DECEMBER

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Holiday Rate Cut Fails
To Draw Big Patronage
DETROIT—Reduced admLssion prices are
not the answer to the present ills of show
business, according to David M. Idzal, managing
director of the Fox Theatre, after an
experiment with bargain rates for Thanksgiving
week. R'ices were cut to 62 cents for
adults and 21 cents for children up to 2 p. m.
for the week. This represented a 50 per cent
reduction in the case of the four big days,
including the holiday, when the house policy,
with a stage show, normally calls for $1.25 to
$1.50—regular evening admission rates—for
the entire day.
Additional business brought in by the family
rates, which were well advertised in newspapers
and on the radio at strategic morning
hours, was negligible. On Thanksgiving
morning, with an estimated 150,000 downtown
to see the Hudson Christmas parade, the
house took in about 400 extra children's admissions,
but extra business before the 2 p. m.
deadline was almost nonexistent for the
balance of the week.
In contrast, family trade was brought to
the house, which was catering to family trade
with a combination of "My Pal Gus" and Ray
Anthony's orchestra on the stage, later in
the day. The regular admission prices proved
no serious deterrent, as families would apparently
go out Christmas shopping and come
to the show later, rather than .speed up the
schedule to get in for the bargain rates.
Studying the hour-by-hour reports of the
week, Idzal noted that the best business continued
to come over the weekend, providing an
apparent answer to critics of television oppo-
CLEVELAND
GREETINGS FROM %
PETE SIMON 1
The TraileT Man I
i^SiMS»-««i»-'»i»J!Sii»JBis*iteO«»^
2206 Cass Ave.
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Detroit 1, Mich.
Greetings
NIGHTINGALE CLUB |
BOWLING LEAGUE i
Season's Greetings
The Blumenthal Family 1
Greetings from
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JOHN TATU and
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DR.
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JOHN S. METES
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152
Nortown and Casino Theatres
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sition. Pointing out that the strongest video
opposition came in the form of such top
shows as Jackie Gleason, Martin and Lewis,
and Jack Benny. Idzal noted that it was just
at these periods that the theatre drew its
best business—indicating that the customers
will still turn out if the attraction is what
they want to see, regardless of price or competing
interests.
One significant conclusion from the week's
experience with the spot booking of stage
shows was that a week's business can be rung
up in three days with the right attraction
tieing in with the policy of a growing number
of exhibitors in this area to convert to operation
for only part of the week. The Fox actually
grossed slightly more in a single night's
booking of "The Biggest Show of '52," musical
package show, which gave performances about
six weeks ago, than the Anthony-"Gus" combination
did in the entire week. However, the
"Biggest Show" played to a $3 top scale.
BOWLING
DETROIT—No challenger to upset Amusement
Supply's lead in the Nightingale Bowling
league is even in sight:
Teom Won Lost Team Won Lost
Amusement Sup 48 24 NTS 36 36
McArthur 40 32 Ernie Forbes ...33 39
Altec 38 34 Mount Vernon .. 30 42
Not'l Carbon... 38 34 Locol 199 25 47
High rollers were Calvin Collard 205. total
55; Eddie Waddell 202; Nick Forest 526, Roy
Light 526, Gilbert Light 519, WiUiam
Fouchey 515, Roy Thompson 515, Edgar Douville
512, Frank Scheuer 508, Matt Haskin
501.
DETROIT—The field is thinning out in
the Film Bowling league:
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
United Artists. 28 11 Monogrom ...18 21
Allied Films... 24 16 Republic 18 22
S&G 20 20 Theatrical Ad . . 1 1 29
Plea for Business Data
For Tax Fight Is Made
DETROIT—An urgent appeal to all exhibitors
to furnish confidential economic
data upon their operation as essential ammunition
in the campaign to secure repeal
of the federal admission tax is being made
by Ernest T. Conlon, executive secretary of
Allied Theatres of Michigan.
Schedules showing exhibitor profit and
loss, ratio of tax to net profits, schedule of
equipment and improvements replacements
and data on the loss of property values
when a theatre is closed all are requested by
Conlon. Information may be kept confidential
if the exhibitor wishes. Conlon said
in asking for speed compilation, but the
facts are expected to prove powerful arguments
to present to individual congressmen.
Ralph Raskin Stricken
DETROIT—Ralph Raskin, who has been
active in the theatre premium field here for
almost two decades, died last week (D after
a long illness. Originally a pharmaceutical
chemist, he went into the premium busine.ss
with his brother-in-law. Arthur Robinson,
owner of a circuit of Detroit theatres, as local
representative for the Price Premium Co.
In recent years he was Detroit representative
for Price Premiums, as well as for Farmer
Bob popcorn. He is survived by his wife
Edith, two daughters, Mrs. Marion Grant, and
Lorntta. and one son Leonard.
Richard Campbell Named
Sylvania Village Clerk
SYLVANIA. OHIO—Richard Campbell, who
has managed the 400-seat Sylvan Theatre
here almost since it was opened in October
1938, has taken over some additional duties
as a result of the steady growth of the community.
He was named assistant village clerk,
being the first full-time village executive in
the community. He will be on duty at tbe
village hall daily from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. and
until noon on Saturdays, to collect parking
fines, issue building permits, receive com
plaints and answer various questions about
municipal activities. In the evenings, he will
continue his work as theatre manager. The
theatre is open every day except Wednesday.
The Sylvan is owned by Campbell's brotherin-law,
E. H. Walter of North Baltimore,
who also operates the Virginia, a similar-siaed
theatre in North Baltimore.
Detroit Film Censors
Cut 100 Feet in Nov.
DETROIT—The censor bureau under Sergt
Richard Loftus settled down to a single cutf"
in films submitted for review during November
totaling 100 feet—in sharp contrast tcj
a record-breaking 10,675 feet condemned it^
October. The cut was made in a scene ici
a Swedish film.
i
The censors viewed 359,000 feet during No-i
vember, considerably below the average flow
of product. Of this 276.000 feet was American
or English product, and 83,000 foreign. The
latter was paced again by Mexican film.s with
42,000 feet, followed by 14,000 feet of Egyptian
product—the first reported in two years;
English—special distribution, 11,000; Italian
10,000, and Armenian, 6,000.
Detroit Cameo Taken Ovei
By Republic Amusement
DETROIT — The Cameo Theatre, nortt
end house built and operated for many yean
by George Flucksa and Bucar Stoica, is being
taken over by the Republic Amusement Co.
new unit affiliated with the Saul Kormat
circuit which will operate the house. Anns
Talcowsky is listed as owner of the Re-j
public organization.
The house will continue under the sam(|
personnel, headed by Peter Tabor as manager.
Both Flucksa and Stoica are planning
to leave on extended trips to Florida.
Amusement industry employes from oil the 41
stotes odmitted at no cost tor TB care at Will
ROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
=EXPERT=
Upholstering. Repairing,
Rearranging & Installing.
THEATRE SEATS
Ovei 25 years experience
Immediate service anywhere
DONOHUE SEATING SERVICE
807 Norlli Wilson Royal Oak. Mich.
Phono Lincoln 5-5720
'Md
cal
JS^-
CRArrSMANSMlP AND gNCINIlRIN8
OUTSTANDING
BOXOFFICE
;; December 13, 1955-
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