Boxoffice-September.23.1950

. . Walter
RKO Theatres Heads
Plan Fall Campaign
CINCINNATI — RKO Theatres executives
met with local circuit heads and managers
of RKO houses in Columbus and Dayton in
connection with the chain's fall and winter
attendance drive in October, November and
December.
Sol A. Schwartz, executive vice-president
of RKO Theatres and head of management
for the company's theatres, led the contingent,
which included William Howard, his
assistant; Harry Mandel, national director of
advertising and publicity; Mathew Polon,
head of the booking department; Robert
Sherman, head of film buying, and James
Roth, assistant to Howard.
Local executives included Joseph Alexander,
division manager; Nate Wise, publicity director;
Stanley Jacques, branch manager, RKO-
Radio, and managers of RKO houses in Cincinnati,
Columbus and Dayton. RKO Theatres
nationally is inaugurating a drive to
step up screen and stage entertainment for
the last three months of the year. Last week
division managers attended the kickoff meeting
in New York City, where plans were outlined.
Schwartz expressed confidence in the future
of the industry, saying; "You like to hit
the ball when you're hot; the last few months
have shown a trend that is at least warm,
so we decided to keep the momentum going
with this meeting, one of several to be held
with theatre managers all over the country."
Schwartz expressed the opinion that films
and television would, after initial competition,
settle into separate spheres of entertainment
with room for profit in both. He feels the
impact of television on the film industry
differs little from a similar impact from radio
a generation ago.
A contest offers prizes to managers, publicity
men, assistants and theatre personnel
for suggestions and ideas. From here the
group left to hold a similar meeting in Chicago.
Phila. Theatre Promotes
Equipment for Reopening
PHILADELPHIA — David Altman, manager
of the New Mayfair. a neighborhood
house, recently reopened the theatre with
a campaign to publicize new RCA equipment
installations. Altman called the campaign
"Improvements by the Dozen," in conjunction
with the run of "Cheaper by the Dozen."
The campaign included a week's daily insertions
of 30-line advertisements in leading
newspapers and local distribution of reproductions
of the ads. Copy contained the
"dozen" slogans. Also featured were a new
RCA sound system, a larger RCA screen, two
Brenkert projectors, new International seats,
RCA carpeting, interior and exterior decorations,
restrooms, a new- stage, and the new
Altman management. All RCA equipment
was purchased through Harry Blumberg, independent
RCA theatre supply dealer in the
area.
Altman said that "a great many of our
patrons were as interested in seeing the improvements
we had made for their comfort
as they were in seeing the film."
VIRGINIA
Tirheeling; theatres are following the national
trend of increased attendance, indicating
that the ticket-buying public is responding to
the industry's promise of better movies, writes
. . Gov.
. .
Bill DeMuth jr., amusement editor of the
News-Register . . . George W. Sallows of the
Metropolitan in Morgantown could not locate
any black roses, but the Met presented a dozen
red roses to the 150th woman attending
the exhibition of "The Black Rose" .
Okey L. Patteson announced plans for a new
motion picture describing natural resources
and industrial life in West Virginia. Wierton
Steel Corp. is financing the production.
When janitors arrived at the Capitol in
Wheeling one morning recently they found a
female bulldog quietly sleeping in a choice box
seat. They called the county dog warden .
Exhibitor Rice of Shinnston may be called
into military service.
.
Morgantown's new bingo tax ordinance is
expected to produce about $9,000 this year.
Bingo games are licensed for $50 annually
and individual cards are taxed ten cents . . .
Charles E. Warner of Warner's Skyline at
Clarksburg and Assistant Manager James F.
Hornick were in Pittsburgh for a performance
of "Ice Capades" Lowe.
Moundsville exhibitor, reports that his mother
is recuperating following amputation of a
Gray Barker, booker for DeVry
leg . . .
equipped drive-ins in central West Virginia,
vacationed in New York.
Cleveland Cinema Club
Lists 39 Excellent Films
CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Cinema club,
one of
the oldest volunteer reviewing groups
in the country and one of the first to organize
motion picture evaluation groups and
children's special matinees, is listing 21 highly
recommended new pictures in its September
Bulletin. Bulletin editor Edna MacLachlan
reports that her review committee of six
submitted 39 pictures which they classified
from good to excellent reveiwed during the
last three months. Some of these pictures
have been released. The majority remain to
be released.
"Our group submitted favorable reports of
more pictures than we had room for in our
quarterly bulletin," Mrs. MacLachlan states.
"It became necessary for us to include in our
recommended list only those pictures which
carried the highest recommendation."
The 39 pictures approved both for artistic
and boxoffice value are Where the Sidewalk
Ends, Three Little Words. The Black Rose,
Treasure Island. A Lady Without Passport,
My Blue Heaven, Pretty Baby, Kiss Tomorrow
Goodbye, Fancy Pants, My Friend Irma
Goes West, The Fireball, Fifty Years Before
Your Eyes, Union Station, The Furies, Lawless,
Three Secrets, Mister 880, Toast of New
Orleans, Panic in the Streets, Broken Arrow,
Flame and the Arrow. Cariboo Trail. Crisis,
The White Tower, Duchess of Idaho. Sunset
Boulevard. This Side of the Law, Destination
Murder, Where Danger Lives, The Next Voice
You Hear .... A Life of Her Own, Tea for
T\vo, Right Cross. Farewell to Yesterday,
Born to Be Bad, Bunco Squad, Walk Softly
Stranger. The Great Jewel Robber and Stella.
Howard Benson Leases
Carnegie, Pa., Theatres
CARNEGIE. PA.—The Dixie and Grand
here, operated under lea.se for many years
by the late Dr. C. E. Herman and his estate,
will be transferred under long-term
lease to Howard Benson, a newcomer to exhibition
from eastern Pennsylvania. Both
theatres will be modernized. The Dixie, now
closed, is being renovated.
Benson will occupy the Dixie and Grand
November 5. Mrs. C. E. Herman, who has
operated these theatres and the New Carnegie
and Liberty here since the death of her
husband several years ago, will continue in
exhibition at the latter two theatres which
are managed by William H. Fox. The Dixie
and Grand are owned by the Manant family.
Legion Show Is Booked
TOLEDO—The Paramount has booked
"Red. White and Blue," the stage revue, for
a three-evening and Saturday matinee performance,
starting February 15. The show
is sponsored by the American Legion.
MGM's "People in Love" will star John
Hodiak and Nancy Davis, with Edwin H.
Knopf as producer.
THEATRE CIRCUIT
FOR SALE
BY OWNER
6 INDOOR THEATRES
1-700 CAR DRIVE-IN
BUSINESS PROPERTY FOR SALE
Owner Leaving Sfafe
2— 1000-SEAT HOUSES
2— 750-SEAT HOUSES
1— 600-SEAT HOUSE
1— 500-SEAT HOUSE
All A-1 Equipment
PROPERTY GOOD CONDITION
OPERATINGSEVEN DAYS WEEK
DANIEL THEATRE
SAGINAW, MICH.
LAKE THEATRE
PORT HURON. MICH.
ROXY THEATRE
BAY CITY. MICH.
LAFAYETTE THEATRE
BAY CITY. MICH.
PINES THEATRE
BAY CITY. MICH.
ROYAL THEATRE
BAY CITY. MICH.
TUSCOLA DRIVE-IN
3 MILES S. OF BAY CITY
All Theatres include Properly Except
Lake at Port Huron, which is
a Straight Lease.
Daniel and Laiayette Theatres have
Large Convenient Parking Lots.
SOME OF ABOVE THEATRES CAM BE LEASED
Write, Wire or Coll
H. G. BERNSTEIN
BAY CITY, MICH. Phone 2-4871
BOXOFFICE September 23, 1950 93