Second Generation Skourases Greet an Uncle George Skouras, center, national operating head of the expanded United Artists Theatres Circuit, Inc., is greeted by two nephews who are the juniors of two illustrious figures in the film world, and sons of his brothers, Charles Skouras and Spyros Skouras. Charles Skouras jr. is congratulating his uncle upon assuming his position in the new circuit, while Spyros Skoura
Columbus Closes 28; No Effect on Others COLUMBUS—Closing of 28 local neighborhood houses for the seven days prior to Chi'istmas had little or no effect on attendance at the 24 which remained open, an early check revealed. This picture might change slightly toward the end of the week, some theatremen conceded. There was surprisingly little reaction, either by press or public, to the closing. Prospective patrons, busy with last minute shopping, either passed up going to their neighborhood houses or devoted their time to other things. One neighborhood circuit, which remained open, declared that Sunday, first day of the dark week, was only average for its houses, scattered in most sections of town. Monday. a late shopping night, was off from previous weeks in these houses. The same conditions prevailed generally in both downtown first runs and other neighborhood houses. Closed theatres placed window or lobby panels reading: WE WILL CLOSE FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION Week Beginning Dec. 18-Through Dec. 24 Attend This Theatre For Christmas Matinee. Merry Christmas. The 28 included: Arlington, Avondale. Beechwold, Boulevard, Champion, Cleve, Colimibia, Dixie, Drexel, Empress, Esquire, Garden, Grandview, Hollywood, Hudson, Indianola, Lane, Linden. Livingston. Main. Northern. Old Trail, Parsons, Pythian, Southland, University, Victor and Westmont. These included theatres in the Academy circuit, Miles, Rowlands, H&S Theatres and two singly owned houses—Dixie and Linden. The J. Real Neth theatres—State, Eastern, Markham, Bexley, Clinton, Cameo and Lincoln, is the largest neighborhood circuit which remained open. The Pekras-operated theatres—Ritz, Rivoli and Oak—also remained open along with World and Little of H&S Theatres; Southern, Uptown and Majestic, the latter three subsequent run downtown houses. The Wilmar, Fifth Avenue, Royal and Ideal, also remained open. Downtown first runs—Palace, Grand. Broad and Ohio—also remained open. Full Reorganization Made Of Jerry Fairbanks, Inc. HOLLYWOOD—Complete reorganization of Jerry Fa rbanks. Inc.. video film producing firm, has been effected with Frank E. Mullen, radio-television executive, and Russ Johnston, former director of NBC's video film division, becoming executives and substantial stockholders. Fairbanks remains as president and continues in charge of all production activities; Mullen will be board chairman and will administer the company's business affairs. Johnston will assume vice-presidential duties. Mullen, former NBC executive vice-president, Will headquarter at the Fairbanks studios here, while Johnson will have his main offices in New York. Fairbanks said the reoi-ganization will result in an expansion of production facilities both here and in Gotham. The firm will develop and package video film programs and will immediately set up its own distribution and station sales agencies. Theatre Sales in Boom; 553 Are Sold This Year By EDWIN J. MOORE KANSAS CITY—The theatre sales busincis has been good this year, with 553 theatres changing hands during the first U months of 1950. Although this represents only those deals which were announced publicly, indications eveiywhere showed a healthy, growing interest in motion picture exhibition as a business. These figures do not include the big shifts ill theatre ownership resulting from the dissolution of partnerships within the Paramount organization, and other sales growing out of the antitrust consent decrees. Nor do they include the 130 theatres sold by Griffith Consolidated Theatres to a group of eight employes earlier this month, or the shift in theatre ownership of a substantial group of houses involving the Fox West Coast chain and United Artists Theatres in California. NOT CAUSED BY LITIGATION The 553 theatres are those involved in straight-out business deals for properties not involved in com-t actions. This steady reporting during the year of theatre deals indicated both that outsde interests are regarding motion picture exhibition as a healthy, profitable business venture, and that good enough offers are being made to exhibitors for their properties to persuade them to sell. Arthur Leak. Dallas, whose theatre sales cover a wide area, reported his company had experienced its biggest year. There have been a number of good, substantial properties on theatres sell the market, but these profitable for "natural causes" and not because of any special boom in theatre sales, he said. The Dallas broker said these theatres change ownership because an exhibitor is retiring, goes into another situation or is sold to settle an estate. The Savereide Co., with offices in several mdwest cities, also has reported a substantial list of theatre changes in the breadbasket area of the coimtry. 50 DRIVE-INS INCLUDED A breakkdown of the 553 theatres reported sold, as revealed in a state-by-state analysis by BOXFFICE, shows that 503 regular theatres changed ownership during the first 11 months and that 50 drive-ins were sold. The big interest was in Iowa, where theatre sales popped up as rapidly as the rows of corn. Altogether, 45 theatres, representing 8^4 per cent of the total number of theatres in the state, underwent a change of ownership this year. The substantial interest in exhibition properties in the corn and wheat belt was interpreted as an indication of continued good business in agriculture. This "everybody wants to get into the act" attitude is noticeable in the entire area between the Rocky mountains and Mississippi river where 210 theatres were sold. Texas, famed for doing things big, was the scene of 44 theatre transactions. Thus the middle section, which includes Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and North and South Dakota, leads the country in the section-bysection breakdown, with the outer edges of Alabama 1949 Sales by States I January through November)
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