Boxoffice-January.03.1948

Presents Des'igii fof Theotfes 

THE OUTLOOK FOR 1948 

A 4- Pag* Forecast by Industry Leaders 

. . . Paees 17-20

They'll break open 

the Piggy Banks 

to buy tickets! 

_.J 

X 

^ 

"HIGH WALL' punches all 

the way... sturdy melodramatic filr 

...strong cast and production." 

-vAR;£TY(w„t 

'Dramatic entertainment bet delivers suspense, excitement 

—f\LM DAIi 

' 

Strong meat . . . suspenseful scenes . . . chilling entertainment . . 

recommended." 

-motion picture herah 

"Gripping, suspenseful." 

-boxoff/ci 

'Solid entertainment for all 

types and classes."— show/mens trade revieI 

' 

Fast moving action . . . profitable boxoffice reception . . . romanc 

suspense... a smashing conclusion." 

—Hollywood reports 

'Exciting and interesting show... highly effective." 

—motion picture dail 

'Snaps like a whip ... plenty of entertainment., .another click." 

— COAST VARIET 

BEATS THE 

BLIZZARD! 

S.R.O. biz at 

N. Y. Capitol 

World 

Premiere! 

M-G-M PRESENTS THE HIGH-TENSION ROMANCE 

ROBERT TAYLO 

A»TOTTER H„„MARSHALI 

IIHI WMil 

DOROTHY PATRICK H. B. WARNER WARNER ANDERSOI 

Diiiiiediii Curtis BEHARDT 

Proiadtv Robert 

A METRO -GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE

THREE GOOD NAMES CAN BE 

SOLD TO ANY AUDIENCE! 

-Film Daily 

ENGROSSING TALE OF 

PSYCHOLOGICAL MURDER! 

— Motion Picture Dai/v IMAGINATIVE MURDER STORY 

...LUKAS EXCELLENT! 

Showmen's Trade Reviev 

DANHNE ANDERSON lUKAS 

MIMI DESTEE JOHN PRATT- LUCIE POITRASJOY LAFLEUR 

• 

eced b, FEDOR OZEP. Produced by GEORGE MARTON Executive Producer PAUL L'ANGLAI. 

ginol s,or, by George Zuckermon ond Michael Lennox 

an EAGLE LION FILMS release 

• Screenplay by Rion Jame, and Leonord Lee

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

PUBLISHCO IN NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

JAMES M. JERAULD Editor 

NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor 

IVAN SPEAR 

Western Editor 

HARRY TOLER Equipment Editor 

J. 

RAYMOND LEVY General Manager 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Editorial OHicrs: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, 

N. Y.; Raymond Levy, General Manager; James M. 

Jerauld, Editor; Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser 

Section; A. J. Stocker. Eastern Representative. 

Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-6371, 5-6372. 

Cable address: "BOXOmCE, New York." 

Central Offices: 3 South Michigan Blvd., Chicago 

4, 111. J. Barry '.oler. Editor Modern Theatre Section. 

Telephone WAbash 4575. 

Westerrj Offices: 5404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 

28, Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone 

1186. 

Washington Offices: 302-303 International Bldg., 1319 

F St., N. W. Lee L. Garling, Manager. Telephone 

NAIional 3482. Filmrow: 932 New Jersey, N. W. Sara 

Young. 

London Offices: 136 Wardour St., John Sullivan, Manager. 

Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6. 

Publication Offices; 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 

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

Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager. 

Telephone CHestnut 7777-78. 

Other Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER, 

published in November as a section BOXOFFICE: 

of 

THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as o 

section of BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan. 

ATLANTA-163 Wallon, N. W., P. H. Savin. 

BALTIMORE—Uptown Theatre, A. J. Woll. 

BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger. 

BOSTON-Frances W. Harding, 20 Piedmont St., Lib. 

9184. Home: Com, 4700. 

BUFFALO— 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder. 

CHARLOTTE-216 W. 4th, Pauline Griffith. 

CHICAGO—332 S. Michigan Blvd., Jonas Perlberg, 

WAbash 4575. 

CINCINNATI— 1634 Central Parkway, Lillian Seltzer. 

CLEVELAND—2568 Overlook Road, Cleveland Heights, 

Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046. 

DENVER— 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose, TA 8517. 

DES MOINES—Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch. 

DETROIT— 1009 Fox Theatre Blvd., H. F. Reves. 

Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-02I9. 

HARRISBURG, PA.—The Telegraph, Lois Fegan. 

INDIANAPOLIS—Rt. 8, Box 770, Howard M. Rudeaux. 

LITTLE ROCK—2100 S. Harrison, Mary Mann. 

MIAMI-66 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manton E. Harwood. 

2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow. 

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

MILWAUKEE— 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. James R. 

Gahagan. BR 4938 and MA 0297. 

MINNEAPOLIS—29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees. 

NEW HAVEN—42 Church St., Gertrude Lander. 

NEWARK, N. J.-207 Sumner, Sara Carleton. 

NEW ORLEANS—218 So. Liberty St., Mrs. Jack Auslet. 

Telephone MA 5812. 

OKLAHOMA CITY— 125 NW 15th St., Polly Trindle. 

OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes. 

PHILADELPHlA-4901 Spruce St., Apt. I02a, J. M. 

Makler, GRanite 2.38&. 

PITTSBURGH-86 Van Braam St., R. F. Klingensmith. 

RICHMOND—Westhampton Theatre, Sam Pulliam. 

ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa Ave., David F. Barrett, Flanders 

3727. 

SALT LAKE CITY-Deserel News, Howard Pearson. 

SAN ANTONlO-333 Blum St., L. J. B. Kelner. 

SAN FRANCISCO-25 Taylor St., Gail Lipman, 

ORdway 3-4B12. 

SEATTLE-928 N. 84th St., Willard Elsey. 

TOLEDO-4330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline. 

IN 

CANADA 

CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm. Campbell. 

MONTREAL—4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael. 

Walnut 5519. 

ST. lOHNÎie Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNulty. 

TORONTO—242 Milwood, Milton Galbraith. 

VANCOUVER—411 Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy. 

VICTORIA—938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman. 

WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin. 

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations 

Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office, Kansas City, Mo. 

Sectional Edition, $2.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50 

OXOFFICE 

SELLING RIGHT 

7 li 

•w-^WO things that exhibitors generally hoped 

to see come out of the supreme court's decision on the gov-'* 

emment's antitrust suit are: 1) the continuance of a systeir 

of arbitration; and 2) elimination of the requirement of com 

pulsory bidding as set forth in the New York statutory court's 

decree. 

On the first point it is rightfully contended that concilia 

tion is the more desirable means of settling buyer-seller disputes. 

Not only has this proved to be far less costly than litiga 

tion, but it also is more expeditious in effecting settlements. 

On the second point there is the school of thought thai 

believes bidding for product will open competition in favoi 

of those who contend the present method of picture selling 

has been restrictive, especially in the instance of priority o: 

runs. But some experimenting with the bidding method has 

resulted, as its opponents charge, with higher film rental costs 

not always justified by the earlier availability of product, ever 

though higher admission scales ensued. 

This reminds of the case of a prominent midwest independent 

circuit operator who recently "won" second run position 

for one of his houses. He is ready to return to his old 

arrangement, having found that earlier run at higher admission 

scales was not what he expected it to be. It had beer 

more profitable—and more to his patrons' liking—when he 

played pictures later at lower prices. Of course there are situations 

where the contrary resuh may obtain. But, as the 

MPTOA contends in its brief as amicus curiae, the public does 

not stand to gain from any method that causes it to pay more 

for its motion picture entertainment. That, it avers, is not 

in keeping with the intent of the Sherman act to benefit the 

public. 

Then there is another point so frequently mentioned ir 

past discussions of competitive bidding. That is the openinc 

this gives to the entry of "outsiders" into the exhibition field 

Many an independent exhibitor who is now secure in his 

long-established relations with distributors would be threatened 

by the loss of product rights he has earned through years 

of building. Stars, whose popularity he helped to develop ir 

his community, -would go to whoever outbid him for the pic 

tures in which they appear. And the danger of overseating ir. 

many localities would grow with the easement of building 

materials cmd labor supply. 

On other points of the case to be decided by the supreme 

court there is great divergence of opinion. Even those whc 

publicly proclaim the decision will be a "cure-all," will privately 

admit doubt in the matter. Conservative opinion seems 

to hold that, whatever the decision, it will not be a panacea. 

Vol. 52 No. 9 

JANUARY 3, 1948

'^"^ 

:: 

manship 

'''5 

ellll : 

* 

IP^pbyfip^î^ 

The business will go on—almost as usual—with the strong 

becoming stronger, even though they may become greater 

in number should divestiture be decreed. 

I 

In any event, experience should by now have taught that 

only lawyers are the victors in court cases. The fellow who 

looks for "better days" to come out of court decisions will still 

°' 

have to make his own situation measure up to whatever 

,?° new condition may arise. In other words, he will find it a good 

investment to improve the physical attractiveness of his theatre 

(perhaps to discourage competition); to do all that needs 

'doing in the interest of becoming a more important factor in 

his community; and to put forth that extra measure of showthat 

spells the difference between failure and success. 

11, 

When all of the present uncertainty simmers down, it will 

once again become apparent that SALESMANSHIP made the 

motion picture the world's greatest entertainment. Buying 

right is important; but SELLING RIGHT is what brings in the 

customers. 

jm; 

* 

i;;The Trend Definitely Is 

Up 

Statistics which give cause for optimism are the following, 

culled from the New York Times: 

Gross national product. At the beginning of the year the rate 

^, pf production was $223.1 billion a year. The rate now is $232.2 

illion. 

S22 

Corporate profits. At the beginning of the year the rate was 

4 billion a year. Now the rate is $22.9 billion. 

Average weekly wages. 

IS 

ii^tood at $47. Now it is $50.45. 

Consumer price index. 

153.1. Now it is 168.3. 

At the beginning of the year the figure 

At the beginning of the year the figure 

, |. Employment. At the beginning of the year the figure was 

""^7 ,000,000. Now it is 58,500,000. 

.' 

All of the factors which account for good business in 

tjeneral lines are present—stronger than ever. So the poten- 

J. 

^. Sal for the motion picture also has increased. But, over-all, 

film business has shovm a decrease. That means that something 

is wrong, not with conditions, but with picture business 

^ 

" itself. Some blame the product, saying the public is "shopping" 

for quality. Some blame inertia, lack of confidence, 

!ear. It probably is a combination of all of these things. But, 

30 long as the general situation is as healthy as the statistics 

proclaim, the trend can be UP in this business, if it will just 

get off of its backside and out of its doldrums. 

KJc'x^ /y^JLuy^^ 

Pfd^SeaU 

Circuit Names the Big Five 

In Clearance Complaint 

Community Theatre Corp., operating the 

State. Springdale, Conn., has asked that it 

be allowed a maximum clearance for the 

State of 44 days after first run in Stamford. 

* 

St. Louis 5% Ticket Tax 

Passed On to Public 

Admission prices at most of the theatres 

increased January 1, when the new municipal 

levy went into effect; boosts closely follow 

the exact amount of tax on adult tickets. 

American Legion Honors 

Film Probe Luminaries 

Citations issued to numerous Hollywood 

notables who testified as friendly witnesses 

at the recent house un-American activities 

committee hearings. 

Paramount in Canada Forms 

Video Production Company 

Famous Players Canadian Corp. organizes 

television firm; meanwhile FCC delays to 

March 1 hearing Paramount arguments for 

acquisition of new U.S. television stations by 

theatre subsidiaries. 

-f 

Loyal Haight to Supervise 

Paramount Candy Sales 

Succeeds Max Schosberg. who will become 

consultant and adviser to the department 

which he founded 20 years; Haight joined 

the New York Paramount office in November 

1946. 

* 

Loew's Directors Slated 

For Re-Election Ian. 30 

stockholders to meet in New York; Nicholas 

Schenck, Joseph Vogel, William F. Bodgers, 

J. Robert Rubin, Charles Moskowitz, Leopold 

Friedman, David Warfield, William Parker, 

Henry Winthrop, Eugene Leake listed. 

Film Classics to Release 

For a New Independent 

"The Argyle Album" will be the first film 

to be delivered by new firm organized by 

Alan H. Posner, New York broker, and Walter 

Compton and Samuel X. Abarbanel, publicists. 

British Theatremen to Stress 

Upped Filming Impossible 

Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n expected 

to teU Harold Wilson, president of the board 

of trade, at January 7 meeting that 1948 output 

will be about 40 features; government 

estimate was 75. 

Basil O'Connor Is Honored 

By British Goverrmient 

President of American Red Cross becomes 

associate knight of order of St. John of 

Jerusalem in recognition of his outstanding 

humanitarian work.

ALL NEWSPAPER WIRE SERVICES 

RUSH INTO TELEVISION FIELD 

Films, Stills and Bulletins 

To Be Utilized in Putting 

Video Service on Market 

By DORIS SULTAN 

NEW YORK—The behind-the-scenes 

race for position in the expected 1948 television 

boom is in full swing. Three newsreel 

companies, Warner Pathe News, Paramount 

News and Fox Movietone News, may 

make some startling changes in newsreel 

operation in the coming months. Paramount 

is almost ready to roll on films made 

from television receivers, but is awaiting 

the supreme court decision on theatre divorcement. 

Theatrical newsreels are threatened with 

strong competition from television. In the 

past few months, three worldwide news services, 

Associated Pi-ess, United Press and International 

News Service, have offered 24- 

hour newsreel motion picture service to television 

stations. 

TIED IN WITH TELENEWS 

The INS, unlike AP and UP, is not going to 

film its own newsreels. The newsreel films 

will be produced and released on a daily basis 

by Telenews Productions, Inc. Telenews and 

INS are the first to offer daily newsreel motion 

pictures. 

Prom this it is not difficult to figure out 

that the newsreel companies soon will be 

forced to offer something new to the public. 

Newsreels are released twice a week and are 

subject to clearance. 

The newsreel service offered by the news 

services to television stations would give television 

audiences fresh film coverage of daily 

events every evening. In addition, both CBS 

and NBC television stations in New York 

film their own newsreels. 

Paramount News, which has been keeping 

its theatre television plans under wraps, is not 

overlooking any opportunities. The company 

soon will join the news services in offering 

newsreel motion pictures to television companies. 

For many years Paramount has been 

exchanging still photos with AP. 

Right here it can be assumed that Paramount 

News has no intention of manufacturing 

competition for its theatres by supplying 

newsreels for television until it is 

ready to introduce its system for filming 

news events from a television receiver in 

theatres. 

A CURIOUS DEVELOPMENT 

One curious development in the current 

television situation is the INS-Telenews plan 

to supply television stations with daily motion 

picture newsreel films, still wirephotos 

and teletyped news tapes. The INS is owned 

by William Randolph Hearst. So is MGM's 

News of the Day. News of the Day does not 

figure in the INS-Telenews deal. 

News of the Day is silent on television 

plans. It works closely with Fox Movietone 

News, and its reels are processed at DeLuxe 

Laboratories, a 20th-Fox affiliate. 

At this point it is interesting to note that 

20th-Fox, along with Warners, has been experimenting 

on theatre television with RCA. 

The sudden rush by the wire services into 

the television newsreel field a strong indication 

is 

that they have every intention of keep- 

ings newspaper-owned television stations supplied 

with filmed news events. AP is offering 

its newsreels only to its member television 

stations; INS is offering its newsreel 

Warners May Release 

Newsreels in Color 

New York—Warner Pathe News may 

release its newsreels entirely in color. 

The first footage, processed by Cinecolor, 

will be released for showing in theatres 

Wednesday (January 7) as part of the 

regular twice-weekly newsreel issue. 

The color footage features shots of the 

Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl 

football game in Pasadena on New Year's 

day. 

A total of 300 feet of Cinecolor footage 

is included in the newsreel. The film was 

processed at the Cinecolor laboratory on 

the coast. Editing, titling and narration 

were handled by the Warner studio shorts 

department. The studio began flying completed 

clips of the color footage to New 

York 24 hours after the film was shot. 

Warner laboratory personnel was doubled 

to handle the color footage and 

worked in two eight-hour shifts. 

Willard Vanderveer, southern California 

representative for Warner Pathe News, 

supervised the color filming. 

films to all, advertising agencies included. 

In early December a total of seven out of 

17 television stations in operation were owned 

by newspaper concerns. Out of 104 firms that 

had been granted television construction permits 

by the FCC or had filed applications for 

stations, 24 either owned or operated newspapers. 

Six firms either owning or operating newspapers 

have applied for television station 

licenses in recent weeks. 

Here it becomes apparent that the newspapers, 

which were wai-y of tying up with 

radio when that medium first hit the airwaves, 

do not want to miss the boat this time. 

CBS WORKS OUT PLAN 

The Columbia Broadcasting System has 

worked out a deal to exchange television programs 

with the Baltimore Sun station WMAR 

in Baltimore, the Philadelphia Bulletin station 

and the Washington Star station WMAL. 

Recently the CBS television station in New 

York, FMAR in Baltimore and the Philadelphia 

Inquirer station in that city all carried 

the first AP television newsreel of Pi-incess 

Elizabeth's wedding. 

This cooperation between newspaper-owned 

television stations and CBS has given rise to 

rumors that the newspapers seriously are 

planning organizing nationwide networks. 

The surge of television newsreel activity 

apparently has not alarmed theatrical newsreel 

executives. Warner Pathe News says it 

is too early to judge whether theatrical newsreels 

will be hit. At the same time it announced 

it was going to issue its newsreels 

entirely in color in the future. 

That makes two theatrical newsreel companies 

that have offered something new to the 

public in recent months. Paramount has 

been using the new Zoomar camera lens, 

which can switch from closeups to long shots 

without a change in camera position. 

If the theatrical newsreel heads are not 

alarmed about the wire services entry into 

the television field, neither is INS. Executives 

at both Telenews and INS say they will 

not cut into present theatre attendance with 

their television newsreels. They claim the 

television newsreels will whet public appe'Jte 

for theatrical newsreels. 

This view conflicts sharply with opinions 

expressed in the past by television men. They 

have claimed that present theatrical newsreel 

operation soon will be made obsolete 

by television newsreels. 

One theatrical newsreel executive said that 

while television audiences still were relatively 

small, television newsreels could not cut into 

theatre attendance. 

Like News of the Day, Universal News has 

nothing to say about its television plans. 

It is no secret that Paramount has been 

testing its theatre television equipment at 

the Paramount Theatre in New York. Paramount 

hopes some day to install its television 

receiving equipment in other circuit houses. 

It eventually may have a television camera 

crew feeding news events to theatres. 

PARAMOUNT HOLDS INTEREST 

Paramount has been active in television 

since 1939, when it formed Television Pi-oductions. 

Inc., which operates a Hollywood television 

station. Balaban & Katz circuit in 

Chicago also operates a television station, 

and Paramount is affiliated with Allen B. 

DuMont Laboratories, which operates WABD 

in New York. 

This is how the INS-Telenews service for 

television stations will work: 

The television newsreel negative will he 

flovi'n to New York for processing at the H. 

E.R. Laboratories. The company is working 

on a new quick drying process. Prints will be 

flown out to nine regional Telenews offices 

for distribution. These outlets are in Cleveland, 

Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Milwaukee, 

Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles and 

Seattle. 

Telenews plans to equip these offices with 

film processing equipment so that local film 

news breaks can be developed speedily. All 

reels will be printed on both 35mm and 16mm. 

They will be released to the television stations 

with scripts to be read by an announcer. 

Jack Tobin, production supervisor for Telenews, 

said the scripts are more easily prepared 

than sound commentary put on the 

film sound track. 

Telenews is organizing U.S. camera crews. 

Two crews have been lined up in New York 

and Washington. The company has been 

turning out a weekly international newsreel 

for theatrical release for some time. 

Telenews operates 14 theatres in the U.S. 

Several show newsreels exclusively. Some 

of the 35mm film prepared for the television 

newsreels will be shown in several Telenews 

houses. No other theatres will be serviced. 

CAN HANDLE EVENTS QUICKLY 

On a national news break like the recent 

Texas City disaster story first would be carried 

on a moving teletype tape flashed on 

the television screen. This would be followed 

up by still wirephotos with spoken commentary 

and then by the newsreels. 

The still wirephotos will be used for last 

minute additions to newsreels or for news 

flashes over television. All wirephotos received 

at INS bureaus will be developed on 

special glossy paper or film strips and rushed 

to the local television station. It takes 20 

minutes to receive and develop a wirephoto. 

Forty-eight U.S. bureaus of the INS are 

equipped to handle them. 

Seymour Berkson, general manager of INS, 

said the news service is working on a system 

for transmitting motion pictures by wire at 

the speed of 1,000 feet in 20 minutes. A new 

camera that shoots and develops film within 

a few minutes is being used in the experiments. 

By speeding up the wii-ephoto system, 

INS hopes to transmit each motion picture 

frame in rapid succession. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3, 1948

MPTOA BRIEF CHARACTERIZES 

FILM BIDS AS DANGEROUS' 

Divorcement Is Opposed; 

Urges Continuance of 

Arbitration System 

WASHINGTON—Herman Levy, acting as 

counsel for the independent tlieatre owning 

members of tlie former MPTOA, has filed an 

amicus curiae brief with the clerk of the 

supreme court in which he makes three 

principal contentions. They are: 

(1) That the statutory court, in requiring 

competitive bidding, made it the only method 

of buying pictures and restricted the method 

of doing business more than it ever had been 

before. Levy describes this as an "inherently 

dangerous" method of doing business, asserts 

that it is economically unsound and will increase 

admissions to the public in the long 

run. In the meantime unwary bidders wUl 

go out of business. 

CAN CURE NO EVILS' 

(2) That divorcement can serve no useful 

it purpose. Levy says will cure no evils, but, 

on the contrary, will create new evils. It will 

be sufficient, he declares, to enjoin illegal 

practices of the defendants. "Once these 

will have been eliminated by injunction," he 

asks, "why may not the industry go on as any 

other, developing lawful systems of competition 

under which the keener, the better and 

the more resourceful (whether they be exhibitors, 

producers or distributors! prosper, 

others just survive, and the remainder 

perish?" 

(3) That the court can order arbitration. 

The statutory court took a stand in favor 

of continuance of arbitration, but decided 

it had no power to order it. Levy contends 

the court has power to order arbitration for 

those things which "are inherently arbitrable." 

He cites two cases in one of which 

litigants were ordered by the court to agree 

in "reasonable" royalties and another in 

'vhich the court retained jurisdiction to fix 

reasonable royalties in case it should become 

necessary. 

Levy's brief occupies the same positions 

as those of Allied, the PCCITO, the Conference 

of Southern Exhibitors, SIMPP, and 

the independent theatre ovraing members of 

the ATA. 

I NDER AN AGREEMENT 

When the MPTOA and the ATA were 

merged into the TOA it was agreed that 

f ach would remain an entity in order to 

. 

ontinue the actions begmr when each sought 

M file amicus cm-iae briefs before the New 

York statutory court in 1946. 

The government has allowed the filing of 

the briefs of all these with the clerk of the 

.supreme court, but it is up to the court to 

decide whether they will be considered and 

whether attorneys for these groups will be 

heard when the appeal is argued. The distributor 

defendants have not given their 

consent. 

In his motion for leave to file Levy argues 

for granting of the application to file and 

to be heard by saying "it will be useful in 

that the court will then have before it independent 

theatre owners' and operators' 

objections to the decree, which, by virtue of 

the basic philosophy of the Sherman act. 

should be intended to be of benefit to them. 

Their point of view had not been and will not 

be sufficiently presented by their nominal 

representative, the solicitor general." 

Big Snow Hits Theatres 

In Eight Northeast States 

BULLETIN 

NEW YORK—Damage to power lines 

by a sleet storm which swept through the 

eastern area early Frid,ay morning (2) 

closed down hundreds of theatres whose 

oil-burning heating plants were made inoperative. 

New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester 

and Putnam counties as well as 

metropolitan New York were affected. 

Some theatres were able to operate 

though hurried changeover to coal firing. 

NEW YORK—New York City, upstaoe 

New York as far as the Adirondacks, Pennsylvania 

from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh 

and northward, and all six New England 

states were blanketed with a record snowfall 

of 25.8 inches between the early morning 

hours of Friday, December 26. and the 

evening hours up to about 8:30 o'clock. 

Theatre business went into a s ate of collapse 

and stayed that way in the metropolitan 

areas during Saturday and Sunday. In 

the outlying communities of northern Pennsylvania 

and New York and in Connecticut, 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New 

Theatres Are a Haven 

For Many Thousands 

NEW YORK—Thousands of commuters 

stranded by suspended train 

and bus service, and autoists marooned 

by snow-blocked roads, fotuid refuge in 

theatres Friday (26). This was particularly 

true in Queens after the Long Island 

railroad trains stopped running 

Friday evening. All bus service had 

halted earlier. 

Fifteen Skouras theatres, 14 Interboro 

houses, five Loew's theatres and 

one RKO house took care of snowbound 

travelers. 

In Brooklyn the breakdown of BMT 

service in the P>rospect Park area and 

on lines to Coney Island provided 

plenty of overnight guests for the Patio 

Theatre, operated by the Centui-y circuit. 

Stalled autoists were well represented 

in the Walter Reade theatres 

which stayed open in Perth Amboy 

and Plainfield, N. J. 

Overnight accommodations and service 

varied with the theatre and ingenuity 

of the manager. 

Most guests sat around in the lounges 

and lobbies until the theatres finished 

their regular shows. Some paid to see 

the pictures and then remained in their 

seats overnight. 

Whether paying guests or not, the 

storm victims received coffee and 

doughnuts and, in some instances, 

sandwiches. 

The theatres kept the steam on all 

night, and some managers provided 

blankets. 

Hampshire and Maine, bus and automobile 

traffic was practically at a still .standstill 

the following Monday, and theatre business 

was in the doldrums. 

Film delivery services performed heroic 

feats in getting prints to theatres. In the 

concentrated population areas around Philadelphia 

and in North Jersey deliveries were 

a few hours late, and many Saturday children's 

shows were called but theatres 

off, 

remained opened. 

Some ran their holdover shows an extra 

show, others cut double feature programs to 

single features, and a few bicycled prints 

from one theatre to another. 

In New York City and the surrounding 

area there were practically no missouts. but 

in upstate New York and in northern New 

England the service was spotty. Roads could 

have been opened sooner if there had not 

been so many stalled cars. 

RAILROADING SUSPENDED 

Railroad service was suspended completely 

on Long Island. Elsewhere it ran from no 

service at all to service hours late. By Saturday 

afternoon most railroads were open 

and film shippers were rapidly reorganizing 

their services to use railroads. 

Five theatres in northern New Jersey 

closed because failure of film deliveries 

of 

Saturday, December 27, but deliveries were 

completed elsewhere in the area and in New 

York City with most of the trucks from two 

to three hours late. 

On both Satiu'day and Sunday New Yorkers, 

who were out, saw the streets completely 

free of vehicles—except stalled ones—for the 

first time in a generation. Subways continued 

operating, but patrons had so much 

trouble getting to subway stations that most 

of them went back home and most theatres 

were empty. Sunday business picked up 

.sharply in the Times Square area, and on 

Monday it improved in other spots. 

The closed theatres in New Jersey were: 

Ritz. Carteret; Colony, Elizabeth; Royal, 

Strand and State, Elizabeth. In Hudson 

county and elsewhere Walter Reade houses, 

Warner Bros, and the David Snaper circuits 

were delayed. 

SOME DELAYS, BUT NOT MANY 

Rugoff & Becker, operating theatres in the 

New York, Brooklyn and Long Island areas, 

reported some delays in receiving prints, but 

all managed to operate. Some houses played 

only one of the two scheduled features. Cinema 

Circuit Corp., operating houses in Manhattan, 

Bronx, Yonkers and other sections, 

also reported one or two hours' delay in receiving 

prints, but all houses remained open. 

The eastern circuits, in general, reported no 

further delays in film shipments after Monday, 

December 29. 

A Palisade Film Delivery truck was stuck 

in the snow at Fort Lee, N. J., Friday, December 

26 with film deliveries for Saturday 

kiddy shows in the Bergen county area. As 

a result, 25 to 30 theatres, in Englewood, Fort 

Lee. Bergenfield. Teaneck. Tenafly. Ridgefield. 

Park. Ridgewood. Hackensack, North 

Bergen. Guttenberg and Palisades Park cancelled 

these Saturday shows. 


j 

Memphis Suit Is 

Neighborhoods Benefit 

MEMPHIS, TENN.—The $3,378,000 suit 

brought by a number of neighborhood theatre 

operators against M. A. Lightman, sr., 

Paul and W. P. Zerilla and their associates 

and eight major film companies has been 

settled. 

Final papers of agreement between plaintiffs 

and defendants were being signed this 

week, and differences have been resolved, according 

to William Goodman, attorney for 

Lightman. 

The suit, filed in federal court under the 

Sherman and Clayton antitrust acts, charged 

the defendants with operating a monopoly on 

film distribution in Memphis. It is being dismissed 

with prejudice, which means it cannot 

be brought to trial again. 

Under the settlement reached today, the 

entire distribution system will be altered so 

that pictures will be available to whole groups 

of neighborhood houses on the same date. 

In other words, the public will be able to 

Settled; 

see a picture at several theatres on the same 

night, thus cutting down on the advantage 

of one theatre which might obtain rights 

to show the picture in advance of competitors. 

Theatres other than those which 

brought the suit will be affected by the change 

in distribution policies. 

Goodman said conferences Wednesday 

which led to the agreement were friendly. He 

declined to give any financial details of the 

agreement, saying that all parties had promised 

to keep them confidential. 

It is believed, however, on the basis of 

previous reports, that the settlement will be 

for a nominal sum, about $200,000. 

Goodman, John D. Martin and Herbert 

Glazer represented Lightman's interests. 

David N. Harsh was attorney for the Zerillas. 

Walter P. Armstrong sr., Walter P. Armstrong 

jr., Garland Draper and John T. 

Shea represented the plaintiffs. 

Representing the defending film companies 

were Lowell Taylor and Frank Glankler. 

'Agreement' Gets N.Y. Critics' Nod; 

Rural Vote Goes to 'The Yearling 

NEW YORK—"Gentleman's Agreement," 

the 20th-Fox picturization of the Laura Z. 

Hobson novel, captured two of the awards in 

the New York Film Critics 13th annual vote 

taken at the Newspaper Guild headquarters 

December 29. The picture was chosen as 

best domestic film for 1947 by a nine to seven 

vote on the sixth ballot. Elia Kazan was 

chosen best director for his direction of 

"Agreement," as well as "Boomerang," another 

20th-Fox fihn, by an 11 to 5 vote on the 

sixth ballot. 

William Powell won the best actor award 

for his performances in "Life With Father" 

(WB) and "The Senator Was Indiscreet" 

(U-I) by a ten to six vote. Deborah Kerr was 

chosen as the best actress of the year for 

her work in two British films, "The Adventures.s" 

(EL) and "Black Narcissus" (U-I). 

The best foreign film of the year, chosen on 

the fourth ballot, was "To Live in Peace," an 

Italian language picture distributed in 

America by Times Films Corp. 

Bergman and Crosby 

Are Farm Favorites 

PHILADELPHIA—The country's rural film 

patrons have chosen Ingrid Bergman and 

Bing Crosby as their favorite stars again. It 

marks the second consecutive year that the 

two have led the annual Rural Motion Picture 

Poll conducted by Country Gentleman. 

Results are published in the January issue of 

the magazine. 

Claudette Colbert placed second among the 

women and Gregory Peck finished second 

among the men. Up among the top female 

stars were June Allyson, Greer Garson and 

Jeanne Crain while leaders among male stars 

included Cornel Wilde, Alan Ladd and Van 

Johnson. 

"The Yearling" was chosen as the years 

favorite film, followed by "The Jolson Story," 

"Welcome Stranger," "The Egg and I," "The 

Best Years of Our Lives," "The Farmer's 

Daughter," "Dear Ruth," "Mother Wore 

Tights," "Life With Father" and "Margie." 

Miss Bergman and Crosby also won the All- 

American Popularity Poll conducted by BOX- 

OFFICE magazine and published in the 

Barometer edition issued last November. 

10 

Colbert also placed second among the women 

stars in this ballot. Of the ten favorite rural 

films, four won BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon 

awards and a fifth, "The Best Years of Our 

Lives," was a special award for being the 

"best boxoffice picture" of the year. 

Editors of Country Gentleman pointed out 

that the poll shows that rural audiences are 

as discriminating as urban filmgoers. Subscribers, 

it was pointed out, frequently write 

complaining about the excessive number of 

B pictures shown in rural theatres. 

Film Classics Sets Four 

For January Release 

NEW YORK—Film Classics will 

have four 

pictures for release Januaiy 15, according to 

Joseph Bemhard, president. They are: 

"Furia," Italian film produced by Westport 

International Films, Inc., which is scheduled 

to go into the Rialto Theatre; "Women in the 

Night," produced by Louis K. Ansell, which 

is booked for the Gotham Theatre, following 

"The Fabulous Texan"; "For You I Die," an 

Arpi production; "Discovery," Admiral 

Byrd's south polar trip with narration. 

Interim Bonus Agreement 

Extended Studio Unions 

HOLLYWOOD—An interim cost-of-living 

bonus averaging 11.17 per cent of contract 

wage scales has been extended the lATSE 

locals by major studios pending the outcgme 

of current negotiations pertaining to a'êw 

contract. The bonus agreement was worked 

out by Charles Boren, labor liaison for the 

Motion Picture Ass'n, and Roy Brewer, lATSE 

International representative. 

Herman Beiersdorf Named 

EL Western Sales Head 

NEW YORK—Herman Beiersdorf, formerly 

Eagle Lion southwestern district manager, 

has been promoted to western sales manager 

by A. W. Schwalberg, vice-president and general 

sales manager. Beiersdorf succeeds L. E. 

"Nicky" Goldhammer, who resigned Decem- 

Loew's 1947 Earnings 

Under Previous Year 

NEW YORK—For the fiscal year ending i 

Aug. 31. 1947, Loew's, Inc., reports a net in- 

] 

come after provision for depreciation, taxes 

j 

and other deductions of $11,626,427. This is i 

equivalent to $2.26 per share on the 5,142,615 

( 

shares. It includes $1,093,736 as Loew's share, 

of the net undistributed income of partly 

owned subsidiaries. 

During the fiscal year of 1946 the net was 

| 

$18,691,533, equivalent to $3.66 on 5,100.327 

shares outstanding at that time. It included 

$732,588 of undistributed income. 

Total current and working assets on Aug. 

31, 1947, were $132,171,887. The previous year 

the total was $127,830,012. Total liabilities 

Aug. 31, 1947, were $26,941,991. The previous 

year they were $30,844,315. In other words, 

at the end of the 1947 fiscal year net profits 

were below the previous year by $7,065,106.' 

Assets were up $4,341,875 over the previous, 

year, and liabilities were down $3,902,324. 

For the 12 weeks ending Nov. 20, 1947, net 

income after depreciation, taxes and other 

deductions, subject to year-end audit, totaled 

$1,354,761, equivalent to 26 cents per share, 

compared ^vith $3,650,967, or 72 cents per 

share, for the same period in 1946. The gross 

sales and operating revenues for the 12 weeks 

were es'imated at $37,960,000, compared \vith 

$41,460,000 for the same period in 1946. 

Tile company stated that substantial economies 

had been effected throughout the organization, 

the benefits of which should show 

in future operations. 

Brulatour Increases 

Price of Raw Stock 

NEW YORK—J. E. Brulatour, Inc., distributor 

for Eastman Kodak Co., has increased the 

price on raw stock to $11.50 per thousand 

feet for 35mm from the old price of $10 per 

thousand. The price hike went into effect 

December 29. Notices have gone out to producers 

and film processing laboratories. 

The raw stock price boost caused Consolidated 

Film Industries. Producers Laboratories, 

Movielab, Deluxe and other film laboratories 

in the east to send out letters to their 

customers notifying them of a proposed increase 

in processing charges. The exact 

amount of the increase will be determined 

after January 5. 

Frank Ryan and His Family 

, 

Killed in Missouri Crash 

SEDALIA, MO.—Frank Ryan. 40, film director, 

and his family were killed in the 

pile-up of two Missouri Pacific trains here 

New Year's day. Killed with the director 

were his wife, a son, James, 20; a daughter, 

Judith 18, and another son, Frankie, 9. All 

were returning to Hollywood after visiting 

relatives in Indiana. Ryan had been associated 

with the film industry since 1942 when 

he collaborated in writing "The Amazing 

Mrs. Halliday," a Deanna Durbin film. Pictures 

he directed include "Patrick the Great" 

and "So Goes My Love," both for Universal. 

Fourteen persons were killed in the crash. 

First 1948 Censorship Bill 

In Massachussetts Hopper 

BOSTON—The Massachusetts state legislature 

is the first in the country to get 1948 

legislation affecting the film business. Two 

bills were dropped into the hopper this week. 

One provides for a state censorship board 

and the other is an anMdiscrimination biU 

which establishes penalties for theatre managers 

who "wrongfully" refuse admission to 

or eject persons from a theatre or place of 

public amusement. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3, 1948 

I

I months. 

H 

Chicago Admissions 

Go Up to Offset Tax 

CHICAGO—Film and sports fans will have 

to shell out an extra 3 per cent, despite a 

city ordinance forbidding the addition of the 

new amusement tax to ticket prices. There's 

no law that says the theatres and arenas 

can't raise their admission prices. And that's 

exactly what happened January 1, the same 

day the new tax went into effect. The five 

big motion picture theatre chains here, including 

one that has most of the independent 

houses, announced 3 per cent hikes starting 

the first of the year. 

Legitimate theatre officials said they expected 

to follow suit. Bowling is going up 

one cent to 31 cents a line, said the Bowling 

Proprietors Ass'n of Greater Chicago. New 

prices for hockey tickets at Chicago Stadium 

will be $2.05 and $4.10. an increase of 2'l: 

per cent. Other sports promoters indicated 

they would put similar boosts into effect. 

There was a possibility the prices might go 

up even another cent. It was explained that 

any per cent raise in admission prices calls 

for an additional raise on federal tax. The 

new tax levy requires payment to the city of 

3 per cent of gross receipts of motion picture 

and legitimate theatre tickets, bowling alleys, 

sporting events and other amusements. The 

annual revenue is estimated at $4,000,000. 

Petrillo Ban on Recording 

Hits 711 Disk Companies 

NEW YORK—A total of 711 record and 

transcription firms have been affected by 

James C. Petrillo 's ban on music recordings 

by members of the American Federation oi 

Musicians. The ban went into effect midnight 

December 31. 

Approximately half of the companies make 

phonograph records. The remaining concerns 

consist of small studios that occasionally 

make a musical recording. The four 

largest recording companies, RCA Victor, Columbia, 

Decca and Capitol, are estimated to 

have turned out more than 140,000,000 pressings 

for 1947. 

Most of the major companies worked right 

up to Petrillo's deadline to accumulate a 

backlog of new recordings to carry them 

through next year. The public is not expected 

to feel the effects of the ban for about 12 

Petrillo banned musical recordings 

for his union members on the ground that 

they were manufacturing their own competition. 

Production, Sales Huddle 

At Enterprise's Studio 

HOLLYWOOD—Production'and sales plans 

for 1948 were under discussion when Enterprise 

staged the second of its annual planning 

meetings at the studio. The huddles 

Here attended by company executives and 

Enterprise's producing, directing and starring 

partners. 

The executive personnel, including David 

L. Loew, board chairman: Charles Einfeld, 

president: and George Schaefer, distribution 

chief, conducted the meetings. Among those 

participating were Joseph C. Gilpin, Robert 

S, Taplinger, Bill Blowitz, David Hopkins, 

Colin Miller, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, 

Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, Joel Mc- 

Crea, Lewis Milestone, R. B. Roberts, Stanley 

Kramer, Wolfgang Reinhardt and Vernon 

Clark—the latter representing Harry 

Sherman, now vacationing in Hawaii. 

20lh-Fox Dates Two Films 

NEW YORK—"Captain From Castile" and 

"The Tender Years." both set for release in 

January, will be the first films on the 20th- 

Fox 1948 lineup. 

â4ût^to*t ^cfiont 

lÊT ROYALTY PAYMENTS of $138,000,- 

000 for the exhibition of American films 

in foreign countries during 1946 were received 

by U.S. motion picture companies, it 

was revealed by the Office of Business 

Economics of the Commerce department this 

week. Distribution of the amount annually 

was almost equal over the four quarters of 

the year. 

According to official British figm-es, about 

$70,000,000 was paid to U.S. producers in 

1946. It was estimated that the increased 

duty on foreign films imposed by the United 

Kingdom in August 1947 will not effect a reduction 

in film rentals there until at least the 

second quarter of 1948. Total receipts in 

1947 are expected to be at approximately the 

same level as in 1946. 

SINCE THE APPOINTMENT last week of 

Wayne Coy to be chairman of the FCC, opposition 

seems to have loomed in the senate 

against his nomination. 

Senator Taft told reporters the GOP policy 

committee he heads will discuss the appointment 

at a meeting early in January. Taft 

said he personally was "not favorably impressed" 

with the selection of Coy for the 

job. 

Coy, who is radio director for the Washington 

Post, had been objected to by Carroll 

Reece, chairman of the Republican national 

committee. 

Senator Capehart (R., Ind.i said he had 

no objection to Coy for his new job. 

E. K. Jett, the same week resigned from 

the commission and George E. Sterling of 

Maine was appointed In his place. 

LEWIS S. BAER was appointed last week 

as chief of the screening division of the motion 

picture section of the civil affairs division 

of the army department. Baer was a 

former script writer and film consultant and 

at one time director of foreign sales for 

Young America Films, Inc. 

DIVIDEND PAYMENTS by motion picture 

companies for the quarter period of September-November 

was $13,403,000, according to 

the Commerce department. This was an increase 

of $44,000 over the period for 1946, 

which was $12,459,000. Payments for last 

month were $228,000, compared with $320,- 

000 for November 1946. 

THE PHILIPPINE motion picture government 

board which controls amusement prices, 

has announced a new and somewhat reduced 

scale of motion picture theatre admissions. 

Although the scale was to have become effective 

October 16. exhibitors have protested 

and the application of the order has been 

suspended pending further consideration. Officials 

of the Manila Theatres Ass'n lodged 

strong protests and called upon the board 

chairman to present their objections. Members 

of the association challenged the legality 

of control over admission prices and declared 

that if the new rates were enforced 

theatres would not be able even to meet their 

minimum operating expenses. The board 

consented to give the theatre operators until 

the end of October to submit financial statements 

in support of their claim. 

AN OFFICIAL OPINION of the State department 

on the feasibility of applying the 

Mundt bill to free frozen funds abroad due 

motion picture companies, was given upon 

query by Senator Smith of the foreign relations 

committee this week. 

The State department asserted that the 

bill as drawn does not give it power to do 

anything but buy films, books and other information 

media outright, and distribute 

them abroad. It does not cover any of the 

By LEE GARLING 

various "conversion" schemes that have been 

proposed, or any of the subsidies. 

They asserted also that they must consult 

with other top fiscal agencies of the government 

before making any recommendation of 

the bill on possible solutions or wording of 

a broader bill. 

IN MANAGUA, NICARAGUA, the most 

popular and best theatre was destroyed 

by fire on the night of September 30, reports 

the motion picture consultant of the Commerce 

department. Although the evening 

showing had not started, several hundred 

people had already taken their seats and 

were awaiting the performance. The fire 

started and spread with such rapidity that 

in the rush for exits eight patrons were killed 

or trapped in the flaming building. 

MPA Join in the Release 

Of Religious Film Series 

SPOKANE—Eric Johnston, president of the 

Motion Picture Ass'n, announced this week 

the availability of the first two, nonprofit, 

films in a series to be known as "In the Eyes 

of the Church," in a public service project 

of the association. 

The films are designed to present basic 

religious concepts, common to all faiths, as 

applied to contemporary situations and issues. 

The two pictures are "Nuremberg 

Trials, the Church and International Justice" 

and "The People in the Atomic Age." They 

were made for 16mm exhibition by RKO 

Pathe and with the assistance of Arthur 

DeBra. of MPA. The idea originated with 

Dean Charles E. McAllister of Spokane and 

were financed through a gift of Mr. and 

Mrs. G. F. Fawcett, also of Spokane. 

The films will be available to church groups 

of all denominations, and are designed to 

stimulate groups discussions. Leaders manuals 

also are provided. They are obtainable 

through the Religious Film Foundation, 123 

East 12th St., Spokane, Wash. 

Cagney Challenges Right 

Of UA to Serve Summons 

NEW YORK—Attorneys for William Cagney 

Productions have asked the New York 

supreme court to vacate the summons served 

by United Artists in connection with the action 

over "The Time of Your Life." UA had 

started the action to force Cagney to deliver 

the film under the terms of a "distribution 

deal. Cagney wants to release the film 

through Warners, which also has been served 

with a summons. 

The Cagney lawyers stated the summons 

should be set aside because the firm does not 

do business in New York. UA has until January 

5 to answer this argument. 

At the same time Enterprise Productions 

has asked UA to file a complaint by January 

18 to back up the summons served in 

connection with a contract dispute over "Arch 

of 

Triumph." 

COVER PHOTO 

The iirst new theatre to be constructed and operated 

by Paramount International Theatres Corp., a 

pubsidiary ol Paramount International Films, will be 

the Paramount Tacna Theatre in Lima, Peru. The 

Tacna is part of a newly-erected lO-story building 

which includes apartments, offices and de luxe shops. 

It will be the first air conditioned theatre in Peru. 

It will have a capacity of 1,945 seats. The theatre 

was designed by Schlanger, Reisner, Urbahn and 

Hoffberg, 


: 

: 

: 

predated 

just as vie 

m9k€ has about \\a\ ^* srea1. 

started - ar ^ 

Variety says 

!•* "Suspenseful, hard-boiled melodrama. Tension 

hits hard... to unfold gutty action, red-meat ingredients 

. . . potent values." 

Showmen's Trade Review says: 

IW^ "Splendid boxoffice. Fine performances, top production 

and skillful direction make it absorbing, actionpacked 

entertainment for everybody." 

Film Bulletin says: 

!W~ "Tense, spine-tingling, closely-knit, sumptuously 

mounted, it will roll up handsome boxof^ce returns." 

Daily Variety says 

iMf~ "A-plus for thrills. Gangster stufT streamlined and 

brought up to date with new twists — looks like ready 

cash in boxoffice. Production of Hal Wallis, strictly on 

the deluxe side, is tops in mounting and showmanship. 

Fight scene as fully realistic a bit of mayhem as the 

screen will take." 

Hollywood Reporter says 

B*" "Conspicuous accomplishment is that it brings the 

Wallis discoveries of the last few seasons together in 

the same picture. Each puts his best foot forward, 

Lancaster does excellent job. Scott cuts attractive figure. 

Kirk Douglas dominates his every scene. 

excellent and Kristine Miller colorful." 

Wendell Corey 

M. P. Daily says: 

a^' "A tough-talking underworld drama bursting at 

the seams with violence," 

*Jnd there'll be moreMf^fâbout 

it s sensational torch-song, "Do7i'l 

Call It Love," recorded by topflight 

singing stars for top-drazvrr 

radio promotion. 

L.nXCIIINC 

Paramount^! 

PJRAMOUNT YEAR

'BURT 

LANCASTER 

niZABETH 

SCOTT 

PWULIS'S 

r\ Production 

WALK 

ALONE 

ntement 

t^^^^^^^^K has 

kn^^^^^^Êi a man 

vvitl^^^^^Kgl e s 

With 

WENDELL COREY 

KIRK DOUGLAS 

KRISTINE MILLER 

George Rigaud • Marc Lawrence 

Mike Mazurki • Mickey Knox 

Directed bJyronHaskin 

It'sScreenplay by Charles Schnee • Adaptation by Robert Smith and 

John Bright* Based upon an original play "Beggars Are Coming To 

Town" by Theodore Reeves • Produced on the Stage by Oscar Serlin 

a womai^wice as deadly!

. 

'THcti ^^ S

. 

ihe most acclaimed 

picture in the history 

of the screen! 

HE NEW YORK FILM CRITICS' AWARD . . 

TIE BEST FILH IF THE TEU n 

»f; 

with 

CELESTE ANNE JUNE ALBERT JANE DEAN SAM 

HOLM • REVERE • HAVOC • DEKKER • WYATT • STOCKWELL • JAFEE 

producedbyDARRYLF.ZANUCK 

screen Play by MOSS HART 

Directed by ELIA KAZAN 

.CENTURY-FOX

i 

ihe 

Parents' 

IVIAGAZII\€ 

ON RCARINC CHILDRfN FROM CRIB TO COLLCCE 

PUILIS44CO BY T«t PARCNTS- I Nf TITUT€. I NC. 

52 Vanc/erii/t ^vt.^/ew York 17. N. Y. 

December 15, 

19^47' 

Mr. Ben Shlyen 

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief 

BOXOFFICE 

825 Van Brunt Boulevard 

Kaneas City 1, Missouri 

Dear Mr. 

Shlyen 

As 1947 draws to a close, it is a pleasure to take time 

out to congratulate you on the fine publishing job you 

have done by keeping "BOXCFFICE" - in my opinion - the 

outstanding trade paper in the motion-picture industry. 

We thirJf so much of it in our organization, that it is 

the or.ly movie trade .loumal in which we advertise. I 

think you will be glad to hear that I have recently 

ckeyed an ad for your January 10th, 1948, issue. 

Your editoriel supervision is a masterful and most constructive 

operation. Our motion-picture editors and 

myself go through "BOXOFFICE" from co ver to cover. It 

enables us to keep quit e thoroughly abreast of all that 

is important In the industry. 

Sincerely 

y 

s^^C^ 

D. P. WJUdCOX, Director 

MotitJnPioture Relations 

Thank You 

Mr.Willcox 

BOXOFTICE CIRCULATION

a 

Unfair 

1 

THE OUTLOOK FOR 1948: 

Industry, As a Whole, Is in an Optimistic Mood 

By J. M. JERAULD 

v« T EW YORK— E. V. Richards jr. and Bob 

P®U Wilby were the first to describe 1948 as 

A "the year of decision." 

They meant something more than THE 

decision, meaning the prospective supreme 

court ruling in the antitrust case: they meant 

all the decisions that must be made by producers, 

distributors and exhibitors after the 

decision has been handed down—an upheaval 

that may require the charting of new courses. 

They may also have had in mind the revisions 

required as a result of the British 

75 per cent tax and currency restrictions in 

other foreign areas and the accumulating evidence 

that the high cost of living is causing 

families to cut down on entertainment in 

spite of generally good business and high 

employment. 

Barney Balaban, Paramount president, 

phrased a neat description of the new outlook 

in his speech before the organizers of the 

Motion Picture Foundation when he said the 

exuberance had gone out of the boom-time 

outlook of a year ago. 

It w-ould be a great comfort to some industry 

executives if they could feel that whatever 

the supreme court decides would be 

clear, explicit and final. Will the judges 

lean to the theory that the court should confine 

itself to enjoining violations of the antitrust 

law after stating what the violations 

are, or will it attempt to lay down a code 

of trade practices as the statutory couit did 

in New York? 

What Top Exhibitors 

Are Thinking About 

Ted R. Gamble 

President 

Theatre Owners of America 

The welfare of exhibitors during 1948 can 

be spoken of, in my judgment, by no one in 

a vein of great assurance. There are too 

many imponderables in the theatre business 

today to enable anything approaching a precise 

analysis. This very uncertainty, however, 

should, in my judgment, alert the exhibitors 

to their business problems and make 

them watch the developments in the new 

year with a view to exerting every ounce of 

their energy and influence to protect their 

business. 

(ai The threatened Ascap rates which 

must be adjusted so as to not constitute an 

undue burden on the theatre business. 

ibi National admissions taxes must be 

reduced, and protection against the current 

epidernic of local admissions taxes must be 

developed. 

I 

c 

I 

16mm competition must be met. 

idi The new and thrilling development of 

That has been often attempted and just as 

often has failed. Possibly it was the very 

suddenness of some such proposals, the lack 

of preparation and forethought, that led to 

failure. With the UMPI failure fresh in mind, 

and being one to learn by experience, I do not 

intend to repeat that error. All that I am 

seeking to do now is to point out to you a 

condition that you will soon have to grapple 

with. I merely want to condition your minds 

to the idea, to start you thinking on the subject, 

in the hope that when the proper time 

arrives the proposal will not lack for champions 

among the men and women of goodwill 

who abound in all branches of our great 

industry." 

All who heard Kirsch agreed that this was 

the most conciliatoi-y and statesmanlike proposal 

to come from Allied in a long time. 

Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, 

was present at the dinner and nodded 

hearty approval. He had made proposals 

along somewhat similar line sat a similar 

gathering more than a year before. 

For the first time, the Theatre Owners of 

America is making detailed surveys on a number 

of exhibitor problems, one of the most 

important of which is the effects on theatres 

of the increasing use of 16mm film. 

The MPA is planning a more intensified 

effort in behalf of industry public relations. 

The hope is that these new service activities 

will be of benefit to all branches of the 

industry. 

The new MoMon Picture Foundation is entirely 

apart from regular industry problems, 

of course, but if it does what its sponsors 

hope it will—set a new example of intraindustry 

planning in behalf of all its workers—it 

will not only lend prestige to the industry, 

but it may also lead to a realization 

that these are some things upon which all the 

contending groups can unite for the common 

good. 

Cyp MORE immediate concern to 

^^ exhibitors 

during 1948 is the product outlook. It is 

apparent tha*" the day of concentration on 

high-budget pictures is passing. Long runs 

in downtow-n houses during the boom days 

made it possible for producers to extract most 

of their profits there. Now that the customers 

are going back io their neighborhood houses 

in increasing numbers, because admissions 

are lower, the downtown runs are shortening. 

This means more product will be needed for 

the houses with limited audience potentials. 

It is obvious that several of the majors 

realize this. Some of the product announcements 

are on a scale reminiscent of ten years 

ago. 

Should other courts follow the Chicago 

Jackson Park precedent and limit the length 

of first runs, even more product would be 

required. This might have a tendency to cut 

down the super specials. If this happens the 

current argument about advanced admissions 

might subside to a lai-ge degree before the 

year end. 

Economists agree that the general level of 

business wOl continue, good. 

This will be a factor in keeping the outlook 

bright. The uncertainties center around 

what exhibitors will do to each other, if they 

start bidding for better runs than they have 

had in the past. 

Some time before 1948 fades out, everybody 

expects, this industry, with the help of the 

government, will secure an easing of the foreign 

restrictions, and it is quite likely corporations 

W'ill be formed abroad so that restricted 

currencies can be shipped to this 

country in the form of goods which can be 

turned into cash. 

BOXOFFICE January 3, 1948 17

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR 

Barney Bala ban Nate J. Blumberg 

James R. Grainger 

Gradwell Sears 

Distribution Chiefs See 

Better Product in 1948 

Neil Agnew 

President 

Selznick Releasing Orgayiization 

There are prophets and sages in every 

form of human endeavor, who attempt to 

predict the com-se of business 12 months 

ahead. I am neither prophet nor 

But, this 

sage, but 

shovraianship cannot be of vailue 

my long experience in the 

unless it 

motion penetrates 

picture 

right down the line to 

mdustry has proven to me the 

that 

playing 

three 

of the 

factors 

govern the success 

pictures. Now more than 

ever, 

of any film 

exhibitors 

enterprise. 

And these three 

must realize that they have 

a bigger 

factors apply 

share of 

to the 

responsibUity in seeing 

year 1948 as well as 

that 

to any other 

the picture 

year. 

gets all the support it deserves. 

They are iD good product; (2) shrewd 

merchandising of said product and tested The public, in 1948, will have neither the 

showman.ship, including the best in penetrative 

publicity, advertising tui-es. and exploita- 

Neither will the public give sufficient 

inclination nor the money for ordinary piction; 

13) mutually cooperative relationships 

patronage to the extra-good pictures unless 

between the producer and exhibitor. 

they are properly stimulated by hard selling 

Quality of product scheduled for and 

release 

good showmanship. 

next year by the Selznick Releasing Organization 

and by other companies within my showmanship must be given pictures in their 

The history of this business proves that 

ken is particularly high grade, and with the day and date engagements. Producers and 

proper merchandising methods, plus added distributors must emphasize better exploitation 

publicity long before the picture reaches 

help to the exhibitor 1948 should be a banner 

year, 

tht theatre so that it has an identity before 

its engagement. 

Barney Balaban 

President 

Paramount Pictures 

It is not reasonable to be rashly optimistic 

about the prospects of our industry in 1948. 

The coming year will be a crucial one. We 

have met great problems before, and have 

solved them. I am tempering my own optimism 

with a simple realism and a firm 

determination for I do believe that the proven 

resourcefulness and ability of the personnel 

of our industry will enable it to surmount 

these obstacles. 

Nate J. Butmberg 

President 

Universal-International 

There can be only one outlook for 1948. 

This must be based on the slogan, -Back to 

Showmanship!" This showmanship must have 

Its source in Hollywood. Pictures must be 

made at a lower cost, but they must be better 

pictures. This means that we will have 

to resort to the old traditional ingenuity 

which made this business what it is today. 

At the present time our company has the 

biggest production schedule, money-wise, that 

it has had in its history. In the first two 

months of the new year we will have such 

top-budget productions as "The Senator Was 

Indiscreet," "A Double Life," "A Woman's 

Vengeance," "The Secret Beyond the Door" 

and "Naked City." This list represents tremendous 

negative costs, but we believe the 

business these pictures will attract will justify 

every dollar that was put into them. 

These pictures represent more than money 

We think they combine the traditional showmanship 

that I am presently talking about. 

With the deficiency in foreign income, pictures 

of this caliber will have to be handled 

with an eye on the maximum possibilities. 

We think these are the kind of pictures the 

public wants to see. We think they also 

represent a fine outlook for 1948. -li 

Ned E. Depinet 

Executive Vice-President 

Radio-Keith-Orpheujn 

Several years ago the RKO announcement 

of the new season's pictures carried the title 

"Productions. Not Predictions." I think as 

far as exhibitors' interests are concerned, this 

slogan should hold true more than ever for 

1948. 

Even though producers and distributors are 

currently beset with weighty problems, there 

have been so many fine pictures already completed 

for release during the coming year 

that the outlook for the exhibitors, in my 

opinion, is 

exceedingly good. 

As far as RKO is concerned, we are prepared 

to offer exhibitors a better array of 

product than ever before. I am sure that 

other distributors are putting forth every 

effort toward this same objective. And so 

even though theatres will be called upon to 

pay more for pictures, 1948 should prove a 

banner year for them. 

On behalf of my company and myself, I 

wish all the greatest possible success. 

M. R. Goldstein 

General Sales Manager 

Monogram Pictures 

1948 will undoubtedly prove to be the year 

of decision. 

The government suit regarding the selling 

methods of the distributors, the matter of 

divorcement, clearance revisions and bidding 

should be well decided before the 1948 season 

is far under way. 

The English situation with its abortive 

f^ tax together with the rest of the uncertain 

75 

foreign market, will also be behind 

us before the new year over. Continually 

is 

rising production costs, plus the loss of foreign 

revenue wiU put more emphasis and 

importance than ever on domes! ic distribution 

income. 

Unquestionably 1948 will be a momentous 

year, but as in previous years the motion 

picture industry is well organized enough to 

regulate and adjust itself with whatever 

conditions and problems it may encounter 

Allied Artists together with Monogram Pictures 

are looking forward to a year of great 

promise. Monogram, with its consistent 

"bread 

. and butter" pictures has rightfully 

earned for itself a well established reputation. 

With forthcoming top ranking productions 

such as Roy Del Ruth's "The Babe 

Ruth Story," "Panhandle," "Song of My 

Heart" and "The Hunted," 1948 will see 

Allied Artists solidify and improve its position 

as a top ranking production company. 

W. . Schwalberg Norton V. Ritchey VV. A. Scully 

James R. Grainger 

Executive Vice-President 

Republic Pictures 

The British situation serves to emphasize 

an industry need which would have been 

present, m a lesser degree, after the end of 

the era m which motion pictures enjoyed 

such outstanding boxoffice returns That 

need is showmanship to stimulate a continu-

V;^-5f s^~v '^ \54,\ ,^5 t

' 

riit. 

' 

Iped 

' 111 

• 11 

I 

size 

. . The 

THE OUTLOOK FOR 1948 (Con't) 

President 

AITO of Indiana 

Theatre grosses in Indiana for tiie past six 

months have been off from 15 to 20 per 

The lioliday grosses of the retail 

I "ires in small towns are running behind 

the same periods of 1946, while at the same 

time these stores have the largest number 

of lay-away and greatest number of charge 

accounts in their history. The type of goods 

that is moving in retail stores is all in the 

l"\v price range. $5 or under. 

In the last six months the office of the 

\TOI has had more exhibitors coming in 

)r assistance with their buying problems 

1 

M.m it has had in the previous six years. 

I'lie reason is a falling boxoffice and a rising 

operating cost are seriously affecting 

profit. I believe it is a healthy sign that 

exhibitors are seriously trying to improve 

the operation of their houses to obtain the 

optimum in boxoffice returns. 

The rising costs of the necessities of life 

plus poor quality of the product turned out 

of Hollywood during the last year is largely 

responsible for this condition. The drop in 

quality of product is attested to by figures. 

from the BOXOFFICE Barometer chart. 

I frankly can see for 1948 nothing but a 

continued drop in boxoffice unless living 

costs level off and the quality of product is 

improved. I doubt if this latter item can be 

changed greatly. A great many pictures made 

to cater to the public's tastes of 1946-47, 

and now lying on producers shelves, may not 

be acceptable to the 1948 public. 

Harry R. French 

I'ri'sident 

1/ uncsota Amusement Co. 

I am more optimistic about the prospects 

J. J. FITZGIBBONS 

of our business in 1948 than ever before in 

my career in this business. 

Our 

i-ntial 

industry 

audience 

has before 

in its history. 

it the greatest 

We have 

I 

if 

I.. lions of old customers, millions of new || 

Irons created through the wartime || 

nches of the service, the increased spend- j|; 

. money of the war worker, and now, || 

hli'd to those groups, the increased amuse- % 

n-iit money of the farm family. 

Certainly these patrons, plus our newly !| 

lade patrons, the youngsters of recent years, || 

us to shatter records in the easy i; 

ay during the last two years. Those same §; 

Miple will help us to shatter records dur- || 

V2. the coming year if we as an industry, ;| 

s Well as individuals, apply the good old 

immon-.sense rules of showmanship that 

|| 

% 

ave led this industry to its present high || 

'isition. 

Morris Loewenstein ,1 

I 'resident 

M 

rhcatre Owners of Oklahoma 

|| 

We are beset from many sides. Our ene- |g 

ones are the product of both competition ji 

ind jealousy. :| 

Ascap's new rate schedule is still being i; 

iii'uotiated; television and 16mm films are ji 

law threats which afford considerable con- ;| 

('in; federal admission taxes, too high, are |; 

!ilady to be challenged in the new Congress; ;!| 

'iial taxes, cropping up in so many places, :| 

id watching and advance admission price I;! 

Hires need control. These things em- ;|: 

the need for strong exhibitor or- || 

tazations. both national and local. ;| 

rhcrc are those who willingly will give jl 

Una tunc and effort to meet these chal- ;| 

1' || a lis necessary that more of the rank i; 

I lile take interest and lend encourage- i| 

. A solid front will . do more to spur ;;| 

aess and win the fight than the disposi- I; 

to let George do it. jl 

What Do Exhibitors 

Want? 

Better product, no $1.20 pictures, a cut in federal 

admission taxes, a settlement of the Ascap quarrel 

Edward Lachman 

(Continued from page 17) 

apparent lackadaisical attitude of the stars 

should be corrected. 

The production part of the industry has 

grown fat and complacent on the past lush 

business. Those days, as we know, are over, 

and to keep our patrons, producers had better 

take stock and give us boxoffice film that will 

appeal to the masses. Otherwise, our competition, 

which is alarmingly apparent, namely 

television, sporting events and radio, will 

make such inroads at our national boxoffices 

that getting them back into the habit of 

going to the theatre will be a Herculean task. 

I cannot too vehemently emphasize the role 

that advanced admission prices have done 

to drive these masses from our boxoffices, 

especially in small towns. The time has 

came to re-educate the producers and distributors 

that the lifeblood of our business is 

the masses and that movie going is a habit 

and a good habit for all concerned. Let us keep 

it that way by not slapping the fixed salary 

public in the face with advanced prices that 

permit only a favored few, who have the 

price to pay, to see that particular picture 

that the national advertising has created 

a desire to see. Let us stop ignoring the bulk 

of the people, the masses, the working class 

who are responsible for the continued success 

of our business. 

President 

Famous Players Canadian Corp. 

We of Famous Players Canadian Corp. 

look forward with gi'eat confidence to good 

business diiidng 1948 because of the anticipated 

high level of pay rolls and steady employment 

which is forecast by the continued 

great demand for building materials and 

all kinds of consumer and durable goods. 

The backlog of big feature motion pictures 

now complete and ready for delivery 

to us and which we now have under contract 

assures us of a full supply of high grade 

boxoffice attractions for the coming year, 

plus the fact that good'pictures do well even 

\Vlien conditions are not considered the best, 

because the public demand for this popularly 

priced form of entertainment is remarkably 

steady. For example, from 1930 through the 

depression years in Canada to 1934 consumer 

expenditures for shoes and food for home 

consumption showed a proportionately mucn 

greater drop than the receipts of motion 

picture theatres during the same period. 

Frank R. Ricketson 

President 

__- 

Fox Intermountain Theatres 

Whenever we have a good picture we find 

a ready response from the public. 

The prosperity of our industry for 1948 

depends upon the quality of product which 

we receive from Hollywood. 

I do not anticipate any unfavorable legislation, 

either municipal or state, in the Rocky 

Mountain region, unless the distributors continue 

to force upon the exhibitors so-called 

roadshow admission priced attractions. We 

must realize that our regular admission 

prices today are what we considered advanced 

admission prices a few years ago. 

The distributor must appreciate the fact 

that there is an irritated resistance to so 

many so-called roadshow motion picture attractions 

in the hinterlands. 

Bennie Berger 

President 

North Central Allied 

For 1948, I predict divorcement, which will 

put the business back where it belongs and 

give ability its chance. I see a defeat for 

Ascap, and exhibitors will look back on the 

Ascap collections as they now do on the old 

score charges. There also will be an expansion 

of independent exhibitor associations. 

Fred Wehrenberg 

Board Chairman 

Theatre Owners of America 

Frankly, none of us—producers, distributors 

or exhibitors—should expect that 1948 

on either a net profit or gross income basis 

will equal the records set in 1946 or even, 

perhaps, those of the year just ended. It 

appears to me also that all of the major elements 

in this business must reconcile their 

business thinking to the undeniable fact that 

the days of constantly moimting gross business 

are gone in this industry, at least for 

the next several years ahead, under normal 

peacetime conditions . industry has its 

own peculiar and particular problems which 

cannot be ignored. We must remember that 

the phenomenal success of the business has 

been due entirely to the fact that it is the 

entertainment of the masses. If, for any 

reason, we price motion pictures out of the 

mass market, it could well prove disastrous. 

Leo Wolcott 

Board Chairman 

Allied ITO of lowa-Nehraska 

It is my belief that the 1948 prospects in 

motion picture exhibition will be largely governed 

by the quality of the picture product 

produced and made available. 

There are few ills in the motion picture 

industry which cannot be cured by good pictures 

at fair admission prices. 

I beheve there is still sufficient spending 

money in the country to profitably support 

good pictures. That the public will not now 

support inferior pictures is amply proven by 

a recent summary which showed that the 

quality of pictures shown in 1947, and the 

corresponding boxoffice results have dropped 

one-third from 1945. 

If our business is to hold its own and 

prosper, good pictures at fair prices are a 

must. 

Mitchell Wolfson 

Co-Owner 

Wometco Theatres 

Gross business will be down slightly during 

the coming year. Attendance will be off 

considerably, especially if more of our big 

pictures are marketed at higher than usual 

admissions. Product seems to be plentiful 

but quality is not as good as usual. Much 

building of new theatres is in prospect if 

the building ban is released and much more 

is probable if building costs should be reduced. 

All in all, 1948 does not appear to be 

headed for any increase in business . . . but 

to the contrary, I would guess that business 

will be off from 10 per cent to 20 per cent in 

this area.

. . Comedian 

. . Observing 

. . Replacing 

. . 

ôUffu/'Md ê^tont 

Production Is Hurt Little 

During Flu Epidemic 

Probably because motion picture producs 

at an almost precedentially low ebb 

len the ailment struck, film-making progwas 

little, if any, affected by the mysterious 

flu epidemic which has had southem 

California in its grip since before Christmas. 

Although a large percentage of studio 

workers have been victims of the so-called 

"virus X" plague, the fact that the working 

personnel at the various studios was far 

from being at top capacity meant that the 

resultant absenteeism did not appreciably 

slow up camera activity, which was already 

curtailed by the holiday slump and widespread 

economy measures. 

The flu bug was a democratic operator, 

attacking backlot workers, high-paid executives 

and stars with the same enthusiasm. 

Victims ranged from press agents to directors, 

from company brass to technicians. At 

latest reports the city health department of 

Los Angeles was optimistically predicting, 

however, that the epidemic is on the wane 

after knocking out an estimated 200,000 persons, 

more than 600 of them in the film 

plants. 

Studio sicklists were particularly heavy at 

MGM, Paramount and Warners, where absentees 

included such personalities as Director 

George Sidney, Ava Gardner, Errol Plyiin 

and Jean Arthur. Casualties were also heavy 

at Enterprise, where both David L. Loew and 

Charles Einfeld, company toppers, were 

knocked out of action, and Eagle Lion. Other 

lots reported considerably fewer victims. 

Sam Spiegel, John Huston 

Form Horizon Pictures 

CrystaUizing tentative plans disclosed some 

months ago. Producer Sam Spiegel and 

Writer-Director John Huston are plunging 

into independent production with the formation 

of Horizon Pictures, Inc. Now negotiating 

a major release, they will gun theii' first, 

untitled picture in May and will follow with 

"The Idiot," based on a story by Dostoevsky. 

Huston will not become active in the new 

company until he has wound up a writer-director 

commitment at Warners, where his 

current and final assignment is "Key Largo." 

Spiegel was formerly a producer at Universal- 

International. 

Mary Pickford Organizes 

Another Production Unit 

Already active in three companies, Mary 

Kckford has incorporated still another picture-making 

unit. This one, yclept Stardust 

Road Pictures Corp., was formulated by her 

in association with Charles "Buddy" Rogers, 

Ralph Cohn and Hoagy Carmichael, and was 

organized to film "Stardust Road." based on 

Carmichael's autobiography, for United Artists 

release. Miss Pickford. a UA memberowner, 

is also active in Triangle Pictures 

and Comet Productions. 

Two Paramount Directors 

Get Plum Assignments 

A couple of plum directorial assignments 

were handed out by Paramount. Mitchell 

Leisen will pilot "Abigail, Dear Heart," first 

picture to go into work at the studio this 

year, to co-star Wanda Hendrix, Macdonald 

Carey and Claude Rains, while to William 

Russell goes the megging chore on "It's 

Always Spring," upcoming Veronica Lake vehicle 

. . . Out Warner way Delmer Daves was 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

chosen to direct "Until Proven Guilty," next 

Joan Crawford starrer, which is being scripted 

by George Oppenheimer. At that studio Casey 

Robinson was set to script "Bright Leaf," 

story of the tobacco industry, which Seton 

I. Miller will produce . . . "Gus the Great," 

the Thomas Duncan best-seller, is to be 

scripted and produced for Universal-International 

by Chester Erskine. At the same film 

factory Garson and Michael Kanin announced 

their next venture will be "Come What May," 

with Garson directing and Michael producing 

from an original by the former . . . Phil 

Krasne's Falcon Productions booked John F. 

Link to direct two more in the series being 

made for Film Classics release. Link piloted 

the initialer, "The Unwritten Law" . . . Columbia 

has loaned Director WUliam Castle to 

Edward Golden to pilot "Texas, Heaven and 

Brooklyn." 

Nine Stage Personalities 

Signed by WB in Year 

That old axiom still seems to be working 

overtime—that the quickest way to get yourself 

discovered by Hollywood is to head in the 

other direction and knock off a job in a 

Broadway play. Out at Warners, for example, 

the studio counted noses as 1947 passed into 

history and discovered that a total of nine 

stage personalities were placed imder contract 

by the company during the 12 months. 

From New York's main stem came Patricia 

Neal, Jan Sterling, Richard Rober, Sam 

Wanamaker, Jeanne Shepherd and Romney 

Brent, as well as Director Bretaigne Windust. 

The London stage supplied two others—Robert 

Douglas and Lois Maxwell. 

Lee Bowman Joins Cast 

For Columbia Musical 

Major castings for Columbia's upcoming 

musical, "Let's Fall in Love," were completed 

with the signing of Lee Bowman, who 

joins Dorothy Lamour, Jeffrey Lynn and 

Janis Carter in the toplines of the Irving 

Starr production Ben Blue 

will team again Dennis Morgan in 

with 

Warners' Technicolor tunefilm, "One Sunday 

Afternoon." They were first paired in "My 

. 

Wild Irish Rose" his 30th 

year in films, 

. 

Monte Blue was handed a 

character topline in the Burbank studio's 

Bogart-Bacall starrer, "Key Largo" . . . Paramount 

signed Pearl Bailey, nightclub thrush, 

for a key role in "It's Always Spring" . 

Leads in Republic's "Recoil" went to William 

Wright and Janet Martin, with William 

Henry and Stephanie Bachelor also set . . 

That valley lot booked Rex Ingram i"De 

Lawd" in "Green Pastures") for a featured 

spot in 

"Moonrise." 

Numerous Loanouts Loom 

During Week's Castings 

Loanouts loomed large among casting activities 

during the period. Hal Wallis gave 

the nod for Producer Sam Bischoff to borrow 

his contract star, Lizabeth Scott, for the 

femme lead opposite Dick Powell in "Pitfall," 

being tm-ned out by Bischoff for United Artists 

release . . . David O. Selznick loaned Guy 

Madison and Rory Calhoun to Julian Lesser 

and Frank Melford, head men in the recently-formed 

Windsor Pictures, to co-star 

in "When a Man's a Man," adapted from the 

Harold Bell Wright story. Windsor will make 

it for Monogram release . Adrian 

Booth as Monte Hale's leading lady in Republic's 

"The Timber Trail" is Lynne Roberts 

. . . Edmund Gwenn draws one of the 

VJanqex Sells Equipment 

Used for 'Joan to U-I 

Walter Wanger, who reputedly has expended 

more than 84,000,000 in the manufacture 

of "Joan," the Ingrid Bergman 

starrer about the martyred Maid of Orleans, 

has already 

for Radio by Wanger's Sierra 

money back—even 

made RKO 

gotten 

though 

some of 

the picture, 

his 

Pictures, just now in editing stages 

is 

and won't be released until next fall. 

He has sold all of the physical assets 

used in making the film, including nine 

truckloads of equipment, to Universal- 

International. The paraphernalia comprises 

dressing-room trailers, air-conditioning 

units, electrical equipment and 

unused materials, which are being shipped 

by U-I to Florida. There they will be 

pressed into service by Producer Nunnally 

Johnson, now filming "Mr. Peabody and 

the Mermaid" on location. 

top roles in 20th Century-Fox's "Apartment 

for Peggy," in which Jeanne Grain and William 

Holden have the romantic leads. 

Five Autry Films in Color 

On Columbia '48 Slate 

Gene Autry is going to .strum his guitar and 

head 'em off at the pass in at least five sagebrush 

epics for Colimibia during the year. 

They'll all be made under the Gene Autry 

Productions banner and will be filmed in 

Cinecolor. The screen cowboy will gun the 

first, "Hideaway," early in March shortly after 

Autry returns from a personal appearance 

tour through 11 southern states, and will be 

followed in April by "Wings Westward." The 

remaining three will be launched at monthly 

intervals. 

With the Hopalong Cassidy production unit 

temporarily idle, Lewis J. Rachmil, production 

manager for the outfit, has swung over 

to Edward Golden Productions to supervise 

the making of "Texas. Heaven and Brooklyn," 

to be filmed for United Artists release . . . 

Louis King. 20th-Fox megger, remains at the 

Westwood film foundry for another year, his 

option having been hoisted. 

Three Literary Purchases 

Recorded for the Week 

Still breathing feebly and in need of artificial 

respiration was the story market as the 

period ended with but three literary transactions 

recorded. Jack Wrather, Monogram 

producer, figured in two of them. He disposed 

of a property called "Follow Me Quietly," by 

Francis Rosenwald and Anthony Mann, to 

RKO Radio, and then acquired another 

Rosenwald yarn, "Strikes It Rich," for production 

at Monogram. "Quietly" will be 

turned out for RKO Radio by Sid Rogell 

from a script being prepared by Marty Rackin 

... To Warners as a stamng vehicle for Joan 

Crawford went "The Story of a Schoolteacher," 

described as a "factual pictorial" entry. 

By Charles Speers. it is slated for early 

publication by Look magazine. The film version 

will be produced by Jerry Wald. 

John Hanagan to Produce 

Two Mozart Opera Films 

On the heels of Columbia's announcement 

that it will make film versions of eight operas 

during the year, comes word that a newcomer 

producer, John Hanagan. is going to 

turn out two similar subjects. He'll produce 

the Mozart opera, "Don Giovanni," as his 

initialer, with Ezio Pinza, Metropolitan luminary, 

in the title role, and will follow it 

with "Marriage of Figaro," another Mozart 

work. Hanagan has announced no distribution 

arrangements for the pair. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3, 1948 21

^(mcUm êfront 

By JOHN SULLIVAN 

long films. In effect, this means that BritishJ 

shorts and documentaries which are run In J 

a program will count for quota, not onlyl 

against American shorts as in the past, butj 

also against American features. The association 

sees as helping them this in building j 

a British shorts industry. 

QUITE THE MOST AMUSING affair of 

^ the festive season was the RKO-Walt 

Disney party for the industry's children. 

After a year of press receptions and parties, 

at which jaded pressmen see only each other, 

it was a refreshing change to go to a party 

where the guests expressed their enthusiasm 

with whistles and buzzers. 

The party started with the showing at the 

Odeon, Leicester Square, of Disney's "Pun 

and Fancy Free"—and this in itself was 

enough to thrill the kids, for they could brag 

to their friends that they had seen the picture 

a week before its official west end 

opening. Before the big film was shown the 

children saw a 20-year-old Mickey Mouse 

cartoon, one of the first ever shown. 

After the film show parents and children 

lined up outside the exclusive Hungaria Restaiu-ant 

(in what must have been the first 

queue ever outside those premises) to get in 

to the tea party. RKO and Walt Disney had 

taken the names of the guests beforehand 

and there was a parcel of toys waiting for 

each boy and girl presented to them by 

Dolores Gray, who is starring here in "Annie 

Get Your Gun." 

One of the significant things noted by 

your correspondent was the eagerness with 

which quite small children ran around the 

room asking for autographs of the stars who 

were present. It seems that we start them 

in the cinema habit young in this country. 

THE REISSUE WAVE is gaining impetus 

London as the film shortage increases. 

in 

This week Rank houses in the west end are 

playing reissues almost exclusively with 

three of the biggest houses running last 

year's films. "Great Expectations" is playing 

the Leicester Square Theatre (a good choice 

for Christmas), "Stairway to Heaven" is at 

the Gaumont, Haymarket and "Blithe Spirit" 

is at the Marble Arch Pavilion. 

Several of these films are doing better 

business than some of the new product which 

seems to prove that, shortage or no shortage, 

the British public still shops for entertainment. 

its 

Charles Chaplin's "Monsieur "Ver- 

doux," for example, is coming off after a 

short run in spite of the fact that it received 

fairly good reviews here. 

ALFRED SHIPMAN's Alliance Film Studio 

group came up with a good picture for th.3 

Christmas trade, a modest budget effort that 

will gross plenty here and may do well in 

overseas markets. At present playing United 

Artists' showcase house, the London Pavilion, 

Piccadilly Circus, the film titled 

is 

"Just William's Luck" and is based on an 

exceptionally popular series of books and 

radio plays which have always been bestsellers 

in England. The "William" books by 

Richmal Crompton tell of the misadventures 

of William Brown, aged 11, and his longsuffering 

family. In this picture, which is 

the first of a series. Director Val Guest has 

captured the essence of the stories. 

Starring in the film is William Graham, a 

lad of 15 who looks younger, and he is 

backed up by a team of troupers led by 

Garry Marsh as his father. Pi-oof of Wardour 

street's favorable reaction to the film 

is the fact that it has received a complete 

ABC booking, which means that it will 

play 500 ABC cinemas for a .start. Since 

was made to a budget of 

ii. 

around $300,000 

it cannot fail to show a substantial profit. 

ONE ORGANIZATION that is backing the 

new films bill is the Ass'n of Specialized Film 

Producers, which is elated with the clause 

that states that the supporting program 

quota can be alloted against the showing of 

one day recently she attended the 'Wal' 

Disney tea party in the afternoon and deal; 

BRITAIN'S OLDEST film studios are starting 

a new production policy. The Nettelfold 

goodhumoredly with crowds of children, went 

group, which has rented its studios in the 

on from there to the Gainsborough staff 

dance and presented food parcels from Australia 

past, is now to commence full scale production 

on its own account and Ernest Roy, 

to old folks, who were gathered there 

nounced an ambitious production program. 

managing director of the group, has an- 

by the mayor of Hammersmith, and finished 

by presenting the prizes at the staff 

dance of Eagle Lion—a hard day's work but 

Britain's oldest 

Butchers 

distributing 

Empire Film 

company, 

Service, 

has, 

which is 

one that built goodwill for herself and for 

Rank 

in the past, hired Nettelfold's studios at 

Walton on Thames for making its own prod- 

the group generally. 

but under the new arrangements Ernest 

uct, 

Roy will be producing independently for 

Butchers release. 

'Flame' Will Open in SF 

For Benefit of CARE 

NEW YORK—The entire proceeds from the 

first performance of "The Flame," Republic 

picture, which will open at the State Theatre, 

San Francisco, the night of January 5, 

will be turned over to CARE, according to 

James R. Grainger, vice-president in charge 

of sales and distribution. Admission price to 

the opening has been set at $1.00, with the 

maximum paid being left up to each ticket 

buyer. All money will be used to purchase 

CARE packages containing food and textiles 

for clothing costing $10 to the needy in 14 

Eui-opean countries. 

Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic, 

and Jerry Zigmond, district manager of 

Paramount Theatres on the Pacific coast, 

are cooperating on plans for the benefit. 

Jerd Sullivan, first vice-president of the 

Crocker First National bank, has been named 

honorary chairman. Gen. Mark Clark, former 

commanding general U.S. army in 

Austria; Elmer G. Robinson, incoming mayor 

of San Francisco; Lieut. Gov. Goodwin 

Knight, who will represent Gov. Earl Warren, 

and representatives of each of the 14 

countries will be present. 

ONE BRANCH of the publicity organization 

of the Rank group about which little 

is heard is the section dealing with the 

personal publicity of the stars and their appearances 

at neighborhood houses on goodwill 

visits. Fortunately this country is so 

small that a star can be built up on personals 

very quickly as a few weeks between 

films can be used to cover several hundred 

personal appearances. 

In charge of all Rank artists on their personal 

appearances is Theo Cowan, who was 

promoted to the job last year after working 

at Gainsborough. His is a tough proposition, 

for he has to drive his stars hard, yet retain 

his own popularity with them so that 

they will work with him willingly rather 

than against him. Unlike the Hollywood setup, 

stars are still allowed a great deal of 

liberty and while a refusal to cooperate with 

the publicity department would probably lead 

to suspension by the studio in the U.S., in 

England it is still looked upon as "temperament." 

Most of the really big stars in the Rank 

group are convinced of the value of the work 

of Cowan's department, the most obvious 

example that comes to mind being Margaret 

Lockwood who has built a large measure of 

her popularity on personal appearances. In 

FOUNDED PATHE INDUSTRIES 50 YEARS AGO 

The name Pathe has been identified 

with the motion picture industry for so 

many years, and has become one of such 

historical significance that few are 

aware that the man who started it all. 

Charles Pathe, is still alive. Although 

he no longer is actively identified with 

the film industry, his name remains tied 

to many companies in the field. The 

latest is Warner Pathe News. Shown 

above is Charles Pathe, in Lausanne, 

Switzerland, reading a congratulatory 

wire from the Warner newsreel staff on 

the occasion of the 50th anniversary of 

the founding of Pathe Industries. His 

Pathe News was the first newsreel. 

22 BOXOFFICE :: January 3. 1948

^CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

OKOffIG 

FGH E. FRAZE 

Associate Editor 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

C^xperience 

The dictionary definition of experience 

is 

"knowledge acquired 

through personal trials practice or 

observation." 

Many students and teachers advocate 

trial the personal method, 

and the so-called self-made individual 

likes to refer to this method 

as "the hard way." Thoughtful persons, 

however, believe that observation 

is just as practical and ofttimes 

more feasible and economical 

than the former method. 

The New York exhibitor who permitted 

snow to pile up on his marquee 

during the blizzard last week 

provides an object lesson for theatrem,en 

who won't take advantage of 

"knowledge gained through observation." 

Theatre marquees are not constructed 

to sustain the heavy weight 

of snow. It should not be necessary 

to wait until the marquee collapses 

to acquire this "experience." 

Two months ago when we were 

trying to locate a photograph of 

John Ettlinger to run with the announcement 

that he had won a 

BOXOFFICE Bonus, we found him 

in New York, en route to a bigger 

and better job, a reward by Paramount 

Theatres Service Corp. for his 

efforts. 

Right after we announced that 

John Misavice was awarded a Bonus 

in November, we were informed that 

he had been promoted as city manager 

by the Manta & Rose circuit. 

Last week during lunch we told 

our guest, Jimmie Nairn, advertising-publicity 

director for Famous 

Players Canadian, that Tiff Cook, 

one of the circuit boys, had earned 

a Bonus for November, whereupon 

Nairn informed us that Famous 

Players Canadian also had given 

Cook recognition for his exploitation 

ability. 

Cook moves up from where he had 

been doing yeoman's work as assistant 

manager, handling publicity and 

exploitation at the Capitol Theatre, 

Halifax, to manage a house of 

his own. 

It appears that the home office, 

too, recognizes those who register 

in BOXOFFICE as well as at the 

boxoffice. 

Signs 34 Merchants in Car Co-Op 

In It Couldn't Be Done Town 

During the five years that Ronald Failes 

has managed the Laurel in Long Beach, N. Y., 

he has had many occasions to realize that 

the local merchants are not very promotion 

minded. As a matter of fact, even at the 

home office of Rugoff & Becker which 

operates the Laurel, the executives were 

dubious as to the merchants coming through 

with cooperative ventures. 

Failes, however, remembering the old adage 

about nothing ventured, nothing gained, set 

out to get the merchants interested in a car 

giveaway on the theory that as long as he 

was going to sell something, he might as well 

sell something worth while. 

CONTRIBUTE $75 EACH 

By the time he had visited each merchant 

in town, 34 had agreed to contribute $75 each 

towards a car giveaway. This netted enough 

cash to purchase a 1947 Kaiser and pay tor 

$560 worth of advertising material, including 

all necessary signs, posters, heralds, trailers, 

coupons and six full pages of advertising in 

three local newspapers. 

The merchants are supplied with coupons 

which are dispensed with purchases in their 

stores, and results have been so good that 

21 additional businessmen, who at first were 

unwilling to join the venture, are waiting for 

the promotion to end so that they can participate 

in another one. 

Failes is already working on a foUowup 

tieup which will offer some lucky citizen a 

house and lot instead of a car. 

Aside from the general stimulation the 

theatre business has experienced since the 

promotion was started, since patrons receive 

car coupons with each ticket purchased, the 

promotion has strengthened the theatre relationship 

with the businessmen of the community, 

who give full credit to the Laurel 

manager for initiating the stunt. 

MANY IN KIDDY CLUB 

Old ideas have special angles, Failes has 

discovered. His Kiddy Birthday club, for 

instance, has a membership of more than 

1.000. Each member receives an attractive 

birthday card just prior to the anniversary 

date, inviting him or her to be a guest of the 

management. The offer is made good at all 

times. 

Failes points out that though children may 

come at an evening or weekend performance, 

the chances are they will be accompanied by 

one of both parents who put up the cash 

tor their admission. That frequently accoimts 

tor extra revenue and eliminates the possibility 

of the child having to attend when 

a picture classified as adult entertainment 

is being shown. 

That is sound logic. 

BRiNGr THIS CARD TO THE BOXOFFICE OF 

THE LAUREL THEA-tRE AND VOU WILL BE 

ADMITTED FR£E TO ANY MOVIE YOU 

WOULD LIKE TO SEE... 

THIS IS JUST A UTTLE gift FROM THE 

LAUREL TV4EATRE DIKTUOAy CLUB,., 

HOPINS THIS HAS BEEM ONE OF THE HAP- 

PIEST BIRTHDAVS you HAVE EVER KNOWN 

amAwishins you many more HAPPV 

birthdays 

Members of Laurel Theatre Kid Birthday club 

get this invitation to be a guest of the management 

at any performance. 

Hobby Shop Helps Boost 

Opening of 'Sea Hound' 

A tieup with a local hobby shop which 

sponsored a model shipbuilding contest helped 

exploit the new serial, "Sea Hound," for 

Harold Mortin. manager of the State, Syracuse, 

N. Y. The hobby shop devoted a full 

display to the contest and helped distribute 

special heralds directed at the children. 

An identification contest in which nautical 

terms had to be supplied for sections of a 

sailing ship also was utilized in conjunction 

with a pre-arranged tieup with the Magnus 

harmonica shop, which awarded instruments 

and other prizes to local winners. 

3Aei^ ^Medman —333—

Goodwill 

Spirit 

Bridgeton, N. J., youngsters participated 

in a mammoth Christmas 

party at the Stanley Theatre December 

24. With Manager Dan 

Dandrea handling the arrangements, 

the local Exchange club 

sponsored the show, individual 

businessmen contributing more 

than S3,000 worth of gifts, toys and 

games. Every child received a gift 

and saw a regular double feature 

program. The press urged readers 

to submit names of underprivileged 

children who were singled 

out to receive the bigger gifts. In 

scores of other communities 

throughout the nation, exhibitors 

and managers duplicated Dandrea's 

promotion, uniting the theatre 

and the community with the 

bond of goodwill and good feelmg. 

p

1 number 

Big Buffalo Publicity 

Greets Olcott and 

'Wild Irish Rose' 

"My Wild Irish Rose" was an especially 

fine Clu'istmas week attraction at Shea's 

Buffalo Theatre because it is the story of 

Buffalo's own Chauncey Olcott, who in his 

vouth sang in a local church choir, worked 

m a local tavern and joined a minstrel show 

in Buffalo. 

The local end of Olcott's career was unt.irthed 

from the archives of the Grosvenor 

library by Charles B. Taylor, advertisingpublicity 

"director for Shea's Theatres, and 

.1 quarter page story with art ran in the 

Buffalo Evening News. An advance screening 

for newspaper persons, disk jockeys and 

of elderly folk who knew Olcott 

brought forth more publicity. 

Streetcar cards were used a week in ad- 

\Lince of opening and currently, a wide radio 

schedule was arranged, 24-sheets were plastered 

all over town and on the principal 

highways leading into Buffalo, and posters 

were used on the rear of 50 taxis. 

Royal Crown Cola trucks carried large banners 

featui-ing the drink and the picture playdates. 

Downtown store windows exhibited 

many of the tieup stills and the products 

for which they were posed, while Chesterfield 

representatives put out several hundred 

cards in stores with a photograph of Andrea 

King holding a package of their cigarets. 

Special heralds were placed in stations 

along the line of the New York Central railroad 

in western New York. The Town Casino 

used several thousand tents featuring a 

"'Wild Irish Rose" cocktail on one side and 

'their pictui-e on the other. 

Buffalo florists tied in with a special rose 

dedicated to a "Wild Irish Rose" and the 

Polish Everybody's Daily used a full-page preview 

in its nationally circulated edition. 

New Haven Poli Manager 

Tells All of 'Dolphin' 

All facets of advertising and exploitation 

were used by Morris Rosenthal, manager of 

the Poli Theatre, New Haven, to exploit 

"Green Dolphin Street." 

The traveling Dolphin boat arrived two 

weeks in advance and was exhibited downtown. 

Pamphlets were distributed describing 

the boat, with theatre playdates imprinted. 

Trailers and lobby displays were used two 

weeks in advance. Directional arrows were 

spotted on street poles pointing to the 

theatre. 

Cards were placed in mail boxes of hotels, 

paper bags were imprinted for stores, napkins 

were imprinted for restaurants and bookmarks 

were distributed to lending libraries 

and placed in magazines. Restaurants featured 

a "Green Dolphin" cocktail, and music 

streamers were placed in windows and on 

counters of record shops. 

'Crossfire' Essay Contest 

Held at Valley Stream 

As part of his campaign on "Crossfire." 

Ben Mindlin, manager of the Valley Stream 

(N. J.I Theatre, arranged an essay contest 

at the local high school on intolerance. Two 

$10 gift certificates were promoted as prizes. 

Three weeks before playdate, 11x14 stills 

from the picture and stickers were pasted 

on theatre lobby doors, stickers also being 

used on the street doors of virtually every 

store in town. An elaborate 40x60 in the 

lobby attracted attention prior to opening. 

In addition, Mindlin contacted the heads 

of the various churches in his area and advised 

them of the playdates. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Jan. 

Children's Safety Contest 

Enlivened by Eight Bikes 

In conjunction with the Sat-R-Day Camp 

program at Century's Mayfair in Brooklyn. 

Manager Mike Hudish recently promoted a 

safety contest open to children who were 

required to submit either an essay or poster 

on safety. Prizes were eight bicycles for the 

eight best entries. 

The contest attained full scale proportions 

when Capt. Daniel Cashman of the 61st police 

precinct and Jacob Chwast, safety officer, 

agreed to cooperate. 

Chwast, in safety talks at public schools, 

urged children to enter the contest. Captain 

Cashman contributed 200 official safety buttons 

to be given to the first 200 children 

submitting entries, and supplied posters for 

Ritz in Berwyn Promotes 

Giveaway of 30 Fowl 

Exploitation for the eighth week of the 

Manta & Rose anniversary drive at the Ritz 

in Berwyn, 111., included a tieup with a local 

meat market for the giveaway of ten turkeys, 

ten ducks and ten chickens. The tieup was 

made by Manager Eli Zulas and was publicized 

by displays in the market, in the 

theatre lobby, a special trailer, newspaper 

ads and circulars. 

The screen program, "Great Expectations" 

and "Palmy Days," was further publicized 

by the distribution of 1,500 house programs, 

newspaper ads in local weeklies and the 

classified section of the Berwyn Beacon, and 

publicity stories released to the press. Numerous 

22x28 cards were displayed in store 

windows. 

Police Dog Disaster Hero 

Popular Guest in Theatre 

Jack Campbell, manager of the Scala in 

Runcorn, Cheshire, England, stole a march 

on the opposition theatres recently by having 

Jet, holder of the Victoria Cross and leader 

of the Victory parade in London, as special 

guest at the theatre's Boys and Girls club. 

Jet, a Belgian police dog was the hero of the 

Whithaven pit disaster who saved the lives 

of six miners. Every member of the club 

turned out at the Saturday performance to 

meet Jet. 

—335— 

display and pamphlets for distribution at the 

Sat-R-Day Camp. 

Pi-esentation of the bicycles to winning contestants 

was made on the stage at the Mayfair 

during a Sat-R-Day Camp performance, 

with Captain Cashman as the chief speaker. 

Before the start of the program, 100 public 

school children put on a safety demonstration 

during which they were inspected by 

school and police officials. 

The contest attracted wide attention and 

netted a great deal of publicity in local 

papers. The Sat-R-Day Camp program came 

in for praise from civic leaders as a potent 

force for good in the community. 

'Mitty' Heroine Goes 

Shopping for Albee 

The personal appearance of Virginia Mayo 

in Providence. R. I., sparked exploitation for 

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by publicist 

Bill Morton of the RKO Albee. 

Morton made a tieup with a women's 

downtown department store for Miss Mayo 

to make a shopping tour. The store purchased 

newspaper ads for several days, giving 

full credits to the theatre, and plugged 

the tieup on its radio time. 

Special interviews were arranged for the 

star on several programs over WPRO, WJAR, 

WEAN, WFCI, WHIM and WBRU. A new 

Lincoln car was promoted so that Miss Mayo 

could keep her appointments in style. 

Featui-ed in the film is a pair of gold 

Dutch shoes. A local jewelry shop whicii 

manufactures the item donated 50 pair of 

the trinkets to be awarded to the first 50 

women who attended the Albee on opening 

Boxoffice Resembles Jail 

In 'Brute Force' Pitch 

To sell "Brute Force" at the Time Theatre 

in Memphis, Manager C. W. Locke dressed 

up his boxoffice in the mood of the picture. 

He painted the exterior to resemble the 

grey, stone walls of a prison and put vertical 

bars at the windows. 

25

PLENTY OF ACTION 

"BODY AND SOUL' 

Where Sportsmen Serve Sportsmen 

Make It Your Headquarters 

Open Every Monday Evening 

Layaviray New For Xmas 

JIM FLYNN 

SPORTme GOODS 

1>t and Jtfftrten 

4 

NOW i NEW 

RECORD SENSATION 

"BODY & SOUL" 

Lottlt Capifol ra- 

°

Outdoor Bally 

Given Major Role 

In New Haven 'Texan Campaign 

. Placing strong emphasis on the outdoor 

action background of "Fabulous 

Texan," Sid Kleper, manager of the College 

Theatre. New Haven, tied up with 

stores, schools, libraries and shooting galleries 

to create extra interest in this play • 

date. 

A tieup with all shooting arcades netted 

special displays built around an offer of 

free tickets to see "Fabulous Texan" 

awarded for high scores. The Marliu 

Blade & Gun Co. national tieup was incorporated 

as part of the campaign with 

excellent results. 

A coloring contest was planted with the 

newspaper, and a weekly used a cartoon 

mat in return for a few passes. School cooperation 

was invoked, with 43 public 

schools, six parochial schools and Yale 

university displaying special announcements 

on bulletin boards. 

General announcements were sent out 

by the president of the Parent-Teacher 

Ass'n. Tieups were made with public and 

lending libraries for art displays and the 

distribution of book covers and bookmarks. 

"Wanted" posters were placed in strategic 

locations throughout the downtown 

area. Several hundred miniature guns and 

holsters, die cut and imprinted with theatre 

copy, were distributed to newspaper 

writers and used for outside distribution. 

Three days prior to opening, a cowboy 

and cowgirl ballyhoo was used with a 

couple carrying large cutout guns with 

theatre imprint. A record number of window 

tieups was arranged with music shops, 

book stores, hardware dealers, men's and 

women's clothing stores, jewelry and cosmetic 

shops, built around accessories with 

a western motif, accompanied by stills and 

art from the film production. 

Contests and free announcements were 

promoted over radio stations WAVZ, 

WBIB, WYBC, WELI and WNHC. Displays 

and announcements were used in 

bingo parlors, featuring a "Fabulous 

Texan" special nightly with theatre tickets 

as prizes. 

Ushers and doormen wore ten-gallon 

hats and badges a week in advance, carrying 

the opening date, and the New Haven 

News Co. bannered its trucks, tying in 

with western stories. It also placed cards 

with 300 news dealers in greater New 

Haven. 

Local Angle Developed 

On Jimmie Davis Role 

In order shown, "Fabulous Texan" displays 

on the street, sports shop and shooting 

gallery. 

News Plugs for Short 

To help exploit "A Voice Is Born," recently 

released short subject, Mrs. Edith Evans, city 

manager for Malco Theatres, NewTJort, Ark., 

planted stories with all local newspapers. 

Tlie Newport Daily Independent broke a 

He had to stretch a point to make a point, 

but B. F. Jackson of the Delta Theatre in 

Ruleville, Miss., was able successfully to play 

up a local angle in the showing of "Louisiana," 

which Gov. Jimmie Davis of 

story on the front page and third page, plugging 

the attraction on opening day. In the 

stars 

regular theatre ads, a proportionate amount 

Louisiana. 

The local tiein was that Davis had been a 

of space was devoted to plugging "A Voice 

roommate at college of Bob Everitt, a wellknown 

Born." 

Is 

Ruleville attorney. 

Jackson mailed out 2,000 handbills and Realistic 'Perils' Display 

made up a special trailer telling his patrons 

Patrons of the Bliss Theatre. Long Island 

that Everitt and Davis had been roonmiates 

City. N. v., got a preview of some of the 

and to come in and "meet the governor" in 

"Perils of Pauline" through a lobby display 

Charlie up Manager The his first starring role. He made a further 

set by Call. display 

point by saying the picture had been booked 

pictured several hazardous exploits, the 

through special arrangements with Monogram 

and that admission would be at regular rates. 

outstanding feature of which was a real electric 

miniature train, coming fast toward a 

Jackson also sniped juke boxes urging patrons 

doll tied to the tracks. Attractively arranged 

to play the records sung by Jirrmiie 

Davis in "Louisiana." 

around this were stills taken from posters 

of the old "Pauline" serial. 

Three-Way Circulation 

Of Heralds Reaches 

All in Small Cily 

Norman H. Willis, manager of the Corbett 

in Wildwood, Fla., split up 1,000 heralds 

through three distribution facilities to give 

him exceptional publicity coverage for "Fun 

and Fancy Free." 

Wildwood's population is only 2,500 so that 

when the Corbett puts out extra money for 

circulars, it behooves Willis to make sure 

that his sales message gets into the hands 

of his prospective patrons with little or no 

waste. 

Willis persuaded the carrier of the Tampa 

Morning Tribune to insert heralds in the 

300 papers he delivers locally. Then he pulled 

rank on the Boy Scout troop, of which he is 

assistant scoutmaster, to get another 400 

distributed house to house. The scouts were 

treated to free tickets for their work. Balance 

of the heralds were handed out in the theatre 

on the day before opening, which virtually 

assured Willis that he had 100 per cent 

coverage. 

Displays were set in two prominent drug 

store windows, and the Diamond Cab Co. 

put posters announcing the "Fim and Fancy 

Free" dates on all cabs it operates. Opening 

day brought the biggest day's receipts the 

Corbett has had since January, according to 

WiUis. 

Long Campaign for Tun' 

In Philadelphia Area 

Doug Beck, RKO publicity director in Philadelphia, 

worked out an extensive and progressive 

exploitation campaign on "Fvm and 

Fancy Free," which will cease only when the 

film finally leaves the Philadelphia trade 

area. 

The big break came when the Gimbel 

Bros, toy parade featured five floats of 

papier mache reproductions Disney 

of 

characters from "Fun and Fancy Free." 

Several hundred thousand youngsters and 

adults saw the parade. Extremely productive 

of publicity was Clarence Nash, the voice of 

Donald Duck, who made a number of radio 

shows and met feature writers of the local 

dailies, who wrote life-stories about him. 

Nash even faced television cameras. 

Disk jockeys were given color photos of 

Donald Duck in disk jockey pose to distribute 

to audiences of their shows. The photos, 

autographed by Disney, could not be supplied 

in sufficient quantities. 

Beck worked out an arrangement with 

Columbia and Capitol record companies to 

distribute "Fun and Fancy Free" albums to 

kids at neighborhood theatres when the film 

gets into the smaller houses. Through the 

courtesy of the Aldine Theatre, where the 

fUm opened, the albums were borrowed by 

the public schools and used for assembly 

programs. 

Omaha Cards Promote 

Mitty as Santa Claus 

To help exploit "The Secret Life of Walter 

Mitty" and in order to get the picture plugged 

through merchants who were reluctant to 

give space during the holiday season, WOl 

Singer, manager of the Brandeis in Omaha, 

obtained permission to place small cards in 

merchant windows with the simple copy, 

"Walter Mitty as Santa Claus." Wherever 

the merchants had a Santa Claus in the toy 

department, Santa gave free tickets to children 

for rides on the electric train in the 

toyland of the city's largest store. 

BOXOFnCE Showmandiser :: Jan. 3, 1948 —337— 27

Winner of Beauty-Talent Contest 

Gets All-Year-Around Honors 

Mrs. J. M. Forte, owner-manager of the 

Nor Jan Theatre, Olive Branch, Miss., has 

received so much help from the exploits 

of other exhibitors in the Showmandiser 

section that she expresses a desire to repay 

partially by contributing an idea 

which proved successful and which she 

hopes to continue as an annual event. 

On Friday following Thanksgiving day, 

an amateur contest and beauty revue was 

staged at the Nor Jan. using only local 

talent. In order to keep the program of 

short duration and high interest, all 

Merchants Sponsor 

Radio Talent Quest 

A children's talent program broadcast over 

WJDA. new Quincy station, has been successfully 

introduced as part the regular 

of 

Saturday kid shows at the Weymouth Theatre, 

Weymouth, Mass., by Manager Oscar 

Goldberg. 

Local merchants pay for the time and 

prize money. Children who have special 

talent are invited to compete. Eight youngsters 

up to 16 years of age are presented on 

each program. Following each six broadcasts, 

a final is conducted with previous week's winners 

competing for a grand cash prize. 

The shows are staged in the theatre from 

10 to 10:30 each Saturday morning. Judging 

is done by means of an applause meter. Prior 

to each show Goldberg addresses the audience, 

explaining the radio hookup and what 

is expected during the broadcast by way of 

conduct and behavior. According to Goldberg, 

this personal contact has resulted in 

exemplary discipline. 

Station WJDA gives the program and the 

theatre two free plugs daily. 

Tommy Lee Promotes 

Merchandise Gifts 

A recently promoted tieup in which the 

Northside in Pittsburgh gave away five combination 

radio-phonographs has been successfully 

concluded, according to Tommy Lee, 

manager. 

Three neighborhood merchants paid all 

costs of the promotion in return for theatre 

and program advertising. Tickets were distributed 

by the merchants to each purchaser 

and the theatre distributed drawing tickets 

to its patrons. The tieup also covered the 

cost of weekly heralds which were distributed 

to plug the giveaway. 

Tableware as a giveaway item to women 

patrons of the Northside have been introduced 

with moderate success, reports Lee. 

Friendship Pays Off 

With Free News Space 

Friendly relationship with the editor and 

movie reviewer of the News-Leader has been 

responsible for excellent newspaper publicity 

garnered by Frank Shaffer, manager 

of the Dixie in Staunton, 'Va. 

Shaffer has been getting as many as three 

separate art breaks in addition to top story 

space in regular and Sunday is.sues of the 

News-Leader. With newsprint at a premium, 

he writes, these breaks are obtained only 

through goodwill and the grace of good newspaper 

promotion. 

28 

candidates were screened in advance with 

only the best permitted to compete. 

The beauty finalist was crowned Miss 

Nor Jan and received prizes promoted 

from businessmen and was assured of 

surprises throughout the coming year. She 

will also accompany Mrs. Forte to screenings 

and once each week will be presented 

as a singing star at the theatre. 

The entire promotion already has enjoyed 

great success, according to Mrs. 

Forte who adds the hope that other exhibitors 

will 

find benefit from trying it. 

Grid Rivals Hold Rallies 

On Stage of Merrimack 

Pregame football rallies of the rival Keith 

academy and Lowell high school, arranged 

by A. J. Keenan, manager of the Merrimack 

in 

Lowell, Mass.. was well publicized through 

the cooperation of radio station WCCM. 

Each school was invited to have its own 

rally in conjunction with the exhibition of 

"Spirit of West Point." Members of the 

football teams, coaches, school officials, 

cheering squads and bands livened up the 

program. 

The raUies were publicized on school bulletin 

boards, in newspaper ads and lobby displays. 

WCCM gave the rallies plenty of advance 

buildup and recorded each night's 

presentation, combining both on a half-hour 

program broadcast the following day witii 

subsequent plugs for the Merrimack's screen 

offering. 

Assistant Makes Tieup 

For Basket Givaway 

In cooperation with the Five Corners, 

J., Merchants Ass'n. Ida M. Pieroni, assistant 

N. 

to D. F. Barreca. manager of the 

Orpheum, arranged a Thanksgiving giveaway 

of 25 large food baskets which cost the 

theatre nothing but brought extra business 

to the boxoffice. 

In addition to supplying the food baskets, 

the merchants paid the cost of lobby displays, 

a trailer, thi-ee newspaper ads, 400 

window cards, 200 bus posters and the coupons 

distributed for the giveaway. The Orpheum, 

a last run situation, played to turnaway 

business according to Barreca. 

SHOW v (r. 

[HANKSGlViNG 

Wfcd Thui'. Nov 2b 27.,:^'^ 

Here is a simple yet effective lobby piece 

which sold a holiday program for A. B. 

Joiferis, manager of the Jefferis, Piedmont, Mo. 

—338— 

Safety Council Joins 

Cincinnati Police to 

Plug 'Mitty' Slogan 

The Cincinnati Safety council granted permission 

for placement of 1.000 "Don't Be a 

Mitty" safety posters on light poles by members 

of the police department and the RKO 

Albee benefited with a fine flash for the 

"Secret Life of Walter Mitty," all due to the 

efforts of Nate Wise, publicist for RKO Theatres 

in that city. 

In conjunction with the city tieup, the 

Cincinnati Enquirer ran a contest in which 

readers were required to submit slogans beginning 

with the words, "Don't Be a Mitty." 

The Enquirer ran five stories on this, members 

of the Safety council volunteered their 

services as judges, and the only cost the 

theatre had to bear was $25 put up for 

prizes and a few passes. 

Wise got local disk jockeys to plug the 

song hits from the production and landed 

a radio quiz, "What is your favorite day 

dream?" on WCPO's Man-on-the-Street 

broadcast. 

An unexpected break for the picture was 

the personal appearance in Cincinnati of 

Virginia Mayo, co-star of the film production. 

This alone accounted for 25 newspaper 

breaks, including three front-page mentions 

after the visitor was tied in with the Community 

Chest drive, posed with a traffic 

judge to observe procedure in police court 

cases involving violatioiis of safety laws, and 

attended several press conferences. 

Miss Mayo also appeared on all four radio 

stations in Cincinnati on popular programs, 

which received extra mention in the radio 

news columns. 

'Seville' Buildup Centers 

On Musical Contacts 

In promoting the recent roadshow engagement 

of "The Barber of Seville" at Constitution 

Hall. Washington, W. Ray Gingell 

placed special emphasis on the musical backgroimd 

of the picture. 

An extensive campaign featuring the 

operatic star, Tagliavini, was concentrated 

in local and out-of-town newspapers. Music 

teachers and schools were reached via mail, 

and heralds were distributed to persons 

buying tickets for the symphony orchestra 

concerts. 

For radio promotion, Gingell used the halfhour 

Opera Gems program featuring Tagliavini 

recordings, with generous mention of 

the playdates. Music store windows were set 

including a large display in Brentano's book 

shop, with stills from the picture and playdates 

in prominent evidence. 

Through barber supply companies, all barber 

shops were circularized and received 

window cards for exhibition. 

Benefit Wins Support 

Of Public and Press 

Front page publicity was received by the 

Noll Theatre, Bethany, Mo., through a 

Thanksgiving benefit show put on my Manager 

F. F. Chenoweth. Admission to the 

special performance was a can or jar of 

food. Collections were turned over to the 

Bethany chapter of the American Red Cross 

for local distribution. 

Besides being a community service, the 

benefit show helped to create goodwill for 

the theatre and will probably be duplicated 

prior to the Christmas holidays. 

BOXOFnCE Showmandiser :: Jan. 3. 1948

. 

'jlieeds 

(Dji 

. . Tiffany-Stahl 

. . Alan 

Jills,! Film, Video Problems 

lo I To Be Aired at Meet 

NEW YORK—Film producers, heads of 

television stations and advertising agencies 

3|1 

'' 

interested in film production for television 

purposes will get together January 26 at the 

Hotel Commodore for an all-day discussion 

- of their mutual problems. 

At the morning session, with Chet Julesza 

of Batten. Barton, Durstine & Osborn as 

chairman the three topics will be: "Television's 

25 Uses for Film," "Film Commercials 

for Video" and "What About Costs?" 

Three subjects also will be discussed at a 

luncheon as follows: "Film Rental Pi-actlces," 

"Video Clearance Rights" and "Getting 

Business—Where. How and How Much?" 

In the afternoon the program will include: 

"Film Standards for Television," "Film Pack- 

M .L,^ age Shows Tliat Sell" and "Films Wanted." 

, ':The last named will be a report on the film 

of television stations and agencies. 

An evening session will be devoted to answers 

to questions submitted in advance and 

panel discussions by agencies and station 

representatives. A number of television films 

will be screened during the late afternoon. 

Thirteen New Applications 

For Television Permits 

WASHINGTON—Thirteen more television 

applications, including one from CBS for Boston, 

have been filed with the Federal Communications 

Commission. These applications 

were sent in during a ten-day period. 

If CBS gets its license for Boston it may 

have three stations. It has a station in New 

York and an application pending for a station 

in Chicago. 

The new applications are: Summit Radio 

Corp.. Akron; WPIT, Inc., Pittsburgh; A. H. 

Belo Corp., Dallas; South Bend (Ind.i Tribune; 

Isle of Dreams Co., Miami; Atlanta 

Journal Co., Atlanta; Miami Valley Co.. Dayton; 

Lehigh Valley Broadcasting Co., Wilkes- 

Barre; Pearl Lemert, Bakersfield, Calif.; 

Hawley Broadcasting Co.. Reading, Pa., and 

L. F. Corrigan, Texas Tele, Dallas. 

FROM THE FILES OF 

GET /OUR NAME 

ON A CONTRACT 

ORELÊ 

— the routes of 25 units of 'MOM 

AND DAD' for 1948 will be filled' 

More than 600 dotes—over onethird 

of the entire ploying time this 

year—are booked. There's on Hygienic 

agent in your territory now' 

Phone, wire or write us today. Get 

your 'MOM AND DAD' play dates 

for 1948 set now. 

HYGIENIC PRODUCTIONS 

Hygiene BIdg Wilmington, Ohio 

Branch offices in Los Angeles, 

Chicago, Cleveland, NYC, Toronto, 

Ont., Mexico City, London, Buenos 

Aires and thruout Latin America. 

J S, Jossey and Kroger Babb, 

producers-distributors. 

"gING OF KINGS." immensely popular 

film in America, will be withheld from 

certain European countries. Its exhibition, it 

is feared, might cause anti-Semitic demonstrations 

. . . Lewis Stone, after a four-year 

absence, is returning to Paramount to support 

Emil Jannings in the German star's 

next starring vehicle, "The Patriot." Stone 

will play the part of Count Pahlen, originally 

intended for Jannings. 

Thomas A. Edison witnessed a showing of 

Movietone recently and the inventor seemed 

well pleased with the demonstration. He 

said: "There is no question but that Movietone 

is a distinct advance toward the perfection 

of talking pictures. I believe it will 

go a long way toward creating a better understanding 

among the peoples of all the 

world." 

. 

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" has been cut to ten 

reels for regular showing . Hale will 

bring the famous cartoon character. Moon 

Mullins, to the screen . is 

said to be seeking the services of Jack E>empsey 

to make a series of pictures Metro 

. . 

has signed Laurence Stalllngs for two more 

years. Tim McCoy has been signed for another 

year. Renee Adoree also has been 

signed for another year. 

, 

U-l Launches New Sales Campaign; 

To Be in Honor of W. A. Scully 

NEW YORK-Universal-International has 

started a new sales campaign, known as the 

Constellation sales drive. The campaign 

opened December 29. It will continue through 

May 1, 1948. The drive will mark the tenth 

anniversary with the company of WUliam A 

Scully, vice-president and general sales manager. 

This is the first time U-I has chosen the 

name, Constellation, for its sales campaign 

This also IS the first time the company has 

opened a sales drive at the close of the year 

The 1947 drive was known as the J. Arthur 

Rank-Nate J. Blumberg Sales Drive. It 

closed October 2. 

The slogan for the new campaign is "U-I 

Soaring to New Heights." 

Midwest Area Is Winner 

In Blumberg-Rank Drive 

NEW YORK — Mannie M. Gottlieb, who 

supervises the Universal-International exchanges 

in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and 

Minneapolis, was the leading district manager 

m the Nate J. Blumberg-J. Arthur Rank 

Good Business sales drive, which wound up 

after 22 weeks, according to William A. Scully 

vice-president and general sales manager' 

Second prize went to the Dave Miller district, 

comprising the Albany, Buffalo and 

New Haven exchanges. The third prize went 

to the Barney Rose district, which embraces dows. Indianapolis; Jerry Marks. Cincinnati; 

Portland, San Francisco and Seattle exchanges. 

Each district manager received a and George Byrd, Oklahoma City. 

Tom Miller, Atlanta; Stanley Wilbur, Dallas, 

cash prize. 

In the western division, the bookers of 

The Minneapolis branch, headed by Leroy the Chicago, Milwaukee, Seattle and Minneapolis 

exchanges were prize winners, in that 

J. Miller, received the top branch prize check 

Other winning branches. In order of their order; in the eastern division, the bookers 

of the Cleveland, Boston, Pittsburgh and Albany 

exchanges took prize money, while in 

the southern division, Oklahoma City, Cincinnati. 

Dallas and Memphis bookers shared 

in the prize money. The western division, 

headed by C. J. Feldman, took top place in 

the drive; the eastern division, headed by 

Fred Meyers, was second and the southern 

division, headed by P. J. A. McCarthy, was 

tl-urd. 

Fire Hero Not Guilty 

CANTON, OHIO—Robert D. Brotsman. Alliance, 

was found innocent by a common 

pleas jury of a charge of arson in connection 

with a fire in the Morrison, Alliance, 

LIQUID SEASONING 

last June 8. The state contended Brotsman, 

who was estranged from his wife, started a 

fire in the ventilating system of the theatre 

and then walked onto the stage and warned 

the audience in an effort to "become a hero 

costs you 

and effect a reconciliation with his wife." 

Brotsman tesified he discovered the fire after 

a small girl told him she smelled smoke in 

the theatre. 

per bag of 

popcorn! 

L Simonin of Fhiladelpkia 

^mamiBaammd 

showing: Albany, Eugene Vogel; Detroit, Ben 

J. Robbins; Milwaukee, Louis R. Berman- 

Seattle, George DeWaide: Cleveland, Lester 

Zucker: Portland, Roy Wilson: Kansas City 

Jack Langan: New Haven. Arthur Greenfield; 

Denver, Mayer Monskv: Chicago, Jack 

Bannon, and Salt Lake City, Charles Wade 

The 12 winning salesmen in the western 

division, in the order of their standing, were 

Abe Swerdlow. San Fi-ancisco: Milton Zimmerman, 

Detroit: Harry Blatt, Seattle- William 

Waldholz, Detroit; Ralph G. Olson, Des 

Moines; Ralph H. Ohlson, Kansas City; Robert 

Helmerson, Minneapolis; David Goldman 

Milwaukee; Harold Michaels. Denver; Edward 

Cohen, Omaha; Morris Relder Des 

Moines, and Larry Seidelman, Milwaukee. 

The ten winning salesmen in the east, 

m order of their performance: Al Rose 

Buffalo; Judd Parker, Boston; George Reif, 

New Haven: Fred Shohet. Boston; Eugene 

Lowe, Albany; Carl Reardon, Pittsburgh- 

Leo Greenfield, New York; Jern- Spandau, 

Buffalo; Harry Fellerman, New York, and 

Leo Gottlieb, Cleveland. 

SOUTHERN AREA WINNERS 

Winners in the southern divi-sion: Mark 

M. Holstein, Dallas; Charles Ost, Memphis- 

W. Burl Lovelace, Dallas; Ralph Wilkinson, 

Memphis; John L. Fagan, Dallas; Max Mea- 

One of four Re-Releases b-y 

Screencraft Pictures, Inc. 

RKO Securities Sale 

Scheduled Feb. 16 

NEW YORK-A Radio-Keith-Orpheum 

Corp. plan of reorganization which went into 

effect Jan. 1, 1940, and made this corporation 

the successor of Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corp 

of Maryland, will be carried to completion 

shortly after Feb. 16. 1948. The corporation 

mtends to sell on the New York Stock Exchange 

all common stock which has not at 

that time been claimed bv stockholders and 

creditors of the old corporation entitled to 

receive common stock under the reorganization 

plan. 

Under this plan, the net cash proceeds of 

the sale will be available until Jan. 12, 1953 

to the persons formerly entitled to receive 

common stock. 

The corporation has also made known that 

holders of outstanding script can receive their 

pro rata shares of certain net cash proceeds 

now held for them until March 19, 1948 This 

right will expire at that time. 

These securities are held by thousands of 

individuals and the corporation has been 

unable to reach them by registered letters 

because of changes in addresses. Holders 

should forward the securities to the Bankers 

Trust Co. and holders of the script should 

forward it to the Chase National Bank, both 

in New York. 

Columbia 3rd Quarter Net 

Falls Off to $370,000 

NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures Corp. reports 

a sharp drop in net profits for the 13 

weeks ending Sept. 27, 1947. The total was 

$370,000. Last year for the same period the 

total was $965,000. 

Earnings per share on the common after 

preferred dividends on the 638,352 common 

shares outstanding at the end of the 1947 

quarter were 46 cents. This compares with 

a rate of $1.39 per share on the 622,782 shares 

of common outstanding for the same quarter 

of 1946. 

Operating profit for the 1947 third quarter 

was given as $630,000, compared with $1,540 - 

000 for the same quarter in 1946. Federal 

taxes in the third quarter of 1947 were $260 - 

000. During the previous year in the same 

quarter they were $575,000. 

Bleached Manila 

POPCORN BQXES 

10c size . . $6.50 M 

25c size . . 15.75 M 

Immediate Delivery 

Fabian Kontney 

609 N. Ashland Green Bay, V\^s. 

• For Sale # 

Poftcan*i Bo>xe4. 

Write /or samples and prices 

Winnebago Distributing Co. 

819 ~ 11th Street Oshkosh, Wisconsin 

BOXOFFICE :; January 3, 1948

I 

— 

' 

Majors Delay Shifts 

In Theatre Holdings 

NEW YORK—No changes have been made 

in the theatre holdings of the five majors 

during the past three months, according to 

the quarterly reports filed with the New York 

statutory court during the weelc of December 

29. These reports were due by January 1. 

Tlie companies will wait for the supreme 

court decision on their appeals from the 

antitrust decree before trying to comply with 

its theatre holding provisions. 

It was just a year ago Dec. 31, 1946 that 

the three-man court handed down the decree. 

The big five will argue against its provisions 

calling for the breakup of partnerships 

with independents where their interests 

are more than five or less than 95 per 

cent. They also will argue against the absolute 

ban on the expansion of theatre 

holdings. They have accepted the court order 

to end pools, and have already met the July 

1. 1947 deadline for this provision. Nor will 

they argue against the ban on partnership 

among themselves. 

Appeal arguments, scheduled to be heard 

January 12, have been postponed until February 

9 at the request of the department 

of justice, which also is appealing the decree. 

The appeal briefs are due to be filed 

with the clerk of the supreme court by 

January 19. 

Free Shows for Children 

At Harry Fried Theatres 

ARDMORE, PA.—The Harry Fried Theatres, 

as their way of saying Merry Christmas 

to their youthful patrons, treated them to 

three free shows this week. The programs 

were presented Monday morning at the 

Anthony Wayne in Wayne and Tuesday 

morning at the Suburban in Ardmore and the 

Riant in Conshohocken. Shows consisted of 

cartoons, a special children's feature, and 

candy for every child. 

free 

Music Hall Holds Over 

Entire Christmas Show 

NEW YORK—The Radio City 

Music Hall 

its held over thi-ee-part Christmas program, 

comprising the film, "Good News," "The 

Nativity" pageant and stage revue, "Yuletidings," 

for a fifth week starting January 1. 

"The Nativity" pageant is being held past 

New Year's day for the first time in its 15 

consecutive years of holiday presentation at 

the Music Hall. 

Walsh Denies Taking Part 

In Local 306 Elections 

NEW YORK—Richard F. Walsh, lATSE 

international president, has denied that he is 

taking part in the election of officers of 

Local 306, New York projectionists' union. 

He says that since becoming president of 

the lATSE he has made It a practice to 

keep hands off all local elections. 

Astor Gets 'Scarface' Back 

NEW YORK—The FBI has confiscated a 

print of "Scarface" sent from Passaic, New 

Jersey,- to an exhibitor in Savannah, and 

has returned it to Astor Pictures. Jacques 

Kopfst«ln, executive vice-president of Astor, 

says the Passaic firm which gave a post- 

Office box as an address, had illegal possession 

of the film. 

Record Snow Depresses 

Manhattan Grosses 

NEW YORK—Mid-Manhattan first runs, 

Finrrl fs*arvir'«ac flro HolH along with all other theatres In the metroriHUloerVices 

^re "eia 

pÛtan area, went through the extraordinary 

For Henry SalSOUry. 62 experience of having business come to prac- 

NEW YORK-Final rites were held Sun- "9,''!'^ ^ complete standstill the day after 

This was followed 

(281 by a pickup 

^^''^^T^'^ ate Saturday and a rebound late Sunday for 

day 

home 

at 

for 

the Prank 

Henry L. 

E. Campbell 

Salsbury 62, 

Funeral 

veteran 

employe of Paramount. He died Christmas lf^J}\^^''}'t\^''J''^^'rLZ'^^ ^ ^°''" 

day at his home, 875 Fifth Ave. He """^^ slump for all other houses, 

is survived 

by his wife, Lynn, three brothers and four " ^"^^ 

, 

\^^'^ ^êk for a record snowstorm 

'^'^'^^"ê all 

sister. Interment was 

managers had counted on rsprivate. 

Salsbm-y 

covermg 

entered 

from the pre-Chnstmas slump as 

the industry 28 years ago 

the staff of Jesse L. Lasky 

at He devoted much of his time 

when he joined 

Paramount. 

as 

'°?B 

^« Broadway 

the school vacation started, 

houses owed rnost of their 

recovery to the subway trade. People living 

to theatre acquisition in those years. He 

^"bway 

Manhattan 

lines 

than 

found 

they did 

it easier to 

to their neighmount 

get 

later became chief assistant to Walter Wan- f°^f 'o 

ger, then general manager of the Para- 

production department. Salsbury ^^°'^ 

''°';h°°'' 

con- 

"°* residing near the 

^'^tions couldn't ^"Z^\ 

tinued working 

go anywhere. As the streets 

as aide to Wanger when the 

were cleared business 

producer became head of the Paramount 

jumped sharply on 

Monday. On Tuesday all the midtown houses 

studio in Astoria, L. I. 

^'^''^ *^°'"^ '^âvy business. 

When Wanser was succeeded bv Russ"ll 

Hohnan lalsburv became an executive o 

^^^ ^^^""^'^^ i" ^^^ Manhattan sector were 

TTî^^Sv cf iff w. ti^^ f ht ^^^f ^^H? ^l ahead of their 1946 Christmas week business. 

Holrnans staff. He held this post unUl his 

^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^ 

about the same. There was some slush and 

• T nif 17 11 ni.-i J 1 u- 

Louis M. 1-elt, Philadelphia pj^g ^j^yg after the storm bus service on 

snow during the 1946 Christmas week. 

Dies at 50 of Heart Attack Staten Island was haphazard and both bus 

PHILADELPHIA—Louis M. Felt, retired and trolley service in Brooklyn were submotion 

picture and vaudeville man, died normal. Automobile service was almost nonsuddenly 

Monday night of a heart attack existent, as all parking lots were snowed in 

at the Variety Club in the Bellevue Strat- and there was no parking space on streets. 

ford. He was 50 years old. 

In vaudeville for 15 years, first as a per- 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor-The Bishop's WHe (RKO). 3rd wk 100 

former then as a manager, Felt switched 

g°?^',°i7-Tl'l Inati^w'âi' iSdlLrtfluIn:::^ 

his interests to motion pictures many years Globe—Body and Soul (UA), 8th wk 130 

ago, specializing in neighborhood houses. He Golden—Mourning Becomes Eleclra (RKO), 

was associated with others in the erection Go|ha^_The Fabulous Texan (ReD)::: .:::...:.:. 77 

..-. 

of many center city houses, such as the Mayioir-Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox), 

^ 

Mastbaum, Stanley and Fox. d î"' '"''t /nVni 

He retired in 1945 while manager of the Param^nT-mere There's Life (Para)': 

Westmar in nearby Norristown. He Is sur- plus stage show 

'qn 

125 

^^^ 

vived by his wife Rebecca, a daughter, two R°dio City Music^Haiiôod News (MOM), 

sons, three brothers and a sister. RiSlu^Pm^ ''(Tn'îlorel.'^Sth wk7.'.;".Z;.;;:;.'.IZ.;".:i00 

Rivoli—Captain from Castile (20th-Fox) 140 

»A _. I! C« r>; Roxy—Daisy Kenyon (20th-Fox), plus stage show ..135 

Meyer B. StrOUSe Dies Strand-Mv wild Irish Hose (WB) plus stage show 85 

140 

PHILADELPHIA—Meyer B. Strouse, man- V.ctoria-The Fuqiiive (RKO)^ 

_ 

ager of the Grange, died suddenly early 

^f^f Garden-Tie °ExUe (u"lf ^^^^rTZZZm 

Monday at the age of 70. Strouse, who was 

theatres here during his career, was active 'Irish Rose High m Buiialo; 

associated with many other Stanley Warnt-r „ . , „ tt- . • 

u ji i 

in a number of civic organizations. A widower. Holiday Grosses Below^ Par 

he is survived by two sons, a daughter and BUFFALO-"My Wild Irish Rose" at the 

a sister. Buffalo was top picture here, with "Killer 

McCoy" at the Great Lakes close behind. 

Harry Frankenlield Dies Others were off in cold holiday weather. 

EASTON, PA.—Harry E. Frankenfleld, BuKalc^My Wild Irish Rose (WB) 110 

employe of the State, died last Thursday at Great Lakes— Killer McCoy (MGM); High 

the age of 51 after a short illness. He is 

Htppo^rômliTeUe' Starr" (20.h:Fox)rFron.ier 

sm-vived by two sisters and a brother. Marshal (20th-Fox), reissues 78 

of (U-I); Lalayette Pirates Monterey Bush 

Christmas (U-I) 85 

Varipapa and MGM Short 't^ZV%?l' ^^'""'.!^'''l: 7. 

^^ T»- TT 1 J 20th Century—Out of the Pa^t (RKO); 

Go Big in Hempstead Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (RKO) 91 

HEMPSTEAD, L. I.—"Bowling Tricks," 

Pete Smith MGM short, was given an ex- 

Qrowd Braves Snowstorm 

ploitation opening here December 

Î'-'wi^ a/ivlvcô i^xAww^t 

29 that 

brought out most of the population of this 

Pq_ Auiomobile Giveawav 

Long Island town in spite of snow-blocked * ^^ JlUlUlllUiJUC v:Tivcwwwy 

ALBANY—Large audiences turned out In a 

highways. 

This is the home town of Andy Varipapa, snowstorm to attend the pre-Christmas 

national match game bowling champion. He giveaway Mercury car, refrigerator, 

of a 

also is master of a variety of trick bowling washer, ironer, and other prizes at Warners' 

shots that make Interesting film material. Strand, Ritz, Madison and Delaware the- 

The "premiere" was held at the Skouras atres. The winners, fortimately, were divided 

Hempstead Theatre and Varipapa was pre- among the four houses. Supervising the 

sented the trophies he won in the all-star drawing, which took 40 minutes, were Mantournament 

at Houston, Tex. Following the Al La Flamme of the Strand; Assistant 

showing of the picture Varipapa was guest 

ager 

Zone Manager Charles A. Smakwitz, Pubof 

honor at a dinner sponsored by the Cham- licist Jerry Atkln, and Assistant Manager 

ber of Commerce. Ted Friedman. 

SCfXOtnOE^: January 3, 1«48 

r 31

. . . Howard 

. . The 

. . George 

. . Martin 

Along New York's Filmrow 

By WALTER WALDMAN 

MPA Library Films 

May Go Overseas 

•piE chief topic of conversation along Filmrow 

The snow did 

during 

not bother 

the 

Estelle 

past week Hernan 

has been the Of the 20th-Fox 

snow storm 

exchange. 

of December 

She went 

NEW YORK-The 

skiing 

MPA is considering a 

26 . 

Nearly at Great Harrington, 

everybody Mass., 

plan to 

you met 

over 

had 

the weekend, 

and expects to 

broaden the Children's Film Library 

a story to tell about 

the to 

big snow return there 

include 

in 

distribution 

a few 

in foreign countries 

. 

Reisner of the weeks 

. 

York Levine, Some 

Theatre told 

general 

films listed 

how he manager 

in the library are being 

succeeded in gettmg 

Theatres, released 

of the Brandt 

two feature 

prefers 

prints 

the 

on 

south 

independently for children's shows 

Saturday December 

He left for Boca Raton, 

by individual 

Fla., 

27, to his house December companies 

at 

29 

in Australia and 

64th St. and' First and will remain 

Ave. 

until 

from the Film 

January 

South Africa. 

12. 

Center Bldg. at Ninth 

Requests for films in the library 

Ave. and have 

44th been 

St. , . . George and his sonm-law 

simply tied cord 

received from India, 

Phil England, 

to the 

Isaacs, 

handles Paramount 

France Belgium 

and the British 

of 

booker, has been 

the cans and dragged them transferred West Indies. 

along the 

to 

snowfilled 

streets . . . When they 

the Buffalo exchange where Another plan 

he now being 

will 

were two 

become considered is 

office the 

blocks 

manager . . . James addition of several 

from the theatre they Frank children's 

jr., 

"hired" a sled from 

manager entertainment 

of the local National films produced by J. 

a boy who pulled the cans the 

Theatre Arthur 

Supply Rank to 

rest of the 

branch, the 

spent the holidays MPA film library. 

way. 

in Cleveland No decision 

. . . 

has 

While 

been 

he was away, his reached on this to date. 

office staff handled the order for a new Release of the library 

marquee films 

for 

in 

the St. Tony De Marks 

England 

Sabato, 

Theatre. 

operator The would be no 

of the Park 

problem 

old 

as far 

marquee as the 

collapsed 

75 per 

Theatre, South 

during the snow 

Plainfield, storm cent film 

N. 

tax is 

J., had three mjuring 

concerned, 

three 

since all of 

patrons 

persons. 

the 

in his house 

library 

Friday 

films 

evening. 

were 

He 

released long before the 

refunded their money tax 

and went 

closed 

into effect. 

the theatre 

. . . Phil Hodes, RKO branch manager, 

Richard 

was 

Cohen has been promoted to New 

One major drawback to overseas release 

marooned for several days 

Jersey 

at his home 

and upstate IS 

in 

booker for Film that the 

Classics 

MPA member companies in their 

Great Neck, L. I. . . . George 

He was 

Waldman, 

formerly an assistant booker 

present economy mood have not shown enthusiasm 

for 

eastern district manager for Film 

Harold Saltz, RKO 

Classics, 

salesman in New Orleans, 

footing the bills for additional 

had his staff come in on visited 

Saturday the 

The 

New York branch 

prints 

during 

required for the project. 

salesmen and bookers the 

called week. He 

all exhibitors 

was formerly a print To 

booker 

date one Rank entertainment film particularly 

who had signed for Film in the 

Classics New York 

releases 

office . . . Another Filmrow 

suitable for children has been released 

told them where the 

visitor 

pictures were 

was Vince 

playing' 

Traynor of the State 

here. 

and 

It is "Bush Christmas" (U-I> 

and advised them to pick up 

Boonton 

the 

theatres, 

prints from' 

Boonton, N. produced J. 

in Australia. The MPA Children's 

the nearest theatres Film 

as 

Library is the pictures 

studying 

were 

the reacUon of 

played off. 

American 

Bob Fannon, youngsters to the 

assistant branch Rank 

manager product 

for 

Republic, is on vacation. He left after the 

At several Bill 

exchanges bookers Murphy 

had 22nd 

their 

Annual Playdate drive 

hands full the following ended 

Herman 

Monday and 

December Gelber 

26. 

Tuesday. 

During the preceding tember 29 . . . 

The drive began 

Re-Elected 

Sep- 

weekend Max Gillis, 

prints 

eastern district As 

had been circulated by manager 

Film 

circuits 

for 

Operators' 

among Republic, 

their 

visited 

Head 

the Philadelphia 

exchange 

own houses 

. 

circuits did not bother 

December NEW 

30. 

YORK-Herman Gelber has been reelected 

informing the exchanges president 

of 

of 

these 

the Motion 

shifts 

Picture Machine 

which were made to save 

Operators 

time and assure Barney 

Local 306, 

Feld, manager 

and Harry 

of the 

Storin 

each 

Jersey 

house 

Theatre, 

Morristown, 

has 

of product 

been 

... 

re-elected 

The bookers had 

vice-president. 

N. J., had Both will 

a close call 

to do 

recently 

a lot of 

serve 

telephoning 

two-year 

to trace the unreported 

in 

terms. 

while making his first solo flight 

prints. 

Other officers 

his new elected 

airplane. 

to serve 

While en 

two-year 

route from Morristown 

terms are: Ernie Lang, 

to Atlantic 

recording 

City 

secretary 

his gasoline line Izzy Schwartz, 

Sol Shernow of the 

broke 

financial 

Warner and 

print 

he ran 

secretary: 

out 

department 

spent Friday was 

of James 

fuel. Luckily there Ambrosio, treasurer, 

night and 

an open 

and L. S. 

cornfield 

Askinos, 

Saturday 

right 

sergeant 

at arms. 

below him and 

mormng in a stranded Feld 

Morris 

Long was 

Kravitz 

able to 

Island land 

and Dan 

train 

the 

Scher 

craft . . 

After were re-elected to 

Greenberg repairing 

their 

of the 

the 

posts 

Paramount 

hne as 

and taking 

business 

on a new supply 

of Max gasoline, 

agents. Eli Asen, 

theatres in Poughkeepsie 

Feinberg 

and Newburgh 

he and 

took off and Max 

completed Horowitz were 

considered himself lucky 

the 

named as 

trip. 

trustees. 

to get to New York 

l^m Poughkeepsie in five hours Monday 

The usual hour-and-a-half trip took eight 

to ten hours Saturday and Sunday Bill 

Para Sets N. Y. Tradeshows 

Didsbury of the Didsbury Theatre, Walden 

N^Y., 

NEW and Harry 

YORK—Paramount 

To WB Pathe 

will 

Friedman tradeshow 

News Post 

of the Academy "Albuquerque" 

Theatre, Newburgh, 

on the Fox 

decided 

exchange projection 

room who head- 

NEW YORK-William 

to postpone McCUu-e, 

their 

weekly New 

January 19 at 

York 10:30 a. 

visits on 

m. "Saigoned 

the RKO will be tradeshown Pathe in the same publicity operations dur- 

Monday because 

of the «"""• at 10:30 place ing the past year, has joined Warner Pathe 

a. m. February 2. 

William McClure Is Named 

News as its staff correspondent in Europe 

McClure will leave January 17 for Paris 

where he will join William Murray, 

News' European manager. 

Pathe 

McClure and Murray 

will operate under Alfred Butterfield 

editor of Warner Pathe News, and Edward 

Buddy, foreign editor. 

Sarnoff Heads New Armed 

Forces Communications 

NEW YORK-Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff 

f -i 

president of the Army Signal Ass'n, has made 

known that the association has been reorganized 

into the Armed Forces Communications 

Ass'n as a result of the amalgamation 

of the defense services the of U.S. 

Sarnoff says that all Americans engaged 

in the fields of communication or photography 

can contribute to military preparedness 

by joining the assoclaUon. 

V.,u\i^T'^^ûT,^, th"'^?f:,f«T'^«-''-t"-'' 

Rprî^ '*'*"°" auditorium -' the .radescreenln, of 

"Voice of Theatre Speakers" 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them! 

32 

BOXOFTICE :: January 3, 1948

"-a Lis 

New Amusement Tax 

Proposed in Camden 

CAMDEN, N, J.—The city commission has 

approved on first reading an ordinance fixing 

a one per cent amusement tax on theatres, 

sporting events, and all other places 

where admission is charged. A public hearing 

on the measure has been set for the 

near future. 

The regulation provides that a license must 

be obtained by individuals, firms or corporations 

operating theatrical, vaudeville, 

motion picture, or athletic exhibitions of 

any kind. Violation of the ordinance involves 

a penalty of a 90-day jail sentence 

or $200 fine or both for each violation. 

Joseph Varbalow, owTier of the Savar 

Amusement Co., attacked the proposed ordinance 

as "discriminatory" and placing "an 

unfair burden on such business enterprises." 

Varbalow said local theatre owners are 

assessed 10 cents a seat by the city, in addition 

to paying "heavy real estate taxes, 

a 20 per cent federal amusement tax, social 

security, unemployment compensation, corporation 

taxes and franchise fees." 

"This tax is unjust," he declared, "and 

I will protest it vigorously. It will cause 

hundreds of theatregoers from outside the 

city to remain in their own districts. We 

draw patronage from seven south Jersey 

counties to our houses here, and we will 

lose them such a regulation is passed." 

if 

Italy Production Costs 

Still Cheaper, Picker 

NEW YORK—The cost of producing a 

film 

in Italy is still approximately 50 per cent 

lower than in Hollywood, despite the doubUng 

of Italian costs in the past few months, according 

to Leonard Picker, independent producer 

releasing through Eagle Lion. The 

influx of American and British production 

in Italy has virtually eUminated native production, 

he said. Picker recently returned 

from Europe where he studied production 

possibilities in Italy, France, England and 

Sweden. 

Columbia, Edward Small and Rod E. Geiger 

are among the American producers making 

films in Italy. Picker predicted increased 

production there because of the lower 

costs. As a comparison of costs. Picker declared 

that a picture that would cost $900.- 

000 to produce in Hollywood would cost 

$400,000 in Italy. In Mexico the same production 

would cost approximately $650,000, 

he said. 

Production in France would be inadvisable 

because of the current "unstable poUtical 

situation. Picker said. Sweden also offered 

good prospects for film production, despite 

"unsure weather conditions." 

Picker left for Hollywood January 1 in 

order to discuss the prospect of making "Sons 

of the Musketeers" in Italy in association 

with Jacques Grinieff. Picker's Mexicanmade 

film, "The Adventures of Casanova," 

will be released by Eagle Lion early in 1948. 

NET DEPINET DRIVE TEAM WELCOMED—President N. Peter Ralhvon greets 

Capt. Walter Branson and Lieut. Harry Gittleson at a studio luncheon in their 

honor. Seated, clockwise, are Rathvon, Dore Schary (hand under chin), studio production 

chief; Herb Maclntyre, western district manager; Ferry Liebcr, studio publicity 

head; S. Barret McCormick, national advertising head; Gittleson and Branson. 

Watch Theatre Expenses, 

Warner Managers Told 

ALBANY—Ten Warner managers from 

Albany, Troy and Utica left a three-hour 

meeting in the upstate offices here with a 

message ringing in their ears to "watch expenses." 

Detailed accounts for each house 

since 1940-41 were produced and compared. 

C. J. Latta, zone manager, and Charles A. 

Smakwitz, assistant zone manager, pointed 

out the skyrocketing prices in certain lines. 

Paper towels, for instance, have jumped 

about 300 per cent. It was suggested that 

waste in towels and soap be eliminated as 

much as possible. 

Managers also were told to keep a close 

check on oil, "maintaining your house 

neither too hot nor too cold." Oil, Latta 

and Smakwitz said, was likely to be in short 

supply this winter. 

Latta and Smakwitz stressed that the 

pruning of expenses should not interfere 

with service to the public. "Service and entertainment 

are the two commodities we have 

to offer," Latta said. 

Two items of expense, film rentals and 

salaries, cannot be cut, the Warner men 

agreed. 

Hoboken Rialto Sold 

HOBOKEN, N. J.—Pasquale DiMenza of 

Hoboken has purchased the Rialto Theatre, 

a Hoboken landmark, from the Joseph J. 

Garibaldi organization and will remodel and 

redecorate before opening the house for foreign 

pictures, plays and vaudeville. Purchase 

was made from Albert H. Graham. New York 

realty investor. Originally a burlesque house 

when it was known as the Empire, the theatre 

later played stock and vaudeville. 

BROADW AY 

Gene Fowler jr., associate producer for 

U-I, is registered at the Waldorf from Culver 

City, CaUf. . . . Seymour Eichman, advertising 

manager for Astor Pictures, was 

married Saturday (27) to Esther Cohen. 

After a honeymoon at Lake Placid they will 

make their home at East Hampton, L. I. . . . 

Donald Buka has returned to the coast to 

continue work in "Street With No Name," 

to be released by 20th-Fox. Buka has been 

in Washington with Director William Keighley, 

where scenes for the film were made 

at 

the FBI offices. 

Norman Stewart, dialog director on "The 

Eternal Melody," to be released by Columbia, 

is in New York from Rome, Italy, where 

the picture was filmed. He expects to leave 

for the coast January 7 . . . William F. 

Rodgers, MGM general sales manager, will 

be guest speaker at the Motion Picture Associates 

annual installation luncheon at the 

Hotel Astor January 5. Samuel Rinzler will 

serve as master of ceremonies. 

Sid Blumenstock, assistant exploitation 

manager for 20th-Fox, is in Cincinnati to 

set up plans for "Gentleman's Agreement," 

wliich will open there January 22 . . . Henry 

Fonda is in New York to star in the play, 

"Mr. Roberts." This will be Fonda's first 

Broadway appearance in ten years . . . Dolores 

Moran and her husband. Producer 

Benedict Bogeaus, arrived in town early in 

the week . . . Beatrice Rosen of the 20th- 

Fox duplicating department has announced 

her engagement to Ted Kalman. They plan 

to be married in March. 

Lighthouse Clears $7,053 

NEW YORK—The Lighthouse of the New 

York Ass'n for the Blind has cleared a net 

of $7,053.30 on the recent Astor Theatre open- 

WAHOO 

ing of Samuel Goldwyn's "The Bishop's 

Wife" (RKO). Funds will be used to aid 

4,000 blind persons. 

THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS 

JOE HORNSTEiN has them 

America's Finest Screen Game 

HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT COMPANY 

831 South Wabash Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 


. . Paul 

. . Harold 

, 1 

ALBANY 

Qscar Perrin, manager of the Rltz here, received 

a holiday card from actor Charles 

Coburn, who appeared in "Lured," which 

played at the Ritz Christmas day. Oscar 

first met the veteran actor when the latter 

played Harmanus Bleecker hall years ago. 

Coburn also made a personal appearance at 

the Palace when he was heading the Mohawli 

Drama festival at Union college in Schenectady. 

Perrin was at the Fabian house. 

Ted Friedman, assistant manager of Warner's 

Strand, had an operation on an impacted 

wisdom tooth . Stern .manager 

of the Delaware, played fireman recently 

when engineer Leonard Craft's automobii.e 

began smoking. Stern's quick trick with a 

fire extinguisher put out the blaze in short 

order . 'Wallen, manager of the Leland, 

spent Christmas in Mount Vernon with 

his parents. Paul's father served for years 

as F. F. ProctDr's general manager. 

Bert Lawlor, manager of Fabian's Community 

in Catskill, staged a Christmas giveaway 

in a tieup with a local furniture store. 

Gifts included a Philco radio, a refrigerator, 

card table, floor lamps and electric clocks. 

The Elks club in the town gave a free kiddy 

show December 27 at the theatre . . . Fou.- 

houses here which clicked with Thanksgiving 

morning cartoon shows and a repeat the 

Saturday morning before Christmas, staged 

another December 30. Fifteen cartoons and 

a Tom Mix giveaway were features of the 

"Crazy Show." Tickets were 25 cents. 

Exhibitors visiting Filmrow included Vivian 

Sweet of Greenwich, Salem and Schuylerville, 

Jules Perlmutter, Rivoli, Schenectady, and 

Frank Wieting, Park, Cobleskill . . . Mrs. Mike 

Nuzzola, wife of the 20th-Fox salesman, has 

joined her husband in Ravena. Nuzzola had 

been staying at the Ten Eyck hotel since his 

transfer from New Haven in October. 

Bruce Pettit, 'WROW film critic, now has 

included comments on pictures in neighborhood 

houses, in answer to a suggestion from 

a listener. The woman made the point thac 

the heavy snowstorm made it difficult and 

sometimes impractical to go downtown to 

first runs. As a result, Pettit made observations 

on the top half of the bills at the Madison, 

Delaware, Paramount, Royal and Eagle. 

Comment, of course, was based on downtown 

screenings. 

The James Melton concert at the Palace, 

under the auspices of the Associated College 

Women's Clubs, did not hit capacity. The 

upstairs was filled, but some of the $3 and 

$3.60 seats were empty. The star added a 

dozen encores to his program. He will draw 

a full house the next time he appears. Manager 

Alex Sayles predicted. All previous concerts 

sponsored by the college women had 

been sellouts. 

"Barber of Seville," grand opera picture 

starring Ferruccio Tagliavini, played a twoday 

engagement at the Crane, Schenectady. 

Admission was $1. Newspaper advertising 

listed Tagliavini as "cui-rently appearing" 

with Lily Pons and Robert Merrill in "Lucia 

di Lammermoor" at the Metropolitan Opera 

House. 

Irving Helfont Promoted 

At Home Office of MGM 

NEW YORK—Irving Helfont, home office 

sales executive for MGM, has been promoted 

by William F. Rodgers, vice-president and 

general sales manager, to the post held by 

Joel Bezahler before he became assistant to 

Rodgers recently. 

Helfont has been home office assistant to 

George A. Hickey, eastern sales manager, 

whose headquarters are in Los Angeles. 

Buffalo Testimonial Honors 

Elmer Lux, Jack Chinell 

BUFFALO—Two local men who entered the 

motion picture distribution field as youngsters 

were honored by 250 distributors, ex- 

hibitors and friends at a testimonial dinner 

, 

sponsored by Variety's Tent 7 at Hotel Lafayette. 

Gues's of honor were Elmer P. Lux. recently 

elected councilman-at-large. who resigned as 

Buffalo RKO manager to enter the exhibition 

field, and his successor. John G. "Jack" 

Chinell. They received gifts of U.S. savings 

bonds and scrolls containing the signatures 

of all the guests. Presentations were made by 

David Miller. U-I district manager, and Harry 

L. Berkson, treasurer. 

Toastmas er William B. Mahoney, Erie 

county Democratic chairman, lavished praise 

upon Lux, predicting he will "go far" in pubhc 

service. The guests of honor, both former 

Variety officers, heard their service to the 

picture industry lauded by the following: 

Banquet Chairman Phil Fox, Chief Barker 

Dewey Michaels, Chief Barker-elect William 

P. Dipson, New England Manager Gus 

Schaeffer of RKO, Dr. Joseph L. Fink, Variety's 

chaplain, and a representative group 

of city officials. 

Small-Town Price Hiked 

To 50 Cents by Lamont 

ALBANY—An increase in evening admission 

from 42 to 50 cents has been effected 

by Harry Lamont at the Strand in Philmont. 

This places the situation on a par with Lament's 

Vanderbilt in Greenville. He charges 

55 cents in Woodstock. Matinee tap is 26 

cents. 

"Higher operating coste" is given by Lamont 

as the reason for the increase. "Expenses 

had risen to the point where outgo 

was greater than intake, despite good business," 

Lamont said. "I put the increase 

into effect on Christmas. The reaction the 

first few days—no one complained—leads me 

to believe it will meet with acceptance. The 

Strand, like Lament's other indoor houses, 

was closed for two weeks before Christmas. 

He has been following this plan for three 

years and says it works well. "The fortnight 

before Christmas is always bad for exhibitors, 

and I believe it wiser to close and 

give everyone his vacation at the same 

time," Lamont said. 

Lamont has reinstalled premiums at the 

Strand after a five-year lapse. If the policy 

proves successful, he said, he will introduce 

it also in Greenville and Woodstock. 

Into 'Peabody' Cast 

Millard Mitchell has been added to the cast 

of the Universal picture, "Mr. Peabody and 

the Mermaid," starring William Powell. 

Complete Sound Systems 

The finest in sound equipment . . . the ROYAL 

SOUNDMASTER Soundhc.id. the f.imous PD- 

50 Scries Amplifier, and "The Golden Voice of 

the Silver Screen" Two-way Horn System . . . 

all combined to give you. in one complet 

package, the ultimate in quality sound reprodut 

tion. There is no finer sound for your mone) 

Also available individually are; 

• SOUNDHEADS •AMPLIFIERS 

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1819 Broadway 

New York, N. Y. 

INCORPORATIONS 

ALBANY 

The Formont Corp. motion picture producers 

and distributors; incorporators, 

Arthur Steven Ford, Mary E. Ford, and 

Robert L. Montgomery. 

Falcon Films, Inc; To produce and deal 

educational, commercial and religious 

in 

motion pictures; Incorporators, John P. 

Byrne Jr., Roy A. Prediger and John J. 

Dimne. 

Television Artists Corp., television business 

in New York; incorporators, Anne S. Mc- 

Partland, Margaret H. Cronin and Margaret 

O'Neill. 

F.S.C. International Corp., motion picture 

films and machines; incorporators, H. Alban 

Mestanza, Elaine Henno de Alban Mestanza 

and Eugenie G. Henno. 


. . Robert 

. . This 

. . Prices 

5«' 

St 

B»t!ff 

PHILADELPHIA 

Rs a special treat for the youngsters during 

the holiday week, ten Stanley Warner 

neighborhood theatres presented the Suzari 

Marionettes in "The Wizard of Oz." Performances 

were given in the Orpheum, Fern 

Rock. Broadway, Waverly. 69th Street, Kent. 

Logan, State, Egyptian and Circle . . . The 

Harry Fried theatres—the Riant. Anthony 

Wayne and Suburban—were closed for matinee 

performances December 24 when Fried 

entertained all employes at a Christmas party 

in the Suburban . Gordon, manager 

of the Admiral, held a five-hour holiday 

show for 100 orphans, gave them Christmas 

presents, and then took them out for 

ice cream, candy and cake . . . Other parties 

were held by civic groups at the Aurora, 

Viola and Broadway. 

According to a newspaper annoimcement. 

"The cost of operating this theatre, like .all 

the rest throughout the country, has increased 

... A very small advance in prices 

is absolutely necessary . will be 10, 

20 and 25 cents" . from the Dumont 

Theatre at 9th and Arch, home of the famous 

minstrels, in 1918 . . . Loot totaling $1,000 

was taken from the Stonehurst in upper 

Darby last week, $950 in cash and $50 in 

postage stamps, by thieves described by police 

as "experienced." 

David E. Milgram, president of the Affiliated 

Theatre circuit, is the new head of 

the Ashborne Country club . . . Sam Stiefel, 

former localite, arrived from Hollywood, en 

route to England with Mickey Rooney . . . 

Dr. Bernard Kahn, house doctor at the Earle 

and Pox for 20 years when they were show 

theatres, has flown to South Africa to visit 

his 

sister. 

Hilton G. Francis, former manager of the 

Virginia in Atlantic City, has moved here 

where he is now manager of the Columbia 

... A fireproof booth was installed in the 

Bellevue Stratford ballroom where a special 

screening of "Gentleman's Agreement" was 

shown before 500 Jewish leaders from all over 

the country. 

The Towers in Camden ran a word-game 

contest as a promotion on Monogram's "Black 

Gold" last week, with contestants trying to 

make the most words using one letter from 

each word of the film's title. The six highest 

totals were each awarded a pair of tickets 

for the holiday stage and screen show. Winners' 

names and hsts were posted outside. 

Two drive-in theatres, each with a capacity 

of 750 cars, will be built in the greater Camden 

area, and are expected to be in operation 

by spring, according to an annomicement 

made last week by W. W. Smith, president of 

Park-In Theatres, Inc. A Camden manager, 

bothered by youngsters bursting popcorn bags 

at a crucial point in the picture, devised a 

plan of punching a few pin holes in the 

bags beforehand. Now the kids can blow and 

blow but the bags won't burst. 

METRO PREMIUM CO. 

presents 

BEAUTYWARE PREMIUMS 

Mightiest BoxofHce Magnet in the Entire 

Premium Field 

334 W. 44th St. COLumbus 5-1952 New York 

257 No. I3th St RITtenhouse 6-7994 Philadelphia, Pa. 

Sees Good Year for 

ALBANY—The year 1948 should be another 

good one for small town exhibitors, 

but "anything can happen," says Harry 

Lament, one of the most successful small 

town operators in the Albany exchange area 

and temporary chairman of the Albany area 

affiliate of TOA. 

"When I say that anything can happen," 

said Lament, "I mean that the soaring cost 

of living could outrun income to the point 

where people would have only enough money 

to buy food and clothing. They might reduce 

the number of visits to theatres. If 

this developed, it could be met by increasing 

or decreasing admission prices. The increase 

angle might be employed, if operating costs 

outran the take-in. Upping the scale would 

take the exhibitor out of the dilemma, if the 

Small Towns 

public stood for the increase. If John Q. 

rejected the idea of packing up admissions, 

the other course would be to reduce prices— 

in an attempt to hike attendance. 

"My business compares favorably with that 

of a year ago. It should hold up unless 

living costs get out of hand. The picture 

today is bright, in my opinion, because there 

is plenty employment at substantial wages." 

Lament's advice to Hollywood is to "make 

more homey pictures for small town audiences." 

He said animal and western pictures 

are most popular with his patrons, with light 

comedies also welcome. On the other hand, 

he said, psychological dramas are apt to 

"die" in small towns, although they may 

^ e k UCENSE 

thrive in the cities. The same holds for 

heavy drama. 

NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND 

JOE 

HORNSTEIN, Inc. 

York City 


. . . Regent, 

. . Jack 

: and 

. . Joe 

. . "Body 

. . Joe 

. . Sam 

. . and 

. . Chauncey 

. . Harry 

. . 

. . Bud 

. . Fred 

. . Bob 

. . The 

BALTIMORE 

lyffark Silver, UA district manager is moving 

his office from Philadelphia to 

Washington . Grant of the Grant Theatres 

was in the hospital for a checkup . 

The wife of George Jacobs of Jean GoldfieM 

theatres, is home from the hospital . . . The 

mother of Dorothy Schnepf, wife of the 

Century manager, was visiting from New Jersey. 

Owen Schnepf jr. suffered from a cold . . . 

Bryce Ruark, Hippodrome assistant, was back 

on the job after one w'eek of illness . . . Fred 

Schloss. Variety Club, gave a Christmas party 

for friends and business contacts . . . Gordon 

B. Mills, manager of Echo and De Luxe 

Theatres spent a week in New York, Bill 

Myers relieved. 

The mother of the late William Hicks, local 

theatre owner, died December 27 . . . Fred 

Saperstein, eastern shore and western Mary- 

. 

land EL representative spent the holidays 

here. It's rumored Fred is going to Hollywood 

Maurice Oletsky of 

for a screen test . . . the Windsor Theatre celebrated his 15th 

wedding anniversary Goldberg, Imperial, 

Brunswick, spent the holidays here. 

Cliff Garrett, Equity salesman, enjoyed the 

holidays at home . and Soul" opened 

in neighborhood theatres this week . . . Vic 

Rubin celebrated the birth of a baby daughter 

named Floryne Gale . Wolf 

and Ben Beck of the Uptown flew to Norfolk 

for a wedding , Lombardi, musical 

director at the Hippodrome, commutes daily 

between here and Washington. He was so 

worn out from Christmas shopping that he 

rest. 

. 

"Song of Norway" booked into Ford's right 

after the first of the year Welch, 

Mayfair publicist and Bud Rose. UA, were 

working on big campaign for "Monsieur Verdoux" 

Sidney sr. father of Loew's 

. 

Jack Sidney here, spent New Year's with his 

granddaughter, Marcia Ann Sidney, before 

returning home to California. He has just 

finished five years with USD-Camp Shows 

as a miit manager. 

Kay Streets, Valencia cashier, will be married 

to Fred Reinholdt January 17 . . . Bob 

Burns, Century assistant, celebrated the 

christening of Bobby jr. by giving a party for 

his fellow workers. 

Members of the theatrical fraternity received 

Christmas greetings from Baltimore 

Newspost columnist Lou Azrael via his 

column: "To the theatre gang ... to Ezra 

Stone (cute card, like a postage stamp) and 

to Johnny Little of Ford's, to Ted Routson, 

to that grand old actor, Charles Coburn (I 

shall keep, and maybe publish the story on 

your card 

) 

to Bill Brooker, Sid Zins, 

Jack Sidney, Bernie Seaman, Ben Washer, 

Bill Saxton, the Colliers, to Xavier Cugat for 

the gay self caricature, and to Rappy. 

Thanks for the cards . the same to 

you." 

Jack Appleman, manager of Fremont, was 

slugged and robbed of several days receipts 

Diane, Lenox and Fulton had a 

Christmas party for their employes at which 

time a featm-e was screened and gifts were 

«SX ^ 

CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOR 

THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru 

J (JOHN) O T^ (O- K.) 

J ENKINS &BOURGEOIS 

ASTOR PICTURES COMPANY 

HARWOOD & JACKSON STS., DALLAS 1. TEX. 

RECEIVES AWARD — Spyros P. 

Skouras (left), president of 20th-Fox, is 

handed the Parents' Magazine Medal 

Award by Phil Willcox, publicity director 

of the publication, on behalf of Darryl 

Zanuck's "Gentleman's Agreement" which 

was selected as the outstanding family 

audience production for the month of 

January. 

distributed. The employes presented Henry 

Hornstein an overnight case and Barry Goldman 

a briar pipe. 

Morris Mechanic held a Christmas party 

for the employes of his New and Center theatres 

at the Center. 

Business in town was very good. "Captain 

From Castile" was at New, "Road to Rio" at 

Keith's, "Killer McCoy" at the Century, 

"Cynthia" at the Valencia, Stanley had "Always 

Together," and "Out of the Past" was at 

Town. 

Variety Club doings: Herman Bloom, exowner 

of Little, was in saying hello to his 

old friends . . . Walter Gettinger of the 

Howard and Highland theatres, was seen witn 

a beauty . Rose was in alone . . . Jeanette 

Kushner was with Gil Marcus of Go 

magazine as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bill 

Myers . Saperstein wants to know 

who wrote the lyrics to Sam Tabor's new tie 

. . . Earl and Mrs. Johnson entertained that 

well known tui-f photographer, Joe Fleischer, 

before he left for Sunshine Park. 

Bert Claster brought the Hippodrome show 

to the Variety Club . Alda, Bela Lugosi 

and Gordon McRae. Members also enjoyed 

the fine voices of the "Carousel" cast . Vic 

. . 

Rubin was to enter John Hopkins hospital 

for a knee operation January 8. When he 

gets out he will unveil a new two-drink 

beverage vender. 

Harry Welch is doing the publicity for 

the Mayfair Theatre . Centiu-y sneak 

previewed "Killer McCoy" after final showing 

of "Song of Love" to get audience reaction, 

which was excellent. 

Bill Saxton, Loew city manager, is taking 

bows on the compliments he is receiving for 

his new Movie News column, called Moviesense 

and which carries the byline of Leo 

Lyon . . . Good news for Baltimore musiclovers 

is that Jose Iturbi will give a piano 

recital at the Lyric Theatre Thursday, January 

8, the first time he has been heard here 

in 15 years. 

MPA to Install Mayer 

NEW YORK—Arthur L. Mayer wlU take 

over as president of the Motion Picture 

Associates from Fred J. Schwartz at the 

annual installation luncheon January 5 at 

the Hotel Astor. Mayer was recently elected 

to succeed Schwartz, who has held the 

post for the past two years. 

HARRISBURG 

n mong the Christmas fetes, principally for 

underprivileged children, were several 

given by showmen. The 26th annual Chrisl 

mas party sponsored by the State Theatre 

was held with 350 children attending. 

Launched by the late C. Floyd Hopkins, Wilmer 

and Vincent area manager, the event 

has been continued by Gerry WoUaston, his 

successor, assisted by Franklin Moore of the 

Penn Harris, and Eddie Clever, magician. 

The guests are children from a number of 

homes and orphanages in the area. They are 

treated to a picture, a meal, entertainment 

and gifts. 

Morton Brodsky, manager of the Camp 

Hill Theatre, was host at a screening in cooperation 

with Camp Hill firemen who entertained 

kiddies of that borough. The annual 

theatre party at the Paxtang Theatre 

was held by Samuel Goldstein, manager, for 

guests at the Dauphin County home 

The reissue "Kid Dynamite" and 

. 

eight 

Mickey Mouse and Etonald Duck cartoons 

were presented last Saturday by Bob Sidman, 

manager of the Senate, as the Christmas 

vacation program for school children. 

Robert Westerman, assistant manager at 

Loew's Regent here since last April, has been 

promoted to the assistant managership of 

the Loew house in Richmond, Va. He has 

been succeeded here by William Blankenship, 

former student assistant at the Richmond 

Theatre, who arrived last week to assume 

his new -duties. He has been with 

Loew's for five years and was in the army 

three 

years. 

. 

Sam Gilman did a Hollywood-type sneak 

preview of "Killer McCoy," following the 

final showing of "This Time for Keeps" . . 

Gertrude Lawatsch, film reviewer for the 

Telegraph, resigned at Christmas to return 

to her home in St. Paul, Minn. For the last 

two years she had written a column. Reviews 

and Previews, for the paper. She will 

be succeeded by Barbara Esmer of the Telegraph 

staff. 

Three Boys Are Wounded 

In 2 New York Theatres 

NEW YORK—Two shooting affrays in 

widely separated city theatres resulted in 

the wounding of three youths December 29. 

*One affray was in Loew's Boulevard Theatre 

in the Bronx. After an argument over 

a girl Cornelius Moses, 17, was taken to a 

hospital wounded in the abdomen and John 

Tyson, 15, was in jail. 

The other affair was in Loew's Burland 

Theatre in Brooklyn. This one had two victims, 

Stanley Taylor, 16, who was seriously 

wounded in the back, and Peter Martinex, 

14, with a flesh wound. The pohce are looking 

for 

the young man who used the gun. 

Clark Film Expands 

PHILADELPHIA—Clark Film Distributors 

has let a contract for installation of a complete 

sprinkler system and four additional 

its vaults for quarters here. When the work 

is completed, Clark Film will have a total of 

28 vaults in operation with the necessary 

area to add 22 more if required. Clark Film 

is the local representative for National Film 

Service. David Supowltz is the architect. 

Gulittan Willon Theatre Carpel 

JOE HORNSTEIN has it! 

36 BOXOFTICE :: January 3, 1948

NPEA Members Share 

In Profit oi $500,000 

NEW YORK—The MPEA has divided its 

first profit—$500.000—among all its members 

except United Artists and Monogram. The 

latter is represented through Allied Artists. 

The other member companies, 20th-Fox, 

RKO, Warners. Loew's, Paramount, Columbia 

and Universal, received their share of the 

net on the basis of their 1946 domestic earnings. 

UA was excluded because of a dispute over 

39 films which had been turned over to 

Jacques Grinieff before the comoany joined 

the MPEA. He in turn has sold the pictures 

to Harris-Broder. Inc. MPEA claims foreign 

distribution rights over the films. 

Monogram did not share in the profits because 

it joined the MPEA too late in 1947. 

Most of the money came from Holland, the 

Netherlands East Indies and Czechoslovakia. 

A small amount came from Austria, Hungary 

Romania, Poland and Burgaria. 

Earnings in all MPEA countries—except 

Germany and Japan where funds are frozen 

—have been held down by currency restrictions, 

playing time regulations or censorship. 

The MPEA companies may be able to get 

more money out of Holland in 1948. Irving 

Maas, vice-president and general manager, 

reported that Dutch exhibitors are trying to 

get the Bioscoop Bond, the film industry monopoly, 

to eliminate all restrictions on the 

playing time of U.S. films. American product 

is now limited to 32 weeks a year in all theatres. 

According to Maas. films of other nations 

haven't enough drawing power to fill 

the theatres the remaining 20 weeks. 

Dutch officials also are considering modification 

of currency regulations which permit 

all American film companies to take out of 

the country about $1,200,000 a year. This is 

60 per cent of the top figure set for film remittances 

for all foreign countries. 

Paramount to Eliminate 

Fairbault Billposting 

MINNEAPOLIS — J. J. Donahue, Paramount 

assistant general sales manager, has 

written to William Glaser, Fairbault, Minn., 

exhibitor, that he, Donahue, has given instructions 

that there is to be no further posting 

of 2-sheets in Fairbault or mailing of 

heralds advertising the company's product 

to Its residents. The letter was in reply to 

a protest from Glaser who owns and operates 

the only three Fairbault theatres and who has 

been refusing to buy Paramount pictures because 

of allegedly exorbitant demands. 

President Bennie Berger of North Central 

Allied, which has taken up its cudgels in behalf 

of Glaser, a member, says, however, he 

still isn't satisfied. He points out that in 

the case of Glaser and Fairbault "the damage 

already has been done." He wants assurance 

from Donahue that there will be no such 

action by Paramount anywhere in the territory 

and when the board of directors meets 

next week he announces he'll recommend 

that it so advise Donahue. 

Luncheon Meeting Slated 

For Brotherhood Drive 

NEW YORK—Steps to organize the motion 

picture division of the campaign for National 

Brotherhood week will be taken at a luncheon 

January 6 arranged by Spyros P. Skouras, 

chairman of the film division, in the Jade 

room of the Waldorf-Astoria. 

Industry leaders will attend. Robert P. 

Patterson, former secretary of war and chairman 

of Brotherhood week; former Gov. Herbert 

H. Lehman of New York, and Dr. Everett 

R. Clinchy, head of the National Conference 

of Christians and Jews, will also be present. 

MPEA May Quit Japan and Germany, 

Says Maas After an S-Week Tour 

D of J Files Appeal Brief 

In Scophony Trust Suit 

WASHINGTON— Another new move in the 

two-year-old antitrust suit against Scophony, 

Ltd., of England, Scophony Corp. of America. 

Television Productions, Inc., and General 

Precision Instrument Co. has been made by 

the Department of Justice. 

It is in the form of an appeal brief to the 

supreme com-t insisting that Scophony, Ltd., 

cannot be eliminated as a defendant because 

it has actually done business in New 

York state. Scophony. Ltd., contended in 

1946 that it could not be included as a defendant 

on the ground that it had not done 

business here. This contention was upheld 

by a U.S. district court in New York Oct. 30, 

1946. It is this decision that now goes before 

the supreme court on appeal. 

The Department of Justice contends that 

the agreement of Scophony, Ltd., with its 

American affiliate and the two other defendants 

dividing the world market into territories 

and calling for the development of 

the Scophony large screen television patents 

here constitutes doing business here. 

Warns Exhibitors to Check 

Dates on Ascap Licenses 

NEW YORK—Members of Allied Independent 

Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska 

have been warned to check the expiration 

dates of their individual Ascap licenses. 

Some notifications of cancellations have 

been received from Ascap dated as far ahead 

as September 1948, the bulletin states. 

The bulletin signed by Leo F. Wolcott, 

chairman of the board, advises members that 

they have a "perfectly legal Ascap license 

until the expiration date of your old licenses 

. . . which is the effective date of cancellation. 

Most, if not all, old licenses expiring 

before Feb. 1, 1948, have teen extended to 

that date." 

Sioux Falls Branch Leads 

In RKO Depinet Drive 

NEW YORK—The RKO Sioux Falls branch 

took first place at the end of the first week 

of the 1948 Ned Depinet drive, which started 

December 19. S. W. Fitch is branch manager. 

Walter E. Branson. RKO western division 

manager, led the divisions. Reg Doddridge, 

manager of the Calgary branch, was leader 

of the Canadian branches. Total billings of 

slightly under $1,000,000 were secured during 

Robert Mochrie, RKO vice-president in charge 

the first week of the drive, according to 

of domestic distribution. The drive covers 

the 20-week period ending May 20. 

Use First Zoomar in West 

For the Rose Bowl Game 

HOLLYWOOD—First Zoomar television 

lens to be utilized on the Pacific coast was 

shipped from New York in time to be used 

in telecasting the annual Rose Bowl game 

and Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena 

New Year's day. The Jerry Fairbanks 

organization, which developed the lens, rushed 

a demonstration model from the east for use 

by camera crews from KTLA, Paramountowned 

video outlet here. 

NEW YORK—The Motion Picture Export 

Ass'n may be forced to pull out of Germany 

and Japan unless it can get some of its 

money out of the.se countries, or unless the 

U.S. government helps finance the cost of 

shipping and distributing U.S. pictures in 

these occupied lands. The possibility that 

the MPEA may close up shop in Japan and 

Germany was indicated by Irving A. Maas, 

vice-president and general manager, who 

has just re.urned from an eight-week inspection 

tour of film markets from Japan to 

Holland. 

Maas pointed out that it has cost the 

MPEA more than $900,000 during the past 

two years to process and ship films to Japan 

and Germany. To date, the MPEA has not 

received a single dollar from either country 

because all funds have been frozen by the 

government. "We are not going to put any 

more money into these countries unless there 

is a very good reason for doing so," he stated. 

The government spends huge sums of 

money to provide books, radio programs and 

other forms of entertainment for the Japanese 

and Germans, while the film industry 

bears the burden of supplying pictures, said 

Maas. 

When he was in Japan, military officials 

from Gen. Douglas A. MacArthur down, as 

well as high Japanese officials, told him that 

U.S. films have been doing an effective job 

of selling the American way of life. They 

also said it would be bad for the country and 

its reconstruction program if the flow of 

films was interrupted. 

Before he left for Japan, the MPEA executive 

discussed these problems with officials 

of the treasury and state departments. They 

are still being studied in Washington, and 

also by military government officials in Japan 

and Germany. 

Maas said MPEA members would be satisfied 

if the goverimient would let them take 

out of Germany and Japan at least what they 

spend there. 

He also discussed his difficulties with the 

government of Czechoslovakia. Early in December 

he began negotiations with the Czech 

film monopoly for a renewal of the MPEA 

agreement, which expired last October. 

Twenty films are still to be played off under 

the old agreement, which called for the distribution 

of 80 pictures. 

The Czechs said they will renew their contract 

only if the MPEA can guarantee playing 

time in the United States for Czechmade 

pictures. The Czechs will permit the 

MPEA to take out of their country as much 

money as Czech films earn in the U. S. Maas 

rejected their terms. 

While he was in Prague he also held a conference 

of MPEA managers of eastei'n and 

central Europe. 

RKO Prepares 23 Scripts 

For '48 Production Slate 

HOLLYWOOD—Currently experiencing a 

production lull, RKO is planning an intensive 

picture-making schedule to get under way 

within the next few weeks and has 23 scripts 

in preparation, five of them to go into work 

during February and March. The quintet includes 

"The Boy With Green Hair," "Mortgage 

on Life," "Baltimore Escapade," "Blood 

on the Moon" and "Bed of Roses." 

In various phases of development are 

"Every Girl Should Be Married," "Education 

of the Heart," "Follow Me Quietly," "The 

Story of Warden Lawes," "Beyond All Doubt," 

"Bodyguard," "The Long Tunnel," "Mr. 

Whiskers," "File 342" and a number of untitled 

properties. 


Policy on Xaslile' 

Praised by Allied 

NEW YORK—Tlie Allied Theatre Owners 

of New Jersey has hailed 20th-Fox as an 

industry trail-blazer for deciding to release 

"Captain From Castile" at regular admissions. 

Edward Lachman, president of the Allied 

unit expressed the aU-out approval of his 

organization in a letter addressed to Spyros 

P. Skouras. president of 20th-Fox. 

The letter follows: 

"It gave me great personal satisfaction to 

read Andy Smith's announcement in today's 

trade papers that 20th Century-Fox had 

decided to release 'Captain from Castile' at 

regular admission prices. 

"I haven't seen the picture but from all 

I have read and heard about it. it is one of 

the greatest pictures that has been made. 

In making it possible for the public to see 

it at popular prices, you are making a very 

distinct contribution to the welfare of the 

industry. Also, you are helping directly the 

independent exhibitor, who is suffering at 

this time from a dearth of quality pictures. 

"The small town exhibitor, as you know, 

is absolutely dependent upon the good will 

of his community, which never fails to reflect 

itself at the boxoffice. He has suffered 

greatly in the past year because of experimentation 

with his established boxoffice 

scale. 

"No theatre can exist for long if its prices 

are to fluctuate at the will of the producers. 

Therefore, your decision to release this picture 

recognizes the fundamental importance 

not only of providing good, wholesome entertainment 

at fair and normal prices, but also 

re-establishes the principal that a theatre's 

scale is not to be trifled with because it 

is a contributory factor to the habit of 

going to the movies. 

"Only one who has been an exhibitor all 

his life and has the interest of the entire 

industry at heart, could have taken this 

courageous step which I know meant a complete 

reversal of policy at a time when it 

seemed necessary for your company to recoup 

the tremendous costs involved at whatever 

sacrifice. Now. with one bold stroke, you 

have reclaimed this tremendous reservoir 

of exhibitor interest and friendship, which 

you personally enjoy on such a vast plane 

and which seemed endangered for a while. 

"In closing, I would be remiss if I did not 

commend you and your company on the 

making of a picture of great humanitarian 

interest and heart appeal, 'Gentleman's 

Agreement.' In producing this picture, your 

company has taken another step along the 

trail which you yourself have blazed in our 

industry, as a leader for better understanding 

among men." 

Ansell Picture to Gotham 

NEW YORK—"Women in the Night," Louis 

K. Ansell production released by Film 

Classics, will open at the Gotham Theatre 

following the rwi of "The Fabulous Texan." 

The film is Ansell's first production effort. 

He is president of Ansell Bros. Theatres, 

St. Louis, Mo. The picture is based on UN 

files on crimes against women. 

Ridder Is Film Chairman 

NEW YORK—Victor Ridder, publisher, has 

been named chairman of the film, printing, 

entertainment and advertising sections of 

the Greater New York 1948 March of Dimes 

fund-raising campaign. 

Role in 'Spiritualist' 

Cathy O'Donnell has been borrowed by 

Eagle Lion from Samuel Goldwyn for one of 

the top femme spots in "The Spiritualist." 

UN Film Scoring Genocide 

Available for Schools 

NEW YORK—More than 5,000 35mm prints 

of "Genocide—The Greater Crime," a new 

film strip produced by the United Nations 

film division, were made available January 1 

to all nations of the UN. The commentary 

has been translated into French, Spanish. 

Chinese and Russian in order that the fiiui 

can be released to schools and organization.^ 

of the U.S. and Great Britain through the 

UN film distribution division. Lake Success, 

L. I. The film is not intended for showings 

in theatres in its present form, according 

to the World Federation of United 

Nations Ass'n. 

The strip dramatizes the fact that homicide, 

the killing of one man, is quickly punished 

while no law exists to prevent genocide, 

the wholesale destruction of religious, 

racial or political groups. It concludes with 

a discussion of the draft convention drawn 

up by the UN as a result of the general 

assembly resolution of December 1946, which 

declared genocide a crime under the law of 

nations. 

Museum Gels New Pictures 

For 1948 Film Program 

NEW YORK—The Museum of Modern Art 

film library has acquired a new group of 

pictures for its weekly film programs during 

1948. The new series of showings will 

start January 5. The program for the first 

week includes "When "Tomorrow Comes" 

(Univi, and three David O. Selznick productions, 

"Rebecca," "Since You Went Away" 

and "Spellbound." These films were lent 

to the museum by the Academy of Motion 

Picture Arts and Sciences. They all are 

award winners. Miss Iris Barry is director 

of the film library. 

Films acquired by the museum for the remainder 

of the year are "The Blue Angel," 

starring Marlene Dietrich and produced in 

Germany in 1930; "The Kid," Charles Chaplin 

film starring Jackie Coogan: "The Assassination 

of the Due De Guise," French 

film produced in 1908; "The Danger Girl," 

Mack Sennett comedy starring Gloria Swanson; 

"Salome," produced in 1923; "The Joyless 

Street," "Queen Kelly," "King Kong," 

"The Informer," "Top Hat," "Wuthering 

Heights" and "Citizen Kane." 

Radio City's Music Hall 

Passes 15th Anniversary 

NEW YORK—The 15th anniversary of 

Radio City Music Hall occurred December 28. 

It was opened on that date in 1932 by S. L. 

"Roxy" Rothafel as a super-vaudeville house. 

The Center Theatre was supposed to be the 

film house of the Radio City group of buildings, 

but it soon became apparent that there 

were not enough big vaudeville acts anywhere 

to keep the Music Hall running. 

W. G. Van Schmus took over management 

of the Music Hall early in its first year of 

operation and continued as managing director 

until his death. At that time Gus S. 

Eyssell was put in charge, and he has con-" 

tinued to build the prestige of the theatre 

as a national institution. 

MGM Auditors Meeting 

Set for Astor. Ian. 6-8 

NEW YORK—MGM will hold its annual 

field auditors meeting at the Hotel Astor 

January 6-8. Charles K. Stern, assistant 

treasurer of Loew's, and Alan F. Cummings, 

in charge of exchange operations and 

maintenance, will conduct the three-day 

session. 

Board Trustees Appointed 

For Eastman House, Inc. 

ROCHESTER—James E. Gleason. chairman 

of the board of the Gleason Works, has 

been elected chairman of the board of 

trustees and chairman of the executive committee 

of George Eastman House, Inc. Eastman 

House was founded last June to function 

as a world photographic center utilizing 

the 37-room house built by the late Mr. Eastman 

in 1905. 

Charles F. Hutchinson, Eastman Kodak 

executive, was elected vice-chairman of the 

board and Dr. C. E, Kenneth Mees, Eastman 

research director, was elected president. 

Thomas J. Hargrove, Eastman Kodak Co. 

president and a member of the board of 

trustees of George Eastman House, was 

chosen temporary chairman to preside over 

the first board meeting. 

Additional elections, announced at the conclusion 

of the meeting, were: Dr. Albert 

Kaiser, Rochester city health officer, as vicepresident; 

Sherman Farnham, attorney, as 

secretary; Raymond R. Ball, president of 

Lincoln-Rochester Trust Co., as treasurer, 

and M. Herbert Eisenhart, president of 

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.; Dr. Alan Valentine, 

president of University of Rochester, 

and Albert K. Chapman, vice-president and 

general manager of Eastman Kodak, as 

executive committee members. 

New Television Tube Plant 

To Cost RCA $1,000,000 

LANCASTER, PA.—RCA will spend more 

than $1,000,000 to expand its television picture 

tube production, according to L. W. Teegarden, 

vice-president in charge of the tube 

department. A new plant, 40,000 feet square, 

will be constructed here. New machines will 

be installed to permit mass production of the 

television picture tubes for home receivers. 

The production speedup is planned to keep 

pace with the anticipated television boom 

in 1948. Some industry leaders have predicted 

that 750,000 television receivers will 

be produced by U.S. manufacturers during 

the next 12 months, and that 65 television 

transmitters will be operating by the end of 

1948. New companies will enter receiver production 

next year, Teegarden said. 

Construction of the new plant will start 

April 1. The present tube plant here was 

erected by RCA for the navy in 1940. The 

company purchased it after the war. 

Court Reduces lury Award 

Against Lester Cowan 

NEW YORK—Justice J. Edward Lumbard 

jr. of the New York supreme court has reduced 

the $10,000 jury award to Dale Belmont 

against Lester Cowan Productions to 

$4,000. Miss Belmont's original $100,000 

breach of contract action charged that Cowan 

Productions had repudiated an agi-eement 

whereby she was to play Axis Sally in "The 

Story of GI Joe." 

Justice Lumbard agreed that Cowan Productions 

owed the singer $4,000 for breaking 

a contract for $1,000 for at least four 

weeks, but that her claim to an oral agreement 

to give her national publicity had not 

been established. 

Brooklyn, Queens Houses 

Mortgaged by Strausberg 

NEW YORK—Five theatres in Brooklyn 

and Queens owned and operated by SolomoH 

M. Strausberg have been mortaged for a total 

of $450,000 by the Lincoln Savings Bank of 

Brooklyn. The theatres are the Corona, 

Granada, Maspeth, Commodore and Meserole, 

Samuel Horowitz of New York was the 

broker. 


iHollvJiônd Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollvwood Blvd.: Ixian Spear. Western Manaaerl 

Tracy Clinic Benefits 

From 'Timherlane' 

HOLLYWOOD—A charity premiere of 

Metro's "Cass Timberlane," starring Spencer 

Tracy, Lana Turner and Zachary Scott, will 

be staged at the Egyptian Theatre January 

29, with all proceeds from the first night 

showing to go to the John Tracy clinic. The 

organization was founded in 1942 by Mrs. 

Spencer Tracy to encourage and assist in 

educating deaf and hard-of-hearing children. 

In addition to Tracy, Scott and Miss 

Turner, other members of the cast, including 

Tom Drake, Albert Dekker, Mary Astor, 

Margaret Lindsay, Selena Royle and Cameron 

Mitchell, will attend the benefit showing. 

David O. Selznick's "The Paradine Case" 

was introduced to film colony first-nighters 

at an ermine-wrap-and-top-hat dual premiere 

December 29 at the Bruin and Westwood 

Village theatres, across the street from 

each other in Westwood. Stars, film executives 

and members of the press were on 

hand for the affair, for which the two theatres 

were joined by a red plush carpet laid 

across the thoroughfare. Among those present 

were Selznick and stars of the picture. 

Gregory Peck, Ethel Barrymore, Charles 

Laughton, Charles Coburn, Joan Tetzel, Leo 

G. Carroll, Louis Jourdan and Valli. The 

proceedings were broadcast over Station 

KMPC by Prances Scully and Harry Crocker. 

"Albuquerque," Paramount release of a 

Clarion Production, filmed by William Pins 

and William Thomas, will be given its world 

premiere late this month in Albuquerque 

The Cinecolor opus stars Randolph Scott 

and Barbara Britton. 

Actress Sues J. R. Friedgen 

Over Picture Never Made 

HOLLYWOOD—Actress Ilona Massey has 

filed a $30,000 suit in superior court against 

John R. Friedgen, independent producer, asking 

that amount in salary for a picture which 

was never made. She contends Friedgen 

booked her on a five-week contract last September, 

at $6,000 weekly, with a clause specifying 

that she was to be paid whether she 

went before the cameras or not. The suit 

contends that the picture never got under 

way and that Miss Massey was not paid 

Warren Appoints lA Men 

HOLLYWOOD — Floyd M. Billingsley, 

lATSE vice-president, has been appointed 

a member of San Francisco's world-trade 

center authority by Gov. Earl Warren, who 

also appointed Anthony L. Noriega of the 

lA to the California state correctional industries 

commission. 

Rose Bowl Telecast Marks 

Theatre Television Debut 

HOLLYWOOD—Commercial theatre television 

made its west coast debut New Year's 

day under the auspices of the D'Orsay Television 

Co. when the Shrine auditorium was 

the scene of a demonstration video broadcast 

of the Tournament of Roses parade and the 

Rose Bowl football game. All proceeds from 

the demonstration were earmarked for the 

purchase of theatre-size television sets for 

hospitals recommended by veterans' organizations. 

The equipment, flown here from New York 

by Bert D'Orsay for the occasion, utilizes a 

9xl2-foot screen. In several tests, D'Orsay 

claims, a clear image has been projected to 

a size of 15x20 feet. 

Bob Hope Receives Annual 

Award as Good Neighbor 

HOLLYWOOD— Still another award has 

been added to Bob Hope's lengthy list of 

citations with the presentation of the annual 

Good Neighbor award by Gov. Clarence W. 

Meadows of West Virginia. 

The tribute, paid last year to Bernard 

Baruch, was in recognition of Hope's work in 

entertaining American troops in all war theatres. 

He was selected to receive the honor 

'oy the Good Neighbor Foundation, Inc., an 

organization representing governors of the 48 

states. 

Steve Sekely Organizes 

New Independent Firm 

HOLLYWOOD—Articles of incorporation 

have been filed in Sacramento for Transocean 

Pictures, listing Steve Sekely as president 

and Eric Morawsky and Louis Vidor, 

vice-presidents. Its initial vehicle, for an 

unannounced release, will be "Fascination," 

based on a story by Guy de Maupassant, to be 

directed by Sekely. Sekely also heads Star 

Pictures, independent outfit presently headquartering 

at 

the Eagle Lion studios. 

To Start Marines Drive 

HOLLYWOOD—A group of Hollywood exmarines 

will jom-ney to Philadelphia January 

10 to participate in ceremonies lauirching a 

new marine corps recruiting drive. The party 

will include Producer Milton Sperling, Tyrone 

Power, Louis Hayward, WiUiam Limdigan, 

Glenn Ford and Bob Crosby, all veterans of 

World War II. 

Beery as Country Doctor 

HOLLYWOOD—Gottfried Reinhardt will 

produce the next Wallace Berry starrer a: 

Metro, "Doctors on Horseback," which is 

based on a book by Robert Thoeren. It concerns 

a frontier surgeon. The picture will 

roll when Berry has completed his current 

chore in "A Date With Judy." 

Union Heads to Attend 

UCLA Labor Forum 

HOLLYWOOD—In the first se.ssion of its 

kind ever held in film labor history, more 

than 300 officers, business representatives, 

shop stewards and other members of AFL 

studio unions and guilds will attend a special 

two-day labor institute at the University 

of California at Los Angeles January 

10, 11. The meeting is sponsored jointly by 

the Hollywood AFL film council and the 

UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations. 

The opening session will be addressed by 

Clarence A. Dykstra, UCLA provost. Subjects 

to be discussed by experts in various 

fields include labor history, the Taft-Hartley 

law. union security, seniority, guaranteed 

annual wage and collective bargaining 

problems. Among those attending will be: 

Roy M. Brewer, lATSE executive, and 

Richard Walsh, president of the lATSE; 

John Dales jr.. Ronald Reagan and Pat 

Somerset, Screen Actors Guild: Charles E. 

Boren, MPA vice-president in charge of 

labor relations; George A. Mulkey, electricians: 

Max Krug, office employes; Lou 

Helm, studio utility workers; Jessie Gillette, 

musicians: John Lehner, B. C. Duval, Walter 

Woodworth and Robert Garton. business representatives 

for various lATSE locals: Edd 

G. Russell and H. O'Neil Shanks, Screen 

Extras Guild; Walter Cowan, culinary workers; 

Ralph Clare, studio drivers, and Ben 

Martinez, plasterers. 

Picture Appreciation Club 

Sponsors Old Releases 

HOLLYWOOD—With the Hollywood Motion 

Picture Appreciation club serving as 

sponsor, the nonprofit Memorable Film 

society will launch a ten-week series of 

screenings of old films beginning February 

20. Robert Wade Chatterton will serve as 

curator for the series, with proceeds going 

to the HMPAC, the Hollywood Little Theatre 

and the Museum of Modern Art's film 

library in New York. 

Scheduled for presentation are "Birth of 

a Nation," "King of Kings," "Four Horsemen," 

"Camille," "The Good Earth," "You 

Only Live Once," "Ropin' Fool" (with Will 

Rogers), "Our Town," "My Little Chickadee" 

and "Whirlpool." 

Four Anscocolor Shorts 

From Monogram in '48 

HOLL"YWOOD — Monogram's 1948 output 

will include four short subjects, all to be 

filmed in Anscocolor in scenic regions 

throughout the world. They are to be patterned 

after "Climbing the Matterhorn," first 

commercial short to be processed in Anscocolor, 

filmed for Monogram by Irving Allen. 

BOXOFHCE :: January 3, 1948 39

1 

Walter 

- '^.'4H^1^'2"°P 

li 

" 

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Barnstormers 


DONALD O'CONNOR will check out for a two- 

'eek personal appearance at the Oriental Theatre 

I Chicago opening January 8. The act will include 

part lor the comedian's wife, GWEN CARTER. 

Blurbers 

Independent 

BLAKE McVeigh has been retained by Marshall 

Grant Productions to publicize "Moonrise" now 

m work for Republic release, and "The Damon 

Hunyon Story, currently in preparation. 

Briefies 

Paramount 

Gayne Whitman, radio announcer, is doing the 

narration for "Streamlined Luxury," newest in the 

Popular Science series produced by Jerry Fairbanks. 

Next in the Speakina of Animals group produced 

by Jerry Fairbanks will be "Calling All Anim^'ls," 

now being scripted by Charles Shows and William 

Scott. 

Cleffers 

Columbia 

The backqround score for "The Wreck of the 

.P.Vr.'}?, 

"°^ ^'^"'^ recorded under the baton 

of MISCHA BAKALEINIKOfF. 

ROjBERT SIDNEY will stage the musical numbers 

and handle choreography for "Let's Fall in Love " 

forthcoming Dorothy Lamour starrer. 

Film Classics 

PAUL DESSEAU was named to score "The Unwritten 

Law," starring John Calvert and Rochelle 

Hudson. Phil Krasne produced. 

Monogram 

Composer LOUIS GPUENBERG will prepare the 

score for Hal E. Chester's production, "Smart 

Woman. 

Paramount 

HUGO FRIEDHOFER was commissioned to compose 

the score for "Sealed Verdict," the Ray 

Mil'and-Florence Marly dramatic vehicle, 

team of jay LIVINGSTON o 7i®,-,%';",?^'^"';y3 and 

RAY EVANS will write the music for "It's Always 

Spring. Joseph Lilley will serve as musical director 

for the production, 


Borrowed from Paramount, ROBERT EMMET DO- 

LAN will be musical director on "Mr. Peabody and 

Loanouts 

Monogram 

Windsor Pictures, new independent unit headed 

by Julian Lesser and FranV Me'ford, borrowed 

GUY MADISON and RORY CALHOUN from David 

O. Selznick to co-star in "When a Man's a Man," 

picturizcrtion of the Harold Bell Wright novel, 

Bordon Chase is writing the scriot and production 

is slated to get under way in February 

United Artists 

Borrowed from Hoi Wallis, LIZABETH SCOTT 

checks into Sam Bischoff's Regal Films a for starring 

spot in "The Pitfall," opnisite Dick Powell. 

Andre DeToth will direct the version film of Jay 

Meggers 

Eaglee Lion 

ANTHONY MANN will take over directorial dutie' 

Wanger's production, "The Blank Wall.' 

ead in Wanger's 

first 

the 

Film Classics 

JOHN F LINK has been ticketed to direct "A 

Woman's Privilege." to be produced by Phil Krasne 

Paramount 

WILLIAM RUSSELL set to pilot "It's Always 

Spring," upcoming Veronica Lake which 

starrer, 

Daniel Dare will produce. 

"Abigail, Dear Heart," in which Wanda Hendrix 

will be starred, is to be megged by MITCHELL 

LEISEN. Richard Maibaum is the producer. 

Republic 

The directorial chore on "Recoil," an original 

by Al Demond ond Bradbury Foote, was assigned 

to GEORGE BLAIR. Stephen Auer is producing. 

20th-Fox 

United Artists 

On loan from Columbia, WILLIAM CASTLE will 

pilot the Robert Golden production "Texas 

Hecn/en and Brooklyn." Guy Madison Diana 

and 

Lynn will co-star. 


'^^f^ *'" produce and GARSON 

..ilJJ^P^'r, KANIN will direct "Come What May," romantic 

the 

It is based 

iginal by Garson Kanii 

Warners 

The directorial stint on the upcoming Joan 

Crawford starrer, "Until Proven Guilty " was assigned 

to DELMER DAVES. The courtroom drama 

will be produced by Jerry Wald 

Options 

Columbia 

LEE BOWMAN 

:nd Janis Carter 

comedy to be directed by Douglas Sirk. TrvTng 

Starr will produce. 

Reporting for a featured role in me Larry Parks 

starrer, "The Gallant Blade," is ONSLOW STEVENS 

Metro 

A comedy portrayal is slated for GREER GARSON 

in her next picture, "The Saintly Miss Peters," which 

Paul Jones is to produce. Ken Englund and William 

Roberts are preparing the screenplay from Roberts' 

Paramount 

^'" '^°-='°"- ^»h Preston Foster 

m Wild 

' 

Fury, which deals with the adventures 

of a trio who bring two prize wild horses out of 

the Mexican wilderness. Ted Richmond will pro- 

" 

RUSSELL ARMS goes into "Sealed Verdict depict 

a German officer. EDWARD VAN 

to 

SLOAN 

5,'i'9S,?"d screen actor, and Danish-born actor TOR- 

BEN MEYER join the cast, 

A key role in Daniel Dare's production, "It's Al- 

^?y^^ Spring," is slcrted for blues singer PEARL 

BAILEY. Veronica Lake, Mary Hatcher and Mono 

Freeman head the cgst. 

Producer Hal Wallis has handed a new longterm 

contract to KRISTINE MILLER, Danish actress, 

whose next assignment will be in his upcoming 

Barbara Stanwyck starrer, "Sorry, Wrong Number " 

PATRIC KNOWLES has been added to the cast 

oi "It's Always Spring." the Daniel Dare produclion 

toplining Veronica Lake and Mary Hatcher 

Republic 

The femme lead opposite Monte Hale in "The Timber 

Trail" goes to LYNNE ROBERTS. Phil Ford is 

directing the Trucolor western for producer Mel 

Tucker. 

Romantic leads in "Recoil" go WILLIAM 

WRIGHT and JANET MARTIN. for 

Other 

to 

castings 

the Stephen Auer croduction include WILLIAM 

HENRY, JAMES CARDWELL, THURSTON HALL 

STEPHANIE BACHELOR, GEORGE MEEKER and 

WALLY VERNON. 

LILLIAN GISH and ALLYN JOSLYN have been 

signed for top roles in the filmization the novel 

of 

by Theodore Strauss, "Moonrise," which Charles 

Haas will produce and Frank Borzage will direct 

REX INGRAM handed character role 


MILLARD MITCHELL added to the cast oi the 

Nunnally Johnson comedy, "Mr. Peabody and th^ 

Mermaid," which stars William Powell. 

Warners 

The first 

will be the 

She joins a cast which includes Ronald Reagan, 

Jack Carson. Dennis Morgan and Wayne Morris. 

David Butler will direct. 

Marking his 30th year in films, MONTE BLUE 

was handed a top supporting part in "Key Largo, 

the Bogart-Bacall vehicle, which John Huston is di- 

BEN BLUE brings his comedy and dan 

to the Dennis Morgan-Technicolor produc 

Sunday Afternoon." 

Scripters 

Independent 

Gibraltar Productions has signed CLARENCE 

GREEN and RUSSELL ROUSE to collaborate on an 

original, "Anything But Love," slated to be the 

fourth of six Cinecolor films to be made by the 

L. S. Albert Rogell-David Hersh company. 

Story Buys 

Monogram 

"Strike It Rich," story of an oil 

oter, by 

by Jact 

Francis Rosenwald, acquired for prodi 

Wrather, 

RKO Radio 

"Follow Me Quietly," mystery melodrama by 

Francis Rosenwald and Anthony Mann, purchased 

from Jack Wrather, Monogram producer. The picture 

will be produced by Sid Rogell from a script 

by Marty Rackin 

Warners 

Technically 

Republic 

Cinematography duties on "Moonrise" were assigned 

to JACK RUSSELL. The film editor assignment 

was set for HARRY KELLER. 

Warners 

Final crew assignments on "Key Largo" include 

KARL FREUND, cinematographer; RUDY FEHR, film 

editor, and ART LUEKER, first assistant. 

Title Changes \ 

Eagle Lion 

'Red River Renegades" has become THE TIOGA 

Republic 

"The Burning Bush" becomes SHADOWS OF 

'Double Life' Trailer Made 

Expressly for Television 

HOLLYWOOD—A special trailer designed 

exclusively for presentaHon via television is 

being prepared by Universal-International to 

whet interest in its new Ronald Colman 

starrer, "A Double Life." 

The trailer will be similar in technique to 

U-I's first experiment with television advertising, 

a five-mjnute short touting "The Senator 

'Was Indiscreet," which was booked for 

presentation by NBC's video outlet in New 

York City. 

"Musical Moods." a series of nine shorts produced 

by Unitel, Inc.. has been completed and 

are now being edited. The subjects, produced 

by Ezra S. Dabah and directed by Stanley 

Simmons, are exclusively for video transmission. 

Martin Murray Productions. 16mm unit, has 

signed Orville Stewart as musical director. 

The firm will make shorts for television and 

home film projectors. 

Set Up Research Agency 

To Serve Independents 

HOLLYWOOD—Dr. Herman Lissauer, film 

research veteran, and Philip S. Brown have 

resigned from Eagle Lion to incorporate Independent 

Motion Picture Research Co. to 

serve independent film-makers. First client 

of the new company is EL. Dr. Lissauer was 

in charge of the Warner research department 

for many years before moving over to EL 

in a similar capacity. 

Tim Holt in Feature Films 

Under New RKO Contract 

HOLLYWOOD—Repacted for another year 

by RKO. Tim Holt will appear in several fea- 

Republic 

ture films in addition to his outdoor series, 

The screenplay assignment on Forte Martin's which will be carried over into 1949, Holt has 

oriainol, "Prison Train," has been handed to GER- one western yet to do on the 1947-48 program 

ALD GERAGHTY. Lou Brock will produce. 

and will start his new contract in July with 

Warners 

a featured assignment in a high-budget picture. 

CASEY ROBINSON will script the forthcoming 

40 BOXOFHCE :: January 3, 1948 

f

»i'*« 

Technicolor Demand 

uSlill Tops Supply 

W HOLLYWOOD—Although it is turning out 

*! prints at a rate faster than in any time 

previously in its history, requests for commitments 

are still being received by Technicolor 

in quantities "considerably over our 

ability to accept," it was reported by Dr, 

Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general 

manager of the color processing company. 

Delivered prints increased approximately 

sil 20 per cent during the first ten months of 1947 

over 1946, Kalmus said. Furthermore, the 

plant is increasing its output month by 

month, as indicated by the fact that it delivered 

one-third more in August, September 

and October than in the first quarter of 1947. 

Footage for the first ten months of 1946 

was 153,000,000 feet, as compared to 182,000,- 

000 feet for the similar period in 1947. 

Footage sold and delivered during the first 

quarter of 1947 averaged 15,000,000 feet per 

month. During August, September and October 

it averaged 20,000,000 feet per month. 

When present expansion plans have been 

completed, Kalmus said, the plant will have 

a capacity of "at least" 320,000,000 feet yearly, 

as compared to the present 240,000,000 feet. 

Requests for camera commitments cannot 

be filled, however, he declared, until the company 

begins to get deliveries of new cameras 

which are now on order. 

Lyons Deal Off 

HOLLYWOOD—Negotiations for the alfilation 

of Danny Winkler and Nat Wolff 

with the A&S Lyons agency, headed by Arthur 

Lyons, have been broken off due to a difference 

of opinion as to the financial participation 

of Winkler and Wolff in the organization. 

Lyons will continue as sole owner of 

the agency. 

East: Hal Roach, United Artists producer, 

to New York for conferences with UA officials 

anent his picture-making schedule for the 

new year; also to close negotiations for a 

current Broadway play, which he plans to 

produce on celluloid. 

West: Col. Fred Levy, business associate of 

Producer Sol Lesser and operator of theatres 

in Louisville, Ky., for his annual visit to the 

film colony. He will remain here about three 

months, discussing Lesser's production activities 

for 1948. 

West: Lou Lilly, head of Jerry Fairbanks 

Productions' scenario department, and Jack 

Hasty, writer, from Chicago, where they spent 

a week conferring with B. N. Darling, Pairbanks' 

midwest representative. 

West: Gradwell Sears. United Artists 

president, from New York to resume huddles 

with Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin, UA 

member-owners, and various producers anent 

picture-making schedules for the early 

months of the new year. 

West: Arnold Pressburger, British film 

producer, from London to discuss plans for 

producing one or two pictures in Hollywood 

during 1948. Pressburger has one picture 

currently before the cameras in Italy for 

distribution by the J. Arthur Rank Organization. 

He formerly headquartered in Hollywood 

and turned out several features for 

United Artists release. 

jRODUCER Edward Small apparently 

takes seriously that ancient axiom 

anent the foolhardiness of placing 

one's eggs in one basket. And, parenthetically, 

all of 

let be understood that the 

it 

term eggs is not used for its entertainment 

connotations. 

Small, one of the shrewdest of veteran filmmakers, 

has something going for him with 

no less than four major distributors. His current 

release is "T-Men," which he made for 

Eagle Lion—and a right good parcel of celluloid 

it proved to be, one which was received 

with generous acclaim by the celluloid 

reviewers, and one which is sure to 

garner substantial grosses. 

Additionally, Small has an active hand 

in several other ventures. He has completed 

"The Black Arrow," starring Louis Hayward, 

for Columbia release, and for that 

company is now filming the Red Skelton 

comedy, "The Fuller Brush Man." Now in 

work for Eagle Lion is "Corkscrew Alley," a 

vehicle for Dennis O'Keefe. For United 

Artists Small is committed to make "Valentino"— 

if, as and when a suitable actor to 

portray the silent screen's great lover can 

be located. Now before the cameras in Italy 

is "Cagliostro," starring Orson Welles, for 

which Small has not yet negotiated a release. 

Besides all these, he has a substantial 

interest in Reliance Pictures, new independent 

outfit headed by his son Bernard 

Small and Ben Pivar, which is committed to 

a six-picture schedule of action fare for release 

by 20th Century-Fox. 

The wisdom of Small's multi-release setup 

is too obvious to require much comment. The 

financial fate of any independent producer 

is of necessity affected by the circumstances 

which surround the over-all operations of 

the distributor handling his output. If that 

distributor has a strong lineup of product 

and can resultantly expect an increase in 

accounts and more desirable rental terms, 

the independent shares in such lusher markets. 

If, on the other hand, the distributor 

encounters a bad season—and it happens to 

the best of them—the independent suffers 

along with his affiliate. 

By making his bets on several outfits. Small 

is sure to finish with one or more winners. 

That's smart showmanship as well as smart 

betting. 

Maury Foladare, rotund and genial catchas-catch-can 

space-snatcher, gives with: 

"The King Brothers, hearing that Alfred 

Hitchcock plays a role in every picture he 

produces or directs, have decided that they 

will also serve as their own trademarks. So 

they've cast themselves for roles in 'The Tenderfoot,' 

their current production for Allied 

Artists. Frank will appear as a locomotive 

engineer, Herman as the fireman and Maurie 

as a yard foreman." 

"On the Smolensk, Omsk and the Santa Fe." 

Kings to Make Classic 

HOLLYWOOD—The King Brothers have 

added "The Little Minister," James M. Barrie 

play, to their Allied Artists schedule. The 

property was last filmed 13 years ago, with 

Katharine Hepburn and John Beal in the 

New Hugo Gem Curtains 

HUGO, CALIF.—Installation of new stage 

curtains and a kaleidoscopic spotlight was 

announced by Manager Clarence Martin of 

the Gem Tlieatre. 

Alex Evelove's Burbankian blurbery took 

bows because they snatched the covers of the 

magazine sections of several widely-distributed 

newspapers, including the Hearst publications 

and the Chicago Daily News. The 

space was u.sed to plug "My Wild Irish Rose" 

and carried art on Barbara Bates, one of 

filmdom's most photogenic starlets, recently 

placed under contract by the Freres Warner. 

Which enterprising publicity might be considered 

praiseworthy except for the fact that 

Miss Bates doesn't appear—even for an instant—in 

"Rose." In fact, the picture was 

finished six months prior to her joining the 

Warner talent roster. 

Further along the same line. She had a 

wee bit in "That Hagen Girl," Ronald Reagan- 

Shirley Temple starrer. Yet her pictures 

were rather widely used in publicizing that 

feature. 

Just how long do publicity men think they 

can fool editors and the public with such 

tactics, which can be indicted as subterfuge 

if not downright misrepresentation? 

On the same day that the wires carried 

the news that Charles Chaplin's "Monsieur 

Verdoux" had been selected by the National 

Board of Review as the best picture of the 

year, appeared a trade story revealing that 

one Paul L. Murphy, commander of the New 

York state division of the Catholic War Veterans, 

had urged Atty. Gen. Tom Clark to 

institute deportation proceedings against the 

film-maker and also wired George Marshall, 

secretary of state, calling for a probe into 

Chaplin's "activities and associations." 

Which made it a horse apiece for Charlie. 

'Twas the day before Christmas and from 

David O. Selznick to members of Hollywood's 

hungry press came highly-engraved, characteristically 

stuffy summonses to attend 

the initial screening of his widely-touted, 

long-awaited "The Paradine Case." which 

royal command peremptorily designated 

"Formal Dress." 

The yuletide spirit and reviewers' salaries 

being what they are, DOS should have accompanied 

his billets doux with credit cards 

to the Western Costume Co. 

Displaying rare originality, Howard Strickling's 

Culver City tub-thumpers have cooked 

up a contest in which motion picture editors 

in all cities which have Loew first run 

theatres have been invited to submit a title 

for the Clark Gable-Lana Turner starring 

vehicle at present titled "Homecoming." A 

cash prize

, . 

Towns 

' 

Denver Area Takes in Five States; 

381 Theatres Are Listed by MPA 

DENVER—The Denver exchange area, cov- cording to the MPA theatre directory. The 

ering Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, part territory includes 198 towns with a populaof 

South Dakota and part of Nebraska, has tion of 2,500 or less which contain more than 

381 theatres containing 186,201 seats, ac- half, or 203, of all the theatres in the area. 

The summary: 

Seating Number Capacity 

,"''" Capacity Circuit-opera.ed theatresf ... 186 116,550 

. 

^^ , 

Theatres in operation* 381 186,201 Non-oircuit theatres 219 427 77 

Closed theatres 24 7,776 

' 

Totals 405 193 977 

Seating theatres operation. 

Totals 405 193,977 capacity of now in 

Seating according to population groupings*; 

with No. of Theatres Number of Average Seats 

Population Theatres Operating Seats Per Theatre 

500,000-250.001 (Denver) 1 37 34 974 945 

lOJ.OOO- 5U,001 (Pueblo) 7 5;325 761 

1 

to. 0-0- 25.001 (Colorado Springs) 2 16 11478 717 

(Albuquerque) 

25,000- 10.001 13 41 29 033 708 

IJ.OtU- 5,00i 19 38 22,895 602 

5.000- 2,501 30 39 .21,885 561 

.,50J a..d under 198 203 60.609 299 

*Excluding two dnve-in theatres, total capacity 1,050 automobiles 

tA circuit IS defined as "four or more" theatres operated by the same management 

San Bernardino Drive-In 

Planned by Indianians 

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. — A drive-in 

theatre will be built on Foothill boulevard, 

between San Bernardino and Rialto, for William 

and Lecile Tharp of Dimkirk, Ind., 

with space for 684 cars. The plans, prepared 

by architect H. E. Jones of San Bernardino, 

provide for a inachine room and a snack bar 

and rest rooms behind the screen. 

Rathvon Is Chairman 

HOLLYWOOD—N. Peter Rathvon, president 

of RKO, has been appointed southern 

California chairman for America Brotherhood 

week February 22-29 by the Permanent 

Charities committee, comprising Stanley 

Bergerman, David Cannon, Loren Miller, 

Joseph Scott and George Wasson. 

QUALITY 

PLUS 

SERVICE 

1327 S.Wabash 

Chicago 5 

FOR THE BEST IN 

Urge OHE to Issue Permit 

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—Civic and fraternal 

organizations here are bombarding the Office 

of the Housing Expediter with letters 

urging approval of the application of Griffith 

Theatres to build a theatre here. 

Buys Site in Sonoma 

SONOMA, CALIF.—Granville MacPherson 

has purchased two lots at Fetters Spring for 

erection of a motion picture theatre. He still 

lacks a permit from the office of the housing 

expediter. 

Driscoll Hosts Kiddies 

HELENA, MONT.—Dan Driscoll, 

iSPECIAL TRAILERS 

manager 

of the Antlers Theatre, was host to Helena 

boys and girls under high school age last 

week at a special Christmas show. 

You'll Get 

SPEED! 

Los Angeles Office Now Open 

1574 W. WASHINGTON BLVD. 

Autry Will Produce 

Five Films in 1948 

HOLLYWOOD—Gene Autry's 

contributioi I 

to the Columbia releasing slate for 1948 wil 

total five westerns, all in Cinecolor and al 

to be made under the banner of Gene Autrj 

Productions. The schedule was mapped a- 

huddles between Autry, Armand Schaefeij 

and Mitchell Hamilburg, Autry Productions; 

toppers; and Abe Schneider, Columbia treas-' 

urer from New York, his assistant, Leo Jaffe,' 

and Irving Briskin, studio executive. 

First of the quintet, "Hideaway," will roll 

March 1 when Autry has returned from a 

toiu- through 11 southern states. It will be 

followed in April by "Wings Westward" and 

three others, as yet untitled. 

Warners Premiere Two 

New Prerelease Films 

Warners staged world premiere prerelease 

engagements of two new films during Christmas 

week. "My Wild Irish Rose," Dennis 

Morgan musical, opened simultaneously 

December 24 at the Strand In New York and 

at Warners' three local first run outlets, the 

Hollywood, Downtown and Wiltern. On 

Christmas day "The Voice of the Turtle," 

starring Eleanor Parker, opened at the Warner 

in New York. 

"Man About Town," Maurice Chevalier 

starrer filmed in France by Pathe Cinema in 

association with RKO, was given its west 

coast premiere December 27 at the Laurel 

Theatre. The picture was produced and 

directed by Rene Clair. 

WB to Roll B Picture 

HOLLYWOOD—First of Warners' experimental 

modest-budgeted films to be turned 

out by the new unit headed by Saul Elkins 

will be "The Fighting Terror," action yarn in 

which newcomer contract players will be featured. 

Camera work will start in February. 

Chester Erskine to 'Gus' 

HOLLYWOOD — Universal-International 

has assigned Chester Erskine to script and 

produce "Gus the Great," from the bestselling 

novel by Thomas Dimcan. "Gus" will 

follow "Great Son" on Erskin's 1948 schedule. 

Gil Kurland Back to U-I 

HOLLYWOOD—Gil 

Kurland, unit production 

manager, has returned to Universal- 

International. Foiu- weeks ago he signed with 

Mark Hellinger Productions, but Hellinger's 

death terminated the contract. 

For New Year's Benefit 

HOLLYWOOD — John Hoyt and Selena 

Royle were among the Hollywoodians who 

journeyed to the naval hospital at Long 

Beach New Year's eve to entertain woimded 

veterans there. 

Butch Jenkins to Freelance 

HOLLYWOOD — Butch Jenkins, juvenile 

player, has secured a release from the balance 

of his Metro contract, effective late this 

month, and will freelance hereafter. 

Relief Booth Man Is Grid Star 

GALLUP, N. M.—The Chief Theatre's relief 

projectionist, Nick Garcia was one of the 

outstanding performers on the Gallup high 

school football team. Garcia and his fellow 

players closed their season with eight wins 

against one loss. 


, 

— 

— 

— 

"color 

r' 

«»ant"J| 

Top Holiday Product 

Is Los Angeles Hypo 

LOS ANGELES—That axiom about good 

pictures being a sure cure for boxoffice ailments 

was again established when a strong 

lineup of new first run offerings, coupled 

with extra Christmas and New Year's eve 

patronage,- resulted in the biggest business to 

be carded locally in many weeks. 

(Average 100) 

Belmont, Culver, El Rey, Million Uollar 

Orpheum, Vogue—T-Mon (EL); Linda 

Good (EL) 

"everly. Fox Palace—Gentleman's Agre 

(20!h-Fox 3dsho 

Carthay—The Bishop's Wife (RKO), roadshow 

Chinese. Loyola. Stale, Uptov^n—Captain From 

Castile (20lh-Fox) 

Downtown, Hollywood Paramounts—Wild Ha; 

est (PoTa); Bill and Coo (Rep). 2nd wk 

Egyptian, Los Angeles. Wilshire— Good News 

(MGM) 

Four Star—Mourning Becomes Electro {'KO] 

Four ,Muslc Hal!i— Body and Soul (UA), 6th ^ 

Guild—A Double Life (U-I) 

Iris. Ritz, Los Angeles, Studio City—Pirates oi 

Monterey (U-1); Bury Me Dead (EL), 2nd wk 

Pantages, Hillstreet—Tycoon (RKO) 

"' 

' 

Warners Downto 

'Captain' and 'Road to Rio' 

Heavy Denver Holiday Fare 

DENVER—"Captain Fi'om Castile" was 

heavy at the Paramount and Esquire. "Road 

to Rio" was strong at the Denham and was 

held over. 

Aladdin—Escape Me Never (WB), Chinese Ring 

(Mono), 3rd d,t. wk „ 100 

Denham—Rood to Rio (Para) 175 

Denver and Webber—Daisy Kcnyon (20th-Fox), 

Smart Politics (Mono) 130 

Esquire and Paramount Captain From Castile 

(20th-Fox) 200 

Orpheum—Out of the Past (RKO), Bush Christmas 

(U-I) 110 

Rialto—One MUlion B. C. (UA); The Housekeeper's 

Daughter (UA), reissues 130 

Tabor— lungle Book (UA). reissue: Buck Privates 

Come Home (U-1). 2nd run 160 

'Kenyon' and 'Swordsman' 

Best Among New Shows 

SAN FRANCISCO—"Daisy Kenyon" and 

"The Swordsman" were the biggest draws 

among the new pictures here last week, vying 

for popularity with "Body and Soul," which 

was in its fourth week at the United Artists, 

and "Unconquered," which had its seventh 

week at advanced prices at the St. Francis. 

Esquire The Spoilers (FC), Diamond Jim 

reissues 100 

(U-I). 

Fox—The Fabulous Texan (Rep); On the Old 

Spanish Trail (Rep) 100 

Golden Gffte—Wild Horse Mesa (RKO); plus 

stage show 90 

Guild—The Exile (U-I\ Blondie in the Dough 

(Col), 3rd d, wk t. 100 

Orpheum—The Swordsman iCc), Blondie's 

Anniversary (Col) 160 

Paramount—Each Dawn I Die (WB); 

Bad Men of Missouri (WB), reissues 120 

St. 7th 160 

Francis—Unconquered (Para), wk 

State—The Black Cat (20th-Fox); Black Friday 

(20th-Fox), reissues 125 

United Artists—Body and 160 

Soul (UA), 4th wk 

United Nations and Wartield Daisy Kenyon 

(20th-Fox) (20th-Fox); Roses Are Red 170 

'Swordsman,' 'Dolphin Street' 

Pace Weak Week in Seattle 

SEATTLE—Business was just as tough as 

was feared in most cases during the pre- 

Christmas wêek. "The Swordsman" hit 120 

at the Liberty. 

Blue Mouse—RUf-Raff (Col); Luied (UA), plus 

light pictures, 2nd d t. wk 45 

Fifth Avenue—Christmas Eve (UA); The Son 

of Hustv (Col) 45 

Liberty—The Swordsman (Col); Glamour Girl 

(Col) 120 

Music Box—Her Husband's Affoirs (Col); 

Last of the Redmen (Col), 2nd d, t. wk 75 

Music Hall—Green Dolphin Street (MGM), 4th wk...I35 

Paramount—Escape Me Never (WB); 

Fall Guy (Mono) 35 

Orpheum—Golden Earrings (Para); Gentleman 

Joe Palooka (Mono) 95 

Palomar—The Fabulous Texan (Rep); On the 

Old Spanish Trail (Rep), 2nd wk 90 

Roosevelt—Body and Soul (UA); Winter 

Wonderland (Rep), 5th d. t. wk.... 100 

'1ff^^^^=^=^^^=^'fP- 

"^liîî^^lIMLa^MiA 

WESTLAND TO BUILD—This is how the Westland circuit's new Chief Theatre 

in Grand Junction, Colo., will look when completed. Work on the structure is expected 

to start shortly. It will be a 900-seat, stadium-type house, with stores flanking the 

35-foot entrance. Westland Theatres, operator of houses in Nebraska, Colorado and 

Oklahoma, now operates the Chief in Grand Junction and the new Chief is a replacement 

for the Mesa, which was converted into a store building. The building wiU be of 

steel frame and will have walls of concrete block, finished in stucco and trimmed with 

stainless steel. The second story, front, will be of corrugated glass and will be colorlighted 

from behind the glass. Stainless pylons steel at either side of the entrance 

will be lighted with neon. The marquee will be semi-circular and will have a four-line 

attraction board. Silhouette name letters appear above the marquee. The auditorium 

wiU have black lighting and 40-foot panels on both side walls will tell the history of 

the wcstfrn slope. 

Hollywood Couples Buy 

Las Vegas, Nev., Houses 

LAS VEGAS, NEV.—Two theatres here, the 

Fremont and Vegas, have been acquired by 

the Huntridge Corp., which is owned by Irene 

Dunne, Loretta Young, their husbands. Dr. 

Francis Griffin and Tom Lewis, respectively, 

and Tom Oakey. 

The company also controls the Huntridge, 

Palace and Western, and the transfer will 

give the group five of the six theatres in the 

city. The remaining independent house is 

the El Portal. 

The new additions to the Huntridge lineup 

were acquired from Edwin F. Zabel of Fox 

West Coast and Earl Strebe of Palm Springs. 

Cooperative Theatres of Southern California 

will book the five houses. 

School Children See Show 

GREAT FALLS, MONT.—Grade school age 

children were the guests of the Civic Center 

Theatre last Saturday where they enjoyed a 

Christmas party and children's picture. 

New Screen at Roswell Pecos 

ROSWELL, N, M.—A new screen was hung 

in the Pecos here recently. Frank Nelson of 

the TEI Dallas office was here advising on 

the heating installations for the Chief and 

the Yucca lobby. 

Theatres Collect Fund 

For Slain Cab Driver 

San Francisco—Sympathetic realization 

of the crime problem which faces all 

night-working business people prompted 

San Francisco Theatres. Inc., circuit to 

cooperate in a collection campaign for 

the family of a local cab driver who was 

murdered on night duty. 

Irving M. Levin, district manager of 

the circuit stated: "All people who work 

at night are faced with similar crime 

problems, therefore, we felt that show 

business should evince particular understanding 

and sympathy to families of 

victims of criminal outrages. It is our 

duty to cooperate in the benefit." 

Levin opened the memorial fund campaign 

in his six neighborhood theatres 

with the donations for the motion picture 

public being added to a collection made 

by San Francisco cab drivers. Cards and 

donation jars were placed in the lobbies 

of the Alexandria, Coliseum, Balboa, 

Harding, Metro and Vogue theatres. 

Red Taint on Record 

Cause for Dismissal 

SEATTLE—"The motion picture industry 

does not have to re'ain persons who are 

harmful to it and does not intend to do so." 

Eric Johnston, MPA head, said here in reference 

to the dismissal or suspension of ten 

writers and producers as a result of their refusal 

to tell the house un-American committee 

whether they were Communists or not. 

Johnston, who passed through here on his 

way to Spokane to spend the holidays, said 

that in the past dismissal has been the penalty 

when an individual in the industry so 

conducted himself in such a way as to cast 

reflections upon the industry and that the 

industry will not tolerate such misconduct 

now. 

"Cormnunists, who are foreign agents, will 

not be hired by the motion picture industry," 

Johnson added. "It may be hard to prote 

that a man carries a Red party membership 

card in his pocket, but it is not at all difficult 

to determine from his past actions and words 

whether he has followed the party line. 

"Wherever investigation shows conmiunism 

in an applicant's background, he automatically 

will be inehgible for employment in the 

motion picture business. A Communist is a 

foreign agent and no American organization 

would hire such agents if the facts were 

known." 

In the past. Johnson said, some film executives 

have been hesitant to dismiss known 

Communists because they might he hired by 

a competitive studio. 

"That's all over now," he said. "A person 

whose contract is not renewed because his 

loyalty is not to America will not be welcomed 

by competitors. If there are known 

Communists in Hollywood, it will be a simple 

matter to get rid of them. Their contracts 

simply will not be renewed." 

Janitors Get $11.25 a Day 

SAN FRANCISCO—Northern California 

theatre janitors will receive retroactive pay 

checks for a $1.50 daily wage increase dating 

back to last September 1 imder a new 

one-year contract with more than 200 theatre 

operators. In accepting a new wage 

scale of $11.25 a day, the AFL Theatre and 

Amusement Janitors union waived demands 

for paid holidays, guaranteed overtime and 

other contract improvements, union officials 

stated. The janitors had recently threatened 

to strike. 

BOXOFnCE :: January 3, 1948 43

• . . 

Tom 

. 

Two 

• ^"^ 

. . Most 

the 

" 

Showmanship 

Q 

E. Galbraith 

Cash 

of Associated Theatre AdthP 

""^ ^'""'^ 

in Denver, and Col. 

^'""h' 

pTrif''^ formerly 

Arthur 

the Filmack 

With many Preudenfeld for 

years 

Ti-ailer general 

Co., have manager 

organized of 

a 

the rko 

"P'^^^""" to'be 

i^:^lTT'^f the 

Sowf as 

West s N- To FWC Managers 

-«-d, leid Freu^fn° 

IS iTvini"?^".^";. living 

Coast in 

Product North 

Co. The new Hollywood. 

wJ:°f- f'^K^.î^^S ^ Approximately 

or 

was $28 distributed 000 

to Fox 

gamzation West Coast 

will make special trailers managers theatre 

16mm advertismg 

ani 

as advance 

films 

. . . '^,^ openings payment 

Jack 

of on the 

Broder has at^thp'r^n^""/ "Good News" 

recent! 

the Los y concluded 12th 

Angeles, 

annual 

H^'^tington Wilshire 

National 

atrpTi°'S' 

and 

'k' 

Park 

and Theatres 

atres 

the- 

Peter Esvntian 

in Huntington 

Lawford and 

Park from 

Keenan 

Joe Wynn w^ll 

Venable 

make' nnn r^"'^'P campaign, in addition to $20 f 

000 in insurance refunds. 

rfn.^ '7 f^^""^- 

^^^^ also ou-ns 

Cinema. 

the cemb°e;3o'''''^"T^^^^' ^" thrThûsesTe! The $28,000 represents 70 

Avalon per 

and 

cent of 

Florence the 

Mills. 

started 

PnriPH .^''''"•u^'''^'^ August 

ended 31 

Vital December 

and 

Statistics 20, 

Department: with the 

Edyth balance 

Garl" 

to he 

gave birth 

^°?,^ Universal to a son, 

office and Richard 

L PrJnU.1 

Milton 

Murray ^'^^^ 

at St 

'^^ audXs 

Prankel John s 

office hospital 

pfefeTh plete theIfn'f"."^^"'' com! 

manager in 

final 

for Film 

Santa figures 

Monica. 

of the drive 

Classics, 

are planning 

Dick Dickson, 

a spring FWC 

marriage 

southern California 

^^ ^^'^^'"g date f°'- 

Perretz, Ppr.T^ It Metro T'" Howard 

juvenile Metro 

as'*s'«n*'t/o,'''"^' 

star, acted 

"°"nced at the 

Santa Claus 

booker, 

at 

and the 

Elsie Bundy 

meftlngîr'tf,"' 

Imfcheo 

The 

Kroger 

Theatre in 

f 

â.u f ^^^ Ambassador hotel 

back 

here a 

couple 

to 

plan to honeymoon at Coronado wUh 

Aspell ne^bicv ?° 

"^'^^ work" drive, 

'%T' "cKolde'rs 

December 

jr., local manager for Metro sês-îri^^c^h 

16 to Dorothy 

t^beC-sf^k^ '^^- 

28 throuoh 

atcasVpriêl^ '""^ '''''' '° ""' ^'««eS 

of^^fn''" ^r'"'^" Renn 

Seattle A baby girl was Skouras, 

born to Mrs 

,nS^^'''^^,^- president of National 

!,'" 'iJi^-lstmas day. 

?iPr° \f 

Papa owns the 

Sierra Madre agers 

Theatre 

that the 

in Sierra Madre. ;^SJf^7-^^-"?ct-;^ 

boom days were over, attend- 

^°' 

fi wiVh 

The Vf*^","^ 

San Francisco January 

local Eagle Lion office recorded ,'"'""''"= 

a 

^^^trict Skouras %Zlr^^'^'^?^^'J "^"d all costs wei" U3 

number of 

Two^'n"'"'' 

n^ân! 

declared 

ager 

that the time 

. 

personnel new for 

changes. Office manager 

Dick Ettlinger has resigned, as did ^°- ^^'""^ 

salesmen 

"real 

have joined the showmanship is now here." 

Ruth 

force.^Roy 

fm and Bn?'"r wm! John B. Bertero, FWC vice-president 

Iv^'arHfn't'h"'^- '° ^^^^^l^' ^^'^°'?: 

"manager. Pacific 

Iva Griffith joins the J""" rSlf 

^°^^ ex 

*'" ^°'^ on the plained that the company's 

staff as Cherock's "" °'''''"'' retirement plî 

Pacific 

new 

manager ?nv 

coast 

Vv, ' a'? 

secretary for 

. . 

the ^"".^°'-« 

. Charles Kranz Alexander 

and cited 

and Ted 

Co efforts 

is 

ningham 

Cun- 

ma kinolrJ°.J' 

1° ^°'°^'^'^° 

IkouiTt'" Skomas o 

to obtain the plan 

of the Special Attractions exchange 

for his 

Sprin°gs, wh^re men 

will attend 

Tif 

left for New a 

York 

home office 

for business managers 

conferences. 

meeting Sph^^ ^^^ general 

^°r''' manager, "le- 

The FUmrow Veteran ^"^ congratulated' 

men th""''.?'^ 

the 

on their 

visitors showman efforts, 

list included Leon while 

such 

Glasser was 

entertainers 

killed 

tourists as Duke 

m an 

Clark, Paramount automobile ^^'"'^ accident 

-Jackson 

district 

here recently RoTnr°"H^"''' and Jack- 

Ross provided musical 

manager from Dallas, and Morrie Smead ,°it?f";.^'^°.°"ned the and 

Dixie 

variety acts. 

Theatre l?dg 

of 

leaves 

Council his 

Bluffs, 

wife, 

Iowa, a 

who son and 

visited Harry 

daughter and a - 

Taylor ... Ed 

granddaughter. 

Penn of the La 

He was 59 . 

Habre at La 

ResTgna^Ls •- ^ * . 

Habre, 

reported 

and Bob 

from 

Mallon 

the local 

of the 

U-I 

Lakewood offfce 

at Beverly 

include F A T T I C 

Lakewood Beckley, 

Village were 

long-time 

in for some 

booker 

bookinand 

buying. 

and Joyce 

^ ^ M I I L t 

° Lipkis, secretary to F. M. Blake . 

FiCow 

^' Segundo 

John H. Lefton, 

Ned rîv°'"vf TheXe 

""^l"''' 

with Universal in Cleveland 

for r£^ J' v^°^^ ^^^ l"^ Hawthorne is 

?J,v for 

closed 

26 years, passed 

remodeling 

away here December 

24. He was Theatre, 

; Claude Evergreen, 

Ezell, Dallas 

spent 

Drive-In 

the yuletide here . 

62 years 

Dallas; 

of age Charles 

All Pox 

Feldman, U-I western 

division 

West Coast theatres scheduled 

manager; 

on "Rntri'f T?'"°""u?'''P'°"^^'"' wo'-'êd hard 

late 

New 

shows 

Ben to Rio," 

Hayward, Savoy 

which 

Years eve, with many first run houses 

operating an Compt°r°^ ^"' around-the-clock FvP 

opened 

Eve 

New 

f fv, 

Year's 

at the Paramount 

. 

exhibitors 

""^ ''''' '^"^'«e«s 

schedule 

IZ' on 

some 'r^'"'''' Christmas 

houses, including the Fifth Avenue with 

James J. Donohue, Paramount central division 

manager, has returned to New York Two Fox 

gô^rm^rs."^^^"''^'"^"^^'^^'^pa^rê'^nrwîirSr^^\--H?,f--^^ 

Houses 

after a short 

Robbed 

local visit, during which ho 

was the house guest of George A. Smith On Successive 

western 

Nights 

district chief. Donohue also vacationed 

editor is 

briefly in San Francisco 

. . Film 

CALIF.-The 

Classics has uJ^^^û- Fox 

vacationing in 

Theatre was 

Wichita, kas.^th 

booked 

held 

a 

up by 

reissue an 

package 

armed bandit who escaped 

• ^'aire is 

^ th^T; 

scheduled to open 

Catherine the Great" and "Don Juan," into 

''°"ars. A 

the tour Academy 

n rni.Zf'^' description 

fuinished -""""li'^^ F«fM ,x^^f °P°'"^" "'age January 5 in 

showcases and 

police 

Fatal 

"The 

"Furia 

by the 

Weakness," 

cashier, while 

who was 

Ona Munson, 

Italian picture, into hreatened 

the Laurel, 

with Ney Richard 

both 

a 

and 

gun, 

Jorja 

fits 

bills 

that 

Curtright 

of a 

are Jan 

coming to 

same^ 

the 

opening stage 

this month. 

t^P^ni'h^. l!^/^' ^°^ ^'^^^tre 

January 

in 

12 in 

Bakersfield 

"The Master's 

the night before and escaped with $171 

Visitors at the MGM studios in 

It 

Culver was 

City 

the second time in four months 

were 

that 

Bill Hastings, manager of the 

the 

Orpheuni Bakersfield Fox had been held ^""^^ 

up, 

expected 

Margaret and 

to 

h„?l^"nf"H'"^*f"''' 

get the 

Gonzales, 

bulk of downtown cashier, was the 

merrymakers 

victirn 

New Year's 

in each eye, 

case. 

as 

The night 

bandits 

clubs 

in have thinned to a handnf 

A Real Santa Claus 

earlier 

Bakersfield holdup last September, 

captured 

were 

and 

thf «f ^l"^ 

one of them The 

• • • Roosevelt 

^teding 

has 

chain 

been sentenced ^pi^. 

opened with 

sanUy^heS!"' "'"^ "" °''''' ^^^"^ News' 

"Good 

on December 31, the first first run 

^ MGM offering it has ever played. 

Your 

Manley Popcorn Man 

]TURPIE^Westera Division MonaglT 

giU Thedford, Oregon district manager for 

Jack Engerman, Sterling advertising mogul, 

eceived a lot of compliments on his copy for 

f,?^.V"'* ^°"^" • • «°tises 

• showing foreign 

films here are reported in the boxoffice dold.ums 

. . . Harold Murphy at the Liberty in 

piympia used a lot of publicity material he 

^^^ l°ng-ago 

•^nnfuull"'" roadshow of 

Gone with the Wind" for that picture's return 

play. 

attendanc'e.'"''' '' ^'"^ approximately sS In 

FWC Managers in L. A. 

Entertained by Bosses 

ANGELES-Bruce Fowler 

Cp'^nf and 

Cardas, Spyros" 

district managers for Fox 

Coast's 

West 

local first run setup, were hosts at 

Christmas party for 

Jl"J.Tfl theatVe 

agers man- 

in their district. The affair as held at 

Skating Party for Staff 

.'' 

five°Tm';h''' TEI theatres 

'^-'^' '"'^'°y^' °f 

here held their 

the 

first staff 

'">'! '^'''^ '" March. It 

^fflf was a skat\ng 

affair with refreshments. 

[' 

y 

---THEATRE [H Count on us lor Quick AcUonI 

THEATRE EXCHANGE HANGiC0.J 

>, 9m cin. 4rts Bldg o— .— ^ ^ - 

J 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3. 1948

'atioiiil| 

. . . The 

. . Actor 

. . Gene 

. . The 

SAN FRANCISCO 

proceeds from the premiere of "The Flame" 

* January 5 at the State Theatre will be 

turned over to CARE for purchase of food 

and clothing for the needy of Europe. 

Tickets will sell at $1 but patrons are asked 

to make additional contributions if they wish. 

All proceeds will go to CARE. 

county probation office, of rowdyism and 

juvenile delinquency in the county's theatres. 

Joseph J. Daly, manager of the Manor Theatre 

in San Mateo, said "Cowgill doesn't have 

to come to a theatre to find juvenile delinquents. 

He can find them in buses, dime 

stores, fountains and in autos." Thornton 

Ellis, manager of the Redwood and Sequoia 

theatres, said "the problem is not with the 

theatres but with the children." 

Dramatizing the annual sale of Christmas 

seal stamps proved effective in promotion 

of "The Other Love," a story of a tuberculosis 

sufferer, at the Alexandria Theatre, 

Lawrence Lash, student assistant manager, 

reports. Through letters to the local papers, 

lobby cards and special displays. Lash drew 

attention to the Christmas seal campaign 

for tubercular victims while stressing the 

dramatic theme of the story. Officials of 

the Christmas seal drive commended the 

theatre for its promotion. 

Stephen Moore, manager of the Vogue, 

solved the problem of getting the name of 

the new star, Barbara Bel Geddes, into his 

marquee attraction board while playing "The 

Long Night." He shortened her name to 

Babs" Bel Geddes . . . George Mann. Redwood 

Theatres topper, is reported to have 

spent $20,000 on Christmas gifts for his em- 

Arthur Bergoffen is the new 

manager of the Portola Theatre. Originally 

from New York, Bergoffen has been working 

in west coast theatres for the past several 

years. 

The ninth anniversary of the Embassy 

Theatre was a big event for the youngsters. 

They all got punch, cake and cookies at a 

children's matinee . Preddey Showman's 

Directory for 1948 is now being distributed. 

The Walter G. Preddey Theatre 

Supply house is in its 42nd year . . . The 

Moulin Rouge Theatre in Oakland has given 

Itself a subtitle through translation and is 

now known as the Red Mill. 

B.F. SHEARER COMPANY 

VJt^^^Bt PROUD! 

He has new Strong Projection 

Arc Lamps, Rectifiers and 

Reflectors in his theatre. 

i 

. 

Henry Koster and camera crew were in 

town to shoot scenes for "That Old Magic," 

which will star Tyrone Power . . . Irving 

M. Levin, district manager for San Francisco 

Theatres, flew to Palm Springs this week 

on business Robinson, receptionist, 

is no with Robert L. Lippert 

longer 

Theatres . Dick Powell was in town 

a few days. 

for 

More than 1,200 jammed the Owens Center 

Theatre in Vallejo to see a five-hour 

vaudeville show brought in by Bill Kyne, 

manager of the California Jockey club, for 

patients and staff members of the Mare 

Island naval hospital. Among the performers 

were Maurice Chevalier, the Duncan 

Sisters and a group of local entertainers. 

Douglas Goble, son of owner-manager 

George C. Goble of the new Nevada Theatre, 

served as master of ceremonies at the gala 

opening. Located at the corner of Sixth and 

Starr in Wells, the theatre has a seating capacity 

of 416 .. . Sale of four lots in Tulare, 

including the State Theatre, for an approximate 

$88,000, was revealed in Tulare in a 

trust deed filed with the county recorder. 

Clarence Wasserman and D. S. Wasserman 

were listed as the seller and Pinches Karl, 

trustee for Hari-y Karl and Sarah Karl Miller, 

as the purchaser. 

A building permit was issued by the city 

engineer's office in Visalia for $1,500 for the 

remodeling of the lobby of the Fox Theatre 

Woodland High PTA is preparing 

letters of protest against the showing of a 

trailer at the Porter Theatre in which scenes 

from a picture later presented for adults only 

was thrown on the screen. 

San Mateo county theatre managers denied 

charges made last week by John S. Cowgill, 

'& 

LOS ANGELES 7. CALIF.- 

Supply Co., 1969 So. V 

phone; REpublic 3151. 

^n PORTLAND. ORE.— Portland Motion Picture 

S'l- 

SALT LAKE CITY 1, UTAH—Service Theatre 

Supply Co.. 256 E. 1st South St. Telephone: 

5-1223. 

1. Inter-Mountain 

SALT LAKE CITY UTAH— 

Theatre Supply Co., 142 East Ist South. 

Telephone: 4-7821. 

2, G. 

SAN FRANCISCO CALIF.—Walter 

Preddey Theatre Supplies— R. 0. Bemis. 

Manager. 187 Golden Gate Avenue. Tele- 

BOXOFFICE ;: January 3, 1948

. . . Women 

. . . The 

. . Al 

. . Tom 

. . Work 

. . 

DENVER 

^hristmas parties not previously reported 

include those held by 20th-Fox, RKO, 

Universal and Eagle Lion at their exchanges 

of the Rocky Mountain Screen 

club gave Hazel Olson a farewell party on 

the eve of her departure for San Francisco, 

where she will make her home. She was 

given orchids and a cigaret lighter set. Clarence 

Olson, her husband, recently was promoted 

from Denver manager for United 

Artists to a similar post in Frisco. Olson 

flew to Denver for the holidays and while 

here completed the sale of his home. 

Theatremen on Filmrow: Neal Beezley, 

Burlington: Lloyd Greve, Eagle; R. D. Erwin, 

Kremmling: Eldon Menagh, Fort Lupton; 

Glen Wittstruck, Meeker; Fred Lind, 

Rifle; Robert Spahn, Mitchell. Neb.; Hugh 

Haynes, Ordway; Lynn Zorn, Julesburg. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Gerbase (he is Republic 

manager) went to Albuquerque for 

KeeptoorlveO'; 

,v,eHeann9' 

their usual year-end vacation . . . Mr. and 

Mrs. Joe Emerson and Mr. and Mrs. Marvin 

Goldfarb went to Los Angeles to attend the 

Rose Bowl game. Emerson Is RKO manager, 

and Goldfarb is salesman. 

Don Foster, former Paramount booker here, 

now in a similar job in Salt Lake City, spent 

the holidays in Denver . . . Gene Klein, formerly 

with Columbia here as assistant shipper, 

now Columbia booker in St. Louis, spent 

the holidays here . Knox of Service 

Theatre Supply, Salt Lake City, spent the 

holidays here with Al Knox of the Denver 

company of the same name. 

M. R. "Bud" Austin, manager of Eagle 

Lion, will give a talk on the dog at a showing 

of "Return of Rin Tin Tin" for children 

at the Paramount. The film opens first run 

at the Tabor January 8, at which time Lee 

Duncan and the dog will make appearances 

Western Service and Supply Co. 

held open house and had as their guests 

theatre and film men. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Morgan of National 

Theatre Supply went to Kansas City to 

spend the holidays with their daughter, sonin-law, 

two granddaughters and three greatgrandchildren 

. . . James Jameson, Columbia 

salesman, went to Los Angeles for the 

holidays. 

Sam Feinstein has bought the Rialto, 

Haxtun, Colo., from the J. J. Goodsteln 

estate . . . Fred Lind, Rifle, hopes to open 

his new 600-seat $100,000 Ute by January 15. 

Tony Archer and Joe Dekker are modernizing 

the Oriental, putting on a new front, 

installing new sound and booth, decorating 

and otherwise doing a general overhaul. The 

^^C E N T U R Y" 

THE MODERN PROJECTOR 

' 

mia(!tetg@uidde>f 

work is being supervised by George Prantz, 

author of a series of articles that have been 

running in Modern Theatre section of BOX- 

OFFICE. The theatre is being kept open . . . 

Milt Hossfeld, Fox Intermountain film buyer, 

is breaking in a new Olds station wagon . 

Sam Langwith of Western Service & Supply 

is on a sales trip to western Colorado. 

Dave Cockrill, managing director of the 

Denham. and Al Lawter, house manager, are 

vacationing in Phoenix . has begun 

on the new drive-in theatre being built by 

the Pueblo Drive-In Theatre Co. in Pueblo. 

Dave Pitman, Pueblo builder, has the contract 

for the screen tower and concession 

stand, which were designed by Walter De- 

Mordaunt. The theatre will be ready for 

operation in the spring. 

William Schoredt. owner of the Sage. Upton, 

Wyo., was successful in an elk hunt in \ 

the Jackson Hole country in the same state, 

and as a result William Sombar, Paramount 

soalesman, who was on a selling trip about 

that time, enjoyed some of the finest meat he 

has ever tasted . . . M. R. "Bud" Austin, 

Eagle Lion manager, while on a sales trip 

to southern and southwestern Colorado, ran 

into some mighty cold weather. While in 

Alamosa he experienced 17 below zero, which 

was the coldest in the U.S. that day. 

Louis Dent, president of Westland Theatres, 

is recovering in a Phoenix, Ariz., hospital, 

from a serious illness. Write him in care of 

the Jokake Inn ... Chick Kelloff has put 

his theatre and night club at Antonito, Colo., 

on the market . . . Robert Martin, manager 

of the Liberty, Pagos Springs, Colo., flew to 

Los Angeles to take in the Rose Bowl football 

game . Murphy, Raton, N. M., 

was in Alamosa, Colo., a few days conferring 

with his general manager, Robert Sweeten. 

The Denver Theatre has been made defendant 

in a $50,700 suit for damages alleged to 

have been received in a fall over a microphone 

cord on a stairway. 

Free Show in Townsend 

TOWNSEND, MONT.—The Rex Theatre 

with happy children who were ad- 

was filled 

mitted free for a Christmas party complete 

with a show, Santa Claus and treats. 

TWO-WAY 

HORN / - / 

SYSTEMS / COMPUTE 

/ 

/SOUND SYSTEMS 

SOUNDHEADS ' 

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AMPllflERS 

"pat 

TKare î4te*Un^ 'Plea^Mne 

WESTERN THEATRICAL 

EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

337 Golden Gate Ave. 

San Francisco, California 

187 Golden Gate Ave., 

San Francisco 2, Calif. 

Phone Underbill 7571 

METRO PREMIUM CO. 

BEAUTYWARE PREMIUM DEAL 

Gifts of overpowering Boxoifice Appeal 

242 Hyde St. GRaystone 410S San Francisco. Calif. 

\KE MORE MONEY PLAyiN& 

^ WAHOO 

J.}. 


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46 BOXOFnCE :: January 3, 1948

Affiliated Theatres Hosts Bookers at Irrdianapolis 

5 Pet. Tax Passed On 

To St. Louis Public 

' 

ST. LOUIS—Admission prices of the mo- 

' tion picture theatres in St. Louis were advanced, 

for the most part, January 1 when 

the new municipal 5 per cent tax went into 

effect. 

Fred Wehrenberg, head of the regional exhibitors 

organization, said that the increases 

follow as nearly as possible the exact 

amount of the tax on adult admissions. In 

the neighborhood houses charging 50 cents, 

the advance is 3 cents, making the ticket 

price 53 cents. On 35-cent tickets, 2 cents 

added, and on $1 the raise was 5 cents. There 

is no added charge on 10-cent children's 

tickets admissions. 

The tax will also be passed along to the patrons 

by the American, the city's legitimate 

theatre, and by the Grand, a burlesque house. 

The various sports events covered by the 

tax law also will raise prices. 

It has been discovered that the 5 per cent 

tax on tobacco sales, other than cigarets, 

will, in effect, be 10 per cent since they 

are taxed at both the wholesale and retail 

level. 

The Post-Dispatch in editorial strongly opposes 

the announced plan of James H. Arthur 

to file a suit attacking the validity of the 

tax. "If they go through with it, the movie 

men will display bad sportsmanship and 

questionable judgment," the paper declared. 

It then goes on to state that admission taxes 

have been collected tor some time on professional 

boxing, wrestling, baseball, basketball, 

football and various other sports events 

and athletic amusements, and continues: 

"If there is an injustice, it is that movie 

admissions have been spared while the others 

were taxed. It is hard to see any basis for 

a lawsuit except that the ambitious local 

movie lobby is eager to try its muscles. Considering 

the city's ui-gent need for revenue, 

that spectacle is not very pleasant." 

Of course the editorial makes no mention 

of the fact that the newspapers have opposed 

the proposed one-cent tax on each newspaper 

sold in St. Louis. 

D. L. Danford Buys Dawson 

STRONGHURST, ILL.—D. L. Danford, 

operator of a theatre in Lancaster, Mo., for 

the last 24 years, has purchased the Dawson 

Theatre here from R. D. Todd, who built the 

300-seater less than three years ago. Todd 

also owns the Amus-U Theatre in LaHarpe, 

111., and the Diana in Blandinsville, HI. 

Bookers and their assistants from the 

Indianapolis exchanges were entertained 

recently at a dinner by Affiliated Theatres. 

It is an affair, held every year, 

that is looked upon as an outstanding 

event by bookers in this area. Dinner, 

dancing and entertainment were held in 

the Elks quarters at the Antlers hotel. 

Lexington Negro House 

LEXINGTON, KY.—Lyric Theatre, Inc., 

of New Albany, of which A. Edward Campbell 

is president, has started construction 

of a 940-seat theatre for Negroes here, the 

first colored theatre in this part of the state. 

Campbell operates theatres for Negroes in 

Louisville and Indianapolis and said he has 

plans for further expansion of colored hous3s 

in the Indiana-Kentucky area. 

Indianapolis Ticket Hike 

INDIANAPOLIS—Loew's Theatre advanced 

admission prices December 31, as follows: 

matinees from 40 cents to 44 cents; night 

prices from 60 cents to 65 cents. Prices 

change at 5 p. m. daily. No other downtown 

first run houses have announced a change, 

but it is rumored they will after the first 

of the year. 

Clarence Brown Dies 

INDIANAPOLIS—Fellow workers and officials 

at the Republic exchange were saddened 

by the death of Clarence Brown December 

23. Death at 59 was caused by a 

heart attack. He had been with Republic 12 

years and was widely known in tills exchange 

area. Burial was in Shelbyville, Ind., 

December 26. 

Now at Black River 

MIL"WAUKEE — Charles Nygaard is now 

managing the Avalon and Falls at Black 

River Falls. 

Commemorate Iroquois Fire 

CHICAGO—Annual services commemorating 

the Iroquois Theatre fire of Dec. 30, 1903, 

in which 575 Uves were lost, were held here 

last week in the city council chambers. Fire 

Commissioner Michael J. Corrigan re-enacted 

the pulling of the first alarm, which hs 

did 44 years ago at Randolph and Clark 

streets. The memorial was sponsored by ths 

Junior Ass'n of Commerce. Among those 

present were the former FoUies girl, Annabelle 

Whitford (Mrs. E. J. Buchan), who was 

appearing at the theatre with Eddie Foy in 

"Mr. Bluebeard Jr." 

The Oriental Theatre is now located on the 

former site of the Iroquois. 

Speakers Are Listed 

For UTOI Meeting 

SPRINGFIELD—Seven speakers have been 

lined up for the United Theatre Owners of 

Illinois convention to be held here January 

8. 9 at the Abraham Lincoln hotel. 

A program announced by Edward Zorn, 

president of UTOI, includes Robert W. Coyne, 

executive director, Herman Levy general 

counsel of the Theatre Owners of America; 

Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis; Claude Mundo, 

Little Rock. Ai-k.; Senator Charles Carpentier, 

East Moline, 111., exhibitor; Leon Bamberger, 

RKO sales promotion manager, and Henderson 

Richey, MGM public relations executives. 

Zorn will also address the convention, and 

a representative of local exhibitors will explain 

how they blocked the tax in this city.' 

He commented the list of speakers is subject 

to change and that several names may be 

added to it. 

Reservations were received this week from 

Irving Mack, Chicago; C. C. Mundo, Little 

Rock; Ralph Lawyer, Peoria; R. N. Hurt, 

Toluca. 111.; Sam GoreUck, and Seymour 

Borde, Chicago; Abe Werbner, Lewistown; 

Mike Kirkhart, Lincoln; -Will Baker, and 

Ben Lourie, Chicago; Stanley Leay, Galena, 

and Charles Secord, Lion, 111. 

United Artists Bowlers 

Cling to Chicago Lead 

CHICAGO—United Artists are still 

leading 

by one game in the Chicago Motion Picture 

Bowling league. At last week's session they 

won the odd game from National Screen. The 

runnerup Film Chauffeurs won three from 

Columbia, 'Warners look three from Universal 

and Metro took a couple from Allied Theatres. 

Film Chauffeurs shot a high series of 

2,634 and high game of 903. H. Gerry of NSS 

put together a high series of 631 with a high 

game of 249. 

TEAM STANDINGS Won Lost 

ed Arii: 22 

Film Chau 

Metro 

Allied Thoati 

V. Swcmson .... 

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS 

BOXOFFICE ;: January 3, 1948

Chicago Contains 302 of 702 Houses 

Listed for Exchange Territory 

CHICAGO—Three hundred and two of the 

702 theatres in the Chicago exchange area 

are in the city of Chicago, according to the 

MPA theatre directory. The average number 

of seats per theatre in this city is 1,074 and 

the total number is 324,409. The entire area 

has 595,179 seats . 

Eight out of the ten theatres in Chicago 

with seating capaciiy of 3,000 and over are 

operated by Balaban & Katz. This chain 

operates 49 theatres throughout the area. 

Gary, Peoria and South Bend, the next 

three largest cities in the area, have 35 theatres 

with 34,258 seats. 

The area has two drive-ins, which were in 

operation last summer, and tw'o which we:e 

closed. All four can accommodate 3,480 automobiles. 

The Chicago territory is serviced by 19 film 

exchanges including the eight majors. The 

territory covers northern Illinois and a small 

section of northwestern Indiana. 

The summary: 

Number 

702 

Theatres in operation' 

Closed theortres" _ 16 

Seating 

Capacity 

595,179 

9,447 

Totals 718 

604,626 Totals 71 

Seating capacity of theatres now in operation, ace 

Towns with 

Population Theatres 

,000,000 and over (Chicago) 

1 

250,000-100,001 3 (Gary, Peoria, South Bend) 

100,000- 50,001 7 

50,000- 25,001 _ 12 

25,000- 10,001 29 

10,000- 5,001 35 

5.000- 2,501 40 

2,500 and under 114 

o. of Theatres

»Oil(| 

. . 

Freeburg, III, Theatre 

Gels Go-Ahead Sign 

PREEBURG, ILL.—Uncle Sam's Christmas 

gift to the people of Freeburg was the decision 

of the Office of Housing Expediter in 

Washington to grant permission to B. O. 

Clark to proceed with construction of his 

theatre here. Work was to resume immediately 

after New Year's day. 

Clark had about half completed the work 

of remodeling a former garage building into 

a motion picture house when he was forced 

to stop work because of the federal government's 

restrictions. 

Following protests from the Freeburg Commercial 

club, local clergymen, war veterans 

and civic leaders of the commimity. Congressman 

Melvin Price became interested in 

the matter and went to W. K. Maher, director 

of the federal division, and laid the 

facts before him. The congressman told 

Maher that he had found "the community 

greatly disturbed over the matter" because 

the action of the OHE had upset the town's 

program to combat juvenile delinquency. 

"The clergymen in particular were upset 

over this situation," Pi-ice told Maher. "Their 

main argument was based on the fact that 

with no motion pictiu-e theatre in the community, 

there was a growing tendency among 

the yoimg people to congregate in the various 

taverns." 

ST. LOUIS 

Jâury Davis, manager of the Will Rogers 

Theatre, returned to McMillen hospital 

for further treatment after suffering from 

nose bleeding. He is coming along nicely . . . 

Office employes of Monogram and Allied 

Artists surprised Manager Barney Rosenthal 

by presenting him with a thermos desk set 

at the exchange's Christmas party. Barney 

spent Christmas day with his nephew and 

family in Waterloo, Iowa . . . R. W. Amos 

and wife of the Exhibitors Supply Co. went 

to Chicago to spend Christmas with relatives 

of Mrs. Amos. 

Friends of Herb Washburn of National 

Screen were disturbed when they read an incorrect 

report in a tradepaper that he was 

being replaced as manager. The story should 

have stated that Harry Hynes, manager fur 

Universal-International, has been named to 

succeed Washburn as fire prevention director 

for the St. Louis Filmrow. A new fire prevention 

man is named every six months. 

J. E. De Silva, manager of the Fox Midwest's 

Orpheum and Plaza theatres in Marion, 

111., and three members of his family are 

recovering from injuries sustained in a collision 

between two skidding automobiles 

about nine miles north of Nashville, 111. De 

Silva suffered a broken jaw, a skull fracture 

and lost some of his teeth. Mrs. De Silva 

sustained a knee injury. Their children, Jo 

Ann 8 and Nancy Jane 6, suffered bruises 

and were badly shaken up. Joyce De Silva, 

one year old, escaped injury. The injured 

were taken to St. Mary's hospital in Centralia. 

The baby was taken to home of French 

Gallagher, Centralia theatre manager. The 

other automobile was occupied by a couple 

on their honeymoon. The bride was injured 

.seriously. 

Most of the independent neighborhood and 

suburban houses here closed Christmas eve 

to give their employes an opportunity to 

enjoy holiday celebrations with their families. 

The first run Fanchon & Marco and Loew's 

theatres operated as usual as did the St. 

Louis Amusement Co. houses throughout the 

city and comity. On New Year's eve the 

first run houses operated straight through 

to 3 a. m. January 1. Prices were the usual 

scale. Neighborhood and suburban houses 

had 5-hour shows at slightly advanced admission 

rates. The prices were the same as 

those that prevailed last New Year's eve. 

The Sonja Henie ice show, during a 17- 

night stand at the Arena, played to 168,000 

persons who paid $346,000. This was considered 

very good since in recent months all 

live shows on the stage and in night spots 

have been splashing red ink all over the 

ledgers. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

TDdward Heiber. Eagle Lion district manager 

from Chicago, was confined to his hotel 

room for a day because of illness. He called 

later at the local branch with Irwin Joseph, 

his assistant, and while here checked on circuit 

deals . . . Grace Rayborn, secretary to 

Carl Kemp, EL manager, has resigned. 

Kemp, incidentally, acted as host to his employes 

at a Christmas party held at the exchange. 

Grey Kilbourne, manager of tlie Uptown, 

has started a new schedule, opening 6:45 

. p. m., 30 minutes later than heretofore 

The Belmont and nearby merchants gave a 

Christmas party Wednesday afternoon. A 

gift was provided for each child . . . National 

Screen Service had its Christmas party 

Wednesday afternoon. Feature of the party 

was a grab bag of presents. 

Trueman Rembusch, president of the ATO 

of Indiana, attended the Kansas and Missouri 

independent theatre organization 

meeting in Kansas City . . . Jack Dowd, his 

wife and child spent Christmas in Macon, 

Ga. . . . Claude McKean, manager at Warner 

Bros., enjoyed the holiday with his 

daughter, Patricia Ingram, in Toledo. anJ 

with his son Tom at Indiana imiversity . . . 

Jules Goldman, office manager at Warners, 

and his wife motored to Atlanta, Ga., for 

the Christmas holiday ... A card from Fred 

Greenberg, manager at the Los Angeles Warner 

exchange, was received at the local office. 

Mrs. Truda Brentlinger, mother of Russell 

Brentlinger, manager of RKO exchange, died 

at her home Monday in Stockholm, Calif. 

Brentlinger left by plane to attend the 

funeral services . . . Charles Acton, salesman 

for Republic, and Genevive Ardington of the 

office staff at Republic, have announced 

their engagement, a surprise to fellow employes 

. . . L. J. McGinley, general sales manager 

of Prestige Pictures, and Mrs. McGinley 

spent Christmas with their son-in-law, 

Herman Hallberg, head booker at 20th-Fox. 

FOR F^fT.AO-mM'^t.TmfUS PiAY 

WAHOO 

America's finest Screen Came 


^f y 831 Soufh Wabash Avenue • Chicogo, Illinois 


. . The 

. . Teddy 

' 

. . Lou 

. . "Captain 

. . Burtus 

. . 

CHICAGO 

Hd-lad Eddie Seguin of B&K and his wife 

Virginia of 20t.h-Fox publicity department 

were the first January vacationists to fly 

to Florida. They hit Miami in time to attend 

the Orange Bowl game New Year's day . . . 

The Telenews is celebrating its eighth anniversary 

... A survey by General Manager 

Sylvan Goldfinger shows war films were tops 

for general interest. The Louis-Walcott fight 

films had the greatest interest for men and 

films of the royal wedding for women. 

KeepXouttveO". 

theHeanna 

TWO-WAY 

HORN 

I SYSTEMS COMPLETE 

/SOUND SYSTEMS 

SOUNDHEADS 

BASES 

AMPLIFIERS 

"par 

"THonc îAtcMut^ "Plecuccie 

PROJECTION 

EQUIPMENT CO. 

Union City. Indiana and Ohio 

Screen, extended greetings to 75 members of 

his staff at the annual party held on the 

Row last weekend. Hank Porter was the official 

pillow-stuffed Santa and gave out with 

gifts and provided laughs. 

Alex Manta and Jack Rose entertained employes 

of the Manta & Rose circuit, friends 

and business associates at a holiday party 

held at the company's office . . . Members 

of the Balaban & Katz Employes club entertained 

more than 300 persons at its ninth 

annual children's party in the Congress hotel. 

Sonja Henie opened her "1948 Hollywood 

Ice Revue" to capacity business Christmas It was by far the biggest and most successful 

party in the club's history. As in past 

day at the Chicago Stadium. Michael Kirby, 

the new film find of MOM, is featured in 

years the party was under the supervision 

the revue . new season's greetings 

of District Manager Charles Cottle, who was 

trailers on Essaness screens listed the managers' 

names . Reisch, former sales- 

Harry Robinson, Al Bogtach and other B&K 

assisted by Jack Garber, Milton Officer. 

man for U-I, has been appointed assistant 

staffers. Santa Claus, for the fourth year, 

manager of local office . . . Herald Abbott, was A. J. "Happy" Meininger. 

Abbott Theatre Supply Co., had an open 

house for the trade at his headquarters. 

Irving Mack returned from a visit to his 

Tony Trankins, the Austin highschool new Los Angeles office just in time to conduct 

the annual Christmas party for Filmack 

singer who got a break at the Chicago Theatre 

last summer, was in town from Hollywood 

for the holidays. He's been signed 

employes. About 75 were present. Bonus 

checks and gifts were given to all employes 

to 

. . . 

do two pictures for MOM . From John Dromey, head booker for Great 

Castile" will open a straight-picture policy 

States circuit and mayor of North Chicago, 

at the Chicago January 8. The Mills Brothers 

will open the State-Lake's new 

was host to 2,000 children at the annual yule 

party held at his 

stage 

Sheridan Theatre. The 

policy the same day . Mayer, publicist 

for RKO Theatres in this area, and 

youngsters were entertained with a special 

cartoon show, contests and free candy and 

gifts . . . 

John Gilmore of Coin Machine Industries 

Sidney Lightfoot of Manley, Inc., 

acted as hosts to 2,000 orphans and 

delivered 

underprivileged 

children at a holiday show 

a new Manley outfit to Isadore 

Stern for his Park Manor Theatre. 

at the 

RKO Palace last weekend. A Walt Disney 

Manny Fingerliut, 

feature and ten cartoons were shown. For 

head accountant at B&K, 

refreshments Lou promoted 

was married to Pauline 

2,000 candy 

Pava and 

bars 

they are 

honeymooning in Canada . Bishop, 

and other sweets from Chicago candy makers. 

MGM Midwest sales manager, was visiting 

Harris Sllverberg, manager of National down in Carolina . . . 'Van A. Nomikos, head 

of C.V.N, circuit, made his annual pre-yule 

visit to the Row, his car loaded with Mataxa 

brandy, and saw to it that all his pals went 

home in good spirits . . . Tom Norman, 

former owner of the Palatine Theatre, Palatine, 

111., was on the Row extending holiday 

greetings to all his old pals. Tom just came 

out of the Presbyterian hospital after being 

confined for several weeks after a severe 

heart attack. 

The Balaban & Katz Employes club basketball 

league got away to a good start over 

the December 13-14 weekend, playing five 

games, three on Saturday at the Chicago 

Avenue armory, and two on Sunday at Hamlin 

park. The referee for the games were 

Luther Richardson, Jim Ellis and Jim Salice 

... In the south section activity the Regal 

Squares reflected their Softball doings in 

trouncing the Tower Tall Towers 43-5. The 

other south game found the Chicago Crews 

coming back in the second half to take one 

from the Marbro Maulers by a score of 19-15. 

The Uptown-Uprisers headed a thi-ee-game 

north section card by rolling up a 96-4 

slaughter over their Gateway Guns opponents. 

The Harding-Congress Panthers 

"clawed" a team composed of personnel from 

the Terminal, Alba, Admiral and Drake, 

known as the Teralads. The Crystal-Biltmore 

Trojans and the Belmont-Roosevelt__-, 

Flirty Five rounded out north side action"" 

when the former aggregation eked out a 39- 

28 victory. 

Charles Land, newcomer with B&K, is 

learning show business from a new angle at 

the United Artists. He was until recently 

road manager for Alvino Rey's orchestra . 

For year-aroimd attractiveness, it is hard to 

beat the candy counter at the 'Will Rogers, 

where usher Marion Smith never mi.sses a 

holiday or special occasion to install some 

eye-catching decorations such as the yule 

setting he now has. which is one of the best 

in town. 

— 

Pre-Xmas Loop Week 

Is Poorest in Years 

CHICAGO—It was one of the worst pre- 

Christmas weeks in many years, perhaps a 

record-breaker for bad business. That lastminute 

shopping and other yule activities 

clipped into grosses at all Loop houses. New 

entries did only fair, including the Chicago, 

with "Moss Rose" on the screen, plus Gordon 

MacRae heading the stage show, and the 

Oriental with "'Wyoming" on screen and a 

variety show on stage headed by the Bricklayers 

and Shavo Sherman. Other new ones 

included "Anthony Adverse" at the Roosevelt 

and "Escape Me Never" at the United 

Artists. 

(Average Is 100) 

Apollo— Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox), 

7th wk 95 

Chicago—Moss Rose (20lh-Fox), plus stage show.... 90 

Garrick—Black Gold (Mono), 2nd wk 85 

Grand—Black Narcissus (U-I), 2nd d, t wk 9b 

Oriental-Wyoming (Rep), plus stage show 90 

Palace—Each Dawn I Die (WB), Bad Men oi 

Missouri (WB), reissues 85 

Riallo—Forever Amber (20th-Fox), 8th d, t. wk 90 

Roosevelt—Anthony Adverse (WB), reissue 85 

Stale-Lakt^-Nightmare Alley (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 85 

Studio—The Great Glinka (Artkino) 90 

United Artists—Escape Me Never (WB) 90 

Woods-Body and Soul (UA), 7th wk 105 

World Playhouse Storm in a Teacup (Capitol), 

2nd wk., reissue 85 

'Irish Rose' and "Wistful Widow' 

Take Big Coin in Milwaukee 

MILWAUKEE—Christmas day brought an 

influx of new pictures to first runs after a 

long period of reissues. First runs shuttered 

early Christmas eve, as did most neighborhoods. 

"The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" 

at the Towne and "My Wild Irish Rose" at 

the Warner did the best business percentagewise. 

At the Palace, "The Swordsman" came 

through with average returns. An imusual 

Christmas double horror show, "The Black 

Cat" and "Black Friday" at the Strand, fell 

below par. The veteran Bill Robinson, dancer, 

plus a colored stage show, augmented by 

"Magic Town" in a holdover at the Riverside, 

registered over average. 

Alhambra—Fun and Fancy Free (RKO), King oi 

._B Bandits (Mono) 100 

Palo 

Sweet Genevieve 

(Col) 

Riverside—Magic Town (RKO), plus stt 

2nd wt 

Strand— Black Cat (U I! Black Friday I 

Towne—Wistful Widow ol Wagon Gap 

Warner-My Wild Irish Rose (W" - 

Dough (Uol) 

Wisconsin— It Had to Be You (Col), On the Old 

Spanish Trail 

(Rep) 

Preholiday Indianapolis 

Figures Hit Rock Bottom 

INDIANAPOLIS — Another week of poor 

business was experienced here with grosses 

at rock bottom. Attendance was practically 

nil. 

Circle—They Won't Believ. (RKO) Dick Tracy 

Meets Gruesome (RKO) 

Indiana—Golden Earrings 

Frankenstein (U-1) 

Loew's—Lured (UA), T Blondes and a Redhead 

^^S 

(Col) 

Lyric—Driltwood (Rep), On the Old Spanish Ti 

(Rep) 

FILMACK'S 

SPECIAL 

TRAILERS 

Filmock • 1 327 S. Wabash -Chieogo 5 

100 

IOC 


cilia. 

Art Pugh Opens State 

On Burned-Out Site 

COLUMBUS. KAS.— A, W. Piigh opened his 

new State Theatre here Christmas day. Built 

to replace his former theatre which burned 

last June, the new house, larger and more 

modern than the old one, seats 800, making 

it one of the largest houses in this part of 

the state. 

Featmes of the new building, which is 

situated on the old site plus that of an adjoining 

bowling alley which was destroyed 

also, are two private rooms on the second 

floor, which will accommodate 28 persons. The 

auditorium floor is constructed so that there 

is a six-foot rise from stage to rear wall. The 

Stage itself is 13x40 feet and is built to accommodate 

special stage attractions. 

Booth equipment consists of Super Simplex 

projectors and RCA sound. The theatre front 

is of faced brick and neon-lighted glass brick. 

The 25-foot marquee features neon lighting 

and flasher signs. 

At one side of the lobby is a concessions 

stand with popcorn machine, candy counter 

and a fountain. The "sweet shop" has its 

own entrance to the street. A cry room with 

a bottle-warmer is at the other side of the 

lobby. 

The building is heated by three gas furnaces. 

Air conditioning equipment includes 

two washer -blowers moving 90,000 cubic feet 

of air a minute. Robert O. Boiler of Kansas 

City was the architect. 

Earl Kerr Buys Theatre 

In Knoxville, Iowa 

KNOXVILLE. IOWA—Earl Kerr, owner of 

a string of theatres throughout Iowa, has 

bought the house at Knoxville. from Mr. and 

continue to man- 

Mrs. A. M. Black, who will 

age the thea.re. Kerr will assiune his ownership 

in March. 

The Blacks have operated the theatre since 

the death of Mrs. C. M. Hoffman, mother of 

Mrs. Black and former owner of the house. 

Mrs. Hoffman had operated the theatre for 

many years prior to the automobile accident 

which took her life two years ago. 

George Hart, manager of all the Kerr theatres, 

will move to Knoxville soon to be more 

centrally located in the territory which includes 

the Kerr circuit. Kerr is now residing 

in Colorado. 

All Indices 

Show Iowa Prosperify 

Reached New High Point in 1947 

DES MOINES—The barometers of trade 

and industry, affected in varying degrees by 

the dizzy price spiral, show that Iowa business 

enjoyed a prosperous year during 1947. 

Outstanding feature of the favorable picture 

was the fact that the total income of 

lowans, farmers, manufacturers, merchants 

and workers, reached an estimated record 

total of about $4,350,000,000. Sales tax collections 

indicate that people had more money 

to spend than ever before, while their bank 

balances, as measured by deposits in Iowa 

state banks, hit an all-time high. 

The industrial expansion which got under 

way soon after the end of the war continued 

apace. In the manufacturing field, 

more than 70 corporations, large and small, 

announced starting dates for new production 

or made plans for establishing their 

industries in this state. 

PAY ROLLS AT PEAK 

Another full year of a peacetime economy 

after the transition from the war period 

found employment and pay rolls at record 

levels, while unemployment reached its lowest 

figure. 

Statistics on the business trend come from 

the Iowa development commission, the Iowa 

Manufacturers Ass'n and various state departments. 

Estimates which these sources said were 

on the conservative side listed the 1947 increase 

in industrial income at about 10 per 

cent, or a boost from $1,500,000,000 to $1,650,- 

000,000 over the previous year. 

Despite the beating which farmers took 

from the weather, the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture figured the total agricultural income 

in Iowa to be at least 50 per cent 

higher than in 1946. Top prices for farm 

products were held responsible for this showing. 

The farm income in 1946 was close to 

$1,800,000,000, so a 50 per cent increase makes 

a 1947 total ol about $2,700,000,000. 

The state tax commission's forecast for 

the final quarter was that collections would 

reach $11,000,000 for the first time since the 

sales tax law was enacted. 

BANK DEPOSITS fflGH 

By midyear, deposits in 558 state banks 

had reached an all-time high of $1,512 304.013. 

By October ano'.her $87,000,000 in deposits 

had been added. Newton P. Black, state 

Civic Slipup Brings Blush 

Over 'Ecstasy' Appeal 

Kansas City— "Ecstasy" caused pink 

ears in the city again this week. Bounced 

here in the '30s, the film was booked for 

a repeat performance before the city 

censorial bureau Monday, but this time 

crimson lobes were not caused by Hedy 

Lamarr's decor. Rather it resulted from 

lack of administrative equipment to deal 

with the appeal made by Samuel Cummins, 

distributor of the film following a 

recent ban by Mrs. Eleanore Walton, city 

City Manager L. P. Cookingham discovered 

that Kansas City officially did not 

have a film censor appeal board. Last 

June the city council approved a board 

named by the city manager. Then the 

matter was dropped. No one remembered 

that the board needed to be sworn in. 

When Cummins appealed Mrs. 

Walton's ruling, Cookingham discovered 

that the board was not set to function 

officially. He hastily called the members 

to the city hall and had them sworn 

in. They then viewed the picture and 

upheld Mrs. Walton's decision. "Ecstasy" 

will not be shown in Kansas City. 

banking commissioner, commenting on the 

"excellent condition" of Iowa's banks, said: 

"From June to October the increase in total 

deposits amounted to about 5^1 per cent. At 

the time time the banks increased their holdings 

in cash and government bonds by around 

5V2 per cent. This testifies to their liquidity." 

The Iowa development commission repor'ed 

that the campaign to bring diversified manufacturing 

into the state had brought in millions 

of dollars in capital investment. 

The commission is compiling a new manufacturers' 

directory. It shows that, .since the 

end of the war, 231 new firms have been 

attracted to Iowa and have either started 

operations or are preparing to do so. 

The commission does not have figures on 

the capital investment of all of these companies 

but reports received from 114 of 

them listed a total of $75,034,405 invested in 

plant capacity and sites. 

Louis Stein Building Ozoner 

On Highway 160 at Parsons 

PARSONS. KAS.—Louis Stem, who is m 

the wheat and brokerage business, is buildmg 

a 500-car drive-in one and one-half miles 

east of here on highway 160. The theatie is 

being built on a 40-acre site and will have 

RCA Brenkert equipment throughout. Scieen 

size is 40x60. The entire parking lot will be 

graveled. Included in the plans are a complete 

service station for automobiles and an 

elaborate concession stand for pations 

Opening is slated for spring or early summei 

Equipment was obtained from Missouri Theatre 

Supply. Kansas City. 

Marv Mann, Bob Hazleton 

Buy Minneapolis Palace 

MINNEAPOLIS—Tlie Princess, de luxe 

neighborhood house here, has been purchased 

from the S. H, Chute Co. by Bob Hazelton. 

booker for the Ted Mann circuit, and Marvin 

Mann, brother of Ted Mann. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3, 1948 MW 

NEW BOLIVAK HOUSE—Jerry Drake, operator of the Ritz in Bolivar, Mo., 

hopes to open his new 630-seat house'there, shown above, sometime next month. He 

will retain the Ritz but will close the house when the new Drake opens. 'The house 

will have stadium-type construction and will have a shop adjoining. The interior is 

to be exposed cinder block. The front will be stucco with stainless steel banding. 

Central feature is the panel of glass block lighted from behind with multi-colored 

lighting. 

Drake has provided extra space in the booth for 16mm projection equipment for 

the narrow-gauge newsreel he makes and offers his patrons. Robert O. Boiler & 

Associates, Kansas City, are the architects.

. . Paul 

. . 

. . Frank 

. . Earl 

, . , "Doc" 

. . Ralph 

. 

. . 

DBS MOINES 

jyjany Filmrowers journeyed to their homes 

for some part of the holiday season . 

Helen Knop, Warners, spent a couple of days 

in Rockwell City . . . Esther Huston, Universal, 

visited in Gillman . . . Helena Jacobs, Lou 

Levy's secretary, spent a day with her husband's 

parents in Lacona . , . Billie Hummel 

drove to Newton. Billie is also a Universal 

employe . . . Mable Magnusson spen", a day 

in Minbum with her mother . . . Roberta 

Baker, Eagle Lion, traveled to her home in 

Kellerton . . . Maxine Bird and Betty Ahrends 

of MGM visited in Mount Ayr and Kamaran. 

The flu has again hit the Row here and 

several desks were vacant for at least a day 

or two . . . Helen McGregor and Irma White, 

both of MGM, were vic:ims . . . Lou Levy, 

manager at Universal, was suffering with an 

ear infection . . . Thelma Washburn, RKO 

booker, is slowly recovering from her illness 

but will remain away from her duties a while 

longer. 

Koy and Lou Lepovitz, owners of the Iowa 

Theatre in Des Moines and the Iowa in Madrid, 

played Santa Claus to many film exchanges 

by presenting them with boxes of 

big, delicious apples . Webster. Warner 

manager, was dividing his time between 

the office and the hospital. His baby son 

became ill with flu and had a severe throat 

infection which necessitated his hospitalization. 

Joe Smith, Laurens; Mr. and Mrs. A. M. 

Black, KnQxville; Sam Schlaes, Moline; and 

Frank Shipley of Lennox, were visitors on 

the Row . . . Sol Jaeger and Butch Defrenne, 

RKO salesmen, are vacationing. The Jaegers 

spent part of their time in Omaha and the 

DeFrennes were in St. Louis for several days. 

. . . The 

Evelyn Lackey, RKO, has resigned her 

position . . Bill Feld, Eagle Lion district 

. 

manager, was here last week . . . Dave Nelson, 

Republic manager, spent the holiday 

season in St. Louis . . . Ernie Pickler, Republic 

salesman, is vacationing in sunny California 

. . . A. E. Mitchell has sold his house 

at Waucoma, Iowa . . . Pearl Robbins, Paramount 

salesman, is on vacation 

COMPLETELY NEW 

HORKY'S CAFE 

Bigger and Better Than Ever 

— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks 

1202 High St. Des Moines. Iowa 

"Where Filmrow Friends Gather' 

Open Daily at 4 p. m. 

heating plant at Paramount broke down the 

day before Christmas and employes worked 

in overcoats and mufflers, but rnanaged to 

grin with the true Christmas spirit! 

Jerry Banta, former booker for MGM and 

now associated with that exchange in Denver, 

was a visitor during the holidays, as was 

Jerry McGlynn, former MGM salesman here 

and now manager in Omaha . Helvig's 

son Don, Drake university student, was 

married December 28 to Evelyn Rau. Earl is 

shipper at MGM . Shipley considers 

himself the perfect cupid. Last weekend 

he attended the wedding of two of his former 

employes—William King, operator, and Cora 

Lou Dennells, cashier, at the State in Lennox. 

The couple was married in Anita, Iowa, 

and will make their home in Chicago where 

King is now associated with the RCA company. 

Mrs. A. H. Blank, wife of the president of 

Tri-Sta'.es Theatres Corp., has been moved 

to her home from the hospital where she 

spent two weeks. 

'Widow' in Omaha Cracks 

Par; Others Are Below 

OMAHA—Only one first run was able to 

pull out of the general boxoffice slump prior 

to Christmas. That was the Omaha with 

"The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" and 

"Spoilers of the North." Weather was unseasonably 

warm, with lots of sun and no 

snow. 

Omaha—The Wistful Widow oi Wagon Gap 

(UA), Spoilers oi the North (Rep) 120 

Orpheum—Christmas Eve (UA) SO 

Poramount-Golden Earrings (Para) 80 

RKO-Brandeis—Jezebel (WB); A Slight Case oi 

Murder (Col), reissues 90 

State—Hell's Angels (UA); Scarface (UA) 

reissues 90 

Town—Boston Blackie and the Law (Col); When 

the Daltons Rode (U-I), reissue, split with Bulldog 

Drummond at Bay (Col), Captain Fury 

(UA), reissue. Captain Caution (UA), reissue... 95 

A. O. Cowan Dies 

MANHATTAN. KAS.—Word has been received 

here of the death of A. O. Cowan, 

father of Otis Cowan, formerly city manager 

here for TEI and now a newspaper publisher 

in Texas City, Tex. The elder Cowan 

will be buried in Shawnee, Okla 

Glen. Kimo Pilots Switch 

KANSAS CITY—In a managerial switch, 

Dickinson circuit has transferred Charles 

Boshart from the Kimo to the Glen. He will 

continue to manage the Spanish-language 

Tampico as heretofore. Replacing Boshart at 

the Kimo is Bill Meyer, formerly of the Glen. 

KANSAS CITY 

jyâx Bercutt, SRO publicist from Hollywood 

was in the local office talking ovei 

plans for forthcoming product with "Tommy' 

Thompson, manager here . . . Margaret 

O Toole, former secretary in the Walt Disney 

office, which closed recently, is now at Film 

Classics . . . Sophie Pisanos of FC will retire 

next week for the birth of her child . . 

According to Lou Pope, purchasing agent for 

Fox Midwest, bids were out this week for 

the proposed new theatre in Atchison. 

All downtown houses had midnight Ne'w 

Year's eve performances, priced at 75 cents, 

a 10-cent advance over normal . . . Frank 

Hensler, assistant central sales manager for 

MGM, was in the local exchange for conferences 

with the sales staff . . . Eddie Golden, 

Metro city salesman, and "Andy" Anderson 

of Paramount, returned Monday from the 

Chicago meeting of the Colosseum of Motion 

Picture Salesmen of America. 

A. J. Simmons, owner of the Plaza in 

Lamar, and his son Bob were in the Commonwealth 

home office Tuesday. Bob manages 

the house for the circuit Beverly 

. . 

Miller, Eagle Lion district manager, is in 

California for a two-week vacation 

Ward E. Scott, former 20th-Fox district manager 

here, visited the exchange last week 

after an operation on his eye and a brief 

stay at St. Luke's hospital. Reports are that 

with the aid of a lens over that eye, Scott 

will have satisfactory vision once more. 

Harry Till of the Courter in Hamilton is 

at St. Luke's following a stroke suffered last 

Saturday i27i. Till suffered a similar stroke 

two or three years ago . . . Jack Braunagel 

of the Durwood home office was in California 

on vacation. 

Julian H. King, president of King Enterprises 

and franchise holder for Favorite 

Films and Screen Guild here, was in Wichita 

visiting his mother-in-law. King lives in 

Des Moines . . . Visiting Filmrow were John 

Egli jr. of the Hickory in St. Joseph: Roy 

Wilson of the Ace, Grenola; Gene Michael, 

Michlo, Braymer, and Fred Wilcox, Cozy, 

Lockwood . Morrow, Universal city 

salesman, drove to St. Louis for the Christmas 

holiday . . . Marie Slatkoske of the SG 

office was several hours late in returning 

from her holiday in Des Moines due to transportation 

tieups over the weekend. 

Injuries of the week were broken ankles 

suffered by Tom Wolf, manager of Durwood'.s 

Roxy, and Roy Cato, manager of FMW's 

Fairway. Both tripped on steps. Cato is in 

St. Margaret's hospital in Kansas City, Kas. 

Wolf is up and about, aided by crutches . 

Paul Kelly of Dickinson circuit became the 

father of a baby girl December 23. Cynthia 

is Mr. and Mrs. Kelly's first child. 

I, 

OUTDOOR THEATRES 

Two for Wehrenberg-Ka 

W. H. Mills & Son . 

[ 

r^«^gî^^"r*^^^^, 

. . PLANS, SPECinCATIONS and CONSTRUCTION 

THREE DESIGNED THIS YEAR. 

Circuit. One for Flexer Drive-In Theatres, Inc. 

8032 Forsythe Blvd. • St Louis S. Mo. • DElmar 5860 

Fox Midwest reported that neighborhood 

business during the pre-Christmas period 

was worse than at any time since the war 

Hartley, motion picture editor of 

the Star, has gone to New York to visit his 

daughter Katherine. 

Bfm ^& 

mOTIOn PICTURE SERNUCq 

flSHYDtSr. M 6»ALDI.KAilSKl 

sa 

BOXOFHCE :: January 3, 1948

'Road/ Tycoon' Lead 

ticlpated extent, due in part to a minimum 

of outstanding pictures. "Out of the Past" 

sized up as the best of the lot. Other contenders 

Field in Kansas City 

Me Never," "Prince of Thieves" and "That 

Hagen Girl," with the first two making the 

KANSAS CITY—The second stanza of best boxoffice showing. There were but three 

"Road to Rio" at the Paramount held up so holdovers— "Ecstasy," in its fourth week, 

were "My Wild Irish Rose," "Escape 

well that again it led the scores of the week. "Christmas Eve" and the dual reissue combination, 

Close behind, however, was "Tj'coon" at the 

"Wings of the Morning" and "Storm 

Orpheum. Both were held over for an additional 

in a Teacup." A reissue, "Drums Along the 

period. "The Swordsman," coupled Mohawk," did relatively the biggest business 

with "Blondie's Anniversary" at the Midland, 

above normal complete 

downtown. 

Aster— Devil scored 40 per cent to Ship (Col); Shut My Big Mouth 

of top grossers downtown. 

the list 

(Col), reissues 9h 

Century-Escape 90 

Christmas week, a natural for nearly all 

theatres, did not benefit all local houses, 

Me Never (WB) 

Gopher—Drums Along the Mohawk (MlthFoxj 

reissue 

MO 

however, as was evidenced by the below-average 

tally of "The Return of Rin Tin Tin" at 

Lyceum 

Teacup 

Lync—Christmas 

Wings of the Morning (indj. Storm in 

(Ind), reissues, 2nd wk 

Eve (UA), 2nd 

SU 

Radio Rose City—My Wild the Esquire, registered despite the holiday 

Irish V. 

RKO-Orpheum—Out ol the Past plus the personal appearance of the 

spirit 

canine star and his trainer. 

RKO-Pan—The Prince ol Thieves 

Stale—That Hagen Girl (WE) 

Weather for the week was quite warm. Outside 

World— Ecstasy (Ind), reissue, 4th v. t luu 

competition consisted of "The Red Mill," 

which had a very successful four days at the 

Music Hall, and basketball tournaments in 

Frank Nelsons in Kansas 

the arena of the Municipal auditorium. 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—Frank Nelson of the 

(Av 100) 

Feturn Tin Dallas office of TEI, his son Gene and Mrs. 

Esquirt—The ol Rin Tin (EL); 

WUd West (EL) 

Swordsman 

Nelson spent Christmas here. They visited 

Midland—The ,Cc^'' Blondie's 

Mrs. Nelson's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John 

Orpheum—Tycoon (R-'O) 

Best. On their way home the Nelsons will 

Paramount—Road to Rio vT 

stop in Parsons and Independence to call on 

Roxy—Last oi the Redmen 

Pacifac Adven- 

the circuit managers in those towns. Nelson 

Jure (Col) 

Fail way— Daisy Kenyon 

and his son are with the mechanical department 

of TEI. 

— 

TALKING TRAILERS, LOBBY PAPER 

AND MATS 

Write, Wire or Phono 

PENNINGTON POSTER SERVICE 

130 West 18th Phone: GRan«l 8626 

Kansas City 8, Mo. 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Your Deal Handled PersonoUyl 

27 years experience 

We Cover the U. S. Market 

Arthur Leak 

Theatre Sales Exclusively 

3422 Kinmore Dallas 10. Texas! 

Phone T3-2026 

Satisiaction — Always 

Missouri Theatre Supply Co. 

L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager 

Phone GRond 2864 

^ US W. ISth Koniae Ctty 8. Me. S 

Average Mark Is Reached 

By Two Des Moines Films 

DES MOINES—Two downtown houses 

managed to do average business for the first 

time since the preholiday rush began. "Road 

to Rio" drew good crowds to the Des Moines 

and "Out of the Past" and "Blondie's Annivercary." 

double feature at the Orpheum. also 

attracted patrons who were through with 

their Christmas preparations. 

Urphe 

Anniversary (Col) 

Paiamouni—Thunder in the Valley (CO 

Christmas Week Snap-Back 

Not as Sharp as Expected 

MINNEAPOLIS—Business came back from 

the pre-Christmas slump, but not to the an- 

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POPCORN BOXES 

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Paper Supply Co. 

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STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Cc 

LOBBY MATS AVAILABLE AGAIN! 

CORRUGATED and PERFORATED 

U. S. ROYALITE QUALITY 

in 1/4"— %" and V2" thickness. 

Cloth Inserted. 

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MINNEAPOLIS 

H J. O'Keefe, U-I assistant general sales 

manager, spent Christmas with his family 

here . . . Filmrow and exhibitors were glad 

to see Bill Cameron. MGM salesman, back 

covering the same old territory which he 

handled so well for so many years. He had 

been transferred to Milwaukee a few months 

ago . . . Art Anderson, Warner Bros, branch 

manager and former Northwest Variety Club 

chief barker, is doing fine at St. Mary's hospital 

after his operation and should be home 

in two weeks or sooner. 

Harvey Thorpe, Crosby, Minn., exhibitor, 

visited Filmrow . Variety Club 

had open house New Year's eve . . . Burglars 

attempted to break Into the Paramount exchange, 

but were apparently frightened away 

after cutting a large hole in the rear door 

. . . Joe Loeffler, Republic branch manager, 

greeted the New Year with his family in 

Cleveland . . . Joe E. Brown, playing at the 

Lyceum here in "Harvey," attended screenings 

of his latest picture. 

Will Jones, Tribune critic and columnist, 

is one of principal "actors" in the Warner 

Bros, news shot showing the Minneapolis 

school for airplane stewardesses in action . . . 

"Hy" Chapman, Columbia branch manager, 

spent New Year's in Milwaukee with his 

family . Berger, son of Bennie, starting 

in show business as booker for his father's 

large circuit. 

The Paramount Pep club was in charge of 

the branch's annual Christmas party this 

week. After taking in a screening of "Road 

to Rio," the guests adjourned to the Hotel 

Andrews Brunswick room for dinner and fun. 

FOR SPECIAL SHOWS TRY 

sPECini 

TRHILERS 

We Moke 'em Better and Quicker! 

Cites Jackson Park Verdict 

In Minneapolis Appeal 

MINNEAPOLIS — Ben Friedman, circuit 

owner, has notified film exchanges here that 

he will ask for 21-day clearance for his Edina, 

local suburban theatre which now has 56 

days. Under the Jackson Park case decision 

Friedman claims he has the right to such reduced 

clearance. 

"Theatres built since the Edina and in 

competition with it—the St. Louis Park, the 

Hopkins and the recently opened Richfield— 

have 42-day clearance, as against the Edina's 

56," Friedman pointed out. "The result is 

that business at the Edina has been hurt to 

the point where I am forced to ask for the 

lower clearance. 

LINCOLN 

The State opened to capacity crowds Christmas 

day with "The Secret Life of Walter 

Mitty." In cooperation with city traffic officials, 

window cards urged people not to 

be Mittys. The State is managed by Walter 

Janke, who is city manager for the Nebraska 

Theatre Corp. 

The new Motion Picture Foundation was 

explained to Cooper Foundation employes at 

their annual Christmas breakfast by Robert 

Livingston, Cooper public relations man. 

Livingston said that 75,000 midnight shows 

throughout the country would finance the 

welfare fund. "Thousands of people connected 

with show business will benefit from 

the fund," he said, "including janitors, ushers 

and managers." 

Charles Kroll, house manager of the Stuart, 

spent Christmas eve with his parents in 

Geneva, Neb. . . . Mike Cavander, assistant 

manager of the Nebraska, spent the weekend 

following Christmas with friends in 

Chicago. 

Bob Buchanan, manager of the Capitol, 

entertained his parents a few days before 

Christmas. 

John Schafluetzel, manager of the Lincoln, 

ran the 30-minute color shots of the royal 

wedding with "Pirates of Monterey." Many of 

the people who criticized the recent news 

shots of the wedding returned to pass judgment 

on the color short and were well 

pleased . of the Lincoln was 

finished recently in fast time. Working all 

night for two days, carpet layers and painters 

timed their work so that the theatre did not 

miss a single performance. There are new 

carpets and drapes and fresh paint in the 

lobby and foyer. 

On the morning before Christmas, the 

Varsity Theatre and radio station KOLN 

sponsored a free show and gave away two 

Rollfast bicycles to the boy and girl who arrived 

in the most original costume. 

PRA«$ CROWO^ UKE MAGIC 

% WAHOO 

America's fittest Screen Game 

HOLLYWOOD AMUSE MENT CO., 831 S. WABASH AVE.. CHICAGO 

} 

OMAHA 

lyjr. and Mrs. G. Ralph Branton were here 

from Des Moines to spend New Year's 

eve with band leader Horace Heidt and Mr, 

and Mrs. William Miskell. Branton is Tri- 

States Tlieatres general manager and Miskell 

is Ti'i-States district manager here. 

Jack Renfro, RKO branch manager, spent 

the holidays in Kansas City. Salesman Dave 

Arthur went to St. Louis and Kansas City. 

Nate Galbreath headed for Texas. Only 

John Matis of the sales force spent his vacation 

at home . . . Columbia salesmen also 

are on vacation during the holidays. 

John Kemptgen, former MGM branch 

manager here and now head of the Milwaukee 

branch, spent a few days here during 

Mr. and Mrs. Carl 

the holidays . . . White, Quahty Theatre Supply Co. owners, 

went to Little Rock, Ark., to visit Dr. and 

Mrs. John White during the Christmas-to- 

New Year's week. 

Donald Hicks, Paramount branch manager, 

missed work due to illness . . . Warner 

Bros, salesmen are on vacation, but it wasnt 

much of a vacation for Willie Wink, who 

went to the hospital for a physical checkup. 

Leon Mendelson headed for Sioux City to 

attend a wedding. 

Adolph Rozanek, owner of the Times Theatre 

at Crete, Neb., was out from his home 

in Chicago, visiting both Omaha and Crete 

Pahls, Eagle Lion stenographer, 

visited Tipton, Kas., during the holidays . . . 

Harry Barker, United Artists salesman, who 

lives at Des Moines, also went to Kansas 

for his vacation. 

Robert Hoff, sales manager of the Ballantyne 

Co., made a fast plane trip to Columbus, 

Ohio, and Chicago between Monday and 

New Year's . Ballantyne. ownsr 

of the company bearing his name, spent part 

of Christmas week in Chicago with his 

Roy Casey, 20th-Fox 

daughter Joyce . . . 

cashier, went to his home at Cherokee, 

Iowa. Christmas. 

George Hall. Franklin, Neb., exhibitor who 

was on the shelf for a number of weeks, 

visited along the Row Monday. Others included: 

Cliff Sherron, Genoa: H. O. Oualsett. 

Tekamah; Mr. and Mrs. John Noffsinger, 

Madison: Frank Good. Red Oak, 

Iowa: Mrs. Laura Moorehead. Stromsburg; 

Jeanette Shonneman, Wahoo: Bruce Holdridge. 

Shenandoah, Iowa: Earl Barclay, 

Stromsburg: D. H. Heyne, Hooper: Henry 

Saggau. Denison. Iowa, and Howard Brookings, 

Oakland. 

Bill Miskell has agreed to cooperate with 

March of Dimes collections in Tri-States 

. . theatres in the territory Leon d'Usseau, 

Hollywood talent scout, spent several days 

here local press devoted editorials 

to Bill Miskell's camnaign for a separate 

police traffic court. Miskell is chairman of 

the Safety Council's enforcement committee. 

Herman Field, exhibitor at Clarinda, Iowa, 

left for two weeks in California . . . Caroline 

Joyce, Universal contract clerk, spent Christmas 

at her home in Red Oak, Iowa . . . 

Ralph Maw of Minneapolis, assistant to the 

western division sales manager for MGM, 

was in for several days and took in the 

office Christmas party . . . Morris Smead, 

Council Bluffs exhibitor and popcorn official, 

headed for California on a combination 

business-pleasure trip . . . Mona Hanson, 

U-I secretary, spent Christmas at her 

home at Ames, Neb. 

Andy Anderson, Sloan, Iowa, exhibitor, was 

vacationing in Texas . . . Mary Gagnon, 

Warner secretary, spent Christmas in Yankton. 

S. D. Carol Bisson spent Christmas 

at 

Auburn. 

S4 BOXOFFICE :: January 3. 1948

Road to Rio' Is Big 

In Cincinnati Slump 

CINCINNATI—With but one shining exception 

business in downtown houses was 

typical of the week before Christmas. That 

exception was "Road to Rio," which was held 

over for another stanza at the Palace. 

. , 

Albee—I Love Trouble (Col) K dav^ V] 

i.i.s.i. 4 Capitol—Ninotchka (MGM), div: 

Good News (MGM), 3 days !lli 

Grand—leiebel (WB), Slight Case of Murder 

(WB), reissues 80 

Keiths—Body and B5 

Soul (UA), ilh v. t; 

d, t. 70 

Lyric—The Gangster (Mono-AA), 2nd wk 

Detroit Grosses Depressed; 

Exhibitors Wear Long Faces 

DETROIT—With Christmas, plus snow. 

taking the blame, grosses generally were way 

down last week, despite some good seasonal 

attractions. Business on Christmas day itself 

was generally disappointing, leaving local 

exhibitors quite pessimistic. Detail for week 

ending December 25: 

Adams—Green Dolphin Street 

Broadway Capitol—Stand In 

(MGM) 

(U.A), House 

100 

Across the Bay (UA), reissms 80 

Cinema—Pageant Russia oi (A;:) The Miracle 

ol Dr. Petroif (Art) 

Downtown—Drums Along the Mohawk (20thfox); 

75 

Mark ol Zoro (20lh-Fox), reissues 90 

Fox-Foxes of Harrow (20lh-Fox), 2nd wk 90 

Michigan—That Hagen Girl (WB); Green for 

Danger (EL) 100 

Palms-Stale—Road to Rio (Para): Big Town 

After Dark (Para) 9b 

United Artists—Fun and Fancy Free (RKO); 

Driftwood (Rep) 90 

'Magic Town' Cleveland High 

During Pre-Christmas Slump 

CLEVELAND—The usual and expected pre- 

Christmas slump hit all local theatres, both 

downtown and in the neighborhoods. Downtown, 

"Merton of the Movies." playing its first 

week, and two holdovers, "Green Dolphin 

Street" and "Magic Town," were the only ones 

to emerge with a par score. 

Allen—The Secret Life ol Walter Mitty (RKO), 

4th wk 75 

Hippodrome—A Slight Case of Murder (WB), I Am 

a Fugitive (WB), reissues 60 

Lake—Magic Town (RKO), 2nd d 1 wk 110 

Lower Mall—The Burning Cross (SG) 80 

Ohio—Green Dolphin Street (MGM), 4th d, t. wk, 100 

Palace—The Gangster (Mono-AA) 90 

State—Merton oi the Movies (MGM) - 100 

Stillman—Golden Earrings (Para), 2nd d. t wk ,,,, 80 

'Pink Horse' and "Gangster' 

Best of New Offerings 

PITTSBURGH — Pre-Christmas 

were fair at best. Of the new offerings, the 

Fulton's "Pink Horse" and the Warner's 

"Gangster" were leaders. 

Fulton—Ride the Pink Horse (U-I) 100 

Harris—Pirates of Monterey (U-I) 80 

Penn—Golden Earrings (Para) 90 

Ritz-Green Dolphin Street (MGM), 135 

3rd d, t, wk ... 

Senator—Miracle on 34th Street (20th-Fox), 

in 2nd run, Blondie the Dough (Col) 85 

Stanley—Out ol the Past (RKO) 85 

Warner—The Gangster (AA-Mono) 110 

To Be Warmer Next Year 

DAYTON—The annual Christmas party 

given by local RKO theatre managers was 

held at the Keith's with personnel of Keith's, 

Colonial and State attending. Midway in the 

party it was learned that Christmas day is 

the 50th birthday of Goodwin Sable, local 

RKO representative and Keith's manager. 

Employes of his theatre said they would provide 

a heater for his new car in remembrance 

of 

the occasion. 

Peter Gregory Recovering 

CRESTLINE, OHIO— Peter Gregory, manager 

of the Crest, is back home recovering 

from an operation for appendicitis performed 

at Memorial hospital, Shelby. 

Availability Shift Rates 

Top Cleveland Interest 

Pittsburgh Filmrow Union 

Elects William Brooks 

PITTSBURGH— Filmrow Employes Union 

Fll has named William Brooks, Paramount, 

president. Other officers for 1948 are Jack 

Weltner, Eagle Lion, vice-president: John 

Navoney, Paramount, treasurer; Marjorie 

Botsford, 20th-Fox, secretary; Irving Stein, 

20th-Fox, sergeant at arms; and Orlando 

"Slam" Boyle, business agent. Installation 

party wîll be held January 31. Ti'ustees for 

the new year are Al Lostetter, U-I; Helen 

Garlitz, Eagle Lion, and Ann Zinsmeister, 

Paramount. Members of the executive board 

are Belle Simon, Warners; Jay Angel, Warners; 

Ann Quinn, UA; Peg O'Connell, Paramount; 

Roseanne Feinberg, Paramount; 

Claire Niederberger, RKO; Wahneta Gardner, 

MGM, and Josephine Beck, National 

Screen. 

10 Per Cent Ticket Tax 

Looms in Clairton. Pa. 

CLAIRTON, PA.—The council has agreed 

tentatively to levy a 10 per cent amusement 

tax and a one mill mercantile tax. Additional 

plans are to increase building permit 

fees from $2 to a new total of $4 per $1,000 

valuation; to hike music box and poolroom 

fees from $25 to $50; to increase the $1 per 

head poll tax to $2, and to increase the real 

estate levy from 15 to 16 mills. 

Don Johnson Quits 

DETROIT—Don Johnson, manager of the 

Howell Theatre in Howell, Mich., since 1934 

except for two-year period when he served 

in the army, is retiring from that position 

to devote his full time to his general instu-- 

ance business. His successor will be Floyd 

Carr, a former manager of the theatre. 

Dayton Christmas Shows 

DAYTON—Two downtown theatres, the 

Victory and the Colonial, and the suburban 

Dale, Dabel and Davue presented special holiday 

comedy shows for children December 20 

and 22. Admission was a can of food for hungry 

families here and overseas. 

TOGETHER AGAIN — Sam Fineberg, 

left, and Jim Alexander, Pittsburgh Filmrow 

veterans, have renewed an association 

broken off several years ago when 

Republic bought their local franchise. 

Fineberg recently resigned as local Monogram 

manager to join Alexander in the 

Alexander Theatre Supply Co. (formerly 

the A&S Steinberg company). 

CLEVELAND— Probably the "hottest" subject 

in local film circles today is availability. 

For 15 years, the availability in the greater 

Cleveland area has been undisturbed. First 

runs have had 21 days protection over established 

second runs and 35 days protection 

over first run neighborhood houses. 

Then along came Andy W. Smith jr., 20th- 

Fox general sales manager, and proposed that 

certain specified noncompetitive first run 

neighborhood houses could have the 20th- 

Fox product on the 21st day, day-and-date 

with the second city runs, under certain conditions. 

The exhibitors liked this policy, but 

they kicked it around for about a month until 

Warners adopted it for their Vogue, Uptown 

and Variety theatres, using 20th-Fox and 

Warner pictures. 

ELEVEN NOW ON 21 DAYS 

Today there are 11 theatres in the Cleveland 

area playing the 21-day availability 

policy. Besides the three Warner houses, the 

eight theatres all belong to independent circuit 

owners. They are the Broadvue, owned 

by Frank Gross; the Riverside, a Community 

circuit house, and six Associated circuit 

houses; namely, the Shore, Shaker, Center- 

Mayfield, Parma, Fairview and Homestead. 

While plowing new availability fields, 

Henry Greenberger, it is rumored, is seeking 

to put the Fairmount, a de luxe suburban 

neighborhood house, on a first rim basis, to 

show pictures day-and-date with the downtown 

first runs. The report has it that several 

distributors are listening. Should such a deal 

materialize, the Fairmount probably will 

charge the same admission scale as the downtown 

houses. 

RKO MAY RELAX 

Cleveland exhibitors are greatly interested 

in the general changes in availability, allowing 

greater latitude of policies, based on 

individual 

situations rather than an over-all 

policy. 

Last week it was authoritatively stated that 

RKO was entertaining propositions on a 21- 

day availability plan. It is understood that 

RKO has withdrawn from the plan and, for 

the time being at least, is sticking to the 35- 

day availability for first run subsequent 

houses. 

Drive-In Theatre Planned 

At Washington C. H., Ohio 

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO— 

The first drive-in theatre in Fayette county 

is to be erected on the C. F. Highley farm, 

a mile and a half west of the city on the 

CCC highway by the Associated Theatres of 

Lynchburg. The theatre is being constructed 

for J. Henry Davidson of Lynchburg and K. 

R. Roberts of Greenfield, who also operate 

drive-ins at Hillsboro, Peebles, Osborn, Greenfield 

and Georgetown. 

First Talkie Her Last 

XENIA, OHIO—Mrs. Tobitha Keesberry, 

84, of East Monroe, went to her first talking 

motion picture the night of December 26, 

but was stricken by a heart attack a few 

minutes after entering the theatre here, and 

died a short time later in a hospital. She 

was accompanied to the show by her sister, 

Mrs. Catherine Pidgeon, and Mr. and Mrs. 

William Linton, of near here. They said she 

had not been to a show since the advent of 

sound pictures. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 3, 1948 ME 59

. . Horace 

. . Katherine 

CINCINNATI 

\ll7arner personnel enjoyed their annual 

Christmas party at the Hotel Alms 

grill . . . R. A. Emrick of the By Jo in Germantown, 

is driving a new Buick . . . Reports 

have reached here that Al Glaubinger, 

former Dayton salesman for RKO and now 

traveling for that company in the Pittsburgii 

territory, has whittled his weight down by 

40 pounds. 

Roy Wells of Dayton, whose St. Paul Theatre 

is located on Richards street, is protesting 

to city officials because of a no-parking 

ruling affecting one side of the street . . . 

Clell Benjamin, who was operating the Port. 

Stockport, closed the house November 29 . . . 

Mrs. M. Boschian sold her English, English, 

W. Va., to E. E. Boyd, who also operates theatres 

in Gilbert and Glen Alum, W. Va. 

Bert Fiala, Alhambra, Dayton, is back after 

a stretch of illness . Wersel of the 

Hyde Park, Silvertone, and Deer Park theatres, 

has returned from a auto vacation trip 

SOUND with the quality of 

"IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE" 

FOR GREATER LISTENING°PLEASURE 

HARDIN THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

714 So. Hampton Rd. Dallas, Tex 

ALL KINDS OF THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

PARTS FOR ALL MAKES OF PHOIECTORS 

which took him as far west as California . . . 

Rube Shor, secretary-treasurer of the West 

Virginia Theatre Managers Ass'n, has called 

a board meeting here for January 6th. 

Betty Connors, Paramount report clerk, 

resigned to join her husband, who has assumed 

a new position in Toledo. MoUie Maier 

has joined Paramount in Mrs. Connor's place 

. . . Robert Regan has taken over operation 

of the Twins Theatre, Waynesville, Ohio, 

from Paul Shafer . Meyers, in 

the RKO cashier's department, is back at 

work after a two-week siege of illness. 

During the four days preceding Christmas 

that Vic Coffel closed the Esquire and Cheviot 

theatres, a number of improvements were 

made in the foyers and the interiors. Both 

houses reopened Christmas day . . . Floyd 

Price and associates have pui'chased 36 acres 

near Newark, where they will begin construction 

immediately of a $150,000 drive-in theatre 

. . . 'Walter Watson, booked at RKO, and 

Mrs. Watson are the parents of a new son, 

Ronald Edward. 

Heads Billposters 94 

DETROIT—John Carano was re-elected 

president for one year of the Billposters Alliance 

94. Other new officers: Vice-president, 

Peter Miglio; secretary-treasurer. Matt 

J. Kobe: business agent, Michael Noch: trustees, 

William Noch. Willard W. Wood and 

Andrew Konkoly. 

3 Pet. in East Palestine 

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO. — The city 

council enacted an ordinance levying a 3 

per cent amusement tax, which became effective 

January 1. 

DRIVE-IN and THEATRE 

EQUIPMENT 

Drawings, specifications, blueprints lo fit any expenditure 

for the simplest to the most complex theatre. 

( Drive-In Theaire construction done by ttie 

ROSDIT CONSTRUCTION CO., 

on affiliate ol SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES) 

* The NEW "12,000" DeVry Projectors and 

Amplifiers 

* DeVRY "In-A-Car" Speakers 

* ALTEC LANSING Amplifiers and Speakers 

* STRONG Rectifiers * NATIONAL Carbons 

* NEUMADE Accessories GOLDE Supplies 

-X TIFFIN Draperies and Scenery 

* IRWIN Seats * STABILARC Generators 

* GENERAL Register Machines 

"Be/ore You Buy, See and Hear DeVry" 

Frank J. Nalley, 65, Dies; 

40 Years in Exhibition 

CARNEGIE, PA.—Requiem high mass was 

sung Saturday morning last week in St. 

Luke's Catholic church 

for Frank J. Nalley, 

65, veteran exhibitor, 

who died December 23 

in a Charles-on, W. 

Va., hospital. Nalley 

was a theatre owner 

and proprie tor for 

nearly two score years. 

He operated the Lyric 

and Liberty, Carnegie, 

for many years, and 

about 15 years ago entered 

exhibition i n 

Nitro, W. Va., operating 

the Nitro and 

Frank J. Nalley 

Lyric. In poor health 

for a number of years, he retired two years 

ago, making his home with Mrs. Gertrude 

D. Houston Nalley, in Carnegie, Charleston 

and in Pittsburgh at the William Penn hotel. 

Nalley was in the shoe business here 40 years 

ago before entering the theatre field. Burial 

was in St. Joseph's cemetery, Carnegie. 

Frank Bell, 80, Exhibitor 

In Fayette City, Dies 

FAYETTE CITY, PA. — Funeral services 

were conducted here last week for Frank 

Bell, 80, local exhibitor. Active in the motion 

picture industry for many years, the 

octogenarian showman had been in declining 

health for a year. The name Bell is 

synonymous with entertainment here and 

has been for 37 years. Bell entered exhibition 

in 1910 and his son Joseph assisted him for 

a number of years, assuming management of 

the Bell Theatre some years ago. 

Theft of Theatre Tickets 

Comes Out in Wash 

AKRON—Two North Akron youngsters, 

age 12 and 10, took 4,000 tickets from the 

Orpheum when they found the theatre office 

door open while they were leaving the show. 

They gave some of the tickets to chums in 

the neighborhood. Later, the mother of one 

of the neighborhood boys was doing her 

washing. Noticing something bulky in her 

.son's pockets, she investigated and discovered 

the theatre tickets. Her son admitted who 

gave them to him, and police apprehended 

the two guilty boys, who were referred to 

juvenile court authorities. 

Ashmuns, Brother-in-Law 

Buy Bowling Alleys 

DETROIT—Charles O. Bye of Sault Ste. 

Marie, and Glen, R. D. and R. J. Ashmun 

have bought the Harmony Hill bowling alleys 

in Caro, Mich., from William B. Ayre. The 

Ashmuns are owners of the Strand in Caro, 

Mich., and of several other Michigan houses. 

Bye. brother-in-law of Glen Ashmun, will 

.sell out at the Soo and move to Caro. He 

will own one-half of the bowling business 

and the other half will be split between his 

three partners. 

Complete Booking Service • Complete Factory Service 

SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES 

Office Phone: ADams 9644 

1420 CANFIELD AVE. 

Nights and Sundays: TAylor 7511 

DAYTON, OHIO 

Ralph Parrack Builds 

Theatre in Mill Creek 

MILL CREEK, W. VA.—Tlie foundation has 

been completed here for erection of a 400- 

seat theatre by Ralph Parrack, who operates 

a theatre in the high school auditorium and 

theatres in Junior, Pickins, Mabie, Valley 

Bend and Valley Head. 

BOXOFFICE :: January

. . . Tony 

. . The 

. . The 

. . Sam 

. . Herb 

. . Mark 

. . Bernie 

. . 

Akron Theatres Plan 

Collections for MOD 

AKRON—Members of the Akron Theatre 

Managers Ass'n plan to participate in the 

March of Dimes theatre collections, according 

to Max Federhar, president. Akron and 

Summit county was the scene of a severe 

polio epidemic last summer in which almost 

300 cases were reported, so that local interest 

in the collection is high. 

Ascap Defense Plan Now 

Available to Ohio ITO 

COLUMBUS—National Allied's plan to 

frustrate Ascap demands for higher fees 

received approval of the board of directors 

of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio 

in a special meeting here. The Ohio organization 

is 

making available benefits of 

the defense plan to all members on a voluntary 

basis. 

P. J. Wood, executive secretary, declared 

exhibitor members who wish to participate 

should advise him immediately. With these 

informal pledges exhibitors should state the 

theatres to be included, seating capacity of 

each and the highest admission price charged 

for each. Wood said that subscription agreements 

would be sent to those desiring to 

participate, in which the complete and final 

plan would be set forth. 

Wood emphasized that members desiring 

full information should contact him by phone 

or letter. Details of the Allied proposal are 

included in Wood's current bulletin to members 

of ITOO

Boxoffice-January.03.1948

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