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TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS 23,000<br />
Imuwuj<br />
Exhibitor<br />
Conventions,<br />
New Clearance Policies<br />
Highlights of<br />
the Week<br />
Pages 8-9<br />
<strong>MPAA</strong> Panel Discussion:<br />
'What's Right With Movies'<br />
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION<br />
Including till Sttlianal Nm Pagis ol All Editions<br />
Entered M second -eliss mitter it tl» Post OfOM at Kansas Oty. Mo., under the aet of Mareb 3, 1879.<br />
MAY 28, 1949
^S IN<br />
"When an M-G-M<br />
musical gets<br />
clicking on all<br />
cylinders, the<br />
exhibitor knows<br />
he can just sit<br />
back and watch<br />
the attendance<br />
figures rise."<br />
—FILM BULLETIN<br />
Your public loves M-G-M's happy star-studded Technicolor musicals and<br />
The Friendly Company brings to their door- step entertainments bigger<br />
than any Broadway $6.60 show. Sure-fire box-office were such hits as<br />
"Easter Parade/' ''Date With Judy/' "Words and Music/' "On An Island<br />
With You/' "Luxury Liner" with "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" currently<br />
delighting the fans.<br />
Tell 'em about Leo's terrific new ones on next page!<br />
1
WSIGAIS.TOO!<br />
/'<br />
ft<br />
HWTT^i^^^WI<br />
BARKLEYS of BROADWAY<br />
HAMM<br />
It's<br />
Great at the State, N. Y. and soon your folks will see Fred<br />
Astaire and Ginger Rogers together again in M-G-M's big,<br />
Technicolor musical. It's<br />
// .<br />
the most highly publicized reunion in<br />
screen annals, which Hedda Hopper in her nation-wide column,<br />
calls: "Their greatest picture." And Walter Winchell salutes<br />
it<br />
with a "Curtain Call" in his column, syndicated to millions.<br />
u<br />
//<br />
NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER<br />
Already the airwaves are broadcasting the hit song, "Baby, It's<br />
Cold Outside." M-G-M's Queen of Technicolor Musicals, starstudded,<br />
spectacular, is the biggest commercial musical since<br />
"Bathing Beauty." A cast of top entertainers: Esther Williams,<br />
Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn,<br />
Xavier Cugat.<br />
COMING!<br />
"ANNIE GET YOUR GUN." The most famous long-run stage<br />
musical<br />
comedy of years is a resplendent M-G-M Technicolor screen gem now. A<br />
big all-star cast in scenes of splendor, excitement and glamour — plus —<br />
musical score that includes eleven famous Irving Berlin melodies.<br />
"ON THE TOWN." Another famed Broadway musical becomes Technicolor<br />
screen magic at the hands of the industry's top musical producer, M-G-M.<br />
Packed with stars who have delighted the fans in recent hit musicals: Frank<br />
Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Vera-Ellen, Jules Munshin, Ann Miller.<br />
Judy Garland and Van Johnson fall in love "IN THE GOOD OLD<br />
SUMMERTIME." It's<br />
M-G-M's Technicolor romance with Songs that preview<br />
audiences call<br />
"the best romantic musical since 'Meet Me In St. Louis'."<br />
"THAT MIDNIGHT KISS"- Every Technicoloriffic moment of it throbs<br />
with delight, for the millions of wives, shop-girls, teen-agers. Cast includes<br />
Kathryn Grayson, Jose Iturbi, Ethel Barrymore and a new singing sensation<br />
handsome, virile Mario Lanza.<br />
I<br />
Back The Motion Picture Industrv'j<br />
U. S. Savings Bond Drive, May 16— June 30
inn«a againsi me »Ky m tiv<br />
^^<br />
FROM WARNER BROS*<br />
COMES A TREMENDOUS DRAMA<br />
HURTLING OUT OF THE HEROIC<br />
VASTNESS OF THE . .<br />
STARRING<br />
"COLORADO TERRITORY" JOEL M^CREi
viuciiio<br />
liU^T ^iiy uf inv ifiuun<br />
...A GIRL WITH A PRICE ON HER KISSES<br />
AND A MAN WITH A PRICE ON HIS HEAD!<br />
DIRECTED BY<br />
/IDAIMIA MAYA raoulwalsh anthony veiuer<br />
rllXWlllIM IflHIV Written by JOHN TWIST and EDMUND H, NORTH
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
rULISIED IN NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
D<br />
OXOFFICE<br />
JAMES M. JERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor<br />
JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
FLOYD M. MIX Equipment Editor<br />
RAYMOND LEVY General Manager<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Editorial Offices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20,<br />
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Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-6371, 5-6372. Cable<br />
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Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager,<br />
j, Herbert Roush, Manager Advertising Sales<br />
and Service. Telephone CHestnut 7777-78.<br />
Other Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER, published<br />
m November as a section ol BOXOFFICi];<br />
THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a<br />
section ol BOXOFFICE.<br />
ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan.<br />
ATLANIA— 163 Walton, N. W., P. H. Savin.<br />
BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger.<br />
BCSrON—Frances W. Harding, Lib. 2-9305.<br />
BUFFALO— 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder.<br />
CHAHLOTTE—216 W. 4th, PauJine Griffith.<br />
CINCINNATI—4029 Reading Rd., Lillian Lazarus.<br />
CLEVELAND—Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046.<br />
DALLAS—4525 Holland, V. W. Crisp, 18-9780.<br />
DENVER— 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose, TA 8517.<br />
DES MOINES—Register 6 Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch.<br />
DETROIT— 1009 Fox Theatre Bldg., H. F. Reves.<br />
Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-02I9.<br />
HARTFORD— 109 Westborne, Allen Widem.<br />
HARRISBURG, PA.—Mechonicsburg, Lois Fegan.<br />
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2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow.<br />
MEMPHIS—707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462.<br />
MILWAUKEE—3057 No. Murray Ave., John E. Hubel,<br />
WO 2-0467.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees.<br />
NEW HAVEN-^2 Church St., Gertrude Lander.<br />
NEWARK, N. J.-207 Sumner, Sara Corleton.<br />
NEW ORLEANS—Frances Jackson, 218 So. Uberty.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—216 Terminal Bldg., Polly Trindle.<br />
OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes.<br />
PHILADELPHIA^190I Spruce St., J. M. Makler.<br />
PITTSBURGH—86 Van Braam St., R. F. Klingensmith.<br />
PORTLAND, ORE.—Edward Cogon, Nortonia Hotel,<br />
11th and Stark.<br />
RICHMOND—Grand Theatre, Sam Pulliam.<br />
ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY— Deseret News, Howard Pearson.<br />
SAN ANTONIO—211 Cadwalder St., San Antonio.<br />
L. J. B. Ketner.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO — 25 Taylor St., Gail Upman,<br />
ORdway 3-4612.<br />
SEATTLE—928 N. 84th St., Willard Elsey.<br />
TOLEDO-4330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline, LA 7176.<br />
IN CANADA<br />
CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm, Campbell.<br />
MONTREAL-^330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael,<br />
Walnut 5519.<br />
ST. JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNuIty.<br />
TORONTO—R. R, No. 1, York Mills, Milton Galbraith<br />
VANCOUVER-^U Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy.<br />
VICTORIA—938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman.<br />
WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin.<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office. Kansas City, tf.a.<br />
Sectional Edition, $3.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50<br />
TURNABOUT!<br />
7<br />
«^^ URNABOUT is fair play.<br />
So Parade magazine,<br />
which previously had published a series of articles containing<br />
many critical comments as to "what is wrong with the movies,"<br />
"what is right<br />
now accords the industry an opportunity to tell<br />
with movies" from the right side of the fence. Thus, an article<br />
under this affirmative caption appears in the Sunday, May 29<br />
issue of the newspaper supplement which, through 24 metropolitan<br />
papers, reaches some 15,000,000 subscribers. A report<br />
on this article appears elsewhere in this issue.<br />
As Parade puts it,<br />
"The candid discussion across cm unpolished<br />
mahogany table was unprecedented, for never before<br />
have moviemen of their rank and influence met together to<br />
explain their industry to the public." That's because it was<br />
an ancient policy of the so-called organized branch of the industry<br />
to let people talk and, no matter how viciously they<br />
attacked the screen, not to answer back. For the record, let it<br />
be said that, gracious as was Parade in giving the industry its<br />
inning, it did so, because members of the newly-constituted<br />
production-distribution branch made the request.<br />
Only last week did we comment on Cecil B. DeMille's admonition<br />
that "It is time we stopped turning the other cheek<br />
and gave some of it back." Agreeing, we said much depends<br />
on how that is to be done. And now it ccm be said that it was<br />
very well done by the panel of industry top men who participated<br />
in Parade's round-table conference.<br />
Perhaps now that this refreshing change of pace has come<br />
about, there will be evidences of its<br />
being carried forward to<br />
reach the mcmy millions of the public who have thus far gotten<br />
only the "wrong" side of the story. Since, as Life magazine<br />
gratuitously proclaimed in a recent issue, "Everybody<br />
loves the movies," everybody is entitled to be told what's<br />
"right" about them. After all, moviegoers, by and large, prefer<br />
the happy ending.<br />
Drive- Ins<br />
K *<br />
and Runs<br />
The postwar development of drive-ins has been so remarkable<br />
that some of them are now playing percentage pictures.<br />
For years these open-air theatres played pictures so old that<br />
the younger patrons couldn't remember them. Since the end<br />
of the war the oldies still have predominated, because the<br />
Vol. 55<br />
M A Y 2 8,<br />
No. 4<br />
19 4 9
'PuUe Sc^it^<br />
Exhibitor-CommunitY Relations<br />
Headed by Francis Harmon<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n names veteran of its<br />
staff to that post; Dr. Irvin Deer and Duke<br />
Hickey services terminated; Arthur DeBra<br />
continues; David Palfreyman undecided.<br />
I<br />
novelty of the drive-ins—like that of television—has in itseli<br />
been a diavr. But conditions are changing fast.<br />
Whole families climb into the old car and motor out into<br />
the country to see pictures, but they don't want old pictures.<br />
The open-air theatres are competition for enclosed theatres<br />
live,<br />
ten and 15 or 20 miles away, but the mass of precedents<br />
set up in the arbitration system leaves the distributors no way<br />
of proving that clearances are justified al such distances. But,<br />
under competitive bidding, any exhibitor can come in and pay<br />
first-run<br />
prices and get the pictures.<br />
As the number of drive-ins has increased, their distance<br />
has become narrowed to the point where some have become<br />
competition to one another as well as to enclosed theatres.<br />
And with this condition has come an increase among them in<br />
the demand for earlier runs, both in town and on the highways.<br />
So a new problem is poised. Looks like the arbitrators,<br />
or conciliators, are going to be mighty busy. .<br />
On Competitive Bidding<br />
Speaking of competitive bidding, the effusive Bennie Berger<br />
of Minnesota, had quite something to say about it at the<br />
convention of North Central Allied meeting in MiimeapoUs this<br />
week. He calls it "ruinous" when, in the effort to move up<br />
clearances, it<br />
forces up film costs by as much as 500 per cent.<br />
This was the case in one situation that was cited. Competition<br />
may be healthy, but it can also be unhealthy, if such a condition<br />
persists.<br />
As a solution to this problem, Mr. Berger proposed the<br />
alternating of first showings of pictures by competitors in each<br />
availability division.<br />
Thus, one theatre would show a release<br />
first at midweek, vidth the competing house playing it at the<br />
weekend. The next week the showings would be alternated<br />
by these same houses.<br />
There is precedence for such a plan, for one very similar<br />
has been in operation for some years on a division-of-product<br />
setup where two first-run theatres desired or had need for<br />
some one producer's films. While not plainly a case of alternating<br />
runs, its principle could be adapted to subsequent-run situations<br />
where greater quantity of product is required.<br />
This would seem to be a "live-and-let-live" policy that<br />
would be of long-run benefit for everybody—including the<br />
distributors.<br />
\.j€a
NCA GOING ALONG WITH FOX<br />
IN GIVING SALES POLICY A TRY<br />
Lichtman Tells Conclave<br />
He Opposes Percentage<br />
In Small Towns<br />
By LES REES<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—While he expressed<br />
opposition to the "retroactive" feature of<br />
the sliding scale, President Bennie Berger<br />
of Norih Central Allied, after hearing sales<br />
executives and Vice-Presidents Al Lichtman<br />
and Andy W. Smith of 20th-Fox answer<br />
questions hurled at them for nearly<br />
two hours at the organization's annual<br />
convention here, said he'd go along with<br />
the company and give the new sales policy<br />
"a fair trial."<br />
Members in attendance at the convention<br />
indicated they're disposed to follow their<br />
presidents lead and do likewise.<br />
HIT AT SLIDING SCALE<br />
Berger and others attacked the sliding<br />
scale. Lichtman and Smith defended and<br />
lauded it.<br />
The membership, however, was heartened<br />
and encouraged by Liohtman's interpretation<br />
of the plan. The thi'eatened "uprising"<br />
against it and the expected "denouncement"<br />
of Fox and the sales executives and anticipated<br />
fu-eworks never materialized.<br />
North Central Allied members liked particularly<br />
:<br />
1. Lichtman's assertions that he opposed<br />
percentage for small towns and<br />
competitive bidding anywhere.<br />
2. The Lichtman declaration that<br />
"there is no arbitrary way of doing business"<br />
and that his company favored<br />
permitting customers to buy in the way<br />
they prefer—flat, — straight percentage or<br />
the sliding scale "consistent with a fair<br />
and square deal."<br />
3. That 20th-Fox has given M. A. Levy,<br />
local branch manager, and its other exchange<br />
managers, full authority to act<br />
on all deals—that henceforth nobody in<br />
the home office will pass on contracts.<br />
4. That the new plan can only work<br />
out to the best interests of all concerned<br />
the exhibitors as well as the distributors.<br />
5. That all 20th-Fox asks is for a square<br />
deal which it is also prepared to give to<br />
exhibitors.<br />
CAN'T SEE BRIGHT SIDE<br />
Lichtman pointed out to the convention<br />
that "the industry's status didn't permit him<br />
to paint a rosy picture"—that seven major<br />
companies in 1948 lost 16 millions on film<br />
production as compared to 30 millions profit<br />
in 1947—which, he said, "isn't a healthy condition<br />
for the business to be in."<br />
"I realize that exhibitors have their problems,<br />
too, what with business falling off," said<br />
Lichtman. "We all have to go back to work<br />
together to keep the industry on its feet and<br />
revive the movie-going habit. We can't be<br />
smug. The united work of all is needed to<br />
accomplish the maximum results."<br />
When the question-answer period started,<br />
Berger minced no words in assailing distribu-<br />
—BOXOmCE photo<br />
At the North Central Allied meeting, left to right: Bennie Berger, NCA president;<br />
William Ainsworth, president of National Allied; Andrew W. Smith jr., 20th-<br />
Fox general sales manager; and Al Lichtman, 20th-Fox vice-president.<br />
tors generally. In introducing Lichtman, he<br />
declared the latter "is the creator of many of<br />
the things we call evil in the industry." At the<br />
same time, however, he praised Lichtman and<br />
Smith for being the only sales executives "who<br />
cared enough for us exhibitors in the sticks<br />
to accept our invitation and come here to<br />
hear our squawks and discuss our problems<br />
with us." He said he was glad to have them<br />
present to interpret the new sales plan.<br />
Berger sailed into percentage hammer and<br />
tongs. He called the sliding scale "the slippery<br />
scale."<br />
"All that the independent exhibitors ask<br />
for is a fair shake— something they've never<br />
had," declared Berger to Lichtman. "We've<br />
been harassed and pushed around from pillar<br />
to post. Distributors have given us the 'takeit-or-leave-it'<br />
treatment.<br />
"We want to be dealt with at least as decently<br />
as the producers deal with the imions.<br />
We're at least entitled to have them sit with<br />
us at a round table to thresh out our differences."<br />
"Compulsory percentage is destroying our<br />
National Conciliation<br />
Proposed by Delegates<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Wheels were set in<br />
motion here for the establishment of a<br />
national conciliation board to decide<br />
industry differences and eliminate costly<br />
litigation. The campaign was laimched<br />
at the North Central Allied annual convention<br />
when members endorsed such a<br />
proposal by President Bennie Berger. Distributor<br />
executives will be requested to<br />
have their companies join the plan.<br />
Under Berger's plan, the national conciliation<br />
board would comprise one or<br />
more exhibitor representatives from each<br />
exchange area. They would meet two or<br />
three times a year with the distributor<br />
"policymakers" to "iron out any national<br />
problems which may arise between the<br />
distributors and exhibitors."<br />
industry,'" asserted Berger. "It's only the abnormal<br />
boom times and our popcorn and<br />
candy sales that have kept many of us alive.<br />
With the exception of about 2,000 theatres<br />
throughout the country there is no rhyme<br />
or reason for obnoxious percentage and no<br />
basic need for it."<br />
Other exhibitors, addressing Lichtman, declared<br />
this territory's theatres "cannot operate<br />
on the sliding scale." Berger said affidavits<br />
are being collected showing forced<br />
selling and asserted "we'll send some people<br />
to jail for this."<br />
ERRONEOUS CONCEPTION<br />
Lichtman told Berger and others that their<br />
conception of the sliding scale is erroneous<br />
—that the idea is to give exhibitors an opportunity<br />
to run a picture as long as it's profitable<br />
instead of having to yank it because<br />
the straight percentage makes it unprofitable.<br />
"Another virtue of the sliding scale is that<br />
it protects both the producer and exhibitor<br />
if the picture doesn't prove the expected boxoffice<br />
success," said Lichtman. "In such a<br />
case the exhibitor will pay a minimum sum<br />
for it on a sliding scale. But if the picture is<br />
a boxoffice hit the distributor will receive his<br />
just dues from it on a sliding scale.<br />
"When there was block booking we dealt<br />
with the exhibitor on the basis of averages.<br />
The producer-distributor knew what income<br />
to expect and costs were not nearly so high.<br />
The income could be apportioned to the<br />
various pictui'es. Every picture, however, is a<br />
tremendous investment today. You are not<br />
required to buy every picture. The major risk<br />
is ours."<br />
Berger called the sliding scale one step forward<br />
and two backward and said the increasing<br />
percentage shouldn't go back to the first<br />
dollar of receipts. It operates to stop exhibitors<br />
from using the utmost showmanship in<br />
selling pictm-es to the public because it requires<br />
him to pay an unfair share to the<br />
distributor and the amount is likely to be<br />
used as basis for flat rentals, he pointed out.<br />
"What we want is simply a square deal for<br />
our pictures—no more or no less," asserted<br />
Lichtman.<br />
8 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
NEW CLEARANCE REGULATIONS<br />
CREATING EXHIBITOR HUBBUB<br />
Mill City Independents "<br />
Seeking a Compromise<br />
On Film Bidding<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— It was revealed at the<br />
North Central Allied convention that the<br />
local independent exhibitor group is trying<br />
to agree on a plan to end "ruinous competitive<br />
bidding" which has started among the<br />
neighborhood and suburban independents as<br />
one of the results of demands for 28-day and<br />
other earlier availability — demands which<br />
followed the Supreme Court decision and<br />
consent decree.<br />
This competitive bidding, it was disclosed,<br />
already has raised film costs in some instances<br />
from a former $150 per picture to a<br />
present $750 per film for the Richfield and<br />
Boulevard, competing independent 28-day<br />
suburban houses. Unless the present trend<br />
is checked. President Bennie Berger of North<br />
Central Allied warned the Minneapolis<br />
group, other independent houses now enjoying<br />
the earliest 28-day clearance and others<br />
demanding it "will find themselves in the<br />
same boat."<br />
SUGGESTS ALTERNATING FILMS<br />
A Berger proposal is that the "clearance<br />
mess" be straightened out by a plan to alternate<br />
pictures to the various houses in each<br />
admission slot throughout the city every<br />
three weeks.<br />
Ben Friedman, independent circuit owner<br />
who has two local .suburban houses, also is<br />
proposing a plan whereby competing houses<br />
in the same general area and slot would<br />
alternate the first showings in their availability<br />
division each week. For example,<br />
Friedman's Edina would show a release first<br />
on one Thursday and the competing St. Louis<br />
Park would play it on the following Sunday,<br />
with the showings alternated by the same<br />
houses the next week.<br />
Before either plan can be adopted the<br />
independent exhibitors themselves will have<br />
to agree and subscribe to it and the distributors<br />
must give it their approval. Berger<br />
pointed out. A difficulty, of course, he said,<br />
is to effect an agreement among the independents<br />
themselves when many of them<br />
seek advantages over the others,<br />
DEMANDS BEING IGNORED'<br />
Friedman declared at the convention that<br />
his demands for 28-day availability for his<br />
Edina are being ignored, although it has<br />
been granted to newer theatres in the same<br />
general area that pav no more film rental.<br />
He warned the 20th-Fox executives that he<br />
would be forced to go to court to enforce his<br />
rights if the distributors continue to ignore<br />
him.<br />
Al Lichtman, 20th-Fox vice-president, drew<br />
applause when he said he was opposed to<br />
competitive bidding and felt that any distributor<br />
who made it a policy was shortsighted<br />
and misguided. He pointed out, however,<br />
that "in some instances the present law<br />
compels us to take competitive bids for runs<br />
and product."<br />
"My own belief," said Lichtman, "is that<br />
competitive bidding is destructive,"<br />
27-Theatre<br />
By MGM in<br />
Second Run<br />
Chicago<br />
CHICAGO — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer<br />
is<br />
trying the quick-playoff policy for "Take<br />
Me Out to the Ball Game" in the Chicago<br />
area. There was no waiting period<br />
after the picture closed a three-week<br />
Loop run at the Oriental Theatre, the<br />
feature going directly into 27 neighborhood<br />
and outlying houses. The picture<br />
was reported doing good business in all<br />
situations.<br />
Allied Will Consider<br />
'Litigation Threats'<br />
WASHINGTON—The possibility that distributors<br />
in some areas are using the alleged<br />
threat of lawsuits to justify greater rentals<br />
from competitive bidding will be a subject for<br />
discu.ssion at the Allied board meeting in<br />
Dallas Monday and Tuesday iMay 30, 31"1<br />
General Coun.sel A. F. Myers said here this<br />
week. Myers released a full agenda, which<br />
includes discussions of forced percentage<br />
playing, poss.ble contract revision, the new<br />
Fox sales plan and a number of other matters.<br />
The board will also consider the advisability<br />
of setting up a standing committee<br />
to keep an eye on the development of television.<br />
Under the heading "competitive bidding"<br />
Myers also listed for discussion the possibility<br />
of calling for the opening of bids with<br />
exhibitors in attendance in those areas<br />
where there is competitive bidding.<br />
Another subject of interest on the agenda<br />
will be the possibility of invoking the socalled<br />
Finneran plan to discipline stars<br />
whose personal lives have resulted in harmful<br />
newspaper publicity against future productions<br />
.starring Rita Hayworth and Ingrid<br />
Bergman. This would mean resistance to<br />
films made by these stars in the future.<br />
Reports on federal admissions tax reduction,<br />
Ascap, the bond drive, improvement of<br />
trailers, print shortage, Cryptix and theatre<br />
insurance are also listed—with discussion<br />
.slated on the advisability of concerted action<br />
toward the lowering of insurance rates<br />
as the new noninflammable film comes into<br />
wider use.<br />
Bidding Policy Setup<br />
For UA in Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—United Artists here has<br />
switched to a policy of selling product on<br />
competitive bidding in all first and subsequent<br />
run situations. The company previously<br />
experimented with such selling terms. The<br />
decision to put current product up for bidding<br />
is believed to be based on the strong<br />
backlog of product which includes such films<br />
as "Home of the Brave" and "Champion."<br />
Memphis Is Watching<br />
Para.'s New Policy<br />
For Second Runs<br />
MEMPHIS—The entire motion picture industry<br />
is watching the outcome of Paramount's<br />
new second run release policy whxh<br />
gets a definite tryout the week of May 29<br />
through June 4. For that week, three leading<br />
Memphis de luxe theatres, the Ritz,<br />
Rosemary and Idlewild, have contracted to<br />
run "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's<br />
Court." The Ritz is a first run house but<br />
like all first runs, sometimes takes a live<br />
second-run or repeat picture.<br />
WAITING FOR THE RESULTS<br />
All exhibitors in the Memphis area are<br />
watching to see what happens when a film<br />
is run for a full seven days at a $750 guarantee<br />
against a 35 per cent cut for the first<br />
$3,500 and a 50-50 split above $3,500.<br />
Those are the terms Paramount required<br />
in return for releasing the picture 30 days<br />
after its first run on Main street instead of<br />
the usual minimum of 39 days.<br />
Distributors are all watching the result, too,<br />
because ther« have been constant rumors<br />
that Paramount's trail-blazing may lead to •<br />
new avaUability polic es from other distributors.<br />
However, all distributors have denied<br />
any contemplated changes.<br />
At present—except for the Paramount<br />
"experiment"—.second runs for de luxe neighborhoods<br />
and drive-ins are permitted under<br />
a 39-46-day arrangement. Even number<br />
films are released to one list of exhibitors<br />
:n 39 days after first runs and odd number<br />
films to a second list of exhibitors. All<br />
others must wait 46 days. Then, at set<br />
periods, the lists are switched so that even<br />
numbers go to those who formerly received<br />
odd number films find vice versa.<br />
ALLIED IN A PROTEST<br />
More than usual interest is involved in the<br />
test-run by Ritz, Rosemary and IdleWild for<br />
these reasons:<br />
1—Because a group of independents<br />
thought the special arrangement for a 30-<br />
day second run was set up for Ritz. They<br />
pointed out that Ritz was first to book the<br />
"Yankee" under these terms.<br />
2—Because Memphis Allied leaders held<br />
an informal meeting when the news of<br />
Paramount's plan leaked out and. Bob Bowers,<br />
Memphis Allied manager, issued a statement<br />
that Allied opposed Paramount's action, that<br />
it "amounted to bidding" and "was vicious."<br />
3—Because once the policy went into effect<br />
and Ritz booked the picture, Edward O.<br />
CuUins, temporary president of AUied, booked<br />
it at the same rates and on the same dates<br />
for the Idlewild, which he owns.<br />
Both Idlewild and Rosemary are de luxe<br />
neighborhood houses with large seating facilities.<br />
Rosemary is owned by Augustine<br />
Cianciola, who also owns and operates the<br />
Luciann.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949 9
British Stand on Quota<br />
May Stall New Moves<br />
BULLETIN<br />
NEW YORK—Eric Johnston, <strong>MPAA</strong><br />
head, has agreed to a postponement of<br />
the next meeting of the Anglo-American<br />
film council until the first week in<br />
August. The meeting wjU be held in<br />
London. The action was decided upon<br />
because nothing can be decided in<br />
connection with the British situation<br />
until Harold Wilson, president of the<br />
board of trade, returns to London from<br />
Canada.<br />
NEW YORK—Only one definite development<br />
emerged from the fog shrouding the<br />
British quota and frozen currency situation<br />
during the week. It was the British statement<br />
that the government could not reduce<br />
the quota again before Oct. 1, 1950.<br />
There was plenty of activity behind the<br />
scenes, but it obviously was not getting anywhere.<br />
Ellis Arnall, president of the Society<br />
of Independent Motion Picture Producers,<br />
issued another statement and went to Washington<br />
for another conference with the Department<br />
of Justice. He was accompanied by<br />
Robert J. Rubin, counsel.<br />
SUGGESTIONS 'EXPLORATORY'<br />
It was indicated still another statement<br />
would be forthcoming later in the week.<br />
Arnall contends joint action by MPEA<br />
members on the British situation is "cartelization"<br />
and a violat:on of the antitrust laws<br />
in spite of the Webb-Pomerene act which<br />
authorized combinations for export trade purposes.<br />
MPEA officials avoided a controversy, but<br />
some of the executive committee members<br />
pointed out privately that the outline of proposals<br />
discussed at the recent Anglo-American<br />
conference here contained no concrete proposals<br />
upon which action had been taken;<br />
they wei-e merely "exploratory."<br />
In the meantime the Arthur Loew committee<br />
has been confen-ing with MPEA leaders<br />
and has uncovered a wide variety of<br />
opinions on what course should be pursued.<br />
As a result, there may or may not be<br />
another Anglo-American conference here<br />
next month. Th.3 present attitude seems to<br />
be that if the British are going to refuse to<br />
discuss any quota reduction for a year and<br />
are going to insist upon continuing restrictions<br />
limiting the use of frozen funds there<br />
is nothing important to discuss.<br />
A CALIFORNIA DEMAND<br />
The postponement, if it comes, is expected<br />
to be the result of a request from the British<br />
Film Producers Ass'n. Harold Wilson, president<br />
of the Board of Trade, left for Canada<br />
shortly after the return to England of J.<br />
Arthur Rank. Since that time British film<br />
men have received no assurances from government<br />
sources that quota discussions can<br />
be held.<br />
Nobody will be surprised if the California<br />
delegation in Congress should renew its demands<br />
for concessions during the discussion<br />
of Marshall plan appropriations due to come<br />
up soon.<br />
In the meantime British production is not<br />
perking up. Reports from England indicate<br />
10<br />
further curtailments are planned in J. Arthur<br />
Rank's Pinewood and Denham studios, with<br />
-<br />
Hollywood in<br />
Attack<br />
On British Stand<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Militant<br />
broadsides<br />
against the British government's rejection<br />
of appeals to end quota discrimination<br />
agamst American films were fired<br />
simultaneously by two Hollywood organizations,<br />
the Motion Picture Industry<br />
Council and a member thereof, the Hollywood<br />
AFL Film Council.<br />
Both groups du-ected their protests to<br />
California's congressmen and senators,<br />
as well as to the State department.<br />
The MPIC's blast, signed by Cecil B.<br />
DeMille, chairman of the organization,<br />
requested a congressional investigation to<br />
"clarify the real reasons behind the British<br />
government film policy" and urged<br />
the house ways and means committee to<br />
launch the probe along lines previously<br />
indicated by Congressman Cecil R. King,<br />
a member of that committee, in a house<br />
speech last April.<br />
a maximum of 20 pictures planned. Five of<br />
these are scheduled to start during the summer<br />
or before the first of the year.<br />
There are assorted reports in this country<br />
about the total of British film earnings in this<br />
country in the year ending June 1 and how<br />
much of it will be sent to England to be<br />
added to the $17,000,000 which can be remitted<br />
to the United States. "Henry V" is<br />
still rolling up substantial grosses for United<br />
Artists, "Hamlet" is reported to be well past<br />
the million dollar mark on Universal-International<br />
books, and "Red Shoes" is rurming<br />
close to a million.<br />
Because some films have been exempted<br />
from the over-all agreement and private<br />
deals have been made to balance income<br />
of top British product here against income<br />
from some American films in Great Britain<br />
the situation has become extremely involved.<br />
Nobody wants to talk for publication.<br />
Wehrenberg's Will Leaves<br />
$50,000 to 7 Employes<br />
ST. LOUIS—Fred Wehrenberg remembered<br />
his veteran employes in his will. He left<br />
$50,000 to seven of them. Largest bequest,<br />
$25,000, went to Lester Ki'opp, 43-year-old<br />
booker and general manager who sold popcorn<br />
for Wehrenberg 33 years ago. The wiU<br />
also bequeathed $7,500 each to Mrs. Helen<br />
Foster, manager of the Michigan Theatre;<br />
Catherine Eilerman, cashier at the Melba<br />
and Gustave N. Krause, manager of the Cinderella.<br />
Other associates remembered were F. H.<br />
Marlott. auditor, $1,000: Joseph Litvag, manager<br />
of the Apollo, .$1,000; and Alfred Kropp,<br />
maintenance man, $500. The Better Films<br />
Council of St. Louis was given $2,000 and a<br />
son-in-law, Paul Kreuger, who manages three<br />
theatres was left $25,000.<br />
An interesting bequest was to a grandchild—the<br />
net profits from the confections<br />
concession at the Cinderella Theatre.<br />
ONE WOMAN'S STORY (U-D—Another high<br />
quality J. Arthur Rank production, splendidly<br />
directed and superbly acted by three<br />
top British stars. The theme, which is<br />
reminiscent of "Brief Encounter," deals<br />
with two mature people, each happily married,<br />
who attempt to renew a youthful<br />
romance. Claude Rains, Ann Todd, Trevor<br />
Howard. Directed by David Lean.<br />
RED MENACE, THE (Rep)—Forceful, fearless<br />
and frightening-in-spots is this expose<br />
of Communist activities in America.<br />
That it is an extremely courageous picture,<br />
none will deny. Its fortitude is reflected in<br />
many facets, most especially its pull-nopunches<br />
subject matter and the assembling<br />
of a virtually unknown cast to delineate<br />
it. At to the picture's commercial<br />
possibiUties, they obviously are entirely dependent<br />
upon how intensively and intelligently<br />
the offering is merchandised. If the<br />
advantage of the film's<br />
showman takes full<br />
dramatic impact and, above all, the provocative<br />
word-of-mouth reaction it is sure<br />
to engender among both individuals and<br />
organizations, the feature can be made to<br />
be a top money attraction. True, the lack<br />
of established names will have to be offset<br />
but that is possible because performances,<br />
under the able direction of R. G. Springsteen,<br />
are exceptionally convincing. Robert<br />
Rockwell, Hanne Axman, Betty Lou<br />
Gerson, Barbra Fuller.<br />
RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING PINE (Col)<br />
Deviating from saloon brawls and the<br />
average posse riding after outlaws, this<br />
western with music has several other angles<br />
of interest with Gene Autry involved<br />
in a lumber war. Gene Autry, Patricia<br />
White. Directed by John English.<br />
These reviews will appear in full in<br />
a lorthcoming issue of Boxoffice.<br />
Republic Going 'All Out'<br />
To Sell 'The Red Menace'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Republic expects its surprise<br />
picture, "The Red Menace," to create<br />
exceptional interest throughout the country,<br />
Herbert J. Yates, president, said at a press<br />
conference this week. An expose of communism<br />
in this country, the film was secretly<br />
made under another title.<br />
The picture will get the works as far as<br />
exploitation is concerned. Republic has set<br />
aside a $50,000 appropriation to advertise and<br />
exploit the Los Angeles opening.<br />
With a cast largely comprising screen unknowns,<br />
"The Red Menace" will make its<br />
bow June 9 with a day-date opening at the<br />
Downtown and Hollywood Paramount.<br />
Openings in other key cities throughout<br />
the country, Yates said, will be accompanied<br />
by large-scale fanfare and exploitation, including<br />
screenings for veterans' organizations,<br />
women's clubs, and civic, religious and<br />
labor groups.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:: May 28, 1949
. . The<br />
Things Looking Rosy,<br />
Para. Chiefs Report<br />
LOS ANGELES Reaffirming the optimistic<br />
outlook initially expressed at studio<br />
parleys attended by production, distribution<br />
and field representatives last March, top<br />
Paramount studio and homeoffice executives<br />
and personnel from the company's six western<br />
exchanges held a three-day western divisional<br />
sales meeting at the Ambassador hotel here<br />
May 23-25. It was the fifth and last in the<br />
series of regional huddles to discuss new<br />
product and map promotion and selling campaigns<br />
thereon.<br />
BALABAN IS<br />
CO>fFIDENT<br />
President Barney Balaban keynoted the<br />
aura of confidence in the future of Paramount<br />
and the industry in one of the opening<br />
addresses at the session. Discussing operations<br />
which will become effective January<br />
1 when, under terms of the consent decree,<br />
the company's exhibition holdings will be<br />
separated from its production-distribution<br />
branches. Balaban ?mphasized that "excellent<br />
management has been provided for," and said<br />
that Paramount "will embark on its new<br />
status in the coming year with adequate resources<br />
and top manpower."<br />
In facing the new situation starting in<br />
1950, Balaban declared himself satisfied that<br />
"we have an organization which is unexcelled,"<br />
and for that reason reiterated his<br />
decision to remain with production and distribution<br />
rather than devote himself to management<br />
of theatre interests.<br />
Another speaker. Adolph Zukor, chaii-man<br />
of the board, paid tribute to Henry Ginsberg,<br />
production chief, and predicted the company<br />
"is on its way to greater heights of achievement."<br />
Attending, in addition to Balaban, Zukor<br />
and Ginsberg, were A. W. Schwalberg, vicepresident<br />
and sales manager; George A.<br />
Smith, west coast division chief, who was<br />
official host at the meetings: Y. Frank Freeman,<br />
vice-president and studio executive; E.<br />
K. "Ted" O'Shea. Schwalberg's assistant;<br />
Oscar A. Morgan, short subjects and Paramount<br />
News sales chief; Max Youngstein,<br />
home office advertising, publicity and exploitation<br />
director; Richard Morgan of the<br />
company's New York legal department, and<br />
homeoffice officials J. A. Walsh and Fred A.<br />
Leroy.<br />
GINSBERG IN A REPORT<br />
Principal speaker at the second day's session<br />
was Production Chief Ginsberg, who<br />
stressed the necessity for cooperation between<br />
the studio and Paramount's distribution<br />
organization. Ginsberg also outlined in<br />
detail the present productional status, which<br />
finds 40 pictures either completed, currently<br />
shooting or being prepared for the camera,<br />
declaring this places the company in its<br />
strongest position in years.<br />
Ginsberg advised the attending delegates<br />
that blueprints have been worked out to accommodate<br />
an expanding production schedule<br />
through the recent acquisition of several<br />
story properties which will augment the<br />
company's output for the balance of 1949. He<br />
told the salesmen he understands their problems<br />
and declared he knew "how necessary<br />
it is that we cooperate . foreign<br />
market has been reduced and it is noiy our<br />
responsibihty to get all we can from the domestic<br />
market," Gin.sberg asserted.<br />
Color Video May Get<br />
To the Screen First<br />
WASHINGTON—There were important<br />
developments on color television as it affects<br />
the motion picture theatre this week.<br />
Earl Sponable, engineering expert for<br />
20th Century-Fox and president of the<br />
Society of Motion Picture Engineers filed<br />
a 34-page progress report with the Federal<br />
Communications Commission which indicated<br />
that color television may beat regular<br />
black and white video into theatres and<br />
that in all likelihood color television will<br />
be seen on the motion picture screen before<br />
it is in homes.<br />
The second development of the week was an<br />
announcement by the FCC that it is preparing<br />
to permit commercial color television on<br />
present TV bands. This is a reversal of a<br />
decision made some time ago when CBS asked<br />
for color video approval.<br />
OPENING UP CHANNELS<br />
The communications commission also<br />
said<br />
it was also preparing to open up an area of<br />
the ultra-high frequency space to increase<br />
the number of channels currently available<br />
for commercial television. This latter step is<br />
of extreme importance to the motion picture<br />
industry as the present limited number of<br />
channels precluded the entry of most motion<br />
picture interests — both in production, distribution<br />
and exhibition—into video.<br />
Both of these steps will be the subject of<br />
extensive hearings and no final action is expected<br />
until late fall.<br />
Sponable makes no prediction as to when<br />
this might come about, but he points out that<br />
because of the smaller number of units Involved<br />
in theatre television use it may be<br />
possible to speed up development of color use.<br />
About three years ago when CBS started<br />
a national argument on color television development<br />
some leading engineers predicted<br />
it would take five years to develop it and<br />
more recently other engineers have said the<br />
test period might have to cover a ten-year<br />
stretch.<br />
Total of $71,858,795<br />
Two Suits<br />
Sought in<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Two federal district<br />
court suits, asking for damages totaling<br />
$71,858,795, were filed this week. The socalled<br />
"imfriendly ten" filed another suit<br />
against the major motion picture companies,<br />
charging violation of the Sherman<br />
antitrust act and seeking triple damages<br />
of $51,858,795.<br />
Also filed were ten legal actions against<br />
nine production companies, which attorneys<br />
for the plaintiffs said were harbingers<br />
of some 2,000 others involving<br />
total wage claims of $20,000,000 on behalf<br />
of members of the AFL carpenters' brotherhood<br />
who allege they have been locked<br />
out of the major studios since September<br />
1948. Plaintiffs are members of the<br />
Conference of Studio Unions, which has<br />
been on strike against the film companies<br />
since that time.<br />
Sponable's experimentation with large<br />
screen television without color have progressed<br />
to the point where the company has decided<br />
to try it in a group of west coast theatres.<br />
Sponable's experimental work has been<br />
carried out over a test relay system called<br />
KA-256 in the Movietone News building.<br />
When these licenses are granted by the FCC<br />
progress reports are required semi-annually.<br />
Sponable says both the "sequential" and<br />
"simultaneous" systems of color television<br />
.should be given serious consideration and<br />
further study. At present he is using a microwave<br />
relay.<br />
Both the direct projection and the tube-tofilm<br />
methods are being studied, Sponable reported.<br />
He wrote: "Additional data is needed<br />
concerning the alignment and construction of<br />
plane reflectors, the practicability of using<br />
pickup and re-radiation types or reflectors in<br />
unusual line-of-sight and similar situations."<br />
He also intends to make further studies of the<br />
feasibility of microwave relay operations in<br />
the 12,000-megacycle band and the film<br />
storage method of theatre television.<br />
OTHER PROBLEMS SLATED<br />
Although the film storage method of largescreen<br />
television has a number of advantages<br />
over the direct projection method and must<br />
be Included in any complete system, he<br />
points out, "certain fundamental difficulties<br />
exist which are yet to be resolved." He says<br />
there is still a problem of conversion from the<br />
30-frame-per-second television to the 24-<br />
frame motion picture standard.<br />
Sponable says the quality of home television<br />
must approach the 35mm film standards<br />
of theatres before the public will accept<br />
it. He states that 20th-Fox has approached<br />
the problem with an "open mind" and declares<br />
that theatre television has now reached<br />
a stage of development wh'ch warrants the<br />
desgn of commercial equipment for theatres.<br />
He expresses the opinion that a multiple<br />
point-to-point intracity distribution of theatre<br />
television could be established with a<br />
minimum of two channels and says separate<br />
channels would not be required for each<br />
point-to-point link.<br />
Asks $720,000 Damages<br />
CHICAGO—Mars Amusement Corp., former<br />
operators of the Ambassador, now the<br />
Rockne Theatre, filed an antitrust suit in<br />
U.S. district court here for $720,000 triple<br />
damages against major film companies and<br />
the Balaban & Katz Corp., claiming loss of<br />
profits from 1937 through 1940 when its<br />
lease was lost through failure to get the film<br />
clearances it required.<br />
Files Libel Suit<br />
PHILADELPHIA—Mitchell Pantzer, operating<br />
the Independent Poster Exchange of<br />
this city, has started suit for libel in federal<br />
district court, against Herman Robbins, president<br />
of National Screen Service Corp., and<br />
National Screen Service Corp. He is asking<br />
$500,000 damages, alleging the NSS president<br />
libeled him in a letter sent to independent<br />
poster exchanges throughout the country.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 11
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Chicago Theatre<br />
Goes TV in<br />
June<br />
With its own television production staff<br />
available/ B&K use of video points trend.<br />
CHICAGO—The Chicago Theatre will go big-screen<br />
TV June 16 and will become the first theatre in the<br />
country to utilize virtually all phases of the infant television<br />
industry. Equipment for big-screen television—<br />
the Paramount teletranscription system which flashes the<br />
telecast on the screen within 60 seconds—has already<br />
been installed.<br />
The Chicago Theatre is the second in the country to<br />
install the teletranscription system—the Paramount in<br />
New York being the first—but because the Balaban and<br />
Katz house is directly associated with the company's<br />
own TV production crews the circuit is expected to embark<br />
on a much more ambitious adaptation of the new<br />
form of communications to motion picture exhibition.<br />
On opening night, B&K will present the initial telecast<br />
of a specially-prepared, star-studded show from the<br />
Chicago Theatre stage. John Balaban, circuit executive<br />
and manager of WBKB, at a press conference this week<br />
announced that television would be installed in B&K<br />
houses and that the stage shows at the Chicago Theatre<br />
would be available for sponsored commercial telecasts.<br />
The circuit is planning a great many innovations in<br />
adapting the motion picture theatre for television, he<br />
said. For example, he said, the circuit would like to<br />
make arrangements to carry the important Notre D^me<br />
football games, the Kentucky Derby and other sports<br />
events of great interest to the Chicago area.<br />
On June 16, WBKB will celebrate its eighth anniversary.<br />
It was Chicago's first television station and one<br />
of the first to begin regular telecasting in<br />
the counti-y. On that date, the station also<br />
will officially begin operation of the latest<br />
type RCA five-bay super-turnstile transmitter<br />
atop the American National Bank<br />
bu Iding. Seven hundred feet tall, the tower<br />
will be the highest point in Chicago, more<br />
Here is the step-by-step process of putting- the telecast on the screen<br />
via the Paramount system: (1) The "picture is taken off the tube." Carl<br />
Maurer, Paramount engineer, demonstrates the Ackley camera, focuses on<br />
a special Idnescope tube on which the TV image appears; (2) Threading the<br />
Ackley camera with its electronic shutter; (3) From the camera, the exposed<br />
film begins its long trip through teletranscription—three more processes to<br />
go; (4) The large drying cylinder through which wet film passes and is hot<br />
air-dried in 10 seconds; (5) Developed, dried, the film passes to projection<br />
room, distance of 30 feet. If it is being transcribed for later use, it winds<br />
onto standard reels; (6) Film reaches the projection room, still untouched by<br />
human hands—a high-quality 35mni print containing both sight and sound<br />
ready to be fed into the projection machine.<br />
than twice as high as the station's present<br />
transmitter atop the State-Lake Theatre<br />
build ng.<br />
Balaban said that big-screen video will be<br />
a regular feature at the theatre. Because<br />
the WBKB staff is one of the most experi-<br />
How Video Will Be Relayed to Chicago Theatre<br />
enced in the country and the station itself<br />
is part of the circuit, the Chicago Theatre<br />
will have a video advantage over all other<br />
theatres in the area. Nor is there any other<br />
theatre which, at the moment, can install bigscreen<br />
television and have virtually its own<br />
crew available for telecasting of important<br />
local events. The Wometco circuit in Miami<br />
now operates its own video station but as<br />
yet none of its theatres has Installed bigscreen<br />
TV.<br />
Film stars and civic leaders will participate<br />
in the premiere, Balaban said. They will be<br />
interviewed at the entrance to the theatre<br />
and, by the time they reach the auditorium,<br />
will be able to see themselves on the screen<br />
via the teletranscription system.<br />
The WBKB-Chicago Theatre operation imdoubtedly<br />
wiU be watched closely by exhibitors<br />
throughout the country, particularly circuit<br />
executives who have the facilities and<br />
financial resources to undertake a joint television<br />
production and exhibition project such<br />
as Balaban is forging here. Much of the<br />
experimentation in this area of entertainment<br />
will be by B&K and developments here will<br />
point up national trends in the anticipated<br />
marriage of motion pictures and television.<br />
AT THE LEFT:<br />
The WBKB-Chicago Theatre television setup:<br />
The television camera picks up an event,<br />
transmits it via microwave to the tower atop<br />
the State-Lake Theatre, to the new transmitter<br />
on the American National Bank building<br />
and finally to the Chicago Theatre to be<br />
film-recorded, carried to the projection room<br />
and flashed on the screen.<br />
14 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
I<br />
HOtiyWOOD REPORTER<br />
N THE BOOKINGS<br />
'Top quality! Stirring, should please every<br />
with top playing time on all the top circuits<br />
coming up immediately — Loe>«f'S/<br />
Fox, Warner's, Paramount, RKO —<br />
in LOS ANGELES<br />
• MILWAUKEE<br />
• NEW ORLEANS<br />
HARRISBURG • READING<br />
• RICHMOND • BOSTON<br />
CLEVELAND • DETROIT<br />
• CINCINNATI<br />
• ROCHESTER<br />
SYRACUSE • TOLEDO KANSAS CITY<br />
• ST. LOUIS<br />
NORFOLK • PITTSBURGH BRIDGEPORT JOHNSTOWN<br />
•<br />
SPRINGFIELD -ATLANTA- PROVIDENCE -WILMINGTON<br />
"Love, adventure, fighting and hardriding<br />
DAYTON EVANSVILLE - HARTFORD<br />
to please the most ardent of action<br />
WASHINGTON, D.C. - LOUISVILLE - INDIANAPOLIS<br />
type of audience. One of the finest<br />
photographically!" _ daily varibty<br />
"Suspense, drama, action. Well-knit with<br />
vigor and imagination. A film spectacle!"<br />
— MP HERALD<br />
"Exciting and unusual. A chance for some<br />
good old time exploitation and ballyhoo.<br />
Welcomed at the boxoffice!"<br />
— INDEPENDENT<br />
"Color, intrigue and adventure, suspense<br />
and an abundan'ce of drama and action!"<br />
— MP DAILY<br />
fans. Something to arouse intense excitement<br />
and cheers!"<br />
— SHOWMEN'S TRADE IteVIEW<br />
'Spectacular chases and desert battles.<br />
Realism of action and magnificent photography.<br />
Will insure boxoffice draw!"<br />
— BOXOfffCE<br />
'Much in spectacle, excitement values.<br />
Strong thrill note!" —film daily<br />
ac^ccfTf T^i^C^/f/
-Photo courtesy Parade<br />
The panel (1 to r) : Francis Harmon, Joseph Breen, Eric Johnston, Spyros Skouras,<br />
Ned Depinet, Barney Balaban, as they discussed industry problems for Parade.<br />
What's Right With Movies?<br />
Eric Johnston, the presidents of the three major distributors and two<br />
key <strong>MPAA</strong> officials answer the critics in a panel discussion to be<br />
publishedjn the Sunday masazine supplement. Parade.<br />
J'/ie first joint effort of presidents of important film producing and distributing companies<br />
to combat the assumption that there are a variety of things basically wrong<br />
with the motion picture industry is to be presented in the Sunday (29) issue of<br />
Parade a Sunday magazine supplement which has a weekly readership of 15,000,000.<br />
The three-page article, which is presented as a panel discussion of important<br />
industry problems, publishes the views of Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America, who acts as moderator; Barney Balaban, president of Paramount<br />
Pictures; Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO; Spyros Skouras, president of<br />
20th Century-Fox; Francis Harmon, vice-president of <strong>MPAA</strong>, and Joseph I. Breen,<br />
head of the Production Code Administration.<br />
Tom Waller, director of information in the New York office of <strong>MPAA</strong>, went to<br />
work on the idea last January and spent many weeks developing the material and<br />
inducing company heads to attend a conference at which Parade editors would ask<br />
their questions.<br />
Parade had presented a series of articles on all phases of the film industry, giving<br />
views of the man-in-the-street, critics, technicians, producers, etc. This roundtable discussi07i<br />
is being presented "to give Hollywood a chance to answer," Parade editors said.<br />
Johnston, who asked the questions, began the discussion by saying he was "proud<br />
of the motion picture industry, because it means so much to so many people, because<br />
it gives people a7i opportunity to get away from themselves, and because of the great<br />
variety of motion pictures which are made." Questions and answers follow:<br />
What is the industry doing to preserve<br />
and maintain its position as the nation's foremost<br />
mass entertainment medium?<br />
Balaban: "By making better pictures, continually<br />
improving the quality of pictures.<br />
That is a day-to-day job."<br />
What about television? Will movies and<br />
television be complementary, or competitive?<br />
Will television mean fewer movies?<br />
Skouras: "In my opinion, television will<br />
be a boon to the motion picture industry.<br />
It will never reach great success in the public<br />
entertainment field except as a part of<br />
the motion picture industry."<br />
Then he added: "The radio, movies and<br />
television will, within a few years, let us say<br />
seven to ten years, be one of the foremost<br />
means of entertainment. The present entertainment<br />
which the public receives on television<br />
today is not being accepted.<br />
"First, the public is just talking about the<br />
new medium right now, and they have just<br />
started to listen to it and to watch it.<br />
"It will succeed only when it has the right<br />
facilities, and that is why we are going to<br />
utUize it on the screen. Bing Crosby, Bob<br />
Hope, Toscanini with a large orchestra, Rubinstein,<br />
all of them can be shown to thousands<br />
at one time. Or a great opera Uke<br />
'Carmen' can be taken and shown by television<br />
in the movie theatres.<br />
"A play like 'South Pacific' can be taken<br />
tomorrow and presented as entertainment by<br />
television in the movie theatres. Without<br />
motion pictures, television cannot succeed."<br />
There are larg^e groups of the adult population<br />
who do not attend motion pictures<br />
regularly. Why? What is the industry doing<br />
about it?<br />
Balaban: "That's not a new question. I've<br />
heard it for more than a quarter of a century."<br />
He pointed out further that a great, untapped<br />
potential always has existed for movie<br />
attendance—so much that the theatre capacity<br />
of the nation would need to be multiplied<br />
three to five times to hold all the people<br />
who do not attend pictures.<br />
Other forms of entertainment compete, to<br />
say nothing of ordinary social obligations.<br />
Moreover, every picture, like every book and<br />
every play, must make its way in the struggle<br />
for pubUc favor.<br />
Depinet added further comment by pointing<br />
out that fewer people in the 35 to 55 age<br />
see pictures than young people because:<br />
"When you were young you had time to see<br />
pictures. As you grew older and had to go<br />
out and eai-n a living, you had less time. I<br />
think it is no more than natural that as<br />
people grow older they have less time to go<br />
to the movies than youngsters do."<br />
At this point Balaban answered the assertion<br />
that film attendance is falling off<br />
by saying that in the first 14 weeks of 1949<br />
Paramount's business was about equal to that<br />
of 1946, the peak year.<br />
Does the star system of American movies<br />
lead to emphasis on personalities rather than<br />
plots, story, setting, or other essential qualities?<br />
Depinet entered an emphatic "No." He<br />
said the public chooses its stars and started<br />
the star system by first identifying Mary<br />
Pickford as "Miss Jones" in an early fourreeler.<br />
"I don't think our industry can get away<br />
from the star system—I don't think the public<br />
will permit us to—any more than baseball<br />
teams can get away from the star system.<br />
You have nine players on a field and<br />
eventually you have certain stars, and you<br />
can't stop it. The public takes a fancy to<br />
them; they go to see them. That is healthy,<br />
that is good."<br />
Balaban added: "Hasn't it been our recent<br />
experience that a star will insure the kind<br />
of a story the pubUc likes to see, and bring<br />
in substantially higher grosses, while a star<br />
will not protect a story that the public does<br />
not care for?"<br />
Do you believe that the present output of<br />
films is adequate to meet the entertainment<br />
needs of the American children?<br />
Harmon answered this question. He said<br />
an independent study of the output of family<br />
films showed that the ratio of family films<br />
to total output during the first nine months<br />
of 1948 was sUghtly higher than the average<br />
for the preceding eight years.<br />
"The motion picture theatre," he continued,<br />
"is one of the few places left in America<br />
where the family as a whole can go and<br />
parents and children alike can find entertainment.<br />
The industry has never made films<br />
solely for children. The British tried it in<br />
recent years and have got their fingers burned<br />
very badly as a result."<br />
Does the production code of the <strong>MPAA</strong><br />
lead to forfeiture of the rights of free expression?<br />
Is the industry censoring itself<br />
out of business?<br />
Breen replied: "Some people have the idea<br />
that there is a mysterious something or<br />
somebody in Hollywood which seeks to deny<br />
to the motion picture screen the right of<br />
discussion of problems which are valid. Let<br />
me say right here that I know of no such<br />
group. I know of no such movement. I<br />
know of no such authority.<br />
"If you will read the code, you will find<br />
that it permits the widest possible freedom<br />
16 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
, Davis<br />
of expression. Nothing In the code denies<br />
or curtails freedom of expression. Nothing<br />
in the code denies or curtails freedom of expression<br />
on any matter."<br />
Wliat is the indiistr>° doing to foster the<br />
broadest showing: of the best foreign films?<br />
Depinet replied; "Our doors are wide open<br />
for films produced anywhere in the world.<br />
They have succeeded in proportion to the<br />
way the American public accepted them. But<br />
every good foreign picture that stands on<br />
its own has the opportunity to play in 16,000<br />
or 18,000 American theatres. There is no<br />
quota, there is no tax. there is no restriction,<br />
and their money is free to go back to their<br />
own country. I wish we were treated as well<br />
as they are."<br />
Skouras added: "If it were not for the<br />
American motion picture, the majority of the<br />
theatres of the world would be closed.<br />
"There are some foreign pictui-es that are<br />
good and those the public will see. The poor<br />
ones we cannot ram down their throats, because<br />
our own poor motion pictures are also<br />
not accepted by the public."<br />
Does Hollywood make too many picture<br />
cycles, lacking variety and originality?<br />
Breen denies that cycles were common.<br />
"It is not true to say," he continued, "that<br />
they have no new plots and ideas. They do<br />
They may follow a general trend, but there<br />
is nothing extraordinary in that. Book publishing<br />
has fads and phases. So do motion<br />
pictures."<br />
Skouras concluded the discussion by saying:<br />
"England would do everything in the<br />
world to have the advantages we have in<br />
the motion picture industry, and you know<br />
other nations would give everything. I know<br />
Stalin would give everything to have it. There<br />
is only one thing wrong with the motion<br />
picture industry: We do not appreciate its<br />
importance to the people of America."<br />
Two Academy Winners Die<br />
HOLLYWOOI>-Death took two Academy<br />
award winners last week. Charles Gordon<br />
Booth. 51, author and screen writer, died<br />
at his home May 22. He won an Academy<br />
award for the be.st original screen story.<br />
"The House on 92nd Street" and wrote "The<br />
General Died at Dawn" and "Johnny Angel."<br />
Joseph R. Valentine, 48, one of the film industry's<br />
top cameramen, died May 17 of a<br />
heart ailment. He won the Oscar this year<br />
for his color photography in "Joan of Arc"<br />
and previously had been nominated four<br />
times for his camera work.<br />
Albert Mannheimer Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Albert Mannheimer sr., 63,<br />
head of exchange business operations of Film<br />
Classics, Inc., died of a heart attack at his<br />
office in the home office on Wednesday. His<br />
son, Albert Mannheimer jr., screen writer,<br />
flew in from the coast. Funeral services were<br />
held at the Riverside Memorial chapel.<br />
Owen Davis jr. Dead<br />
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Owen<br />
jr.. 42, television producer for NBC<br />
and earlier known as an actor on the screen,<br />
stage and radio, were held at the Little<br />
Church Aroimd the Corner May 25. Davis<br />
was found dead May 21 on the Long Island<br />
Sound shore near Kings Point. L. I., after<br />
disappearing from a yacht owned by Herbert<br />
V. Anderson, NBC sales executive.<br />
FIRST THEATRE TO USE FACSIMILE NEWSPAPER FOR ADS<br />
COLUMBIA, MO.—The Uptown Theatre<br />
here has installed a "Faxsimile" receiver<br />
in its lobby and Rex P. Barrett, the manager,<br />
believes that his is the first theatre<br />
to provide this service for patrons and the<br />
first to utilize a "newspaper of the air" to<br />
advertise its current attractions.<br />
The facsimile broadcasting is a project<br />
of the University of Missouri school of<br />
journalism, and the station is one of two<br />
in the country. Because it is a local undertaking,<br />
Barrett is able to take advantage<br />
of the opportunities offered to advertise<br />
his attractions. Facsimile reports are received<br />
at noon and 2:30 p. m. and cover the<br />
day's headlines, market and weather reports,<br />
sports, features and advertising and<br />
exploitation for current attractions at the<br />
Uptown Theatre, which is a Conmionwealth<br />
circuit operation.<br />
Simultaneously, the facsimile reports are<br />
received at the leading downtown bank<br />
and hotel and at the University of Missouri<br />
student library and journalism school.<br />
In the accompanying photograph, Barrett<br />
(at left) is shown with Miss Jean<br />
Behmer, a university student, and Mayor<br />
Roy Sappington of Columbia inspecting<br />
the receiver and some of the facsimile<br />
broadcasts in the theatre lobby.<br />
Brandt Heads EL Advertising and Publicity<br />
NEW YORK—Leon Brandt has been named<br />
acting director of advertising, publicity and<br />
exploitation for Eagle<br />
Lion, according to Wil<br />
liam J. Heinema<br />
V i c e-p resident in<br />
charge of distribution. ^<br />
.<br />
B r an d t . who had J<br />
\<br />
been assistant director<br />
of the department<br />
since the end of April,<br />
takes over the duties of<br />
Youngstein,<br />
Max E.<br />
who resigned as vicepresident<br />
in charge o!<br />
these activities May 20<br />
to join Paramount. Leon Brandt<br />
Youngstein is director of national advertising,<br />
publicity and exploitation for Paramount.<br />
Brandt joined Eagle Lion in October 1946<br />
as midwestern exploitation representative.<br />
Two years later he was named exploitation<br />
manager, and last month became assistant<br />
director of advertising, puWicity and exploitation,<br />
succeeding Jerry Pickman, who had resigned<br />
to become director of exhibitor relations<br />
for Paramount.<br />
During the mid 1930s Brandt did publicity<br />
work for subsidiaries of National Theatres.<br />
He later resigned to go into business for<br />
himself, and in 1942 joined United Artists<br />
as a home office exploitation representative.<br />
Heineman said that he and Brandt will<br />
continue the close sales-advertising and publicity<br />
association developed during the<br />
Youngstein regime.<br />
Film Classics. Cinecolor<br />
Split Talks Due June 14<br />
NEW YORK—Directors of Film Classics<br />
and Cinecolor will meet June 14 for a discussion<br />
of whether or not the two companies<br />
will be separated. It is expected a decision<br />
will be reached at that time, according to<br />
Joseph Bemhard.<br />
In the meantime it has been officially<br />
stated that S. H, Fabian is not interested<br />
in buying into Film Classics.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
17<br />
I
completing<br />
A/.y. Branch Takes Lead<br />
In Monogram Drive<br />
At the end of the first six weeks of the<br />
current STEVE BROIDY 25TH ANNIVER-<br />
SARY DRIVE FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM<br />
MOTE FUND, a tabulation of the standings<br />
of Monogram-Allied Artists exchanges<br />
during the campaign revealed the New<br />
York office to be well out in front, having<br />
garnered 70.42 points, and followed in order<br />
by Omaha, with 66.66 points, and Cleveland,<br />
with 63.15.<br />
The drive is designed to help Exhibitor Jim<br />
Mote rebuild his 210-seat Gem Theatre in<br />
Sterling, Okla., after the showcase was<br />
destroyed by fire late in 1948.<br />
THEATRE STANDINGS UNCHANGED<br />
New standings of theatres in the drive had<br />
not, at this writing, been completely tabulated.<br />
The last figures released—for the week<br />
ending April 22, 1949—found the Bijou Theatre<br />
in Minneapolis occupying first position<br />
with 40 points, followed by the Consolidated<br />
in Honolulu, with 32 points, and the Tinker<br />
Drive-In in Midwest City, Okla., tied for<br />
third with the Luxor in Newark, N. J. Both<br />
houses had garnered 31 points.<br />
Standings of other Monogram-AA branches<br />
follow:<br />
St. Louis, 61.54 points; Memphis, 60.99<br />
Salt Lake City, 60.99; Dallas, 59.45; Oklahoma<br />
City, 58.99; Atlanta, 58.19; Minneapolis, 58.02<br />
Indianapolis, 57.88; Denver. 57.50; Boston<br />
57.39; Pittsburgh, 57.26; Cincinnati, 56.68<br />
Des Moines, 56.66; Charlotte. 55.44; Detroit<br />
54.94; New Orleans, 54.42; Milwaukee, 53.87<br />
Washington, 52.13; Los Angeles, 50.49; Seattle<br />
50.40; Kansas City, 50.13; Philadelphia, 49.82<br />
San Francisco, 49.07; Buffalo, 49.03; Albany<br />
47.73; and, in the cellar spot, Portland, 37.87<br />
Monogram-AA is, during the 13-week drive<br />
donating a portion of its receipts over the<br />
normal established for each of its exchanges<br />
to BOXOFFICE'S Jim Mote Fund, the minimum<br />
having been set at a guaranteed $5,000.<br />
Additionally, BOXOFFICE is contributing<br />
funds already donated by its readers, amounting<br />
at this point to approximately $2,000, as<br />
well as additional donations from subscribers,<br />
and also is pledging a percentage of revenue<br />
derived from the advertising which accompanies<br />
these announcements.<br />
BONDS AS TOP PRIZES<br />
Offered as prizes to entrants in the campaign<br />
are a total of $3,500 in U.S. government<br />
bonds as well as an array of valuable and<br />
useful merchandise.<br />
Meantime, the humanitarian aspects of the<br />
effort to re-establish an unfortunate exhibitor<br />
continued to invoke an unending flood of<br />
messages from exhibition circles congratulating<br />
Broidy and BOXOFFICE and pledging<br />
support of the drive. Among such communiques<br />
and typical of the response generated<br />
by the campaign are the following;<br />
"We shall do our best ... I hope that the<br />
drive will meet with great success." Herbert<br />
Kohn, Malco Theatres, Inc., Memphis.<br />
"It will be a pleasure to assist you in your<br />
endeavor."—E. D. Martin, Martin Theatres of<br />
Florida, Inc.<br />
"You have my whole-hearted cooperation<br />
... we will do everything in our power to help<br />
Independent Producers<br />
To Honor Broidy<br />
In recognition of his quarter-century<br />
of activity in motion picture distribution<br />
and production, Steve Broidy, president of<br />
Monogram and Allied Artists, will be<br />
guest of honor June 2 at a meeting of<br />
the Independent Motion Picture Producers<br />
Ass'n. I. E. Chadwick, veteran independent<br />
film-maker, is president of the<br />
organization.<br />
Broidy will be lauded at the affair for<br />
his participation in the current Broidy<br />
anniversary drive for BOXOFFICE'S Jim<br />
Mote Fund.<br />
you put it over."—Carl Buermele, General<br />
Theatre Service, Inc., Detroit.<br />
Similar pledges came from such representative<br />
organizations as Evergreen Theatres,<br />
Seattle; Cooperative Theatre Service, of Pittsburgh<br />
and Cincinnati; the Fourth Avenue<br />
Amusement Co. of Louisville, and from other<br />
exhibitors and service firms in all parts of<br />
the U.S.<br />
> IK W<br />
'<br />
Cleveland Franchise Held<br />
By Nate Schultz<br />
Driving force behind Cleveland activities in<br />
the STEVE BROIDY 25TH ANNIVERSARY<br />
DRIVE FOR BOXOFFICE'S JIM MOTE<br />
FUND is Nate Schultz,<br />
franchise holder and<br />
president of Monogram<br />
Film Distributors, Inc.<br />
A native of Russia,<br />
Schultz arrived in Cleveland<br />
at the age of five.<br />
I<br />
AVES OF RAVES<br />
FOR MONOGRAM'S<br />
SEA-THRILLER!<br />
5eo Story hofrfs<br />
oction ond<br />
suspense.' }m\-rQii production<br />
with considerable and varied<br />
andience appeatt"<br />
-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER<br />
Solid entertainment... capable<br />
of building by worcf-of-mouth.<br />
Different ond (ikeaMe...for<br />
the whole fomi/yi"<br />
-MOTION PICTURE HERALD<br />
.Very good. Quite different<br />
from the ordinary run of product.<br />
No exhibitor need hesitate<br />
to<br />
book ond exploit itl"<br />
-HARRISON'S REPORTS<br />
Suspense and oction wellcombined.<br />
Considerable appeal<br />
for audiences everywherej"<br />
-SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW<br />
A LINDSLEY PARSONS Production • Directed by WILLIAM BEAUDINE<br />
• Screenplay by w Scott Darling
vu TuuK DUA urriit a i-avok:<br />
SUPPORT THE STEVE BROIDY 25th ANNIVERSARY<br />
DRIVE FOR BOXOFflCE'S JIM MOTE FUND!<br />
^HoTi^^ns<br />
Read What<br />
Harrison's<br />
Reports<br />
has to say about the<br />
company that gives<br />
you cooperation<br />
where it counts!<br />
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I<br />
EING<br />
Grouped on the stage of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood<br />
are the 13 finalists in National Theatres' "Talent Quest" contest,<br />
together with members of Manny Harmon's orchestra. Fox<br />
West Coast officials and makeup and costuming experts from the<br />
studios. The ultimate winner, Charles Nelson, Ls fifth from left in<br />
the front row. Nelson was the Fox Midwest circuit contestant.<br />
'Talent Quest' Pays Off<br />
For National Theatres<br />
Here's a report on how a major circuit<br />
streamlined an<br />
old idea and used it to stimulate additional business.<br />
e<br />
By IVAN SPEAR<br />
advanced with increasing frequency<br />
in these uncertain times, when<br />
theatre revenues are dwindling, is one<br />
suggestion highly regarded by its adherents<br />
as a panacea for balky boxoffices—a return<br />
to "old-time showmanship" through the<br />
blending of live entertainment with film<br />
fare.<br />
Proponents of the policy argue—and with<br />
some logic—that the public in constantly<br />
growing numbers is according vaudeville an<br />
enthusiastic welcome and that exhibitors<br />
therefore should capitalize on it, to the probable<br />
ultimate benefit of their fiscal operations.<br />
Such reasoning recently was accorded a<br />
thorough test—with results labeled, after a<br />
preliminary survey, as "very helpful"— by<br />
one of the country's leading circuits. National<br />
Theatres, through the staging of its<br />
"Talent Quest" contest, designed to unearth<br />
previously undiscovered and or unexploited<br />
newcomers antong the nation's aspiring<br />
amateur entertainers. The contest final.s<br />
were held in Hollywood late in April after<br />
several weeks of intensive preliminary competition<br />
among NT's subsidiary circuits—Pox<br />
West Coast, Fox Inter-Mountain, Fox Midwest,<br />
Pox Wisconsin and the Evergreen chain.<br />
Other showmen may wish to emulate the<br />
stunt as a means of building community<br />
goodwill and patronage, either along the<br />
lines set up by NT or in some modified, possibly<br />
less elaborate form. Therefore, and<br />
even though somewhat belatedly, a detailed<br />
analysis of how the circuit staged its "Talent<br />
Quest" may prove of some value:<br />
Starting early in February, each district<br />
-selected a "test house" and staged a preliminary<br />
contest, of five acts each, for the<br />
purpose of determining the best procedure<br />
for launching the stunt in other theatre locations.<br />
In FWC's southern California division,<br />
for example, after the initial "test<br />
run," 49 showcases were chosen to participate,<br />
ranging from Santa Barbara on the<br />
north to San Diego on the south and east<br />
to Phoenix, Ariz.<br />
Prom mid-February to mid-March, on a<br />
specified night each week for five weeks,<br />
these 49 theatres held "Talent Quest" programs<br />
using five different acts each week,<br />
selected from audition tryouts. The winners,<br />
chosen by audience applause, qualified for<br />
finals in each individual theatre.<br />
In a subsequent cne-week period, individual<br />
theatre finalists then competed for first<br />
place at their respective theatres, whereupon<br />
the winner entered the dstrict finals. Each<br />
of FWC's eight southern California districts<br />
staged such finals, the winners of which were<br />
then sent to Loew's State, PWC first-run<br />
outlet in Los Angeles, to compete in the divisional<br />
finals.<br />
The same procedure, varying only in minor<br />
details, was pursued by NT's other divisions.<br />
The winners in each division were trans-<br />
Plenty of exploitation went into the<br />
"Talent Quest." Here is one type of<br />
lobby poster designed as an advance<br />
teaser, being examined by Polly Sloan<br />
(left) and Gerry Pattison, contest<br />
entrants.<br />
ported to Hollywood to compete on the stage<br />
of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, with Dick<br />
Haymes, radio and video star, as master of<br />
ceremonies, and music supplied by Manny<br />
Harmon's orchestra. The finals were highlighted<br />
by personal appearances by film luminaries<br />
including Shirley Temple, Sid Grauman.<br />
Celeste Holm, Eddie Bracken, Roy Rogers,<br />
Dale Evans, the Riders of the Purple<br />
Sage, Edgar Bergen, Dan Dailey and Richard<br />
Widmark.<br />
All of the contestants' expenses, including<br />
travel, hotel and meals, were paid by NT.<br />
An important adjunct to the smooth staging<br />
of the entire contest—and an imperative<br />
"must" for other exhibitors planning something<br />
of a similar nature—was a tiein with<br />
newspapers, radio stations and merchants in<br />
each community. In Los Angeles, for example,<br />
the "Talent Quest" was jointly sponsored by<br />
PWC and the Daily News, while a prominent<br />
jewelry firm contributed several thousand<br />
dollars' worth of custom-made jewelery and<br />
watches to the ultimate contest winners. In<br />
other Pacific coast areas newspaper cooperation<br />
was arranged via the San Francisco<br />
News, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the<br />
Spokane Chronicle, the Portland Oregonian<br />
and scores of newspapers in smaller communities<br />
such as Long Beach, Compton and<br />
Inglewood.<br />
Similarly, in other parts of the country<br />
newspaper and radio backing also was<br />
secured. In the Fox Wisconsin territory, for<br />
example, sponsors included the Milwaukee<br />
Sentinel, the Kenosha Evening News, the<br />
Ozaukee News, the Beaver Dam Citizen and<br />
the Fond Du Lac News.<br />
pOR the sake of the record, a recapitulation<br />
of the winning amateurs is necessary. First<br />
place went to Charles Nelson, 15-year-old<br />
Salina, Kansas, baritone, who was awarded<br />
$1,000 in cash, a $1,000 diamond ring and a<br />
custom-made wrist watch. Additionally, he<br />
was given a screen test by 20th Century-Fox.<br />
In second place was Gordon Leigh, 13-yearold<br />
boy soprano from Seattle, who walked off<br />
with $500 cash, a $500 ring and a watch; Alfred<br />
Purcell, 13, concert pianist from Alhambra,<br />
Calif., bagged third spot, $250 in<br />
cash, a $250 ring and a watch; and $100 in<br />
cash, a $100 ring and a watch went to the<br />
fourth-place winner, Albert Uhalde, 30, baritone<br />
from San Francisco.<br />
The remaining five competing acts each<br />
(Continued<br />
on next page)<br />
COVER PHOTO:<br />
The finals of the "Talent Quest." Young<br />
Charles Nelson gets the first place prize, as<br />
Bob Duke (left), manager of Loew's State,<br />
and Manny Harmon, the house band leader,<br />
look on.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
21
Talenf Quest'<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
received a $50 participation prize, and the<br />
nine members of those acts each were presented<br />
with a custom-made watch.<br />
Winners were selected by audience applause<br />
and by a council of judges at Grauman's<br />
Chinese Theatre, the judges including Ivan<br />
Kahn and Milton Lewis, talent scouts for<br />
20th Centiu-y-Fox and Paramount, respectively,<br />
and John Kingsley, president of the<br />
Hollywood chamber of commerce.<br />
For the guidance of NT personnel engaged<br />
in staging the various "Talent Quest" preliminaries,<br />
the circuit prepared an elaborate<br />
brochure containing detailed information as<br />
to how the event should be handled in each<br />
theatre. Among helpful hints worthy of being<br />
passed on to other exhibitors are such suggestions<br />
as:<br />
1. It is not a one-man show. To present<br />
it right will take the facilities of your screen,<br />
your lobby and advertising plus the cooperation<br />
of a newspaper and radio station.<br />
2. The more attractive your prizes and<br />
awards, the more attracted to your "Talent<br />
Quest" will be contestants.<br />
3. The master of ceremonies should be<br />
supplied a short introduction for each contestant<br />
and cautioned to avoid wise-cracking<br />
at the expense of any entrant. He should<br />
play it straight and not waste time being<br />
funny or performing himself, even for laughs.<br />
4. You cannot sit back in anticipation of<br />
sufficient voluntary performers. The best<br />
will have to be searched for.<br />
5. Every applicant must be auditioned before<br />
appearing on your stage.<br />
6. Avoid embarrassing any contestant and<br />
give them all a fair chance to display their<br />
talents.<br />
7. The ideal show should be from eight te<br />
ten acts and should not rim more than 30 to<br />
35 minutes. No encores should be permitted.<br />
8. Judging must be fair and must present<br />
a clear-cut reflection of audience reaction to<br />
the performers.<br />
CUCH are among the rules devised by NT<br />
as a blueprint designed to achieve the most<br />
in the way of audience and contestant satisfaction,<br />
increased revenue and community<br />
good-will, and to hold to a minimum any<br />
possible accusations of "partiaUty" or poor<br />
showmanship.<br />
The recent NT "Talent Quest" stemmed<br />
from a similar contest first introduced in the<br />
Fox Inter-Moimtain chain in the summer of<br />
1948. It was presented in 24 houses with<br />
newspaper and radio co-sponsorship, and the<br />
idea snowballed almost from the start, proving<br />
so popular that the decision was reached<br />
to duplicate it on a nationwide basis by the<br />
parent circuit.<br />
As to the profits and benefits deriving<br />
therefrom, these are viewed on a long-range<br />
basis by NT executives rather than from the<br />
standpoint of quick, short-term profits. In<br />
the words of Dick Dickson, southern California<br />
district manager for FWC, who was active<br />
in staging the Hollywood finals:<br />
"Business conditions throughout the country<br />
are so mercurial that it would be difficult to<br />
reduce the 'Talent Quest' into terms of dollars<br />
and cents. We are, however, certain of<br />
one thing—that it afforded a splendid opportunity<br />
for yoimg people to demonstrate<br />
their hitherto unexploited talents and that,<br />
therefore, as a medium for building goodwill<br />
among the public it had very substantial<br />
results."<br />
Charles Nelson (center) of Salina,<br />
Kas., receives the felicitations of Sid<br />
Grauman, veteran showman, after Nelson<br />
was voted the winner of National Theatres'<br />
"Talent Quest" contest. Another<br />
star performer, Shirley Temple, is the<br />
smiling onlooker.<br />
Fi-om Dickson's comment and other information<br />
gleaned from NT spokesmen,<br />
several salient factors become apparent:<br />
In the southern California area, particularly<br />
in Los Angeles and Hollywood—where<br />
the semi-finals and finals were held—the<br />
increase in theatre attendance was below expectations.<br />
This Dickson attributes primarily<br />
to the well-established fact that the sector<br />
is considerably more blase and sophisticated<br />
than elsewhere, since it is the entertainment<br />
center of the world; and, consequently, it is<br />
vastly more difficult a task to excite the public<br />
about new and imtested talent.<br />
Results were progressively bettter in areas<br />
farther and farther away from Hollywood,<br />
and were considerably more satisfactory in<br />
communities such as San Francisco, Denver,<br />
Seattle. San Diego and Phoenix.<br />
Further, Dickson pointed out, FWC and<br />
NT shouldered a heavy burden in the Los<br />
Angeles-Hollywood area, since it was necessary<br />
to supply suitable promotional and advertising<br />
material, in large quantity, for the<br />
contest finals.<br />
It has not been determined whether or not<br />
the "Talent Quest" will be repeated. NT<br />
executives are, however, giving the matter<br />
"serious consideration" because circuit officials<br />
were well pleased with the results.<br />
Charles Skouras<br />
Dick Dickson<br />
Charles Skouras, president of National<br />
Theatres, who guided the "Talent Quest"<br />
project and Dick Dickson, southern California<br />
division manager for Fox West<br />
Coast.<br />
UA and RKO Settle<br />
'Champion' Battle<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Legal<br />
pyrotechnics involving<br />
RKO Radio's allegation that sequences<br />
in its prizefight melodrama, "The Set-Up,"<br />
were pirated and incorporated into another<br />
story of the squared circle, "Champion," came<br />
to an abrupt end via an out-of-court settlement<br />
wherein certain deletions are being<br />
made in the footage of the latter picture.<br />
Mutual agreement was reached by attorneys<br />
representing RKO Radio and the defendants.<br />
Screen Plays, Inc., and United<br />
Artists, producer and distributor, respectively,<br />
of "Champion." As recommended by Federal<br />
Judge Peirson M. Hall, who viewed both films<br />
during the course of the lawsuit, approximately<br />
100 feet of film, representing about<br />
a minute's running time and including only<br />
two words of dialog, is being scissored from<br />
"Champion."<br />
UA has about 250 prints of the film in<br />
distribution, which are to be revised within<br />
two weeks.<br />
Originally RKO Radio had filed suit seeking<br />
an injunction to restrain the distribution<br />
of "Champion" and asking $500,000 in damages<br />
on the grounds Screen Plays and UA<br />
had violated the copyright on "The Set-Up."<br />
As part of the settlement, Screen Plays<br />
does not acknowledge that it may have<br />
"pirated" any story material from "The<br />
Set-Up," while RKO Radio pledged it will<br />
bring no damage actions against any exhibitors<br />
for having shown the uncut version.<br />
Moreover, until the indicated cuts have been<br />
made in release prints of "Champion," exhibitors<br />
may book and run the picture as is.<br />
MPEA and Army Talk Over<br />
Film Problem in Orient<br />
NEW YORK—Termination of the present<br />
Motion Picture Export Ass'n contract for<br />
fUm distribution in Japan and Korea is now<br />
being discussed with U.S. army heads in<br />
Washington. The present contract expires<br />
July 1. MPEA brought the matter to a head<br />
May 19 when its directors voted disapproval<br />
of the army's action in blocking yen balances<br />
and dollar remittances, allowing American<br />
companies to recover only the amount of<br />
their expenses in distributing films in those<br />
two countries. The amoimt they have been<br />
permitted to withdraw since the end of the<br />
war is only about $185,000.<br />
MPEA is understood to be receptive to a<br />
new contract permitting arrangements for<br />
taking some profits out of the countries but<br />
won't go along under the old plan, putting<br />
it up to army brass hats as to whether they<br />
wish the Japs and Koreans to continue to<br />
see American films. Not long ago the far<br />
east command of the army congratulated<br />
Charles Mayer, MPEA representative in<br />
Japan, on the public relations job he was<br />
doing with filins. It could be that the army<br />
had had the tipoff then on the action now<br />
taken by MPEA.<br />
RKO Advances Ed Stokes<br />
NEW YORK—Robert Mochrie, vice-president<br />
and general sales manager of RKO,<br />
appointed Ed Stokes assistant to Frank<br />
Mooney, RKO Radio North-South division<br />
sales approval manager. Stokes was formerly<br />
assistant to Irving Cane, head of the contract<br />
department.<br />
22 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON THE COMPANY<br />
THAT DELIVERS WHAT IT PROMISES!!!!<br />
Wilt James'<br />
SAND • IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING • THE BEAUTIFUL<br />
BLONDE FROM BASHFUL BEND • MR. BELVEDERE<br />
GOES TO COLLEGE THE FORBIDDEN STREET • • THE<br />
•<br />
FAN CANADIAN PACIFIC MOTHER • IS A FRESHMAN<br />
A LETTER TO THREE V\/IVES • DOWN<br />
TO THE<br />
SEA IN SHIPS • THE SNAKE PIT • YELLOW SKY<br />
^Z'l^^ /^ gU*^ //i^2Si F«^ atf«n£Baclt th» Motion Picture Industry'i U. S. SAVINGS BONDS DRIVE, May l6- June 30
THm' €utd Sv^*t^<br />
By JAMES M. JERAULD<br />
New Clearances Spread<br />
•THOSE shortened clearance setups are<br />
spreading rapidly from Chicago to Minneapolis,<br />
to Memphis to Philadelphia, to<br />
the coast and elsewhere. Details vary in<br />
various places and the methods of companies<br />
are not the same, but the general<br />
results are similar—faster playoffs.<br />
Exhibitor reactions are a mixture of surprise,<br />
pleasure and dismay. Two regional<br />
Allied units have protested hotly that setting<br />
up neighborhood first runs involves<br />
bidding.<br />
This is true, but what of it? Most city<br />
exhibitors have been protesting for years<br />
they have had to wait too long for films.<br />
they get earlier rans. the price naturally<br />
is higher, and, if some other exhibitor<br />
wants the picture on the same run, the<br />
man who offers the most gets it.<br />
It's disturbing for the exhibitors who like<br />
the status quo and know from experience<br />
what they can afford to pay for films. Until<br />
they have had experience with the new<br />
system they must guess.<br />
Nobody has ever been able to take the<br />
chance element out of this business. It<br />
begins with the story purchase and continues<br />
until the last worn print has gone<br />
into storage. If the new system gives more<br />
exhibitors opportunities to get more pictures<br />
when they want them in a fair competitive<br />
struggle, with a better average of<br />
profits, criticism of the change probably<br />
will fade.<br />
He's From the 'Sou-outh'<br />
FLLIS ARNALL, president of the Society<br />
of Independent Motion Picture Producers,<br />
is from Gawja, suh, and he has a<br />
bit of southern drawl, but further resemblance<br />
to a gentleman from the land of<br />
peaches and corn pone is not only not coincidental;<br />
it's non-existent. He move too<br />
fast.<br />
Since he decided that those Anglo-<br />
American conferences on quota and blocked<br />
funds promised no good for independent<br />
producers he has been popping up all over<br />
the landscape.<br />
"They're violating the Webb-Pomerene<br />
law," he tells 'Washington department<br />
heads and members of both branches of<br />
Congress. If it's confusing on this side of<br />
the Atlantic, it must be bewildering on the<br />
other side.<br />
How to get pictures into England and get<br />
dollars out are the basic points at issue.<br />
Talking Pictures in 1913<br />
JI^NYBOUY around who remembers talking<br />
pictures in 1913?<br />
Up to last week this question could have<br />
started an argument almost anywhere, because<br />
the industry veterans will tell you<br />
without stopping to take a deep breath that<br />
talking pictures started in 1927. These are<br />
the younger industry veterans.<br />
Some of the old-timers have vague recollections<br />
that Thomas A. Edison exhibited<br />
a talking picture apparatus that connected<br />
a projector booth to a graphophone located<br />
behind the screen, but most of them think<br />
If<br />
this was a one-shot demonstration done<br />
somewhere in New York. It was more than<br />
that. On Sunday, May 15, the New York<br />
Times reproduced a Palace Theatre ad published<br />
in April 1913. In the middle of it<br />
appears the words: "Edison's Talking<br />
Moving Pictures, and second week by<br />
popular request of Miss Orford and Her<br />
Wonderful Elephants."<br />
Ethel Barrynaore in a Richard Harding<br />
Davis playlet took over the following week<br />
—April 28.<br />
Something Unusual<br />
CTANLEY KRAMER, independent producer,<br />
can claim an unusual distinction—especially<br />
unusual in these days<br />
when there is so much talk about the<br />
troubles of the independents. He has two<br />
pictures playing on Broadway— "Home<br />
of the Brave" at the 'Victoria and "Champion"<br />
at the Globe. Both are doing excellent<br />
business.<br />
Phillips Warms Up<br />
\A7HEN H. I. Phillips, who conducts the<br />
Sun Dial in the Sun, New York evening<br />
paper, heard in March that Neil Agnew of<br />
would re-<br />
the Motion Picture Sales Corp.,<br />
issue seven of Harold Lloyd's comedies he<br />
devoted practically the entire column to his<br />
reactions—all of which were warmly in<br />
favor of the plan and a bit critical of the<br />
present dearth of comedies.<br />
Agnew has had the column reprinted for<br />
distribution by the sales staff.<br />
Phillips wound up his comments by<br />
writing: "More fans are crying for the<br />
return of the day when comedians were<br />
artists and craftsmen, not muggers and<br />
gangsters largely dependent on highpowered<br />
press agents. And those famous<br />
Lloyd comedies will help. So again I toss<br />
my hat into the air over the news and wish<br />
you lots of luck. Also why not some new<br />
Lloyd comedies, or won't the Hollywood<br />
moguls stand for genuine fun in current<br />
scripts?"<br />
See Television Linking<br />
Coasts by End of 1950<br />
NE'W YORK—The prediction that by the<br />
end of 1950 some 12,000 miles of coaxial cable<br />
will be, carrying television programs and<br />
telephone messages from coast to coast was<br />
made by the Bell Telephone Laboratories<br />
during its celebration of the 20th anniversary<br />
of the cable. The cables now carry three<br />
television programs and 600 simultaneous telephone<br />
calls each way between New York and<br />
Chicago. 'When no television programs are<br />
being sent, they can carry 1,800 telephone<br />
conversations.<br />
Credit for the invention is given to Lloyd<br />
Espensohied and Herman A. Affel, Bell veterans.<br />
The first cable was three inches In<br />
diameter while the present one is about the<br />
size of a lead pencil, very flexible and a<br />
much more efficient carrier. They predicted<br />
that it might be developed to the point where<br />
it would be two to three times as capable of<br />
handling wide bands of frequencies.<br />
OLDEST EXHIBITOR<br />
LARNED, KAS.—This Kansas town<br />
claims the veteran of all exhibitors<br />
John Schnack, owner of the Electric<br />
Theatre—who has been exhibiting motion<br />
pictures exclusively for 47 years.<br />
The town helped him celebrate the anniversary<br />
this month.<br />
In 1901, a couple of itinerant showmen<br />
came into town and rented the<br />
Opera House for a picture show. Business<br />
was so terrific that Schnack and<br />
a friend decided to go into exhibition.<br />
They invested in Edison Kinetoscope,<br />
formed the Edison Exhibition Co. and<br />
gave daily shows throughout the area,<br />
starting in May 1902. Pour years later,<br />
Schnack opened the Electric Theatre,<br />
first in the old Opera House and later<br />
in a new theatre, and has been exhibiting<br />
ever since.<br />
"Mind you," warns Schnack, "this is<br />
not a success story. I have never had<br />
more than one theatre. I have had continuous<br />
opposition for 40 years and<br />
about 40 different competitors. You<br />
know what that means as far as making<br />
money in a town of 4,000 is concerned.<br />
I'm satisfied with my 400-seater<br />
and I'm looking forward to celebrating<br />
50 years in motion pictures in 1952."<br />
'Two Hearts' to Dembow<br />
NEW YORK—Sam Dembow jr.,<br />
president<br />
of Producei-s Service Corp., has been named<br />
representative for "Two Hearts in Three<br />
Quarter Time," which will be made in<br />
Austria and distributed in the U.S. by United<br />
Artists. Douglas Sirk will start shooting the<br />
pictm-e in August. He is now in Vienna supervising<br />
preliminary work.<br />
RKO to Release 7 Disneys<br />
NEW YORK— Seven Walt Disney one-reel<br />
Technicolor cartoons will be released by RKO<br />
during the summer months. Cun-ent release<br />
is "Pluto's Sweater," to be followed by "Winter<br />
Storage," featuring Donald Duck; "Bubble<br />
Bee," featuring Pluto, the dog; "Honey<br />
Harvest," another Donald Duck and "Tennis<br />
Racquet," featuring Croofy.<br />
24 BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949
OP&M^> /<br />
-pRAisel<br />
Box-office power . • . indicates<br />
J)ng and prosperous runs."<br />
I<br />
—M. P. Daily<br />
'Distinguished motion pic-<br />
Huston's genius flames<br />
lure.<br />
rightly."—N. y. Herald Tribune<br />
|A rousing experience In the<br />
fieatre."—N.y. World-Telegram<br />
Outstanding . . . intensely vivid<br />
nd exciting.<br />
—N.Y. Joumal-American<br />
A masterpiece and a miracle."<br />
—N.Y. Daily Mirror<br />
^'Strong b. o. thriller . . . can't help<br />
but do business everywhere."<br />
— Variety<br />
'^Great emotional wallop ... It<br />
could very well be considered for<br />
the Oscar of 1949."—Co/z/erv Mag.<br />
^Tascinating . . . taut dramatic<br />
film . . . Every part is well acted."<br />
— N.Y. Daily News<br />
"Desperate melodramatic tale<br />
• • • staggeringly pictorialized."<br />
—N.Y. Times<br />
Jennifer JOMES<br />
JOHN Garfieid<br />
,.<br />
PedroARMENDARIZ JOHN HUSTON'S,<br />
Wb Were Sthangers<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
PICTURE<br />
•<br />
Gilbert Roland Ramon Novarro Wally Cassell David •<br />
l„m ROBERT SYLVESTER'S novel, 'ROUGH SKETCH' • AN HORIZON PRODUniON<br />
•<br />
Bond screen piay by peter viertel and johnhustom^<br />
•<br />
Directed by JOH N H USTON Produced by S. P. EAGLE
TVcu^iH'^tati<br />
TT IS NOT LIKELY that the Department<br />
of Justice will take any action on the<br />
Society of Independent Motion Picture F>roducers'<br />
protest against the reported agreement<br />
by the Anglo-American Film Council<br />
at least until there is some formal indication<br />
that agreement has been reached. Since it is<br />
not expected that the upcoming council meet<br />
will result in anything conclusive, it is not<br />
likely the government will have anything to<br />
say for some time, if at all.<br />
As yet, there has been no clear sign from<br />
either the State or Justice department<br />
whether the Council is considered to have<br />
any real stature. The British last week suggested<br />
to the State department that both<br />
governments hold off and see what the council<br />
might agree upon, but as we get it the<br />
department has not committed itself in any<br />
way to further delay.<br />
What could happen is that the State department<br />
will wait a while, notify the British<br />
it cannot wait upon the negotiations of the<br />
industry spokesmen, then sit back and wait<br />
for the British to reply to that one. Weeks<br />
might go by, during which the council would<br />
have its chance to work something out.<br />
An agreement by the councO, it is believed,<br />
would be quite authoritative, so far as the<br />
British are concerned, but there is no indication<br />
here how much it would mean to the<br />
American government. If the independents'<br />
case is found to be strong, of course, the<br />
Department of Justice may have to move<br />
but the State department could pass the word<br />
to the Motion Picture Export Ass'n even<br />
before then that it had better make peace<br />
with the SIMPP before trying to conclude<br />
any agreement with the British.<br />
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE in-principle<br />
agreement for settlement of the ten-year-old<br />
antitrust case against the Schine circuit are<br />
dragging, and the optimism of a couple of<br />
months ago has disappeared. The government<br />
twice has agreed to continue the slated<br />
hearing in Buffalo district court on its demand<br />
for the virtually complete breakup of<br />
the circuit, but it is now not certain it will<br />
have an agreement to present the court by<br />
June 18, the current target date.<br />
It was believed especially significant that<br />
Antitrust Chief Herbert Bergson said last<br />
week as he left for the west coast that<br />
there will be no negotiating talks in the<br />
Schine case in his absence. He would not<br />
have been so emphatic about it were the discussions<br />
routine talks in the drive for outof-court<br />
settlement.<br />
« * *<br />
THE SUPREME COURT was asked again<br />
last week to review the Momand case. On<br />
May 2 it refused to take jurisdiction in the<br />
18-year-old litigation, but court rules permit<br />
a new petition based on legal grounds not<br />
set forth in the first request. Harold Schilz,<br />
new coimsel to Momand, has offered new<br />
legal points in the fight to win the reinstatement<br />
of a Boston jury award which<br />
would have meant nearly a million dollars<br />
in damages from the majors to A. B. Momand.<br />
The jury award was set aside by Federal<br />
Judge Charles Wyzanski, and the new petition<br />
to the high court argues that Wyzanski<br />
^cfoont<br />
By ALAN HERBERT<br />
was in error in finding it material that<br />
Momand had failed to show "specific intent"<br />
by the majors to damage him personally.<br />
Precedent in antitrust litigation makes it<br />
adequate for Momand to show merely that<br />
he is one of the class of people the defendants<br />
conspired to damage, the new petition<br />
holds. It also charges error in Wyzanski's<br />
order regarding the establishment of monetary<br />
damages.<br />
* *<br />
LAWYERS HERE ARE watching the Meisleman<br />
antitrust case, in Charlotte, N. C, with<br />
considerable interest. MGM was excused<br />
from the case, it is recalled, because it agreed<br />
to offer its product in the area on a competitive<br />
bidding basis which permitted<br />
Meisleman to bid against the Wilby-Kincey<br />
competition in the city.<br />
There is some speculation that the court<br />
might order all the major exchanges in the<br />
area to offer product on a competitive basis.<br />
It is recalled that although normal rentals<br />
rarely topped 40 per cent on the negotiated<br />
basis, MGM rentals went as high as 54 per<br />
cent on the competitive basis.<br />
THE NEW BILL INTRODUCED last<br />
week<br />
by Rep. Wilbur MUls of Arkansas, which<br />
would put business firms on a pay-as-you-go<br />
basis, was looked upon in some quarters as<br />
a possible means of winning excise tax reduction.<br />
It would call upon businessmen to<br />
pay up their next annual tax bill within six<br />
months from the close of their tax year,<br />
rather than one year, and would mean an<br />
immediate gain of an estimated $4.6 billion.<br />
If such a bill went through, and important<br />
Democrats are interested in it, it is not unlikely<br />
that it would carry a rider reducing<br />
the excise taxes — including the admission<br />
levy. GOP opposition was loud and immediate,<br />
and although Democrats at first glance<br />
liked the bill better than any straight tax<br />
increase measures offered it would be rash<br />
to predict that it will get very far.<br />
Amusing Benny Short<br />
For Treasury Drive<br />
NEW YORK—Jack Benny, Rochester,<br />
Byron Foulger and several other actors<br />
have contributed their services to make<br />
an entertaining short, "The Spirit of '49,"<br />
which will induce theatre patrons to buy<br />
U.S. Treasury bonds during the savings<br />
drive. Six htmdred prints of the short<br />
have been distributed by Universal-International<br />
to theatres.<br />
The short uses action shots from such<br />
famous western epics as "The Covered<br />
Wagon," "Union Pacific" and "The Thundering<br />
Herd" during the story of Benny's<br />
grandfather who went west during the<br />
gold rush of 1849. In 1949, his grandson,<br />
who turned his gold into savings bonds<br />
in 1939, collects four dollars for each<br />
three he invested. The message is confined<br />
to the last minute of the 12-minute<br />
picture.<br />
KIDDING THE DRIVE-INS<br />
The drive-in theatre has opened a new<br />
era of activity for the cartoonist. Some<br />
of the drawings are twists on old indoor<br />
theatre jokes, but some are original such<br />
as these two which appeared in recent<br />
issues of the Saturday Evening Post. Currently,<br />
editors of the Post are showing<br />
considerable interest in both cartoons dealing<br />
with the motion picture theatre and<br />
articles on the amusement world. In last<br />
week's issue, the magazine carried the first<br />
of a series of eight articles on W. C. Fields<br />
and "Popcorn Crazy," a story of popcorn<br />
in the theatre and the part Manley, Inc.<br />
plays in it.<br />
Major Oldfield on Orders<br />
For Honolulu Assignment<br />
WASHINGTON—Orders have been issued<br />
by the army which will send Maj. Barney<br />
Oldfield to headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaiian<br />
Islands, upon completion of his present<br />
assignment as a student in the Command<br />
& General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth,<br />
Kas.<br />
Oldfield, former BOXOFFICE correspondent<br />
and onetime motion picture editor of the<br />
Nebraska State Journal, in Lincoln, served<br />
two years after the war in the publicity department<br />
of Warner Bros, in Hollywood, and<br />
returned to uniform when the call went out<br />
for officers of previous service with public<br />
relations experience in civilian life.<br />
MGM Wins Second Award<br />
NEW YORK—"The Stratton Story" (MGM)<br />
has been chosen picture of the month for<br />
June by the Christian Herald in association<br />
with the Protestant Picture coimcil. "Command<br />
Decision" received the award for<br />
March. Both were directed by Sam Wood.<br />
26 BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949
'i^oUeftiMMcC ^cfront<br />
Kramer-Stillman Alliance<br />
Ended After Two Films<br />
A productional and financial association<br />
under which two current and widely discussed<br />
United Artists<br />
releases were made<br />
came to a halt with<br />
the disclosure that<br />
Screen Plays Corp. has<br />
reached the end of its<br />
two-picture deal with<br />
Stanley Kramer<br />
John StiUman. Florida<br />
financier. The Stanley<br />
independent<br />
Kramer<br />
unit, in liaison with<br />
Stillman. turned out<br />
"Champion." currently<br />
in first run engagements,<br />
and "Home of<br />
the Brave." due for release shortly.<br />
Kramer said his next three Screen Plays<br />
films for UA will be completed with new<br />
financing from other sources.<br />
Family 'Series' Films<br />
Returning Into Vogue<br />
Family "series" films, once widely popular<br />
but in recent years having gone into something<br />
of an eclipse, may again come into<br />
vogue, it was indicated when Monogram gave<br />
the green light to Producer Peter Scully to<br />
By<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
ready a third picture in his "Latham Family"<br />
comedies starring Raymond Walburn. Scully.<br />
whose Mayfair Pictures unit already has<br />
made "Henry, the Rainmaker" and "Leave It<br />
to Henry." has already set Jean Yarbrough<br />
to meg the new entry in the group, titled<br />
"Blame It on Henry." It will go before the<br />
cameras in July.<br />
Only other "family" series still active<br />
MGM having tabled its "Hardys" and 20th<br />
Century-Fox long since having abandoned its<br />
"Joneses"—are the "Bringing Up Father"<br />
films being produced by Barney Gerard, also<br />
for Monogram, and based on the George Mc-<br />
Manus comic strip, and Columbia's perennial<br />
"Blondies."<br />
Paul Short to Produce<br />
Police 'Documentary'<br />
Comes now another film subject described<br />
as "factual" and "documentary." this one<br />
emanating from the independent production<br />
unit headed by Paul Short and to star Audie<br />
Murphy, the World War II hero who had his<br />
first starring assignment in Short's Allied<br />
Artists entry, "Bad Boy." The new one. also<br />
to be made for AA release, is titled "The<br />
Police Story," and will be made with the<br />
cooperation of the Los Angeles police department,<br />
with all information for the yarn<br />
being combed from that organization's bulging<br />
files.<br />
MGM Delays Two Costly Productions:<br />
'Annie Get Your Gun/ 'Quo Vadis'<br />
Chain reactions as demonstrated in<br />
experiments with nuclear fission ain't got<br />
nothin' on the cycle of circumstances<br />
which led to the postponement of two<br />
costly film projects, both on the MGM<br />
production docket, and both shelved for<br />
the time being because of unforeseen and<br />
unavoidable difficulties.<br />
The vehicles concerned are "Annie Get<br />
Your Gun." the tunefilm which ground<br />
to a halt after several weeks of camera<br />
work when Judy Garland, who had the<br />
title role, was suspended, and "Quo Vadis,"<br />
slated for filming in Italy with Gregory<br />
Peck in the topline.<br />
In the case of "Annie." Miss Garland<br />
was replaced by Betty Hutton, borrowed<br />
from Paramount. Almost immediately,<br />
however. MGM and Paramount "mutually<br />
decided"—according to an official<br />
joint statement—not to resume work on<br />
the MGM opus until after La Hutton has<br />
finished a co-.starring assignment with<br />
Fred Astaire in Paramount's "Let's<br />
Dance." So "Annie" stays on the shelf<br />
while Hutton remains on her home lot.<br />
Originally Paramount had "indefinitely<br />
postponed" the Hutton-Astaire musical,<br />
but that action was reconsidered after<br />
a survey had been made of the elaborate<br />
advance production preparations for<br />
"Let's Dance."<br />
Almost simultaneously MGM absorbed<br />
another jolt when Peck was hospitalized<br />
with an eye ailment, rendering him unable<br />
to report in time to launch "Quo<br />
Vadis" in Rome July 1. Upon recovery<br />
from his illness Peck must first finish<br />
his starring role in 20th Century-Fox's<br />
"Tw-elve O'clock High," on which approximately<br />
a month of shooting remains.<br />
MGM therefore has postponed "Quo<br />
Vadis" until next spring, pointing out<br />
that any brief delay in starting would<br />
extend the schedule into Italy's season<br />
of bad weather and would "present serious<br />
problems to the extensive exterior<br />
location production."<br />
Henry Henigson, who is representing<br />
the studio in Italy and has been setting<br />
up the preliminai-y arrangements for<br />
camera w-ork on "Quo Vadis." will remain<br />
in Rome to continue preparations. All<br />
material and equipment already rounded<br />
up will remain in readiness for the start<br />
next spring.<br />
Meantime, John Huston, who had been<br />
set to meg, was immediately handed another<br />
assignment to pilot "Asphalt Jungle."<br />
a documentary police yarn to be<br />
produced by Arthur Hornblow jr., who<br />
also will produce "Quo Vadis" when it<br />
hits the cameras.<br />
Niven Busch Is<br />
Over Title<br />
for Film<br />
Vexed<br />
Sometimes the task of hanging a title<br />
on a picture—simple as that operation<br />
might appear on the surface—can cause<br />
more trouble and vexation than the actual<br />
production chores themselves. At least,<br />
so testifieth Niven Busch, who—with Edward<br />
Nassour as his associate—is about<br />
to launch under the banner of Showtime<br />
Pictures an opus co-starring Teresa<br />
Wright and Lew Ayres, to be distributed<br />
by RKO Radio.<br />
Busch developed the property under<br />
the title of "Daybreak." Then up popped<br />
the J. Arthur Rank organization to point<br />
out that our British cousins already<br />
have completed a film under that tag.<br />
Just so there could be no hint of international<br />
discord. Busch dropped the handle<br />
in favor of Tycoon Rank and adopted,<br />
in its stead. "Guilt." Almost immediately<br />
he ran into trouble again, when Columbia<br />
notified him it had registered<br />
"The Guilty" as a working title.<br />
At this point the Wright-Ayres subject<br />
is nameless, while the <strong>MPAA</strong>'s title registration<br />
committee is undertaking to arbitrate<br />
the Columbia-Busch hassle.<br />
Salt Lake City Bankers<br />
To Make Films in Utah<br />
Everybody, apparently, wants to get in on<br />
the picture-making act. And that includes a<br />
group of Salt Lake City bankers and financiers,<br />
who have organized the Mid-Continent<br />
Pictures Corp. and constructed a two-stage<br />
studio at Midway, Utah, some 45 miles outside<br />
of Salt Lake City.<br />
The outfit, headed by Thomas C. Atkins,<br />
has booked Michael O'Shea to star in a projected<br />
.series of eight features titled "The<br />
American Patrol Service." and based on the<br />
U.S. government agency which protects the<br />
nation's natural resources. Plans are to turn<br />
out the films at the rate of four a year, the<br />
first to get imder way early in July. No release<br />
has been set.<br />
. . Co-<br />
Cast for 'Monte Cristo'<br />
Is Selected at SG<br />
A cast including Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens<br />
and Steve Brodie was rounded up for<br />
"Treasure of Monte Cristo." which Leonard<br />
Picker is producing for Screen Guild release<br />
Henry O'Neill, observing his 15th<br />
. . . anniversary in films, joined the cast of Paramount's<br />
"I Married a Dead Man" .<br />
lumbia handed Lola Albright a term ticket<br />
and the femme lead opposite Jack Carson in<br />
"The Good Humor Man."<br />
20th-Fox Inks Kohlmar<br />
For Three More Years<br />
Fred Kohlmar w-as handed a three-year<br />
extension of his producer pact at 20th Cen-<br />
. . Jerry<br />
tury-Fox, where he has a program of three<br />
films all set to roll next month .<br />
Wald draws the production reins on "Always<br />
Leave Them Laughing." in which Milton<br />
Berle will star for Warners . . . Megging assignments<br />
at MGM include Mervyn LeRoy<br />
to "East Side. West Side," and George Sidney<br />
to "Keys of the City."<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 27
i want<br />
I<br />
HURST<br />
fSVJ<br />
Theatre<br />
Construction,<br />
Openings and Sales<br />
CONSTRUCTION:<br />
Barstow, Calif. — Ground broken for 1,000-seat<br />
house by Western Amusement Co., Ted Jones, president.<br />
Camp Wood, Tex.—Ground broken for new theatre<br />
to replace the present Dixie by L. J. Dean,<br />
owner.<br />
Charlemont, Mass.— Drive-in under way for Carl<br />
H. Nilman of Buckland, Mass.<br />
Compton, Calif.—Compton Drive-In, 1,200 cars, under<br />
way for Dave Rector.<br />
Corpus Christi, Tex.—New drive-in platined by<br />
Arnulfo Gonzales of Laredo on Port drive. Architects:<br />
Spillman
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
nmm<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
uafcartM^air* * «»*<br />
DVd^o^e^<br />
The difference between an optimist<br />
and a pessimist is that the<br />
optimist looks at his house with<br />
assurance and says, "It's half full."<br />
The pessimist looks at the same<br />
house and says, "It's half empty."<br />
Having worked for so many theatre<br />
owners who were pessimistic<br />
at heart, perhaps it is only natural<br />
that we have developed a pessimistic<br />
outlook, particularly whenever<br />
we see empty theatre seats.<br />
Of course, during the war years<br />
and in the period immediately following,<br />
even the most pessimistic<br />
exhibitors came to change their<br />
viewpoints. Many changed radically<br />
and became outright optimists.<br />
Not having been an exhibitor at<br />
that time, we were never able to<br />
change our own habits and so have<br />
remained a pessimist right up to<br />
now.<br />
We read in the tradepapers the<br />
other day that business is improving.<br />
Optimists will say: "That's<br />
fine. Great. Glad to hear it." But<br />
being a pessimist, and having visited<br />
a number of theatres lately<br />
where we saw a surprising number<br />
of empty seats, we believe that the<br />
prosperity mentioned in the trade<br />
reports must be confined to areas<br />
outside the geographic limitations<br />
of New York City.<br />
We took the trouble to check with<br />
a few exhibitors and circuit o^vners<br />
around here. The most important<br />
revelation is that theatres in Manhattan<br />
and the Bronx are not suffering<br />
as much as those in Brooklyn<br />
and Queens. We believe there<br />
is an obvious reason for this. Apartment<br />
dwellers in Manhattan and<br />
the Bronx do not find it easy getting<br />
their landlord's permission to<br />
rig TV aerials on rooftops. Brooklyn<br />
and Queens residents are mostly<br />
home owners or tenants of two and<br />
four-family domiciles and do not encounter<br />
so much landlord resistance.<br />
We haven't seen a breakdown of<br />
the 550,000 home TV sets in the<br />
New York area, but it is just possible—and<br />
highly probable—that a<br />
large percentage of the total are<br />
installed in Brooklyn and Queens.<br />
That would make the drop in theatre<br />
business in those boroughs more<br />
than a mere coincidence. It might<br />
also shed some light on TV com-<br />
( Continued on page 30)<br />
Civic, Merchant Aid Given<br />
'Neptune in So. Carolina<br />
A saturation campaign which covered Columbia,<br />
S. C, and communities In a 50-<br />
mile area, presaged the southern premiere of<br />
"Neptune's Daughter" at the Carolina Theatre.<br />
National tieups for the picture played<br />
a major role in one of the most comprehensive<br />
campaigns ever undertaken in that<br />
part of the country.<br />
The campaign was planned and executed<br />
by Dave Garvin, manager of the Carolina,<br />
the entire theatre staff, and Tom Baldridge,<br />
MGM exploiteer. Every phase of the campaign<br />
was prepared well in advance and was<br />
completed down to the minutest detail.<br />
BATHING BEAUTY CONTEST<br />
A "Neptune's Daughter" contest sponsored<br />
by the city recreation and parks department,<br />
a Neptune water pageant, a bathing<br />
beauty street parade and a proclamation by<br />
the mayor of Columbia were among the<br />
highlights.<br />
Radio stations and newspapers thi-oughout<br />
the area outdid themselves with publicity<br />
for the premiere. National tieups produced<br />
record plugs through ads, promoted radio<br />
time and dealer cooperation.<br />
The Lux soap hookup yielded co-op space<br />
in all local and out-of-town papers, 1,000<br />
Lux Journal giveaways for distribution, 200<br />
Esther Williams counter cards imprinted<br />
with playdates for display by retail outlets,<br />
several hundred black-white and color ad<br />
reprints for house-to-house distribution, 100<br />
giant Esther Williams cutouts for display by<br />
grocers and drug stores, 5,000 dealer broadcasts<br />
for distribution to store customers and<br />
a carton of .soap for giveaway on a disk<br />
jockey radio program.<br />
HEAVY TIEUPS HELP<br />
Representatives of Cole swim suits were<br />
contacted in Florida and Los Angeles for<br />
the following cooperation: Newspaper and<br />
radio advertising placed locally by retail<br />
dealers, 5,000 reprints of a national magazine<br />
ad for distribution with theatre imprint,<br />
2,000 color photos of Esther Williams<br />
in a Cole swim suit as a theatre giveaway<br />
prior to opening, 50 full color counter cards<br />
and an equal number of blowups for display<br />
at stores handling the Cole product and<br />
12 swim suits for giveaway via radio contests.<br />
The Cugat jacket tieup, represented by<br />
Sherman Shirts, helped to exploit the open-<br />
—159—<br />
ing by reaching additional people through<br />
store displays, ads and radio plugs. Cugat<br />
jackets were promoted and given as prizes<br />
by disk jockeys on tune identifying contests<br />
through which the picture received continuous<br />
breaks.<br />
Eight prominent music stores were brought<br />
in on the campaign through Columbia and<br />
MGM record tieups with co-op ads and lavish<br />
window displays.<br />
The Palmetto studio sponsored a "Neptune's<br />
Daughter" photo contest offering cash and<br />
camera prizes with the picture and theatre<br />
dates dominating the promotion.<br />
Belk's department store ran a full-page<br />
new.spaper ad welcoming the southern premiere,<br />
the Tapp Co. took a half-page ad<br />
to promote Cole swim suits and the opening,<br />
and several other leading merchants came<br />
through with ads, windows, and other forms<br />
of cooperative advertising which helped to<br />
keep the picture title on the lips of the<br />
public.<br />
Each of 14 city parks conducted eliminations<br />
to select the most attractive bathing<br />
beauty representatives who appeared on the<br />
Carolina stage opening night. The premiere<br />
opening was ballyhooed in typical Hollywood<br />
style. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored<br />
the opening show which was preceded by the<br />
Neptime parade and lobby interviews broadcast<br />
by all radio stations as a distinguished<br />
audience arrived.<br />
Book Ballyhoo Boosts<br />
Dayton 'Little Women'<br />
Bill Reisinger, manager of Loew's Theatre,<br />
Dayton, Ohio, used a perambulating book<br />
ballyhoo built by the theatre sign shop to<br />
exploit "Little Women." The book was placed<br />
on a flat truck built with casters and was<br />
moved around the downtown shopping area<br />
by two uniformed ushers.<br />
Hallmark Aids "Women<br />
Bob Carney, manager of the Poll Theatre,<br />
Waterbury, Conn., made effective use of the<br />
Hallmark tieup to exploit "Little Women."<br />
The Hallmark distributor arranged for window<br />
displays, and Carney set up signs in the<br />
windows of local book shops handling the<br />
pocket size edition of the book.<br />
29
Everything but the swinging door appears in this realistic theatre front built by Frank<br />
Paul, manager of the Lyric Theatre, Indianapolis, for "I Shot Jesse James." Other features<br />
of the campaign consisted of short teaser trailers, a 40x60 in the lobby with red painted<br />
copy reading, "Is Jesse James dead?" and an outdoor ballyhoo.<br />
Author Goes on Stage<br />
For 'Flamingo' Bow<br />
Mark DuPree, manager of the Enipire Theatre,<br />
Daytona Beach, Fla.. promoted a wealth<br />
of publicity and art in the local press as a<br />
direct re.sult of cooperation he enlisted from<br />
Robert Wilder, author of "Flamingo Road."<br />
WOder, who was in Daytona Beach working<br />
on a new book, proved extremely cooperative.<br />
He furnished DuPree with a number of<br />
photographs which were used extensively by<br />
the press and in the theatre lobby.<br />
The novelist agreed to autograph books<br />
purchased at the Daytona book store coincident<br />
with the opening of "Flamingo Road"<br />
at tthe Empire. The book shop ran large<br />
newspaper ads mentioning the theatre engagement,<br />
and plugged the pictm-e through<br />
window displays, counter displays, etc.<br />
Wilder made a personal appearance on the<br />
stage on opening night which was widely<br />
publicized by press and radio. Station WNBB<br />
interviewed the author on a 15-minute gratis<br />
program the day before the picture opened.<br />
Additional window displays were promoted<br />
from book shops and a local furniture store.<br />
Screenings and Music<br />
Basis of 'Tulsa' Buildup<br />
Myron Talman, manager of the Roxy Theatre,<br />
Kansas City, did a good week's business<br />
with "Tulsa" and passes his campaign along<br />
for the benefit of other Showmandiser<br />
readers.<br />
He screened the picture for the district<br />
managers of all local oil companies. "Tulsa"<br />
recordings were planted with disk Jockeys on<br />
all Kansas City radio stations, and sheet<br />
music arrangements were given to entertainers<br />
in various night spots.<br />
A 9xl5-foot banner was placed against the<br />
facade of the theatre building, above the<br />
marquee, with spots illuminating it at night.<br />
Posters and displays were used in the theatre<br />
lobby in advance, and a special front was designed<br />
for the current engagement.<br />
Library Displays Help<br />
Syracuse, N. Y., 'Pacific'<br />
Dick Feldmans campaign for "Canadian<br />
Pacific" at the Paramount Theatre in Syracuse,<br />
N. Y., booked on a double feature program<br />
with "A Duke of Chicago," was marked<br />
by 25 window cards displayed in public libraries,<br />
branch libraries, book store windows<br />
and book counters in local department stores.<br />
In exchange for a short trailer plugging<br />
the Gabriel Heatter program over WNDR,<br />
the Paramount show was plugged four times<br />
a day for five consecutive days prior to opening.<br />
The foreign language newspapers gave<br />
"Canadian Pacific" gratis writeups, and a<br />
co-op ad featuring a star head of Jane Wyatt<br />
with mention of the theatre, title and playdates<br />
was promoted from a neighborhood<br />
beauty salon.<br />
J {J<br />
O^oaeu<br />
(Continued from page 29)<br />
petition in other locations where business<br />
is not up to par.<br />
We heard some comments from exhibitors<br />
whom we queried that product has been<br />
bad lately. Yet it has been good enough in<br />
other parts of the country to show a general<br />
increase in the volume of business. And with<br />
the same product.<br />
Exhibitors who argue that TV does not hurt<br />
business might check statistics in the New<br />
York area. The 550,000 sets probably are<br />
reaching more than 25 per cent of the population.<br />
If a sizable majority of TV sets in<br />
New York are concentrated in two boroughs,<br />
the theatres in those boroughs are competing<br />
against a greater percentage of TV sets.<br />
And as the TV saturation rating increases,<br />
it is probable that motion picture attendance<br />
decreases.<br />
That formula will hold in any area and<br />
for every exhibitor.<br />
Heralds Distributed<br />
To Launch Campaign<br />
For 'Honeymoon'<br />
Paul Townsend, manager of the Midwest<br />
Theatre, Oklahoma City, launched his campaign<br />
for "Family Honeymoon" by distributing<br />
several thousand circulars plugging<br />
forthcoming releases. Including "Honeymoon."<br />
Art pieces in the lobby were displayed<br />
two weeks in advance of opening.<br />
Cross plug trailers, furnished by U-I, were<br />
run at two affiliated houses in the city.<br />
A 30-minute transcription record fm-nished<br />
by the distributor and a personal interview<br />
transcription were used over radio station<br />
KTOW on promoted time. Free spot<br />
announcements on the Treasure Chest quiz<br />
program heard over KTOW were received in<br />
exchange for several free passes. "Family<br />
Honeymoon" was also plugged by Larry Cotton<br />
on his sustaining show over WKY.<br />
Advance newspaper art was placed in the<br />
Sunday Oklahoman. The newspaper campaign,<br />
starting nine days before opening,<br />
was climaxed opening day with a 100-inch<br />
ad, and through arrangements with the local<br />
newspaper, a Lux soap newspaper co-op was<br />
deliberately held up to break on opening<br />
day of the second week of the picture's run<br />
to implement the theatre's regular holdover<br />
ad campaign.<br />
Illuminated Display<br />
Is Standout for 'Snake'<br />
Concentrating selling in newspaper ads.<br />
radio announcemen';s and the posting of a<br />
24-sheet and three-sheets helped business on<br />
"The Snake Pit" for James Bell, manager of<br />
the Penn Theatre, New Castle, Pa.<br />
Forty window cards w«re spotted in strategic<br />
locations throughout the downtown<br />
area. A special front was made up of 30x40s<br />
and sets of 11x14 color photos. D splays were<br />
located in two hotels, and a third carried<br />
directory credits listing the theatre name and<br />
picture title.<br />
An outstanding window display was set<br />
up with the G. C. Murphy Co. The window<br />
was dominated by a Hollywood special 40x60,<br />
illuminated from behind. In the foreground<br />
were copies of the book, "The Snake Pit," and<br />
stills from the film. Bell reports that because<br />
of the illumination, the window was the Main<br />
street<br />
attraction.<br />
Toy Balloons Released<br />
With 'My Heart' Gifts<br />
Randall Roberts, manager of the Browny<br />
Theatre, Brownsburg, Ind., tied up with a local<br />
grocery for a novel stunt which helped<br />
exploit "So Dear to My Heart." Balloons<br />
were filled with helium gas, and attached<br />
to them were slips of paper entitling the<br />
f:nders to such items as a ham, cake, coffee,<br />
etc., redeemable at the cooperating grocery<br />
store. The slips included a plug for "So Dear<br />
to My Heart." The merchant publicized the<br />
tieup with a 3-column, 14-inch newspaper ad<br />
and announcements that the balloons would<br />
be released at the theatre at a designated<br />
time.<br />
For "Hills of Home," Roberts stenciled<br />
dog tracks on sidewalks throughout Brownsburg<br />
with copy, "Follow me." The tracks<br />
led to the theatre.<br />
30 —160- BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 28, 1949
Profit Producers<br />
The mammoth lobby display<br />
lor "Canadian Pacific.<br />
" at leit, was built<br />
by Carl Rogers, manager<br />
of the Broad Theatre.<br />
Columbus. Ohio.<br />
Fox West Coast Theatres<br />
in Oakland exploited a<br />
recent car giveaway<br />
with this street motor<br />
cade. Car caravan was<br />
promoted by O. Roald<br />
Vestbie. assistant at the<br />
Franklin Theatre.<br />
Model plane and still display in lobby of College.<br />
College Point, N. Y.. helped Manager J. V. Pisapia<br />
focus advance attention on "Command Decision."<br />
Wannie Tyers. manager of the Odeon Toronto in Canada, hooked<br />
up vtfith Arthur Murray tieup to hypo interest in "Saraband." Studio<br />
instructors, below, gave free exhibition of new dance, "Mambo"<br />
in the inner theatre lobby. Stunt attracted wide attention daily<br />
from 6 to 8 p. m.<br />
Window tieups played an important role in publicizing "Paleface"<br />
at the Soisson Theatre. Connellsville, Pa. In addition to this full<br />
display with luggage shop. Manager Alex Levin had a prominent<br />
window loaded with Buttons and Bows clothing and "Paleface '<br />
art.<br />
Students of the Houston University modeling class took offense<br />
at "Mr. Belvedere's" remarks pertinent to "sloppy dressing."<br />
Pickets in front of the Majestic were right up the alley for Manager<br />
Ed Bremer who cashed in handsomely on the spoken w^ord for<br />
publicity and columns of controversial comments published in the<br />
Houston papers.<br />
Billy Wilson, manager of the Beacham, Orlando, Fla.. played up<br />
the mystery woman angle in "Letter to Three Wives" with excellent<br />
results. Lobby contest helped to stimulate wide interest. The<br />
display shown above was animated. Small motor kept the Venetian<br />
blind opening and closing in front of the silhouette cutout.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 28, 1949 —161— 31
Exhibits, Contests, Music Tieups,<br />
Exploit 'Tulsa in Baltimore<br />
Newspapers and local radio stations sponsored<br />
various contests to help exploit "Tulsa"<br />
for its Baltimore engagement at the Town<br />
Theatre. A saturation campaign of publicity<br />
and exploitation put on by Herb Thacher,<br />
manager of the Town, and Eagle Lion exploiteer<br />
Max Miller spread word of the playdates<br />
for miles around the city.<br />
Rave reviews resulted from a special<br />
screening attended by Baltimore drama<br />
critics. Oil company officials who attended<br />
extended full cooperation through bulletins<br />
mailed to all industry employes, special exhibits<br />
provided for the theatre lobby and in<br />
sanctioning the placement of window cards<br />
at all gas stations in the area.<br />
The song hit "Tulsa" was used to exploit<br />
the picture through disk jockeys, music store<br />
tieups and streamers placed on all jukeboxes<br />
in the city. The Pi-att library displayed an<br />
exhibit of books dealing with oil and included<br />
scene stills from the picture as well as the-<br />
Cartoon Show Booked<br />
For Easier Program<br />
A variety of promotions helped to boost<br />
grosses for Ed Kennelly, manager of the<br />
Lido Theatre, Maywood, 111., during the<br />
month of April. He booked a special kiddy<br />
matinee show prior to Easter, with an advance<br />
sale of tickets helping to fill the house.<br />
Fifteen color cartoons were shown and surprise<br />
gifts were promoted for every child<br />
who attended.<br />
A cleaning establishment which sponsored<br />
the show and donated the prizes also paid<br />
for the imprint and distribution of 2.000 special<br />
heralds. Publicity releases In the Herald<br />
and Sentinel helped to spread news of the<br />
special show.<br />
To attract extra adult patronage, Kennelly<br />
tied up with a market which provided<br />
250 pounds of hams as a giveaway on April<br />
13. The sponsor and the theatre distributed<br />
lucky drawing coupons to customers at the<br />
store and theatre patrons three weeks prior<br />
to the drawing which was held on the Lido<br />
stage. The giveaway was exploited through<br />
a lobby display, theatre house program, and<br />
signs placed in the window of the cooperating<br />
market.<br />
Silver Firm-MGM Jingles<br />
Aid 'Women' in Atlanta<br />
Boyd Fry, manager of Loew's in Atlanta,<br />
tied in with the National Silver Co. and the<br />
25th silver anniversary of MGM for a contest<br />
giveaway in which the public was offered<br />
an opportunity to win valuable silver sets.<br />
The stunt was worked in conjunction with<br />
the engagement of "Little Women" and the<br />
picture received wide publicity.<br />
The National Silver Co. offered 13 prizes<br />
through its principal Atlanta retailer. Rich's<br />
department store. Entry blanks were distributed<br />
at the store, entrants being required<br />
to write a jingle.<br />
The stoi-e promoted the contest through interior<br />
and window displays, all of which carried<br />
color art plugging "Little Women."<br />
atre copy on the film and playdates.<br />
Free time was promoted from station<br />
WAAM-TV which televised scene stills from<br />
the film production, theatre credits and<br />
dates. Radio station WCBM placed a large<br />
display board plugging the picture in its<br />
studio waiting room.<br />
Promoted time on commercial radio programs<br />
augmented strong newspaper support<br />
in the form of publicity, art and contests.<br />
Lobby listings in all leading hotels helped to<br />
attract the interest of out-of-town visitors.<br />
For outside ballyhoo, an ancient fire engine<br />
was placed on exhibition in front of the<br />
Town and a special front was designed using<br />
critics'<br />
quotes.<br />
Two radios were promoted from the Admu-al<br />
Co. as giveaways on two important programs<br />
heard over WFBR before large audiences.<br />
A coloring contest sponsored by the<br />
Home News reached more than 150,000 families<br />
with a plug for the picture's opening.<br />
'Joan' Campaign in Troy<br />
Nets Newspaper Space<br />
An extensive exploitation campaign staged<br />
by Lan-y Cowen for the engagement of "Joan<br />
of Arc" at Proctor's, Troy, N. Y., included<br />
a special Saturday morning performance for<br />
1,000 orphans and needy youngsters arranged<br />
through a tieup with the Central Veterans<br />
committee, an organization representing 25,-<br />
000 service men and women.<br />
Other features of the campaign were an<br />
evening preview for 200 sisters from the<br />
teaching staffs of Catholic schools; a "Joan<br />
of Arc" broadcast with Rensselaer county<br />
Red Cross Chairman Frank Mealey as<br />
speaker; recommendations of the film by the<br />
Sisters; still displays on school bulletin<br />
boards; mention of the picture from pulpits<br />
in Catholic churches on Sunday. Troy is a<br />
predominant Catholic city.<br />
The Troy Record, which seldom gives<br />
space to theatre promotion, carried to advance<br />
stories as well as a followup report.<br />
The veterans committee, headed by Harvie<br />
S. Gardner, arranged for buses to transport<br />
the children from eight orphans homes.<br />
For the broadcast. Mealey's address included<br />
mention of the theatre, picture and<br />
playdates, while newspaper stories included<br />
Cowen's name together with that of the theatre<br />
and the circuit.<br />
Stage Show Is Arranged<br />
With Store as Sponsor<br />
Jerome Baker, manager of the RKO Coliseum<br />
Theatre, New York, promoted $380 from<br />
a local merchant recently to sponsor a headline<br />
vaudevaie show. Baker booked Dick<br />
Brown from the Stop the Music radio show<br />
as headliner for the program. The organist<br />
plugged the stage show during his regular<br />
solos, and a display card was placed in the<br />
sponsor's window. Two thousand heralds were<br />
distributed in subways, a writeup was obtained<br />
in the DaUy Mirror Bronx Express<br />
column, and a parade of cars equipped with<br />
signs and flares ballyhooed the show. There<br />
was no cost involved for the theatre.<br />
Rubber Stamps Prove<br />
Inexpensive Means<br />
Of Promotion<br />
Four thousand throwaways were distributed<br />
door-to-door by Tiff Cook, manager of<br />
the Capitol Theatre, Toronto, to exploit "The<br />
Paradine Case." Several thousand were used<br />
as stuffers in stores and shops. Large sixsheet<br />
cutout heads were mounted on cardboard<br />
to attract advance interest in the playdates.<br />
These were used on the theatre marquee<br />
after serving as advance boosters in<br />
the lobby.<br />
For "June Bride," two rubber stamps were<br />
made up to imprint more than 5.000 grocery<br />
bags and record envelopes with the theatre<br />
message. Entire cost of the stunt was $10<br />
for the rubber stamps, plus a few passes for<br />
the storekeepers.<br />
For "The Accused," large double-sided<br />
blackhand cutouts pointing to the theatre<br />
entrance were lettered with the title and<br />
suspended from the marquee soffit. Smaller<br />
black hands were tacked on lamp posts in<br />
the theatre vicinity, all pointing toward the<br />
theatre location. The catchline, "Everything<br />
points to 'The Accused.' " was used everywhere<br />
possible. Window displays were promoted<br />
in several downtown stores.<br />
Summer Styles Preview<br />
Staged by Herman Kopf<br />
A preview of summer fashions was engineered<br />
by Herman Kopf. manager of the<br />
Waller Theatre, Laurel, Del. A local woman's<br />
shop is sponsoring the fashion program, with<br />
a group of pretty models handpicked by Kopf<br />
for their attractiveness.<br />
The store's contribution, in addition to<br />
special window displays and personal notices<br />
sent by mail to all customers, covered the<br />
furnishing of complete wardrobes for the style<br />
show and gifts for all the models.<br />
To further enhance the program, Kopf<br />
booked a special fashion reel featuring Ilka<br />
Chase.<br />
This attractive standee lobby display was<br />
created by Ed Schwarzbart. manager of the<br />
Linden Theatre, Brooklyn, to promote "Wake<br />
of the Red Witch."<br />
32 -162- BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 28, 1949
Screenings and Tieups<br />
With Bookshops Help<br />
'Quartet' Opening<br />
Advance screenings for select groups arid<br />
resultant word-of-mouth publicity helped to<br />
launch "Quartet" ai the Studio Theatre in<br />
Philadelphia. The screenings were arranged<br />
by Ben Zimmerman, manager, and Max Miller.<br />
Eagle Lion field man, for newspaper<br />
critics, heads of English departments at high<br />
schools and universities, editors of school<br />
publications. Variety Club members, radio<br />
officials and commentators, owners and managers<br />
of leading book stores, and the president<br />
of all women's clubs in the city.<br />
The mailing list of the influential Art Alliance<br />
of Philadelphia was borrowed and 2,200<br />
selected members were circularized by direct<br />
mail. Announcement cards were mailed to<br />
600 book dealers and rental libraries. "Quartet"<br />
cards and stills were displayed in 22<br />
branches of the Philadelphia public librarj-,<br />
in a tribute to Somerset Maugham as onft<br />
of the greatest living writers.<br />
Bonwit Teller used a quarter-page co-op ad<br />
in addition to interior and window displays<br />
plugging the theatre dates. A student forum<br />
discussed "Quartet" over radio station WRTl,<br />
with representatives from the University of<br />
Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr and other colleges<br />
participating.<br />
Every important department store had window<br />
tieups displaying books and "Quartet"<br />
accessories. Forty free radio plugs were promoted<br />
over two local radio stations via planted<br />
contests. A special theatre front was built<br />
for the run.<br />
Ginger Rogers on Stage<br />
For 'Baltimore' Debut<br />
The opening of "Adventure in Baltimore"<br />
at the Town Theatre, Baltimore, was distinguished<br />
by the appearance of Ginger<br />
Rogers on the stage five times on opening<br />
day. The film star was greeted at Pennsylvania<br />
station by newsreel cameramen, press<br />
photographers and a delegation from the<br />
Ass'n of Commerce. Reporters from the<br />
Baltimore Sun and News-Post as well as station<br />
WITH interviewed Miss Rogers, who was<br />
presented a key to the city by Mayor D'Alessandro.<br />
This flash iwindo:w tieup dominated by "Command<br />
Decision" booking at the RKO Orpheum.<br />
Denver, was promoted by Manager Bill<br />
Hastings.<br />
Mayors of<br />
Two Towns Proclaim<br />
Go-tO'the-Show Week for Citizens<br />
As a tribute to Lcs Dollison, ownermanager<br />
of the Studio in Vaughn, N. M.,<br />
and the Pecos Theatre in Santa Rosa, located<br />
in the same county, he recently was<br />
honored simultaneously by the mayors of<br />
both communities with proclamations issued<br />
on "Go to the Show" week.<br />
The proclamations were published in<br />
their entirety by the Santa Rosa News,<br />
most important publication in the county,<br />
in which Dollison was commended for his<br />
continuous efforts to improve the condition,<br />
operation, safety factors, entertainment<br />
and comforts of the two theatres.<br />
Individually, each proclamation urged the<br />
people of the community to show their appreciation<br />
by attending the show at some<br />
time during the designated week.<br />
Timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary<br />
of Dollison's management in<br />
Vaughn and the completion of his first<br />
year of operation in Santa Rosa, "Go to<br />
the Show" week was made the subject of a<br />
window card contest in the art classes of<br />
Bunny Giveaway Hypoes<br />
Kiddy Show in Missouri<br />
When Arnold Gould, manager of the<br />
Capitol, Jefferson City, Mo., noted that attendance<br />
at the cartoon kiddy shows was<br />
slipping off, he added a new twist to the<br />
program and provided renewed interest by<br />
calling the show a "Fuzzy Rabbit Cartoon<br />
Party."<br />
Gould tied up with a local rabbit breeder<br />
and gave away ten live bunnies at a matinee<br />
which boosted business to a new high. To<br />
exploit the giveaway, 2,000 handbills were imprinted<br />
and distributed in schools.<br />
The rabbits were placed on exhibition in a<br />
pen in front of the theatre, with an appropriate<br />
sign. They were awarded to the youngsters<br />
on the basis of lucky number tickets.<br />
Graphic Displays in Lobby<br />
Created by Jim Pisapia<br />
A 24-sheet cutout of John Wayne placed<br />
in the lobby of the College Theatre, College<br />
Point, N. Y., helped focus interest on "3<br />
Godfathers" for Manager James Pisapia.<br />
The cutout was moved to the marquee for<br />
the run.<br />
A provocative display which helped to create<br />
word-of-mouth publicity for "John Loves<br />
Mary" con.sisted of a 40x60 painted to represent<br />
part of a brick house and a window.<br />
A shade was drawn over the window with<br />
copy reading, "Raise the shade." When the<br />
patron followed directions, the shade went up<br />
to reveal a set of colored photos, the title,<br />
cast and playdates.<br />
Arranges 'Ships' Quiz<br />
Bette Sniith, publicist for the Fox Theatre<br />
in Detroit, .sold "Down to the Sea in Ships"<br />
by means of a maritime quiz sponsored by<br />
the Town Talk column of the Detroit News.<br />
Prizes were promoted for winners. Participants<br />
were required to identify from pictures<br />
boats which have sailed the Great Lakes.<br />
local schools. Dollison provided the classes<br />
with his entire week's program, with the<br />
students making up the window cards. He<br />
later collected the cards and placed them<br />
in window locations throughout the<br />
county.<br />
English classes in the school system<br />
participated in an essay contest on "Why<br />
I Like to Go to the Movies." Additional<br />
activities for the anniversary celebration<br />
included a concert in front of each theatre<br />
by the local school bands, and cash awards<br />
which Dollison provided as door prizes on<br />
Saturday night during "Go to the Show"<br />
week.<br />
The proclamations obtained for direct<br />
theatre patronage are believed to be the<br />
first of this nature ever issued. They are<br />
a direct tribute to Dollison who has earned<br />
the goodwill of the citizens in both communities<br />
because of his progressive participation<br />
in community affairs and in<br />
improving the standards of entertainment<br />
and presentation in his theatres.<br />
Fiddlers Vie on Stage<br />
In Behalf oi Teudin'<br />
Six of the best oldtlme fiddlers in the<br />
Waupaca area of Wisconsin answered the call<br />
of W. Berkley, advertising manager for Adler<br />
Theatres, to participate in an oldtime fiddlers<br />
contest, exploiting "Feudin,' Fussin' and A-<br />
Pightin' " at the Palace in Waupaca.<br />
Berkley secured excellent cooperation from<br />
the Waupaca County Post by way of readers<br />
on the front page two weeks in advance,<br />
stories and art on the film and a front-page<br />
photo of the contest winners.<br />
A loud speaker was used on the marquee,<br />
hooked up to record player in the lobby featuring<br />
old-fashioned square-dance music.<br />
Fifty window cards announcing the playdates<br />
and the contest were used to get coverage in<br />
outlying towns. A radio tiein was also effected<br />
with a nearby radio station.<br />
Cutouts for 'Paleface'<br />
Perform Double Duty<br />
Bill Davis, manager of the Ritz Theatre,<br />
Gainesville, Ga., prepared 24-sheet cutouts<br />
of the stars and title of "The Paleface" and<br />
placed them around the concession stand in<br />
the lobby. The posters were moved outdoors<br />
during the run to provide a flash for perambulating<br />
traffic.<br />
Pennants were strimg from the roof to the<br />
marquee, and the sound system played Bob<br />
Hope records to attract passersby. One thousand<br />
special heralds were imprinted and distributed<br />
door-to-door.<br />
Gets 'Undercover' Window<br />
For "Undercover Man," Leonard Young,<br />
manager of E. M. Loew's Theatre, Hartford,<br />
promoted window displays in stores handling<br />
men's clothes. They featured stills of the<br />
leading male stars and credits.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 28, 1949 —163- 33
Lucky Star Slimulant<br />
Boosts Business and<br />
Nets Five-Page Co-Op<br />
A Luckv Star night proved an excellent<br />
one-night' business stimulant over a fiveweek<br />
period for Ted Ames, manager of the<br />
Opera House, Millinocket. Me. To start the<br />
ball rolling. Ames made a tentative layout<br />
for a full-page ad and prepared copy for a<br />
trailer and drawing coupons. With this material,<br />
he approached local business men and<br />
sold them on the idea of sponsoring it on<br />
a weekly basis at a cost of five dollars to<br />
Twenty merchants signed up which gave<br />
Ames a $500 working fund. Part of this was<br />
used to purchase five full-page co-op ads<br />
which were run once each week in the local<br />
paper. A portion of the money went to pay<br />
the cost of coupons which were given to<br />
the merchants for distribution to their customers.<br />
The balance of the $500 went to pay<br />
for a fur coat, a combination radio and victrola<br />
console and three additional grand<br />
prizes which were given away on the Lucky<br />
Star nights.<br />
Ames reports the promotion was extremely<br />
successful, both from the standpoint of attracting<br />
extra business and in creating goodwill<br />
with the merchants.<br />
Small House Responds<br />
To Exploitation Aids<br />
A little extra effort usuaUy pays off with<br />
extra business, as W. H. Curley, manager of<br />
the Rex Theatre, Mimico, Ont., learned during<br />
the run of "Red River." Curley reports<br />
that the slight extra expenditure for exploitation<br />
helped to fill the 494-seat house<br />
with a better than average three-day gross.<br />
Fifty window cards were distributed<br />
throughout the community. The background<br />
of the card was especially desgned to represent<br />
the canopy of a covered wagon. The<br />
lettering was designed in the form of a huge<br />
arrow and was striking and colorful in appearance.<br />
Twenty-five arrows were tacked<br />
on street corner lampposts throughout<br />
Mimico. The arrows were four inches wide<br />
and 25 inches long. Each pointed directly<br />
towards the location of the theatre.<br />
Home jRun on 'Ball Game'<br />
Manny Winston, manager of the Wicomico<br />
Theatre, Salisbury, Md., hit a home run with<br />
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game." He tied<br />
up with a local store selling baseball equipment<br />
for a half-page co-op ad. It carried<br />
pictures of four members of the local team,<br />
and the first 25 persons correctly identifying<br />
them received guest tickets to see the picture.<br />
There was also a list of major league<br />
opening games, and a cut of the theatre ad.<br />
Sells Eight Page Co-op<br />
Joe Bruns. manager of the newly renovated<br />
Mohawk Theatre, Amsterdam, N. Y., promoted<br />
a special edition in the Amsterdam<br />
Evening Recorder, sponsored by local merchants,<br />
well wishers, and firms which participated<br />
in the renovation. The eight-page<br />
section included congratulatory ads, with<br />
writeups and stories on the theatre's past<br />
history and the modern innovations which<br />
were installed.<br />
34<br />
Milk Bottles Topped<br />
With 'Father' Dates<br />
Although fairly common in the United<br />
States, tieups with milk distributors are<br />
difficult to make in England. For the<br />
engagement of "Life With Father" at the<br />
Broadway Theatre, Eccles, Lancashire,<br />
Manager H. Clayton-Nutt tied up with<br />
the Legal Cooperative society which does<br />
a large milk business in the entire district,<br />
to get his theatre message right on<br />
the neighborhood doorsteps. Cooperative<br />
imprinted milk bottle caps with the title<br />
and theatre playdates were used for a<br />
week prior to opening.<br />
A window display in the Cooperative's<br />
downtown store featured posters on the<br />
film production with the catchline, "Don't<br />
cry over spilled milk if you miss seeing<br />
'Life With Father.' "<br />
The Broadway manager reports that<br />
alltime records were established during<br />
the engagement.<br />
Armor Exhibit in Store<br />
Sells 'Arrow Strikes'<br />
To exploit "The Black Arrow Strikes," S.<br />
Tenser, manager of the Central Cinema.<br />
Cambridge, England, searched the town for<br />
days until he located several pieces of armor<br />
in a small museum owned by a private collector.<br />
These were then placed in the window<br />
of a prominent store dealing in office<br />
furniture. Tiein copy compared the steel of<br />
medieval times with the steel used today in<br />
modern office equipment. Stills and other<br />
accessories helped to attract the eye of the<br />
perambulating public.<br />
Several items of armor and ancient<br />
weapons were also used in a foyer exhibit.<br />
The extra effort, according to Tenser,<br />
helped give the picture a better than average<br />
gross.<br />
Circus-Type Promotion<br />
Aids 'Unknown Island'<br />
Guy Hevia, manager of the Lyric Theatre,<br />
Asbury Park, N. J., used a circus type of<br />
campaign to exploit "Unknown Island." A<br />
false front was constructed with 40x60 blowups<br />
of prehistoric monsters as the main elements.<br />
A 30-foot banner borrowed from<br />
the distributor of the picture was draped<br />
across the facade of the theatre building.<br />
Hevia dressed three of his ushers in wild<br />
animal costumes, complete with papier mache<br />
hats. A flat decked truck toured the streets<br />
while the ushers handed out heralds offering<br />
prizes to children who could solve<br />
a maze problem based on "Unknown Island."<br />
School Essay Contest<br />
For "Home of the Brave" at the Victoria<br />
in New York, a citywide high school editorial<br />
contest was conducted, with prizes<br />
totaling $100 in cash. Theme of the contest<br />
was the history-making treatment of a<br />
Negro in American life portrayed in the<br />
film. The tieup was made by United Artists,<br />
distributors of "Home of the Brave," through<br />
the coordinator of school theatrical activities<br />
for the board of education.<br />
—164—<br />
Kid Show Anniversary<br />
Marked by Radio and<br />
Press Breaks<br />
More than 2,000 boys and girls swarmed<br />
into the Olympia Theatre. New Bedford,<br />
Mass., to help Manager Morris Simms observe<br />
the fourth anniversary of the inauguration<br />
of his Saturday morning kiddy shows.<br />
For the occasion. Simms arranged an amateur<br />
talent show, with special prizes, which was<br />
broadcast over stations WNVH and WFMR.<br />
The rest of the program included a professional<br />
act, five cartoons, a Junior G-Man<br />
film and "Tarzan and the Mermaid." Mayor<br />
Harriman of New Bedford officiated as master<br />
of ceremonies. The Standard-Times newspaper<br />
boys band was on hand to play Happy<br />
Bu-thday as a special tribute.<br />
A front-page story in the Sunday Standard-Times<br />
with a continuing inside story and<br />
columns of pictures rewarded Simms for his<br />
painstaking efforts in building the kiddie<br />
shows into high favor in the community.<br />
Twenty congratulatory letters were received<br />
from women's clubs and city and school officials.<br />
During the last four years, animal acts,<br />
puppet shows, quiz contests, sports contests,<br />
games, the presentation of toys, comic books,<br />
cash prizes and trips to major league baseball<br />
games in Boston have been part of the<br />
programs which built the kiddy shows into<br />
popularity.<br />
Matinee Rabbit Giveaway<br />
Sponsored by Toy Store<br />
Ray Light, manager of the Maryland Theatre,<br />
Cumberland, promoted 25 live rabbits<br />
for a giveaway at an Easter weekend matinee<br />
kiddy party. A toy store sponsored the event,<br />
and advertising included a special window,<br />
newspaper ads in both daily papers, a trailer<br />
and lobby cutout.<br />
To exploit "Take Me Out to the Ball<br />
Game," Light hit all rural newspapers and<br />
used a teaser campaign in the local daily.<br />
The Allegheny Citizen ran an eight-column<br />
stream, three inches deep, across the top of<br />
one page plugging the film. Window displays<br />
were promoted in two music stores featuring<br />
cutouts, stills, title, playdates and sheet music<br />
of the song hits heard in the picture. Two<br />
thousand heralds were distributed, and threesheets<br />
and 24-sheets were posted on main<br />
highways.<br />
Heralds in Italian Sell<br />
'Paisan' in Kent, Ohio<br />
The large Italian population in Kent, Ohio,<br />
was a factor not overlooked by Ben Geary,<br />
manager of the Kent Theatre, in selling<br />
"Paisan." Geary mailed out 200 penny postal<br />
cards, made up in Italian, pointing up the<br />
international fame enjoyed by this picture.<br />
He also sold 1,000 heralds to an Italian<br />
market, completely covering the cost.<br />
An attractive 40x60 in the lobby, a trailer,<br />
and teaser ads were used two weeks in advance.<br />
Currently, two 22x82s were hung underneath<br />
the marquee, glamorized with 11x14<br />
stills.<br />
Geary promoted a half-page newspaper<br />
co-op from two local merchants. He also<br />
sold the break ad to a merchant which gave<br />
him a chance to use more space.<br />
BOXOFFICE Shovionandiser : : May<br />
28, 1949
New <strong>MPAA</strong> Section<br />
Headed by Harmon<br />
NEW YORK — Francs Harmon, <strong>MPAA</strong><br />
vice-president, has been named head of a new<br />
combined exhibitor relations and community<br />
relations department,<br />
Harmon said that the resignation of Mrs.<br />
Alice Evans Field from the Hollywood office<br />
obliged a shift to New York of the previewing<br />
service. Its rep.-rts will emanate from<br />
the east coast beginning July 1.<br />
Economy moves, he said, include termination<br />
of the services of Dr. Irvin Eteer, who<br />
has been working out of Chicago, and Duke<br />
Hickey, field representative for the community<br />
relations department.<br />
Arthur DeBra is expected to continue as<br />
head of the community service department,<br />
David Palfreyman, head of the exhibitors<br />
relations department for many years, is expected<br />
to decide soon whether or not he will<br />
stay.<br />
Lament Asks Exhibitors<br />
To Aid Bond Campaign<br />
ALBANY—Harry Lament of<br />
Lamont Theatres<br />
has mailed out a letter to exhibitors in<br />
this area urging them to use their houses in<br />
the current Opportunity bond drive. He asked<br />
theatremen to arrange for premieres, or to<br />
give a free pass on a given day for every bond<br />
sold. He asked exhibitors to give good play<br />
to a ten-minute short, "Opportunity of 1949,"<br />
starring Jack Benny, which U-I is releasing<br />
free. A bond premiere is scheduled to be held<br />
at Fabian's 3.650-seat Palace here soon.<br />
Lloyd Mills Opens Office<br />
For Coastal Theatres<br />
BUFFALO—Lloyd Mills,<br />
Beginning Monday, Mills said, the Mid-<br />
who has managed<br />
the Midtown Theatre for the last ten<br />
months, has left for Louisville, where he will<br />
open a district office for Coastal Theatres,<br />
Inc., operator of the Midtown. The Mills<br />
headquarters there will be the Scopp Theatre.<br />
town wrill change its policy to three program<br />
changes weekly. Jack Gimbrone, now assistant<br />
to Mills, will take charge of the Midtown.<br />
Frank Shea Promoted<br />
NEW YORK—Frank Shea, who has been<br />
office manager of March of Time for the<br />
past eight years, has been made director of<br />
sales for the commercial and television fields.<br />
He will be attached to the office of Richard<br />
DeRochemont. producer, and also will work<br />
closely with 20th Century-Fox, MOT distributors.<br />
Fi-ed Brooks of the MOT staff will aid<br />
him.<br />
Goldman Closes Keith's<br />
PHILADELPHIA—William Goldman will<br />
close Keith's Theatre here June 1 for razing<br />
of an office building and reconditioning of<br />
the theatre into a deluxer. At the end of<br />
August, when the Warner lease rims out,<br />
Goldman also will take over both the State<br />
in West Philadelphia and the Grange at<br />
Broad street and Olney avenue.<br />
Jersey TOA Anticipates<br />
New Censorship Move<br />
Film Publicists File<br />
Charges on Firings<br />
NEW YORK—The Screen Publicists<br />
Guild<br />
has filed charges with the National Labor<br />
Relations Board declaring that the major<br />
companies have violated seniority rights in<br />
dismissing home office employes. SPG<br />
charges such practices are illegal even under<br />
the Taft-Hartley law.<br />
Despite an attempt by M. L. Stone, commissoner<br />
of mediation, to bring SPG and the<br />
major companies together, the union states<br />
that the companies still are refusing to make<br />
"satisfactory counter-proposals" to its demands<br />
for a 25 per cent wage increase.<br />
Meanwhile both SPG and its sister union.<br />
Screen Office & Pi'offssional Employes Guild,<br />
have called off their picket lines in front of<br />
the Palace Theatre, which reopened with a<br />
vaudeville-screen bill May 19. However, the<br />
union pickets are continuing in front of<br />
Loew's metropolitan houses, except when an<br />
Eagle Lion film is current. EL is the only<br />
company to sign a wage pact with the two<br />
white collar unions.<br />
Picketing by members of lATSE projectionists<br />
Local 306 in front of the Paramount<br />
Theatre also was called off by order of Richard<br />
F. Walsh, president. The picketing to<br />
protest the dismissal of two projectionists<br />
from the Brooklyn Paramount had been going<br />
on for more than a month.<br />
Mrs. Goldenson Presides<br />
At Cerebral Palsy Event<br />
NEW YORK — Mrs. Leonard Goldenson.<br />
wife of the head of Paramount Tlieatre Service<br />
Corp., was chairman of the first event held<br />
by the women's group of the National<br />
Foundation for Cerebral Palsy, Inc., at the<br />
Larchmont Shore club May 22. Goldenson is<br />
sponsoring the campaign to raise funds for<br />
the foundation.<br />
Approximately $18,000 was rai.sed at a dinner<br />
and auction of furs, household equipment<br />
and other clothing. Wendy Barrie and Arlene<br />
Francis acted as hostesses, and Ed Sullivan,<br />
columnist: Dennis James, television star, and<br />
Miss Francis were masters of ceremony for a<br />
show- which included Janet Blair, Peter Lorre,<br />
Jerry Colonna and Benny Rubin.<br />
Among the 500 who attended were Barney<br />
and Mrs. Balaban, Spyros and Mrs. Skouras<br />
and Ed and Mrs. Weisl.<br />
David Lipton Shift June B.-<br />
Bergman-Word Then, Too<br />
NEW YORK—David Lipton. U-I director of<br />
publicity, advertising and exploitation, will<br />
start managing these departments from the<br />
New York headquarters June 6. It is expected<br />
that Maurice Bergman's advance to a new<br />
exhibitor relations post and aide to Nate J.<br />
Blumberg, president, will be announced at<br />
that time. It has been rumored for several<br />
weeks.<br />
PASSAIC, N. J.—Strategy to combat an<br />
expected reopening of the censorship issue<br />
in New Jersey received a lot of attention at<br />
the annual meeting May 25 of the Theatre<br />
Owners Ass'n cf iCew Jersey at the Ritz<br />
hotel here. Maury Miller was re-elected<br />
president to spearhead the exhibitor campaign<br />
against the threatened legislation.<br />
Although a censorship bill was killed at<br />
the regular session of the legislature. Governor<br />
DriscoU has called that body back into<br />
a special session and amusement interests<br />
throughout the state fear that, with a gubernatorial<br />
election coming up this fall, censorship<br />
may play a role in the political<br />
campagn.<br />
While Miller said he would try to line up<br />
all amu.sement interests in the state against<br />
the censorship legislation. All theatres,<br />
whether picture, legitimate, stock, burlesque<br />
or drive-in, will be urged to impose their own<br />
censorship on their programs. Bingo also<br />
will become an election issue. Miller believes,<br />
and plans are being laid to defeat an expected<br />
bill before it can reach the referendum<br />
stage.<br />
M Her asked BOXOFFICE to aid in broadcasting<br />
an urgent invitation to all interested<br />
exhibitors and exhibitor groups to cooperate<br />
with his unit in fighting anything detrimental<br />
to the industry that may come up in<br />
New Jersey. He pointed out that the unit<br />
has been doing business on a cooperative<br />
basis since it was formed.<br />
Tlie meeting also strenuously decried any<br />
elimination by producers or distributors of<br />
national printed advertising addressed to the<br />
public, charging that any such economy will<br />
not do justxe to their own product as well as<br />
to exhibitors. Plans to use television trailers<br />
were commended "since the medium is here."<br />
Walter Reade jr., co-chairman of the TOA<br />
national television committee, told of the<br />
progress that has been made in its study of<br />
large-screen theatre televis on both through<br />
the medium of open and closed circuits,<br />
Gael Sullivan, TOA executive director, a<br />
guest, also discussed the subject.<br />
Harold E.skin was elected, vice-president of<br />
the unit and Adam Adams re-elected treasurer.<br />
Prank Fowler became secretary and<br />
Reade national delegate.<br />
Allvine to Retain Post<br />
Until Film Is Finished<br />
ALBANY—Glendon Allvine, formerly associated<br />
with the MPA publicity department,<br />
will continue in his position as d rector of<br />
the motion picture section, state department<br />
of commerce, until a film now in production<br />
is completed. He has held the position provisionally<br />
about 18 months.<br />
Thomas C. Stowrell, assistant director of<br />
the public health education, division of the<br />
state health department, was rated first on<br />
the list of applicants who passed an examination<br />
for the post temporarily held by<br />
Allvine. He has produced several shorts for<br />
the health department for showing in theatres<br />
and on television.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May 28, 1949<br />
N Q5
. . Nat<br />
. . Leon<br />
. . Herman<br />
. . . Orton<br />
. . Reginald<br />
. . Garson<br />
. . Douglas<br />
. . John<br />
. . Orton<br />
BROADWAY<br />
Cpyros P. Skouras, Al Lichtman, Andy W.<br />
Smith jr. and Charles Einfeld of 20th<br />
Century-Fox attended an Allied meeting in<br />
Chicago. Skouras and Einfeld returned afterwards<br />
to New York, while Lichtman and<br />
Smith went to Minneapolis for the North<br />
Central Allied meeting . . .<br />
Macgregor Scott,<br />
overseas sales manager of Associated British<br />
Pathe, Ltd.. London, visited the Monogram<br />
International office here on his return from<br />
a South American survey and then flew to<br />
London.<br />
Pincus Sober of the MGM legal department<br />
will leave June 2 by plane for London.<br />
Dubl'n, Belfast and Glasgow, accompanying<br />
the AAU track team on tour.<br />
He is<br />
president of the Metropolitan AAU and<br />
chairman of the national track and field<br />
committee of the association. He is due back<br />
June 14 . . . HaiTy Wright, head of the Paramount<br />
tax department, returned from Boston<br />
. Levy, RKO eastern division<br />
sales manager, visited Albany. Gloversville<br />
and Detroit.<br />
J. Don Alexander, president of Alexander<br />
Film Co. and chairman of the board of General<br />
Screen Advertising, came here for talks<br />
with his eastern staff at the 500 Fifth Ave.<br />
office . . . William F. Rodgers, MGM vicepresident<br />
and general sales manager, will<br />
attend the June 13 graduation of his sons<br />
William Parrell and Thomas Edward at<br />
Georgetown University. About a week later<br />
he will head for the coast for studio conferences<br />
. J. Bamberger, RKO sales<br />
promotion manager, attended the TOA of<br />
New Jersey convention at Passaic. He previously<br />
attended the convention of the ITO<br />
of Arkansas.<br />
Thomas J. Bennett, controller of the Paramount<br />
European division, sailed for Paris<br />
with Mrs. Bennett. His visit here was a<br />
combined honeymoon and business trip . . .<br />
Ted Harbert of the MGM studio publicity<br />
department flew back to the coast. He had<br />
accompanied Peter Lawford from the coast<br />
to the Cleveland bond celebration. Lawford<br />
also went to Hollywood after a stopover in<br />
Chicago . G. Weinberg, advertising-publicity<br />
director of Lopert Films, has<br />
been named American correspondent of<br />
Filmkunst, new quarterly magazine published<br />
by Amandus-Verlag in Vienna. He also cortry<br />
Us and You1l Agree<br />
FILMACK<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Are 'Best By Test . . .<br />
Quicker than the Restr<br />
CHICAGO -1327<br />
NEW YORK -<br />
S.Wabash<br />
619 W 54th St><br />
THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has them<br />
responds for Sight and Sound, British Film<br />
Institute organ, and La Revue du Cinema,<br />
Paris.<br />
Sol Handwerger of MGM Records addressed<br />
the New England exhibitor convention May<br />
25 at Boston . P. Byrne, MGM eastern<br />
sales manager, and Jay Eisenberg of<br />
the legal department returned from Boston<br />
Rossano and Mrs. Brazzi left by plane<br />
. . .<br />
for Stromboli where he will make a film<br />
Marilyn Maxwell<br />
for William Dleterle . . .<br />
and Chill Wills appeared in the stage show<br />
that opened May 26 at the Capitol . . . Claude<br />
and Mrs. Rains arrived from their home in<br />
Downington. Pa.<br />
Syd Gross, Film Classics advertising-publicity<br />
head, and Borden Mace, associate producer<br />
of Louis DeRochemont's "Lost Boun-<br />
. . .<br />
daries," met with Reader's Digest officials<br />
to work out promotional ideas for the film<br />
H. Hicks of Loew's International<br />
returned from a visit to Canada, and Reginald<br />
Wilson, MGM salesman, came from<br />
Toronto for home office conferences<br />
William B. Zoellner's short subjects tour<br />
took him to San Francisco, Los Angeles and<br />
Salt Lake City.<br />
Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner Bros, playdate<br />
department, returned to New York May<br />
25 from New Haven . H. Hicks of<br />
Loew's International has returned from Canada<br />
. Wilson, MGM salesman<br />
in Toronto, arrived in New York May 24 for<br />
home office conferences.<br />
Robert D. Hadley, art director for Eagle<br />
Lion, has been elected president of the Bergen<br />
County Players of Teaneck, N. J. Hadley,<br />
a former actor, has been a member of the<br />
repertory stock company for six years . . .<br />
Thomas Hodge, director of films and publications<br />
for the British Information Services in<br />
New York, sailed for England on the Mauretania.<br />
He will retm-n to New York in September<br />
. Kanin, playwright and<br />
former screenwriter; his wife Ruth Gordon,<br />
the actress and playwiight, and Sir Sydney<br />
Clift, British exhibitor, arrived in New York<br />
on the Queen Elizabeth.<br />
J. F. O'Brien, RCA theatre equipment section<br />
sales manager, is visiting distributors in<br />
major cities between Pittsburgh and Chicago<br />
Jules K. Chapman, assistant general sales<br />
. . .<br />
manager of Film Classics, left May 25 for<br />
visits to Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and<br />
Omaha . . Phyllis Calvert, British actress,<br />
arrived May 26 en route to Hollywood to resume<br />
work with Paramoimt<br />
Calvet, French actress, is here from Hollywood<br />
on her first visit in two years . . Ann<br />
.<br />
Ronell, lyricist and composer, will go to<br />
London with her husband Lester Cowan after<br />
completing work on "Oh Susannah" (UA^ in<br />
New York . Dick is another here<br />
on a vacation who hasn't seen the city in<br />
several years.<br />
Fay Baker will appear as Raymond Massey's<br />
wife in "Chain Lightning" for Warners.<br />
Eleanor Parker is co-starred.<br />
Youngslown Dispute<br />
Goes to Two Courts<br />
NEW YORK—Two court<br />
actions have developed<br />
out of the joint efforts of Warner<br />
Bros, and Shea Enterprises to break off<br />
their joint theatre operations in Youngstown,<br />
Ohio. The breakup is necessary as a<br />
result of the antitrust case decree.<br />
Warner Bros, appealed to the U.S. district<br />
court in Cleveland and Shea chose the New<br />
York supreme court.<br />
The pooling agreement signed June 1,<br />
1933, covers the Warner Theatre, a 2,594-seat<br />
first run Warner Bros, house; the Park<br />
Theatre, a 1,333-seat Shea Enterprise house,<br />
and the Paramount Theatre, a 1,506-seat first<br />
rim house leased by the Harold Theatre Co.,<br />
a 50-50 Warner-Shea partnership. Shea operates<br />
the Paramount and Park; Warners, the<br />
Warner, and the profits of the three theatres<br />
are divided. The agreement expires in 1956.<br />
In Cleveland, Warners has asked the court<br />
to order the following settlement: Warners<br />
to resume full control over the Warner Theatre<br />
and its profits; Shea to resume full control<br />
over the Park and its profits, and the<br />
Paramount Theatre is to be sold and the<br />
selling price divided between the partners.<br />
Shea has opposed this settlement, and in<br />
its complaint with the New York supreme<br />
court has contended that it is "inequitable"<br />
because the joint operation has improved the<br />
status of the Warner Theatre at the expense<br />
of the Park.<br />
Shea has asked the New York court to order<br />
a settlement that will divide the assets of<br />
the three theatres equally between the partners,<br />
and place the joint operation of the<br />
three theatres in the hands of a receiver<br />
until the division has been carried out.<br />
Warners will reply within two weeks.<br />
More Than 2,000 Blonds<br />
Enter 20th-Fox Contest<br />
NEW YORK—More than 2,000<br />
blonds from<br />
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut<br />
submitted their photographs in the 20th<br />
Century-Fox Most Beautiful Blond contest<br />
which ended at midnight Thursday (26).<br />
The winner, who will be selected the evening<br />
of June 2 on the stage of the Roxy<br />
Theatre, where "The Beautiful Blonde From<br />
Bashful Bend" opened May 27, will receive<br />
an all-expense paid air trip and a one-week<br />
vacation at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana.<br />
She also will receive a wardrobe created<br />
by leaders in the fashion world, including<br />
shoes by Delman, hat by Lily Dache,<br />
gown by Valentina, handbag by Koret, hosiery<br />
by Gotham, a Vogue jewelry set and a<br />
Sallis hatbox. Runnersup among the 16 finalists<br />
will receive a Lady Esther makeup kit,<br />
a Polaroid camera, a Perle gold wristwatch<br />
and an Emerson portable radio.<br />
Future Magazine Award<br />
Jennifer Jones Receives<br />
NEW YORK—Jennifer Jones<br />
IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS<br />
FOR NEW JOBS<br />
OR REPLACEMENTS<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. ^^k.c',"mT'<br />
has received<br />
the career accomplishment award of Future<br />
magazine, published by the U.S. Junior Chamber<br />
of Commerce. It is the first time the<br />
magazine has made its award to an actor or<br />
actress. Its July issue will survey the acting<br />
profession and describe the career of Miss<br />
Jones. She will receive the plaque on location<br />
in England when she begins work in<br />
"Gone to Earth" for David O. Selznick.<br />
36 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . . Ernie<br />
. . Nate<br />
. . Bob<br />
. . W.<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
Palace Show Is Best<br />
In Mild B'way Week<br />
NEW YORK—The retui-n of vaudeville to<br />
the Palace, which had "Canadian Pacific"<br />
on the screen, gave the house a strong gross,<br />
almost double what it was when the theatre<br />
was playing reissues or second runs. Except<br />
for "The Lady Gambles," which gave the<br />
the inadequacies of Hollywood's thinking,<br />
week of "The Barkleys of Broadway" at<br />
Loew's State, most of the other first runs<br />
were far below average.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—We Wore Slrongers (Col), 4th wk 85<br />
Bijou—The Red Shoes (EL). 31st wk. oi Iwo-a-day.. 85<br />
Capitol—The Sun Comes Up (MGM), plus stage<br />
snow. ',.nd v/k 60<br />
Criterion—The Lady Gairbles (U-I) 105<br />
Globe—Champion (UA), 7lh wk 90<br />
Gotham— Big lack (MGM) 95<br />
Little Carnegie— Intermezzo (EL), reissue, 2nd wk. 90<br />
Loew's Stale—The Barkleys oi Broadway (MGM).<br />
3rd wk. 110<br />
Mayfair—Blossoms in the Dust (MGM). reissue .- 95<br />
Palace—Canadian Pacilic (20th-Fox), plus eight<br />
acts ot vaudeville „ 125<br />
Paramount— Streets ol Laredo (Para), plus stage<br />
show. 2nd wk 90<br />
Park Avenue—Hamlel (U-I). 34th wk, ol two-a-day 95<br />
Radio City Music Hall—The Stratlon Story (MGM),<br />
plus stage show. 2nd wk 100<br />
Rialto—Crash Dive (20th-Fox); Show Them No<br />
Mercy (20lh-Fox). reissues 90<br />
Rivoh—One Woman's Story (U-1) 85<br />
Roxy—The Forbidden Street (20th-Fox), plus stage<br />
show. 2nd wk 90<br />
Strand Flamingo Road (WB), plus stage show.<br />
3rd wk 90<br />
Sutton-Quartet (EL). 8th wk 95<br />
Victoria—Home oi the Brave (UA), 2nd wk 90<br />
Jennie' Is Strong<br />
In Buffalo Opening<br />
BUFFALO—"Portrait of Jennie" was strong<br />
at the Buffalo, as was "Flamingo Road" In<br />
a holdover at the Great Lakes. Others were<br />
off.<br />
Butlalo— Portrait oi lennie (SRO); I Cheated the<br />
Law (20lh-Fox) 116<br />
Great Lakes—Flamingo Road (WB). 2nd d. t, wk .114<br />
Hippodrome—Night Unto Night (WB); Stage Struck<br />
(FN), reissue 97<br />
Lafayette Ma and Pa Kettle (U-I); Song ol India<br />
(Col) 92<br />
Took—Utile Women (MGM): Little Orphan (SR) 91<br />
20th Century Outpost in Morocco (UA). Stork<br />
Bites Man (UA). reissue 93<br />
Norman Livingston Speaks<br />
At Television Meeting<br />
NE'W YORK—Norman Livingston,<br />
director<br />
of commercial program operations for WOR<br />
"What a Television<br />
and WOR-TV, discussed<br />
Station Looks for and Can't Find in Television<br />
Film" at the National Television Film<br />
council meeting at the Brass Rail May 26.<br />
Livingston, who recently returned from<br />
Hollywood and a tour of TV stations thi'oughout<br />
the country, denounced what he called<br />
the inadequacies of Hollywood's thinking,<br />
and of the thijiking and production efforts of<br />
current producers of TV films. The meeting<br />
marked the first anniversary of the founding<br />
of the organization, which is devoted expressly<br />
to the advancement of films on television, according<br />
to Mel Gold, president.<br />
NBC Buying Weiss Films<br />
NEW YORK—Adrian Weiss of Louis Weiss<br />
& Co., television distributors, have closed a<br />
deal with the National Broadcasting Co. for<br />
the televising of eight Jolinny Mack Brown<br />
and 16 Bob Steele films over WNBT in New<br />
York, WNBK in Cleveland and KNBH in Los<br />
Angeles. NBC also has taken the serials,<br />
"Custer's Last Stand," "The Black Coin" and<br />
"The Clutching Hand" for the Cleveland station<br />
and WNBQ in Chicago. WPIX in New-<br />
York is showing the Custer film.<br />
Along New York's Filmrow<br />
.By<br />
LJERB BONIS has replaced Ray Connors as<br />
manager of the RKO Palace Theatre,<br />
which now is offering eight acts of vaudeville<br />
and first run films. Connors has been<br />
transferred to the RKO Flushing. Isadore<br />
Berger is the new assistant manager of the<br />
Palace . . . Ruth Newman of the RKO Theatres<br />
publicity department, recently won $15<br />
on the CBC Hits and Misses radio program.<br />
If she had appeared on the program 24<br />
hours earlier, she could have won the $400<br />
jackpot for answering all the questions correctly.<br />
The jackpot was picked up the previous<br />
day. Others who appeared on the show<br />
with Ruth were Blanche Livingston and<br />
Peggy Poldes, also of the publicity department.<br />
The Motion Picture Theatre Cashiers<br />
Union, lATSE Local B52. will hold its third<br />
annual dance at the Manhattan Center June<br />
3. Mary J. Carrick is head of the dance<br />
committee. Other members are Charlotte<br />
Campbell, president and business manager;<br />
Eileen Pierce, treasurer and financial secretary,<br />
and Annette Gagnon, recording secretary.<br />
George P, Skouras has turned over $32,000<br />
collected by the Skouras theatres for the<br />
New York Foundling hospital to Cardinal<br />
Spellman . . . William A. White, general manager<br />
of the Skouras chain, expects to open<br />
the circuit's newest theatre, the Calderon.<br />
Hempstead, L. I., by the middle of June.<br />
The theatre will have a seating capacity of<br />
2,600 . Simons, SkoiU'as division<br />
manager for the Bronx, and Jim Bradley,<br />
manager of the Park Plaza Theatre, supervised<br />
a sneak preview showing of "It Happens<br />
Every Spring" last Monday (23i.<br />
Martin Moskowitz, sales manager for the<br />
20th Century-Fox Empire State division, and<br />
Joe St. "Clair, his assistant, spent the week<br />
of May 23 visiting accounts in the Albany<br />
Bess Goldstein<br />
and Buffalo territories . . .<br />
Allen, secretary to Herb Gillis, assistant<br />
branch manager for 20th-Fox, has moved to<br />
Long Beach for the summer. Gillis was ill<br />
during the week.<br />
Ed Lachman, president of the Allied Theatre<br />
Owners of New Jersey, and Mrs. Lachman<br />
flew to Dallas May 28 to attend the<br />
annual meeting of the Allied Theatre Owners<br />
of Texas. The Lachmans left directly<br />
from Boston where they attended the annual<br />
convention of the Independent Exhibitors of<br />
New England May 26, 27.<br />
. . .<br />
Mike Simon, Ken Prickett, Charlie Kurtzman<br />
and Sol Handwerger of the Loew's MGM<br />
home offices also attended the Boston convention<br />
The Loew's Pi-emiere Theatre,<br />
Brooklyn, has a new cooling plant. Joe Beck<br />
is the manager . Gibbons of Loew's<br />
Lexington entertained Deborah Kerr when<br />
the British star "christened" a new 65-foot<br />
sign installed in front of the house May 25<br />
Emerling, Loew's publicity director,<br />
left for Europe Wednesday. He will be<br />
gone four weeks<br />
. Stewart McDonald<br />
of Warner Bros. Theatres returned from<br />
London May 28 . . . Marty Wurtzberg, Inter-<br />
WALTER WALDMAN.<br />
boro division manager for the Bronx, will<br />
play "Gone With the Wind" at the Lido<br />
Theatre on Fordham road.<br />
Clem Perry of Riigoff & Becker has set a<br />
deal with Herman Fialkoff of Programs &<br />
Lectures, Inc., to present John J. Anthony,<br />
the radio marriage counsellor, at the Oceana<br />
Theatre, Brooklyn, June 20. and at the Laurel<br />
Theatre, Long Beach, June 21 . . . Interboro<br />
circuit and Topps chewing gum will cooperate<br />
on a promotion campaign in connection<br />
with a new bubble gum. Flip-O-<br />
Vision. The gum package contains pictures<br />
of various film stars. Topps w'ill provide<br />
the 100 prizes that will be given away weekly<br />
at special moppets matinees in Brooklyn,<br />
the Bronx and Queens.<br />
Recent Filmrow visitors were Bob Mapletoft<br />
of the Matawan Theatre. Matawan, N. J..<br />
and the Star Theatre. Jamesburg, N. J.; Bill<br />
Didsbury of the Didsbury Theatre, Walden,<br />
N. Y.; W. J. Unger of the Liberty Theatre,<br />
Poughkeepsie, and Herb Nolan of the St.<br />
Cloud Amusement Corp., Washington, N. J.<br />
Kurt Parker. Columbia office manager, bid<br />
his mother-in-law bon voyage May 25 when<br />
she sailed for Em'ope on the S. S. Washington<br />
. Jules Rieff, wife of the Columbia<br />
salesman, was operated upon at the Med-<br />
Nat Cohn,<br />
ical Arts hospital May 23 . . .<br />
Columbia district manager, returned Wednesday<br />
from a company sales meeting in Chicago<br />
. . . Elliott Foreman, MGM exploiteer,<br />
was in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie Tuesday<br />
and Wednesday.<br />
Al Shanley and Cy Londner will start booking<br />
for the Parkside Theatre, Brooklyn,<br />
June 1. Centm-y Theatres now is handling<br />
Harry La Vine. Monogram salesman,<br />
the job . . .<br />
and Mrs. La Vine left for Valley Forge<br />
for the Memorial day weekend . . . Nat Furst,<br />
Monogram branch manager, unveiled a monument<br />
May 22 to the late Mrs. Furst, who<br />
died last year . . . Gloria Romer of the Warner<br />
Bros, exchange announced her engagement<br />
May 23 . . . The<br />
Patio Theatre, Brooklyn,<br />
now is presenting stage shows every evening<br />
Monday through Friday and matinees<br />
and nights Satm-day and Sunday.<br />
^ ST CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOR<br />
* THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru<br />
ATLANTA: Asfor,<br />
W. M Richardson<br />
(3) 163 Walton St., NW<br />
DALLAS: lenkins & Bourgeois, Astor<br />
(1) Harwood & Jackson Streets<br />
NEW ORLEANS: Dixie. R. A. (Bob) Kelly<br />
(13) 218 S. Liberty<br />
NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND<br />
JOE<br />
HORNSTEIN, Inc.<br />
630 Ninth At*.. New York Citr<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
37
. . . Tent<br />
. . Sonya<br />
. . Ann<br />
. . 20th<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
•Phe Variety Club boat ride on Sunday, June<br />
12, promises to be a grand affair. Entertainment,<br />
prizes, refreshments, dancing, are<br />
scheduled by the committee which includes:<br />
Jake Flax, captain; Wade Pearson, 1st mate;<br />
Morton Gerber, 2nd mate, and Glenn Norris,<br />
purser. The ticket committee is composed of<br />
Glenn Norris, Joe Kronman, John O'Leai-y,<br />
Bill M chalson and Dr. Sylvan Danzansky.<br />
Variety barkers and their friends will cruise<br />
down the Potomac at 8 p. m. on the Wilson<br />
Lines. Tickets are $1.15 each, including tax<br />
No. 11 has two barkers on the Varety<br />
International roster of officers; Carter<br />
T. Barron, who has been named executive<br />
Eide to the International chief barker, and<br />
Nathan D. Golden, who has been appointed<br />
international heart committee chairman for<br />
a second year. Another gay spring luncheon<br />
fo:- the ladies was held on Tuesday, May 24,<br />
at the Variety Club. The following ladies were<br />
responsible for the success of the affair: Mrs.<br />
Jack Bryson, Mrs. Alvin Ehrlich, and Mrs.<br />
Ben Lust. Fred Klein was responsible for<br />
the smooth-running of the arrangements.<br />
Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Thelma<br />
Martin, Equity Pictures, whose husband, aged<br />
22, was drowned when he tried to rescue the<br />
outboard motor which fell off his canoe.<br />
Martin and a friend, neither of whom could<br />
swim, never came to the surface. Mrs. Martin<br />
tried to rescue her husband, but could not<br />
locate his body.<br />
Metro items: Inspector Josephine Byrnes<br />
attended the convention of Local B-13, lATSE<br />
which was held in Baltimore this week . . .<br />
Contract clerk Dot Small has returned to her<br />
de.sk after a two weeks' vacation in Virginia<br />
Beach, Va. and Myrtle Beach, S, C. . . . In-<br />
LE ROY J. FURMAN—In charge<br />
of operations "Monarch" Division,<br />
Gamble Enterprises, Inc., New York,<br />
N. Y.—says:<br />
"We have just extended our<br />
RCA Service agreement, and<br />
included Projection Room<br />
Parts. We believe it is a good<br />
investment."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Gulistan Wilton Theatre Carpet<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has it!<br />
Adv<br />
spector Margaret Dempkish celebrated her<br />
15th year with MGM on Saturday . . . Booker<br />
Henry Ajello's little daughter, Carolyn, made<br />
her first communion on Sunday, May 15.<br />
Fred Klein, who has been connected with<br />
the local 20th Century-Fox office as a. salesman<br />
for the past 21 years, resigned this week.<br />
Klein intends to devote his time to the personal<br />
management of his two theatres, the<br />
Churchill Theatre in Church Hill, Md. and<br />
the Chester Theatre, Chestertown, Md. He<br />
has his eye on several more houses and plans<br />
to increase his circuit. Incidentally, Klein<br />
became a grandfather again on Tuesday<br />
when his daughter, Mrs. Helen Butcher, gave<br />
birth to a son.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Mechanic, New Theatre,<br />
Baltimore, Md., spent several days in<br />
Washington this week . Century-Pox<br />
Branch Manager Glenn Norris took a trip<br />
to Norfolk, Va., on "Wednesday to confer with<br />
Robert Levine, Levine circuit . . . Booker<br />
Sara Young spent the holiday weekend in<br />
Miami Beach, Fla., getting acquainted with<br />
her new grandson, Dennis Young . . . Evelyn<br />
Manstoff has resigned from the cashier's department.<br />
Ralph Binns, Highway Express Lines, is in<br />
the hospital where he underwent an operation.<br />
"Whitey" Morlitch came in from the<br />
Highway Express Lines Philadelphia office<br />
to "hold down the fort" during Binns' absence<br />
.<br />
Goldstein has resigned from<br />
Paramount . . . Jeff Hofheimer expects to<br />
reopen his newly decorated Willard Theatre,<br />
Norfolk, Va., on June 1.<br />
. . Cecil<br />
. .<br />
Dan Atkin has sold his controlling interest<br />
in the New Theatre. Hancock, Md. to J. G.<br />
Miller. Atkin will continue to do the buying<br />
and booking for the Hancock house .<br />
Ward will book and buy for his Stone and<br />
Bassett theatres, Bassett, Va., effective May<br />
28 . . . Harry and Ike Katz visited their local<br />
Samson<br />
Kay Film Co. exchange this week .<br />
Pike is the new salesman and will handle<br />
Baltimore . Hanower entertained her<br />
sister Blanche and niece Joy this week when<br />
they stopped off en route to Florida. Another<br />
visitor was Mrs. Lena Kolbe and daughter<br />
Pearl . . . RKO Booker Sullivan is a daddy<br />
again. A little girl arrived at the Sullivan<br />
home on Monday.<br />
David J. Melamed Named<br />
Eagle Lion Treasurer<br />
NEW YORK—David J. Melamed. assistant<br />
treasurer of Pathe Industries, parent company<br />
of Eagle Lion, has been named treasurer<br />
of EL by William C. MacMillen jr., vicepresident<br />
in charge of operations. Melamed<br />
replaces A. E. BoUengier, who has returned<br />
to his former post at the EL studios in Hollywood.<br />
Melamed, who joined Pathe in 1941, has<br />
been assistant treasurer since 1946. He entered<br />
the film industry as an accountant with<br />
Columbia's foreign department in 1933.<br />
Second Picture at Palace<br />
NEW YORK—"Slightly Fi-ench," Columbia<br />
picture, starring Dorothy Lamom' and Don<br />
Ameche, opened at the RKO Palace May 26.<br />
the second picture to be shown under<br />
This is<br />
the new combined motion picture and<br />
vaudeville policy.<br />
Reade Circuit Opens<br />
Its Second Drive-In<br />
KINGSTON, N. Y.—Walter Reade Theatres<br />
opened its second outdoor theatre, the<br />
9W Drive-In on route 9W two miles outside<br />
of this city Friday i'J7i. Ceremonies and a<br />
reception held in connection with the event<br />
were attended by State Senator Arthur<br />
Wicks and Mayor Oscar V. Newkirk of<br />
Kingston. The reception was held at Judy's<br />
Inn, Kingston, follow ng the opening show,<br />
which featured "South of St. Louis."<br />
The theatre will accommodate 700 automobiles<br />
on its 18-acre site. It is similar to the<br />
first Reade drive-in at Woodbridge, N. J.,<br />
which was opened last year, in that it will<br />
be used as a community recreation center<br />
as well as a theatre. The drive-in includes<br />
a picnic area, pony rides, slides, swings, seesaws,<br />
a dance floor, shuffleboard courts and<br />
horseshoe pits.<br />
Programs will be changed three times<br />
weekly, with a single feature Fridays and<br />
Saturdays and double features during the<br />
week. Children under 12 are admitted free.<br />
Leon M. Einhorn of Albany was the architect<br />
and I&OA Slutzky of Hunter, N. Y., the<br />
general contractor. Joe Hornstein, Inc. of<br />
New York supplied the Motiograph projection<br />
equipment and in-car speakers. James<br />
McKinney & Sons of Albany furnished the<br />
steel screen frame.<br />
The distance from the screen to the projection<br />
booth is approximately 250 feet. The<br />
entrance to the theatre is directly on route<br />
9W. An area 30 yards deep and running<br />
parallel to the road serves as a holding space<br />
for cars. The screen tower backs on 9W,<br />
with lighted lettering on the shell carrying<br />
the theatre name. A V-shaped attraction<br />
board has been built at road level.<br />
The boxoffices are located, in two small<br />
dutch-door buildings and can handle four<br />
lanes of cars simultaneously. Over the boxoffices<br />
is a rustic canopy running 125 feet<br />
and trimmed with neon tubing to focus attention<br />
on the entranceway.<br />
The theatre includes a large center building<br />
that houses a concession stand operated<br />
by Reade. The building also houses the projection<br />
booth and. rest rooms.<br />
Robert W. Case, city manager for the<br />
Reade theatres in Kingston, is the general<br />
supervisor. Jack Hamilton manages the<br />
drive-in.<br />
National Board Praises<br />
Four Western Pictures<br />
NEW YORK—The National Board of Review<br />
included four westerns among the eight<br />
features recommended for the week ended<br />
May 21. Six shorts also were on its weekly<br />
list.<br />
The westerns were "Frontier Investigator"<br />
and "Law of the Golden West," (Rep); "Lust<br />
for Gold" I Col) and "Roughshod" (RKO).<br />
The remaining pictures were: "Don Quixote<br />
de la Mancha" (Aztecai, a Spanish film picked<br />
as the starred selected feature for the week;<br />
"All Over the T(3wn" (U-Ii, a British production;<br />
"The Big Cat" (ELi, and "The<br />
Secret of St. Ives" (Col).<br />
The shorts named were: "Beauty and the<br />
Blade" (20th-Fox); "Best of the Breed" and<br />
"Fairway Champions" (Para), and "Fraud<br />
Fighters," "Helicopter Magic" and "Shush<br />
Money," all RKO.<br />
38<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . Arnold<br />
. . Herman<br />
. . New<br />
. . . New<br />
. . George<br />
Father's Day Group<br />
Sees Xamberlville'<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount's 'The Lambertville<br />
Stor>-," in which Paul Whiteman does<br />
the narration, was one of the features of a<br />
Father's day luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria<br />
Thursday, attended by nearly 1,000 civic<br />
leaders and business men.<br />
This short has been chosen as "the father<br />
short of the year" by the National Fathers<br />
day committee. "The Lambertville Story," a<br />
New Jersey town, where Whiteman has a<br />
home, tells the story of a community that decided<br />
to do something to keep youngsters<br />
amused and active in a wholesome way Saturday<br />
nights. The weelcly dances and entertainment,<br />
held indoors when the weather requires<br />
and outdoors when conditions permit,<br />
has become a community institution attended<br />
by old and young alike.<br />
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, director of the United<br />
Nations trusteeship division, spoke. John<br />
Garfield received a scroll as the "motion picture<br />
father of the year." Alvin Austin, executive<br />
diJ-ector of the Father's day committee,<br />
was master of ceremonies.<br />
Drive-In to Test Filter<br />
When Next Fog Comes<br />
NEW YORK—The Sunrise Drive-In Theatre,<br />
'Valley Stream, Long Island, is awaiting<br />
a fog in order to test filters which, attached<br />
to the projection lens, will penetrate the hazy<br />
atmosphere, according to 'Vincent Paolillo,<br />
field engineer of Capitol Motion Picture Supply<br />
Corp. Two filters, made by KoUmorgen<br />
Optical Co. to tpecifications submitted<br />
by Paolillo, are ready for the test. One will<br />
be selected for promotion.<br />
The fog problem came up during a recent<br />
visit of Paolillo to the Sunrise when Frank<br />
Sheering, manager, was having his troubles<br />
w.th projection, Paolillo improvised a filter of<br />
sheets of gelatine over the lens with good results,<br />
he said. The comments of patrons during<br />
intermission were favorable and led<br />
Paolillo to des gn the two filters for KoUmorgen<br />
manufacture. Now they're waiting<br />
for another fog to see which filter produces<br />
the best results.<br />
Movielab Laboratories<br />
Moves to Larger Plant<br />
NEW YORK—Movielab Film Laboratories,<br />
Inc., will move its laboratories and offices<br />
from 1600 Broadway to 619 West 54th St. June<br />
1, according to Saul Jeffee, president. The<br />
new plant, which is more than three times<br />
the size of the present quarters, is fully air<br />
conditioned and fireproof storage vaults have<br />
been installed on the premises. George R.<br />
Taylor and Frank S. Berman will continue<br />
to supervise the activities of the laboratory.<br />
Judge Overrules Motion<br />
To Drop Choraks Suit<br />
LOS ANGELES—A motion by the defendants<br />
to dismiss the action was overruled by<br />
Federal Judge Ben Harrison in the conspiracy<br />
suit filed by Steve and Emma Chorak,<br />
operators of the Puente Theatre in Puente<br />
against 14 distributors and exhibitors. The<br />
Choraks seek $241,500 in damages on the<br />
grounds the defendants conspired to prevent<br />
them from obtaining product at a "reasonable"<br />
clearance.<br />
NEW HARKISON THEATRE—The K. & K. Co., a group of Newark, N. J., businessmen,<br />
headed by David Cronheim, Lester Finger and Julius Vinik, has begun con.struction<br />
of a 1,100-seat modernistic theatre in Harrison, X. J., across the Passaic river from<br />
Newark. This is the first modern theatre to be started in this area for more than<br />
a decade. The house has been leased to Warner Bros, for a period of years.<br />
Harrison, a city of 30,000, has never had a theatre and is supposed to be the only<br />
city of its size in the country without a theatre.<br />
David Cronheim handled the transaction, including a 20-year mortage from the<br />
Equitable Life Assurance Co. The architects are John and Drew Eberson. Completion<br />
is scheduled for next autumn.<br />
NEWARK<br />
Ann Bontempo, home office contact for<br />
Loew's, is writing a column on MGM<br />
records for newspapers under the name of<br />
Bonnie Tempo . Feld, co-owner of<br />
the Treat, has returned from Miami. Sidney<br />
Denby, co-owner and manager, is spending<br />
some time at his bungalow at Lake<br />
Hopatcong . Jordan, head bookkeeper<br />
for Warner Bros., has purchased a<br />
home in Maplewood and will occupy it July 1.<br />
George Kelly, publicity head for Warner<br />
Bros., will return May 31 from Fort Lauderdale,<br />
Richard Hunter of Warner<br />
Fla. . . . Bros, booking department was married recently<br />
Warners is lining up several campaigns,<br />
. . . one a Walter Thornton child model<br />
contest, which will rim in ten theatres in<br />
Essex coiuity during July, and another, a<br />
cooking school campaign starting in September<br />
in all Warner houses. George Kelly Is<br />
in charge of exploitation.<br />
Morey Schayer, manager of the Rialto, recalls<br />
early days when he took a band out on<br />
the famous showboat Cotton Blossom, which<br />
cruised the Ohio river . . . Joe Peatherman,<br />
.<br />
at one time with RKO. is new doorman at<br />
James J. Corbett is new operator,<br />
the Rialto . . .<br />
replacing Morris Hess usher<br />
is John Lakome . . . The Rialto gave away<br />
taffy at children's matinees for several weeks.<br />
Joseph Fuller and Bernard Grasso, assistants<br />
at Loew's, lined up an effective campaign<br />
on "The Undercover Man." Fuller tied<br />
in with six book stores, using stills and a<br />
man-sized .sheet in the form of a Secret<br />
Service badge as displays. Grasso arranged<br />
a police equipment display and a radio quiz<br />
show. Contestants were asked to identify the<br />
"Undercover Man." an MGM star.<br />
Warners is participating in the Miss America<br />
pageant by running a Miss Bloomfield<br />
contest at the Royal in Bloomfield and a Miss<br />
Passaic contest at the Central Theatre in<br />
that city. George Kelly, publicist, is in charge<br />
of the campaign, which will run throughout<br />
June. Contestants will appear on the stage<br />
in evening gowns, street wear and bathing<br />
suits. Each will be allowed three minutes<br />
to display her talent. Winners will later<br />
compete for the title of Miss New Jersey<br />
and will go to Atlantic City to compete for<br />
the title of Miss America. Similar contests<br />
may be put into effect in other Warner<br />
theatres.<br />
.<br />
Loew's will hold its annual bathing beauty<br />
revue June 8 Ruddan. who is<br />
now managing the Hawthorne, will continue<br />
running frequent Jewish featui'es . . . Robert<br />
Thompson, assistant at the Variety, resigned.<br />
He was replaced by William Sanger<br />
cashier at the 'Variety is DaEUen<br />
Warddrip, formerly of the Branford ... A<br />
new cooling system has been installed at the<br />
Park Theatre, Caldwell.<br />
David Beehler, manager of the Central,<br />
used a five-foot-high papier-mache rabbit,<br />
loaned by the Public Service Co., to announce<br />
the theatre's Bugs Bunny cartoon<br />
carnival. He ran a similar Bugs Bunny carnival<br />
two years ago when the theatre celebrated<br />
its silver jubilee. Again Bugs Bunny<br />
products were used as prizes . . . The Embassy<br />
has started admitting 100 children, who<br />
are lucky number holders, every Saturday<br />
free to the children's matinee. The policy<br />
will be continued throughout the summer.<br />
Through a tieup with the Senak Co., the<br />
Embassy gave away a 12-piece aluminum<br />
Through a<br />
waterless cooker May 27 . . .<br />
tieup with the manufacturers of Margaret<br />
O'Brien products, the Central Theatre is<br />
using numerous giveaways as a come-on for<br />
patronage on "Little Women," scheduled for<br />
Decoration day. The items include Margaret<br />
O'Brien hats, Margaret O'Brien handbags,<br />
jewelry, quilts, scarfs and handkerchiefs with<br />
photos from the cast in the play on them.<br />
It is anticipated that other Warner houses<br />
will conduct a similar campaign on the film<br />
German Musical to Open<br />
NEW YORK—"Operetta," a German-language<br />
musical written and directed by Willy<br />
Forst, will open at the 55th Street Playhouse<br />
Jime 4, following the 25-week run of the<br />
French film, "Monsieur 'Vincent." "Operetta"<br />
is being released in the U.S. by Discina-<br />
Interfilm.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 39
. . . Mr.<br />
»;<br />
. . Republic<br />
. . Jerry<br />
. .<br />
ALBANY<br />
Barbara Hellman, daughter of<br />
Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Neil Hellman, is one of five cum laude<br />
students in this year's graduating class at<br />
St. Agnes school. She is president of the<br />
senior class . . . Carol Conery. daughter of<br />
the late Mitchell Conery of Conery theatres<br />
in Ravena, is also graduating with the class.<br />
She acted as "governor" in the recent Youth<br />
day program here and was photographed<br />
with Gov. Thomas E. Dewey n his chair in<br />
the executive chamber. Carol will become a<br />
student in the 1949 class at St. Peter's hospital<br />
school of nursing.<br />
Audience reaction to "Prejudice" is reported<br />
to vary. It attracts some persons who are<br />
not regular patrons, but it causes less scholarly<br />
fans to complain that the film is not<br />
entertainment. Cliff Bradt Knickerbocker<br />
critic, expressed the latter opinion, although<br />
he praised the purpose.<br />
Harry Savett of Newton Falls, Archie Conley<br />
of Sherburne, Cecil Patten of Adams and<br />
Woolsey Ackerman of New Berlin were<br />
among exhibitors at the recent Friendship<br />
luncheon and tradescreenng held by MGM<br />
in Utica as part of the company's 25th<br />
anniversary celebration. The preview of two<br />
pictures was at Kallet's Oneida Square, managed<br />
by Bill Keener. Floyd Fitzsimmons,<br />
MGM area exploiteer, and Ralph Ripps,<br />
MGM salesman, arranged the affair in, cooperation<br />
with Albany Manager Jack Goldberg.<br />
Fabian theatres' 35th anniversary was the<br />
topic under discussion by Fabian managers<br />
at a recent meeting in the Palace. Saul J<br />
Ullman, upstate general manager, presided,<br />
ass'sted by Eddie Fabian, son of Si H. Fabian,<br />
and Larry Cowen, upstate publicity director.<br />
Cowen reported on two New 'Vork confer-,<br />
ences which have been held on the celebration.<br />
A press book will be issued on the anniversary<br />
next month. The Fabian operations<br />
began in Patterson, N. J. Fabian managers<br />
were present from Albany, Troy,<br />
Schenectady and Cohoes.<br />
Warner Zone Manager A. S. Makwitz is<br />
walking around with a crippled foot as the<br />
result of an infection which set in following<br />
a bad case of sunburn. Makwitz did a little<br />
sunbathing while attending the national Variety<br />
convention in San Francisco and one<br />
foot got an overdose. Makwitz reports he<br />
saw Murray Lafayette, former Troy Theatre<br />
manager, now with National Screen, and<br />
Benny Goffstein, onetime Times-Union circulation<br />
manager. Goffstein is credited with<br />
suggesting the idea of a local "denial day"<br />
for the Variety Club's summer boys camp.<br />
All Warner houses are now equipped with<br />
washable green plastic price signs which<br />
give the theatre name and identify it as a<br />
circuit house, as well as the admission price.<br />
Removable numbers Jtre provided to allow for<br />
price changes on the basis of times and days.<br />
. .<br />
. . .<br />
Paul Wallen and Fabian General Manager<br />
Saul J. Ullman made a trip to New Haven<br />
to inspect the remodeling of the fire-damaged<br />
Leland Theatre, which 'Wallen manages.<br />
Eddie Fabian, assistant to Ullman, was<br />
there for the inspection Jim Dufty has<br />
resigned as assistant<br />
.<br />
manager of the Strand<br />
Weekend business was strong at the<br />
Ritz with the Warner double reissue bill,<br />
"Casablanca" and "G-Men," drawing standees<br />
much of the time on Sunday. Manager<br />
Oscar Perrin sa'd audience reaction<br />
was generally favorable.<br />
E. K. O'Shea, Paramount sales executive,<br />
was awarded the Chevrolet sedan in the donation<br />
drive conducted by the Variety Club.<br />
Ben Smith, Screen Guild salesman, sold<br />
O'Shea the lucky $10 coupon when Ted came<br />
to Albany with A. W. Schwalberg, Paramount<br />
sales manager, for the George Lynch testimonial<br />
dinner. O'Shea now is in Callifornia<br />
and Mrs. Neil Hellman will fly to<br />
Florida June 7 to spend a week in Miami<br />
Beach where they spent some time last waiter.<br />
Assistant general manager of the Fabian-<br />
Hellman Drive-In circuit will be in charge<br />
during Hellman's absence.<br />
Columbia Manager Jack Bullwinkle accompanied<br />
Charley Dortic, Columbia salesman,<br />
on a trip to Elizabethtown and other cities<br />
in the Adirondacks . Manager<br />
Arthui' Newman visited the Schine offices<br />
in Gloversville during a trip through the<br />
north of the state . . . Herman L. Ripps, assistant<br />
MGM eastern division manager, visited<br />
the Variety clubrooms . Segal<br />
is now in charge of the Saratoga E>rive-In<br />
for Fabian-Hellman. He has been with the<br />
Walter Reade circuit and has managed the<br />
Congress in Saratoga, the Strand in Perth<br />
Amboy, N. J., and the Lyric and Paramount<br />
in Asbury Park, N. J.<br />
BUI Konefsky, who worked for the Goldman<br />
circuit in Philadelphia, is now managing<br />
the Mohawk Drive-In on the Albany to<br />
Schenectady road. Bill Powell, who started<br />
the season as manager of this Fabian-Hellman<br />
ozoner, is now running a drive-in for<br />
Dave Will:g near Springfield, Mass. .<br />
Exhibitors on Filmrow Monday included<br />
George Thornton of Saugerties, Neil Hellman<br />
of Albany, Sam Rosenblatt of Watervliet<br />
and Lake George, Sam Davis of Phoenicia<br />
and Woodstock, Jules Perlmutter of Schenectady<br />
and Sylvan Leff of Utica.<br />
Smakwitz Will Represent<br />
Four Variety Chapters<br />
ALBANY—Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner<br />
Theatres Albany zone manager, has been<br />
named international<br />
^'"•"<br />
:<br />
representative of Variety<br />
Club tents in<br />
Boston, New Haven,<br />
Buffalo and Albany by<br />
R. J. O'Donnell, international<br />
chief barker.<br />
Smakwitz succeeds<br />
Murray Weiss, who<br />
was elected property<br />
master recently.<br />
Smakwitz has been<br />
chief barker of the<br />
Charles A. Smakwitz Albany tent twice and<br />
recently represented<br />
the local tent at the national convention. He<br />
also has served as national canvasman and<br />
at present is chairman of the Albany Tent's<br />
Heart fund.<br />
'Cleveland Story' Renamed<br />
"The Cleveland Story," George Brent<br />
starrer," was retagged "Pride of the Indians"<br />
by Republic.<br />
The Great State of Texas<br />
Adopts Adolph Zukor<br />
DALLAS—Adolph Zukor, chairman<br />
of the board of Paramount Pictures,<br />
and William Demarest, Paramount<br />
actor, received special honors at the<br />
company's sales meeting held here last<br />
week. Zukor was made an honorary<br />
citizen of Texas by Gov. Beauford Jester,<br />
the highest honor the best can bestow.<br />
In the accompanying photo,<br />
Zukor is shown receiving the citation<br />
from W. O. Reed, speaker of the house.<br />
The Dallas Paramoimt contingent also<br />
presented the film veteran with gold<br />
spurs.<br />
Demarest was presented with honorary<br />
membership in the Paramount 100<br />
Per Cent club for his efforts in behalf<br />
of the promotion of the company's<br />
product over a period of years. Demarest<br />
annually makes a tour of exchange<br />
cities to address sales forces on current<br />
Paramount pictures.<br />
Indian Ladder Drive-In<br />
Is Opened Near Albany<br />
ALBANY—Delayed 24 hours by heavy rains<br />
which made regrading necessary, the Indian<br />
Ladder Drive-In built by Don Hallenbeck on<br />
Route 85 about eight miles from here was<br />
opened last Tuesday night (24). The 300-car<br />
open air theatre, which can be expanded to<br />
accommodate 600 cars, was erected at a cost<br />
of about $40,000.<br />
The in-car speakers used in the new drivein<br />
were made by Hallenbeck, a former<br />
technical sergeant in the army air corps. He<br />
once worked for the International Projector<br />
Corp. He assembled the speakers, which required<br />
more than 14,000 soldered connections.<br />
Hallenbeck is managing the new drive-in.<br />
He has been a dealer in home motion picture<br />
equipment here about 11 years. Plans for a<br />
restaurant adjoining the new open air theatre<br />
were abandoned by him.<br />
Sunday Ban Is Lifted<br />
ULSTER, N. Y.—Ulster township has repealed<br />
an old ordinance banning Sunday motion<br />
pictures after a hearing by the town<br />
board. The blue law was brought to attention<br />
by the sheriff's office and the state police on<br />
the first Sunday that Harry Lamont's new<br />
Sunset Drive-In was to open.<br />
40 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
State Labor Board<br />
Certifies lA Local<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The Pennsylvania Labor<br />
Relations Board has certified the International<br />
Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employes<br />
Local B-lOO as collective bargaining<br />
agent for cashiers, doormen, ushers, cleaners,<br />
porters and matrons in local motion picture<br />
theatres. The action followed a recent election<br />
in which the workers chose the lA local<br />
by more than a twc-to-one vote over District<br />
50 of the United Mine Workers.<br />
The union plans to begin negotiations for<br />
new contracts soon and will demand pay increases<br />
retroactive to last August 3, the date<br />
on which its old contracts expired. Talks,<br />
which extended into last winter, were broken<br />
off when the union's jurisdiction was challenged.<br />
Employers involved are Warners,<br />
Paramount and Fox circuits and the Tlieatre<br />
Cleaning Service.<br />
Rites for Ed Walker, 34.<br />
Former Variety Member<br />
GREENWICH. N. Y.—Funeral services<br />
were held here for Ed Walker. 34, former<br />
Albany Times-Union promot on manager who<br />
died last Monday night i23i at Samaritan<br />
hospital. Troy. He once was a member of<br />
the Albany Variety Club.<br />
Stricken last year with a leg ailment which<br />
may have been the result of a previous accident.<br />
Walker had been hospitalized several<br />
months in New York and Ti'oy. His w.fe had<br />
given birth to a daughter several days before<br />
he went to New York for treatment.<br />
Walker began his career as an announcer<br />
at WTRY. Troy, and later was promoted to<br />
station promotion manager. He later joined<br />
the staff of the Times-Union and subsequently<br />
that of WROW. In addition to his<br />
wife, survivors include two children.<br />
Julius Levine<br />
NEW YORK—The funeral of Julius Levine,<br />
66, sales manager of Principal Pictures exchange,<br />
was held, in Brooklyn May 24. Levine<br />
died following his return from the annual<br />
dinner-dance of the Motion Pictures Bookers<br />
club of New York at the Hotel Commodore.<br />
He was a member of the New York Variety<br />
Club and an honorary member of the Motion<br />
Picture Associates. His wife Kate and three<br />
sons survive.<br />
Joseph Fronder<br />
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Joseph<br />
Fronder, 72, veteran poster designer, were<br />
held at St. Michaels church. Palisades Park.<br />
Fronder died at his home May 21. He joined<br />
the Paramount poster department in 1918 and<br />
had been with National Screen Service since<br />
1940.<br />
Fred C. Cross<br />
JERSEY CITY—Fred C. Cross, 68, manager<br />
of the Teaneck Theatre for six years<br />
before his retirement last January, died at<br />
his home here. He previously served in the<br />
Walter Reade Theatre circuit and was awarded<br />
a medal by the government for his sale<br />
of war bonds. He was a native of Vermont.<br />
He is survived by his wife Annabelle, a stepson<br />
Wilbur V. Smith and his brother Horace<br />
B. Cross of Massachusetts.<br />
R. R. Young of CS-O Is Inducted<br />
By Saints With No Holds Barred<br />
NEW YORK—Robert R. Young took time<br />
out from his discussion of Eagle Lion problems<br />
Tuesday i24i and went over to the<br />
Waldorf-Astoria hotel to be inducted into the<br />
Circus Saints and Sinners, while Serge<br />
Semenenko, vice-president of First Boston<br />
Corp., went to Boston to report to his banking<br />
associates.<br />
Young was introduced by Tex O'Rourke as<br />
a man who is "in everything up to his shoestrings."<br />
He arrived in a beaverboard locomotive<br />
ringing the bell .ind wearing an engineer's<br />
cap and striped jumper. The locomotive was<br />
labeled Cheapskate and O-mi-O railway<br />
the Old Road with Young Ideas." Yoimg is<br />
chairman of the board of C&O.<br />
From there on the going was rough for<br />
Young, but he took it goodnaturedly.<br />
Four railroad pi-esidents— the heads of the<br />
New Haven, New York Central, Lehigh Valley<br />
and Lackawanna—sang a welcoming chorus,<br />
and the president of the Hudson & Manhattan<br />
and the trustee of the Long Island railroad<br />
were introduced. Nine vice-presidents<br />
of railroads and one vice-president of Eagle<br />
Lion.<br />
William MacMillen, were introduced.<br />
Young and O'Rourke and former Gov.<br />
Harold Hoffman of New Jersey sat on the<br />
observation platform of Young's private C&O<br />
car with painted West Virginia scenery in the<br />
background.<br />
In giving a rock-ballasted biography of<br />
Young, O'Rourke said he had stopped recently<br />
at the "Hotel Cleandrier, a snooty<br />
joint overlooking the common stockholders at<br />
Why Suffer Springs, W. Va., where our<br />
snappy whataman puts up his dukes."<br />
O'Rourke also said that Young had bought<br />
a "40-room bungalow at Newport where the<br />
servants were so high class only half of them<br />
would speak to the new owner."<br />
In college. O'Rourke said, "because of<br />
certain scholastic requirements, Young was<br />
robbed of his greatest ambition—that of becoming<br />
a sophomore at the end of his second<br />
year."<br />
At the' end of O'Rourke 's talk, Hoffman<br />
presented him two four-foot high dice, one<br />
with six dots on all sides and the other with<br />
four dots.<br />
A good time was had by all—except Young.<br />
INCORPORATIONS<br />
—ALBANY—<br />
Teleducational Features Corp.: To produce<br />
television, motion picture and radio programs<br />
in New York: capital stock, 100 shares, no<br />
par.<br />
Community Cinema Corp.: To conduct<br />
business in New York; capital .stock. 200<br />
shares, no par,<br />
Sound Systems: Electronic and sound systems<br />
in New York: capital stock, 200 shares,<br />
no par.<br />
Bronxchester Amusement Corp.:<br />
To furnish<br />
amusement to the public: capital stock.<br />
150 shares, no par.<br />
Moriah Film Corp.: To do business in New<br />
York: capital stock, 200 shares, no par.<br />
Steuben Drive-In Theatre: To operate an<br />
outdoor theatre in the village of Avoca in<br />
Steuben county. Capital stock is 200 shares,<br />
no par.<br />
Film Shorts Ideal for TV.<br />
Says lim Fi'.zPatrick<br />
NEW YORK — Short -subject films are<br />
ideally suited for television showing and the<br />
new medium eventually will prove a boon to<br />
the short subject industry, according to James<br />
FitzPatr'ck, who has been producing travel<br />
shorts for MGM for the past 19 years.<br />
PitzPatrick showed his latest MGM release,<br />
"Mighty Manhattan," to an invited<br />
audience at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel May<br />
23 following a cocktail party and reception<br />
for the magazine and trade press. He plans<br />
to leave June 12 on a whaling cruise to gather<br />
material for his next MGM .short, one of a<br />
series of 12 planned for 1949-50 release. He<br />
will release his old shorts to television "when<br />
the time is appropriate."<br />
Among those who attended the Waldorf-<br />
Astoria showing were Nicholas M. and Mrs.<br />
Schenck. Herb Crooker, Pi-ed Lynch, Max<br />
Weinberg and Lanny Ross. Both Mrs.<br />
Schenck and Ross appear in "Mighty Manhattan."<br />
LEON ROSENBLAl^- Secretary<br />
and Treasurer, Rosenblatt-Welt<br />
Corporation, New York, N. Y.<br />
says:<br />
"We are celebrating our 20th<br />
year with RCA equipment and<br />
service, and find it the best<br />
insurance for good sound."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Adv.<br />
"Voice of Theatre Speakers"<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has them!<br />
SCREEN COATING AND<br />
MASKING PAINT<br />
PROMPT SHIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 41
Warner Int'l Parley<br />
In New York June 9<br />
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, has scheduled<br />
a three-day international sales convention at<br />
the Waldorf-Astoria for June 9-11. It will<br />
be the first big-scale annual meet in three<br />
years, according to Ben Kalmenson. vicepresident<br />
in charge of distribution. Company<br />
representatives from all over the world wUl<br />
attend.<br />
Production plans will be discussed in detail<br />
and those attending will be given an outline<br />
of story properties lined up for stars<br />
under contract.<br />
Merchandising plans for the films scheduled<br />
for the remainder of the season will be<br />
discussed. Among these pictures are: "The<br />
Pountainhead," starring Gary Cooper and<br />
Patricia Neal, to be released July 2; "The<br />
Girl From Jones Beach," starring Virginia<br />
Mayo and Ronald Reagan. July 16; "Look<br />
for the Silver Lining," starring June Haver,<br />
Ray Bolger and Gordon MacRae, Technicolor,<br />
July 30, and "The Lady Takes a Sailor,"<br />
starring Jane Wyman and Joseph Gotten.<br />
H. M. Warner, Jack L. Warner and Maj.<br />
Albert Warner are expected to attend. Home<br />
office executives who will attend will be;<br />
Samuel Schneider. Mort Blumenstock, Harry<br />
Kalmine, Norman Moray, Wolfe Cohen, Roy<br />
Haines, Jules Lapidus, Norman Ayres. I. F.<br />
Dolid, Ed Hinchy, Clayton Bond, Bernard<br />
R. Goodman, Harry Goldberg. Howard Levinson,<br />
Harold S. Bareford, R. A. McGuire and<br />
Charles Bally.<br />
Offers New 'Outlaw' Ads<br />
But No Suit Compromise<br />
NEW YORK—Reports that Howard Hughes<br />
is willing to drop his three-year-old $2,500,000<br />
triple damage antitrust suit against the<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America if that organization<br />
will okav a new set of ads for<br />
"The Outlaw" were denied May 24 after<br />
representatives of <strong>MPAA</strong>, Hughes and RKO<br />
had previously declined to comment.<br />
The denial was made by the office of Judge<br />
Samuel Rosenman, retained by Eric Johnston,<br />
<strong>MPAA</strong> president, as coimsel in the matter.<br />
"Hughes has submitted a new set of ads<br />
but he has not offered to call off the suit<br />
if they are approved," the spokesman said.<br />
"The <strong>MPAA</strong> has made no move as yet to<br />
pass on the ads. That is all I can say."<br />
The film was originally distributed by<br />
United Artists which, not being a member<br />
of <strong>MPAA</strong>, showed it without a production<br />
code seal. When Hughes bought a controlling<br />
interest in RKO, an <strong>MPAA</strong> member,<br />
and made a deal with UA to have RKO handle<br />
the film. <strong>MPAA</strong> found the advertising<br />
objectionable and withheld its approval.<br />
Majors File Pet. Suits<br />
In Cleveland Court<br />
CLEVELAND—Separate percentage fraud<br />
suits have been filed, in U.S. district court<br />
here by Columbia, Universal. RKO, Loew's,<br />
20th Century-Pox and Paramount against<br />
Mrs. Nazera Zeglob, operator of the Dreamland,<br />
Elvira and Pearl Theatres at Loraine,<br />
Ohio, and the Liberty at Vermilion. Ohio.<br />
Thomas M. Harman of the Cleveland law<br />
firm of Jones, Day, Cockley & Reavis is local<br />
attorney for the film companies, and Sargoy<br />
& Stein of New York are counsel.<br />
42<br />
Jules Levey to Europe<br />
On Distribution Deals<br />
NEW YORK—Jules Levey flew to Germany<br />
May 23 to finalize negotiations for distribution<br />
of two groups of his completed pictures<br />
abroad and to contract for American distribution<br />
of French, Italian and British product.<br />
He will also see thi'ee foreign pictures In<br />
which he has a substantial investment and<br />
arrange for further Investment in foreign<br />
production.<br />
The distribution deal for Germany, Austria<br />
and France covers his United Artists releases,<br />
"Abilene Town," "New Orleans," "The Hairy<br />
Ape" and "Jacare," as well as five of his Mayfair<br />
Productions, which were released by Universal-International.<br />
Levey will stay at the George V. hotel,<br />
Paris; the Savoy, London, and the Excelsior,<br />
ROme. He will also visit Holland, Belgium,<br />
Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Denmark<br />
and Israel.<br />
Ascap-Telecasters Hope<br />
For June 15 Agreement<br />
NEW YORK—Ascap and the television networks<br />
hope to reach an agreement on music<br />
fees by June 15, the deadline for free use of<br />
Ascap music for video. To protect themselves<br />
in case the negotiations for a fee schedule<br />
fall through, the station executives are continuing<br />
to line up rights to non-Ascap music,<br />
particularly from the Broadcast Music, Inc.<br />
The presidents of the networks and Ascap<br />
officials have been meeting regularly since<br />
May 16. These meetings picked up where<br />
earlier meetings between Ascap and the television<br />
committee of the National Ass'n of<br />
Broadcasters broke off May 6. when a deadlock<br />
was reached.<br />
Tlie first indication that the situation had<br />
improved came May 19, when Ascap extended<br />
the deadline for the free use of its<br />
music from June 1 until June 15.<br />
The Ascap board of directors met Thursday,<br />
May 26, to discuss the latest offer of<br />
the networks and to offer additional proposals.<br />
Eastman Kodak Co. Moves<br />
Its New York Branch<br />
NEW YORK—Eastman Kodak Co. has<br />
moved its New York branch distribution unit<br />
from Hudson St. to new quarters at 1334 York<br />
Ave., Manhattan, reconditioned at a cost of<br />
over $500,000. The new home, a four-story<br />
structure of reinforced concrete, has 160,000<br />
square feet of floor space, 120,000 of which<br />
are occupied by the 200 employes of the<br />
branch, according to James E. McGhee, vicepresident<br />
and general sales manager.<br />
It is air conditioned both for the personnel<br />
and for the storage of sensitized goods, has<br />
facilities for the demonstration of professional<br />
photo materials and provides rest and recreation<br />
rooms. Thomas M. Connors, manager,<br />
said there will be a formal opening later.<br />
Neil Agnew to Distribute<br />
Italian-Made 'Pagliacci'<br />
NEW YORK—Neil Agnew, president of Motion<br />
Picture Sales Corp., has sent word from<br />
Italy that he has closed a deal for western<br />
hemisphere distribution rights to "Pagliacci,"<br />
Technicolor film made in Italy with the La<br />
Scala Opera and the La Scala Orchestra.<br />
Charles L. Casanave, MPSC vice-president,<br />
says the film will be given special distribution<br />
arrangements next fall.<br />
Jap Theatremen Air<br />
Plaints by Request<br />
NEW YORK—Japanese exhibitors are beinT<br />
invited to sit down with the distributors,<br />
present their grievances and suggest improvements<br />
in service, according to a message to<br />
the Motion Picture Export Ass'n from Charles<br />
Mayer, its managing director in Japan. The<br />
first of a series of forums was held about<br />
two weeks ago in Fukushima with 35 exhibitors<br />
and five MPEA representatives attending.<br />
Complaints ranged from occasional delays<br />
in the routing of prints and dissatisfaction<br />
with the dates of program changes to tardy<br />
delivery of publicity materials. Cooperative<br />
printing of theatre programs and continuation<br />
of MPEA lectiu-es on management and<br />
showmanship were suggested. Mayer feels<br />
that the forums will result in better service<br />
to the 800 theatres showing MPEA product.<br />
U-I Names 'Illegal Entry'<br />
As Bond Premiere Film<br />
NEW YORK— "Illegal Entry" (U-I), which<br />
will open June 8 in the RKO Keith Theatre,<br />
Washington, has been designated as one of<br />
the industry's bond premiere pictures in the<br />
Treasury department's Opportunity Savings<br />
Bond drive. The first bond premiere will be<br />
at the Ritz, Los Angeles, June 9, according<br />
to Mam-ice A. Bergman, industry chairman.<br />
U-I also has designed "Take One False<br />
Step" as a bond premiere picture.<br />
"Calamity Jane and Sam Bass," also U-I,<br />
will have a special bond premiere at the<br />
Majestic, Dallas, June 8. This will be the first<br />
bond premiere in the southwest. It is being<br />
tied in with the personal appearances of a<br />
group of Hollywood stars headed by Yvonne<br />
DeCarlo and Howard Duff.<br />
Christophers' Citation<br />
Goes to 'Joan of Arc'<br />
NEW YORK—"Joan of Arc" (RKO) has<br />
received the first award given a film by the<br />
Christophers, a group devoted to promoting<br />
Christian principles in public life. A citation<br />
on a parchment scroll was given Walter<br />
Wanger, producer, by Father James Keller,<br />
founder and director of the four-year-old<br />
organization, at a luncheon May 25. Dated<br />
"on the 418th anniversary of the martyrdom<br />
of Joan of Arc," it called the film an "inspiring<br />
demonstration that a motion picture<br />
which stresses the spiritual ideal, goodness<br />
and decency can be a popular success."<br />
'Capricorn' Promotion<br />
NEW YORK—Grosset & Dunlap will<br />
publish<br />
a special 100.000 printing of "Under<br />
Capricorn " the novel by Helen Simpson on<br />
which the Ti-ansatlantic Pictures film of the<br />
same name is based. It was directed by<br />
Alfred Hitchcock for Warner Bros, distribution.<br />
The illustrations will be scenes of<br />
Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten taken<br />
from the film.<br />
Audrain Quits Prestige<br />
NEW YORK—LawTcnce Audrain, who has<br />
been director of publicity and advertising<br />
for J. Arthur Rank Prestige unit of U-I since<br />
its formation in July 1946. has left to become<br />
managing director of the newly formed<br />
British Book Centre on east 55th street.<br />
Audrain's successor will be announced later.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:; May 28, 1949
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Si)ear, Western Manuutr,<br />
Machinists lA Union<br />
Signs 5-Year Ticket<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A five-year collective<br />
bargaining<br />
contract covering camera machinists,<br />
general and laboratory machinists was set<br />
by the major studios with Cine-Technicians<br />
lATSE Local 789. The contract continues<br />
present wage scales and provides for two<br />
reopening dates, August 1949 and August 1951.<br />
Signatories include Columbia, MGM. Paramount,<br />
RKO, Republic, Hal Roach, 20t.h Century-Fox,<br />
U-I and Warners.<br />
While the independent Screen Publicists<br />
Guild was laying plans for its forthcoming<br />
election of officers by naming a list of 16<br />
candidates for the top six posts the Film<br />
Publicists committee for lATSE-AFL affiliation<br />
kept the blurbers' civil war active by<br />
distributing a broadside charging the SPG's<br />
present administration with "perpetuating<br />
the policies of the leadership of the defunct<br />
Conference of Studio Unions, which called<br />
the disruptive 1945 and 1946 jurisdictional<br />
strikes."<br />
Balloting on the SPG election will take<br />
place at the group's next monthly se.ssion.<br />
Candidates include:<br />
For president—Dan Thomas, Jerry Hoffman.<br />
Walter Seltzer. Vice-president— George<br />
Lait. Clary Barbiaux, John Del Valle. Recording<br />
secretary—Mabel Hill. Vi Homer,<br />
Lindsay Durand. Financial secretary—George<br />
Nichols, Homer Davies, Joe Weston. Ti-easurer—Milt<br />
Stein. Ken Carter, Jack Gold,<br />
Jack Diamond.<br />
Meantime, the publicists favoring AFLlATSE<br />
affiliation blasted the unaffiliated<br />
SPG for having retained attorney Milton<br />
Tyre as its legal counsel, charging Tyre w'as<br />
an associate of Leo Gallagher, Communist<br />
party candidate for secretary of state and<br />
other offices in California. Tyre, it was alleged,<br />
supported Herbert K. Sorrell, CSU<br />
strike leader, and the AFL publicists warned<br />
also that "this is the type of thinking and<br />
the kind of leadership which will continue<br />
to set guild policies" unless the blurbers<br />
vote for the lATSE in the upcoming NLRB<br />
jurisdictional election.<br />
Build Legitimate Theatre<br />
SACRAMENTO—Ground has been broken<br />
here for the Eaglet Theatre, first legitimate<br />
theatre here since the close of the Climie<br />
in 1923. The house will be located at 15th<br />
and H streets and will cost about $69,803 to<br />
build. It will seat 1,800 persons.<br />
Suit by Unfriendly Ten<br />
Seeks $51858.000<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Another<br />
astronomically<br />
budgeted chapter in the litigatory history of<br />
the battle between filmdom's so-called "unfriendly<br />
ten" and the major motion picture<br />
companies was written with the filing of a<br />
federal coui't action on behalf of the ten,<br />
charging violation of the Sherman antitrust<br />
act, and seeking triple damages of $51,858,-<br />
795. Plaintiffs are Alvah Bessie. Samuel<br />
Ornitz. John Howard Lawson, Albert Maltz.<br />
Lester Cole. Ring Lardner jr.. Dalton Ti-umbo.<br />
Edward Dmytryk. Herbert Biberman and<br />
Adrian Scott. Named as defendants were<br />
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America. Loew's.<br />
Inc.. 20th Century-Fox. Paramount. Columbia,<br />
Republic. Hal E. Roach. Universal-International<br />
and Warners.<br />
Still pending is a previous suit against the<br />
.same defendants by the "unfriendly ten."<br />
filed in superior court and charging conspiracy<br />
to interfere with the right of contract.<br />
In this action, in which damages of<br />
$35,000,000 are sought, it is charged the major<br />
companies and the <strong>MPAA</strong> illegally invoked<br />
a "blacklist" under which none of the plaintiffs<br />
may be employed in the industi-y unless<br />
and/or imtil they "purge" themselves of any<br />
suspicion that they are or ever have been<br />
members of the Communist party.<br />
The new federal court action, attorneys for<br />
the "unfriendly ten" explained, hinges upon<br />
the recent sale to 20th Century-Fox of a new<br />
novel by Albert Maltz, one of the plaintiffs.<br />
Titled "The Journey of Simon McKeever," it<br />
was acquired by the company and almost immediately<br />
shelved, with no official word of<br />
explanation as to the reason for such action.<br />
It is the plaintiff's contention that the<br />
shelving of "McKeever" constitutes discrimination<br />
with respect to the "sale of their<br />
products or the pursuit of their callings in<br />
motion pictures," and therefore involves the<br />
asserted violation of the Sherman antitrust<br />
legislation.<br />
They contend further that a paralleling<br />
precedent was set in a recent federal circuit<br />
court ruling in the case of Danny Gardella,<br />
a player who was barred from American<br />
baseball by the game's commissioner after he<br />
left t^e New York Giants to accept employment<br />
with a so-called "outlaw" league in<br />
Mexico. In this ruling it was declared Gardella<br />
has a cause of legal action under the<br />
Sherman act.<br />
The legal history of the "unfriendly ten's"<br />
battle with the major companies also includes<br />
suits filed against RKO Radio by Scott<br />
and Dmytryk; against MGM by Trumbo and<br />
Cole, and against 20th Century-Fox by Lardner,<br />
all charging breach of contract. Cole<br />
recently was ordered reinstated and MGM<br />
was ordered to pay him back salary, but<br />
Loew's. Inc.. is appealing. The Scott, Dmytryk,<br />
Trumbo and Lardner suits are being held in<br />
abeyance pending the outcome of Loew's ap<br />
peal.<br />
Additionally, the Screen Writers Guild has<br />
filed a federal court action charging the<br />
<strong>MPAA</strong> with conspiring to institute a "blacklist"<br />
in violation of antitrust law.s. No monetary<br />
damages are asked in this suit, however.<br />
All of the litigation stems from developments<br />
at a 1947 session of Rep. J. Parnell<br />
Thomas' house subcommittee on un-American<br />
activities, at which the "unfriendly ten,"<br />
called as witnesses, refused to testify as to<br />
their possible Communistic affiliations. All<br />
subsequently were indicted on charges of<br />
contempt of Congress and in November 1947.<br />
Eric Johnston. <strong>MPAA</strong> president, revealed the<br />
decision to institute an employment ban on<br />
the ten unless and/or until they had been<br />
cleared of the charges.<br />
Five Committees Set Up<br />
By MP Ideals Alliance<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In preparation for launching<br />
an active schedule during the balance<br />
of the year, the Motion Picture Alliance for<br />
the Preservation of American Ideals has set<br />
up five new committees to function under<br />
the direction of John Wayne, president, and<br />
Roy M. Brewer, chairman of the executive<br />
committee. New groups include:<br />
Meeting arrangements committee—Ward<br />
Bond. Charles Cane, Steve Fisher, Borden<br />
Chase and John Lee Mahin.<br />
Policy committee—James K. McGuinness.<br />
Robert Arthur, John Klorer, Ralph Clare and<br />
Brewer.<br />
Membership—Charles Cane, Charles Coburn,<br />
Ben Martinez, Ward Bond and Cliff<br />
Lyons.<br />
Publicity—Borden Chase, Steve Fisher,<br />
Fred Niblo jr., Morrie Ryskind, Hedda Hopper.<br />
Murphy McHenry.<br />
Finances—Mrs. Robert Ai-thur. Sam Wood,<br />
LeRoy Prinz. Charles Cane, Pat O'Brien.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28. 1949 43
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES<br />
Barnstormers<br />
Universal-International<br />
In Texas to stimulate interest in the iorthcoming<br />
bond premiere of "Calamity Jane and Sam Bass" is<br />
actress BARBARA PAYTON. Stars YVONNE DeCARLO<br />
ond HOWARD DUFF will be on hand for the premiere<br />
in Dallas on June £,<br />
Warners<br />
WAYNE MORRIS, ALAN HALE, JAMES BROWN<br />
and FRED CLARK, cast topliners in "The Younger<br />
Brothers," made appearances May 27 at the Warner<br />
Downtown, Hollywood and Wiltern theatres in<br />
conjunction with openings of the picture in the<br />
three houses.<br />
Having completed his role in "Return of the<br />
Frontiersman," GORDON MACRAE opens June 9 in<br />
a three-week personal appearance engagement at<br />
the Oriental Theatre, Chicago.<br />
Blurbers<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Publicist PHIL GERSDORF has been borrowed by<br />
Walt Disney Productions to beat the drums for<br />
"Treasure Island," Disney's live action feature,<br />
which rolls in England this summer. Gersdorf sails<br />
June I for Britain to begin the assignment.<br />
Briefies<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Robert Neil and Suzi Crandall have the leading<br />
roles in "Prize Maid," first run in the new two-reel<br />
Newlyweds series being produced by George Bilson<br />
and megged by Hal Yates.<br />
Cleffers<br />
Metro<br />
ANDRE PREVIN was assigned the scoring and<br />
conducting chores on Robert Sisk's production,<br />
"Tension."<br />
Assigned to compose a number of hymns for "Quo<br />
Vadis" was MIKLOS ROZSA.<br />
Assigned as musical director on Joe Pasternak's<br />
production, "Nancy Goes to Rio," was GEORGIE<br />
STOLL.<br />
Monogram<br />
Music director EDWARD J. KAY is scoring the<br />
Jimmy Wakely starrer, "Range Rogues."<br />
Paramount<br />
Radio and recording vocalist BUDDY CLARK was<br />
signed to sing the title tune in "Song of Surrender,"<br />
starring Wanda Hendrix.<br />
Universal-International<br />
FRANK SKINNER conducts the orchestra, using a<br />
score by ELIZABETH FIRESTONE, for 'Come Be My<br />
Love." Robert Montgomery produced and directed.<br />
Loanouts<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
On loan from U-I, JEFF CHANDLER will play an<br />
Apache chief in Julian Blaustein's production, "Arrow,"<br />
starring James Stewart.<br />
Meggers<br />
Columbia<br />
"Hoedown," first of two western musicals to<br />
star Eddie Arnold, hillbilly radio and recording star<br />
will be megged by RAY NAZARRO for Producer<br />
Colbert Clark.<br />
Metro<br />
Set to meg the Clark Gable-Loretta Young starrer,<br />
'Keyto the City," was GEORGE SIDNEY. Z. Wayne<br />
GrilfiiJ will produce.<br />
Monogram<br />
Producer Louis Gray signed OLIVER DRAKE to<br />
direct "Boomtown Badmen" to star Jimmy 'Wakely.<br />
Republic<br />
Director FRED BRANNON was<br />
other year.<br />
reoptioned for an-<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Producer ROBERT BRASSLER has been handed a<br />
two-yeoT contract extension. His last two pictures,<br />
"Sand" and "Collision," have not yet been released.<br />
Options<br />
Columbia<br />
Male lead in "Palomino," upcoming Robert Cohn<br />
production, goes to JEROME COURTLAND. Ray<br />
Nazarro will meg the Technicolor outdoor opus,<br />
slated to loU in July.<br />
HURD HATFIELD will star in the Sam Kalzman<br />
production, "Chinatown at Midnight," to be directed<br />
by Seymour Friedman. JACQUELINE DeWIT was<br />
signed for a principal role. Chinese actress MAYLIA<br />
will be featured with Hatfield.<br />
Metro<br />
JEAN HAGEN, young New York actress, joins Robert<br />
Taylor and John Hodiak in "Ambush," to be<br />
megged by Sam Wood for Producer Armand Deutsch.<br />
Added to the cast of "Bodies and Souls," the<br />
Glenn Ford starrer, was ARTHUR FRANZ.<br />
Monogram<br />
Additions to the cost of "Trail of the Yukon" are<br />
AL BRIDGE, WALLY WALKER, STANLEY ANDREWS,<br />
DICK ELLIOTT, BILL EDWARDS, ANTHONY WARDE,<br />
MAYNARD HOLMES, PETER MAMAKOS, DAN SEY-<br />
MOUR, GUY BEACH and IRIS ADRIAN William<br />
Beaudine directs for Producer Lindsley Parsons.<br />
BOB WOODWARD, BRET HAMILTON, DONALD<br />
KERR, BILLY HAMMOND, EDMUND GLOVER, BUD<br />
OSBORNE, KEIT-H RICHARDS, WILLIAM H. RUHL,<br />
DEE COOPER, KENNE DUNCAN, TED ADAMS, LEE<br />
PHELPS, CLEM FULLER, CAROL HENRY, CURT BAR-<br />
RETT and RED EGNER were added to the cast of<br />
"Mark of the Whip," under the direction of Ray<br />
Taylor for Producer Barney Sarecky.<br />
Paramount<br />
JACK 'WEBB, radio's "Pat Novak," was signed<br />
to portrcry an assistant director in the Gloria Swanson-Erich<br />
von Stroheim topliner, "Sunset Boulevard,"<br />
under the direction of Billy Wilder for Producer<br />
Charles Bracket!. YVETTE VEDDER, UCLA coed,<br />
makes her screen debut in the film.<br />
Cast in the Alan Ladd starrer, "Eagles of the<br />
Navy," was WILLIAM BENDIX. Robert Fellows will<br />
produce.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Inked to play a hotel slavey in Robert Sparks' production,<br />
"The Boil Bond Story," wcrs PHYLLIS KEN-<br />
NEDY. Ted Tetzlaff directs the Pat O'Brien-George<br />
Raft topliner.<br />
Samuel Goldwyn signed PHYLLIS KIRK to a long<br />
RED CROSS DONATION — G e o r g e<br />
Bowser, right, general manager of the<br />
Fox West Coast circuit, hands a check<br />
for $12,000 to Clarence S. Beesemyer, volunteer<br />
general chairman for the 1949<br />
Los Angeles Red Cross campaign. The<br />
sum represented a donation from FWC's<br />
southern California theatres and does not<br />
include a separate gift from the corporation<br />
in northern California nor the individual<br />
contributions of its employes earlier<br />
this year.<br />
Beesemeyer said the "generous gift"<br />
would' be used to help maintain a civilian<br />
blood service project, as well as to finance<br />
services to veterans and their dependants,<br />
and assist educational and<br />
training services of the local chapter.<br />
term contract and handed her a role in the Farley<br />
Granger-Joan Evans starrer, "Beloved Over All."<br />
Republic<br />
Set for the femme topline in Sidney Picker's production,<br />
"Post Office Investigator," was AUDREY<br />
LONG. George Blair will direct. Inked for leading<br />
roles were WARREN DOUGLAS and JEFF DONNELL.<br />
Others signed for the Sidney Picker production include:<br />
JIMMIE DODD, TONY CANNON, MARCEL<br />
JOURNET, RICHARD BENEDICT, CLIFF CLARK, VERA<br />
MARSHE, THOMAS BRCWNE HENRY and PATRICIA<br />
KNOX.<br />
ROY BARCROFT, MARSHALL REED, 'WILL WRIGHT,<br />
EARL HODGINS, HAL TALIAFERO, DOUGLASS DUM-<br />
BRILLE, LLOYD INGRAHM, GEORGE CHEESEBRO<br />
and JACK OSHEA are additions to the cast of the<br />
William Elliott-Adrian Booth starrer, "Crosswinds."<br />
Leading juvenile role in Walter Colmes' production,<br />
"Pride of the Indians," will be played by<br />
RUSTY RAMBLYN, 14-year-old Hollywood Little Theatre<br />
actor.<br />
KATHLEEN FREEMAN was signed to make her picture<br />
debut in Fidelity Pictures' "The House by the<br />
River." Fritz Long directs for Producers Howard<br />
Welsch and Robert Peters.<br />
Screen Guild<br />
GLENN LANGAN, ADELE lERGENS and STEVE<br />
BRODIE will star in Lippert Productions' "Treasure<br />
of Monte Cristo."<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Handed a character role in the Betty Grable-<br />
"Wabash Avenue," was MAR-<br />
Victor Mature stcrrrer,<br />
GARET HAMILTON. Henry Koster will direct for<br />
Producer William Perlberg.<br />
United Artists<br />
Set for roles in Regal Productions' "Mrs. Mike"<br />
were ANGELA CLARK and CHIEF YOWLACHIE.<br />
Louis King directs the Dick Powell-Evelyn Keyes<br />
starrer for Producers Edward Gross and Sam<br />
Bischoff.<br />
Universal-International<br />
Handed the feminine lead opposite Audio Murphy<br />
in Paul Short's production, "The Kid From Texas,'<br />
was GALE STORM. ALBERT DEKKER was signed<br />
to play her husband. Inked to ploY a bandit role<br />
was WILLIAM TALLMAN. Other additions to the<br />
cast are RAY TEAL, WILL GEER and MABTIN<br />
GARRALAGA<br />
DOROTHY HART was assigned the second feminine<br />
lead in Michel Kraike's production, "Java,"<br />
starring Shelley Winters and Stephen McNolIy. H.<br />
Bruce Humberstone will direct.<br />
PERCY KILBRIDE hds been cast as Ann Blyth's<br />
father in "Hot Water," the forthcoming Robert<br />
Buckner production. A character lead was set tor<br />
RAY COLLINS.<br />
Warners<br />
Cast as a drive-in theatre cashier in the James<br />
Cagney vehicle, '"White Heat," was CLAUDIA BAR-<br />
RETT.<br />
Character actor MINOR WATSON has a leading<br />
role in the Bette Davis-Joseph Gotten starrer, "Beyond<br />
the Forest." Assigned an important role was<br />
DONNA DRAKE.<br />
FAY BAKER will appear as Raymond Massey's<br />
wife in "Chain Lightning," with Eleanor Parker costarred.<br />
JACK REYNOLDS, JOHN ROGERS and pianist<br />
WILLIAM LANKIN are additions to the cast.<br />
Former Broadway actor ROY ROBERTS will appear<br />
as Humphrey Bogart's commanding general. Former<br />
studio test director MORRIS ANKRUM was cast<br />
in the role of a jet aircraft mechanic.<br />
Scripters<br />
Monogram<br />
CHARLES B. MARION is preparing an original<br />
script, "KTasterminds," for the next in Producer Jan<br />
Grippe's Bowery Boys series. Film replaces the<br />
previously announced "Bowery Boys Go to College"<br />
on the production schedule.<br />
Paramount<br />
Assigned to write the treatment and screenplay<br />
for the George Stevens production based on Theodore<br />
Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" wcte<br />
MICHAEL WILSON.<br />
ANDREW SOLT will write the final screenplay on<br />
Hal Wallis' "September," starring Joan Fortaine.<br />
Universal-International<br />
Inked to do a script polish job on "Fuaitive From<br />
Terror" was OSCAR SAUL. Michael Gordon will<br />
direct for Producer Michel Kroike.<br />
Inked to screenplay his own original story, "Shakedown,"<br />
was JOEL MALONE.<br />
Story Buys<br />
Columbia<br />
'Producer-Director Robert Rossen purchased the<br />
Tom Lee best-seller, "The Brave Bulls."<br />
Independent<br />
King Bros, purchased "Born to Hang," original<br />
by Arthur Nordhem, as a future Peggy Cummins-<br />
John Dall starring vehicle.<br />
Irving Allen and FrOnchot Tone, operating as<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
44 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Harold<br />
extreme<br />
Personnelifies SDG First Award to Mankiewicz<br />
tContinued from preceding page)<br />
A&T Productions, have secured screen rights 1o<br />
Jacques Offenbach's Ught opera, "La Vie Parisienne."<br />
lo be filmed in France with the original music.<br />
Harry Brown will script from a libretto by Henri<br />
Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy.<br />
"Hurrah for My Side," original by Horace Jackson,<br />
was purchased by Roy Del Ruth Productions-<br />
Yarn concerns three ex-GIs who return to Europe<br />
in search of their wartime sweethearts.<br />
Technically<br />
Columbia<br />
MORT MORIARTY. assistant to the president ol the<br />
Good Humor company, will be technical adviser on<br />
S. Sylvan Simon's production, "The Good Humor<br />
Man.<br />
Metro<br />
Assigned the art direction chore on "Europa and<br />
the Bull" was PAUL GROESSE.<br />
SERGEI PETSCHNIKOFF has been tabbed unit<br />
manager on "Nancy Goes to Rio." Named art<br />
director was JACK SMITH.<br />
MALCOLM BROWN was set as art director ior<br />
Edwin Knopi's production, "Running ol the Tide."<br />
Art director on "Please Believe Me" will be<br />
DANIEL CATHCART.<br />
Art direction chore on Volderaar Vetluguin's production,<br />
"East Side, West Side," was taken by<br />
RANDALL DUELL.<br />
Film editor on William H. Wright's production,<br />
"Stars in My Crown," will be GENE RUGGIERO.<br />
Jacques Tourneur directs.<br />
GEORGE WHITE was assigned as film editor on<br />
"Tension," with John Berry directing and Robert<br />
Sisk producing.<br />
WALTER PLUNKETT will design Katharine Hepburn's<br />
wardrobe ior "Adam's Rib," to be produced<br />
by Edwin Knopf.<br />
Art director on "Key to the City" will be HANS<br />
PETERS.<br />
Paramount<br />
Assistant to Director Mitchell Leisen on the Barbara<br />
Stanwyck starrer, "I Married a Dead Man,"<br />
will be JOHNNY COONAN.<br />
Republic<br />
Technical assignments on Fidelity Pictures' "House<br />
by the River" include JOE DILL, unit manager;<br />
JOHN GRUBBS, assistant director; EDDIE CRON-<br />
JAGER, cameraman; ARTHUR ROBERTS, lilm editor;<br />
BORIS LEVIN, art director, and MORTON SCOTT,<br />
musical director<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Crew for William Perlberg's production, "Wabash<br />
Avenue," includes ARTHUR E. ARLING, cinematographer;<br />
BILLY DANIELS, dance director; CHARLES<br />
r;MAlRE, stylist; LYLE WHEELER
Charles Brackett Is<br />
Academy Head;<br />
Hersholt Suggests Policy Changes<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The four-year regime of<br />
Jean Hersholt as president of the Academy<br />
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ended<br />
with the unanimous election of writer-producer<br />
Charles Brackett to succeed him.<br />
Chosen for the presidency by the board of<br />
governors, Brackett heads a new list of officers<br />
which includes;<br />
George Murphy, first vice-president, succeeding<br />
Brackett; Dore Schary, second vicepresident,<br />
succeeding Jack L. Warner; Emmet<br />
Lavery, secretary, succeeding Robert Montgomery;<br />
Johnny Green, assistant secretary,<br />
succeeding Thomas T. Moulton; Fred Metzler,<br />
treasurer, succeeding N. Peter Rathvon;<br />
and G. Carleton Hunt, assistant treasurer,<br />
succeeding Charles G. Clarke.<br />
Balloting was highlighted by the presentation<br />
of a policy-and-progress report by the<br />
retiring president, who refused to stand for<br />
re-election. Since Hersholt currently is in<br />
the east, his recommendations as to the<br />
Academy's future were outlined by Brackett.<br />
In a complete reversal of his previous<br />
stand—Hersholt, shortly after the 1948 Academy<br />
awards ceremonies, lashed out at several<br />
major film companies on the groirnds they<br />
were more interested in "commercialism"<br />
than in "artistic achievement"—he declared<br />
he had come to believe the Academy "would<br />
be justified in seeking a prestige sponsor" for<br />
the awards broadcast and also "in accepting<br />
other commercial connections" to raise funds<br />
for expanding the Academy's general program.<br />
Other Hersholt recommendations<br />
Staging of an international film conference<br />
in Hollywood, dedicated to supporting<br />
a "rising standard" in production "regardless<br />
of national boundaries."<br />
Increase in Academy memberehip over its<br />
present 2,000 mark.<br />
Construction or acquisition of a larger<br />
NEW ACADEMY LEADER—Charles<br />
Brackett, right, is the new president of<br />
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and<br />
Sciences, succeeding Jean Hersholt.<br />
Brackett is shown here with George Murphy,<br />
elected first vice-president. The<br />
Murphy whiskers? They're for an MOM<br />
film<br />
assigrnment.<br />
building to serve as Academy headquarters,<br />
including a museum to house oldtime film<br />
relics.<br />
Development of a standard format for<br />
awards presentations, which he suggested<br />
should be worked cut by a special committee.<br />
Development of a long-range program to<br />
map general organizational plans for five or<br />
even ten years in advance.<br />
Second TV Institute<br />
Held in Hollywood<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The second annual television<br />
institute was slated to get under way<br />
May 26 with the Screen Publicists Guild acting<br />
as host in conjunction with five local<br />
video organizations. Participating are the<br />
Television Film Producers Ass'n, the Television<br />
Producers Ass'n, Society of Motion Picture<br />
Engineers, the Hollywood Council of the<br />
Ass'n of Broadcast Unions and Guilds, and<br />
the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.<br />
Scheduled for discussion during the forums,<br />
which will be held once a week for five weeks,<br />
were such subjects as "management problems<br />
in television," "films in television" and "Hollywood's<br />
challenge as TV film production<br />
center."<br />
Mai Boyd of the TPA is coordinating the<br />
series. Boyd, incidentally, was just re-elected<br />
TPA president for a two-year period.<br />
* »<br />
Initialer in a projected new NBC-TV series<br />
based on the "Dick Tracy" comic strip will<br />
be turned out in pilot form for the network<br />
by Rudy Vallee's video production organization.<br />
Ralph Byrd has been set for the title<br />
role.<br />
Cameraman J. A. Valentine<br />
Dies; 1948 Award Winner<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A heart attack claimed<br />
Joseph A. Valentine, 45, veteran cameraman,<br />
regarded as one of the top members of the<br />
craft and a five-time Academy award nominee.<br />
He won an Academy statuette for 1948<br />
for his color lensing of "Joan of Arc."<br />
A member of both the American Society of<br />
Cinematographers and lATSE Local 659 of<br />
survived by his vrife<br />
cameramen, Valentine is<br />
and infant son, his parents and a sister.<br />
Valentine's last lensing chore, recently completed,<br />
was on "Love Is Big Business," the<br />
Jack Skirball-Bruce Manning production for<br />
RKO release. The cinematographer began<br />
his career in 1922. He was a captain in the<br />
army signal corps dm-ing World War II.<br />
Gala 'Stratton<br />
Bow<br />
At Egyptian June 1<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In gala film colony style<br />
MGM will usher in its 25th birthday celebration<br />
here June 1 with a "silver anniversary"<br />
premiere of the James Stewart starrer,<br />
"The Stratton Story," at the Egyptian Theatre.<br />
Ceremonies include attendance by stars<br />
and industry and civic leaders, the affair to<br />
be replete with lights, music, bleachers and<br />
loudspeakers.<br />
* • *<br />
"It Happens Every Spring," 20th Century-<br />
Fox's baseball comedy toplining Ray Milland,<br />
opened May 26 in St. Louis and in Pittsburgh<br />
May 27, with Linda Darnell, Jean Peters and<br />
Paul Douglas making personal appearances<br />
in each city.<br />
* *<br />
Republic staged a press preview of its anti-<br />
Communist opus, "The Red Menace," at the<br />
Academy Awards Theatre May 25. In addition<br />
to film and drama critics, the guest list<br />
included state and federal judges, city, county<br />
and state officials.<br />
46<br />
William Holden Narrates<br />
Rehabilitation Short<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Narration for a veterans'<br />
rehabilitation short, filmed by students in<br />
UCLA's motion picture department, was supplied<br />
by William Holden, a World War II<br />
veteran. The subject, a noncommercial educational<br />
project, will be shown in colleges<br />
and universities where many GIs are enrolled.<br />
Taking part in "covered wagon" celebrtions<br />
which are keynoting the U.S. Ti-easury's<br />
"Spii'it of '49" bond-selling campaign, Dane<br />
Clark, Wayne Morris and Peter Lawford<br />
planed for New Orleans, Atlanta and Cleveland,<br />
respectively, to star in rallies. Meantime,<br />
Red Skelton. Lizabeth Scott and Paul<br />
Lukas helped launch a "covered wagon" tour<br />
at Independence, Mo., and appeared at a<br />
bond rally in Kansas City.<br />
Cry Room for Majestic<br />
DALLAS, ORE.—Manager Don Wernli has<br />
announced a cry room has been built in the<br />
balcony of the Majestic. Norman Gatz did<br />
the work.<br />
UJW Theatres Division<br />
Pledges Up 20 Per Cent<br />
HOLL"YWOOD—Representing an increase<br />
of 20 per cent over the figures for 1948, the<br />
theatres and exchanges division of the United<br />
Jewish Welfare fund at a dinner meeting at<br />
the Ambassador hotel raised $112,300 in<br />
pledges to the campaign. The dinner was<br />
given in honor of Si Fabian, national chairman<br />
of the motion picture division of the<br />
United Jewish Appeal. His hosts included<br />
Jack L. Warner, Charles P. Skouras, Mack<br />
Sennett, Harry Popkin, Henry Ginsberg, Sid<br />
Grauman, Mike Rosenberg, Sherrill Corwin<br />
and Max and Kurt Laemmle.<br />
MGM to Handle 'Pandora'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — "Pandora and the Flying<br />
Dutchman," which will be produced independently<br />
by Al Lewln, veteran filmmaker<br />
and MGM executive, will be distributed under<br />
the MGM banner. Lewin some time ago<br />
secured a leave of absence from his studio<br />
berth in order to turn out the vehicle, based<br />
on his own original. James Mason and Ava<br />
Gardner have been set for the costan-ing<br />
roles.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:: May 28, 1949
sd(McC(M<br />
^cfront<br />
By JOHN SULLIVAN<br />
nNATOLE LITVAK'S production "The<br />
Snake Pit" opened in London last week<br />
to the biggest press accorded to any picture-<br />
British or American— for many years. Almost<br />
without exception the national newspapers<br />
treated the film as a top news story and all<br />
agreed as to its value and sincerity, while<br />
stressing that it was a subject only for those<br />
with strong nerves.<br />
In a banner headline Leonard Moseley of<br />
the Daily Express asks, "This Terrible Film-<br />
Why Was It Made?" and goes on to answer<br />
his own question by saying: "It will change<br />
your pity and horror of madne.ss into new<br />
sympathy and understanding. It holds out<br />
hope that diseases of the mind can be cured."<br />
With the publicity given to the picture it is<br />
almost certain to do standing room only busine.ss<br />
during its run at the Odeon, Marble<br />
Arch, one of London's biggest cinemas. On<br />
the day the film opened, although it was .set<br />
for an 8 o'clock premiere, waiting lines formed<br />
at two in the afternoon and the cinema reports<br />
the biggest advance bookings since the<br />
house was opened, bigger even than "The<br />
Best Years of Our Lives."<br />
Although "The Snake Pit" will run at the<br />
Odeon for as long as it will hold up, no circuit<br />
deal has yet been fixed as undoubtedly<br />
the circuit bookers want to gauge public<br />
reaction to the picture before committing<br />
themselves to a 300-theatre deal.<br />
* » *<br />
FOR SOME MONTHS PAST production at<br />
the Shepperton and Isleworth studios of Sir<br />
Alexander Korda has been merely ticking<br />
over. Apart from the Carol Reed picture,<br />
"The Third Man." which .stars Joseph Cotten,<br />
Orson Welles, Trevor Howard and Valli.<br />
the other films in production there have been<br />
modest. Now, however, following the wholesale<br />
dismissals of staff and internal reorganization<br />
Sir Alex seems set to start work again<br />
on the kind of lavish pictures for which he<br />
is famous.<br />
Starting on June 2 with Frank Launder<br />
producing and Sidney Gilliat directing is a<br />
comedy-thriller titled "State Secret," for<br />
which Douglas Fairbanks jr. has been signed<br />
to star. Launder will follow this with a film<br />
version of a successful play called "The Happiest<br />
Days of Your Life." Apart from this<br />
Korda has lined up for production a very<br />
ambitious composite picture about the great<br />
exhibition of 1851. which is timed to tie in<br />
with the Festival of Britain of 1951, the idea<br />
being to have the picture ready just before<br />
Christmas 1950 so that it will act as propaganda<br />
for the festival which opens here in<br />
the spring of the following year.<br />
As planned now the picture will be composed<br />
of several independent sequences with<br />
a linking narrative and these sequences will<br />
be directed by Michael Powell and Emeric<br />
Pressburger, Launder and Gilliat, and Reed<br />
with Sir Alex him.self as producer and all<br />
the stars on the Korda payroll included in<br />
the film.<br />
« * *<br />
IN LONDON NOW, preparing for the first<br />
RKO Radio-Walt Di.sney British production,<br />
"Treasure Island," are Perce Pearce. the producer,<br />
and Byron Haskin, the director. They<br />
are supervising the building of .sets at Denham,<br />
where the picture will be made and<br />
already has been to the coast to buy a ship<br />
which will be converted into a brigantine.<br />
Apart from Bobbie Driscoll who will play<br />
the part of the boy in this famous classic<br />
of Robert Louis Stevenson, the only othel<br />
casting to date is that of Robert Newton<br />
in the role<br />
of Long John Silver.<br />
«: *<br />
INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS of Great<br />
Britain are worried as to the effect that the<br />
proposed agreement between the British Film<br />
Producers Ass'n and the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America might have on them if it<br />
is concluded when the British and American<br />
film chiefs meet again on June 2.<br />
The British Independent Film Producers<br />
Ass'n has called a general meeting to di.scuss<br />
the whole situation because they fear that<br />
the agreement may mean a complete freezeout<br />
of their product from British or American<br />
screen time.<br />
GUESTS FROM ENGLAND—Three visitors from Britain were luncheon guests<br />
of Jack L. Warner, production chief at Warner Bros., during a recent Hollywood visit.<br />
Shown here, left to right: Michael Wilding, English film star: Warner; Robert Clark,<br />
production head of Associated British Pictures Corp., and Herbert Wilcox, English film<br />
producer.<br />
LAS VEGAS EXinBITOR HOST—Tom<br />
Oakey, owner of the Fremont Theatre, Las<br />
Vegas, is shown here conferring with Al<br />
Horwits, studio publicity director for U-I.<br />
The Fremont Wij-s the scene of a special<br />
press preview of "The Lady Gambles."<br />
Much of the picture was shot in Las<br />
Vegas.<br />
It seems more likely, however, that whatever<br />
arrangements the big three in British<br />
production come to with the American industry,<br />
they will, in futiu'e. offer studio<br />
facilities to independents instead of backing<br />
productions with their own finance. This<br />
trend is clearly to be seen at Rank's Denham<br />
studios, where several independent producers<br />
are due in within the next month to make<br />
pictures for Rank distribution.<br />
* * *<br />
ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN by the<br />
Cinema Exhibitors' Ass'n to di.scourage the<br />
showing in England of old films which show<br />
topline Hollywood stars when they were bit<br />
players. Ronald Haines, an independent producer,<br />
bought the British rights of two second<br />
features "Hollywood Bound" with Betty<br />
Grable and "Stairway to a Star" with Cornel<br />
Wilde, both of which are made up of sequences<br />
from very old films. The CEA, in a<br />
circular to members advising not to book<br />
either picture, points out that many patrons<br />
might mistakenly be brought into the<br />
cinema thinking that they were to see a<br />
new Grable or Wilde picture and be disappointed<br />
when they found that was not the<br />
case. If this custom becomes widespread, they<br />
say. quite justifiably, that it will reflect badly<br />
on the industry.<br />
* *<br />
MENTION WAS MADE recently in this<br />
column about the remarkable business that<br />
Ealing's comedy, "Passport to Pimlico." has<br />
been doing at the Gaumont, Haymarket, and<br />
the Marble Arch Pavilion. Now comes a note<br />
from Ealing .studios to say that at the latter<br />
theatre it has taken more money than any<br />
other film since the house was opened in<br />
1914.<br />
Critics of Rank's booking policy have always<br />
maintained that it is a bad system to give<br />
all pictures the same run in the west end,<br />
whether they are doing good, medium or bad<br />
business and it does seem foolish that with<br />
these records being set the picture should<br />
now be withdrawn.<br />
Due for release on June 6, it will, however,<br />
play two large second-run west end houses,<br />
the Odeon, Tottenham Court road, and the<br />
Metropole, Victoria, for a week before going<br />
into its London release.<br />
BOXOFFICE :; May 28, 1949 W 47
WNTERESTING and significant<br />
beyond its<br />
newsworthiness is the announcement that<br />
Warner Bros, has signed Comedian Milton<br />
Berle to a film contract calling for him to<br />
star in at least one feature, with options for<br />
additional pictures. Berle's first for the outfit,<br />
to be made this summer, will be "Always<br />
Leave Them Laughing," the productional<br />
chore on which has been assigned to Jerry<br />
Wald.<br />
Reportedly Warners bagged Berle after<br />
winning a heated race with several other<br />
film-making outfits that also were bidding<br />
to sign the actor to a picture pact.<br />
And thus is launched the first experiment<br />
to determine whether or not the rapidly growing<br />
television field will be fertUe and profitable<br />
recruiting ground for motion picture<br />
talent.<br />
In which connection, industry railbirds are<br />
advancing two opinions, the usual pro and<br />
con, of course.<br />
The doubters hold that it is the same<br />
Milton Berle who had a try at screen acting<br />
throughout the early •40s when he was featured<br />
in nearly a dozen pictures (RKO Radio<br />
and 20th Century-Fox) and who subsequently<br />
departed Hollywood because there was no<br />
longer a call for his services before its<br />
cameras and presumably because the magi<br />
of production doubted his worth as a boxoffice<br />
draw. These skeptics point out, further,<br />
that the raiding of radio—when that medium<br />
of entertainment was at its zenith—for names<br />
that were top-drawer therein brought many<br />
an ambitious picture-making venture to an<br />
unhappy and unprofitable fate. Examples:<br />
Lum and Abner, Bums and Allen, Fred Allen,<br />
Henry Morgan, Jack Benny, Fibber Mc-<br />
Gee and Molly, etc., ad infinitum. The unbelievers<br />
argue also that such successful ones<br />
as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Red Skelton<br />
are the exceptions that prove the rule, that<br />
they always have been just as much a part<br />
of the screen as of the airways, sort of<br />
chlcken-or-egg-came-first personalities whose<br />
popularity as film stars made them ether<br />
topliners rather than vice versa.<br />
Furthermore, the diehards contend, an<br />
analysis of the records down through the<br />
years establishes beyond argument that a<br />
dominant percentage of film luminaries who<br />
always have been and still are reliable marquee<br />
magic are the personalities who were<br />
discovered and developed for the screen; that<br />
theft- composite position as concerns both<br />
popularity and the profits from their pictui-es<br />
rarely has been seriously challenged by imports<br />
from other media—stage, radio, opera,<br />
sports or what have you?<br />
There is no reason to think, the doubting<br />
Thomases say, that television will be any different:<br />
and they submit additionally that<br />
turning to teevee for names, most especially<br />
names that earlier had established their ineffectualness<br />
in films, is a grasping-at-straws<br />
gesture. It is, they opine, a departure from<br />
the fundamental, solid-showmanship practices<br />
which have made motion pictures<br />
history's alltime most popular source of mass<br />
entertainment and can keep them in that<br />
position if wisely and unwaveringly pursued.<br />
On the pro side, the briefs are weighted<br />
with comparably obvious items. There it is<br />
argued that video definitely is different because<br />
its visual factor makes it more closely<br />
related to films than is any other instrument<br />
of show business: that there is bound to be<br />
a strong liaison between the two: and that<br />
an interchange of talent is miavoidable and<br />
will work for the best interests of both.<br />
Such being the case, the advocates maintain,<br />
Berle is the hottest thing in today's entertainment<br />
world because he is undisputedly<br />
the most popular personage on television and<br />
because of the widespread publicity he currently<br />
and resultantly is being accorded^<br />
as highlighted by the liberal space recently<br />
devoted to him by such publications as Time<br />
and Newsweek.<br />
How, then, they ask, can a picture staiTing<br />
him be anything but a smash hit?<br />
Time and the turnstile reports on the<br />
Warners' first Berle starrer will determine<br />
which school of thought is right.<br />
In the meantime, the industry must admire<br />
and thank the Burbank brass for supplying<br />
the fortitude, the laboratory and the considerable<br />
wherewithal to dissect the motion<br />
picture-television guinea pig— and none will<br />
gainsay that they bought the best specimen<br />
the market could provide.<br />
Hollywood's public relations doghouse<br />
never known to want for tenants—currently<br />
seems to be sporting a "For Ladies Only" sign.<br />
There's the deplorable and costly situation at<br />
mighty Metro, where production on "Annie<br />
Get Your Gun" had to be stopped because<br />
studio executives found it necessary to<br />
suspend Judy Garland when she failed to<br />
show up for work one morning, and for hinted<br />
reasons which gave the gossip columnists a<br />
field day. Witness, too, another suspendee,<br />
Rita Hayworth, and her pre-marital adventures<br />
with Aly Khan. And—the topper—the<br />
space devoted to Ingrid Bergman, heretofore<br />
assumed to be the epitome of filmdom's<br />
gentility and conventionality, and the reports<br />
that she will divorce her husband and marry<br />
her Italian producer, Roberto Rossellini.<br />
Come, boys—you Mitchums, Flynns and<br />
Tierneys—are you going to stand idly by and<br />
allow the weaker sex to steal your show?<br />
"Johnny Holiday" iR. W. Alcorn Productions).<br />
"Johnny Allegro" (Columbia).<br />
"Johnny Belinda" i Warners).<br />
"John Loves Mary" (Warners).<br />
And, a few years ago, "Johnny Eager"<br />
(MGM).<br />
Wonder what ever became of Manny, Moe<br />
and Jack?<br />
MGM Compiles Best<br />
Scenes of 25 Years<br />
HOLLYWOOD—"Some of the Best," a<br />
four-reeler commemorating MGM's silver anniversary,<br />
has been completed under supervision<br />
of Frank Whitbeck. studio advertising<br />
executive, and will have its initial screening<br />
at the June 1 western premiere of "The<br />
Stratton Story" at the Egyptian Theatre<br />
here.<br />
Narrated by Lionel Barrymore. "Some of<br />
the Best" is a compilation of clips from the<br />
25 pictures considered the studio's best, each<br />
year, for the past quarter-century. The subject<br />
was prepared primarily for exhibition to<br />
newspaper editors, drama critics, educational<br />
groups and similar organizations. It was compiled<br />
by Herman Hoffman and edited by<br />
Laurie Vejar.<br />
Scenes therein are from 'The Big Parade,"<br />
1924: "The Merry Widow," 1925: "Flesh and<br />
the Devil," 1926: "Ben-Hur," 1927; "Tell It<br />
to the Marines," 1928; "Broadway Melody,"<br />
1929; "Min and Bill," 1930; "Ti-ader Horn,"<br />
1931; "Grand Hotel," 1932; "Tugboat Annie,"<br />
1933: "Dinner at Eight," 1934; "Mutiny on<br />
the Bounty," 1935; "San Francisco," 1936:<br />
"The Good Earth," 1937; "Boys Town," 1938;<br />
"The Wizard of Oz," 1939; "Boom Town,"<br />
1940: "The Philadelphia Story" 1941; "Mrs.<br />
Miniver," 1942; "Random Harvest," 1943;<br />
"National Velvet," 1944; "Met Me in St.<br />
Louis," 1945; "The Green Years," 1946; "The<br />
Yearling," 1947; and "Easter Parade," 1948.<br />
Charles R. Metzger Dies;<br />
Production Code Official<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Funeral services were to<br />
be held May 28 in Indianapolis for Charles<br />
R. Metzger, 55, member of the staff of the<br />
<strong>MPAA</strong>'s production code administration, who<br />
died at the Wilson sanitarium here May 23.<br />
Metzger had been ill more than a year, following<br />
a stroke.<br />
A former Indiana educator and lawyer, he<br />
joined the production code in 1935 under the<br />
Will Hays regime. Previously he had served<br />
as counsel and director for the Associated<br />
Theatre Owners of Indiana and as director of<br />
Allied States Ass'n of Motion Picture Exhibitors.<br />
Metzger is survived by his mother and<br />
three daughters.<br />
To Law Officers Session<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A group of film luminaries<br />
will make personal appearances June 2 at<br />
the Long Beach auditorium to highlight a<br />
session of the Pacific Coast International<br />
Ass'n of Law Enforcement Officials. Scheduled<br />
for the turn are Mickey Rooney, Jimmy<br />
Durante, Jane Powell, Dan Dailey, George<br />
Murphy, Keenan Wynn, Betty Garrett, Marina<br />
Koshetz, Andre Previn, Marcia Van<br />
Dyke and Rafael Mendez.<br />
'Quo Vadis' Data to UCLA<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Being presented to UCLA<br />
by MGM for permanent exhibit in the university<br />
library is a 3,000-page document on<br />
the life and customs of early Rome. The material,<br />
assembled as the result of a year's<br />
work, was garnered by the studio's research<br />
department in connection with the forthcoming<br />
production of "Quo Vadis."<br />
48 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
'Belvedere' Continues at High Mark<br />
On Holdover Weeks in Five Cities<br />
LOS ANGELES—First run patrons placed<br />
most of their admission chips on "The Lady<br />
Gambles" in its initial week. In second<br />
spot was a dualer. "The Window" and "A<br />
Woman's Secret." while show money went to<br />
another double-header, "The Streets of Laredo"<br />
and "The Streets of San Francisco."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Belmont, Carthay Circle, Culver, Orpheum,<br />
Vogue—The Fan (20lh-Fox); Fighting FooU<br />
(Mono) 90<br />
Chinese, Stole, 'Uptown, Loyola- Mr. Belvedere<br />
Goes to College (20th-Fox), Arctic Fury (SR).<br />
3rd wk 100<br />
Downtown, Hollywood Paramounts Streets of<br />
Laredo (Para); Streets oi San Francisco (Rep) .-.izO<br />
Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire Take Me Out<br />
to the Ball Game (MGM), 2nd wk 12b<br />
Fine Arts—The Red Shoes, (EL), 21st wk 90<br />
Four Music Halls—Champion (UA), 4th wk 8b<br />
Four Star—Pygmalion (MGM), reissue, 2nd wk....lOU<br />
Guild, Iris, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists—<br />
The Lady Gambles; (U-I); Enchanted Valley<br />
(EL) 130<br />
Pantages, Hillstreel—The Window (RKO); A<br />
Woman's Secret (RKO) 12b<br />
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern Casabianco<br />
(WB), G-Men (WB), reissues 95<br />
'Barkleys' Gross 150 Per Cent<br />
For Portland High<br />
PORTLAND—It was a fair week at all<br />
downtown houses with "The Barkleys of<br />
Broadway" leading the field at 150 per cent<br />
at the United Artists. In nimiber two spot,<br />
at 145 per cent at the Broadway, was "Family<br />
HonejTnoon" and "Rose of the Yukon."<br />
Holdovers were steady.<br />
Broadway Family Honeymoon (U-I); Rose oi<br />
the Yukon (Rep) 145<br />
Guild—The Red Shoes (EL), roadshow 5th<br />
d. 1. wk 130<br />
Maylair Winner Take All (Mono); Force oi Evil<br />
(MGM) 80<br />
Music Box Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
(20th-Fox); Let Live a Utile (KL), 3rd d t, wk .120<br />
Oriental and Orpheum Tulsa (U-I), Bad Men<br />
of Tombstone (Mono) .- 120<br />
Paramount Bride oi Vengeance (Para); The<br />
Mutineers (Col)<br />
...125<br />
Playliouse Flamingo Road (WB); Kiss in the<br />
Dark (WB), 2nd d t wk<br />
....lib<br />
United Artists The Barkleys oi Broadway<br />
(MGM) 150<br />
'Belvedere' Tops With 175<br />
In Fourth Seattle Week<br />
SEATTLE—The thousands who didn't attend<br />
the baseball games or "Ice Follies,"<br />
headed for the outdoors during the week as<br />
summer sun melted grosses. "Flaniingo Road"<br />
got off to a 115 start at the Orpheum to top<br />
the newcomers.<br />
Blue Mouse—The Life of Riley (U-I); State Department,<br />
File 649 (FC), 3rd d. 1. wk., 4 days 50<br />
Coliseum City Across the River (U-I); Rimiire<br />
(SG) 100<br />
Fiith Avenue—Portrait of Jennie (SRO) 50<br />
Liberty Alias Nick Beal (Para); Sky Dragon<br />
(Mono) 70<br />
Music Box My Dream Is Yours (WB) The Lucky<br />
Stiff (WB), 3rd d. t. wk 90<br />
Music Hall—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20lh-<br />
Fox); I Cheated the Law (20lh-Fox), 4th wk 175<br />
Orpheum Flamingo Road (WB); Badmen of Tombstone<br />
(Mono) 115<br />
Paramount Adventure in Baltimore (RKO); Fighting<br />
Fools (Mono), 4 days 40<br />
'Window' Zooms to 175<br />
As Frisco Top<br />
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden Gate<br />
opened the way with "The Window" to win<br />
first spot honors with a loud 175 barometer<br />
reading. Second honors went to two theatres,<br />
the Esquire and the United Artists, both<br />
opening with "Champion" at 150.<br />
Esquire and United Artists ^Champion (UA)... .150<br />
Fox—Tulsa (EL); Angel in Exile (Rep), 2nd wk 110<br />
Golden Gate—The Window (RKO); A Woman's<br />
Secret (RKO) 175<br />
Orpheum—We Were Strangers (Col); Make<br />
Believe Ballroom (Col), 2nd wk 125<br />
Paramount—My Dream Is Yours (WB); Arson. Inc.<br />
(SG), 5 days oi 2nd wk 90<br />
St Francis Bride of Vengeance (Para) 130<br />
Slate—The Raven (U-1); Murders in the Rue<br />
Morgue (U-1), reissues... _ „<br />
United Naljons—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
(20th-Fox) The Last Bandit (Kep), 5lh wk 120<br />
Worlield—Big lack (MGM); The Duke oi Chicago<br />
(Hop) '00<br />
.<br />
'Belvedere' Fourth Week<br />
Grosses 250 in Denver<br />
Belvedere Goes to College"<br />
DENVER—"Mi-.<br />
continued strong at the Denham, raking down<br />
a nice 250 per cent. "Flamingo Road" opened<br />
with 150 per cent and "Streets of Laredo"<br />
grossed 130 per cent.<br />
Aladdin—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th-<br />
Fox); Strike It Rich (Mono), 4th d. t. wk 2b0<br />
Broadway— Criss Cross (U-1) jOU<br />
Denham—Streets of Laredo (Para) UU<br />
Denver, Rialto, E;5quire. Webber—Flamingo<br />
Road (WB); State Department, File 649 (FC) IbU<br />
.<br />
Orpheum—Adventure in Baltimore (RKO); Clay<br />
Pigeon (RKO) ^-.... , 9°<br />
^.<br />
Paramount—The Dark Past (Col); Jungle Jim<br />
(Col)<br />
Vogue Jenny Lamour (Vog)<br />
100<br />
65<br />
Staffs From 6 Exchanges<br />
At Los Angeles Parley<br />
LOS ANGELES—In addition to George<br />
A. Smith, Paramount west coast division<br />
sales<br />
manager, who was host at a three-day<br />
sales meeting here for the company's six<br />
western branches, exchange personnel in attendance<br />
included:<br />
Seattle—Henry W. Haustein, manager:<br />
David Dunkle, Ralph Hayden, Larry PuUs<br />
and John Kent, salesmen.<br />
San Francisco—H. Neal East, manager:<br />
Ward Pennington, Edward Canty, Milton Anderson,<br />
King Tiimble, James French and<br />
Jack Stevenson, salesmen.<br />
Salt Lake City—Frank H. Smith, Warren<br />
Foster, B. R. 'Turgeon, Harry Swonson, Conrad<br />
F. Rose, Gene Jones and Carl Lind.<br />
Denver—Cornell J. Duer, James R. Ricketts,<br />
Tillie Chalk, John Vos, Jack R. Felix, Paul<br />
E. Allmeyer and Robert Quinn.<br />
Portland—Wayne Thiriot, L. A. Hummell<br />
jr., Glenn Broggen and Prank J. Doty.<br />
Los Angeles—A, R. Taylor, Harland Brunt,<br />
Gene Beuerman, Ken Derby, Earl Stein,<br />
Henry Davis, Robert Clark and Robert Blair.<br />
Protest Tucson Drive-In<br />
TUCSON, ARIZ.—Approximately 175 residents<br />
of the area surrounding the Broadway-<br />
Tucson boulevard intersection attended a<br />
mass meeting last week to protest the proposed<br />
construction of a drive-in by Broadway<br />
Theatres, Inc., on Tucson boulevard near<br />
Broadway. The chairman of a protest committee<br />
said 450 names have been signed to<br />
agreements against the ozoner on the grounds<br />
that it would be a detriment to the community.<br />
New Plymouth Airer Sold<br />
NEW PLYMOUTH, IDA. — Two Emmett<br />
theatremen. Rex Voeller and J. B. Giezentanner,<br />
are the new owners of the K&K<br />
Drive-In. Purchase arrangements were made<br />
with L. A. Knowles, representing K&K Corp.<br />
Voeller owns the Gem Aircraft Co. at Emmett<br />
and Giezentanner is owner-manager of the<br />
Ideal Theatre at Emmett.<br />
Tax Suit Settlement<br />
Refused by Stockton<br />
STOCKTON, CALIF.—The city council here<br />
turned down an offer to settle its suit over<br />
the legality of the city amusement tax for<br />
approximately $125,000. Fox West Coast Theatres,<br />
against whom the suit is directed, offered<br />
in a letter to the council to waive any<br />
right to the taxes already collected providing<br />
the city drop its action and give up the<br />
amusement tax.<br />
The money is set aside in the city treasury<br />
awaiting court decision on legality of the<br />
tax, which has been paid under protest since<br />
November 1947. If the city wins the suit, the<br />
council says the money will go to construct<br />
a golf course. If the theatres win the suit,<br />
the money will be returned to the patrons<br />
who have kept refund stubs and the remainder<br />
of the funds will go to a worthy cause.<br />
Cantin & Cantin, Architects for Studio<br />
SAN JOSE—Cantin & Cantin of San<br />
Francisco are the architects for the new<br />
Lawrence Borg Studio theatre now under<br />
construction here. The 1,000 seat house is of<br />
stadium type.<br />
11^<br />
M. M. MESHER— District Manager,<br />
Hamrick-Evergreen Theatres,<br />
Portland, Oregon—says:<br />
"RCA Service is dependable<br />
and we have found it to be<br />
most valuable for the excellent<br />
operation we always<br />
strive to maintain."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Adv.<br />
We<br />
have the<br />
for<br />
YOUR<br />
Count on lu for Quick Actionl | n E#% I Kb<br />
^j§) PkM* Our widft contacts wilh the exhibilora ^<br />
CSL BKoa4w«T OSU aisure you oI KolisfdCtorY mulls. ^H<br />
THEATRE EXCHANGECO.J<br />
201 Fine Arts BIdg. Portland 5, Ortjon<br />
NEO-SEAL BURIAL WIRE<br />
10-2 — 12-2 — 14-2<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
''lt%T'<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
49
. . . Staurat<br />
. . Frank<br />
. . Victor<br />
. . Newly<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
. . .<br />
n permit calling for construction of a $69,000<br />
Sacramento civic repertory theatre has<br />
issued by the city building inspector . . .<br />
been<br />
Jack Keegan, manager of the Nevada City<br />
theatre, says the house may be reopened<br />
early in July after a remodeling. Keegan<br />
says the theatre will seat 650 persons. A<br />
name for the theatre has not been selected<br />
Manager Joseph Novitzky of the Motor<br />
Movies in El Cerrito reports the theatre,<br />
which opened October 29. has always completed<br />
at least one full show even in the<br />
worst weather.<br />
The benefit opening May 26 of the El<br />
Rancho Drive-In will go to the Building for<br />
Youth fund. Children under 10 will be admitted<br />
free . . . The Santa Cruz Theatre will<br />
hold open house every day from 12:30 to 1:30<br />
for patrons to hear organ concerts. Manager<br />
M. A. Smith urged citizens to take advantage<br />
of the recitals. The program will be aired<br />
over the local radio station.<br />
A six-act special vaudeville program was<br />
given by Robert Retzer, manager of the<br />
Sanger and Royal theatres in Sanger at the<br />
gala reopening of ihe Sanger, following its<br />
$20,000 remodeling and expansion program<br />
Fletcher and Alex Balennasi<br />
have taken an option on 14 acres of land<br />
at Gilroy, where they plan to build a 400-car<br />
drive-in costing $100,000. According to present<br />
plans, the drive-in will be known as the<br />
Hecker Pass Drive-In.<br />
Tlie suit brought by the Rio Theatre in<br />
Richmond against the projectionists union<br />
and officers of the Central Labor council to<br />
restrain picketing was laid over until June<br />
. . . Steps toward cooperative understanding<br />
between parents and theatre managers were<br />
taken when 50 charter members of the<br />
Berkeley Motion Picture Council were luncheon<br />
guests of the Pox West Coast and Blumenfeld<br />
Theatres at the Shattuck hotel. Fox<br />
West Coast Theatres were represented by<br />
Try Us and You1l Agree<br />
FILMACK<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Are "Best By Test . . .<br />
Quicker than the Restr<br />
CHICAGO -1327<br />
NEW YORK -<br />
Super Popcorn<br />
Machines<br />
ONLY ONE IS<br />
S.Wabash.<br />
619 W 54th St.<br />
FIRST<br />
Seasoning<br />
Salt<br />
Bags .. Cartons<br />
Kenneth Workman and Blumenleld Theatres<br />
by A. A. Erickson.<br />
Herman Kersken, district manager for Fox<br />
West Coast, and Spencer Love, acting division<br />
manager, named Jack McDougall. veteran of<br />
20 years with FWC. as new manager of the<br />
Oakland, replacing the late Robert Catley.<br />
Robert M. Apple is the new manager of the<br />
Grand Lake, being transferred from the Senator.<br />
He succeeds Frank Jenkins, who resigned<br />
to go to Los Angeles. A. R. Hansen,<br />
former assistant manager of the Fox, replaces<br />
Apple as manager of the Senator.<br />
Gordon Allen is recovering in good order<br />
and has visited his drive-in twice since his<br />
illness . . . Henry Herbel. Warner Bros, district<br />
manager, was in town for a few days.<br />
Also, Sam Shapin, WB auditor . . . Naomi<br />
Goldstein, WB percentage clerk, is vacationing<br />
and toming Reno and Los Airgeles,<br />
where she visited WB studios ... Ed Rowden<br />
Theatre Service is doing the buying and<br />
booking for the Crest Theatre in Daly City.<br />
Rowden Service, in addition to booking and<br />
buying for Tom Lucas Brockway at Kings<br />
Beach, is now handling the Tahoe Theatre<br />
at Kings Beach, owned by Vern Shattuck.<br />
Will Zoellner, head of the short subject division<br />
for MGM, was visiting the local exchange<br />
on his visit from New York . . . The<br />
Variety Club honored Rotus Harvey, general<br />
chairman of the Variety Club convention,<br />
with a testimonial dinner . Maun,<br />
Lyric, MarysviUe, and drive-in, Yuba City,<br />
was in town.<br />
Sonney's Pictm-es opened a local office at<br />
149 Hyde St. . . . Paul Perez, publicist with<br />
Eagle Lion, was here for the opening of "The<br />
Red Shoes" at the Stage Door Theatre. If<br />
the preview audience is any judge of the reception<br />
the film will have, "The Red Shoes"<br />
should be at the Stage Door for many weeks.<br />
The new Tower Theatre in Willows opened<br />
May 25, says Manager Mario Menconito . . .<br />
The management of the Los Gatos Theatre<br />
ran a ballot in a local paper with a list<br />
. . . Tlie Vogue Theatre<br />
of foreign films asking patrons to mark the<br />
pictures they desired to see. The requests<br />
were so great that the theatre booked four<br />
of the foreign films for each Wednesday and<br />
Thursday in May<br />
here has instituted a .policy of foreign films<br />
two nights a week. The rest of the time the<br />
usual product will be screened.<br />
Jack Carson and Horace Heidt were among<br />
the visitors to San Francisco . Mc-<br />
Laglen and his wife spent a week in Walnut<br />
Creek, visiting Mrs. McLaglen's daughter . . .<br />
Walter Preddey of Pi-eddey Supply house<br />
is touring Europe with his wife . . . The<br />
Preddey spring '49 edition of the directory<br />
is out . . . Another salesman for Screen<br />
Guild here is Ralph Dostal, well known on<br />
Filmrow and in theatre cu-cles . . . Among<br />
the Paramount localites who went south for<br />
the Paramount convention in Los Angeles<br />
were H. Neal East, branch manager, and<br />
salesmen Ward Pennington, Jack Stevenson<br />
and Jim French.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
T^eath claimed two veterans of the southern<br />
Californai exhibition field with the passing<br />
of M. A. Kui-stin. 65, and George Bourke.<br />
Km'stin operated the Boulevard in East Los<br />
Angeles and the Ritz in Inglewood. A Los<br />
Angeles resident since 1922, Km-stin is survived<br />
by a wife, a son Sidney and two daughters.<br />
Bourke was a partner with Fox West<br />
Coast in the operation of the Nuart, Bundy<br />
and Tivoli in West Los Angeles. A veteran<br />
of more than 30 years in the business as a<br />
salesman, branch manager and theatre owner.<br />
Bourke is sui'vived by two sons and a daughter.<br />
. . . Mr.<br />
MGM added two new salesmen, Phillip<br />
E. Rees and Stewart Engebretson<br />
and Mrs. Roy Dickson of Cooperative Theatres<br />
celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary<br />
. . . C. T. Charack of Eagle Lion said<br />
pooh to superstition and yes to Estelle Page<br />
in a wedding ceremony at the Flamingo hotel<br />
in Las Vegas on Pi'iday, May 13.<br />
Herb Goldberg resigned as an Eagle Lion<br />
salesman to take over as manager of Sid<br />
Kurstin's Boulevard Theatre. Alex Cooperman.<br />
EL office manager, has assumed part<br />
of Goldberg's chores ... In town for circuit<br />
conferences was Harry Denny. San Bernardiiao<br />
city manager for Fox West Coast. Making<br />
the trek with him were Paul Brown,<br />
manager of the West Coast Theatre in San<br />
Bernardino, and Bill Hallet, who manages<br />
the Loma in Redlands.<br />
Eagle Lion vacationers include Bee Morse,<br />
contract clerk, who planes to Pittsburgh June<br />
30, and Jeanette Nadler. booker's stenographer<br />
. elected officers of the<br />
Paramount Pep club are Ernie Kilpatrick.<br />
president: Gene Agee, vice-president; Dorothy<br />
Pluemacher, secretary: Betty Negrln,<br />
treasurer, and Jety Curry and Betty DeBrown,<br />
welfare committee.<br />
. . Al<br />
A visitor at Republic was Ralph Carmichael,<br />
manager in San Fi-ancisco . . . "Hap"<br />
Simpson resigned as manager of the Tracy<br />
and Victor theatres in Long Beach .<br />
Hanson will start remodeling his Bellflower<br />
early next month, planning to spend about<br />
$150,000 on a new balcony, new front and<br />
tower, and increasing the seating capacity<br />
to 1,150.<br />
THEATRE /ALE/<br />
.ARAKELIAN<br />
25 TAVLOli<br />
Hi<br />
Pop Popcorn<br />
Concessions<br />
W. H. TURPIE<br />
Western Division Manager<br />
1914 S. Vermont Ave.. Los Angeles 7, Calif.<br />
Castle Rock Repainted<br />
CASTLE ROCK, WASH.—The Castle Rock<br />
has been closed temporarily for repainting,<br />
both inside and out. Lyle Bowen is the<br />
manager.
. . Manager<br />
PORTLAND<br />
TSu'is Morgan was in town working on RKO'.^<br />
"Tarzan's Magic Fountain." The Mayfair<br />
is going to run a "muscle man" contest<br />
in conjunction with the picture, the winner<br />
to be called "Mr. Portland" or some such<br />
appropriate title . . . Roscoe Ates, who was<br />
with RKO three years, played at the Clover<br />
club. Ates says he may go back into pictures<br />
about the middle of June when he<br />
finishes moving his hoiusehold to California.<br />
. . .<br />
Monroe Carleson, booker at RKO, was a<br />
judge in the recent Miss Clark County contest<br />
in Vancouver, Wash. The Century<br />
has an addition to its marquee, making it<br />
readable from all angles . Archie<br />
Zerowski of Hamrick-Evergreen's Oriental<br />
Theatre says the student body of Lewis and<br />
Clark university has rented the theatre for<br />
a night to hold their variety show. The<br />
Oriental also will run a film for the students<br />
. . . Manager Herb Royster of the Mayfair<br />
reports "I Know My Love," with Lunt<br />
and Pontanne, broke all previous house records<br />
during its thiee-day run. All orchestra<br />
seats were sold out two weeks in advance<br />
and the whole house, including the one matinee,<br />
was gone six days before the opening.<br />
Lee and Agnes Frakes, circuit operators<br />
in eastern Washington and Idaho, were<br />
weekend guests. Mr.s. Frakes attended the<br />
convention of the Toastmistress club . .<br />
.<br />
Allen Burt, Theatre Exchange Co., a recent<br />
Sun Valley, Ida., visitor, has some excellent<br />
Colpixs of Sun Valley which may be seen<br />
on the Theatre Exchange Co. screen.<br />
Paramount Manager Prank Pratt and assistant<br />
Bert Gamble promoted Columbia's<br />
"We Were Strangers" with Arthur Murray<br />
instructors Betty Jefferies and Danny Kirk<br />
dancing in the lobby beside a board reading,<br />
"We were strangers until we learned to dance<br />
at Arthur Murray'.5." The stunt attracted a<br />
large crowd from the streets and paid off<br />
in word-of-mouth advertising. The couple<br />
also paraded up and down Broadway with a<br />
sandwich board attraction. "Make Believe<br />
Balh'oom," doubled with "We Were Strangers,"<br />
got a plug over station KWJJ. Bill<br />
For Quick
Balboa and Lido af Los Angeles<br />
Are Undergoing Renovation<br />
LOS ANGELES — A $12,000 redecoration<br />
and modernization is under way at the Balboa<br />
and Lido theatres here.<br />
Work on both houses<br />
is being carried on without interruption of<br />
the regular performances.<br />
The Balboa auditorium is being redecorated<br />
with new acoustic treatment, seat modernization,<br />
new carpeting, lighting, screen and<br />
soimd equipment. The Lido is getting an<br />
overhaul in its decorative scheme with new<br />
carpeting, drapes and complete painting of<br />
the exterior. A snacK bar and a new cooling<br />
and heating unit are also being installed.<br />
Dave Rector Starts Drive-In<br />
COMPTON, CALIF.—Construction has begun<br />
on the 1,200-car Compton Drlve-In here,<br />
to be operated by Dave Rector. A unique<br />
feature of the operation is that it will be a<br />
"double-header," comprising two units with<br />
screens back to back. Rector currently operates<br />
the Ebell in Long Beach and the Lennox,<br />
both conventional indoor houses.<br />
Bowling Alley Planned With Theatre<br />
ESPANOLA VALLEY, N. M.—The El Capitan<br />
is expected to open between June 15 and<br />
July 1, according to John Merhege who also<br />
announced a bowling alley will be constructed<br />
in the lot adjacent to the new theatre. Architectural<br />
plans have been drawn up to conform<br />
with those of the theatre, Merhege<br />
said, and the alleys will occupy a 50xl24-foot<br />
building. The eight-lane alley is expected to<br />
open July 1.<br />
Near Opening at RosTwell<br />
ROSWELL, N. M.—The drive-in under construction<br />
on Route 285, southeast of the city,<br />
is expected to be ready for opening around<br />
the middle of the month, according to Boyd<br />
Scott,<br />
local manager for Theatre Enterprises.<br />
Merrit Cass Awarded Contract<br />
POLSON, MONT.—Robert Hutchins, manager<br />
of the Lake, has announced Merrit Cass<br />
will be the general contractor for a new theatre<br />
to be built here. Poison Refrigeration &<br />
Electric Co. were also awarded a contract.<br />
Havre, Mont., Opening in June<br />
HAVRE, MONT.—A 400-car drive-in theatre<br />
being built near here by Emil Don-<br />
Tigny and Clarence Golder, operators of the<br />
Havre Theatre, is expected to be ready for<br />
opening about June 15. Expected to cost<br />
approximately $70,000, the open air theatre<br />
will have a 30x40-foot screen. Motiograph<br />
projection and sound equipment will be installed.<br />
Clairiield Builds in Hillsboro<br />
HILLSBORO, ORE.—Work has begun on a<br />
$100,000 drive-in on a 600x800 foot tract<br />
along the Bertha-Beaverton highway just<br />
east of the city limits by Clairfield, Inc. F.<br />
C. Scott, Portland contractor, is handling the<br />
grading and ramping. The 670-car ozoner<br />
was designed by Lathrop, Gillam and Percy,<br />
architect-engineers. Western Theatre Equipment<br />
Co. is furnishing the equipment.<br />
Finkbeiner's Drive-In Opens<br />
OTHELLO, WASH.—Finkbeiner's Outdoor<br />
Theatre has opened on the west edge of<br />
OtheUo near the rodeo grounds. A portable<br />
power plant is being used until the Washington<br />
Water Power Co. makes a hookup<br />
to the lines. The drive-in accommodates 58<br />
cars.<br />
Columbia Remodeled in St. Helens<br />
ST. HELENS, ORE.—A modernization and<br />
improvement program is cui'rently being done<br />
on the Columbia Theatre here. Owned by<br />
Albert and William Forman, the Columbia<br />
is operated by Clyde McCallum. A new marquee,<br />
new lighting and a new sign were installed.<br />
The interior of the theatre will be<br />
recai-peted.<br />
Contract Let for Sheridan Ozoner<br />
SHERIDAN, WYO.—Contract for construction<br />
of the buildings and towers for the<br />
Sheridan Drive-In Theatre, Inc., has been<br />
awarded to K. C. Bellows, local contractorengineer.<br />
Prefabricated timbers will be<br />
shipped from Oregon, assembled on the site<br />
and then raised to form the tower.<br />
Phoenix Group Suggests<br />
Three Location Sites<br />
PHOENIX—Three major productions<br />
may<br />
be filmed in Arizona as the result of recent<br />
overtures made to Hollywood by the Phoenix<br />
Chamber of Commerce. Letters sent by the<br />
chamber to thi-ee producers pointed up the<br />
advantages of authentic production if the<br />
films are made in the cactus state. Pictures<br />
in which the chamber is interested are:<br />
RKO's "Jet Pilot," a story of the air force<br />
jet plane training, which the chamber has<br />
suggested might well be filmed at Williams<br />
Air Force base near Chandler.<br />
"Tomahawk," a western to be produced by<br />
Universal-International.<br />
"The Baron of Arizona," the story of James<br />
Allison Reavis, who in 1887, by means of<br />
forged land grants, gamed title to almost half<br />
of Arizona. The production is being planned<br />
by Sammy Fuller, an independent producer,<br />
who has begun negotiations with 20th Century-Fox<br />
to borrow Victor Mature for the role<br />
of<br />
Reavis.<br />
Oakland Theatre Manager<br />
Is Killed Under Truck<br />
OAKLAND—Robert E. Catley, 61, manager<br />
of the Pox Oakland Theatre, ended his life<br />
early this month following a visit to his<br />
doctor where he complained he was "always<br />
tired." Catley lunged against a passing truck<br />
on Bradway near Golden Gate street here.<br />
Milton Rubino, driver of the truck, attempted<br />
to swerve to miss him, but Catley was found<br />
unconscious on the street when the truck<br />
stopped. He was taken to Permanente hospital,<br />
where he died.<br />
Legitimate Theatre lor Venice<br />
VENICE, CALIF.—New Horizons, a legitimate<br />
theatre founded here by New York<br />
drama authority Garrison P. Sherwood, is<br />
expected to be completed around July 27.<br />
The ultramodern theatre building will seat<br />
100 persons. Associated with Sherwood in<br />
the venture will be Morgan Farley, Bobb<br />
Nichols, Lynwood Howe, Jack Freeman and<br />
Joseph Wadling. Sherwood plans to operate<br />
on a year-around schedule producing 17 plays<br />
each year.<br />
Wives of San Francisco theatremen prepared elaborate gift Jerry Zigmond. Henry Lewicki, Sam Sobel, Ed Sunny, Morris Rosenboxes<br />
for all women who attended the recent 13th annual international<br />
convention of Variety Clubs there. Sho^vn in the accom-<br />
Daily, Jack Blumenfeld, Bernie Leven, Newton Jacobs, Jeanette<br />
berg, Ben Levin, Walter Chenowith, Hal Neides, Arthur linger. Ken<br />
panying picture, left to right, with contmittee chairman Herb Jack, Booker and Ralph Ryan. Jack and his women assistants are standing<br />
around a stack of prepared are Mesdames Sam Roth, Lou Ashe, Herb Jack, Harry Franklin,<br />
boxes.<br />
52 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . . Exhibitors<br />
. . . The<br />
. . Helen<br />
. . KRSC.<br />
. . How'ard<br />
. . Wilbur<br />
. . Seen<br />
SEATTLE<br />
T^wight Spracher, Rex Thompson and George<br />
Blair opened their new Rodeo Drive-In<br />
six miles from Bremerton May 26, but held<br />
.<br />
the formal launching May 28 with a big<br />
parade . Cantrell of the 20th-Fox<br />
office has returned from visiting relatives<br />
in Wichita. Kas. the city's only<br />
television station, has started broadcasting<br />
Pacific Coast League ba.seball games twice<br />
weekly.<br />
Gordon Leigh, who placed second in National<br />
Theatres' Talent Quest, was booked into<br />
the Orpheum for a week by Marvin Fox.<br />
manager . . . Tom and Marion Shearer attended<br />
an exhibitors' meeting in Gearhart,<br />
Ore.<br />
Al Fernandez will open his rebuilt Clallam<br />
Bay Theatre, destroyed by fire some months<br />
ago, about July 15 . . . Howie Odell. coach<br />
of the University of "Washington football<br />
team, and his staff, have looked at motion<br />
pictures of the team's 1948 games 1,650 times<br />
visiting Filmrow during the<br />
week included Ollie Hartman. Coulee Dam:<br />
E. S. Olson. Port Blakeley; A. C. Peechia.<br />
Eatonville: Mel Sohn, Bellevue; J. R. Kane,<br />
Tacoma, and "W. B. McDonald, Olympia.<br />
. . Chris<br />
Herbert Ebenstein, head of Northwest Automatic<br />
Candy Co., w^as here from California<br />
to visit with Ted Giubb, manager .<br />
Ca.sper, manager of the Coliseum, placed ten<br />
one-sheets in lobby panels and stills around<br />
the boxoffice windows to advance U-I's "City<br />
Across the River" . Doyle, northwest<br />
representative for David O. Selznick,<br />
Harry and<br />
was here from Portland . . .<br />
Ruby McDonald, exhibitors from Torrington.<br />
Wyo., vi.sited friends and relatives here.<br />
Merle Dyer has resigned as manager of the<br />
Music Box in Tacoma to devote his time to<br />
farming. He is succeeded by Cassius Smith<br />
Winter Garden, Sterling circuit's<br />
second run downtown house, has changed<br />
its name to the Garden after acquiring a<br />
new front and marquee . . . Jack Palmer of<br />
Enterprises has opened<br />
Northwest 'Theatrical<br />
an office at 1419 Second Ave. . . . John Bretz,<br />
manager of the D&R Theatre in Aberdeen,<br />
had the mayor and other dignitaries on .stage<br />
to help celebrate the house's .silver anniversary<br />
. . . A. M. Ahlskog, controller for<br />
Fox West Coast Theatres in Los Angeles<br />
and former treasurer for the Evergreen circuit<br />
here, came up to take his family south<br />
with him.<br />
Colorado Allied to Open<br />
Annual Parley June 8<br />
DENVER—Abram Myers and Trueman<br />
Rembusch. both of national Allied, will address<br />
the second annual convention of the<br />
Allied Rocky Mountain Theatres, to be held<br />
June 8. 9 in the Brown Palace hotel. Myers<br />
probably will talk on Supreme Court actions<br />
and divorcement, while Rembusch will go<br />
over the latest developments in television.<br />
The meeting.s, which will be on the open<br />
discussion plan, are open to all independent<br />
exhibitors, whether members of Allied or not.<br />
John Wolfbei-g. president of ARMIT. will<br />
preside.<br />
Entertainment for the women will be provided<br />
on the opening day in the form of a<br />
luncheon at Elitch amusement park and a<br />
tour of several old Denver mansions, conducted<br />
by Edith Eudora Kohl, a Denver<br />
Post staff writer. On the second day, the<br />
luncheon will be at the Brown Palace hotel<br />
for both men and women, and the meeting<br />
will clo.se with a dinner dance at the Park<br />
Lane hotel the night of the second day, A<br />
large registration is expected.<br />
Roxy in Buckeye, Ariz.,<br />
Is Robbed of $1,000<br />
BUCKE"ifE, ARIZ.—The Roxy Theatre here<br />
was robbed of more ihan $1,000 early Sunday<br />
by burglars who pried a front door off the<br />
theatre to gain entrance and then battered<br />
the door off the safe in the manager's office.<br />
The men used a crowbar and clawhammer<br />
in removing hinges li-om the safe, which was<br />
encased in a cement wall, and stole a roll of<br />
stamps and theatre tickets along with a large<br />
cash box. Also missing, according to theatre<br />
owner Wade Laudermilk. is a .38 caliber revolver<br />
which he kept in his desk.<br />
The office of Manager George Hamner was<br />
left in complete disarray.<br />
Laudermilk uses the local theatre as headquarters<br />
for his Arizona theatre chain, which<br />
includes houses in Gila Bend and Yarnell.<br />
Buy Buena Vista Theatre<br />
BUENA 'VISTA. COLO.—Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Chad DeCastro, formerly of Lusk. Wyo., have<br />
taken over the management of the Pine Theatre<br />
here. Now closed to permit redecorating<br />
and other improvements, and the installation<br />
of new carpeting and seating, the theatre<br />
will be reopened about June 1.<br />
DENVER<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
pobert Palrick. >iwner of the Navajo, and<br />
Carol Andrew, manager of the theatre,<br />
were married recently. They will make their<br />
home here Cox has sold<br />
Rudy<br />
the<br />
Prince. Ault, Colo., to Don Moore .<br />
Verzuh. who recently sold the Princess,<br />
Crested Butte. Colo., to his brother Martin,<br />
has taken over the Columbine hotel. Gunnison.<br />
Colo., and is remodeling it into a first<br />
cla.ss place. He invites all film salesmen and<br />
theatre friends to call on him in Gunnison.<br />
He says the fishing will be better than ever<br />
there this year.<br />
E. F. Stahl, owner of the Rialto. Melrose,<br />
N. M., was here with his wife and two daughters,<br />
who boarded a train to go east for a<br />
visit, making the trip as far as Washington<br />
and North Carolina. Stahl went back home<br />
to see that the theatre kept going . . . George<br />
Frantz. theatre construction engineer, is in<br />
Raton, N. M.. supervising the construction of<br />
a store building, being put up by Tom Murphy,<br />
who owns the two theatres there. The<br />
plans call for the use of the new building<br />
as a theatre later.<br />
Lloyd Kerby, owner of the Kerby. Worland.<br />
Wyo., has bought ten acres near town and will<br />
build a $75,000, 350-seat drive-in. equipped<br />
with Simplex booth, sound and in-car .speakers,<br />
all furnished by National Theatre Supply.<br />
Raleigh Messcrschmidt has sold the Kiowa,<br />
Kiowa. Colo., to W. V. Stapleton . . . L. J.<br />
Maginley of Prestige Pictures was here calling<br />
on circuit heads and conferring with<br />
Mayer Monsky. branch manager ... In connection<br />
with the hobby horse deal being promoted<br />
by Tom Bailey, one merchant in Rifle.<br />
Colo., has given away more than lO.OOO tickets,<br />
with the horse to be given away at the<br />
Ute. Fred Lind, theatre owner, is wondering<br />
how he is going to get them all in the theatre.<br />
Of course, most of the people have many<br />
tickets. The deal is going like mad in Meeker,<br />
Colo., also.<br />
. . .<br />
.<br />
Robert Patrick and Larry Sandler have split<br />
up their partnership and Patrick has taken<br />
the Navajo, while Sandler will operate the<br />
Alpine Earl Corder has improved his<br />
New Cody. Cody. Wyo.. with the installation<br />
of Simplex sound equipment, bought from<br />
National Theatre Supply on Filmrow<br />
were N. S. Sawaya and son John. Trinidad:<br />
E. P. Stahl, Melrose, N. M.: E. W. Savard,<br />
Greeley: C. G. Diller, Ouray: Elden Menagh,<br />
Port Lupton.<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 53
THE CHAMPS—A popcorn diet quite possibly was a contributing factor when<br />
the bowling team sponsored by W. H. Turpie, western division manager for Manley,<br />
Inc., won the southwest major league championship. Turpie is seated at his desk with<br />
the trophy. Members of the team, standing left to right: Max Gardens, operator of<br />
the Roslyn and Muse theatres; Paul Dunivan, Bob McLachlan, Chuck Piercy, Ralph<br />
Smith (the captain) and Jim Atkins.<br />
Films to 'Advertise the Country<br />
Urged by Australian Showmen<br />
By WILLIAM BEECHAM<br />
Australian Bureau, Boxoffice<br />
PERTH. W. A.—Ernest Turnbull, managing<br />
director of Hoyts Theatres, Ltd., believes it is<br />
futile for Australia to compete with the type<br />
of films produced in the U.S. and Britain.<br />
"Australia." he says, "should produce films<br />
which will advertise the country. There should<br />
certainly be a rapid advance in the production<br />
of films in Australia, but first, a studio<br />
comparable with the best in the world will<br />
have to be establi.shed. This should be centrally<br />
situated, preferably near Sydney.<br />
"The type of film which should be produced<br />
in Australia is like 'The Overlanders.'<br />
Already two films on similar lines have been<br />
completed, 'Eureka Stockade' and 'Sons of<br />
Matthew,' while a feature Australian film,<br />
'Robbery Under Arms,' concerning the bushranging<br />
days, also is planned."<br />
Turnbull added that the dollar situation<br />
has not affected the supply of films from the<br />
states, and that recent films from both<br />
America and Britain have been of high<br />
standard.<br />
* * *<br />
Dr. K. Sternberg, a vi.siting film producer<br />
who was responsible for "Spotlight on Bal-<br />
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let." now is producing for the department of<br />
information a film entitled "Theatre in Australia."<br />
L. C. Thaw, producer, and John W. Boyle,<br />
cameraman, are visiting Darwin, shooting<br />
sequences for use in several film stories of<br />
the Pacific war.<br />
* * *<br />
Gordon Mirams, who has been attached to<br />
the film section of UNESCO in Paris for<br />
the last 18 months, recently returned to New<br />
Zealand where he will take up the position<br />
of film censor.<br />
* * *<br />
Among the recent patent applications<br />
lodged and accepted was one by J. F. Knox,<br />
New South Wales, for a motion picture camera.<br />
Details are: "To reduce noise level to<br />
a minimum and to enable a 'blimp' to be<br />
dispensed with, a camera body has an inner<br />
and outer shell surrounding a space filled<br />
with a sound-absorbing medium, a partition<br />
dividing the case into two parts, one for<br />
receiving the film transmission mechanism<br />
and the other for the motor-driven mechanism."<br />
An electromechanical means for drawing<br />
film through the gate, an electromechanical<br />
clamp for the gate and a film tensioning<br />
device also are described and claimed.<br />
* « *<br />
Harry Hunter, managing director of Paramount,<br />
recently spent five weeks in New<br />
Zealand conferring with the company's executives<br />
and renewing acquaintances with a<br />
number of exhibitors. He was accompanied<br />
by Mrs. Hunter.<br />
When a cyclone struck Rockhampton Tn<br />
Queensland recently, it severely damaged the<br />
Tivoli and Liberty theatres. At the Liberty,<br />
only one matinee and night's screening was<br />
lost and the Tivoli was reopened after a lapse<br />
of two days. To get the theatres going again,<br />
heavy work had to be carried out by every<br />
member of the combined staffs. The Tivoli<br />
had one wall blown away, more than 150<br />
sheets of iron torn from the back of the<br />
building, its screen destroyed, side tabs damaged<br />
beyond repair and a good half of the<br />
stage roof blown off. A portion of the Liberty<br />
roof also was missing when the cyclone<br />
passed.<br />
* * *<br />
Reg Felton, branch manager for Paramount<br />
in Auckland, recently resigned after<br />
21 years with the firm. He will go into<br />
partnership with Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Wheeler,<br />
trading as East Coast Theatres and will assume<br />
management of the concern.<br />
* * •<br />
L. A. Brewer, managing director of Claremont<br />
Theatres, Ltd., in western Australia,<br />
recently left for Genoa, from where he will<br />
begin a 12-month tour of Europe, Britain and<br />
the states. During Brewer's absence, Hamilton<br />
Brown will manage the firm.<br />
* * *<br />
The west Australian education department,<br />
realizing that the average modern child probably<br />
would say that his favorite subject was<br />
films, is keen to introduce films into all<br />
schools throughout the state. At present 99<br />
schools have sound projectors and mobile<br />
units now are traveling to 33 schools on the<br />
outskirts of the Perth metropolitan area. A<br />
country mobile unit is being fitted up and<br />
battery-run projectors are being forwarded<br />
to the northwest. This move will be welcomed<br />
by exhibitors, for it will bring home to those<br />
parents who still keep their youngsters away<br />
from shows that they are very much behind<br />
the times. It also will make more youngsters<br />
"film minded."<br />
* • *<br />
A film society is being formed in Perth to<br />
screen "films of merit, including those of<br />
silent days, documentaries and foreign films."<br />
Jack Gannaway, manager of the Mayfair<br />
Theatre, Bunbui-y, for the last three years,<br />
has been transferred to the Civic Theatre,<br />
Inglewood.<br />
Montana Business Bureau<br />
Warns of Talent Fraud<br />
HELENA—The Montana Chamber of Commerce<br />
better business bureau has warned<br />
against a "talent of tomorrow" scheme operating<br />
in Montana and other western states.<br />
The bureau says that alleged talent scouts<br />
attempt to interest parents of young children<br />
in signing contracts calling for payment<br />
of $75 for screen tests or stage training.<br />
Representatives, the bureau charges, give<br />
fictitious New York addresses and claim noted<br />
film producers and local theatre owners as<br />
sponsors for their illegal business.<br />
Thoughtful Manager<br />
Makes Many Friends<br />
Bellingham, Wash.—It is for his personal<br />
touches that LeRoy Kastner, manager<br />
of Evergreen circuit's American Theatre<br />
here, has a host of friends in this<br />
city.<br />
On Mother's day, Kastner presented a<br />
huge floral treat to the oldest mother<br />
attending the show. After the presentation<br />
and when the show was over, Kastner<br />
discovered<br />
she had come alone and<br />
would have to carry her huge bouquet<br />
home on a bus. So, it was typical of the<br />
manager to get out his car and take the<br />
mother home.<br />
54 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Allied Rally at Peoria<br />
Draws 40 Showmen<br />
PEORIA. ILL.—Some 40 theatre owners,<br />
mo.st of them from towTis of less than 3.000<br />
population, attended a regional gathering of<br />
Midcentral Allied Independent Theatre Owners<br />
at the Pere Marquette hotel here last<br />
week. W. H, Hoffman, Lamar Theatre, Arthur<br />
III., a member of the board of directors,<br />
presided.<br />
The meeting marked the first official appearance<br />
of David S. Nelson since he was<br />
named general manager of the regional Allied<br />
unit.<br />
William L. Ainsworth, Pond du Lac, Wis.,<br />
national AITO president, gave a detailed story<br />
of the origin and operations of the national<br />
organization.<br />
Trueman Rembusch, Indianapolis, national<br />
treasurer and president of the Indiana unit,<br />
discussed television and its probable effects<br />
on motion picture theatre owners.<br />
Charles Niles, Anamosa, Iowa, national secretary<br />
and a member of the board of directors<br />
of the AITO of Iowa-Nebraska, Inc.,<br />
talked on the Allied Caravan and how it can<br />
be used to advantage by the independent<br />
theatre owners, especially those in the smaller<br />
towns.<br />
were Heni7 Hal-<br />
Others who spoke briefly<br />
loway. St. Louis, president of Midcentral:<br />
A. B. Jefferis, Piedmont, Mo., vice-president.<br />
and General Manager Nelson.<br />
Also in attendance were High Graham, St.<br />
Louis, secretary-treasurer; Charley Beninati,<br />
Carlyle, 111., and Elvin H. Wiecks, Staunton,<br />
111., members of Midcentral's board of directors.<br />
Richmond Heights Houses<br />
Fight 5 Per Cent Impost<br />
CLAYTON. MO.—A declaratory judgment<br />
suit to eliminate Richmond Heights' 5 per<br />
cent tax on theatre amusement admi.ssions<br />
has been filed in the St. Louis county circuit<br />
court by the owners of the Esquire and Richmond<br />
theatres.<br />
The suit also asked for a permanent injunction<br />
again.st further collection of the tax<br />
and that the taxes already collected be set<br />
aside in a special fund to be returned to the<br />
theatres if and when the Richmond Heights<br />
ordinance is declared invalid.<br />
The petition contends that the levy is a<br />
revenue tax and not a license tax, as specified<br />
in the ordinance and is invalid under<br />
the Mi.ssouri Constitution.<br />
Free Father's Day Trailer<br />
Features John Garfield<br />
CHICAGO—John Garfield, selected by the<br />
National Father's day committee as the Screen<br />
Father of 1949, is featured in a special Father's<br />
day trailer produced by Filmack Trailers.<br />
The trailer is being made available for<br />
free showings to all theatres. Exhibitors may<br />
secure the free trailer from the National<br />
Father's Day committee, 50 E. 42nd St., New<br />
York City.<br />
Filmack Drive-In Trailer<br />
CHICAGO—Filmack Ti'ailer Co. has completed<br />
production of a ten-minute clock trailer<br />
for drive-in theatres. It is designed for showing<br />
during intermission periods to infoi-m<br />
audiences of intermission time remaining. It<br />
also Includes ten minutes of music.<br />
St.<br />
Louis Puts Spotlight<br />
On Premiere of Spring<br />
Fire Chief of Indiana<br />
Busy in Capital Ciiy<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—After the inspection of<br />
70 per cent of the neighborhood theatres in<br />
the city limits, Alex Hougland, state fire<br />
marshal, reported that most theatres are<br />
"only in fair condition."<br />
Three theatres were found structurally unsafe,<br />
he said, and major repairs were ordered.<br />
Owners of the buildings were Instructed<br />
to present plans for repairs within<br />
60 days under penalty of closure. Names of<br />
the theatres will not be disclo.sed unless they<br />
refuse to make the recommended repairs.<br />
Deputy Fire Marshal Delberl R. Taflinger<br />
reported "housekeeping" in most theatres was<br />
bad. He said inspectors found much litter,<br />
such as popcorn and candy boxes. Orders<br />
were issued for the theatre to be cleaned<br />
every night following the last show. The in-<br />
.spection does not include any of the large<br />
dowaitown houses. The inspection was made<br />
with the cooperation of the Indiana Fire Prevention<br />
Inspection department.<br />
Eppley Popcorn Co. Files<br />
Bankruptcy Petition<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—A fire at the Treaty,<br />
Ind., processing plant of the Eppley Popcorn<br />
Co. of Indianapolis was blamed for the<br />
voluntary bankruptcy action filed by the firm.<br />
In a petition filed in federal court, the wholesale<br />
popcorn firm listed assets of $49,961 and<br />
debts of $67,007. Assets included $44,000 in<br />
insui'ance policies, but officials said it was<br />
not sufficient to cover the loss. The blaze<br />
occurred at the firm's newly constructed<br />
Treaty plant, where operations had been<br />
moved from Indianapolis only 90 days earlier.<br />
Garber D. Wright is president and Ted A.<br />
Wilson is vice-president.<br />
Arthur Morris to Remodel<br />
Dawson Springs Strand<br />
DAWSON SPRINGS. KY.—Arthur Morris,<br />
coal operator here for many years who purchased<br />
the Strand Theatre, 500-seater, from<br />
J. H. Meadows May 1, has announced plans<br />
for remodeling and redecorating. Sam Maple,<br />
former resident of Dawson Springs, has assumed<br />
his duties as manager of the Strand<br />
for Morris. Maple formerly was employed<br />
by the Malco circuit of Memphis.<br />
Meadows had owned and operated the<br />
Strand since December 1933.<br />
Buy Stanley, Wis., House<br />
STANLEY. WIS.—Tillie M. Smith and<br />
Raymond Guelsow have purchased the Stanley<br />
Theatre here from Jack Heywood. The<br />
sale was made by Harry Buck of the Minneapolis<br />
office of Savereide Theatre Brokers.<br />
The purchasers formerly were in the farm<br />
implement business in Sauk Center. Minn.<br />
ST. LOUIS—Linda Darnell, Jean Peters and<br />
Paul Douglas were on hand for the world<br />
premiere of "It Happens Every Spring,"<br />
Thursday (26) at the St. Louis Theatre. The<br />
20th-Fox film .story of a meek professor who<br />
becomes an overnight sensation with the St.<br />
Louis Cardinals was given a real Hollywoodtype<br />
sendoff with spot lights, civic leaders<br />
and newspaper men adding to the first-night<br />
atmosphere.<br />
The three stars arrived in advance of the<br />
premiere and participated in a preview Buddy<br />
Poppy sale Wednesday (25i.<br />
Following their appearance here, the party<br />
moved on to Pittsburgh for a day. Then Miss<br />
Peters returned to Hollywood, Douglas continued<br />
on to New York and Miss Darnell<br />
went back to Indianapolis to appear as guest<br />
of honor at the Memorial day races.<br />
The local exchange has booked "It Happens<br />
Every Spring" for showings throughout the<br />
territory In the week following the premiere.<br />
Oakland City Drive-In Opens<br />
OAKLAND CITY. IND.—Tlie Oakland City<br />
Drive-In was opened here recently by owners<br />
Marshall Bottoms and Siegal Thurman.<br />
Equipment, installed by the Evansville Theatre<br />
Supply of Evansville, Ind., included De-<br />
Vry projectors, sound and in-car speakers.<br />
Strong rectifiers and screen. The Oakland<br />
City ozoner is a 300-car situation.<br />
Marilyn MaxAvell on Stage<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Marilyn Maxwell, Hoosier-born<br />
stage and screen star, gave feminine<br />
support to the opening of the Opportunity<br />
savings bond, drive at a rally on Monument<br />
circle. She has appeared on the Circle Theatre<br />
stage for the last week.<br />
Louis Odorizzi Is Owner<br />
MOUNT OLIVE, ILL. — Louis Odorizzi,<br />
Staunton hotel owner, is owner of the proposed<br />
400-car drive-in near here. He hopes<br />
to have it open and in operation late in June.<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
55
C. W. RODGERS — President,<br />
Rod gers Theatres, Inc. (18 theatres),<br />
Cairo, Illinois—says:<br />
"RCA has always given us dependable<br />
service over our circuit<br />
that is 100 per cent RCA<br />
sound equipped."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, New Jersey.<br />
Adv<br />
MODERNlZt: YOUR SOUND—call .<br />
.
. . Herman<br />
District Heads Study<br />
New Columbia Films<br />
CHICAGO—District managers and home<br />
office representatives of Columbia Pictures<br />
started a three-day sales meeting Monday<br />
(231 at the Drake hotel. Liquidation problems,<br />
general sales and new product were<br />
the principal topics of the discussions, which<br />
were led by A. Montague, general sales manager.<br />
Among the films receiving attention were<br />
"Jolson Sings Again," "All the King's Men,"<br />
"Tokyo Joe," "Anna Lucasta," "The Decline<br />
of Oklahoma." "Lust for Gold," "Johnny<br />
Allegro" and "We Were Strangers."<br />
Field representatives who attended Included<br />
Nat Cohn. New York district manager: S. A.<br />
Galanty. mideast district manager; Jerome<br />
Safron, western district manager; Carl Shalit,<br />
central district manager; B. C. Marcus, midwestern<br />
district manager; R. J. Ingram,<br />
southeastern district manager; J. B. Underwood,<br />
southwestern district manager; I. H.<br />
Rogovin. New England dsitrict manager, and<br />
Harry Weiner, district manager for southern<br />
New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.<br />
Home office representatives present, in addition<br />
to Montague, included Rube Jackter,<br />
assistant sales manager; Lou Astor, Louis<br />
Weinberg and Irving Wormser, circuit sales<br />
executives; Maurice Grad. short subjects sales<br />
manager; George Josephs assistant to Montague;<br />
Joe Freiberg, manager of the sales<br />
sales accounting department; H. C. Kaufman,<br />
manager of the exchange operations department;<br />
Seth Raisler, manager of the contract<br />
department; Vincent Borelli, assistant to<br />
circuit sales executives, and Irving Sherman<br />
and Sydney Singerman. assistant managers<br />
of the exchange operations department.<br />
Federal Tax Lien Filed<br />
MADISON—A tax lien against the Gem<br />
Shows Theatre of Baraboo was filed in federal<br />
court here by the internal revenue department.<br />
The department claims $25,739 is<br />
due from the theatre for admission taxes for<br />
three-fourths of 1948.<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
Add to your profits with<br />
Hot Dog and Bun Warmers<br />
Sandwich Grills<br />
Peanut Roasters<br />
Popcorn Machines<br />
ST. LOUIS Outdoor Vaudeville<br />
p
. . . "Take<br />
. . . Norman<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Nat<br />
. .<br />
. . . Variety<br />
CHICAGO<br />
lyTrs. Louis F. Jelinek, wife of the owner of<br />
the Sky-Hi Drive-In, was the guest on<br />
ABC's Ladies Be Seated, program. Tom<br />
Moore, emcee of the show, gave Mrs. Jelinek<br />
an opportimity to expound some of the advantages<br />
the American housewife gets when<br />
she attends a drive-in such as the problem<br />
of baby sitters, no hotfitting gu-dles and the<br />
like . . . Louis F. Jelinek, manager-owner of<br />
the Sky-Hi at the intersection of Roosevelt<br />
and Butterfield roads, reports the opening of<br />
two additional ramps for an additional 250<br />
cars, increasing the capacity to 1,000 cars.<br />
James N. Jovan, director of the Monroe<br />
Theatre, obtained some excellent publicity<br />
by tying in with a new teen-age radio show<br />
sponsored by the MacCormac School of Com-<br />
MACLAY— Manager,<br />
JOHN H.<br />
Grand, Strand and Avon Theatres,<br />
Dubuque, Iowa—says:<br />
"We have always found<br />
RCA Service to be eminently<br />
satisfactory."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
For Drive-In Theatre Equipment<br />
See<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN INC.<br />
3146 OUve FR 0999 St. Louis<br />
!! INSULATE ! !<br />
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY<br />
Save up to 40% on fuel, 30% of the<br />
cost of electricity for Cooling system<br />
MANY THEATRES INSULATED<br />
WITH TOP-SUCCESS<br />
By<br />
BRENTON CO., INSULATION-ROOFING<br />
6525 S. Harvard Ave., Chicago 21, HI.<br />
Free estimate, phone WENtworth 8-4277<br />
Adv.<br />
merce. The show is aired every Saturday from<br />
2:30 to 3:30 p. m. over WCFL. and is known<br />
as Professor Bellair's Record Lab. There is a<br />
popular mystery tune played over the air and<br />
the first 25 students who call in or write<br />
giving the correct title are awarded a pair of<br />
ducats to the Monroe Theatre.<br />
Paul Swinger, co-owner of Salem Drive-<br />
In. Dayton, was in town to look over new<br />
drive-ins in this area . Nathanson, UA<br />
manager, is head of the new house committee<br />
of the Variety Club. Members are<br />
Harry Blumenthal. Eddie Brunell, Ben Lourie<br />
and Moe Wells.<br />
Ben Feldman, manager of the United Ajrtists<br />
Theatre, and his staff received glowing<br />
praise in a recent column by Mae Tinee.<br />
Chicago Tribune critic, thanks to the efficiency<br />
of usher John Stanko who takes his<br />
training to heart. Miss Tinee commented on<br />
the fact that John seated every one who<br />
came to his aisles, .silenced a noisy gum<br />
chewer and patroled his section to maintain<br />
perfect order.<br />
Jack Kramer is the new secretary to<br />
Charles Cottle. B&K district manager .<br />
Board members of the Better Films Council<br />
of Chicagoland discussed plans for a fashion<br />
show this summer at a meeting held last<br />
week in the clubrooms of the Illinois Federation<br />
of Women's Clubs. Lloyd Summer Van-<br />
Schoyck, recently elected president of the<br />
coimcil, presided . Barnett, cameraman<br />
who recently left Fox Movietone News<br />
after 16 years, is on a special assignment for<br />
Ail-American Negro News.<br />
Movie-ln-Dlne, Decatur, will open its first<br />
drive-in restaurant at the junctions of routes<br />
40 and 461 there. The restaurants will show<br />
shorts and novelty films . . . William Kusack<br />
of WBKB televisioza section welcomed the<br />
birth of his first child, William Peter jr.<br />
. . . Harold Butchin rejoined the U-I public<br />
relations staff after six months as praiser<br />
with "Hamlet" in the midwest territory . . .<br />
Paul Montague is doing advance exploitation<br />
in this area for "Portrait of Jennie."<br />
The BPR circuit has taken over operation<br />
of the Wicker Park Theatre, which has been<br />
owned and operated by Prank Gordon for 20<br />
years. Clyde Winans, formerly of Great<br />
States circuit, has been appointed manager<br />
Me Out to the Ball Game" moved<br />
direct from a three-week showing at the<br />
Oriental to 27 houses in outlying and suburban<br />
districts. It is doing standout business<br />
Wrobel and his wife, the former<br />
Jean Hamilton, are expecting the stork in<br />
June. They reside in St. Paul, where he Is<br />
manager of the RKO Orpheum.<br />
Cole Products Corp., manufacturers of the<br />
Colespa Hermetic three-drink cup dispensers,<br />
recently moved executive and general sales<br />
offices from the factory at 5000 South Halstead<br />
to a new suite of offices at 39 South<br />
LaSalle St.<br />
Members of the projectionist Local 110<br />
were saddened by the death of Sid Kaplan<br />
May 19 . . . Back from vacation and ready,<br />
with good reason, for another, is Les Walrath,<br />
manager of the Uptown. Les returned<br />
to a double duty due to illness of Jack De-<br />
Wiggens and on his first night back, a couple<br />
of north side "hoods" staged a near panic<br />
by overturning fire extinguishers in the theatre<br />
balcony. Quick action on the part of<br />
Walrath and Arch Pearson, who was in the<br />
audience, prevented serious consequences.<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
part of the Strand still is boarded up in a<br />
major remodeling job. A sign at the door<br />
tells of the modernization program, including<br />
a new floor, seats, screen, foyer, lobby,<br />
boxoffice, air conditioning, lounge, etc., in<br />
addition to the new front and marquee, which<br />
was installed several weeks ago. No opening<br />
date has been mentioned, but it is expected<br />
in June.<br />
National Screen Service is offering special<br />
trailers for Father's day with gifts for fathers,<br />
such as fishing tackle, cigars, free admission<br />
for new fathers and gift books. Father's day<br />
essay contests and quiz contests are included<br />
Tent 8 held a special meeting<br />
May 23 at the Fox exchange room on North<br />
8th street. Charles Trampe, who recently<br />
returned from San Francisco and the Variety<br />
convention, reported, on convention activities.<br />
A permanent clubroom for Tent 8 was discussed<br />
at the meeting.<br />
. . .<br />
Sally Clowacki and Audry Kaeshauer of<br />
MGM have announced their engagements.<br />
The prospective husbands are not in show<br />
business The Atlas Theatre on Upper<br />
Third street will be remodeled, according to<br />
plans being drawn up by Myles Belongia,<br />
theatre designer. The modernization program<br />
includes a new floor, office, air conditioning,<br />
plumbing, canopy, heating, front, etc.<br />
Atlas Amusement Co. is the owner of the Atlas<br />
as well as the Midcity in downtown Milwaukee.<br />
John Freuler is head of the company.<br />
Marcus Theatres, with 21 theatres at Oshkosh.<br />
Neenah. Menasha, Appleton, Clintonville,<br />
Ripon. Milwaukee and La Crosse, reports<br />
the opening of a new drive-in on Highway<br />
41, five miles north of Neenah-Menasha.<br />
Another outdoor theatre owned by this firm<br />
is one under construction at La Crosse in<br />
western Wisconsin and is scheduled for opening<br />
on Memorial day.<br />
Due to ill healtii. Jack H. Lorentz, former<br />
central division sales manager for 20th-Fox<br />
with headquarters in Chicago, asked to be<br />
relieved of that position and accepted the<br />
branch managership of the Milwaukee exchange.<br />
Charlie Koehler, Astor Pictures, Milwaukee,<br />
is a grandfather again. He has three<br />
other grandchildren, all girls. The latest<br />
Winnie DeLorenzo,<br />
addition is a boy . . .<br />
Quality Premium distributor for Wisconsin<br />
and upper Michigan, reports a visit from<br />
Mr. and Mrs, Albert Behm of the State<br />
Theatre at Waupaca in central Wisconsin.<br />
The Behms. Winnie says, are great boosters<br />
for premiums for women patrons. The Behms<br />
were on a booking trip here.<br />
Iva Benning, Laona Dahlke and Bert Banning,<br />
all with NSS. are on a vacation on the<br />
west coast. They motored there . . . Marcella<br />
Bonaschek. the new switchboard operator<br />
at MGM, is on the waiting list at Northwest<br />
Airlines as a hostess.<br />
Word comes to Filmrow that an outdoor<br />
theatre will be built near Dickinson, N. D.,<br />
by Frank G. Hallowell of that city at a cost<br />
of $75,000 to $100,000. It will be the first<br />
outdoor theatre in that area. Dickinson Theatre<br />
Co. will operate it. Opening date is<br />
scheduled for early July, possibly July 4.<br />
58 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
NORTH CENTRAL CONVENTION<br />
RE-ELECTS ALL ITS OFFICERS<br />
Allied Unit Voices Enmity<br />
For Percentage; Berger<br />
Charges Forcing<br />
E. L. Peaslee<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— All officers and directors,<br />
except John Pillar, 44-year exhibitor of Valley<br />
City, N. D., who is<br />
^^^^.<br />
retiring, were re-elect-<br />
^^^^iy< ed at the annual con-<br />
W^ \ vention of North Cen-<br />
1 I tral Allied here Mongv.'^<br />
« day and Tuesday.<br />
The officers are<br />
Bennie Berger, president.<br />
E. L. Peaslee and<br />
Martin Lebedoff, vicep<br />
r e s i d e n ts ; Jack<br />
Wright, secretary, and<br />
Ted Mann, treasurer.<br />
George Gould, Glencoe,<br />
Minn., was elected<br />
director to succeed Pillar. Others are S. E.<br />
Heller, W. C. Carter jr.. Will Glaser. George<br />
Granstrom, Clarence Kaake. Lowell Smoots,<br />
R. J. Risch, Mike Cooper. Gordon Amuth,<br />
John Anderson, Charles Rubenstein, A. E.<br />
Munro, Lou Huinmell and Al Lee. The advisory<br />
committee comprises Henry Greene jr.;<br />
Jack Heywood and A. A. Kaplan. S. D. Kane<br />
is executive counsel.<br />
At the luncheon at which the 20th-Fox<br />
delegation was present President Berger introduced<br />
W. T. Ainsworth. national Allied<br />
president: John Adler. president of Wisconsin<br />
Allied: Leo Wolcott. chairman of the board of<br />
Iowa-Nebraska Allied: Charles Niles. Iowa-<br />
Nebraska Allied representative on the national<br />
board: Sam Shalii. 20th-Fox exhibitor<br />
relations director: H. M. Richey, MGM public<br />
relations director; A. W. Smith jr., 20th-<br />
Fox sales executive: Fi-ed Cubberly, retired<br />
veteran film man now a resident of Los<br />
Angeles: Mrs. W. A. Steffes, who received a<br />
standing tribute: Eddie Ahrens, new 20th-<br />
Pox division manager, and M. A. Levy, 20th-<br />
Fox manager.<br />
GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY<br />
Smith told the luncheon guests that as far<br />
as this territory is concerned. Levy, the<br />
branch manager, is 20th-Fox president because<br />
the latter is now empowered to decide<br />
all deals.<br />
Charges were made by President Berger<br />
in his annual report that in spite of the Supreme<br />
Court edict, "forcing of pictures still<br />
is commonplace, unreasonable clearances are<br />
used to continue the Big Eight's monopoly<br />
and competitive bidding, which the Supreme<br />
Court criticized so severely, is being used to<br />
boost film rentals to new highs."<br />
North Central Allied will be on the alert,<br />
however, to guard members against violations<br />
of rules laid down by the court and are now<br />
preparing to take steps against offenders,<br />
Berger promised.<br />
"We will not stand idly by and permit the<br />
distributors to look for and find loopholes,"<br />
he declared. "If they do, this organization<br />
will use every legal method at its command<br />
to destroy those who have spent so much time<br />
Seen at the North Central Allied convention were, seated, left to right: Charles<br />
Niles, Anamosa, Iowa, national Allied secretary, and William Ain.sworth, national<br />
president, and wife, Fond du Lac, Wis. Standing: A. B. Jeffris, Piedmont, Mo., Midcentral<br />
Allied vice-president; H. J. Halloway, St. Louis, Midcentral president, and<br />
Trueman Rembusch, Indianapolis, national treasurer.<br />
in seeking to destroy the independent exhibitors.<br />
"I say this with the knowledge that it may<br />
mean that all of us will go down with the<br />
ship if it sinks. We have made every effort<br />
to have the distributors play the game according<br />
to the new rules and give us an even<br />
break. If the months ahead .show that it is<br />
not possible and that the present structure<br />
has to be destroyed and rebuilt from the<br />
ground up. we will do it."<br />
Although there have been many gains for<br />
the independent exhibitor during the last<br />
year, Berger said, he feels "that the present<br />
producer-distributor mechanism may be so<br />
John Pillar. Valley City, N. D., who has<br />
been an exhibitor for 44 years, resigned as<br />
director of North Central Allied because<br />
of his retirement from the business. He is<br />
shown above registering at the Minneapolis<br />
convention with Mrs. Lenore<br />
Shields.<br />
distorted that it is past all help and both<br />
impossible and incapable of reform."<br />
"In consequence of divorcement," he said,<br />
"real competition will develop in all three industry<br />
branches."<br />
"The small independent producer knows<br />
now that if his product is meritorious he can<br />
find a show window for it. The distributor<br />
has been told in no uncertain terms that he<br />
must mend his ways and sell his wares in a<br />
competitive, rather than a monopoly market."<br />
Gains cited by Berger included the Smith-<br />
Berger mediation plan adopted by 20th-Fox,<br />
the victory over Ascap and "the 20-year<br />
fight's success in getting a bill of rights<br />
written for the independent exhibitor by the<br />
highest court of the land."<br />
OPEN FORUM ON FILM BUYING<br />
Following an open forum discussion on film<br />
buying. North Central Allied members went<br />
on record against percentage by a viva voice<br />
vote. President Berger started a succession of<br />
fireworks with a declaration to the members<br />
that independent exhibitors haven't been<br />
getting "anywhere near a fair return on their<br />
investment" and, "even while we've prospered<br />
during the recent flush period, people in other<br />
lines of business have done better."<br />
"Take popcorn, candy and screen advertising<br />
away and many of us couldn't get by,"<br />
asserted Berger. "We're entitled to a fair<br />
profit on the principal product we're sellingpictures.<br />
We're going to fight until we get<br />
film at the right price."<br />
Berger called attention to the fact that<br />
20th-Fox in the last quarter showed larger<br />
earnings than for the same period a year ago<br />
and asserted the film companies are not entitled<br />
to 20 per cent, let alone 40 per cent<br />
"they don't need it."<br />
"Let's not let 20th-Fox or any other com-<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May 28, 1949 MW 59
Twentieth Century-Fox sent a multiple delegation to the North Central Allied<br />
convention. Above, left to right: Sam Shain, head of exhibitor relations; Andrew<br />
W. Smith jr., general sales manager; Al Lichtman, vice-president; M. A. Levy, Minneapolis<br />
manager, and Edward Aarons, Kansas City, district manager.<br />
Your Blessings Justify Optimism,<br />
Ainsworth Informs Independents<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—William T. Ainsworth,<br />
president of national Allied States, and H. M.<br />
Richey, MGM exhibitor relations director,<br />
sounded optimistic notes at the North Central<br />
Allied convention here. Both were speakers<br />
at the opening session.<br />
Decrying pessimism in some exhibitor<br />
quarters, Ainsworth told theatremen they<br />
should "count their blessings." These blessings,<br />
he said, more than offset existent evils,<br />
and optimism should be engendered in consequence<br />
of the many gains that independent<br />
exhibitors have made during the past year.<br />
Ainsworth also told of national AUied's<br />
goal to add 1,000 new members this year as<br />
a tribute to Abram F. Myers. Up to the<br />
present, he announced, 240 of these already<br />
have been obtained.<br />
With regard to the new 20th-Fox sales<br />
policy, "which is constantly being changed,"<br />
the national organization's policy is one of<br />
"watchful waiting," according to Ainsworth.<br />
Richey told of the "new enthusiasm" in<br />
evidence at the recent MGM convention in<br />
California and declared it is permeating every<br />
other company in a way that spells prosperity<br />
for producer and exhibitor alike if, as is<br />
necessary, it spreads to the exhibitor.<br />
"It behooves us to acquaint the pubhc with<br />
this enthusiasm within the industry," declared<br />
Richey. "We must let the public know<br />
that everybody connected with our industry is<br />
enthusiastic, that there is a determination to<br />
make better pictures than ever, that the<br />
economies now being effected will not affect<br />
the quality of product adversely.<br />
"We are on the threshold of a great era.<br />
We've left many of our problems behind us.<br />
We're all confident that the public will continue<br />
to buy good pictures and that's what<br />
our enthusiastic studios are going to produce."<br />
Richey feels that taxation is a danger to<br />
the industry and that the division of the industry<br />
dollar "outside of the industry," with<br />
such a large slice going for taxes, must be<br />
corrected.<br />
Richey declared the situation must be corrected<br />
where only 20 million people attend<br />
the motion picture shows and the percentage<br />
of the amusement dollar going to pictures has<br />
declined from 75 to 65 per cent because of new<br />
and greater competition from television, night<br />
baseball, night racing, etc. This necessitates<br />
more intensive selling of its attractions by the<br />
industry, in Richey's opinion.<br />
Orpheum in Kansas City<br />
To Be Legitimate House<br />
KANSAS CITY—Following remodeling anfl<br />
reseating to be completed at a cost of approximately<br />
$100,000, the Orpheum here will<br />
begin the presentation of legitimate attractions<br />
about September 15, according to Elmer<br />
C. Rhoden, Fox Midwest Theatres president.<br />
The corporation acquired the Orpheum several<br />
months ago in a deal by which RKO<br />
Theatres obtained the Mainstreet, which will<br />
be reopened in July as the Missouri following<br />
remodeling and redecorating now nearing<br />
completion at a cost of about $500,000.<br />
James H. Nixon, former partner in A&N<br />
Presentations, will become manager of the<br />
Orpheum under the terms of a participating<br />
contract. Nixon for many years has held a<br />
franchise with the United Booking Offices,<br />
New York, for local presentation of legitimate<br />
attractions here.<br />
In addition to reseating of the entire theatre,<br />
changes at the Orpheum will include<br />
moving of the boxoffice from its present<br />
street location to the lobby. The house also<br />
will be redecorated.<br />
Corinne Calvet Is Guest<br />
At Kansas City Party<br />
KANSAS CITY—Corinne Calvet, young<br />
French actress who recently completed her<br />
first American picture, was introduced to<br />
local newspaper and radio workers at a<br />
cocktail party last Wednesday (25) at the<br />
Muehlebach hotel here.<br />
The 22-year-old French girl, who came to<br />
the U.S. two years ago, is starred in "Rope<br />
of Sand," produced by Hal Wallis for Paramount<br />
release. M. D. Cohn, Paramount Theatre<br />
manager, and Jim Castle, Paramount<br />
exploiteer, were hosts at the cocktail party.<br />
Percy Kilbride will play the role of Ann<br />
Blyth's father in the U-I picture, "Hot<br />
Water."<br />
North Central Keeps<br />
Berger and Others<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
pany get away with higher film rentals," said<br />
Berger. "The highest percentage in the<br />
smaller towns should be 20 per cent and there<br />
shouldn't be any percentage for situations<br />
under 2,000 population."<br />
When Berger invited members to state their<br />
grievances, however, only a few responded.<br />
Most of those present, in response to a Berger<br />
inquiry, raised their hands to indicate they've<br />
been the victims of "forced" selling, being<br />
offered certain pictures on condition they'd<br />
buy unwanted ones.<br />
"That's now a violation of the law," Berger<br />
declared, "and we're now accumulating<br />
evidence so that we can bring criminal<br />
charges against the offenders."<br />
During the discussion, some of the Minneapolis<br />
exhibitors charged that the bad deals<br />
made by small-town exhibitors "make It impossible<br />
for our buying organizations to buy<br />
as they should." One prominent local independent<br />
circuit owner declared that "when<br />
it comes to buying pictures you small town<br />
fellows are responsible for all our troubles."<br />
Several exhibitors admitted from the floor<br />
that "we didn't have much complaint during<br />
the lush days." But now, they said, these lush<br />
days are over and "things are different." It<br />
was asserted "this particular territory cannot<br />
stand present film rental demands." Instances<br />
were cited of pictures for which high<br />
percentage is charged in this territory being<br />
double and triple featured in other areas.<br />
"We've got to make distributors eliminate<br />
their take-it-or-leave-it policy," Berger said.<br />
To Run Concession Stand<br />
PERRY, IOWA—Iowa Sportservice, Inc.,<br />
will operate the refreshment concession at the<br />
Corral Drive-In now under construction at<br />
the east edge of Perry, according to Al Hansen.<br />
The corporation is one of America's<br />
largest outdoor refreshment concessionaires.<br />
Divisions of the firm service the parks where<br />
the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis<br />
Browns, Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh<br />
Pirates play.<br />
Treasure Window Helps<br />
OMAHA—Manager Larry Caplane of the<br />
Brandeis is featuring a "window of treasures"<br />
in the lobby prior to the June engagement<br />
of "The Window." Patrons view such a<br />
variety of items as toasters, radios, records,<br />
pipes and mirrors. They can obtain numbered<br />
cards at the theatre prior to the playdate.<br />
Numbers on each gift item will be uncovered<br />
during the showing and prizes handed<br />
out to those who have digits to match.<br />
Kanawha Theatre Opens<br />
KANAWHA, IOWA—The new Tall Corn<br />
Theatre here opened for business last week<br />
following a complete redecoration job. Among<br />
the improvements was an electrically operated<br />
draw curtain with special lighting effects.<br />
Spencer Theatre Opened<br />
SPENCER, IOWA—Spencer's Corral Theatre<br />
was opened for the first time here. The<br />
refreshment concession is operated by Sportservice,<br />
Inc.<br />
60 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
ALLIED INDEPENDENT THEATRE OWNERS<br />
OF KANSAS AND MISSOURI, INC.<br />
Invite You to Attend Their<br />
SECOND ANNUAL<br />
CONVENTION<br />
Hotel Muehlebach, Kansas City<br />
June 7-8. 1949<br />
Program Includes<br />
Business Meetings with Plenty of Punch<br />
^<br />
Banquet • Other Entertainment<br />
Plan Now to Attend<br />
Send Your Reservations to<br />
C. M. Parkhurst, 1717 Wyandotte Street<br />
Kansas City 8, Missouri<br />
BOXOFTICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 61
. . Mary<br />
. . Norman<br />
. . Paul<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
. . The<br />
D E S<br />
MOINES<br />
. . .<br />
. . . Esther Needham, Universal<br />
n Ian Crawford has been named head booker<br />
and office manager at Warners, replacing<br />
Norman Holt, who now is a salesman. Crawford<br />
has been assistant booker at the exchange<br />
. Hoffman, Warners, spent<br />
the Memorial day weekend in Walnut, Iowa<br />
Carl Sokolof, head shipper for NSS, was<br />
spending a two-week vacation in Detroit . . .<br />
Foster Blake, Universal district manager,<br />
was here<br />
cashier, will celebrate her first wedding anniversary<br />
May 31. The Needhams soon will<br />
move to Fort Dodge to make their home.<br />
Edna Cloonan, RKO, was vacationing, but<br />
not too comfortably. She had an infection<br />
which slowed her down some . Glen<br />
Mardykes are remodeling their Iowa Theatre<br />
at Richland . . . Their daughter Ruth will be<br />
married June 28 to Jerome Genereux of<br />
Winterset . . . Bud<br />
and Shirley Wilson,<br />
owners of the Times Theatre in Davenport,<br />
recently retm-ned from a fishing trip—without<br />
fish, but with a bad case of poison ivy.<br />
Lucille Chicilli, MOM inspector, was off<br />
sick as was Paramount inspector Pearl Ellenwood's<br />
husband . Webster, Republic<br />
manager, spent two days in Chicago .<br />
Among visitors on the Row were Ed Nordhus,<br />
McGregor; Nathan Thon, Armstrong; V. J.<br />
Shipwright, Osceola, and Dick Kurl, Greenfield<br />
and Corning.<br />
COMPLETELY NEW<br />
HORKY'S CAFE<br />
Bigger and Better Than Ever<br />
— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks<br />
1202 High St. Dea Moineg. Iowa<br />
"Where Filmrow Friends Gather"<br />
Open Daily at 4 p. m.<br />
From SQUINT to<br />
Ken Wagner, owner of the house at Wilton<br />
Junction, has been elected president of the<br />
Lions club there . Stark has been<br />
named evening cashier at the Rocket Theatre,<br />
Rock Island, replacing Anita Koenig, who resigned<br />
. Art Stoltes should have no<br />
trouble keeping warm in their north woods<br />
cabin with the foui- wool blankets presented<br />
to them at the testimonial stag given by<br />
Variety Club. In addition to the blankets, the<br />
tent presented the departing Ti-i-States district<br />
manager with two aluminum chairs<br />
also for their cabin.<br />
Jack Gilbson, EL booker is proud of a<br />
family picture with his 10-month-old daugh-<br />
. . .<br />
. .<br />
Ethel Valadez,<br />
ter the center of attraction . . .<br />
Paramount, was on vacation The Paramount<br />
office is decorated with an attractive<br />
lighted display advertising "Samson and<br />
Delilah" . Jackie Barclay, Paramount, spent<br />
the weekend at Spirit Lake.<br />
Harry Blubaugh Sells<br />
Mapleton, Minn., Ritz<br />
MAPLETON, MINN.—Harry Blubaugh,<br />
owner and operator of the Ritz Theatre<br />
here for the last 12 years, has sold the<br />
property to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mueller of<br />
Elysian. The Muellers will take possession<br />
of the property, which includes the two-story<br />
brick building and apartments, June 1.<br />
Their son Lester will act as projectionist.<br />
The theatre will be open every night with a<br />
Sunday matinee and three program changes<br />
a week. The Blubaughs are moving to Mankato,<br />
where they have purchased a new<br />
home.<br />
J. Heywood Sells Stanley<br />
STANLEY, WIS.—Jack Heywood, onetime<br />
film salesman and exhibitor, has sold his<br />
Stanley Theatre to Tillie M. Smith and Raymond<br />
J. Guelsow. Heywood had owned the<br />
house since 1929. He had rebuilt it in 1936.<br />
Heywood, who has been an exhibitor for<br />
nearly 40 years, has decided to cut down on<br />
his activities, but will retain his theatre in<br />
New Richmond.<br />
SPARKLE<br />
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Even the best "thriller" or "tear-jerker" will not be<br />
completely enjoyed by your audience if the image on the<br />
screen is blurred or hazy. The brilliant white light from<br />
the crater of a "National" high-intensity, positive projector<br />
carbon is the brightest and most perfectly colorbalanced<br />
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DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
National<br />
Mohawk Carpets<br />
Carbons<br />
1121-23 High St.<br />
Phone 3-6520<br />
^ Heyvrood-Wakefield Seating<br />
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Des Moines, Iowa<br />
'Belvedere' Makes<br />
Peak at Twin Ciiy<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Despite cold, favorable<br />
weather for theatregoing, a generally unim- i<br />
pressive array of newcomers failed to make '<br />
much of a boxoffice impression last week. j<br />
It was rather slow going ever for the highly<br />
regarded "The Undercover Man," as well as<br />
'<br />
for "The Bribe" and "The Fan," other major<br />
entries. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" was<br />
still strong in its second week.<br />
(Average Is 100) .<br />
Aster Silver Queen (UA)), reissue; Hideout<br />
(Rep) -<br />
Century—The Fan (20th-Fox)<br />
Gopher—Stote Department, File 649 (FC);<br />
Last oi the Wild Horses (SR), reissue<br />
Lyceum Guadalcanal Diary (20th-Fox);<br />
90<br />
SO<br />
Purple Heart (20th-Fox), reissues 80<br />
Lyric-Flamingo Road (WB), 2nd wk 95<br />
Radio City Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 125<br />
RKO-Orpheum—Undercover Man (Col) 95<br />
RKO-Pan—Casablanca (WB); G-Men (WB), reissues<br />
85<br />
State—The Bribe (MGM) lOU<br />
World—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM),<br />
4th wk 110<br />
'Shoes' Continues to Lead<br />
Trade in Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—Uncertain weather during<br />
the weekend combined with holdovers to<br />
crimp trade generally at first runs here. A<br />
dualing of "The Walking Hills" and "Song<br />
of India" at the Orpheum set the pace for<br />
newcomers. "The Red Shoes," in a fifth week<br />
at the outlying Kimo, continued to show<br />
strength and rated a sixth stanza.<br />
Esquire Frankenstein Meets ihe Woli Man (U-I);<br />
Tlie Mad Ghoul (U-I), reissues 75<br />
Kimo The Hed Shoes (EL), advanced prices, 5th<br />
wk 155<br />
Midland—The Barkleys ol Broadway (MGM); The<br />
Judge (FC), 2nd wk - 95<br />
Orpheum—The Walking Hills (Col); Song of India<br />
(Col) 105<br />
Paramount—My Dream Is Yours (WB), 2nd wk 95<br />
Roxy—Hed Stallion in the Rockies (EL); Million<br />
Dollar Weekend (EL) 75<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway—The Red Pony (Rep) 75<br />
Baseball Hits Grosses;<br />
105 High in Omaha<br />
OMAHA—Twelve straight nights of Western<br />
League baseball in new municipal stadium<br />
took its toll of theatre patrons. Only<br />
"Red Canyon" and "Winner Take All" could<br />
buck the tide to roll above par at the Orpheiun<br />
Theatre.<br />
Omaha—Whiplash (WB) 90<br />
Orpheum—Red Canyon (U-I); Winner Toke All<br />
(Mono) - 105<br />
Paramount ^Flamingo Road (WB) 95<br />
RKO-Brandeis—Adventure in Baltimore (RKO);<br />
The Mutineers (Col) - 90<br />
State—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM),<br />
2iid wk 100<br />
Town—False Paradise (UA); Swing Your Partner<br />
(Rep), reissue; Sea Spoilers (U-I), reissue;<br />
split with The Rangers Ride (Mono^;<br />
Take My Life (SG) _ 100<br />
Improve Grinnell Houses<br />
GRINNELL, IOWA—Improvements are<br />
being made at the Strand and Iowa theatres<br />
here. The front of the Strand is being streamlined<br />
with installation of a poster case and<br />
new showcases. Both theatres will be<br />
equipped with new RCA soiuid systems. Work<br />
will be completed in about a month.<br />
STANDEE SPEAKERS<br />
FOR FRONT SECTION AND REAR RAMPS<br />
FOR TRUCKS AND OVERFLOW<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. "^<br />
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62<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . Eph<br />
Booth Fires Darken<br />
Two Iowa Houses<br />
GALVA. IOWA—Fire starting in the projection<br />
room gutted the Galva Theatre here<br />
and the apartments over it during a recent<br />
Sunday evening show. A crowd of more than<br />
100 persons left the buUding when the warning<br />
was given. About ten Galva firemen were<br />
in the audience. Also fighting the blaze were<br />
fire companies from Holstein and Schaller.<br />
Two families living in the apartments above<br />
the theatre escaped through the windows and<br />
climbed down fire ladders. The theatre<br />
equipment, destroyed by the fire, was the<br />
property of the Galva businessmen, organized<br />
as the Galva Theatre association. The group<br />
says it plans to rebuild the theatre. The<br />
building was owned by the Hoops estate. Herman<br />
Grimes is manager of the Galva.<br />
RICEVILLE, IOWA—Fire broke out in the<br />
projection room of the Iris Theatre here causing<br />
damage estimated by owner Cliff Freeman<br />
at $2,500. The fUm broke, caught fire,<br />
caused the camera to explode and threw<br />
flames all over the booth. The second show had<br />
ten minutes to go when the blaze started and<br />
a number of patrons were in the house. All<br />
reached the outside in safety. Frederick<br />
Bodenham, operator, suffered singed hair in<br />
fighting the blaze. The film "Linda Be Good,"<br />
running at the time of the blast, was<br />
destroyed as well as a second film ready for<br />
the double feature. The building owned by<br />
the Masonic lodge, will need considerable redecorating<br />
as a result of the fire and blast.<br />
Minneapolis Colosseum<br />
Re-Elects All Officers<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The local chapter of the<br />
Colosseum of film salesmen re-elected all of<br />
its officers at its amiual meeting. They are<br />
Paul Weiss, president; Don Halloran, vicepresident;<br />
George Fosdick, secretary-treasurer,<br />
and Clyde Cutter, sergeant-at-arms.<br />
In recognition of their contributions to a<br />
recent dinner-dance which netted the club<br />
a substantial profit, pens were presented to<br />
Morrie Steinman and Pat Halloran.<br />
Robert W. Smith Rites<br />
KANSAS CITY—Funeral services were held<br />
here last Monday (16 1 for Robert W. Smith,<br />
77, pioneer drygoods wholesaler and father<br />
of Robert M. Smith, operator of a drive-in<br />
at Osage Beach, Mo. He died following a<br />
heart attack during the opening of the<br />
drive-in May 13.<br />
M. G. Rogers to New York<br />
OMAHA—M. G. Rogers, owner of Film<br />
Ti-ansport, and his wife flew to New York to<br />
attend the Film Depot and Carriers convention.<br />
They also will have a brief reunion with<br />
their daughter and son-in-law, who live in<br />
Washington.<br />
Ray Kennedy Is Manager<br />
LAKE VIEW, IOWA—Ray Kennedy of<br />
Waukee has been named manager of the<br />
Lake Theatre here. He replaces Harry<br />
Arthur.<br />
BOXOFFICE : : May<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
II large North Dakota delegation attended<br />
at the North Central Allied convention<br />
here. Some of the Dakotans sighted were<br />
Mrs. Helen Lehman. Enderlin; Walter Saylor,<br />
Wishek; Bill Brightbell. Cando: Don<br />
Tracy, Carrington; Paul Ayotte, Drayton;<br />
Mr. and Mrs. John Piller, Valley City; Mike<br />
Ccoper. Grand Forks; Ralph Christianson.<br />
Watford City, and Mr. and Mrs. K. E.<br />
Broossmann, Oakes. Some of the Minnesota<br />
exhibitors at the meetings were Paul Snyder,<br />
Warren; Joe Carrier, Hallock. Bill Cameron,<br />
for many years an MGM salesman and now<br />
owner of the theatre at Waterville; George<br />
F. Westerman, Grac«ville, and Clarence<br />
Quinzer, Wadena.<br />
The opening session of the Allied convention<br />
provided a good laugh when President<br />
Bennie Berger had a memory lapse<br />
in introducing Mayor Eric G. Hoyer and<br />
forgot the mayor's name for a few moments.<br />
He covered up by explaining to his honor<br />
that it was only the latter's "initials" that<br />
had slipped his mind.<br />
President Berger announced that the body's<br />
present membership is 400. This exceeds<br />
that of any other previous independent exhibitor<br />
organization in this territory . . .<br />
The Reid Ray Film Industries of the Twin<br />
Cities hosted a cocktail party for members.<br />
Most of the members also attended the<br />
Northwest Variety Club's banquet for past<br />
chief barkers.<br />
The Minneapolis public library is showing<br />
shorts Tuesday nights free to the public . . .<br />
. . For<br />
A. J. O'Keefe. U-I assistant general sales<br />
manager, was in town for a routine visit<br />
with LeRoy J. Miller, local manager .<br />
Saturday and Sunday matinees only, the Orpheum<br />
here is having a cartoon and short<br />
subject carnival in addition to its feature . . .<br />
Another Twin City drive-in theatre, also an<br />
enterprise of the MEE, comprising leading<br />
Twin City independent exhibitors, opened<br />
this week, making four in all.<br />
Additions at Paramount are Ann Anderson,<br />
a new secretary, and Tom McGinty, a<br />
booking department assistant . . . Mike Sal-<br />
Ion, Republic home office auditor, was a<br />
visitor . . . Louis Orlove, MGM exploiteer,<br />
was in from Milwaukee for ten days . . . Jack<br />
Heywood. New Richmond, Wis., exhibitor:<br />
Ted Mann, independent circuit owner, and<br />
George Turner, MGM salesman, were among<br />
these who saw and enjoyed "Finian's Rain-<br />
. . Ralph Cramblett, United<br />
bow," the Broadway musical comedy booked<br />
at the Lyceum .<br />
Artists district manager, was in from Chicago.<br />
J. F. Cubberly, onetime F&R circuit executive<br />
who has lived In Los Angeles since his<br />
retirement, paid his annual visit to Minneapolis.<br />
At the age of 70 he drove from Los<br />
Angeles to Minneapolis with no relief at the<br />
wheel.<br />
W. L. Grouse, Eveleth exhibitor who recently<br />
brought a clearance suit against the<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co. and major distributors<br />
for $1,500,000, is planning to build<br />
theatres at Virginia and Hibbing where there<br />
are now Minnesota Amusement Co. and independent<br />
houses . Rosen, MGM Twin<br />
City salesman, is in Asbury hospital for a<br />
checkup.<br />
John M. Thomas Manages<br />
Cedar Rapids Drive-In<br />
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA—Cedar Rapids'<br />
first outdoor theatre is being readied for its<br />
opening. John M. Thomas has been named<br />
manager. The theatre, which will hold 650<br />
cars, will be the first new Tri-States ozoner<br />
to be opened this spring. Thomas, a native<br />
of Beacon, began his theatre work as an<br />
usher at the old Capitol in Des Moines. He<br />
worked his way up with A. H. Blank enterprises<br />
and was a representative for Blank<br />
theatres with National Screen Service when<br />
he joined the army during the last war.<br />
After service he spent two years as booker<br />
and assistant manager for the Fox Intermountain<br />
theatres in Denver. A year ago he<br />
became general manager of a chain of theatres<br />
in Denver and vicinity.<br />
Golden Valley Prohibits<br />
Drive-In Construction<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The town council of<br />
Golden Valley, local suburb, has indicated it<br />
will prohibit the construction of any drive-in<br />
in the town. Three applicants have appeared<br />
before the council seeking drive-in licenses.<br />
Joe Powers, who is building a 800-seat conventional<br />
theatre in Golden Valley, opposed<br />
the drive-ins on the grounds that they would<br />
"ruin his investment." This, however, was<br />
not the determining factor with the council<br />
members, according to their statements. The<br />
principal influencing factor, it appeared, was<br />
a doubt about the projects desirability.<br />
K. t». I'.KlLivS- Owner and Manager,<br />
Lyric Theatre, Emporia, Kansas—writes:<br />
"RCA Service, over a period<br />
of 15 years, has proved its<br />
value to us in consistently good<br />
sound quality and trouble-free<br />
operation. We are 'RCA All<br />
The Way.'<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Servicewrite:<br />
RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Adv.<br />
Quality<br />
iRAIiiRS<br />
mDIIDfl PICTURE SERVICED<br />
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12S HYDI tT. Jan ^rancnto rCalif<br />
28, 1949 63
. . . Charles<br />
. . . The<br />
. . Grading<br />
KANSAS<br />
Qscar F. Neu, New York, Neumade Products<br />
Corp. head and TESMA president, visited<br />
Arthur DeStefano, National Theatre Supply<br />
Co. branch manager . . . Elmer C. Rhoden,<br />
Pox Midwest Theatres president, was back<br />
from a business trip to the west coast . . .<br />
Finton H. Jones, insuror, was in Missouri terriLMACK<br />
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CITY<br />
Harry R. Hamburg, Paramount<br />
ritory . . .<br />
branch manager, and other local personnel<br />
returned from a sales meeting in Dallas.<br />
Ed D. Durwood, Durwood Theatres head,<br />
disclosed that the ozoner being erected by the<br />
circuit on the Belt highway near St. Joseph,<br />
Mo., would be known as the Skylark Drive-In<br />
Shreve, Shreve Theatre Supply<br />
Co., celebrated his birthday May 19 . . . Hal<br />
Parker, cameraman, was preparing to film a<br />
sales promotion picture for Swift & Co. . . .<br />
Don Davis, RCA-Victor district manager, was<br />
in Colorado territory.<br />
Marilyn Lee Farkhurst, daughter of Allied<br />
general manager C. M. and Mrs. Parkhurst,<br />
has chosen June 21 as the date of her marriage<br />
to James Calvin Dowell of Elgin, 111. . . .<br />
Mrs. M. A. Tanner, wife of the 20th-Fox head<br />
booker, was a patient at St. Joseph hospital<br />
. . . Pauline Frame, formerly at Exhibitors<br />
Film Delivery, joined the UA office staff . . .<br />
Ruby Pasley, Republic cashier, returned from<br />
a Florida vacation.<br />
Construction of the new Oakley Theatre<br />
being erected by A. F. Baker Enterprises at<br />
Oakley, Kas., has been started and the house<br />
is expected to be ready for opening late this<br />
summer . has been completed at<br />
the site on Route 73 near Leavenworth, Kas.,<br />
where Beverly Miller, Kansas City, will erect<br />
a drive-in . . . The drive-in being constructed<br />
by Wade Renick and Glen Cooper near Hays,<br />
Kas., is nearing completion.<br />
The group recently organized to provide a<br />
theatre for Union Star, Mo., has purchased a<br />
building for the project and remodeling now<br />
Remodeling of the former<br />
is in progress . . .<br />
Karyl Theatre at Milan, Mo., recently purchased<br />
by Shelby Armstrong from Chester L.<br />
Hurdle, is being planned by the new owner<br />
new Mary Lou Theatre being erected<br />
by George H. and J. Leo Hayob at Marshall,<br />
Mo., is nearly completed.<br />
. .<br />
Kansas theatre operators seen on Filmiow<br />
included C. B. Kelly, Kelly, Wakeeney; Don<br />
Phillips, Colby, Colby; Albert Orear, Rio,<br />
Bonner Springs, and T. J. Campbell, Osawa,<br />
Osawatomie . Among Missouri showmen at<br />
exchanges and supply houses were G. W.<br />
Campbell, Norb, Norborne; W. E. CuUen, Cozy.<br />
Wheaton; Ed May, Uptown, Strong City: A.<br />
W. Mustion, Dixie, Belton, and Chet Borg,<br />
Plaza, Apleton City.<br />
Public Relations to Be<br />
Allied Conclave Topic<br />
KANSAS CITY—Improved public relations<br />
for the motion picture industry and film<br />
buying problems will be among keynotes at<br />
the second annual convention of the Kansas-<br />
Missouri Allied unit here June 7, 8, according<br />
to O. F. Sullivan, Wichita, president.<br />
Among speakers at the two-day conclave will<br />
be William L. Ainsworth, national Allied<br />
president, and Trueman Rembusch, national<br />
Allied treasurer. William Murchie, a humorist<br />
of St. Joseph, Mo., will speak at the<br />
banquet.<br />
Registration will be started June 7, at 10<br />
a. m. in the Trianon alcove at the Muehlebach<br />
hotel, where all convention sessions will<br />
be held. A luncheon at 12:15 p. m. will be<br />
the initial activity. Topics dm-ing afternoon<br />
sessions will include public relations, television,<br />
16mm films, advertising and film buying.<br />
A fashion show for women also will<br />
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be an opending day feature.<br />
Special meetings for subsequent run exhibitors<br />
and for those using Allied booking and<br />
buying service will be held Wednesday morning.<br />
Concessions and drive-ins will be subjects<br />
to be discussed at a closed session for<br />
exhibitors in the afternoon. New officers will<br />
be elected at a final closed session for members.<br />
Advance reservations received by C. M.<br />
Parkhurst, general manager, indicate that the<br />
registration for the 1949 conclave will greatly<br />
exceed that listed during the initial Kansas-<br />
Missouri unit convention last year. Invitation<br />
to attend the two-day gathering is extended<br />
by Sullivan to all independent exhibitors.<br />
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64 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
SPEAKERS TO DRIVE-IN BY<br />
PLANE—The initial planeload of in-car<br />
speakers for the East Park Drive-In at<br />
Watertown, S. D., is shown in the accompanying<br />
picture. Shown left to right are<br />
Harold E. Hanson and Harold Boyd of<br />
Drive-In Theatres, Inc., Sioux Falls, under<br />
whose direction the new open air<br />
theatre was to be opened May 26. Boyd<br />
formerly was manager of the Hollywood<br />
Theatre and the Starlite Drive-In at<br />
Sioux Falls. Drive-In Theatres, Inc., also<br />
operates an outdoor theatre there.<br />
Winthrop Theatre Sold<br />
WINTHROP. IOWA- The<br />
Winthrop Theatre<br />
building has been piircha.sed by St.<br />
Patrick's church here. The church will use<br />
the basement for a hall to serve dinner and<br />
conduct public meeting.s. The first floor has<br />
been leased to Burdette Ross who will showfilms<br />
four nights a week beginning June 1.<br />
Thomas Kinney will operate a snack bar on<br />
the theatre floor of the building. The church<br />
bought the property from Mr. and Mrs. W. T.<br />
Reinbold.<br />
Ray Blank Memorial<br />
For Scouts Started<br />
DES MOINES — Ground-breaking ceremonies<br />
for the Raymond Blank Memorial<br />
lodge at Camp Mitigwa were held May 22. The<br />
lodge, the gift of A. H. Blank, father of the<br />
late Raymond Blank, and president of Tri-<br />
States Theatres Corp. and Central States<br />
Theatre Corp., is the first major building in<br />
the new area of the Boy Scout camp.<br />
Tlie first spadeful of dirt was turned by<br />
Blank, who presented the building in memory<br />
of his son, the youngest boy in the U.S. ever<br />
to receive the Eagle Scout rank. Raymond,<br />
when 13, represented the states of Iowa and<br />
Nebraska at a Scout jamboree at Copenhagen.<br />
Denmark. He was 33 at the time of his death<br />
in 1943. and had been appointed to the Scout<br />
Tallcorn council only a short time before.<br />
At the ground-breaking ceremonies. Blank<br />
was made an honorary chief of the Mitigwa<br />
tribe, a Boy Scout organization.<br />
The building will be Y-shaped with a memorial<br />
lounge in the open part of the Y. It<br />
will seat 2.50 scouts with porch room on each<br />
end for an additional 75 boys. The kitchen<br />
will be 43x33 feet and contain up-to-date<br />
cooking equipment. There will be a basement<br />
under the kitchen for storage space, a working<br />
area and garage. Over-all dimensions of the<br />
building will be 123x100 feet.<br />
The memorial lounge, done in native stone,<br />
will have a 12-foot fireplace with an 18-inch<br />
raised fire ba.se. An oil painting of Raymond<br />
will hang over the fireplace. All interior posts<br />
holding up the roof will be designed so that<br />
they can become totem poles. It is expected<br />
that' the dining hall will be ready for occupancy<br />
in 1950.<br />
Rites for Homer Cole<br />
SENECA, MO.—Funeral services were held<br />
last Sunday i22i for Homer Cole, local theatre<br />
owner who died following a heart attack.<br />
Cole was co-owner with John Kelly of the<br />
Grand Theatre here which they bought in<br />
1945 from Roy Mathes.<br />
L6rL Popcorn Co. Shifts<br />
Offices to Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—Offices of the L&L Popcorn<br />
Co.. located for more than three years<br />
at Blue Springs, Mo., have been moved to<br />
120 West 18th St. here by Woody Latimer.<br />
Brokers in popcorn, the company holds contracts<br />
with various large theatre circuits.<br />
The company is a representative in 12 states<br />
of the Popcorn Growers & Distributors Co.,<br />
Wall Lake. Iowa, and distributes a full line<br />
of popcorn in bags and cans, .seasoning, boxes<br />
and other items. Butterflake, which is handled<br />
by the firm, is the only washed popcorn<br />
on the market.<br />
The company maintains branches in Dallas<br />
and Houston, Tex.<br />
JOHN H. MACLAY — Manager,<br />
Grand, Strand and Avon Theatres,<br />
Dubuque, Iowa— says:<br />
"We have always found<br />
RCA Service to be eminently<br />
satisfactory."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Adv.<br />
Melcher Theatre to Close<br />
MELCHER, IOWA—The Melcher town<br />
council has ordered the Iowa Theatre to close<br />
its doors until it agrees to obey the town ordinance<br />
to install restrooms as ordered by the<br />
council. Also named in the same action was<br />
Skatland. Anna Ma.ssarini, owner of the theatre,<br />
stated that estimate made for the repair<br />
job were too high to enable her to undertake<br />
it. She said the theatre will close.<br />
New Projectors Installed<br />
IOWA FALLS, IOWA—New Century<br />
projectors<br />
and Voice of the Theatre speakers<br />
have been installed at the Metropolitan<br />
Theatre here, according to I. C. Jensen,<br />
manager. The house, which was operated<br />
for approximately 40 years by the late E. S.<br />
ElLsworth. now is run by the Iowa Falls<br />
Amu.sement Co.<br />
Joe E. Brown Will Lecture<br />
ST. PAUL—Joe E. Brown, star of .screen<br />
and stage, embarking on a lecture tour, will<br />
be one of the attractions presented here next<br />
season by the St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch<br />
newspapers' sponsored Women's Institute.<br />
Brown's subject will be "Laughter Is<br />
Holy."<br />
OUR NEW OFFICE ON FILMROW<br />
ASSURES FASTER SERVICE!<br />
BUTTERFLAKE<br />
The Only WASHED Popcorn<br />
Popcorn Seasoning Brokers • Cretors Popcorn Machines<br />
Harrison 1016 — Telephones — Harrison 1490<br />
L&L POPCORN CO.<br />
120 West 18th St. Kansas City, Mol<br />
II<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 65
. . . Samuel<br />
. . Fred<br />
OMAHA<br />
lyTax McCoy, U-I salesman, and Paul Back,<br />
RKO seller, were on the sixth floor of a<br />
and other horses in Chicago, will have some<br />
entries in the Ak-Sar-Ben meeting. He also<br />
has added a new horse to his string . . . Bill<br />
Miskell, Ti-i-States Theatres district manager,<br />
Hastings hotel when a tornado struck. They<br />
claim an alltime downstairs speed record.<br />
Damage at the Hastings naval base was $250,-<br />
Frank Hollingsworth. Beatrice exhibitor,<br />
000 . . .<br />
who has been running Chance<br />
Day<br />
went to Des Moines for a meeting . . . Peggy<br />
Bragg, Warner Bros, head inspector, is vacationing<br />
at Lost Lake.<br />
The Filmrow g:roup was glad to see Ben<br />
Harding, owner of the Liberty at Council<br />
Bluffs, back for a visit. He has been fighting<br />
a long battle with his eyes and now is better<br />
Deutch, U-I office managerbooker,<br />
has one Collie left out of the latest<br />
litter . . . Mr. and Mrs. Will Johannsen, owners<br />
of the Wonderland at Paulina, Iowa, are<br />
on a fishing vacation at the Prince-Jackson<br />
resort. Walker, Minn. . Teller, manager<br />
of the Omaha, headed the week's drive<br />
efforts in this district for Tri-States Theatres<br />
. . . H. B. Johnson, U-I branch manager, went<br />
to Des Moines.<br />
. . .<br />
H. L. Beecroft, Eagle Lion district manager<br />
from Dallas, Tex., spent two days here<br />
L. J. McGuiley, sales manager for Prestige<br />
Pictures, arrived here from New York . . .<br />
UA salesmen spent their weekend in a screening<br />
room, seeking this display of product:<br />
"Too Late for Tears," •"Africa Screams,"<br />
"The Great Dan Patch," "Outpost in<br />
Moroco," "The Gay Amigo" and "The<br />
Crooked Way."<br />
. .<br />
. . .<br />
Foster Blake, U-I district manager from Los<br />
Angeles, made a routine visit to the Omaha<br />
exchange Mary Pahls, Eagle Lion secretary,<br />
is<br />
.<br />
vacationing in Kansas and Denver<br />
Omaha Paramounters in Chicago for a<br />
sales meeting had an opportunity to see botn<br />
the White Sox and the Cubs play big league<br />
Among Filmrow visitors wer4<br />
baseball . . .<br />
Harold Schnoonover, Aurora; Olie Schneider,<br />
Osceola; Prank Good, Red Oak; Raymond<br />
Brown, Harlan; D. C. Campbell, Central City:<br />
Arnold Johnson, Onawa; Blanche Colbert,<br />
North Bend; Archie Mahoney, Ute; Fritz<br />
Largen, Creighton; Arnold Meierdierks,<br />
Pender; Mr. and Mrs. FVed Shuler, Humboldt,<br />
and Al Haals, Harlan.<br />
U-I will handle bookings of "Spirit of '49"<br />
in this territory and promises to advise of<br />
dates shortly. It is the 11-minute reeler to<br />
help the bond drive . . Allen Jacques, U-I<br />
.<br />
shipper, was spending his two-week vacation<br />
painting a house. That also enables him to be<br />
home with Mrs. Jacques, recently out of the<br />
hospital.<br />
Evert Cununings, former Tri-States Theatres<br />
chief here, has the new Avenue Theatre<br />
in Downey, Calif. , . . Ted Mack was here to<br />
salute Omaha with his amateur show. He<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
We Cover the U. S. Market<br />
A different service ol long<br />
experience and reputf!*ion<br />
ARTHUR LEAK THEATRE SALES<br />
3422 Einmoia 1109 Orchard Lane<br />
Dallas 13-2026 Des Moines 4-9087<br />
got his start at the World Theatre in 1929<br />
when he took over handling of stage shows.<br />
Irving Waterstreet, Ti'i-States publicity chief<br />
here then, now handles a similar job with<br />
Mack and also was here.<br />
Theatremen Eye Progress<br />
Of Bill on Aisle Widths<br />
KANSAS CITY—Progress of senate Bill 80<br />
in the Missouri legislature was being observed<br />
by a delegation of local theatremen who went<br />
to Jefferson City this week in the interests<br />
of the measure, now pending in the house of<br />
representatives.<br />
Included in the delegation were Elmer Bills,<br />
Salisbury, KMTA president: R. R. Biechele,<br />
KMTA legislative chairman; Joe Kelly jr.,<br />
KMTA attorney, and Dick Brous, Fox Midwest<br />
Theatres attorney.<br />
The bill, which specifies aisle widths for<br />
theatres and other places of amusement and<br />
outlaws a statute enacted in 1877 permitting<br />
the filing of informer suits, recently was<br />
approved by the senate.<br />
Partlow Buys Stuart House<br />
LAURENS, IOWA—Joe Smith has sold<br />
the<br />
Elite Theatre here to Glenn Partlow of<br />
Stuart, Iowa. The transaction was handled<br />
by R. M. Copeland of the Savereide Theatre<br />
Brokers. Smith plans to take a vacation for<br />
about a year. The addition of the Laurens<br />
house gives Partlow thi-ee Iowa theatres, at<br />
Logan. Stuart and Laurens.<br />
Monona, Iowa, Plaza Sold<br />
MONONA. IOWA—Glenn Partlow has sold<br />
the Plaza Theatre here to N. J. Martin of<br />
West Union, Iowa. The deal was consummated<br />
through Savereide Theatre Brokers<br />
with R. M. Copeland handling details. Martin<br />
formerly was in the hardware business.<br />
Partlow operates the Stuart Theatre in<br />
Stuart, the Logan at Logan and the Elite at<br />
Laurens.<br />
Theatres to Do Own Buying<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— Recent defections from<br />
the ranks of the nonprofit buying and booking<br />
combines here include George Granstrom,<br />
St. Paul theatre owner; the Montgomery,<br />
Dale & Ryden circuit of St. Paul, and Sim<br />
Heller.<br />
Sound for Tri-State Houses<br />
OMAHA—Western Theatre Supply Co. announced<br />
these recent installations: Sound for<br />
Tri-States theatres, the Iowa at Grinnell,<br />
Iowa, and the Bonham at Fairbury, Neb., and<br />
650 new seats for the Strand at Dubuque,<br />
Iowa.<br />
Brothers Open Drive-Ins<br />
OMAHA—Two brothers opened new driveins<br />
in Iowa within a week. Alfred Haals got<br />
the Harlan Drive-In under way at Harlan,<br />
and his brother Edward Started the Red Oak<br />
Drive-In.<br />
Buys in Humboldt, S. D.<br />
HUMBOLDT, S.<br />
D.—John Egge, zone manager<br />
for Investors Syndicate, has purchased<br />
the Legion Theatre here and will take over<br />
operation on June 1.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • •<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
JJARVEY HAMMOND, organist at the<br />
Plaza in Kansas City, escaped being victimized<br />
by a blackmailer by a narrow margin<br />
when a planted detective caught the man in<br />
the act of receiving money from Hammond.<br />
The man had posed as a police officer and<br />
had demanded $25 on a threat of accusing<br />
Hammond of grand larceny.<br />
* » *<br />
Sam Brandt of Kansas City returned from<br />
Denver where he visited Earl Jameson who<br />
is in the west developing business for the<br />
Exhibitors Film Delivery & Service Co. . . .<br />
The new Paramount exchange at 18th and<br />
Wyandotte in Kansas City will open soon,<br />
according to Oscar Morgan, branch manager<br />
. . . Sam Carver has opened the New Auditorium<br />
Theatre at Ninth and Holmes, showing<br />
silents with synchronized music.<br />
* * *<br />
Recent changes in ownership in Kansas:<br />
Palace, .sold to Mrs. B. Koch by G. M. Pohlenz;<br />
Belle Plaine, Opera house, sold to J. L.<br />
Leonard by Dewey I. Gates: Florence, Mayflower,<br />
sold to H. C. Musgrave by 'Whitney<br />
Bros.; lola, Elite, sold to O. D. Taylor by<br />
T. M. Magruder; McDonald, sold to Moore<br />
& Knock by Ritter Bros.; Marion, Garden,<br />
sold to Glen Newbold by S. A. Mudd; Russell,<br />
Mainstreet, sold to E. B. Danielson by<br />
Wallis Bros.; Utica. Olympic, sold to Ed<br />
Wheatcroft by H. E. Davis.<br />
* * *<br />
Fire destroyed the show house in Lewis,<br />
Iowa, recently, with a loss of more than<br />
$6,000 . . . The Capitol Theatre in Des Moines<br />
is doing away with its stage show, stage<br />
band and master of ceremonies.<br />
* * *<br />
The New Center Theatre and the Kansas<br />
City Slide Co., both at Fifteenth and<br />
Troost, Kansas City, suffered extensive damage<br />
from flames recently, the fire starting<br />
in the International Boxing arena next door.<br />
Flames spread to the seventh floor of the<br />
New Center building, causing damage to the<br />
slide company estimated at $15,000. according<br />
to George Wieda. manager.<br />
* * *<br />
The Midland circuit of theatres, Kansas<br />
City, plans to build a $400,000 theatre in<br />
Salina, Kas. A site has been purchased for<br />
$100,000.<br />
« • *<br />
Walter J. Hammers is the new manager<br />
of the Esmond Theatre, Esmond, S. D. . . .<br />
"King of Kings," Pathe's $2,500,000 special,<br />
is the first pictiu-e to be shown in the Gem<br />
Theatre at Morton, Minn., by H. B. Hanson,<br />
new owner, who purchased the house from<br />
Daun & Johnson . . . The Capitol Theatre in<br />
Des Moines opened its doors last week as the<br />
New Paramount, with an exclusive picture<br />
policy . . . Arnold Flink has rented the<br />
Verndale, Minn., showhouse and has opened<br />
the theatre on a one-day-a-week plan.<br />
* * «<br />
W. A. Bm-ke, former Paramount salesman,<br />
is back to his old love. First National in<br />
Omaha .<br />
. . Exhibitors<br />
seen in Omaha recently:<br />
G. G. Griffin, Plattsmouth, Neb.;<br />
Herb Bluebell, Clarinda, Iowa; C. A. Sample,<br />
Manilla, Iowa; M. Biemond, Loup City, Neb.;<br />
Bert Beams, Red Cloud, Neb.; Oscar Gross,<br />
Bloomfield, Neb.; Hy Robinson, Blair, Neb.;<br />
C. E. Fletcher, Hartington, Neb.; E. C. Scott,<br />
LeMars, Iowa.<br />
66 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Drive-In Theaire Ass'n<br />
Formed in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH — Tlie Tristate Drive-In<br />
Theatres Ass'n has been formed here to promote<br />
better conditions and the welfare of<br />
open-air theatres: to circulate information<br />
among the membership, spreading reliable<br />
theatre intelligence among them, and furnishing<br />
information to members to enable<br />
them to regulate operation, advertising and<br />
purchasing; to exchange ideas and information<br />
and problems of labor relations; to collectively<br />
promote the interests thereof by<br />
means of public relations. A nonprofit corporation,<br />
the a.ssociation incorporators are<br />
Theodore Grance, Robert W. Thom.son .1r.,<br />
John A. Robb. Dario Castelli and Andrew F.<br />
Battiston.<br />
Kentucky Newsreel Firm<br />
Formed at Louisville<br />
LOUISVILLE—Jesse Hopewell, projectionist<br />
at the Scopp Theatre here, and Phil<br />
Harnden, long t;me newsreel cameraman<br />
around town, have formed the Kentucky<br />
Eagle Studios to film and market regular<br />
newsreel features for presentation in<br />
Kentucky theatres and on television screens.<br />
Coverage will embrace nine general subjects,<br />
such as water sports, land sports, police<br />
and fire activities and special events, plus a<br />
dash of local hi.story narrated around a<br />
Louisville landmark or site of historic significance.<br />
Additional groups are contemplated.<br />
The films will be released on regular 35mm<br />
stock and will be complete with sound. The<br />
sound recording will be handled by a professional<br />
studio, but it is hoped that the complete<br />
processing of the film can be done<br />
locally by Harnden and Hopewell to give<br />
quicker coverage on current events.<br />
The partners have a total of almost 50 years<br />
experience in the theatre and newsreel field.<br />
Their initial programs are expected to make<br />
their appearance on local screens within the<br />
next few weeks and from that time on are<br />
.scheduled for regular programs in the theatres.<br />
Fabian Shift in Altoona<br />
ALTOONA, PA.— George Long, manager of<br />
the Strand here for the Fabian circuit, has<br />
resigned and left for Cleveland to join Associated<br />
Theatres. Ward B. Kreag, Fabian<br />
city manager, is taking over as State manager<br />
and has moved his office there from the<br />
Strand, where Jack Day has been shifted.<br />
Day. formerly State manager, also will handle<br />
publicity and advertising for the tlu-ee local<br />
Fabian houses. Harry AJberth will continue<br />
as manager of the Logan. Prank Hughes is<br />
assistant and Betty Dobie is treasurer at the<br />
Strand.<br />
Fire Cry Causes Near Panic<br />
BUTLER, PA.—Near panic resulted from a<br />
cry of "fire" at the Butler Theatre one night<br />
recently. Smoke from burning rubbish in a<br />
building near the theatre was pulled into the<br />
auditorium by the ventilation system and a<br />
patron immediately set up the cry. Patrons<br />
rushed to the exits and left the theatre. A<br />
pocketbook and other articles were lost in<br />
the rush but no one was injured and there<br />
was no damage.<br />
Tribute to Ray Branch<br />
In Lansing on June 15<br />
Drive-In<br />
ELIZABETHTOWN,<br />
Openings<br />
KY. — Construction<br />
was rushed here on Bob Enoch's Star-Lite<br />
Drive-In, in order to hold the opening ceremonies<br />
at the 400-car situation. The Star-<br />
Lite was equipped with Motiograph projectors,<br />
hall lamps, .sound and in-car speakers<br />
by Falls City Theatre Equipment Co. of<br />
Louisville.<br />
Eugene Hoskin.son, formerly connected with<br />
the State Theatre here, has been named<br />
manager of the Star-Lite. In addition to the<br />
drive-in, Enoch also operates the Grand Theatre<br />
here. The drive-in features bottle-warming<br />
facilities and artificial moonlight illumination.<br />
Admission is 40 cents for adults,<br />
15 cents for children six to 12 years old, and<br />
kiddies under six, free.<br />
Morgantown Drive-In Opens<br />
MORGANTOWN, W. VA.—The new Star<br />
Light Drive-In has opened on Route 19 on<br />
the Fairmont road five miles from this city.<br />
Jim Work Opens Drive-In<br />
NEW MARTINSVILLE. W. VA.—Jimmy<br />
Work. Pine Grove exhibitor, opened the new<br />
Work Drive-In here, engineered and equipped<br />
by Gordon Gibson of Atlas Tlieatre Supply,<br />
Pittsburgh. Capacity is 400 cars and equipments<br />
include Motiograph-Hall lamps. The<br />
Skyway Drive-In, Route 2, is across the highway<br />
from the new ozoner.<br />
Charter Belle Air Drive-In<br />
WEIRTON. W. VA—The Belle Air Drive-<br />
In, which will open soon, has been chartered<br />
by the secretary of state in Charleston.<br />
Authorized stock was listed at $50,000, starting<br />
business at $38,000. Incorporators include<br />
Joseph Yacos. Mary Yacos and Peter Rodak,<br />
all of Weirton.<br />
East Pittsburgh Theatre<br />
Sold to George Katsilas<br />
EAST PITTSBURGH. PA.— Nicholas A.<br />
Malanos has transferred the Frederick here<br />
to George Katsilas, effective June 1. Malanos<br />
continues in exhibition at the Urban in East<br />
McKeesport. Katsilas is in the restaurant and<br />
transfer business and is a brother of Gust<br />
Katsilas of the G. A. Katsilas & Son Trucking<br />
Co., co-owner of the Colonial Manor<br />
restaurant and the White Barn Theatre,<br />
strawhat stock house, near Irwin.<br />
Floor Tile Firm Expands<br />
FREMONT, OHIO—Fremont Rubber Co.,<br />
maker of rubber floor tile, is undergoing a<br />
plant expansion program which w'ill provide<br />
50 per cent more floor space and permit<br />
installation of twice the present equipment.<br />
This will permit a 100 per cent increase in<br />
production by August 1, says R. P. Johnson,<br />
president.<br />
LANSING—Ray Branch of Hastings, president<br />
of Allied Theatres of Michigan from<br />
1932 until his retirement last fall, will be<br />
honored by the organization at a dinner to be<br />
held in the Hotel Olds June 15.<br />
The dinner will be given following a special<br />
board meeting to be open to all members.<br />
The banquet itself will be a mixed event, with<br />
exhibitors' wives attending.<br />
In citing the occasion for the testimonial,<br />
KAV BRANCH<br />
Charles W. Snyder., executive secretary of<br />
Allied, said, "Ray Branch is deserving of<br />
recognition far beyond our ability to express.<br />
He has worked hard, traveled much, worried<br />
no end about the exhibitors' problems<br />
through 19 of the 20 glorious years of Allied<br />
States' existence."<br />
Allied has also voted to return to Detroit<br />
for the annual convention this year. The<br />
event will be held at the Hotel Book Cadillac<br />
on October 3, 4 and 5.<br />
Branch has been in the motion picture industry<br />
for 41 years, having started as a film<br />
exchange shipping clerk in 1908. His career<br />
in show business started in 1904 as assistant<br />
property man for stage productions, then successively<br />
became property man, stage carpenter,<br />
fly man, theatre treasurer and assistant<br />
manager.<br />
In 1911, Branch became a theatre operator,<br />
then booking clerk, salesman, manager and<br />
branch manager. He owned a theatre equipment<br />
house in Detroit in 1917 and in 1923<br />
went to First National Pictures as a salesman.<br />
He owned the Strand Theatre in Hastings<br />
in 1925 and in 1935, he opened the Barry<br />
Theatre. He was president of the Detroit<br />
lATSE in 1912 and head of the Film Board<br />
of Trade here in 1920.<br />
Variety Show at Toledo<br />
TOLEDO—Tent 30 of Varety Club sponsored<br />
a charity screen and stage show at midnight<br />
Friday (27i in the Rivoli Theatre. The<br />
film was "Bad Boy" and the stage show included<br />
night club acts.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949<br />
ME 67
. .<br />
, . . George<br />
. . Floyd<br />
. . Leo<br />
. . Wilber<br />
. . Robert<br />
. . Akins<br />
DETROIT<br />
.<br />
Jlrvid Kantor. former branch manager for<br />
National Screen Service, has been named<br />
central division manager for Electroaire Theatre<br />
Distributing Co., Inc., manufactm-er of<br />
odor-dispelling equipment. He will cover<br />
Michigan. Ohio. Illinois and Indiana<br />
Division offices are being opened in the Fox<br />
Fred Bormem, former<br />
Theatre building . . .<br />
manager for Film Classics, has been named<br />
district manager for Michigan. First installations<br />
in the territory are being made in the<br />
Colonial for the Midwest circuit and in the<br />
Alhambra for the Kilbride circuit.<br />
Arnold Wisper of Maksym Refrigeration<br />
Engineers reports installation of a new Ty-<br />
DELUXE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
68<br />
* BRENKERT PROJECTORS<br />
* RCA SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
*RCA RECTIFIERS<br />
*RCA SOUND SCREENS<br />
BRENKERT LAMPS<br />
INTERNATIONAL CHAIRS<br />
MOHAWK CARPET<br />
HORSTMAN MARQUEES<br />
ADLER LETTERS<br />
CENTURY GENERATORS<br />
KOLDRINK BARS<br />
STAR POPCORN MACHINES<br />
NEUMADE PRODUCTS<br />
COINOMETER CHANGERS<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR<br />
SPECIALTY<br />
ERNIE FORBES<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Film Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.<br />
Days<br />
WO 1-1122<br />
WO 1-1123<br />
Nights<br />
VE 7-1227<br />
. .<br />
. . . Carl<br />
phoon air conditioning unit in the Willis for<br />
Irving Katcher . Haartge, operator<br />
at the Midtown, and bride Daley, went to<br />
Springfield, Mo., for a honeymoon after a<br />
double wedding at which his stepson also<br />
spoke his vows . Marty Shore can keep a<br />
weather eye on Local 199 headquarters right<br />
from h s booth in the Colonial<br />
Kaufman, new manager at the Colonial, is a<br />
newcomer to Detroit . . . Albin Frosty has<br />
moved from the Amo to the Home, replacing<br />
Nate Kaufman, who went to a drive-in.<br />
Broder has<br />
. .<br />
Fred Newman has moved from the Courtesy<br />
to the Conant, replacing Carl Mingoine, who<br />
moved<br />
went to a drive-in . . . Al<br />
from the Rainbo to manage the Seville, replacing<br />
William Mann e, who went to the<br />
Times Square . Charlotte Clark, cashier at<br />
the Rainbo, has taken on the added duties of<br />
cashier, while the house shifted to a Rainbo<br />
Ranch policy, with three changes a week, all<br />
westerns.<br />
. . Mel<br />
Tom Fitzgerald came up from Cleveland on<br />
a one-man invasion to try to gel back the<br />
trophy the boys across the lake lost to the<br />
Nightingales . H. Akins was guest of<br />
honor at a surprise birthday party given by<br />
Mrs. Akins with Fitzgerald, Edgar Douville<br />
and Jack Yellich as guests, joining up later<br />
with H. O. Bloug. Leo Brooks and Frank<br />
Scheuer, all with their wives . sends<br />
congratulations to Tom Smart, new Cleveland<br />
Local 160 Bowling League president .<br />
Owens of the Brenkert projection service was<br />
out to visit the Circle, checking over the<br />
equipment and found it all okay.<br />
, . .<br />
Mannie Gottlieb. U-I district manager, had<br />
to borrow a bright green umbrella from Agnes<br />
Mattson for his trip on Filmrow in the rain<br />
Harold Bernstein and Ed Johnston of Bay<br />
City were visitors . . . Nat Levy and Morris<br />
Lefko, RKO division and district manager,<br />
respectively, were due in town to meet with<br />
Manager Nat Taylor . . . Irwin Gold and<br />
Dennis Lenahan are recruiting help to build<br />
a dock out at Wolverine lake . . . Walter<br />
Shafer's new Wayne Drive-In has opened.<br />
Roy Bommarito has closed the Kum-C, east<br />
side house formerly known as the Odeon . . .<br />
Jack Krass, circuit operator, has taken over<br />
the Graystone, west side house, from Anthony<br />
Dubiel. Booking for the theatre has been<br />
transferred to Mutual Theatres, headed by<br />
Allen Dowzer . Fullarton, RCA<br />
sound engineer, is proud of that concealed<br />
wiring job at the Martha Washington in<br />
Hamtrack . Hudzik, formerly of the<br />
Lasky, now stationed at the Martha Washington,<br />
used to have a golf practice course on<br />
the roof of the Garden Theatre when he<br />
worked there . . . Gil Lubin has moved to the<br />
East Side Drive-In.<br />
. . .<br />
. .<br />
George McArthur had his first miss in<br />
years as a faithful attendant at the annual<br />
Nightingales party Arvid and Ella<br />
Kantor of Arvid Display Service are back<br />
from the big Variety doings. They also visited<br />
Harry Balk of<br />
Ben<br />
their son in Pueblo, Colo. . . .<br />
the Chic has returned from Florida .<br />
Rosen and the confection Cabinet gang<br />
headed into Chicago for a weekend conference.<br />
Ben Lefkowitz of the L&L Concession Co.<br />
was on a brief trip upstate visiting theatres<br />
Turner, new manager of the<br />
Garden, was formerly on the road as supervisor<br />
for the Sports and Boat show . . . Emli<br />
Setzke jr., who has replaced Charles Walters<br />
at the Garden, is the son of the longtime<br />
Grand operator, and got his booth training<br />
working for Charles P. Skouras jr. in the<br />
army at Roswell, N. M.<br />
. . . Donald<br />
David U. Farlow, new manager of the Majestic,<br />
has a distinguished record as producerdirector<br />
of the Vesper Players, legitimate theatre<br />
organization, achieving national recognition<br />
in producing "For the Time Being." He<br />
has also had radio experience<br />
Lewis sr. of the Palms-State, is back from<br />
seven weeks in Albuquerque, getting acclimated.<br />
Lewis jr., who was out of the bowling<br />
season this past year because of an internal<br />
injury, has been putting in two months<br />
repainting his home furniture . . . Glenn<br />
Ramsey, Rosedale manager, has prepared an<br />
analysis of current show business problems<br />
. . . Victor Lopez Herrera, owner of the Aztec,<br />
has had his car refinished after receiving<br />
$1,000 damages in a collision.<br />
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BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949
Midweek Dark Night<br />
At Suburban House<br />
DETROIT—New policy in theatre opeiation<br />
is being inaugurated by Felix L. Goletz.<br />
operator of the east side Moran Theatre,<br />
with the elimination of Wednesday shows.<br />
The house will remain closed on that day<br />
under the new setUD.<br />
One sign ficant reason is that the Wednesday<br />
closing allows the house to operate un<br />
two changes a week, instead of the prevailing<br />
three in the neighborhood class. By reducing<br />
film rental for the third change and<br />
general operating costs. Goletz figures he is<br />
actually saving money on net figures for the<br />
house.<br />
In addition, he is giving the entire staff,<br />
as well as himself, one definite night off a<br />
week, without the necessity of working staggered<br />
shifts or finding someone to fill in for<br />
just one night following a practice widely<br />
adopted since wartime days in the restaurant<br />
trade.<br />
David E. Flayer Is Elected<br />
Cinema Lodge President<br />
DETROIT—David E. Flayer was elected<br />
president of the Cinema B'nai B'rith lodge,<br />
succeeding Ted Birnkrant. Other new officers:<br />
vice-presidents, Marvin Lubin and<br />
Irving S. Katcher, circuit owner; treasurer,<br />
Leonard Soskin: recording secretary. Art<br />
Perlmutter; financial secretary, Alan Soskin;<br />
warden, M. Rosenthal; guardian, Joe Lulenfeld;<br />
chaplain, Ted Birnkrant; assistant<br />
chaplain, Kal Bru.^s.<br />
New members on the board of trustees:<br />
Paul Broder, Realart president; Jack Zide,<br />
Allied manager: Irving Belinsky, circuit<br />
owner; Max Blumenthal, Film Projection<br />
Service; Ted Levy, Warners salesman; Ben<br />
Ro.sen. manager of the Confection Cabinet<br />
Corp.; Joseph Lee, 20th -Fox manager; James<br />
Laker, Ruby Kapper, P. Chatnick and Irvin<br />
Serlin.<br />
New Melody Open in Bardstown, Ky.<br />
Arnold & Sisco Enterprises, of which<br />
C. K. Arnold is general manager, recently<br />
opened the new Melody Theatre<br />
in Bardstown, Ky., next door to its<br />
Arco. Above view taken on opening<br />
night shows the upper facing had not<br />
yet been completed and display frames<br />
were yet to be installed;. The men in the<br />
adjacent photo are Arnold and Ous<br />
Datillo, Louisville businessman who<br />
owned and operated the first motion<br />
picture show in Bardstown 40 years ago.<br />
A. F. Battiston Withdraws<br />
From Drive-In Field<br />
PITTSBURGH—Andrew F. Battiston, theatre<br />
broker and veteran in the motion picture<br />
industry, who is accredited with the promotion<br />
of area drive-ins, has withdrawn from<br />
this field. The Battiston interests, including<br />
those of sons Richard and Wallace, have been<br />
transferred. They now have no interests in<br />
the Outdoor Theatres Corp., owner-operator<br />
of several drive-ins in the mideast. Mario<br />
Battiston, Export theatre owner, has not sold<br />
his outdoor theatre interests, according to<br />
members of the family.<br />
Joe E. Brown Hurt in Fall<br />
TOLEDO— Joe E. Brown spent a day in a<br />
Toledo hospital after slipping on the stage<br />
of Town Hall Theatre and injuring his back.<br />
He was pantomining the role of "Elmer the<br />
Great" and slipped while doing the baseballpitching<br />
routine, aggravating a back injury<br />
suffered in a 1939 automobile accident. He<br />
had finished a four-day booking of "Harvey"<br />
at the Town Hall. He had refused pleas of<br />
his audience to do the "Elmer the Great" role<br />
on advice of his doctors, but he finally gave<br />
in to the audience's clamor.<br />
Drive-In Film Stampedes<br />
Cattle in Nearby Field<br />
CLARKSBURG. W. VA.— Proof of the<br />
realism enjoyed by drive-in audiences comes<br />
from Gray Barker, film buyer-booker, who<br />
reports that during a western feature at the<br />
Harrisonburg Drive-In, Harrisonburg, Va.,<br />
cattle in a field adjoining the theatre became<br />
excited at a stampede sequence, broke<br />
down the fence and ran across the field,<br />
halting at the screen tower. No one was injured.<br />
At Moorefield Drive-In, Moorefield, W. Va.,<br />
which also has a centralized speaker system,<br />
cattle in an adjoining field were frightened<br />
during the big stampede scene in "Red River"<br />
and ran about bellowing loudly.<br />
Host High School Band<br />
CARNOT, PA.—Members of the Moon<br />
township high school band were guests of<br />
the Penn-Lincoln Drive-In, near Imperial.<br />
Transportation was arranged to take the students<br />
to the theatre, where they were guests<br />
of Arthur E. Klixbull, manager.<br />
C. W. Marsh Purchases<br />
Glenville, W. Va., Lyric<br />
GLENVILLE, W. VA.—C. W. "Judge"<br />
Marsh, owner of the Pictureland here, has<br />
purchased the 200-seat Lyric, which he previously<br />
operated under lease. A weekend action<br />
policy is in effect, and double bill reissues<br />
have been used recently. Marsh also<br />
owns the Gilmer county fairgrounds, and has<br />
the "Wings Over Jordan" chorus booked May<br />
29. Extensive radio and newspaper advertising<br />
is being used.<br />
Bill Rymer, projectionist at the Pictureland,<br />
is recuperating at his home from cuts and<br />
bruises suffered in an automobile accident.<br />
Prize Film at Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH—Now on exhibit here at<br />
the Art Cinema is "Monsieur Vmcent," Lopert<br />
masterpiece and the year's most honored<br />
picture. The theatre management staged a<br />
special screening of the picture at the Mount<br />
Mercy Academy here. The Art Cinema, in<br />
recent weeks, featured "Symphonie Pastorale,"<br />
"Beauty and the Beast" and a revival<br />
of "The Mikado."<br />
BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949 69
. . Bing<br />
. .<br />
. . . Joe Blowitz,<br />
to view the television, which is in front<br />
Manor<br />
of<br />
the standee chutes<br />
manager, is in Montefiore hospital and Dave<br />
Smith is looking after the Squirrel Hill house.<br />
AT PARAMOUNT DIVISION SALES MEETING—Paramount sales officials met for<br />
a divisional meeting May 12-14 at Pittsburgh. Shown left to right in the accompanying<br />
picture are Ulrich Smith, Philadelphia branch manager; A. C. Benson, Washington<br />
manager; E. K. O'Shea, assistant general sales manager; A. W. Schwalberg, general<br />
sales manager; Harry H. Goldstein, mideast sales manager; Saul Frifield, Cleveland<br />
manager; Edward Stuckey, Detroit manager; James J. Gardy, Cincinnati manager;<br />
Richard Morgan, legal department, and Dave Kimelman, Pittsburgh manager.<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
IJarry Battistini, former Punxsutawney ex-<br />
. . . Betty<br />
hibitor, apparently is doing well with his<br />
investments. He leased his theatre to the<br />
Warner crixuit some years ago. Recently, he<br />
completed a large market building there,<br />
which has been leased and is occupied by the<br />
A&P stores. Harry said hello the other day<br />
on Filmrow and indicated that he might return<br />
to exhibition in this area<br />
Goldberg of the Film Classics office is wearing<br />
a sparkler from William Mash .<br />
. . Harry<br />
Finkel, theatre owner, has been ill at his<br />
home in Florida where son Morris M. Finkel,<br />
Allied MPTO president, has been visiting for<br />
a number of weeks. The illness of his father<br />
ROBERT H. URLING — Owner<br />
and Operator, Wayne Theatre,<br />
Wayne, West Virginia—says:<br />
"The theatre I operate is<br />
small but I know that I can<br />
compete with the biggest and<br />
best by using RCA sound<br />
and service."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
Jim Alexander<br />
Sam Fineberg<br />
Adv.<br />
1705 Blvd. of the AlliesI<br />
PITTSBURGH 19. PA.<br />
Phone EXpresB 0777<br />
will prevent Morris from attending the Allied<br />
confab at Dallas.<br />
Pittsburgh entertainers have increased their<br />
minimum wage scale about 70 per cent . . .<br />
Laskey Bros.' new Starlite Drive-In near<br />
Fairmont. W. Va., will open May 29 . . John<br />
.<br />
A. Robb, attorney and drive-in theatre investor,<br />
and Horace Goodenough and Joseph<br />
R. Royston jr., have incorporated Goodenough<br />
Associates, Inc., to act as business<br />
consultants, investigators and to manage all<br />
types of manufacturing businesses.<br />
MGM visitors included Harry Simons, auditor,<br />
and Oliver Broughton, home office representative<br />
... A. A. Shubert, RKO branch<br />
operations manager, was another visitor . . .<br />
Herb Ochs, drive-in circuit operator who is<br />
. .<br />
opening a new one at Elm Grove, W. Va., was<br />
a Filmrow shopper . . . Bill Walker. Crafton<br />
exhibitor, who underwent an operation in<br />
Presbyterian hospital, was to undergo surgery<br />
again this week . Gabe Rubin, Art Cinema<br />
proprietor, is busy preparing for the opening<br />
of the new drive-in at Silver Lake, and is<br />
operating a freak film show at the Casino<br />
under a special lease-license.<br />
. Bill Stich, Screen Broadcasts representative,<br />
Midget auto races will be staged May 29 at<br />
the race track on the Speedway Drive-In<br />
between Fairmont and Bridgeport, W. Va.<br />
Admission to the drive-in is 35 cents per<br />
Skyline Drive-In at New Castle featured<br />
car . . .<br />
"Mamma," Italian dialog film . . .<br />
Reynolds Drive-In near Sharon staged preshow<br />
musical entertainments recently, presenting<br />
Bill Gardner and His Rambling Riders<br />
..<br />
reports that practically all of<br />
the drive-ins of the area are using his advertising<br />
reels.<br />
Sam DeFazio, manager of the J. P. Harris.<br />
has a special baseball gear and Pirate photos<br />
display in the lobby exploiting "It Happens<br />
Every Spring." Harry Keck and Al Abrams,<br />
sports editors, were in the theatre for a sneak<br />
preview of the comedy. DeFazio reports that<br />
more and more of the theatre patrons stop<br />
IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS;<br />
SPEAKER POSTS<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C. Mo.<br />
Marion Fogel of Republic has been making<br />
transportation reservations for those who<br />
desire to have special bus service to and<br />
from the Filmrow bam dance at the Museum<br />
building June 3. The event has shaped up<br />
as a big evening and the sponsor, Filmrow<br />
Exchange Front Office Employes Local Fll,<br />
lATSE, has been busy with details.<br />
Tom Woods, manager of the Hi-Way<br />
Drive-In near Latrobe, also manages frozen<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Dominic<br />
food lockers there . . .<br />
Navarro were hosts at the family party at<br />
Filmrow visitors included<br />
Variety Club . . .<br />
National Carbon representatives E. R. Geib<br />
of Cleveland and Pittsburgh area salesmen<br />
Robert Varsha. Jack Casey and Tom Lewis<br />
. . . Tommy Cowell and his bride are at<br />
home in Erie after a four-month honeymoon<br />
in Florida. He will get to work on his drive-in<br />
on his Lake Erie beach, but it may not be<br />
completed for opening this season.<br />
Theodore Mikolowsky, pioneer exhibitor,<br />
again is a grandpop. A second son George<br />
Julius was born to his son and daughter-inlaw<br />
the George Mikolowskys. George assists<br />
his father in exhibition at Masontown .<br />
John Perry, Belle Vernon exhibitor, has filed<br />
an amended complaint in his claim that he<br />
was illegally ousted as burgess there. The<br />
job carries no salary but Perry is staging<br />
a big court fight to be reinstated . Loew's<br />
. .<br />
Penn sneak previewed "The Stratton Story"<br />
the evening of May 18 and the following evening<br />
the J. P. Harris sneak previewed "It<br />
Happens Every Spring."<br />
Nearly three decades have passed since an<br />
independent exhibitor affair has taken Fred<br />
J. Herrington, local Allied MPTO secretary,<br />
to Dallas, but he is en route there to attend<br />
Allied sessions and the Texas convention.<br />
Last time he addressed Texas exhibitors at<br />
Dallas was in the fall of 1920. Fred has been<br />
attending independent theatre owners meetings<br />
and conventions for more than 40 years.<br />
Abe Weiner, Allied Artists-Monogram manager,<br />
has located a residence here and will<br />
move into a duplex on South Evaline street<br />
in the Bloomfield district. Mrs. Weiner and<br />
their daughter, who have made their home<br />
in Boston, will come here immediately . . .<br />
Al Suchman, SRO division manager, was a<br />
Filmrow visitor. He reports thta Eddie Fontaine,<br />
veteran of the industry, has returned<br />
to the SRO fold . . . Harry M. Kalmine,<br />
Warner circuit general manager and former<br />
local zone manager, was here for a short<br />
visit.<br />
Mother of Sam Fineberg, RCA theatre products<br />
distributor, is critically ill . . . Mother<br />
of the Gellman boys, Joseph and Gilbert,<br />
local theatremen, remains critically ill at a<br />
nursing home . Crosby, broadcasting<br />
a play-by-play account of a Pirate game<br />
last Saturday, was approached by three Pittsburgh<br />
policewomen, who just wanted to take<br />
a look at the crooner, and for a moment he<br />
said he thought he was being arrested for<br />
vagrancy as a result of his last picture . . .<br />
Allied MPTO grievance committee met.<br />
The Sunset Beach Auto Theatre and swimming<br />
pool on Route 40 near Claysville recently<br />
were reopened by C. M. Ducray and<br />
Stephen Setto.<br />
70 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . Boyd<br />
'Strangers' Pulls 110<br />
For Detroit High<br />
DETROIT — A slight general upturn in<br />
business was attributed chiefly to cooler<br />
weather, which proved a good stimulant over<br />
the weelcend, about offsetting the usual spring<br />
decline. Among first runs, conservative booking<br />
of holdovers, with plenty of promotion<br />
was evident. (Average Is 100)<br />
Adams—EnchanlmenI (RKO) 75<br />
Cinema—The Red Shoes (EL), 5th wlc ....lOG<br />
Downlown—Cily Across Ihe River (U-I); Hide.<br />
Ryder, Hide {ED 105<br />
Fox— Mr. Belvedere Goes lo College (Mlh-Fox);<br />
Last of Ihe Wild Horses (SG), 2nd wk 100<br />
Madison—Outpost in Morocco (UA); The Duke ol<br />
Chicago (Rep) ._.;,, 80<br />
Michigan—Flamingo Road (WB); The Lucky Still<br />
(UA), 2nd v/k 95<br />
Palms-Slate-Million Dollar Weekend (EL) Tulsa<br />
(EL), 2nd wk . -<br />
90<br />
Paradise—Son of Billy Ihe Kid (SG); The Raven<br />
(U-1), reissue, plus stage show 90<br />
United Artists—We Were Strangers (Col); Make<br />
Believe Ballroom (Col) 110<br />
'Belvedere' Chalks Up 140<br />
As Leader in Cincinnati<br />
CINCINNATI—Grosses at local first runs<br />
generally were below average, with hot<br />
weather blamed as the cau.se. After a rousing<br />
initial week at the Palace, "Mr. Belvedere<br />
Goes to College" was moved to the Shubert<br />
for another stanza. "Take Me Out to the<br />
Ball Game" rated a third frame at the Capitol.<br />
Albee—Outpost in Morocco (UA) 80<br />
Capitol—Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM),<br />
2nd wk no<br />
Grand—Red Canyon (U-I) 90<br />
Keiths—Enchantment (RKO) 95<br />
Lyric—Undercover Man (Col), 2nd d. t. wk., split<br />
with Hangover Square (20th-Fox); The Lodger<br />
(20lh-Fox), 4 days 70<br />
Palace—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th-Fox) 140<br />
Shubert—Flamingo Road (WB) 90<br />
"Connecticut Yankee' High With 120<br />
As Business Drags in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH — Boxscore on the Golden<br />
Triangle: The Fulton Theatre closed for remodeling,<br />
thi'ee houses exhibited moveovers<br />
and all under par. one deluxer died with a<br />
new twin bill, two theatres offered newscreen<br />
shows and the winner was "A Connecticut<br />
Yankee." Ca.shiers at neighborhood<br />
theatres are lonesome.<br />
Hams—City Across the Hiver (U-1) 110<br />
Penn—Bride oi Vengeance (Para); The Lucky Stiff<br />
(UA) 75<br />
Rilz—Portrait of Jennie (SRO), 2nd d. t. wk 70<br />
Senator-Knock on Any Door (Col), 2nd d. t. wk 80<br />
Stanley—A Connecticut Yankee (Para) 120<br />
VVarner—Flamingo Road (WB), 2nd d t. wk 85<br />
"Flamingo Road' Hits 140<br />
To Set Pace in Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—Trade generally at first run<br />
houses here was disappointing. Uncertain<br />
weather from day to day kept many persons<br />
away from boxoffices. "Flamingo Road" at<br />
the Hippodrome rang up a lusty 140 per cent<br />
to take the lead. "Quartet," showing at advanced<br />
prices at the Esquire, was next best<br />
with a rating of 130 per cent.<br />
Allen—Outpost in Morocco (UA) 90<br />
Esquire—Quartet (EL) 130<br />
Hippodrome—Flamingo Road (WB) 140<br />
Ohio—Passionelle (DF); Torment (Oxford) 105<br />
Palace—The Window (RKO) 75<br />
Slate—The Citv Across the River (U-I) 90<br />
Stillman—The Stratton Story (MGM), 4th wk 80<br />
Ochs to Build at Elm Grove, W. Va.<br />
ELM GROVE, W. VA.—A modern drive-ln<br />
will be opened here by Herb Ochs and associates.<br />
John Gardner, manager of the<br />
Riverside r>rive-In, Rayland, Ohio, will<br />
manage the Elm Grove situation.<br />
LOUISVILLE<br />
Ceen on the Row for the first lime in several<br />
months was Pat Murphy, Victory Theatre.<br />
Huntingbiu-g. Ind. Other exhibitors visiting<br />
here were C. K. Arnold, Arco and Melody<br />
theatres, Bardstown: A. R. Milby. Cardinal.<br />
Hodgenville; C. O. Humston. Lyric, Lawrenceburg;<br />
Oscar Hopper, Arista, Lebanon; A, E.<br />
Campbell Lyric, Lexington; Kimmons Wilson,<br />
Airway Amusement Co., Memphis; Gene<br />
Lutes, Chakeres Theatres, Frankfort; J. F.<br />
Burnette, Gypsy Drive-In, Bardstown; Mrs.<br />
Hugh Kessler. Pal, Palmyra, Ind.; Bob<br />
Enoch, State and Grand. Elizabethtown, and<br />
Sam Maples, Strand, Dawson Springs.<br />
According to an article in the Louisville<br />
Courier Joiu'nal, Berwyn T. Moore, broker,<br />
has sued the Scoop Theatre for $26,000 damages<br />
in circuit court. He alleges his head<br />
and a shoulder were injured in a fall at the<br />
theatre last May . Martin, drama<br />
critic of the Courier Journal, was scheduled<br />
to talk on "Broadway Scene" at the limcheon<br />
meeting of the University of Louisville<br />
Women's club.<br />
In conjunction with the pre.sentation of the<br />
"Hawaiian Paradise Revue," stage show at<br />
the National. Manager Jimmy Robertson<br />
staged a big Hula-Hula contest . . An oldtime<br />
.<br />
black-face minstrel show was staged at<br />
the Arco Theatre, Bardstown, Pi'oceeds were<br />
slated to go to the underprivileged children<br />
for siunmer playground activities. The program<br />
was sponsored by the Kiwanis club<br />
of Bardstown, whose president is C. K. Arnold,<br />
general manager of the Arco. The 2'--<br />
hour show of home talent is an annual affair<br />
at the Arco and the current program made<br />
its third year running. The Arco is owned<br />
by Arnold and Pope Sisco, also of Bardstown.<br />
Guthrie Crowe, president of the Kentucky<br />
Ass'n of Theatre Owners and state commander<br />
of the American Legion, spoke at the<br />
dedication ceremonies of the new $100,000<br />
Highland Post recreation building here . . .<br />
Two hundred dollars in small bills and silver<br />
was reported stolen from a safe in a break-in<br />
at the Park Theatre here. Prom the information<br />
given to the police by Manager Stuart<br />
Ruble, the safe was cut open after an emergency<br />
door had been jimmied.<br />
A variety of programs was listed at the<br />
first rims. "Flamingo Road" opened at the<br />
Mary Anderson, as a singleton. Also in the<br />
one feature class was the Scoop with "Children<br />
of Paradise." Doubling their programs<br />
were the Strand with "The Last Bandit" and<br />
"Moonrise," and Loew's with "Ma and Pa Kettle"<br />
and "Act of Violence" and the Rialto with<br />
"El Paso" and "My Own True Love." The<br />
National brought in "Mom and Dad" for<br />
women only at 2 and 7 p. m. and for men only<br />
at 9 p. m. "Mother Is a Freshman" and<br />
"Sofia" moved over to the Brown following<br />
a week at the Rialto.<br />
USED THEATRE SEATS<br />
Thousands — Completely Reconditioned<br />
All Types — From $4.75 Up<br />
(Others Irom SI. 50 Up)<br />
Write for Prices and Photographs<br />
Immediate Delivery — Anywhere in U. S.<br />
Delivery in Good Condition Guaranteed<br />
ATLAS CHAIR & EQUIPMENT SALES CO.<br />
211 Moss Avenue Detroit 3, Mich.<br />
Phone TOwnsend 8-7227<br />
William P. McMahon Buys<br />
Sagamore House for 16mm<br />
SAGAMORE, PA. William P. McMahon of<br />
the Woodland Drive-In near Vandergrift has<br />
acquired the Sagamore Theatre here from A.<br />
L. Hodgson, who had closed the house March<br />
1 due to his illness. McMahon has operated<br />
16mm show-s for a decade and is Armstrong<br />
county distributor for Victor projectors.<br />
Opening May 24, the Sagamore was operated<br />
as a 16mm film theatre, 35mm projectors having<br />
been removed. Only 16mm film will be<br />
serviced. McMahon is a partner with Harold<br />
A. Lee in the operation of the Woodland<br />
Drive-In.<br />
Jean Hagen, a young New York actress,<br />
has joined the cast of Metro's "Ambush."<br />
.A^<br />
pOB<br />
. . Charlie<br />
. . Mike<br />
. . "Monsieur<br />
. . Walter<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
. . Joe Krenitz,<br />
•The Variety Club will sponsor its annual golf<br />
tournament in July at the Beechmond<br />
Country club. Bert Lefkowich is general<br />
chairman of arrangements .<br />
former U-I manager who now owns and operates<br />
several local theatres, and wife will<br />
give a reception in the Assembly room of the<br />
HoUenden hotel Sunday evening, June 5, following<br />
the marriage of their daughter Marilyn<br />
to Irving Chadys of New Haven, Conn.<br />
The wedding ceremony will be at 8:30 p. m.,<br />
and the reception from 9 to 11 p. m.<br />
. . J. W. Servies, National<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. "k.c'I'mT"<br />
Pittsburgh. Pa.<br />
show begins . . . Mrs. Ben Fain, who is continuing<br />
operation of the Milo Theatre since<br />
the recent death of her husband, flew to the<br />
west coast for a vacation.<br />
The Ace Theatre, which has had a successful<br />
season showing Jewish films, will close<br />
for the season on Memorial day. The management<br />
plans to present the best available<br />
Jewish talent on stage and screen when the<br />
house reopens in the fall . . . Susan Weingarten<br />
is the newest member of the Paramount<br />
office staff. She is in charge of the<br />
newly established eastern division files . . .<br />
Martin G. Smith, Rom Gamble and I. J.<br />
Schmertz rallied exhibitors, distributors and<br />
salesmen for a bond drive in the assembly<br />
rooms of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors<br />
Ass'n.<br />
M. M. Dorsey, owner of the Dorsey Theatre,<br />
Johnstown, completed installation of new<br />
Motiograph projection and sound equipment<br />
from the Ohio Theatre Supply Co. Dorsey<br />
also has ordered new Ideal automatic retractable<br />
seats which will be delivered within<br />
the next 30 days . Deardourff, improved<br />
after treatments at Fairview hospital,<br />
now is at home .<br />
Theatre Supply Co. official, was one of 500,-<br />
000 people who attended the Union Industries<br />
show in the public auditorium. NTS had an<br />
exhibit showing a Powers 6B projector and<br />
the latest Simplex E-7 model. Fox Movietone<br />
cameramen took pictures of the show.<br />
Screen Guild's reissues of "The Cowboy and<br />
the Lady" and "The Westerner" were dualled<br />
at the Circle Theatre, de luxe first run neighborhood<br />
house . Levin has resigned<br />
as booker at Realart Pictures ... J. Stuart<br />
LOU PADOLF— Manager, Virginia Cangney is no longer connected with the<br />
Theatre, Parkersburg, W. Va.<br />
Theatrecraft Manufacturing Corp. For the<br />
writes:<br />
last year he has been general advertising and<br />
publicity manager. Sandler now is handling<br />
"For the past 10 years I<br />
this end of the business himself.<br />
have been using RCA Service.<br />
I feel it is one of the<br />
Mrs. J. Knox Strachan, wife of the<br />
best investments I have<br />
Warner Theatres publicity du-ector, was<br />
made for this theatre."<br />
the winner of the television set given<br />
away by the League of Showmen's Wives at<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
the Variety Club . Vincent,"<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
prize winning film, has been booked into<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
virtually all key houses in Ohio, according to<br />
Camden, New Jersey.<br />
Bernard Rubin of Imperial Pictures . . . Mi-,<br />
Adv. and Mrs. Sam Lichter were hosts to Filmi-ow<br />
personnel at their new lake shore home.<br />
Every Kind of Successful Promotion<br />
Merchant Tie-Ups<br />
also<br />
ZIP-O for KIDDIES<br />
Ohio Exhibitors Attention!<br />
Play the Excellent Gratis<br />
THEATRICAL ENTERPRISES<br />
17-Minute Featurette<br />
JACK GEBTZ<br />
BEN STAHL<br />
"THE LOCKED DOOR"<br />
Contact<br />
E. JOHNSON<br />
PRE-FABRICATED STEEL<br />
Film Distributors of Cleveland<br />
SCREEN TOWERS<br />
Pittsburgh Area Exhibitors Contact Lou Hanna,<br />
LOW PRICES PROMPT SHIPMENT<br />
Acme Distributing Co., 70 Van Braam St.,<br />
. . .<br />
Jim Levine, Paramount exploiteer, was in<br />
Toledo with screen star Dan Duryea, who<br />
made personal appearances in connection<br />
with his forthcoming picture "Manhandled"<br />
Jimmy Ramicone is attracting crowds to<br />
his drive-in on Route 224 near Akron with a<br />
newly constructed dance floor. Here couples<br />
may dance free to jukebox music until the<br />
for Theatres and Drive-ins<br />
Dinnez-ware .. All Types of Bingo Games<br />
A Promotion Package including Merchandise,<br />
Contest, with Trailers and Displays, costs as<br />
little OS 2 cents per child or can be had at<br />
no cost to you.<br />
403-404 Film BIdg. 1705 Boulevard of Alli«B<br />
Cleveland Ohio<br />
Pittsburgh, Pa.<br />
72<br />
Radio Quiz on Stage<br />
NEW CASTLE, PA.—A special stage attraction<br />
at the Penn was radio station<br />
WKST's Quizdom Class.<br />
Filmrow Baseball Team<br />
Started in Cincinnati<br />
CINCINNATI—The F.lmrow baseball team,<br />
called the Hey Hey team, has three games<br />
to its credit, and while not making an<br />
auspicious start, is confident of improving its<br />
standing. It played the Mount Auburn Presbyterian<br />
church and the score was 5-5, which<br />
has been protested. The game will be replayed.<br />
The next opposing team was the<br />
Clifton cafe, and the Hey Hey lost, 8-9. The<br />
V. O. club won the third game 15-5. The<br />
Hey Hey team will play against these teams<br />
in the second round of the season.<br />
The regular players include:<br />
Stan Kamhn—MGM second base<br />
Clitl Garbutt—MGM - pitcher<br />
Jim Harrison—MGM center field<br />
Bob Coleman—RKO short center<br />
Ted Langenbaum—Warners right tield<br />
Red Novak—Mid-West<br />
catcher<br />
Haywood Mitchissun— U-I<br />
shortstop<br />
Carl Heinichen—20th-Fox right field<br />
Woodrow Bressler—exhibitor<br />
pitcher<br />
Ray Russo Columbia - catcher<br />
Bill Kaufelt—U-I short center<br />
Ed Spahr third baseman<br />
W. Chaney first baseman<br />
Bob LaSance—20th-Fo]t ..— left field<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
T eo Yassenoff has booked "Tulsa" first run<br />
into six of his Academy theatres, the<br />
Beechwold. Lane, Esquire, Cleve, University<br />
and Westmont. This departure from usual<br />
neighborhood policy is being watched closely<br />
by local theatremen . W. Grelle,<br />
63, former owner of the Dreamland, St. Louis,<br />
and a theatre in Havana, Cuba, died at his<br />
home here. He formerly was in business with<br />
his brother Harry Grelle, who cmTently operates<br />
a theatre in Pittsburgh. For the last<br />
five years, he was associated with the Fred<br />
Smith Real Estate Co.<br />
. . Gov. Prank J. Lausche<br />
Capacity houses were the rule at the threeday<br />
Dispatch cooking school conducted at<br />
the Palace Don Weaver, editor of the<br />
Citizen,<br />
. . .<br />
praised "The Barkleys of Broadway"<br />
in an editorial during showings of the picture<br />
at the Ohio .<br />
and secretary of state Charles Sweeney<br />
opened a local drive for athletic equipment<br />
for needy children by contributing autographed<br />
baseballs in a collection box in the<br />
lobby of Loew's Ohio. The stunt was tied<br />
in with "The Stratton Story" by Manager<br />
Walter Kessler.<br />
. . . Martin<br />
Bob Nicholson and Bill Fried of the Ohio<br />
State university journalism school were guest<br />
film editors for the Colimibus Citizen on the<br />
annual Ohio State Lantern day<br />
C. Burnett, division manager for Loew's, has<br />
been vacationing.<br />
Office Building Complete<br />
BURGETTSTOWN, PA.—Don and Tony<br />
Mungello, owners and operators of the Mary<br />
Ann Theatre here, have completed construction<br />
of an adjoming office building. The new<br />
offices, six in number, will be occupied by<br />
lawyers, doctors, dentists, etc. Most of the<br />
construction was done by the two Mungello<br />
Lrothers, exhibitors here for many years.<br />
Free Cooking School Held<br />
MEADVILLE, PA.—Crawford county Westinghouse<br />
dealers advertised special free cooking<br />
schools Thursday and Friday mornings<br />
at the Park Theatre in an eight-page supplement<br />
published by The Tribune-Republican.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949
. . Betty<br />
. . Betty<br />
. . Charles<br />
. . Lou<br />
. . Margaret<br />
. . Marian<br />
Grafton, W. Va., Manos<br />
To Open in Two Weeks<br />
GRAFTON. W. VA.—The new Manos is<br />
expected to be opened within two weeks,<br />
Bernard Buchheit. Manos circuit general<br />
manager said after inspecting the property<br />
and progress of construction. The theatre will<br />
have a seating capacity of 577 and will feature<br />
de luxe push-back chairs. The lobby finish<br />
is of solid mahogany.<br />
Gus Gianakos will manage the new Manos.<br />
His former theatre experience was in association<br />
with the Notopoulos operated theatres at<br />
Ambridge, Pa., managed by John Notopoulos.<br />
The Manos circuit's Manos at Ellwood City.<br />
Pa., extensively remodeled and modernized.<br />
was reopened May 5.<br />
Dan Duryea in Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Dan Duryea. here in advance<br />
of the opening of "Manhandled." met the<br />
local and trade reporters and radio men at a<br />
buffet luncheon in the Book Cadillac hotel.<br />
Alice Gorham. exploitation manager for<br />
United Detroit Theatres, arranged the conference<br />
at which Duryea d!.scussed his screen<br />
career at length. The host was Paramount<br />
Manager H. Edward Stucket, with A. C. Lyles<br />
jr., director of publicity and advertising for<br />
Pine-Thomas Productions, and Paramount's<br />
special representative for the mideast. James<br />
Levine. assisting.<br />
'James' at Fox, Detroit<br />
DETROIT— Albert Dezel and William<br />
Flemion of Screen Guild Productions of<br />
Michigan have closed a deal with David Idzal<br />
of the Pox Theatre here for first run showing<br />
of "I Shot Jesse James." An unu.sual<br />
feature of the booking is that the 5.500-seat<br />
Fox seldom has run an independent production.<br />
Smoke Forces Patrons Out<br />
SHARON, PA.—Smoke from a nearby store<br />
chimney, drawn in by an electric fan, forced<br />
350 patrons of the Nuluna Theatre here to<br />
leave the house at 10 p. m. Fu'emen reported<br />
there was no panic and most of the patrons<br />
returned when the theatre was cleared of<br />
smoke.<br />
MORE PROFITS<br />
ON CONCESSIONS<br />
by savings on costs.<br />
Special Prices to<br />
Theatres<br />
Write for latest price list<br />
Many specials and free deals<br />
UNIVERSAL SOUND MOVIE CO.<br />
CALHOUN, KY.<br />
Wf* ,irp Al.iniifactiirers Dt'^lrihiilorfl for All rniiiilar<br />
Kr.inds Cand,v, Confections and G
. . The<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
p<br />
• • *<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
E. McGILLICK of 906 Park Bldg., Pittsburgh,<br />
has bought the Lyric and the<br />
Corapolis theatres in Corapolis, Pa., from<br />
Anthony P. Jim of Aliquippa. president of the<br />
MPTO of W. Pa. L. H. Goehring is manager<br />
of the Corapolis, and Anthony Apone Is in<br />
charge of the Lyric.<br />
* * *<br />
Sam DeFazio, former manager of the<br />
Schenley Theatre in Pittsburgh for the Stanley<br />
Co,, will be manager of the new Harris-<br />
Mount Oliver Theatre, now practically completed.<br />
DeFazio started as an usher at the<br />
Olympic 18 years ago . . . Herman Lorence,<br />
former manager of Stanley's Perry Theatre<br />
at Erie, and Ralph Walsh, from the Skouras<br />
organization in St. Louis, have been brought<br />
to Pittsburgh to act as supervisors of theatres<br />
. . . Tom Fordham, who has been manager<br />
of the Strand in Erie, is now in charge<br />
of all four Stanley hou.ses there: Strand,<br />
Perry, State and Aris.<br />
* * *<br />
.<br />
. . . Dick<br />
Les Bowser, manager of the Rowland and<br />
Colonial in Wjlkinsburg, is now manager of<br />
the Schenley Theatre Colonial is<br />
now in charge of Lyle Harding<br />
Bt-own, former manager of the Cameraphone<br />
in East Liberty, is now head of the Liberty<br />
Harry Thomas,<br />
for Stanley in East Liberty . . .<br />
former manager of the Liberty, is now at the<br />
Capitol Theatre, Braddock, a J. B. Clark<br />
house . . . Charlie Melson has been brought<br />
from the Stanley at Philadelphia to act as<br />
guest master of ceremonies at the Stanley,<br />
Pittsburgh, succeeding Vic Erwin, who left<br />
Earl Wright, formerly<br />
on account of illness . . .<br />
of the press department of the Davis<br />
Theatre, is now manager of the Manor Theatre.<br />
Esquire Books 'Vincent'<br />
TOLEDO — Loew's Esquire, which was<br />
forced to pull out "Symphonic Pastorale" after<br />
tlu-ee days because of poor business,<br />
booked another French film, "Monsieur Vincent."<br />
Billboard Fight Started<br />
By Tallmadge Council<br />
TALLMADGE, OHIO — Harry H. Seff.<br />
owner and president of<br />
the Sterling Outdoor<br />
Advertising Co., Akron, which has several<br />
signs here, is prepared to go to the U.S.<br />
Supreme Court, if necessary, to prevent the<br />
village from enforcing an ordinance forbidding<br />
commercial signs within its corporate<br />
limits.<br />
The village council discovered an old<br />
statute which makes erection of such signs<br />
illegal and carries a fine of up to $500, unless<br />
the sign is on the owner's property. The<br />
council has decided to enforce the measure.<br />
Seff said he would seek an injunction against<br />
any village action until his company could<br />
take the case to the courts.<br />
In a letter to Mayor S. A. Schlup, Seff<br />
cautioned the mayor that if "any damage is<br />
done by your village to our billboards in<br />
taking the law into yom- own hands, we will,<br />
of course, file suit for any damage done to<br />
our property."<br />
Father's Duties Assumed<br />
By Floyd McClellan jr.<br />
JOHNSTOWN, PA.—Floyd Eugene Mc-<br />
Clellan jr., son of the late president of the<br />
Ideal Amusement Co., and Cuba Walker,<br />
executive of the circuit corporation, are<br />
handling Ideal film licensing and booking.<br />
Young Gene formerly managed one of the<br />
theatre units and for a year and a half had<br />
been a member of the office staff. His father<br />
died April 14.<br />
Remodel Ellwood City House<br />
ELLWOOD CITY. PA.—The Biordi Bros.<br />
Majestic here will be extensively remodeled<br />
in mid-June. The auditorium will be lowered<br />
and a new floor installed. A new front will<br />
be constructed and new front fixtures, including<br />
doors and frames will be installed,<br />
with the lobby and auditorium newly decorated,<br />
says Andy Biordi. Victor A. Rigaumont,<br />
architect, has planned the modernization.<br />
Attention, Mr. Exhibitor<br />
BUYERS WAITING!<br />
We Can Sell Your Theatre if the Deal is Right<br />
Large or Small Houses—One Theatre or a Circuit.<br />
CONTINENTAL REALTY CO.<br />
1535 Dime Btmk Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich.<br />
Phono woodward 1-7834<br />
Drive-In Name Changed<br />
MOUNT PLEASANT. PA. — The Ruthorn<br />
Drive-in's name has been changed to the<br />
Evergreen. D. J. Ruth and R. M. Thorn<br />
opened the outdoor theatre on the Mount<br />
Pleasant-Connellsville road two seasons ago.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER
8,000 See Bond Rally<br />
Kickoff in Boston<br />
BOSTON—An estimated 8,000 persons<br />
overflowed Boston Common at Tremont and<br />
West streets for the giant kickoff of the Opportunity<br />
bond drive, staged by the amusement<br />
interests of greater Boston in conjunction<br />
with the Treasury Department.<br />
Hollywood star Dan Dailey headlined a<br />
long list of stage, screen and radio celebrities<br />
who entertained. Speakers included<br />
John Hurley, state treasurer, representing<br />
Gov. Paul Dever; Mayor James Curley; John<br />
Del Monte, state chairman of labor and industries,<br />
and Samuel Pinanski. New England<br />
chairman of the motion picture industry<br />
bond drive.<br />
ARMY UNIT DRILLS<br />
An entertainment highlight was a precision<br />
drill staged by a crack army unit from<br />
the famed First battalion, Seventh infantry,<br />
while an army exhibit of latest types of<br />
weapons attracted wide attention.<br />
The big two-hour show featured the music<br />
of Larry Green and his orchestra, Tony Bruno<br />
and his band, and the navy band of the<br />
Boston naval base. The long list of performers<br />
included Sophie Tucker. Ray Doi-ey, Gail<br />
Reese, Hum & Strum, Georgia Mae, Herb<br />
Lewis, Bob Munstedt and Westy, Bob and<br />
Ray, Gloria Carroll, Wild Azelias, Tom Russell,<br />
Don Dennis, Ranny Weeks, Nel.son Bragg<br />
and Howard Malcolm. Fred Garrigus, Chick<br />
Morris, Eddie Kasper and "Red" King acted<br />
as masters of ceremonies,<br />
THEATREMEN PRESENT<br />
Headed by Pinanski, ATC. and Daniel Murphy,<br />
president of Independent Exhibitors,<br />
theatremen present at the ceremonies were<br />
Francis Lydon, Allied Theatres of New England;<br />
Ray Feeley, Independent Exhibitors;<br />
William Mulcahy, Maine and New Ham.pshire;<br />
Jim Shanahan, Loew's; Ben Domingo<br />
and James "Red" King. RKO Theatres; Bob<br />
Sternberg, Jack Saef and Harry Browning.<br />
New England Theatres; Joe Cifre. Variety<br />
Club; Stanley Sumner. University Theatre;<br />
Al Somerby, Howard Theatre; Joseph Liss,<br />
Warner Theatres; John Giles, Giles circuit;<br />
E. Harold Stoneman and James Mahoney,<br />
Interstate Theatres; Arnold Eisen, B&Q Associates;<br />
Paul Levi and Herb Philbrick, ATC;<br />
John Glazer, Western Mass. Theatres; Arthur<br />
Lockwood and Louis Gordon, Lockwood<br />
& Gordon Enterprises; Larry Laskey, E. M.<br />
Loew's; Abner Eilenberg, Middlesex Amusement<br />
Corp.; Herbert Copelman. Snider circuit,<br />
and Al Margolian, Astor Theatre.<br />
Beano Games Approved<br />
For Charitable Groups<br />
CONCORD. N. H.—Defeating a move for<br />
Indefinite postponement, the state senate<br />
approved an amended bill to permit the operation<br />
of beano games upon payment of a<br />
$10 license fee. Under the amendment, the<br />
original measure was extended to permit the<br />
game to be played by any "religious, charitable,<br />
civic, veteran or fraternal organizations<br />
to which contributions are exempt from<br />
federal income tax, and which is organized<br />
under the laws of the state."<br />
An attempt to eliminate "religious organizations"<br />
from the groups for which beano<br />
would be legal was killed before the senate<br />
approved the bill and sent it to the house.<br />
Seminar on Show-Selling<br />
Features Boston Parley<br />
BOSTON—A forum discussion arranged by<br />
MGM on "How to Get More People to Attend<br />
Your Theatre" featured<br />
the opening session<br />
of the annual<br />
convention of the Independent<br />
Exhibitors.<br />
Inc.. of New England<br />
here Wednesday at the<br />
Copley-Plaza hotel.<br />
The Seminar, led by<br />
M. L. Simon, assistant<br />
to H. M. Richey, exhibitor<br />
relations head<br />
for MGM, covered thea<br />
t r e advertisements,<br />
M. L. Simon<br />
including newspaper<br />
ads; development of community interest in<br />
the theatre, the use of phonograph records<br />
and exploitation services available to theatres.<br />
Ernie Hoftyzer, head of the Hearst newspapers<br />
advertising staff in Boston, analyzed<br />
theatre newspaper ads.<br />
Others on the program;<br />
Simon, who made a report on how other<br />
theatre owners are getting closer to the people<br />
in their corrmiunities, citing many examples<br />
of promotions that have achieved results.<br />
Sol Handwerger of MGM records, who told<br />
how records can help sell the show.<br />
Ken Prickett, field promotion man, who<br />
described the exploitation services available<br />
to theatres and how to u.se them.<br />
Paul Levi. American Theatres, who related<br />
how his circuit uses the distributor aids in<br />
selling the .show.<br />
Charles Kurtman, division manager for<br />
Loew's Theatres.<br />
Maurice N. Wolf, who reported on public<br />
relations he has observed in two and one-half<br />
years of speaking to civic organizations and<br />
clubs.<br />
Richard A. Harper, assistant to William P,<br />
Rodgers, MGM.<br />
Climaxing the first day's session was a report,<br />
"Business Outlook for 1949," by Arthur<br />
C. Bab-son.<br />
The highlight of the first day for the women<br />
was the legitimate play, "Born Yesterday,"<br />
viewed at the Colonial. Evening entertainment<br />
was a night club party in the<br />
Oval room of the hotel where convention<br />
members dined, danced and watched a floor<br />
show.<br />
Municipal, state and federal taxes were discussed<br />
at the Tliursday afternoon meeting by<br />
David Palfreyman of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America. A di-scussion of public relations<br />
with representatives of all the film<br />
companies participating was under way at<br />
2 p. m. This was followed by open foiTim on<br />
product which included the quality of pictures,<br />
sales policies, film companies' profits,<br />
executives, Caravan, cooperative buying,<br />
production costs, competitive bidding, foreign<br />
market and clearances.<br />
Second-day entertainment for the women<br />
was furni.shed by passes to the club houses of<br />
the racing park, Suffolk Downs.<br />
A 6:30 p. m. cocktail party preceded the<br />
banquet. Art Moger emceed the affair and<br />
Charles Einfeld of 20th-Fox. Maurice Wolf of<br />
MGM and Dr. Hugo Ko.sloff, who recently returned<br />
from Russia, were among the .speakers.<br />
Talent Show in New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN—Henry Cohan went to town<br />
on the Dixwell Playhouse bathing beauty<br />
contest May 24. The screen features were<br />
"Chicken Every Sunday" and "Criss Cross."<br />
Cohan plugged the show on the radio, by<br />
cards and advertising and won hearty support<br />
and cooperation of 20 merchants. Prizes<br />
included a radio, permanent wave and beauty<br />
treatments, flowers, cake, and groceries. The<br />
bathing beauty event was also used at Fishman's<br />
Rivoli. West Haven, but Cohan added<br />
the vaudeville angle.<br />
PLAN BOND DRIVE EXPLOITATION—Boston circuit and theatre publicists<br />
are helpng to direct exploitation for the local Opportunity savings bond drive.<br />
Shown around the table in the accompanying picture are Edward Kasper, Kasper-<br />
Gordon studio; Al Sheehy, U.S. Treasury department; James King, RKO Theatres;<br />
Harry Goldberg, ATC; Jim Shanahan, Loew's; Paul Levi, ATC; Phil Engle,<br />
UA; Ken Prickett, MGM; Herbert Philbrick, ATC; Jack Saef, New England Theatres;<br />
John McCroen, U.S. Treasury department, and Al Margolian, B&Q circuit.<br />
BOXOFFICE : : May 28, 1949 NE 75
BOSTON<br />
. . . Affiliated has added<br />
^XZalter Mitchell, Morse, Franklin, spent a<br />
week in Canada fishing but. accordinging<br />
to a postcard, fishing was not too successful<br />
. . . Dr. L. G. Tewksbury. Opera<br />
House. Stonington. Me., spent a week here,<br />
stopping in at Affiliated Theatres Corp..<br />
which does his buying and booking . . . Forest<br />
Carmichael of Affihated was off a few days<br />
with a bad cold<br />
Sky-Ray Drive-In in Hookset. N. H..<br />
the<br />
owned<br />
and ojjerated by Arniand Bourque, to its account<br />
list. The newly constructed drive-in<br />
opened early in May.<br />
Dominic Turturro, Elms, Millbury, is identified<br />
with the Kiwanis youth program of the<br />
town. This group raises money each year<br />
for the improvement of children's playgrounds<br />
and recreation centers. Turturro<br />
used his theatre for the showing of special<br />
trailers and shorts depicting the work done<br />
each previous year for the youth centers.<br />
He is an active member of the committee and<br />
is in charge of the collections from the<br />
town merchants. The Elms has been air<br />
conditioned with the unit ready for use on<br />
Memorial day.<br />
Fred Stein, in charge of distribution of J.<br />
Arthur Rank pictures for Eagle Lion in this<br />
country, and Ernest Pelson, exploiteer for<br />
"The Red Shoes," visited Harry Segal, EL<br />
manager here. "The Red Shoes" was set to<br />
open at the Avon Theatre, Providence, June<br />
1, and at the Maine Theatre, Portland, May<br />
24. Both houses were slated to play extended<br />
runs at roadshow prices. Meanwhile,<br />
'The Red Shoes" continues at the Majestic<br />
here in its 27th week.<br />
Muriel Balkan is new secretary to Ai-thur<br />
Lockwood and Louis Gordon, replacing Joan<br />
Mansfield, who resigned to be married<br />
Harry Zeitz, New Bedford circuit<br />
. . .<br />
owner, has<br />
returned from a vacation trip to the west<br />
coast, where he took in the Variety Club<br />
convention and visited the studios. The long<br />
trek westward was broken up by using both<br />
automobile and plane.<br />
Twelve-year-old Eddie Andelman, son of<br />
Mickey Andelman of Devonshire Film Co..<br />
recently was elected captain of his baseball<br />
team at Driscoll school, Brookline. Mickey<br />
recently returned from a business trip to the<br />
west coast.<br />
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Palmer Theatre Proceeds<br />
Given to Hospital Fund<br />
PALMER, MASS.—Donald B. Holbrook,<br />
operator of the Five Star Theatre here, donated<br />
the entii-e proceeds for the benefit<br />
week at the theatre (8-14) for the Wing<br />
Memorial hospital's new building fund. Holbrook<br />
personally also has guaranteed a<br />
mininmm in order that the townspeople<br />
could benefit from the grant that the federal<br />
government would allow.<br />
Last fall, Holbrook brought an antitrust<br />
action against the major film producers, distributors,<br />
affiliated theatres and several independent<br />
circuit owners alleging that they<br />
had conspired to monopolize all the first run<br />
product. This action, which Holbrook demanded<br />
be heard by a jury, still is pending.<br />
Fireproofing Bill Goes<br />
To New Hampshire Senate<br />
CONCORD, N. H.—A new bill which would<br />
put teeth in regulations regarding fireproofing<br />
of all stairways and hallways in buildings<br />
throughout New Hampshire has been<br />
introduced in the senate here through the<br />
rules committee.<br />
The measure, which was sent to the judiciary<br />
committee for hearings, would require<br />
fireproof surfaces for all such areas,<br />
with Jan. 1, 1950 set as the deadline foi<br />
applying the fire-resistant covering.<br />
In the event of a fire resulting in loss of<br />
life or personal injury in such buildings, a<br />
law violation would be presumed as the<br />
cause and the owner or owners would be<br />
liable to damages.<br />
Loew's Book Al Monty<br />
HARTFORD—Al Monty, former 'Waterbury<br />
and New Britain theatre manager who is<br />
presenting amateur and kiddy revue shows,<br />
has been booked into 20 houses on Loew's New<br />
York circuit beginning May 28. He also has<br />
started a weekly kiddy program at the Victory<br />
Tlieatre,<br />
New London, Conn.<br />
NEO-SEAL BURIAL WIRE<br />
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76 BOXOFFICE May 28, 1949
. . . Loew's<br />
Reissues Stand Out<br />
At 125 in Boston<br />
BOSTON—Mild, balmy weather took its<br />
toll in downtown theatres with the surprise<br />
standout the reissue bill of "Casablanca"<br />
and "G-Men at the Boston. The only other<br />
feature to hold up was "Flamingo Road" at<br />
the Met, which opened to good weekend business.<br />
(Average Is 100<br />
Astor—The Secret Garden (MGM), 3rd wk 75<br />
Boston—Cosablanca (WB); G-Men (WB).<br />
reissues '25<br />
Exeter Street Cesar (Lopert). 2nd wk 85<br />
Mayilower and Pilgrim— Outpost in Morocco<br />
(UA); The Big Sombrero (Col), 2nd wk 70<br />
Maiestic—The Red Shoes (EL), 26th wk 70<br />
Memorial—The Window (RKO); Tucson (20th-Fox).. 9U<br />
Metropolitan-Flomingo Road (WB); Fighting<br />
Fools (Mono) I'O<br />
Paramount and Fenway—Impact (UA): Sky<br />
Dragon (Mono)<br />
- 85<br />
Stale and Orpheum The Undercover Man<br />
(Col); Make Believe Ballroom (Col) 80<br />
Beacon Hill— Passionelle (Dist), Torment (ConI) 110<br />
'Flamingo' Grosses 125,<br />
Best in New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN — Business was very poor<br />
along most of the main stem, but the Roger<br />
Sherman did excellent business with<br />
"Flamingo Road" and "The Clay Pigeon,"<br />
and were held another week.<br />
Bijou Make Believe Ballroom (Col); Valiant<br />
Hombre (UA) 60<br />
College— PorUait ol Jennie (SRO); Tucson (20th-<br />
Fox), 2nd wk, 60<br />
Loews Poll—The Undercover Man (Col); Texas.<br />
Brooklyn and Heoven (UA) 80<br />
Roger Sherman—Flamingo Road (WB); The Clay<br />
Pigeon (RKO) 125<br />
'Flamingo Road' Scores 130<br />
To Lead Hartford Trade<br />
HARTFORD—B u .s i n e s s was off, with<br />
"Fliiminjo Road" the only bright spot at<br />
dowi.town houses. Loew's Poll has shifted<br />
from Saturday to Thursday opening for new<br />
f.lms.<br />
^Ilyn— Cover-Up (UA); The Lucky Stiff (UA) 70<br />
Center—Blonde Ice (FC), Money Madness (FC)_ 65<br />
E. M Loew—We Were Strangers (Col); Make<br />
Believe Ballroom (Col), 2nd wk 100<br />
Poll—Ma and Pa Kettle (U-I); Mr. Petrin and Mr.<br />
Traill tU-1) £0<br />
Palace—Johnny Apollo (20th-Fox); Show Them No<br />
Mercy (20th-Fox), reissues 60<br />
Regal—Red Stallion in the Rockies (EL); Broken<br />
Journey (EL) -50<br />
Stale— Calling All Marines (Mono), reissue, plus<br />
stage shew — . 80<br />
Strand — Flamingo Road (WB); Amoxon Quest<br />
(FC), 2nd wit 130<br />
BRIDGEPORT<br />
n Ibert M. Pickus of the Stratford Theatre<br />
was a business visitor in Boston . . . The<br />
Strand, Stamford, if trying five acts of,<br />
vaudeville and a feature film on Tuesdays,<br />
Carlo J.<br />
Wednesdays and Thursdays . . .<br />
Rose is seeking a permit to erect an amusement<br />
park in Danbury . . . Edward Russell<br />
has resigned as doorman at Loew's Poll . . .<br />
Dan Finn is the new concession manager at<br />
E. M. Loew's Drive-in at Milford.<br />
Lewis Harmon will open his Chapel Playhouse,<br />
Guilford, July 2. Arthur Earle has<br />
been named manager . . . Leonard Altobell<br />
has taken over as sole manager of the Litchfield<br />
Summer Theatre . . . The Show Shop,<br />
Canton, will open for the summer on June 7.<br />
Each show will play two weeks . . . Louis<br />
Townsend is back at his Roxbury home after<br />
wintering in Hollywood. His Theatre-in-the-<br />
Dale. New Milford, is on the market and will<br />
not reopen this summer.<br />
. . Tlie boys at<br />
Always the perfect hostess is Mrs. Matt L.<br />
Saunders, wife of the manager of Loew's<br />
Poll. When son, Robert, who is studying law<br />
at Yale university, brought home a fellow<br />
student who hails from England, she whipped<br />
up an English dinner, complete even to the<br />
Yorkshire pudding. The lad appreciated her<br />
thoughtfulness as much as she enjoyed his<br />
British accent . . . Projectionist George F.<br />
Antoniak of the Astor celebrated a birthday<br />
Majestic has switched from Saturday<br />
to Thursday openings .<br />
Loew's Globe have formed a .Softball team.<br />
Al Schuman Heads 1949<br />
Jimmy Funci Campaign<br />
HARTFORD— Al Schuman, general manager<br />
of the Hartford Tlieatre circuit, has<br />
been appointed city chairman for the 1949<br />
Jimmy Fund drive w-hich will be launched<br />
May 28 to raise funds for the Children's<br />
Cancer foundation of Boston, in conjimction<br />
with the Variety Club of New England and<br />
the Boston Braves baseball club.<br />
Walter B. Lloyd, manager of the Allyn, is<br />
northern Connecticut chairman, and Jim<br />
Darby, manager of the Paramoimt, New<br />
Haven, is southern Connecticut chairman,<br />
with Albert M. Pickus, owner of the Stratford<br />
Theatre. Stratford, and regional TOA vicepresident,<br />
as general state chairman.<br />
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LE ROY J. FURMAN — In charge<br />
of operations "Monarch" Division,<br />
Gamble Enterprises, Inc., New York,<br />
N. Y.—says:<br />
"We have just extended our<br />
RCA Service agreement, and<br />
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To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
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Adv.<br />
Peter Latchis to Film<br />
Highway Conditions<br />
NEWPORT, N. H.—At a big meeting of the<br />
Western New Hampshire Better Roads Ass'n,<br />
Inc., here it was revealed that Peter Latchis,<br />
owner of several theatres in this area and a<br />
hotel operator, will make a picture of road<br />
conditions in this section.<br />
The theatreman and other speakers at the<br />
session charged that recreation, trade, manufacturing<br />
and agricultui-e are suffering because<br />
of poor highways.<br />
Latchis, who was named membership and<br />
publicity committee chairman, said that his<br />
film will be shown in theatres throughout<br />
New Hampshire to emphasize the need of<br />
highway improvements before the public. At<br />
the same time, the exhibitor proposed a highway<br />
beautification program and started the<br />
ball rolling by offering the nearby towns of<br />
Gilsum and Marlow $50 each to do their share<br />
in the project. The offer was made through<br />
the selectmen of the towns, with actual work<br />
to be under supervision of the state highway<br />
department.<br />
Cameo Screen<br />
Attractions, Inc.<br />
Samuel J. Davidson, President<br />
50 Melrose St. Boston, Mass.<br />
HAncock 6-3880<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949 77
Suburban Hancock Village Theatre<br />
Opened by American Theatres Corp.<br />
WEST ROXBtTRY,<br />
MASS. — American<br />
Theatres Corp. formally<br />
opened the new<br />
Hancock Village Theatre<br />
here with proceeds<br />
marked for the<br />
Hancock Village nursery<br />
and the childen's<br />
medical center. Mrs.<br />
Paul Clark, wife of<br />
the president of the<br />
John Hancock Mutual<br />
Life Insurance Co.,<br />
sponsors of the village<br />
settlement, cut the<br />
ribbons, marking the<br />
entrance of the theatre<br />
into the motion<br />
pictuie world of suburban<br />
Boston. With<br />
Mrs. Clark were her<br />
husband and Samuel<br />
Pinanski. ATC head.<br />
Clark spoke from<br />
the theatre stage and<br />
presented checks for<br />
the evening proceeds<br />
GRAND OPENING MAY I8TH<br />
JENNIFER JONES - JOSEPH GOTTEN<br />
PORTRAIT OF JENNIE'<br />
to the two charities.<br />
A two-reel film showing<br />
the work done at the Children's hospital<br />
was first on the program, followed by a showing<br />
of "Champion." The house was filled to<br />
capacity for the opening by residents of the<br />
800-family settlement. The inaugural ceremonies,<br />
extensively covered by Boston newspapers,<br />
received added impetus from a special<br />
lobby broadcast conducted by WVOM announcer<br />
Ben Bartzoff.<br />
Headed by Pinanski, other prominent ATC<br />
officials in attendance were Edward Canter,<br />
general manager, and district manager<br />
Francis McManus, Harry Wasserman, John<br />
Dempsey and John Carroll, publicist Paul<br />
Levi and Herbert Philbrick, and Henri<br />
Schwartzberg, Tom Fermoyle, Sam Feinstein,<br />
Joseph Saunders, Al Bevan, Louis<br />
Rodrigues and controller Robert Foster.<br />
The addition of the Village to the ATC<br />
chain raises the total number of theatres in<br />
the circuit to 50.<br />
Former undercover agent Herb Philbrick,<br />
who recently testified at the Communist<br />
trials in New York, also attended the opening.<br />
He went unnoticed, however, and at the<br />
opening, it was advertising assistant Philbrick<br />
who was at Pinan.ski's elbow but behind a<br />
post when the picture was taken. Philbrick<br />
also remained unnoticed at the mammoth<br />
kickoff bond rally in Boston, although he<br />
spent the entire period on the stand with his<br />
boss Paul Levi and the visiting stars.<br />
Swanzey, N. H., Prepares<br />
Annual 'Homestead'<br />
SWANZEY, N. H.—Elaborate preparations<br />
are being made for the tenth anniversary<br />
presentation of the "Oberammergau" of<br />
America's summer theatres, the annual revival<br />
of Denman Thompson's "The Old<br />
Homestead," at the outdoor theatre near the<br />
famous playwright's birthplace here, with the<br />
all-Swanzey cast.<br />
Thousands of persons have witnessed the<br />
play's revival at Potash Bowl, surrounded by<br />
trees, and with its comfortable wooden<br />
benches and 148-foot stage illuminated with<br />
a battery of three million-beam candlepower<br />
lights.<br />
Although the cast has become very "professional"<br />
in abihty, the home town actors<br />
have rejected numerous offers to appear in<br />
New York's biggest theatres.<br />
The old drama is always presented during<br />
a full moon period, and this year it is scheduled<br />
for July 8, 9 and 10.<br />
"The Old Homestead" was first staged in<br />
Boston in 1886, and from then until Thompson's<br />
death in 1911, the author himself played<br />
the leading role in the United States, Canada<br />
and Europe 25,000 times—the longest single<br />
role in the history of the American stage. The<br />
play packed theatres for an aggregate boxoffice<br />
of $5,000,000.<br />
Manley Popcorn Machines<br />
Installed at 5 Theatres<br />
BOSTON—Samuel Horenstein, New England<br />
district manager for Manley, says the<br />
new Manley Super Stadium model popcorn<br />
machine, designed for drive-ins, has been installed<br />
in the new Boro Drive-In at North Attleboro,<br />
and the Milton Drive-In, Milton, Vt.<br />
This model pops from 35 to 40 bushels of corn<br />
an hour with sufficient warming space to<br />
keep over 200 boxes warm.<br />
Horenstein also says that Manley C-3 theatre<br />
machines have been installed at the<br />
Monson Theatre, Monson, Mass.; the Community<br />
Theatre, Brandon, Vt., and the Four<br />
Leaf Clover Drive-In, Bernardston, Mass.<br />
These two machines plus the Manley Twin<br />
Popper were on display in two booths at the<br />
21st annual convention and exposition of<br />
Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of New England<br />
at the Copley-Plaza hotel, May 25, 26.<br />
AUyn Leading Hartford<br />
Theatre Softball Teams<br />
HARTFORD—The AUyn is leading in the<br />
Hartford Theatres Softball league. Supervisor<br />
Norman Levinson of Loew's Poll said that a<br />
dinner will be held in August to mark the<br />
end of the season. Various circuit and independent<br />
executives will be invited by the<br />
eight-theatre league to attend.<br />
Won Lost<br />
Allyn 3<br />
Regal 3 I<br />
Strand 2 1<br />
Poll 2 2<br />
Loew's 1 2<br />
Paloce I 3<br />
State _ 1 3<br />
Bushnell 1<br />
James Reardon Is Named Inspector<br />
HARTFORD—James M. Reardon, who has<br />
been in the motion picture division of the<br />
state police department since January 1946,<br />
has been promoted to theatre inspector, replacing<br />
Earl Morin, who has retired. The<br />
promotion was made on the basis of competitive<br />
examination.<br />
Brockton Permit Sought<br />
BROCTON, MASS.—As soon as the permit<br />
submitted by Nat A. Trager, manager of the<br />
local airport, is approved, work will begin on<br />
a 400-car drive-in in the southwest corner of<br />
the airport property. Plans for the ozoner,<br />
which Trager says will be built by local interests,<br />
have been submitted to the building<br />
superintendent. This is the second request<br />
by the airport manager for an application for<br />
an outdoor theatre this year. Early in the<br />
spring, Ti'ager asked a permit for a similar<br />
venture near Hayword avenue. The first<br />
proposal was turned down when the airport<br />
owners were given an option and a proposition<br />
for a dog track stadium.<br />
20th-Fox Ups Connolly<br />
NEW YORK—Jim Connolly has been promoted<br />
to branch manager of the 20th Century-Fox<br />
Boston exchange by A. W. Smith<br />
jr., vice-president and general sales manager.<br />
He succeeds Ed Callahan, recently promoted<br />
to New England division manager.<br />
Jeweler Anniversary on Stage<br />
PUTNAM, CONN.—LaPoints, a local jewelry<br />
concern, held its first anniversary celebration<br />
on the stage of the Bradley Theatre<br />
here. Six 17-jewel wrist watches were given<br />
patrons.<br />
Solons Adjourn in 2 States<br />
PROVIDENCE, R. I.—The Rhode Island<br />
legislature has completed its final session<br />
with no legislation detrimental to exhibitors.<br />
The Vermont legislature also adjourned without<br />
action on theatre measures.<br />
Strawhat Tax Bill Ahead<br />
HARTFORD—State senate bill 724 has received<br />
a favorable report in the legislature.<br />
This would require nonresident operators of<br />
summer theatres to pay an amusement tax.<br />
To Husband and Wife Roles<br />
Husband and wife roles have been assigned<br />
to Nicholas Joy and Billie Burke in "Baby Is<br />
Here," a Coliunbia film.<br />
78 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Drive-In Regulation<br />
To New Hampshire<br />
CONCORD. N, H.—Acting on complaints<br />
that the spread of drive-in theatres through<br />
the New Hampshire countryside is disturbing<br />
the slumbers of folks in tranquil communities,<br />
the state senate rushed action on bill 109<br />
which would regulate the operation of the<br />
ozoners.<br />
After hearing the complaints, particularly<br />
from Brentwood and HoUis. the senate approved<br />
the measure, allowing the selectmen<br />
to set up regulations at once and empowering<br />
voters to act at their next regular town meetings.<br />
A number of residents of Brentwood and<br />
Hollis protested that loudspeakers wer?<br />
keeping their children awake at night.<br />
Bloomfield Board Hires<br />
Drive-In Case Counsel<br />
HARTFORD—Members of the zoning board<br />
of appeals of suburban Bloomfield have voted<br />
to engage private counsel in the pending action<br />
brought against it by Bloomfield taxpayers<br />
for granting permission to Philip W.<br />
Maher to construct and operate a drive-in on<br />
Blue Hills avenue.<br />
According to secretary John B. Carvalho.<br />
counsel fees and court expenses in connection<br />
with the case, which is scheduled for the<br />
coming term of the court of common pleas,<br />
will be borne by members of the board on a<br />
pro rata basis so that the town of Bloomfield<br />
will not be obligated.<br />
Deny Greenwich Drive-In<br />
Permit to Samuel Orson<br />
HARTFORD—state Police Commissioner<br />
Edward J. Hickey, acting in his capacity as<br />
state fire marshal, recently denied an application<br />
for construction of a drive-in on<br />
U.S. Highway 1 in Greenwich.<br />
The commissioner ruled that the proposed<br />
location, a spot not far from the New York<br />
state line near Homestead lane, was imsuitable<br />
for the venture. Applicant was Samuel<br />
F. Orson of Yonkers, N. Y. A group of property<br />
owners opposed the application. Owner<br />
of the proposed site is Mrs. Julia Saunders.<br />
Rush to Build Drive-Ins<br />
On in New England Area<br />
BOSTON—New England drive-in construction<br />
has taken a decided upward surge<br />
this spring, partially caused, it is believed,<br />
by a circuit court of appeals decision in the<br />
case of Park-In Theatres, Inc., of Camden,<br />
N. J., and E. M. Loew's. The judges reversed<br />
a decision by the lower court of Providence<br />
and stated that drive-in owners did not have<br />
to pay royalties to the New Jersey company.<br />
Construction jobs currently under way in<br />
the New England area include an unnamed<br />
535-car drive-in on Route 13 in Lunenberg,<br />
Mass., just outside Whalom Park. It will be<br />
opened August 1 by Williams Brothers.<br />
Construction has started on a 535-car<br />
drive-in on Village street in Medway, Mass.,<br />
to be called the 50-Acre Drive-In Park. This<br />
property borders Lake Populatic and the<br />
drive-in is being built by Charlie Cifre, who<br />
is in the drive-in equipment business. He<br />
has been with M&P Theatres for 22 years.<br />
The theatre is expected to open in two<br />
months.<br />
In Cape Cod on Route 1 at East Dennis,<br />
contractor Louis Segrini from Mansfield will<br />
start construction of a 1,000-car drive-in to<br />
cost $100,000, while at Turners Falls, Mass.,<br />
near Greenfield, Joe Harlow, auctioneer and<br />
furniture dealer, will start building a 500-<br />
car situation soon.<br />
A drive-in is under consideration on routes<br />
9 and 63 near Gill, Mass., by Jack Zemp,<br />
owner of a large cabin and restaurant business.<br />
A permit has not been issued. A 300-<br />
car situation is under way in Mallets Bay,<br />
Burlington, and at Keene, N. H., the Keene<br />
Drive-In will be ready for opening soon.<br />
Joseph Mathieu of the Mathieu circuit will<br />
operate the 350-car Keene.<br />
Among those New England ozoners which<br />
have opened for this season are the new<br />
drive-in on the Mohawk Trail in Shelburne<br />
Falls, Mass., to be opened late this month<br />
by Carl Nilman, operator of the Town Hall<br />
Theatre there. Nilman opened his first drivein<br />
last year at Northfield, Mass., on the<br />
New Hampshire line.<br />
Armand Bourque opened a new drive-in<br />
for 425 cars ana called the Sky-Ray Drive-<br />
In at Hookset, N. H., and L. Mieelli opened<br />
the 500-car Metro Drive-In at Palmer, Mass.,<br />
May 20. A. Yamilkowski will open a new<br />
drive-in for 400 cars June 1 at Southampton,<br />
Mass. All three contracted with Capitol<br />
Theatre Supply for equipment throughout,<br />
including sound, projectors, lamps, In-car<br />
speakers, etc.<br />
The Viens Brothers will open an unnamed<br />
400-car drive-in June 1 on Route 7 near Burlington,<br />
Vt.<br />
Two Drive-ins Proposed<br />
In Worcester Suburbs<br />
WORCESTER — Open-air theatres are<br />
springing up in central Massachusetts with<br />
a rapidity that is alarming operators of indoor<br />
theatres.<br />
Auburn is one of the latest sites. The<br />
.selectmen of this Worcester .suburb held a<br />
hearing on the application of Ralph Conroy<br />
for a permit to construct an outdoor theatre<br />
at the Auburn airport on the southwest cutoff.<br />
The board reserved decision.<br />
Shrewsbury, another .suburban, apparently<br />
is going to get a second such theatre. Plans<br />
are afoot to build one near White City Park.<br />
The Metropolitan Airport Theatre in<br />
Palmer was opened last week at a capacity of<br />
500 cars, and there are drive-ins already in<br />
operation at Shrewsbury, Sutton, Mendon<br />
and Bellingham. Others have operated in<br />
Sturbridge and West Brookfield.<br />
In Athol, selectmen have deferred action on<br />
a petition asking that an outdoor theatre off<br />
Gage road be closed as a public nuisance.<br />
Edmund J. Truehart, owner, has told the<br />
board he is attempting to correct complaints<br />
that the pictures are too noisy.<br />
Cooking Schools Booked<br />
HARTFORD—The two suburban Lockwood-<br />
Gordon theatres, the Webb in Wethersfield<br />
and the Plaza in Windsor, have booked cooking<br />
schools for a one matinee presentation<br />
late this month. The bookings mark the first<br />
time in a number of years a theatre in this<br />
area has used such a school.<br />
Postpone Crown Arbitration<br />
NEW HAVEN—Hearing of the clearance<br />
complaint of the Crown, Hartford, tentatively<br />
scheduled for last week, was postponed on<br />
request of the intervener, and has tentatively<br />
been rescheduled for July 11.<br />
Beverly to Open Late in June<br />
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.—The 1,000-seat<br />
Beverly, currently under way here by the<br />
Perakos circuit, is expected to be ready for a<br />
late June opening.<br />
HARTFORD SOFTBALL PLAYERS—The Lo€W-Poli softball team, which has been<br />
leading: the seven-theatre Hartford league, is shown in the accompanying picture. Left<br />
to right, first row, are Norman Levinson, Willie Pep, Louis Cohen, Lee Feigin, Bill<br />
Rickey and Walter Remillard; second row: John Romley, Bill Healey, Mickey Healey,<br />
Cliff Peters, Bemie Menschell and Donald Mailous; third row: Jim Healey, Joe Rickey<br />
and Irving Goldfarb.<br />
BOXOFFICE : : May<br />
28, 1949 79
. . Harry<br />
. . Frances<br />
. .<br />
. . . George<br />
HARTFORD<br />
ITelene Dolgin, wife of the Pike Drive-in's<br />
general manager, directed the Jewish<br />
Community Center drama group's production<br />
of "Margin for Error" . Hoff, Strand<br />
stage manager, was planning a fishing trip<br />
this summer, and Charlie Lowe, district<br />
sound man for Warner Theatres, was talking<br />
about a vacation visit to northern Maine.<br />
Norman Levinson of Loew's Poll was in<br />
New Haven, his home town, on day off . ,<br />
a .<br />
Irene Moquin, former cashier at the Palace<br />
and Allyn. now is attending an X-ray technicians'<br />
school in St. Louis . Gordon<br />
of the Gordon booking agency had her sister<br />
Connie and a friend, Gertrude Farkriss of<br />
New York, as guests for a weekend visit . . .<br />
Bill Healey, house policeman at Loew's PoU,<br />
was rushed to Hartford hospital with acute<br />
appendicitis.<br />
Bernie Menschell, Community Amusement<br />
Corp., was in New York for several days buying<br />
Local visitors included<br />
and booking . . . Jerry Lewis, Republic: Bill Canello,<br />
Sam Davidson, theatre premiums . . .<br />
RKO;<br />
Bernie<br />
Stevens, assistant manager at the Princess,<br />
visited Jim Cotoia, manager of the Warner<br />
Lewis Turner,<br />
circuit's Art, Springfield . . .<br />
Pi-incess projectionist, was planning a June<br />
vacation, with Pete Marino of the same theatre's<br />
booth staff slated to take his time off<br />
in August.<br />
Carmella Perrone is the new cashier at the<br />
Princess, replacing Ellen Fecteau, who resigned<br />
. . . Dorothy Scarpello, former Princess<br />
cashier, was married last week . . . 'Vincent<br />
O'Brien, formerly manager of the E. M. Loew's<br />
HOWARD R.<br />
JOHNSON—Manager,<br />
Strand Theatre, Hamden,<br />
Conn.—says:<br />
"The Showman's Number One<br />
consideration is his booth's operation.<br />
RCA Service is 100 per<br />
cent insurance against breakdown<br />
and a top boost to highest<br />
efficiency of light and sound<br />
quality."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, New Jersey.<br />
Adv.<br />
Order Your Screen Coating and<br />
Masking for Spring Painting NOW<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
BLUE RIBBON WINNER—Burl Ives.<br />
American folksong authority, radio singer<br />
and film player, receiving a BOXOFFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon award for his part of Uncle<br />
Hiram in RKO's "So Dear to My Heart."<br />
Frances Harding, Boston representative<br />
for BOXOFFICE, presented the award.<br />
Ives was appearing in the Oval room at<br />
the Copley-Plaza hotel.<br />
Hartford Drive-In, now is managing a circuit<br />
house in the Rhode Island territory . . . The<br />
ail- conditioning plants being installed in the<br />
Central and the Colonial by the Hartford<br />
Theatre circuit will be ready for operation by<br />
June 1, according to Ernie Grecula, circuit<br />
assistant general manager.<br />
Janet Boske, candy girl at the Webb,<br />
Wethersfield, will be married in September<br />
to Roger Dow of Wethersfield . . . Bob "Spike"<br />
Repass, son of the late Charlie Repass who<br />
for years was manager of the Crown Theatre<br />
here, is back in baseball as fii'st-string shortstop<br />
for the Baltimore club of the International<br />
league. A back ailment forced the ex-<br />
Washington Senator player to leave baseball<br />
about two years ago. Spike is well known to<br />
Connecticut amusement industry men.<br />
The Kounaris-Tolis-Ulyssis theatre interests,<br />
currently building a 1,000-seat theatre<br />
at Meriden, hope to have the house<br />
ready for operation in June. Nick Kounaris,<br />
Paul Tolls, George Ulyssis and Paul Purdy<br />
have been busy with numerous advance details<br />
of the opening. Meriden, which has 40,-<br />
000 population, has only three theatres at<br />
present. Loew's Poll circuit operates the<br />
Palace and the Poll, while Leo Ricci has the<br />
Capitol.<br />
New Britain notes: Manny Borenstein,<br />
brother of the Strand manager, is expected<br />
in New Britain soon on a visit from Brazil,<br />
He is an overseas officer of the Jewish Joint<br />
Distribution committee ... A new dish give-<br />
. .<br />
away has been started by Frank Smulski,<br />
manager of the Music Box. The theatre collects<br />
a 15-cent service charge on the giveaway<br />
. Monica Zisk has joined the cashiers'<br />
staff at the Strand.<br />
Brookie LeWitt planned to reopen ths<br />
Strand, Sound 'View, for the summer resort<br />
town trade about July 4. Managers at the<br />
467-seat house again will be Jane and Peggy<br />
Glackin, daughters of the late Jack Glackin,<br />
for many years a partner in the Glackin<br />
& LeWitt theatre circuit in Connecticut .<br />
Don Borenstein, 15, son of the Strand manager,<br />
and Mrs. Borenstein, is continuing his<br />
career as a musician. Recently he has been<br />
playing the drums in a local teen-age musical<br />
aggregation.<br />
Charlie Lowe, Hartford district sound engineer<br />
for Warner Theatres, called on Joe<br />
Borenstein at the Strand, and Joe Miklos at<br />
the Embassy . . . Pete and Sperie Perakos of<br />
the Perakos circuit were in Bridgeport looking<br />
over construction of the circuit's new<br />
1,000-seat house, to be known as the Beverly.<br />
The theatre will be ready for operation by<br />
summer.<br />
New Britain notes: Eddie Kirk is the new<br />
maintenance manager at the Arch Street<br />
Lobby renovations, including<br />
Theatre . . .<br />
relocation of the boxoffice, have been completed<br />
at the Strand . . . Joe Borenstein,<br />
Strand manager, is observing his 30th year<br />
in show business. He has been with the<br />
Warner circuit 14 years.<br />
Norman Levinson, Poll assistant, disclosed<br />
plans for a dinner-dance next month to end<br />
the season for the Hartford Theatres softball<br />
league. Sunday morning games are<br />
scheduled to June 5. Mike Piccirillo, Center<br />
Theatre manager, is league commissioner . . .<br />
Bernie Menschell, Commimity Amusement<br />
circuit, was in New Haven.<br />
. . . Harry Bernstein<br />
Fred Greenway, Palace manager and Bob<br />
Gentner, assistant manager, was planning to<br />
hold a bathing beauty contest next month<br />
Madore is the new maintenance<br />
manager at E. M. Loew's, succeeding Sydney<br />
Holmes, who resigned<br />
of the Columbia exploitation department.<br />
New York, was in Hartford and Springfield.<br />
Jack Mitchell, chief projectionist at the<br />
Colonial here, has returned from a twoweek<br />
vacation at his summer cottage in<br />
Brattleboro, 'Vt. . . . Ruth McCormick, cashier<br />
at E, M. Loew's here, was married recently<br />
to Salvatore Catina, projectionist at<br />
the same theatre.<br />
Interstate Officers Meet<br />
To Discuss Six Openings<br />
BOSTON— E. Harold Stoneman, president,<br />
and James Mahoney, general manager for<br />
Interstate Theatres, held a district managers<br />
meeting in the Interstate offices here to discuss<br />
openings of the circuit's six summer theatres<br />
and the Jimmie fund drive.<br />
The six theatres are the Hyannis at Hyannis;<br />
the Cape Cinema, Dennis; Community,<br />
Chatham, Chatham; Strand, Har-<br />
Osterville;<br />
wichport, and the Bristol. Bristol, N. H. District<br />
managers present were Chris Joyce,<br />
Plymouth, Mass.; Erwin Neumann, Connecticut;<br />
Ernest Fitzgerald, New Hampshire; Ray<br />
Kinii-y, Vermont, and Joseph Bean, Revere<br />
Theatres.<br />
Try Us and You1l Agree<br />
FILMACK<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Ate "Best By Test . . .<br />
Quicker than the RestT<br />
CHICAGO -1327<br />
NEW YORK -<br />
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619 W 54th St.<br />
80 BOXOFFICE ;: May 28, 1949
. . Ray<br />
. . Clever<br />
. . William<br />
. .<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
•Phe big get-together of the month was a<br />
luncheon for 65 at the Hotel Taft for the<br />
Jimmie fund with Martin MuUin and William<br />
Koster of the Boston Variety Club conducting.<br />
Al Pickus, Stratford Theatre operator,<br />
will be state chairman for the one-week drive<br />
May 29 to June 4, during which some theatres<br />
will have collections, others lobby collections,<br />
etc. An effective trailer has been made for<br />
the screen. Among those present at the<br />
luncheon were I. J. Hoffman. Max Hoffman,<br />
Larry Germaine. Lou Brown. Al Schuman<br />
and Mrs. Schuman. Henry Needles, Henry<br />
Germaine. Hany Rosenblatt. Carl Goe, John<br />
Pavone, Barney Pitkin. Walter Silverman,<br />
Max Salzburg. Ray Wylie. Joe Dolgin and<br />
Mrs. Dolgin and Beth Caplan.<br />
Also in toH-n last week were Tom Duane, of<br />
Selznick and Harold Eskin. Sal Adorno . . .<br />
John Matthews, whose original Warner connection<br />
was with the theatre zone office here<br />
and who has subsequently held several theatre<br />
managerships on the circuit, the most<br />
recent being the Warner in Worcester, is back<br />
at the home office as purchasing agent.<br />
The Princess in Rockville may be closed for<br />
the summer for renovation while new owners<br />
William Bassett and Mary Elizabeth Wright<br />
concentrate on the restaurant business in the<br />
same building . . . Leon Jakubson. MGM office<br />
manager, witnessed the May 22 golf<br />
matches at the Wykagil Country club. New<br />
The Waterford Drive-In was<br />
Rochelle . . .<br />
due to open Friday (27 1 and the new TCO-car<br />
Post Drive-In. East Haven, Saturday (28).<br />
The Warner club had a buffet supper and<br />
screening of "Neptune's Daughter" with<br />
Francis Flood, president, in charge and Mary<br />
Peiper, Guido Rosano and Ida Spivak, of the<br />
contact department, engineering arrangements.<br />
The club is lining up interesting spots<br />
and dates for the annual outing.<br />
Sara Hadelman is using a kitchen canister<br />
set for a novelty giveaway at the Grand . . .<br />
Athan Prakas, of the Rivoli, Bridgeport, is<br />
contemplating an Ohio vacation . . . Joe Di-<br />
Frances of the Cheshire is looking for company<br />
for a quick trip to Miami to pick up his<br />
Extensive repairs and changes<br />
father's car . . .<br />
at the West End in Bridgeport are finished<br />
and Jack Schwartz is to be congratulated on<br />
the results.<br />
Spot bookings on the Warner circuit include<br />
"Pa.ssionelle" and "Torment" dual June 16, 17<br />
at the Capitol, Danbury; "Passionate Spring,"<br />
a Hungarian picture, at the Rialto, South<br />
Norwalk, June 2. and two Italian films. Continental's<br />
"When Love Calls" and "Before<br />
Him All Rome Trembled" June 1, 2 at the<br />
Commodore Hull, Derby . . . Newlywed<br />
Thelma Jafte Rubin, MGM secretary, is taking<br />
a vacation to move into her new apartment<br />
Oscar Doob was in from the New York<br />
. . .<br />
Loew's office to make the Poll circuit with<br />
Division Manager Harry Shaw.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
United Artists screened "Home of the<br />
Sid Kleper, manager<br />
Brave" for the press . . .<br />
of the College, may be first on the Loew Poll<br />
vacation list, starting June 20 . . . Henry<br />
Romanowsky was head of the Roger Sherman<br />
champ bowling team which won both first<br />
and second round m the downtown theatre<br />
league Flynn. College assistant,<br />
handled the publicity for the recent National<br />
Guard minstrel original jewelry<br />
creations are being designed by Ann Donner<br />
of 20th-Fox.<br />
The Fishman circuit ran a bathing<br />
beauty contest at the Rivoli, West Hav3n,<br />
with good results. It will sponsor a similar<br />
contest at<br />
man has<br />
the Dixwell here . . . Helen Nor-<br />
replaced Tillie Duplee at the National<br />
Theatre Supply . . . Phil Gravitz, Metro<br />
salesman, bought a new Plyn.outh coach .<br />
Tohs-Kounaris-Ulysses of New Britain<br />
planned to open its new Meriden Theatre<br />
June 1.<br />
FALL RIVER<br />
lyTanager Paul Slayer launched an extensive<br />
campaign for "The Barkleys of Broadway"<br />
at the Durfee May 25 to 30. The publicity<br />
includes elaborate newspaper advertising,<br />
special programs on WSAR during the<br />
What Is It to you period, window displays<br />
in leading downtown stores and trailers on<br />
the screen , . . John Negus has been transferred<br />
from the Embassy to the Empire as<br />
doorman . Canning recently spent<br />
three days in Boston reviewing pictures.<br />
. . The<br />
Evening features held at the Yamins houses<br />
during the winter have closed following a<br />
very successful run. Both the Strand and the<br />
Park ran a series of Country Store and<br />
Amateur Latent Talent nights with special<br />
awards being made at all programs .<br />
Empire specialty consisted of Search for<br />
Talent programs staged every Tuesday. The<br />
stage acts ran in series of seven weeks each,<br />
with the series winner by audience selection<br />
receiving major awards and engagements at<br />
night spots.<br />
Brothers Are Booth Men<br />
WINDSOR, CONN.—Al Abronzino has<br />
been a projectionist at the Plaza Theatre<br />
ten years. His brother Fred is marking hiS<br />
sixth year as projectionist at the E. M.<br />
Loew's Theatre. Hartford. Both brothers<br />
came to the U.S. from Italy back in 1937.<br />
Pi'ior to that time, Al was projectionist in<br />
the Callo Theatre in Naples. He recalls now<br />
that the theatre ran only silent motion pictures.<br />
Pianist in Cast<br />
Pianist William Lankin has joined the<br />
cast of Warners "Chain Lightning."<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
/^eorge Roberts, general manager of the<br />
Rifkin circuit. Boston, was looking over<br />
the circuit's neighborhood houses in this<br />
area. At one time, George managed the<br />
Forest Park Phillips here . . . Bill Powell is<br />
back in active exhibition again, managing<br />
the Parkway Drive-In here for Dave Willig,<br />
who owns a number of drive-ins in the Hartford<br />
territory.<br />
Drive-ins are springing up rapidly in this<br />
. . .<br />
area. Carl H. Nilmon of Buckland has reopened<br />
his Northfield Drive-In in Franklin<br />
Edward King of Greenfield, owner<br />
county . . .<br />
of the South Deerfield Drive-In, disclosed<br />
plans to expand next sea.son Nilmon has<br />
been building a drive-in at Charlemont , . .<br />
In-car speakers are being installed at the<br />
Starlight outdoor theatre four miles from<br />
Greenfield.<br />
.<br />
Harry Lazarus of Pittsfield has reopened<br />
his Berkshire Drive-In on Route 20 . . . Fred<br />
Cloutier of Pittsfield, owner of the Sunset<br />
Park Drive-In on Route 7 in Lanesboro, has<br />
reopened Edgar Briggs. owner of the<br />
Briggs<br />
. .<br />
Drive-In, Dallon, has been installing<br />
new speakers.<br />
The 1,000-seat Holyoke, which has been<br />
closed several years, will be reopened by<br />
the E. M. Loew circuit next fall. Renovation<br />
now is in progress . . . Elihu<br />
owner and manager of the Majestic,<br />
Glass,<br />
West<br />
Springfield, observed the third anniversary<br />
of his special children's Saturday afternoon<br />
programs with ten cartoons on May 14.<br />
The newly renovated base theatre at Westover<br />
field was opened with the presentation<br />
of "Hollywood Revue," .starring Celeste Holm<br />
Nathan E. Goldstein, owner of the<br />
.<br />
Arcade, was in Boston on a buying and<br />
Dave Willig. Springfield,<br />
booking trip. . . .<br />
has reopened the Auto-Vision Drive-In at<br />
East Greenbush. N. Y.. for its fourth season<br />
. . . Louis Segrini, Mansfield, Mass.,<br />
contractor, will build and operate a 1,000-<br />
car drive-in on Cape Cod this summer . . .<br />
Herb Brown of the Victoria, Greenfield,<br />
was in Boston recently on business.<br />
Chief of Projectionists Visits<br />
HARTFORD—Lester Isaacs, chief of the<br />
projection department for Loew's Theatres,<br />
New York, and Harry F. Shaw, division manager,<br />
recently visited the PoU and Palace<br />
theatres here.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 81
. . . Jay<br />
NEW HAMPSHIRE<br />
•Pheatremen were encouraged by an optimistic<br />
report on this year's tourist business<br />
prospects, given by Theodore G. Morss. research<br />
statistician for the Federal Reserve<br />
bank of Boston. Speaking at the New Hampshire<br />
resort operators annual institute at the<br />
University of New Hampshire in Durham,<br />
"The potential vacationist has more<br />
he said.<br />
money than last year because the cost of<br />
living is lower and the heavy demand for<br />
durable goods has been satisfied."<br />
Manchester's skating brothers, Lenny,<br />
Kenny and Ed Raiche, have left Hollywood<br />
with the "Ice Cycles" for a tour of Europe,<br />
starting with a week's engagement in London<br />
Dowd, a dancing star in "Oklahoma!"<br />
who recently signed a Hollywood<br />
contract, was given a long writeup in the<br />
local papers when the musical comedy hit<br />
played the Palace in Manchester. The<br />
dancer, former city tennis title holder in<br />
Hartford, was a spectator at school athletic<br />
events and handed out advice to the youthful<br />
athletes.<br />
The Pine Island Drive-In in Manchester<br />
has announced that from now until the<br />
schools close it will offer a half hour of cartoons<br />
and comedies as an added film attraction.<br />
The theatre offers free admission to<br />
children under 12 years old . . . Ansel N. Sanborn,<br />
widely-known Carroll county circuit<br />
owner and representative in the legislature,<br />
entertained a large group of fellow solons<br />
May 17 at the 'Wolfeboro Casino, which the<br />
exhibitor also operates. The program included<br />
bowling, boating, motion pictures and<br />
dancing.<br />
For obvious reasons, the state's theatre<br />
operators are not overjoyed over the night<br />
racing bill which has been endorsed by the<br />
senate ways and means committee. The<br />
measure has been called a "protective" one<br />
to meet competition from pari-mutuel tracks<br />
in Massachusetts where after-dark races<br />
have also been proposed. Races in this state<br />
must be over by 7 p. m. under the present<br />
law.<br />
The State in Manchester held over "Mr.<br />
Belvedere Goes to College" ... A "Voice<br />
of America film, recently made in Conway,<br />
featured the Methodist church choh- in an<br />
Easter Sunday service climaxing a weekend<br />
in the life of a typical American boy<br />
Senate BUI 94, which would legalize<br />
. . .<br />
beano<br />
games, passed its first hurdle without opposition<br />
at a hearing before the committee on<br />
public welfare and state institutions. The<br />
measure, sponsored by Senator Raoul Lalumiere<br />
of Manchester, would allow religious<br />
or charitable organizations to operate games<br />
by paying a $10 license fee.<br />
The romantic escapades of two American<br />
film stars abroad were lambasted in an editorial,<br />
"Not Heroines," in the Union in Manchester.<br />
"It is too bad that La Bergman<br />
and La Hayworth have to make that kind of<br />
news . .<br />
." the newspaper declared. "It is<br />
also too bad that Ingrid was cast in the role<br />
of 'Joan of Arc' Heroines, it seems, are<br />
born; not made. The pity is that those who<br />
portray people of character cannot become<br />
imbued with it."<br />
The recently opened Manchester Drive-In<br />
on South Willow street heralded the opening<br />
of a n'jw refreshment establishment<br />
opposite the ozoner . . . The latest sound<br />
films of Philmont Scout ranch in Cimarron,<br />
N. M., were shown by "Big Jim" Fitch, general<br />
manager of the 'Waite Phillips properties<br />
for the Boy Scouts in Manchester, Franklin,<br />
Rochester, Dover and Portsmouth.<br />
The Granite state's natural beauty is emphasized<br />
in a color film, "Scenic New Hampshire,"<br />
produced by Guy Shorey, well known<br />
Gorham photographer.<br />
LYNN<br />
f^ircuses for chUdren have been drawing<br />
so well at the Paramount on Saturday<br />
mornings that manager James Davis will<br />
stage a third such performance June 11,<br />
when the attraction wUl be Captain Anderson<br />
and his ponies, dogs and monkeys. The<br />
film will be "Alice in Wonderland" . . . Larry<br />
Burke, Paramount assistant manager, substituted<br />
for Arthur Murch, North Shore manager,<br />
Gloucester, while the latter was ill recently.<br />
A contest sponsored by the Uptown to select<br />
the most talented amateur was won by<br />
a young baritone, who will g to New York<br />
to appear in a nationwide radio broadcast.<br />
Another such contest will be sponsored by<br />
the Uptown later this year. Leonard Barrett,<br />
manager, solicits donations from the<br />
various Lynn merchants for his weekly Country<br />
Store night.<br />
CBS Show Brings Trouble<br />
To Langford Appearance<br />
HARTFORD—Ted Harris, managing director<br />
of the State, downtown motion picture-vaudeville<br />
theatre, had his hands full<br />
with the personal appearance of Frances<br />
Langford, Hollywood actress-singer. It seems<br />
that the CBS radio network featured a radio<br />
broadcast from Des Moines, Iowa, with Miss<br />
Langford in the starring role on the broadcast.<br />
Miss Langford was tn Hartford.<br />
Hundreds of State patrons called Harris to<br />
ask whether the Pi-ances Langford on the<br />
State stage was an "impostor" or the real<br />
thing. The answer was simple, however, smce<br />
the broadcast had been transcribed earlier.<br />
As soon as the hundreds of calls started<br />
flooding into the State office, Harris sent out<br />
a plea to WDRC, basic CBS station for Connecticut,<br />
to make periodic announcements<br />
over the air, reasserting the fact that the<br />
broadcast had been transcribed.<br />
Along with Miss Langford in the stage<br />
revue here was her husband Jon Hall. The<br />
couple flew to Hartford in their private<br />
plane from Hollywood.<br />
Visual Education Supplier<br />
From Mideast Edition<br />
AKRON—M. E. Lockard, who entered the<br />
motion picture field as an operator at the<br />
old Arlington Theatre in 1915 and has been<br />
a projectionist in every Akron theatre, is<br />
now a dealer in visual education supplies.<br />
He was recently written up in the Akron<br />
Beacon-Journal as one of the first operators<br />
to work on Vitaphone and Movietone equipment.<br />
When 16mm sound films began to be<br />
practical in 1935, he became interested in its<br />
po.ssibilities as an education medium.<br />
WORCESTER<br />
IJarold H. Maloney, manager of the Poll,<br />
went to New York to attempt to line up<br />
a personal appearance to open his summer<br />
season . . . The Ringling circus will play<br />
a one-day stand at Beaver Brook playground<br />
June 23 despite opposition from neighbors . . ,<br />
Herb Asher, manager of the Olympia, was<br />
host to priests and nuns of the city at a<br />
screening of "The Fugitive."<br />
Says a columnist in the Sunday Telegram:<br />
"The handling of refunds to theatre patrons<br />
is one of the headaches of an assistant manager.<br />
Too many chiseling customers see most<br />
of the show, then invent reasons why they<br />
should get their admission fee back. Bob<br />
Bergin of the Poll witnessed 'Mr. Belvedere<br />
Goes to College,' then observed, 'I'd give my<br />
right arm to have Clifton Webb working for<br />
the theatre just to handle refunds.'<br />
The Sturbridge Summer Theatre has set<br />
its opening for June 28 . . . Carroll McComas<br />
came in from Broadway to play the lead in<br />
"The Glass Men.igerie" at the Red Barn . . .<br />
Kay Francis will guest star in "Let Us Be<br />
Gay" at the Whalom, Fitchburg. and at the<br />
Playhouse, Worcester, in June . . . Ruth<br />
Chatterton drew only fair houses in her<br />
three-day stand here In "Lovers and Friends."<br />
The Playhouse opened its seventh season<br />
here with "For Love or Money" ... A writer<br />
to the People's Forum in the Evening Gazette<br />
complained because only one theatre<br />
in tovm is air conditioned . . . The annual<br />
luncheon of the Better Films council was<br />
held at the Sheraton with Mi's. Bettina<br />
Gunczy, secretary of the motion picture council<br />
of the National Board of Review, as the<br />
speaker. Her topic was "The Motion Picture,<br />
a Community Interest" . . . The Nipmuc in<br />
Mendon was reopened for the season with<br />
"Mom and Dad."<br />
The young reviewers group of the Better<br />
Films council picked these pictures as the<br />
best of the year: "Hamlet," "The Search,"<br />
"Paleface," "Sitting Pretty," "Johnny Belinda,"<br />
"I Remember Mama," "The Return<br />
of October," "Apartment for Peggy," "Command<br />
Decision" and "Take Me Out to the<br />
Ball Game."<br />
Mrs. Dominic Turturro, wife cf the manager<br />
of the Elms in Millbury, has been<br />
named chairman of the motion picture advisory<br />
committee of the Millbury Woman's<br />
club . . . Billy Eckstine, the singer, was in<br />
The three-day engagement<br />
town for a show . . .<br />
of "Oklahoma!" at the Auditorium was<br />
a flop, the show having made too quick a<br />
return here after a previous week's sensational<br />
Ruth Chatterton was<br />
business . . . here to start a three-week tour of New England<br />
one-night stands in "Lovers and<br />
Friends."<br />
Check of Theatre Ceilings<br />
Is Ordered in Ontario<br />
From Canadian Edition<br />
TORONTO—The recent collapse of several<br />
theatre ceilings in the U.S. has brought a<br />
request by O. J. Silverthorne, director of the<br />
Ontario theatres inspection branch, for theatre<br />
owners to have an architect or engineer<br />
check the conditions of ceilings in their<br />
buildings. A report on ceiling conditions is<br />
to be filed with the government not later<br />
than June 1.<br />
82 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Griffiih Suit Recess<br />
Until Last of June<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY — The long-drawn-out<br />
Griffith antirust suit is recessed until June<br />
20. Soon after the hearing is resumed late<br />
in June, the case is expected to be taken<br />
under advisement by Judge Edgar S. Vaught<br />
for about the next five months.<br />
Dispositions of Heywood Simmons, Paramount<br />
manager at Dallas: Howard Nicholson,<br />
Paramount salesman: Sol Sachs, RKO<br />
manager: H. H. Martin, U-I manager, and<br />
Tony Philbin, MGM office manager, all of<br />
Dallas, will be read immediately after the<br />
hearing is resumed June 20. Then the judge<br />
will hear arguments on whether Theatre<br />
Enterprises should be in the law,suit or not.<br />
Recent testimony presented by the defense<br />
was given by H. J. Griffith. Los Angeles,<br />
who testified with respect to his activities<br />
when connected with Griffith Amusement<br />
Co. He pointed out that his job was with<br />
construction and maintenance and not film<br />
buying. He .said the people who own Theatre<br />
Enterprises was substantially different from<br />
tho.se people who owned R. E. Griffith Theatres,<br />
Inc. He said the latter was sold becau.se<br />
the estate was in such a condition that<br />
federal taxes couldn't be paid.<br />
Henry S. Griffing, executive vice-president<br />
of Griffith Consolidated Theatres, testified<br />
regarding what he had done to keep the defendants<br />
from violating the law. He said he<br />
did not know just what was expected of them<br />
until the Supreme Court decision.<br />
Others tesstifying were Cliff White, buyer<br />
for Griffith Consolidated here: Ray Higdon.<br />
buyer for Theatre Enterprises, Dallas, and<br />
R. E. Nickerson, New York lawyer.<br />
The government put on two rebuttal witnesses<br />
who operate drive-ins in Texas. They<br />
were Carroll Jones, Midland, and John Fagan,<br />
Borger. Neither claimed they couldn't get<br />
pictures. They said they had the first driveins,<br />
then Griffith came along and tried to<br />
buy them out and after they didn't sell that<br />
Griffith put in its own drive-ins.<br />
Answering them were White and Howard<br />
Hodge, associate of Griffith Theatres in Midland.<br />
Building Bronco Drive-In<br />
BEEVILLE, TEX.—A. M. Gaines of Alice<br />
has a 350-car drive-in under construction<br />
three miles north of the city on the San<br />
Antonio highway. The ozoner will be known<br />
as the Bronco Drive-In and will be open<br />
on a year-around ba.sis. R. W. Hailey, brother-in-law<br />
of the owner, will have charge of<br />
buying and booking the pictures.<br />
Interstate to Open Theatre<br />
BROWNSVILLE, TEX.—Interstate is remodeling<br />
the Capitol Theatre and also building<br />
the 1,400-seat Majestic, which is expected<br />
to be ready by September 1, according to J. C.<br />
McNeill, city manager.<br />
W. p. Moran to Open Drive-In<br />
DALLAS—W. P. Moran, former theatre<br />
partner of Phil Isley in Oklahoma and Kansas,<br />
will open the new High View Drive-In<br />
June 15 far out on South Beckley. It will<br />
have 600 in-car speakers and a playground<br />
for children. It is believed Moran may have<br />
formed a new alliance with Isley or at least<br />
reaffiliated with him on his recent move<br />
here from the Sooner capital.<br />
Jribute Paid to Founders<br />
By Arkansas ITO Parley<br />
LITTLE ROCK—Seven original members<br />
of the Independent Theatre Owners of Arkansas<br />
were honored at a luncheon highlighting<br />
the last day's session of the annual convention<br />
here last week. The seven who joined<br />
ITO of Arkansas when it was organized in<br />
1919 were Cecil Cupp, Arkadelphia: O. C.<br />
Hauber. Pine Bluff: Will Mack. Jonesboro:<br />
Sidney Nutt, Hot Springs; Eli Whitney Collins,<br />
Little Rock; John A. Collins. Paragould,<br />
and D. E. Finton, Harri.son.<br />
C. A, Lick, Fort Smith, another original<br />
member, was ill and could not attend. The<br />
late J. M. En.sor, Little Rock, E. C. Robertson,<br />
Payetteville, and W. L. Landers sr.,<br />
also joined in 1919.<br />
FORMER SECRETARY-TREASURER<br />
Sam B. Kirby, Little Rock, who has served<br />
as .secretary-treasurer, was elected president<br />
to succeed E. W. Savage, who became chairman<br />
of the board.<br />
The other new officers are O. G. Abernathy,<br />
Morrilton: Jack Bomar, Little Rock,<br />
secretary-treasurer, and these directors: Sidney<br />
Wharton, Warren: Henry Haven, Forrest<br />
City; Terry Axley, England: W. C. Sumpter,<br />
Lepanto; W. D. Mitchell, Dumas; L. G.<br />
Renfro jr.. Holly Grove, and Herod Jimerson.<br />
Little Rock.<br />
"The exhibitor must maintain a free, uncen.sored<br />
screen comparable with newspapers<br />
and the radio," Gael Sullivan, executive director<br />
of the Theatre Owners of America,<br />
told the 150 men and women exhibitors assembled<br />
at the convention.<br />
Sullivan urged the exhibitors to make their<br />
impact felt through intensive interest in<br />
community affairs.<br />
In the face of declining revenues, Sullivan<br />
urged better exploitation methods. He as-<br />
•POPCORN CRAZY" LIKE A FOX—<br />
P, A. "Bob" Warner, vice-president of<br />
Manley, Inc, of Dallas, is absorbed in the<br />
recent Saturday Evening Post article,<br />
"Popcorn Crazy," which tells the storj- of<br />
Charles T. Manley and Manley, Inc.<br />
Warner has been with the company since<br />
1932.<br />
serted the TOA was now working with major<br />
Hollywood producers in the preparation of an<br />
exciting, stimulating type of television trailer<br />
to bring audiences back. He felt that the<br />
present type of trailer was "old hat" and<br />
lacked imagination ani the kind of modern<br />
showmanship necessary to meet the challenge<br />
of<br />
home television.<br />
"Television will not be a crippling influence<br />
on the exhibitor," Sullivan said. "We will be<br />
merely adopting new techniques."<br />
Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel,<br />
gave an analysis of pending legislation and<br />
litigation affecting the industry. In discussing<br />
the U.S. vs. Paramount case Levy said<br />
that several companies have added additional<br />
clauses and have changed clauses in .standard<br />
exhibition contracts, and that some of<br />
the.se changes very seriously affect exhibiitors,<br />
most of whom do not bother to read<br />
their contracts. He caUed on all distributors<br />
to notify exhibitors riiecifically where changes<br />
are made.<br />
Levy also stated that while those companies<br />
that were not parties to U.S vs. Paramount<br />
case are technically not bound by the terms<br />
or the decision of the relief granted, they<br />
fairness accept the decision and<br />
-should in all<br />
not now employ or take advantage of these<br />
practices outlawed by that decision.<br />
WARNS ON ASCAP MOVE<br />
Complaints have come to TOA that there<br />
have been some flagrant offenses in this field.<br />
As to Ascap, Levy asserted that there appears<br />
to be fairly accm-ate information that<br />
negotiations now are either going on or are<br />
being anticipated leading toward a consent<br />
decree revision under which A.scap would be<br />
permitted or compelled to sell musical copyrights<br />
directly and outright to picture producers.<br />
If this is so, then exliibitors must be<br />
vigilant to protest in all ways at their command<br />
the passing on of this charge.<br />
Glenn A. Green, executive director of the<br />
Arkansas Free Enterprise Ass'n, was guest<br />
speaker at the annual banquet.<br />
Leon J. Bamberger of RKO spoke on "Unity<br />
Between Distributor and Exhibitor," and said<br />
the exhibitor is on the firing line in respect<br />
to the industry through public contact.<br />
The final meeting also saw exhibitors resolving<br />
to present a scroll in appreciation to<br />
Edward B. Dillon, state representative from<br />
Pulaski county, for his help to the men and<br />
women of show business. A special committee<br />
was to be appointed to select and present<br />
the gift to Dillon.<br />
Social gatherings of the meeting included<br />
a cocktail party given by the Motion Picture<br />
Advertising Service Co., New Orleans, and a<br />
barbecue given by Film Transit, Inc., Memphis.<br />
Officers and directors fomiulated plans to<br />
combat infiltration of 16mm operators and<br />
appointed Kirby, Savage and Abernathy to<br />
study the problem.<br />
Exhibits on display included those of Tri-<br />
State Theatre Supply, Memphis; Blevins Popcorn<br />
Co., Nashville; Griggs Equipment Co.,<br />
Belton, Tex.; Manley, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.;<br />
Quik-Serv Fountainette, Dallas: The William<br />
C. Hill Co., marquees and attraction panels.<br />
Pine Bluff, Ark., ond the American Desk<br />
Mfg. Co., Temple, Tex.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: May 28, 1949 sw 83
nr«<br />
SAM SCHWARTZ—Owner, Aztec<br />
and Yolanda Theatres, Eagle Pass,<br />
Texas—declares:<br />
"I have used RCA Service<br />
continuously for the past 20<br />
years. Service has been prompt<br />
and very efficient. It's a sound<br />
business investment."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, N. J.<br />
RAMP-EXIT.<br />
ENTRANCE<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
FLOODLIGHTS<br />
Adv.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
DALLAS<br />
Business at Miracle<br />
y^ p. Moran of Oklahoma City reports his PflSl EXDeCtatiOIlS<br />
new drive-in on South Beckley boule- ^<br />
vard will open June 15. This new sit-in-yourcar<br />
operation will accommodate 600 cars<br />
Corinne Calvet, -he new French star, together<br />
. . .<br />
with Will Demarest, Nan Leslie and<br />
John Bromfield appeared at the opening of<br />
Paramount's "Streets of Laredo" at the Majestic.<br />
Lloyd Rust, partner in the four Gene Autry<br />
theatres in Oak Cliff, is home from a vacation<br />
trip. Spending only a few hours each<br />
day looking after his theatre interests, Lloyd<br />
now spends a lot of his time in his home<br />
carpenter shop and his rose garden.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. P. A. "Bob" Warner had as<br />
house guest Mrs. Lawson Burdett of Jacksonville.<br />
Pla. Sunday (22) the Warners entertained<br />
with a Texas barbecue. Food was<br />
served ranch style on the lawn. Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Harry Bemis and son Gene and his bride,<br />
and Hal Norfleet were dinner guests . . .<br />
Basil O'Neil, late of Hollywood, has opened<br />
an interior decorating business in Dallas.<br />
One of his first contracts was decorating<br />
the display room and offices of the new<br />
Manley building at 2013-15 Young St. O'Connor<br />
is a native Texan.<br />
To Screenplay "September'<br />
Andrew Solt will write the final screenplay<br />
on Paramount's "September."<br />
MIAMI—The Miracle Theatre on Miracle<br />
Mile is one of Coral Gables' brightest spots.<br />
Wometco officials frankly report that this<br />
showplace is attracting a volume of business<br />
which they did not expect for at least another<br />
three or four years.<br />
"Our purpose was to build a theatre which<br />
would be adequate, and of which the people<br />
might be proud, not only today but ten or<br />
15 years from now. We must admit that we<br />
underestimated the present business potential<br />
of Coral Gables. The Miracle Theatre<br />
already is beginning to justify our faith in<br />
the progress we expected of the city," said<br />
Mitchell Wolfson, co-owner with Sidney<br />
Meyer of the Wometco Theatres.<br />
Wolfson pointed out the trend indicates<br />
that prompt action toward the establishment<br />
of off-street parking in the area is even<br />
more urgent than it has been considered.<br />
"Potential customers for any business will<br />
drive three or four miles to avoid walking<br />
two or three blocks," .said Wolfson," and while<br />
this problem has not yet become a serious<br />
one in Coral Gables, the time when it will<br />
be serious is near at hand unle.ss we act<br />
promptly."<br />
The Miracle, with 1,600 seats, is the third<br />
largest theatre in greater Miami and was<br />
designed and equipped to achieve the elegance<br />
and comfort of a luxurious downtown<br />
^Ae^Po/2,^orfi^/?tans— AND related lines<br />
^- V<br />
EQUIPMENT DISPUY-SALES<br />
HOUSTON POPCORN DELTA THEATRE<br />
4 EQUIPMENT CO. SUPPLY<br />
A. J. Schmitt, Mgr. John F. Elzey, Mgr.<br />
1315 Palmer Strut 214 S. Liberty<br />
Plione: Atwood S-6606 Niw Orleans. La.<br />
Houston, Texas Phone Raymond 5772<br />
OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
J. Eldon Peek 62g W. Grand Oklahoma City. Okla.<br />
WAREHOUSES<br />
HOUSTON BEAUMONT<br />
1315 Palmer Street 550 Main Street<br />
LUBBOCK<br />
702 Texas Street<br />
Model MAB-3<br />
TOLPAK<br />
Triple Drink Dispenser<br />
84 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
theatre. An example of this is the extras<br />
that went into the air conditioning system.<br />
In addition to the normal filters. Miracle<br />
equipment includes activated charcoal filters<br />
to remove odors, and electro-static filtering<br />
which charges dust and smoke particle.s with<br />
electricity and then removes them from the<br />
air by magnetism. The only other theatre<br />
in the area having such a system is the<br />
Miami.<br />
Miracle Mile merchants have welcomed the<br />
addition of the theatre to the rapidly growing<br />
shopping center. The Miracle, like most<br />
theatres, gives a pulse and an animation to<br />
its neighborhood. Window displays, which<br />
were of little value in the evenings, continue<br />
to sell merchandise until midnight as film<br />
patrons window-shop.<br />
Westerns-Features-Serials<br />
Tower Pictures Co.<br />
HAHOLD SCHWABZ<br />
3021/2 S. Harwood St. Dallas 1. T«xa><br />
Phones C-73S7 and R-3998<br />
J. T. BOUTWELL INSTALLATION COMPANY<br />
Contractor ol Theatre, School<br />
and Church Seating<br />
We install any Chair for anyone at any place.<br />
For information, write<br />
Box 325 or Call 6976. Temple, Texas<br />
Schoolman's Private Initiative Ideas<br />
Turn U. S. Attention on Searcy<br />
MEMPHIS—The Lttle city of Searcy, Ark.,<br />
received national attention last week when a<br />
world premiere of a motion picture short was<br />
shown at the Rialto Theatre there. United<br />
Press. Scripps-Howard and other national<br />
news services staffed the affair and sent out<br />
dispatches all over the world.<br />
All the fuss in the little Ozark mountain<br />
community centered around an eight-minute<br />
Technicolor cartoon entitled, "Meeting<br />
Joe." The brainchild of Dr. George S.<br />
Benson, president of Harding college for<br />
13 years, the film is one of a series of six<br />
designed to tell the story of the American<br />
way of life. Pioduced by MGM and shown<br />
first at K. K. King's Rialto in Searcy, it<br />
is scheduled for national release May 28.<br />
Around 6,000 persons attended the premiere<br />
activities. The high school band<br />
played In the streets. Visitors came from<br />
far and near. Each of the six films will<br />
cost $75,000 and is paid for by Harding<br />
college.<br />
Benson, whose rugged private initiative<br />
system received national attention with his<br />
"work-your-way-through-coUege" program<br />
.some years ago, has the backing of some<br />
of the nation's leading businessmen. He<br />
worked with MGM on the film to embody his<br />
free enterprise ideas into it.<br />
Max Weinberg, MGM's advertising and<br />
publicity man from New York; Mike Simon,<br />
MGM public relations d rector from New<br />
York: Emery Austin. MGM district publicist,<br />
and Louis C. Ingram, Memphis manager for<br />
MGM, attended.<br />
Wrote Edwin Howard, amusements editor<br />
of the Press-Scimitar:<br />
"It's in color, and it is as full of laughs as<br />
any cartoon you evsr cackled at. But sandwiched<br />
unobtrus.vely between slices of fun<br />
are some thick cuts of cold fact. King Joe<br />
is the American working man, and the cartoon,<br />
without one pause to preach, points out<br />
that Joe can buy more with his wages than<br />
any other worker in the world. Still without<br />
sermonizing, it .shows why—the free enterprise<br />
system."<br />
Mayor Oliver, speaking at the celebration,<br />
said: "Harding is one college whose campus<br />
is the nation. With Harding-inspired movies<br />
going out over the earth, that can be revised<br />
to read, 'the world.'<br />
CONSOLIDATED ARTIST BOOKING AGCY.<br />
Hollywood .. San Antonio .. Chicago .. New York<br />
BOOKING VAUDEVILLE COAST to COAST<br />
Shows ior All Types oi Entertainment<br />
Phone Fannin 5496 405-406 Texas Theatre Bid?.<br />
SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS<br />
^onnau€e\can&
. . Maurice<br />
. . Merl<br />
. . When<br />
•ATLANTA: Aslor. W. M. Bichordson<br />
(3) 163 Walton Sl., NW<br />
1 DALLAS: Jenkins & Bourgeois. Aotor<br />
( Harwood & lacltson Slreels<br />
I<br />
iNtW ORLEANS: D.«ie. H. A. (Bob) Kelly'<br />
(13) 218 S. Liberty<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
. . . Lewis<br />
Oeveral Filmrowers attended the gala reopening<br />
of the Tivoli Theatre in Ardmore.<br />
which was remodeled completely inside and<br />
out. Harry Lowenstein of Ardmore is a partner<br />
with Griffith in the Tivoli and two other<br />
situations in Ardmore . N. Wolf,<br />
Boston, MGM public relations head, was<br />
here to speak before the Oklahoma City<br />
Junior Chamber of Commerce<br />
Gordon and Murray Weiss of Boston were<br />
local visitors. Gordon is a partner with<br />
Arthur Lockwood, TOA president, in a theatre<br />
circuit. Weiss, international property<br />
master for Variety clubs, is a contractor.<br />
Changes in C&R personnel included the<br />
transfer of Rex Ochs from management of<br />
the Tower to the Plaza as manager, replacing<br />
Green Hays, who resigned. Succeeding<br />
Ochs at the Tower was Chuck Keeling, former<br />
assistant to Dee Fuller at the Criterion.<br />
George Grube, assistant at the Tower, moved<br />
into Keeling's former post at the Criterion<br />
and Don Middleton took the assistant's job<br />
at the Tower.<br />
Vinson DiFiore, Cooper Foundation home<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
Your Deal Handled Personally<br />
27 years exverience<br />
We Cover the U. S. Market<br />
Arthur Leak<br />
Theatre Sales Exclusively<br />
3422 Kinmoie Dallas 10. Texas<br />
Phone T3-2026<br />
. . .<br />
office, Lincoln, Neb., spent a few days here<br />
Roy King of Alexander Films, Colorado<br />
Springs, was a visitor.<br />
Howard Jaggers, Griffith manager in Claremore,<br />
has been named president of the Claremore<br />
Lions club . . . "We Were Strangers"<br />
opened at the Center . "The Beautiful<br />
Blonde From Bashful Bend" opens, it'll<br />
be day-and-date in four C&R houses, the<br />
Criterion. Plaza. Capitol and Ritz . . . "The<br />
Walking Hills" moved over to the State<br />
from the Center . Lindsay and his<br />
Oklahoma Nite-Ridevs, who appeared on the<br />
Criterion stage in a broadcast over Station<br />
KBYE, brought two of the stars of the<br />
Grand Ole Opry to town. Cowboy Copas<br />
and Lazy Jim Day joined the band for a<br />
toiu- of the state. The two visitors appeared<br />
with the Lindsay orchestra in the broadcasts<br />
from the Criterion at noon on Monday, Tuesday<br />
and Wednesday.<br />
. . . "Flamingo<br />
The Ink Spots will make personal appearances<br />
at the Home June 5. There will<br />
be two performances—white only at the<br />
matinee, colored in the evening<br />
Midwest . . .<br />
Road" opened at the<br />
Starting the same day at the Will Rogers, a<br />
Griffith operation, was "The Red Shoes."<br />
The Home stopped<br />
Seats were reserved . . .<br />
its picture policy May 24, 25 for the stage<br />
show, "Brigadoon." There were three shows,<br />
including a matinee.<br />
Radio and recording vocalist Buddy Clark<br />
has been signed to sing the title tune in<br />
"Song of Surrender," a Paramount film.<br />
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86 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. . . George<br />
. . . M.<br />
Rio Grande Showman<br />
Speaks 5 Tongues<br />
BROWNSVILLE. TEX. — Youthful Bob<br />
Wiseman, manager of the Capitol Theatre<br />
here and a graduate of the Interstate managers'<br />
school in Dallas, has been plugged<br />
by Hollywood visitors as "one of the best<br />
showmen in the Rio Grande valley."<br />
Customers of the Capitol describe Wiseman<br />
as being pleasant and friendly under<br />
all circumstances. He speaks four languages<br />
—English, Spanish. German, and Italian—<br />
and can greet almost any customer in the<br />
filmgoer's native language.<br />
Wiseman is popular with the valley press.<br />
Newspapermen from all parts of this general<br />
area know Bob well and always make it a<br />
point to drop in and see him.<br />
Last March, when Warners premiered<br />
"South of St. Louis" in Brownsville, the<br />
event got full press support.<br />
"In this business," Wi.seman says, "you<br />
should be nice to everybody. Sometimes it's<br />
pretty hard to do. But where my newspaper<br />
friends are concerned, it's always a pleasure."<br />
of<br />
When Pedro Armendariz made a series<br />
personal appearances throughout the Valley,<br />
he went back to Hollywood singing praises<br />
of Wiseman's efficiency to anyone within earshot.<br />
The two men are still corresponding in<br />
Spanish.<br />
At the moment Wiseman is pulling every<br />
string at his command to book a couple of<br />
old films, "Viva Villa" and "Juarez." He's a<br />
conservative chap, but he swears those two<br />
films would really "pack 'em in" at the Capitol.<br />
Wiseman began his Interstate career as a<br />
popcorn boy in the 1930s and has been with it<br />
ever since, except during the war.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • «<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
THE KING SCENIC CO., Dallas, has now<br />
located on East Elm street, with adequate<br />
floor space to care for its many customers<br />
R. Spence. manager of the R&R<br />
theatres at Sherman, Tex., has asked the<br />
city commission to stop showing free motion<br />
pictures in the public parks, a practice which<br />
has harmed the Gem, Rialto and Washington.<br />
* « «<br />
A $200,000 theatre is being built at Plainview,<br />
Tex., by the Underhill Construction<br />
Co., and will be the finest theatre in West<br />
Texas, according to A. G. Hinn. one of the<br />
financiers.<br />
« « *<br />
Leslie Wilkes and his whole crew in<br />
Corsicana, Tex., were again arrested recently<br />
for operating a theatre on Sunday. A<br />
case following previous arrest was said to<br />
have been postponed The Palace, San<br />
.<br />
Marcos, operated by F.<br />
. .<br />
W. Zimmerman, suffered<br />
damage during a heavy windstorm recently.<br />
The house was dark for several days<br />
L. Moore is opening a new theatre in<br />
Prankston, new Texas oil town.<br />
West Theatre Sponsors Amateurs<br />
GEORGE WEST. TEX.—The grand finals<br />
to amateur contests being sponsored by the<br />
West Theatre were held Saturday night (.21).<br />
Cash prizes were awarded.<br />
TKOll'KKS .\l'ri:.VK lOK L.\Ki:UO— .Sliu«n abovi are Oklahoma City theatremen<br />
greeting a troupe of Hollywood stars on their arrival for a stage show in connection<br />
with "Streets of Laredo." Sho«Ti following a breakfast given for the stars by<br />
C&R Theatres are C. R. "Charley" Freeman, C&K Theatres manager, center, and C.<br />
H. "Buck" Weaver, Paramount manager, right. Members of the troupe are, left to<br />
right, Dick Foote, Nan Leslie and Gail Russell. The stars arrived from Texas where<br />
they had been appearing in connection with the film. Giving three performances in<br />
Oklahoma. City, were the three stars shown here and William Demarest, John Bromfield<br />
and Corinne Calvet. With the troupe were Al Jermy of Hollywood, publicist,<br />
and George Henger, Dallas, Paramount publicist. The troupe went on to Tulsa for<br />
three shows at the Orpheum.<br />
Hargis to Colorado Ranch<br />
DALLAS—Fred Hargis. Alexander Film<br />
Co. branch manager, made a weekend trip<br />
to his Sky Valley guest ranch at Buena<br />
Vista, Colo. Mrs. Hargis, who accompanied<br />
him. is supervising final preparations for the<br />
summer season at the resort.<br />
R. B. Wallace Quits Post<br />
DALLAS—R. B. Wallace has re.signed from<br />
the Blankenship circuit staff. A previous report<br />
that Tim Stamps had resigned from<br />
Blankenship was in error. Stamps said he<br />
had no intentions of resigning.<br />
Robert Neil and Suzi Crandall will play<br />
the leading roles in "Prize Maid," an RKO<br />
film.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 87
. . The<br />
try Ds and You'll Agree<br />
riLMACK<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Are "Best By Test . . .<br />
Quicker than the Restr<br />
It<br />
. .<br />
corner of Brazos and Zarzamora streets. The<br />
CHICAGO -1327 S.Wabash<br />
NEW YORK 619 W open-airer seats nearly 300.<br />
54th Sh -<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
g W. Spillman, architect, is drawing plans<br />
and specifications for Arnulfo Gonzales'<br />
new drive-in on Port avenue in Corpus Christie.<br />
Gonzales also operates a drive-in at<br />
Laredo . Ralph Labutis, who was formerly<br />
connected with the Texas-Valley Film Service<br />
here, has turned exhibitor and has<br />
opened a walk-in for Negro patrons at the<br />
Pays to Advertise<br />
—in BOXOFFICE<br />
9fuUaU Griggs SeaU<br />
Thomas Williams, office secretary for Zaragoza<br />
Amusement Co. here, is going back to<br />
his hidden talent as a featured dancer this<br />
fall, according to Sammie Katz, an official<br />
for the Alameda Teatro. Tommy, he says,<br />
will join the "Annie Get Your Gun" roadshow<br />
company and starts rehearsals soon in<br />
New York City for the 1949-50 season . . .<br />
Ester Exon, who has been at local switchboards<br />
for almost ten years, was appointed<br />
chief PBX operator for the International<br />
Casa de Mexico building office in the Alameda<br />
city office . . . Red River Dave serenaded<br />
over 500 nurses who were here in convention<br />
last week.<br />
John T. Floore, onetime manager for the<br />
Texas, has turned publisher and is getting<br />
out the new weekly newspaper at Helotes,<br />
where he now resides . . . The Mission Drivein<br />
had a Western Whoopee week, playing<br />
a different film each night.<br />
. .<br />
"Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" went over<br />
extra well with the local teen-age students<br />
at the Majestic and Texas . "Here Comes<br />
Trouble," "Laff-Time" and "Who Killed Doc<br />
Robbin?" rounded out a triple program at<br />
the Josephine, neighborhood house . . . Public<br />
Safety Pictures produced a film here with<br />
sheriffs deputies as the principal actors to<br />
IJortray the dangers of speeding and di-unken<br />
driving. It will be exhibited in downtown<br />
and neighborhood theatres . . . C. J. Wheeler,<br />
RKO salesman, Dallas: Walter Wiens, Eagle<br />
Lion, Dallas; Sam Barry. National Theatre<br />
Supply Co.. Dallas, and Clarence Wilson, Film<br />
Classics' central and south Texas representative,<br />
were among the recent visitors along<br />
Theatrerow.<br />
Mrs. Louise C. Griffith, wife of the head<br />
of Griffith Amusement Co., looked stunning<br />
in her new spring frock at a recent style<br />
show held here . . Mi's. Beverley W. Spillman,<br />
.<br />
wife of the theatre architect, left for<br />
Oklahoma City and Kansas City on a short<br />
Robert Walker sr., editor<br />
vacation visit . . .<br />
and publisher of the Military Service News,<br />
is recovering from a recent heart attack at<br />
his home here.<br />
Spook and jinx shows held here included<br />
"Flamingo Road" at the Majestic for a midnighter;<br />
"The Corpse Came C.O.D." and<br />
"Monster Maker" at the Broadway, a suburban;<br />
"Hold That Ghost" and "Mummy's<br />
Ghost," the Empire, while "Rope" and "Son<br />
of Frankenstein" were on the double horror<br />
bill at the San Pedro Drive-In.<br />
Louis Novy, Austin Interstate city manager,<br />
was up and around recently but looked<br />
a little weak . capital city had two<br />
big indoor shows there last week. "Ice-Capades<br />
of 1949" and Polack's circus took some<br />
of the business away from, the downtown and<br />
outlying showhouses.<br />
Camp Wood<br />
Ne'w Theatre at<br />
CAMP WOOD, TEX.—Ground has been<br />
broken for a new theatre to be built by L. J.<br />
Dean to replace the Dixie now being operated<br />
by him.<br />
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88 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Rebirth of Stage Entertainment<br />
Seen as Video Training Ground<br />
MIAMI—Show business oldtimers here have<br />
predicted the possible beginning of a new<br />
era, the rebirth of stage entertainment on<br />
a nationwide scale, in the revival of vaudeville<br />
at the Palace Theatre here, a revival<br />
which theatremen believe will prove a fine<br />
training ground for future television stars.<br />
The new format at the Palace offers a feature<br />
screen attraction along with the live<br />
show, a policy which the Olympia in downtown<br />
Miami has pursued successfully for a<br />
number of years. A trend toward occasional<br />
live acts, in addition to regular screen fares,<br />
has been noted here for sometime, particularly<br />
since the advent of television, says Dick<br />
Lowe.<br />
But how a medium as limited in scope as<br />
vaudeville can hope to become a springboard<br />
for video talent, is a question puzzling some<br />
theatre people. It is well known that video<br />
eats acts at the rate of dozens a week. A<br />
different slant on this is that some show<br />
people see in a revival of vaudeville the basis<br />
of television's biggest future competitor.<br />
Trom the employment angle, Lowe says,<br />
the return of vaudeville is a good thing, putting<br />
to work both entertainers and backstage<br />
workers. It is to be seen whether the<br />
present day theatre patrons, conditioned by<br />
the advanced techniques of the motion picture,<br />
can be offered an entertainment pattern<br />
acceptable to their tastes. Since the<br />
death of vaudeville in 1919. the world is no<br />
longer bound by the limits of a town or city.<br />
Films offer e.scape to every part of the world<br />
with a sweeping grandeur completely unavailable<br />
to the human actor on a comedy<br />
stage. The dancers, acrobats, singers, magicians—all<br />
will find that what was great entertainment<br />
30 years ago is tame today.<br />
"Will the performers find themselves overshadowed<br />
by the film billed along with their<br />
acts?" asks Lowe. Will the public attend the<br />
theatre in large numbers when the film is<br />
good, but stay away when it's run-of-the-mill,<br />
regardless of live talent? These are questions<br />
interesting to theatre people, who also wonder<br />
whether vaudeville will become great in<br />
itself or become merely the springboard for<br />
future entertainment stars. "The greats of<br />
today." says Lowe, "are fighting the one<br />
hopeless fight—against time. As things stand<br />
now. there is actually no place for a newcomer<br />
to get enough steady work to qualify<br />
himself as a successor." A new and better<br />
era in show business may be opening up,<br />
and theatre people are keeping a weather<br />
eye on developments.<br />
Brenkert Shows Lamps<br />
INDIANAPOLIS— Mrs. and Mrs. J. C. Clickner<br />
of the Mid-West Theatre Supply Co.<br />
here attended a demonstration of the new<br />
Brenkert Super-Intensity lamp, a recent development<br />
for drive-ins and theatres using<br />
extremely large screens.<br />
AMERICAN DESK<br />
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Mr. W. H. Matlingly. 201 IV2 lackson St.<br />
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Free Drive-In Show Costs<br />
Motorists $14 in Court<br />
OMAHA — Three Omaha motorists, who<br />
thought they were on the "inside" seeing a<br />
free motion picture, got their disappointment<br />
before county Judge Robert R. Troyer.<br />
He fined them each $14, which would have<br />
paid their way into a good portion of the<br />
season's menu at the Omaha Drive-In.<br />
The motorists were picked up by the highway<br />
patrol for parking without lights on the<br />
highway at night. Actually they were taking a<br />
long-distance look at the film. The arresting<br />
officer said: "The parked cars are a hazard."<br />
Radio Singer in ""Surrender"<br />
Claudia Barrett has been cast as a drivein<br />
theatre cashier in the Warner picture,<br />
"White Heat."<br />
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PRESTON E. SMITH—Owner of<br />
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"RCA Service has been and<br />
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To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 89
Manager Answers Lobby Experts<br />
Who Term His Job Soft Racket<br />
The job of theatre manager often<br />
may appear to the castial patron to be<br />
a soft racket. That this is far from<br />
correct is shown by the following<br />
ichimsical account of the life of a<br />
small town theatre manager, luritten<br />
by one in Kentucky.<br />
By SAM THOMPSON<br />
Manager, Lyric Theatre, Guthrie. Ky.<br />
This is an article written in answer to the<br />
comment so often heard in the — lobby or on<br />
the street "Oh, if only<br />
~1 I had a racket like that<br />
theatre manager, with<br />
~<br />
^. nothing to do except<br />
stand around and<br />
^^^ll<br />
^^^^^SHa watch the suckers lay<br />
^HH^^H their money down at<br />
^R'^^^^B the boxoffice."<br />
l| «<br />
Oh. brother! How<br />
« they have been mis-<br />
' informed! Somewhere<br />
back along the line<br />
A. that "guy with the<br />
racket" thought<br />
Sam Thompson<br />
^j^g ygj.y ^^^^ ^^;^^^^<br />
only he decided to look further into the racket.<br />
He spent many months in charge of his<br />
department at a small theatre in some small<br />
town, this department being "doing anything<br />
nobody else will do." He sweeps, mops, dusts,<br />
cleans toilets, runs errands, and anything<br />
else any of the regular employes want done.<br />
Some time later he gets his big chance! The<br />
big strong projectionist needs someone to<br />
carry those big heavy film cans up four flights<br />
of stairs to the projection booUi. The wouldbe<br />
manager sees his chance of learning something<br />
of the machines that cause all that<br />
fuss on the screen, so he labors diligently<br />
and becomes a genuine assistant operator<br />
(unofficially).<br />
DOES WELL IN BOOTH<br />
Soon another big chance comes along! The<br />
projectionist doesn't show up. The manager<br />
hurriedly looks up the bewildered "assistant"<br />
and queries him as to the chances of getting<br />
him to try to start the show and run the<br />
reels in the right place. He does pretty well,<br />
and when the operator comes back to work<br />
he finds that the assistant has taken over his<br />
job, and he is in the office being laid off<br />
for the last time.<br />
The brand new operator, still thinking<br />
about that soft job as manager in the future,<br />
does well in the booth and keeps in<br />
constant contact with the floor and office<br />
procedure. After a few years of this he gets<br />
a chance to go back downstairs and act as<br />
assistant manager and take tickets or anything<br />
else no one else shows up to do. This<br />
does all it can to discourage him but he is<br />
a glutton for punishment and goes on and<br />
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JOHN C. GREER<br />
becomes a theatre manager. Boy. oh boy!<br />
One of the very first things expected of a<br />
manager is to be everywhere in the theatre<br />
at the same time. This can be accomplished<br />
after a few years' practice.<br />
His job as a whole is small and seemingly<br />
unimportant. All he has to do is to know<br />
where all employes are at all times, and what<br />
they are doing, exactly who is in the theatre<br />
and where they are seated in case someone<br />
wants to see them and just can't wait until<br />
they have seen the movie. He must know<br />
what has been shown, what is showing and<br />
what is going to be shown, for at least three<br />
months in advance. He must know if "mommy"<br />
is in the theatre when some small child<br />
presents the question, especially a child he<br />
has never seen before and refuses to tell him<br />
its name.<br />
LOST PROPERTY PROBLEM<br />
Lost property always pre.sents a problem.<br />
There has never yet been anyone who can<br />
remember where thoy were sitting when they<br />
lost their billfold, comb, watch, shoe or anything<br />
else detachable from their- body. But<br />
they are sm-e that they had it when they<br />
came in.<br />
Next comes the problem of knowing where<br />
the film is that was supposed to have arrived<br />
the day before and was verified by<br />
the projectionist who mistook tomorrow's<br />
film for the one in question. This takes up<br />
30 minutes to an hour calling film exchanges,<br />
carriers and lastly the home office. Of<br />
course five minutes before starting time the<br />
porter discovers the film behind a stack of<br />
popcorn and janitor supplies that the film<br />
carrier left along with the film.<br />
This over with and the show on the screen<br />
at the specified time, the manager finds that<br />
he has no ticket taker. The manager then<br />
becomes chief ticket-taker and ponders for<br />
the next hour and a half just what he will<br />
say to the doorman if and when he shows<br />
up. But. by the time he does show up the<br />
manager is so glad to see him that he just<br />
forgets the whole thing.<br />
He then walks the aisles to see that everyone<br />
is happy and reasonably quiet, retires<br />
to the office to read the morning mail and<br />
rest a spell. Then Mrs. Jones phones for<br />
complete information regarding the picture<br />
playing and will take no one's word but the<br />
manager's. She wants to know who plays<br />
has he seen it<br />
in it . . . has she seen it . . .<br />
. . . and is it good. Natm-ally it is, but she<br />
won't like it—she never does!<br />
HURRIES TO BOOTH<br />
. . . sorry to<br />
. . .<br />
Buzzzzzzzz goes the interphone from the<br />
booth. A gimmick, dodad or thingamabob<br />
(operators are always exact in their diagnosis)<br />
on the right or left machine, depending<br />
on the way you look at it, won't<br />
come down or up, whichever the case may be.<br />
The manager makes a quick rmi up three or<br />
four flights of stairs and through the dark<br />
balcony to find upon his arrival that the<br />
operator has found the remedy for the<br />
trouble and acted accordingly<br />
have bothered you, boss, guess I should have<br />
tried that before calling you. "Vou stalk back<br />
down to the lobby again and find the<br />
cashier eating an ice cream cone, the doorman<br />
sitting on the ticket box and the pop-<br />
Mysteiy of 'P. P. F.'<br />
Is Solved in Houston<br />
Houston—The mystery of the "teaser"<br />
advertising campaign featuring the cryptic<br />
letters "P. P. F.," for the last several<br />
weelis extremely annoying to local theatre<br />
managers anil newspaper amusement<br />
editors, has been solved.<br />
"Watch for the first local showing!"<br />
advised one of the teaser ads, while another<br />
proclaimed "the greatest film ever<br />
produced."<br />
"I do not know what the letters stand<br />
for," one usually even-tempered theatre<br />
manager said after he had been asked<br />
repeatedly about the initials, "but it had<br />
better be good after this buildup!"<br />
Late developments indicate that the<br />
teaser campaign has been sponsored by<br />
the manufacturer of Palmer's Plastafilm,<br />
an automobile polish.<br />
corn boy standing with his head in the auditorium<br />
doors watching the cartoon and customers<br />
are around the popcorn machine hoping<br />
the attendant will show up before the<br />
feature begins. As soon as they see the<br />
boss exerything rapidly returns to normal<br />
the ice cream disappears, the red faced doorman<br />
gets off the dox and stands erect, and<br />
someone tips off the popcorn boy and he<br />
hurriedly returns to his post.<br />
Everything goes swell until the manager<br />
leaves for his supper. We'll dispense with<br />
what goes on in his absence. He returns,<br />
finds that the show is off the screen and<br />
has been off for some time and angry patrons<br />
want to know where he has been and<br />
why he wasn't here to avoid the stoppage.<br />
Of course the manager isn't expected ever to<br />
eat a meal. He appeases them in his own<br />
sw'eet<br />
manner that only a saint and a theatre<br />
manager could possess and the show<br />
goes on.<br />
NOW OUT OF CHANGE<br />
By now the cashier is out of change and<br />
this takes up some thirty minutes searching<br />
for pennies and nickels. He returns and all<br />
is well once more.<br />
He closes the boxoffice around 10 p. m. and<br />
proceeds to check up and make out all sorts<br />
of reports for the home office. By now it's<br />
midnight and he goes home, has a midnight<br />
snack, reads the paper and goes to bed. He<br />
can't sleep so he counts customers until he<br />
does.<br />
He arises around 9 a. m. and sleepily goes<br />
down to the theatre to get ready for the day's<br />
run. He finds that the janitor did not arrive<br />
in time to get the place cleaned up in time<br />
to start the show, so he dons coveralls and<br />
helps. By the time he is dressed again it is<br />
time to start the show and practically all is<br />
repeated.<br />
Oh. yes, I forgot to mention the duties of<br />
laying out all advertising, painting signs, and<br />
seeing that they are put up. He also mails<br />
circulars .to patrons who in turn bum them<br />
upon receipt but will raise cane if you fail<br />
a soft racket. That this is far from<br />
various clubs, are to be taken care of in your<br />
spare time.<br />
But we love it, don't we, boys?<br />
As Gale Storm's Husband<br />
Albert Dekker will portray Gale Storm's<br />
husband in the U-I film, "The Kid From<br />
Texas."<br />
90 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
ORIGINAL MEMBERS RECEIVE<br />
TRIBUTES OF ARKANSAS ITO<br />
Seven Who Joined in 1919<br />
Are Honor Guests at<br />
30th Convention<br />
LITTLE ROCK—Seven original members<br />
of the Independent Theatre Owners of Arkansas<br />
were honored at a luncheon highlighting<br />
the last day's session of the annual convention<br />
here last week. The seven who joined<br />
ITO of Arkansas when it was organized in<br />
1919 were Cecil Cupp. Arkadelphia; O. C.<br />
Hauber. Pine Bluff: Will Mack. Jonesboro:<br />
Sidney Nutt, Hot Springs: Eli Whitney Collins,<br />
Little Rock; John A. Collins, Paragould.<br />
and D. E. Finton, Harrison.<br />
FORMER SECRETARY-TREASURER<br />
C. A. Lick, Fort Smith, another original<br />
member, was ill and could not attend. The<br />
late J. M. Ensor. Little Rock. E. C. Robertson.<br />
Fayetteville. and W. L. Landers sr.,<br />
also joined in 1919.<br />
Sam B. Kirby. Little Rock, who has served<br />
as secretary-treasurer, was elected president<br />
to succeed E. W. Savage, who becomes chairman<br />
of the board.<br />
The other new officers are O. G. Abernathy.<br />
Morrilton: Jack Bomar. Little Rock,<br />
secretary-treasurer, and these directors: Sidney<br />
Wharton. Warren: Henry Haven, Forrest<br />
City: Terry Axley. England; W. C. Sumpter,<br />
Lepanto; W. D. Mitchell. Dumas; L. G.<br />
Renfro jr.. Holly Grove, and Herod Jimerson.<br />
Little Rock.<br />
"The exhibitor must maintain a free, uncensored<br />
screen comparable with newspapers<br />
and the radio," Gael Sullivan, executive director<br />
of the Theatre Owners of America,<br />
told the 150 men and women exhibitors assembled<br />
at the convention. Sullivan pointed<br />
out that various special interests constantly<br />
are making restrictive laws affecting the<br />
producer and exhibitor and that the motion<br />
picture industry in our economy "was too<br />
important to be treated as a group of civic<br />
misfits."<br />
URGES COMMUNITY ACTIVITY<br />
Sullivan urged the exhibitors to make their<br />
impact felt through intensive interest in<br />
community affairs.<br />
He touched also on the matter of taxation<br />
laws now in effect, or being introduced in<br />
state legi.slatures, and pointed out that theatres<br />
bear a: disproportionate amount of taxes<br />
on local, state and national levels.<br />
In the face of declining revenues. Sullivan<br />
urged better exploitation methods. He asserted<br />
the TOA was now working with major<br />
Hollywood producers in the preparation of an<br />
exciting, stimulating type of television trailer<br />
to bring audiences back. He felt that the<br />
present type of trailer was "old hat" and<br />
lacked imagination and the kind of modern<br />
showmanship necessary to meet the challenge<br />
of home television. Sullivan called for an<br />
end to the prophets of doom concerning<br />
television, and declared that television offers<br />
new and broader opportunities for better<br />
showmanship and better boxoffice. He recalled<br />
that exhibitors were just as concerned<br />
The new officers of the Arkansas ITO<br />
are seen, standing, left to right: Jack<br />
Bomar, secretary -treasurer, and O. G.<br />
Abernathy, vice-president. Seated: E. W.<br />
Savage, retiring president, and chairman<br />
of the board, and Sam Kirby, president.<br />
and anxious about their futui'e during the<br />
early days of radio, and that eventually radio,<br />
having drawn largely on motion picture personalities,<br />
enhanced instead of retarded the<br />
motion picture industry.<br />
"Television will not be a crippling influence<br />
on the exhibitor." Sullivan said. "We will be<br />
merely adopting new techniques."<br />
•FLAUNTS DECREE PHILOSOPHY'<br />
Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel,<br />
gave an analysis of pending legislation and<br />
litigation affecting the industry. In discussing<br />
the U.S. vs. Paramount case Levy said<br />
that several companies have added additional<br />
clauses and have changed clauses in standard<br />
exhibition contracts, and that some of these<br />
changes very seriously affect exhibitors, most<br />
of whom do not bother to read their contracts.<br />
He called on all distributors to notify exhibitors<br />
specifically when changes are made.<br />
Levy also stated that while those companies<br />
that were not parties to U.S. vs. Paramount<br />
case are technically not bound by the terms<br />
or the decision of the relief granted, they<br />
should in all fairness accept the decision and<br />
not now employ or take advantage of these<br />
practices outlawed by that decision.<br />
Complaints have come to TOA that there<br />
have been some flagrant offenses in this field.<br />
"There can be no justification for the continuing<br />
of these illegal practices," Levy said.<br />
"It flaunts the philosophy of U.S. vs. Paramount<br />
agreement for the distributor to use<br />
competitive bidding for increased film rentals,<br />
or for any purpo.se other than to avoid litigation<br />
or to permit somebody who has been<br />
product-starved to obtain -sufficient product.<br />
Employment of competitive bidding for increased<br />
film rental will boomerang to the<br />
distributors' disadvantage because it ultimately<br />
must result in the exclusion of product<br />
from the competitive area, in the operation<br />
of the theatres at a loss or in some such<br />
other uneconomic and unstabilized condition."<br />
As to Ascap, Levy asserted that there ap-<br />
Guard Against Passing on<br />
Of Ascap Fee, Warns<br />
Herman Levy<br />
pears to be fali'ly accurate information that<br />
negotiations now are either going on or are<br />
being anticipated leading toward a consent<br />
decree revision under which Ascap would be<br />
permitted or compelled to sell musical copyrights<br />
directly and outright to picture producers.<br />
If this is so. then exhibitors must be<br />
vigilant to protest in all ways at their command<br />
the passing on of this charge to exhibitors,<br />
he warned, and declared distributors<br />
.should not go into any such decree intendmg<br />
to pass the charge on to exhibitors.<br />
SEES OBLIGATION<br />
M. A. Lightman jr. declared the only major<br />
television threat to theatres is the telecasting<br />
of motion pictiu'e first run. In anticipation<br />
television theatre owners must make their<br />
theatres more attractive in order to make the<br />
theatres successful in competing for the<br />
amusement dollar. Lightman .said.<br />
Glenn A. Green, executive director of the<br />
Arkansas Free Enterprise A.ss'n, was guest<br />
speaker at the annual banquet. He speech,<br />
entitled, "The Siren's Song," reviewed the<br />
current trend toward socialism.<br />
He charged motion picture exhibitors as<br />
being the custodians of the mo.st potent educational<br />
medium ever known.<br />
"You have an obligation as American citizens<br />
enjoying the blessings of the American<br />
way of life to guard against motion picture<br />
propaganda bearing injury to the American<br />
capitalist system," Green said. "I am not<br />
suggesting that motion pictures from Hollywood<br />
or New York are consistently carrying<br />
un-American propaganda. They aren't, of<br />
course, but they are carrying some, and that<br />
is too much.<br />
"The industry is one of America's greatest.<br />
In every great American cause since the birth<br />
of the movies, the industry has given generously<br />
of its talents and resources. In many<br />
ways, the motion picture industry is making<br />
priceless contributions to the strength<br />
of America." Green named two film shorts.<br />
"Meet King Joe" and "Letter to a Rebel,"<br />
which he said did a "swell job of promoting<br />
the American capitalist .system."<br />
URGES INDUSTRY UNITY<br />
Leon J. Bamberger of RKO spoke on "Unity<br />
Between Distributor and Exhibitor," and said<br />
the exhibitor is on the firing line in respect<br />
to the industry through contact with the<br />
public.<br />
"You who operate theatres have to do<br />
everything in your power to strengthen contact<br />
of these theatres with the public through<br />
increasing attention to the art of showmanship,"<br />
Bamberger said. "It will help to maintain<br />
and increase the flow of the public's<br />
money into boxoffices on a healthy and sound<br />
basis.<br />
"Because of the mcreased cost of motion<br />
picture production, the distributor is doing<br />
(Continued on next<br />
page)<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949<br />
91
Exhibitors at Arkansas ITO Convention<br />
Exhibitors registered at the ITO of Arkansas<br />
convention:<br />
ARKANSAS<br />
LITTLE ROCK—Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Edenfield,<br />
Southern Theatre Service Co.: Mr. and<br />
Mrs. R. H. Jennings, Motion Picture Advertising:<br />
B. F. Busby, Jones-Busby Theatre;<br />
Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Perrin. Perrin Theatre<br />
Supply; Mr. and Mrs. Dave Callahan. Miss<br />
Nona White and Mrs. Deb Rondeau, all of<br />
R&R; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Peek, Garland<br />
Theatre; Mr. and Mrs. Herod Jimerson, Liberty<br />
and Airway; Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Wren<br />
and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Homer, all of Wren<br />
Theatres; Mr. and Mrs. Sam B. Kirby,<br />
Nabor; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Mundo, Rex; Ima<br />
Jean Duty; Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Green, and<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Eli Whitney Coll ns, retired<br />
exhibitors.<br />
HOT SPRINGS—Mr. and Mrs. Joe Howe,<br />
Mrs. Ruth Demby and Mrs. Jessie Howe, all<br />
of the Strand, and Sidney Nutt, retired<br />
exhibitor.<br />
MONTICELLO—B. V. McDougald, Drew<br />
and Amusu.<br />
COTTER—Lew Andrews, Paradise.<br />
CORNING—Mrs. Ann Hutchins, State.<br />
WILSON—Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Bird, Wilson<br />
ṀALVERN—Travis T. Arnold, Ritz and<br />
Joy, and Mrs. T. T. Arnold, Robb and Rowley<br />
ḞORREST CITY—Mr. and Mrs. Henry T.<br />
Haven, Imperial Theatre Co.<br />
PARAGOULD—Mr. and Mrs. Orris Collins,<br />
Capitol; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Collins,<br />
Capitol and Majestic.<br />
HARRISON—Mr. and Mrs. Garvin Fitton<br />
and D. E. Fitton, all of the Plaza.<br />
BLYTHEVILLE—Warren L., Elisabeth Ann<br />
Moxley, Moxley Theatres; Mr. and Mrs.<br />
J. B. Fisher, Audreanel Freeman and Mrs.<br />
O. W. McCutcheon, all of the Ritz, Gem and<br />
Roxy.<br />
ELAINE—Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Watson, a<br />
new theatre.<br />
ENGLAND—Mrs. Bert Axley and Terry<br />
Police Preview 'Walked'<br />
ST. PETERSBURG—Approximately 50 St.<br />
Petersburg police officers attended a special<br />
showing of "He Walked by Night" at the<br />
Plaza Theatre here. The policemen commented<br />
on the show, picked out flaws as they<br />
saw them, and then adapted ideas and criticized<br />
their own setup with a view to improving<br />
service.<br />
92<br />
TICKETS<br />
MACHINE<br />
FOLDED<br />
Axley, a new theatre.<br />
ARKADELPHIA— Cecil Cupp, Cecil Cupp<br />
Theatres.<br />
LEPANTO—Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Sumpter,<br />
Cotton Boll Theatre.<br />
HOLLY GROVE—L. G. Renfro jr.. Grove.<br />
NORTH LITTLE ROCK—Roy and June<br />
Chochran, Juroy; Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Mc-<br />
Cord and M. J. Pruniski, all of Malco Theatres.<br />
NEWARK—J. V. Chapman, Royal.<br />
PINE BLUFF—Leroy Branch and Billy<br />
Hill, both of William C. Hill Co.; Mr. and<br />
Mrs. O. C. Hauber, Hauber. and C. F. Bonner,<br />
Community.<br />
JONESBORO—W. L. Mack, Malco Theatres.<br />
BOONEVILLE—Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Savage,<br />
Savage.<br />
TUCKERMAN—Tom B. Kirk, a new theatre.<br />
MORRILTON—Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Abernathy.<br />
Petit Jean.<br />
WARREN—Sidney Wharton, Pastime and<br />
Avalon.<br />
OSCEOLA—A. B. Ward, Joy; Mrs. Emma<br />
DUMAS—Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Mitchell,<br />
Cox and Mrs. Ella Evans, both of the Gem.<br />
Gem.<br />
DERMOTT—Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wren,<br />
Wren Theatres.<br />
LAKE VILLAGE—Mr. and Mrs. Clem<br />
FoUis.<br />
LINCOLN—Mr. and Mrs. William J. Harris,<br />
Crown.<br />
HARRISBURG—Mr. and Mrs. Don Landers,<br />
Radio.<br />
DEWITT—Ray A. Wilson, Wilson Theatres.<br />
MAGNOLIA—Harold L.<br />
AUGUSTA—Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Malin,<br />
Lura.<br />
JACKSONVILLE—Mr. and Mrs. Bartus<br />
Gray, Graco.<br />
Out-of-state Exhibitors<br />
DREW, MISS.—Mr. C. H. Collier, Globe.<br />
Runnels, R&R.<br />
Free Show Is Safety Drive Climax<br />
ELBA, ALA.—The Elba Theatre, managed<br />
by Dozier Roberts, and Western Auto's associated<br />
store were hosts to all school children<br />
of Elba at a free show on Tuesday (17 >.<br />
The show was the climax of a safety campaign<br />
started last fall and all schools, white<br />
and Negro, were dismissed for the showing.<br />
Two bicycles were awarded as prizes.<br />
-A-eeu-RAe-Y-<br />
SPEED<br />
RESERVED SEAT W<br />
TICKETS<br />
SOUTHWEST TICKET<br />
& COUPON CO.<br />
2110 CORINTH STBEET<br />
DALLAS (H-7185) TEXAS<br />
TICKETS<br />
ROLL<br />
Founders Honored<br />
By Arkansas Ass'n<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
everything in his power to advertise and<br />
make attractive to the people throughout the<br />
country motion pictures and new personahties<br />
which you will show in your theatres. It<br />
behooves every exhibitor to present them<br />
adequately and try to build them up through<br />
publicity and exploitation in their respective<br />
communities."<br />
The final meeting also saw exhibitors resolving<br />
to present a scroll in appreciation to<br />
Edward B. Dillon, state representative from<br />
Pulaski county, for his help to the men and<br />
women of show business. A special committee<br />
was to be appointed to select and present<br />
the gift to Dillon.<br />
Social gatherings of the metting included<br />
a cocktail party given by the Motion Picture<br />
Advertising Service Co., New Orleans, and a<br />
barbecue given by Film Transit, Inc., Memphis.<br />
Officers and directors formulated plans to<br />
combat infiltration of 16mm operators and<br />
appointed Kirby, Savage and Abernathy<br />
to study the problem.<br />
Exhibits on display included those of Tri-<br />
State Theatre Supply, Memphis; Blevins Popcorn<br />
Co.. Nashville; Griggs Equipment Co.,<br />
Belton, Tex.; Manley, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.;<br />
Quik-Serv Fountainette, Dallas; The William<br />
C. Hill Co., marquees and attraction panels.<br />
Pine Bluff, Ark., and the American Desk<br />
Mfg. Co., Temple. Tex.<br />
Miami City Commission<br />
Asked to Regulate 16mm<br />
MIAMI — George E. Raymond, business<br />
manager of Local 316 of projectionists, presented<br />
an ordinance to the city commission<br />
to regulate use of 16mm films and the<br />
places in which they may be shown. Raymond<br />
said he represented both the projectionists<br />
and owners and operators of Miami<br />
theatres.<br />
The ordinance would forbid the showing<br />
of motion pictures, free or not, except in<br />
licensed theatres or large assembly halls. It<br />
did, however, carry a long list of exemptions.<br />
The assembly halls would have to have seats<br />
for at least 750 persons or a permanent stage<br />
and seats for 350.<br />
Exempted would be schools, churches, museums,<br />
armories, libraries, hospitals, sanitoria,<br />
orphanages, nurseries, penal institutions, asylums,<br />
private dwellings, business, trade and<br />
professional conventions, and films shown<br />
for business, military or industrial training.<br />
Raymond said that under present city regulations<br />
a new type of 16mm projector permits<br />
people to rent any kind of a building<br />
for showing motion pictures, without having<br />
to live up to fire and other regulations. He<br />
emphasized the ordinance excluded television<br />
stations, churches, schools, civic organizations<br />
and private homes. The commission referred<br />
the ordinance to City Manager Hart for study.<br />
LORRAINE<br />
CARBONS<br />
JIMMY WILSON<br />
"A Friendly Service"<br />
WILSON-MOORE ENT., INC.<br />
P. O. Box 2034 Atlanta<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Western Adventure Patron Taste No Problem to Her<br />
MIAMI—Diminutive Rina Cursi of Washington,<br />
one of the most unusual people in likes it better than ever. "I don't worry too<br />
started her work eight years ago and now<br />
Office to Charlotte<br />
CHARLOTTE—The home office of Western the motion picture industry, is visiting in much about the tastes of our clients," she<br />
Adventure Pi-oductions, Inc.. maker of western<br />
films, will be shifted from San Francisco Cursi, a Rochester girl, has made a name for to the theatre on time and undamaged."<br />
Surfside. In a field trod mostly by men. Miss acknowledges. "It's enough to get the films<br />
to Charlotte.<br />
herself as a film booker.<br />
Unlike hundreds of other people in the distribution<br />
business, .she has few ideas on what's<br />
Francis White, president of the film company,<br />
is associated in the operation of Con-<br />
music and voice, all of which led her to the the matter with boxoffice attendance. "Peo-<br />
The soft-spoken brunet studied ballet,<br />
solidated Theatres here with Tom A. Little, theatre. She explains the jump from stage ple just don't have as much money to spend<br />
vice-president of the producing firm. The to screen work as nothing more significant and there's some competition from television,<br />
company was formed last year, and production<br />
is carried on in California.<br />
marketing or otherwise.<br />
she explains. Such controversial factors as<br />
than a yearning to do motion picture work-<br />
though not with our small town customers,"<br />
Scott Lett, local manager of Screen Guild Miss Cursi watches out for the theatregoing<br />
wants of Virginia customers. From saccharin musicals," and so on, don't worry<br />
"too much blood and thunder." "too many<br />
Pi-oductions, has been appointed general sales<br />
manager of the firm. Offices are now being Washington she services an entire chain of her, because, she says, her theatres vary so<br />
prepared in the Film Exchange building at theatres, most of them in small cities. She much in tastes and preferences.<br />
300 W. Third St.<br />
With the opening of the home office, contracts<br />
for the showings of the firm's pictures<br />
will be sent here for approval. Banking<br />
and all legal affairs will also be carried on<br />
"Picked Up My Popcorn<br />
from the Charlotte office.<br />
The corporation has already released a<br />
number of western pictures starring Lash<br />
La Rue. Relea.ses are handled through Screen<br />
Sales at Least 33y3%"<br />
Guild. Lett has been in distribution for a<br />
number of years and was formerly connected<br />
. . . Says Little Rock Exhibitor<br />
with Paramount, 20th-Fox and Warners.<br />
•<br />
"I can conscienfiously recommend your Atomic Ring Popcorn<br />
Film Referendum Refused<br />
Boxes OS o stimulant to popcorn sales tor child patrons,<br />
By Talladega Officials<br />
writes Mr. Sam B. Kirby of the Nabor Theatre, Little Rock,<br />
Ark. ".<br />
. . the Atomic Ring Boxes picked up popcorn sales<br />
TALLADEGA, ALA.—The city commission<br />
on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sunday matinees by at<br />
turned down a request for an informal referendum<br />
on Sunday films by a two to one<br />
received their rings and are highly pleased."<br />
least 33 l/3°o . . . Several of my child patrons . . .<br />
hove<br />
vote.<br />
Commissioner J. B. McKinney, who offered<br />
the motion to hold the election, said<br />
LET BLEVmS' ATOMIC RING BOX INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS!<br />
it is almost certain he will run for re-election<br />
in September on a "Sunday film"<br />
Boosts Boxoffice as Well as Sales through Self-Liquidating "Box Top" Premium with Terrific Kid<br />
plank.<br />
Appeol • No Premiums to Buy, Stock to Handle • Costs No More than Regulor Boxes<br />
There is talk that the local legislative<br />
Use it as You Would any Other Popcorn Container • Only $7.35M in 5M lots.<br />
delegation may be asked to determine whether<br />
they could pass a local bill providing for BLEVINS POPCORN COMPANY<br />
the referendum.<br />
Popcorn Village<br />
650 Murphy Ave., S W<br />
Mayor W. L. Baker and Commissioner<br />
3098 Charlotte Ave.<br />
Building E, Unit 8<br />
Noble Hall voted against McKinney's move<br />
NASHVILLE, TENN.<br />
ATLANTA, GA.<br />
to hold the referendum.<br />
Warehouse Stocks in Memphis, New Orleans, Little Rock and Tampa<br />
Show Goes on at Orpheum<br />
NEW ORLEANS— First run films are continuing<br />
on a full-time basis at the Orpheum<br />
throughout the major exterior alterations<br />
currently under way. Tlie lobby and boxoffice<br />
are being completely renovated and a<br />
new marquee with an upright sign is to be<br />
installed. Major interior alterations, including<br />
installation of more than 2,000 new<br />
seats, have been completed. A new pecan Improve Your Projection<br />
wood floor and new tile lavoratories were<br />
also installed during the general refurnishing<br />
of the interior. John V. Dostal<br />
WITH<br />
is city<br />
manager of the RKO theatres.<br />
B & L COATED<br />
CONSOLIDATED ARTIST BOOKING AGCY.<br />
Hollywood • San Antonio • Chicago - New York<br />
BOOKING VAUDEVILLE COAST to COAST HIGH SPEED LENSES<br />
Shows for All Types of Entertainment<br />
Phone Fannin 5496 405-406 Texas Theatre Bldg.<br />
THEY PASS MORE LIGHT<br />
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS<br />
ATLANTA. CA.<br />
VIL-KIN<br />
Ramp Identification Lights<br />
SAVES TIME — ELIMINATES CONFUSION<br />
CHAHLOTTE, N. C.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. 'k'c'.'mT"<br />
"Everything Jor the theatre except /Urn"<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949 93
i.<br />
Introducing<br />
American Desk DRIVE-IN CHAIR<br />
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F.O.B. TEMPLE, TEXAS<br />
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To insure comfort, back slats are steam-bent to<br />
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Wire or Phone Collect —<br />
Theatre Seating Division<br />
W. A. PREWITT, JR., Sales Manager H. PAUL SHALLCROSS, Ass't Sales Manager<br />
223 South Liberty Street New Orleans, La. Phone Magnolia 6571<br />
AMERICAN DESK MANUFACTURING CO.<br />
— FACTORY — TEMPLE, TEXAS —<br />
The Largest Manufacturer of Public Seating in<br />
the South<br />
94 BOXOFTICE :; May 28, 1949
U<br />
. . The<br />
. . Dottie<br />
Transit Strike Still<br />
Cuts Atlanta Trade<br />
ATLANTA—First run trade here slumped<br />
again as the transit strike continued. "My<br />
Dream Is Yours" at the Fox set the pace with<br />
a rating of only 90 per cent.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
fox—My Dream Is Yours (WB) 90<br />
Grand—The Barkleys ol Broadway (MGM) 90<br />
I<br />
Paramount—Red Canyon I £7<br />
Roxy—Mr. Belvedere Goes lo College {20th-Fox).<br />
2nd d. t. wk, 85<br />
Rhodes—Outpost in Morocco (UA), 2nd d. t. wk... 89<br />
"Undercover Man' Is Topper<br />
Of Trade in New Orleans<br />
NEW ORLEANS -With a wide variety of<br />
outdoor activities luring patrons away from<br />
boxoffices, trade at local first runs slumped<br />
sharply. "The Undercover Man" at the Orpheum<br />
carded 97 per cent to take the lead.<br />
Saenger—Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (20th-<br />
Fox), 2iid wk 89<br />
State—Ma ond Pa Kettle (" 1) 92<br />
Orpheum—The Undercover Man (Col) 97<br />
Liberty—Passionelle iFF). Torment (Oxford) 90<br />
Joy—El Paso (Para) - 92<br />
BIRMINGHAM<br />
/^llie Haynes, Lyric manager, was a member<br />
of the committee which arranged for<br />
the two-day Civitan club convention here<br />
recently . . . N. A. Kriel, Ritz projectionist,<br />
is back at work after a long illness . . .<br />
R. M. Kennedy, district manager for<br />
Wilby-Kincey, has named Ralph Curry,<br />
former manager of the Walton Theatre<br />
in Selma, as manager of the new Sel-<br />
Mont Drive-In there. No successor at the<br />
Walton has been appointed. The 500-car<br />
Sel-Mont is scheduled for a June 14 opening.<br />
Roger Butler is city manager in Selma<br />
for the circuit . . C. J. "Smoky" Moore,<br />
.<br />
Melba projectionist, is back at work after<br />
an illne.ss of more than six weeks.<br />
Lewis Waites of Queen Feature Service,<br />
Inc., has been busy at Cullman on installation<br />
of Voice of the Theatre sound at the<br />
new Ritz Theatre there. The house, owned<br />
by Acme Theatres, is slated to open around<br />
Smith Rundle, Homewood pro-<br />
June 1 . . .<br />
jectionist, spent a ten-day vacation at his<br />
former home in North Georgia.<br />
Birtninghatn Theatre booked the King Cole<br />
Trio for five shows a day June 1, 2 . . . Fred<br />
Pinckard, Lyric projectionist, returned after<br />
a week's illness. Because of his illness he<br />
was forced to miss his annual visit to the<br />
Memorial day speedway races at Indianapolis.<br />
Instead, he spent his vacation at his former<br />
home in north Alabama.<br />
Ted Saizis, relief projectionist and local<br />
newsreel cameraman, has returned from Oxford.<br />
Miss., where he was a second cameraman<br />
on one of the crews shooting MGM's<br />
"Intruder in the Dust." He was working<br />
there nearly ten weeks and spent a brief<br />
vacation in New Orleans before returning.<br />
Saizis has a new 35mm sound camera, one<br />
of the few in the south, and expects to do<br />
considerable television work with it. He also<br />
has a new station wagon to transport his<br />
camera equipment . . . Newmar Theatre<br />
went into a third week on the roadshowing<br />
of "The Red Shoes." It was the only<br />
holdover on any of the downtown screens.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
.<br />
l^embers of the Universal club from the<br />
clerical and inspection departments and<br />
executives of the local office enjoyed a seafood<br />
dinner at the Beach House . . . B. D.<br />
Bright has sold his Motor-In Theatre at<br />
. . Dan<br />
Monroe, La., to H. G. Tiophit<br />
.<br />
Brandon, Tramw-ay general manager, went<br />
to New York on business Doyline<br />
Theatre. Doyline, La., has been closed indefinitely,<br />
says owner L. M. Fulton.<br />
. . .<br />
Walter Christiansen, general manager of<br />
Southeastern Theatres, with headquarters in<br />
Franklin, La., was being introduced along<br />
the Row by W. A. Lighter, head of the circuit<br />
. . . Freddie Houck. concessions manager<br />
for Joy Theatres, made a trip here from<br />
his headquarters in Shreveport . . . Allied<br />
of Gulf States General Manager Maurice<br />
Artigues was in Mobile on business for the<br />
organization W. A. Prewitt, Associated<br />
Theatres head, flew to Arkansas to attend<br />
the Arkansas ITO convention.<br />
The Saenger and Loew's State shared honors<br />
for opening attendance. "Flamingo Road"<br />
was at the former, and "The Barkleys of<br />
Broadway" .it the latter. "Adventure in<br />
Baltimore ' opened at the Orpheum. Busine.ss<br />
grossed by "The Undercover Man" did<br />
not warrant its being moved to the Liberty<br />
for a second week's run, and "Bad Men of<br />
Tombstone" was that theatre's feature. "Tlie<br />
Big Cat" was showing at the Joy. "Paisan"<br />
was featured at the Center. "Canadian Pacific"<br />
opened at the Tudor. "Laff-Time" was<br />
at the Globe. On the Joy Strand's double<br />
bill were "Roll, Thunder, Roll" and "Tlie<br />
Dark Mirror." The Lyceimi was showing<br />
"The Search" and "West of Sonora."<br />
Visiting exhibitors included B. V.<br />
Sheffield,<br />
formerly of the Strand, Poplarville, Miss.;<br />
Claude Darce, Opera House, Morgan City;<br />
GOLD KEY TO GINGER—Ginger<br />
Rogers is shown above as she received<br />
the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce's<br />
gold key to the city in ceremonies at the<br />
Downtown club. Presenting the award<br />
is Mayor Cooper Green. Ginger, in the<br />
city for the cotton fashion show sponsored<br />
by the News-Age-Herald and<br />
downtown merchants, made a personal<br />
appearance at the Alabama Theatre.<br />
Tanos Josephs, Teche and Opera House theatres,<br />
Franklin, accompanied by his wife; J. C.<br />
Keller, Liberty, Queen and K&M, Eunice;<br />
Mrs. R. H. Muse, Leslie, Denham Springs;<br />
Frank Corbitt, Ritz, Laurel, Mi.ss.; A. L.<br />
Royal, Royal Theatres, Meridian, Miss.; N.<br />
L. Ordoneaux, Lake, Lake Arthur; Milton<br />
Guidry, Bijou, Erath; Roy Pfeiffer, Avenue,<br />
Istrouma and Tivoli, Baton Rouge; Frank<br />
Olah, Star, Albany, La.; Mrs. A. Guzzardo,<br />
Liberty, Independence, and Charlie Levy,<br />
Harlem, Thibodaux.<br />
Participating in a goodwill air tour of the<br />
state of Mississippi June 2-5, are Connie<br />
Black, secretary to W. A. Prewitt, and Jeanette<br />
DeJarnette of National Theatre Supply<br />
Co. The two girls will fly a Cessna 140 on<br />
the tour, with Connie as pilot and Jeanette<br />
as navigator. Prewitt also will make the tour<br />
in a separate plane, accompanied by two of<br />
his children . Walk is the new clerk<br />
at Dixie Films, replacing Lillie McMillan,<br />
who resigned.<br />
. . Ellen<br />
Bruce<br />
Gail DeJarnette, sound engineer, suffered<br />
two broken fingers recently when his hand<br />
became entangled in the flywheel of his boat<br />
while he was working on the motor .<br />
Beyer, Film Inspection Service employe,<br />
has resigned. FIS personnel gave her several<br />
gifts on her last day at work .<br />
Hirstus of<br />
. .<br />
FIS celebrated a birthday. Workers<br />
gave him a gift and shared a birthday<br />
cake . . . Jerry Comment, FIS inspector, was<br />
on a two-week vacation.<br />
Republic personnel on vacations included<br />
Vivian Surgi, cashier, and Ethel Engler, inspector<br />
Republic special representative<br />
. . . W. L. Kreh, who came here from New York<br />
to spend several days at the local office, left<br />
for Oklahoma . . . Willis Houck of Booking<br />
Service Co. says his organization has as-<br />
.sumed tlie booking for the Joy, Ritz, Palace<br />
and Leo theatres in Texarkana, Ark. He has<br />
requested that all futiue correspondence be<br />
directed to him at 218 So. Liberty St., New<br />
Orleans.<br />
Charles "Buddy" Rogers, actor-producer,<br />
spent several days here, arriving on the<br />
mammoth plane Constitution. He was putting<br />
in two weeks' duty in the naval reserve. In<br />
an interview Rogers said that, in his opinion,<br />
as far as the future of the motion picture<br />
industry is concerned "from now on it<br />
will be the survival of the fittest." He believes<br />
that the story rather than the star<br />
will count in the future, and that the star<br />
system is definitely on the way out, as evidenced<br />
by several inexpensive pictures recently<br />
released, some of which grossed more<br />
than star-weighted productions.<br />
New Films Council Head<br />
ST. LOUIS—Mrs. Robert E. Colyer, governor<br />
of the International Federation of<br />
Catholic Alumnae and a member of the local<br />
circle, was installed as president of the Better<br />
Films council at the annual luncheon anfi<br />
installation meeting in the Congress hotel<br />
Friday (20).<br />
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BOXOFFICE :<br />
: May<br />
28, 1949 95
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damaged bocks, seats or other parts.<br />
We can re-cover worn or torn seats<br />
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See Harlan Dunlap<br />
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at 410 S, Second St., Phone 8-1770<br />
Bee Alon Boyd<br />
Louisiana and Southern Mississippi Exhibitors:<br />
Alon Boyd, Box 213 Cedar<br />
Grove Station, Phone 6101, Shreveporf,<br />
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Memphis, Tenn.<br />
J<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
Morman J. Ayers, Warner division manager,<br />
was a visitor . . . Herb Kohn, Malco<br />
Theatres, named to the national council ot<br />
the Joint Defense Appeal, fund-raising<br />
branch of the American Jewish committee<br />
and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai<br />
B'rith . . . Tom Young, 20th-Fox manager,<br />
has a son Joe S., who is a salesman for<br />
Paramount. Joe has a son named Wayne,<br />
who was on a Cotton Carnival float representing<br />
Snowden school, which won frist<br />
prize in the children's parade.<br />
L. J. Lenhart of Kansas City, who books<br />
. . .<br />
for the Commonwealth circuit houses at<br />
Searcy and Harrison, Ark., was in town on<br />
business Ted Zohbel, U-I auditor, who<br />
has been working at the local branch about<br />
four months, moved on to New York<br />
Katherine Handle, Eagle Lion office<br />
. . .<br />
manager,<br />
attended the graduation of her sister<br />
at Goodman Junior college, Starkville, Miss.<br />
. . . L. W. McClintock, Paramount manager,<br />
office manager Travis Carr, and salesmen<br />
Bob Kilgore, Joe Young and Tom Donahue<br />
attended a company sales meeting in Dallas.<br />
An early summer heat wave hit Memphis.<br />
Swimming pools were opened. Night clubs<br />
and hotels opened roof gardens. First run<br />
attendance was described as "just fair" . .<br />
.<br />
W. F. Ruffin sr. and jr. were in town booking<br />
and shopping for the Ruffin Amusement<br />
Co. theatres which are operated from Covington,<br />
Term., headquarters . . . Owen Burgiss.<br />
Gem, Jackson, and Amelia Ellis, Mason,<br />
Mason, were other visiting Tennessee exhibitors.<br />
Henry Haven jr., who operates the Haven<br />
circuit from Forrest City, Ark., with houses<br />
in Marianna, Wynne, Brinkley and Forrest<br />
City, was here on business. Zell Jaynes, Joy<br />
at West Memphis and Maxie at Trumann;<br />
Charles Nelson, Palace, Greenwood; J. E.<br />
Singleton, Tyro, Tyronza; K. K. King, Rialto,<br />
Searcy, and K. H. Kinney, Hays, Hughes,<br />
were other visiting Arkansas exhibitors.<br />
From IVIississippi came A. N. Rossi, Roxy,<br />
Clarksdale; Mrs. Clare Collier, Mrs. Vallery<br />
Bm'ke, Bem Jackson and C. J. Collier, who<br />
operate theatres at Drew, Shaw, Benoit and<br />
Ruleville. Others from Mississippi included<br />
Mrs. J. Forte, Norjan, Olive Branch; Leon<br />
Roundtree, Holly Springs, Water Valley and<br />
Lexington operator; J. C. Bonds, Von, Hernando;<br />
Mrs. Ethel Lobdell, Talisman, Rosedale;<br />
Dr. R. W. Johnson, Shelby, Shelby; Joe<br />
Wofford, Calhoun City, Eupora and Union<br />
operator; and J. C. Brents, Gloria, Senatobia.<br />
. .<br />
.<br />
D. D. Flippin, whose Flippin Theatre was<br />
burned to the ground recently, now is back in<br />
business at Bragg City, Mo., with an openair<br />
show . The Malco Theatre entertained<br />
winning tag day school girl teams as a reward<br />
for their work for the Cynthia milk<br />
fund of the Press-Scimitar which provides<br />
free milk for needy Memphis babies the year<br />
around Memphis managers and<br />
salesmen attended the annual convention of<br />
Arkansas ITO in Little Rock last week.<br />
Buys Site Near Sikeston<br />
SIKESTON, MO.—Earl Ferrell of Charleston,<br />
Mo., has purchased ground near here<br />
as the site for a 400-car drive-in he hopes<br />
to open within the next four to six weeks.<br />
Florida's High Court<br />
Rules Out Ticket Tax<br />
JACKSONVILLE—The Florida Supreme<br />
Court, in a unanimous decision, has ruled<br />
that the city of St. Petersburg was without<br />
authority to levy a 10 per cent tax on<br />
theatre admissions under terms of an ordinance<br />
passed last fall.<br />
The finding by the court was on an appeal<br />
from a decision by Judge Victor O.<br />
Wehle in circuit court which found in favor<br />
of theatre owners who challenged it.<br />
The decision also entails the return by<br />
the city to those who paid the tax of all<br />
money held in escrow pending a decision<br />
by the supreme court. Theatre owners had<br />
posted bonds to cover their tax payments if<br />
Other amusement owners<br />
they lost the case.<br />
have set aside the equivalent of the tax to<br />
cover the same contingency.<br />
Theatreman Leads Civic Club<br />
EAST GADSDEN, ALA.—J. R. Long, manager<br />
of the Coosa Theatre here, has been<br />
elected president of the East Gadsden Civitan<br />
club.<br />
Atkins, Ark., Theatre Sold<br />
ATKINS. ARK.—Carl Bangert has sold the<br />
Royal Theatre here to W. D. Buford of<br />
Cookeville, Tenn.<br />
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. .<br />
MIAMI<br />
f^laughton's Variety and Embassy theatres<br />
presented each child attending a recent<br />
Sunday show with a pass to Tropical Hobbyland.<br />
The pass also entitled the bearer to a<br />
free You-Go-I-Go game . of Variety<br />
Club members and their children are<br />
eligible to membership in the newly formed<br />
women's committee of the local tent. Election<br />
of officers is on the agenda for a May 27<br />
meeting.<br />
Emogene Leslie of this city has been named<br />
Miss Miami of 1949. A model, she w-ill compete<br />
for the title. Miss F'nrida, which can<br />
put her in line for the Mi. America contest.<br />
"Little Women," which lecently broke records<br />
at the Emba.ssy for length of run of a<br />
regular-priced feature, is now playing at<br />
Paramount's Sheridan, Florida and Cinema,<br />
and at the independent Normandy as part<br />
of a double-feature program . Gray,<br />
who conducts a late-at-night radio program<br />
here, has made a number of motion picture<br />
musical shorts which are featured prominently<br />
when bookings bring them to local<br />
theatres. The Lincoln at pre.sent has a large<br />
easel poster in its outer lobby.<br />
The Miracle Theatre's Saturday children's<br />
show presented Bob Ellis, Mystogogue of<br />
Magic. Bob is a University of Miami student.<br />
Located near the university, the Miracle<br />
has a large student clientele . . Richard<br />
.<br />
Conte cut his Miami Beach vacation short<br />
when Pat Kane, his stand-in, was promoted<br />
by Darryl Zanuck to featured player. Conte<br />
returned home to coach Kane.<br />
, . .<br />
Bob Freeman, the personable youngster who<br />
won a week's date at the Olympia in a Daily<br />
News Youth Roundup contest, confessed after<br />
the finals, held at the theatre, that he was<br />
so nervous under the bright spotlight that<br />
he thought he didn't have a chance. However,<br />
singing star Freddie Stewart, one of the<br />
contest judges, commented that Bob's work<br />
was the best of any amateur sing«r he'd<br />
viewed in years Wometco's State presented<br />
a double feature, "The Mutineers"<br />
and "I Cheated the Law."<br />
Pincus Tell, better known as Chris Graham,<br />
has a new book out called "Opportmiities<br />
in Motion Pictures" . hygiene<br />
film, "Street Corner," has opened here, beginning<br />
an extended run at Bern.stein's Dixie<br />
downtown. Showings are in the .same manner<br />
as the recent "Mom and Dad" which ran<br />
so successfully at the Tivoli.<br />
Video fans were promised a treat recently<br />
when a talented singer from a local club was<br />
scheduled to make his WTVJ debut ... It<br />
was "Leonard Sacks night," at the Variety<br />
Club recently. Barker Sacks, who is a Coral<br />
Gables furniture dealer when not engaged in<br />
Variety activities, was host to the professional<br />
talent at the weekly benefit show in<br />
the club's rooftop rooms.<br />
WTVJ, Wometco's television station, showed<br />
the third chapter of the Eisenhower documentary,<br />
"Crusade in Europe." The fi'm was<br />
edited from some 165 million feet of film,<br />
much of it captured from Germany and Japs.<br />
It was sold exclusively to television. The<br />
third chapter is entitled "America Goes to<br />
War" . Dawson is mentioned in a<br />
Hollywood studio release reading, "Florida<br />
beauty has been added to a California-made<br />
motion picture. The beauty is Irmgard Dawson,<br />
twice "Miss Miami' and once 'Miss<br />
Florida.' "<br />
Charles Skouras was among film executives<br />
before whom Buster McGovern performed on<br />
the accordion and piano at the Kentucky<br />
Derby. McGovern has returned to Miami .<br />
Al Weiss of Paramount's Olympia booked<br />
"The Quiz of the Three Ts" for a recent<br />
stage presentation. Broadcast locally, it offered<br />
prizes, including a trip to Havana.<br />
'12 OXlock' Filming<br />
Completed in South<br />
MIAMI— Twentieth Century-Fox pulled up<br />
stakes here in Florida after a month's filming<br />
of "TR-elve O'clock H gh" with Gregory<br />
Peck. The Eglin nir force base here, and<br />
Ozark and Enterpri.se, Ala., were the scenes<br />
for the shooting.<br />
About 72 member.s of the studio company<br />
headed by veteran Director Henry King<br />
have been here since April 17. King said<br />
the only complication about the Eglin field<br />
f Imlng was that the base's pine ti-ees didn't<br />
fit too well into the setting for an English<br />
air base, locale of the story.<br />
Among actors brought here for the filming<br />
were Dean Jagger. Don Hicks. Hugh Marlowe,<br />
John McKee, Paul Stewart and Lee<br />
McGregor. Miami cameraman Joe Gibson<br />
returned home having completed his aerial<br />
photography for the pi'oduction. Shots were<br />
made with B17s flying In the same formations<br />
which carried the first American<br />
bombs to Germany. The U.S. air force cooperated<br />
in making the film which is a semidocumentary.<br />
It will be released next year.<br />
Jeff Chandler will play an Apache chief<br />
in "Arrow," a 20th-Fox picture.<br />
Gryder and Alig Quit<br />
Florida State Posts<br />
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—Two Florida State<br />
Theatres executives have resigned.<br />
Glenn Gryder, film buyer and manager of<br />
the booking department for the la.st 17 years,<br />
left the company May 14 and has joined the<br />
Talgar circuit with offices here as head<br />
buyer and booker.<br />
Frank Alig, treasurer of Florida States,<br />
will leave June 1 and will enter private business<br />
at Lakeland.<br />
B. B. ANDERSON— Owner, Anderson<br />
Theatre Company, Mullins,<br />
South Carolina— declares:<br />
"We use RCA Service in every<br />
Anderson Theatre and have<br />
found the service very satisfactory."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, New Jersey.<br />
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Adv.<br />
I<br />
BOXOFFICE ;<br />
: May<br />
28. 1949 97
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Cast Iron Standards .. Ball Bearing Hinges<br />
For complete Information write:<br />
SOUTHERN DESK COMPANY<br />
Theatre Seating Division<br />
P. 0. Box 630 HICKORY, N. C.<br />
[cSi^if^^SoAL PHOTO<br />
ENLARGEMENTS<br />
BLOWUPS<br />
Rapid<br />
Service<br />
Low Prices<br />
Standarci Dale<br />
Slides<br />
3 ior $1.00<br />
ATLANTA<br />
O A. Roebuck, former Film Classics salesman,<br />
has been appointed head booker<br />
. . .<br />
and office manager . . . Leonard Allen of<br />
Paramount returned from New York .<br />
Tommy Read. Georgia Theatres executive,<br />
celebrated his birthday The Fairview<br />
Theatre here has been sold by Sol Miller to<br />
W. W. Adams.<br />
Mrs. Berniee Wadsworth, secretary to<br />
Monogram Southern Exchanges president<br />
. . .<br />
C. Bromberg, returned from a Florida trip<br />
Ike and Harry Katz of Kay Film Ex-<br />
changes were back from New York . . .<br />
John W. Mangham, Screen Guild, was out<br />
of town on business . . . Bill Briant, assistant<br />
UA western division manager, was a<br />
visitor here<br />
open his drive-in near Childersburg, Ala.,<br />
about June 1.<br />
. . Ralph<br />
N. E. Savini, Astor Pictures, returned from<br />
New York following a visit with his brother<br />
Bob. president of the company .<br />
was in Florida . . .<br />
McCoy, Film Classics,<br />
Mrs. E. C. Fain, theatre operator in Wetumpka,<br />
Ala., was reported ill in a hospital<br />
at Montgomery, Ala. . . . John Donnell,<br />
Monogram home office representative, visited<br />
the local branch.<br />
Charles Clark, Madison Pictures branch<br />
manager, left for Tennessee . . . Mrs. Cora<br />
Roberts of the Monogram office was ill at<br />
her home . Paul, RCA southern<br />
district manager, was back from a sales trip<br />
Staples of Monogram returned<br />
a vacation trij] . . Dunn Theatres<br />
from .<br />
disclosed that their new houses in Donaldsonville,<br />
Ga., and Chattahooche, Fla., soon<br />
would be ready for opening.<br />
Visitors on Filmrow included Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Fred G. Weis. Weis Theatres, Macon:<br />
Mrs. Wallace Smith, Gem, Barnesville; Roy<br />
Mitchell, Stone, Stone Mountain: W. P.<br />
Gammon, Ocilla: Mrs. V. M. Edwards. Royal.<br />
Monticello: J. E. Martin, Grand, Montezuma:<br />
W. R. Boswell, Madison: W. P. Rig^ins,<br />
Strand, Jessup, and W. Greene, Palmetto,<br />
Palmetto, Ga.: Alfred Starr, Bijou Amusement<br />
Co., NashvUle, Tenn., and R. L. Bailey,<br />
Eagle, Blountstown, Fla.<br />
Starlight Drive-In vs. Union<br />
In Chattanooga Paper<br />
CHATTANOOGA—MPMO Local 259 and<br />
the management of the Starlight Drive-In at<br />
suburban Rossville, Ga., are airing a controversy<br />
in the display advertising columns of<br />
the local press.<br />
The miion started it with an ad which<br />
read, "Starlight Drive-In Theatre . . . does<br />
not employ a member of the Moving Rctui'e<br />
Machine Operators Union, Local 259."<br />
The theatre management countered with an<br />
ad, almost identical in appearance, which<br />
ran side by side with that of the union:<br />
"Starlight Drive-In Theatre . not<br />
employ a union operator because it is operated<br />
by the owners. If at any time we do<br />
employ an operator it will be a union<br />
operator."<br />
Coed Makes Screen Debut<br />
Yvette Vedder, UCLA coed, will make her<br />
screen debut in "Sunset Boulevard," a Paramount<br />
picture.<br />
A CONVENTION CHAT—Among<br />
exhibitors<br />
at the recent Theatre Owners of<br />
Georgia convention were Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Fred Weiss, owner of the Weiss, Roxy and<br />
Savannah theatres In Savannah, Ga.<br />
They are shown above chatting with Leon<br />
Bamberger, RKO sales promotion executive,<br />
center.<br />
Wilby-Kincey Manager<br />
Aids Charlotte Drive<br />
CHARLOTTE—Jack Austin, city manager<br />
for Wilby-Kincey theatres, is helping direct<br />
the local Opportunity bond drive, which has<br />
a quota of $1,207,000. Austin says the<br />
principal event of interest during the campaign<br />
will be the visit to the city of the<br />
covered wagon. Containing several types of<br />
exhibits representing the country's progress,<br />
the old relic of the gold rush of '49 began<br />
its tour of North Carolina commimities at<br />
Greensboro a few weeks ago.<br />
Charlotte's goal in the drive is slightly<br />
more than 10 per cent of the state quota<br />
of $12,000,000. Closing campaign date is<br />
June 30.<br />
BOLIVAR HYDE— General Manager,<br />
Talgar Theatre Co., Lakeland,<br />
Florida— declares:<br />
"We have used RCA Service for<br />
over 14 years, and have found this<br />
service satisfactory and economical.<br />
Our equipment always is kept<br />
in excellent condition."<br />
To get the benefits of RCA Service<br />
—write: RCA SERVICE COMPANY,<br />
INC., Radio Corporation of America,<br />
Camden, New Jersey.<br />
Adv.<br />
98 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
Armview Vaudeville<br />
Does Good Business<br />
HALIFAX—The introductory six-act vaudeville<br />
bill which played at the Armview. two<br />
miles from downtown, for a week to excellent<br />
business, was moved to the Gaiety, lowerpriced<br />
Walker Affiliated downtown house.<br />
Armview prices were 45 cents afternoons and<br />
60 nights while the Gaiety admission is 30<br />
and 45.<br />
The live acts, imported from Boston, played<br />
thrice daily with "The Green Grass of<br />
Wyoming."<br />
The Armview opened its second vaudeville<br />
bill May 19. titled "Harlem on Parade." also<br />
consisting of six acts from the U.S. The<br />
Armview seats about 700 and. the Gaiety 613.<br />
TV Export Hike Expected<br />
By British Factories<br />
MONTREAL—With earlier commitments<br />
nearly met. British television equipment<br />
manufacturers soon will make a determined<br />
bid for more export trade with Canada, said<br />
Harold Wilson, president of the United Kingdom<br />
Board of Trade. Wilson .said that United<br />
Kingdom delivery dates now were firmer<br />
than they had been. He expressed the belief<br />
that Canadian orders would receive top<br />
priority in Britain now that the backlog had<br />
been reduced by increased production.<br />
Britain hopes to make a good showing in<br />
television. Wilson added. "We are the world's<br />
largest suppliers of transmitting equipment."<br />
he said, "and I believe our receiving sets are<br />
superior to the American televison sets."<br />
Negotiations have been going on betw'een<br />
British manufacturers and the Canadian<br />
Broadcasting Coitj., he said, but the dissolution<br />
of parliament before the granting of<br />
fund.s for television in Canada forced a temporary<br />
halt.<br />
lATSE Local Organized<br />
At Corner Brook. N. F.<br />
ST. JOHN—The first local of the lATSE<br />
on Newfoundland has been organized at<br />
Corner Brook by projectionists of the Majestic.<br />
Palace and Regent theatres. The<br />
operatore are seeking shorter working hours,<br />
higher wages and improved working conditions.<br />
The promoters of the local are trying<br />
to widen the appeal to cover projectionists<br />
and other -employes of theatres in St.<br />
John's, Harbor Grace, Gander, Carbonear,<br />
Buchans, Grand Falls, Bell Island, StephenviUe,<br />
Botwood and Deer Lake. There are ten<br />
theatres in St. John's.<br />
Four Alberta Drive-Ins<br />
Slated by Western, Ltd.<br />
EDMONTON—Four drive-ins. the first in<br />
Alberta, are planned for the province this<br />
year by Western Drive-In Theatres, Ltd.<br />
Two were opened in May, one in Calgary<br />
and one in Edmonton. A third in Lethbridge<br />
will be ready for patrons by fall.<br />
Site for a second drive-in has been selected<br />
in Edmonton. Manager of Edmonton's<br />
first, Norman McDonald,, said it is<br />
hoped to keep the theatre open until November.<br />
Heaters will be provided for the<br />
cool fall months.<br />
Dignitaries at Opening<br />
Of New Odeon, Ottawa<br />
Plan Newsreel Footage<br />
On Party Candidates<br />
TORONTO—With the Canadian federal<br />
election campaign in full swing, a special<br />
arrangement has been made under the auspices<br />
of the national coirunittee. Motion Picture<br />
Exhibitors Ass'n of Canada, for special<br />
film coverage of recognized political party<br />
leaders. Special footage will be attached to<br />
newsreels for specified weeks prior to the<br />
elections on June 27. The general plan follows<br />
the time apportioned to political talks<br />
over the national networks of the Canadian<br />
Broadcasting Corp.<br />
The first of the political releases, called<br />
"The St. Laurent Story" for Prime Minister<br />
Louis St. Laurent, will form a part of news<br />
weeklies for showing during the week of<br />
June 5. This will be succeeded in the following<br />
week with a film for George Drew, leader<br />
of the Conservative party, the official opposition<br />
in the last Parliament. During the weeTi<br />
of June 19 the film will deal with M. J.<br />
Coldwell, leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth<br />
party.<br />
Election Tiein Helps<br />
ST. JOHN—With the ail" saturated with<br />
political talk because of the provincial and<br />
dominion general elections in June, Manager<br />
Ei-nie Hatfield of the Capitol, Yarmouth,<br />
stressed "The Three Musketeers" as "Tlie<br />
People's Choice," using local papers, throwaways,<br />
window cards, lobby displays, etc., all<br />
on the election and people's choice themes.<br />
AT PREMIERE OF ANTARCTIC FILM<br />
The Avenue Theatre in Montreal recently<br />
was turned over to the Canadian military<br />
forces for the initial showing of<br />
"Scott of the Antarctic," a color producduction<br />
of the ill-fated polar expedition.<br />
Shown left to right in the accompanying<br />
picture are Sir Sterling Hamilton, naval<br />
adviser to the British high commissioner;<br />
Ron Morris, announcer, and Winston<br />
Avery, Avenue manager.<br />
OTTAWA—A capacity crowd attended the<br />
opening Friday t20) of the 1.539-seat Ottawa<br />
Odeon. first major theatre to be constructed<br />
here in more than ten years. Leonard Brockington.<br />
vice-president of Odeon Theatres,<br />
welcomed Governor-General and Viscountess<br />
Alexander of Tunis, Sarah Churchill, actress<br />
daughter of Winston Chuixhill, and the society<br />
set which attended the opening ceremonies<br />
in evening attire.<br />
Miss Churchill made a brief talk, in which<br />
she created some amusement by declaring<br />
she could not measure up to another member<br />
of the family in oratorical effectiveness.<br />
During her Ottawa stay, she was a guest at<br />
Rideau Hall, the vice-regal residence.<br />
A stage feature in keeping with the theme<br />
of "The Red Shoes" was presented by a<br />
group of nine dancers of the Duval School<br />
of Ballet. Newsreel cameramen and press<br />
photographers took pictures of the governorgeneral,<br />
cabinet ministers, government officials,<br />
distinguished citizens and members of<br />
the diplomatic coitds as they arrived at the<br />
brightly illuminated entrance. Prior to taking<br />
their places in the royal box, the party<br />
from Government House toured the colorful<br />
mezzanine floor to inspect the art gallery<br />
where a collection of Canadian paintings,<br />
"Portraits of the Dance," had been hung<br />
under the direction of Paul Duval of Toronto.<br />
Tlu-oughout the richly appointed lobby,<br />
foyer and lounges there was a profusion of<br />
handsome floral tributes and an array of telegraphed<br />
greetings from many enterprises of<br />
the film industry in Canada, the United<br />
Kingdom and the United States.<br />
Escorting the official party, resplendent<br />
with ribbons and emblems of high British<br />
decorations, was the manager of the magnificent<br />
theatre, Gordon D. Beavis. A veteran<br />
of 21 years in theatre operation, he started<br />
in 1928 as an usher at the Capitol, Peterboro.<br />
Following the formal opening, which was<br />
under the auspices of the Canada Foundation,<br />
the Odeon made its regular start without<br />
further fanfare at noon the next day<br />
with an admission scale rang ng from 15 to<br />
65 cents. The occasion was marked by the<br />
publication of a 20-page Odeon supplement<br />
in tabloid size by the Ottawa Citizen and a<br />
large section by the Ottawa Journal.<br />
Mark Watkins Appointed<br />
Assistant at Vancouver<br />
VANCOUVER—Mark Watkins, recently<br />
.appointed assistant manager at the 1,500-<br />
seat Odeon-Hastings downtown, has quite a<br />
background in show business. Born in 1898<br />
in Liverpool, England, Watkins was a boy<br />
.soprano at 8 and in 1914 was leader of a<br />
vaudeville orchestra at the Fleet Theatre,<br />
Fleet Hants. In 1920, he became oi-ganist at<br />
the Pavilion Croydon and in 1927 he came<br />
to Canada to do night club and dance work.<br />
He was with the Canadian Scottish Concert<br />
Party across Canada in 1940 and in 1943 became<br />
free lance organist at the Orpheum<br />
Theatre, Vancouver. He then decided to get<br />
into the motion picture business and joined<br />
the Odeon circuit.<br />
BOXOFTICE :<br />
: May 28, 1949 K 99
VANCOUVER<br />
T>oy Gordon, theatrical promoter from Seattle,<br />
is putting on Search for Talent<br />
shows at the Odeon Theatre in Victoria<br />
each Tuesday and at the Hastings in Vancouver<br />
on Wednesday as off-night business<br />
builders . . . Numerous beauty contests ai-e<br />
being staged in provincial theatres. Miss<br />
Vancouver for 1949 was chosen after eliminations<br />
at local Odeon theatres and will compete<br />
in the Miss Canada contest in Hamilton<br />
this summer for the right to go on to<br />
Atlantic City. The contest was sponsored by<br />
the Vancouver Junior Chamber of Commerce,<br />
and the winner was Joan McPherson, former<br />
usherette in West Vancouver. Famous Players<br />
will hold its annual beauty contest<br />
shortly.<br />
A new suburban theatre will be built by<br />
Dave MacParlane, a local merchant, in his<br />
new shopping district. Plans call for an<br />
$80,000, 900-seater . . . Mary Eigner, Dominion<br />
Theatre head cashier, resigned because<br />
of ill health and moved to Edmonton.<br />
Phyllis Smith, who was in the show business<br />
in New Zealand before coming to Canada,<br />
succeeded her. Vivian Todd moved up from<br />
usherette to cashier . . . Ronald Houston, a<br />
newcomer to the show business, was appointed<br />
assistant manag-er at the International<br />
Cinema succeeding Earl Barlow, moved to the<br />
Capitol.<br />
Mark Watkins, oldtime theatreman, was<br />
appointed assistant at the Odeon Hastings<br />
to replace Agnes Gray who moved to Los<br />
Angeles with her family . . . Filnu-owers<br />
report<br />
that the reason there are fewer theatre<br />
sales lately is that owners hesitate to put a<br />
price on their places due to excessive new<br />
construction costs . . Maxie Chechik, here<br />
.<br />
from Toronto, said he will not start construction<br />
of his planned $100,000 theatre in<br />
an exclusive residential district of Vancouver,<br />
because costs are too high. Chechik<br />
runs the York and Bay theatres here ... It<br />
is reported that Seattle interests will buiW<br />
a drive-in at Haney, B. C, in the Pi-aser<br />
Valley.<br />
Paul Harmon of Empire Agencies, Ltd. of<br />
Vancouver, representative for J. C. Clancy,<br />
Inc., stage equipment company of New York,<br />
is equipping the Auditorium here and a new<br />
high school in Edmonton with complete<br />
stage effects, flood lights, etc. . . . The Alberta<br />
censor board is following other provincial<br />
censors in using the "Adult" and<br />
"Family Entertairmient" classifications . . .<br />
Bill Forward, manager of General Theatre<br />
Supply Co., was in ChOliwack to install<br />
Simplex projectors and soimd in the new<br />
Paramount Theatre there which will open<br />
early in June. The 900-seater will be the<br />
second theatre for FPC there.<br />
Theatre and exchange vacations started<br />
early this year and many already have left<br />
for south-of-the-border and British Columbia<br />
summer resorts . . . Amusement park is<br />
being erected by White City Amusement Co.<br />
near New Westminster on the Pacific highway.<br />
The park will include a dance pavilion,<br />
roller rink and auditorium, rides, etc.<br />
It will open July 1 and will operate aU year.<br />
It will be no help to the six small seat<br />
theatres in that section, now doing only fair<br />
business.<br />
. . There will<br />
"Concert Magic" kept up the Vancouver<br />
record of roadshow picture flops. "Joan of<br />
Arc" also slipped badly at the Strand. Higher<br />
price pictures are poison at the boxoffice<br />
here. Both the above roadshows played only<br />
six days to moderate business .<br />
be no less than three first ruir Italian pictures<br />
here next week, "Shoe-Shine" at the<br />
Studio, "La Tosca" ut the Park, and "Paisan"<br />
at the Cinema. The foreign pictui'es are getting<br />
better reviews in the Vancouver press<br />
than the Hollywood product.<br />
Hugh Porteous of Oliver, B. C, has been<br />
elected president of the Southern Okanagan<br />
Film council of Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan<br />
Falls in the interior . . . Jack Cohen,<br />
owner of the Crescent and Plaza in Calgary,<br />
here on vacation, reports that business<br />
was holding up well in the Alberta cow<br />
town . . . Earl Barlow, assistant at the<br />
Capitol, was on vacation. Walter Hopp from<br />
the Oi-pheum is on relief.<br />
Odeon Fence Ruled Okay<br />
ST. JOHN—There will be no appeal by<br />
Franklin & Herschorn from a decision by<br />
Justice Doull of the Nova Scotia supreme<br />
court allowing Odeon to erect a fence between<br />
the F&H Vogue and Odeon Casino. The<br />
alley between the two theatres is about 11<br />
feet wide, and Odeon owns about eight feet<br />
of it. A steel fence was put up by Odeon,<br />
but a court injunction was obtained by F&H<br />
to have it taken down.<br />
Screens — Arc Lamps — Rectifiers — Lenses — Carbons — Theatre Chairs<br />
J. M. RICE & CO.<br />
202 Canada BIdg. Winnipeg, Manitoba<br />
Phone 25371<br />
Everything For Your Theatre<br />
COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
An Expert Repair Department<br />
'Lagoon' Scores 110<br />
As Best in Toronto<br />
TORONTO—Trade at first run theatres<br />
here showed improvement as the result of<br />
cooler weather, which kept people in town<br />
instead of hastening an exodus to summer<br />
resorts. "Blue Lagoon" at the Odeon-Toronto<br />
registered 110 per cent and paced the city.<br />
"Flamingo Road" at the Imperial and "Streets<br />
of Laredo" at Shea's both carded 105 per<br />
cent. "Pa and Ma Kettle" rated a third stanza<br />
at the Uptown.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Biltmore—Slorte Department. File 649 (FC), The<br />
Eansan (U-A), reissue 90<br />
Daniorlh, Humber—Mr. Perrin and Mi. Traill (EL);<br />
Angel on the Amazon (Rep) 95<br />
Fairlawn—Wake of the Red Witch (Rep); Fabulous<br />
Joe (ISR) 90<br />
Hyland—Red River (UA); Three Is a Family (SR).. 90<br />
Imperial—Flamingo Road (WB) 105<br />
Loew's—Portrait of Jennie (SRO), 2nd wk , 100<br />
Odeon Toronto The Blue Lagoon (EL) 110<br />
Sheas Streets of Laredo (Para) 105<br />
Tivoli A Connecticut Yankee (Para) 95<br />
University and Eglinton Mr. Belvedere Goes to<br />
College (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 90<br />
Uptown—Ma and Pa Kettle (U-I), 3rd wk 85<br />
Victoria The Big Sombrero (Col); Thundeihoof<br />
(Col) - 95<br />
and 'Concert Magic'<br />
'Champion'<br />
Best at Vancouver<br />
VANCOUVER—It was another blue week<br />
for the downtowners. Two newcomers. "The<br />
Champion" at the Vogue and "Concert Magic"<br />
at the Studio exceeded average to lead the<br />
pack. The fight pictures of the last two<br />
weeks, "Whiplash," "Set-Up" and "Champion"<br />
were okay for the sporting element, but no<br />
good for the female trade.<br />
Capitol—John Loves Mary (WB) Fair<br />
Cinerna Water Front at Midnight (Col);<br />
Whispering Smith (Para) Moderate<br />
Orpheum Force of Evil (MGM) Moderate<br />
Paradise—Last of the Wild Horses (SG);<br />
Thunder in the Pines (SG) Fair<br />
Plaza—Pitfall (UA) - Average<br />
Strand—WTiiplash (WB) - - Poor<br />
Studio— Concert Magic (Cardinal Films) Good<br />
Vogue—Champion (UA) Good<br />
Cooler Weather Boosts Trade<br />
At Theatres in Calgary<br />
CALGARY—Trade at first<br />
run houses here<br />
zoomed as rain and colder weather replaced<br />
unseasonably hot weather. "The Red Shoes,"<br />
playing at the Grand at regular prices, drew<br />
well. "Words and Music" at the Capitol and<br />
"Chicken Every Sunday" at the Palace played<br />
to average attendance.<br />
Capitol—Words and Music (MGM) Good<br />
Grand—The Red Shoes (Rank) Very good<br />
Palace Chicken Every Sunday (20th-Fox) Good<br />
High Quality Equipment<br />
Used for Canada Films<br />
MONTREAL—Film equipment being used<br />
by the National Film Board is equal to the<br />
highest standard available to Hollywood producers,<br />
according to a report made by Gerald<br />
Graham, director of technical operations<br />
for the board, who recently studied the<br />
operation of California studios.<br />
"I see no reason why the technical quality<br />
of our work, in time, should not be equal or<br />
superior to that obtained in Hollywood,"<br />
Graham said.<br />
In cooperation with the Crown company,<br />
Canadian Arsenals, the report stated, the<br />
board recently produced an optical effects<br />
printer. The printer, the first to be made in<br />
Canada, was manufactured at a saving in<br />
U.S. funds of $20,000 and its design soon will<br />
be made available to the film industry in<br />
Canada and other countries.<br />
100 BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
. .<br />
^<br />
ST.<br />
JOHN<br />
LTamlet" was presented at the Odeon Casino<br />
at Halifax on a three-day, first-halfof-the-week<br />
run, reserved seats at $1 afternoons<br />
and $1.50 nights. Mail orders were<br />
featured, and with coupons reproduced in<br />
newspaper advertising. The Casino is the<br />
only Halifax booking for the Oscar film . . .<br />
Members of the Canadian seamen's union,<br />
on strike about two months, canvassed people<br />
on the streets and at theatre entrances<br />
at Halifax and St. John for signatures to a<br />
petition condemning the Dominion government.<br />
The strike, coupled with refusal of<br />
the St. John longshoremen's local to work<br />
the strike-affected steamers until recently,<br />
reacted unfavorably on theatre business here<br />
and to a lesser extent at Halifax.<br />
Prices of senior baseball games in Halifax<br />
and St. John appear to be due for hoists;<br />
at Halifax to 55 cents and to 50 cents here.<br />
Last sea.son the 50-cent tariff was started<br />
here, but had to be dropped to 35 and 40<br />
cents because of slipping boxoffice . . H. M.<br />
.<br />
Armstrong, Fi-edericlon, chief fire marshal<br />
for New Brunswick and central figure in the<br />
battle over smoking at the :iew St. John<br />
Paramount, has been reported as hospitalized.<br />
Indications are that the appeal against<br />
Ai-mstrong's ban will come before the provincial<br />
appeals court in June. Two decisions<br />
have gone against Famous Players, the original<br />
by Armstrong and the second by county<br />
court Judge Jack Barry. Armstrong's standing<br />
as a fire prevention expert is questioned<br />
by FPC.<br />
The Palace in the north end, which has<br />
been dark since opening of the Regent, has<br />
been looked over as a location for bowling<br />
alleys. A plan to use it as a church for<br />
Negroes has collapsed because of objections<br />
by neighbors. It is now being rented for fraternity<br />
meetings by owner Joe Franklin.<br />
There had been some talk of converting it<br />
to bingo. It is across the street from Lucky<br />
Hall, where bingo prevails every week night.<br />
The recent death of "Big Ed" Auger started<br />
Herman McArthur reminiscing. Mc-<br />
Arthur succeeded Auger as manager of the<br />
Mutual Film exchange. Although he has a<br />
touch of heart di-sease, McArthur continues<br />
in film distribution with RKO. He has been<br />
selling films for about 43 years, and has been<br />
manager of several exchanges here and at<br />
Halifax, including RKO.<br />
Eveoi for free, and with organ and band<br />
music and entertainment and with Prime<br />
Minister Louis St. Laurent, and opposition<br />
leader George Drew and CCF leader M. J.<br />
Coldwell as the oratorical draws, the political<br />
parties have been unable to fill theatres and<br />
rinks hired for campaign rallies in the maritimes.<br />
In view of this, maybe film exhibitors<br />
shouldn't wonder at being unable to<br />
crowd all theatres to capacity for each show.<br />
The Empire, Halifax, used its first stage<br />
show in many years recently. It was Frank's<br />
radio cowboy show, which recently was the<br />
first stage bill at Empire, St. John, for about<br />
a dozen years. Both Empires are operated by<br />
Domerson & 'Vassis.<br />
Currently through the maritimes there is<br />
a rash of amateur stage shows with some of<br />
them priced as high as $1. The local Knights<br />
of Columbus staged their annual spring musical<br />
show with a big cast for six consecutive<br />
crowded nights at SI a ticket in St. 'Vincent's<br />
auditorium, which seats 840 . . The<br />
sharp climatic change from warm Florida<br />
to extremely chilly St. John brought a cold<br />
to Mrs. Frankie Franklin, wife of Joe Franklin.<br />
Exterior Theatre Lights<br />
Still Under Regulation<br />
TORONTO—Although most of<br />
the restrictions<br />
on the use of electricity have been<br />
removed following last w-inter's crisis, exhibitors<br />
in Ontario will continue to come under<br />
the regulations of the Ontario hydroelectric<br />
commission. The latter has removed<br />
the ban on all interior lighting but theatre<br />
marquees, outdoor advertising and display<br />
windows cannot be lighted between the hours<br />
of 7 a. m. and 6 p. m., according to the latest<br />
order. The ruling means that marquees<br />
cannot be illuminated until the evening hours<br />
from Monday to Friday inclusive but tliey<br />
can be turned on at any hour on Saturday or<br />
Sunday.<br />
Australian TV Expected<br />
Within Next Three Years<br />
MONTREAL—Television in Australia is "a<br />
practical po.ssibility" within three years,<br />
says Postmaster-General Cameron. He reports<br />
tenders for television services in Australia<br />
will be submitted to the first meeting of the<br />
Australian Broadcasting Control Board in<br />
Melboui'ne. FoDowing consideration by the<br />
board, the plans and tenders will be discussed<br />
at a meeting of the Cabinet.<br />
"Our objective is to have the most up-todate<br />
system in the world," he said. "We<br />
should get assistance from overseas because<br />
we now are i-egarded a very important in<br />
the scheme of things from the defense angle<br />
and trading."<br />
MONTREAL<br />
f^harles Chaplin of United Artists was<br />
here from Toronto. Chaplin formerly<br />
was Montreal district manager, and his visits<br />
to the scene of his old activities are always<br />
welcomed by a host of fUm friends<br />
. . . Jack Roher of Toronto, president of<br />
Peerless Films, was here for a week on<br />
business. Eloi Cormier, salesman for the<br />
same concern, left on a fortnight's selling<br />
trip to Abitibi. H. M. Masters, Toronto,<br />
was here on business.<br />
. . Larry<br />
. .<br />
Jean Ouimet, former booker with Empire-<br />
Universal, joined Sovereign Films as salesman,<br />
and Joseph Dorfman, former salesman<br />
at United Artists, replaced him at Empire-<br />
Universal as booker-salesman<br />
Sheehan, secretary to Mel<br />
.<br />
Johnson, manager<br />
of the public relations department at<br />
United Amusement Corp., has joined the<br />
RCAF band and will play the bagpipes . . .<br />
F. Brown is auditing the books at Paramount<br />
. Mr. and Mrs. Chouinard, owners<br />
of the Princess and Imperial theatres in<br />
Quebec City, visited Filmrow exchange.<br />
Signed as Technical Adviser<br />
Cpl. Bruce Carruthers of the Royal Canadian<br />
Police has been ticketed for technical<br />
adviser for United Artists' "Mrs. Mike."<br />
TORONTO<br />
^ol. John A. Cooper, 81, affectionately regarded<br />
as the patriarch of the Canadian<br />
film industry, was elected a vice-president<br />
of the Canadian Red Cross society at the<br />
annual meeting of the central council here.<br />
He is chairman of the 16mm Motion Picture<br />
Distributors Ass'n of Canada and also holds<br />
office in the Musical Protective society . . .<br />
Win Barron advises that the Paramount<br />
short, "The Lambertville Story," is the choice<br />
of the Canadian Father's day committee as<br />
"The Father's day picture of 1949."<br />
President J. L. Smith of Alliance Films has<br />
i-eturned to his Toronto office after a business<br />
tour through the west to Vancouver .<br />
Assistant Chief Barker Morris Stein of Toronto<br />
Tent 28 is scheduled to give a report<br />
at the dinner meeting of the club on May 31<br />
on the San Francisco International Variety<br />
convention at which he represented Canada.<br />
. . . The<br />
Because of the Victoria day holiday May<br />
24, the independent Rio in central Toronto<br />
ran all-night shows starting late on Monday.<br />
The Rio is the only theatre in Canada to attempt<br />
around-the-clock operation<br />
Community at Hamilton, which recently reopened<br />
with a foreign film policy, played<br />
"The Kite" for one week following a week's<br />
engagement of "The Lost One." Mrs.<br />
Yvonne Taylor held "Quartet" for a seventh<br />
week at the International Cinema here while<br />
"The Guinea P*ig" concluded a two-week run<br />
at the Towne Cinema May 21.<br />
R. B. Baxter's Rex Theatre at Tecumseh<br />
has joined the Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n<br />
of Ontario, it is reported by executive secretary<br />
Arch H. Jolley . . . When "Joan of Arc"<br />
played the Famous Players Century at Hamilton,<br />
a set of table silverware was presented<br />
to a woman patron as an attendance prize<br />
twice daily during the week.<br />
Manager Tom Daley of<br />
the Toronto, originally<br />
from Halifax, has been named as a<br />
judge for the beauty contest at the Halifax<br />
bicentennial celebration in June . . . Chairman<br />
J. J. Fitzgibbons of the national committee<br />
of the Motion Picture Exhibitors<br />
Ass'ns of Canada, says the annual meeting<br />
probably will be after June 27, the date of<br />
the federal general elections.<br />
Solly Ginsler, former Toronto exhibitor and<br />
film salesman now with Un:ted Ai-tists in<br />
Detroit, was back home for a visit . . . Lan-y<br />
Graburn of Toronto was here for the Odeon<br />
The wife of P. H. Fisher, general<br />
opening . . .<br />
manager of Eagle Lion of Canada, is in<br />
the hospital.<br />
USED THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
All lol3 in A-1 condition at only $3.75 each. Now<br />
loc^ated along Canadian border. All chaiTs guar*<br />
anteed and full refund will be made if dissatisfied.<br />
Terms offered if so desired. Contact us<br />
today while the selections ore unlimited.<br />
ALBANY THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
1046 BROADWAY Phone 5-5055 ALBANY. N. Y.<br />
ENTRANCE<br />
AND EXIT<br />
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DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.<br />
729 Baltimore<br />
K. C, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949 101
. . Gerald<br />
07 7 A\l\l A<br />
^anadian Odeon executives who attended<br />
the opening of the Ottawa Odeon included<br />
George Peters, vice-president; C. J.<br />
Appel, general manager for eastern Canada;<br />
A. J. Laurie, public relations director, and<br />
James A. Cowan, publicity manager, all of<br />
Toronto, and Henry Morton of Winnipeg,<br />
partner-supervisor of Manitoba. Eagle Lion<br />
Films was represented by Prank H. Fisher,<br />
general manager. Toronto . . . Barney Cannon,<br />
formerly of Kingston and Toronto, has<br />
been appointed assistant manager of the<br />
Ottawa Odeon. Before coming to Canada,<br />
he was with Associated British Cinemas in<br />
England. He served with the Royal air<br />
force from 1943 to 1946.<br />
The Strand, owned and operated by Louis<br />
Wolfe, was opened May 19. It became the<br />
25th theatre in the Ottawa area. The opening<br />
bill was "The Fuller Brush Man" and<br />
"Eyes of Texas" . . . Donat Paquin. proprietor<br />
of the Francais and, the Lam'ier, left<br />
May 18 with his two daughters Pauline and<br />
Pierrette for London and Paris. Pierette is a<br />
figure skater, and she will appear at the<br />
Palais de Sports in Paris.<br />
Air conditioning equipment has been installed<br />
by D. B. Stapleton in the Center<br />
Theatre here . Graham, director of<br />
technical operations for the National Film<br />
Board, returned from Hollywood, following<br />
an inspection of installations at the major<br />
"Summer Is for Kids," a release<br />
studios . . .<br />
of the National Film Board, was screened for<br />
government and recreation officials May 19<br />
at the Capitol Theatre.<br />
John Sperdakos to Marry<br />
Loula Demetre in Fall<br />
MONTREAL—John C.<br />
Sperdakos, assistant<br />
advertising and publicity director of United<br />
Amusement Corp., Ltd., will be married this<br />
fall to Loula Demetre. youngest daughter of<br />
of the late Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Demetre.<br />
Demetre was vice-president and a director<br />
of the United circuit before his death. Sperdakos<br />
was manager of the Monkland and<br />
Regent for United before taking over his position<br />
in the advertising department.<br />
For Male Lead in 'Palomino'<br />
Jerome Courtland has been signed for the<br />
male lead in the Columbia film. "Palomino."<br />
Board of Trade Issues<br />
Emergency Directory<br />
TORONTO—The Toronto Film Board of<br />
Trade has drawn up a list of bookers and<br />
shippers for the use by exhibitors in making<br />
emergency calls for films. The directory is as<br />
follows<br />
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Booker. Robert<br />
McBain; shipper, William Travers.<br />
United Artists—Bookers, Ralph Knights and<br />
Harold Bell; shipper, J. J. Jolinston.<br />
Warner Bros.—Bookers. Aldo Magglorotti<br />
and Bernie Sieger; shipper. James Fletcher.<br />
Eagle Lion—Booker. William McGuire.<br />
Monogram Pictures—Booker, Isadore Shapero;<br />
shipper, Ivan Wilson.<br />
International Film Distributors— Bookers,<br />
David Brandston and William Tod; shipper,<br />
Frank Kowcenuk.<br />
20th Century-Fox—Booker, Jim Powis and<br />
William Tyrrell; shipper, William Reddy.<br />
Columbia—Bookers, Abe Fox, Wilf Silverberg<br />
and Miss N. Young; shipper. Jack Bond.<br />
Paramount—Bookers, Jerry Cass and Ambrose<br />
Theurer.<br />
Empire-Universal — Bookers, Sid Cohen,<br />
Perry Labow; shippers, Ernest Young and<br />
Jan^es Nolan.<br />
RKO—Booker, James Hogan; shipper, Roy<br />
Mitchell.<br />
Toronto Board of Trade<br />
Organizes Film Council<br />
TORONTO—The Canadian Motion Picture<br />
Industry Comicil has been formed mider<br />
the sponsorship of the motion picture branch.<br />
Toronto Board of Trade, to replace the public<br />
relations committee of the Canadian film<br />
industry. The council will provide official<br />
information on matters of general importance<br />
to every branch of the trade, it was<br />
said by F. D. Tolchard, secretary-manager<br />
of the Board of Ti-ade.<br />
Members of the council are James A. Cowan.<br />
J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada;<br />
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario.<br />
Ai-ch H. Jolley. executive secretary; James<br />
R. Nairn, Famous Players Canadian Corp.;<br />
Jack Chisholm, Associated Screen News, for<br />
the Canadian Motion Picture Pioducers<br />
Ass'n of Canada; William Redpath, General<br />
Films for the 16mm Film Distributors Ass'n<br />
of Canada, and Ben Freedman. representing<br />
the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors<br />
Ass'n of Ontario, all of Toronto.<br />
CALGARY<br />
pred Dillon, recent appointed executive director<br />
of the Canadian Motion Picture<br />
Distributors Ass'n. was a visitor here. He<br />
met local exchange managers at a luncheon<br />
at the Palliser hotel ... A license fee of $50<br />
a month or $250 a year has been estabhshed<br />
for drive-in theatres by the provincial government.<br />
. . .<br />
Harry Saifer of the Cinema Center screen<br />
room. Winnipeg, visited here while returning<br />
home from Hollywood . . . William Guss,<br />
manager of the Canadian MGM distributing<br />
office, was confined to h;s home by illness<br />
"Bud" Goldin. manager of the westend<br />
Kinema and Tivoli theatres, left by plane for<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
Shirley Stevens, secretary to Gray Sharp<br />
. . .<br />
of Sharp Theatres, returned from visits in<br />
Toronto and New York. She was a member<br />
of a group which was seen in "Hedda<br />
Gabler" in the recent amateur tournament<br />
"Joan of Arc" drew only average trade<br />
Plans for a new hotel in Leduc<br />
here . . .<br />
are being made, according to a report.<br />
. . .<br />
Visitors on Filmrow included Hed La Brie<br />
of the Empress, Ponoka, and George Mandryk<br />
The<br />
of the theatre in Canmore search for oil is being continued in the vicinity<br />
of Stettler, according to George Anable,<br />
operator of the Roxy there and a recent<br />
visitor at local exchanges.<br />
First Pioneer Benefit<br />
Is Staged in Toronto<br />
TORONTO—The lirst of the midnight<br />
shows in Toronto in aid of the Canadian<br />
Picture Pioneers benevolent fimd was staged<br />
May 26 at the Imperial, the 3,343-seat theatre<br />
of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Manager<br />
Tom Daley backed the drive to raise the<br />
fund to $100,000 by arranging for all proceeds<br />
to be turned over to the campaign.<br />
"Knock on Any Door" was donated by the<br />
film exchange.<br />
Permits for the series of midnight shows<br />
were secured from the Toronto police commissioners<br />
by Arch H. Jolley. executive secretary<br />
of the Motion Pictm-e Theatres Ass'n<br />
of Ontario. The next performances will take<br />
place Jime 10 at four Toronto theatres, the<br />
Famous Players' Paikdale and Beach and<br />
Odeon's Danforth and Humber. The CPP<br />
campaign director is O. R. Hanson, and the<br />
president of the association is J. Earl Lawson,<br />
Canadian Odeon head.<br />
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POSITION<br />
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TORONTO—The new Canadian National<br />
exhibition grandstand here will not be used<br />
as a motion picture theatre during the summer,<br />
it has been decided by a special civic<br />
committee. The showing of motion pictures<br />
in the stadium was opposed by theatre owners,<br />
who claimed it would interfere with<br />
their business.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: May 28. 1949
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART<br />
SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS<br />
BookinGuide<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
FIRST RUN REPORTS<br />
This chart shows the records made by<br />
pictures in five or more of the 21 key cities<br />
checked. As new runs ore reported, ratings<br />
are added and averages revised.<br />
BAROMETER<br />
TOP HIT<br />
OF THE WEEK<br />
Mr. Belvedere Goes to College<br />
Denver .200<br />
Computed in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses. With 100<br />
per cent as "normal," the figures<br />
show the percentage above or below<br />
that mark.
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
PICTURES<br />
Just as the Barometer page shoios first run reports on current pictures, this<br />
department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made<br />
by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is neu\ two stars means the exhibitor<br />
has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor<br />
is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All<br />
exhibitors loelcome.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Gallant Blade. The (Col)—Larry Parks,<br />
Marguerite Chapman, Victor lory. This is just<br />
an action show. The color is very good but<br />
that isn't enough to give the people theii<br />
money's worth. You can take this picture oi<br />
leave it. If your patrons like sword fighting,<br />
play this. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Cold<br />
—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown,<br />
Md. Small town patronage.<br />
Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart,<br />
John Derek, AUene Roberts. One of the<br />
best pictures I've played in a long time.<br />
Bogart at his best and the new player, John<br />
Derek, is excellent as the victim of the slums<br />
and society. Give it a buildup and it will<br />
make you money. Played Tues., Wed.<br />
Weather: Fair,—Paula Welch, Star, Rising<br />
Star, Tex.<br />
Last Roundup. The (Col)—Gene Autry, Jean<br />
Heather, Ralph Morgan. This is one of the<br />
finest westerns we ever had and Autry still<br />
draws the same as usual. The musical numbers<br />
were excellent and the comedy just<br />
enough to make it interesting. The best draw<br />
in months. The comedy short, "Rolling Down<br />
to Rio," as good as any I ever saw. Von Zel!<br />
rates with the Stooges. Played Sat., Sun.<br />
Weather: Good,—W. H. Swan, Auditorium,<br />
Roscoe, S. D. Rural.<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
Adventures of Gallant Bess (EL)—Cameron<br />
Mitchell, Audrey Long, Fuzzy Knight. Business<br />
was good for the weekend but should<br />
have been much better for a horse show in<br />
color. Of all the titles to choose, why "Adventures<br />
of Gallant Bess?" Did they forget that<br />
Metro put out one called "Gallant Bess?" Many<br />
thought this was a repeat. Played Tues.<br />
Wed. Weather: Good.—Ralph Raspa, State,<br />
***<br />
Rivesville, W. V. Small town.<br />
Let's Live a Little (EL)—Hedy Lamarr, Roberf<br />
Cummings, Anna Sten. I would say this<br />
is just plain silly and not worth the playing<br />
time. Some walkouts, and the manager was<br />
not around when patrons went out. Played<br />
Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Dry.—H. J. Partridge,<br />
Lyceum, Gull Lake, Sask. Rural and<br />
small town.<br />
Return of Rin Tin Tin, The (EL)—Rin Tin<br />
Tin III, Donald Woods, Bobby Blake. Played<br />
this one awfully late but it is a picture any<br />
exhibitor can show to his family trade with<br />
pride. Many told us it was tops. It went over<br />
big here. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.<br />
—Lloyd Hutchins, Pangburn, Pangburn, Ark,<br />
Rural.<br />
FILM CLASSICS<br />
Gung Ho (FC)—Reissue. Randolph Scott,<br />
Robert Milchum. This is a wonderful picture<br />
and it gave us a very profitable one-night<br />
run. It appealed to our college trade and to<br />
our families. Good material for midweek in<br />
a small town. Played Thursday. Weather:<br />
Fair.—E. A. London, State, Olivet, Mich. Small<br />
*<br />
town, rural and college<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Bribe, The (MGM) — Robert Taylor, Ava<br />
Gardner, Charles Laughton. This was a good<br />
picture of its type but too many don't care<br />
for mysteries here, so the crowd was not too<br />
good. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Good,<br />
T. M. Patton, Scenic, Lexington, 111. General.<br />
Command Decision (MGM) — Clark Gable,<br />
Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson. One of those<br />
top budget features that was sold in the high<br />
brackets and on preferred time, and wound<br />
up doing less business than some of the<br />
current Class B features. Leave' this one lie<br />
unless you can double it on a Saturday with<br />
some good Autry western. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
—Dan W. Goodwin, Peak, Dallas, Tex. General.<br />
Hills of Home (MGM) — Edmund Gwenn,<br />
Donald Crisp, Janet Leigh. A fine cast and<br />
story that leaves the kids and grownups crying<br />
at the end. I started a novelty giveaway<br />
with each child's ticket with this picture.<br />
Business was above average for a Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Good.—Fred C. Weppler, Colonial<br />
Theatre, Colfax, 111, Small town and rural<br />
patronage.<br />
*<br />
Secret Land. The (MGM)—Men and ships<br />
of the U.S. navy with narration by Robert<br />
Montgomery, Robert Taylor, Van Heflin. This<br />
I thought was very good. I saw it three times<br />
but it didn't go over at all. Byrd's latest<br />
Antarctic expedition in color. Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs.—Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle<br />
River, Ont. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
Black Gold (Mono)—Anthony Quinn, Katherine<br />
DeMille, Elyse Knox. Just what the doctor<br />
ordered for us. Everyone went out with<br />
a smile. The race scene was good and carefully<br />
engineered. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Dry.—H. J. Partridge, Lyceum, Gull<br />
*<br />
Lake, Sask. Rural and small town.<br />
16 Fathoms Deep (Mono) — Lon Chaney,<br />
Arthur Lake, Lloyd Bridges. I was very pleasantly<br />
surprised with this one. The Ansco<br />
color was very rich and natural for this picture<br />
and it moved along leisurely to a thrilling<br />
and exciting climax. The underwater photography<br />
was splendid. A little extra exploitation<br />
will do wonders. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Warm.—Philip Cohnstein, Midway,<br />
Perrine, Fla. Rural.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Accused. The (Para)—Loretta Young, Robert<br />
Cummings, Wendell Corey. Another feature<br />
that we gave top playing time to and<br />
it failed miserably to do even an average<br />
business. Several walkouts, some liked the<br />
feature but they were in a small minority<br />
compared to those who didn't care for it.<br />
Plaved Sun., Mon.—Dan W. Goodwin, Peak,<br />
Dallas, Tex. General.<br />
Golden Earrings<br />
(Para)—Ray Milland, Mar-<br />
No HoTTor Shows, Please,<br />
For Ralph Raspa<br />
CAYS RALPH KASPA, State Theatre,<br />
RivesviUe, W. Va.:<br />
"Played a double bill to give my audience<br />
a horror show and both the audience<br />
and I were horrified, because business<br />
was terrible and that was what horrified<br />
me. One feature was so bad it<br />
must have inspired the writer in the<br />
American Legion magazine when he wrote<br />
the article, 'The Reissue Racket,' several<br />
months ago. If you don't want patrons<br />
revolting against you, I'd advise you to<br />
pass up 'The Revolt of the Zombies' as<br />
it didn't even scare the kids—they just<br />
laughed at the antics of the amateurs<br />
on the screen."<br />
Check and Double Check:<br />
Exhibitor Has Fun<br />
\lt7ALT SAYLER of the Dakota Theatre<br />
at Wishek, N. D., has his own private<br />
sources of amusement, for he writes:<br />
"We are still chuckling about two checkers<br />
showing up to check 'Red River.' One<br />
didn't trust the other and by the time<br />
the show was over, they both wanted to<br />
quit their jobs. We gave them a hard<br />
time just to see what would happen!"<br />
lene Dietrich, Murvyn Vye. The picture is<br />
okay and well acted, but has no draw here.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.—L. Brazil<br />
jr.. New, Bearden, Ark. Small town. * * *<br />
Paleface. The (Para)-—Bob Hope, Jane Russell,<br />
Robert Armstrong. Even though Paramount<br />
got a nice chunk of my bank account,<br />
this picture pulled them in. I was surprised<br />
at the results since the picture had run in<br />
ten theatres ahead of me, Hope, Russell, color<br />
and comedy did the job. Let's see more of<br />
this type picture. Paramount. Played Sat.<br />
(preview). Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear and<br />
warm.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent<br />
run.<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Berlin Express (RKO)—Merle Oberon, Paul<br />
Lukas, Robert Ryan. This is too slow-moving<br />
lor our small town audiences. The accents<br />
were hard to follow and the photography<br />
was very poor in spots. Disappointed in the<br />
picture and it did very poor business. Played<br />
Sat., Sun., Mon.—Bob Halliday, Willamette<br />
*<br />
Valley, Albany, Ore. General.<br />
OBesl Years of Our Lives, The (RKO)—<br />
Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews.<br />
A wonderful production that holds the interest<br />
throughout. This show is exceptional and<br />
held up against local competition very well.<br />
Played Fri,, Sat. Weather: Okay.—D. W.<br />
Trisko, Ritz, Jerome, Ariz. Mining. * * *<br />
Every Girl Should Be Married (RKO)—Cory<br />
Grant, Betsy Drake, Diana Lynn. This comedy<br />
did average business for us. The title<br />
was a good draw, which means so much here.<br />
It was good for laughs. Played Mon., Tues.,<br />
Wed. Weather: Fine.—H. J. McFall, Lyric, Russell,<br />
Man. Rural and small town.<br />
Good Sam (RKO)—Gary Cooper, Ann Sheridan,<br />
Ray Collins. It's been a long time since<br />
we ran a picture that drew the praise this<br />
one did—and I add mine. A wonderful piece<br />
of entertainment. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Wet— Bill Leonard, Leonard, Cedarvale,<br />
Kas. Small town and rural.<br />
OSo Dear to My Heart (RKO)—Burl Ives,<br />
Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten. This is the<br />
best Disney yet. It does business and pleases<br />
all who come. Should be a must for every<br />
theatre. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Ray S. Hanson, Fox Theatre, Fertile^<br />
Minn. Rural and small town patronage.<br />
Song Is Born, A (RKO)—Danny Kaye, Virginia<br />
Mayo, Benny Goodman. Danny Kaye<br />
seems to be losing ground here. This was the<br />
poorest gross of all that I have played.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Rain. — Terry<br />
Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. R^J^^aJ<br />
and small town patronag^.<br />
Station West (RKO) — Dick Powell, Jane<br />
Greer, Agnes Moorehead. An entertaining<br />
drama with a western background. Those<br />
who came were pleased but Dick Powell has<br />
never been a good draw here. We broke<br />
even on this. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Good,—E, M, Freiburger, Paramount Theatre,<br />
Dewey, Okla, Small town patronage. *,**<br />
Velvet Touch, The (RKO)—Rosalind Russell,<br />
Leo Genn, Claire Trevor. Rosalind gives a<br />
top performance, but with this story, who<br />
cares? It was a simply colossal flop. Stay<br />
away from it. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 28, 1949
and<br />
Fine.—Mrs. Pal W. Murphy, Queen Theatre,<br />
HolUday, Tex. Oil Held patronage. * * *<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Bill and Coo (Rep)—George Burton Love<br />
Birds. For bird lovers, this is perfect and tne<br />
kids enjoyed this. It made a nice supporting<br />
picture. Played Fri., Sat.—Harland Kankin,<br />
Beau Theatre, Belle River, Onl. General patronage.<br />
" * *<br />
Calendar Girl (Rep)—lane Frazee, William<br />
Marshall, Gail Patrick. Another oldie picked<br />
up from Republic. Average business lor midweek.<br />
Comments were good on this pic'.ure<br />
and it seemed to be enjoyed by all. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.— Fred G. Weppler.<br />
Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town<br />
and rural patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
Campus Honeymoon (Rep) — Lynn Wilde,<br />
Lee Wilde, Adele Mara. Nice little program<br />
picture that we doubled with Roy Rogers.<br />
Played Fri., Sat.—Harland Rankin, Erie Theatre,<br />
Wheatley, Ont. General patronage. * * *<br />
Gallant Legion, The (Rep)— Bill Elliott,<br />
Adrian Booth, Joseph Schildkraut. This was<br />
an exciting western and they turned out<br />
well and reports were favorable. Played<br />
Tues., Wed. Weather: Okay.—Frank Sabin,<br />
Majestic, Eureka, Mont. Small town.<br />
* *<br />
Tuxedo Junction (Rep)—Reissue. Weaver<br />
Bros, and Elviry. Here is corn on the cob,<br />
and they scrape the bottom of the bin. Your<br />
patrons in the small towns eat it up. Played<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—Ray S. Hanson, Fox<br />
Theatre, Fertile, Minn. Small town patronage.<br />
*<br />
SRO<br />
Paradine Case, The (SRO)—Gregory Peck,<br />
Valli, Ann Todd. A beautifully finished production,<br />
intensely done, and except for much<br />
too much talk (and British accents all over<br />
the place!) it is tops in its line. But if your<br />
audiences aren't arty, leave it alone. We<br />
didn't make enough to pay for the picture.<br />
Give us less beauty and more action for our<br />
patrons. Played Sun., Mon. Weather Good.<br />
— R. E. Hals'ead, Tri-Town, Lindstrom, Minn.<br />
Rural and small town.<br />
* * *<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX<br />
Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox)—George<br />
Montgomery, Rod Cameron, Ruth Roman. Just<br />
a very ordinary western that the distributors<br />
allocated after drinking too much champagne.<br />
Very poor draw at the boxolfice, and it should<br />
have been classified as a C picture. Played<br />
Wed., Sat. Weather: Good.—M. W. Mattecheck,<br />
Mack, McMinnville, Ore. City and<br />
rural.<br />
Fallen Angel (20th-Fox)—Alice Faye, Dana<br />
Andrews, Linda Darnell. Good cast, good<br />
show, and the film was in excellent shape, so<br />
we have no complaint. Dana Andrews is very<br />
popular here with the women, so we had fair<br />
attendance. If you haven't played this one, try<br />
it. You won't be sorry. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Weather: Good.—Tom Hetherington, Musicland<br />
Theatre, Kaslo, B. C. Small town patronage.<br />
*<br />
Slave Ship (20th-Fox)—Wallace Beery, Warner<br />
Baxter, Elizabeth Allan. After a week<br />
of bad business with new clucks this reissue<br />
pulled them in on Fri., Sat. and paid off the<br />
mortgage. If you want to make some money,<br />
play this swell action picture with Wallace<br />
Beery, Mickey Rooney and Warner Baxter.<br />
It has both length and star power and will<br />
do more business than most of the new prodduct.<br />
Wake up, Hollywood, as this is what<br />
the public wants. You can keep "The Snake<br />
Pit."—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre,<br />
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
When My Baby Smiles at Me (20th-Fox)—<br />
Betty Grable. Dan Dailey, Jack Oakie. This<br />
is the story of a drunk comic in show business<br />
yet one of our ministers came to see it and<br />
later told me he liked it very much. The<br />
music is good, the jokes rather spicy, and the<br />
color excellent. Played Mon., Tues. Weather:<br />
Cold.—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown,<br />
Md. Small town<br />
*<br />
patronage.<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Body and Soul (UA)—John Garfield, Lilli<br />
Palmer, Hazel Brooks. Here is -truly a picture<br />
with a body and soul. One of the best 1 have<br />
ever played and everyone was very well satisfied.<br />
If you can buy it flat, don't fail to<br />
grab it. It is worth your best playing time.<br />
Carnival in town hurt my gross. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Fair.—Philip Cohnstein, Midway,<br />
Perrine, Fla. Rural. * *<br />
Red River (UA)i—John Wayne, Montgomery<br />
Cliit, Joanne Dru. Special mention to Harry<br />
Carey jr., John Ireland, Noah Beery jr. This<br />
picture was a big flop, though, for me—big<br />
rental, walkouts. Goodbye, United Artists<br />
no more big ones for mel Playe
I<br />
^|<br />
I-EATUKE CHAKT<br />
iurnished<br />
by home office of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recommended.<br />
R—is review date. PG—is Picture Guide page number. Symbol W indicates BOXOFFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Symbol © indicates color photography.<br />
^<br />
lULY 24<br />
(70) Drama 829<br />
SHED NO TEARS<br />
Wallace Ford<br />
June Vincent<br />
Robert Scott<br />
II—Aug. 14—PG-960<br />
^<br />
JULY 31<br />
|3i] (90) S'Western 939<br />
©CORONER CREEK<br />
liandolpb Scoft<br />
It—June 5—PO-940<br />
12]<br />
(65) Musical 953<br />
ARKANSAS SWING<br />
lloosier Hotsliots<br />
li—July 24—Pa-953<br />
(64) Western 4757 |2S] (82) Drama 4801<br />
BACK TRAIL<br />
©16 FATHOMS DEEP<br />
Johnny Mack BroffD Lon CHlaney<br />
Mildred Coles<br />
Arthur Lake<br />
lUymond Hatton<br />
Tanis Cbandler<br />
R-^une 12—PO-941<br />
^<br />
AUGUST 7<br />
(23] (86) Comedy 4721 (62) Drama 4722<br />
[U (109) Drama 4723<br />
DREAM GIRL<br />
BIG TOWN SCANDAL SO EVIL, MY LOVE<br />
Betty Hutton<br />
Philip Reed<br />
Ray MUland<br />
Macdonald Carey<br />
Hillary Brooke<br />
Ann Todd<br />
Virginia Field<br />
Stanley Clements<br />
Geraldine Fitzgerald<br />
Patrlc Knowles<br />
Darryl Hickman<br />
Leo G. Carroll<br />
R—May 8—PO-927 R—May 22—Pa-933 R—May 22—PG-933<br />
[6] (79) Drama 827 (61) Drama 831<br />
U] Reissues<br />
THE AMAZING MR. X LADY AT MIDNIGHT [i|] (86) Comedy 847<br />
(formerly THE<br />
Richard Denning HOLD THAT GHOST<br />
SPIRITUALIST) Frances RatTerty<br />
Abbott-CosteUo<br />
Turhan Bey<br />
Ualpli Duim<br />
(Ig] (96) Comedy 850<br />
Lynn Bart<br />
Nana Bryant<br />
Cathy O'Donneil<br />
l{—July 24—PC 954 HIRED WIFE<br />
R—Aug. 7—PG-958<br />
Rosalind Russell<br />
Brian Aheme<br />
(104) Drama 830<br />
THE SEARCH<br />
.Montgomery Cllft<br />
.iline MacMahon<br />
R—Mar. 20—PG-914<br />
AUGUST 14<br />
AUGUST 21<br />
AUGUST 28<br />
|i2] (64) Western 967 (87) Drama 941<br />
[2^ (76) Adv-Drama 942 (79) Western 982<br />
[9] (66) Drama 916<br />
TRAIL TO LAREDO LULU BELLE<br />
THE BLACK ARROW ©THE STRAWBERRY<br />
Charles Starrett<br />
lorothy Lamour<br />
GENTLEMAN FROM<br />
Louis Hayward<br />
ROAN<br />
NOWHERE<br />
Smiley Burnette<br />
George Montgomery<br />
Janet Blair<br />
Gene Autry<br />
Warner Baiter<br />
Jim Bannon<br />
Albert Dekker<br />
George Macready<br />
Champion<br />
Fay Baker<br />
Virginia Maxey<br />
Otto Kniger<br />
Edgar Buchanan<br />
Gloria Henry<br />
Luis Van Rooten<br />
R—July 17—PG-951 R—June 19—PG-943 Rhys Williams<br />
Jack Holt<br />
R—Oct. 2—PG-973<br />
R—July 10—PG-949 R—Mar. 6—PG-907<br />
r^ (116) Drama 4724<br />
FOREIGN AFFAIR, A<br />
Jean Arthur<br />
John Lund<br />
Marlene Dletrlcb<br />
William Netr<br />
Boyd Davis<br />
R-^une 12—PG-941<br />
SEPTEMBER 4<br />
^<br />
(98) Musical<br />
U]<br />
901<br />
OLUXURY LINER<br />
Jane Powell<br />
Lauritz Melctiior<br />
George Brent<br />
Frances Gl/ford<br />
B—Aug. 21—PO-96J<br />
^<br />
(Jj (82) Drama 4726<br />
BEYOND GLORY<br />
Alan Ladd<br />
Donna Reed<br />
(George Macready<br />
George Coulouria<br />
Henry Trarers<br />
E-^uly 19—Pa-»44<br />
SEPTEMBER 11<br />
(76) Outd'r-Dr<br />
[U 90<br />
©NORTHWEST<br />
STAMPEDE<br />
Joan Leslie<br />
James Craig<br />
Jack Oakie<br />
Chill Wills<br />
R—July 10—PG-950 I<br />
(79) U]<br />
Drama 471i:<br />
15] (53) Western 4753<br />
|22] (53) Western 4763 (69) Drama 4720 [6] (66) Musical 4721<br />
VIICHAEL O'HALLORAN FIGHTING RANGER SILVER TRAILS THE GOLDEN EYE THE MUSIC MAN<br />
icotty Beckett<br />
lolinny Mack Brown Jimmy Wakely<br />
Roland Winters<br />
B-July 24—PG-963<br />
VUene Roberts<br />
Raymond Hatton<br />
Chri.'itlne Larson<br />
Claire Trevor<br />
[e] (107) Blog-Dr AAIO<br />
fommy Cook<br />
Dub Taylor<br />
Charles BlckTo.d<br />
Isabel Jewell<br />
OTHE BABE RUTH<br />
R-^une 19—PG-944<br />
STORY<br />
WUUam Bendii<br />
R^July 31—PO-955<br />
i<br />
g<br />
Special<br />
(75) Musical 991<br />
©MELODY TIME<br />
Andrews Sisters<br />
Hoy Rogers<br />
Dennis Day<br />
R—May 22—Pa-»34<br />
^<br />
Special<br />
(97) Drama 961<br />
THE VELVET TOUCH<br />
Rosalind Russell<br />
Leo Genn<br />
Claire Trevor<br />
Sydney Greenstreet<br />
R-^uly 24—PG-954<br />
Group 1<br />
Special<br />
Group 2<br />
(69) Musical 902 |t] (114) COB-Dr 962 g<br />
VARIETY TIME<br />
(63) Mystery 905|i<br />
GOOD SAU<br />
BODYGUARD<br />
Leon Blrrol<br />
Gary Ooper<br />
Lawrence Tleraey<br />
Edgar Kennedy<br />
Knn Sheridan<br />
Priscllla Lane<br />
Jack Paar<br />
Bdmund Lowe<br />
PhUlp Reed<br />
Frankie Carle<br />
loan Ijorring<br />
Steve Brodie<br />
R^uly 7—PO-968 a-^iUy 31—PG-9S8 B—Sept. 4—PO-M«<br />
g<br />
RUNAWAY DAUGHTER<br />
Barbara Stanwyck<br />
Robert Young<br />
(67) Drama 825<br />
THE CHECKERED COAT<br />
Tom Conway<br />
Noreen Nash<br />
Uurd Hatfield<br />
R—Aug. 7—PO-967<br />
(26] (88) Outd'r-Dr 715<br />
THE GALLANT LEGION<br />
rt'UUam Elliott<br />
it—May 29—PO-938<br />
(60)<br />
m<br />
Western 756<br />
MARSHAL OF<br />
AMARILLO<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane<br />
Reissue<br />
Reissue<br />
(71) Comedy S-3 (66) Western<br />
(HE SHOWDOWN<br />
HC22<br />
William Boyd<br />
Russell H&>'den<br />
(23] (58) Drama 589 go] (109) Com-Dr 582<br />
BORROWED TROUBLE<br />
riME OF YOUR LIFE<br />
lames<br />
William Boyd<br />
Cagney<br />
William<br />
Andy Devlne<br />
Bendli<br />
Wayne Morris<br />
Jeanne Cagney<br />
R—May 22—PQ-933<br />
^<br />
Reissues<br />
(86) Musical 832<br />
ROSE OF WASHINGTON<br />
SQUARE<br />
ryrone Power<br />
(92) Drama<br />
SUVE SH(P<br />
Wallace Beery<br />
[lo] (60) M'drama 716<br />
DAREDEVILS OF THE<br />
CLOUDS<br />
itobert Livingston<br />
Mae aark<br />
James Cardwell<br />
R—July 31—PG-955<br />
61) Outd'r-Dr<br />
[U 4802<br />
JUNGLE GODDESS<br />
George Reeves<br />
(106) Musical 826 (89) Musical 836<br />
WALLS OF JERICHO ©THAT LADY IN<br />
Linda Darnell<br />
ERMINE<br />
Cornel Wllde<br />
Betty Grable<br />
Anne Bai:ter<br />
Douglas Fairbanks jr.<br />
R—July 10—PG-9S0 Cesar Romero<br />
833<br />
Walter Abel<br />
R-^uly 17—PO-961<br />
(76) Comedy 583<br />
TEXAS, BROOKLYN<br />
AND HEAVEN<br />
E—July 24—PG-964<br />
g] (86) Drama 587<br />
PITFALL<br />
Dick Powell<br />
R—Alig. 7—PG-987<br />
(61) Drama 82f<br />
•IGHTING BACK<br />
Langton<br />
'*aul<br />
'ary Gray<br />
'ean Rogers<br />
t—Oct. 30—PG-982<br />
[T] (60) M'drama 718 [u] (61) M'drama 71;<br />
SONS OF ADVENTURE OUT OF THE STORM<br />
Lynn Roberts R—Sept. 26—PO-971<br />
R—Dec. 4—PG-992 [J] (67) Outd'r-Mus 73;<br />
[s] (90) Drama 719 ©NIGHTTIME IN<br />
ANGEL IN EXILE<br />
NEVADA<br />
Jotin Cirroll<br />
Roy Rogers<br />
R-^an. 1—P0-10«0 R—Oct. 30—PG-981 ]<br />
Us] (81) Drama 4801 Reissues<br />
Reissue<br />
THE RETURN OF<br />
[T] (62) Western HC23<br />
[io] (72) Comedy S-!<br />
WILDFIRE<br />
HIDDEN GOLD<br />
FLIRTING WITH FATS<br />
Richard Arlen<br />
William Boyd<br />
Joe Bi. Brown 1<br />
R—Aug. 21—PQ-962 Russell Hayden<br />
[s] (81) Comedy S-6<br />
THAT'S MY BOY<br />
Jimmy Durante<br />
(70) Outd'r-Dr 829 Reissues<br />
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE (82) Drama 835<br />
-lean Willes<br />
WAKE UP<br />
IRISH<br />
Morgan Farley<br />
SCREAMING<br />
T>rone Power<br />
Johnny Longden<br />
Betty Grable<br />
Anne Baxter<br />
R—Aug. 7—PO-957 V'iclor Mature<br />
Cecil Kellaway<br />
(125) Drama 534<br />
BLOOD AND SAND<br />
Tyrone Power<br />
(99) Dr.ima 8:<br />
THE LUCK OF THE<br />
Lee J. Cobb<br />
R—Sept. 4—PG-9«5<br />
(77) Drama 584<br />
(lo] (61) Western 59<br />
VICIOUS CIRCLE, THE<br />
FALSE PARADISE<br />
Conrad Nagel<br />
William Boyd<br />
Frit2 Kortner<br />
Lyie Talbot<br />
Philip Van Zandt<br />
B—June 6—PO-939<br />
(78) Mus-Com 665 (80) Drama 676 (109) Drama 668 (89) Comedy 667 (89) Drama 669 (82) Comedy 670 (88) Drama 671 (90) Comedy 67<br />
FEUDIN', FUSSIN' THE END OF THE ©TAP ROOTS<br />
MR. PEABODY AND LARCENY<br />
ONE TOUCH OF VENUS THE SAXON CHARM FOR THE LOVE OF<br />
AND A-FIGHTIN' RIVER<br />
Van Heflln<br />
THE MERMAID John PajTie<br />
Ava Gardner<br />
Robert Montgomery MARY<br />
Donald O'Connor<br />
Sabu<br />
Susan Hayward<br />
William Powell<br />
Joan Caulfield<br />
nick Haymes<br />
Susan Hayward<br />
Deanna Dnrbin<br />
Percy Kilbride<br />
Bibi Ferrelra<br />
Ward Bond<br />
Ann Blyth<br />
Dan Duryea<br />
Robert Walker<br />
John Payne<br />
Edmond O'Brien<br />
R—June 19—PG-943 Esmond Knlgbt<br />
R^Iuly 3—Pa-947 'rene Hervey R—Aug. 14—PG-9S9 R—Aug. 28—Pa-9e4 R—Sept. 11—PG-967 Don Taylor<br />
Torin Thatcher<br />
Andrea King<br />
R—Sept. 4—PQ-966<br />
R^une 26—PG-948<br />
B—July 10—PO-949<br />
|3l] (101) Drama 731<br />
KEY LARGO<br />
Humphrey Bogart<br />
Edward 0. Robinson<br />
Lauren Bacall<br />
Lionel Barrymore<br />
R-^uly 10—PO-949<br />
|I4] (118) Craoedy 7(K<br />
|2l] (80) M'drama 732<br />
©LIFE WITH FATHER EMBRACEABLE YOU<br />
William Powell<br />
Dane CJark<br />
Irene Dunne<br />
Geraldine Brooks<br />
Eaizaheth Taylor<br />
8. Z. SakaU<br />
Edmund Gwenn<br />
Wallace Ford<br />
Zasu Pitts<br />
8-^uly 31—Pa-9SB<br />
B—Aug. 23—PG-860<br />
T] (86) Mus-Com 801<br />
©TWO GUYS FROM<br />
TEXAS<br />
Dennis Morgan<br />
Jack Carson<br />
Dorothy Malone<br />
R—Aug. 7—PO-958<br />
o H<br />
<<br />
Oct. (60) West-Reissue<br />
THE LAW COMES TO<br />
TEXAS<br />
"Wild Bill" Elliott<br />
Oct. (66) West-New Rel<br />
SUNSET CARSON RIDES<br />
AGAIN<br />
Sunset Carson<br />
Nov. (62) West-Reissue<br />
RETURN OF DANIEL<br />
BOONE<br />
"WUd Bill" ESliott<br />
Dec. (68) West-SelBsue<br />
LONE STAR PIONEERS<br />
"WUd BlU" ElUott<br />
Jan. (72) West-New Rel<br />
©STALLION CANYON<br />
Ken Kurtia<br />
Jan. (66) West-Reissue<br />
FRONTIERS OF '49<br />
"WUd BUI" EUlott<br />
Feb. (61) West-Reissue<br />
FROM<br />
MAN<br />
TUMBLEWEEDS<br />
"WUd BUI" EUlott<br />
Mar. (55) West-Reissue<br />
IN EARLY ARIZONA<br />
"WUd BUI" EUlott<br />
Mar. (72) West-New Rel<br />
RIO GRANDE<br />
Sunset Carson<br />
Evohn Keys<br />
Feb. ( . . ) Dr -Reissue<br />
LORNA DOONE<br />
Margaret LockTvood<br />
Apr. ( . . ) West-Reissue<br />
TAMING OF THE WEST<br />
"WUd BUI' EUiott<br />
May (..) West-Reissue<br />
PIONEERS OF THE<br />
FRONTIER<br />
"WUd Bill" Elliott<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 28, 1949
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
pTEMBER 18<br />
I
I AM<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
I<br />
NOVEMBER 13J<br />
NOVEMBER 20<br />
[n] (75) Drama 1 ]8) (66) Drama Ut<br />
(8a) Com-Fontasy 131<br />
\T\ (54) Western<br />
LEATHER GLOVES<br />
©THE RETURN<br />
RACING<br />
OF<br />
LUCK<br />
OCTOBER<br />
QUICK ON THE<br />
Cameron Mitchell<br />
Gloria Henry<br />
Glenn Ford<br />
TRIGGER<br />
Virt^inia Grey<br />
Stanley Clements<br />
R—Oct.<br />
Jane<br />
23—PG-979 Charles Starrett<br />
Nigh<br />
David Bruce<br />
(81)<br />
Sam<br />
M'drams 132 Smiley Bumette<br />
Levene R—Nov. 6—PO-983 ©THE GALLANT BLADE Helen Parrish<br />
R—Nov. 13—PG-985<br />
Larry Parks<br />
R—Oct. 23—PG-979<br />
[15] (85) Comedy 907 (73) .\cl-llr 90S (80) Drama 910<br />
LET'S LIVE A LITTLE MILLION DOLLAR HE WALKED BY NIGHT<br />
Hedy Lamarr<br />
WEEKEND<br />
Richard Basehart<br />
Hobert<br />
Clene<br />
Cummmgs<br />
Raymond<br />
Scott Brady<br />
Anna .Ste|ih;mie<br />
Sten<br />
Paull<br />
Roy Roberts<br />
Robert Shayne<br />
c'raiicis Lederer<br />
Whit Bissell<br />
R—Oct. 30—PG-981 Patricia Shay R—Nov. 13—PG-986<br />
R—Oct. 16—PO-97T<br />
[12) (S»6) Comedy 904<br />
NO MINOR VICES<br />
It.ina Andrews<br />
Lilli Palmer<br />
Jane Wyatt<br />
Louis Jourdan<br />
R—Oct. 9—PQ-978<br />
[7] (55) Western 4758<br />
GUNNING FOR JUSTICE<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
EM'lyn Fin ley<br />
Raymond Hattoo<br />
NOVEMBER 27<br />
^<br />
DECEMBER 4<br />
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(125) Drama 906 Reissue<br />
[To] (97) Drama 909<br />
U©THE THREE<br />
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©HILLS OF HOME<br />
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Lana I'urner<br />
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Gene Kelly<br />
|ioJ (96) Comedy 908 R—Oct. 9—PG-976<br />
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R—Oct. 16—PG-978 .Marx Brothers<br />
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DECEMBER 18<br />
DECEMBER 25 JANUARY 1<br />
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©THE MAN FROM JUNGLE JIM<br />
BLONDIE'S SECRET<br />
COLORADO<br />
Jolmny WeissmuUer<br />
Penny Singleton<br />
Glenn Ford<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-997<br />
Arthur Lake<br />
William Holden ^ (61) Mus-West 151<br />
R— Dec. 4—PC!- 991<br />
HUen Drew<br />
SMOKY MOUNTAIN<br />
R—Nov. 20—PG-988 MELODY<br />
R—Jan. 29—PG-1008<br />
[n] (71) M'drama 9U ^ (60) Drama<br />
THE STRANGE<br />
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909<br />
-Micliael Shea<br />
MRS. CRANE<br />
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Marjorie Lord<br />
Evelyn Ankers<br />
Robert Shayne<br />
Michael Whalen<br />
Ruth Brady<br />
R-^an. 15—PO-1003 Pierre Watkin<br />
R—Oct. 30— PG-981<br />
(66) Western 4768 (80) Cost-Dr 4725 [1] (55) Western 4851 [ip] (66) Comedy 4805 (l9] (61) Drama 4S23 [T] (81) Drama AAlj •Mi<br />
COURTIN' TROUBLE KIDNAPPED<br />
HIDDEN DANGER Ji'gGS and MAGGIE THE FEATHERED STRIKE IT RICH "<br />
.Inuniy Wakely<br />
Roddy McDowall<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
IN COURT<br />
SERPENT<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
"Caniionbair' Taylor Sue England<br />
Ra>mond Hatton R—Dec. 4—rG-991 Roland Winters<br />
Bonlta Granville<br />
Dan O'Herlihy<br />
Beverly Jons R—Nov. 27—P0-!<br />
Roland Winters<br />
Carol Formal!<br />
R—Sept. 18—PC-969<br />
1<br />
(119) Musical 91<br />
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R—Dec. 11—PQ-994<br />
(95) Drama i<br />
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Cornel Wilde<br />
Richard Wldmark<br />
Celeste Holm<br />
R—Oct. 2—PO-974<br />
|l9| (101) Comedy 4805<br />
MISS TATLOCK'S<br />
MILLIONS<br />
John Lund<br />
Wanda Uendrii<br />
Barry Fitzgerald<br />
.Monty Woolley<br />
U—Sept. 18—PO-9T0<br />
[I| (67) Outd'r-Mus 734<br />
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Roy Rogers<br />
Jane Frazee<br />
R—Nov. 27—PG-989<br />
(98) Com-Dr 845<br />
©WHEN MY BABY<br />
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Betty Grable<br />
Dan Dailey<br />
Jack Oakie<br />
Jime Havoc<br />
R—Nov. 13—PG-986<br />
^<br />
(70) Drama 593<br />
HIGH FURY<br />
Madeleine Carroll<br />
Ian Hunter<br />
Michael Rennle<br />
E—Nov. 13—PQ-985<br />
Group 3<br />
(88) West-Dr 909<br />
BLOOD ON THE MOON<br />
Robert Mltchum<br />
Barbara Bel Geddes<br />
Robert Preston<br />
Walter Brennan<br />
R—Nov. 13—PG-985<br />
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(60) Western 862 [I] (87) Gutd'r-Dr 721<br />
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jl] (60) Mys-I)r 801<br />
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15] (57) Mus-West 87?<br />
HOMICIDE FOR THREE<br />
SONORA<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
IN OLD CALIENTE<br />
Audrey Long<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane Uona Massey<br />
Roy Rogers<br />
Warren Douglaa<br />
Reissue<br />
R—Nov, 6—PG-982<br />
Mary Hart<br />
Grant Withers<br />
^ (72) Comedy 8601<br />
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R—Dec. 4—I'G-992<br />
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Judy Canova<br />
YOKEL BOY<br />
22] (93) Drama 4805<br />
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Winnie Markus<br />
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Irene von Meydendorff Jane Frazee<br />
R—Nov. 27—PG-990<br />
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Tom Conway<br />
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DISASTER<br />
Richard Denning<br />
Trudy Marshall<br />
WiU Wright<br />
Jack Lambert<br />
R—Oct. 23—PQ-980<br />
|29] (84) Western 4806<br />
LAST OF THE WILD<br />
Mary Betb Hughes<br />
R— Dec. 18—PG-996<br />
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uj (64) Western 910<br />
INDIAN AGENT<br />
rim Holt<br />
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K—Nov. 13—PG-985<br />
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THUNDER IN THE<br />
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(n] (62) Outdr-Dr 4810<br />
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Robert Lowery<br />
Margia Dean<br />
R—Jan. 8—PQ-lOOl<br />
(87) Western 846 (70) Drama 848 (105)Com-Fantasy 850<br />
BELLE STARR'S JUNGLE PATROL UNFAITHFULLY<br />
DAUGHTER<br />
Kristine Miller<br />
YOURS<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
.Mickey Knox<br />
Rex Harrison<br />
R—Oct. 30—PG.982 Arthur Franz<br />
Linda Darnell<br />
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(65) Drama<br />
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R—Sept. 25—PG-972 Rudy Vallee<br />
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JUST WILLIAM'S<br />
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Leslie Bradley<br />
Jean-Pierre Aumont<br />
Garry Marsh<br />
Dennis O'Keefe<br />
Jane Welsh<br />
R—Dec. 25—PG-998<br />
William Graham<br />
B—Dec. 18—PO-996<br />
(100) Western S49<br />
(63) Drama 851 (108) Drama !<br />
YELLOW SKY<br />
TROUBLE PREFERRED QTHE SNAKE PIT<br />
Gregory Peck<br />
Ceggy Knudseti<br />
Olivia de Havilliind<br />
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Charles Russell<br />
Leo Genu<br />
Richard Wldmark<br />
Lynn Roberts<br />
Mark Si evens<br />
Robert Arthur<br />
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R—Nov. 27—PG-990<br />
Glenn Langan<br />
R—Nov. 13— PG-988<br />
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R—Oct. 23—PG-980<br />
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FRONTIER REVENGE OUTLAW COUNTRY<br />
Lash LeRue<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
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Fuzzy St. John<br />
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GUEST IN THE HOUf<br />
Anne Baxter<br />
[T] (91) Drama<br />
LADY OF BURLESQll<br />
Barbara Stanwyck<br />
(86) M'drama 682<br />
ROGUES' REGIMENT<br />
Dick Powell<br />
Marta Toren<br />
Vincent Price<br />
Stephen McNally<br />
»—Oct. »—PO-975<br />
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Richard Attenborougb<br />
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Fay Compton<br />
Stephen Murray<br />
(77) Mus-Cora 683<br />
THE COUNTESS OF<br />
MONTE CRISTO<br />
Sonja Henle<br />
Olga San Juan<br />
Michael Klrby<br />
R—Nov. 6—PO-984<br />
(77) Comcdv 684<br />
MEXICAN HAYRIDE<br />
Bud Abbott<br />
Lou Cosiello<br />
Virginia Grey<br />
Luba Malina<br />
R—Dec. 11—PG-994<br />
(76) Adv-Dr 635 (100) Comedy<br />
BUSH CHRISTMAS YOU GOTTA STAY<br />
HAPPY<br />
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Joan Fontaine<br />
Helen Grieve<br />
Jimmy Stewart<br />
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Roland Young<br />
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R—Nov. 27—PG-989<br />
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[h] (97) Drama 807<br />
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THE PARADINE CASE PORTRAIT OF JENNIE<br />
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Ethel Barrymore<br />
Ethel Barrymore<br />
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R—Jan. 3—PO-888 R^an. 1—PO-999<br />
(89) Drama<br />
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SHOWrriME<br />
R—June 12—PG-942<br />
(72) Musical<br />
Bell<br />
CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE<br />
R—Aug, 14—PG-960<br />
(83) Comedy<br />
nist. Films<br />
QUIET WEEKEND<br />
R—Oct. 2—PO-973<br />
(98) Drama<br />
Variety Films<br />
THE GUINEA PIG<br />
B— Apr 23—PC-1030<br />
(58) Docum-Dr<br />
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R—Mar. 12—PO-1018<br />
(75) Rellg-Dr<br />
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li—Mar 26— PG-in24<br />
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B—Apr. 9—PG-1026<br />
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R—Apr. 23—Pn-10;<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 28, 1949
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
JANUARY 8
I<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
I<br />
MARCH 5<br />
MARCH 12<br />
MARCH 19<br />
MARCH 26<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
APRIL 2<br />
APRIL 9<br />
APRIL 16<br />
APRIL 23<br />
(59) Mjstery 122 |lo] (66) Comedy 108 It] (68) Mus-Com 116 (78) Western 182 (100) Drama 141 [a] (68) Drama 112<br />
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BOSTON BLACKIE'S BLONDIE'S BIG DEAL MANHATTAN ANGEL ©THE BIG SOMBRERO KNOCK ON ANY DOOB RUSTY SAVES A LIFE HOME IN SAN ANTONE THE MUTINEERS<br />
Gene Aiitry<br />
Humphrey Botian<br />
CHINESE VENTURE I'u-riny Singleton<br />
Gloria Jean<br />
Ted Donaldson<br />
,luy Acutl<br />
Jon Hall<br />
Champion<br />
John Derek<br />
Cliester Morris<br />
Arthur Lake<br />
Ross Ford<br />
It—Apr. 23—PG-1029 Jacqueline Thoma.s<br />
.\dele Jergens<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-1027 George Macready<br />
Bill<br />
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Larry Simms<br />
Patricia White<br />
Allene Roberts<br />
(56) Western 168 Edwards<br />
George Reeves<br />
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1!—Mar. 26—PG- 1021 R—Mar. 26—PG-1021<br />
R—May 7—rG-10:!4<br />
THE WALKING HILLS<br />
Charles Starrett<br />
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R—Apr. 23—PG-1029<br />
Ella Riiines<br />
(89) Drama 916<br />
ijj\ (85) Drama 92; Reissue<br />
|16] (76) Comedy 923<br />
|23] (88) Drama 941<br />
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Phyllis Calvert<br />
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ANTARCTIC<br />
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SUNDAY<br />
Margot Grahame<br />
Susan Hayward<br />
John Mills<br />
Arthur Franz<br />
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Google Withers<br />
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Robert Preston<br />
Derek Bond<br />
Jean Heather<br />
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Jack Warner<br />
Francis L Sullivan<br />
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Harold Warrender<br />
Jim Davis<br />
Jennifer Jones<br />
Jolin McCallum<br />
John McCallum<br />
R—Mar. 26—PG-1022 .lames R. Justice<br />
Red Stallion<br />
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It—Jan 16—PO1003 R—Mar. 12—rG-1017<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-102S<br />
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June AUyson<br />
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Barbara Bei Gedde.'- Peter Lawford<br />
Ava Gardner<br />
Charles Laughton<br />
rhomas Gomez<br />
Esther Williams<br />
Robert Ryan<br />
Margaret O'Brien<br />
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R—Feb. 26—PG-1014<br />
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BIG FIGHT<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
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Johnny Sheffield<br />
Simnne Simon<br />
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Leon Errol<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1016<br />
Keith Richards<br />
R—Feb. 26—PG-1014<br />
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R—March 19—PG- 1020<br />
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[4] (93) Drama 4812<br />
ALIAS NICK SEAL<br />
Audrey Totter<br />
Thomas Mitchell<br />
George Macready<br />
R—Jan. 22—PG-1002<br />
\T\ (103) Comedy 4815<br />
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B—Feb. 26—PG-IOIS<br />
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John Wayne<br />
Gail Russell<br />
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R—Jiin. 8—PG-lOOl<br />
[T| (60) Western 4S16<br />
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(102) Drama 953 (94) Drama 921 (63) M'drama 918 Reissue<br />
(72) Dr.ima 922 (89) Comedy 920<br />
ENCHANTMENT THE GREEN PROMISE THE CLAY PIGEON (128) Drama 954 THE SET-UP<br />
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Robert Paige<br />
Bill Williams<br />
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Audrey Totter<br />
Robert Young<br />
Evelyn Keys<br />
Walter Brcnnan<br />
Richard Quine<br />
Gary Cooper<br />
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Adrian Booth<br />
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GUNFIGHTERS<br />
PLAINS<br />
FRANCISCO<br />
Lloyd Bridges<br />
Audrey Long<br />
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Robert Armstrong<br />
Ray Collins<br />
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[n] (67) Drama 4817<br />
RIMFIRE<br />
James MiUlcim<br />
Mary Beth Hughes<br />
Reed Hadley<br />
R—Apr. 2—Pa-1024-A<br />
[Tj (60) Western 4815<br />
SON OF A BAD MAN<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
Fuzzy St. John<br />
(120) Drama 910 (69) Comedy 912 (81) Comedy<br />
DOWN TO THE SEA IN MISS MINK OF 1949 ©MOTHER IS A<br />
SHIPS<br />
Jimmy Lydon<br />
FRESHMAN<br />
Lionel Barrymore<br />
Lois Collier<br />
Loretta Youo»<br />
Itichard Widmark<br />
Van Johnson<br />
Dean Stockttell<br />
Rudy Vaiiee<br />
R—Feb. 19—PG-1012<br />
Barbara Lawrence<br />
R—Mar 6—PO-I016<br />
(71) Act-Dr 603<br />
JIGSAW<br />
Franchot Tone<br />
Jean Wallace<br />
Lawrence<br />
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Myron McCormick<br />
R—Mar. 19—PO-1019<br />
9U<br />
Reissues<br />
(97) Drama 908<br />
(77) Drama 951 ©CANADIAN PACIFIC<br />
HANGOVER SQUARE Itandolpb Scott<br />
ileorge Sanders<br />
Jane Wyatt<br />
Carrol Nalsh<br />
(84) Drama 952<br />
THE LODGER<br />
J.<br />
Victor Jory<br />
R—Feb. 26—PG-1013<br />
Merle Oberon<br />
\T\ (111) Drama 605<br />
IMPACT<br />
Brian Donlevy<br />
Ella Raines<br />
Helen Walker<br />
R—Mar. 26—PG-1021<br />
(71) Drama 905<br />
CHEATED THE LAW<br />
Tom Conway<br />
Steve Brodie<br />
Robert Osterloh<br />
Rarbara Billlngsley<br />
R—Jan. 15—PG-10n4<br />
g<br />
(89) Drama 6<br />
THE CROOKED WAY<br />
John Payne<br />
Ellen Drew<br />
Sonny Tufts<br />
R—May 14—PG-loa<br />
(90) Comedy 689<br />
FAMILY HONEYMOON<br />
Clainlette Colbert<br />
Fred MacMurray<br />
Rita Johnson<br />
William Daniels<br />
R— Dec 18—PO-995<br />
g<br />
(87) Comedy 690<br />
THE LIFE OF RILEY<br />
William Bendix<br />
(iosemary DeCamp<br />
lames (51eason<br />
Beulah Bond!<br />
R_Feb. 12—PG-1009<br />
(82) Drama 691<br />
3RED CANYON<br />
\nn BIyth<br />
(leorge Brent<br />
Howard Duff<br />
Rdgar Buchanan<br />
R—Feb. 12—PO- 1009<br />
(75) Comedy 692<br />
MA AND PA KETTLE<br />
Marjorie Main<br />
Percy Kilbride<br />
Richard Long<br />
Meg Randall<br />
R—Apr. 2—PG-1024-A<br />
^<br />
(105) Drama<br />
Siritzky-Int'l<br />
S><br />
2)NAIS<br />
2 It—July 3—PG-947<br />
2, 2^ (75) Documentary<br />
h<br />
S THE<br />
Mayer-Burstyn<br />
ILLEGALS<br />
•"^ 11—July 17—PG-952<br />
(88) Drama 815<br />
©SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS<br />
Joel McCrea<br />
Alexis Smith<br />
Zachary Scott<br />
DorotJly Malone<br />
(88) Drama<br />
liiscina Int'l<br />
BLIND DESIRE<br />
R—July 17—Pa-962<br />
(90) Comedy<br />
Siritzky-Inn<br />
PORTRAIT OF<br />
INNOCENCE<br />
R—July 24—PO-954<br />
^<br />
(81) Drama<br />
Creative<br />
FRANCOIS VILLON<br />
R— Aug. 14— PG-960<br />
(105) Drama<br />
Films Int'l<br />
SYMPHONIE<br />
PASTORALE<br />
R—Sept. 25—PG-972<br />
(87) Comedy 816<br />
Reissues<br />
[le] (101) Mus-Com 820<br />
[2] (77) Drama 817<br />
'T\ (134) Drama 818<br />
A KISS IN THE DARK<br />
©MY DREAM IS YOURS<br />
HOMICIDE<br />
David Niven<br />
SERGEANT YORK Jack Carson<br />
Robert Douglas<br />
Jane Wyman<br />
Gary Cooper<br />
Doris Day<br />
Helen' Westcott<br />
Victor Moore<br />
Lee Bowman<br />
Robert Alda<br />
~9\ (77) Drama 819<br />
Wayne Morris<br />
Eve Arden<br />
Monte Blue<br />
CASTLE ON THE<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1016<br />
Adolphe Menjou<br />
R—Mar. 12—PG-1018<br />
><br />
HUDSON<br />
R—Mar 19—PG 1<br />
(105) Drama<br />
.\zteca Films<br />
LA MORENA DE Ml<br />
COPLA<br />
R—Aug. 28—PG-963<br />
(96) Drama<br />
Art kino<br />
MURDERERS AMONG<br />
US<br />
(92) Drama<br />
Superfilpi<br />
THE LOVES OF DON<br />
JUAN<br />
R—Oct.<br />
2—PG-974<br />
(75) Comedy<br />
Siipprfilm<br />
THE MERRY CHASE<br />
R—Oct. 2—PG-974<br />
(92) M'drama<br />
Gramercy<br />
MARRIAGE IN THE<br />
SHADOWS<br />
n_Ort. 2—rG-973<br />
(83) Mus-Dr<br />
Cla.sa-Mohme<br />
LA BARCA DE ORO<br />
R—Oct. 2—ra-973<br />
(65) Drama<br />
Lopert<br />
WHERE WORDS FAIL<br />
R- Oct. 9—rG-976<br />
(105) M'drama<br />
Superfilm<br />
WHEN LOVE CALLS<br />
R—Oct. 16—PG-978<br />
(87) Drama<br />
Discina Int'l<br />
RUY BLAS<br />
R—Oct. 23—rG-980<br />
(102) Drama<br />
Film Right 1<br />
BACK STREETS OF<br />
PARIS<br />
B—Oct. 3(^—PG-981<br />
BOXOFFICE BooklnGuide :: May 28, 1949
APRIL 30<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
MAY 7<br />
MAY 14<br />
MAY 21<br />
MAY 28<br />
(85) Drama 142 (IOC) Drama 143 (72) Drama 144 [in (55) Western 161 26| ('9) Musical 105<br />
HE UNDERCOVER WE WERE STRANGERS THE LOST TRIBE LARAMIE<br />
MAKE BELIEVE<br />
MAN<br />
.Jennifer Jonts<br />
.lohnny Welssmuller<br />
Charles Starrett<br />
BALLROOM<br />
eiin Kord<br />
John Garfield<br />
Myrna Dell<br />
(Till<br />
IM ViKh<br />
Pedro Armendariz<br />
Elen.i Verdugo<br />
Wf^tern 183 Jerome Courlland<br />
mes Whit more<br />
Gilbert Holand<br />
H-t-May 11— PO-1036 RIDERS OF THE<br />
Ruth Warrick<br />
»rry Kelley H—May 7—PG-1033<br />
WHISTLING PINES Frankle Laine<br />
-Mar. 26—PQ-lMl<br />
Gene Autry<br />
KUig Cole Trio<br />
R—May 21— PGl(>:i7<br />
IUNE4<br />
JUNE 11<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
JUNE 18<br />
[9] (6!) Mystery 109 (90) Drama<br />
CRIME DOCTOR'S LUST FOR GOLD<br />
DIARY<br />
Lupino<br />
Id.i<br />
Warner Baxter<br />
Glenn Ford<br />
Stephen Dunne<br />
Gig Young<br />
Lois Maxwell<br />
William Prince<br />
.\dele Jergcns<br />
n<br />
;<br />
(58) Western 954 (120) Com-Dr 915 (951 Hist-Dr 921 (75) Drama 928 (70) Mus-Com 930<br />
(95)<br />
(S;"l Drama 926<br />
M'drama 922<br />
( . . ) Drama<br />
ROLU THUNDER, QUARTET<br />
SARABAND<br />
©THE BIG CAT SHAMROCK HILL REIGN OF TERROR SLEEPING CAR TO ALIMONY<br />
ROLL<br />
llermione Baddeley Stewart Granger<br />
l.on McCalllster<br />
I'ecgi- Ryan<br />
Robert Cummings<br />
TRIESTE<br />
.luhn Beal<br />
ieil KydG-1031<br />
[jj (64) Drama 4S24<br />
SKY DRAGON<br />
Roland Winters<br />
(9S) Drama 4816<br />
Ul<br />
BRIDE OF VENGEANCE<br />
Paillette Coddard<br />
-John Lund<br />
Macdonald Carey<br />
Albert Dekker<br />
R— Apr. 2—PG-1023-A<br />
((S5) Western 4863<br />
[15)<br />
ACROSS THE RIO<br />
GRANDE<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
Cannonball Taylor<br />
Reno Browne<br />
m<br />
(92) Western 4813<br />
©STREETS OF LAREDO<br />
William Ilulden<br />
William RendLx<br />
.Macdonald Carey<br />
Mona Freeman<br />
R—Feb. 12—PO-IOIO<br />
(29] (67) Western 4810<br />
MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM<br />
limmie Davis<br />
[T] (105) Drama AA13<br />
MY BROTHER<br />
JONATHAN<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-1027<br />
|Io] (96) Drama 4817<br />
MANHANDLED<br />
liorolliy Lamour<br />
Sterling Hayden<br />
D;ui Duryea<br />
Irene Hervey<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-1027<br />
oup 6<br />
(60) Western 923<br />
ISTLERS<br />
n Holt<br />
rhard Martin<br />
rtha Hyer<br />
•ve Brodie<br />
-Mar. 26—PO-1022<br />
(75) Drama<br />
THE WINDOW<br />
Bobby Drlscoll<br />
Barbara Hale<br />
Arthur Kennedy<br />
Ruth Roman<br />
R—May 14—PG-1035<br />
925<br />
(91) Comedy 924<br />
THE JUDGE STEPS<br />
OUT<br />
.\nn<br />
Alexander<br />
Sothern<br />
Knox<br />
George Tobias<br />
R—May 14—PG-1035<br />
Reissues<br />
Reissues<br />
(I'll)<br />
(liO) Westerji 9S1<br />
Cartoon<br />
FIGHTING GRINGO DUMBO<br />
(CO) Western 982<br />
MARSHAL OF MESA<br />
CITY<br />
983<br />
(fiO) Western<br />
LEGION OF LAWLESS<br />
(12) Cartoon<br />
SALUDOS AMIGOS<br />
Reissues<br />
170) Ould'r-llr<br />
TARZAN'S DESERT<br />
MYSTERY<br />
(TO) llutd'r-Dr<br />
TARZAN'S TRIUMPH<br />
(80) Drama 806 Reissue<br />
\T\ (68) Western 876<br />
Ulam Eailott<br />
COLORADO'<br />
WEST<br />
-Feb. 1»—PO-lOU Hoy Rogers<br />
Monte Hale<br />
(60) Western<br />
(67) Outd'r-Mu> 842<br />
865 Paul<br />
\J]<br />
Hurst<br />
iUSANNA PASS<br />
FRONTIER INVESTI-<br />
GATOR<br />
t Etogers<br />
Allan<br />
-May<br />
"Rocky" Lane<br />
14—PG-1036<br />
R—May 21—PG-103S<br />
I<br />
fHE LAST BANDIT<br />
( . . ) Drama 4S18<br />
lOO-OMOO<br />
1 K.ir!dell<br />
Iro DeCordoba<br />
[5] (60) Western 852<br />
LAW OF THE GOLDEN<br />
(64) M'drama<br />
ARSON. INC.<br />
Rdljcrt Lowery<br />
.\nne Gwynne<br />
.Marcia Mae Jones<br />
R—.May 21—PG-1037<br />
(. . ) Drama<br />
RINGSIDE<br />
Don Barry<br />
Tom Brown<br />
(83) Comedy 913 (701 Drama 914 (64) Western<br />
MR. BELVEDERE THE FAN<br />
TUCSON<br />
GOES TO COLLEGE leanne Craln<br />
Jimmy Lydon<br />
Clifton Webb<br />
Madeleine Carroll<br />
Penny Edwards<br />
Shirley Temple<br />
George Sanders<br />
Cbarles Russell<br />
Tom Drake<br />
Richard Greene<br />
.Vian Young<br />
R—Apt. 9—PO-1026<br />
R—Apr. 9—Pa-1026<br />
|T| (92) Drama 607<br />
OUTPOST IN MOROCCO<br />
(jeorge Raft<br />
.\Iarte Wlnd.'ior<br />
Akim Tamlroff<br />
John Lltel<br />
R—Apr.<br />
2—PQ-1024-A<br />
g<br />
915<br />
(100) Drama 608 iH (79) Adv-Com 610<br />
CHAMPION<br />
AFRICA SCREAMS<br />
Kirk Douglas<br />
Bud Abbott<br />
Miixilyn Maxwell<br />
Lou Costello<br />
Arthur Kennedy<br />
Clyde Beatty<br />
Ruth Roman<br />
Frank Buck<br />
R—Mar. 19—PG-1019 R—May 7—PG-1033<br />
(88) Drama 904<br />
( . . ) Drama 916 (87) Comedy 917<br />
THE FORBIDDEN BEAUTIFUL BLONDE IT HAPPENS EVERY<br />
STREET<br />
FROM BASHFUL SPRING<br />
Dana Andrews<br />
BEND<br />
Ray Milland<br />
Maureen O'Hara<br />
Betty Grablo<br />
Jean Peters<br />
Dame Sybil Tborndike Cesar Romero<br />
Paul Douglas<br />
Diane Hart<br />
Rudy Vallee<br />
Alan Hale jr.<br />
R—May 7—PG-1034 Olga San Juan<br />
It—May 14—PG-1036<br />
(91) Drama 694<br />
CITY ACROSS THE<br />
RIVER<br />
Stephen McNally<br />
Sue England<br />
Peter Fernandez<br />
Thelma Rltter<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1015<br />
(69) Drama 695<br />
ARCTIC MANHUNT<br />
Mlkel Conrad<br />
Carol Thurston<br />
Wally Cassell<br />
(991 Drama 693 ( . . ) Drama 696 (90) Drama 697<br />
fHE LADY GAMBLES TAKE ONE FALSE ONE WOMAN'S STORY<br />
Barbara StannTCk STEP<br />
Ann Todd<br />
Stephen McNally<br />
Willi.im Powell<br />
Claude Rains<br />
Robert Preston<br />
Shelley Winters<br />
Trevor Howard<br />
F,dith Barrett<br />
James Gleason<br />
R—May 14—PG-1036 Marsha Hunt<br />
(94) Drama 821<br />
>MINGO ROAD<br />
1 Crawford<br />
ney Greenstreet<br />
bary Scott<br />
lys George<br />
Apr. 9—PG-1025<br />
[14) (84) Drama .'822<br />
NIGHT UNTO NIGHT<br />
RoniUd Reagan<br />
Viveca Lindfors<br />
Broderick Crawford<br />
Rosemary Decamp<br />
R—Apr. 16—PG-1028<br />
|28) dT) Drama 823<br />
THE YOUNGER<br />
BROTHERS<br />
Wayne Morris<br />
Janis Paige<br />
Bruce Bennett<br />
Geraldine Brooks<br />
B—May 7—PO-1033<br />
825<br />
826<br />
[u] (94) Outd"r-Dr 824 Reissues<br />
COLORADO TERRITORY [is] (102) Drama<br />
.McCrea<br />
CASABLANCA<br />
.loel<br />
Virginia Mayo<br />
Humphrey Bogart<br />
Henry Hull<br />
Ingrid Bergman<br />
Drama Dorothy Malone<br />
[Jg] (85)<br />
R—May 21—PG-1038 a-MEN<br />
lames Cagney<br />
w<br />
(98) Musical<br />
Clasa-Mohme<br />
2" LA REINA DEL<br />
^ TROPICO<br />
(100) Drama<br />
Films Inn<br />
WOMAN HUNT<br />
R— .Nov. 6—PG-984<br />
(103) Dranu<br />
VmuvIo Films<br />
MALACARHE<br />
R—No?. 6—PO-»84<br />
(77) Drama<br />
Lopert<br />
LONG IS THE ROAD<br />
R—Nov. 20—PO-987<br />
(130) Drama<br />
Slritzky<br />
Infl<br />
CESAR<br />
R— Dec. 4—Pa-991<br />
(91) Drama<br />
Voe<br />
THE ETERNAL<br />
HUSBAND<br />
R— Dec. 4—PO-Wl<br />
(91) M'drama Vog (102) Drama<br />
EAGLE WITH TWO<br />
Lopert<br />
HEADS<br />
R— Dec. 18—Pa-996<br />
MONSIEUR VINCENT<br />
B—Jia. 15—PQ-ie04<br />
(84) Drama<br />
Dist. Films<br />
(95) Com-Dr<br />
SECRETS OF A<br />
Lopert<br />
BALLERINA<br />
MLLE. DE5IREE<br />
R—Jan, 8 PG1002 R—Jan. IS—PO-1194<br />
(93) Drama<br />
Superfllm<br />
MONTE CASSINO<br />
R—Jan. 15—PQ-1003<br />
(85) Drama<br />
Globe Films<br />
INTERLUDE<br />
R—Jan. 22—PG-1006<br />
(98) Comedy<br />
Armanac<br />
HIS YOUNG WIFE<br />
R—Mar. 26—PO-1023<br />
(88) Com-Dr<br />
Dlst. FUms<br />
FOUR STEPS IN THE<br />
CLOUDS<br />
R—Mar. 26—PG-1023<br />
(8 3) M'drama<br />
Crest Films<br />
OUTCRY<br />
R—Mar. 26—PO-1023<br />
(100) M'drama<br />
Slritzky<br />
MAN TO MEN<br />
26—PO-1024<br />
R—Mar.<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 28, 1949
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index<br />
X o<br />
i-2<br />
A<br />
987 Accused, TTie (100) Para 11-20-4S ff<br />
997 Act of Violenoc (S2) MGM 12-25-4S<br />
1022 Advciitura in Baltimore (89) RKO.. 3-26-49<br />
+<br />
+<br />
993 Adventures of Don Juan (110) WB.. 12-25-48 ++<br />
956 Adventures of Gallant Bess (73) EL.. 7-31-48 ±<br />
1012 Affairs of a Rooue. The (95) Col.... 2-19-49 -f<br />
1033 Africa Screams (79) UA 5- 7-49 +<br />
1006 Alias Nick Seal (93) Para 1-22-49 +}<br />
1040 Amazon Quest (70) FC 5-2S-49 ±<br />
965 An Act of Murder (90) U-l 9- 4-4S +<br />
998 Angel on the Amazon (86) Rep 12-25-48 ±<br />
982Anjry God, The (57) UA 10-30-48 =<br />
969 Apartment for Pegjy (96) 20-Fox 9-18-48 ++<br />
978 Appointment With Murder (67) FC 10-16-48 ±<br />
1037 Arson, Inc. (63) SG 5-21-49 ±<br />
B<br />
1006 Bad Boy (87) Mono 1-22-49 +<br />
995 Badmen of Tombstone (74) Mono. .. .12-18-48 -f<br />
1028 Barkleys of Broadway, The (109)<br />
MGM 4-16-49 ff<br />
1040 Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend, The<br />
(79) 20tli-Fox 5-2S-49 -f<br />
969 Behind Locked Doors (61) EL 9-18-4S +<br />
982 Belle Starr's Daughter (87) 20-Fox 10-30-48 ±<br />
964 Betrayal, The (183) Astor 8-28-48 ±<br />
1033 Big Cat, The (75) EL 5- 7-49 ±<br />
1025 Big Jack (85) MGM 4- 9-49 ±<br />
1027 Big Sombrero. The (78) Col 4-16-49 +<br />
969 Blanche Fury (93) EL 9-18-48 -<br />
935 Blonde Ice (73) FC 5-22-48 ±<br />
1021 Blondio's Big Deal (68) Col 3-26-49 ±<br />
991Blondie'5 Secret (68) Col 12-4-48 ±<br />
985 Blood on the Moon (88) RKO 11-13-48 +)<br />
1016 Bomba. the Jungle Boy (71) Mono... 3- 5-49 +<br />
1021 Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture<br />
(59) Col 3-26-49 ±<br />
897 Boy With Green Hair, The (82) RKO 11-20-48 ±<br />
1023-A Bride of Vengeance (95) Para... 4- 2-49 ±<br />
1010 Bribe, The (98) MGM 2-12-49 +<br />
1015 Brothers in the Saddle (60) RKO... 3- 5-49 ±<br />
Bungalow 13 (65) 20-Fox<br />
c<br />
1013 Canadian Pacific (97) 20-Fox 2-26-49 +<br />
1010 Canterbury Tale, A (90) EL 2-12-49 +<br />
1012 Caught (S3) MGM 2-19-49 +<br />
Challenge of the Range (56) Col<br />
1019 Champion (99) UA 3-19-49 ff<br />
996 Chicken Every Sunday (94) 20-Fox. .12-18-48 4+<br />
1015 City Across the River (90) U-l 3- 5-49 ff<br />
1012 Clay Pigeon, The (63) RKO 2-19-49 +<br />
970 Code of Scotland Yard (60) Rep 9-18-48 -f<br />
1032 C-Man (76) FC 4-30-49 +<br />
1038 Colorado Territory (94) WB 5-21-49 -f<br />
997 Command Decision (111) MGM 12-25-48 ++<br />
1013 Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's<br />
Court, A (107) 'Para 2-26-49 +<br />
943 Corridor of Mirrors (96) U-l 6-19-49 —<br />
984 Countess of Monte Cristo, The<br />
(77) U-l 11- 6-48 ±<br />
Courtin' Trouble (56) Mono<br />
1014 Cover-Up (83) UA 2-26-49 ++<br />
Crime Doctor's Diary (61) Col<br />
lOOSCriss Cross (87) U-l 1-22-49 +<br />
1035 Crooked Way, The (89) UA 5-14-49 ±<br />
972 Cry of the City (95) 20-Fox.. i... 9-25-4S ±<br />
D<br />
1000 Dark Past (75) Col 1- 1-49 +<br />
1020 Daughter of the Jungle (69) Rep 3-19-49 ±<br />
1023-A Daughter of the West (81) FC... 4- 2-49 +<br />
1030 De.ith Valley Gunfighter (60) Rep. 4-23-49 -f<br />
992 Decision of Christopher Blake<br />
(75) WB 12- 4-48 —<br />
Denver Kid, The (60) Rep<br />
1029 Desert Vigilante (56) Col 4-23-49 ±<br />
980 Disaster (60) Para 10-23-48 ±<br />
1007 Don't Take It to Heart (90) EL... 1-29-49 ±<br />
1012 Down to the Sea in Ships (120)<br />
20-Fox 2-19-49 ++<br />
1024-A Duke of Chicago (59) Rep 4- 2-49 ±<br />
986 Dulcimer Street (112) U-l 11-13-48 ±<br />
988 Dynamite (67) Para 11-20-48 ±<br />
E<br />
1017 Easy Money (94) EL 3-12-49 ±<br />
1031 Edward, My Son (110) MGM 4-30-49 ++<br />
993 El Dorado Pass (56) Col 12-11-48 ±<br />
1018 El Pbso (103) Par*. 3-12-49 +<br />
+<br />
H
ana iraae press reviews, ine piua aaa nunua signs inaicccte me aegree<br />
of lavor or disfavor of the review. This department serves also as an<br />
ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is<br />
Picture Guide Review page niunber. In parentheses after title is running<br />
1009<br />
1014<br />
1001<br />
Lone Won and His Lady, The (. Col<br />
923 Lost One, The (84) Col<br />
4-24-48<br />
1036 Lost Tribe. The (72) Col<br />
5-14-49<br />
1025 Lovable Cheat, The (74) FC 4- 9-49<br />
961 Loves of Cirmcn. The (98) Col 8-21-48<br />
lOOS<br />
1039<br />
1024.<br />
977<br />
1037<br />
1008<br />
S99<br />
1027<br />
988<br />
1026<br />
994<br />
1039<br />
977<br />
1003<br />
Miss Mink of 1949 (69) 20-Fox<br />
970 Miss Tatlock's Millions (101) Para. 9-18-48<br />
1026 Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (S4)<br />
2Q-F0X 4- 9-49<br />
997 Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill (91) 12-25-48<br />
970<br />
1016<br />
879<br />
990 Mozart Story, The (93) SG 11-27-48<br />
1029 Mutineers, The (60) Col 4-23-49<br />
1027 My Brother Jonathan (102) Mono.... 4-16-49<br />
1016 My Brother's Keeper (85) EL 3- 5-49<br />
968 My De.v Seofetary (94) UA 9-11-48<br />
1020 My Dream Is Yours (101) WB 3-19-49<br />
994 My Own True Love<br />
N<br />
(84) Para 12-11-48<br />
1038 Neptune's Daughter (94) MGM 5-21-49<br />
951 Night Has a Thousand Eyes<br />
102S<br />
963<br />
976<br />
995<br />
Life of Riley. The (57) U-l...<br />
Little Women (122) MGM<br />
Loaded Pistols (79) Col<br />
2-12-49<br />
2-25-49<br />
1- 8-49<br />
Lucky Stiff. The (99) UA 1-29-49<br />
Lust for Gold (90) Col 5-28-49<br />
M<br />
A IMa and Pa Kettle (75) U-l 4- 2-49<br />
M.icbeth (107) Rep 10-16-48<br />
Make Believe Ballroom (79) Col 5-21-49<br />
M.W About the House (93) 20-Fox. . 1-29-49<br />
Man From Colorado (99) Col 11-20-48<br />
Manhandled (98) Paia 4-16-49<br />
Manhattan Anoel (68) Col 11-20-48<br />
Massacre River (78) Mono 4- 9-49<br />
Mexican Hayride (77) U-l 12-11-48<br />
Mighty Joe Younj (93) RKQ 5-28-49<br />
Million Dollar Weekend (73) El 10-16-48<br />
Miranda (75) EL 1-15-49<br />
Moonriso (90) Rep 9-1S-4S<br />
Mother Is a Freshman (81) 20-Fox 3- 5-49<br />
Mourning Becomes Electra (173)<br />
RKO 12- 6-47<br />
1024 One Night With You (85) U-l 3-26-49<br />
995 One Sunday Afternoon (90) WB 12-18-48<br />
1024<br />
9S0<br />
8SS Paradine Case, The (117) SRO 1- 3-48<br />
1003<br />
897<br />
1013 Place of One's Own, A (95) EL 2-26-49<br />
983 Plot to Kill Roosevelt, The (83) UA 11- 6-48<br />
983<br />
999<br />
,018<br />
1030<br />
(81) Para 7-17-48<br />
Night Unto Night (84) WB 4-16-49<br />
Night Wind (68) 20-Fox 9-U-48<br />
No Minor Vices (96) MGIVI 10- 9-48<br />
o<br />
Old-Fashioned Girl, An (82) El 12-18-48<br />
One Woman's Story ( . . ) U-l<br />
Outlaw Brand (57) Mono<br />
Outlaw Country (50) SG<br />
A Outpost in Morocco (92) UA... 4- 2-49<br />
P<br />
Paleface, The (91) Para 10-23-48<br />
Parole, Inc. (87) EL 1-15-49<br />
Piccadilly Incident (88) MGM 2- 7-48<br />
=t +<br />
+ +<br />
± +<br />
-f ±<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+ ±<br />
+ ±<br />
u<br />
a<br />
[)23.<br />
953<br />
983<br />
.009<br />
.011<br />
1019<br />
980<br />
.038<br />
979<br />
017<br />
024<br />
i-l 974<br />
975<br />
,007<br />
037<br />
.022<br />
977
«c;viow lit u\^A\jrri\^Et,<br />
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: ++ Very Good.<br />
+ Good, - Fair, — Poor, = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography.<br />
Prod. t
1 Happy<br />
Vol.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
I<br />
Prod. No. Title Rcl. Date Ratina Rev'd<br />
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9901 Satisfied Saurians (9) Mar.<br />
FEMININE WORLD<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9601 Talented Beauties (Vjrvyan<br />
Conner) (. .) June<br />
MARCH OF TIME<br />
Vol. 14, No. 12 The Case of Mrs.<br />
Conrad (18) July<br />
Vol. 14, No. 13 White Collar Girls<br />
(17) Aug.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 14 Life With Grandpa<br />
(19) Sept.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 15 Battle for<br />
Germany (19) Oct.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 16 AmKica't New Air<br />
Power (19) Nov.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 17 Answer to Stalin<br />
(19) Nov.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 18 Watchdogs of the<br />
Mail (18) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
Vol. 15, No. 1 On Staje (18) Jan.<br />
Vol. 15, No. 2 Asia's New Voice<br />
(IS)<br />
Feb.<br />
Vol. 15, No. 3 Wish<br />
(17)<br />
You Were Here<br />
Mar.<br />
Vol. 15, No. 4 Report on the Atom<br />
(20) Apr.<br />
++<br />
+<br />
3-12<br />
10<br />
7<br />
++ 9-18<br />
# 10-16<br />
+<br />
+<br />
++<br />
++<br />
+<br />
+<br />
1)204 Majesty of Yellowstone<br />
(9) July<br />
8256 ©Riddle of Rhodesia (8). -July<br />
8257 ©Bermuda (8) Aug.<br />
8258 ©Desert Lights (8) Aug.<br />
8259 ©Portrait of the West (8) Oct.<br />
8260 ©Way of the Padres (g)..Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9251 ©Undscape of the Norse .<br />
(8) Jan.<br />
9252 Quaint Quebec (8) April<br />
9253 Golden Transvaal (..).... May<br />
9254 Maine Sail (. .) August<br />
+<br />
MOVIETONE SPECIALTY<br />
6801 Symphony of a City (11). Sept. +<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9801 Struggle for Survival (9).. Feb. ++<br />
9802 The Hunter ( . . ) August<br />
MOVIETONE MELODIES<br />
8101 Charlie Barnet and His Band<br />
(..) July<br />
MOVIETONE NEWS<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
SPORTS<br />
8304 Football Finesse (10) Sept. +<br />
8305 Olympic Water Wizards<br />
(9) Nov.<br />
8306 Yankee Ski-Doodle (9) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9301 Foaled for Fame (9) Feb.<br />
9302 Neptune's Playground<br />
(. .) April<br />
9303 Beauty and the Blade (9). .May<br />
9304 Future Champs (..) July<br />
TERRYTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
8521 Mighty Mouse in the Witch's Cat<br />
(7) July<br />
8522 The Talking Magpies in Magpie<br />
Madness (7) July<br />
8523 Mighty Mouse in Love's Labor<br />
Won (7)<br />
Aug.<br />
8524 The Hard Boiled Egg (7). Sept.<br />
8525 Mighty Mouse and the Mysterious<br />
Stranger (7) Oct.<br />
8526 The Talking Magpies in Free<br />
Enterprise (7) Oct.<br />
8527 Mighty Mouse in Triple<br />
Trouble (7) Nov.<br />
8528 Tallting Magpies in Out Again,<br />
in Again (7) Nov.<br />
8529 Mighty Mouse in the Magic<br />
Slippers (7) Dec.<br />
8530 Talking Magpies in<br />
Goony Golfers (7) Dec.<br />
1949 SERIES<br />
9501 The Wooden Indian (7)... Jan.<br />
9502 Talking Magpies in the Power<br />
of Thought (7) Jan.<br />
9503 Mighty Mouse in the Racket<br />
Buster (7) Feb.<br />
9504 Sourpuss in Dinbat Land<br />
(7) Mar.<br />
9505 The Talking Magpies in the<br />
Lion Hunt (7) Mar.<br />
9506 The Talking Magpies in the<br />
Stowaways (7) Apr.<br />
9507 Mighty Mouse in a Cold<br />
Romance (7) Apr.<br />
9508 The Kitten Sittir (7) May<br />
9521 Hook, Line and Sinker<br />
(7) (reissue) May<br />
,9509 The Talking Magpies in<br />
Landing (7) June<br />
(9522 Catnip Capers (7) Reissue. June<br />
9510 Mighty Mouse in the Catnip<br />
(Gang (7)<br />
June<br />
9511 The Talking Magpies in Hula<br />
Hula (7) July<br />
9512 The Lyin' Lion (7) July<br />
9513 Mrs. Jones' Rest Farm<br />
• (7) August<br />
15, No. 5 Sweden Looks Ahead<br />
(IS)<br />
May •H-<br />
MOVIETONE ADVENTURES<br />
12-<br />
+ 3-12<br />
10<br />
3-:<br />
+ 12-<br />
±<br />
8-14
SHORTS REVIEWS<br />
Opinions on the Current Short Subjects<br />
Fishing for Fun<br />
MGM (Pete Smith Specialty) 9 Mins.<br />
Good. Absorbing scenes ol the pursuit by<br />
various methods oi various kinds of fish. The<br />
finale is really spectacular, showing Gene<br />
Beilharz, light-tackle champion of the Paojfic<br />
coast, fighting and landing a huge sailfish.<br />
Anglers everywhere will be thrilled at the<br />
sight oi the fish plunging through the sea<br />
and leaping high above its surface.<br />
Mr. Whitney Had a Notion<br />
MGM (Passing Parade) 11 Mins.<br />
Good. It isn't generally known that Eli<br />
Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, mass-produced<br />
muskets for the U.S. army. The film<br />
makes a point of crediting him with introducing<br />
mass-production methods. Whitney is<br />
seen fighting government red tape and eventually<br />
winning out in his barnlike factory in<br />
Connecticut. The film has historical and human<br />
interest.<br />
Sen or Droopy<br />
MGM (Cartoon) 8 Mins.<br />
Good. Senor Droopy is a mild fellow who<br />
falls in love with a picture of Linda Romay<br />
and enters the bullring to distinguish himself.<br />
Pitted against him is the foremost matador<br />
of Mexico who algo likes Romay 's looks.<br />
Droopy is out of the running until the painting<br />
of mustaches on his would-be love's picture<br />
enrages him to the point of heaving the<br />
bull out of the arena, and he wins the gal.<br />
Donald's Happy Birthday<br />
RKO (Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. A very clever cartoon which deals<br />
with Donald's mischievous nephews. They<br />
need money to buy Donald a birthday present<br />
so they tidy up the yard and then present<br />
a bill for their services. Donald makes<br />
them put the money in a piggy bank, but<br />
they steal it and buy a box of cigars. Donald<br />
makes the little ducks smoke the whole<br />
box before he sees the birthday card—he<br />
then shrinks to the size of an insect.<br />
Heart Troubles<br />
RKO (Comedy Special) IG Mins.<br />
Good. Wally Brown is starred in a fairly<br />
amusing slapstick situation comedy. Enraged<br />
because his father-in-law loafs around the<br />
house, Wally pretends to have heart trouble.<br />
His wife and the father-in-law both try to help<br />
him and only make matters worse. Wally's<br />
boss arrives with a doctor and the latter learns<br />
that his only ailment is the measles. The boss<br />
then offers the father-in-law double salary if<br />
he will fill in for the furious Wally.<br />
I Found a Dog<br />
RKO (My Pal Series) 21 Mins.<br />
Good. The second in the newest of the "Pal"<br />
series, featuring "Flame," the Wonder Dog,<br />
and Gary Gray, a natural acting youngster, is<br />
solid fare for neighborhood audiences. Anne<br />
Nagel does a nice job as the boy's mother<br />
and Griff Harnett is a fine character actor.<br />
The story, which has a few heart-tugs, tells<br />
now Gary rescues a beautiful shepherd dog<br />
from a rabbit trap and thus forgets the recent<br />
loss of his pet dog. The owner of the shepherd<br />
dog wants him back, but Gary eventually<br />
is able to keep his new pet.<br />
Romantic Rumbolia<br />
Republic (Impossible Pictures) 8 Mins.<br />
Good. The fourth of the new series of Trucolor<br />
comedy cartoons produced by Impossible<br />
Pictures for Republic continues in the<br />
kidding vein set by the other three. The narration<br />
by Frank Nelson reviews the history<br />
of a mythical Latin American island called<br />
Rumbolia. The gags are corny but humorous<br />
and the parody on conventional travelogs<br />
is obvious.<br />
Ace in the Hole<br />
U-I (Lanfz Cartune) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Woody Woodpecker is training for<br />
the army air corps but runs afoul of a tough<br />
sergeant. A flare in Woody's flying suit<br />
ignites and deposits him in a plane which<br />
promptly takes off. The sergeant joins him<br />
and crashes with the plane while Waody<br />
parachutes to earth. Woody is assigned a<br />
clipper job—clipping an endless line of army<br />
horses.<br />
Symphony in Swing<br />
U-I (Name Band Musical) 15 Mins.<br />
Good. Duke Ellington and his orchestra<br />
star with the assistance of the Delta Rhythm<br />
Boys, Kay Davis and the Edwards Sisters.<br />
The numbers are "Take the 'A' Train," "Suddenly<br />
It Jumped," "Turquoise Cloud," "Dancers<br />
in Love," "Knock Me a Kiss" and "Frankie<br />
and Johnny." It is fast, tricky entertainment<br />
with the Duke's personality as emcee giving<br />
it an extra fillip.<br />
Hop, Skip and a Chump<br />
(Blue Ribbon Hit Parade)<br />
Warner Bros. 7 Mins.<br />
Good. One of the best of the Technicolor rereleases<br />
about the two dumb crows. The birds<br />
decide to go hunting for a grasshopper, but<br />
the latter is too smart for them and makes<br />
chumps out of the crows. When the grasshopper<br />
starts bragging about how smart he<br />
is, however, he is finally captured by the two<br />
crows.<br />
Treachery Rides the Trail<br />
(Technicolor Adventure)<br />
Warner Bros. 10 Mins.<br />
Fair. Except for the element of novelty, this<br />
is a mildly amusing western short. A junior<br />
cast of players tries to re-enact the days when<br />
the wild west was really wild but most patrons<br />
will only label it "cute." Using miniature<br />
sets and appropriate props, the film tells<br />
how Black Rider, the terror of the Texas trail,<br />
terrorizes the town until a handsome ranger<br />
saves the day and the beautiful heroine.<br />
Water Wonderland<br />
Warner Bros. (Sports Parade) 10 Mins.<br />
Good. Some excellent shots of water sports<br />
in the balmy summer climate of southern<br />
California. The camera records a variety of<br />
swimming, diving, fishing, sailing and yachting<br />
sports, as well as the dangerous surf<br />
boarding. Places covered in the film are Lido<br />
and Balboa Island)^ Newport Beach and<br />
Corona del Mar.<br />
Stars Alone, He Says,<br />
Don't Make A Picture<br />
J^ W. MATTECHECK, Mack Theatre,<br />
McMiimville, Ore., says:<br />
" 'Command Decision' has a lot of gold<br />
braid and a lot of high-priced stars, but<br />
these do not in themselves make an entertaining<br />
picture. Classified as a percentage<br />
picture, it just about flopped with<br />
us because of the poor story and no<br />
appeal for women. Distributors still have<br />
a lot to learn—and Hollywood is slow in<br />
growing up."<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 40: Blasts and fire<br />
damage Holland tunnel; blockade of Berlin is<br />
lifted; Truman honors women of achievement;<br />
I Am an American day celebrated in New<br />
York; Barkley salutes Israel at a New York<br />
anniversary rally; the Truculent Turtle-^U.S.<br />
navy plane; Roupd-Robin tourney; Capot captures<br />
the Preakness at Pimlico.<br />
News oi the Day, No. 274: New era in Berlin<br />
as blockade ends; chemical blast rocks Holland<br />
tunnel; Grandma Moses wins achievement<br />
award; American day celebrated; Capot<br />
wins Preakness.<br />
Paramount News, No. 77: Thrill-packed<br />
Preakness; Berlin freed from the blockade; 1<br />
Am an American day.<br />
Universal News, No. 248: Berlin blockade;<br />
Holland tunnel explosion; Preakness.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 79: Holland tunnel<br />
blast; Berlin blockade; Dewey on vacation;<br />
women's press awards; Jap emperor; Swiss<br />
guards; seals on remote Pacific isle; French<br />
fashions—burlap and forbidden fruit dresses;<br />
Capot wins Preakness in photo finish.<br />
•<br />
Movietone News, No. 41: General Clay<br />
comes home from Berlin; Truman opens opportunity<br />
bond drive; another Roosevelt enters<br />
politics; Pope Pius proclaims a new saint;<br />
President Dutra of Brazil arrives in U.S.; "It<br />
Happens Every Spring" premiere; inflated<br />
building; Florida introduces the skim boat;<br />
Wellesley sophomores win crew race.<br />
News of the Day, No. 275: General Clay<br />
gets hero's welcome; spotlight on another<br />
FDR; Pope proclaims new saint; modern 49ers<br />
hit bond trail for Uncle Sam; great day for<br />
Monty Stratton; skim boating newest sport;<br />
U.S. honors president of Brazil.<br />
Paramount News, No. 78: Stars help launch<br />
bond drive; Washington greets Brazil's chief<br />
executive; FDR elected to Congress; U.S. salutes<br />
hero of the peace.<br />
Universal News, No. 249: U.S. acclaims General<br />
Clay; Brazil's president welcomed to the<br />
capital; international Golden Gloves; President<br />
asks bond support.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 80: Dutra; FDR jr.;<br />
McClay; General Clay; spring in the northwest;<br />
bond drive; Swiss acrobat; international<br />
Golden Gloves; surf boarders; Great Americans—Captain<br />
Lawrence.<br />
•<br />
All American News. No. 343: Newspaper<br />
of Norfolk, Va., wins Wendell Willkie award<br />
for journalism; Etta Moten, operatic star, wins<br />
praise during rehearsal; Philadelphia Stars<br />
Meet Kansas City Monarchs in baseball<br />
opener in Newark, N. J.; Awards presented to<br />
Howard university ROTC staff at annual review<br />
in Washington.<br />
All American News, No. 344: Stanley Kramer,<br />
producer of "Home of ths Brave," is honored<br />
in New York; pilgrimage to Rock City,<br />
Tenn.; youngsters of Norfolk, Va., battle for<br />
marble championship; postal worker of Dallas<br />
turns inventor; sculptress exhibits work at<br />
New York's New School for Social Research.<br />
•<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 20A: Germany—blockade<br />
ends; England—Eisler caught; Washington—Congress<br />
debates on giving arms to<br />
Europe; New York—the Philadelphia Symphony<br />
orchestra leaves for a tour of London;<br />
England—naval conference; Egypt— girls in<br />
calisthenics; Pimlico—Capot takes Preakness<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 20B: Shanghai under<br />
siege; nation honors General Clay; Washington<br />
— President Dutra of Brazil pays<br />
Truman a ten-day state visit; New York<br />
Congressman-elect FDR jr. leaves for Europe;<br />
Texas—a howling tornado in Texas leaves<br />
ruin in its wake; Italy—Alpine floods; France<br />
a Frenchman posing as an archaeologist is<br />
forced from the top of an 80-foot obelisk when ,<br />
police discover he's only a publicity seeker.<br />
14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 28, 1949
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS<br />
The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend F<br />
Comedy<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
20th-Fox (91G) 79 Minutes Rel. Juno '49<br />
During recent seasons the screen has been treated—and<br />
profitably— to some outstanding features which undertook to<br />
burlesque the time-honored gallopers. This goes one step<br />
further inasmuch as it hovers between the screwball comedy<br />
and a western, although about all that it adopts from<br />
the latter category is locale, circa and aura. Written, directed<br />
and enacted strictly for laughs, and lushly tinted in Technicolor,<br />
the film's humor—which carries fairly well most of the<br />
way—is broad and blatant and sufficiently rowdy to make<br />
the picture a borderline case as concerns the production<br />
code. As a straight-shooting dancehall gal, who gets in hot<br />
water because she repeatedly plugs a judge in the derriere,<br />
La Grable has plenty of opportunity to display the celebrated<br />
gams which established her as No. 1 pinup girl, and<br />
her fans will like her change of thespian pace. Limned and<br />
megged by Preston Sturges.<br />
Betty Grable, Cesar Romero, Rudy Vallee, Olga San Juan,<br />
Leave It<br />
Sterling Holloway, Hugh Herbert, El Brendel.<br />
to Henry<br />
Comedy<br />
Monogram (4827) 57 Minutes Rel. June 12, '49<br />
Stalwart trouping and a tight, laugh-laden script which<br />
places emphasis upon wholesome, homespun comedy render<br />
this eminently suitable for booking in that secondary spot,<br />
for which exhibition niche it is further qualified by reason<br />
of its compact running time. Second in a projected series costarring<br />
Raymond Walburn and Walter Catlett (the initiale:<br />
"Henry the Rainmaker"), the new entry reflects improvement<br />
over the first, assaying higher in entertainment content and<br />
benefiting from well-drawn, typical and humorous smalltown<br />
characterizations. Most audiences should find it to their<br />
liking. Walburn and Catlett carry the major part of the<br />
thespian load, delivering in their standard slapstick style<br />
the former as a busybody lawyer, the latter as the community's<br />
muddle-headed mayor helplessly involved in one of<br />
Walburn's wild schemes. Directed by Jean Yarbrough.<br />
Raymond Walburn, Walter Catlett, Gary Gray, Mary Stuart,<br />
Barbara Brown, Houseley Stevenson, Ida Moore.<br />
Jimn<br />
Mighty Joe Young F \'Zl7<br />
RKO Radio ( ) 93 Minutes Rel. July 23. '49.<br />
Hokum in unlimited quantities and of unabashed quality<br />
ignites this pin wheel of adventure, fantasy, action and<br />
humor. Some 16 years ago, Merian C. Cooper, the film's<br />
co-producer, gave the screen "King Kong," the popularity<br />
and profits of which will be remembered with drools by<br />
I<br />
veterans of the exhibition field. Whether this—cast in a<br />
ina, A somewhat similar mold and again treating with a gigantic<br />
"lit gorilla—can deliver similarly probably depends upon how<br />
much tastes in screen fare have changed in that decade<br />
and a half. Possibly because he suspects such changes,<br />
Cooper apparently approached his chore with tongue in<br />
cheek, which resulted in the offering being sufficiently flexible<br />
so that spectators can look at it for laughs or for thrills,<br />
depending upon the individual. Inasmuch as there are plenty<br />
of both, the film should register stoutly at the turnstiles.<br />
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack.<br />
Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong. Frank McHugh,<br />
Douglas Fowley, Denis Green, Paul GuiHoyle.<br />
Lust for Gold<br />
F<br />
~^'<br />
Columbia ( )' 90 Minutes Rel. Juno '49<br />
Purportedly this is a factual history of the fabulous Lost<br />
Dutchman mine in Arizona's Superstition mountains, said<br />
to be the hiding place of $20,000,000 in gold. If so—and a<br />
foreword by the governor of Arizona attests to the film's<br />
authenticity— then here is another and striking example of<br />
truth being frequently stranger than fiction. For the film<br />
spins a story of greed and passion, intrigue and murder<br />
that is unrelentingly savage and violent, unleavened by<br />
comedy touches and therefore destined to appeal more<br />
strongly to masculine than to feminine patrons. Within that<br />
limitation, it rates on a par with the other current entries—<br />
and they are legion—in the present popular cycle of hardbitten<br />
outdoor fare. The teaming of Glenn Ford and Ida<br />
Lupino in the leads should prove a marquee asset, and S.<br />
Sylvan Simon's dual chore as producer and director was<br />
effectively accomplished.<br />
Ida Lupino, Glenn Ford, Gig Young, William Prince, Edgar<br />
Buchanan, Will Geer, Paul Ford.<br />
The Gay Amiga<br />
United Artists (604) 62 Minutes Rel. May 13, '49<br />
^he second in Philip N. Krasne's new Cisco Kid series<br />
has more laughs than action but is entertaining enough to<br />
serve as supporting dualler in the neighborhood houses. Not<br />
strong enough to stand alone in action spots. Made on a<br />
modest budget, the film again plays up Cisco as a philosophical<br />
adventurer and his pal, Pancho, as a loquacious<br />
busybody. Duncan Renaldo is adequate, but not virile<br />
enough as Cisco, while Leo Carrillo gives one of his stock<br />
comedy portrayals as Pancho. Joe Sawyer contributes a few<br />
laughs as a dim-witted army sergeant and Armida supplies<br />
the feminine interest as a lively little spitfire. The scenic<br />
backgrounds are outstanding. When Cisco is blamed for<br />
banditry which was actually committed by an American<br />
gang, he determines to capture the real outlaws. He has<br />
several clashes -with on army sergeant before he exposes<br />
the culprits. Directed by Wallace Fox.<br />
Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, Armida, Joe Sawyer, Walter<br />
Baldwin, Fred Kohler jr., Kenneth MacDonald.<br />
F<br />
only<br />
$205<br />
ttlr,<br />
FIv<br />
The Walking Hills<br />
Dram
. . . and<br />
EXPLOITIPS<br />
Suggestions for Selling; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Mighty Joe Young"<br />
Since there are many nightclub scenes herein, work out<br />
tieups with local cocktail bars, which might serve a "Joe<br />
Young" cocktail. Make over the lobby and theatre front in<br />
jungle fashion and -dress attendants either as African nasuch<br />
as are employed in big-game hunting expeditions. Organize<br />
a "safari" for street ballyhoo, with "natives" toting ^g^<br />
dummy "crates" fhe sides of which carry picture and theatre ,g ^^<br />
billing.<br />
CATCHLINES*<br />
By All Odds the Biggest Thrill Show the Screen Has Ever<br />
Seen ... a Picture That Will Never Be Matched . . . Packed<br />
With Such Daring, Such Danger, Such Amazement, Such<br />
Fantastic Adventure . . . That It Stands Alone as the Epic<br />
Shocker of All Time ... a Riot of Thrills.<br />
In All Screen History . . . Never Has There Been Presented<br />
Such a Rousing Spectacle of Wild Adventures ... a Thrill-<br />
Tingling Riot of Amazing Suspense . . . Enthralling Action<br />
Dazzling Drama.
RATES: 10c per worcL minimum Sl.OO. cash with copy. Four insertions for price ol three.<br />
CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
• Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE. 825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1- Mo. •<br />
vmm mvi<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Wanted: Managers for theuue or drlve-ln in<br />
.Wisconsin. Write your qu^iildculions and references<br />
to Boxoffice. A-3448.<br />
Wanted: House m;inai;er or experienced a.ssl>tani<br />
[iiat knows theatre operation for Norfolk and<br />
'ortsmouth. Va.. territory. Air mail special delivery<br />
qualifications and sulary expected. Boxornce,<br />
A-3459.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Manager or iirujeciionlst. Se>enl«en years experience,<br />
desirts location in Rio Grande valley in<br />
Texas. Collece education. Now employed as manager.<br />
Boxoffice. A-3457.<br />
Manager, L»rive-In. Age 37, experienced all<br />
phikses i the latest<br />
thing. Blevlns Popcorn Co., Popcorn Village,<br />
Nashville, Tenn.<br />
Popcorn, the cream of the Hybrid crop. Popcorn<br />
boxes, attractive glossy red 10c size. Special<br />
popcorn s.ilt and butter flavored popcorn<br />
seasoning. Truly the tried and tested ingredients<br />
for superbly per feci popcorn. For price list,<br />
write Super Piifft Popcorn, Ltd., 83 Duke St.,<br />
Toronto. Ont.<br />
"Sno-Flakc" brand white hiiUess popcorn;<br />
$10.25 per cwt.. fob Monticello. Iowa. Top<br />
finality guaranteed. Sno-Wite Popcorn Co..<br />
Monticello. Iowa.<br />
MORE CLASSIFIED<br />
ON PAGE 28<br />
29
during the FOUR WEEKS<br />
ending<br />
May 7ih, your<br />
PRIZE BABl'<br />
1 02" 224 accessory items and<br />
233,848 trailers— or a total of<br />
1263.072<br />
which<br />
average o<br />
means an<br />
Our SERVICE Being On A RENTAL<br />
BASIS, it is apparent that practically the<br />
same number of Items (less posting-paper,<br />
heralds, etc.) is being RETURNED by Exhibitors, each week. These Items must be<br />
sorted, recorded and returned to Shelves and Vaults in<br />
NSS Offices.<br />
tlUi.<br />
ne^f^^i^i^HU a CHECKING-IN^ HANDLING and<br />
SHIPPING of<br />
^" EVERY<br />
fST/z^WEEK!<br />
^^-^SS^' SERVICE!<br />
\S\C^em<br />
KJ p/f/zfsoBr Of Mf/ffoasmr