger—With a Fortune<br />
in His Hands and a Price On His Head.<br />
.<br />
He Could Break Every Law But the Untamed Law of the<br />
North Whips! Roaring Gunsl Savage Animalsl<br />
Untamed Natives! . . . Vengeful Guns Behind Him, 1,000<br />
Frozen Miles of Fury Ahead . . The Mighty North Roars<br />
With a<br />
Savage Story.<br />
anv<br />
; wa<br />
ski<br />
sky<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"Barbary Pirate"<br />
Since this has historical interest, offer a prize for the best<br />
essay on that period of American history when the Barbary<br />
pirates were defied. Use a pirate display in the lobby, flying<br />
the "black flag" over the theatre while the show is playing.<br />
Another prize stunt might.be used in having the most famous<br />
pirates named by contestants, the longest list winning a<br />
ticket prize. Ask libraries and bookstores to cooperate with<br />
displays of histories marked at the incident of Barbary<br />
pirates, and of books dealing with pirates in general.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Man Who Made Merchants Pay Tribute From Every<br />
Country but One—the Youngest and the Weakest Defied Him<br />
Pirates, Grim Heroes, and Romance on<br />
the High Seas . "Traitor" Who Caught a Real Traitor<br />
by Posing as One Himself.<br />
The Pirate Who Filled a Prison With Merchant Seamen and<br />
His Coffers With Gold . Romance and Intrigue<br />
on Land and Sea Taken From the Pages of American History<br />
Action and Romance in a Historical Setting of<br />
. . . Oriental Splendor.
'<br />
and<br />
I house<br />
. $3<br />
•= hm<br />
:-.3!ls<br />
; A<br />
.eacs,<br />
-r.aiig<br />
. :;.!ilia<br />
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Tmt<br />
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ATES: 10c per word, minimum $1.00, cash with copy. Four insertions for price of three.<br />
LOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
Box Numbers to BOXOFTICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. •<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Wanted: Franchise agents to bundle sure-fire<br />
[ven Game for Drive-In Theatres. Contact<br />
jilenge Money." Box 336, Cambridge, Ohio.<br />
Lecturer for social hygiene Him and sell books.<br />
ate qiialirications. Box 815. Boxoffice. 9<br />
ickefel.er Plaza, New York Clly.<br />
Wanted : Projectionist. $35 week Write, wire<br />
iz Theatre, Cameron, Mo.<br />
Specialty salesman with car to travel and sell<br />
ition picture advertising to merchants. Live<br />
re can earn $200 to $250 commission per week,<br />
itt' Nationwide Theatre Service, 540 S. Dearn,<br />
Chicago.<br />
Drive-in theatre manager. First class. l.OOO-car<br />
ive-ln to be opened May 1, 1950. Stnte com-<br />
;te work lilslory, educational bacligroiind. qiiallalions,<br />
references, sa.ary desired. Submit recent<br />
otograpli. Brocliton Drive-ln Tiieatre Corp.,<br />
IX C02, Brocliton. Mass.<br />
IManager, Arkansas town. State experience, salfull<br />
particulars. Wren Theatres. 118 W.<br />
-'ond. Liltle Rock. Ark.<br />
Jperator Wanted: Prefer G.I. not over 5'6"<br />
with some experience, eligible for training<br />
gram. Others considered. Iowa. Boxoffice.<br />
15.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
\ change is in order! If you need a young,<br />
rcssive manager, who has five years experience<br />
first and second run houses. Now managing<br />
theatres. Good on advertising, exploitation<br />
management. Single, will go anywhere.<br />
Ifornia, Illinois or Wisconsin preferred. Boxre.<br />
3461.<br />
;Vojectionist, 8 .years experience, 25 years old,<br />
I take permament job anywhere. Married; refices;<br />
available at once. Harold Fansler, 117<br />
leka Blvd., Topeka, Kas.<br />
Iperator, 15 years experience all types booth<br />
lipment. Also capable of managing small thea-<br />
Bnxoffice. 3586.<br />
/ouiig man, 25, wants opportunity as assistant<br />
ager to learn theatre business. Background;<br />
ege, theatre staff. References. Write Boxce,<br />
3587.<br />
TICKET REGISTERS<br />
lur factory rebuilt two unit ticket machines, ofd<br />
at $109.50; three tmit. $269.50, guaranteed<br />
? two years. Beautifully modernized like new.<br />
e deals and trades made. Ticket Register Indus-<br />
3, 30 E. Adams St., Chicago 3.<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
omJc books again available as premiums, give-<br />
's at your kiddy shows. Large variety latest<br />
iige newsstand editions. Comics Premium Co.,<br />
B Greenwich St., New York City.<br />
Jiingo with more action. $2.75 thousand cards,<br />
other games. Novelty Games Co., 1434 Bed-<br />
Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y.<br />
[ heatre M anagers : Something new ! Dartaway.<br />
'iiime of skill, legal in any state. Terms realible.<br />
Pack your theatre. No theatre too big<br />
Itoo smaK. For information, write or call<br />
Inie Stcpina. Aztec Theatre. Shawnee, Kas.<br />
ingo die-cut cards, two colors, 75 or 100 numper<br />
M. Bingo Screen Dial, $30. Premium<br />
iucts. 354 W. 4-lth St., New York 18.<br />
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES<br />
[or Sale: Popcorn Processing Plant! Am offer-<br />
\my poiicom prncps
Jdantf^<br />
^AiaLtuUed Jdeadzn^iUip,<br />
RENDERING<br />
GREAT SERVICE<br />
TO THE ENTIRE<br />
MOTION PICTURE<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
Ho'H in<br />
Preparation:<br />
The MODEM THEME "RED BOOK''<br />
Distributed in November as a section of BOXOFFICE —<br />
for 30 years "The Pulse of the Motion Picture Industry."<br />
THE most widely-used theatreman's reference<br />
book and buyers' guide. With its essential<br />
information it is consulted the year around. The<br />
RED BOOK, with greatly expanded editorial departments,<br />
reviews the important developments<br />
of the past year and charts significant trends—for<br />
all phases of theatre operation, including design,<br />
construction, equipment, maintenance, refreshment<br />
merchandising and drive-in operation.<br />
IT<br />
CONTAINS "The Key to Better Buying," the<br />
most complete classified product-service directory<br />
in the field. This directory, bound in its own<br />
durable cover, is cross-indexed to local supply<br />
sources and contains also a trade-name reference<br />
section plus other valuable data. With its yeararound<br />
usage it offers an unexcelled medium for<br />
advertisers to keep their story constantly before the<br />
entire theatre market and at a low cost, since the<br />
regular Modern Theatre rates apply. Mo/ce your<br />
spoce reservof/ons<br />
NOW!<br />
Goes to All BOXOFFICE Subscribers — More than 23,000 Net Paid<br />
^ Issued NOVEMBER 19, Forms Close Oct. 10 -k<br />
J-ke /UiiUe oj. tkeyl^Latlffn /UlctiLtec^^iiJiiidtu<br />
^4^1/L^ IN<br />
THE FIELD by every standard of measurement<br />
Circulation • Editorial Quality * Advertising Volume • Njmber of Exclusive Advertisers • Number of Agency Accounts<br />
KANSAS CITY 1, MO.<br />
S2S Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
NEW YORK CITY 20, N. Y.<br />
9 Rockefeller Plaza<br />
CHICAGO 5,<br />
ILL.<br />
624 S. Michigan Ave.<br />
LOS ANGELES 5, CALIF.<br />
672 S. LaFayette PI.