I
, . mmermon,
J
T P Tidwell, J H. Aletonder, S«be Mider, Mark
'^f^
Forirancii manager, presenting scroll; William C. Gehring, assistant general solesmonoger of 20th-Fox; and Bill Williams, office manoger
^*TXAS TIPS ITS HAT TO SALESMEN
FIR ROLE IN MOVIETIME CAMPAIGN
Enttrcd o ucend-clui mitlv at the Post Oftice
at Kaniu City, Mo., under the act of March 3, 1879.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
EDITION
Inc'uding the Sectional Htwi Psgrt of AM Eddtons
DECEMBER 9 5 1
Page 14
, N.
UOVADI
DOING 133%
OF "GWTW"
BUSINESS IN
FIRST 8 SPOTS
Tlie puLlic lias spoleen. All first dates are history-making!
Imagine! National average is 133%
of "GWTW"! Wlien you've got tke goods tlie
people will clieerfully pay. Here are the cities
wKicli prove in tkeir first
5 days [ai press time)
tliat "Quo Vadis" is tlie Greatest Entertainment
of All Time:
PITTSBURGH, SAN FRANCISCO,
ATLANTA, CLEVELAND, ST. LOUIS,
MEMPHIS. In its 3rd week in NEW YORK
it teats "GWTW at tlie Astor Ly 17% and
at tne Capitol ny 48%.
M - G - M prcenl.
QUO VADIS
ROBERT
TAYLOR
LEO GENN
DHBO RAH,
KERR 1
.....1
PETER USTINOV
Col,., I.v
TECHNICOLOR
lOllN Um MAillN
Hi:i!K>\AN SONVA I.I-VIKN
Basctl on lilt- Nnvi-1 liy
IliMiiyU Sionlticwii-7,
MHKVYN l.cROY
r,,..l.u...l
I.v
SAM /IMHAI-IST
A Milr..>.M>l.lwvi|.M.iyir riiliirc
II
Dtlowe
Cinene
CWttr
^ hta
L
I'
'
rRAD£
SEE IT IN
THEATRES!
It is fitting that M-G-M's masterpiece
will
he snown nerore specially
'!»
k
DEC. lO'i- TO DEC. W^
:AS
AlANY
BCrON
Bl^ALO
listed BELOW!
PLACE THEATRE ADDRESS DATE HOUR
ORLOTTE
Ct!:ACO
CllflNNATI
dAas
Dt|VER
demoines
DijlOIT
inIanapolis
JA'KSONVIllE
K/|ISAS CITY
LC. ANGELES
MljVAUKEE
MIMEAPOIIS
N« HAVEN
Nl ORLEANS
OIAHOMA CITY
OI\HA
PKADELPHIA
, 'CTIAND
JS*' LAKE CITY
!
SErTLE
tWHINGTON
Delawore
N E. Mutual Hall
Cinema
Visulile
Adelphi
Ambassador
Captain
Federal
Uptown
Globe
Cornel
San Marco
Kimo
Picvyood
Century
Granada
Bijou
Imperial
Will Rogers
Dundee
Erlonger
Laurelhurst
Villa
Green Lake
Circia
290 Delaware Ave. 12/10 8:30 P.M.
225 Clarendon Street 12/11 8:30 P.M.
647 Main 12/10 8:30 P.M.
1615 Eliiabelh Avenue 12/10 8:30 P.M.
7074 North Clark 12/10 8:30 P.M.
306S Modison Rood 12/11 8:30 P.M.
Cooitol and Henderson Ave. 12/11 8:30 P.M.
3830 Federal Boulevard 12/1) 8:30 P.M.
4115 University Avenue 12/12 8:30 P.M.
3520 Grand River Ave. 12/10 8:30 P.M.
2145 Talbot Avenue 12/11 8:30 P.M.
1996 San Marco Boulevard 12/10 8:30 P.M.
3319 Main Street 12/14 8:30 P.M.
10872 Pico Boulevard 12/11 8:00 P.M.
2342 No. Third Street 12/10 8:30 P.M.
3022 Hennepin Ave. 12/12 8:30 PM
Church Street 12/10 8:30 P.M.
814 Hagen Avenue 12/11 9:00 P.M.
4322 N. Western 12/10 8:30 P.M.
4952 Dodge Street 12/10 8:30 P.M.
21st and Market 12/10 8:30 P.M.
2733 East Burnside 12/11 8:30 P.M.
3092 Highland Drive 12/10 8:30 P.M.
7107 Woodlown Avenue 12/12 8:30 P.M.
2105Penn$ylvaniaAv.,N.W. 12/13 8:30 PM
invited audiences in tneatres. Invitations
nave neen mailed. If yours nas
not arrived, come anynow. Guests
will include, in addition to exninitors,
community leaders, clergy,
press and radio representatives. No
one snould miss tnis most important
trade snow or our time.
'^^^m^'^'^Tw^.
i
I
A Statement in
AppreciaticnI^'
||^l1|o award we have ever received has had th(
JJL ^1 significance of the honor of being namec
"Pioneers of the YearV. We are most grateful.
We want to thank the Motion Picture Pioneeri,
the trade press, the newspapers and all our friends whc
were so generous in their tributes.
In a large sense all of us engaged in so creative ar
industry as the making of motion pictures are pioneer:
— and will continue to be pioneers as we continue tc
create new and ever higher standards of entertainmeni
and public service for the millions upon millions whc
attend our motion picture theatres.
The potential force of motion pictures for gooc
{
(tliei
Tli
t.
i
hitd
Ilk
istr)
has just begun to be tapped. All that has been done ii
only a foundation for future greatness, but we can take
pride in the fact that our foundation is a firm one. It i*
loui
Wi
solid bedrock for future generations of pioneers tc
build upon.
We were particularly pleased, when the plaque
was presented to us as ''Pioneers of the YearV to see
j
F0«
icJF
A Great Honor
'
jngraved
on it the words
"
[for their unswerving faith
S in
motion pictures and in
heir industry as a bulwark
)f the American way of lifeV
This is the faith we
I
iiave held for half a century.
^ith this faith we go
orward confident as
ever
n the greatness of our
ndustry's place in
MOTION PICTUBt PIOMtCHS.lNf
PROUOLy HONOR
WONEERSINTHETPUE AMERICAM TR/kDITlOU TOR THCIR
VISION /.NO CKTEKPRISt IN BRINGING 30UU0 TO
THE SCREtN THE IH
, BOUNDIESS COURAGE IN RL A71WC
A NEW PATH IN SCREEN ENTtRTAINMEK'T AMD RUBt.lC Sf RVI'
AUD FOR THEIR UNiWtRVl'lG FAITH IN MOTION PiaURCS
AK5 IH THEIR II40USTRYAS A BULWARK OFTHE AMERKAM \fJk\
OF LIFE. WE IJIVHIMOUSLV WClARETltt VVARNFR BROS.
P«ESENTEG OHIHE OCCASION OF TJtf. TWtLHH ANNOAL
DllJNff? llOVtMfttH IL'" I hi )E1 1 1 II Hl)MI>hEb /WiHHV-OUt
the world and more determined
:han ever, with God's help, to remain active in this
industry;,
We wish to express gratitude to our co-workers
and our exhibitor friends for helping us follow the
|)ath we have chosen. This is the industry to which
we have devoted most of our lives. We look forward
to long years together firm in the conviction that
Warner Bros. Pictures always will hold a proud place
in this industry's accomplishments.
i
-tJ/wve^u-^
^CUX'X^'U/KJ
This trio. Clirton Webb, Anne Francis and William Lundigan. make up the big Yuletide package
coming from 20th Century-Fox. The title of the picture Is "Elopement" and It's just the kind of
merry-making to start the New Year off with a rush!
(Adrertlsement)
I
•- Hj.l|yi
I
y if .
""--!w-«i-»w»way
ru^e- o/- t/ie '7/Mmn rtcfiiJie //idtUh//
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Puhllihed in Nine Sectional Editions
BEN SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chiei and Publisher
[AMES M. JERAULD Editor
NATHAN COHEN....Execulive Editor
IlESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor
llVAN SPEAR Western Editor
THATCHER....Equipmenl Editor
k. L.
lOHN G. TINSLEY.Advertising Mgr.
Published Every Saturday by
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS
iEiiitorial Otfices: Itnolcefeller I'Iiikii. Nph
|Vorl( 20. N. Y. Jolin (i. Tlnslcy. Ailrfrlls-
M.iniiRer; .lames M. .leraiild. IMItor;
llnK
riie'lfr Friedman. Rdllnr Slmomandlser
iSrctlon: 1.011 11. Oerard. Hdltor Prnmiillcin
SfClInn; A. .1. Btnrkfr. Eqiilpnient Advprllnlns.
Teleiihnne miiimliiis 5 (i:!7n
Publication Offices: S2.5 Vim Itniiit lilvd.,
Kansas Clip 1. Mo. Nathan Tolien. K\rei\-
Rdllnr: .lease Slilyen. Managing Bdl-
Inr- Morris Selilnr.mali.
llie
Htislness MnnaKor
TliaWier. Editor TTie Modern Theatre
I i,
Section: Herbert flonsh. Sales Mnnacer
Telephone cnestniit 7777.
Central Offices: Editorial—624 S, MIohltan
Ate.. Chleauo 5. 111. .Innns rrrlhrrE.
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ANdover 3-3042.
I
Western Offices: Editorial and Film Adver-
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I
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The MOPEHN TUBATUB Section Is Included
In the first Ifsne of earh mnnthnie
PIinMftTinN section Is Included In
the third Issue of each month.
Albany: 21-23 Walter Ave., J. S. Conners.
Rlrmlngham: The Newa. Rddle Badger.
Roston: Frances W. nardlng. Mh. 2-9305
rharlntte: 216 W. 4th. Pauline Orifflth.
rinclnnati: 4029 Heading. I.llllan Lnzarns
rieieland: BIsle I-oeb, Falrmount 1-0046
rinllas: (112% W. .lefferson. Frank Hradley
Denver: 1046 I^fnyette. .lock Hose
nes Moines: lieglster-Trlhnne. Hiiss Rehorh
Detroit: Fox Theatre Hldg.. H F Heves
Indianapolis: Koute 8. Hox 770. Howard
M. RndeailJ, f!A 3339.
Memphis: 707 Spring St.. Null Adorns.
Minneapolis: 2123 Fremont. So.. I.es Dees
Neiv Haven: 42 Church, flertrude Lander
New Orleans; Frances .Inrdan. N.O. States
Okla. City: Terminal Rldg., Polly Trlndle
Omaha: Oil 51st St.. Irving Haker.
Phlladelnhla: 6303 Harks, Norman Shlcnn
Pittsburgh: It. F. Kllngensmlth, 510 .leannelte.
Wllklnshurg. Churehlll l-2R0fl.
Portland. Ore.: Arnold Marks. Oregon
.lonrnal. Advertising: Mel Hlfkman. 907
Terminal Sales Hldg.. ATwater 4107.
St. I*ula: 5149 Ilnsa. Havlrt Harrott.
Ralt Lake City: Hoserel News. H. Pearson
San Antonin: 32(1 San Pedro. 11-39230
I.. J. R. Ketner.
a«n Francisco: (lall I.lpman. 26 Taylor St..
Ordway 3-4812. Advertising- .lerry Nnwell,
Howard HIdg., 30fl Post St..
YHkon 0-2522.
Seattle: 1303 Campus Pkny. Have Ballard
In
Canada
Calgary: The Herald. Myron Laka.
Montreal: 4330 Wilson. Hoy Carmlehael
at. .Inhn: 110 Prince Edward. W. MeNulty.
Toronto: I!. It. 1, York Mills, M. (Jalhraith.
Vancouver: Lyric Theatre Hide.. .lack Hrny
Winnipeg: 282 Ruperts. Ben Snmmers.
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Entered as Second Class matter at Post
•ftlce. Kansas Cllv. Mo. Sertlonal Edition.
J3.00 per year: National Edition. $7.50
DECEMBER
Vol. 60
19 5 1
No. 5
THE INDUSTRY'S
Jr WAS in Tpx;is thai the Movictimc
U.S.A. idea originated. In that slate, also, was
born the idea of enlisting the alloul aid of film
salesmen to aeiiuainl exhiliilors with the plan and
to ()l)tain their active parliciiialion toward making
it a success. Now, those "terrific Texans"
have again taken the lead in paying tribute to the
efforts of the film salesmen, a recognition in
appreciation and esteem for a job well done.
In Kansas City tribute was also paid to the
salesmen's efforts in connection with the Mo\ ii
time campaign by the awarding of prizes to
those who led their sales blocks in hel])ing to
obtain the best results.
The outstanding success of Movietime U.S.A.
is due in large measure to the work done at the
local level. It was, in a way, an "emergency"
campaign designed to benefit the entire industry.
For that reason it required intensive effort that
had to be carried out all along the line and in
every nook and cranny of the industry. It was
an "on-the-firing-line" campaign, and. therefore,
it called for the direct action of contact in the
field. The "target" was the public. The closest
contact with the public was the exhibitor. He
had to be given, firsthand, the idea tools with
which to work; he had to be shown how, and
with what, to make the best approaches; he had
to be enthused about his part in this important
undertaking. That took salesmanship, to the
application of which a great measure of credit
must be given for the success of the overall effort.
This does not overlook the many other factors
that played important parts in support of the
campaign and in which the industry jiress gave
extraordinary
assistance.
The film salesman is the "doughboy" of this
industry. He is in the front line of action, always
at the meeting point between the industrv and
the public—the theatre. The job the film salesmen
did so well on behalf of Movietime U.S.A.
is ample demonstration of their worth to anv
industry endeavor that is concerned with public
relations.
The salesmen's contacts with the exhibitors
can be put to use on the industry's behalf, not
only in cultivating exhibitor and public goodwill,
but actually in bringing to the exhibitor practical
ideas that will serve to increase ticket sales.
From
time to time, our news pages have carried reports
of exceptional examples along this line.
The constant concern, especially in recent
times, with the need for more aggressive showmanship,
better programming and other improvements
in modus operandi by exhibitors, calls
for
DOUGHBOYS'
measures, beyond the ordinary, in which salesmen
can be of considerable aid. We know of
man) instances in which salesmen have rendered
yeoman service in this direction, going beyond
the immediate inlcrest of their particular companies
and presenting to exhibitors ideas for
promotion even on the product of other distributors.
This evidences a "for-the-industry" spirit
liial it would be well to emulate on a broad scale.
There has been criticism of exhibitors for
alleged apathv in the use of promotional means
and materials at their disposal. This reminds
of the days when salesmen sold pictures largely
bv means of displaying the paper and accessories
asailable for their merchandising. Perhaps the
e\liil)itors' interest in such things can be stimulated
bv reviving and stepping up such effort.
It mav also be of value to give consideration to
the view that a sale is not completed until the
picture is sold to the |)ublic.
That carries through
to the objective interest of everyone in this business,
whether he be aligned with production, distribution
or exhibition.
A Change of Pace
A refreshing change of procedure at exhibitors'
conventions was introduced at the recent
meeting of the Kansas-Missouri Theatres .Ass'n.
There, instead of representatives of film companies
arising to extol the virtues of their products,
exhibitors, themselves, did the extolling.
To carry out this part of a program that was
devoted, almost in
its entirety, to the merchandising
phase of theatre o|>erations. assignments were
made to exhibitors—one for each picture company—to
analyze and to highlight the important
facts concerning the coming top pictures. These
presentations were accomjianied by the showing
of trailers, in some instances, and the display of
advertising materials in others. It was quite interesting,
as well as novel, to hear exhibitors at •
tuallv "sell" pictures in this fashion to their
fellow-exhibitors. In some instances complete
campaigns were outlined for specific pictures,
with suggestions made for their adaptation to
local
situations.
This certainly is a change of pace that offers
opportunity for development and in which there
should be a growing trade interest. It reminds,
again, of our frequent contention that the profit
of this business is in selling the picture to the
public. To do the best job, exhibitors must first
be well informed and thoroughly sold. Enthusiasm
begets enthusiasm.
{jLyu /^Mtf^^^
ROADSHOW
EXHIBITORS HIT
RENTALS ON AVERAGE' FILMS
TOA Makes Public 'Highly
Critical Condemnations'
And Urges Arbitration
NEW YORK—The recent invitation of
the Theatre O^mers of America to exhibitors
to submit complaints on trade practices
has already resulted in a basketful. These
wUl be forwarded to distributors and producers
for their study.
The complaints were made public by
Gael Sullivan, executive director, who said
that the •unsotind sales strategies being
adopted by distributors in establishing
roadshow film rentals on average or
normal boxoffice attractions" are causing
exhibitor protests all over the nation. He
said that the industry's claim to being the
greatest mass medium, of entertainment
will become "a much-derided myth if the
comments now reaching us from the west
coast are shortly reflected in distributor
demands on upcoming features."
AN "ECONOnC STKAITJ.ACKET"
"•The exhibitor, through mounting costs,
personnel expenses, taxation and other factors.'"
said Sullivan, 'ns in an economic straitjacket
as it is. and any further hampering of
his initiative will be adding a noose to his
neck. Foresighted and farsighted distributors
must see the necessity of equitable film
rental terms that will permit the exhibitor a
fair return and insure a much wider market
for the playoff of their product.
"I am releasing a number of exhibitor complaints
that have come from all sections of
the country, but they are a small part of
hundreds of highly critical condemnations
that have come to me about distributor sales
policies that are disrupting relationships between
distribution and exhibition. Nothing
so clearly highlights the need for an equitable
system of arbitration to resolve these cleavages
that are developing between distributors and
exhibitors."
LOEWXNSTEIN STATEMENT
"Pvepresentative" exhibitor complaints released
by Sullivan follow;
Morris Loewenstein, president. Theatre
Owners of Oklahoma — "Please enter an
urgent protest by Theatre Owners of Oklahoma
against the establishment of the general
bidding practices now threatened in this
industry. Their use wiU only widen exhibitordistributor
disharmony. We, who devote ourselves
to building better relations, while not
seeking to dictate sales policies, would be
remiss not to point out the potential dangers
of this spreading evil.
"The consent decree never contemplated the
establishment of an auction market for film,
but rather sought by suggestion to clarify
actual competitive situations. To open unrestricted
bidding on the national scale, in
our opinion, is an unclever subterfuge to
create fake competition and thereby, indirectly,
dictate admission prices, defeating
the very intent of the court's order."
J. H. Thompson. Hawkinsville. Ga.—"At
our regular monthly meeting November 14, 52
Exhibitor Ass'n Presidents Who Issued Statements
Bob Bryant
CaTolinas
C. E. Cook
Kansas-Missouri
Georgia exhibitors, representing approximately
60 per cent of the theatres of Georgia,
attended. A strong resentment was voiced by
members in attendance against the ever-increasing
demand for higher percentage on
ordinary pictures, especially the demanding
of road-show terms, with admissions upped.
"It is hard for the average exhibitor to
understand why production companies expend
so much energy and effort in trying to
extract higher and higher film rental from
exhibitors instead of putting their energy
and effort into producing pictures that will
earn more at the boxoffice, and it is still
harder for the patrons to understand why
we want increased admission prices for entertainment
that is no better than the ordinary
run of pictures."
LUST EXPRESSES HIS \'IEWS
— Sidney Lust, Washington, D. C. "Roadshow
film rentals are going to hurt our business
worse than it is, and believe me it's
pretty bad. I am sure the exchanges know
that. We played "Bathsheba' at $1 top, bought
it for a week in one or two of our de luxe
residential theatres. Three or four days
would have been sufficient because the last
two days we didn't have over 200 people in
the house, but had plenty of squawks.
"I see no reason for such tactics. Producers
had better change their mode of selling and
modernize it instead of worrying about increased
admissions."
R. R. Livingston, president, Nebraska Theatre
Ass'n— "If producers continue to force
roadshows and rentals whereby the exhibitors
will have to advance their admissions, they
will do more to wreck the exhibitor who is
already having a hard time. They will create
a thought in the patrons' minds that the only
good pictures that they can see are the advanced
price pictures, inasmuch as admitting
that the remaining 80 per cent of the programs
are no good. Bidding is destroying
theatre organizations, for it makes exhibitors
mad at each other and they will no longer
work together."
Robert E. Bryant, president. Theatre Owners
of North and South Carolina — "Plea-se
inform production heads that further attempts
to employ roadshow rental gimmicks
for ordinary features, forcing advanced admission
prices, will arou.se strong and vigorous
Jay Solomon
Tennessee
>L E. Hensler
Florida
exhibitor resentment everywhere and create
frictions on film rentals that are unnecessary.
Such tactics will result in buyer resistance
and ultimate diminishing returns. PubUc
resistance is already terrific against upped
admissions. Better pictures are the answer,
with more playing time by the exhibitors and
with more reasonable admissions."
Louis K. Ansell, board chairman. Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern
Missouri and Southern Illinois— ""Public resentment
against increased admission prices
for any pictures roadshown, so-called, including
those truly worthy of the designation,
is heard by us on all sides, augmented by letters
from people, published in the daily newspapers
roundly condemning the theatres, as
for example this excerpt from yesterday's
Post: "Do they lower the mo\"ie prices when
they give you a stinker? I'm going to get a
TV set and stay home.' "
JAY SOLOMON FLAKES POINT
Jay Solomon, president, Tennessee Theatre
Owners Ass'n— "Receiving numerous complaints
from grassroots exhibitors of our
organization about patrons complaining about
so many advanced-admissions or roadshow
pictures which are now in release or being
released—some of the caliber of Streetcar
Named Desire'—when they are fighting so
hard to get the lost audience back into the
theatres with the Mo^-ietime campaign."
B. B. Gamer, Lakeland, Fla.—"Dark days
are ahead for exhibitors unless generally they
refuse the demands of distributors for features
to be exhibited under rental terms
compelling raised admission prices, such as
'David and Bathsheba.' Talgar Theatre Co.
resents such tactics and will not exhibit same.
This poUcy by distributors is an effort eventually
to establish higher film rental terms on
all top product as a definite goal.
"Motion picture theatre attendance was
built up on low admission prices and entertainment
for the masses. Film bidding i^
suicide. Exhibitors need a system of arbitration.
Your organization should make a strenuous
effort to have bidding outlawed by the
government and arbitration adopted, which
plan all exhibitors need."
Charles R. Gilmour, Denver—"We have
recently completed several so-called roadshow
engagements at some of our theatres. Patron
H
fl»f?EGD
8
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
i
eaction at all showings was critical and in
many instances abusive. There might be some
reason for advanced admissions on a picture
such as 'Quo Vadis.' It is our opinion that
exhibitors generally should stop the practice
becoming widespread of so-called roadshow
pictures."
Pat McGee. Denver—"An occasional roadshow
feature such as Quo Vadis' can be digested
by the industry, but if every betterthan-usual
picture is to receive such treatment,
mnumerable theatres will be compelled
to close their doors because of the lessening
supply of product. The public will rebel even
more if every excuse is used to raise admission
prices.
"I consider attempts at forced bidding completely
dishonest and not required to produce
the revenue needed to pay production costs.
Production and distribution must stUl lend an
ear co e.xhibition's problems, although present
mdications show a growing lack of concern
over the state of boxoffice health."
.\RTHVR LOCKWOOD ST.\TEMENT
Archur H. Lockwood. Boston— 'The practice
of forcing exhibitors to increase admission
prices on pictures not of roadshow caJiber.
but which are considered boxoffice attractions,
is undermining further the weakened
structure of exhibition in this territory. Such
forcing is effected by requiring uniform percentage
terms so high as to preclude, automatically,
regular admissions. Unfortimately
the public blames the theatres, not the producers,
for these price increases, which serve
to coimteract and defeat the beneficial effects
of the Movietime campaign."
C. E. Cook, president. Kansas-Missouri
Theatre Ass'n "I have called a number of
circuit heads and representative independent
exhUjitors in the Kansas City territory who
vigorously oppose Lncreased-admission features,
which result in depressed business following
their engagement and set up u n fair
precedents. Some report Quo Vadis' and
Greatest Show on Earth' possible exceptions.
"They refuse to buy in closed towns but
are forced in competitive situations to protect
their interests. All urge TOA's continued activity
on this and other trade practices as
evidenced by press reports."
FROM M. E.
HEXSLER
M. E. Hensler. president. Motion Picture
Exhibitors of Florida — "We feel that the
roadshow film-rental gimmicks that are being
employed by the film compames in their
sales policies on several just-ordinary releases
will practically force the exhibitors to
show them at advanced admissions. Moreover,
we feel such selling policies are unwarranted
and create impractical wholesale bidding,
which in turn will affect the sound
economy of our business."
Edward E. Pringle, secretary. Colorado Ass'n
of Theatre Owners — "At recent meetings of
our association, bitter objections to roadshows
and other methods of forcing high film rentals
from exhibitors have been voiced by our
members. They point out that tiie moviegoing
public vociferously resents the advancedadmission
prices which exhibitors are forced
to charge to meet the rental terms forced upon
them by unrestricted and unreasonable use of
bidding and of roadshows."
Tom Edwards. Farmington. Mo,—" "Quo
Vadis' is the third picture sold recently at
such terms that admission prices must be
raised. Advise exhibitors to pass them, as
the public resents raised admissions on the
cream when they pay regular for skim milk."
Johnston Back at MPAA,
With 3 ESA Officials
NE'W IfORK—The proposed addition of
three government officials by Eric Johnston,
Motion Picture Ass'n of America president.
to important posts in the organization came
up for consideration at a board meeting late
in the week. There must be board approval
before high-ranking officials can assume
duties.
The officials, whose identities leaked out
without formal statement from Johnston, are
Ralph D. Hetzel jr.. assistant operations head.
Economic Stabilization Agency, of which
Johnston has been director on leave from the
MPAA; George C. Vietheer. deputy assistant
head of operations. ESA. and Edward
Cooper, staff director, senate majority poUcy
committee.
SPECULATION RIFE ON DUTIES
The news that Johnston planned to transfer
them to the MPAA came as a bombshell
to the personnel in both the Washington and
New York offices, and speculation was rife
as to what posts they would be assigned.
The best guess was that Hetzel will take
over as executive vice-president in charge of
the New York office, the post occupied by
Francis S. Harmon until he resigned because
of illness. It has been vacant since then.
Vietheer. who has experience in labor relations,
was expected to take over the duties
of Edward T. Cheyfitz. assistant to the president,
who has resigned. Cooper's assignment
was less clear. He is a former newspaperman
and could conceivably fill the position in the
Washington public relations department
vacated by Manning Clagett. who resigned to
settle the estate of his father, the late Judge
Brice Clagett.
Johnston, who will return to MPAA December
3. is expected to spend most of the
time in New York instead of Washington,
where he has been located. Kenneth Clark.
MPAA information director, who followed
Johnston when the latter took over his government
post last January, is expected to
return to New York. Joyce CHara, assistant
to Johnston, is expected to remain in Washington
in charge of the office there.
INTJUSTRY STATISTICS N'EEDED
Some believe that Johnston will try to
bring all three branches of the industry into
agreement on an arbitration system.
Johnston has also said several times in the
past that the motion picture industry is the
only important industry without swrcess to
statistics. He threatened several months ago
to close out the MPAA research department
because member companies failed to supply
it with what he considered necessary statistics.
Later he reduced its force.
Hetzel is a native of Oregon. He has held
executive posts with the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, the War Production Administration
and the Department of Commerce.
Vietheer was born in New York. He
has handled labor relations for the army, was
personnel officer in the Department of Commerce
and U.S. representative to the United
Nations conference on public administration.
Cooper is a native of Montana. He has b«en
a communications specialist for the senate
interstate and foreign commerce committee.
ERIC JOHNSTON
David J. Greene Answers
Sol SchwcETtz' Challenge
NEW YORK— David J. Greer.e ::-.ve.>-.ment
broker, has fired another gun m the baale
for RKO Theatre proxies to be used at the
stockholders' meeting December 6. He wants
to know why the company's current assets
cannot be used to acquire some of Howard
Hughes' trtisteed stock for retirement, thereby
strengthening the company. He also repeats
that the management owns only 1.800
shares and that the 929.020 shares of Hughes'
stock can be voted only by the Irving Trust Co.
Greene's latest letter was in reply to Sol
Schwartz's challenge to Greene to "TeH AIL"
That challenge was in the form of a letter
to stockholders and Greene says it was a
"mass of hysterical accusations and halftruths."
"On June 30. 1951." Greene writes, "our
company had an excess of current assets,
including cash and government bonds, over
current liabilities, of ST.850.000. It operated
some 95 theatres.
"Mr. Greene pointed out to Mr. SchwarU
that our cash was out of proportion to the
number of theatres that the company operated,
as compared with the cash and number
of theatres of other companies and suggested
that our cash be put to work instead
of lying idle."
Greene says he made the specific
suggestion
that the board try to buy Hughes' stock.
Red Hearings Postponed
WASHINGTON—Frank Tavenner.
counsel
of the house un-American activities committee
announced on Tuesday i27> that further
Washington hearings on Hollywood Communism
will not be held until after the first
of the year. It had been planned to hold
more hearings in December. Tavenner said
that the postponement does not mean the
uivestigation is closed.
BOXOFFICE December 1. 1951
I
wbury,
Eastern Pennsylvania Allied
Calls Mass Meeting Dec. 4
All independent exhibitors invited to session
for discussion of trade practices at Hotel
Brentwood, Philadelphia; principal topics increased
admissions and spread of dual bills.
Fred A. Beedle Is Re-elected
Western Pa. Allied Head
Exhibitors at 31st annual convention in
Pittsburgh uphold AUied's stand against Increased
admission prices for special pictures
and against enforced sales policies on percentage
pictures.
Schine Circuit Allowed
Extension to Dec. 3
Granted two more weeks' time in which to
comply with terms of the consent decree;
about seven theatres remain to be divested,
according to the Department of Justice.
Maurice Bergman Not Available
For COMPO Executive Job
Director of U-I public relations says he is
"flattered" by mention of his name as successor
to Arthur L. Mayer, but that it is impossible
for him to accept.
¥
New Firm Builds TV Sets
With 30x40-Inch Screen
Visonic Co. of Cleveland announces it has
started production of TV apparatus for homes.
Utilizing a series of mirrors to pick up the
image from a special screen and project it to
the screen.
UA Wm Try to Stop Sale
Of Seven ELC 16mm Films
Pictorial Films intends to release "The Long
Dark Hall," "Destination Moon," "The Jackie
Robinson Story," "The Winslow Boy," "The
Great Rupert," "The Golden Gloves Story"
and "Tulsa."
-K
Edmund Grainger Contract
With RKO Is Extended
Terms call for delivery of a minimum of
ten top-budgeted features during the next five
years; pact goes into effect at the end of the
year when the producer's current deal terminates.
K
John Huston to Produce
Two More UA Features
On leave of absence from MGM, for whom
he directed "Red Badge of Courage," he recently
completed "The African Queen" in
a.ssociation with the British firm, Romulus
Films, for UA.
Hope Leaves Wheeling, W. Va.
Despite Orders of Doctor
Takes off after premiere at Bellaire, Ohio,
in .spite of doctor's statement that he has 102-
flegree temperature and goes to Camp At-
Ind., for a .show.
Industry Kept Guessing
On L B. Mayer at UA
NEW YORK—Whether Louis B. Mayer is
trying to form a producing company that
would distribute through United Artists, with
a share in management,
or whether he
is angUng to take control
of the company
are two questions now
supplying material for
plenty of trade gossip
this week.
Mayer and his legal
Louis B.
Mayer
adviser, Mendel B. Silverberg,
have been in
frequent conferences
with Serge Semenenko,
vice-president of the
First National Bank of
Boston, during the past two weeks. Semho
had much to do enenko is the man w
with
the recent acquisition of control of Universal-
International by Decca Records and he is
also the figure around whom the negotiations
for exhibitor financing of production revolved
more than a year ago. S. H. Fabian,
circuit executive, and Semenenko also were
prominent in an attempt to take over United
Artists before that venture.
Arthur B. Krim. president of UA, however,
says no formal proposition has been
put before himself and his associates
Robert S. Benjamin, William J. Heineman
and Max E. Youngstein.
Under the terms of their three-year
option they can take over half the
Mary Pickford - Charles Chaplin stock if
the company is in the black at the end of
any one of the three years. The first year will
expire December 31, and it is claimed that
the company is now in the black.
What to Do With Television Apparatus
Is
$64 Question Facing Exhibitors
NEW YORK—What to put on a theatre
screen after a television has been installed is
now the $64 question facing exhibitors. And
how to pay the carrying charges after the installation
has also become one of their important
worries. These charges are heavy, both for
the apparatus and the wire connections which
the telephone companies put in on a contract
basis and for which they submit bills monthly.
The bills average $175.
S. H. Fabian has his upstate manager, Leo
Rosen, looking into sources of program material
and will make the results of the study
available to other exhibitors.
Nathan L. Halpern, president of Theatre
Network Television, who made the arrangements
for the series of boxing matches televised
in the 15 or more theatres that had projectors
at that time and thereby stirred up a
mild rush of orders for new units, is also
looking for new program sources. He has
put a proposal up to the Radio City Music
Hall to make the Christmas show available
for theatre TV. He figures there are about
50 installations in or about to go in and
fore.sees a total of 100 in the next few months.
He is trying earnestly to come up with some
answers to the programming problem.
Rosen does not intend to invade Halpern's
field, leaving him free to continue to make
individual contracts with exhibitors for each
sporting event he obtains the rights to, but
is looking especially at the possibility of televising
legitimate shows and of producing
special shows. Since Federal Communications
Commis.sion approval of special frequencies
for the industry seem a long way off, these
would be routed to theatres by telephone company
coaxial cable or microwave.
United Paramount Theatre is conducting
its own survey of television possibilities. Although
investigating presentations of Broadway
shows, the emphasis, according to statements
by Robert H. O'Brien, is more on
making the theatre a community center than
on boxoffice returns. Talks have been held
with representatives of government agencies
and with educators, among others, on offhours
television presentations on a flat theatre
rental fee basis. UPT has said it is not
so much interested in the commercial returns
as in building up community goodwill.
American Telephone & Telegraph Co. officials
here could not supply any figures on
the number of theatre lead-in wires installed
throughout the country, as those installations
are handled by the local Bell System companies.
But it vi'as said that each installation
costs a telephone company about $12,000.
depending on the length of wire and number
of amplifiers, and that because of material
shortages and a large backlog of phone requests
it prefers not to go ahead with installations
until there is tangible evidence that
they will be put to use.
The picture changes rapidly day by day
but at the present time there are about 50
permanent theatre television installations
throughout the country. The total number
of orders placed exceeds 100 by a considerable
margin. Since placement of orders by
exhibitors is often considered a trade secret,
no true figure can be given. Then there are
other exhibitors, notably large chains like Fox
West Coast, which will undoubtedly equip
many theatres.
The main roadblock at the moment to
program-
development of theatre television is
ming, hence Fabian's decision to assign
Rosen, a veteran showman, to see what can
be done about it and how quickly it can be
done. However, there are other comphcations
clouding the outlook for the future .such as
the Eidophor .system, which 20th Century-
Fox will promote, and the new Paramount
tube. Both of these h&ve been hailed as
showing great promise of presenting programs
in color.
M
\
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10 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
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MUSIC BV MM STCIWII
E. C. RHODEN DISCUSSES SWISS TV SYSTEM
Sees Eidophor Telecasts
In Units of 200 Houses
E. C. Rhoden addressing South Side Business Ass'n in Kansas City this week.
At his right, L to R, are: Senn Lawler, director of advertising-publicity for Fox
Midwest Theatres; Arthur Cole, Paramount's representative on Filmrow; and J. L.
Batchler, Kansas City Life Insurance Co., chairman.
KANSAS CITY—When 20th
Century-Fox
introduces the Swiss Eidophor theatre television
system in this country, it will experiment
with regional groups of 200 theatres to
be serviced with programs from a central
telecasting studio, E. C. Rhoden, president
of Fox Midwest Theatres Co., told a business
group here this week. Many local film
industry members also attended.
Rhoden, who inspected the Eidophor system
in Zurich, Switzerland, earlier this month
with the Skouras brothers and Frank H.
Ricketson, president of Fox Intermountain
Theatres, made this revelation in a talk to
the Southside Business Ass'n of Kansas City
on "The Future of the Motion Picture Industry
in Television." J. L. Batchler of the
Kansas City Life Insurance Co., presided.
Rhoden said that the Eidophor apparatus
will be brought to this country in December
and will be shown in January.
The first area in which the 200- theatre TV
circuit will be created will be New York, and
the second will be either Kansas City or
Chicago. It will take this many theatres to
make the programming pay off, he explained.
This group servicing of programs is the
current thinking of the Pox organization, as
to the way theatre television will operate, he
said. The programs will be used to augment
the present feature motion pictures and in
most theatres will be taking the place of the
double feature bill.
"We don't expect much in the way of sports
program.s as a theatre television feature,"
Cost of Movie Same As
15 Minutes of Bowling
KANSAS CITY—Elmer C. Rhoden, Fox
Midwest president, in his talk to the
South Central Business Ass'n here, gave
these reasons why movies are the least
expensive form of entertainment.
The cost of a movie is:
Only 73 per cent of a dry martini.
Only 75 per cent of the cost of a lamb
chop.
Only 32 per cent of the cost of a hair
cut.
Only 15 minutes in a bowling alley.
Rhoden said. "Our company does not regard
sporting events such as football, boxing and
others as important."
The reasoning behind this, he commented,
was that sports events, as a general rule, do
not fall at regular times or at the proper
theatre hours. Further, from experience, it
has been found that delayed telecasts of spot
events are of little value.
"The public wants to see television immediately,
and direct, and loses interest even
if the event is delayed but a few hours,"
Rhoden said.
Tradewise, he had an interesting point for
the Filmrow personnel in the audience.
Through this grouping of theatres on a 200-
situation network, film distribution could be
undertaken by television utilizing microwave
transmission. It could work, at least for first
run theatres. However, Rhoden added that
while this was possible it probably could not
become a practical operation. The newly
developed tape recordings of images, sound
and color may prove more feasible as a means
of distributing film programs, he said.
As for the Eidophor system, Rhoden said
that it was an outstanding contribution to
projection of TV pictiu-es. "The image was
sharp and as good as anything we have to
show on the screen today."
The apparatus can project an image 200
feet to the screen, and give a big-screen picture
60 feet in width.
The carbon arc lamp, which the Swiss have
developed for the projector, is five times as
efficient as the present arc lamps used in
this country, he said, and has twice the
brilliancy of the sun.
Rhoden told the businessmen that, as far
as his company is concerned, executives believe
that home television will work to the
advantage of the motion picture industry.
Television in the home will stimulate new
interest in films in theatres. The only thing
that the exhibitor has to fear is that TV
stations may offer a poor quality of motion
pictures and thereby discourage attendance.
In addition to discussing the Eidophor
system, Rhoden also spoke of his visit to England
where he attended the command performance
and was a guest of J. Arthur Rank
for pheasant hunting and to Paris where he
attended a session of the Big Four conference.
ZOlh-Fox, U-I Toppers
\
'
In Studio Huddles
HOLLYWOOD—Top brass huddles to vieai
new product and plan sales campaignjl
thereon are on the docket to begin Monday!
(10) at two major studios.
Universal-International will bring together
j
its sales executives from all sections of the
country for a five-day conclave on the valley
lot, while 20th Century-Fox home office and
production toppers will meet at the Westwood
studio for similar discussions, expected to
take from a week to ten days.
The 20th Century-Fox conference had
originally been scheduled to begin Monday
(3 1 but was postponed for a week.
One of the principal objectives of the U-I
meetings will be a review and finalization of
release plans for the company's 1952 program
of 36 pictures, half of which will be in Technicolor.
Among those coming to Hollywood
for the conclave are Alfred E. Daff, vicepresident
and director of world sales; Charles
J. Feldman, general sales manager; division
managers including F. J. A. McCarthy, southern
and Canadian; Foster Blake, western;
Peter T. Dana, eastern; James J. Jordan,
circuit sales manager, and district chiefs
David A. Levy, New York; P. F. Rosian,
Cleveland; John J. Scully, Boston; Mannie
M. Gottlieb, Chicago; Barney Rose, San
Francisco; James V. Frew, Atlanta, and
Henry H. Martin, Dallas.
Leo Spitz, executive head of production;
William Goetz, in charge of production, and
Edward Muhl. vice-president and studio general
manager, will head the studio group attending
the meetings. Also in attendance will
be David A. Lipton, vice-president in charge
of advertising and publicity; Al Horwits, studio
publicity chief; Charles Simonelli, eastern
advertising-publicity department manager,
and Philip Gerard, eastern publicity
director.
The 20th Century-Fox parleys will have
President Spyros Skouras; Al Lichtman, distribution
chief; Charles Einfeld. vice-president
in charge of advertising and publicity,
and Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck.
production toppers, as the principal participants.
The huddles will embrace plans for
roadshowlng "Viva Zapata," "With a Song in
My Heart" and "Five Fingers."
MGM 'Vadis' 2-a-Day
Dropped in 3 Keys
NEW YORK — Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer has
dropped its reserved-seat policy on "Quo
Vadis" in three cities, St. Louis, Memphis
and Atlanta, where the engagements were
continuous until the reserved-seat night
showing. The change to continuous run
throughout the day was made following
"some confusion by the pubhc" as to just
when the continuous run each day would end
and the reserved-seat policy would start, according
to MGM executives.
The only two-a-day showings for "Quo
Vadis" remaining are at the Astor Theatre,
New York, where the run started November
8, and at the Four Star. Los Angeles, where
the run started November 29. In both cities,
another theatre is playing the film continuous
run, the Capitol in New York and the
United Artists in Los Angeles. "Quo Vadis"
will also open in two theatres in Boston December
25, with the State probably playing
two-a-day and the Orpheum continuous run.
f
fll
12
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951
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II
There's No Business Like 20th Century-Fox BusinessT
Texas Tips Its Hat to Film Salesmen
Industry Pays Tribute to Job Done in Selling Movietime U.S.A.
T
DALLAS—Texas tipped its ten-gallon hat
film salesmen this week for leading the
to its
way in promoting Movietime U.S.A. in the
Lone Star state.
In the state where R. J. O'Donnell and
Col. H. A. Cole drafted the promotional plans
which culminated in the nationwide Movietime
campaign, it was the film sale.smen who
first took the idea out into the field and sold
more than 1,000 exhibitors on participation.
This week, the 55 salesmen sat on an elevated
dais in the Adolphus hotel—the honor
guests at a dinner—while Filmrow's executives
were relegated to tables on the ballroom
floor. Even O'Donnell and Cole were seated
with "the Uttle shots."
In this way, Texas industryites paid tribute
to the work which the salesmen had done,
not only in pre-selling the Movietime campaign
but in spearheading the public relations
campaign in the smaller communities
through the state.
In addition to O'Donnell and Cole, speakers
included William C. Gehring, assistant
sales chief for 20th Century-Fox; William
McCraw, executive director of Variety Clubs
International; Walter Penn, president of the
Dallas Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen,
and Paul Short, divisional manager for
National Screen Service and chairman of the
banquet committee.
O'Donnell highly complimented the salesmen
for the job they had done. "This Is a
high point in Movietime Texas. You were
the fellows who ran with the ball. I suppose
I am in a good position to tell you what
a wonderful job you have done. If every
state in the union had done a job similar to
that performed in Texas, results would have
been higher by 30 per cent.
The Movietime chairman gave credit to
Colonel Cole for the public relations project.
"You men were drafted. You were part of
the movement that came out of the mind of
a pioneer Texas showman. He, Colonel Cole,
suggested alerting Texas showmen to the fact
that TV could make inroads and that many
exhibitors were taking things too casually. It
was time to stay awake in the great work of
serving to relax a worried, burdened world."
The setting at the Adolphus hotel, with the honored salesmen seated on the dais as
"big shots" and other industryites on the floor area as "little shots."
O'Donnell revealed that the home offices of
distributors granted permission to use the
salesmen for public relations work "so quickly
that it was frightening." He said that the
job which was accomplished in a 30- to 60-day
period was phenomenal.
"Out of this idea and your efforts to work
with little supervision has been built the .solid
groundwork for the future. Out of this idea
has come a continuing idea. We now feel
close enough through your mutual efforts,
that we would not be afraid to call upon you
any time to help protect the home fires of
exhibition. We have enjoyed the wholehearted
approval from national distribution
heads. The industrial family of exhibition,
distribution and production is working in
close harmony together."
Gehring, representing the home offices,
told the salesmen that they should become
boosters for everybody's pictures. Being a
booster for all good films is the big thing and
the right thing to do.
"Don't destroy the confidence in exhibition,"
he said. "Exhibitors must be successful.
If exhibition fails to be successful, then
we are out of business in distribution. It
is good for all companies to be strong and
it hurts all when one is weak.
"We must take a great interest in the
problems of the industry and particularly in
those of the exhibitor. Distribution and exhibition
depend on each other. To you
younger men, I say. Have faith in this business.
Have faith in what you are doing. That
is important. Know that it is important. We
are re-establishing ourselves once more on a
sounder business basis than ever before."
To this, Colonel Cole rose to say: "Boys,
I am glad Bill Gehring made that talk. It
is exactly what I have been thinking. We
are an industry and as an industry we have
competition. We are liable to have more competition
before we have less, and we have
got to speak up as part of the great motion
picture industry."
He said that the salesman's place in the
-industry "has been sadly neglected." He
Salesmen of Natiomtl Screen receiving their certificates from
Charles Garden (right), coordinator of activities for the Texas
drive. Left to right: Paul Short, division manager; Alfred
Dccambre, special .sales representative; Walter Steadman, branch
manager; Larren Nutley, Milton Lintner and Russell Baker,
salesmen.
Salesmen from the Warner Bros, force receiving their
awards. Left to right, they are: B. T. Burn.side, Pete Clark, Jim
Black, J. C. McCrary, Henry Vogelpohl, who are on the sales
force, and Ed Williamson, the branch manager for Warner.
The gentleman, left, in front of the table is Colonel C. A. Cole.
Texas co-chairman of Movietime.
14
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
Omaha Puts on Big Show
For 'Blue Yonder Debut
Among the speakers at the dinner who
paid tribute to the salesmen were: L to
R_CoIoneI H. A. Cole and R. J. O'Donnell,
Texas co-chairmen of Movietime; Colonel
William McCraw, executive director of
Variety International, and W. C. Gehring,
assistant general salesmanager of 20th-
Fox.
pointed out that the salesman is the contact
man between distribution, production and exhibition.
Distribution ha.s used the sale.sman
for only one activity, and Colonel Cole said
he felt that there is much more that the
man in the field can do for the industry.
"I can send out letters. We can have star
tours and regional meetings, but sooner or
later comes the time for man-to-man contact
and that is where you gentlemen have
done a wonderful job."
Speaking for the salesmen. Walter Penn
said that it had been a privilege for the men
in the field to work on the campaign, and
that they were ready to step out and do the
same kind of a job again. Ti-ibutes also were
paid by McCraw and Short, and Wallace
Walthall gave the invocation.
A certificate of merit was given to each of
the salesmen, appointing him a "special ambassador"
for the film industry in Texas.
Salesmen honored included:
Universal: Hank Miller, Mark Holstein, Stanley Witbur,
Russell Brown, Ezy Elder. Fox: Stanley 2jmmermon,
Grover McDonald, T. P. Tidwell, Wayne Love,
J. H. Alexander. Republic: Neal Houston, Lew Waid,
Cloude Atkinson, Ted Malone. RKO: Jock Walton,
Jimmy Sippey, Earl Harrington, Roy Wild, E. K. Dalton,
Vernon Christian. Warners: B. T. Burnside, Pete
Clark, Jake McCrary, Jim Black, Cotton Vogelpohl.
Paramount; Paul Chapman, John Doumeyer, Frank
Rule, Dick Porker, Tom Luce. Columbia: Herschel
Ferguson, Joe Lyne, Walter Penn, Joe Beckham,
Houston Dean. National Screen: Lorren Nutley, Milt
Lindner, Russell Baker, Alfred Delcambre. Lippert:
Dean Goldman, Dutch Commer, Connie Dreher. United
Artists: Paul Backus, T. R. Barber, Herman Craver.
MGM: Roland Toylor, Vernon Smith, Ed Brinn, Bob
Davis. Tower: Truman Hendrix. Monogram: Bob
Watson, Dave Shipp, Ben Groham. Astor: Earl Elkins.
Altec: Jock Zern.
Guests included:
R. J. O'Donnell, Col. H. A. Cole, Charles Garden,
Kyle Rorex, Bob Euler, Cloude Ezell, Julius Gordon,
H. J. Griffith, Phil Isley, Ed Rowley, Don Douglas,
R. I. Payne, John Rowley, Bill O'Donnell, Eddie Forrester,
Frank Storz, Bob Bixler, E. B. Coleman, Milt
Overman, Bill McCraw, Roymond Willie, Al Reynolds,
Frank Bradley, BOXOFFICE representative; Sam
Landrum, S. D. Oakley, Arlie Crites, Lynn Stocker,
Ernie Gribble, Haywood Simmons, Ed Laird, George
Bannon, Bud Wilkinson, Mark Sheridan, Pappy Miller,
Bill Williams, Jack Houlihan, Ben Cammock, Sol Sacks,
Douglos Desch, Dock Roberts, Ed Williomson, Duke
Clark, Tome Bridge, Mon Whitcher, Jock Underwood,
W. A, Stedman, Wallace Walthall, Herman Beiersdorf,
Claude York, Roy Sachs, John Allen, Leroy
Bickel, Louis Weber, Harold Schwarz, Bill Finch,
James Prichord, Al Mertz and O. K. Bourgois.
Technicolor 9-Month Net
Ahead of Last Year
Is
NEW YORK—Technicolor. Inc.. reports an
estimated consolidated net profit after taxes
and other charges of $1,497,140.36 for the
nine months ended September 30. This is
equivalent to $1.62. For the same period in
1950 the net was $1,464,146.92, or $1.59 per
share.
OMAHA—At least ten bands, Offutt air
force ba.se personnel and military equipment
and 35 cars of dignitaries featured the parade
in downtown Omaha Tliur.sday night (29)
the premiere of "The Wild Blue Yonder."
for
The picture with the B-29 Superfortress
theme, and a stage show including the greatest
galaxy of stars for an Omaha premiere,
climaxed the November 27-29 "Salute to the
Strategic Air Command," one of the biggest
civic celebrations since the Golden Spike
days commemorating the completion of the
Union Pacific railroad.
SAC arranged to have a B-29 combat crew
fly here from Korea to take part in the civic
reception Wednesday with admission to be
the pre.sentation of a Christmas package for
some GI in Korea. Gen. Curtis LeMay, boss
of SAC, told Chamber of Commerce officials
his air organization would get the yule gifts
delivered before Christmas.
At the luncheon General LeMay was presented
witli a 16mm print of the picture by
Republic, in appreciation for the cooperation
extended by the Strategic Air Command
in making the film.
A highlight of the luncheon was a telephonic
message from Hollywood by Herbert
Yates. Republic president, who was unable to
attend the premiere because of illness.
On the list of visitors were James R.
Grainger, executive vice-president of Republic:
William Saal, executive assistant to the
president; Mort Goodman, studio publicity
chief: Mickey Gross, field exploitation director:
A. H. Fisher, midwest district manager,
Chicago: and branch managers Robert
Withers of Kan.sas City, Paul Webster of Des
Moines and Harry Lefholz of Omaha. Exhibitor
guests at the luncheon Included A. H.
Blank, head of the Tri-States circuit: Dale
McFarland, his general manager; Larry Starsmore,
Colorado Springs, and Ben Shlyen. publisher
of BOXOFFICE.
Henry E. "Red" Erwin of Be.s.semer. Ala.,
Congre.sslonal Medal winner around who.se
heroic exploits .some of the picture is based,
was flown in for the festivities.
The Hollywood contingent Included Allan
Dwan, director of the film, Wendell Corey,
Forrest Tucker, Phil Harris. Alice Faye. Rstelita
Rodriguez, Grant Withers. Rod Cameron,
Rex Allen, Victor McLaglen.
A 20-block long parade through the
streets lined with an estimated 50.000 persons
led to the Orpheum Theatre, where the piclure
was premiered.
Other premiere highlights included two
broadcasts by the national Welcome Traveler
radio program, with Tommy Bartletl
appearing at the reception and at Boys Town
and emceeing the premiere stage show; a
"round-the-world-broadcast" by the Armed
Forces Radio carrying the Salute program to
.servicemen in all corners of the globe.
"Meet the people" appearances were scheduled
through December 1. including visits at
the Veterans and Children's Memorial hospitals.
Boys Town and the Masonic Home for
Boys, dinner for the actors and actre,sses with
airmen at Offutt air force base and a showin
the dining hall.
Policy of Selling First Run Features
To Outlying Theatres Attacked
NEW YORK—Distributor sales of first run
films to individual outlying theatres in what
he describes as disregard of the investment
in first run theatres has been criticized by
Gus Metzger, board chairman. Southern California
Theatre Owners Ass'n, in a telegram
to Theatre Owners of America headquarters
here. He said SCTOA membership was greatly
concerned.
"By this policy." he said, "they are reducing
the value of the programs playing the regular
first runs, as the public is led to believe
that these are secondary pictures. The association
has employed Fendler, Weber &
Lerner. attorneys to study the application of
the Jackson Park decision to this problem
in Los Angeles. If they find the circumstances
similar, a court action will be filed
in the very near future.
"In negotiating these long-term runs, the
distributors are asking that the bidder incorporate
his proposed admission prices in the
bid. This is being used in some cases as a
device to circumvent the decision of the U.S.
Supreme Court in the Paramount case again.st
including admission prices in a contract.
'The pictures which have been released
to
the neighborhood theatres for individual runs
have not been generally roadshown. As a
result of the policy, the public is being
charged excessive admission prices for ordinary
pictures.
"Through this policy of licensing pictures
for extended runs, the natural flow of product
to the subsequent-run theatres is being
interrupted and consequently these theatres
are suffering greatly through inferior bookings.
At the present time there are 164 closed
theatres in this exchange area, with the
number likely to increase as the result of thi^
threatened curtailment of normal flow of
product.
These pictures are purportedly put up for
bids. However, since there is no public opening
of bids, there is no way of determining
whether the distributor .selects his own customer
regardless of the bids filed. As a result
of the policy of unjustifiably granting extended
runs, the public will soon become convinced
that unless a picture plays on an extended-run
basis, the picture is not one
worth seeing. The natural effect of this
tendency will be to concentrate the public's
patronage in fewer and fewer theatres."
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
r
15
IT'S MOVI ETI M E . . . IT'S MONB
(in Kie. JOAUAii mitk
JANE WYMAN
K'PifA
rHg/<
'BLUE VEIL
\m\\\ mm\ m\ wm. mcHAiii cmiisiii
m\ wmm
imtfls niiiiifi imiEii m\ \m\ ehemii \m\ \\\m
The SOLID hit
that bj
bigger and bigger day fl
day — matinees and night;-
to first weeks and hoJdovc.
topping many of the b
ITS RKO-TIME— U.S^.!
Color by • TECHNICOLOR
The first
RKO in
big musical from
years— and worth
waiting for! Selected as its
25th Anniversary attraction
by Broadway's showcase
Paramount Theatre.
'VI
Em vUHTlNvlWHl l.i;i(;n GI.OKIA l)c,HAVi.N-l.l.)l)ll': IJHACKENvVNN iMII.l.LJ^
Another Broadway Paramount
Theatre selection
that's giving a mighty
ItSH W»10 anil KORMtN KRtSN* prestil
mLumMmmiimmfs
I
f!
powerful account of itself
in first runs all over the
ibuntry. Tense, timely,
terrific!
'(,v[^\iU}l
Ihc hottest coJiibination that e\^r hit the screen ••
•?«iitail |
fe
-lOUUUO.HRSONS
,. \^v > ^ HOWARD HUGHES ,«•«»
-
ROBERT MITCHUM -JftHE RUSSEll
HIS laup^o^
Subsequent runs reporting
the same terrific audience
reaction and boxoffice
success as the keys.
Business better and
better as the word
spreads everywhere!
bg Holiday dates:
All Wild Animal Pictures
i*^
'
Photographed in
Ansco Color
Bellaire, Ohio, Has Zany
Bob Hope Film Premiere
To Distribute A Features Only
Lippert Shifts Policy;
Drops Film Making
HOLLYWOOI>—Because he is convinced
that the market for modestly budgeted B
features is rapidly disappearing. Robert L.
Lippert, president of Lippert Productions, is
BELLAIRE. OHIO—This is a town that enjoys
a good laugh. There isn't a stuffed shirt going the last time you crossed a bridge.
Ohio is to remember the direction you were
in it.
Since the Indians left the place 148 years
Bob Hope and the Paramount publicity department
didn't know that when they anvote
his
ago many things have happened
going to stop making films,
here, but
and plans to de-
Hope and the
future
rest of the visitors probably
attentions and interests almost
exclusively to his
nounced Mrs. Anne Kuchinka, wife of a local added a new highlight
distribution
to the record.
organization,
denti.st, had won a letter-writing contest on
Lippert Pictures, Inc.
They took exploitation right down to the
"Why I would like to have the world premiere
of 'My Favorite Spy' in my living
owns and operates Lippert Theatres, a
The head of the two companies,
hearthstone and the neighbors where
who also
it belongs
and discovered that it makes no
west
difference
how hidden the place may be news
room." They found it out after they and
coast circuit of more than 70 houses, has
of it
a group of Hollywood celebrities, including
blueprinted the future activities of his distribution
setup so that it will handle only qual-
reaches the world and the so-called glamorous
Jerry Colonna: a plane load of newspapermen figures of Hollywood become folks.
and photographers, ity
an entire radio
pictures.
troupe
Bellaire has a Pilot club which devotes
and a band had arrived.
itself to civic service. On Wednesday, November
9, it decided helping Mrs. Kuchinka stage The source of such product will be in-
SOURCE OF NEW PRODUCT
Hope usually does all the kidding, but not
in Bellaire. In fact, the man who named the
a premiere in a big living room on the top dependent companies organized by stars,
town probably had a sense of humor. For 60
of a hill overlooking the town was a civic
producers, directors and writers—either individually
or in so-called package deals—who
miles southward from the point where the
service. The Wheeling Pilots did the same.
Ohio river crosses the Pennsylvania line
will make for Lippert distribution one or more
below Pittsburgh, the river forms the boundary
between a needle point of West Virginia Herb Steinberg, Paramount publicity man-
Pictures expects to handle approximately 18
REHEARSES RADIO SHOW
features a year. Under this setup, Lippert
and Ohio. Steel mills, coal mines, pottery ager, arrived the next day and discovered
films
the
annually, as compared to a yearly average
plants, railroads, glass manufacturing plants Elks and Lions, station WTRP, the civic officials
and others had already lined up plans
of 28 which it has distributed during
and other industries are crowded along the
recent seasons—and most of which came from
river banks between high hills. On a clear for a parade.
Lippert's own producing company.
windy day the aire is belle, but when the
Hope
Under the
agreed
new plan. Lippert's
to stage
interest
a rehearsal
in
of his
the
clouds are low the oxygen content is low.
making of
Chesterfield
pictures
broadcast
wiU
in the high
be limited to
school
supervision
of the various
This doesn't affect the neighborly friendliness
of the inhabitants. They seem to have
activities
auditorium in the afternoon and
companies'
to tape
productional
it
at 6 p. m. This was
and in the arranging
a treat
of financing,
for the populace.
fun.
where it is necessary, either in whole or in
During the broadcast Hope reminded Mrs.
part. Such financing will
OFFER 'COLONNA BOLOGNA'
Kuchinka
come through his
that he was her "boarder." He revolving bank credits, already set
One of the first things Colonna saw
asked
up
riding
Dr. Kuchinka,
and
her husband, who is a
heretofore used by his
into Wheeling, W. Va., which dentist,
has an
how
own production
he
company,
or through the Motion Picture Finan-
liked the program airport,
was a restaurant window doctor replied sign—"Colonna
and the
that it was more effective than cial Corp. That is the unit, and Lippert is
Bologna."
novocaine for calming patients.
president of it also, which was organized to
And Hope blinked a couple of times when To get back to the day's start. Hope and finance certain selected pictures produced
he saw Bing Crosby sitting in an open car
Marilyn Maxwell, Gloria Grahame, Jan Sterling,
under the Lippert banner. Its bylaws provide
waiting for the start of the parade. Bing's
Colonna, Les Brown and his orchestra,
that financing can apply to any pictures released
by Lippert, whether produced by him
name was on the side of the car; his
Hy
sports
Averback, announcer, plus writers, producers
and directors came down out of the or otherwise.
shirt was brilliant in the few rays of sunlight
that came through the fog and he was
clouds at Wheeling in the morning. Hope
an excellent facsimile of the famous Nevada
wore fuzzy white gloves and DEAL
later donned
WITH GEORGE RAFT
cattle ranch owner.
earmuffs. Colonna
In
depended
order to
on
function
his
in
mustache
these supervisory
Wheeling, Bellaire and other towns
for
are
protection from
and financial liaisons.
the chill, and the
Lippert
girls
plans to keep
crowded together in the valley. The only way
wore
intact mink the skeleton
coats.
structure of his production
you can tell when you're in West Virginia The newspaper organization,
or
people arrived
the
two hours
key men of which will
later and had
continue
to
to serve in
battle their way through
more or less the same
the crowds
capacities
to the
as
coffee
heretofore,
shop of the
except
hotel.
that their
activities wil be devoted to various independents
rather than to Lippert Pi-oductions.
PARADE LASTS TWO HOURS
Now . . . RCA ready
The parade lasted two hours and was followed
by an impromptu show at the local ball has already been closed by Lippert. It is
First of the independent production deals
TO STAKE MORE MILLIONS park, or stadium, as it is called.
with George Raft, who is organizing his own
One restaurant window bore big white outfit,
letters
listing the menu and service. In addi-
and provides for a minimum of three
in your theatre business
features, the first of which is tentatively
tion to
Offers
the
bold new plan
Colonna Bologna, titled
it
to help you
had Murphy "Loan Shark."
stew, Grahame cracker pie, Maxwell House
modernize now on low-cost credit coffee and Sterling service in honor of the
visiting women Jack Schlaifer to Head
stars.
Effective immediately: For, you, the One automobile was labeled "Kate Smith" Realart, Broder
theatre owners, RCA
Sales
now makes available
additional millions of dollars in new waved gaily to the crowd.
named vice-president and general sales man-
and the sole occupant, of ample proportions, NEW YORK—Jack Schlaifer has been
credit fmoncing in an all-out effort to Mrs. Kuchinka and Hope rode in a sleigh ager of Jack Broder Productions, Inc., and
give you the theatre equipment you mounted on a truck with snow around it. One Realart Pictures, Inc. by Budd Rogers, vicepresident
and general manager of both or-
need to mod'»rnize ri^ht now for better big fellow who might have been a steelworker
ki.ssed every one of the Hollywood ganizations. Schlaifer has been sales man-
house appeal, bigger grosses!
girls as the parade passed slowly. A Life ager for Univer.sal, 20th
Get
Century-Fox and
full story.
photographer leaped from the top of a sedan United Artists.
Call your RCA Dealer
His most
. . , today.
recent post was
to get a closeup and also the name of the general sales manager of Eagle Lion. His
man. The state troopers thought it was all position with Broder and Realart will not
^Qt RADIO CORPORATION part of the
of
fun.
AMERICA
change the status of the Jack Schlaifer Organization.
Inc.. whidi will continue opera-
^—-^ eNGINieHINC PRODUCTS DEPT. CAMDCN,
At the ball N. J.
park, representatives of local
industries loaded Hope with gifts.
tions.
18
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
^
k.
SavsA r/Ms^
"iris
— Waller
for THE CLOUDED YELLOW
now packing in the crowds at
The Park Avenue Theatre, N. Y.
^'MOVING WITH THE VELOCITY
OF AN EXPRESS TRAIN \"
—N.Y. Times
''RACES TO AN EXCITING FINISH!"
— N. Y. Daily News
'^'-
''ZEST . . . REALISM . . . EXCITEMENT
. . .MISS SIMMONS WAS NEVER
PRETTIER!''
—N.Y. Post
\v
WELL PACED, TAUT CHASE
THRILLER!"
— N.Y, Herald Tribune
"A SWITCH SURPRISE ENDING!"
— N.Y, Daily Mirror
"A GOOD MEASURE OF EXCITEMENT!"
— N.Y, Journal-American
"ENGROSSING!'
-Daily Compass
"BUNDLE OF EXCITEMENT
FROM BRITAIN!" —N.Y. World Telegram
SONIA Umi[ and MAXWELL REED
Screenplay b» Janet Green • Produced by Betty E. Box
orrected by Ralph Thomas
• Released by Columbia Pictures
TKCK OKCC S
„.
•^u^>
lira a
.^
175 BlOOK \y^ LroHOKTOC*"*"
October 22nd, l^^l to let you know
what you'll be
_ missing if you
miss out on
Columbia's
full-U
I/'
,"i,°;on.
Dearborn
Stre.^.
1 >\_
.ear »r. Sac.seX: ^^
""t" -'=-"^^'-
Yiave 3^s-v- ^.
„un tYieatreb, played.
picture, l "" , ,5uid ne^«'^^^! v,ad •«
chili
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^one *^^^„StrOTTERS
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ViftMJf
r ^J^tT^^
«o..ver. .as
«»" 'T'ouT Vf "»' «''
'T'oufof i*.»' ">' " ' e, our patrons
and
«h» '"^ °"' ^ ...MS .n this a e att auractio-
-
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d our siS«s «" ^""i :;\verv t.."".
« «ave chans^^\t:t « .lU no. Pl«
ean ^assure you t^a. ^-
^^^.^ ^V
our oirouit.- --.i^ erau
^ ""''"• should
grab
tne
country
B^l.itors al^„;;°;u.r r.oeipts.
tor t>166" "" ,^ I am
„itS l^mdost resaras, Yours slncerj
Q
W^l PnoUl
Auerbach
Manager
itcite' •
'
'T^Mfwwid ^efoont — By IVAN SPEAR
December Studio Slate Drops to 34;
20th-Fox Hits Year's Peak With 7
HOLLYWOOD—As per annual custom, but
nonetheless not a cheering prospect for filmdom's
toilers during the Christmas season,
productional activity is sputtering along at a
low tempo this month. The best that could
be mustered up, by the majors and independents
combined, is a laggardly 34-picture total
of new starting subjects for the period.
This reflects a drop of three from the 37
films which awaited the starting gun at the
beginning of November, and is only a notch
above 195rs all-time low of 33 in October.
For one studio, however—20th Century-
Fox—the year's final month is being wound
up in a blaze of glory as concerns picturemaking
tempo. The Westwood film plant,
charting an aggregate of seven starters, thus
exceeds the pace it set in any previous month
during 1951.
Subject to change, of course, the lineup
by studios looks like this:
COLUMBIA—Placed by a late-November
starter, "The Sabre and the Arrow," this
studio will gun three other vehicles during
the current month, the most important of
which Rita Hayworth returns to the screen
which probably is the as-yet untitled entry in
after a three-year hiatus. Her co-star is
Glenn Ford and the opus, being prepared as
a "front office" production (which means
that no producer credit will be attached
thereto) will be megged by Vincent Sherman.
A romantic drama with music, it has a West
Indies background. ALso on tap are "A Yank
in Indo-China," and "Rainbow Round My
Shoulder." The former, a Sam Katzman
production, will be megged by Wally Grissell,
but was minus a cast early in the period
"Rainbow," a musical, stars Crooners Frankie
Laine and Billy Daniels, and will be piloted
by Richard Quine for Producer Jonie Taps.
The aforementioned "Sabre," a cavalry-vs-
Injuns opus in Technicolor, features Broderick
Crawford. Barbara Hale and Lloyd
New-Type Personals:
Scenes From Films
Something a bit out of routine in personal
appearances is being undertaken by
Richard Arlen and Laura Elliott in their
upcoming road tour on behalf of "Silver
City." the Nat Holt production in which
they have featured roles for Paramount
distribution.
Using actual props and costumes, the
player.s will enact two of their key scenes
from the picture, from a special script by
Frank Gruber. who wrote the screenplay.
Arlen and Miss Elliott are booked for
Atlanta. Cincinnati. Detroit. Cleveland.
Pittsburgh, Washington, D. C, and Baltimore
in connection with pre-release engagements.
Bridges, with Andre de Toth as the director
and Buddy Adler producing.
INDEPENDENT—A brisk pace is in prospect
for the film-'em-first-set-the-releaselater
school of production. Alex Gottlieb is
gunning "The Fighter," a Richard Conte starrer
based on a story by Jack London, but at
month's beginning had not recruited a director.
Wes Beeman. who heretofore has concentrated
on TV fare, enters theatrical film
ranks with "Dan Western," first in a projected
series of sagebrushers toplining John
Carpenter, with Harold Schuster at the megaphone.
A contribution to the Biblical cycle
is "Joseph and Potiphar's Wife," adapted
from the Old Testament story by Dorrell and
Stuart McGowan, who also will produce and
direct, but who at this writing had not set
the cast. Samuel Fuller will produce and
direct, from his own script, "Park Row," a
newspaper yarn, which was also sans mummers
early in the period.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER — Four features
will get under way at this Culver City
film plant. A romantic trilogy, "Three Love
Stories," will be gunned by Producer Sidney
Franklin, with Vincente Minnelli and Gottfried
Reinhardt as the directors and Pier
Angeli, Leslie Caron and Fernando Lamas
heading the cast. Spencer Tracy and Katharine
Hepburn, who co-starred a season or
so ago in "Adam's Rib," are reunited in another
comedy, "Pat and Mike," with Lawrence
Weingarten producing. George Cukor directing.
James Stewart and Wendell Corey are
the headliners in "Carbine Williams," a biography
of the inventor of the modern carbine
rifle, which Richard Thorpe will meg for
Producer Armand Deutsch. And Mario ("The
Great Caruso" i Lanza steps before the cameras
in Producer Joe Pasternak's Technicolor
musical, "Because You're Mine," with Alexander
Hall as the director.
MONOGRAM—Although producer, director
and cast remained unassigned at month's
beginning, one of two starting subjects listed
by this sutdio is "Wild Stallion," an outdoor
action opus which is slated for Cinecolor filming.
Also on tap is "Jet Job," first of a new
action series starring Stanley Clements, with
Ben Schwalb as the producer but. at this
writing, minus a director. This one casts
Clements as an army test pilot.
PARAMOUNT—Leading off with "Jumping
Jacks." the new Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis
comedy for Hal Wallis Productions, this lot
will see three new entries hitting the sound
stages during the month. In "Jumping
Jacks." which Norman Taurog megs, the
comics become involved with air force paratroopers.
Also in comedy vein Ls "The Military
Policemen." toplining Bob Hope. Marilyn
Maxwell and Mickey Rooney, which George
Marshall will direct for Producer Harry Tugend.
Co-stars of "Botany Bay." a historical
action drama, are Alan Ladd and James
Henry Blanke Has Made
80 Films in 18 Years
'
Eighty pictures in 18 years is an impressive
record in Cinemania's filmmaking
annals.
That is the tallychalked
up by
Henry Blanke with
the completion of
editing on "Room
for One More,"
which co-stars
Cary Grant and
Betsy Drake at
Warners.
Blanke joined
the studio in
March 1933, and—
Henry Blanke among others
made such successes as "The Story of
Louis Pasteur," "Anthony Adverse."
"Green Pastures," "The Adventures of
Robin Hood" and "Treasurer of the
Sierra Madre."
Mason, the Joseph Sistrom production to be
]
piloted by John Farrow.
!
RKO RADIO—A sagebrush flavor pervades
the scheduled starting subjects at this studio
Tim Holt and his saddle-pal, Richard Martin,
will head thataway in "Overland Telegraph," a
Herman Schlom production for which, as
the month began, no director had been assigned.
It will be followed by "This Man Is
Mine." once known as "Covsrpoke." which
casts Robert Mitchum as a professional
rodeo rider and Susan Hayward as the girl
who falls in love with him. Nicholas Ray will
direct for Wald-Krasna Productions.
REPUBLIC — History and action intermingle
in "Minnesota." one of three starting
vehicles at this valley studio. A story of the
development of the Mesabi iron ore deposits
in that state, it will be produced and directed
by Joseph Kane, with Jay C. Plippen the
only cast member thus far set. William Shirley
will portray Composer Stephen Foster as a
young man in "Song of Youth." a biography
with music, for Producer-Director Allan
Dwan. In the femme lead is Muriel Lawrence.
Classified as a variety revue is "Gobs
and Gals." a Sidney Picker production starring
the Bernard Brothers, noted European
pantomimist. who herein make their U.S.
film debut under the direction of R. G.
Springsteen.
20TH CENTURY-FOX—Far and away the
busiest in town is the Darryl F. Zanuck
studio, which hits a new activity peak for
the year with seven new subjects at the
starting post. Two of them. "What Price
Glory" and "The Love Man" are under the
aegis of Producer Sol C. Siegel. "Glory," a
new version of the World War I drama,
co-stars James Cagney, Dan Dailey and
Corinne Calvet under the direction of John
Ford, while "The Love Man," a comedy, toplines
Clifton Webb, with Claude Binyon
megging. Producer Julian Blaustein will gun
"Night Without Sleep." a suspen.se drama
featuring Richard Widmark and Marilyn
Monroe, to be directed by Roy Baker, while
Writer-Pi-oducer Charles Brackett is to
launch "How High Is Up?", a romantic
(Continued on page 24
22 BOXOFFICE December 1. 1951
fSKISIo^HETK AMD DESSRT BEAUTY IM A
p^^
T^T»m\on AMP HIGH APyiHtUK!^/
*i,i
iRatii
;: the
beautiful
(optives o\
the Corsoir
slave mortl
MAUREEN
S6a/t/u*tf
O'HARA- CHANDLER
.i SUSAN CABOT -LONCHANEY- BUDDY BAER
aiivlH
^EE: savage
warfare of the
desert legions!
This is the first
motion
picture in
oil*
i/te /Pforfe^'4fa£e/^^/
I
I
I
Hollywood Report
. . .
(Continued from page 22)
is "The Big League," another biography
^
"Bright Victory
r Excellent for adults
and youngsters."
-PARENTS MAGAZINE
". . . one of the enthralling pictures
of your movie year . . . scratch off
'Chalk up this
U-I film as an
Academy Award
contender!"
-SCREEN GUIDE
"Boxoffice future bright as a silver dollar
. . . tremendously satisfying entertainment."
-MOTION PICTURE HERALD
"Rates Academy Award . . . unquestionably
certain to win enthusiastic
approval from all types of movie-goers."
-SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW
another niche in the 10-Best lists."
-N.Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN
I'Arthur Kennedy's poignant
[^performance in the movie 'Bright
|Victory' strums every heartstring."
-WALTER WINCHELL
Screenplay ty ROBERI BOCKNER • BaseiJ on the novel "Lights Ootly Baynaril Kemlrick
Starring
Bright
yiCTORY
ARTHUR KENNEDY • PEGGY DOW
with JAMES EDWARDS • WILL GEER ond JULIA ADAMS
Directed by MARK ROBSON • Produced by ROBERT BUCKNER • A UNIVERSAL-INIERNAIIONAL PICTURE
Wiggle Test Goes Electromagnetic
Under Oklahoma Professors Device
NORMAN, OKLA.—The wiggle test has
gone scientific.
Dr. Elwood Kretsinger, associate
professor of speech at the University of
Oklahoma here, has invented an electromagnetic
movement meter which, he claims, will
record an accurate measurement of a theatre
audience's reaction to a motion picture.
Dr. Ki-etsinger's machine makes use of hidden
wires and electromagnetic energy to register
the "wiggles" of the picture audience,
in place of the eyes of an observer under the
wiggle test method of rating children's pictui-es
which has been featured by the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America in compiling its
Green Sheet reports.
The original model is equipped with a wire
that can be attached behind 12 seats. If one
or all of the occupants become restless and
shift their positions, Dr. Kretsinger explains,
the movements are an indication of temporary
boredom, and they affect the electromagnetic
energy in the wire. These variations are
fed through an amplifying device and in turn
cause a pen on a recording instrument to
move and transcribe a wavy line commensurable
to the movements in the seats.
Dr. Kretsinger served in the marine corps
as a radio technician where he learned how
to harness electromagnetic energy.
The inventor points out if one member of
the test group should scratch his nose at a
time when the other 11 are caught spellbound
by some dramatic scene, the line would
look like the dip on a roller coaster. But if
the entire group became bored with it all
and acted as though all of them were ready
to leave any minute, the pen would jiggle
violently on the tape.
The professor says it's not true that people
sleep when bored—unless it happens to
be a classroom or possibly in churches. The
tests with the device have shown an audience
moves about the most when it's most bored.
The instrument was invented for academic
research work and clinical tests. However,
the professor believes its commercial possibilities
may prove just as important in the
long run.
It seems he became dissatisfied with results
obtained by the usual methods when
working on some audience reaction tests at
the University of Southern California^ Hence,
his very own tattletale gadget.
The Daily Oklahoman of Oklahoma City
pointed out that "all sorts of intricate methods
have been tried on test audiences at advance
screenings. Cards are passed out to audiences
on which they indicate their reactions:
observers are planted about theatres to watch
the expressions of folks' faces and to eavesdrop
on conversations in lobbies after the
shows. Ti'ouble with all these methods is that
they aren't accurate because they're controlled
and the audience knows it is expected
to give an answer. This often leads
to dishonest replies when cards are filled out
for often a person doesn't want to hurt anyone's
feelings by telling how he really feels
about a motion picture or play.
"Efforts to find out how audiences are reacting
to particular scenes have run into
snags, too. The card checking method fails
here because those watching the play have to
pause to rate the play, thus losing the thread
or at least interrupting their concentration
from time to time."
Six Distributors Seek
Dipson Case Denial
WASHINGTON—Six of the major distributors
(Warner Bros., RKO, Loew's, Paramount.
Pox and United Artists) and the Shea Circuit
in Buffalo on Monday (26) asked the
Supreme Court to dismiss the petition of the
Dipson Theatres for review of its antitrust
suit against them.
Originally Dipson had sued the eight majors
and the Shea group on the grounds of a
conspiracy to deprive them of proper runs
and clearances in four theatre situations in
metropolitan Buffalo. The district court
turned down all complaints in a series of
j
separate decisions, including the entire complaints
against Columbia and Universal.
In its appeal to the second circuit court,
Dipson restricted its suit to the six remaining
distributor-defendants and to actions against
the Century and Bailey theatres. The circuit
court upheld the defendants, and Dipson then
abandoned its claims regarding the Century
in its petition to the high court, leaving only
the Bailey at issue.
Dipson claimed the Bailey was demoted
from second to third run as a result of the
alleged conspiracy, with the Shea chain's
Kensington being favored. It charged that
the appeals court misinterpreted and misapplied
the Supreme Court verdict in the Paramount
case.
The reply brief, filed by attorneys Frank
G. Raichle, Edward C. Raftery, Sidney B.
Pfeifer and John F. Caskey, pointed out that
the circuit court's decision had taken note of
the application of the Paramount case and
nevertheless upheld the denial of the suit
by the trial court. Furthermore, the brief
pointed out, Dipson itself had not appealed
the adverse verdict with regard to the other
three situations, and "so far as the Paramount
case is concerned, all four of ine petitioner's
theatres are in identical positions."
Disney's Christmas Show
For Dec. 25 on CBS-TV
NEW YORK—The "Walt Disney Christmas
Show." an hour-long fantasy featuring Disney's
animated characters and Disney himself,
will be presented on the Columbia Broadcasting
television network Christmas day,
December 25, from 3 to 4 p. m., according to
David V. Sutton, vice-president in charge of
sales. This will be Disney's second successive
Yuletide offering, the first Disney show, featuring
an advance glimpse of "Alice in Wonderland,"
having been presented Christmas
1950.
This year, Disney will devote more time to
his cartoon characters, including the Uncis
Remus Tar Baby sequence from "Song of the
South," scenes from "Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs," which RKO will reissue in
1952, and "Bambi" and a preview of scenes
from Disney's next big cartoon feature,
"Peter Pan," which will be released in the
fall of 1952. Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont.
Hans Conreid. Bill Thompson and Don
Barclay, who have figured in Disney films,
will be in the holiday cast as will such cartoon
characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald
Duck. Pluto and Goofy.
The telecast will be sponsored by Johnson
& Johnson, manufacturer of surgical dressings
and baby products. Robert Florey, film
director, will pilot the show with Bill Walsh
of the Disney organization producing. Musical
score is by Paul Smith.
Louis Wolfson, Son of TOA
President, Is Married
MIAMI—Louis Wolfson, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Mitchell Wolfson, and Lynn Rabin,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rabin of
Miami Beach, were married here last week in
the Imperial room of the Roney Plaza hotel.
The elder Wolfson is co-owner of Wometco
Theatres here and president of the Theatre
Owners of America. He acted as best man
at the wedding and another son, Mitchell jr..
was an usher. Approximately 275 guests attended.
The newlyweds left on a honeymoon
to Mexico City, Acapulco and a visit to the
Mayan ruins near Merida, Yucatan.
Daughter for Jesse Shlyens
KANSAS CITY—Mrs. Jesse Shlyen, wife
of the managing editor of BOXOFFICE, gave
birth to a daughter, Nancy Ellen, at
Menorah hospital here Saturday morning
(241. The baby weighed seven pounds, five
ounces. Mother and baby are doing fine. The
Shlyens also have two boys, ages 9 and 5.
Charlotte Branch Winner
In RKO Depinet Drive
NEW YORK—The RKO branch at
Charlotte,
with Rovy Branon as manager, won
first prize in the Ned Depinet drive, according
to Robert Mochrie, vice-president and general
sales manager.
Second prize went to Denver, Marvin Goldfarb,
manager. New Orleans, J. Rogers
Lamantia. manager, won third prize and
Atlanta, Ira Stone, manager, was fourth.
In Canada, Harry Cohen's Montreal exchange
was first and Arthur Elliott's Calgary
exchange was second.
Dave Prince, southeastern division, was
first in the district managers' division and
second prize went to Carl Peppercorn. Canadian.
Ben Y. Cammack, southwestern, was
third. Home office representatives winning
were; George Jacoby, first: Elmer Sedin, second,
and J. C. de Waal, third.
Dallas was first in the group prize class.
Detroit was second in Group I: St. Louis was
first and Cleveland second in Group II and
Memphis and Seattle won in Group III.
Russ Morgan, Atlanta field man. won first
prize among exploitation men. Second went
to Bidwell McCormick. Denver. Group prizes
went to Lou Doufour, St. Louis: Hank Howard.
Buffalo: Joseph Longo. Cleveland, and
Alan Wieder. Seattle.
^
26 BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951
I
In the Newsreeis
Movietone News, No. 95: Movietone's 1951 All-
American; Truman talks about 1952; tension grips
Suez canal; Tokyo hails Joe Louis; Vishinsky pets
dove ot peace.
News of the Day. No. 225: All-American stars and
ploys of 1951; British move to end terror in Suez
zone; Paratroopers drill in Korea; arms issue stirs
UN Paris meeting, junior rodeo.
Paiomount News, No. 28: Operation Show-Off a
success; Joe Louis still champ in Tokyo; prohibition
party names candidate; 1951 All-American football
teams.
Universal News. No. 511: Egyptian crisis; Truman's
speech; B-29s back to battle; Santa Claus
lakes a bow; Tokyo hails Joe Louis; billiard aces
tee off; junior rodeo.
Warner Pathe News, No. 30: Will Truman run?
He doesn't say, Taft campaign headquarters open
in Washington; latest films of crisis in Egypt; UN
paratroopers in mass practice jumps; Lovett, Acheson
and Harnman meet at Ike's headquarters; Doris
Day opens '"Toys for Tots" drive; New York
Czech railmen who fled Reds arrive in New York;
feather fashions from France; a seal goes Hawaiian;
Berlin—conine cafeteria.
•
Movietone News, No. 96: Hope for Korea truce by
Christmas; Ike greets new GIs in Germany; trains
crash under sidewalks of New York; masked priests
accuse Reds; Egyptians march against British; Australia
picks Miss Kangaroo; 117-year-old man sees
first movie; football—Tennessee-Kentucky, Princeton-
Dartmouth, Illinois- Northwestern.
News oi the Day, No. 226: Priests crash Iron
Curtain— tell of Red terror; Egyptians demonstrate
against British; Israel guards border from Arab
terroists, Korea cease-fire line agreed upon; Gl war
brides from Korea; spotlight on baby; Tennessee
trounces Kentucky, holds top grid place; Joe Louis
tackles army and navy.
Paramount News, No. 29: Korea— big problems on
road to armistice; Egyptians stage silent parade
m Cairo; headlines from Europe: French President
Auriol host of New York delegates; Rome—NATO
council meeting; Rotterdam—General Eisenhower
welcomes first Canadian army unit committed to
Europe under NATO; gridiron season climax; Kentucky
vs- Tennessee; Stanford vs. California.
Universal News. No. 512: European defense; demonstrations
in Egypt; floods hit France; Asiatic war
brides; tood tor prisoners; Joe Louis in Tokyo; football—Tennessee-Kentucky,
California-Stanford, Michigan
State-Colorado.
Warner Pathe News, No. 31: Truce teams set
cease-fire line in Korea; Cairo in silent demonstration;
Berkley in Japan on way to Korea; advance
in Pans for Big Three talks; Pearl Harbor remembers
ten years back; Joe Louis in exhibition bout;
football—Harvard and Yale tie; Tennessee beats
Tokyo
Kentucky.
•
Telenews Digest, No. 47A: England—royal homecoming;
Korea— paratroops practice up; Washington
—Lodge heads Ike's campaign; worst flood in
Italy's modern history; Berlin—anotfier battle m
cold war takes place m Potsdamer Platz; Tokyo
Joe Louis arrives for an exhibition tour; Algiers
new French governor gets a real native reception;
football—Browns beat Giants.
Telenews Digest. No. 47B: Disabled veterans'
Thanksgiving; Truman opens fire; Germany—Hitler's
hideout; Austria—exclusive films of raging oil fire
in Soviet zone; Germany—Babs Hutton and her new
beau, tennis champ Baron von Cramm; Cincinnati
new job for midgets—working on jet engines; Scotland—British
navy tests a new seasick pill—on
army guinea pigs; Denver—midget auto race,
Telenews Digest, No. 48A: Indo-Chma—French cut
Red lifeline, Egypt— silent protest; Malaya—Operation
Starvation; India—new Gandhi; Italy— flood toll
mounts; Paris—NATO opens a school for soldiers of
12 nations; Strasbourg—American visitors to the
Council of Europe urge unity; Pans—Germany's
Chancellor Adenauer brmgs his nation closer to
joining western Europe's community; Coventry
visitor from Russia; football—Harvard-Yale classic
Kodak Employes to Share
Wage Dividend March 7
ROCHESTER. N. Y.—Approximately 48,000
employes of the Eastman Kodak Co. will
share an estimated $20,300,000 in wage
dividends March 7, 1952. Based on their
salaries from 1947 through 1951. they will
receive $27.50 for each $1,000 earned. About
$14,500,000 will be divided amoung the 33.000
workers in the Rochester plant.
The wage dividend plan has been in effect
for 40 years. Each dividend must be voted by
the board of directors. It is based on common
stock dividends for the year and earnings by
individual employes for the preceding five
years.
United Art'ists to Release
// Films Early in 1952
NEW YORK— United Artists will release 11
major productions during the first five
months of 1952. according to William J.
Heineman. vice-president in charge of distribution.
He pointed out that the new lineup
of pictures from leading independent producers,
some in color, all representing big
budgets, was the "proudest lineup of pictures
to bear the United Artists label since the
end of the last war."
The new year's first major offering, to
be released January 16. will be: "Another
Man's Poison." directed by Irving Rapper for
Douglas Fairbanks jr. and his associates.
H. Alexander MacDonald and Val Guest.
Bette Davis, Gary Merrill and Emlyn Williams
are starred and Anthony Steele and
Barbara Murray are featured.
Two other January releases will be: "The
Lady Says No," directed by Ross-Stillman
Produced by Frank Ross with Joan Caulfield
and David Niven starred, for January 4, and
"Chicago Calling," an Arrowhead picture directed
by John Reinhardt, starring Dan Duryea
and Mary Anderson with Gordon Gebert,
for January 11.
Eight other features scheduled for release
during the following four months are now
being edited and scored. They are: "High
Noon," Stanley Kramer's production starring
Gary Cooper and directed by Fred Zinnemann
with Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges.
Otto Kruger. Henry Morgan. Lon Chaney.
Katy Jurado and Grace Kelly featured; "The
African Queen," a Horizon Pictures production
in Technicolor, directed by John Huston
and co-starring Humphrey Bogart and
Katharine Hepburn with Robert Morley;
"The Green Glove,' a Benagoss Production
directed by Rudolph Mate starring Glenn
Ford, Geraldine Brooks and Sir Cedric Hardwicke
with Gaby Andre; "Saturday Island,"
produced in Jamaica in Technicolor by David
E. Ross and directed by Stuart Heisler. starring
Linda Darnell with Tab Hunter and
Donald Gray; "One Big Affair." produced by
Benedict Bogeaus in Mexico City, starring
Evelyn Keyes and Dennis O'Keefe with Mary
Anderson and Connie Gilchrist; "A Tale of
Five Women." tilmed in six capitals of Europe
by Alexander Paal, with Bonar CoUeano and
Gina Lollobrigida from Rome. Eva Bartok
from Vienna, Karin Himbold from Berlin,
Anne Vernon from Paris. Lana Morris from
England and Barbara Kelly from America:
"Tightrope," first production from the newly
formed Aspen Product, directed by Robert
Wise with John Forsythe starred and "Actors
and Sin," directed and produced by Ben
Hecht, starring Edward G. Robinson. Mar.sha
Hunt and Eddie Albert.
"These 11 are the beginning of a new
chapter in our career." Heinemann added,
and "there will be many more, equally important,
to announce in the very near future."
Six United Artists branches have gone
over their sales quotas in the 11th
week of the "Drive All the Way With UA"
sales drive, according to Heineman. The drive
will continue until the end of 1951.
The New York branch, which has exceeded
its quota by more than one-third for a percentage
standing of 133.8, is in first place
with the New Orleans branch, with 122.3 per
cent of its quota, second. The next four are:
Charlotte, with 111.2 per cent; San Francisco,
with 107.5 per cent; Denver, with 102.1 per
cent, and St. Louis, which topped its quota
with 100.2 per cent.
Ralph Amacher to Head
UA Kansas City Branch
NEW YORK — Ralph Amacher, former
United Artists sales manager in San Francisco,
has been named UA branch manager
in Kansas City by William J. Heineman. vicepresident
in charge of distribution. Amacher
fills the vacancy created by the death of
William Truog November 16.
Before joining UA in San Francisco,
Amacher headed the Seattle-Portland operations
of Eagle Lion films.
HALLMARK ZONE MANAGERS MEET—Zone managers of Hallmark Productions,
Inc., from all film exchanges in the U.S. and Canada were tied up in meetings and
Movietime U.S.A. ties November 16-18 at the General Denver hotel, Wilmington, Ohio.
Seen above, left to right: Dick Edge, Seattle-Portland-Salt Lake City exchanges;
Clarence Symons, Detroit-Milwaukee; Rex Ochs, west coast zone manager shifted to
Oklahoma City-New Mexico-Denver exchanges, and Bill Burger, Texas zone manager
upped to Chicago-Indianapolis zone. Other personnel shifts announced by Hallmark
prexy Kroger Babb and general manager Jack Thomas, Carl Garner from .Atlanta to
Dallas; Bud Banniza from Oklahoma City to Atlanta, and Ernest Warren, appointed
zone manager of the Boston-New Haven exchanges.
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 27
,
HELL- RIDERS OF T]|i
A WOUNDED
SOLDIER NEEDS
YOUR BLOOD
(STORY OF THE B29 (l:(
R REPUBLIC PICTURE
TODAY!
FORRES! TUCKER • PHIL Hi
REPUBLIC PICTURES CORPORATION • HERBERT J. YATES, Pres.
Screen P/oy by
RICHAF' TR;
j^^
llEAVENS WHO ROAR INTO
JllPERFORTRESS)
starring
WENDELL COREY • VERA RALSION
iSL miER BRENNAN • «iiiiam ching • uu bonnelu • urn »«ty it • pennv edwards
.GSKIS . s,o„l,x ANDREW GEER and CHARLES GRAYSON . Oi....,!,, ALLAN DWAN
BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs
are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as
"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below thot mark.
•.jy ,v^A.^w -^Ai yy^M
Is Amazing On The Screen... and
SENSATIONAL At The Boxoffice!!
We're bursting our superlatives at the seams over the latest hit in
Paramount's steady stream of hits! We wish you could talk personally
to exhibitors in all 253 cities where it's played. They figured it to be
big -and it
turned out to be sensational!
For instance: a 5- year non-holiday record opening in Denver; a new
4-year record in Philadelphia; biggest Paramount opening in months in
Buffalo. Far beyond expectations right across the entire country, including
Denver, Hartford, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Providence, Kansas
City,
Lincoln, Akron, Tucson and scores of other spots.
This George Pal production is the spectacle-thriller
that's absolutely in a class by itself in performance...
such amazing entertainment that business
is up like a rocket!
"WHEN WORLDS
COLLIDE"
Color by
TECHNICOLOR
Produced by George Pal
Directed by Rudolph Mate
Screeenplay by Sydney Boehm
Based on a Novel by
Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie
^--^-- ""^f^
I
Where
did this car
come from?
Most of us think that new cars come
from big auto-making cities.
can slow up production seriously. A few
missing doorhandles can stop an assembly
line!
But the auto makers never let that line
stop. They keep their cars rolling by using
the speed of planes. They bring in needed
parts by Air Express!
Today, with increased production for
defense, Air Express speed helps keep the
tanks and planes rolling, too. Whatever
your business, here are the unique advantages
you can enjoy with regular use
of Air Express:
IT'S FASTEST — Air Express gives the
IT'S DEPENDABLE — Air Express provides
one-carrier responsibility all the way
and gets a receipt upon delivery.
IT'S PROFITABLE—Air Express expands
profit-making opportunities in distribution
and merchandising.
For more facts call Air Express Division
of Railway Express Agency.
^1
But the fact is, new automobiles arc
assembled in these cities—but their hundreds
of parts come from every state in
the union!
Bringing in these parts involves plenty
of expert timing. A few missing pieces
fastest, most complete door-to-door pick
up and delivery service in all cities and
principal towns, at no extra cost.
IT'S MORE CONVENIENT -One call to
Air Express Division of the Railway
Express Agency arranges everything.
miRmfss
GETS THERE FIRST
32 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
\
t
CHESTER FRIEDMAN
EDITOR
HUGH E. FRA2E
Associate Editor
mum
SECTION
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN
Amaainauon
'9
til
In a suburban home in Bellaire,
Ohio. Tuesday this week (27) Paramount
exploiteers put on a premiere
for Bob Hope's latest picture, "My
Favorite Spy," at a private screening
in the parlor of Mrs. Anne
Kuchinka's home.
Thousands of people crowded the
area to get a glimpse of Bob Hope
and the scores of newsmen attending
the unique premiere. Columns
of free space the incident inspired
in hundreds of newspapers, and the
pages of publicity yet to break in
the national magazines, attest to
the high public interest.
The big thrill of having a premiere
right in her home belonged to Mrs.
Kuchinka and was shared by her
neighbors and fellow townspeople.
There must have been millions of
other theatre patrons envying Mrs.
Kuchinka and at the same time
feeling a vicarious pleasure in her
good fortune.
Showmanship has been defined by
many people and in many ambiguous
terms. Imagination must take
precedence, however, in any interpretation
of showmanship. And
imagination which in turn fires the
imagination of a large segment of
the public can truly be termed an
outstanding example of showmanship.
Jerry Pickman and his staff of exploiteers
at Paramount are deserving
of an accolade for their imagination
in promoting a private fireside
premiere starring Mr. and Mrs.
Movie Fan for a change.
As a refreshing sidelight to a
story published in last week's Showmandiser,
we have a letter from
Harold Stern, manager of the Vogue
Theatre in the Bronx, N. Y. Stern
recently concluded a successful
Beautiful Child contest with a
judges committee composed of Macdonald
Carey, film star; Candy
Jones, well-known model; and Russell
Paterson, the illustrator.
Many of Stern's colleagues were
surprised to learn that, after advertising
the appearance of the
judges for almost a month in advance,
they all showed up^as advertised.
The surprise element
derives from the fact that the Vogue
is a sub-subsequent run house.
(Continued on next page)
Syracuse Atom Bomb Short Gets
Big-Scale Premiere at Keith's
Fusing two separate campaigns for "Painting
the Clouds With Sun.shine" and a special
March of Time release, "And a Voice
Shall Be Heard." Sol Sorkin. manager of the
RKO Keith's, Syracuse. N. Y., had earnest
cooperation from civic officials, commercial
enterprise and civil defen.se executives in
arousing wide interest in the program.
The short film was produced by contract
for the General Electric Co. That organization
made the premiere showing a matter
of great local interest by acting as host
at a cocktail party attended by prominent
Syracuse citizens before they were transported
to the theatre to see the premiere.
The film deals with the recent te.st to determine
the effect and emergency handling
of a large-scale atom attack on an American
city.
General Electric also paid tor a marquee
valance advertising the film, supplied a
large exhibit of electronic devices in the
theatre lobby, and obtained a giant searchlight
from the fire department for the premiere
as well as drum corps to head a parade
to the theatre. In addition station
WNDR recorded the premiere activities from
the lobby and rebroadcast them through
G.E. The local press was generous in coverage
with both reporters and photographers.
Highlight of the campaign to exploit
"Painting the Clouds With Sunshine" was a
tieup with the Berwald Concert singers. A
trailer invited amateur performers to enroll
for auditions and those who qualified were
promised an opportunity to participate in a
concert in conjunction with the premiere.
Supplementing the premiere stage ceremonies
for the .short subject, therefore, the choral
groups presented a medley of songs including
"Painting the Clouds With Sunshine"
.JtHis z^.
General Electric Co., supplies searchlights
and band ior opening night in
Syracuse.
and tunes composed by the late Sigmund
Romberg.
Capital records arranged for window tieups
in seven downtown music shops plugging the
theatre dates; disk jockeys featured music
from the production with theatre credits, and
a mystery tune contest was sponsored on
the Bob O'Donnell show over station WSYR.
According to Sorkin. results of the exploitai;ion
for the show made an appreciable improvement
in attendance and grosses.
Uses Color Heralds
R. T. McNamara. manager of the Allyn,
Hartford. Conn., distributed several thousand
special exchange heralds in full color to exploit
"When Worlds Collide." One side of
the herald was imprinted with "See" copy plus
theatre dates.
Lobby promotion includes exhibit of defense electronics display and recruiting booth to
enlist civil defense volunteers. Interest is evident.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 1, 1951 — 269 — 33
Two Contests Create
Interest for 'Anne'
At New Haven
Two contests, one sponsored by the Italianlanguage
newspaper, Corriere del Connecticut,
and a guessing contest in a downtown store
window were among some of the promotion
facets which helped to exploit "Anne of the
Indies" for Sid Kleper, manager of the College
Theatre, New Haven.
The newspaper ran a three-column linedrawing
of an action scene from the picture
and offered guest tickets to readers for
the best crayon or water-color of this sketch.
Picture and theatre playdates were prominently
mentioned.
A one-gallon glass jug filled with pennies
was planted in a prominently located store
window, with a sign inviting the public to
guess the number of coins in the display.
Theatre passes were again offered as prizes
for those coming closest to the exact figure.
Music stores plugged the sheet music with
posters and accessories advertising the theatre
attraction. Daily announcements on radio
stations WBIB and WYBC advertised the
playdates, and station WELI sponsored a
one-day anagram contest based on the title
of the picture. Station WAVZ sponsored a
tune identification contest for two days, with
picture and theatre getting liberal plugs.
Milk bars featured an "Anne of the Indies"
pirate sundae. Special window tieups were
made with hobby shops, book stores in conjunction
with pirate and action stories, beauty
salons, women's specialty shops and jewelry
stores.
One of the daily newspapers published a
a story announcing that all adults attending
the opening day performances at the College
dressed in pirate costume woud be admitted
free.
Two thousand two-color heralds were distributed
at Yale Bowl following a football
game. A girl dressed in pirate costume
walked through the downtown shopping district
carrying signs lettered with provocative
copy.
In the theatre lobby, giant cutouts from the
24-sheet were mounted and cut out as standee
displays. For current ballyhoo, pennants were
strung around the marquee, and a flash front
helped to attract attention to the picture.
Stage Games Increase
Saturday Attendance
For a period of seven weeks, Addie Addison,
manager of the Bibb, Macon, Ga., built up his
Saturday matinee kid trade for an average of
150 to 800 kids every week. Each week, the
youngsters participated in contests and stage
games, and received a gift from a grab-bag.
Local merchants sponsored the stage activities
and provided ice cream, toys, etc., in
addition to the prizes.
Uses 24-Sheet Truck
A truck bannered with 24-sheets heralding
the opening of "Across the Wide Mi.s.souri"
at the Gopher Theatre, Minneapolis, was one
of several effective ballyhoos used by Manager
Gordon Rydeen. The truck covered the
downtown area during peak shopping hours
and also toured the .suburban neighborhoods.
34
fimim
1 til
maainauon
(Continued from preceding page)
When Stem phoned Macdonald Carey
and asked him to judge the contest, the
star accepted graciously and with alacrity.
Apologetically, Stern explained he could
make no guarantees regarding publicity or
advertising. Carey then gave the lie to
the impression that all stars are stuffed
shirts with big heads by replying that he
needed the theatre as much as the theatre
needed him.
It might help to lower some of the raised
eyebrows, occasioned when Carey showed
up at the Vogue, by noting that Stem
operates on the theory that if a manager
wants something which may help his business,
the simplest way of getting it is the
way he does—by asking.
That, too,
requires imagination.
— Chester Friedman
Officials Christen
Streetcar 'Desire'
Tlie Indiana state premiere of "A Streetcar
Named Desire" at Keith's in Indianapolis
had an advance publicity build-up for three
weeks by Manager Dal Schuder. Theatre
lobby displays, teaser ads and radio plugs
helped to whet the appetite of the patron
and a novel tieup with the city transportation
company supplied additional interest on
opening day.
A trolley car was stopped in front of
Keith's for five minutes, during which impressive
ceremonies were staged while the
car was christened "Desire." Radio station
WIBC recorded the speeches on tape and
broadcast the details later that day. Officiating
were theatre executives and heads of
the transportation company.
All three daily newspapers in the city
carried news stories and photos, with mention
of the theatre attraction and playdates.
Merchants G^operate
On Beauty Competition
With cooperation from civic-minded merchants.
Bob Harvey, manager of the Broadway,
Timmins, Ont., recently conducted a
successful beauty contest which attracted a
capacity audience to the theatre. The merchants
supplied an assortment of gifts for
winners, which were placed on display in the
theatre lobby. Local beauties were invited to
enter their photos in the competition, and
these were placed on an attractive board
amidst the gifts.
Sets Four 'Alice' Displays
Harri.son Howe, manager of the Paramount,
St. John, N. B., made an outstanding tieup
with Calp's department store in conjunction
with his engagement of "Alice in Wonderland."
The store devoted four front window.s
to "Alice" merchandise, with are advertising
the picture playdates. Displays inside
the store further helped to focus attention
on the Paramount booking.
— 270 —
Legion Post Selects
Veteran of Year as
Tie-in for 'Tanks'
The Lima (Ohio) Ordnance Depot, the army
recruiting office, and the American Legion
cooperated with Ted Davidson, manager of
the Ohio Theatre in Lima, in exploiting "The
Tanks Are Coming."
Through army officials, one-sheets advertising
the picture with theatre credits were
posted on all army A-boards, and an army
tank was on exhibit in front of the theatre
three days prior to playdate with recruiting
signs urging the pubUc to see "The Tanks Are
Coming."
On opening night, a huge army searchlight
fingered the sky from in front of the
Ohio, attracting large crowds to the area. The
American Legion, in conjunction with the picture,
named a Veteran of the Year, the publicity
getting extra space in the local columns.
The selected candidate received a scroll on the
theatre stage opening night, with due ceremony.
The American Legion band and contingents
of uniformed army personnel paraded
to the theatre prior to the stage ceremonies.
Public-spirited merchants sponsored a 75-
inch newspaper ad incorporating a large cut
for the world premiere showing of the picture,
topped by an American Legion salute to their
veteran of the year.
Advance lobby displays and window tie-ups
further helped to exploit the playdates.
Log Cabin Boxoffice
Sells 'Convict Lake'
Leo Charlton, manager of the Oxford, Hali
fax, N. S., transformed the boxoffice into a i
log cabin to direct attention to his engagement
of "The Secret of fconvict Lake." The
stnut proved to be a real eye-catcher and
was responsible for increased attendance diu'-
ing the picture's run.
The decorative panels on the walls above
the theatre entrance are used regularly by
Charlton for inexpensive displays which serve
to publicize coming attractions. Litho cutouts
are judiciously spotted against these
panels, with a sign calling attention to the
playdates.
Contest in Newspaper
Promotes 'Missouri'
Ben Geary, manager of the Athena, Athens,
Ohio, had an effective tieup with the classified
ad section of his daily paper as part of
his campaign to exploit "Across the Wide
Missouri." The paper used the mat contest
for three successive days with the headline,
"Follow the Indian Trail of Clark Gable, etc."
A box on the front page called the attention
of readers to the contest. Theatre passes were
offered daily as prizes to winners.
Chiets Bally 'Defiance
Lobby ballyhoo for "Fort Defiance "
prior to
its opening at the Paramount in Denver, included
four chiefs repre.senting a tribe of Indians
who performed ceremonial dances for
theatre patrons. Stunt wa.s arranged by
Manager Ralph Batschelet and was publicized
in the columns of the Denver papers.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :
: Dec. 1, 1961
'
I
I
gyms,
I
patronage,
I
co-op
j
used
;
to
I
Earth
I
fense
i
see
Photos Indicate 'Callaway Went Thataway
Carl Rogers, manager oi Loews, Dayton, came up with a lew
new ideas as well as old ballyhoo stunts to help him put over
"Callaway Went Thataway." He iound a new use for placards,
placing them on 50 hydrants in the dowtitown section. His sandwich-sign
man is shown second from left with an idea borrowed
from a Coney Island souvenir photo gimmick. Barrel stunt drew
many people—and laughs— in front oi the theatre. Title was catchline
that caught on with the public. Marquee cutout, right, also
has the thumb-directional idea which created oral publicity for
the picture.
Civil Defense Aides
Publicize 'Earth'
I
W. J. Straub, manager of the Hippodrome,
Pottstown, Pa., tied in with the civil defense
)•
to run a special test of all sirens in the city
at noon on opening day of "The Day the
Stood Still." The director of civil de-
went on the air to urge the public to
the picture.
Straub went before the science class in the
local high school and made a personal pitch
for the picture. Two hundred and fifty robot
masks with theatre imprint were distributed
children in the grade schools.
Litho cutouts adorned the lobby and were
out front. Three teaser trailers were
screened a month in advance, 50 counter
cards were placed in stores, and a quantity
of window cards were exhibited in clubs,
bars and barber shops, aimed at male
A local merchant sponsored a
deal for the distribution of 1,000 tabloid
heralds.
A coat-hanger matinee on opening day,
sponsored by a dry-cleaning establishment,
insured top attendance for the matinee. A
turkey giveaway on the stage the night of
the show helped build adult attendance that
night.
Circular Is Elongated
For 'Little Egypt' Art
The unusual size and layout of a special
herald prepared by W. S. Samuels, manager
of the Lamar, Beaumont, Tex., helped sell
"Little Egypt" prior to its recent engagement
there. The circular measured seven inches by
20 inches, and featured a full-length illustration
of Rhonda Fleming in a dance pose.
Special copy augmented the layout, emphasizing
the "hootchie-kootchie dance that rocked
the Chicago World's Fair."
Horror Program Sold
With Mummy Display
Ray Boyea, manager of the Mohawk Theatre,
Amsterdam, N. Y., created an effective
lobby display to ballyhoo a horror program
consisting of "The Mummy's Curse" and
"House of Horrors." With rolls of paper and
some padding, he built a dummy figure with
the head wrapped in white cloth. This wa.s
placed on a table under a green spotlight.
Special heralds were placed nearby with a
sign urging patrons to "take one."
To get greater attention for his trailer, a
piece of green gelatin was placed before the
projector aperture, thus tinting the screen.
Brewery Tieup Nets Ale
For Patrons in England
R. G. Mason, manager of the Gaumont
Cinema, Sheffield, England, made a tieup
with the Hope & Anchor Breweries, Ltd.,
and promoted 240 half-pint bottles of Jubilee
stout. The bottles were placed in overimprinted
wrappers and presented to patrons
at specified periods a week prior to the opening
of "Red Mountain." The giveaway was
advertised sufficiently in advance. The deal
was squared with a plug for the ale on the
wrapper and the tie-in line, "We hope you
will enjoy the stout as much as you will 'Red
Mountain.'
Postcards for 'Earth'
J. p. Harrison, manager of the Campus Theatre,
Denton, Tex., mailed postcards to a
select list of theatre patrons, imprinted with
an advance plug for "The Day the Earth
Stood Still." With the selling copy was a cut
of Drew Pearson and his prediction that the
film will be one of the most talked about
pictures of the year. He further predicted
that the recipient of the card would be one
of a thousand who would not miss seeing
"this interplanetary shocker."
Legion Tieup Sells
'Leathernecks'
Bill Dodds, manager of the Paramount,
Hamilton, Ohio, recently joined his local
American Legion post and made it the basis
of an excellent publicity tieup in conjunction
with the booking of "Flying Leathernecks."
The tieup culminated in special stage ceremonies
opening night at which time Dodds
was inducted as a member of the post. The
commander of the post and a marine recruiter
addressed the audience, and a marine
veteran from Korea related some of his
war experiences.
Dodds arranged for a color guard from
the marine recruiting group and staged a
parade to the theatre with contingents of
soldiers and Legionnaires. Music was furnished
by the high school band, the marine
league band and the Legion band.
An exhibit of weapons was set up in the
theatre lobby along with a recruiting booth
for the marine corps.
Masked Ballyhoo Man
Steps Out for 'Golden'
Ray LaBounty, manager of the Liberty,
Cumberland, Md., used an effective street
ballyhoo for the engagement of "The Golden
Horde." He had a man wear a mandarin
dressing robe and hat with a Mongolian mask
covering his features. The man. well over six
feet in height, carried a sign plugging the
playdates and attracted unusual attention
everywhere he appeared.
To exploit "A Streetcar Named Desire," La
Bounty sold a co-op herald to a local merchant
and had his ushers deliver them houseto-house.
An additional quantity was mailed
to the rural routes. Personal letters were addressed
to members of clubs and civic organizations,
and cards in taxicabs helped to
stimulate interest in the film production.
BOXOFTICE Showmandiser :
: Dec, 1, 1951 — 271 — 35
Originality Plus Standard Media
Keep 'Earth' Publicity Whirling
Twentieth Century-Fox is putting cash on
the line as an incentive for theatremen to
get behind local sales promotion of "The
Day the Earth Stood Still." Judging from
the number of entries and the scale of these
campaigns, reports on which arrive at BOX-
OFFICE daily, the picture may claim distmction
as the most exploited film of the
year. The campaigns follow a standard pattern
of promotion and tieups. mixed with
all the trick gags and ideas the contestants
have been accumulating during their experience
as showmen.
One of the more original ideas used to
gain extra publicity was conceived by Adam
Goelz, manager of the Hippodrome in Baltimore.
Goelz dispatched a theatre employe
to Washington, then had him fly by TWA
back to Baltimore. During the flight, the
man was dressed in a space suit, arriving
as "a man from another world."
Goelz tipped the newspapers with the
result that there were photographers on hand
when the plane landed. A recruiting sergeant
for the marines was also on hand ready to
sign up the visitor for service. The stunt
was also productive publicitywise through
interviews on Baltimore radio and television
shows.
20,000 TABLOID HERALDS
Supporting the regular theatre advertising,
Goelz distributed 20,000 special tabloid heralds,
most of which went out as inserts in
the Baltimore Home News. Theatre displays
featured cutouts of the robot with special
lighting effects. Soda fountains featured a
drink called "The Robot." A window display
was arranged at the Enoch Arden library
and a space suit man appeared in public
places and on the streets with signs calling
attention to the Hippodrome engagement.
Ray Boyea, manager of the Mohawk Theatre,
Amsterdam, N. Y., used the top of his
marquee for an unusual stunt which had
hundreds of people stopping to report a "fire."
A huge cutout of the robot was placed on
the canopy where it was visible to motorists
and tourists. A steam line was run behind
the figure and at night colored bulbs gave
the impression there was a fire in progress.
This created excellent word-of-mouth publicity.
A space suit man, acting like a robot,
attracted attention to the picture in the
business area and a sound truck was engaged
to tour the downtown and suburban
sections. Thirty pictorial three-sheets were
posted: tabloid heralds were mailed to 2,000
rural boxholders and distributed by news
carriers in the urban sections, and through
a tieup with the Civil Defense committee,
volunteers were enlisted in the lobby throughout
the run of the picture.
HEAVY OUTDOOR BALLY
At the Palace Theatre, Meriden, Conn..
Manager Tony Massella used every possible
outdoor medium to sell his playdates. He
used a flash front, auto bumper strips,
window cards, miniature die-cut standees,
litho posters, snowbirds and tabloid heralds,
all prior to opening.
Merchant shopping bags were imprinted
with theatre copy, place mats with imprint
were distributed to eating places, pay envelopes
distributed at factories carried picture
and theatre copy and window displays
were set with many merchants.
In addition, Massella had the library distribute
bookmarks and set up book display,^:
he promoted free radio time, gave out 200
robot masks at local schools and enlisted the
cooperation of teachers who plugged the film
Exhibit of astronomical equipment and photos ol the solar system at the Paramount Theatre,
Portland, Ore., were borrowed through the courtesy oi ofiicials at the Oregon Museum
of Science and Industry.
Marine non-coms greet the "man from
another world" as he alights at Baltimore
airport from Washinglon. They
were there to sign him up as a recruit
and to help promote "The Day the
Earth Stood Still."
in classrooms.
A street stunt, used by Manager Lou
Cohen at the Poll Theatre, Hartford, Conn.,
resulted in a new photo being published by
the Hartford Times. Cohen announced that
a "man from Mars," a space suit man, would
release 50 giant target balloons, each with a
pass attached, at a specified time and place.
The editor of the paper, impressed by the
interest of the public, ran the picture.
The theatre also received additional coverage
from the press and from radio news
commentators and disk jockeys.
Oscar Nyberg, manager of the Paramount
Theatre, Portland, Ore., tied up with the Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry to
obtain a novel lobby display which helped
arouse advance interest in his playdates.
An enlarged photograph of the moon was
one of the features of the exhibit and the
museum director supplied several telescopes
and a variety of photographs of constellations
and planets which made an effective
flash.
AN UNUSUAL EXHIBIT
At the Oriental Theatre in Portland, Manager
Bert Gamble also procured an unusual
exhibit for his lobby. This consisted
of two cast-iron robots. The nose, eais.
etc., were large nuts affixed to bolts and
were impressive in appearance.
Duke Stalcup, manager of the Martin Theatre,
Opelika, Ala., took to the air to sell
his playdates by using special recordings on
radio station WJHO and the Auburn station,
WAUD. He also promoted free plugs via a
co-op deal with a quiz program on WJHO.
Every highway leading into town was
posted with three- and six-sheets. A sound
truck ballyhooed the picture in the rural
areas, and during the current engagement,
a searchlight truck was stationed in front
of the theatre, the light attracting people
from the entire area.
In the lobby, Stalcup displayed a 24-sheet
cutout of the robot with a modified oscillating
fan providing animation by moving the
arm and leg of the girl in the robot's arms.
A huge telescope was constructed and patron.s
were invited by a sign nearby to "Look
5,000 years into the future." Persons who
"peeked," had the illusion, through special
optical effects, of seeing robots, space ships
and planets whirling around on a vast horizon
of star-filled sky.
36 — 272 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser
: : Dec. 1, 1951
I
I
the
}
ceded
;
pared
I
cards
\
edition
;
agency
j
advertising
j
umns
'
prior
'
were
I
to opening. Advance and current stories
planted in the Norwich Bulletin and
Record. Exchange heralds were imprinted lo-
and inserted in Sunday newspapers
to opening, through the cooperation of
the Shea news agency.
A movie title quiz based on films starring
Shelley Winters was promoted through special
heralds. Sidewalk stencils were placed at
important crosswalks, and advance lobby displays
featured Shelley Winters portraits with
j
cally
1 prior
OK*
()
FPC Chain Managers
Build Up Goodwill
Via Royal Visit
The result vi.sit of Princes.s Elizabeth and
the Duke of Edinburgh to Canada gave
Famous Players Canadian theatre managers
many opportunities to demonstrate their civic
loyalty, pride and showmanship.
Jack Watson, manager of the Grand,
Regina, Sask,. earned the prai.se of the
commanding army officer in the area and
an editorial in the Regina Leader-Post by
opening his refreshment bar and serving hot
coffee to troops lining the streets while
awaiting the arrival of the royal couple.
Many of the troops had been standing for
two hours in the cold when Watson decided
to ."^erve the steaming hot drink.
Bill Murke, manager of the Capitol, Brantford.
Ont., is another showman who made a
hit with the townspeople. When the visiting
royalty arrived, it was night and illumination
was inadequate along the line of march.
With foresight. Burke had arranged with
city officials to place spotlights on the roofs
of the Capitol and Paramount theatres, and
persuaded lATSE operators to volunteer
their services in installing and operating the
spotlights. As a result, the spectators had
a good view of the royal visitors. Although
the theatres were closed as part of the
holiday. Burke ordered all lights turned on
so that in front of both houses, the spectators
had the advantage of extra illmumination.
Pocketbook Tieup Aids
'Raging Tide' at Norwich
The engagement of
"The Raging Tide" at
Poll Theatre. Norwich. Conn., was preby
a strong exploitation campaign preby
Manager Joseph Boyle. The Kaufman
news agency cooperated by distributing
to news dealers, advertising the Perma
of the book adapted to the screen. The
also bannered its trucks with signs
the theatre dates.
Teaser ads were placed in the classified col-
of the local press beginning three days
special
copy.
'People vs. O'Hara' Copy
Is Printed on Summons
For "People Against O'Hara." Al Hatoff.
manager of the Park Theatre in Brooklyn,
distributed several thousand heralds made up
to represent an official court summons. To
achieve a realistic appearance, regular form
summonses prepared by a law-blank publishing
firm were purchased and imprinted with
proper copy. The stunt was especially effective
since the associate feature. "The Law
and the Lady," was also suitable for a "legal"
tie-in.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 1. 1951
Clown Appearance Has
Excellent Publicity
The personal appearance of the popular
Howdy Doody clown, Clarabel, at the Strand
in Delaware, Ohio, gave Manager Monroe
Kaplan an opportunity to tie up with his local
schools and assure top attendance.
He arranged a personal appearance of
Clarabel on the Columbu.s television station,
contacted 14 schools in the area and got each
to make announcements in classrooms.
Teachers al.so assisted by passing out circulars
advertising the show to their students.
In four .schools, Kaplan obtained permission
to address the students at a.ssembly and
also had the cooperation of four supermarkets
in the distribution of circulars.
Blind Date Contest
Ties in Festival
With excellent new,spaper publicity punctuating
each phase of the campaign, a Blind
Date contest conducted by Joseph Bugala,
manager of the Manos. Uniontown, Pa., was
tied in with the Fall Foliage festival, annual
event sponsored by local merchants.
Thirteen couples were selected by balloting
among 17 Fayette county high .schools. The
girls were chosen by the votes of their schoolmates,
and they, in turn, chose their own escorts.
Six couples were dated on the stage of
the State one night and seven couples were
presented to the audience the following night.
Don C. Hayman, editor of the Evening Standard's
Junior Reporter club, acted as master of
ceremonies for the two shows.
A festival queen was selected from among
the 13 couples. All 13 couples received prizes
and were guests at a Cinderella Couple dinner.
Retail stores featured window displays,
and high school faculty members cooperated
with Bugala.
Football Squad Tie-in
Aids 'Golden Horde'
A tie-in angled on the title of "The Golden
Horde" got extra news stories in the press
for Dillon Krepps, manager of the United
Artists in Detroit.
Krepps slanted his story on the fact that
the Wayne university football team has been
called the Tartars for a quarter of a century.
Historically, "The Golden Horde" is
known as the Tartar tribe and it was this
coincidence that inspired Krepps to invite
the Wayne football squad to be his guests on
opening night of the picture.
In addition to newspaper publicity, university
officials cooperated in the promotion
of the theatre playdates through bulletins.
Merchant Spots Puzzle
In Ads for 'Sunshine'
Jack Harvey, manager of the Palace. Danbury,
Conn., arranged a novel tieup with
the local Kaiser dealer to provide extra advertising
for "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine."
The motor company inserted a section
of a regular display ad on the picture
in its daily newspaper advertisement. Readers
were invited to save the parts and piece
them together in a jigsaw puzzle to win free
theatre tickets to the Palace. The stunt ran
several days.
— 273 —
Merchant Co-Op Plus
Star's Appearance
Aids 'Red Shoes'
The ijcr.oiicil appearance ol Jean Kent
with the booking of "The Red Shoes" and the
dance theme of the film production Inspired
extensive exploitation and publicity campaign
by Lily Watt, manager of the Odeon,
Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. Scotland.
Several window displays were arranged
with merchants, featuring ballet figures set
again.st appropriate backgrounds with signs
calling attention to the theatre dates. Music
teachers, school headmasters and members of
local music groups were circularized by letter
In order to arouse the interest of thehlgher
intellectuals in the community.
Mi.ss Kent, one of the best-known personalities
ever to visit Coatbridge, received
a Royal Scots welcome as a result of Mi.ss
Watt's enthu.siasm.
c\roH' »o
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37
IT
NAMES rOU-AND
IHOUSkHDS OF OTHERS
AS BENEFICIARIES
Here's something to
be Thankful for —
During IhU Thanksgiving season let us
all be thankful that the amusement industry
has undertaken this wonderful
humanitarian work— that of routing TB
— man's most deadly disease.
Your contribution gives you
MEMBERSHIP in
and
the
WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
1.— Core for those in the amusement industry
who ore afflicted with tuberculosis..
.to return them to their families,
their jobs, in good health— mentally and
physically
2.— Advancement of a tuberculosis educational
program throughout the industry—to
help stop TB before it becomes
seriously entrenched
3.— Development of research in this field;
ever seeking belter and more advanced
methods of controlling and curing TB
4 — Continued search for the hidden
cause and source of TB infection, and
help in developing prevention and
medication
If you're an exhibitor— get every employee
to contribute to the hospital fund
—to Join.
If you're an employee—JOINI— and be
thankful that you're a part owner in the
Amusement Industry's only hospital.
OF INSURANCE COVERAGE IS TH/S.^ It's not
a written policy—yet its benefits have been available
for a quarter of a century to help ANYONE
in the amusement industry
(and their families)
to combat and conquer tuberculosis—at no cost!
It's your membership in the Variety Clubs-
Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake
...and the premium is only your voluntary contribution
to the Hospital Fund.
THE WILL ROGERS
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
has earned the enviable record of 90% plus in
cures of tuberculosis... a tribute to its sincerity,
its techniques, and its facilities. Of 853 patients
admitted— at no cost— 771 were completely cured
—rehabilitated, and returned to useful and happy
lives.
The hospital employs the greatest medical
knowledge and equipment. It maintains an institution
valued at a million-and-a-half dollars.
It
Anyone in the amusement
industry who needs it is
offered free core and the
best medical attention
available to combat TB
renders ituUiidiuil care, and it conducts a C
stant and intense educational and research p
gram purely on the voluntary contributions
the amusement industry, which is blessed *
the biggest heart in the world, and...
WQ cat^ fi>r ouroWn
VARIETY CLUBS- WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAi
T^he only hospital operated by and for the amusement industry
1301 Broadwoy, Room 30)1, N*v« York 18, N. Y. • BRyant 9-0146-7
f
UA Would Halt Sale
Oi ELC 16mm Films
NEW YORK—United Artists will try to
prevent the sale by Pictorial Films in 16mm
of seven former Eagle Lion Classics releases.
Seymour M. Peyser, counsel, is checking the
legal position of the company through producer
contracts on each film.
The UA statement followed
one by Milton
J. Salzburg, owner of Cornell Film Co., and
Frank Soule, Pictorial president, that they
had acquired control of Pictorial from Pathe
Industries and intended to release the former
ELC films in the 16mm field "in the coming
months." One is "The Long Dark Hall," released
by UA in April, which is now playing
subsequent run at the local RKO neighborhood
theatres.
The others are: "Destination Moon," "The
Jackie Robi:ison Story," "The Winslow Boy,"
"The Great Rupert," "The Golden Gloves
Story" and "Tulsa." They were among 375
features and 250 short subjects to which Pictorial
said it had all rights.
Soule is chairman of the board of Pictorial
and Salzburg is president. SaLsburg was one
of the founders of the company, was president
when it was sold in 1945 to Pathe Industries
and remained as president and general
sales manager until 1947. Soule has been
connected with Republic, Eagle Lion and
Pathe Industries. Pictorial has been specializing
in non-theatrical films.
Salzburg said some of the films on the
Pictorial list will be released to television but
that the bulk of them will not be. He did
not identify those intended for television. His
return to Pictorial followed by a week the
purchase by Motion Pictures Unlimited, a
new company formed by Soule, of Pictorial
from Pathe Industries. Soule said then he
had no television plans.
Justice Dept. May Enter
Dipson High Court Case
WASHINGTON—The Department of
Justice
will intervene in the Dipson case before
the Supreme Court, it was indicated on Thursday
(29). The DofJ, an official said, will ask
the Supreme Court to grant Dipson a rehearing,
Dipson Theatres had originally charged all
eight major distributors and the Shea circuit
in Buffalo, N. Y., with conspiracy to deprive
four Dipson theatres of proper runs and
clearances. The district court dismissed the
complaints and Dipson dropped Universal and
Columbia in taking the case to the appeals
court, which also decided against the complaint.
The petition to the Supreme Court was
further narrowed down, and now it is charged
only that the Bailey Theatre had been demoted
from a second to a third-run house by
the alleged conspiracy, with the more favored
runs going to the Shea chain's Kensington.
Dipson alleged that the appeals court did
not properly apply the Supreme Court verdict
in the Paramount case, an argument which
will form the basis for Department of Justice
intervention with the future filing of an
amicus curiae brief. The Justice department
will argue that the Supreme Court held pooling
and joint ownership illegal per se. while
the appeals court said proof of conspiracy had
to be shown.
W. f. Rodgers Resigns;
Reagan His Successor
New York—Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, Inc.,
announced
Friday (30) that Charles M. Reagan had been named vice-president in
charge of distribution for MGM effective January 1. He will succeed William
F. Rodgers who, Schenck stated, had asked to be relieved of his duties.
Rodgers will remain with MGM for a minimum of two years as a vicepresident
in an advisory capacity. He will continue to make his headquarters
at the home office.
Making the announcement, Mr. Schenck stated, "Mr. Rodgers, who has
served as MGM's vice-president and general sales manager for many years,
has asked that he be reUeved of his responsibilities and, because of his
insistence, we have acceded to his wishes. I am happy to state that Mr.
Rodgers will remain with Loew's as a vice-president for a minimum of two
years as advisor and consultant on sales activities and will continue to make
his headquarters at the company's offices at 1540 Broadway."
In commenting on Mr. Reagan's appointment, Mr. Schenck said, "I consider
Mr. Reagan to be especially qualified to assume his new position and
to succeed Mr. Rodgers."
Prior to joining Loew's, Inc. in an executive capacity in 1949, Mr.
Reagan was vice-president and general sales manager of Paramount
Pictures, Inc.
Salt Lake, Pittsburgh Tours
For Movietime Opened
HOLLYWOOD — Tw9 Movietime,
U.S.A.
units opened tours November 26 in the Salt
Lake City and Pittsburgh exchange areas.
The Utah group kicked off its junket with
a luncheon with Gov. J. Bracken Lee, following
a pre-tour appearance by Producer Anson
Bond, who delivered a Sunday sermon in a
chapel of the Mormon temple. The COMPOsponsored
program was opened by Dean Jagger,
Noreen Michael, Marilyn Nash, Paula
Raymond, Marshall Thompson, Keenan
Wynn and Writer Dane Lussier, and subsequently
broke up into three groups to cover
Utah, Idaho and eastern Nevada.
In Pennsylvania, James Craig, Mel Ferrer,
Jody Lawrence and Frank Lovejoy covered
McKeesport, Washington, New Kensington,
Tarentum and Connellsville, were guests of
honor at an Allied States conclave in Pittsburgh,
and visited another dozen towns in
the steel district.
A third group was slated to plane out Sunday
(2) for New Orleans to open a week's
tour of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Paramount Sets Films
For B'way First Runs
NEW YORK—Paramount has set bookings
at New York first run theatres for three of
its forthcoming pictures. George Pal's "When
Worlds Collide" will open at the Mayfair
following the current run of "Detective
Story," which opened November 6. "Warpath,"
produced by Nat Holt, previously announced
for the Mayfair, will open at the
Globe following "Tlie Desert Fox." "Crosswinds,"
Pine and Thomas picture, will follow
"Warpath" at the Globe.
Sutphen Requests Review
On Intervention Appeal
WASHINGTON—The Sutphen Estates on
Thursday (29) asked the Supreme Court for
a rehearing of its refusal to review the appeal
for intervention in the Warner consent decree.
Warners had guaranteed Sutphen ease of
the Warner (then Strand i Theatre in New
York to a Warner subsidiary. Under the
decree the theatre goes to the new theatre
company, but Sutphen told the New York
statutory court the assumption of the guarantee
by this company w'as not strong enough,
and it wanted guarantees from both new
firms. The court turned down the request for
intervention, and the Supreme Court denied
a petition for review.
Granting of rehearings by the high court
rarely is done.
MPAA to Show French Film
Offered for Distribution
NEW YORK—"The Voyage to America."
French feature, will be shown distributors
Tuesday (,4i at the Paramount projection
room by the Motion Picture Ass'n of America
advisory unit for foreign films, according
to B. Bernard Kreisler, director of the unit.
Henri Lavorel, producer-director of the
film, which co-stars Pierre Fresnay and
Yvonne Printemps, will attend to negotiate
distribution rights for all countries in the
western hemisphere except Canada.
ABC Reports 9-Month Net
NEW YORK—American Broadcasting Co.,
Inc., and its subsidiaries reports a net income
of $77,000, after federal income taxes, for the
nine months ended September 30. 1951. This
compares with a loss of S877.000 for the nine
months ended Sept. 30, 1950.
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951 N 39
. . Robert
. . Horace
. . . Rube
. . Walter
. . Orton
\
BROADWAY
TTan Heflin, featured in "Weekend With
Father" for Universal, arrived from
HoUj'wood for ten days of press and radio
interviews in behalf of the picture . .
Robert
.
Newton. British star who is in the forthcoming
"Tom Brown's Schooldays," is here from
London to participate in the promotion for
the American opening at the Park Avenue
Theatre in December .
McMahon,
who is featured in "Detective Story," was
back from a 15-city appearance tour for the
William Holden, Paramount star,
picture . . .
and actress-wife Brenda Marshall arrived
from Hollywood November 28. Holden will
appear on the Cavalcade of America radio
show December 4 and the Theatre Guild of
the Air December 9.
. . .
Sir Henry French, director-general of the
British Film Producers Ass'n. returned to
England on the Queen Elizabeth November
27. John Boles, stage-screen star, and Jacques
Faith, Parisian designer, were on the same
boat Bernard Jacon, Lux Films vicepresident
in charge of sales, left on a trip to
exchanges in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Dallas, St. Louis. New Orleans, Jacksonville
and Miami . . . Anatole Litvak, who produced
and directed "Decision Before Dawn" for
20th-Fox. was in from Hollywood to participate
in the preopening activities for the late-
December premiere at the Rivoli.
Douglas Fairbanks jr., producer of "Another
Man's Poison" for United Artists, arrived
by plane from Hollywood November 27
to confer with UA executives on the promotion
plans . E. Pell, assistant to
Alfred Crown, vice-president in charge of
world sales for Samuel Goldwyn, resigned
November 30 to become sales manager for
Color Service Co., specializing in the development
of 16mm color for motion picture and
industrial firms.
Harry Goldstein, Monogram-Allied Artists
eastern exploitation representative, was back
from Chicago, where he completed arrangements
with Aladdin Industries for the joint
promotion of Aladdin lamps and Walter
Wanger's Cinecolor oroduction of "Aladdin
Lamp" . . . Harold Hendee. research director
for RKO. addressed the Lions club of New
A center of interest at New York's Variety
Club carnival-bazaar at the Astor
hotel Thursday was the "first aid" station
manned by pretty Moana Holt, who provided
smelling salts for the winners and
aspirin for the losers. Chief Barker Fred
J. Schwartz and Main Guy Max Wolff
seem to agree that Moana has what it
takes to soothe the losers as well as winners
of the capital prizes awarded that
night. Winners of the awards: Ray Malone,
Cadillac; John Guinan, Hudson;
R. M. Cahn, Ford; Julius Coysone and
Lois Tate, TV sets; Mrs. Al Mears, fur
coat; theatre passes: Mrs. W. S. Kane,
Mrs. Freidreich, N. Pierro, N. Francis and
S. M. Miller.
York on "Making the Movies the Real Mc-
Coy" . . . The entire personnel of the Republic
home office is giving blood donations,
in groups of five, at the American Red Cross
headquarters.
Howard Dietz, MOM vice-president and director
of advertising, publicity and exploitation,
left November 27 by plane for a visit
to the studio . . . Hayes Goetz, MGM producer,
and Andrew Marton, director, arrived from
JUDGES OF BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN—Everyone, including the judges, had a
good time at the Beautiful Child contest staged recently at the Vogue Theatre in the
Bronx by Manager Harold Stern. Judges of the finals were Macdonald Carey, the
actor; Candy Jones, the model, and Russell Paterson, noted illustrator. Youngsters
came to the event in droves along with parents. Shown arriving in the Vogue lobby,
left to right: Richard Berner, Interboro circuit supervisor; Paterson, Carey, Stern
and Miss Jones.
.
the coast November 29 and left immediatelj.
by plane for England . . James R. Grainger
.
Republic executive vice-president in charge;
of sales and distribution, flew to Omaha No-i
vember 27 to participate in the "Omaha'
Salutes the Strategic Air Command" celebra-l
tion in connection with "The Wild Blue'
Yonder" premiere L. Titus jr.,'
Republic district manager, is visiting Cincinnati
and Pittsburgh branches before return-,
ing to the home office Monday (3i.
A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount
Film Distributing Corp., and Mrs. Schwalberg,
the former Carmel Myers, returned November
26 from their Florida honeymoon and
cruise in West Indies waters aboard the yacht
of Barney Balaban. Mrs. Schwalberg will
resume her TV program, "The Carmel Myers
Show," over WJZ-TV . H. Hicks,
director of Loew's International Corp. 16mm
department, left November 27 for the Far i
East. He will visit MGM offices in Japan,
tlie Philippines, Austraha and New Zealand
;
Jackter, Columbia assistant gen- \
eral sales manager, and George Josephs,
assistant general sales
:
manager, and George
Josephs, assistant to A. Montague, general
salesmanager, are on a business trip to San
Francisco.
W. C. Gehring, assistant general salesmanager
of 20th Century-Fox, returned to
his desk November 26 after addressing the
Movietime U.S.A. dinner in Dallas . . . Oscar
Morgan, general salesmanager of short sub- I
. . .
jects and Paramount News, got back Novem- (
ber 6 from a one-week trip to Atlanta and
Jacksonville Jerry Pickman, Paramount
director of advertising and publicity, returned
November 27 from Pittsburgh, where he addressed
the Allied Theatre Owners of Western
Pennsylvania Uda B. Ross, Westrex
Corp. regional manager for Latin America,
planed out of New York to visit the Caribbean
area and review the company's operations
in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama
. . . John Tassos. Paramount national syndicate
and wire service contact, is taking a
three-months sick leave and will return in
February.
Ampa Will Honor Weitmcm
On Theatre Anniversary
NEW YORK—The Associated
Motion Picture
Advertisers will honor Robert M. Weitman.
managing director of the Paramount
Theatre, at an industry luncheon at the Hotel
Piccadilly Thursday (6i on the 25th anniversary
of the flagsliip of United Paramount
Tlieatres. AMPA is also celebratuig an anniversary,
its 35th. Maurice A. Bergman,
director of public relations for Universal, will
deliver the tribute to Weitman. and heads of
the various circuits in tlie metropolitan area
will be honored guests.
Federation Group Meets
NEW YORK—Members of the executive
and corporate gifts committees of tlie amusement
division of the Federation of Jewish
Pliilanthropies of New York met at tlie office
of Barney Balaban, president of Paramount
Pictures. Tliur.sday t29>. Among tlio,se present
were Emanuel Friscli. amusement divi.sion
chairman; Barney Balaban and Si Fabian,
co-ciiairmen of the division; Leonard
Goldenson, Sol Schwartz and Herman Robbins,
co-chairmen of tlie corporate gifts committee.
*' 1.1,
40 BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951
!
upstate
I
I
I
December
! day
I which
,7 "Si*
TOA
All Set to Revive
Dormant Albany Unit
NEW YORK—Plans to bring back into active
existence tlie Tlieatre Owners of Albany,
has been dormant for over a year,
have been set up by S. H. Fabian, TOA chairman
of the board, and Gael Sullivan, executive
director, working with Harry Lamont,
chairman pro tern, and Lewis Sumberg.-Al-
bany.
The four will open a recruiting meeting
17 in Albany and follow the next
with meetings in Utica and Watertown.
Additional local aides will be Sol Ullman,
Fabian circuit head; Jules Perlmutter
of Albany, William Benton of Saratoga and
Sid Swore of Schenectady. The hope is that
the active participation of the Schine and
Smalley circuits will be obtained, also that
management employes of those circuits will
sign up with TOA as associate members in
line with its new membership plan.
Sullivan said an active Albany unit is
badly needed now to combat possible adverse
legislation, including a New York City ticket
tax. He said he knew definitely that such
a tax was a real threat, and he added that
if it became fact, other cities might follow
this city's lead.
TOA will work closely in Albany with representatives
of the Metropolitan Motion Picture
Theatres Ass'n and Independent Theatre
Owners Ass'n, Sullivan said.
Al Fitter Made Hugh Owen
Assistant at Paramount
NEW YORK—Al Fitter, upstate sales representative
for Paramount, has been made an
assistant to Hugh Owen, eastern and southern
division manager. His headquarters will
be in New York.
Fitter was New Orleans office manager and
head booker before becoming sales representative
operating out of the Buffalo exchange.
Prank Saviola, Buffalo office manager, will
replace him and Tony Mercurio will take
over Saviola's post.
David Katz to Succeed
Balaban in Roxy Post
NEW YORK—David T. Katz, managing director
of the Roxy Theatre for the past ten
years, will become executive director of the
house January 1, succeeding A. J. Balaban,
who will retire from the post but will remain
as advisory consultant for three more years.
Katz, who came to New York from Toledo,
was in the Fox Film Co. home office before
joining the Roxy 18 years ago. A new managing
director will be named shortly.
In New RCA Victor Posts
NEW YORK—W. L. Rothenberger has been
named as manager of the eastern region of
the RCA 'Victor division of Radio Corp. of
America. A new region also has been created,
the northeastern, with R. M. Macrae, now
assistant regional manager in New York, as
manager, effective January 1.
Warner Club Party Dec. 15
NEW YORK—The Warner club will hold its
annual Christmas party for children of the
members at the Warner Theatre December
15. Gifts wiU be presented to the youngsters,
who will see films and stage acts.
Pre-Chnsimas Lull Starts on B'way;
Two Tickets,' Till the Cup Big
NEW YORK—While the start of the Chrl.stmas
shopping .season i.s beginning to have
its effect on the grosses in the Broadway
first runs, several of the newer pictures
registered strong first week grosses, notably
"Two Tickets to Broadway," the 25th anniversary
picture at the Paramount. "Come
Fill the Cup" also had a good opening week
at the Warner and "Too Young to Kiss" was
good enough in its first week at the Radio
City Mu.sic Hall, where it will stay only two
weeks before the annual yuletide show comes
in early in December.
Two 20th Century-Fox pictures, "Golden
Girl" and "Fixed Bayonets," were slightly
above average in their first weeks at the
Roxy and Rivoli, respectively, and "Warpath"
was fair in its opening week at the Globe.
"Quo 'Vadis" continued to do excellent business
in its third week at both the continuousrun
Capitol and the two-a-day Astor and
"Detective Story" held up well in its third
week at the Mayfair. The only other holdovers
up in the money were the art house
films, "The Clouded Yellow," which had a
second week's gross second only to "Oliver
Twist" at the Park Avenue, "The Lavender
Hill Mob." in its sixth week at the Fine Arts
and "The Browning 'Version," which picked
up in its fourth week at the Sutton.
Only four art houses brought in new films
during the week, two of them British, "Pool of
London" and "A Christmas Carol." one
Hollywood film, "Man With a Cloak."
(Average Is 100)
Astor—Quo Vadis (MGM), 3rd wk. of two-a-day-115
Bijou—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 34th wek- of
two-a-day 80
Capitol—Quo Vadis (MGM), 3rd wk. of continous
run 125
Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 6tfl wk.. 110
Criterion— Tlie Blue Veil (RKO), 5th wk 105
Globe—Warpath (Para) 100
Loew's State— Across the Wide Missouri (MGM),
3rd wk 105
Mayfair—Detective Story (Para), 3rd wk 125
Paramount—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO), plus
stage show 120
Paris—The River (UA), llth wk. of two-a-day 100
Park Avenue—The Clouded Yellow (Col), 2nd
wk 115
Radio City Music Hall—Too Young to Kiss (MGM),
plus stage show 120
Rivoli—Fixed Bayonets (20th-Fox) 110
Roxy—Golden Girl (20th-Fox), plus stage show....! 10
Sutton—The Browning Version (U-I), 4th wk 110
Trans-Lux 52nd Street—Red Badge oi Courage
(MGM), 6th wk 90
Trans-Lux 60th Street—Laughter in Paradise
(Stratlord), 2nd wk 100
Trans-Lux 72nd Street—The Unknown Man (MGM),
2nd wk 95
Warner—Come Fill the Cup (WB) 115
Victoria—Ten Tall Men (Col), 5th wk 100
"Detective Stor-y' Cops
Best Buiialo Business
BUFFALO — The Thanksgiving holidays
helped boxoffices all along the line and business
was outstanding in a few spots, notably
"Detective Story," which really went to town
and copped one of the most arresting weeks
in many a moon. "Ten Tall Men" and
"Golden Girl" were also up there at the
I
WANT TO RENT
SILENT RUDOLPH VALENTINO FILMS
For Educational Groups For One Night Showings
Contact Andrew Bertine
76 Bellrock St., Maiden 48, Moss.
top. The .stage show at the Buffalo headed
by Debbie Reynolds and Champ Butler failed
to attract average buslne.ss with "Love Nest"
en the screen. "Starlift" was also off but
"An American in Paris'" continued to attract
excellent buslne.ss In its fourth week.
Buffalo—Lov* Nasi (20th-Fox), plui ilaga show.... 85
Center— SlorlUl (WB) - 90
Conlury— Goldon Girl (20th-Fox) 105
Cinema—Tho Emporor's Nighlingols (Rembrandt),
2nd wk - 85
Lafayette- Ton Tall Men (Col) „ 110
Paramount— Dotoctivo Story (Para)..... 125
Tcck--An American in Pari* (MGM), 4th d. t. wk.-llO
'Worlds Collide' Leads
Philadelphia With 120
PHILADELPHIA—First run situations had
their ups and downs. The best average was
scored by "When Worlds Collide," which did
120 in its second week at the Stanton.
Aldine—Rhubarb (Para) _ ...100
Boyd—Texas Carnival (MGM), 3rd wlc 65
Earle—The Magic Carpet (Col), plus stage show_ 90
Goldman—Ten Tall Men (Col) -.115
Maslbaum-The Blue Veil (RKO), 4lh wk 80
Midlown—The Strange Door (U-I) - - 90
Randolph— An American in Paris (MGM), 3rd wk .115
Stanley—Starlift (V/B; 65
Stanton—When Worlds Collide (Para), 2nd wk 120
Baltimore Goes Musical;
Holiday Activity Helps
BALTIMORE— Holiday bustle has invaded
the downtown area, with the stores now open
two nights per week till Christmas. The influx
of shoppers these nights has added a
.slight lift to the boxoffice. Musicals were the
order of the day as "Texas Carnival," "Starlift,"
"Golden Girl" and "Two Tickets to
Broadway" continued to battle it out for top
business. Action films like "Detective Story"
and "Ten Tall Men" are getting a goodly
share of the hypoed boxoffice.
Century—Texas Carnival fMGM) _ _ 110
Town—Two Tickets to Broadwoy (RKO) 107
New—Golden Girl (20th-Fox) 109
Stanley—Starlift (V/B) _ __ 111
Hippodrome—Ten Tall Men (Col) 110
Keith's—Detective Story (Para) 114
Fine Arts—Hotel Sahara (UA), 2nd wk. -_ 89
Mayfair—The Raging Tide (U-I) _10I
Valencia—An American in Paris (MGM), 4th wk...ll4
lames M. Orchard Becomes
Paramount TV Executive
NEW YORK—James M. Orchard has been
named as a sales and account executive for
Paramount Television Productions, Inc., by
John Howell, director of sales and merchandising.
This is another move in an expanding
plan of program production and distribution.
Orchard has been with station KOTV,
Tulsa, for the past year as program director.
He had previously been with WJAR-TV,
Providence. During World War II he was a
pilot with the rank of lieutenant.
FILMACK,5/ia:^TRAILERS
ARE THE BEST
FROM ANY
ANGLE!"
W^i—^fND rOUR
CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wahash
NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Ar.
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 41
. . . Roy
. . . Many
. .
. . Arthur
Along New York's Filmrow
By TED GOTTFRIED
•THE 20th-FOX FAMILY CLUB enjoyed its
Thanksgiving party at Areles restaurant
Blumenheim of Walter Reade Theatres
has been promoted from assistant booker
to assistant to Walter Reade jr. . . . Irving
Steiner, owner of the Charles and Palestine
theatres, visited Ben Drexler, Brandt booker,
at the Brandt office Monday t26i ... Employes
of the MGM exchange sent a Christmas
package to Mike Levitt, former cashier,
who is in a Korean hospital recuperating from
Carol Segal,
wounds received in action . , .
daughter of Etta V. Segall, Monogram head
booker, suffered an attack of appendicitis and
was operated on Wednesday (21). The sales
and booking department gave her a nylon
nightgown.
Ray Mitchell has resigned as booker for
Prudential. Tom Pozin replaces him .
The UA exchange is still clinging to first
place in the current sales drive and members
are already figuring up the split. The contest
ends December 31 . . . Joe Ingber, Brandt
buyer, returned to work Monday (26) following
an absence of one week on jury duty
MGM employes attended the wedding
of Helen Levy Saturday (24).
,
The Bryant Theatre on 42nd street, has
been sold to Jean Goldwurm and George
Schwartz by Julius Joelson. They will refurbish
it and show first run pictures
John Collins is the new secretary to Edwin
Gage, secretary of Walter Reade Theatres.
He replaced Bob Cook, resigned . . . Rose
Deut.sch replaces Roy Blumenheim as
ant booker of Walter Reade Theatres .
assist-
. Max
Polinsky, Brandt booker, returned to work
Monday (26). He had been ill with a cold.
Local B-51 of the Film Exchange Employes
union is .scheduled to meet Monday (3)
Jimmy Davidson, who has been at the U-I
home office for the past two years, is at the
exchange, replacing Fred Mayer as head
booker. Mayer was promoted to salesman
Sylvia Seiden, Republic biller, became engaged
Monday (26) . . . Happy birthday to
James Montana, RKO cashier, December 8
. . . Bernice Hamer has resigned as secretary
to Walter Reade jr. . . . Judith Tanney
daughter of Joseph A. Tanney, head of SOS
Cinema Supply Corp., has become engaged
to Lloyd E. Hamburger, now with the army
The wedding will be held in the Waldorf-
Astoria next June 7.
Happy birthday to Richard Brandt and
Richard Margolin, both of Brandt Theatres
and both of whom will be 24 on December
6 . . Shirley
. Gottlieb, MGM biller, returned
last Monday from an ab.sence due to grippe
She will leave on vacation this Monday
Arthur Mossinger, former Columbia boxoffice
statement clerk, left for the army Wednesday
(28). Allen Paul has been hired to
replace him
. . . Audrey Hartman has been
rehired by the RKO boxoffice statement department;
she left a short time ago to be
married
. . . Helen Stern, UA stenographer
has bought another poodle and named the
thoroughbred 14-Carat . . . Bess Goldstein
Allen, secretary to Alex Arn.swalder 20th-Fox
salesmanager, will celebrate her birthday De-
GROANER GREETS SHOWMAN —
During a recent trek to southern California
and the film colony, Sid Goldman,
left, house manager of New York's famed
Radio City Music Hall, and Mrs. Goldman
dropped in at the Paramount studio.
There they were shown about by Bing
Crosby, currently starring for the company
in 'Tamous."
cember 14 . . . Rose Levine and Molly Ross
are new inspectors at MGM; both were formerly
with 20th-Fox . . . The RKO exchange
canasta team challenges all comers . . . Gasper
Campo has been promoted from U-I office
boy to a clerical position . . . Hannah Zimmerman,
20th-Pox secretary, will celebrate
her birthday December 15 . . . Becky Dederian.
MGM bookers clerk, started her vacation
Monday (26) . . . Agnes Blaisuis, former employe
in the MGM boxoffice statement department,
visited the exchange Tuesday (27)
with her 6-month-old baby Eileen.
. . .
The Capitol in Brooklyn has closed . . . The
Island circuit will buy and book for the
Tompkins and the Comet theatres in Brooklyn
and the Plaza in Jamaica . The Windsor
Theatre. West Orange, N. J., has been
. .
reopened by the JEMD Amusement Corp.
. . . Louis Fischler of Cinema circuit will book
for the Astor in Poughkeepsie Brandt
Theatres closed the Embas.sy in Mount
Vernon
. M. Sharby has reopened
the Inwood in Forest Hills. The Island circuit
will buy and book.
. . .
Edward Goodman, former manager of the
Mayfair Theatre, will replace Samuel Kenny
as manager of Raybond's Earl in Jackson
Heights The building, fixtures and
property of the Palace in Morristown, N. J.,
will be sold by Walter Reade Theatres at
public auction Saturday (8) . . . Ann Cooper,
formerly of the McCann-Erickson advertising
agency, is the new assistant and secretary
to Nicholas J. Matsoukas, director of advertising
and publicity for Skouras Theatres. She
replaces Alice Tompkins, who resigned to
become a reporter for the White Plains Reporter-Dispatch.
20th Donates 200 Pints
NEW YORK—Over 200 pints of blood have
been donated to the armed services in the
past six months by employes of the 20th
Century-Fox home office. The Red Cross
bloodmobile visited 20th-Fox twice for plasma
given under the supervision of Charlotte
Berger, company nurse.
Harvey B. Day Dies;
Veteran Film Man
NEW YORK—Private funeral services for
retired eastern production
Harvey B. Day, 75,
representative for Jules Levey, were held at
Conway's funeral home, Jackson Heights,
November 26. Day died November 24 at his
Jackson Heights home after a long illness.
Cremation followed the services.
Day, who was born in Glencoe, Minn.,
started his theatrical career as advance agent
and manager of various roadshows. He entered
the motion picture field in 1912 with
George Kleine in Chicago and. in 1914, he
opened the first Fox Film exchanges in Pittsburgh
and Cleveland. He served as home
office manager and east district sales manager
for Fox from 1915 to 1917.
Day was with Stanley Mastbaum in Philadelphia
in 1917 and opened the first Select
exchange, which he operated as an independent
business until 1920. when he sold it to
become sales manager for International
Newsreel. In 1923. he became sales manager
for Kinograms and he was later named general
field representative for Educational
Films. In 1932, he became general sales manager
and vice-president of Terrytoons. cartoon
short subjects. Day became eastern representative
for Constance Bennett in 1945
and for Levey the following year. He retired
in 1947.
Day is survived by his wife, the former
Elfie Anderson; a son, Harvey B. Day jr.;
a sister, Mrs. George Cox, and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Nellie Witting Dead;
Was in Industry 30 Years
NEW YORK—Mrs. Nellie Witting, former
assistant secretary of Monogram Pictures
Corp., died Thursday (22) at a sanitarium in
Glen Cove, L. I. She had been in the industry
since 1921, when she joined Arrow Films.
She later became secretary to Norton V.
Ritchey of the Ritchey Export Corp. When
Ritchey became president of the Monogram
International Coi-p.. she joined the company
as his secretary.
Mrs. Witting assumed the duties of assistant
export manager while Ritchey was in
the navy during World War II. She left
Monogram a year ago due to the illness which
resulted in her death.
Howard Cullman Adds 2
To Palsy TV Committee
NEW YORK—Howard S. Cullman, chairman
of the Port of New York Authority who
is actuig as chairman of the United Cerebral
Palsy Ass'ns' "Celebrity Parade for Cerebral
Palsy." a 14-hour television show scheduled
for WJZ-TV December 8 at 9 p. m.. has added
two members to his committee. They are:
Jack H.Tusman, vice-president of M. Hausman
& Sons, who will be vice-chairman, and
Peter Grimm, chairman of the board of
William A. White & Sons, who will be treasurer.
The executive committe includes Leonard
H. Goldenson, president of United Paramount
Theatres and president of United Cerebral
Palsy.
Sign the 1951 'Christmos Solufc'— Variety Clubs-
Will Rogers Memorial hospitol—and "help core for
j ,iili
42
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
. . Morgan
Postpone Movietime
Star Tour in Albany
ALBANY—The Movietime U.S.A. tour of
the Albany and Buffalo exchange districts,
scheduled to take place the week of November
25, has been postponed again, at least until
January. The co-chairmen in both areas felt
that the time to arrange appearances of
Hollywood personalities was too short. The
week of December 9 was set tentatively, but
the Buffalo group, headed by William Dipson
and Dave Miller, decided this was too near
the Christmas holidays.
Harry Lament, co-chairman for the Albany
territory, planned to ascertain during a visit
to New York Wednesday and Thursday, from
Robert W. Coyne, executive assistant to
National Chairman Robert J. O'Donnell,
whether a new group would be available in
January. A holiday expedition of some 40
screen artists, writers and directors to Korea
may deplete the number of touring people
available.
There had been several changes in the list
of personalities slated for swings through the
Albany and Buffalo zones this week. Albany
had four toppers here for a Movietime luncheon
October 8, but no outside cities were
covered.
Paramount Staff Shifts
Are Made in Buffalo
BUFFALO—In the wake of the appointment
of Edmund C. DeBerry as Paramount
manager, there have been a number of
changes in the sales and office forces. Al
Fitter, former chief booker and office manager
and more recently sales representative
in the Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton
districts, has gone to New York to become
an assistant to Hugh Owen.
Succeeding Fitter in the same territory is
Frank Saviola, for several years head booker
and office manager. Tony Mercurio, assistant
to Saviola, has been upped to the chief booker
and office manager spot. A newcomer at
Paramount is Suzanne Mulligan, who is in
charge of the switchboard.
Ed Fitzgerald who recently was called back
into the army from the Paramount branch
managership, now is chief of the army and
air force recruiting department in New England,
with headquarters in Boston.
AAAA Union Attempting
TV Actors' Agreement
NEW YORK—The board of
the Associated
Actors and Artistes of America, AFL union,
plans to set up a committee to work out an
equitable agreement between the Screen
Actors and Screen Extra guilds and the
newly formed Television Authority, which is
in rivalry with SAG-SEG over jurisdiction
in the field of actors working in television
films.
In the publicists' field, the workers in the
United Artists home office voted for District
65, Distributive, Processing and Office Workers
of America, as their collective bargaining
agent in an election conducted by NLRB. The
Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local
H-63. represents Universal. Paramount and
most of the other home office workers in the
east. MOM home office workers are not
affiliated with any union.
ALBANY
T Meyer Schinc, president of the Schine circuit
and Schine hotels, returned from two
weeks on the west coast . . . The Variety Club
honored Gene Vogel, former manager for
Universal, and former crew member, at a dinner
Monday night. Vogel recently left the
industry to become upstate representative of
a sports apparel company.
Dick Hayes, one time Paramount salesman
and now operator of a Tupper Lake hotel
and interested in a drive-in there, visited
here Monday . Ryan, general manager
of the Schine-owned WPTR since June
and former ABC network executive in New
York, resigned Monday. George B. Chelius
jr., manager of the Ten Eyck hotel, also a
Schine property, assumed temporary charge
of the station . . . Louis Sunberg. a member
of the Variety Club, will be executive director
of the Albany TOA if plans for its reactivation
go through. Sunberg accompanied
Harry Lamont. temporary chairman, to New
York Tuesday night for a conference with
Gael Sullivan, national executive director.
.
Jim Cole, former Warner Theatres chief
sound engineer upstate, is now an Altec man
in New York City. He started with the latter
company in New Haven. Cole visits his home
here on weekends The Colonial played
"The Lavender
.
Hill
.
Mob" at 74 cents evenings.
Saturday and Sunday. Student rate
The Strand did nice business
was 55 cents . . .
The new screening
with "Starlift" . . .
room on the upper floor of the Warner Theatres
offices in the Strand building is a honey,
industry men say. A cement floor was laid
and other installations were made. Painting
started Monday. The studio is now in use.
Hank Baylis is the projectionist as he was
at the former Warner Little Theatre at 70
North Pearl St. . . . Dick Perry, former
United Artists salesman, now is working the
territory for Lippert.
Word was received here of the death in
Passaic, N. J., of Harold Blumenthal, 52, general
manager of Fabian Theatres New Jersey
division. Blumenthal had attended several
Fabian functions here and had many
friends in the local industry. A wife and
three daughters survive . . . Leo Rosen, transferred
from the Fabian drive-in regional
operation to the circuit's New York offices,
spent the weekend here. His new position is
understood to be connected with the television
phase.
Mike Nuzzola, former 20th-Fox salesman
in Albany, appeared on the Arthur Godfrey
CBS television network program with his
marine corps dog. Boots. Nuzzola, who put
the canine through a series of tricks, had
run Boots through similiar routines at the
Delaware Theatre, a Variety Club meeting
and in film exchanges. Nuzzola trained
Boots for combat duty. The dog landed with
the marines on Iwo Jima and Guam. The
Godfrey show was kinescoped over 'WTIGB,
Schenectady.
Fred I. Archibald, Times-Union publisher,
was among those attending the final performance
of "Legend of Sarah" at the Playhouse.
Archibald, a Variety Club member,
recently spent some time in Los Angeles on
an assignment for Hearst publications. He
attended several Hollywood parties.
Nate Winig Is Elected
Tent 9 Chief Barker
ALBANY— Nate Wiiug. local msurance man
and one of Variety Club's hardest workers
since 1942, has been elected chief barker,
succeeding Leo Rosen. WInig .served as treasurer
for one term and as a crew member for
several years.
Charles L. Dortic, first assistant chief
barker, declined to move ahead, explaining
that his duties as Columbia branch manager
took him out of town frequently. Nate Dickman,
Monogram manager and property master
for the last year, was named first sussLstant
chief barker, and George Schenck, Tri-
State Automatic Candy Co. manager, was
named chief dough guy.
The new group took over administration of
Tent 9 Monday night. Normally, they would
not have taken charge until the first week In
December, but the continued absence of
Rosen, transferred by Fabian Theatres to
New York, led to the earlier date.
The Big Brother drive, which starts here
Monday (3) was discussed on station WPTR
by Harold Gabrilove, chairman of the drive
for Variety Club: Charles A. Smakwitz. chairman
of the Heart fund, and Nate Winig, new
chief barker. Goal of the Big Brother drive
is $20,000, to enable 500 boys to take two-week
vacations at the Variety-Albany Boys camp
on Thompson's Lake.
Next summer will be the tenth season that
Camp Thacher has been kept in operation
through the financial support of Tent 9.
The camp is conducted by the Boys club
under the direction of Tom Bender.
Victory Luncheon Given
In Buffalo for E. F. Lux
BUFFALO—A host of friends of Elmer F.
Lux from both exhibition and distribution, attended
the Victory luncheon staged in honor
of the council president-elect last Monday
noon in the Delaware avenue headquarters
of Variety Tent 7, which sponsored the event.
Lux, who is a past chief barker of Tent 7
and is general manager of Darnell Theatres,
recently was elected head of the city council
of which he has been amember for several
years in the capacity of councilman at large.
Members of the motion picture industry
went allout to help Lux in his campaign and
he came through with a handsome majority.
Murray Whiteman, chief barker, acted as
emcee and Lux was given a beautiful desk
set. Many city officials were present.
Loew's Declares Dividend
NEW YORK—The directors of Loew's. Inc.,
have declared a quarterly dividend of 37V2
cents per share on the common stock, payable
December 21 to stockholders of record
December 11.
W/tNTED
700 USED THEATRE SEATS
Must be less than 4 years old in good condition.
Available for inspection. Write details to
BOXOFFICE, 22 Chjrch St.
Boston, Moss.
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 43
. . . Abe
. . Microfilm,
. . George
BUFFALO
pimer F. Lux, general manager, Darnell Theatres,
and Myron Gross, booker in western
New York for Schlne Theatres, have been
appointed Buffalo area exhibitor chairmen
for the Christmas Salute of the Variety Club
Will Rogers Memorial hospital fund drive . . .
William Dipson and George H. Mackenna, coexhibitor
chairmen of the Movietime U.S.A.
campaign in the Buffalo area, presided at a
meeting in the Variety Club headquarters to
discuss plans for the local appearance of stars
who soon will make a belated visit to the
Buffalo territory.
Max Vincent, manager of the Liberty Theatre
in Rochester, is going to town staging
special matinees for children and is getting
splendid cooperation from neighboring merchants
in the promotion of prizes awarded in
contests staged at the parties . . . The Children's
hospital is doing superior work for
children with celebral palsy in very limited
quarters. Dr. Harold Westlake, director of the
Northwestern university speech and hearing
clinic, said after a visit to the Buffalo Variety
Club-sponsored clinic.
A special student performance of "Die
Fledermaus" was arranged by Vincent R.
McFaul, general manager of the Shea theatres
for Thursday afternoon. Public, parochial
and private schools throughout western New
York were invited to participate. Two evening
performances were given in the Shea
flagship house Wednesday and Thursday
nights . . . Jack Mundstuk, manager for MGM
here, is back from New York where he had
several conferences with home office officials
Harris, who had been confined in
the General hospital in Rochester, has recovered
from his illness and is back on the
job as an MGM salesman . . . Abe Bernstein,
MGM exploiteer, was in town working on
"Quo Vadis," which is expected to be shown
in Shea's Buffalo during the holidays.
Richard T. Kemper, zone manager, Dipson
Theatres, put on a great show as ringmaster
of the Saints and Sinners show-luncheon at
the Hotel Statler, when Senator Homer Capehart
of Indiana was the fall guy. The affair
was a sellout. It was limited to 500. Charles
B. Taylor, Paramount Theatres, was advance
man . . . Some 250 children from the German
Catholic orphan home were guests of
Manager Michaels in the Mercury Theatre
to see "Christmas Carol." Charlie Baron of
the United Ai'tists exploitation staff has been
in Buffalo working on this production and
"The Well," current at Basil's Lafayette.
Manfred E. Pickrell, president of Eastern
Theatre Supply Co. at 946 Pearl St., reports
many theatres in the area are renewing equipment
. which was u.sed in 1870
during the siege of Paris, is on display in
Eastman Hou.se in Rochester. It is part of a
new exhibit showing examples of historical
microphotography. The exhibit also includes
the first example of V-mail letters on microfilm.
It was sent to Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
"An American in Paris," now in its fourth
week in Buffalo and currently at Shea's Teck,
got a plug the other night when the Buffalo
Philharmonic orchestra featured the musical
score of the Ger.shwin work in its concert
In Kleinhans Music Hall. The theatre got a
lot of publicity and art on the program, one
photo .showing George D'Anna, at one time
a member of Shea's Buffalo orchestra, about
to blow a real Paris taxi horn—one of the
effects called for in the orchestration.
John Zimmerman, manager of the Niagara,
a Paramount community house in Buffalo,
soon will put on a dancing school show in
cooperation with Evelyn's School of Dance,
operated by Mrs. Evelyn Peschio, who will
present many of her pupils in an hour dance
program on the Niagara stage as an "extra
Like most housewives, Mrs.
attraction" . . .
Elmer F. Lux, wife of the Buffalo city council
president-elect, keeps an eye on where
the money goes and all the details of budgeting.
She recently informed her husband,
who also is general manager of Darnell Theatres,
that his four years as a councilman-atlarge
cost him $6,000, over and above his
$3,500-a-year council salary. Both agreed,
however, the loss could be offset by Lux's
private business income and repaid by a
sense of civic contribution.
"Plenty of evidence of the importance of
the director in filmmaking has appeared on
the screens of America within the past year,"
said George L. David the other day in the
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. "That is,
evidence which should have arrested attention,
for one could not have conceived of the
unusual results in numerous pictures being
achieved without an exceptional hand in control,"
declared David . . . Mary Pickford and
Charlie Chaplin sold 1918 war bonds on the
screen of the Dryden Theatre in Eastman
House, Rochester, the other day. The stars
appeared on a program giving an historical
survey of newsreels from 1895 to 1950. Starting
with a Lumiere topical showing the 1895
convention of the Photographic Society of
France, the program covered many events.
The history of moving picture news reports
was brought up to date by showing scenes of
action in Korea.
George H. Mackenna, manager, Basil's Lafayette,
was a member of the committee that
staged a Get Well party for WBEN sportscaster
Ralph Hubbell in the Ray-Ott restaurant
Ethel Tyler,
in Niagara Falls . . .
biller at National Screen, and Ann Beals,
booker at NTS, have signed up for civil defense
service. The girls recently completed
a nm'sing course of 12 months in Sisters
hospital.
Mary Phelan, former secretary to Vincent
R. McFaul, general manager. Shea theatres,
is now a member of the office staff at Gay
Sheet Metal Works . Eiff, former
assistant manager at the Regent in Rochester,
has been appointed assistant at the Paramount
in Kodak town, succeeding James
Dorafy . . . Schine's Lake Theatre has reopened
in Rochester. It has been closed for
many months.
Lou Jaffe, manager of Shea's Elmwood, last
Saturday afternoon presented the Chantesuta
Indians dancers of Canisius college on
the Elmwood stage and attracted a lot of
extra business at that community house . . .
Albert Florack, projectionist at the Regent
in Rochester, is recovering after a recent illness.
Al Becker of Buffalo
Golden Anniversary in
BUFFALO—In connection with the Movie-
campaign and the golden jubilee
of the American motion
picture theatre, a
member of the indus-
time U.S.A.
try here also is celebrating
a 50th anniversary
in the business.
He is Al Becker, who
came to this city in
1901 representing Percy
L. Waters of the Kinetograph
Film Co. to
^how motion pictures
uf the funeral of President
William McKinley
at the old Garden
Al Becker
Theatre.
At that time. Becker said, Vincent R.
McFaul, for many years head of the local
Shea interests, was checking bicycles at
the same theatre. Becker also recalled that
Joseph Schuchert then was manager of the
General Film Co. office and the late Dan Savage
was his booker. Dan was the father of
Homer Savage, present prominent citizen.
Harry Marey and John Sitterly operated
a film exchange on Swan street and Wai'-
ners also had an exchange there, Becker said.
In 1928 when the Buffalo Screen club was
organized, with clubrooms at 10 Court St.,
Becker was api^ointed a committee of one
to go to New Yoik and arrange for several
"Help care for our own"—sign the 1951 'Christmas
Salute'—Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial hospitol.
Celebrates
Industry
screen stars to attend the club's fii'st dante.
He got Francis X. Bushman and Beverly
Bayne and Fatty Arbuckle, and a few others.
At that time, Becker said, there were only
two film distributing companies in New York
City, the Kinetograph Co. and the Biograph
Co. on Nassau street.
Before coming here, Becker operated a
picture machine at Hubers museum in New
York, at Coney Island and the World in
Glass on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.
He operated the first theatre supply company
in Buffalo. He sold this business, after
operating it for a quarter of a century, to
National Theatre Supply, which still is doing
business here.
Becker said the first talking picture was
shown in the Court Street Theatre, where
a phonograph was used. It was placed on
the stage and connected with a strong string
running to the booth on the gallery to the
motion picture machine. It was hand-operated,
the reel consisting of four three-minute
subjects—the first, a man talking: the second,
a dog barking, and Becker said, if
yovn- hand wasn't steady, the dog would be
barking while the man was talking.
When the Western Electric Co. put sound
on the market, the Lafayette Theatre here
was the first to show it with "The Jazz
Singer." Becker still is in the theatre supply
business, working from his residence at 488
Crescent Ave. here.
44 BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
PHILADELPHIA
•LTenry Fonda appeared at the Forrest in the
stage production of "Point of No Return."
Gloria Swanson, David Niven and Alan Webb
appeared at the Walnut in "Nina" . . . Francis
Kelly. 20th-Fox booker, returned from an
upstate trip . . . Ben Harris. American Film
Co.. suggests that exhibitors drop those corny
jokes they have been telling him since his
entrance into the antique business . . . Variety
Tent 13 held a Thanksgiving dance.
Joe Miller's Merrymakers furnished the music
.
and there was a fashion show by Milton Jaffa.
Rose Kaplan, Screen Guild-Lippert, was on
vacation ... A reader, Earle D. Moore of
Westmont, N. J., wrote a local newspaper, the
"Inquirer": "This year, above all others, our
American motion picture industry merits the
highest praise the public can bestow upon
it. But, knowing moviegoers, it is doubtful
such praise will materialize. This year I became
acutely conscious of the frustration
creative artists must have felt as they saw
distinguished achievements plummet into the
boxoffice world of no-return. If a cynical
crank can find the time to pen a four-page
outcry against the industry, surely a few
cultured fans can spare the two or three
minutes it would take to drop a postcard
word of praise and encouragement."
IVUldred Martin, critic for the Inquirer, is
supervising the paper's 19th annual Best Ten
round-up. Write-in voters list their ages
when they cast their ballots on the 309 films
eligible since adults and juniors have separate
classifications. The polls will close at
noon December 12 . . . Mrs. Elizabeth Ziegler.
UA office manager, vacationed at the Pocono
mountain resort . . . William A. Gray's law
firm has filed motions for summary judgment
against the major distributors and National
Screen Service for Harry Vogelstein,
Baltimore poster renter; David Mitchell, Dallas
independent poster renter, and Jack Riff,
formerly a poster renter in Boston.
. . .
Eli Ginsburg has resigned as Monogram
salesman to join Lippert-Screen Guild
Horace McMahon, who stars in "The Detective
Story," was in town to help promote
the picture . . . Nelson Wax, Boxoffice
tui-es, reports that Francis Anthony,
Pic-
manager
of the Rialto Theatre in York, Pa., shared
in the third prize on Realart's national exploitation
contest on "Salerno Beachhead"
and "The Fighting Sullivans."
George Schwartz, former U-I manager,
will take over the lease of the Shore in Atlantic
City . . . Eddie Gabriel, Capital Films,
announces that "Sinners' Holiday" is scheduled
to play first rerelease run at the News.
Herman Margies, former manager of the
New Mayfair, has become manager of the
Unity Theatre . . . James Schwartz, vice-president
in charge of sales for Y&Y Supply Co.,
completed an extensive business trip . . .
Everett Callow, advertising and publicity chief
for Stanley-Warner Theatres, has been
granted a leave to return to the marine corps.
A major in the reserves. Callow went to
Washington for a briefing and then he is
scheduled to report to Tokyo where he will
act as public informations officer.
Are you doing all you con to "help core for our
own" by getting all your employes to sign the 1951
'Christmas
Salute'?
\V.\SHIN(iT()N IIKST NIGIITERS—
The premiere of "The Lavender Hill Mob"
at Roth's Plaza Theatre in Washington,
was attended by the ambassadors of
England, Canada and Norway, and also
by some of the better-known personalities
of Washington's diplomatic and governmental
circles. Here is Roth circuit general
Manager John G. Broumas and
Joseph Gins, local U-I manager, greeting
Mrs. Tom Clark, wife of the Supreme
Court justice. Supreme Court Justice
Harold Burton is at extreme right.
No More $25 Licenses
For Quaker City Shows
PHILADELPHIA—Tax officials have estimated
that at a conservative estimate the
city has lost more than $100,000 in revenue by
its failure to collect a $100 yearly license fee
from theatres under a 1908 city ordinance.
Thirty-eight motion picture theatres, some
operating as far back as 30 and 40 years,
have not been paying the $100 fee. Instead
they have been oeprating under an archaic
1879 city ordinance stipulating a $25 yearly
fee. Fire Marshall Kington and John Judge,
Mayor Bernard Samuel's license clerk, uncovered
the situation in a cross check of the
city's amusement places. Kington doubted
whether the city would take legal action to
recover the full amount of fees.
The theatres which paid only $25 have been
billed for the full $100 fee for this year.
Five Majors File Actions
Against Va. Exhibitors
ROANOKE, VA.—Loew's, Universal, United
Artists. 20th Century-Fox and RKO filed separate
percentage actions November 23 against
Rives Brown, Bernard Depkin, Franz M.
Westfall and the Martinsville Theatre Management
Corp., alleging under-reporting of
receipts on percentage pictures. The theatres
involved are: Ritz Theatre, Danville. Va., and
Martin (formerly Bee-Dee i. Rex and Rives
theatres, Martinsville, Va.
The Richmond law firm of Hunton, Williams,
Anderson, Gay & Moore represent the
distributors with Sargoy & Stein of New
York of counsel.
Salemson Joins Dougfair
NEW YORK—Harold J. Salemson has been
named eastern advertising, publicity and exploitation
head of the Dougfair Corp. by
Douglas Fairbanks jr. Salemson was previously
exploitation director for Stanley Kramer
Productions.
WASHINGTON
The hunting season i.s open in Virgniia and
many exhibitors have been out trying their
luck, including E. L. Farries, Schoolfield
Theatre, and Bill Dalke jr., Dalke circuit . . .
Paul Glascock, Marshall. Va.. named his baby
son Paul Jr. . . . Mrs. McCoy of the Grand in
Moorefield, W. Va.. who has been ill is on the
mend . . . Sympathy to the family of Mrs.
McLellan, Nelson Theatre, Lovlngston, Va..
who died.
. . Mabel
. . .
E. E. Ours is closing his Royal Drive-In in
Winchester this Saturday. His son is at
Waddell
an
air corps base in Alabama .
of the Hollywood Theatre in Middleburg
distributed many ba-skets of food and fruit
Jimmy
during the Thanksgiving holiday
Pritchett was planning a trip to Bristol . . .
Walter Lee, Colonial in Salem, is accepting
wagers from nearly every one in town on the
Army-Navy game. Walter's choice is Navy.
. .
. . . Ellen
Willis Grist of the Paramount in Lynchburg
prepared a terrific campaign on "Carnival in
Texas" which included a huge cutout of
Esther Williams for di.splay in a large store
window The Bernheimer circuit has
taken
.
over the Atlas and Senator theatres
from the K-B Amusement Co. and will
operate both for Negro patronage
McDonald, Tony Muto's secretary at Fox
Movietonews, was home iU several days . . .
Joe Oulahan of Gloucester and Calloa rushed
his wife to Doctor's hospital for an operation.
Joe's mother, who Uves here, is seriously ill
with a heart ailment.
. .
Gus Lynch, Schine Washington manager,
spent last week in Gloversville attending a
series of meetings . . . Arthur Silverstone, Ed
Callahan and Bill Gehring, 20th-Fox executives,
conferred at the local branch with
Manager Glenn Norris and his "dollar delivery"
crew . Anne Griffin, former booker
at the branch who now is at the Minneapolis
office, was a visitor . . . George Giroux, Technicolor
representative, was here on his annual
visit to the exchanges . . . Universal was
in first place in the FUmrow Bowling league
with 20th-Fox second.
Milton Q. Ford, disk jockey at radio station
WWDC. will leave for Hollywood next week
to be the best man at the wedding December
14 of screen star Marie Wilson and TV producer
Robert Fallen, his brother. They hail
from Memphis, where Ford got his start in
radio and Fallon was prominent in acting
circles.
ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS
925 New Jersey N.W.
Washington, D. C.
We Help You Make
Movies Better
Than Bier
EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CONCESSION
CANDY—POPCORN—SEASONINGS—ETC.
STANDARD VENDORS. Inc
921 E. Fort Avenue
Baltimore 30, Maryland
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951
45
UA Foreign Activities
Shift to Profit Side
NEW YORK—An increase in revenue during
1952. resulting in profits for the first
time in many years, was predicted for the
foreign department of United Artists by
Arnold Picker, vice-president in charge of
foreign distribution. Picker, who recently returned
from a three-week visit to UA offices
in London and Paris, based his forecast on
increased production, reorganization of the
foreign sales department, the number of contracts
signed with exhibitors throughout the
world and circuit sales deals currently being
negotiated.
Picker said that UA business in Britain is
up, that administrative offices will be transferred
from London to Paris where Walter
E. Gray will be head, and that he has added
to playing time in South Africa through a
deal with African Consolidated Theatres.
Herbert O. Horn, former RKO general
manager for Germany, has been made special
representative there, succeeding John
Swanink. resigned. Keith Goldsmith, who
has been surveying the Far East, has been
made supervisor there. UA will open a new
office in Formosa. George Kalman, special
Far Eastern representative, now here recuperating
from an operation, will get a new
assignment shortly.
Picker will make a series of visits to all
countries throughout the world during the
coming year. He will meet the Caribbean
managers before Christmas, and then visit
South America.
MPAA Entertains British
Production Executives
NEW YORK—Reginald P. Baker, president
of the British Film Producers Ass'n and
chairman and managing director of Ealing
studios, and Sir Henry L. French, directorgeneral
of BFPA, were entertained by the
Motion Picture Ass'n of America Tuesday
(27) at a reception at Hampshire House.
Sir Henry and Baker sailed that evening
for London. They had been here two weeks
as the guest of MPAA to look into the prospects
for marketing more British films in the
U.S.
Among the guests at the reception were
John Davis, managing director for J. Arthur
Rank, and Ronald Leach, financial adviser.
They .sailed the following day. They had
arrived November 19 to survey Rank holdings
in the U.S. and Canada and to seek details
of the proposed merger of Decca Records with
Universal Pictures. Rank is a large stockholder
in Universal.
Fire at Eastman Factory
Not to Halt Deliveries
ROCHESTER — Eastman Kodak Co. does
not expect delivery delays for any of its
products as a result of the recent fire at the
plant, according to James E, McGhee, vicepresident
and general sales manager.
The tire, which caused damages of $2,000,-
000, destroyed the fifth floor of a building
containing heavy supplies of photographic
paper ready for emulsion coating. No damage
was done to the stocks of sensitized paper,
either cut or in rolls.
separate
area.
These were stored in a
Holiday Magazine to Give
Film Awards on Dec. 7
HOLLYWOOD—Filmdom will begin to reap
its annual harvest of awards for cinematic
achievement when on Friday (7) Holiday
magazine will pass out kudos for the industry's
"contributions toward the improvement
of America's relations with the rest of
the world."
At a luncheon session to be hosted here by
Holiday editor Ted Patrick the citations will
go to:
"The Well," a Harry Popkin production
being distributed by United Artists.
Shelley Winters, for her performance in
Paramount's "A Place in the Sun."
"An American in Paris," an Ai-thur Freed
production, starring Gene Kelly, for Metro.
Man of the year—Steven Bosustow, president
of United Productions of America, which
produces animated cartoons for Columbia
release.
MPEA Approval Delayed
On Spanish Film Pact
NEW YORK—Approval by the Motion Picture
Export Ass'n of a tentative Spanish pact
ran into difficulties late in the week when
the board carried over consideration of its
details from Thursday (29) to Friday. John
G. McCarthy, vice-president of the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America, answered questions
about the pact at both meetings and there
was a lively discussion.
The pact would take the issuance of import
licenses from Spanish producers, who
have been overcharging for them, and place
the responsibility with the government, which
would tax each film imported about $4,000.
Licenses would be limited to 60 for MPEA
companies and 40 for U.S. Independent producers.
The Society of Independent Motion
Picture Producers has registered a strenuous
opposition, holding that the pact gave MPEA
the inside track and that the $4,000 tax was
unjust and burdensome.
Mochrie Holds Meeting
Of RKO District Heads
CHICAGO—Robert Mochrie, RKO vicepresident
and general sales manager, presided
at a meeting of district managers at the
Ambassador East hotel Thursday and Friday
(29-301.
Those who attended from the New York
office were: Walter Branson, Harry Gittleson,
Nat Levy, Charles Boasberg, Sid Cramer, S.
Barret McCormick, Dan Loventhal, Frank
Mooney, William McShea and Leonard
Gruenberg.
Armando Massimelli Dies;
MGM Manager in Italy
NEW YORK—Word has been received from
Rome of the death of Armando Massimelli,
manager for MGM in Italy, November 6.
Death was due to a heart attack. He was 61.
Massimelli joined MGM in 1925. but closed
the offices during the Mussolini regime. He
again took charge at the end of World War
II.
Named MGM Manager in Sweden
NEW YORK— Gosta Wad.sten has been
named MGM manager in Sweden by Morton
A. Spring, vice-president of Loew's International
Corp. He succeeds the late Arne
Hallin.
Kaye Back From Korea
Alter U.S.O. Tour
NEW YORK—Danny Kaye,
who recently
returned from a month of entertaining the
Korean field troops for the USO, reports that
he "has never done anything more gratifying"
to himself than playing before these boys.
Kaye left the U.S. October 25 from San Francisco
and then flew via Honolulu, Wake
Island and Tokyo, to Korea where he and
his troupe did approximately one show a
day until he came back to California November
23.
Kaye, who spoke at a USO executive board
luncheon in Washington Thursday (29), told
the press in New York how important it was
to the soldiers in Korea to see a familiar
face from the entertainment world and to
know that they are not forgotten. The news
that Kaye would give a show for the troops
was the talk of each division for weeks before
and was discussed for weeks afterward, Kaye
said. He often gave each day's show for several
thousand soldiers, some of them having
arrived three or four hours ahead of time
to be sure of getting front seats for his
performances.
Gualino Returns to Rome
To Report on U.S. Unit
NEW YORK—Dr. Renato Gualino, managing
director of Italian Films Export, has
returned to Rome to report to his board of
directors on establishment of the new organization
here. He had been here about three
weeks, during which time he named E. R.
Zorgniotti U.S. representative. Zorgniotti received
a leave of absence from Lux Films,
which Gualino heads. Other executive appointments
had been expected but were not
made. Gualino is expected to consult with the
board on the selections.
While here Gualino told the press that it
was up to the individual Italian producers
whether they would apply for a production
code seal but that he would not recommend
that they do so. He said he would
submit the matter at the next meeting of
the International Federation of Motion Kcture
Producers Ass'n, of which he is president,
and try to establish a policy.
Dr. Irving Wolff Named
RCA Research Director
NEW YORK—Dr. Irving Wolff, a
specialist
in ultra-high radio frequencies and a pioneer
in radar, has been named director of research
for the RCA Laboratories division of the
Radio Corp. of America by Dr. E. W.
Engstrom, vice-president in charge of the
division. The headquarters of the division are
the David Sarnoff Research Center, Pi-inceton,
N. J.
Canada Waives Taxation
On U.S. Entertainers
WASHINGTON—Canada has accepted a
reservation in the recent tax treaty under
which U.S. entertalner.s will not be taxed on
earnings in Canada unless they remain in
that country for more than six months, according
to an announcement by the State department.
This makes it likely that U.S.
film producers will film more pictures on
location in Canada.
46 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
'teci;
Mary McCall Elected
VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER
iHollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Svear, Western Manager)
As SWG President
HOLLYWOOD—Another chapter in the
turbulent history of the Screen Writers Guild
was written when, in a hotly contested annual
election, Marry McCall jr. was named to the
presidency by a vote of 263 to 194 over the
incumbent president, Karl Tunberg.
The election meeting was marked by lengthy
debate which resulted in disapproval by the
membership of action taken by the previous
executive board, which had laid plans to
bring scenarists Adele Buffington and
Michael Wilson before a disciplinary committ^e.
The two scriveners had been charged
with making false charges against board and
officer candidates in campaign letters. A
resolution calling for the cases to be dismissed,
and all references thereto expunged
from the record, was passed.
Tlie McCall administration includes Richard
Murphy and Richard Breen as, respectively,
first and second vice-presidents; Howard
J. Green, secretary; Wells Root, treasurer,
and eight board members, chosen for
two-year terms—comprising Ivan Gotf, Robert
Pirosh, Robert Carson. John Monks jr.,
Everett Freeman, Barry Shipman, Dorothy
Hughes and Harold Greene.
A dispute between the lATSE and the
Screen Cartoonists Guild concerning jurisdiction
over pen-and-inkers at five cartoon
plants will be settled via the ballot box in
an NLRB-sponsored election to be held in
January. The polling will be conducted among
employes of Walt Disney, Walter Lantz, Warners,
MGM and United Productions of
America.
* * *
Four features were nominated by the Screen
Directors Guild membership as finalists in
the organization's quarterly choice for best
megging achievements. Candidates for the
August-to-October period are "A Place in
the Sun" (Paramount), directed by George
Stevens; "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Warners),
Elia Kazan; "Detective Story" (Paramount),
William Wyler, and "David and
Bathsheba" (20th-Fox), Henry King. The
winner will be announced at a meeting of
the SDG later this month.
To Film 'Sudden Fear'
HOLLYWOOD—Shooting space was secured
at Republic by Joseph Kaufman Productions
for the filming of "Sudden Fear," a
Joan Crawford starrer, which rolls in January
for RKO release. David Miller will direct.
Spy Receives Living-Room Debut
In Ohio; London Opening for You
HOLLYWOOD—On the heels of its Saturday
(1) world premiere at the Leicester
Square Theatre in London, Samuel Goldwyn's
"I Want You," being distributed by RKO,
will have its U.S. opening December 21 at
the Hollywood Paramount Theatre. Directed
by Mark Robson, the feature stars Dana
Andrews, Dorothy McGuire, Farley Granger
and Peggy Dow.
* * *
Bob Hope and a plane load of Hollywood
personalities flew to Bellaire, Ohio, where
the comedian and Paramount on November 27
hosted the world premiere of his new starrer,
"My Favorite Spy," in the home of Dr. and
Mrs. P. M. J. Kuchinka. The "living-room premiere"
was awarded Mrs. Kuchinka on the
basis of her prize-winning letter in Paramount's
"My Favorite Spy" contest. Accompanying
Hope were Marilyn Maxwell, Rhonda
Flaming, Jan Sterling, Gloria Grahame, Jerry
Colonna, Les Brown and orchestra and other
players.
At the request of servicemen, Hope staged
a second screening of the comedy at Camp
Atterbury, Ind., November 28, for hospitalized
veterans and other troops.
* * •
"Fixed Bayonets," 20th-Fox's new drama
of the Korean war, will be given Its western
premiere Wednesday (5) at Grauman's Chinese
Theatre via a star-studded affair at
which George Jessel will be the master of
ceremonies. Produced by Jules Buck, written
and megged by Samuel Fuller, the film stars
Richard Basehart and Gene Evans. A guest
of honor at the opening will be Capt. Raymond
Harvey, winner of a Congressional
Medal of Honor.
* * *
Cast toppers Robert Taylor and Deborah
Kerr, Producer Sam Zimbalist, Director
Mervyn LeRoy, a lengthy list of Metro studio
brass and an array of other Hollywood celebrities
were among the fu-st-nighters at the
invitational debut of "Quo Vadis" November
29 at the Four Star Theatre. The front of
the showcase was embellished with an early
Roman appearance for the reserved-seat,
upped-price engagement of the film, which is
day-dating at the United Artists on a continuous
run basis.
* * *
Klieg lights, bleachers, radio broadcasts
and other red-carpet appurtenances will highlight
the local unveiling of RKO's Technicolor
musical, "Two Tickets to Broadway,"
Friday (21) at the Pantages here. The stars
of the film, Tony Martin, Janet Leigh, Gloria
DeHaven, Eddie Bracken, Ann Miller and Barbara
Lawrence, will make personal appearances.
• • •
Monogram and Lippert supplied both ends
of the dual bill which opened November 28
in four Fox We.st Coast first runs here. The
Lippert entry, "FBI Girl," had Monogram's
"The Longhorn" as its running mate in the
Los Angeles, Uptown, Loyola and Chinese
theatres.
• * •
Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show on
Earth" will have its world premiere early in
January at the Radio City Music Hall in New
York. The multistar cast includes Betty Hutton,
James Stewart, Cornel Wilde and Dorothy
Lamour, with the Ringling Bros.-Barnum
& Bailey circus also featured.
John Rawlins Joins Royal
For 'Suicide' in England
HOLLYWOOD — John Rawhns, veteran
megaphonist, joined Julian Lesser's Royal
Productions as a supervisory executive and
planed out for London to represent Lesser in
the making of "Suicide Smith," being filmed
by Lesser in association with Britain's Tempion
Films, headed by Robert Baker and
Monty Berman.
Rawlins was, until recently, a partner of
Frank Melford in Ventura Pictures, which recently
produced "Fort Defiance" for United
Artists release with Rawlins directing. That
independent unit is inactive currently and
Melford has organized Frank Milford Productions
to embark on a new slate for 1952.
RKO Cutting Rooms Trim
15 Features Currently
HOLLYWOOD—RKO's cutting rooms, under
supervision of James Wilkinson, are
bursting at the seams with 15 features and
two two-reelers being edited. Additionally,
daily rushes are being handled on two others.
Being scissored are "A Girl in Every Port,"
"Macao," "The Las Vegas Story," "One False
Move," "Jet Pilot," "The Big Sky," "Androcles
and the Lion," "The Narrow Margin,"
"Crackdown," "3,000 A. D.," "Chuck-a-Luck,"
"Sons of the Musketeers," "The Half-Breed,"
"Road Agent" and two shorts, "Good Night
Nurse" and "The Newlyweds' House Guest."
Daily rushes are being cut on "Clash by
Night" and "The Korean Story."
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 47
was
j
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES
Republic ;'
and 'recto
AL YBARRA as art director.
20th Century-Fox
Art direction
HERBERT
assignment
DEANS and
on
Briefies
GREGORY "What Price
GAY. Starring
Glory' i
was handed
Muriel Lawrence GEORGE
'
and
DAVIS.
William Ching, the musical
is being produced by Herman
to Millakowsky and
"The Full
Metro
directed by OA9TOM
Phil Ford.
GASTON
House"
"^Vl^l"^
includes
GLASS, unit manager; HENRY
"The Mosconi Story," based on
GLR, WEINBER-l
assistant
the career of the
director,
CATHY DOWNS was
and
inked for the
world's champion
femme
JOSEPH
lead
McDONALD
in
"*-t^..
pocket cameraman.
bilHard player, has been "Gobs and Gals." Booked
added
were EMORY PARNELL
to Pete Smith's short subjects docket. GORDON JONES and LEONID KINSKEY.
United Artists !
Pete Smith launched production on "Musiquiz," JAY C. FLIPPEN drew a THEOBALD character
a
lead HOLSOPPLE
in
short dealing
Producer-Director
Joseph Kane's signment
drew the art direction
with various strange ways of
making
"Minnesota."
on as-
Producer-Director Samuel Fuller's
music.
"Part
Singing star RAY MIDDLETON was booked for
Producer-Director
Universal-Ltitemational
Allan Dwan's "Song of Youth "
Warners
which stars Bill Shirley.
Handed
Singer Connee the art
Boswell and Ada direction
Leonard's chores
all-girl
on Our "Miracle
orchestra Lady ol'
of
head the Fatima
"
'.
cast of a musical
EDWARD CARRERF
featurette
being produced 20th
and directed by Century-Fox
Will Cowan. ANNE FRANCIS was given a one-year hoist on
Warners
her acting ticket.
Title Changes
"They Float Through the Air," a two-reeler dealing FRITZ FELD and SIG RUMAN
with U.S. navy
drew
parachute
comedy roles
operations, is being narrated
in "T'he Full House," the five-episode
by Wayne opus being
Columbia
Morris. The short was filmed at produced by Andre Hakim.
the naval
Jeanne Crain and air station
Farley "Battle Stations" to OKINAWA.
in El Centre, Calif., with the Granger star in the initial
cooperation
sequence, "Gift
of
of
the naval
the "The Mother" to
reserve unit of the armed Magi," which
PAULA.
Henry King is
forces
directing.
radio service.
DAVID WAYNE drew the male starring role in
Monogram
Producer Nunnally Johnson's comedy, "We're Not "Whip
^
Law" to NIGHT
Cleffers
Married," which
RAIDERS.
Edmund Goulding will direct
GINGER
"Starlight
ROGERS and FRED ALLEN
Canyon" to
were DESERT PASSAGE.
set for
toplines.
Paramount
20th
BOB
Century-Fox
SIDNEY was inked by Hal Wallis Productions
as
United Artists
"Charmame" to WHAT
the choreographer
PRICE
on "Jumping Jacks." Cast in "Red
GLORY.
Planet," being produced by Donald
Hyde and Anthony Veiller, were GRACE LEON-
RKO Radio
ARD and
United
VINCE
Artists
BARNETT. Harry Horner directs
Preparing the musical score with
"Red
Peter
Planet" to
for "Androcles and
Graves and Andrea
MIRACLE
King
FROM MARS.
in the leadina
the Lion" is LEIGH HARLINE.
roles.
^
Warners
Universal-International
Warners
^°^ '^^ Marines" to
Booked
WE CAME
for a character lead m "Scarlet Anael" FIGHTING°"'
OUT
..if*^,,f'''EINER is writing the musical score for was WHITFIELD CONNOR.
Ihis Woman
The Yvonne DeCarlo
Is Dangerous."
starrer is being produced in Technicolor by Leonard
Goldstein, with Sidney Salkow megging. Eddie
Meggers
SUSAN CABOT
Cantor Gives
was
Shows
set for a lead with Audie
Murphy and Faith Domergue in Producer Leonard
Ooldstein
For
s Technicolor
Navy in
western,
Columbia
"Claim
San Diego
Jumpers "
which Don Siegel directs.
Producer
HOLLYWOOD—Eddie
Sam
Cantor
Katzman
spent November
28, 29
inked WALLY GRISSELL Set
o
as
direct
the
A leading
Yank femme in
in Indo-China," "Red Ball
which
Express "
is slated ttie
and 30 giving
Aaron
to roll next month.
Rosenberg shows for
production starring navy
Jeff Chandler,
was JACQUELINE DUVAL. Bud
personnel in the
Boitticher megging ?s
San Diego area under auspices
of the Hollywood Coordinating Com-
Independent
the World War II drama.
King Eros. Productions ticket-d VURT NEUMANN
mittee.
t': Cirect
Warners
The banjo-eyed comic's itinerary included
Camp
Pachucc."
Casting was completed on "Mara Maru," the
Pendleton marine base and the
starrer, with the
Paramount
Damn
inking
'^P."
of NESTOR naval hospital
KftiVA.
in
Gordon San
Douglas
Diego.
is
"Jumping directing Jacks,"
the next Dean
David
Martin-Jerry Lewis Weisbart production.
• * »
bf N^l^^AfJ^'TA^R'^^G.^-'-''^-^- -"> ^'^ -^^'^^ For his services as a community leader,
Scripters
humanitarian and citizen, Dore Schary, MGM
Options
vice-president and production chief, will
Metro
receive
the first
JOHN LEE MAHIN is penning annual
"The Girl Who
One in
Had
a Million award
Everything as an Ava Gardner starrer, to be produced
(4) by the Pacific
to be presented Tuesday
by Armand Deutsch.
Coast region of the National Jewish hospital.
'"
''"lP.°,!'i.°' Broderick Crawford in the
were picture
Republic
Schary will be given the
BARBARA
kudos at a luncheon
HALE and LLOYD
de Toth BRIDGES.
megs '^Andrl "Marines Have Wings," a story of
the
U.S.
Buddy marine hosted by the Adler
Los Angeles production Ako
women's division
"'^^^^ "°^' '= ^^'"' '''''''°^^
mTlNEr"'
SHAUGHNESSY and MARTIN malARD'"TREGL°Kll" ^^ of the hospital, which is located in Denver.
Lippert Productions
20th Century-Fox
RICHARD SALE and MARY LOOS are
o£;rPcS
teamed on Errol
'^°o'Bittr-i%'
Palmer
^a^rl^g^r.^°S
Gentlemen Sues MGM
Prefer Blondes," from the novel and
R^rFMnj*"""*!] u'A
L.
]
of
[
Maria
I
i
personal
I
Interstate
1 Bi'oidy,
I
tionally,
year in the making of both TV and theatrical
films, William F. Broidy Productions made
several changes in and additions to its execui
W. F. Broidy Productions
Gets Set for Big Year
HOLLYWOOD—Preparing for an active
tive personnel. Jack Jungmeyer jr., who for
! several years has been affiliated with Edward
L. Alperson's Al.son Productions, is joining
the organization as a personal assistant to
while Al Milton, who has been functioning
as studio manager, was upped to
a.ssistant to Wesley Barry, Addi-
Jungmeyer and Milton will jointly
assume management of the studio.
*
Television Corp., Monogram's
new TV film subsidiary, rounded out the cast
its new Raffles mystery series by inking
Palmer, Rhys Williams and Konstantin
Shayne for supporting parts in the half-hour
subjects, in which George Brent and Nigel
Bruce are featured. Earl McEvoy directs and
Lee Savin is producing.
* *
"Rebound," a new television film series being
produced and du'ected by Bernard Girard
for Bing Crosby Enterprises, has been picked
up for sponsorship by the Packard Motor Co.
* « *
Rene Williams set Catherine McLeod for
the lead in "People at Sea," a 15-minute entry
in his Invitation Playhouse TV series. Williams
will include the subject in a package
of six which he will offer for distribution as
a theatrical
feature.
• * •
Planning to produce religious films for TV,
theatrical and church release, the Hollywood
Religious Film Foundation has been organized
with Ivan P. Betts as president and
Oren W. Evans as vice-president in charge
of production. Actor Porter Hall is also a
vice-president. The company headquarters
at KTTV studios.
Supersleuth Tracy Gets
Into TV Film Battle
HOLLYWOOD—Supersleuth Dick Tracy,
infallible hawkshaw of the comic strips, has
unwittingly become involved in a legal hassle
over the production of a TB film series based
on his exploits.
Snader Sales, Inc., headed by Lou Snader,
filed a superior court action against Producer
P. K. Palmer, seeking declaratory relief on
the grounds Palmer misrepresented production
costs and his ability to turn out the
Tracy subjects, and that Snader's production
unit was forced to take over the filming
of the balance of the series after Palmer
made six of them.
Palmer, however, asserts he obtained from
the syndicate handling the Tracy strip the
sole rights to produce the subjects for video.
The Snader organization contends the first
six, made by Palmer, are of inferior quality.
Pete Smith to Ad Club
HOLLYWOOD—Pete Smith, MGM shorts
producer, will be a guest speaker December
4 at the Los Angeles Advertising club, at
which the principal address will be made by
Paul Jones, public relations director for the
National Safety Council. Smith is the only
preson to win the NSC's annual award three
times, last in 1950 for "Wrong Way Butch."
i^l OTEWORTHY for its renectlon of inj>gj|
tegrity more than for the actual dollars
and cents involved was the announcement
by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president
and general manager of Technicolor, that his
company would reduce its charges for certain
services, effective as of Dec. 1, 1951.
At a trade press conference and in a letter
to the color firm's studio cu.stomers, Dr. Kalmus
estimated that a reduction of .15 of a
cent a foot in the processing cost of 35mm
release prints, which he emphasized was "entirely
voluntary," would mean a saving to
the industry of some $775,000 a year. The
price decrease, he pointed out, was made possible
because of the elimination of the federal
excise tax on raw films, which became effective
Nov. 1, 1951, and was further implemented
by Technicolor's decision to ab.sorb
at least half— if not more—of increa.sed processing
costs brought about by wage boosts
and upped prices of raw materials.
Dr, Kalmus' estimate of an approximate
$775,000 annual saving was predicated upon
Technicolor's volume for 1951. At the same
time he optimistically predicted that there
would be a normal increase in such volume
during 1952 and a large increase when the
company completes its new plant, which has
already passed the blueprint stage, and for
which materials are now being accumulated.
So the $775,000 figure is sure to grow.
Even at that, it will not mean that the
trimmed costs for color photography and
subsequent processing will be large enough to
make or break any producer or. for that
matter, any individual picture. Nor does it
seem possible that it will have any immediate
effect upon the financial status of either exhibitors
or their theatre patrons. But it is
significant that the new charges for Technicolor
hit an all-time low in the organization's
history.
And that, at a time when the cost of virtually
every other item entering into the
making of motion pictures is continuing to
climb, is a refreshingly welcome step in the
right direction, a step for which Dr. Kalmus
and his company rate an industry-wide vote
of
praise.
While bows are being allocated, a I'il one
toward Maggie Ettinger, for lo! these many
years Technicolor's publicity representative,
for the characteristically efficient and friendly
manner in wiiicli she organized and operated
the press conference at which Dr. Kalmus issued
his price-cutting proclamation. If all such
huddles were as well handled, they might
cease to be the pet peeve of many Hollywood
news outlets.
From Howard Strickling's rover boys at
Metro, the claim that "after a long lapse,
billboard advertising has come back into its
own in the Los Angeles area with both 'Quo
Vadis' and 'An American in Paris.' Heavy
schedules of 24-sheets were posted for both
MGM pictures."
An insult, nothing less, to Perry Lieber of
RKO Radio's ravery. How about that monster
—that revealing display on behalf of Howard
Hughes' "His Kind of Woman" that Praise
Pundit Perry cau.sed to be erected at Fairfax
and Wilshire, and to one of the loudest and
most vertiginous beatings of drums In Cinemania's
history? That, too, was and still Is
a billboard.
John Flinn tickles the welkin with a momentous
Monofrram manifesto that "a 'Flight
to Mars' menu is being featured by Thrifty
Drug Company's 108 southern California
stores as part of a tie-up ..." Possible menu:
Cosmic Consomme
Celestial Celery Orion Olives
Potatoes Pluto
Roast a la
Space Ship Salad
Atomic .^pple
Rocket
Zooming Zucchini
Pie
Jovial Johnny failed to mention who's going
to furnish the bicarbonate of soda which is
indicated for the relief of Cinemanla reporters
who are made lo eat their way through
such publicity trivia, even though they can
take or leave alone Thrifty's cuisine.
Unusually fascinating are the announced
plans of Producer Sol Lesser to send an expedition
to South America in search of the
lost emeralds of Illa-Tica. The exploratory
party will be headed by Kenneth Krippene.
author and expert on buried treasure, and
the entire adventure will be photographed In
color for Lesser, who plans to present a
full-length motion picture story of the journey.
While on the trek. Krippene also plans to
investigate a legendary "City of Naked Women."
which supposedly is in the general
area of the emeralds in treacherous jungle
country.
Should Krippene and his intrepid explorers
find the community of unclad femmes,
Franchot Tone might be available for the
picture's male topline.
And should they uncover the alleged lost
gems, various exhibitor groups might be
induced to finance a second expedition, one
to find the lost audience of the Bijou Theatre.
From Teetering Teet Carle's Paramount
praisery emanates a titillating tidbit to the
effect that while Britain's Princess Elizabeth
and her consort Prince Phillip were touring
Canada they stopped at the small town of
Penticton, B. C. and were advised by the
mayor thereof that if was the birthplace of
Alexis Smith. Elizabeth praised the player,
according to the Carleian intelligence, as a
"charming young lady and an extremely
talented actress."
What's more, Alexis has always spoken very
highly of the princess.
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 49
'
j
\
'
^(mdoK ^c^tont
TN TWO OR THREE YEARS the Hyams
brothers, who turned from exhibiting to
distributing, have pulled their company, Eros
Films, to the top rank of the independent
renters in Great Britain. They have done this
mainly by a sound knowledge of the kind of
films that the public wants to see and also
by a very considerable flair for showmanship
so that they succeed in putting the picture
over once they have made or bought it.
One of their happier inspirations was the
formation of the Eros Lunch club, a body
which meets at in-egular intervals usually.
by coincidence, at a time when Phil and Sid
Hyams have a particularly big picture to sell!
The membership of the lunch club consists
of Eros executives and the London film journalists
representing trade and lay papers. At
last week's lunch, given to coincide with the
press show of the Bette Davis film, "Another
Man's Poison," Phil Hyams disclosed that in
the 18 months that Eros had been financing
British pictures they had been responsible for
21 films. A creditable record, although the
pictures were a mixed bag of seconds, cofeatures
and top features which were described
by Hyams himself as "some good,
some bad and some terrible."
Phil Hyams also mentioned an important
point in passing and that was the fact that
Eros preferred to do business with new producers.
Apart from Daniel Angel who has
become an important independent producer
since tying up with them there are several
others who can thank Eros for bringing them
up from very small beginnings. Monty Berman
and Robert Baker are a team which
started just over a year ago to turn out
seconds for Eros and this week they find
themselves in charge of the first of a new
series of Anglo-American films which the
Hyams have negotiated with Sol Lesser.
Lesser has sent Mark Stevens over from
Hollywood to co-star with Jean Kent in "The
Lost Hour'." and David MacDonald is
directing
this for Baker and Berman at Korda's
Isleworth studios.
* * *
THE BETTE DAVIS FILM, which was
viewed after the lunch, turned out to be
unworthy of it or indeed of any other meal
except perhaps a funeral breakfast. Produced
by Daniel Angel and directed by
Irving Rapper, the film also stars Gary Merrill,
Emlyn Williams and Anthony Steel, but
Miss Davis must bear the brunt of respon.sibility
for it.
It is difficult to see how such a seasoned
artist could deliberately have chosen to work
in a script so out-dated and melodramatic
that it might well have been made 20 years
ago. Not only that, but almost every line and
.scene shows evidence of its uneasy translation
from a stage play with the characters
entering right and exiting left and all the
old situations of the Lyceum .school of drama
appearing with regularity in every reel.
This farrago of nonsense deals with a
woman novelist who poisons her husband,
from whom she has parted, when he comes
to shelter from the police at her house. His
accomplice arrives soon after the murder and
after helping her to dispose of the body he
poses as the missing hu.sband until she
poisons him also. These little peccadilloes are
By JOHN SULLIVAN
contrived so that she may steal the fiance
of her secretary and it is appropriate that
she meets her own sticky end at the hands
of the local horse doctor who gives her
whisky from the fatal flask after she has
had an attack of the vapors.
Most of the critics felt like a good stiff
drink of (unpoisoned) whisky themselves
after sitting through 90 minutes of this.
WARNERS BRITISH OFFICE is very much
in the news this week when details were
published in the tradepress of their new
bonus scheme. Arthur S. Abeles announced
details at their sales conference in London.
This was the first conference, incidentally,
that they have held since the war. .
Abeles stressed that the only thing demanded
of their branches was hard work
and said that the quotas worked out were
very reasonable. Every branch had been set
a weekly billings quota starting from the
fiscal year, which began in August, and the
fact that this quota was attainable was
evinced by seven branches on average already
in excess of their quota.
At the end of the year the branch staff
would get a full week's salary as a bonus
for every extra amount secured, which was
equal to the weekly quota figure. In other
words, if a branch does business equal to
54 weeks in 52 then all the staff will draw
two weeks salary as a bonus and so on in
proportion. When the whole country exceeds
r^ecii^ilae
North: Myron Karlin, MGM manager in
Venezuela, arrived for a three-week studio
stay to view product and talk with company
executives.
* • *
East: Producer Frank Seltzer, accompanied
by Larry Lansburgh, headed for New York to
set distribution on "Earthquake Lake," a
semidocumentary adventure film, which Lansburgh,
headed for New York to set distribution
on "Earthquake Lake," a semidocumentary
adventure film, which lansburgh produced
and directed.
* * *
West: Howard Dietz, vice-president in
charge of advertising and publicity for Loew's,
arrived at the MGM studio for executive
huddles.
* * *
East: Producer Hal Wallis headed for St.
Benning, Ga., to supervise the launching of
filming on a new Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis
comedy which will be relea.sed by Paramount.
He was accompanied by Director Norman
Taurog and Wallis' production manager. Jack
Saper.
* *
West: Ai'thur Loew, president of Loew's
International, planed in from Gotham for a
week of MGM studio huddles with Dore
Schary, vice-president and production chief,
and E. J. Mannix, general manager. Meantime
the producing, directing and writing
team of Norman Panama and Melvin Frank
the average quota figure the head office
staff also will participate on the same basis'.
This is a very fair and equitable scheme;
and one which should bring Warners some'
substantial increases.
* * *
'
SOME OF THE TREPIDATION withi
which exhibitors have been regarding the new
"X" certificate of the British Board of
Film Censors has been calmed after the'
experiment by Odeon of playing an "X" film
in their circuit program.
Until recently the board issued two main
\
certificates, the "A" signifying that the film
was more suitable for adult audiences, but
to which children might go if accompanied
by an adult, and the "U," meaning that the
film could have a universal showing
j
and i
could be seen by anyone. Apart from this
the board occasionally issued an "H" certificate
to a horror film and children were not
admitted to these shows.
Recently the new category "X" was formed
and tagged to pictures, which were not in I
themselves horror films, but were considered I
completely unsuitable for children. First big 1
picture to receive this certificate and to be
booked by a circuit was Paramount's "Detective
Story," which Odeon courageously decided
to try out. The result is a triumph
for the film, which is doing very good busi-
;
ness indeed in its second week of London
release. The only money likely to be lost is
.
with the teenage trade, which takes itself
to the movies here and usually persuades a •
complaisant adult to escort them in to an
'
"A" film. Otherwise there is little likelihood
'
of a "X" picture losing money if it is good
entertainment as the American habit of the
whole family's going to the movies together
is practically unknown here.
^nxui^eU.^^
checked out for Washington for two weeks
of research on an upcoming Robert Taylor
starrer dealing with the career of Col. Paul
Tibbetts. pilot of the B-29 which dropped the
first atom bomb on Hiroshima during World
War II.
ji*
* * * ]
East: Gunther Lessing. vice-president of
:^
Walt Disney Productions and board chairman
of the Society of Independent Motion Picture
Producers, left for Washington to attend
a meeting of the State department's national
advisory committee on information. He is a
member of the group.
* * *
I
East: Director Arthur Lubin headed for
'
West Point to shoot exteriors for a comedy
which he is megging for Universal.
* * *
North: Mark Robson, director and partner
of Robert Wise in Aspen Productions, independent
unit, returned from Mexico City after
surveying filming facilities there.
* * »
East: Douglas Fairbanks jr., president of the
;
Dougfair Corp., planed to New York for talks
with United Artists executives concerning
distribution plans for a Bette Davis starrer
which was co-produced in England by Fairbanks
and Daniel Angel.
Mr. Exhibitor—oro you doing all you can on the
1951 'Christmas Salute' to the Variety Clubs-Will
Rogers hospitol?
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50 BOXOFFICE
:
: December 1, 1951
'«!,
New Officers and Directors of Montana ITO Assn
»t4
"»«s
Officers and directors of the Independent Theatre Owners of
Montana at a recent meeting in Butte, Mont., took time out from
business sessions to pose for this photograph. Left to right, front
row: Herb Bonifas of Chinook, director; Clarence Colder, Great Falls,
secretary-treasurer; Frank Morgan, Livingston, director; Clarence
Sverson, Glendive, former secretary; Rex Flint of Baker and N. M.
Stubblefield of St. Ignatius, directors, and Fred Arnst of Fort
Benton, president. Rear row: Carl Veseth of Malta and Frank Faust
of Forsyth, committee chairmen; D. E. Lockrem of Circle, E. M.
Jackson of Livingston and J. II. Moran of Laurel and E. R. Munger
of Helena, directors; Rotus Harvey of San Francisco, president of
the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, a
convention speaker, and J. M. Suckstorff of Sidney, vice-president.
Nearly 100 attended the annual session.
Las Vegas Variety
Makes 1st Payment
LAS VEGAS, NEV.—An initial contribution
of $10,000 has been made by Variety Tent 39
to its pet charity, the School for Handicapped
Children, now under construction. Presentation
of the check was made by Jake Kozloff,
heart chairman, and Ben Goffstein, chief
barker. It represents half of the original
pledge.
Marc Wolf, chief barker; Robert J. O'Donnell,
ringmaster, and John H. Harris, big boss
of Variety International, have praised the
project. They said few tents had been able to
raise such a sum of money within such a short
time after receiving a charter. Grading and
foundation work have been started. The
school will incorporate many of the features
of Variety Village in Toronto, which representatives
of the Las Vegas tent visited in
October. The schedule calls for completion of
the first buildings before the international
convention opens here in April 1952.
Holiday Magazine First
To Present Film Awards
HOLLYWOOD— 'Tis the season to be jolly
—and also the time of year when matters
cinematic begin to be tossed up for grabs in
the awards department.
First under the wire in what is shaping up
as a banner year for bow-taking is Holiday
magazine, which will honor the industry and
its creative artists at a luncheon here December.
Winners of awards in various film
categories will be announced at the session.
Upcoming thereafter are such annual awards
events as the Look, Redbook and Photoplay
affairs, the New York Film Critics' selections,
innumerable other "bests" polls and, of
course, the Oscar sweepstakes of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, slated
for next March.
R. W. Koenig Buys Luv-Vu
From the Elmer Martells
LOVELAND. COLO. — Acquisition of the
Luv-Vu Drive-In by the University Theatre
Corp. of Boulder was announced by Richard
W. Koenig. The latter, who has owned the
Motorena Drive-In at Boulder for three years,
negotiated the purchase from Mr. and Mrs.
Elmer Martell. Koenig said he will appoint
a local manager for the house.
Koenig is no stranger to Loveland. having
attended the Garfield school and CSCE at
Greeley. He will continue his residence at
Boulder but has an aunt and grandmother
here. The theatre can be reached from
Berthoud in the mountain area.
With his ownership of the Luv-Vu, Koenig
stated that he would exhibit first run and a
choice of second run pictures, a policy that
has proven popular at Boulder. All bills will
be single and children under 12 will be admitted
free. A special children's program will
be given at 7; 15 on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Free treats, three cartoons and a
selection of comedies will precede the regular
picture those nights. The children's show
will be .shown only once and will consume
about 45 minutes.
Charles Whiteside Quits
To Fish; John Buck Named
CORVALLIS, ORE.—John W. Buck, formerly
with the Corvallis First Federal Savings
& Loan Ass'n, was named full-time manager
of the Whiteside Theatre, it was announced
by Charles D. Whiteside for the owners. Buck
has been an Oregonian since 1936 and is a
district manager of Toastmaster International.
Whiteside indicated he would continue
to be acti\^ in the operation of the
theatre but he would devote a little more time
to his hunting, fishing, recreational and community
activities.
Ed Lowry to Direct
HCC Christmas Units
HOLLYWOOD—Supervisory chores on the
four overseas Christmas entertainment units
being assembled by the Hollywood Coordinating
committee have been entrusted to Ed
Lowry, who was executive secretary for west
coast operations of USO-Camp Shows during
World War II. Meantime Gary Cooper, radio's
Bob Hawk and Hillary Brooke were the
latest to be added to the roster of players set
for the tours, for which a total of 80 personalities
is being rounded up.
Other volunteers include Walter Pidgeon.
Keith Andes. Leonid Kinskey. Akim Tamiroff
and the Taylor Maids.
Meantime Danny Kaye and Monica Lewis
returned from a four-week tour of the Korean
battlefront. arranged by the HCC in cooperation
with USO-Camp Shows, to describe the
stint as "the most gratifying experience" of
their careers. They gave 23 shows in 19
days, with June Bruner and Sam Praeger
going along as accompanists.
Sid Cox Manages Drive-In;
Ed Kelly Goes to Pueblo
COLORADO SPRINGS— Sid Cox, assistant
manager of the Chief Theatre for the past
year, has been named manager of the 8th
Street Drive-In. succeeding Ed Kelly, who
has been transferred to Pueblo by Westland
Theatres Co, 24, is a native of Jackson, Miss.,
and was in Denver, Salida. Fort Morgan,
Lamar, Deertrail and Cheyenne Wells before
coming here in 1948. He started as an usher
at the Chief.
Kelly will become manager of the Pueblo
Chief, succeeding James Biu-gess, who left
for service with the armed forces. Kelly was
named manager of the drive-in last spring.
He has been in the theatre business three
years.
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951 51
|
Hikes in Ausfralian Basic Wages
To Cost Industry Large Amount
By WILLIAM BEECHAM
(Australian Bureau, Boxoffice'
PERTH. W. A. — Australia's leading fUm
trade journal, the "Film Weekly," estimates
that the latest basic wage rises (Sydney, up
14s. weekly to £10 7s.; Hobart up 12s. to £9
19s.: Adelaide up lis. to £9 15s.; Melbourne
up 10s. to £9 19s.; Brisbane up 10s. to £9 15s.,
and Perth up 9s. to £9 17s.) will cost the
Australian film industry some £150,000 a year
in dii'ect increases alone. It points out:
"Since practically all other businesses pass
on their increased costs, film concerns inevitably
face cost increases for virtually all
goods and services they require in doing business.
Also disquieting to the industry is reflection
on what effects of the basic wage
rises on the country's economic state may
have on the public's spending power.
But it concludes on a note of optimism:
"There is, however, an interesting if unexpected
line of thought held in some quarters
—that heavily increased price of beer, cigarets
and suchlike 'luxuries' could react in the
picture business' favor Proponents of this
reasoning feel that lots of wage earners would
rather spend on films than on things that
have become unreasonably dear, and that
where cost of drink or tobacco has become too
steep for a man's purse he tends to cut them
out This school of thought points to the experience
that when the beer is off in the
suburbs during a liquor 'drought' it helps
the boxoffice."
•How OLD
Santa Claus?
This particular Santa — the one
you see on the Christmas Seals —
is a very healthy forty-five!
Yes, this is the 45th annual
Christmas Seal Sale — a holiday
custom that has helped save
5,000,000 lives. Yet, tuberculosis
kills more people than all other
Infectious diseases combined.
So, please, send your contribution
today.
Buy Christmas Seals/
HcruuMc lit f.ho iinportunto
of llic shove
rrnissano. thin apace has
boon contributed by BOXOFFICE
that the Common-
The industry here feels
wealth Jubilee Film competition might well
be abandoned, and one authority describes it
as "a meaningless, bungled, pinchpenny affair
that would be an insult to the industry
and to the amateur filmmakers of the nation,
if it were taken seriously." It is pointed out
that the first announcement of the competition
was publicly made only six weeks before
the closing date; that four weeks later judges
had not been appointed; that no time or
place has been decided for screening of winning
entries; that prize money totals only
£200 (less than many a municipal council has
allocated for minor Jubilee contests) ; that as
it was found that the scope of the competition
was inadequate, an additional section for
films made by non-Australian companies was
later added; that there are now indications
that the closing date may have to be extended,
and that the authorities ignored offers
from the industry which, acted upon,
might have made the competition a reasonable
one.
. » *
Exhibitors here still are concerned at what
many of them describe as "loose distribution"
of 16mm films, and some openly state
that such distribution has been extremely lax.
Factories and private homes, it is alleged,
have access to such a variety of films that
the people who see them lose some of their
appetite for the commercial shows. Major
oil companies and even newspapers give public
screenings, not only in "wayback" townships,
but also in the major cities. It seems
that the whole matter demands more than
passing attention. It needs, if reports to
hand are true, through investigation.
* * *
MGM's "The Great Caruso" is breaking
records throughout the country. Mario Lanza
records are heard at all times of the day and
night from almost every radio station (some
sessions consist almost entirely of numbers
by the star) and word of mouth publicity for
the film is really extraordinary. Sixteen millimeter
trailers are being used in leading
stores with considerable success.
* t *
In Western Australia, traffic and fire
authorities are viewing with some concern
the blocking of laneways by autos of theatre
patrons. In Perth, a city with narrow
central streets, traffic congestion is particularly
bad, and it is likely that legislation will
be enforced to keep traffic flowing smoothly
at all times. In suburbs the police have been
insisting that theatre patrons who have
parked in unauthorized spots leave the theatre
and move their vehicles.
* * *
The Sydney office of MGM recently forwarded
to Hollywood a 7-foot giant red kangaroo
which will appear in "One Piece Bathing
Suit," the life story of famous Australian
swimmer of the early 1900's, Annette Kellerman.
Animal was presented by philanthropist
E. J. Hallstrom from his private collection
after three states had been searched in vain
for a suitable specimen. 'Roo was bred and
reared in captivity, and after its work in the
film it will go to the San Diego zoo.
* * •
A Sydney newspaper, calling for donations
to its Christmas Comfort fund for Australian
troops in Korea, had immediate response
from the film industry. Hoyts Theatres
headed the first list with £105. In addition.
Managing Director Sidney Albright of
'
Fox
|
gave £10 10s.; Greater Union Theatres added !
£52 10s., and the Motion Picture Distribu- ! i
tors Ass'n gave £100.
Centennial in Seattle
Recalls Film History
SEATTLE—With Seattle's centennial focusing
attention on the history of the 100-
year-old city, oldtimers recall that the first
regular motion picture theatre was opened
in 1903 by a Mr. Lincoln under the name of
the Edison. It was located on Second avenue
and admission was five cents. Later it was
sold and renamed the Crystal.
Larger and moi-e impressive theatres soon
appeared, beginning with John Hamrick's
Class A in 1911 and continuing a year apart
with the Clemmer, Colonial, Liberty and
Coliseum. The latter three are still in operation
under their original names, but the
Colonial is now operated by Sterling Theatres
and the Coliseum by the Evergreen
chain.
The first talking picture to be shown in
Seattle was "The Lights of New York," which
received its premiere at the Blue Mouse in
1928; the first color film, "The Gold Diggers
of Broadway, 1929," played at the Liberty
in 1930.
In 1941 another significant forward step
was taken with the incorporation of the Seattle
Motion Picture Council, the purpose of
which was "to keep informed on all film
legislation, to rouse in patrons a more discriminating
taste in selection of motion picture
entertainment, and to arrange Friday
family night, or weekend films and junior
matinees."
Most recent development in Seattle film
history has been the formation of the local
COMPO unit, of which Will J. Conner, Hamrick
executive vice-president, is chairman.
Despite individual differences, all Seattle
owners are active members and striving to
promote goodwill between the industry and
the public.
Today, Seattle has almost 50 indoor motion
picture theatres within the city limits and
many more, plus a half-dozen drive-ins, in
surrounding suburban areas, which is indicative
of the growing interest over the years in
this form of entertainment.
James Griffith Succumbs
TACOMA. WASH.—James V. Griffith, 44,
well known in Tacoma theatrical circles, died
at his home November 13. He was born in
Wisconsin and lived here 30 years. He was
a sound engineer for the Sportland Amusement
Co. and a member of Joseph Warren
Masonic lodge and of the projections Local
175. He vcas president and business agent of
Local B-22 and directed and. acted in many
plays of the Tacoma Little Theatre.
Jack Rhodes at Granada
BOISE — The Granada Theatre has reopened
with a new policy and Rodger Mendenhall,
owner of the Granada and Pinney
theatres, announced the appointment of Jack
Rhodes as manager. He will be assisted by
Bob Wilson. Rhodes managed the Natatorium
last summer with the assistance of
Wil.son. The Granada was closed during the
summer for renovation but is now operating
daily.
'ki\
52 BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951
tstt
Cooper Foundation Gets
Permit to Remodel Trail
COLORADO SPRINGS—The proposed
remodeling
of the Trail Theatre, which eventually
will mean a modernistic front and
modernization throughout, will get under
way with a permit for $15,000 issued to the
theatre last month by the office of the city
engineer. According to the permit, the initial
work is for a new floor and moving the
concession stand.
However, C. J. Freeman, city manager for
Cooper Foundation, said that new seats will
be installed, a modern front, carpeting and
general remodeling undertaken as far as
NPA will permit. The original plans called
for a complete new theatre but it was held
back by the government restrictions. Now,
Freeman said, as much improvement as possible
under existing regulations will be done.
Koppingers and Cresslers
Trade Theatre and Hotel
MONTESANO, WASH.—Peter J. Koppinger
has sold the New Montesano Theatre to Mr.
and Mis. G. E. Cressler of Seaside, Ore. As
part of the deal, the Cresslers sold the Beacon
hotel at Seaside, which they have operated
several years, to the Koppingers,
The Cresslers announced that the theatre
will be managed by their daughter and sonin-law,
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dixon. Dixon
comes here from California, where he ha.
. . Other
. . . Mr.
Portland
i
IPI
SEATTLE
John Hamrick's Music Box Theatre came to
* the rescue of mothers with small children
and lots of Christmas shopping to do by
holding a children's matinee last Saturday
(24), starting at 9:30 a. m. The program featured
the English "Alice in Wonderland"
film which merges life-size puppets and live
action.
. .
Jo Furse, assistant booker at Columbia for
many years, has resigned to Join the Pacific
Fruit and Produce Co. Succeeding her at
Columbia is Kay Clones, who has been secretary
to the manager . Jack Burk, 20th-Fox
manager, has moved into his new apartment
at the Queensborough . . . On the Row
were Mr. and Mrs. Chris Poulson of the
Denali Theatre, Anchorage, and Don Glover
of the Odeon in Pullman. They also attended
the big game Saturday (24i at the University
of Washington stadium.
Miriam Dickey, Anchorage, was here after
attending the premiere of "Quo Vadis" in
New York .
exhibitors on the Row
included Elsie Miller, Spokane (she formerly
owned the Ritz there which now is being
operated by W. L. Scale); John Cane, Capital,
Tacoma, and Pat Tappan and Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Grieme, Wenatchee.
. . .
Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox western division
manager from San Francisco, conferred at
the local exchange Clinton McFarland,
. . . Fostei,
. . Vance Weskil, Colfax
advertising and publicity director for Sterling
Theatres, has appointed Donna Imis as as-i
sistant. She replaces Lottie Jameson, whc
has moved to San Francisco
Blake. U-I western division sales manager
and Barney Rose, district manager, were ai'
the local exchange .
and L. A. Gillespie, Okonagon, were on thf
Row . . . Patsy Brooks, daughter of Jin
Brooks, office manager at 20th -Fox, camt'
home from Washington State college foi
Thanksgiving and the game.
Lippert's local office was in fifth place nationally
at the end of the ninth week in the
annual collection drive . . . ZoUie Volchok, citj
manager for Sterling Theatres, entertainer
with an Hawaiian hulu party recently at his
home on Lake Washington. He even imported
tropical food, including special South Seas
fish and punch. Among those attending were
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Engerman and Mr. ancj
Mrs. Fred Danz of Sterling . . . Russell Miller
owner of the Chief Theatre in Manson, flew
to Nebraska recently to visit his parents.
\
III
:*'
Jet
.;
iifflte.
. :! list
CLARENCE W. OKESON
Owner and Manager of the
GRAND THEATRE
PARSHALL, NORTH DAKOTA
Says:
Miriam Dickey, Lathrop circuit, was on the
Row . . . Chris Poulsen of the Denali Theatre,
Anchorage, was in buying and bookini
and Mrs. Les Theverkauf of the Realart
Theatre, Tacoma, vacationed in Los Angeles
and Long Beach . . . Also in California
vacationing were Mr. and Mrs. Cosmo Rockej
... Ed Johnson of the Garland in Spokane
was on the Row . . . L. O. Seley, local manager
for Manley, went to Walla Walla to install
a new Aristocrat model in Midstate'sj
Liberty Theatre.
(
Junior Mercy and Sid Turner were on the.
Row from Yakima . . . Inez Godfrey of the
20th-Fox staff has been been released froir
General hospital after surgery.
jiiii
"We have been screening service from Reid H. Ray Film Industries
for a long time, and we have been using their product exclusively
for the past two years.
"We found that these people are always eager to please, and their
representative is a very high type, conscientious man. We, as well
as the business men of Parshall, have found that Business Brevities,
furnished by Reid-Ray, are tops in quality, and I am very glad to
give this fine company and their product my enthusiastic endorsement.
'I like to deal with them—they do a good job.'
Thank you, Mr. Okeson.
Everywhere — more and more exhibitors are turning to
BUSINESS BREVITIES
Local Screen Advertising of Quality
RKO to Be Santa Claus
HOLLYWOOD—RKO will play host to 10(
children, including 52 from the Los Angeles,
orphanage, at a Christmas party to be staged'
December 21 at the studio under auspices o):
the Compass Club, a Masonic organization
Don Lindquist of the studio purchasing department
is arrangements chairman and the'
party will include a Christmas tree, gifts and'
a program of cartoons.
Kiddy Fun Party Given
T-.iaJte
;aose
:s»rc
-'Ml.
'^
.
BILLINGS, MONT.—A fun party "to top all,
"*'
parties" was sponsored by the Kiwanis clut
at the Babcock Theatre. Free admittance wat
given to the wearers of the best spook costumes
along with a $10 first prize, a $5 second
prize and a $3 thu-d prize. Included in the I-"'"!
program was an ice cream-eating contest.
QUICK THEATRE SALES!
(fee
/Zeid ^/f-,
FILM INDUSTRIES,
f
il
. . Joe
,
n^mwf
fere 5.,
SALT LAKE
iiirarvin George, formerly with Texas Interstate
in Waco and Brownsfield, has been
named manager of the Studio Theatre here.
He has been here for the last year, working
previously with United Film Service . . . The
Kenneth C. Friedman family had a narrow
escape last week when a gas explosion blew
out the walls of his house and damaged the
entire dwelling to such an extent it will have
to be rebuilt. Mrs. Friedman and the two
daughters were at home when the explosion
occurred. Ken was at work at National
Screen Service, where he is manager. The
family was not injured.
Glen Yergensen, who recently purchased
the Cedar City interests of John Rowberry,
has sold his Monroe Theatre to Marius Nielsen.
The transfer will take place the first
Foster Blake and Barney
of the year . . .
Rose, U-I district and division sales executives,
conferred with Buck Wade, manager,
and the local staff.
The Roxy Theatre at Glasgow, Mont., was
gutted by a fire this week. Ed Davison has
been managing the house . . Pete Bayes has
.
replaced Bob Quinn as Paramount exploiteer
in this area . Rosenfield, who operates
the local Lyric, was in town from his offices
in Northwest, where he also has theatres. He
wonders why business has been so slow in
Salt Lake and holding well in other situations
where he is located.
Good weather (there was only one blizzard
in November) found at least three drive-ins
still operating in the area as November closed
. . . Variety Tent 38 is expected to hold elections
Don Tibbs, chief
December 3 . . . barker, decided to become international canvasraan
rather than to run for re-election.
San lose Boys Town Gets
$1,700 in New Theatre Bow
SAN JOSE, CALIF.—More than $1,700 went
into the coffers of the San Jose Boys' Town
fund as a result of the recent benefit premiere
staged here by the United Artists circuit
in connection with the opening of its
new United Artists Theatre. The new showcase
is being managed by Bob Helm.
Film celebrities including Forrest Tucker,
Arleen Whelan, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame,
Debra Paget, Scott Brady, Jesse White,
Joyce Holden, Ann Kelly, Margaret Sheridan,
Stephen Chase and Richard Anderson appeared
in a 90-minute stage show.
Black Cat Is Admission
GREAT FALLS, MONT.—Anyone bringing
a black cat to the Liberty on Halloween
night was admitted free. A guarantee of a
free ticket to another performance was also
given to anyone able to sit through the
spook show.
I
WANT TO RENT
SILENT RUDOLPH VALENTINO FILMS
For Educational Groups For One Night Showings
BOXOFFICE :
Contact Andrew Bertine
76 Bellrock St., Molden 48, Moss.
: December 1, 1951
Postponed Tours for Movietime
Completed in Salt Lake Area
Gov. J. Bracken Lee of Utah talks to Noreen Michaels, a former IJtahan now a
Hollywood actress, as others of the Movietime delegation look on. Included are Dane
Lussier, Keenan Wynn, Dean Jagger, Marshall Thompson, Marilyn Nash, Keefe
Brassell and Anson Bond.
SALT LAKE CITY—Enthusiastic public reaction
to the Salt Lake area's belated Movietime
U.S.A. campaign was reported as the nine
Hollywood personalities completed a week of
tours, and returned home.
The group visited scores of communities in
Utah, Idaho, eastern Nevada and eastern
Oregon during a whirlwind trip that was
reminiscent of the bond tours during World
War II. Everywhere they went they met an
enthusiastic reception. They talked to students
in school assemblies, appeared at hospitals
and in community meetings in theatres
and at civic luncheons. They found young
and old alike anxious to know about Hollywood
and its workers and how pictures are
made. They met governors and mayors, showmen
and chambers of commerce and club officials.
And everywhere the reception was
friendly.
The group assigned to the Salt Lake exchange
area included Keenan Wynn, Dean
Jagger, Marshall Thompson, Keefe Brassell,
Paula Raymond, Noreen Michaels, a former
Utahn; Marilyn Nash, Anson Bond and Dane
Lussier.
After arriving in Salt Lake, they visited
the Veterans hospital and participated in several
television and radio interviews. Next
day they met Gov. J. Bracken Lee of Utah,
Mayor Earl J. Glade of Salt Lake City and
were introduced at a Veterans of Foreign
Wars luncheon.
Their first contact with students came at
South high school here, where they told 1,500
pupils about Hollywood and faced a barrage
of questions, such as: "Why must the hero
always get the girl in the movies?" and "Why,
when Hollywood buys a book, does it change
the context?"
Monday evening they were the main attraction
at Salt Lake City Variety Tent 38's
cerebral palsy banquet at the Newhouse hotel.
Nearly 300 persons attended this affair at
$.50 a plate, and all proceeds went to the
heart of Variety.
Tuesday morning the stars split into three
groups, with one section traveling through
W
communities to the south of Salt Lake, another
to tho.se in the north and another visiting
Idaho towns. They also visited Ely and
Elko, Nev., and Nyssa, Ore.
Various phases of the tour were arranged
under the supervision of Helen Garrity, Sidney
L. Cohen, Giff DavLson, Ray M. Hendry,
Don V. Tibbs, William F. Gordon, Cliff
Miller. Breck Fagin, Willard Ostlund, Bill
McFarland, George Smith, Robert Hedges,
Otto Jorgenson, Ross Glasmann, Julian Bills,
Sam Gillette, Chester L. Price, J. R. Mendenhall
and Irv Harris.
However, the man whose unfailing optimism
and work kept the exhibitors of the territory
from dropping Movietime when the October
tour was canceled, was unable to take his
bows at the event itself. Ralph Trathen, who
has worked diligently day and night on the
campaign for more than four months, was
confined to bed with a serious illness. All
others who worked on Movietime acknowledged
his tireless efforts in their behalf and
for the campaign.
Have you signed the 1951 'Christmas Salute' to
your Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial hospital?
FILMACK,5>as:az^TRAILERS
ARE THE BEST
FROM ANY
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CHICAGO, 1327 SpWabasJi^NEW YORK, 630 Niilli Av.
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SAN FRANCISCO
North Coast Theatres, had a bad head cold
Reader, Fox West Coast Theatres,
said his prediction for the annual big game
was a sorry miss.
pilni stars visiting in the city included Eddie
Cantor, who toured area hospitals, taped Hal Neides, Blumenfeld Theatre circuit,
a radio show, then appeared in a two and returned from a vacation in Palm Springs
one-half hour one-man show at the Opera
Zimmerman, secretary at Blumenfeld,
returned from a week's vacation.
House, and Jack Bailey, who made the
rounds, taping five "Queen for a Day" shows
The Screen Test party, held at Variety
and sending all his friends to the New
Club, proved to be a great success and the
Fillmore Theatre to see the film. "Queen for
turnout far surpassed expectations.
a Day"
The film
. . . Duncan Renaldo. the Cisco Kid,
will be run off at another Variety
met
Club
with
party
members of the local Variety Club
. . . The long-darkened Downtown Tlieatre
as well as with children at a local department
is ablaze with lights and the hypnotic doings
of Franklin, the hypnotist. The
store . . . Anthony Dexter, well known
for
attraction
is booked into the theatre for
his role as Rudolph Valentino, visited
Oakley.
an
indefinite stay.
Earl L. Bowles said his new 500-seat house
Reports are that the El
in Crescent
Captain
City, now
Theatre,
San Francisco subsequent run
under construction,
will feature radiant
operated
heat. The entire structure
will be
by Fox West Coast, will discontinue its matinee
policy
built of fireproof blocks . . .
Eddie Bracken
. . . The Stage Door Theatre
took
outside
lobby is displaying
over the stage of the
Golden a selection of
Gate Theatre
objects
from India,
with the opening of
"Two loaned
Tickets
by a local department
store. The film, "The River,"
to Broadway." A large Greyhound
bus, advertising
currently
the film, was parked
at the Stage
in
Door, is
front
entering its
of the theatre
third month
several days.
Burke is the new booker at Universal,
coming here from the New York of-
Downtown houses were helped by the opening
of "Quo Vadis" at the Warfield. The
fice. Burke replaces Dewey Copenhaver, who
overflow from the theatre stimulated business
at the neighboring houses. Mervyn Helen Simone, secretary to Barney Rose, dis-
resigned
. . . Mary Ti-iffon, secretary, and
Leroy, director, was up for the opening of
trict manager of U-I, resigned their jobs.
"Quo Vadis"
. Belter, publicist for Taking over Mrs. Simone's post is Peggy
Nicholin. who was stenographer for Betty
Gamble, booker at U-I.
Ray Summers is the new manager of the
El Presidio
Now
and the
. . . RCA ready
Marina theatres. He was
moved here from the Laurel Theatre in San
Carlos . Baum is the new manager
of
TO STAKE MORE MILLIONS
the Guild Theatre. Prior to World
War II, Baum managed the Marina for
Baron & Nathan and with his new post
Find out how the RCA Modernization
Plan can help you get, right
at the Guild returns to show business after
a lapse of ten years.
Along the
now, Row
the
were exhibitors
equipment you
Clarence
need to Wasserman, in from his Roxie Theatre, Sacramento;
Charles Harris from his Coalinga
give your house greater patron
Drive-In, Coalinga,
appeal and and
boost
Arthur Perkins
boxofFice.
of
the Starlight Drive-In, Redding.
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Call us . . . today
All States Opens Terrace
ALBUQUERQUE—The Terrace Drive-In
opened with
WESTERN
what the
THEATRICAL
owners say is the
largest screen tower in the country.
EQUIPMENT
The projection
booth sits back 550-feet. James Grit-
CO.
337 Golden Gate Avenue
ting is manager of the new unit in
San
the
Franrcisco
circuit
2, California
of All States Theatre Co. of Abilene, Texas.
The ozoner has a ramp walk down the center,
an all-paved parking area and a nursery for
children.
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Strong ... shock-proor Wagner track adjustable to weather conditions.
More easily read because slotted letter fits closer to gloss. Economical
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Only manufacturer of complete fonts of 4"-e"-10"-17 "
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Pacific Coast Oisfributors
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY
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SAN FRANCISCO: 14] »I4» 1.11 l.i . nu, .||l| . SUTTlIl 111! >•») l.i. . Illl.ii 1)41
DENVER
£JlIsworth Hayes, booker at 20th-Fox, has
resigned and has been succeeded by Joe
Forgeron, who was promoted from assistant
shipper
. . . The directors of Allied Rocky
Mountain Independent Theatres will hold a
winter meeting at the Denver headquarters
January 15. The group will elect officers and
make plans for the 1952 convention. The
membership is voting at present on whether
to hold the convention at Denver or Colorado
Springs. The national Allied board will meet,
at Colorado Springs in the spring.
Frank H. Ricketson jr., president of Pox
Intermountain Theatres, who is visiting England,
was given an audience by Queen Elizabeth.
Ricketson has just completed a tour of
Europe. Last year Ricketson was given an
audience by the Pope . . . Ann Francis and
William Lundigan, stars of "Elopement," will
head the Hollywood delegation to attend the
world premiere of the film at the Denver
December 10. The festivities will include an
hour-long stage show, with the Denver Symphony
orchestra participating. The premiere
is being held in connection with a fundraising
drive by the Loretto Heights college.
Robert Hill, Columbia manager, went to San
Francisco to attend a sales meeting . . . Hazel
Morgan has resigned as cashier at 20th-Fox
and has been succeeded by Janie Mulcahy,
assistant . . . John Ash, MGM auditor, was
in for a periodic check.
Tom Bailey, Lippert franchise owner; A. G.
Edwards, office manager, and Joe Clark, salesman,
will go to Chicago immediately after
Christmas to attend a sales meeting . . Mrs.
.
Bonnie Timmins. secretary to the manager at
Columbia, and her husband went to Butte,
Neb., to have Thanksgiving dinner with her
family.
Theatre folk seen on Filmrow included
Oscar Conwell. Truth or Consequences, N. M.;
Herbert Gumper, Center; Robert Smith,
Steamboat Springs; George Besse, Gunnison;
Lloyd Greve, Eagle;
R. D. Ervin, Kemmerer;
Tom Murphy, Raton, N. M.; John W. Murray,
Springfield; Mike Joseph, San Luis; James
Peterson, Littleton; Verne Austin, Brighton;
Bernard Newman, Walsh; Mr. and Mrs. Leo
Farrell, Sidney, Neb., and W. M. Houser,
Lafayette.
Bill Dwyer in Chugwater;
Norman Bentz to Gilette
CHUGWATER. WYO.—Bill Dwyer arrived
this month to take over the management of
the Ramona Theatre. Norman Bentz, who
has been here the past two years, has been
transferred to his old home of Gilette to
manage the theatre there. Dwyer comes here
from Glenwood Springs. Colo., where he
worked as assistant under the former Wheatland
manager, Dan Cornwall.
SELL
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BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
_.
«»ls
1^
SHIFT IN MANAGERS—Dave Edwards,
left, vice-president and general manager
of Joseph L. Lawrence Theatres in Salt
Lake City, congratulates Harold Green,
new manager for Columbia, as W. G. Seib,
who has retired as manager because of ill
health, looks en. Edwards gave Harold his
first work in the theatre industry, a job as
usher at the old Paramount-Empress
Theatre in Salt Lake in 1934. Seib bad
been manager for the last 12 years.
Paramount's Old Seats
Travel Far and Wide
SEATTLE—When Oscar Chiniquy of the
local National Theatre Supply office recently
completed reseating the Paramount Theatre
with 1,565 American retractor chairs, he was
faced with the problem of disposing of 1,565
used but usable seats taken from the theatre.
That pile is now largely depleted, however,
with some of the chairs going to Alaska,
some to the southern part of the state and
some being used right here in town.
R. J. Peratrovich of Klawock, Alaska,
bought enough of the used seats to reseat
his Bayview Theatre, located in Klawock;
some more were purchased by a Baptist
church here in town, and Frank Willard of
Yelm, who is rebuilding his Yelm Theatre
which burned recently, bought enough for
his theatre, which he plans to reopen soon
after the first of the year.
John Lee Building New
Ozoner for Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE, WASH.—John Lee,
owner of
the Columbia Basin chain of theatres, is constructing
a $12,000 drive-in in the Lakeview
park addition of Soap Lake. Present arrangements
allow a 300-car capacity with plans for
an expansioii of facilities later on the eightacre
tract which is located near the Lakeview
Golf and Country club.
Lee said he has had all the materials and
equipment on hand for more than a year and
expects to have the ozoner ready for operation
late next spring.
'Missoun Breaks Denver Record;
Los Angeles Gives 'World' 160
DENVER—"Across the Wide Missouri"
broke the house record at the Broadway, day
by day and for the week, and Is holding over.
"Detective Story" is holding at the Denham
and the "Blue Veil"-"Whip Hand" dualer
holds at the Orpheum. "Golden Girl" and
her Bowery Boys running mate were big
enough at the Denver and Esquire to move
to the Rialto for an extended run. Thanksgiving
put all but two theatres over average.
(Average si 100)
Aladdin, Tabor and V/ebber — Th« Lady From
Texas (U-I); Reunion in Reno (U-1) 115
Broadway Across the Wide Missouri (MGM) 275
Denham Detective Story (Para) 160
Denver and Esquire—Golden Girl (20th-Fox);
Crazy Over Horses (Mono) 175
Orpheum—The Blue Veil (RKO); The Whip Hand
(RKO)
130
Paramount No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox)
Thunderhead (20th-Fox)
90
Vogue Face to the Wind (Souvaine)
95
"Paris' Holdover, "Worlds'
Pace Los Angeles Rialto
LOS ANGELES—With "An American in
Paris" still leading the boxoffice parade, carding
180 per cent in its third week, another
record-smasher made its appearance on the
local first run rialto as "When Worlds Collide"
opened to hefty 160 per cent average
day-dating in two theatres. Only other attraction
to top the normal mark was "The
Blue Veil," continuing strong at 125 per cent
in its second stanza.
Chinese, Uptown, Los Angeles, Loyola Golden
Girl (20th-Fox); St. Benny the Dip (UA) 100
Downtown Paramount, Hawaii When Worlds Collide
(Para) 160
Egyptian, Slate An American in Paris (MGM),
3rd wit 180
Fine Arts The River (UA), advanced prices, 6th
wl; 100
Fox Wilshire Detective Story (Para), 5th wl: 90
Globe, El Rey, Iris Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert),
2nd wk 90
Hillstreet, Pantages—The Blue Veil (RKO), 2nd
wk 125
Hollywood Paramount A Place in the Sim (Para),
3rd w!: ICO
Warners Beverly A Streetcar Named Desire (WB),
10th wk 90
Warners' Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern—^tarliH
(WB), 2nd wk 90
"Worlds Collide' Scores
135 at Seattle
SEATTLE—Only — three films managed to
rise above average "Anne of the Indies" with
140, "When Worlds Collide" with 135 and "A
Streetcar Named Desire" with 125. "Two
Tlckel-s to Broadway" reached 100 In a fiveday
holdover.
Flue Mou3p—On the Loo«« (RKO) 75
Cohs'um— Anne of the Indies (20th-Fox):
Elephant Stampede Mono) 140
Fifth Av'.nio Two Ticket* to Broodway (RKO);
The Whip Hand (RKO), 2nd wk 100
Liborly— Honeychile (Rep), Sea Hornet (Rep) 55
Music Box—n Trovatore (Globe); Pagliacci
(MPS) 80
Music Hall—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB),
2nd wic, . 125
Orpheum—Close to My Heort (WB) 70
Paramount—When Worlds Collide (Para); The
Lady and the Bandit (Col) 135
'Detective
Story' Easily
Tops San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO—"Detective Story." receiving
fine reviews from local critics, al.so
received fine attention from local theatregoers
and rated a lusty 175 per cent opening
at the St. Francis Theatre. Second spot
honors went to "Mr. Imperium" with a rating
of 130 per cent but, on the whole, business
at the first runs was average.
Cinema—The Desert Fox (20th-Fox),- Disc loekey
(Mono), 5ih v/k 100
Fox Adventures of Captain Fabian (Rep); The
Sea Hornet (Rep) 100
Golden Gate—The Blue Veil (RKO), 2nd wk 100
Orpheum— Cattle Drive (U-I); The Lady Pays Oti
(U-I) 90
Paramount—FBI Girl (LP); Tales of Robin Hood
(LP) 100
St. Francis—Detective Story (Para) 175
State The Tanks Are Coming (WB); Bride of Ibe
Gorilla (Realart), 2nd wk 100
United Arlfsts—Mr. Imperium (MGM) 130
Warfield—Texas Carnival (MGM), 2nd wk 90
'American in Paris' Leads
Portland in Second Week
PORTLAND— "An American in Paris"
proved the highlight of the week with a boxoffice
estimate of 150 per cent in its second
week. It is scheduled for a third and possibly
a fourth w'eek at the United Artists. Another
surprise attraction was "Anne of the
Indies," with a 135 score. "The Red Shoes,"
in a popular priced rerelease, ran up 175 per
cent—a better boxoffice than its roadshow
opening here in 1949.
Broadway—Starlift (WB) 130
Guild—The Red Shoes (UA) _ _ _..I7S
Mayfoir-No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox) 90
Music Box Alice in Wonderland (Souaine) 50
Orpheum, Oriental Detective Story (Para) UO
Paramount Anne of the Indies (ZOth-Fox) 135
United Aiiists An American in Paris (MGM),
2nd wk __130
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
Seligman House Closed
SELIGMAN, ARIZ.—The Seligman Theatre
here has closed its doors. The house was
managed by Mrs. J. B. Knadler and operated
by Harry Nace, Arizona theatreman.
Industry members afflicted with tuberculosis ore
depending on you. Sign the 1951 'Christmos Solute'
to the Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memoriol hospitol.
'
'
LOS ANGELES
n visiter from the east was Charles Moss,
executive director of of the B. S. Moss
chain, who is taking a gander at new product
for booking into the circuit's Criterion
Theatre in New York . . . Harold Wirthwein,
Monogram-Allied Artists western sales manager,
planed out for the midwest on a twoweek
trek, planning stopovers in Omaha,
Des Moines, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis
and Kansas City.
.
Puppy owners: Columbia salesman Jerry
Purcell is in the market for a pooch at the
insistent request of son Gary and daughter
Diedra . . George T. Munton has been given
an okay by the fii'e department to reopen
his San Carlos Theatre after making the
necessary changes to conform to the municipal
code ... A bow toward Republic: The
entire executive staff, sales force and shipping
room crew went en masse to the Red
Cro.ss for blood donations.
Up from Blythe on a booking-buying expedition
were Mr. and Mrs. Dave Jarvis . . .
J. C. Lyon is shuttering his Orange Theatre
in Orange, temporarily at least, effective Saturday
(11 ... In the reopening category. Milt
Arthur's Cabart circuit switched the lights
back on in the LaShell and Brayton theatres,
both long dark, in the Long Beach area
. . . Sam Decker disposed of his Palms Theatre
in Palms to James Allen and Merritt
"Duke" Stone.
Sick list: Bill Warner, United Artists salesman,
is recuperating, but still hospitalized,
after a recent illness; back on the Row (but
just a visitor) was Burt "Red" Lentz, salesman
at the Columbia branch, who has been
on sick leave for the past several months.
He looks fit as a fiddle . . . Ben Pish, Samuel
Goldwyn's sales representative, checked in
from an eastern business jaunt and took off
again immediately— this time with Salt Lake
City as his destination.
After 13 years as a United Artists salesman.
Jack Drumm has resigned to take over
the operation and management of the Big
Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is
a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is
heading for Ventura to manage the 101
Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired
from Reeves E.spy ... A vistor at Republic
was Earl Collins, former branch manager,
who now heads Republic's TV film sales subsidiary,
Hollywood Television Service.
Congratulations are in order for Francis
A. Bateman, Republic's western district sales
managerf, and his wife, who are celebrating
their 28th wedding anniversary
. . . George
A. Smith, western division chief for Paramount,
came in from San Francisco after
talks with the Bay city branch personnel . . .
Leon S. Snider, Australian circuit operator
and a member of that country's Parliament,
headed, for San Francisco en route back home
after a .short stay here.
round-the-world cruise.
He has been on a
Smoking Ban in Theatres
To Be Enforced in Mexico
MEXICO CITy—National authorities have,
as many times in the past, again issued a
strong statement saying that the practice of
smoking in Mexican theatres will no longer
be tolerated. Threats of arrest and fines
were put forth in the latest attempt to control
smoking, which heretofore has filled even
the first-class houses with such dense haze
that the air is scarcely breathable and the
quality of the film projection is lowered considerably.
Authorities are asking the public to cooperate
in enforcement of the ban on smoking
in theatres, not only by complaining but
also by pointing out violaters to inspectors
assigned to each theatre.
In the opinion of BOXOFFICE correspondent
Emil Zubryn the question of whether
the new drive to abolish smoking in theatres
will succeed is a moot one. Outraged theatregoers
who do protest, says Zubryn, may be
in for trouble since most offenders are rather
tough characters.
The move on the part of the authorities
of the federal district, which includes the
boundaries of the city proper, came as a
result of many complaints on the part of
theatregoers, who have said that the pall of
cigaret smoke made filmgoing in this city
uncomfortable and even a hazard to the lives
of the patrons. Many a careless cirgaret
smoker has been responsible for fires in
Mexican neighborhood theatres catering to
the poorer classes.
Indio Minister Files
Objection to Airer
INDIO, CALIF.—Formal opposition to the
proposed construction of a 650-car drive-in
here has been filed with the city council by
the Rev. Thomas Griffith of the Church of
God. The ozoner is planned for erection at
an estimated cost of $100,000 by a syndicate
represented by J. Frederick Rosen, attorney
from Coachella, Calif.
Four reasons were cited by Griffith in
opposing plans for building the theatre: It
would not be showing respect for the church,
since the ozoner would be located right next
door: there is sufficient theatrical entertainment
available in the area without the
addition of another showcase; it would create
a traffic hazard around the church, and
there might be some question as to whether
the city's municipal code permits the erection
of a drive-in in that zone.
The city council has taken the protest
under advisement. Plans for the ozoner are
now in the hands of architects.
Bend's Capitol Reopened
BEND, ORE.—The Capitol Theatre, closed
since July, has been reopened by Manager
Earl B. Jones. The date of the seasonal closing
of the Bend Drive-In has not been determined,
he said. Jones said the house would
show double features and a new staff of girl
ushers would be employed.
Here and There
—
^
pranksters set a smoke bomb outside the '
air conditioning intake unit of the Tower
Theatre in Denver earlier this month, driving I
'
400 patrons from the building. Pungent smoke
filled the theatre, according to Manager Vin- ;
cent Dunn, but there was no panic and pa- i
trons returned to their seats when the air
cleared . . . The Eaton Theatre at Eaton, I
Colo., staged a baby photo contest with $500
in ca.sh prizes . . . Bauer's Drive-In at Fort
I
Morgan, Colo., sponsored a local amateur t
talent show. A large stage, one of the few
\
of its kind at drive-ins, was erected in front
of the screen. It was 20x60 feet.
More than 150 youngsters took advantage
of the hospitality offered by McCarthy &
Feinstein, owners of the Lincoln Theatre at
Limon and the Gem Theatre in Hugo, Colo.,
when a free show and free swim were offered
by the showmen late this summer.
Youngsters from Limon were transported to
Hugo, scene of the party, in a school bus.
At a contest at the swimming pool after the
show, two youngsters were named "Miss
Gem" and "Mr. Lincoln" and will be admitted
free to any show at either of the theatres
for the next year. "March of the Wooden
Soldiers," the old Laurel and Hardy feature,
was the film fare and, needless to say, the
kids greatly appreciated the fine gesture on
the part of the theatremen.
PORTLAND
n rthur Greenfield, U-I manager, reports
"Bend of the River" will be world-premiered
at the J. J. Parker Broadway Theatre
here January 23. Tlie picture was filmed in
the Mount Hood and Columbia river areas last
July, James Stewart, Julie Adams and other
members of the cast are expected to attend.
On January 24 the film will open a saturation
booking run in the northwest.
Herbert Larson and Arnold Marks, drama
editors of the Oregonian and Oregon Journal,
attended the screening of "Quo Vadis" in
San Fi-ancisco . . . Martin Foster, manager
of the Guild, reports his week-long Walt Disney
festival enjoyed record attendance.
Book by Montana Author
Bought by Universal
GREAT FALLS, MONT.—Motion picture
rights on "Roughshod," latest novel written
by Norman A. Fox, Great Falls
author, have
been sold to Universal Pictures Corp.
"Roughshod" was published in August and
is Fox's 20th book. The story concerns Reb
Kittredge, Texas gunman, who was imported
to Wyoming where he fought in the famous
Johnson county cattle war of 1892.
Following the war, Kittredge came to Montana
to accept a job with a man who sought
to dominate part of the cattle country. Most
of the setting is fictitious.
House Reopened Weekend Okay Tax on Drive-ins Helena Hails Him Hoon
LEWISTON, MONT.—The Broadway Theatre
was reopened last month on a weekend
policy hy Don Campbell, manager. Remodeling
work done last year included painting the
interior and installing a new screen and projection
equipment, Campbell said.
SAN FRANCISCO—The board of supervisors
in San Francisco approved for second
reading a license tax for drive-in theatres.
The tax would be 30 cents per auto space
equipped with a speaker, the fee to be paid
quarterly.
HELENA, MONT.—Kirby Hoon jr.,
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Kirby Hoon and a former
Helena resident, will be starred in the James
Oliver Curwood story. "The Call of the
Klondike," at Monogram. His screen name
is Kirby Grant.
Y
I
54-D
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
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INorlhwesl Variety
Elects New Crew
MINNEAPOLIS—Northwest Variety Club's
new board of directors will meet within the
I
next fortnight at Chief Barker Art Anderson's
call to elect officers for 1952. The crewwas
elected at the club's annual meeting, following
reports by Anderson and Bill Elson on
the workings of the heart hospital at the
University of Minnesota and the need for additional
funds for the philanthropic project.
From the slate submitted by the nominating
committee of which Elson was chairman,
and nominees from the floor, members
elected the following crew:
Bennie Berger, Tom Burke, Maitland
Frosch, George Granstrom, Clem Jaunich,
Lowell Kaplan, Gilbert Nathanson, Eddie
Ruben, LeRoy J. Miller, Sim Heller and
Charlie Rubenstein. Past chief barkers who
will serve with them on the board include
Elson, Anderson and John Branton. Elson
was elected one of the two delegates to the
national convention.
The club gave Anderson a rising vote of
thanks and acclaim for his great accomplishments
as permanent chairman of the hospital
committee and refused to permit him to re-
.sign the post.
Elson detailed Anderson's work and also
told of the charitable work being done by the
hospital, citing instances where funds provided
by the Variety Club enabled needy
children to receive treatment.
"When an institution as insignificant as
this club is permitted to have its name emblazoned
across this wonderful hospital, the
only one in the United States devoted exclusively
to treatment of heart ailments and
research in the field on the campus of a leading
university, Minnesota, what a monument
it is for us,'.' Elson pointed out. "I think this
is the biggest project of any Variety Club
in the world."
Anderson called attention to the fact that
the club is committed to provide $25,000 annually
for the hospital to be used in caring
for needy patients. He said theatre collections
now being made to help raise funds
are proceeding in encouraging fashion, according
to reports received to date.
A letter from the Mount Sinai hospital
thanked the club for the $3,000 slide projection
gift and told how much it was aiding in research
work. Elson said that Christmas and
birthday parties are being planned for children
patients at the heart hospital.
Seven Salesmen Receive
Allied Movietime Awards
North Central Allied
Plugs for Help to UA
MINNEAPOLIS—North Central Allied in a
recent bulletin goes to bat for United Artists,
asking members to extend it as much help as
po.ssible.
"We are all familiar with the past troubles
and difficulties, financial and otherwise, of
United Artists, and they need no repeating
here," says the bulletin. "However, the company
under new, young and vigorous leadership
is in the process of making a terrific
comeback and deserves the unstinted support
of every independent exhibitor.
"Every time an exhibitor
helps a .so-called
'little company' he helps him.self. It is only
through keeping such companies as United
Artists in business and successful that the
exhibitor has any protection from the bigger
companies' demands. It is true that when a
'little company' becomes big, it can be just
as exorbitant in its demands as any of the
little fellows. But that is beside the point
and is a problem that can be handled when
it arises.
"We urge every independent exhibitor to
give United Artists full support. We hope
you will buy and book its upcoming good product
during December and coming months.
If United Artists is successful in its efforts
to pull itself up by its bootstraps and delivers
the kind of product on which both it
and you can prosper, everyone will benefit.
Let's all help this company regain its former
position in the industry."
Reopen Manhattan State
MANHATTAN, KAS.—The State Theatre,
closed since the July flood, was reopened last
week, according to City Manager Dave Dallas.
The house has been completely redecorated
and reseated and had what Dallas terms a
new "facelifting operation" in all departments.
KAN.- A
'
salesmen of Shares
of Shov. lii.iii .ii.p In the Movietime U.S.A.
drive received special recognition Friday at
the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of
Kan.sa.s and Missouri all-industry Movietime
ball.
Sponsored solely by the regional Allied
group, the ball brought out one of the biggest
all-industry crowds in the history of film
busine.ss in this area. The awards given to
the film sale.smen were presented at the ball
on behalf of the board of directors of Allied.
The awards were based on top sales of Shares
of Showmanship in the .seven districts set
up for the Movietime drive.
Winners were Harold Ca.ss, WB, who worked
the Movietime territory headed by Jim Lewis.
RKO manager; Johnny Long, 20th-Fox, in
the territory handled by Harry Hamburg,
Paramount manager; Earl Dyson, RKO, in
Republic Manager Bob Winters' territory;
Bud Riley, Republic, in Tom Baldwin, Columbia
manager's territory; Dwight Borin, WB,
in MGM Manager William Gaddoni's territory;
George Regan, 20th-Fox. in UA Manager
Ralph Amacher's territory, and Bob
Ringler, RKO, in U-I Manager Jack Langan's
territory.
The Warren Durrett orchestra played for
the Movietime ball, which was free of charge
to all members of the industry. There was
no stage show, but dancing was broken up
for the presentation of the awards to the
film salesmen.
The ball followed the annual one-day fall
convention of the Allied regional unit, also
held at the Continental. Highlights of the
convention included a luncheon at which
Irving Mack, head of Filmack, Chicago, was
speaker and luncheon entertainment by the
StroUin' Troubadours.
The business meetings included a report
on the Allied States convention, discussions
of the new federal admissions tax structure
and discussions of theatre insurance.
A film clinic in the afternoon was conducted
by Sol Frank as moderator and was
followed by a cocktail party.
St.
Louis Lippert Branch
Set Up by Kaycee Staff
KANSAS CITY—R. R. Thompson, branch
manager for Lippert Pictures here; Betty
Caruso, cashier at the local exchange, and
Morgan, salesman for LP here, have
given a charter by the secretary of
for the new Lippert Pictures of St.
Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
Under the St. Louis exchange setup,
Thomson is listed as president; Miss Caruso
as secretary-treasurer, and Morgan as vice-
Bernie McCarthy, formerly with
Lion Classics and United Artists here,
will head the Lippert exchange in St. Louis
as branch manager. McCarthy has been a
salesman for Lippert in the St. Louis territory
since last June. The new Lippert branch
will begin operations December 1.
OLD FRIENDS GtT TOCiETHER—When four old friends met in Des Moines
recently, they posed for the photograph shown here. They are MjTon Blank, president,
Central States Theatres; A. H. Blank, president, Tri-States Theatres; Jesse L.
Lasky, MGM producer who now is working on "The Big Brass Band," and Charles
Hoffman, MGM studio writer.
BOXOFFICE : : December 1, 1951 MW 55
. . . Amos
. . Our
. . Rich
'
OMAHA
•Three points in Omaha were as busy as army
headquarters on D-day minus one last
week: Republic's branch office, Tri-States
quarters in the Orpheum Theatre building
and Mickey Gross's Suite 407 at the Blackstone
hotel, where operations for "Salute to
the Strategic Air Command" and the world
premiere of "The 'Wild Blue Yonder" were successfully
dir-ected . . . Bob Daley, RKO salesman,
was back on the job after several days
illness.
Arnold Meierdirks, exhibitor at Pender, is
attending the Prigidaire school at Sioux City
in connection with his appliance business
. . . Reggie Gannon of the Sky Theatre in
Schulyer reported his area a "duck hunter's
paradise" and did plenty of shooting himself
. Ralph Goldberg, president of R. D. Goldberg
. .
Theatre Corp., has scheduled a New
York trip . . Mi-s. Georgia Rasley, opera-
.
tor of the Royal Theatre, O'Neill, Neb., is
confined to her home by illness.
The MGM staff was high in its praise of
"Westward the Women" at the local screening
. . . Sixty-four David City, Neb., business
firms and the State Theatre are giving
free tickets to children in the county for
a ten-week period.
Ralph Morgan, Lippert salesman at Kansas
City, and his wife were holiday guests
of Ml", and Mrs. Jack Renfro. Jack, of the
Theatre Booking Service, formerly was in the
industry in Kansas City . . . Mr. and Mrs.
FILIVIACK(5/z^»^TRAILERS
^
ARE THE BEST^ '
SBND YOUR^
ANGLE!
CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash^NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Av.
One of a series of Think
Pieces about Improving
your theatre and its
equipment.
RCA products are
among the best to
be had—buy wisely
Emergencies!
When repairs are
needed AT ONCE—call
us. We act fast!
H. W. Leriger of the Plaza at Lyons, Neb.,
hope to have their new home completed in
time for a Christmas house warming . . .
Mrs. Tillie Nebe, RKO cashier, reports her
daughter has returned home after confinement
at Children's Memorial hospital with
polio and is making progress in her recovery.
. . .
M. G. Rogers of the Film Transport Co.
has been home ill for three weeks and son
Mai'k is carrying on. Son Johnny is with
the army engineers in France . . . Herman
Blankenau and his younger son are operating
the theatre at Dodge, Neb., while an
older son, who owns the theatre, is serving
in the army in Korea Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Jones of the State Theatre at Red
Cloud, Neb., don't let icy roads worry them.
They flew in last week to do their booking.
Exhibitors along Filmrow: Jim Hosic, Milford;
Mr. and Mrs. W. Berney, Wolbach;
Ed Kugel, Holstein; Doc Naultus, Mapleton;
Byron Hopkins, Glenwood, Iowa, and Bellevue.
Neb.; Mrs. Ai'ch Conklin, Griswold;
Woody Simek, Ashland; Arnold Johnson,
Onawa; Mons Thompson, St. Paul; Tony
Polanka, Shelby; Leonard Leise, Randolph,
and Carl Harriman, Alton.
Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager, visited Falls
City, Fairbury and exhibitors in the southern
part of Nebraska last week ... A guest
of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs was Mrs. Bess Popkin,
a friend from Columbia's Minneapolis
office, who was in Omaha for a convention
"Happy" Moehler, employed at the
Hamburg. Iowa, Theatre, paid his annual
visit to Filmrow. Happy had a birthday
Thanksgiving day.
The Omaha loge of the Colosseum discussed
new problems and the results of the recent
national convention held at the Fontenelle
hotel . . . Janet Brocker, secretary to MGM
office manager Evelyn Cannon, received high
acclaim for her piano recital at Joslyn Memorial
Museum. She is a student of piano,
voice and organ . . . Ray Brown, Harlan,
Carpets Sell Tickets
Many a woman gets half of
her movietime pleasure from the
glamor you provide at your sho'w
Colorful carpets that caress and soothe the
foot—that radiate unusual luxury and inspire
with delightful color! They provide personal
enjoyment that weaves bright threads of romance
into the very fabric of living— into the
stories the films present . floor coverings
do not COST you anything. They pay
their way, every day . patterns are
good—our quality the best—our prices are
reasonable. Come in—let's talk!
WESTERN
THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
214 N. Firteeiith, Omalta, Neb. .. Plioiie: Atlantic 9046
Iowa, exhibitor, is home from the hospital
',
after a recent illness.
Bill Wink, Warner salesman, had the wind-
'.
shield of his car cracked when a pheasant
flew against it while he was di'iving between
Newman Grove and St. Paul, Neb. Driving
;
from St. Paul to Grand Island, gravel kicked
up by a truck finished the job . . . Frank
McCormick, MGM booker formerly of Minnei
apolis, drove to Sioux City to see teams from
the two towns in a hockey game. ;
Dode Kosiut, MGM cashier, spent the weekend
with 11 other Omahans at a retreat at
Conception seminary. Conception, Mo. . . .
The Community Theatre at Springfield, Neb.,
operated by merchants for some time, has
closed . . . Harry J. Sliumow, former Omaha
MGM branch manager who was transferred
to Milwaukee and has retired, visited friends
in Omaha with his wife . . . Bill Matson of
Bridgeport, Neb., is a new student booker at
MGM.
Film visitors were Mel Kruse, Pierce;
Walter Austin, Plainview; Ed Kugel, Holstein;
C. N. Robinson, Blah; M. Coyle, Holdrege;
Jim Burrus, Crete; James Booth, Harlan;
Ed Opocensky, Newman Grove: Dee
Butcher, David City; Earl Cowden, Sidney;
Wayne Johnson, Clay Center; Mons Thompson,
St. Paul, Neb.; Phil Lannon, West Point;
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wilson, Pierson; Art Sunde,
Papillion; Ralph Martin, Moorhead; Harold
Qualsett, Tekamah; Hazel Dunn, Valentine;
Bob Fridley, Ida Grove; Morg Reynolds, Elwood;
Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Fore, Shelby; Walter
Gunther, Syracuse; Mat Wuebben, Canton,
S. D.; Sol Slomenski, Loup City; Frank
Hollingsworth, Beatrice; Jim Ti-avis, Milford,
and Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Stastny, Hooper.
M. F. Wuebben Purchases
Theatre in Canton, S. D.
CANTON, S. D.—Math F. Wuebben, manager
of the Canton Theatre for the last seven
years, has purchased the business from Dean
Nash of Sioux Falls, S. D. The building remains
the property of Nash, who also owns
theatre properties in Beresford, S. D., and
Jackson and Fairmount, Minn. Wuebben has
been in the theatre business for 21 years.
Wuebben's brother Al is an exhibitor at
Parkston, S. D.
Halt Daily Matinees
MANHATTAN, KAS.—The management of
the Carlton Theatre, a Midcentral house, announced
a change in policy inaugurated last
week. Hereafter, there will be no matinees
except on Saturdays and Sundays when
performances will be continuous. The Carlton
specializes in foreign films and second runs.
FOR SALE - THEATRE CHAIN
Group of 4 DE LUXE THEATRES in octive city
of 25,000. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NO
COMPETITION. Near large permanent NAVAL
RESERVE. Includes equipment, leaseholds and
large equity in one theatre building. ESTI-
MATED 1951 NET $75,000. Illness forces sale.
$150,000 cash. Bolancc to be arranged.
SAMUEL KLEIN
1914 S. Vermont Avenue, Room 11
Los Angeles 7, California
.—»
j
56 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951
areue;
Twin City First Runs
Fair in Winter Blast
MINNEAPOLIS—More zero temperatures,
deep snow, slippery walks and streets have
hurt local boxoffices plenty, but a number
of offerings came through in good style last
week. "A Streetcar Named Desire" was good
in its third stanza and "An American in
Paris." "Across the Wide Missouri" and "Detective
Story" held well in their second weeks.
The last named actually made a better showing
at the Century, comparatively, than it
did in its first week at the much larger Radio
City.
(Average Is 100)
Century— Detertive Story (Para), 2nd wk 120
Gopher—Across the Wide Missouri (MGM), 2nd
wit 110
Lyric—When Worlds Collide (Pate), 2nd wk 90
Orrheum-The Strange Door (U-I), stage show 95
Pan—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 3rd wk. 115
P,x—The Blue Veil (RKO), 3rd wk , 100
Radio City- Golden Girl (20th-Fox) 85
StateAnne of the Indies (20lh-Fox) 95
World An American in Paris (MGM), Snd wk 200
"Detective Story' Gets
150 in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY—First run grosses in Kansas
City continued to show strong improvement,
with every house in the city reporting
average or over for the week. The Paramount
led the first run parade grosswise
with 150 per cent on its opening of "Detective
Story." The Missouri with "Two Tickets to
Broadway" had an excellent week and the
Tower came up out of the doldrums with a
banging 125 per cent on "Anne of the Indies"
and "House on Telegraph Hill."
Esquire, Uptown, Fairway and Granada Golden
Girl (20lh-Fox), Joe Palooka in Triple Cross
(Mono) 100
Kimo— Oliver Twist (UA), 3rd wk 200
Midland— Sirocco (Col); On the Sunny Side of
the Street (Col) 100
Missouri Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); The
Basketball Fix (Realart) 130
Paramount Detective Story (Para) 150
Tower Anne of the Indies (20th-Fox); House on
Telegraph Hill (20th-rox) 125
Vogue—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 2nd wk 300
Tide to
TV Reversed; Editor Credits
Hollywood Shift to
lOLA, KAS.—The lola
Register, local dally
paper published by Angelo Scott, recently
commented editorially on the effect of television
on the motion picture industry. Under
the heading, "Quality Counts Most," the editorial
read:
"When radio came in, the prophets foresaw
the quick demi,se of the phonograph recording
industry. But they were wrong. The record
business .soared to new peaks, far outdistancing
the moderate preradio levels.
"Television's arrival produced similar glum
forecasts of the death of motion pictures.
Who would get out the car, drive downtown
or to a neighborhood center, hunt for a
parking spot and go to a movie when he could
put his slippered feet on a hassock and be
entertained without leaving his living room?
"For a good while, it looked like there
would be some substance to the moviemakers'
fears. Theatres closed by the dozens across
the country. The volume of business sagged
painfully. Good films seemed an increasing
rarity.
"But those who thought the time had come
to start choosing pallbearers have been confounded
by the events of recent months. The
boxoffice has picked up sharply. Hollywood,
recognizing the threat to its existence, has
poiu-ed energy and talent into pictures with
determination seldom matched in its erratic
Ajid, in dazzling succession, many of
history.
these films have won high critical acclaim.
Quality Films
"In the experts' judgment, it is this newstress
on quality that has turned the tide.
Careful scanning of the boxoffice figures
shows the filmgoer exercising extreme selectivity.
The good ones he supports with impulsive
vigor, long lines outside the big metropolitan
theatres attest to that. The turkeys
he lets die a lonesome death.
"Television has had .something of the Impact
on movies that the latter had on the
legitimate theatre. The films destroyed the
market for run-of-mine stage fare. Why .see
a play for a few dollars when you could see
a picture Just about as good for 40 or 50
cents?
"TV, with its great .spate of studio dramas
and its almost embarra-ssing emphasis on old
films, is slicing away at the market for B
pictures. The family that wants an evening
of merely passable dramatic entertainment
doesn't need to budge from the house.
"But the thirst for top-grade cinema apparently
has never really abated. In the
dramatic mirroring of life, in the creation of
light-hearted fancy, the films can occupy a
unique place. With unsurpa.s.sed technical
facilities, with abundant resources, with cameras
that can range the face of the earth, the
movies are equipped to contribute to art and
entertainment in their own special way.
"Too often in the past, the filmmakers
have sadly underestimated the increasingly
dLscriminate nature of their audience. Too
often they have measured their task narrowly,
in terms of superficial entertainment routinely
and unimaginatively offered.
"The recent run of excellent pictures raises
hopes that, under the spur of TV competition.
they are at last out to make the most of their
rich potential. In the end, there may be something
like a merger or compromise with TV.
But a continuance of present trends will at
least assure that this will be a meeting of
equals . . . the movies are not going to yield
by default so long as quality is their insignia."
'Streetcar' Keeps on Going
After 200 Omaha First
OMAHA—"A Streetcar Named Desire" held
up for a 100 per cent second week at the
RKO Brandeis. following a thumping 200
score for the first week. First runs were
bucking an eight-performance stand of "Guys
and Dolls" on the Orpheum stage, which
netted $65,000 in its Omaha showings.
Omaha—Cave of Outlaws (U-I); My True Story
(Col) 95
Orpheum Sunny Side of the Street (Col); The
Magic Carpet (Col) - 95
Paramount Detective Story (Para) 100
RKO Brandeis—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB),
2nd wk 100
State—Close to My Heart (WB) 105
Town Fighting Caravans (HP); Fighting
Westerner (HP); Spy Hunt (U-I) 90
Mons Thompson Buys
ST. PAUL, NEB.—Mons Thompson, St.
Paul exhibitor, has bought the theatre at
Edgar, Neb., and plans to remodel and recondition
the layout. Thompson will continue
to buy and book for the theatre at Fullerton
until further arrangements can be made following
the death of Lou Heal, owner of the
house, and his wife's hospitalization.
Gloria Dallas 111
MANHATTAN, KAS.—Gloria Rae Dallas,
daughter of Dave Dallas, city manager here
for Midcentral, was taken to the hospital
last week for an emergency appendectomy.
Allied Counsel Decries
Appeasement Policy
MINNEAPOLIS— S. D. Kane, executive
counsel, writing in the bulletin of the North
Central Allied, expressed deep disappointment
over the Allied States Ass'n decision
to adopt an appeasement policy through
arbitration to settle exhibitor-distributor
quarrels. He said he hoped the policy would
be reversed soon.
"We can't rest on our oars or wait for the
day when distribution agrees to the arbitration
of such things as film rentals," said
Kane. "Anyway, while in many circumstances
and most businesses arbitration is an excellent
idea, there are certain people with whom
you just can't arbitrate.
"The old saying is that 'they have rights
who dare maintain them.' The authority for
our rights is the highest court in the land.
Why maintain them by negative action?
What is there to arbitrate?"
Kane subscribes in the bulletin to Allied
States stand on competitive bidding as nowconducted,
contending that "by hook or
crook, bidding is used to favor large circuits
and affiliated theatres, that bidding shouldn't
be forced on an independent exhibitor who
doesn't w-ant it and that it must be policed
and favoritism to large circuits and affiliated
theatres ended."
Mrs. E. R. Golden Returns
From Trip to New York
KANSAS CITY—Mrs. E. R. Golden, wife
of Eddie Golden, owner of Golden Theatre
Service and the Vogue Theatre, local art
house, has returned from a trip to New- York
where she attended the wedding of her
brother, E. W. Moss, formerly of KMBC
here and now advertising manager for station
WOR-TV in New- York.
Mrs. Golden contacted several distributors
of foreign and art films w-hile in New York
City and visited numerous art houses.
Satisfaction — Always
MISSOURI
THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY
I. L. KIMBRIEL, Manager
Phone BAltimore 3070
^— 115 W. ISlh Kansas City 8. Mo. ^^
^DCIIT \I1ICPTCDM
STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY
.UIILMI nLlllLIIII.
I
rVCRTTHING FOK THE STACC - AUDITORIUM • LOBl
BOX OFFICE • 1324 Grand A«r., Kanfta» City &.
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 57
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'
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'
I
Around the Midwest
T\uane Tritt, an employe of the theatre for
several years, was appointed manager
when the Kansas Theatre in Pratt opened
its doors recently for the winter season. It
had been closed since last spring. And he
received a rather different type of floral
greeting on the occasion. Tritt's bouquet
contained assorted weeds and milo stalks,
designed probably to give hay fever to anyone
who sniffed it. It was the gift of S.
Frank, manager of the Drive-In Tlieatre.
The Star and Skyline theatres in Clay
Center, Kas., tied in with merchants to sponsor
a contest with a trip to Hollywood as the
prize . . . The Delpheum Theatre at Delphos,
Kas., gave up its Saturday night recently
and showed Friday instead when the Furst
show was scheduled in the city auditorium
for Saturday.
Owen Anderson of the Palm Theatre in
Bayard, Neb., installed an amplifier to replace
the 25-year-old equipment. The showman,
who ha.s been there since June 1. said
it would get rid of many of the breakdowns
which occurred in the past. Anderson came
to Bayard from South Dakota and has been
in the theatre business for 15 years . . . Workmen
repaired the corner of the Plaza Theatre
in Burlington, Kas., which was damaged
by lightning this fall. Damage done by the
July flood was also being repaii'ed as rapidly
as possible and quite a few improvements
are being made.
The Gregg Theatre at Caney, Kas., had a
line form at 7:15 and stretch around the
corner to the Chronicle office when it gave
away an Admiral refrigerator recently. A
Copan woman won it and gave a shriek of
joy from her balcony seat.
Bob and Dorothy Malek were hosts to theatre
owners and their wives from a threestate
area recently at the Malek Theatre.
Exhibitors from southwest Wisconsin, south-
. . . Bob
east Minnesota and northeast Iowa came to
the Independence, Iowa, theatre to hear
MGM representatives discuss promotional
plans for the coming months
Parker has organized a Trail Blazers club
for children of grade school or under at his
Trail Theatre in Olathe, Kas. The sessions
are at 1 o'clock each Saturday. More than
200 youngsters showed up in the rain for
Parker's Back to School movie treat this fall.
Merle J. Burns gave gifts to all when the
Sun Theatre at Emery, S. D., was opened re-
. . . Restrooms
cently. Menfolk at the opening got cigaret
cases, the ladies got salt and pepper shakers
and the kids all got balloons
in the Gem Theatre at Baldwin City, Kas.,
have been modernized with white linoleum
tile trimmed in blue.
Burglars visited the U.S. 69 Drlve-In south
of Pittsburg, Kas., recently but left without
any loot although the office and concession
were thoroughly ransacked . The lola, Kas.,
. .
Kiwanis club members were guests of John
Krupp at the drive-in theatre for dinner
served at the ozoner and a show later.
Fred Meyer of Clarion, who went to Fort
Dodge, Iowa, as manager of the Humota Theatre
when Alva Hopper was expected to go
into the armed forces, stayed on there . .
J. D. King, manager of the Commonwealth
theatres in Lawrence, Kas., says that the
30 theatres operated by the circuit in six
midwestern states have shown increased attendance
over last year; attendance at conventional
houses is up 4% per cent and
drive-in business is up 14 per cent . . The
.
new theatre in Garnavillo, Iowa, the town's
fii'st, is 124x30 feet, with the exception of
a 29-foot lobby, the entire space is auditorium,
with a capacity of 350.
F. G. Weary III was telling recently that
his Hiway 13 Drive-In at Henrietta, Mo., was
three feet under water at the concession
and booth in the July flood, and the apartment
occupied by him and his wife had four
feet of water in it. He was grateful none
of the loudspeakers were damaged. The
Wearys and their sons. F. G. IV and Rodney
Allen, had to stay in Richmond. This year
the drive-in got a playground, and a concrete
walkway was laid around the concession and
a patio built in front. The personnel of the
airer includes Mr. Weary III. manager: Mrs.
Weary III. concession manager; Mrs. Weary
II. in charge of the Dari-Maid stand; John
Walker, projectionist; Richard Stigall, popcorn,
and Pattie See and Elaine Shiner of
Richmond and Evelyn Abbott of Henrietta,
concession assistants.
When the Falls City, Neb., theatres were
sold recently by Tri-States, Bruce Shelton
was asked to continue his association with
the company. But this would have meant his
moving away and that's how come Shelton
is the new manager of the Falls City Chamber
of Commerce today.
Tom Sandberg of the Grand Theatre at
Ravenna, Neb., was the successful bidder on
nearly 400 new theatre chairs put up for
sale by the government as surplus. He put
in a low bid but, apparently, was the only
bidder for them. The army instructed him
to come and get them in two weeks .
The bookings at the Uptown Theatre in
Strong. Kas.. were shifted to the Lyric in
Cottonwood Falls recently when the ventilating
system at the Uptown broke down.
Hampel Fairleigh returned to Wichita from
New York, where he was business manager
last summer at the Sea Cliff Summer Theatre
on Long Island. He will again be associated
this winter with Mrs. William Floto
at the Floto ticket office.
The Dickinson circuit spent $7,500 remodeling
the Pix Theatre at St. John. Kas..
according to Manager John Caylor. Glen
Dickinson, who owns 46 other theatres, was
here with Art Perry, engineer and district
manager, and James Kimbriel of Missouri
Theatre Supply, who furnished the seats,
making the arrangements. The work was
done in the daytime and after the performances
at night. The lobby was enlarged
and heating system changed to heat the
lobby, which was not possible before. New
floor covering was laid in the lobby and a
colored sidewalk put outside. "Dick" told
Caylor to post a $25 reward to prevent
mutilation of the new .seats . . . Mons Thompson
installed all new seats in his Rivera Theatre
at St. Paul. Neb., while the house was
closed five days.
Sign the 1951 'Christmas Salute'—Variety Clubs-
Will Rogers Memorial hospital—and "help core tor
our own."
Augusta, Eas.,Drive-Ir
To Bow With 250 Cars
AUGUSTA, KAS.—Additional detaUs havi
been received on the new drive-in reportecl
in BOXOPFICE recently to be constructed b;'
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Bisagno and Mr. anci
Mrs. Bob Bisagno of the Augusta and IsL-'
theatres here. The Bisagnos have been con-1
sidering such a venture for some time a;!
Augusta's population continued to increast
and demand for an outdoor theatre in this
region became greater.
The drive-in will be located on the Bisagno
land about thi'ee-quarters of a mile north oli
the city limits on Ohio street. The parking'
area will cover 12 acres and include nine'
ramps holding 450 cars when completed to'
capacity. Only seven ramps accommodating!
250 cars will be installed initially, however,!
leaving room for expansion as needed. The
eighth and ninth will be installed but not
wired during the initial construction this'
winter and next spring.
!
The 37'2x6P--foot screen will face east by
north and cars will park facing a general
westerly direction. There will be a curved
screen, RCA projection and sound equipment
and individual speakers. Although film poUcies
for the ozoner are not definite at this
•
time, there will be no change in present
policies at the Augusta and Isis. Bob Bisagno
said recently. There is a choice of two dif-
.
t
ferent bills during the week and thi-ee on
weekends.
Grading was completed at the site during
November, septic tanks are in and building of
structures has started. With the present rate
of progress, it is expected that everything
will be ready by March and a grand opening
mits.
Paul Ellsbury to Springs
SALINA, KAS. — Paul Ellsbury set the
closing date for the 81 Drive-In and left for
Topeka. From there, a little later, he will go
to Hot Springs. Ark., to manage one of the
Dickinson Operating Company's theatres.
When the thermemeter began flirting with
zero, Ellsbury set the date and Ronald Hurst,
who just closed the Shawnee Drive-In at
Shawnee. Kas.. came here to take charge
the final three days and close the outdoorer
for the season.
Herman Fields in Hospital
CLARINDA, IOWA—Herman Fields,
will be held when the "season" officially per-
operator
of the Clarinda and Rialto theati-es. is
in Municipal hospital here recuperating after
an operation for appendicitis. Manager Walter
Keener is carrying on activities in his
absence.
Lowell Finecy Appointed
SUTHERLAND. NEB. — The managership
of the Star Theatre passed into new hands
when Lowell Finecy took over the duties.
William Conley had been manager of the
situation for the past several months.
THEATRE MARQUEES
Attraction Boards
Vertical Signs Neon Signs
UNITED
NEON COMPANY
4507 Prospect. Kansas City. Mo.. Phone AR. 820S
t'
58
BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951
!
laii
'i teJ
beat;
4-
Iowa-Nebraska Allied
Asks TV Ban on Stars
OMAHA—Iowa-Nebraska Allied has scheduled
its convention for April 22-23 at the
Fontenelle hotel and its January board meeting
tentatively for January 15 at the Hotel
Savery in Des Moines.
At its recent meeting in Omaha, Allied
members approved actions of the national
convention in New York and passed two
resolutions dealing with television. They
asked film companies to ban appearances of
their top stars on weekend TV shows and
asked that the national Allied board take action
to keep pictures off TV until ten years
after their release.
Other discussions showed disfavor of "buck
nights," dollar-per-car admission to driveins,
and security picture contracts. Leo Wolcott
of Eldora, Iowa, chairman of the board,
explained that intermediate pictures at the
present time have little
value.
Heading the group of approximately 85
exhibitors were Al Myrick. Lake Park, Iowa,
president; Charles Niles, Anamosa, Iowa, national
treasurer, and Elmer Huhnke, Omaha,
secretary.
Twin Cities Football TV
Again Is Unprofitable
MINNEAPOLIS—The exclusive telecast of
the Michigan State-Notre Dame football
game drew only approximately 500 people at
$1 a throw to Radio City here and 300 to the
St. Paul Paramount last Saturday afternoon.
This was unprofitable, of course, a considerable
expense being involved in special advertising
and to get the telecast.
This was the second exclusive football game
telecast for Radio City and the first bigscreen
telecast of any kind for the St. Paul
Paramount where the equipment has just been
installed. The first here was the Notre Dame-
Indiana game earlier in the season and it
drew even less than last Saturday's. The only
Radio City exclusive telecast was that of the
Pep-Saddler featherweight championship
fight and it. too, was unprofitable. Both football
games telecasts were in competition with
the University of Minnesota games which
draw in excess of 50,000 a contest here.
Paramount Takes Bids
In Suburb of Twin City
MINNEAPOLIS—Paramount here offered
three independent theatres, plus, of course,
its own affiliated house in the same general
suburban area, the chance to bid for the district's
first run of "A Place in the Sun." The
independent St. Louis Park took advantage
of the opportunity to bid in competition with
The latter's
the Paramount circuit's Uptown.
bid was adjudged the better and the picture
has been awarded to it. Two other independents
who had the chance to bid declined to
do so.
Vaneks Close Cairo
CAIRO, NEB.—Norman and Marvin Vanek
of the Cairo Theatre have closed the house.
Marvin was inducted into the army in October
but Norman states that he and his
family will continue to maintain their residence
in Cairo.
Defendants in Lebedoff Suif Say
Run Setup Vital; Claim Chiseling
MINNEAPOLIS — six major distributors
and the Paramount Theatres circuit here
presented testimony designed to show U.S.
Judge G. H. Nordbye that a clearance and
run system is economically neces.sary In the
motion picture Industry, and that the distributors
acted properly when they took the
first run in its neighborhood area here away
from Martin and S. G. Lebedoff's Homewood
Theatre and gave it to the Paradise, owned
by the late W. A. Steffes, who was president
of the independent exhibitors organization
at the time.
CLAIM CLEARANCE VIOLATED
The distributors and the Paramount circuit
are defendants in a $500,000 damage
suit brought by the Homewood. The Lebedoffs
claim clearance discrimination against
their Homewood in favor of the Paradise
and other circuit hou.ses. They also charge
clearance was conditioned on admission prices
in violation of the antitrust law.
Defense witnesses have included Martin
Lebedoff; J. J. Donahue, Paramount division
manager and former local manager, the film
company branch managers here, and accountants
who have checked the Homewood
boxoffice statements.
In their opening statements, David Shearer
and Mandt Torrison, counsel for the defendants,
declared they would introduce evidence
revealing that the Homewood was a marginal
operation since its inception, and that the
Lebedoffs "consistently misled defendants as
to grosses, and continuously under-reported
grosses on percentage pictures and on films
bought flat on which adjustments were
sought."
They also claimed that film rentals received
from the Paradise were higher even
before the Homewood had the preferred playing
time.
Reasons for the necessity of the clearance
and run system, counsel asserted, were its
capability to produce the most film rental for
the companies, and, from the mechanical
side, because of the limited number of picture
prints and the need to put them to
work to service as many accounts as possible.
BAD FAITH CHARGED
Fireworks were set off as Lee Loevenger,
the plaintiff's counsel, charged defense lawyers
with bad faith and unfairness in allegedly
breaking pretrial agreements by failing
to submit documents to him in advance
for inspection, as directed by the court.
Over Loevenger's objections. Judge Nordbye
admitted a letter written by Martin
Lebedoff to Warner Bros, in which Lebedoff,
seeking an adjustment on a percentage picture,
pointed out that the Homewood always
was a "problem theatre," a losing venture
before the war and, generally, a marginal
operation that just about "could get by" on
normal film rentals, but ran into trouble on
specials. Called to the stand for cross-examination,
Martin Lebedoff identified the letter's
signature as his.
Two accountants, one of them employed
by Sargoy & Stein, New York law film engaged
in auditing exhibitor boxoffice statements
for distributors, told of examining
Homewood boxoffice statements. Their compilations,
submitted as exhibits, purported to
show that from Jan. 13, 1937, to April 15,
1947, the amount of Homewood grcsses reported
to MGM was $8,604.67 less than the
actual theatre boxoffice statemsnt figures
and that from May 14 to 16, 1944, there was
an underpayment of 20 per cent to 20th-Fox.
Loevenger objected to the exhibits, claiming
their introduction violated a pretrial
agreement and also that they were Irrelevant.
"Conceding, just for argument's sake, that the
plaintiff chlsled on some pictures," he protested
heatedly, "that fact would have no
materiality with or be a defense against the
charge of conspiracy injurious to the plaintiff,
or the fact that the taking away of the
first run and giving it to a competitor damaged
it."
Shearer pointed out that, on cro.ss-examination,
Martin Lebedoff had testified he
never knowingly had falsely reported a gross
on any picture to a film company.
Before the court ruled on the admi.ssabllity
of the alleged chiseling testimony, the plaintiff's
counsel received permission to examine
all documents concerned in the matter and
to present further objections.
Lower Floor of Majestic
Converted Into Theatre
FAIRBURY, NEB.—The Majestic Theatre
building was undergoing extensive repairs
last month preparatory to the use of the
lower floor as a motion picture theatre.
Chairs have been ordered and are expected
within the next few weeks.
There has been no announcement as to
the management but it was reported here that
Ira Grain, former manager of the Bonham
Theatre, who operated the drive-in theatre
north of town, will be in charge of the
new house.
Sid Blackmore Denies
Reported Retirement
DULUTH, MINN.—S. J. Blackmore, president
of Duluth Talkies. Inc., and an exhibitor
for 45 years—eight of them in Canada
and 37 in the U.S.—this week denied that
he had sold the Granada Theatre here.
Blackmore said that contrary to reports he
had not sold the theatre and that he had
not retired from the industry.
Mrs. Leanna Powers Dies
GLENWOOD, IOWA—Mrs. Leanna Powers,
widow and mother of local showmen, died
here last week (21i. She was the widow of
William S. Powers and the mother of Karl
Powers, former owners of the Gem and Ritz
theatres. Karl Powers sold the theatres this
sping following his father's death.
Comstock Work Rushed
COMSTOCK. NEB.—Work was rushed for
a November opening of the Comstock Theatre,
according to work from James Skolil,
manager. Work on the building and also the
installation of equipment was progressing
rapidly.
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951
59
. . Film
. . Wesley
. . New
KANSAS CITY
pimer C. Khoden sr., president of Fox Midwest
Amusement Corp., has been elected
as one of nine new du-ectors of the Saddle
& Sirloin club, a promotional organization
for the American Royal Livestock and Horse
show, held here each year . . . T. R. Thompson,
former branch manager for Monogram
here, returned to Kansas City after a trip
to New York City . executives were
called to a meeting with the city welfare
department at 1:30 p. m. Friday. Purpose of
the meeting was not revealed at press time,
but it was known that the film men. including
Arthur Cole, dean of Filmrow and industry
representative, were to meet with
heads of PTAs and other organizations.
Seim Lawler, director of advertising and
publicity for Fox Midwest, has been elected
a member of the board of directors of the
Chamber of Commerce and vice-president in
charge of publicity for that body. Lawler is
believed to be the second man in the film
industry to be placed on the CofC executive
staff here. Elmer C. Rhoden sr. served as a
director several years ago, it was reported.
B. S. Murphy, RCA Service Co. field engineer,
is in Wesley hospital in Wichita, Kas.,
for a possible operation. His territory is
being handled by Joe Moore. RCA field supervisor.
Kansas City .
Bolen's Goveland
Theatre at Quinter, Kas., burned re-
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cently and he is buying new chairs and booth
equipment. Bolen's brother-in-law Arthur
Ganson operates the Ritz at Ashland, Kas.
Don Clark, Columbia booker, has joined
Paramount as booker . . . Bob Brown is new
Paramount salesman replacing Prank
Thomas, who joined Monogram several weeks
ago. Brown formerly with was a film company
in Denver . . . Fred Helwig, head
booker at RKO. joined Paramount as head
booker and office manager, replacing Eugene
Jacobs, who has been promoted to city salesman
and assistant to Branch Manager Harry
Hamburg. Helwig at one time was with Columbia
here.
Nina Bridges, secretary to Walt Lambader
at United Film Co., went to Council Bluffs,
Iowa, with her mother over the Thanksgiving
holiday
. . . Harley Fryer has installed new
seats purchased from National Theatre Supply
at his Lamar, Mo., theatre . carpeting
was bought from NTS by Midcentral
Theatres, which took over the old TEI circuit
houses recently, for the flood-damaged
Carlton and State theatres in Manhattan,
Kas. Midcentral. headed by R. E. Davis and
Louis Higdon. is headquartering in the State
building at Manhattan . . . Fox Midwest
installed new Magnarc lamps at the Jayhawk
in Topeka.
Sam Abend of Exhibitors Film Delivery
and Service Co. was honored with a birthday
party Tuesday night (27) at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Abbott Sher. Mrs. Sher is
Abend's daughter and Abbott is an executive
of the Exhibitors Film Delivery.
BOWLING
KANSAS CITY—Standings remained unchanged
in the Filmrow Bowling league play
here. Ritz Theatre continued to be the unchallenged
leader in the men's division, while
Hartman's Allstars retained its one-game
lead over the Finton Jones squad in the women's
league.
Men's league standings:
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Ritz Theatre 29 7 Fox Trotters 16 20
Michael's 22 14 Fox Terriers IS 21
MGM 20 IG Film Delivery 1 13 23
Film Delivery 2....17 19 Screenland 12 24
Women's league standings:
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Hartman's 25 11 U-I 15 21
Finton Jones 24 12 Columbia Gems 12 24
Foxy Five 20 16 C.S. Bureaucrats 12 24
Carpets - Door Mats
B I G E L W
* S M I T H
U. S. ROYALITE
SHAD-0-RUG
Theatre Bookkeeping
Service Is Started
KANSAS CITY—Establishment of Theatre
Booking Service to do an exclusive bookkeeping
and tax job for motion picture theatres
has been announced by United Business Co..
Inc., which has been handhng the business
records of a large number of theatres in this
area.
This special service, which can be carried
on through the mails, was created by two
brothers, Richard and Henry Block, during the
last two years. The idea of setting up a special
bookkeeping and tax service for theatremen
came as a result of handling a number
of accounts for both circuit and single-theatre
operators in this region.
Under the system, all an exhibitor has to
do is make out his customary daily reports
and pay his bills. The bookkeeping service,
according to the firm, does the rest. Upon
receipt of this information, the company posts
all information in double entry books, keeps
a payroll ledger, reconciles and balances the
bank account, provides a typical individual
profit and loss statement, balance sheet and
bank reconciliation statement. The service
also includes all tax returns, including federal
admissions, sales, social security and
other withholding, unemployment compensation
and income tax returns.
This service is offered on a low monthly
flat charge of $25 for theatres with 12 employes
or less. Contracts are not required and
the service may be canceled at any time, with
all records being returned to the theatre.
"We believe," said Richard Block, that this
service enables the exhibitor to rid himself
of all bookkeeping and tax problems and. at
the same time, gives him assurance of professionally
kept books and records."
Theatre firms which are serviced by the
company include the Frontier at Atchison,
Kas.: the Bev and Fort at Leavenworth;
Electric. Avenue and State in Kansas City,
Kas.; 50 Highway Drive-In, Jefferson City;
Cedars in Lebanon. Tenn.: Vista and Moto-
Vu in Warrenton, Mo.: Bay in Los Angeles.
and the Strand and Southtown in Kansas
City.
Mrs. Vera Davis Fills In
CARSON, IOWA—Charles White, manager
of the Carson Theatre, was inducted into the
army last week. Mrs, Vera Davis of Carson
will act as manager during his absence. White,
son-in-law of Howard C. Brookings of Oakland,
had filled the position 14 months.
Brookings operates theatres at Oakland,
Avoca, Carson and Walnut.
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Room 455, Paul Brown Building Chestnut 4499
Kansas City, Mo.
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STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co.
60
BOXOFFICE :
: December
1, 1951
1
MPA oi Kansas City
To Meet on Monday
KANSAS CITY—The Motion Picture
Ass'n
of Greater Kansas City will hold it.s annual
business meeting Monday (3) at Benish's
banquet room in the Twin Oaks South, with
Elmer C. Rhoden. president of Fox Midwest
and president of MPA, as host.
Cocktails will be served at 6 p. m., with
dinner to be served at 6:30. A business meeting
will follow the dinner and cards will
be played after the meeting.
Purpose of this meeting will be to elect
four directors to replace those whose terms
expire this year and to name a new director
to replace the late W. E. Ti'uog. who died
last week. The foiu- new directors will be
elected for four-year terms.
Committee reports will be given at the meeting
Monday and next year's MPA program
of activities will be outlined. Other matters
also will be taken up which require the attention
of the full membership.
Summonses Are Served
For 'Detective Story'
KANSAS CITY—That many people in Kansas
City have guilty consciences was the
deduction made this week by Harold Lyon,
managing director of the Paramount Theatre,
following an exploitation stunt on "Detective
Story," current at the big downtown first run.
Lyon had 125 summonses printed last week
and had them distributed by "a man who
looked the part" in the downtown area, and
the theatreman said he "had a barrel of
fun" with the idea.
Signed by Lyon and Paramount exploiteer
Jim Castle, the summonses carried the names
of individuals and were handed out in person.
Reaction, said Lyon, was sensational.
He said one .summons was handed to a man
downtown with the process server, saying:
'T have a legal paper for you."
"Well," said the victim, "I've been expecting
this!"
In another shop, Lyon said, the process
server asked a clerk if the owner was in.
The clerk pointed out the store owner and
the process server gave her the summons.
Before he could leave the store, the woman
had started telling the clerk never to point
her out to a process server.
In another store where the summons was
served at 4 p. m., the victim had personally
told 40 persons about it by the 5:30 closing
hour, Lyon said.
In reply to one summons, served on Bsrl
Berry, owner of the city's largest Ford dealership,
Lyon later received an answering letter,
in which Berry said he was out of town
at the time and he did not know what action
the judge would take, but would Lyon and
Castle please at some future date "serve another
summons."
Audit Exhibitor Books
MINNEAPOLIS—Sargoy & Stein, New
York attorneys, are working in this territory
in an extensive audit of exhibitors boxoffice
statements, it was reported this week.
Mrs. Lightner Improves
MANHATTAN, KAS.—It is reported that
Mrs. Douglas Lightner, wife of the Wareham
Theatre manager, is making rapid recovery
from a recent attack of polio.
Ralph Amacher Is Named
UA Head in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY Italpli Amacher, who
came here in August as acting branch manager
for United Arti.st^
during the illness o:
the late W. E. Truok,,
has been appointed
branch manager Vi
succeed Truog, wli
died last week.
The appointment was
made by William
Heineman, United Artists
vice-president in
charge of distribution.
Amacher formerly was
branch manager for
Eagle Lion in Portland, Ralph Amacher
Ore., before joining UA in San Francisco.
Meantime, the will of Truog has been filed
in Jackson county probate court. Dated Sept.
21, 1950, the will provides for a special bequest
of $10,000 to a son, William E. jr., and for
the remainder of the estate to be distributed
equally among five children, William E. jr..
Daniel, Morton, Mrs. Sally T. Haydon and
John B. Truog.
Employe and $2,300
Disappear at Regent
KANSAS CITY—Local police are seeking
an employe of the Regent Theatre here, who
disappeared early this week along with $2,300
from the theatre safe.
Eddie Mansfield, manager of the theatre,
told police that when he arrived at the theatre
Monday the office safe was locked, but
there was no money inside. Mansfield said
he called the hotel where the employe lived
and was told the man had checked out. The
money represented weekend receipts, Mansfield
said.
The employe's job was to put the money
in the safe when the theatre closed at 4
a. m., Mansfield said. The man had been
with the theatre for four years.
Ed Rostermundt Given
Variety Club Tributes
OMAHA—The Variety
Club paid honor to
Ed Rostermundt, veteran film salesman, at
a luncheon on the roof of the Blackstone
hotel Saturday (1). Rostermundt, United
Artists salesman 18 years who retired recently,
was known throughout the area for
his generous acts and for his calling card—
a stick of Yucatan chewing gum. Chairman
of the testimonial luncheon was Bill Barker,
another Filmrow veteran. Rostermundt was
presented a television set.
Charles Elder Shifted;
Linford Pitts Replaces
OMAHA—M. E. Anderson, Paramount
branch manager, announced the transfer of
Charles Elder, salesman for the South Platte
territory, to the Des Moines office to replace
Jim Foley, who died from a heart attack.
Linford Pitts was transferred from Kansas
City to take over Elder's territory. Pitts before
joining the Kansas City staff was at
Oklahoma City.
Sign the 19S1 'Christmas Solute'—Voriety Clubs-
Will Rogers Memoriol hospitol—and "help core for
our own."
James Martin to Succeed
Fox Salina's Earl Hilton
.SALI.NA, KA.-^ h;irl VV Hilton, Salina
manager lor Fox Midwest Theatres, has submitted
his resignation effective December 6.
He will be succeeded by James O. Martin,
present manager of the Fox Orpheum Theatre
In Wichita.
Hilton has been In Salina since February
1946 as manager of the Fox Wat.son In addition
to his position as city manager of the
Salina Fox houses. He has been Identified
with Fox Midwest for 22 years and has been
active in show buslne.ss more than 30 years.
He was with the People's Amusement Co.,
which later became Capital Enterprises: Unlver.sal,
Midland Theatres and finally Fox.
Earl and Mrs. Hilton have made plans to
establish residence in western Kansas, either
at Dodge City or Garden City. Mrs. Hilton
is the owner of land in Stevens county and
her husband will take over its management.
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C .M I' A N Y BELTON, TEX.AS
BOXOFFICE :
: December 1, 1951
61
. . Ben
. . . Cherie
MINNEAPOLIS
r\espite fine promotion iand topnotch ads,
"Detective Story" in its first week here,
playing at the 4.000-seat Radio City, failed to
click at the boxoffice in anywhere nearly the
expected fashion. But the Minnesota Amusement
Co. moved it over to the 1,600-seat
Centmw for a second week. At the same time,
the company framed some of the most effective
newspaper ads for the picture to ever
hit the local dailies. The JVIAC judgment was
vindicated. In its second week, the picture
did better than for its first and gave the
Century a very big seven days, resulting in a
holdover for still a third week. The newspaper
ads got part of the credit. Minneapolis
Sunday Tribune-Star critic and film editor
Bob Murphy called the picture one of the
year's best and added that it should find a
place among 1951's ten best and be in line
for Academy award consideration.
Below-zero temperatures and wicked snowstorms
continue to raise havoc with the boxoffice
throughout the territory. As invariably
in the winter here, all this makes the going
tough for film salesmen who cover the territory.
What hurts now is the fact that the
severe winter has started considerably earlier
than it usually does . . . "Tales of Hoffmann,"
which ran three weeks at the Lyceum here
as a $2.40 roadshow picture, had a single
week roadshow engagement at the St. Paul
World last week . Hill, Meadowland
exhibitor for the last three years, died from
a heart attack. He was 55 and leaves a
widow and son who are taking over the
Meadowland Theatre and will operate it.
The downtown independent Aster is still
dark because neither the owners nor the
booth operators will budge—the owners insist
only one man to the booth at a time and the
union demands two, as provided for in a
contract that has only a few more weeks to
run. The present owners acquired the contract
when they bought the theatre from
. . .
the Minnesota Amusement Co. under the
Paramount consent decree "Hy" Chapman,
Columbia manager, is awaiting the print
of "Ten Tall Men," much acclaimed picture.
. . . U-I
Herb Greenblatt, RKO district manager,
was a visitor ... J. J. Donahue, Paramount
division manager, was in from Chicago to
testify in federal court in the trial of the
Lebedoffs' Homewood Theatre $500,000 suit
against his and other companies. He was
local branch manager at one time
is looking forward to a visit from Mannie
Gottleib, district manager . . . Filmrow
visitors included exhibitors Paul Perrizo, Blue
Earth, Minn., and Harvey Thorp, Crosby,
Minn.
Going into the final week of the company's
annual three-month playdate and billing contest,
the local Paramount branch is in fourth
place nationally. All of which means the
boys here will participate in the prize money
. . . The Hopkins, independent suburban theatre,
has partially won its fight for the earliest
clearance, 28 days. Three companies
Universal, Columbia and United Artists
have granted it, according to owner Louis
Engler . . . S. P. Halpern and associates have
sold the Northtown, local neighborhood theatre,
to the Emerson Theatre Corp. Ray B.
Lehrman, formerly a Columbia booker, heads
the company.
Don Lee Is Transferred
To Chicago by Columbia
OMAHA—Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager,
announced that Don Lee, office manager and
booker who came here from Des Moines about
five months ago, was being transferred to
Chicago as salesman, effective December 3.
His home town is Baltimore.
Eleanor Horwich has been moved from
cashier to Lee's position and Edna Nass has
been hired as cashier.
Are you doing oil you can to "help care for our
own" by getting oil your employes to sign the 1951
'Christmas Solute'.'
ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES FROM US
White Japufiese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $13.95
South American Yellow Hybrid Per 100 lbs. 10.00
(Packed in 50 lb. bogs)
Liquid "Popsit Plus" Seasoning Per Cose 15.50
(Pocked 6 gallons per case)
"Seazo" Coconut Oil Seasoning Per 50 lbs. 15.00
Morton's Popcorn Salt Per Case 2.95
10c Popcorn Boxes, 2 ounce Per 1000 11.25
10c Popcorn Boxes, 1% ounce Per 1000 10.00
1 lb. Popcorn Bogs, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.80
1 lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, white Per 1000 2.20
Vi lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.20
l'/2 lb. Popcorn Bags, pinch bottom, white Per 1000 1.95
DES
MOINES
Ctanley Dudelson, new United Artists salesman,
has taken over the Iowa territory
formerly handled by Herman Coffman. The
Coffmans have left Des Moines for Florida
where they plan to make their home. Mrs.
Coffman was formerly with Warners here
Jones Miller, former Warner employe,
said her son Mark's picture won first
prize of a $500 defense bond in the annual
contest sponsored by the Professional Photographers
of Iowa. The baby's father, Don, is
in Korea and has not seen Mark since he
was a few weeks old.
. . .
Stanley Soderberg, Warner salesman, spent
the weekend in Minneapolis The Chuck
Elders were fortunate in finding an apartment
upon their return to Des Moines and Chuck
has taken over his duties at Paramount as a
salesman . . . Paul Webster journeyed to
Omaha for the premiere showing of the Republic
picture, "Wild Blue Yonder" . . . MGM
has two screenings of importance scheduled
soon— "Quo Vadis," to be shown to an invitational
audience of exhibitors and press and
radio representatives December 12 at the Uptown
at 8:30 p. m. and "Angels in the Outfield,"
to be shown early in December to
sports writers in the city.
Several parties were held here for members
of the cast of "Guys and Dolls," which had
a week's run at the KRNT Radio Theatre.
Sid Melton, star of several Lippert pictures,
was guest of honor at a party given by Hal
King at his home. Screenings were held at
the Paramount screening room for the cast
and one of the pictures was a recent film in
which Maxie Rosenbloom had a part.
.
G. V. Fleming, exhibitor at Cumberland,
Iowa, was on the Row last week . . . E. E.
See is the new owner of Filmrow's favorite
drug store on 12th and High streets . . . T. C.
Ridells now is associated with National Theatre
Supply, replacing Elsie Keenan
Beverly Klanjac has resigned her
. .
position
at Republic.
Sidney Hale, 60, Stricken;
Nashua, Iowa, Showman
NASHUA, IOWA— Sidney Hale, 60. owner
and operator of the Nashua Theatre for the
last four years, died in Cedar 'Valley hospital
at Charles City. Hale was graduated from a
law school in 'Vienna, Austria, and came to
the United States 14 years ago. He came to
Nashua after a number of years in the theatre
business In Texas.
He is survived by a son, Pvt. Harvey Hale,
former State university of Iowa law student
who was inducted into the army three months
ago, and a brother. Dr. Joseph Helman of
New York City. The theatre will continue to
operate under arrangements made by Harvey
and Mr. Helman. Claudia Smith of Nashua
is in temporary charge.
1'
H
Special Softex % ib. Bags, white Per 1000 2.00
Printed Sacks, 1 Ib. flat bottom, white Per 1000 3.10
Printed noiseless, 1 Ib. pinch bottom Per 1000 4.60
Prices Subject to Change Without Notice
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
1121-23 High St.
Des Moines, Iowa
Mrs. Jerry Drennan Hurt
PILOER. NEB.—Mrs. Jerry Drennan. operator
of the Pilger Theatre, will be in the
Lutheran hospital at Norfolk several montlis
with a double fracture of the liip suffered
when she slipped on some buckshot someone
had scattered in the aisle of the theatre. Her
daughter is handling the business in her
ab.sence.
62
BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951
feu 51.
Snapshot Sidelights on Carolina TOA Convention
Harry Hart, BOXOFFICE representative, used his camera to
do some "reporting" at the convention last weeli at Charlotte
of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina. Here
conversing in the lobby of the Charlotte hotel are, left to right:
H. A. Anderson, Mrs. B. B. Anderson, D. B. Kizziah, B. B. Anderson
and A. C. Phillips. The Andersons are from Mullins while the
others .ire from { harloUe. In the right photo Itoy Koue of Burgaw
tells the others about his candidacy for lieutenant governor of
North Carolina. Next to him are Charles Piquet, Southern Pines;
Claude Lee, Motion Picture Advertising Service, New ()rlean.s, who
was toastmaster at the banquet, and Glen Fannin, salesman.
The latter group were snapped after a meeting of dealers.
In usual order are Peter Warren, Pepsi -Cola; Sam Wheeler,
Wheeler Pictures, Washington; Herman Arenson and Francis White,
Charlotte; Jack Dumstre III, Atlanta, Southeastern Equipment Co.;
Bill Williams, Charles Swinney and Harry Paul of RCA.
CHARLOTTE—Sidelights of 39th annual
convention of Theatre owners of North
Carolina and South Carolina:
The most missed man who did not attend
the convention was C. B. Hayworth of Pink
Hill, N. C, who had sold his drive-in there
and was in Hot Springs. Ark., for his and his
wife's health.
Charles Utley of Statesville, helped fill
the large scrapbook that was on display In
the lobby with pictures of Movietime stars
and writers made during their Carolinas
junkets.
Howard Anderson and B. B. Anderson of
MuUins are taking a very active interest in
motion picture activities. B. B. claimed he
did not get to spend much time with the
theatres any more.
* * *
Roy Rowe from Burgaw who announced
that he was a candidate for lieutenant governor
of North Carolina has twice been president
of the theatre association. He has been
in the state senate since 1935 and has served
as chairman of the aeronautics committee
under two governors, and currently is a
member of the board of trustees of the University
of North Carolina. Roy has a good
background in theatrical business. Before
he became owner of the Pender Theatre at
Burgaw and the Rowe at Elizabethtown, he
Was with Warner Bros, and Paramount as
salesman in the Carolinas. Roy has a host
of friends.
* * *
S. J. Workman told friends that he would
open another drive-in about April 1 at
Woodruff, S. C, a 327-car situation. He now
operates a theatre there and the Whitehorse
Drive-In at Greenville, S. C.
Howard McNally of Fayetteville and wife
were in a hurry to fly to Vermont to bring
back a car for his father, who operates the
concession at the Boulevard Drive-In at
Fayetteville. A brother of McNally is a car
dealer up there.
P. G. McGee of Winston-Salem told about
the boy that he failed to prosecute for stealing
.speakers from his drive-in there, who later
killed a popular salesman. He now prosecutes
those that are caught stealing speakers so
that they won't commit other crimes.
Bob Saunders related good naturedly the
ribbing given him because be became lost
with a film star while on tour with a Movietime
troupe. Bob's reply was, "How'd you like
to have got lost for a half hour with her?"
Joe Accardi of the Skyline Drive-In at
Morgantown was enthusiastic about recent
promotions that had helped business.
Every equipment dealer had a room with
refreshments in the Charlotte hotel for the
thirsty.
Out-of-town equipment dealers included
Ray Bussler. Tampa; H. L. McClung of Albany.
Ga.: Jack Dumestra III. Atlanta: Nash
Weil, Charley Forston of Wil-Kin Supply,
Atlanta, and Oscar Howell, also of Atlanta.
The latter attended the meeting of equipment
dealers along with the ten from Charlotte.
Everette Olsen disclaimed any special
credit for his very successful chairman.ship
of the Movietime tours in the Carolinas. but
everybody knew he put in a lot of time and
effort on the campaign.
Arthur Bromberg, Atlanta, renewed acquaintances.
* * *
Gael Sullivan, executive director of the
Theatre Owners of America, told the exhibitors
that "the motion picture industry has
no fear of any kind of competition if we
have a quality product." Sullivan, speaking
at the Monday afternoon session, .said: "In
the next six months we will see the release of
some of the finest film features ever made. I
saw one of the new pictures just the other
night and can say it unquestionably is one
of the biggest packages of entertainment I
have ever seen."
Denise Darcel, MGM star who arrived
Monday afternoon, attended the banquet and
made a short talk. Toastmasters at the banquet
were Jack Jackson of National Screen
Service and Claude Lee of Motion Picture
Advertising Service Co.
Wives of exhibitors were entertained at a
luncheon Monday given by the ten theatre
equipment dealers here. The luncheon was
held at the Chez Montet restaurant.
Motion Picture Advertising Service, represented
by A. E. Chadick of New Orleans
and R. L. Simpson of Charlotte, hosted a
party preceding the banquet.
Everett Olson. Paramount exhibitor here
(Continued on next page)
BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 SE 63
Here the camera catches a few individuals. Starting at left
they are: Everett Olsen, telling about the JVIovietime tours in the
Carolinas, for which he was chairman; H. H. Everett of Stewart
& Everett Theatres; E. D. Martin, Columbus, Ga., who is chairman
of the regional grievance committee; Alfred Starr, Nashville, one
of the convention speakers, and resting a moment during lunch
hour, Ben L. Strozier of Rock Hill, J. B. Harvey of Clover and
Clinton Whitlock of Rockingham.
Here are the new officers and board of the Theatre Owners of
North and South Carolina. Seated, left to right: H. F. Kinsey,
Alfred Starr, H. E. Buchanan, Mrs. Pauline Griffith (executive
secretary), Howard McNally, Roy Rowe and George Carpenter.
Standing: J. B. Harvey, W. H. Hendrix jr., Harry Cook, President
Robert E. Bryant, Vice-President A. Fuller Sams, Worth Stewart,
Vice-President Harold Armistead and H. A. Anderson. Directors
Albert Sotille and J. H. Webster were absent.
(Continued from preceding page)
and Movietime publicity chairman, said: "The
tour was a great success. The four Hollywood
personalities visited 26 communities in the
Carolinas in six days." The four were writer
Isabel Dorn, starlets Penny Edwards and
Lori Nelson and actor Craig Hill.
Mitchell Wolfson, president of TOA, said
"the single most important problem for the
industry is the achievement of a system of
arbritation to eliminate costly law suits . . .
We are planning an important meeting in
Los Angeles with representatives of the three
branches of the industry: exhibition, distribution
and production. These men will sit down
and try to thrash out their problems."
The largest crowd ever to attend a convention
banquet crowded the floor at Hotel
Charlotte. Some latecomers were denied admission
because of space limitations.
Gael Sullivan complimented the local press
by calling the convention the "best covered
theatre meeting in America." Sullivan wrote
newspapers thanking them for the generous
space given the meeting.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola were vieing for
exhibitors' favor. Pepsi was host to a giant
cocktail-buffet party. Coca-Cola dispensed
its drink to exhibitors at every turn.
Son to William Sawyers
MEMPHIS—William C.
Sawyer, director of
film payments for Malc
