Warners

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TV Building Audiences
For Westerns: Lippert
NEW YORK—The dynamic Robert L.
Lippert,
exhibitor and president of Lippert Productions,
expounded on television's influence
on audiences for westerns, the increase in
drive-ins, the difficulties in securing independent
financing and Samuel Goldwyn's recent
gripes about exhibitors on his recent
visit to Manhattan. Lippert. who came east
to talk to exhibitors about his big-budget
film. "The Baron of Arizona" started back
west February 6 and gave luncheons for
75 to 100 exhibitors and circuit buyers in
Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and
Kansas City before February 11.
The opening of "The Baron of Arizona"
will be held in Phoenix. Ariz., March 1 with
Vincent Price and Ellen Drew, stars of the
picture, and other Hollywood stars present.
Immediately after the opening the film is
booked day-and-date in every theatre in
Arizona. Lippert said. A $100,000 ad campaign
will start in March and the picture
will be plugged in 15 top radio shows starting
late in February.
Lippert believes that the film industry
should "work with television instead of ignoring
it" and should make television trailers
plugging new releases. In Los Angeles,
which has more television sets per person
than any other city in the U.S., neighborhood
theatre business is off 40 per cent and
first runs off 20 per cent. However. "Hopalong
Cassidy" has staged a comeback due
to television and Lippert was influenced to
make a series of westerns starring James
Ellison and Russell Hayden (two former
"Hopalong" stars) due to their popularity
with kids at a recent personal appearance
in the Los Angeles area.
Drive-ins are also hurting business at regular
theatres in the west and one of the
Denver drive-ins is doing bigger business
than any downtown spot there, he said. Theatre
television will never compete with home
sets, except in the rare cases of an outstanding
sports event. Regarding Samuel
Goldwyn's recent criticism of exhibitors. Lippert
scoffed at it and classed the veteran
producer as one who should step out of the
industry in favor of "younger blood with new
ideas."
The independent producer is still finding
it difficult to secure financing for his lowbudget
films. Lippert gets most of his financing
from private individuals or companies.
Walter Heller Co. put up the money
for seven of his recent films. Lippert claims
he made a profit of $400,000. before taxes,
for the first 11 months of 1949.
Lippert. who owns or controls 64 theatres
in northern California and Washington, also
has bought out 11 of the 34 Screen Guild
exchanges. The others are owned by franchiseholders.
He recently put on seven more
salesmen for the Lippert 1949-50 program
and added a midwest division manager. Harris
Dudelson. formerly with Eagle Lion.
Dudelson will make his headquarters in
Detroit.
Star's Pulpit Appearance
Gets Plenty Publicity
NEW YORK—Colleen Townsend's appearance
in Punxsutawney, Pa., where she
preached from the pulpit of the local Presbyterian
church Sunday (Feb. 5). brought a
barrage of publicity for the 20th Century-Fox
star, who recently announced that she was
leaving the screen to devote herself to religion.
Twenty-three wire service representatives,
reporters and photographers attended the
Punxsutawney event and special stories and
pictures appeared in the Herald Tribune.
Daily News. Compass. World Telegram and
Journal American. Miss Townsend appeared
in Punxsutawney at the opening of her latest
picture, "When Willie Comes Marching-
Home," February 4.
Terrell Now Heads MGM Exploitation
NEW YORK — Dan S. Terrell took ovei
operation of the MGM exploitation depart-
.„ ment on Monday (6),
succeeding
^^1^^
WiUiam R.
^^^^B^ Ferguson, who retired
M after 30 years with the
Fg^
^I company. Terrell was
m tPj *fcy If
assistant to Ernest
* Emerling, advertising
and publicity head for
Loew's, Inc. for the
past four years.
Dan S. Terrell
Terrell has already
held meetings with
Frank Whitbeck, MGM
studio advertising
head, and Ralph
Wheelwright, assistant to Howard Stickland.
and plans to visit the Culver studio shortly
for meetings with the publicity and advertising
staffs.
William R. Fergruson (left) is seen with
J. Robert Rubin, Loew's vice-president
(center) and Charles C. Moskowitz,
Loew's vice-president and treasurer, at his
farewell luncheon last week.
Theatre
Openings and
CONSTRUCTION:
Construction,
Sales
Alvin, Tex.—Roy Lambden and M. A. Matlock constructing
Tex Theatre, 500 seats. To open in April.
Berryville, Ark.—Site on Highway 62 selected by
Mo-Kan Dnve-In, Inc., lor 200-car drive-in.
Berryville, Ark.— J. Fred Brown has begun rebuilding
of tire-destroyed Ozark.
Blythe. Calii.—Bob Dunmgan building 500-car
drive-in.
Charlotte, N. C—70Q-seat, $100,000 Belvedere under
way lor Herb, Hal and Art Sherman, Sherman Enter-
Forest, Tex.—Rebuilding of the fire-destroyed Forest
Thecrtre begun by co-owners Mrs. Nettie Brown
and Central States Theatres Corp.
Fort Worth, Tex.—Bids being taken by E. Foster
J,
i Son for $250,000, 1.000-seat Weslcliff.
Honey Grove, Tex.—Work under way on 79J-seat
Stale.
Houston. Tex.—Construction started on $400,000
shopping center to include theatre.
North Fort Worth, Tex.—Line Harrington and as
sociates building drive-in, with Jack Corgan as
architect.
Oil City, Pa,— Construction begun on drive-in for
Arthur Kunes.
Pratlville, Ala.—G. C. Coburn and sons Grover R.,
I- T. and H. D. Coburn building $75,000 drive-in on
Highway 31.
Providence, R. I.— Liberty Theatre undergoing $60,-
000 renovations for Samuel Homes.
Tompkinsville, Ky.—Midstate Theatres, Inc., purchased
site for construction of 1,000-seat theatre.
OPENINGS:
Bryson City, N. C.—Gem opened by Gomer Martin.
Miss.—525-seal Ritz opened by J. C.
Moore
Cuero. Tex.—$35,000 Cuero D: -In opened by
Video Independent Theatres, Inc.
Curtis, Neb.—425-seaf, $60,000 Star opened.
De Land, Fla.—R. E. Hawker and H. W. Alexander
opened 300-car drive-in.
Elmer. N. J.—Star opened.
Hermleigh. Tex.—Ken, 279 seats, opened by J. H.
Hutcheson.
Leesburg, Fla.—Carver, 300 seats, opened by R. A.
Getford.
Providence, R. I.— 1,000-seat Elmwood opened by
Ralph Snider circuit.
Salisbury, Pa.—750-seat Village opened by T. J.
Cramblett.
Sterling, Okla.—Friendship Theatre opened by Jim
Mote alter rebuilding.
Whitesburg, Ky.—300-seat Alene opened by Cumberland
Amusement Co,
SALES:
Carnegie, Okla.—Nu-Sho sold to H. D. Cox and
Clint Applewhite by George Payne.
Carnegie, Okla.—H. D. Cox and Clint Applewhite
purchased Liberty from Carl Hartman.
Detroit, Mich.— Martin H. Popielarski has taken
over the Forest from Edward Jacobson.
Grand Rapids, Mich.—Albert May purchased Art
from Milton lacobson.
Harrison, Arlc.—250-car drive-in under way f'r
Nichols (S Hinze purchased by Commonwealth Amusement
Co.
Mexico, Mo.—500-car Little Dixie Drive-ln, under
construction, purchased by Frisina Amusement Co.
Quitman, Ark.—Forace Kennedy bought Quitman
Theatre.
Racine. Wis.—Main Street purchased by Joseph J.
Lee and Alvin Slutz from Standard Thealres.
ry. Conn.—Raymond Joyce sold 460-seal Eno
Me
jle. Mo.—Henry Pickens purchased Semo from
: A. Gilliland.
Wakaw, Sosk.—240-seat Wakaw sold by George
lerzowsky to Steve Sryniuck.
Ten Republic Releases
For February, March
HOLLYWOOD—Republic will put in national
release 10 features during the current
month and March.
This month's releases include "Gunmen of
Abilene." February 6: "The Arizona Cowboy"
(15); "Singing Guns" and "Tarnished" (28).
The March lineup includes "Federal Agent at
Large" (12); "Twilight in the Sierras" (22);
"The House by the River" and "Code of the
Silver Sage" (25); "Harbor of Missing Men"
(26); and "The Vanishing Westerner" (31).
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BOXOFFICE :: February 11, 1950