. . Gerald 07 7 A\l\l A ^anadian Odeon executives who attended the opening of the Ottawa Odeon included George Peters, vice-president; C. J. Appel, general manager for eastern Canada; A. J. Laurie, public relations director, and James A. Cowan, publicity manager, all of Toronto, and Henry Morton of Winnipeg, partner-supervisor of Manitoba. Eagle Lion Films was represented by Prank H. Fisher, general manager. Toronto . . . Barney Cannon, formerly of Kingston and Toronto, has been appointed assistant manager of the Ottawa Odeon. Before coming to Canada, he was with Associated British Cinemas in England. He served with the Royal air force from 1943 to 1946. The Strand, owned and operated by Louis Wolfe, was opened May 19. It became the 25th theatre in the Ottawa area. The opening bill was "The Fuller Brush Man" and "Eyes of Texas" . . . Donat Paquin. proprietor of the Francais and, the Lam'ier, left May 18 with his two daughters Pauline and Pierrette for London and Paris. Pierette is a figure skater, and she will appear at the Palais de Sports in Paris. Air conditioning equipment has been installed by D. B. Stapleton in the Center Theatre here . Graham, director of technical operations for the National Film Board, returned from Hollywood, following an inspection of installations at the major "Summer Is for Kids," a release studios . . . of the National Film Board, was screened for government and recreation officials May 19 at the Capitol Theatre. John Sperdakos to Marry Loula Demetre in Fall MONTREAL—John C. Sperdakos, assistant advertising and publicity director of United Amusement Corp., Ltd., will be married this fall to Loula Demetre. youngest daughter of of the late Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Demetre. Demetre was vice-president and a director of the United circuit before his death. Sperdakos was manager of the Monkland and Regent for United before taking over his position in the advertising department. For Male Lead in 'Palomino' Jerome Courtland has been signed for the male lead in the Columbia film. "Palomino." Board of Trade Issues Emergency Directory TORONTO—The Toronto Film Board of Trade has drawn up a list of bookers and shippers for the use by exhibitors in making emergency calls for films. The directory is as follows Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Booker. Robert McBain; shipper, William Travers. United Artists—Bookers, Ralph Knights and Harold Bell; shipper, J. J. Jolinston. Warner Bros.—Bookers. Aldo Magglorotti and Bernie Sieger; shipper. James Fletcher. Eagle Lion—Booker. William McGuire. Monogram Pictures—Booker, Isadore Shapero; shipper, Ivan Wilson. International Film Distributors— Bookers, David Brandston and William Tod; shipper, Frank Kowcenuk. 20th Century-Fox—Booker, Jim Powis and William Tyrrell; shipper, William Reddy. Columbia—Bookers, Abe Fox, Wilf Silverberg and Miss N. Young; shipper. Jack Bond. Paramount—Bookers, Jerry Cass and Ambrose Theurer. Empire-Universal — Bookers, Sid Cohen, Perry Labow; shippers, Ernest Young and Jan^es Nolan. RKO—Booker, James Hogan; shipper, Roy Mitchell. Toronto Board of Trade Organizes Film Council TORONTO—The Canadian Motion Picture Industry Comicil has been formed mider the sponsorship of the motion picture branch. Toronto Board of Trade, to replace the public relations committee of the Canadian film industry. The council will provide official information on matters of general importance to every branch of the trade, it was said by F. D. Tolchard, secretary-manager of the Board of Ti-ade. Members of the council are James A. Cowan. J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada; Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario. Ai-ch H. Jolley. executive secretary; James R. Nairn, Famous Players Canadian Corp.; Jack Chisholm, Associated Screen News, for the Canadian Motion Picture Pioducers Ass'n of Canada; William Redpath, General Films for the 16mm Film Distributors Ass'n of Canada, and Ben Freedman. representing the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n of Ontario, all of Toronto. CALGARY pred Dillon, recent appointed executive director of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Ass'n. was a visitor here. He met local exchange managers at a luncheon at the Palliser hotel ... A license fee of $50 a month or $250 a year has been estabhshed for drive-in theatres by the provincial government. . . . Harry Saifer of the Cinema Center screen room. Winnipeg, visited here while returning home from Hollywood . . . William Guss, manager of the Canadian MGM distributing office, was confined to h;s home by illness "Bud" Goldin. manager of the westend Kinema and Tivoli theatres, left by plane for Los Angeles. Shirley Stevens, secretary to Gray Sharp . . . of Sharp Theatres, returned from visits in Toronto and New York. She was a member of a group which was seen in "Hedda Gabler" in the recent amateur tournament "Joan of Arc" drew only average trade Plans for a new hotel in Leduc here . . . are being made, according to a report. . . . Visitors on Filmrow included Hed La Brie of the Empress, Ponoka, and George Mandryk The of the theatre in Canmore search for oil is being continued in the vicinity of Stettler, according to George Anable, operator of the Roxy there and a recent visitor at local exchanges. First Pioneer Benefit Is Staged in Toronto TORONTO—The lirst of the midnight shows in Toronto in aid of the Canadian Picture Pioneers benevolent fimd was staged May 26 at the Imperial, the 3,343-seat theatre of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Manager Tom Daley backed the drive to raise the fund to $100,000 by arranging for all proceeds to be turned over to the campaign. "Knock on Any Door" was donated by the film exchange. Permits for the series of midnight shows were secured from the Toronto police commissioners by Arch H. Jolley. executive secretary of the Motion Pictm-e Theatres Ass'n of Ontario. The next performances will take place Jime 10 at four Toronto theatres, the Famous Players' Paikdale and Beach and Odeon's Danforth and Humber. The CPP campaign director is O. R. Hanson, and the president of the association is J. Earl Lawson, Canadian Odeon head. HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM BoxorncE: Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE, 52 issues per year (13 of wfhich conlain The MODERN THEATRE Section). n $3.00 FOR 1 YEAR D $5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D $7-00 FOR 3 YEARS D Remittance Enclosed Q Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS..... TOWN -..- STATE.. NAME POSITION Limit Grandstand Shows TORONTO—The new Canadian National exhibition grandstand here will not be used as a motion picture theatre during the summer, it has been decided by a special civic committee. The showing of motion pictures in the stadium was opposed by theatre owners, who claimed it would interfere with their business. RAMP-EXIT. ENTRANCE FLOODLIGHTS DRlVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. 'Tc'X"' 102 BOXOFFICE :: May 28. 1949
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS BookinGuide BOXOFFICE FIRST RUN REPORTS This chart shows the records made by pictures in five or more of the 21 key cities checked. As new runs ore reported, ratings are added and averages revised. BAROMETER TOP HIT OF THE WEEK Mr. Belvedere Goes to College Denver .200 Computed in terms of percentage in relation to normal grosses. With 100 per cent as "normal," the figures show the percentage above or below that mark.
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