Boxoffice-December.02.1950

Akron Bingo Menaced
By Taxpayers' Suits
AKRON—Taxpayers' suits may be started
to kiiock out bingo in Akron, threatened
Stanley Denlinger. a prominent local attorney,
who had asked city council to repeal the
local bingo ordinance, by which the city collects
3 per cent tax on gross bingo income.
Denlinger's request was based on his contention
that bingo is regarded as gambling by
some state court decisions, and as legal by
others.
However, city council has decided to take
no action on the antibingo proposal. "As
long a.s the Ohio supreme court regards bingo
as legal if it is not conducted for profit, then
council can do little about it." said Leo A.
Berg, chairman of the council's public welfare
committee. He explained that the city
is able to derive revenue from bingo operators
and also can control them better with
the present ordinance on the books.
Under Ohio law, bingo is legal if operated
for charity and not for personal gain. A proposal
to enact a bill requiring that bingo
operators give a specific amount or percentage
of their gross to charity was not considered,
after Assistant Law Director Nathan
Koplin explained that under state law, the
bingo operators must give all their profits to
charity. However, it was conceded that the
charitable contributions and the gross income
of bingo operators seem all out of proportion.
Publish TV Magazine
PITTSBURGH—The Pittsburgh
Television
News, pocket-size 24-page publication to be
issued weekly, was on newsstands from Altoona
to Steubenville recently. The tri-state
TV weekly carries news of WDTV, Pittsburgh,
and WJAC. Johnstown. William F.
Adler is editor and publisher, and Dan Mc-
Sweeney, advertising manager.
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SHOWMAN'S WIFE VISITS — Roy
Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys
appeared in a stage show at the Switow
Amusement Co.'s Grand Theatre in New
Albany, Ind., recently.
Sliown in the picture
is Roy with Mrs. Joe Hedden, wife
of the manager of Switow's Cozy in
Louisville.
Those Early Movie Days
In Meadville Recalled
MEADVILLE, PA.—The golden era of
drama was recalled here recently in an
article in the Tribune-Republican. Research
in Crawford county reveals that the first
theatrical activity in Meadville was the presentation
of a play with local performers in
1824. It was a benefit show with proceeds
going to help the Greeks in their fight for
independence. This resulted in the formation
of the Meadville Thespian society which
presented plays in the Barton House. The
stage had a row of candles set in bare
boards for footlights and the audience sat
on rough board benches. In the early '60s
plays were presented in the Corinthian
Block.
Tlie Meadville Opera House had a grand
opening Oct. 11, 1869, featuring "Ro.sedale,
or the Rifle Ball." This set the stage for
15 years of top-ranking entertainment. The
opera house had one of its biggest audiences
the night of Jan. 8, 1884—the crowd turned
out that night to watch fire destroy the
building. The Academy of Music, now the
Academy Theatre, built in 1885 by Ernest A.
Hempstead, carried on the Opera House traditions
during part of the Opera Houseflickers
interim.
The first "flickers" were shown at the
Academy about 1897. The films had been
shipped to the expre.ss office, and it was
rumored that the man to whom they were
consigned could not pay the charges to get
them out. A number of citizens advanced the
money, and curious people flocked to the
Academy to .see the Black Diamond express
train, and galloping hor.ses pulling a fire
entwine through the streets of New York.
Within two decades, the "flickers" had practically
replaced stage acting as Meadville's
top entertainment.
Michigan Allied Holds
First Film Clinics
DETROIT—The first official film clinic
held by Allied Theatres of Michigan at its
scheduled series of biweekly regional gatherings
across the state was attended by 32
exhibitors at Holland. With Henry Carley,
Holland exhibitor, as chairman, the gathering
was addressed at the luncheon by William
Vandenberg, lieutenant-governor-elect
of Michigan, who said that he was cognizant
of "the important position which the motion
picture theatre holds in the community." Ed
Johnson, president of Michigan Allied, came
from Bay City to attend the gathering.
A special screening of 20th-Fox's "All
About Eve" was held, followed by a roundtable
discussion with Joseph J. Lee, Fox
manager. Exploitation, "better pictures" and
Pox's new deal for the small town exhibitor
were given a frank discussion.
The next film clinic was to be held Friday
(1) at Scottville, Mich.
Charles W. Snyder, executive secretary of
Allied, is sandwiching in appearances before
numerous state gatherings, between the various
clinics. In addition to several talks
before Parent-Teacher groups, he is scheduled
to talk November 30 to the Rotary
club at Sutton's Bay on "The Contribution
of Motion Pictures to American Life," and
on December 5 to the combined service clubs
of Ionia on the same topic.
New Building Regulations
Made at Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO—City council has
unanimously approved a revised building
code, with regulations patterned after nationally
recognized standards, to replace the city's
outdated 22-year old code. The new code is
the product of four years w'ork by a building
code committee. It contains restrictions on
use of inflammable and combustible materials
for interior trim and decorative purposes
in public buildings, among its many provisions.
Martin & Lewis Prefer
Film Work to Video
Columbus—Despite their success in
television, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis
like appearing in films "better than
everything," they told Dean A. Myers,
Dispatch radio and television editor who
interviewed them on their arrival here,
for a three-day stage date at RKO Palace.
"Films are perfectly organized. Everyone
knows what he is doing. It's normal.
You get up at six in the morning and
can go to bed at nine. You can be home
with your wife and children. It's normal."
They told Myers that they rehearsed
70 hours on one show. "That's almost
continuous," said Lewis. "You sleep
when you can and eat when you can."
The comedy team's appearance here followed
by less than 48 hours their TV
show the previous Sunday on the Colgate
Comedy Hour. They were on their
way to Hollywood to make another picture.
98 BOXOFFICE :: December 2, 1950