Boxoffice-October.27.1951

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Harris Headquarters
Moved to New Home
PITTSBURGH — Harris Amusement Co.
has moved to the new general offices at
3875 Bigelow Blvd., which include complete
facilities for the art and advertising departments
and private offices for executives, a
dining room, recreation room and a projection
room, all completely air conditioned.
From the new headquarters the Harris organization
operates the Hornets hockey team,
"Ice-Capades," "Ice-Cycles," the Gardens
arena and Harris Theatres, one of the oldest
theatre companies in the world.
The Harris Hornets have opened their new
hockey season, again with Jimmy Balmer as
general manager. The Harris Newsreel Theatre
on Diamond street has been renovated
and refurnished in keeping with its new
policy of first run motion pictures. A complete
new front and marquee sign was installed
and the house was reopened October
18 under the new name of the Harris Palace.
Symposium on Films Held
At College in Detroit
DETROIT—A symposium on motion pictures,
tied in with the Movietime U.S.A. celebration,
was held here by Wayne university
climaxing a six-week exhibit of film literature
in the Detroit Public library. Other cooperating
organizations were the Detroit
Institute of Arts, Highland Park Junior college
and the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
The library exhibit, which closes October
31, includes books on motion pictures, scripts,
song material and other material, assembled
in over a dozen showcases. A special exhibit
on "Creative Aspects of the Film" was held
at the Art institute, October 12-28.
Five other special meetings and screenings
of films were held in the Wayne campus
area this week:
Monday—T. V. Adams, supervisor of programs
for National Film Board of Canada,
on "Production for Use." Screenings of "The
Longhouse People" and "The Oysterman."
Tuesday—Matinee screenings of "Canada's
Awakening North," "Folk Song Fantasy,"
"Break Down" and "French Canada 1534-
1848." Evening screening of "The Stars Look
Down."
Wednesday—Matinee screening of British
films, "Alien Orders," "It's a Small World,"
"Local Government," "Looking at Sculpture,"
"Caribbean" and an evening screening of a
dramatic film.
First Run Foreign Films
Tried at Detroit Roxy
DETROIT—Foreign films on a first run
basis are being tried out experimentally by
the Roxy Theatre, operated by the Cohen
circuit, with a dual Italian bill of "Woman,"
directed by Roberto Rossellini, and "Shamed."
Both were sold by Dezel Productions. This
marks the first time the Roxy has used
foreign first runs although the house played
"Bitter Rice" as a subsequent run along with
numerous other Detroit houses. Another innovation
for the current bill is a full week
instead of the usual split policy.
The Roxy is a Woodward avenue house,
normally run on an all-night policy, on the
fringe of the downtown district.
All-Theatre Gift Books
Suggested in Detroit
DETROIT—Plans for continued industrywide
cooperation as a re.sult of the Movietime
campaign are being worked out by
Irving Goldberg, Detroit city chairman, who
called a general meeting to work out details.
"The permanent objective of Movietime
should be for all in the industry to get their
heads and shoulders together," Goldberg said.
•'We must show that there are no ulterior
motives. We are all in this together, and it
does not matter who saves us, the big fellow
or the little fellow."
Specifically, Goldberg is proposing an areawide
theatre gift book, which will be accepted
for admissions in all theatres. The idea has
been widely used in the past here, especially
by United Detroit Theatres within its own
circuit, but never by exhibitors as a group.
A clearing house to handle the problem raised
by coupons redeemable at different prices,
according to the theatre, would be established.
The idea would result in spreading out this
extra business, through all cooperating theatres,
Goldberg said.
Rapid Film Processing
Is Shown by Eastman
DETROIT—Fast processing of motion picture
film was shown dramatically by Eastman
film of the Photographic Society of Ameriica
convention here. Pictures taken on 16mm
film during the program were developed on
the spot, and projected at once, with the
first frame coming through the apparatus in
about two minutes.
Standard film development was used, with
the developer sprayed on, at 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sodium sulphide was used as the second
developer. The process was said by an
Eastman representative not to be commercially
practical at this time, although it is
being used in certain types of theatre television
installations using film.
Also adaptable to theatre use was the Baldwin
Photoelectric Organ displayed at the
convention. Eastman also displayed a new
Double Image Colorama, well adapted for a
variety of dual purpose theatre display uses.
John E. Dyer, 67, Stricken;
An Actor for 47 Years
DETROIT—John E. Dyer, 67, who appeared
in motion pictures in the 1930's, died here
October 11. Best known as straight man in
a team with Frank Fay for seven years, he
had a long stage career, starting in 1904, and
appeared at one time with Douglas Fairbanks
on stage in "The Gentleman from Mississippi."
In recent years, he appeared in
commercial films produced in Detroit by the
Jam Handy Organization and Ross Roy. His
wife Nellie survives. Interment was in Grand
Lawn cemetery.
Durward Coe Sells Riaho
DAISYTOWN, PA.—Durward Coe has sold
the Rialto here to George Millan of California,
Pa. The new proprietor just took
over and the theatre will be licensed by
Vincent J. Corso, Pittsburgh agent.
While the Christmas season presents the
obvious maximum potential for sales of gift
books, a substantial volume could be spread
throughout the year by effective promotional
activities.
Meantime, Ernest T. Conlon, general secretary
for Movietime in Michigan, said the tremendous
uplift the theatre has enjoyed
through Movietime in Michigan must be continued.
Further activities will take a perhaps less
colorful, but just as important, direction, with
the committee objectives now "to stimulate
and encourage immediate and aggre.ssive action
through clinics held throughout the
state, where members of Women's clubs,
Parent-Teacher and other groups may attend
and where speakers representing the motion
picture may present it in a favorable light."
Other parts of the program are talks on w-hat
the motion picture theatre is doing in providing
proper entertainment, and instructing
the public on the part the PTAs perform in
various civic programs.
Detroit Madison Plays
Most Roadshow Films
DETROIT — The Madison Theatre, oldest
major theatre property of United Detroit circuit,
is being virtually converted to a roadshow
house, with "A Streetcar Named Desire'.'
set to go in on that ba'is following the current
engagement of "David and Bathsheba."
House has been getting a diversified policy,
including a period as a second run, but has
proved its continued drawing power on special
product and is likely to remain the ace
spot for such specialized booking when product
is available.
The aftermath of consent decree proceedings
gives UDT only three downtown houses,
restricting the choice of locale for particular
product, but apparently strengthening the
average booking in the remaining houses.
'Meet Me After the Show'
Title Taken Literally
BELLEVUE, PA. — Expert yeggs blasted
open the safe in the Bellevue early Friday
(19) and fled with $1,000 which represented
three days' receipts. The loot also included
important office papers and personal effects.
The safecrackers entered the theatre through
a side fire exit, then broke a lock in the office
The yeggs evidently "souped" the vault
with nitro-glycerine, a trademark of professional
cracksmen. John C. Miller, who manages
the theatre for Ike Browarsky. ruefully
admitted the feature film might have proved
too suggestive. The title: "Meet Me After the
Show."
Reject Fair Employment Bill
TOLEDO—The city council last week rejected
a proposed fair employment practices
bill by a 5 to 4 vote despite the support of
labor and minority groups. The proposal was
opposed by newspapers here, who said the
measure was politically inspired to affect the
November 6 general election.
BOXOFFICE :
: October 27, 1951 ME
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