Boxoffice-December.24.1949

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" . . Paramount . . Filmrow Leading Figures in Industry Attend WASHINGTON Two-Theatre Opening of 'Samson NEW YORK^More than 100 industry figui-es attended the two-theatre opening of Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah" at the Rivoli and Paramount theatres Wednesday (211. The ceremonies, which began at 8:30 p. m., included simultaneous radio and television broadcasts of the proceedings and a dozen Hedy Lamarr "doubles," who served as hostesses and distributed the "Samson" souvenir programs. The Mutual coast-to-coast network of almost 200 stations broadcast the opening here with a Hollywood cut-in bringing DeMille and various Paramount stars to the microphone. Simultaneously, the television broadcast went out over the WABD network and concentrated visually on the color and excitement at the two theatres. The hostesses, chosen from hundreds who answered a classified ad inserted in New York papers, participated in the television broadcast and wore original costumes worn by Miss Lamarr. Thi-ee thousand "Delilah" orchids, specially grown by Flowers of Hawaii. Ltd.. and flown in by Pan-American Airlines, were distributed to women attending the event. Barney Balaban, Paramount president, and Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures, lieaded the company delegation at the opening. Other members of the board present were Stephen Callaghan, Y. Frank Freeman, Harvey D. Gibson, A. Conger Goodyear, Duncan G. Harris, Jolm D. Hertz, Austin C. Keough, Earl I. McClintock, Maurice Newton, E. V. Richards and Edward L. Wei.sl. Members of the board of the new United Paramount Theatres, Inc., who attended were Leonard H. Golden.son, John A Coleman, E. Chester Gersten, Walter Marshall and Robert H. O'Brien. Other members of the Paramount Pictures and United Theatre companies present: Paul Roiboum A. W. Schwalberg George Weltner Lou Novins Bernard Goodman A. J. Richards Edward L. Hymon Russell Holman E. K. OShecf Oscar Morgan Hugh Owen Max E- Youngstein Jerry Pickman Sid Blumenstock Mort Nathanson Maria Van Slyke Joseph Tisman Hiller Innes Boris Kaplan John Byrtfm Alan R. Jackson Henry Kahn C. J. Scollord Henry Rondel Myron Saltier Others present: Ned E. Depinet Nate Blumberg Gradwell L Sears Spyros P. Skouras James Mulvey George Dembow Buddy Rogers Mary Picklord A. J. Balaban George P. Skourcrs Maurice Bergman Paul Lazarus jr. Howard Dietz John D. Hertz Ben Kalmenson Charles Einfeld Charles M. Reagan Matthew Fox A. Montague Robert Mochrie Jack Cohn Sid Mesibov Paul Ackerman Albert Deane C. V. Hake loseph A. Walsh Henry Anderson Sam Boverman Clinton Combes Benjamin Fincke Herbert B. Lazarus James S. Polk Richard Hodgson George Shupert Simon B. Siegel Evan H. Perkins J. William Piper Milton Kirschenberg Roger C. Clement Louis Lazar Fred Leroy Monroe Goodman Agnes Mengel Harry Nadel Marty Friedman Arthur Dunne Marian Anderson Thomas A. Aurelio Theron Bamberger Wendy Barrie Norman Bel Geddes Robert S. Benjamin Gertrude Berg Leonard Bernstein Gene Tierney Samuel McCrea Cave Bennett Cerl Ely Culbertson Lilly Dache Alfred DeLiagre jr. Maj. Alexander DeSeversky Mgrlene Dietrich Gen. Jimmie Doolittle Morton Downey Jessica Dragonette June Duprez Joseph Hazen Robert Benjamin Al Lichtman Si Fabian Ed Fabian Francis Harmon Bob Savini Isadore Lubin Jules Lapidus Stanley Prenosil Maj. Leslie Thompson John McCarthy Howard LeSieur Monroe Greenthal Walter Reade jr. Harry Mandel Jack White Frank Lynch Joel Levy Norman Elson Frcfnk Moscato Adam Adams Jules Catsilf Wilbur Snaper Max A, Cohen Harry Brandt Charles Amory Joe Ingber Milton Arnswalder Alex Arnswalder Roy Haines Ben Gneler Mel Morgenstern Henry Ferber Edward Robinson Nick John Molsoukas A, Frisch Bob Lane Louis Weber 1. Zatkin Edward J. Kelly Walter Abel George Abbott Maj. Gen. Julius Ochs Adler Brian Aherne James A. Farley Glend^ Farrell Vinton Freedley Horry D. Gideonse Albert and Mrs. Goldman Max Gordon Hank Greenberg Will H. Hays Mrs. W. Randolph HeaTst Fannie Hurst H. V. Kaltenborn Boris Karloil George S. Kaulman Leuenn McGrath Dorothy Kilgallen Sidney Kingsley Andre Kostelanelz Lily Pons Fritz Kreisler . Bambi Linn Joshua Logon Henry Luce Jeflrey Lynn Leonard Lyons Charles B. McCabe Tex and Jinx McCrary Gilbert Miller Fulton Oursler Judge Ferdinand Pecora Cole Porter Lanny Ross Dcrvid Sarnoil Cornelia Otis Skinner Rise Stevens Arthur H. Sulzberger Gladys Swarthout Lawrence Tibbett Michael Todd Joan Blondell Alfred G Vanderbill John W. Vandercook FrcJnk C. Walker Fred Waring Grover A. Whalen Mrs. Wendell Wilkie Peggy Wood Masterpiece Sues UA in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA— Masterpiece Productions, Inc., has filed suit against United Artists Corp. in U.S. district court here claiming $750,000 for alleged failure of United Artists to account for Masterpiece's share of the proceeds of di.stribution of 38 films. It is also charged that UA improperly distributed the 38 films after Feb. 14, 1947. Masterpiece claims it acquired exclusive license for distribution of the films from its predece.ssors in 1947 and, in turn, obtained rights from UA. Magnus Films, Inc., prior license of Masterpiece, has been brought into the suit as a co-plaintiff without its consent. Domestic Film Rentals Hold Up Well in 1949 NEW YORK—A yearend roundup was expected to show totals of domestic film rentals for 1949 as being only slightly behind those for 1948. Despite earlier pessimistic rumors, the drop for the current year was expected to be only a few per cent. Cy Freedman to Wed WASHINGTON—The marriage of Estelle Lillian Dick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dick, to Seymour C. Freedman, son of Mr. and IVIi-s. Max Freedman of Wilkes-Ba:Te, Pa., will take place here January 1. Formerly exploiteer for 20th-Fox at its branch in Kansas City. Freedman now is associated with the Schine circuit at Gloversville, N. Y. fTariety Tent 11 will hold a New Year's ev.e party in the clubrooms from 10 p. m. to 3 a. m. . . . Christmas parties and open houses , were general on the Row. Paramount and RKO parties were Monday night, Warners' Christmas luncheon party for exhibitors Tuesday, Monogram and Republic open house on Wednesday, Eagle Lion luncheon for the office on Friday. Exhibitors looking like veri/- table Santa Claus visited the exchanges and left gifts galore . . . John Broumas. Valley Enterprises, has every reason to be proud of his young 17-year-old brother Andre. This young man who graduates from Castle Heights Military academy, Lebanon, Tenn., in June has won a 4-year scholarship to Harvard university . . . Ann and Irving Hanower flew to New York Fi-iday to attend their niece's vredding and spend the holidays with their family. William E. Jasper has taken over the Dixie Theatre, Newport News, and has turned the booking and buying over to Joe Walsh. Walsh has added the Palace and Lyric theatres, Frostburg; the Rappana Theatre, Urbanna, Va., and the West End Theatre, Martinsville, Va., to his accounts. The West End, a 400- seat house for Negro patronage, vrill be opened Monday i26> by the Thomas brothers. Ed£:ar Growden was to take over the Midland, Midland. Md., December 25 . . . George Crouch, Warner Theatres general zone manager, and assistant Lou Ribnitzki spent several days in New York . exploiteer John Tassos left the hospital and is now recuperating at home in Passiac, N. J. Sam Wheeler's brother Al has joined the Lippert sales force and has found an apartment in Filmore Gardens . visitors included Sam Mellits, Morris Oletsky, Walter Gettinger, Wilbur Brizendine, Maurice Hendricks, George Jacobs, L. A. Flowers, Jack Fruchtman, Jack Levine, John Smith, Henry Sauber and Bernard Gonder. Diplomats, Stars Attend 'Foxes' Benefit Opening NEW YORK—Diplomats, government officials, social and civic leaders and stars of stage, screen and radio attended the benefit performance of "Prince of Foxes" at the Roxy Theatre December 22 for the benefit of the United Hospital fund. All proceeds from the showing will go to the support of New York's 86 voluntary hospitals, which are currently conducting a campaign to raise $3,367,000. Columbia Sets 57 Dates For 'All King's Men' NEW YORK—Columbia has set 57 key city openings for "All the King's Men" between December 21 and mid-February. The picture is now in its eighth week at the Victoria Theatre, New York City, and has opened in 13 other spots in November and December. Release date is January. Tex and Jinx Among Stars At Ampa Christmas Party NEW YORK—Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, NBC commentators and newspaper columnists, acted as master and mistress of ceremonies at the annual Ampa Christmas party at Town Hall December 21. 44 BOXOFFICE December 24, 1949
. . The . . . . . The . . "Farewell . . The David Supowitz Heads Philadelphia Variety PHILADELPHIA — David Supowitz has been elected chief barker of the Variety Club here. Other new officers include Cecil Felt, secretary, and Ben Bliben, treasurer. Ed Emanuel is the new national canvasman, and Mike Felt and Jack Greenberg are delegates to the international convention. Members of the board of directors include Jack Beresin. Victor H. Blanc, Harold Cohen. AI Davis. Ed Emanuel. Cecil Felt, Charles Goldfine. Harry Pennys, Leo Posel, Ralph Pries, Theodore Schlanger, Clint Weyer, Ben Bliben, Mike Felt and David Supowitz. Twentieth-Fox to Press Application for TV NEW YORK—Twentieth Century -Fox will continue to vigorously press its application before the Federal Communications commission for authorization of theatre television and for the allocation of frequencies. The statement was made December 20 by Kenneth C. Royall, of Dttlght, Royall. Harris. Kpegel and Caskey, representing the company. "There has been no thought of abandoning this application." Royall said, "but on the contrary every effort is being made to obtain a hearing before the commission at as early a date as practicable. Louis Renner, 76, Dies; Former Member of ITOA NEW YORK—Louis Renner, 76, who with Louis Nelson founded the Endicott circuit in Brooklyn, died December 21 at Miami Beach, Pla. Until his retirement a few years ago, he had been an active exhibitor since 1921 and a member of ITOA. The funeral was held December 22 in Riverside Chapel, Brooklyn. He leaves the wife, Lena: two sons, Irving, who heads the Endicott circuit, and Martin, and four daughters, Mrs. Betty Mendelsohn, Mrs. Ethel Kabat, Mrs. Ruth Berloff and Mrs. Mary Nadler. Samuel H. Trigger NEW YORK—Samuel H. Ti-igger, 95, pioneer exhibitor, died December 18 at the Manhattan State hospital after a ten-year illness. Oldtime exhibitors say that in 1907, when films were being shown in nickelodeons, he built the first theatre here to show films, located at 110th St. and Fifth Ave. Later he built two theatres in the Bronx. He retired from the industry many years ago to become an antique dealer. He leaves his wife and two sons. Daniel D. Doran YONKERS, N. Y.—Daniel D. Doran, 89, who operated five theatres in New York during silent screen days, died December 20 at his home, 12 Bell Place. A requiem mass was sung December 22 at St. Mary's Church. He leaves a son, Arthur J. Doran, U.S. district court referee for Westchester and Rockland counties: two daughters, a sister and ten grandchildren. Stars in "Visa' Hedy Lamarr, John Hodiak and Don Taylor will star in "Visa." a Metro film. AT BUFFALO PARTY—Some of merrymakers at the annual Christmas party staged in Paramount's Buffalo exchange are shown a.bove. At the party were Mr. and Mrs. Mike Simon, Mr. and Mrs. John McMahon, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kranze, Mr. and Mrs. AI Fitter, Ml-, and Mrs. Frank Saviola, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Eshelman, Mr. and Mrs. John Mitri, Mr. and Mrs. James Davis, Mary Gerken, Dorothy Siejek. Helen Huber, Doris Clarke, Mary Randaccio, Robert Finzak, Ruth Egan, George Ferris, Robert Weber and Sam Block. A buffet dinner was served, and There also was a screening of some new Paramount there was dancing in the evening. pictures, and photos were made to send to John Good, city salesman, recently stricken with polio aind taken to Boston in an iron lung. ALBANY n 40x60 blowup of "I Am a Movie Fan," which BOXOFFICE frontpaged last summer, stands in the first-floor lobby of the Paramount exchange . Paramount exchange is the temporary site of a display case showing scenes in color from "Samson and Delilah." The painted scenes on glass are illuminated. The case will be rotated around area theatres which play "Samson." Schine circuit toppers attending the wedding of Doreen Schine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis W. Schine, to Ross Higier of Gloversville, in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel December 15, included J. Myer Schine, L. W. Schine, John May, Gus Lampe, Howard Antevil, Florence D. Thompson, J. Dewey Lederer, Seymour L. Morris, George Lynch, Lou Goldstein, Bernie Diamond, Arch Levine and Maurice Glockner. Their gift to the bride was a combination .stove . . . Ben Smith, district representative for Lippert Pictures, went to Oneida for a meeting with Sid Kallet . . . "Jolson Sings Again" has been booked into ten Schine theatres for New Year's eve. "Holiday Inn" at the Grand evoked nostalgic memories in Assistant Manager Bob Griffith, who saw the picture a half dozen times during his army service in Central and South America. He first witnessed "Holiday" in Panama 1942 . . Willie Foley, veteran in . Strand projectionist, his wife and Jean Brousseau, daughter of John Brousseau. assistant at the Ritz, visited Joan Foley at the West Haverstraw Reconstruction hospital. Joan, who had been a student nurse at St. Peter's hospital with Jean, is suffering from polio. The Schiners club held its annual Christmas party at the Schine offices in Gloversville Thursday (22). Art Gibbons, president, was chairman of the committee on arrangements . . . Nate Dickman. Monogram manager, returned from a trip to New York . Sale of the Palace, Watertown, to Chicago interests left four houses in the Albany territory which the Schine circuit must cut loose under the Supreme Court decision: the Plaza in Malone, the Pontiac in Ogdensburg, the Richmond idarki in Little Falls and the Palace, Oneonta. Schine is permitted to operate one theatre in each of these situations Leland here reverted to 35 cent Matinees, 50 evening and Sunday, children 18 cents, after dropping first run pictures. "Francis," the "talking mule" picture with Donald O'Connor, is a laugh riot, according to Chris Pope, Schine booker. To build wordof-mouth comment, Schine houses will hold sneak previews . to Arms" and "The Hatchet Man," Warner reissues, drew fine business at the Ritz Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but then dropped in the face of Christmas-shopping competition . fourdrink machines, recently installed in the Strand, Ritz, Madison and Delaware in Albany, and the Troy, Lincoln and American in Troy, are the product of the Strange Mfg. Co. Four flavors. Coca-Cola, cherry, lemon and lime, are on tap for ten cents. The 1950 Ned E. Depinet drive was launched at an all-day meeting here addressed by Nat Levy, eastern division manager: Morris Lefko, district manager, and Frank Drumm, Levy's assistant. Tlie drive will close Jime 22 . . . The bookers dinner at the Ten Eyck hotel Thursday night
Page 1 and 2: TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS
Page 3 and 4: It o^^ SSTw To^: She's breaking in
Page 5 and 6: ' We'ere celebrating completion oft
Page 7 and 8: ' ; bookings I I buyer : a 1 1949,
Page 9 and 10: for that run. Such further negotiat
Page 11 and 12: CENTURY WITH m 4 'M & CENTURY- FOX
Page 13 and 14: ON INTO 1950! \\\s^v%3 Mm ^J^-^^-^
Page 15 and 16: THE SNAKE PIT uncn; TO three wrvES
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Page 19: I Para LETTERS FAVORS HENRY REEVE P
Page 22 and 23: fHcti
Page 24 and 25: Second Generation Skourases Greet a
Page 26 and 27: Another coLUMBiil WITH.^ TRULY TREM
Page 28 and 29: . . There n- MPAA to Help Sell 7V
Page 30 and 31: . . Kent . . . Kurd . . Una . . Wil
Page 32 and 33: Kaiser-Frazer Tieup Nets Co-Op Ad H
Page 34 and 35: Here is the answer ... in a strange
Page 36 and 37: SANTA COMES TO TOWN Here is an anim
Page 38 and 39: Multiple Screenings Set Stage for S
Page 40 and 41: . . . Hershel . . Rudy . . William
Page 42 and 43: , WASHINGTON, •^^^^ WASHINGTON, D
Page 46 and 47: Indonesia and Germany Seen As Big M
Page 48 and 49: George I STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES Barns
Page 50 and 51: J sdottdctt ^cfront JJAROLD WILSON,
Page 52 and 53: . . J. . . Rowland . . Irving . . T
Page 54 and 55: . . When Pound Devaluation May Caus
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Page 58 and 59: . -NOW! . . Horace ST. LOUIS Tênis
Page 60 and 61: . . Danny . . . "Johnny . . . The .
Page 62 and 63: Robinson Building Is Started On Lit
Page 64 and 65: . . Durwood . . . Lou . . . The . .
Page 66 and 67: . . Everyone . . Thelma . . Joanne
Page 68 and 69: Ohio Showman Harry Elliott Recalls
Page 70 and 71: . . Manager . . Mrs. . . George . .
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Page 80 and 81: GET RfADY FOR 1950s f I RiT BIG eXP
Page 82 and 83: . . Bollman : December OKLAHOMA CIT
Page 84 and 85: . . . Went . . W. HART BEATS p By H
Page 86 and 87: . -NOW! . . Ann . . Chic . . The J
Page 88 and 89: . . . The . . . Miriam . . . Thelma
Page 90 and 91: . . Featured . . The Florida Courl
Page 92 and 93: . . Harry . . With . . The VANCOUVE
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. . Jack . . Two Executives Resign
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EXHIBI AS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Ju
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I B—June I RIM EAT CHART Feature
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iJt.J.\JI\l.i3 VÎTlXlXll 20th Cent
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Opinions on Current Productions; Ix
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I 1 52nd I HTES: 10c per word, muii
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Boxoffice-December.24.1949

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