Modern

Theatre
Construction,
Openings and Sales
CONSTRUCTION:
Cloy Center, Kas.—Five-acre tract on Route 24
purchased by Ken Ehret and Gordon Erickson for
construction of 325-car drive-in,
Demopolis, Ala.—Webb Bros, begcfn construction
of 300-car drive-in
Hazlehurst,
on
Ga.—Jeff
highway
Davis
80.
Thecftre opened by
Stein circuit,
Hugoton, Kas.—Ten-acre site purchased- by Russell
Harris for construction of drive-in.
Miami, Fla.—Work begun on 150-car drive-in at
Morthwest Seventh avenue and 87lh street for George
Wilby.
Mixineapolis, Minn.—900-seat Central to be built by
Donald Shanedling and associates.
Porterville, Calif.—Verne Sch-^in building 700-car,
$65,000 drive-in,
Portsmouth. N. H.—Permit granted E. M, Loew
and Larry Laskey to construct 864-car drive-in on
Route 1.
San Antonio, Tex.—John Carson, John Santikos,
Louis Santikos. Olmos Amusement Co., building newsuburban
theatre.
Son Antonio, Tex.—Lcmdsman-Richter Enterprises
plan to construct 800-car Rigsby Drive-In.
Tuscumbia. Ala.—Work resumed on $250,000, 950-
seat theatre ior Muscle Shoals Theatres.
OPENINGS:
Berwick, La.— St, Mary Drive-In, 350 cars, S40,00n,
opened by Southeastern Theatres.
Devine, Tex. — 300-car Medina Valley Drive-In
opened on Highw^cy 81.
Paul, Ida.— Mr- and Mrs. Arvis Edmondson opened
'100-seat ArVon.
Pelahaichie. Miss.—Rickey opened.
Premont, Tex.—R. N. Smith Theatres, Inc., opened
oOO-secrt Rig
Tampa, Fla.—Fun-Lan, 650 cars, opened by P. J.
Sones and S T. Wilson,
Tarrentum, Pa.—Manos Theatre reopened by Manos
circuit after $200,000 renovation job.
Winter Haven, Fla.—330-car drive-in opened by
Talgar circuit.
SALES:
Brawley, Calif.—J. R
Eureka from Ben Ameda
McDonough purchased
Brighton. Ala.—Fox to J. P Corbetl by Mr. and
Mrs I. Lewis Philips.
Colipotria. Calif.—Ben Ameda sold Calipatria to
I R. McDonough.
Chapmonville. W. Va.—Harold McCIoud purchased
Rex Irom C, D Hager.
Daly City, Calif.— Edward Albin purchased Crest
from Ray Knight.
Falfurrias, Tex.—Van Chamberlain purchased Star
Dri
Hawkins. Tex.—Roy DeVinney sold Hawk to B. B.
Spurlock.
Hueytown, Ala.—Howard A. Sadler bought Princess
Irom Harry Willoughby.
Now Boston, 111.—New Boston purchased by Harold
McMeen and Kenneth Bergren.
Kre'isler Picked to Help
Sell Foreign Films Here
NEW YORK—B. Bernard Kreisler, who ha.s
been a student of the European film industry
for several years, has
been made executive
director of the new
Motion Picture Ass'n
of America advisory
unit for foreign films
and will work with
John G. McCarthy.
MPAA vice - president
in charge of international
affairs.
The unit will provide
information for
B. Bernard Kreisler foreign - language producers
and distributors
on U.S. customs, taxation, state censorship,
importation and storage of prints under
bond and the production code. It will
supply free screening service, arrange for the
reception here of foreign producers and distributors
and supply them with lists of likely
outlets for their films, including analyses of
the potentialities of different markets.
A committee will be formed to consist of
the presidents of the U.S. international companies
and representatives from Italy, France.
Mexico. Argentina, Sweden and Spain. It is
expected that India and Germany will be
added later to the committee, but its services
will be made available immediately to
all foreign producers.
No special effort in behalf of Great Britain
is being made at the outset, McCarthy said
Tuesday (31), because that country has no
foreign-language difficulty here and because
it already has representation here through
Universal - International and Eagle Lion.
MPAA will pay the expenses of foreign producers'
representatives coming here for aid.
The first, who was unidentified, may arrive
in about two weeks.
Kreisler is well known in the industry. He
is a graduate of the Harvard School of Business
Administration and has been associated
Rank's Children's Films Go Over in
PHILADELPHIA—The J. Arthur Rank
pictures made especially for the juvenile
market caught on with Philadelphia
youngsters who saw them at the experimental
programs offered at the Hollywood
Theatre here. Local sponsors saw in them
an opportunity to develop a special type
of motion picture for the young filmgoer
which will be attractive to the yoimgsters
and acceptable to adult groups urging
better children's programs.
The program at the Hollywood Theatre,
owned by Melvin Fox, consisted of four
subjects. The first, "Bush Christmas,"
was a 69-minute film produced in Australia.
The stoi-y concerns the search for
horse thieves by a group of children, with
the culprits captured by the youngsters
with the aid of their parents. The second
subject was a seven-minute black and
white cartoon, "Robin A. Robins." Third
on the program was an 18-minute film,
produced in Canada, entitled "The Boy
Who Stopped Niagara," and the story
concerned the search for a boy who had
removed an important key and thereby
had turned off the power derived from
Niagara's power projects. The final subject
was a nine-minute scientific short,
made in England, entitled "Who, What
and Why?"
Mrs. Victor Frank, chairman of the
women's committee of the Philadelphia
Forum which sponsored the showing, said
adult groups throughout the country
should begin a movement to obtain this
type of film entertainment for American
children. "These pictures," she said, "are
entertaining and beneficial to youngsters.
The stories presented situations with
which the children could identify themselves.
The primary actors were children
and the action on the screen captured
their Imagination."
with the American Arbitration Ass'n, Trans-
Lux Theatres, Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences, the code board, Universal-
International and United Artists. He recently
completed a 20-month, 17-country survey of
foreign film conditions for Harvard.
McCarthy said that he and Eric Johnston,
MPAA president, had found foreign producers
unhappy over the U.S. market, believing
themselves excluded, and that because of an
identity of interest the fair and sensible
thing to do is to help them. He also saw
"larger economic i.ssues involved" such as the
great need of debtor nations for American
dollars. He said that they were not to be
guaranteed any increase in dollar earnings
here, as that would depend on the acceptability
of their product and their skill at marketing
it after having been supplied with
necessary information. A pamphlet in several
languages will be issued shortly. The State
department and foreign legations have informally
expressed enthusiasm.
The matter has been taken up informally
with the Society of Independent Motion Picture
Producers with the hope of getting the
support of that organization. No independent
distributors of foreign films here have protested,
McCarthy said, and MPAA expects
to work closely with them.
The free screening service will include
showings in the projection rooms of MPAA
distributor members with the expectation that
important executives of those companies will
sit in. McCarthy said he has already approached
the Ti-easury department regarding
possible adjustments in the 30 per cent
general import tax to ease the burden on
foreign films. When the new advisory unit
gets under real headway, a staff will be added
as needed.
Kreisler said he has severed all connection
with International Film Associates, which he
recently organized, and all other business
ties, and will devote his entire time to his
new job.
U. S. Debut
Mrs. Fiank said that special attention
was paid to reactions and behavior of the
children. Behavior, she said, was excellent.
"Tlie children did not wiggle or make
any noise. They did not even leave their
seats to go to the bathroom. Tliat's how
the pictures held their interest."
Jack Smith, manager of the Hollywood
Theatre, said "the reception demonstrates
that there is plenty of room for this type
of film. The youngsters seemed to love
the stuff, and since the product was appealing
to youngsters from the age group
four and up, exhibitors looking to build
children's audiences should welcome this
kind of product," he said.
A preview of the films was presented for
officials of women's clubs, recreational
leaders, principals and teachers from public
and private schools. The subjects were
released by the Rank organization
through the Philadelphia branch of U-I.
BOXOFFICE : : February 4, 1950 35