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Fight Against Amusement Tax<br />
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Open Drive Against 20% Movie Tax<br />
BV GLENN C. PULLEN<br />
S P A T C_H_<br />
Federal Amvisement Tax<br />
Opposed by Theatre Meri^^<br />
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FROM WARNER BROS.-f^ TH<br />
RADIO CITY iMLUSlG HAL-L NOVIf<br />
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'WITH<br />
ALISTAll<br />
ADAPTATIOt
BEST HITCHCOCK MANNER
FIGURE<br />
OF THE<br />
WEEK<br />
!<br />
MT IN AGAIN<br />
It's Clifton Webb ready for a plunge into a sea of mirth in 20th Century-Fox's<br />
Technicolor version of the riotous best-seller and Reader's Digest feature, "Cheaper<br />
By the Dozen." With Jeanne Crain and Myrna Loy also starred, the picture<br />
makes its bid for top comedy honors of the year when it hits the nation's theatres<br />
in April.<br />
(Advertisement)
i s<br />
i<br />
i:\TliE:<br />
, SE<br />
-i^<br />
i Herbert,<br />
"PuAe o/-t/ie "T/iofimi ruituM /nduSt'i^<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published in Nine Sectional Editions<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chiei and Publisher<br />
MES M. JERAULD Editor<br />
MHAN COHEN. ..Executive Editor<br />
SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
.M SPEAR Western Editor<br />
; HUDNALL Equipment Editor<br />
I'MOND LEVY..General Manager<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Elilorial Offices: 9 Itockefellcr Plaza. New<br />
20, N. V. Kaymonii Levy, General<br />
i-er; James M. Jerauld, Editor; Clies-<br />
I'rledman. Editor Showmandiser Seoi.<br />
A. J. Stockcr and lialph Scholbc.<br />
iiimcnt Advertising. Telephone CO-<br />
5-63T0.<br />
Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd.,<br />
t'ily 1. Mo. Nathan Cohen, Execu-<br />
K<br />
'<br />
Kdiiiii; Jesse Shiyen, M.inaglng Edi-<br />
Munis Schlozm.m, Business Manager.<br />
ndh lludnall. Editor The MODERN<br />
Herbert lioush. Manager Adding<br />
Sales. Telephone CHestnut 7777.<br />
itral Offices: Editorial—624 S. Michi-<br />
Mt.. Chicago 5, 111. Jonas Perlherg.<br />
iilione WEbster 9-4745. Advertising—<br />
.1 liast Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, 111.<br />
I/Ainc Iliilchlson and E. E. Ycck. Telc-<br />
I'limo ANdover 3-3042.<br />
-stern Offices: Editorial and Film Adver-<br />
14—11404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood<br />
t'alif. Ivan Spear, manager. Teleu-<br />
GLadslone 1180. Equipment and<br />
I'ilm Advertising-072 S. LaFayetle<br />
i IMacc. I.os Angeles. Calif. Bob Wett-<br />
1. manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-228G.<br />
i.liington Offices: 6417 Dahlonega Road.<br />
manager. Phone Wisconsin<br />
: I Sara Voung, 932 New Jersey. N.W.<br />
London Offices:<br />
2GA. Bedcliffe Mews. Kenir!i;iou.<br />
S. \V. John Sullivan. Manager.<br />
I'lii.lishers of: The MODERN THE.WRE.<br />
[I iblislied monthly as a section of BOXiifllfE:<br />
BOXOITflCE DAROMETER.<br />
Alb.iny: 21-23 Waller Ave.. M. Berrlgan.<br />
.Mlanta: 103 Walton. N. W.. P. H. Savin.<br />
Birmingham: Tlie News, Eddie Badger.<br />
Boston: Frances W. Harding. Lib. 2-9305.<br />
Charlotte: 210 W. 4th.<br />
Pauline Griffith.<br />
Cincinnati: 4029 Reading. Lillian Lazanis.<br />
Cleveland: Elsie Loeb. Falrmount 0046.<br />
Dallas: 4525 Holland. V. W. Crisp.<br />
Menver: 1645 Lafayette. Jack Rose.<br />
Dcs Moines: Register-Tribune. Russ Schoch.<br />
Detroit: Fox Theatre BIdg., II. F. Reves.<br />
Indianapolis: H. M. Rudeaux.<br />
Memphis: 707 Spring St.. Null Adams.<br />
Mlliiaukee: 3057 No. Murray. John Hubel.<br />
Minneapolis: 29 Washington. So . Les Rees.<br />
.N'lw H.iven: 42 Church. Gertrude Lander.<br />
New (Irlcans: 218 S. Liberty. A. Schlndlcr.<br />
Okla. City: Terminal Bldg.. Polly Trlndle.<br />
Omaha: World-Herald Bldg.. Lou Gerdes.<br />
Philadelphia: 5363 Berks. Norman Shigon.<br />
Pittsburgh: 80 Van Braam, R. F. Kllngen-<br />
.smith. ATlantic 2002.<br />
Portland, Ore.: Edward Cogan, Nortonla<br />
Hotel. Advertising: Mel Hickman, 907<br />
Terminal Sales Bldg., ATwater 4107.<br />
SI. Louis: 5149 Rosa, David Barrett.<br />
Salt Uike City: Deseret News. H. Pearson.<br />
San Francisco: Call LIpman. 25 T.iylor St.,<br />
Ordway 3-4SI2. Advertising: Jerry Nowell.<br />
1003 T.W.A. Bldg., YUkon 6-2522.<br />
Seattle: 923 N. 84tli St.. Willard Elsey.<br />
In<br />
Canada<br />
Calg.iry: The Albertan. Wm. Campbell.<br />
Montreal: 4330 Wilson. Roy Carmichael.<br />
St.<br />
John: 116 Prince Edward. W. McNuIty.<br />
Toronto: R. R. 1. York Mills, M. Oalbraith.<br />
Vancouver: Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy.<br />
Victoria: 938 Island H'viy. Alec Merrlman.<br />
Winnipeg: The Tribune. Ben Lepkin,<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Entered as Second Class matter at Post<br />
Office. Kansas City. Mo. Secllon.il Edillon.<br />
J3.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50<br />
MARCH 4, 1950<br />
Vol, 56 No. 18<br />
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD!<br />
i N SEEKING new methods whereby the industry<br />
may regain what has been termed, "the<br />
lost audience," it is pertinent that consideration<br />
be given to self-examination that would reveal<br />
the causes for the patronage drop. It would<br />
seem desirable to plug up these "holes," lest<br />
more patronage be drained away than the new<br />
methods are able to attract. Thus the chances<br />
for business improvement would be doubly assured<br />
and the net gain be greater than if only<br />
one course were to be followed.<br />
For the past several years, there has been a<br />
tendency, both on the part of the public and<br />
the industry, to put all the blame on the product<br />
which has come out of Hollywood. The truth<br />
of the matter is that, since the surplus of pictures<br />
made during the "anything goes" war<br />
years has been used up, there has been a steady<br />
rise in picture quality.<br />
It is widely admitted that<br />
films of current vintage are better than ever in<br />
the history of the industry. But good—even<br />
very good — pictures are not drawing the business<br />
they deserve, for one reason or another. It<br />
seems tbat only the very big pictures are succeeding.<br />
But erroneous evaluation of what is<br />
"big" is limiting the supply.<br />
We have conducted a personal survey into<br />
conditions which confirm the findings of professional<br />
researchers that theatre business generally<br />
is quite good on weekends, but heavy<br />
losses are sustained in the forepart of the week.<br />
Demands for "preferred" playing time—weekends—has<br />
caused the belter attractions to be<br />
played on these dates, with the lesser, but good,<br />
pictures being shunted into "off-night" bookings<br />
—and neglected. This has contributed to making<br />
moviegoing largely a weekend habit, while<br />
during the remainder of the week near-empty<br />
houses serve to discourage patronage.<br />
There are many factors contributing to the<br />
drop in patronage at the nation's boxoffices, )et<br />
they might all be tied into one package, which<br />
CLin be labeled, "Outmoded Policies."<br />
As in commercial fields, merchandising means<br />
more than just advertising and selling, so does<br />
showmanship encompass operational policies and<br />
])ractices in the theatre. Moss-backed precedents<br />
and habits—and following lines of least resistance—are<br />
greatly responsible for the shrinking<br />
motion picture auilience. It is a continuation of<br />
habits born in the war era, few of which have<br />
been changed, which have held back the rise in<br />
patronage merited by the increasing improvement<br />
in picture quality, causing the industry to<br />
arrive at its present state of affairs, which now<br />
is approaching the "alarming."<br />
It is high time, indeed, for a cliange—for a<br />
complete overhauling—that will put theatre operations,<br />
jjroduction and distribution, in tune with<br />
the demands of the times.<br />
By way of self-appraisal, every theatre owner<br />
needs to ask himself a few questions, the answers<br />
to which lie within his own sphere. By surveying<br />
his own situation, ringing doorbells, if<br />
necessary, he will learn what has been keeping<br />
former regular patrons away from his theatre.<br />
He will also learn what needs to be done to bring<br />
them back and what, in his particular situation,<br />
should be done to attract new patronage.<br />
He may find thai his theatre operation needs<br />
a change of pace; most certainly, if he still is<br />
operating under wartime schedules designed to<br />
meet the demands of three-shift-a-day workers.<br />
He may be starting evening shows too early<br />
and finishing too late, running into unnecessary<br />
and unprofitable overtime.<br />
He may come to realize llial people over 3.5<br />
are staying away, because they like to eat their<br />
dinners leisurely, catch the main feature and a<br />
short or tivo, and get to bed early. That school<br />
kids also must gel to bed early.<br />
The downtown operator may need to do something<br />
about providing parking space— the high<br />
fees of which are keeping many patrons away.<br />
Neighborhood exhibitors in cities of from<br />
100,000 to .500,000 will learn on investigation<br />
that day-and-date bookings that "kill" a picture<br />
after a two-days' run is a big cause of lost patrons.<br />
Usually the better pictures are so played<br />
and people ivho cant see them on those nights<br />
lose out and so does the industry.<br />
The three-changes-aweek situations will find<br />
that there is something they can do to promote<br />
pictures, especially to patrons who like the ^'unusuaF<br />
types. That a switch in booking policy<br />
will build up attendance on midweek nights.<br />
That the "discriminating" patrons, as well as<br />
new patrons, can be attracted by special attention<br />
to their demands, among tvhich may be the<br />
two-hour program of one feature and shorts.<br />
Those who have been depending solely on the<br />
buying of pictures for their profit may find they<br />
have been short-changing themselves; that far<br />
greater profits can be derived from judicious<br />
evaluation and booking of pictures, properly and<br />
aggressively SOLD in their communities.<br />
These are but a few findings that introspective<br />
research will reveal. There are others, to be<br />
sure, many of which will be brought out in the<br />
discussions at the conference of rej)resentative<br />
exhibitors and other industry members which<br />
is to be held in Chicago. March 8, 9. under the<br />
sponsorship of 20th Century-Fox. The industry<br />
is looking hopefully to that meeting. There is<br />
great promise that it will provide not only new<br />
methods for attracting new audiences but also<br />
to regain and retain attendance of the "old."<br />
N^Cov. /y^Utf^^-y^
TOA BOARD ENDORSES COMPO;<br />
ASKS ARBITRATION MEETING<br />
1950 Convention Will Be<br />
Held in Houston, Tex„<br />
Oct. 30 to Nov. 2<br />
NEW YORK—The Theatre Owners of<br />
America executive committee Wednesday<br />
< 1 ) voted participation in the Council of<br />
Motion Picture Organizations with reservations<br />
and authorized President Samuel<br />
Pinanski to write all distributors an urgent<br />
request that they call an all-industry meeting<br />
to set up some form of arbitration.<br />
The Shamrock hotel in Houston, Tex.,<br />
was chosen as the site for the national<br />
convention to begin October 30 and run<br />
four days. B. J. O'Donnell was named<br />
general convention chairman. Gael Sullivan,<br />
executive director, was selected as<br />
TOA representative on COMPO and will<br />
name his own alternate.<br />
SAME AS ALLIED STAND<br />
TOA took the same position regarding<br />
COMPO participation that National Allied<br />
had previously taken, that of limiting it to a<br />
trial period of one year. In addition, TOA<br />
went on record as:<br />
Opposing any large budget at the start,<br />
saying that a program must be set up first<br />
and that, quoting Ned E. Depinet, it is<br />
well to crawl before trying to run.<br />
Urging that the local autonomy of exhibitor<br />
organizations be preserved, with<br />
COMPO acting only in an advisory capacity.<br />
Suggesting that COMPO obtain as<br />
much gratis talent as possible from the<br />
industry.<br />
E.\pressing pleasure that COMPO has<br />
gone on record that no poUcy or program<br />
will be adopted except by agreement<br />
on the part of all constituent elements.<br />
Regarding the COMPO budget. TOA re-<br />
Trade Practice Code<br />
Is<br />
Delayed by Board<br />
NEW YORK—Any final<br />
agreement between<br />
TOA and the distributors on a fair<br />
trade practices code will have to wait on<br />
a full vote of the TOA membership. That<br />
was the decision of the executive committee<br />
at its two-day session which closed<br />
Thursday (2). The decision was considered<br />
too important to be made only by<br />
the group. It probably means that a<br />
membership vote will not be taken until<br />
the convention in the fall, though it is<br />
possible members will be polled by mail.<br />
The Walter Reade jr. committee on trade<br />
practices is continuing its study of competitive<br />
bidding, clearances, prints and arbitration.<br />
The last named alone could<br />
cause a long delay because of the necessity<br />
for coordinating the ideas and desires<br />
of the court. Department of Justice and<br />
various sections of the industry.<br />
Television a Big Job<br />
On TOAs Horizon<br />
NEW YORK—One of the biggest forthcoming<br />
jobs of the TOA will deal with<br />
television competition. An executive committee<br />
consisting of S. H. Fabian, R. J.<br />
O'Donnell and Gael Sullivan, executive director,<br />
will meet with distributors and<br />
producers, including independent producers,<br />
for a "frank discussion of the relationship<br />
of television to the whole industry."<br />
The talk will center around the<br />
withholding of films from television, the<br />
use of TV trailers for advertising and<br />
general unified thought and action. The<br />
matter was broached to Eric Johnston,<br />
MPAA president, the next day.<br />
Nathan Halpern, television consultant,<br />
and Robert H. O'Brien of the television<br />
committee were instructed to coordinate<br />
all 25 TOA member frequency petitions<br />
filed with the Federal Trade Commission<br />
for later argument before that body, and<br />
to employ any engineering or local talent<br />
necessary. They will study programming.<br />
garded the figure of $600,000 tentatively proposed<br />
as "unsatisfactory." The attitude was:<br />
"Look what has been accomplished in the<br />
excise tax campaign without large expenditures<br />
and through real cooperation."<br />
Unanimous agreement on the enlistment<br />
of the aid of distributors in mapping out an<br />
arbitration program came after thorough discussion,<br />
with Sullivan and Herman M. Levy<br />
reporting that TOA members throughout the<br />
country want a system set up to insure fair<br />
treatment on grievances and an end to the<br />
flood of litigation and the accompanying<br />
bad public relations for the industry.<br />
Levy said arbitration is tops on the agenda<br />
of exhibitors everywhere. He said the statutory<br />
court antitrust decision permits a system<br />
to be set up when approved by the court,<br />
and takes a favorable view of the American<br />
Arbitration Ass'n as mediator.<br />
Pinanski's letter to the distributors, due<br />
to be mailed over the weekend, will ask them<br />
to take the lead in calling a conference of<br />
all interested groups to determine:<br />
1. If the industry wants an arbitration<br />
system.<br />
2. If an acceptable system can be<br />
evolved.<br />
Levy told the press after the meeting that<br />
the only objection to arbitration in the past<br />
has been one of mechanics. He said that<br />
if distributors do not agree to renewed use<br />
of AAA facilities in the near future, they<br />
will be asked to voluntarily agree to submit<br />
to arbitration outside of AAA. This could be<br />
done, he said, without in any way going<br />
against the wishes of the court. He felt that<br />
engineering and economics as related to<br />
television.<br />
Halpern and O'Brien also were empowered<br />
to set up a research department<br />
which will provide material for an educational<br />
program for members. It is hoped<br />
that information received from members<br />
will aid in implementing the TOA case<br />
before the comjnission.<br />
Mitchell Wolfson of Miami made a<br />
strong plea for the use of TV trailers,<br />
advocating specially-made reels running<br />
not more than one minute. Sherrill Corwin<br />
of Los Angeles described a trailer on<br />
"Mrs. Mike" which brought him "terrific"<br />
business. A commentary was dubbed in in<br />
place of music, he said.<br />
The objectives of the Chicago showmanship<br />
meeting planned by 20th Century-<br />
Fox were endorsed, and it was decided<br />
that will offer a good opportunity for<br />
Sam Pinanski, president, to talk on television.<br />
National Allied favors arbitration and that<br />
the stage is set for action. However, it seemed<br />
evident that TOA favors AAA as mediator.<br />
Commenting on the admission tax campaign,<br />
Sullivan said Congress wants to be<br />
sure that if it votes repeal, the industry will<br />
not let any states take over. He also gave a<br />
detailed report on the tax repeal drive.<br />
To Undertake Strong<br />
Membership Drive<br />
NEW YORK—The TOA executive committee<br />
has decided to open a strong membership<br />
campaign. A planning committee<br />
has been named, consisting of S. H.<br />
Fabian, Leonard H. Goldenson, Robert W.<br />
Coyne. R. J. O'Donnell, Sherrill Corwin,<br />
Mitchell Wolfson and Gael Sullivan, executive<br />
director, to blueprint the drive.<br />
Plans call for drives during April, May<br />
and June in areas where TOA has good<br />
membership but no active units, such as<br />
Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.<br />
The executive committee also decided<br />
not to move in on local censorship problems<br />
unless asked to do so by the local<br />
unit, when TOA would supply legal advice<br />
and possibly run a public relations campaign.<br />
Sullivan said Nebraska expects a<br />
censorship bill will be introduced in the<br />
legislature next year, but that the local<br />
unit is entirely able to conduct its own<br />
campaign.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950
Western<br />
United<br />
DuMont<br />
General<br />
QUESTION OF THEATRE VIDEO<br />
DRAWS A RECORD FCC ENTRY<br />
Exhibitor Interests Head<br />
46 Groups With cm Eye<br />
On Big-Screen TV<br />
By SUMNER SMITH<br />
NEW YORK—Forty-six groups interested<br />
In theatre television have filed requests<br />
with the Federal Communications commission<br />
to appear at forthcoming hearings on<br />
the allocations of frequencies. Many different<br />
interests are represented, with the<br />
field of motion picture theatre exhibition<br />
leading all others by a wide margin.<br />
The final total, reached when the FCC<br />
deadline expired Monday (27) , with a number<br />
filing at the last moment, is considered<br />
amazing. This industry will be more<br />
fully represented at the hearings than it<br />
has been represented at any similar previous<br />
occasion.<br />
COLUMBIA BROADCASTING FILES<br />
To the surprise of many, Columbia Broadcasting<br />
System filed the last day. CBS was<br />
the only broadcaster to file. It had been<br />
believed that no television broadcasters would<br />
try to appear at the hearings. The feeling<br />
was that they would wait to learn public<br />
reaction and the attitude of the commission,<br />
and enter the picture only when the matter<br />
of actual allocations came up and then only<br />
if it appeared there would be interference<br />
with their services. Others took the less kindly<br />
view that they would work behind the<br />
scenes.<br />
Western Union filed late and in doing so<br />
replied to earlier statements by exhibitor<br />
groups saying common carrier service could<br />
not be effective. The company said it had<br />
not been officially approached by the industry<br />
for information, and that if the industry<br />
would state its requirements. Western<br />
Union would provide an estimated cost of<br />
supplying service. It said it is in a position<br />
to supply intercity radio relay circuits tliat<br />
will provide the best of service. It added it<br />
has become a member of a subcommittee of<br />
SMPTE so that all information collected by<br />
that scientific group will be available to it.<br />
AT&T IN THE RACE<br />
American Telephone & Telegraph Co. told<br />
the commission that it will be serving more<br />
than 40 cities before the end of the year,<br />
and it. too, said it is receiving SMPTE aid<br />
in determining the industry's service needs.<br />
"The Bell System," the document said, "will<br />
cooperate fully in the proposed hearings in<br />
the determination of the issues which have<br />
a bearing on the methods by which theatre<br />
television transmission service can best be<br />
furnished, including the determination of<br />
the extent to which it is in the public interest<br />
that such service be furnished by common<br />
carriers."<br />
Skiatron said it will have ready for demonstration<br />
early in the summer a "most reasonably<br />
priced" projector providing light comparable<br />
in brightness to that in the movies,<br />
and inviting the FCC to witness the demonstration.<br />
It argued that its inclusion in the<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950<br />
British Problem Is Taking<br />
Johnston, Arnall Abroad<br />
NEW YORK—What the American film industry<br />
has to expect or to hope for from<br />
Great Britain during coming months was<br />
shrouded in a fog of uncertainties all during<br />
the week as a result of the British elections.<br />
A few days after the election Eric Johnston,<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America president;<br />
Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox<br />
president; Barney Balaban, Paramount president,<br />
Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's, Inc.,<br />
president; Joseph M. Schenck: Harry M. and<br />
Albert Warner; Jack Cohn, executive vicepresident<br />
of Columbia; Joseph H. Seidelman.<br />
foreign head of Universal-International; Phil<br />
Reisman, vice-president of RKO in charge<br />
of foreign distribution, and Joyce O'Hara,<br />
executive assistant to Johnston, conferred at<br />
Miami Beach. They agreed that the situation<br />
was "confused."<br />
Johnston returned to Washington Wednesday<br />
(1) and immediately telephoned to Ellis<br />
Arnall, president of the Society of Independent<br />
Motion Picture Producers, at his home<br />
in Georgia and suggested that they go to<br />
London for exploratory talks with British<br />
officials.<br />
Arnall replied that he would make the trip<br />
hearings would dispel any appearance of<br />
monopoly in the field.<br />
Thomas E. Corbett of Cherry Tree, Pa.,<br />
who has a plan for metered television apparently<br />
similar to that of Phonevision, struck<br />
another note. He said he would appear and<br />
ask the commission to refuse channels to theatre<br />
television interests. He urged three-way<br />
competition between commercial television,<br />
meaning free programs, motion picture theatres<br />
and pay-as-you-see television. He said<br />
the larger motion picture theatre and production<br />
interests are interested only in "preserving<br />
their highly profitable investments in<br />
theatre real estate."<br />
The date of the theatre television hearings<br />
now becomes a matter of prime interest,<br />
but because of the length of the hearings<br />
on color television and other matters<br />
due to be considered by the commission, the<br />
probabilities are that it will be late summer<br />
or fall before they can be held. Various industry<br />
television experts, however, feel that<br />
the delay may prove to be in their interest.<br />
There is a mass of data to be assembled for<br />
the hearings and much time is needed for its<br />
assembly.<br />
At the same time that the FCC deadline<br />
was reached, interest in what had been believed<br />
to be a television survey being made<br />
by MPAA hit bottom. It was learned that<br />
no new survey is planned but that only a<br />
compilation of existing material Is being<br />
and join the MPAA in exploring prospects<br />
for a new agreement.<br />
While the conferences were underway in<br />
Florida the Labor leaders conferred in London<br />
and decided to continue key figures in<br />
the cabinet. Sir Stafford Cripps. chief champion<br />
of austerity, was continued as chancellor<br />
of the exchequer. Harold Wilson again was<br />
given the post of president of the Board of<br />
Trade, a position somewhat similar to the<br />
secretary of commerce in this country. Wilson<br />
is an expert on the film business and<br />
has been one ef the key figures in all the<br />
negotiations between the American film industry<br />
and the British Labor government<br />
during the past four years.<br />
Several men connected with the British<br />
film industry were re-elected as members of<br />
the House of Commons. They were: Tom<br />
O'Brien, general secretary of the National<br />
Ass'n of Theatrical and Kine Employes, a<br />
sharp critic of American films and American<br />
distributors; Eric Fletcher, director of Associated<br />
British Cinemas ; John Diamond, who<br />
is a director of the news theatre. Several<br />
others more or less interested in films were<br />
defeated.<br />
made. The lineup of applicants follows:<br />
,<br />
Exhibitors:<br />
Theatre Owners of America, including the following<br />
members:<br />
Interstate Circuit (Texas), Theatre Owners of Oklahoma,<br />
American Theatres Corp. (Mass.), Lockwood<br />
f- Gordon Enterprises (Mass.), Gamble Enterprises<br />
(Ind), Wometco Theatres (Fla), Neighborhood<br />
Theatre (Va), Comeriord Publix Theatres<br />
Corp, (Pa), Metropolitan Thecftre Corp. (Calif.),<br />
New Mexico Theatre Ass'n, Jefferson Amusement<br />
Co. (Tex), Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Mississippi<br />
and Tennessee, Rex-Your Family Theatre (Ark),<br />
United Theatre OwTiers of Illinois, Kentucky Ass'n<br />
of Theatre Owners, Tri-States Theatre Corp. (Iowa),<br />
Malco Theatres (Tenn.), M. A. Connett Theatres<br />
(Miss).<br />
Tho following TOA members hied individually:<br />
Fabian Theatres (N. Y), United Paramount Theatres,<br />
including the following subsidiary circuits:<br />
Balaban & Katz (111), Paramount Pictures Theatres<br />
(Calif), New England Theatres (Mdss.), Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co , Detroit Theatres Corp.<br />
Allied Stales Ass'n of Motion Picture Exhibitors.<br />
Me'ropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n (N.Y. ).<br />
Loews, Inc.<br />
Producers: MPAA, 20lh-Century-Fox, Paramount<br />
Television Prod.<br />
RCA,<br />
Theatre teleTision equipment manufaciurars:<br />
Paramount Television Prod Laboratories,<br />
Precision<br />
S'
. . The<br />
"PdjUc ^mt^ Wider Use of Technicolor<br />
Treasury Dept. Is Receptive<br />
To Tax Hardship Complaints<br />
Secretary Snyder takes notice of suggestions<br />
by Abram F. Myers that exhibitors<br />
should empliasize financial situation in contracts<br />
with their congressmen: American Federation<br />
of Labor aslis repeal of all excises.<br />
*<br />
N. Y. State Urges Congress<br />
To Delay Tax Revisions<br />
Chamber of Commerce unanimously adopts<br />
a resolution calling on Congress to defer<br />
changes in the federal tax structure until the<br />
1951 session in the fear that politics would<br />
dominate changes made now.<br />
Jack L. Warner Brands<br />
Reports 'Ridiculous'<br />
-X<br />
Says slashing departmental personnel at the<br />
studio by as much as 50 per cent not true,<br />
but curtailment will amount to about 5 per<br />
cent, "proportionate to the amount of actual<br />
production."<br />
Paramount Lays Off 15<br />
As an Economy Move<br />
studio drops employes from its production<br />
and art departments due to unexpected delays,<br />
explaining the cutbacks will be of short<br />
duration and not widespread.<br />
Justice Dept. Asks Repeal<br />
Of the Webb-Pomerene Act<br />
TeUs Congress alternative action on measure<br />
under which Motion Picture Export Ass'n<br />
operates may be drastic revision; State department<br />
and Federal Trade Commission previously<br />
had sought no major changes.<br />
*<br />
British Exchequer Remits<br />
Third B Pool Payment<br />
Sir Stafford Cripps, chancellor, authorizes<br />
transfer to U.S. of $164,000 on earnings up<br />
to March 31, 1949, making total to date $1,-<br />
064,000; equals earnings of British films.<br />
16mm Group Proposes Plan<br />
For Rural Town Theatres<br />
Pictorial Films, Inc.. working with seven<br />
film libraries, to submit plan to bring films<br />
Into theatreless towns to National Ass'n of<br />
Rural Electric Cooperatives in Chicago this<br />
week, to urge community investments.<br />
X<br />
Phonevision Test Delay<br />
Announced by Zenith<br />
Zenith Corp. to postpone experiment for<br />
two or three months because additional technical<br />
arrangements must be made; company<br />
says it has promise of "recent films" but<br />
won't name them.<br />
¥<br />
Selznick Temporary Stay<br />
Against Korda Is Denied<br />
Federal Judge Irving Kaufman refuses producer's<br />
motion to restrain Korda from releasing<br />
"Gone to Earth" in eastern hemisphere.<br />
Seen as Decree Result<br />
NEW YORK—A speedup in<br />
Technicolor<br />
print deliveries and more general use is<br />
predicted as a result of the consent decree<br />
agreement reached between Technicolor,<br />
Inc., and the Department of Justice in<br />
settlement of an antitrust suit which has<br />
been hanging fire for some time.<br />
It has been known for several weeks that<br />
laboratories on both coasts have been installing<br />
color film equipment. The first<br />
impression was that this was for the purpose<br />
of using the Ansco and other processes,<br />
but now, it is believed. Technicolor prints<br />
will be included. The impression is that<br />
insiders had information on the probable<br />
outlines of the consent decree, but nobody<br />
will comment on this.<br />
KALMUS EXPLAINS CONTRACTS<br />
After the weekend announcement that an<br />
agreement had been reached Dr. Herbert T.<br />
Kalmus, president of Technicolor, issued an<br />
explanatory statement saying that the decree<br />
would not terminate any contracts between<br />
Technicolor and its customers on<br />
features which have been completed, or on<br />
those on which work has been started. Customers<br />
desiring to do so can cancel existing<br />
contracts, but Dr. Kalmus said he did not<br />
expect any of them to do so.<br />
"The decree," said Dr. Kalmus, "purports<br />
to terminate certain contracts between Technicolor<br />
and Eastman Kodak Co. Actually,<br />
we have not operated under any of these<br />
contracts for several years.<br />
"Under the decree. Technicolor will grant<br />
licenses under its patents. The decree sets<br />
forth a list of patents under which Technicolor<br />
will grant to each applicant a nonexclusive<br />
license without royalty and without<br />
know-how. And it sets forth another list<br />
of patents under which it will grant a nonexclusive<br />
license on a reasonable royalty<br />
with know-how. The applicant must apply<br />
for the license in good faith and must accept<br />
the ruling of the court as to the amount<br />
of royalty in the event that Technicolor and<br />
the applicant cannot agree as to what is a<br />
reasonable royalty.<br />
PROUD OF PIONEERING<br />
"In the event that such a royalty-paying<br />
license has been entered into. Technicolor<br />
will give know-how to the licensee in the<br />
form of a manual or equivalent statement<br />
stating the methods and technical information<br />
known to and used by Technicolor in<br />
its commercial practice of manufacturing<br />
motion picture prints in color at the date<br />
of the entry of the consent decree which is<br />
relevant to the practice of such licensed<br />
patents. Technicolor has long been willing<br />
to license its patents.<br />
"Technicolor is extremely proud of its history<br />
as a pioneer in the use of color in motion<br />
pictures. The name 'Technicolor' has<br />
always stood for highest quality and will<br />
continue to do so. Nothing in the decree<br />
permits the use of 'Technicolor' without the<br />
permission of Technicolor. It is through<br />
continuation of its policy of expenditure for<br />
research, of constant further development of<br />
its apparatus and procedure, of improvement<br />
of its services, and fair prices that<br />
Federal Action Termed<br />
As 'Discouraging'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Action of the U.S. government<br />
in entering into a consent decree<br />
with Technicolor and thus withdrawing<br />
its charges of antitrust violations<br />
against the color firm was termed<br />
"discouraging" and a "travesty in Hollywood<br />
scientific progress" by a former<br />
member of the Justice department's antitrust<br />
division who was active in investigating<br />
and preparing the government's<br />
suit.<br />
Expressing outspoken dissatisfaction<br />
was Fred A. Weller, now executive secretary<br />
and general counsel for the Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Southern<br />
California and Arizona, who declared<br />
Technicolor has established "a tragic<br />
record in stymying motion picture production<br />
in color during the past seven<br />
to ten years ... I never encountered a<br />
more vicious circuit of monopoly and restraint<br />
of trade . major producers<br />
have a long way to go before they are<br />
able to obtain the practical benefits of<br />
this decree."<br />
Technicolor expects to maintain an outstanding<br />
position in the field of color motion<br />
pictures.<br />
"Technicolor has agreed to the entry of<br />
this decree because it believes it affords a<br />
practical basis for a settlement of its difficulties<br />
with the government and to avoid<br />
the time and expense of long protracted<br />
trial. As set forth in the decree, Technicolor<br />
has not and does not admit that it has been<br />
a party to any violation of the antitrust laws.<br />
Under terms of the agreement, a total of<br />
92 patents will be made available without<br />
royalty payments to all Technicolor licensees.<br />
For a "reasonable royalty" the color firm is<br />
directed to license 12 other patents, 48 patent<br />
applications and all patents which it<br />
acquires or applies for through Nov. 28, 1953.<br />
Other decree provisions;<br />
Licensees are not required to employ Technicolor<br />
cameras, services and facilities exclusively.<br />
Technicolor is required to furnish, at a<br />
nominal expense, plans and prints of its<br />
three-strip camera to anyone who wishes to<br />
manufacture it. Two of these cameras must<br />
also be made available at a "reasonable"<br />
rental.<br />
Technicolor may not make any assignment,<br />
sale or other disposition of any of the patents<br />
which would deprive it of the power or authority<br />
to grant licenses, unless it requires<br />
as a condition of such action that the purchaser,<br />
transferee or assignee shall observe<br />
the requirements of the decree.<br />
Technicolor is to provide that the licensee<br />
may cancel the license at any time after<br />
one year from the initial date thereof by<br />
giving a 30-day written notice.<br />
10<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
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Paramount's Sensational<br />
Spring Product From Now Thru May<br />
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Ever/bodys lA/alt/ng<br />
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CECIL B. DeMILLE S<br />
^^^ Paramount Masterpiece<br />
Kam$oit<br />
AMD<br />
Goto Ot&f<br />
Cfiartes fiicfcford<br />
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Hi?f<br />
Color by<br />
TECHNICOLOR<br />
WILLIAM<br />
With<br />
RAYMOND JAMES<br />
DEMAREST WALBURN GLEASON<br />
• •<br />
WARD CLARENCE PERCY HARRY<br />
BOND-MUSE-KILBRIDE -DAVENPORT<br />
Produced and Directed by FRANK CAPRA • Screenploy by<br />
Robert RIskin- Additional Dialogue by Melville Shavelson and<br />
Jack Rose -Based on o Story by Mark Hellinger<br />
New Songs: Lyrics by Johnny Burke<br />
Music by James Van Heusen<br />
HEDY<br />
starring<br />
VICTOR<br />
LAMARR MATURE<br />
GEORGE<br />
ANGELA<br />
SANDERS LANSBURY<br />
HENRY<br />
WILCOXON<br />
Produced and Directed by Cecil B. DeMille<br />
Screenplay by Jesse L Lasky, Jr . Fredric M Frank<br />
From original treatments by Harold Lamb and Vladimir Jabotinsky<br />
Based upon the history at Samson and Delilah in the Holy Bible. Judges 13-lG<br />
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Crosby di<br />
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ALAN LADD<br />
WANDA HENDRIX<br />
with<br />
Francis Lederer • Joseph Calleia<br />
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Robert Cummings<br />
leii Tour (.ongreumon lo vote<br />
To Repeal The Movie Tax<br />
Lizabeth Scott<br />
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Diana Lynn<br />
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Directed<br />
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by WILLIAM DIETERLE<br />
mitchelI leisen<br />
Production<br />
^froducad by RICHARD MAIBAUM<br />
Dir«l«d by MITCHELL LEISEN<br />
Screanplay by Robert Thoeren<br />
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It's The Best Show In Town!"<br />
BARBARA STANWYCK<br />
. JOHN LUND<br />
W.H JANE COWL<br />
Phyllis Thaxter • Lyie Bettger • Henry O'Neill<br />
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RHONDA FLEMING<br />
DENNIS p'KEEFE<br />
Thomas Gomez • Fred Clark<br />
Frank Faylen Eduardo Noriega<br />
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Directed by LEWfS R. FOSTER<br />
Scroanploy by ^^^^^^ Produced by<br />
Geoffrey Homes WILLIAM H. PINE<br />
ind Lewii R. Foster<br />
WILLIAM C. THOMAS<br />
A MITCHELL LEISEN p,od„..,.„<br />
Produced by<br />
Dir«c(»d by<br />
RICHARD MAIBAUM MITCHELL LEISEN<br />
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See Record Turnout<br />
At Variety Conclave<br />
DALLAS — Advance registrations for the<br />
Variety Clubs International convention to be<br />
held in New Orleans from April 26-29 indicate<br />
that a new high in attendance will be reached<br />
this year.<br />
Three hundred registrations were received<br />
at Dallas headquarters within three weeks<br />
of the announcement in tradepapers and bulletins<br />
to the 37 tents. A registration fee of<br />
$35 for members and $15 for women was required<br />
from all applications.<br />
N. L. Carter, chairman of the New Orleans<br />
executive committee, has been holding weekly<br />
meetings to coordinate the various activities<br />
and complete the entertainment program.<br />
Maurice Barr heads the barkers planning a<br />
special entertainment feature which is beint;<br />
kept hush-hush, but is expected to surpass<br />
any seen at past conventions.<br />
The allocation of hotel accommodations<br />
has been conducted on a first-come, firstserved<br />
basis. Registrants are assigned to<br />
hotels according to the number of rooms each<br />
hotel has made available to the committee.<br />
A dinner will be held by the Hey-Rube<br />
Club, composed of all past chief barkers. This<br />
group was approved at the convention in<br />
San Francisco last May.<br />
R. J. 0"Donnell, chief barker, and Charles<br />
E. Lewis, convention director, have been<br />
working with Dallas headquarters committee<br />
members and will meet with them in the middle<br />
of the month to finalize all convention<br />
plans.<br />
The business portion of the convention follows<br />
:<br />
April 26—Registration of barkers and delegates<br />
at the Roosevelt hotel. This is the<br />
headquarters where all business sessions will<br />
be held.<br />
April 27—A morning session and luncheon,<br />
and an afternoon session for the election of<br />
international officers. If necessary, another<br />
business session will be scheduled for Saturday<br />
morning.<br />
Previous estimates that between 500 and<br />
600 registrations would be received have now<br />
been revised and it is thought that the number<br />
will come closer to a thousand, with<br />
many industry executives and film stars<br />
swelling the total.<br />
January '50 Grosses Off<br />
4 Per Cent, Says ARI<br />
NEW YORK—Audience Research, Inc., reports<br />
that the weekly average attendance at<br />
film theatres for January 1950 was 64,600,000,<br />
compared with 67,100,000 for January 1949, a<br />
drop of 4 per cent.<br />
The researchers point out that December is<br />
usually the low month of the year. A year<br />
ago the January business was 13 per cent over<br />
December. This year it was 23 per cent above<br />
December.<br />
There are not enough television sets in use<br />
to prove that television is a factor in the<br />
decline, the report states. Some surveys recently<br />
have indicated that television set owners<br />
have cut their theatre attendance an<br />
average of 25 per cent. This means very little,<br />
the research group points out, because there<br />
are only 4,000.000 television sets.<br />
The report predicts, however, that as television<br />
sets increase and programs improve<br />
the inroads in film attendance will increase.<br />
Top Figures Will Speak<br />
At 20th-Fox Forum<br />
NEW YORK— Eric Johnston, Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of American president; Abram P.<br />
Myers, board chairman and general counsel,<br />
and Trueman Rembusch, president of Allied,<br />
and Sam Pinanski, president of Theatre Owners<br />
of America, will be among an imposing<br />
list of speakers who will address the twoday<br />
merchandising conference to be staged<br />
by 20th Century-Fox at the Drake hotel.<br />
Chicago. March 8, 9.<br />
In addition, Pi-e.sident Spyros P. Skouras,<br />
and Vice-Presidents Al Lichtman, Andy W.<br />
Smith jr. and Charles Einfeld will discuss<br />
various pha.ses of the problem of bringing<br />
customers back into theatres.<br />
EXTENSIVE REPRESENTATION<br />
It will be one of the most inclusive gatherings<br />
of exhibitors ever to assemble in the<br />
history of the industry. Ideas of both distributors<br />
and exhibitors will be exchanged.<br />
Formal addresses will be brief and discussion<br />
of the varied phases of exhibition pertinent<br />
to the purposes of the conference will be invited<br />
from the floor. It is expected that most<br />
of the time during the two-day sessions will<br />
be devoted to this form of opinion exchange.<br />
Among the exhibitors will be every type of<br />
exhibitor—circuit operators and owners of<br />
mdividual houses in large towns and small<br />
towns. Heads of a number of regional exhibitor<br />
organizations will participate and all the<br />
top sales executives of 20th-Fox and division<br />
managers and exchange managers will be<br />
present.<br />
Leading representatives of other distribution<br />
companies also have agreed to attend.<br />
Skouras will deliver an address of welcome<br />
at the opening session. Both Pinanski and<br />
Rembusch also will talk at the first session.<br />
Other talks outlining the purposes of the<br />
Spyros Skouras Eric Johnston<br />
Trueman Rembusch .s.-im i'iiuinski<br />
gathering will be made by Lichtman, Smith<br />
and Einfeld.<br />
Myers, who has been leading the fight for<br />
repeal of the admission tax as chairman of<br />
the COMPO tax and legislation committee,<br />
is expected to bring the gathering up to date<br />
on details of the campaign and to outline<br />
plans for its continuance. He also spoke at<br />
the recent merchandising conference at the<br />
20th-Fox home office.<br />
In addition to Skouras and the company<br />
vice-presidents, the 20th-Fox home office will<br />
be represented by: W. C. Gehring, assistant<br />
general sales manager; Peter Levathes. short<br />
.subject sales manager; Clarence Hill, supervisor<br />
of exchanges; Sam Shain, director of<br />
exhibitor relations; Frank Carroll, assistant<br />
to Smith; Morris Caplan. statistician of the<br />
sales department; Lem Jones, executive assistant<br />
to Smith, and Roger Ferri. editor of<br />
the Dynamo, sales department publication.<br />
OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS<br />
The company's international department<br />
will be represented by: Emanuel Silverstone,<br />
vice-president and general sales manager;<br />
Francis Harley, vice-president, and Leslie<br />
Whelan, director of advertising and publicity.<br />
H. Blackmer Johnson of the legal department<br />
and Ulric Bell, director of information,<br />
also will be present.<br />
The home office and advertising department<br />
delegation will include: Jonas Rosenfield,<br />
advertising manager; Rodney Bush, exploitation<br />
manager; David Golding, publicity<br />
manager; Stirling Silliphant. in charge of<br />
special promotions; Al Palca. radio manager;<br />
Abe Goodman, assistant to Rosenfield; Vic<br />
Sedlow. art director; Earl Wingart. pressbook<br />
editor, and Ira Tulipan. tradepress contact.<br />
'Bicycle Thief Refused<br />
MPAA Code Seal<br />
NEW YORK—The Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />
America has refused a production code seal<br />
to "The Bicycle Thief." prize-winning Italian<br />
film, according to Joseph Burstyn. president<br />
of Mayer-Burstyn. American distributors of<br />
the picture. In a letter from Jo.seph E. Breen.<br />
MPAA vice-president, denying certificate of<br />
approval, the picture was termed "not acceptable<br />
in its present form" and censorship<br />
of two scenes was specified by the code administration.<br />
Upon notification, Vittoria DeSica. producer-director<br />
of "The Bicycle Thief." refused<br />
by cable from Italy to permit elimination<br />
of the designated scenes. In its present<br />
form, the film has been approved by the<br />
Catholic Legion of Decency and censors In<br />
New York. Pennsylvania and Ohio and was<br />
voted the best foreign picture of the year<br />
by the New York Film Critics and the best<br />
picture of 1949. domestic or foreign, by the<br />
National Board of Review.<br />
Burstyn .said he was discussing with his<br />
lawyers the po.ssibility of appealing the<br />
MPAA decision. Two previous Mayer-Burstyn<br />
Italian relea.ses, "Paisan" and "Open<br />
City." received MPAA seals after certain<br />
eliminations were made.<br />
COXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 15
:<br />
How a Little Fellow Did<br />
"For persons of average means the movies are a necessity<br />
ing<br />
and not<br />
network<br />
a luxury. Durmg<br />
the past 50 years the motion picture has contributed more cable<br />
programs by means of a coaxial<br />
to broadening<br />
running south<br />
the mind<br />
from New York via<br />
and vision of hundreds of millions of people than all the<br />
Philadelphia.<br />
histories and Washington<br />
phUosophies<br />
and Richmond, according<br />
or past ages, particularly to those overwhelming numbers of<br />
to<br />
people whose<br />
current plans.<br />
circumstances<br />
bar them from the treasures of literature or the opportunities of travel " Phonevision Seeking<br />
Pictures From Rank<br />
NEW YORK—The search of Eugene F.<br />
McDonald<br />
His Share in Tax Drive<br />
jr., president of Zenith Corp., for<br />
films for his Phonevision experiment has<br />
crossed the Atlantic. Having failed to date<br />
Editorially last week. <strong>Boxoffice</strong> made the point that<br />
to obtain them from<br />
the "little fellows" he has written London<br />
in<br />
J.<br />
leading<br />
Arthur<br />
U.S. companies,<br />
Rank in<br />
exhibition can carry great weight in the fight to repeal the amusement tax. that he is interested in renting<br />
Here is an interesting letter from one small town theatre owner telling of his British product.<br />
high class<br />
March 20 on the Queen<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
gressman and senators, requesting the Mary repeal<br />
of the admissions effort<br />
and McDonald will probably make an<br />
We have gone all out for tax repeal<br />
tax. Each to<br />
pupil<br />
see him personally then. The belief<br />
here in Winlock, Wash. Winlock is a town wrote three<br />
in<br />
letters, all alike; these are<br />
the trade is that, while Rank is interested<br />
role in the battle:<br />
Rank is due here<br />
of 860 people having a 340-seat theatre. being judged and the prizes will be awarded.<br />
in television income, he will check with<br />
I tell you this because some people think<br />
I will then place each letter in a Universal-International and Eagle Lion, his<br />
a small town is too small to bring any separate envelope and mail them to our<br />
distributors here, before committing himself,<br />
pressure to bear on our lawmakers. congressman and senators. The and will<br />
prizes are:<br />
then reject McDonald's request. Exhibitors,<br />
F^rst. we got our trailer and 2,000 petitions<br />
first prizes, a month's pass to the thevision.<br />
particularly, are wary of Phone-<br />
from National Screen and startatre,<br />
and second prizes, a two-week pass.<br />
They see it as real competition since<br />
ed working them both. I then immediately<br />
contacted our newspaper and got ate because it gives the student good Rank is not likely to risk a loss of theatre<br />
it<br />
The school was tickled pink to cooper-<br />
would keep people in their homes. It is felt<br />
an immediate response in the form of an training and helps a cause that the<br />
revenue by aiding Phonevision.<br />
editorial, also a letter to each congressman<br />
and senator from the newspaper. I 200 letters for each congressman and loan of films for his 90-day test, but that<br />
school is in sympathy with. We have over McDonald insists he is not asking for any<br />
then went to the school and got the senator.<br />
he would rent them on the same basis as<br />
superintendent and coach to writing letters<br />
and sending wires. Then I got the ed in your pages, I hope it will stir some a percentage arrangement, with the distribu-<br />
If the contents of this letter are print-<br />
they are rented by theatres. That could mean<br />
English teachers in the high school together<br />
and offered a first and second<br />
K. A. SPEARS charged set ov^ners per picture. The charge<br />
brother exhibitor to work harder.<br />
tor collecting a part of the dollar to be<br />
prize to each grade (there are four Roxy Theatre,<br />
goes on the telephone bill each month. Mcgrades)<br />
for the best letters to our con-<br />
Winlock, Wash.<br />
Donald's difficulty is that in order to justify<br />
a $1 charge, he must show really good films<br />
or the experiment will flop.<br />
No Time fo Relax in Tax Fight,<br />
Network TV by Cable<br />
Gael Sullivan Warns Industry<br />
NEW YORK—Gael Sullivan, TOA executive director, has issued a special appeal<br />
Reaches Memphis<br />
to members to continue to press for the repeal of the federal admissions tax. He said NEW YORK—Television<br />
the campaign had<br />
became available<br />
reached the half-way mark, that it is for outright repeal and not to Memphis by coaxial cable<br />
merely<br />
Wednesday (1>.<br />
for a reduction, that the House ways and means committee warmly received making the city the<br />
COMPO<br />
southernmost point<br />
testimony but that the repeal bill is still to be written.<br />
reached by network television at the present<br />
Sullivan warned: "This is no time to relax. We must stay on the job and keep time. The caWe was a joint undertaking<br />
in<br />
of<br />
close contact with our congressmen until the bill is passed. Every exhibitor who the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co..<br />
has<br />
Southern<br />
Bell Telephone Co. and the American<br />
not received a definite commitment from his congressman to vote for repeal of<br />
federal admission taxes should contact him at once and make certain of his position. Telephone<br />
Our<br />
& Telegraph long lines department.<br />
prospects are bright but we need your continued support. Keep plugging and call<br />
on us if you think we can be helpful."<br />
A summary The new link<br />
of the<br />
was made possible<br />
highlights of TOA's<br />
by<br />
argument<br />
adding<br />
before the House committee special<br />
followed<br />
equipment to an existing section of<br />
"The<br />
cable which<br />
20 per<br />
runs<br />
cent<br />
south<br />
excise tax on<br />
from St. Louis.<br />
motion<br />
Programs<br />
from<br />
picture admis.sions was a wartime measure<br />
imposed when employment New<br />
was<br />
York reach St. Louis via<br />
at an alltime high level. That the tax has become<br />
burdensome<br />
Chicago.<br />
and En route to<br />
dangerous to the sound<br />
Memphis the cable<br />
economic health of the motion picture industry<br />
crosses the<br />
is apparent<br />
Mississippi<br />
to those<br />
from east to west<br />
of<br />
at<br />
us in close touch with the theatre owners all over the St.<br />
country.<br />
Louis<br />
Continuance<br />
and again, this time from<br />
of<br />
west<br />
this<br />
to<br />
tax will snuff out hundreds of these little theatres. east,<br />
Only at<br />
outright<br />
Memphis. It<br />
repeal<br />
has been<br />
of this abnormal<br />
handling<br />
tax can<br />
heavy<br />
save them and the jobs they represent.<br />
"Of<br />
telephone traffic.<br />
the 18,000 movie houses in continental U.S., at least 8,000 are marginal, a<br />
fancy way of saying they are in the red. They<br />
The addition,<br />
need<br />
the first in<br />
relief from 1950,<br />
this heavy<br />
brings to<br />
tax and<br />
26<br />
they need it quickly. To put<br />
the<br />
it more number graphically,<br />
of cities<br />
every<br />
receiving<br />
fifth seat in a movie<br />
network telecasts<br />
theatre<br />
is occupied by the tax collector.<br />
through Bell System facilities, which<br />
"Fifteen thousand of the approximate<br />
now extend<br />
18,000 motion<br />
about 9,000<br />
picture houses<br />
channel miles in<br />
are in small<br />
rural or suburban areas with length.<br />
admission charges of from<br />
By the end of the year, it is<br />
25 cents to planned<br />
40 cents. Certainly<br />
this does not indicate any to<br />
swollen wealth. The<br />
have network service<br />
tax<br />
available<br />
reduction<br />
in we at least<br />
are asking for and<br />
the resultant saving to the families<br />
40<br />
in<br />
cities—as far<br />
these<br />
north<br />
sections<br />
as<br />
is vastly<br />
Minneapolis,<br />
important<br />
as<br />
to their modest<br />
budget.<br />
far south as Jacksonville and as far west as<br />
"The small theatre operator is not<br />
Omaha.<br />
in the same<br />
The network will<br />
class with<br />
then<br />
the shoe<br />
comprise<br />
store, the dress<br />
shop or the milliner. Their<br />
about<br />
stocks<br />
15,000<br />
and<br />
channel miles.<br />
goods are a visible, tangible thing not subject<br />
to temperament, whim, prejudice or caprice. Showing movies<br />
Norfolk will<br />
isn't like buying<br />
be linked<br />
100<br />
by a radio relay<br />
compacts or 100 watches. A picture must be shown quickly and<br />
hookup<br />
its value<br />
with<br />
except<br />
Richmond<br />
in a<br />
next month. In September,<br />
secondary way ceases. It isn't something you can keep on the shelf and wait<br />
Greensboro.<br />
for a<br />
Charlotte. Atlanta. Birmingham<br />
and Jacksonville will begin better time or a better day.<br />
receiv-<br />
Order your taxation trailers today!<br />
16<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950
ANOTHER HIGH<br />
HONOR FOR<br />
-G-<br />
I<br />
FOLLOWING directly after its winning<br />
* FIRST place in Photoplay Magazine Awards,<br />
M-G-M now acknowledges with pride<br />
LOOK Magazine Medals for<br />
TOP producer of the year, Dore Schary, and<br />
TOP director of the year, William Wellman,<br />
IT is<br />
fitting that while their production of<br />
M-G-M's "BATTLEGROUND" is thus again<br />
HONORED by the press, the public has made it<br />
M-G-M's Biggest grosser in seven years!<br />
"BATTLEGROUND" has that extra virtue of<br />
HUMOR and lusty fellowship that<br />
SETS it apart from all so-called war pictures.<br />
THE warmth and laughter of packed theatres<br />
IS the signal to those who have it<br />
booked<br />
TO hold extra time for all<br />
to see it.<br />
*Jn Photoplay Magazine's Popularity Poll<br />
M'G-M won 2 out of 3 Top Awards!
fHcft ottcC Sf^^c*tt^<br />
Peimanent Tax Fight<br />
QOMPO's tax and legislation committee,<br />
or its equivalent, will be needed as a<br />
permanent fixture, if this industry is going<br />
to carry on a diffused fight against local<br />
ticket levies in all states.<br />
There is nothing new or sporadic about<br />
the plans of a group of organizations to<br />
replace federal taxes with local taxes. The<br />
plan has been under discussion for more<br />
than a year and is thoroughly organized.<br />
When these plans were revealed at the<br />
house ways and means committee hearing,<br />
some of the committeemen became<br />
sarcastic and said they thought cuts, if<br />
made, should be passed along to the taxpayers.<br />
The advocates of local taxation<br />
were neither dismayed nor surprised. They<br />
were prepared for the criticism.<br />
Six organizations are united in their determination<br />
to get this source of revenue.<br />
They are: Council of State Governments,<br />
the Governors' Conference, National Ass'n<br />
of County Officials, American Municipal<br />
Ass'n and Federation of Tax Administrators<br />
and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.<br />
This is a formidable group with a program.<br />
It will have to be combated on a<br />
national scale.<br />
In the latest bulletin of the National<br />
Ass'n of County Officials there is a resume<br />
of the tax-seekers' arguments which concludes:<br />
"The Council of State Governments<br />
and the Governors' Conference were<br />
among the groups proposing that admissions<br />
be left largely to local taxation in<br />
order to relieve local pressure for funds<br />
from the states which would in turn relieve<br />
state need for demanding funds from<br />
the federal government. If this purpose is<br />
achieved, valuable strengthening of local<br />
government could be prevented only by<br />
failure of the local units to take advantage<br />
of the opportunity."<br />
Color Television<br />
•pELEVISION is at the crossroads. The<br />
Federal Communications commission decisions<br />
on the granting of new permits for<br />
television stations, on wavelength assignments,<br />
on permits for theatre television<br />
and on color may come all<br />
at once before<br />
the end of the year.<br />
There is no way of predicting when the<br />
present series of hearings will end or when<br />
the decisions will be made. When the new<br />
rulings are formulated it could be that<br />
television will start on a new basis.<br />
If wavelengths are assigned for color<br />
television, there will be a scramble for<br />
them. The recent CBS questionnaire on<br />
color which drew 9,423 detailed replies<br />
shows that 84 per cent enjoyed color television<br />
much more than black and white,<br />
13 per cent enjoyed it somewhat more.<br />
That total of 97 per cent is a warning.<br />
The first color sets that get onto the<br />
market will make many current sets obsolete<br />
and will force conversion of others.<br />
If theatres succeed in getting television<br />
permits and they can start with color, they<br />
will have an important advantage in the<br />
race for audiences.<br />
-By JAMES M. JERAULD<br />
Rush for Oil Burners<br />
JT IS a perfectly safe bet that there will<br />
be few coal burning boilers in theatres<br />
in the northern section of the country<br />
next winter. Conversion has been steady<br />
since the war. Now there is a rush on.<br />
This may cause a temporary scarcity of<br />
oil-burning apparatus for installation under<br />
old coal boilers, but relief will be faster<br />
than it was during the war when everything<br />
was scarce.<br />
Exhibitors feel that some of the pubhc<br />
officials who laid down drastic fuel conserving<br />
rules last week were over-dramatizing<br />
the situation.<br />
Brownouts were accepted without protest,<br />
but, when the administrators started<br />
talking about closing theatres, exhibitors<br />
quickly pointed out that a vast number of<br />
them were in buildings with stores and<br />
offices.<br />
The storekeepers and office tenants<br />
joined in the protest.<br />
A committee of New York exhibitors went<br />
to Albany and induced Governor Dewey to<br />
announce that he had no immediate intention<br />
of ordering theatre closings.<br />
Claiming Records<br />
J^LL the major companies and some of<br />
the lesser companies have claimed records<br />
for openings of pictures in the past<br />
three weeks. Some companies are giving<br />
out figures running into millions.<br />
There is nothing new about this: it is<br />
standard practice of the publicity departments,<br />
but at this time it is not good<br />
public relations. Industry leaders have<br />
been quoting figures before the house ways<br />
and means committee to convince Congress<br />
that a recession requires abolition of<br />
the ticket tax.<br />
Senators and congressmen read the papers.<br />
Some of them might start asking:<br />
"Who's kidding who?" Pi-oviding the answers<br />
could be embarrassing.<br />
Vaughan Is Inducted<br />
MAJ. GEN. HARRY VAUGHAN was inducted,<br />
lambasted and investigated by<br />
the Circus Saints and Sinners last week.<br />
He can take it. The Waldorf-Astoria ballroom<br />
was jammed up to the third balcony.<br />
There were deep freezers and other things<br />
on the dais. A couple of hundred wellknown<br />
film men are still repeating the<br />
stories privately.<br />
In introducing Vaughan, Tex O'Rourke<br />
said that his mother, like all mothers, had<br />
wanted him to get into the White House.<br />
"Last Thursday was the first time," he<br />
said. "It wasn't in good shape. I asked<br />
them why they didn't get along with the<br />
work, and the military aide to the military<br />
aide said: 'Every time we get a stockpile<br />
of materials somebody wants to build a<br />
racetrack." "<br />
With Harold Hoffman in a judge's robe,<br />
the "jury" "acquitted" the general at the<br />
finish.<br />
Testimonial<br />
For Ben Shiyen<br />
Dinner<br />
KANSAS CITY—A testimonial dinner<br />
will be tendered Ben Shiyen, publisher of<br />
BOXOFFICE, March 28 by the Motion<br />
Pictiire Ass'n of Greater Kansas City in<br />
recognition of his 30th anniversary as a<br />
motion picture trade magazine publisher.<br />
The affair will be the first public function<br />
of the recently organized all-industry<br />
group.<br />
Industry leaders from throughout the<br />
country are expected to attend the dinner,<br />
which will be held in the ballroom<br />
of the Hotel Muehlebach. The Kansas-<br />
Missouri Theatre Ass'n has scheduled its<br />
spring meeting for March 28 so that its<br />
members may attend the testimonial.<br />
E. C. Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest<br />
Amusement Co., is chairman of the committee<br />
in charge of the affair, with Arthur<br />
Cole, Senn Lawler and M. D. Cohn as<br />
co-chairmen. Others on the committee<br />
are: Sam Abend, Al Adler, George Baker,<br />
R. R. Biechele, Howard Burkhardt, James<br />
Castle, Nathan Cohen. Stanley Durwood,<br />
Dale Danielson, Bernie Evens, Glenn Hall!<br />
Finton Jones, James Lewis, Jay Means,<br />
Louis Patz, B. J. McKenna, Leon Robertson,<br />
Robert Shelton, Jesse Shiyen, Felix<br />
Snow, O. F. Sullivan, William Truog and<br />
Robert Withers.<br />
Patterson Is Arbitrator<br />
In Selznick-Korda Suit<br />
NEW YORK—Robert P.<br />
Patterson, former<br />
secretary of war, has been named arbitrator<br />
of the David O. Selznick-Alexander Korda<br />
dispute over distribution of the latter's "The<br />
Third Man" and "Gone to Earth" by Federal<br />
Judge Irving Kaufman in U.S. district court.<br />
Joseph M. Schenck, 20th Century-Fox studio<br />
executive, who agreed to act as arbitrator in<br />
the dispute several weeks ago, later withdrew<br />
because his current vacation in the south<br />
made it inconvenient for him to set a date<br />
for the hearing.<br />
Schwartz & Frohlich, attorneys for Selzniok,<br />
have also filed an application for a temporary<br />
injunction to halt Korda from licensing<br />
the eastern hemisphere version of<br />
"Gone to Earth" because the completed film<br />
departs from the original version and detracts<br />
from the professional standing of Jennifer<br />
Jones, the star.<br />
Korda originally brought the action against<br />
Selznick alleging breaches of their original<br />
agreement for Selznick to release Korda's two<br />
films in the western hemisphere in return<br />
for eastern hemisphere distribution of "Portrait<br />
of Jennie" and "The Paradine Case."<br />
Korda had also received the services of three<br />
Selznick stars, Joseph Gotten, Valli and Miss<br />
Jones, but he stated he was willing to reimburse<br />
Selznick for their services.<br />
MPSC to Handle 'Rachel'<br />
NEW YORK—Motion Picture Sales Corp.<br />
has closed a deal for the distribution in the<br />
U.S. of "Rachel," which will<br />
be made abroad<br />
by M. DeFontaine, French producer. William<br />
Dieterle will direct the film in Technicolor<br />
with Edana Romney in the title role of the<br />
great French actress and Zachary Scott costarred.<br />
18<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
In more than pj comparable engagements. fl<br />
FfftSlCfS DONALD O'CONNOR<br />
PATRICIA MEDINA . ZASU PITTS • RAY COLLINS • JOHN MclNTIRE<br />
and FRANCIS The Old Army Mule who TALKS<br />
Screenplay by DAVID STERN • Adapted from the Novel by DAVID STERN • Produced by ROBERT ARTHUR<br />
Directed by ARTHUR LUBIN • A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL PICTURE
—<br />
Just ask the men who played it 1 I<br />
There has been nothing<br />
like ft in years...<br />
record-breaking openings<br />
...second days beating<br />
top opening days...<br />
weekends that really<br />
turned the boxoffices<br />
on their<br />
ears!<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
12 7o better than "EGG AND I" record-breaking<br />
business at the Orpheum<br />
Theatre! And from all around<br />
San Francisco came comparisons<br />
like: Oakland 144%; Stockton<br />
115%; Sacramento (three theatres)<br />
topped "EGG AND I" in a Saturday<br />
opening; Berkeley, 40% better for<br />
an all-time high.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
Playing five theatre combination<br />
(U.A., Rit2, Vogue, Studio and Culver)<br />
outgrossed "EGG AND I" and<br />
"TAP ROOTS" right down the line.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
Crowded "EGG AND I"<br />
business at<br />
the Lafayette Theatre despite paralyzing<br />
ice and sleet storm.<br />
JAMESTOWN, N. Y.<br />
27% better than "EGG AND I" at<br />
the Warner Winter Garden despite<br />
snow storm.<br />
^f<br />
"<br />
DENVER<br />
Playing the Denver, Alladin and<br />
Webber, equalled "EGG AND I"<br />
and beat "TAP ROOTS" by good<br />
margin.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
Topped "EGG AND I" by 3% at<br />
Publix Utah.<br />
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA<br />
Set new house record at Rainbow<br />
Theatre.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
Paralyzing ice and sleet storm<br />
slowed down afternoon record<br />
breaking business at Boyd Theatre,<br />
but still came in with top house figure<br />
for total day.<br />
NORFOLK, VA.<br />
168% of "EGG AND I" business at<br />
the Newport and Colley in face of<br />
all day hard rain.<br />
OMAHA<br />
At the Orpheum Theatre, Francis dici<br />
better than a good week's business<br />
in its first three days — and in<br />
snowstorm, too!<br />
MIAMI<br />
Playing the Miami, Miracle and<br />
Lincoln, picture is hitting for season<br />
high. It's the talk of the town!<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
Out-grossing the<br />
previously sensational<br />
grosser, "TAP ROOTS" at the<br />
Midwest.<br />
rhot's the story wherever the picture<br />
is playing. And, meanwhile,<br />
the whole group of some 30 smaller<br />
situations which played day-anddate<br />
with the New Orleans premiere<br />
opening, picture held over in practically<br />
every spot to record business,<br />
many recording a full week normal<br />
run gross on opening day!<br />
^Jh/<br />
0hand<br />
have \jou heard<br />
The Film Daily editorial spotted this<br />
one when it said: "There never has<br />
been a comedy quite like it, and<br />
the chances are there never would<br />
be again."<br />
lY. PARAMOUNT<br />
^<br />
March 15
United Artists Closes<br />
Hollywood Offices<br />
the responsibilities of obtaining and selecting<br />
new product will be assumed by the<br />
management." Lazarus, Sears and Kelly "will<br />
spend more time in Hollywood for these purposes,"<br />
the statement continued, and "an effort<br />
will be made to have one of the company<br />
officials in California at all times."<br />
In line with that policy, it was expected<br />
Sears would return here within the next week<br />
or two to attend to routine business matters.<br />
The move leaves UA without a west coast<br />
public relations representative for the first<br />
time in many years. Checking out of the<br />
organization, which had headquartered at the<br />
General Service studios, were Cecil Coan,<br />
publicity-advertising liaison and aide to Bagnall<br />
and Hugh Ratliff, controller.<br />
During their stay on the coast. Sears,<br />
Kelly and Lazarus found time to confer with<br />
Producer Robert Stillman for his first three<br />
films for UA release.<br />
TESMA Joins the Industry<br />
In Seeking Tax Repeal<br />
LOS ANGELES—Members of the Theatre<br />
Equipment and Supply Manufacturers' Ass'n<br />
are joining with the film industry in seeking<br />
repeal of the federal amusement tax,<br />
president of the association,<br />
Roy Boomer, secretary-treasurer of TESMA,<br />
announced this week. In addition, Oscar Neu,<br />
has written letters<br />
to all members of Congress urging repeal.<br />
This week. Boomer sent an urgent<br />
appeal to the 121 members of the association<br />
asking them to write to their congressmen.<br />
Neu, in his letter, said the admissions tax<br />
has become a "nuisance tax" since the end<br />
of the war.<br />
"I am afraid," he said, "that unless some<br />
drastic action is taken against this tax abuse<br />
the theatre business is going to feel ill repaid<br />
for its notable service in the promotion<br />
of government programs."<br />
He said that members of TESMA "who are<br />
taxpayers depending on the prosperity of the<br />
motion picture industry, look forward to a<br />
speedy and complete repeal of this nuisance<br />
tax."<br />
Big Promotional Drives<br />
Being Readied by MGM<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Another chapter in the<br />
turbulent organizational history of United<br />
Artists was written when, in a sudden decision<br />
following the recent resignation of<br />
George L. Bagnall as vice-president in charge HOLLYWOOD—Intensive exploitation campaigns<br />
on a national scale to give individual<br />
of production, headquartering here, the west<br />
coast offices of the company were closed out. promotional value to new MGM product are<br />
No successor to Bagnall will be selected, it being mapped in top-level huddles at the<br />
was announced by President Gradwell L. company's Culver City studios, with William<br />
Sears before he and other executives returned<br />
F. Rodgers. vice-president and general sales<br />
to New York. The decision to shutter manager; Howard Dietz. vice-president in<br />
UA's Hollywood offices was made by Sears charge of advertising and publicity, and Dore<br />
and his associates during a brief trip to Schary. Louis B. Mayer and E. J. Manix, production<br />
the coast after Bagnall had resigned.<br />
executives, participating.<br />
Henceforth negotiations with independent Rodgers announced recently in New York<br />
producers seeking UA release will be carried that MGM would release 16 features during<br />
on at the top level with Sears. Vice-President the five months beginning April 1.<br />
Arthur Kelly and Paul Lazarus jr.. Sears' Included in the plans are merchandising<br />
executive assistant. Selmer Chalif will continue<br />
and advertising tieups as well as exploitation<br />
to function as a special production undertakings which, company officials aver,<br />
liaison here.<br />
are the most ambitious since "Gone With<br />
In an official statement during his brief the Wind" and "Battleground."<br />
stay here, Lazarus declared the company had For example, in launching the Technicolor<br />
accepted Bagnall's resignation "with sincere musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," an entire line<br />
regrets" and said that "for the present, at of feminine western apparel, accessories and<br />
least, the duties of producer contact and novelties will be merchandised; Dot Lind.<br />
"Modern Annie Oakley"—a femme sharpshooter—will<br />
begin a nationwide tour early<br />
this month, to be followed by a group of<br />
Indian chieftains, and tentative plans call<br />
for the picture to be given a gala Hollywood<br />
premiere some time in April, followed by special<br />
prerelease engagements in New York.<br />
San Francisco. St. Louis and Atlanta.<br />
An all-out promotion campaign on the new<br />
Red Skelton comedy. "The Yellow Cab Man."<br />
is being launched via a three-way tieup with<br />
the National Safety Council, the Yellow Cab<br />
Co. and De Soto automobile agencies throughout<br />
the country. Safe driving contests and<br />
awards for motorists with the best safety<br />
records will feature local campaigns in each<br />
of 60 cities. A highlight will be the "longest<br />
taxi ride in history." a junket of more<br />
than 12.000 miles, with Bridget Carr—a featured<br />
player in the film—making a taxi tour<br />
of the nation.<br />
"Nancy Goes to Rio" will be exploited<br />
through a mother-daughter contest, with<br />
'ANNIE' TRIES HER GUN—Dan S.<br />
Terrell, exploitation manager for MGM,<br />
gets a few pointers on the handling of a<br />
rifle from Dot Lind, to be called "The<br />
Modern Annie Oakley," who will tour for<br />
"Annie Get Your Gun."<br />
cruises to Brazil as the prizes; similarly,<br />
through arrangement with the Union Pacific<br />
railroad. "The Duchess of Idaho" will<br />
be plugged through contests in which winners<br />
are awarded vacation in Sun Valley. The<br />
Esther Williams starrer will be premiered in<br />
Boise. Ida.<br />
A wide merchandising campaign Is being<br />
drafted for "The Father of the Bride," including<br />
a cooperative promotion stunt with<br />
Ralston-Purina products. Other upcoming releases<br />
to be accorded special exploitation attention<br />
include "The Reformer and the Redhead."<br />
"Outriders." "Stars in My Crown."<br />
"Please Believe Me." "Big Hangover," "Dink<br />
Stover." "Skipper Surprised His Wife."<br />
"Asphalt Jungle." "Summer Stock." "Mystery<br />
Street." "Devil's Doorway." "The Miniver<br />
Story." "Three Little Words." "King Solomon's<br />
Mines." "Kim." "Toast of New Orleans."<br />
"Visa." "Crisis." "Right Cross" and "A<br />
Life of Her Own."<br />
Does Religious Theme of 'Samson'<br />
Merit an Extended Chicago Run?<br />
CHICAGO—The question before the court<br />
seemed to be; just how scriptural is the<br />
beautiful Hedy Lamarr? Ths witness was<br />
an expert, Cecil B. DeMille. the producer of<br />
"Samson and Delilah."<br />
The film is a work of art of great interest<br />
to people of religious faith because it is a<br />
Biblical story. DeMille said on the witness<br />
stand in federal court here Thursday (2i.<br />
And for that reason, he said it should not<br />
meet the unreligious. cold, legal barrier<br />
against long first run showings in the Loop.<br />
"AH denominations commend the picture,"<br />
he said. "It will draw 40,000,000 people who<br />
don't usually go to movies. My father studied<br />
for the ministry and read the Bible in our<br />
home, and this picture is near my heart.<br />
Furthermore, we have to take in $7,000,000<br />
to break even."<br />
Attorney Thomas C. McConnell, who broke<br />
the first run monopoly of downtown theatres<br />
for the Jackson Park Theatre, questioned<br />
DeMille. McConnell was there before<br />
Judse Michael L. Igoe to oppose the petition<br />
of Paramount Pictures, Inc.<br />
McConnell, son of a Methodist bishop,<br />
knows the scriptures. The questioning went<br />
like this: "Do you think children should see<br />
this picture?" "Yes," answered DeMille. "Do<br />
you think more children would see it downtown<br />
at $1.20 than in a neighborhood theatre<br />
at 40 cents?" "I don't know." "Who plays<br />
Delilah?" "Hedy Lamarr. of course." "It's a<br />
story of seduction, is it not?" "It's a Biblical<br />
story." "Did Dehlah try to seduce Samson?"<br />
DeMille pondered one moment. "She succeeded."<br />
Judge Igoe took the petition under<br />
advisement.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950 21
Big-Screen Video for $1,600<br />
Homemade Theatre TV<br />
Goes Into Iowa Quonset<br />
By RUSS SCHOCH<br />
MEDIAPOLIS, IOWA—A small, quonsethut<br />
theatre in this southeastern Iowa town<br />
of 900 is the first film house in the state—<br />
and perhaps the midwest—to screen television<br />
broadcasts. Through an elaborate receiving<br />
and relay setup, owners of the 450-<br />
seat Swan Theatre can throw a 6x8-foot<br />
television image on the theatre screen.<br />
Projection of television programs admittedly<br />
is not yet perfect, but it does work.<br />
"There are plenty of bugs in it," explains<br />
I. R. Glesne, co-owner of the theatre. "But<br />
it certainly is a start."<br />
Glesne and his partner Mrs. Lillie Johnson<br />
were determined to show the people of the<br />
Des Moines county community "what television<br />
is—whether it came in good or bad."<br />
And they have attained that goal. The next<br />
step, said Glesne, is to improve the image<br />
and sound to the point where theatre patrons<br />
can view broadcasts as easily as they do a<br />
film. Glesne and Mrs. Johnson are the first<br />
to admit it will take time and work.<br />
"For some reason, about 50 per cent of the<br />
image and sound signal are lost in relaying<br />
the broadcast to the television projector and<br />
putting it on the screen," Glesne said. Most<br />
of the television broadcasts received here<br />
come from station WOC-TV in Davenport,<br />
55 airline miles away. Occasionally, said<br />
Glesne, images are picked up from St.<br />
about 200 air miles away.<br />
Louis,<br />
•HOME SET' RECEIVER<br />
The theatre's basic receiving unit—similar<br />
to the ordinary home set— is located in the<br />
Swan hotel, also owned by Glesne and Mrs.<br />
Johnson, about 50 feet away from the steelsided<br />
quonset theatre building. Images and<br />
sound are received on the 36-tube basic unit<br />
just as they are on any set. But it's a long,<br />
complicated path from the set's screen to<br />
the big theatre screen. The original image is<br />
relayed to a special television projector in the<br />
theatre by about 150 feet of cables, which<br />
carry image and sound through conduits.<br />
The cables are piped in to the basement of<br />
the theatre, through the length of the building<br />
in under-the-floor tunnels, then up to<br />
control boxes in the projection booth. From<br />
the booth, the operator turns the television<br />
unit on and off, and controls the sound. But<br />
the television projector itself is not in the<br />
regular projection booth. When being used,<br />
it is placed on a stand 14 feet in front of<br />
the screen, just ahead of the front row of<br />
seats, and attached to cables.<br />
Glesne focuses and regulates the size of<br />
the image to be cast directly from the special<br />
projector. That's done simply by adjusting<br />
its five-inch television lens. Inside the<br />
specially built projector is a maze of tubes<br />
and wires—and one giant television tube<br />
which costs about $500 commercially. "The<br />
projector itself cannot receive the original<br />
image direct from the television station,"<br />
Glesne emphasized. "It doesn't even carry<br />
the sound. It just picks up the image<br />
through relays."<br />
The complex setup is the idea and long,<br />
painstaking work of a prisoner in the Iowa<br />
state penitentiary at Fort Madison. Fred<br />
Threikeld, a 28-year-old inmate, built the<br />
outfit for the theatre as part of Warden<br />
P. A. Lainson's rehabilitation program. Permission<br />
for the special work was obtained last<br />
May from the state board of control, Glesne<br />
said, and the unit was installed recently.<br />
It was Threikeld, described by Warden<br />
Lainson as one of the best radio mechanics<br />
in the state, who brought television to the<br />
penitentiary's inmates long before it was<br />
seen by other lowans.<br />
"Our present goal is to provide our patrons<br />
with plus entertainment through television,"<br />
said Glesne, a naval veteran of World War<br />
II and a relative newcomer to exhibition.<br />
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES<br />
Since the Swan is a small town theatre<br />
which presents only two shows a night, its<br />
schedules are more flexible than those of<br />
big theatres, Glesne said. 'Whenever there is<br />
a good evening television program that<br />
everyone wants to see, the schedules can be<br />
adjusted to allow for broadcasts, Glesne explained.<br />
Although it has not been definitely<br />
shown that television has yet hurt theatre<br />
business, theatre owners are thinking ahead<br />
to the competition it will provide, Glesne<br />
said. And he believes the setup he is developing<br />
is an answer. It is, of course, an<br />
expensive answer—especially for the small<br />
theatre operator. Glesne's total cost so far<br />
has been no more than $1,600—but would have<br />
been at least twice that much if the equipment<br />
had been purchased on the commercial<br />
market, he said. Some radio companies have<br />
built projection units which cost up to $25,-<br />
000, but they still are in the experimental<br />
stage and not on the general market, Glesne<br />
said.<br />
Because a clear, and at times near-perfect,<br />
image is received on the basic set in the<br />
hotel, Glesne believes most of the "bugs" are<br />
in the relay setup. "There is nothing wrong<br />
with the projector itself," he said. "Our trouble<br />
apparently is<br />
in wiring, or perhaps in installation.<br />
It's also quite possible that the<br />
steel sides of the theatre building are giving<br />
us trouble."<br />
Charles Skouros to Tour<br />
LOS ANGELES—To launch National Theatres'<br />
new 21 -week, eighth annual Charles<br />
Skouras Showmanship campaign, Charles<br />
P. Skouras, circuit president, Thornton Sargent,<br />
public relations director, and other NT<br />
executives, will plane out March 7. Skouras<br />
will speak first before the Fox Wisconsin<br />
division in Milwaukee March 10.<br />
The itinerary includes Fox Midwest, Kansas<br />
City, March 13; Fox Intermountain, Denver.<br />
March 15; Evergreen, Portland, March<br />
17; Fox West Coast's southern California division,<br />
Los Angeles, March 21; and FWC's<br />
northern California division, San Francisco,<br />
March 22.<br />
Blames Columnists<br />
For Bad Publicity<br />
MILWAUKEE—The press with its colunrmists<br />
who place unnecessary emphasis on escapades<br />
of errant film players was taken to<br />
task editorially by the weekly Milwaukee<br />
Times in its current issue. The editorial directly<br />
accuses the gossip columnists and the<br />
practices of the press and radio of making<br />
these so-called escapades important.<br />
"We do not condone nor condemn the activities<br />
of persons, be they movie stars or<br />
ditchdiggers, when they overstep the bounds<br />
of propriety," the Times comments. No one<br />
would care what a ditchdigger does and nobody<br />
should care to much what a movie star<br />
does. The folks of the stage are not especially<br />
anointed."<br />
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE<br />
"Just why, when people of the amusement<br />
world, public office or the underworld commit<br />
a moral offense, does the entire nation<br />
stand agog? The answer is simple. The<br />
very people who throw the rocks when they<br />
overstep the limits of propriety are the ones<br />
who made them important."<br />
The editorial says there is "nothing more<br />
obnoxious than the 'key hole peeper' of<br />
which we have a bumper crop. Newspapers<br />
and the radio chains have shoved into our<br />
homes 'syndicate experts.' They comprise the<br />
little army of mudslingers which has has<br />
fastened itself onto Broadway, Hollywood and<br />
bigtime centers."<br />
The Times contends that the very newspapers<br />
which now cry for the "chastisement"<br />
of stars "who have sinned" are the ones<br />
which, "day after day run these gossip colums<br />
detailing the private lives of actors and<br />
actresses. Usually the gossips aren't reporters<br />
but hacks. Most generally their own<br />
backgrounds aren't too sanctified. They<br />
thrive on smut and pass it into the homes via<br />
the newspaper column and the radio wave.<br />
They themselves bicker, battle and fume to<br />
get an 'exclusive' or a 'scoop' that doesn't<br />
amount to a hill of beans."<br />
ORIGIN.AL AND HALF-TRUTHS<br />
The Times says further that the public<br />
wouldn't be one whit the worse for it were<br />
they spared "this drivel, for most of it is<br />
conjecture, half-truth or out and out planted<br />
publicity. It is digested, mainly, by adolescents<br />
and morons or read for amusement by a<br />
few others."<br />
Were is not for these gossips, the Times<br />
further says, the public would never be apprised<br />
of "the moral decadence, if any" of<br />
the actors and actresses and the newspapers<br />
would ignore the "hot stuff " of the amusement<br />
world.<br />
"The columnists and commentators are not<br />
one whit better than the bad actors. He who<br />
writes dirt, revels in it," the Times said.<br />
MPAA Safety Record<br />
NEW YORK—None of the 400 film exchanges<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />
America member companies had any fire<br />
loss in 1949 for the fourth successive year,<br />
according to an MPAA conservation department<br />
report to Eric Johnston, president.<br />
It was the tenth in the 24 years since<br />
the department was set up that there was<br />
a fireless record. The average annual fire<br />
loss from 1926 to the end of 1949 is $202,<br />
a record probably not matched by any other<br />
industry of similar scope.<br />
22<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
OAlL^A'i^<br />
I nflA j^'<br />
uuuAR<br />
M^1« RE0ORD HOUHIP
-<br />
7iJ€i4Aui^t
presents<br />
THE COMEDY O<br />
YEAR<br />
MIllAND-RUSSEll<br />
0^<br />
A<br />
• . .<br />
Osa<br />
. . Producer<br />
^<br />
By<br />
. . MGM<br />
. . . Columbia<br />
. . The<br />
. . Added<br />
^oiimwutd ^e/iont<br />
More Achievement Awards<br />
Added to Growing List<br />
At this rate, it won't be long until every<br />
craft, association and organization connected<br />
with the business of manufacturing motion<br />
pictures starts handing out achievement<br />
awards.<br />
Latest to jump aboard the kudos bandwagon<br />
is the American Society of Cinematographers.<br />
which has completed plans to name<br />
the top picture of the month, which the<br />
l^nsers' membership will select from among<br />
three candidates. Photographic perfection<br />
and "overall interest" will be the chief factors<br />
determining the winners, the organization<br />
declared.<br />
The ASC thus joins two other crafts, the<br />
Screen Writers and Screen Directors Guilds,<br />
in handing out plaudits to celluloid product.<br />
The scriveners stage an annual presentation<br />
ceremony honoring film scripters, while the<br />
megaphonists have a schedule of quarterly<br />
awards, with the top director selected yearly<br />
from among the four quarterly winners.<br />
The SDG, parenthetically, has just given<br />
its third quarterly award to Robert Rossen<br />
Hardly had the dust settled following<br />
the departure of Comic Danny Kaye from<br />
the Warner Bros, stables—an amicable<br />
termination of his contract with that<br />
studio having been secured—when the<br />
carrot-topped comedian was booked by<br />
20th Century-Pox for a one-picture<br />
starring shot.<br />
He will have the topline in "On the<br />
Riviera." a comedy musical to be produced<br />
for the Westwood studio by William<br />
Perlberg. The Technicolor tunefilm<br />
is being scripted by Valentine Davies.<br />
Going along as part of the package is<br />
Sylvia Fine (Mrs. Kaye in private life),<br />
who will wTite special material and some<br />
songs for the opus.<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
personally produced: four Sol Siegel productions,<br />
"A Letter to Three Wives," "House of<br />
Strangers," "I Was a Male War Bride" and<br />
"Prince of Foxes"; two from Producer Samuel<br />
G. Engel, "Come to the Stable" and "Mr.<br />
Belvedere Goes to College": "Three Came<br />
Home," produced by Nunnally Johnson; "It<br />
Happens Every Spring," William Perlberg:<br />
Lamar Trotti. "You're My Everything": and<br />
Robert Bassler, "Thieves' Highway."<br />
The Hollywood foreign correspondents<br />
passed out 14 "Golden Globes," of which five<br />
went to Columbia's "All the King's Men."<br />
Robert Rossen was cited for producing and<br />
directing the opus, which grabbed the "best<br />
picture" kudos, while its star, Broderick Crawford,<br />
was named best actor, and Mercedes<br />
McCambridge, also in the cast, snagged the<br />
awards for best supporting actress and best<br />
newcomer actress.<br />
Olivia DeHavlUand was given the best<br />
actress trophy for Paramount's "The Heiress."<br />
Warners' "The Hasty Heart" was voted the<br />
picture best promoting international understanding,<br />
while its star, Richard Todd, was<br />
cited as the best male newcomer. Another<br />
award to Warners was for "Inspector General,"<br />
rated as having the best musical score,<br />
which was written by Johnny Green.<br />
For his role in MGM's "Battleground,"<br />
signed Mercedes McCambridge for the starring<br />
role in "The Dungeon." which will be<br />
his second entry for United Artists release.<br />
Ralph Murphy has been signed by Scott-<br />
Brown Productions (Producer Harry Joe<br />
Brown and Actor Randolph Scott) to meg<br />
"Lost Stage Valley," booked for an April<br />
start for Columbia release. Scott will not<br />
appear in the opus, which toplines Rod<br />
Cameron and Wayne Morris .<br />
set<br />
Vincente<br />
in<br />
Minnelli to direct "An American<br />
Bernard Gordon and Julian<br />
Paris" . . .<br />
Zimst are teamed at Warners on the script<br />
of the Howard Hunt novel. "Bimini Run,"<br />
which Anthony Veiller will produce.<br />
Darryl F.<br />
For Interracial<br />
Zanuck Cited<br />
Unity<br />
Marking the first time in the organization's<br />
ten-year history that a film figure<br />
has been so<br />
honored, Darryl F.<br />
Zanuck, vice-president<br />
in charge of<br />
production at 20th<br />
Century-Fox, has<br />
been named by the<br />
Ass'n of American<br />
Jewish Writers as<br />
the non-Jew in<br />
motion pictures<br />
who has "contributed<br />
the most to<br />
interracial unity<br />
Darrji F. Zanuck between Christians<br />
and Jews and human betterment among<br />
all Americans."<br />
Zanuck was the unanimous choice In<br />
a poll of more than 2,500 screen writers,<br />
novelists, playwrights, journalists, editors<br />
and publishers. Winners in such<br />
other fields as politics, medicine, law,<br />
government, the stage, sports, religion,<br />
literature, education, business, music<br />
and radio, will be announced by the AJW<br />
at a later date.<br />
for his direction of "All the King's Men," on<br />
which he also functioned as producer and<br />
scenarist, for Columbia distribution. First<br />
and second SDG quarterly awards went to James Whitmore was tabbed the best supporting<br />
actor, while Robert PIrosh was hon-<br />
Story Market Takes Drop<br />
Mark Robson. for "Champion," and Alfred<br />
Werker, for "Lost Boundaries."<br />
ored for wTiting the<br />
With Only<br />
year's best<br />
Four<br />
original<br />
Sales<br />
Meantime the record books were swelled screenplay for the MGM film. Best photography:<br />
Prank Planer, "Champion"; standpoint of story purchases, the film writ-<br />
After several very lush weeks, from the<br />
with the names of winners of two other film<br />
achievement sweepstakes, of color, Walt ing colony encountered Redbook magazine's<br />
Disney, "Ichabod<br />
best<br />
and<br />
use<br />
Mr.<br />
a definitely bearish<br />
annual Silver Awards and the Holly-<br />
Toad": best foreign picture, "Bicycle Thief," market during the period, with only four<br />
wood Foreign Correspondents Ass'n's yearly produced by Vittorio DeSica.<br />
sales recorded. Santana Productions, the independent<br />
unit in which Producer Robert<br />
Golden Globes presentations.<br />
To Darryl F. Zanuck and 20th Century-<br />
Lord<br />
Lawford<br />
and Actor<br />
Fox's<br />
and<br />
Humphrey Bogart are<br />
production<br />
Allyson<br />
partners,<br />
acquired "Everything will Be All Right."<br />
staff went<br />
Join<br />
the Redbook<br />
trophy for "the most outstanding films of 'Royal Wedding' Cast<br />
a suspense melodrama by James Cavanagh<br />
1949"—first time in the 11-year history of the MGM is teaming Peter Lawford<br />
awards<br />
and<br />
and Marie<br />
June<br />
Baumer, and is preparing it as a<br />
that this honor has been conferred Allyson with Fred Astaire<br />
starring<br />
in<br />
on<br />
"Royal<br />
vehicle for Wedding"<br />
John Derek. The subject<br />
will<br />
a total production program instead of on<br />
. . . Latest among more than be for<br />
a<br />
50 actors<br />
Columbia release ... To Columbia<br />
itself<br />
single picture. Zanuck. the studio's vicepresident<br />
and production chief, was schedtier<br />
peace officer, on the screen drama<br />
w*o have portrayed Wyatt Earp, famous fron-<br />
went "The Mother," a romantic<br />
is<br />
uled<br />
Will<br />
by Larry<br />
Geer,<br />
Marcus, with Buddy Adler<br />
to accept the trophy March 2 on the signed for that role in assigned<br />
Screen<br />
Universal-International's<br />
"Winchester 73" . .<br />
the production chores .<br />
to<br />
Guild Players' radio program.<br />
the slate<br />
. Borrowed of<br />
Cited from<br />
Jack Schw-arz Productions, for<br />
as "memorable classics" were "Twelve 20th Century-Fox, Betty Lynn release<br />
will<br />
O'clock High"<br />
portrav<br />
through Eagle Lion, was "Narcotic<br />
and "Pinky," which Zanuck Bette Davis" daughter in RKO Radio's<br />
Squad,"<br />
"The<br />
action drama by Nat Tanchuk and<br />
Story of a Divorce," with Kent Taylor Sam Neuman<br />
.<br />
also<br />
King Brothers acquired<br />
"Crime Against People." an original<br />
added to the cast of the Skirball-Manning<br />
production<br />
. . . Another loanout found<br />
by<br />
Grant Thomas J. Merrill, and are preparing it<br />
Danny Kaye Is Signed Withers shifUng from Republic for<br />
to Paramount<br />
for the Pine-Thomas opus, distribution<br />
an early production start for probable<br />
"Tripoli"<br />
through Monogram-Allied Artists.<br />
For 20th-Fox Massen,<br />
Comedy<br />
Lloyd Bridges and Hugh<br />
O'Brien have the leads in Lippert Productions'<br />
"Rocket<br />
Fletcher Markle<br />
Trip<br />
to<br />
to the Moon"<br />
MGM<br />
. . . Columbia<br />
booked Gale the Storm for femme lead<br />
.<br />
in "Prowl Car" I. G. Goldsmith<br />
As Studio Executive<br />
MGM turned to the radio-television field<br />
to recruit a new production executive by<br />
signing Fletcher Markle, who has written and<br />
produced a number of ether and video shows,<br />
to a term ticket. For the present he will<br />
function as an aide to Producer Edwin Knopf<br />
booked Director Eddie Buzzell<br />
to a new five-picture commitment. For<br />
many years at MGM, Buzzell shifted over<br />
to Columbia some months ago and recently<br />
completed the megging chore on the Rosalind<br />
Russell comedy, "A Woman of Distinction"<br />
. . . William<br />
P. Broidy has been boosted<br />
to full producer status at Monogram. His<br />
first assignment will be "Sideshow," a circus<br />
yarn.<br />
26<br />
BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950
DOROTHY MALONE FORREST TUCKER FRANK FAYLEN ^,ufC0L0l^<br />
GEORGE MACREADY<br />
Charles Kemper Jeff Corey Tom Powers Jock O'Mahoney<br />
story and Screen Play by George W. George and George F. Slavin<br />
A SCOTT- BROWN production<br />
oirBMb, W«am DOUGLAS • Producedb,mKi lOE BROWN<br />
Have YOU Ordered Your Tax Trailer Irom Notional Screen? Do it Today!<br />
.^^^--^<br />
i/yi^
opened<br />
'<br />
'<br />
RCA Shows Increase<br />
In 1949 Earnings<br />
NEW YORK-Radio Corporation of America<br />
showed net earnings of $25,144,279 for<br />
1949, compared to earnings of $24,022,047 in<br />
1948, according to Brig. Gen. David A. Sarnoff,<br />
chairman of the board, in the 30th annual<br />
report. The 1949 figure is equivalent to<br />
$1.58 per share of common stock, compared<br />
to 1948 when earnings after payment of preferred<br />
dividends were equivalent to $1.50 per<br />
share.<br />
Net profit, after all deductions, was 6.3<br />
per cent of the gross income in 1949, compared<br />
with 6.7 per cent in 1948. Total gross<br />
income from all sources amounted to $397,-<br />
259,020, representing an increase of $39,641 !-<br />
789 over the 1948 total. Dividends paid by<br />
RCA for 1949 amounted to $3,152,800 on the<br />
preferred stock, and $6,928,604 on the common<br />
stock, a total of $10,081,404. During the past<br />
ten years dividends paid to stockholders<br />
amounted to $69,164,112.<br />
Additions to plant and equipment during<br />
1949 amounted to $16,340,282. compared with<br />
$14,518,511 in 1948. The total earned surplus<br />
at Dec. 31, 1949. amounted to $94,562,354, an<br />
increase of $15,062,875 over earned surplus at<br />
the end of 1948.<br />
"Television's spectacular rise as a new service<br />
of mass communication, in which RCA<br />
has played a leading role, is without precedent<br />
in the Industrial development of the<br />
U.S.," Sarnoff and Prank M. Folsom, RCA<br />
president, declared in a joint statement for<br />
the RCA board. "Television achieved the<br />
going rate of a billion-dollar-a-year industry,<br />
to become the first American industrial<br />
enterprise to move ahead so rapidly in so<br />
short a time," the statement said.<br />
"The number of television stations in<br />
operation throughout the country increased<br />
from 47 at the beginning of 1949 to 98 at<br />
the opening of 1950. As many of the new<br />
stations came on the air, additional markets<br />
for television receivers were opened. In 12<br />
months, television receivers in American<br />
homes increased from 1,100,000 to approximately<br />
4.000,000. Industry sales estimates indicate<br />
that about 4,000,000 additional television<br />
receivers will be manufactured in 1950,"<br />
the statement said. However, sales of radio<br />
receivers and Victrola phonographs were<br />
lower than in 1948. Sarnoff and Folsom pointed<br />
out.<br />
WE Reports Good Dollar<br />
Volume of Sales in '49<br />
NEW YORK—Western Electric Co. sales<br />
during 1949 were below those of the two preceding<br />
years, the postwar peak years, but the<br />
1949 dollar volume of sales was still about<br />
twice as great as the company's biggest prewar<br />
year, according to the annual report to<br />
stockholders.<br />
Sales in 1949 totaled $858,191,000 as compared<br />
with $1,132,972,000 in 1948 and $995-<br />
964,000 in 1947. Sales to Bell Telephone companies<br />
in 1949 amounted to $761,362 000 or<br />
about 89 per cent of the total. Sales to other<br />
customers, chiefly the U.S. government totaled<br />
$96,829,000.<br />
Earnings in 1949 equaled 5 cents a dollar<br />
of sales and amounted to $42,566,000 Of this<br />
amount $37,500,000 was distributed as dividends<br />
to stockholders at the rate of $1 a<br />
share a quarter, leaving $5,066,000 of the<br />
year's earnings invested in the business.<br />
28<br />
20th-Fox to Release Six<br />
During April, May, June<br />
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will<br />
release six top quality features, including<br />
four in Technicolor, during April, May and<br />
June, according to Andy W. Smith jr., vicepresident<br />
and general sales manager. Smith<br />
said that the company is "offering potent<br />
boxoffice ammunition during a period when<br />
theatres everywhere need it most."<br />
The April releases will be: "Cheaper By<br />
the Dozen," starring Clifton Webb, Myrna<br />
Ley and Jeanne Crain, and "Wabash Avenue,"<br />
starring Betty Grable, Victor Mature<br />
and Phil Harris. Both are in Technicolor.<br />
May releases will be: "-Rie Big Lift," starring<br />
Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas,<br />
filmed in its entirety in Germany, and "A<br />
Ticket to Tomahawk," starring Dan Dalley<br />
and Anne Baxter, in Technicolor. The Juilfe<br />
releases will be: "Night and the City,"<br />
starring Gene Tierney and Richard Widmark,<br />
filmed in its entirety in England, and<br />
"Broken Arrow," in Technicolor, starring<br />
James Stewart and Debra Paget.<br />
The Darryl F. Zanuck production, "Three<br />
Came Home," starring Claudette Colbert, will<br />
be given special engagements in selected key<br />
cities during this three-month period, Smith<br />
said.<br />
Nine Monogram Features<br />
Are Awaiting Release<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Monogram now has<br />
nine<br />
pictures completed and awaiting release, and<br />
one currently before the cameras.<br />
Heading the backlog is "Young Daniel<br />
Boone," Cinecolor special, starring David<br />
Bruce. Other films are "Over the Border,"<br />
western starring Johnny Mack Brown; "KiUer<br />
Shark," with Roddy McDowaU: "Square<br />
Dance Katy," with Vera Vague, Virginia<br />
Welles, Phil Brito and Jimmie Davis heading<br />
the cast; "Guns Roar in Rockhill," Whip<br />
Wilson starrer; "Mystery at the Burlesque,"<br />
a British import; "Jiggs and Maggie Out<br />
West," co-starring Joe Yule and Renie Riano;<br />
"Henry Does It Again," with Raymond Walburn<br />
in the title role; and "A Modern Marriage,"<br />
toplining Reed Hadley. Margaret Field<br />
and Nana Bryant.<br />
"High Stakes," starring the "Bowery Boys,"<br />
is now in work with William Beaudine directing<br />
and Jan Grippo producing.<br />
Protestants See New Films<br />
NEW YORK—Three films supplementing<br />
the work of Protestant church school teachers<br />
were shown religious groups in New York<br />
and 105 other cities Tuesday (28). They are<br />
sponsored by the Protestant Film Commission<br />
and the International Council of Religious<br />
Education, and will be distributed by<br />
the Religious Film Ass'n. Some 35mm prints<br />
are available to exhibitors. The titles are<br />
"Birthday Party," "A Job for Bob" and<br />
"What Happened to Jojo?"<br />
UA Gets Tlane Robbery'<br />
NEW YORK—"The Great Plane Robbery,"<br />
a Sam Baerwltz production directed by Edward<br />
L. Cahn, has been acquired by United<br />
Artists and will be nationally released in<br />
March. Tom Conway has the leading role<br />
and Margaret Hamilton, Steve Brodie and<br />
Lynn Roberts are featured.<br />
Theatre<br />
Construction,<br />
Openings and Sales<br />
CONSTRUCTION:<br />
Bryan, Ohio—Hubb<br />
r Hagerman.<br />
Drive-ln unde vay for John<br />
Caio. Mich.— Construction started on 500-car Caro<br />
lor Ashmun Theatres. To open about April 15.<br />
C.-Magnolia<br />
open<br />
Theatre Corp. building<br />
,r,^ mn° i*-<br />
BOO-car dnve-in to in April.<br />
Columb.m.. Ohio-Abe and Jack Cohen building<br />
bUO-car Midway Dnve-In on Route 14. To be completed<br />
by mid-March.<br />
^^Dallos. Tex.—Homer Hodges constructing 300-car<br />
Dolton, Ga.—Martin Theatres, Inc., purchased site<br />
across Irom old airport for construction of drive-in<br />
Denver, Colo.— Permit granted Paul Rothman, Lem<br />
sffn nm.i'''<br />
°''^?" '"^ construction of 750-car,<br />
4150,000 drive-in on 40th avenue and Monaco baule-<br />
Eljriia, Ohio—Tower Drive-In under construction.<br />
drive-in<br />
on Highway 54.<br />
^uIlon. Mo.—W. Monroe Glenn building<br />
Tex.—Galveston Theatres, Inc., building<br />
*^°o'„''„®*'°°'<br />
sop-car, $200,000 drive-in at 75th and Broadway<br />
HatUesbuig. Miss.— Permit issued S. A. BraSsfield<br />
lor construction of $18,000 theatre<br />
Ketchum. Ida.-Philip and Hazel Guss, Intermountain<br />
Theatres Supply Co., purchased two lots for<br />
construction of drive-in.<br />
Knoxville. Tenn.— Permit issued Grant L. and-<br />
Howard L W<br />
for construction of $75,000 drive-in on Clinton<br />
highway tsnd Merchant road.<br />
Lamont. Calil.—Edwin T. Kendrig and Orland Korr<br />
plan to erect 440-car, $100,000 drive-in<br />
Landis, Sosk.-Malet Veale building new theatre.<br />
Los Angeles, Calil.—Herbert Roesner building 400-<br />
seat Vagabond on Wilshire boulevard near Westlake<br />
park<br />
Mather. Man—New theatre under way for Walter<br />
Muleshoe, Tex.-^OO-car drive-in under construction<br />
lor Howard Cox. To open in April.<br />
Port Allen, La.—New theatre under construction.<br />
Hopesville, Tex.— E D. Burgamy to build 500-car<br />
dnve-in U miles northwest of city.<br />
Salem. Ind.—Hallie Blonkenbaker and Ralph Callam<br />
building 500-car drive-in on Highway 56.<br />
Salem, Ind.—Work begun on drive-in on Road 135<br />
lor Harold Gilstrap.<br />
Snyder. Tex.—Phil Isley Theatres and Rueben Wilhams<br />
are building 750-car, $100,000 Canyon.<br />
Springfield. Mo.— I3-acre site on Highway 66 at<br />
Nichols junction purchased by George W. Fuller<br />
and Frank Carswell for construction of $80,000<br />
Ulysses. Kas.—250-car drive-in under way on Highway<br />
160 for Crocker Theatres, Inc. To be completed<br />
by May.<br />
Virden, III.—W, T. Swift building 300-car drive-in<br />
Whitewater, Wis.—Two buildings being razed to<br />
make room for Lakeland Theatre to be built bv<br />
Lakeland Theatre Corp.<br />
OPENINGS:<br />
Charleston, S. C—Albert Sottile, Pastime Amusement<br />
Co<br />
. 350-seat Ashley.<br />
Charlotte. N. C—South 21 Drive-In opened by<br />
Meiselman circuit on Pineville road.<br />
DemopolU, Ala.—New 300-car drive-in to open immediately<br />
for Henry Webb.<br />
Detroit Mich.—400-secrt Center opened by Thomas<br />
Campbell.<br />
Laioyette. La.—550-car Hub opened by Fred T<br />
McLendon Theatres.<br />
Longview, Wash.—Your Drive-In, 500 cars $100 000<br />
opened by Dr. G. H. Mathis.<br />
Morlia, Tex.—Royal Drive-In opened by E. L. Williamson<br />
(S Associates.<br />
Osage, Iowa— Watts, 600 seats, opened by Mr<br />
and Mrs. J, H. Watts.<br />
Perrine. Fla.—Dixie, 450 cars, JIOO.OOO, opened by<br />
Dixie Drive-In Theatres.<br />
Prestonburg, Ky.—JISO.OOO, 725-seal Strand opened.<br />
Sledge. Miss.—300-seat Alpha opened by J W<br />
McCorkle.<br />
Southgate. Calil.—Aladdin Drive-In, 850 cars<br />
opened by Aladdin Theatre Corp.<br />
SALES:<br />
Baden. Pa.—Baden sold to Gust Hages by Martin<br />
and Abraham Rothenstein.<br />
Berryville. Ark.-Main purchased by Cecil Mayberry<br />
from Paul Roberts.<br />
Blair Station. Pa.—Park to Edward and Morv<br />
Rastrelli by Leon Hadfield.<br />
Hudson. S, D.—William Atkins sold Slate to Robert<br />
L Iverson.<br />
Oroville. Calil.—George B. Hickox sold Mesa<br />
Drive-In to Frank S. Devinchenzi.<br />
Paulding. Ohio—Jack O'Connell purchased interest<br />
of partner, Arthur Weaver, in Paulding<br />
Russells Point, Ohio-J. W. Christopher purchased<br />
Indiana Lake Theatre from E. V. Fofrlch<br />
Sorosota, Fla.—D. E. Fulford and R, R, Combs<br />
purchased Interest of I. R. Gildersleeve in Brandenton<br />
Drive-In.<br />
Wall Lake, Iowa—Lee Henry purchased Rio from<br />
Roy DeBow.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
)<br />
Jdod ^6ieh<br />
12 O'clock' Promotions<br />
Given Top Military Aid<br />
It frequently has been pointed out<br />
that theatremen fail to capitalize on<br />
any but the most obvious sales promotion<br />
angles of their attractions<br />
such as the title and stars, and occasionally<br />
the director or producer.<br />
sand heralds were dropped by CAP planes<br />
publicity of national proportions.<br />
hanging sign suspended from the ceiling represented<br />
an airplane in diving position, let-<br />
If the industry is to benefit from<br />
Co-Op on Vaudeville<br />
this experience, distributors and exhibitors<br />
must learn to appraise each<br />
the principal players.<br />
the Capitol Theatre, Miami, Fla.. Manager<br />
tered with the title, stars and star heads of To proclaim the return of vaudeville at<br />
picture by its separate, and sometimes<br />
unanticipated, merits. They<br />
advertising channels and in the theatre pro-<br />
in the Miami Daily News. Spradley worked<br />
The picture was well played up in regular Gordon Spradley promoted a full-page Co-op<br />
must also make the effort to bring<br />
gram which has a wide readership in the with the advertising department of the newspaper<br />
and closed the deal with 22 merchants<br />
outstanding production values to the<br />
territory.<br />
attention of the public as effectively<br />
Thomas Leonard, manager of the State. in seven hours. The theatre received a fivecolumn<br />
by half-page announcement on the<br />
as they now do the title and the<br />
Rhinelander. Wis., worked with the Civil Air<br />
stars.<br />
patrol in his district and recommends the new theatre policy, including cuts of some<br />
— promotion for exhibitors located in communities<br />
where this service is active. Several thou-<br />
show.<br />
of the headline acts booked on the opening<br />
Chester Friedman<br />
Motion pictures long ago reached<br />
a<br />
Following<br />
war<br />
in the<br />
background,<br />
wake of<br />
military<br />
pictures having<br />
cooperation is over Rhinelander at 12 o'clock noon. The<br />
the grownup stage. So has the public<br />
the strongest tieup factor in promoting cu'culars were also dropped over adjacent<br />
so far as entertainment is con-<br />
"Twelve O'clock High" for exhibitors.<br />
towns. The entire cost of the stunt to the<br />
cerned. The regular theatre patron<br />
In Washington, a premiere with plush festivities<br />
theatre was for the heralds, the CAP pro-<br />
sitting through the credit titles on<br />
and high ranking government and viding the planes and pilots gratis.<br />
the picture leader is as much interested<br />
army officials on hand heralded the opening For the picture opening at Hartford, Conn.,<br />
in the costumer, the music di-<br />
at the Palace. The local campaign was Fred Greenway, acting manager of the Loew<br />
rector, scenic artist, set designer,<br />
handled by Jack Foxe, publicity director for Poli, arranged to have a Congressional Medal<br />
cameraman and other technical experts<br />
as he is in the featured players,<br />
ing night. A 50-piece band from the air<br />
Loew's Theatres in the capital.<br />
of Honor winner appear on the stage open-<br />
the producer and the distributor. If ON RADIO PROGRAM<br />
station at Westover Field and a 30-minute<br />
any exhibitor doubts this, let him sit<br />
Sy Bartlett, who collaborated in writing the broadcast from in front of the theatre were<br />
among his audience with ear alert to<br />
screen play, was in Washington and Foxe some of the premiere highlights. Newspapers<br />
catch the comments of the regular<br />
took advantage of this fact to have the treated the occasion with special splurges of<br />
motion picture devotees.<br />
visitor interviewed on the nationwide Department<br />
publicity.<br />
If a direct effort were made to<br />
of Defense Time for Defense program The faces of five clocks in the city were<br />
reach people with more than a cursory<br />
interest in motion pictures, an What is believed to be a record amount of picture title and playdates. Army officials<br />
over the ABC network and other programs. covered with new ones bearing copy on the<br />
extra 50 or 100 patrons might come<br />
promoted radio time for the capital was authorized the posting of recruiting boards<br />
to the theatre to see an especially<br />
garnered in connection with the picture. with posters advertising the picture booking,<br />
brilliant bit of photography. Another<br />
50 whose vocation or hobby WWDC. WEAM, WTNX and WTOP literally to plug the tieup.<br />
Announcements over WMAL, WRC, WOL, and used a sound truck bannered with signs<br />
runs to art might come just to see<br />
saturated the air waves for days prior to In the lobby, an exhibit was arranged<br />
some unusual sets.<br />
opening. The premiere was covered by the showing a cutaway section of a jet engine<br />
More and more, the merchandising<br />
of motion pictures is becoming a<br />
vision station, WTTG.<br />
suits.<br />
CBS outlet, WTOP. and by the Dumont tele-<br />
and several manikins dressed in army flying<br />
problem of establishing production<br />
All Washington daily papers gave photos Windows were obtained for special displays:<br />
values and selling all of them to the<br />
and publicity stories.<br />
a contest was promoted over WTIC, and<br />
public. Everything which might attract<br />
Duke Stalcup. manager of the Martin time was promoted on two other stations.<br />
patronage must be exploited.<br />
Theatre in Opelika. Ala., landed two excel-<br />
Four weeks ago, "The Third Man"<br />
lent newspaper breaks through personal interce.ssion<br />
with the publishers. One story ap-<br />
Country Store Nights<br />
made its bow on Broadway. Today<br />
the picture is one of the principal<br />
peared in Town Topics, written by the publisher<br />
of the Opelika Eagle; the other made Vic Wintle, manager of the Manring Tlie-<br />
Started by Vic Wintle<br />
topics of conversation in New York<br />
because of the novelty and appeal of<br />
the About Town column on the editorial page atre. Middlesboro, Ky.. is presenting a series<br />
the background music consisting of<br />
of the Opelika Daily News. This was in of Country Store nights under the sponsorship<br />
one melody played on a zither<br />
addition to the usual picture publicity on<br />
of local merchants. In conjunction with<br />
throughout the film.<br />
the amusement pages.<br />
the basket giveaways, Wintle sold the Cumberland<br />
Barn Dancers on the idea of present-<br />
It is to be noted that the distributor's<br />
reaction to this was to make<br />
DIVING PLANE DISPLAY<br />
ing weekly exhibitions on the stage. The<br />
capital of the situation. The zither<br />
Two novel display pieces were created in double promotion is drawing increasingly<br />
and the unique melody from the<br />
the lobby. A setpiece was made from litho large crowds each week.<br />
picture have already attained stellar<br />
cutouts and more than 20 scene stills. A<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 4. 1950 — 81 — 29
February's Attractions<br />
In<br />
Are Sold<br />
$20,000,000 Teaser Drive!<br />
Arnold Gould, city manager for the Durwood<br />
Theatres in Jefferson City, Mo., put on<br />
a campaign to publicize his February attractions<br />
as "something special" and had the entire<br />
community conscious of his efforts by<br />
injecting a teaser device.<br />
Early in January, daily newspaper ads announcing<br />
"$20,000,000 Is Coming Your Way"<br />
began to appear. The ads also were run in<br />
rural weeklies. Fifty window cards with the<br />
same message were spotted in the best available<br />
locations. Additional signs appeared in<br />
unusual places and people started to wonder<br />
when the windfall was and by what miracle<br />
it would come their way.<br />
Signs then began to show up around the<br />
Capitol, in the lobby, under the marquee<br />
canopy and on the entire east wall of the<br />
theatre. Interest mounted.<br />
Film News to Visitors<br />
With Trade Club Help<br />
A low cost gimmick which served a double<br />
purpose has been developed by W. J. Souttar,<br />
manager of the Lincoln Theatre, Springfield,<br />
111., to give him an accurate check on all visitors<br />
to the city and as a public relations<br />
setup with the Chamber of Commerce.<br />
At regular intervals, blotters are imprinted<br />
with a cut of Abe Lincoln's silhouette and a<br />
message of welcome from the local Chamber<br />
of Commerce. Across the bottom, coming and<br />
current attractions at the Lincoln appear in<br />
a block. Because of the fact that Springfield<br />
attracts many conventions throughout the<br />
year, the low cost promotion has paid off,<br />
and Souttar believes it might be useful to<br />
other exhibitors located in cities which attract<br />
conventions. Through the Chamber of Commerce,<br />
each visitor to the city receives one<br />
of the blotters as he checks into his hotel.<br />
For "Sands of Iwo Jima," Souttar promoted<br />
a quantity of Polite, a substance made locally<br />
for use in sand urns. About an ounce of this<br />
product was placed In glassine envelopes imprinted<br />
with a rubber stamp announcing the<br />
playdates. The envelopes were distributed by<br />
ushers in marine uniforms, as people left the<br />
theatre and to pedestrians on the street.<br />
Essay Contest Exploits<br />
'Red Shoes' in Hartford<br />
An essay contest arranged by Frank Morin,<br />
manager of the Regal Theatre, Hartford,<br />
helped "The Red Shoes." The contest was<br />
staged in conjunction with all music schools<br />
in the city, and was sponsored by a shoe store,<br />
local distributor of Capezio shoes. Ten thousand<br />
bookmarks were distributed in libraries<br />
and book stores.<br />
Sets 'Battleground' Art<br />
A "first" was achieved by Joe Boyle, manager<br />
of Loew's Poll Theatre, Norwich, Conn.,<br />
when he planted a double-column scene mat<br />
on "Battleground" in the Norwich Bulletin.<br />
According to Boyle, this is the first time the<br />
paper has consented to run two-column art<br />
on a motion picture. Theatre, playdate, picture<br />
and star credits comprised the caption.<br />
During the last week in January when interest<br />
was at its peak, Gould revealed the<br />
mystery as $20,000,000 worth of entertainment<br />
scheduled during February. Picture<br />
titles and stars who appear in the productions<br />
were provided in the theatre and newspaper<br />
advertisements.<br />
Gould persuaded officials of the Central<br />
Missouri Trust Co. to run a large newspaper<br />
ad topped by the 20-million-dollar catchline<br />
and an announcement that the bank could<br />
not match the Capitol Theatre offer. This<br />
was followed by a sales message to the effect<br />
that the bank could help start the citizens<br />
on the way to financial security via systematic<br />
savings.<br />
Circuit officials expressed delight with the<br />
effect of the campaign and have commended<br />
Gould for helping to increase grosses.<br />
Stills With Quotes Stir<br />
Interest in 'Forsythe'<br />
A board containing 11 dramatic scenes from<br />
"That Forsyte Woman" was arranged by<br />
Leonard Tuttle, manager of the St. Albans<br />
(N.Y.) Theatre. Beneath each photo, handlettered<br />
captions contained dialog sequences.<br />
Tuttle used another novel lobby display to<br />
publicize "Roseanna McCoy." He obtained<br />
reprints of the Louisville Courier-Journal<br />
containing stories of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.<br />
These were placed on a display sign with a<br />
full-page rotogravure feature from the newspaper's<br />
magazine section. The display stopped<br />
many patrons entering and leaving the<br />
theatre.<br />
Film 18 Years Old Net<br />
Brings in Extra Revenue<br />
In the film vault of the Historic society of<br />
Taunton, Mass., John Corbett, manager of<br />
the local Park Theatre, discovered a film<br />
which had been made showing scenes of the<br />
city in 1932. He borrowed the film and used<br />
it as a second feature, with excellent boxoffice<br />
results. In screening the picture, Corbett<br />
saw scenes taken in and about Taunton<br />
business firms. He contacted these merchants<br />
and ran a series of cooperative ads advertising<br />
the feature.<br />
Dallas Telenews Renamed<br />
Following the installation of a new screen,<br />
projection equipment and a marquee sign, the<br />
Telenews Theatre in Dallas was renamed for<br />
the city in which it is located and opened<br />
with a new policy. "The Fallen Idol" as the<br />
screen attraction on the chance. Manager<br />
Jim Preddy planted abundant news stories<br />
with the papers covering the new theatre<br />
name and the installations.<br />
Co-Op on The Town<br />
A full-page cooperative ad was promoted<br />
by Paul J. Montavon, manager of the Sherman<br />
Theatre, Chillicothe, Ohio, as part of his<br />
campaign on "On the Town." All merchant<br />
ads on the page were headed, "On the Town<br />
Sales" or "On the Town Bargains," and the<br />
three-column display ad in the center of the<br />
page called attention to the booking.<br />
Search for Cinderella<br />
Campaign High Spot<br />
At Boston Debut<br />
A search for Boston's Cinderella girl was<br />
the highlight of the campaign executed on<br />
Walt Disney's new feature at the Keith<br />
Memorial Theatre by James "Red" King, publicity<br />
director for FIKO in that city. The<br />
search was conducted by radio and newspaper<br />
ads, under the sponsorship of a specialty<br />
shoe store named Cinderella of Boston.<br />
In the city to greet the wiimer and<br />
finalists of the contest was Ilene Woods, the<br />
voice of Cinderella in the film.<br />
MANY RADIO SPOTS<br />
An extensive campaign of spot announcements,<br />
editorial comment and programming<br />
of music from the picture created additional<br />
interest. A half-hour salute to Walt Disney<br />
on the day before opening was promoted on<br />
WHDH. Records were interspersed with comments<br />
by newspaper critics and leading citizens.<br />
The broadcast included a transcribed<br />
phone conversation between Mayor John B.<br />
Hynes and Walt Disney in which the mayor<br />
thanked the producer for selecting Boston<br />
as the site for the premiere. He also paid<br />
tribute to the producer's genius for good<br />
family entertainment.<br />
The Louise Morgan daily television show<br />
tied in on a Cinderella slipper promotion in<br />
which the famous Delman slipper was offered<br />
to the wirmer. Cinderellas were nominated<br />
for the title by their fairy godmothers<br />
who were required to state why their<br />
respective candidates resemble the mythical<br />
Cinderella.<br />
SPONSORS BRIDAL SHOW<br />
Filene's department store sponsored a Cinderella<br />
bridal fashion show, based on the<br />
theme of the picture, in the main ballroom<br />
of the Copley Plaza hotel. For the occasion,<br />
the ballroom was transformed into a replica<br />
of the ballroom where Cinderella met Prince<br />
Charming. Wide use of window and store<br />
displays, invitations and programs heralded<br />
the fashion show.<br />
Daily puppet shows on the Christine Evans<br />
television program starring characters from<br />
the film production helped to reach television<br />
audiences with news of the Keith<br />
Memorial playdates.<br />
Lace Panties in Lobby<br />
Center Interest on 'Rib'<br />
For "Adam's Rib" at the Granada Theatre,<br />
Lawrence, Kas., J. D. King, city manager for<br />
Commonwealth Theatres, had a huge display<br />
buUt in the lobby consisting of cutouts<br />
of the two stars, with a pair of lace panties<br />
between them. "Who wears the pants in<br />
your house?" was the catchline for the display<br />
which proved to be very effective.<br />
Plants Radio Contest<br />
Norman Levinson, assistant manager of<br />
Loew's Poll, Hartford, promoted a gratis<br />
contest on Sid Byrens' disk jockey program<br />
heard over station WCCC. Titled "Who Am<br />
I?" the quiz revolved around leading film<br />
players, suggested by advance publicity on<br />
forthcoming attractions booked at the Poll.<br />
The contest ran for six days, with guest tickets<br />
awarded to winners.<br />
30 — 82 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 4, 1950
20th IS FAIREST!<br />
Allied Theatres of Michigan Poll<br />
and the Fairest Company of Them All delivers not just words BUT...<br />
PRINCE OF FOXES -TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH -WHIRLPOOL<br />
DANCING IN THE DARK, Techn.coJor - WHEN WILLIE COMES<br />
MARCHING HOME -MOTHER DIDNTTELL ME -THREE CAME<br />
HOME-OH,YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL,Techn.co/or-l WAS A MALE<br />
WARBRIDE-WABASH AVENUE^Technico/or- DAKOTA LIL,c.neco/or<br />
UNDER MY SKIN -CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN/Techmco/or- PINKY<br />
CENTURY-FOX
NOVELTY IN<br />
LOBBY ABT<br />
WlIL SCARE THEj^ OUTO.^<br />
%<br />
An inexpensively contrived display helped to piovoke humorous<br />
comment for "Everybody Does It" at the College<br />
Theatre, College Point, N. Y. Manager Leo Raelson rigged<br />
a shower curtain over an old fashioned bathtub and had<br />
a cutout head peering out. Eiiect was startling.<br />
At left, a tricky display built<br />
by Leonard Tuttle, manager of<br />
the St. Albans (N.Y.) Theatre.<br />
The ex-ray of a human chest<br />
was borrowed from a neighborhood<br />
doctor. Stunt created<br />
considerable conjecture on the<br />
location of "Adam's Rib."<br />
lames Broeifle, manager of the El<br />
Rey Theatre, Tulare, Calif., is able to<br />
keep his display budget down because<br />
he does all his own art work.<br />
The project shown above was created<br />
at a net outlay of $1 for a threesheet<br />
and some cardboard. The curtain<br />
was moved on a manually operated<br />
cord.<br />
Ted Wilson, manager of the Joy Theatre, Hayti, Mo., is another<br />
showman who builds his own displays. This one centers attention<br />
on coming attractions. It is located facing people as they<br />
enter the lobby.<br />
A Search for Cinderella highlighted the campaign for "Cinderella" at<br />
the REO Keith Memorial in Boston. James King, publicity manager, arranged<br />
for many outstanding displays in windows oi merchants who<br />
contributed gifts for the winner.<br />
32 — 84 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 4, 1950
:(<br />
Here is acclaim with one Meaning—<br />
ALL-TIME<br />
RECORD<br />
GROSSES!<br />
"It is not likely that many more,<br />
if any, motion pictures like 'Samson<br />
and Delilah' will be produced<br />
... of undeniably epic<br />
proportion."<br />
„^,^„ Bower<br />
Detroit Free Press<br />
"Undoubtedly will make boxoffice<br />
history . . . the kind of a<br />
movie that made Hollywood fa-
with<br />
Choir, Quiz and Prizes<br />
Plus Stage Program<br />
Mark Anniversary<br />
Sydney Sale, manager of the Granada<br />
Cinema, Dover. England, promoted a series<br />
of stage activities every night for a week to<br />
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the theatre<br />
opening, in conjunction with the screen booking<br />
of "Little Women." Each of Sale's promotions<br />
was designed to attract extra patronage<br />
during the week instead of merely<br />
creating talk and reminiscences of 20 years<br />
ago.<br />
Preliminary announcements were made with<br />
slides five weeks in advance. Work on a<br />
souvenir program with merchant advertisements<br />
was started last October, and after<br />
printing and distributing costs were taken<br />
care of, a considerable surplus was donated<br />
to the ABC staff benefit fund.<br />
Thirty prizes valued at $150 were promoted<br />
from national and local business firms and<br />
awarded as door prizes during anniversary<br />
week.<br />
FULL-PAGE ARTICLE<br />
A full-page writeup devoted to "lii.ttle<br />
Women, " cuts of the stars and a huge<br />
"Happy Birthday, Granada," was prompted<br />
in the Kent Sports and Entertainment Reporter,<br />
a monthly publication with a wide<br />
circulation.<br />
The Dover Express and East Kent News<br />
is the only local paper which requires that<br />
all space pertinent to motion picture publicity<br />
be paid for. On this occasion. Sale<br />
invited the staff reporter to his office, placed<br />
the entire campaign in his hands and succeeded<br />
in obtaining a full column sjtory devoted<br />
to the anniversary.<br />
The bakery department of the Dover Cooperative<br />
society prepared a special cake for<br />
the anniversary based on a scale model of<br />
the Granada Cinema. Weighing a mere 30<br />
pounds, intricate detail was worked in with<br />
icing. In due course, the cake was presented<br />
to the Dover hospital and a photograph of<br />
the presentation later appeared in the newspapers.<br />
The cake was displayed in the theatre<br />
and next to it a three-tier birthday cake,<br />
six feet high and with 20 electrically lighted<br />
candles, was placed as a centerpiece in the<br />
foyer. Surrounding the cake, the door prizes<br />
promoted from merchants were exhibited.<br />
MANY FLOWERS RECEIVED<br />
The interior of the theatre and exterior<br />
were banked with flowers supplied by a local<br />
florist in return for a credit card. The exterior<br />
was also decorated with flags, bunting<br />
and colored lamps made available by the<br />
electricity board at no charge.<br />
The stage show activities included an oparning<br />
night fanfare by the ceremonial band of<br />
the Dover Sea Cadets plus an exhibition of<br />
physical training and gymnastics, a popular<br />
quiz between teams of the local fire brigade<br />
and the Parker Pen social club, a recital by<br />
the Dover Co-op Ladies Guild choir, an exhibition<br />
by the Dover Young Ladies Gymnastic<br />
club and organ renditions with audience<br />
participation quizzes conducted by the<br />
organist.<br />
Sale's account of his activities is concluded<br />
with the notation that the theatre<br />
enjoyed the best business in several months.<br />
General comments on the overall program<br />
were excellent.<br />
34<br />
Television Campaign<br />
Set for Newark<br />
Believed to be the first television advertising<br />
campaign set by an exhibitor<br />
in the New York metropolitan area, a<br />
series of ten three -minute spots have<br />
been purchased on radio station WATV<br />
to exploit "Dear Wife" at the Paramount<br />
Theatre in Newark. The announcement<br />
was made by Ben Griefer, general manager<br />
of the A. A. Adams Theatres in<br />
Newark.<br />
The theatre became a participating<br />
sponsor on five of the station's afternoon<br />
shows, four daily telecasts, and a<br />
late sports program. In addition to the<br />
special video trailer on "Dear Wife," the<br />
theatre will utilize filmed and live commercials<br />
in an effort to interest TV set<br />
owners in current and coming attractions<br />
at the Paramount.<br />
The campaign is being handled by Jay<br />
Wren, advertising-publicity director for<br />
the Paramount.<br />
Youth Contest on Air<br />
Stimulates 'Mike'<br />
Abe Ludacer, manager of the Valentine<br />
Theatre, Toledo, arranged newspaper and<br />
radio contests on "Mrs. Mike." Passes were<br />
offered through the columns of the Toledo<br />
Blade for persons who had read the book,<br />
"Mrs. Mike," and submitted the most interesting<br />
letters on how much they enjoyed<br />
reading it.<br />
WTOD sponsored a contest for teen-agers<br />
on "What is the proper age to marry?" Cash<br />
prizes and passes were awarded to winners,<br />
and all contestants received gifts of Chase &<br />
Sanborn coffee. The national tieup with the<br />
coffee distributors netted window streamers<br />
in all grocery stores in the area. Chase &<br />
Sanborn coffee was also offered free to all<br />
couples getting married during the showing<br />
of the picture.<br />
Rubber-Masked Employe<br />
Scores Chiller Interest<br />
A recent horror show booked by W. J. Isenhower,<br />
manager of the Ritz. Newcomerstown,<br />
Ohio, was exploited with a street ballyhoo,<br />
lobby display, and circulars distributed in<br />
homes and parked cars. The Saturday midnight<br />
program included "The Walking Monster"<br />
and "Black Friday."<br />
Isenhower secured a rubber mask of the<br />
Frankenstein monster and had one of the<br />
theatre employes wear it and walk across the<br />
stage during the showing of the trailer. The<br />
lobby display Included special posters playing<br />
up the chills, thrills and horror angle,<br />
and a coffin was placed in the lobby with a<br />
sign reading, "Here lies "The Walking Monster,'<br />
etc."<br />
Plays Up Pa Kettle<br />
Harold DeGraw. manager of the Milford<br />
(Del.) Theatre, played up Percy Kilbride in<br />
his newspaper campaign for "Free for All,"<br />
referring to him as the star of "Ma and Pa<br />
Kettle."<br />
— 86 —<br />
Baby Derby Tips Gross<br />
By 37 Per Cent; Costs<br />
Theatre $6.64 Net<br />
A baby derby sponsored by neighborhood<br />
merchants stimulated interest in "And Baby<br />
Makes Three" for Bud Friedman, manager<br />
of the Vogue, Cleveland. The derby was extensively<br />
publicized by local newspapers,<br />
gratis radio plugs and displays in the theatre<br />
lobby and merchant windows. Each business<br />
firm contributed a gift as a jackpot for the<br />
parents of the first child born locally during<br />
the engagement of the picture.<br />
The gifts were displayed in the lobby with<br />
signs, and for extra attention value. Friedman<br />
borrowed a playpen and a doll, and set<br />
up nearby. Across the lobby diapers were<br />
strung on a line. Cutout letters spelled out<br />
the picture title and the playdates were placed<br />
at either end.<br />
All diaper service trucks and milk delivery<br />
vehicles owned by two of the sponsoring<br />
firms carried banners announcing the picture<br />
and Vogue playdates.<br />
Theatre employes wore badges with picture<br />
copy and these were topped with miniature<br />
diapers affixed with large safety pins. The<br />
newspaper came back with extra publicity<br />
breaks following the announcement that the<br />
derby winner was a ten pound boy, born to<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Evert of Cleveland Heights,<br />
The father of the -child is a graduate of Notre<br />
Dame and served overseas during the recent<br />
war for three years.<br />
According to Friedman, the entire campaign<br />
cost was reduced to $6.64 after the<br />
sponsors underwrote expenses. Apparently<br />
the extra effort paid off handsomely because<br />
receipts were 37 per cent above average for<br />
the previous eight weeks.<br />
Supermarket Sponsors<br />
Super Circus Matinee<br />
A super circus show sponsored by a local<br />
supermarket was promoted by Dana Bradford,<br />
manager of the Rosetta Theatre, Miami, Fla.,<br />
which attracted a capacity audience at a<br />
matinee show for children. The stage show<br />
included clowns, trained animals and western<br />
acts. Each child who attended received hot<br />
dogs, pink lemonade, peanuts and balloons.<br />
The screen show included a western, serial,<br />
three cartoons, plus the regular feature, "And<br />
Baby Makes Three."<br />
The sponsor paid for the circus show and<br />
supplied all the free giveaway items in return<br />
for theatre advertising. The show was<br />
exploited through the usual theatre advertising<br />
channels and special circulars, in addition<br />
to signs in the sponsor's store.<br />
Parade Marks Opening<br />
Of 'Jinia' at Buffalo<br />
^<br />
A parade involving marine corps units,<br />
^^<br />
four drum corps and various patriotic organizations,<br />
and ceremonies on the stage of<br />
the theatre, were highlights of the campaign<br />
for "Sands of Iwo Jima" put on by Robert<br />
Murphy, manager of the 20th Century Theatre.<br />
Buffalo. High ranking naval and marine<br />
officers introduced heroes of the Iwo<br />
Jima campaign on the stage, while outside a<br />
military demonstration and arc lights attracted<br />
thousands of people to the area.<br />
BOXOFHCE Shovraiandiser :: March 4, 1950
Press breaks down » but $2.88<br />
keeps editions rolling<br />
Press broke down at 5 p.m., at end of evening edition's run. But this publisher<br />
got replacement parts in a hurry the same way he gets electros, mats, news photos<br />
—by Air Express. An 18-lb. carton traveled 500 mUes, was delivered by 11 pm.<br />
Shipping charge S2.88. Morning edition published as usual.
Last-Minute Booking<br />
Of Iwo Jima' Is Given<br />
Smart Campaign<br />
A last-minute booking of "Sands of Iwo<br />
Jima" gave Doug Smith, manager of the Casino<br />
Theatre. Halifax. N. S.. only two days<br />
to get his campaign into action. He nevertheless<br />
accomplished a lot in that short time.<br />
Spots were put on the air immediately. Envelopes<br />
were ordered imprinted with copy.<br />
"This is sand from Iwo Jima, etc." As these<br />
came off the press, sand was inserted in each<br />
one and they were distributed by theatre employes.<br />
Lobby signs and displays were placed outside<br />
the theatre, and a 15-foot banner was<br />
placed next to a six-sheet in a prominent<br />
window on one of the town's busiest streets.<br />
On the first two days of the run, martial<br />
music was piped through a speaker placed<br />
on the theatre marquee. The second day of<br />
the run, a parade of army cadets marched<br />
to the theatre where they put on a demonstration<br />
of military precision exercises.<br />
Gets 'Lover Co-Op<br />
William Harwell, manager of the Palace,<br />
Lorain, Ohio, promoted a full-page newspaper<br />
cooperative ad on "The Great Lover." Advertisers<br />
on the page keyed their copy to<br />
"Special Sales for 'The Great Lover' of Bargains."<br />
Each ad included a reverse block with<br />
the title of the picture, and Harwell used a<br />
four-column display ad at the top of the page.<br />
Brotherhood Bonus<br />
Deadhne Extended<br />
Announcement of the winner of<br />
the special BOXOFFICE Bonus for<br />
Brotherhood w^eek will be made<br />
next month. Originally scheduled<br />
for the March 11 issue of BOX-<br />
OFFICE, an early press date for the<br />
Showmandiser section and delay<br />
in movement of mail caused by inclement<br />
weather in some sections<br />
of the country prompted this decision.<br />
By postponing the announcement<br />
until April, every exhibitor<br />
will be afforded an opportunity<br />
to submit his entry for the<br />
Brotherhood Bonus.<br />
Campaigns and a copy of the enrollment<br />
form mailed to the regional<br />
Brotherhood chairman should be<br />
forwarded to the Showmandiser<br />
section, BOXOFFICE, 9 Rockefeller<br />
Plaza, New York 20, N. Y.<br />
Aids Scout Week<br />
Julius Lamm, manager of the Uptown in<br />
Cleveland, tied up with Boy Scout week in<br />
behalf of "The Great Lover." Sixty-five Boy<br />
Scouts paraded to the theatre on opening<br />
day, with a banner reading, "We're on our<br />
way to see Cleveland's own Bob Hope in 'The<br />
Great Lover.' " etc.<br />
'Sundowners' Stars<br />
On Brief Stop Net<br />
Publicity Splurge<br />
By his alert showmanship, Don Klock, publicity<br />
manager for the State, Lyceum and<br />
Mesa theatres in Clovis, N. M., promoted an<br />
unscheduled event and a generous quantity<br />
of newspaper publicity in behalf of the regional<br />
premiere of "The Sundowners" a.\, the<br />
local State Theatre.<br />
Although the picture was scheduled to open<br />
with other theatres in Texas, New Mexico<br />
and Oklahoma, special activities centering<br />
around Hollywood star appearances were<br />
slated for Amarillo, Tex. Learning that the<br />
stars would be passing through Clovis, hub<br />
of the Santa Fe lines, en route to Amarillo,<br />
Klock wired Leon Brandt, Eagle Lion<br />
publicity director who was on the train, asking<br />
if there would be a short stopover in<br />
Clovis and requesting permission to stage an<br />
impromptu welcome for the visitors.<br />
Brandt okayed the stunt and Klock moved<br />
into action, contacting the newspapers and<br />
radio station. Broadcasters immediately began<br />
bombarding the air-waves with spot announcements<br />
informing the citizens of Clovis<br />
that the stars would be in town and urging<br />
them to be at the depot. But Clovis newspapers<br />
had photographers and reporters on<br />
hand, and when the stars stepped from the<br />
train they were presented promoted bouquets<br />
of flowers by a group of more than<br />
250 people who had gathered.<br />
COLUMBIA PICTURES<br />
ANNOUNCES THAT PRINTS OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES<br />
ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EXCHANGES FOR SCREENING<br />
BLONDIE'S<br />
HERO<br />
Based upon the comic strip<br />
"Blondie" created by CHIC YOUNG<br />
Penny SINGLETON<br />
Arthur LAKE<br />
Larry SIMMS<br />
Marjorie Kent •William Frawley<br />
and Daisy<br />
Story and Screen Play by Jock Henley<br />
Directed by EDWARD BERNDS<br />
Produced by TED RICHMOND<br />
THE PALOMINO<br />
c6t6^^CHNIC0L0ll<br />
with<br />
Jerome COURTLAND<br />
Beverly TYLER<br />
Joseph CALLEIA<br />
Roy ROBERTS<br />
Written by Tom Kilpatrick<br />
Directed by RAY NAZARRO<br />
Produced by ROBERT COHN<br />
BODYHOLD<br />
with<br />
Willard PARKER<br />
Lola ALBRIGHT<br />
Hillary BROOKE<br />
Allen JENKINS<br />
Written by George Bricker<br />
Directed by<br />
SEYMOUR FRIEDMAN<br />
Produced by<br />
RUDOLPH C FLOTHOW<br />
BOXOFFICE Shovtrmandiser :: March 4. 1950 — 89 37
BOXOFFICE NUGGETS<br />
Phil Masters, manager of the Town Theatre,<br />
Miami, Pla.. dressed his sidewalk doorman<br />
in a costume similar to the one worn<br />
by Tyrone Power in "Prince of Foxes."<br />
Equipped with a sword, the "barker" put on<br />
a fencing demonstration in the downtown<br />
section.<br />
For "Tobacco Road" at the Strand in<br />
Miami, Arthur Price, exploitation manager for<br />
Wometco circuit's neighborhood theatres, promoted<br />
a jalopy giveaway with a used car<br />
dealer. The vehicle was given away by means<br />
of a lucky drawing. In addition to distributing<br />
tickets, the dealer displayed one car on<br />
his lot with a sign announcing the giveaway.<br />
and put a second car in front of the theatre.<br />
Fred Greenway, manager of the Palace,<br />
Hartford, Conn., promoted a contest in the<br />
Hartford Times which helped "Ambush."<br />
Greenway offered passes to readers sending<br />
in the longest list of words composed from<br />
the title.<br />
Extra interest was stimulated for "Stromboli"<br />
by a word-building contest promoted<br />
by William Hastings, manager of the Orpheum<br />
in Denver. The contest was conducted<br />
by a local newspaper. Readers were required<br />
to build words from letters in the<br />
title of the picture.<br />
Breakfasi Matinee<br />
First Day Booster<br />
For 'King's Men'<br />
An early bird breakfast matinee set up by<br />
Louise Cotter, publicist for the RKO Brandels<br />
Theatre, Omaha, intrigued the local<br />
newspaper representatives and attracted extra<br />
business to the first-day showing of "All the<br />
King's Men." Coffee and doughnuts were<br />
served to the early arrivals, with all newspapers<br />
carrying stories in advance and as a<br />
followup.<br />
Five thousand cards with teaser copy and<br />
cuts of the stars of the picture were numbered<br />
in sets of eight. They were distributed<br />
throughout the city and persons collecting<br />
a complete set were given a pass.<br />
Lacking a music angle to tie in for radio<br />
promotion, an ingenious device was introduced<br />
in the campaign through the cooperation<br />
of Decca record dealer and radio station<br />
KOIL. Miss Cotter sold the station on<br />
the idea of a Prize Song contest. "All the<br />
King's Men" and other outstanding literary<br />
works are eligible for Pulitzer prizes. The<br />
radio contest enabled listeners to suggest<br />
songs which were eligible for a comparative<br />
award. Records featured on the program were<br />
supplied by Decca and prizes of albums were<br />
awarded to wiimers of the contest. The picture<br />
and playdates were plugged in all announcements.<br />
KOIL also followed up this tieup with a<br />
Man on the Street broadcast. Window displays<br />
played an important part of the campaign<br />
with department stores, book shops and<br />
magazine dealers cooperating.<br />
A full-page newspaper co-op ad was promoted<br />
with merchants on the Angle, " 'AH<br />
the King's Men' Couldn't Find Better Bargains."<br />
The Brandeis playdates were included<br />
with the usual copy.<br />
Lfiamour<br />
lA/itk a Zrtench ..Accent<br />
What have YOU done today to help secure<br />
repeal of the unfair amusement tax?<br />
Featured in many current Alexander movie-ads is petite Madeleine<br />
Swenson, famous French cover girl. Madeleine, vsrar bride<br />
of an American GI, is now charming movie audiences across the<br />
nation with her captivating personality.<br />
Top professional modeling talent plus the most modern production<br />
techniques are combined in movie-ads by Alexander . . .<br />
displayed in more than half of the nation's theatres.<br />
Arrange now to earn regular added income for your theatre.<br />
Simply reserve a few minutes of screening time daily for Alexander<br />
movie-ads and start the added profits coming your way.<br />
Write today for full information. We'll welcome the opportunity<br />
to tell you more!<br />
DRiuElnTHERTRES<br />
WAHOO, world's mosi thrlHIng screen game, is a<br />
four-star feature that tops everything else ever<br />
known in Its field. Weeic after week, In Drive-in<br />
Theatres all over the country, WAHOO keeps draw-<br />
Ing record crowds. Week after week, without<br />
letting up, WAHOO ranks 1st at the boxofflce.<br />
No wonder then that Drive-in theatre men everywhere<br />
acclaim WAHOO America's ace drawing<br />
card.<br />
Write us today for complete details. Be sure to<br />
give your car capacity.<br />
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.<br />
831 South Wabash Ave. Chicago, lUjnoif<br />
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO<br />
BRANCH OmCES: NEW YORK * • CHICAGO * * DALLAS * * SAN FRANCISCO<br />
38<br />
— 90 —<br />
DRIVE-IN EXHIBITORS with<br />
CENTRAL SOUND or POST SPEAKERS!<br />
CONVERT to IN-CAR SPEAKERS<br />
Now at •conomical prices b*ior« th* seoaonol rtuh.<br />
Order unm«diW«ly to ossur* prompt deliTary.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MANUFACTURING CO.<br />
72S Ballimor* (Phon* HA. 8007) Kaniai City, Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 4, 1950
.<br />
HOW TO<br />
BWy WE PROPER SOUND SYSTEM<br />
FOR YOUR THEATRE<br />
% Each installation is custom made to meet<br />
the physical and financial requirements<br />
of any theatre or drive-in.<br />
# Each installation will fit your needs —<br />
present and future.<br />
# CENTURY equipment includes all modern<br />
operating features plus the flexibility<br />
to accommodate expansion.<br />
# Available in single or dual channel from<br />
1 5 to 1 000 v/atts or higher.<br />
CENTURY W5 Amplification<br />
System— 250 watts (Duo Main<br />
Amplifiers) Rack Mounted<br />
Get a sound system engineered for your theatre<br />
THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF ALL . .<br />
SYSTEMS YOU CAN SEE<br />
AND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE!<br />
CENTURY R5 Standard Reproduce<br />
CENTURY SOUND REPRODUCERS<br />
You can hear the difference—<br />
The film drive filter mechanism that won the<br />
Academy Award is Kjied in all CENTURY sound<br />
reproducers.<br />
Mechanical advantages:<br />
Quick and simple threading operation.<br />
Oil-less bearings— no oil to mess up film.<br />
Maintenance reduced due to simple design.<br />
Interchangeable unit construction simplifies<br />
service.<br />
CENTURY R6 Master Reproducer<br />
And remember this —<br />
THE AMAZING NEW WATER-COOLED CENTURY PROJECTOR:<br />
with a 90 ampere arc it will put as much light on the screen as other projectors<br />
using a 180 ampere ore and heat filters!!<br />
Now available with 4" diam. lens mounts.<br />
If you're looking for full brilliance and sharper pictures without loss of light or<br />
wasted power— this is it.<br />
kPROJECTION & SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
Ask your CENTURY deoler to demonstrate this new improved equipment.<br />
See him also for your needs in theatre equipment, parts and service.<br />
SOLD BY<br />
ALBANY THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY CO.<br />
1046 Broadway<br />
Albany 4, New York<br />
AMUSEMENT SUPPLY CO.<br />
341 West 44th St.<br />
New York 18, N. Y<br />
J.F.DUSMAN COMPANY<br />
12 East 25th St.<br />
Baltimore 18, Maryland<br />
CENTRAL NEW YORK<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
215 Cravrford Ave.<br />
Syracuse 3, New York
Midwestern and Southwestern<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
EQUIPMENT SHOW<br />
and<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
THEATRE OWNERS<br />
CONVENTION<br />
Phillips<br />
Hotel<br />
Kansas City, Mo. May 9-10, 1950<br />
Exhibitors Nationwide Invited<br />
Drive-In Operators from 15 states<br />
expected to attend.<br />
Exhibits - - - - Experienced Speakers<br />
Open Forum<br />
Write or Wire<br />
for rates on display space, souvenir program<br />
ads and ior hotel reserrations<br />
ALLIED THEATRES<br />
130 W. 18th St. Kansas City- Mo.<br />
Novel 'Ambush' Ads<br />
Help Detroit Adams<br />
Conserve Space<br />
Doris Moss Pearl, publicist for the Adams<br />
and Downtown theatres in Detroit, lised a<br />
unique format in connection with her newspaper<br />
campaign for "Ambush" to effect sharp<br />
economy of newspaper space. A series of<br />
nine solid block strips in two banks leading<br />
in from the left provided a sharp contrast in<br />
black and white. The entire selling message<br />
was incorporated in these blocks in 16 point<br />
reverse type. A six-Inch figure of Robert<br />
Taylor in action was superimposed over the<br />
center lines.<br />
The ad proved so effective that the same<br />
format was used in holdover advertising.<br />
The overall space of the layout was 16<br />
inches, about half the space normally considered<br />
essential to achieve a dominating position<br />
in the Detroit papers.<br />
The picture played at the Downtown Theatre.<br />
Nautical Exhibit Builds<br />
Interest in 'Captain China'<br />
A search conducted for a scale model of a<br />
seagoing freighter through the Detroit Historical<br />
Ass'n aroused interest in the marine<br />
theme of "Captain China" at the Palms Theatre<br />
in Detroit. The search was promoted by<br />
Beverly Dipple, publicist for the Palms, and<br />
Rufus Shepherd, manager. A local columnist<br />
furnished the details to newspaper readers.<br />
Regulation seamen's caps, with "Captain<br />
China" painted on the upturned brims, were<br />
worn by all employes two weeks before opening.<br />
In the lobby, a display of nautical equipment<br />
Including an anchor, life jackets, ship's<br />
bells, etc., was set up two weeks in advance.<br />
Action stills stressing the adventure angle<br />
of the picture were displayed in bookshop<br />
windows.<br />
Indianapolis Mrs. Mikes<br />
Given Pound of Coffee<br />
Capitalizing on the national tieup with<br />
Chase & Sanborn on "Mrs. Mike," Howard<br />
Rutherford, manager of Loew's Theatre in<br />
Indianapolis, promoted spots gratis on radio<br />
stations WISH, WIRE and WFBM three days<br />
in advance. The firm distributed 300, 18x24<br />
posters in grocery stores and windows<br />
throughout the city. The first 50 women who<br />
attended the picture and identified themselves<br />
as "Mrs. Mike" by virtue of their husband's<br />
name received one -pound cans of coffee<br />
gratis.<br />
CLEARING HOUSE<br />
(Contlnaed from inside bacic cover)<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
Chair-tty begins at 8.0. S. We're practically citing<br />
'em away. 800 Heywood veneer back, squab<br />
seat, good condition, $3.25: 1,000 American panel<br />
bacli metal lined spring cushion, excellent, $4.95:<br />
271 sturdy veneer folding chairs, $2.95: 293 rebuilt<br />
panel back spring cushion, only $4.95: 2,000<br />
Late .\merican 7 ply veneers, like new, $5.25.<br />
Send for Chair Bulletin containing complete list.<br />
Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W.<br />
52nd St.. New York 19.<br />
Patch-0-Seat cement. Patching clotb, solvent,<br />
etc. Penstn Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
Tidhten loose chairs with Permastone tochor<br />
cement. Fensin Seating Co.. Chicago 6.<br />
Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chairs.<br />
Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quantity<br />
wanted. Photographs mailed with quotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co., Chicago B.<br />
No more torn seats: Itepalr with tlie original<br />
Palch-A-Seat. Complete kit, $6. General Chair<br />
Co.. Oiicago 22, 111.<br />
Chair Parts: We furnish most any part you require.<br />
Send sample for price, brackets, backs<br />
and seats. General Chair Co., 1308 Elston Ave..<br />
Clilcago 22. 111.<br />
Several thousand used opera chairs now In<br />
stock. Can furnish any amount you re
N. Y. Theatres Pledge<br />
To Conserve Coal<br />
NEW YORK—All theatre members of the<br />
rationing.<br />
Michigan became the tenth state to declare<br />
a fuel emergency Monday (27). Governor<br />
Williams issued the order after Donal S.<br />
Leonard, fuel administrator, warned him that<br />
more than 50 communities were running out<br />
of coal.<br />
C. Harry Thorns, Pioneer,<br />
Dies on Staten Island<br />
NEW YORK—C. Harry Thorns, 63, a pioneer<br />
in the industry, died Wednesday (1) at<br />
his home at Stapleton, Staten Island. He<br />
was born in New York and went into the film<br />
field at the age of 15 as an usher. He supervised<br />
the building of the first motion picture<br />
theatre in Far Rockaway. Queens, and for<br />
15 years worked for Sol Brill, operator of a<br />
chain of film houses in Staten Island. He<br />
also supervised the building of the St. George<br />
Theatre.<br />
At the time of his death he owned the<br />
Meurot night club at St. George. He is survived<br />
by his wife Mary, sons Charles H. and<br />
Earl, and a brother James.<br />
Board of Review Favors<br />
End of Admissions Tax<br />
Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n.<br />
Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n and the<br />
(League of New York Theatres have pledged<br />
to comply with the state order to maintain NEW YORK—The board of directors of the<br />
temperature ceilings of 68-70 degrees in state National Board of Review voted February 27<br />
and municipal buildings.<br />
to advocate elimination of the admissions tax.<br />
Although the order issued by Bertram D. The resolution read as follows:<br />
Tallamy. state solid fuels administrator, does "The motion picture has educational as<br />
legislation in favor of local admissions taxes,<br />
not apply to theatres, the voluntary observance<br />
is in line with the general policy of all anything that promotes the attendance at<br />
well as entertainment value. The board favors upon the elimination of the federal admissions<br />
tax."<br />
New York theatres to extend every effort to better films. Lower prices promote attendance<br />
and the removal of the tax should pro-<br />
cooperate with governmental authorities,<br />
MPIC Hears Marvin Faris<br />
which concern the public interest, according mote the trend to lower prices. Our motion<br />
On COMPO Tax Report<br />
to Joseph R. Vogel, chairman of the joint picture councils throughout the country<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Details of progress in the<br />
theatre committee on coal conservation, representing<br />
all film and legitimate theatres So do many public organizations interested<br />
favor the elimination of this wartime tax.<br />
all-industry fight to repeal the federal tax<br />
on admissions were reported to the Motion<br />
using coal.<br />
in the cultural value to adults and juveniles<br />
Picture Industry Council membership at a<br />
In addition to Vogel, MMPTA, the joint alike."<br />
midweek meeting by Marvin Faris. executive<br />
theatre committee consists of Harry Brandt,<br />
Signers of the resolution were Quincy<br />
of the Society of Independent Motion Picture<br />
Producers, following his return from<br />
ITOA president: Brock Pemberton, president<br />
Howe, president; Mrs. Curtice Hitchcock, secretary,<br />
and Henry Hart, treasurer.<br />
Washington, D.<br />
of League of New York Theatres; Robert<br />
Etowling, president of City Investment<br />
C. where he attended a session<br />
of the Committee of Motion Picture<br />
Co.,<br />
and Benjamin Fielding, Loew's Theatres<br />
Organizations.<br />
executive.<br />
In Massachusetts all theatre, apartment<br />
At the MPIC session Ronald Reagan, concluding<br />
his six-month term as chairman,<br />
and hotel owners were ordered to hold to a<br />
65-degree maximum temperature. Boarden<br />
turned the gavel over to Roy M. Brewer.<br />
Covel, emergency fuel administrator, said the<br />
Simultaneously, under the MPIC system of<br />
situation was at the critical stage and that<br />
rotating chairmanships, Paul Groesse was<br />
It might be necessary to reinstate wartime<br />
confirmed as co-chairman.<br />
MMPTA Tells Members Tax<br />
Ads Must Be Continued<br />
NEW YORK—The Metropolitan Motion<br />
Picture Theatres Ass'n tax committee has<br />
instructed member theatres to continue to<br />
carry "Repeal Movie Tax" copy in their newspaper<br />
ads, programs, heralds and window<br />
cards but to discontinue use of the tax trailer<br />
and the mailing of protest post cards to local<br />
congressmen because all have pledged themselves<br />
to fight for repeal.<br />
In a bulletin to members titled "Half-way<br />
Mark in Tax Repeal Campaign," D. John<br />
Phillips, executive director, said: "Remember<br />
that the excise tax repeal bill is still to be<br />
written and passed, and that our industry<br />
is pressing for outright repeal and not merely<br />
a reduction in federal admi.ssions taxes. Also,<br />
everything we do now to lick the tax will<br />
serve as a bulwark against any proposed local<br />
Swanson on TV Panel'<br />
NEW YORK—Gloria Swanson Joined in the<br />
ticket tax campaign Sunday (5) by appearing<br />
on Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt's NBC television<br />
program. Two other speakers were<br />
Vivien Kellems, Connecticut manufacturer,<br />
and Roy Blough. professor of economics at<br />
the University of Chicago.<br />
Second Drive-In Measure<br />
Into N.Y. Legislature<br />
ALBANY— Senator Paul A. Pino of the<br />
Bronx has introduced into the upper house<br />
a companion mea.sure to a bill prepared by<br />
Assemblyman Alfred A. Lama which would<br />
prohibit future construction of drive-ins in<br />
cities with more than 250.000 population. No<br />
formal protests on the Lama bill have been<br />
received by the assembly codes committee,<br />
although several drive-in operators have expressed<br />
opposition to it. Their contention is<br />
that the measure is discriminatory.<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
tax?<br />
A CARD OF THANKS—Five hundred New York theatres are showing one-sheets<br />
expressing gratitude for the pledges of all local congressmen to work for repeal of<br />
the admissions tax. They were made up for display by borough, naming the congressmen<br />
In a borough. This one Is being shown in Brooklyn. MMPTA and ITOA<br />
paid for them and distributed them to member theatres.<br />
BOXOFnCE March 4. 1950 41
. . . Carl<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . . Jack<br />
BROADy\fAy<br />
. . . Victor Hoare. managing<br />
/^harles Levy and Leo Samuels of the Walt<br />
Disney home office returned from Chicago<br />
where they set up the campaign for<br />
"Cinderella"<br />
director of European distribution for SRO.<br />
returned to London by plane following a<br />
week of conferences with Selznick home office<br />
executives . . . Ben Goetz, head of MGM<br />
British production, arrived from London on<br />
way to the coast for conferences on the<br />
filming of "Ivanhoe" and other pictures at<br />
the company's Boreham Woods studio . . .<br />
B. G. Kranze, Film Classics vice-president<br />
in charge of sales, left on a tour of southern<br />
exchanges and then proceeded to the coast<br />
York, MPAA representative for<br />
Scandinavia and Finland, left for Stockholm<br />
after spending several weeks in the U.S.<br />
. . . Maurice<br />
Greer Garson, MGM star, who completed<br />
"The Miniver Story" in England; Joe Ruttenberg,<br />
the cameraman on the production;<br />
Herbert Marshall and wife; Joseph Calleia,<br />
who completed two Italian features, and Sol<br />
Hurok, ballet and concert impresario, were<br />
among the 1,470 passengers who arrived from<br />
London on the Queen Mary<br />
Silverstein, Loew's International Latin American<br />
director, returned to New York from<br />
an eight-week tour of his territory, while<br />
Arthur Pincus, Loew's Int'l assistant adpublicity<br />
director, left for London by plane<br />
March 1 . . Dr. Renato Gualino, Lux Films<br />
.<br />
president and head of the Italian Motion<br />
Picture Producers Ass'n, arrived from Rome<br />
for a four-week stay.<br />
Syd Gross, Film Classics national director<br />
of advertising and publicity, left for Hollywood<br />
... A. J. Balaban, executive director<br />
of the Roxy Theatre, was host to ten screen<br />
unit members of the Gagwriters institute,<br />
who studied the humor in "When Willie<br />
Comes Marching Home" . Carolyn<br />
Willyoung Stagg returned to her former post<br />
as eastern editorial and talent representative<br />
for Samuel Goldwyn. Lew Kerner, executive<br />
talent director for Goldwyn, returned to the<br />
coast after three weeks here interviewing<br />
new talent . . Sigmund Gottlober, director<br />
.<br />
of the Foreign Language Press Film Critics<br />
circle, has been named head of the 1950 Red<br />
Cross campaign for the foreign press.<br />
tJradwell L. Sears, UA president, left by<br />
ne for a Florida vacation. Executive aslant<br />
Paul Lazarus jr. will return from<br />
Phoenix, Ariz., March 6 . . . George F. Dem-<br />
J»ow of National Screen Service planed out<br />
to the coast, and will return in time to<br />
leave for Europe late in the month . . . Sam<br />
JDembow, president of Producers Service<br />
^orp., also flew out to the west coast . . .<br />
Andy W. Smith jr., 20th Century-Fox sales<br />
h^ad, left for a month's vacation in Jacksonville<br />
but will interrupt it to fly to the showmanship<br />
meeting in Chicago starting March 8.<br />
. . .<br />
"T Macdonald Carey, Paramount star, was<br />
here to fill a Theatre Guild of the Air commitment<br />
Sunday (5). Elizabeth Taylor, MGM<br />
.sWirlet, will play on the same program the<br />
fMlowing Sunday . . . 'Van Johnson passed<br />
through en route ^y plane to London to attend<br />
Hedy<br />
the Battleground" opening Lamarr. whose i'Samson and Delilah" is at<br />
the Rivoli, is staying at the Waldorf-Astoria<br />
Towers . . . Robert Young, star of the Harry<br />
Popkin production, "Ellen," was here to take<br />
part in radio broadcasts and interviews for<br />
the film . . . Janet Gaynor, silent days star,<br />
and her husband, the MGM fashion designer<br />
Adrian, were here to see the shows.<br />
Charles Patrick, vice-president and account<br />
executive with Bermingham, Castleman &<br />
Pierce for the past 14 years, has joined the<br />
executive staff of Donahue & Coe . . . J. E.<br />
Schwartz, assistant to Herman R. Maier, chief<br />
engineer for Warner Theatres, has resigned<br />
to join E. C. Bullock, theatre architect . . .<br />
Barbara Day. now with Motion Picture Sales<br />
Corp., has also been named national sales<br />
and promotion director for the Fred Astaire<br />
dance studio chain by Charles L. Casanave<br />
Kingsley, a member of the Warner<br />
home office publicity department, became the<br />
father of twins.<br />
Fred Peters. Homell, N. Y„<br />
Theatre Owner, Dies<br />
HORNELL, N. Y.—Fred F. Peters, 81, owner<br />
of the Majestic Theatre here, died February<br />
19 at the Halifax District hospital in Daytona<br />
Beach, Fla.<br />
Peters was born in Montour Falls but<br />
moved as a child with his parents to Binghamton.<br />
During the early part of his life he<br />
worked for the Erie railroad, serving at one<br />
time as ticket agent at Corning. He left the<br />
&ie after 26 years of service.<br />
Peters opened his first theatre in a store<br />
building opposite the Erie station in Corning.<br />
Later he operated theatres in Waverly, Hornell<br />
and Oswego. In 1911 Mrs. Peters took<br />
charge of his theatres when her husband became<br />
storekeeper and purchasing agent for<br />
the Corning Glass Works. Shortly thereafter<br />
Peters erected the Majestic Theatre<br />
here.<br />
Peters retired in 1925. Lela Theatre Corp.<br />
now operates the Majestic.<br />
Peters was a 32nd degree Mason and a<br />
member of the Corning Kalurah Temple and<br />
the Hornellsville Emmanus Shrine. Survivors<br />
include his wife Grace, a son Arthur and a<br />
daughter, Mrs. Robert E. O'Hern, of Holly<br />
Hill, Fla. pineral and burial was in Hornell.<br />
AT MUSIC HALL—Russell V. Downing,<br />
left, executive vice-president of Radio<br />
City Music Hall, chats with Alfred Hitchcock,<br />
director of "Stage Fright" for Warner<br />
Bros., and Mrs. Hitchcock on the<br />
occasion of the opening of the picture at<br />
the world's largest theatre.<br />
Paul Moss, 70, Dies;<br />
Was License Official<br />
NEW YORK — Funeral services for Paul<br />
Moss, 70, New York City license commissioner<br />
from 1934 to 1946 and formerly associated<br />
with the B. S. Moss circuit, were held at<br />
Temple Israel. Moss, who died February 25,<br />
had been ill for several months and had returned<br />
February 1 from a six-week vacation<br />
in Florida.<br />
Moss, a native of New York City, was associated<br />
with his brother B. S. Moss in building<br />
a chain of 23 theatres in New York. The<br />
theatres later were absorbed by RKO. He<br />
and his brothers also produced a few features<br />
in New York. Moss was a founder and member<br />
of the board of managers of the Theatre<br />
Guild and was connected in producing a<br />
number of musical and dramatic plays, including<br />
"Subway Express" and "Processional."<br />
During his term as license commissioner.<br />
Moss set in motion a general cleanup of conditions<br />
in the film and legitimate theatres.<br />
He campaigned against bingo, banko and<br />
screeno in theatres, and in 1936 he had a<br />
law passed which provided children with a<br />
separate section in film houses, with a matron<br />
in attendance. In 1937, Moss rang down<br />
the curtain on burlesque in New York City<br />
by denying the applications of 14 burlesque<br />
theatres for renewal of their licenses. In<br />
1942, he forced the closing of "Wine, Women<br />
and Song," a revue, and, in 1945, he forced<br />
the closing of "Trio," a dramatic play, on<br />
the grounds of immorality. Since leaving his<br />
city post. Moss had been managing director<br />
of the New York City Center.<br />
Moss was one of a family of seven, the<br />
surviving members being three brothers, B. S.<br />
and Moses J. Moss of New York City and<br />
Louis Moss of California, and two sisters,<br />
Mrs. Etta Flato and Mrs. Rae Trilling of New<br />
York.<br />
Brotherhood Observance<br />
Is 'Most Successful'<br />
NEW YORK—Robert W. Coyne, assistant<br />
to Ted R. Gamble, national chairman of the<br />
motion picture division of the National Conference<br />
of Christians and Jews, which sponsored<br />
Brotherhood week, presided at a meeting<br />
of home office representatives February<br />
27 to hear a progress report on the observance<br />
which closed February 26.<br />
The motion picture industry enlisted the<br />
screens of thousands of theatres throughout<br />
the U.S., and indications are that the week<br />
will prove to have been the "most successful<br />
in the history of the celebration," Coyne said.<br />
A full report of the extent of industry participation<br />
and support is expected to be completed<br />
by March 15.<br />
Other speakers at the luncheon meeting<br />
were A. W. Schwalberg and Max E. Youngstein<br />
of Paramount. Home office chairmen<br />
present included Ulric Bell, 20th-Fox; Harry<br />
Buckley, United Artists; William Brenner,<br />
National Screen Service; Maury Goldstein,<br />
Monogram; Monroe Goodman, Paramount;<br />
Harry Marcus, Republic; Jack Mclnerny,<br />
United Paramount; Robert Mochrie, RKO;<br />
John O'Connor, Universal-International; Pat<br />
Scollard, Paramount; L. 'V. Schlaifer, Eagle<br />
Lion, and Itncus Sober, Loew's.<br />
Peter Lawford and June Allyson will star<br />
with Fred Astaire in MGM's "Royal Wedding."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
—<br />
. . . Harriet<br />
. .<br />
. . Harold<br />
. . H.<br />
. Bv<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . Tony<br />
. . Al<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
'Cinderella' Is Leader<br />
Of Broadway Films<br />
NEW YORK—The second week of New<br />
York's brownout saw an increasing number<br />
of theatregoers staying away from the darkened<br />
Times Square sector with the result that<br />
business was below expectations, even for the<br />
new films. The winter's first freezing weather<br />
and the start of Lent also had an ill effect<br />
on grosses.<br />
The only waiting lines were in evidence at<br />
the Mayfair, where "Cinderella" attracted<br />
youngsters during the daytime. "Three Came<br />
Home" also had a good first week, at the<br />
Astor although it, too. suffered because of<br />
the darkening of its spectacular theatre sign.<br />
Even the Radio City Music Hall, with the new<br />
Hitchcock film, "Stage Fright," and the Capitol<br />
with the multi-starred "Malaya," did<br />
less than their usual opening week business.<br />
Some of the straight film houses hit new<br />
lows.<br />
The Paramount hired extra doormen and<br />
ushers in anticipation of record business for<br />
the personal appearance of Bob Hope and<br />
Jane Russell in conjunction with "Captain<br />
China," which started March 1. "Mother<br />
Didn't Tell Me," "Borderline" and "Dakota<br />
Lil" also opened during the week.<br />
{Average is lOQ)<br />
Astor—Three Came Home (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 110<br />
Bijou—The Red Shoes (EL), 71st wk ol two-a-day.... 90<br />
Capitol—Malaya (MGM), plus stage show 110<br />
Criterion—Woman in Hiding (U-1) 90<br />
Globe—The Outlaw (RKO), 2nd wk ol return run....ll5<br />
Gotham Beau Geste (Para); Lives of a Bengal<br />
Lancer (Para), reissues 100<br />
Loews Slate—Key to the City (MGM), 4th wk 70<br />
Maylair— Cinderella (RKO) 125<br />
Paramount—Paid in Full (Para), plus stage show,<br />
2nd wk 85<br />
Palace Father Is a Bachelor (Col), plus vaudeville<br />
_ 95<br />
Park Avenue—The Astonished Heart (U-1), 2nd wk .110<br />
Radio City Music Hdll—Stage Fright (WB), plus<br />
slage show - 105<br />
Rivoli—Samson and Delilah (Para), 10th wk 95<br />
Roxy—When Willie Comes Marching Home (2ath-<br />
Fox), plus stage show, 2nd wk 90<br />
Strand Chain Lightning (WB), plus stcTge show,<br />
2nd wk 100<br />
Sutton—The Fallen Idol (SRO), 15th wk _ 95<br />
Trans-Lux Madison Ave—Tight Little Island (EL),<br />
9th wk 98<br />
Victoria—The Third Man (SRO), 4th wk 110<br />
Drop in Mercury Boosts<br />
Trade in Philadelphia<br />
PHILADELPHIA—First run houses here<br />
reported brisk trade as the weather dropped<br />
to freezing temperatures for the first time<br />
this year. "Outside the Wall," playing a<br />
second week at the Aldine, continued to show<br />
strength with a rating of 130 per cent. A<br />
second stanza of "Key to the City" at the<br />
Randolph, also was sturdy with 125 per cent.<br />
Aldme—Outside the Wall (U-1). 2nd wk 130<br />
Boyd— Francis (U-1) 98<br />
Effrle—Samson and Delilah (Para), 4th wk 115<br />
fox—When Willie Comes Marching Home (20th-<br />
Fox) 120<br />
Goldman—Stromboli iRKO), 2nd wk 45<br />
(Carlton-The Bed Shoes (EL), 2nd run, 6th wk _ 75<br />
Mastbaum—Chain Ughtning (WB), 2nd wk BO<br />
Randolph—Key to the City (MGM), 2nd wk 125<br />
Stanley—All the King's Men (Col), 3rd wk 65<br />
Stanton—Dokola Lil (20lh-Fox) 70<br />
Have you ordered your taxation trailer and<br />
petition cards from National Screen Service?<br />
Do it today.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE CENTER AISLE LIGHTS<br />
With numbered Panels for Ramps with Opagut Panels<br />
for Driveway Illumination<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. K^nL^cllyX<br />
Along New York's Filmrow<br />
r-MANUEL FRISCH, treasurer of the Randforce<br />
Amusement Corp., Brooklyn, has<br />
taken on another philanthropic assignment.<br />
Manny's busy now as<br />
amusements chairman<br />
of the Brooklyn Red<br />
Cross 1950 Fund drive<br />
and is one of nearly M<br />
leading Brooklyn executives<br />
active in the<br />
current campaign .<br />
Harry Margolis says<br />
that every staff member<br />
at MGM branch<br />
offices in Chicago, St.<br />
Louis, New Haven,<br />
Omaha, Detroit, Milwaukee<br />
and New York<br />
Emanuel Frisch<br />
has written a letter to his congressman urging<br />
. . . Lucille Popper,<br />
repeal of the ticket tax<br />
Universal contract clerk, is recovering from<br />
an emergency appendectomy at French hospital<br />
The Motion Picture Bookers club<br />
. . will<br />
.<br />
hold its monthly meeting Monday<br />
night (6).<br />
Bonded Film Storage was host to many<br />
visitors at a housewarming Friday (3) in its<br />
new offices in the Film Center. The company<br />
now has the entire 14th floor. Architect William<br />
F. Jenter used photographic murals for<br />
the corridors and some of the larger rooms.<br />
The new projection room has been tastefully<br />
done in gray and chartreuse. The open house<br />
lasted from 3:30 to 7 p. m., and Morris J.<br />
Kandel, president, was on hand to greet all<br />
visitors. He shortened his stay in Florida to<br />
attend. Several shorts were shown and Lucille<br />
Goodman, receptionist, sang a few selections<br />
for the guests.<br />
Meyer Solomon, Monogram salesman, became<br />
a grandfather Wednesday (1) for the<br />
. . .<br />
ninth time. The baby was a boy, the first<br />
Tony<br />
grandson Meyer has welcomed<br />
Ricci, New Jersey salesman for Republic, was<br />
back on the job after a trip to Florida .<br />
Frances Steiglitz, manager's secretary at the<br />
Columbia exchange, is in a local hospital for<br />
an operation . . . Joan Fleury is the new<br />
switchboard operator at Film Classics.<br />
ROBERT O'NEILL .<br />
Gloria Korn has been hired as a booker by<br />
Favorite Pictures . Kimmel, UA<br />
bookkeeper, is limping as the result of a bad<br />
spill on a skiing trip in New Hampshire .<br />
Julius Deschel, treasurer of the S&J Amusement<br />
Co., has purchased the Nassau Theatre<br />
in Brooklyn for his company . . . Joseph<br />
Burke, 20th-Pox exchange office manager,<br />
was to return from a one-week vacation<br />
Monday (6).<br />
chief, is on the present jury panel of the<br />
New York supreme court.<br />
. . .<br />
Lillian<br />
Rudy Berger and John Allen headed back<br />
to their offices in the south after a visit<br />
in Manhattan. They dropped in at the MGM<br />
exchange to see some old friends . . .<br />
Millie<br />
Cossidente of Charlie Deesen's staff at MGM<br />
announced her engagement to Anthony Mastronardi<br />
Melvin Sherman, print booker<br />
. . . for Universal, expects a new addition at his<br />
Kaplan,<br />
house any day now<br />
secretary to William P. Murphy, Republic<br />
branch manager, resigned to be married this<br />
week. Harriet Lee, a biller, will replace her<br />
and Sylvia Seiden will take over Harriet's job.<br />
. . .<br />
Harry Reiners, RKO field man, was on his<br />
way<br />
Jean<br />
at home<br />
to Florida<br />
Slater,<br />
after<br />
because of<br />
RKO booker,<br />
a trip to the hospital<br />
poor<br />
is<br />
health . .<br />
convalescing<br />
. . .<br />
Rose<br />
Procopio, Eagle Lion switchboard operator,<br />
announced her engagement .<br />
Suchman,<br />
operator of a drive-in in Newburgh, visited<br />
Filmrow last week . . . Lou Brown is a new<br />
Irving<br />
salesman for Favorite Pictures<br />
Wernick, Favorite Pictures sales manager, will<br />
celebrate his birthday Wednesday (8) . .<br />
.<br />
Janet Moses, UA biUer, is in Boston for a<br />
visit<br />
with relatives.<br />
Manny Kandel, Bonded Film treasurer, left<br />
Friday night (3) for Florida after a company<br />
party in the new offices . . . Dan S. Terrell.<br />
MGM exploitation chief, now is writing a<br />
column called "For Your Information" for<br />
the Distributor, company sale.s organ .<br />
Kitty Bernstein, Columbia head booker, was<br />
back on the job after a tour of the south .<br />
Frances Atlas. RKO biller, was on the sick list<br />
Stanley Wentes, UA booker, is leaving to<br />
Ben Broskie<br />
take a new job in television . . .<br />
visited the exchanges Wednesday (1) from<br />
Irvington Agoglia, UA booker, is<br />
.<br />
taking workouts in a Brooklyn gym with the<br />
Bushwicks, a semipro baseball team . .<br />
Mary<br />
.<br />
Maguire is a new ledger clerk in the Paramount<br />
accounting department, as is Vincenza<br />
Casuccio . . . Blanche Schiff, Columbia<br />
bookkeeper, returned from the Adirondacks<br />
. Harriet Costello, Paramount head inspector,<br />
is back at work after a siege in the<br />
.<br />
hospital . . . Rita Klie of the same office<br />
also is on the job after a brief illness . . .<br />
Martin Moskowitz, 20th-Fox division sales<br />
manager, returned from Florida over the<br />
weekend . . . George Blendermann, 20th-Fox<br />
booker, was ill several days with influenza.<br />
Stars Draw Broadway Crowds<br />
NEW YORK—Bob Hope and Jane Russell<br />
set a first-day record for the Paramount Theatre<br />
in an otherwise dull week on Broadway<br />
Max Cohen of Monticello was a recent<br />
by appearing six times daily, although admissions<br />
are increased to $1.50 top. "Captain<br />
visitor to the Warner exchange. He recently<br />
completed a tour of the studios on the coast<br />
China" is the picture.<br />
Krasner will spend a few days<br />
at Grossinger's before taking up her new<br />
post as secretary to Arthur Greenblatt, Lippert<br />
Productions general sales manager .<br />
FOR CAPACITY BUSINESS<br />
Frances Freund. Favorite Pictures bookkeeper,<br />
is engaged to Milton Kupferman, a<br />
HOSTESS<br />
A L U M I N U M W A R E<br />
textile executive . McGowan and I. "The year's most outstanding premium deal"<br />
Shenker of the Berlo Vending Co. were here<br />
METRO PREMIUM COMPANY<br />
from Ohio to confer with Lee Kooken, RKO 334 W. 44th St. COIumbus 51-1952 New York<br />
257 No. 13lh St. RITenhouse 6-7994 Philadelphia, Pa.<br />
vending head . . . Al Crown, Goldwyn sales<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 43
. . Dorothy<br />
. . Booker's<br />
. . Manager<br />
. . . Ben<br />
. . . Grace<br />
. . . Myrtle<br />
. . Eagle<br />
. . Thomas<br />
. . Don<br />
. . Bernice<br />
WASH I<br />
Qhief Barker Wade Pearson reported Variety<br />
Tent 11 will present its first Great Heart<br />
award to a local man chosen as an outstanding<br />
civic and charitable leader at a banquet<br />
at the Mayflower hotel May 13.<br />
Women of Variety, headed by Mrs. Jerry<br />
Adams' committee, will play a prominent part<br />
in ticket sales for the forthcoming rodeo to<br />
Mr. and Mrs.<br />
be sponsored by Tent 11 . . .<br />
Robert<br />
Filmrow<br />
Levine and Evelyn Butler visited<br />
other Pilmrow visitors included<br />
. . .<br />
Dan Browning jr. and Ralph Pol-<br />
lard of the Dixie Drive-In, Richmond, Va.<br />
.<br />
Lillian Lee has returned to the office after<br />
a week's illness . . . John Tassos. Paramount<br />
publicist, was married recently . . . Shipper<br />
Jimmy Burns is recovering from a siege of<br />
pneumonia<br />
. Darr has resigned<br />
to take up household duties . . Sympathy<br />
.<br />
to 20th-Fox shipper Cornehus Scott in the<br />
death of his wife clerk Eilleen<br />
Olivier has returned from a two-week vacation<br />
in New Orleans , . . Inspector Margaret<br />
Landgraf has returned to 20th-Fox.<br />
Editor of the 20th-Pox Dynamo Roger<br />
Ferri stopped off here en route from a Mexico<br />
vacation to New York .<br />
Glenn<br />
Norris visited Baltimore ... At Columbia.<br />
Messrs. Haupert and Greenberg are in for a<br />
routine Hello girl Rosalie Satterwhite<br />
audit . . .<br />
has<br />
resigned.<br />
Cornelia Palumbo now is Mrs. Biti<br />
Gene Autry, who was in town with his<br />
rodeo, visited the local exchange and had<br />
his picture taken with the staff . . . Manager<br />
Ben Caplon was in Charlotte, N. C, and<br />
YOU<br />
DONT<br />
KNOW<br />
WHAT<br />
YOURE<br />
MISSING...<br />
Til YOU TRY<br />
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N G T O N<br />
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ABETTER'<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Chicago - 1327 S. Wabash Avenue<br />
New York - 619 West 54th Street<br />
District Manager Sam Galanty was in Pittsburgh<br />
. . . Alice Sauber was out ill.<br />
District Theatres Clark Davis was out sick<br />
for several days . Burling of Highway<br />
Express Lines reports the death of his father<br />
Siegel, Theatre Advertising Co., is<br />
in George Washington hospital where he<br />
underwent an operation on his knee . . . The<br />
Gayety, which has been playing burlesque<br />
for many years, has been renovated and will<br />
open Monday (6) as a legitimate house with<br />
a nonsegregation policy.<br />
NO PERFORATIONS: 20 ..<br />
More Light and Better Vision<br />
CYCLORAMIC<br />
Magic Screen<br />
of the Future<br />
. -NOW<br />
Custom Screen<br />
•Pofenf applied for<br />
Opening attraction<br />
will be Susan Peters in "The Barretts of<br />
Wimpole Street."<br />
Manager Jerry Adams of MGM visited the<br />
Schine home office in Gloversville, N. Y. . . .<br />
Booker Max Stepkin celebrated a birthday<br />
Stein, a new member of the staff,<br />
also celebrated a birthday .<br />
Cook's<br />
husband Jack recently received his master's<br />
degree in accounting at Strayer's Business<br />
Rhoda Zell, billing department,<br />
college . . .<br />
has been out fighting the flu.<br />
.<br />
Tommy Ryan of U-I celebrated a birthday<br />
Priess underwent an operation<br />
on her arm . Cusic is new student<br />
manager at the<br />
Md.<br />
New Theatre, Leonardtown,<br />
Jake Flax. Republic manager, spent<br />
. . .<br />
several days in New York . . . Office Manager<br />
Al Landgraf reports the neuritis in hu<br />
arm and shoulder is improving<br />
. . . Inspector<br />
Pauline Struck has been out with a sprained<br />
ankle Lion Manager Fred Rohrs<br />
spent several days in Richmond . . . The<br />
father of salesman Fred Sapperstein is ill<br />
in a hospital at Baltimore.<br />
Stuart Aorons Is Wed<br />
To Florence Josephson<br />
NEW YORK—Stuart Aarons, Warner Bros,<br />
attorney 18 years, was married Sunday (26)<br />
to Florence Josephson at the Warwick hotel.<br />
The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. I.<br />
Josephson of this city and is a graduate of<br />
Hunter college and Brooklyn Law school.<br />
She is a member of the state bar. Stuart is<br />
a graduate of City college of New York and<br />
Harvard Law school, and a member of Phi<br />
Beta Kappa. He was awarded the Bronze<br />
Star, the army commendation ribbon and the<br />
Philippine Medal of Merit for war service.<br />
Have you ordered your taxation trailer and<br />
petition cards from National Screen Service?<br />
Do it today.<br />
Installed<br />
BILTMORE<br />
at<br />
THEATRE<br />
Mt. Vernon, N. Y.<br />
By JOE HORNSTEIN, Inc.<br />
630 Ninth Ave. Theat/e Equipment Specialists New York City<br />
Goldsmith Gets Rights<br />
To '3 Husbands' Title<br />
NEW YORK—A board of arbitration of the<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America has given<br />
I. G. Goldsmith, producer for United Artists,<br />
indisputable rights to the title, "Three<br />
Husbands," which had been contested by<br />
20th Century-Fox as infringing on their 1949<br />
release, "A Letter to Three Wives." The<br />
latter, which is a screen adaptation by Vera<br />
Caspary of her novel, is now up for an<br />
Academy Award while "Three Husbands"<br />
was written for the screen by Miss Caspary.<br />
Miss Caspary is also associated with her<br />
husband. Goldsmith, in the production of<br />
"Three Husbands," which is now being completed<br />
in Hollywood under the direction of<br />
Irving Reis.<br />
Goldsmith, who flew east to press his<br />
rights to the title, returned to Hollywood<br />
February 28. He was represented at the<br />
MPAA arbitration hearing by Robert J.<br />
Rubin, Society of Independent Motion Picture<br />
Producers counsel, and Harry D. Buckley<br />
of United Artists.<br />
EL Scdesmen Will Shore<br />
In 'Indiana' Profits<br />
NEW YORK—Frank Melford and John<br />
Rawlins, partners heading Ventura Pictures,<br />
will share the profits from their first picture,<br />
"Boy From Indiana," with 176 salesmen<br />
for Eagle Lion, which is distributing<br />
the film.<br />
In each territory where the picture is distributed,<br />
the salesmen employed by the EL<br />
branch serving that area will receive 20 per<br />
cent of the picture's profits above a nominal<br />
quota agreed upon by the sales organization.<br />
When any branch has exceeded its quota, it<br />
will receive 20 per cent of all revenue derived<br />
by that branch in excess of the quota. "By<br />
making the Eagle Lion salesmen, in effect,<br />
partners in our venture, we are giving them<br />
a real incentive and a just reward for their<br />
efforts," Melford said.<br />
Paramount Corp. Declares<br />
50-Cent Common Dividend<br />
NEW YORK—The board of directors of the<br />
Paramount Pictures Corp. has declared a<br />
quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share on the<br />
common stock, payable March 29 to stockholders<br />
of record March 16. Barney Balaban,<br />
president, told the board that "because<br />
of the worldwide nature of our business,"<br />
it is impossible at this time to estimate<br />
the consolidated earnings for the first<br />
quarter of 1950. The estimated earnings will<br />
be published in May, he said. The corporation<br />
has purchased 73,710 shares of its stock<br />
for retirement. As of March 1, 1950, 86 per<br />
cent of the outstanding stock of the old company<br />
has already been exchanged for stock<br />
of the two new companies, in accordance<br />
with the plan of reorganization.<br />
Thomas L. W. Evans Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Thomas Lee Wells Evans, 65,<br />
president and co-founder of Major F^lm Laboratories.<br />
Inc.. film processers. died Wednesday<br />
il) in New England Baptist hospital,<br />
Boston. His home was in Bronxville, N. Y.<br />
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lotta M.<br />
Evans: a daughter, Mrs. Thomas N. Doyle,<br />
and a brother. William J. Evans.<br />
44<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . . Beatrice<br />
. . The<br />
. . William<br />
. . Herman<br />
. . Stanley-Warner<br />
. . Under<br />
. . "Wings<br />
. . Joseph<br />
. . Gert<br />
. . WB<br />
Phila. Trust Company<br />
Ponders Film Loans<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Independent producers<br />
may find a new source for financing if the<br />
Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co. finds that<br />
its loan to Eagle Lion proves satisfactory,<br />
according to Vice-President Wentworth<br />
Johnson.<br />
The bank has loaned coin for four EL<br />
productions, and it wants to see how this<br />
investment turns out before giving the green<br />
light to any further film loans. However, if<br />
things turn out as anticipated, the bank will<br />
institute a policy of lending coin to Hollywood.<br />
Fidelity-Philadelphia loaned over $1,000,000<br />
for four films being produced by N. Peter<br />
Rathvon for Eagle Lion release. This deal<br />
had Fidelity-Philadelphia investing 60 per<br />
cent, First National bank of Boston 10 per<br />
cent, and Detroit National bank 30 per cent.<br />
The Detroit bank has loaned about $10,-<br />
000,000 to Eagle Lion. It came into the Rathvon<br />
venture at the suggestion of Robert R.<br />
Young, EL'S controlling stockholder, who gives<br />
the bank some of his other business, too.<br />
Paramount Denies Charge<br />
It Would Censor Radio<br />
NEW YORK—The Getschal & Richard advertising<br />
agency has charged Paramount with<br />
coercion through trying to "censor" radio<br />
commercials it placed in behalf of a chain<br />
of television stores, Budd Getschal, head of<br />
the firm, addressed his complaint to Barney<br />
Balaban, Paramount president. He said "a<br />
Paramount official" wrote a threat to radio<br />
stations that would stop all films advertising<br />
on the air unless the television store copy<br />
was altered.<br />
The copy which was objected to, Getschal<br />
said, stated that it is possible to buy a television<br />
set on a credit plan at the rate of<br />
"less than the cost of two movie tickets per<br />
week" and get "much more entertainment."<br />
Paramount said it had protested the copy<br />
in a letter to Station WINS, calling it unfair,<br />
but that the letter contained no threat<br />
of stopping advertising and was not coercive.<br />
Getschal is a former Paramount publicity<br />
man.<br />
Two WB, One RKO Feature<br />
Picked by Nat'l Board<br />
NEW YORK—Two Warner Bros, features,<br />
"Perfect Strangers" and "Young Man With<br />
a Horn," and an RKO film, "Woman on<br />
Pier 13," have been given selected features<br />
rating by the National Board of Review in<br />
the weekly guide to selected pictures.<br />
Short subjects given special mention are:<br />
"The Blue Angel" and "The Great Showman"<br />
(Coll.<br />
Chevalier Film to Open<br />
NEW YORK—Discina International Fnims<br />
will open "A Royal Affair," a French language<br />
picture starring Maurice Chevalier, at<br />
the Normandie Theatre March 8. This is the<br />
second first run film to play the Normandie<br />
under the foreign film policy which started<br />
January 31 with "Child of Man," a Swedish<br />
picture.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
"Phe opera film cycle at the Princess Theatre<br />
was held for a second week . Manager<br />
Bill Mansell returned to work following<br />
a recent operation . the name<br />
of the Lehigh Valley Theatre Corp., the<br />
Towne and Franklin theatres of Allentown,<br />
Pa., have joined the Allied booking and buying<br />
organization . booker<br />
Jerrie Greenberg was married to Sam Weintraub<br />
at Beth El synagogue . Golden<br />
was in town helping in the promotion of<br />
"The Bicycle Thief," scheduled to open at<br />
the Princess Thursday (9).<br />
The Benn Theatre will start a beauty contest<br />
Thursday . Studio Theatre was<br />
showing "Sands of Iwo Jima" as a test. The<br />
midcity theatre wants to determine whether<br />
it should switch to a policy of showing films<br />
immediately after their first runs . . . Parke<br />
Levy, author of the "My Friend Irma" series,<br />
was in town from Hollywood to visit his<br />
ailing father . Goldman, independent<br />
exhibitor, expects to have a drive-in<br />
in operation this spring on the Ridge Pike<br />
between Pottstown and Reading.<br />
.<br />
A. M. Ellis Theatres will use the new game<br />
Quizo in its houses. The Crest, Admiral and<br />
Regal, will be the first houses in the circuit<br />
to feature the game of Glory"<br />
will open at the Capitol Theatre March 15<br />
Duffy, Monogram assistant<br />
booker, was back at work after having been<br />
out with a broken ankle . Conway<br />
has been appointed salesman for Film Classics<br />
Rose Shapiro, Eagle Lion biller,<br />
. . . appeared in a- vaudeville show recently at<br />
the Tower Theatre, Camden, N. J.<br />
Milton Hale, Paramount exploiteer, was in<br />
Wilmington lecturing to schools, churches,<br />
civic groups and women's clubs on "Samson<br />
and Delilah" . Rubin, Paramount<br />
city salesman, has completely recovered from<br />
a recent operation at the Jewish hospital . . .<br />
Dorothy Park, National Screen Service telephone<br />
operator, was on sick leave . . Abe<br />
.<br />
Altman's Mayfair is being completely renovated.<br />
Paramount Decorating Co. is handling<br />
the decoration.<br />
J. J. Scully, U-I district manager, was in<br />
town , . . Averell Lynch, district manager's<br />
secretary at MGM, went to Florida on her<br />
Dave Brodsky was handling<br />
vacation . . .<br />
decorating work for Nat Rosen's Delmar<br />
Theatre, Delmar, Del. Bernard Haines' new<br />
theatre in Sellersville, Pa.: Nat Rosen's new<br />
house in Elkton, Md., and the Key Theatre<br />
in Doylestown, Pa.<br />
Philadelphia theatres reported a good public<br />
response to the campaign to effect repeal<br />
of the federal amusement tax.<br />
Lopert Films Sues Pathe<br />
On 'Shoe-Shine' Release<br />
NEW YORK—Lopert Films has filed an<br />
action in district court asking that Pathe<br />
Industries be required to relinquish Latin<br />
American distribution rights to "Shoe-Shine,"<br />
Italian-made film.<br />
The suit charges breach of the distribution<br />
agreement and Lopert seeks $100,000 damages,<br />
a permanent injunction, accounting of<br />
profits and termination of the original contract.<br />
Dramatic Academy Honors<br />
Warners' 'Hasty Heart'<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Accolades because of its<br />
"promotion of international understanding<br />
and brotherhood" have been accorded Warner<br />
Bros.' "The Hasty Heart" by the American<br />
National Theatre and Academy, in cooperation<br />
with UNESCO's panel of dramatic<br />
arts.<br />
The academy is honoring the Ronald Reagan-Richard<br />
Todd vehicle as part of International<br />
Theatre month, with local ceremonies<br />
to take place March 9 at the East<br />
Los Angeles Junior college. Todd will make<br />
a personal appearance at an all-college assembly<br />
which will be dedicated to the theme<br />
of "the relation of motion pictures and the<br />
theatre in the promotion of international understanding<br />
and brotherhood."<br />
New Discrimination Bill<br />
Into N. Y. Legislature<br />
ALBANY—The owner, operator or manager<br />
of a place of amusement or resort would be<br />
held liable for discrimination against any<br />
person because of race, color or creed under<br />
the terms of a bill introduced by N. L. Hellman,<br />
state senator. Violations would be<br />
prosecuted by the attorney general, and the<br />
amount which could be recovered in a civil<br />
action would be $1,000.<br />
Complete Sound Systems<br />
COSTS Less<br />
N'> efjuipfiu'iit otTer»; more in value for<br />
such low cost. Complete sound systems<br />
are available (or theatres of every<br />
siie. shape and seatuiij capacity. They<br />
consist of a twowa> horn system, pair<br />
of soundheads, and either .sin^^le or<br />
dual channel amplifiers<br />
STAR CINEMA SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
441 West 50lh Street,<br />
New York 19, New York<br />
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DRIVE-IN<br />
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BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950 45
. . . Wilham<br />
. . Helen<br />
. . Benton's<br />
. .<br />
BUFFALO<br />
IliTorris Slotnick, operator of the two theatres<br />
in Rochester, has taken a lease on<br />
the Midtown and he is expected to reopen<br />
it as an "art" house soon. Closed since last<br />
December, the theatre probably will be redecorated<br />
and reseated before it is opened<br />
Brett, president of the Skyway<br />
Drive-In Theatre Corp., and William P.<br />
Rosenow. secretary, are at work with plans<br />
for operation of two additional open air<br />
situations recently purchased by the firm,<br />
the Niagara on Niagara Falls boulevard and<br />
the Genesee near Batavia. AH three ozoners<br />
will be operated as Skyway Drive-In theatres.<br />
James Ely is vice-president of the<br />
company, and Prank W. Tindle is treasurer.<br />
Eddie Meade of Shea's, in exploiting "Twelve<br />
O'clock High," arranged for members of<br />
the Air Reserve Ass'n, Air Force Ass'n, Reserve<br />
Officers Ass'n and the Volunteer<br />
Air Reserve group to attend the theatre<br />
in uniform following a parade along Main<br />
street. Four Buffalo men who flew missions<br />
over Germany and Prance were honored in<br />
special stage ceremonies. After the theatre<br />
celebration, members of the various groups<br />
and their families enjoyed an informal gettogether<br />
at the Boechat American Legion<br />
clubrooms.<br />
Buffalo is one of the first cities to be<br />
chosen for the showing of a new series of<br />
films produced by the Protestant Film commission.<br />
The premiere showing was February<br />
28 at the North Presbyterian church. Invitations<br />
were extended to religious leaders,<br />
educators, officials of civic clubs, industrial<br />
firms and fraternal orders and other community<br />
Joe E. Brown, in town<br />
leaders . . .<br />
recently to appear in a show staged in Kleinhans<br />
Music Hall under the auspices 'of the<br />
Buffalo Kiwanis club, recalled that the first<br />
time he played here he was ten years old as<br />
a 69-pound aerialist in a circus. After the<br />
show. Brown obligingly autographed programs<br />
for half a hundred persons who trooped<br />
onto the stage.<br />
Bill Lundigan, one of the stars of "Mother<br />
Didn't Tell Me," is a Syracuse boy, Dick<br />
Feldman. manager of the Paramount there,<br />
is planning special promotion for the star<br />
and the film, scheduled to open there soon<br />
. E. J. Wall, Paramount, was at work<br />
. .<br />
here on a campaign for "Paid in Full," now<br />
at the Paramount Theatre . Huber,<br />
a member of the Paramount 25-Year club<br />
and the Buffalo Pep club of the same company,<br />
is planning to fly to California for<br />
an Easter vacation visit with her sister.<br />
. . . Eddie<br />
Eddie Fitzgerald, new manager of the<br />
Paramount branch, was welcomed with a<br />
party at the exchange last Saturday evening<br />
(25). Mike Simon also attended and left the<br />
next day for his new post as manager of the<br />
Paramount exchange in Detroit<br />
Miller, manager of the Center Theatre, arranged<br />
a tieup with the Bell Aircraft Corp.<br />
when "Chain Lightning" opened at the<br />
downtown house. He prepared posters stating<br />
that Bell made the first jetplane.<br />
Joseph B. Clements, Paramount Theatre<br />
manager, used window streamers in a tieup<br />
with local record distributors on the Bing<br />
Crosby recording of "You're Wonderful" from<br />
"Paid in Pull." now being shown at the<br />
downtown house . . . Sally Bifarella, former<br />
secretary to Manny Brown at Paramount,<br />
now is employed in a government agricultural<br />
office in Springfield, N. Y., her home<br />
town and where her father operates a motion<br />
picture theatre. Sally was visiting along<br />
Street, Rochester<br />
Rlmrow recently . . . Gene<br />
city manager for Paramount, returned there<br />
from New York.<br />
. . . John Mc-<br />
Elmer F. Lux, chief barker, reported a large<br />
crowd attended the Old Time party at the<br />
Variety Club last Saturday night (25). Members<br />
are looking forward to the gin rummy<br />
tournament to be held March 10 . . . Bill<br />
Brereton of the Lafayette made a tieup with<br />
Sattler's department store for "Francis," currently<br />
at the Basil house<br />
Mahon, city salesman at Paramount, received<br />
word from Boston that John Good,<br />
former city salesman, is progressing nicely<br />
in his treatment for polio and that he will<br />
be out of the hospital in about six weeks.<br />
Peak Drive-In Trade<br />
Seen by Lamont<br />
ALBANY—A prediction that open air<br />
theatre<br />
patronage would reach a new peak during<br />
the coming season was made by Harry<br />
Lamont, drive-in operator in the Albany area,<br />
following his return recently from a twomonth<br />
vacation in Florida. While in the<br />
south. Lamont visited outdoor theatres in<br />
various sections of Florida and the Carolinas.<br />
Admission prices at drive-ins in Florida<br />
and other southern states are less than those<br />
which prevail in New York and adjoining<br />
states. Lamont said. Construction of open<br />
air projects in all parts of the south is<br />
progressing rapidly, according to the New<br />
Yorker. He said he had seen various innovations<br />
in drive-in construction and operation<br />
which might be adapted for use in<br />
this area.<br />
ALBANY<br />
Cam Davis, Phoenicia exhibitor, returned<br />
from a vacation in Florida . . . George<br />
Thornton. Saugerties theatreman. and Dave<br />
Rosenbaum of Elizabethtown were among exhibitors<br />
on Filmrow . . . "Sands of Iwo Jima"<br />
was reported to have broken the house record<br />
at the Olympic at Utica, operated by<br />
Charles Gordon.<br />
Vincent Trotta, head of National Screen<br />
Service's art department, spent the weekend<br />
as a guest of George Chelius jr., new manager<br />
of the Ten Eyck hotel. They have been<br />
friends for many years, Trotta having been<br />
a judge at a Miss America beauty contest<br />
in Atlantic City when Chelius was connected<br />
with the Claridge and Ritz Carlton hotels<br />
Joe Lerner, who produced and<br />
there . . •<br />
directed "Bystander," was interviewed by<br />
George Michael over WROW Tuesday afternoon<br />
(28) to promote the picture's opening<br />
at the Ritz March 8.<br />
. . Tex Beneke's<br />
Bert Kulick of Bell Pictures called at Warner<br />
Theatres offices . . . "Stromboli" opened<br />
at the Utica, Utica, and the Lincoln, Troy,<br />
to fairly good business<br />
orchestra played a one-day engagement at<br />
Schine's Oswego in Oswego, giving four performances<br />
. Strand, Plattsburgh.<br />
was one of the first in the territory to show<br />
"When Willie Comes Marching Home" .<br />
There was much speculation among exhibitors<br />
regarding the trade which "Stromboli"<br />
would draw to the Grand, where it opened<br />
Friday (3). The film has been licensed for<br />
commercial showings by the motion picture<br />
division of the state education department,<br />
and classified A-2 by the Legion of Decency.<br />
DONATE S26.000 TO DIMES—George A. Crouch of the Warner Theatre is shown<br />
turning over a check for S26.400, representing money obtained by Washington theatres<br />
for the March of Dimes to polio fund Commissioner John Russell Young, right.<br />
Looking on are Edgar Morris, left, chairman of the March of Dimes campaign, and<br />
A. Julian Brylawski, president of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Washington.<br />
Crouch and Carter T. Barron were co-chairmen of the theatre committee for the<br />
1950 March of Dimes.<br />
Irene Rich Is Married<br />
NEW YORK — Irene Rich, star of stage,<br />
screen, radio and television, was married to<br />
George H. Clifford, president of the Stone<br />
& Webster Service Corp.. in their new apartment<br />
at the Sherry-Netherland hotel February<br />
28. Miss Rich, who recently closed a<br />
long run on Broadway in "As the Girls Go,"<br />
in which she played Madame President, said<br />
she would retire from stage and screen work.<br />
She acted in nearly 200 pictures during her<br />
screen career, the last being "Port Apache"<br />
in 1»48.<br />
46 BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950
RCA to Demonstrate<br />
Color Video Types<br />
WASHINGTON—RCA is preparing to demonstrate<br />
several types of three-color, directview<br />
tubes for television and is preparing to<br />
start experimental use of a portable color<br />
television camera, according to Dr. E. W.<br />
Engstrom, vice-president in charge of research.<br />
Testimony to this effect was presented<br />
to the Federal Communications commission<br />
during the week.<br />
Reports on recent results of e.xperiments<br />
have been widely circulated in the industry.<br />
Demonstrations are to be given in a few<br />
weeks. Dr. Engstrom says he does not know<br />
what system will be adopted, but says progress<br />
has reached the point where the company<br />
scientists are confident of the outcome.<br />
The new field camera, Dr. Engstrom stateflr<br />
will first be used at Princeton, N. J., in color<br />
tests of co-channel and adjacent-channel<br />
interference. Later it will be used in field<br />
measurements of interference between New<br />
York and Washington stations. Tubes required<br />
in color receivers have been reduced<br />
from 40 to 16. Fiu-ther reductions are expected.<br />
Reception of color television on standard<br />
black and white receivers also is being tested.<br />
Claims Color Television<br />
Is Possible Right Now<br />
NEW YORK—Television receiver manufacturers<br />
are blocking the development of<br />
color television in the fear that color will<br />
wreck current sales programs, according to<br />
John H. Eckstein, director of Television Research<br />
Institute. He said the "roadblocks"<br />
are all that stand between the public and<br />
immediate color television.<br />
An institute report said that 73 per cent<br />
of present set-owners are willing to spend<br />
$50 to $100 to convert black-and-white receivers<br />
for a minimum of one hour of daily<br />
colorvision broadcasts. It predicted that if<br />
the Federal Communications commission<br />
approved the Columbia Broadcasting System<br />
color method, color would become available<br />
next year, that if the RCA method was approved,<br />
it would take a number of years,<br />
and in the case of Color Television, Inc., the<br />
company's more limited resources would delay<br />
color even longer.<br />
Dundon, Nelson Promoted<br />
By Eastman Kodak Co.<br />
ROCHESTER—Dr. Merle L. Dundon, assistant<br />
superintendent of the film emulsion<br />
department of Eastman Kodak Co., has been<br />
named assistant general superintendent of<br />
the film and plate emulsion and the plate<br />
coating departments, and Charles R. Nelson,<br />
production supervisor in the film processing<br />
department, has been made assistant superintendent<br />
of the department. Charles K. Flint,<br />
vice-president and general manager of Kodak<br />
Park plant, made the promotions.<br />
Music Publisher Sues<br />
NEW YORK—The Edward H. Morris Music<br />
Co. has filed suit for $1,080,000 against 20th<br />
Century-Fox, Universal-International, Loew's,<br />
Warner Bros, and Paramount, charging restraint<br />
of trade.<br />
Marc Spiegel Joins MPAA<br />
As Manager in Germany<br />
NEW YORK—Marc M. Spiegel.<br />
Marc M. Spiegel<br />
RKO foreign<br />
department aide for the past four years,<br />
has been named to succeed<br />
Marian F. Jordan<br />
as MPAA representative<br />
in Germany by<br />
John G. McCarthy,<br />
vice - president in<br />
charge of international<br />
affairs.<br />
The appointment will<br />
become effective July<br />
1, when Jordan will resign<br />
to accept a managerial<br />
post with a<br />
MPAA member company.<br />
Until then, Spiegel<br />
will work with Jordan in Frankfurt. He<br />
will sail for Germany March 11 following<br />
conferences in Washington with State Department,<br />
ECA and army officials.<br />
Spiegel joined RKO in 1946 following five<br />
years of service with the U.S. armed forces.<br />
His most recent special assignment with the<br />
RKO foreign department was a four-month<br />
mission in' Germany where, as home office<br />
representative, he set the stage for the company's<br />
resumption of independent distribution<br />
there.<br />
RKO Executives in Huddle<br />
On Plans Under Splitup<br />
HOLLYWOOD—RKO Radio's status under<br />
divorcementi which becomes effective in<br />
May, was the chief topic for discussion when<br />
members of the company's board of directors<br />
and top executives converged here at<br />
midweek for a series of huddles with Howard<br />
Hughes, managing director of production,<br />
and other studio brass.<br />
Arriving for the conferences were President<br />
Ned E. Depinet and board members including<br />
Frederick L. Ehrman, J. Miller Walker<br />
and L. Lawrence Green. Sessions were slated<br />
to continue through the balance of the week.<br />
Operational methods when RKO's production-distribution<br />
setup is split from its theatre<br />
holdings were to be thoroughly probed.<br />
Sitting in on the conferences were Sid Rogell,<br />
executive producer; Bicknell Lockhart, vicepresident<br />
and general manager; and Gordon<br />
Youngman, general counsel, and also vicepresident<br />
in charge of commitments.<br />
Two Retire From Eastman<br />
ROCHESTER, N. Y.—Roland Metzger and<br />
Ed Byrsdorfer, Eastman Kodak technical<br />
representatives who have long records of<br />
service, have retired. Metzger has been located<br />
in Duluth and New York City, Byrsdorfer<br />
in Celina, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Pittsburgh,<br />
Milwaukee and Winona, Ind. Metzger<br />
will make his home at Daytona Beach, Pla.<br />
Olin H. Clark Promoted<br />
NEW YORK—Olin H. Clark has become<br />
active head of the MGM eastern story department,<br />
succeeding Carol Brandt, resigned. His<br />
new duties will supplement those he has<br />
been performing in the department for eight<br />
years. He will report to Kenneth MacKenna,<br />
head of the studio scenario department at<br />
Culver City.<br />
Order your taxation trailers today!<br />
U.S. Films Do Well<br />
In Austria, Japan<br />
NEW YORK—American films continued<br />
to attract large audiences in Austria and<br />
Japan early in February, according to a report<br />
by the Motion Picture Export Ass'n. In<br />
Vienna, "Unfaithfully Yours" (20th-Fox) ran<br />
two weeks and "Constant Nymph" (WB)<br />
looked good for two to three weeks. "Hangover<br />
Square" (20th-Fox) ran for 15 days and<br />
"Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (Para) held<br />
over for a second week at two houses. "Honky<br />
Tonk" (MGM) did capacity its opening week<br />
and "Night and Day" (WB) continued to<br />
draw heavily.<br />
In Linz, "Arizona" (Coll ended its first<br />
week, and "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman"<br />
(RKO) and "Two Sisters ;FYom Boston"<br />
(MGM) had strong openings. In Salzburg,<br />
"Fighting O'Flynn" (U-I) completed eight<br />
days. In Graz, "Sitting Pretty" (20th-Pox)<br />
was released day-and-date at two houses and<br />
"Destination Tokyo" (WB) ran a week. In<br />
Innsbruck, "Snake Pit" (20th-Fox) ended an<br />
11 -day engagement and "It Happened on<br />
Fifth Avenue" (AA) had a successful first<br />
week,<br />
In Tokyo, for the opening weeks of the<br />
year, "Tarzan's New York Adventure" (MGM)<br />
was released in seven houses day-and-date,<br />
"Song of India" (Col) in four houses, "Wake<br />
of the Red Witch" (Rep) in six, "Station<br />
West" (RKO) in six, "Jitterbugs" (20th-Fox)<br />
in six and "Son of Dracula" (U-I) in five<br />
houses.<br />
Films elsewhere in Japan included "Abbott<br />
and Costello in Hollywood" (MGM) in<br />
eight houses, "Son of Dracula" in two, "Tarzan<br />
and the Huntress" (RKO) in three.<br />
"Seven Sinners" (U-I), "June Bride" (WB)<br />
and "Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" (U-I) in<br />
two<br />
houses.<br />
Charles Mayer, managing director in<br />
Tokyo, reported that for the week ending<br />
January 14 MPEA's "United Newsreel" set<br />
a new weekly record by releasing to 1,934<br />
of the nation's 2,205 theatres.<br />
Monogram to Distribute<br />
Films in South Korea<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In the second overseas<br />
distribution commitment effected by the<br />
company within the past month, Monogram-<br />
AUied Artists has set a deal with the Unasia<br />
Motion Picture Co. whereby the latter is<br />
given exclusive distribution rights to Monogram<br />
and AA pictures in South Korea for<br />
the next six years.<br />
Unasia was represented in the negotiations<br />
by Key H. Chang, its president, and Byung<br />
II Lee, in charge of the company's principal<br />
office in Seoul, South Korea. The deal was<br />
arranged by the Monogram International<br />
Corp., Monogram subsidiary headed by Norton<br />
'V. Ritchey. Serving as liaison between<br />
the two firms was Fred W. Kane, veteran<br />
producer-director.<br />
Some weeks ago Monogram-AA arranged<br />
for the release of its product in Japan<br />
through Shochiku Film Enterprises.<br />
WB Product in Puerto Rico<br />
NEW YORK—Tlie Cobian circuit,<br />
comprising<br />
34 theatres in Puerto Rico, has signed for<br />
the entire Warner Bros. 1949-50 product, according<br />
to word from Geza Polaty, Warner<br />
manager there.<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
47
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MEWS AND VIEVS^S OF THE PRODUCTION CEMTER<br />
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear. Western Manager)<br />
lA Conspiracy Trial<br />
Set Back to May 31<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Another in a long series of<br />
delays and postponements has shoved back<br />
until May 31 trial date in the $47,000,000 conspiracy<br />
action brought against the lATSE<br />
and the major studios by the Conference of<br />
Studio Unions as an outgrowth of the 1946<br />
studio jurisdictional strike. The suit originally<br />
was filed in 1947 and was to have gone to<br />
trial last February 23.<br />
Now, however, postponement until May has<br />
been agreed upon because Judge William C.<br />
Mathes, who will hear the case, has been<br />
called to sit on the district court of appeals<br />
bench next week. He will return to his federal<br />
court post early this spring.<br />
In the suit the CSU contends the major<br />
producers and the lA entered into a conspiracy<br />
to violate the federal antitrust laws<br />
by allegedly refusing to hire CSU members<br />
for studio work. The CSU strike is still<br />
technically in effect.<br />
Man of the Year Banquet<br />
Fetes Charles Skouras<br />
LOS ANGELES—Government, business and<br />
entertainment leaders were scheduled to be<br />
on hand for the March 4 banquet given by the<br />
Beverly Hills B'nai B'rith lodge to honor<br />
Charles P. Skouras, president of National<br />
Theatres and Fox West Coast, as Man of the<br />
Year. Slated to direct the entertainment<br />
portion of the ceremonies was Sid Rogell,<br />
RKO executive producer, with appearances<br />
by Kathryn Grayson, Al Jolson. Mario<br />
Lanza, Danny Kaye, Lucille Ball, Kay Starr,<br />
Phil Silvers, Danny Thomas, George Burns<br />
and the Weir Brothers.<br />
Scheduled to be held at the Ambassador<br />
hotel, the testimonial banquet listed Arthur<br />
W. Stebbins as chairman, with Harry Sherman,<br />
Irving Elpsteen and Jay M. Sutton as<br />
his as.sistants. The honor was paid Skouras<br />
for his "outstanding contributions to interracial<br />
understanding, community welfare and<br />
philanthropic enterprises."<br />
Burk Symon, 61, Stricken<br />
LOS ANGELES—Burk Symon, 61, active<br />
in the legitimate theatre and motion picture<br />
fields died at the Motion Picture country<br />
home here after an illness of one year. Symon<br />
served as general stage manager for<br />
David Belasco for years before leaving the<br />
theatre for motion pictures. He worked with<br />
the Eagle Lion studios and for many years<br />
was test director at 20th-Fox studios.<br />
Hal Roach Executives<br />
Plan Reorganization<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A proposed recapitalization<br />
and general reorganization of Hal Roach<br />
Studios, Inc., as a means of placing the<br />
company in a sound operating condition and<br />
ultimately repaying a'l of its indebtedness<br />
in full was outlined by company officials at<br />
a midweek meeting attended by general trade<br />
creditors.<br />
The firm is indebted to the Reconstruction<br />
Finance Corp. in the amount of $1,386,-<br />
527.54, consisting of principal and interest,<br />
and is in default to the RFC in the repayment<br />
of interest and principal in the amount<br />
of $393,577.54. This indebtedness is secured,<br />
in part, by a mortgage upon the land, buildings<br />
and equipment at the Roach studios in<br />
Culver City.<br />
The plan for which trade creditor approval<br />
is sought calls for the exchange of $250,000<br />
or more in trade claims for capital preferred<br />
stock at a par value of $5.00 a share. Nonconsenting<br />
creditors, and creditors having<br />
.\NOTHER TRIBUTE — Winner of<br />
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon awards on<br />
four previous occasions, Producer Arthur<br />
Freed of MGM added another one to his<br />
collection when "On the Town," the musical<br />
which he produced, was voted the<br />
best picture of the month for January by<br />
the National Screen Council. Freed currently<br />
is producing "Crisis," starring Cary<br />
Grant and Jose Ferrer.<br />
claims of less than $100 each, would be paid<br />
in cash "when, as and if funds are available<br />
for such payment," a company statement declared.<br />
Contingent upon approval of the plan, the<br />
management has made application to the<br />
RFC for a reduction in interest rates and<br />
for a further advance to be used as additional<br />
working capital. The RFC has approved the<br />
reorganization schemes, as have Hal E. Roach,<br />
the largest unsecured creditor, and all holders<br />
of common stock. If okayed by general trade<br />
creditors, the plan will be submitted to the<br />
California commissioner of corporations for<br />
approval.<br />
The proposed agreement involved holders<br />
of debts and claims which arose prior to<br />
Nov. 26, 1949, and remained unpaid as of<br />
Feb. 6, 1950. Repayments of installments on<br />
the RFC indebtedness would be postponed for<br />
one year from March 1.<br />
Recapitalization would call for the retirement<br />
of 36.000 shares of common stock, with<br />
a par value of $25.00, in exchange for the<br />
issuance of 36,000 shares of common without<br />
par value, but with a stated value of $36,000.<br />
Roach, holding a promissory note for $770,-<br />
916.67, which was issued him after he turned<br />
a number of completed films over to the<br />
company, has agreed to cancel the note in<br />
exchange for 204,000 shares of additional<br />
common stock with a stated value of $204,000.<br />
A sinking fund equal to 20 per cent of the<br />
corporation's net income, after all charges,<br />
would be set aside at the end of each quarterly<br />
period, the fund to be used exclusively<br />
to retire preferred stock. Holders of preferred<br />
stock would be given the right to elect two<br />
directors, while common stock shareholders<br />
would elect the remaining three.<br />
Roach, one of the indu.stry's production veterans,<br />
has occupied his Culver City studios<br />
since 1919 and has produced many featurelength<br />
and hundreds of short films, predominantly<br />
of the comedy variety. Tlie army air<br />
corps occupied his studio from 1942 to 1946,<br />
during which time the signal corps produced<br />
many training films there.<br />
After releasing variously through MGM and<br />
United Artists, Roach in 1947 abandoned his<br />
theatrical production activities and announced<br />
that henceforth he would devote his<br />
entire time to the making of films for television.<br />
In the past two years he has turned<br />
out several "pilot" films aimed at the video<br />
field but at this point they have not been<br />
marketed.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
49
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES<br />
Barnstonners<br />
Metro<br />
J. CARROL NAISH will do personal appearances<br />
with "Black Hand," in which he has an important<br />
role, in San Francisco and Portland during the week<br />
of March 6.<br />
Monogram<br />
Western star WHIP WILSON will headline the annual<br />
49er Jamboree, to be staged by the San<br />
Fernando Valley Horse Owners' Assn on Match 18<br />
at Its Burbank, Calif., clubhouse. WHIP was slated<br />
also to make appearances February 24, 25 crt the<br />
Village Theatre, Coronado, Calif., in conjunction lArith<br />
the showings of his new starrer, "Fence Riders."<br />
Paramount<br />
BOB HOPE, accompanied by Les Brown atid his<br />
orchestra, was to leave Hollywood on February 24<br />
a nationwide tour which includes a two-week engagement<br />
for<br />
at New York's Parcfmount Theatre with<br />
actress Jane Russell, beginning March 1. Other cities<br />
scheduled on the comedian's itinerary are Worcester<br />
and Springfield, Mass.; Syracuse, New York;<br />
Cincinncrti; Owensboro, Ky.; St. Louis; Kansas City<br />
and Denver.<br />
Blurbers<br />
Independent<br />
NED CRAWFORD, publicity director for R. W.<br />
Alcorn Productions, returned after an extended tour<br />
of key eastern and midwestern cities ballyhooing<br />
Alcorn's "Johnny Holiday."<br />
Briefies<br />
Metro<br />
"Fixin' Fool" and "Remember When?", two Pete<br />
Smith specialties, are slated to start Mcfrch 1 and<br />
April 1, respectively. Script for the former -was<br />
written by David Barclay and James Gruen, while<br />
Julian Harmon and Barclay scripted the latter.<br />
Warners<br />
RICHARD BARE had his option hoisted to direct<br />
six more Joe McDoakes shorts for Producer Gordon<br />
Hoilingshead.<br />
Cleffers<br />
Lippert<br />
Inked to compose and conduct the score for<br />
"Western Pacific Agent" was ALBERT GLASSER.<br />
CHUY REYES and his orchestra have been signed<br />
for specialty numbers in the Nunes-Cooley production,<br />
"Everybody's Dancin'."<br />
Monogram<br />
Slated to score "Jiggs and Maggie Out West" was<br />
musical director EDWARD J. KAY.<br />
Warners<br />
CHARLES TOBIAS and PETER DE ROSE were inked<br />
to write a group of original tunes for "We're Working<br />
Our Way Through College."<br />
Loonouts<br />
Paramount<br />
GRANT WITHERS was loaned by Republic to play<br />
a featured role in the Pine and Thomas production<br />
"Tripoli."<br />
Meggers<br />
Columbia<br />
"Indian Territory," forthcoming Gene Autry starring<br />
western, will be directed for Autry Productions<br />
by JOHN ENGLISH.<br />
PETER GODFREY was signed to direct the Mickey<br />
Rooney starrer, "Freddie the Great," for Producer<br />
Rudy Flothow.<br />
COLBERT CLARK and RAY NAZARRO are set as<br />
producer and director, respectively, on "Streets of<br />
Ghost Town," next in the Durango Kid sagebrush<br />
series starring ChoYles Starrett and Smiley Burnette,<br />
Signed to direct Scott-Brown's Technicolor production,<br />
"Lost Stage Valley," was RALPH MURPHY.<br />
Eagle Lion<br />
Schwarz Productions<br />
„J5
Second Action Filed<br />
For WB Accounting<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Second legal action to be<br />
brought within recent weeks against Warner<br />
Bros, and United States Pictures has been<br />
filed by Mrs. Annie Fastenberg. Warner<br />
stockholder, demanding an accounting of<br />
profits allegedly made on six films produced<br />
for Warner release by the U. S. Pictures unit.<br />
The complaint charges that Milton Sperling,<br />
head of the U.S. Pictures organization, and<br />
his partner at that time—Joseph Bernhard,<br />
now president of Film Classics—entered into<br />
a conspiracy with Warners whereby U. S.<br />
Pictures was provided "unfair" financial aid<br />
by Warners, to the asserted detriment of the<br />
Warner company.<br />
Recently a federal district court action was<br />
filed here by Irving W. Mencher, also a Warner<br />
stockholder, charging nepotism and conspiracy<br />
against the company's best interests<br />
and demanding an accounting of profits and<br />
a declaratory judgment. The defendants in<br />
that suit include Harry M. and Jack L. Warner.<br />
Sperling and Morris Wolf.<br />
Personnelities<br />
(Continued from preceding news page)<br />
JOSEPH WALKER will photograph the Joan Crawford<br />
starrer, "Lady of the House."<br />
Lippert<br />
BEITY SINCLAIR was set as produciion manager<br />
lor "None Come Back."<br />
United Artists<br />
Assigned to producer I. G. Goldsmiths "The Dungeon"<br />
were FRANK F. PLANER, cinematographer,<br />
and RUDOLPH STERNAD, art director. Handed the<br />
production manager chore was BEN HERSH.<br />
Universal-International<br />
BILL THOMAS was named as costume designer<br />
on "Saddle Tramp."<br />
Warners<br />
Assigned as art director on "The All American"<br />
was STANLEY FLEISCHER.<br />
Assigned as art director on "Tea lor Two" was<br />
DOUGLAS BACON.<br />
Title Changes<br />
Lippert<br />
"Hollywood Holiday" to HOLLYWOOD RHYTHM.<br />
"Daredevils of the Highway" to HIJACKED.<br />
"None Came Back" to ROCKET SHIP TO THE<br />
MOON,<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
"Outbreak" to PANIC IN THE STREETS.<br />
Warners<br />
No, No, Nanette" to TEA FOR TWO.<br />
ENTHUSIASM must start at the top."<br />
Bromidic as such observation may<br />
sound, it is nonetheless the convincing<br />
theme of an interesting and intelligent report<br />
prepared by the advertising committee<br />
of National Theatres and presented at the<br />
recent annual homeoffice huddles of that circuit's<br />
top executives. Members of that committee<br />
are Senn Lawler, Fox Midwest, Kansas<br />
City; Vic Gauntlett, Evergreen circuit, Seattle;<br />
Seymour Peiser, Fox West Coast, Los<br />
Angeles, and Fay Reeder, of PWC's northern<br />
California division, San Francisco.<br />
It being strictly an inter-company affair,<br />
the report, unfortunately, cannot be reproduced<br />
in full. Since it concerns itself with<br />
"some new approaches to the problem of selling<br />
pictures in these changing times," it would<br />
prove engrossing and beneficial for many a<br />
showman outside of the NT family.<br />
A few highlights may, however, be pilfered<br />
for reproduction here and without too greatly<br />
violating the document's confidential<br />
facets.<br />
Witness:<br />
"First, we must believe in our picttires.<br />
Enthusiasm, or the lack of it . . starts in<br />
.<br />
the screening room. Often . . . failure of<br />
a picture to do the business to which it is<br />
depends on the attitude of those<br />
entitled . . .<br />
who see it first . . .<br />
"Time after time, it has been proven that<br />
there is something salable in every picture.<br />
Metro<br />
MARVIN STUART was set as assistant to Director<br />
ROY ROWLAND and HELEN ROSE as wardrobe designed<br />
on "The Tender Hours." AL BILKS was assigned<br />
the camera chore.<br />
"Today is a day without precedent in the<br />
Assigned as set decorator for "Kim" was HUGH<br />
motion picture business. We have better pictures<br />
than we have ever had, yet they are<br />
HUNT.<br />
Monogram<br />
being patronized by fewer people.<br />
GABRIEL DELL, dialog director; JOHN KEAN, mixer;<br />
"Analyze every picture in order to uncover<br />
VIRGIL SlvilTH, recorder; WILLIAM CALIHAN, assistant;<br />
WILLIAM SICKNER, camera, and BERNARD its salable elements. Try, from the moment<br />
W. BURTON, cutter, were added to the production a picture is screened, to develop enthusiasm<br />
crew lor "Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance,"<br />
for it, and transmit that enthusiasm right<br />
Poramoxint<br />
down the line . . . Encourage development of<br />
HOWARD PINE and HOWARD SMITH were set as new approaches to advertising and showmandizing<br />
pictures among all managers.<br />
assistant director and head lilm editor, respectively,<br />
for "Tripoli." Producers Pine and Thomas<br />
have borrowed YVONNE WOOD from Universal to<br />
design Maureen OHaras<br />
"Take a positive approach to all pictures<br />
wardrobe for the picture.<br />
from the moment they are screened and explore<br />
every method by which they can be<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Fashion designer EDITH HEAD was borrowed from<br />
Paramount to create Bette Davis' wardrobe lor "The sold before they are lost through hasty bookings.<br />
Often a picture with a large boxof-<br />
b'lory of a Divorce," Also set for the Skirball-Mannmg<br />
production were LEO TOVER. cameraman, and<br />
fice potential is played out before someone<br />
EARL WOLCOTT, sound engineer.<br />
discovers the right campaign.<br />
"There is no substitute for enthusiasm."<br />
All of which makes much sense from the<br />
exhibitor's—any exhibitor's—viewpoint. But<br />
it shouldn't end there. The preachment, most<br />
especially that portion thereof which holds<br />
that there is no substitute for enthusiasm,<br />
could prove of great value to the producers<br />
and distributors of motion pictures. They,<br />
after all, are the starting point of films; and,<br />
by the same logic, they should be the starting<br />
point of enthusiasm.<br />
And all too often they fail to manifest<br />
the slightest bit of fervor for what they consider<br />
their lesser offerings, those pictures<br />
whose budgets did not attain stratospheric<br />
proportions, or in the final entertainment<br />
values of which they may be disappointed.<br />
Let the average producer and/or distributor<br />
have a feature on which the bankroll was<br />
shot or one in which the hit qualities axe<br />
inescapably apparent and they go all out in<br />
advertising the offering to the trade. At the<br />
same time, they permit to go into release<br />
with little or no drum-beating scores of films<br />
which possibly need a buildup to the nation's<br />
showmen more than do the sure-fire grossers.<br />
Even if it be true, as the NT advertising<br />
committee maintains, that there is "something<br />
salable in every picture." certainly the<br />
producers and distributors cannot expect<br />
rank-and-file showmen to uncover and merchandise<br />
such salability unless they themselves<br />
display some zeal thereover.<br />
If "enthusiasm must start at the top," let<br />
the men who produce and distribute motion<br />
pictures—the men at the very top—start the<br />
necessary chain reaction by selling every picture<br />
to the showmen who in turn will sell it<br />
to the pubUc via the procedure recommended<br />
in the NT report.<br />
There was once a time when film reviewers,<br />
pursuing their nefarious trade, needed<br />
little more knowledge of the King's English<br />
than to be able to read "came the dawn."<br />
Then appeared the talkies, and the education<br />
of aforementioned appraisers required<br />
expanding to include such passages as "they<br />
went thataway."<br />
But productional modus operandi has<br />
changed so radically that unequipped indeed<br />
is the critic who isn't a linguist. In one week<br />
the members of Hollywood's hungry press<br />
were accorded the edifying experience of gandering<br />
two films—Paramount's "Captain<br />
Carey, U.S.A. and RKO Radio's "Stromboli"<br />
"<br />
—in which there was so much Italian dialog<br />
that a translator or Italian-English dictionary<br />
was needed.<br />
But what reviewer has the price of a dictionary?<br />
It's man-bites-dog stuff when a motion picture<br />
director spends his time—and moneysinging<br />
the praises of a publicity man. Yet<br />
that's what happened when Arthur Lubin<br />
bought advertising space in a local tradepaper<br />
to call attention to what an outstanding<br />
job is being done by David Lipton, Universal-International<br />
blurb chieftain, in advertising,<br />
publicizing and exploiting the Lubin-directed<br />
"Francis,"<br />
Anyone who has followed the campaign will<br />
agree that it is a bite to which Lipton and<br />
staff are rightly entitled.<br />
SCRAMBLED-GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT<br />
(Eagle Lion Division)<br />
Producer Frank Melford's "The Boy From<br />
Indiana," which is located and was filmed in<br />
.Arizona, will be premiered in Alaska, according<br />
to EL'S imaginative space-snatcher.<br />
Bob Goodfried.<br />
Arthur Eddy, catch-as-catch-can blurber,<br />
broadcasts intelligence to the effect that Dick<br />
Wesson and Joe Bigelow are forming a company<br />
to produce a feature called "Peanuts."<br />
No one is better qualified to handle the<br />
subject than Artful Arthur.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 51
^(McCcM ^cfront<br />
pOR THE FIRST TIME a government committee<br />
has decided to exercise the power<br />
vested in it to force the major circuits to<br />
show an independent British production to<br />
which they have already refused playing<br />
time. In 1948 the Board of Trade set up a<br />
selection committee which has the power to<br />
force every circuit owning more than 200<br />
cinemas (in practice this means only the<br />
Gaumont, Odeon and ABC circuits) to show<br />
up to a maximum of six independent productions—a<br />
total of 18 a year if necessary.<br />
So far no producer has approached the committee<br />
as there is a feeling that such all<br />
action might prejudice the circuits against<br />
any future product from the same source.<br />
A year ago United Artists submitted two<br />
British films to the committee but withdrew<br />
them when a tradepaper announced the fact.<br />
They claimed at the time that the announcement<br />
would lead independent exhibitors<br />
to feel that the films were not good<br />
if the circuits had to be forced to take<br />
them.<br />
In the present case the film in question<br />
is "Chance of a Lifetime" which was made<br />
by Pilgrim Pictures (formerly Pillipo Del-<br />
Guidice's company) and which stars Basil<br />
Radford and Bernard Miles. The picture is<br />
distributed by British Lion. No comment can<br />
be made on its quality since the film has<br />
not yet been tradeshown but it is at least<br />
permissible to comment that with only the<br />
two artistes mentioned to carry the billing<br />
it would really have to be another "Naked<br />
City" to justify a circuit booking.<br />
By JOHN SULLIVAN<br />
ANOTHER FILM OPENING this time at<br />
the Odeon. Leicester Square, is Noel Coward's<br />
"The Astonished Heart." which Antony<br />
Darnborough produced for Sydney Box. Darnborough<br />
also co-directed with Terence Fisher.<br />
Since the film has already opened in New<br />
York and has had American reviews there<br />
is no point in writing a detailed review for<br />
American exhibitors. In any event, it is understood<br />
here that the U.S. version differs<br />
somewhat from the British as the Johnston<br />
office is reported to have objected to the<br />
sequences which show Celia Johnson as condoning<br />
the adultery of her husband.<br />
It is worth mention, however, that this<br />
was the first of the Rank pictures to be pro-,<br />
duced on a fifty-fifty basis with an American<br />
company. In this case Universal put up<br />
one-half of the budget in frozen sterling in<br />
exchange for the western hemisphere rights.<br />
The film is beheved to have cost around<br />
$600,000 and at that price wiU not cause any<br />
worry to either Rank or Universal since it<br />
is a well-made and polished job that should<br />
appeal to the carriage trade in any country<br />
in which it Is shown.<br />
'Baron' Premiere Held<br />
March 1 at Phoenix<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Stars, members of the<br />
Hollywood press and executives of Lippert<br />
Productions participated in a busy round of<br />
social and civic activities when Lippert's "The<br />
Baron of Arizona" was given its world premiere<br />
March 1 at the Paramount Orpheum in<br />
Phoenix. Gov. Dan E. Garvey proclaimed it<br />
"Baron of Arizona" day and a chartered airliner<br />
flew the guests in from Hollywood for<br />
the day's festivities.<br />
Film notables making the air junket included<br />
Ellen Drew, who stars with "Vincent<br />
Price in the film; Donald and Gwenn O'Connor.<br />
Jackie Coogan and Hal Derwin, recording<br />
artist and screen player, as well as company<br />
executives including President Robert L.<br />
Lippert. Murray Lerner. Jack Leewood and<br />
Marty Weiser. Price left earlier by automobile<br />
and visited exhibitors in Yuma. Prescott,<br />
Flagstaff, Globe and Mesa before arriving in<br />
Phoenix for the premiere.<br />
PRESS CORPS JUNKET<br />
The press corps was represented by columnists<br />
George Fisher and Erskine Johnson;<br />
Frank Neil, International News Service; Florabel<br />
Muir, Los Angeles Mirror and New York<br />
News; Fred Johnson, San Francisco Call-<br />
Bulletin; Tom Brady. New York Times; Nat<br />
Dallinger. King Features Syndicate; Howard<br />
Heym. Associated Press; Grant McDonald,<br />
Los Angeles Mirror; Frank Filan. World Wide<br />
Photos; Ezra Goodman, Los Angeles Daily<br />
News: Aline Mosby. United Press; Doris<br />
Smith. Los Angeles Daily News; and Wood<br />
Soanes. Oakland Tribune.<br />
The trade press group included Ivan<br />
Spear. BOXOFFICE; Aim Lewis. Showmen's<br />
Trade Review; Paul Manning, the Exhibitor;<br />
Bill Weaver. Motion Picture Herald; Larry<br />
Urbach. Film Daily; Milton Luban, Independent<br />
Film Journal; and Chuck Daggett. Va-<br />
ALL THREE CIRCUITS have met their<br />
quota obligations during the year ending Sept.<br />
30, 1949, according to a release issued by the<br />
Board of Trade this week. Associated British<br />
Cinemas, Odeon and Gaumont all devoted<br />
47.6 per cent of their playing time to British<br />
pictures when the statutory requirement<br />
was only 45 per cent. With a second feature<br />
quota of 25 per cent the circuits actually<br />
showed 31 per cent of British support fea-<br />
IF THE FIRST TWO MONTHS are anythintures.<br />
D. J. Goodlatte,<br />
to judge by managing<br />
1950<br />
director<br />
will be<br />
of<br />
a vintage<br />
ABC, disclosed<br />
year<br />
in<br />
for<br />
a tradepaper<br />
British pictures. With interview<br />
"The<br />
that<br />
Blue<br />
liis circuit will<br />
Lamp" now be<br />
on<br />
two riety.<br />
general<br />
pictures short<br />
release<br />
of their<br />
and chalking<br />
legal<br />
up<br />
requirements<br />
the<br />
in<br />
biggest<br />
the six<br />
gross for years months<br />
another<br />
ending<br />
film<br />
RODEO QUEEN<br />
in March<br />
SELECTED<br />
of this<br />
likely to do<br />
year,<br />
the<br />
so it is<br />
same huge business has<br />
more than<br />
The likely that<br />
debut<br />
opened his<br />
its run<br />
chain<br />
was a three-show<br />
will<br />
at the<br />
accept<br />
Gaumont. the<br />
Haymarket<br />
showing<br />
affair. At the<br />
first, with<br />
of<br />
Price<br />
and the Marble<br />
"Chance as emcee,<br />
of<br />
Arch<br />
a Lifetime,"<br />
the<br />
Pavilion. This<br />
mentioned<br />
queen of the<br />
is a<br />
annual<br />
above.<br />
Phoenix world championship rodeo<br />
Jay Lewis production released by General<br />
was selected,<br />
Film<br />
Of the<br />
with Lippert<br />
independent<br />
Distributors<br />
exhibitors,<br />
and any<br />
and Miss<br />
of<br />
is titled "Morning<br />
whom<br />
Drew<br />
among the six<br />
were judges.<br />
given<br />
Also<br />
Departure." It was<br />
exemption on the<br />
or<br />
directed<br />
reduction<br />
by Roy Baker<br />
from<br />
agenda<br />
the<br />
were a cocktail<br />
45 per<br />
party<br />
and<br />
cent<br />
and dinner.<br />
stars<br />
quota,<br />
John<br />
there is<br />
Mills. Richard<br />
a total of 1,474<br />
Attenborough<br />
Television<br />
defaults<br />
coverage was<br />
in accorded<br />
first<br />
and Nigel<br />
feature<br />
the<br />
Patrick.<br />
obligations<br />
proceedings<br />
via<br />
and 1,331<br />
in second<br />
a tieup with the<br />
feature.<br />
"Morning Departure"<br />
About<br />
Phoenix TV<br />
77 per cent of<br />
tells the<br />
the<br />
story of a<br />
station, KPHO.<br />
defaulters<br />
submarine<br />
were<br />
which<br />
among<br />
had a mobile video<br />
taking<br />
those<br />
off<br />
exhibitors<br />
for a routine<br />
with<br />
exercise<br />
camera on hand.<br />
a The TV<br />
full 45<br />
lenses<br />
per<br />
in<br />
cent<br />
peacetime<br />
quota.<br />
were allowed<br />
to pick up the main titles and opening<br />
with the crew expecting to be<br />
back in time for tea. Within a few hours it<br />
scene of "The Baron" when it began unwinding<br />
has struck a floating mine left over from THERE IS UNLIKELY to<br />
at<br />
be any the<br />
radical<br />
Orpheum, with an announcer then<br />
the war and is lying on the bottom with change in legislation affecting<br />
cutting in<br />
the film<br />
to suggest<br />
industry<br />
as a result of the<br />
that viewers attend the<br />
only 12 of its crew of 70 left alive. Eight<br />
theatre to<br />
general<br />
see the<br />
election.<br />
entire picture.<br />
escape suits are left from the wreck and With such a small majority<br />
The<br />
the<br />
opus<br />
Labor<br />
has been<br />
government<br />
is not<br />
booked into 37 Arizona<br />
when the sub is sighted by rescue ships eight<br />
situations<br />
in a position<br />
during the first<br />
to introduce<br />
week of this month,<br />
men are sent through the hatch and the any of its extreme with socialist measures<br />
18 other Arizona since<br />
theatres booking it for<br />
remaining four are left to await the lifting a defection by<br />
dates<br />
a handful<br />
during the<br />
of its members<br />
next<br />
would<br />
two weeks.<br />
of the .submarine by a salvage ship. After mean a defeat. It seems certain that another<br />
general election will now be held with-<br />
several days of alternate hope and despair<br />
bad weather forces the ships to abandon<br />
'Stromboli'<br />
the in the next<br />
Ban<br />
few Is<br />
weeks,<br />
Lifted<br />
although parliament<br />
salvage, the crippled sub returns to the ocean will have to assemble now to pass the finance<br />
bill and issue a budget.<br />
By Court in Seattle<br />
bed and all hope for the four survivors is<br />
gone.<br />
SEATTLE—After declaring that the ban<br />
The Cinema Exhibitors Ass'n received assurance<br />
during the campaign from more than the echo of<br />
on the showing of<br />
This<br />
"Stromboli"<br />
is strong and sombre<br />
sounded "like<br />
material and no<br />
attempt<br />
a police state<br />
has<br />
to<br />
been<br />
me."<br />
made, except<br />
Superior<br />
in the Cockney<br />
300 candidates that they would support any Judge James<br />
humor<br />
Hodson granted<br />
of one<br />
a temporary<br />
of the last four, to lighten measure involving a reduction in the entertainment<br />
tax and CEA officials are now of the film. The<br />
injunction to<br />
the<br />
RKO permitting<br />
narrative. the<br />
In<br />
showing<br />
spite of this the film does<br />
not<br />
picture<br />
leave opened the<br />
the<br />
following<br />
observer with a sense of depression,<br />
but Mouse Theatre.<br />
busy preparing a list of those supporters who day at John Hamrick's Blue<br />
rather with a great admiration<br />
were elected.<br />
Judge Hodson's decision<br />
for<br />
granted<br />
the bravery<br />
a temporary<br />
injunction<br />
of men who travel beneath<br />
enjoining the police<br />
the<br />
chief<br />
sea.<br />
Order your taxation trailer today! from interfering with the showing.<br />
5.2<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
,<br />
with<br />
1<br />
Lamps<br />
I<br />
with<br />
'Strombolf Chalks<br />
In Los Angeles 2-<br />
LOS ANGELES—As has been the case in<br />
other situations where the film has opened,<br />
"Stromboli" reaped a golden harvest from the<br />
Bergman-Rossellini headlines in its initial<br />
stanza at two theatres here. It was well out<br />
in front of the pack at 200 per cent.<br />
(Average is 100)<br />
Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown, Wilshire—<br />
Mother Didn't Tell Me (20lh-Fox); The Blonde<br />
Bandit (Rep) 130<br />
Downtown, Hollywood Paromounts Samson and<br />
Delilah (Para), advanced prices, 4th wk 150<br />
Egyptian, Loews Slate—Malaya (MGM); Blonde<br />
Dynamite (Mono), 2nd wk;,_ ICO<br />
Fine Arts—Spring<br />
Four Star<br />
in Park Lane (EL),<br />
A Song to Remember<br />
5th wk<br />
(Col), reissue,<br />
90<br />
2nd wk 80<br />
Music Halls, Forum—Never Fear (EL), 2nd wk 70<br />
Orpheum<br />
to (EL), eight acts<br />
Passport Pimlico<br />
ot vaudeville _ 85<br />
Pontages, HiUstreet— Stromboli (RKO): The<br />
Tattooed Stranger (RKO) ,._ 200<br />
United Artists, Ritz, Culver, Studio City, Vogue-<br />
Francis (U-I); There's a Girl in My Heart<br />
(Mono) „ 175<br />
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern Chain<br />
Lightning (WB), 2nd wk 90<br />
Up strong 200<br />
House Opening<br />
Gate Theatre here and topped the honor<br />
roll. "Woman in Hiding" and "The Rugged<br />
O'Riordans" at the Esquire carded 125 per<br />
cent. "Never Fear" at the United Artists was<br />
strong with 115 per cent.<br />
Cinema—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox), 3rd<br />
d. t wk 100<br />
Esquire—Woman in Hiding (U-1); The Hugged<br />
O'Riordans (U-1), ind d I wk 125<br />
Fox—When Willie Comes Marching Home (20th-<br />
Fox): Bomba on Panther Island (Mono) 90<br />
Golden Gate—Stromboli (RKO) 175<br />
Orpheum—Father Is a Bachelor (Col); The Traveling<br />
Saleswoman (Col) 110<br />
Paramount--Blue Grass of Kentucky (Mono);<br />
Killer Shark (Mono) SO<br />
United Artists—Never Feor (EL) _ 115<br />
V/arheld—Ambush (MGM), 2nd wk 110<br />
YOU<br />
DONT<br />
KNOW<br />
WHAT<br />
YOU'RE<br />
MISSING...<br />
'TIL YOU TRY<br />
'QUICKER<br />
ABETTER'<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Chicago - 1327 S. Wabash Avenue<br />
New York - 619 West 54th Street<br />
'On the To-wn' Grosses 165<br />
In Portland Opening<br />
PORTLAND—"On the Town" took the town<br />
100<br />
by storm, hitting the top of 165 per cent at<br />
the United Artists. With the number of first<br />
run houses cut down by the Hamrick-Evergreen<br />
split, downtown business was below<br />
what the weather would indicate.<br />
Broadway Malaya (MGM); Challenge to Lassie<br />
(MGM), 2nd d, t. wk _<br />
Maylair—Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (UA);<br />
Satan's Cradle (UA) „ 115<br />
Oriental and Orpheum—Mother Didn't Tell Me<br />
(20th-Fox); Blondie's Hero (Col) 130<br />
Paramount The Nevadan (Col); Blonde Dynamite<br />
(Mono) _ 95<br />
United Artists—On the Town (MGM) 165<br />
Holdovers Continue to Pace<br />
Seattle First Run Trade<br />
SEATTLE—Holdovers were racking up the<br />
greater portion of first run trade here "Battleground,"<br />
in a fourth round with "Change<br />
of Heart" at the Music Hall, registered 200.<br />
Blue Mouse—Backfire (WB); Unmasked (Rep),<br />
2nd d. t, wk<br />
Coliseum— Port of New York (EL); Boy From<br />
60<br />
Indiana (EL) 100<br />
Filth Avenue—Dear Wife (Para); They Live by<br />
Night (RKO), 3rd wk _....110<br />
Liberty—On the Town (MGM); Tension (MGM),<br />
3rd wk 125<br />
Music Box—The Fallen Idol (SRO), 2nd wk 110<br />
Music Hall—Battleground (MGM); Change of<br />
Heart (20th-Fox). reissue, 4th wk 200<br />
Orpheum<br />
Woman in Hiding (U-I); Beyond the<br />
Hio Grande (SR), reissues SO<br />
Paramount—Twelve O'Clock High ((20lh-Fox);<br />
There's a Girl in My Heart (Mono), 2nd wk 165<br />
"Francis' Grosses 200 Per Cent<br />
At Three Denver Houses<br />
DENVER— "Francis" packed them in and,<br />
for the first time, a film was moved across<br />
the street from the Denver to the Paramount.<br />
Aladdin. Denver, Webber—Francis (U-1); Chinatown<br />
at Midnight (Col) 200<br />
Broadway—Battleground (MGM), 4th wk 120<br />
Denham—Thelma Jordon (Parcf) 100<br />
Esquire, Parasiount—Tell It to the Judge (Col);<br />
Mule Troin (Col) 90<br />
Orpheum— East Side, West Side (MGM); Satan's<br />
Cradle (UA) 140<br />
Riallo—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox); Girls'<br />
School (Col), 6th d. I. wk 100<br />
Vogue—The Genius and the Nightingale (SR);<br />
Enchanted Lake (SR) _ 90<br />
"Stromboli' Registers 175<br />
In San Francisco Opening<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—"Stromboli" registered<br />
175 per cent in its opening at the Golden<br />
ASHCRAFT SUPER HIGH 16" Reflector Arc<br />
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with MOTIOGRAPH 5" Plastic In Car Speakers.<br />
MOTIOGRAPH Drive In Projectors with Air<br />
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with Arc Lamps & Generators built to develop<br />
I<br />
more light at lower amperage with less<br />
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CRETOR Popcorn Machines, especially designed<br />
I<br />
for DRIVE-IN operation . . . Beverage dispensers<br />
and modern revenue producing<br />
equipment designed for greater profits.<br />
EVERY SUCCESSFUL DRIVE-IN THEATRE MUST ALSO HAVE<br />
Careful individual planning, engineering and<br />
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ORGANIZATION! A trio of important unseen<br />
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Starting with the selection of the site, right through<br />
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and economical counsel on everything from<br />
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SERVICE AND SATISFACTION GUARANTEED<br />
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lUeatte C^ttifune4tt SfxecUUuti<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 53
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Here's a sweeper vrhich will pay for itself in no<br />
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Picks up bottle caps, metal, paper, leaves, nails,<br />
almost any debris. One-man operation. Sweeps<br />
clean up to curbs, gutters, islands and against<br />
buildings.<br />
Modem Rotary Power Sweeper is all-steel welded.<br />
Powerful 4 cycle gas engine drives unit. Simple<br />
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in two sizes: 3B" sweep or 48"—with or without<br />
operator's riding dolly.<br />
For complete money-saving details<br />
write or wire today to<br />
MODERN MFG. CO.<br />
160 N. FAIH OAKS AVE. PASADENA 1, CALIF.<br />
SEAllll<br />
^liver Hartman, Coulee exhibitor, well<br />
known in northwest industry circles, died<br />
of a heart attack recently . . . Scott HoUoway.<br />
Dallas, Tex., has joined the National Theatre<br />
Jim Frangooles has<br />
Supply sales staff . . .<br />
been named booker for Sterling Theatres.<br />
He comes from Albany. N. Y., where he was<br />
RKO office manager . Maren, UA<br />
exploiteer, was in Seattle for the first time<br />
in five years.<br />
. . .<br />
William and Edna Elizabeth Thedford are<br />
the parents of a baby boy William Purnell.<br />
Bob Quinn was in<br />
born February 23 . . .<br />
town hitting the ball for "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
which opened at the Paramount March<br />
3 . . . Mr. and Mrs. Pete Higgins are back<br />
from a five-week South American tour<br />
James Gregory, head of field operations for<br />
Alliance Theatres. Chicago, has been inspecting<br />
operations of the Midstate Amusement<br />
Co., Walla Walla.<br />
D. H. Davidson has purchased the Unique<br />
Theatre in Spokane from Mrs. A. P. Mitchell<br />
. . . B. C. Johnson has closed the suburban<br />
Atlas Theatre for overhauling and redecorating<br />
. . . Emily Bennett, secretary to Fred<br />
Danz, Sterling circuit general manager, has<br />
resigned to be married . . . Visitors to Filmrow<br />
included Ed Johnson and Joe Rosenfield,<br />
Spokane; Pete Koppinger, Montesano; A. G.<br />
Peechia, Eatonville, and Foster Blake of New<br />
York.<br />
"Family Skeleton' Changed<br />
"Stella and the City Men" is the new title<br />
for the 20th-Fox picture formerly called<br />
"Family Skeleton."<br />
SPRING HAS SPRUNG,<br />
THE GRASS HAS RE,<br />
Things are booming<br />
in the<br />
DRIVE-IN BIZ /<br />
r/ie mo%X advanced and newest<br />
in equipment— designed especially<br />
for Drive-ln Theatre use, by<br />
-RCA-<br />
337 GOLDEN GATE AVE. • HE 1-8302<br />
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C. W. Morris, Pres. : Wayne Mayhew, Vice-Pres.<br />
MR. THEATRE OWNER!<br />
We can sell your theatre. We have buyars<br />
w^oiting. List your theatre with us and we<br />
will show you fast action.<br />
THEATRE SALES CO.<br />
Campaign Is<br />
Started<br />
For New Oater Star<br />
liXMUN<br />
Rex Allen is seen above with a group of<br />
children who competed in a Kiddies Kowboy<br />
Kostume Kontest at the Balboa Theatre<br />
in San Diego.<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Rex Allen, cowboy player<br />
whom Republic intends to build up to star<br />
status, has left on a ten-city series of personal<br />
appearances at openings of his first<br />
picture. "The Arizona Cowboy." Studio officials<br />
said a $5,000,000 program of film production,<br />
advertising and publicity has been<br />
set up to establish Rex as the top western<br />
star.<br />
His first stop was at the Balboa Theatre<br />
in San Diego. From there he went to Tucson<br />
where Gov. Dan E. Garvey commissioned<br />
Allen as Arizona's No. 1 cowboy and gave<br />
him a gold badge bearing the official designation.<br />
He rode with Governor Garvey and<br />
Gov. Ignacio Soto of Sonora, Mexico, Mayor<br />
E. T. Houston and actress Janet Leigh in the<br />
parade opening the annual Fiesta de los<br />
Vaqueros at Tucson.<br />
Other cities on his schedule are El Paso,<br />
Santa Fe, Denver, Oklahoma City, New Orleans.<br />
Fort Smith and Tulsa.<br />
'Samson' Starts FWC Run<br />
LOS ANGELES—Openmg March 3 in Seattle.<br />
Paramount's "Samson and Delilah" has<br />
begun a series of prerelease engagements in<br />
all Fox West Coast circuit key situations.<br />
PORTLAND<br />
Oeorge Jackson, salesman for RKO, left for<br />
the territory and Gene Engleman returned<br />
Rose and Foster Blake, who have<br />
been in visiting the U-I branch, returned to<br />
San Francisco and New York, respectively.<br />
Verne Lesby, former head shipper at U-I,<br />
has been appointed booker, replacing Dick<br />
Litchlag. Charlie White, former assistant is<br />
now head shipper . and Mitt Pennington<br />
purchased the Roxy Theatre Theatre in<br />
Aberdeen from A. Silver and the Maslan<br />
Brothers. Theatre Exchange Co. handled<br />
the sale.<br />
Mel Hulling from Los Angeles and Harold<br />
Wirthwein from San Francisco were in the<br />
Monogram branch . has been started<br />
on a 600-car drive-in in Springfield. Tom<br />
Blair, Western Amusement Co., says it will<br />
be ready for operation by early summer.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
'<br />
Door<br />
DENVER<br />
Phc courtesy plaques, awarded each six<br />
months by Prank H. Ricketson jr., president<br />
of Fox Intermountain Theatres, went<br />
this time to the Fox at Aurora, Paramount<br />
Idaho Palls, Ida.; Rialto and Grand, Rock<br />
Springs, Wyo., and the Pox, Montrose. One<br />
award is made in each district. Maintenance<br />
awards of $25 to the janitor of one theatre<br />
in each district went to Otto Baltes, Tabor,<br />
Denver: Everett Evans, Fox, Caldwell, Ida.;<br />
Reuben Kehn, Fox, Longmont, and Maria<br />
Quintana and Clyde Baca, State, Las Cruces,<br />
N. M. The theatre in each instance gets a<br />
certificate.<br />
A packed house attended the first of the<br />
Carnival nights at Variety Tent 37 clubrooms.<br />
The party started with hors d'oeuvres<br />
at 7:30 and progressively went through free<br />
champagne cocktails to all until 8 o'clock.<br />
prizes were champagne. The memberheld<br />
a meeting in the little theatre and attended<br />
a screening of "Wabash Avenue,"<br />
and at 11 p. m. a box lunch auction was<br />
held in the dining room.<br />
The home of Joe Clark, Lippert salesman,<br />
burned at a time when all of the family was<br />
away. All their clothes and most of the<br />
furniture were destroyed, and what furniture<br />
was not burned was damaged otherwise.<br />
With the March 11 world premiere of<br />
"Operation Haylift" set for Ely, Nev., where<br />
the first planes took off in the inspiration<br />
for the film, all of the cast will fly from<br />
there to Denver and Salt Lake City to be<br />
present when the film opens in those cities,<br />
one and two days later. Along with another<br />
Lippert film, "The Baron of Arizona,"<br />
the complete allotment of 170 prints made<br />
will be available for booking in the Denver<br />
and Salt Lake City territories immediately<br />
after the Ely premiere.<br />
Two Hunt Theatres<br />
To Fox West Coast<br />
RIVERSIDE, CALIF.—Roy Hunt has sold<br />
the Hunt Theatres partnership and interest<br />
in the DeAnza and Golden State theatres<br />
here to the Pox West Coast circuit. The<br />
transaction reportedly involved more than<br />
$250,000 and leaves Hunt Theatres owner<br />
of the Rubidoux Drive-In only on West<br />
Riverside. Partnership between Hunt and<br />
Fox West Coast was dissolved partially in<br />
June 1947 when FWC assumed ownership<br />
of the Riverside and Lido theatres.<br />
Hunt came to Riverside 29 years ago and<br />
purchased the Grand Theatre on Main street.<br />
He remodeled it and renamed it the Little<br />
Rubidoux. In 1929 Hunt took over the Loring<br />
Theatre, remodeled it and renamed it<br />
the Golden State. He went into partnership<br />
with FWC in 1933 and Himt became operating<br />
manager of the combined interests which included<br />
all theatres in Riverside.<br />
Hunt and FWC built the De Anza in 1939<br />
and the Lido in 1941. In 1948 Hunt built the<br />
$350,000 Rubidoux Drive-In, which Harry<br />
Creasey manages. Hunt said he would devote<br />
a good portion of his time for the next<br />
six months to the presidency of the Rubidoux<br />
Baseball club. He assumed the presidency of<br />
the club last year and is a major stockholder<br />
in the club.<br />
r<br />
The wife of Moz Buries, Paramount salesman,<br />
entered St. Anthony's hospital for a<br />
checkup . . . Theatremen seen on Filmrow<br />
included John Roberts, Fort Morgan; George<br />
KeUoff, Aguilar; Bernard Newman, Walsh,<br />
and Ross Gantt, Kremmling.<br />
L. M. Kennedy Quits Vita,<br />
In Colorado Springs Suit<br />
MANITOU, COLO.— L. M. Kennedy has resigned<br />
as manager of the 'Vita Theatre here,<br />
the house which figured in an action brought<br />
by the state industrial commission seeking<br />
to enforce fire and safety regulations.<br />
"I have canceled my working agreement<br />
with the owner of the building," Kennedy<br />
•said. "I will not assume responsibility for<br />
the action brought against the Vita last January.<br />
I believe it to my best interests to<br />
sever my connection with the theatre."<br />
The suit, brought to enforce compliance<br />
with recommendations of inspections of the<br />
theatre, ended with a minimum fine being<br />
levied against the theatre. Charles Diller of<br />
Ouray, owner of the building and the theatre,<br />
paid the fine.<br />
Kennedy, acting in his own defense,<br />
pleaded not guilty in the first such case to<br />
be brought by the commission against a theatre<br />
in a move to "crack down on violators<br />
of fire and safety rules." The court ruled<br />
that Kennedy had labored under a hardship<br />
in complying with the commision's rules since<br />
he w^as not owner of the theatre.
. . . Beverly<br />
. . Roy<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
l^ue in from New York was George Dembow.<br />
vice-president and sales chief of National<br />
Screen Service. Dembow's hosts during<br />
his stay will be B. R. Wolf, western district<br />
manager. Branch Manager Ben Ashe<br />
and Office Manager Ralph LaDuke . . . Joe<br />
Rosenberg, film salesman formerly associated<br />
with Eagle Lion. Film Classics and Warners,<br />
has joined the Monogram staff in a selling<br />
capacity . Dickson's new secretary at<br />
Cooperative Theatres is Beverly Livingston.<br />
former bookers' secretary at Monogram before<br />
swinging over to Dickson's booking service.<br />
Pinning the rap on poor business. Jack<br />
Mandel has shuttered his Melvan Theatre,<br />
neighborhood house in the Hollywood area,<br />
indefinitely . . After managing them on lease<br />
.<br />
for more than a year. Sid Pink has returned<br />
the Arlington and Maynard. subsequent run<br />
community theatres, to the Harry Vinnicof<br />
chain, which will continue to operate them<br />
... A booking and buying visitor was Wade<br />
Loudermilk. operator of the Buckeye in<br />
Buckeye. Ariz.<br />
Howard Goldenson and Ann Litrov have<br />
set April 20 as their wedding date. The<br />
groom-to-be is a partner of Jules Seder in<br />
the Encino Theatre, which opened recently<br />
out Eiicino way in the San Fernando valley<br />
Parker, wife of Bill Parker, sales<br />
manager at the Film Classics branch, is recuperating<br />
at home after undergoing major<br />
surgery at the Cedars of Lebanon hospital.<br />
A spot of star-gazing was on the itinerary<br />
COSTS less<br />
Tlwt's riKlit ! . . . costs less than .my<br />
comiwraMe e(nii|micnl. Built like a<br />
b.nttlesliip. He.nvy st«l pl.itc Imsc and<br />
wcliled steel Ir.inic Ki\cs iivcr L1HI<br />
puunds of rock-rilthfd riKuiity for j>crfeet<br />
support to jirojcctinn erpiipmcnt.<br />
Available for immediate delivery.<br />
for- Barry Cohen, executive of the Detroit<br />
Theatre Enterprises in the automobile city,<br />
during a vacation here. Accompanied by his<br />
wife, he visited the Paramount studios In<br />
Hollywood for an insight on the production<br />
end of motion pictures . . . Ish White and<br />
Ken Darby have moved their Security Theatre<br />
offices into new quarters. Both men<br />
were booker-salesmen at Paramount before<br />
opening their booking service.<br />
Absent from the Row for several years,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Vic Walker came in from Huntington<br />
Beach to do some booking for their<br />
newly acquired operation, the Surf Theatre.<br />
The Walkers at one time owned the Walker<br />
and State theatres in Santa Ana, but sold<br />
out to the Southside circuit.<br />
Another booking and buying visitor was<br />
Fred Hershorn. operator of the Garden in<br />
Long Beach. Commenting on the problems<br />
of dwindling business and the discriminatory<br />
amusement tax on tickets, Hershorn admitted<br />
he was "seriously considering" dropping his<br />
ticket price to nine cents for adults and children<br />
alike—at least until the amusement levy<br />
is<br />
lifted.<br />
Newly appointed western zone manager for<br />
Hallmark Productions is Barnes Perdue, who<br />
formerly was connected with Ted Jones'<br />
Western Amusement Co. Huddling here with<br />
Perdue was Hank Adams, Hallmark's national<br />
sales manager, who checked in from Wilmington,<br />
Ohio, for the conference, and Jean Gaston,<br />
saleswoman, who has just returned from<br />
covering her territory in Arizona.<br />
Harry Popkin, United Artists producer and<br />
partner in the Popkin-Ringer circuit here,<br />
returned from a trip to New York with the<br />
disclosure that, while stopping over in Chicago,<br />
he was interviewed on the "20th Century<br />
Limited<br />
"<br />
airshow.<br />
Just prior to his departure for Portland<br />
and Seattle to contact circuit accounts. Harold<br />
Wirthwein, western sales manager for<br />
Monogram-Allied Artists, disclosed the appointment<br />
of Robert C. Ryan as salesman in<br />
the Denver exchange. Last associated with<br />
Warners in that city, Ryan replaces Frank<br />
Childs. who resigned to enter private business.<br />
^0§n<br />
IDEAL<br />
PROJECTION<br />
AND<br />
SOUND<br />
SEATING<br />
SLIDE- BACK<br />
Projection Equipment & Maintenance Co.<br />
1975 South Vermont Avenue, Phone: REpublic 0711<br />
Los Angeles 7, Colifornio<br />
THEATRE /ALE/<br />
.abakelian)^!^^<br />
25 TAYLOK<br />
Projection Equipment &<br />
Maintenance Co.<br />
1975 South Vermont Avenue<br />
I.OS Angeles, Caliiomia<br />
Complete Theatre Equipment & Supplies
Central Illinois Exhibitors Attend Allied Rally<br />
—Photo by E. D. Lar<br />
SPRINGFIELD—More than 50 exhibitors<br />
attended a regional meeting of Midcentral<br />
Allied at the Leland hotel here last week (21).<br />
Trueman T. Rembusch. Indianapolis, president<br />
of national Allied; William Carroll, Indianapolis,<br />
president of Associated Theatre<br />
Owners of Indiana; William H. Hoffman,<br />
Arthur, 111., national Allied director; A. B.<br />
Jefferis, Piedmont, Mo., president of Midcentral<br />
Allied, and Elwin Wiecks, Staunton, 111..<br />
vice-president, spoke.<br />
RESOLUTION ON 'STROMBOLI'<br />
Resolutions were adopted: ill Suggesting<br />
that all theatre owners not play "Stromboli";<br />
(2) Urging members to telegraph their Illinois<br />
congressional representatives on the<br />
ways and means committee relative to the<br />
abolition of the 20 per cent tax: (3> Extending<br />
a vote of commendation to all film producers<br />
tor the advancement and progress being<br />
made in the use of fireproof film, and<br />
urging that the work continue until film shipments<br />
are 100 per cent of the acetate type.<br />
Rembusch described the operations of<br />
Zenith phonevision as it will be tested in Chicago<br />
next month. It was his belief that this<br />
type of television will be a real threat to the<br />
in the midwest prairie lands, that the television<br />
applications are currently "frozen." The<br />
stations now interfere with each other in<br />
many areas and the coverage obviously will<br />
have to be changed.<br />
"When the bands are changed to avoid<br />
this interference, the present long-range<br />
bands of two through six should be reserved<br />
for theatre use." he said. "If the use of<br />
phonevision becomes widespread it may become<br />
the means whereby the television industry<br />
can finance its further progress at<br />
the expense of the theatreowner."<br />
Hoffman explained the uses of the Caravan<br />
reporting system and urged all present to become<br />
members of the organization for their<br />
own protection against "exorbitant film<br />
costs." Carroll explained how the information<br />
contained in Caravan was compiled.<br />
Jefferis conducted the meeting and in the<br />
drawing of the attendance prize, he was the<br />
winner of a luggage piece contributed by the<br />
United Film Service.<br />
LIST OF REGISTRANTS<br />
The photo includes all except a few of<br />
those registered at the Springfield Allied<br />
motion picture theatre inasmuch as the "boxoffice"<br />
has been transferred to the telephone<br />
company, and all that a patron has to do in<br />
order to view a motion picture is to call the<br />
telephone operator and have the charge put<br />
on his bill.<br />
He advocated that Allied request the use<br />
of channels two to six be reverted to commercial<br />
theatre use, thereby reducing the<br />
radius of the big city stations. It is because<br />
of the long range of these stations, especially meeting as follows (all from Illinois unless<br />
otherwise designated) : Earl Williams, Knoxville:<br />
R. H. Welsh and wife, Newman: A. B.<br />
Jefferis and wife, Piedmont. Mo.: Dave Jones,<br />
Springfield; E. H. Wiecks. Staunton: Charles<br />
Dyas and wife, Earlville; Tom Brewer, Farmington;<br />
Tom Keelen, Sheffield; Paul E. Stehman,<br />
Winchester; Frank Stewart and wife,<br />
Danville: William Carroll and Trueman Rembusch,<br />
Indianapolis; E. D. Larsen, Chenoa;<br />
Alfred Carius and wife, Morton: R. H. Deuterman<br />
and L. E. Deuterman, Atlanta;<br />
Charles Beninanti and wife. Carlyle: William<br />
Hoffman and wife, Arthur: Russell Hall,<br />
Waverly: P. Bissell Shaver, Henry: Art Diller,<br />
Lovington; M. F. Bodwell. Wyoming; F. E.<br />
Haskins, Viola; Vernal M. Elliott, Clay City;<br />
Abe Werbner, Lewistown.<br />
Commissioner Refuses<br />
To Enforce Curfew Law<br />
From Midwest Edition<br />
OMAHA—This city's 10 p. m. to 5 a. m.<br />
curfew has resulted in a major rumpus.<br />
Mayor Glenn Cunningham called for strict<br />
enforcement of the 1943 ordinance. That<br />
drew a promise from Police Chief Fred<br />
Franks.<br />
But now Police Commissioner W. W. Carmichael<br />
has said that if the mayor wants the<br />
curfew enforced he will have to take over<br />
the police department. The commissioner<br />
contends the ordinance is impossible to enforce.<br />
Youngsters under 16 would be arrested if<br />
out of their homes at a theatre, basketball<br />
game, other amusement places, or in a car<br />
unless accompanied by a parent or legal<br />
guardian. In event of violation fines of $1<br />
to $100 would be assessed against the youngster,<br />
or the parent if the latter said he had<br />
control of his child.<br />
Carmichael says the department lacks<br />
manpower to enforce such an ordinance, that<br />
it virtually would force youngsters to carry<br />
birth certificates and their parents some<br />
means of identification.<br />
Carmichael insists the present policy of<br />
nabbing delinquents only will be continued<br />
until after a meeting of juvenile experts is<br />
held.<br />
Louis Livingston Named<br />
To Filmack's TV Section<br />
CHICAGO—Irving Mack, president of<br />
Filmack Trailer Corp. here, has appointed<br />
Louis Livingston to head Filmack's television<br />
department. Livingston was former promotion<br />
manager for the Chicago Herald-American,<br />
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and the New<br />
York Journal-American. He was a major<br />
during World War II assigned public relations<br />
officer with the Sixth army in Japan.<br />
At the outbreak of America's rearmament<br />
program, he was a special consultant for<br />
Henry Morgenthau, then secretary of the<br />
treasury.<br />
Standard Theatres Buys<br />
Kenosha, Wis., Theatre<br />
KENOSHA, WIS.—Standard Theatres, Inc.,<br />
has bought the Kenosha Theatre here from<br />
Warner Theatres. L. F. Gran, general manager<br />
for Standard, said his firm had operated<br />
the theatre for several years and bought the<br />
property "so we wouldn't have to pay any<br />
more rent."<br />
Standard Theatres has an $800,000 mortgage<br />
on the property, with the Marine National<br />
Exchange bank of Milwaukee as trustee.<br />
The firm was not considering buying<br />
any other Warner property. Gran said.<br />
Lanark Theatre Robbed<br />
LANARK, ILL.—Burglars entered the La-<br />
Nar Theatre here recently and escaped with<br />
$70 in ca,sh. Manager Fred Good said the<br />
burglars entered the rear door of the theatre,<br />
then used a file to pry off locks on the money<br />
drawers in the boxoffice.<br />
BOXOFFICE March 4. 1950 61
. . Kenneth<br />
. . Logansport,<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
IVirax Cohen, division manager, Film Classics,<br />
conferred with Manager Sam Abrams<br />
... V. Hudson, operator of the Hilltop, Louisville,<br />
has added a new air conditioned private<br />
office to his house .<br />
like all<br />
other northern Indiana cities, was icebound.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong> grosses were extremely poor. There<br />
were no Ughts and no telephone service for<br />
several days.<br />
Officials of the RCA company held a sales<br />
conference here at the office of the Midwest<br />
Theatre Supply Co., distributors for RCA<br />
theatre equipment. Jack Piatt, district manager,<br />
Cleveland: Fred Wentker, district manager,<br />
Chicago, and Homer Snook, president<br />
of the Midwest Theatre Supply Co., Cincinnati,<br />
attended the meeting. J. Charles Clickner,<br />
local representative for RCA, also was<br />
present.<br />
Jules Lapidus, Warner eastern and Canadian<br />
sales manager, and Bernard Goodman,<br />
supervisor of branch operations, visited the<br />
local branch . Barnard, operator<br />
of the Oxford, Oxford. Ind.. reports the birth<br />
of a baby boy. his sixth child, at St. Elizabeth's<br />
hospital. Lafayette . Isaac Sellers,<br />
wife of the operator of the Lyric, Covington,<br />
was confined at St. Francis hospital,<br />
Bloomington.<br />
Trueman Rembusch, president of the ATOI,<br />
will attend the Chicago Showmanship meeting<br />
March 8. 9, called by 20th-Fox President<br />
Spyros P. Skouras. at the Drake hotel. There<br />
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DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. Kansas City. Mo.<br />
was an informal conference for exhibitors<br />
in the northeastern part of the state at the<br />
Van Orman hotel. Fort Wayne, February 28.<br />
Al Borkenstein was chairman of the meeting.<br />
Marvin Weinberg, brother of the late Sam<br />
Weinberg, has succeeded his brother as manager<br />
of theatres in Indiana and Kentucky<br />
. . . Fred DoUe, president of the Fourth Avenue<br />
Amusement Co., Louisville, and his wife<br />
have gone to St. Petersburg, Fla.. for an extended<br />
vacation . . . Rex Carr, general manager.<br />
Theatre Owners Corp., Cincinnati, was<br />
a visitor. He was associated with Marcus<br />
Enterprises here for several years . . Ernest<br />
.<br />
Smith, operator of the Devon, Francisville,<br />
has opened a $50,000 tavern.<br />
Herman Black, salesman for RKO, is confined<br />
at the Methodist hospital after an operation<br />
Trueman Rembusch. president.<br />
. . . ATO of Indiana, and William Carroll, executive<br />
secretary, attended the meeting of the<br />
Midcentral Allied group at Springfield, 111.,<br />
Tuesday (21).<br />
At the last meeting of the board of directors<br />
of Variety Tent 10 seven regular members<br />
and two associated members were added<br />
. . . Exhibitors on Filmrow included J. B.<br />
Sconce. Sconce circuit, Edinburg; R. L. Norton,<br />
Key, Red Key; Mrs. Hilda Long, Hippodrome,<br />
Sheridan; Matt Scheidler. Jefferson,<br />
Hartford City; C. A. Marshall, Sunshine,<br />
Darlington; William Handley, Rembusch circuit,<br />
and Franklin and Nick Paikos, Diana,<br />
Tipton.<br />
Roy Rogers Club Prizes<br />
Awarded at Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Roy Rogers spoke from<br />
the stage of Fountain Square Theatre here<br />
via long distance. By a special telephone<br />
setup, Rogers spoke to Donna Carter, winner<br />
of the Indianapolis Times-Fountain Square<br />
Roy Rogers mystery tune contest. Donna received<br />
tickets to Hollywood for herself and<br />
her mother, the prizes provided by Borden's<br />
Capitol Dairies and Borden's Furnace Ice<br />
Cream Co. Also taking part in the program<br />
was Evelyn D'Amico of the toy department<br />
of William H. Boocl Co., a co-sponsor of the<br />
contest, and Earl Cunningham, manager of<br />
Fountain Square Theatre and "daddy" of the<br />
Roy Rogers Riders club.<br />
While in Hollywood Donna and her mother<br />
will appear on two radio broadcasts and will<br />
watch Roy Rogers on location in the filming<br />
of a picture.<br />
Chicago Court Opens Way<br />
For Ozoner Within City<br />
CHICAGO—A decision by Judge Harry M.<br />
Fisher in circuit court here has cleared the<br />
way for construction of a new outdoor theatre<br />
within the city limits. In action brought<br />
by the Liberty National bank as trustee for<br />
owners of the property, Fisher ruled invalid<br />
a city ordinance prohibiting erection of driveins<br />
in the city limits.<br />
He held that the city cannot legislate<br />
against a lawful business, but can limit such<br />
business to certain zones.<br />
Mother of Paul Stehman Dies<br />
WINCHESTER. ILL.—The mother of Paul<br />
E. Stehman, owner of the Lyric, died recently.<br />
—<br />
Snow and Cold Hurl<br />
Loop Theatre Trade<br />
CHICAGO—The heaviest snow yet to fall<br />
this winter, with thoroughfares covered with<br />
sleet and ice. made rough going for amusement<br />
seekers. Even with record crowds in<br />
town for the auto show and conventions,<br />
business was only fair at Loop theatres.<br />
"Stromboli," with a record advance promotion<br />
campaign, bowed in strong at the RKO<br />
Grand, with a 98-cent admission all day and<br />
SI.50 night price. Considering the weather,<br />
business was good at the Grand all week.<br />
Another newcomer, "Chain Lighting," had a<br />
good first week at the Chicago along with<br />
a stage bill headed by June Havoc. Joey<br />
Adams and Mark Plant. "The Bicycle Thief,"<br />
De Sica's Italian production, bowed in strongly<br />
at the World Playhouse. The Oriental had<br />
an average second week with "East Side,<br />
West Side" on the screen and a stage show<br />
headed by Wally Vernon. "Battleground" at<br />
the State-Lake and "My Foolish Heart" at<br />
the Woods were holding up well. "The Third<br />
Man" was steady in a second stanza at the<br />
Selwyn.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Chicago -Chain Lighting (WB), plus stage show._UO<br />
Garrick—Dakota Lil (20th-Fox); The Blonde Bandit<br />
(Rep) _ _ _ 95<br />
Grand—Stromboli (RKO) 140<br />
Oriental—East Side, West Side (MGM), plus stage<br />
show, 2nd wk 100<br />
Palaci^Gilda (Col); The Heat's On (Col),<br />
reissues. 2nd wk ^ .90<br />
Roosevelt— Captain China (Para); Davy Crockett,<br />
Indian Scout UA' 2.-.i v/k -<br />
Selv/yn—The Third Man (SRO), 2nd wk<br />
90<br />
110<br />
State-Lake—Battleground (MGM), 2nd wk 110<br />
Studio The Isle of Love (Dezelj; Germany Year<br />
Zero (Dezel), 2nd d. t. run 100<br />
United Artists—Father Is a Bachelor (Ccl), Mark<br />
of the Gorilla (Col) S5<br />
Woods—My Foolish Heart (RKO), 4th wk 100<br />
World Playhouse—The Bicycle Thief (De Sica) 110<br />
Street Popcorn Vending<br />
Restricted at Milwaukee<br />
MILWAUKEE — An ordinance passed by<br />
the city council bans all street vending of<br />
popcorn within 200 feet of parks and retail<br />
stores, leaving vending of such products to<br />
concessioners. It does not affect popcorn and<br />
peanut sales in lobbies of theatres or other<br />
places of amusement, except to remove<br />
venders who have wagons or stands within<br />
200 feet of the entrance of theatres.<br />
An appeal has been made by independent<br />
venders for a modification of the ordinance.<br />
At a meeting of a common council committee<br />
in February. Mary Herro told councilmen that<br />
she and more than 20 others made a living<br />
selling peanuts and popcorn near amusement<br />
places. If the ordinance were strictly enforced,<br />
she said, their livelihoods would be<br />
taken away.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 195(J
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. . Carl<br />
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CHICAGO<br />
•The Lakeside, B&K theatre on the north<br />
side, is receiving a new sound and projector<br />
system, new Dalite plastic screen, new<br />
Whiteway canopy, new boxoffice and a modernized<br />
lounge . Walders. former<br />
manager for UA at Cleveland who has been<br />
at Paramount here, has replaced Nat Nathanson<br />
here, who recently was appointed eastern<br />
and Canadian general sales manager for<br />
Paramount.<br />
Jack Barry, for the last several years country<br />
salesman for PRC and Henri Elman Enterprises,<br />
has joined the Film Classics here<br />
as country salesman . Mack has<br />
returned from a business trip in Detroit area<br />
. . . Ralph Smitha, general manager, reports<br />
Essaness theatres have secured 22.000 signatures,<br />
and 12.000 letters from patrons protesting<br />
the admission tax. James Gulano.<br />
manager of the Bertha Theatre, supervised<br />
the drive . . . The Crown and Buckingham<br />
theatres are being renovated inside and out<br />
by Essaness.<br />
Walter A. Dietze of Local 110 died last week<br />
was going good at the Carnegie<br />
Theatre on the near north side. It began<br />
its general neighborhood release March<br />
1 . . . The Monroe was showing "The Outlaw"<br />
with "TeU It to the Judge." James<br />
Jovan said business was good despite the<br />
snow ... Ed Seguin's Florida tan faded fast<br />
when he faced the pile of vifork in his B&K<br />
desk on returning from a Miami holiday.<br />
There are big doings ahead for the Chicago<br />
Theatre, including a world premiere of "Wabash<br />
Avenue" March 31, a one-week appearance<br />
for Carmen Miranda April 14, followed<br />
by Frankie Laine.<br />
. . . Al Simon's restaurant,<br />
Columbia's next release for Chicago territory<br />
is "No Sad Songs for Me" . . . Balaban<br />
& Katz is trying out popcorn with real butter<br />
at 20 cents a box<br />
the meeting and eating rendezvous<br />
on Filmrow, is holding open house (3-10) to<br />
celebrate his 13th anniversary with a buffet<br />
and entertainment from 6 p. m.<br />
Morrie Salkin still is at Michael Reese recuperating<br />
from his illness and wants to<br />
thank all his pals on Filmrow, etc., for the<br />
many get-well cards and phone calls . . . Due<br />
to the coal shortage, public schools will only<br />
operate four days a week giving the young-<br />
sters an extra day to attend the amusement<br />
spots . . . Birthday greetings to Nat Nathanson,<br />
Dick Sachsel, Jack Kaplan, Gerald<br />
Weiss, Milton Banovitz and Abe Teitel.<br />
Bob Kaufman, former 20th-Fox exploiteer,<br />
was in helping E. V. Fitzgibbon. Paramount's<br />
publicist, on the "Samson and Delilah" opening<br />
at the State-Lake . . . Cecil DeMille was<br />
in town to help launch Red Cross drive. He<br />
delivered the principal address at the dinner<br />
in the Stevens hotel attended by Mayor Kennelly<br />
and over 1.000 civic leaders and guests<br />
from all industries . . . The American Popcorn<br />
Co, has opened a nationwide newspaper advertising<br />
campaign boosting popcorn sales<br />
Stern, E.ssaness vice-president who<br />
retired last month, is living in Palm Spring.,<br />
for winter.<br />
Kenneth Norberg, formerly with EBF films,<br />
has joined Chicago university as director of<br />
the audio-visual center . Krueger, producer<br />
of "The Golden Gloves Story," due for<br />
its world premiere at the Oriental March 23,<br />
and Herb Elisburg, who is lending Jim Booth<br />
a hand in establishing the Oriental's new<br />
management, went to school together. They<br />
attended Hyde Park High school the same<br />
period during the early 1920s, though they<br />
didn't know each other then.<br />
Patrons Make Suggestions<br />
RIPON, WIS.—Suggestions are being made<br />
by local theatregoers to S&M Theatres as to<br />
what patrons would like to see incorporated<br />
into the new theatre the company plans to<br />
build here soon. S&M now operates the<br />
Campus and Ripon theatres here. Some of<br />
the suggestions call for a section set aside<br />
for smokers, another enclosed section of<br />
candy crunchers and cry rooms for babies.<br />
A site has been purchased by S&M for the<br />
new house and construction is slated to start<br />
in a few weeks.<br />
Speakers at Limberlost<br />
GENEVA, IND.—Clyde Nihiser, manager<br />
of the Limberlost Drive-In here, has contracted<br />
for new individual car speakers for<br />
the ozoner. The theatre operated without<br />
them last year due to the lateness of the<br />
drive-in opening.<br />
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. . , Alfred Eldridge, bandleader, pianist and<br />
composer of the 1920s, was found dead in his<br />
room at the MacArthur hotel. He as 64 and<br />
recently had been playing the piano in the<br />
Elite cafe, whose owner Eugene Dattilo. a longtime<br />
friend, had assisted Eldridge after finding<br />
him in straitened circumstances. In 1929.<br />
he conducted the orchestra at the Missouri<br />
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Theatre here and made the big time circuits<br />
with his own band at the height of his career.<br />
Manager Schrader Hope of the Hope Theatre<br />
in Sesser, 111., acted promptly and efficiently<br />
when the film broke and caught fire<br />
during a run of "Night Train to Memphis"<br />
one night recently. The audience of 400 was<br />
evacuated in an orderly manner, strictly as a<br />
precautionary measure, and Hope then extinguished<br />
the fire before the arrival of firemen.<br />
The loss was confined to the film and<br />
damage to the projector . . . Jim Moran, former<br />
stunt man, was here promoting Selznick's<br />
"The Third Man."<br />
B. Temborius of Breese, 111., is vacationing<br />
in Florida . . . Exhibitors on Filmrow: Tilden<br />
Dickson, Crystal City; John Rees, Wellsville;<br />
Herman Tanner, Vandalia; Tom Baker, Bunker<br />
Hill; Bill Williams, Union; Howard Bates,<br />
Cape Drive-In, Cape Girardeau, and Paul<br />
Musser, Casey and Greenup, 111., who recently<br />
returned from a vacation in Florida. Eagle<br />
Lion has transferred Peter Hayes, exploiteer,<br />
here to serve the Kansas City, Des Moines,<br />
Omaha and Oklahoma City exchange areas.<br />
He formerly worked this territory.<br />
Joyce Finney, secretary to EL Manager F. J.<br />
Lee, has announced her engagement to Dr.<br />
Frank Flis, owner and supervisor of the<br />
Health club at Hotel Chase . . . Loew's Orpheum<br />
is going after the Saturday juvenile<br />
business, starting with a double Hopalong<br />
Cassidy show Saturday (4) at 9 a. m. at 25<br />
cents. The Fox has been putting on a matinee<br />
for children each Saturday with a western<br />
feature and vaudeville acts, while a dozen<br />
or so neighborhood and suburban houses have<br />
their regular Youth Cinema club shows.<br />
The two sons of Mrs. Harry Gladney. the<br />
former Mrs. Cecil Cannon, owner of the Elsberry,<br />
Mo., Orpheum have become young doctors.<br />
The elder, 26, a graduate of Washington<br />
university and Harvard university's medical<br />
school, is now on a fellowship in an Atlanta<br />
hospital studying to be a heart specialist.<br />
His brother, 24, is a graduate of the<br />
Washington university medical school in St.<br />
Louis and has been interne in a Denver hospital<br />
for the past four months.<br />
Eagle Lion expects exceptional reception for<br />
"Guilty of Treason" . . . The Fox Theatre will<br />
be the scene of the next world's premiere<br />
here, namely, "Singing Guns," starring<br />
Vaughn Monroe, who will appear at the Fox<br />
March 11 with a stage show headed by Vic<br />
Damone . stage show that opened at<br />
the Fox February 25 was headed by Jerry<br />
Colonna, mustache and all, and surrounded<br />
by some classy singing and dancing acts.<br />
A 16mm motion picture projector was presented<br />
to the Volunteer Film Ass'n of St.<br />
Louis by the Cooperative Club of Clayton for<br />
entertaining persons confined to institutions<br />
or to their homes. Each member of the Cooperative<br />
club will contribute one night a<br />
month to form two-man teams to handle the<br />
film shows.<br />
Coal Shortage Brings<br />
Illinois Power Slash<br />
ST. LOUIS—Hundreds of motion picture<br />
theatres in Illinois went on a partial brownout<br />
Monday (27) as a result of state orders<br />
to cut electricity consumption at least 25 per<br />
cent.<br />
Coal supplies had reached a critical stage,<br />
especially in northern Illinois, as the miners<br />
remained away from work.<br />
Retail Sales About Same<br />
ST. LOXns—Department store sales in St.<br />
Louis during the week ended February 18<br />
were 2 per cent higher in dollar volume than<br />
the business done by the stores in the corresponding<br />
week of 1949, the Federal Reserve<br />
bank reported. The increase for the Federal<br />
Reserve district as a whole was 1 per cent.<br />
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66 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . . Ben<br />
. . The<br />
. . "The<br />
. .<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
•penny Benjamin, Screen Guild manager for<br />
Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, went to<br />
Chicago for the screening of "The Baron of<br />
Arizona," then returned here and arranged<br />
for a special showing of the film at the Palace<br />
. . . Jerry Weiss, former RKO booker<br />
here and more recently with Eagle Lion in<br />
Chicago, has been named office manager for<br />
United Artists here, according to Manager<br />
Casper Chouinard.<br />
The Harry Olshans celebrated their 31st<br />
wedding anniversary . . . Neil Duffy, operator<br />
of the Elite at Appleton, died at the age of<br />
75. The Elite was closed recently . . . Roy J.<br />
Bernier, former projectionist at Warners<br />
screening room and now ad and public relations<br />
man for Miller Brewing Co., is at Columbia<br />
hospital here. He suffered a heart<br />
attack while in Chicago on his way home<br />
from Miami.<br />
Johnny Mednikow, National Screen manager<br />
for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, was<br />
King for a Day at a Variety Club luncheon.<br />
Guests of honor included I^ew Parker of the<br />
"Inside U.S.A." cast, now at the Davidson<br />
Theatre; Willie Shore, comedian at the Tic<br />
Toe cafe, and Jerry Wayner, operator of the<br />
Riverside Theatre, a Standard Theatres<br />
house.<br />
Dewey DeLorenzo of Milwaukee Film Service<br />
is father of a baby boy, his sixth child<br />
Poblocki, head of Ben Poblocki &<br />
Sons, builders of marquees, boxoffices, etc.,<br />
still is at home recuperating. He hopes to be<br />
Two new<br />
back at the office early in April . . .<br />
theatre firms with similar names have be«n<br />
incorporated. Tlie firms are Nuvic Corp. and<br />
Nupera Corp. Capital stock for both is given<br />
as 500 shares common at $50 par. Incorporators<br />
are Stephen Sherba, G. Kuchler<br />
and Catharine Ryan.<br />
Filmrow visitors included Carl Neitzel, Juno,<br />
Juneau, and Chick Baldwin, Gem, Gillett,<br />
who also is mayor of that city. Both stopped<br />
off at the Ray Smith Theatre Supply Co. .<br />
Alpha Richardson, Ray Smith's secretary at<br />
Theatre Supply Co., returned after a twoweek<br />
vacation in Toronto.<br />
Edra Corp. has been formed at Burke to<br />
conduct a theatrical and amusement business.<br />
Capital stock of 100 shares at no par was authorized.<br />
Minimum capital is $500. Incorporators<br />
are Edmond M. Michaelson, William<br />
Stringfeller and Donald Yungsdahl.<br />
The Fox Downer on the upper east side<br />
gave the first local showing of "The Quiet<br />
One," with a return engagement of "Tlie<br />
Beachcomber" . Outlaw" opened at<br />
the Riverside. It was banned here three<br />
years ago . Towne offered "So Proudly<br />
We Hail" and "Wake Island" . . . Held over<br />
for a second week at the Alhambra were the<br />
reissues "Blossoms in the Dust" and "Johnny<br />
Eager."<br />
"Die Heimat," a German film, opened at<br />
the Pabst with admission prices of 75 cents for<br />
adults and 35 cents for children. The following<br />
day, "Hawaii," a color film, was shown<br />
with Thayer Soule as narrator. Admission<br />
for this film was $1.70 down to 80 cents, tax<br />
included.<br />
Ricardo Cortez will play a top supporting<br />
role in RKO's "Bunco Squad."<br />
'Cinderella' Draws<br />
Crowds at Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—A record theatre crowd hailed<br />
Walt Disney's new full-length cartoon feature,<br />
"Cinderella," which opened February 22<br />
at the RKO Palace. Despite the season's<br />
worst snow and ice storm playing havoc with<br />
transportation, hundreds of theatregoers,<br />
mostly teen-agers who were out of school<br />
as a result of Washington's birthday, lined<br />
the icy sidewalks in front of the Palace, .'^l<br />
Winston, manager, said a total of near 20,0C0<br />
persons broke every previous opening day attendance<br />
record at the Palace at 98 cents<br />
adults and 50 for the youngsters, all day and<br />
night prices.<br />
The exploitation included a gala Cinderella<br />
ball the night before opening at the Blackstone<br />
hotel, given for the finalists in the<br />
Henry C. Lytton & Co.'s Quest for Cinderella,<br />
which was attended by all of the 100 finalists.<br />
Joan McLaughlin, 17-year-old Mercy High<br />
school sophomore, was selected Miss Cinderella<br />
and she appeared on the stage of the<br />
Palace with 100 other girls following the first<br />
showing of the picture.<br />
The campaign included displays of Cinderella<br />
jelly glasses, in all National Food<br />
Stores units in the Chicago area, sparked by<br />
full page ads in all newspapers. The Herald-<br />
American and the Henry C. Lytton company<br />
sponsored the Cinderella contest with advance<br />
publicity and pictures the day preceding and<br />
on opening day. All critics who reviewed the<br />
picture gave it plenty of orchids.<br />
Mrs. Marion Young Dies<br />
CAMP POINT, ILL.—Mrs. Marion Young,<br />
former manager of the DeLuxe Theatre here<br />
and daughter of A. T. Blum, owner of the<br />
Kozy Theatre in Kahoka, Mo., died in a hospital<br />
at Quincy recently, following a long illness.<br />
Funeral services and burial took place<br />
in Kahoka. She is survived by three small<br />
boys. The DeLuxe is being operated by Mrs.<br />
Rosemary Phillips under a lease from Blum.<br />
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RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE' PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTTTUTE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive information regularly, as released, on<br />
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
n Acoustics n Lighting Fixtures<br />
D Air Conditioning q Plumbing Fixtures<br />
D Architectural<br />
Service<br />
^ projectors<br />
D "Black" Lighting ^ _, . ,. ,<br />
n Projection Lamps<br />
n Building Material<br />
Seating<br />
n Carpets<br />
1— 1 /-i • »» L- ni-i Signs and Marquees<br />
n Coin Machines a<br />
n Complete RemodelingD Sound Equipment<br />
D Decorating<br />
Television<br />
D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts<br />
n Drive-In Equipment D Vending Equipment<br />
D Other<br />
Theatre<br />
Seating<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
State<br />
Subjects<br />
Capacity<br />
Signed<br />
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience<br />
in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN<br />
THEATRE Section, published with the first Issue of<br />
each month.<br />
Construction Projects in Illinois<br />
Include Two Regular Theatres<br />
MASCOUTAH, ILL.—Fred N. Young, operator<br />
of the 300-seat Norton here, will start<br />
construction soon of a new theatre. It will<br />
be located on West Church street near the<br />
heart of the downtown section but off the<br />
main highway, so as to provide greater safety<br />
for children and more parking space for automobiles.<br />
Mr. and IVIrs. Young have been operating<br />
the Norton Theatre on a lease for the last<br />
eight years. During the two years that Young<br />
served in the navy Mrs. Young carried on<br />
the business. Prior to coming to Mascoutah,<br />
Young managed two other theatres. Shows<br />
will continue in the Norton while the new<br />
house is under construction.<br />
Circuit Postpones Plans<br />
For Outdoor Theatre<br />
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL. — Clarence<br />
Miller of the Essaness Theatres, Chicago,<br />
says his firm has decided to postpone indefinitely<br />
plans for construction and operation<br />
of a drive-in on Route 14 near here. The<br />
property is zoned for industrial use, but disagreement<br />
over the desirability of an outdoor<br />
theatre as compared with a manufacturing<br />
plant, among property owners, together with<br />
the lack of available sewage and water facilities,<br />
were the prime reasons for abandonment<br />
of the project.<br />
Kraus Brothers Planning<br />
Theatre at Nauvoo, 111.<br />
NAUVOO, ILL.—J. A. and E. J. Kraus are<br />
considering the erection of a new theatre<br />
here. They have visited theatres in several<br />
cities to obtain ideas on construction costs,<br />
etc.<br />
Nauvoo has been without a theatre since<br />
last July, when the Mormon, operated by<br />
Mrs. Gail Butterfield. widow of Ken Butterfield,<br />
was destroyed in a fire. Local merchants<br />
and financial interests have promised<br />
their support to the Kraus brothers.<br />
Rochester Drive-In Planned<br />
ROCHESTER, IND.—Roy E. Bechtelheimer<br />
of Roann plans to build a new drive-in near<br />
here this spring. The theatre will accommodate<br />
400 cars and will be located three and<br />
one-half miles north of town on Highway<br />
31. It is slated for completion early this<br />
summer.<br />
Trolley Theatre Opened<br />
GEORGETOWTJ, IND.—The new Trolley<br />
Theatre has been opened here. It offers two<br />
shows a night except on Tuesday and Sunday<br />
nights. Matinees start at 2 and 4 p. m. on<br />
Sundays.<br />
To Build Drive-In Near Pittsfield<br />
PITTSFTELD, ILL.—Russell Armentrout,<br />
head of the Armentrout circuit of Louisiana.<br />
Mo., which owns and operates the Clark Theatre<br />
here, has announced plans for construction<br />
of a 400-car drive-in to cost upwards of<br />
$60,000 about two miles east of town. The<br />
circuit also has plans for a new theatre here<br />
to be called the Zoe Theatre.<br />
Completing Drive-In Near Carmi<br />
CARMI, ILL.—Final construction details<br />
and installation of equipment at the 400-car<br />
460 Drive-In on Route 460 east of here will<br />
be pushed as rapidly as weather conditions<br />
will permit by owners, Herbert Newcomb and<br />
his associates. The grand opening is scheduled<br />
for April 1.<br />
Lee Norton to Build Drive-In<br />
SULLIVAN, ILL.—Lee Norton, owner of<br />
the 600-seat Grand Theatre, will build a 300<br />
to 400-car drive-in on highways 32-121 just<br />
west of Sullivan. Negotiations for the proposed<br />
site are nearing conclusion.<br />
New Theatre Is Opened<br />
In Town of Salisbury<br />
From Ivlideast Edition<br />
SALISBURY, PA. — Practically the entire<br />
population of this community turned out<br />
recently for the opening of Jess Cramblett's<br />
Village Theatre. Population is 1.200 and the<br />
theatre seats about 650.<br />
The Village is one of the finest amusement<br />
centers ever opened in a small community<br />
anywhere. The Cramblett building's hoteldining<br />
room will be ready for opening around<br />
May 1, the theatre section being constructed<br />
and opened in a period of ten months. Cost<br />
of the project is upwards of a quarter of a<br />
million dollars.<br />
Exploited as Somerset county's "newest,<br />
finest and most modern theatre," the Village<br />
will offer first run pictures and vaudeville.<br />
The theatre materials, equipments and fixtures<br />
are quality all the way, the workmanship<br />
superb and beautiful. Sponge carpeting,<br />
wall materials and lighting equipments are<br />
de luxe. A feature is a complete stage with<br />
17 sets of lines and with dressing rooms<br />
underneath. Paneling is in blond mahogany,<br />
front doors are herculite framed in stainless<br />
steel.<br />
The Village, entirely fireproof, also has a<br />
large and comfortable cry room-nursery and<br />
a children's playroom on the second floor.<br />
The manager's office, opposite the cry room,<br />
separated by the projection rooms, may seat<br />
a dozen friends or guests who may view stage<br />
or screen from behind a large plate glass window.<br />
RCA equipment, furnished by Alexander<br />
Theatre Supply, and Heywood-Wakefield<br />
seating are among major Installations,<br />
in addition to complete Trane heating-air<br />
conditioning equipments. Theatre Candy Co,<br />
installed the candy-popcorn bar in the lobby.<br />
Knoxville (Tenn.) Scenic Studios furnished<br />
wall fabrics, stage draperies, etc.<br />
A house feature is the latest Hammond<br />
concert organ with chimes, placed upon a<br />
hydraulic lift which raises it from the<br />
orchestra pit to stage level. Joe Lawther presides<br />
daily at the console, and he is a talented<br />
musician and personable young man.<br />
Backstage there is a grand piano and in the<br />
orchestra pit is an upright piano.<br />
Salisbury approved Sunday shows last fall<br />
and is offering 2 p. m. and 8:30 p. m. exhibitions.<br />
The theatre opens week nights at 7<br />
p. m., exhibiting two performances. Salisbury<br />
is in the heart of the Maple grove belt<br />
where there is much activity in sugar camps.<br />
68 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
Springfield Drive-In<br />
To Commonwealth<br />
SPRINGFIELD, MO.—Commonwealth Theatres<br />
of Kansas City has purchased the<br />
Springfield Drive-In located near the junction<br />
of highways 65 and 166 here. The circuit<br />
will begin work immediately to put the theatre<br />
in first-class operating condition. It will<br />
be modernized with landscaping, improvement<br />
of buildings and a change in the entrance<br />
area. Picture policy will be announced<br />
soon and it is hoped that the drive-in can be<br />
opened not later than April 15.<br />
Commonwealth now has 15 drive-ins either<br />
in operation or under construction. The circuit<br />
owns or operates ozoners in Kansas City,<br />
Columbia. Sedalia and Joplin, Mo., Lawrence<br />
and Goodland, Kas,, and Fayetteville, Ark.<br />
Additional drive-ins have been announced<br />
for Clinton and Fulton, Mo., and Harrison,<br />
Batesville and Searcy, Ark.<br />
Purchase of the ozoner here will mean<br />
that Springfield will have two drive-ins in<br />
operation soon. George W. Fuller, Frank<br />
Carswell and Associates have started a drivein<br />
to be known as the Sunset on Highway 66<br />
at Nichols junction four miles west of the<br />
Gillioz Theatre.<br />
Grading started last December but was<br />
not completed because of frozen ground and<br />
bad weather. It will be resumed as soon as<br />
weather permits and precision grading and<br />
compacting and work on buildings and screen<br />
will be rushed so the drive-in may be opened<br />
about May 1.<br />
Fuller was manager and district manager<br />
for 20th-Fox at Kansas City, Atlanta and<br />
Washington before entering the drive-in business.<br />
Carswell, who is associated with Fuller,<br />
is president of Midwest Precote Co., Kansas<br />
City. His firm has done much highway paving<br />
and bridge construction work in Springfield<br />
area and throughout Missouri and adjoining<br />
states. This firm will complete grading,<br />
compacting, surfacing and drainage.<br />
Arnold J. Simmons to Open<br />
Lamar Drive-In April 14<br />
LAMAR, MO.—Arnold J. Simmons, local<br />
showman who now is building a new drivein<br />
on Highway 160, has offered the Lamar<br />
Business and Professional Womens' club a<br />
liberal commission for selling tickets to the<br />
drive-in opening. The drive-in. which will<br />
be known as the Barco Starvue, will open<br />
April 14.<br />
Small Fire at Bagdad<br />
KANSAS CITY—Oil overflowing from a<br />
furnace at the Bagdad Theatre here resulted<br />
in a fire February 24 which caused damage<br />
e.stimated at $25 by the district fire chief.<br />
No patrons were in the house at the time.<br />
The theatre is owned and operated by Lester<br />
Silverman.<br />
Post to Robert Fuller<br />
ROCHESTER, MINN.—Robert Puller has<br />
been named manager of the Empress Theatre<br />
here and assistant manager of the Chateau,<br />
according to Harry Salisbury, Chateau manager.<br />
Fuller began his theatre work at Fargo,<br />
N. D.. and after a year there, managed a<br />
theatre at Sioux Falls, S. D.<br />
Polio Plaque Will Be Presented<br />
At Kansas City Ass'n Meeting<br />
KANSAS CITY—A plaque awarded by the<br />
National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis<br />
to the recently organized Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of Kansas City for participation in the<br />
March of Dimes drive, will be presented at<br />
the initial luncheon of the association Monday<br />
(6) at the President hotel here. John<br />
J. May. treasurer of the Jackson county<br />
chapter of the foundation, will make the<br />
presentation.<br />
The association, of which Elmer C. Rhoden<br />
is president, is dedicated to public relations<br />
and public service. Membership is open to<br />
persons active in production, distribution and<br />
exhibition of films, delivery services, theatre<br />
supply companies, the lATSE and other<br />
crafts connected with the industry and members<br />
of the press and radio whose work may<br />
relate to motion pictures. The annual membership<br />
fee is $5.<br />
Ralph Morgan Becomes<br />
Lippert Staff Member<br />
KANSAS CITY—Ralph Morgan, associated<br />
nearly seven years with the local Monogram<br />
branch, joined the Lippert Pictures sales staff<br />
Monday (27>. Morgan began his film world<br />
career in March 1943, when he became a salesman<br />
for Monogram. The franchise at that<br />
time was held by the late Lon T. Fidler.<br />
Morgan was appointed branch manager in<br />
October 1948. After Fidler died in March<br />
1949, Monogram took over operation of the<br />
branch and Morgan remained as salesman<br />
until his change this week. Harry Gaffney is<br />
Lippert branch manager here.<br />
Wall Lake, Iowa, House<br />
Bought by L. Z. Henry<br />
WALL LAKE, IOWA—L. Z. Henry, operator<br />
of the Lake at Lake View, Iowa, has acquired<br />
the Rio here. He will change the name of the<br />
house to the Lake. Henry formerly operated<br />
the Lyric at Plattsburg, Mo.<br />
Colby Airer to Open in May<br />
COLBY, KAS.—The unnamed 350-car drivein<br />
under way here for Don Phillips of Colby<br />
is slated to open May 23. The ozoner was<br />
designed by architect Truman Schlupp of<br />
Kansas City, Kas. Grading work is being<br />
done by M. W. Watson Construction Co..<br />
Topeka. Sound equipment for the drive-in<br />
will be RCA.<br />
D. E. Fitton, 76, Dies<br />
HARRISON. ARK.—D. E. Fitton, 76, for<br />
many years an exhibitor and widely known<br />
in film circles, died Wednesday (1). He had<br />
been associated with the Commonwealth circuit<br />
in operation of the Lyric and Plaza theatres<br />
here.<br />
New Sound for Lyric Theatre<br />
TEKAMAH, NEB.—A new sound system<br />
has been installed at the Lyric Theatre here.<br />
The house is operated by Harold Qualsett.<br />
One of the important subjects to be discu.ssed<br />
following the luncheon Monday will<br />
be methods by which a maximum of enrollments<br />
may be obtained as rapidly as possible<br />
.so that the association may launch its<br />
program of activities. Lou Patz, National<br />
Screen Service district manager, has been<br />
appointed membership and finance chairman.<br />
The yearly $5 membership fee fund will be<br />
used only for actual operating expenses of<br />
the new association. Patz said. Money which<br />
may be needed for charitable projects or other<br />
activities to be undertaken by the organization<br />
will be raised by benefit performances<br />
or other means approved by the officers and<br />
members.<br />
Members of the membership and finance<br />
committee headed by Patz will be appointed<br />
later.<br />
Iron Range Legislator<br />
Favors Repeal of Tax<br />
DULUTH—The drive to repeal the admissions<br />
tax appears to have gained another recruit<br />
in Congressman John A. Blatnik, young<br />
Democrat-Farmer-Laborite from Minnesota's<br />
eighth district.<br />
In his widely published Capitol Chats<br />
weekly report to his constituents, Blatnik declared<br />
last weekend: "I know from personal<br />
observation that present excise rates are<br />
detrimental to movie theatres and community<br />
symphony orchestras, for example. Today,<br />
when business conditions are tightening up<br />
and consumer purchasing power is declining,<br />
it seems logical that excise taxes should be<br />
reduced to give a break to both business and<br />
consumers."<br />
The effect of such taxes is to hinder retail<br />
trade, in Blatnik's opinion. He considers the<br />
excise tax "nothing more than a hidden sales<br />
tax ... It is no secret that any sales tax<br />
falls most heavily upon the lower income<br />
group, on the people least able to pay heavy<br />
taxes."<br />
Blatnik said he testified before the house<br />
ways and means committee February 15 in<br />
favor of cutting admissions and all other retail<br />
excise taxes to prewar levels immediately.<br />
Present rates, he declared, impose an "undue<br />
hardship" on both consumers and businessmen.<br />
At a recent meeting of all Minnesota Iron<br />
Range theatremen (all located in Blatnik's<br />
district), the congressman was urged to take<br />
a similar stand.<br />
Council Bluffs, Iowa, Site<br />
Purchased for Drive-In<br />
COUNCIL BLUFFS. IOWA—A site for the<br />
new drive-in here has been purchased by Tri-<br />
States Theatre Corp. A total of $23,970 was<br />
paid for the land bordered by Highway 275<br />
and South 11th street. Construction of the<br />
theatre on the 633x1. 100-foot tract is expected<br />
to begin by April, according to William Mlskell.<br />
Tri-States district manager here.<br />
Miskell .said the drive-in will accommodate<br />
between 750 and 800 cars and will cost between<br />
$75,000 and $100,000 to build.<br />
BOXOFnCE March 4, 1950 MW 63
. . Marguerite<br />
. . Missouri<br />
. .<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
T ouis O. Honig, Pox Midwest Theatres manager<br />
of real estate and insurance, was<br />
elected president of the Broadway Ass'n of<br />
Kansas City at a luncheon meeting Monday<br />
(27) . . . R. M. Copeland, former Paramount<br />
branch manager here and more recently associated<br />
with the Savereide Theatre Brokers,<br />
is returning here for permanent residence<br />
, . . Stan Durwood, vice-president and general<br />
manager of the Durwood circuit, and his wife<br />
left February 25 for a vacation in California.<br />
Because of the initial luncheon of the recently<br />
organized Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />
Kansas City at the Muehlebach hotel the<br />
same day, a meeting of Kansas City Loge 12,<br />
Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen previously<br />
scheduled for Monday (6) instead will<br />
be held March 13 at 1112 Baltimore, according<br />
to Eddie Golden, president . . . Tom<br />
Edwards and PYank L. Plumlee, partners in<br />
the Edwards & Plumlee circuit, which has<br />
its headquarters in Farmington, Mo., were<br />
visitors on Filmrow.<br />
Robert Shelton, Commonwealth Theatres<br />
vice-president and general manager, and Dick<br />
Orear, purchasing agent, returned Wednesday<br />
(1) from Fulton, Mo., where the circuit is<br />
preparing to build a 300-car drive-in . .<br />
.<br />
Harry Blount, exhibitor in Potosi, Mo., was a<br />
visitor on Filmrow ... J. Leo Hayob, mayor of<br />
and exhibitor in Marshall, Mo., and KMTA<br />
secretary, was convalescing after a recent illness<br />
with influenza<br />
mount exploiteer, was here from St.<br />
Louis.<br />
O. F. Sullivan, Wichita, Kansas-Missouri<br />
Allied unit president, conferred with staff<br />
— FOR CENTURY —<br />
THEATRE and DRIVE-IN THEATRES<br />
PROJECTION MACHINES, SOUND<br />
SEE<br />
EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES<br />
STEBBINS THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />
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C. H. Badger, Mgr.<br />
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members at offices of the organization here<br />
Tuesday (28) . . . W. F. Sonneman, exhibitor<br />
many years in Springdale, Ark., was a Filmrow<br />
Warren Harris, National<br />
visitor . . . Theatre Supply staff member, was married<br />
Friday night (3) to Virginia Crocker<br />
William Feld, Triangle Film Co. head, returned<br />
Saturday (4) from St. Louis . . "Samson<br />
.<br />
and Delilah" went into its third week at<br />
the Paramount Theatre.<br />
Judy Canova, film and radio' comedienne<br />
heading a unit now on tour, visited here<br />
briefly following an appearance in St. Joseph,<br />
Mo. . Smith, formerly at 20th-<br />
Fox, was to become a member of the Monogram<br />
branch staff Monday (6) . . . Irene<br />
Hunsicker, Warner Bros, cashier, celebrated<br />
her birthday Friday (3) ... Norma Shankland.<br />
Republic contract clerk, returned from<br />
. . . Betty Caruso,<br />
a visit in New Orleans<br />
Lippert Pictures cashier, was preparing to<br />
celebrate her birthday Monday (6),<br />
Kansas showmen booking and buying on<br />
Filmrow included W. D. Cook, Doric, Elkhart;<br />
Harry E. Newton, Turon, Turon; Fred R.<br />
Davis, Cozy, Girard; E. D. Landau, Liberty,<br />
Horton, and Ray Handley, Royal, Tonganoxie<br />
. theatremen in town included<br />
Bill Silver, Silver, Cameron; Harley<br />
Fryer, Orpheum, Neosho; Paul D. Neal, G 1<br />
Joe, Polo: Bill Chambers, Sheridan, Sheridan;<br />
Charles Thomas, Uptown, Sweet Springs;<br />
Howard Larsen, Civic, Webb City, and Elmer<br />
Bills, Lyric, Salisbury.<br />
Radclifie House Opens<br />
RADCLIFFE, IOWA—The new Radcliffe<br />
Theatre, operated by Harley Kuhfus, opened<br />
here with "The Girl From Jones Beach."<br />
The theatre is the first here in several years.<br />
School Short at Two Harbors<br />
TWO HARBORS, MINN. — Organized<br />
teachers of this Minnesota north shore community<br />
this week sponsored the appearance<br />
of the March of Time documentary, "The<br />
Fight for Better Schools," at the Harbor<br />
Theatre. The 20th-Fox release ran two<br />
nights under the auspices of the local AFL<br />
Teachers Federation. The weekly newspaper,<br />
the Chronicle, gave the film an eight-inch<br />
top play on page one.<br />
RCA Equips 14 Drive-Ins<br />
In Kansas City District<br />
KANSAS CITY—Sales of RCA projectors<br />
and other equipment by the Missouri Theatre<br />
Supply Co. here for 11 drive-ins now under<br />
construction in Kansas and three being built<br />
in Missouri were disclosed by L. J. Kimbriel,<br />
manager. Don Davis is RCA-Victor district<br />
manager in this territory.<br />
Listed by locations, capacities and owners,<br />
the drive-ins in Kansas include Wichita,<br />
Route 81, 450 cars, Al McClure; Larned, 45,<br />
300, Don Burnett; El Dorado, 350, Ben Adams;<br />
Chanute, 169, 400, Ray Walsh, C. M. Parkhurst<br />
and Dan Payton; Newton, 50, 350, Lee<br />
Sproule; Abilene, 40, 300, Homer F. Strowig;<br />
Harper, 14, 300, Carl Botkin; Clay Center, 24,<br />
300, Ken Ehret; Fort Scott, 69, 400, Chet<br />
Borg; Lyons, 96, 350, Luther Osborn and Don<br />
Cuthbertson, and Russell, 350, W. A. Michaels.<br />
Drive-ins now being erected in Missouri for<br />
which RCA equipment has been ordered include<br />
Lamar, 60, 300, A. J. Simmons; Chillicothe,<br />
65, 300, Merle Jones and Angelo Saccaro,<br />
and Maryville, 71, 300, C. E. Cook.<br />
Charles Crawford Joins<br />
Monogram Sales Staff<br />
KANSAS CITY—Charles D. Crawford,<br />
active in the film world more than 20 years<br />
in the Kansas City exchange area except for<br />
military service during the last war, became<br />
a member of the Monogram sales staff here<br />
Monday (27). Beginning his career as a<br />
checker for Paramount in 1929, Crawford<br />
entered the employ of the Ross-Federal<br />
agency one year later. He became associated<br />
with 20th-Fox in 1934 and remained until<br />
he entered military service in 1942. His service<br />
in World War II largely was in Italy and<br />
Africa. Returning to 20th-Fox after the war,<br />
he continued with the branch here until recently.<br />
T. R. Tliompson is manager of the<br />
local Monogram branch.<br />
Dimes Total Is $442<br />
OLATHE, KAS.—The four Dicitiiison<br />
Operating Co. theatres in Johnson county<br />
collected a total of $442 for the March of<br />
Dimes. Collections from each theatre weie<br />
Dickinson at Olathe, managed by Dick<br />
Wynant, $137.30; Overland at Overland Park,<br />
Willard Lowmaster, $135.96; Dickinson at<br />
Mission, J. B. Stewart, $96.52, and the Aztec,<br />
Shawnee, Jimmy Stepina, $72.22.<br />
CARPETS<br />
Alexander Smith-<br />
Crestwood<br />
Masland - Wilton<br />
ENTRANCE MATS<br />
U. S. Royalite<br />
Colors - Lettering - Designs<br />
Shad-O-Rug<br />
Red - Green - Black<br />
R. D. MANN CARPET CO.<br />
928-930-932 Central Victor 1171 Kansas City, Mo. _ ,..<br />
Hood Asphalt Tile<br />
Room 455, Paul Brown Building Chestnut 4499 St. Louis, Mo. American Rubber Tiie unoie<br />
70 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
'Samson' Still Paces<br />
Kansas City Trade<br />
KANSAS CITY—Trade in general at first<br />
runs here continued at a fairly steady pace.<br />
"Samson and Delilah," in a second stanza<br />
at the Paramount at roadshow prices, chalked<br />
up a sturdy 225 per cent. An eight-act vaudeville<br />
bill at the RKO Missouri, with "Tell It<br />
to the Judge" on the screen, rated 190 per<br />
cent. "Key to the City," dualed with "Challenge<br />
to Lassie" at the Midland, carded 135<br />
per cent. A third week of "My Foolish Heart"<br />
at the midtown Kimo continued to draw well.<br />
(Average is 100)<br />
Esquire—Tunisian Victory (MGM); Desert Victory<br />
(^Olh-Fo\), reissues 80<br />
Kimc^My Foolish Heart (RKO), 3rd wk 175<br />
Midland—Key to the City (MGM); Challenge to<br />
Lassie (Col) 135<br />
Orpheum-The Red Shoes (EL), 2nd run, 2nd<br />
wk., 5 days 75<br />
Pa^a:no^..^l—Sam-.on and Delilah (Para), 2nd wk 225<br />
RKO Missouri—Tell It to the Judge (Col), plus<br />
judeville<br />
.190<br />
Roxy—Intruder in th Dust (MGM), The Big<br />
Wheel (UA), 2nd run<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway—Borderline (U-I);<br />
Brothers in the Saddle (RKO) (Tower only)..<br />
Tree for All," Stage Bill<br />
Pace Omaha First Runs<br />
OMAHA—"Stromboli" chalked up 140 per<br />
cent in its opening week at the RKO Brandeis<br />
here and was headed for a second stanza.<br />
The topper was "Free for AH" coupled with<br />
Sammy Kaye and his orchestra on the stage<br />
at the Orpheum. "Samson and Delilah," in<br />
a second round at the Paramount, still was<br />
drawing nicely.<br />
Omaha—Red Light lUA); Siren ol Atlantis (UA) 110<br />
Orpheum—Free lor All (U-1), plus stage show 300<br />
Paramount—Samson and Delilah (Para), Znd wk.l20<br />
RKO Brandeis—Stromboli (RKO) 140<br />
State—Battleground (MGM), 5th wk.; The Roosevelt<br />
Story (UA), reissue 105<br />
Town—Susanna Pass (Col); East Side Kids<br />
(Mono); 'Neath the Brooklyn Bridge (Mono),<br />
reissues 105<br />
"Sands' Grosses 200 Per Cent<br />
In Minneapolis Opener<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—"Sands of Iwo Jima" ran<br />
away from the rest of the field, pulling 200<br />
per cent to the State. A big exploitation<br />
campaign helped. The second week of "Dear<br />
Wife" and the reissue of "The Fuller Bru.*<br />
Man" pulled good grosses also.<br />
Aster—Parole (U-I); Framed (U-I), reissues 90<br />
Century—Dear Wiie (Para). Znd wk 115<br />
Gopher—Mule Train (Col): Blondie's Hero (Col)....120<br />
Lyric—Pinky (20lh-Fox), 3rd wk 100<br />
Pix—The Fuller Brush Man (Col), reissue 120<br />
Radio Cilv— Key to the City (MGM) — 110<br />
RKO Orpheum—Cham Lightning (WB) „ 100<br />
RKO Pan—Father Is a Bachelor (Col) ._ 90<br />
Slate-Sands ol Iwo lima (Rep) ....200<br />
World—Facts of Love (Oxford) 90<br />
STAGE<br />
EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
Sotisfaction — Always<br />
Missouri Theatre Supply Co.<br />
I. KIMBRIEL, Manager<br />
Phone BAllimore 3070<br />
Drive-Ins Barred by County Board<br />
On Major Roads Near Kansas City<br />
KANSAS CITY—Applications filed in the<br />
future with the county board of zoning adjustment<br />
for construction and operation of<br />
drive-ins in the unincorporated areas near<br />
here will not be approved if the proposed<br />
sites are located on major highways, Judge<br />
William J. Randall, presiding officer of the<br />
group, said in a statement of policy requested<br />
by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.<br />
"Because of traffic and safety difficulties<br />
experienced and encountered by existing theatres<br />
on Routes 40 and 71," Judge Randall<br />
said, "this member stands opposed to further<br />
location of such theatres abutting upon major<br />
highways or situated so near our principal<br />
United States routes as to attract additional<br />
traffic and to increase abnormally the already<br />
high traffic count on such highways.<br />
"The policy of this member is hereby stated<br />
to be that such drive-in theatres be approved<br />
only where they are to be approximately<br />
equidistant from two or more main highways<br />
and be served by sufficient secondary arteries<br />
that the theatre traffic may be partly diffused<br />
before reaching a congested highway."<br />
A statement of policy had been requested<br />
by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce<br />
following the filing of an application for a<br />
drive-in permit by Norman Davidson, who<br />
proposed to erect a 750-car open air theatre<br />
on a 40-acre tract at the intersection of<br />
Route 24 and Sterling avenue in the intercity<br />
district between Kansas City and Independence.<br />
Several other applications for permits<br />
to build outdoor theatres in other unincorporated<br />
areas have been denied by the board<br />
in recent months.<br />
The county planning commission previously<br />
had recommended that the board approve the<br />
application filed by Davidson, although opposition<br />
has been voiced by Chamber of Commerce<br />
officials who declared that the intersection<br />
at which the proposed drive-in would<br />
be built has been troublesome from safety<br />
standpoints. Sterling avenue is the highway<br />
approach to Sugar Creek, and Route 24 is the<br />
main traveled road between northeast Jackson<br />
county to Independence and Kansas City.<br />
A hearing which had been scheduled by the<br />
board for Monday afternoon (27) was canceled<br />
by Judge Randall when Davidson appeared<br />
several hours previously and withdrew his<br />
application. He did not say whether he was<br />
considering another possible site which would<br />
be likely to merit the approval of the board<br />
of zoning adjustment.<br />
Increases Film Showings<br />
STRATFORD, IOWA—Film showings will<br />
be provided here each Wednesday night in<br />
Shaeffer hall by Erick and Gunner Glad.<br />
The Wednesday showings will be in addition<br />
to the regular Saturday program giving residents<br />
two pictures a week.<br />
— Ahead on Temple Theatre<br />
iVicCOOK, NEB—Huge steel beams have<br />
be^n put into place in the latest phase of<br />
construction work on the new Temple Theatre<br />
here. Special features of the new theatre<br />
will be a large lobby and an automatically<br />
controlled elevator.<br />
Twin City Churches Aim<br />
Campaign at Hollywood<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The Twin City Council of<br />
Churches has appealed to pastors to start a<br />
campaign in .sermons, announcements and<br />
church publications to induce Hollywood to<br />
raise its standards of "moral integrity."<br />
The council points out that the Bergman-<br />
Rossellini incident "spotlights attention upon<br />
the industry" and that "the private lives of<br />
the industry's leaders too often have set a<br />
poor example in the field of moral standards<br />
and spiritual ideals." Industry leaders are<br />
asked to change its advertising emphasis<br />
"which, in many cases," the appeal states,<br />
"is based upon a sensual concept of sex,"<br />
They're also asked to produce more pictures<br />
"which foster the development of wholesome<br />
family living and are more suitable for family<br />
attendance,"<br />
The Bergman-Rossellini affair "may serve<br />
as a springboard by which the motion picture<br />
industry and the American people will rethink<br />
the sanctity of marriage and the home,<br />
the rights of children, and the sacredness of<br />
human personality," the council argues.<br />
To Enforce 9:30 P. M. Curfew<br />
SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.—Police Chief Marvin<br />
Nelson announced he will enforce a 9:30<br />
p. m. curfew for youngsters under 16 years<br />
of age. Increased loitering by youths prompted<br />
the announcement, he said.<br />
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. . Sidney<br />
. .<br />
. . Minnesota<br />
. . After<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
lyjGM's "Intruder in the Dust" started its<br />
Twin city first run at the World here.<br />
Radio spot announcements were used to exploit<br />
the film . . . Actors Henry Daniell and<br />
Henry Stephenson appeared with Katherine<br />
Cornell in "That Lady" at the Lyceum .<br />
Ben Blotcky. Paramount manager, returned<br />
from a vacation in Mexico. Accompanied by<br />
his wife, he motored and found the going<br />
strenuous but enjoyable.<br />
Bennie Berger, North Central Allied president,<br />
was written up again in the Sunday<br />
Tribune, this time as one of the owners of<br />
the famed Minneapolis Lakers, professional<br />
basketball team. He and his wife left on<br />
another vacation—this time to Florida. They'll<br />
be back March 10. They went to California<br />
Exhibitors visiting Filmrow included<br />
before . . .<br />
Pete Campbell. Val Halla, N. D.; Fred<br />
Deuth. Heron Lake, and Ralph Swanson, Ely.<br />
Don Buckley, Redwood Falls exhibitor, is<br />
back from a strenuous 15-day hunting trip<br />
in the wilds of Old Mexico. He and his party<br />
were met by a 24-mule and horse pack train<br />
on their arrival and conducted to the jungle.<br />
They bagged mountain lions, wild boars, etc.,<br />
and Don expects to have his lion mounted<br />
and on display soon .<br />
Volk, independent<br />
circuit owner, returned from a Florida<br />
vacation.<br />
Local RKO exchange still is crawling upward<br />
in the Ned Depinet sales contest. It's<br />
now in fifth place nationally . . . "Sands of<br />
Iwo Jima" broke the five-year opening day<br />
house record at the State and finished its<br />
first week with a tremendous gross. A big<br />
. . . Bill<br />
exploitation campaign by Don Alexander of<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co. publicity staff<br />
helped to swell the picture's take<br />
Woods, Columbia office manager, has moved<br />
into his new home.<br />
Jimmy Nederlander, manager of the Lyceum,<br />
legitimate roadshow house, is promoting<br />
a plan to revive the road for legitimate<br />
attractions. Pointing out that nearly<br />
everybody wants to see "South Pacific," he<br />
has proposed to its producers that they send it<br />
on tour as one of a number of subscription<br />
season attractions next season. The public<br />
would subscribe to the entire season or package<br />
of offerings and Nederlander is sure<br />
"South Pacific" would be a sufficient bait to<br />
lure a substantial number of subscribers.<br />
AH the local 28-day houses grabbed "All<br />
the King's Men" as soon as it broke ... A. A.<br />
Schubert. RKO home office manager of exchange<br />
operations, was a visitor . . . The<br />
Golden Valley, independent suburban house,<br />
is continuing its fight for 28-day availability<br />
and its counsel L. B. Schwartz expects to<br />
make a trip to Washington to confer with<br />
Department of Justice officials regarding the<br />
demand.<br />
Malina, who had one of the leading roles<br />
in the film "Mexican Hayride." with Abbott<br />
and Costello, is there currently . . . John<br />
Ried was an addition to the Monogram sales<br />
staff. A June drive will be dedicated to individual<br />
salesmen.<br />
Zora Fini Month Set Up<br />
To Fete Mono Booker<br />
DES MOINES—Monogram has launched a<br />
tribute to Zora Fini, booker, who will leave<br />
the exchange in May to marry Bev Mahon,<br />
Complete Sound Systems<br />
HOHiGHenmuTy-yir<br />
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No equipment offers more in value for<br />
such low cost. Complete sound systems<br />
are avaibhie for theatres of every<br />
size, shape ami seating capacity. They<br />
consist of a two-way horn system, pair<br />
of soundheads, and either single or<br />
dual channel amplifiers.<br />
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1017 E. Franklin St.<br />
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Complete Theatre Equipment & Supplies<br />
72<br />
Kalph Cramblett. United Artists district<br />
manager, was a visitor . . . MGM disregarded<br />
ZORA FINI<br />
the protest of North Central Allied against<br />
owner of the theatre at Pella, Iowa. Zora<br />
its percentage terms for "Battleground" in<br />
even the smallest grossing situations and Fini month will be observed May 1-May 31,<br />
subsequent run houses. The company points and is being heralded with banners, letters,<br />
out that W. F. Rodgers, in various statements<br />
etc.<br />
and at the time when he promised to<br />
sell flat to the small-town and other low grossing<br />
Miss Fini came to the Monogram exchange<br />
seven years ago as stenographer and, a year<br />
accounts, qualified the promise by stat-<br />
after her arrival, was named booker. At the<br />
ing that infrequently there might be outstanding<br />
time she was the youngest booker ever to hold<br />
pictures for which percentage would that position on Filmrow here.<br />
be asked. In a special bulletin North Central Well known to exhibitors all over the state<br />
Alhed has asked the independents to reject and to the personnel of the exchanges in Des<br />
the percentage deal.<br />
Moines, Zora leaves with all the best wishes<br />
of many friends.<br />
Released in a few key spots of the territory<br />
in advance of the Twin cities, "Mrs. Mike"<br />
has been doing sensational business, equaling<br />
or exceeding that of "Red River" in most<br />
instances, according to Eddie Stoller, United<br />
Artists manager .<br />
Amusement<br />
Co. has appointed Ray Niles. southern Minnesota<br />
district manager, captain of its 1950<br />
Fall Happiness drive May 7-June 17 . .<br />
.<br />
Eddie Aarons. 20th-Fox district manager, was<br />
a visitor.<br />
. . . H. M.<br />
The 80-year-old uncle of John and Warren<br />
Branton. Minnesota Amusement Co. buying<br />
and booking manager and 20th-Fox salesman,<br />
respectively, died at Clark's Grove, Minn.<br />
They and another brother G. Ralph Branton<br />
of Des Moines, Blank circuit general<br />
manager, attended the funeral<br />
Besse, Altec-Lansing vice-president, was a<br />
visitor . . . Herb Greenblatt. RKO district<br />
manager, was in town . a brief whirl<br />
at 23 days, the Minnesota Amusement Co.<br />
northeast neighborhood Arion went to 42 days<br />
so that it could drop its admission back<br />
from 60 to 50 cents.<br />
Frances Langford is coming in person to<br />
the Hotel Nicollet Minnesota terrace. Luba<br />
Buys Madison, Neb., Theatre<br />
MADISON. NEB.—Arthur Goodwater of<br />
Madison will take over the Capitol Theatre<br />
here from John Noffsinger April 1.<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
tax?<br />
YOU<br />
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KNOW<br />
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New York - 619 West 54th Street<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
:<br />
. . . Shirley<br />
. . . Harold<br />
. .<br />
. . Barbara<br />
J<br />
Bennie Berger Adds<br />
Twin Ciiy Gopher<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Bennie Berger is expanding<br />
his theatre interests. He has acquired a<br />
half interest in the 1,000-seat Gopher, downtown<br />
first run house, recently relinquished<br />
by the Minnesota Amusement Co. in conformity<br />
with the Paramount consent decree<br />
terms. The house double features and uses<br />
mostly B pictures.<br />
When the Minnesota Amusement Co. put<br />
the theatre on the market it first was purchased<br />
by S. Heller and associates, circuit<br />
owners, who sold it to Ted Karatz of Minneapolis.<br />
The latter now has sold a half<br />
interest to Berger. The theatre will be operated<br />
by the Berger circuit.<br />
The theatre's lease has about four years<br />
to run. In the meanwhile it's expected that<br />
Berger and Karatz will acquire ownership<br />
of the property. All that they now own are<br />
the lease and equipment.<br />
In July the Berger circuit also will take<br />
over operation of the 1,900-seat Palace, now<br />
being operated by the Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co. with a double feature subsequent run<br />
policy, under a lease that expires at that<br />
time. Berger and his associates and circuit<br />
General Manager Ted Bolnick own the property.<br />
Shreve, MGM Still Lead<br />
Filmrow Pin League<br />
KANSAS CITY—The Shreve Theatre Supply<br />
squad and the MGM quintet continued<br />
to occupy the first and second places respectively<br />
following the 23rd round of weekly<br />
games in the Filmrow Bowling league here,<br />
while the Film Delivery, Michlo and Diablo<br />
squads were tied for third position. The<br />
standings<br />
Teom Won Lost Team Won Lost<br />
Shreve Supply 42 27 Finton Jones 35 34<br />
MGM 38 31 Fox Terriers 34 35<br />
Film Delivery ,36 33 Fox Trotters 30 33<br />
Michlo 36 33 Sharpshooters 30 39<br />
Diablos 36 33 Michaels 28 41<br />
Individual high 10, Bob Conn, 244; individual<br />
high 30, Warren Smith, 609. Team<br />
high 10, MGM, 810; team high 30, Shreve<br />
and Fox Terriers, 2,259.<br />
The six teams in the Women's Filmrow<br />
Bowling league here remained in the same<br />
relative positions following the 23rd series<br />
of games. Standings currently are as follows:<br />
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost<br />
Fox Vixens 44 25 Hartman 34 35<br />
Warner Starlets 41 28 Al's Wildcats 25 44<br />
Central Ship 38 31 En Ess Essers 25 44<br />
Grid Star Now Salesman<br />
OMAHA— Several changes were announced<br />
along Filmrow. Robert Daley, former star<br />
halfback for Creighton university, joined<br />
E^agle Lion as a salesman. Johnny Jones<br />
switched from Monogram to MGM, succeeding<br />
William Nedley as a booker. Bill Foley<br />
is Jones' succe.ssor at Monogram.<br />
'Outlaw' at Duluth<br />
DtrHJTH—"The Outlaw." making its first<br />
Duluth appearance at the Granada Theatre<br />
last week, headed into at least a two-day and<br />
possibly a week's holdover, according to Manager<br />
Roy Prytz.<br />
DES MOINES<br />
Timmie Redmond, Tri-States publicity chief,<br />
was in Davenport preparing for the premiere<br />
of "Rock Island Trail" which will be<br />
held in the Quad cities next spring . . . Tri-<br />
States employes had a card from the Art<br />
Stoltcs who are vacationing in Cuba . . . Ann<br />
Hicks, 14-year-old daughter of Don Hicks,<br />
Paramount manager. Is hospitalized with<br />
glandular fever. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks hurried<br />
back from California, where they had been<br />
called by the illness of Mrs. Hicks' father, to<br />
be with their daughter.<br />
Jack Kelly, MGM reprint man from New<br />
York, was a guest at the exchange here .<br />
Marie Butcher, MGM contract clerk, is hospitalized<br />
after surgery to reset a broken<br />
elbow bone, a result of fall on the ice . . .<br />
a<br />
Newest diamond ring on the Row is on the<br />
finger of Babsie Krause. Babsie is a new<br />
MGM employe. Her fiance is Bernard Kessler.<br />
Wilma Foster, MGM inspector, has returned<br />
after an illness . . . Shirley 'Vernon.<br />
Tri-States booking department employe, was<br />
hospitalized . . . Pete Bayes, EL promotion<br />
man, was here working on "Tlie Sundowners'<br />
Shoafstall is a new biller at NSS.<br />
She replaces Irene Robinson who has resigned<br />
. . . NSS is busy issuing trailers and<br />
petition cards to exhibitors on the tax repeal<br />
movement.<br />
Bill Toney, Tri-States purchasing agent,<br />
was host at an office party February 27 celebrating<br />
his birthday. The party is an annual<br />
affair. It began in 1939 . . . Jean Post has<br />
resigned as salesman for Columbia and returned<br />
to Universal where he will hold the<br />
same position . . . Dorothy 'Van Buren, manager's<br />
secretary at Columbia, and her husband<br />
have purchased a new home in northwest<br />
Des Moines . . . Oscar Gallanter, Columbia<br />
booker, suffered an eye injury when<br />
an electric light plug flew out of its socket<br />
and hit him in the eye.<br />
Will Eddy, exhibitor at Indianola, is vacationing<br />
with his wife at Fort Lauderdale. Fla.<br />
Beecroft. EL district manager.<br />
From SQUINT to<br />
was here .<br />
Brown is the new<br />
stenographer at Monogram, replacing Berniece<br />
Dougherty, who resigned and is vacationing in<br />
California . . . W. J. Porter, auditor, is working<br />
at Monogram.<br />
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screen is blurred or hazy. The brilliant white light from<br />
the crater of a "National" high-intensity, positive projector<br />
carbon is the brightest and most perfectly colorbalanced<br />
man-made Ught in the world. Be sure your<br />
patrons enjoy the full detail and color of the picture on<br />
the screen. A "National" carbon can make the difference.<br />
National<br />
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1121-23 High St. Phone 3-6520<br />
Heywood-Wakefield Sealing<br />
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Des Moines, Iowa<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
73
OMAHA<br />
T^rs. Jerry Drennan of the Pilger (Neb.)<br />
Theatre got a big Sunday scare. Fire<br />
severely damaged the grocery store next door,<br />
but the flames were kept from the theatre<br />
. . . Mrs. Mabel Millen, booker for the Sun<br />
Theatre in Coin, Iowa, is spending a month<br />
in Europe.<br />
Among Filmrow visitors: Mrs. Fred Schuler.<br />
Humboldt. Neb.; Frank Scott, Moville, low'a:<br />
Frank Good. Red Oak; Fritz Largen, Creighton;<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Omar Nelson, Soldier.<br />
Iowa; Oliver Schneider, Osceola, Neb.; C. W.<br />
Model 6<br />
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no com para lile equipment gives you<br />
more for the money. Royal Soundmaster<br />
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for superior performance and durability.<br />
Chainless. beltless. all-gear projector<br />
drive. Designed for use with all<br />
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American Theatre<br />
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316 South Main Avenue<br />
Sioux Falls. South Dakota<br />
Complete Theatre Equipment & Supplies<br />
YOOLL LIKE
was<br />
Simplex Equipment Goes<br />
To 17 Drive-In Theatres<br />
KANSAS CITY—Simplex projection equipment<br />
lias been purchased from the National<br />
Theatre Supply here by Commonwealth Theatres<br />
for use in six drive-ins and eight conventional<br />
houses to be operated by the cii'cuit<br />
in Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, by the<br />
Fox Midwest circuit for one of its houses<br />
here, and by the builders of two open air<br />
projects now under construction in Kansas,<br />
according to Arthur DeStefano, branch manager.<br />
Commonwealth drive-ins in which Simplex<br />
equipment will be used include projects at<br />
Joplin, Clinton and Fulton, Mo., and Batesville,<br />
Harrison and Searcy, Ark. Conventional<br />
houses of the circuit in which Simplex equipment<br />
will be placed include a yet-unnamed<br />
theatre in Great Bend. Kas.: Uptown. Columbia,<br />
and Lee. Clinton, Mo., and Melba. Batesville;<br />
Lyric. Harrison, and Rialto. Searcy,<br />
Ark. Two other undisclosed theatres also<br />
will receive new projectors.<br />
Other Simplex installations have been ordered<br />
for the 300-car Starvue Drive-In being<br />
erected by Barron-Droz Theatres, Inc., near<br />
Anthony. Kas.. and the 500-car Trail Drive-In<br />
now being built by Sol Frank near Wellington,<br />
Kas. The Fox Midwest theatre here<br />
which will receive new equipment has not<br />
been disclosed.<br />
EL to Handle Korda Film,<br />
'Jackie Robinson Story'<br />
NEW YORK—Eagle Lion has closed releasing<br />
deals for two new features, one an<br />
Alexander Korda production, the other to be<br />
produced by Diamond Corp. in Hollywood,<br />
according to William J. Heineman, EL vicepresident<br />
in charge of distribution.<br />
The Korda production is "The Winslow<br />
Boy," the film version of the London and<br />
Broadway stage success, starring Robert<br />
Donat with Margaret Leighton, Francis L.<br />
Sullivan and Sir Cedric Hardwicke and with<br />
Neil North in the title role. The Hollywood<br />
film is "The Jackie Robinson Story," based<br />
on the life of the star of the Brooklyn<br />
Dodgers, with Robinson in the leading role<br />
and other stars of the Dodgers in support.<br />
This will go into production in February<br />
under Alfred Green's direction. It is scheduled<br />
to be released in May at the beginning<br />
of the baseball season.<br />
Trails Will Open in May<br />
ABILENE. KAS.—The new Trails End<br />
Drive-In under construction here for H. F.<br />
Strowig & Sons is slated for opening about<br />
May 1. The drive-in will accommodate 310<br />
cars and will cost more than $50,000. Brenkert<br />
projectors and RCA sound have been purchased<br />
for the open-airer.<br />
Custom Mddc<br />
to YourOr^er<br />
ni«^<br />
nSflYDE ST.<br />
{AN FRANCISCO (2><br />
At 'Sundowners Debut in Wictiita<br />
WICHITA—<strong>Boxoffice</strong> receipts at the Fox<br />
Midwest Orpheum and Boulevard theatres<br />
here were boosted for the "The Sundowners"<br />
by the personal appearance of two of the<br />
stars. Chill Wills and John Barrymore Jr.<br />
The two stars made three appearances at<br />
the Orpheum and the house was packed each<br />
time with about 200 people standing. Wills,<br />
who had appeared on the Orpheum stage<br />
some 27 years ago in a little vaudeville act,<br />
had the audience laughing its head off at<br />
his wisecracks. Barrymore also pleased with<br />
his interpretation of the third soliloquy of<br />
Hamlet.<br />
Arrival of the two stars was well publicized<br />
by the local newspapers and radio stations.<br />
The welcoming committee met Wills and<br />
Barrymore in Newton with a fleet of new<br />
Dodge cars and police escort.<br />
Speed Martin, Orpheum manager; Paul<br />
Amick, Boulevard manager, and City Manager<br />
C. C. Murray were hosts at a luncheon<br />
for the two stars. Among the guests were<br />
state and local representatives of the Kansas<br />
peace officers, the mayor, several film representatives<br />
and members of the newspaper<br />
Fire at Tama, Iowa, Mills<br />
Brings Hazard Charges<br />
TAMA. IOWA—A small fire at the Mills<br />
Theatre here brought a series of visits from<br />
firemen and fire marshals to determine<br />
whether the Mills constitutes a fire hazard.<br />
Inspectors said they found six five-gallon<br />
cans of popcorn oil stored in the rear of the<br />
stage. Local firemen said they thought this<br />
constituted a fire hazard. Earlier in the week<br />
townsfolk circulated a petition asking for<br />
action concerning fire dangers at the theatre.<br />
Wes Mansfield, who operates the house,<br />
said he plans to build a new theatre in the<br />
spring. The fire which brought matters to a<br />
head was extinguished quickly. It started on<br />
the roof. The theatre was nearly fuU at the<br />
time but there were no casualties.<br />
Bankruptcy Case Closed<br />
MOBRIDGE, S. D.—The bankruptcy case<br />
of Clarence Ernest John.son. former operator<br />
of the Fox Drive-In here, has been closed<br />
by district court at Sioux Falls by reason<br />
of no assets. The theatre, located a mile<br />
east of town on Highway 12, closed late last<br />
summer after only a few months" operation.<br />
Order your taxation trailers today!<br />
and radio press. The guests of honor were<br />
presented the key to the city, and were made<br />
honorary citizens of Kansas and of the Kansas<br />
peace officers.<br />
In addition to their theatre appearances.<br />
Wills and Barrymore visited the children's<br />
hospitals. Veterans ho.spital, the Institute of<br />
Logopedics and made several radio appearances.<br />
The young "Profile" also was guest<br />
editor for Teen Daze column on the Beacon.<br />
"The Sundowners " held over for a<br />
second week.<br />
The photo shows Wills and Barrymore being<br />
presented with police courtesy cards by<br />
Wichita Chief of Police George Shepard.<br />
Among those pictured are George Wallace,<br />
Wills' manager; H. N. Addison, tour manager;<br />
Lieutenant Clark of the city police; Giles<br />
Crampton, secretary of Kan.sas Peace Officers<br />
Ass'n: Wills, George Shepard, Barrymore and<br />
Prank Daniels, Eagle Lion advance man; Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Gene Snitz, EL manager at Kansas<br />
City; Mr. and Mrs. Al Lies of Wichita, EL<br />
salesman; C. C. Murray, Fox City manager;<br />
Speed Martin, Orpheum manager, and Paul<br />
Amick, Boulevard manager.<br />
IS IT ACTION YOU WANT?<br />
Possibly more theatres are sold through our<br />
offices in the oreas in which we operate than<br />
most other mediums combined. No listing<br />
fee—Multiple service.<br />
HAHRY BUCK FLOYD R. PUFFER<br />
8D4-0S Pence Bldg.. 509 Securities Bldg.<br />
Minneapolis 2, Minn, Des Moines 9, Iowa<br />
R. M. COPELAND<br />
415 Baltimore Bldg.<br />
Kansas City 6. Mo.<br />
V. E. GORHAM<br />
SAVEREIDE THEATRE BROKERS<br />
Largest Exclusive Theatre Brokers in America<br />
Theatre Design, Construction and<br />
Remodeling<br />
F. A. McMICHAEL & SON<br />
GENERAL CONTRACTORS<br />
Osborne, Kansas<br />
NEO-SEAL BURIAL WIRE<br />
Solid or Stranded<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 75
. . R.<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTrrUTE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive information regularly, as released, on<br />
the following subjects lor Theatre Planning:<br />
D Acoustics n Lighting Fixtures<br />
D Air Conditioning<br />
D Plumbing Fixtures<br />
n Architectural Service<br />
D Projectors<br />
D "Black" Lighting<br />
Projection<br />
n<br />
Lamps<br />
Building Material<br />
n Carpets<br />
n Seating<br />
D Coin Machines ^ ^'^ns and Marquees<br />
D Complete Remodeling CI Sound Equipment<br />
n Decorating<br />
Television<br />
D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts<br />
n Drive-In Equipment U Vending Equipment<br />
Other Subjects<br />
Theatre<br />
Sealing Capacity..<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
Stale<br />
Signed<br />
Omaha Police Head Asks<br />
Relaxation of Curfew<br />
OMAHA — Police Chief Fred Pranks has<br />
recommended to the Mayor three ways of<br />
softening the present 10 p. m. curfew for children<br />
under 16. He would:<br />
Extend the present deadline to 10:30 because<br />
"many high school functions don't get<br />
out until after 10."<br />
Not detain children accompanied by any<br />
adult. Present law requires a parent to be<br />
along.<br />
Take away police responsibility of determining<br />
whether to hold violators or their<br />
parents.<br />
Franks has contended enforcement of the<br />
present law puts too much of a load on the<br />
police force. Mayor Cunningham insists on<br />
enforcement.<br />
Alpena. S. D., Pan Theatre<br />
Sold to Edmund Tucker<br />
ALPENA, S. D.—E. E. Brown, owner of the<br />
Pam Theatre, has sold the house to Edmund<br />
Tucker. Brown purchased the theatre about<br />
a year ago. After remodeling and installation<br />
of new equipment, he opened the theatre for<br />
business Feb. 27, 1949. The Browns have not<br />
announced future plans.<br />
Forest Interest Sold<br />
FOREST CITY, IOWA—Mrs. Nettie Brown,<br />
part owner of the Forest Theatre which was<br />
destroyed by fire recently, has sold her interest<br />
in the house to her son Franklin of<br />
San Diego, Calif. The shaky front wall<br />
which remained standing after the fire is<br />
being torn down and the site is being cleared<br />
for construction of a new building this<br />
spring.<br />
Reseat Avalon Theatre<br />
WEST UNION, IOWA—The Avalon here<br />
has installed new seats and a new screen and<br />
shows have been resumed again following a<br />
brief closing for the repairs. The 391 new<br />
seats are of green upholstery with a gray<br />
standard and arms of limed oak. The theatre<br />
also has been repainted and the floors<br />
sanded and resurfaced.<br />
Easter Opening Slated<br />
NEV7TON. KAS.—Lee Sproul and Ray Robertson<br />
plan an Easter Sunday opening for<br />
the new drive -In under construction at the<br />
junction of First street and route 50 here.<br />
The first 20-foot section of the 50-foot allsteel<br />
tower has been erected and the ticket<br />
booth and concession stand have been completed.<br />
Remodel Goodland House<br />
GOODLAND, KAS.—Charles Rees, manager<br />
of the Sherman Theatre, has completed<br />
changes in the seating arrangement at the<br />
house. The rows were placed two inches<br />
farther apart throughout the auditorium.<br />
The theatre also is getting a complete facelifting,<br />
including a new paint job and new red<br />
seat covers.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
'pHE BIJOU Theatre in Pierre, S. D., 22 years<br />
old and the oldest theatre in the state, has<br />
been equipped for sound . . . C. Billow announces<br />
the opening of the new State in Central<br />
City, Neb. . . . Fire destroyed the Drake<br />
Avenue Tlieatre in Centerville, Iowa, recently<br />
. . . J. E. Garrison is the new Universal manager<br />
at Minneapolis, succeeding L. G. Ross.<br />
Garrison came from Universal's Albany, N. Y.,<br />
sales staff . . . A. H. Blank recently sold his<br />
Omaha theatre holdings to Publix and is<br />
building up an independent circuit in Iowa.<br />
Al Haynle has succeeded C. Miller as manager<br />
of the RKO Seventh Street Theatre in<br />
Minneapolis. The theatre is now a de luxe<br />
film house after a vaudeville-film policy.<br />
Haynie has been operating the Terrace Theatre<br />
in Danville, 111. . . . Harry Melcher, Pox<br />
manager in Omaha, has been transferred to<br />
the Milwaukee Pox office, as manager.<br />
Leo J. Doty, UA office manager in Kansas<br />
City, has been transferred to the New Orleans<br />
branch and is succeeded by E. P. O'Neill,<br />
erstwhile film salesman in the Kansas City<br />
territory ...CD. Bell has resigned from<br />
his position as general manager of the Glen<br />
W. Dickinson Theatres of Kansas City. He<br />
has another position in Los Angeles . . . For<br />
the fourth time, the Uptown Theatre in Kansas<br />
City was robbed recently. Between $3,000<br />
and S4.000 was taken by four bandits ... At<br />
the risk of his own life, Frank Young, Negro<br />
doorman at Fox Midwest MUler Theatre in<br />
Wichita, captured two bandits who sought to<br />
rob the theatre recently. Both robbers were<br />
armed. Young has been in the same post<br />
for 17 years.<br />
• •<br />
Complete rebuilding of the Crystal Theatre<br />
in Ottawa. Kas., Is planned by the Midland<br />
Theatre and Realty Co.<br />
Richard and Luther Day of Centerville,<br />
Iowa, have filed suits totaling $20,250 against<br />
the mayor of the city for arresting them on<br />
two consecutive Sundays on charges of running<br />
a show without a city license. The Days<br />
were acquitted<br />
. W. Steen, whose Atlantic<br />
Theatre in Atlantic, Iowa, burned recently.<br />
Is to rebuild. O. C. Johnson, manager<br />
of the wrecked showhouse, and of the Strand<br />
of Atlantic, made the announcement.<br />
New Lesdan Opened<br />
FOSSTON, MINN.—The new Lesdan Theatre<br />
has been opened here by Sebco, Inc.,<br />
designer and builder of the house. The interior<br />
of the Lesdan is ornamented by blacklighted<br />
murals of Walt Disney characters.<br />
Delbert Rich created and painted the murals.<br />
Seating capacity of the house is 401.<br />
Theatreman Heads Club<br />
EXTRA, IOWA—Raymond Jeanotte, Kozy<br />
Theatre owner, has been named new president<br />
of the Exira Commercial club.<br />
Postage-paid reply cords for your further convenience<br />
in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN<br />
THEATRE RED KEY SECTION (Nov. 19, 1949).<br />
New Seats for Beloit<br />
BELOrr, KAS—Manager Chett Posey has<br />
installed new seats at the Beloit Theatre<br />
here. The Beloit seats 600 persons.<br />
Collect $40 1 for Dimes Drive<br />
OTTAWA, KAS.—The Plaza and Tauy theatres<br />
here collected a total of $401.98 for the<br />
March of Dimes.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950
William Walker Dies;<br />
Exhibitor at Crafton<br />
PITTSBURGH—William J. Walker, 51.<br />
Crafton exhibitor for nearly a score of years,<br />
died Sunday (26) in<br />
Presbyterian hospital<br />
as the result of a heart<br />
attack. In poor health<br />
in recent years, he suffered<br />
a heart condition<br />
and some months<br />
ago was dangerously<br />
prior to and following<br />
ill.<br />
two<br />
operations.<br />
Three Antitrust Suits<br />
On Cleveland Docket<br />
CLEVELAND—Two antitrust suits against<br />
distributors are on file in federal court here<br />
and a third soon will be filed. Two suits<br />
filing, is by the Tuscarawas Amusement Co.,<br />
headed by the Wintner Bros, of Cleveland<br />
and involving the State Theatre, Uhrichsville.<br />
Named as defendants are all distributors and<br />
the Shea's Theatre of New Philadelphia.<br />
Motorist Ruins Theatre Lawn<br />
AKRON—An errant motorist tore up the<br />
lawn of the Lyn Theatre. G. A. Spayne,<br />
owner, said the motorist apparently lost his<br />
way and drove around the lawn and landscaping,<br />
making ruts six inches deep and<br />
causing damage estimated at $200.<br />
Independent Theatremen<br />
Seek Voice in TV Heating<br />
Nightingales Hold<br />
25th Banquet-Ball<br />
DETROIT—The Nightingales, pioneer bowling<br />
organization of Filmrow, celebrated Its<br />
25th anniversary at the Labor temple with<br />
a banquet and ball. Scheduled at the traditional<br />
midnight hour, after the Nightingales<br />
finished work, it drew a good turnout of<br />
members and friends.<br />
Associated with the<br />
for theatre television.<br />
amusement industry<br />
Morris F. Finkel, western Pennsylvania<br />
for a quarter-of-acentury.<br />
Walker was<br />
chairman, made reports on the recent na-<br />
Allied president, and Fred A. Beedle, board<br />
William J. Walker ^ son of the late Harry<br />
tional Allied directors meeting. Norman Mervis,<br />
grievance committee chairman, discussed<br />
C. Walker, who used the name Harry Williams Event was entirely informal, with no<br />
on the stage and as operator of the old Academy<br />
of Music here for many years. An Al-<br />
National Screen prices, services and contracts<br />
speeches. A number of guests were introduced<br />
by President Welber Haartge<br />
and reported that 70 local exhibitors have<br />
in the only<br />
lied MPTO director for a number of terms.<br />
formal part of the evening. Guests included<br />
allowed their trailer and accessory contracts<br />
Bill was a stage entertainer in his youth. His<br />
to Roy Ruben,<br />
expire without renewal.<br />
secretary of lATSE Local 199;<br />
brother Harry, who had been his partner in<br />
Mr. and First exhibition of the Zenith phonevision<br />
Mrs. George McArthur; Clarence<br />
business, was killed in an automobile accident<br />
several years ago.<br />
Williamson, manager of National Theatre 16mm reel was revealing to many of the<br />
Supply; W. C. Kunzmann, National Carbon<br />
theatre owners. The picture shows how television<br />
In recent weeks Bill had made nearly daily<br />
Co., and two guests from<br />
cut into theatre receipts and how<br />
Cleveland—Tom<br />
visits to the film market. From all appearances,<br />
his health had been greatly improved. of Local 160, and Michael television, Sawdo,<br />
Fitzgerald, secretary of the bowling league<br />
phonevision, a combination of telephone and<br />
plans to bring unscrambled motion<br />
vice-president<br />
of the local.<br />
Walker owned and operated two theatres at<br />
pictures into the homes of telephone subscribers<br />
who are equipped with television<br />
(Safton and was a partner with Harry Rachlele<br />
in operation of two theatres at Sharps-<br />
Russell Johnson Theatrical post, and from receivers.<br />
Wires of congratulation were read from<br />
burg. Surviving are his wife Elizabeth and Mrs. Harry Brewer, widow of the first president<br />
of the club. Dancing followed until<br />
a son William H., associated in the theatres,<br />
who is coftipletlng his senior year in the law nearly daylight, to the music of Fred Crissey's<br />
orchestra.<br />
school at the University of Pittsburgh. Services<br />
were held March 1 In his home, 59 Bradford<br />
Ave., Crafton, and burial was in Union at the first banquet a quarter century ago<br />
There were ten members who had been<br />
Dale cemetery.<br />
and who are still active as members—Floyd<br />
H. Akins, Elmer C. Biehl, Ray W. Gagnon,<br />
Sherman J. Lambly. C. C. Moroney. Houston<br />
S. Morton. James W. Padfield, Joseph A.<br />
Sullivan, W. J. "Pop" Stolz and N. J. "Mike"<br />
Oreel. Committee for the event included<br />
Edgar Douville, chairman, Leo Brooks and<br />
Jack Yelllch.<br />
have been filed by drive-in owners and one<br />
by the owner of an indoor theatre. All seek<br />
"equitable clearance" and charge monopoly Court Orders Inspection<br />
In Harlan Theatre<br />
nials of clearance.<br />
Case<br />
The Castle National Theatres Corp., headed LEXINGTON, KY.—An order permitting<br />
on the part of the distributors through de-<br />
by Horace Abrams, filed suit several months<br />
ago in Chicago naming eight distributor-defendants.<br />
inspection of the defendant's theatre records<br />
by attorneys for distributors has been signed<br />
In the suit the Euclid Drive-In by U.S. Judge H. Church Ford in three per-<br />
on Route 20 and the Fairview Drive-In in centage suits brought by Columbia, United<br />
Pairview Park Village seek the availability Artists and U-I. The court dismissed a defendant<br />
currently granted to neighborhood houses, 21<br />
motion to dismiss the suit for lack<br />
or 35 days downtown first run. The action of federal jurisdiction and to compel more<br />
was transferred to the court here at the request<br />
particulars on the claims.<br />
of the distributors.<br />
An order also was signed by Judge Ford<br />
The second suit was filed by the Maumee<br />
Drive-In, Maumee, Ohio, .seeking .second run<br />
consolidating the three cases as having common<br />
questions of law and fact.<br />
availability 28 days after first runs in Toledo.<br />
The defendant is P>rice Coomer, operator<br />
The third action, in preparation for of the New Harlan Theatre,<br />
Harlan.<br />
Filmmen at Monroe<br />
Answer Check Charge<br />
MONROE, MICH.—Harold Erickson, director,<br />
and Ray Pierson, producer of Miramar<br />
Films, Inc.. returned from Los Angeles with<br />
Prosecutor R. N. Sawyer and a deputy sheriff<br />
to face a charge of is.suing a non-funds check<br />
in connection with the filming here last year<br />
of "The Spark," starring Harold Lloyd jr.<br />
and Cathy Downs.<br />
PITTSBURGH—More than 100 independent<br />
theatre owners, attending a meeting at<br />
Allied's Filmrow headquarters Tuesday afternoon,<br />
authorized Abram F. Myers and John<br />
P. Clagett to represent them as counsel in<br />
applying to the Federal Communications<br />
Commission for the purpose of being heard<br />
in connection with allocations for channels<br />
Operation of Theatres<br />
Denied Kentucky Cities<br />
FRANKFORT, KY.—Cities in Kentucky<br />
lack the authority to operate motion picture<br />
theatres, according to a ruling by Assistant<br />
Attorney General H. D. Reed jr. He wrote<br />
Mayor G. W. Wallace of Hartford that cities<br />
have only the powers granted by the general<br />
assembly. Kentucky's lawmaking body has<br />
never given its cities authority to go into<br />
the motion picture field, he said.<br />
Mayor Wallace had written that the Hartford<br />
lease of a first floor of the city hall to<br />
a theatre operator was about to expire. He<br />
added that municipal ownership was being<br />
considered.<br />
Jim Salmans Wins Award<br />
In Warner Contests<br />
CLEVELAND—Jim Salmans, manager of<br />
the Sixth Street Theatre, Coshocton, won the<br />
January award, a Gruen automatic wrist<br />
watch, in the three-month exploitation and<br />
promotion Warners Ohio zone contest. The<br />
prizes are awarded on the basis of increased<br />
gross over the corresponding month of the<br />
previous year with manager's promotional effort<br />
taken into consideration. Judges were<br />
Nat Wolf, Ohio zone manager; J. Knox<br />
Strachan, publicity director, and R. H. Knepton,<br />
contact manager.<br />
Film Firm to New Offices<br />
DETROIT—Detroit film prodvicer Henning<br />
& Cheadl-- , which specializes in television and<br />
other commercial outlets, has moved to new<br />
quarters at 1060 West Fort St. The new location<br />
gives them 12,000 square feet of space,<br />
including a 3,500 -square foot stage, located<br />
so that cars may be driven on it for automotive<br />
films.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 ME 77
. . . LaVerne<br />
j'<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
Q,eorge Turlukis, who operates the RossvUle<br />
Theatre in Hamilton, and his associates<br />
are constructing a drive-in on Route 4 just<br />
inside the city limits there for a spring<br />
opening. Midwest Theatre Supply is furnishing<br />
equipment . . Midwest Supply has<br />
.<br />
arranged a very attractive display showing<br />
the location and photos of the nine driveins<br />
around Cincinnati in the window of the<br />
downtown Union Tnist Co. bank.<br />
The Cozy Theatre in Cedarville has been<br />
sold to Sidney Price of Daj^ton. effective<br />
March 1. by Nelson Creswell . . Jerome<br />
.<br />
Jackson jr. is booking and buying for his<br />
Happy Hour Theatre in Williamsburg as well<br />
as for his drive-in . . . Lev Bugie. Film Classics<br />
manager, was called to Parkersburg, W.<br />
Va., by the death of Mrs. Bugle's father.<br />
William Gamer is now West Virginia salesman<br />
Rube Perlman,<br />
for Eagle Lion . . .<br />
EL. was in town . . . Patsy Martin replaced<br />
Mary Ann Younger as secretary at Monogram.<br />
. . . Fred Myers,<br />
Northio Theatres Corp. is rebuilding its<br />
Sorg Theatre. Mlddletown. which was damaged<br />
by fire last year. It will be renamed<br />
child.<br />
the Colonial . . . Rita Holman has joined<br />
Paramount as office manager's secretary,<br />
replacing Katherine Taylor, transferred to<br />
the contract department<br />
Dayton salesman for Paramount, was confined<br />
to his bed by pleurisy . . . David<br />
Sturm. Paramount shipper, resigned and was<br />
replaced by Ed Heck, a newcomer.<br />
About 150 film and theatremen attended<br />
the installation dinner of the Colosseum of<br />
Motion Picture Salesmen loge at the 'Variety<br />
Clubrooms. Maurice White was toastmaster<br />
and speakers were John "Socko"<br />
Wiethe and Carson Hoy. Installed were<br />
Manuel J. Trautenberg. president: Ross WUliams.<br />
first vice-president: Morton Perlman.<br />
second vice-president: Frank Schrelber. secretary,<br />
and Manny Naegel. treasurer.<br />
F. J. A. McCarthy, southern and Canadian<br />
sales manager for U-I, conferred with<br />
eUTSTANOINC CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ENCINEEftINC<br />
WE nWITE YOU<br />
to look over both the Indoor and Drive-ln<br />
theatres we currently hove under construction.<br />
VOGEL BUILDING COMPANY<br />
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THEATRE SEATS<br />
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1507 W. Erby Detroit 8. Mich.<br />
Phon«: TYlsr 7-8015<br />
District Manager Peter Roslan here . . . The<br />
Robert Buchmans i<br />
student salesman at U-Ii<br />
announce the adoption of a baby daughter,<br />
two weeks old.<br />
Visitors on the Row Included Bud GUllam.<br />
WB at Cleveland: Price Coomer. Harlan.<br />
Ky.: Don Reda, London. Ky.: Fred Helwlg.<br />
Charleston, W. 'Va.: Julian Sllberstein.<br />
Huntington, W. 'Va.: G. C. Porter. Beckley.<br />
W. 'Va.: George Turlukis. Hamilton: M. M.<br />
Dorsey. Johnstown . . . Abe Hyman of<br />
Huntington is in St. Mar>''s hospital there<br />
after a heart attack.<br />
J. R. Neth, exhibitor at Columbus, and<br />
his wife passed through here on a tour<br />
which will include South America . . . Malcolm<br />
Scott, RKO home office 16mm department,<br />
was at the local branch . . . Ruth<br />
Huelsman, secretary to S. C. Jacques, was<br />
home ill several days.<br />
Lester Rosenfeld, owner of the Hi Lawn<br />
Theatre, St. Albans, W. 'Va.. and Frank Litton,<br />
Charleston municipal judge, who are<br />
touring Mexico, were joined last week by<br />
Harry McHaffie. operator of the Marmet<br />
Theatre, Marmet, W. 'Va. The trio wiU visit<br />
Guatemala before returning to Florida for<br />
Frank Schrelber. city salesman<br />
a rest . . .<br />
for TJ-I, and wife are receiving congratulations<br />
on the arrival of a son. their seventh<br />
The RKO inspection department was<br />
streamlined with the arrival of the new<br />
electric inspection machines . . Heywood<br />
.<br />
Mltchisson. U-I booker, has a new baby<br />
daughter, his second cluld . . . Ray Moon.<br />
20th-Fox division manager, was at the local<br />
exchange.<br />
J. P. Ware, vice-president of Midwest Theatre<br />
Supply, was expected home from Florida<br />
Nueslein. bookkeeper at Midwest,<br />
will wed Lloyd Zoellner April 29 at<br />
the St. William's church. Price Hill . . Mike<br />
.<br />
Vance of the Linden Theatre. Hamilton, is<br />
redecorating the house.<br />
Altec Service has signed contracts with the<br />
Roxy Theatre. Caldwell, Ohio, owned by Mrs.<br />
Flelhman; Star. Delaware, which recently<br />
was bought by Ray Watts from the Schine<br />
circuit, and the Shubert. Cincinnati, owned<br />
by Robert J. Llbson and Maurice White . . .<br />
Because of the continued coal strike, the<br />
Gallagher Theatre. Gallagher. W. Va.. and<br />
the Bardo in Bardo. Ky.. are closed. L. T.<br />
Kaho has advised the exchanges that he has<br />
closed the Look Theatre. West Alexandria,<br />
Ohio. Indefinitely.<br />
Order your taxation trailers todav!<br />
MID-WEST THEATRE SUPPLY CO., Inc.<br />
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LOUISVILLE<br />
Recording to the Kentucky Ass'n of Theatre<br />
Owners the following theatres have<br />
been added to the membership roll: Center<br />
and Blelch, Owensboro, and the Fulton, Fulton.<br />
All three theatres are reported owned<br />
and operated by the Tenarken Paramount<br />
Corp. of Memphis . , . Bills introduced in the<br />
general assembly included house bill 313 by<br />
Henry C. Hale. Floyd, to repeal the statute<br />
section fixing the hours of operation of places<br />
of entertainment.<br />
SI.20 top . . .<br />
Robert Enoch, owner and manager of the<br />
State and Grand and the Star-Lite Driveln<br />
at Elizabethtown. has returned there following<br />
an extensive Florida vacation . . .<br />
Hamlet" returned to Louisville at the Crescent,<br />
a suburban subsequent run theatre at<br />
Although Louisville's population<br />
has gained considerably in the last<br />
few years, it has been noted that not a single<br />
new indoor theatre has been built here in<br />
approximately eight years. Several drive-ins.<br />
however, have been constructed with more<br />
in the planning stages.<br />
Exhibitors on the Row recently included<br />
R. L. Gaines. Riverview Drive-ln. Carrollton:<br />
A. O. Perkins jr., Lynn, Woodbine;<br />
A. N. Miles. Eminence, Eminence: Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Harry Walsh, Pic, Scottsburg, Ind.: Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Tex Richards. State. Crothersville.<br />
Ind.: A. H. Robertson. Majestic. Springfield:<br />
Eric Hammel, Shelby & Burley Theatres,<br />
Shelbyville: Hugh Kessler, Pal, Palmyra,<br />
Ind., and George Lindsay. Lindsay, Brownsville<br />
. . . Walter Wood of the Kenwood<br />
Drive-ln here retiu-ned from a brief vacation<br />
in Florida.<br />
Gene Lutes, Chakeres district manager,<br />
Frankfort, attended the Ohio Valley Conference<br />
Basketball tournament at the Jefferson<br />
county armory here . . . Jack Behlke<br />
of the Monograph Co.. Chicago, spent several<br />
days here checking drive-in installations<br />
. , , Also visiting was L. R. Smith, former<br />
owner and manager of the Pekin Theatre,<br />
Pekin, Ind.<br />
The state revenue department has completed<br />
a one and one-half-minute film in<br />
color on the Kentucky Income tax. telling<br />
taxpayers how their income tax money is<br />
spent. The short is scheduled to be run in<br />
the Kentucky theatres prior to the April 15<br />
deadline for filing state income tax. The<br />
film was produced for the department of<br />
revenue and wUl be shown in cooperation<br />
with the Kentucky Ass'n of Theatre Owners.<br />
A special preview of the film was presented<br />
in the Model Theatre of the Falls City Theatre<br />
Equipment Co. According to commissioner<br />
of revenue. H. Clyde Reeves, while the<br />
picture is a reminder for income taxpayers,<br />
it also assumes that government has the<br />
responsibility of showing the taxpayer what<br />
happens to his money after he pays it.<br />
While the Kenwood Drive-ln here was the<br />
first ozoner to stay open the year 'round,<br />
running on weekends during the extreme<br />
winter months, it seems that Lou Arru of<br />
the Skynay Drive-In got a head start on<br />
reopening, by opening his Skyway Friday<br />
i24\ with the same policy prevailing of two<br />
shows nightly, with adults 49 cents at all<br />
times and children under 12 free.<br />
78 BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950
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HERE ARE A FEW OF ITS OUTSTAND-<br />
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• Overall size: 50 ft. x 44 ft.<br />
if Screen size: 44 ft. x 33 ft.<br />
A" AH 4 sides covered and painted.<br />
-^ High tower wings as shown.<br />
^ Greater resistance to wind: 30<br />
P Free standing steel tower (no guy<br />
wires).<br />
pounds per square foot, equivalent ^^ 2-line 24 ft. lighted Wagner attrac<br />
to 83 M.P.H. turbulent flow or 95 tion board.<br />
•it Screen surface is of asbestos board. M.P.H. streamline flow.<br />
if Immediate construction. if Ready for the picture . . . nothing else to buy!<br />
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Each drive-in is "personalized" to take best advantage of surrounding<br />
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Service backed by experience that saves you money.<br />
We contract at a fixed price to completely design and build your<br />
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Bond furnished if desired. First mortgage money to responsible<br />
SATISFIED OWNERS<br />
job Is complete including plans: engineering; .screen tower with bi<br />
screen ieature; ticket booth; grading of ramps; surfacing road; projecti< n booth;<br />
plumbing; cement block concession stand; moonlite pole; Century projectors,<br />
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'<br />
Variety of Detroit<br />
Appoints Jack Zide<br />
DETTROIT—Manager Jack Zide of Allied<br />
Film Exchange has been named chief barker<br />
of the Variety Club of Michigan filling the<br />
vacancy left by the recent death of Charles<br />
C. Perry. Harry Gilbert, theatrical concessioner,<br />
has been named first assistant chief<br />
barker. The post of second assistant will be<br />
left vacant.<br />
Two posts on the board of directors also<br />
were filled. M. P. Gowthorpe, president of<br />
Butterfield, and Adolph Goldberg of Community<br />
Theatres, were named to the posts.<br />
These vacancies were brought about by Perry's<br />
death and Sam Carver's resignation.<br />
DELUXE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
* BRENKERT PROJECTORS<br />
* RCA SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
* RCA RECTIFIERS<br />
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BRENKERT LAMPS<br />
* INTERNATIONAL CHAIRS<br />
* MOHAWK CARPET<br />
*HORSTMAN MARQUEES<br />
*ADLER LETTERS<br />
* CENTURY GENERATORS<br />
*KOLDRINK BARS<br />
•STAR POPCORN MACHINES<br />
* NEUMADE PRODUCTS<br />
COINOMETER CHANGERS<br />
* STAGE EQUIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR<br />
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ERNIE FORBES<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Film Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.<br />
Days<br />
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Nights<br />
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DETROIT<br />
TJobert L. Rogers of the Dale, who now lives<br />
in Farmington, wants to move closer into<br />
town . and Mrs. Martin H. Popielarski<br />
are renovating and rebuilding prestige at the<br />
newly acquired Forest . Korman has<br />
redecorated and refurbished the Greenwood.<br />
Clarence Williamson of NTS put in Peerless<br />
Magnarc lamps and Simplex projectors<br />
Burdicker of the Madison has<br />
bought a new home on Ferguson avenue,<br />
while his partner Ira Rottell is busy redecorating<br />
his place.<br />
. . . Robert<br />
John Goossen of the Madison has bought<br />
a new Chevrolet Roy Ruben, wife<br />
.<br />
of the Fox operator, is visiting in New York<br />
Larsen, a captain for Northwest<br />
Airlines, was in town vacationing with<br />
his dad Hans of the Madison<br />
Moesta of the Stratford is the father of a<br />
new baby girl Carol Ann . . . Freddie Tripp,<br />
stepson of Welber Haartge of the Midtown,<br />
also is a new father.<br />
. . . Mike Simon,<br />
Bernadette Schneider of the Stratford is<br />
convalescing after an operation . . . Joseph<br />
J. Lee, 20th-Fox manager, is vacationing for<br />
three weeks in Florida<br />
Paramount manager at Buffalo, will replace<br />
H. Edward Stuckey, who now is with the<br />
Butterfield circuit.<br />
Arthur damage will reopen the Gayety<br />
March 16, moving policy and personnel over<br />
from the Avenue which will be torn down<br />
Rubin of the Lake and City at<br />
Benton Harbor was a local visitor, unhappy<br />
to find Washington's birthday was a holiday<br />
on the Row . C. McClelland's new<br />
Gold Front at Cheboygan is slated to open<br />
about May 1.<br />
Murray Devaney of RKO will come here<br />
from Montreal to take over as branch manager.<br />
He is the son of Leo Devaney, former<br />
Universal district manager. He succeeds Hatton<br />
Taylor, who is going east to take over<br />
the Boston exchange . . . Charles Moses and<br />
Edward Dowden, promotion men for Eagle<br />
Lion, were local visitors . . . George E. Marr,<br />
who has managed the Marr and Royal at<br />
Saginaw for some time, has taken over active<br />
operation following the recent death of his<br />
father.<br />
G. E. Leveque, head of Cinema Service, is<br />
in the hospital for a couple of weeks for an<br />
operation, leaving Manager Al Boyer in<br />
charge . McArthur of McArthur<br />
Theatre Supply is installing complete projection<br />
equipment in the Grosse Pointe High<br />
school and the Cranbrook Boys school . . .<br />
Wilfred Mevis, Republic head shipper, doubles<br />
at the Dexter nights.<br />
Seek Fund in Ascap Fight<br />
COLUMBUS—p. J. Wood, secretary of the<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, in his<br />
most recent bulletin to ITOO members reminds<br />
them that it was through the efforts<br />
of national Allied that the Ascap tax was<br />
ruled illegal and that, in order to fulfill a<br />
commitment to attorneys who brought about<br />
this relief, exhibitors are asked to contribute<br />
one-half of the fees paid Ascap during 1947.<br />
Send checks to P. J. Wood, Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Ohio, 55 East State St.. Columbus,<br />
Ohio.<br />
—<br />
—<br />
Detroit Trade Soft;<br />
'Samson' in Front<br />
DETROIT—Business continued downwards<br />
here. "Samson and Delilah" continued to<br />
lead the Rialto in its fifth week. The poor<br />
showing of "Stromboli" was further evidence<br />
of the general trend. Detail for week ending<br />
February 23:<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Adcnns—Battleground (MGM), 5th wk.- 70<br />
Cinema Symphoiue Pastorale (Films Int'l), 2nd<br />
wk 70<br />
Downtown—Arnbush (MGM); Cry Murder (FC),<br />
2nd wk 70<br />
Fox—Twelve O'Clodc High (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 110<br />
Madison—Samson and Delilah (Para), 5th wk 120<br />
Michigan—Chain Ughtning (WB) 90<br />
Palms-State StromboU (RKO) - 95<br />
Paradise—Deputy Marshal (LP), 2nd run, plus<br />
stage show _ 105<br />
United Artists— Mrs. Mik« (UA); Satan's Cradle<br />
(UA) 100<br />
Snow and Cold Cut Trade<br />
At Houses in Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—The first heavy snow of the<br />
winter hit boxoffice trade over the weekend.<br />
Continued cold kept many regular theatre patrons<br />
at home. "My Foolish Heart" closed<br />
a successful five-week run at the Esquire<br />
still drawing heavily. The only other films<br />
chalking up better than average business<br />
were "Samson and Delilah," in its fourth<br />
stanza at the Stillman, and "When Willie<br />
Comes Marching Home" at the Allen.<br />
Allen—When Willie Comes Marching Home<br />
(2Gth-Fox) _ 105<br />
Esquire—My FooUsh Heart (RKO), 5th wk 200<br />
Hippodrome—Chain Lightning (WB) 95<br />
Lower Mall—The Bicycle Thief (M-B) 100<br />
Ohio—Sands of Iwo lima (Rep), 2nd d. t. wk 85<br />
Palace—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. 85<br />
Slaie-Ambush (MGM) 90<br />
Snilman Samson and Delilah (Para), advanced<br />
prices, 4th wk 135<br />
"Samson' Shows Strength<br />
In Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS — "Samson and DeUlah"<br />
led the city with a 250 per cent gross at<br />
Keith's. Tying in the first place spot was a<br />
stage show, Jimmy Dickens, Country Boy. at<br />
the Lyric with "Blonde Dynamite" on the<br />
screen.<br />
Circle—The Hasty Heail (WB), They Live by Night<br />
(RKO) _ 95<br />
Indiana-Sliomboli (RKO); The Tattooed Stronger<br />
(RKO) _._ 75<br />
_<br />
Keith's^-Somson and Delilah (Para), advanced<br />
- prices - 250<br />
Loews Mrs. Mike (UA); The Daring Caballero<br />
(UA) 100<br />
Lyric—Blonde Dynamite (Mono), plus stage show. 250<br />
'Malaya' and "Willie' Turn<br />
In Top Cincinnati Figures<br />
CINCINNATI—"Malaya" and "When Willie<br />
Comes Marching Home" were top grossers<br />
last week.<br />
Albee—Montana (WB) 90<br />
Capitol Wben Willie Comes Marching Home<br />
(2Qth-Fox) 140<br />
Grand-Battleground (MGM), 4th wk. 100,<br />
Keith s—Malaya (MGM) 150<br />
_<br />
Lyric—Guilty of Treason (EL), 2nd d. t. wk 90<br />
Palace—StromboU (RKO) 100<br />
Shuberl—Stormy Weather (20th-Fox), reissue 100<br />
"Willie' Rates High 130<br />
At Pittsburgh Fulton<br />
PITTSBURGH—With only two new fUm<br />
attractions on view, the Fulton had the winner<br />
in "When Willie Comes Marching Home.<br />
Fullon—When Willie Comes Marching Home<br />
(20lh-Fox) - 130<br />
Hams—All the King's Men (Col), 2nd wk 80<br />
Penn—Battleground (MGM), 3rd wk _ 85<br />
Stanley—The Oullow (RKO), 2nd wk 85<br />
Warner-Backfire (WB) 85<br />
80 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
Kentucky Pastor Asks<br />
Repeal of State Tax<br />
WARSAW, KY.—The Rev. T. H. Tinsley,<br />
former speaker of the house and a native of<br />
Warsaw, joined Kentucky theatre owners in<br />
pleading for repeal of the state amusement<br />
tax. He introduced a bill in the Kentucky<br />
lower house declaring that an "admissions<br />
tax is unfair to the people who find in the<br />
movies an economical means of entertainment<br />
and enlightenment."<br />
"In other fields of taxation the authorities<br />
have sought to place the burden on those<br />
best able to pay. but this tax is a flat tax<br />
that penalizes large families. The tax is<br />
discriminatory, for every theatre owner in the<br />
U.S. already is paying all the taxes levied<br />
on business enterprises generally.<br />
"The state tax was levied by the Chandler<br />
administration for the express purpose of retiring<br />
the state debt and it was promised<br />
to be repealed as soon as the debt was<br />
retired. We now have a surplus,<br />
"Movies are not a luxury. In the American<br />
way of life a moderate amount of relaxation<br />
is recognized to be necessary and motion pictures<br />
provide the maximum entertainment<br />
at the lowest cost."<br />
United Detroit Circuit<br />
Sues on Chain Store Tax<br />
DETROIT—Suit has been filed in Wayne<br />
county cuTuit court by United Detroit Theatres<br />
maintaining that the Michigan state<br />
chain store tax should not apply to refreshment<br />
concessions. The circuit contends that<br />
the state chain store tax should not apply<br />
to concessions operated by the theatre chain<br />
itself in some sixteen theatres, mainly as a<br />
service to customers, and not primarily for<br />
a profit. The circuit has been subject to tax<br />
for the last six years and under protest a<br />
total of $5,220 was paid.<br />
Temporary injunction has been granted by<br />
Circuit Judge Chester P. Ohara restraining<br />
the state from collecting the $970 for the<br />
present fiscal year. Case will be heard March<br />
3.<br />
TOLEDO<br />
The first vaudeville bill at the Paramount<br />
was so well attended that the theatre<br />
scheduled a second eight-act bill to open<br />
March 23 for four days . . . Outlook for legitimate<br />
attractions in Toledo is better, too, said<br />
David Nederlander. Detroit, who manages the<br />
Town Hall here as well as the Shubert<br />
Lafayette in Detroit. "Private Lives," last<br />
stage offering in Toledo, sold out every seat<br />
in the 1,180-seat house for every performance,<br />
establishing a new three-day record<br />
gross for the house. The week's record is<br />
still held by native son Joe E. Brown, who<br />
played here in "Harvey."<br />
When Bosley Crowther, film critic and motion<br />
picture editor of the New York Times,<br />
came to Toledo to talk on the Town Hall<br />
lecture series Saturday recently. Mrs. Flora<br />
Ware Hineline invited several local theatre<br />
managers to have lunch with Crowther after<br />
the lecture. These included Howard Feigley<br />
of the Rivoli, Jack Armstrong of the Schwyn<br />
circuit, Giles Robb of the Princess, Edward<br />
Bush of the State, Abe Ludacer of Loew's<br />
Valentine, and Jack Lykes, Colony.<br />
Mrs. Magdalene Rihacek, 63, owner and<br />
operator of the Tivoli since 1927, died recently.<br />
She was known to friends and patrons<br />
of the theatre as "Maggie," and was<br />
one of the first women exhibitors in Toledo,<br />
continuing operation of the house run<br />
by her husband when she became a widow<br />
with seven youngsters to support. She lived<br />
in Toledo for 49 years, and was a native of<br />
Czechoslovakia.<br />
The Variety Club gave a testimonial dinner<br />
for ex-Chief Barker Jack Lykes in the<br />
Willard hotel on St. Valentine's day.<br />
Somerset Permit Denied<br />
SOMERSET. KY.—An application for a<br />
drive-in theatre near here has been denied<br />
by Circuit Judge R. C. Tartar. Opposition to<br />
the proposed theatre was expressed by religious<br />
groups and rural residents. It was<br />
the third time in three years that such an<br />
application was denied. H. E. Otto, Danville,<br />
filed the application for the theatre<br />
to be built just outside Somerset on Highway<br />
80-E.<br />
Now Is the Time to Order<br />
usAIRco<br />
Cooling Units<br />
Giant Post Card Mailed<br />
To Protest Ticket Tax<br />
CLEVELAND—Harold "Bud" Friedman,<br />
manager of Warners' Vogue, a de luxe neighborhood<br />
house in the exclusive Shaker<br />
Heights residential suburb, mailed a giant<br />
30x40-inch card to Congressman Prances P.<br />
Bolton containing signatures of patrons asking<br />
for repeal of the 20 per cent amusement<br />
tax. This is the largest piece of mail ever<br />
stamped at the Shaker post office.<br />
Forwards Petitions Daily<br />
PORT HURON, MICH.—Cyral A. Dailey,<br />
manager of the Desmond Theatre, reports he<br />
has collected more than 1,000 petitions against<br />
the federal amusement tax, all signed by patrons,<br />
and sent them to Jesse P. Wolcott in<br />
Washington, congressman from this district.<br />
He forwards the signed cards daily.<br />
2.500 Cords Signed<br />
BATTLE CREEK. IVHCH.-More than 2,500<br />
patrons of the Regent and Bijou have signed<br />
cards petitioning for the repeal of the amusement<br />
tax.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950 81
: Heywood<br />
Memo TO:<br />
Smart Buyers<br />
THE PRICELESS<br />
INGREDIENT<br />
In the city of Bagdad lived Hakeem<br />
the wise one, and many people went to<br />
him lor counsel, which he gave freely<br />
to all asking nothing in return.<br />
There came to him a young man who<br />
had spent much but got little and said:<br />
"Tell me. Wise One, what shall I do<br />
Detroit 'Stromboli' Date<br />
Gets a Week, Under Par<br />
DETROIT—Theatre patrons in Detroit<br />
were commended for "native good sense" for<br />
failure to support "Stromboli" with heavy<br />
patronage by the Michigan Catholic.<br />
The picture, playing at the Palms-State<br />
Theatre, lasted only a week, playing to belownormal<br />
business.<br />
Pointing out that "spectacular protests<br />
more often have the effect of sending prurient-minded<br />
persons to the theatre than of<br />
keeping decent people away" the editor congratulated<br />
Detroiters that "no large scale<br />
demonstration was raised." Only incident<br />
was on opening night when about a dozen<br />
pickets appeared for some 10 minutes and<br />
then disappeared without being identified.<br />
CLEVELAND—"Stromboli" opened at the<br />
Palace to 25 per cent better than average<br />
business but attendance fell off chiefly because<br />
of bad weather, with the heaviest snowstorm<br />
of the winter and warnings of dangerous<br />
driving by the Auto club. All three<br />
local critics panned the pictiu-e. It was not<br />
held over.<br />
Team<br />
National<br />
BOWLING<br />
to receive the most for that which I<br />
spend?"<br />
Hakeem answered: "A thing that is<br />
bought or sold has no value unless it<br />
contains that which cannot be bought<br />
or sold. Look for The Priceless Ingredient."<br />
"But what is the Priceless Ingredient?"<br />
asked the young man.<br />
Spoke then the Wise One: "My Son,<br />
the Priceless Ingredient of every product<br />
in the market place is the Honor and<br />
Integrity of him who makes it. Consider<br />
his name before you buy."<br />
Those "In The Know"<br />
Buy EMBRO<br />
•<br />
White & Yellow Hybrids<br />
•<br />
j<br />
AKRON—The city council voted 8 to 5<br />
against banning "Stromboli." arguing that a<br />
ban would give additional publicity to the<br />
film, which was booked at the Palace here.<br />
Also, the majority said, the council should<br />
not attempt to legislate private morals.<br />
WILKINSBURG, PA.—The borough council<br />
has prohibited the exhibition of "Stromboli"<br />
under penalty of SlOO fine for each individual<br />
showing of the picture, or 30 days<br />
imprisonment. The Warner circuit operates<br />
the borough's three theatres.<br />
$13,873 to Dimes Drive<br />
ji CLEVELAND—Ernest Schwartz, president,<br />
general manager and secretary of the Cleve-<br />
ji<br />
11<br />
land Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, gave<br />
ij the National Foundation for Infantile Pali<br />
ralysis a check for S13.873.14, representing<br />
i audience contributions in the 120 theatre<br />
III<br />
members of the CMPEA.<br />
Consistent High Quality HI<br />
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III<br />
Unaffected by Coal Strike<br />
Cleveland—Theatres in the Cleveland<br />
P. 0. Box 327 St. Louis 3 Mo. • ^^^^ have not been affected as yet by the<br />
iii coal shortage. Mayor Thomas A. Burke says<br />
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arrangements have been completed for the<br />
delivery of Ohio-mined coal in sufficient<br />
quantity to keep local industry, utilities and<br />
home owners supplied.<br />
Vi^m PROGRAMS<br />
ONE DAY SERVICE Request<br />
THEATRICAL ADV.<br />
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DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR THEATRES<br />
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Te. 13884<br />
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Phone WAlnul I-55IG<br />
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6519 14th St.,<br />
Detroit 8, Mich.<br />
Phone: TYIer 3-S629
Louben Firm Will Build<br />
Lansing, Mich., Theaire<br />
LANSING, MICH.—The city council has<br />
cleared a path for construction of a theatre<br />
and nine store units on Michigan avenue<br />
east of Charles street. The council voted to<br />
relocate the west 94.1 feet of Grand River<br />
alley between Charles and Denison streets to<br />
permit construction of the theatre the full<br />
depth of the block.<br />
The 1,500-seat theatre and stores will be<br />
erected by the Louben Building Co.. which<br />
agreed to pay for relocating all utility lines<br />
in the alley, pay total cost of relocating the<br />
alley and guarantee cost of paving the relocated<br />
portion of the alley. The building<br />
company said construction on the theatre<br />
and stores would start the first of March<br />
with completion slated for September 1.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
Remodel at Pontiac. Mich.<br />
PONTIAC. MICH.—When workmen started<br />
painting and redecoration of the auditoriup-i<br />
of the Strand here last week (20), remodeling<br />
operations had reached the half-way mark.<br />
Most of the work now completed was on the<br />
building front, lobby and foyer. Manager Paul<br />
Grill said the program should be finished by<br />
the end of March. It will include reseating.<br />
Drive-In Construction<br />
MIDLAND, PA.—A 350-to-400-car capacity<br />
drive-in is planned on Tuscawarus road<br />
in Brighton township by William J. Geibel,<br />
well known film projectionist. Approximately<br />
30 acres of land has been acquired for the<br />
Beaver county project with the outdoor theatre<br />
to occupy half of this property. Site of<br />
the proposed ozoner is near the Westinghouse<br />
plant. The investor's brother is James<br />
Geibel, who has operated a 16mm drive-in<br />
theatre with a 150-car capacity at Oakland<br />
township in Butler county for several years.<br />
PLAINWELL. MICH.—Charles Sears and<br />
Harold Kortes, who own theatres here and<br />
in Otsego, expect to complete their 400-car<br />
drive-in south of town on U.S. 131 in time<br />
for an early May opening.<br />
BARBERTON, OHIO—The newest drivein<br />
in the Akron area will be the Magic City,<br />
now under construction near here, one and<br />
one-half miles south of Route 5 on Route 21.<br />
The theatre will begin operations about May<br />
15, with Vincent Lauter as manager. Group<br />
of Barberton and Cleveland business men are<br />
behind the venture.<br />
THOS.
• . . Sun<br />
. .<br />
. . Andy<br />
. . The<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
door theatres' concessions will be serviced<br />
during the new season. Theatre Candy-Showe<br />
Confections suffered a staggering loss when<br />
the former Fifth avenue warehouse was destroyed<br />
by fire several weeks ago . . . Warner<br />
this in Daily Independent: burg is formerly at the Francis hospital here an hour after he was<br />
Notice! by Ralph Pew, former<br />
ment with L. Jannotta<br />
recently to the Eagle Lion managerial post<br />
here, on the death of his mother Anna operation which followed his auto accident<br />
Zomnir.<br />
last fall.<br />
^^hile exhibiting "Dear Wife" at the Manos<br />
ixrilliam A. Casteliini, 50, Cincinnati, former<br />
in Monessen, Ken Woodward, manager, circuit's new manager at the State in Wilkins-<br />
United Artists representative, died in St.<br />
inserted<br />
"Important<br />
ad the Bob O'Malley, New<br />
Through special<br />
& Sons,<br />
arrange-<br />
merchant<br />
Oakland,<br />
assistant<br />
now<br />
at<br />
managed<br />
the Etna.<br />
stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage while<br />
lunching with Samuel T. Wilson, theatre editor<br />
of the Dispatch, and other guests at<br />
tailors near the theatre, any buttons lost because<br />
of the hefty laughs in 'Dear Wife'<br />
Blatt Bros' circuit's new Filmrow office<br />
will<br />
Marzetti's restaurant. At the time of his<br />
be sewed on absolutely free of charge" girl is Sarah Louise Desmond of Oakmont.<br />
. death Casteliini was vice-president of the<br />
Bill Basle designated honor nights during She is assistant to Mrs. Isabella M. Hoskin. Dinerman Co., Cincinnati adverti-sing and<br />
the week's engagement of "When Willie<br />
bookkeeper . . . Harry E. Finley, Johnstown<br />
public relations firm. He is survived by his<br />
Comes Marching Home" at the Basle<br />
theatre executive, is an active commercial<br />
in<br />
wife. Ruth McGregor Casteliini. a son, two<br />
Washington. Pa. In addition to service<br />
division leader in<br />
organizations,<br />
honor nights were designated Cross drive . . , Louis Prima and his orchestra<br />
the Cambria county Red daughters, his mother and four brothers.<br />
for air raid wardens. Red Cross workers, presented a radio show on stage at the Columbia<br />
in Sharon February 24 and at the in advance of "Samson and Delilah," which<br />
Douglas Taussig, Paramount, was in town<br />
etc.<br />
at Altoona presented Mercy Ray<br />
and her Mountain Serenaders on the stage. Latonia in Oil City February 28 . . . Sympathy<br />
to John Zorrmir, who was promoted Kessler. manager of Loew's Ohio, has had<br />
opens at Loew's Broad March 8 . . . Walter<br />
his cast removed and is recovering from the<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Beedle, Canonsburg,<br />
are<br />
weeks<br />
vacationing near Orlando. Fla.. for six<br />
Every first-day patron of "Dancing<br />
. . .<br />
in the Dark" at the Fulton here was handed<br />
a $10 gift certificate acceptable at the Fred<br />
Astaire dance Joe and Steve<br />
studio . . .<br />
Yantus of the Rex at Hollsopple and the<br />
Co-Op at Schellsburg came into Filmrow on<br />
anniversary, not<br />
that February 22 is a labor holiday<br />
and only the supply houses are open on<br />
Washington's<br />
knowing<br />
birthday<br />
that date, which<br />
Wednesday.<br />
happened also to be Ash<br />
The Warner Theatre is running "Samson<br />
and Delilah" continuously at 70 cents from<br />
opening to 1 p. m.: 90 to 6, and $1.25 from<br />
then to closing; children 35 cents at all times,<br />
all prices including taxes . . . Theatre Candy<br />
Co. and Showe Confections have moved their<br />
headquarters from Filmrow to the nearby<br />
street floor in the new warehouse at 400<br />
Dinwiddle. Ray Showe said a number of out-<br />
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The newsreel policy continues daily at the<br />
Harris Newsreel downtown, except that a feature<br />
picture is added daily after 6 p. m. and<br />
all day on Sundays . Nixon's attraction<br />
for the week of April 3 will be "Lend an Ear."<br />
which was produced originally a decade ago<br />
here at the Pittsburgh Playhouse . . . Bart<br />
Dattola presented a WKPA broadcast and<br />
displays of army vehicles in connection with<br />
"Battleground" at the Dattola in New Kensington<br />
. Battiston has booked<br />
"Citizen Saint." life story of Mother Cabrini,<br />
in every Warner circuit situation in the area.<br />
The Juniata at Juniata presented a benefit<br />
show for the Keystone school and canceled<br />
an Ingrid Bergman film, substituting<br />
"Tell It to the Judge" and "Blondie Hits<br />
the Jackpot" . . Associated Drive-In Theatres,<br />
.<br />
the Norbert Stern organization, will<br />
open<br />
Filmrow headquarters at 68 'Van Braam St.,<br />
former offices of Star Distributing Co. . . .<br />
Butler men are breaking out in a rash of<br />
whiskers for a facial fringe contest which<br />
will climax the city's 150th birthday celebration<br />
July 1.<br />
New Advisory Board<br />
Tn Aid Ohio Censors<br />
COLUMBUS—Governor Lausche has appointed<br />
a three-member advisory board to act<br />
with Clyde Hissong, education director, and<br />
the state censor board in regard to controversial<br />
films. They are Mrs. Mildred Bickel,<br />
president of the Ohio Congress of PTA; Lee<br />
H. B. Malone, director of the Columbus Gallery<br />
of Fine Arts, and Fred C. Slager. principal<br />
of Central High school, all of Columbus.<br />
Appointment of a board to act in an advisory<br />
capacity with the state censor board is<br />
the outcome of a recent ruling by Attorney<br />
General Herbert S. Duffy in regard to recalling<br />
for further censorship a picture which<br />
has been passed.<br />
Specifically, Chief Censor Hissong had<br />
asked Duffy for a ruling as to whether he<br />
could legally recall "Stromboli" because of<br />
the publicity of the star and director. The<br />
attorney general ruled that nothing had been<br />
changed in its picture since its approval by<br />
the censor board and hence there was no<br />
legal basis for recalling it.<br />
The duty of the new three-member board<br />
is to reconsider pictures which have been<br />
passed by the censor board and about which<br />
a question of suitability is raised.<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
P. J. Wood, secretary of the Independent<br />
Theatres of Ohio, reports that four more Ohio<br />
congressmen have indicated their support of<br />
reduction of the federal admissions tax. They<br />
are Frederick C. Smith, eighth district;<br />
Thomas H. Burke, ninth district: Walter<br />
Huber. 14th district, and Michael A, Feighan.<br />
20th district. Wood said three congressmen<br />
have not replied to his wire. They are James<br />
G. Polk, sixth, district; Alvin F. Weichel,<br />
13th district, and Michael J. Kirwin. 19th<br />
district.<br />
Gayety, Columbus' only burlesque house,<br />
has reopened after a week's closing with a<br />
policy of pictures only. Jay McGee is manager<br />
. . . Mrs. Ethel Miles. Miles neighborhood<br />
circuit, says the Miles theatres will not<br />
show "StromboU" at this time. "We neither<br />
condemn nor commend the circumstances<br />
which have brought 'StromboU' to public attention.<br />
We simply do not wish to use sensationalism<br />
as a means of exploiting our programs.<br />
We feel the family audiences which<br />
make up a majority patronage of neighborhood<br />
theatres will prefer us to market our<br />
pictures on their own merits."<br />
^^^j v//?G/A//4<br />
^apitol at Wheeling offered Eddy Duchin<br />
and his orchestra on stage February 21<br />
. . . More than 300 Boy Scouts and leaders<br />
were guests of the Eastland in Fairmont for<br />
the annual Scout anniversary theatre party<br />
. .'. The Sage Brush Roundup from radio<br />
station WMMN was a one-day stage feature<br />
at the Palace in Parkersburg .<br />
. . Print of<br />
"Twelve O'clock High" was flown to Wheeling<br />
for a midnight showing at the Capitol and<br />
was received by Comdr. Bob Upton of Wheeling<br />
Squadron No. 1 Air Force Ass'n. while<br />
a News-Register photographer recorded the<br />
event for the amusement page.<br />
Model plane entries in the Fairmont Theatre<br />
contest were displayed in store windows<br />
and in the theatre lobby. Fairmont Times<br />
sponsored the contest . . Bluefield Ministerial<br />
.<br />
Ass'n opposed display of any pictures<br />
starring Ingrid Bergman, so George Frehling,<br />
theatre manager, is polling flicker addicts<br />
through newspaper and theatre lobby vote on<br />
whether they want to see "Stromboli" . . .<br />
Eagle Lion's "Guilty of Treason" was previewed<br />
at the Victoria in Wheeling last Saturday<br />
morning by members of the clergy and<br />
nuns of all local Catholic schools.<br />
84 BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950
——<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
'Bicycle Thief Earns<br />
Record at Boston<br />
BOSTON — Despite a bad snowstorm on<br />
up<br />
Washington's birthday, business was well<br />
in the higlier brackets for the week. "The<br />
Bicycle Thief" at the Beacon Hill broke all<br />
"<br />
records in its first week, with "Cinderella<br />
at the Keith Memorial also very strong. All<br />
downtown theatres reported excellent weekend<br />
business.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—My Foolish Heart (RKO), 3rd wk 140<br />
Beacon HiU—The Bicycle Thiel (M-B) 220<br />
Boston—Slromboli (RKO); The Tattooed Stranger<br />
(RKO) 130<br />
Esquire, Mayflower, Pilgrim Guilty of Treason<br />
(EL). 2nd wk 115<br />
Exeter Street—Germany Year Zero (Superlilm);<br />
Spring in Park Lane (EL) 110<br />
Memorial- Cinderella (RKO) _ 150<br />
Metropolitan—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-rox);<br />
Joe Palooko Meets Humphrey (Mono), 2nd wk.llS<br />
Paramount and Fenway — Samson and Delilah<br />
'(Pcn-a), 3rd wk 125<br />
State Tohiuiy Eager (MGM); Blossoms in the Dust<br />
(MGM), reissues 100<br />
Orpheum-Battleground (MGM), 3rd wk 110<br />
Dimes Turned in at Springfield<br />
'Key to City' Leads Trade<br />
At Houses in Hartford<br />
HARTFOBr>—"Key to the City," dualed<br />
with "Unmasked" at the Poli, set the pace<br />
for newcomers at local first runs. A pairing<br />
of "Twelve O'clock High" and "West of Wyoming"<br />
in a second week at the Palace, was the<br />
best of the holdovers. "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
in a second stanza at the Allyn at advanced<br />
prices, was about average.<br />
Allyn—Samson and Delilah (Para), 2nd wk.,<br />
advanced prices 90<br />
M Loews—Father E. Is a Bachelor (Col), Mule<br />
Train (Col), 2Tid wk 100<br />
Palace—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox); West of<br />
Wyoming (Mono), 2nd wk 130<br />
Poll—Key to the City (MGM), Unmasked (Rep) HO<br />
Regal—Borderline (U-1), The Golden Stallion (Rep) B5<br />
Strand Chain Lightning (WB), Blonde Dynamite<br />
(Mono) 100<br />
Cold Wave Hurts Business<br />
At Houses in New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN—An unexpected cold wave<br />
which followed a mild weekend crimped trade<br />
at local first runs. "Samson and Delilah,"<br />
showing at advanced prices at the Paramount,<br />
paced business and was held for a second<br />
week. "Twelve O'clock High" and "Alias the<br />
champ." dualed at Loew's Poli, also was<br />
strong and rated a moveover to the College.<br />
Bijou—Hocket Ship (Embassy); Mais Attacks the<br />
World (Embassy) 75<br />
College—Dancing in the Dark (20th-Fox); Temptation<br />
Harbor (Mono) 92<br />
Loew's Poll — Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox);<br />
Alias the Champ (Rep) 130<br />
Paramount—Samson and Delilah (Para) 136<br />
Roger Sherman Bride for Sale (RKO); Backfire<br />
(WB) 90<br />
Fire Causes $25,000 Loss<br />
In Boston Rialto Bldg.<br />
BOSTON—Fire which started in the floor<br />
above the Rialto Theatre on ScoUay Square<br />
resulted in an estimated $25,000 damage,<br />
about $8,000 of which was to the theatre.<br />
About 2,000 persons left the Rialto and the<br />
adjacent ScoUay Square Theatre without incident<br />
after Glen Hannagan, Rialto projectionist,<br />
had turned in the alarm and notified<br />
the managers of the two theatres.<br />
During the excitement scores of workers<br />
in nearby offices, including 60 employes of<br />
New England Theatres headquarters at 60<br />
Scollay Square, were advised to leave the<br />
buildings.<br />
SHOWMEN AID DIME DRIVE—There was a total of $4,866.05 represented when<br />
this picture was taken. Arthur Darley, left, of the Arcade, turned $504.30 over to Postmaster<br />
Thomas J. Ashe, general chairman of the March of Dimes. To the right of<br />
Ashe are Edward A. Smith of the Paramount and C. L. Patch of the Broadway, who<br />
turned $4,361.75 into the campaign fund. The money represented audience collections<br />
at the theatres in Springfield.<br />
Mustached Bandit Robs<br />
Theatreman of $60<br />
WEST WARWICK, R. I.—Mustaches were<br />
lifted out of the inconvenience class here<br />
recently to become nuisances as police picked<br />
up every man with a hairy upper lip for<br />
questioning about the holdup of a local theatre<br />
operator. More than 30 men whose only<br />
apparent crime was keeping their upper lips<br />
under cover were rounded up and grilled<br />
shortly after William Dietch, operator of the<br />
Palace Tlieatre, as held up and robbed of<br />
$60.75.<br />
Dietch was getting into his car when a<br />
mustached man stuck a gun in his back and<br />
demanded the theatre money bag. When the<br />
theatre operator convinced the robber that<br />
a theatre employe had already gone to the<br />
bank, the hoodlum stripped Dietch of his<br />
wallet.<br />
Boofhman Bill Prozulski<br />
Finds Car Painted Red<br />
Chicopee, Mass. .\ Massachusetts projectionist,<br />
proud owner of a shiny, creamcolored<br />
1949 car, almost "blew his top"<br />
the other night. William Prozulski, projectionist<br />
at the Rivoli here, commutes<br />
from his home in nearby Springfield in<br />
his 1949 automobile.<br />
The other day, Prozulski parked his<br />
car on a Chicopee street and went to<br />
work at the theatre. Leaving the Rivoli<br />
at 10:30 p. m., the projectionist discovered<br />
someone had decided to change the color<br />
of his car to red. The entire rear end of<br />
the cream-colored car was bedecked with<br />
bright red paint.<br />
Police were notified immediately and a<br />
jar, believed to have contained the red<br />
paint, was picked up nearby. .At last reports,<br />
the case still was under investigation.<br />
'Clown' Is Premiered<br />
In Providence Avon<br />
PROVIDENCE—The Italian film, "Love<br />
of a Clown . . . Pagliacci," starring the renowned<br />
Tito Gobbi, was premiered at the<br />
Avon Cinema, Thursday (23).<br />
Charles R. Darby, manager, conducted a<br />
strong publicity campaign, scoring news<br />
breaks in several Italian language newspapers<br />
and over the air on Italian programs.<br />
He arranged a preview for all the leading<br />
women's and musical clubs in the state,<br />
school teachers, state and city dignitaries.<br />
Students were granted special discounts at<br />
all matinee performances.<br />
Darby has come in for much well-deserved<br />
praise for his policy in presenting the finest<br />
imported films, and especially for making it<br />
possible for students to see these attractions<br />
at prices they can afford to pay.<br />
Top Girl Scout Officials<br />
To See Warner Premiere<br />
NEW YORK—Mrs. C. Vaughan Ferguson,<br />
president of the Girl Scouts, and members<br />
of the Girl Scout board of directors will attend<br />
the premiere of Warners' Technicolor<br />
short. "Women of Tomorrow." March 10 in<br />
New Bedford. Ma.ss. The picture, a report on<br />
Girl Scouting in the U.S.. will mark the 38th<br />
anniversary of the organization.<br />
New Bedford was chosen for the first<br />
showing because many of the sequences were<br />
photographed there. More than 600 Girl<br />
Scouts appear in the short. The Girl Scout<br />
officials will be given a civic reception and<br />
buffet supper before the screening at the<br />
State Theatre.<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
tax?<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950 NE 85
. . . Nick<br />
. . Lloyd<br />
. . . Figures<br />
. . Margaret<br />
: March<br />
. . Ken<br />
BOSTON<br />
jpuring the subzero weather, a girl cashier<br />
in the Keith Memorial Theatre booth<br />
had to be taken to the hospital to have her<br />
hands thawed out. The mercury tumbled to<br />
the lowest registration in three years . . .<br />
George Roberts and his wife trained for<br />
Florida during the worst blizzard of the year<br />
to visit Mrs. Roberts' father, Herman Rifkin,<br />
at Miami Beach. They will return March 11<br />
Russo. Selznick publicist, left for<br />
New Haven to arrange screenings of "The<br />
Third Man" for exhibitors and Yale professors<br />
of drama, music and English.<br />
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Sundowners" staged by Joe Mansfield of<br />
Eagle Lion was an art contest held in the<br />
inner lobby of the Pilgrim Theatre where the<br />
film will receive its New England premiere.<br />
Seventy-five students of local art schools<br />
competed for awards for the best copy of a<br />
huge six-foot blowup of the profile of John<br />
Barrymore jr. who is making his screen debut<br />
in the film. Prizes were a savings bond, cash<br />
awards and guest tickets. The affair was<br />
held on Friday from 1 to 5 p. m.<br />
Visitors included Len Richter, Star, Pascoag,<br />
The highlight of the campaign R. I.; Alec Davis, head of the Champ<br />
for "The Amusement Co.; Speros Latchis, Latchis circuit;<br />
Edward 'White, Mansfield; Francis<br />
- Perry, Orpheum, Foxboro; Bill Savage, manager<br />
of the Arcadia, Portsmouth; Dominic<br />
Turturro, Elms, Millbury: Henry Annotti of<br />
the Uptown, and Archie Silverman and Al<br />
Siner, Strand, Providence.<br />
Model 4570 Hi-Intensity Projection<br />
When<br />
ARC LAMPS<br />
its New<br />
Selznick's<br />
England<br />
"The<br />
premiere<br />
Third<br />
April<br />
Man"<br />
9, Anton<br />
has<br />
Karas, the Hungarian zither player whose<br />
music plays a prominent part in establishing<br />
the mood of the film, will make a personal<br />
appearance in the theatre. He will stay here<br />
two weeks as the headliner in the Oval Room<br />
of the Copley-Plaza. On April 26 he will go<br />
to Providence where he is booked at the<br />
Providence-Biltmore hotel and will appear at<br />
the opening of the film in that city.<br />
Newell Stepp, general manager for several<br />
years of the B&Q circuit, has resigned to<br />
go to New Jersey to join Donald Jacocks in<br />
the Aldon Theatre circuit. No replacement<br />
has been announced from the B&Q home<br />
office at 100 Boylston St. . . . The funeral<br />
of Marion Coles, 58. director and treasurer<br />
of New England Theatres, was held at the<br />
Waterman chapel with burial in Columbia,<br />
S. C. A graduate of Clemson college in 1913,<br />
he was a first lieutenant in World War I<br />
before becoming associated with Paramount<br />
Pictures in 1918 in Atlanta and New York.<br />
He joined M&P Theatre in 1933, transferring<br />
to New England Theatres in January 1949<br />
at the time of the splitup of the M&P corporation.<br />
He leaves his wife, a son Charles<br />
and his mother.<br />
The Variety Club is sponsoring a sixth<br />
birthday party for Jimmie Ferragamo of<br />
Pramingham, a lad stricken with incurable<br />
cancer. Barkers Joe Cifre and Bill Koster<br />
are providing a Roy Rogers feature film,<br />
ice cream, popcorn and autographed pictures<br />
of baseball stars for Jimmie and 200<br />
of his friends and neighbors. The affair will<br />
be held at the Nicoli club across the street<br />
from Jimmie's home. The lad is unaware<br />
that this may be his last birthday.<br />
Projectionists Local 182 will give its ruby<br />
jubilee celebration April 24 at the Copley-<br />
Plaza. Joe Cifre. general chairman, says the<br />
speaker will be a man of national reputation.<br />
Entertainment and dancing will start<br />
at 8 p. m. but the main part of the program<br />
will not start till 12:30 to permit all projectionists<br />
and theatremen to attend after<br />
the theatres close for the night.<br />
Graham Greene, well-known British novelist,<br />
was here for the opening of "The Heart<br />
of the Matter," the Rodgers and Hammerstein<br />
production which has been made into a<br />
play by him and Basil Dean, British director.<br />
Nine novels by Greene have been made into<br />
films, five of them in this country. "The<br />
Power and the Glory," "Ministry of Fear"<br />
and "This Gun for Hire" were made by Paramount,<br />
"Orient Express" by 20th-Fox and<br />
"Confidential Agent" by Warners. "The Fallen<br />
Idol" was adapted from his short story.<br />
"The Basement Room," made in England and<br />
distributed by Selznick, while "The Third<br />
Man," an original Greene story, was made in<br />
Vienna under the Selznick banner.<br />
H. S. CarUsle of the Bellevue, St. Albans,<br />
Vt., and his wife were vacationing in Florida<br />
. . . George Hackett of the Middlesex Amusement<br />
Co. also was in Florida . Forkey,<br />
owner of the Park and Greendale theatres in<br />
Worcester, returned to the Laconia hospital<br />
to undergo a second kidney operation.<br />
Local exhibitors who have accepted the invitation<br />
of Spyros Skouras to attend the<br />
20th-Fox conference March 6-10 in Chicago<br />
include Martin Mullin, Samuel Pinanski, Arthur<br />
Lockwood, Ted Pleisher, Arthur Howard,<br />
Daniel Murphy, Nathan Yamins of Fall<br />
River and Edward Pay of Providence. They<br />
will accompany E. X. Callahan and James M.<br />
Connolly of the Boston office to the meeting<br />
Embassy Pictures have appointed Saul<br />
Levin as sales manager for Movie Quiz. The<br />
audience contest has been booked in 54 New<br />
England theatres to start April 1 . . . Roger<br />
Berube of Madawaska, Me., who is building<br />
a new drive-in in that area, writes he is<br />
given out by theatres in Boston<br />
planning to make a trip to Filmrow for on the drive for the repeal of the federal<br />
bookings<br />
. Coen now is handling amusement tax show that 248,000 patrons in<br />
New Hampshire and Vermont for EL, being this area have signed cards. These signed<br />
transferred from Maine when Carl Devisia<br />
slips have been crated in packages of 10,000<br />
joined the company. Al Fecke had been and in<br />
sent to the proper authorities in Washington.<br />
New Hampshire and Vermont for more<br />
than 27 years. He has been given the Massachusetts<br />
Came Home" will open<br />
"Three<br />
sector.<br />
at the Paramount<br />
and Fenway theatres here March 15,<br />
when civic and social leaders, officials of local<br />
schools and colleges. Parent -Teacher organizations<br />
and women's clubs will be guests<br />
of the managements. Governor Dever and<br />
Mayor Hynes and their staffs will be among<br />
guests. Both theatres will have special sections<br />
roped off for the distinguished guests.<br />
Phil Engel. 20th-Fox publicist, is working on<br />
details of the opening .<br />
Coyne,<br />
contract clerk at 20th-Fox, was married" recently<br />
to Jack Donahue of Dorchester. Following<br />
a honeymoon trip to New York and<br />
Philadelphia, she will return to her desk.<br />
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86<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
4, 1950
. Publicity—Lou<br />
. . . Fred<br />
. . The<br />
. . New<br />
. . MGM's<br />
. . Johnnie<br />
. . Gloria<br />
. . Leonard<br />
. . Jerome<br />
Dinner for Carl J. Goe<br />
Monday in New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN—Members of the film colony<br />
throughout Connecticut and representatives<br />
of the entertainment industry from New<br />
York and Boston are expected at a dinner<br />
HARTFORD<br />
ter Mrs. Morris Tomkin gave birth to a baby<br />
boy who has been named Stephen Charles<br />
R. Greenway,<br />
to be given<br />
Palace,<br />
in honor of Carl J. Goe,<br />
was observing<br />
his ninth anniversary as<br />
retiring<br />
Warner Bros, branch manager, manager of<br />
at the<br />
that<br />
house<br />
. E.<br />
Taft hotel March 6. The<br />
M. LoeWs<br />
event<br />
candy<br />
will be sponsored<br />
by Variety Club of Connecticut, Tent<br />
stand<br />
has reduced candy prices from 12 and 6 cents<br />
to 10 and<br />
31, with Ray 5 cents . . . Dan Debonee,<br />
Wylie, chief barker, heading<br />
AUyn<br />
stagehand, went to New<br />
the committee.<br />
York for<br />
Simultaneously with<br />
a one-day<br />
this<br />
visit . . . Teresa Rinaldo is the<br />
sendoff to a popular manager with Warners<br />
new candy<br />
girl at E. M. Loew's.<br />
in the Boston and New Haven areas for<br />
many years, the dinner will also serve to introduce<br />
Goe's successor, Al R. Daytz, who Meriden, was named treasurer for the Purim<br />
Mrs. Irving Katz, manager of the Palace,<br />
is being transferred from the Boston Warner festival which the senior group of the Young<br />
managership. Goe is retiring and will move Judea will present March 12 at Temple<br />
to North Carolina after a southern vacation.<br />
shown at the 3,300-seat Bushnell Memorial<br />
hall there<br />
. "Luxury Liner" was<br />
Ray Wylie has set up the following committees:<br />
here . service staff aides at E. M.<br />
for the benefit of the Children's Museum<br />
Tickets—Harry Rosenblatt, chairman; John Loew's are John Williams, Joseph Desharmes<br />
P^vone, Hymie Levine.<br />
and William O'Grady . Vergeggen,<br />
wife of the E.<br />
Entertainment—Harry F. Shaw and Sam<br />
M. Loew's doorman, joined<br />
the candy stand staff there.<br />
Wasserman.<br />
Reception—George Wilkinson, chairman; Roger Snyder, Allyn usher, was on the sick<br />
Robert Elliano and Henry Germaine.<br />
list . . . Lou Cohen, Loew's Poll manager,<br />
Legal—Herman M. Levy, Maxwell Alderman<br />
and Sherman Rosenberg.<br />
to Central America .<br />
and his wife returned from a 16-day cruise<br />
Albee,<br />
Brown, chairman, and<br />
George Weber.<br />
LYNN<br />
Decorations—William<br />
O'Connell.<br />
C^ene Autry's visit to Lynn was one round<br />
of receptions, parties and dinners. He<br />
was officially greeted by Secretary Norman<br />
Randall of the Chamber of Commerce, after<br />
he judged a Good Deed contest, entertained<br />
with songs and banjo numbers at the children's<br />
ward at Lynn hospital, gave an offstage<br />
interview to Dickie Dandry who lost<br />
both legs in a train accident, presented his<br />
matinee performance at the City Hall auditorium,<br />
after which he dined with the local<br />
theatre managers, and put on his evening<br />
performance, entertaining in all 2,800 persons,<br />
who braved the worse traffic conditions of<br />
the winter to see his show.<br />
Paramount put on a special Saturday show<br />
with a Gene Autry picture and Warner another<br />
special kiddy show' the next week with<br />
Autry as the star.<br />
Engineers of the Lynn marines to the number<br />
of 250 and a 19-piece marine bagpipe<br />
band from Boston ushered in the opening<br />
of "Sands of Iwo Jima" at the Paramount<br />
with a parade through the downtown streets<br />
and exercises on the stage. The lobby of the<br />
theatre featured a display of marine uniforms<br />
from 1776 to the present day.<br />
The Capitol put on its annual success program<br />
for the newsboys with many contests<br />
on the stage for substantial prizes . . . Manager<br />
Ed Myerson went onto the air to advertise<br />
"Malaya," both as a disk jockey and the<br />
subject of an interview.<br />
JJenry L. Needles, district manager for Warner<br />
Theatres, and his wife became grandparents<br />
for the third time when their daugh-<br />
Center projectionist for the last four years,<br />
resigned to start studies at the RCA television<br />
school in New York .<br />
Mandelbaum,<br />
former projectionist at the Meriden<br />
Theatre in Meriden, will be married soon to<br />
Diane Braunschweiger, Brooklyn, N. Y. Formerly<br />
associated with theatre interests in the<br />
Connecticut area, Mandelbaum has been<br />
working in New York in recent months.<br />
Natlian E. Goldstein, owner of the Arcade<br />
Theatre in Springfield, and his wife were<br />
on vacation at Sarasota, Fla. . . . Julian<br />
Rifkin, Rifkin circuit executive, and his wife<br />
have returned to the New England area following<br />
a vacation in Puerto Rico. Tlie Rifkin<br />
circuit, which operates a number of film<br />
theatres in western Massachusetts, has broken<br />
ground for a 900-car drive-in at Braintree,<br />
Mass., the circuit's first open air project.<br />
Harry F. Shaw, division manager for Loew's<br />
Poll New England Theatres, and Lou Brown,<br />
division advertising and publicity director,<br />
conferred with Lou Cohen, Poll, and Fred<br />
Greenway, Palace . Perakos, assistant<br />
district manager of the Perakos circuit,<br />
was back at work after a recent illness<br />
Henry L. Needles was in New<br />
. . . Britain to confer with Joe Borenstein, Strand,<br />
and Joe Miklos, Embassy.<br />
'Welcome Willie' Cakes<br />
Sold for Kids Charity<br />
PRESQUE ISLE, ME—Arthur Dame, manager<br />
of the State, came up with a Laughable<br />
Ladies' contest in behalf of "When Willie<br />
Comes Marching Home." Spot radio announcements<br />
were used twice daily for a week<br />
and daily newspaper ads helped put over the<br />
contest.<br />
Women were urged to bake cakes decorated<br />
with frosting inscribed, "Welcome Home Willie."<br />
The cakes were brought to the theatre<br />
from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m., then sold to theatre<br />
patrons. Money raised was given to the Community<br />
Clothing center to buy children's<br />
clothing. The last cake sold received one<br />
month's free tickets to the State for the winner<br />
and her family.<br />
All the cakes were sold, the charity was<br />
well pleased and theatre business was stimulated.<br />
Furthermore, the patrons entered into<br />
the spirit of the affair.<br />
What have YOU done today to help secure<br />
repeal of the unfair amusement tax?<br />
^Special<br />
TRAILERS<br />
FOR ?ASliR SERl<br />
HAncock 6-359<br />
mnsTER moTion picture.<br />
so PIEDMOnT ST. BOSTOH IG MRSS.<br />
SERVICING THEATREStLDRIIfE INS<br />
CANDY POP CORN DRINKS<br />
COMPLETE CONCESSION SUPPLIES<br />
CINEMA CLUB<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
tax?
. . . Sam<br />
. . . Ray<br />
. . The<br />
. . . Jim<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
J^ll Loew's Poll daily theatre ads now carry<br />
slugs asking the public to help ax the<br />
tax and sign protest cards. Other downtowns<br />
carry material periodically on the same subject.<br />
The Poll here has turned in some 15,000<br />
protest cards signed in lobby . first<br />
spring opening will be the newly constructed<br />
800-seat Niantic Theatre, scheduled for<br />
March 5. Policy will be single feature, three<br />
changes weekly, 14 days after first run New<br />
London at 50 cents, except for 150 balcony<br />
seats which have double-wide arm rests and<br />
tip back, for which the price will be 65 cents<br />
Cornish, booker-buyer-manager,<br />
formerly of Harrison, New York, has been<br />
busy as a bee along Filmrow.<br />
The Princess, Rockville, in the process of<br />
reconstruction after a fire some months ago.<br />
Is moving along slowly. No opening date is<br />
The Markoffs have submitted<br />
yet in sight . . .<br />
a brief in their arbitration hearing,<br />
and decision should be forthcoming soon<br />
Wylie recently conducted his first<br />
meeting as new chief barker at Variety headquarters<br />
with plenty of enthusiasm and forecast<br />
of increased activity.<br />
19, 20 . . .<br />
Warner theatres will play "Stromboli"<br />
with seven spots already booked for a March<br />
opening "Samson and Delilah"<br />
is a Warner booking at the Broadway in<br />
Lawrence and State in Waterbury<br />
. . .<br />
"The<br />
Outlaw" will show at regular prices starting<br />
the end of March at Bridgeport,<br />
wich and Waterbury Warner houses , .<br />
Nor-<br />
The<br />
.<br />
Itahan "Departure at Seven" and "Angelina"<br />
are booked at the Alhambra, Waterbury,<br />
for March 30, 31. The Italian "Professor.<br />
My Son" and "Return of the Eagle"<br />
will play April 11, 12. Other Italian bookings<br />
over the state show attempt to attract<br />
large Italian population.<br />
The exchanges were closed on Washington's<br />
birthday and bad weather kept most<br />
exhibitors from over the state away from<br />
Meadow street the rest of the week<br />
Franklin Ferguson arranged Music Quiz for<br />
Wednesday nights at the Whalley and Whitney,<br />
with Martin Lubin and the Three Jacks<br />
and some $100 in prizes promoted from local<br />
merchants for both theatres each session.<br />
Ferguson also is trying kiddy shows, tying<br />
in with PTA and otherwise playing to neighborhood<br />
solidarity.<br />
Dave Kaufman, Loew Poll artist, was back<br />
from a skiing vacation with a broken leg<br />
Darby, Paramount Theatre manager,<br />
was first hereabouts to try several<br />
television spot announcements for "Thelma<br />
Jordon." a March 1 opener, taking advantage<br />
of spell of bad weather which may<br />
be keeping people glued to their sets indoors.<br />
Four Drive-ins Planned<br />
In Hartford Trade Area<br />
HARTFORD—Applications for permits to<br />
operate drive-ins have been filed with Edward<br />
J. Hickey, state police commissioner,<br />
by Louis C. Consolini. North Canaan, and<br />
Vincent Youmatz, Torrington. A hearing was<br />
granted on a petition for construction of a<br />
drive-in on Route 6-A near Cheshire, but<br />
a decision was postponed. One of the witnesses<br />
at the hearing was John Horan, owner<br />
of the site chosen for the project.<br />
Plans for drive-in projects at Chicopee,<br />
Mass., were disclosed by John L. Sullivan<br />
and the Walas brothers there. A public<br />
hearing on Sullivan's application was held<br />
last week by the Chicopee board of aldermen,<br />
with the Walas brothers appearing to<br />
protest granting of a zoning change to Sullivan.<br />
The Walas brothers have received<br />
Chicopee aldermanic approval to build an<br />
open air theatre. Should Sullivan gain approval<br />
from the board's zoning committee as<br />
well as the board, it would mean Chicopee<br />
would have adjoining drive-ins.<br />
Completion of an 800-car drive-in at West<br />
Springfield. Mass., under construction for<br />
the E. M. Loew circuit, is expected by early<br />
spring, according to George E. Landers, division<br />
manager for E. M. Loew's Theatres.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
• • «<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
lyjUSICIANS in Boston threaten a general<br />
strike to compel theatres to employ musicians<br />
on a continuous basis. A court injunction<br />
has been issued against the strike.<br />
Theatres involved: Durfee, Capitol, Empire,<br />
Strand and Park . . Leon P. Gorman, former<br />
.<br />
manager of the Maine and State theatres in<br />
Portland, announces that Deering. Me., is to<br />
have a new theatre.<br />
Herman Claman, Chelsea, Mass., has been<br />
transferred from managership of the Publix<br />
Broadway Theatre to the same position at<br />
the Olympia. Joseph J. Sullivan, who has<br />
been in Salem, will succeed Claman at the<br />
Broadway. Claman takes the place of W. E.<br />
Sprague, recently promoted to district manager<br />
with Publix.<br />
Fire destroyed the Masonic block in North<br />
Conway, N. H., recently, which included the<br />
Masonic Theatre, on the second floor . . . The<br />
Majestic, in Hartford, is being dismantled.<br />
WILLIAM RISEMAN ASSOCIATES<br />
162 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS<br />
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS<br />
NEW HAMPSHIRE<br />
Tust before the famous "mercy killing" trial<br />
of Dr. Hermann Sander opened in Manchester,<br />
a CBS Telenews camera was set up<br />
in the heart of the Queen City's business<br />
district, where the "man in the street" was<br />
asked to comment on the case. Alexander A.<br />
Brown of New York, associate editor of<br />
Movietone News, Inc.. was also on hand, as<br />
were other newsreel men and reporters from<br />
all over the United States. Even the London<br />
Telegram was represented.<br />
Bradley Callahan of the lATSE local was<br />
among the labor leaders who signed a statement<br />
opposing the candidacy of Wesley<br />
Powell for the Republican nomination for<br />
U.S. senator . . . Ansel Sanborn, Carroll<br />
county film circuit owner and representative<br />
in the legislature from Wakefield, was<br />
invited by his home town taxpayers association<br />
to address the group recently on proposals<br />
for reorganization of the state government.<br />
He is a member of Gov. Sherman<br />
Adams' reorganization commission.<br />
Due to a holdover of "Cinderella" at the<br />
Strand in Manchester, "When Willie Comes<br />
Marching Home," which was scheduled to<br />
have been shown there, was transferred to<br />
the sister State Theatre . . . The coal shortage<br />
caused indefinite postponement of the<br />
play, "The Late Christopher Bean," which<br />
was to have been staged February 27. 28 by<br />
the Claremont Dramatic club for the benefit<br />
of Claremont General hospital.<br />
The Whitefield Theatre management<br />
turned the house over for a big meeting of<br />
Catholic young people from several communities<br />
in the area February 21. A film<br />
program was also provided, including "Guilty<br />
of Treason."<br />
The Ingrid Bergman film, "Stromboli,"<br />
which had been scheduled to open at the<br />
State Theatre on Sunday i26i, was banned<br />
by the board of mayor and aldermen. The<br />
picture was scheduled to open at the State<br />
in Nashua on that date, however, but as far<br />
as could be learned the Gate City booking<br />
was the only one in New Hampshire. The<br />
Nashua licensing committee reported that it<br />
had received no protests. The film was to<br />
be shown there for three days. Following<br />
the Manchester ban, the Morning Union<br />
ran a lengthy editorial declaring the board's<br />
action was "good business."<br />
Gene Autry Is Welcomed<br />
At Springfield Party<br />
SPRINGFIELD—Although local Columbia<br />
record dealers hosted a cocktail party for<br />
Gene Autry at the Hotel Kimball as part of<br />
the cowboy star's whirlwind one-day stand<br />
here, there were more theatremen than music<br />
men in the gathering.<br />
Local first and second run houses which<br />
feature Autry pictures were well represented<br />
at the affair, which was headed up by J. Don<br />
Cohen of Sterns & Co., chief Columbia records<br />
distributor in western Massachusetts.<br />
Among those at the party were Eddie Harrison,<br />
manager of the Bijou; Al Anders, formerly<br />
active owner of the house; Charlie<br />
Hurley, manager of the Phillips and Elihu<br />
Glass, owner of the Majestic. West Springfield.<br />
A good many visitors brought their<br />
young sons to meet their favorite star in person.<br />
All the youngsters went home happily<br />
clutching autographed pictures.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
—<br />
New Sugar Land Palms<br />
Destroyed by Flames<br />
SUGAR LAND. TEX. — The new Palms<br />
Theatre, completed here last July for Cole<br />
Theatres, was destroyed recently in a spectacular<br />
fire that baffled firemen from three<br />
cities. The blaze was discovered at 4:30 p. m.<br />
and by 7:30 p. m. it still was burning. The<br />
entire building had been gutted by flames and<br />
just before 7 p. m. the roof caved in. Firemen<br />
set up a guard around the building when<br />
they expected one wall to collapse.<br />
Mart Cole sr.. head of the circuit of 13<br />
theatres, said from his sickbed in Rosenberg<br />
that little could be salvaged from the building.<br />
He estimated loss at more than $60,000.<br />
Cole said some insurance was carried but he<br />
did not know how much.<br />
Sugar Land firemen sought first to bring<br />
the blaze under control without aid. Later<br />
apparatus from Richmond and Rosenberg<br />
went to their assistance. Firemen said the<br />
blaze started in the attic of the new building,<br />
presumably from a faulty electric wire.<br />
The theatre had no matinee and the only<br />
persons in the building were a few employes.<br />
No one was injured. Highway patrol officers<br />
said many hundreds of cars were blocked on<br />
the four-lane highway east and west of Sugar<br />
Land before they succeeded in turning the<br />
head of the two columns into the opposite<br />
lanes to detour roads. Traffic was blocked<br />
more than an hour and was detoured over<br />
other roads between Richmond and Houston.<br />
New Theatre Corporation<br />
Is Founded in Amarillo<br />
AMARILLO, TEX.—Coronado Theatres.<br />
Inc., has been established here, with Carl<br />
F. Benefiel as president. Other officers of<br />
the new firm include John O. Pitts, H. C.<br />
Wilson and Frank Culberson, all of Pampa,<br />
Tex. The Victory Theatre here recently was<br />
purchased by the company, and remodeling<br />
of the house now is in progress. A former<br />
resident of Pampa, Benefiel has been in show<br />
business about 30 years. He was general manager<br />
of radio station KLYN several months.<br />
New Cashier Is Tricked<br />
By Fake Roll of Quarters<br />
Houston—Jo Ann Tabor, cashier at the<br />
IVIetropolitan Theatre, is new at the job<br />
and one night recently she learned she<br />
couldn't trust anyone. A well-dressed<br />
young man walked up to the window and<br />
plunked down a wrapped roll of coins.<br />
"Miss," he said, "will you give me two<br />
rolls of dimes for this $10 roll of quarters?"<br />
Miss Tabor did, handing him two<br />
$5 rolls of dimes. When the roll of quarters<br />
felt light. Miss Tabor unwrapped<br />
them. They were washers—40 of them.<br />
Mark Sheridan Jr. Named<br />
Dallas 20th-Fox Chief<br />
NEW YORK—Mark Sheridan jr.<br />
has been<br />
promoted to manager of the Dallas exchange<br />
by 20th Century-Fox effective March 13. He<br />
will be replaced as New Orleans manager by<br />
Billie Bryant, former salesman.<br />
The moves were made when Phil Longdon,<br />
former manager in Dallas, requested a change<br />
because of illness. He will be given a sales<br />
position in one of the southern branches.<br />
Autry and Dempsey Hit<br />
Oil Well in Oklahoma<br />
FREDERICK. OKLA.—Gene Autry and<br />
Jack Dempsey have struck oil in Oklahoma.<br />
They and S. D. Johnson of Wichita Falls<br />
have a new partnership well southeast of here.<br />
Estimates on its flow range up to 200 barrels<br />
of oil a day.<br />
The three men also have been operating<br />
in north Texas fields.<br />
"Oklahoma!' at Fort Worth<br />
FORT WORTH—A small road company of<br />
the musical. "Oklahoma!" will be presented<br />
by the Interstate Circuit here March 11. Interstate<br />
has already played it in theatres at<br />
Amarillo. El Paso and Albuquerque. Other<br />
dates are March 8. 9 at Wichita Falls and<br />
March 14. 15 at Galveston.<br />
Convention Program<br />
Is Arranged by TOO<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Program for the Theatre<br />
Owners of Oklahoma convention here<br />
March 27, 28 has been arranged. The convention<br />
will open at the Skirvin hotel headquarters<br />
Monday (27) with registration and<br />
distributor representatives' talks. The afternoon<br />
session will be in the form of a panel<br />
led by an Oklahoma exhibitor.<br />
Ladies will be entertained at the Oklahoma<br />
club's Skyroom with a fashion .show<br />
and luncheon. Models will be wives of Oklahoma<br />
City theatremen, distributors and film<br />
salesmen. Mrs. Virgil Brown, co-owner of the<br />
Reno Theatre with Video, will play the piano<br />
for the affair, and Mrs, Claude York, Eagle<br />
Lion, will sing.<br />
Variety Club will move up its State day<br />
monthly meeting, usually held the first Monday<br />
of each month, to the evening of March<br />
27, at 7 p. m. All conventioners will be welcomed<br />
to the bingo, buffet and open house at<br />
the clubrooms in the Black hotel. Bill Mc-<br />
Craw, Variety executive director, will be on<br />
hand, and Bob O'Donnell, national chief<br />
barker, is expected.<br />
Tuesday (28) meetings will include discussions<br />
of television, trade practices, excise tax<br />
reduction, Ascap. divorcement, arbitration,<br />
COMPO. etc.<br />
Gael Sullivan. TOA executive, and Herman<br />
Levy, general counsel, will speak on these<br />
problems. The final session will close with a<br />
banquet and dance Tuesday night. All business<br />
sessions will be held in the Venetian<br />
room on the 14th floor of the Skirvin. Luncheons<br />
will be in the adjoining Continental<br />
room and the dinner dance will be in the<br />
Persian room.<br />
Ticket books will be on a registration basis<br />
$10 for the entire program, plus $5 for each<br />
banquet ticket additional and $2 for the<br />
fashion show. At least one prominent Hollywood<br />
actress is expected at the convention.<br />
Have you ordered your taxation trailer and<br />
petition cards from National Screen Service?<br />
Do it today.<br />
Fire Destroys Amett<br />
ARNETT. OKLA.—The Arnett Theatre<br />
here was destroyed recently by a fire which<br />
broke out after the house had been closed<br />
following a night performance. Projection<br />
and other equipment was damaged beyond repair.<br />
Owned by Lee Wilson of Shattuck. the<br />
theatre was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond<br />
Enfield. Plans for rebuilding the theatre<br />
have been started, according to Wilson.<br />
Post to W. A. Lanagan<br />
LONGVIEW. TEX.—W. A. Lanagan. former<br />
East Texas Theatres city manager, has<br />
been appointed manager of the River Road<br />
Drive-In here, which is a year-around operation.<br />
Lanagan, who retired two years ago,<br />
succeeds H. T. Wales, who has returned to<br />
Bumet, Tex., to operate several theatres.<br />
J. L. True Named Manager<br />
WAXAHACHIE. TEX.— J. L. True has been<br />
named manager for the Robb & Rowley Theatres<br />
here. Before coming here, he was manager<br />
for Taylor Amusement Co., Taylor. Tex.<br />
He was replaced in that position by H. C.<br />
Dean of Corpus Christi.<br />
GREET I)ALL.\S OFFICE M.4N.AGER—Jim Blevins, head of the Blevins Popcorn<br />
Co. and "mayor" of Popcorn Village, the section where the Blevins offices and<br />
warehouse are located in Nashville, Tenn.. was host recently to the governor of<br />
Tennessee and the Nashville mayor. In the above photo the governor and mayor<br />
greet Stormy Meadows, recently appointed manager of the Dallas office of the<br />
Blevins company. Left to right: Evans Sprott, general manager of the Bijou Amusement<br />
Co., Gov. Gordon Browning, >Iiss .Meadows, Blevins and Mayor Thomas L.<br />
Cununlngs.<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950 sw 89
. . Harold<br />
. . TOO<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
TUrrs. .Mike Comer, wife of the Screen Guild<br />
salesman here, went to Minneapolis for<br />
the funeral of her father . . . Jess Bollman<br />
sold his drive-in here to Waite Kerr of Sulphur,<br />
who will move all equipment to that<br />
city for a drive-in . . . The Cooper Foundation<br />
Vogue has returned to a double-bill film<br />
policy. The Piper Players company, which<br />
has been presenting weekly stage shows at<br />
the Vogue, moved into the Criterion for one<br />
night performance daily through Sunday.<br />
They presented "Dear Ruth." plus a screen<br />
feature.<br />
Bill O'DoneH spoke recently before the<br />
county health association here. Morris<br />
Loewenstein. TOO president, introduced<br />
O'Donnell . Lloyd was here recently<br />
to participate in the India Shrine Temple's<br />
spring ceremonial session. Lloyd led a parade<br />
and addressed the session, then he and<br />
his wife were feted at a banquet and ball.<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
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DALLAS<br />
uCIillCU Jjy \J UlUwK Duck Harris was in town beating publicity<br />
T^ATT Ao ..rr. 1 ^'^i 1 TT' i," * 1 f cirums toT U'l's "KicI<br />
.<br />
From Texas" .<br />
DALLAS— Twelve O Clock High took first ^, . , „., , ,j ,. r- , r<br />
DaUas—Stromboli (RKO), 2nd wy.Z''""'Z"l""IZ'!. 80<br />
*'''^- ^"'' Davis and her assistants had big<br />
Maiesiic—Twelve Q-Clodt High (20th-Sx)'.''Z"ZIno plans for the Saturday (4) Variety Club<br />
PatcriDaS^fng^rt'hi''Dt"\2mh^^^^^<br />
P^rty.<br />
'st<br />
Which was handled completely by<br />
Kialto—Cover Girl (Col); You Were Never Lovelier barker's Wives.<br />
(Co!), reissues 90<br />
Towe.—Backhre (<br />
WB) 95<br />
Filmrow employes made up a ca.sh purse<br />
_<br />
amounting to more than $100 last week for<br />
Two R&R City Managers Albert Plores, who suffered leg cuts after he<br />
attempted to put out a fire. Flores, who is<br />
To lU Npw l^CW riE>&i«JXlXlIt:;illb At;«5icrnmpntt!<br />
^^jtl^ ^^^^ gj^^l^ Amusement Enterprise office,<br />
DALLAS—John Callahan, who has been saw the roof on fire of the Film Exchange<br />
city manager for Robb & Rowley Theatres building at 308 South Harwood next to his<br />
in Waxahachie, has been named city man- office, and leaped out the window with a<br />
ager in Oak Cliff here. He replaces Lloyd fire extinguisher. The extinguisher caught in<br />
PuUen, who was transferred to Little Rock some building parts, and Flores was pulled<br />
as city manager there, through the skylight below the window. His<br />
legs were cut in three places, and he was<br />
''""'"'*<br />
Fire at Pecos Cactus<br />
^° * "°'p''^' ^"^ ^^'^ ^'''<br />
PECOS. TEX.—The audience filed quickly Visitors on the Row: Frank 'Wilde of the<br />
out of the Cactus Theatre here when a blaze Boulevard Theatre in Houston; Bill Arthur,<br />
started in the projection room. No estimate Grand, Granger; Gordon Bigham, Best Theof<br />
damage was made, A fireman was slight- atre, Holland; M, K, McDaniels, Lamar, Laly<br />
hurt while fighting the blaze. Marque; Wallace Blandkenship, 'Wallace Theatres,<br />
Lubbock; Dr, G, F, Swartz, Tower,<br />
Gustave Field has completed the screen- 'Wichita Falls; 'W, O, Bearden, Ai'cadia. and<br />
play for his original, "Call Me a Doctor," for P, E, Smith, Tech, Lubbock; Mrs, Don Mc-<br />
'Warner release, Ginty, Mac, Plains; Don Campbell, Rio.<br />
Clyde; Mr, and Mrs, H, H, Stroud, Strand,<br />
Hamilton; R, L. Brestick, National Theatre<br />
Supply, Memphis,<br />
Harold Lloyd, the former film comedian,<br />
was in Dallas and Fort "Worth during the<br />
week in his position as imperial potentate of<br />
the Shriners , Esquire and Wilshire,<br />
suburban theatres, held a Donald Duck cartoon<br />
festival as the highlight of the weekly<br />
kid shows , Coronet was to show two<br />
Mae "West reissues next week; "Go West,<br />
Young Man" and "Klondike Annie" . , , Dallas<br />
employes of Piocter & Gamble took over<br />
the Majestic one morning for a theatre party.<br />
John B. Thompson, theatre owner, reported<br />
on the Row a 500-seat de luxe house is now<br />
under construction at Archer City. It will<br />
be named Inez after his wife. It is expected<br />
to be completed around April 1. Thompson<br />
owns the Texan in Throckmorton and the<br />
Woodson at Woodson. He formerly owned<br />
the Royal at Archer City . . . Buddy Harris<br />
of the Buddy Harris Theatres returned from<br />
a fishing trip at Port Aransas. Fishing luck:<br />
a good catch of trout, sheephead and jackfish.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950 91
. . . Edward<br />
. . Red<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . Mart<br />
. . The<br />
. . "Always<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
Jewel Truex, Azteca Film exchange manager<br />
was on a flying business trip which took<br />
him to Albuquerque, El Paso, Dallas and Chicago<br />
last week . Gordon B. Dunlap,<br />
wife of the Clasa-Mohme exchange manager<br />
here, leaving for California where she will<br />
visit her son's family in Los Angeles. Her<br />
son, Richard Hill Dunlap is connected with<br />
the Clasa-Mohme general office.<br />
Thomas Summers, owner and operator of<br />
the Josephine Amusement Co. here, turned<br />
over his boxoffice receipts to the San Antonio<br />
council of the Knights of Columbus during<br />
the recent showing of "Christopher Columbus"<br />
at his Josephine Theatre here . . . Carmen<br />
Cavallero and his orchestra played a<br />
Washington birthday engagement at Club<br />
Sevenoaks . River Dave broadcast by<br />
remote control from the Bexar county Coliseum<br />
during the live stock exposition . . .<br />
James Rogers, son of the late Will Rogers,<br />
was here taking in the exposition and rodeo<br />
Terhune, RKO, and Bucky Harris,<br />
U-I, were here recently.<br />
Beulah Greene, Aztec Theatre cashier, is<br />
Interstate's only pianist-cashier. During the<br />
recent personal appearance of John Barrymore<br />
jr., and Lois Butler and others at the<br />
Majestic, she also doubled by playing the<br />
piano for four shows on the opening day and<br />
selling tickets at the Aztec in between time.<br />
Lenten season is, as usual, hurting business<br />
at all of the local theatres . . . San Antonio<br />
will soon have another new foreign film distributor<br />
when Martin Argentine Film Corp.<br />
opens a local branch. Juan Martin, former<br />
Argentine commercial agent, is president and<br />
general manager of the new company which<br />
will have offices also in New York City and<br />
Los Angeles. The new company has signed<br />
distribution rights for this country with ten<br />
Argentine studios.<br />
Vernon Geyer, the musician, and Richard<br />
Arlen, the actor, look as much alike to be<br />
brothers . . . The Aztec presented their first<br />
Hollywood sneak preview of the year on<br />
Washington's birthday . Cole sr.,<br />
president of Cole Theatres, is recovering from<br />
an illness at his Rosenberg home . . . Walter<br />
Grubb of San Antonio who had suffered<br />
a setback from injuries received in an auto<br />
accident in Alice last year, is now out of<br />
danger. He was a former treasurer at the<br />
Majestic here.<br />
personal appearance with the film next<br />
month . San Antonio Community Film<br />
Forum revived an oldtimer, "The Eagle" for<br />
one of its regular Wednesday showings.<br />
H. T. Brandon of New Braunfels has started<br />
construction on a 400-car drive-in on the<br />
Austin highway near New Braunfels, expected<br />
to be in operation not later than April 1 . . .<br />
The Woodlawn held a "Six to Sixty" matinee<br />
Saturday with "Young Tom Edison" as the<br />
Defective wiring in the<br />
feature attraction . . .<br />
booth of the Progreso caused a fire which<br />
routed 300 children during a Saturday morning<br />
matinee. It was quickly extinguished by<br />
projectionists before firemen were on the<br />
scene.<br />
Forrest Nine, UA salesman, Dallas, was<br />
seen on Theatrerow . . . Gustav and G. J.<br />
Mohme, of Clasa-Mohme, Inc., Los Angeles,<br />
were here enroute to Mexico City . . .<br />
Other visitors along the Mexican film exchange<br />
front were G. H. Hall, La Vista, Sonora<br />
(Mrs. Hall was undergoing medical<br />
treatment at a local hospital); Mike Garcia,<br />
Hut and Garmon, Rio Grande City: Jesse<br />
Fox, Palace, San Benito; Guillermo Mancha<br />
and Cecilio Salinas, Manvell, Alice; Ramon<br />
Ruenes, Brownsville, and Jose Carabaza, Laredo.<br />
Judd Bernard, advance man for SRO, was John Flache, who manages the Alameda.<br />
in town lining up a publicity campaign for Lamesa, was post carding to friends here telling<br />
them of his trip to romantic old Mexico<br />
the forthcoming showing of "The Third Man,"<br />
. . .<br />
with Joseph Cotten, who is slated to put in a Joseph Goldschlage, traveling representative<br />
for Clasa-Mohme. is piloting a new Lincoln<br />
and was in town last weekend. He left<br />
for the Valley where he will spend a fortnight.<br />
You have<br />
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Joe E. Brown will present his new show,<br />
"Ai:i Evening With Joe E. Brown" at the<br />
Municipal auditorium March 15. The show<br />
will benefit Sunshine Cottage, the school for<br />
deaf children Leave Them<br />
Laughing" played day and date here at five<br />
theatres; namely, the Hi-Ho, Predricksburg<br />
Road, Trail, San Pedro Outdoor and Varsity<br />
. . . Enrique Diaz, formerly with Zaragoza<br />
Amusement Co. here, now showing 16mm<br />
films at Moore, Tex.<br />
Robbers Take $1,331<br />
ROBSTOWN. TEX.—The Palace Theatre<br />
here recently was robbed of $1,331 by yeggs<br />
who pried a window open to gain entrance<br />
and then used explosives to open a safe in<br />
the office. '<br />
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Sign Guadalajara Trio<br />
Producer Hal Wallis has signed the Guadalajara<br />
Trio, a vocal and instrumental unit,<br />
for a musical sequence in Paramount's "My<br />
Friend Irma Goes West."<br />
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—<br />
800-Car Outdoor Deluxer to Occupy<br />
20-Acre Site on Galveston Island<br />
GALVESTON — Following a year-long<br />
search for a suitable site, Galveston Theatres,<br />
Inc., has acquired 20 acres on Galveston Island<br />
across from John's Oyster resort and<br />
will construct a de luxe 800-car theatre<br />
there. Herman E. Kleinecke. vice-president,<br />
said the cost will exceed $200,000. Plans have<br />
been prepared by Jack Corgan, Dallas theatre<br />
architect.<br />
Equipment will include in-car speakers,<br />
electric heaters, baby bottle warmers, a miniature<br />
golf course, children's playground and<br />
200 walk-in seats.<br />
The project involves construction of entrance<br />
and exit roadways, leaving the main<br />
highway clear for normal traffic.<br />
Grounds will be hardsurfaced and extensive<br />
landscaping will be made.<br />
Video Theatres to Open<br />
Hobart Airer April 15<br />
HOBABT, OKLA.—Hobart's new drive-in.<br />
now under construction 2'i miles northeast<br />
of here on Highway 183, will be ready for<br />
opening about April 15. says Tom Kirkham,<br />
Video Theatres manager.<br />
It will be built at first to accommodate<br />
370 cars, with additional space for enlargement<br />
to 600 cars later if needed.<br />
A Pcnils Valley Drive-In<br />
PAULS VALLEY, OKLA.—Plans for construction<br />
of a drive-in on Route 19 west of<br />
here have been disclosed by L. E. Brewer,<br />
operator of the Royal and Folly theatres<br />
here. Six acres of a 20-acre tract recently<br />
purchased by Brewer will be used for the<br />
drive-in. which is expected to cost approximately<br />
$50,000. A playground for children<br />
will be one of features of the new open air<br />
project. Construction will be started as soon<br />
as the weather permits.<br />
Drive-In for Mercedes<br />
MERCEDES. TEX.—A ten-acre tract on<br />
Mile Two road west of here has been purchased<br />
by Jewel Archer, operator of the Sky-<br />
Vue Drive-In near Elsa, as the site for an<br />
open air theatre. Construction soon will be<br />
started, and the project will be ready for<br />
opening early in the summer.<br />
Renovate San Jacinto Rex<br />
SAN JACINTO, TEX.—The remodeled Rex<br />
Theatre here has been reopened. Renovations<br />
include installation of a Cycloramic<br />
screen, a cry room, a new sound system, new<br />
carpets and draperies and black Ughted murals.<br />
Rex Theatre Reopened<br />
AMARILLO, TEX.—The Rex Theatre here,<br />
remodeling and redecorating of which has<br />
been completed, recently was reopened. A<br />
new Cycloramic screen has been installed,<br />
and new seating and carpeting are among<br />
other improvements. Technical improvements<br />
include new projection and sound equipment.<br />
R. A. McAmis is manager of the house, which<br />
is operated by the Dollison circuit.<br />
Walk-in Bldg. Opened<br />
GUYMON, OKLA.—A new glass-front<br />
building enabling walk-in patrons to watch<br />
the show inside when the weather is cool was<br />
opened at the 54 Drive-In here recently. Bill<br />
Long, owner-manager of the airer, said the<br />
building seats 252, with sufficient air circulation<br />
to permit smoking.<br />
Improve Gem Theatre<br />
ROSEBUD, TEX.—Improvement of the<br />
Gem Theatre here has been started under<br />
the supervision of T. C. Kirkscey. owner and<br />
operator. New lighting equipment has been<br />
installed, and the seating is being upholstered<br />
with new style materials. Air conditioning<br />
equipment will be installed later.<br />
Start Rogers Drive-In<br />
CLAREMORE, OKLA.—Construction work<br />
on the Rogers Drive-In being erected on<br />
Route 20 near here by Video Theatres has<br />
been started, and is expected to be completed<br />
early in the spring. Howard Jaggers<br />
will manage the drive-in.<br />
Starts Bonham Drive-In<br />
BONHAM. TEX.—Work is to begin March<br />
15 on a drive-in here by H. S. Cole, owner of<br />
the Bonham theatres, two and a half miles<br />
west of town on Highway 82. It will accommodate<br />
306 cars.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
93
Two Actors Offer Help<br />
To Senate Candidates<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—Two stars have offered<br />
to help in Oklahoma election campaigns.<br />
Roy Rogers has said he will come<br />
to Oklahoma to help the Rev. W. H. Alexander<br />
in his campaign for the Democratic nomination<br />
for U.S. senator. The pastor performed<br />
the ceremonies when Rogers and Dale<br />
Evans were married in Oklahoma in 1947.<br />
Shortly after this announcement, Senator<br />
Thomas disclosed Van Heflin had offered to<br />
visit Oklahoma in his behalf to win back the<br />
senate seat. Van's brother Marty is an old<br />
friend and former employe of Senator<br />
Thomas.<br />
In the Democratic race, that leaves Mike<br />
Monroney, now serving in Congress.<br />
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Gaetano Lucchese Wins<br />
Citizen of Week Honor<br />
SAN ANTONIO—Gaetano Lucchese, owner<br />
of the Alameda Theatre here which is one<br />
year old March 9, was recently named "Citizen<br />
of the Week" by the Council for Pan-<br />
American Relations. The diploma is presented<br />
weekly to the person selected by the<br />
council as having done the most to better<br />
relations between Latin-American and Anglo-<br />
Saxon elements in the city. The presentation<br />
was made by Mrs. Preston Dial, president<br />
of the council, and the ceremony was<br />
broadcast over radio station KIWW.<br />
Roadblocks Fail as Trap<br />
For Robber at Chickasha<br />
CmCKASHA, OKLA.—The highway patrol<br />
set up roadblocks surrounding this city to<br />
stop a man who robbed two theatres within<br />
a minute, but patrolmen failed to catch their<br />
quarry.<br />
Police said the rnan stuck up the Fix<br />
Theatre downtown and a few seconds later<br />
hijacked the Ritz Theatre a few doors away.<br />
He then drove away in a two-door sedan.<br />
Officers said the man was described as about<br />
25, five feet, eight inches tall and weighed<br />
about 165 pounds. The patrol reported the description<br />
is similar to that of a man who<br />
robbed the Mayflower in Oklahoma City of<br />
$125 the week before.<br />
It was not certain how much was taken<br />
at the two local theatres, although officials<br />
of the F>ix estimated their loss at only $22.<br />
C. E. Cambell Builds Airer<br />
NOCONA, TEX.—C. E. Cambell is building<br />
a new drive-in on the city limits of Nocona.<br />
The ozoner will cost $35,000 and is slated for<br />
opening April 1. All new Century equipment<br />
has been purchased from Harden Theatre<br />
Supply. The drive-in will be equipped with<br />
in-car speakers.<br />
Drive-In
VISIT IN HOLLAND—W. J. Van Wyk,<br />
owner of the Pic Theatre in Centerville,<br />
Tex., and his family recently visited Holland<br />
and various other European countries.<br />
Shown left to right in the accompanying<br />
picture, made in Volendam, are<br />
Van Wyk, his wife, their son and Mrs.<br />
O. W. Broersma, Amsterdam, a cousin of<br />
Van Wyk.<br />
Benefit at Don Theatre<br />
Nets $450 for Charity<br />
SHREVEPORT—More than 900<br />
youngster.s<br />
and their parents attended the benefit staged<br />
at the Don Tlieatre here for the Caddo Foundation<br />
for Exceptional Children. The program<br />
netted about $4.50 for the foundation.<br />
A feature of the program was the appearance<br />
of the Masked Texan L. S. Ranger and<br />
his Ai-abian stallion Silver Chief. The Texan<br />
and his horse have been giving local exhibitions<br />
at several theatres here and have been<br />
well received. Also included on the program<br />
were five cartoons and a number of KWKH<br />
radio entertainers.<br />
W. A. Wingo. manager of the Don, and<br />
Doyle Maynard. district manager of Don Theatres,<br />
arranged the show. Don George said<br />
afterward that he intended to make the<br />
roundup an annual affair for the foundation.<br />
"Next year we'll stage it in the Municipal<br />
auditorium." he said. "We didn't realize we'd<br />
get such a heavy turnout."<br />
The foundation, which operates educational<br />
and therapeutic programs for physically<br />
handicapped children, is conducting a drive<br />
to raise $35,000 for financing of 1950-51 operations.<br />
'Pinky' Ban at Talladega<br />
On Advice of Committee<br />
TALLADEGA. — ALA. "Knky" was banned<br />
by the Ritz Theatre here after a special<br />
showing for a representative group of citizens.<br />
Manager Trammell Leverette of the Martin<br />
house said the Ritz would not .show the picture<br />
at the request of Police Chief Willis<br />
Dean, who headed the committee of officers,<br />
clergymen and the press. Dean said that the<br />
majority with whom he talked considered it<br />
inadvisable to show the racial film.<br />
Leverette. in advertising the picture, said<br />
that the theatre was not participating in a<br />
crusade of any kind. The film had been<br />
booked for March 1-3.<br />
29 Cities Have Requested<br />
Prints of Unmade Film<br />
MIAMI—There's a rush on for prints of a<br />
20-minute film showing Miami's attractions<br />
for summer and winter vacationists, and as<br />
a convention center even before the film has<br />
been made.<br />
Hoite Agey, city publicity director, said<br />
that 47 television stations in 29 cities representing<br />
25 states have requested prints. Production<br />
of the film at a cost of $8,700 was<br />
authorized by the city commission.<br />
Among early television requests were inquiries<br />
sent in by four California stations.<br />
Three airlines and three railroads also have<br />
asked for prints.<br />
Cities requesting the film for television are<br />
Newark. Jacksonville, Atlanta, New York,<br />
Charlotte. Memphis, Omaha, Wilmington.<br />
Baltimore, Hollywood, Syracuse, Johnstown,<br />
Washington, Philadelphia, Greensboro, N. C,<br />
San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis,<br />
Grand Rapids, Rochester, Salt Lake<br />
City, Toledo, St. Louis, Detroit, Buffalo, Cincinnati,<br />
Indianapolis and Birmingham.<br />
Martin Chain Official<br />
C. L. Patrick Is Speaker<br />
PIEDMONT. ALA.—C. L. Patrick, secretary-treasurer<br />
of Martin Theatres, spoke at<br />
a recent meeting of the Piedmont Lions club.<br />
He asserted the motion picture industry has<br />
long since passed the stage of a business to<br />
become an institution of entertainment and<br />
culture.<br />
Patrick, standing .squarely behind the industry<br />
as one of America's recognized and<br />
established institutions, emphasized the industry's<br />
economic potential as well as its entertainment<br />
factor.<br />
The speaker acknowledged the critical<br />
trend of the public toward the private lives<br />
of its stars. He pointed out, however, that<br />
with all the emphasis which has been placed<br />
on the divorce score of Hollywood stars, the<br />
national average is far higher than that of<br />
film actors.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 95
Tell . . and Sell<br />
Scores of busy little messages<br />
go out every week to over 23,000<br />
subscribers —and they get a tremendous<br />
response!<br />
Every exhibitor is<br />
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96 BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950
Florida State Sells<br />
Two of Its Houses<br />
ST. PETERSBURG—Florida State Theatres<br />
has disposed of two of its local holdings,<br />
according to Lamar Sarra of Jacksonville,<br />
attorney for FST. Tlie Ninth Street Theatre<br />
property, 1112-1116 Ninth St. north, has been<br />
sold to the Florida Commercial Ti-ailer Corp..<br />
headed by Robert A. James and Robert W.<br />
Evans.<br />
FST also canceled a ten-year lease, effective<br />
March 1 on the Beach, owned by Stephen S.<br />
Girard of Gulf Beaches. The lease has been<br />
in effect since 1941. James, head of the<br />
James Construction Co.. said the purchase<br />
price was about $27,000. "We plan no immediate<br />
change in the building or property.<br />
However, we do plan to renovate the 330-seat<br />
theatre in the near future," he said.<br />
The Ninth Street Theatre, constructed in<br />
1929. opened for business in September that<br />
year. Florida Coastal Theatres, predecessor<br />
to FST. purchased the building in 1946 at a<br />
cost of approximately $20,000. from Harry C.<br />
Parker, Vermont. The corporation held the<br />
theatre property under lease several years<br />
prior to 1946. The theatre has been closed<br />
several months.<br />
The Beach, first sound-equipped theatre to<br />
be built on the Gulf Beaches, was constructed<br />
in 1939 by Girard at a cost of over $35,000.<br />
The theatre opened in 1940 under the management<br />
of F. H. Alig jr., president of the<br />
Beach Amusement. Inc.. theatre operator.<br />
Girard will continue operation of the beach.<br />
His son-in-law Edward Moran, Redington<br />
Beach, will be the manager.<br />
FST, headed by President Leon D. Netter.<br />
Ponte Vedra Beach and Jacksonville, is a subsidiary<br />
of United Paramount Theatres, divorced<br />
corporation from Paramoimt Pictures.<br />
After March 1. FST will control the Plaza, raising.<br />
Florida Theatre building, Roxy Theatre<br />
building. Fourth Street North Drive-In, Capitol,<br />
Pheil, Harlem and Cameo.<br />
Jenkins Theatres Get<br />
$28,200 in Dimes Drive<br />
ATLANTA—William K. Jenkins, president<br />
of the Georgia Theatre Co.. has turned over<br />
to the Georgia chapter of the National<br />
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, $28,220.80<br />
collected by his company's theatres in the<br />
March of Dimes campaign.<br />
Jenkins has served as chairman of the<br />
state chapter for two years and has been one<br />
of the Foundation's stanchest workers.<br />
R. M. Ware Is Transferred<br />
To Jacksonville, Fla.<br />
BIRMINGHAM—After three years in<br />
Alabama<br />
and Tennessee as salesman for Southeastern<br />
Theatre Equipment Co.. R. M. Ware<br />
has been transferred. He is now manager<br />
of the company's Florida office at 625 West<br />
Bay St. in Jacksonville. Ware's .succe.s.sor in<br />
Alabama and Tennessee will be announced<br />
later.<br />
Good Key West Total<br />
KEY WEST. FLA.—The total funds derived<br />
from the March of Dimes drive here is<br />
expected to exceed $10,000. Managers of the<br />
major theatres of the city are Ignatio Carbonell.<br />
Strand; Gonzalo Bezanillo, Palace, and<br />
John Carbonell, Monroe.<br />
Georgia Industry Again<br />
Backs Boys Home Drive<br />
E. D. Martin, chairman of the exhibitors committee for the Boys Estate fund<br />
drive; J. H. "Tommy" Thompson, general chairman; Roy Martin jr. and C. L. Patrick<br />
of Martin Theatres.<br />
ATLANTA—Tlie motion picture industry<br />
of Georgia again stepped behind the campaign<br />
to raise $150,000 for support of Boys<br />
Estate, philanthropic institution for youth<br />
at Boys Estate, Ga.<br />
Following adoption by directors of the<br />
Variety Club of the project, a group of about<br />
40 exhibitors, distributor repre.sentatives and<br />
radio men met at the Variety clubrooms to<br />
organize activities in behalf of the fund<br />
General chairman for the industry is J. H.<br />
Thompson, head of Martin & Thompson<br />
Theatres, with William K. Jenkins, head of<br />
the Georgia Theatre Co.. and Willis Davis<br />
as co-chairmen.<br />
E. D. Martin of Martin Theatres and<br />
O. C. Lam of Rome were appointed chairmen<br />
of the exhibitors committee with the<br />
following as members: John Thompson, John<br />
Hackney. Nat Hancock, Bill Bo.swell. Pete<br />
Brice. Harold Spears. Cecil Crummy and<br />
W. M. Snelson. Paul Wilson was named<br />
chairman of the distributor committee with<br />
A. B. Padgett. Jimmy Hobbs. co-chairmen.<br />
Joy Houck Granted Permit<br />
For Shreveport Drive-In<br />
SHREVEPORT—A drive-in to be located<br />
at one of the busiest intersections away from<br />
downtown Shreveport will be constructed<br />
near the intersection of Texas avenue and<br />
Mansfield road. A permit for $10,000 for preliminary<br />
work only has been issued to Joy<br />
Houck, president of Joy Theatres.<br />
The theatre will be built on land east of<br />
Alamo Plaza tourist courts. Houck. who is<br />
moving to Shreveport soon, is expected to<br />
make an announcement concerning the new<br />
theatre in the near future.<br />
Organizes Riders Club<br />
VERO BEACH. FLA.—Manager Archie<br />
Adams jr. has organized a Roy Rogers Riders<br />
club at the Florida Theatre.<br />
Ardele Nation, administrator and founder<br />
of Boys Estate, gave a brief history of the<br />
institution at the meeting. Guy Brown, chief<br />
barker of the Variety Club, assured that<br />
organization's cooperation. Lee Rogers, managing<br />
editor of the Atlanta Constitution,<br />
pledged -support, and Ed Mullinax. president<br />
of the Georgia Broadcasters Ass'n, asserted<br />
the radio men would go along 100 per cent.<br />
Lauren Norvel. motion picture editor of<br />
the Journal, said the Boys Estate campaign<br />
is one of the finest efforts the industry could<br />
sponsor, and pledged the cooperation of the<br />
Journal, as did Ernest Rogers, also of the<br />
Journal.<br />
Jenkins, a member of the board of trustees<br />
of Boys Estate, offered the entire receipts<br />
from any motion picture premiere in<br />
Atlanta for one day to the fund.<br />
Modeled on the late Father Flanagan's<br />
Boys Town near Omaha. Neb., Boys Estate<br />
was founded in 1945 and was approved by<br />
the state legislature the following year. Last<br />
year it accommodated 36 boys and had 500<br />
applications for entrance.<br />
Essex and Paper Sponsor<br />
Miami Springs Youth Club<br />
MIAMI SPRINGS—The Home News and<br />
the E.ssex Theatre are cooperating in sponsoring<br />
a Successful Youth club for youngsters<br />
here. Members of the Home News-Essex<br />
Theatre club are given numbered membership<br />
cards. Each week "Uncle Oakie," theatre<br />
manager, posts 25 numbers on a blackboard<br />
in front of the theatre. Holders of<br />
cards with these numbers will be admitted<br />
free to the next Saturday's matinee.<br />
The theatre also offers free tickets as rewards<br />
for certain activities. Monitors are<br />
selected from among the members to maintain<br />
order during the performances. Free<br />
admission is given the monitors, both boys<br />
and girls, who wear a special arm band as a<br />
distinguishing mark.<br />
BOXOFHCE March 4, 1950<br />
97
manager<br />
in<br />
YOU<br />
DONT<br />
KNOW<br />
WHAT<br />
YOU'RE<br />
MISSING...<br />
'TIL YOU TRY<br />
By HARRY HART<br />
HART BEATS<br />
'<br />
QUICKER<br />
ABETTER'<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Chicago - 1327 S. Wabash Avenue<br />
New York - 619 West 54th Street<br />
beautification. The old tower will be retained.<br />
Mrs. Britton does the booking while her<br />
husband acts as general manager. They expect<br />
to build another outdoor theatre on the<br />
Dale Mabry drive.<br />
JJtR AND MRS. S. E. BRITTON were completely<br />
remodeling their 700-car Auto<br />
Park Drive-In near Tampa from the front<br />
to the back, including<br />
a new screen tower.<br />
The tower stands H. E. Laird, manager at Tampa of the<br />
across an arm of the Republic office there, was in Jacksonville<br />
bay from the parking for a few days when I called. Thomas J.<br />
grounds, making it<br />
Gerard, the office manager, spoke pridefully<br />
possible for people to of Tom jr., born recently.<br />
come by boat, fish or<br />
swim before the show<br />
P.<br />
starts, then hook up<br />
H. Patrick of the Patrick Neon Displays,<br />
Inc., escorted me around his sign<br />
a speaker and watch<br />
and metal fabricating shop in Tampa, one<br />
the picture.<br />
of the<br />
Improvements were<br />
most modern in the southeast and<br />
staffed with skilled workmen. Patrick makes<br />
to include a new 60-<br />
Harry Hart a prefab boxoffice, complete with telephone<br />
jqqj concession stand.<br />
and electric wiring and ready to set on a<br />
Gulf Coast Candy Co. handles the concessions.<br />
In-car speakers are replacing the old-<br />
concrete base. Any style or shape can be<br />
rnade.<br />
type blast system. Cyclone fencing is being<br />
The spic-and-span neon shop was amazing<br />
erected around the grounds except along<br />
for its efficient look. Patrick emphasized the<br />
the 1,000-foot frontage on the bay, where<br />
sturdiness of his product. Patrick, long in sign<br />
oldtime wood rails, neon-lighted, are being<br />
work in the southwest, established the Tampa<br />
used. The latter is part of the extensive<br />
shop in 1945.<br />
Ray Busier, owner of United Theatre Supply<br />
Corp. at Tampa, furnished equipment<br />
for the 41 Drive-In at Brooksville and the<br />
Murrell Amusement Co. drive-in at Lakeland.<br />
The latter theatre was expected to be opened<br />
March 1.<br />
He also installed new equipment in the<br />
remodeling of the Lacoochee Theatre.<br />
20% MORE LIGHT<br />
and BETTER VISION from<br />
EVERY SEAT!<br />
CYCLWAMIC<br />
Ray Coleman passed through Tampa en<br />
route to Sarasota.<br />
Dick Thorstad, manager, supervised installation<br />
of in-car speakers at the Hillsboro<br />
Drive-In, replacing the old underground<br />
speaker system. Florida States also planned<br />
to erect a new attraction board at the Hillsboro,<br />
the oldest outdoor theatre in the Tampa<br />
area. It is beautiful with flowers and also<br />
lias a barbecue pit.<br />
J. G. McPherson, who operates the Roxy<br />
with his wife and son, said federal taxes are<br />
dangerously close to forcing some theatres<br />
to fold.<br />
The mother of J. M. McKinney jr. of the<br />
Princess Theatre at Cross City was at the<br />
boxoffice when I called. She said J. M. was<br />
at a local basketball game. He will marry<br />
Beverly Watson June 8. The Princess recently<br />
was reseated, recarpeted and redecorated<br />
inside and out. The elder Mrs. Mc-<br />
Kinney has been selling tickets 25 years.<br />
The son also is vice-president of the Dixie<br />
County State bank.<br />
Rosalie Condon, manager of the M&M<br />
circuit's Valeria Theatre in Inverness, was<br />
working on a fashion show which the American<br />
Legion auxiliary and a local department<br />
store will sponsor on the Valeria stage.<br />
Manager Condon awards passes monthly<br />
to the local high .school student making the<br />
highest grades. She arranged a special matinee<br />
for "Christopher Columbus," with the<br />
schools using their buses to bring the children.<br />
L. C. Yeomans, representative in the state<br />
legislature, owns and operates the Regent<br />
Theatre in Crystal River. He will reseat and<br />
redecorate in the near future. He led a fight<br />
against theatre tax in the last session of the<br />
assembly.<br />
Manager R. M. Gait of the Clearwater<br />
Drive-In was planning an early run of "Joan<br />
of Arc" at the Raulerson situation.<br />
G. M. Bennett, manager of the Palm Theatre<br />
at Dunedin, had just returned from Middleville,<br />
Mich., where he had gone to bring<br />
back his wife and baby, there since Christmas<br />
on a visit. The 650-seat Palm has beautiful<br />
carpeting and murals and a pipe organ.<br />
Stephen S. Girard, who built the Beach at<br />
St. Petersburg nine years ago, arranged to<br />
terminate the Florida State Theatres lease<br />
on the house March 1 and will operate it in<br />
association with his son-in-law.<br />
He is renovating the house with new seats,<br />
new marquee and front, new neon sign and<br />
redecoration inside and out.<br />
J. J. Donnelly of the Gulf Wind Drive-In<br />
has a tieup with St. Petersburg merchants<br />
for a giveaway every Tuesday night. In return<br />
for merchandise he gives them plugs on<br />
the public address system. He said results<br />
are better if the winner is required to go to<br />
the donor to get the prize. The Gulf Wind<br />
accommodates 106 cars and 49 walk-ins.<br />
Sam Stratos of the Jefferson at Monticello,<br />
Fla., was getting ready to go to<br />
Starke, where he owns the Park Theatre. The<br />
Jefferson front recently was repainted and<br />
the screen cleaned. At the Park the front<br />
and lobby were repainted just before a five-<br />
^-•~.^;x:::x-:i<br />
^^'-^'-^^<br />
day run of "The Red Shoes."<br />
Perfect sound<br />
Long Unes of patrons were standmg three<br />
of Visisii Eliraination TransraissiOD •<br />
Backstage Reierteration Perfect m Front deep before the Florida Theatre m Talla-<br />
• Rows Better Side Visioa hassee to see "Cinderella." W. Perry Neal,<br />
of the Talgar circuit house,<br />
i<br />
-nj-<br />
THE MAblC ukACtr' 5(.RebN crDEEKI rtB Or<br />
jg ^.gn known in the industry. He's been<br />
j<br />
THE FUTURE .... NOW! show business since he was 12 years<br />
]<br />
old, and he first ran a projector that<br />
the film off into a sack. Neal does the<br />
Iran art work for theatres in Tallahassee and<br />
builds shadow boxes. He also does the art<br />
work on newspaper ads and says he uses<br />
lots of material from BOXOFFICE.<br />
Neal has applied for a patent on the Christ-<br />
98<br />
BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950
. . . Young<br />
. . Vernon<br />
. . Vandals<br />
. . Harlow<br />
. . . Warner<br />
. . . "Sergeant<br />
. . Oscar<br />
. . "The<br />
. .<br />
mas tree he originated for the theatre lobby.<br />
He says he has had many requests from theatremen<br />
for trees like it. Neal was born in<br />
Amory, Miss. He says the Florida has done<br />
fine business on "Battleground."<br />
Neal has contacted many of his old friends<br />
since an article about him appeared in BOX-<br />
OFFICE . Carter has been transferred<br />
from the drive-in at Winter Haven,<br />
Fla.. to the State Theatre in Tallahassee.<br />
He's trying out the idea of a midniglit show<br />
on Saturday night. It's a horror show and<br />
Carter says his patrons already are starting<br />
to call him "Spook."<br />
A. P. Talley, city manager in Tallahassee<br />
for Talgar ciicuit, has been in show business<br />
since 1919, but has been in ill health<br />
for some time. Nevertheless, he's still never<br />
too busy or too tired to talk about show<br />
business. Buddy Green manages the Ritz.<br />
He's a newcomer with the circuit, and Talley<br />
says he's doing a fine job.<br />
E. S. Winburn of Mayo, Fla., is building<br />
a new drive-in at Gainesville, but he wasn't<br />
around when I stopped by . Land,<br />
who owns the Mayo at Mayo and the Branford<br />
at Branford, the Capital at Ti'enton and<br />
the Chiefland at Chiefland. says he is putting<br />
in concession stand and equipment as<br />
soon as possible. Some remodeling will be<br />
done at the Chiefland.<br />
Ellen Mullett, manager of the Chiefland,<br />
packed them in with "Wizard of Oz." She<br />
tied in with local schools, which furnished<br />
buses to transport the children to the show.<br />
Ellen soon will be competing for the Showmandiser<br />
awards . . . R. E. Cannon of Live<br />
Oak, Fla., was in Atlanta booking, but his<br />
wife told me of plans to build a new drivein<br />
there . have broken into the<br />
concession stand at the Lake City, Fla., drivein<br />
twice. Both times a quantity of food,<br />
cigarets and money was taken.<br />
Manager Winston Willis was pleased with<br />
the results he was getting for his Park in<br />
Pelham, Ga., from the use of a sound truck<br />
Nat Williams rolled out the welcome<br />
met at Interstate Enterprises Hi-Way<br />
Drive-In in Thomasville, Ga., bringing coffee<br />
out to serve. The elder Nat has a beautiful<br />
set of offices in the screen tower. He was<br />
out doing some work among the poor of the<br />
community, but came in later and told us<br />
that the 373-car airer is replacing present<br />
speakers with RCA in-car speakers. The<br />
ozoner recently was paved and the company<br />
will let a contract soon to rebuild the house<br />
at Meigs that burned last year.<br />
L. W. McClung, vice-president of Dixie<br />
Theatre Service and Supply Co. of Albany.<br />
Ga., reported present office and warehouse<br />
facihties will be more than doubled by an addition<br />
now under construction. Dixie is furnishing<br />
Autocrat speakers and Snaplite lens<br />
for the drive-in being built at Alanby by the<br />
Gortawosky brothers and new Autocrats for<br />
the Adel, Ga., drive-in.<br />
AMERICAN DESK<br />
MANUFACTURING COMPANY<br />
Mr. W. A. PrewiM, Jr., 223 South Liberty St.<br />
New Orleans. La. Ph: TULane 1101<br />
JACKSONVILLE<br />
'LJugh Owen, division manager for Paramount,<br />
is expected to check in next week<br />
and Paramount employes were<br />
given a holiday on Washington's birthday .<br />
Fred Mathis was in town . . . Howard Pettengill<br />
is on a business trip through the<br />
circuit of Florida State Theatres to promote<br />
"Samson and Delilah."<br />
. . Walter of Paramount<br />
Jackson Barret, Monogram representative,<br />
conferred with O. G. Griner of Talgar theatrical<br />
agency Morgan, head of<br />
.<br />
Paramount short subjects in New York, was<br />
a recent visitor . . . Bill HoUday, Paramount<br />
head man here, returned after<br />
Mack<br />
a business<br />
trip to Tampa .<br />
tells of plans to be married in the<br />
near future.<br />
Vaughn Monroe and the Camel Caravan<br />
made a one-day appearance on the stage<br />
of the Florida . . . "Francis," much publicized<br />
around Jacksonville, opened for a<br />
.<br />
week's run at the St. John's Great<br />
Lover" was being shown simultaneously at<br />
the Capitol and Fairfax, suburban theatres<br />
York" is being billed at the<br />
Atlantic Drive-In.<br />
Harry Ballance was in to visit Leon Netter,<br />
acting vice-president of Florida State Theatres<br />
. . B. R. Goodman and W. L. Williamson<br />
.<br />
recently visited the Warner exchange<br />
. Letta Glascock has resigned from Warner<br />
. .<br />
Bros, to play baseball on the Jackson-<br />
ville Ball club. Joyce Minton has replaced<br />
Glascock ... Sid Mesibov was in for "Samson<br />
and Delilah" publicity. Mesibov is exploitation<br />
manager for Paramount.<br />
. . Herb<br />
Ernest Sands has returned to Warner Bros,<br />
office from New York, where he attended the<br />
Pickman<br />
funeral of his brother<br />
has completed a<br />
.<br />
promotion campaign for<br />
Warners on "Tlie Hasty Heart," which will<br />
open next month . . . Russ Morgan, RKO<br />
representative, was in to complete promotion<br />
on "The Outlaw." The film was given<br />
the "green light" to be shown here after<br />
three years controversy.<br />
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ATLANTA—Despite rainy weather, trade at<br />
first runs in general here showed improvement.<br />
"Dear Wife" at the Fox rang up a<br />
lively 115 per cent to pace the newcomers.<br />
"Key to the City" at the Grand registered<br />
112 per cent.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Fox—Deoi Wife (Para) 115<br />
Grand—Key to the City (MGM) - 112<br />
Paramounl—The Sundowners (EL) 110<br />
Roxy—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t.<br />
wk 102<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
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CHARLOTTE—300 West 3rd St.<br />
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MEMPHIS—410 South 2nd St.<br />
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NEW ORLEANS—218 S. Liberty St.<br />
MAgnolia 6187<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950 99
. .<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
TJfrs. \V. F. Ruffin sr., associated with her rectors in Memphis so that the Midsouth Allied<br />
convention can be called for the same<br />
husband and son in the Ruffin Amusements<br />
Co. circuit, Covington, is recovering at time. The meetings will be in May.<br />
Methodist hospital here after an operation.<br />
Strand went into a third week of "Samson<br />
Her husband and son have been at her bedside<br />
. . . Mrs. Webber Hall, wife of the 20th-<br />
and Delilah," rare for Memphis. Warner held<br />
over "Montana" for a second week. Malco<br />
Fox newsreel cameraman, has been taken<br />
had Henry Busse's stage show. All first runs<br />
home from Methodist hospital following an reported improved business . . . Joe Simon,<br />
operation.<br />
manager of the Ritz, entertained an old<br />
friend. Merle Evans, maestro of Ringling circus.<br />
Simon spent 15 years with the circus.<br />
A. Burch, owner, has reopened Burch Theatre,<br />
Rives, Mo., which was closed because of<br />
Arkansas flood conditions. Burch reports<br />
that the high water situation is much improved<br />
in his section . . . H. G. Alvarez,<br />
Greenwood, Miss., has purchased the Palace<br />
there from Charles Nelson. Alvarez has<br />
closed his New Theatre at Greenwood .<br />
E. O. CuUins, president of Allied Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of the Midsouth, is up and<br />
about after a severe attack of influenza. Cullins<br />
is trying to get dates fixed for the spring<br />
meeting of the national Allied board of di-<br />
Now Distributing<br />
In<br />
Memphis Film Area<br />
Write for Details<br />
TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
320 So. Second, Memphis, Tenn.<br />
Winfield Snelson, manager for Republic<br />
several years ago and now operator of a theatre<br />
in Taccoa, Ga., was a visitor . . . Paul T.<br />
Myers has bought Center, Lexington, Miss.,<br />
from Leon Roundtree and has arranged to<br />
book and buy in Memphis . . . J. F. Singleton.<br />
Tyro, Tyronza, Ark., was in town with his son<br />
Jimmie, who is learning the theatre business<br />
from his father. They booked together and<br />
purchased some new supplies . . . Henley and<br />
Burris Smith, brothers. Imperial, Pocahontas,<br />
Ark., were in town on business.<br />
W. E. Ringgcr, Gem at Leachville and Gem<br />
at Lake City; Dovie Lee, Dycss. Dyess; Roy<br />
Cochran, Ju-Roy, North Little Rock; Moses<br />
Sliman, Lux at Luxora and Murr at Osceola;<br />
Wake Newsum, Dixie, Marmaduke, and Truman<br />
Pratt, who recently bought the Royal at<br />
Light, Ark., from S. D. Thorn were other<br />
Arkansas exhibitors seen on Filmrow.<br />
From Tennessee came Louise Mask. Luez,<br />
Bolivar; W. O. Taylor, Uptown. Dresden;<br />
M. E. Rice jr.. Rice, Brownsville; Amelia Ellis,<br />
Mason, Mason: Hobart Goff, Rustic, Parsons,<br />
and N. B. Fair. Fair, Somerville . . .<br />
Paul Myers. Strand and Center, Lexington,<br />
and M. Jourdan, Majestic, luka, were here<br />
from Mississippi. James Seay. Grand. Cardwell,<br />
Mo., was in town.<br />
Hillis Holmes, office manager for MGM,<br />
has been promoted to company salesman.<br />
Carl Skaggs, booker, has been moved up to<br />
office manager and Laura Butler has been<br />
promoted to booker.<br />
Your Best Buy is Griggs' New 30-Line Chair!<br />
with the self' rising seat!<br />
A brand new chair for finer theatres.<br />
Well constructed, comfortable, good<br />
looking, reasonably priced. This chair<br />
is equipped with automatic self-rising<br />
seat. For complete information<br />
See Tom Robertson<br />
in our Memphis, Tenn., office at<br />
410 S. Second St., Phone 8-1770<br />
See Alon Boyd<br />
Louisiana and Southern Mississippi Exhibitors:<br />
Alon Boyd, Box 213 Cedar Grove Station,<br />
Ph. 6101, Shreveport, La.<br />
'Francis' Opening Gets<br />
Rash of Publicity<br />
MIAMI—The opening of "Francis" at Wometco's<br />
Miami, Lincoln and Miracle theatres,<br />
brought out such a rash of publicity<br />
that it seemed impossible to read any newspaper<br />
story that didn't have the army mule<br />
in it somewhere. The circuit's publicity department<br />
plus Sonny Shepherd's fertile imagination<br />
produced feature stories, front-page<br />
stories, a reception in Francis' honor and a<br />
personal appearance of the famous mule at<br />
the Miami.<br />
Persuading the four-legged star to enter<br />
the theatre was one of the lesser difficulties<br />
of launching the highly heralded film. Local<br />
nonreaders didn't even escape the flood of<br />
mule stories, with spot announcements on<br />
all<br />
the radio stations.<br />
The first 100 women ticket holders at the<br />
Miami, Lincoln and Miracle on opening day<br />
received copper Moscow Mule mugs. In each<br />
mug was a coupon entitling them to a free<br />
Moscow Mule at a Miami or a Miami Beach<br />
cocktail lounge.<br />
A reception was held for Francis at an<br />
ocean-front hotel, attended by press agents,<br />
reporters, photographers, bathing beauties<br />
and a singer of "Mule Ti-ain." A large picture<br />
of Francis and a three-column "interview"<br />
appeared in the evening paper.<br />
A beef<br />
was registered in the interview by the mule<br />
who says the studio is trying to type her.<br />
With the help of the makeup department she<br />
thinks she should play the part of the horse<br />
in a forthcoming Lassie picture.<br />
Malco to Start Construction<br />
McGHEE. ARK.—M. F. Malco Tlieatres<br />
will start construction of the new $100,000<br />
Malco Theatre on North First street March<br />
15. It will be operated by McGehee Enterprises,<br />
subsidiary of Malco.<br />
C. B. King, manager of the Ritz here for<br />
the last nine years, will manage the new<br />
theatre. The company will continue to operate<br />
the Ritz.<br />
Jubilee Nominees on Stage<br />
COCOA. FLA.—Eight young couples nominated<br />
by civic organizations for king and<br />
queen of the Orange Jubilee appeared on the<br />
stage of the State Theatre on a recent Sunday<br />
night. Ralph Ellinor. manager, is a member<br />
of the subcommittee of the Orange Jubilee<br />
which reached its climax this week. February<br />
24 to March 1.<br />
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100 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . Cameron<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. .<br />
BIRMINGHAM<br />
lyranager J. W. McDanal has introduced<br />
television at the lounges in the Melba,<br />
the first installation of its kind in Birmingham.<br />
Tlie Empire, another Acme house, is<br />
slated to get television later . . . Mrs. Irene<br />
Lavett, former cashier at the Galax, is the<br />
mother of a baby girl.<br />
Film stars have been popping in and out<br />
of Birmingham with regularity. First was<br />
Franchot Tone, here plugging "The Man on<br />
the Eiffel Tower." Then came Henry Wilcoxon<br />
for one stop on his tour of 12 southern<br />
cities in behalf of "Samson and Delilah."<br />
The film failed to arrive from Atlanta for a<br />
special showing, so Manager Bill Coury rescheduled<br />
the film for the next day at the<br />
Ritz.<br />
Cornel Wilde and his wife Patricia Knight<br />
were here to appear in the cotton style show<br />
sponsored by the Birmingham News. Russ<br />
Morgan. RKO publicist, handled their appearance<br />
and also did some plugging for<br />
"Cinderella" and "Tarzan" . . Prank V.<br />
.<br />
Merritt, general manager for Acme Theatres,<br />
was ill at his home . Price, RKO<br />
salesman, also was doing the town.<br />
It's<br />
New!<br />
It's<br />
Beautiful!<br />
It's<br />
Comfortable!<br />
It's Economical!<br />
J. W. Powers of the Star. Cedar Bluff;<br />
James Cagle, Higgs Theatres, Pell City; J. S.<br />
Yerby. Calera and Joy, Siluria; V. C. Oden,<br />
Ti-afford, Ti-afford, and G. H. Rollins, Varsity<br />
Drive-In. Tuscaloosa, were among Alabama<br />
exhibitors in town . . . J. R. Hoff, factory<br />
representative of the Ballantyne Co., also<br />
was calling on the trade here.<br />
William J. Hampton, manager of the Galax,<br />
arranged three screenings to promote "Pi-ince<br />
of Peace." He gave the showings at Birmingham-Southern<br />
college. Highlands Methodist<br />
church and Woodlawn Methodist church .<br />
Confirming rumors, the Birmingham Theatre,<br />
a Negro house in the downtown district, one<br />
of the city's oldest, is being torn down to<br />
make room for a parking lot. The property<br />
was sold by the Panta Corp. to an unnamed<br />
purchaser for an undisclosed price.<br />
T. W. Williams, Waters Theatre Co., left<br />
on an extended trip to Florida . Ella<br />
L. Forrester is new receptionist in the Waters<br />
circuit offices. She replaces Inez Barnett who<br />
will be married soon.<br />
Rob Dermott, Ark., Theatre<br />
DERMOTT, ARK.—Mrs. C. D. Bates, ticket<br />
.seller at the Allied Theatre here, was forced<br />
to hand over $112 to a man armed with a<br />
pistol at the theatre about 9 p. m. recently.<br />
Donald Wren, manager of the theatre, wrote<br />
down the tag number on the car in which<br />
the holdup man made his getaway and a suspect<br />
was arrested the next day.<br />
Ralph L. Puckhaber Weds<br />
WEST PALM BEACH—Ralph L. Puckhaber,<br />
manager of the Florida State Palace<br />
here, will marry Mrs. Doris Douglas of Toledo<br />
at the Memorial Presbyterian church<br />
here Sunday (5i. "Puck" has been with the<br />
Florida State since 1938 and has spent much<br />
of his time in Orlando. Mrs. Douglas is associated<br />
with the Walgreen Drug Co. in Toledo.<br />
Fire at Ocala Drive-In<br />
OCALA, FLA.—Fire damaged the concession<br />
stand and projection booth recently at<br />
the South 441 Drive-In. An expressman delivering<br />
films discovered the blaze, which apparently<br />
started in the hot dog warmer.<br />
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DRIVE-IN THEATRE COMBINATION ENTRANCE<br />
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Free Passes for Names<br />
GREENVILLE. ALA.—C. G. Carden. manager<br />
of the Lake here, is awarding passes to<br />
persons whose names appear scrambled in<br />
the classified columns of the Delta Democrat-<br />
Times. Carden said that persons whose names<br />
appear in the paper will receive pas.ses to<br />
any attraction appearing at the Lake within<br />
one week after the names are published.<br />
• 11 LJ "4 * I I<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 101
. . Florence<br />
TARZAN AT ATLANTA—Seymour Poe of Sol Lesser Productions and Lex "Tarzan"<br />
Barker, star of the Tarzan series being released by RKO, are shown at the Atlanta<br />
exchange, initial stop on their nationwide tour of RKO branches. Left to right: Poe,<br />
Russ Morgan, field man. Barker, David Prince, RKO southeastern district manager,<br />
and Ira P. Stone, Atlanta manager.<br />
ATLANTA<br />
Tke and Harry Katz of the Kay Film Exchanges<br />
returned from a business trip to<br />
New York . . . John Golder of Jam Handy,<br />
Detroit, visited the Monogram branch here<br />
Sam Rosen, owner of the Rosen Film<br />
. . .<br />
Delivery in New Haven. Conn., visited here<br />
briefly en route home from a Florida vacation<br />
. . . W. B. Work has assumed new duties<br />
as Paramount sales manager. He succeeds<br />
Ed Fitzgerald, who has been transferred to<br />
Buffalo, N. Y., as manager of the branch<br />
there.<br />
"StromboU" will open at the Rialto Theatre<br />
here March 16 following approval by the<br />
local board of censors . . , John Klrby, Warner<br />
Bros, home office executive, left after a visit<br />
at the branch here . Chamble of<br />
the Film Classics staff resumed her duties<br />
after a recent illness . . . J. G. Snellgrove<br />
has sold the drive-in at Moultrie, Ga., to the<br />
Moody Theatre Co., which has its headquarters<br />
at Omega, Ga.<br />
Among Georgia theatremen on Filmrow<br />
booking and buying were Nat Williams, Interstate<br />
Enterprises, Thomasville; J. L. Duncan,<br />
Al-Dun Amusement Co., West Point; Herman<br />
Abrams, Lumpkin, Lumpkin: O. C. Lam, Lam<br />
Amusement Co.. Rome; J. J. Thompson, Martin<br />
& Tliompson Theatres. Hawkinsville; Roy<br />
Mitchell, Stone. Stone Mountain, and John<br />
Thompson. Drive-In, Gainesville.<br />
John A. Roberts Appointed<br />
Poche Theatre President<br />
NEW ORLEANS—John A. Roberts, former<br />
business manager for the Poche Theatre, will<br />
replace Irwin Poche, who resigned recently as<br />
president and general manager of the theatre.<br />
Roberts, 44-year-old native of New Orleans,<br />
joined the Poche staff shortly after its<br />
opening three years ago. He previously was<br />
associated with a local steamship company.<br />
Frank Trojack, night manager, has been<br />
promoted to house manager. The new management<br />
says the theatre will continue to<br />
present legitimate stage shows, and selected<br />
art films. It also will be available to local<br />
organizations and groups for stage productions.<br />
Spring presentations will include<br />
"Ballet Theatre." "Oklahoma!" "Harvey,"<br />
Katharine Cornell in "That Lady" and the<br />
motion picture, "Song of My Heart."<br />
Max Leventhal, 67, Dead<br />
SAFETY HARBOR, FLA.—Max Leventhal,<br />
67, died here recently. He came to Safety<br />
Harbor four years ago and owned the Harbor<br />
Theatre here. He was a member of the<br />
Variety Club and Workmen's Circle, both<br />
of New York City, where interment took<br />
place.<br />
Have you written to your congressmen and<br />
senators about repeal of the unfair amusement<br />
tax?<br />
'Outlaw' Runs in Atlanta<br />
Following Ad Dispute<br />
ATLANTA—Following settlement of a dispute<br />
over advertising for "The Outlaw" between<br />
RKO and Georgia Theatres officials,<br />
a canceled booking for the Jane Russell film<br />
was reinstated and the picture opened at the<br />
Fox Theatre here Thursday (2) for a sevenday<br />
run.<br />
A catchline reading "FINALLY, at last,<br />
after a 3-year delay, you can see ..." started<br />
the dispute. Georgia Theatres officials refused<br />
to run advertising containing the line<br />
because they said it implied that the Fox<br />
playdate was to be the first Atlanta showing.<br />
Actually, they said, the film was shown at<br />
the Grand here when it fu-st was released,<br />
and thereafter was shown at 21 suburban<br />
houses in this area.<br />
Charles Boasberg, RKO division manager,<br />
and the Howard Hughes organization refused<br />
to deliver the print for the scheduled March<br />
2-8 playdate unless advertising was run exactly<br />
as issued by the producers. The position<br />
of the Fox management was that the<br />
advertising is misleading to the public.<br />
Georgia Theatres' President William K.<br />
Jenkins approved the decision of his Atlanta<br />
operating personnel not to run the advertising.<br />
When RKO refused to make any change in<br />
the advertising. Georgia Theatres executives<br />
canceled the booking. After considerable discussion,<br />
Hughes finally agreed to deletion of<br />
the "Finally, at last" line from all outdoor<br />
advertising signs displayed in the Atlanta<br />
area, and the seven-day booking was reinstated.<br />
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102 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . Anabel<br />
. . Warm<br />
. . Southern<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
r^ J. Briant, MGM manager, has been named<br />
chairman of the local Community Chest<br />
campaign . Chesnut, who has been<br />
a stenographer at Metro for five years, joined<br />
J. G. Broggi Booking Agency, now representing<br />
36 accounts, as Broggi's assistant<br />
. . .<br />
G. P. Meyers is the new film booker for the<br />
naval air station at Pensacola and outlying<br />
fields.<br />
Repairs on the Meyers Theatre in Biloxi<br />
were completed and the theatre resuhied<br />
operation . weather permitted the<br />
early opening of the Trail Drive-In at Crowley,<br />
La., and the Park Drive-In, Crestview.<br />
Pla. . . . The Uriah Theatre, Uriah, Ala., has<br />
been closed . . . Hugh Owen, division sales<br />
manager for Paramount, was here . . . John<br />
Jenkins was at the Dixie Films office.<br />
The Strand presented "Prince of Peace,"<br />
Hallmark film . . . The Poche advertised the<br />
Broadway stage play. "Murder Without<br />
Crime." Currently the theatre was featuring<br />
a vaudeville show starring Del Casino. Buster<br />
West and Lucille Page. Val Setz. Rollie<br />
and Bonnie Pickert and the Three Royal<br />
Rockets.<br />
Exhibitors on the Row: Frank Olah. Star<br />
Theatre, Albany, La.: Charles Lamantia,<br />
-Bogalusa: Max Connett, Connett circuit, Newton,<br />
Miss.; Lou Langlois. Alamo. New Roads.<br />
La.; Al Morgan and Fred McLendon, McLendon<br />
circuit. Union Springs. Ala.; Louis<br />
Michot. Lafayette; Mrs. Collier. Greenwood,<br />
Miss.; Bill Lighter, Lighter circuit; B. V.<br />
Sheffield. Sheff Theatre, Poplarville, Miss.;<br />
Sam Pasqua. Gonzales; A. Damores; Usy<br />
Pelegrin. Rex. Chauvin; Ernest Delahaye,<br />
Gwen, Maringouin; Frank Glick, Glick circuit,<br />
Morton, Miss.; E. Carolla. Arcade Theatre.<br />
Slidell; Herbert Hargroder, Beverly<br />
Drive-In, Hattiesburg, Miss., and Henry Gossen,<br />
Gossen Theatre, Rayne.<br />
L. W. Watts, owner of Watts circuit, operating<br />
out of Oil City, is visiting with his<br />
father in South Carolina . Amusement<br />
Co. temporarily has closed the Liberty<br />
at Lafayette for remodeling and repairs . . .<br />
Joy Theatres has named Martha T. Losavio<br />
new manager of the Joy at Simmesport.<br />
Martin at Florala, Ala.,<br />
Robbed by Safecrackers<br />
FLORALA. ALA.—Weekend receipts of approximately<br />
$625 were taken by safecrackers<br />
who blasted the safe at the Martin Theatre<br />
here. Police said the job apparently was<br />
pulled by professionals using nitroglycerin.<br />
J. B. Shuman. manager of the theatre, had<br />
been ill at his home for more than a week<br />
prior to the burglary. The crime was discovered<br />
by his relief manager.<br />
Hike Kid Admissions<br />
CHIPLEY. FLA. — Advance of children's<br />
admission price from 10 cents to 15 cents was<br />
announced by the Vance Theatre.<br />
"We can no longer absorb the ever-increasing<br />
cost of operation," the theatre said in a<br />
statement. "It is with the greatest reluctance<br />
we find it necessary to change our present<br />
prices in order to offset partially these<br />
increased costs."<br />
Liltle Rock Thealre<br />
Must Remove Sign<br />
LITTLE ROCK—The 41 -foot-high<br />
electric<br />
sign of the Center Theatre in downtown Little<br />
Rock must be removed under provision.s<br />
of an opinion by Federal Judge Thomas C.<br />
Trimble.<br />
The Worthen Bank and Trust Co. suit to<br />
compel removal of the sign was heard two<br />
weeks ago. The judge stated that the 11-footwide<br />
sign at the north end of the theatre<br />
marquee "obscures the bank building from<br />
the lintel of the Main street door upward<br />
and the bank building cannot be seen by<br />
northbound pedestrians on the east side of<br />
Main street until the theatre entrance is<br />
reached.<br />
"The width, appearance and construction<br />
of the sign and marquee give the illusion<br />
that the theatre is on the end of the block<br />
and the bank building is totally ohscured.<br />
The sign obstructs the view of the building,<br />
interferes with its right to air and ventilation,<br />
and has caused and will cau.se the bank<br />
substantial damages."<br />
The judge also ruled that the Singer Sewing<br />
Machine Co. quarters next door to the<br />
theatre also suffered damage becau.se the<br />
Singer sign and show window are overshadowed<br />
and obscured by the theatre marquee<br />
and sign and value of the property is correspondingly<br />
diminished for retail business<br />
purposes.<br />
Ticket Tax Yields $17,800<br />
AUBURN, ALA.—Receipts from the city's<br />
amusement tax have been earmarked for park<br />
purposes. In its first 11 months the tax<br />
yielded more than $17,800.<br />
Program by Malcolm Estes<br />
LAKE WORTH. FLA.—Malcolm Estes.<br />
manager of the Lake Theatre here and local<br />
Rotary leader, headed a program given at the<br />
South Ocean club luncheon recently.<br />
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I. F. SAUNDERS. Mgr.<br />
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NEW ORLEANS.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 ia3
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• Century Projection and Sound<br />
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• Star Popcorn Machines and Supplies<br />
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MIAMI<br />
Qonstruction of Wometco's new Carib Theatre<br />
in Miami Beach is scheduled to begin<br />
March 7. The circuit plans to make the<br />
house one of the area's showplaces. It will<br />
seat about 2,500 . . Eddie Linda, manager<br />
.<br />
of Brandt's new Roosevelt, says no complaints<br />
were brought back to the boxoffice<br />
and that no refunds were made upon the<br />
debut of "Stromboh." The first four day.s'<br />
business was terrific, says Linda, due to the<br />
immense amount of publicity about the picture.<br />
But, after word-of-mouth publicity,<br />
business dropped off. The widely heralded<br />
"Bicycle Thief" is the feature scheduled to<br />
replace "Stromboli" at the Roosevelt. Proceeds<br />
from the first night's performance will<br />
go to the Runyon Cancer fund.<br />
Sam Katzman, Columbia producer, his wife<br />
and daughter Ruth are vacationing in Miami<br />
Beach<br />
. Piatt, talent buying executive<br />
for Balaban & Katz, arrived here from<br />
Chicago to look over the impressive array<br />
of talent taking part in the Variety Children's<br />
hospital benefit show at Paramount's<br />
Olympia.<br />
The Paramount in Palm Beach awaited the<br />
arrival of the resort's diamond-studded clientele<br />
for the February 27 annual Kiwanis<br />
show, proceeds of which are earmarked for<br />
medical and dental clinics for underprivileged<br />
children in the county. Arthur Hammerstein<br />
is producer, assisted by his nephew Oscar.<br />
John Golden is in New York to line up talent.<br />
Leon Leonidorff puts together the show.<br />
Among artists donating their services are<br />
Bert Lahr, Bert Wheeler, Victor Borge, John<br />
Edwards, Sophie Tucker, Hal LeRoy, Grace<br />
and Nicco, Scheller Bros, and the Populaires.<br />
Nettie Rosenstein presents a style<br />
show.<br />
Al Grimaldi, promotion manager of the<br />
independent Normandy, Miami Beach, left<br />
here March 3 to take a position as managing<br />
director of the Star Drive-In in Wliite Plains,<br />
N. Y. . . . Henry Karlin, developer of the<br />
wartime process of transmitting color photographs<br />
via radio, has arrived with his wife<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Novins<br />
for a visit . . .<br />
are recent arrivals. Novins was active in New<br />
Jersey theatricals prior to becoming a lawyec<br />
Wometco's Capitol, after a successful week<br />
of vaudeville in addition to its regular screen<br />
fare, has postponed its second stage presentation<br />
until operational flaws can be ironed<br />
out<br />
. Florida had the first<br />
Miami showing of "Battleground." Opening<br />
run was in Miami Beach.<br />
Pauline Corley, former BOXOFFICE representative<br />
in the greater Miami area, and<br />
well-known among operators of local circuits,<br />
visited here from her home in Marietta,<br />
Ga.<br />
Sunday's News Magazine used a page feature<br />
showing pictures of Danny Kaye, who<br />
filled a club engagement here, as a shampoo<br />
artist in a local beauty salon. "The<br />
Inspector General" is making the rounds of<br />
local circuits.<br />
Paramount's Olympia celebrated its 24th<br />
year in the entertainment field. It presented<br />
a Giant Anniversary show. Screen<br />
attraction was "The Heiress." On stage was<br />
a show, planned by Al Weiss, headed by<br />
Lanny Ross who had to beg off from encores<br />
at every performance in order not to<br />
throw the schedule completely off balance.<br />
Les Rohde, band master at the Olympia for<br />
many years, arranged music for the occasion.<br />
Special art, showing a birthday cake<br />
with blazing candles, was the motif for the<br />
week's advertising.<br />
Sam Pinanski, Boston theatre magnate, is<br />
at the Roney Plaza Cabana club for a vacation<br />
. . . Tropicaire Drive-In is showing<br />
"Birth of a Nation" . . Spyros Skouras<br />
.<br />
and his wife left here by plane for Havana<br />
... A giant easel "Roster of Stars" was set<br />
up in the street lobby of the Olympia prior<br />
to Variety's benefit there. As entertainers<br />
were recruited for the show they signed<br />
their names on the placard, the constantly<br />
growing list attracting the attention of<br />
passersby.<br />
Wometco's Rosetta planned a big children's<br />
show for the Little River neighborhood, which<br />
included a circus carnival, free balloons,<br />
lemonade, peanuts, hot dogs, animals, clowns<br />
and cowboys.<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
IJugh Owen, eastern and southern sales manager<br />
for Paramount, conducted a sales<br />
seminar for members of the Charlotte<br />
branch. Al Duren, local manager, presided.<br />
All salesmen and brokers attended. Discussions<br />
concerned new product . Pauline<br />
Griffith, secretary of the Theatre Owners<br />
Ass'n of North and South Carolina, is in the<br />
hospital recovering after an operation.<br />
Bernie Maxwell is here to aid in exploitation<br />
for "Samson and Delilah." He spent<br />
the week in the field with Everett Olsen,<br />
Paramount Carolinas exploiteer . . . Republic<br />
has installed a new adding machine with<br />
one key recording $1,000,000, and Cy Dillon,<br />
manager, says that's "for all the cash we'll<br />
Theatrical Producer Lee Shubert is visiting<br />
haul in with 'Sands of Iwo Jima'."<br />
here. He says he and his brother Jacob<br />
have "every confidence" The<br />
that<br />
Charlotte<br />
they<br />
Variety<br />
will be<br />
Club crew held a<br />
able to disprove monopoly<br />
meeting in<br />
charges<br />
Thacker's restaurant February 27.<br />
leveled<br />
against their theatrical<br />
Chief<br />
enterprises. The<br />
Barker Worth Stewart presided<br />
government<br />
has<br />
and<br />
said<br />
filed a<br />
a report on the meeting civil antitrust would<br />
suit<br />
be issued<br />
against the Shuberts, accusing them of having<br />
later.<br />
a stranglehold on the nation's legitimate<br />
stage . . . Harry Levine, Paramount booker, Passes to Marine Club<br />
who flew into town to catch Variety's highly<br />
ORLANDO, FLA,—Forty passes to<br />
successful Olympia<br />
"Sands<br />
stage benefit, says that<br />
of Iwo Jima" were<br />
Rudy<br />
presented to members of<br />
Vallee is set for an Olympia stage date<br />
the Marine Corps league<br />
in March.<br />
by Bill Spooner. publicist<br />
for Florida State Theatres. The film<br />
played the Grand here.<br />
"The Barefoot Mailman," a novel by Theodore<br />
P>ratt, has been purchased and will be<br />
produced by Robert Cohn for Columbia.<br />
104<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . . Theatre<br />
J. A. Rank Is Expected<br />
In Toronto March 15<br />
TORONTO—J. Arthur Rank and his chief<br />
aide John Davis, managing director of British<br />
Odeon, are expected to come here about<br />
March 15 for conferences with Canadian associates.<br />
Since the resignation of George Peters,<br />
vice-president, last December, no successor<br />
on the executive board has been named. J.<br />
Earl Lawson, Canadian Odeon president, is<br />
showing considerable improvement from his<br />
lengthy illness and is expected to talie part<br />
in the parleys with Rank.<br />
This may be the first of two visits by Rank<br />
this year. He is scheduled to attend the Midcentury<br />
world convention on Christian education<br />
here August 10-16. He is the chairman<br />
of the British administrative committee<br />
of the world organization, of which Lord<br />
Halifax is president.<br />
on AW A<br />
T ouis Wolfe, owner of the Strand in tlie<br />
south side, went to jail for three months<br />
in lieu of paying $2,280 fine in police covu-t,<br />
plus arrears of tax and interest amounting<br />
to $1,399. Wolfe pleaded guilty to charges<br />
of failing to remit the tax on admissions to<br />
the Ontario government from the time the<br />
theatre opened May 19, 1949 . . David<br />
.<br />
Griesdorf, general manager of Canadian<br />
Odeon, Toronto, conferred with Manager<br />
Gordon Beavis of the new Odeon here before<br />
leaving for western Canada , Odeon<br />
was the scene of a concert engagement, which<br />
drew a packed house to hear the Ottawa<br />
Choral Union. Guest artist was Jean Casadesu.s,<br />
pianist.<br />
With the Famous Players' Regent showing<br />
its new and striking structural dress, the<br />
long-deferred Ottawa engagement of "Samson<br />
and Delilah" was scheduled to open March<br />
6 at $1.20 top. Manager Henry Marshall also<br />
is looking forward to the early presentation<br />
of "The Heiress" near the end of the month.<br />
In advance of the DeMille production came<br />
James Cameron, head office exploitation director<br />
of Famous Players, Toronto.<br />
After a record eight weeks with "Tight<br />
Little Island," Manager Jack Gibson of the<br />
Glebe found a run of one week was sufficient<br />
for the Prencli picture, "Aux Yeux<br />
du Souvenir." Next big one for the Glebe<br />
is "The Chiltern Hundreds" . Montcalm,<br />
operated by Famous Players across the<br />
Ottawa river in Hull, has put in cliinaware<br />
premiums to bolster patronage. Tlie Montcalm<br />
is one of two postwar theatres in Hull.<br />
The other is the Cinema de Paris which plays<br />
FYench fihns. Two older houses are Donat<br />
Paquin's Laurier and the Famous Players'<br />
Cartier.<br />
For "Twelve O'clock High" at the Elgin.<br />
Manager Ernie Warren staged a display of<br />
the latest flying equipment in the foyer in<br />
cooperation with the Royal Canadian air<br />
force, which headquarters practically across<br />
the street from the theatre . . . Mrs. T. Fera<br />
of Levack, Ont., plans construction of a drivein<br />
on the Ottawa-North Bay highway, a .short<br />
distance east of North Bay. She is the owner<br />
of three regular film theatres in the Nickel<br />
belt country.<br />
MONTREAL<br />
. .<br />
June Gordon, former ca.shier at RKO here,<br />
now is with General Theatres and Gaumont-Kalee<br />
as stenographer<br />
. WilHam<br />
Ti-ow, president of Quebec Cinema Booking,<br />
Ltd., and of Montreal Poster Exchange, and<br />
his brother Tom, owner of the Imperial in<br />
Three Rivers, and Mort Prevost, manager of<br />
Quebec Cinema Booking, journeyed to Rimouski<br />
to inspect their theatres, the Cartier<br />
and the Rikois.<br />
Jason Cohen, office manager at Empire-<br />
Univer.sal who has been with that company<br />
12 years, resigned to join the Wilham Trow<br />
circuit as assistant to Ti-ow at Quebec Cinema<br />
Booking, effective March 4 . . . Mickey Isman.<br />
manager at Empire-Universal, and Joe Dorfman.<br />
salesman, attended the four-day sales<br />
meeting in Toronto. Isman remained several<br />
days to confer with head office officials.<br />
Irving Sourkes of Confidential Reports was<br />
back at his desk after two weeks on the sick<br />
hst . . . Additions at 20th-Fox are Madeleine<br />
Braly. stenographer to the bookers, and Margaret<br />
Burroughs, billing clerk.<br />
Exhibitors in town included Yvonne Blouin.<br />
proprietor of the Opera House. Coaticook; J.<br />
Martin of the Royal. East Angus, and Georges<br />
Champagne of the Roxy. Auditorium and<br />
Cartier. Shawinigan Falls ... A one-reel<br />
documentary entitled "For All the World's<br />
Children." depicting the humanitarian work<br />
carried on by the United Nations international<br />
children's emergency fund, was shown<br />
The film<br />
at local neighborhood theatres . . .<br />
version of Verdi's famed opera "Rigoletto"<br />
was premiered at the Seville Art Theatre . . .<br />
"Film and Reality." a documentary, was<br />
shown at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts<br />
construction, alterations and<br />
renovations in Canada last year cost $5,832.-<br />
300.<br />
The Montreal Gazette reports: "As soon as<br />
.specially built equipment arrives from the<br />
United States, the Imperial Theatre of Famous<br />
Players Canadian Corp. in Toronto will<br />
start full screen television shows on a closed<br />
circuit—that is. cable-transmitted under a<br />
special CBC permit. The corporation has<br />
twice been refused a permit for a .special<br />
TV station, but gets the jump on the Canadian<br />
Broadcasting Corp. diehards by clo.sed<br />
circuit operation. Tlius it will acquire 'knowhow'<br />
against the day when TV comes to<br />
Canada. The Famous Players Victoria Theatre<br />
is being converted into a playhou.se and<br />
studios. At last we have a television pioneer."<br />
Wage Agreement Reached<br />
By Local 348 and Odeon<br />
VANCOUVER—A wage and working agreement<br />
has been reached between Local 348<br />
and Odeon Tlieatres affecting 55 booth workers<br />
in the employ of the circuit in British<br />
Columbia. A new two-year contract gives<br />
projectionists a 25-cent hourly increase across<br />
the board. The union members did not accept<br />
a 19-cent increase given by the conciliation<br />
board recently. The new contract works out<br />
at about $2.10 an hour. The agreement is the<br />
same as that arrived at with Famous Players<br />
several weeks ago. The Independents likely<br />
will settle at the same figure.<br />
Betty Lynn will portray Bette Davis' daughter<br />
in RKO's "The Story of a Divorce."<br />
Comedian Pratt Starred<br />
In New Cameo Short<br />
MONTREAL — Canada's foremost funnyman,<br />
John Pratt, is featured in the latest<br />
Associated Screen News Canadian Cameo release,<br />
"All Joking Astride." The film deals<br />
with the perils awaiting the neophyte equestrian<br />
from the moment he is lured to the<br />
stables by a honey-voiced telephone .solicitor,<br />
until the moment when he finds himself flat<br />
on his back staring into the sneering eyes of<br />
his recent mount!<br />
An expert horseman in actuality, Pratt portrays<br />
a rather Caspar Milquetoastish sort of<br />
character whose amateur antics astride Dobbin<br />
are side-splitting. His entry into a crosscountry<br />
ride provides him with plenty of situations<br />
that prove alarming -to him. but extremely<br />
hilarious to the audience.<br />
"All Joking Astride" is Pratt's second performance<br />
before ASN cameras, the first being<br />
"Sitz Marks the Spot," a film whicli covered<br />
the gentle art of .skiing a la Pi'att.<br />
The latest Cameo film was directed by<br />
Gordon Sparling, with the camera work being<br />
handled by Jack Hynes.<br />
Eight Play 'Adam's Rib'<br />
TORONTO^Eight important neighborhood<br />
houses of Famous Players Canadian chain<br />
played simultaneous second run engagements<br />
of "Adam's Rib." Tlie theatres were the<br />
Beach, College, Alhambra, Runnymede, Palace.<br />
Oakwood. Village and Parkdale.<br />
Model 4570 Hi-Intensify<br />
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Projection<br />
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No mechnnic.-il chanRcs ref|uircd for<br />
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. . Some<br />
ST.<br />
JOHN<br />
lyjotiun picture and music coin machines and<br />
pinball and slot machines are involved<br />
in a Kentville court case. Charles D. Venolt,<br />
44, of Yarmouth is charged with altering invoices<br />
and importing 30 machines from Boston.<br />
New Haven, Baltimore and New York as<br />
clothing, industrial equipment, etc., to avoid<br />
paying customs. The machines were seized<br />
in the Annapolis valley.<br />
Day and date with the three-day appearance<br />
of "The Skating Vanities of 1950," starring<br />
Barbara Ann Scott, on the St. John<br />
Forum ice arena, the Mayfair Theatre offered<br />
a one-reel short on Miss Scott. "Sensations"<br />
went from here to St. Andrews on the U.S.<br />
border and stayed three days in that town<br />
of 1,400.<br />
Salem Richard and his Lone Star Playboys<br />
troupe of Minto, N. B., are playing theatres<br />
and halls in this area .<br />
observers<br />
credit while others disclaim any basis<br />
m a rumor that Ben Garson, who opened<br />
a new theatre in Montreal recently, is associated<br />
with his brother Abe in the Strand<br />
Theatre deal here. Ben was a partner in the<br />
Garson & Laine Co. which sold out its theatres<br />
in Montreal several years ago.<br />
The maritime premiere of "Tight Little<br />
Island" was held at the Oxford in Halifax<br />
. . . "Jolson Sings Again" ran for 12 days at<br />
the Halifax Paramount, which is likely to be<br />
tops for length for this picture in the maritimes<br />
"The Iron Crown" ran at the<br />
. . . Vogue in Halifax for three days at 50 cents<br />
nights and 35 afternoons, one of the rare instances<br />
when the Vogue regular rate has<br />
been raised since it was opened in 1948. The<br />
same tariff prevailed for this Italian picture<br />
at the Mayfair, Dartmouth, on the heels of<br />
the Vogue booking.<br />
IVIrs. Kathy Flannigan of Vancouver,<br />
the original Mrs. Mike, was interviewed on<br />
the stage of the Casino, Halifax, one afternoon<br />
and one night between showings of<br />
"Mrs. Mike," the film. Manager Doug Smith<br />
was host. The first 20 women producing<br />
copies of the book were admitted free. Mrs.<br />
Flannigan autographed copies in the lobby<br />
one afternoon. The local daily publicized her<br />
visit in stories and photos.<br />
An option on a centrally located property<br />
in Bathurst is reported to have been taken<br />
by outside interests with a view to building<br />
a 600-seat theatre there . . . Herman Kerwin,<br />
manager of the Regent, took down with a<br />
severe cold which developed into pneumonia,<br />
but he denies it was attributable to the bagpipe<br />
practicing at home of his sons John 16,<br />
and Billy 4.<br />
Declare Loew's Dividend<br />
TORONTO — Marcus LoeWs Theatres is<br />
maintaining its customary rate of dividend<br />
on common shares in a payment of $1 on<br />
March 31 for the first quarter of 1950 to<br />
stockholders of record March 9.<br />
Short Nominee First<br />
For Canada in 9 Years<br />
ST. JOHN—"The Rising Tide," which has<br />
been nominated for an Oscar in the documentary<br />
short subjects class, is a story of the<br />
cooperative movement in the maritime provinces<br />
and is the first Canadian picture to get<br />
a nomination for the annual Hollywood<br />
awards in nine years.<br />
Produced by the National Film Board, 'The<br />
Rising Tide" was directed and scripted by<br />
Jean Palardy. James Beveridge was producer.<br />
John Foster was at the camera. Robert<br />
Fleming arranged the music. The five<br />
songs are Nova Scotia originated, chiefly<br />
about the sea, and furnished by Helen Creighton<br />
of Dartmouth, N. S. Four of the songs<br />
came from Ben Henneberry, an old fisherman<br />
of Southeast Passage, N. S., and veteran<br />
warbler of Nova Scotian marine ditties, who<br />
knows about 100 of the folk songs. Frank<br />
Faulkner, also of Southeast Passage, supplied<br />
the fifth song.<br />
The short was screened recently in Scotland<br />
at an Edinburgh music festival and<br />
drew commendatory attention, according to<br />
Frank Murphy. Halifax, regional representative<br />
of the NFB. Cooperating in the short<br />
was St. Francis Xavier university. Antiogonish,<br />
N. S.. chief promoter of cooperatives<br />
and credit unions through an extension department<br />
working among fishermen and<br />
farmers.<br />
Robert Clarke has been signed for the romantic<br />
lead opposite Mala Powers in RKO's<br />
"Nobody's Safe."<br />
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106 BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
. . . The<br />
. . . The<br />
. . Earl<br />
. . The<br />
. . Here<br />
'Heiress' Grosses 140<br />
In Toronto Opening<br />
TORONTO—A realignment of Famous<br />
Players theatres found "The Heiress" opening<br />
at the Victoria and the Eglinton, which<br />
formerly was teamed with the University.<br />
Shea's went its course alone, continuing the<br />
fourth week of "All the King's Men." The<br />
Nortown joined the University, where "Jolson<br />
Sings Again" was offered for a sixth week.<br />
"The Chiltern Hundreds" was in its ninth<br />
week at the Odeon Hyland.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Biltmore—Guilty Bystander (FC); The Flying<br />
Soucer (FC) 100<br />
Hyland—The Chiltern Hundreds (EL), 9th wk 'JO<br />
Imperial—Twelve O'ClocOt High (20th-Fox), 2nd<br />
wk 100<br />
Loews—East Side, West Side (MGM) 120<br />
Odeon and Fairlawn—Hamlet (EL) 115<br />
S'heqs-All the King's Men (Col), 4lh wk 85<br />
Tivoh and Capilol-She Wore a Yellow Ribbon<br />
(RKO), 2nc:- d. t. v/k,. The Pirates ol Capri (FC)....100<br />
University and Nortown—Jolson Sings Again (Col),<br />
6th wk. at University 85<br />
Uptown—Intruder in the Dust (MGM) 120<br />
Victoria and Eglinton—The Heiress (Para) 140<br />
War Films Draw Mildly<br />
At Vancouver Theatres<br />
VANCOUVER—Local first run trade in general<br />
was mild following a strong weekend.<br />
Theatregoers apparently have had their fill<br />
of war films, "Battleground" having registered<br />
only fair at the Capitol. "Lost Boundaries"<br />
was in its ninth week at the Studio.<br />
"Samson and Delilah" opened strong at the<br />
Strand at advanced prices.<br />
Capitol—Battleground (MGM) Fair<br />
Cinema—The Story ol Seabiscuit (WB), 2nd<br />
t. d. wk Fair<br />
-<br />
Dominion—Prince oi Foxes (20th-Fox); Follow<br />
Me Quietly (RKO) Moderate<br />
Orpheum—Always Leave Them Laughing<br />
( WB) Fair<br />
Paradise—The Best Years of Our Lives (RKO) .Fair<br />
Park—Quartet (EL) Good<br />
Plaza—The Hidden Room (EL); The Beast<br />
With Five Fingers (WB) Fair<br />
State—Silver River (WB), plus stage show Poor<br />
Strand—Twelve O'Clock High (20th-Fox),<br />
3rd v/k<br />
Fair<br />
Studio—Lost Boundaries (IFD), 9th wk Good<br />
Vogue—Tell It to the Judge (Col) Fair<br />
'Samson' Second Week Tops<br />
At Edmonton Empress<br />
EDMONTON, ALTA.—"Samson and Delilah,"<br />
at the Empress here at roadshow<br />
prices, played to capacity audiences throughout<br />
a two-week stand, reports Manager E. C.<br />
Ethridge. The theatre opened early and held<br />
open beyond regular closing time for the<br />
show.<br />
Empress—Samson and DeUIah (Pal-a),<br />
2nd wk Capacity<br />
Capitol—The Heiress (Para) Very good<br />
Rialto—Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer<br />
(U-!)<br />
Excellent<br />
NFB Employes Approved<br />
On Loyalty by Police<br />
OTTA'WA—Completion by the Mounted Police<br />
of security screening of National Film<br />
Board employes has cleared the staff of any<br />
suspicion of espionage, and it is stated that<br />
Robert H. 'Winters, chairman of the board,<br />
has informed Defense Minister Claxton that<br />
the board can safely be used by the defense<br />
department and all other government departments<br />
for film work of a confidential nature.<br />
An early appropriation is expected for a new<br />
film storage building to be built in Ottawa<br />
as the first unit of a $2,000,000 building to<br />
house all the National Film Board activities.<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
Calmon Arm. B. C.. will have an outdoor<br />
theatre this summer. William Foster of<br />
Vernon is building a drive-in two miles east<br />
of town, and it is expected to be operating<br />
by May 24. This will be the fifth drive-in<br />
to be erected in the Okanagan fruit belt of<br />
the province. Others are located at Kelowna.<br />
Penticton. Kamloops and Vernon, and the<br />
operators are said to be planning cooperative<br />
booking and buying, which would result in<br />
a great saving in express charges, now a<br />
large item.<br />
Cecil Black, JARO western Canada supervisor,<br />
has resigned and returned east. The<br />
position has been abolished . on inspection<br />
trips were Oscar Hanson. Canadian<br />
head of Monogram, and David Griesdorf,<br />
Odeon Theatres general manager . . . Howard<br />
Boothe, Odeon British Columbia district head,<br />
returned from a three-week vacation in Arizona<br />
... It was said that Lloyd Muir. former<br />
RKO publicity man, will manage the<br />
new Ridge Theatre here . Dalgleish.<br />
WB manager, and Harry Woolfe, UA manager,<br />
were away on selling trips.<br />
Conditions in the Okanagan fruit belt this<br />
summer apparently will not be as favorable<br />
as those in other years. Apricot and peach<br />
crops were hit by the severe winter which<br />
killed the buds, and the cherry supply will<br />
be far below normal. Not only the growers<br />
and shippers will be affected, but also the<br />
canners, box manufacturers and all types of<br />
labor. Business in general in the area will<br />
be affected.<br />
The new Skyway Drive-In being built by<br />
Industries Inland Co. near Kamloops will<br />
open in April with a capacity of 500 cars<br />
new Capitol at Ponoka, on the<br />
Calgary-Edmonton line, was opened last week<br />
new outdoor theatre being built by<br />
Tisman & Mcintosh near Chilliwack in the<br />
FYaser Valley is well under way and will be<br />
ready for opening in May . Soo Theatre<br />
at Weyburn, Saskatchewan, was opened<br />
recently . . . Les Toffey has completely renovated<br />
his Ladner Theatre at Ladner. B. C,<br />
a farming community 24 miles from Vancouver.<br />
Ernest Lay, local hotel operator who runs<br />
the Roxy here, has leased the Rio Theatre<br />
at Victoria from Hymie Singer. Now closed,<br />
the house will be opened in March. Pat<br />
Patanaur of the Roxy here will be in charge<br />
of the Rio, a 500-seater.<br />
The alltime record for a film in Vancouver<br />
is held by "Lost Boundaries," currently in<br />
tenth week at the downtown Studio Theatre<br />
its<br />
and still going strong. Another sur-<br />
prise is "Quartet" in its second run at the<br />
Park Theatre, where it is doing big business.<br />
The Arthur Rank film drew poorly in<br />
its first run downtown. Gordon Monro, Odeon<br />
publicity chief, gave "Quartet' an excellent<br />
publicity buildup which is paying off at the<br />
Park Theatre boxoffice.<br />
Perry Ferguson has been signed as art director<br />
on the United Artists film. "The Sound<br />
of Fury."<br />
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Kid Matinees Offered<br />
At 15 Toronto Houses<br />
TORONTO—The Children's Film Library<br />
committee is cooperating with the Junior<br />
League in the presentation of approved features<br />
as matinee attractions at 15 Toronto<br />
theatres. The Motion Picture Di-stributors<br />
Ass'n of Canada, headed by Gordon Lightstone,<br />
general manager of Canadian Paramount,<br />
has supported the movement which<br />
will provide Saturday afternoon programs<br />
suitable for juveniles at regular intervals. A<br />
group of features from the J. Arthur Rank<br />
Organization is being added to the approved<br />
list of the Children's Film Library committee<br />
Quebec City to Appeal<br />
QUEBEC — City authorities will appeal<br />
to the supreme court of Canada against a<br />
Quebec appeal court judgment invalidating<br />
the appointment of a manager for Palais<br />
Montcalm, municipal civic center. The Quebec<br />
court ruled that the appointment of Theo<br />
Genest as Palais Montcalm manager was<br />
invalid because city authorities failed to consult<br />
a municipal promotions committee<br />
operating under a collective agreement between<br />
the city and its employes. City officials<br />
said that pending outcome of the supreme<br />
court hearing. Genest will remain at<br />
his Palais Montcalm post.<br />
Screen rights to "Bonaventure," a play<br />
running in London, have been acquired for<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 107
. , The<br />
. . Congratulations<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . . Following<br />
. . The<br />
. . Manager<br />
.<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
Daging storms and impassable snowdrifts<br />
stranded many film men in Regina. among<br />
them Frank Davis, Myer Nackimson, Ralph<br />
Zalackson, and Bob Lightstone. Davis and<br />
Nackirason followed the snow plows all the<br />
way into Winnipeg, dubbing their grueling<br />
experience, "Operation Silver Nitrate."<br />
Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n<br />
officials are laying the groundwork and<br />
formulating preparations for the annual general<br />
meeting, and are making a concerted<br />
drive to have every exhibitor in the province<br />
of Manitoba attend this year . De<br />
Luxe, beautiful neighborhood Main street<br />
house for many years operated by Rudy Besler,<br />
who also operates the Osborne street<br />
Park Theatre, has been taken over by Leon<br />
Asper, who operates houses in Carman,<br />
Minnedosa and Neepawa.<br />
The recent CBC Citizens Forum featured<br />
a spirited discussion with diversified opinions<br />
on the following two subjects: (1) Some<br />
people have advocated the banning of the<br />
film "Stromboli" because they disapprove of<br />
the conduct of the director and Miss Bergman<br />
. . . Should the banning of the film be<br />
based solely on its content or should the<br />
conduct or beliefs of those making the film<br />
be a consideration? (2) All films shown in<br />
Canada are subject to the censorship of provincial<br />
government boards. This is not true<br />
ggg^^a<br />
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of newspapers and other printed matter. Do<br />
you think such government censorship of<br />
films is desirable or necessary?<br />
Inauguration of a vaudeville policy by<br />
Mesho Triller, Dominion Theatre, has proven<br />
quite successful, fitting in nicely with the<br />
Dominion's reissue format, recent pictures<br />
being "The Informer," "Irene" and "Diamond<br />
Jim." Current stage attractions were<br />
Maxine Ware, vocalist; Arch McDonald,<br />
emcee; the Flying Wheels, roller skating<br />
turn; Teddy Komar, accordionist, and Vernon<br />
Rattray, novelty act. A very competent<br />
house orchestra is maestroed by Paul Grosney.<br />
The El Dorado Drive-In, which is nearing<br />
completion on Henderson highway in East<br />
Kildonan. will be opened approximately May<br />
24 by Tallman's, Ltd., who described it as<br />
the most ultramodern in Canada . . . Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Henry A. Morton (Odeon) and son<br />
Paul are spending a pleasant vacation in<br />
Miami Beach . and Mrs. Jake Miles<br />
of Western Theatre also are vacationing in<br />
Florida . are in order for<br />
Harry Saifer of the Screen Room, recently<br />
married to Judy Serebrin and just returned<br />
from a Minneapolis honeymoon.<br />
Paul Johnson, Windsor Theatre, St. Vital,<br />
is installing Chrysler air conditioning units<br />
to combat summer heat and low receipts<br />
. . . Valour Theatre was doing remarkable<br />
business with "Waterloo Bridge," currently<br />
in its fifth week.<br />
20 Employes of FPC<br />
To Join 25-Year Club<br />
TORONTO—The 1950 class of initiates for<br />
the 25-Year club of Famous Players Canadian<br />
Corp. consists of some 20 employes who have<br />
given a quarter of a century of service to the<br />
circuit, bringing the roster to approximately<br />
150 members. The new list, checked from<br />
records by L. G. Geering at the head office,<br />
includes one district manager, T. R. Tubman,<br />
also manager of the Capitol at Ottawa, and<br />
three managers, George J. Porhan. Belle,<br />
Belleville; Al Hartshorn, Regent, Oshawa, and<br />
William Winterton, Capitol, Saskatoon, Sask.<br />
Only two employes of the head office will<br />
enter the circle. They are Howard Roach<br />
and Clifford Spooner. both accountants.<br />
Projectionists are represented by Sydney J.<br />
Bradford, Capitol, London; Milton Bretts,<br />
Strand. Brandon; Walter Clarke, Capitol,<br />
Moose Jaw; Earle Harrington, Royal, Woodstock,<br />
and Walter Taylor, Palace, Windsor.<br />
Other union men are Frank H. Killian, Capitol,<br />
Vancouver, and Percy Timmons, Tivoli,<br />
Hamilton.<br />
A man-and-wife combination to be initiated<br />
is Mr. and Mrs. William Tucker of the Capitol,<br />
Chatham, where he is doorman and Mrs.<br />
Tucker is matron. Doormen also include Ted<br />
Smith, Toronto Shea's; W. F. Cain, Capitol,<br />
St. Catharines; William L. Dawley, Imperial,<br />
Toronto, and Fred Richardson, Tivoli, Hamilton.<br />
Also on the list are two other women,<br />
Madeline Curtis, assistant manager of the<br />
Royal, Woodstock, and Irene Moorhead, cashier<br />
at the Tivoli, Toronto. The newcomers<br />
will receive a gold badge, club certificate and<br />
an award, usually a watch.<br />
Marcus Loew was named assistant to Producer<br />
Mort Briskin on Eagle Lion's "The<br />
Jackie Robinson Story."<br />
TORONTO<br />
Tlie Niagara Peninsula Theatre Managers<br />
Ass'n held its annual meeting at St.<br />
Catharines and chose Sid Burton, manager<br />
of the Strand, Port Colborne, president for<br />
the current year. The secretary is Mannie<br />
Swadron, Park, Welland, and treasurer is<br />
Harry Rosenberg, Centre, St. Catharines. Reports<br />
showed the extensive support which<br />
had been accorded by the association to the<br />
Toronto Variety Club's vocational school for<br />
handicapped boys.<br />
Howard Elliott, manager of the Fairlawn,<br />
also is president of the Bedford Park Businessmen's<br />
Ass'n in the north end. He had<br />
Arch H. JoUey of the Motion Kcture Theatres<br />
Ass'n of Ontario as the guest speaker<br />
at a luncheon attended by 60 members .<br />
Win Barron, Canadian publicity chief for<br />
Paramount, made a quick trip to British Columbia<br />
for the first western Canadian run<br />
of "Samson and Delilah" at the Vancouver<br />
Strand,<br />
Jay L. Smith, president of Selznick-Alliance,<br />
and his family are leaving Toronto for<br />
Phoenix, Ariz., where he will take a complete<br />
rest. He has resigned as manager of the<br />
Avenue in the north end . Harry<br />
Yudin of the Centre, Petersboro, played a<br />
special Saturday morning showing of "Our<br />
Vines Have Tender Grapes" without admission<br />
charge as a boost for Brotherhood week.<br />
A one-night stage revue was organized by<br />
Manager Campbell for the Mountain at Hamilton<br />
in addition to a double bill on the<br />
screen and television in the foyer lounge<br />
an operation two months ago<br />
in a local hospital, Dewey Bloom is resting<br />
in Arizona before returning to his desk as<br />
promotion manager for MGM . . . Famous<br />
Players Canadian has purchased the drive-in<br />
at Brantford . Aliens are constructing<br />
a drive-in at Kitchener and have taken over<br />
operation of the one near Preston which is<br />
owned by Pressford Theatres.<br />
Toronto Marquee Battle<br />
Reaches Civic Impasse<br />
TORONTO—The civic works committee has<br />
been unable to reach a decision on banning<br />
protruding signs and marquees from a considerable<br />
portion of Yonge street.<br />
Joseph Singer and Executive Secretary<br />
Arch H. JoUey of the Motion Picture Theatres<br />
Ass'n of Ontario opposed permanent<br />
removal of theatre marquees and were supported<br />
by several other groups. The Bloor-<br />
Yonge Businessmen's Ass'n asked, however,<br />
that all signs be prohibited. Another meeting<br />
will be called to hear other representations.<br />
Meanwhile, Manager Clarke of Loew's had<br />
a large temporary sign erected on the theatre<br />
front without the blessing of the civic<br />
government. Loew's took down its marquee<br />
and sign last September to make room for<br />
construction of the subway. Since then the<br />
theatre has had to do without facial adornment.<br />
A.t the Downtown, a 20th Century unit<br />
farther up the street, the marquee also has<br />
been restored—at least the half of it that<br />
had to be taken down for the subway project.<br />
Eddie Kay has been ticketed for musical director<br />
for "A Modern Marriage," a Monogram<br />
film.<br />
108 BOXOPFICE :: March 4, 1950
Ituring<br />
onuiuonin 9<br />
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I<br />
MARCH 4, 1950<br />
Construction - Equipment * Yiamtenance
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^-
Leading theatre managers<br />
agree that only Kroehler<br />
Push-Back— with its 12-<br />
year history of proof-inuse—gives<br />
the four success<br />
qualities a theatre<br />
needs:<br />
PROVED ADVERTISING FEATURES<br />
Outstanding advantages of Push-Back<br />
Seats create valuable word-of-mouth<br />
advertising.<br />
PROVED COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE<br />
Thousands of comfort-conscious patrons<br />
heartily approve Kroehler Push-Back.<br />
PROVED BOX OFFICE APPEAL<br />
Push-Backs are real shovi/manship — permanent<br />
salesmen that pay off at your box<br />
office.<br />
PROVED QUALITY AND DURABILITY<br />
Day in, day out, in hundreds of theatres,<br />
Push-Backs have proved sturdy, efficient,<br />
durable.<br />
Write or Wire Today<br />
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New York IS, N. Y.<br />
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Lot Angele
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nI i<br />
R.K.O. Missouri Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Jauel Theatre, Mt. Clemens, Mich.<br />
For a bigger box-office in 1950,<br />
consider the looks of jour lobby today.<br />
Business is on the carpet and carpet is our business<br />
No theatre-owner today can afford a shabby, noisy<br />
lobby. And nothing does more to make a lobby<br />
handsome and soundless than the right carpet on the<br />
floor. See your local Alexander Smith-AIasIand<br />
theatre carpet contractor and ask him to show you<br />
the new carpet weaves, colors, patterns, and<br />
qualities. Ask him to suggest the carpet that will do<br />
most for your lobby, at the price you can afford to<br />
pay. Let him estimate the cost of re-carpeting<br />
your aisles and powder rooms, too. His knowledge<br />
and experience can save you time and money.<br />
Manos Theatre, Urn<br />
Phone the Alexander Smith-Masland contractor in<br />
your city, today. Or write Alexander Smith-AIasland<br />
Contract Department, 295 Fifth Avenue,<br />
\ew York 16, New York.<br />
Alexander Smith<br />
and<br />
C. H.Masland<br />
CONTRACT CARPETS<br />
29S Fifth Ai'enue, Nnv York 16, Neiu York<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION<br />
J
DGCQUSG • • • • Curtis equipment has an earnec/ reputation for performance<br />
that is second to none in the industry<br />
• Curtis units are built by a company with over 96 Years of<br />
Successful Manufacturing Experience<br />
• Competitively priced, Curtis units operate economically —<br />
ore easily serviced<br />
• Engineering help is provided (if needed) by Curtis Engineers<br />
• New additions to the Curtis line provide the correct size<br />
CENTRAL TYPE —<br />
10 AND 15 TON<br />
EVAPORATIVE CONDENSING UNITS, COOL-<br />
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and type for any installation,<br />
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and Your clients will be pleased<br />
with the quiet reliable performance<br />
of Curtis Equipment.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950
USE COUPON NOW!<br />
^THE STRONG ELECTRIC CORPORATION<br />
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I would like a demonstration of the Strong Mighty "90" in my theatre,<br />
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The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
MARCH 4, 1950<br />
^TM<br />
Vol. XVII No. 3<br />
o n t n t<br />
Design for Defeating Drafts F. Honerkamp 8<br />
Diffuser Designs for Every Duty David A. Uiley 10<br />
The Latest Display in Comfort Conditioning 12<br />
Controlling Comfort at Little Cost Henry J. Wingate 14<br />
Don't Be a Halfway Host W. W. Brooks 16<br />
Brandt Opens Miami Beach Showhouse 19<br />
Reconciling the Pharaohs to '50 20<br />
A Ten-Strike in Conversion Hanns R. Teicbcrt 24<br />
Putting the Parsley on Screen Presentation Groy Barker 32<br />
A Promotional Program Pointed at Profits 39<br />
A Courteous Staff Is the Best Public Relations<br />
Agency Hugh J. Campbell 43<br />
Promoting Profits with Playgrounds H. F. Reves 54<br />
A Children's Fairyland Come True 59<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
Refreshment Service 39 New Equipment and<br />
Developments 66<br />
Reader's Bureau 51<br />
^_;^^^^^^^^ 73<br />
Drive-Ins 54 About People and Product 75<br />
Advertising Index 52<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Once in a great while a theatre will be built which embodies<br />
the finest in technical and mechanical design plus the charm<br />
of architectural beauty and the tasteful decoration of gracious<br />
hospitality. The theatre whose auditorium is illustrated on<br />
the cover of this month's issue is such a project. Shea's Theatre<br />
in Ashtabula, Ohio, is shown here for the mechanical excellence<br />
of its air circulation system. Air diffusers in the ceiling<br />
provide patrons with draftless comfort, while the sweeping<br />
lines of its interior design evoke esthetic appreciation.<br />
KENNETH HUDNALL. Managing Editor HERBERT ROUSH. Sales Manager<br />
Published the iirsl Saturday of each month by Associated Pubhcations and included as a<br />
all section in editions of BOXOFFICE Editorial or general business correspondence relating<br />
to The MODEHN THEATRE section should be addressed to the Pubhsher. 825 Van<br />
Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. Eastern Representatives: A. J. Stocker and Ralph F.<br />
Scholbe 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N, Y. Central Representatives: Ewing Hutchison<br />
and E E. Yeck, Room 1478 Pure Oil BIdg , 35 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111. Western<br />
Representative: Bob Wettstein, 672 So Lafayette Park Place, Los Angeles. Calil.<br />
A
,<br />
Figure Your Own<br />
DESIGN FOR<br />
DEFEATING<br />
DRAFTS<br />
by F. HONERKAMP*<br />
As on example of scientificolly designed oir diUusers which blend into the smart decor of a<br />
modern theatre, the above illustration is of the auditorium of the Elm Theatre at Elmwood, Conn.<br />
Two large Anemostat diffusers serve the area in front of the balcony.<br />
M
.<br />
—<br />
and sides of this rectangle are less than<br />
four times the ceiling height. Therefore,<br />
one large diffuser will satisfactorily handle<br />
the section from balcony to stage and will<br />
be placed at the center of the 57x45-foot<br />
ceiling area.<br />
We have one more theatre section to<br />
consider; the projection booth. Here is a<br />
volume of 2,940 cubic feet. Using the two<br />
rules, we see that one diffuser placed in<br />
the center of the 14x21 projection room<br />
ceiling will be adequate.<br />
SELECT TYPE AS WELL AS NUMBER<br />
Having determined the location and<br />
number of diffusers needed for the 600-<br />
seat theatre, it is now necessary to select<br />
the proper types and sizes. The total air<br />
volume of all areas to be conditioned is<br />
100,140 cubic feet. Since the air conditioning<br />
equipment handles 18,000 cubic feet<br />
of air every minute, the air will be changed<br />
every 5.56 minutes or about 10.8 times every<br />
hour.<br />
Turning to a manufacturer's table, we<br />
can quickly select the proper unit recommended<br />
for high rates of air change, and<br />
good for large cooling temperature differentials.<br />
It is now necessary to determine maximum<br />
neck velocity for use with this diffuser<br />
under the four types of locations<br />
In our case-history theatre. By checking<br />
the table which shows the type of diffuser<br />
chosen we find that Curve C covers<br />
areas under theatre balconies and calls for<br />
a maximum neck velocity of 1,075 feet per<br />
minute (fpm) for the diffusers here when<br />
placed 10 feet above the floor. Curve D,<br />
for areas over balconies, indicates 1,375<br />
fpm maximum neck velocity for ceiling<br />
units at 14-foot height over the balcony,<br />
1,500 fpm maximum neck velocity for the<br />
ceiling unit that is 24 feet above the floor,<br />
and 1,280 fpm maximum neck velocity for<br />
the unit in the projection room.<br />
DETERMINE REQUIREMENTS<br />
Before selecting the required size of the<br />
type of the diffuser chosen, it is necessary<br />
to find how many cubic feet of aii- each<br />
diffuser must handle every minute ( cfm<br />
i<br />
Under the balcony the volume of the enclosure<br />
is 33x45x10 feet or 14,850 cubic<br />
feet. Since the system changes the air<br />
10.8 times every hour, the two diffusers<br />
under the balcony must pass 1,335 cfm<br />
apiece.<br />
For the section over the balcony the<br />
volume is 20,790 cubic feet. Since the system<br />
changes air 10.8 times every hour, the<br />
two diffusers over the balcony must pass<br />
3,740 cfm, or 1,870 cfm apiece.<br />
In the area from balcony to stage the<br />
volume is 61,560 cubic feet. The single<br />
diffuser for this section must pass 11,100<br />
cfm. Finally, in the projection room the<br />
single diffuser must pass 530 cfm.<br />
Fi-om tables prepared by the Anemostat<br />
Corp., it is now possible to determine the<br />
necessary size of diffuser to deliver 1,400<br />
cfm 11,335 cfm calculated requirement)<br />
with a neck velocity of 1,000 fpm (maximum<br />
allowable 1,075 fpm). The table also<br />
shows this size unit can take care of a<br />
radius of diffusion from 8 to 17 feet at<br />
1,000 fpm neck velocity. Each diffuser<br />
under the balcony serves an area 22V2X33<br />
feet, thus the radius from the diffuser to<br />
the nearest side wall is 11 "A feet and to<br />
the farthest wall is 16 y2 feet—this is within<br />
the specified limitations.<br />
Again using this table for the diffusei's<br />
over the balcony, the same size diffuser<br />
will deliver 1,870 cfm (calculated requirement)<br />
at 1,343 fpm neck velocity (interpolated)<br />
which is under the maximum allowable<br />
neck velocity calculated (1,375<br />
fpm). The table also shows this size unit<br />
can take care of a radius of diffusion from<br />
9 to 20 feet at 1,300 fpm neck velocity.<br />
Each diffuser over the balcony serves an<br />
area 22'/2x33 feet, thus the radius from<br />
the diffuser to the nearest side wall is llVi<br />
feet and to the farthest wall is 16% feet<br />
again within the specified limitations.<br />
EMPLOY LARGER UNIT<br />
Applying the table to selection of the<br />
diffuser over the theatre section from balcony<br />
to stage, a larger unit will deliver<br />
11,810 cfm at 1,500 fpm neck velocity.<br />
Calculated requirement was 11,100 cfm at<br />
PIAN VIEW AT AUOITOSIUM CEIUNG<br />
a neck velocity not to exceed 1,500 fpm.<br />
Allowable radius of diffusion is from 26 to<br />
53 feet at 1,500 fpm neck velocity. Actual<br />
measurements between walls is 22 '/a feet<br />
which is within the requirements.<br />
In the projection room we find that the<br />
proper diffuser will deliver 545 cfm (530<br />
cfm calculated requirement) with a neck<br />
velocity of 1,000 fpm. The table shows that<br />
this unit can take care of a radius of<br />
diffusion from 5 to 11 feet at 1,000 fpm<br />
neck velocity. This diffuser actually<br />
serves an area of 14x21 feet, thus the<br />
radius from the diffuser to the nearest side<br />
wall is 7 feet and to the farthest wall is<br />
10 ('2 feet—this is within the specified requirements.<br />
BASE SYSTEM ON DIFFUSER NEEDS<br />
From the very simple steps outlined, it<br />
should be quite obvious to theatremen<br />
that they can take pencil in hand and can<br />
do a bit of figuring themselves before<br />
calling in the air conditioning experts.<br />
True, many other problems must be solved<br />
before final plans can be drawn, but once<br />
the diffusers are selected and placed, then<br />
the rest of the system is designed to fit<br />
this picture.<br />
Many attractive decorative effects can<br />
be worked out by accommodating lighting<br />
and air diffusion needs through use of<br />
combination units. Other stimulating* architectural<br />
motifs can be developed by<br />
surrounding the diffuser unit with cove<br />
lighting construction.<br />
Choice of proper air diffusers is a vital<br />
step in laying out a new system or in<br />
eliminating troubles in old installations.<br />
With this basic know-how, theatre owners<br />
and operators can approach the problem<br />
with increased understanding of proper<br />
equipment requirements.<br />
=15<br />
2 T,pt AH 1 Aremoito ,<br />
diHuicri 16" n«l dcom.,<br />
40" outer cone d>om Copoolr<br />
1400 UNOEI lAlCONT<br />
BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950
as<br />
Increased<br />
Efficiency<br />
With Added Beauty<br />
A Feature of Modern<br />
Air<br />
Distribution<br />
DIFFUSER DESIGNS FOR EVERY DUTY<br />
by DAVID A. UTLEY*<br />
iXECENT DEVELOPMENTS in air conditioning<br />
have been accompanied by improvements<br />
in air distribution equipment<br />
to meet the requirements of every theatre<br />
installation.<br />
Some of the first theatre air distribution<br />
outlets were cast iron ornamental plaster<br />
grilles. Uncomfortable drafts and stratification<br />
of the air in the theatre resulted<br />
from the inefficient and uncontrolled air<br />
flow from those grilles. Locating outlets<br />
for decoration instead of efficient air distribution<br />
resulted in dead air spaces.<br />
A wide variety of air distribution outlets<br />
are required for a modern theatre installation.<br />
Units in entrances and lobbies must<br />
harmonize with decoration. Return air<br />
grilles located near the floor should be<br />
constructed to withstand abuse. For maximum<br />
occupancy comfort, ceiling outlets<br />
should be adjustable to assure the most<br />
satisfactory distribution. Supply air volume<br />
and direction adjusters should be<br />
tamper-proof.<br />
Noise of supply air outlets is of major<br />
consequence in theatre installations. In<br />
hallways, auditoriums and lobbies the<br />
maximum recommended noise level is 35<br />
decibels. In offices and maintenance areas,<br />
a level of 40 to 50 is satisfactory.<br />
Wall mounted supply grilles are frequently<br />
used for lobby or entrance air distribution<br />
where appearance and performance<br />
should both be considered when selecting<br />
a grille. A large number of small<br />
openings are preferred to a small number<br />
of large openings, for large holes are dark<br />
and detract from the unit appearance.<br />
Levers or knobs protruding from the out-<br />
'Electrical Division, Barber-Colmcm Co.<br />
let which collect dust and break the smooth<br />
surface can be eliminated by outlets with<br />
hidden volume and deflection adjusters.<br />
Removable cores are desirable for easy<br />
cleaning of core and duct and for ease of<br />
redecoration without marring the surrounding<br />
wall.<br />
Adjustable air deflection is desirable for<br />
grilles in theatre lobbies where room decorations<br />
may not permit a fixed deflection<br />
supply grille in a location for most efficient<br />
air distribution. Adjustable grilles<br />
can also be set for even distribution<br />
throughout an irregularly shaped space.<br />
Where outside doors leading into these<br />
areas are open a large part of the time,<br />
comfortable temperatures can be maintained<br />
by installing a grille which mixes<br />
incoming fresh air quickly with room air.<br />
Grilles with curved surfaces for installation<br />
in round corners or columns are available<br />
shown.<br />
'<br />
Circular or linear ceiling outlets may<br />
also be installed in theatre lobbies as shown<br />
Ways in which air diffusers can be fitted to the architectural requirements of the modern theatre<br />
are shown above by the curving wall grilles used in this lobby in combination with the flat cold air<br />
return grilles<br />
near the floor.<br />
10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
March<br />
For<br />
Your<br />
Cooling<br />
Checklist<br />
System<br />
Now IS the time to clean and lubricate<br />
all equipment.<br />
In this auditorium the large air diftusers down the center of the ceiling have been used so they<br />
become a part of the decorative scheme. In an otherwise angular room they add softening curves.<br />
in the installation of a circular combination<br />
supply and exhaust ceiling outlet<br />
Supply air is distributed<br />
( above left i . through the outside opening of the unit.<br />
Return air flows through the center opening.<br />
This outlet is equipped with baffles<br />
which direct supply air to the remote hallway<br />
and staii-well areas. Vertical directional<br />
adjustment of the supply air within<br />
certain limits is made with the screw in<br />
the center of the unit. Equalization of<br />
temperature is obtained by a design which<br />
rapidly mixes room and supply air. These<br />
units are well suited for existing buildings<br />
where the structure does not permit<br />
returns in the walls, or where side wall<br />
returns are subjected to abuse.<br />
In small theatre auditoriums, grilles<br />
mounted in the front wall will produce<br />
satisfactory air distribution. These units<br />
deflect supply air toward the back wall.<br />
Return air flows to the front of the space<br />
along the floor to returns under the supply<br />
outlets. This outlet location produces continuous<br />
circulation throughout the theatre<br />
auditorium.<br />
Supply grilles in the rear walls are not<br />
recommended as the resulting air motion<br />
on patrons' backs may prove uncomfortable.<br />
Where auditorium length is greater<br />
than width, air circulation from outlets in<br />
front walls may produce objectionable floor<br />
drafts. Furthermore, grille face velocities<br />
required to throw supply air to the rear<br />
of the area often produce an objectionable<br />
noise.<br />
Satisfactory air distribution in these<br />
areas can be obtained with ceiling supply<br />
outlets. These units distribute air in a<br />
circular pattern to produce circulation<br />
from one wall to the other. This cross<br />
circulation permits air return through side<br />
wall outlets, which reduce the air volume<br />
flowing to the front of the area and minimize<br />
floor drafts. Small returns under the<br />
seats may also be used to reduce floor<br />
drafts.<br />
Regardless of the type of supply outlets<br />
used, exhaust grilles should be installed in<br />
balconies to minimize air flow from the<br />
balcony front which otherwise proves uncomfortable<br />
to main floor patrons.<br />
Balconies often interfere with the air<br />
circulation and produce a dead air space<br />
underneath which can be eliminated by<br />
the installation of ceiling supply outlets<br />
under the balcony.<br />
The supply units shown in the theatre<br />
auditorium, above, are similar in appearance<br />
to the combination outlets which cannot<br />
be used in high ceiling installations<br />
since the warm supply air will not reach<br />
the floor level before reaching the return.<br />
Early air circulation grilles of this style were<br />
dust catchers and often inefficient. They were<br />
eyesores in decoration because of the black<br />
areas they injected into wall treatment, also.<br />
For harmony with the interior decoration,<br />
outlets for theatres are available in<br />
a wide selection of finishes. Metalescent<br />
or electroplated metal coating harmonize<br />
with almost all types of decoration. Where<br />
these finishes are not satisfactory, outlets<br />
with a prime coat can be painted to blend<br />
with any interior. Care should be taken<br />
to choose a fini.sh which will not chip<br />
easily. This is particularly important in<br />
floor level return grilles which may be<br />
damaged by occupants.<br />
In conclusion, air distribution outlets<br />
are available for any theatre installation.<br />
These outlets are designed for long life<br />
and adjustability for satisfactory performance<br />
in any area. The wide selection of<br />
finishes makes possible complete harmony<br />
with outlet and surrounding decoration.<br />
Check your dampers to see if they<br />
are properly adjusted.<br />
If you have acquired new employes,<br />
show them the location of<br />
switches, dampers and valves involved<br />
in the operation. Instruct them in<br />
the proper use of the control equipment.<br />
If you have a refrigeration unit,<br />
the best advice is to get a competent<br />
refrigeration service man out to do<br />
the checking for you.<br />
If your system includes a cooling<br />
tower or evaporative condenser for<br />
saving water, follow the manufacturer's<br />
instructions for starting operation<br />
after shutdown. All manufactm'ers<br />
furnish such instructions and<br />
if yours have been lost, write for replacement.<br />
If your refrigeration system<br />
does not include water-saving<br />
equipment, investigate its benefits in<br />
lower operating cost for your system<br />
as well as greater efficiency for your<br />
machinery.<br />
If your equipment is limited to a<br />
fan or blower, chances are the inlets<br />
or outlets were blocked for the winter.<br />
Make sure all blockades are open for<br />
tlie<br />
season.<br />
Clean air passages of dust and debris<br />
for best results.<br />
If your system also is used for<br />
heating, look for additional dampers<br />
in air passages between blower and<br />
heating unit, or heater and auditorium<br />
and see that they are closed.<br />
If your cooling unit is an air washer,<br />
see that all nozzles are clean and<br />
discharging a fine spray in uniform<br />
pattern. Test the pump and motor,<br />
see that packing glands are adjusted<br />
to prevent binding and leakage, that<br />
motor is protected from water and<br />
dampness. Make sure the overflow<br />
is open.<br />
If your system is the evaporative<br />
tjTJe, using pads or mats, start out<br />
the season with new ones.<br />
Where well water is used for cooling,<br />
see that the pumping equipment<br />
is in condition. Clean the coils of<br />
dirt and lint.<br />
Wherever there are dust filters,<br />
replace or clean.<br />
BOXOFTICE March 4, 1950 11
The Latest Display in<br />
Comfort Conditioning<br />
Ew DEVELOPMENTS IN vai'ious kinds<br />
NI<br />
of air conditioning displayed at the recent<br />
Southwest Air Conditioning Exposition<br />
in Dallas, Tex., covered numerous innovations<br />
to increase theatre customer<br />
comfort in both winter and summer.<br />
Attendance at the exposition, which was<br />
sponsored by the American Society of<br />
Heating and Ventilating Engineers as part<br />
of their 56th annual meeting, approached<br />
alltime records with more than 8,000 registrations<br />
during the week.<br />
According to the comments of veterans<br />
in the business, most promising advances<br />
were displayed in the development of selfcontained<br />
or free-standing heating and<br />
cooling units for theatres.<br />
On display was the heater claimed to<br />
be "the world's largest fully automatic rotary<br />
oil burner" with a capacity of 210<br />
gallons of No. 6 oil an hour, said to be<br />
sufficient to heat a 2,000-room building<br />
in zero weather.<br />
To increase indoor comfort, one manufacturer<br />
showed a portable electric dehumidifier<br />
capable of extracting as much<br />
as 12 quarts of water from the atmosphere<br />
within 24 hours. The same manufacturer<br />
now offers cooling units for rooms<br />
in ceiling, wall and floor models and a<br />
window cooler with directional grilles for<br />
creating whatever air distribution pattern<br />
is desired.<br />
Also on preview were models of a compact,<br />
self-contained air conditioner for<br />
medium-sized commercial applications<br />
with a sealed tamper-proof cooling system,<br />
as service-free as any domestic refrigerator<br />
can be expected to be. It has<br />
a newly developed V-shaped coil designed<br />
to act as an "airwringer" to give greater<br />
cooling and dehumidifying capacity<br />
through more efficient air passage. This<br />
unit is also equipped with a so-called "Atmostat"<br />
which functions as a humidity<br />
balancer and enables the condenser to<br />
wring additional moisture from the air on<br />
excessively damp days, without reducing<br />
the temperature below the comfort level.<br />
New developments in filtration seen for<br />
the first time at the show included an<br />
electrostatic precipitator in packaged<br />
form, compact and completely self-contained.<br />
Adapters, suitably baffled for<br />
correct air distribution, facilitate its introduction<br />
into any warm air furnace or<br />
air conditioning system.<br />
As was expected, gas heaters were numerous<br />
at the exposition. Because of the<br />
steadily increasing demand for steel boilers,<br />
a de luxe model shown at Dallas is completely<br />
jacketed, quiet, economical and is<br />
rated at 100,000 b.t.u. per hour. Yet it<br />
stands only 45 inches high and its cylindrical<br />
shell is but 20 inches in diameter.<br />
A twin-fuel burner which operates selectively<br />
on gas or oil, permits the use of<br />
gas under normal conditions but furnishes<br />
the higher heating capacity of oil during<br />
cold snaps. Twin thermostats are used<br />
with this system. The usual indoor thermostat<br />
normally controls the heat supply<br />
in the usual way, while a second outdoor<br />
thermostat automatically shuts off the gas<br />
and cuts in the oil when a predetermined<br />
low temperature is reached.<br />
Baseboard heating, which continues to<br />
attract a great deal of attention, was demonstrated<br />
in several ways at the exposition.<br />
One manufacturer showed a newstyle<br />
cover for securing a balanced flow<br />
of radiation and convection. This provides<br />
constant radiation, but controllable<br />
convection by means of adjustable louvers<br />
behind slotted openings in the cover.<br />
Air distribution for the more elaborate<br />
heating and ventilating systems continues<br />
to produce improvements. One of the better<br />
known specialists in this field has come<br />
forward this year with a new universal<br />
diffuser, easy to install and simple to<br />
adjust, which provides three distinct methods<br />
of distribution by a twist of the wrist.<br />
In one setting a draftless horizontal pattern<br />
is produced, such as is used primarily<br />
in cooling. A second adjustment<br />
provides an intermediate downward pattern<br />
used in heating and ventilating, while<br />
the third setting affords a direct downward<br />
discharge used in projection heating.<br />
Many exhibits of materials, supplies and<br />
equipment that are required for the installation<br />
of air conditioning equipment<br />
constituted an important segment of the<br />
exposition. New this year is an aluminum<br />
faced fiberglas insulating blanket for<br />
gravity and forced warm air furnaces and<br />
packaged unit space heaters. It comes in<br />
one-half and one-inch thickness, 36 and 54<br />
inches wide and is readily cut to pattern<br />
and easily applied in shop or field work.<br />
These two scenes from the Southwest Air Conditioning Exposition held in late January in Dallas,<br />
Tex.,<br />
indicate scope of the show where equipment for both cooling and heating were demonstrated.<br />
12<br />
Tho MODERN THEATRE SECTION
n<br />
wMe<br />
%(Mmikm(mvM<br />
IN<br />
Lobby, State Theatre,<br />
Ann Arbor, Michigan.<br />
C. Howard Crane & Associates,<br />
Architects.<br />
MORE WAYS THAN ONE!<br />
A ceramic mosaic floor in<br />
Sotithtown Theatre, Chicago, Illinois,<br />
Rapp & Rapp;<br />
Architects & Engineers.<br />
Theatre owners know there is no substitute for walls and<br />
floors of genuine Mosaic Ceramic Tile ... no other<br />
material takes wear so well, costs so little to maintain.<br />
New application methods reduce the cost of Mosaic Tile to a<br />
point where theatre owners say they just can't afford to use<br />
othermaterials—while thenow famous Harmonitone Line provides<br />
a delightful color choice to fit every architectural plan.<br />
Whether you plan theatre building or remodeling, be sure<br />
to see Mosaic Wall and Floor Tile before you buy. Ask<br />
your architect, builder, tile contractor, or write Dept. 4-12,<br />
The Mosaic Tile Company, Zanesville, Ohio, for complete<br />
information.<br />
THE MOSAIC TILE COMPANY<br />
(Member— Tile Council of America)<br />
OFFICES IN<br />
PRINCIPAL CITIES<br />
OVER 3000 DEALERS TO SERVE YOU<br />
MOSAIC<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950 13
Proper<br />
Insulation<br />
Is the Basis of<br />
CONTROLLING<br />
COMFORT AT<br />
LITTLE COST<br />
by HENRY J. WINGATE<br />
In addition to Adier display letters and frames, the new Odeon<br />
Hyland Theatre in Toronto, Canada, incorporates thorough insulation<br />
OS the basis of highly efficient weather-conditioning.<br />
A.• LTHouGH THE MOTION PICTURE theatre<br />
industry pioneered the use of aircooling<br />
more than a quarter of a century<br />
ago, many theatres, even in metropolitan<br />
centers, still drive patronage away during<br />
the summer months because of their hot<br />
interiors. Admission price reductions recently<br />
put into effect have failed to bolster<br />
attendance in many uncomfortable houses.<br />
On the other hand, managers of comfortably<br />
cool theatres find that even when<br />
a poor picture is billed, attendance holds<br />
up because many patrons come in "just to<br />
cool off."<br />
Air-cooling was once an expensive undertaking<br />
and out of reach of most 200<br />
and 300-seat houses, but self-contained<br />
cooling units now available have largely<br />
overcome this drawback. Newly-introduced<br />
ten-ton equipment has been especially<br />
designed for theatre installation at<br />
relatively low cost. One cooler of this size<br />
has been developed for use with evaporative-type<br />
condensers in localities where<br />
water supply or drainage is limited, where<br />
water rates are prohibitive, or where ordinances<br />
restrict water usage.<br />
The $400 or $500 cost of installing each<br />
ton of refrigeration may still be beyond<br />
the means of many small theatres, but<br />
owners can go a long way toward solving<br />
their summer comfort problem if they will<br />
properly insulate the roofs of their buildings,<br />
according to studies made by the<br />
U.S. Bureau of Standards.<br />
Since there is an enormous penetration<br />
of heat through roofs, which often reach<br />
temperatures of 140-150 degrees, the Bureau<br />
of Standards conducted tests to determine<br />
how this could be corrected. "The<br />
results show that a lath-and-plaster or<br />
equivalent ceiling exposed directly to heat<br />
of the attic will be so hot on warm summer<br />
days as to add materially to the discomfort<br />
of persons in the room below," the<br />
Bureau stated after completing the tests.<br />
As a part of its investigation ceiling temperatures<br />
were lowered as much as 16<br />
degrees after installing full-thick insulation<br />
above the ceiling thus cooling the<br />
interior of the room to a temperature<br />
cooler than outside air.<br />
On an August afternoon when outside<br />
air temperature was 93 degrees, the underside<br />
of the roof tested by the Bureau was<br />
138 degrees and air in the attic was<br />
130. Almost half of this superheated air<br />
passed on through the uninsulated ceiling<br />
into the room below in which thermometers<br />
showed a temperature of 106, 13<br />
degrees hotter than outside air.<br />
In order to seek a solution to the problem,<br />
one part of the ceiling was insulated<br />
with full-thick batts of mineral wool and<br />
one portion of the ceiling was left uninsulated.<br />
Ceiling temperature where there<br />
was no insulation was 106.2 degrees, while<br />
the ceiling beneath the incombustible mineral<br />
wool was only 90.8 degrees, more than<br />
2 degrees cooler than the air in the street.<br />
In other experiments, the government<br />
scientists tried various types and thickness<br />
of insulating materials and found that<br />
there was only two-tenths of one degree<br />
of difference between the coolest insulation<br />
and full-thick batts of mineral wool.<br />
After these exhaustive tests which covered<br />
several weeks in the hottest period<br />
of summer, the Bureau of Standards experts<br />
reached these conclusions:<br />
"A room with only a plastered ceUing<br />
between the occupants and the roof will<br />
not be comfortable on hot summer days.<br />
Blanket or loose fill insulation put on top<br />
of the ceiling will greatly improve conditions."<br />
Mineral wool is the type of blanket and<br />
loose fill insulation most widely used, approximately<br />
two-thirds of all building insulating<br />
material sold today being rock<br />
wool, slag wool or glass wool, according to<br />
the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since<br />
it is of mineral origin, the substance cannot<br />
burn; hence needs no chemical treatment<br />
to resist fire.<br />
Application is simple and inexpensive in<br />
most theatres, for if the space between<br />
theatre roof and auditorium ceiling is large<br />
enough to admit a workman, batts or<br />
blankets of mineral wool are quickly fitted<br />
between the ceiling joists. If the space<br />
is too small for a man to w^ork, openings<br />
are made in the roof and loose, nodulated<br />
mineral wool is blown pneumatically to a<br />
depth of four inches over the ceUing. From<br />
a truck parked beside the building, the<br />
blowing hose is carried up to the roof and<br />
all work is done quietly from outside with<br />
no interruption of theatre business.<br />
Because all buildings vary in design, size<br />
and construction, it is impossible to lay<br />
down an exact yardstick on insulating cost.<br />
Usually, it comes to about ten cents per<br />
square foot of insulated area. Most theatre<br />
owners report that the job pays for<br />
itself within three or four years because<br />
full-thick insulation saves upwards of 30<br />
per cent of their fuel bills each heating<br />
season. It likewise reduces cost of operating<br />
a mechanical cooling system since excessive<br />
heat is kept out of the theatre and<br />
the cooling machinery need not be operated<br />
continuously.<br />
The theatre owner who insulates his<br />
building also will find that when the time<br />
comes to install a cooling system, the<br />
cost of this equipment will be reduced since<br />
the insulation allows a plant of smaller<br />
capacity.<br />
14<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
-d3B<br />
15<br />
jSECnOsI BOXOFFICE<br />
••. March 4. 1950
DON'T BE A<br />
HALFWAY HOST<br />
Attention to<br />
Good Design<br />
In Restrooms<br />
Pays a Profit<br />
by<br />
W. W. BROOKS*<br />
J. HERE IS MORE TO Operating successful<br />
theatres than showing first-rate<br />
films.<br />
Managers of many new theatres are<br />
quick to point out that an efficient, sanitary<br />
and thoroughly modern set of restrooms<br />
has a definite effect on patron goodwill.<br />
They also recommend up-to-date<br />
restrooms for theatre employes.<br />
In the past little if any serious attention<br />
was given to patron lounges and toilet<br />
rooms. They were often small and inadequate<br />
for the theatre's size, located wherever<br />
space was available and rarely for<br />
convenience. Above all, the appearance<br />
and sanitary conditions were seldom in<br />
keeping with the rest of the house.<br />
The new viewpoint toward lounges and<br />
toilet rooms is clearly illustrated by the<br />
Carnegie Theatre, the first completely new<br />
theatre to be built in Chicago in nine years.<br />
Erected in the heart of the famed Gold<br />
Coast, the Carnegie received the benefit<br />
of plumbing foresight not only in two<br />
patron restrooms but in three smaller toilet<br />
rooms for employes.<br />
As can be seen in the pictures, the Carnegie<br />
restrooms combine the ultimate in<br />
utility with the last word in glamor. Color<br />
—bright and cheerful—appears in both<br />
restrooms. with emphasis, of course, on<br />
the women's lounge.<br />
Highlighting both restrooms are the<br />
latest types of necessary plumbing fixtures<br />
—lavatories, water closets, and urinals. All<br />
are wall-hung except the water closets for<br />
easy, quick floor-cleaning and to reduce<br />
the amount of visible plumbing. Modernization<br />
of an existing theatre can be<br />
carried on with this in mind with amazing<br />
improvement in appearance.<br />
The two urinals in the Carnegie men's<br />
room flush automatically every 90 seconds.<br />
This will save an impressive total of water<br />
in a year and also guarantees that they<br />
are regularly drained.<br />
Two wall-hung lavatories in this toilet<br />
room sparkle with their smooth white surfaces<br />
and chromium-plated brass fittings.<br />
A flat back ledge, similar to that on lavatories<br />
in the home, provides a handy resting<br />
place for glasses, combs, etc., and other<br />
personal belongings while the lavatory user<br />
is washing his hands.<br />
The fittings consist of two valve handles<br />
for the hot and cold water, plus a single<br />
mixing faucet, and a drain knob—all closely<br />
grouped for quick use. The faucet is<br />
'Plumbing and Heating Industries Bureau<br />
16 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
well above the lavatory rim to prevent<br />
back-siphonage. Back-siphonage, capable<br />
of contaminating the theatre's entire pure<br />
water supply, occurs when a faucet partially<br />
submerged in a filled lavatory basin,<br />
sucks the basin water back into the piping.<br />
Placing the faucet well above the highest<br />
level of basin water prevents this condition<br />
from happening and insures a clean<br />
drinking water supply. The licensed master<br />
plumber adheres to this and many other<br />
essential plumbing rules when he installs<br />
fixtures, fittings and piping.<br />
Soap dispensers between the lavatories<br />
and a long, well-lighted mirror complete<br />
this part of the men's restroom. Instead<br />
of cloth or paper towels, the Carnegie<br />
men's room features a pedal-operated<br />
hand-dryer with an ample hot air flow.<br />
Water closets for this restroom are<br />
floor-based and show the newest design<br />
lines. Seats are hard rubber, have open<br />
fronts, and may be swiftly cleaned with<br />
soap and hot water. Mounted on the rear<br />
of the bowls are chromium-plated brass<br />
automatic flush valves, especially designed<br />
for public use.<br />
The color scheme for the men's room<br />
is a dubonnet tile with the upper part of<br />
the walls a lighter shade of this wine color.<br />
The eye-appealing women's restroom at<br />
the Carnegie boasts of a spacious "primping<br />
lounge." Modernistic, backless chairs<br />
of orange-red in front of a ceiling-high<br />
mirror afford comfortable seats. Two<br />
beige walls and ceiling, one brightly printed<br />
wall, and a green rug offer the ladies<br />
an interesting color scheme.<br />
Three floor-based water closets with<br />
sturdy flush valves, two wall-hung lavatories,<br />
and a cloth towel rack are the<br />
principal women's room fixtures. Like the<br />
men's room, the water closets here are<br />
placed in individual enclosures for complete<br />
privacy. The partitions are raised<br />
above the floor to facilitate cleaning.<br />
On the second floor are three separate<br />
restrooms for exclusive use of the theatre<br />
employes, each heated with a small free<br />
standing convector. Each restroom contains<br />
a small, wall-hung lavatory and a<br />
floor-based water closet.<br />
M. B. Lang, Carnegie manager, says of<br />
the theatre, "It's nothing fancy—merely<br />
functional, comfortable, beautiful, with<br />
every convenience for patrons which wc<br />
thought a theatre should have.<br />
"Since we have such a fine plumbing<br />
arrangement with two large restrooms for<br />
patrons and three employe washrooms on<br />
the second floor, I know now that to skimp<br />
on sanitary facilities is poor economy."<br />
Theatre managers thinking in terms of<br />
more business in 1950 can take a tip from<br />
the Carnegie: don't neglect the plumbing.<br />
It is reasonably safe to assume that more<br />
than half the patrons at each showing of<br />
a feature will use the restrooms. From<br />
patron reactions to theatre plumbing will<br />
come an unconscious public relations program.<br />
They will spread the word—good or<br />
bad—about individual theatres.<br />
Considering the Customer's Comfort<br />
The Carnegie includes a radio-television salon where conversational<br />
groupings of lounge-type furniture invite relaxation. A teletype printer<br />
provides the latest press association news flashes, augmented by two television<br />
sets and several radios. Of further interest to patrons are two<br />
broadcasting studios where interviews and other programs are broadcast.<br />
The salon, below, is decorated in sage green. Clocks, giving the time<br />
in various world capitals, adorn the wall above the teletype printer.<br />
Soft shades of green, highlighted by bleached wood trim, carry out<br />
the color scheme in the lobby. Recessed against one wall is the Sweets<br />
Bar, which is equipped to provide soft drinks, candy, popcorn and ice<br />
cream. The lobby. Sweets Bar and salon entrance are shown above.<br />
Nucleus of the $400,000 project is the compact auditorium. A maximum<br />
of comfort and quietness has been achieved with perfect screenvisibility<br />
from any of the 500 Kroehler Push-Back seats. Also designed<br />
with employe convenience in mind, the spacious projection room contains<br />
modern equipment and ample room for subsequent addition of largescreen<br />
television.<br />
Efficiency is increased by locating the boxoffice next to the manager's<br />
office, eliminating the necessity of locking doors and running back<br />
and forth with change and safe deposits.<br />
BOXOFnCE March 4, 1950
My Best Supporting Feature is<br />
CHRYSLER AIRTEMP<br />
"^.1^5<br />
®<br />
4<br />
ed Radial Compressor<br />
essure lubricated and<br />
for silent operation.<br />
AIRTEMP
BRANDT OPENS<br />
MIAMI BEACH<br />
SHOWHOUSE<br />
MEZZANINE LOUNGE WITH WINDOW WALL<br />
FOYER, DIVANS AND REFRESHMENT COUNTER<br />
NOVEL PROSCENIUM FRAMES SCREEN<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
VV iTH ITS MARQUEE projecting over the sidewalk atop a gradual<br />
rise of several blocks and its glassed-in mezzanine overlooking<br />
a scenic waterway, Brandt's new Roosevelt Theatre in<br />
Miami Beach is a dominant force In the shopping center it<br />
serves.<br />
Decoration of the luxury house has been kept in harmony<br />
with the tropical beauty of the locale. Lush plantings in white<br />
containers carry out the theme of the specially-designed carpeting<br />
which also features the night blooming Cereus for which<br />
the city is famous.<br />
The lobby, candy and popcorn bar is at the right of the entrance<br />
and fits smoothly into the general decoration. Walls are<br />
pale gray. Plastic-covered divans with curved backs have white<br />
framed mirrors above them which follow in curved lines the<br />
divan backs.<br />
Indirect lighting fixtures between the mirrors diffuse pastel<br />
wall coloring. Office of Eddie Linda, manager, is at the front<br />
of the lobby to the left. Doors leading to the auditorium are<br />
tufted with red leather.<br />
The auditorium, with mezzanine above, employs an unusual<br />
cut-out effect to frame the curtain. Ceiling spots, as well as<br />
indirect lighting in walls and ceiling, furnish low-level illumination<br />
over the entire auditorium.<br />
The mezzanine is reached by a winding, carpeted stairway<br />
at the front of the house. A deep-green wall, with modernistic<br />
mural, faces the stair well. Other walls are covered with a<br />
waterproof, scratchproof wall paper in deep green, accented<br />
with small modernistic figures in reds and greens and yellows,<br />
similar to those of the mural. The entire front is illumined<br />
by spots on top of the marquee outside.<br />
Located on the mezzanine lounge are telephone booths, deep<br />
lounging chairs and sofas and the ladies' and gentlemen's<br />
lounges.<br />
CREDITS<br />
Air Conditioning: Chrysler Airfemp<br />
Architect: Albert Anis<br />
Projector:<br />
Screen:<br />
Seating:<br />
Century<br />
Cycloramic<br />
Ideal<br />
19
Few Touches<br />
Necessary<br />
In Brightening The<br />
F<br />
Famous Egyptian Theatre<br />
RECONCILING<br />
THE<br />
PHARAOHS TO '50<br />
Inside the lobby of the remodeled Egyptian<br />
Theatre is the world's largest theatre mural,<br />
measuring 20x24. Done in primary colors it<br />
depicts the glory of ancient Igypt.<br />
BEFORE<br />
AFTER<br />
X HE ENDURING QUALITY of true beauty is proved by the<br />
alterations recently made on the famous Egyptian Theatre in<br />
Hollywood designed almost three decades ago for Sid Grauman,<br />
and now a key house in the United Artists Theatre Circuit on<br />
the west coast.<br />
The changing concept of theatre accommodations is reflected<br />
in vastly enlarged refreshment service facilities. The modern<br />
trend to simplicity is accented by the exchange of ornate decoration<br />
around the theatre entrance and outdoor lobby for a<br />
modem vertical concrete and steel sign tower carrying the theatre's<br />
name in gold neon script.<br />
A practice of "opening up" the front of an indoor theatre by<br />
the use of large expanses of plate glass doors and partitions was<br />
followed in remodeling the Egyptian by moving the boxoffice<br />
from the center of the entrance to the left side of the lobby,<br />
giving a clear sweep down the promenade area to the Herculite<br />
doors which give access to the foyer.<br />
Outstanding among the additions of decorator John Vassos<br />
are two murals. One, measuring 20x24 feet, is said to be the<br />
largest theatre mural in the world. Placed just within the entrance<br />
doors, this mural depicts the glory of ancient Egypt in<br />
symbols of modem art.<br />
Refreshment faciUties have been enlarged from a simple candy<br />
display case in the foyer to an exotic area containing a 24-foot<br />
curved counter set in an alcove with walls decorated in a gay<br />
circus panorama of trained animals, clowns, trapeze artists and<br />
other specialty acts.<br />
As in the outdoor lobby, seating in the refreshment area is<br />
provided by free form chairs and settees resembling seated<br />
human figures.<br />
Designed by one of California's outstanding landscape artists, the preentry<br />
court of the Egyptian is vivid with the beauty of California's flowers.<br />
Interest in the area is highlighted at night by dramatic spotlighting<br />
thrown on colorful backgrounds.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
m'^n^fki<br />
ii'f'ff'i<br />
F-.-^-'^iil<br />
^Kt<br />
I't'
THERE IS MO<br />
SUBSTITUTE FOR.-<br />
DRAFTLESS AIR DISTRIBUTION<br />
Install<br />
Three New<br />
Simplex Projectors<br />
. . insist on Anemostat<br />
Even though you've installcJ the hncst temperature<br />
controls, compressor, blower, ducts<br />
and other air conditioning equipment in your<br />
theatre, your entire system will be a "dud"<br />
iftheairdiffuskn isfaulty. Don't take a chance<br />
with "substitutes" .<br />
Draftless Air Diffusers.<br />
For Anemostat Air Diffusers distribute air<br />
at 'any required velocity in predetermined<br />
patterns. Anemostats instantly equalize temperature<br />
and humidity — completely eliminate<br />
drajfs, thus bringing maximum comfort<br />
to every seat in the house.<br />
There is a type of Anemostat,<br />
pleasing in appearance,<br />
for the solution of<br />
ei'ery air distribution problem.<br />
Illustrated is the new<br />
Type C-1 ceiling Anemostat<br />
which is adjustable to<br />
meet changing conditions<br />
of occupancy or seasonal<br />
weather variations.<br />
Remember. ..there is no stihstitttte for Anemostat<br />
Draftless Air Distribution. For the complete<br />
satisfaction of your patrons and for<br />
long-range economy, install Anemostats in<br />
both new and existing heating, ventilating<br />
and air conditioning systems.<br />
Within a short space of time following<br />
national announcement of the new Simplex<br />
XL projector mechanism, the installation<br />
of three new projectors employing the new<br />
mechanism was made in the Mercury Theatre<br />
at Elmwood Park, 111. The theatre's<br />
projection booth is shown above.<br />
Additional equipment included Peerless<br />
Magnarc lamps. Simplex C-60 dual channel<br />
sound system with A-2 Voice of the<br />
Theatre loud speaker system, Bausch &<br />
Lomb Super Cinephor f:2.0 projection<br />
lenses and 2 Hertner transverters.<br />
The front wall of the booth is entirely<br />
free of conduit. The floor is of insulating<br />
cork and the booth is fluorescent lighted.<br />
The Mercury is owned and operated by<br />
Howard J. Beck & Associates.<br />
That's because Anemostats provide an exclusive<br />
aspiration effect which siphons room<br />
air into the device where it is mixed, within<br />
the unit, with supply air before it is discharged<br />
in a multiplicity of planes.<br />
ANEMOSTAT<br />
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ANEMOSTAT CORPORATION OF AMERICA<br />
10 E.4ST 39th STREET, NEW YORK 16, N. Y.<br />
REPRESENTATIVES I>' PRINClPAl, CITIES<br />
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At better theatre supply dealers.<br />
GOLDE MANUFACTURING CO.<br />
1220-A W. Madison St., Chicajo 7, U.S.A.<br />
To respond to this advertisemetit, use postagepaid<br />
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The sectional view shows how the Anemostat air diffuser<br />
provides draftless comfort by means of the aspiration<br />
principle ... an exclusive Anemostat feature.<br />
"No air conditioning system<br />
ed<br />
is better than its<br />
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DISPLAY FRAMES<br />
Sealuxe purchasers invest<br />
Others spend<br />
Increase Exhibit Space<br />
At 1950 TESMA Show<br />
The 1950 trade show and convention<br />
of the Theatre Equipment & Supply Manufacturers<br />
Ass'n will be held October 8<br />
through October 11 at the Stevens Hotel in<br />
Chicago, according to a recent announcement.<br />
Preliminary plans for the meeting were<br />
discussed during a recent visit of TESMA<br />
President Oscar P. Neu to the organization's<br />
new national offices in Hollywood. Exhibits<br />
will officially open at noon, Sunday, October<br />
8 and close on Wednesday, October 11.<br />
Due to the fact that many manufacturers<br />
of theatre equipment requested exhibit<br />
space last year too late to be accommodated,<br />
it was decided to increase the exhibit<br />
area to accommodate 125 booths.<br />
The general TESMA business meeting<br />
will be held on Tuesday morning and will<br />
be preceded by a breakfast for TESMA<br />
members. A meeting of the TESMA board<br />
of directors and officers will be held on<br />
Sunday. TESMA Secretary Roy Boomer<br />
stated that already many manufacturers<br />
have requested space, but that no space<br />
will be allotted until the floor plans have<br />
been completed and the prospectus mailed<br />
to TESMA members, about May 1.<br />
22 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
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aC LESS COST mm' Lj<br />
TYPHOON<br />
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Furthermore, by distributing cool<br />
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yF<br />
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\^ CHEAPER TO BUY: Up to 25%<br />
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CHEAPER TO OPERATE: No waste<br />
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units when not needed.<br />
FASTER TO INSTALL: No walls to<br />
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4, ZONE CONTROL: Individual thermostats<br />
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5^<br />
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SUPPLEMENTS YOUR PRESENT<br />
SYSTEM: Where present system is<br />
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^^<br />
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YEAR ROUND AIR CONDITION-<br />
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RUGGEDLY ENGINEERED: Oversize<br />
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Factory-tested features add up to<br />
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QUIET OPERATION: Sound baffled<br />
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AIR CONDITIONING<br />
SYSTEM<br />
All the elements of a costly central<br />
plont in a compact unit!<br />
Units: 1 ' 2 to 20-ton—a size for every<br />
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VJrWe for a suggested plan for your theofre.<br />
TYPHOON AIR CONDITIONING CO., INC.<br />
794 UNION STREET BROOKLYN 15, N. Y.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:: March 4, 1950
A<br />
TEN-STRIKE<br />
IN<br />
CONVERSION<br />
Soufh-Side Chicago Bowling Alley<br />
Is Transformed Info De Luxe Theafre<br />
Xt is a long way, functionally<br />
speaking, from a bowling alley to a theatre<br />
offering the best of modern comfort and<br />
decor to its patrons, but the 875-seat Stony<br />
Theatre on Chicago's south side has just<br />
made that remarkable transition. Pi-om its<br />
richly attractive exterior of striated marble,<br />
modern marquee and lobby-wide expanse<br />
of heavy glass doors to its back wall,<br />
the design proves what imagination and<br />
discernment can accomplish for the small<br />
theatre.<br />
But to start at the beginning, the Stony<br />
Theatre, owned by the Stony Theatre<br />
Corp. of which Mr. George GoUos is president,<br />
was opened 30 years ago. It was<br />
changed to a bowling alley until being<br />
reopened as a theatra on Fi'iday the 13th<br />
of January of this year. Not only does<br />
the Stony seem above and beyond superstition<br />
but very well set for a third period<br />
of public service. Its interior is as practical<br />
as it is smart and compelling.<br />
As evidence of the perfection of detail<br />
in the Stony, we start with a quiet but<br />
effective scroll motif in the carpeting of<br />
the area shown above. The shades of deep<br />
red prove this selection a practical one as<br />
its gentle curves fit in with the flowing<br />
motifs of the overall decorations in highly<br />
dynamic treatment of bold blue-green,<br />
chartreuse, coral and gray against a deeply<br />
corrugated background of neutral sand.<br />
These wall abstractions serve to balance<br />
the otherwise severely straight architectural<br />
lines of the lobby. Further graceful<br />
modulations are to be found in the "gard:n<br />
setting" with its lannon-stone base,<br />
well-scaled white tree, and brilliant planting<br />
of plastic greenery. This area, between<br />
one wall section of chartreuse and a contrasting<br />
wall of deep blue-green, is dramatically<br />
lighted by a well-placed downlight<br />
and forms an arresting focal point<br />
for patrons' eyes.<br />
Another softening feature is the trim<br />
hedge of greenery in its bleached oak boxing<br />
under the well-proportioned expanse<br />
of mirror, which appears to double the<br />
size of the lobby. The ceiling, vibrant bluegreen,<br />
provides a needed complementary<br />
color for the solid expanse of red carpeting.<br />
As can be seen in the mirror reflection,<br />
the opposite side of the lobby is fitted<br />
*Hann3 R Teicherl Decorating Co,<br />
by HANNS R. TEICHERT*<br />
with a refreshment bar conveniently placed<br />
at the patron's right hand as he enters.<br />
The concession stand is incorporated into<br />
the decorations of the room through the<br />
emphasis of a bright chartreuse background<br />
wall and a ceiling which is cut rhythmically<br />
with a white free-form outline. The wood<br />
of the counter is bleached oak which adds<br />
a great deal to the dignity of the whole<br />
area. This, together with brilliant lighting,<br />
makes the refreshment bar an attraction<br />
of real impact.<br />
Between the bar and the front doors is<br />
the coming-attraction board treated with<br />
the same custom-made effect. Here, within<br />
a beveled bleached oak frame indirectly<br />
lighted from the top, coming attraction<br />
advertising is placed against a background<br />
of crushed plush in the red tones of the<br />
carpet. When seen from the outside<br />
24 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
through the expanse of full-width heavy<br />
glass doors, this colorful, dynamic and compelling<br />
interior seems to almost draw the<br />
patron right into the theatre.<br />
The lobby immediately outside the auditorium<br />
which might have been a rather<br />
monotonous area as far as wall proportions<br />
and space are concerned actually<br />
offers visual variety and interest to spare,<br />
as shown at the right. The length of the<br />
ceiling is camouflaged by the use of dark<br />
blue-green paint and the spacing of the<br />
plastic lighting fixtures which are brilliant<br />
decorative additions without being at all<br />
glaring.<br />
To open up the somewhat confined<br />
space, wall decorations are executed in<br />
clear chartreuse, with small interspersed<br />
panels of deep blue-green over doors and<br />
on the end wall for the necessary "change<br />
of pace." The walls between the auditorium<br />
doors support hand-painted panels<br />
of a nonobjective conception, each one different,<br />
yet all related in color and imaginative<br />
strength. They are worked out in<br />
solid blocks of color with clean superimposed<br />
lines of the same hues as those<br />
flanking the front mirror, although the<br />
effect against this Ught chartreuse background<br />
is refreshingly different.<br />
By now perhaps a small reservation has<br />
come to mind as to these same light backgrounds.<br />
Public space walls such as these<br />
are called upon to take a lot of abuse, and<br />
these can take it, for a new plastic material,<br />
requiring only the touch of a damp<br />
cloth to remove marks, has been applied.<br />
Thus science has come to the aid of art<br />
in practically eliminating a most troublesome<br />
theatre maintenance problem.<br />
Directly opposite the second auditorium<br />
door is an areaway to the mezzanine stairs.<br />
An unexpected lift is given this niche by<br />
completely reversing the previous color<br />
scheme. The floor covering is a lively green<br />
and the walls a vibrant red taken from<br />
one of the tones of the carpet. On the<br />
wall facing the auditorium doors is a<br />
dscorative composition similar to those just<br />
described, and in the same colors, but being<br />
painted loosely on the red wall it gives the<br />
theme an entirely new quality of color.<br />
A NARROW HALL IS BROKEN UP WITH GAY ABSTRACTIONS<br />
The color scheme established here follows<br />
up through the mezzanine where the<br />
red walls are toned down by interspersing<br />
sections of relieving blue-green and neutral<br />
gray. Against this background are placed<br />
comfortable sectional chairs upholstered in<br />
smart gray and lighter red textured wool.<br />
This furniture is flanked by tables of limed<br />
oak. Lighting is provided by a central<br />
many-armed brushed-brass fixture of<br />
graceful and smart design. This whole area<br />
forms a most pleasant and convenient<br />
lounge serving the adjoining restrooms.<br />
In the smartly-decorated auditorium of<br />
the Stony the ceiling and dado of midnight<br />
blue counterbalance the red seats,<br />
forming solid blocks of powerful color<br />
against which the over-scaled sidewall<br />
murals are doubly effective. Here, against<br />
chartreuse walls, is a panoramic composition<br />
of tree and plant forms suggesting<br />
a landscape abstraction.<br />
executed in fluorescent blues, greens, reds,<br />
grays and off-white so that when the general<br />
illumination is turned off, the "black<br />
Its free forms are<br />
1-ght ' composition glows brilliantly. In fact,<br />
it is rich and vibrant in color to a degree<br />
not usually encountered, for it is activated<br />
by a new type of tube that can be seen<br />
extending out from either side of the round<br />
lights.<br />
The officers of the Stony Theatre Corp.<br />
are to be congratulated in meeting and<br />
overcoming the architectural handicaps in<br />
converting this bowling alley into the gracious,<br />
forceful theatre it has become. Areas<br />
and proportions were such that it could<br />
easily have been just another "shoe box"<br />
house with a long "alley" for a lobby. But<br />
that's when they really started to plan,<br />
and work and create. Even the money and<br />
effort they put into it would have been<br />
handicapped without the further qualities<br />
of good taste and imagination which were<br />
liberally included.<br />
It is properties such as this that are the<br />
real leaders in the entertainment field,<br />
regardless of size and location. When a<br />
30-year-old house can look like tomorrow<br />
. . . that's leadership in any class.<br />
THE<br />
SAME MOTIF ADORNS THE AUDITORIUM
New Equipment,<br />
New Appearance<br />
For Manitowoc's Strand Theatre<br />
FILM<br />
Film exhibitors want the simplest, lowest<br />
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CRITICS<br />
Critics of air conditioning cost should<br />
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AWARD<br />
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UNITED STATES<br />
AIR CONDITIONING CORPORATION<br />
Como Avenue S. E. at 33rd, Minneapolis 14, Minn.<br />
NLY TWO OF THE OLD WALLS Of the<br />
Strand Theatre, Manitowoc, 'Wis., remained<br />
when most of the building was<br />
torn down for remodeling recently. The<br />
second floor was torn out, the stage removed<br />
and the old lobby and entrance<br />
were replaced to make it one of the most<br />
modern theatres in that part of the state,<br />
complete with glass doors and new ramps<br />
leading from the lobby to the auditorium.<br />
The newest in Trane aii- conditioning<br />
has been installed, the air being filtered<br />
before it enters the building and then<br />
changed about every two minutes. Germicidal<br />
lamps are being used throughout the<br />
auditorium, lobby and washrooms to kill<br />
virus, bacteria and other germs.<br />
The rebuilding program included the<br />
installation of Ballantyne sound. Simplex<br />
projectors, American Seating Co. seats,<br />
Mohawk carpets, plumbing by Koehler Co.<br />
and Zonolite acoustical material. The<br />
marquee and main signs were supplied by<br />
Poblocki & Sons, the latter consisting of<br />
aluminum poster cases and non-illimiinated<br />
attraction board. A chaser in the<br />
nose and front of the marquee producer<br />
a waterfall effect. Two Strand name signs<br />
are in silhouette with letters in gold neon.<br />
The theatre has a seating capacity of<br />
900 and covers an area of 50x115 feet in<br />
the downtown business section of a city of<br />
40,000. The cost of rebuilding the theatre<br />
is reported at $150,000 and the cost of<br />
equipment about $50,000.<br />
Nick Johnson, owner of the Strand, came<br />
to Manitowoc in 1935 to manage the theatra<br />
for Fox 'Wisconsin Amusement Corp.,<br />
but took the house over as an independent<br />
operator five years ago. The theatre's<br />
picture policy changes as required to suit<br />
current films or public demand.<br />
Theatre Party Room Builds Extra Business<br />
One of the most popular features of<br />
the New Fail-field Theatre in suburban<br />
Fairfield, Ala., is a separate room designed<br />
for the use of theatre line parties.<br />
Seating 17 persons, this room is located<br />
in the rear of the theatre and is separated<br />
from the main auditorium by a plate glass<br />
window through which spectators view the<br />
picture. It is equipped with an air conditioning<br />
outlet and speaker.<br />
J. H. 'Waters, manager of the house,<br />
said that the party room has been used<br />
on an average of more than once a week<br />
since the theatre opened last March.<br />
No extra charge is made for the use of<br />
the room by clubs or organizations, but<br />
reservations must be made in advance. A<br />
minimum of ten admissions is necessary<br />
to reserve the room, and children and<br />
unmarried patrons must be chaperoned.<br />
The party room was remodeled from<br />
space originally intended for storage which<br />
Waters decided to make produce revenue.<br />
Directly below the party room on the<br />
first floor is a separate cry room where<br />
parents may take their children.<br />
Another feature of the new house is<br />
its "saucer" main floor. Dipping downward<br />
from the entrance at the rear, the floor<br />
begins rising upward about half way down.<br />
This, 'Waters said, affords patrons on nearfront<br />
rows the same eye-level for viewing<br />
the picture as those in the rear. Waters<br />
is also proud of his 50-ton Carrier<br />
year-round air conditioning system. "You'U<br />
find few like it in this vicinity," he says.<br />
26 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
"THEATRE OF TOMORROW." This attractive<br />
theatre in DeKalb, Illinois, has real eyeappeal.<br />
The front is of beige, ivory and wine<br />
Carrara Glass, PC Glass Blocks, Pittco De<br />
Luxe Metal, and Herculite Doors. A sparkling<br />
front like this will win more patrons for<br />
your theatre, too. Designer: Axel J. Claesson,<br />
Morris, Illinois.<br />
theatre of tomorrow<br />
aIll6KW«« GRAND OPENING »|<br />
M4^'*''f MARCH 16 y<br />
;r;;;nFTowMO*<br />
S 1 d ! . . . to the lady who was "just looking"<br />
ANEAT, inviting front helps "sell"<br />
a theatre to the passer-by.<br />
Owners and operators have found<br />
that boxoffice receipts have increased<br />
when the appearance of their<br />
theatres was improved. That's why<br />
so manj' of them employ extensive<br />
Store fronts<br />
applications of sparkling, eye-catching<br />
glass when they remodel.<br />
Give your boxoffice receipts a<br />
boost—and get the edge on your<br />
competitors — by modernizing your<br />
theatre with an attractive, inviting<br />
front of Pittsburgh Glass and Pittco<br />
Store Front Metal. Modernization<br />
not just an expense, but rather an<br />
is<br />
investment in the future of your<br />
business. And be sure to do a thorough<br />
job when you remodel—inside<br />
and out. It's the complete modernization<br />
that pays the biggest dividends<br />
in increased patronage. If<br />
you desire terms, they can be arranged<br />
through the Pittsburgh Time<br />
Payment Plan.<br />
Ask your architect about Pittsburgh<br />
Products. He is familiar with<br />
these recognized leaders and will setthat<br />
you get a well-planned, economical<br />
design. In the meantime, write<br />
for one of our free descriptive booklets<br />
on modernization. Just mail the<br />
convenient coupon below.<br />
and Interiors<br />
by Pittsburgh<br />
I'ltt-ilnirgli Plate Glass Company<br />
2083-0 Crant BuildinK. Pitt-fbiirsh 10, l':i.<br />
Without obligation on my part, plca.se senJ ine a kkkk copy of your hook on store<br />
iiuiilernization. "Modern Ways for Modern Days."<br />
\;irnc- --- -<br />
Address -<br />
City<br />
State<br />
PAINTS<br />
GLASS CHEMICALS BRUSHES<br />
•<br />
PLASTICS<br />
PLATE GLASS COMPANY<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 27
increasem<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong> Receipts^<br />
WITH BLACK LIGHT<br />
INTERIOR DECORATION<br />
The novel decorating effects<br />
^ obtainable with GLO-CRAFT<br />
Black Light Units and GLO-CRAFT<br />
fluorescent products are endless.<br />
Murals and other types of Black Light<br />
decoration have become recognized<br />
as a potent drawing card in many<br />
theaters throughout the world. Theater<br />
owners have reported intense<br />
interest in the captivating beauty of<br />
GLO-CRAFT Black Light Decorating.<br />
Switzer Brothers have the technical<br />
knowledge to aid you in drawing<br />
more patrons to your theater<br />
through the use of well-planned<br />
GLO-CRAFT Black Light effects.<br />
suiindi Byn[iis.ioc.<br />
4732 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland 3, Ohio<br />
"The First Name in Fluorescence'<br />
Zone Air Conditioning for A Small Theatre<br />
One of the newest theatres completed<br />
in southern Wisconsin is at Lodi<br />
where two separate heating and cooling<br />
systems have been installed. One system<br />
heats the 500-seat auditoriimi whUe the<br />
second one accommodates the foyer, lobby<br />
and theatre office at the front end of the<br />
building. Both systems are oil fired, using<br />
No. 3 fuel oil.<br />
In the auditorium a horizontal heater,<br />
of the return-tube type, possesses a fire<br />
travel four times the length of the heater.<br />
The blower circulates 13,000 cubic feet of<br />
air a minute. Heater surfaces are finned<br />
for maximum efficiency. All air circulated<br />
is drawn from outdoors through air filters,<br />
and cooling coils are provided for summer<br />
conditioning.<br />
The front end of the building is also<br />
warmed by an oil heater. Although, in<br />
the interest of economy, no cooling coUs<br />
were provided for this system, they can<br />
be added in future if desired.<br />
This theatre has a very simple system<br />
of duct work with air supplied to the<br />
auditorium through one large directional<br />
grille located near the ceiling above the<br />
proscenium. This arrangement provides<br />
uniform distribution of both warm and<br />
cool air throughout the auditorium. The<br />
return air is taken through two grilles<br />
in the face of the stage. Two vent ducts<br />
are provided at the rear of the auditorium<br />
with grUles at the floor connected to ventilators<br />
in the roof of the building.<br />
The fresh air intake is of sufficient capacity<br />
to supply the fuU output of the<br />
blower, but the arrangement permits the<br />
use of any percentage of fresh air desired.<br />
The heating ventilating and air conditioning<br />
system at the Lodi was installed<br />
by the American Foundry & Furnace Co.'s<br />
Milwaukee branch. The theatre was designed<br />
by architect Myles Belongia of<br />
Milwaukee.<br />
A Veteran Makes a Sale<br />
In Dallas for the Southwest Aii- Conditioning<br />
Exposition late in January, Edward<br />
Beck, Typhoon Air Conditioning engineer<br />
found four old friends in the form of four<br />
huge Typhoon ventilating fans he had installed<br />
in the former Queen Theatre 40<br />
years ago.<br />
In 1915, when the fans were installed, the<br />
Queen Theatre was brand new and something<br />
of a sensation in that it was built<br />
expressly for showing motion pictures. Its<br />
up-to-the-minute completeness included<br />
what cooling could be afforded by the fans<br />
from Typhoon, then a six-year-old company.<br />
AIR-RITE<br />
INCREASES YOUR<br />
THEATRE TRAFFIC AND PROFITS<br />
Bdward Beck, right, renews acquaintance with<br />
four ventilating fans which he installed for<br />
Typhoon 40 years ago in a Dallas Theatre.<br />
Elton Houck, left, represents the Joy circuit<br />
which now operates the house.<br />
For NEW Construction<br />
and Remodeling .<br />
AIR-RITE is the result of 12 years<br />
of rich experience in manufacturing,<br />
engineering, and the installation of Theatre<br />
Air Conditioning Equipment.<br />
Write today for literature on our Blowers 10,000 to 60,000<br />
CFM., Washers, Hydraulic Variable Speed Drives, Motors,<br />
Double Deflection Grills.<br />
We Furnish FREE Ertg'meer'mg Service. Write for name of nearest dealer.<br />
NATIONAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY<br />
523 Wyandotte Kansas City, Mo.<br />
On checking up. Beck located Elton<br />
Houck, local head of the Joy theatre chain<br />
which now operates the former Queen as<br />
the Leo. An invitation to attend the Exposition<br />
brought Houck in touch with the<br />
newest in Typhoon equipment and before<br />
the meeting was over he had asked engineers<br />
to check the circuit's Strand Theatre.<br />
The result was an order for a new 10-<br />
ton Typhoon unit.<br />
Said Houck, "Those fans at the Leo were<br />
in perfect working order and were used up<br />
until two years ago when we air conditioned<br />
the Leo. I'll bet they'd start turning<br />
right now if I threw the switch. That is<br />
certainly a good recommendation for any<br />
product."<br />
28 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
'<br />
Clli<br />
TtlEAll.1;<br />
Josf a few excerpts of the<br />
many enthusiastic letters we've received:<br />
Since you inslolled the new Slorke Cycloramic Screen ot our Criterion Theatre, we<br />
hove the finest picture on Broadway. We gel a softer picture with considerably increosed<br />
light ond wonderful definition and clarity. Our patron reaction hos been most<br />
gratifying especially when the extreme sides and front seols ore used. The sound<br />
quality loo has improved - so Ihanlis for ollowing us to be one of the first theatres<br />
in New York to install this marvelous screen.<br />
CHARLES B. MOSS<br />
B. S. Moss Corporation, New York, N. Y.<br />
". . . excellent results from the Cycloromic Screen hos mode us very hoppy ... it not<br />
ily increases our screen light, but our sound seems belter."<br />
CHAS. H. CODE<br />
Dream Theatre, Nome, Alaska<br />
". . . our theoire hod a crying need for correction ... we hove even considered<br />
remodelling ... the CYCLORAMIC SCREEN hos reduced picture distortion to o procticol<br />
Nil. Results of the CYCLORAMIC so omoiing I quote from Mr. Chester Morgan,<br />
proiectionisi in our Iheolres for the post 16 years. The New Cycloramic Screen is the<br />
finest 1 hove ever projected o picture on . . . the screen should be given serious consideration<br />
ond strongly promoted by every operator ... it will moke his work much<br />
easier ond for better.<br />
^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^<br />
Bruen's Whittier Theatres, Whittier, Calif.<br />
. . to tell you how satisfied we ore with its performonce in comporison with screens<br />
we hove used in the post. Not only do we gel o brighter picture, but there is o definite<br />
third dimension illusion ond the non-distortion provided the side and front sects<br />
mokes the Storke Cycloromic screen o decided ossel to the theoire."<br />
H. V. HARVEY<br />
Westland Theatres, San Francisco<br />
". . . we ore tickled pink with the results. I con truthfully soy it has increosed our<br />
light . . . given us more depth ... and eliminated objection of patrons in sitting in<br />
side sections. You ore to be complimented on hoving such o fine screen to sell."<br />
LEROY V. JOHNSON<br />
Theatres, Inc., Seattle, Wash.<br />
•<br />
.<br />
the CYCLORAMIC Screen hos everything ony exhibitor con look lor in a screen<br />
sound is much better becouse it is evenly distributed . . but. best of oil, there is<br />
Imost no distortion from ony ongle ... on importont feature for the Rivoli with o<br />
dth of 85 feet."<br />
GEORGE GOLD<br />
Newark Amusement Company, Newark, N. J.<br />
thrilled with the results of this fine screen . . . picture so much brighter the public<br />
believes we hove installed new powerful lomps . . .<br />
depth ond clarity I have never<br />
seen on o screen . . . certainly hos relieved oil distortion from both front and side<br />
-'^^CONNER<br />
Hamrick's Tacoma Theatres, Tacoma, Washington<br />
,eo.s. .n other words ... it does exoctly who. the ods said it<br />
The FIRST Major Screen Improvement in<br />
30 Yeai^<br />
CYCL«RAMIC<br />
Magic Screen<br />
of the Future<br />
NOW!<br />
Custom Screen<br />
Distributed through<br />
Theotre Supply Dealers in All Film Centers<br />
Manufocrured by<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
2318 Second Avenue, Seattle 1, Washington<br />
Sold Exclusively in Export by FRAZAR & HANSEN, Ltd. 301 (lay St., San Frontisto 11, Colif
CIVIC ACTIVITY THE BASIS FOR<br />
GOOD THEATRE PUBLIC RELATIONS<br />
CINCINNATI GARDENS<br />
SAVED $979.72 A MONTH<br />
ON THEIR WATER BILL<br />
Actual figures over a 6 months period ... 3<br />
months BEFORE and 3 months AFTER installation<br />
of a Morley Voirflo Cooling Tower ot the<br />
Cincinnati Gardens, beautiful Sports Palace in<br />
Cincinnati, Ohio . . . show WATER SAVINGS<br />
ALONE OF 92%.<br />
"The difference," says one of the Garden's<br />
directors, "is unbelievable!"<br />
"We should put a fence around our Marley<br />
Vairflo and guard it like a mint," says Alex<br />
Sinclair, superintendent.<br />
Certainly in these days of higher operating<br />
costs and lower profits, any piece of equipment<br />
that pays for itself in 6 months . . . and reduces<br />
operating costs as this Marley Cooling<br />
Tower did, deserve management's most careful<br />
consideration.<br />
This outstanding saving, accomplished with a<br />
435 gpm tower for a comparatively small water<br />
user, COULD BE EVEN GREATER FOR YOU!<br />
Depending, naturally, upon your water consumption<br />
and your water costs.<br />
Why worry about high water bills, water<br />
shortages or low water pressure during the<br />
criticol summer months? Marley can help you<br />
solve your water cooling problem. Write, wire<br />
or call<br />
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To respond to this advertisement, use postagepaid<br />
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- 30-A.<br />
THE MARLEY CO.,<br />
INC.<br />
KANSAS CITY IS, KANSAS<br />
'^T^pS^^ PRECISION MADE<br />
W^- PROJECTOR PARTS<br />
Once you've used them, you'll agree that the built-in precision<br />
and trouble free performance of La Vezzi parts do much to<br />
hasten repair jobs and help you to the better projection that<br />
dehghts patrons.<br />
Specify U Vezzi SUPER-SERVICE Parts for<br />
all your replacements! Your Theatre Supply Dealer has them.<br />
theatre should screen the organizations to<br />
determine which can be of the greatest<br />
benefit to him. Which clubs can do the<br />
theatre and the industry the most good<br />
should be determined by the individual<br />
theatre manager, rather than top circuit<br />
executives.<br />
In the first place, the value of joining<br />
the local Chamber of Commerce cannot<br />
be overemphasized.<br />
An example of the importance of the<br />
Chamber of Commerce can be noted in the<br />
town of West Hartford, Conn., a suburban<br />
development of some 50,000 population<br />
adjoining Hartford. Over a long period of<br />
time the organization was attempting to<br />
• The Super Hi-up Tube<br />
adds 10 ieet to the reach oi<br />
the operator making overhead<br />
and under floor areas<br />
easy to keep clean.<br />
• The Super Floor tool<br />
slips under anything 31/2<br />
fro the llo and<br />
goes right up to the wrall<br />
leaving no strip oi carpet for<br />
moths to destroy.<br />
• The Super Spotlight attached<br />
to the handle throws<br />
a strong beam before the<br />
floor tool illuminating dark<br />
areas, saves houselights.<br />
• The Super Screen brush<br />
made of special, long bristles-<br />
dislodges dirt — keeps<br />
pictures bright and sound effects<br />
clear.<br />
• The Super Blower Elbow<br />
provides the Super with a<br />
powerful air force which<br />
boosts all kinds of debris<br />
and refuse out from imder<br />
seat areas and down front<br />
for easy disposal.<br />
lOoME THREE DECADES AGO When the solve the problem of downtown West<br />
motion picture industry was still in its Hartford parking. When parking meters<br />
adolescent stages, theories and ideas on were install ?d, without solving the problem,<br />
getting along with your neighbor, the public,<br />
were heard in practically every branch the Chamber of Commerce suggested<br />
creating a municipal parking lot on property<br />
of show business.<br />
owned by several West Hartford mer-<br />
For example, a weU-meaning ciixuit chants.<br />
executive, eager to get a favorable public With the hearty cooperation of the city's<br />
response to a proposed expansion of his theatremen, the plan was put into operation.<br />
theatre operations, would tell a theatre<br />
Specifically, Central Theatre man-<br />
managc:r to become a "joiner" in his community.<br />
ager. Hugh J. Campbell went one step<br />
He meant, of course, that the furtiier and ran a screen trailer, made at<br />
enterprising theatre manager should make<br />
a special effort to join practically all clubs<br />
the theatre's expense, each day, announcing<br />
the new parking service.<br />
and civic organizations in the community. By joining the Kiwanis club, Rotary<br />
Bemg a "joiner" is excellent for both club or other service organization, the<br />
the small town theatre manager and downtown<br />
theatre manager can come in contact with<br />
de luxe operation, but there should important men of the community. In solv-<br />
ba limitations on indiscriminate joining. ing community problems he is then in a<br />
In other words, the manager who wishes position to offer his services or theatre<br />
to participate in community activity to facilities for community use in many ways<br />
create favorable public opinion for his which mean improved public relations.<br />
Some theatre managers have helped<br />
combat juvenile delinquency by offering<br />
their theatres at no cost for special Saturday<br />
morning "Kiddy Shows." The Kiwanis<br />
or similar clubs act as adult supervisors.<br />
Such cooperation between clubs<br />
and the theatre creates a definite place<br />
in the community affairs for the theatre.<br />
It is necessary for the theatre manager<br />
to do more than just join. Successful public<br />
relations require the continuous efforts<br />
of several years and to achieve this<br />
goal the theatreman must realize that in<br />
the modern sense "joining" is a successful<br />
technique only when accompanied by a<br />
willingness to serve the community.<br />
tool-equipped and enired<br />
for the particular and involved job<br />
cleaning the modern theatre, the Super<br />
of<br />
Specialized Theatre Cleaner easily meets your most<br />
difficult cleaning ,-equirements.<br />
One SUPER<br />
Cleans<br />
LaVezzi<br />
Machine<br />
These are only a few of the<br />
special tools designed for<br />
theatre cleaner. Ask your<br />
supply dealer for a demonstration.<br />
Sprinj weather increases the cleaning task— mud and street<br />
is in filth tracked constantly. Only thorough, frequent cleaning will save costly<br />
floor furnishings and coverings from damage.<br />
Keep the house bright and pleasing to patrons. The Super with its amazing tools.<br />
easy portability and powerful pick-up enables you to keep your theatre really<br />
all clean under conditions with a minimum of labor and expense.<br />
National Super Serv ce Compony, Inc.<br />
1941 N. 12th Street Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
I'<br />
National Super Service Company of Canada<br />
Toronto, Ont. Vancouver, B. C.<br />
30 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
IN AIR CONDITIONING<br />
it's the<br />
COMPRESSOR THAT COUNTS<br />
AND ONLY<br />
WESTINGHOUSE<br />
i^<br />
CAN GIVE YOU<br />
HERMETICALLY-SEALED<br />
COMPRESSORS UP TO 100 hp.<br />
...17 YEARS EXPERIENCE<br />
In 1933, Westinghouse pioneered the hermeticallysealed<br />
compressor design for air conditioning. In one<br />
step, it eliminated belts, pulleys and shaft seal refrigerant<br />
leaks — and reduced size, weight and vibration.<br />
17 years of successful installations have proved<br />
the soundness of this principle.<br />
When you consider air conditioning — any application<br />
from a self-contained unit to a complete<br />
system—choose Westinghouse because its heart is a<br />
compressor hermetically sealed in steel. This is your<br />
greatest single guarantee—above any written guarantee—that<br />
Westinghouse Air Conditioning will give<br />
you the longest, most dependable, trouble-free service.<br />
you CAN BE SUt^E ..JP it's<br />
TVfestinghouse<br />
FIRST To<br />
Introduce<br />
HERMETICALLY-SEALED<br />
COMPRESSORS »N<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
31
Putting the Parsley on<br />
Screen<br />
Presentation<br />
One Minute<br />
PLEASE<br />
ACBusr<br />
.by GRAY BARKER.<br />
X HE OLD STEREOPTICON, USed SlllCe<br />
the birth of the movies to remind the ladies<br />
to remove their mountainous mOlinery, can<br />
still be used today in several ways to help<br />
dress up your screen presentation.<br />
Of course, there are many houses where<br />
it is still used to present coming attractions,<br />
but the use to which an enterprising projectionist<br />
can put one of the 3'/4x4-inch<br />
slide sizes can add life and sparkle to many<br />
screen features which have become commonplace<br />
and dull.<br />
Like the parsley on the prime rib of beef,<br />
carefully planned extra touches of color<br />
here and there convey to the patron a definite<br />
idea that the magnificent spectacle<br />
they're about to see is really a Super Colossal<br />
Extravaganza, which anyone knows is<br />
more impressive.<br />
Most feature credit lists are pleasing to<br />
the eye without special effects, but if some<br />
ceremony is made in conjunction with Fox's<br />
flashing searchlights or Metro's garrulous<br />
Leo, the fans downstairs may get the idea<br />
that the two million bucks worth of film<br />
coming up is worth a bit more concentrated<br />
looking than the newsreel and the talking<br />
animals they have just witnessed.<br />
A plain colored slide, thrown over the<br />
credits list at this time, affords the psychological<br />
advantage of color. By this method<br />
the shadows in the picture are tinted while<br />
the highlights remain relatively undisturbed.<br />
The slide image should be slightly<br />
out of focus, so that no texture of the<br />
color medium, dirt particles on the glass,<br />
or sharp border outlines are visible. Borders<br />
of the slide image should end somewhere<br />
on the screen masking, or in the<br />
draperies, if the image is not too brilliant.<br />
Better still, a slide with two colors, the<br />
dividing line slightly off center toward the<br />
top, works in fine with feature titles containing<br />
scenic backgrounds with earth and<br />
sky shown in their proper color.<br />
You can use gelatin as a coloring agent,<br />
or paint plain glass with whatever coloring<br />
you have on hand to obtain a satisfactory<br />
effect. It calls for some experimenting that<br />
should appeal to the "Rube Goldberg" impulse<br />
in most projectionists.<br />
If you have a fluff and your coloring<br />
medium dries unevenly, the odd texture<br />
thus obtained may create an interesting<br />
screen effect when focused sharply.<br />
If you have a more powerful light source<br />
behind your slide, a colorful border around<br />
the entire screen, projected on the drapes,<br />
/^^^^^ Super Cinephor Lens<br />
Series<br />
"""^Bi<br />
Gives You New Profit from:<br />
• LARGER AUDIENCES (particularly in drive-ins)— made<br />
possible by brilliant, improved illumination.<br />
• BETTER ALL-AROUND VISION-"edge-to-edge' contrast<br />
and sharpness . . . better vision at all ranges, all angles.<br />
as it<br />
• GREATER AUDIENCE SATISFACTION . . . they'll appreciate<br />
seeing pictures that bring them closer to the actual living scene<br />
was filmed by the studio.<br />
WRITE for complete information to Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., 720-0 St. Paul St., Rochester 2, N. Y.<br />
FOR TOP IMAGE QUALITY ON YOUR SCREEN ... THE W TRADEMARK ON YOUR LENS<br />
BAUSCH & LOMB<br />
PROJECTION LENSES<br />
32 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
sets off a title with a touch of the spectacular.<br />
Unless your projector is capable of dissolving<br />
from one slide to another, don't try<br />
changing colors in the middle of a title,<br />
since this would let it relapse into black and<br />
white, spoiling the effect.<br />
A superimposed color is most effective<br />
on darker titles, because the lighter titles<br />
wash out the effect of the less intense<br />
illumination from the slide projector. In<br />
the latter case we have another old trick<br />
up our sleeves—the color wheel.<br />
A search of any theatre supply house<br />
should reveal color wheels adaptable to<br />
mounting in front of the projector lenses,<br />
but the boss may be saving his money to<br />
buy "Samson and Delilah" and close the<br />
purse to such "foolishness."<br />
MAKE YOUR OWN COLOR WHEELS<br />
The image projected through this arrangement<br />
does not lose much sharpness<br />
and is quite satisfactory, at least where<br />
we have seen this done.<br />
The wheel is set in operation with a<br />
colored section in front of the lens and the<br />
trade mark is projected through it. At the<br />
fadeout to the main credits, the wheel is<br />
rotated to the next color. The colors should<br />
be changed during title dissolves, adding,<br />
instead of detracting, from those effects.<br />
You'll find the image is not objectionably<br />
disturbed while the opaque dividers in the<br />
wheel are rotating across the projection<br />
beam.<br />
To avoid frantic ripping of a gelatin<br />
section when the credits end, better leave<br />
one blank space in the wheel, advancing<br />
this during the final credits fadeout. With<br />
a little practice you can time your colors<br />
quite expertly, since most credits follow a<br />
standard pattern.<br />
We are absolutely not responsible for<br />
credits which appear in the middle of the<br />
picture, or at the end. Better take a look<br />
at the top of the reel before trying anything<br />
fancy.<br />
FOOTLIGHTS FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS<br />
If you have colored footlights with selective<br />
switching from the booth, you can<br />
also do an impressive job with this medium.<br />
We like this at the beginning of the show,<br />
for newsreels and other subjects accompanied<br />
by spirited music.<br />
If the boss spends a great deal of money<br />
on coming attraction trailers they can<br />
become monotonous to a customer ^and<br />
projectionist) , especially in a three or fourchange<br />
house. They are still one of the<br />
most efficient show-sellers around, however,<br />
as results prove.<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 4, 1950<br />
Although it is an accepted practice in<br />
some houses, many don't like to see trailers<br />
pop on the screen "cold." That is, without<br />
some introductory strip, even one of<br />
the moth-eaten "prevues of Coming Attractions"<br />
animated monstrosities still in<br />
circulation in some localities.<br />
Use of a silent date strip is a matter of<br />
opinion. We're for them to avoid cutting<br />
into the music, and because a moment of<br />
silence, in itself, can be impressive.<br />
Some theatres prefer to use a stereopticon<br />
to superimpose the date of the coming<br />
attraction over the "prevue" itself, since<br />
this practice more closely associates the<br />
date with the trailer. Factory-made daters<br />
are available, or you can make your own<br />
with a radio mat and the proper masking.<br />
Although mentioned before, here's a little<br />
note worth repeating. Take a blank slide<br />
and cover it with a thin layer of white shoe<br />
polish, which is opaque after drying. Writing<br />
with a sharp pointed instrument on the<br />
If this is the case, you can make an even<br />
better one yourself with a little inventive<br />
genius and that bent reel you're hiding<br />
from the fire marshal. The sides are detached<br />
from the hub and mounted flush<br />
legibility<br />
with pieces of colored gelatin cemented<br />
and artistry.<br />
into<br />
If you want to handle your prevues in<br />
the openings. A reel with large openings,<br />
a truly flamboyant manner, pick up a lens<br />
of course, is preferred. The color wheel<br />
of longer focal length than those you are<br />
thus evolved is mounted at the port hole,<br />
using. In other words, one that makes the<br />
so it can be turned manually. Do not use<br />
colored cellophane since it is inflammable!<br />
shoe white appears as white lettering on<br />
the screen. The advisability of this stunt,<br />
of course, is directly proportional with your<br />
picture smaller than the customary image.<br />
Run your trailers on separate reels, behind<br />
the longer lens, projecting a colored border,<br />
preferably of artistic design, around it.<br />
This also leaves room for a jump In picture<br />
size when you hit the changeover, adding<br />
a wallop to the subject following.<br />
USE TRUE SHOWMANSHIP<br />
To hold the movie fan from the lure of<br />
TV, however, you must capitalize on the<br />
superiority of the motion picture image<br />
size and quality—along with the showmanship<br />
miracles a true projection artist can<br />
perform. The often unheralded little<br />
touches in the booth count more than ever.<br />
To have seen perfect projection is to have<br />
seen imagined reality, with mechanics so<br />
unobtrusive, they are unnoticed. So if the<br />
public seldom notices your moments of<br />
genius, that alone is a great compliment,<br />
for to see life itself, breathed into magic<br />
being from 35 millimeters of celluloid, is<br />
an experience patrons will continue to pay<br />
their money to see.<br />
For<br />
YOUR<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
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FOREST- HARRISON,<br />
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207 Railroad Avenue Harrison, N. J.<br />
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blows dust and dirt from amplifiers, projectors,<br />
lights, decorations . . vacuums carpets,<br />
draperies, ledges, grills . . . sprays deodorants,<br />
moth preventives, insecticides. Keeps entire<br />
theatre sparkling clean at a fraction the cost of<br />
other methods. Easy to use. Weighs just 91/2<br />
lbs. Full 2/3 horsepower.<br />
Sold Through Amer ca's Leading Distributors<br />
'<br />
MAIL<br />
COUPON<br />
TODAY<br />
THIS COMPLETE \<br />
POPCORN BLOWING I<br />
KIT FOR THE PRICE OF A /<br />
HOUSEHOLD VACUUM CLEANER /<br />
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, Inc.<br />
5225 Park Avenue<br />
FREE DEMONSTRATION .<br />
()D£Ar)<br />
. . Pleaie arrange<br />
for free demonstration of IDEAL<br />
Theatre Cleaner ond send folder.<br />
NAME<br />
ZONE<br />
STATE<br />
NEW RCA PROJECTOR HAS<br />
FOUR-INCH LENS MOUNT<br />
A new 35mm projector of radically<br />
advanced design was announced recently<br />
by the theatre equipment section of the<br />
RCA engineering products department.<br />
Innovations in the new "RCA 100" projector<br />
offer marked time savings and new<br />
standards of operating safety and convenience,<br />
RCA asserted.<br />
Describing the new projector as the<br />
finest ever turned out by the Brenkert<br />
Light Projection Co., Karl Brenkert, president<br />
of the RCA subsidiary, stated that<br />
it retains the established Brenkert features<br />
of rock-steady projection, highly efficient<br />
delivery of light to the screen, and<br />
low cost of maintenance.<br />
Nylon rollers, large, full-view glass windows<br />
in both the film and gear compartments,<br />
shielded interior lighting, and a new<br />
lens mount are among the new features<br />
of the "RCA 100."<br />
The use of nylon rollers eliminates the<br />
need for lubricants in the film compartment,<br />
removing any possibility of oil damage<br />
to the film.<br />
A glass door on the film side enables<br />
the operator to observe the entire film<br />
path continually while the projector is in<br />
operation.<br />
Soft interior lighting, shielded from the<br />
operator's eyes, increases the ease of<br />
threading film and cleaning the mechanism.<br />
An illuminated gear compartment and<br />
an unusually large glass-covered aperture<br />
in the housing of the compartment make<br />
it easy to check at any time the operation<br />
of the gear train and the lubricating<br />
system.<br />
The lens mount of the new projector is<br />
designed to accommodate the new fourinch<br />
high-speed projection lenses, which<br />
provide edge-to-edge sharpness over the<br />
entire screen surface, thus eliminating socalled<br />
"hot spot." The mount holds the<br />
lens firmly at both front and rear, so that<br />
perfect optical alignment is assured for a<br />
lens of any focal length.<br />
The automatic lubrication system which<br />
has been a standard feature of Brenkert<br />
projectors for more than ten years is retained<br />
in the new model. All rotating<br />
shafts running through the main case<br />
casting are equipped with oil baffles, so<br />
that shaft bearings are continually lubricated<br />
throughout their length, but no<br />
oil can leak into the operating compartment.<br />
The sturdy intermittent mechanism and<br />
heavy-duty gearing of the Brenkert BX 80<br />
projectors are also retained in the new<br />
projector.<br />
Industrial Photography<br />
Of Growing Importance<br />
Photography in industry accounts for<br />
more than two-thirds of the photographic<br />
materials used today, William P. Swann, a<br />
member of Eastman Kodak Co.'s industrial<br />
sales division, reported recently. The other<br />
third is used by amateur photographers.<br />
The ability of an ordinary camera and<br />
camera technique to estimate the volume<br />
of pulpwood in stock piles is an unusual<br />
industrial use cited by Swann.<br />
By using a high contrast photographic<br />
material, a flatcar full of wood is photographed.<br />
Spaces between the logs are produced<br />
as black areas. The faces of the<br />
logs become white areas. A special photoelectric<br />
scanning machine is then used to<br />
evaluate the amount of light areas to the<br />
dark areas and, assuming the length of the<br />
logs to be standard, an accurate estimate<br />
of the total volume of wood can be obtained.<br />
A relatively new instrument, the electron<br />
microscope, is capable of magnifications up<br />
to about 20,000 times. Used in conjunction<br />
with photography, it has important uses In<br />
connection with studies of abrasive materials,<br />
chemicals, plastics and structures of<br />
metals.<br />
34 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
isii<br />
ftiire<br />
COMFORT • BEAUTY • SERVICEABILITY • VALUE<br />
Custom-Built Slide-Back, Conventional and Drive-In Chairs<br />
for Every Condition, Taste and Budget. Write for free<br />
literature. Ideal Seating Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan.<br />
IDEAL<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 4, 1950 35
NEW APPROACHES IN<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
THEATRE<br />
An unusual touch in the design of the Villa is the double attraction board<br />
arrangement. A two-faced, free-standing unit at the curbing gives added<br />
impetus to the program announcement on the theatre marquee itself.<br />
X HE NEW Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City suburban showhouse<br />
of the Lawrence and Edwards group, brought gasps of<br />
delight from first nighters recently from the time they glimpsed<br />
its double marquee arrangement shown above until they<br />
reached their seats in the auditorium.<br />
Outstanding features of the house include a sunken wait-<br />
ing room off the main foyer, wall murals made of materials<br />
used in the construction of the house and an observation room<br />
flanking the projection booth.<br />
Wagner letters are used in both the free-standing attraction<br />
board and in the curved theatre marquee. Modern air conditioning<br />
typifies the latest in customer comforts afforded Villa<br />
patrons. A coral and rust color scheme is employed in decoration.<br />
__^^^<br />
This lounge view of the Villa mural shows a pioneer woman, native Joshua<br />
trees, the Great Salt Lake and other state attractions. The mural is made of
ee the cro^vds<br />
W<br />
Gulistun Carpet installed by Joe Hornslein, Id<br />
They'll be there ail right! For this smart theatre owner has seen to it<br />
that patrons wll enjoy a happy sense of expectancy the moment<br />
they set foot in the lobby. Seeing an enjoyable show in enjoyable<br />
.sj/rrounrfings is what keeps patrons coming back!<br />
BOXOFnCE<br />
That's why the Meadows Theatre in Jamaica, Long Island, selected<br />
Giilistan carpet in Rosebrook Frieze quality, the Caladitun Leaf pattern<br />
of crimson red on a backgroimd of warm gray textured frieze. For (ridistan.<br />
the carpet of famous decorators, can be styled to provide precisely the<br />
atmosphere required. Whether you're carpeting a theatre, store, hotel,<br />
restaurant, or your own home, see your Gulistan dealer. lie has the Gulistan<br />
carpet, exquisitely styled, that is just right for jour very particular needs.<br />
WOVEN ON POWER LOOMS IN THE U. S. A.<br />
A. & M. KARAGHEUSIAN, INC., 295 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 16, N.<br />
March 4. 1950<br />
CirUlilSX^M<br />
CARPET<br />
37
ONLY Mmh^ BUILDS THE ARISTOCRAT<br />
OF POPCORN MACHINES<br />
It's the Aristocrat because it's the leader!<br />
"Watch its big-popping kettle — you can't<br />
match it anywhere for profit production. See<br />
its<br />
automatic seasoning system which eliminates<br />
guess work. It meters seasoning to the<br />
kettle —r exactly the right amount for best<br />
taste — no waste, maximum profits.<br />
MANLEY HAS THE<br />
LOOKS<br />
Look at its sleek, modern beauty, its creamcolored<br />
panels and red trim, so easily cleaned<br />
with a swipe of the cloth — no other machine<br />
approaches Ix. for flashy good looks. This<br />
eye-appeal means buy-appeal. It's an unbeatable<br />
combination — beauty, ease of operation,<br />
great profit potential.<br />
MANLEY HELPS YOU<br />
Because Manley surveys the market, finds out<br />
- _ what theaters need and then builds a machine<br />
ONLY Jlfl/0/yiJ(x4/ GIVES YOU that tops them all, fills every requirement for<br />
THE COMPLETE POPCORN PROFIT PACKAGE<br />
theater operation. No wonder its called the<br />
You're wise three ways to buy Manley's complete popcorn line. First AfistOCrat of pOpCOm machinCS.<br />
—more money from the profit-popping kettles in Manley Machines.<br />
Second—more volume from Manley supplies: pedigreed corn, superrefined<br />
seasoning, quick-dissolving salt, special bags and boxes. Third<br />
—more customers from Manley's national advertising in the Saturday<br />
Evening Post, Life, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, Collier's,<br />
and Ladies' Home Journal. You'll need all three—get all three<br />
from Manley.<br />
McimJ^,^nc.<br />
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Allonto.Ga.<br />
Boston, Mail.<br />
Buffalo. N.Y.<br />
Chotlotta.N.C<br />
Chicogo. III.<br />
THE BIGGEST NAME IN POPCORN!"<br />
Blond, Ohi<<br />
Denver, Colo.<br />
Detroit, Mich.<br />
Dei Moines. Ic<br />
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Ikngefei, Coli<br />
iphii.Tenn.<br />
New Orleoni, la.<br />
New York, N.Y.<br />
OklohomoCity.Olilo<br />
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nd me your free 64 pape book which<br />
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ive your representative call.<br />
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I
—<br />
ADDED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRESSIVE EXHIBITORS<br />
.geMM
i<br />
I<br />
PHONE<br />
SOUNDPROOF POPCORN BAG<br />
SILENCES THE COUNTRY!<br />
Rex Soundproof Popcorn<br />
Bogs ore quieting the clomor<br />
of theatre managers everywhere<br />
for less theatre noise<br />
and substantial economies in<br />
inset<br />
Popcorn packaging. Share in<br />
these advantages yourself.<br />
WON'T CRACKLE . . .<br />
WON'T EXPLODE<br />
LESS THAN V2<br />
COST OF BOXES<br />
Write for Free Samples Now!<br />
Mex Paper Products eompanif<br />
95-109 Onderdonk Avenue, Brooklyn 6, N. Y.<br />
onufacturers of: Classlne, porchmenr, lomlnafed, waxed ond foil boas ond a/I ofher paper<br />
lectoltles. Ploin and mulfi-colored printing.<br />
PECIALISTS TO THE POP-CORN TRADE<br />
DRIVE-INS!<br />
sturdy<br />
IV/ffi<br />
Walky-Servke Equipment YOU<br />
MAKE MORE MONEY From Refreshments!<br />
showi<br />
rubber-tired<br />
dolly;<br />
makes<br />
it easy to<br />
wheel to any<br />
location.<br />
The HOT BOX Warmer<br />
Attractive, well-Insulated cabinet keeps boxed popcorn,<br />
peanuts, hot sandwiches, etc., warm indefinitely.<br />
Quickly pre-heated by built-in electrical unit. Foods<br />
held in 3 removable chrome plated dispensing baskets.<br />
S side display signs, large illuminated sign at top.<br />
Easily placed at point of greatest traffic flow for<br />
maximum sales.<br />
NOW IS<br />
THE TIME<br />
. . . Place your orders<br />
before the Spring<br />
Rush!<br />
WALKY-TERIA<br />
Electrically pre-heated within a<br />
matter of minutes. Developed<br />
to<br />
vend:<br />
• HOT DOGS<br />
• CHIU<br />
• HOT TAMALES<br />
• HOT SOUPS<br />
• BEANS<br />
• HOT PEANUTS<br />
• BEER AND POP<br />
• FRUIT JUICES<br />
• DAHtY PRODUCTS<br />
• HAMBURGERS<br />
Phone Wichita 4-S169<br />
WALKY-KOFFEE<br />
Plug in to electric current<br />
to pre-hcal. Keeps SO cups<br />
of coffee piping hot, and<br />
keeps co'd drinks icy cold.<br />
Automatic cup dispenser.<br />
few Kl^"^' '«* of<br />
. - __ Ask tor<br />
I<br />
A Promotional Program<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
Lobby displays. "It's vital to plug, plug,<br />
plug," says Spivack, "to keep your audiences<br />
aware that you provide refreshment<br />
facilities."<br />
Newspaper advertising. Spivack recommends<br />
this only in the case of drive-in<br />
theatres. "There you sell food as weU as<br />
light refreshments," he explains, "and under<br />
favorable circumstances can make your<br />
concession stand produce as much as 50<br />
per cent of a day's gross receipts."<br />
Other factors which can be merchandised<br />
include:<br />
Insistence on Cleanliness. Regardless of<br />
the size of the theatre, a vigorous effort<br />
should be made to see that the theatre's<br />
refreshment service stand is kept clean at<br />
aU times. The stand should have a few<br />
clean cloths on hand continually, with<br />
the stand attendant to clean off the front<br />
glass, for example, more repeatedly than<br />
normal during a kiddy matinee show on<br />
Saturdays.<br />
Uniforms. They should be clean, not too<br />
flashing. The stand is in business to sell<br />
refreshment service and not the good looks<br />
of the attendants. Too much attention on<br />
the uniform may call attention from the<br />
attractiveness of the refreshment items<br />
available for purchase.<br />
Courtesy. "Thank you" and "You're welcome"<br />
are small phrases in the courtesy<br />
line, but should never be overlooked in any<br />
theatre.<br />
Proper change facilities. Enough reserve<br />
change should be kept on hand at<br />
aU times. During a rush period, for<br />
example, sales can very well empty the<br />
change rack and a reserve change fund<br />
would save sales where the attendant might<br />
be forced to say "I'm sorry, but I have no<br />
change."<br />
Lighting. It's a good idea for the theatreman<br />
to change the lighting effect on<br />
his stand from time to time. This draws<br />
renewed interest to its location.<br />
Candy and Popcorn<br />
Pay the Rent<br />
Commenting on the value of refreshment<br />
service in a recent Omaha newspaper<br />
column, veteran theatre supply executive<br />
Frank A. Van Husan is quoted as<br />
recalling an instance where one theatre's<br />
monthly $1,500 rental was paid by receipts<br />
from popcorn and candy sales.<br />
Projecting some of his theories into future<br />
trends. Van Husan added that he felt<br />
the era of building large and ornate theatres<br />
had passed and that more new theatres<br />
would be built to accommodate the<br />
return of vaudeville.<br />
The BUFFETERIA*— >^<br />
Easy to Push! Amazingly Low Priced! Lighted Signs! Coleman Heater!<br />
People hesitate to leave cars. The short recess does not solve the<br />
patrons' need. Take the snacks to tliem! Hot and cold compartments<br />
for large stock of ice cream, cold drinks, hot dogs, hot popcorn, chili,<br />
nuts, etc. When a Walky Fountain is mounted on top of it you<br />
boost sales of alt items.<br />
WALKY-SERVICE COMPANY "''l.^l^r.r^^^t^^-<br />
MOBE PEP HUNOBEO<br />
IN PBOf ITS • wfire <<br />
TOPAY roP iAUPLS<br />
\m^^'^^<br />
[INDIANA POP CORN CO.'<br />
9762 « MUNCIE » INPIANA •<br />
40 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
ive-ai<br />
—<br />
FOR MAKI^/0•<br />
THIS OFFER<br />
m 9
WHAT MAKES<br />
NAMA Makes Awards<br />
And Appointments<br />
Three appointments and the awarding<br />
of a plaque to National Vendors, Inc., St.<br />
Louis, were made recently by the National<br />
Automatic Merchandising Ass'n.<br />
As the firm whose sales representatives<br />
brought in the greatest number of new<br />
members to the NAMA during 1949, the<br />
vending firm was awarded the commendatory<br />
plaque by the association. The membership<br />
drive was conducted by the sales<br />
representatives' division of the association<br />
and the machinery manufacturer's branch<br />
of the division, which includes 30 firms.<br />
in<br />
winte r weather -it POURS!<br />
'^<br />
^^SS'HO MESS<br />
^^<br />
Presentation of the plaque was made in<br />
St. Louis by Laurie L. Cavanaugh. pictured<br />
right, Chicago, director of member and<br />
public relations for the NAMA. A. P. Diederich,<br />
vice-president and general manager<br />
of National Vendors, received the award<br />
for his firm.<br />
President George M. Seedman of the<br />
NAMA appointed Ernest H. Fox, president<br />
of the Austin Packing Co., Baltimore, Md.,<br />
as chairman of the 1950 convention, which<br />
is to be held November 12-15 in Chicago.<br />
Aaron Goldman, president of the G. B.<br />
Macke Corp., Washington, D. C, was named<br />
chairman of public relations.<br />
Tom Donahue, secretary and controller<br />
of National Vendors, was reappointed<br />
chairman of the membership building and<br />
maintenance committee.<br />
POPSIT PLUS is always liquid at<br />
Indoor temperatures ... no<br />
pre-heating, no scooping, no<br />
splattering . . . just pQur into<br />
the measuring cup and pop<br />
the sellin'est corn you've<br />
ever tasted!<br />
To the line of theatre fronts, changeable copy<br />
Simonin of Fhiladelphia<br />
POPPING OIL SPECIALISTS TO THE NATION<br />
panel boards and other advertising activities<br />
of Poblocki & Sons Co. has now been added<br />
the Snack Kar shown above.<br />
Designed for the drive-in theatre market, the<br />
car carries a pay load of approximately $150<br />
worth of merchandise. Popcorn, hot dogs, ice<br />
cream bars, peanuts, cracker jacks and soft<br />
drinks can be accommodated and kept either<br />
hot or cold as desired.<br />
42 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Central<br />
A Courfeous Staff Is the Best<br />
Public Relations Agency<br />
by HUGH J. CAMPBELL*<br />
Cos told to Allen M. Widem)<br />
X T's COMMON SENSE that courtesy<br />
is the concern of all theatre staff personnel.<br />
Re-evaluation of an individual theatre's<br />
courtesy policy, however, is a good<br />
item for regular periods of time, A consistent<br />
policy of theatre courtesy, of course,<br />
is difficult to follow in a large group of theatres,<br />
for each theatre has its own problems,<br />
its own peculiarities, its own pros-<br />
. . . and watch<br />
your profits grow !<br />
Nuw is Ilu' time to c;isli in on Ilic n.atioruvide popularity<br />
of delicious long-i>rofit specialties liiie soft<br />
Ice cream and frozen custards. Install a SWEDEN<br />
Speed Fountain Freezer in your refreshment are:i<br />
in time for summer volume!<br />
More than 17 years of experience and leadership<br />
in the soft ice cream freezing and dispensing field<br />
('nal)Ic SWBDB.N' to offer unmatched engineering<br />
:in(i style advantages:<br />
Versatility — There's<br />
.Mfidel to Meet Every<br />
.Need, each designed to<br />
accommodate any type<br />
if frozen specialty. Botli<br />
air and water - cooled<br />
models available.<br />
a<br />
Simplicity of Operation<br />
—Sturdy, self-contained<br />
freezers,<br />
automatic consistency<br />
controls, accessibility<br />
of all parts for<br />
quick servicing and<br />
eleallint;.<br />
Speed of Service — Direct<br />
dispensing for volume<br />
service. Doublehead<br />
models for flexibility<br />
in meeting demands<br />
of both slack<br />
busy periods.<br />
and<br />
Attractiveness—Siream-<br />
Uned, handsome styling<br />
distulgulsh the entire<br />
SWEDEN line, add decorative<br />
appeal to your<br />
refreshment<br />
area.<br />
SWEDEN FREEZER MFG. CO.<br />
Dept. N-1 Seattle 99. Wash.<br />
pects for correcting obvious deficiencies in<br />
theatre courtesy operating techniques.<br />
"Please" and "Thank You" are key<br />
words. The theatre staff should be continually<br />
reminded, during all seasons of<br />
the year, that the customer is in the theatre<br />
to be entertained.<br />
Don't overdo this idea of courtesy, for if<br />
you treat a theatre patron with too much<br />
courtesy, the customer will, paradoxically,<br />
become irritated and wonder if he's being<br />
overpampered because of poor motion pictures,<br />
poor seats, or anything else.<br />
An example of overdoing courtesy is the<br />
case of a prominent circuit in the east<br />
which was kidded years ago by numerous<br />
customers for its excessive politeness. The<br />
customer was bowed to and given a hundred<br />
"thank you, sirs." The result of this<br />
handling was that too many customers became<br />
irritated; some to such an extent they<br />
mentioned the "kid gloves" routine to<br />
managers, who, in turn, reported instances<br />
back to the division office.<br />
The division manager at the top office<br />
instructed his theatre managers to strike<br />
a happy medium and make the patron feel<br />
at home, but not over-patronized. Complaints<br />
have ceased.<br />
The Central Theatre recently installed<br />
an air conditioning plant and early in the<br />
process the theatre boxoffice began to receive<br />
telephone requests concerning the<br />
date of completion. The result was a temporary<br />
policy at the theatre where cashiers<br />
were instructed to answer the phone<br />
temporarily by saying. "Good evening (or<br />
afternoon) ,<br />
Theatre. We're installing<br />
air conditioning." Two out of<br />
three telephoners would readily admit that<br />
was what they had called about.<br />
Courtesy toward children comes in a special<br />
class. They should be treated with the<br />
same respect as adults. After all, youngsters<br />
are your future customers and satisfactory<br />
treatment of a patron when he's<br />
young will establish good customer-relations<br />
for a long period of time. It's advisable<br />
to have chaperones from a local Parent-Teachers<br />
Ass'n or other organization<br />
during special kiddy shows and cartoon<br />
matinees.<br />
Don't let the theatre staff be in such a<br />
hurry to get out of the hou:e. Instruct<br />
them to take their time with changing the<br />
marquee, being sure to station an employe<br />
beneath any ladders to warn passersby<br />
of work going on overhead.<br />
Keep your staff on its toes and remind<br />
them of courtesy faults, but remember also<br />
to keep that courtesy on a friendly level:<br />
a middle-of-the-i-oad attitude that achieves<br />
natural friendliness coupled with respect.<br />
It will pay off in the long run.<br />
•Manager, Central Theatre. West Harllord. Conn<br />
DOWN<br />
Balance $10 Monthly<br />
PENNY<br />
FORTUNE<br />
SCALE<br />
No Springs<br />
WRITE FOR PRICES<br />
LARGE CASH BOX HOLDS<br />
$85.00 IN PENNIES<br />
Invented and Mode Only by<br />
WATLING<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Company<br />
4650 W. Fulton St. Chicago 44, III.<br />
Est. 1889 — Telephone COIumbus 1-2772<br />
Cable Address: WATLINGITE, Chicago<br />
BOXOFFICE March 4, 1950 43
National Theatres ''Munchindisers" Meet<br />
POPPING<br />
Merchandising problems are discussed by National Theatres' refreshment service department heads<br />
Andy Krappman and Victor Adams, FWC, Los Angeles; Lowell Parmentier, Evergreen, Seattle;<br />
Press Woods, Fox Intermountain, Denver; Frank Bamford, Fox Midwest, Kansas City; Mel Glatz.<br />
Fox Intermountain, Denver; and Clarence Poos, FWC, San Francisco. The meeting took place in<br />
Los Angeles at the annual meeting of executives of National Theatres and affiliated circuits.<br />
50-lb. pails and drums<br />
IIOUIO<br />
'^<br />
Packed in<br />
38-lb. pails and drums<br />
MADE BY ONE OF<br />
AMERICA'S LARGEST<br />
REFINERS<br />
Drincolator Offers a<br />
An unusual sales plan by which exhibitors<br />
may acquire the new Drincolator<br />
through profits from beverage sales at theatre<br />
refreshment counters was announced<br />
this week. The company's new dispenser<br />
is now rolling off the assembly line at the<br />
rate of one every 20 minutes.<br />
Under the sales plan, the theatre actually<br />
is given the unit. And here is the<br />
proposal which the company makes:<br />
The unit sells for $1,100 and is delivered<br />
to the theatre with sufficient supply of<br />
syrup and cups to net the exhibitor $1,500<br />
in sales. Prom beverage receipts, he then<br />
pays the company the $1,100 cost of the<br />
unit and the machine becomes his property.<br />
The exhibitor, to participate in this plan,<br />
however, must use the same brand syrups<br />
for a three-year period. Should he decide<br />
to substitute any of the syrups, it would<br />
cost him $75 for the first year, $50 for the<br />
second year and $25 in the third year.<br />
Unique Sales Plan<br />
Assembly line at Drincolator Plant.<br />
But, if the purchaser selected three<br />
syrups and continues to feature the same<br />
brands at his theatre during the threeyear<br />
period, or until all of the supply is<br />
used, there is no penalty and his sales pay<br />
for the unit.<br />
44<br />
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Designed for speedy, big volume ulo. Fill bags<br />
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at your Theatre Supply, or Popcorn Supply DtiJcr.<br />
Dealers write.<br />
^^ Thornton A>e.<br />
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INCORPORATED<br />
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The MODEBN THEATRE SECTION
Jet<br />
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Everybody's favorite,<br />
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Delicious,<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 45
RCA Dealers to Market<br />
Typhoon Air Coolers<br />
Typhoon Zone Control air conditioning<br />
equipment has been added to the line of<br />
products distributed by the RCA theatre<br />
equipment section, according to J. P.<br />
O'Brien, sales manager.<br />
Typhoon employs an air conditioning<br />
principle which eliminates the need for<br />
installation of ducts and eliminates cooling<br />
of upper areas of an auditorium. It<br />
provides for removal of excessive moisture,<br />
filtering, cooling and noiseless, draft-free<br />
circulation. Heating coils may be installed<br />
for use with either steam or hot water, so<br />
that the same unit may be used for heating,<br />
filtering and circulating warm air,<br />
according to Typhoon executives.<br />
Garrick Theatre Building,<br />
Chicago, Sold to B&K<br />
Balaban & Katz corporation this week<br />
purchased the 18-story Garrick Theatre<br />
building and leasehold estate at 58-64 West<br />
Randolph St., in Chicago's Loop, from the<br />
Northern Trust Co., trustee for the heirs<br />
of Charles W. Pardridge. The ground lease<br />
which runs to 1989, with an annual rental<br />
of $17,500, is renewable for 99 years. The<br />
building was purchased for about $3*0,000.<br />
The land is owned by the Sears estate of<br />
Boston.<br />
A spokesman for Balaban & Katz said<br />
the 900-seat playhouse is to be extensively<br />
remodeled and its seating capacity enlarged.<br />
Balaban & Katz has opsrated the<br />
theatre since 1935.<br />
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uhe Continuous<br />
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^\fe
Edmondson<br />
Village<br />
Builds Patronage<br />
with<br />
Heywood-Wakefield Comfort<br />
The exterior is designed in pleasant<br />
harmony with its suburban<br />
Baltimore surroundings.<br />
There's<br />
good reason for the enthusiastic and profitable response of<br />
patrons to the comfort of Heywood-Wakefield chairs. They're designed<br />
for comfort—with correctly proportioned, luxurious coU springs in both<br />
seat and back. And operators take real comfort in the time-tested sturdiness<br />
of Heywood-Wakefield Construction. All-steel standards, seat— and back-pans<br />
and trouble-proof design keep maintenance costs at a minimum.<br />
See for yourself the distinguished good looks of Heywood-Wakefield chairs,<br />
and learn all the use-tested advantages of the line that puts comfort first.<br />
CaU your nearest Heywood-Wakefield distributor or one of our sales offices<br />
in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago or New York.<br />
I. K. Makover, Manager, Edmondson Village<br />
Theatre, Inc., is genuinely enthusiastic<br />
about Heywood-Wakefield comfort. He<br />
says, "The 'repeat' business that we have<br />
enjoyed in this short period of operation, is<br />
mainly due to comfort. Your chairs contributed<br />
immeasurably to that comfort."<br />
Heywood- Wakefield "Encore" Model<br />
TC 701 accents the unusual beauty<br />
of the recently opened Edmondson<br />
Village Theatre.<br />
Theatre Seating Division<br />
MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950 47
DO BUSINESS ALL SUMMER!<br />
New Detroit Theatre Helps<br />
Stabilize Property Values<br />
REYNOLDS<br />
BLOWERS<br />
bring in and distribute iresb, cool air tbiougbout<br />
the tbeatre. Also ideal with washed a^<br />
refrigeration and cold water coil systems and<br />
ior exhaust or circulating warm air in winter.<br />
Blades are seH-oxidizing aluminum. Never rust.<br />
(Blowers with steel blades also available at<br />
lower prices.) Fafnir ball bearings set in solid<br />
rubber pillow blocks. No lubrication necessary.<br />
Quiet running. Rugged construction<br />
throughout.<br />
5,000 to 30,000 c.f.m. capacities.<br />
As low as<br />
$82.50<br />
Write for free folder.<br />
REYNOLDS MFG. COMPANY<br />
412 Prospect Ave., N. E.<br />
Grand Rapids, Mich.<br />
THIS COIN OPERATED<br />
SHOE SHINER . . EARNS<br />
TREMENDOUS PROHTS ON<br />
SMALL INVESTMENT.<br />
For iniormoKon WHITE TODAYl<br />
FALCON COMPANY<br />
67E— 12lh Detroit 8, Mich.<br />
ini rn "third dimension"<br />
AU Ll n SILHOUETTE LETTERS<br />
— PLASTIC AND CAST ALUMINUM —<br />
"REMOVA-PANEL" Glats-in-Frame Units<br />
ADLER SILHOUETTE LETTER CO.<br />
302IW.36thSt,. Chicago 1451 Bway.N.Y.C.<br />
X HE NEW 1,000-SEAT Booker T The-<br />
recently opened by the Saul Korman<br />
atre,<br />
circuit in Detroit, is its first modern<br />
midtown construction for Negro patronage<br />
in a dozen years. The house is centrally<br />
located with fairly good transportation,<br />
in a mixed residential and industrial<br />
business area with a predominance of Negro<br />
population for the past 15 or 20 years.<br />
Situated in an older neighborhood, the<br />
house itself occupies a position of leadership<br />
in setting a standard of taste and<br />
modernity in a somewhat rundown neighborhood.<br />
Designed by architect Ted Flogvoy, the<br />
house was constructed at an estimated<br />
cost of $150,000. Actually, this was a remodeling<br />
job which transformed a large<br />
garage into a theatre. Major operations<br />
included lowering the floor to provide slope<br />
and raising the roof about six feet.<br />
The theatre occupies the entire building<br />
without providing any store space. At the<br />
right of the entrance are display panels,<br />
with a separate entrance for the office and<br />
refreshment service concession. The office<br />
is located back of these displays, with the<br />
concession booth back of this, and so placed<br />
that it can serve both the lobby and the<br />
foyer of the theatre from a single stand.<br />
A modern porcelain enamel front was<br />
installed in dark red base tones with cream<br />
above and a Plex-glas band trim. This<br />
facing backs a triangular marquee with<br />
Wagner changeable copy. All exterior displays<br />
have stationary frames, and are<br />
serviced from the interior.<br />
The doors are set back from the ticket<br />
booth to provide an exterior lobby surfaced<br />
in Metalon. A terrazzo design flooring<br />
in eight colors provides marked contrast<br />
in coloring. The walls and flooring<br />
motifs are carried over into the interior<br />
lobby.<br />
This lobby has a circular dome ceiling,<br />
with indirect lighting. Deep blue plaster<br />
is used on the ceiling.<br />
Interior of the auditorium and foyer are<br />
of decorative cinder block construction,<br />
treated in brilliantly colored shades. The<br />
ceiling is of acoustical plaster. A stage<br />
has been added at the rear, and a basement<br />
dug under the stage to service the<br />
boiler room and heating imit.<br />
The theatre is completely air-conditioned.<br />
Restrooms are tiled from floor to<br />
ceiling in tan and gray mosaic tile. The<br />
projection room is located in a mezzanine<br />
installed at the rear of the auditorium,<br />
which also provides space for locker and<br />
storage rooms.<br />
An unusual mechanical feature of the<br />
Booker T is the use of a gas-fired heating<br />
plant, making it one of the few, if not<br />
the only, theatre in this area to have such<br />
an installation. Reluctance of safety officials<br />
to permit the use of gas heat in<br />
a theatre structure because of the conceivable<br />
hazard to a large number of persons<br />
was overcome through the installation<br />
of safety valves designed for the purpose.<br />
This control equipment is located<br />
in the utility room at the front beside the<br />
lobby, while the heating unit itself is located<br />
in the basement under the stage.<br />
in Theatre<br />
Seating '<br />
48 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
For Motion Picture Projection,<br />
National<br />
Carbon announces:<br />
drcin ihe mr/(/^<br />
70/ecior Carbons!<br />
FOR CONDENSER TYPE LAMPS<br />
"NATIONAL" "HITEX" Super High Intensity projector<br />
carbons are brand new, another milestone in the development<br />
of projection light sources. They are considerably<br />
brighter than any other High Intensity projector carbon<br />
you can buy. They are much better in color balance. They<br />
last longer. They cost less to operate.<br />
If your theatre operates with condenser t)'pe High Intensity<br />
lamps, investigate the new "National" "Hitex" projector<br />
carbons. We believe you will w^ant to use them to<br />
get the ultimate in screen lighting.<br />
The terms "Hitex" and "Sationat"<br />
are trade-marki of<br />
NATIONAL CARBON DIVISION<br />
UNION CARBIDE AND CARBON CORPORATION<br />
30 East 42nd Street. New York, 17. N. Y.<br />
Diitrict Sales Offices :<br />
Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Sew Yot<br />
Pittsburgh. San Fr<br />
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION, VVft/TC TO NATIONAL CAKtON DIVISION,<br />
UNION CARS/DC AND CARBON CORPORArfON. OEPr.MT.<br />
BOXOmCE :: March 4. 1950 49
Iklmrncatii Girpiti lial OJi-!IMlEI!<br />
Let Bigelow's Carpet Counsel help you plan a<br />
new, feature-attraction carpet installation!<br />
_ ^<br />
I^ your theatre carpet worn, faded,<br />
Qi. |||J I out of step with the times?<br />
^ " -^ Now, when so many theatre owners<br />
are modernizing, offering the<br />
BIGELOW<br />
Rugs - Carpets public the latest in smartness and<br />
comfort , is the moment to plan your<br />
remodeling— including handsome new Bigelow<br />
Carpeting that sets the tone of your theatre the<br />
minute customers set foot in the lobby!<br />
Bigelow's 26 Carpet Counsel offices are in touch<br />
with the latest ideas in theatre design . . . will help<br />
you plan just the right carpet installation to fit<br />
your needs and finances.<br />
No charge for this service—just write Bigelow<br />
Carpet Counsel, 140 Madison Ave., N. Y. C. Your<br />
inquiry will be handled promptly.<br />
BIGELOW Rugs and Carpets<br />
140 Madison Ave., N. Y. C.<br />
Beauty you can see . . . quality you can trust . . . since 1825<br />
50 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
YOU GET THE MOST<br />
;.-N.<br />
•»':^'fe,V''?:;';<br />
bM!^<br />
WHEN YOU BUY THE BEST*<br />
*anc/ SIMPLEX<br />
proves it!<br />
ScC its new Amber-Glo Plexiglass<br />
dome light ... its new post<br />
light ... its new tapered built-in<br />
1950's No. 1<br />
Value ... and it<br />
takes Simplex Know-how to do<br />
it! . . . the first economy-priced<br />
speaker that is Simplex qualitydesigned<br />
and Simplex qualitybuilt<br />
from top to bottom, inside<br />
and out!<br />
SfSK its<br />
new weather-defiant design<br />
— so waterproof it will play<br />
with full efficiency in a cloudburst.<br />
Skk its<br />
new high gloss baked-on<br />
finish—so wearproof it will outlast<br />
others by many seasons.<br />
window hook ... its new built-in<br />
speaker hanger ... its new easymounting<br />
coupling unit.<br />
AND HEAR /7 its new<br />
type volume control with wide range<br />
from full-off to full-on . . . and the<br />
finest, clearest tone—bar nonel<br />
wCC and hear the<br />
In-A-Car Speaker.<br />
new Simplex<br />
Skk its<br />
new super-cushioned<br />
spring loaded, speaker unit mounting—<br />
it's built to take abuse.<br />
wESf see and hear the new<br />
Simplex In-A-Car Speaker . . .<br />
1950's No. 1 Value!<br />
^HANCH<br />
"Everything for the Drive-In Theatre"<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
53
Promoting<br />
Profits<br />
With Playgrounds<br />
Part<br />
II<br />
MOTORIZED "RIDES"<br />
by H. F. REVES<br />
1. HE USE OF MOTORIZED "rides" has<br />
become more widespread in recent seasons<br />
following earlier installation of playgroundtype<br />
equipment in many drive-ins. Merrygo-rounds,<br />
miniature railways and assorted<br />
"whirligigs." as one local ordinance defines<br />
them, have been put into drive-in<br />
theatres as added attractions.<br />
The continuing rapid growth in the field<br />
is indicated by the report from one mideastern<br />
manufacturer that he had, by early<br />
Kiddy merry-go-rounds may take many forms<br />
and come in a variety of sizes but are an extremely<br />
popular item and accommodate a good<br />
volume of customers at a time.<br />
snj
;<br />
Often used as a free attraction in company with paid rides, this Noah's Ark is actually a children's<br />
zoo. It has parent appeal as well as child interest because of its Biblical background.<br />
A large version of this attraction will become the entrance to the extensile Kiddyland described<br />
on page 59.<br />
I<br />
Continued from preceding page'<br />
should cover scenic attractions along the<br />
route, as well as stioictural features of interest<br />
such as trestles, bridges, tunnels,<br />
perhaps small hills or a dip under the roadway.<br />
Special in.stallations along the route<br />
such as a small zoo or stuffed animals provide<br />
added interest and child appeal.<br />
In selecting rides it should be remembered<br />
that young patrons are restless, inquisitive<br />
and experimental persons. They should<br />
be given something to do while they are<br />
enjoying the ride for just 'round and 'round<br />
may not be enough to occupy their alert<br />
minds. On small rides, such as auto or<br />
boat rides, a common device is the use of<br />
a wheel which the children can turn with<br />
the feeling that they are steering the vehicle.<br />
Actually, it may not turn anything,<br />
since the car is probably fixed in a track.<br />
Safely engineered rides do not give youngsters<br />
the chance to control the device to<br />
such an extent that they can hurt themselves<br />
or others through carelessness, misjudgment,<br />
or devilishness.<br />
Other useful devices that appeal to the<br />
very young are such harmless features as<br />
bells to ring or horns to toot.<br />
Most ride manufacturers have not gone<br />
very seriously into the market-potential<br />
represented by drive-in theatres, partly because<br />
Xhe field is so new that they have<br />
not had the time to plan a promotional<br />
campaign. A substantial iX)rtion of major<br />
rides have been made for many years by a<br />
relatively few old-line firms. The more recent<br />
development of kiddylands in amusement<br />
and miniature parks has brought<br />
many new and entirely sound finns into<br />
the field which means the market is likely<br />
to become increasingly competitive. One<br />
result should be a wider range of rides from<br />
which the drive-in operator may make his<br />
choice.<br />
A caution against the purchase of Inferior<br />
equipment is in order for occasionally<br />
an inadequately tested device may be<br />
placed upon the market. It is always wise<br />
to be certain of the reliability of the manufacturer<br />
of each and to be sure that each<br />
Screen Towers As You Want Them<br />
Low Cos f...Sfur(lY... Durable<br />
The A-frame screen tower, illustrated here, is made in three sizes: 30-ft. x 40-ft.<br />
curved to assure freedom from keystoning.<br />
SIMPLE ERECTION<br />
PIca.e send informohon on. U s„„n Tower nearest Timber Structures office, or fill in and mail the coupon.<br />
„MBER STRUCTURES -NC^ 8. Oregon<br />
p 0. Box 3782G, f ^ A-lrome Screen Tower<br />
Build your drive-in theatre around a Timber Structures screen tower, and<br />
you get a low cost installation that will give you long time service with a<br />
minimum of maintenance.<br />
PRICED AT $2,067 UPWARD<br />
37'/2"ft- ^ 50-ft.; and 45-ft. x 60-ft. Prices include all necessary hardware.<br />
Made of structural quality Douglas fir timbers, the A-frame screen tower is<br />
designed to withstand wind velocities up to 100 miles per hour. To save erection<br />
time and labor, face of the tower is made of %-in. exterior grade waterproof plywood,<br />
with all sides and edges primed and sealed against moisture. Surface is<br />
The A-frame screen tower may be completed on the ground and swung into<br />
position, or it may be erected in place. Glare curtains, ladder and walkway optional.<br />
For further information on the A-frame or Swing-Up screen towers, see your<br />
Timber Structures, Inc.<br />
p. O. BOX 3782G, PORTLAND 8, OREGON<br />
Offices in Boise, Idaho; Eugene, Oregon; Lawrenceville, N.J.;<br />
Chicago; Dollos; Kansas City; New York; Seattle; Spokone<br />
TIMBER STRUCTURES, INC. OF CALIFORNIA. Oakland and Sacramento<br />
Locol representatives coast to coast<br />
56 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
V<br />
I<br />
item has been adequately tested. Theatres<br />
within corporate limits of a city can probably<br />
rely on city inspectors who set definite<br />
safety standards, those preceded by<br />
sandbag tests. A buyer is also anxious to<br />
have some assurance that the firm from<br />
whom he buys will be in business a few<br />
years hence when he may want to buy replacement<br />
parts.<br />
Again many ride manufacturers bring<br />
out means of modernizing an existing ride<br />
after it has been on the market a few seasons<br />
so that the original device can be<br />
brought up to date without the expense oT<br />
complete replacement. The exhibitor does<br />
not want to risk finding, in either case,<br />
that he has "orphan" equipment on his<br />
hands because the manufacturer has<br />
dropped out of the field.<br />
In planning ride installations, the exhibitor<br />
should see that any device likely to<br />
be noisy—either in operation or because of<br />
screaming, excited youngsters—is so placed<br />
or controlled that it will not interfere with<br />
the patrons' enjoyment of the screenfare.<br />
Daily inspection of all equipment is<br />
urged, for under heavy daily use the devices<br />
undergo stresses caused by vibration and<br />
motion. Even the nuts and bolts in a car<br />
should be tightened at certain intervals<br />
since they tend to work loose in operation.<br />
It certainly does not pay to take any<br />
chances with these devices when the lives<br />
and happiness of children are involved.<br />
Regular, periodic inspection by public<br />
authorities and insurance companies is to<br />
y^<br />
YOU<br />
Ue expected and invited since these inspectors<br />
are expert in detecting unexpected<br />
sources of danger.<br />
Ample insurance coverage is definitely<br />
advisable through policies specially written<br />
to cover the hazards presented by these<br />
rides. Since this is a specialized form of<br />
operation, a company which concentrates<br />
on amusement ride insurance is best qualitied<br />
to write such policies and to most ably<br />
represent the policy holder in tiie event oi<br />
an accident claim.<br />
Experience in handling such claims across<br />
the country, places such a firm in a good<br />
position to present the best possible case<br />
where the exhibitor might face substantial<br />
damage claims resulting from a very incidental<br />
part of his own operation.<br />
Ride operation must necessarily be supervised.<br />
The presence of many youngsters<br />
demands someone to watch over them and<br />
experience indicates that each ride or each<br />
pair of two small rides will require an attendant<br />
to see that eveiything is functioning<br />
smoothly. The exhibitor must not just<br />
offer something free to his customers and<br />
let it go at that. He is inviting them to<br />
place their youngsters upon a moving object<br />
which offers the possibility of injury if<br />
not properly operated. Even the most<br />
thorough safeguards that engineers can devise<br />
are no match for the ingenuity of some<br />
children.<br />
Someone who not only understands the<br />
rides but understands and likes children<br />
should be chosen to supervise these lides.<br />
GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVE-IN EXHIBITORS<br />
CAN BUY THE NEW<br />
IMPROVED 1950 MODEL<br />
DeVry In-Car<br />
Speaker for only ^8^^<br />
•<br />
It has been found that women can be em<br />
ployed vei-y satisiactorily in this capacity,<br />
providing they are carefully selected, bivea<br />
proper authority and n^t assigned duties<br />
oeyond their strength.<br />
There are advantages and disadvantages<br />
to ride operation, either free or i.aid, which<br />
merit serious consideration in planning an<br />
installation. Local conditions and habits<br />
may be controlling factors in making a<br />
choice. The costs of rides will of course<br />
run substantially more than that of recreation<br />
equipment alone, often from about<br />
$800 to $3,000 per unit for the smaller rides.<br />
The price of more elaborate rides runs to<br />
several thousand dollars apiece. The costs<br />
of operation, insurance, maintenance, and<br />
supervision are naturally higher with rides<br />
than with ordinary playground equipment.<br />
Some operators feel the average child is<br />
not satisfied with just one ride; that ha<br />
will want variety. Experience indicates the<br />
truth of this position. At the same time<br />
there is business logic in the view that<br />
parents may be unwilling to spend money<br />
on several paid rides for children and still<br />
pay the cost of the show. A combinationprice<br />
ticket offering six or ten rides for a<br />
quarter might be the answer, for if "junior"<br />
knows he can have a limited number of<br />
rides and no more, he may be satisfied when<br />
the tickets are gone.<br />
Occasionally parents are unwilling to let<br />
small children ride alone on the power de-<br />
I Continued on following page)<br />
This noteworthy new in car speaker 's not just onother unit<br />
built to a price, but an improved model of the time and fieldtested,<br />
top quality DeVry in-car speaker that is providing<br />
many hundreds of drive-in exhib tors with trouble free performance<br />
night after night, year after year. Rugged aluminum<br />
construction with preferred wear-resistant alumilite finish.<br />
Light we ght and compact for sure easy handling. Water<br />
proof speaker and speaker housing engineered for high fidelity<br />
sound reproduction. In every respect it's the thrift buy<br />
for 1950.<br />
DEVRY IN-CAR SPEAKERS each $8.75 JUNCTION BOX each J6.00<br />
Dependable DeVry<br />
"12000 Series" Projectors<br />
eeied, better quality<br />
wilbm the budget oi<br />
The projector with<br />
picture mechanism in<br />
. Perlormonce proved<br />
finer theatres as "a<br />
lor a lull house."<br />
They Come Back Again and Again to See Hollywood Finest<br />
Productions at Their Projected Best With Dependable DeVry's.<br />
NOW!<br />
Famed DeVry<br />
"12000 Series"<br />
AMPLIFIERS<br />
At New Low Prices<br />
Model For Every Size And<br />
Type oi D ive-In Theatre<br />
DeVRY<br />
CORPORATION<br />
1111 Armitage Ave.<br />
Chicago Illinois<br />
Please rush iniormation on u DeVry In-Car Speakers<br />
I 11 "12000 Series Projectors Q "12000 Series Amplifiers.<br />
For the Perfect Show ^om o^ ^ ncl#D<br />
/ndoorsorOof ^ Sm^^ l/tYKT<br />
BOXOFTICE March 4. 1950 57
. .<br />
.<br />
NATIONAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE CO. - Dayton 7, Ohio<br />
ing in before Marr has even had the chance<br />
to get into production.<br />
Playground Profits<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
vices and tliis must be faced in selecting<br />
rides. However, adequate safety factors<br />
and supervision will often allay these fears.<br />
To offset the possibility that young patrons<br />
will tire of a ride after the novelty<br />
wears off, one western chain is rotating<br />
its rides. About once a month a new ride<br />
will appear at each of their drive-ins. This<br />
is, of course, possible with a chain operation,<br />
but not with the single drive-in.<br />
Another possibility, yet unexplored, is the<br />
rental of portable-type equipment. There<br />
are hundreds of small carnival organizations<br />
across the country who might l>e interested<br />
in placing their equipment, properly<br />
supervised by their own experienced<br />
staff, in the drive-in for a limited engagement.<br />
This type of rental, incidentally,<br />
would give the drive-in operator a chance<br />
to test the value of such equipment for his<br />
own situation before selecting the rides he<br />
wishes to buy.<br />
New Rectiiier Bulbs<br />
For Theatre Field<br />
A line of 15 ampere rectifier bulbs especially<br />
designed for the motion picture<br />
the only amplification system<br />
field have been announced by the Strickland<br />
Electric Co. These bulbs have a high<br />
inverse peak voltage characteristic<br />
designed exclusively for<br />
and<br />
drive-in theatres<br />
are said to withstand certain types of<br />
abuses often encountered in theatre applications.<br />
Ballantyne's Royal Soundmasler ampliiication system for drive-ins is not converted<br />
indoor equipment. It is especially designed to meet the particular<br />
Many thousands of these new type bulbs<br />
requirements of drive-in theatres. Available for either single or dual channel<br />
have been given field tests on various<br />
operation, it can be adapted to handle any<br />
types of rectifier installations, according<br />
size drive-in from 200 to 1000 car<br />
to Strickland, who says many reports have<br />
capacity, simply by the addition of one or two units. The entire system is<br />
been received stating that the bulbs have<br />
unit-matched assuring smooth, trouble-free performance. Tested and proved<br />
cleared up certain troubles experienced in<br />
in drive-in theatres the country over. It is the accepted quality leader in the<br />
particularly troublesome installations.<br />
amplification field, yet the cost is unbelieveably low.<br />
Field tests turned up a few complaints<br />
of mismatched operation where these high<br />
inverse peak bulbs were installed in the<br />
The Soundmaster line includes everything<br />
same rectifier with other bulbs having a<br />
lor Indoor and Outdoor Theatres THE BALLANTYNE CO.<br />
complete much lower voltage characteristic. Strickland<br />
is now supplying so-caUed standard<br />
amplification systems, speaker<br />
systems, soundheads, projectors, arc lamps,<br />
1707 Davenport Slrfel<br />
rectifiers, generators, bases, magazines,<br />
type bulbs having only a slightly higher<br />
and complete booth accesories.<br />
Omaha. Nebraska<br />
than usual voltage characteristic to be<br />
used in the usual run of low voltage rectifiers,<br />
with or without those of other<br />
The next<br />
types and a special high voltage type.<br />
issue of The MODERN THEATRE, April 1st,<br />
features "DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION." Watch for it!<br />
Projectionist Develops<br />
Carbon Saver<br />
William Marr, projectionist at a Salem.<br />
World's Largest Designer, Builder and Manufacturer<br />
Ore., drive-in theatre, has recently completed<br />
Of Roller Coasters, Old Mills, Mill Chutes, Fun Houses, Kiddie<br />
exhaustive tests of a carbon saver<br />
Ferris Wheels, Kiddie Roller Coasters and the Famous<br />
which he invented about a year and a half<br />
ago.<br />
After saving<br />
CENTURY FLYER MINIATURE TRAIN<br />
aU carl)on butts lor a period<br />
of three months, he put his carbon<br />
Operating now in more than 100 leading porks in the United States<br />
with gratifying<br />
saver into use and didn't buy any new<br />
results.<br />
Roller Coaster Chain, Rails and Equipment on Hand.<br />
carbons for another three months.<br />
A Portland organization has already been<br />
Inquire direct or use FREE postcard, page 60, stating this ad's Key number, 58-B<br />
signed up to handle sales, with orders com-<br />
58 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
A CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND COME TRUE<br />
This rough layout shows positioning of various rides, entrances and parking<br />
areas, and serves to help locate wiring circuits and power requirements.<br />
, LTHOUGH PLAY AND CONCESSION AREAS<br />
can be added profitably to drive-in theatres<br />
of any size, the operation shown in<br />
the basic layout diagram above so epitomizes<br />
the last word in completeness as to<br />
be worthy of study by all drive-in operators.<br />
To be constructed for a drive-in theatre<br />
of the Harry Lamont & Associates circuit<br />
in New York by National Amusement Device<br />
Co., the Kiddyland will cost in the<br />
vicinity of $150,000 when completed. It has<br />
been so planned, however, that it may<br />
be built over a period of two or three years<br />
in sections.<br />
PLACED NEXT TO HIGHWAY<br />
Among the first of several new ideas incorporated<br />
in the design of this area is<br />
its location outside the screen tower in<br />
a strip 200 feet deep running along 700<br />
feet of highway frontage.<br />
The project has been placed toward the<br />
highway, instead of inside the ramp area<br />
as usual, for definite purposes. In the first<br />
place this location makes it possible to<br />
take full advantage of the promotional<br />
value of the unit as a theatre advertising<br />
medium. No car wiU pass the Noah's Ark<br />
entrance without delighted exclamations<br />
from any child who may be a passenger.<br />
Such attention cannot help but produce<br />
theatre patrons who would otherwise either<br />
attend another drive-in, or might not be<br />
drive-in patrons at all.<br />
A second reason for the location of the<br />
area is that it will operate both day and<br />
night and has been designed to be a<br />
separate and profitable entertainment attraction<br />
in its own right.<br />
A careful study of the layout reveals<br />
several entrances to the area from the<br />
drive-in theatre. A main entrance will be<br />
through the Noah's Ark, a free attraction<br />
similar to the one illustrated on page 56.<br />
One of the main items of landscaping<br />
interest is the boat lagoon which runs<br />
along the front and one side. At a corner,<br />
the lagoon is bridged from highway<br />
to concession area across an island on<br />
which the Noah's Ai'k feature is built as a<br />
free attraction. Within the ark are pairs<br />
of many small animals.<br />
At specified hours<br />
during the day children are actually allowed<br />
to hold the animals and pet them.<br />
ONE RIDE CALLS FOR ANOTHER<br />
Within the grounds, rides are laid out<br />
so that while enjoying one attraction the<br />
child's attention is called to another one.<br />
This is noticeable in the boat ride, the roller<br />
coaster, streetcar, train and fire engine<br />
rides which are made somewhat longer<br />
than usual in order to pass other attractions<br />
along their routes.<br />
Throughout the area are free attractions<br />
which serve to draw attendance. Notable<br />
are the four islands in the lagoon, each<br />
containing animals. Of course, although<br />
the monkey island, Bambi and the three<br />
bears may be seen from both highway<br />
and lagoon shore, they can be best observed<br />
either from boats on the lagoon<br />
or from the miniature train which circles<br />
the three bears' island on trestles built in<br />
the water.<br />
TO BUILD SEPARATE REFRESHMENT BOOTH<br />
At the center of the area is a refreshment<br />
stand built to serve children's wants<br />
particularly. Around the edges of the unit<br />
are parking spaces for more than 325 cars<br />
which can be used by patrons of the kiddyland<br />
or walk-in theatre patrons. During<br />
the daytime, overflow parking accommodations<br />
are to be afforded by the theatre<br />
ramp area.<br />
In commenting on particular phases of<br />
the Lamont design, engineer William de<br />
L'horbe jr., of National Amusement Device<br />
Co., called attention to the care used<br />
in designing an entranceway. "Experience<br />
has proved," he says, "the importance of<br />
patron attraction here. Both the child<br />
and the parents must be drawn through<br />
the gates," he added. "This influences<br />
the type of art and illustration used."<br />
In line with parent participation in the<br />
Kiddyland. de L'horbe cites the fact that<br />
sometimes as many as half of the tickets<br />
sold on various rides will be to adults who<br />
seem to find as much pleasure in them as<br />
the children they go along to watch over.<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 4, 1950 59
MORE DRIVE-INS INSTALL<br />
WAG N E R<br />
LETTERS AM FRAMES<br />
because they permit more<br />
effective sitow-seiiing<br />
'.if^^<br />
Wagner irames make possible larger, stronger SINGLE panels.<br />
This is vitally important with drive-ins because of the setback from<br />
the road and speed of passing traffic. The attraction board must<br />
be large to be effective. Wagner single panel frames can be built<br />
in any size! Then, too, Wagner frames are more economical to<br />
service. Lamps, neon and glass can be replaced in any section<br />
without disturbing other portions and WITHOUT REMOVING<br />
FRAMES. This feature is exclusive with Wagner.<br />
Wagner translucent plastic letters permit a more colorful, more<br />
attractive display because of the wider range of sizes and colors.<br />
They are available in red, blue, green, amber and black in 4", 6",<br />
8", 10" and 17" sizes. Only Wagner letters ore pressure-adjustable<br />
from easy slide to hurricane-proof. By a simple adjustment of the<br />
bars, they can be locked in place so that they will not slide nor<br />
blow off the board. These strong, shock-proof letters are furthermore<br />
the only ones that can be stacked without warping. The<br />
patented slotted method of mounting prevents freezing to the sign.<br />
Wagner also offers the world's largest range of sizes, styles<br />
and colors in aluminum letters.<br />
Wagner Letters and Frames are the Show-Sellingest Medium<br />
Ever Devised. They really bring in the shekels.<br />
USE COUPON TO<br />
REQUEST<br />
Please send BIG FREE CALALOG on Wagner show-selling equlp-<br />
CATA-<br />
LOG ON EFFEC-<br />
i^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii<br />
I WAGNER SIGN SERVICE, INC.<br />
S 218 S. HOYNE AVE., CHICAGO 12, ILL.<br />
E<br />
E ment, the largest line in the world.<br />
E<br />
E<br />
Name<br />
Theatre<br />
ING EQUIPMENT. = Street<br />
= City & State<br />
Outdoor<br />
;N ST HER William^<br />
RED S K E L T N<br />
TIVE SHOW-SELL-<br />
"NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER-<br />
III OLOBIOUS TECHHICOLOR<br />
2
For MORE INFORMATION on any Product Advertised<br />
in this issue or mentioned in the New Equipment and<br />
news pages or for -.opies of Monufacturers' Literature<br />
listed herein — Use Postcards Below.<br />
mnw<br />
ium<br />
NEW EQUIPMENT and<br />
DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Briefed from the full descriptions starting on page 66 Key<br />
Number<br />
ADJUSTABLE PATTERNS FROM AIR DIFFUSERS P-376 MATTING FOR COUNTER INSTALLATION P-388<br />
Barber-Culmun's two new [nutld dilhiscis produce either Trafflc-Tred, a new rubber mattlnn produced American<br />
by<br />
vertical or iioiizontal patterns of air distribution and are ^''' Corp., Is partlculariy well designed for recess work since<br />
deslgutd in a vildc range uf sizes for various applications. it is easily cut and fitted.<br />
FIREPROOF MATERIALS IN NEW DRAPERY P-377 FOUNTAIN UNIT PREMIXES DRINKS P.389<br />
A flanieprooted material wliicii is s;iid to be soft and to A new unit which fits into the space occupied by one soda<br />
drape fold nicely has been released by the Johns Man- fountain well contains the raeehanism mixing and .ind for deliverhig<br />
ville Co. In ten solid colors and three different weaves. a uniform carbonated drink at one pull of the control lever.<br />
COOLING TOWER FOR UNIT AIR CONDITIONERS. .P-378 BRILLIANT IMAGE FROM SLIDE PROJECTOR P-390<br />
A compact cooling tower fur use with free standing units Many high-priced features have been added to a new 2x2-<br />
producing from to fifteen tons of refrigeration has been inch colorslide projector made by the American Optical Co.<br />
five<br />
designed by the Carrier Coip. for theatre use.<br />
DIESEL PLANT GENERATES LOW-COST ELECTRICITY. P-379 COMPACT FREEZER FOR PLUG-IN USE P-391<br />
All-weather gasoline starting, with a one-minute of soft lee the the new<br />
warmup Two quarts cream Is capacity of<br />
before switching to diesel operation, featured in two Challenger freezer added to the Sweden Extremely comnew<br />
is lull Ihie.<br />
Onan model electric generators. pact, the new unit employs but one motor.<br />
REFRIGERATION COMPRESSORS AVOID VIBRATION. P-380 DE LUXE DISPENSER KEEPS DRINKS IN MOTION .. P-392<br />
The arrangement A bowl mounted dome<br />
of cylinders in a line of compressors of- clear Plexigias within a Plexigias<br />
fered by the York Corp. is s^iid to eliminate vibration. Parts provides an excellent display case for the drhik contained ta<br />
the various sizes are largely Interchangeable. the new Majestic dispensers.<br />
for<br />
HIGH SPEED FOR 16MI« PROJECTOR LENS P-381 DEVRY ADDS NEW 16MM PROJECTORS P-393<br />
Is High speed and amateur A choice three different models new<br />
results to satisfy the serious or of afforded the<br />
professional .u-e claimed for the new f:1.6, 6-elcment Bauscb lino of DeVry 16mm projectors. One model is self-contained<br />
& Lomb 16mm projector lens. in a single case, while two have separate speakers.<br />
LARGE-SCREEN TELEVISION SET FOR LOUNGES. . .P-3S2 LIGHTING UNITS FOR DRIVE-IN USE P-394<br />
A 27x36-inch screen is incorporated in a television set de- A combination entrance-pointer light and driveway floodsigoed<br />
particularly for theatre lounges. ITie Image said to light and a ramp identification light are offered by the<br />
is<br />
be equally clear up close or as much as 75 feet away. Drive-ln Tlieatre Mfg. Co. in its 1950 line.<br />
POPCORN STAND EASY TO WHEEL P-383 INCREASE EASE OF BUFFETERIA HANDLING P-395<br />
A new stainless steel and aluminum popcorn stand with a The swivel wheel of tlie new model Buffeterla hits been<br />
12-quart alumhium kettle popper available for drive-in increased is In size for easier operation, and a Coleman kerooperators<br />
through Concession Supply Co.. the manufacturer. scne-gas burner has unit<br />
ULTRA-WIDE SOUND RANGE MICROPHONE P-384<br />
been added as a healing<br />
IMPROVED COVE BASE OF VINYL PLASTIC P-396<br />
A new microphone witii ultra-wide range tone quality and A higher gloss, wider ba.s6 and greater pliability arc three<br />
high fidelity sound reproduction is offered by Electro-Voice, qualillcs claimed for the new vinyl plastic cove base re-<br />
Inc. in a model which can be either hand-held or used on leased by the Fremont Rubber Co.<br />
a boom without obstructing the user's face. SNACK KAR CARRIES $150 PAY LOAD (See paoe 42) N-397<br />
SINGLE UNIT REGULATES VARIABLE DC VOLTAGE.. P-3S5 Poblocki i Sons have recently taken<br />
.<br />
over production and<br />
of drive-in unit.<br />
The Varicell, which will regulate variable DC voltage from sale the Snack Kar, a mobile refreshment<br />
AC lines Is available in the Superior Electric line. NEW RCA PROJECTOR DESIGN (See page 34) N-398<br />
NEW BOBTAIL FOUNTAIN FOR SMALL SPACES P-386 The latest RCA projector design Is incorporated In the<br />
A bobtail fountain designed for operators with small new RCA "100" model which has full view glass doors, and<br />
amounts of floor space Is offered by the B.istian-Blessing Co. an Illuminated gear compartment.<br />
POST LIGHTS AID DRIVE-IN OPERATORS P-387 MANUAL FOR DIFFUSER NEEDS (see page 8) N-399<br />
released Extremely rigid construction afforded in adjustable The Anemostat Corp. of America has just a<br />
is the<br />
drive-in post lights offered by W. H. Long Co. manual covering air distribution dlffuser needs.<br />
LITERATURE<br />
Briefed from the descriptions on page 73<br />
Nmnbet<br />
MANUAL GIVES BURNER CHARACTERISTICS L-1022<br />
A four-page lolder uf the Konh Ameiiean Mfg. Co. illustrates<br />
gas burners for commercial-sized boilers.<br />
CATALOG OF FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURES. .L-1023<br />
A scmitechnical manual released by Bylvanla Electric contains<br />
data helptui wlien piiuining a fluorescent installation.<br />
DESCRIBES THEATRE WASTE RECEPTACLES L-1024<br />
A lour-page folder uf the Atlas Products Co. contains<br />
full descriptive data on its line ul metal sajid urns.<br />
NEW FEATURES OF BEVELITE LETTERS L-1025<br />
Beveilto niarijuee letters. Alumliiex display frames and<br />
Aluminex pusilbars arc described by Tlieatre Specialties, Inc.<br />
CATALOG DESCRIBES INTERCOM EI3UIPMENT L-1026<br />
Wiring diagrams and speciticatiuns of the Intercommunicatiun<br />
telephones of Edwards H Co. are in a 24-page catalog.<br />
UNIFORM CATALOG WITH SIZE CHART L-1027<br />
Tlie oU-page catalog of tlic Angelica Jacket Co. illustrates<br />
uniforms suitable for many tjpes of theatre employes.<br />
GERMICIDAL LAMP IN THREE SIZES L-1028<br />
Said to produce ozone, the Pur-Ar-Llte germicidal lamp<br />
Is described In an illustrated lolder of the Ciicllte Corp.<br />
CREATE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH LIGHTING L-1029<br />
Xlie Cleat, on of tlieatre atmospliere through lighting Is discussed<br />
in tile catalog of the Superior Electric Co.<br />
EQUIPMENT FOR THE ORIVE-IN L-1030<br />
A three-color folder of the Baii^uitjne Co. describes the<br />
firm's line of drive-in equipment.<br />
NEW FEATURES IN CLEANING EQUIPMENT L-1031<br />
ilio floor ,uid carpet cleaners of the Llncohi-SclUueter Floor<br />
Machinery Co. are described Ui various folders.<br />
METHODS OF LAWN MAINTENANCE L-1032<br />
Various equipment for maintaining drive-ln grounds and lawns<br />
is in literature of James Cunningliam, Son & Co.<br />
COATING CONTROLS WATER SEEPAGE L-1033<br />
Literature describing the appiicalion of arresting<br />
Pruftite tor<br />
water seeiiago available from is I'rufcoat Laboratories, Inc.<br />
FOR EQUIPPING THE CONCESSION STAND L-1034<br />
Equipment and supplies the drive-hi concession stand<br />
for<br />
are described in literature of National Theatre Supply.<br />
LITERATURE DESCRIBES COIL PERFORMANCE L-1035<br />
Design and performance d.ita on heating and cooling coils<br />
are described by Stilrtev,int division of Westinghouse.<br />
MIGHTY MIDGET WITH FOUR HEADS L-1036<br />
A fountain and dispenser described in color folder.<br />
WOOD AND MARBLE WALL FINISH PANELS L-1037<br />
Marsh Wall Products, Inc., Uluslrales wood marble<br />
and<br />
panel<br />
finishes.<br />
tow to Use These<br />
tEADERS'<br />
BUREAU COUPONS<br />
Write here the key number^ I "H<br />
of the item that interests you ^ I<br />
I<br />
la Fill out completely o leparote coupon<br />
for each New Equipment item,<br />
News article or Literature reference<br />
(above) whicli interests you. Likewise<br />
for each Advertised Product (reverse<br />
lide of this sheet) about which yau<br />
wont more information. Put only one<br />
key number in each square.<br />
here the key number<br />
l[7£<br />
JOHN Q.DO£<br />
-;,„;, QUEEN<br />
SU and MAIN<br />
NEWBERN S.O-C<br />
ALA.<br />
i<br />
V MODERN THEATRE Section ot BOXOFFICE •<br />
:2* Use the outer card to request one<br />
to four items, both cords if requesting<br />
five to eight.<br />
3, When you have filled out the coupons<br />
for each request, detach the<br />
postcards and mail. No postage<br />
needed in the U.S. (Affix stamp in<br />
Canada.)<br />
9
READERS' BUREAU<br />
A<br />
C<br />
For literature on products advertised or mentioned in this issue, see other<br />
side oi this sheet and read how to use the postcard coupons below.<br />
PRODUCTS ADVERTISED IN THIS ISSUE<br />
ACOUSTICS and INSULATION<br />
Dant and Russell Saies Co 15-A<br />
ADMISSION SIGNS<br />
Sweden Freezer Mfg. Co 43.<br />
Lamolite Products (Edgar Bowman) ... .33*A KIDDIE RIDES FOR DRIVE-INS<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
King Amusement Co 62-D<br />
Ctirysler Corp., Airtemp Division IS-A Miniature Train Co 63-A<br />
CurtiS MIg. Co 5-A National Amusement Device Co 5S-B<br />
National Engineering & Mfg. Co 2S-B<br />
LIGHTS,<br />
Marley Co., Inc., The<br />
DIRECTIONAL, Etc., tor 30-A<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
Revere Electric<br />
Typhoon Air Conditioning<br />
Mfg.<br />
Co., Inc 23-A<br />
Co 65-B<br />
U. S. Air Conditioning Corp 26-A MATS<br />
Westingnouse Electric Corp 31-A American Mat Corp 76.a<br />
AIR OIFFUSERS<br />
PUYGROUND EQUIPMENT for DRIVE-INS<br />
Anemostat Corp. of America 22-A See Kiddie Rides<br />
ATTftACriON BOARDS AND LETTERS<br />
POPCORN BAGS and CARTONS<br />
Adier Silhouette Letter Co 48-C Manley, Inc. 35.4<br />
Vvagner bign bervice, Inc 60-A Rex faper Products Co 40.A<br />
Pobiocki it Sons 70-B & 71-A POr-CORN MACHINES<br />
BLACK LIGHT<br />
Manley, Inc 2S-A<br />
:>wiizer brothers, Inc 2S-A POkCURN MACHINES, Portable, for DRIVE-INi<br />
BLOivcRS<br />
Concession but.ply Co 65.A<br />
.'. Heyiiolas Blower Co. 48-A POr-CUKN SCuOrS<br />
CANuY<br />
Speeu-dcoop 44-B<br />
henry Heide, Inc 44-C POrCOHN POPPING LIQUID<br />
Laniont, Corliss & Co 4S-A Best Foods, Inc 44-A<br />
CARBONS<br />
Manley, inc. 3g.A<br />
^ee r-rojector Carbons<br />
Simoiiin 01 Philadelphia 42.A<br />
CARi'ETS<br />
POcCORN & SUPcLltS<br />
Alexander Smith & Masiand 4-A Inoiana r-op Corn Co 40.<br />
B^gelow'Saiiiord Carpet Co 50-A Manley, Inc 38-A<br />
Karagneusian, A&M, Inc 37-A POSIER CASES<br />
CARfEr CUSHION<br />
See Display Cases, Poster<br />
Stonge Rubber Products 68-A PROJECIION LAMPS<br />
CONCESSION CONTRACTORS<br />
Strong E.ectric Corp 6-A<br />
Si.oriser.ice, Inc 62-C PROJECTION SCREENS<br />
CONCESSION EQUIPMENT, DRIVE-IN<br />
B. F. Shearer Co 29-A<br />
Concession Supply Co 65-A Williams Screen Co 69-A<br />
Poblocki & Sons 71-A PROJECTOR CARBONS<br />
Walky Service Co 40-B<br />
National Carbon Co<br />
COOLING TOWERS for AIR CONDITIONING<br />
49.A<br />
PROJECTOR<br />
Marley Co., Inc., The 30-A<br />
CARBON SAVERS<br />
Call Carbon Couplers<br />
DISPLAY CASES, POSTER<br />
74. B<br />
Poblocki & Sons 70-B PROJECTOR LENSES<br />
Universal Corporation 22-C<br />
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co 32-A<br />
DRINK DISPENSERS, MANUAL<br />
Kollmorgen Optical Corp 74.A<br />
Drincolator Corp 41-A Par Products Corp 62-<br />
DRIVE-IN FENCING<br />
Projection Optics Corp 72-C<br />
Arnold-Dain 63-C PROJECTORS<br />
EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS<br />
Ballantyne Co sg.A<br />
D. W. Onan & Sons, Inc 75-C DeVry Corporation 57.A<br />
FILM REWIND<br />
International Projector Cofp...53-A and 1-BC<br />
GoldE MIg. Co 22-B Motiograph, Inc 63-B<br />
FRONTS, THEATRE<br />
RCA Theatre Equipment Division 2-A<br />
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co 27-A Wenzel Projector Co 68-B<br />
HAND DRYERS, ELECTRIC<br />
PROJECTOR PARTS<br />
Electric-Aire Engineering Corp 69-B LaVezzi Machine Works 30-8<br />
ICE CREAM MERCHANDISER"<br />
Freez-King Corp 45.^<br />
RECTIFIER BULBS<br />
Strickland Electric Co 36-A<br />
RECTIFIERS<br />
Forest- Harrison, 34-A<br />
Inc<br />
SCALES. PENNY FORTUNE<br />
Watling Manufacturing Co 43-B<br />
SCREENS, INDOOR THEATRE<br />
See Projection Screens<br />
SCREEN TOWERS, DRIVE-IN<br />
Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co. 72-B<br />
Timber Structures, Inc 56-A<br />
SEATING, DRIVE-INS<br />
American Seating Co 62-E<br />
Griggs Equipment Co 75-B<br />
SEATING, CONVENTIONAL THEATRES<br />
Gnggs Equipment Co 75.B<br />
Heywood-Wakefield Co 47-A<br />
Ideal Seating Co 35.A<br />
Irwm Seating Co 4fi-D<br />
SHOE-SHINE VENDING MACHINE<br />
Falcon Mfg. Co 48-B<br />
SOUND SERVICE, PROJECTION<br />
RCA Service Co 72.A<br />
SPEAKERS. IN-CAR DRIVE-IN<br />
Bailantyne Co 58-A<br />
DeVry Cor(.oration 57-A<br />
Drive-ln Ihealre Mfg. Co 72-8<br />
Dnve-ln Theatre Equipment Co 64-B<br />
Diecast Aluminum Speakers, Inc 72-B<br />
International Projector Corp...53-A and 1-BC<br />
Mot.oQrat.h, Inc 63-B<br />
RCA Ihealre Equipment Division 2-A<br />
S.O.S. Cinema Supply Co 64-A<br />
SPEAKER CORDS, COILED<br />
Koiled-Kords, Inc 64-A<br />
SPEAKER POSTS, DRIVE-IN<br />
Sohken St Galamba Corporation 61-A<br />
SPOTLIGHTS<br />
Strong Electric Co 67-A<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT<br />
Automatic Devices Co 69-C<br />
Vallen, Inc 33-C<br />
SWEEPERS, VACUUM & BLOWER<br />
General Electric Co 73-A<br />
Ideal Industries, Inc 34-B<br />
National Super Service Co 30-C<br />
THEATRE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT<br />
National Theatre Supply Co 75-A<br />
S.O.S. Cinema Supply Co 61-B<br />
TICKET REGISTERS<br />
General Register Corp 70-A<br />
TILE, WALL & FLOOR<br />
Mosaic Tile Co 13-A<br />
UNDERGROUND CABLE, DRIVE-IN<br />
Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co 72-B<br />
Whitney-Blake Co 64-A<br />
UNIFORMS<br />
Reversible Collar Co 33-B
—<br />
. .<br />
skilled Hands That Work in the Dark<br />
Riverview at 2nd Street Kansas City 18, Kansas • C 602 West 52nd St, N Y 19<br />
Speaking of Speakers...<br />
EVERYONE<br />
BLOWS HIS<br />
OWN HORN!<br />
It's easy to say "greatest speaker<br />
value", "lowest cost quality speaker",<br />
"most spectacular value", or<br />
moke other superlative claims .<br />
BUT a tiny, tinny, toy speaker is<br />
no bargain even if you got it for<br />
nothing.<br />
Buy a Pair of S. 0. S. "CO OP"<br />
speakers and compare with any<br />
speaker at^ny price — BE<br />
During the national program for "employing handicapped persons." Frank tetany, blind veteran of<br />
World War II who is employed at the Ballantyne Co. plant, demonstrated his skill from a Toledo<br />
CONVINCED!<br />
department store window.<br />
Thousands of onlookers watched this blind expert skillfully assemble the numerous tiny parts that<br />
go (0 make up Ballantyne's Sound Master in-car speakers.<br />
Big Sombrero Covers New Technique<br />
F^-om Sulphur Springs, Ai-k., J. Bye Coverston<br />
ers back to us in much better condition<br />
comes forth with the answers to a than formerly."<br />
good many drive-in problems, outstanding<br />
An added advantage is that, although<br />
among which is in-car speaker loss. picking up speakers from departing cars<br />
As owner and operator of the Big Sombrero<br />
may slow up the break by five minutes, it<br />
Drive-In Theatre, Coverston has makes it possible for him to regulate the<br />
worked out a snap-on arrangement for flow of theatre traffic into the highway.<br />
his speaker connections which makes it In a somewhat lighter vein, Coverston<br />
possible for him to issue an in-car speaker admitted that although taxes are going<br />
BUYS 2 speakers<br />
to each car as it passes through the boxoffice.<br />
Speakers are collected as cars depart. he at least had the opportunity to do a<br />
to be with us for some little time to come,<br />
and a junction<br />
According to Coverston, patron reaction little "picking and choosing" as to where »16 box complete<br />
has been favorable to the plan. When a he paid them. "The Arkansas-Missouri<br />
NO OTHER SPEAKER<br />
patron fails to turn in his speaker he is state line runs right through my<br />
CAN MAKE<br />
drive-in,"<br />
asked to return to the ramp and get it. he said with a broad grin, "and if taxation<br />
ALL THESE STATEMENTS:—<br />
"Prom the standpoint of the management."<br />
becomes unfavorable in Arkansas. I<br />
(1) Large 6" cone for greater volume and tone<br />
Coverston says, "the program has not only just move my boxoffice into Missouri and<br />
quality.<br />
Die (2) cast Aluminum Alloy housing with 3<br />
stopped speaker loss but has gotten speak-<br />
operate from there."<br />
different handles.<br />
bulls-eye<br />
.<br />
Rollaway Drive-In Screen for Hurricane Climes<br />
Theatres are no longer<br />
limited b\ the "throw" of the projection lens.<br />
The new Super Luxars give greatly increased<br />
screen brilliance at distances never before possible.<br />
They provide the theatre designer increased<br />
flexibility in theatre layouts.<br />
For outdoor theatres, the projection booth may<br />
now be located for maximum attendance and<br />
convenience.<br />
Super Luxar Lenses all have an aperture ratio<br />
of f :2.0 with range of focal lengths from 6 to<br />
2 1 ',2 and fit most standard projection equipment.<br />
For maximum screen illumination for extra<br />
long "throws", in both outdoor and indoor<br />
theatres, get the complete information and<br />
prices of Super Luxar Lenses by writing..<br />
PRODUCTS CORP.<br />
Optical Engineers for 15 years<br />
ENUE HOLLYWOOD 38, CALIF.<br />
The native ingenuity that has made American enterprise known the world around is typified in<br />
the drive-in theatre of Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Hall of West Palm Beach, Fla. Destroyed by a hurricane<br />
in September of 1947, the theatre was rebuilt with the strong winds in mind.<br />
Instead of striving for greater rigidity and heavier construction, the Halls adopted a semitropical<br />
motif for the construction of the new screen tower, trimming the framework in locally<br />
grown bamboo and backing it with bamboo matting. The screen of steel and plywood is so contrived<br />
that it can be quickly raised into position or lowered by a system of steel cables powered<br />
with a five-horsepower motor.<br />
With the screen lowered, wind can whip through the tower framework without causing damage.<br />
The ability to raise and lower the screen has also proved a great help in maintenance of the<br />
surface. Hall points out.<br />
With a variation of the outdoor playground idea, the Hall's drive-in boasts an indoor playroom<br />
equipped with several games and a music box and dance floor for patrons who wish to<br />
dance. Playroom and office are included in housing provided at the base of the screen tower.<br />
FINEST QUALITY SPEAKER SET<br />
BUY DIRECT KROM US<br />
OR YOUR DEALER ^SV<br />
oLJiecail —Aluminum .Jipeaken, J7nc.<br />
NOW SPeCIAUZINGV<br />
IN REFRCSHMBNT<br />
SERVICE FOR<br />
fPRIVE-IN THEATRES/<br />
J<br />
SPORTSERVICE Corp. Jacobs bros.<br />
703 MAIN ST. •.BUFFftLO, W. Y. .• WA. 2506<br />
The entire area is attractively landscaped.<br />
Advertising to Hold Patrons<br />
During Remodeling<br />
In Florida where drive-in theatre business<br />
operates around the calendar, the<br />
Miami Drive-In keeps a weather eye open<br />
for advertising appeals even when the theatre<br />
is closed for remodeling.<br />
A recent series of two-inch newspaper<br />
advertisements kept the theatre's name<br />
before the public during the closed period<br />
by informing them of the progress being<br />
made toward providing them better<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
THEATRES<br />
Increase Your Family Patronage!<br />
Entertain the children ~ with the latest kiddie<br />
riding devices. Complete line oi miniature trains,<br />
auto rides, pony rides, and airplane rides. Immediate<br />
deliverv. t»rmii arranged.<br />
KING AMUSEMENT CO-<br />
Mt. Clemens, Mich.<br />
service. The series was very effective.<br />
Each message was included In a heading<br />
and signature style which established<br />
recognition for the campaign, with separate<br />
pieces of copy telling patrons of new<br />
ramp grading, new in-car speakers and<br />
other modernization features.<br />
As the work was completed, exact reopening<br />
date was announced and who were<br />
former patrons were kept informed. On reopening<br />
night it was plain to see that people<br />
had not forgotten the theatre or the excellence<br />
of its programs or equipment.<br />
DRIVE-INS!<br />
Seat pedestrian-patrons in<br />
Q^mmcim<br />
Outdoor<br />
Theatre Chairs<br />
Cradleform seats and deepcurved<br />
bocks insure comfort.<br />
Back end seot slots ore solid<br />
wood. All ports durobly finished<br />
for outdoors— hardware<br />
tree ed to<br />
lAls,<br />
iching<br />
AMERICAN SEATING COMPANY<br />
Grond Rapids 2, Michigan<br />
Branch Offices and Distributors in<br />
Principal Cities<br />
62 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
DRIVE-IN<br />
PREFAB<br />
OWNER MAY NOW BUY<br />
MARQUEE PACKAGE<br />
IT'S TIME TO CHECK<br />
UP ON THOSE<br />
DRIVE-IN NEEDS<br />
& BARRICADE a<br />
Pictured above ore three of the attraction board styles offered drive-in owners by Poblocki &<br />
Sons. A choice of various "packages" may be obtained to fit each specific case.<br />
With practically all the major suppliers<br />
offering various types of "package" plans<br />
for drive-in theatre construction, Poblocki<br />
Si Sons Co. joins the parade with a plan to<br />
supply the outdoor exhibitor with his choice<br />
of some twenty styles of name and attraction<br />
board marquees for the drive-in.<br />
The signs themselves will be manufactured<br />
by Poblocki in Milwaukee. At the<br />
exhibitor's option he will receive complete<br />
blueprints for concrete or metal bases to be<br />
made by local labor, or he may buy the<br />
completed sign erected by Poblocki crews.<br />
The signs are either single or doublefaced<br />
or of V construction and are made<br />
of galvanized sheet metal, aluminum or<br />
porcelain.<br />
For the low-budget installation a new<br />
sign has been designed which avoids the<br />
use of opal glass or Plexiglas, substituting<br />
a new type of reflector. This removes much<br />
of the danger from vandalism in locations<br />
which are not policed by day and also cuts<br />
down on maintenance expense.<br />
A PROVEN TRAFFIC BUILDER<br />
AUTHENTIC MINIATURE TRAINJ<br />
THEN BUY<br />
PROVEN<br />
SATISFACTION BY BUYING<br />
S/MOTIOGRAPH Model AA' Double<br />
Shutter Projectors (or beautiful, rocksteady<br />
pictures.<br />
v/MOTIOGRAPH SOUND<br />
reproduction.<br />
for liieiii.<br />
si MOTIOGRAPH ARC LAMPS lor<br />
abundance ol<br />
y MOTIOGRAPH<br />
screen illumination,<br />
an<br />
MOTOR-GENER-<br />
ATORS lor a dependable source ol<br />
^/ MOTIOGRAPH IN-CAR SPEAK-<br />
ERS *or exceplionalty line sound and<br />
ability to take abuse.<br />
Order them now from your Motiograpb<br />
dealer or write<br />
MOTIOGRAPH, INC.<br />
4431 W. Loke St. Chicago 24, III.<br />
Export Division (Except Canada)<br />
Frazar & Hansen. Ltd., 301 Clay St.<br />
San Francisco 11. California<br />
free ...<br />
Write for free literature containing<br />
full information on<br />
Miniature Trains and how<br />
they can make money for you.<br />
^r. Irving Goldberg<br />
COMMUNITY THEATRES<br />
Detroit,<br />
Michigan<br />
says this about their<br />
AUTHENTIC MINIATURE TRAIN<br />
installed in one of their Drive-ln Theatres<br />
The reaclioc. from children, and adults, too, was absolute.* terrific. It<br />
encouraged early business and was the •fill of our playground equipment. V.e<br />
fortunate from a standpoint of maintenance and repairs. Uur<br />
experience was oice.lent in that regard because the cost was practically ml ."<br />
were also very<br />
This is just one of the many unsolicited testimonials from owners of Authentic<br />
Miniature Trains. Excitingly popurar with youngsters and adults . . . easy ig<br />
operate . . . highly portable ... low overhead and operating costs ... an<br />
Authentic Miniature Train will increase your Box-Office!<br />
^MINIATURE TRAIN CO.<br />
RENSSELAER, INDIANA i>'i» "<br />
Outdoor<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
Rustic beauly licainbmed<br />
with slfong. sate, durable<br />
CYPRESS<br />
protection as screen (ence<br />
(or drivein theatres. Enclosure<br />
prevents car lights<br />
PICKET<br />
shining in and slops non-<br />
FENCE<br />
paying customers (rom seeing<br />
dim. Cypress available<br />
m heights up to 10 (eel.<br />
ARNOLD-DAIN CORP.<br />
BOX 66 MAHOPAC, NEW YORK<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: March 4, 1950 63
, the<br />
CUT<br />
SPEAKER LOSSES<br />
with this new<br />
SAFETY<br />
CABLE<br />
Sturdy, stranded steel cable<br />
jacketed with neoprene and<br />
including necessary conductors<br />
reduces in-car speaker<br />
or in-car heater losses.<br />
Cable will withstand approximately<br />
400-pound pull<br />
and cannot be cut except<br />
with heavy tools.<br />
Available<br />
either<br />
koiled or straight<br />
Specify these new safety<br />
cables on your next in-car<br />
speakers or in-car heaters<br />
and keep a stock on hand<br />
for replacement purposes.<br />
Koiled Kords replacements<br />
are made for all standard<br />
speakers. Order them<br />
through your theatre<br />
supply dealer.<br />
KoileJMs<br />
NEW HAVEN 14,<br />
CONNECTICUT<br />
WINTER OPERATION PROVES<br />
POPULARITY OF DRIVE-IN<br />
V^APACiTY OF THE Skyvue Drive-In<br />
on Park Avenue in Memphis, Tenn., is 742<br />
cars. On a recent Sunday, with the thermometer<br />
hovering eight degrees above<br />
freezing, 704 cars filled the Skyvue almost<br />
to capacity for the first showing of "Sands<br />
of Iwo Jima."<br />
This little incident meant for Manager<br />
Bob Gilgore the happy climax of a big<br />
commercial gamble. He and the Skyvue<br />
board had bet drive-in appeal against the<br />
weather and won.<br />
"We believe," said Kilgore, "that we<br />
have completed the first successful year<br />
around nightly operation of a drive-in theatre<br />
in this part of the country." He recalled<br />
the drive-in at Forrest City, Ark.,<br />
stayed open all last winter but only on<br />
weekends. Memphis' other two drive-ins<br />
closed this winter as usual, one in December,<br />
the other just after the January ice<br />
storm.<br />
"We were closed for two days after the<br />
ice storm," said Kilgore, "but not because<br />
of the weather. It was because the power<br />
lines were down and we had no electricity.<br />
Even then, 42 cars tried to come in the<br />
darkened theatre and many times that<br />
many people called to see if we were open."<br />
Throughout the rain and cold this winter,<br />
Skyvue's attendance has averaged 50<br />
per cent of peak summer business. "The<br />
other night during a steady rain, we had<br />
500 cars," he recalled. "It often amazes<br />
us. Most of these cars had their heaters<br />
going periodcally and their windshield<br />
wipers constantly."<br />
APPROXIMATELY 10% OF DRIVE-IN THEATRES IN THE U.S.A.<br />
ARE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOVOICE.<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO., Inc.<br />
2110 Superior Avenue Cleveland 14, Ohio<br />
The walk-in section of the Skyvue \vas<br />
officially closed in November but customers<br />
in the neighborhood insisted on buying<br />
tickets and walking in and so it wasn't<br />
actually ever closed.<br />
"People with children have sat there,<br />
wrapped in blankets and holding umbrellas.<br />
Beats anything I ever saw. Our faith in<br />
the public liking drive-ins has more than<br />
been justified.<br />
"Concession sales have dropped off only<br />
in proportion to boxoffice receipts. We<br />
added hot coffee and hot dogs, popcorn<br />
and cold drinks and dropped ice cream.<br />
Sales have stayed right at 35 per cent of<br />
the ticket receipts."<br />
So happy has all this made the operators<br />
of Skyvue, that plans are already being<br />
made now to install in-car heaters to<br />
make winter operation even more satisfactory<br />
before next winter.<br />
The decision to keep Skyvue open as<br />
long as possible this winter was made by<br />
the board of directors in December—even<br />
if the operation broke even or lost a little.<br />
"We wanted to keep the organization<br />
together," Kilgore said. "And we did. We<br />
had a staff of 16 employes busy all winter.<br />
We have as many as 40 employes<br />
during the summer peak."<br />
Now, with spring in the air, additional<br />
equipment is being installed in the children's<br />
playground within the theatre's<br />
fences. "We are adding new swings and<br />
slides and will have a miniature railroad<br />
and ponies to ride before warm weather<br />
gets here."<br />
Auto -Voice<br />
1950<br />
RCOUSTI-mflTIC<br />
in-car<br />
SPEAKERS<br />
theatr mpnnted on<br />
each speaker cabin et puts the<br />
final perfect touch oi beautigleaming<br />
new 1950 Auto-<br />
iul.<br />
Voice Acousti-Matic.<br />
get your Auto-Voic<br />
When you<br />
with the<br />
e<br />
Talk-Back system concession<br />
sales increase beyond expectations.<br />
Every speaker becomes<br />
a salesman lor you. Write !or<br />
details.<br />
64 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
—<br />
Cleaners Who Work 'for<br />
Peanuts'<br />
f~^\<br />
S.<br />
spilled<br />
T. Wilson, manager of the Dale Mabry Drive-In at Tampa, fla., doesn't bother to sweep up<br />
popcorn and other edible material— he merely stands by and waits tor a flock of sea gulls<br />
to swoop in regularly every morning and do the job for him. Wilson reports the gulls fly in at the<br />
same time every day and remain about an hour gleaning the corn. Extensive landscaping is<br />
planned at the Mabry in the next few months.<br />
PYLON-LITES<br />
ADD TO<br />
THE<br />
M<br />
FAMILY<br />
DRAW<br />
Hundreds of Drive-In Tlieatres<br />
have learned ttiat entrances<br />
must tie made inviting<br />
to pull in the crowds. The<br />
Greatest Draw is Lioht. RE-<br />
VERE PYLON-LITES are Just<br />
the thing. Their Luminaire<br />
houses the latest in fluorescent<br />
lamps which oive off a<br />
rich glow of light, seen from<br />
Standards<br />
available for dispensing air<br />
and water. Luminaires can be<br />
had with opaque letters fired<br />
into the glass, such as<br />
'L A I S". '-G E N TS"<br />
D E<br />
•G AS". "0 I L". "EN-<br />
TRANCE", etc.<br />
fidy for next season . . .<br />
Light Up with REVEI<br />
Write for free circular.<br />
Projectionist Critics Present New Angles<br />
"How Good Is a Movie?—Ask the Man<br />
in the Projection Booth" was the title of<br />
a half-page feature recently run in the<br />
Providence, R. I., Evening Bulletin.<br />
"Oscars and lemons come and go, but<br />
'Gone With the Wind' was the best of<br />
them all," according to a couple of hardto-please<br />
critics who, together, have spent<br />
58 years flashing motion pictures from<br />
projection booths in Pi-ovidence theatres.<br />
The article, illustrated with eight pictures,<br />
summed up the experiences of Arthur<br />
P. Slater and Sydney Clarke, projectionists<br />
at Loew's State.<br />
Maurice Druker. manager, assisted the<br />
Providence newspaper considerably in<br />
planning this spread which contained many<br />
interesting and highly amusing sidelights.<br />
Sydney Clarke, a 30-year veteran,<br />
pointed out that he had viewed "Gone<br />
With the Wind" for 40 days and could still<br />
see it many, many more times.<br />
It was emphasized that when a great<br />
many of the juvenile theatre patrons are<br />
munching on popcorn during a western it<br />
is necessary to increase the volume control<br />
several times more than for a "drawing-room<br />
picture" audience, which usually<br />
draws more sedate patronage who are not<br />
such big popcorn devotees.<br />
During "Mutiny on the Bounty," a lot<br />
of women complained to the ushers about<br />
cursing in the audience. When the management<br />
checked up, it was found that<br />
many men were swearing audibly, probably<br />
without their own knowledge, during<br />
the whipping scene. "That was real acting,"<br />
said Slater, who "has been in the<br />
booth" for 28 years.<br />
During the first showing of "Hell's Angels,"<br />
featuring the late platinum-haired<br />
Jean Harlow, the noise of screaming airplane<br />
engines burned out four loudspeakers<br />
before the sound panel board was adjusted.<br />
"We had to scurry around town<br />
and borrow a couple of extras, before the<br />
next show," related Clarke, who says, however,<br />
it's all a part of the business.<br />
PATENTED<br />
St. dard is Built<br />
Strong and Sturdy<br />
will last for years.<br />
Underwriters'<br />
approved.<br />
G<br />
E<br />
;<br />
S<br />
No. 3017<br />
20" AREA UGHTEH<br />
minum or Porcelaic<br />
No. 3033<br />
16" AREA LIGHTED<br />
Ideal ior Parkways.<br />
for the<br />
DRIVE-IN!<br />
CONCESSION PORTABLE POPCORN STAND<br />
Wilh Ihe new Concession mobile popco<br />
vend popcorn right from the "aisle" in<br />
tlieatre. Has ample storage space ior box<<br />
popped and unpopped com and is avoilab<br />
eitbc<br />
ilh<br />
Coleman gasoline or electric hooting unit.<br />
pletely porioJble on nibber-tired wheels, Includes 12<br />
quart capacity all aluminum Saratoga t popper,<br />
ittle<br />
Stainless steel and aluminum construction. 36xl8x3S.<br />
ize:<br />
Complete $169.50; without legs and w eels SIS4.S0.<br />
Write today for lull informoHon.<br />
Complete Line of Concession Equipment and Supplies<br />
CONCESSION SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
Depf. D. 3916 SECOR ROAD TOLEDO 13, OHIO<br />
LUMINAIRES MOUNTED ON 2" PIPE<br />
§END THE COUPON<br />
REVERE ELECTRIC MFG. CO.<br />
6020 Broadway. Chicago 40. lU.<br />
SEND ME PYLON-LITE INFORMATION.<br />
NAME<br />
COMPANY<br />
ADDRESS<br />
CITY .<br />
STATE<br />
_.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950 65
EQUIPMENT Sr<br />
DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Adjustable Ceiling Diffusers P-376<br />
Available in Two Models<br />
The Barber-Colman Co. has introduced<br />
new ceiling outlets, adaptable to any air<br />
conditioning systems, which can be adjusted<br />
to deflect air streams in either<br />
vertical or horizontal patterns.<br />
FOR MORE<br />
INFORMATION<br />
USE Readers'<br />
Bureau Coupons^ P^SC 60<br />
Onan Generating Plants P-379<br />
Are Diesel<br />
Powered<br />
D. W. Onan & Sons. Inc., have added<br />
five new models of Diesel-driven electric<br />
generating plants, equipped with automatic<br />
voltage regulators which range from<br />
12 '72 to 55 KW to their line of Diesel generating<br />
equipment.<br />
Available in wide size ranges for any<br />
installation requirements, the Venturi-Flo<br />
outlets come in two separate models. Model<br />
J supply outlet is equipped for rapid temperature<br />
equalization as well as being air<br />
flow adjustment.<br />
Similar in appearance to Model J is the<br />
JC unit which is a combination supply<br />
and exhaust model finished in a prime<br />
coat or baked metalescent aluminum finish.<br />
Flameproof Drapery Doubles P-377<br />
As Wall Covering<br />
A flameproof drapery material called<br />
Colorbestos, which may also be used as a<br />
decorative wall covering and can be applied<br />
to wall structures of plaster, steel<br />
or asbestos board, is announced by Johns-<br />
Manville.<br />
Much lighter in weight than ordinary<br />
asbestos cloth, Colorbestos is said to drape<br />
and fold nicely, has a good appearance<br />
and feels and handles easily, as well as<br />
being flameproof.<br />
Colorbestos combines asbestos yarn with<br />
a warp of cotton. The result is a ma-<br />
terial which is reported to meet the need<br />
for a drapery that will not support combustion<br />
and is also attractive.<br />
Colorbestos is being produced in ten<br />
plain colors and three different weaves and<br />
can be washed or dry cleaned without<br />
damage to fire protection qualities. The<br />
material comes in 50 or 100-yard bolts of<br />
standard 48-inch width. Its average weight<br />
per square yard varies from 0.92 pounds for<br />
the plain weave' to 1.1 pounds for a ratine<br />
weave.<br />
Cooling Tower Adaptable<br />
To Self-Contained Units<br />
A new cooling tower<br />
especially adaptable<br />
to self-contained air<br />
conditioning units is<br />
announced by Carrier<br />
Corp.<br />
Available in four<br />
models, ranging from<br />
5 to 15 tons of refrigeration<br />
capacity,<br />
P-378<br />
the Carrier unit permits<br />
the recirculation<br />
of water with a minimum<br />
of loss due to<br />
normal evaporation.<br />
The unit features a<br />
water turbine drive with electrical connections<br />
needed only for a pump, apart<br />
from the tower itself. It requires floor<br />
space of only 36 inches wide by 36 inches<br />
deep and stands seven feet high. The fill<br />
material is of waterproof asphalt impregnated<br />
board.<br />
The four lightweight models are for 5,<br />
TVs, 10 and 13 h.p. air conditioning systems.<br />
Installation requires a minimum of<br />
piping connections. Casing is of durable,<br />
water-resistant construction, hot dipped<br />
after assembly to permit outdoor installation.<br />
The unit may also be installed inside<br />
in a room apart from the conditioned<br />
area.<br />
Powered by International Harvester lowspeed<br />
engines, the new units combine aUweather<br />
gasoline engine starting with full<br />
Diesel operation. The engine is started by<br />
cranking a 12-volt starting system, and<br />
less than a minute of warm-up is needed<br />
before changing over to full Diesel operation<br />
by means of a control lever. A battery<br />
recharging generator is provided to<br />
maintain starting batteries at full charge.<br />
Available in all standard voltages, frequencies<br />
and phases, the new Diesel models<br />
are said to assure low-cost electric<br />
power. The units are equipped with Onan<br />
voltage-regulated generators, which are designed<br />
and constructed for operation under<br />
all climatic conditions.<br />
V/W Compressors Provide<br />
P-380<br />
Freedom From Vibration<br />
A new line of high speed refrigeration<br />
compressors for ammonia application has<br />
been developed by the York Corp., according<br />
to John R. Hertzler, vice-president and<br />
general sales manager.<br />
Termed V/W compressors because of the<br />
arrangement of cylinders, the new design<br />
is said to provide freedom from vibration.<br />
Cylinder liners and all other parts subjected<br />
to wear can be readily removed for<br />
replacement with a minimum of effort and<br />
at low cost.<br />
Most of the parts on the various size<br />
compressors are interchangeable, eliminating<br />
the necessity of keeping a large assortment<br />
of spare parts in inventory, where<br />
a number of compressors have been installed.<br />
66 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
High-Speed 16mm Lens P-381<br />
In Production<br />
A new high-speed lens for 16mm motion<br />
picture projectors has recently been put in<br />
production by Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.<br />
The six-element, anastigmat f:1.6 lens<br />
is designed both for serious amateurs<br />
and for professional users. Developed<br />
over the past two years, it is said to rival<br />
the firm's professional Super Cinephor<br />
model used in many theatres throughout<br />
the country. The sealed, one-piece mount<br />
fits all sound projectors with the standard<br />
one and 3/16-inch barrel.<br />
Television Set Adaptable P-382<br />
For Theatre Lounges<br />
A television set, distributed by National<br />
Theatre Supply, particularly adaptable to<br />
television lounges in theatres has been designed<br />
by General Precision Equipment<br />
Corp.<br />
The Precision set has a 27x36-inch screen<br />
and provides a picture which is said to be<br />
equally satisfactory whether seen up close<br />
or 75 feet away. According to the manufacturer,<br />
the Precision picture is sharp<br />
right to the edge of the screen without<br />
ripples, waves or fuzzy distortion.<br />
Portable Popcorn Stand<br />
For Drive-ln Use<br />
P-383<br />
Concession Supply Co. has introduced a<br />
new stainless steel and aluminum portable<br />
popcorn stand for drive-ins which contains<br />
a 12-quart capacity aluminum kettle popper,<br />
and ample storage space for popped<br />
corn, boxes and seasoning.<br />
The mobile popcorn outfit measures<br />
36x18x36 and is available with either gasoline<br />
or electric heating unit. The cart<br />
has rubber-tired wheels and is easily<br />
maneuvered in the ramp area.<br />
Ultra-Wide Range Microphone P-384<br />
Adaptable to Drive-Ins<br />
Electro-Voice. Inc., armounces a new<br />
versatile microphone with ultra-wide range<br />
and high fidelity which requires no auxiliary<br />
equipment.<br />
Engineered and built to meet studio, remote<br />
telecasting and broadcasting needs,<br />
the new microphone is suitable for special<br />
announcing, drive-in theatres and other<br />
high quality sound amplification. It can be<br />
used on a stand, hand-held or on a boom<br />
without hiding the performer's face.<br />
STRONGS<br />
trouper/<br />
Portable High Intensity<br />
A. C. CARBON ARC SPOTLIGHT<br />
Produ<br />
steady, sharp, uniformly illuminated<br />
Silvered glass reflector and two-element variable<br />
Draws only 10 amperes from any llO-volt A.C<br />
lating transformer, on integral p of the<br />
unnecessary.<br />
v-white<br />
Easily operated. Automatic arc<br />
A trim ol carbons burns one h<<br />
Horizontal masking control. Can be angled at 45 degrees<br />
contains six slides and ultraviolet filter holder.<br />
Mounted on casters. Easily disassembled ior shipping.<br />
Albany Theatre Supply<br />
ATLANTA<br />
Natl Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
ATLANTIC CITY<br />
Boardwalk Film Enterprises<br />
BALTIMORE<br />
J. F. Dusman Co.<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
BOSTON<br />
J. Cifre, Inc.<br />
Nal'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
Dion Products<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
CHICAGO<br />
Abbott Theatre Equip. Co.<br />
Gardner Jansen Inc.<br />
Hollywood Staoe Liohtinfl Co.<br />
Midwest Stage Liahting Co.<br />
Midwest Theatre Service & Equip.<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
DALLAS<br />
Hardin Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
Modern Theatre Equip. Co,<br />
Natl. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
DENVER<br />
Nat'L Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
Graham Brothers<br />
DES MOINES<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co,<br />
THE<br />
STRONG<br />
ELECTRIC CORP.<br />
spol.<br />
1 length lens system,<br />
convenience outlet. Adju<br />
makes the ol heavy rotating<br />
ch direction. Colo<br />
self-reguequipment<br />
SEE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DEALERS OR USE COUPON FOR OBTAINING LITERATURE<br />
ALBANY<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
DETROIT<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
OKLAHOMA<br />
Nat'l. Theatre<br />
CITY<br />
Sup. Co.<br />
FORTY FORT<br />
V. M. Tate Theatre Supplies<br />
GREENSBORO<br />
Standard Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
HOUSTON<br />
Southwestern Theatre Equip. Co.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
Shreve Theatre Supply<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
J. M. Boyd<br />
C. J. Holzmueller<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
Projection Equip. & Main. Co.<br />
LOUISVILLE<br />
Falls City Theatre Equip. Co.<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup, Co,<br />
R. Smith Co.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
Minneapolis Theatre Supply<br />
Nat'l, Theatre Sup. Co,<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
NEW YORK CITY<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
NORFOLK<br />
Please<br />
Nat'l. Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
s<br />
Oklahoma Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
Blumberg Bros.<br />
Nat'l, Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Atlas Theatre Supply<br />
Nal'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
Inter-Mountain Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
C. J. HoUmueller<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
W. G. Preddey Theatre Sup.<br />
SEATTLE<br />
B. F. Shearer Co.<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
SIOUX FALLS<br />
American Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
ST. LOUIS<br />
City Electric Co.<br />
Nat'l Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
TOLEDO<br />
Theatre Equip. Co.<br />
WESTERLY<br />
G, H, Payne Motion Picture Service<br />
CANADA<br />
Dominion Sound Equip. Ltd.<br />
Montreal.<br />
Quebec<br />
General Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
Montreal. Quebec<br />
Perkins Elec. Co. Lid.<br />
Montreal,<br />
Quebec<br />
Perkins Electric Co. Ltd.<br />
Toronto,<br />
Ontario<br />
General Theatre Sup. Co.<br />
Winnipeg
Cut Carpeting Costs<br />
®<br />
Varicell Unit Regulates P-385<br />
Variable DC Voltage<br />
The Superior Electric Co. has introduced<br />
a new Varicell unit which provides<br />
a stabilized and regulated source of variable<br />
DC voltage from AC power lines, and<br />
operates from 95 to 135 volt, 60 cycle, single<br />
phase alternating cuiTent line.<br />
Sponge Rubber<br />
Rug Cushion for<br />
The Modern ^1 X''^V^^f:y^<br />
Theater<br />
The unit delivers a direct current output<br />
that is variable up to 30 volts, while allowable<br />
output current available at any<br />
voltage setting is 15 amperes.<br />
Spongex rug cushion<br />
V adds years of extra life to all carpets<br />
According to J. s. Louden, sales manager,<br />
the unit was developed to meet the<br />
demand for a single piece of equipment<br />
that would serve this fimction.<br />
V will last for carpets to come<br />
V<br />
makes all carpets luxury carpets<br />
Compactness a Feature<br />
Of Bobtail Fountain<br />
P-386<br />
Doesn't create dust or lint — moth proof, vermin proof— gets no<br />
musty smell — always springy, no matting down— no crevices or<br />
cups to harbor dirt— can be vacuumed or dampwiped!<br />
Ask your carpeting contractor about SPONGEX today,<br />
us for samples and information.<br />
or write<br />
Designed to meet the requirements of<br />
operators whose concession space is limited,<br />
a new bobtail fountain equipped with<br />
all the patented featm-es of the manufacturer's<br />
de luxe line has been announced<br />
by the Bastian-Blessing Co.<br />
THE SPONGE RUBBER PRODUCTS COMPANY<br />
316 DERBY PLACE •<br />
SHELTON, CONN.<br />
Wenzel's New 1950<br />
COMPLETE PROJECTOR ASSEMBLY<br />
MANUFACTURERS OF:<br />
Projectors,<br />
Sound Heods, Boses,<br />
Send for complete descriptive<br />
circulars, giving full de-<br />
68<br />
Mogozines, Sound Systems, Replacement<br />
Parts, Accessories<br />
etc.<br />
tails of the many advantages<br />
of this new WENZEL<br />
product.<br />
WENZEL PROJECTOR CO.<br />
2505-19 S. State St., Chicago 16, III.<br />
^<br />
The all-steel, all-dry soda unit measures<br />
5 feet 6V2 inches in length and the one<br />
piece stamped out steel top has a rolled<br />
front edge. Patented features included in<br />
the product are super-soda draft arms,<br />
Johnson flash water cooler and hermetically<br />
sealed stainless steel lids.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
—<br />
Adjustable Post Lights P-387<br />
For Drive-ln Use<br />
Post lights, adjustable in length up to 12<br />
feet for desired light spread, are announced<br />
by W. H. Long Co. The ornamental base<br />
enclosing a center two-inch pipe is filled<br />
with concrete up to the unit housing for<br />
extremely rigid construction. Installation<br />
can easily be made by any electrician.<br />
The unit operates on 110 volts and is reported<br />
to give double the usable light as a<br />
mercury fixture and four times the usable<br />
light of incandescent illumination. Like all<br />
other Long Post-Lites, the new de luxe<br />
model bears the approval of the Underwriters"<br />
Laboratories.<br />
Premixed Drink Feature<br />
Of Dispenser<br />
P-389<br />
"what a Fine, Modern Theatre<br />
You Have!"<br />
Upon hearing this, do your Ihoughia (ly to<br />
your washrooms? Do the washrooms really<br />
coniirm the statement—or do they resemble<br />
Traffic-Tred Matting<br />
Ideal for Runners<br />
P-388<br />
Solution:<br />
Electric-Aire Hand Dryers<br />
A new development in counter-tred matting,<br />
known as Ti'affic-Tred, has been announced<br />
by D. W. Moor, president of the<br />
American Mat Corp.<br />
Designed for use as a runner mat, Traffic-Ti'ed<br />
is said to permit perfect recess<br />
work due to ease in cutting to accurate fit,<br />
and has excellent dirt scraping qualities.<br />
The mat is % inches thick and provides<br />
ample aeration and drainage.<br />
Canada Dry announces the introduction<br />
of a new dispenser which premixes carbonated<br />
drinks, and according to the<br />
manufacturer gives greater profits by<br />
avoiding syrup waste. Since the drink may<br />
be drawn at one pull of the lever, the dispenser<br />
promises to save time. It comes<br />
ready for installation directly in soda<br />
fountain wells.<br />
The new dispenser requires no ice, and<br />
is installed in the space of a single syrup<br />
well, with its syrup pre-cooling chamber<br />
submerged in the fountain refrigeration<br />
compartment. The Canada Dry unit measures<br />
only 4^8 inches wide by 12 inches<br />
deep and it holds more than a gallon of<br />
syrup.<br />
By means of adjustable mounting brackets,<br />
the dispenser can be speedily installed<br />
with no drilling of holes. All metal parts<br />
are made of stainless steel, while the tank<br />
and cover are white plastic. The cover is<br />
molded with a holder for straws.<br />
THESE LITTLE FELLOWS<br />
Are the most loyal employes you can have.<br />
They work automatically—staying on duty 24<br />
hours a day. yet never complain. They make<br />
friends of users and— they pay for the<br />
Your Patrons Will<br />
Appreciate<br />
Clean washrooms and<br />
automatic Chap-free drying<br />
service, always available<br />
24 hours a day.<br />
This Modern Way means for you<br />
• Fire Prevention, by removing a dangerous<br />
hazard.<br />
• Elimination of unnecessary plumbing bills,<br />
resulting from towel-clogged toilets.<br />
• Savings of 85% to 907o on towels plus handling<br />
costs.<br />
ELECTRIC-AIRE are approved by Underwriters'<br />
Lcboratories and guaranteed for two years.<br />
Send for al! the facts Write today!<br />
Electric-Aire<br />
Engineering Corp.<br />
Phone WEbster 9-4564<br />
CHICAGO 6,<br />
209 W. Jackson Blvd.<br />
ILL.<br />
When Purchasing<br />
WILLIAMS SCREEN CO.<br />
1679 Summit Lake Blvd. Akron 7, Ohio
You Boost<br />
Net Profit<br />
when you<br />
STOP<br />
THESE LOSSES<br />
AT<br />
THE DOOR!<br />
STUB ROD<br />
BOX<br />
now in<br />
over<br />
3000<br />
theatres!<br />
Popular-Priced Color Slide P-390<br />
Projector for Theatres<br />
A new 2x2 -inch colorslide projector is<br />
announced by American Optical Co.'s instrument<br />
division.<br />
The projector offers a number of the<br />
important features found on the company's<br />
higher priced delineascope. The new projector<br />
is said to place an exceptionally high<br />
light output on the screen from the 150-<br />
watt lamp, yet remains cool enough for<br />
comfortable handling.<br />
Features are a heat-absorbing filter, twoelement<br />
aspheric condensing system, double<br />
lamp house, hard coated first surface reflector,<br />
5-inch focus f:3.75 Americoted objective<br />
and a silent Autofocus slide carrier.<br />
Compact Ice Cream Freezer P-391<br />
Has Two-Quart Capacity<br />
Sweden Fi-eezer Manufacturing Co. has<br />
announced the addition of a two-quart soft<br />
ice cream freezer, the Challenger, to its<br />
line of equipment for 1950. The Challenger<br />
is unusually compact to permit installation<br />
in locations previously considered impractical<br />
for an item of equipment as large as<br />
the usual ice cream freezer.<br />
The new Challenger differs from the<br />
standard Sweden models in that the front<br />
is of porcelain covered cast iron with the<br />
projection ring and drip tray as integral<br />
parts, and that a new drive using only one<br />
motor for both compressor and dasher<br />
makes operation on a 110 volt line possible.<br />
Completely self-contained, the freezer is<br />
20' 2 inches wide, 19 inches deep and 20'^<br />
inches high and requires no water connections<br />
or special wiring. It comes ready to<br />
install for immediate operation.<br />
70 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Improved Features on P-392<br />
Majestic Dispenser<br />
Majestic Enterprises, Inc., announces the<br />
introduction of a new de luxe refrigerated<br />
beverage dispenser which features a transparent<br />
Plexiglas bowl, mounted with a removable<br />
Plexiglas dome. A 20 rpm stainless<br />
steel shaft and paddle keeps the beverage<br />
flavor in constant suspension, assuring<br />
drinks of consistently uniform body<br />
and flavor.<br />
The highly polished transparent bowl,<br />
with a capacity of more than 5% gallons,<br />
keeps the contents in full view of the customer<br />
to create impulse sales. The dispenser<br />
is thermostatically controlled to<br />
maintain a constant temperature as low<br />
as 34 degrees F., has a top of highly polished<br />
stainless steel with baked enamel<br />
sides of durable 18 gauge metal and a<br />
non-drip faucet and coupling of nickelsilver<br />
alloy.<br />
DeVry Adds Three 16mm P-393<br />
Projector Models<br />
Devrylite, new 16mm sound motion picture<br />
projector, has been announced by the<br />
DeVry Corp. in three models.<br />
A single-case unit with built-in amplifier,<br />
detachable 6-inch Alnico V permanent<br />
magnet speaker and a preview screen;<br />
a dual case projector which includes an<br />
8-inch loudspeaker in separate case: and a<br />
combination model containing both the<br />
built-in loudspeaker and the 8-inch separate<br />
speaker comprise the line.<br />
With the Devrylite it is possible to show<br />
both 16mm sound and silent films on AC<br />
or DC, without the need of converters. Two<br />
input jacks are provided in the amplifier<br />
to accept the connector plugs of microphone<br />
and phonograph pickup.<br />
New Drive-In Fixture Combines<br />
Directional Sign and Floodlight<br />
P-394<br />
Now y o u can choose a<br />
name and attraction sign<br />
that fits your theatre, your<br />
location, anil your pocketbook.<br />
Offered for your<br />
consideration is not one,<br />
but livenly-one plans, originated<br />
by Poblocki and<br />
Sons, specialists in theatre<br />
front construction for over twentyfive<br />
years.<br />
Here are signs designed to fit any<br />
size drive-in, and all offer the utmost<br />
in attraction and visibility.<br />
IVIaximum use and minimum upkeep<br />
are built into every sign,<br />
from the tamper-proof "no-glass"<br />
economy models for small layouts<br />
to the most striking towers.<br />
L0\^^<br />
ERECTION COST<br />
All signs can be erected by local<br />
labor. Structure and engineering<br />
blueprints are furnished.<br />
Send today for new lavish catalogue<br />
and see for yourself the exclusive<br />
patron-pulling selection of<br />
21 drive-in signs — designetl to do<br />
vour best advertising.<br />
LARGE<br />
MEDIUM<br />
• SMALL<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
ly^<br />
^:^<br />
Lfe<br />
D A n n .""TH ROMAM<br />
':•- *M»USH H<br />
ENTRANCE<br />
TAKE IN<br />
REFRESHMENTS<br />
TAKE OUT PROFITS!<br />
A combination entrance-pointer light<br />
and driveway floodlight is offered in a new<br />
fixture 40 inches long produced by Drive-In<br />
Theatre Mfg. Co. It may be had either as<br />
a single-face model, as pictured with center<br />
support, or double-face with lighted<br />
sign on both sides and supports on both<br />
ends. The same sign may be had with<br />
"Exit" panel. Similar signs, single-face<br />
only, are offered in 20-inch length.<br />
Also announced is a ramp identification<br />
light, especially for center aisles, to make<br />
it easy for patrons to get to the refreshment<br />
stand and back to cars. Numerals are<br />
offered as well as panels reading Exit,<br />
Entrance, Ladies, Men or blank to serve<br />
simply as floodlights.<br />
PoWorkl and Son,«<br />
;i.-)9 .=:. Kimilrklnnlc Avp.<br />
MIlw.Tukee 7, Wl.stonsin<br />
Please send me the new "De.HiEned for<br />
Drive-In.s" calaloif < ) Further mrormatlon<br />
on the "Snack-Kar" ( ) Llterature<br />
on other products ( )
Perfect start<br />
for Spring--<br />
ciuwwil<br />
—under RCA's In-Car Speaker Repair Plan<br />
Think of it—every In-Car Speaker and<br />
Junction box in your Drive-In operating<br />
at top efficiency when your season starts.<br />
No anxiety over your equipment at curtain<br />
time. No unexpected expense to face<br />
on last-minute maintenance.<br />
Under the RCA Sound Parts Plan,<br />
RCA Service Engineers give every RCA<br />
In-Car unit in your theatre a thorough<br />
Spring check-up— well in advance of the<br />
scheduled opening. Any speaker or junction<br />
box not up to RCA standards is<br />
restored to its original performance.<br />
Faulty speaker mechanisms and components<br />
are replaced with brand-new<br />
RCA parts. Spare speakers are maintained<br />
at no extra qjiarge. Regular checkups<br />
continue throughout your season.<br />
For as little as a penny a week per car<br />
station, this plan is available to every<br />
RCA equipped Drive-In theatre on RCA<br />
Contract Service. Rates are arranged on<br />
either a weekly or monthly "seasonal"<br />
plan—whichever meets your needs.<br />
For complete information, wire or write—
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
Ttie following concerns have recently<br />
filed copies of interesting descriptive literature<br />
with the Modern Theatre Information<br />
Bureau. Readers who wish copies may<br />
obtain them promptly by using the Readers'<br />
Bureau post card in this issue of The Modern<br />
Theatre.<br />
L-1022<br />
Gas burner units for commercial-sized<br />
boilers in either high pressure or<br />
low pressure service are shown in detail in<br />
a four-page folder issued by the North<br />
American Manufacturing Co. This folder<br />
gives capacities, characteristics as to modulating<br />
control, safety features, oil standby<br />
equipment, etc., and other data of value<br />
in planning a heating system.<br />
L-1023 Sylvania Electric presents a<br />
comprehensive catalog and semitechnical<br />
manual covering its line of fluorescent<br />
fixtures. It includes information on planning<br />
for fluorescent lighting installation,<br />
lumen method of calculation, lighting estimator<br />
and other valuable data. Available<br />
also are special bulletins on Sylvania<br />
fluorescent troffers. installation methods,<br />
etc.<br />
gelica sales personnel in principal cities is<br />
included.<br />
L-1028<br />
An ozone-producinc, ultra-violet<br />
germicidal lamp known as The Pur-Ai--<br />
Lite is de.scribed in an illustrated folder<br />
issued by the Circlite Corp. The lamp is<br />
available in 4-watt. 15-watt and 30-watt<br />
units and operates on AC current. It is<br />
offered as an air purifier, combating both<br />
airborne bacteria and disagreeable odors.<br />
L-1029 The Superior Electric Co. announces<br />
its 1950 line of Powerstat light<br />
dimming equipment in a colorful, file-size<br />
12-page bulletin. The creation of "atmosphere"<br />
through the dimming, brightening<br />
and blending of light is discussed in an<br />
interesting manner. Photographs, circuit<br />
diagrams, electrical ratings and other descriptive<br />
material cover the entire line of<br />
Powerstat dimmers from the small, 1,000-<br />
watt manually-operated unit up to the<br />
heavy duty motor-driven "ganged" 30.000-<br />
watt unit.<br />
L-1030<br />
In a three-color, eight-page<br />
folder The Ballantyne Co. presents its line<br />
of Sound Master in-a-car speakers, amplification<br />
systems, Hydro-Arc projection lamps<br />
and other pro.iection booth equipment.<br />
Its line of ramp and directional signs is<br />
likewise illustrated in color.<br />
L-1031 Three types of power cleaning<br />
equipment are fully described in folders<br />
MAKES<br />
'HEAVY-DUTY<br />
CLEANING ^s/StM)mef^/<br />
L-1024 Metal sand urns, all metal lobby<br />
dustpans and waste receptacles are featured<br />
in a four-page color folder issued by<br />
the Atlas Products Co. These products are<br />
illustrated and described in detail and full<br />
specifications are given.<br />
L-1025 An elaborate three-color brochure<br />
issued by Tlieatre Specialties, Inc.,<br />
with supplemental folders, describes its<br />
line of Bevelite marquee letters in detail,<br />
giving installation instructions, etc. In addition,<br />
separate folders present specifications<br />
and details on its line of Aluminex<br />
poster cases. Aluminex pushbars are also<br />
shown.<br />
L-1026 The complete line of intercommunicating<br />
telephones made by Edwards &<br />
Co.. Inc.. is shown in its 24-page catalog<br />
now available. Wiring diagrams and detailed<br />
specifications covering its various<br />
models are included in this fully illustrated<br />
catalog.<br />
L- 1027 — The Angelica<br />
Jacket Co. has<br />
recently issued an attractive<br />
56-page 1950<br />
catalog, the "Blue<br />
Book of Uniform<br />
Fashions." Fully illustrated<br />
in full colors<br />
are many uniforms<br />
for theatre personnel<br />
including ushers,<br />
usherettes and<br />
concession stand<br />
operators. A valuable feature is the revised<br />
and simplified measurement chart<br />
for men and women. A listing of all An-<br />
This newest General Electric Heavy-duty Vacuum Cleaner<br />
weighs only 23V2 lbs. It's so light that thorough, "heavyduty"<br />
cleaning is easy now for the woman operator.<br />
Sturdy, powerful, compact, the unit comes complete<br />
with tools for abovc-the-tioor cleaning, as well as for<br />
rugs and carpets.<br />
AND ,<br />
. . for a few dollars more than its modest<br />
price, you may purchase accessories for net pickup!<br />
SOME SPECIFICATIONS: I5'/2 in. hi^ijh, IJl/j in. diameter;<br />
\vel>;lit 2i' J lbs; General filectric universal-type motor. 110<br />
volt a-c/J-c; dirt capacity 5 qt; cord— 2()-ft rubber-covered<br />
with plastic plug; finish— two-tone gray, chrome fittings.<br />
NEW CATALOGUE<br />
just off the press, gives complete<br />
information about Model AVI<br />
189WP, OS well as all other cleaners<br />
in General Electric's heavy-duty line.<br />
Use the convenient coupon to get<br />
your copy.<br />
I<br />
I<br />
j<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
FOR WET PICKUP ,hese ac<br />
ce.isorics (wet pickup lias, rubber<br />
squeejjee for b.ire floors, metal squeegee<br />
for rugs) are oflereil at small<br />
extra cost.<br />
Commerical Cleaners<br />
GENERAL^ELECTRIC<br />
C.INFRAL KLECTRIC COMPANY'. Dcpi 22-3019<br />
128S Boston Avenue, Bridgeport 2, Connecticut<br />
Our most serious cleaning problem is<br />
Without obligation, please send new catalogue and full details<br />
new Model AVI 189WP.<br />
NAME<br />
FIRM<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4. 1950<br />
73
—<br />
from the Lincoln-Schlueter Floor Machinery<br />
Co. One features its all-purpose<br />
portable vacuum cleaner, designed for both<br />
wet or dry pickup operations. It includes<br />
a new type flexible nozzle. Its single<br />
disc floor polishers and rug scrubbers are<br />
described in a second folder. A three-color,<br />
four-page brochure fully describes the<br />
streamlined Auto-Scrubber which is designed<br />
for large scale cleaning operations.<br />
. . . you're getting the fastest lens money can bu/.<br />
. . . you're getting the utmost in sharpness and definition<br />
achieved by any lens today.<br />
. . . you're getting more uniform screen illumination,<br />
even though the lamp might be slower than f/1.9.<br />
Only the Super-Snaplite gives you a true speed of f/1.9— in<br />
every focal length up to 5 in. And in addition, all Super-<br />
Snaplites are<br />
HARD COATED<br />
TRUE ANASTIGMATS<br />
SEALED CONSTRUCTION<br />
Get iuU details of this supeib lens from your theatre<br />
equipment dealer. Ask for Bulletin 206.<br />
L-1032 James Cunningham, Son & Co.<br />
has issued a well-illustrated brochure<br />
covering its line of tractors, etc. Included<br />
are the power mowers, both sickle<br />
bar and reel types, which can be used for<br />
maintaining drive-in lawns. Also it shows<br />
weed killing and insect control spray<br />
equipment which can be used in connection<br />
with these mowers.<br />
L-1033—A FOUR-PAGE FOLDER in color describes<br />
the use of Pruftite in controlling<br />
water seepage and dampness through concrete,<br />
tile and brick masom-y walls. The<br />
makers, Pi'ufcoat Laboratories, Inc., state<br />
that it can be used both on exterior and<br />
interior walls, and floors, both above and<br />
below grade. Being applied like paint to<br />
any clean and dry masom-y surface, it is<br />
said to act as a prime coat for any other<br />
finish desired.<br />
2 Franklin Avenue<br />
Brooklyn 11, New York<br />
SAVE MORE ON CARBONS<br />
Patents Pending<br />
CALI CARBON COUPLERS<br />
Let You Burn All the Carbon<br />
"They're Expendible"<br />
So inexpensive you can run them right through the<br />
arc ond burn them up with the corbon. Order Now!<br />
Mention size: 6, 7 or 8MM. At your Independent<br />
supply house or send $2 for o year's supply of 100<br />
couplers of any one size (add sales tax for your state)<br />
74<br />
rer you ever used!<br />
CALI Products Company<br />
3719 Morjorie Way Sacramento 17, Calif.<br />
"You Get the Most<br />
Uniioim Light with<br />
Super-Snaplite"<br />
®<br />
OKPOKATIOK<br />
Full Refund<br />
If not 100%<br />
Satisfied<br />
For full information use the postagepaid<br />
card at page 60. Write in this<br />
ad's key number—74-B.<br />
L-1034 In an attractive two-color 8-<br />
page catalog, National Theatre Supply<br />
shows the various types of drive-in concession<br />
equipment and supplies they have<br />
to offer. Included are such items as popcorn<br />
warmers, seasoning, candy cases, beverage<br />
dispensers, ice cream venders, portable<br />
concession stands, frankfurter grills,<br />
hot dog steamers and peanut roasters.<br />
L-1035 The Sturtevant Division of<br />
Westinghouse has recently issued a series<br />
of descriptive bulletins and application<br />
data covering its line of standardized<br />
heating and cooling coils. F\ill data as to<br />
design and performance are included.<br />
L-1036 The Mighty Midget soda fountain<br />
and drink dispenser is fully described<br />
in a four-page color folder recently issued<br />
by the Mighty Midget Mfg. Corp. A feature<br />
of this new large-volume, multiple<br />
drink dispenser is the Hudson four-way<br />
head which, from a single head, serves<br />
both high and low pressure soda and two<br />
different mixed syrup drinks.<br />
L-1037—Now available is a new fullcolor,<br />
file-size, illustrated folder showing<br />
the new line of Marlite wood and marble<br />
pattern plastic-finished wall and ceiling<br />
panels manufactured by Marsh Wall Products,<br />
Inc. The folder is said to be of especial<br />
interest to anyone faced with the<br />
problem of modernizing or installing new<br />
walls and ceilings in lobbies, wash rooms,<br />
corridors and similar interiors. Typical<br />
Marlite installation pictures are included<br />
in the folder.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
about PEOPLE /<br />
A NEW PATENTED POPCORN BOX, knOWn aS<br />
the Push 'N" Fill, has been announced by<br />
Droll Theatre Supply Co. in Chicago. The<br />
box pops open when the sides are pressed<br />
and the bottom is automatically formed<br />
and locked.<br />
According to the manufacturer, one person<br />
can now prepare more boxes than 2fl<br />
persons working with the conventional<br />
hand lock box.<br />
R. M. Westbrook, president of Popcorn<br />
Equipment Co.. Santa Monica, Calif., recently<br />
announced the formation of a subsidiary,<br />
Westbrook Food Co., to take over<br />
the prepopped corn business formerly handled<br />
by the parent company.<br />
John Mershon was appointed head sales<br />
and advertising man for the new firm. The<br />
product, trademarked Westbrook 's Homestyle<br />
Popcorn, will also be marketed<br />
through retail outlets.<br />
Typhoon Zone Control air conditioning<br />
equipment has been added to the line of<br />
products distributed by the RCA theatre<br />
equipment section through independent<br />
RCA theatre supply dealers, it was announced<br />
recently by J. F. O'Brien, sales<br />
manager of the section. The units range<br />
from 1 1 2 to 20 tons.<br />
«""' PRODUCT<br />
Edward R. Blanchard, employed with<br />
Ideal Seating Co. since 1941, except for the<br />
f. R. Blanchard<br />
lapse of four years in<br />
the armed services<br />
during the war, was<br />
recently appointed<br />
sales manager for the<br />
firm.<br />
Edwards was connected<br />
with the<br />
American Seating Co.<br />
for 16 years before<br />
coming to Ideal. He<br />
lives in Grand Rapids,<br />
Mich., where he resides<br />
with his wife and two children.<br />
The appointment of Harry E. Lewis to<br />
the position of assistant controller was announced<br />
by Worthington Pump and Machinery<br />
Corp. recently. Lewis succeeds<br />
J. A. Schallenberg who died in December.<br />
Lewis joined the firm in 1924 and served<br />
in various capacities in the controller's<br />
office until 1942 when he was appointed<br />
works controller of the Wellsville works.<br />
In 1948 he was promoted to works controller<br />
at Holyoke, a position he held until<br />
his recent transfer to assist Schallenberg<br />
during the latter's illness.<br />
(Continued on following pagei<br />
n>©;0jher projector<br />
gives the years-ahead<br />
improvementS'-'of „th.e<br />
You Have the FINEST<br />
in a GRIGGS Chair I<br />
Skilled workmen using the<br />
finest materials produce<br />
Griggs' new 30-line theatre<br />
chair. It has the selt-rising<br />
secrt Makes GRIGGS seats<br />
your best buy!<br />
Before you buy see the new 30-line choir first!<br />
Call. Wire or Write for Sample.<br />
Belton,<br />
Texas<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
COMPANY<br />
Offices: Dollas, Memphis, Shreveport, Okia<br />
homo City and New York City.<br />
^ua/i^^/?^acKd^<br />
Ttl-<br />
.sirAPLtxXU<br />
_^^^^^^..<br />
'•<br />
SEE ITS MANY<br />
,^ • S\WP^i_us FEATURES<br />
1 • SJMP^' NOW AT<br />
'.sifMATIONAL<br />
, , • siwfl'HEAIRE y^.^ - -^<br />
!f»-f-wi^<br />
^-i<br />
ti/tit/i<br />
cut<br />
ONAN EMERGENCY<br />
ELECTRIC PLANT<br />
You are proiected against power interruption or<br />
restrictions on your use of electricity witli an<br />
Onan Standby Plant. In case of power failure the<br />
O'nan Plant takes over the entire power load<br />
within seconds automatically, and the show goes<br />
on. >X'hcn power use is curtailed, just switch to<br />
your Onan Plant for all the current you need.<br />
Low in cost, simple to install. Rupgedly built<br />
and dependable. 1,000 to 35,000 watts A.C.<br />
D. W. ONAN & SONS INC.<br />
OMPUXX-^-- .^ v.t . 5»rAP»^t^ - "IP ^., • :..r<br />
X-W • S****^ .<br />
„ . . s«WP«* ^^ .,.„. en X-U • SlWPW'^ ^ wMPttX )<br />
^«i&^ 'PoIcUa.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 4, 1950<br />
75
Richard Landsman, former manager oi<br />
the Alamo Drive-In, has been named city<br />
manager for the five Landsman-Richter<br />
drive-ins in San Antonio. John Burkhart<br />
succeeds him as manager of the Alamo.<br />
Barney Poblocki, Poblocki & Sons, announces<br />
the recent birth of a baby daughter,<br />
Mary Christine. The Poblockis have<br />
another child, David, who is now a year old.<br />
The Carrier Corp. announced its anticipation<br />
of a period of growth in the industry<br />
this year by introducing 47 new products<br />
in its 1950 dealer line, including 27<br />
units in size and types not heretofore offered<br />
by the firm.<br />
1}^<br />
EMPLOYER'S<br />
BEST FRIEND-<br />
The mat that cuts breakage costs, prevents<br />
accidents, promotes sanitation, saves<br />
money ....<br />
New products range from room air conditioners<br />
to system weathermakers in capacities<br />
up to 75 tons, and other models in<br />
the line have been completely redesigned.<br />
John P. Newbury, president and general<br />
manager of the Eastman Gelatine Corp.,<br />
died February 2 at his home in Swampscott,<br />
Mass. He was 58 years old.<br />
Newbury was born in Boston and spent<br />
his entire business career in New England,<br />
associated with the manufacture of gelatine<br />
during most of his lifetime.<br />
Plans for increasing sales activity in<br />
theatre and industrial service during 1950<br />
were developed in Camden, N. J., during the<br />
AMERICAN<br />
IDEAL FOR USE<br />
behind candy counters and popcorn machines<br />
and in lavatories.<br />
Non-slip surface. Resiliency reduces fatigue. Exceptionally tough and long<br />
wearing under heaviest traffic. Made of cotton cord bound together with rubber<br />
compounds. Ridged bottom affords aeration and drainage. Rolls up for mopping<br />
of floor, fs" thick. 2 feet wide; any length in one-foot sections vulcanized<br />
together.<br />
-AMERICAN MAT CORPORATION-<br />
1719 Adams Street Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
Theatre<br />
Street<br />
D Pleose send free folder, "A Mat for Every Purpose."<br />
D Please send pr ces on American Counter-Tred Matting.<br />
n Please send information and prices on Ezy-Rug Matting; Troffic-Tred Matting;<br />
n Do All All-Purpose Rubber and Cord Matting; Q Ever-Tred Vinyl Plastic<br />
Link Matting.<br />
annual district managers' meeting of the<br />
technical service division of the RCA Service<br />
Co. recently. The five-day meeting was<br />
presided over by E. C. Cahill, president of<br />
the RCA Service Co. and C. M. Odorizzi,<br />
vice-president of RCA in charge of sei-vice.<br />
The appointment of George L. McKenna<br />
as assistant to W. W. Watts, vice-president<br />
in charge of the RCA Engineering Products<br />
department, was announced recently.<br />
Prior to his new appointment, McKenna<br />
was manager of the industrial products section<br />
of the engineering products department.<br />
Since joining RCA in 1945, he has<br />
served as manager of organization planning<br />
and assistant director of personnel in<br />
the general office, as well as merchandise<br />
planning manager in the engineering products<br />
department sales staff.<br />
McKenna also holds a part-time post as<br />
a lecturer on industry at the Wharton<br />
school of the University of Pennsylvania.<br />
Stuart G. Lyon has joined with Worthington<br />
Pump and Machinery Corp. in organizing<br />
a new company, Lyon Industries,<br />
Inc., to distribute manual and coin-operated<br />
beverage vending machines. This company<br />
has acquired the rights, designs and<br />
patents formerly held on beverage vending<br />
machines by Lymo Industries, Inc., and<br />
Lion Manufacturing Corp., both of Chicago.<br />
Lyon Industries, Inc., will set up headquarters<br />
at 342 Madison avenue. New York<br />
City. Service headquarters and warehousing<br />
facilities have also been set up at Long<br />
Island City, N. Y.<br />
Officers of the firm include: Stuart G.<br />
Lyon, president; Frank J. Whelan, vicepresident;<br />
and Don S. Reynolds, chief<br />
engineer.<br />
The Alton Mfg. Co. is proud of a 1949<br />
production record that details the installation<br />
of air conditioning in an even 50<br />
theatres. Among them the Capitan and<br />
Granada, of the Isley circuit, are but two<br />
of the outstanding Texas houses,<br />
V. W. Sheplin has been appointed sales<br />
manager for the drive-in department of<br />
the Theatre Equipment Co., Toledo, announced<br />
Al Boudouris, president. Boudouris<br />
said the appointment was in line<br />
with expansion of the company's operations<br />
necessitated by increased business.<br />
Sheplin nas been associated with the<br />
drive-in industry for a number of years.<br />
The appointment of Carl A. Day as head<br />
of manufacturing at Bausch & Lomb Optical<br />
Co. was announced in mid-February<br />
by Theodore B. Drescher, vice-president in<br />
charge of manufacturing. Drescher will<br />
now devote full time to development of the<br />
company's methods, processes, and modernization<br />
of manufacturing facilities.<br />
City and State..<br />
IN CANADA<br />
OFFICES: American Mat Corporation,<br />
Building, Windsor, Ontario.<br />
FACTORY: West Lome. Ontario.<br />
Ltd., Canada Trust<br />
A NEW SLIDE FILM, "F^'emont Opens the<br />
Door," depicting the history and growth<br />
of the F^-emont Rubber Co.. has been<br />
created for showing at dealer-distributor<br />
meetings.<br />
76 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
fXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
.TURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHOpTS CHART<br />
•S REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS<br />
BookinCruide<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
FIRST RUN REPORTS<br />
This chart ahovrs the records made by<br />
pictures in five or more oi the 21 key cities<br />
checked. As new runs are reported^ ratings<br />
cae added and averages revised.<br />
BAROMETER<br />
TOP HITS OF THE WEEK<br />
(Not an avarog*)<br />
* Samson and Delilah —<br />
Kansas City 300<br />
Ambush—<br />
San Francisco 170<br />
Computed in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses. With 100<br />
per cent as "normal," the figures<br />
show the percentage above or below<br />
that mark.
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
ABOUT<br />
PICTURES<br />
Just as the Barometer vage shows first run reports on current pictures, this<br />
department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made<br />
by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars means the<br />
exhibitor has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor<br />
is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation.<br />
All exhibitors welcome. Blue Ribbon pictures are marked thus O.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Big Sombrero, The (Col)—Gene Autry,<br />
Elena Verdu?ro, Stephen Dunne. This is a<br />
nice, lively little western that pleased. Business<br />
wasn't up to normal, but I'm convinced<br />
that if Gene made them all in color, he'd<br />
be back in the running for the crown. I'd<br />
buy it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Perfect.—<br />
Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
Rural patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Destroyer (Col)—Reissue. Edward G. Robinson,<br />
Glenn Ford, Marguerite Chapman.<br />
This is a fine reissue that will do business<br />
in almost any situation. The NSS trailers<br />
and paper on these reissues are certainly a<br />
disgrace to a fine organization like that. I<br />
doubled with "Gallant Blade" to average<br />
business.—Melvin M. Edel, State Theatre,<br />
Centralia, 111. Small town patronage. •<br />
Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart,<br />
John Derek, Susan Perry. Anything with<br />
cops in it scares my patrons off, so this<br />
didn't do much for me. Personally, I thoroughly<br />
enjoyed it. Bogart is a very convincing<br />
attorney and John Eterek was perfectly<br />
cast. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Warm.—Mrs. Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre,<br />
Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage. • • *<br />
Lust for Gold (Col) —Ida Lupino, Glenn<br />
Ford, Gig Young. This one is really good.<br />
My gross was average for midweek and all<br />
my patrons seemed satisfied. The scenery<br />
shots of Arizona are exceptionally good in<br />
.sepictone. It's not a western but a historical<br />
drama about the Lost Dutchman gold mine.<br />
It has action aplenty and will easily do well<br />
on the weekend. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
Weather: Fair and cold.—Fred G. Weppler,<br />
Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town and<br />
rural patronage. • •<br />
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (Col)—Lucille<br />
Ball, William Holden, Janis Carter. This Is<br />
a terrific comedy that really draws the laughs.<br />
A good and made-to-order cast plus an excellent<br />
story make this one of those flickers<br />
that the patrons have been asking to<br />
see. Doubled with "It's a Great Feeling"<br />
(WB) and likewise this is a different type<br />
of comedy. Those two laugh epics drew business<br />
to slightly above average business.<br />
Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Clear and warm.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre.<br />
Wichita, Kas. Subsequent downtown<br />
run patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Reckless Moment, The (Col)—James<br />
Mason, Joan Bennett, Geraldine Brooks. This<br />
is not a pleasant story. It concerns murder<br />
and blackmail and has many tense spots.<br />
It holds the interest all through but there<br />
was no enthusiasm from the crowd on the<br />
way out.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre,<br />
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage. * • •<br />
Return of October, The (Col)—Glenn Ford,<br />
Terry Moore, Albert Shayne. It is seldom<br />
we get finer comedy features than this, but<br />
it was hard to sell. Those who came loved<br />
it, but kept it to themselves, for it went from<br />
nothing to worse each succeeding night.<br />
Glenn Ford and Terry Moore make a wonderful<br />
team. Terry is one of the nicest things<br />
to happen to this business since I got In It.<br />
By all means play it, but be sure you get<br />
them sold. The trailer is good. I did lots<br />
of promotion but had a lot of competition<br />
during the run. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Perfect.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,<br />
Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • • •<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
Big Cat, The (EL)—Lon McCallister, Peggy<br />
Ann Garner, Preston Poster. This has all<br />
the angles. It has lots of action, scenery,<br />
good color and a fair story—and the most<br />
realistic fight I've ever seen in any picture.<br />
Some came both nights to see that fight.<br />
Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—Jim<br />
Mote, Friendship Theatre, Sterling, Okla.<br />
Small town and rural patronage.<br />
• •<br />
Hold That Ghost (EL)—Reissue. Bud Abbott,<br />
Lou Costello. There comes a time when<br />
the elements will be stronger than the virge<br />
to see Abbott and Costello. Eight Inches of<br />
loose snow on the ground in North Dakota<br />
and everybody stays home. Business was still<br />
85 per cent. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Stormy.—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre,<br />
Washburn, N. D. Small town patronage. • •<br />
Paradine Case, The (EL)—Gregory Peck,<br />
VaUi, Ann Todd. The stars are not worth<br />
mention, the story is worse, and the film<br />
rental sickening. I'd rather have Eddie<br />
Dean—and who wants him? Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Wonderful.—J. F. Hall, Anthony<br />
Theatre, Anthony, N. M.-Tex. Rural<br />
and small town patronage. *<br />
Portrait of Jennie (EL)—Jennifer Jones,<br />
Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore. Here's a<br />
flop If there ever was one. One-third of my<br />
patrons slept through it. If played at all, it<br />
should be double billed. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Jim Mote Contributes<br />
To EHHS Again<br />
THIS department can take pride in this<br />
communication from former contributors<br />
who have reason to feel friendly to<br />
the spirit engendered by this exchange<br />
of opinion. The Jim Motes of the Friendship<br />
Theatre at Sterling, Okla., write:<br />
"Although it has been some time since<br />
our last reports, we ha>e been reading<br />
those sent in by other exhibitors and feel<br />
that your EHHS department is rendering<br />
a very valuable service to the exhibitors.<br />
"Furthermore, if it had not been for It,<br />
we wouldn't be reporting on anyone's pictures!"<br />
Ed. Note : It was in this department that<br />
the news of the burning of the Mote Theatre<br />
in 1948 started contributions coming<br />
in from fellow exhibitors to help him rebuild.<br />
Is Good Entertainment<br />
For Any Type Town<br />
PINKY (20th-Fox) —Jeanne Grain,<br />
Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Waters. Here Is<br />
a picture that was very well received. We<br />
did good business and for my money It it<br />
very good entertainment for any town,<br />
small or large. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Rain.—E. W. Clark, Molalla<br />
Theatre, Molalla, Ore. Small town patronage.<br />
• • *<br />
Weather: Fair.—K. A. Spears, Roxy Theatre,<br />
Winlock, •<br />
Wash. Rural patronage.<br />
Prairie Outlaws (EL)—Eddie Dean, Roscoe<br />
Ates, Al LaRue. This is Just another powderand-noise,<br />
run-of-the-mill western. Same<br />
plot, same ending, even the kids didn't like<br />
it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—J. P.<br />
Hall, Anthony Theatre, Anthony, N. M.-Tex.<br />
Rural and small town patronage.<br />
•<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-rvIAYER<br />
Any Number Can Play (MGM)—Clark<br />
Gable, Alexis Smith, Wendell Corey. This<br />
is adult entertainment and that kills it for<br />
us so far as profits are concerned. Played<br />
Thurs., Fri. Weather: Cold and rain.—Harland<br />
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
Small town patronage. • • •<br />
Any Number Can Play (MGM)—Clark<br />
Gable, Alexis Smith, Wendell Corey. The<br />
"glamor boy" is fast becoming our number<br />
one problem boy. Our small crowd (due to<br />
the blizzard) agreed this was one of his best<br />
pictures in some time. Business was 50 per<br />
cent of normal and top rental, so no good<br />
for us here. Played Sun., Mon.—Ken Christianson.<br />
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D.<br />
Small town patronage. • *<br />
Doctor and the Girl, The (MGM)—Glenn<br />
Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven. By<br />
golly, a few did come! Frankly, I didn't expect<br />
too much, but my main competition<br />
failed to play this one, so I fared better than<br />
I would have normally. Doubled with "House<br />
Across the Street" (WB) and all in all, I<br />
believe the patrons who came enjoyed the<br />
latter more than "The Doctor." Personally,<br />
I was bored watching the doctor perform far<br />
too many operations. Normally, this just<br />
isn't the type of entertainment my patrons<br />
desire—hence the reason for the 82 per cent<br />
business figure. Played Sat. (preview), Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Rainy and cool.—Jim Dunbar,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent<br />
downtown run patronage. • • *<br />
Doctor and the Girl, The (MGM)—Glenn<br />
Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven. This<br />
is a good show. It Is a swell story and swell<br />
entertainment for anyone. An exhibitor can<br />
be proud to play this type of picture. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Snow.—K. A. Spears,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Winlock. Wash. Rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
Homecoming (MGM) — Clark Gable, Lana<br />
Turner, Anne Baxter. A small town exhibitor<br />
like me who goes back and picks up this oldie<br />
must have holes in his head. It's a good story<br />
with fine acting, but it is strictly big town<br />
'fare. Why can't they give Gable the old heman<br />
roles? This didn't make expenses. Played<br />
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair. — Bob<br />
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural<br />
patronage. • • •<br />
Some of the Best (MGM)—Product documentary<br />
short. This is a nice production of<br />
MGM product for the past 25 years, and future<br />
product for 1949-50. Played Tues., Wed.<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGulde March 4, 1950
Weather: Okay.—D. w. Trisko, Rltz Theatre,<br />
Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. • • •<br />
OStratton Story, The (MGM)—James<br />
Stewart, June Allyson, Prank Morgan. We<br />
are late reporting on this one but If you<br />
failed to show this when it was new, get it.<br />
We ran this during the Christmas week when<br />
business is usually dull, and it gave us our<br />
best week yet. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Pine.—Jim Mote, Friendship Tlieatre, Sterling,<br />
Okla. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
• •<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Great Lover, The (Para)—Bob Hope,<br />
Rhonda Fleming, Roland Young. This is not<br />
as good as "Paleface," but it will please Hope<br />
fans. We doubled this with "Song of Surrender"<br />
to above average business. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—E. W. Clark,<br />
Molalla Theatre, Molalla, Ore. Small town<br />
patronage. • • *<br />
Miss Tatlock's Millions (Para)—Wanda<br />
Hendrix, John Lund, Monty Woolley. John<br />
Lund had a tough part but he put it over<br />
well. It's a funny picture and should register<br />
with your patrons. We'd okay it. Played<br />
Fri., Sat., Sun.—Frank Sabin. Majestic Theatre,<br />
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage.<br />
• * *<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Design for Death (RKO) ^Documentary<br />
featurette revealing Japan's centuries-old<br />
plan of conquest by its ruling classes. This<br />
Is one of the finest films of its kind. Many<br />
made favorable comments. The title and<br />
weather kept them away. This was doubled<br />
with "Hold That Ghost," an A&C reissue.<br />
That way I knew more people than usual<br />
would see it. It was very good. Played Thurs.,<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather: Stormy.-Ken Christianson,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small<br />
town patronage.<br />
* •<br />
Enchantment (RKO)—David Niven, Teresa<br />
Wright, Farley Granger. This, I'd say.<br />
Is just another roll of film. Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Fair.—J. F. Hall, Anthony<br />
Theatre, Anthony, N. M.-Tex. Rural and<br />
small town patronage.<br />
•<br />
WIchabod and Mr. Toad (RKO) — Feature<br />
cartoon with narration by Bing Crosby<br />
and Basil Rathbone. Walt Disney features<br />
are always well received here with a family<br />
program, and this one drew very nicely<br />
with "And Baby Makes Three" (Col). Bing<br />
Crosby drew many, just to hear him sing<br />
a few numbers. The story contents were<br />
sometimes a little too gruesome for the little<br />
folks, but very comical for the adults. For<br />
locations that can play Disney, don't pass<br />
'this one up. Played Sat. (preview). Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Clear and cool.—Jim Dun-<br />
H Moose Club in Town<br />
Play This Short<br />
CITY OF CHILDREN (MOM)—Short<br />
(Passing Parades). Here is a short that<br />
will get you lots of goodwill from any loyal<br />
Moose member—also prestige from the<br />
club as a whole. Play it, by all means,<br />
if you have a Moose club in your town.<br />
—Melvln M. Edel, State Theatre, Centralia.<br />
III. Small town patronage. *<br />
bar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Downtown<br />
subsequent run patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
OPride of the Yankees, The (RKO)—Reissue.<br />
Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe<br />
Ruth. This is a good reissue and we have<br />
no regrets as it was well received. Played<br />
Thurs,, Fri. Weather: Cool.—Harland Rankin,<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilburn, Ont. General patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Roseanna McCoy (RKO)—Farley Granger,<br />
Joan Evans, Charles Bickford. Let's see more<br />
of this Joan Evans. This is a picture like<br />
they used to make. It will please the whole<br />
family—play it. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
Weather: Cold.-^. P. Hall, Anthony Theatre,<br />
Anthony, N. M.-Tex. Rural and small<br />
town patronage.<br />
•<br />
Rustlers (RKO)—Tim Holt, Richard Martin,<br />
Steve Brodie. This Is the first Tim Holt<br />
that didn't do extra business for me. I don't<br />
know why, but receipts on this were below<br />
the average for his pictures. Played Prl.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Fair and warm.—Mrs. Pat<br />
Murphy, Queen Theatre, HoUiday, Tex.<br />
Oil<br />
field patronage. • • •<br />
Stagecoach Kid (RKO)—Tim Holt, Richard<br />
Martin, Jeff Donnell. Sorry, BOXOFFICE,<br />
but I thought this was up to the Tim Holt<br />
Near-Riot Comedies<br />
The Family Choice<br />
AND BABY MAKES THREE<br />
(Col)—<br />
Robert Young, Barbara Hale, Robert Hutton.<br />
This has a good title, cast and plot<br />
and the co-feature made me very happy<br />
on this one. The laughs and comments<br />
were good. The near-riot comedies for<br />
the whole family drew very nicely and<br />
seem to be the most desired entertainment<br />
for my patrons. Doubled with "Ichabod<br />
and Mr. Toad" (RKO) for a figure of H7<br />
per cent. I was glad to have something<br />
for a change to do average business, or<br />
better. Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Clear and cool.—Jim Dunbar,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Downtown<br />
subsequent run patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
standard. It has plenty of comedy and action<br />
to pass away the hour. Business was poor.<br />
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cool.—Ralph<br />
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesvllle, W. Va.<br />
Rural patronage.<br />
• * •<br />
Window, The (RKO)—Barbara Hale, Bobby<br />
DriscoU, Arthur Kennedy. This is one of<br />
the mysteries to end all suspense shows.<br />
The second night our crowd was better than<br />
for the first. Played Tues., Wed. Weather:<br />
Okay.—D. w. Trisko. Ritz Theatre, Jerome,<br />
Ariz. Mining patronage. • • •<br />
Window, The (RKO)—Barbara Hale, Bobby<br />
Driscoll, Arthur Kennedy. This is a very<br />
good picture, if you can drag them in to see<br />
it. Those that came enjoyed it very much.<br />
Doubled with "Trouble Preferred" (20th-Fox),<br />
which is very weak. Played Tues., Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Rain.—E. W. Clark, Molalla<br />
Theatre, Molalla, Ore. Small town patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
REALART<br />
All Baba and the Forty Thieves (Realart)<br />
—Reissue. Maria Montez, Turhan Bey, Andy<br />
Devine. Here is a small town natural. It<br />
has action and a fascinating story plus the<br />
North Pole to Africa<br />
In One Thrill Show<br />
TARZAN TRIUMPHS (RKO)—Johnny<br />
Weissrauller, Frances Gifford, Johnny<br />
Sheffield. This feature, plus "Arctic<br />
Fury," took my patrons from the North<br />
Pole to South Africa in one show of thrills.<br />
The program did average business, despite<br />
the strike here. These make a swell show;<br />
we need more like them. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon. Weather: Good.—Ralph Raspa,<br />
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural<br />
patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
best of Technicolor. Our people praised the<br />
picture and business was very good. It Is<br />
good enough for Sunday or weekend In small<br />
towns. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Fair.—E. A. London, State Theatre, Olivet,<br />
Mich. Small town, rural and college patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Mutiny on the Blackhawk (Realart)—Reissue.<br />
Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, Constance<br />
Moore. Ah! What business these babies did<br />
("Timber" was the co-hit)! The opening day<br />
on these first runs did 225 per cent of normal,<br />
and in runnmg the total four days, did 148<br />
per cent. For action houses, this pair is a<br />
natural. The prints were good and their<br />
photographic age didn't show. All comments<br />
were good and there were many patrons who<br />
stated they hadn't been to a show in over a<br />
year that cetme out to see these good, old<br />
epics. I am just realizing Realart has many<br />
advantages and I intend to use its product.<br />
Played Wed. through Sat. Weather: Cloudy<br />
and cool.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita,<br />
Kas. Etowntown subsequent run patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Pardon My Sarong (Realart)—Reissue. Bud<br />
Abbott, Lou Costello, Virginia Bruce. In my<br />
opinion, this was one of the best of this<br />
series. It has an excellent supporting cast<br />
and lots of sure-fire comedy. In fact, hilarity<br />
of the patrons was clearly audible in the concession.<br />
We did the best Saturday business<br />
we had done in several months. This team<br />
is always a natural in our situation. If your<br />
patrons like Abbott and Costello, don't miss<br />
this one. Weather: Fair.—B. W. Wright and<br />
W. E. McClelland, Wayne Theatre. Whitesburg,<br />
Ky. General patronage. •<br />
REPUBUC<br />
Down Dakota Way (Rep)—Roy Rogers,<br />
Dale Evans, Pat Brady. Roy and Trigger In<br />
a color western, with too few nice songs. This<br />
combination is .si're-fire boxoffice. Played<br />
Tues., Wed.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre,<br />
E^ireka, Mont. Small town patronage. • • •<br />
Down Dakota Way (Rep)—Roy Rogers,<br />
Dale Evans, Pat Brady. This picture is one<br />
of the usual western fanfare attractions.<br />
Played Saturday. Weather: Snow.—Harland<br />
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilburn, Ont. Small<br />
town patronage. • • •<br />
O, My Darling Clementine (Rep)—Reis-<br />
.sue. Roy Acuff, Isabel Randolph, Harry<br />
"Pappy" Cheshire. This is a reissue, but<br />
new or old, Roy Acuff is still tops here.<br />
My folks like corn, comedy and hillbilly<br />
music—and this fills the bill. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Good.—Jim Mote, Friendship<br />
(Continued on page 4)<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide March 4, 1950<br />
/
Exhibitor Has His Say<br />
(Continued from page 3)<br />
Theatre, Sterling, Okla. Small town and<br />
rural patronage.<br />
• •<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX<br />
Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox) — Randolph<br />
Scott, Jane Wyatt, Victor Jory. This is a good<br />
pictiu-e that went over very well here in this<br />
small Canadian town. Played Mon., Tues.,<br />
Wed. Weather: Stormy.—Harland Rankin,<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
Deep Waters (20th-Pox)—Dana Andrews,<br />
Jean Peters, Cesar Romero. The undertow<br />
nearly got me. I just managed to keep my<br />
head above water on this run—no profit.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and<br />
warm.—Mrs. Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre,<br />
Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage. • •<br />
Grapes of Wrath (20th-Fox) — Reissue.<br />
Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine.<br />
Everyone here had heard about this reissue<br />
and wanted to see it. Being an "Okie," I'll<br />
have to admit the writer was a bit confused<br />
in his geography and he overexaggerated, but<br />
we did good midweek business. Played Tues.,<br />
Wed. Weather: Good.—Jim Mote, Friendship<br />
Theatre, Sterling, Okla. Small town and rural<br />
patronage.<br />
• •<br />
Mother Is a Freshman K20th-Fox)—Loretta<br />
Young, Van Johnson, Rudy Vallee. This is a<br />
most entertaining picture packed with genuine<br />
chuckles. Loretta Young is appealing.<br />
Van Johnson does very well indeed, but why<br />
Fox insisted on percentage is beyond me.<br />
It's not percentage caUber.—Frank Sabin,<br />
Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town<br />
patronage. • • »<br />
Africa Screams (UA) — Bud Abbott, Lou<br />
Costello, Clyde Beatty. Good old Abbott and<br />
Costello. We love them—and you know why!<br />
Played Hon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—<br />
Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury,<br />
Ont. General patronage. • • *<br />
Baby Bears Steal Show<br />
In This 'Sleeper'<br />
ARCTIC FURY (RKO)—Del<br />
Cambre,<br />
Eve Miller, Gloria Petroff. This can<br />
easily prove to be a sleeper. It's an unusual<br />
show filled with more thrills than<br />
a serial. Doubled this to average business,<br />
but the llxl4s are poor. The baby bears<br />
steal the show. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Good.—Ralph Raspa, State<br />
Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage.<br />
• » •<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
Abbott and CosteUo Meet the KUler (U-p<br />
Boris Karloff, Bud Abbott, Lou CosteUo. This<br />
is not as good as "Frankenstein." Even U-I<br />
knew it as there were no percentage terms<br />
on this one. Business was normal, so we<br />
can't complain. When you do normal business<br />
in Dakota in February, that is something!<br />
It was not quite silly enough, were the comments.<br />
Played Thvu-s., Pri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Below zero.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre<br />
Washburn, N. D. Small town patronage. * •<br />
Blue Lagoon, The (U-I) —Jean Simmons,<br />
Susan Stranks, Donald Houston. Played the<br />
middle of the week to a puzzled, small audience.<br />
In my estimation, this is a jerky English<br />
production, and while the color is good,<br />
the direction was lousy.<br />
When time passes so<br />
fast in the story that a newly bom child is<br />
shown in one scene, and in the next, the child<br />
appears to be two years old, we get old fast.<br />
No wonder the teen-agers laughed, which<br />
could have been boos! Weather: Mild.—Paul<br />
D. RatUff, Daytona Theatre, Dayton, Ore.<br />
Small town and rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
Gal Who Took the West, The (U-D—<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo, Scott Brady, Charles Coburn.<br />
You can assure your patrons that<br />
they've never seen a western like this one—<br />
whether or not they'll like it is another question.<br />
The trailer was good, the color beau-<br />
Business Above Average<br />
In Zero Weather<br />
LOST BOUNDARIES (FC) —Beatrice<br />
Pearson, Mel Ferrer, Richard Hylton. This<br />
one deserved better playing time than it<br />
had. An exhibitor need not hesitate to<br />
run this. Business was above average<br />
here, with zero weather. Played Tnes.,<br />
Wed. Weather: Cold and snow.—K. A.<br />
Spears, Roxy Theatre, Winlock, Wash.<br />
Rural patronage. *<br />
Pinky (20th-Pox)—Jeanne Crain, Ethel<br />
Barrymore, Ethel Waters. Being In the topallocation<br />
class, we played this Sunday<br />
through Tuesday to an average gross. One<br />
hundred one minutes is quite a spell to sit<br />
and wonder what is coming next, and not be<br />
tiful,<br />
given a chance<br />
business<br />
to chuckle.<br />
below average,<br />
Tense,<br />
and comments<br />
yes, but<br />
drama divided.<br />
could give way<br />
Played Sun.,<br />
to a few<br />
Mon. Weather:<br />
touches<br />
Good.—<br />
of<br />
comedy. "This<br />
Ralph<br />
is not<br />
Raspa,<br />
as<br />
State<br />
good<br />
Theatre, Rivesville,<br />
as 'Lost Boundaries,'<br />
" was the<br />
W.<br />
Va.<br />
comment.<br />
Rural patronage. • • •<br />
Having played<br />
two of these racial films, it is enough for Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (U-D—Donald<br />
this house. Weather: Mild.—Paul D. Ratliff, O'Connor, Charles Cobum, Gloria DeHaven.<br />
Daytona Theatre, Dayton, Ore. Small town Let's have another one with Donald O'Connor<br />
in it. This is a film that should please<br />
and rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
the whole caboodle. Play it, fellows. It is<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
good. The direction was beautifully handled.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Snow and<br />
rain.—James P. Hall, Anthony Theatre, An-<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Always Leave Them Laughing (WB)—Milton<br />
Berle, Ruth Roman, Virginia Mayo. Hollywood<br />
has been needing a shot of adrenaline<br />
for a long time and I think this is it. It is<br />
one swell picture—not a dull moment, and<br />
plenty of laughs. The Berle boy is really<br />
clever. Our competitor was plashing "Guilty<br />
of Treason," so we didn't do so well at the<br />
boxoffice, but it was certainly no fault of<br />
the picture. I hope Warners will give us some<br />
more of these. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Cold.—Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, Mc-<br />
Arthur, Ohio. Small town patronage. * • *<br />
Girl From Jones Beach, The (WB)—Ronald<br />
Reagan, Virginia Mayo, Eddie Bracken. Tliis<br />
picture has a very weak story and much of<br />
The Men Liked This One<br />
And Brought the Women<br />
TUNA CLIPPER (Mono)—Roddy Mc-<br />
Dowall, Roland Winters, Elena Verdugo.<br />
This is an entertaining little picture that<br />
did good business for us and drew lots of<br />
good comments. The men especially liked<br />
this—and they brought the women along.<br />
Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—<br />
Jim Mote, Friendship Theatre, Sterling,<br />
Okla. Small town and rural patronage. *<br />
the comedy is also weak. We lost heavily and<br />
cannot recommend the picture for the average<br />
small town. Played Tues., Wed. Weather:<br />
Fair.—E. A. London, State Theatre, Olivet,<br />
Mich. Small town, rural and college patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
House Across the Street (WB) — Wayne<br />
Morris, Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett. They<br />
made a sweet little mystery here, employing<br />
above average stars. They liked the show, but<br />
there just weren't enough "theys" to make an<br />
average gross. Played Pri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Cool.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville,<br />
W. Va. Rural patronage. • • •<br />
It's a Great Feeling (WB)—^Dennis Morgan,<br />
Jack Carson, Doris Daly. We were disappointed<br />
in this picture and so were many<br />
of our customers. The story is weak and business<br />
was not good. We should have played<br />
the picture midweek at very low film rental.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—E. A.<br />
London, State Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small<br />
town, rural and college patronage. • • •<br />
Lady Takes a Sailor, The (WB)—Jane Wyman,<br />
Dennis Morgan, Eve Arden. This is<br />
not a BIG picture, but it contains a lot of<br />
good, wholesome entertainment—and that is<br />
what the customers hke and that is why they<br />
attend shows. Played Sun. through Tues.<br />
Weather: Pair.—M. W. Mattecheck, Mack<br />
Theatre, McMinnville, Ore. City and rural<br />
patronage. * • •<br />
QLook for the Silver Lining (WB)—June<br />
Haver, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae. For<br />
musical lovers, this one will definitely please.<br />
Even before I ran this one I heard very favorable<br />
comments and again during the engagement<br />
I only heard the best comments.<br />
It has a fine and wonderful story. Technicolor,<br />
and a terrific cast. One of the best<br />
musicals I have seen for ages. Very few have<br />
a good story interwoven with the music for<br />
an excellent piece of entertainment. Doubled<br />
with a nice little mystery, "Skyliner" (LP\<br />
thony, N. M.-Tex. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
•<br />
Business was 90 per cent. Played Tues., Wed.<br />
Weather: Cloudy and cool.-^im Dunbar,<br />
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent<br />
downtown run patronage.<br />
• • •<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
My Man Godfrey (Realart) — Reissue.<br />
Carole Lombard, WilUam Powell. I received<br />
very nice comments on this one with "Magnificent<br />
Brute," and personally I enjoyed<br />
every minute of it. It is grand comedy with<br />
a fine cast. This entertainment hasn't been<br />
dupUcated by Hollywood for years. Maybe<br />
this brand of comedy is shghtly slapstick but<br />
it still sells tickets and brings terrific lauglis.<br />
First runs like this would sure help get people<br />
back into the place. Played Sat. (preview).<br />
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cloudy and cold.<br />
—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas.<br />
Downtown subsequent run patronage. * • •<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide March 4, 1950
Alphabetieal Picture Guids ladex aad<br />
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
Hey<br />
B Aliandonei) (79) U-l 10<br />
a Abbott & Costello Meet the Kilfer<br />
(84) U-l 8 13-49<br />
(7 Act of Violence (82) MGM 12 25-Att<br />
26-49<br />
IJAdam and Evalyn (93) U-l 11<br />
18 Adam's Rib O02) MGM 11<br />
B Adventure in Baltimore (S9) RKO.. 3- 26-49<br />
12 Affairs of a Rooue, Tlie (95) Col.... 2- 19-49<br />
» Africa Screams (75) UA 5- 7-49<br />
12 Against the Wind (95) EL 6 4-49<br />
S5 Air Hostess (61) Col 7 23-49<br />
K Alias Nick Seal (93) Para 1. 22-49<br />
JS Alias the Chamo (60) Rep 10- 29-49<br />
2-49<br />
Alimony (72) EL 7-<br />
MAII Over the Town (88) U-l 6 11-49<br />
!7AII the King's Men (110) Col 11- 5-49<br />
M Always Leave Them Lauglnng<br />
26-49<br />
(116) WB II'<br />
n Amazing Mr. Beecham, The (85) EL 1' 14-50<br />
28-49<br />
40 Amazon Quest (70) FC 5<br />
24-49<br />
01 Ambush (90) MGM 12<br />
12-49<br />
90 And Baby Mal(es Three (84) C0I...U'<br />
Angels in Disguise (63) Mono<br />
54 Anna Lucasta (86) Col 7- 16-49<br />
42 Any Number Can Play (102) MGM.. 6- 4-49<br />
B Apache Chief (60) LP 10- 22-49<br />
46 Arctic Fury (61) RKO 6- 18-49<br />
71 Arctic Manhunt (69) U-l 9- 17-49<br />
97 Arson, Inc. (60) LP 5- 21-49<br />
20 Astonished Heart. The (92) U-l 2- 25-50<br />
Backfire (92) WB..; 1-21-50<br />
Bad Boy (87) Mono 1-22-49<br />
Baudad (90) U-l 12-3-49<br />
of Bandit King Texas (60) Rep 10- 8-49<br />
of El Bandits Dorado (56) Col 10-22-49<br />
Barbary Pirate 1:65) Col 9-17-49<br />
Barkleys of Broadway, The (110)<br />
MGM 4-16-49<br />
Baron of Arizona, Tli« (97) LP 2-1S-50<br />
Battleground (118) MGM 10- 8-49<br />
Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend,<br />
The (77) 20-Fox 5-28-49<br />
Bells of Coronado (67) Rep 1-21-50<br />
Belle of Old Mexico (70) Rep 2- 4-50<br />
Beyond the Forest (96) WB 10-22-49<br />
Big Cat, The (75) EL 5- 7-49<br />
Big Jacli (85) MGM 4- 9-49<br />
Big Sombrero. The (87) Col 4-16-49<br />
Big Steal, The (71) RKO 6-18-49<br />
Big Wheel, The (92) UA 11-12-49<br />
Black Book. The (formerly Reign<br />
of Terror) (89) EL 5-21-49<br />
Black Hand (92) MGM 1-21-50<br />
Black Magic (105) UA 8-27-49<br />
Black Midnight (66) Mono<br />
Black Shadows (62) EL 10-8-49<br />
Blanche Fury (93) EL 9-18-48<br />
Blazing Trail, The (56) Col 8-13-49<br />
Blind Goddess. The (88) U-l 7- 9-49<br />
Blonde Bandit (60) Rep 1-28-50<br />
Blondie Hits the Jackpot (66) Col.. .10-15-49<br />
Blondie's Big Deal (66) Col 3-26-49<br />
Blondie's Hero (67) Col<br />
Blue Grass of Kentucky (70) Meno... 1-28-50<br />
Blue Laooon. The (105) U-l 8-6-49<br />
Bodyhold (65) Col 2-11-50<br />
Bomba on Panther Island (76) Mono. 1-14-50<br />
Bomba, the Jungle Boy (71) Mono... 3- 5-49<br />
Border Incident (95) MGM g-27-49<br />
Borderline (88) U-l 1-21-50<br />
Boston Blackie's Chinese Vinturt<br />
(59) Col 3-25-49<br />
Bribe, The (98) MGM 2-12-49<br />
Bride for Sale (87) RKO 10-29-49<br />
A Bride of Vengeance (92) Para... 4- 2-49<br />
Brimstone (90) Rep 8-20-49<br />
Broken Journey (89) EL 6-11-49<br />
Brothers in the Saddle (60) RKO.. 3- 5-49<br />
Buccaneer's Girl (77) U-l 3-4-50<br />
03 ZK > iZ<br />
15-49 + + + ±<br />
+ + -t-<br />
+ + ±<br />
+ ±<br />
+ H<br />
:t -I- -f<br />
-f<br />
±<br />
-f<br />
+<br />
-(-<br />
-<br />
-I- ff ++<br />
-I-<br />
-I-<br />
W + H<br />
+<br />
-(- -H<br />
±<br />
+<br />
± —<br />
H + ±<br />
-(- ± ±<br />
•H- H ±<br />
+ -f ±<br />
+ -I-<br />
+ -H-<br />
H H<br />
-<br />
H-<br />
++ H<br />
- +<br />
+ +<br />
± ± ± ±<br />
-f<br />
+<br />
±<br />
-f<br />
±<br />
+<br />
-t-<br />
±<br />
±<br />
+<br />
±<br />
+<br />
±<br />
+<br />
±<br />
± 6+3-<br />
± &f4-<br />
± 7-1-2—<br />
4+3-<br />
H 10+<br />
+ 8+2-<br />
3+4-<br />
- 6+1-<br />
4+3-<br />
± 6+6—<br />
± 10+2-<br />
± 5+3-<br />
± 5+7-<br />
±. 6+5—<br />
14 13+<br />
10+1-<br />
4+2-<br />
4+5-<br />
8+2-<br />
6+5-<br />
2+3-<br />
9+3-<br />
8+1-<br />
3+3-<br />
6+3-<br />
5+6-<br />
5+3-<br />
8+3-<br />
+ ± 8+3-<br />
H + 9+1-<br />
± ± 7+6-<br />
+ It 5+2-<br />
+ 2+1-<br />
± ± 4+€-<br />
++ ++ 13+<br />
4+2-<br />
H H 14+<br />
5+4-<br />
6+2-<br />
4f5-<br />
Tt*-<br />
7+3-<br />
S+«-<br />
5i-2-<br />
7+2-<br />
»+2-<br />
frl J-<br />
9+<br />
9+3-<br />
5+5-<br />
3+3-<br />
5+3-<br />
5+4-<br />
6+5-<br />
6+6-<br />
4+5-<br />
5+4-<br />
3+1-<br />
7+<br />
6+<br />
1+<br />
4+1-<br />
7+3-<br />
8+1-<br />
6+2-<br />
rt. ± W-5-<br />
± ± 7+6-<br />
± ± 7+3-<br />
± + 7+5-<br />
i: 7+^<br />
* ± 7+S-<br />
+ 5+4-<br />
± 2+1-<br />
c<br />
1044 Calamity Jane and Sam Bass<br />
(85) U-l 6-11-49<br />
013 Canadian Pacific (97) 20-Fox 2-26-49<br />
010 Canterbury Tale. A (93) Et 2-12-49<br />
120C,iptain Carey, U.S.A. (83) Para... 2-25-50<br />
088 Captain China (97) Para 11-5-49<br />
Caravan (..) U-l<br />
012 Caught (88) MGM 2-19-49<br />
113 Chain Lighlnino (94) WB 2-4-50<br />
084 Challenge to Lassie (76) MGM. .. .10-29-49<br />
116 Champagne for Caesar (99) UA 2-11-50<br />
019 Champion (99) UA 3-19-49<br />
067 Chicago Deadline (87) Para. 9-3-49<br />
996 Chicken Every Sunday (94) 20Fox. .12-18-48<br />
095 Chinatown at Midnight (67) Col.. .12-17-49<br />
079 Christopher Columbus (104) U-|... 10-15-49<br />
102 Cinderella (75) RKO 12-24-49<br />
015 City Across the River (91) U-l 3- 5-49<br />
012 Clay Pigeon. The (63) RKO 2-19-49<br />
032 C-Man (75) FC 4-30-49<br />
038 Colorado Territory (94) WB 5-21-49<br />
047 Come to the Stable (94) 20-Fox. . . 6-25-49<br />
997 Command Decision (HI)' MGM 12-25-48<br />
.013 Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's<br />
Court, A (107) Para 2-26-49<br />
116 Conspirator (87) MGM 2-11-50<br />
943 Corridor of Mirrors (96) U-l 6-19-49<br />
,<br />
014 CoverUo (83) UA 2-26-49<br />
099 Cowboy and the Indians (70) Col. .12-17-49<br />
109 Cowboy and tlie Prizefighter (59) EL 1-21-50<br />
043 Crime Doctor's Diary (61) Col 6-U-49<br />
OOSCriss Cross (87) U-l 1-22-49<br />
0i5 Crooked Way. The (90) UA 5-14-49<br />
118 Cry Murder (63) FC 2-18-50<br />
D<br />
111 Dakota Lit (84) 20-Fo> 1-28-50<br />
Oalton Gang, The (58) LP<br />
089 Dancing in the Dark (92) 20-Fox. .U-12-49<br />
081 Dangerous Profession. A (79) RKO .10-22-49<br />
059 D.iring Caballcro, The (61) UA 8- 6-49<br />
000 Dark Past (75) Col 1- 1-49<br />
020 Daughter of the Jungle (69) Rep... 3-19-49<br />
023-A Daughter of the West (77) FC. 4- 2-49<br />
U08-0avy Crockett, Indian Scout (71) UA 1-14-50<br />
057 Daybreak (81) U-l 7-30-49<br />
087 Deadly Is the Female (37) UA 11- 5-49<br />
090 Dear Wife (88) Para. 11-12-49<br />
030 Death Valley Gunflghter (60) Rep... 4-23-49<br />
079 Deputy Marshal (72) LP 10-15-49<br />
029 Desert Vigilante (56) Col 4-23-49<br />
069 Devil's Henchmen. The (69) Col 9-10-49<br />
104 D.O.A. (83) UA 12-31-49<br />
070 Doctor and the GirL The (98) MGM 9-10-49<br />
007 Don't Take It to Heart (90) EL.. 1-29-49<br />
043 Ooollni of Oklahoma, The (90) Col. 6-U-49<br />
074 Down Dakota Way (67) Rep 9-24-49<br />
073 Down Memory Lane (72) EL 9-24-49<br />
012 Down to the Sea in Shin (120)<br />
20-Fox 2-19-49<br />
024-A Duke of Chicago (59) Rep 4- 2-49<br />
E<br />
115 Eagle and the Hawk. The (103) 2-11-50<br />
Para.<br />
101 East Side, West Side (108) MGM .<br />
.12-24-49<br />
062 Easy Living (77) RKO 8-13-49<br />
017 Easy Money (94) EL 3-12-49<br />
031 Edwwd. My Son (112) MGM 4-30-49<br />
018 El Paso (103) Para 3-12-49<br />
993 Enchantment (192) RKO 12-11-48<br />
068Ev«rybody Does It (98) 20-F« 9-3-49<br />
r<br />
080 Fallen Idd, The (94) SRO 10-15-49<br />
995 Family Hon«ymoon (90) U-l 12-18-48<br />
026 Fan. Tin (79) 20-Fox 4- 9-49<br />
122 Father Is a Bachelor (85) Col 3- 4-50<br />
064 Father Was a Fullback (84) 20-Fox 8-20-49<br />
121 Kid From Tex.ns. The (78) Ul 3- 4-50<br />
056 Fighting Fools (69) Mono 7-23-49<br />
071 Fighting Kentuckian, Tlie (100) Rep. 9-17-48<br />
079 Fighting Man of the Plains (94)<br />
2OF0X<br />
lB-lS-49<br />
1077 Fighting Redhead, Tlie (60) EL 10- 8-49<br />
1
A<br />
H Very Good; + Good; - Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary if is rated as 2 pluses. = as 2 minuses.<br />
I<br />
I<br />
1078 Frame of Yoirth (60) Rep. 10- 8-49 —<br />
1053 Flaminj Fury (60) Rep 7-16-49 +<br />
4-9-49 +<br />
—<br />
1025 Flaminoo<br />
1006 Flaxy<br />
Road<br />
Martin<br />
(94)<br />
(86)<br />
WB<br />
WB 1-22-49<br />
1109Flyiru Saucer, The (69) 1-21-50 FC —<br />
1051 Follow Me Quietly (60) RKO 7- 9-49 +<br />
1034 Forbidden Street, The (91) 20-Fox.. 5- 7-49 +<br />
ol 999 Force Evil (79) MGM 1-1-49 ±<br />
1052 Forjotten Women (64) Mono 7- 9-49 ±<br />
1048 Fountainhead. The (113) WB 6-25-49 +<br />
1097 Francis (91) Ul 12-10-49 +<br />
1090 Free for All (83) U-l 11-12-49 +<br />
1038 Frontier Investigator (60) Rtp 5-21-49 +<br />
G<br />
1074 Gal Who Took the West, The (84) U-l 9-24-49 +<br />
1040 Gay Amino (62) U<br />
5-28-49 ±<br />
1112 Gay Lady. The (96) EL 1-28-50 ±<br />
1047 Girl From Jones Beach (78) WB 6-25-49 +<br />
1060 Girl in the Painting. The (90) U-l.. 8- 6-49 ±<br />
Girls' 1106 School (62) Col 1- 7-50 ±<br />
1105 Glass Mountain, The (97) EL 1- 7-50<br />
1081 Co!den Madonna, The (88) Mono. . .10-22-49<br />
+<br />
±<br />
1088 Golden Stallion. The (67) Rep 11-5-49 +<br />
1068 Grand Canyon (78) LP 9- 3-49 +<br />
1056 Great Oan Patch. The (94) UA 7-23-49 ++<br />
1032 Great Catsby. The (91) Para 4-30-49<br />
1072 Great Lover, The (80) Para. 9-17-49<br />
+<br />
±<br />
1105 Great Rupert, The (88) EL 1- 7-50 +<br />
1050 Great Sinner. The (110) MGM 7-2-49 +t<br />
RKO 1017 Green<br />
1118 Guilty<br />
Promise,<br />
Bystander<br />
The (94)<br />
(92) FC<br />
3-12-49<br />
2-18-50<br />
-f<br />
+<br />
1105 Guilty of Treason (85) EL 1-7-50 +<br />
1119 Gunmen of Abilene (60) Rep 2-25-50 ±<br />
H<br />
950 Hamlet (155) U-l 7-10-48 ++<br />
1096 H«ty Heart, The (99) WB 12-3-49 -f<br />
1072 Heiress, The (115) Para. 9-17-49 ++<br />
1043 HelHire (90) Rep 6-11-49 -ft<br />
1007 Henry, the Rainmaker (64) Mono... 1-29-49 —<br />
(77) U-l 1045 Her Man Gilbcy 619-49 ±<br />
1112 Hidden Room, The (98) EL 1-28-50<br />
1025 Hideout (61) Rep 4-9-49<br />
+<br />
±<br />
Hold That Baby (64) Mono<br />
1091 Holiday Affair (87) RKO<br />
1074 Holiday in Havana (73) Col<br />
U-19-49<br />
9-24-49<br />
-f<br />
±<br />
U03 Hollywood Varieties (60) LP 12-31-49<br />
1034 Home in San Antone (62) Col 5- 7-49<br />
+<br />
±<br />
1031 Home of the Brave (86) UA 4-30-49 +<br />
1018 Homicide (77) WB 3-12-49 ±<br />
1069 Horsemen of the Sierras (56) Col... 9-10-49 ±.<br />
1063 Hou>e Across the Street, The (69) WB 8-20-49 ±<br />
1046 House of Stranoers (101) 20-Fox 6-19-49 +f<br />
I<br />
1067 Ichabod and Mr. Toad (68) RKO... 9- 3-49 #<br />
1004 I Cheated the Uw (71) 20-Fox 1-15-49 ±<br />
1009 1 Shot Jesie James (81) LP 2-12-49 +<br />
1061 I Was a Mala War Bride (105) 20-Fox 8-13-49 -|-<br />
1016 Illegal Entry (84) U-l 6-18-49 ±<br />
1021 Imgacl (111) UA 3-26-49 +<br />
1043 In the Good Old Summtrtime<br />
(102) MGM 6-25-49 -f-<br />
1092 Inspector General. The (102) WB.. 11-19-49 +<br />
1080 Intruder in the Dust (57) MGM 10-15-49 ±<br />
1017 It Always Rains on Sunday (88) EL 3-12-49 ±<br />
1036 II Hanoens Every Spring (89) 20-Fox 5-14-49 -|-<br />
1058 Its a Great Feeling (85) WB 7-30-49 +f<br />
J<br />
1067Jiggs and Maggie In Jukpot Jitters<br />
(67) Mono 9- 3-49 -|-<br />
1019 Jigsaw (72) UA 3-19-49 ±<br />
982 Joan of Arc (145) RKO 10-30-48 +f<br />
1014 Jm Palooka in the Big Fight<br />
(6«) Mono 2-26-49 +<br />
Jot Ptiookj In tilt CauntcriHinck (71)<br />
(Mono)<br />
1114 Jot Palocki Meets Humihrty<br />
(65) Mono 2- 4-50 ±<br />
XOOeJohn Loves Mary (96) WB 1-29-49 4+<br />
1047 Johnny Allegro (81) Col 6-25-49 -f<br />
1093 Johnny Holiday (92) UA 11-26-49 -|-<br />
105S Johnny Stool Pigeon (75) U-l 7-23-49 +<br />
1064Jolsan Sings Again (95)<br />
1035 Judge Steps Out. The (91)<br />
Col<br />
RKO<br />
8-20-49<br />
5-14-49<br />
ff<br />
i<br />
Just a Big Simple Girl (..) UA<br />
K<br />
1049 Kazan (65) Col 7- 2-49 -|-<br />
1114 Key to the City (101) MGM 2- 4-50<br />
1070 Kid From Cleveland. The 9-10-49 (89) Rep.<br />
ff<br />
—<br />
1121 Kid From Texas ,The (78) U-l 3- 4-50 ±<br />
1082 Kiss for Corliss, A (88) UA 10-22-49 -|-<br />
1016 Kiss in the Dark, A (87) WB 3- 5-49 ±<br />
Is hs<br />
zoc I ><br />
+ ±<br />
+ +<br />
± ±<br />
H +<br />
+ ++<br />
± -H-<br />
++ #<br />
H ++<br />
+ +<br />
=t +<br />
4+ ±<br />
-f- +<br />
+ +<br />
+ -f<br />
± +<br />
lilti<br />
+<br />
H- tt<br />
++ +<br />
± #<br />
-I- +<br />
± H<br />
± ++<br />
4+<br />
H ++<br />
H<br />
ff<br />
+ -f<br />
ti<br />
++ -H-<br />
6H-t-<br />
7-f<br />
5+7-<br />
1+4-<br />
7+4-<br />
7+4-<br />
6+4-<br />
6+5-<br />
6+3-<br />
9+<br />
7+3-<br />
6+3-<br />
«+2-<br />
5+5-<br />
2+2-<br />
8+2-<br />
7+2-<br />
3+7-<br />
4+3-<br />
4+3-<br />
7+1-<br />
3+3-<br />
U+3-<br />
»+2-<br />
8+2-<br />
6+1-<br />
fr+4-<br />
8+3-<br />
6+1-<br />
4+3-<br />
4+3-<br />
H 14+<br />
10+<br />
tt 12+1-<br />
± 9+3-<br />
5+3-<br />
± 7+6-<br />
+<br />
+ +t 6+1-<br />
± ± 7+6-<br />
± 4+3-<br />
tt tt 7+<br />
± -f<br />
± 4+4—<br />
3+2-<br />
± 2+2-<br />
ft ++ H +f # H- 13+<br />
±<br />
4+ + ±<br />
± + -<br />
+<br />
H + ±<br />
+ + +<br />
± — —<br />
± + 7+7-<br />
± 3+2-<br />
± ±. 6+7-<br />
H -H- 14+<br />
« H 14+<br />
± 5+6-<br />
+ 7+<br />
+ + 19+1-<br />
+ ± 7-M-<br />
+ 10+2-<br />
± 6+2-<br />
+ 10+1-<br />
± 5+5-<br />
+4 10+<br />
± 8+1-<br />
- 5f2-<br />
+ 6+4-<br />
++ 14+
: 1084<br />
1009<br />
1073<br />
f<br />
tt<br />
Very Good; + Good; ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. In the siimmarY H is rated as 2 pluses. = as 2 minuses.<br />
U07 Pioneer Harsliar (60) Rep 1-14.50 —<br />
1098 Pirates of Capri. The (94) FC lZ-10-49 +<br />
1013 Place of One's Own. A (94) EL 2-26-49 ±<br />
1095 Port of New Yori( (79) EL 12- 3-49 -f<br />
999 Portrait of Jennie (90) EL 1- 1-49 +<br />
1071 Post Office Invastiijator (60) Rep... 9-17-49 +<br />
1085 Prairie, The (65) LP 10-29-49 -<br />
I.|<br />
K 1018 Priludice (5S) IVIPSC 3-12-49 +<br />
ii)<br />
1066 Prince of Foxes (107) 20-Fox 8-27-49 H<br />
1026 Prince of Peace (formerly Tlw Lawton Story)<br />
(111) Hallmarli 4- 9-49 ±<br />
1).^ 1030 Prince of the Plain! (60) Rep 4-23-49 ±<br />
1097 Prison Warden (62) Col 12-10-49<br />
iM 1091 Project X (60) FC U-19-49<br />
+<br />
-<br />
U-1<br />
Q<br />
It* 1023-A Quartet (120) EL 4-2-49 «<br />
Itl , 1121<br />
n<br />
,<br />
Quicl
j<br />
Jennifer<br />
I R—Jan.<br />
1 (90)<br />
H<br />
1<br />
m<br />
I<br />
a<br />
! t<br />
H]<br />
I<br />
1<br />
j<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
-WET"<br />
Ending<br />
Jun<br />
4<br />
Jun<br />
11<br />
Jun<br />
18<br />
Jun<br />
25<br />
Jul<br />
2<br />
Jul<br />
9<br />
Jul<br />
16<br />
Jul<br />
23<br />
Jul<br />
30<br />
Aug<br />
6<br />
Aug<br />
13<br />
Aug<br />
20<br />
Aug<br />
27<br />
Sep<br />
3<br />
Sep<br />
10<br />
Sep<br />
17<br />
Sep<br />
24<br />
Oct<br />
1<br />
Oct<br />
8<br />
Oct<br />
15<br />
Oct<br />
22<br />
Oct<br />
29<br />
Nov<br />
5<br />
g<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
{-!») Musieal 1<br />
Make Believe Ballroom<br />
Jerome Courtland<br />
Riilh Warrlck-F. Lalne<br />
R—May 21—PG-1037<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
(131) Drama 990<br />
DUEL IN THE SUN<br />
(95) Mys-M'drama 922<br />
Sleeping Car to Trieste<br />
Je.'in<br />
Kent-Albert Lleven<br />
[g (61) Mystery 109 (117) Dr 991<br />
CRIME DOCTOR'S DIARY THE PARADINE CASE<br />
W.irni'r Baiter<br />
(72) Drama 931<br />
ALIMONY<br />
lUinne-Lols Maxwell<br />
S.<br />
R—June 11—PG-1043 Martha Vlckers-Jotin Beal<br />
(90) Hist-Dr 149<br />
LUST FOR GOLD<br />
Ida Luiilno-Glenn Ford<br />
Cig YiHing-W. Prince<br />
R—Miy 2S—PG-1039<br />
(81) Drama 148<br />
JOHNNY ALLEGRO<br />
George Raft-.Nlna Foch<br />
George Macready-W. Geer<br />
U—June 25— PG-I047<br />
SB (76) Melodr<br />
The Secret ot St. Ives<br />
Richard Ney-V. Broira<br />
Henrv Danllell<br />
It-July 2—PO-1049<br />
103 1<br />
rg (56) Western 162<br />
THE BLAZING TRAIL<br />
niiirles Starrett-Fred Sears<br />
Smiley Burnette-M. Stapp<br />
R—Aug. 13— PG-1061<br />
"yl (65) Drama 102<br />
KAZAN<br />
Stephen Dunne-Joe Sawyer<br />
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R—.luly 2—PG-1049<br />
S (65) Drama 11<br />
Law of the Barbary Coast<br />
Gloria Henry-S. Dunne<br />
Adele Jergens<br />
R—July 16—PG-1054<br />
(96) Comedy 992<br />
MR. BLANOINGS BUILDS<br />
HIS DREAM HOUSE<br />
(93) Ck)iil-Dr 959<br />
A CANTERBURY TALE<br />
(90) Com-Fantasy 939 H (91) Drama<br />
Don't Take It to Heart NOT WANTED<br />
Richrird Greene-A. Drayton Sally Forrest-K. Brasselle<br />
Patricia Medlna-R. Bird Leo Penn-Dorothy Adams<br />
R—Jan. 29— PG-1007 R—June 25—PG-1048<br />
(91) Drama 924<br />
Perrin and Mr. Traill<br />
Mr.<br />
David Farrar-Greta Gynt<br />
Marjus Gorlng-R. Huntley<br />
R— Dec. 25—PG-997<br />
(96) Melodrama 904<br />
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER<br />
.lack Warner-Jane Hylton<br />
George Cole-Bill Owen<br />
R—Mar. 5—PG-1018<br />
Drama 9i<br />
PORTRAIT OF JENNIE<br />
Jones-J. Cotten<br />
Ethel Barrymore<br />
1—PG-989<br />
RIM OF THE CANYON 186 Congo Jungles<br />
R—Oct. 8—PG-1077<br />
(90) Wesli 147 (62) Documentary 944<br />
BLACK SHADOWS<br />
The Doolins of Oklahoma<br />
Randolph Scott-J. Ireland Filmed in African<br />
(70) We.
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WARNER<br />
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RKO RADIO<br />
ai (91) Com-dr 914<br />
THE JUDGE STEPS OUT<br />
Alifi Sotbem-A. Knux<br />
George TxAttta<br />
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IB** 'n (88) West-Dr 828<br />
ROUGHSHOD<br />
R. SterUng-0. OrakuiK<br />
B—M>7 il—PQ-ie37<br />
Jeff Donnell-Joe Sawyer<br />
B—June 18—PO-1046<br />
K—July 30—PG-1058<br />
O (94) AdT-Fintus Kl a (60) Western<br />
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG SOUTH OF RIO<br />
Terr; Moore-Ben Jotmson<br />
B. Arnutroug-F. UcHugk<br />
B—Ma; 28—PO-1039<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Si (60) Western 883<br />
Outcasts the Trail<br />
of<br />
MoDte Hale<br />
Jeff DooDell<br />
Paul Hurst<br />
S (90) Outd'r-Dr 811<br />
OHELLFIRE<br />
William EUlott-Jlm Dart;<br />
Marie Windsor<br />
B^Iune 11—PO-1043<br />
(80) Western 002 (60) Western 866<br />
THE STAGECOACH KID<br />
nil Bolt-Blcbud M&rtln<br />
51!<br />
THE WYOMING pANDIT<br />
Allan "RiMTti;" Lane<br />
Eddy Waller<br />
Monte Bale-Paul Hurst<br />
B—Aug. 13—PG-10«2<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
(91) Driima 904<br />
THE FORBIDDEN STREET<br />
D. Andreas- M. O'Hara<br />
D. S. Thurndlke-I). Flart<br />
B—May 7—PO-1034<br />
(6«) Drama 008 ai (60) Semldonim 812<br />
FOLLOW mz QUIETLY FLAMING FURY<br />
WUUam Lundlgic-J. Core; Koy Boberts-Darid Wolfe<br />
DvroUiy<br />
»—Jul;<br />
Patrlck-N. Palia<br />
9—PO-1051<br />
Oi'orgc Cooper<br />
R—July 16—PO-1083<br />
O (71) Drama Ml S (87) Drama 830 (94) Muslcal-Com 921<br />
THE BIG STEAL<br />
Robert MltcbuiQ-Jane Ortvr<br />
THE RED MENACE<br />
Itobert Bockwell<br />
©You're My Everythinj<br />
Dan Dalley-Anne Baxter<br />
Wimam Bendli<br />
Hanne Axmao<br />
Anne Revere-8. Robinson<br />
B-WuDe 18—PO-104B R—June 4—PG-1042 It—July 9—PO-1052<br />
00 (64) Comedy 1)05<br />
MAKE MINE LAUGHS<br />
Bay Bnlger-Denols Da;<br />
AniM Shlrley-Joau Dtrta<br />
B—Aug. 13—Pa-1062<br />
BIchard Martin<br />
B— .\ug. 27—Pai«86<br />
a (89) Drama *51<br />
ROSEANNA McCOY<br />
Bannond Mass«;<br />
Cbarles Blckford-F. Oranger<br />
»—Aug. 20—po-ioes<br />
B) (77) Drama MS<br />
EASY LIVING<br />
Victor Mature-Ludlle Ball<br />
Llzabetb Scott-Bonn; Tufta<br />
R— .\u^. 13—PG-1061<br />
8IS4<br />
91 (61) Western 90T (90) Outd-r-Dr 814<br />
MYSTERIOUS DESPERADO<br />
Tim Holt-Marjorle Lord<br />
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©BRIMSTONE<br />
Ruii Csmeron-Adrlan Boot*<br />
Walter Brennan<br />
R— .\u,;, 20—PG-1064<br />
«? (60) Western 887<br />
BANDIT KING OF TEXAS<br />
Allan "Bockj" Lane<br />
Eddy Waller-Jim Nolan<br />
R—Ort. 8—PG-1078<br />
(D (89) Drama 4901<br />
The Kid From Cleveland<br />
G*^irt;e Brenl-Lyiui Bar!<br />
Cleveland<br />
R—Sept.<br />
Indians<br />
in—P(;-l«70<br />
P; (60) Travelog 0*4 5a ie«) Mi-lodrama 815<br />
CJSAVAGE SPLENDOR Post Office Investigator<br />
(67) Outd'r-Mus 843<br />
African<br />
B—July<br />
Traitlog<br />
3t—PQ-IOBT<br />
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©DOWN DAKOTA WAV<br />
Roy Rogers- Dale Evans<br />
H (60) Western 012<br />
MASKED RAIDERS<br />
Tim Uolt-Blcbard MartlB<br />
Marjorle Lord-Gary (*a;<br />
I!—Oct. 1— PO-1076<br />
HI (68) Drama •!* i S (60) Drama<br />
STRANGE BARGAIN FLAME OF YOUTH<br />
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.Msriha Scott-Jetlrey Lynn B^irbra FuUer-D. Nolan<br />
@ (61) Drama 01 liay McDonald-M. Carr<br />
ARCTIC FURY R—aralne<br />
Betty Lynn-Rudy Vallee Franchot Tone<br />
R— .\iig 2«»—P0-l»e4 R_\ov. 12—PG-1089<br />
(99) Drama 69<br />
THE LADY GAMBLES<br />
B. Stan-K. Smith<br />
II—June 25— PG-1048<br />
!T^ (78) Drama 838<br />
Girl From Jones Beach<br />
Vlrgltda Mayo-E. Bracken<br />
Ronald Beagan-Dora Drake<br />
R—June 25—PG-1047<br />
@ (106)<br />
Musical<br />
OOLOOK FOR THE<br />
SILVER LINING<br />
June Barer- Ray Bolger<br />
B—July 2— PO-1049<br />
'7 1641 Comedy Sit<br />
ONE LAST FLING<br />
Alnrts 8mlth-Z. Scott<br />
R—July 9—PQ-lOBl<br />
a (86) Comedy 831<br />
©It's a Great Feeling<br />
Dennis Morgan-DorLo Day<br />
Jack CarsoD-BUI Goodwin<br />
B-July 30—PO-1068<br />
m (114) Com-My> 901<br />
WHITE HEAT<br />
James Cagney-V. Uayo<br />
Edmond O'Brien<br />
R—Aug. 27—PO-1066<br />
(811 Musical T05 Q (69) Drama 903<br />
©Yes, Sir. That's My Baby House Across the Street<br />
Donald fr'CoQoor<br />
Wayne Morris<br />
Cobum-G. DeHavn<br />
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B—Aug. 20—PG-1064<br />
Janls Paige-Bruce<br />
R— .Vig<br />
Bennett<br />
20— PO-1063<br />
(84) West-Drama ^^ (84) Drama 816<br />
706<br />
RED LIGHT<br />
©Gal Who Took the West<br />
Vforme DeCarlo-Myrna Dell<br />
Grofge Baft-Vlrglnia May*<br />
Gene Loekbart-B. MaeLane Hiarla Cobum-Scotl Brad;<br />
R -Aug. 20—PO-lWS R—Sept. 24— PO-10T4<br />
74 (116) War Drama 908<br />
©TASK FORCE<br />
G;iry Cooper-Jane Wyatt<br />
Wayne Morrls-W. Breiuian<br />
R—Sept. 3—PO-loeS<br />
(100) Actlon-Dr 709<br />
SWORD IN THE DESERT<br />
Dana Andrcws-Marta Toreo<br />
Stephen McNally-H. Fmdi<br />
B—Sept. 8—PO-1068<br />
(94) Drama 934 W (80) Western 631 (79) Drama 707 m (117) Drama 9*4<br />
THIEVES* HIGHWAY SATAN'S CRADLE ABANDONED<br />
©UNDER CAPRICORN<br />
Bichard Conle-Jaek Oakle Duncan Renaldo-Ann Ravage Dennis O'Ke^e-M Kambeau Ingrld Bergman-J. Gotten<br />
V Cortese-LM J. Cobb<br />
Fowley Gale Storm-Jeff Ctiandlet Michael WUdlng-C.<br />
R—Sept. lO^PG-1078<br />
Leo CarrUlo-D.<br />
R—Nor. 19—PG-1091 B—Oct. 15—PO-1080<br />
Parker<br />
R—Sept. 17—PG-1071<br />
(98) Comedy 918<br />
EVERYBODY DOES IT<br />
Paul Doutlas-L. Darnell<br />
Celeste Holm-C Cotam<br />
R—grot .3—PO-1068<br />
3) (93) Drama 811<br />
THE BIG WHEEL<br />
Mickey Roooey-M O'Dbea<br />
rbooas MltcfaeU-M. Hatetw<br />
B— Nov 12—P0-1M8<br />
(104) Drama 708 SI (081 Drama 908<br />
©Christopher Columbus<br />
F March-F. L SulUvan<br />
BEYOND THE FOREST<br />
Bette DarlfJn^eph Cotten<br />
David Brian-Ruth Boman<br />
Horence EldrldgeD. Bond<br />
R—Oft 15—PO- 1079 B—Oct. 22—P0-108f<br />
(83) Comedy<br />
FREE FOR ALL<br />
Ann Blyth-Perc; Kilbride<br />
801<br />
M. Basumny-B. CUmmloct<br />
R—Nov 12—PO-lOe*<br />
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BAD MAN OF BIG BEND<br />
Carl 4 W. Shrum<br />
Oct. 0) (48) Drama<br />
JEEP HERDERS<br />
J. DayJ. CarLioo<br />
Jan. 511 (551 Western<br />
BATTLING MARSHAL<br />
Sunset Carson<br />
(HI) Bellg-Dr<br />
©PRINCE OF PEACE<br />
Olngcr Prince-Forest Taylor<br />
R—Apr. 9— PG-1026<br />
(58) Documentary<br />
PREJUDICE<br />
R— ^tar. 12—P(H018<br />
Nov. (94) Drama<br />
THE FALLEN IDOL<br />
Ralph RIchardion-B. Henrey<br />
MIchelo Morgan-Sonla Dresden<br />
R—Oct. 15—Pa-1080<br />
(105) Drama 108<br />
THE THIRD MAN<br />
Joseph Cotten-Valll<br />
Orson Welles-T. Howard<br />
R—Feb. 11—PG-1115<br />
REISSUES<br />
July (66) Melodrama<br />
BLACK DRAGONS<br />
Bela Lugosl<br />
July (66) Melodrama<br />
KID DYNAMITE<br />
Ea.st Side Kldi<br />
July IB (60) Western<br />
Pioneers of the Frontier<br />
Wild BUI Elliott<br />
Aug. (B (61) Western<br />
Hands Across the Rockies<br />
Wild Bill BUIott<br />
Sep. a (66) Thriller<br />
INVISIBLE GHOSTS<br />
Bela Lugosl<br />
Sep. S3 (62) Western<br />
KING OF DODGE CITY<br />
Wild Bill Elliott<br />
Sep. H (84) Comedy<br />
SPOTLIGHT SCANDALS<br />
B. Gllbert-F. Fay<br />
Nov. [D (69) Weitera<br />
Beyond the Sacramento<br />
WUd BUI EUlott<br />
De«. 8S (61) Western<br />
The Son of Davy Crockett<br />
Wild Biu muott<br />
Feb. fis! (CO) Western<br />
PRAIRIE SCHOONERS<br />
Wild Bill Elliott<br />
M:.r. @ (61) Western<br />
THE WILDCAT OF TUCSON<br />
Wild Bill Elllntt<br />
May (T) (CO) Western<br />
ACROSS THE SIERRAS<br />
WUd Bill Elliott<br />
June (13* I Comedy<br />
MR. SMITH GOES TO<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
Jimmy Stewart-Jean Arthur<br />
June (69) Drama<br />
LET US LIVE<br />
Maureen O'Bara-Benry Fooda<br />
June (72) Comedy<br />
KANSAS CITY KITTY<br />
Joan Darlj<br />
July (79) Drama<br />
PENITENTIARY<br />
Walter ConnollyJc.in Parker<br />
July (69) Drama<br />
WOMEN IN PRISON<br />
W. Ciboon-8. Coltoo<br />
July (120) Drama<br />
PENNY SERENADE<br />
Irene Dunne- Cary Grant<br />
July (92) Comedy<br />
HIS GIRL FRIDAY<br />
C^ry Grant- Rosalind Russell<br />
Aug. (110) Musical<br />
©COVER GIRL<br />
RIU Hayworth<br />
Aug. (97) Musical<br />
You Wire Never Lorall*<br />
Rita Hayworth<br />
Nov. (85) Wi»t»m<br />
THE DESPERADOES<br />
Randolph ScotiO. Ford<br />
Nov. (88) Western<br />
RENEGADES<br />
Evelyn Keyes-W. Parker<br />
June (78) Drama Mf<br />
INTERMEZZO<br />
Bergman-Leslie Howard<br />
Inttrld<br />
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Joan FontalDO-L. OUrkf<br />
Sept. (118) Drama OM<br />
THE STORY OF G.I. JOE<br />
Robert Mllcbum-Emie Pyle<br />
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Valentlna<br />
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Charles Starrett-T. Bardette<br />
Smllev Burneite-L. Banalnj<br />
U—Jan 21— PO-1110<br />
(Si) fumedy 2<br />
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Holiert Toung-B. Hale<br />
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R— Noy. 12— PO-1090<br />
\. (il2) Mjstery 160<br />
PRISON WARDEN<br />
VVsnier Baiter-Anna Lee<br />
JanKS Flatlo-Barlao Warde<br />
II— Not. 10—PO-168T<br />
(87) Comedy 226<br />
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Rosalind Russell-Qlg Touni<br />
It, rummlngs-M. McDonald<br />
ll_N„t. 19— Pn-1092<br />
((56) MriB-West 262<br />
FEUDIN' RHYTHM<br />
Eddy Arrwlit-niorla Henry<br />
Kirby Grant-T. Ito<br />
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FRONTIER OUTPOST<br />
Starretl-L. Hall<br />
Smiley Burnette-H. Penny<br />
EAGLE LION<br />
(79) Docum-Drama §08<br />
PORT OF NEW YORK<br />
K. T. Stetens-Seott Brady<br />
Yul Brynner<br />
R—Dec. ?.—Pa-ie9S<br />
(691 Wpsl 966<br />
QCowboy & the Prizeflghtei<br />
.llm Bannon-Marln Sale<br />
Little Brown Jug<br />
R—Jan. 21—PO-1109<br />
(72) Com-Dr 010<br />
PASSPORT TO PIMLICO<br />
B. Warren-8. Halloway<br />
P DupuLs-B. Murray<br />
R— Oct 8— rO-107I<br />
(96) Mus-Com 013<br />
I5THE GAY LADY<br />
tean Kent-Jamee Donald<br />
BUI Owen-Lana Morris<br />
R—Jan. 28—Pa-1112<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
FILM CLASSICS LIPPERT M-G-M MONOGRAM<br />
[T) (94) Drama<br />
THE PIRATES OF CAPRI<br />
Louis Hayward-B. Barnes<br />
Alan Curtl8-M. Rasumny<br />
R—Dec. 10—PO- 1098<br />
(88) Olme Drama 214<br />
Jan MARY RYAN, DETECTIVE<br />
Marsha Hunt-John Ulel<br />
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17—PG-1099<br />
(ill Keslern 185 (81) Drama MO (65) Drama<br />
Jan SONS OF NEW MEXICO NEVER FEAR<br />
THE FLYING SAUCER<br />
Gene Aniry-Gall Davis Sally Forresl-K. Oarrtsoo<br />
BrasseUe Mlkel Conrad-Pat<br />
14 R. Arrastmng-C!bamplon Hugh O'Brlen-Ete Miller<br />
R—Jan. 21—PG-IUO R— Jan. H—PO-n08<br />
Lester Sharpe-D. Pyle<br />
R—Jan, 21—PO-1109<br />
IK (67) .Murder-Mys 216<br />
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Jan<br />
SALT TO THE DEVIL GUILTY BYSTANDER<br />
Chinatown at Midnloht<br />
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Hiird Hatfield- Ray Walker<br />
Zacbary Scott-Faye Emerson<br />
21<br />
Wlllos-Tom Powers<br />
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Mary Boland-J. E Bromberg<br />
It— nee 17—PO-1099 R— Dec 17— PO-llCO R—Feb. 18—PG-1118<br />
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J.isn Davis- Andy Detlne<br />
Jcrgeoe-Joe Bawjer<br />
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Rroderlfk Crawford-J. Dm<br />
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Jnyre Reynolds-Roes Ford<br />
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Randolph Bcott-D. Malone<br />
Forre.1t Tucker-F. Faylen<br />
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Tommy Wonder<br />
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Charles BIckford-P. Kelly<br />
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J Barrymore Jr.<br />
R—Jan. 14—PO-1108<br />
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Wllllnm Holdnn-C. Gray A. E. Matthews-Cecil Parker<br />
Marjorle Fleldlnn-J Carey (70) Wesitem 248<br />
TRAIN R—Jan. 14— PO-1108<br />
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THE GREAT RUPERT<br />
Jimmy Purante-Terry Moore<br />
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BbDYHOLD<br />
Wlllard Parker-L.<br />
THE FIGHTING STALLION<br />
Bill Edwards-Doris Merrick<br />
Hilary Brooke-Allen Jenkins Forrest Taylor-Don Harvey<br />
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NO SAD SONGS FOR ME FORBIDDEN JUNGLE<br />
Margaret SuUavan<br />
Don Hartey-Alyce Louie<br />
Wendell Corey-V. Llndfors Forrest Taylor<br />
3] (63) Mystery-Drama<br />
CRY MURDER<br />
Carole Mathews-H. Smith<br />
Jack Lord-Hope Miller<br />
R—Feb. 18—PG-1118<br />
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Cornel Wilde<br />
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BLONDIE'S HERO<br />
The Golden Gloves Story THE VICIOUS YEARS<br />
Penny 61ngleInn-L. SImms J, Dimn-K. O'Morrlsnn Oar Monre-Sybll Merrlt<br />
Arthur Lake—M. Kent<br />
Tommy Cook-A. Ross<br />
R—Feb. 25— PO-1120<br />
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BOY FROM INDIANA<br />
Jerome Courtland-B. Tyler Lnn l\lerjmsler-Lol9 Rutin<br />
Joseph Callela-R. Roberts Binie Bilrke-Geo. Cleveland<br />
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Vlveca Llndfors<br />
Christopher Kent<br />
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Mary Betb Hugbea<br />
R— Not. 12—PO-1089<br />
Walter Pldgeon-B. Young<br />
R—Oct. 29—Pa-10«4<br />
B) (74) Drama 4821<br />
CALL OF THE FOREST<br />
Robert Lowery-Ken Curtli<br />
M. SherrlU<br />
as (102) Comedy T<br />
UADAM'S RIB<br />
Spencer TraeyK. flepbnrn<br />
Holllday-D. Judy<br />
R—Not.<br />
Wayne<br />
6—P(M088<br />
gl (95) Mye-Drmi 8<br />
TENSION<br />
.Audrey Totter-R. Basekart<br />
Cyd OiarUse-B. SnlHtan<br />
R—Not, 19—PQ-1091<br />
33 (60) Drama 4<br />
1<br />
RED DESERT<br />
5S (76) Com-Dr<br />
OChallenge to Lusli<br />
Don Barry-Toffl Netl Donald Crisp-Lassie<br />
Margia Oeao<br />
Edmund Gwetm-Q. Brooka<br />
R—Dee. 31—PQ-1103 R—Oct. 29—PO-1084<br />
^ (64) Drama 4018<br />
TOUGH ASSIGNMENT<br />
Don Barry-Stete Brodle<br />
Marjorte 8teele-M. Wbaleo<br />
R—Not. 19—PG-1692<br />
^ (60) Musical 4916<br />
HOLLYWOOD VARIETIES<br />
Booster Botshots<br />
Robert Alda<br />
H—Dec. 81—PO-llOS<br />
S (98) Mns-Con U<br />
OON THE TOWN<br />
Prank 8tnatrs-(]ene Kelly<br />
Betty Garrett-Ann<br />
R—Dee.<br />
Miller<br />
19—PG-1998<br />
dj (05) Druu U<br />
MALAYA<br />
Spencer Tracy-J. Stewart<br />
Valentlna Cortesa-J, Hodltt<br />
R—Dec. 10—PG-1698<br />
B (88) Super-Western 13<br />
AMBUSH<br />
Robert Taylor-J. Hodlak<br />
Arlene Dahl-D. Taylor<br />
R— Dec. 24—PO-1101<br />
13 (118) Drama 1<br />
BATTLEGROUND<br />
Van Jotmson-John Hodlak<br />
R. Montaiban-0. Murphy<br />
R—Oct. 8—PO-1078<br />
(69) Drama 491T<br />
RADAR SECRET SERVICE<br />
John Howard-Myma Dell<br />
Adele Jergens-Tom Neal<br />
R^Ian. 28—PO-1112<br />
(97) Western 490<br />
BARON OF ARIZONA<br />
IB)<br />
Vincent Price-Ellen Drew<br />
Beulab Bondl-V. SokolofT<br />
R—Feb. 18—PG-1117<br />
B (<br />
Western Pacific Agent<br />
Kent Taylor-SbeUa Byan<br />
R, bowery<br />
,<br />
, ) Western 4919<br />
gi (87) Drama 9<br />
INTRUDER IN THE DUST<br />
r Jarman Jr.-K. Patterson<br />
Juano Bemandes<br />
H—Oct., 16—PQ-1080<br />
B (107) Drama 14<br />
EAST SIDE. WEST SIDE<br />
Barbara Stanwyck-J. Mason<br />
Van Heflln-Ata Gardner<br />
1--nw 21—Pfi-llOl<br />
m (101) Comedy 18<br />
KEY TO THE CITY<br />
Clark Gable-Loretta Tmum<br />
Marilyn MaTwpIl<br />
R—Feb 4—PO-llH<br />
R—Jan 21—PO-1110<br />
P (.s:) Drama 21<br />
(. ,) Western 4927 1<br />
HOSTILE COUNTRY<br />
James Elllson-R, Hayden<br />
CONSPIRATOR<br />
Robert Taylor-E, Taylor<br />
Puzjj Knlght-R, Hatton R, Flemins-H,<br />
R— Feb<br />
Warrender<br />
11—PG-111B<br />
Mus-Com ( , ) , 1<br />
EVERYBODY'S DANCING<br />
Spade Coeley-Rlcbard Lane<br />
Ginny Jackson<br />
53 (57) Western 4844<br />
RIDERS OF THE DUSK<br />
Wbip Wlkon-Aod; Clyde<br />
§S (64) Comedy 481<br />
MASTERMINDS<br />
Leo Garcey<br />
Huntz Hall-Bowery Boys<br />
m (68) Weetoni 4868<br />
UWLESS CODE<br />
Jimmy Wakel;<br />
an (77) Drama 4807<br />
Bomba on Panther Island<br />
Johnny Sheffleld-L. Baron<br />
Allcne Roberts-II. Lewis<br />
R—Jan. 14—Pa-1107<br />
O (66) Weatem 4846<br />
RANGE LAND<br />
Whip Wilson-Andy Cljde<br />
Reno<br />
Browne<br />
m (82) Mus-Com AA16<br />
There's a Girl in My Hearl<br />
I.ee Bowman-Elyse Rnox<br />
R_Not. 26—PO-1094<br />
B (57) Western 4925<br />
WEST OF VITYOMING<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
Max Terhune<br />
1<br />
3 (70) Drama 4901 I<br />
OStue Grass of Kentucrv<br />
Bill WilUams-R. Morgan I<br />
Jane Nlgh-R. Blcks I<br />
R—Jan. 28—PG-1111<br />
I<br />
gS (57) Western 4046<br />
FENCE RIDERS<br />
Whip Wllson-Andy CTyde<br />
Reno Browne-niley Hill<br />
(S (65) Drama 4911<br />
JOE PALOOKA MEETS<br />
HUMPHREY<br />
Joe Klrkwood-Leon Krrol<br />
R—Feb^4—PO-1114<br />
B (66) Comedy 4913<br />
BLONDE DYNAMITE<br />
Leo Oorcey-Bowerv Roys<br />
Adele Jergens-G. Dell<br />
H (71) Hlst-West 4902<br />
©Younii Daniel Boone<br />
David Bruce-D. O'FIynn<br />
Kristliie<br />
Miller<br />
B (99) Mus,-Com, 19 H (58) Western 4951<br />
©NANCY GOES TO RIO OVER THE BORDER<br />
Jane Powell-Ann Sothem Johrnv Mack Brown<br />
Barry Sulllvan-C, Miranda Gail Davis<br />
R—Feb, 4— PQ-1114<br />
63 (92) Drama 20 H (61) Drama 490T<br />
BLACK HAND<br />
KILLER SHARK<br />
Oene Kelly-J, Carrol Nalsb Roddy McDowall-D, Fowler<br />
Teresa Celll-M, Lawrence<br />
PARAMO U Nil tfi<br />
[lU (87) Drama
I<br />
Arthur<br />
UNIV.-INT'L<br />
WARNER<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
I (87) Comedy «<br />
RIDE FOR SALE<br />
Uudette Colbert<br />
odert Tooni-O. Breot<br />
—Oct. 29—PQ-1083<br />
',-J| (T8) Dr.oii (14<br />
. Dangerous Protistim<br />
n,,<br />
(""leorie Bart-Eli Rslnn<br />
PB.IW •t O'Brlen-Bm fflUlUM<br />
-'" M)ct. 22—PQ-1081<br />
(87) CoBedj<br />
lOLIDAY AFFAIR<br />
uet Leiih-R. MItefeun<br />
TndeU Corey<br />
t—Nor. 19—PQ-l»fl<br />
B (ItS) Drama I6<<br />
THE OUTLAW<br />
laoe Bussell-Jack Beutel<br />
ffilter HustoD-T. UltekeU<br />
g (88) Dram* 181<br />
«Y FOOLISH HEART<br />
luaaa Haynard-D. Andrews<br />
(est Smlth-LoU Whueler<br />
1—Oct 22—P(i-l(i81<br />
5 P<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
El (67) Out(rr-Miu 844<br />
OThi Golden SUIIIon<br />
Ro; ItoteraUale liuu<br />
Pat Bradj-ifoy Willing<br />
B—Not. 8— Pa-1088<br />
a (80) Western 4961<br />
Powder River Rustlers<br />
Allao "Rocky" Lane<br />
Eddy Waller<br />
Robert Bockapll-D.<br />
a (60) Weetem<br />
Patrick<br />
4971<br />
PIONEER INARSHAL<br />
[3 (70) Mus-Com 4906<br />
©BELLE OF OLD MEXICO<br />
E. Rodrlgucz-Ii. Rockwell<br />
D. Patrlck-T. Oall<br />
R—Feb . 4— C-1113<br />
"SJ (67) Outd'r-Mui 4941<br />
(j>Belli o1 Coronado<br />
Ruy Kocers-Dale Irani<br />
Unmt RItkers-Foy WUIlot<br />
an. 21—P0-1H9<br />
R—<br />
J<br />
(109) War Drama 4'90a<br />
SANDS OF IWO JIMA<br />
John Wayne-John Agar<br />
Adele Mara-Forreat Tucker<br />
B— Dee. 24—PQ-1101<br />
9] (97) MysUry 069 B (60) Helodram* 4907<br />
STHE MAN OR THE UNMASKED<br />
EIFFEL TOWER<br />
R. Rockwpll-B. roller<br />
Ckarlea Laughton-P. Tone Raymond Burr-H. Brooke<br />
8—Da«. 24—ro- 1163 R—Feb. 18—PG-1117<br />
H] (60) Western 019<br />
STORM OVER WYOMING<br />
Tim Holt-Richard Martin<br />
.Noreen Nash-B. Underwood<br />
Feb. 18— O-1117<br />
(8lT Drama 070<br />
STROMBOLI<br />
Ingrld Bergman-R. Ce^ana<br />
Mario Vltale-M. Sponio<br />
B—Feb. 25—Pa-1119<br />
P<br />
(B (60) Weatero 4962<br />
GUNMEN OF ABILENE<br />
Allan "Rocky*" Lana<br />
Eddy WaUer-D Hamilton<br />
R—Feb. 2 —Pg-l ll<br />
511 ( . . ) Western<br />
THE ARIZONA COWBOY<br />
Rei Allen-Gordon Jones<br />
@ (91) Outd'r-Mus 4909<br />
OSINGING GUNS<br />
Vaughn Monroe-EHIa Raines<br />
Walter Brennan-Ward Bond<br />
R—Feb.<br />
9<br />
25—P0-U19<br />
g3 (60) Drama 4910<br />
I<br />
T«RNISHEO<br />
Fran2-D. Patrick<br />
Barbra Fuller-J. Lydoo<br />
85(75) Cartoon 094 152 (.) Melodrama<br />
CINDERELLA Federal Agent at Large<br />
Dknpv feature cartoon K. Taslor-Dorolhy Patrick<br />
R— Dec. 24—PG-1102<br />
(72) Drama 017<br />
THE WOMAN ON PIER 13<br />
Laralne Day-Robert Ryan<br />
Jnhn Aaar-Thomas Gomel<br />
R—Sept. 24—PG-1073<br />
@ Western<br />
( .<br />
. )<br />
©Twilight in the Slerrai<br />
Roy Rogers-Dale Evans<br />
g ( . . ) Drama<br />
HOUSE BY THE RIVER<br />
a (60) Western<br />
Code of the Silver Sage<br />
Allen Lane-Eddy Waller<br />
5| (..) Drama<br />
Harbor of Missing Mm<br />
SB Western<br />
( . ) .<br />
The Vanishing Westerner<br />
Monte Hale-Paul Hant<br />
20TH-FOX [UNITED ARTISTS<br />
I<br />
(93) Musical 927<br />
OOh, Vou Beautiful Doll<br />
June UaierMark Stnuu<br />
S. Z. Bakall-C. UrKOXoad<br />
R—Bept. 24—PQ-1074<br />
(102) Drama »S1<br />
PINKY<br />
Jeanne Craln-W. LundUao<br />
B. Barrymore-Etbel Watera<br />
R—Oct. 8—PG-1077<br />
(107) Draaa 919<br />
PRINCE OF FOXES<br />
Tyrone Powar-Or.'oD WaUei<br />
Wanda Beodrlx-M. Bertl<br />
R— Auj. 27—PO-1066<br />
(94) Western- Dr 936<br />
QFightlng Man •( Plaloi<br />
Randolph Bcott-Jaae NUk<br />
BlU Williams-Victor Jory<br />
R—Oct. IS—PO-1679<br />
(92) Mus-Com
'<br />
.<br />
SHORTS CHART<br />
Short subjecte, lisfod by company, in order of release. Running time iollowa<br />
title. First date is national release, second the dale of review in BOXOFFICE.<br />
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFTICE review: ttVery Good.<br />
+ Good. ± Fair. - Poor. = Very Poor, ® Indicates color photography.<br />
Prod.<br />
No.<br />
Columbia<br />
Rel.<br />
Date Rating Rev'd<br />
Title<br />
ASSORTED COMEDIES<br />
2411 Waiting in the Lurch<br />
11-19<br />
(151/2) 9-8 +<br />
1-21<br />
2421 Super Wolf (16) 10-13 H<br />
2422 Wha' Happen! (Iff/j) U-IO +<br />
2412 Let Down Your Aerial<br />
(17) U-17<br />
2423 French Fried Frolic<br />
(I6I/2) 12-8<br />
2413 His Baiting Beauty (18) 1-12<br />
2424 Hold That Monkey ( . ) . • 2-16<br />
.<br />
2414 Dizzy Yardbird (Iff/j).. 3- 9<br />
2415 Marinated Mariner (..).. 3-30<br />
± 2-11<br />
CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY<br />
2651 Cafe Society (11) 11-17<br />
2G52Blue Angel (.) 1-26<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
1608 Two Lazy Crovis (7) 7-13<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
Foxy Pup 2601 The (7) 9-1<br />
2602 Window Shopping (7'/2).10-6<br />
2603 Happy Tots (7) 11-3 +<br />
2604 Hollywood Sweepstakes<br />
12-1<br />
(g)<br />
2605 Poor Elmer (S) 12-29 ±<br />
2606 Ye Oldc Swap Shoppe (S) 1-19 -f<br />
2607 Kangaroo Kid (71/2) 2-2<br />
2608 Tom Thumb's Brother (7) 3-23<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
2431 Three Blonde Mice (16).. 9-29 -f<br />
2432 The Spoolc Speaks (18). 10-20 ff<br />
2433 Love in Gloom (19) ... 12-15<br />
2436 Calling All Curtains (16) 2- 9<br />
COMMUNITY SINGS<br />
1656 No. 6 My Blue Heaven<br />
{91/2) 7. 7<br />
FILM NOVELTIES<br />
1902 America's Heritage of Hospitality<br />
aO'/i) 8-25 -f<br />
2901 Yukon Canada (10) 12-22<br />
JOLLY FROLICS<br />
2501 Ragtime Bear (7) 9-29 4-<br />
2502 Punchy De Leon (eVi)-- 1-12 ±<br />
2503 Spellbound Hound (..).. 3-16<br />
ONE-REEL SPECIAL<br />
1553 No. 3 Candid Microphone<br />
(10) 8-19<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2551 No. 1 Candid Microphone<br />
(9) 10-27<br />
2552 No. 2 Candid Microphone<br />
(11) 12-29<br />
2999 The Sound Man (10) 1-19 ++<br />
2553 Candid Microphone (..).. 2-23<br />
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS<br />
1860 Howdy Podner Ot/j) 7-20<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2851 Spin That Platter (11).. 9-15 ±<br />
2852 Motion Picture Mothers, Inc.<br />
(9) 10-13 -f<br />
2853 Hollywood Rodeo (9'/2)..U-17<br />
2854 D(sc Jockeys U.S.A. (10). 12-15<br />
2855 The Great Showman (10) 1-26<br />
2856 It Was Only Yesterday<br />
(10) 3- 9<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
1408 Feulin' Around (16) 7-7<br />
1407 Hokus Pokus (16) 8-13<br />
-f<br />
±<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2401 Malice in the Palace (16) 9- 1 :t :<br />
2402 Vagabond Loafers (16).. ID- 6 -f<br />
2403 Dunked in the Deep (17) 11- 3<br />
2-J04 Punchy Cowpunchers<br />
2405 Huos and Mugs (16)<br />
1- 5<br />
2-2<br />
-f-<br />
±<br />
(17)<br />
2406 Dopey Dicks (IS'/b) 3-20<br />
THRILLS OF MUSIC<br />
2952 Miguelito Valdes 4 Orch.<br />
(10) 9-22 ±<br />
2953 Ina Ray Hutton and Her<br />
Orch. (9) 1-5 -I-<br />
WORLD OF SPORTS<br />
1810 West Point Track Champions<br />
(9) 8-12 -I- 1<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
(9) . .<br />
2801 Horseshoe Wizardry 9-22 2802 Winter Capers (9) 10-27 +<br />
2803 H'll Drivers (91/2) 11-24<br />
2804 Racing Headliners<br />
(8|/a) 1- 5<br />
•<br />
2805 Kino Archer (..) 2-23<br />
2806 The Rasslin' Match of the<br />
Century (. .) 3.30<br />
SERIALS<br />
1160 Great Adventures of Wild Bill<br />
H kkok 9. 8 ^<br />
15 Chapters (Reissue)<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
2120 The Adventures of<br />
Sir Galahad 12-22<br />
15 Chapters<br />
1-21<br />
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-34 The Cat That Hated People<br />
(7) U-20 H 12-18<br />
W-36 Google Fishing Bear (7). 1-15 -|- 2-5<br />
W-37 Bad Luck Blackie (7) . . 1-22 -H 2-5<br />
W-39 Senor Droopy (8) 4-9 + 5-28<br />
W.41 Meet King Joe (9).... 5-28 ++ 7-9<br />
W-43 The House of Tomorrow<br />
(8) 6-11 -I-<br />
7-9<br />
W-45 Doggone Tired (8) 7-30 + 10-15<br />
W-46 Wags to Riches (7) 8-13 -1-11-5<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
W-132 Little Rural Riding Hood<br />
(6) 9-17 -I- 10- 1<br />
W-135 Out-Foxed (8) U- 5 + 10-29<br />
W-136 Tennis Chumps (7) 12-10 + 12-24<br />
W-137 Counterfeit Cat (7) 12-24 -f 2-11<br />
W-140 Why Play Leap Frog? (7) 2- 4<br />
FITZPATHICK THAVELTALKS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
T-12 Night Life in Chicago (9). 11-27 +<br />
T-13 Scholastic England (8).. 12-18 -f<br />
T-14 Ontario, Land of Lakes<br />
(10) 2-12 -|-<br />
T-15 Calling on Michigan (10) 3- 5 -}-<br />
T-16Playland of Michigan (9) 3-26 +<br />
T-17 Quebec in Summertime (10) 4- 9 -f-<br />
T-18 Roaming Throujh Northern<br />
Ireland (8) 7-9 +|<br />
1349-50 SEASON<br />
T-111 From Liverpool to Stratford<br />
(9) 9-10 -f m<br />
of Old T-112 Glimpses England<br />
(9) 10- 8 10<br />
T-113 In Old Amsterdam (9).. 11-12<br />
T-H4 A Wee Bit of Scotland<br />
-I-<br />
-f 12<br />
2<br />
(10) 12-17 -I-<br />
Land oT Tradition (9) . . . 1-21<br />
T-115<br />
GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-21The Little Goldfish (8). 11-20 -1-<br />
W-22 Fine Feathered Friends<br />
(8) 1-1<br />
W-23 The Blue Danube (7) . . 4- 2 +<br />
W-24 Sufferin' Cats (8) 6-4 ff<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
W-161 Lonesome Mouse (7)... 11-28<br />
MARTIN BLOCK'S MUSICAL<br />
MERRY-GO-ROUND<br />
M-984Les Brown-Virginia O'Brien<br />
(10) 7-17 ±<br />
M -986 Art Lund, Les Brown,<br />
Tex Beneke (10) 8-3 -f ]<br />
M-985 Frankie Carle & Oreh.<br />
(10). 8-28 + 10-9<br />
NEWS OF THE DAY<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
PASSING PARADE<br />
K-72 Annie Was a Wonder (11) 1-29 +f 2-5<br />
K-73 Stuff for Stuff (11) 3-26 -f 4-2<br />
K-74 Mr. Whitney Had a Notion<br />
(11) 5-7 -I- 5-28<br />
K-75 Clues to Adventure (10) 6-11 -I- 7- B<br />
K-76Clty of Children (10)... 8-27<br />
PETE SMTTH SPECIALTIES<br />
S-54 Let's Cogitate (8) 12-25 12-18<br />
5-55 Super Cue Men (9) 1-29 + 2-5<br />
S-56 What Want Next (8) 2-12 U 2-5<br />
I . .<br />
S-57 Scieiitifiquiz (10) 4-2<br />
S-58 Those Good Old 4-lS Days (9)<br />
S-59 Fishing (or Fun (9) 4-23<br />
+<br />
-f-<br />
+<br />
S-60 Football Thrills No. 12<br />
(9) 8-27<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
S-151 Water Trix (9) U- 5<br />
S-152 How Come? (10) 11-19<br />
S-153 We Can Dream, Wef<br />
Can't<br />
(9) 12-3 12-24<br />
Sports Oddities (9) 12-31 + 12-24<br />
S-154<br />
S-155 Pest Control (8) 1-14 4. Z-U<br />
S-156 Crashing the Movies (8) 1-28 -f- 2-4<br />
Prod.<br />
No.<br />
Paramount<br />
Title Rel. Date Rating Re'<br />
CHAMPION<br />
fReissues)<br />
Bears (10).. Z9-1 Busy Little 10- 7 + 12-<br />
29-2 Suddenly Spring (10) 12- 2 1-1<br />
It's ff<br />
Z9-3 Breezy Little Bears (11) 2-3<br />
Z9-4 Cilly Goose (10) 3-10<br />
GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS<br />
9-16<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
RS-5 Best of Bread (10) 4- 8 -f<br />
6 5- R8-6 Fairway Champions (10)<br />
-f<br />
6-10 R8-7 Top Figure Champs (10)<br />
-I-<br />
7- 8 RS-8 Sporting Spheres (10)..<br />
-f<br />
8- 5 R8-9 Official Business (10)<br />
.<br />
-H<br />
R8-10 Running the Keys (10).<br />
-i-<br />
.1949-50 SEASON<br />
Speed (10) 10-21 R9-1 Water -|-<br />
R9-2The Husky Parade (10).. 12- 9<br />
R9-3 Farther Down East (10). 1-20 -H-<br />
R9-5Wild Goose Chase (10).. 2-24<br />
NOVELTOONS<br />
(Color)<br />
P8-7 Little Red School Mouse<br />
+<br />
(7) 4-15<br />
P3-BA Haunting We Will Go<br />
C9) 5-13 PS-9A Mutt in a Rut (8)... 5-27<br />
P8-10 Campus Capers (7) 7-1<br />
+<br />
-f-<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
Leprechaun's Gold (10).. 10-14 P9-1<br />
+<br />
P9-2Song of the Birds (8).. 11-18<br />
P9-3 Und of the Lost Jewels<br />
(10) 1-6 ++<br />
Quack-a-doodle-do 3-3<br />
P9-5 Teacher's Pest (7) 3-31<br />
PACEMAKERS<br />
K8-6 My Silent Love (11).... 4-22 +<br />
KS-7 The Lambertville Story<br />
(10) 5-28 -I-<br />
Prod.<br />
No.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
CLARK
20th Century-Fox<br />
PfOif. No^ Title Rel. Date Ratmo Rev'd<br />
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE<br />
9901 Satisfied Saurians (9) Mar. + 3-12<br />
FEMININE WORLD<br />
9601 Talented Beauties (Vyvyan<br />
Donner) (U) June + 7-23<br />
9602 Fashions of Yesteryear<br />
(Ilka Chase) (8) Nov. + 10-<br />
MARCH OF TIME<br />
Vol. 15, No. 3 Wish You Were Here<br />
(18) Mar. + 3-26<br />
Vol. 15, No. 4 Report on the Atom<br />
(20) Apr. + 4-30<br />
Vol. 15, No. 5 Sweden Looks Ahead<br />
(18) May ++ 5-21<br />
Vol. 15, No. 6 It's in the Groove<br />
-I- (19) June 6-18<br />
Vol. 15, No. 7 Stop— Heavy Traffic!<br />
(18) July<br />
Vol. 15, No. 8 Farming Pays Off<br />
(18) Am.<br />
Vol. 15, No. 9 Policeman's Holiday<br />
(18) SepL H 9-17<br />
Vol. 15, No. 10 The Fight for Bettir<br />
Schools (20) Oct. + 10-8<br />
Vol. 15, No. U MacArthur's Japan<br />
(18) Nov. + 11-19<br />
Vol. 15, No. 12 A Chance to Live<br />
(18) Dec. -H-<br />
1-7<br />
Vol. 16, No. 1 Mid-Century; Half<br />
Way to Where? (17) Feb. + 2-11<br />
MOVIETONE ADVENTURES<br />
9252 ©Quaint Quebec (S) April + 7-2<br />
9253 ©Golden Transvaal (8) May -j- 7-30<br />
9254 ©Maine Sail (8) Aug. + 10-29<br />
9255 ©Realm of the Redwoods<br />
(8) Sept. 10- 8<br />
9201 Ahoy, Davy Jones (11).... Oct + 10- 8<br />
9202 Aboard the Flattop Midway<br />
Nov<br />
(8)<br />
©Jewel Dec 9256 of the Baltic (8) . . -)- 2-4<br />
9203 Midwest Metropolis (U)..Dec.<br />
1950 SERIES<br />
2051 Pattern of Progress (..).. Apr.<br />
MOVIETONE<br />
9802 The Hunter (8)<br />
SPECIALTY<br />
Aug. + U-19<br />
9803 Shadows on the Snow Sept. +| 10-8<br />
(9) . •<br />
MOVIETONE<br />
8101 Charlie Bamet and His Band<br />
MELODIES<br />
(11) July ±10-8<br />
1950 SERIES<br />
7001 Lawrence Welk and His<br />
Champagne Music (9)... Jan. ± 1-14<br />
7002 Red Ingle and His Gang<br />
(9) M». tt 1-7<br />
MOVIETONE NEWS<br />
Twice Weekly)<br />
(Released<br />
SPORTS<br />
9302 Neptune's Playground<br />
(8) April<br />
9303 Beauty and the Blade (9). .May<br />
9304 Future Champs (9) July<br />
1950 SERIES<br />
3001 Skiing Is Believing (9)... Jan. ++ 1-14<br />
3002 From Jib to Topsail (9).. Feb. -f 1-14<br />
3051 ©Frolic in SporU (9) Mar.<br />
TEBRYTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
9504 Sourpuss in Dingbat Land<br />
(7) Mar.<br />
9505 The Talking Magpies in the<br />
Lion Hunt (7) Mar. + 7-23<br />
9506 The Talking Magpies in the<br />
Stowaways (7) Apr. -(- 7-2<br />
9507 Mighty Mouse in a Cold<br />
Romance (7) Apr. ± 7-30<br />
9508 The Kitten Sitter (7) May i 7-30<br />
9521 Hook, Line and Sinker<br />
(7) (reissue) May<br />
9509 The Talking Magpies in<br />
Happy Unding (7) Jun ± 11-19<br />
9522 Catnip Capers (7) (reissue) June<br />
9510 Mighty Mouse in the Catnip<br />
Gang (7) June -f 10- 8<br />
9511 The Talking Magpies in Hula<br />
Hula (7) July -1- 10- 8<br />
9512 The Lyin' Lion (7) July -f 10-29<br />
9513 Mrs. Jones' Rest Farm<br />
(7) Aug. -I- 11-19<br />
9514 Sourpuss In the Covered<br />
Pushcart (7) SepL -)- 10- 8<br />
9515 A Truckload of Trouble<br />
+ (7) Oct 10-15<br />
9516 Mighty Mouse in the Perils<br />
of Pearl Pureheart (7) ... Oct<br />
9517 The Talking Magpies in<br />
Dancing Shoes (7) Nov. + 10-15<br />
9518 Flying Cups and Saucers<br />
(7) Nov. 2-4<br />
-I-<br />
Paint Dee. 4+ Pot Symphony (7) . .<br />
2-4<br />
9519<br />
9520 Mighty Mouse in Stop, Look<br />
and Listen (7) Dec.<br />
1950 SERIES<br />
5001 Comic Book Land (7) Jm. -f- 1-7<br />
5021 Mississippi Swing (7)<br />
(reissue)<br />
Jan.<br />
5002 The Talking Magpies In<br />
H the Fox Hunt (7) Feb. 1-7<br />
5022 What Happens at Night<br />
(7) (reissue) Feb.<br />
5003 Victor the Volunteer In Better<br />
Late Than Never (7) . Mar. + 1-7<br />
5004 Mighty Mouse In Anti-Cats<br />
(7) Mar<br />
B<br />
Universal-Internationcd<br />
Prod. No. Title Bel. Dale Ratnig Rev'd<br />
LANTZ CARTUNES<br />
(Technicolor. Reissues)<br />
4323 Mouse Trappers (7) 1-24<br />
4324 Hams Th.it Couldn't Be<br />
Cured (7) 2-21<br />
4325 The Sciew Driver (7) 3-14<br />
4326 Ace in the Hole (7) 4-4 + 5-28<br />
4327 Goodbye. Mr. Moth (7) . . 5- 2 + 6-18<br />
4328 Jukebox Jamboree (7)... 5-30 -|- 6-18<br />
4329 The Loan Stranger (7).. 6-27 -f- 10-15<br />
4330 Dizzy Acrobat (7) 7-25 + 9-3<br />
4331 Dizzy Kilty (7) 8-22 H 11- 5<br />
4332 Cow Cow Boogie (7) 9-19 -j 11-5<br />
4333 Tlie Screwball (7) 10-17 + 1-14<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5321 A- Haunting We Will Go<br />
(7) 11-7<br />
5322 Kittens-Mittens (7) 12-5<br />
5323 Jolly Little Elves (7) ... 1- 2<br />
5324 Under the Spreading Blacksmith's<br />
Shop (7) 1-30<br />
5325 Barber of Seville (7)... 2-13<br />
5326 Mather Goose on the Loose<br />
3-6 3-4<br />
(7) +1-<br />
MUSICAL WESTERNS<br />
4351 Six Gun Music (25) 1- 6 -f<br />
4352 Cheyenne Cowboy (25) . . 2-10 -\-<br />
4353 West of Uramie (26)... 3-24 +<br />
4354 Prairie Pirates (26) 5- 5 +<br />
4355 Nevada Trail (27) 6-16 -f<br />
4356 Silver Butte (27) 7-28 +<br />
4357 The Girl From Gunsight<br />
(25) 9-15 :t<br />
4358 The Pecos Pistol (26).. 10-27 -f<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5351 Coyote Canyon (26) 11-17 ff<br />
5352 South of Santa Fe (29) . .12-22 ++<br />
5353 The Fargo Phantom (24) 2. 9 -i-<br />
5354 Gold Strike (25) 3-30<br />
NAME BAND MUSICALS<br />
4303 Ted V/eems and Orch. (15) 2- 2 -(- 5-7<br />
4304 Les Brown Band of<br />
Renown (15) 3-2 5-21<br />
4305 Symphony in Swing (15) 3-30 5-28<br />
4306 Ted Fiorito & Orch. (15) 4-27 + 6-18<br />
4307 Del Courtney & Orch.<br />
(15) 6-1<br />
4308 Gene Krupa & Orch. (15) 6-29<br />
-f<br />
+<br />
9-3<br />
9-3<br />
4309 Spade Cooley & Orch. (15) 7-27<br />
4310 Jack Fina & Orch. (15) 8-10<br />
4311 Russ Moroan & Orch. (15) 9-7<br />
-f-<br />
+<br />
10-15<br />
11-5<br />
4312 Skinnay Ennis & Orch.<br />
(15) 9-28 12-24<br />
4313 Rhythm of the Mambo<br />
(15) 10-26<br />
-I-<br />
-f 1-14<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
7- 2<br />
5301 Herman's Herd (IS) 11-2<br />
7-23<br />
10-29<br />
5302 Lionel Hampton & Orch.<br />
(15) 12-7<br />
5303 Freddie Slack & Orch.<br />
(15) 1-4 -f 2-4<br />
5304 Ethel Smith and the Henry<br />
King Orchestra (15) ... 2- 1 3-4<br />
-f<br />
5305 Sweet Serenade (15) 3-1<br />
SING AND BE HAPPY SERIES<br />
43S3 Songs of Romance (9)<br />
• . . 1-24 + 2-12<br />
4384 Clap Your Hands (8) 3-7 + 6-11<br />
4385 Moonlight Melodies (8).. 4-25 + 5 21<br />
4386 Minstrel Mania (9) 6-13 -|- 6-18<br />
4387 Singing Along (8) 8-8 + 9-3<br />
1388 Sailing With a Song (9). 10- 3<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5381 My Favorite Girl (9) 11-7<br />
5382 Songs of the Range (10) . 12-26 ± 2-4<br />
5383 Dream Dust (10) 2-20 + 3-4<br />
SPECIALS<br />
4201 Cheating in Gambling (18) 2- 2 -h 2-12<br />
4205 The Spirit of '49 ( . . )<br />
4202 Four Bears Before the Mast<br />
(18) 8-31 + 12-24<br />
4204 Movies Are Adventure (10) 8-22<br />
1949-50 SERIES<br />
5202 The Tiny Terrors Make Trouble<br />
(17) 1-18 + 2-11<br />
UNIVERSAL NEV/S<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
VARIETY VIEWS<br />
4342 They Went That-Away<br />
(10) 1-10<br />
4343 Just a Little North (10) 2-28<br />
4344 Dynxty of Wonders (10) 4- 4 ± 6-11<br />
4345 Inch by Inch (9) 5-30 -f- 5-21<br />
4346 Singing Is Fun (11) 8-22<br />
4347 Beauty and the Beach<br />
(10) 9-5 H 10-29<br />
4348 You Don't Say! (10) 10- 3 -f 12-24<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5341 Bourrfaries Unlimited<br />
(10) U- 7<br />
, . .<br />
5342 Breaking the Tape (10). 12- 12 -f-<br />
1-30<br />
I-H<br />
5343 Future Skippers (10)<br />
5344 Progress Island (10) 3-13<br />
Prod.<br />
No.<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
5311 The Egg Collector (7).. 7-16<br />
5312 The Mice Will Play (7).. 8- 6<br />
5313 InkI and the Mina Bird<br />
(7) 8-20<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
6301 Tom Thumb in Trouble (7) 9-24<br />
6302 Farm Frolics (7) 10-15<br />
6303 The Hep Cats (7) U-12<br />
6304 Toy Trouble (7) 12-31<br />
6305 My Favorite Duck (7).. 1-28<br />
6306 The Sheepish Wolf (7) . . 3- 4<br />
6307 Double Chaser (7) 3-25<br />
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
5719 Long- Haired Hare (7)... 6-25 ++<br />
5720 Knights Must Fall (7) . . 7-16 +<br />
5721 The Grey-Hounded Hare<br />
(7) 8-6 +<br />
5722 The Windblown Hare (7) 8-27 ++ 1<br />
5723 Frigid-Hare (7) 10- S<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5724 Which Is Witch (7).... 12- 3<br />
5725 Rabbit Hood (7) 12-24<br />
5726 Hurdy-Gurdy Hare (7).. 1-21<br />
6719 Mutiny on the Bunny (7) 2-11<br />
6720 Homeless Hare (7) 3-11<br />
FEATURETTE<br />
5106 Over the Wall (20) 6-25 -|-<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
6101 Pigskin Passes (20) 9-10<br />
ol02 Calling All Girls (20)... 11 -26<br />
6103 1 he Grass Is Always Greener<br />
(20) 1- 7<br />
6104 Vaudeville Days (20) 2-25<br />
JOE McDOAKES COMEDIES<br />
5405 So You Want to Be a Muscle<br />
Man (10) 7-2 +<br />
5406 So You're Having In-Law<br />
Trouble (10) 8-27 -|-<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
6401 So You Want to Get Rich<br />
Quick (10) 10-29<br />
6402 So You Want to Be an<br />
Actor (10) 12- 3<br />
6403 So You Want to Throw a<br />
Party (10) 2- 4<br />
MELODY MASTERS<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
6801 U. S. Calif. Band and Glee<br />
Club (10) 9-17<br />
6802 Eniil Coleman & Orch.<br />
+<br />
(10) 10-29<br />
6803 40 Boys and a Song (10) 1-14<br />
6804 Bob Wills and His Texas<br />
Playboys (10) 2-11<br />
MERRIE MELODIES<br />
(Color)<br />
5709 Hen House Henery (7).. 7- 2<br />
5710 Bad 01' Putty Tat (7).. 7-23<br />
5711 Often the Orphan (7) 8-13<br />
5712 Dough lor the Do-Do (7) 9- 3<br />
5713 Fast and Furry-ous (7) 9-17<br />
. .<br />
5714 Each Dawn I Crow (7) . . 9-24<br />
5715 Swallow the Leader (7).. 10-15<br />
5716 Bye, Bye Blue Beard (7). 10-22<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
5717 For Scent-lmental Reasons<br />
(7) 11-12<br />
5718 Hippety-Hopper (7) 11-19<br />
6701 Bear Feat (7) 12-10<br />
6702 A Ham in a Role (7).. 12- 31<br />
6703 Home, Tweet Home (7).. 1-14<br />
6704 Boobs in the Woods (7) 1-28<br />
. .<br />
6705 The Lion's Busy (7) 2-18<br />
6706 The Scarlet Pumpernickel<br />
(7) 3- 4<br />
6707 Strife With Father (7) . . 4- 1<br />
SPORTS NEWS REVIEW<br />
5606 Spills and Chills (10).. 10- 1 ff<br />
SPORTS PARADE<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
5509 Highland Games (10)... 7-2<br />
5510 Daredevils on Wheels (10) 7-23<br />
5511 Water Wizards (10) 8- 6<br />
5512 Snorts New and Old (10) 8-20<br />
5513 Hunting ihe Fo« (10) ... 9-3<br />
1949-50 SEASON<br />
#<br />
6501 The Little Archer (10).. 10- 8 -f-<br />
6502 K.nis of the RKkies<br />
(10) 11-19<br />
6503 Happy Holidays (10) 12-10<br />
6504 Let's Go Boating (10) 1-21<br />
. .<br />
6505 That's Bully (10) 2-18<br />
6506 This Sporting World (10) 3-25<br />
TECHNICOLOR SPECIALS<br />
5007 The Sintimj Dude (20).. 7- 9 -f<br />
5008 Down the Nile (20) 7-30 -|-<br />
1949-50 SEASOR<br />
6001Trailin' West (20) 10- 1<br />
6002 Jungle Terror (20) 11- S<br />
6003 Snow Carnival (20) 12-17 +f<br />
6004 Women of Tomorrow (20) 3-18<br />
VITAPHONE NOVELTIES<br />
6601 Horse and Buggy Days<br />
(10) 10-22<br />
6602 A-Sreed on the Deep<br />
(10) 12-24 -H<br />
6604 Hands Tell the Story (10) 2- 4<br />
6605 Sitzmarks the Spot (10) . . 3-11<br />
WAJRNER-PATHE NEWS<br />
Twfn WMkly)<br />
SHORTS CHART
SHORTS REVIEWS<br />
Opinhas on the Current Short Subjeets-<br />
Hugs and Mugs<br />
Columbia (Stooges Comedy) 17 Mins.<br />
Fair. Those mayhem experts, the Three<br />
Stooges, again practically murder each other<br />
to get laughs. This time a trio of shoplifters<br />
use their wiles on the boys to get possession<br />
of a package containing a pearl necklace. The<br />
Stooges gouge out each other's eyes, sit on hot<br />
irons and are bopped on the head by Iron<br />
weights during the course of the rough-andscramble<br />
action.<br />
Miguelito Valdez<br />
Columbia (Thrills of Music) 10 Mins.<br />
Fair. Loud, fast and exciting music is the<br />
motif of an average short. Miguelito Valdez,<br />
who specializes in Latin rhythms, and the<br />
De Castro Sisters, three torrid little ladies,<br />
contribute their specialties while Barry Gray,<br />
disk jockey, comments on their work. The<br />
sisters are best in "Sicote de Cato," which<br />
is roughly translated as "The Cat's Whiskers."<br />
The younger fans wUl enjoy this more than<br />
their elders.<br />
Motion Picture Mothers,<br />
Inc.<br />
Columbia (Screen Snapshots) 9 Mins.<br />
Good. The real movie fans will get a kick<br />
out of seeing their favorites' mothers cavorting<br />
at a dance with their children. Among<br />
those glimpsed are Pat O'Brien, who handles<br />
the Introductions, and Fred MacMurray, Donald<br />
O'Connor, Cesar Romero, John Howard,<br />
Gary Cooper, Robert Sterling, Tom Brown<br />
and Bud Abbott, aU with their mothers. Jane<br />
Powell is about the only feminine star who<br />
came with her mother, the latter looking<br />
almost as young as Jane.<br />
Barnyard Skiing<br />
BKO (Sportscope) 8 Mins.<br />
Fair. How to ski when there isn't any<br />
snow around is shown in this sports film<br />
and Erling O. Wilig, ski-joring expert, demonstrates<br />
the technique. He is hauled over<br />
water, grass, gravel, sand and a macadam<br />
highway in the various sequences by horses,<br />
boats and cars. He is assisted by an attractive<br />
girl throughout the film. A few thrills<br />
are provided by his dexterity in avoiding<br />
obstacles and ski fans will marvel at some<br />
of his tricks despite the absence of snow.<br />
Pluto's Hearthrob<br />
RKO (Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins.<br />
Fair. Pluto meets Dinah, a pert little dog.<br />
and decides he is in love with her. Butch, the<br />
ugly bulldog, has the inside track with the<br />
young lady and resents Pluto's attentions.<br />
The two rivals carry on a battle royal which<br />
results in a near drowning for Pluto. When<br />
he recovers, he finds out that Butch has<br />
replaced him in the affections of Dinah. He<br />
manages to reverse this when he rescues her<br />
from a fate worse than death at Butch's<br />
hands.<br />
Dream Dust<br />
(Sing and Be Happy Series)<br />
Univ.-Int'l<br />
g Mins.<br />
Good. In a dreamy mood the King's Men<br />
offer some of the favorite song hits of yesteryear.<br />
Tliis short has been specially arranged<br />
for community singing and should be popular<br />
dt theatres where folks like to exercise their<br />
vocals. "Girl of My Dreams," "Goodnight,<br />
Sweetheart" and "Put on Your Old Grey<br />
Bonnet" are the songs. Clever cartoons form<br />
the baclcgrounds.<br />
Fargo Phantom<br />
Unlv.-Int'l (Musical Western) 24 Mins.<br />
Good. Tex Williams and his pard, Smokey<br />
Rodgers, round up the bandits in a short<br />
that has loads of action, three new songs,<br />
love interest and some beautiful shots of<br />
western scenery. It should appeal to all types<br />
of audiences. The bandits have been holding<br />
up the stagecoaches of a line owned by<br />
Shirley Allard until Tex steps in to remedy<br />
the situation. The story is plausible and the<br />
picture moves swiftly.<br />
Mother Goose on the Loose<br />
Univ.-Int'l (Lantz Cartune) 7 Mins.<br />
Very good. A cartoon containing some fresh<br />
gags, excellent animation and two very furmy<br />
characters. Simple Simon and Bo Peep. It is<br />
aimed at the Easter audience, but should fill<br />
in nicely on any program. The story is a<br />
switch on Mother Goose rhymes with the<br />
various jingles given a new twist and humorous<br />
treatment. Practically all the Mother<br />
Goose characters are in it and it should be<br />
enjoyed by young and old alike.<br />
Ethel Smith & The Henry<br />
King Orchestra<br />
Univ.-Int'l (Name Band Musical) 15 Mins.<br />
Good. Ethel Smith at the electric organ<br />
and the Henry King band provide the music<br />
on a background of handsome sets. Others<br />
in the film are; the Mayo brothers, precision<br />
tap dancers; Betty Black, singer, and Jon<br />
and Edna Torrence, dance satirists. The<br />
songs featured are : "Chinatown," "Paran Pan<br />
Pin," "El Cumbancheo," "Give Out" and "Dos<br />
Grillitos." It's a musical that should be a<br />
crowd pleaser.<br />
A'Speed on the Deep<br />
Warner Bros. (Vitaphone Novelty) 10 Mins.<br />
Very good. A fast-moving and exciting<br />
novelty short dealing with the different varieties<br />
of water sports. Some magnificent and<br />
breath-taking shots of daredevils who ride<br />
the rapids and go water-skiing at break-neck<br />
speed are included. Other men anxious to<br />
risk their necks go riding the breakers In<br />
the roughest surf in the world—off Australia.<br />
A cute sidelight is a grandmothers' shell race<br />
in which 20 ladies, whose ages total over<br />
1,000 years, race down the river with the<br />
strength of coUegiates.<br />
At the Source of Truth<br />
(Russian Production)<br />
World Documentary Films 3 Mins.<br />
Fair. This shows the laboratory experiments<br />
which led Pavlov to discover the conditioned<br />
reflex in animals, and how the phenomenon<br />
operates under natural conditions<br />
in the forest. Its appeal will be limited to<br />
budding scientists and naturalists. The experiments<br />
with dogs, though clearly painless,<br />
could raise the objections of antivivisectionists.<br />
The best scenes are those of forest animals.<br />
The distributor's address Is 18 West<br />
55th St., New York City.<br />
Birth of the Ballet<br />
Oxford Films (Featurette) 30 Mins.<br />
Very good. The rapidly increasing interest<br />
in ballet in all the larger cities of the U.S.<br />
should make this a strong added feature in<br />
the art houses and in many downtown spots.<br />
Robert Helpmann of Sadler Wells Ballet (now<br />
touring the U.S.) and one of the stars of<br />
"The Red Shoes" is shown as he describes<br />
the various steps and formations used in the<br />
ballet form. The dancers are shown rehearsing<br />
an dthen a complete short ballet is given.<br />
Muir Matheson directed. Oxford Films is at<br />
1819 Broadway, N. Y. C.<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 16: Exposition hails<br />
Haiti's 200 years; Long Island railroad crash<br />
kills 29; carnival parade in New Orleans;<br />
Cardinal Spellman sails on pilgrimage; Truman<br />
talks about taxes; atomic energy sold<br />
(over the counter) at U.S. apothecary; national<br />
AAU track meet; world downhill skiing<br />
champions.<br />
News of the Day, No. 250: Doctor on trial<br />
in mercy killing; railroad crash; $100-plate<br />
dinner for 5,300 Democrats; atomic drugstore;<br />
cardinal sails on Holy Year pilgrimage;<br />
downhill ski title won by Italian ace; diving<br />
capers.<br />
Paramount News, No. 53: World's fair in<br />
Haiti; Long Island railroad wreck; atomic<br />
energy for scientific uses; Democratic dinner;<br />
AAU track meet.<br />
Universal News, No. 328: Long Island railroad<br />
crash; Jackson Day dinner; cardinal<br />
leads pilgrimage; Haiti bicentennial; Times<br />
Square brownout; Santa Anita derby; downhill<br />
ski thrills.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 55: Train wreck;<br />
Jackson Day dinner; New York City brownout;<br />
atomic energy; Dr. Sander; air crash<br />
survivors; Cardinal Spellman; glove fashions;<br />
ski race.<br />
•<br />
Movietone News, No. 17: Masons honor<br />
George V/ashington; mercy killer goes on<br />
trial; Korean president sees MacArthur;<br />
Boston "T" party over excise taxes; New<br />
Orleans Mardi Gras; V-2 rocket films millions<br />
of square miles of earth; sports—golden<br />
gloves slugfest; motorcycle thriller; Red<br />
Cross trailer.<br />
News of the Day, No. 251: Rocket camera<br />
films earth; Windsors join in Mardi Gras<br />
revel; Truman dedicates Washington memorial;<br />
Boston "T" party; jet plane crash<br />
fires oil tanlcs; golden gloves finals; dogsled<br />
derby; Red Cross appeal trailer.<br />
Paramount News, No. 54: Canadian cyclist<br />
wins 200-mile beach classic; "T" party; rocket<br />
camera; Windsors win crowds at Mardi Gras;<br />
when two glovers meet; Red Cross trailer.<br />
Universal News, No. 329: Ghandi honored;<br />
Boston "T" party; rocket camera; icy<br />
weather; motorcycle race; soaring skiers;<br />
golden gloves; Red Cross trailer.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 56: Jap Diet; Mac-<br />
Arthur welcomes Korean president; Boston<br />
tax party; rocket camera; Truman urges<br />
atomic energy control; sports^—motorcycle<br />
race, motor ski race, golden gloves ; Red Cross<br />
trailer.<br />
•<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 8A: Mercy killing trial<br />
opens in New Hampshire; Long Island train<br />
disaster; Pennsylvania miner speaks; Czechoslovakia—new<br />
ski thrill.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 8B: Sander's trial;<br />
England's election; coal rationing in New<br />
York; U.S. aid welcomed in Korea; carnival<br />
time in New Orleans, Nice, France and<br />
Viaroggio, Italy.<br />
14<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide March 4, 1950
I<br />
Opinions on Current Productions; Expioitips for Selling to the Public<br />
—<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS<br />
(FOE 8TOBY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE REVERSE SIDE)<br />
Perfect Strangers<br />
F<br />
'"""''<br />
Warner Bros. (917) 88 Minutes Rel. Mar 25, '50<br />
Based on the MacArthur-Hecht stage hit, "Ladies and Gentlemen,"<br />
this screen version has three distinct story threads,<br />
each one of which is sufficiently strong in entertainment<br />
values alone to justify the picture. Woven together they<br />
make for a feature which should be a solid scorer in any theatre.<br />
For the devotees of the tender passion, there is romance;<br />
for the advocates of sturdier stuff, there is a suspenseful<br />
murder trial; and for one and all there is comedy<br />
bright and subtle—which stems from dialog and situations<br />
and admirably avoids contrived devices. Such comedy content<br />
is the most prominent facet and it was entrusted to a<br />
thoroughly excellent cast, each member of which took full<br />
advantage of his or her portion of a shining script. Producer<br />
Jerry Wald mounted the film with careful consideration of<br />
details and atmosphere, and direction by Bretaigne Windust<br />
is excellent.<br />
Ginger Rogers. Dennis Morgan, Thelma Hitter, Margalo Gillmore,<br />
Anthony Ross, Howard Freeman, Alan Reed.<br />
Stage Fright<br />
Warner Bros, ( ) 113 Minutes<br />
y<br />
Comedy<br />
Drama<br />
Rel. Apr. 15. '50<br />
It may have been the change in climate— this having bee.n<br />
filmed in its entirety in England—that made the celebrated<br />
Alfred Hitchcock flare for suspense and chills wax a bit<br />
whimsical. But herein, the scripters and Director Hitchcock<br />
mixed the spine-tingling in about equal portions with ribtickling.<br />
And a smooth blend of entertainment come out of<br />
the mixer, one which should assert a powerful tug on every<br />
taste in film fare. Such diversified appeal, accented by the<br />
obvious potency of the quartet of topliners, certainly should<br />
take good care of the offering in the profiis column of theatre<br />
ledgers. While every performance—even to the bit players<br />
is definitely top drawer, the thespian contribution of Marlene<br />
Dietrich, apparently ageless and more sexy than ever, steals<br />
the show. In production details the film shows lavish spending<br />
of the frozen dollars that went into its budget.<br />
Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Richard<br />
Todd, Kay Walsh, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Miles Malleson.<br />
Father Is a Bachelor<br />
Columbia (232) 85 Minutes Rel. Feb. '50<br />
Seldom do you find so many elements of wholesome entertainment<br />
blended into a lov;--budget picture with this<br />
degree of charm. While it is farcical in spots, the engaging<br />
character played by William Holden, plus a most natural<br />
family of heart-warming children, creates true screen diversion.<br />
Only the art houses will resist its homespun appeal and for<br />
family fare it is a natural, while if has special interest for<br />
small town and neighborhood houses. Not only will women<br />
patrons fall in love with the proud little waifs in the picture<br />
but William Holden v.'ill cause feminine hearts to flutter with<br />
romantic yearnings. This should be a word-of-moulh sleeper<br />
that will build even higher boxoffice scores after it gets<br />
out of the first run houses. The title is provocative and the<br />
romantic interest is interspersed with humor. Norman Foster'<br />
and Abby Berlin directed this S. Sylvan Simon production.<br />
William Holden, Coleen Gray. Mary lane Saunders, Charles<br />
Winninger, Stuart Erwin. Clinton Sundberg, Gary Gray.<br />
ins}<br />
Da'<br />
Quicksand<br />
United Artists (631) 79 Minutes Rel. Mar. 24, '50<br />
While its rag, bone and hank o' hair motif is far from new,<br />
herein it is so logically and suspensefuUy developed that the<br />
picture earns rating as one of the best approaches to that<br />
theme in many seasons; an offering that should garner plenty<br />
of praise and profits in all bookings. Credit for the film's<br />
excellence is cut three v/ays; solid, logical scripting; sincere,<br />
a well-chosen<br />
convincing performances by every member of<br />
cast; and the incisive, understanding direction of Irvirig<br />
Pichel. Executive Producer Sam H. Stiefel mounted the vehicle<br />
substantially—without too big a productional budget—by<br />
having it filmed largely out of doors and against established<br />
backgrounds in and around Los Angeles. In addition to the<br />
cast, there are exploitation possibilities in the subtle, yet<br />
persuading, expose of the dangers of adolescent delinquency.<br />
Rooney s performance and that by Barbara Bates sland out<br />
in the face of keen comp>etition.<br />
Mickey Rooney, Joanne Cagney, Barbara Botes, Peter Lorre,<br />
Taylor Holmes, Art Smith, Wally Cassol.<br />
Stars in My Crown<br />
MGM (- 89 Minutes Rel.<br />
A moving and heart-warming small town film which will<br />
draw chuckles and a few tears from family audiences everywhere.<br />
This is not a big picture, although it has been splendidly<br />
directed by Jacques Tourneur and well acted by a first<br />
rate cast. Its strongest appeal will be in the hinterlands,<br />
Joel McCrea will draw the youngsters and action fans and<br />
favorable word-of-mouth will do the rest. However, its homey<br />
quality may result in mild grosses in metropolitan centers.<br />
The story, which takes place shortly after the Civil War, has<br />
one scene of Negro persecution, but this leads to a stirring<br />
climax which is the film's highlight. Dean Stockv/ell contributes<br />
another completely natural portrayal of a country<br />
youngster and Juano Hernandez is outstanding as a kindly<br />
Negro farmer. The late Alan Hale's final screen role is one<br />
of his most lovable ones and Lewis Stone has a fine bit.<br />
Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew, Dean Slockwell, Alan Hale, James<br />
MitchelL Lewis Stone, Juano Hernandez, Amanda Blake.<br />
Buccaneer's Girl<br />
Univ.-Int'l (912) 77 Minutes<br />
F<br />
F<br />
Musical Melodrama<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
ReL Mar. '50<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo is displayed at her best in this swashbuckling<br />
Technicolor story of New Orleans and piracy in<br />
the 18th century. The film has battles at sea and ashore<br />
lor the youngsters, enough romance to please the women,<br />
and for the men—there's Yvonne. The picture reveals an<br />
expensive mounting and the Technicolor shows to good<br />
advantage in its vivid shots of the period costumes, sailing<br />
ships and New Orleans scenes. The action is fast, the story<br />
good, and it should please general audiences who do not<br />
expect too radical a departure from the tested formula lor<br />
piracy yarns. Stills of Yvonne in some of her eye-filling<br />
gowns should help sell the film, which is favored by good<br />
performances from Philip Friend, Elsa Lanchesler and Jay<br />
C. Flippen. Frederick DeCordova directed.<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo, Philip Friend, Robert Douglas. Elsa Lanchestor,<br />
Andrea King, Norman Lloyd, Joy C. Flippen.<br />
A Woman of Distinction<br />
i<br />
I<br />
Columbia ( ) 85 Minutes Rel. Apr. '50<br />
Rosalind Russell again descends to low comedy and slapstick<br />
antics to keep average audiences howling throughout a<br />
fast and furious farce. With Ray Milland joining in the nonsensical<br />
doings, the name value is strong and business<br />
should be good in almost any type of house. Portraying a<br />
college dean who has no time for romance. Miss Russell looks<br />
ravishing in a series of gowns and tailored outfits but she<br />
also permits herself to be smeared with mud, drenched by<br />
a garden hose and dunked into a street puddle—all in the<br />
interest of laughs. As a British lecturer, Milland acts slightly<br />
more dignified, except when he dons a tight-fitting riding<br />
outfit to go bicycling. Edmund Gwenn scores as the dean's<br />
understanding father and Jerome Courlland is amusing as a<br />
teen-age student but Francis Lederer is wasted in a bit. Lucille<br />
Ball makes a surprise guest appearance. Edward Buzzell<br />
directed.<br />
Rosalind Russell, Roy Milland, Edmund Gwenn, lanis Carter,<br />
F<br />
'^^^<br />
„a'<br />
Francis Lederer, Mary Jane Saunders. Jerome Courlland.<br />
1122 Boxomc<br />
The Kid From Texas<br />
Univ.-Int'l (911) 78 Minutes<br />
F<br />
Hlitorical Weitem<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
ReL March '50<br />
'<br />
Herewith is presented still another approach to the saga<br />
of the fabulous Billy the Kid, the frontier's most famous gunman,<br />
whose sanguinary career has been explored in countless<br />
screen stories since the industry's early days. And in a<br />
majority of instances, past records will reveal, they have been<br />
financially successful. As to the revenue potentialities of<br />
this one, however, they probably will have to depend largely<br />
upon the manner in which showmen capitalize upon such<br />
exploitation facets as the Technicolor photography, the beauteous<br />
backgrounds and the solid, if not big-name cast; since,<br />
'<br />
""> " despite the subject matter, the plot unioldment is slow-paced.<br />
Considerable trouble obviously v/as taken with the story's<br />
'''<br />
historical facets, which paint Billy as a victim ol circumstance,<br />
and as a result sacrificing some of the chase, gunplay<br />
and fisticuff elements. Kurt Neumann directed.<br />
Audio Murphy, Gale Storm, Albert Dekker, Shepperd Sfrudwiclc<br />
Will Geer, William Talman, Martin Garrolago.<br />
Mareh 4, 1950 1121
. . Trapped<br />
. . The<br />
. . . And<br />
. . . With<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STOHY:<br />
"Quicksand"<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Perfect Strangers"<br />
Mickey Rooney's short but crowded career in crime begins<br />
when he pilfers $20 from his employer's cash drawer to date<br />
gold-digging Jeanne Cagney. The unexpected arrival of the<br />
company's auditor forces him into further larceny to pay it<br />
back. Between Jeanne's demands for money and the blackmailing'<br />
tactics of Peter Lorre, who had discovered his previous<br />
robberies, Mickey is drawn into stealing a car and yet<br />
another major theft. Finally, in a showdovm with his employer,<br />
there is a fight and Mickey flees, wrongly presuming<br />
that he has killed the boss. Caught by the police, Mickey<br />
is championed by his real girl friend, Barbara Bates, and an<br />
understanding lavryer, who thinks he can get him off with<br />
a reasonable sentence. Barbara promises to wait.<br />
i<br />
Of<br />
m, t<br />
Members of a jury in a murder trial, in vrhich the defendant<br />
is accused of killing his wife so he can marry his secretary,<br />
are Ginger Rogers, a young married woman separated from<br />
her husband, and -Dennis Morgan, also unhappily married.<br />
They fall in love, but Dennis promises he'll make one more<br />
try at his marriage. The defense builds a strong case, proving<br />
the accused's love for his secretary was wholesome and<br />
honest, but three jurors hold out for conviction. When the<br />
jury learns that Ginger and Dennis, both married, hove<br />
fallen in love. Ginger argues that the same thing could<br />
easily have happened to the defendant. She wins over the<br />
three recalcitrant jurors, an acquittal verdict is reached and<br />
Ginger and Dennis part—forever.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Caught in the Quicksands of Crime . . . 'With Each Desperate<br />
Effort to Escape Plunging Him Deeper into the Mire<br />
The Story of a "Little Guy" . by<br />
of Despair . . .<br />
Circumstance.<br />
Innocent or Guilty? ... A Man's Life Hung in the Balance<br />
One Woman Sacrificed Her Chance for Happiness<br />
the Man She Loved ... To Make Certain Justice<br />
Was Done.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Stars in My Crown"<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Stage Fright"<br />
Shortly after the Civil 'War, Joel McCrea becomes the<br />
preacher of a small southern town, whose inhabitants soon<br />
grow to love him and help him build his church. Living with<br />
the parson and his wife, Ellen Drew, is their young nephew.<br />
Dean Stockwell, who comes down with typhoid. Later, the<br />
disease spreads and the young doctor, James Mitchell, resents<br />
McCrea's visits to the sick and accuses him of spreading the<br />
epidemic. However, McCrea's prayers aid Amanda Blaks<br />
Mitchell's sweetheart, and she recovers from the illness.<br />
'When Juano Hernandez, an old Negro farmer, refuses to sell<br />
his valuable land to Ed Begley, hooded nightriders plan<br />
to lynch him, but McCrea reads them the old man's will<br />
and makes them all ashamed of themselves.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
A Small Town Tale With a Great Big Heart . 'Will<br />
of God, as Read by a Country Preacher, Made Them Love<br />
Instead of Hate Their Fellow Man ... A Heart-'Warming<br />
Story of Real People . . Joel McCrea's Greatest Performance<br />
.<br />
in a Film oi Laughter and Tears.<br />
Richard Todd, infatuated with an actress, Marlene Dietrich,<br />
is suspected of murdering her husband. He enlists the aid<br />
of Jane Wyman to clear himself, and through a ruse Jane<br />
secures a job as Marlene's maid, hoping to establish that<br />
Marlene was the slayer. Jane meets and falls in love with<br />
Michael Wilding, a police inspector, and works with him on<br />
the case. But when the police take Todd to the theatre for<br />
a showdown with Marlene, he escapes, taking Jane with<br />
him and hiding in the basement. There he confesses he is<br />
the killer, and intimates that another murder would support<br />
his intended insanity plea. Jane is rescued and Todd, in the<br />
ensuing chase, is killed by a falling stage curtain.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Suspenseful . . . Startling . . . Enthralling ... A Nightmare<br />
of Fear That Became a Torment of Living Terror . . . Like<br />
Nothing in This World You've Ever Thrilled to Before.<br />
THE STOHY:<br />
"Buccaneer's Girl"<br />
Yvonne DeCarlo is a singer from Boston who stows away<br />
on a ship to Boston. The ship is scuttled by pirates and she<br />
is taken prisoner by their leader, Philip Friend. She escapes<br />
to New Orleans and meets Robert Douglas, the pirate leader's<br />
nemesis. 'While appearing as an entertainer at one of the<br />
city soirees Yvonne learns that Philip is actually a Robin<br />
Hood of the seas trying to ruin the unscrupulous Douglas.<br />
The latter plans to lure the pirates to defeat at sea, but they<br />
instead smash the Douglas fleet when Yvonne happens to<br />
overhear the plot. The couple return to New Orleans where<br />
Philip exposes Douglas, is granted amnesty and sails away<br />
'With his bride.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
(&re:<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Fother Is a Bachelor"<br />
William Holden travels through a rural river community<br />
in the old steamboat days with a medicine show as its<br />
minstrel. Charles Winninger, who operates the show on somewhat<br />
dubious lines, is jailed so Holden decides to catch up<br />
on his fishing, his chief occupation since a partner absconded<br />
with funds from a small business. He meets a pathetic little<br />
iamily waiting for the return of parents by steamboat. Only<br />
the two older boys know the parents were lost on a boat<br />
that burned several months before. His belligerent adoption<br />
of the children to protect them wins him a lovely young<br />
schoolteacher—^but not without some comic interludes.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Lady of Mystery Snares the Boldest Pirate Chief on the<br />
Spanish Main ... In a Technicolor Adventure Yarn That<br />
Provides the Smoke of Battle and the Fire of Love . . . 'With<br />
Lovely Yvonne DeCarlo Singing and Charming Her 'Way<br />
Into Your Heart ... As Brave Men Struggle to Save New<br />
Orleans.<br />
A Wonderful, Heart-Warming Picture! . . . Before He Could<br />
"<br />
Yell "Uncle They Were Calling Him "Daddy"—and She Was<br />
Calling Him "Darlingl" . . . Wanted: A Mother for Five Kids.<br />
Any Girl Who Accepts Is Crazy, but So Am I.—Johrmy .<br />
Such Wonderful Things Couldn't Happen to Nicer People .<br />
They Sneaked in When His Heart 'Wasn't Looking.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"The Kid From Texas '<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"A Woman of Distinction"<br />
William "Billy the Kid" Bonney, portrayed by Audie Murphy,<br />
is befriended by Shepperd Strudwick, a rancher, and<br />
given a range-riding i.ob. Strudwick is a business partner of<br />
Albert Dekker, whose young wife. Gale Storm, fills Billy with<br />
hopeless yearning. When gunfighters hired by a rival<br />
rancher kill Strudwick, Billy goes beserk, swearing to avenge<br />
the first true friend he has ever known. He disposes of several<br />
of the gunmen, escapes from Dekker's burning home<br />
after it has been surrounded by a posse, and realizes eventually<br />
the futility of his love for Gale. The most hunted outlaw<br />
m western history, Billy is trapped by Sheriff Pat Garrett<br />
(Frank Wilcox); failing to draw his gun, he drops under<br />
Garret's bullet.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The True and Savage Story of Billy the Kid ... The West's<br />
Most Notorious Outlaw . . . 'Who Smiled Like an Angel<br />
And Killed Like the Devil Incarnate.<br />
..criL<br />
YorV<br />
Rosalind Russell, the young dean of a college for women,<br />
is quoted as having "no room for romance" in her life. When<br />
Ray Milland, British astronomer, arrives in the U.S. to lecture,<br />
Janis Carter, who handles the press, builds up his mild<br />
curiosity about Miss Russell into a torrid romance. She accidentally<br />
meets Milland and her efforts to stop the publicity<br />
only result in more news headlines. Even her father, Edmund<br />
Gwenn, tries to foster the love affair and eventually<br />
the school factulty demands an investigation into Miss Russel's<br />
morals. When Milland chivalrously insists he is the<br />
lather of Miss Russell's adopted child, she resigns as dean.<br />
The matter is cleared up but she decides to marry Milland.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
When a Woman of Distinction Meets a Man in the Public<br />
Eye—Sparks Fly . . . Watch the Dignified College Dean Go<br />
Rosalind Russell at Her<br />
Man-Hunting for a Professor . . .<br />
Most Ravishing and Her Funniest . . . The Newspaper Romance<br />
That Turned Into a Real Life Love Affcrir.
—<br />
Fine<br />
—<br />
ATES: 10c per worcL minimim $1.00. cash with copy. Four insertions for price of three.<br />
XOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Von Brunt Blvd. Kansas City 1, Mo. •<br />
Experienced theatre equipment salesman—prorJibly<br />
living northern Oliio. Large Independent<br />
ipply house. S;ilnry and travel. Boxofflce, 3770.<br />
Experienced manager for new drive- in theatre,<br />
eated New York area. Year 'round position,<br />
lio food concession manager. Rsplies wlU be<br />
wited in strict confidence. StAte salaiy and<br />
(ptrience. Boxofflee. 3776.<br />
Opportunity: Operating interest<br />
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fxas, Keferonces necessary. Bo.xoffice, 3786.<br />
Wanted: House manager or experienced assistant<br />
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territory. Air mail Special Delivery qualifiitlons<br />
and sjilary expected. Boxofflce, 3787.<br />
Experienced ilie;ilrc equipment salesman with<br />
ir. for Intermoiintain and Western territory.<br />
own hand, stating experience and commsation<br />
epiy In<br />
expected, and enclose a snapshot. Boxepiy<br />
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Projectionist, 26 years experience, all repairs,<br />
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Projectionist, 20 years experience. Single, sober,<br />
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)<br />
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Projectionist, 8 years experience. Can give good<br />
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ilary $45 Uoxoffice. 3785.<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets.<br />
OO.OOO. $23.95; 10.000, $6.85; 2.000. $4.45.<br />
ach change in admission price, including change<br />
;oIor, $3.00 extra. Double numbering extra.<br />
POD. Kansas City, Mo.) Cash fflih order. Kan-<br />
(S City Ticket Co.. Dept. 9, 1819 Central, Kan-<br />
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HELP WANTED<br />
Wanteci; Operator, one who has had some theatre<br />
Good opportunity for right man.<br />
iperlenco.<br />
rand Tiit-atre. McGregor, Iowa.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
Am CONDITIONING<br />
Heavy duty blowers, baH-bearlng equipped,<br />
6.000 cfm to 50,0»0 cfm. Air wiuhers, sll<br />
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ittor controls. Immediate delivery. Dealers<br />
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STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
icon CT-70 single and double system used<br />
atdt, complete, $1,750: new Brldgamatlc aut<br />
utit processors, $1,595; Cine Balowster fl.S<br />
mses. $199; S>'nchronous 35mra dubbing pro-<br />
.ctors. $r95; twin turret Eyemo, 6 fa.st Ici<br />
lotor, etc., $1,095; 35ram recorders from $495;<br />
ew Aurlcon 33-mlnute camera, $l.(i65. Dept<br />
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in I nfailinff Sivaiilni'itH<br />
w Film Gale and Trap A««embly otiwfei tquoltivd f«nt<br />
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New Self-Lubricoling Inlermiltent Movtmvnt givei quieter<br />
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