Boxoffice-May.03.1952
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
I<br />
!|i<br />
#<br />
Vorierir Clubt Intcrnolionol ot lit conxnrion in Lot Vc90> thi< week Photoi oxr doit, L to R, ore John Horrii, big<br />
boil, More J Wolf, inltrnotionol cKii^f hafkor R J 0'D>nnclL international rinamoitcf Sturv on Paue H<br />
This Itaui<br />
faM<br />
^nHHiffflHii<br />
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION<br />
I'Uluding 1h< S«(t>v««t hfNt PA^ft .>f All Edilio'U<br />
MAY 3, 1952<br />
SECTION
HIGH TO HOUmo T<br />
fl\0<br />
The Skies Are<br />
Bright With<br />
M-G-M Hits!<br />
"BELIEVING IS<br />
ENTHUSING"<br />
"Since the exhibitors making this<br />
trip will be representative of all<br />
exhibitor groups their report to<br />
fellow showmen can have widespread<br />
influence. Let the enthusiasm<br />
flow through to the public and the<br />
pay-off will be substantially evidenced<br />
at the box-office.<br />
—Ediforial in<br />
BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE<br />
ii<br />
LEO SCORES AGAIN<br />
>><br />
'A foreward step to better understanding<br />
between the source of the<br />
product and the purveyors of entertainment<br />
to the theatre going public.<br />
What better means to a spirit of<br />
understanding than to get together<br />
and look at the product which is the<br />
bloodjbone and sinew of the business."<br />
—Editorial in SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW<br />
"SEEING IS<br />
BELIEVING"<br />
"A most dramatic and unprecedented<br />
move. Leo is extremely proud of such<br />
product as 'Scaramouche', 'Ivanhoe',<br />
The Merry Widow', 'Lovely to Look<br />
At', Tat and Mike' as well as other<br />
films. Metro says 'Seeing Is Believing.'<br />
They are going to let the product<br />
speak for itself. The optimism which<br />
will be generated will kindle sparks<br />
of showmanship all over the country.<br />
Already the industry is experiencing<br />
a healthful radiation from this<br />
activity."<br />
—Editorial in<br />
"GOOD BUSINESS<br />
RELATIONS"<br />
THE INDEPENDENT<br />
"It's a new departure in the field of<br />
good business relations that should<br />
pay off. Metro is to be congratulated."<br />
—Editorial in<br />
THE EXHIBITOR<br />
n
TRADE FRBSS Cte^<br />
\\<br />
* tYONO<br />
ft<br />
UtVING m<br />
PAT<br />
^^"*<br />
lAlKt<br />
AND<br />
MANY MORE!<br />
"Carbine Williams" • "Mr. Congrcss-<br />
Man" • "The Girl In >X'hiie" • "The<br />
Stor\ of Three Loves" (Tech.) • "One<br />
Piece Baihing Suit" ('/'«/». ) • "Pl\ mouth<br />
Adventure" {Tech.) • "Prisoner of<br />
Zenda" (Tech.) • "Everything I Have<br />
Is Yours" (Tech.) • "Tribute To A<br />
Bad Man" • "The Devil Makes Three"<br />
"Fearless Fagan" • and others.<br />
"WILL PAY RICH<br />
DIVIDENDS"<br />
"Metro which has a way of establishing<br />
industry precedent naturally<br />
would be the company to conceive<br />
such a merchandising plan as<br />
'Operation Seeing Is Believing.' The<br />
contribution to industry public relations<br />
could prove to be of the first<br />
magnitude. The return to their home<br />
communities of the theatre owners<br />
highly enthusiastic over what they<br />
have seen can and will pay rich<br />
dividends. A doff and extra flourish<br />
of our chapeau to Leo the Leader."<br />
—Phil M. Daly in<br />
FILM DAILY<br />
"M-G-M's SMART MOVE"<br />
"M-G-M is<br />
making a smart move m<br />
corralling important exhibitors and<br />
bringing them to Hollywood. With<br />
a<br />
a good layout of product, as M-G-M<br />
certainly has, any company would<br />
have little difficulty placing it in<br />
important theatres. Bringing the<br />
theatre men to Hollywood is certain<br />
to create enthusiasm that could not<br />
be worked up better and quicker.<br />
This new showmanship by M-G-M<br />
will pay off big."<br />
—Editorial in<br />
ANOTHER METRO<br />
MASTER STROKE"<br />
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER<br />
"A master stroke of good will and<br />
salesmanship. M-G-M's 'Seeing is<br />
Believing' Tour will enable exhibitor<br />
leaders to bring back a well grounded<br />
report to the thousands of theatre<br />
men they represent. There is plenty<br />
of evidence out Culver City way that<br />
M-G-M has much to offer its theatre<br />
customers. -Ediforial in FILM BULLETIN I
^<br />
A stolen fortune<br />
salvaged from the<br />
seas _ a periled<br />
pursuit through<br />
hidden catacombs<br />
f i|^ forbidden treasure,<br />
THE<br />
forbidden lips,<br />
and the lashing<br />
fury of the ship<br />
called Mara Maru!<br />
TEMPTMIOH<br />
. . In South Seas<br />
Shadows'<br />
THE TREASURE \<br />
^^
RUTH<br />
I PICERNI RICHARO WEBB • • OAN SEYMOUR GEORGE RENAVENT • •<br />
ROBERT CABAL<br />
ilCHARD NASH<br />
MUSiC BY<br />
MAX STEINER PRODUCED BY DAVID WEISBART DIRECTED BY GORDON DOUGLAS Wi Ml<br />
|lit?i<br />
^m^^.M
VUSrRALlAK STORY<br />
DIVISION AAANAGERS<br />
TESTIMONIAL<br />
MAY llth-17th<br />
OBCORATIOf/ PAf;<br />
T V trailers available on KANGAROO!<br />
FREE thru 20th Century-Fox<br />
Exploitation<br />
Department<br />
There's No Business Like diol Century-Fox Business!
i<br />
Wishington<br />
I<br />
,<br />
BEN<br />
i<br />
lAMES<br />
I<br />
I<br />
Publistied<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
'<br />
I<br />
, Telephone<br />
'<br />
S5<br />
;<br />
National<br />
I<br />
I<br />
Rlrmlngham<br />
I<br />
I nallas:6]2H<br />
\<br />
Memphis:<br />
'<br />
Okla.<br />
,<br />
Ne»<br />
I<br />
,<br />
Seattle:<br />
;<br />
I<br />
e o^t/ie ^/loiion 7^f'ctf4Jl^£^ //idiUt^<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published in Nine Sectional Editions<br />
SHLYEN<br />
(<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
M. lERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN., ..Executive Editor<br />
lESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
I I. THATCHER. ..Equipment Editor<br />
lOHN G. TINSLEY.Advertising Mgr.<br />
Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Publication Ollices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd ,<br />
Kin^as City I. Mo. Nathan Cohen. Execntlte<br />
Fxlllor: .le.ssc Shlyen. Mannglnj Editor;<br />
Morris Schlozman, Business Manager.<br />
1. h. Thatcher, Editor The Modern Theatre<br />
Section; Herbert Roiish, Sales Manager.<br />
Telephone Cllestnnt 7777.<br />
Editorial Offices: Rnckefeller Plaza, Ne»<br />
York 20. N. Y. John 0. TInsley. Advertls-<br />
Ing Msnacer; James M. Jerauld. Editor;<br />
Chester Friedman. Editor Showmandiser<br />
Section; I.oii II. Gerard. Editor Promotion<br />
Section: A. J. Stncker. Equipment Adver-<br />
Using. Telephone Cdlurabus 5-6370.<br />
Central Offices: Editorial—624 8. Michigan<br />
Ave., Chicago 6, Til. Jonas Perlberg.<br />
WEbster 9-4746. Advertising<br />
East Wacker Ilrlve, Chicago 1, III.<br />
Ewing Hutchison and E. E. Yeck, Telephone<br />
ANdover 3-3042.<br />
Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising—B404<br />
Ilollyivood Blvd., Hollywood<br />
1 28. Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Teleplione<br />
OLadstone 1186. Equipment and<br />
Non-Film Advertising—672 S. UFayetle<br />
Park Place. r,os Angeles. Calif. Bob Wettiteln.<br />
manager. Telephone DUnkIrk 8-2280.<br />
Offices: AI Roldsmlth, 1365<br />
Press Bldg. Phone Metropolitan<br />
0001. Sara Young. 415 Third St.. N.W.<br />
;<br />
IJNidon Offices: Sunnybrook Farm. Cole-<br />
's Hatch. Sussex. Telephone Cole-<br />
8 Hatch 95. John Sullivan, manager.<br />
II<br />
Hie M»»1)RRN THEATRE Section Is Indiided<br />
in the first Issue of each month<br />
|i Tlie PROMOTION Section Is Included In<br />
the third Issue of each month.<br />
Albany: 21-23 Walter Ave., J. 8. Conners.<br />
; The News, Eddie Badger.<br />
I Boston; Frances W. Harding, Mb. 2-9305.<br />
(Jiarlolte: Emory WIster. Charlolte News.<br />
I<br />
Cincinnati: 4029 Reading, Lillian Lazarus.<br />
• Cleveland: Elsie l.oeh. Falrmount 1-0046.<br />
E. Jefferson. Frank Bradley.<br />
|| renter: 1645 Ufayette, Jack Rose.<br />
,<br />
Dei Moines: Register-Tribune. Russ Schoch.<br />
;i<br />
Detroit: Fox Theatre Bldg.. U. F. Reves.<br />
I Indianapolis: Rome S. Box 770. Howard<br />
M. Rudeani. flA 3339.<br />
707 Spring St.. Null Adams.<br />
I Minneapolis: 2123 Fremont. So.. Les Rees.<br />
Haven: 42 Church, Oertrudo Lander.<br />
New Orleans: Frances Jordan, N.O. States.<br />
City: 1740 NW. 17Ih, Polly Trindle.<br />
Omaha: 911 61st St.. Irving Baker.<br />
Philadelphia: 6363 Berks. Norman Shigon.<br />
Pllttburgh: R. F. Kllngensmlth, 516 Jean-<br />
I nelte. Wllklnshiirg, Churchill 1-2809.<br />
I Portland. Ore.: Arnold Marks. Oregon<br />
Journal.<br />
St. Louis: 5149 Rosa. Havld Barrett,<br />
Salt Lake City: Peaeret News. II. Pearson.<br />
1<br />
San Antonio: 326 San Pedro. B-39280.<br />
I<br />
L. J. B ICetner.<br />
!<br />
I»n Francisco fJall LIpman. 25 Taylor St..<br />
I Ordway 3-4812. Advertising: Jerry No-<br />
' well. Howard Bldg.. 209 Post St.,<br />
I Yllkon 6-2522.<br />
1303 Campus Pkwy. Dave Ballard<br />
In<br />
Canada<br />
fslgary: Tlie Herald, Myron Laka.<br />
Montreal: 4330 Wilson, Roy Carmlchacl<br />
St. John: 116 Prince Edward. W. McNulty,<br />
Toronto: R.R. 1. York Mills. M. Oalbrallb,<br />
Vancouver: Lyric Theatre Bide. Jack Droy.<br />
Winnipeg: 282 Ruperts, Ben Sommers,<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
Jntered as Second Class matler at Po.st<br />
•flee, Kansas City, Mo. Sectional Edition.<br />
WOO per year; National Edition, J7.60.<br />
(MAY<br />
I<br />
Vol. 61<br />
3, 19 5 2<br />
No. 1<br />
MEETING OF THE MINDS<br />
7 •^^ HE meeting of the minds, for which every<br />
constructive factor in the industry has long<br />
prayed, came to fruition in the dcliixMalions hist<br />
week on the establishment of an arbitration system.<br />
From the outset, the keynote of unity<br />
sounded by Eric Johnston pervaded the sessions<br />
and there was quick agreement on initial<br />
of importance looking toward a final<br />
a workable plan.<br />
jininls<br />
accord on<br />
The smoothness with which the early discussions<br />
were conducted, the understanding and<br />
desire for harmony indicated in the attitude of<br />
every participant in these sessions, serve well the<br />
belief that the industry's various elements can<br />
get together and work together for the common<br />
good—even on matters over which there is strong<br />
contention.<br />
Once the machinery of the arbitration plan gets<br />
into motion, a long step forward will<br />
have been<br />
taken to eliininate the roadblocks in this industry's<br />
path of progress. That will be a slow<br />
process, to be sure, and it will require patience<br />
and tolerance that may at times be trying, but<br />
worth enduring for the sake of eliminating intraindustry<br />
conflicts which have but led to costly<br />
litigation.<br />
Lip to this writing the more difficult probleins,<br />
such as making film rentals an arbitrable subject,<br />
had not come up. This may prove a difficult<br />
hurdle, but it should not be permitted to scrap<br />
the good results initially achieved. It is not<br />
necessary to reiterate the realization on the j)art<br />
of the industry's leaders engaged in these conferences—and<br />
of those in the field—that some<br />
solution must be found to put the industry's<br />
house in order, making it livable for distributor<br />
and exhibitor—and competitors among the latter.<br />
This need, apparent for at least 20 years, has<br />
become more and more urgent with each passing<br />
year. It will become more aggravated and force<br />
the industry to the brink of ruin, if this need is<br />
not soon answered.<br />
While there was enthusiasm and ciuduragement<br />
over the arbitration conferences currently<br />
held, a word of caution is in order.<br />
There should<br />
be no long delay in carrying the deliberations to<br />
completion and then in obtaining quick ratification<br />
and final<br />
Dcparlment of Justice approval.<br />
One more thing: It is to be hoped that there<br />
will not be a repetition of the experience<br />
with COMPO. It started out similarly, in<br />
Chicago, with accord surprisingly and quickly<br />
reached, but which became bogged down after<br />
delegates to this meeting returned to their head-<br />
(|uarlers and the spirit of cooperation gave way<br />
to selfish thinking. The delay in implementing<br />
COMPO was costly to the industry—and to the<br />
individuals who let personal viewpoints stand<br />
in its way. \<br />
It wt)uld be well to remember that perfection<br />
will not be the instant result of this or any other<br />
movement designed to integrate the industry's<br />
forces. Arbitration will not be the solver of all<br />
problems, nor will it serve to satisfy all who find<br />
need to make use of its facility. However, even<br />
those who may lose a decision through arbitration<br />
mav gain in the long run from benefits of<br />
indirect accrual. This may sound I topian, but<br />
that's the way we see it. For only good can come<br />
from the industry's ability to settle its trade differences<br />
amicably and quickly, without resort to<br />
courts of law. To top this off. there is the big<br />
plus that would come from all<br />
factors being able<br />
to get back to the business of making and marketing<br />
pictures and doing the necessary job of<br />
selling them to<br />
the public.<br />
Those 'Double A' Duals<br />
Harry M. Vi arncr s|)otlighted a practice that<br />
isn't doing this business any good, when he told<br />
the Warner sales staff meeting at Pittsburgh<br />
that salesmen should "educate" exhibitors not<br />
to i)Ut two big pictures on one hill. .As he said,<br />
these bills "dry up the earning force of both pictures<br />
without regard for studio cost or the<br />
thinning out of pictures available to this current<br />
market."<br />
When big pictures are played there should be<br />
enough cxi)loitatioii effort to get the best possible<br />
grosses out of them.<br />
When two big pictures are<br />
played at once an effective campaign is impossible.<br />
The public gets the idea that there is<br />
something the matter with the attractions.<br />
Some exhibitors think these super bills take<br />
business away from the competition.<br />
If they have<br />
to play two weak pictures the following week,<br />
grosses suffer.<br />
\JL>^^ /dML/i^'y*-^
m<br />
ARBITRATION PLANS READY<br />
FOR REGIONALS LATE IN MAY<br />
After Approval They Go<br />
To Justice Department<br />
For an Official OK<br />
NEW YORK—All indications point to<br />
completion of an arbitration plan during<br />
the week starting May 26. After that It<br />
will be necessary to refer the plan to regional<br />
exhibitor units for approval and to<br />
send it to the E>epartment of Justice.<br />
Justice department approval is necessary<br />
because the plan will involve amendments<br />
to the antitrust decrees.<br />
Some of the conferees who attended the<br />
four days of conferences—April 22-25—at the<br />
Hotel Astor expressed the opinion that the<br />
new arbitration system could be put into operation<br />
with the opening of the new selling<br />
season in the fall.<br />
BASIS FOR OPTIMISM<br />
This optimism was based on the remarkable<br />
progress made during four days.<br />
In that period it was agreed that the system<br />
would be administered by a national<br />
committee to consist of 12 members, three<br />
each from Allied. TOA, distribution and one<br />
each from ITOA. MMPTA and WTO, with<br />
seven members constituting a quorum. Details<br />
of the committee's work would be handled<br />
by an executive secretary and whatever<br />
staff he may consider necessary, with the<br />
understanding that expenses will be held<br />
down.<br />
Adoption of this plan disposed of the suggestion<br />
from some quarters that an outstanding<br />
figure be hired to administer the<br />
system.<br />
The national committee, which probably<br />
will have New York headquarters, will send<br />
out forms and regulations for guidance of<br />
local arbitration committees in exchange<br />
areas, so that procedures will be uniform.<br />
How many local committees will be set up<br />
remains to be decided. It is not expected<br />
that there will be committees in every exchange<br />
area. While the Goddard consent decree<br />
arbitration system operated, some offices<br />
had nothing to do. Distributors and exhibitors<br />
will be equally represented on each local<br />
committee.<br />
LEGAL COSTS A MINIMUM<br />
Expensive legal technicalities will be kept<br />
out if possible. If an exhibitor does not have<br />
counsel, distributors will not be entitled to<br />
counsel. If an exhibitor appears with counsel,<br />
one lawyer will be named for all the distributors<br />
included in the complaint.<br />
There will be no appeal board.<br />
Specific plans for operation will be drafted<br />
by a committee which includes Herman Levy.<br />
chairman; Nathan Yamins, Allied; L. S.<br />
Hamm. WTO; Mitchell Klupt, MMPTA; Milton<br />
C. Weisman. ITOA, and Robert W.<br />
Perkins, distributors. It is expected that this<br />
report will be ready May 26.<br />
Another committee, which will report at<br />
the same time, will draft rules and regulations.<br />
This group includes Abram F. Myers,<br />
Allied; Mitchell Klupt, MMPTA; Milton C.<br />
Weisman, ITOA; L. S. Hamm, WTO; Austin<br />
GRANT POWER TO<br />
AWARD DAMAGES<br />
Bidding Disputes Placed<br />
On Arbitration Lineup<br />
NEW YORK—On the final day of the industry arbitration conference<br />
Friday (25), the delegates agreed on the following importont provisions in<br />
the proposed plan:<br />
1. An agreement by the distributors to arbitrate any claim brought<br />
against them for discrimination in the award of any picture under competitive<br />
bidding.<br />
2. Agreement by the distributors to arbitrate any claim that an exhibitor<br />
overpaid or overbid in order to deprive another theatre owner of pictures<br />
under competitive bidding. The conference recommended that the successful<br />
bidder should be brought in by the complainant in such cases.<br />
3. Agreement by the conference that arbitrators have the power to<br />
award damages. The scope of this power and the rules relating to the granting<br />
of damages were referred to the rules committee, with the recommendation<br />
that the dominant exhibitor be brought in by the complainant in<br />
such cases.<br />
4. Agreement by the conference that unless the exhibitor has counsel<br />
at an arbitration proceeding, that the distributors will not be represented by<br />
counsel. It was further agreed that if the exhibitor has counsel at the proceeding,<br />
then all distributors will designate a single common counsel.<br />
Keough, Robert W. Perkins and Adolph<br />
Schimel, distributors.<br />
Two important topics remain for discussion.<br />
One is how to finance the plan and the other<br />
is whether or not film rentals shall be in-<br />
Plan Is<br />
'Not Ripe Yet'<br />
For O.K., Says Meyers<br />
WASHINGTON—Last week's all-industry<br />
arbitration meeting which, according<br />
to Allied Board Chairman Abram F.<br />
Myers, settled nothing except that "the<br />
distributors would not agree to the allinclusive"<br />
Allied proposal, will be the<br />
main topic of discussion at the Allied<br />
board meeting opening today (3) in Colorado<br />
Springs.<br />
Announcing the agenda Thursday (1),<br />
Myers said that since nothing concrete<br />
was concluded, "the plan is not ripe for<br />
any approving action by the board and,<br />
in view of the fact that the negotiations<br />
are scheduled to be resumed on May 26,<br />
it is not expected that Allied will withdraw<br />
at this time."<br />
Myers pointed out that, although some<br />
"informal agreements" regarding runs,<br />
clearances, contract violations and other<br />
controversies as regards their inclusion<br />
as subjects for arbitration had been<br />
reached at the meeting, "no attention was<br />
given to the conditions and limitations<br />
governing such arbitrations or the scope<br />
of the awards to be entered."<br />
eluded among arbitrable subjects.<br />
Estimates on how much the plan will cost<br />
are vague. Some run as high as $200,000. The<br />
old consent decree system cost up to $300,000<br />
per year, and as it approached its end in<br />
1947 it was operated on a month-to-month<br />
basis with appropriations running at the rate<br />
of $25,000 per month, with only Paramount,<br />
MGM. Warner Bros, and 20th Century-Fox<br />
contributing. Columbia, United Artists and<br />
Universal withdrew when the Goddard consent<br />
decree lapsed in 1942.<br />
There was a steady decline in cases under<br />
that system. In 1941 there were 148; in 1942<br />
—116; 1943—83; 1944—45; 1945—32; 1946—49.<br />
One of the reasons for this was the expense<br />
of carrying on cases with counsel for both<br />
sides and with appeals. The salaries of the<br />
appeals board members totaled $40,000 per<br />
year, and maintenance of regional offices was<br />
expensive.<br />
For the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1943,<br />
four offices had no complaints — Charlotte,<br />
Denver, Kansas City and Seattle.<br />
A greater variety of arbitrable subjects will<br />
make the new system different from the old.<br />
It has already been agreed that claims of<br />
discrimination can be arbitrated and damages<br />
awarded; that over-payments and overbidding<br />
to deprive another exhibitor of pictures<br />
can come up. Details on these plans<br />
will be worked out in committee.<br />
There is some sentiment among distributors<br />
for sharing expenses between distributors<br />
and exhibitors. Income from filing fees<br />
and other expenses will be only a minor item<br />
for the regional boards.<br />
8 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
JOHNSTON SEES INDUSTRY DUE<br />
FOR NEW SUCCESSES IN 1952<br />
Need Is for Better Films,<br />
Streamlined Distribution<br />
And More Showmanship<br />
NEW YORK—The motion picture industry<br />
can move forward to new successes<br />
from its accomplishments of, 1951. Eric<br />
Johnston, president of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America, told the annual meeting<br />
P:-iday »2). He said progress will be fashioned<br />
from experience, a realistic appraisal<br />
of problems and a clear definition of needs.<br />
Johnston outlined a program around<br />
which progress should revolve.<br />
FILM QUALITY IMPROVED<br />
efforts<br />
'Continued improvement in the quality, diversity<br />
and appeal of motion picture entertainment<br />
is of prime importance," he said.<br />
"All reports from the studios herald another<br />
great year of outstanding motion pictures tc<br />
follow the successes of 1951. Showmanship<br />
methods and more intensified promotional<br />
to support the pictures should be further<br />
improved, both at the national and local<br />
levels. Techniques powerful enough to penetrate<br />
the growing ranks of selective moviegoers<br />
must be devised to build boxoffice response<br />
to films which now offer such a variety<br />
in treatment and theme.<br />
"The traditional machinery of the industry<br />
for distribution of film in this country should<br />
be streamlined. Changing patterns of demand,<br />
traiisportation and population have<br />
dislocated the accustomed patterns. For the<br />
sake of economy and of better service, there<br />
are many possibilities which an industry that<br />
is determined to be modern and up-to-date<br />
must explore for itself. The goal of this effort<br />
is to get films to the theatres in the best<br />
and cheapest way possible.<br />
"The international market is of great importance<br />
to the industry and to the nation.<br />
There are few American industries whose<br />
portion of income from exports is so great.<br />
No other industry makes a greater contribution<br />
to the promotion of the democratic way<br />
of life throughout the world. For these reasons,<br />
maximum efforts must continually be<br />
made to keep foreign markets open to American<br />
films on a fair and equitable basis.<br />
AHEAD ON TECHNICAL LINE<br />
"The invention and development of new<br />
technical methods can open new doors of opportunity<br />
for the industry. Further efforts<br />
in the field of technical reseaixh, in the<br />
utilization of new media such as frequency<br />
space for theatre TV, and in developments<br />
in the use of sight and sound are urgent. Perhaps<br />
greater progress can be made by promoting<br />
many technical developments on an industry-wide<br />
basis.<br />
"The removal of barriers to the industry's<br />
welfare is essential. There have been increasing<br />
impediments to the industry's progress<br />
from taxes, antitrust litigation and censorship.<br />
The industry is carrying a burden of<br />
direct taxes on theatre admissions which Is<br />
unfair and discriminatory. We are prepared<br />
to carry our share of the tax burden and<br />
more, but admissions taxes which strike heavily<br />
at the boxoffice as the present ones are<br />
Johnston<br />
Eric<br />
Johnston<br />
Re-Elected<br />
To MPAA Post<br />
NEW yoRK— Eric Johnston wa.s reelected<br />
president of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America<br />
at its annual meeting<br />
Friday (2i.<br />
Other incumbent<br />
officers were reelected.<br />
Slate for 1952:<br />
Eric<br />
President,<br />
Johnston ; v i c e -<br />
president and director<br />
of the Production<br />
Code Administration,<br />
Joseph<br />
I. Breen;<br />
vice-president in<br />
charge of international affairs, John G.<br />
McCarthy; vice-president, Joyce O'Hara:<br />
secretary, Sidney Schreiber; assistant<br />
secretary, William H. Roberts; treasurer,<br />
F. W. DuVall: assistant treasurer, Stanley<br />
R. Weber; assistant treasurer-assistant<br />
secretary, James H. Howie.<br />
All directors were re-elected, as follows:<br />
Johnston, Bai'ney Balaban, Theodore R.<br />
Black, Nate J. Blumberg, Steve Broidy,<br />
Jack Cohn, Cecil B. DeMille, Ned E. Depinet,<br />
Earle W. Hammons, Joseph H.<br />
Hazen, Norton V. Ritchey, Hal E. Roach,<br />
Nicholas M. Schenck, Spyros P. Skouras,<br />
Albert Warner, Austin Keough, W. C.<br />
Michel, John J. O'Connor, Herman Robbins,<br />
Abe Schneider, Sam Schneider, C. B.<br />
Stratton, Paul H. Terry, Joseph R. Vogel,<br />
William H. Clark, Herbert J. Yates.<br />
without justification. Relief must be sought<br />
by bringing the economic facts to the attention<br />
of the lawmakers.<br />
"One of the projects the entire industry is<br />
looking forward to is the completion of a<br />
workable arbitration system. Among other<br />
things, such a system may materially reduce<br />
the financial drain on the industry of antitrust<br />
litigation.<br />
"I am hopeful the months ahead will bring<br />
a clear-cut test in the Supreme Court of the<br />
United States of the constitutionality of motion<br />
picture censorship. A free screen should<br />
be as much a sacred right as free .speech and<br />
a free press."<br />
Johnston called 1952 "a year of growing<br />
confidence." He said U.S. films have reached<br />
out to 72 per cent of the world's screen time<br />
in 95,000 theatres and have been seen and<br />
loved by a world audience averaging more<br />
than 230,000,000 people, with 150 different<br />
languages and dialects. The American people<br />
alone paid more than $1,300,000,000 to see<br />
films in 1951, and "thus the industry received<br />
at the boxoffice several times more income<br />
than all other paid admission industries put<br />
together."<br />
"It is impossible," he said, "to think about<br />
the Industry and Its achievements without<br />
great pride— pride in the people of the Industry<br />
and pride In the nation whose way of<br />
life made such things possible."<br />
NATIONAL INCOME IS UP<br />
Di.scussing the topic of films In an expanding<br />
economy, Johnston said that gros.s national<br />
product in 1951 ro.se to the record peak<br />
of $328,000,000,000, an increase of 55 per cent<br />
over 1946, that national income rose to a<br />
new record of $276,000,000,000, or 53 per cent<br />
higher than the 1946 level, and that personal<br />
consumption expenditures of $206,000,000,000<br />
were 40 per cent higher than in 1946.<br />
"While the economy was expanding," he<br />
said, "the nation's population was increasing<br />
and changing in pattern. We now have more<br />
people, more families, more young married<br />
persons, a record number of children and,<br />
significantly, fewer young single adults and<br />
more older per.sons. All this added up, obviously,<br />
to better boxoffice prospects for motion<br />
pictures. There was more money and<br />
there were more people to spend it. But what<br />
occurred? In the post-war years the industry<br />
failed to keep pace with its potential markets."<br />
Johnston said the boxoffice began in 1947<br />
a relatively steady downward trend because<br />
of economic conditions, population shifts, a<br />
lack of new theatre construction, the expansion<br />
of other recreational facilities and problems<br />
within the industry, including a marked<br />
change in marketing procedures brought<br />
about by antitrust decisions, foreign restrictions<br />
and the rapid increase in production<br />
costs. He saw the long and gradual recession<br />
halted in April 1951, followed by a perceptible<br />
upward trend in June that continued through<br />
the early weeks of November.<br />
LONG LIST OF TOP FILMS<br />
"The greatest single reason for this boxoffice<br />
boost," he said, "was the .successful effort<br />
of the studios to Improve their product.<br />
Hollywood showed once again that it had a<br />
positive answer to difficulties—high quality<br />
entertainment. Not in recent years has there<br />
been so long a list of great pictures, outstanding<br />
in their entertainment and dramatic<br />
values."<br />
Other reasons for the upswing were given<br />
by Johnston. He named increasing cooperation<br />
among all branches of the industry, the<br />
success of Movietime U.S.A. and more revenue<br />
from abroad, resulting in substantial Increases<br />
over the previous year. Revenue gains In<br />
local currencies offset the 30 per cent devaluation<br />
in a number of overseas countries and<br />
dollar remittances were topped only in 1946.<br />
he -said. He mentioned the new Anglo-<br />
American pact establishment of unrestricted<br />
Importation into Germany, new Italian and<br />
Spanish agreements, implementation of the<br />
1950 agreement with Argentina and increased<br />
remittances from Australia, South Africa,<br />
Finland and Holland, among many others.<br />
He said the upward trend continued during<br />
the year but that now there are "warning<br />
signs" in many markets abroad.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
m<br />
H<br />
I<br />
^uUc ScaU<br />
B. Bernard Kre: :3S<br />
National Screen Named<br />
In D of J Antitrust Suit<br />
U^ Ticket Tc<br />
Show'"<br />
»'<br />
MGM<br />
.» T 1. .*<br />
:3S<br />
iguages<br />
rets<br />
achto<br />
cm: X<br />
tSae<br />
- --..^^— .<br />
in-<br />
:5 so<br />
TSAIIX>B COVTSOL<br />
said tlias jaacticallf all<br />
i<br />
zental. and Inev^<br />
vomM''.<br />
I'sonal<br />
of the<br />
that ^<br />
Robbins Calls Suit<br />
Regrettable Action<br />
XEW vr>RK- esermzi.n Rohhms. presldesc<br />
of JgitMWI Soecn Serrice. eoHkmented<br />
'IliiasdT «.l* on the «BUWBt SBtt<br />
EOed against NSS tqr tlie Depaitnent of<br />
Jastxe. calBne " it wgreWalile ttwt. at m<br />
wlirai Idle iudustif is sorely beset Iqr<br />
Uus sidt, wliicli can<br />
ttie pndbEc nor tlKatie<br />
owjueUs ^**""ti* tBave beoa laiiiM laaL*<br />
P****^ said tOiBt an in tte iuJinAq<br />
viD lecogniK bov inconeclt was tlie gorw<br />
iMiwn*<br />
,<br />
s
DP CITATION WON BY DAYTON TENT<br />
/ARIETY MEETS: CHARITY GIFTS<br />
IN<br />
1951-52 REACH $2A87,000<br />
L.4TX BIXLTTEV<br />
UkS VEGAS—Jack Bcnaa af Flnbdelpiiia<br />
was dected intef ifiaail cUef<br />
backer at the iliiii. irnirim •# the Varietr<br />
Ctabs L«iin !•. Mgrif City was<br />
selected the 1993 waee^mg placci Othcn<br />
i>lected were: GcOTse n—rer . first assistant<br />
chief bartcer; J*lui Kavfej, see-<br />
DDd assistant; MnrraT Weiss, pi op «!t 1<br />
master: George Eby. doasfa rny; Jack<br />
rhisbefan. press ^Ji Mare WeU. life<br />
lonorary main zuj: CoL WiDiaas McCrav.<br />
LAS VBGAS—^In i" i:<br />
d west. Variety C. -<br />
I 16Ui animal con'<br />
Itras a week of t -<br />
diierpnifnts of :j: .<br />
fr, behind the semn;<br />
te say luuud ~ •?:' '<br />
; ^<br />
«e hmnanitar: .<br />
nich estaUisiiT- ..t<br />
civendon.<br />
rhe caiaiity C - ;<br />
;ar \a tbe ten:<br />
ipressne diar-.r ;<br />
oDayton, CMiic. T:--<br />
ji^ed<br />
Ok<br />
'A'-- gave top re ; ; - -<br />
and<br />
r Z^c Oi \£Jz<br />
-: Marc Walt. I>cL<br />
Nerada: Charies E. L;<br />
Q DaytoD iiar>t:<br />
aiiny.<br />
DNOB HELEN KELLER<br />
r4S<br />
tJE<br />
Its<br />
eti<br />
dam. MIL :<br />
Wbenttf<br />
projeets. tz<br />
TamuDg rf<br />
.^:^ to i^f<br />
cirsi:;<br />
gen "<br />
nt€c<br />
hlTLS<br />
Tw:<br />
wid ?-<br />
to. a;<br />
lea.-;<br />
bope in<br />
Us jSj^icr: :<br />
jmar. Socn<br />
Lett of C.<br />
adojiGed. In<br />
iui:;<br />
Jies<br />
at an tent;<br />
jecs alutL<br />
SE-r<br />
ei<br />
: C;<br />
Bep:<br />
'I<br />
iTivrr OF coN~sT:>noN colok<br />
he XeTaca barfers o.: r.Tr.:T :: ;-<br />
.-jes S- ijc-s^jht:<br />
Geocsf<br />
3. 19S3 II
li<br />
J^r/MOMIAU<br />
^^^^H<br />
/kPft/L<br />
RELEASE<br />
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART<br />
The year's musical triumph. The fabulous story of Janl<br />
Froman is playing the same sweet boxoffice song frod<br />
Coast to Coast. Starring Susan Hayward, Rory Calhoun] 5<br />
In Color by TechnicoloJ<br />
David Wayne, Thelma Ritter.<br />
with 26 great songs as only Jane Froman can sing them<br />
APRIL RELEASE<br />
THE PRIDE OF ST. LOUIS<br />
(The Story of Dizzy Dean)<br />
Solid hit everywhere!<br />
The behind-the-headlines story dl<br />
one of the most colorful sports personalities of all time i<br />
big league entertainment, perfectly timed for the basebal<br />
season. With Dan Dailey as the Great Diz, and Joanne Dn<br />
as the girl who caught his Sunday pitch.<br />
MAY RELEASE<br />
BELLES ON THEIR TOES<br />
The "Cheaper By The Dozen" Family is back in a gran,<br />
new, brand new Technicolor picture that's perfect enteij<br />
tainment for the entire family. Starring Jeanne Craiti<br />
Myrna Loy, Debra Paget, Jeffrey Hunter, Edward Arnol<br />
—and all those adorable kids.<br />
MAY RELEASE<br />
THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT<br />
Bret Harte's most celebrated story on the screen at last il<br />
all its lusty, brawling glory. With an impressive ca!|<br />
headed by Anne Baxter and Dale Robertson, with Miria-"<br />
Hopkins, Cameron Mitchell and a fine supporting ca<br />
!Sit^(D^G3Q<br />
xi^^'
j<br />
ste&aca^<br />
MAY REtEASE<br />
DEADLINE-U.S.A.<br />
Academy Award winners Humphrey Bogart and Kim<br />
liunter together in the year's timeliest story about a fightng<br />
editor who defied Mob Rule and Racket Kings—and<br />
low men who 'tell' are marked! Also starring Ethel<br />
Jarrymore.<br />
JUNE RELEASE<br />
KANGAROO! (The Australian Slory)<br />
,)ate this one for Decoration Day! Actually filmed on the<br />
.abulous continent that time forgot. Roaring adventure<br />
,nd savage romance, starring Peter Lawford and Maureen<br />
)'Hara. Outstanding supporting cast headed by Finlay<br />
Airrie and Richard Boone. In color by Technicolor.<br />
JUNE RELEASE<br />
Kenneth Roberts' lYDIA BAILEY<br />
The powerful, best-selling novel of love and adventure<br />
';Omes to flaming, action-filled life in Color by Technicolor,<br />
i'ilmed in Haiti with a cast of thousands. Dale Robertson<br />
nd Anne Francis head the cast.<br />
JUNE RELEASE<br />
LADY IN THE IRON MASK<br />
ill new, rousing adventures of the Three Musketeers, an<br />
daptation from Alexandre Dumas' exciting masterpiece,<br />
tarring Louis Hayward and Patricia Medina. Color in<br />
Natural Color. A Wanger-Frenke Production, released<br />
hrough 20th Century-Fox.<br />
JULY RELEASE<br />
WAIT 'TIL THE SUN SHINES, NELLIE<br />
)ate it now for your happiest 4th of July celebration.<br />
)irected by Henry King, who gave you such toppers as<br />
David and Bathsheba," "I'd Climb the Highest Mounlin"<br />
and "12 O'Clock High." The romance, the music,<br />
le heartbeat of a nation growing up, in Color by Techni-<br />
>lor. Starring David Wayne, Jean Peters and Hugh<br />
larlowe.<br />
JULY RELEASE<br />
DIPLOMATIC COURIER<br />
Rendezvous in Paris . . . Adventure in Salzburg . . . Danger<br />
in Trieste! With Tyrone Power as the man who carried<br />
a secret that could blow up half the earth. Co-starring<br />
Patricia Neal and Stephen McNally, with Hildegarde Neff<br />
and a fine supporting cast.<br />
JUiy RELEASE<br />
WE'RE NOT MARRIED<br />
The comedy sensation of 1952 about a group of couples<br />
who wake up to discover they aren't really married after<br />
all. Hilariously unusual, with a terrific cast headed by<br />
Ginger Rogers, Fred Allen, Victor Moore, Marilyn<br />
Monroe, David Wayne, Eve Arden, Paul Douglas, Eddie<br />
Bracken, Mitzi Gaynor, Walter Brennan, Zsa Zsa Gabor<br />
and Louis Calhern.<br />
AUGUST RELEASE<br />
DREAM BOAT<br />
Starring Clifton Webb as a dignified college professor<br />
whose past as a silent movie idol comes to light via television<br />
. . . and Ginger Rogers as his former leading lady<br />
who still calls him Dream Boat. The laugh-leader of the<br />
year, co-starring Anne Francis and Jeffrey Hunter.<br />
AUGUST RELEASE<br />
LES MISERABLES<br />
Victor Hugo's immortal story of the most relentless manhunt<br />
in history. Starring Michael Rennie, Debra Paget,<br />
Robert Newton, with Sylvia Sidney, Cameron Mitchell,<br />
Edmund Gwenn, Elsa Lanchester and an outstanding cast.<br />
AUGUST RELEASE<br />
WHAT PRICE GLORY<br />
The classic play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings,<br />
now set to music. Starring James Cagney as Captain<br />
Flagg, Dan Dailey as Sergeant Quirt and Corinne Calvet<br />
as Charmaine, the mademoiselle they wooed and warred<br />
over. In Color by Technicolor, Directed by John Ford.<br />
msi^
Court Upholds Principle<br />
Of Clearance Systems<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—The principle of<br />
clearance in the distribution of motion<br />
pictures was upheld by the United States<br />
circuit court of appeals here this week.<br />
In an opinion of vast importance to the<br />
motion picture business, the court declared:<br />
"An exhibitor does not have the right to<br />
compel a motion picture producer to give him<br />
a preferred run—this because as a very practical<br />
matter the motion picture industry could<br />
not operate under a system of simultaneous<br />
releases. The obvious fact underlies the doctrine<br />
that cleai'ances and runs are not illegal<br />
per se."<br />
UPHOLDS LOWtR COURT<br />
The circuit court thus upheld a decision<br />
of Judge Ben Harrison of federal district<br />
court in Los Angeles denying the claims of<br />
Steve Shorak. Puente. Calif., against ten<br />
distributors and two exhibitors for $436,187.43<br />
in damages and $40,000 in attorney's fees.<br />
Chorak filed suit because he was forced to<br />
play 14 days behind showcases in El Monte,<br />
Calif., and other theatres in the San Gabriel<br />
valley.<br />
The suit most likely will go to the Supreme<br />
Court as, at the moment, there are conflicting<br />
opinions by both federal district courts and<br />
circuit courts of appeals on the right of<br />
exhibitors to demand certain runs. The circuit<br />
court of appeals in Philadelphia, for<br />
example, has ruled that drive-ins can demand<br />
first runs and that opinion stands because<br />
the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review<br />
the case.<br />
Judge Harrison had ruled that there was no<br />
conspiracy among distributors and that the<br />
clearance and availabilities were reasonable<br />
as far as the Puente Theatre was concerned.<br />
The circuit court pointed out that businessmen<br />
are bound to face certain hazards<br />
in any competitive system.<br />
CLE.\RANCE WAS REASONABLE<br />
If the evidence shows, the opinion held,<br />
that the clearances are reasonable and are<br />
not the result of or consequence of any illegal<br />
concerted action of the distributors, "then<br />
whatever harm may have been visited upon<br />
appellants is not actionable under the antitrust<br />
statues. Such harm is merely one of<br />
the hazards implicit in our competitive system."<br />
As to the question of clearances, the opinion<br />
went on:<br />
"On this important issue the trial judge<br />
found that in light of all conditions and circumstances<br />
bearing on the status of appellants.<br />
Puente Theatre, none of the availabilities<br />
established or the clearances granted to<br />
competitive theatres in the area involved<br />
were or are unreasonable.<br />
"The evidence as a whole convinces us that<br />
the reasonableness of all clearances within<br />
the area here involved was evaluated by the<br />
trial judge only after full consideration of<br />
every pertinent fact and circumstance and<br />
with a scrupulous regard for and adherence<br />
to the rules."<br />
Your help opprecioted—run the Cerebrol Palsy<br />
fia:ier. Avoiloble from May IS to July 1.<br />
Chicago Drive-In Starts<br />
An Outdoor Church<br />
CHICAGO—The 41 Outdoor Theatre, on<br />
the .south side of Chicago, will become<br />
the Peoples Outdoor Church on Sunday<br />
(4) when the first of a series of nonsectarian<br />
services will be held at the<br />
drive-in. Dr. Preston Bradley, one of the<br />
country's outstanding pastors, will .speak<br />
at the inaugural service.<br />
The management of the drive-in theatre<br />
has donated use of the theatre for the<br />
services, which will be held at 4 p. m.<br />
Sundays. Following Dr. Bradley will be<br />
other outstanding pastors. The Peoples<br />
Outdoor Church was established so that<br />
shut-ins and members of all faiths could<br />
gather in the informal atmosphere of an<br />
outdoor theatre and hear the finest theological<br />
speakers in the area.<br />
Dr. Bradley, who was one of the first<br />
ministers to pioneer in the use of radio<br />
for churches and who established a theatre<br />
workshop as part of his church two<br />
decades ago, is enthusiastic about the<br />
possibilities of the outdoor series. There<br />
will be no collection or admission charge.<br />
The project is another step in the effort<br />
to elevate the drive-in theatre as a<br />
public service<br />
institution.<br />
Republic Plans Big<br />
Summer Promotions<br />
NEW YORK—Republic Pictures Corp. has<br />
decided to appropriate $500,000 for national<br />
exploitation and regional premieres of its<br />
summer releases, according to Herbert J.<br />
Yates, president.<br />
The first of the premieres will be "I Dream<br />
of Jeanie" at Pittsburgh in the Fulton theatre<br />
during '"Welcome 'Week," with a program<br />
of civic activities honoring Ray Middleton,<br />
Bill Shirley. Muriel Lawrence and Eileen<br />
Christy.<br />
James R. Grainger, executive vice-president<br />
in charge of sales and distribution, has dated<br />
the same picture for similar openings in the<br />
Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, June 5. and the<br />
Rialto. Louisville, June 6. Forty other openings<br />
will follow. The picture is in Trucolor<br />
process.<br />
The United States Air Force will cooperate<br />
and the stars will attend the opening of the<br />
Greater Pittsburgh Airport May 31. The governor<br />
has declared June 4 "Republic day."<br />
Prizes will be awarded to the best "Showboat<br />
Days" costumes.<br />
To handle the Pittsburgh and other premieres<br />
a showmanship committee consisting<br />
of 'William M. Saal. executive assistant to<br />
Yates; Steve Edwards, director of advertising<br />
and publicity; Mickey Gross, recently named<br />
studio publicity director; Beatrice Ross, expolitation<br />
manager, and Dennis Carlin, advertising<br />
manager, has been appointed.<br />
COMPO Getting O.K.<br />
Of Management Plan<br />
NEW YORK—Nine of the ten chapter<br />
members of the Council of Motion Picture<br />
Organizations have approved the appointment<br />
of a three-man committee to direct<br />
COMPO until a president can be chosen, according<br />
to Arthur L. Mayer, retiring executive<br />
vice-president, who was scheduled to leave<br />
for Europe over the weekend. Word was being<br />
awaited the middle of the week from the<br />
Motion Picture Industry Council. The Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of America was expected<br />
to approve at its annual meeting Friday (2).<br />
Mayer obtained the approval April 25 of<br />
Mitchell Wolfson. president of Theatre Owners<br />
of America; Wilbur Snaper, president,<br />
and Abram F. Myers, board chairman and<br />
general counsel. National Allied; Marvin<br />
Paris, executive director of the Society of<br />
Independent Motion Picture Producers; H.<br />
v. "Rotus" Harvey, president of Western<br />
Owners, and Jack Alicoate, representing the<br />
tradepress.<br />
Since then approval has been obtained<br />
from R. J. O'Donnell, representing 'Variety<br />
Clubs International; Harry Brandt, Independent<br />
Theatre Owners Ass'n; Leo Brecher, Metropolitan<br />
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n, and<br />
Art Arthur, Motion Picture Industry Council.<br />
A wire sent by Mayer to member organizations<br />
suggested that representatives of National<br />
Allied. TOA and MPAA serve, and<br />
urged that they be drafted if necessary.<br />
New RCA Theatre TV Tube<br />
Has An 80-Foot Throw<br />
NEW YORK—The tube department of<br />
the<br />
RCA Victor division has developed a new<br />
seven-inch projection-type kinescope capable<br />
of providing a 20xl5-foot picture with a projection<br />
throw of 80 feet. The older type<br />
tubes have been able to throw only 60 feet.<br />
The new tube is similar in design and appearance<br />
to the earlier RCA projectors now<br />
in theatres. It is designed to provide a clear,<br />
bright picture on a white fluorescent screen<br />
especially developed for theatre projection<br />
service.<br />
It is called RCA-7W14. It is equipped with<br />
electri-static focus and magnetic deflection.<br />
The magnetic deflection is supposed to provide<br />
uniform focus over the entire picture<br />
area.<br />
DeMille Now Negotiating<br />
New Deal With Para.<br />
NEW YORK—Although Cecil B. DeMille<br />
Productions is being dissolved, he is currently<br />
preparing a new picture for Paramount release<br />
and is negotiating a new deal with the<br />
company.<br />
DeMille made a statement as a result of<br />
some published reports. His statement follows:<br />
"The board of directors of Cecil B. De-<br />
Mille Productions, Inc., found that taking into<br />
consideration increased production costs, the<br />
tremendous burden of increased taxation, including<br />
corporate income taxes, excess profits<br />
tax, franchise taxes and various other forms<br />
of taxation, left no opportunity for the retention<br />
of sufficient capital to bring about the<br />
accomplishment for which the company was<br />
originally organized.<br />
14 BOXOFHCE :: May 3, 1952
wing ii'me!<br />
HE'S GOING PLACES IN COLOR BY<br />
'^./.<br />
cmcim
THE PROPHET SOUNDS THE WAR CRY<br />
I<br />
THE SHAWNEE NATION RISES IN REV<br />
>i .^<br />
»/»^<br />
^ I «k<br />
m^^\<br />
1;<br />
.^<br />
/4\<br />
se<br />
/-<br />
it V"<br />
Hi<br />
^<br />
.r<br />
The West's Greatest India"^ War \n color by<br />
A<br />
iV^.i<br />
:>.<br />
f.^<br />
N<br />
Scout<br />
:^-.-^<br />
-V,<br />
,11<br />
_ With Christine Larson • lay Siiveroe,<br />
Chief<br />
Mictiael AnSara • written tor me screen by ROBtRI E. KEN!<br />
cnwWM t^JMHlMMMMMI
NCA HOLDS UNIQUE FORUM<br />
150 Press Executives<br />
At Exhibitor Session<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Approximately 150 newspaper<br />
publishers and editors arrived here at<br />
midweek to attend the opening day forum of<br />
the annual convention of North Central Allied<br />
Thursday and Pi-iday (1, 2i. Ted Mann,<br />
pre. ident of NCA. emphasized to the editors<br />
the advantages of keeping exhibition<br />
"healthy" in face of television competition<br />
and other developments making it rougher<br />
on theati-es.<br />
Out of the forum it was hoped there would<br />
develop a closer relationship between the exhibitor<br />
and newspaper publishers with more<br />
space devoted to theatres and the latter's<br />
attractions. On theii- part, the exhibitors<br />
were prepared to offer to the newspapers the<br />
use of their screens to help push community<br />
and other projects and to draw attention to<br />
special newspaper features.<br />
In addition to<br />
the advertising revenue derived<br />
from theatres and motion pictiu-es.<br />
certain to exceed that which TV may provide,<br />
Mann pointed out how much of an asset theatres<br />
can be to a community in bringing people<br />
into the towns from the surrounding area<br />
and to luring homefolk downtown. On the<br />
other hand, TV, for example, tends to keep<br />
people at home and hurts rather than helps<br />
most merchants, it was to be pointed out.<br />
A "reinvigoration" campaign, of which the<br />
forum is a part, also is to Include "bigger and<br />
better and more showmanship," making theatres<br />
more attractive, bringing more Hollywood<br />
personalities to the territory in person,<br />
institutional advertising to stress that motion<br />
pictures in theatres still are the finest and<br />
lowest cost entertainment available for the<br />
public, and the advantages of film in theatres<br />
over those on TV. Exhibitors were to<br />
be asked to pledge themselves to the utmost<br />
civic-mindedness and participation in their<br />
community affairs.<br />
Attendance at<br />
Fine Films<br />
A Tonic Jack Warner<br />
CHICAGO—Attendance at fine pictures<br />
during the past 12 months has "breathed new<br />
life into the film industry," declared Jack L.<br />
Warner, executive producer for Warner Bros.,<br />
in a message read to the sales conference<br />
which opened at the Blackstone hotel May 1.<br />
It was the third and last of a series of regional<br />
conferences.<br />
"Recent boxoffice records have proved conclusively<br />
that no competitive form of entertainment<br />
can match the motion picture."<br />
Warner asserted. "And we intend to apply<br />
oiu-selves vigorously to a continuing production<br />
program that will set the pace for the<br />
entertainment world.<br />
"We have learned that nothing can be so<br />
fatal as sitting and waiting for the future.<br />
We have learned not to go on the defensive,<br />
but rather we have stretched forward to meet<br />
the future with dynamic new production efforts<br />
and aggressive new showmanship."<br />
HAVE 47<br />
OTHER PROPERTIES<br />
In addition to the films now shooting on<br />
studio stages, the studio has a group of 47<br />
other properties from which the 1952 program<br />
will be completed, Warner informed the sales<br />
forces. This schedule will be modified to<br />
take fullest advantage of the entertainment<br />
situation as it may develop. A flexible pool of<br />
production po.ssibiUties has always been a<br />
studio pohcy, he added, on the theory that<br />
it is the duty of the modern picture-maker<br />
to keep careful guard not only on the literary<br />
market, but on the public's changing tastes.<br />
Warner made indirect reference to television<br />
competition by saying: "Recently the<br />
motion picture industry has done a commendable<br />
job of taking people out of their houses<br />
and into the theatres. We are determined to<br />
go on showing every moviegoer that he can<br />
always get his money's worth at the motion<br />
picture theatre."<br />
The forthcoming .schedule, he said, covers<br />
a variety of entertainment from musical comedy<br />
to adventure drama, and a "considerable<br />
portion win be filmed either in the new<br />
WarnerColor or Technicolor."<br />
"We are driving ahead with a no-emptyseat<br />
policy. " he emphasized. "And we are calling<br />
on the energetic cooperation of the exhibitor<br />
to continue .selling the product to his<br />
patrons with the kind of enthusiasm that has<br />
characterized the marketing of recent hits."<br />
Warner listed films now In production as<br />
follows: "The Iron Mistress," Technicolor<br />
drama starring Alan Ladd and Virginia Mayo,<br />
directed by Gordon Douglas and produced by<br />
Henry Blanke; "April in Paris." a Technicolor<br />
musical comedy starring Doris Day and<br />
Ray Bolger, directed by David Butler and<br />
produced by William Jacobs; "Top Secret,"<br />
with a cast headed by Cornel Wilde, Steve<br />
Cochran, Phyllis Thaxter and Karl Maiden,<br />
directed by Lewis Seller and produced by<br />
Henry Blanke, and "Springfield Rifle," in<br />
WarnerColor, starring Gary Cooper, directed<br />
by Andre De Toth and produced by Louis<br />
Edelman.<br />
Decca Head to London<br />
NEW YORK—Milton R. Rackmil. president<br />
of Decca Records, controlling .stockholder in<br />
Universal, left by plane over the May 3 weekend<br />
for London for talks with J. Arthur Bank<br />
and John Davis regarding the po.ssible Decca-<br />
Universal merger. It will be the first meeting<br />
between Rackmil and Rank, who holds 11<br />
per cent of Universal outstanding stock and<br />
option warrants. Rackmil's previous dealings<br />
with the Rank interests have been with Robert<br />
S. Benjamin, president of the Rank organization<br />
in the U.S.<br />
Realart 5th Anniversary<br />
$3,525 Prize Contest<br />
NEW YORK—Realart Pictures will hold a<br />
prize money and booking bonus drive contest,<br />
starting the week ending May 3 and continuing<br />
through September 6, in celebration<br />
of its fifth anniversary.<br />
The prize money, which will total $3,525.<br />
will be paid as follows: First prize, $1,000;<br />
second prize, $750: third prize, $500; fourth<br />
prize. $250: fifth prize, $150, and five consolation<br />
prizes at $100 each and five consolation<br />
prizes at $75 each. The five SlOO prizes<br />
will be paid to exchanges that rank sixth, seventh,<br />
eighth, ninth and tenth and the five<br />
$75 prizes will be paid to exchanges that rank<br />
from nth to 15th. In addition to the prize<br />
money award, there will be a booking bonus<br />
award payable to each franchise holder, based<br />
upon each exchange territory exceeding the<br />
particular quota that has been established for<br />
each office.<br />
The two big horror reissues, "Frankenstein,"<br />
starring Boris Karloff. and "Dracula," starring<br />
Bela Lugosi, and two Technicolor pictures,<br />
"Canyon Passage" and "Frontier Gal,"<br />
will be released during the Realart drive<br />
psriod.<br />
WASHINGTON LEADERS AT PREMIERE<br />
When Paramount held a premiere of "My Son John" at the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n theatre in Washington last week, many government leaders were present.<br />
Here, Mrs. Alben Barkley, wife of the vice-president, is greeting Barney Balaban.<br />
president of Paramount, as she and the vice-president arrived. Next to Balaban Is<br />
Mrs. Eric Johnston, wife of the MPAA president who is shown at the right.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 17
Loews Reorganization<br />
Gets Stockholder Okay<br />
NEW YORK—Stockholders of<br />
Loews, Inc..<br />
this week approved the reorganization plan<br />
to divoi-ce the theatre operation from production<br />
and distribution as required by the antitrust<br />
decree. They also re-elected all directors<br />
who. In a subsequent business session,<br />
renamed Nicholas Schenck as president.<br />
The following directors were elected:<br />
George A. Brownell. Leopold Friedman. F.<br />
Joseph HoUeran. Eugene W. Leake. Charles<br />
C. Moskowitz. William A. Parker, William F.<br />
Rodgers. J. Robert Rubin. Nicholas M.<br />
Schenck. Joseph R. Vogel and Henry Rogers<br />
Wlnthrop.<br />
Officers, in addition to Schenck, elected<br />
by the board at a subsequent meeting were:<br />
Moskowitz, vice-president and treasurer;<br />
Rubin, Rodgers. Edgar J. Mannix, Dore<br />
Schary, Louis K. Sidney, Howard Dletz, Vogel.<br />
Benjamin Thau, Marvin H. Schenck and J. J.<br />
Cohn, vice-presidents; Friedman, vice-president<br />
and secretary; Jesse T. Mills, controller<br />
and assistant treasurer; Dolf Schadler and<br />
Charles H. Phelan, assistant treasurers, and<br />
Nicholas Nayfack, Irving H. Greenfield and<br />
Harold J. Cleary. assistant secretaries.<br />
A resolution of regret over the death of<br />
David Warfleld, a director for 28 years,<br />
was read. Cleary and Morris Sher were<br />
elected Inspectors for the new year.<br />
The meeting proceeded smoothly up to the<br />
point when questions were solicited from the<br />
stockholders. Mia Copping, who appears at<br />
a number of annual meetings in the industry,<br />
asked a long series of questions. She said she<br />
repre.-sented the Women's Shareholders in<br />
American Business, Incorporated Investors,<br />
which owns 57,000 shares of common stock,<br />
She was the one who had unsuc-<br />
and others.<br />
cessfully proposed Norma Shearer as a director<br />
at the session.<br />
Miss Sopping questioned the payment of<br />
$2,750,000 to Louis B. Mayer upon his termination<br />
of his interest in the company, and was<br />
told the matter was in litigation for the court<br />
to decide. She was critical of retirement provisions,<br />
employment of "hordes" of relatives<br />
of Mayer and other executives of the com-<br />
Loew's Considering TV,<br />
Stockholders Hear<br />
NEW YORK—Loew's is considering<br />
seriously an entry into the television field,<br />
but hasn't reached any final decision. J.<br />
Roljert Rubin, vice-president and counsel,<br />
told stockholders at the annual meeting<br />
Tuesday (29). He said applications may<br />
be made to the Federal Communications<br />
Commission for stations for the picture<br />
company and for the theatre company to<br />
be formed, or for either company.<br />
As for plans to enter television production,<br />
Rubin .said none is being considered<br />
at present time but that Loew's "may<br />
change its mind as some other companies<br />
may do." He emphasized that the company<br />
considers films "finer quality entertainment."<br />
NICHOLAS SCHENCK<br />
Re-elected Loew's. Inc., President<br />
pany and alleged expenditures for luxuries<br />
through expense accounts, and asked if President<br />
Schenck or any other executives "had<br />
anything to do with the popcorn concessions."<br />
Rubin said the company planned to set a<br />
ceiling of $25,000 on pensions for future employes.<br />
In answer to a charge of excessive<br />
spending in plans to take 100 exhibitors to<br />
the coast studio by plane, Rubin said it would<br />
be done to show them the latest product and<br />
would constitute valuable public relations.<br />
It was also said that Schary and other studio<br />
executives have monthly expense accounts of<br />
$15,000 and that they are carefully audited.<br />
Neal Grootegood, another stockholder, questioned<br />
the amounts of salaries paid top<br />
management, asked for voluntary reductions<br />
and inquired about the business outlook.<br />
Rubin said dividends had to be decided from<br />
time to time by the board, and reminded that<br />
in the past sums had been set aside for the<br />
payment of dividends as a protection against<br />
decreased earnings, and that the company<br />
wanted always to pay dividends. He also<br />
referred to salary cuts taken by management<br />
in 1932 when it seemed advisable.<br />
In response to other questions, Rubin said<br />
it was his belief that Louis B. Mayer did not<br />
plan to reenter production in a big way, but<br />
only to make one or two pictures a year,<br />
that the company had no plans for the sale<br />
of its backlog of old pictures and that the<br />
Cinerama process had been investigated and<br />
found unfeasible economically. He also said<br />
two theatres had been sold during the past<br />
fiscal year and that two more would be sold<br />
within a week.<br />
Before adjournment another, stockholder<br />
commented on the subject of relatives in business<br />
by saying: "Sometimes we have them<br />
because we have them and sometimes because<br />
we have to." There was general laughter.<br />
After a showing of "Singin' in the Rain,"<br />
luncheon was served in the headquarters<br />
cafeteria. About 150 attended.<br />
RKO Summer Release<br />
Lineup Includes 10<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Despite the studio's current<br />
production lull, RKO Radio will release<br />
ten top-quality features during the summer<br />
and fall, Ned E. Depinet, company president,<br />
disclosed on the eve of his departure for New<br />
York after several weeks of local huddles with<br />
Howard Hughes, managing director of production,<br />
and C. J. Tevlin, studio head.<br />
Hailing them as representing the "greatest<br />
cash investment of any group of films<br />
ever to be consecutively released in company<br />
history." Depinet informed exchange managers<br />
that the Uneup will include<br />
"Jot Pilot" with John Woyne.<br />
"Androcles and the Lion," starring Jean Simmons.<br />
"The Big Sky," starring Kirk Douglas.<br />
"The Adventures of Robin Hood," o Disney Production.<br />
"Clash by Night," with Barboro Stanwyck ond<br />
Paul Douglas.<br />
"The Wild Heart," produced by David O. Selznick<br />
in association with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger,<br />
starring Jennifer Jones.<br />
"Montano Belle," starring Jane Russell.<br />
"The Lusty Men" with Suson Hayword and Robert<br />
Mitchum,<br />
"Sudden Fear" starring Joan Crowford.<br />
Depinet urged his distribution personnel to<br />
exploit and merchandise each release with<br />
"intelligence, excitement and enthusiasm"<br />
and promised additional releases when these<br />
have been "properly liquidated."<br />
United Artists to Handle<br />
3 Major Lopert Releases<br />
NEW YORK—United Artists has concluded<br />
an agreement with Lopert Films Distributing<br />
Corp. to handle three major Lopert films for<br />
general distribution in the U.S. The pictures<br />
are: "Outcast of the Islands," "Tales of Hoffmann"<br />
and "African Fury," formerly titled<br />
"Cry, the Beloved Country."<br />
I. E. Lopert, president of Lopert Films, explained<br />
that he is turning over the pictures<br />
to UA because they warrant a major commercial<br />
release. He will act as producer's representative<br />
and supervise the sales of the<br />
three films. He will also retain his sales<br />
organization to continue to handle films of<br />
a more specialized nature, as in the past.<br />
"Outcasts of the Islands," which was directed<br />
by Carol Reed, will open at the Astor<br />
Theatre on Broadway and the Fine Arts on<br />
the east side May 15. "African Fury" played<br />
its only U.S. engagement at the Bijou Theatre,<br />
New York, where it played for nine<br />
weeks. "Tales of Hoffmann," a Michael<br />
Powell-Emeric Pressburger production in<br />
Technicolor, played a 35-week two-a-day run<br />
at the Bijou, New York, and has since played<br />
350 roadshow engagements in other cities.<br />
United Artists will also release "Encounter,"<br />
now being completed in Rome, starring Paul<br />
Muni in his first film in six years, according to<br />
Arthur B. Krim, president. Joan Lorring is<br />
featured with Vittorio Manunta, Italian child<br />
star of the current "Never Take No for an<br />
Answer."<br />
Settled Out of Court<br />
CHICAGO—The Piccadilly Theatre Eintitrust<br />
suit against eight major film companies<br />
and Balaban & Katz Corp. was settled out<br />
of court April 25. One of the largest actions<br />
here, amounting to $5,400,000 damages, suit<br />
filed by Schoenstadt & Sons ace house, was<br />
filed here September 1950 by Thomas McConnell,<br />
attorney for the independent circuit.<br />
18<br />
BOXOFnCE May 3, 1952
B<br />
FECIAL<br />
,<br />
e;/ice for<br />
xibitors..<br />
THE BOOKING OF THE WEEK<br />
^.DESIGNED<br />
TO HIGHLIGHT<br />
CURRENT AND<br />
CHOICE PRODUCT<br />
Judy's "Just Married"—<br />
and just wonderful in the<br />
heartwarming story<br />
of a young couple<br />
in love up to here!<br />
IL"'"<br />
.ulrmy Awiinl ^tiniirr<br />
il iill ov«T ii^iiiii w illi<br />
"IJiirii YesU-nlay"<br />
liir, (>forpc* Ciikor,<br />
that "Horn Yester-<br />
'<br />
>vrit«T, Ciarhoii<br />
in, .)<br />
JUDY<br />
HOlllDAY<br />
introducing<br />
moo m<br />
Judy's light of love<br />
Bilh Madge Kennedy wmien by RUTH GORDON and GARSON KANIN<br />
Produced b, •<br />
BERT GRANET Directed by GEORGE CUKOR<br />
ISTRIBUTOR:
Build Them Big in Mexico;<br />
8,000-Seater Opens<br />
MEXICO CITY—The Florida Theatre, said<br />
to be one of the largest and most sumptuous<br />
film houses in the world, was inaugurated<br />
here Friday ll8i. The n»w theatre has a<br />
seating capacity for 8,000 spectators and, if an<br />
eventuality arises, can accommodate 3,000<br />
more standees. The theatre probably will<br />
also serve as a convention hall to house forthcoming<br />
meetings of the Lions and Rotarians<br />
in the Mexican capital.<br />
The Granat brothers, Oscar and Samuel,<br />
financed the new film house, which is added<br />
to their chain, including tlie Colonial, Opera,<br />
Coloso, Ermita. Granat and others. Outstanding<br />
feature of the theatre is that it is<br />
not located in the heart of tlie capital, or in<br />
one of the swanky residential sections, but<br />
in one of the city's most highly populated<br />
middle and lower class residential zones. The<br />
latest in projection equipment and theatre<br />
comforts is thus brought to the poorer classes.<br />
This policy has marked the entire growth<br />
of the Granat chain of neighborhood houses,<br />
of which the Florida is the most impressive.<br />
The film house wa.s opened with a double<br />
bill (twin bills and even three, four and fivefeature<br />
programs are highly popular in neighborhood<br />
theatres) including a Mexican film,<br />
"Aquellos Ojos Rojos" (Those Green Eyes),<br />
a musical featuring singer Ramon Armengod<br />
and Issa Morante. and Columbia's "Convicted,"<br />
with Broderick Crawford and Glenn<br />
Ford. Admission fee is higher than usual<br />
neighborhood houses, which charge from 80<br />
centavos (about 9 cents) to 1.50 pesos (about<br />
17 cents), and has been set at 2.50 pesos<br />
(about 29 cents). However, in justification<br />
of the higher admission, the management<br />
plans to provide better film fare.<br />
Marble, bronze, mirrors, silks and brocades<br />
have been combined to achieve harmonious<br />
effects and spaciousness never hitherto attempted<br />
in a neighborhood house. Theatre<br />
site occupies 4,000 square meters (about<br />
12,000 square feet) and an idea of size can<br />
be gained from the fact that the lobby alone<br />
could accommodate two of the film hou.ses<br />
located in the center of the city. Furnishings<br />
of the new screen house required an investment<br />
of 172,000 pesos ($19,885) and this solely<br />
for the soft-cushioned sofas, tables and corner<br />
seating nooks, all in subdued dark shades.<br />
Two generating plants for light and power,<br />
installed by Camiones & Maquinaria, assure<br />
continuous service in the event of power failure.<br />
The screen is said to be the largest in<br />
the world, 120 square meters (about 360 square<br />
feet) and was especially constructed for the<br />
theatre. Three Simplex projectors assure<br />
clear, perfect projection on the giant screen,<br />
while the theatre is so constructed that good<br />
visibility is had from any seat in the house.<br />
The new film house far outstrips the 6,000-<br />
seat capacity of Radio City Music Hall. A<br />
spokesman for the Granat brothers repeated<br />
over and over again that the Florida was a<br />
"neighborhood" house. The brothers and their<br />
representatives refused to reveal the extent<br />
of the investment in the theatre, but the<br />
scale of construction and lavish decorations<br />
and furnishings indicate that quite a few<br />
million pesos were required, aside from the<br />
investment in the land.<br />
The new house far outstrips capacities of<br />
existing first run houses in Mexico, almost<br />
tripling them in some instances.<br />
Tlie Colonial and Coloso, controlled by the<br />
Granats, also neighborhood houses, have a<br />
respective seating capacity of 4,450 and 4,703.<br />
Nearest rival in first run houses is the Roble,<br />
completed last year, which has a 4,000-seat<br />
capacity. Other first run houses include the<br />
Chapultepec, with 3,260 seats; Mariscala,<br />
3,000; Metropolitan, 3,000; Mexico, 3.574, and<br />
the 2,774-seat Olimpia. Other houses in the<br />
center of town seat under 2,000 each.<br />
lOCt FOR CEREBRAL PALSY DRIVE—The first 100 per cent contribution from<br />
all the employes of one company is presented to the United Cerebral Palsy drive by<br />
four employes from United Paramount Theatres—Constance Fraser, Gloria Giordano,<br />
Dorothy Hill and Ruth Cento. Receiving; the bushel of money are little Vivian Principe,<br />
of Bloomfield, N. J., five-year-old national poster girl, and Leonard H. Goldenson<br />
(R), who has reason to smile with pride since he is president of both orgranizations.<br />
Edward H. Hyman and Robert M. Weitman, vice-presidents of United Paramount<br />
Theatres, stand behind Vivian, The presentation took place in the Paramount building<br />
on the eve of the campaign which opened Thursday, May 1,<br />
Advertises the Fact Its<br />
Critic Likes Movies<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Holiday magazine<br />
has taken space in several media magazines<br />
to point out that it has a movie<br />
critic who likes movies, in an apparent<br />
pitch to space buyers for film companies<br />
for business. The single column ads are<br />
headed "He Likes Movies," and the copy<br />
contains this message:<br />
"We've often wondered why people who<br />
apparently don't like movies become movie<br />
critics.<br />
"We go to a movie and enjoy it<br />
thoroughly. Then, a few days later, we<br />
read the movie column of some movie<br />
magazine only to di.scover how dull or<br />
dim-witted we were for ever having gone<br />
near the theatre, much less enjoying the<br />
picture.<br />
"Our Holiday magazine critic, Al Hine,<br />
actually likes movies. He's a movie fan<br />
first, a critic second.<br />
"A['s monthly movie column reflects the<br />
views of an intelligent moviegoer who<br />
expects to be entertained. He waves no<br />
banner for any special type of movie. He's<br />
not on the search for the much revered<br />
mature message" or "great art form." Al<br />
looks only to be pleased and entertained<br />
— 75 cents' worth, a dollar's worth, whatever<br />
the price of a ticket.<br />
"Be it comedy or crusade, if a film pleases<br />
Al Hine, he says so—and explains why.<br />
If it doesn't, he explains that, too. We<br />
think he does both extremely well. We<br />
suggest that you read him in Holiday,<br />
now on the stands."<br />
Edward G. Robinson Gets<br />
A Congressman's Pat<br />
WASHINGTON—Edward G. Robinson and<br />
the film industry were both defended before<br />
the House Un-American Activities Committee<br />
by Rep. Samuel W. Yorty (D., Calif.) on<br />
Wednesday (30), as the film star once again<br />
appeared befor the committee at his own request<br />
in an attempt to clear his name.<br />
Robinson referred to widely circulated<br />
innuendos against him, and defied anybody<br />
to make any open and public charges against<br />
him. He said nobody could prove he had ever<br />
been either a Communist or a sympathizer<br />
with any Communist aims, because he never<br />
had been.<br />
Yorty appealed to the film star's "millions<br />
of fans" in asking understanding for Robinson<br />
whom he characterized as "a kindhearted<br />
man and a great artist . politically<br />
. .<br />
inexperienced," and who had been victimized<br />
by false friends.<br />
The California Democrat praised the industry<br />
for "doing a fine job in cleaning its<br />
own house" of Communist influence. He said<br />
that Communists are a small minority in<br />
Hollywood and asked that they "not be used<br />
by publicity seekers to unfairly discredit a<br />
great industry and its artists" whom he described<br />
as "among the finest of our citizens."<br />
Robinson described himself as a liberal<br />
Democrat who had permitted his name to be<br />
used and then had been "shocked" to discover<br />
the hidden purposes of some of the organizations<br />
and the Communist membership of people<br />
he had thought to be sincere liberals.<br />
He<br />
said he, himself, had never been either disloyal<br />
or dishonest.<br />
20 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
Bfetiifeen the Sea and the Sierras<br />
Stood the Sin-Strewn Gateway to Gold<br />
.>>yi
'7Kc«t
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 35: Newsreels film atom<br />
bomb drop in Nevada desert; New Jersey and Michigan<br />
jail nots ended, hostages freed; oquo champs<br />
show skills ond spills in Florida tourney.<br />
News of the Doy, No. 269: Spectacular test of<br />
newest atom bomb, Hornman in Presidential race;<br />
fire razes Japanese city; Snorkel trucks for army;<br />
surprise from Holland; championship oquo thriller.<br />
Paromount News, No. 72: Woter ski wizardry;<br />
peace on prison front; historic maneuvers— biggest<br />
U.S. otomic explosion.<br />
Universol News, No. 555: Atom bomb; underwater<br />
truck; prison riots in New Jersey; aquatic acrobats,<br />
Warner Pothe News, No. 74: Biggest U.S. atom<br />
blast; Michigan and New Jersey prison riots end;<br />
Japan— fire rozes 5,000 homes; Cypress Gardens, Flo.<br />
— Dixie water ski tourney.<br />
Movietone News, No. 36: War with Jopan ended,<br />
peace treaty in effect; Ridgway succeeds Ike m<br />
Europe, C'ark to Japan; 5,000 Reds invade West<br />
Berlin; $5,000,000 fire in Vancouver; Bre'r rabbit gets<br />
glorified in new California furs; Penn relays; water<br />
skis set 135-mile ski mark.<br />
News of the Day, No 270: Officiol end of war with<br />
Japan; Vancouver's worst fire; Reds riot in Berlin;<br />
birthday parade for Elizabeth; Forget-Me-Not-Cerebral<br />
Palsy poster children; Penn relays.<br />
Paromount News, No. 73: Olympic gymnastics; Penn<br />
relays; Queen Eltrobeth's birthday; cerebral palsy<br />
drive opens; Japan begins new era of freedom; Ridgway,<br />
Clark get new assignments.<br />
Universal News, No. 556: Japan free; cerebral<br />
palsy; labor strike in Japon; loyalty parade in New<br />
York; Miss India; Vancouver fire; bear facts.<br />
Worner Pothe News, No. 75: Japan regains independence;<br />
Atlanta—rally booms Russell for president;<br />
Aberdeen proving grounds— air force tests its own<br />
planes under fire; French Morocco— France trains jet<br />
pilots in Morocco; Washington— Mrs. Truman meets<br />
cerebral palsy poster kids; New York— new wrinkle<br />
no wrinkle magic fabric; 135 miles on water skis;<br />
Luxembourg exclusive— Ike in Luxembourg on final<br />
tour.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 17B: Nevada atom blast; riots<br />
rip prisons; Japan— 1,000,000 strike; Italy—how to<br />
walk o wall.<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 18A: Ridgway succeeds Ike;<br />
Washington — newest U.S. sub; Japan— fire levels<br />
community; Germany—congressional committee probes<br />
the Katyn mossacre; Greece—CARE distributes the<br />
100,000th package for this war-torn country; England—<br />
81 notions honor Shakespeare; tennis—Sedgmon<br />
beats Drobny.<br />
Odeon Courtesy Awards<br />
Greeted Warmly by Press<br />
TORONTO—Public reaction to the Odeon<br />
Theatres, Ltd.. announcement of plans to<br />
distribute courtesy awards to employes has<br />
been widespread both in newspapers and from<br />
individuals.<br />
The announcement was released individually<br />
by managers across the Dominion and<br />
newspapers gave it considerable space. David<br />
Griesdorf, Odeon general manager, says a<br />
remarkable number of clippings has been received.<br />
"The plan is being accepted with enthusiasm<br />
by the press and by our staffs," he<br />
states.<br />
The award plan enables theatre staffs to<br />
earn silver and gold stars for consistent display<br />
of courtesy to the public. The receipients<br />
are chosen on recommendation of theatre<br />
managers and supervisory personnel.<br />
The silver star is worn on the employe's<br />
uniform. In addition, each winner receives an<br />
engraved certificate.<br />
Griesdorf predicts greatly improved service<br />
to the public and he also expresses the<br />
opinion that the awards will impress on<br />
employes the value of the service they render.<br />
TV to Get 28 Traveltalks<br />
NEW YORK—James A. FitzPatrick has<br />
released a series of 26 of his older travel<br />
films to Sterling Television Co. for use on<br />
the air, according to Saul J. Turrell, president<br />
of Sterling.<br />
CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF PLAYING TIME PAYS<br />
Planned, Off-Beat Booking<br />
Dps the Take in Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Careful allocation of playing<br />
time to secure maximum returns from a picture<br />
is paying off currently in a way that<br />
proves intelligent planning, plus a rea.sonable<br />
dose of standard showmanship, can still<br />
draw busine.ss, according to the experience<br />
of RKO with "Kon-Tiki" in the Detroit metropolitan<br />
area. Saturation booking is being<br />
achieved in effect, but it is being done the<br />
hard way. and over a period of time.<br />
The result is that "Kon-Tiki" is outgro.ssing<br />
anything the exchange has had here in<br />
about two years. The idea was conceived<br />
and is being clcsely nourished through the<br />
sequence of runs by Murray Devaney, branch<br />
manager, who is seeing his brain-child really<br />
bring in what is a series of surprising grosses<br />
to date for a picture of this special caliber.<br />
Breaking away entirely from the traditional<br />
pattern of runs as Detroit has known them<br />
on practically every successful picture for<br />
many years, Devaney is breaking "Kon-Tiki"<br />
in a series of waves of bookings. Typical<br />
Detroit booking pattern is a first run, followed<br />
by half a dozen second runs a month<br />
or more later, and then around 20 each of<br />
key, subkey, and fifth runs, each group playing<br />
day and date, and one group right after<br />
the other. This is largely defended on the<br />
ground that it enables the subsequent runs<br />
to get faster bookings and take advantage<br />
of national or other exploitation of the picture<br />
while it is still fresh.<br />
Instead of this fairly rigid pattern of bookings,<br />
"Kon-Tiki" started out with a first run<br />
'Movie Dog' in<br />
a Bow;<br />
Films Plus Hamburgers<br />
PHOENIX. ARIZ.—A roofless motion<br />
picture theatre was opened here April 18<br />
by Bill Sale and Bill Coscarelli, partners<br />
in the unique venture. The grand opening<br />
of the Movie Dog. as it will be known,<br />
was held in the location at 5644 S. Central.<br />
The entertainment project is a<br />
combination drive-in and drive-inn.<br />
The drive-inn, which is the fi'ont part<br />
of the establishment, features hot dogs,<br />
hamburgers and other light foods, with a<br />
patio for those who wish to get out of<br />
their cars to eat. The drive-in, at the<br />
rear, is a departure in theatres—an outdoor<br />
affair with no roof, where patrons<br />
sit on wooden benches to watch motion<br />
pictures.<br />
Sale, who is a former manager of the<br />
Palms Theatre here, said the roofless<br />
theatre will seat about 600. It is equipped<br />
with a standard 24-foot screen with builtin<br />
speaker. Representing an investment<br />
of about $20,000, the Movie Dog was built<br />
on what was until recently a vacant lot,<br />
Coscarelli, the other partner, who handles<br />
the restaurant end, is the former<br />
operator of Bill's Drive-Inn.<br />
at the ."jOO-.seat Cinema, the normal downtown<br />
art film house for special pictures, and<br />
precedent wa.s broken from the start, since<br />
it is unusual for a Cinema booking to move<br />
Into other hou.ses in the Detroit area, except<br />
perhaps the few houses that have experimented<br />
with an art film policy in the past<br />
three years, or a very occasional spot booking.<br />
"Kon Tiki" next moved into the new cooperative<br />
group of neighborhood art film<br />
houses, then in its first tentative week—the<br />
Studio. Coronet, and Center, each located In<br />
a widely spaced part of the city. Followin?<br />
this, the film played third run at the Tower,<br />
Tuxedo, and Mack-Uptown—again in scattered<br />
parts of the city; while the fourth run<br />
is set for the Lincoln, 'Warren, Linwood-La-<br />
Salle, and Del-The—four more widely .scattered<br />
houses. It is noteworthy that this last<br />
group is usually in a third rather than first<br />
run cla.ss.<br />
Timing is an essential element of the Devaney<br />
plan—these bookings are not only selected<br />
geographically, so that each house is<br />
many miles away from any other playing the<br />
film, but each wave of booking.s—and there<br />
are only three or four houses allowed to play<br />
the film day and date—is spaced about a<br />
month apart. Instead of crowding bookings<br />
in subsequent runs close together in both<br />
space and time. Devaney is reversing this<br />
usual objective in both dimensions.<br />
The result is successful business, compared<br />
to general current theatre conditions locally,<br />
in some of the best houses in the city, and<br />
a chance to continue the gros.ses of the picture<br />
over an unusual period. Both distributor<br />
and exhibitors appear well satisfied. The<br />
film, having unusual audience appeal, is able<br />
to build up a third and fourth group of patrons<br />
by the very effective cumulative effect<br />
of word-of-mouth publicity. The method<br />
would presumably be less effective with runof-the-mine<br />
product.<br />
RKO is seeking specific playing time on each<br />
run. to make this plan feasible, and is also<br />
interested in a careful planning of the area.<br />
and selection of house for the picture. Realizing<br />
that it is a special-appeal film, smaller<br />
houses—about 1,000 seats—are preferred—<br />
and a standard of operation that includes<br />
no such features as giveaways.<br />
Dacca Buys More U-I<br />
Common and Warrants<br />
NEW YORK—Decca Records. Inc.. owner<br />
of more than 10 per cent of the common stock<br />
of Universal Pictures Co.. bought 1.800 shares<br />
of common stock in March, bringing Its direct<br />
holdings to 271.800 shares, according to<br />
the Securities and Exchange Commission.<br />
Decca also bought 5.000 warrants to purchase<br />
common stock, bringing Its direct holdings of<br />
warrants to 37.500.<br />
The Universal annual report for the year<br />
ended Nov. 3. 1951. showed 960.498 shares of<br />
common stock outstanding, and warrants for<br />
the purchase of 218,809 shares of common at<br />
$10 a share on or before April 1, 1956.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 23
NEW YORK<br />
V WORCESTER • BOSTON<br />
PORTLAND . BALTIMORE j<br />
MANCHESTER . SAGINAW . PROVIDENCE<br />
Exhibitor- Excitemei<br />
Mountain<br />
UTH BEND . ELKHART • JACKSONVIL'<br />
I<br />
.M BEACH • MIAMI • MIAMI BEACH<br />
GREENSBORO • TULSA<br />
• MEMPHIS • JACKSON<br />
INDIANAPOLIS • SPRINGFIELD • FALL RIVER<br />
BUFFALO • CHARLOTTE • WINSTON-SALEM°<br />
9<br />
CHARLESTON • DURHAM • SPARTANBURG<br />
NEW HAVEN . HARTFORD . NORWICH —<br />
" LLICOTHE . PITTSFIELD . KALAMAZOO<br />
BATTLE CREEK • PORT HURON • LEBANON, PA,<br />
SET YO urI<br />
THOSE TOi<br />
HIT WI1NI<br />
^aJlUf II<br />
^#^WW II<br />
PITTSBURGH . CLARKSBURG, . FORT WAYNE \<br />
DALLAS • HOUSTON . SAN ANTONIO I<br />
FORT WORTH . QUINCY, ILL. . GALVESTON ^<br />
SAN FRANCISCO • PADUCAH, KY.<br />
COLUMBIA, MO. • ALBUQUERQUE • EL P<br />
AND MORE-MORE-MORE-MORE!<br />
I<br />
Y<br />
NATIONALLY ADVERTISED in LOOK,<br />
heading a schedule of 21 other magazines.<br />
Leo McCare/s MY SON JO<br />
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, Perlberg-Seaton's AARON SLIC<br />
I<br />
on<br />
icSv
n^RSi 11! Peak As A<br />
1<br />
T T i<br />
1<br />
D YOU'LL BE ALL SET FO<br />
EIIING<br />
BOXOFFICE HIGHS YOU<br />
BRANDED" AND<br />
IPERING SMITH<br />
If<br />
Color by<br />
Technicolor<br />
mwAM<br />
PRODUCTION<br />
ALAN<br />
LADD<br />
LIZABETH<br />
SCOTT<br />
ARTHUR<br />
KENNEDY<br />
JOHN<br />
IRELAND<br />
LADD and SCOTT<br />
are a new<br />
explosive team . . .<br />
Directed by WILLIAM DIETERLE<br />
Scf^SKplay by John Meredyth Lucas, George F.Slavin and George W<br />
•<br />
George From a Story by George F. Slavin and George W. George<br />
(^orge Stevens' SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR, Perlberg-Seaton's<br />
QA PUNKIN CRICK, and W. Somerset<br />
Maugham's ENCORE.
LETTERS<br />
Advocates Film Advertising Via TV<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
I<br />
have just read Albert E. Slndllngers survey<br />
published in April 12 BOXOFFICE.<br />
Over a year ago I questioned several film<br />
salespeople as to why TV was not iised to sell<br />
pictures. I was told it was too expensive a<br />
medium for advertising pictures.<br />
Now comes Mr. Sindlinger's survey. It is<br />
the most intelligent thing I have read yet.<br />
Why producers have not tried such a program<br />
for bringing back our lost audience has been<br />
the $64 question—yet features have had a<br />
$500,000 advertising budget (non-TV>.<br />
TRY OUT TV AS AD MEDIUM<br />
Why not spend that much on advertising<br />
via TV and see what happens— ?? And not<br />
spend it via the newspapers and other routine<br />
media.<br />
Here is the conclusion I draw from Mr.<br />
Sindlinger's survey:<br />
1. The major portion m percentages of theatre<br />
attendance loss can be attributed to TV.<br />
2. The theatres are losing contact with their<br />
audiences.<br />
3. This audience, once lost, will stay lost,<br />
unless we can reach them again.<br />
4. The only way this can be achieved is<br />
through the diverting cause, or TV.<br />
5. Whether or not the TV "looker" was, in<br />
the past, a regular attendant at theatres or<br />
whether he was one of the great mass of people<br />
who rarely or never attended a movie, he<br />
can be reached through TV and, if the movie<br />
trailer is good, it will create a desire to see<br />
the new picture, as well as acquaint not only<br />
one, but every member of the family with the<br />
advertised film—including the small fry and<br />
teenagers. Anyone who has raised a family<br />
will not underestimate the power of the<br />
children and teenagers to bring out the family<br />
if they want to see the picture.<br />
6. Every TV viewer is a potential theatre<br />
customer, because he bought an expensive TV<br />
set to enjoy the same type of entertainment,<br />
previously available only in the theatre. With<br />
probably 20 million TV .sets in operation, there<br />
is a possible audience of 100 million persons<br />
every one of w'hom are potential movie theatre<br />
customers, if they know about current<br />
pictures.<br />
A three-minute trailer would do the<br />
trick even if it were run only once a day at<br />
the right time. The producers know the value<br />
of a trailer in theatres but have completely<br />
mi.s.sed the boat with TV<br />
GO AFTER TV VIEWERS<br />
7. Only a limited number of any family read<br />
newspapers and the percentage who actually<br />
scan the theatre page is very small, unless<br />
they have already made up their minds to see<br />
a movie. We can never recapture the "lost"<br />
audience this way and will continue to lose<br />
more and more as the number of TV stations<br />
increases.<br />
With producers controlling in their vaults<br />
several hundred old pictures which could be<br />
used on TV without much more damage to<br />
theatre audiences than has already been done,<br />
with a potentially high amount of revenue<br />
available from the use of these films, and with<br />
producing units and equipment which could<br />
be used for 15 and 30-minute short TV films,<br />
why have not big movie producing companies<br />
built or bought into controlling interest of a<br />
good number of TV stations so that they can<br />
exploit and advertl.se their new product which<br />
will be shown in theatres and thus bring back<br />
a high percentage of our lost audience who<br />
can be made to want to see the.se fine new<br />
films in theatres? Truly, the producers have<br />
been .shortsighted and thus has been the greatest<br />
cause for loss of revenue and audiences.<br />
If the movie industry can't live comfortably<br />
with TV—marry the girl!<br />
MASON SHAW<br />
Saratoga Theatre,<br />
Saratoga, Calif.<br />
An Exhibitor Thinking Out Loud<br />
To BOXOFFICE:<br />
The more I read your good magazine of<br />
late, the more I wonder if a small-town exhibitor<br />
who isn't making plans to turn his<br />
auditorium into a skating ring or a television<br />
sales room or some other business with a "supposedly<br />
future" isn't a chump.<br />
There are an awful lot of solutions floating<br />
around for remedying the plight of this business.<br />
Personally, I think the worst trouble<br />
is the "bawl babies" in production and exhibition<br />
who are constantly selling the masses<br />
on the idea that, "There's NO business in<br />
show business." Who wants to be different<br />
and spend his dough with a loser?<br />
Doesn't anyone in the production field ever<br />
take the time to think about the guy who is<br />
going to see more than one show a year?<br />
SIMILARITY IN SHORTS<br />
Let's take short subjects. In the past few<br />
months I'v« run three cartoons all based on<br />
the old story of the poor old shoemaker who<br />
takes in a homeless waif and, as a reward,<br />
a bunch of elves take over his shop and<br />
turn him out a wonderous bunch of shoes.<br />
The first time we played one of these it went<br />
over great. But two more on the same subject,<br />
even though they were well made and<br />
cute, fell flat. Even the kids wanted to know<br />
what we were trying to pull on them.<br />
A few weeks ago I was running a Tom and<br />
Jerry cartoon that was simply wonderful.<br />
During its run I happened to be visiting with<br />
a brother exhibitor in the county who was<br />
having trouble getting enough light on his<br />
screen and wanted me to see if I could help<br />
him remedy the situation. We put his cartoon<br />
on the machines and, as I adjusted the<br />
lamps, I was dumfounded to find that at<br />
least half of the .scenes were exact duplicates<br />
of the Tom and Jerry cartoon I was playing,<br />
yet titles were different. Now I don't think<br />
there is anything wrong with MGM saving<br />
money by using cartoon sections over, but<br />
they should wait a while to do it. Suppose<br />
I play that cartoon in the next month or two.<br />
Do you think people forget soon enough that<br />
they won't recognize the fact that they have<br />
already seen most of that cartoon?<br />
I used to think trailers completed my sales<br />
campaign as nothing else could. I wonder if<br />
many times it doesn't kill it? Think for<br />
yourself how many times you've witnessed<br />
the trailer on an average B picture (a picture<br />
that the producer knew and the exhibitor<br />
knew were just run-of-the-mill film fare, yet<br />
would provide reasonable entertainment for<br />
a lot of people who enjoy spending a few<br />
hours away from it all) that rivals the picture-selling<br />
potential of some of the top product.<br />
So the trailer drags in a lot of people<br />
who think they're going to see a big production<br />
and find just program fare. Had we been<br />
honest and presented it as just a nice little<br />
feature that would give them a fair degree<br />
of entertainment and not tried to make every<br />
feature appear to be a super, the public<br />
wouldn't be .so wary. Now I find my public<br />
even dubious at time about the really big<br />
ones, because they've been duped -so many<br />
times in the past from misleading trailers.<br />
PUBLIC NOT GULLIBLE<br />
From remarks you quote in your magazine<br />
of some of the producers and distributors,<br />
they still think the public is as gullible as it<br />
was in the days when Barnum could brag<br />
about taking the suckers and make them<br />
like<br />
it.<br />
As a promotion man and showman I think<br />
Kroger Babb is probably one of the best and<br />
I enjoy reading his rantings as usually he<br />
gives forth with some sound ideas.<br />
But do you think the public this day and<br />
age likes ;to think they've been played for<br />
chumps? I don't. And when Mr. Babb keeps<br />
bragging how he has taken two "corny films"<br />
and grossed over 25 million. I think he's waving<br />
a red flag in front of a bunch of wonderful<br />
guys and gals who like to think they're<br />
the smartest entertainment purchasers in the<br />
country when they fill our seats.<br />
When he sells the "Prince of Peace" I'm<br />
for him 100 per (sent for he's selling entertainment<br />
that is laying a sound foundation<br />
for all of us . . . And no one is a sucker who<br />
buys a ticket to such entertainment. But<br />
cashing in on sex and dope, etc., like a lot<br />
of his product does and bragging about how<br />
it's corny stuff isn't helping anybody and I<br />
for one think it's a shame a guy as capable<br />
as he is can't devote more of his time to the<br />
kind of product that will do this business<br />
some good "tomorrow," instead of the kind<br />
that will make him a lotta bucks today.<br />
THE ACADEMY AWARDS<br />
I've blatted overtime now, but there's one<br />
other thing I'd like to know and that is when<br />
are they going to kick this Academy award<br />
thing in the pants? By and large I think<br />
it is helping retard business. I've checked in<br />
towns much larger than mine and find that<br />
every year a great many, usually a majority,<br />
of the nominees are not really popular—great<br />
boxoffice attractions. They're the type that<br />
attract the small segment of people in every<br />
town who are the industy's severest critics.<br />
The type who will only see the stuff that some<br />
of the big-shot critics say is tops. If they<br />
panned the greatest show on earth none of<br />
these would come. If they lauded a Johnny<br />
Mack Brown western, these dopes would flock<br />
out. Sure, there's fine acting, photography,<br />
etc., in the ones they pick—but that isn't<br />
everything. Why not give the public as a<br />
whole a chance to pick who they think is the<br />
best of the year. You'll find few that have<br />
won lately ever get a nod. After this year<br />
I'm going to ask that my contracts release<br />
me from playing anything that gets the<br />
award. For that label seems to be poison.<br />
Uintah Theatre,<br />
Fruita,<br />
Colo.<br />
BOB WALKER<br />
26 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
YOOR P/CWRBS/<br />
fg^^uT^^^ ^^tk ^ WITH<br />
Uio|m|aioai|o<br />
! ,<br />
The new patron-pulling<br />
service . . . that provides<br />
Handsomely mounted in<br />
footed, silver-colored<br />
frames to tell and sell the<br />
colorful, eye-appealing advertising<br />
for placement in<br />
• MERCHANTS' WINDOWS<br />
• STORE COUNTERS<br />
• HOTELS • TERMINALS<br />
hig story about your attractions<br />
!<br />
See your NSS Salesman<br />
or write your nearest NSS<br />
Exchange<br />
nflTionni, V'^^S^ service<br />
KJPMZfBoar or memoi/smi<br />
\
. . Meantime<br />
(With<br />
.<br />
^oU^OAMd ^cfront<br />
By<br />
IVAN SPEAR<br />
DeMille Takes to Road,<br />
As Do New USO Units<br />
C. B. DeMille<br />
Touring<br />
Producer<br />
In the executive category among barnstorming<br />
filmites Is Cecil B. DeMille. the<br />
Paramount producer-director, who heads east<br />
Tuesday i6i, making four<br />
stopovers en route to address<br />
civic functions. In Chicago<br />
Friday (9i he will be guest<br />
speaker at a luncheon meeting<br />
of the Executives' club,<br />
organization of businessmen;<br />
in Des Moines Tuesday (13)<br />
he will meet exhibitors and<br />
the press and will .speak at a<br />
conclave at Iowa State college,<br />
and two days later is to<br />
address the Des Moines Dinner<br />
club; and. in New York,<br />
will appear at Carnegie hall<br />
Friday (23 1 to address the<br />
Presbyterian church assembly's<br />
sesquicentennial celebration.<br />
Additionally, two new Hollywood-assembled<br />
units, recruited<br />
under the auspices of<br />
USO-Camp Shows, will take<br />
off Monday (12 1 on tours of<br />
military bases to entertain<br />
Gi's at home and abroad. Since the<br />
USO-Camp Shows organization was reactivated<br />
early in 1951. 30 entertainment units<br />
have been dispatched to Korea and the Pacific<br />
area—an average of two units every three<br />
weeks. During World 'War II, troupers assembled<br />
by the outfit gave approximately<br />
370.000 performances to a total GI audience<br />
of more than 190,000,000.<br />
MGM Tie With the Bard;<br />
To Do 'Julius Caesar'<br />
Costume spectacle, bedecked in color photography,<br />
looms large on MGM's planning<br />
schedule for the coming months on the basis<br />
of two properties just added to the agenda at<br />
the Culver City studio.<br />
Slated to begin filming this summer is<br />
"Julius Caesar." from the William Shakespeare<br />
play, on which John Houseman has<br />
been assigned the production reins. Dore<br />
Schary, Leo's head man, declared in announcing<br />
the project that of all the bard's<br />
works it is the "most excitingly filmable."<br />
Houseman, currently producing the Lana<br />
Turner starrer. "Tribute to a Bad Man," will<br />
immediately begin assembling a cast and director<br />
for the Shakespearean opus.<br />
Also up for film treatment under the MGM<br />
banner is "Prince Valiant." screen rights to<br />
which Sunday cartoon feature have been obtained<br />
from King Features. Keyed to the<br />
theme of romantic adventure, it is backgrounded<br />
in the days of King Arthur and his<br />
Knights of the Round Table.<br />
Leo's interest in costume drama is emphasized<br />
by a glance at the studio's backlog,<br />
which contains "Ivanhoe," a new screen<br />
version of Walter Scott's historical novel,<br />
which was produced in England by Pandro<br />
S. Berman, with Robert Taylor in the starring<br />
role, and "Scaramouche," a Stewart Granger<br />
topliner adapted from the Rafael Sabatini<br />
novel, produced by Carey Wilson. Both are<br />
in Technicolor. Still in its advanced-price<br />
engagements is "Quo Vadis." while currently<br />
before the cameras are "Prisoner of Zenda"<br />
and "Plymouth Adventure."<br />
Tyrone Po'wer Moves Over<br />
To U-I Lot for Picture<br />
. . .<br />
.<br />
As his first picture away from his home<br />
studio, 20th Century-Fox, during a teniu-e of<br />
more than 16 years with that company, Tyrone<br />
Power is moving his makeup kit over to<br />
Universal-International as the title-roler in<br />
"Mississippi Gambler," upcoming Technicolor<br />
entry which is slated for a June camera start<br />
Previously inked to co-star with Betty<br />
Hutton in "Topsy and Eva." biography of the<br />
Duncan Sisters, Ginger Rogers has been<br />
signed to headline two more pictures at Paramount<br />
Nancy Olson is John Wayne's<br />
.<br />
vis-a-vis<br />
.<br />
in "Jim McClain." now on location<br />
in Honolulu as an independent project being<br />
co-produced by Wayne and Robert Fellows<br />
for Warner release . . . MGM signed Vittorio<br />
Gassman. the young Italian actor, to a term<br />
ticket and cast him in "Sombrero," which will<br />
be produced in Mexico in Technicolor . . .<br />
Republic set Gene Evans and Mona Freeman<br />
for top spots in "Thunderbirds," film story<br />
of the national guard.<br />
Sol Lesser Prepares to Make<br />
Another Sea Adventure Film<br />
Having hit paydirt with the popular and<br />
profitable "Kon-Tiki." which was released by<br />
RKO Radio, Producer Sol<br />
Lesser has served notice of<br />
^^•^k. m his continued and increasing<br />
interest in semidocumentary<br />
action adventures as subjects<br />
fWfJtf'Wf<br />
for theatrical distribution.<br />
His initialer in this category<br />
for 1952 will be "Red<br />
Sea Adventure," on which<br />
editing, narration, dubbing<br />
and scoring are now being<br />
rushed to completion under<br />
the supervision of Bill Park,<br />
Sol Lesser<br />
recently inked by the Lesser<br />
organization.<br />
The film is a documentary account of underwater<br />
explorations in the Red Sea Ijy Dr.<br />
Hans Hass. director of the Undersea Research<br />
Institute of Vaduz, Lichtenstein, and his wife<br />
Lotte.<br />
Distribution plans will be finalized within<br />
the next few weeks.<br />
Literary Sales Total Fair;<br />
Two Yarns Go to MGM<br />
Moderately brisk trading characterized the<br />
literary market, with a total of four sales recorded,<br />
two of the purchases being accounted<br />
for by MGM. Added to Leo's story stockpile<br />
were "Branded Woman," a short story of the<br />
early west by Hal G. Evarts, and "My Pal<br />
GETS MODERN SCREEN KEY<br />
Eileen Christy, whom Republic is<br />
grooming for stardom, receives the<br />
Modern Screen "Golden Key" as a start<br />
along the road to cinema fame. Eileen<br />
is flanked by one of her sponsors,<br />
John Russell (1), also a Republic contract<br />
player, and Dennis Day. The<br />
young actress is starring in Republic's<br />
"<br />
"I Dream of Jeannie the Light<br />
Brown Hair)<br />
Geechy," an original comedy by James Poe.<br />
The former, published in the Saturday Evening<br />
Post, will be produced by Sol Fielding;<br />
the latter, to be scripted by Jerry Davis, was<br />
added to Producer Henry Berman's docket .<br />
The remaining purchases fell within the independent<br />
category. A newly organized unit.<br />
Volcano Productions—in which Robert Angus<br />
and William Lewis are partners—picked<br />
up "Angels on Horseback," an original by<br />
Kitty Buhler dealing with the backwoods<br />
nursing setup of the U.S. public health service.<br />
And Fred Finklehoffe cleared the rights<br />
to Maxwell Anderson's stage play, "Anne of<br />
a Thousand Days," which he plans to produce<br />
in England, in Technicolor, this fall,<br />
with Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer in the<br />
starring spots.<br />
Herman Cohen Promoted<br />
In Jack Broder Firm<br />
Promotion from within the ranks found<br />
Herman Cohen boosted to a vice-presidency<br />
in the Jack Broder Production organization.<br />
Also given executive producer status, Cohen<br />
will begin functioning in that capacity with<br />
"White Woman of the Lost Jungle," next on<br />
Broder's docket for Realart release.<br />
New megging assignments found Sidney<br />
Salkow inked by Pi-oducer Sam Katzman to<br />
pilot "Jack McCall, Desperado." for Columbia,<br />
and Joseph H. Lewis set by MGM to direct<br />
"Desperate Search" . Leo added<br />
"Ghost of a Chance." a musical comedy, to<br />
the productional slate of William Grady jr.,<br />
while Stanley Rubin was handed the producing<br />
reins on "The Problem Is Love" at 20th<br />
Centm-y-Fox . . . Activity among the scriveners<br />
included the assignment of Houston<br />
Branch to prepare an original musical for<br />
Producer-Director Allan Dwan at Republic,<br />
while RKO Radio inked Richard Flournoy to<br />
polish the script of "A Likely Story."<br />
RKO Radio has sent Janis Carter on a<br />
30-day swing of U.S. key cities in conjunction<br />
with openings of "The Halt Breed," Technicolor<br />
western in which she co-stars with<br />
Robert Young and Jack Buetel.<br />
_<br />
II<br />
28 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952<br />
I
The audience<br />
walked out!<br />
In the last few years, many people<br />
witnessed<br />
a miracle.<br />
Once doomed to lives as invalids, they<br />
walked out into lives of usefulness and<br />
activity— by the miracle of the "wonder<br />
drugs !"<br />
Wonderful as science's new drugs<br />
may be, one factor is still vital to their<br />
success. They must be used /'/; lime to<br />
be effective!<br />
That's why, when shipping drugs,<br />
serums, and vaccines to all parts of the<br />
country, the orders call for the worlds<br />
fastest shipping service— Air Express<br />
Air Express speed saves lives — and<br />
dollars, too. Whatever your business,<br />
you can profit from regular use of Air<br />
Express. Here's why:<br />
it's fastest — Air Express gets top<br />
priority of all commercial shipping<br />
services — gives the fastest, most complete<br />
door-to-door pickup and delivery<br />
service in all cities and principal towns<br />
at no extra cost.<br />
it's dependable — Air Express provides<br />
one-carrier responsibility all the<br />
way and gets a receipt upon delivery.<br />
it's profitable— Air Express service<br />
costs less than you think, gives you<br />
many profit-making opportunities.<br />
New parcel post regulations affect you?<br />
Call your local agent of Air Express<br />
Division, Railway Express Agency.<br />
GETS THERE FIRST<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 29
"f<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
This chort records the performance o( current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engogements arc not listed. As new runs<br />
are reported, ratings are added and overages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as<br />
"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.<br />
a, =<br />
en >*-<br />
.X.iriiii .-MiiK h rum runkiii trick (P;ll;ll
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
OXOfFIW<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
Klaltt in oLiine<br />
We caught part of the four-city<br />
Florida premiere of "Red Mountain"<br />
in Daiytona Beach. It was as pretty<br />
an example of distributor-exhibitor<br />
cooperation we have ever seen.<br />
Paramount had Lizabeth Scott in<br />
the towns for personal appearances.<br />
VVorlung' on a clocli-Ulie schedule to<br />
get the most mileage from the star,<br />
exploiteer Leonard Allen had no opportunity<br />
to get into the towns<br />
ahead of Miss Scott to set up advance<br />
publicity.<br />
The theatre manager at Daytona,<br />
Mark Dupree, a BOXOFFICE<br />
Honor Roll citation man, filled in<br />
the breach. He got the local Chamber<br />
of Commerce hopped up, and on<br />
short notice Mies Scott was booked<br />
to enlist donors for the Armed<br />
Forces blood bank. The city lined<br />
up by building a stand in the downtown<br />
section for the festivities, and<br />
the newspaper and all three radio<br />
stations spread the word that volunteers<br />
would meet and receive a personally<br />
autographed photo from<br />
Miss Scott. To make sure there<br />
were no welshers in the crowd, every<br />
one who showed up at the blood<br />
bank on appointment received a theatre<br />
pass.<br />
Considering the fact that her other<br />
commitments allowed Miss Scott<br />
only a few hours in Daytona, Dupree<br />
and District Manager J. L. Cartwright,<br />
who arranged the press interviews,<br />
did an excellent job in behalf<br />
of the boxoffice and in line with<br />
the industry's campaign for public<br />
relations.<br />
* * *<br />
Adam Goelz, manager of the Hippodrome,<br />
Baltimore, is candid<br />
enough to admit a tieup that failed<br />
to pay off. He got a local radio<br />
station to put a popular program<br />
broadcast on the theatre stage. In<br />
his opinion people will not pay to<br />
see attractions which they can take<br />
in for free.<br />
$1000 Checks in Lost Billfolds Grab<br />
Fronf-Page Space in Allentown, Pa.<br />
A pepped-up version of the old gag of putting<br />
wallets around town containing a pair Enclosed find check for one thousand dol-<br />
will be the happiest couple In Allentown.<br />
of tickets to the theatre, brought front page lars as a wedding gift."<br />
publicity for the showing of "The Marrying The billfold gag was made even more credible<br />
by the fact that Arnold was careful to<br />
Kind" at the Rialto in Allentown, Pa.<br />
Manager Earl Arnold of the Pabian-owned put each item in a different handwriting. The<br />
Rialto, in searching through the lost and note from "Mother" and the check were written<br />
in decidedly feminine hand using green<br />
found articles at the theatre, came upon 120<br />
unclaimed billfolds. He stuffed each of them ink. The receipt was in small script with a<br />
with a letter, written by hand and addressed fine point pen and the marriage license was<br />
to "my dear son Aide," and signed "Mother"; filled out in two different hands, with the<br />
a check for $1,000 made out to Aldo Ray, star signatures of Ray and Miss HoUiday obviously<br />
of the picture, and signed by Alice Ray; a different.<br />
marriage license made out to Ray and Judy Arnold also had a desk set up in front of<br />
HoUiday, and a receipt for a $200 diamond the theatre with a 22x28 sign reading: "Applications<br />
for Marriage Licenses Issued Here."<br />
set.<br />
Arnold wrote "Not Negotiable" on the He obtained 500 license applications from<br />
checks, but despite this, local police and the registrars office and Arnold saw to it that<br />
bankers held a conference and police issued the applications were given out only to people<br />
who personally assured him that they were<br />
a public warning that the checks were phony<br />
and advised the finders to destroy them. contemplating marriage.<br />
City detectives rounded up an "undisclosed He put up a 40x60 blowup of an article in<br />
number" of the checks and held them in the the Philadelphia Inquirer which attracted<br />
detective bureau. The resultant publicity much attention. The headline was "Information<br />
Office Rushed by Marriage-Minded<br />
made the front page of both local papers and<br />
was broadcast over area radio stations.<br />
Girls." The story contained excerpts of letters<br />
The letter from "mother" was written on from girls in Europe, mostly German, who<br />
note paper stationery and read:<br />
were interested in marrying American men.<br />
"I am looking forward to your wedding They were highly interesting and proved of<br />
Thursday, April 17. I know you and Judy vast amusement to the theatre patrons.<br />
Reward Posters Sent<br />
Kansas Showman Gets<br />
Around for 'Wanted'<br />
A quantity of cardboard posters headed,<br />
"Wanted for Murder," prepared by a local Newspaper Breaks<br />
printer, were adroitly used by J. D. Wilbanks, Henry Sommers, general manager of Durwood<br />
Theatres in Leavenworth, Kas., recently<br />
manager of the Wagon Wheel Drive-In.<br />
Spearman, Tex., to advertise "Waco." The received two news breaks in the Leavenworth<br />
posters were distributed to local stores, banks, Times which helped to promote coming attractions.<br />
the postoffice and the court house.<br />
A cut of the "wanted" man and an offer of With "Viva Zapata!" booked at the Hollywood.<br />
Sommers located a local resident, the<br />
$500 for his apprehension were included _<br />
in<br />
the copy.<br />
owner of a letter addressed to her husband<br />
offering him a commission as major in a<br />
counter-revolutionary movement against Zapata.<br />
Sommers took the letter to the editor<br />
Projectionist Animates<br />
of the Times and got a writeup with a paragraph<br />
describing the theme of the film and<br />
Display for 'Stood Still'<br />
A hand-made display sign, with all art work the Hollywood playdates.<br />
done by Manager John Plttman, created When Humphrey Bogart was announced as<br />
strong word-of-mouth publicity for "The Day an Academy award winner. Sommers showed<br />
the Earth Stood Still" at the Central in up at the editor's office early next morning,<br />
Fairbury. 111. The completed display was assisted him in selecting the art to run in the<br />
animated by Tom Bradley, projectionist at afternoon paper, and promoted a paragraph<br />
the theatre, who rigged up a fla.shing eye with informing the readers that "The African<br />
— Queen" was scheduled to open locally the following<br />
Chester Friedman with sales copy.<br />
week.<br />
It's a lot more probable that the<br />
attraction does not have what it<br />
takes or what the public wants.<br />
Goelz comes up with so many promotions<br />
that do pay off, he can console<br />
himself; like the nonexistent<br />
manager who never makes mistakes,<br />
there never was a showman, who was<br />
fortunate enough to realize a bonanza<br />
from every gem of an idea.<br />
BOXOFFICE Shovnnandiser :<br />
: May<br />
3, 1952 — 103 — 31
Factory Tieup Proves a Natural<br />
For Promotion of<br />
According to<br />
Dwight Kirk, manager of the<br />
Paramount. Middletown, Ohio, 6,000 of the<br />
community's total population of 36,000 are employed<br />
at the ARMCO Steel Corp. When he<br />
received his booking of "'Steel Town,"<br />
ARMCO seemed the logical point to use<br />
as a springboard for his campaign.<br />
Accordingly. Kirk arranged an advance<br />
screening of the film for department heads<br />
and top executives of ARMCO, to which he<br />
also invited the city manager, police and fire<br />
chiefs, the local Kaiser-Frazer dealer and<br />
radio and newspaper representatives. Following<br />
the screening, coffee and rolls were<br />
served to the guests who responded by making<br />
personal endorsements of the picture for use<br />
in theatre adverti.'^ng.<br />
A week prior to opening, the Listen, Ladies<br />
radio program devoted a 15-minute broadcast<br />
to "Steel Town," interviewing ARMCO executives,<br />
with plugs for the picture and playdates.<br />
ARMCO distributed letters to all its employes,<br />
endorsing the picture and urging them<br />
to see it at the Paramount. It extended an<br />
Circus Front Flash<br />
Is 'Show' Ballyhoo<br />
A special flash front attracted the attention<br />
of passersby to "The Greatest Show on<br />
Earth" during its current booking at the<br />
Paramount Theatre in Toledo. The front was<br />
prepared under the direction of Manager<br />
Giles Robb.<br />
The regular poster frames were covered<br />
with beaverboard banners 16 feet long and<br />
stretching to the marquee soffit. In front<br />
of each display was a colorful cutout poster,<br />
handpainted balloons and still montages. At<br />
either end of the marquee attraction sign, an<br />
8x8-foot board was placed flat against the<br />
building with a picture of a clown.<br />
Circus pennants were strung beneath the<br />
edge of the marquee, and additional pennants<br />
were run from the flagpole to the marquee.<br />
The boxoffice was converted into a<br />
circus ticket wagon.<br />
Robb took advantage of national tieups to<br />
obtain numerous window displays.<br />
Steel Town'<br />
invitation to the public, inviting them to inspect<br />
the plant in tribute to "Steel Town."<br />
It further cooperated by purchasing theatre<br />
tickets, at regular admission price, for groups<br />
of employes with exceptional safety records<br />
and for all retired personnel of the company.<br />
The Kaiser-Frazer tieup proved fruitful,<br />
with a new car going on exhibit in front of<br />
the theatre, bannered with tie-in copy. The<br />
dealer used a 40x60 display in his show window<br />
and purchased a cooperative ad.<br />
One hundred window cards were posted<br />
within a 100-mile radius, a cross trailer and<br />
lobby display were used In the affiliated<br />
Strand Theatre and six-sheets were pasted<br />
to the lobby floor. A working scale model of a<br />
ten-ton crane was loaned by ARMCO for<br />
lobby display, with an attendant to keep it in<br />
operation and answer questions of patrons.<br />
During the playdates, a 24-sheet cutout of<br />
Ann Sheridan, star of the picture, enhanced<br />
the theatre marquee. Kirk had excellent cooperation<br />
from the local press in promoting<br />
the engagement.<br />
Star of 'Bend of River'<br />
Sells Tickets One Night<br />
Julia Adams, featured player in "Bend of<br />
the River," gave patrons of the Paramount<br />
Theatre in New York a tlirUl when she appeared<br />
in the boxoffice on the opening night<br />
to sell tickets. Her appearance was publicized<br />
by newspaper stories planted by Henry Siegel,<br />
publicist for Paramount.<br />
Oregon pears, a gift from the citizens of<br />
Oregon, were distributed to passersby in front<br />
of the theatre on opening day.<br />
Newspaper photographers capitalized when<br />
Miss Adams presented fruit trees from Oregon<br />
to the mayor of New York.<br />
Sets Recruiting Deal<br />
For "The Wild Blue Yonder," Helen<br />
Colocousis, manager of the St. James Theatre<br />
in Asbury Park, N. J., had the army and air<br />
force recruiting services install recruiting<br />
booths in the theatre lobby and supply exhibits<br />
of army equipment for the lobby and<br />
window displays.<br />
Sid Kleper Makes Bid<br />
For 'Invitation<br />
Cash<br />
With Strong Buildup<br />
Sid Kleper. manager of the College Theatre<br />
in New Haven, left no stone unturned to<br />
exploit "Invitation." MGM's $1,000 exploitation<br />
contest for this attraction was an added incentive.<br />
An usher dressed as a clown distributed<br />
helium-inflated balloons, imprinted with picture<br />
and theatre copy, to kids in the downtown<br />
shopping section. A photo of the print<br />
of "Invitation" being delivered by Eastern<br />
Airlines was planted in the local paper.<br />
Bus terminals provided space for displays,<br />
and windows were promoted with music stores,<br />
cosmetic shops, furriers, photographers, beauty<br />
salons, men's clothing stores and sporting<br />
goods firms. One hundred window cards were<br />
distributed to suburban locations. Tent cards<br />
were supplied to leading restaurants, and 1,000<br />
imprinted paper doilies placed with restaurants<br />
and soda fountains.<br />
A telephone campaign was launched in cooperation<br />
with the West Hills Parent-Teacher<br />
Ass'n. The first 100 women who attended on<br />
opening day received an American Beauty<br />
rose. Curbs and sidewalks were stenciled, and<br />
directory advertising was set up in leading<br />
downtown hotels.<br />
A girl dressed as a bride distributed invitational<br />
form of heralds in the downtown section,<br />
and bumper strips were displayed on<br />
Yellow cabs. A tie-in was made with the<br />
police department to exhibit placards on signal<br />
poles with copy, "Here is your 'invitation' to<br />
live . . . Wait for the light, etc."<br />
Newsstand cards and a special theatre<br />
front drew attention to the picture, and publicity<br />
was obtained in the local papers when<br />
Kleper offered free guest tickets to all<br />
couples who applied for marriage licenses a<br />
week in advance and during the "Invitation"<br />
playdates.<br />
Museum<br />
Empty Store Is<br />
For 'The African Queen'<br />
Karl Pasick, publicity manager for Loew's<br />
Theatres in Boston, promoted an empty store<br />
and converted it into a small museum as part<br />
of his ballyhoo for "The African Queen." The<br />
picture played a day-and-date engagement at<br />
the State and Orpheum theatres.<br />
The store windows and walls were plastered<br />
with posters, 24-sheets and six-sheets. The<br />
exhibit included showcases filled with African<br />
curios, live and stuffed animals and birds,<br />
foliage, flora and fauna.<br />
Admission to the public was free and Bostonians<br />
flocked to the location.<br />
Stage Singing Contest<br />
Supports 'Snow White'<br />
A talent contest tied in with the engagement<br />
of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"<br />
at the Michigan Theatre in Detroit gave the<br />
picture strong advance publicity. Gil Green,<br />
manager, advertised for talented girl singers<br />
under 18 to comjxete in the contest, doing<br />
numbers exclusively from the original music<br />
score of the picture. Green auditioned all<br />
entrants, and those who passed were presented<br />
on the theatre stage. Selection of the<br />
winner was made by audience applause and<br />
the theatre presented her a $100 savings bond.<br />
32<br />
— 104 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser May 3, 1952
EYE APPEAL IN LOBBY DISPLAYS DOWN IN PANAMA
Florida Theatre Puts Up a Flash<br />
That Stops Miami Traffic<br />
Facets of the campaign for "The Greatest<br />
Show on Earth" at the Florida Theatre in<br />
Miami were of a spectacular nature, in keeping<br />
with the scope of production. The theatre<br />
front designed by Manager James Barnett, the<br />
mechanics of which were worked out by Jack<br />
Clem of the Florida State Theatre art department,<br />
was an eye-catching flash that<br />
stretched across the entire facade of the<br />
building.<br />
The title of the picture appeared above the<br />
marquee in letters six and one-half feet tall.<br />
Lifesize cutout figures of the stars in full<br />
color, animal cutouts and dozens of bright<br />
hued balloons produced a circus atmosphere.<br />
The marquee attraction sign was covered<br />
with panels and painted with Dayglo paint.<br />
Large cutouts of clown heads were placed on<br />
either side of the marquee. Across the front<br />
entrance to the theatre, a typical circus banner<br />
on canvas was suspended.<br />
The glass doors across the main entrance<br />
were treated as one continuous space, with a<br />
a 24-sheet pasted on the doors to create the<br />
Cartoon Projectionist<br />
Okays 'Heart' as Best<br />
Herb Rubinstein, manager of the Center<br />
Theatre, Miami, Fla., distributed heralds<br />
which featured a comic illustration to promote<br />
"With a Song in My Heart." The cartoon<br />
illustration depicted a projectionist with a reel<br />
of film wound about his body and the copy,<br />
"Polks, in the past 23 years as a movie operator<br />
I've seen thousands of pictures . . . The<br />
best one yet is 'With a Song in My Heart."<br />
etc., etc." The heralds were distributed house<br />
to house.<br />
Scout Council Aids<br />
Carl Dickerson, manager of the Colonia in<br />
Norwich, N. Y., had the cooperation of the<br />
county Boy Scout council in promoting "Room<br />
for One More." Every Scout leader received<br />
a printed notice for posting on bulletin boards<br />
where troop meetings are conducted. The<br />
Cold<br />
illusion that people were actually walking<br />
directly into the "big top." Carrying the circus<br />
idea a bit further, a man in flamboyant<br />
costume performed as a professional barker.<br />
Two weeks in advance, the lobby was decorated<br />
in real circus tradition. A miniature<br />
model of Ringling's circus, 15x4 feet, was<br />
placed on exhibition where it attracted large<br />
crowds and resulted in extra newspaper publicity.<br />
The "circus" was borrowed from a<br />
hobbyist in the city who<br />
of modeling all figures,<br />
made a life-work<br />
wagons, animals,<br />
cages, etc., to exact scale.<br />
Strong radio publicity sold the picture<br />
locally, and disk jockeys throughout the area<br />
gave the booking an abundance of gratis<br />
plugs. Five cab companies in the city used<br />
bumper cards. Newsstands were blanketed<br />
with placards tieing in the feature layout<br />
which appeared in Screen Stories magazine.<br />
Barnett took advantage of the national<br />
tieup with the Libbey glass firm to promote<br />
colorful window displays with 26 dealers, including<br />
prominent theatre credits.<br />
Scouts staged a presentation at the theatre<br />
entitled "The Clock," depicting a day in the<br />
life of a Boy Scout. The Norwich daily newspaper<br />
ran several stories, with generous theatre<br />
credits.<br />
Peanut Guessing Event<br />
Ties in Four Markets<br />
Four supermarkets in Berkeley, Calif., and<br />
the adjoining town of Richmond tied up with<br />
A. Erickson, manager of the Berkeley Theatre,<br />
in a ticket-selling tieup for "The Greatest<br />
Show on Earth." Each of the stores set up<br />
extensive displays consisting of circus peanuts.<br />
A large glass jar fUled with peanuts<br />
was placed in the center, and customers were<br />
invited to guess the number in the jar. Free<br />
theatre tickets went to those submitting the<br />
most accurate estimates. Centered in the<br />
display was a poster advertising the theatre<br />
playdates.<br />
Kentucky Theatremen<br />
Set Merchant Deals<br />
And Giveaways<br />
City Manager Bob Cox and Manager Tom<br />
lean of the Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., developed<br />
a number of tie-ins for "The Greatest<br />
Show on Earth."<br />
Cox located a member of Merle Evans' circus<br />
band and got the Lexington Dally Leader<br />
to interview the musician and do a special<br />
story.<br />
A clown costume made by members of the<br />
staff was donned by an usher, artfully made<br />
up, who strolled through the streets, rode<br />
transit lines and sauntered through stores.<br />
He wore a card lettered with picture title and<br />
theatre dates.<br />
The local Ford dealer contributed a flatbed<br />
truck which Cox had transformed into a<br />
circus bandwagon, decorated with pennants<br />
and balloons. On opening day, a seven-piece<br />
band, promoted for a few theatre tickets, got<br />
aboard the truck for a two-hour tour of the<br />
city, playing circus music as they rode along.<br />
The clown was on hand to distribute balloons<br />
and heralds to people on the streets.<br />
Window tieups and free radio time completed<br />
the campaign.<br />
When "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"<br />
played the Kentucky, Cox sold the back page<br />
of a special herald to the local Kresge store.<br />
A coloring contest mat was imprinted on the<br />
herald, with instructions for contestants to<br />
take their entries to the crayon counter at<br />
the store. Winners received free theatre<br />
passes.<br />
The local Bendix dealer donated a "Snow<br />
White" washer as a door prize during the picture's<br />
engagement, and used two co-op ads off<br />
the theatre page to promote the giveaway.<br />
The dealer, in addition, paid the cost of imprinting<br />
and distributing several thousand<br />
special heralds and used an animated window<br />
display on the tieup.<br />
School teachers were circularized with letters<br />
inviting them to bring their classes to special<br />
morning shows. Music stores tied in<br />
with elaborate displays on the music score.<br />
Directional Map Used<br />
On Drive-In Program<br />
Burton Clark, manager of the Boulevard<br />
Drive-In, North Miami Beach, Fla., is using<br />
a variation of a layout he recently saw in<br />
BOXOFFICE as the front cover of his weekly<br />
house program. Clark saw the layout, liked it,<br />
and made a few changes—and intends using it<br />
throughout the outdoor theatre season. The<br />
back page of his program illustrates a directional<br />
map of how to reach the Boulevard<br />
from all locations in the Miami area.<br />
Table Place Mats Boost<br />
Theatre's Anniversary<br />
The first anniversary of the Roxy Theatre<br />
in Port Stanley, Ont., was observed with a<br />
month's booking of outstanding attractions<br />
published on place mats, which were supplied<br />
to all local restaurants and luncheonettes by<br />
Manager Nan Robinson. Congratulatory messages<br />
from friendly neighborhood merchants<br />
were placed around the theatre program<br />
which listed the bookings for the entire month<br />
of April.<br />
34 — 106 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : May 3, 1952
)<br />
Merchants Gel Proof<br />
That Theatres Pull<br />
Extra Store Sales<br />
Lou Halt, district manager for Schine theatres<br />
in Watertown, N. Y., decided to do<br />
something constructive about the lethargic<br />
attitude of local merchants regarding theatre<br />
promotions. He undertook a survey to<br />
produce evidence of what the theatre means<br />
to their business.<br />
Hart contacted the dii'ector of the Chamber<br />
of Commerce and invited him to assist<br />
Duke Elliott, manager of the Olympic, in<br />
making the unique survey during the engagement<br />
of "Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair."<br />
The team asked 513 patrons a set of seven<br />
questions—Where did you come from? How<br />
did you come? Did you buy gas on the way?<br />
Did you shop before visiting the theatre?<br />
Where did you shop? Where did you park?<br />
What was the reason for your trip to the<br />
city?<br />
The survey revealed that 85 per cent of<br />
the people who came to the Olympic from<br />
out of town had done so for the express<br />
purpose of seeing the show. Hart made copies<br />
of the survey which he mailed to every merchant<br />
in Watertown, along with a list of some<br />
of the outstanding attractions booked for the<br />
local<br />
Schine theatres.<br />
The new'spaper published a complete account<br />
of the survey and, according to the<br />
Schine executive, many of the merchants<br />
have already signified their intention of cooperating<br />
closely on theatre tieups.<br />
In Hart's opinion, the survey is something<br />
which should be conducted from time to<br />
time, especially in small situations, to<br />
strengthen ties with the merchants and the<br />
Chamber of Commerce for long-range potentials.<br />
Signs on Coaches Urge<br />
Safety and 'Murder. Inc.'<br />
G. Leopold, manager of the Regal Cinema<br />
in Purley, England, tied up with the road<br />
safety committee In his campaign for "Murder,<br />
Inc.," with very favorable results. The<br />
officials of this organization prevailed upon<br />
a local coach proprietor to lend them his<br />
fleet of vehicles at no cost. These toured the<br />
town, posted with road safety publicity and<br />
large signs devoted to film and theatre copy—<br />
a generous 50-50 billing. The police called<br />
the attention of the public to the coaches<br />
when they stopped periodically at busy Intersections.<br />
Stars at Premiere Aid<br />
Promotion of 'Flesh'<br />
When Tony Curtis and Jan Sterling appeared<br />
at the opening of "Flesh and Fury,"<br />
at the RKO Orpheum in New Orleans, Manager<br />
John Dostal arranged a series of promotional<br />
events for the visitors. The stars<br />
participated in a parade through downtown<br />
New Orleans, were guests at a luncheon of<br />
the Optimists club, were interviewed on seven<br />
radio and television programs and attended<br />
an autograph party at the Holmes department<br />
store. The store ran newspaper ads.<br />
Novelty Circulars<br />
Suggest Good Rule<br />
p. M. Crook, assistant manager of the<br />
Broadway Cinema In Eccles, Lanes., England,<br />
handled the exploitation campaign for "Lightning<br />
Strikes Twice" and turned In a fine Job.<br />
One thousand cardboard rulers were Imprinted<br />
with copy on one side; "There will be<br />
a full measure of entertainment at the<br />
Broadway, etc." The other side read, "Malce<br />
it a rule to .•ee 'Lightning Strikes Twice,' etc."<br />
One thousand circulars In the form of a<br />
contest entry blank were dLstrlbuted, giving<br />
the public an opportunity to forecast the<br />
weather on opening day of the picture. Contestants<br />
making the most accurate forecasts<br />
received<br />
theatre passes.<br />
Promotes Co-Op Herald<br />
Gordon Spradley, manager of the Lincoln<br />
Theatre, Miami Beach, tied up with a neighborhood<br />
diaper service on a co-op herald advertising<br />
"The First Time." Half the space on<br />
the circular was devoted to an ad for the<br />
sponsor headed, " 'The First Time' the stork<br />
starts hovering, etc.," and "For the hairraising<br />
adventures of a newly married couple<br />
who wanted a baby, etc.,"<br />
PROm-mHING iXMBtTORS SAVi<br />
Nothing Can Top<br />
"Rap."in Aberdeen!<br />
Onve-»n, »o<br />
J<br />
oi<br />
V<br />
Comic Mats Are Planted<br />
With 'Honeychile' Ads<br />
James Wiggs jr., manager of the Tar Theatre,<br />
Tarboro, N. C, received two comic feature<br />
ad mats from the distributor of "Honeychile"<br />
and used them for effective newspaper<br />
display ads. He paid for a dateline and<br />
theatre signature, his only cost for the promotion.<br />
Regular radio spots advertised the playdates,<br />
and the station tied in with a quiz offering<br />
passes to the first ten persons who identified<br />
vocal groups on various recordings. The<br />
theatre front was dressed up with three-sheet<br />
displays and a 12-foot banner.<br />
Wiggs reports the extra promotion created<br />
favorable word-of-mouth publicity and gave<br />
the theatre excellent receipts during the current<br />
playdates.<br />
Three days, opening Dec. 22nd, last<br />
year, your "Prince of Peace" did<br />
MORE than twice the business of<br />
anything we had ever played. It<br />
still is our top-record grosser!<br />
We wish to<br />
commend your fine<br />
organization on its service to Exhibitors.<br />
. . . The educational angle<br />
of your films gives them a 'message'<br />
that pleases.<br />
We want to buy all Hallmark films<br />
and will play them in the near future.<br />
Please have your agent. Lew<br />
Andrews, stop in again.<br />
C. E. TREAS<br />
Now in<br />
Release:<br />
• "Power of Prayer"<br />
• "Secrets of Beauty"<br />
• "Prince of Peace"<br />
• "Why Men Leave<br />
Home"<br />
• "She Shoulda<br />
Said No"<br />
• "Sideroad"<br />
• "Mom and Dad"<br />
Redmen Recruiters Turn<br />
Attention to 'Defiance'<br />
The local<br />
tribe of Redmen helped Manager<br />
A. J. Benya exploit "Fort Defiance" at the<br />
Savoy Theatre, Asbury Park, N. J. Instead<br />
of the conventional stunt of having the theatre<br />
staff don Indian costumes, Benya persuaded<br />
the Redmen to furnish a fully costumed<br />
membership recruiting team for a<br />
week prior to the opening. The team of six<br />
Redmen took stations in the lobby and in<br />
front of the house.<br />
HALLMARKU<br />
KROGER<br />
BABB<br />
Vrea.lent<br />
• HALLMARK BUILDING • WILMINGTON, OHIO<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : May<br />
3. 1952 — 107 — 35
. . and<br />
. . But<br />
Slide Projector Puis<br />
'African' Playdales<br />
On Theatre Front<br />
A slide projected on a screen hung across<br />
the front of the Regent Cinema in Chatham,<br />
Kent, England, from a projector set up In<br />
the home of a tenant across the street, was<br />
an effective ballyhoo stunt for "The African<br />
Queen." G. Williams, manager of the Regent,<br />
was enabled to carry out the stunt by giving<br />
the owner of the flat a few theatre tickets.<br />
A cutout of a boat was constructed, with<br />
a row of lights placed around the outer edge<br />
of the display, extending up to the mast and<br />
funnel. Star names and film title were lettered<br />
across the bow of the boat and placed<br />
on the marquee for current ballyhoo.<br />
Posters were sniped in 25 select locations<br />
and three window displays were promoted<br />
from neighborhood merchants.<br />
An attractive lobby board was built to<br />
herald "A Streetcar Named Desire." A display<br />
board measuring 8x8 feet and painted<br />
to resemble a large traffic signal with red,<br />
amber and green lights, had copy reading,<br />
"Stop! Go . . . .see 'A Streetcar Named Desire.'<br />
"<br />
Animation was achieved by means of<br />
a flasher light aiTangement concealed behind<br />
the board.<br />
Williams took advantage of an unfavorable<br />
report published by the local reviewer to conduct<br />
a contest, inviting patrons to write<br />
a letter on whether or not they were in<br />
agreement with the criticism. Guest tickets<br />
went to senders of the three best letters.<br />
Lobby Fashion Show<br />
Boosts 'Phone Call'<br />
Would You Toss $5,000<br />
Out the Window?<br />
As one showman put it: "I was amazed when I found that I<br />
had tossed $5,000 out the window! .<br />
when I finally figured<br />
out how much profit I had overlooked by not screening Alexander<br />
movie-ads during the past several years, I found that I had turned<br />
down a pure profit of $5,000."<br />
This showman went on to say that he was very surprised,<br />
too, to discover later that his audiences actually seemed as attentive<br />
to the Alexander movie-ads as they were to the rest of the<br />
show!<br />
Yes, movie-goers are vitally interested in better things that contribute<br />
to better living .<br />
Alexander quality movie-ads serve<br />
this interest in a very attention-compelling way.<br />
Don't throw your potential profits out the window. Simply<br />
screen Alexander movie-ads a few minutes each day .<br />
watch those added profits roll in!<br />
— Write Today for Full Information —<br />
COLORADO SPRINGS<br />
. . and<br />
NEW YORK DETROIT CHICAGO DALLAS SAN FRANCISCO HOLLYWOOD<br />
36 — 108 —<br />
Capitalizing on the fact that "Phone Call<br />
From a Stranger" is particularly appealing to<br />
women, Fred Trebilcock, manager of the University<br />
in Toronto, booked the Technicolor<br />
short, "Paris, City of Fashion," with the feature<br />
and promoted a spring fashion show<br />
during the playdate.<br />
A prominent department store supplied<br />
spring fashions and manikins to model them<br />
on theatre lobby runways. Exhibition of the<br />
modes was visible from the street.<br />
As a public service, Trebilcock used the<br />
theatre lobby to exhibit naval equipment under<br />
the sponsorship of the navy reserve. The<br />
stunt was exclusively a recruiting device, but<br />
many of the items in the exhibit had never<br />
been seen by the public. These included a<br />
submarine torpedo, a depth charge thrower,<br />
antiaircraft weapons and a variety of projectiles<br />
used on navy ships. The exhibit was<br />
publicized by Toronto newspapers and attracted<br />
large crowds of interested spectators.<br />
Wedding Parade Arranged<br />
A "wedding" automobile caravan paraded<br />
the streets of Springfield, 111., to the Senate<br />
Theatre for "The Marrying Kind." Arranged<br />
by J. David Jones, publicity manager, the<br />
procession created quite a stir. Banners on<br />
the cars declared those inside to be "the<br />
marrying kind."<br />
Orchids for First Women<br />
Ray McNamara, manager of the Allyn Theatre,<br />
Hartford, promoted a neighborhood<br />
florist for distribution of free orchids to the<br />
first 100 women attending the opening of "My<br />
Son John." Window cards, bus cards and<br />
window displays were used to publicize the<br />
playdates in advance.<br />
Longest-Marriage Contest<br />
Bill Brereton, publicist for the Lafayette in<br />
Buffalo, had a radio station and a department<br />
store sponsor a contest on "The Marrying<br />
Kind." The contest involved a search for<br />
Buffalo's longest-married couples, who were<br />
rewarded with a "second honeymoon" at<br />
Niagara Falls, courtesy of the store. Runnerup<br />
prizes included a clock-radio and a basket of<br />
foodstuffs, promoted by Brereton from local<br />
merchants, and a $50 savings bond donated<br />
by the theatre.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : May 3, 1962
Brandt, Weisman Keep<br />
Trans-Lux Control<br />
NEW YORK—Harry Brandt and Milton C.<br />
Weisman retained control of the management<br />
of Trans-Lux Corp. Friday (25) when the<br />
board of directors received 325.064 votes as<br />
against 215,575 for a board nominated by a<br />
stockholders committee trying to oust them.<br />
The winning slate is composed of Chester<br />
Bland, Brandt, Robert Daine, Jay Emanuel,<br />
Percival E. Furber, Percy N. Furber, Aquila<br />
Giles, Herbert E. Herrman, Edison Rice, Lee<br />
Shubert, Jacob Starr, Joseph Viertel, Ralph<br />
Wiener and Weisman.<br />
SEEKS TO VOID ELECTION<br />
H. Gardner Ingi-aham. attorney, who led<br />
the attack for the stockholders committee, has<br />
appealed to the Securities and Exchange<br />
Commission to void the entire April 25 election<br />
of the Trans-Lux board. Ingraham, who<br />
represents George G. Mason, a member of<br />
the stockholders committee, said that the<br />
SEC had been furnished exhibits and affidavits<br />
which seek to show that the Trans-Lux<br />
management used soliciting material for proxies<br />
alleged to be false and misleading, in violation<br />
of the commission's proxy rule. Ingraham<br />
requested a re-solicitation of proxies<br />
and a new election.<br />
In addition to Mason, others on the stockholders<br />
committee are: Mrs. Elizabeth King<br />
Black, Norman W. Elson, Peter H. Mortenson,<br />
Walter Siemers, Jerome B. Ross and<br />
Eugene R. West. Ingraham claimed that a<br />
four-to-one ratio of individual stockholders<br />
sending proxies to the committee showed dissatisfaction<br />
with the management "amounting<br />
to a grassroots revolt." He said the incumbent<br />
directors and their families and known<br />
friends or relatives and employes owned more<br />
than 30 per cent of the outstanding shares.<br />
READING DEFERRED A YEAR<br />
The committee also lost out on a proposal<br />
for an investigation by the board of specific<br />
charges of mismanagement, but another proposal<br />
calling for the reading of the minutes<br />
of preceding annual meetings was carried by<br />
a vote of 217,781 to 211,805. Ingraham then<br />
asked Percival E. Furber, chairman of the<br />
board and president, to have the minutes of<br />
the last meeting read so that "any grave<br />
omissions or inaccuracies" could be corrected.<br />
PXirber said the vote meant they would be<br />
read next year, not then. Weisman said the<br />
idea was not to prolong the meeting, which<br />
had opened the previous day, and that minutes<br />
were not read at most corporation meetings.<br />
He said they would be supplied stockholders<br />
individually. It was then voted to<br />
defer the reading.<br />
Weisman said the company had weathered<br />
an economic storm and that he hoped dividends<br />
would be resumed soon. He spoke of<br />
a "grave recession" in the industry, with "all<br />
companies steadily going downhill in the past<br />
four years," and attributed it to television, a<br />
lack of pictures and installment buying. Ingraham<br />
asked for a reduction in administrative<br />
expenses, which he said had risen, and<br />
said that Guild Enterprises theatres operated<br />
by Elson, whom the committee had wanted<br />
to manage Trans-Lux, had been doing an<br />
Increasing business.<br />
Your help appreciated—run the Cerebral Palsy<br />
trailer. Avoiloble from May IS to July 1.<br />
TV Patents Declared<br />
Safe in UPT Merger<br />
WASHINGTON — Paramount Television<br />
Vice-Piesidcnt Paul Raibourn concluded his<br />
third appearance during the course of the<br />
long-drawn-out FCC hearings on the proposed<br />
ABC-UPT merger with a denial that<br />
Paramount would have any reason for attempting<br />
to suppress theatre television patents.<br />
FCC Counsel Arthur Gladstone, on top of<br />
earlier accusations by FCC lawyers to the<br />
effect that Paramount had sought to suppress<br />
Scophony's theatre TV and subscriber<br />
TV patents, indicated his belief that Paramount<br />
had used the same suppression<br />
methods on the DuMont Laboratories, operators<br />
of the DuMont Television Network.<br />
Raibourn said that Paramount was very<br />
much interested in the development of theatre<br />
television and that he, himself, had always<br />
felt large-screen TV would prove to be<br />
"of immense advantage" to theatres.<br />
ABC and DuMont followed the lead of CBS,<br />
which on the day before had submitted its<br />
film rental figures covering 1951 for the hearing<br />
record.<br />
DUMONT FILM EXPENDITURES<br />
DuMont during 1951 said it had spent<br />
$533,098 for all types of films, of which $240,-<br />
500 went for rental of motion picture features:<br />
$286,147 for films made especially for<br />
TV, and the balance for other types of film.<br />
During 1951, ABC spent a total of $1,310,195<br />
for films, of which $884,259 went for rentals of<br />
feature motion pictures and the balance for<br />
other types of film. ABC was the only one<br />
of the three TV networks which did not devote<br />
more of its investment for films to those<br />
especially made for television than to the<br />
Hollywood product. ABC reported it had<br />
shown no specially made films during the<br />
year, although it had produced two such films<br />
on a "pilot" basis.<br />
Balaban anci Blank<br />
Excused at Hearing<br />
WASHINGTON—The FCC hearings on the<br />
proposed ABC-UPT merger limped along last<br />
week through mountains of ancient letters<br />
which FCC counsel had secured from Para-<br />
mount and United Paramount Theatres files<br />
and which were offered as Indlcatloas that<br />
during the late 208 the Balaban & Katz chain<br />
had tried to suppress competition illegally in<br />
the Chicago area.<br />
Tlie witne.s-s, until Friday afternoon, was<br />
Paramount Pictures President Barney Balaban,<br />
and many of the letters had been written<br />
by or to him, or to third parties with<br />
copies to Balaban. He .said he failed to remember<br />
almost all of the 25-year-old correspondence.<br />
JOHN BALABAN ILL<br />
On Friday, the witness was advised that his<br />
brother John Balaban was seriously ill In<br />
Chicago and he was excu.sed for a time. No<br />
date ha.s been set for his return. UPT Director<br />
A. H. Blank's appearance was postponed<br />
on somewhat similar grounds. His wife Ls<br />
.seriously ill.<br />
Paramount television Vice-President Paul<br />
Raibourn took the stand on Friday. Hearings<br />
were recessed over Monday and Tuesday<br />
and resumed on Wednesday with Raibourn<br />
still the witness, as he will likely be until the<br />
end of this week. Raibourn was again quizzed<br />
about the Scophony theatre television and<br />
subscriber television patents, with the FCC<br />
attorneys still trying to establish an attempt<br />
on the part of Paramount to suppress TV<br />
patents. Arthur Levey, Scophony president,<br />
is tentatively scheduled to appear Monday to<br />
tell the Scophony side of the Paramount-<br />
Scophony relationship.<br />
Columbia Broadcasting System on Wednesday<br />
(30) put into the hearing record the<br />
figures on film rentals it had paid during<br />
1951.<br />
UPT Executive Tours<br />
NEW YORK—Edward L. Hyman, vicepresident<br />
of United Paramount Theatres, and<br />
Bernard Levy, his assistant, left Tuesday (29)<br />
for visits to Chicago, Salt Lake City, Los<br />
Angeles and San Francisco. Hyman will attend<br />
the MGM "Seeing Is Believing" conference<br />
in Los Angeles May 8-10 and discuss<br />
plan.s for the Memorial day reopening of the<br />
Paramount Theatre after improvements. He<br />
is expected to return May 27.<br />
AT OPENING OF LUXURY THEATRE—Among those who attended the invitation<br />
opening of the Beekman Theatre, new Rugoff & Beciier house at 66th street on Second<br />
avenue Monday were, left to right: Irving Lesser, produoor's representative, with Mrs.<br />
Lesser, and S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising for RKO, with Mrs. McCormick;<br />
Edward N. Rugoff, co-owner of the Beekman; Greer Garson, MGM star, and<br />
Leo McCarey, Paramount producer-director of "My Son John."<br />
BOXOFHCE May 3, 1952 N 37
B R O A D \N AY<br />
T izabetb Scott, star of "Red Mountain," now<br />
at the Globe Tlieatre, arrived for week of<br />
press, radio and magazine Interviews publicizing<br />
the picture . . . Vittorlo Gassman, Italian<br />
star who just married Shelley Winters, is<br />
here to begin location shooting for his first<br />
American film. "The Glass Wall." which Maxwell<br />
Shane and Ivan Tors are producing<br />
independently for United Artists release . . .<br />
Edward Arnold is also here to attend the<br />
opening of his 20th Century-Fox picture,<br />
Mack<br />
"Belles on Their Toes" Johnny . . .<br />
Brown, Monogram western star, will make<br />
several TV appearances on the Ken Murray<br />
show. Mrs. Brown has Joined him.<br />
Regrina Wallace has returned from Hollywood<br />
and is playing her original stage role in<br />
the revival of "The Male Animal" at the City<br />
Center. Elliott Nugent, the original star, has<br />
three other screen names in the revival. Robert<br />
Preston, Martha Scott and Halliwell<br />
Hobbes . . . Jack Carson, another Hollywood<br />
name who was in the screen version of "The<br />
Male Animal" in 1942, is starring in the<br />
Broadway musical revival, "Of Thee I Sing,"<br />
which opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre May 5<br />
. . . Mary Sinclair, TV actress recently signed<br />
by Paramount, is in for a visit before starting<br />
her first picture.<br />
Kennina, Carol Reed's acting discovery who<br />
appears in "Outcast of the Islands," planed<br />
in from Paris for a series of interviews in<br />
connection with the two-theatre opening here<br />
May 15 . . . Harold Hendee, head of RKO's<br />
research department, addressed the Kiwanis<br />
club in Lowell, Mass., April 29 on "Authenticating<br />
the Movies" . . . Eight hundred members<br />
of the Philadelphia Motion Picture Reviewers<br />
heard W. C. Gehring, executive assistant<br />
sales manager for 20th-Fox, discuss<br />
outstanding product from the industry at a<br />
luncheon meeting at the Warwick hotel<br />
May 1.<br />
Samuel Fuller, writer-producer-director of<br />
"Park Row," which United Artists wUl release,<br />
returned to Hollywood May 1 after a<br />
two-week stay to discuss promotion plans . . .<br />
Carl Peppercorn, RKO Canadian district<br />
manager, was in from Toronto for discussions<br />
with Charles Boasberg, north-south division<br />
sales manager.<br />
William Wyler, Paramount producer, left<br />
on the Queen Mary en route to Rome, where<br />
he will film "Roman Holiday," starring Audrey<br />
Hepburn, starting June 1. Noel Coward,<br />
British actor-author; Fannie Hurst, novelist,<br />
and Tom Arnold, London theatre producer,<br />
were on the same boat . . . Anita Loos, author<br />
of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"; John Williams,<br />
British actor, and Ludwig Charell, film<br />
producer, left for Europe on the He de France<br />
. . . William Holden, Paramount star, and his<br />
actress-wife, Brenda Marshall, flew to France<br />
to attend the Cannes Film festival, in which<br />
Holden's "Detective Story" is entered, and<br />
then to tour the continent.<br />
George Weltner, president of Paramount<br />
International, left for Hollywood en route to<br />
Harold J. Salemson, national advertising<br />
Tokyo . . .<br />
and publicity director for Riviera<br />
Films, which produced "Encounter" for<br />
United Artists release, planed to Rome to<br />
map out the preliminary promotion . . . Allyn<br />
McLerie, who played bpposite Ray Bolger in<br />
the stage and screen versions of "Where's<br />
33<br />
Mort Nathaoson .^1 Tamarin<br />
Mort Nathanson this week assumed his<br />
new duties as eastern publicity director<br />
for United Artists, succeeding Al Tamarin<br />
who has been promoted to assistant to<br />
Francis Winikus, national director of advertising,<br />
publicity and exploitation.<br />
Nathanson had been with Horizon Films,<br />
as eastern advertising-publicity director,<br />
since last fall. Previously he had been<br />
with Paramount, Liberty Films and the<br />
Goldwyn organization.<br />
Charley?" has returned from London, where<br />
she played in "To Dorothy, a Son," and will<br />
shortly go to the coast to start her Warner<br />
contract . . . George Raft, who completed<br />
"Loan Shark" for Lippert, planed to England<br />
via BOAC.<br />
Ben Cohn, Universal home office foreign<br />
executive, left April 27 for the Latin American<br />
branches . . . Phil Reisman, RKO vicepresident<br />
in charge of foreign distribution,<br />
planed to Paris via TWA to conduct a conference<br />
of European sales managers . . . Ned<br />
E. Depinet, president of RKO, returned from<br />
Hollywood . . . Adolph Zukor, chairman of the<br />
board of Pai'amount Pictures, returned by air<br />
following his annual two-month visit to the<br />
studio . . . David A. Lipton, Universal vicepresident<br />
in charge of advertising and publicity,<br />
got in from Hollywood for meetings<br />
with home office executives . . . Norton V.<br />
Ritchey, vice-president of Monogram International,<br />
returned from the coast following a<br />
meeting of the board.<br />
R. D. Hetzel Jr. Is Elected<br />
Vice-President of MPAA<br />
NEW YORK—Ralph D. Hetzel jr., assistant<br />
to President Eric Johnston in charge of the<br />
New York office, was unanimously elected a<br />
vice-president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />
America at the annual meeting Friday (2).<br />
The MPAA board also adopted a resolution<br />
of appreciation of the contributions to the<br />
industry arbitration conference by William<br />
F. Rodgers, who headed the distributor group,<br />
Al Lichtman, A. Montague and Robert<br />
Mochrie, sales executives, and Austin Keough,<br />
Robert Perkins and Adolph Schimel, general<br />
counsel, and additionally thanked the representatives<br />
of the exhibitor associations at the<br />
conference for "their constructive approach<br />
toward the problems of creating and adopting<br />
a method of arbitration for use in the industry."<br />
Run the Cerebral Palsy campaign trailer. Available<br />
May 15 to July 1.<br />
Paramount, Capitol<br />
Each Book 4 Pictures<br />
NEW YORK—Both the Paramount and<br />
Capitol theatres have set their first run product<br />
for the next few months, at least until<br />
the end of June depending on the length of<br />
the engagements.<br />
Starting with "Macao," staiTing Jane Russell,<br />
Robert Mitchum and William Bendix,<br />
which opened April 30, four RKO pictures<br />
are booked for the Paramount, according to<br />
Robert M. Weitman, vice-president of United<br />
Paramount Theatres. The othei-s are:<br />
"Rancho Notorious," in Technicolor, starring<br />
Marlene Dietrich, Arthur Kennedy and Mel<br />
Ferrer; "The Wild Heart," David O. Selznick<br />
production in Technicolor, starring Jennifer<br />
Jones and David Farrar, and "Clash By<br />
Night," Wald-Kra.sna production, starring<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert<br />
Ryan and Marilyn Monroe.<br />
Pearl Bailey, Larry Storch and Buddy Baer<br />
head the current stage show at the Paramount<br />
and Nat "King" Cole, Johnnie Ray,<br />
and Les Paul and Mary Ford will head the<br />
sub.sequent stage bills.<br />
At the Capitol, "Carbine Wilhams," MGM<br />
film starring James Stewart, will open May 7<br />
following four weeks of Paramount's "My Son<br />
John." The next film, late in May, will be<br />
MGM's musical, "Skirts Ahoy," starring<br />
Esther Williams, Joan Evans and Vivian<br />
Blaine; then "Carrie," Paramount feature<br />
stan-ing Jennifer Jones and Laurence Olivier,<br />
and "The Quiet Man," John Ford's Technicolor<br />
production for Republic release, starring<br />
John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Barry<br />
Fitzgerald.<br />
At the Radio City Music Hall, the cuiTent<br />
"Singin' in the Rain," will be followed by another<br />
MGM Technicolor picture, "Scaramouche,"<br />
.starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor<br />
Parker and Mel Ferrer. "Where's Charley?"<br />
Warner Bros. Technicolor musical starring<br />
Ray Bolger, has also been booked.<br />
"The San Francisco Story," distributed by<br />
Warner Bros., will be next picture at the<br />
Warner Theatre, following the current "Mara<br />
Maru." "Kangaroo," Technicolor picture from<br />
20th Century-Fox, will follow the current<br />
"Belles on Theii- Toes," which opened at the<br />
Roxy May 2.<br />
ITO Protests Antitrust<br />
Suit Filed Against NSS<br />
NEW YORK — The Independent Theatre<br />
Owners Ass'n of New York Thursday (1)<br />
adopted a resolution pointing to "many years<br />
of amicable relations with National Screen<br />
Service Corp.," which it said performs "unique<br />
and necessary services of benefit to exhibitors."<br />
The resolution declared that the antitrust<br />
suit filed against the company by the Department<br />
of Justice "will definitely damage the<br />
very interests it is designed to protect by creating<br />
a greater degree of industry confusion<br />
and higher costs for trailers and accessories."<br />
The ITO empowered its counsel to explore all<br />
legal means for the protection of its members<br />
and "to take all the necessary steps to carry<br />
out the purposes" of the resolution.<br />
TV Toons to WNBT<br />
NEW YORK—The Screen Gems, Inc., TV<br />
department has granted exclusive rights in<br />
the New York area for its TV Disk Jockey<br />
Toons series to the National Broadcasting<br />
Co. for showing on WNBT.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952<br />
Pl
WB)<br />
B. B. Kreisler Heads<br />
Foreign Film Group<br />
NEW YORK—B. Bernard Kreisler, executive<br />
director of tiie Advisory Unit of Foreign<br />
Films of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America,<br />
lias resigned effective<br />
^May1 to become president<br />
of the International<br />
Film Associates-<br />
Television Corp.,<br />
known as IFA-TV.<br />
This is a new foreign<br />
film and television<br />
syndicate with Wall<br />
street financing and<br />
offices at 444 Madison<br />
Ave.<br />
The corporation will<br />
B. Bernard Kreisler<br />
act as a clearing house<br />
in this country for foreign<br />
films and will channel both features and<br />
featurettes to television stations and specialized<br />
"art" theatres.<br />
The organization also will represent foreign<br />
film and television producers as consultants<br />
on production as well as marketing and programming<br />
of product. The company has a<br />
technical studio designed for lip-synchronized<br />
dubbing of selected foreign films into English<br />
for television presentation.<br />
Kreisler will leave for Europe next month<br />
to meet production executives in England,<br />
France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany and<br />
Scandinavian countries on films to be made<br />
available in this country.<br />
In addition to Kreisler, members of the<br />
board of IFA-TV include: James Frank, Robert<br />
M. Davidson, Charles S. Goodman and<br />
A. A. Strelsin.<br />
Kreisler has had extensive experience<br />
abroad and in this country. Before joining<br />
the MPAA he conducted a European film survey<br />
in 18 countries for the Harvard Graduate<br />
School of Business Administration. He was<br />
general manager and vice-president of United<br />
Artists-Cowan productions of Ernie Pyle's<br />
"Story of GJ. Joe" and "Tomorrow the<br />
World," and was at one time connected with<br />
Universal in several executive posts.<br />
B'way, East Side Booking<br />
Set for British Picture<br />
NEW YORK — "Outcast of the Islands,"<br />
London Films production distributed in this<br />
country by Lopert Films, will open simultaneously<br />
May 15 at the Astor Theatre on Broadway<br />
and the Fine Ai-ts Theatre on the east<br />
side. This will be the fii-st time a new film<br />
will play simultaneously at a Broadway first<br />
run and a first run class house.<br />
Lopert Films' reasoning for the booking is<br />
that a great many film patrons who patronize<br />
the east side class houses rarely venture<br />
over to the Broadway sector for their picture<br />
entertainment. "The Lavender Hill Mob,"<br />
which opened the Fine Arts Theatre in October,<br />
will have completed 31 weeks by May<br />
14.<br />
"Outcast of the Island," from the Joseph<br />
Conrad story, was directed by Carol Reed<br />
and stars four British players, Ralph Richardson,<br />
Trevor Howard, Wendy Hiller and<br />
Robert Morley with Reed's discovery, Kerima,<br />
featured.<br />
Your help appreciated—run the Cerebral Palsy<br />
trailer. Available from Moy 15 to July 1.<br />
Rainy Days Hurt B'way First Runs;<br />
Singin,<br />
Song' Remain Strong<br />
NEW YORK— Rain, which started on the<br />
weekend and continued into the week, hurt<br />
grosses at the majority of the Broadway first<br />
runs although it actually drove many patrons<br />
who had planned outdoors events in to the<br />
outstanding films.<br />
The Easter week holdovers still led the<br />
field, particularly "Singin' in the Rain," still<br />
strong in its fifth week at the Radio City<br />
Music Hall, and "With a Song in My Heart,"<br />
which held for a fourth good week at the<br />
Roxy. "Tlie Man in the White Suit" had a<br />
smash fourth week at the Sutton after shattering<br />
previous gro.sses for its first, .second<br />
and third weeks.<br />
"Mara Maru" was the best of the new films,<br />
mainly because of the draw of the Ballet<br />
Theatre playing its first stage engagement<br />
in support of a Broadway film at the Warner.<br />
"Red Mountain" had a good first week<br />
at the Globe but "The Green Glove" at the<br />
Criterion and "Maytime in Mayfair" at the<br />
Trans-Lux were ju.st fair and the latter was<br />
replaced Saturday (3) by "The Narrow Margin."<br />
"Encore," in its fourth weelc at the<br />
Normandie, and "Tomorrow Is Too Late,"<br />
Italian-language film in its third week at<br />
Loew's State, al.so held up well but many of<br />
the art house films dropped off.<br />
Eleven new pictures opened during the<br />
week, only five of them from Hollywood:<br />
"Atomic City," "Macao," "Belles on Their<br />
Toes," "The Pi-ide of St. Louis" and "The<br />
Narrow Margin." Three of the others were<br />
French films, the most in that language to<br />
play in Manhattan art spots in several years.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor My 3ix Convicts (Col), 5fh wk 1 00<br />
Baronet Passion for Life (Brandon), 19th d. t. wk. 90<br />
Capitol My Son John (Paro), 3rd wk 100<br />
Criterion The Green Glove (UA) 110<br />
Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-1), 28th wk..105<br />
55th Street Jour de Fete (Mayer-Kingsley), lOfh<br />
wk 90<br />
Globe Red Mountain (Para) 115<br />
Holiday Loyola—Soldier Soint (Simplex) 100<br />
Little Carnegie Picture (Picture), 3rd wk 95<br />
Loew's State Tomorrow Is Too Lote (Burstyn), 3rd<br />
wk 110<br />
Mayfair Anything Can Happen (Para), 4th wk. . . 90<br />
Normandie Encore (Para), 4th wk 115<br />
Paramount Bend of the River (U-l), plus stage<br />
show, 3rd wk 1 05<br />
Paris The River (UA), 33rd wk 100<br />
Park Avenue Faithful City (RKO), 3rd wk 95<br />
Radio City Music Hall Singin' in the Rain (MGM),<br />
plus stoge show, 5th wk 1 20<br />
Rialto Okinawa (Col) 100<br />
Rivoli Valley of the Eogles (LP), 3rd wk 95<br />
Roxy With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox), plus<br />
stage show, 4th wk 110<br />
Sutton The Man in the White Suit (U-l), 4th<br />
wk 150<br />
Trans-Lux 52nd The Young and the Damned<br />
(Moyer-Kingsley), 5th wk 95<br />
Trans-Lux 60th Maytime in Mayfair (Realort).. 98<br />
Victoria The Morrying Kind (Col), 7th wk 105<br />
Warner Mora Maru (WB), plus Ballet Theatre on<br />
stage 1 25<br />
World Miss Julie (Trans-Global), 3rd wk 95<br />
'Ma cmd Pa Kettle' Grosses<br />
110 in Buffalo Bow<br />
BUFFALO—Old Sol hit town last weekend<br />
and cars were lined up bumper to bumper<br />
on most of the highways leaving the city.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>s withered. The Buffalo did fairly<br />
well with a four-day stage show headed by<br />
Nat "King" Cole and his band, with "Just<br />
This Once" on the screen.<br />
Buffalo Just This Once (MGM), plus stage<br />
show 115<br />
Center My Son John (Para) 95<br />
Century Mutiny (UA), 6 days 85<br />
Cinema The Song of Bcrnadette (20fh-Fox),<br />
reissue 85<br />
Lafayette Mo and Po Kettle ot the Fair (U-l) 110<br />
Paramount With o Song in My Heart<br />
2nd wk 95<br />
Teck Singin' in the Rain (MGM), 3rd wk.. 105<br />
DISCUSS MUSIC HALL FILM—George<br />
Sidney, right, director of<br />
MG.M's "Scaramouche,"<br />
which has been booked as the<br />
next picture at the Radio City Music Hall<br />
following the current "Singin' In the<br />
Kain," discusses the film with Russell V.<br />
Downing, president and managing director<br />
of<br />
"Show/ 'Heart,'<br />
the theatre.<br />
'Zapatai'<br />
Good at Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH—Grosses rolled over the top<br />
in one of the best weeks of the year to date.<br />
Bigger in its thu-d week than its second was<br />
"The Greatest Show on Earth," while "With<br />
a Song in My Heart" was a winner. "Viva<br />
Zapata!" was over average and likewise<br />
"Macao." Only "Jack and the Beanstalk"<br />
(with Abbott and Costello in person opening<br />
day) lagged behind. Neighborhood grosses<br />
remained about the same—very depressed,<br />
and outdoor theatres which had been reopened<br />
early found the weather wouldn't cooperate.<br />
Fulton Vivo Zapata! (20th-Fox) 110<br />
J. P. Horris With o Song in Heort My<br />
(20th-Fox) 120<br />
Penn The Greatest Show on Earth (Poro),<br />
3rd wk 130<br />
Stonley Jock and the Beonstalk (WB) 80<br />
Warner—Macao (RKO) 1 05<br />
'African Queen' Holdover<br />
Philadelphia Bright Spot<br />
PHILADELPHIA—A heavy weekend downpour<br />
cast gloom over the first run boxoffices.<br />
"The African Queen" in its second week was<br />
the only attraction to score over average. The<br />
third -week holdovers did pretty well, considering.<br />
Aldine Caesar and Cleopatra (UA), reissue 85<br />
Boyd The Greatest Show on Earth (Poro), 10th<br />
wk 60<br />
Eorle Rodeo (Mono), plus stage show • 50<br />
Fox—With o Song in My Heort (20th-Fox), 3rd<br />
wk 70<br />
Goldman The Marrying Kind (Col), 3rd wk 90<br />
Mostboum The African Queen (UA), 2nd wk...l25<br />
Midtown Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick (Poro).. 55<br />
Randolph Singin' in the Roin (MGM), 3rd wk. . . 90<br />
Stanley Moro Maru ( 60<br />
Stanton— Loon Shork (LP) 1 00<br />
Acquires Exploitation Films<br />
NEW YORK—William Mishkin, 1564 Broadway,<br />
has acquired worldwide theatrical rights<br />
to "Clip Joint," featuring Paul Lukas and Jill<br />
Dennett, and "Blondes for Sale." featuring<br />
Edward Arnold and Barbara Barondess. Distributor<br />
expects to put them into immediate<br />
release as an exploitation combination.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 39
Dual-Language Film<br />
Invented in Canada<br />
MONTREAL— National Film Board technicians<br />
ha^•e unveiled a new and far-reaching<br />
development in motion picture production<br />
a process for recording two languages on a<br />
single sound track and the "push button"<br />
cutting in or out of one or the other. Up to<br />
now each language version of a film required<br />
a separate sound track and separate film.<br />
Film Board spokesmen said the new process<br />
would cut costs for those needing bilingual<br />
films, such as the army, which teaches French<br />
and English-speaking troops.<br />
The new process was de\'eloped by NFB<br />
technicians after months of research and experiments.<br />
By it, one language or the other<br />
can be cut in or out during the showing of a<br />
film by use of a small "push button" adapter,<br />
developed along with the single sound track<br />
process. Similarly, sound effects and musical<br />
background can be cut in or out.<br />
Gerald Graham, NFB's director of technical<br />
operations, who helped develop the process, is<br />
now in Chicago explaining it to the Society<br />
of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.<br />
Collaborating with him on the work was<br />
Chester E. Beachell, chief maintenance engineer<br />
for the board's sound division.<br />
The twin-language process is based on a<br />
split sound track. The standard sound track<br />
is replaced by two separate tracks each 50-<br />
thousandths of an inch in width and joined<br />
together. Tlie adaptor, which will fit an<br />
ordinary 16mm projector, probably will become<br />
available on a commercial basis at low<br />
cost, National Film Board officials said.<br />
Knotholers' Mothers Get<br />
Invites to Loew's Show<br />
NEW YORK—All members of the recently<br />
organized Loew-MGM-Happy Felton Knothole<br />
Gangs have been told they can bring<br />
their mothers as guests at shows to be presented<br />
May 11, which is Mothers' day, in 35<br />
Loew theatres.<br />
It is figured that there will be 35,000 members<br />
registered by May 11. Presentation of<br />
the membership cards will be the only identification<br />
required, according to Joseph R.<br />
Vogel, vice-president of Loew's theatres.<br />
The idea is to make the Knothole gangs a<br />
wholesome influence among New York youngsters.<br />
Cerebral Palsy Troiler available from Moy 15 to<br />
July 1.<br />
SPECIAL<br />
NOTICE FOR ALL DRIVE-IN<br />
THEATRES-IN W. VA.-KY.<br />
Write fodoy for list of —60— Special Exploitotion<br />
ond Adult Only Top-Notch Feotures and<br />
Burlesque. New Titles. We now hove ready<br />
for booking in W. Va. and Ky.—35nim ond<br />
16mm.<br />
Also write for informotion on how to build a<br />
16mm Drive-ln Theatre or Community 16mm<br />
theatre for theotre-less towns—ALSO MAJOR<br />
PRODUCT 16mm FILM CATALOGUE.<br />
Also write for information on our 16mm CAMERA<br />
ond PROJECTOR for Special Around Town News<br />
to show on your screen.<br />
Write to-EXPLOITATION MOVIES<br />
Box 5 Phone 5579 Sprague, W. Va.<br />
ITOA Nominates Officers,<br />
Directors, for New Year<br />
NEW YORK—The Independent Tlieatre<br />
Owners Ass'n Thur.sday il) nominated officers<br />
for its 19lh year. Harry Brandt was<br />
chosen to continue as president. The other<br />
nominations were:<br />
David Weinstock. Max A. Cohen, William<br />
Namenson and Juliu.s Sanders, vice-presidents;<br />
Leon Rosenblatt, treasurer; J. Joshua<br />
Goldberg, secretary, and John C. Bolte jr.,<br />
sergeant at arms.<br />
Nominated for directors: Richard Brandt,<br />
Maurice Brown, Sam Einhorn, Norman Elson,<br />
Sam Freedman, Robert Goldblatt, I. Goldmark,<br />
I. Gottlieb, Emanuel Hertzig, Joseph<br />
Kasdin, Ben Knobel, Harry Kridel, Larry Kurtls,<br />
Murray LeBoss, Abe Leff, Martin Levine,<br />
Albert Margulies, Edith Marshall, Maurice<br />
Parks, Irving Renner, Ray Rhone, Gertrude<br />
Rhonheimer, Edison Rice. Jack Rochelle,<br />
Benjamin Rossasy, Murray Schoen, Abe<br />
Shenk, Irving Steiner and Ben Weinstock.<br />
Seventeen will be elected.<br />
Press Representatives<br />
Attend Haiti Opening<br />
NEW YORK—Fifty-two newspaper, tradepaper,<br />
magazine, syndicate editors, feature<br />
writers and reporters, along with Anne<br />
Fi'ancis and William Marshall, stars of "Lydia<br />
Bailey." left Satiu-day (3) for Port-Au-Prince.<br />
Haiti, aboard a chartered Pan-American<br />
plane. The film and press party was invited<br />
by the Haitian government to attend the fourday<br />
opening festival for the 20th Century-<br />
Fox picture. Jean Louis Destine, Haitian<br />
dancer, was also aboard the plane. The 20th-<br />
Fox staff members on the junket are; Stirling<br />
Silliphant, publicity manager, who went ahead<br />
to set up the Haiti celebration, and Meyer<br />
Hutner, Robert Fleisher, Leo Pillot and Ira<br />
Tulipan.<br />
Paramount to Holci General<br />
Studio Sales Conference<br />
NEW YORK—Paramount sales forces are<br />
set for a series of conferences at the Hollywood<br />
studio starting May 5. according to<br />
A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount<br />
Film Distributing Corp. Production plans<br />
will be analyzed.<br />
Six domestic and Canadian division managers<br />
will attend, and 13 films set for release<br />
between July and September will be screened<br />
and discussed.<br />
109 TV Stations Now Serve<br />
About 17 Million Sets<br />
NEW YORK—A phenomenal increase of<br />
more than 22 TV stations in recent weeks<br />
"is only a beginning now that the freeze on<br />
television licenses is lifted," J. L. Van Valkenburg,<br />
CBS-TV president, told 250 station<br />
executives at a clinic here. He said the 109<br />
TV stations in the U.S. now serve nearly 17<br />
million sets.<br />
House to Investigate<br />
Radio and TV Programs<br />
WASHINGTON—The House Rules Committee<br />
on Wednesday (30) approved a bill providing<br />
for an investigation of radio and television<br />
programs by the Interstate Commerce<br />
Committee aimed at eliminating immoral and<br />
offensive content.<br />
'D&RG' Debut Guests<br />
Travel to Salt Lake<br />
DENVER—More than 100 representatives of<br />
the press, radio, magazines, trade press, wire<br />
service and newsreels with a number of Hollywood<br />
players and Paramount distribution executives<br />
converged on this city by plane and<br />
train Thur.sday (1) for the start of a 745-mile<br />
trip over the Denver & Rio Grande railroad.<br />
Gov. Dan Thornton of Colorado proclaimed<br />
May 2-9 as "Denver & Rio Grande Week."<br />
The history of the railroad figures in the<br />
Paramount picture.<br />
The picture opened May 2 in the Denham<br />
Theatre, followed by a Rotary luncheon at the<br />
Cosmopolitan hotel. Nat Holt, producer; Dean<br />
Jagger, Edmond O'Brien, Sterling Hayden,<br />
Lyie Bettger, Laura Elliott, J. Carrol Naish<br />
and Zasu Pitts were among the guests.<br />
Late Thursday afternoon Governor Thornton<br />
held a reception for the press at the<br />
hotel, followed by the governor's second annual<br />
Hospitality banquet at the Shirley Savoy<br />
hotel. Mayor Quigg Newton of Denver shared<br />
in the welcome and the stars were introduced.<br />
On Friday two 70-year-old locomotives used<br />
in the film were "honored" at ceremonies in<br />
the railroad yards.<br />
Later the guests left by special train for<br />
Colorado Springs. Another civic ceremony<br />
was held there Saturday, followed by a premiere<br />
at the Ute Theatre.<br />
A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount<br />
Film Distributing Corp.; E. K. "Ted" O'Shea,<br />
vice-president, and JeiTy Pickman, vice-president<br />
in charge of advertising publicity and<br />
exploitation, joined the party after attending<br />
a sales convention at the coast studios. Robert<br />
L. Montgomery and Maurice Segal came on<br />
from the home office publicity department.<br />
Five hundred bookings have been set in the<br />
western area in connection with the 12-city<br />
premiere and tour of stars. Of these. 125<br />
are in the Denver area.<br />
As the special train headed westward for<br />
Salt Lake City, openings were held in the<br />
Ute Theatre, Colorado Springs, May 3; Main<br />
Theatre, Pueblo, May 3; Skyline Theatre,<br />
Canon City, May 3; Glen Theatre, Glenwood<br />
Springs, May 4; Cooper Theatre, Grand Junction,<br />
May 5, and Utah Theatre, Salt Lake<br />
City, May 6.<br />
Maplewood, N. T„ Theatre<br />
Will Play Stage Shows<br />
MAPLEWOOD, N. J.—The Columbia<br />
Amusement Corp., which runs a chain of film<br />
houses in New Jersey, has leased the Maplewood<br />
Theatre to Albert H. Rosen, who will<br />
offer a series of stage plays in the refurbished<br />
and air conditioned house starting<br />
May 3. The theatre has been playing films<br />
since 1943. In association with Albert Lewis,<br />
Rosen will open the stage season with Judy<br />
HoUiday in "Dream Girl." Rosen and Lewis<br />
plan 20 weeks of plays with name stars.<br />
RCA Using Film in Clinic<br />
NEW YORK—Highlight of<br />
the third RCA<br />
Victor Television Sales Clinic now being held<br />
in all television areas is a film titled "The<br />
Most Natural Thing in the World." Films<br />
and slides in the first two clinics presented<br />
factual information on salesmanship. The<br />
purpose of the third and last of the series is<br />
to give dealers a general look at the over-all<br />
activities of the company.<br />
40<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952<br />
i
. . Morris<br />
. . Tent<br />
PHILADELPHIA Beaver Falls, Pa., Theatre, Doormats<br />
Durglars stole $1,100 from a .sale at the<br />
Lawiidale Theatre Sunday (27) after they<br />
set off a tear gas valve in smashing the combination.<br />
The burglars opened a skylight for<br />
ventilation when the tear gas went off . . .<br />
The brother of John Colder, Jam Handy repre.sentative,<br />
died . . . William G. Mansell, WB<br />
manager: Charles Beilan. his a.ssistant: Ben<br />
Bache, T. N. Noble, D. M. Cooper and G. D.<br />
Hutcheon returned from the regional conference<br />
in Pittsburgh.<br />
Si Perlsweig has resigned at Republic . . .<br />
Lawrence Goldmeier, president of Popper's<br />
Popcorn Supply Co.. presided over the regional<br />
meeting of the National Ass'n of Popcorn<br />
Manufacturers . Conner, manager<br />
at the Orpheimi, has moved over to the<br />
Lane while Jack Allen has taken over the<br />
managerial post at the Fern Rock . . . Ted<br />
Schlanger, S-W zone manager, was to leave<br />
on a trip to the south and west . The<br />
. .<br />
Tannenbaum family, which operate the Surf<br />
Theatre in Atlantic City, has taken over the<br />
Lyric.<br />
U.S. Judge Austin L. Staley has held that<br />
while taking a jury in a criminal case to see<br />
a film about criminals is not exactly a wise<br />
practice, it is not necessarily prejudicial to<br />
the interests of the defendant. The circuit<br />
court got a complete transcript of the dialog<br />
of "The Damned Don't Cry" to find out if<br />
there was anything in it that might have<br />
prejudiced the jurors in a case dealing with<br />
alleged income tax evasion. The jurist said<br />
that the film was "indeed a lurid tale about<br />
the underworld." "A few isolated sentences<br />
in the dialog," the Pittsburgh jurist wrote,<br />
"allude to mistakes in income tax returns and<br />
to lawful ways of reducing taxes." "However,"<br />
he added, "we fail to find anything in the<br />
film that could fairly be said to incite prejudice<br />
against the defendant."<br />
Marvin Bazin, a projectionist at the City<br />
Line Center Theatre, beat the slate by receiving<br />
the Democratic nomination for the<br />
state legislature from the 18th district at the<br />
primary elections on Tuesday i22) . . . Donald<br />
Thomas McNeill brought his Breakfast<br />
club into the Mastbaum on Friday (25) for<br />
his daily network broadcast. The doors to<br />
the theatre opened at 8 a. m. to allow firstcome-first<br />
served seating for some 4.400 Philadelphians<br />
who made successful bids for the<br />
free tickets.<br />
Ed McMahon has been<br />
conducting a contest<br />
on his daily Strictly for the Girls T'V<br />
show, inviting his audience to try to guess<br />
the number of freckles on the face of Katharine<br />
Hepburn, star of "The African Queen"<br />
. . . Iz Borowsky's New Jewel ha-s shuttered<br />
. . . Ditto for Harry Perleman's 'West Allegheny<br />
The Avon Theatre Corp. is now<br />
operating the Bromley and also the Arcadia<br />
and Queen in Wilmington.<br />
A. M. Ellis Theatres is equipping the projection<br />
room on top of the Warner building<br />
so that it will be available for screenings<br />
. . . Nat Levy, RKO eastern division sales<br />
manager; R. J. Folliard, district manager,<br />
and Sid Kramer, short .subject sales executive,<br />
were in at the RKO exchange for a Ned<br />
Depinet drive sales meeting . . . The Philadelphia<br />
Motion Picture Preview group held<br />
its annual spring luncheon at the Warwick<br />
Thursday (1). Guest speakers from the in-<br />
To Celebrate Joint Golden Jubilee<br />
BEAVER FALLS, PA.—The entire Beaver<br />
Valley soon will celebrate the Golden Jubilee<br />
of the Rialto Theatre and the 50th anniversary<br />
of one of its employes. Fifty years<br />
ago this coming fall the Lyceum Theatre,<br />
biggest and best theatre in a wide area, drew<br />
crowds of people from all the little towns<br />
up and down the valley to its inaugural.<br />
James H. Carson, 19-year-old journeyman<br />
printer on his father's weekly newspaper, applied<br />
for a part-time temporary position at<br />
the Lyceum. He had .^een the posters for<br />
Rice's show, which had been booked for the<br />
opening and he figured that spending his evenings<br />
at the theatre would be fascinating<br />
an exciting hobby.<br />
Sam S. Hanauer, manager of the then-new<br />
theatre, hired Carson and a.ssigned him to a<br />
job as doorman. He remained at his printer's<br />
job by day and continued enjoying his hobby<br />
—ths theatre—at night.<br />
A half-century later, Jim Carson still is at<br />
the door of the theatre, which has been renamed<br />
the Rialto. To two generations of<br />
theatregoers, Carson has become one of the<br />
landmarks of the Beaver Valley.<br />
Carson has lived through the greatest days<br />
of the theatre. Many of the outstanding stars<br />
were pre.sented at the Lyceum, .some in the<br />
earlie.st days of their careers. Prom his post<br />
at the door, Carson has known the famous<br />
personalities of the drama, musical comedy,<br />
opera and minstrel shows.<br />
He now has a 50-year service button given<br />
to him by the Beaver Valley Typographical<br />
union two years ago, marking his 50th year<br />
as a union printer, all of them spent on the<br />
Review. He served as editor for 18 years after<br />
his father, John W. Carson, died. Seven years<br />
ago he sold the paper, but he has continued<br />
with his hobby and his job at the theatre.<br />
Carson now recalls vividly the opening<br />
night of the Lyceum. From miles around patrons<br />
came in carriages, surreys, victorias and<br />
barouches. They even came by train from distant<br />
points. Boxes at $50 were sold out long<br />
before opening night. Sam Hanauer remained<br />
as manager of the theatre until his<br />
death .some years ago.<br />
dustry and "fashions of the stai-s" will be featured<br />
at the occasion . 13 of the<br />
Vai'iety Club held a "goodby" dance for conventioneers<br />
leaving for the Las Vegas meeting<br />
of Variety International.<br />
Martin Levine to Install<br />
NEW YORK—Martin Levine. president of<br />
Cinema lodge, the entertainment industry<br />
unit of B'nai B'rith, in New York, will be<br />
guest of honor and the installing officer when<br />
Sentry lodge, the newly reconstituted industry<br />
unit of B'nai B'rith in Boston, installs<br />
Samuel Pinanski. president of American Theatres<br />
Corp., as president May 4. Levine, an<br />
executive of Brandt Theatres, was recently<br />
elected to head New York's Cinema lodge for<br />
a second year.<br />
Gail Davis in 'Wagon Team'<br />
Gail Davis will be Gene Autry's feminine<br />
lead in Columbia's "Wagon Team."<br />
JAMES H.<br />
CARSON<br />
For ten years. Robert Higgins has been an<br />
active showman in this community and for<br />
the last seven years has managed the Rialto,<br />
one of four local Cook-Anderson houses. Now<br />
he is planning to restore some of the glamor<br />
of the forgotten years to the Rialto. The<br />
anniversary celebration will be a doublebarrelled<br />
jubilee in honor of both Carson<br />
and the theatre. In mid-June a new policy<br />
of film presentation will be announced and<br />
there will be stage events to add to the anniversary<br />
celebration.<br />
The Rialto is one of a very few theatres<br />
in the nation w'hich has maintained continuous<br />
operation for one-half century. Carson,<br />
in his 70th year, hesitates to even estimate<br />
how many tickets have been handed to him<br />
by patrons entering the theatre. But he definitely<br />
proclaims that motion pictures, which<br />
he has followed since their inception, are<br />
better all the time. He still claims that<br />
"movies are his hobby," but adds he still<br />
"has no idea that the job will be permanent."<br />
Cinema Lodge to Revive<br />
Golf Tournament May 22<br />
NEW YORK—Cinema lodge of B'nai B'rith<br />
will revive industry golf tournaments at the<br />
Vernon Hills Country club at Tuckahoo, N.Y..<br />
May 22. Annual industry tournaments were<br />
held for many years up to World War II,<br />
and Martin Levine, president of the lodge,<br />
has decided now would be a good time to revive<br />
them.<br />
Alfred W. Schwalberg. president of Paramount<br />
Film Distributing Corp.. has been<br />
named chairman of the tournament committee,<br />
with Harold Rinzler. e.xecutive of Randforce<br />
Theatres, as co-chairman. Tournament<br />
headquarters have been set up at 214<br />
West 44th St.<br />
Prizes will be awarded to the best foursome,<br />
runnersup, plus awards for the best<br />
net and gross scores, driving, putting, birdies,<br />
etc. A $15 entry fee will include green fees,<br />
lunch and dinner.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 41
. . . Abe<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
^len Easter has curtailed operations at the<br />
Almcda in Mount Morris, now offering<br />
Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday attractions<br />
. . . When the Sunset Beach Drivein<br />
on Route 40 at Claysville reopened adult<br />
admission price had been upped to 60 cents.<br />
The increase was made necessary by increased<br />
township taxes . . . Ben White, Warren outdoor<br />
exhibitor, inaugurated a new season at<br />
the Dicky-Ben Speedway nearby, with stockcar<br />
racing . . . Lieut. John Betters of the air<br />
force, who manages the Roof Garden Drivein<br />
near Somerset on weekends, was recalled<br />
to his base unexpectedly when some officers<br />
w^ere killed in a plane crash. He had expected<br />
to take his accumulated leave at this<br />
time to devote to the drive-in.<br />
F. Elmer Hasley's Main on Bessemer Terrace<br />
in East Pittsburgh, which had been open for<br />
a weekend change of program, now is closed<br />
Rothenstein, West Aliquippa and uptown<br />
Fifth avenue exhibitor, plans to move<br />
his residence from Aliquippa to Squirrel Hill<br />
, . . A John Mayer. MGM cashier, says his<br />
son Ronnie will enroll at Duke university,<br />
Durham, N. C. . . George Kreamer, Warner<br />
.<br />
auditor, who used to come to Filmrow as a<br />
UA auditor, was here. Mel Harwood. Warner<br />
auditor who was well known here, died recently.<br />
Maurice Grad, Columbia short .subjects<br />
sales manager, was a visitor . . Wallace<br />
.<br />
Nordby, former Indiana, Pa., exhibitor who is<br />
manager of the First Federal Savings & Loan<br />
Ass'n there, ha.s been appointed to the Chamber<br />
of Commerce committee of the United<br />
States Savings & Loan league.<br />
Bernard H. Buchheil, Manos circuit executive,<br />
is back at the Green-sburg headquarters<br />
after a trip to Missouri. He accompanied<br />
Mrs. George Purcell and son John, with the<br />
body of husband and father who died April<br />
21 following a heait attack. Purcell was buyer<br />
and booker for the Manos circuit . . . Rudy<br />
and Sam Navari presented "Kon-Tiki" for<br />
two days at their Eastwood in Penn township<br />
as a benefit for the Penn High Varsity<br />
club . . . W. L. Dunn, Cochranton exhibitor<br />
and contractor, has been awarded the contract<br />
for construction of a quarter-mile ti'ack<br />
for auto racing at the Crawford county fairgrounds.<br />
Bill Saal, Republic executive, was here ar-<br />
When YOU Need<br />
5pecial<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good fir Fast<br />
SEND IT TO<br />
CHICAGO, 1327 S. WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
SAM FINEBERG<br />
TOM McCLEARY<br />
84 Von Braom Street<br />
PITTSBURGH 19, PA '<br />
Phone Express 1-0777 ^<br />
;^ Monies Are Better Than Ever - How's Your Equipment?^<br />
ranging for the premiere of "I Dream of<br />
Jeannie." at the Fulton June 4. The life<br />
story of songwriter Stephen Foster will be a<br />
feature of Greater Pittsburgh Welcome week<br />
festivities and Republic stars will i)arlicipate<br />
in the dedication of the swank greater Pittsburgh<br />
airport, $30,000,000 terminal which will<br />
open May 31.<br />
. . For the first time<br />
Shea's at Bradford is dark and the McKean<br />
there is operating on a part-time .schedule . . .<br />
Bernard Davis and Larry Knee have resigned<br />
from the Warner circuit. Davis was replaced<br />
at the Victor in McKeesport by John Petros<br />
jr., formerly with the circuit at Washington,<br />
Pa. Knee's post at the Warner here had not<br />
been filled this week .<br />
since the film building at 1623 Blvd. of the<br />
Allies was constructed, half of the street floor<br />
is not in service as a film exchange. The new<br />
tenant is Clary Multiplier Corp., sales room<br />
for adding machines.<br />
Thomas Zaimes, West Tarentum exhibitor<br />
and Homestead restaurant owner, will fly to<br />
Greece on May 29 to visit his aged parents<br />
in Thessalonike. Twenty years has lapsed<br />
since he last saw them and his father is now<br />
aged 89 and his mother is 76. Zaimes will be<br />
away for four or five weeks.<br />
Professor James A. Notopoulos, one of the<br />
sons of Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Notopoulos of the<br />
Altoona-Publix theatres, has been awarded a<br />
Guggenheim fellowship for a year's study in<br />
Greece. Author of "The Platonism of Shelley"<br />
and professor of classical languages at<br />
Trinity college, Hartford, Conn., James will<br />
sail for Greece this summer where he will<br />
continue his study of Homer as an oral poet<br />
and will record modern Greek heroic oral<br />
poety of World War II . . . Maurice "Doc"<br />
Rubin of the downtown Art Cinema states<br />
that reports that the theatre is being sold or<br />
leased are inaccurate. His brother Babe enjoyed<br />
a recent vacation in Miami ... A second<br />
son named Daniel Vincent was born<br />
April 20 to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Corso of<br />
Star Distributing Agency.<br />
. .<br />
The newly remodeled Brighton at New<br />
Brighton adopted this new policy: Tuesday-<br />
Wednesday evenings, one paid adult admission<br />
also admits free one child under 12 years<br />
of age . . . F. P. McCoy, lATSE Tri-State<br />
Ass'n secretary-treasurer, has been at the<br />
Cleveland clinic for a checkup . Mrs. Harry<br />
Manos has joined her husband in Greece.<br />
The Vandergrift theatreman has been there<br />
several months for treatment of an illness<br />
which has been greatly relieved. They plan<br />
to remain abroad until next fall.<br />
Miss Beaver Valley will be named at a<br />
beauty show June 24 in the Rialto at Beaver<br />
Falls. Honor guest of the day will be Clare<br />
Lippert. 19. of Natrona Heights, who was Miss<br />
Pennsylvania last year . . . RKO visitors included<br />
Terry Turner and Don Pi'ince, exploitation<br />
directors, who arranged ai'ea events<br />
for mid-June when "King Kong" goes into<br />
Asked how he 'put<br />
another reissue release . . .<br />
over' "Viva Zapata!" Fulton manager John<br />
Walsh replied: "Didn't you notice? We painted<br />
out Brando's mustache in all advei-tising" . . .<br />
Mrs. Bessie E. Kihchel of the Kihchel at<br />
Jeannette has been ill and confined to her<br />
home . . D. J. Sheppard of Fabian Theatres,<br />
.<br />
Altoona, former manager of the Embassy<br />
in Johnstown, will' conduct a contest<br />
to select Miss Blair County, and Charles R.<br />
Blatt of the Governor in Somerset will sponsor<br />
the selection of Miss Somer.set County.<br />
Miss America district eliminations are<br />
John H. Harris, Pittsburgh's<br />
planned May 23 . . .<br />
best known showman, and Mrs. Har-<br />
ris, parents of 2-year-old twin sons, expect<br />
another visit from Old Doc Stork in September.<br />
Mrs. Harris is the former Donna<br />
Atwood, star of Harris' "Ice-Capades" for a<br />
number of years.<br />
Indoor Operators Fail<br />
To Shutter Drive-ins<br />
BEAVER, PA.—Indoor theatre owners this<br />
week rebuffed in an attempt to enlist the district<br />
attorney's aid in a campaign against<br />
drive-in theatres. Basis for the request for<br />
the commonwealth's aid in bottling up the<br />
outdoor theatres is the 1935 law calling for<br />
local option on Sunday operation of theatres.<br />
Beaver valley managers of indoor theatres<br />
asked District Attorney Richard P. Steward<br />
to close drive-ins which operate on Sundays<br />
in communities which have not voted in referendum<br />
to repeal the old blue law regarding<br />
entertainment on Sunday.<br />
In all the county's larger communities except<br />
Beaver this has been done. Only one<br />
outdoor theatre in Beaver county, the Tusca,<br />
is situated in a political subdivision which<br />
has approved Sunday shows. Steward informed<br />
complainants that he will act only if<br />
information is made against the drive-in by<br />
some interested party outside his office.<br />
Indoor theatre managers balked at making<br />
information against the outdoor theatres.<br />
J. C. Lund, who manages the Aliquippa theatres,<br />
publicly charged the attorney with failing<br />
to assume the responsibilities of his office.<br />
Several indoor theatres in Beaver county<br />
are preparing to close because of the influence<br />
of outdoor theatres and television. In<br />
one large community, three grocei-y chain operators<br />
seek to take up the lease on one large<br />
theatre. In some cases, indoor theatre operators<br />
are dickering with employes for pay<br />
cuts because of rising costs and falling receipts.<br />
Explosion Causes Panic<br />
PITTSBURGH—A terrific gas explosion<br />
wrecked a row of connecting houses in the<br />
Hill district late last Thursday night (24),<br />
injuring ten persons and causing a panic in<br />
the nearby Rhumba Theatre. More than 100<br />
patrons of the theatre fled when the blast<br />
virtually demolished one residence in the rear<br />
of the Rhumba, operated by Jake Soltz and<br />
son Sidney Soltz. Two suffered injuries when<br />
they fell during the stampede for exits and<br />
were removed to a nearby hospital.<br />
Wayne McPeak to Tarentum<br />
TARENTUM, PA. — New manager of the<br />
Manos here is Wayne McPeak, formerly with<br />
the Harris Amusement Co. at Pittsburgh.<br />
Cerebral Palsy Trailer available from May 15 to<br />
July 1.<br />
Complete Sound and Projection Service<br />
ATLAS THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
Gordon Gibson, Mgr.<br />
402 Miltenbcrocr St.. GRant 1-4281, Pittsburgh, Pa.<br />
MOTIOGRAPH — MIRROPHONIC<br />
42 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . Grand<br />
. . The<br />
WEST VIRGINIA At Warner's Pittsburgh Meeting<br />
hifountain state cities operating on daylinht<br />
saving time include Huntington, Wheeling.<br />
Chester, FoUansbee, Moundsville, Wierton<br />
and Wellsburg . . . The Bird's Creek<br />
Drive-In on Route 92 between Arthurdale and<br />
Nevvburg was opened April 26 . . . Don George<br />
has rejoined the working organization at<br />
Warner's Skyline near Clarksburg after completing<br />
duties as a marine instructor at<br />
Washington . opening of the new<br />
Ohio 'Valley Drive-In at FoUansbee was a<br />
recent event. The new ozoner, located on<br />
Route 2 next to FoUansbee stadium, was<br />
equipped by Atlas Theatre Supply of Pittsburgh<br />
Construction is progressing on the<br />
. . . new outdoor theatre at Grantsville for Mr.<br />
and Mrs. John Cook. Opening is expected<br />
within two weeks.<br />
Gladys Swarthout was guest artist with the<br />
Wheeling symphony at the Virginia in Wheeling,<br />
April 23-24, this being the final pair of<br />
concerts for the season . Bunker Hill<br />
Drive-In, seven miles from Fairmont has<br />
been sold by Orville Pauley, brother of Guy<br />
Pauley who operates the Blacksville Drive-In<br />
at Blacksville. to Robert L. Bartlett. brotherin-law<br />
of Guy Pauley, and renamed the<br />
Route 19 Drive-In.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Garland West, Buckhannon<br />
indoor and outdoor exhibitors, are grandparents<br />
for the fourth time, with the birth of a<br />
son Rusty to the Russell Wises at Aberdeen<br />
Proving Ground.<br />
Fred C. Bogart, 76, Dies<br />
WARREN. PA.—Fred Carter Bogart, 76, an<br />
early manager of the Woodard Theatre here<br />
40 years ago, died April 22. Erected by the<br />
late J. D. Woodard, the theatre has been<br />
known as the Columbia and has been operated<br />
by the Wai-ner circuit for many years.<br />
Bogart entered vaudeville as a contortionist<br />
and balancer and was billed under the name<br />
of Fred Elzor, later owning "Fred Elzor<br />
Show," a leading wagon circus which played<br />
from one end of the country to the other.<br />
Censor Head Renamed<br />
HARRISBURG—For the fifth consecutive<br />
year. Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, chairman of the<br />
state board of motion picture censors, has<br />
been appointed chairman of the motion picture<br />
committee for Pennsylvania week, October<br />
13-19.<br />
Host Key Club Boys<br />
FAIRMONT, W. 'VA.—Seventy-five members<br />
of the state's Kiwanis Key clubs were<br />
treated to free entertainment Friday (25i at<br />
the Eastland Theatre by John Urse. manager.<br />
The boys, from 20 Key clubs, were here<br />
for an all-day convention Saturday.<br />
Tax Appeal Is Postponed<br />
MERCER, PA.—Hearing on the appeal of<br />
the Greenville amusement tax again was<br />
postponed when the primary election laws<br />
made it nece.ssary for Judge Walter Braham,<br />
New Castle, to be in his own county. The<br />
litigation stems from the protest of 25 taxpayers<br />
against Greenville's 10 per cent amusement<br />
tax.<br />
A meeting' of regional salesmen for Warner<br />
Bros, was held recently in the William<br />
Penn hotel in Pittsburgh. Attending the<br />
conference were: Top panel, left to right:<br />
R. A. McGuire. auditor of exchanges; Larry<br />
Golob, eastern publicity director; Norman<br />
H. Moray, short subjects sales manager;<br />
Jules Lapidus. eastern sales manager; I. F.<br />
Dolid, home office executive; Mort<br />
Blumenstock, vice-president in charge of<br />
advertising and publicity, and Roy Haines,<br />
western division sales manager.<br />
Second panel: J. P. Eilfert, R. J. Burns,<br />
Sentenced for Robberies<br />
PITTSBURGH—John P. Burgoyne jr., 27.<br />
was sentenced to 11'^ to 23 months in jail<br />
when he pleaded guilty to holding up four<br />
downtown theatre cashiers. Police testified<br />
they captured him March 29 after a short<br />
chase from the Wajner Theatre.<br />
James Abrose, Charles Schroeder, Ralph<br />
Salycr, Leavitt J. Bugie. Standing are<br />
Charles Bailey, Oscar Kantor and Jerry<br />
Wechsler.<br />
Third panel: C. G. Eastman, Herb<br />
Gaines, Ernest Sands, Ray Pashley. R. M.<br />
Lynch, E. .\. Catlin. Standing: R. E. Blitz,<br />
S. I. Perilman and Bernard Goodman.<br />
Bottom panel: F. S. Retler, Jules F.<br />
Goldman, Gayle Black, Claude .'McKean, R.<br />
S. Shrader, Peter DeFazio. Standing are<br />
Paul Krumenacker, C. R. Jarrett. Elmer<br />
McKinley.<br />
'Miss Italy' Set for NY<br />
NEW YORK— "MLss Italy," Italian language<br />
feature with Gina Lollobrigida and two<br />
American players, Richai-d Ney and Constance<br />
Dowling, will open at the Cinema Verdi May<br />
9. Lux Films is releasing the film in the U.S.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 43
BUFFALO<br />
, . .<br />
pave Miller, cliit'f barker of Variety Tent 7.<br />
and Mrs Miller led a large delegation of<br />
Buffalo industryites to the Variety International<br />
powwow in Las Vegas last weekend.<br />
Murray Whiteman, past chief barker, and<br />
Mrs. Whitemaii planned to continue on to<br />
the west coast for a visit with relatives<br />
There was a big turnout Sunday night at the<br />
Tent 7 headquarters in Delaware avenue for<br />
the special previcw-diiiner. An elaborate repast<br />
was served at 6:30 followed by the<br />
Nat "King" Cole topped<br />
"sneak" at 8:30 . . .<br />
the stage-screen show at Shea's Buffalo and<br />
attracted excellent business despite the fine<br />
outdoor weather when thousands started for<br />
a weekend in the woods.<br />
Francis Anderson, city manager for United<br />
Paramount Theatres in Rochester, got a<br />
beauty of a half-page ad in the Times-Union<br />
on the booking of "Deadline—U.S.A." at his<br />
Paramoimt Theatre. It was in return for<br />
throwing a big party for the paper's newsboys.<br />
The ad featured a telegram from Humphrey<br />
Bogart addressed to Fred Glover, business<br />
manager of the paper, in which he said<br />
"I am naturally interested in all boys and<br />
there are no finer boys than newspaper boys.<br />
Their early training to accept responsibility,<br />
be prompt and work hard prepares them for<br />
entry into the business world in later years.<br />
I salute the 22 Rochester Times-Union newspaper<br />
champions who were victorious in the<br />
recent new.spaper sales competition and extend<br />
to them and the 1.200 other Times-<br />
Union boys an invitation to be my guests to<br />
see my latest picture at its premiere showing<br />
in the Paramount Theatre."<br />
James A. Whitmore, father of the MGM<br />
star of the same name, who retii-ed the past<br />
week as executive secretary of the Buffalo<br />
City Planning commission, is slated to be appointed<br />
director of the new division of parking.<br />
Inasmuch as "Jim" is over the 70-year<br />
age limit for regulai- city employment, the<br />
scuttlebutt is that he will be named to the<br />
Gertrude Y. LaCroix was<br />
parking post . . .<br />
the winner of the Jane Froman contest held<br />
by the Paramount on "With a Song in My<br />
Heart" in cooperation with three WEBR personalities.<br />
Bob Wells, Tap Taplin and Jack<br />
Eno. It ran three weeks, attracted more than<br />
150 entrants and was a huge success. Auditions<br />
were held mornings on the Paramount<br />
stage by Kenneth Gill, Courier-Express music<br />
critic: Eddie Miller, Paramount manager, and<br />
his assistant Loren Warshaw. Berger's specialty<br />
shop contributed $300 in merchandise.<br />
United Paramount Theatres in Buffalo<br />
opened its participation in the nationwide<br />
UPT May-June Movie Jubilee with a sock<br />
page ad announcing the attractions for the<br />
two months. The page can-ied copy on the<br />
Jubilee, the hit films to be shown and cuts<br />
of the stars from them ... All local UPT<br />
houses are festively decorated with streamers<br />
flying from the tops of the buildings to corners<br />
of the marquees, special valances and<br />
30x40 banners flying at different points.<br />
Cashiers and ushers are wearing colored banners<br />
lettered with Jubilee messages . . . Many<br />
special events will be staged in the theatres,<br />
the Paramount, Center, Seneca and Niagara<br />
during the drive. One of the first was the<br />
stage drawing the other evening at the Paramount<br />
put on by tJie Kellogg-Tydol dealers.<br />
The event was emceed by Roger Baker<br />
through WKBW and thousands of tickets<br />
WINS 'SONG' CONTEST — Edward<br />
Miller, left, manager of the Paramount<br />
Theatre in Buffalo, recently staged a Jane<br />
Froman contest on the theatre stage in<br />
connection with "With a Song in My<br />
Heart." Gertrude Y. LaCroix, right, was<br />
selected the winner by audience applause<br />
in the finals on the theatre stage.<br />
Bowman &<br />
were distributed by gas stations.<br />
Block, ad agency for the Kellogg company,<br />
used some page ads in which the theatre and<br />
its attractions got plenty of publicity.<br />
Bordonaro Bros'. Lawsuit<br />
Testimony Started<br />
BUFFALO—A federal court suit charging<br />
two motion picture companies and a theatre<br />
operating corporation with monopolistic practices<br />
was adjourned until midweek by Federal<br />
Judge John Knight in Buffalo.<br />
Tlie suit is being brought by the Bordonaro<br />
Bros. Theatres, operator of the Palace in<br />
Olean, N. Y., against Paramount, RKO and<br />
the Warner Bros. Cuxuit Management Corp.<br />
The plaintiff, charging first run films were<br />
withheld from him, seeks $161,592 triple damages.<br />
The alleged acts took place, the plaintiff<br />
maintains, between Sept. 15, 1946, and Mar.<br />
15, 1948, when it was in the process of a successful<br />
damage suit against the present and<br />
other defendants on similar accusations. The<br />
opening day of the suit was marked by frequent<br />
brushes between Fi-ancis A. Anderson<br />
of Philadelphia, representing the plaintiff;<br />
Frank G. Raichle, appearing for Paramount<br />
and Warners and Sidney B. Pfeifer, for RKO.<br />
Under cross examination, Bordonaro said<br />
he feels the Palace should get 60 per cent<br />
of the product of each of the major film producing<br />
companies. He admitted, however, that<br />
he did not get 60 per cent of the product of<br />
major companies not named in the suit. Answering<br />
Pfeifer, Bordonaro said that in the<br />
damage period he exhibited three feature<br />
films and a fight film either made or distributed<br />
by RKO and that he was asked to<br />
bid on three others.<br />
In his cross examination of Bordonaro,<br />
Raichle tried to show that the Palace did<br />
a net gross business as good or better by<br />
showing Republic and Monogram pictures as<br />
it did with the .so-called "A" productions of<br />
the<br />
major studios.<br />
Your help appreciated—run the Cerebral Palsy<br />
troller. Available from May 15 to July I.<br />
Buffalo Plays Host<br />
To Movietime Stars<br />
BUFFALO — With George H. Mackenna,<br />
manager of Basil's Lafayette, and William<br />
Dip.son, executive vice-president of Dipson<br />
Theatres, Batavia, acting as co-chairmen, a<br />
full schedule was arranged for the visit of<br />
two groups of Hollywood personalities to<br />
Buffalo and cities of the exchange area the<br />
past week. The Hollywood Movietime Caravan<br />
arrived in Buffalo Sunday night and<br />
was welcomed at the Hotel Statler by<br />
Mackenna, Dipson and a group of local distributors<br />
and exhibitors. The people in Group<br />
I were Pat O'Brien, Sally Forrest and Producer<br />
Robert Welch. In Group II were<br />
Sterling Hayden, Vera-EUen and Anne<br />
Gwynne.<br />
On Monday the caravan visited Niagara<br />
Falls. Batavia, Lockport and nearby communities,<br />
with a full program staged in the<br />
Cataract city. It was the fii-st view several of<br />
the stars had of the Palls.<br />
Tuesday the groups were in Buffalo for the<br />
entire day. The highlight of the Buffalo program<br />
was the visit to the weekly luncheonmeeting<br />
of the Greater Buffalo Adverti-sing<br />
club in Hotel Statler. This was an exciting<br />
event with more than 1,000 attending the<br />
unique gathering and all six stars addressing<br />
the local businessmen and assuring them that<br />
"movies really are better than ever."<br />
On the dais with the Hollywood group at<br />
the Ad club were these members of the local<br />
arrangements committee, many of whom<br />
also were members of the club: Mackenna,<br />
Dipson, Dave Miller, chief barker of Tent 7;<br />
Jack Chinell, RKO; Charlie Kosco, 20th-<br />
Fox; Jack Mundstuk, MGM; Charles B. Taylor,<br />
Paramount Theatres; William P. Rosenow,<br />
Skyway Drive-In Theatres; Vincent R.<br />
McPauI, Shea Theatres; Arthur Krolick,<br />
Paramount Theatres; William Brereton, Basil<br />
Theatres; Elmer F. Lux, Darnell Theatres and<br />
city council president; Constantine J. Basil,<br />
Basil Theatres head; Harry Berkson, Monogram;<br />
David Leff, UA, and Robert T. Murphy,<br />
Century Theatre.<br />
Following the luncheon the stars were extensively<br />
interviewed on local radio and TV.<br />
In the evening, Mackenna arranged to have<br />
the entire star personnel attend the "Nanny-<br />
Daughter" banquet in Williamsville Central<br />
high school. The stars put over a lot of good<br />
will for the industry at this event.<br />
On Wednesday both groups began their<br />
treks through the area, with Dipson taking<br />
over. Group I left Buffalo at 9 a. m., stopped<br />
briefly in Dunkirk and then went on to<br />
Jamestown, where the stars were guests at<br />
a big Service clubs luncheon and later visited<br />
some of the city's famous factories. At 4 p. m.,<br />
Group I arrived in Mayville to participate in<br />
ceremonies marking the transfer of operation<br />
of the May Theatre as a student-operated<br />
educational venture under adult guidance.<br />
There was a parade here, followed by<br />
an elaborate civic dinner. The group remained<br />
in Mayville overnight.<br />
Thursday the caravan visited Olean, Hornell,<br />
Wellsville, Salamanca and arrived in<br />
Elmira late in the day. Friday, the stars attended<br />
a big Service club luncheon in Elmira,<br />
were interviewed by radio and newspapers<br />
and attended the art teachers convention.<br />
The group visited the city of Endicott late<br />
Friday afternoon. Saturday was spent in<br />
Binghamton, where the stars attended a big<br />
44 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . . Lewis<br />
outdoor rally arranged by the high schools<br />
and visited several of the city's big factories.<br />
Group II left Buffalo Wednesday and arrived<br />
in Rochester at noontime. Several of<br />
the big Kodak town plants were visited and<br />
the stars inspected the George Eastman<br />
House and its unique Dryden Theatre. There<br />
was a big dinner in the evening in the<br />
Rochester club and the group remained in<br />
the city overnight.<br />
On Thursday, these stars visited Geneva,<br />
Auburn and Corning and arrived in Syracuse<br />
late that day. The group attended the Rotary<br />
luncheon in Syracuse Friday, was interviewed<br />
by local newspapers and radio personalities<br />
and were guests at a big Stadium Nite celebration<br />
in the evening. Saturday the group<br />
visited Syracuse university and some of the<br />
surrounding communities.<br />
Motion Picture Bookers<br />
Attend Annual Dinner<br />
NEW YORK—Approximately 1,000 persons<br />
attend the aiinual dinner dance of the Motion<br />
Picture Bookers club in the Astor hotel April<br />
2. The affaij- was dedicated to the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. drive and the industry theme<br />
was highlighted in decorative slogans and<br />
in the program with phrases such as "Movies<br />
Are Better Than Ever." Paul Gray was master<br />
of ceremonies and the entertainers included:<br />
the DeCastro Sisters, Beatrice Kraft<br />
and her dancers. Rex Raemer and Elissa Jane.<br />
Johnston Goes to France<br />
To Negotiate New Pact<br />
NEW YORK—Eric Johnston, president of<br />
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, left by<br />
airplane this weekend for Cannes, France,<br />
where he will confer with James Dunn, U.S<br />
ambassador to France, who will represent the<br />
U.S. motion picture industry in negotiations<br />
for a new pact with the FYench government.<br />
Final details will be worked out at Paris.<br />
Johnston plans to return to U.S. the middle<br />
of this month.<br />
Barney Balaban West<br />
NEW YORK—Barney Balaban, president<br />
of Paramount, left for Chicago Friday (2)<br />
to visit his brother John who is ill. Following<br />
his visit with John and other members<br />
of his family, Balaban will continue on to<br />
Hollywood to participate in the week-long<br />
meeting of Paramount division sales managers<br />
at the studio, starting May 5. Later, he<br />
will go to Oakland, Calif., where the Chromatic<br />
Television Laboratory has its pilot plant<br />
to discuss current and future plans for the<br />
development of the color tube.<br />
Mayer Leaves COMPO;<br />
Coyne Is Acting Head<br />
NEW YORK—Arthur Mayer, retiring<br />
COMPO executive officer this week<br />
turned over control to Robert Coyne, special<br />
counsel, and prepared to leave on a<br />
tour of Europe. He expressed hope that<br />
COMPO will continue to be a force in the<br />
industry.<br />
A three-man governing committee will<br />
be named soon.<br />
MOVIETIME TROUPE IN ALBANY—When the Movictime I'.S.A. troupe arrived<br />
in Albany on its recent trip through cities in that exchange area, stars attended a<br />
reception at the Albany city liall. Shown above, left to right: Jarli Goldberg, MGM<br />
manager and co-chairman of Movietime in this area; Sam Mary, Greer Garson, Don<br />
Taylor, Saul J. Ullman. Fabian Upstate general manager; Mayor Erastus Corning<br />
(seated at desk), Audrey Totter, Victor Jory, Archie Mayo and Charles A. Smakwitz,<br />
Warner zone manager and Albany chairman.<br />
ALBANY<br />
T^on Halienbeck postponed the reopening of<br />
the Indian Ladder Drive-In at New<br />
Salem in the Helderbergs from April 25 to<br />
May because of screen trouble . . Bill Do-<br />
.<br />
nate reopened the Rustic Drive-In, West<br />
Sand Lake . . . The Auto-Vision, East Greenbush,<br />
is advertising on Elaine's Drooz's noontime<br />
program for women over station WROW.<br />
Copy emphasizes the "family" natui-e of the<br />
bills and the operation by Allan Iselin.<br />
The Times-Union, in conjunction with<br />
Frigidaii-e and A&P, conducted a Prudence<br />
Penny cooking school in the Palace Tuesday<br />
morning. Station WPTR made a pickup on<br />
the time it usually resei-ves for "Fashion.<br />
Foods and Frills" from the newspaper office<br />
A. Sumberg, Albany TOA counsel,<br />
who spent five days on the road with the<br />
Movietime U.S.A. unit, lost his voice. He explained,<br />
"I repeated so many times the request,<br />
'Please stand aside for the stars,' that I<br />
finally<br />
lost my voice."<br />
Additional television stations in the Albany<br />
area will not affect motion picture business,<br />
"because they will increase the quantity, not<br />
the quality, of video entertainment," Warner<br />
Zone Manager Charles A. Smakw'itz declared.<br />
Television does not substantially hurt motion<br />
pictures. Nothing can compare with a good<br />
picture. Television is already having difficulty<br />
in producing enough programs that<br />
pack entertainment punch. What will happen<br />
when more stations come into operation?<br />
I can tell you. Quantity will be spread,<br />
but quality will be thinned."<br />
Schine's Avon, Watertown, played the Pee<br />
Wee King western vai-iety show Sunday and<br />
Monday in addition to the screen bill . . . T. J.<br />
Ti-ombley has assumed operation of the<br />
Nortliside Drive-In, five miles from Watertown.<br />
He opened the ozoner, which Dr.<br />
Philip Liebig, Granville veterinarian built and<br />
operated last year, on April 25 . . . John<br />
Yianuoko. who operates conventional theatres<br />
in Norfolk and Norwood and a drive-in near<br />
Potsdam, is taking treatment at Raybrook<br />
near Saranac Lake.<br />
W. H. Aust is again advertising free admission<br />
for servicemen and women in uniform<br />
at Aust's Open Air Theatre, South<br />
Glens Falls . . Jules Perlmutter's Fort<br />
.<br />
George Drive-In played "Singin' in the Rain"<br />
Friday and Saturday. This meant that the<br />
Metro musical was seen in an area automobiler<br />
before it had been exhibited in the<br />
3,650-seat Palace, Albany ... A "Hollywood<br />
Premiere" was presented by the students of<br />
St. Mary's academy. Glens Falls, at Schine's<br />
Rialto April 30-May 1. Admission was 60<br />
cents.<br />
The Reade circuit extended its single-night<br />
art policy to the Kingston, Kingston, with<br />
"Symphonie Pastorale" April 29. Admission<br />
Filmrowers disclosed that Neil<br />
was $1 . . .<br />
Hellman had talked about closing the Paramount<br />
and Royal, Albany, on May 11, because<br />
of poor business. He shuttered the Palace,<br />
Troy, last summer, but reopened it in September.<br />
. . .<br />
Harry Lamont and wife were among those<br />
attending performances of "The Happy Medimn"<br />
during its tryout at Malcolm and Ellen<br />
Atterbury's Playhouse The premiere of<br />
"The Pride of St. Louis," which opened a<br />
two-week run at Warners' Ritz April 24. was<br />
featui-ed by stage ceremonies in which officers<br />
of Albany's new baseball Little league<br />
participated. Joseph Leone, who heads the<br />
league promotion for the Junior Chamber<br />
of Commerce; Dick Walsh. sport.s editor of<br />
the Times-Union, and Bob Powell of the<br />
Knickerbocker took pai't. Gerry Atkin, Warner<br />
Theatres zone exploiteer, emceed. He and<br />
Manager Oscar J. Perrin arranged the affair.<br />
A lobby display of uniforms and equipment<br />
was featured nightly during the run. Members<br />
of the Junior chamber and wives manned<br />
the table and sold booster tickets to patrons.<br />
Small boys wearing new baseball uniforms assisted.<br />
L. J. Allison Leaving Theatre Post<br />
EBENSBURG, PA.—Leonard J. Allison,<br />
veteran theatre manager, is reported resigning<br />
from Rivoli Theatre duties.<br />
Chill Wills in "Ride Man Down'<br />
Chill Wills has been cast for a role in Republic's<br />
"Ride the Man Down."<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3. 1952 45
Albany Movietime Tour Is Called<br />
'Greatest Promotion' by Industry<br />
ALBANY—Big turnouts and warm receptions<br />
patterned the visits of the Movietime<br />
U.S.A. unit to most of the 33 cities and<br />
towns covered in a week's 1,700-mile tour of<br />
the Albany exchange di.sti-ict. Exhibitor chairman<br />
Harry Lamont, Lewis A. Sumberg. executive<br />
director of the Albany TOA, and Abe<br />
Bern-stein, area Metro exploiteer, agreed they<br />
had never experienced or seen "anything like<br />
it." Exhausted but jubilant, the trio said<br />
tlie Hollywood group—Greer Garson. Audrey<br />
Totter, Victor Jory, Don Taylor. Archie Mayo<br />
and Sam Marx—were equally tired but happy<br />
at the windup last Saturday (26).<br />
"This was the greatest promotion and the<br />
strongest public relations campaign ever<br />
staged for the motion picture industry in this<br />
territory," commented Lamont. "Words fail<br />
me in describing the tremendous reception<br />
given the stars and the terrific trouping they<br />
did. COMPO could not possibly have sent a<br />
better umt. There was not a single dispute<br />
or clash of temperament. Miss Garson was<br />
perfect for the assignment. She can go anywhere,<br />
any time, under any circumstance as<br />
representative of our industry, and talk eloquently<br />
on any subject. In my 25 years as an<br />
exhibitor. I have never come across a star<br />
like her. I was as much impressed by her<br />
stamina as I was by her intelligence, personality<br />
and charm. We were on the move from<br />
early morning to 11 or 12 at night, but Miss<br />
Gar.son never pleaded fatigue. She worked<br />
in, cleverly though subtly, the message of theatre<br />
attendance—even, in small situations, the<br />
name of the theatre, no matter what the subject<br />
assigned her."<br />
Lamont also praised Jory, the emcee in most<br />
places, as "a tower of strength." Miss Totter<br />
also acquitted herself admirably, while Taylor<br />
proved a big favorite with the teenagers.<br />
Lamont added Mayo and Marx were particularly<br />
effective in talks on "The creative side<br />
of Hollywood" before service clubs. Everywhere,<br />
the exhibitor chairman said, the staxs<br />
freely gave autographs.<br />
Jory defended Hollywood at Watertown<br />
and Glens Falls, from attacks made in the<br />
nation's press and radio involving the congressional<br />
probe of communism.<br />
Lamont predicted that "in any city or town<br />
visited by the stars, their pictures wiU draw<br />
added business for the next six months."<br />
He booked "Cave of Outlaws," a Jory film,<br />
with "A Streetcar Named Desii-e" at the Riverview<br />
Drive-In Saturday, and the bill was<br />
a sellout. Lamont arranged to revive "The<br />
Law and the Lady," a Garson release, in several<br />
outdoor situations, and is scheduling<br />
"Tension" and "The Sellout," which feature<br />
MLss Totter.<br />
"This group surely will help to bring back<br />
patronage in the exchange district," he prophesied.<br />
Attendance at the Movietime rallies in the<br />
communities of the Mohawk valley and the<br />
North country was heavy, starting with 2,500<br />
ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS<br />
925 New Jersey N. W.<br />
Washington, D. C.<br />
EVERYTHING<br />
for<br />
the<br />
MODERN THEATRE<br />
at a pwklng lot stand in Amsterdam. Lamont<br />
said that as many as 600 were present<br />
in towns with 1,000 population. People w'aited<br />
for two or three hours in some places despite<br />
rain. At Watertown, a high school meeting,<br />
scheduled for 8:30 did not get under way until<br />
10 p. m. The public began arriving at 7 p. m.<br />
None of the 1.500 to 2,000 present left.<br />
Five hundred cars were counted near the<br />
site of a twin-village swimming pool dedicated,<br />
with the stars assisting, in Carthage.<br />
Mayors greeted the celebrities all along<br />
the route. In Boonville. Judge Fred A. Young<br />
of the state court of claims joined the party<br />
and motored with it to Lowville. There Ernest<br />
J. Wolfe of the Town Theatre had charge<br />
of aiTangements with his son Ernest jr. Louis<br />
W. Schine headed the industry group present<br />
in GloversvUle.<br />
Before leaving Oneonta and proceeding to<br />
New York in cars, the Movietlmers dined with<br />
Lamont, Sumberg and Bernstein. Miss Garson<br />
described aiTangements as "perfect," although<br />
Lamont said, "they certainly were<br />
not that."<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
prank Boucher, K-B Amusement Co. general<br />
manager, invited members of the American<br />
Legion post, which had objected to a film at<br />
the Ontario Theatre, to a special preview of<br />
"My Son John" there, and everything's okay<br />
again. The Legion furnished a guard of<br />
honor. F>resent at the preview were Fred<br />
Kogod, head of the K-B chain; Leo McCarey,<br />
producer of the picture, and Charles G. Emmett<br />
and Robert Bunch, Legion post vicecommanders<br />
. . . Orville Crouch, division manager<br />
for Loew's Theatres, served as a cochairman<br />
of the Scout affair held in the<br />
Armory Friday and Saturday of this week . .<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Mechanic, Baltimore,<br />
returned from a Florida vacation.<br />
Fred Klein, Churchill and Chestertown,<br />
Md., exhibitor, underwent an operation in<br />
Garfield hospital last week . . . 20th-Fox<br />
Manager Joe Rosen and wife entertained the<br />
sales and booking staff in their new apartment<br />
in Hunting Towers last Saturday night.<br />
Division Manager and Mrs. Glenn Norris also<br />
were present.<br />
Mrs. Oscar L. Chapman, wife of the secretary<br />
of the interior, will be the guest mother<br />
at the Variety Club of Washington's annual<br />
Mother's day luncheon in the Shoreham<br />
hotel May 12. The luncheon will be given<br />
by the associate members of Tent 11 under<br />
the direction of Dr. Sylvan Danzansky and<br />
Harry Coonin.<br />
RKO Manager Joe Brecheen spent Wednesday<br />
in Baltimore . . . Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald<br />
spent the weekend in Charlottesville visiting<br />
relatives . . . Durkee will close the Linwood<br />
Theatre in Baltimore after business on May<br />
4 . . . Exhibitors seen on FUmrow included<br />
Gus Lynch, Fi-ank Boucher, Harry Valentine,<br />
K. A. Parish, Cresaptown, Md., Aaron Seidler,<br />
Wilbert Brizendine, E. Connellee, Eddie<br />
Kimpel, Mrs. Ike Weiner and Morris Mechanic.<br />
Fabian Theatres Planning<br />
Summer Managers Drive<br />
NEW YORK—Fabian Theatres plans a<br />
managers drive for increased grosses during<br />
June, July and August. Si Fabian and Sam<br />
Rosen, circuit heads, .said the drive will have<br />
a sharing plan whereby every manager will<br />
participate in any increase in gross over the<br />
.same period last year.<br />
Details of the contest, plus promotion plans<br />
and ideas, will be pre.sented to the Fabian<br />
managers at a meeting at the Astor May 6.<br />
Fabian and Rosen will award cash prizes to<br />
those managers who lead the circuit with the<br />
highest percentage of increase in gross over<br />
1951.<br />
Fabian, Rosen, Lqu Golding and Edgar<br />
Goth will speak at the morning session and,<br />
because feature picture merchandising will<br />
be the most important activity of the drive,<br />
the luncheon session will be addressed by advertising<br />
and publicity heads. Among these<br />
will be: S. Charles Einfeld, 20th Century-<br />
Fox; S. Barret McCormick, RKO, and Max<br />
E. Youngstein, United Artists.<br />
The last managers' incentive drive conducted<br />
by Fabian Theatres was the 35th anniversary<br />
during August 1949.<br />
Asks Investigation of<br />
'Commie' Suit Judge<br />
WASHINGTON—Rep. Richard Vail (R.,<br />
111.) on Wednesday (30) introduced a bill<br />
authorizing the House Judiciary Committee<br />
to investigate the "official conduct" of Los<br />
Angeles Federal District Court Judge Leon<br />
Yankwitch.<br />
Vail had previously attacked Yankwitch for<br />
alleged bias during the suit of screenwriter<br />
Lester Cole against Loew's in 1948. Cole, one<br />
of the "Hollywood ten" convicted of contempt<br />
of Congress for refusing to teU the House Un-<br />
American Activities Committee whether he<br />
had ever been a Communist, was fired by<br />
MGM.<br />
The jury found for Cole, and Yankwitch<br />
awarded him $150,000 in damages—later cut<br />
down on appeal.<br />
Vail charged that the jury was "obviously<br />
feeling the impact of the attitude of the<br />
judge" because of his remarks and rulings in<br />
favor of the writer.<br />
Decca Records Purchases<br />
8,100 U-I Common Shares<br />
WASHINGTON—Decca Records has bought<br />
8,100 shares of Universal Pictures common<br />
stock, bringing its total to 271,800 shares. It<br />
also acquired 5,000 warrants for the company's<br />
common stock to make a total holding<br />
of warrants of 37,500, the Securities and Exchange<br />
commission reported on Thursday (1)<br />
in its report on March stock transactions.<br />
Edward Muhl sold 200 shares of Universal<br />
common, his entire holdings, but retained<br />
30 shares of Universal preferred. Jack L.<br />
Warner made a gift of 6,200 shares of Warner<br />
Bros. Pictures common, retaining 403,748<br />
shares, plus 21,500 shares in his trust.<br />
Harry Brandt bought 200 shares of Trans-<br />
Lux Corp. common in his own account and<br />
had a total of 101,315 shares plus 17,700 shares<br />
in the account of Harday, Inc. Brandt Foundation<br />
sold 400 shares of Trans-Lux common<br />
and retained 1,400 shares. Mrs. Brandt also<br />
owns 1,400 shares of Trans-Lux common.<br />
46 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . The<br />
B ALT I MORE Maryland MPTO Expresses Esteem<br />
. . . Orville<br />
T auritz Carman's retirement as pre.sident of<br />
Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of<br />
Maryland was marked by local exhibitors and<br />
industry leaders with a testimonial dinner in<br />
tribute at the Variety Club<br />
Crouch, Loew's eastern division manager, was<br />
in town visiting local situations . . . Rodney<br />
Collier, Stanley manager, attended a meeting<br />
in the Washington Warner office . . . Joe<br />
Grant of the Northwood Theatre is in Florida.<br />
Sam Isaacson, Carroll Bayne, Louis Seibert<br />
and Charles Grauling have been nominated<br />
delegates to the Maryland state and District<br />
of Columbia convention of the AFL . . . Lauritz<br />
Garman and Leon Back, following the<br />
Vai'iety International convention in Las<br />
Vegas, will continue on to the Allied meeting<br />
in Colorado Springs . ladies auxiliary<br />
of the Variety Club is sponsoring a fashion<br />
show in May at the clubrooms under the<br />
leadership of Mrs. Lou Becker and Mrs. Sam<br />
Tabor.<br />
. . .<br />
I. N. Rappaport's Hippodrome has been<br />
closed temporarily due to a sudden fire on<br />
stage as the crew was preparing the theatre<br />
for a special morning showing of the Don<br />
McNeil Breakfast club. Damage was confined<br />
to the stage, scenery and screen<br />
Fred Schanberger jr., Keith's Theatre, is<br />
slightly better after becoming ill while in<br />
Florida.<br />
For Lauritz Garman, Retiring Head<br />
Jack Fnichtman, operator of six theatres in<br />
southern Maryland, held a Movietime in St.<br />
Mary's county luncheon in Lexington Park.<br />
Among the film industry leaders who attended<br />
were Phil Isaacs, Paramount; Hal<br />
Marshall, 20th-Fox: Ira Sichelman, 20th-Fox;<br />
Ben Coplan, Columbia; Joe Gins, U-I; Jerry<br />
Adams, MGM; Joe Brecheen, RKO; Fred<br />
Sandy, Sandy; Art Levy, UA; Pete DeFazio,<br />
Warners; Mike Lipsner, Monogram; Maz<br />
Cowen, Lippert, and Jake Flax, Republic. Local<br />
guests included states attorney J. A. Mattingly,<br />
personnel of the Patuxent river naval<br />
air base, PTA members, American Legion officials.<br />
Following the luncheon the entii-e<br />
group went to the Plaza Theatre where they<br />
were shown trailers of forthcoming product<br />
of all companies and a preview of "Belles on<br />
Their Toes."<br />
Discina Will Distribute<br />
'Danger Is a Woman'<br />
NEW YORK—Discina International Films<br />
has acquired a French film, "Danger Is a<br />
Woman," produced by Metzger and Woog, for<br />
distribution in the U.S. Henri Vidal and<br />
Maria Mauban head the cast.<br />
Another Discina French-language feature,<br />
"Under the Paris Sky," will open at the Paris<br />
Theatre the end of April, following the eightmonth<br />
run of "The River."<br />
Your help appreciated— run the Cerebral Palsy<br />
trailer. Avoilable from May IS to July 1.<br />
EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CONCESSION<br />
CANDY—POPCORN—SEASONINGS—ETC.<br />
STANDARD VENDORS. Inc.<br />
921 E. Fort Avenue<br />
Baltimore 30, Maryland<br />
In the top photo are pictured six of the exhibitors that attended the testimonial<br />
dinner. Left to right: Leon Back, the new president of Allied MPTO of Maryland;<br />
Garman; Frank Durkee, bead of Durkee Enterprises and toastmaster of the dinner;<br />
Abram F. Myers of Allied, and Jack Whittle, chairman of the dinner committee. In<br />
the lower photo are Howard Wagonheim, Schwaber circuit; Milton Schwaber,<br />
Schwaber circuit head; Wilbur Brizendine, general manager of Schwaber circuit,<br />
and Aaron Seidler, New Albert, with Garman.<br />
BALTIMORE — Marks of affection and<br />
esteem were bestowed in generous measure<br />
upon Lauritz Garman on the recent occasion<br />
of his retirement as president of the Allied<br />
Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland.<br />
His successor Leon Back, joined in the tributes.<br />
Garman was guest of honor at a dinner attended<br />
by 125 members of the group and<br />
friends from far and wide which was held<br />
at the Variety Club atop of the Stanley Theatre.<br />
Frank H. Durkee who was president in<br />
1915 was toastmaster.<br />
The chief speaker of the evening was Abram<br />
F. Myers, attorney for the National Allied<br />
Motion Picture Owners and a former member<br />
of the FTC. He gave a biography of Garman<br />
starting with his birth in Denmark. He<br />
closed by presenting him w-ith a large volume<br />
of letters; each letter came from an associate<br />
of Garman's in the theatrical field.<br />
In accepting the gifts, Garman said: "We<br />
hear lots of talk about 'public relations' these<br />
days but I feel that human relations are much<br />
more important to our welfare and happiness.<br />
We would do better to place more emphasis<br />
on the brotherhood we talk about and extoll<br />
in our pictures. It is the first rung in the<br />
ladder of real success," he concluded.<br />
Jack Whittle, chairman of the dinner committee,<br />
on behalf of the group, presented Garman<br />
a wrist watch, and a traveling bag also<br />
was presented.<br />
Back announced that Garman will continue<br />
to be active in the organization as vice-president.<br />
Sam'l A. Tannenbaum Buys<br />
750-Seat Lyric Theatre<br />
ATLANTIC CITY—The Lyric Theatre, 42-<br />
year-old house in the heart of the downtown<br />
district, has been purchased by Samuel A.<br />
Tannenbaum, owner of the Surf Theatre.<br />
Purchase was made from William Ford, who<br />
operated the Lyric for 32 of its 42 years as<br />
a film house.<br />
One of the oldest houses in the city, the<br />
Lyric had been remodeled by Ford a number<br />
of times, and in 1945 it was virtually rebuilt<br />
following a fire. It has a seating capacity of<br />
750. Midnight shows of Italian opera films<br />
proved to be one of the popular stunts tried<br />
in recent years. The house is now closed.<br />
Chos. Simonelli Elected<br />
NEW YORK— Charles F. Simonelli. eastern<br />
advertising and publicity manager of Universal,<br />
has been elected a delegate to the Democratic<br />
national convention, which will be held<br />
in Chicago in July.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3. 1952 47
or<br />
''<br />
New Law to Govern<br />
20th-Fox Splilup<br />
NEW YORK— Instead of organizing two<br />
new companies, one for distribution and the<br />
other for exhibition. 20th Century-Fox will<br />
probably continue the present company and<br />
organize a new theatre company to be called<br />
National Theatres, Inc.<br />
When the stockholders approved a plan of<br />
reorganization on Oct. 4, 1951. to comply with<br />
the antitrust decree, two new companies were<br />
contemplated, but there was a provision in<br />
the resolution authorizing the officers and<br />
directors to amend the reorganization plan<br />
to provide for one new company in case the<br />
amendments became desirable. Under the<br />
Revenue Act of 1951, which became law Oct.<br />
20, 1951, there is a "spin-off" section which,<br />
the company officers hope, will make the<br />
liquidation of the present corporation unnecessary<br />
and permit the tax free transfer to<br />
the stockholders on a share for share basis<br />
of the stock of the new theatre company.<br />
Tlie plan is detailed in the company's annual<br />
report just issued in printed form. The<br />
financial highlights of the annual statement<br />
were published in BOXOPFICE March 29.<br />
About 20 theatres have been divested. Two<br />
were owned in fee and the others leased. Of the<br />
remaining theatres to be divested. National<br />
has a choice in most situations, so that "it is<br />
impossible to say how many will consist of fee<br />
properties and how many will be leaseholds."<br />
The report points out that antitrust suits<br />
pending at the end of 1951 were approximately<br />
one-third greater than at the end<br />
of 1950.<br />
"In December 1951. the corporation made<br />
an analysis of its shareholders list," the report<br />
states. "Among the 24,592 stockholders<br />
of record owning 2,768,800 shares, there were<br />
11.356 men, 9,097 women and 3,089 joint accounts.<br />
The remaining shareholders consisted<br />
of fiduciaries, institutions, security<br />
dealers, nominees and others.<br />
"There were 16,870 shareholders who owned<br />
fewer than 100 shares each for a total of 444,-<br />
692 shares. Owners of 100 to 999 shares<br />
totaled 7,537 and accounted for 1,127,745<br />
shares. A total of 1,195,363 shares were owned<br />
by 185 shareholders having 1,000 or more<br />
shares."<br />
The report says a brochure is being prepared<br />
for distribution to shareholders on the<br />
Eidophor theatre television system.<br />
The report comments: "Your management<br />
feels that once the Eidophor system is seen<br />
in actual operation, its challenge will be clear<br />
to the members of the amusement industry,<br />
particularly the exhibitors."<br />
20th-Fox Stockholders Get<br />
Proxies for May 20 Meet<br />
NEW YORK—Proxy statements have been<br />
sent out for the annual meeting of 20th Century-Fox<br />
stockholders scheduled for May 20<br />
at the home office. Nominees for the board<br />
of directors are all members of the board at<br />
present. One, Daniel O. Hastings, lawyer, has<br />
been a member since 1933. The nominees are:<br />
L. Sherman Adams, Flobert L. Clarkson, Wilfred<br />
J. Eadie, Daniel O. Hastings, Donald A.<br />
Henderson, Robert Lehman, William C.<br />
Michel, Seton Porter, Murray Silverstone and<br />
Spyros P. Skouras.<br />
Eastman First Quarter<br />
Sales Reported Good<br />
NEW YORK— Eiuit man Kodak Co. held<br />
its<br />
own very well in total sales in the first quarter<br />
of 1952 compared with a good first quarter<br />
in 1951, Thomas J. Hargrave, president, told<br />
stockholders at the annual meeting Tuesday<br />
(291 at Flemington, N. J. Preliminary con-<br />
.solidated sales for the 1952 quarter ended<br />
March 23 were about $119,000,000, compared<br />
with about $120,000,000 for the corresponding<br />
1951 period.<br />
"With most of our major photographic lines<br />
showing sales increases this first quarter,"<br />
Hargrave said, "our total photographic sales<br />
in this country were up moderately compared<br />
with the first quarter last year. This increase<br />
applies to both civilian and government .sales.<br />
Over-all sales of professional motion picture<br />
film have continued to increase.<br />
William G. Stuber, Perley S. Wilcox, Raymond<br />
N. Ball, Albert K. Chapman and Marion<br />
B. Folsom were re-elected directors for three<br />
years. Stuber is honorary chairman of the<br />
board, Wilcox, chairman of the board: Ball,<br />
president of Rochester Ti'ust Co.; Chapman,<br />
Kodak vice-president and general manager,<br />
and Folsom, Kodak treasurer.<br />
Vistascope Device Going<br />
To Be Available Soon<br />
NEW YORK—Vistascope Corp. of America,<br />
in which Paramount Pictures recently acquired<br />
a half interest, soon will make available<br />
to television stations and motion picture<br />
studios a new photographic apparatus<br />
which will permit the telecasting of filming<br />
of live action against background settings of<br />
still pictures.<br />
The Vistascope, a French invention, links<br />
with the motion picture . TV camera, and<br />
makes available as a "set" any structure,<br />
group of structures or natural formation<br />
which can be photographed in stills. It can<br />
be used for color as well as black and white.<br />
Facilities for mai'keting and servicing of<br />
the equipment are to be set up. These will<br />
be made available on a royalty basis to all<br />
comers, both for motion picture and TV studios.<br />
It is expected to be a big money-saver.<br />
RCA Booklet Explains UHF<br />
To the General Public<br />
NEW YORK—The Radio Corp. of America<br />
information department has published a 24-<br />
page booklet titled "UHF—what it means to<br />
television and to you" which explains for the<br />
layman the meaning of ultra high frequencies<br />
and the important role these microwaves are<br />
destined to play in the future of television.<br />
The UHF spectrum now authorized<br />
provides<br />
70 new TV channels between 470-890 megacycles,<br />
opening the way for 1,445 new UHF<br />
television stations and, with the very high<br />
frequency stations, giving the U.S., its territories<br />
and possessions room for a total of<br />
more than 2,053 TV stations in 1,291 communities.<br />
Zimmer Retires From Kodak<br />
ROCHESTER, N. Y.—William H. Zimmer,<br />
an authority on industrial suggestion systems,<br />
has retired from Eastman Kodak Co. after<br />
almost 41 years of service. He had been connected<br />
with the suggestion system at Kodak<br />
since 1915. and his record of 37 years in that<br />
work is probably the longest in the U.S.<br />
British Film Finance<br />
Unit Shows a Profit<br />
LONDON—For the first time since its organization<br />
in 1949, the National Film Finance<br />
Corp. has showed a profit. Its report for the<br />
year ended March 1952 listed $10,890 on the<br />
black side of the ledger and forecast a much<br />
larger profit for the current year. It has<br />
repaid 1.018,565 of the 6,243,050 pounds borrowed<br />
from the government. Its largest advance<br />
was 3,000,000 pounds to British Lion<br />
Films, made in 1949. A total of 3,422,189 has<br />
been loaned to other companies.<br />
The report showed 177 films given financial<br />
aid in three years, with 78 loans, the largest<br />
number in one year, in 1951. Of the total of<br />
177, 25 loans have been repaid and five others<br />
are showing a profit in which NFFC shares.<br />
James Lawrie, its head, said the Eady plan<br />
was providing good revenue and will aid in<br />
repayments when its full effect is felt.<br />
William Morris Jr. Quits<br />
As Morris Agency Head<br />
NEW YORK—William Morris jr. has resigned<br />
as president of the William Morris<br />
Agency, leading theatrical, radio and TV firm,<br />
effective July 1. He has headed the agency<br />
since 1932, when he succeeded his father, William<br />
Morris, who founded it in 1898.<br />
The Morris Agency is owned by Morris jr.<br />
and Abe Lastfogel, treasurer and director,<br />
who will continue in the posts. Morris will<br />
also continue as director, but will turn over<br />
his other duties to Lastfogel, who will probably<br />
be elected president by the agency's officers,<br />
Mrs. William White (Ruth Morris),<br />
first vice-president; Bert Allenberg, second<br />
vice-president, and Nat Lefkowitz, secretary.<br />
Leaders in 16mm Field<br />
Hold Two-Day NY Meet<br />
NEW YORK—Leaders in the 16mm film<br />
field from all parts of the United States attended<br />
sessions of the National Audio-Visual<br />
Ass'n April 25-26 at the New Yorker hotel.<br />
Religious, educational and entertairunent film<br />
problems were discussed. More than 250 men<br />
and women attended and the program included<br />
35 speakers. The religious and educational<br />
film dicussions were under the supervision<br />
of Ted Morehouse, vice-president of<br />
Young America, Inc., and W. L. Rogers, president<br />
of the Religious Film Ass'n.<br />
I. F. E. to Have Publicity<br />
Bureau for U. S. in Rome<br />
NEW YORK—Dr. Renato Gualino, managing<br />
director of Italian Films Export, has<br />
established an I.F.E. publicity office in Rome<br />
to develop material appropriate for the<br />
United States. William Murray has been<br />
named as head of the office, with Angelo<br />
Parmigiani as manager of the bureau of information.<br />
Murray was formerly with the<br />
Rome Bureau of Time Magazine.<br />
To Skiatron Board<br />
NEW YORK—Jack Poppele, vice-president 1<br />
and chief engineer of station WOR-TV, was<br />
added to the board of directors of Skiatron<br />
Electronics & Television Corp. at its armual<br />
meeting Wednesday (30). Arthur Levey,<br />
:<br />
I<br />
j<br />
president, said his election has a long-term<br />
significance to pay-as-you-see telecasting.<br />
48<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
t Hollywood<br />
NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER<br />
Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Wci:tcrii Manaycr)<br />
Unveiling of 'Groom' W. R. Frank Series fo Be Released<br />
In Milwaukee Soon Simultaneously to Theatres, TV<br />
HOT.T.Vwnnr)— with Tnnv niirtis Pinpr ' '<br />
HOLLYWOOD—With Tony Curtis, Piper<br />
Laurie and Chill Wills on hand for personal<br />
appearances, U-I's "No Room for the Groom"<br />
will have its world premiere Tuesday (6) at<br />
the Warner Theatre in Milwaukee, with proceeds<br />
from the opening earmarked for the<br />
American Cancer society. Following the premiere<br />
the players will trek to St. Louis for<br />
similar participation in connection with the<br />
picture's debut there.<br />
* *<br />
Republic is completing plans for a double<br />
world premiere of "Minnesota," starring Rod<br />
Cameron and Ruth Hussey, with the historical<br />
action opus to bow July 16 at the North Shore<br />
Theatre in Duluth, Minn., and at the State<br />
in Minneapolis on the following day.<br />
Film Labor Front Fights<br />
Anti-Hollywood Politics<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Representative<br />
segments<br />
of filmdom's labor front plunged allout into<br />
the political arena when, at an organizational<br />
meeting, nearly 100 industryites formed a<br />
coalition group to campaign for the defeat<br />
of candidates for public office who have<br />
records of anti-Hollywood sentiments.<br />
Keynote speakers at the session were Roy<br />
M. Brewer, chairman of the Hollywood AFL<br />
Film Council and lATSE studio representative,<br />
and Allen Rivkin of the Screen Writers<br />
Guild. The group will support Rep. Clyde<br />
Doyle for re-election to Congress but opposes<br />
Rep. Donald Jackson, who recently charged<br />
the film unions with failing to weed out Communists,<br />
and Jack Tenny, California state<br />
senator, both of whom seek to be re-elected.<br />
Reps. Doyle and Jackson are both members<br />
of the House Un-American Activities Committee.<br />
The latter was recently sent a strong<br />
letter of protest by the AFL film council,<br />
charging that the congressman is "not helping<br />
our natien when you falsely accuse the<br />
very organizations which have been the speai'-<br />
head of the battle against Communist conspirators<br />
in Hollywood."<br />
Lester W. Roth Resigns<br />
From Columbia Pictures<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Effective Thursday (li,<br />
Lester W. Roth resigned as a vice-president<br />
of Columbia Pictures, a post he had held since<br />
1947, in order to re-enter the private practice<br />
of law. He will continue to function on a<br />
pai't-time basis until July 1.<br />
Roth served as a legal advisor on contract<br />
commitments and other matters. He was at<br />
one time a superior court judge here.<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Another manifestation of<br />
a production trend which undertakes to turn<br />
out celluloid for simulta:ieous theatrical and<br />
TV release is demonstrated in the expanded<br />
plans being blueprinted by exhibitor-producer<br />
W. R. Frank.<br />
Returning to active filmmaking after a<br />
hiatus of three years, the Minnesota showman<br />
will launch his new schedule within 30 days<br />
with the production of 13 half-hour subjects<br />
titled "Congressional Medal of Honor," which<br />
will be made available for theatrical and<br />
video distribution at the same time.<br />
While the shorts are in work, Frank also<br />
will gun his next full-length theatrical feature,<br />
"Sitting Bull," within the next 60 days.<br />
The historical western, to be photographed in<br />
color, will be directed by Sidney Salkow from<br />
a script by William Bowers, who also is penning<br />
the "Medal of Honor" series. Distribution<br />
arrangements for the feature will be announced<br />
shortly.<br />
Scripts for six of the "Medal of Honor"<br />
subjects have been completed. The initial<br />
three to be lensed, in chronological order, are<br />
the stories of Julius Langbein, a Civil war<br />
drummer boy; Mary E. Walker, woman doctor<br />
who also was active in that conflict, and<br />
Richard Pierson Hobson, Spanish-American<br />
war hero. Theatrical distribution is planned<br />
Warners Ask Transfer<br />
Of Suit by Donaldsons<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—A petition<br />
was introduced<br />
this week asking that a suit in connection<br />
with "I'll See You in My Dreams" be<br />
transfei-red from the Utah third district<br />
court to federal district court. Warner Pictures<br />
and Intermountain Theatres, defendants<br />
in the $450,000 suit brought by heirs of<br />
the late composer, Walter Donaldson, filed<br />
the petition.<br />
In asking for the transfer, they noted that<br />
the amount in controversy is in excess of<br />
$3,000, that the plaintiffs are Californians,<br />
and that there is a wide diversity of citizenship<br />
among the defendants and other parties<br />
named in the suit.<br />
The heirs of Donaldson claimed that the<br />
picture, "I'll See You in My Dreams," portrayed<br />
the composer in "an unfavorable light."<br />
Point Theatre Reopened<br />
WOLF POINT, MONT.—The Point Theatre<br />
had its spring reopening last Friday.<br />
W. R. Frank, center, vtlL-riii .Minnesota<br />
showman and film producer, huddles<br />
with his two associates, William<br />
Dean, left, and scenarist William Bowers,<br />
on Frank's return to filmmaking activity.<br />
In addition to "Sitting Bull," a<br />
historical western for major release, he<br />
has 13 half-hour subjects, titled "Congressional<br />
Medal of Honor," on the docket<br />
for simultaneous video and theatrical<br />
distribution.<br />
on a state-right basis, in addition to TV<br />
bookings and 16mm prints for schools,<br />
churches, etc. Frank has the allout cooperation<br />
of the Defense department in the venture.<br />
'Clash by Night' Troupe<br />
To Make Ten-City Tour<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Contending that in today's<br />
market each picture must be sold individually.<br />
Producer Jerry Wald of Wald-Krasna<br />
Productions at RKO has formulated plans for<br />
a ten-city personal appearance tour by the<br />
principals involved in the making of "Clash<br />
by Night," which is soon to go into national<br />
release.<br />
Members of the barnstorming troupe will<br />
include Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas.<br />
Marilyn Monroe and J. Carrol Naish of the<br />
picture's cast, as well as Producer Harriet<br />
Parsons and Director Fritz Lang. Their first<br />
date will be Wednesday i28> in New York,<br />
followed by appearances in other eastern and<br />
midwestern cities. They will be on the road<br />
approximately three weeks.<br />
Thespian members of the group will make<br />
theatre, radio and TV appearances; Lang<br />
will address student groups and cultural organizations;<br />
and Mi.ss Par.sons will appear before<br />
women's groups, women's page editors<br />
and on radio and video shows aimed principally<br />
toward femme audiences.<br />
BOXOFnCE :: May 3, 1952 49
,<br />
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES<br />
Briefies<br />
Columbia<br />
"A Train Called Schmow," starring the Three<br />
Stooges, was placed before the comeros by Producer-<br />
Director Jules White<br />
Warners<br />
Owen Crump was inked to meg three sports shorts,<br />
the initialer to be a Technicolor one-reeler. "White<br />
Horse Ronch."<br />
Cleiiers<br />
Metro<br />
DAVID RAKSIN is writing the score for "Tribute to<br />
a Bod Man,"<br />
HUGO FRIEDHOFER is scoring "Above and Beyond."<br />
Meggers<br />
Metro<br />
JOSEPH LEWIS wos signed to direct "Desperote<br />
Search," a suspense drama to be produced by Matthew<br />
Ropf,<br />
Independent<br />
Jock Broder Productions booked WILLIAM BEAU-<br />
DINE to pilot "White Woman of the Lost Jungle" for<br />
Realort.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Held for another term was Producer STANLEY<br />
RUBIN.<br />
Options<br />
Columbia<br />
REX REASON, leading man recently under contract<br />
to Metro, signed a term ticket, his first assignment<br />
to be set shortly.<br />
ANGELA STEVENS was set as femme lead opposite<br />
George Montgomery in the Technicolor western, "Jack<br />
McColl, Desperado," which Sidney Sclkow is directing<br />
for Producer Sam Kotzman.<br />
Independent<br />
Edward Small Productions tagged YVONNE DE<br />
CARLO to star in "Savage Frontier," Technicolor<br />
adventure drama to be directed by Sidney Salkow.<br />
Metro<br />
ROBERT HORTON was handed a topline in "Apache<br />
Trail." Booked for the Gilbert Roland topliner was<br />
GLENDA FARRELL. Hayes Goetz will produce and<br />
Harold F. Kress will meg the western.<br />
PIER ANGELI draws a top spot in "Sombrero."<br />
Inked to a term ticket was VITTORIO GASSMAN,<br />
young Italian actor, who will make his U.S. debut<br />
in Producer Jack Cummings' "Sombrero." "<br />
Monogram<br />
Cost in the Wild Bill Elliott starring western, "The<br />
Maverick," were MYRON HEALEY, RAND BROOKS<br />
and FLORENCE LANE. Thomas Carr is megging the<br />
Vincent M. Fennelly production.<br />
Featured spots in "Army Bound" went to STEVE<br />
WAYNE, CAREY LOFTIN, LOUIS TOMEt, JOEY RAY,<br />
LARRY STEWART and LISA WILSON. GIL STRATTON<br />
JR., MURRAY ALPER, DANNY WELTON and JOHN<br />
FONTAINE also were cast.<br />
A cast addition for "Sea Tiger' was MARVIN<br />
PRESS.<br />
Paramount<br />
Cast in the Hope-Crosby-Lamour starrer, "Road to<br />
Bali," was PAT DANE. The Technicolor comedy, o<br />
Harry Tugend production, is being directed by Hal<br />
Walker.<br />
Character actor LEO GENN was inked for "Pleasure<br />
Island," Technicolor romantic comedy starring Don<br />
Taylor and to be megged by F. Hugh Herbert. Paul<br />
Jones will produce.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Contractee ARTHUR HUNNICUTT draws a key<br />
comedy role in the Jean Simmons starrer, "A Likely<br />
Story,' which Ltoyd Bacon will direct for Producer<br />
Robert Sparks.<br />
Republic<br />
Set OS the femme leads in "Thunderbirds" were<br />
MONA FREEMAN end EILEEN CHRISTY. Joining the<br />
cast wos WALLY CASSELL. John H. Auer is producing<br />
ond directing the national guard drama.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Given a contract extension wos octor JEFFREY<br />
HUNTER.<br />
DONALD RANDOLPH, Broadway actor-director, was<br />
handed o featured role in "Night Without Sleep," o<br />
Robert Gassier production starring Gory Merrill and<br />
Linda Darnell. The director is Roy Baker.<br />
Thor Productions, independent unit headed by Bert<br />
Friedlob, inkad WALTER SANDE, HUGH SANDERS,<br />
CARLETON YOUNG, EDDIE MARR, MICHAEL ROSS<br />
and NORMAN BUDD for "Pome Stricken," the Joseph<br />
Cotten-Tereso Wright vehicle, which Andrew Stone is<br />
megging.<br />
Actress MITZI GAYNOR wos held for another term.<br />
Her next role will be in Producer George Jessel's<br />
"Bloodhounds of Broadway."<br />
United Artists<br />
Aspen Pictures inked MOIRA, 19-year-old native of<br />
Somoo, for one of the leads opposite Gary Cooper in<br />
"Return to Paradise." With Mark Robson megging,<br />
the picture is to be filmed on location in the South<br />
Seas.<br />
Universal-International<br />
TYRONE POWER has been signed to star in "Mississippi<br />
Gambler," upcoming Technicolor subject to be<br />
produced by Ted Richmond and directed by Randolph<br />
Mate.<br />
KLYE MAC DONNELL, New York stage and TV<br />
oc tress, makes her film bow in "The Great Companions,"<br />
to be produced in Technicolor by Albert<br />
J. Cohen. With Dan Dailey ond Ann BIyth in the<br />
leads, the feature will be megged by Douglas Sirk.<br />
Warners<br />
DORIS DAY will be teamed with Danny Thomas in<br />
the upcoming new version of "The Jazz Singer," which<br />
will be produced by Louis F. Edelman and megged<br />
by Michael Curtiz.<br />
Cost in "The Iron Mistress" was DICK PAXTON.<br />
Tagged for "The Desert Song," starring Kothryn<br />
Grayson and Gordon MacRae, was comedian DICK<br />
WESSON. Bruce Humberstone is directing the Technicolor<br />
musical for Producer Rudi Fehr.<br />
ALAN HALE JR. and PHILIP CAREY drew top supporting<br />
roles in the Gory Cooper starrer, "Springfield<br />
Rifle," which is being produced in WornerColor by<br />
Louis F. Edelmon. Andre De Toth is the megaphonist.<br />
Cost in the western were DAVID BRIAN<br />
ond LON CHANEY JR.<br />
NANCY OLSON garnered the femme lead and<br />
ALAN NAPIER a top character role in "Jim McLain,"<br />
John Wayne starrer being produced by Wayne and<br />
Robert Fellows. Hal Baylor was booked. With Edward<br />
Ludwig directing, the oction drama is being shot<br />
on location in Hawaii.<br />
Scripters<br />
Metro<br />
RUTH BROOKS FLIPPEN is developing "Ghost of a<br />
Chonce" as a musical to be produced by William<br />
Grady jr.<br />
Story Buys<br />
Independent<br />
Film rights to Maxwell Anderson's stage ploy,<br />
"Anne of a Thousand Days," were purchased by Fred<br />
Fmklehoffe, who plans to produce tt in Technicolor<br />
next fall in London, with Rex Horrison and Lilli<br />
Palmer as the stars.<br />
Volcono Productions, newly organized independent<br />
outfit headed by Robert Angus and William Lewis,<br />
purchased "Angels on Horseback," by Kitty Buhler,<br />
as Its first filmmaking venture. The yarn deals with<br />
the U.S. public heolth service's backwoods nursing<br />
system, carried on by women on horseback.<br />
Metro<br />
"My Pal Geechy," a comedy original by James<br />
Poe, was purchased and assigned to Henry Bermon<br />
to produce. The screenplay will be developed by Jerry<br />
Davis.<br />
Paramount<br />
"Morro Treasure," an adventure novel by David<br />
Duncan, was acquired by Pine-Thomas Productions<br />
for Technicolor filming. Duncan has been inked to<br />
write the screenplay. The yarn deals with the headhunting<br />
Jivaro tribe in the jungles of Colombio,<br />
Universal-International<br />
Acquired and assigned to Ted Richmond to produce<br />
was "The Curse of the Scarlet Sphinx," an original<br />
screenplay by Don Martin. It deals with on archaeologist's<br />
expedition to Egypt to locate a treasure in<br />
on ancient tomb.<br />
Technically<br />
Monogram<br />
MEL SHYER is functioning as ossistant director on<br />
"The Movenck," with ERNEST MILLER<br />
rapher and SAM FIELDS os film editor.<br />
as photog-<br />
RKO Radio<br />
HARRY WILD will photograph "A Likely Story."<br />
ED KILLY will be the unit production manager.<br />
Republic<br />
Crew assembled for "Thunderbirds" includes KEN-<br />
NETH HOLMES, unit manager; REGGIE LANNING,<br />
cameraman; RICHARD VAN ENGER, film editor;<br />
FRANK HOTALING, ort director; HERB MENDELSON,<br />
assistant director, and ROLAND 5KEETE, special<br />
effects.<br />
Title<br />
Changes<br />
Columbia<br />
"Counterspy in Hong Kong" to TARGET HONG<br />
KONG.<br />
Metro<br />
"Eagle on His Cop" to ABOVE AND BEYOND.<br />
"Mash 66" to BATTLE CIRCUS.<br />
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" to I'M FROM<br />
MISSOURI.<br />
Monogram<br />
'<br />
"Plow Jockeys to FEUDIN' FOOLS.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
"A Likely Story" to BEAUTIFUL BUT DANGEROUS.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
"Something for the Birds" to OLD SAILORS NEVER<br />
DIE.<br />
Principal Partners<br />
Into Drive-In Circuit<br />
LOS ANGELES—Bringing additional topechelon<br />
management and capital into southern<br />
California's outdoor theatre operations,<br />
Sol Lesser, Mike Rosenberg and Col. Fred<br />
Levy have acquired a substantial interest in<br />
Pacific Drive-In Theatres, the southland's<br />
largest ozoner circuit, with 16 units in and<br />
around the Los Angeles metropolitan area.<br />
Lesser, Rosenberg and Levy also are partners<br />
in Principal Theatres, circuit of conventional<br />
indoor houses here, in addition to<br />
which Lesser is a pioneer of the production<br />
field.<br />
Operational control of Pacific Drive-Ins<br />
was only recently acquired by William R.<br />
Porman on lease from C. A. Caballero, founder<br />
of the circuit.<br />
Ethel Barrymore Cast<br />
For TV Film on Mother<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Marking her TV debut,<br />
Ethel Barrymore has been cast with Ruth<br />
Hussey in "The Greatest Mother," special<br />
half-hour television film being lensed by<br />
Jerry Fairbanks Productions for Mother's day<br />
telecasting. Other topliners are Loretta<br />
f<br />
Young and Gene Lockhart. The picture is<br />
being produced by Father Patrick Peyton of<br />
.<br />
the Family Theatre. The program will be I<br />
offered to all TV stations without charge for<br />
sustaining showings on Mother's day.<br />
Miss Barrymore appears destined for an<br />
active career in television, since she was re- 1<br />
cently set by Monogram's video subsidiary.<br />
Interstate Television, to headline a proposed<br />
"Ethel Barrymore Theatre" dramatic series.<br />
* * *<br />
Pending wage stabilization board approval,<br />
the Alliance of Television Film Pi-oducers,<br />
Hal Roach Productions, Rowland Reed Productions<br />
and Cascade Productions have entered<br />
into a new bargaining agreement with<br />
the Screen Actors Guild. The ticket, effective<br />
Thursday (8), embraces the new SAG<br />
daily and weekly freelance minimum wages<br />
as recently negotiated with major theatrical<br />
film producers.<br />
In the interim, negotiations continue on<br />
other SAG requests, including rates for<br />
weekly freelancers in multiple-picture deals<br />
and additional payments for reuse of TV<br />
films.<br />
Sho Low Theatre Is Opened<br />
i<br />
SHOW LOW, ARIZ.—The new $50,000 Sho<br />
i<br />
Low Theatre opened here recently as a Rawl- j|<br />
ings-Nace enterprise. Jerry RawUngs is manager<br />
of the 420-seater.<br />
i<br />
50 BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952:<br />
j
. . . because<br />
.<br />
Appeal Jarrico Case;<br />
Reverse Scott Ruling<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Plans for an immediate<br />
appeal and the announced determination to<br />
take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, if<br />
necessary, were disclosed by the Screen Writers<br />
Guild after a superior court ruling denied<br />
an SWG request for a petition to force<br />
RKO Radio to arbitrate the widely publicized<br />
screen credits dispute involving scenarist<br />
Paul Jarrico and the Howard Hughes film<br />
company.<br />
Superior Judge Roy L. Herndon turned<br />
down the SWG request on the grounds that<br />
the controversy between jarrico and Hughes<br />
does not "primarily involve" the rights of the<br />
guild.<br />
Still awaiting determination are two other<br />
court actions: one brought by RKO Radio<br />
against Jarrico, seeking a ruling that the studio<br />
not be held liable because the writer's<br />
name was eliminated from the screen credits<br />
on "The Las Vegas Story." and one brought<br />
by Jarrico against the studio, charging breach<br />
of contract.<br />
Almost simultaneously. Federal Judge Ben<br />
Harrison reversed the ruling of a jury which<br />
awarded Adrian Scott. RKO writer-producer<br />
and member of the so-called "unfriendly 10,"<br />
more than S70.000 in damages for asserted<br />
breach of contract. Acting on a motion by<br />
RKO Radio attorneys, the jurist ordered a<br />
new trial, holding that Scott's refusal to testify<br />
at a House Un-American Activities Committee<br />
probe constituted a violation of the<br />
morals clause in his studio contract.<br />
At the same time, however, Judge Harrison<br />
upheld the verdict of the same jury in a companion<br />
suit filed by scenarist Ring Lardner<br />
jr. against 20th Century-Pox, in which Lardner<br />
w-as awarded $20,000 in damages. In this<br />
instance, the jurist pointed out, the studio<br />
inked Lardner to a new contract after he<br />
made his Red probe appearance, and consequently<br />
the company had waived its right to<br />
invoke the morals clause in Lardner's pact.<br />
New Meggers Scale Goes<br />
To $550 Weekly and Up<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Given the nod of approval<br />
by the membership, the Screen Directors<br />
Guild is upgrading modifications in the<br />
craft's basic agreement with the major producers,<br />
agreed upon after a series of meetings<br />
between SDG negotiators and producer representatives.<br />
The revision bring the minimum salary for<br />
meggers of westerns up to $550 weekly, with<br />
a four-week guarantee, on pictures budgeted<br />
at $100,000 or less. On all other features the<br />
upped to a $550 weekly minimum with<br />
scale is<br />
a five-and-one-half week guarantee.<br />
To Present Polio Respirator<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Songwriter Jimmy Mc-<br />
Hugh's Polio foundation will present its fifth<br />
polio respirator for children to Dr. Albert<br />
Bowers of the Los Angeles county hospital in<br />
ceremonies to be staged Tuesday (1).<br />
Disney Signs Nature Expert<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Walt Disney has signed<br />
Rutherford Piatt, nature authority, to assist<br />
in preparing an upcoming True-Life Adventure<br />
on the life of the honeybee. The halfhour<br />
semidocumentary is for RKO release.<br />
TO<br />
the Hollywood AFL Film Council a<br />
double bow. One for its forthright stand<br />
in challenging the blanket condemnation<br />
of Hollywood guilds and unions issued<br />
by Rep. Donald Jackson in a recent speech<br />
before the Los Angeles Kiwanis club. The<br />
second because its precedential, courageous<br />
action could and should be used as a pattern<br />
for similar procedure by other industry organizations,<br />
not only in Hollywood but<br />
throughout the remainder of the nation.<br />
Over the signature of Roy M. Brewer, its<br />
chairman, the AFL Film Council addressed a<br />
letter to Congressman Jackson in which, with<br />
refreshing absence of equivocation, it was<br />
pointed out that "long before the public had<br />
its eyes opened to the Communist menace,"<br />
the present AFL unions and guilds in the<br />
film capital "were battling the Communists<br />
in every way within their legal rights and,<br />
at times, in ways extrajudicial, to say the<br />
least."<br />
The congressman's charge that the film<br />
crafts are keeping on their membership lists<br />
studio workers identified with communism<br />
was met. in the council's reply, by the explanation<br />
that if any Red is "presently a<br />
member of an AFL union or guild in Hollywood,<br />
and his union or guild should oust him<br />
of his party membership, that<br />
Communist could keep right on working" because<br />
the Taft-Hartley law "prevents a union<br />
from denying work opportunities to a person<br />
because he is a Communist."<br />
Reminding Representative Jackson, who is<br />
a member of the House Un-American Activities<br />
Committee, that he voted for the Taft-<br />
Hartley law. the film council's communique<br />
urged the solon to work for the amendment<br />
of that legislation, and concluded;<br />
"You. Mr. Jackson, are not helping our<br />
nation when you falsely accuse the very organizations<br />
which have been the spearhead<br />
of the battle against Communist conspirators<br />
in Hollywood."<br />
No one would dare to question Roy Brewer's<br />
position as a patriotic citizen of both his<br />
country and his industry. A staunch and<br />
militant anti-Communist, he is, in addition<br />
to his chairmanship of the council, an active<br />
member of the Motion Picture Industry Council<br />
and is the top brass in Hollywood of the<br />
powerful lATSE. He has served untiringly<br />
and effectively on scores of committees dedicated<br />
to charity drives and other undertakings<br />
of all-industry proportions and benefits.<br />
In taking sharp issue with Jackson, the<br />
council hit him in a spot that hurts any<br />
politician the most—his source of votes. Representative<br />
Jackson W'as elected from a district<br />
in which reside many of the 20.000<br />
members of the film council. Tlieir protest<br />
against his arbitrary, thoughtless blanket accusations<br />
should give him pau.se for thought<br />
before he again, willy-nilly, singles out the<br />
motion picture industry or any department<br />
thereof as an always-handy whipping boy.<br />
There are other members of Congress, and<br />
they come from all parts of the country,<br />
who have always been too eager to take<br />
picks on Hollywood. Regardless of their geographical<br />
origin, they have in their respective<br />
constituencies many voters whose livelihoods<br />
come from some branch of the motion picture<br />
industry—executives and employes of the exhibition<br />
and distribution fronts.<br />
If every organization of such persoas, be<br />
it union or commercial, would make It a matter<br />
of regular busine.ss to write Its congressmen,<br />
in similar vein to that pursued by the<br />
Hollywood Council whenever its chosen lawmakers<br />
cast unfounded accu.satloas at the<br />
film capital and its people, the result would<br />
be a sharp decline in the .solonic propensity<br />
toward seeking headlines at Cinemania's expense.<br />
Furthermore, it would be a salubrious manifestation<br />
of the solid-front position that the<br />
industry's top brass has decided, through<br />
COMPO, TOA and other comparable groups,<br />
is so highly necessary for the future best<br />
interests of the trade.<br />
In a letter to its membership, the Motion<br />
Picture Alliance for the Preservation of .•\merican<br />
Ideals announced that one /big^niev<br />
Stypulkowski is to be substituted for Whittaker<br />
Chambers as principal speaker at the<br />
anti-Red group's May 14 meeting. In billing<br />
Zbigniev Stypulkowski, the alliance describes<br />
him as "a brilliant speaker—no accent."<br />
The MPAer who introduces him without an<br />
accent rates an Oscar.<br />
Bad news travels fast—and far; the good<br />
is "often interred .<br />
."<br />
For the past several months, the press<br />
both trade and general—has been devoting<br />
much space to the heckling of the motion<br />
picture business and some of its output on<br />
the part of certain segments of the American<br />
Legion and that organization's weekly magazine;<br />
with widespread intra-industry publicity<br />
anent what was being planned, by Eric Johnston<br />
and others from the trade's high echelons.<br />
to offset the growing menace.<br />
On the other side of the ledger, consider<br />
the recent visit to the film capital of Frank<br />
C. Hilton, commander of the Veterans of<br />
Foreign Wars of the United States, who was<br />
here to bestow upon William Goetz, in charge<br />
of production at Universal-International, a<br />
VFW citation for the studio's "Bright Victory,"<br />
which was hailed as a contribution to<br />
veterans' rehabilitation.<br />
Commander Hilton on that occasion declared,<br />
"The film industry, both management<br />
and artists, should be accorded the<br />
grateful thanks of all service organizations<br />
for their patriotic contributions . . . which<br />
cannot be adequately measured. But it merits<br />
our deepest appreciation."<br />
As far as can be ascertained, broadcasting<br />
of Hilton's paeans of praise and gratitude<br />
was limited to a routine news release from<br />
U-I's publicity department, and very little<br />
space in the public prints.<br />
Here was something—most especially the<br />
reference to "all service organizations"—into<br />
which the Motion Picture Council and the<br />
Studio Publicity Directors committee, two outfits<br />
ostensibly dedicated to the improvement<br />
of Hollywood's public relations, might have<br />
sunk their teeth— if any.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 SI
Allied States<br />
Directors<br />
To Aid Colorado Confab<br />
Abram F. Myers N\ ilbcr Miainr<br />
COLORADO SPRINGS—Hundreds of independent<br />
iheatremen will converge on this<br />
mountain city this week for the national<br />
board meeting of the Allied States Ass'n at<br />
the Broadmoor hotel. May 3, 4 and for the<br />
Allied Rocky Mountain annual spring convention<br />
May 6. 7 at the Antlers hotel.<br />
The praspect of a few days vacation in the<br />
mountains is expected to be the lever that will<br />
bring many theatremen and national board<br />
members here to discuss industry problems<br />
and for the entertainment provided at the<br />
meetings.<br />
The national board of directors will be<br />
hosted at a dinner sponsored by the Allied<br />
Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres, and<br />
Monday i5> is set aside as a day of recreation.<br />
A mountain trip is being planned for<br />
that day.<br />
All members of ARMIT are invited to attend<br />
the board meeting as observers. National<br />
officials expected to attend the board<br />
meeting and remain over for the ARMIT sessions<br />
include Abram F. Myers, general counsel<br />
of Allied States: Wilbur Snaper, Allied<br />
States president: Ben Marcus, treasurer; H. A.<br />
Cole, Texas director; Jack Kirsch. Illinois director,<br />
and Bennie Berger, North Central Allied<br />
director. H. M. Richey, MGM director<br />
of exhibitor and public relations, will attend<br />
the ARMIT sessions and directors are expected<br />
to attend the Tuesday business session<br />
and take part in the program.<br />
Al.so on the slate for the ARMIT convention<br />
is an appearance by actor George Murphy<br />
at the business session Wednesday morning.<br />
The ARMIT convention will<br />
get under way<br />
with registration Tuesday morning, with two<br />
business sessions, one Tuesday afternoon and<br />
the other Wednesday morning. Wednesday<br />
afternoon will be devoted to a tour of the<br />
Alexander Film Co.<br />
The meeting wHl end with a dinner-dance<br />
New Manager for Studio House<br />
PRESCOTT, ARIZ.—The new manager of<br />
the Studio Theatre here is Claude Cline, succeeding<br />
Ralph Crocker who has managed the<br />
house since 1943.<br />
52<br />
THEATRE /ALE/<br />
.ARAKELIANO^-Al<br />
iAH TMHCieCO<br />
PHONE PROSPECT 5-7146<br />
'M.^hk<br />
Beniiie Berger H. M. Richey<br />
Wednesday night. Alexander Film Co., which<br />
headquarters here, will play host at a Tuesday<br />
evening cocktail party. Manley, Inc., will<br />
H. A. Cole Jack Kirsch<br />
give corsages to the women for the Wednesday<br />
night banquet and dance and United<br />
Film Service will give door prizes at the banquet.<br />
The tentative program:<br />
Tuesday, May 6<br />
9 a. m.-12 p. m.—Registration, lobby floor.<br />
Antlers hotel.<br />
12 p. m.-l:30 p. m.—Luncheon for exhibitors<br />
and wives, private dining room. Antlers<br />
hotel.<br />
1:30-4:30—Business session.<br />
2:00-4:30—Ladies tour, departure from Antlers<br />
hotel lobby.<br />
5:30—Oasis of good cheer, Alexander Film<br />
Co.,<br />
host.<br />
Wednesday, May 7<br />
9:30 a. m. -12:30 p. m.—Business session,<br />
election of officers, open forum, remarks by<br />
equipment men, talk by George Murphy,<br />
MGM studios.<br />
12 :30-2 :00—Luncheon.<br />
2:30-5:00—Tour of Alexander Film studio.<br />
6:00-7:00—Cocktail hour. Kibitzer lounge.<br />
7:00-12:00 a. m.—Banquet and dancing.<br />
LA Downtown Paramount<br />
To Reopen on May 30<br />
LOS ANGELES—A Decoration day reopening<br />
is planned for the Downtown Paramount<br />
Theatre, 3,500-seat showcase, which darkened<br />
April 28 to undergo a $225,000 remodeling and<br />
refurbishing job. The house was recently<br />
taken over by United Paramount Theatres<br />
after having been operated for many years on<br />
lease by Fanchon & Marco.<br />
Supervising the extensive facelifting job is<br />
Jerry Zigmond, UPT's west coast division<br />
manager.<br />
'Son John Starts Big<br />
At Upped LA Prices<br />
LOS ANGELES—Playing at advanced admi.ssions<br />
and benefiting from a klieg-lighted,<br />
star-studded premiere, "My Son John" proved<br />
the week's strongest boxoffice lure by finishing<br />
its — first week with 160 per cent. Two<br />
holdovers "Quo Vadis" at 150 and "Singin' in<br />
the Rain" at 120—were the only other bills<br />
doing better than par business.<br />
(Averoge Is 100)<br />
Beverly Canon Rasho-Mon (RKO), 7th wk 75<br />
Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown Dcodline—<br />
U.S.A. (20th-Fox) 90<br />
Egyptian, State Singin' in the Roln (MGM), 3rd<br />
wk 120<br />
Fine Arts My Son John 'Poro), advanced prices. 160<br />
Four Star Volley of the Eogles (LP), 2nd wk 65<br />
Fox Wllshire The Africon Queen (UA), advanced<br />
prices, 1 8th wk 85<br />
Hollywood Paromount Women Without Names<br />
(Lopert), 2nd wk 50<br />
Orpheum, Werners Beverly The Greotest Show on<br />
Eorth (Para), 10th wk 90<br />
Pontages, Hillstreet The Marrying Kind (Col);<br />
Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard (RKO), 3rd<br />
wk )00<br />
United Artists, Hawaii, Ritz Roncho Notorious<br />
(RKO) 100<br />
Vogue Quo Vodis (MGM), 2nd wk 150<br />
.<br />
Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern The Lion<br />
and the Horse (WB); Gobs and Gals (Rep). . .100<br />
Denver Grosses Climb<br />
With Top Newcomers<br />
DENVER— "The Marrying Kind" and "The<br />
Battle at Apache Pass" were neck-and-neck<br />
leaders for first place at 175 per cent in a<br />
generally good week at the first runs. "With<br />
a Song in My Heart" was top holdover at 150<br />
while "Flesh and Fury" was another strong<br />
newcomer at 135. "The Wild North" did a<br />
fine 115 second week after taking 130 in its<br />
first.<br />
Aladdin, Tabor, Webber Flesh ond Fury (U-l);<br />
Strait Jacket (Realart) 1 35<br />
Broodwoy—The Wild North (MGM), 2nd wk 115<br />
Denham Flaming Feather (Para) 65<br />
Denver, Esquire The Battle ot Apache Poss<br />
(U-l); Guilty of Treason (UA) 1 75<br />
Orpheum Singin' in the Rain (MGM); Whispering<br />
Smith vs. Scotland Yard (RKO), 2nd wk 100<br />
Paramount The Marrying Kind (Col); The Clouded<br />
Yellow (Col) 175<br />
Rialto With o Song in My Heart (20th-Fox); Jet<br />
Job (Mono), 2nd d. t. wk 150<br />
Vogue Eroico (Academy) 1 50<br />
"Six Convicts' Captures<br />
San Francisco at 175<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—"My Six Convicts"<br />
broke loose at the Orpheum and captured<br />
first place with 175 per cent. Second place<br />
went to the seventh week of "African Queen"<br />
with 150. The two holdover musicals, "Song"<br />
and "Rain," paced each other at 120 in<br />
their second stanzas.<br />
Fox—With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox); Fort<br />
Osage (Mono), 2nd wk 120<br />
Golden Gate Love Is Better Than Ever (MGM);<br />
The Pace That Thrills (RKO) 75<br />
Loew's Worfield Singin' in the Rain (MGM), 2nd<br />
wk 120<br />
Orpheum My Six Convicts (Col); A Yonk in Indo-<br />
China (Col) 175<br />
Paramount Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick (Para). 85<br />
St. Francis My Son John (Para), 2nd wk 90<br />
United Artists The African Queen (UA), 7th wk.lSO<br />
'Singin' Second Sizzles<br />
Seattle; 'Queen' Great<br />
SEATTLE — "Singin" in the Rain" did a<br />
sunshiny 225 per cent in its second week, the<br />
same figure it made for its opening stanza,<br />
"African Queen" opened to a hangup 200 per<br />
cent on a bill with "Royal Journey."<br />
Blue Mouse The Battle ot Apache Poss (U-l),<br />
3rd d.t. wk 60<br />
Liberty Mo ond Pa Kettle ot the Fair (U-l);<br />
Here Come the Nelsons (U-l) 135<br />
Music Box Ballerina (M-K); Paris 1900 (Mayer), . 50<br />
Music Holl Singin' in the Rain (MGM); Shadow<br />
in the Sky (MGM), 2nd wk 225<br />
Orpheum The African Queen (UA); Royal<br />
Journey (UA) 200<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
. . . Dorothy<br />
. . Gibraltar<br />
. . M.<br />
. .<br />
. , Joseph<br />
. .<br />
DENVER<br />
T\uke Dunbar, formerly secretary ef the old<br />
Film Board of Trade, has alinounccd he<br />
will be a candidate for re-election as Colorado<br />
Fox Intermountain<br />
attorney general this fall . . .<br />
Theatres is closing it? division<br />
offices<br />
on Saturdays, at least until Labor day.<br />
and it will probably be a permanent arrangement<br />
.<br />
Theatres has opened its<br />
new 200-car Sierra Drive-In, Socorro. N. M.<br />
Alex Cooperman, Lux Film representative,<br />
conferred with Don Hammer. Realart exchange<br />
owner, who will distribute Lux's "Les<br />
Miserables" and an English version of "'Bitter<br />
Rice" in the Denver and Salt Lake City areas<br />
Peele is the new biller at Monogram<br />
. H. Philpson has opened his new-<br />
250-car Corrall Drive-In at Hudson, Colo.,<br />
which opens this town to films.<br />
. . .<br />
Charles Brent has sold the Yucca Drive-In<br />
at Santa Fe. N. M.. to Wiles and Noah, who<br />
owns an ozoner at Excelsior Springs. Mo. .<br />
Ru.ss Dauterman and Bus Campbell. Salt Lake<br />
City, were in conferring with William Hughart,<br />
manager of the Associated Film exchange<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bailey, owners of the<br />
Lippert Pictures franchise here in Salt Lake<br />
City, attended the Las Vegas Variety Club<br />
convention.<br />
•The Denver & Rio Grande," being world<br />
premiered in Denver and along the Denver<br />
& Rio Grande Western to Salt Lake City, reports<br />
a saturation booking of more than 120<br />
Filmrow visitors included Herbert<br />
dates . . .<br />
Gumper. Center: C. E. McLaughlin. Las Animas:<br />
Marlin Smith. Glenrock. Wyo.. and<br />
Elden Menagh. Fort Lupton.<br />
MGM Exchange Staffs<br />
To Meet in Los Angeles<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—MGM will hold a threeday<br />
western division sales meeting beginning<br />
Monday (5i at the St. Francis hotel. Charles<br />
Reagan, vice-president and general sales<br />
manager, will conduct the sessions. Also in<br />
attendance will be Edward Saunders, assistant<br />
sales manager: George Hickey, western<br />
division sales manager: Dan Terrell, exploitation<br />
chief: J. Eisenberg. legal department;<br />
Irv Helfront. New York assistant to George<br />
Hickey. and H. M. Richey. public relations.<br />
Branch managers to attend are L. C. Wingham.<br />
San Francisco; Carl Nedley. Salt Lake<br />
City; Sam Davis. Seattle: Lou Amacker.<br />
Portland, and Tom Aspell. Los Angeles.<br />
When YOU Need<br />
Special<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good & Fast<br />
SEND IT TO<br />
CHICAGO, 1327 S.WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
Largest coverage iti U.S. No "Net" list-<br />
iHQS. Highest reiiutation (or jdiow-how<br />
and fair dealing, 30 years experience includinij<br />
exiiihilion. Ask Better Business Bu.<br />
reau. or otir customers. Know your broker,<br />
ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists [<br />
3305 Carutli. Dallas. Texas<br />
Teleiiliones: EM 0238 - EM 7489<br />
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED<br />
TV Threat No Block<br />
To Woliberg Airer<br />
DENVER—Wolfberg Theatres will construct<br />
A drive-in on East Evans avenue at South<br />
Monaco boulevard. Vice-President John Wolfberg<br />
said. It will be called the Valley Drlvo-<br />
In and will be the fifth airer owned by the<br />
circuit<br />
here.<br />
"We are building this theatre in spite of<br />
the neai-ne.ss of television in Denver." Wolfberg<br />
said, "because drive-ins have proved<br />
most satisfactory in cities that already have<br />
faced the television threat. Drive-ins offer<br />
a chance for a family outing that will always<br />
b? popular, we believe,"<br />
All equipment, including a screen, has been<br />
pmchased. Wolfberg said. The soil and topographical<br />
airalysis of the property were completed<br />
and grading was to begin late in April,<br />
Wolfberg said construction would be done by<br />
mid- June, It will be a 1.000-car situation.<br />
Atoz Amusements Building<br />
1,000-Car Denver Ozoner<br />
DENVER — Plans for a second l.OOO-car<br />
drive-in in mushrooming residential areas of<br />
southeast Denver were announced by Atoz<br />
Amusements. Inc. It would be in competition<br />
with the simultaneously announced Wolfberg<br />
drive-in. A. P, "Tony" Archer, vice-president<br />
of Atoz. said more than $300,000 will be spent<br />
on the theatre, tentatively named the Welshire,<br />
on a 14-acre site on East Evans avenue<br />
and Dahlia street, just off the new Valley<br />
highw-ay.<br />
Atoz Amusements, of which C, U, Yeager<br />
is president, operates the Jewell and Santa Fe<br />
theatres in Denver, the Gothic and Pioneer<br />
in Englewood, the Rex in Brighton and<br />
Golden in Golden.<br />
SMI LAKE<br />
The worst floods in Salt Lake City's history<br />
kept most people from traveling and hurt<br />
business last week . . . Theatre business especially<br />
was hard hit, and the Park-Vu Drive-In<br />
was temporarily closed. The Salt Lake waters<br />
drove about 100 families from their homes<br />
and did several thousands dollars damage.<br />
Don V. Tibbs, canvasman for Variety Tent<br />
38. led the Utah group's delegation to the<br />
convention at Las Vegas. Eugene Jelesnik.<br />
Sid R. Ross and Sidney Fox were among<br />
William F. Gordon. Warners<br />
delegates . . .<br />
manager, was in the east last week to attend<br />
a regional convention. When he returns he<br />
will dive into 30 days of double work, his<br />
film duties and keeping the Heart of Variety<br />
campaign for cerebral palsy going.<br />
Seen along Filmrow: Elmer Jackson of<br />
Plentywood. Mont.; Jack Moran of Billings<br />
and Laurel, and Alson Shiner of Vernal .<br />
Matt Knighton, manager of the Lyric, arranged<br />
a .screening of "Deadline—U.S.A." for<br />
Salt Lake new.spaper workers. Incidentally,<br />
this film and "The African Queen." which<br />
w-as .scheduled to open at the Centre, made it<br />
look like Humphrey Bogart week in Salt<br />
Lake . Santi, owner of the Price<br />
and Carbon Theatres at Price, a.ssisted the<br />
city's .safety campaign by admitting every<br />
grade school child free to a .special safety<br />
film. The event was a part of a city-wide<br />
celebration.<br />
AT 12 O'CLOCK..<br />
A LADY WITH A FUTURE!<br />
AT 12:05...<br />
A<br />
WOMAN<br />
WITH A PAST!<br />
AT THESE ASTOR EXCHANGES:<br />
ASTOR-1912 S. Vermont Ave.- los<br />
Angeles<br />
ASTOR-250 Golden Gate Ave.—San<br />
Francisco<br />
ASSOCIATED-252 E. Ist S. St.-Salt Lake<br />
City<br />
(also serving Dcnvcri<br />
ALLENOER-1812 N.W. Kearney St.-<br />
Portland<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 53
. . . The<br />
. . Dock<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
LOS ANGELES: 1Jt4 Soylk Virmint • ROckislir 1145 • PORTLAND: 1347 N W Knrniy . ATwiltr 7543<br />
SAN FRANCISCO: 243 Collen tail «>i. • UNdarhil! 1116 • SEATTLE: 2311 1 Siconil «vi ELiiolt 8247 FRED B. LUDWIG. Realtor<br />
El Rancho Is Opened<br />
n trip north . . . Irving Levin, district manager<br />
Near Nogales, Ariz.<br />
of San Francisco Theatres, writes he is enjoying<br />
his trip in Africa.<br />
NOGALES, ARIZ.—A 100-car motorcade<br />
from the city hall to the El<br />
The<br />
Rancho<br />
reopening<br />
Drive-In<br />
of the Berkeley Theatre May<br />
five miles from town highlighted the<br />
14, a FWC house<br />
opening<br />
will be given the Hollywood<br />
of the border city's first outdoorer.<br />
treatment. A gala premiere with Hollywood<br />
Constructed by the Lyric Amu.sement Co.,<br />
stars, kleig lights and a block roped off for<br />
which operates the Nogales<br />
a street pageant will be the menu<br />
and Roxy theatres<br />
in Nogales, the El<br />
for the day.<br />
The<br />
Rancho<br />
proceeds will go to the Olympic<br />
can accommodate<br />
500 cars and is<br />
fund .<br />
The Coliseum Theatre will reopen on May<br />
managed by Prank M.<br />
Campillo.<br />
7 with "Quo 'Vadis." After that its future is<br />
The drive-in is the newest link in<br />
undecided.<br />
the chain<br />
of theatres operated in southern Arizona by<br />
Jo Ann Corrolo, formerly at General Theatrical<br />
the Tri-Delta Corp. Officials of the new the-<br />
Co., will be married June 14 in San atre are George D. Diamos, president, and<br />
Mateo to Bob Brown. Taking over Jo Ann's George N. Diamos, secretary and general<br />
post as bookkeeper is Kay Tsuda . . . The manager.<br />
Hecker Pass Drive-In in Gilroy, has reopened<br />
. . . Also reopened was the Citrus Heights Tucson Residents Oppose<br />
Drive-In near Roseville . . . The west coast<br />
Building of Drive-In<br />
premiere of "The San Francisco Story" with<br />
Joel McCrea will be held at the Fox<br />
TUCSON—East Broadway residents<br />
Theatre.<br />
have<br />
served notice that they will go all out to block<br />
Esias Lopez, a transient, ran out of the construction of Tucson's sixth drive-in theatre,<br />
which is scheduled to be built just west<br />
Azteca Theatre in FYesno into the arms of<br />
the police after trying to steal a small wall of the intersection of<br />
A screening of Walt Disney's "The<br />
East Broadway<br />
Story of<br />
and<br />
safe. The officers were alerted by a telephone<br />
call from the janitor. The theatre is<br />
"<br />
Robin Hood will be held at the Marina Theatre<br />
on Monday evening (5i ... Ted Galan-<br />
Wilmot road.<br />
The executive committee of the Broadway<br />
operated by Rebecca Oliver . . . Sheriff's deputies<br />
are searching for two teenage youths and property owners in the area have conter,<br />
MOM publicist, returned from a business<br />
Neighborhood Ass'n has consulted attorneys,<br />
who robbed the Bell Drive-In Theatre in Sacramentotributed<br />
funds to carry the fight to the highest<br />
court in the state, if necessary, to block<br />
hare'lho<br />
fjffi^^/i^^ YOUR The remodeled Liberty Theatre in Stockton the venture.<br />
which underwent a $9,000 remodeling, will At a special meeting of the association last<br />
Count on us lot Quick AcKonl | f\ fc/V I Kll feature an orchestra for the first time in week, a local realtor told the group that the<br />
Our wide coQlacti •rith lh« •xhibitora<br />
I If<br />
many years. New managers Harry Seber and theatre would create a barren a.rea that<br />
Qoutc you of •olUfclCIory r«*ultfc<br />
Jim Redder announced the theatre will import<br />
headliners from the burlesque world. that FHA would not guarantee home loans<br />
should be built up with homes. He added<br />
L THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.<br />
^^ 201 Fint Arts Bldp. Portland 5, Oregon<br />
J<br />
within five blocks of a drive-in theatre.<br />
Meyer Agron, who is the key man behind<br />
To Build Montana Airer<br />
the new drive-in, is standing pat.<br />
TAILORED MUSICAL PROGRAMS COLUMBIA FALLS, MONT.—A ten-acre<br />
site for a drive-in has been purchased on Nine Theatre Sales Made<br />
FOR DRIVE-INS!<br />
Highway 40 between Columbia Falls, Whitefish<br />
and Kalispell. E. A. Massman and Walter By Fred Ludwig Office<br />
See the Empire Recording Company advertisement<br />
on page 53 of The MODERN THEATRE Thompson, owners of the Park Theatre in PORTLAND—Irv Bowron, sales manager<br />
Section in this issue of BOXOFFICE.<br />
Columbia Falls and the Orpheum and Lake for Fred B. Ludwig, northwest theatre broker<br />
in Whitefish, will start construction soon. this week announced a number of theatre<br />
sales in the four-month period just ended.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. C. Bishop's three theatres at<br />
Metaline Falls, lone and Cusick have been<br />
sold to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hagman. Ernie<br />
Landry's Pix at Cheney, Wash., was sold to<br />
WE'RE CARPET SPECIAilST S! Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Shaw.<br />
Walt Seales' Rialto in Spokane was purchased<br />
by Mr. and Mrs. C. Maggard. The<br />
» ...because we deal in nothing but fine floor coverings.<br />
Ritz in Spokane, owned by Keith Beckwith<br />
^ We're specialisis in helping you select jusf the right & Associates was purchased by M. Toland and<br />
carpet for your establishment. .and, very important, we're<br />
I<br />
G. Nelson and Beckwith's North Bend and<br />
^<br />
specialists in seeing that your carpet is properly laid. Isaquah theatres went to Mr. and Mrs. R. A.<br />
Rarey. Jack Neville's 45th St. Theatre in<br />
Come in and see our selection of carpet styles<br />
Seattle was sold to Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Tatem.<br />
,, naturally we feature<br />
GMJMjMmVA<br />
'ze^<br />
QUICK THBATRE SALES!<br />
^^^^^^^ssss^^ms^^^:^^^<br />
shown at /ef». FLORAL by GUIISTAN, a swirling rhythmical tone<br />
Selling theatres is our business. Live<br />
on tone design in the new decorating trend. In five shades of<br />
• organization, quick results. When others<br />
Red and Green.<br />
tail, give us a try, past record of soles<br />
•<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
is our proof.<br />
• UNITED STATES COVERAGE •<br />
• Inquiries Answered Immediately •<br />
9 Write Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr. «<br />
six-acre tract on the Never-DyuiK Redwood<br />
Road in Del Norte county will become<br />
the spot for a drive-in, according to<br />
Floyd Huffman, who sold the tract to Jacob<br />
A. Leech of Medford. Huffman said Leech<br />
plans to start construction within a few weeks<br />
local paper in Colusa reports that<br />
"... pleased to note that Ned Steele has<br />
been showing some of the better pictures<br />
lately at his Colusa Theatre and consequently<br />
profiting thereby" . Campton of<br />
Fresno was cited to appear in municipal<br />
court on a charge of smoking in the Lyceum<br />
Theatre.<br />
. . John<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
Joan Fontaine flew in for a day .<br />
Payne, the actor, participated in the Guardsmen<br />
Camper.ship and Youth campaign<br />
Hoot Gibson, film cowboy, attended the<br />
Springville rodeo at Fresno, an event which<br />
helped raise funds for the Tulare-Kings<br />
counties Tuberculosis hospital's rehabilitation<br />
program . George Murphy was emcee<br />
at the SlOO-a-plate Republican Preparedness<br />
dinner at the Palace hotel.<br />
5711 E Burnside * Portland 15, Oregon<br />
54 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . . Nate<br />
. . . Mr.<br />
. . . Among<br />
. . Sonny<br />
. . Doug<br />
. .<br />
Phil Blakey to Manage<br />
Santa Fe Drive-In<br />
KANSAS CITY— Phil Blakey, former manager<br />
of the Riverside Drive-In here for Commonwealth<br />
Theatres, has joined the Winoko<br />
Coi'p., owned by Richard<br />
Wiles jr. and<br />
Brooks Noah, and has<br />
gone to Santa Pe,<br />
N. M., to manage the<br />
Yucca Drive-In, newly<br />
acquired by the Winoko<br />
firm.<br />
Blakey left here Friday<br />
(25) for Santa Fe<br />
to prepare the Yucca<br />
for opening May 1.<br />
Blakey said he had<br />
riiil Blakey tendered his resignation<br />
to Commonwealth<br />
early in March before making the connection<br />
with the Winoko Corp.<br />
Well known among area drive-in men,<br />
Blakey had a long record of top-notch showmanship<br />
in his affiliation with Commonwealth.<br />
In the four years of operation of<br />
the circuit's "King of the Moon" showmanship<br />
contest, Blakey was the only manager<br />
to win the award twice.<br />
He had been with Commonwealth for about<br />
seven years. He opened the local Crest Drive-<br />
In in 1948, then took over management of the<br />
Riverside. Previously he had been with the<br />
Commonwealth indoor division and before<br />
that was with the Dickinson Operating Co.<br />
here.<br />
Blakey's many exploitation ideas brought<br />
him considerable attention. He was the first<br />
local drive-in man to successfully negotiate a<br />
new car giveaway. Last summer at the Riverside,<br />
Blakey gave away a new Ford, which<br />
he promoted from a local dealer. At the same<br />
time, he attracted teenage crowds with the<br />
giveaway of a flivver.<br />
Blakey and Bob Walter, manager of the<br />
Ci-est, often vied for honors in outdoing one<br />
another in exploitation gags, ranging from<br />
the giveaway of a fur-lined flivver to annual<br />
turkey shoots, games and a diversity of contests<br />
for theatre patrons.<br />
Run the Cerebral Palsy campaign trailer. Available<br />
May IS to July 1.<br />
Monogram Chiefs Map<br />
Production Plans<br />
Hollywood—Plans for the 1952-53 production<br />
season were to be drawn up Friday<br />
and Saturday (2, 3) at a conference<br />
of Monogram-Allied Artists' top studio<br />
and distribution executives. Also on the<br />
agenda was the discussion of sales plans<br />
for upcoming releases and finalizing of<br />
details in connection with Drive-In week,<br />
scheduled to begin Saturday (24).<br />
Studio participants were to include<br />
President Steve Broidy; Harold Mirisch,<br />
vice-president; Walter Mirisch, executive<br />
producer, and John C. Flinn, director<br />
of advertising and publicity. Also<br />
to attend were James A. Prichard, Harold<br />
Wirthwein and L. E. Goldhammer,<br />
southwestern, western and eastern sales<br />
managers, and Edward Morey, vice-president.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
Judging by the dearth of activity along the<br />
Row, the Variety Clubs International conclave<br />
in Las Vegas must have drawn record<br />
attendance from among southland showmen<br />
Schultz, who holds the Monogram<br />
franchise in Cleveland, returned to his home<br />
base after several days of huddles here with<br />
company executives . . . Mike Levinson, independent<br />
exchajige operator, hopped up to San<br />
Francisco on business.<br />
Honesty may be the best policy, but at this<br />
writing Cai'l Young, who manages the Midway<br />
Theatre for Ray Robbins, isn't so sure.<br />
Checking the hou.se after an evening performance,<br />
he found a pocketbook containing<br />
$1,500 in cash and $1,500 in signed money<br />
orders, located the woman who had incurred<br />
the loss, returned the money to her (she lives<br />
over in Glendalei and got a "thank you" for<br />
Irwin Sklaar, operator of the<br />
his efforts . . .<br />
Crest in Oceanside. and Mrs. Sklaar returned<br />
from a Honolulu vacation.<br />
Among booking and buying visitors<br />
glimpsed making the Filmrow rounds were<br />
John Malone, manager of Bill McClintock's<br />
Park in Huntington Park; Bob Reardon, who<br />
manages Gerald Lipsky's Sherman in Sherman<br />
Oaks; Bill Peck, La Moda, Atascadero;<br />
Lloyd Miller, 99 Drive-In, Bakersfield. and<br />
Larry Moses, Park Theatre, Monterey Park<br />
and Mrs. Fred Siegel and their son<br />
Bob of the Palomar in Oceanside are vacationing<br />
in northern California before Bob's<br />
impending induction into Uncle Sam's navy.<br />
. . . Managerial<br />
Among the Fox West Coasters: Distributing<br />
stogies was Pete Latsis of the home office<br />
publicity staff, who welcomed his third baby<br />
girl into the Latsis clan<br />
changes found Myron Talman succeeding Joe<br />
Jarno at the Westlake, the latter having resigned<br />
to go to Alaska, while Tom Devine and<br />
Johnny Poulous have swapped jobs—Devine<br />
taking over Poulous' post at the Belmont.<br />
Long Beach, and Poulous shifting to Devine's<br />
Redondo in Redondo Beach.<br />
Local Warnerites attending the regional<br />
sales conclave in Chicago Thursday and Friday<br />
(1, 2) included District Manager Henry<br />
Herbel, local Manager Fred Greenberg and<br />
salesmen Joe Sarfaty, Bill Watnaugh and<br />
Frank Reimer . Netter jr., Altec executive,<br />
checked in for huddles with Stan<br />
Pariseau and other local representatives of<br />
the company . Thompson. Fox West<br />
Coast's head receptionist, was back on the job<br />
after a vacation in Fort Worth.<br />
Ramona Blanco has been added to the RKO<br />
staff as a clerk. She hails from Texas .<br />
Niki Neiderhauser resigned as secretary at<br />
Warners to devote full time to housekeeping<br />
booking-buying visitors were<br />
Chuck Piercy, who operates the Preferred<br />
booking service in San Diego; Bai-nes Perdue,<br />
American Theatre, Newhall, and Harold Martin,<br />
exhibitor in the Hemet-San Jacinto area.<br />
Tom Tobin has darkened his Cinema Theatre,<br />
neighborhood showcase in Hollywood . . .<br />
Columbia's exchange personnel to.s.sed a farewell<br />
pai'ty for salesman Jules Needleman, who<br />
is going into the army ... On holiday is<br />
Lucille O'Brien, secretary to booker Everett<br />
Sharpe at Fox West Coast.<br />
The number of films banned or passed with<br />
deletions in Burma sharply increased in 1951.<br />
COULD<br />
NOT<br />
TA»AE<br />
1/<br />
her!<br />
HEDY<br />
LAMARR<br />
.<br />
The StTuutqt^<br />
4 GEORGE COStorring LOUIS 1/<br />
i<br />
SANDERSHAYWARD ^<br />
Hillaiy Brooke • Gtne lockhatt "^T<br />
June Stoiey • Rkyi Willlami A<br />
PioduMd by JACK CHERTOK /<br />
Dirccttd by Edsai Ulmti<br />
\J<br />
gx Screenplay by Herb Meadow "^^^<br />
V| Bated on tSe novel "The Strange Woman'" §§<br />
jk by Ben Amei Wrlliami I'<br />
y^jn . A Hunt SIrombtrg Prodwefjon /^<br />
AT THESE ASTOR EXCHANGES:<br />
ASTOR— 1912 S. Vermont Ave— Los Angeles<br />
ASTOR—250 Golden Gate Ave.—Son Froncisco<br />
ASSOCIATED—252 E. 1st S. St.—Salt Lake City<br />
(also serving Denver)<br />
ALLENDER— 1812 N.W. Kearney St.— Portland<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 55
. . Back<br />
. . Sam<br />
. . Maury<br />
. .<br />
Pull WEC Pickets<br />
As Hughes Tribute<br />
LOS ANGELES— 111 tiibiilf to Howard<br />
Hughes for his "firm stand against communism<br />
in Hollywood." the Wage Eanicis Committee<br />
has withdrawn the pickets which it<br />
established around the RKO Hillstreet Theatre<br />
when that showcase began its first run<br />
of Columbia's "The Marrying Kind " The<br />
supporting feature on the bill is "Whispering<br />
Smith vs. Scotland Yaid." a British-made<br />
film being released by Hughes' RKO Radio<br />
organization.<br />
The WEC. target of multimillion-dollar<br />
damage suits filed by Stanley Kramer and<br />
Dore Schary. has undertaken theatre picketing<br />
at spasmodic intervals, blasting at pictures<br />
on which it claims Communists or sympathizers<br />
have been employed. Kramer and<br />
Schary. in sepai-ate actions, seek heavy damages<br />
and injunctions against further picketing,<br />
alleging the WEC has wrongfully and<br />
maliciously linked their names with Communist<br />
movements.<br />
The Marrying Kind" is now in its third<br />
local week at the RKO Hillstreet and has<br />
been carding substantial grosses, bearing out<br />
the theatre management's contention that<br />
the WEC picketing did not measurably affect<br />
trade at the boxoffice.<br />
Ralph Batschelet Slated<br />
To Pilot New Denver Fox<br />
DENVER—Ralph Batschelet's recent appointment<br />
as manager of the Tabor Theatre<br />
is considered temporary<br />
until completion<br />
of the new' Fox Theatre<br />
at 16th and Cleveland<br />
place. When that<br />
house is finished,<br />
Batschelet will manage<br />
it, it is now<br />
learned. Announcement<br />
of his temporary<br />
assignment was made<br />
by Hall Baetz at a<br />
meeting of Fox theatre<br />
Ralph Batschelet<br />
Pox Denver Theatres.<br />
managers. Baetz Is<br />
district manager of<br />
Gene Manzanares, who<br />
has been managing the Tabor, takes over the<br />
Webber, another Fox first run.<br />
Before he took over the 16th and Curtis<br />
streets situation. Batschelet managed the<br />
Paramount for nine years when It was in the<br />
Fox Intermountaln chain and before it recently<br />
went to Wolfberg Theatres. He entered<br />
theatre business in Denver in 1932 and<br />
in succeeding years managed the Bluebird.<br />
Hiawatha, Mayan and Paramount. He is nationally<br />
recognized for his showmanship,<br />
established a world record in his country store<br />
promotion at the Bluebird. Inaugurated the<br />
first theatre beauty clinic in the nation at<br />
the Paramount and will take this idea with<br />
him to the Tabor. He successfully revived<br />
the cooking school idea at the Paramount and<br />
will also present it at the Tabor. His kiddy<br />
show, called Deputy Dan, will also be held<br />
at the Tabor on Saturdays at 9:30 a. m.<br />
Batschelet has been a leader in many civic<br />
organizations and promotions as well as the<br />
theatre business. He is chief barker of Variety<br />
Tent 37.<br />
SEATTLE<br />
"Two theatres, the North Bend in North Bend<br />
and the Issaquah in Is.saquah, formerly<br />
owned by W. K. Beckwith, have been sold to<br />
D. R. Rarey. Beckwith will continue to do<br />
the buying and booking for the houses . . .<br />
Marjorie Smith has joined the National Theatre<br />
Supply office here as a stcno-biller, replacing<br />
Dorothy Cohen. She formerly was<br />
with MGM . from trips to eastern<br />
Wasliington are Bud Hamilton, Republic<br />
salesman, who al.so was in northern Idaho:<br />
Republic Manag:er Paul D. McElhinney, who<br />
was in Yakima, and Ed Cruea. Monogram<br />
manager, also in Yakima.<br />
Visitors on the Row included Guy Spencer,<br />
Proctor Street: John Kane, Capitol; Sid<br />
Dean, Rex and Lakewood, and Jim Hofner,<br />
Shell, all of Tacoma. Others were Eddie<br />
Snow, Mount Vernon; Frank L. Wlllard,<br />
Parkland: Mr. and Mrs. George Barden.<br />
Blaine; C. J. Barney. Arlington; A. G. Peechla,<br />
Eatonville and Morton; Max and Melva<br />
Hadfleld, Colville and Chewelali; Harry Wall,<br />
Lewlston; Frank Pi'att, Bellingham; Ed Johnton,<br />
Spokane; Arnold Larson. Bellingham,<br />
and Lowell Spiess, Dayton.<br />
L. O. Seley, manager of the Manley Popcorn<br />
Co., recently returned from a trip to<br />
Spokane where he checked installations at<br />
Al Baker's Motor-In and Erma Lindsay's<br />
Band Box in Spokane and Mi-s. Mary Bergstrom's<br />
Selma at Republic. Seley reports that<br />
a new super stadium model soon will go into<br />
the Orchard Auto-In, which will be opened<br />
May 20 by Ed Metzgar. Seley will soon leave<br />
for Oregon to inspect installations in that<br />
state.<br />
Peter Barnes was in town from Toronto.<br />
He operates the Ruby Theatre In Chtlan .<br />
Two major French productions. "L'Affalre"<br />
and "Lady Paname," opened at the Music<br />
Box . . . "The African Queen." now playing<br />
at John Hamrlck's Orpheum and Blue Mouse,<br />
marks one of the few times that a first run<br />
film has played simultaneously at two downtown<br />
theatres. Wllllard Coghlan. advertising<br />
manager for the Hamrick chain, predicted<br />
the picture may set a new record.<br />
. .<br />
Vic Gauntlett, advertising manager for<br />
Evergreen Theatres, is reported seriously<br />
ill at his home . . . Carl Mahne, merchandising<br />
manager, and Frank Christie, buyer for<br />
Evergreen, were in Portland . Siegel,<br />
Columbia field representative, is back on the<br />
Row after a nine-week jaunt in the Rocky<br />
mountain states in connection with "Death of<br />
a Salesman" . Buck Seale. Columbia salesman,<br />
has returned from Spokane, and George<br />
Clarke, shipper, is back at work after a threeweek<br />
illness.<br />
. .<br />
Russ Riches, former manager of the Tower<br />
in Bremerton, has been named new manager<br />
of the Varsity in Seattle, replacing William<br />
Kostenbader, who resigned . Saffle.<br />
Saffle's Theatre Service, returned from a<br />
three-day trip to Prosser, Grandview and Yakima<br />
. Drive-in theatre operators of Washington<br />
and northern Idaho met recently at the<br />
New Washington hotel to organize a drive-in<br />
theatre association. Among those present<br />
were Arnold Larsen, Motor-View, Bellingham:<br />
Henry Wall, Lewlston, Ida., and Bud<br />
Anderson, Park-In, Kennewlck.<br />
Cerebrol Palsy Trailer available from May 15 to<br />
July 1. U.S. defense needs your copper drippings.<br />
NEW CONCESSIONS CHIEF — Al C.<br />
Schuyler, transferring from the midwest,<br />
has been named western district concessions<br />
manager for National Theatre Supply.<br />
Headquartering in Los Angeles, he<br />
has 11 western states, as well as the Kansas<br />
City, Omaha and Des Moines territories,<br />
under his supervision.<br />
Salt Lake's Roundup<br />
To Be Held June 18-20<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—The seventh annual<br />
E.xhlbitors Round-up of the area will be held<br />
June 18-20 in Salt Lake. As in the past,<br />
the event will feature the golf match, a<br />
Calcutta, special teas and luncheons for<br />
women visitors and the victory dinner dance.<br />
It is expected that women golfers will participate<br />
in the tournament this year for the<br />
first time or stage an auxiliary tournament<br />
of their own.<br />
Since the roundup is staged under the direction<br />
of Variety Tent 38 of Salt Lake, several<br />
events will be at the clubhouse, although<br />
the major attracJ;lons are expected to be<br />
either at the Utah or Newhouse hotels.<br />
Members of the general committee for the<br />
roundup are K. O. Lloyd, Harry Swonson,<br />
Clyde Blaslus, Harold Green, Ralph Trathen,<br />
Shirl Thayne, Keith Pack, Bob Brady and<br />
Earl Stein.<br />
Too Many First Run Houses<br />
Cause Orpheum to Close<br />
OAKLAND—Robert Rothafel, district manager<br />
for Fox West Coast, reported the Orpheum<br />
will be closed for an indefinite period<br />
because of insufficient film product. "We<br />
have in Oakland what the trade calls a critical<br />
multiple first run situation," Rothafel explained.<br />
"This simply means that there are<br />
too many downtown theatres requiring first<br />
run product for weekly change policies."<br />
"The policy of special roadshow pictures<br />
was effectively used by the theatre with such<br />
pictures as "David and Bathsheba," "Streetcar<br />
Named Desire," "An American in Paris"<br />
and "Quo Vadis," which policy proved profitable<br />
and popular, but the supply of such pictures<br />
is now exhausted and the only other<br />
alternative would be for the house to go into<br />
reissues," said Rothafel.<br />
56 BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1952
H<br />
1 hamis,<br />
: the<br />
i<br />
'<br />
I for<br />
\<br />
monthly<br />
Phil Blakey io Pilot<br />
Santa Fe Drive-In<br />
KANSAS CITY— Phil Blakey, former man-<br />
Commonwealth<br />
Theatres,<br />
has joined the Winoko<br />
Corp., owned by Richard<br />
Wiles jr. and<br />
Brooks Noah, and has<br />
gone to Santa Fe, N. M.,<br />
to manage the Yucca<br />
Drive-In. newly acquired<br />
by the Winoko<br />
ager of the Riverside Drive-In here for<br />
firm.<br />
Blakey left here Friday<br />
(25) for Santa Fe<br />
to prepare the Yucca<br />
for opening May 1.<br />
Phil Blakey Blakey said he had<br />
tendered his resignation to Commonwealth<br />
early in March before making the comiection<br />
with the Winoko Corp.<br />
Well known among area drive-in men.<br />
Blakey had a long record of top-notch showmanship<br />
in his affiliation with Commonwealth.<br />
In the four years of operation of the<br />
circuit's "King of the Moon" showmanship<br />
contest, Blakey was the only manager to win<br />
the award twice.<br />
He had been w'itli Commonwealth for about<br />
seven years. He opened the local Crest Drive-<br />
In in 1948. then took over management of<br />
the Riverside. F>i-eviously he had been with<br />
the Commonwealth indoor division and before<br />
that was with the Dickinson Operating Co.<br />
here.<br />
Blakey's many exploitation ideas brought<br />
him considerable attention. He was the first<br />
local drive-in man to successfully negotiate<br />
a new car giveaway. Last summer at the<br />
Riverside. Blakey gave away a new Ford,<br />
which he promoted from a local dealer. At<br />
the same time, he attracted teenage crowds<br />
with the giveaway of a flivver.<br />
Blakey and Bob Walter, manager of the<br />
Crest, often vied for honors in outdoing one<br />
another in exploitation gags, ranging from<br />
the giveaway of a fur-lined flivver to annual<br />
turkey shoots, games and a diversity<br />
of contests for theatre patrons.<br />
With Blakey's departure from the Riverside,<br />
both the Crest and Riverside will be<br />
i under the supervision of Walter. Ted Pul-<br />
I<br />
concessions manager and assistant at<br />
Riverside, will act as house manager.<br />
Court Drops Complaint<br />
By Midway Ozone Owners<br />
BENTON. ILL.—Judge Caswell J. Crebs relently<br />
sustained a motion on behalf of the<br />
city of Benton to dismiss the complaint that<br />
had been filed by Virgil H. Center, Robert J.<br />
Strau.ss and Darrel J. Sullivan, operators of<br />
the Midway Drive-In against the leasing of<br />
city land at the Lake Benton waterworks park<br />
a drive-in theatre to be operated by Sam<br />
Stuart Marshall of Tamaroa. 111. Under arrangements<br />
with the city, Marshall is to construct<br />
the drive-in and pay 10 per cent of his<br />
receipts, minus certain taxes, to the<br />
city as a rental for the land. Marshall is to<br />
be reimbursed from the rental for some of<br />
[<br />
the construction costs. Judge Crebs gave the<br />
Midway owners leave to file an amended<br />
complaint.<br />
) Run the Cerebral Palsy campaign frailer. Available<br />
May IS lo July 1.<br />
Arthur Baebler. 56.<br />
Killed<br />
In Highway Auto Wreck<br />
ST. LOUI& -Arthur H Baebler, 56, district<br />
manager for the Alexander Film Co, was<br />
killed recently when his automobile swerved<br />
out of its westbound lane and ran under the<br />
bed of a coal truck. The collision occurred<br />
on a railroad overpa.ss. The coal truck driver<br />
and a passenger were not injured. Baebler is<br />
survived by his wife Elsie, and two .sons,<br />
Arthur H. jr. and Robert W.<br />
Armenlroul Starts<br />
Pittsiield Project<br />
PITTSFIELD. ILL.—Construction has been<br />
started on the Clark Drive-In by the Armentrout<br />
circuit of Louisiana. Mo., on U.S. 54<br />
between here and Louisiana. The 350-car<br />
project, with provisions for expansion to 500<br />
cars, is to be equipped with RCA projection,<br />
sound and in-a-car speaker, and a Boyer<br />
screen tower, all being furnished by the St.<br />
Louis Theatre Supply Co.<br />
300-Car Thayer, Mo., Project<br />
THAYER. MO.—Mr. and Mrs. John A. Beck<br />
jr., who operates the Beck Theatre here, have<br />
started construction of a 300-car drive-in<br />
adjacent to the baseball park on the outskirts<br />
of the city. The drive-in is to have RCA<br />
equipment furnished by the St. Louis Theatre<br />
Supply Co.<br />
To Build New Harrisburg<br />
HAJIRISBURG. ILL.—The Turner-Farrar<br />
Theatres has let contract for equipment to be<br />
used by the drive-in the circuit is building<br />
between here and Eldorado. O. W. Stiegemeyer,<br />
theatre architect of St. Louis county,<br />
is preparing the plans and specifications for<br />
the drive-in. National Theatre Supply is to<br />
furnish the Simplex X-L projection and<br />
sound and in-car speakers and St. Louis<br />
Theatre Supply has the contract for the<br />
Mighty 90 lamps and condensers.<br />
The decision of the Turner-Farrar circuit<br />
to enter the drive-in field for the first time<br />
has been followed by an announcement that<br />
S. R. Stanley of Crossville, 111., and Vertis P.<br />
Williams of Carmi. 111., have abandoned any<br />
plans they may have had for a drive-in between<br />
Eldorado and Harrisburg.<br />
Builds at Ellington, Mo.<br />
ELLINGTON, MO.—Larkin & Davis, owner<br />
of the Strand Theatre, has started construction<br />
on a drive-in on Route 21 near here.<br />
Harold Larkin, one of the partners, has been<br />
supervising the construction details.<br />
Drive-In at Niangua, Mo.<br />
MARSHFIELD, MO. — Lloyd Schmidt of<br />
Niangua, Mo., has opened his new Skyline<br />
Drive-In on Route No. 66 about three miles<br />
east of here.<br />
It accommodates about 300 cars.<br />
Linton Outdoorer Opens<br />
BLOOMPIELD. IND. — Several improvements<br />
were made prior to opening of the<br />
Linton Drive-in's fourth season. A new lighting<br />
system for the entire parking area was<br />
installed, car capacity was increased by 45<br />
to a total of 341. and new Magnarc projection<br />
lamps were installed.<br />
MPA of Kansas Ciiy<br />
Names Outing Aides<br />
KANSAS CITY- Committees for the second<br />
annual coed spriiiK party of the Motion<br />
Picture A.ss'n of greater Kansas City have<br />
been named by Jim Lewis, BKO manager,<br />
general chairman for the event.<br />
Joe Neger, 20th -Fox manager, Is handling<br />
ticket distribution for the affair, which will<br />
include a prime rib dinner. The party will<br />
be held May 19 at Milburn Country club, with<br />
dinner at 8 p. m. and dancing from 9 to 12.<br />
Joe Redmond, Fox Midwest, is In charge of<br />
entertainment for the event and the golf committee<br />
is composed of Jack Langan. U-I manager,<br />
and Ralph Adams. 20th-Fox. Members<br />
will make up their own golf foursomes and<br />
complete arrangements with Langan and<br />
Adams. Golfers will pay regular green lees.<br />
The reception committee is made up of L.<br />
O. Honig, Fox Midwest; Pinton Jones, theatre<br />
insurance man; Bob Withers, Republic,<br />
and Ed Haas, Fox Midwest.<br />
Lewis said that tables can be arranged for<br />
foiu-, six, eight, ten or more through Honig,<br />
chairman of the reception committee. Tables<br />
will be reserved and plainly marked. Re.servations<br />
can be made by calling Bea Woodruff at<br />
Lo. 3650.<br />
Each member can entertain one nonmember<br />
couple. Lewis said. Cost of the dinner and<br />
dancing is $5 per person.<br />
Only 4 Indiana Towns<br />
Stay on Standard Time<br />
FORT WAYNE—Only lour Indiana cities<br />
over 6,000 population have decided to oppose<br />
the trend to daylight saving time. Evansville,<br />
which had daylight savings time last summer<br />
for the first time since World War II. is remaining<br />
on standard time this year, following<br />
a vote by city council. The outdoor theatre<br />
owners at E\'ansville said they took a postcard<br />
poll which showed 16.000 for standard<br />
time and 10.000 for daylight time.<br />
City councils at Princeton. Washington and<br />
Mount Vernon have decided against daylight<br />
time.<br />
Stuart Strauss Dies<br />
MANHATTAN. KAS.—Stuart Strau.ss. 48<br />
years old. died of a heart attack at his home<br />
here last week. At one time he was assistant<br />
to Dave Dallas, city manager, when local theatres<br />
were operated by TEI. In 1944, he<br />
worked on the BOXOFFICE copy desk. He<br />
had been in ill health for more than ten<br />
years, following an infantile paralysis attack.<br />
During his early days in Indianapolis he<br />
operated a motor car msurance business. He<br />
is survived by his mother. Mrs. Sue Strauss,<br />
of the home.<br />
Bob Hagen Reopens Lakes<br />
LAKE GENEVA, WIS—One of Wi.--consui'.s<br />
most beautiful drive-ins. the Lakes Outdoor<br />
Theatre on Route 50 between Lake Geneva<br />
and Delavan, has reopened for the season<br />
under the management of Bob Hagen. He<br />
said the situation would get most product<br />
first run this year and to prove it opened with<br />
"The First Time" and a late show preview<br />
of "The African Queen." The first 500 kiddies<br />
opening night received free balloons.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 57
. . The<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
/^arl Niesse is.sued merchant tickets good on<br />
Sunday night-s to celebrate the 15th anniversary<br />
of his Vogue Theati-e . . . Jack Flex<br />
of the Alliance circuit is now stationed in<br />
Port Wayne, handling the Alliance situations<br />
. . .<br />
in northern Indiana with headquarters in<br />
Marion Mildred Abbott, formerly with<br />
National Screen, resigned to join the bookers<br />
desk at Warner Bros. . . . Louis Baker, exhibitor<br />
at West Point, Ky., has been hospitalized<br />
with a hear-l ailment . Sanders Tlieatre,<br />
one ot the Fountain Square group of<br />
houses, will cease operations this week t27).<br />
Forrest Sonser and wife Dorothy became<br />
parents of a baby daughter. The father operates<br />
the Family Drive-In, Rockville. and the<br />
West Side Dnve-In, in Indianapolis . . Ernest<br />
.<br />
and Mrs. Long of the Fountain, Terre<br />
Haute, were on a motor car trip . . . Exhibitors<br />
on Filmrow: M. Scheidler, Hartford,<br />
Hartford City: Kenneth Law, Cozy, Argos; H.<br />
Griff is. Boswell; Jerry Heinlein, Arcade, Gas<br />
City; Clyde Nihiser, State, Geneva,<br />
A drive-in is being built on U.S. 40 east of<br />
Cumberland. Ind., by Jacob M. Smiler. It<br />
will be the National. It will accommodate<br />
1,000 cars.<br />
THEWTRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 NORTH ILLINOIS STREET<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
INDIANA<br />
"Everything for the Theatre"<br />
THEATRE
I<br />
Third Warner Meeting<br />
Convenes in Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—The third and last of a series<br />
of regional sales conferences of Warner Bros,<br />
sales personnel was opened here Tliursday<br />
(May 1> at the Blackstone. with Ben Kalmenson,<br />
vice-president in charge of distribution,<br />
presiding.<br />
Albert Warner and Samuel Schneider, vicepresidents,<br />
addressed the gathering, and Mort<br />
Blumenstocit, vice-president in charge of advertising<br />
and publicity, outlined merchandising<br />
plans.<br />
The conference closed Friday night. Tliose<br />
present included;<br />
Harry A. Seed, midwest district manager,<br />
Chicago: George Lefko, Chicago branch manner,<br />
and T. D. Levy, J. B. Sokley, C. W.<br />
spicer, George Weinberg and H. P. Decker,<br />
salesmen.<br />
Detroit—Joe Baringhaus, branch manager,<br />
,md W. B. Collins, S. L. Gilbert and E. C.<br />
Murphy, salesmen.<br />
Milwaukee—Nat Marcus, and N. Bieringer<br />
and L. Dixon.<br />
Des Moines—Leon Mendelson, manager, and<br />
N. C. Holt, R. H. Thomas and S. Soderberg.<br />
Kansas City—R. C. Borg, manager, and<br />
J. T. Manfre, T. R. Thompson, J. Harris and<br />
H. Cass.<br />
Minneapolis—Art Anderson, acting district<br />
manager: M. B. Adcock, branch manager, and<br />
C. J. Chouinard. C. A. Jackson, H. T. Blass,<br />
E. H. Hill, R. W. Branton and E. R. Anderson.<br />
Omaha—F. J. Hannon, manager, and W.<br />
D. Wink, R. N. Hirz and A. E. Gardner.<br />
St. Louis—Lester Bona, manager, and W.<br />
Gleason, J. Hill. A. Leonard and H. Hisey.<br />
Denver—E. A. Bell, manager, and W. E.<br />
Haefliger, J. R. Levee and E. Lebby.<br />
Los Angeles—H. M. Herbet, district manager;<br />
Fi-ed Greenberg, branch manager, and<br />
F. Reimer, W. Chai'nas, G. Tripp, J. Sarfaty<br />
and W. Watmough.<br />
Salt Lake City—Al Oxtoby, branch manager,<br />
and K. K. Pack, P. B. Brown and R. M.<br />
Stafford.<br />
San Francisco—A. Shmitken, manager,<br />
and W. C. Wheeler, A. W. Baron and E. S.<br />
Hampton.<br />
Seattle—Vete Stewart, manager, and J. W.<br />
Spear and E. G. Straley, salesmen.<br />
Home office executives present were: Norman<br />
H. Moray, short subjects sales manager;<br />
I F. Dolid; Howard Levinson; Bernard R.<br />
Goodman, supervisor of exchanges; R. A.<br />
McGuire, auditor of exchanges: Gil Golden,<br />
advertising director: Larry Golob, eastern<br />
publicity director; W. W. Brumberg, head of<br />
itie<br />
field exploitation staff, and Charles Baily.<br />
'Bawlroom for Babies<br />
Is Built in Theatre<br />
Shflh.vvillf, M(i.—KoMOf .\. Cook.<br />
manaRcr of the Slielby Theatri" lierr, hius<br />
roiistructcd wliat he calls a "bawlroom"<br />
for babies in the local theatre.<br />
The room at the north end of the balcony<br />
will have eight seats, baby beds, a<br />
bottle warmer, a .separate ventilation<br />
system and a sound system which can lie<br />
rcffulated to suit those scatwl in the<br />
"bawlroom." Work was cxpwted to be<br />
completed on the room this week and<br />
equipment will be installed soon.<br />
Majors of Paris to Give<br />
County Its First Airer<br />
PARIS, MO.—Mrs. Edith Major and Bob<br />
Major, owners and operators of the Mainstreet<br />
Theatre, have lea.sed seven acres on<br />
Highway 24, two miles west of town, on which<br />
they plan to erect a drive-in. No date for<br />
construction or completion was named.<br />
Mrs. Major and Bob said they expect to<br />
accommodate a total capacity of 200 cars. It<br />
will be the first outdoor theatre for Mom-oe<br />
county and operated in connection with the<br />
tow-n hou.se. The location is just east of the<br />
Mark Twain tourist court and has an allweather<br />
side road running along the property<br />
in addition to Highway 24.<br />
Rodgers Buys Clyde Hogg's<br />
Poplar Bluff Interests<br />
POPLAR BLUFF, MO —Clyde HoBg, owner<br />
of the Poplar Bluff Drive-In, Inc., has sold<br />
Ills theatre interests to Rodgers Theatres, Inc.<br />
The deal was effective in April with the<br />
opening of the ozoner. The deal gives the<br />
Rodgers company three theatres here and the<br />
drlve-ln, although the Jewell is not being<br />
operated at present.<br />
Frank Gloried will be city manager of the<br />
Rodgers theatres, with an a.sslstant handling<br />
each hou.se and the airer. Howard Lambert<br />
will be one of his assistants and the others<br />
will be named later.<br />
Hogg, who opened the drive-in June 20.<br />
1950, will remain with Rodgers for a time,<br />
"until we get our feet on the ground," Gloried<br />
said. They will maintain the present policy<br />
of the ah-er. with several first run bookings.<br />
Hogg has no other plans for the immediate<br />
future. "I don't know just what I will do,"<br />
he .said, "but for a time I'll remain with the<br />
Rodgers organization doing what I can to<br />
help those in charge get the business in operation."<br />
Union Signs Up Drive-In<br />
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — The Champaign-Urbana<br />
Motion Picture Operators Local 482 has<br />
reached an agreement with Frank Stewart of<br />
the Family Drive-In, north of Urbana, for the<br />
employment of union operators at the theatre<br />
this season.<br />
TJjjgygg PIqCTUG ^^anager<br />
'"'* °" '°'"'" •''•PPinS* ' metol drWe.<br />
GREAT BEND, KAS.—The Strand Theatre<br />
was robbed of $104 in cash by some strong<br />
safelifters recently. George Dunn, manager<br />
of the Commonwealth house, estimated the<br />
total loss at about $500. In addition to the<br />
money, a 250-pound safe and a film dolly,<br />
presumably used in transporting the safe out<br />
of the building, were also missing. This was<br />
the second time in less than two weeks that<br />
the theatre was robbed.<br />
Elks House Has Free Show<br />
OLNEY, ILL.—A free show the morning of<br />
May 3 at the Elks Theatre is to be Frisina<br />
Amusement Co.'s contribution to the program<br />
of the Olney Lodge of Elks to "Make May<br />
Day American." Frenchie Gallagher, resident<br />
manager for Frisina circuit, said the<br />
theatre program is to include treats and other<br />
features.<br />
WANT TO IMPROVE<br />
YOUR THEATRE BUSINESS?<br />
THEATRE MARQUEES<br />
ORIVE-fN THEATRE<br />
ATTRACTION BOARDS<br />
CUSTOM DESIGNED TO "SELL" EVERY SHOW<br />
DI5KBYADV, SERVICE<br />
501 East 38th St. Morion, Indiana<br />
DESIGNERS .. ENGINEERS .. MANUFACTURERS<br />
of the finest in theatre front advertising<br />
"for Oyer a Quarter Century"<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
Good Business at Drive-In<br />
FLORA, ILL.—The Rendezous Drive-In on<br />
Highway 45 north of here has been playing<br />
to nice business since it reopened for the seaon.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Johnson, managers<br />
of the theatre, returned from a Florida vacation<br />
about a week prior to the opening.<br />
The Cluster Drive-In Reopens<br />
SALEM. ILL.—The Cluster Drive-In Theatre<br />
opened for the season on April 18 and, in<br />
accordance with the arrangement that prevailed<br />
last year, the Globe Theatre has been<br />
I<br />
closed for the drive-in sea.son.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . Helen<br />
. . Woody<br />
. . Ben<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
Dayard .M. Grant, vice-president of Duiwood<br />
Theatres. Inc.. is going into business on<br />
his own. He will continue to base his operations<br />
from the Durwood<br />
Theatres home<br />
affice at 1806 Baltimore<br />
hue. Grant is a sonin-law<br />
of Ed D. Durwood.<br />
president of the<br />
theatre circuit . . .<br />
Brooks Noah and Richard<br />
Wiles jr.. owners<br />
of the Winoko Corp..<br />
returned to Santa Pe,<br />
N. M.. this week for<br />
the opening of their<br />
Bayard M. Grant newly acquired Yucca<br />
Drive-In Tliursday<br />
(li. The Winoko Corp. also owns the Spa<br />
Drive-In at Excelsior Springs.<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
Largest coverace in U.S. No "Net" listnigs<br />
Higliest reputation for know-how I<br />
and fsir dealtno. 30 years experience in- [<br />
cliiriiiig exhibition. Ask Better Business Bure.iu.<br />
or our customers. Know your broker.<br />
ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists<br />
3305 Caruth. Dallas. Texas<br />
Telephones: EM 0238 - EM 7489<br />
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED<br />
Carpets -Door Mats<br />
Complete Installation Service— Free Estimates<br />
R. D. MANN CARPET CO.<br />
928-930-932 Central, Victor 1 171, Kansas City, Mo.<br />
4SS Paul Brown BIdg., Chestnut 4499, St. Louis<br />
k ^A . ^^.AA^ A j^ ^<br />
3t IfouA SvMitx Since /S99<br />
STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co.<br />
r '^ rT'T<br />
laoii Wy.«i«ti« Si.<br />
KANSAS CITY 8, HO.<br />
Satisfaction — Always<br />
THEATRE<br />
MISSOURI<br />
^>rv<br />
SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager<br />
Phone BAllimore 3070<br />
115 W. 18th Kansas City 8, Mo. ^^<br />
POPCORN BAGS<br />
Noiseless and Regular in White<br />
Immediate Delivery<br />
L & L POPCORN CO.<br />
PDCHTMPTCDM<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
lillLHI<br />
ffHiimH,<br />
rvENVTHiNc ro^ the stage • AU0!T0RIUM . lo<br />
BOX CFnCt . 1H24 Cr*nd Ave.. K«nv4« C.ly fi.<br />
.<br />
Charles Cook, salesman for U-I, and his<br />
wife Carol, .secretary to U-I office Manager<br />
Larr.v Klein, purchased a new home and<br />
moved into it this week. The purchase included<br />
the ranch house and an acre of land.<br />
The house is located next door to the home of<br />
Mildred Harris, Commonwealth drive-in<br />
booker . . Tlie Universal staff will have its<br />
annual picnic Monday (5i.<br />
Julian King. Lippert franchise holder in Des<br />
Moines, was in tow'n recently, accompanied<br />
by his wife . Latimer of L&L Popcorn<br />
has installed three drink machines at<br />
Ft. Riley, Kas. On a recent trip to Kansas<br />
he also checked and adjusted new Cretors<br />
popcorn machines at the Ayr-Vue Drive-In,<br />
Hutchinson, and at the Great Bend drive-in.<br />
AI Webster of Altec. Oklahoma City, is expected<br />
here the weekend of May 10. Webster<br />
wrote to friends on Filmrow recently saying<br />
that in the few weeks he had been in Oklahoma<br />
City he had seen every type of weather<br />
earthquake, tornado, rain, sleet and even sunshine.<br />
.<br />
Finton Jones jr., son of the theatre insurance<br />
man. is going on a tour of duty with the<br />
coast guard to Alaska, Guam, Honolulu and<br />
on to Japan. Young Jones was home recently<br />
Mrs. Abbott Sher, wife of the<br />
on leave . . .<br />
Film Delivery executive, is recuperating after<br />
surgery Wolf, stenographer at<br />
Paramount, is on vacation.<br />
Visitors on Filmrow this week included<br />
Bernie Shaner, Odessa, and Paul McCarthy,<br />
formerly of Algona, Iowa, and at one time<br />
with Shreve Theatre Equipment Co. here . .<br />
E. E. Hopkins will open his Camdenton Drive-<br />
In, Camdenton, Friday (2). Hopkins was a<br />
viiitor in Ed Hartman's Motion Picture Booking<br />
Agency Friday (25).<br />
Ben Adams of El Dorado was in town as<br />
was Chet Borg of the Mo-Kan Drive-In, Fort<br />
Scott ... A three-year-old boy who wandered<br />
about six blocks from his home hunting the<br />
Uptown Theatre brought publicity to that<br />
house this week. The youngster, who frequently<br />
accompanies his parents to the show<br />
at the Uptown, apparently remembered the<br />
route and took out on his own to find the<br />
theatre.<br />
Actor Mickey Rooney was in town this week<br />
for the opening of "Sound Off" Thursday at<br />
the Missouri. Columbia salesman Herb Stulz<br />
and Pat Pinnell came in off the road to help<br />
with publicity on the opening and Rooney's<br />
appearance . Marcus, Columbia district<br />
manager, will return to the office Monday<br />
(5) after a vacation on the west coast<br />
and attending the Variety Clubs International<br />
convention in Las Vegas.<br />
. . Sylvia Bogmol<br />
Also attending the Las Vegas Variety convention<br />
was Ben Shlyen, publisher and editor<br />
in chief of BOXOFFICE .<br />
returned to work at Columbia after recovering<br />
from an attack of flu . . . The local Universal<br />
office last week went from ninth to foiu-th<br />
place in the Nate Blumberg drive. The drive<br />
ended May 3.<br />
Roscoe R. Thompson, former branch manager<br />
for Lippert here, has joined the Warner<br />
Bro;. sales staff as representative in the<br />
Wichita territory. Thompson succeeds salesman<br />
Dwight Borin, who resigned. The change<br />
was effective this week.<br />
Cleanup Crews Repair<br />
Riverside Drive-In<br />
KANSAS CITY—Cleanup crews this week<br />
turned to the task of repairing and rebuilding<br />
the Riverside Drive-In here, damaged .severely<br />
by the recent flooding of the Mis.souri river.<br />
Conservative estimates of damage, still not<br />
completely apprai.sed, ranged from $15,000 to<br />
$20,000. This would make a total of .some<br />
$50,000 damage suffered by the Riverside<br />
drive-in in the two floods which have inundated<br />
it within the last year. About $30,000<br />
damage was suffered by the drive-in last<br />
July.<br />
Jack Braunagel, head of the Commonwealth<br />
drive-in division, said that current<br />
flowing into the Riverside had wrecked the<br />
dike which normally protects it from the<br />
river. Crews will first rebuild the dike,<br />
Braunagel .said.<br />
Water has been going out of the drive-in<br />
rapidly, he said, but it has left a large amount<br />
of mud and debris. The rapid current also<br />
took the roof off the concessions building and<br />
knocked out the front of that building. It<br />
ruined shrubs and landscaping and, Braunagel<br />
said, there may be some damage to the<br />
plumbing. At midweek it was hoped that<br />
major resurfacing would not be necessary.<br />
Durwood Reopens Skylark<br />
*<br />
Alter Flood Rolls By<br />
JEFFERSON CITY, MO.—Durwood Theatre<br />
circuit reopened its Skylark Drive-In here<br />
Friday (2) after the ozoner escaped flooding<br />
by the Missouri river. The drive-in had been<br />
evacuated and closed and, while flood waters<br />
did close a bridge leading to the airer, the<br />
drive-in itself escaped damage. Howard Griffin<br />
is manager of the Skylark for the circuit.<br />
Harry Horrocks, 62, Dies;<br />
Former Theatre Owner<br />
KANSAS CITY, KAS.—Harry Horrocks, 62,<br />
former local theatre owner, died in a hospital<br />
at Cottonwood, Ariz., this week after a heart<br />
attack.<br />
Horrocks was a native of Brookfield, Mo.,<br />
and lived here for 30 years. He lived at<br />
Sedona, Ariz., after moving from here about<br />
a year ago. He formerly operated the Midway<br />
Theatre. He is survived by his wife<br />
Nellie and a brother Marion.<br />
When YOU Need<br />
5pecid<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good & Fast<br />
SEND /T TO<br />
^CHICAGO, 1327 S.WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
Finest Hybrid POPCORN with Top Pop-Out<br />
in 12'/2 Lb. Moistureproof PLASTIC BAGS<br />
ACTUALLY COSTS LESS than Canned Corn<br />
. . . only slightly more than corn in lOO-pound sacks!<br />
Easier to store and handle. Moisture content perfect.<br />
GOLDEN FLAKE PROCESSING COMPANY<br />
3706 Broadway Kansas City, Mo.<br />
60 BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
Convention on Train<br />
Plans Under Way<br />
KANSAS CITY—Plans for the Kansas-<br />
Missouri Theatre Assii spring "convention<br />
on a train" took shape this week after the<br />
Santa Fe railroad agreed to arrange for an<br />
eight-car special train and lounge to carry<br />
film industry representatives to Hutchinson,<br />
Kas., May 14 for the world premiere of "Wait<br />
'Til the Sun Shines. Nellie."<br />
Senn Lawler. Fox Midwest, chairman of the<br />
committee on arrangements for the trip, said<br />
this week that in order to make the trip<br />
possible. 125 reservations must be obtained.<br />
Plans call for the train going to Hutchinson<br />
May 14 for the premiere, then on to Larned.<br />
Kas., May 15 for the John A. Schnack 50th<br />
anniversary celebration.<br />
The lounge car of the train will be equipped<br />
with a public address system for use by the<br />
KMTA in its business session May 14 en<br />
route to Hutchinson. The business meeting,<br />
held in lieu of regional meetings once staged<br />
by KMTA. will be under the direction of<br />
KMTA President C. E. "Doc" Cook of Maryville.<br />
However. Lawler emphasized that the trip<br />
to Hutchinson and Larned will not be limited<br />
to members of the KMTA. Personnel from all<br />
distribution, equipment, exhibition and allied<br />
industries are invited to make the trip. Fares<br />
for the round trip to Hutchinson, including<br />
Pullman, will be $30 per person and round<br />
trip fare, including Pullman, to Larned is<br />
$40 per person.<br />
Lawler said that there would have to be<br />
125 reservations to take the train to Hutchinson<br />
and the same number of reservations to<br />
go on to Larned. If there is not a sufficient<br />
number wanting to go on to Larned the train<br />
will return to Kansas City from Hutchinson<br />
and those wanting to attend the Schnack<br />
celebration can go on to Larned on their<br />
ow'n. Lawler said.<br />
Lawler urged all industryites to make reservations<br />
for the trip immediately with<br />
Gladyce Penrod. executive secretary of the<br />
KMTA at 114 W. 18th St.. Kansas City, Mo.<br />
All reservations, he said, must be firm reservations<br />
and must be accompanied by a check<br />
for the full amount of the trip.<br />
Drive-In Loses Suits<br />
MACOMB. ILL.—Circuit Judge Roeth of<br />
Canton has ruled that the Fort Drive-In is<br />
to pay $5,020 plus 5 per cent interest retroactive<br />
to Sept. 1. 1950, to C. J. Tlernan of<br />
Macomb, who served as contractor when the<br />
theatre was built west of here. In addition,<br />
he was allowed $1,575 on a claim of $2,000<br />
he had made for extra work. The Hanan<br />
Lumber Co. was allowed $782 from the American<br />
Fence Co. for materials used on the<br />
theatre grounds. Still pending is a suit of the<br />
fence company against the theatre.<br />
Mary Sloan Wins Beauty Contest<br />
EAST ST. LOUTS—Mary Sloan, 20, daughter<br />
of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Sloan, was crowned<br />
Miss East St. Louis the night of April 23 at<br />
a beauty pageant sponsored by the East St.<br />
Louis Chamber of Commerce and conducted<br />
at the Majestic Theatre, a unit of I^ublLx<br />
Great States circuit. Miss Sloan is to represent<br />
East St. Louis in the Miss Illinois beauty<br />
contest to be staged on May 17.<br />
BOWLING<br />
KANSAS CITY •'ilinriiw iHiwlliiu league<br />
teams this week iiimril pii/c money for<br />
the yeai''s efforts on the bowling alleys. Rltz<br />
Theatre in the men's league took home a $100<br />
cash prize for its 64 games won record. MGM,<br />
.second place team, won $90. Final standings<br />
and team winnings:<br />
Tcom Won Lost Priic<br />
Riti Thcotre 64 32 $100<br />
'.<br />
MGM SS 41 90<br />
Michael's 54 S2 80<br />
Fox Trotters 48 48 70<br />
Film Delivery 1 46 50 60<br />
Fox Terriers 43 S3 50<br />
Film Delivery 2 42 54 40<br />
Screenlond 32 64 30<br />
Team prizes in the men's league went to<br />
Ritz Theatre for high 30 scratch and<br />
Michael's Clothing for high ten scratch. High<br />
30 handicap went to Film Delivery 1 and<br />
high ten handicap to Film Delivery 2.<br />
Individual prizes went to Lou Kimbriel with<br />
high 30 scratch and Ab Sher with high ten<br />
scratch. Mark Lesslie won high 30 handicap<br />
and Al Adler won high ten handicap.<br />
In the women's league Hartman Allstars,<br />
first place winner, took home prize money of<br />
$74.15. Foxy Five, second place team, which<br />
also won team high ten and individual high<br />
ten, won top prize money, $84.68. Finton<br />
Jones, third place in league standings, added<br />
to its winnings with team high 30 and individual<br />
high 30 for a total of $84.28 in winnings.<br />
C. S. Bureaucrats won $72.64 for<br />
fourth place: Columbia Gems got $70.50 in<br />
fifth place, and U-I won $66.75 for last place.<br />
Prize money in the women's league was distributed<br />
at the annual season's end dinner<br />
and election of officers Wednesday night i30)<br />
at Blue Hills. In the individual high 30<br />
bracket Jerry Summers of the C. S. Bureaucrats<br />
team and Mary Heueisen. Finton Jones<br />
team, tied for top honors. Dorothy Stampfel<br />
of the Foxy Five team took individual<br />
high ten.<br />
Homewood, Sam Meyer<br />
Group in Illinois Allied<br />
CHICAGO—Latest additions to the membership<br />
roster of Allied Theatres of Illinois,<br />
and the Allied buying and booking department,<br />
according to Jack Kirsch, president,<br />
are the Homewood Theatre in Homewood.<br />
managed by Ray Harrington, and the Sam<br />
C. Meyers theatre group, which includes the<br />
Glencoe in Glencoe; Stadium in Evanston,<br />
and the Teatro del Lago, WUmette.<br />
Alamo Theatre Is<br />
Closed<br />
LEBANON, ILL.—The Alamo Theatre. 350-<br />
seater, has been closed for an indefinite period.<br />
The house had been operated under a<br />
lease by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schroeder from<br />
B. Temborius of Breese, 111.<br />
R. L. Honeyman Reopens Alvin<br />
AVA. MO.—R. L. Honeyman. owner, has reopened<br />
the Alvin Drive-In. During April.<br />
show-s were held only on weekends but starting<br />
May 1 they were to be shown seven nights<br />
a week.<br />
Effingham Ozoner Reopens<br />
EFFINGHAM. ILL.—The Rustic Starlight<br />
Drive-In of the F^'isina Amu.sement Co.<br />
opened April 15.<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTITUTE<br />
325 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Knn.
ST.<br />
LOUIS<br />
prank Plumlee of the Edwards & Plumlce<br />
Theatres, Farmington. and Charles Weeks<br />
jr. of Dexter were here to take their Scottish<br />
Rite degrees at the U4th consistory reunion<br />
at the Scottish Rite cathedral . . . A. B. "Buzz"<br />
Maparian had a prominent part in the Ainad<br />
Temple of the Shrine program in East St.<br />
Louis<br />
A. B. Jefferis of Piedmont. Mo., president<br />
of the Midcentral Allied Independent Theatre<br />
Owners, presided at a forum of film rentals<br />
at the convention of Iowa-Nebraska Allied<br />
held recently in Omaha . . . George Jessel.<br />
actor and motion picture producer, got the<br />
Jewish welfare fund drive for $2,500,000 away<br />
to a fine start at Hotel Chase the night of<br />
April 20 when a special gift dinner obtained<br />
contributions of more than $920,000.<br />
Exhibitors seen along Filmrow: Rani Pedrucci.<br />
feature booker, and Johnny Giachetto,<br />
short subjects t)ooker for F^isina Amusement<br />
Co.. Springfield; Frank X. Reller, Wentzville;<br />
Bill Williams. Union; Ed Fellis, Hillsboro;<br />
Leon Jarodsky and Mrs. Jarodsky, Paris; Herman<br />
Fergu.son. Maiden; Bernie Palmer. Columbia<br />
Amu-sement Co., Paducah; Izzy Weinsheink.<br />
Alton. District Manager Publix Great<br />
States; Joe Goldfarb. Upper Alton; Gus Boemler.<br />
Altwood Drive-In Theatre, Woodriver;<br />
Bill Collins, DeSoto; Martin Operle. Ste. Genevieve;<br />
Bud Mercier, Predericktown, and<br />
Charley Beninati, Carlyle.<br />
. .<br />
The Lyn Theatre was the scene of the<br />
Washington U. Quadrangle club's annual<br />
comedy. "Not Transferable." the night of<br />
April 25 and 26 and the afternoon of<br />
The Congi-egation Hahavath<br />
April 27 . . .<br />
Achim of America soon will unveil a memorial<br />
bronze plaque to the memory of Harry Kahan.<br />
film delivery pioneer, who died some weeks<br />
ago. Funds for the plaque have been donated<br />
by friends of Kahan . Sarah Blocher of National<br />
Screen Service has announced her engagement<br />
to Norman W. Rudman of Abilene,<br />
Tex.<br />
Ruby S'Renco, owner of the Art Theatre,<br />
used for many of the tradescreenings here, is<br />
convalescing at his home after undergoing an<br />
operation at the Jewish hospital . . . Margaret<br />
Herrick, executive dii'ector of the Academy<br />
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has<br />
been in Columbia for a series of six lectures<br />
at Stephens college and the annual conference<br />
of the college's audio-visual advisory<br />
Ben J. Kalmenson. general sales<br />
board . . .<br />
manager for Warner Bros., and Bernard R.<br />
Goodman, supervisor of exchanges, visited the<br />
local exchange.<br />
. . Carson Rodgers,<br />
Joe Benedick, booker, and Gladys Katz,<br />
secretary to Hall Walsh, prairie district manager<br />
for Warners, were on vacation. Walsh<br />
and his wife returned AprU 20 from a trip to<br />
Texas and old Mexico .<br />
./OC>OOOOOOOS-BOOa-S-=-BQ«^<br />
EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE<br />
62<br />
St Louis Theatre Supply CompaRy<br />
Azcll Hosier<br />
3310 OUt* Sticet, St. Louis 3, Mo.<br />
Telephone lEflerion 7974<br />
MANAGKK MKETS STAR—Howard<br />
Young, manager of the Rialto Theatre,<br />
Peoria, 111., played "The Battle at Apache<br />
Pass" recently day and date with the<br />
Chicago premiere at the State-Lake in<br />
Chicago. Young and his wife drove to<br />
Chicago for the premiere and posed with<br />
actor Jeff Chandler backstage at the theatre.<br />
The picture ran in the Peoria Star<br />
for a timely publicity break. In the<br />
photo Chandler is at left.<br />
president of Rodgers Theatres, Cairo, returned<br />
from Florida where he visited his<br />
parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Rodgers.<br />
. . .<br />
National Theatre Supply recently sold a<br />
Moviecone freezer to Bill Waring for his Ritz<br />
Theatre. Cobden Jack Schlaifer. sales<br />
manager for Realart Pictures, called on Eddie<br />
Arthur, president of Fanchon & Marco. The<br />
combination of the original "Frankenstein"<br />
and the original "Dracula." currently in their<br />
fifth week at the Victory Theatre, New York<br />
City, opened at the Shubert Theatre (2) for<br />
a weelc's run.<br />
175 Persons Attend Dance<br />
Of Indianapolis Loge<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—The local Colosseum of<br />
Motion Picture Salesmen celebrated its fourth<br />
annual dinner dance recently at the Indianapolis<br />
Athletic club. Bob Hall was the emcee.<br />
Approximately 175 persons were there, including<br />
exhibitors and friends from all parts<br />
of Indiana. There was an elaborate floor<br />
show, dancing and other entertainment. The<br />
women were presented corsages, and ten<br />
valuable door prizes were given away.<br />
Art Perry in Burlington<br />
BURLINGTON, KAS.—Art Perry, district<br />
supervisor for Dickinson Theatres and part<br />
owner of several houses in the circuit, has<br />
been here redecorating the Plaza Theatre<br />
marquee. "Let's Go to a Movie" signs were<br />
put up some time ago and new neon lighting<br />
will be installed along with a coat of<br />
paint. Perry is also making minor repairs in<br />
the house while here.<br />
Princess to Kerasotes<br />
PEORIA, ILL. — Kerasotes Theatres of<br />
Springfield, 111., has taken over operation of<br />
the Princess Theatre, downtown subsequent<br />
run house as of May 1. The theatre was acquired<br />
from the Harris estate, which had been<br />
running the house since tlie death of Edward<br />
Harris, longtime local independent exhibitor.<br />
Meeks Close Maysville<br />
House After 18 Years<br />
MAYSVILLE. MO.— R.<br />
H. Meek has closed<br />
the Tlieatre Anne after 18 years of continuous<br />
operation. He gave as his reasons the lack<br />
of customers, increased operating costs and<br />
heavy taxes. The newspaper called the closing<br />
of the popular showplace a real loss to<br />
tlie community. The Meeks and their son<br />
Pete also operate the Star at Union Star<br />
and will continue it.<br />
The Theatre Anne was opened in the Swike<br />
building March 4, 1934, and celebrated its<br />
18th anniver-sary this year. In 1943, Meek<br />
entered the army and the late P. J. Gordon<br />
operated the theatre in his absence. Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Meek remodeled the building in 1949<br />
and built an entire new front, installed new<br />
seats, lobby and restrooms. In spite of their<br />
efforts to maintain the best possible theatre,<br />
attendance had been very light in recent<br />
years, they said.<br />
Al Tourtillot Opens New<br />
Holiday in Seneca, Mo.<br />
SENECA. MO. — Manager Al Tourtillot<br />
opened the new Holiday Theatre last Friday<br />
(25). Finishing touches the week before included<br />
placing of 322 seats, approximately<br />
the same number as the burned-out Grand<br />
Theatre but there is no balcony in the Holiday.<br />
The modernistic house has a cryroom, carpeting<br />
in the aisles and lobby blending with<br />
the pastel color of the walls and the red<br />
plush and plastic seats. The stage is draped<br />
with gold curtains. Ticket booth is located<br />
outside the main door, with the concession in<br />
the lobby. The front is of brick and glass<br />
brick, with neon lighting and a large neon<br />
upright over the entrance.<br />
Artie Kempf Transferred;<br />
F. Edwards in Fredonia<br />
two cities.<br />
FREDONIA. KAS.—Artie Kempf, who has<br />
managed the Kansas Theatre since he came<br />
here from Brady, Tex., in August 1950, has<br />
been transferred by Midcentral Theatres to<br />
Osawatomie, where he will manage the<br />
Osawa and also the circuit's house in Paola<br />
along with supervision of the new drive-in<br />
which Midcentral is completing midway between<br />
the<br />
Francis Edwards comes here from Paola to<br />
succeed Kempf as manager of the circuit's<br />
local<br />
situation.<br />
Yhe Shutters Lyric<br />
NEWBURG. MO.—Fu-e damage to projection<br />
equipment caused the Lyric Theatre to<br />
close for several weeks recently. The blaze<br />
occurred when the film was being tested<br />
for a performance. Chfford Hough, owner,<br />
out of town at the time of the accident, said<br />
he expected to reopen by the end of April.<br />
Chase Candy Co. Expands<br />
ST. LOUIS—The Chase Candy Co. of St.<br />
Louis has purchased the Shotwell Manufacturing<br />
Co. of Chicago, a candy-making concern,<br />
for more than $500,000. The local force<br />
is to be increased by about 200 within six<br />
months.<br />
Run the Cerebrol Polsy campaign troiler. Availoble<br />
May IS to July 1.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
Film Industry Blood Bank<br />
Established in St. Louis<br />
ST. LOUIS—A blood bank for the men and<br />
women associated with the motion picture<br />
film business in St. Louis and their families<br />
has been established by the Rod Cross In<br />
cooperation with Betty Wendt, business agent<br />
for Local Bl of the Film exchange employes<br />
union, assisted by the local managers of the<br />
exchanges.<br />
This arrangement is an extension of the<br />
blood donations made to the Red Cross by<br />
the members of the film exchange back office<br />
personnel during the past year. In that period,<br />
the members of the union donated 41<br />
pints of blood. The advantages of this arrangement<br />
became apparent during the year<br />
when one of the members of the union became<br />
ill and his condition called for a total<br />
of 33 pints of blood.<br />
The blood bank plan is being furthered by<br />
the MPTO information furnished to Myra<br />
Sti'oud, secretary manager. Out-of-town motion<br />
pictiu'e theatremen and women who may<br />
want to donate blood through the film industry<br />
blood bank may do so thi'ough the Red<br />
Cross Blood Center. They can make the necessary<br />
arrangements through Myra Stroud,<br />
or, through Betty Wendt. Under the plan<br />
anyone connected with the film industry or<br />
members of their families can obtain needed<br />
blood through the bank, that has a minimum<br />
requii-ement of 50 pints per year. Blood obtained<br />
through the bank also shall be available<br />
for members of our armed forces in<br />
Korea.<br />
MPTO Regional Session<br />
On Taylorville Radio<br />
TAYLORVILLE, ILL.—Myra Stroud,<br />
managing<br />
secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre<br />
Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and<br />
Southern Illinois; A. L. Matreci of St. Louis,<br />
and A. B. Magarian of East St. Louis were<br />
here on April 23 to confer with Dominic<br />
Frisina. head of the Frisina Amusement Co.,<br />
and Bill Grant, resident manager for that<br />
circuit, regarding plans for the regional meeting<br />
of the MPTO to be held here on May 6.<br />
It was announced that arrangements have<br />
been made with Russell Armentrout of Louisiana,<br />
Mo., owner of the local radio station, to<br />
broadcast a portion of the meeting's program.<br />
Armentrout is a member of the MPTO, since<br />
he heads a circuit of theatres in Missouri and<br />
Illinois.<br />
Three Madison Drive-Ins<br />
Reopened for Season<br />
MADISON. IND.—The Skyline Drive-In on<br />
state road 107 reopened for the season after<br />
complete redecorating and a remodeling program<br />
which included painting and resurfacing<br />
of its driveways. It is the fourth season<br />
for the situation, owned by B. A. Kannaple<br />
and Elmer Schow-e of New Albany. Ray Turner<br />
will again manage the theatre and Grant<br />
Stewart is projectionist.<br />
The Alps Drive-In on state road 56, west<br />
of Vevay, opened earlier for the season. The<br />
Riverview on U.S. 42, east of Carrollton, Ky.,<br />
was scheduled to reopen May 2. It will be<br />
closed every Monday night this year for the<br />
convenience of the employes. First runs will<br />
be booked on the Sunday and Tuesday<br />
changes.<br />
Copper is vital—save machine drippings.<br />
E. J. St. John in Brookfield<br />
BROOKKIELD. MO. K. ,J .SI. John ol<br />
Chillicothe has taken over management of<br />
the Dixie Theatre, succeeding Manager Cole.<br />
Mrs. St. John is a.ssisting in the operation<br />
and recently made a tieup with merchants<br />
in Liiuieus.<br />
Ben Batchfield Returns<br />
ANDERSON, IND.— After a leave of absence,<br />
Ben Batchfield has returned as manager<br />
of the Times Theatre. Paul Sigler,<br />
Batchfield's replacement, is now managing<br />
the Kokomo Drive-In.<br />
Bob Leach Joins Theatres<br />
PORTLAND. IND.—Bob Leach, foimer announcer<br />
and sportscaster at WPGW, ha-s become<br />
assistant manager of the Key and<br />
Beacon theatres. He will also be in charge<br />
of advertising and exploitation.<br />
Harold Schaer Buys Warner House<br />
SALEM, KY. — Harold Schaer recently<br />
closed a deal to purchase the Warner Theatre<br />
from J. C. Davenport. The former owner is<br />
to continue to help in the operation of the<br />
theatre.<br />
69 Drive-In Is Reopened<br />
PITTSBURG, KAS.—Ray Lawrence, manager,<br />
has reopened the 69 Drive-In for the<br />
season. The opening performance was free<br />
to the public.<br />
Free Haircuts Go<br />
With Ushering Jobs<br />
TAFTVILLE, CONN.—Al Lambert, operator<br />
of the Hillcrest Theatre, has a<br />
new angle on procuring loyalty and cooperation<br />
from his service staff. Onetime<br />
professional barber, before becoming<br />
manager of the Hillcrest, Lambert started<br />
giving free haircuts to cleanup boys during<br />
the hard times of 1928. He found that<br />
both parents and boys considered this a<br />
valuable pay hike.<br />
He now estimates he has given about<br />
4,784 free haircuts to his service staff and<br />
extra boys. Al also is proud that two of<br />
his boys became projectionists, one a<br />
Jesuit priest, one a prominent -sports<br />
coach and one a postmaster. Now the<br />
sons of his original boys are appearing<br />
at the theatre for work and free haircuts.<br />
Babcock to Head New<br />
NTS Drink Service<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
Vern K. Babcock, formerly<br />
manager of the Missouri U-Select-Il Co., ha.s<br />
become affiliated with the National Theatre<br />
VERN K. BABCOCK<br />
Supply Co. branch here in charge of installation<br />
and service of the new Cole Spa<br />
automatic beverage dispenser.<br />
Babcock, who has been affiliated with the<br />
beverage and candy dispensing machine business<br />
for many years, is a native of Kansas<br />
City. His new connection with National here<br />
will be his first with the theatre industry,<br />
although he has handled theatre installations<br />
in his previous connections. For National,<br />
he now will handle Cole Spa installations<br />
solely for the theatre industry.<br />
Arthur de Stefano, head of the National<br />
branch here, said that establishment of this<br />
special division, with Babcock as manager,<br />
will mark the first such division for any NTS<br />
branch.<br />
De Stefano last w^ek announced that NTS<br />
had taken over theatre distribution of the<br />
Cole Spa machine.<br />
Charity Drive at Airer<br />
FLORA. ILL.—The Flora Kiwanis club has<br />
extended its thanks and appreciation to<br />
Floyd Johnson, manager of the Rendezvous<br />
Drive-In, for donating use of the drive-in<br />
and all of the receipts for two nights to the<br />
club for its charity fund.<br />
Circus Day Planned for 'Show'<br />
PEORIA. ILL.—A special circus day sponsored<br />
by the Pere-Marquette hotel, including<br />
a Circus banquet, will headline an intensive<br />
campaign by Len Worley, Great States city<br />
manager, for the Madison Theatre showing<br />
of "The Greatest Show on Earth."<br />
'Yearling' Shown to Kids<br />
PAOLA. KAS. — Francis Edwards recently<br />
staged a special children's morning show at<br />
the Paola. He secured a print of MGM's<br />
"The Yeai-ling" from the Children's Film<br />
library in Kansas City for the occasion.<br />
Run the Ccrcbrol Palsy campolgn trailer. Available<br />
May IS to July 1.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 63
. .,<br />
'<br />
REMARKABLE<br />
RESULTS!<br />
a^HHl<br />
whii^.BJ u, sidtrt<br />
^ox-<br />
Ua f«5c«t'^' fHO«S<br />
9.3951<br />
ia"Ki".-<br />
M^<br />
Apra 2^.<br />
^952<br />
"<br />
^^^'^ ^^- veara no.:, our „f,S secUon^X fertia^-S<br />
„„iv teti y8% vn vo^^ nt-S.«>BOTO.S^O.^^^: „..,..<br />
Tell your story to<br />
the industry's biggest<br />
audience —<br />
BOXOFFICE readers.<br />
Better Through<br />
Sell<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
64 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
1,400-Seat Plaza Theatre<br />
Opens in Memphis Suburb<br />
First night's profits from the Plaza opening went to the East Memphis Kiwanis<br />
club for its work with retarded children. Pictured here on opening night, left to right,<br />
are J. G. Lowenthal, representing the Kiwanis; Augustine Cianciolo, who operates the<br />
Plaza under lease, Mrs. Cianciolo, who helps her husband with the theatre business,<br />
and VV. B. Walton, representing Kiwanis.<br />
Flowers from neighboring merchants added beauty to the Plaza's large refreshment<br />
bar on the opening night of the new Memphis Plaza.<br />
KULL ADAMS<br />
By<br />
MEMPHIS—Memphis' largest and most elegant<br />
suburban theatre, the Plaza, was<br />
launched with a two-day ceremony. The<br />
opening night attendance was by invitation.<br />
Around 1.000 guests from newspapers, radio<br />
stations, tradepapers and the motion picture<br />
industry attended. The delighted exclamations<br />
from visitors roaming about the greencarpeted,<br />
modernistic and curving lobby were<br />
inspired by the handsome showhouse.<br />
The second night was given to a show<br />
sponsored by the Kast Memphis Kiwanis<br />
club which raised several thousand dollars for<br />
its program of helping retarded children.<br />
Opening night ceremonies were brief. Tony<br />
Tedesco, representing Filmrow, introduced<br />
Robert W. Lessley, manager, who briefly welcomed<br />
first-nighters. He then introduced Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Augustine Cianciolo, who operate<br />
the new 1,400-seat Plaza under a long-term<br />
lease. The Cianciolos also own and operate<br />
the Rosemary and Luciann. The Plaza opened<br />
with a first run film, "The Lady Says No."<br />
Shows start at 7 p. m. Monday through Friday<br />
and at 2 p. m. Saturday and Sunday.<br />
Admission is 60 cents.<br />
The drive-under marquee is topped by a<br />
45-foot tower with the theatre's name in<br />
neon on both sides. Behind the tower are<br />
large translucent glass panels through which<br />
ever-changing patterns of color are visible.<br />
The long main lobby i.s indirectly lighted and<br />
features a large, modernistic refreshment<br />
counter. De luxe seats in the auditorium are<br />
fully upholstered.<br />
There are 35 seats and a number of baby<br />
beds in the glass-enclosed cryroom. A party<br />
room, with its own reception room, which<br />
will seat 35, has its own refreshment serving<br />
The exterior of the Plaza looked like this<br />
on opening night. Note the ample on-street<br />
parking space in front of the house, which<br />
is in addition to a 330-car parking lot, now<br />
being enlarged to accommodate 1,500 cars.<br />
facilities and it's completely glass-enclosed.<br />
This room is to be chartered for private<br />
parties. Both the ladies' and men's restrooms<br />
are upholstered in leather and feature<br />
floor-to-ceiling mirrors.<br />
All walls are curved to break up sound<br />
waves. The color scheme is green, in three<br />
different shades. The projection room is<br />
.spacious, with Century equipment. Projectors<br />
are water cooled like drive-in theatre<br />
projectors. In addition to standard 35mm<br />
equipment, the Plaza also has 16mm projectors<br />
which may be used in showing commercial<br />
and industrial films. The theatre will b€<br />
chartered during the day to firms which<br />
want to show such films. The screen is a<br />
no-distortion Cycloramic, 25x22 feet.<br />
The exterior is equally attractive with its<br />
buff-and-cream marble sidewalk, fluted<br />
stainless steel columns and 45-foot name<br />
tower. Best of all, says Cianciolo, and on<br />
this patrons agree, the Plaza has its own private<br />
parking lot which now accommodates<br />
350 cars and is being enlarged to take care<br />
of 1,500 when it is finished.<br />
More Newsreels Shown in Dublin<br />
Since the beginning of 1952 the major motion<br />
picture theatres in Dublin and a number<br />
of the suburban theatres are requesting more<br />
newsreels in their program.<br />
NOTSHOWNON<br />
TELEVISION!<br />
8 -EAST SIDE KIDS<br />
16 - ELLIOTT WESTER NS<br />
Now Ready VVif/i<br />
HEDY LAMARR<br />
"STRANGE WOMAN" and<br />
"SINS OF MADELEINE"<br />
Astor Pictures Co. of Georgia, Inc.<br />
163 Walton St ATLANTA<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 SE 65
I. W. Boden Reopens Sundown<br />
PARIS. TENN.— I. W. Boden has opened the<br />
Sundown Drive-In lor the season. He booked<br />
"Once More My Darling" for Its first showing<br />
in Paris as the opening attraction.<br />
florida's FIRST Supply House<br />
NOW HAS TWO CONVENIENT<br />
LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU<br />
UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP.<br />
110 Franklin St. 329 West Flagler St.<br />
Tampa, Fla. Miami, Fla.<br />
Phone 2-3045 Phone 3-S038<br />
Two Million Feet in Stock<br />
SPEAKER CABLE<br />
Without Priority<br />
2 Conductor No. 17 AWG Solid Copper Flat Parallel<br />
Construction Rodent Resistant Non-water Absorbent<br />
Jacket for Direct Earth Buriol O.D. .35x.20-inch.<br />
Pockoged 2,500 ft. on Returnoble Reels or 500 ft.<br />
Coils. Price FOB Houston, Texos: On 500 ft. Coils<br />
$60.00 per M ft. 2500 ft. Reels $40.60 per M ft.<br />
Reel Deposits $5.00 each. Shipping Wt. Net 50 lbs.<br />
per M ft.<br />
SOUTHWESTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />
1622 Austin St., Houston, Texas, Phone CA-9906<br />
DISTRIBUTORS FOR ELECTRIC WIRE AND CABLE<br />
CO. OF HOUSTON, TEXAS<br />
ABC<br />
THEATRICAL ENTERPRISES<br />
ATLANTA<br />
JACKSONVILLE<br />
Phone ALPine 7887 Phone 5-9227<br />
P. 0. Box 1345 P.O. Box 88<br />
BUYING<br />
BOOKING<br />
AGENTS<br />
R. J. (Hap) Barnes<br />
C. B. (Cliff) Wilson<br />
Karl (Bud) Chalman<br />
R. A. (Rex) Norris<br />
Ocik Ridge Atomic Area<br />
Gets Its First Theatre<br />
OAK RIDGE, TENN.- Gamble Valley's first<br />
motion picture theatre was opened recently<br />
with a capacity crowd. Tlie theatre had been<br />
.sought for a long time by residents, who have<br />
complained about the lack of recreational facilities<br />
in the atomic area. The fir.st night's<br />
.showing was held up for .some time because<br />
of heating difficulties but the operators hoped<br />
to run on schedule in the future.<br />
Operators of the new theatre are C. R. Lay<br />
jr., Charles H. Bowman and John Burgess.<br />
The house now has seats for about 300 persons<br />
but they .said they hope to have more available<br />
before long. The theatre, which is located<br />
in the new shopping center, will be<br />
operated seven days, with weekend matinees.<br />
It is one of seven establishments in the center,<br />
which include a .supermarket, cafe, beauty<br />
shop, barber shop and poolroom. One shop is<br />
still vacant; it had been planned for a liquor<br />
store.<br />
Lonnie Royal Appoints<br />
H. E. Jackson Manager<br />
LAUREL, MISS.—H. E. Jackson has been<br />
appointed general manager of the Royal circuit<br />
by Lonnie Royal, owner of the theatres<br />
in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Waynesboro and on<br />
the Gulf Coast. A native son but recently<br />
of Hattiesburg, Jackson was connected with<br />
the Royal circuit when it owned two theatres<br />
here. He has been manager of the Royal at<br />
Hattiesburg for the past 18 months and associated<br />
with Royal for the past eight years.<br />
Jackson was educated here and associated<br />
himself with the film industry upon leaving<br />
school. He will make his headquarters in<br />
Hattiesburg.<br />
Ralph Peckham Is Named<br />
Classic Southern Head<br />
NEW YORK—Ralph E. Peckham, formerly<br />
associated with Snader Productions in the<br />
southern territory, has been named southern<br />
division manager for Classic Pictures by Max<br />
J. Rosenberg, president. Peckham will headquarter<br />
in Atlanta. Before being associated<br />
with Snader, Peckham was branch manager<br />
for Film Classics in Atlanta. He has been in<br />
the industry for 31 years.<br />
Lavnrence Barmiza to Leesburg<br />
LEESBURG, PT^A.—Lawrence Banniza, formerly<br />
of Tampa, has been appointed manager<br />
of the Palace here by Bill Cumbaa, general<br />
manager for MCM theatres. He formerly was<br />
assistant at the Palace in Tampa.<br />
CHILDREN'S PREMIUMS 1<br />
WESTERN 1
Premiere Carbine'<br />
Twice for Crowds<br />
PAYETTEVILLE, N. C. — With WencicII<br />
Corey, a star of the film, and David Marshall<br />
Williams, whose life story it is, on hand for<br />
personal appearances, much ceremony attended<br />
the opening here last week (24) of<br />
MGM's "Carbine Williams" at the Colony<br />
Theatre. To accommodate the crowds, two<br />
premiere performances were presented.<br />
Corey arrived by plane from Hollywood and<br />
took part in a day of festivities which included<br />
interviews with North and South<br />
Carolina and Virginia newspapermen. He<br />
returned to the coast the next day.<br />
Premiere day opened with a series of civic<br />
meetings attended by David Marshall Williams.<br />
This is his home town. With his<br />
wife, the man whose life furnished the story<br />
received members of the press of the Carolinas<br />
and representatives of national film<br />
publications. A parade honoring him followed<br />
the interviews and later the presentation of<br />
a portrait of former Sheriff N. H. McGeachy<br />
was made at Cumberland county courthouse.<br />
A reception for the Williamses followed under<br />
auspices of the Exchange club and the Chamber<br />
of Commerce, then a banquet at the<br />
Prince Charles hotel.<br />
Guests at the premiere festivities included<br />
Dan S. Terrell, MGM, New York; Emery<br />
Austin, MGM, Atlanta; Tom Baldridge, MGM,<br />
Washington; Rudolph Berger, MGM, Washington;<br />
Jack ReViUe, MGM, Charlotte; Roy L.<br />
Smart, general manager of North Carolina<br />
Theatres, Charlotte; George Peters, Virginia<br />
representative of Loew's Theatres, Richmond;<br />
Milton Kaufman, Loew's State Theatre, Norfolk;<br />
Emery Wister, Charlotte News; W. G.<br />
Enloe, North Carolina Theatres, Raleigh; C.<br />
M. Snebbens, Florence Theatres, Florence, S.<br />
C; Mr. and Mrs. John M. Buyers, Bailey Theatres,<br />
Bailey, N. C.; W. G. Fussell, Wonet<br />
Theatre, Bladenboro, N. C; Mrs. Adele Carson,<br />
MGM, New York; C. H. Candell, Dance<br />
Theatre, Burgaw, N. C; Mrs. W. F. Candell,<br />
Hyway Theatre, Wallace, N. C., and H. C.<br />
Cook, Center Theatre, Mount Olive, N. C.<br />
Fleming Moates Resigns;<br />
Jack Rudd Takes House<br />
DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLA.—Fleming J.<br />
Moates, who for several years has managed<br />
the Ritz Theatre, resigned in order to take<br />
care of a theatre in Headland, Ala., in which<br />
he has purchased one-half interest.<br />
His successor will be Jack Rudd, who has<br />
been in training for the job several months,<br />
partly in De Funiak and for five weeks with<br />
another Martin unit in Valdosta, Ga.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
Qharles Waterall, owner of the Waterall circuit<br />
in northern Mississippi and Alabama,<br />
is making his initial step into the drive-in<br />
business aided by his sons, Johnny and<br />
Charles jr., Waterall broke ground in Silas.<br />
Ala., for an outdoor theatre ... On May 15,<br />
William Butterfield will donate the use of<br />
his Royal Theatre, Bernice, La., to the local<br />
4-H club for a matinee of "Crazy House" . . .<br />
Robert H. Oswald is replacing B. E. McGinty<br />
at the Lake Drive-In. Pascagoula. MLss.<br />
. . . Curtis B. Williard is<br />
Considerable difficulty was encountered by<br />
Transway in delivering film in the Lake<br />
Charles area following heavy rainstorms. Numerous<br />
bridges and roads were wa.shed out in<br />
Vinton, DeQuincy, DeRidder, Merryville and<br />
Leesville . . . Paramount salesman Edgar<br />
Shinn was recently visited by his 74-year-old<br />
mother, Mrs. Bertia Shinn, who flew from<br />
Charleston, S. C. . . . Billy Lynn, manager of<br />
the Silver City, Alexandria, has been devoting<br />
leisure time almost exclusively to her<br />
hobby of painting<br />
reopening his Beach Theatre in Fairhope, Ala.<br />
Complete<br />
line of standard<br />
accessoriesall<br />
companies<br />
RL<br />
ROOK'S<br />
m bookihg<br />
officf<br />
Experience — Industry - Integrity<br />
p. o. box 1422<br />
alpine 7621<br />
atlanta, ga.<br />
Be RELIANT -on BRYANT<br />
Depcndobic Products - Best of Service<br />
18 Years One Locotion The Bryont name<br />
and good reputotion<br />
are your<br />
• Griggs Scoting<br />
• Bigclow Carpets<br />
guorontcc of reol<br />
• Co-op In-Cor Speakers sotisfoction.<br />
• Dc Luxe Popcorn ond<br />
Seasonings<br />
227 S, Church St.. Charlotle, N.C ,<br />
BRYANT<br />
POSTERS!<br />
Us<br />
EXHIBITORS POSTER<br />
EXCHANGE, INC.<br />
221 South Liberty St.<br />
Phone RAymond 3563<br />
New Orleans, La.<br />
jiT[jQ(D^O{L[L[i<br />
— Posters that sell.<br />
Remain independent by dealing<br />
with an independent! .<br />
. .<br />
No contracts - satisfaction<br />
guaranteed!<br />
We understand what service means to you.<br />
10^, INC.<br />
THEATRE POSTER<br />
EXCHANGE, INC<br />
184 E. Calhoun Ave.<br />
0pp. Union Station<br />
Phone 37-3836, Memphis 3, Tenn.<br />
•CONTOUR<br />
CURTAINS<br />
• STAGE AND AUDITORIUM<br />
DRAPERIES<br />
• THEATRE DECORATING<br />
Knoxville,<br />
Tennessee<br />
• MURALS<br />
• RIGGING<br />
• TRACKS<br />
KING<br />
kiSgsi<br />
• CONTROLS<br />
• LIGHTING AND DIMMERS<br />
• WALL FABRICS<br />
MOST MODERN STAGE EQUIPMENT STUDIO IN AMERICA<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 67
FOR THE BOOTH<br />
Projectors<br />
Sound Heads — Amplifiers<br />
Generators<br />
Reflector Arcs<br />
Rectifiers<br />
Automatic Rewinders<br />
Hand Revrinders<br />
Rewind Pulleys<br />
Film Cabinets<br />
Film Tables<br />
Spotlights<br />
Reels<br />
Belting<br />
Rectifier Tubes<br />
Cement<br />
Carbons<br />
Projector Oil<br />
Reel End Alarms<br />
Chongeovers<br />
Fire Extinguishers<br />
Fire Extinguisher Fluid<br />
Reflectors<br />
Repair Parts<br />
Waste Receptacles<br />
FOR THE LOBBY<br />
Crowd Control Equipment<br />
Sand Urns<br />
Automatic Spots<br />
Directional Signs<br />
Display Frames<br />
Ticket Boxes<br />
Thumb Tacks<br />
FOR THE TICKET OFFICE<br />
Coin Changers<br />
Automatic Registers<br />
GoldE Ticket Dispensers<br />
Trigger Action Registers<br />
ROLL and MACHINE Tickets<br />
NO DRAFT Speaking Tubes<br />
Cashier Chairs<br />
Admission Signs<br />
Daily Report Blanks<br />
Also A Complei<br />
R E C li<br />
M E C Hi!<br />
AMP<br />
S O U N<br />
R E F L E C<br />
C O I N C|<br />
TICKET<br />
fNTERMITTEliO<br />
L O A N E R SIn<br />
REFLECTOR<br />
^1913<br />
Tkirty-nina yean<br />
of Service<br />
and<br />
Allow Us to Figure With You<br />
THE QUEEN FE/tTTr<br />
S3<br />
BOXOFnCE :: May 3, 1952<br />
m^ix
I<br />
BOXOFnCE<br />
PEEN" YOUR<br />
LDQUARTERS<br />
T<br />
I<br />
air Service Ort<br />
I E R S<br />
M S M S<br />
HERS<br />
III E A D S<br />
m<br />
ARCS<br />
ANGERS<br />
SISTERS<br />
OVEMENTS<br />
!tl<br />
R N I S H E D<br />
SILVERED<br />
FOR THE AUDITORIUM<br />
Voice of Theatre Speakers<br />
Opera Chairs<br />
Light Fixtures<br />
Carpet — Draperies<br />
Screens<br />
Replacement<br />
Chair backs and bottoms<br />
Leatherette<br />
Mystic Tape<br />
Flash Lights — Batteries<br />
Stage Equipment<br />
Stage Hardware<br />
All types of Mazda Lamps<br />
FOR THE MARQUEE<br />
Marquee Letters<br />
Marquee Glass, Etc.<br />
FOR THE CONCESSION STAND<br />
Popcorn Machines<br />
Drink Machines<br />
Peanut Roasters<br />
Sandwich Grill<br />
French Fryers<br />
Bun Warmers<br />
Steamro<br />
Sno-Cone Machines<br />
Waste Receptacles<br />
Menu Boards<br />
Paper Cups<br />
Popcorn<br />
Popcorn Salt<br />
Seasoning<br />
Bags and Boxes<br />
Popcorn Scoops<br />
FOR THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
Complete Booth Equipment<br />
Replacement Speakers & Cones<br />
Koiled Kords<br />
EXIT, ENTRANCE and other<br />
Directional Signs<br />
Complete Concession Equipment<br />
:: May 3. 1952<br />
69
. . Don<br />
. . D.<br />
. . "Strange<br />
'<br />
'<br />
j<br />
j<br />
j<br />
ATLANTA<br />
Come 75 members and guests of the Variety<br />
Tent 21 heard A. B. Padgett, John Ford<br />
and several others discuss Old Newsboy day<br />
which will be staged May 23 to raise funds<br />
for the Cerebral Palsy Home for Children.<br />
Paul E. Daughtery. Fi-ed H. Massey and James<br />
C. Shumate were the new members taken in<br />
at the meeting . Hassler, office manager<br />
and booker, is the new correspondent<br />
for BOXOFFICE and will appreciate exhibitors<br />
sending news items directly to him.<br />
"Les Miserables" will open at the State<br />
Theatre, Tallahassee, Fla., May 18-20. This<br />
new version in English is being distributed<br />
by Astor Pictures . S. Simpson of<br />
Wedowee (Ala.) Theatre, who was in booking,<br />
reported farmers have gotten a late start<br />
MOSQUITOES, GNATS, FLIES, are not allowed at this theatre<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
T im E IRI T IR '<br />
due to bad weather and are now working long<br />
hours on their crops . Woman"<br />
and "Sins of Madeleine," both starring Hedy<br />
Lamarr. concluded a week's run at the Roxy<br />
Theatre. This is an Astor release.<br />
. . . Lux<br />
Exhibitors wishing to contribute<br />
[<br />
money to i<br />
the Variety Club'.s Cerebral Palsy drive can<br />
mail contributions to John Fulton, Variety<br />
Club, Atlanta hotel, Atlanta, Ga.<br />
Films will bring out "Bitter Rice" the first<br />
of next month. Astor Pictures will handle<br />
The Lane Theatre for<br />
the distribution . . .<br />
Negroes, has been reopened in Cordele, Ga.,<br />
by George Lawrence.<br />
j<br />
Hardy Butler will operate and manage the<br />
new Forrest Park Drive-In at Lakewood . . .<br />
Capitol Theatre Supply handled the furnish-<br />
Nat Williams of ThomasviUe, will<br />
ings . . .<br />
close four of his "B" theatres . . . Al Rook<br />
has opened his own booking office . . . Eu-<br />
gene Skinner of the Dixie Drive-In Theatres<br />
|<br />
in Atlanta, is on a vacation in Florida.<br />
\<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
tJarvey Smith of Harvey Smith Enterprises<br />
|<br />
in Atlanta came here to install a minia- .<br />
ture train in Revolution park . . . The<br />
Art<br />
;<br />
Theatre has begun a strictly art policy. The i<br />
Sofe, sure, eleon FOG from your own big Fogger. Cleons 'em out up to '/j mile from your theotre for less<br />
thon $1.00 a day. Proven on economlcol woy to control oil flying insects by Army, Navy and cities oil<br />
over U. S. Fully protected by Guarantee and Service Policy.<br />
Bye Bye B. O. Blues<br />
NOT $1700 - NOT $1200 - BUT $950<br />
For a Full-Size Fog Machine for Heavy Duty Work Under Worst Conditions<br />
"PUBLIC HEALTH INSECTICIDAL<br />
FOG MACHINE"<br />
$950.00 READY FOR OPERATION-NO EXTRAS<br />
Extended Payment Plan Availoble for First Time: Only 4 admissions per night, payable monthly, will<br />
give you complete freedom from pests.<br />
All Types of Special Equipment and Insecticides<br />
Public Health Equip. &l Supply<br />
Phone BEL. 3-3421 P. 0. Box 4143, Sto. "A" 517 N. W. 19fh St. Son Antonio, Texas.<br />
'<br />
theatre is being operated by B&B Theatres,<br />
which also operated the Tryon. The opening<br />
of the new house brings to two the number<br />
of art theatres here. The Visulite, the first,<br />
•<br />
opened several weeks ago after it was purchased<br />
by Jay Schrader.<br />
The North 17 Drive-In in Wilmington<br />
opened May 1. C. D. Holder is manager ...<br />
The Luckie Drive-In near Reidsville is being<br />
readied for a May 15 opening. Hugh<br />
Sykes & Associates are owners and Howard-<br />
Ford is manager. The ozoner is located one<br />
jj<br />
mile south of Reidsville.<br />
. . Dublin Drive-In in Dublin<br />
Dick Eason of Queen City Booking Services<br />
spent several days in Wilmington preparing!<br />
for opening of Skyline Drive-In there. H. M.<br />
j<br />
Sykes sr., father of Queen City's Hugh Sykes,<br />
will manage .<br />
opened May 1. Exhibitors Service is buying<br />
and booking.<br />
|<br />
j<br />
DOn'T KILL THE fflfln lUITH THE FLUTE<br />
A good sound system should be capable<br />
of reproducing the entire sound<br />
frequency range recorded on the film<br />
from the lowest 40 cycle tones of the<br />
bass viol to the 10,000 cycle tones of<br />
the flute.<br />
fllOTIOGRflPH SOUnD SySTEfUS ^^cMfuzatee<br />
the best balanced, most complete tonal range; life-like reproduction; delicate<br />
shadings of voice; musical qualities never before approached; uniform<br />
sound level throughout the theatre.<br />
1 4 models for indoor theatres from 500 to 5,000 seals and drive-ins from 200<br />
to over 1,000 cars — ALL built to the one same high standard of quality.<br />
WIL-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, INC.<br />
Atlanta, Georgia Charlotte, North Carolina<br />
"Eyerything for the theatre except film"<br />
m:S'' .<br />
light at<br />
. . more<br />
lower amperage<br />
SOUTHERN CARBON SUPPLY<br />
146 Walton St., Tel. Alpine 2644, ATLANTA, GA.<br />
PTYTffl<br />
11<br />
IH^^s
HARRY HART<br />
By<br />
pRED McLENDON and Al Morgan and all of<br />
the office force were in the office of Mc-<br />
Lendon Theatre at Union Springs, Ala., when<br />
I called. The firm'.s drive-ins at Hazelhurst,<br />
Miss., Monroeville and Foley, Ala., are now<br />
open after being clo.sed for the winter. The<br />
theatre at Bay Minette. Ala., is getting a new<br />
lobby and restroonis and general renovation.<br />
Jimmy Gaylaid of the Starlite Drive-In at<br />
Troy is a real promoter. He gave away 700<br />
colored baby chickens for Easter. Ramps at<br />
the drive-in were in wonderful shape and<br />
Gaylard maintains the ozoner in points of<br />
neatness and attractiveness. In his promotions,<br />
Gaylard makes a big play for community<br />
attendance and goodwill.<br />
* * «<br />
Eddie Tomberlin of the 864-seat Pike Theatre<br />
in Troy had a lovely display of flowers<br />
in the lobby and boxoffice. He said that he<br />
runs a trailer for a local florist and in return<br />
the florist supplies fresh flowers for the<br />
theatre lobby and boxoffice. Eddie, who<br />
never misses a bet when it comes to showmanship,<br />
keeps the public well informed on<br />
what is playing at the Pike at all times. The<br />
Pike has a 50-ton air conditioning unit.<br />
Dozier Roberts of Elba, who has been manager<br />
of the theatre there for 16 years, believes<br />
in down to earth showmanship. He says that<br />
a manager has to meet and mingle with his<br />
patrons and, with his charming personality,<br />
this policy has meant success for his theatre.<br />
Roberts promised lots of good fishing the<br />
next time we're down his way.<br />
* * *<br />
Owners of the new Dixieland Drive-In, Opp,<br />
were taking a personal interest in the completion<br />
of the ozoner, which is open and playing<br />
to a very nice house. They were anxious<br />
to get the airer completed, as they lacked<br />
driveway lighting and a few other minor details.<br />
At the Opp Drive-In, which also is under<br />
construction, George Owens was supervising<br />
construction and said he hoped to have the<br />
350-car situation open by June 15. He has a<br />
concrete patio in front of the concessions<br />
stand. The ozoner will be equipped with<br />
Wenzel projectors. Strong lamps and DIT-<br />
MCO speakers. The drive-in is located at the<br />
Opp city limits.<br />
No one was around at the Midway Drivein,<br />
but the drive-in looked clean and well<br />
kept.<br />
* •<br />
Jules Stidstill, assistant manager of the<br />
Martin Theatre, greeted me at Andalusia.<br />
Manager Owen Lawson was in Atlanta on a<br />
business trip. Eai-1 Hallford, manager of the<br />
Ritz, came over, and they told me of some<br />
of the goodwill they built recently when<br />
they hosted local Four-H clubs to programs,<br />
which included speakers on stage and "Green<br />
Promise" on the screen. They said R. E. Martin,<br />
county agent, was pleased with the program.<br />
The theatres also recently screened<br />
HART BEATS<br />
In Alabama<br />
Six-year-old Shirley Ann Coburn,<br />
daughter of George R. Coburn, manager<br />
of the Prattmont Drive-In, Prattville,<br />
Ala., spends many of her free hours at<br />
the drive-in helping her dad with his<br />
chores. Here she poses on her father's<br />
knee for a photograph for BOXOFFICE<br />
representative Harry Hart.<br />
the cancer film, "Self Examination," with<br />
three performances for women and three performances<br />
for men.<br />
Attendance is being upped at Luverne,<br />
Manager J. A. Richardson said, by Jackpot<br />
Quiz night, which is held every Tuesday night.<br />
The beautifully landscaped Crenshaw Drive-<br />
In has been doing fair business since its opening<br />
Christmas eve. Manager Mack Clark<br />
had his maintenance man sprinkling and<br />
trimming flowers at the airer, which was neat<br />
and clean.<br />
* * »<br />
The Prattmont Drive-In, which we approached<br />
just before sunset, was surrounded<br />
by fields of Autauga crimson reseeding clover<br />
in full bloom. The field made a lovely setting<br />
for the drive-in. Manager George R.<br />
Coburn said that a clover tour was started<br />
from the drive-in April 17 and that many<br />
notables were there as well as editors of farm<br />
papers. The fields do not belong to the<br />
drive-in, but the theatre is very proud of<br />
them, since they add such beauty to the setting.<br />
Coburn was getting ready for the first stage<br />
show this year. It is the policy of the theatre<br />
to have stage shows or local talent shows<br />
at least once a month during the summer.<br />
The first one was billed for April 30 and<br />
starred Uncle Bob Hilton and his radio cowboys.<br />
The theatre has an unusual midnight show<br />
policy. Patrons who have paid to see the<br />
earlier shows may stay without extra charge<br />
for the Saturday midnight feature. Coburn<br />
plays a double feature every Wednesday.<br />
Coburn, who has had a great deal of experience<br />
in chemical research, has developed<br />
a chemical coating which will prevent the<br />
cone of the speaker from being shorttd out<br />
by water. The coating completely waterproofs,<br />
the speakers and also restore.s life to<br />
hardened fabrics. He says It is much better<br />
to waterproof the speakers when they are<br />
new, because once the cones become warped,<br />
it Is difficult to get them In line again. His<br />
experiments have proved successful, he .says.<br />
His speaker cones have been treated for more<br />
than a year, but none of them have given<br />
him any trouble from dampne.ss.<br />
0. W. Wade was in the midst of remodeling<br />
the old Wadsonian Theatre at Clanton<br />
in central Alabama. The theatre will be a<br />
Spanish-type front, new seats,<br />
beauty with its<br />
new .screen, draperies, fireproof booth of concrete<br />
and brick and a balcony enlarged from<br />
50 to 210 seats. Ten feet ha.s been added all<br />
the way around- the downstairs of the theatre<br />
and restrooms have been redesigned. A new<br />
concession stand is being installed and new<br />
offices are placed downstairs. The theatre<br />
is expected to reopen for full-time business<br />
about June 10.<br />
SPACARB AUTOMATIC DRTHK MACHINZS-<br />
.MINIATUHE TRAINS<br />
P-o-i AL9595 ' POJo» i80 ATLANTA. G*<br />
SNOW CONE S, ICE CREAM ITOITS<br />
"DUtiibuton ol Recrtation and Rtfrtthment E^tfinwtt tn i)ic Souik" —^<br />
SPEED SALES WITH<br />
REX<br />
NOISELESS BAGS<br />
from<br />
Roy Smith<br />
Jacksonville Popcorn & Candy Co.<br />
p. 0. Box 2646 Jacksonville, Flo.<br />
SPECIAL TRRILERS<br />
Qualify & Service<br />
Serving theatres in the South for 31 yean.<br />
12 cents per word<br />
Lowest tost anywhere<br />
Co<br />
220 Pharr Rood, N. E. Aflonta<br />
Strickland Film<br />
FOR ALL YOUR THEATRE NEEDS<br />
BRADY MOVIE SERVICE<br />
308 N. 26th Street, Birminghom, Ala.<br />
DeVfy and Other Drive-In Equipment<br />
Complete 16mm Film Library<br />
16inm Equipment & Supplies 35nim<br />
BOXOFTICE May 3, 1952 71
MIAMI<br />
•Television viewing probably reached a high<br />
here, when an on-the-spot telecast was<br />
made of a man teetering on the edge of a<br />
downtown hotel roof and threatening to jump.<br />
After two hours the would-be suicide was<br />
grabbed by firemen who pulled him to safety<br />
In full view of local TV watchers . . . That<br />
televlson is making no inroads on drive-in<br />
theatres, seems to be evidenced by the many<br />
new such theatres which are being planned<br />
all over Florida. Towns soon to liave new<br />
open-air houses are Sarasota, Tarpon Springs.<br />
Eau Gallie, Palmetto. Avon Park. Merritt<br />
Island. Jack-sonville. Starke and Auburndale.<br />
Lizabeth Scott made personal appearances<br />
at Florida State's Olympia and Beach theatres<br />
where "Red Mountain" had its world<br />
premiere. The result, according to Al Wilkie.<br />
was very nice business . . . Tlie Florida Theatre<br />
is making every effort to locate the camera<br />
which was lost or stolen there on Easter<br />
Sunday. The owner would not ask for the<br />
^--— g.
U<br />
Hoblitzelle to<br />
Get<br />
Good Citizen Honor<br />
HOUSTON—Karl Hoblitzelle, Dallas philanthropist<br />
and founder and president of the<br />
Interstate Theatre circuit, will receive the<br />
National Good Citizenship award of the Sons<br />
citizens,<br />
of the American Revolution when the organization's<br />
62nd annual congress meets here<br />
this month (18-22).<br />
Hoblitzelle. one of the state's best known<br />
has been associated with show business<br />
for almost a half century. He is recognized<br />
as one of the nation's top motion<br />
picture exhibitors and leaders in the industry.<br />
With the Interstate Amusement Co., Hoblitzelle<br />
achieved success as a leading vaudeville<br />
exhibitor when the overnight development<br />
of feature motion pictures necessitated<br />
Interstate to combine movies and vaudeville.<br />
From 1906 to 1930, he kept pace with changing<br />
factors in show business. Then he decided<br />
to retire and he sold his business to<br />
RKO Corp. As a result of the depression in<br />
the early 1930s, Hoblitzelle was asked to take<br />
over the bankrupt properties of RKO and<br />
Paramount in Texas and restore them to a<br />
sound financial condition. The Interstate circuit<br />
was formed and began operation of RKO<br />
and Publix Theatres, including the Majestic<br />
Theatre, which Hoblitzelle built and established<br />
throughout Texas.<br />
His business and civic affiliations are<br />
numerous. He is chairman of the board of<br />
the Republic National bank of Dallas and is<br />
director of the Cosmopolitan Hotel Co., the<br />
Republic Natural Gas Corp. and the Southwestern<br />
Life Insurance Co.<br />
Hoblitzelle is chairman of the Texas Centennial<br />
of Statehood Commission and president<br />
of the Texas Research Foundation. He<br />
is vice-president and chairman of the executive<br />
committee of the Southwestern Medical<br />
Foundation, and a trustee and member of<br />
the executive committee of Southern Methodist<br />
university.<br />
He is a member of the Sons of the American<br />
Revolution and a honorary member of<br />
the Sons of the Republic of Texas.<br />
Open Sunset at Decatur<br />
In Dedication Ceremony<br />
DECATUR, TEX.—The new Sunset Drivein<br />
was formally opened with a short dedicatory<br />
ceremony and a full "house." Mayor<br />
W. B. Woodruff spoke over the loudspeaker<br />
system and congratulated the company for<br />
building the theatre and its place in the<br />
entertainment program of Wise county. Manager<br />
Jim Miller added a few words of thanks<br />
for the splendid reception of the ozoner by<br />
people of the county.<br />
For the present, the drive-in is on a Friday<br />
through Monday policy. The snack bar is<br />
housed in the projection building.<br />
20th's 'Pride of St. Louis'<br />
Safe on First at Dallas<br />
DALLAS—Only three grosses were available<br />
this week and, of them, "The Pride of<br />
St. Louis" showed the most strength at the<br />
boxoffice.<br />
Mojestic The Pride of St. Louis (20th-Fox) 90<br />
Paloce The River ( A) 75<br />
Tower Just This Once (MGM) 75<br />
The need for copper is drostic—sove drippings.<br />
Two Speakers Are Added<br />
For COMPO Conference<br />
SANTONE VISITOKS—Aldo Ray, star<br />
of "The Marrying Kind," left, and Harry<br />
McVVilliams, Columbia exploitation manager,<br />
right, visited San Antonio recently<br />
and met with Frank Starz, Interstate<br />
Theatres advertising manager, and Jack<br />
Chalman, the circuit's local ad chief.<br />
Week of Celebration Set<br />
For Snyder, Tex., Airer<br />
SNYDER, TEX. — "Mom" Kearley has arranged<br />
a big second anniversary week-long<br />
celebration for local citizens at her Canyon<br />
Drive-In here. One of the biggest theatre<br />
promotions ever to be staged here, the program<br />
will begin on Mother's day May U and<br />
end Saturday (17).<br />
On Sunday a free flower will be given to<br />
each woman attending the drive-in. Monday,<br />
women will be admitted free when accompanied<br />
by a man. Tuesday night, men<br />
will be admitted free if accompanied by a<br />
woman. Wednesday night is driver's night<br />
when the car driver will be admitted free.<br />
Thursday night free anniversary money will<br />
be given away, good for 10 cents at the snack<br />
bar on either Thursday, Friday or Saturday.<br />
Friday night free popcorn will be given to<br />
each person making a purchase at the snack<br />
bar.<br />
Many gifts will be distributed Saturday<br />
night. Ticket stubs during the week will be<br />
saved and brought to the snack bar Saturday<br />
night for the free gifts.<br />
Cecelia McMahan Named<br />
Manager of Whitney<br />
WHITNEY, TEX.—Cecelia McMahan is the<br />
new manager of the Whitney Theatre, succeeding<br />
Bob Busby. She has been employed<br />
there the past eight years, starting at the<br />
concession stand and working up to assistant<br />
cashier, cashier and now- her present stint.<br />
L. B. Crow of Dallas, owner of the theatre,<br />
made several promotions of other Whitney<br />
young people at the same time. Danny Shaw<br />
was named chief projectionist and assistant<br />
manager. He has been employed at the house<br />
four years, three of them as projectionist.<br />
Frankie Murphy will be in charge of concessions<br />
and assistant cashier, assistant at the<br />
conce.ssion by Orlis Penny. Jimmy Cornelius<br />
will be relief projectionist.<br />
DALLAS—Executives of Texas COMPO<br />
Showmen this week completad additional<br />
plans for the forthcoming conference of Texas<br />
COMPO Showmen to be held here June 10, 11.<br />
Paul Short, division manager for National<br />
Screen, and Alfred Delcambre, special repre-<br />
.sentalive, returned from the state capital In<br />
Austin where they made arrangements for<br />
two conference speakers.<br />
They arranged for Dr. Billy Graham, 32-<br />
year-old evangelist, to speak at the Adolphus<br />
hotel here June 10 at U a. m. Graham will<br />
remain for the special luncheon following his<br />
addre-ss.<br />
Gov. Allan Shivers also will speak at one<br />
of the special luncheons, and Attorney General<br />
Price Daniel also has accepted an invitation<br />
to speak at the conference.<br />
Short and Delcambre attended the meeting<br />
in Austin at which Dr. Graham spoke before<br />
some estimated 35,000 pensons on the capitol<br />
grounds. They also attended the press conference<br />
in the Presidential suite of the Commodore<br />
Perry hotel, which followed Graham's<br />
address.<br />
Short spent Saturday morning with the<br />
governor and assisted Wick Fowler, executive<br />
assistant to the governor, in arranging for<br />
the chief executive's talk at the conference.<br />
He later conferred with Jerry Bevans, executive<br />
aid to Dr. Graham.<br />
"It was a most thrilling experience," Short<br />
said, "to hear Dr. Graham on the capitol<br />
grounds with the governor, attorney general,<br />
secretary of state, chancellor of the university,<br />
supreme court judges of Texas and more than<br />
100 state dignitaries listening with inspired<br />
attention."<br />
Short and Delcambre flew back to Dallas<br />
Sunday afternoon with Graham, who then<br />
went on to Los Angeles.<br />
Spindletop at Beaumont<br />
Becomes All-Negro Airer<br />
BEAUMONT, TEX.—The Individuals who<br />
were negotiating a long-term lease on the<br />
Spindletop Drive-In as a Negro theatre, as<br />
reported in BOXOFFICE last week, have successfully<br />
completed their deal and the situation<br />
was reopened. The ozoner on the Port<br />
Arthur road will be operated henceforth as<br />
an all-Negro theatre. A new company was<br />
set up, the Quid Corp. of Beaumont, operators,<br />
with the following as officers: Jack Dahmer,<br />
president, and Robert H. Park, secretary-treasurer.<br />
Max Wertheim is a director.<br />
The 450-car theatre, built in 1950 by Dr.<br />
Garland Swartz of Wichita Falls, was closed<br />
about three weeks while extensive repairs<br />
were made. The Spindletop now compares<br />
favorably with any in the area in size, equipment<br />
and quality of product. The Quid Corp.<br />
acquired a lea.se on the theatre from Dr.<br />
Swartz and a sublease on the property on<br />
which it is built. This was leased by Dr.<br />
Swartz from P. F. Hammons sr. of Beaumont,<br />
owner.<br />
J. D. McCain Opens Hi-Ho<br />
SPUR. TEX.— J. D. McCain, manager of<br />
the Palace and Spur theatres, has formally<br />
opened the new Hi-Ho Drive-In.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 sw 73
Majestic's 31st<br />
Birthday<br />
Karl Hoblitzelle (K). Interstate's president<br />
and Bob O'Donnell engage in some fond<br />
reminiscences of early show business for tlie<br />
Majestic patrons.<br />
Observed in<br />
DALLAS—A spontaneous feeling of goodwill<br />
and a festive atmosphere that literally<br />
crackled through the capacity audience<br />
marked the gala thirty-first anniversary celebration<br />
Thursday evening (24) of the Majestic<br />
Theatre in Dallas, flagship of the<br />
Interstate circuit.<br />
Unequalled in Southwestern theatrical history,<br />
the one-performance, three-hour stageand-screen<br />
program was attended by longtime<br />
loyal Majestic pati'ons, including leading<br />
merchants, bankers, oil men and the<br />
young and the old. Introduced from the audience<br />
was a couple, Mr. and Mrs. D. D.<br />
Dunning of nearby Arlington, Tex., who have<br />
attended either the Majestic in Dallas or Fort<br />
Worth on every wedding anniversary since<br />
the theatres were opened.<br />
The traditional red carpet was rolled out<br />
on the Majestic lobby floor and a two-block<br />
long line of patrons began forming as early<br />
Veterans help greet patrons in the<br />
lobby. L to R: Jake Elder, construction<br />
chief; P. K. Johnson, head<br />
booker; E. J. Solon, secretary-treasurer;<br />
Charles J. Freeman, veteran<br />
stage show booker.<br />
Great Style<br />
as 6 p. m. for the 8:15 show.<br />
While revolving searchlights pierced the sky<br />
and newsreel cameramen photographed the<br />
event. Interstate officials formed a welcoming<br />
line in the lobby and foyer to welcome the<br />
patroas. With Circuit President Karl Hoblitzelle<br />
and R. J. O'Donnell. vice-president and<br />
general manager, were Raymond Willie, assistant<br />
general manager who was in charge<br />
of the celebration and responsible for its<br />
planning; E. J. Solon, the circuit's secretary<br />
and treasurer; Charles J. Freeman, veteran<br />
Interstate stage sliow booker; Frank O. Starz,<br />
publicity and advertising chief; James O.<br />
Cherry, theatre city manager; Ted DeBoer,<br />
treasurer-controller; P. K. Johnston, head<br />
booker, and Jake Elder, in charge of the<br />
construction department.<br />
Dozens of baskets of flowers were banked<br />
along the theatre's walls, sent by friends of<br />
Mr. Hoblitzelle, a pioneer Texas showman who<br />
opened the first Majestic in Dallas in 1905.<br />
And on a huge display board in the lobby<br />
were telegrams from scores of well-wishers.<br />
The celebration gave the patrons something<br />
of the past, present and future. It brought<br />
the sentimental trimmings of yesteryear in<br />
duplicating the features of the original opening.<br />
The modern touch was supplied with the<br />
presence of some of today's Hollywood stars<br />
Rory Calhoun, co-star with Susan Hayward<br />
in "With a Song in My Heart," which was the<br />
evening's screen attraction; Robert Mitchum,<br />
William and Lucille Demarest, Lita Baron<br />
(Mrs. Calhoun) and Billy Daniel, who staged<br />
the dances in the film of Jane Froman's life.<br />
With Hyman Charninsky conducting a 20-<br />
piece pit orchestra, the program was opened<br />
with the national anthem, followed by an<br />
overture of a medley of tunes from "With<br />
a Song in My Heart." While the orchestra<br />
played "Moonlight and Roses," the audience<br />
was showered with rose petals dropped from<br />
the auditorium ceiling. This was a reenactment<br />
of an episode in the theatre's original<br />
opening festivities, and was given an<br />
added touch by rose perfume which permeated<br />
the air thi-ough the cooling system.<br />
Entertainers for tlie evtning included<br />
Lita Baron, who is wife of Rory Calhoun,<br />
and Billy Daniel, dance director, who<br />
created the dances in "With a. Song in<br />
My Heart," the picture of the evening.<br />
Rory Calhoun stars in the film and he<br />
was on hand, too.<br />
74<br />
The line of patrons formed at the Majestic three hours before showtime.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
Tent 17 Distributes<br />
Tickets for Derby<br />
DALLAS—The Variety Club passed out<br />
tickets April 28 for the 13th annual Variety<br />
Club turtle derby, which will be held at the<br />
Fair Park ice arena September 6. C. A.<br />
Dolsen, chief barker, emphasized: "As you<br />
for without them we<br />
know, this is the club's only means of raising<br />
funds to support our famous Variety Club<br />
Boys Ranch.<br />
"The building program at the ranch is complete.<br />
We now have 78 homeless and abandoned<br />
boys there who are on the right road<br />
to useful citizenship. In the future we must<br />
exert every effort—regular and associate<br />
membership— to make it a greater Boys<br />
Ranch.<br />
"The associate membership of Tent 17 can<br />
justly be proud of the part they have contributed<br />
over the years,<br />
could not have a Boys Ranch. You are to be<br />
commended for having a part in this fine<br />
work.<br />
"This is your club and we are doing a great<br />
service for humanity, so please sell those<br />
turtles and make it an even greater Boys<br />
Ranch."<br />
The title,<br />
"How High Is Up?" a Monogram<br />
film, has been changed to "The Problem Is<br />
Love."<br />
ONLY<br />
jj] rn u t) /I f] p }]<br />
!/3 to Vi THE COST OF OTHERS<br />
Bright, Clear, Full Screen Pictures Of Any Size Up<br />
To 24 Feet Wide At Any Throw Up To 150 Feet!<br />
HOT DOG, HAMBURGER AND<br />
SANDWICH BAGS<br />
DRIVE-IN DISPOSABLE<br />
PAPERBOARD TRAYS<br />
..o«<br />
opeB^T>Na<br />
ano<br />
COSTS'. ^^ ,/l<br />
,.^-^o'* SYSTEMS'.<br />
'=°!,?R<br />
AUTOMATIC POPCORN CARTONS<br />
S^<br />
RUSH HOUR POPCORN<br />
GOLDEN HULLESS POPCORN<br />
SILVER HULLESS POPCORN<br />
NOISELESS POPCORN BAGS<br />
llONlST- ""<br />
H<br />
, \N- M<br />
.« SUPEB^'5'°''' "; sEBVlCi .BVICE<br />
>LACE-<br />
P^Rf S. v-<br />
NIENT WENT-""-<br />
__. iv/CRY.<br />
Price list upon request. Also samples.<br />
PRUNTY POPCORN DIVISION<br />
620 N. 2nd St., SI. Louis 2. Mo.<br />
Popcorn Processors—In Our 77th Year.<br />
^B\HSpH .j\JRW
Mr.<br />
. . Harold<br />
. . Wallace<br />
. . Two<br />
ADDRESSES BUSINESSMEN—Wallace B. Blankenship, president of Wallace<br />
Theatres. Inc., is shown here addressing a group of businessmen at Levelland, Tex.<br />
The occasion was a visit by Leroy Bicltel, IHGM manager in Dallas. Bickel acted as<br />
representative for the Texas COIVIPO Showmen at the event. Shown at the head<br />
table, left to right: Fred Gillam, Jeff Hardin, Blankenship, Fred Bacher, Leroy<br />
Bickel and Jim<br />
DALLAS<br />
Peeler.<br />
T M. "Jinimie" Leftwich, Dallas, and Gilbert which was served to about 80 persons. The<br />
M. May, Miami, of Tag night were on affair was so successful that plans are afoot<br />
Filmrow talking to exhibitors of drive-in theatres<br />
about the copyrighted boxoffice stimu-<br />
to make this a monthly gathering.<br />
Mrs. T. J. Guinan, Tower Pictures, visited<br />
lant . . . Phil Isley and his wife left Monday<br />
(28) on a motor trip to California. He<br />
Oklahoma City recently . . . Jack Arthur and<br />
his son of the Majestic Theatre, Stephenville,<br />
was given a big send-off by Kyle Rorex, ex-<br />
spent several days on Filmrow . . . Jerry<br />
ecutive chairman of Texas COMPO Showmen,<br />
and assigned to serve as "special ambassador"<br />
on the west coast for the forthcoming Texas<br />
COMPO conference June 9-11. Isley has been<br />
invited to be the guest of MGM at .special<br />
screenings and tour of the MGM studio May<br />
8-10 with .some 100 other exhibitors.<br />
United Theatres: H. J.<br />
Other Texas exhibitors who will be the<br />
guests of MGM May 8-10 are Robert J. O'Donnell.<br />
Interstate Theatres: Julius Gordon, Jefferson<br />
Amusement Co.; Ed Rowley, Rowley<br />
Griffith, Theatre Enterprises,<br />
and Claude Ezell, Ezell & Associates<br />
. . . Esther Williams will be in Dallas May<br />
27, Fort Worth the 28th and Houston the<br />
29th on the exploitation of MGM's "Skirts<br />
Ahoy." Fashion shows will also be held featuring<br />
bathing suits made by the Cole Co.,<br />
in which Esther is a stockholder.<br />
Gladys Hughes and Leona Adams, operators<br />
of the Filmrow cafe, played hosts at a<br />
Filmrow get-together Monday evening (28).<br />
Several bookers and exchange personnel<br />
spread the word around the Row and sold<br />
SI<br />
tickets for refreshments and a fish dinner,<br />
Dykstra, son-in-law of Roy Brockman, was<br />
killed in an automobile accident in a driving<br />
rain Just one block from his home in Mc-<br />
Kinney. Dykstra had been manager of the<br />
McKinney Drive-In for several years.<br />
The international convention of Circus<br />
Fans will meet in Gainesville, Tex., next week<br />
in connection with the Gainesville Community<br />
Circus. Cecil B. DeMille has been invited<br />
and the convention hosts will give him a special<br />
scroll in appreciation of his "The Greatest<br />
Show on Earth" . Schwarz,<br />
Tower Pictures, conducted the bingo games<br />
at the Variety Club last week.<br />
MGM staffers will go to Chicago May 19-21<br />
for the Seeing Is Believing, midwest and<br />
southwest division sales meetings. John Allen,<br />
Leroy Bickel, Louis Weber. V. L. Smith, Bob<br />
Davis, Roland Taylor, Ed Brinn, Bob Jones,<br />
E. B. Coleman and Raymond Willie jr. will<br />
make up the local delegation.<br />
Mrs. C. W. Matson, Dixie, Rockdale, who<br />
was in a serious automobile accident several<br />
weeks ago, has returned home from the hospital<br />
and will rest several more weeks.<br />
Hugo Plath, Claude Eaell & Associates,<br />
spent several days in Port Arthur, supervising<br />
arrangements for adding another ramp<br />
at the Surf Drive-In .<br />
Walthall,<br />
home office representative for National<br />
Screen Service, was visited here by his<br />
nephew Jachs Walthall, whom he had not<br />
seen since the end of World War II. Jachs<br />
was in Texas to visit his brother, the Rev.<br />
William Shelby Walthall, Episcopal minister<br />
in Denton.<br />
Seen along Filmrow were Mrs. Ralph Donnell.<br />
Texas, St. Jo; Walker Royal, Carthage;<br />
Foy Arrington, Kay, Rockdale; Hulda Silvernail,<br />
Coronet, Dallas; Mrs. Raymond Cornes,<br />
Cornes, Farmersville ; and Mrs. H. C.<br />
Rainey. Rainey Drive-In, Blackwell: H. J.<br />
Robin.son, Texas, Sanger; Will M. Wade and<br />
his son Augus, San Augustine, and E. Abraham,<br />
Bronco Drive-In, Ysleta.<br />
Bill Williams, office manager, and Bessie<br />
Buchanan, both of 20th-Fox, were married<br />
Friday (25) at St. Matthews Episcopal<br />
cathedral in Dallas, They left for their<br />
honeymoon in New Orleans . . . Paul Wilson,<br />
assistant division manager, 20th-Fox, Atlanta,<br />
spent several days at the Dallas exchange.<br />
Mark Sheridan, branch manager, announced<br />
that .several new employes had joined 20th-<br />
Fox. They are Jane Umphress, accounting<br />
department; Loui.se Hall, general clerk; Louise<br />
Bufford, stenographer, and Pauline Kalligas,<br />
telephone operator . new girls have<br />
joined the staff of National Theatre Supplay.<br />
They are Willie Burnett, clerk, and<br />
Margaret Martin bookkeeper.<br />
Two COMPO Speakers<br />
Address Civic Clubs<br />
DALLAS — Two speakers from the Texas<br />
COMPO Showmen speakers bureau this week<br />
made appearances before civic clubs in Texas.<br />
L. E. "Eddie" Forester, director of advertising<br />
and publicity for Theatre Enterprises, spoke<br />
before the Kiwanis club at Uvalde under<br />
sponsorship of Gene Haubner, manager of<br />
Jack Pickens Theatres, Inc.<br />
Club members were urged in advance publicity<br />
to invite as many guests as they cared<br />
to, since the Pickens Theatres would pay the<br />
luncheon checks for all guests. The large<br />
gathering heard Forester describe the three<br />
major phases of the film industry, production,<br />
distribution and exhibition, stressing the<br />
importance of each branch to the over-all<br />
successful operation of show business.<br />
Meantime, Leroy Bickel, MGM, addressed a<br />
meeting of Athens Rotarians, emphasizing<br />
the fact that the theatre has had a strong<br />
influence on the moral and economic life of<br />
America in the last 50 years.<br />
"Movies have been used to stir up the<br />
American spirit since the first 'Battle Cry of<br />
Peace' warned the nation against the threat<br />
of Kaiserism. Today, many motion pictures<br />
warn of the dangers of Communism and keep<br />
Americans alert to the other pitfalls of<br />
troublesome times."<br />
Bickel said the thousands of theatres in<br />
the nation are an asset to the economic life<br />
of their various communities. He pointed out,<br />
as an example, that one theatre was closed<br />
for six weeks following a fire and that merchants<br />
experienced a noticeable decline in<br />
business.<br />
Westerns-Features-Serials<br />
Tower Pictures Co.<br />
HAROLD SCHWARZ<br />
302 S. Harwood St. Dallas I. Texas<br />
Phone RA-773S<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
Larocst coverage in U.S. No "Net" listinos<br />
Highest reputation for know-hoi*<br />
and fair dealing. 30 years experience incliidiiig<br />
exhibition. Ask Better Business Bureau,<br />
or our customers. Know your broker<br />
ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists<br />
3305 Carutli. Dallas. Texas<br />
Telephones: EM 0238 - EM TJSg<br />
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED<br />
7G BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952<br />
|
. . . Corpus<br />
M. J. Mullin Receives<br />
Variety Great Heart<br />
From New England Edition<br />
BOSTON—Martin J. Mullin, president of<br />
New England Theatres, was the recipient<br />
of the Great Heart award, pre.sentcd each<br />
year by the Variety Club of New England to<br />
the individual doing (he greatest amount of<br />
good for the greatest number of people. Chief<br />
Barker Walter A. Brown made the presentation<br />
at the directors meeting of the Variety<br />
Club of New England April 7.<br />
Mullin, who is president of the Children's<br />
Cancer Research Foundation and in the forefront<br />
of all industry activities here, entered<br />
the industry in 1916 when a boy as an employe<br />
of the Triangle Distributing Co. in New York.<br />
In 1918 he moved to Atlanta, Ga.. to join<br />
Southern Enterprises, which operated 100 theatres<br />
throughout the soutli, and remained<br />
there until 1925 when he was called to New<br />
York to a position as director of maintenance<br />
of 1,500 Paramount theatres in the United<br />
States. In 1929 he was elevated to tlie presidency<br />
of Northwestern Theatres Corp. in<br />
Minneapolis, where he stayed until 1933. With<br />
Samuel Plnanski he organized the Mullin &<br />
Ftoanski Theatres Corp. Tliree years ago he<br />
assumed the presidency of New England Theatres,<br />
Inc.<br />
FOUNDED IN 1948<br />
In 1948, the Variety Club of New England<br />
founded the Children's Cancer Research<br />
Foundation and later joined with the Boston<br />
Braves Baseball club and the motion picture<br />
industry and private philanthropists to support<br />
the foundation. With Mullin as president,<br />
the foundation has grown rapidly in the<br />
past four years. The new Jimmy fund building,<br />
which was dedicated in January of this<br />
year, houses the clinic for children suffering<br />
from advanced cancer and the research department<br />
which seeks new methods for treating<br />
this disease in children.<br />
Three years ago Mullin. with Louis Perini,<br />
president of the Boston Braves, assumed the<br />
co-chairmanship of the annual Jimmy fund<br />
drive to obtain funds for the support of the<br />
foundation and to pay for the construction<br />
and maintenance of the Jimmy building. He<br />
traveled extensively throughout New EIngland<br />
during the three drives to supervise the collections.<br />
The foundation has raised more than<br />
$1,100,000 in the three campaigns, much of it<br />
in small change donated by children,<br />
JOY IN HIS SERVICE<br />
Mullin, who resides with his wife and two<br />
sons in Waban, Mass., has achieved a great<br />
personal satisfaction in the realization that<br />
he has been able to be of service in the tremendous<br />
project to stamp out cancer in children.<br />
"Cancer in children is everybody's business,"<br />
he said, "so there is nothing mysterious as to<br />
why we are vitally Interested. We are looking<br />
forward to alleviating the suffering of innocent<br />
children without thought of geographical<br />
boundaries, race,<br />
color or creed."<br />
CORPUS CHRISTI Houslon Theatres Win<br />
T D. Wolf, manager of Ezell & Associates'<br />
Gulf Drivc-In, was the first to use the<br />
Caitoon Festival idea. Local ozoners are really<br />
pai'king in the customers now on the nights<br />
when they book the five to eight cartoons In<br />
place of a .second feature. John Blocker's<br />
Twin Palms, just recently opened here, always<br />
shows four color cartoons on every program<br />
Christi Theatres, Inc., which has<br />
been closed for complete renovation, now ha.s<br />
this new information on their marquee— It<br />
Won't Be Long Now.<br />
The Boulevard Drive-In has been handing<br />
patrons a copy of Hollywood Digest, which<br />
advertises the film, "Street Corner," scheduled<br />
to show here April 29, 30 and May 1.<br />
Curtis Hayes, social hygiene commentator,<br />
was on hand to answer questions ... A<br />
would-be safecracker failed in an attempt to<br />
open a safe at the Melba Theatre. He settled<br />
for an undetermined amount of money<br />
from the candy machine.<br />
"Sky Full of Moon," an original screenplay<br />
by Norman Foster, was acquired and assigned<br />
to Sidney Franklin jr. to produce for MGM<br />
release.<br />
Ad Rate Reductions<br />
HOUSTO.N The coinmillee repii-Miitii;<br />
.<br />
the Theatre Managers Ass'n of Houston, following<br />
a series of conferences with three local<br />
dally newspapers, have been granted advertising<br />
rate reductions.<br />
The Houston Post and Hou.ston Press reduced<br />
suburban theatre rates \2''j per cent to<br />
17 per cent, depending upon the linage u.sed<br />
Houston Chronicle has killed the upped<br />
amu.sement rate for downtown and suburban<br />
theatres and substituted the regular local contract<br />
retail rate. This repre.sents a decrease of<br />
approximately 40 per cent.<br />
Conrad Brady, publicity director Houston<br />
Interstate Theatres, announced the reductions.<br />
Altec Reopens Atlanta<br />
NEW YORK—Altec Service Corp.. has reopened<br />
its southern division office in Atlanta<br />
with M. G. Thomas as division manager, according<br />
to H. M. Bessey, executive vice-president,<br />
because of constantly increasing business<br />
from this area. Bruce Newborn, Atlanta<br />
branch manager, and E. C. Lyman, Nashville<br />
branch manager, will assist Thomas.<br />
We Ain't Just Brogg/n'<br />
We actually do have the<br />
MOST COMPLETE LINE<br />
of<br />
CONCESSION SUPPLIES<br />
and<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Write for<br />
EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SALES<br />
DARDEN WAREHOUSE, n09 Commertt, Houilon<br />
OKLA. THEATRE SUPPLY CO., 6J9 W. Grond, Oklo. City<br />
SOUTHEASTERN EQUIPMENT CO., JU S. Libtrly, Nt» OtlMiii<br />
In the Southwest.<br />
information today.<br />
CHAS. E. DARDEN & CO.<br />
• 308 S. HARWOOD<br />
,^ • DALLAS, TEXAS ^<br />
* p. O. BOX 2207<br />
PHONE RI-6134<br />
WAREHOUSES<br />
HOUSTON— I 20« C.mm..c«.<br />
lEAUMONI— S50 Mom Simt.<br />
LUIIOCK— I40S Aiiniia A.<br />
312S. Harwood Phone: STerling 3511 Dallas, Texas<br />
It clicks and satisfies . . . That's what counts. You can with confidence play this reissue<br />
with<br />
JAMES CAGNEY - THE GREAT GUY"<br />
A John L. Fronconi Enterprise . . . C. B. (Connie) Drehcr, Branch Manager<br />
BOXOFTICE May 3, 1952 77
. . . D.<br />
. . Garland<br />
^^<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
T\T. Forrest Baker of the Ritz Theatre at<br />
Tahhina is the grandfather of twins, born<br />
to his daughter Martha, the wife of Dr. Paul<br />
Lingenfelter of Clinton. Baker, who heads<br />
the TB sanitarium at Talihina. received a<br />
citation recently for his work on a paper<br />
dealing with TB from the American Medical<br />
Ass'n. He is giving a talk in Chicago at<br />
the medical board meeting and at a Tulsa<br />
medical meeting in the near future . . .<br />
Henry L. Brunk. brother of Sam. who sells<br />
for Paramount, opened his tent show at Boise<br />
City April 30. Sam reported Monday (28)<br />
that Henry called the preceding day to announce<br />
the birth at Boise City of a baby son.<br />
Henry will take his tent show- from Boise<br />
City to Colorado, where it will stay until<br />
Labor day.<br />
John Rowley and Vic Jones of Rowley<br />
United in Dallas were among the trade people<br />
at the industry fishing party April 22. 23<br />
at Lake Murray. Glen Thompson of the city<br />
was chairman of the outing. Also in the<br />
gang on hand were H. S. McMurry. Dumas,<br />
Tex.: Delbert Cummings. Stratford. Tex.: Volney<br />
Hamm. Lawton: Richard Thompson,<br />
Oklahoma City. Cy Thompson and Dr. Forrest<br />
Baker, both of Talihina: Wesley Hodges.<br />
Weatherford: Waite Kerr. Surphur: C. L.<br />
Lance. Ringling: Eb Walker. Lawton: H. B.<br />
Lord, Moore: Ed and Ernest Crew, Waurika:<br />
Lamont King, Marietta; Harry Lawrence,<br />
Madill: Bill Jensen, Wewoka; Howard and<br />
Fred Collier, Hartshorne: O. K. Kemp,<br />
Poteau; Clint Applewhite, Carnegie; H. D.<br />
Cox of Binger and Houston Burns, Apache.<br />
Earl Snyder of Tulsa W'as a Row visitor<br />
. . . Mr.<br />
'<br />
and Mrs. Glen Thompson have<br />
ASTOR<br />
PICIURES COMPHHY<br />
0»H«S<br />
I<br />
Ii««S<br />
,,!,.m1.1.11<br />
Expose*.<br />
ATLARGir<br />
• Olllt lOWKT kH/Ltll SHtW<br />
. . . L. D. Burns is<br />
moved into a new home in Nichols hills, an<br />
exclusive residential area<br />
building a new drive-in at Grandfield and<br />
Mr. and<br />
expects to be operating by June 1 . . .<br />
Mrs. L. B. Zimmerman of the Rex at Leedey<br />
are back from a two-month stay in Arizona<br />
V. Terry of Woodward and Clint<br />
Applewhite of Carnegie are back from Hot<br />
Springs, Ark., and the horse races . . Funeral<br />
.<br />
services for Ray Ru.'ss of Stillwater were held<br />
recently. A longtime theatreman, he owned<br />
the Camera at Stillwater until about a year<br />
ago when he sold to Johnny and Ruby Jones,<br />
Shawnee.<br />
The Joneses recently remodeled the<br />
hou.se and renamed the situation the Crest.<br />
It is now operaing first run.<br />
. . . Mrs.<br />
Buddy Anthony bought the Aline Theatre<br />
in Aline from James Henigman<br />
Opal Gray of Chickasha has opened the<br />
Squaw Drive-In at El Reno after purchasing<br />
same and remodeling and renaming the<br />
ozoner . Wilson of Shattuck will<br />
open a new drive-in May 5 at Shattuck . . .<br />
Ben Adams of the Palace in Sunray, Tex.,<br />
also is opening a new outdoor theatre about<br />
Amos Page of the Rogue in Matador.<br />
May 15 . . .<br />
Tex., will open his new drive-in on June<br />
1 . . . C. H. "Buck" Weaver, chief barker of<br />
Variety Tent 22, and wife went on the Texas<br />
Special to the Variety International parley<br />
in Las Vegas April 28. The Weavers drove<br />
Friday (251 to Amarillo to catch the train.<br />
En route they took Mrs. Weavers' father. Van<br />
Keuren, to Lubbock, Tex., to visit kin while<br />
they were away.<br />
. . . Policemen<br />
Jack Hull's black cocker won a gold trophy<br />
in the Tulsa Kennel club's All-Breed dog<br />
show Sunday (27>. Hull has a booking on<br />
the Oklahoma City Filmrow<br />
here want theatre love-making kept on the<br />
screen, according to a news item in the Daily<br />
Oklahoman, which stated that teenage patrons<br />
in the Plaza Theatre were reprimanded<br />
by police juvenile officers because they attempted<br />
to outdo cinema stars in ardent love<br />
scenes. Three couples were lectured for their<br />
conduct in the show during the past weekend,<br />
the article said. The teenagers were turned<br />
over to their parents. George Grube, manager<br />
of the situation, complained to police<br />
about some couples who attended special matinees.<br />
An officer went to observe, sat through<br />
a performance, then ordered the teenagers to<br />
report to the juvenile department.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Please enter my subscnotion to BOXOFFICE. 52 issues per year (13 ol which conlain<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section).<br />
nS3.00 FOR 1 YEAR D S5.00 FOR 2 'VXARS D S7.00 FOR 3 YEARS<br />
D Remittance Enclosed Q Send Invoice<br />
THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
STATE<br />
POSITION<br />
Henry Griffing, his wife and children,<br />
Linda and Philip, returned from a trip to<br />
Mexico City and Acapulco ... Ed Laird of<br />
United Artists, Dallas, was here to find a<br />
location for the UA booking and sales office<br />
slated to open here soon. He said UA is taking<br />
over the northern Oklahoma area previously<br />
handled out of Kansas City, effective<br />
May 17. Jack Emenhiser, UA salesman, is to<br />
travel west Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle,<br />
according to Laird, who added that<br />
another man, to be named, will cover the city<br />
and eastern Oklahoma area . . . Bill Jones,<br />
Sand Springs, and Eddie Jones, Tulsa, were<br />
recent Row visitors.<br />
C. J. "Jack" Zern, division manager for<br />
Altec, was here for a week to open a branch<br />
office at 706 West Grand. George LeBlanc<br />
will be the manager with Oklahoma, Texas<br />
and New Mexico comprising his territory. J.<br />
A. Webster, who was with Altec in Kansas<br />
City, is to travel LeBlanc's former territory,<br />
central Oklahoma; Pat Transue will travel<br />
western Oklahoma and P. J. Aubry eastern<br />
Oklahoma.<br />
Public Relations Is Based<br />
On Art of Making Friends<br />
ATLANTA — "The good old homespun philosophy<br />
of making friends and keeping<br />
friends" is the fundamental of good public<br />
relations, A. E. Chadick, vice-president of the<br />
Motion Picture Advertising Co. of New Orleans,<br />
recently told exhibitors attending the<br />
Motion Picture Theatre Owners and Operators<br />
of Georgia convention at the Biltmore<br />
hotel here.<br />
"In a program for winning and holding<br />
public goodwill, one should never mistake<br />
publicity for good public or human relations,<br />
or be deceived into a false sense of<br />
security by repeated successes in the exploitation<br />
field. To exploit is one thing. But to<br />
have set up a good public relations campaign<br />
is quite another."<br />
"It is my opinion," Chadick said, "that the<br />
theatre branch of the industry is the cornerstone<br />
on which our industry public relations<br />
must rest."<br />
Good public relations, he said, is nothing<br />
more nor less than good human relations.<br />
When a man has a tendency to good human<br />
relations, it just naturally follows that he<br />
will establish good public relations in his<br />
business.<br />
"If the term 'public relations' is given the<br />
right meaning, it seems simply a matter of<br />
keeping your patrons contented with inviting<br />
comfort, warmly received and appreciated,<br />
pleasant atmosphere, and courteous treatment—where<br />
he will want to come back<br />
again and again.<br />
"An understanding of basic human psychology<br />
by a full knowledge of the fact that the<br />
normal person is motivated by the same natural<br />
impulses, feelings, desires, emotions, that<br />
have always been reacted to; we should use<br />
those same basic fundamentals in our modern<br />
public relations job," Chadick said.<br />
When YOU Need<br />
5pecia(<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good & Fasf<br />
^mnittQ<br />
^CHICAGO, 1327 S. WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
78 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
'Convertible' Theatre<br />
Started at University<br />
CHATTANOOGA—A "convertible" theatre<br />
went under construction during April at the<br />
University of Tennessee. Patrons of the Carousel<br />
Theatre have financed the project.<br />
Architect Frederick Roth of Knoxville drew<br />
up the plans.<br />
Believed to be the first of its kind in the<br />
nation, the building can be transformed from<br />
an open-air theatre in the summer to a<br />
weather-tight auditorium in winter. It will<br />
be octagonal in shape with the roof extending<br />
out over the sides. Its convertibility is<br />
achieved by vertical panels, four feet wide,<br />
easily bolted on in the fall and removed in<br />
the spring. A concrete floor, depressed toward<br />
the center, will serve as foundation for<br />
tiers of seats surrounding the stage. Seats and<br />
stage will be dismountable, making the auditorium<br />
adaptable for stage performances, motion<br />
picture exhibition, concert presentations,<br />
conventions and exhibits.<br />
No Hunger Among Thieves<br />
FORT MYERS. FLA. — Tile Fort Myers<br />
Drive-In was broken into and robbed of $238<br />
in cash and some foodstuff and cigarets.<br />
Thieves got into the office between midnight<br />
and 6:45 a. m., when a bread delivery salesman<br />
discovered the open door. More than 75<br />
packs of cigarets were taken, as well as a few<br />
candy bars, gum and ice cream packs.<br />
Cerebral Palsy Trailer available from May 15 to<br />
July 1.<br />
MACK ENTERPRISES<br />
Present<br />
the Daring Drug Expose<br />
of Shame, Horror and Despair<br />
AWARDED FIRST<br />
'Academy of<br />
PLACE<br />
Profits"<br />
And Soon! Brand New!!<br />
"STRIPTEASE -GIRL"<br />
MACK ENTERPRISES<br />
408 South Harwood<br />
DALLAS, TEXAS<br />
Tributes Paid at Majestic Fete<br />
To Hoblitzelle and O'Donnell<br />
DALLAS—The 31st anniversary of the<br />
opening of the Majestic Theatre here waa<br />
celebrated on April 24 before a packed house.<br />
Film stars Rory Calhoun and Robert<br />
Mitchum added to the gay evening's entertainment,<br />
which climaxed with the showing<br />
of "With a Song in My Heart."<br />
Robert J. O'Donnell was master of ceremonies<br />
and opened the stage ceremony after<br />
preliminary music by Hyman Charninsky and<br />
his orchestra and a shower of rose petals<br />
from the theatre roof.<br />
"It is my privilege," O'Donnell said, "to<br />
bid you welcome 31 years after the original<br />
opening of the Majestic, although I have<br />
been here only 28 of those 31 years."<br />
O'Donnell introduced four members of the<br />
Majestic staff who have been with the theatre<br />
since its opening. They are Arch Mosely<br />
and William Coz, stagehands: Leon Dickson,<br />
stage manager, and Sarah Burton, who sold<br />
the first ticket still is on duty at the Majestic<br />
boxoffice,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Dunning of Arlington were<br />
introduced from the floor as having come to<br />
the theatre every wedding anniversary for 31<br />
of their 33 years of married life.<br />
"We have tried," O'Donnell said, "to make<br />
this and other theatres your amusement home<br />
and available for civic purposes through leaders<br />
in your community. It has been my privilege<br />
and good fortune to have traveled for the<br />
last six years for Variety International and<br />
I want to say that as a citizen of Dallas I<br />
am always accorded a warm welcome."<br />
O'Donnell introduced William McCraw.<br />
"My business is a pleasant one," McCraw<br />
said. "It is to say a few of the many nice<br />
things I know are in the hearts of you people.<br />
Karl Hoblitzelle represents one of the great<br />
citizens of Dallas. I doubt if any one man<br />
has given more unselfishly in almost every<br />
activity where human needs make themselves<br />
felt. He has a great heart. This is an<br />
occasion in which we can take a great deal<br />
of pride.<br />
"Those of you who know' O'Donnell know<br />
that his field of activity is not limited. Bob<br />
O'Donnell knows personalities all over the<br />
U.S. in show business—stars, artisans and<br />
technicians. This is a great industry that has<br />
grown from a mere beginning 50 years ago<br />
to become today the fifth largest industry in<br />
the country. It has grown under the guiding<br />
hand of great hearts and great minds not<br />
unlike Bob O'Donnell and Karl Hoblitzelle.<br />
"In these great theatres you and I see<br />
week in and week out the finest and greatest<br />
entertainment for a mere pittance. This<br />
is a product, not of accident, but of painstaking<br />
labors. Citizens of Dallas and Texas<br />
are deeply proud of Karl Hoblitzelle and Bob<br />
O'Donnell. I hope you will give some careful<br />
thought to what the industry has done. In<br />
time of war it was the greatest contributor<br />
to the war effort. This industry has brought<br />
the finest of entertainment to the crossroads<br />
as well as the big city."<br />
O'Donnell. before introducing Karl Hoblitzelle,<br />
said that in another three years Hoblitzelle<br />
will pass his 50th anniversaxy in the<br />
amusement business.<br />
Hoblitzelle said: "I can't thank you enough<br />
for coming here tonight to help us celebrate<br />
the 31st anniversary of the opening of this<br />
great theatre. It meant a great deal to us,<br />
to Dallas and Texas. It has not been all<br />
sunshine and honey. We have had .some trying<br />
times. This building and the Industry<br />
repre.sents a lot of thought, imagination and<br />
hard work. I am proud to be the symbol of<br />
the organization that made this building and<br />
many others possible in Texas. During that<br />
time we have tried to build up an institution,<br />
not merely an organization for profit only.<br />
We have tried to develop an Institution with<br />
a heart.<br />
"The human side of this enterprise Is much<br />
dearer and means more to me than what we<br />
have been able to accumulate in a material<br />
way. This represents the efforts of a loyal<br />
organization.<br />
"We have not only tried to build theatres<br />
over Texas but have tried at the same time<br />
to build another temple much more expansive<br />
and lasting, namely, a temple in the hearts<br />
of the people of Texas, that our good deeds,<br />
whatever they may be, may bring their just<br />
rewards. An organization does not last long<br />
that does not fill a need.<br />
"Bob joins with me in receiving more satisfaction<br />
and more real pleasure out of the<br />
younger generation coming to take over the<br />
reins and control of this business. It Is<br />
the younger men and women who have the<br />
imagination and enthusiasm and are dedicated<br />
to community service.<br />
"On behalf of thLs organization again,<br />
thank you for coming here tonight. It will<br />
be our aim to try to make this institution<br />
worthy of your continued support."<br />
The guests of the evening were then introduced,<br />
William and Mrs. Demarest, Bob<br />
Mitchum and Rory Calhoun and his wife. Mrs.<br />
Calhoun and Billy Daniel from Fort Worth<br />
gave a series of dance routines which preceded<br />
the showing of the picture "With a<br />
Song in My Heart," in which Rory Calhoun<br />
stars with Susan Hayward.<br />
Alvin Hancock Succeeds<br />
Ed Story at Pulaski<br />
PULASKI. TENN.— Alvin L. Hancock of<br />
Springfield, Tenn., has arrived here to become<br />
manager of the Sam Davis and Best<br />
theatres. He has been employed by Crescent<br />
Amu.sement Co. for about 15 years and has<br />
been a relief manager for the past seven.<br />
Ed Story, who managed the situations the<br />
past four years, left for induction Into the<br />
army at Ft. Jackson, S. C.<br />
Your help apprecioted—run the Cerebral Paljy<br />
trailer. Available from May IS to July 1.<br />
m L«1 OSfTor MB<br />
J COUNTRY<br />
'" PARSON<br />
-mm ii t<br />
Liicicy<br />
JOHN BCAl<br />
"I" •<br />
ASTOR PICTURES<br />
COMPANY<br />
Will *<br />
POOBL-E<br />
HAIWOOO 4 JACIIOM %n<br />
OAlUU • TlKAl<br />
rt»w«t MM<br />
An ASTOR Office in Every Film Center<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 79
. . Eight<br />
. . Louis<br />
. . Ross<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
tirith a Song In My Heart" followed •The<br />
African Queen" into the Majestic Theatre<br />
.. . First runs here during Fiesta week<br />
Included "The Marrying Kind." The Alameda<br />
had the U.S. premiere of "Ella and I." starring<br />
Pedro Armendaj-iz. who was here to appear<br />
in Noche de la Fiesta and the river<br />
pageant .<br />
MGM cartoons augmented<br />
the regular bill at the Varsity Drive-In. It<br />
was termed Cartoon Carnival in keeping with<br />
the fiesta spirit . . . A. G. Benavides of the<br />
FUm Arts exchange says he has acquired 40<br />
new pictures for release.<br />
. . .<br />
Sam Dembow, New York, was in San Antonio<br />
and also made a tour of drive-ins in<br />
south Texas in behalf of COMPO. He was<br />
accompanied by Eph Charninsky, Southern<br />
Theatres Co.. San Antonio, and Claude Ezell<br />
Jorge<br />
and Albert Reynolds. Dallas<br />
Negrete, the Mexican film star, headlined a<br />
stage presentation at the Municipal auditorium<br />
Sunday night . . . "The Greatest Show<br />
on Earth" went into its third week at the<br />
Texas Theatre . A. Stewart, the private<br />
eye, is back from a business trip to south<br />
Texas Santikos, owner of the<br />
.<br />
Olmos, is on his annual visit to Greece and<br />
Italy. Santikos has an interest in a film exchange<br />
at Athens.<br />
. .<br />
Mateo Vela, who is opening his new Iris<br />
at Alice in the near future, was in town booking<br />
Mexican pictures for the new season .<br />
Others here for the same purpose were W. V.<br />
Adwell, owner of the Ozena Theatre at<br />
Ozona: John H. Flache, Alameda, Lamesa;<br />
Mayor T. L. Harville of Orange Grove, operator<br />
of the Star there and the Rio in Alice;<br />
Humberto Gonzalez, Rex, San Ygnacio, and<br />
Rex, Zapata; Eddie Reyna, general manager,<br />
For Your Cortvenience<br />
Frels cn-cuit, Victoria, who was accompanied<br />
by Adolfo Garza, his manager, also of Victoria,<br />
and Matias Reyna. who is reopening<br />
his Reyna Theatre at Three Rivers.<br />
Manager Oliver B. Thomas of the State<br />
Theatre has a "horror film festival" the week<br />
of May 2. Tliese chiller-dillers have been<br />
shown in recent years in many cities to satisfactory<br />
results. Manager Thomas is Karl<br />
Owner-Manager<br />
Hoblitzelle's brother-in-law Tommy Sumners of the Josephine<br />
. . .<br />
brought back the Japanese film "Rasho-Mon"<br />
for a revival showing Sunday (27> . . . It<br />
was estimated that 600,000 people lined the<br />
downtown streets to witne.'-s the Battle of<br />
Flowers parade here Friday (25) . . .<br />
The<br />
Alameda had the only stage show in town.<br />
The Mambo revue featured Maria Antonieta<br />
Pons, Ramon Pereda and ten other acts.<br />
On the screen was "La Reina del Mambo"<br />
(Queen of the Mambo).<br />
Cecil Scott Will Manage<br />
Improved Caprock Airer<br />
SLATON, TEX.—Joe Dennis, manager of<br />
Slatcn Theatres, presented the patrons of<br />
the Caprock Drive-In with an improved theatre<br />
this season when it was reopened recently.<br />
The ozoner will be under the management of<br />
Cecil Scott.<br />
This season the Caprock is featuring its<br />
new concessions, new playground area, ramp<br />
lighting, improved projection and sound and<br />
first run films. Caliche topping on the ramps<br />
and driveways will make all-weather showing<br />
possible. The policy this year will be<br />
four program changes weekly.<br />
WAGNER PLASTIC LETTERS NOW<br />
Available for Immediate Shipment<br />
Dallas<br />
from our<br />
and Houston Stock<br />
Sizes: 4, 8, 10 and 17-inch<br />
Colors; Blue, Green and Red<br />
McLendon Purchases<br />
KLEE at Houston<br />
HOUSTON—B. R. McLendon, owner and<br />
operator of the Tri-State Theatre circuit in<br />
the .southwest, and his Trinity Broadcasting<br />
Corp. have purchased radio station KLEE<br />
here and changed its call letters to KLBS.<br />
McLendon is president of Trinity Broadcasting<br />
Corp., which also owns and operates<br />
KLIP, Dallas, and KELP, El Paso. McLendon<br />
and Trinity purchased the Houston station<br />
from the estate of the late W. Albert Lee for<br />
a price in excess of $300,000.<br />
The station is affiliated with the Liberty<br />
Broadcasting System, which is expected to<br />
move its complete working operation here<br />
early in 1953. McLendon also is father of<br />
Gordon McLendon, president of Liberty<br />
Broadcasting System and one of the top<br />
executives of the Trinity Broadcasting Corp.<br />
The new owners of the radio station are<br />
pictured above being greeted by KLBS receptionist<br />
Helen Jones. Shown, left to right,<br />
are Tom Cavanagh, KLBS station manager;<br />
B. R. McLendon and Ray A. Lewis, general<br />
manager of Trinity Broadcasting.<br />
Cerebral Polsy Troiler available from Moy IS to<br />
July 1.<br />
Punctuation Marks, Numerals and Flexword Frames<br />
Also Available at<br />
SOUTHWESTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
2010 Jackson Street<br />
1622 Austin Street<br />
Dallas, Texas<br />
Houston, Texas<br />
PRospect 3571<br />
CApitol 9906<br />
BUFFALO<br />
COOLING EQUIPMENT<br />
lOth Fl., 2nd Unit, Santa Fe BIdg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas, Tex.<br />
• MACHINE FOLD<br />
• ROLL, SINGLE-DUPLEX<br />
• RESERVED SEAT<br />
• BOOK STRIP<br />
THEATER GIFT COUPON BOOKS<br />
SEASON PASSES — ONE TIME COMPS.<br />
-A&eU-RAGY-<br />
SOUTHWEST TICKET & COUPON CO.<br />
2110 CORINTH ST. • Harwood 7185 DALLAS, TEX<br />
80<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:: May 3, 1952
NORTH CENTRAL ASS'N INVITES<br />
COOPERATION OF NEWSPAPERS<br />
Smart Business to Ally<br />
With Theatres. Avers<br />
President Mann<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — It's economically smart<br />
for newspapers to line up with the theatres:<br />
together they make for a lively Main street<br />
in any town, and a lively Main street creates<br />
good business for both. This message was<br />
delivered by Ted Mann, president, to approximately<br />
150 newspaper editors and publishers<br />
who attended an exhibitor-publisher forum<br />
on the opening day of the annual North Central<br />
Allied convention here Thursday. The<br />
newspaper representatives were guests of the<br />
exhibitors at what probably was the first gettogether<br />
of its kind in the history of the<br />
motion picture business.<br />
Mann stressed the community of interests<br />
existing between newspaper and showhouses,<br />
tossed some bouquets at Hollywood for the<br />
quality of its product, defended the film industry's<br />
loyalty and morality, and pleaded for<br />
balanced judgment in the handling of items<br />
concerning the film industry.<br />
VERY MUCH ALIVE YET<br />
Mann made it clear that motion pictm-e<br />
theatres are still a very much alive corpse,<br />
despite reports to the contrary that might<br />
have been reaching the newspapers, and<br />
exhibitors are determined to keep it that way.<br />
He said exhibitors realize that TV affords<br />
the theatre its stiffest opposition since the<br />
inception of talkies, but they feel confident<br />
that they can emerge victorious.<br />
He told the newspapermen that the exhibitors<br />
want the newspapers on their side in the<br />
fight.<br />
Mann explained in detail how the well<br />
being of the local theatre is to the home town<br />
newspaper's advantage.<br />
"Actually, there are not two businesses in<br />
any town, regardless of size, which have so<br />
much community of interests as the theatre<br />
and new'spaper," said Mann. "Like the newspaper,<br />
the theatre is a medium of information,<br />
education and entertainment. Take<br />
away the theatre and the newspaper from<br />
the average town and its life would be quite<br />
different and much less<br />
interesting.<br />
KEEP MAIN STREET BUSY<br />
"The theatre and the newspaper both make<br />
for a lively Main street in any town and,<br />
likewise, they both depend on a lively Main<br />
street for their economic success. With the<br />
newspaper's help the theatre draws people<br />
to Main street and when people are on Main<br />
street they buy the products of the local<br />
merchants who are advertising in the local<br />
press.<br />
"Stay-at-homes never have been good<br />
spenders. And when trade falls off advertising<br />
dwindles, and you newspaper publishers and<br />
editors know what that means.<br />
"you newspapermen, along with the general<br />
public, might have been led to believe,<br />
erroneously, that the motion picture theatres<br />
are dead or dying. I am. most happy to repeat<br />
to you that the corpse is a very lively one.<br />
Like automobiles, indoor plumbing, and, yes.<br />
lltti<br />
'Bronco' Star Troupe Joins<br />
Flood Relief Drive<br />
OKUWCC<br />
TECHNICOIO<br />
WPEFBOH<br />
The scheduled premiere ot U-I's "Bronco Buster" at the Paramount Theatre in Des<br />
Moines recently was turned into a fund-raising; effort of the Red Cross and the Des<br />
Moines Register for victims of the April floods. The Hollywood players who had come<br />
on to participate in the premiere rolled up their sleeves and "pitched" for relief.<br />
Chill Wills is at the microphone under the marquee making his appeal for donations,<br />
while awaiting their turn are Palmer Lee, Joyce Holden, Mrs. John Lund, Lund, star<br />
of the film, and Hal Belfer. Lower photo shows the visiting actors with a group ot<br />
Tri-States circuit officials. Left to right are Lund, .\. H. Blank, Tri-Sta4es president;<br />
Miss Holden, Lee, Belfer, and Dale MacFarland, Tri-States general manager. Squatting<br />
are Wills and Lou Levy, U-I Des Moines manager.<br />
television, the movies-in-the-theatre are here<br />
to stay. I am sure this will be good news to<br />
you alert newspapermen who have your<br />
towns' w-elfare at heart. You know what it<br />
means to your paper and you know what it<br />
means to your town.<br />
"If the crepe hangers who predict that this<br />
Johnny-come-lately in the entertainment and<br />
advertising field, television, is going to kill<br />
off the theatre are right, the newspapers, too,<br />
are in for serious trouble.<br />
"Let us speculate for a moment on what<br />
might happen to you and the other businessmen<br />
in your town on the day when the theatre<br />
is killeel off and television takes over—<br />
day we are determined shall never come.<br />
Many people would do most of their buying<br />
by telephone because they wouldn't want to<br />
tear themselves away from their sets, and<br />
present experience is that they buy less than<br />
when they come to the stores and the merchants<br />
suffer. Main street might be more<br />
or less deserted and movies, which now are<br />
pure entertainment, would be used as an<br />
adjunct to an advertising medium. The newspaper<br />
would lose its theatre advertising, but<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 NC 81
Allied Parley Asks<br />
Editors' Support<br />
tConiimictl nom preceding page)<br />
it would be expected to carry television timetables<br />
free as a public service.<br />
"Its indicated that as TV expands local<br />
newspapers receive less and less of national<br />
advertiang, the bulk of it being allotted to<br />
the new entertainment medium. They will<br />
keep the accounts of their local merchants,<br />
no doubt, but if business generally suffers<br />
these merchants will have to slash their advertising<br />
appropriations and. also, the local<br />
merchanU will tend more and more to handle<br />
products advertised on television and cut<br />
down on their local advertising.<br />
"The theatre, which serves your community<br />
so well, would be a total loss. It cannot be<br />
easily converted to other u.ses and there will<br />
be no particular point to making a parking<br />
lot out of the property because more people<br />
will be staying at home and there will be no<br />
need for additional parking facilities.<br />
"This is a gloomy and dismal picture for<br />
you, your town and your theatre owner. I<br />
paint it solely to shake you up a bit and<br />
see if I cannot persuade you to become our<br />
ally in this fight.<br />
"I am firmly convinced, and I want to<br />
convince you, that it is to your best interest,<br />
and your town's best interest, to help your<br />
theatre to survive. You need not apologize<br />
for lining up with movies-in-the-theatre. On<br />
the tcore of quality, HoDywood during the<br />
past year has produced more outstanding pictures<br />
than during any similar period in history.<br />
Tlie fact is that movies actually are<br />
better than ever, as the industry has proclaimed."<br />
Mann pointed out there has been much<br />
hullabaloo about Hollywood and communism,<br />
but, actually, communism made little headway<br />
in the movie capital. He called attention<br />
to the fact that movie star George Murphy,<br />
a convention speaker, is a member of tlie<br />
decorating committee for the coming Republican<br />
national convention. He also made clear<br />
that the morais of Hollywood compare favorably<br />
with those of other communities. An<br />
injustice is done when newspapers play up<br />
the minor delinquency of some minor membir<br />
of the industry, inasmuch as little or no<br />
notice is taken when an obscure individual<br />
in some other line of endeavor gets a divorce<br />
or commits a minor offense.<br />
"I am firmly convinced that the interests<br />
of the newspaper and the theatre are in many<br />
respects identical. I trust that out of our<br />
forum's discussions will come ways and means<br />
by which, together, we can protect and promote<br />
our common interests to our mutual<br />
advantage."<br />
Joe Carrier Buys Drayton<br />
House for Son's Future<br />
DRAYTON, N. D.—Paul Ayotte has sold<br />
the Drayton Theatre to Joseph Carrier of<br />
Hallock, who took over active management<br />
in April. Ayotte's plans for the future are<br />
indefinite.<br />
Carrier, who owns the Grand in Hallock,<br />
said he had purchased the local situation for<br />
his son Danny, who graduates from high<br />
school in June, who will manage it while retaining<br />
his residence at the parental home in<br />
Hallock. Films will be booked through the<br />
Grand.<br />
CROWNED QUEEN — Dode Kosiut,<br />
MGM cashier, was unanimously elected<br />
Queen of the Union Pacific Sports club,<br />
one of the leading sports organizations<br />
of Omaha. Miss Kosiut, sparkling-eyed<br />
brunet, was crowned at an elaborate<br />
ceremony at the Livestock Exchange<br />
ballroom. Settings were lavish, part of<br />
those used at the famous Ak-Sar-Ben<br />
ball. The queen, versatile and a star in<br />
golf, tennis, Softball and table tennis, received<br />
a matched rhinestone set of necklace,<br />
earrings and bracelet. The king<br />
was Joe Sanduski.<br />
Mapleton, Iowa, Gave Aid<br />
For Victims of Flood<br />
MAPLETON, IOWA—This<br />
community, although<br />
situated some distance from the recently<br />
rampaging Missouri river, played a large<br />
role in the matter of flood relief for victims<br />
of the disaster. Evacuees were housed and<br />
fed here in great numbers, and their entertainment<br />
was provided by Doc Naulteus,<br />
Mapleton theatre owner. Doc held free shows<br />
each afternoon during the flood crisis. The<br />
special showings were given with the cooperation<br />
of Paramount, 20th-Pox, 'Warners, MGM<br />
and Columbia.<br />
Revisits Home Town<br />
SIOUX CITY, IOWA—A native Sioux<br />
Citian, who has become a star in Hollywood,<br />
paid a five-day visit to her home town last<br />
week. She is Delores Gay, a dancer and a<br />
singer, who was here in connection with the<br />
Sports and Builders show. Miss Gay will be<br />
starred with Gregory Peck in a picture<br />
.soon to be released. She was the first woman<br />
entertainer to reach the front lines in Korea,<br />
having gone there with the Jack Benny troupe.<br />
Miss Gay recounted the following experience<br />
from her Korean tour: "One time when I was<br />
entertaining, a big soldier rose from the audience,<br />
strode down to the stage, swept me into<br />
his arms and gave me a big kiss. 'Remember<br />
me?' he asked. Did I, he was Jack Fitzgerald<br />
of Sioux City who was my childhood sweetheart!"<br />
The River' Back to Minneapolis<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— "The River," which won<br />
much critical acclaim but failed to attract a<br />
heavy gross when it had its initial local run<br />
at the independent 400-seat World at advanced<br />
admissions last year, will get another<br />
downtown whirl. It will go into the Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co.'s 2,300-seat State May 9<br />
at regular 76 cents admission.<br />
Theatre in Dubuque<br />
Is Damaged by Fire<br />
DUBUQUE, IOWA—Fire broke out in the<br />
Varsity Theatre about two hours after it had<br />
been closed Tuesday night. Damage was estimated<br />
at several thousand dollars. One tireman<br />
was overcome by smoke while fighting<br />
the blaze. The flames damaged not only the<br />
stage but the walls and ceiling of the theatre.<br />
The .screen, draperies and curtain were destroyed.<br />
Water damage was considerable and<br />
many seats were ruined. It was thought the<br />
blaze might have been caused by defective<br />
wiring. C. J. O'Rourke, manager, said the<br />
theatre may be closed for as long as three<br />
weeks for repairs.<br />
Breezy Hill Ranch Airer<br />
Opens in Street Parade<br />
FALLS CITY, NEB.—A parade marked the<br />
opening of the Breezy Hill Ranch Drive-In<br />
by Jack Cook, owner. The downtown street<br />
affair was held on a recent Saturday afternoon<br />
while the suburban theatre opened its<br />
gates the next day.<br />
Members of the Falls City Saddle club and<br />
children with ponies took part in the parade,<br />
with $15 first prize money.<br />
mi<br />
Mamie Nelson Opens New<br />
Marcus in Tamarack<br />
TAMARACK, MINN.—Mamie B. Nelson has<br />
opened the new Marcus Theatre. It was<br />
named in memory of her late husband, Marcus<br />
Nelson, pioneer Tamarack merchant, lumberman<br />
and legislator.<br />
Short dedication ceremonies were held at<br />
the afternoon opening, after which a free<br />
showing of "Fort Worth" was given for the<br />
first 300 guests.<br />
Peter Stathis Builds Airer;<br />
New Drive-In Started<br />
SPARTA, 'WIS.-A 400-car drive-in is being<br />
constructed by Peter Stathis on Highway 16<br />
near here. Stathis operates the Sparta and<br />
Classic theatres in this city. The drive-in<br />
will occupy a good part of 39 acres purchased<br />
by Stathis last year.<br />
Christiansons Sell Out<br />
HALSTED, MINN.—After six years of operating<br />
the Woodman Theatre, Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Vernon Christiansen have tm-ned over the<br />
business to Mr. and Mrs. C. J. "Chore" Gilbert<br />
of Valley City, N. D. It will be a move back<br />
home for the Gilberts after seven years in<br />
the Dakota town. The Christiansons have not<br />
yet made definite plans for the future.<br />
Sponsor Free Show Series<br />
RADCLIFFE, IOWA—Twenty-eight Radcliffe<br />
business firms are sponsoring a series<br />
of eight free films to be shown at the Radcliffe<br />
Theatre each Wednesday night.<br />
Things Changed in Los Angeles<br />
Researchers working on Warners' "Man<br />
With a Gun" discovered that in 1850 there<br />
were only three women to every 100 men in<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
82 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . Arden<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
TTnivcrsal and Warner staffs are planning a<br />
program for the visits of screen stars<br />
Piper Laurie, Tony Curtis and Don DeFore.<br />
The event will be the premiere of the film,<br />
"No Room for the Groom," starring Curtis<br />
and Miss Laurie. All proceeds will go to the<br />
American Cancer society drive. Already lined<br />
up is a welcome committee at the railroad<br />
station, reception at the Schroeder hotel, a<br />
parade and plenty of fanfare in front of the<br />
Warner Theatre.<br />
Ben Marcus, S&M Theatres, for the opening<br />
of the drive-ins at Appleton and Oshkosh,<br />
gave every patron a certificate good for two<br />
gallons of gasoline at the Clark stations<br />
Former theatieman from New York,<br />
. . .<br />
Lou<br />
Breyer, is the new salesman at Universal . . .<br />
Booker Bill McFadzen returned from a fishing<br />
trip up the Wolf river, with the largest haul<br />
he ever made.<br />
Bob Guiterman, Manitowoc Capitol and<br />
Mikado theatres, remarked that during Holy<br />
w'eek he played "Calvary" and wound up with<br />
the astonishing boxoffice take of $4,000. He<br />
just returned from Florida and is again adding<br />
stage shows to his regular programs.<br />
Admissions<br />
are 85 cents for adults, 65 cents for<br />
students and 35 cents for the kiddies . . . Also<br />
. . . Al<br />
recently returned from Florida is Irv W.<br />
Heinke, Film Service accountant<br />
Sickles, Film Service traffic manager, returned<br />
from California.<br />
. . .<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. completed a<br />
redecorating job, which included the showroom<br />
and all offices, says Manager Larson<br />
Republic salesman Bill Griffiths says he<br />
hopes to set a record this year . . . Paramount<br />
salesmen Ed Gavin and Harold Wise cover<br />
about 5.000 miles each month in their territory.<br />
Ed has northern Wisconsin and upper<br />
Michigan, while Harold swings southern Wisconsin.<br />
Ed's son Ned will be married May<br />
10. He will join the Philip Morris chemical<br />
research department. Ned is a Marquette<br />
graduate in chemical engineering.<br />
The court case of Film Arts vs. Max G.<br />
Nohl and Perrien Pictures Corp. is over. The<br />
suit hinged over the charge of Film Arts that<br />
Nohl had illegally taken possession of its<br />
equipment and premises. Nohl charged that<br />
the business had been transferred to his control<br />
under an agreement by which he advanced<br />
money to it. Judge Gehrz ordered<br />
Nohl to abandon the premises and equipment,<br />
but directed that he be paid $5,081 for money<br />
advanced by him and $1,800 in back salary.<br />
A recent offer by Thomas J. Dalhasen would<br />
present the winner with a check for $30,000<br />
for the business. Dalhasen was sales manager<br />
for Perrien Pictures. More recently, however,<br />
he has been appointed sales executive<br />
for the Frederic W. Ziv Co., covering northern<br />
Wisconsin and upper Michigan.<br />
Colorado Springs bound are Ben Marcus<br />
and Harold Pear.son for the Allied convention.<br />
Both have received invitations from<br />
several Hollywood studios to visit them and<br />
it appears that they will proceed from Colorado<br />
Spring to filmdom after the convention.<br />
Regal Theatre Manager Sidney Margoles<br />
rented out the hou.se recently to radio station<br />
disk jockey Manny Maldin for a two-hour<br />
midnight stage show. The Regal is located<br />
within the Negro section of the Milwaukee<br />
Thur, Allied a.ssociation ad-<br />
area .<br />
vertising man. recently attended the religious<br />
annual convention of the nondenominational<br />
Bahai at Evanston, 111.<br />
Paul Newaski, Vista, Mukwonago, is recovering<br />
his seats . . . Lauren Huston, Troy<br />
. . Bill Brolicki, Myra. Palmyra,<br />
of East Troy, is doing some remodeling in<br />
his basement. He plans to move his theatre<br />
office into his home after he adds a recreation<br />
room .<br />
is working on a .series of school tieups . . .<br />
National Screen Service's Sidney Ross, recently<br />
in from a swing around the territory,<br />
says the majority of the upstate theatre owners<br />
report that business is good<br />
Mednikow is becoming quite a letter writer.<br />
His family is in Honolulu owing to the sudden<br />
death of a nephew<br />
is experimenting with a new approach in<br />
theatre ads, telling the public in one word<br />
the type of picture appearing at each house.<br />
Paramount in Omaha<br />
To Close Two Months<br />
OMAHA—The Paramount Theatre will be<br />
closed for motion pictures for approximately<br />
two months but it will be open for stage shows<br />
and other activities, including "South Pacific"<br />
which will open June 16.<br />
William Miskell, Tristate manager, said the<br />
lack of major films available during those<br />
two months is a prime reason. School graduations,<br />
horse racing and other summer activity<br />
are other reasons. The 2,900-seat<br />
house, on the western edge of the dow'ntown<br />
main business district, will be able to show<br />
some of the top stage productions on weekends,<br />
Miskell said. He also has offered the<br />
theatre to te Chamber of Commerce for<br />
rental for major attractions.<br />
Manager Don Shane will take over managership<br />
of Tristate's Omaha and the<br />
Omaha's present manager, Ted Emerson, will<br />
go back to public relations work. The bulk<br />
of the Paramount staff will be assigned to<br />
Tri-States' Omaha and Orpheum.<br />
AT 12 O'CLOCK..<br />
A LADY WITH A FUTURE!<br />
AT 12:05...<br />
A<br />
WOMAN<br />
WITH A PAST!<br />
MAIL IN DATES<br />
TODAY<br />
ALBERT<br />
DEZEL'N<<br />
831 S.Wobosh CHICAGO<br />
NOW BREAKING<br />
ALL RECORDS !i<br />
-s w/rsHows-<br />
ART OF LOVE<br />
BED-W DIPLOMAT<br />
BIRTH OF LIFE<br />
'eURMNG QUESTION<br />
'SIMSHING VICE TRUST<br />
HOW TO TAKE A BATH<br />
Local 586 Is 25<br />
GRAND ISLAND, NEB. — Members of<br />
lATSE 586 celebrated their 25th anniversary<br />
with a dinner party at the Woodland Country<br />
club here. The group includes operators from<br />
Grand Island, Hastings, Norfolk. Columbus<br />
and York. lATSE President Dick Walsh of<br />
New York City and Vice-President Felix<br />
Snow of Kansas City were present. Another<br />
guest was Roy Brewer, formerly of Grand<br />
Island and former president of the Nebraska<br />
Federation of Labor, now assistant to Walsh.<br />
AT THESE ASTOR EXCHANGES:<br />
INDEPENDENT-] 109 Currie Ave.-Minneapolis<br />
REALART-706 A.W. State St.-Milwaukee<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 83
. . Lou<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
Wisconsin Allied Holds<br />
Meeting at Madison<br />
MADISON. WIS- Some 75<br />
members of the<br />
AUipd Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin<br />
met at the Loraine hotel here recently<br />
for discussions of theatre industiy<br />
problems.<br />
Pi-e.sident S. J. Goldberg, Wau.sau. gave the<br />
welcoming address. R. C. Salisbury, director<br />
of safety of the local motor vehicle department,<br />
was guest speaker and talked about<br />
safety shows.<br />
Ei-ic Brown. Plymouth, discussed "Small<br />
Town Exploitation." Angelo Provinzano. Milwaukee,<br />
talked on "Screening Reports," and<br />
association Secretary Harold Pearson discu.ssed<br />
"Performance Reports." A. M. LaPorte,<br />
Milwaukee, discussed the "Importance of Employe<br />
Goodwill," and Allied States Tieasurer<br />
Ben Marcus, Oshkosh and Milwaukee, discussed<br />
"Films."<br />
Kenneth Sargent Builds<br />
Broken Bow, Neb., Airer<br />
BROKEN BOW. NEB.—Work will get under<br />
way on the drive-in theatre east of town<br />
soon, and it is planned to have the layout in<br />
operation by June 1. Charles Sargent has announced<br />
his brother Kenneth, who is starting<br />
the theatre, is closing his operations in<br />
Minnesota immediately to start the work. A<br />
favorable slope of land will simplify grading<br />
work and the principal work will be construction<br />
of a road to the site.<br />
Remodel FuUerton Royal<br />
FULLERTON. NEB.—The Royal Theatre<br />
has reopened after a short shutdown for remodeling.<br />
A new floor was laid, more modern<br />
seats installed, changes made in the inside<br />
lobby and the seating system and the interior<br />
completely redecorated. Mrs. Harlan Sirmett<br />
was featured on the Hammond organ with<br />
the reopening.<br />
Cerebral Polsy Troi'er available from May 15 to<br />
Ju:y 1.<br />
DES MOINES Two More Theatres<br />
Tim Ricketts, Columbia booker, is a grandfather,<br />
A baby named Jeffrey Mark was<br />
born to Jim and Jean Ricketts of Denver,<br />
both formerly of Des Moines' Filmrow .<br />
Jo Elliott. NSS, was married April 21 to Jack<br />
Buchanan . Levy made a field trip to<br />
Dubuque. Davenport. Muscatine, and other<br />
Mi.ssi.ssippi river towns. He reported that all<br />
the theatres in Muscatine were closed a few<br />
days to keep people out of the downtown area<br />
during the high water stage.<br />
.<br />
The third annual golf stag, sponsored by<br />
Variety Club, will be held June 2 at Hyperion<br />
club. Fee for the entire day, including the<br />
evening dinner, is $5 ... M. E. Lee, Central<br />
States, is vacationing in Hot Springs .<br />
O'Connell is the new salesman at<br />
. . Art<br />
replacing<br />
RKO,<br />
Jack Peters has who resigned<br />
Universal expects a visit soon by Ray Moon,<br />
newly appointed assistant domestic sales<br />
manager.<br />
Des Moines children had a chance to be in<br />
the parade promoting "Bronco Buster" here<br />
recently. All youngsters in western attire who<br />
rode bicycles in the parade received free<br />
tickets to the premiere at the Paramount<br />
Theatre. Also in the parade lineup were<br />
three bands, members of the Flying Arrow,<br />
Ridin' Hi, Four-Mile and Town and Country<br />
Saddle clubs.<br />
Merchants to Resume Shows<br />
KIMBALLTON, IOWA—Kimballton merchants<br />
are planning to resume film showings<br />
twice weekly at the town hall. Shows will be<br />
Grade<br />
each Wednesday and Saturday night.<br />
school students will be admitted free to the<br />
Saturday night shows.<br />
Reopen Clarence, Iowa, State<br />
CLARENCE, IOWA—The State Theatre<br />
here, which has been closed for a month during<br />
redecoration and cleaning, was to reopen<br />
May 2.<br />
ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES FROM US<br />
White Japanese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $13.95<br />
South American Yellow Hybrid Per 100 lbs. $12.00<br />
(Pocked in 50 lb. bogs)<br />
Liquid "Popsit Plus" Seasoning Per Case 13.50<br />
(Pacl
. . Reno<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
. . Four drive-ins not<br />
fJtost drive-ins in this area opened somewliat<br />
earlier tlian usual this season and<br />
were favored by warm weather and clear<br />
skys, ideal for their operation . . . Tlie MEE<br />
drive-ins, owned by a group of Minneapolis-<br />
St. Paul independent exhibitors, again are<br />
playing late runs and double-featuring several<br />
changes each week. Veteran Bill Sears<br />
again is at theii- helm .<br />
scheduled to open till May were the Gull at<br />
Brainerd, the Sunset at Alexandria, the Sky-<br />
Line in Duluth and the Elson-Nathanson<br />
ozoner at Detroit Lakes.<br />
The Robinson-Graziano fight pictures went<br />
into the Gopher as an added attraction although<br />
the scrap had been televised here.<br />
They're being distributed in the territory by<br />
The Minnesota Amusement Co. Arion and<br />
Granada neighborhood houses ran large<br />
newspaper ads announcing "first showing together"<br />
of "TV's most popular stars," Lucille<br />
Ball and Desi Arnez, in "Lucy Goes Wild" and<br />
"Cuban Pete." Only normal business was<br />
registered although Miss Ball and Mr. Arnez's<br />
TV show, "I Love Lucy," now has the largest<br />
audience of any television program. It has<br />
been proved here lately that TV popularity is<br />
no assurance of theatre boxoffice draw.<br />
Groucho Marx has a very large TV following,<br />
but the last two pictures in which he appeared<br />
here drew poorly. Singer James Melton<br />
is popular on television, but when he appeared<br />
as a soloist with the Minneapolis<br />
Symphony orchestra at a pension fund benefit<br />
concert a few weeks ago the audience was<br />
pitifully small.<br />
mumm<br />
COOLO<br />
NOT<br />
TAIAE<br />
her!<br />
li<br />
Artistic Attractions, 435 Loeb Arcade here . .<br />
Absent to attend the Variety International<br />
convention at Las Vegas, Bennie Berger<br />
missed his first NCA convention here. From<br />
Las Vegas, Berger, who until last year was<br />
North Central Allied president, was to go to<br />
Colorado Springs to attend the meeting of<br />
the Allied States board of which he's a member<br />
. . . W. R. Frank, circuit owner and film<br />
and TV picture producer, was in from Hollywood<br />
. . . MGM film salesman George Turner<br />
and circuit owner Clem Jaunich left for the<br />
west by auto.<br />
"Big Jim" Morton, who calls himself former<br />
Public Enemy No. 1, was here to talk on<br />
"crime doesn't pay" in behalf of "My SLx<br />
Convicts," now playing at the Minneapolis<br />
and St. Paul Orpheums . . . Ralph Green,<br />
theatreman, now- is devoting himself mainly<br />
to the manufacturing business . Wilk,<br />
general manager of the Triangle Outdoors<br />
Theatres, inspected his Minot, N. D., ozoner<br />
. . . 'With the boost in newspaper advertising<br />
rates and declining boxoffice, most local<br />
neighborhood and suburban houses, along<br />
with several Loop theatres, have cut down<br />
considerably on their lineage.<br />
Radio City Theatre featured a Johnnie Ray<br />
short last week. In July it will have the<br />
singing sensation in person headlining a stage<br />
show . . . Pete Smith's first Technicolor<br />
short, "Mealtime Magic," had its world premiere<br />
at the State in Eau Claire, 'Wis. The<br />
reason; a pressure cooker which it concerns<br />
is manufactured there. There were klieg<br />
lights and elaborate ceremonies for the premiere.<br />
Joe Wolf, veteran film man, returned from<br />
San Antonio where he acquired an additional<br />
interest in the drive-in theatre there of w'hich<br />
he has been a part owner since its opening<br />
... Ed Lurie, UA exploiteer out of New<br />
York who did such a hangup job in helping<br />
to pubhcize "The African Queen," is back<br />
again, this time for "The River" and "The<br />
Captive City." The former will open at the<br />
State here May 9. "The Captive City" will<br />
have its midwest premiere in Minneapolis<br />
May 7 . . . Aldo Ray, sfar with Judy Holliday<br />
in "The Marrying Kind," is due here next<br />
week for the opening at the Minneapolis and<br />
St. Paul Orpheums . . . LeRoy J. Miller, U-I<br />
manager, visited northern Minnesota accounts.<br />
The local KKO exchange was sixth nationally<br />
in the Ned Depinet sales drive . . .<br />
With two members of the Council of Living<br />
Theatres of New York staff on hand, Sam<br />
McDowell and John Star, a campaign is being<br />
conducted to stimulate greater interest<br />
here in the legitimate stage, make Minneapolis<br />
a "better show town" for traveling<br />
legitimate attractions and line up more subscribers<br />
for the ATS-New York Theatre Guild<br />
annual sub.scription season of offerings at the<br />
Lyceum Theatre. Minneapolis is the fifth<br />
city to have such drives.<br />
Al Myrick Stages Flood<br />
Benefit at Lake Park<br />
LAKE PARK, IOWA—Al Myrick, president<br />
of Iowa and Nebraska Allied, staged a benefit<br />
here for flood victims recently. Myrick<br />
attended the Allied convention in Omaha in<br />
April and saw the flood havoc first hand.<br />
Upon his return home, he called a meeting<br />
of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions club and<br />
leaders of the various churches to promote<br />
a benefit.<br />
The show consisted of four newsreels having<br />
flood footage — 'Warners' Pathe, MGM's<br />
News of the Day, Fox Movietone and Paramount<br />
News, a film feature and a bake sale<br />
auction. Although the population of Lake<br />
Park is only 1,000, a total of $600 was raised<br />
and given to the Red Cross and Salvation<br />
Army to carry on their flood relief.<br />
Odebolt, Iowa, Princess<br />
Sets Two-for-One Plan<br />
ODEBOLT, lO'WA—All merchants in Odebolt<br />
are cooperating in a two-for-one theatre<br />
ticket arrangement at the Princess Theatre.<br />
The step is a mutual business stimulator for<br />
local merchants and the Princess. Under the<br />
two-for-one plan, adult admis.sion will admit<br />
two persons to the theatre. Each ticket is<br />
valid for a period of 30 days from date of<br />
purchase. The two-for-one tickets will be<br />
sold over a period of ten weeks. W. G. Horts-<br />
the owner-manager of the Princess.<br />
man is<br />
Won't Rebuild Theatre<br />
MARCUS. IOWA—Ed Delaney has announced<br />
that he does not intend to rebuild<br />
his Lyric Theatre, which was destroyed by<br />
fire three months ago. Delaney told a meeting<br />
of the Marcus Commercial club that the<br />
heavy expense involved prompted his decision<br />
against rebuilding.<br />
1/<br />
i<br />
I<br />
HEDY<br />
LAMARR<br />
GEORGE co-starring LOUIS {/<br />
SANDERSHAYWARD<br />
irith<br />
4<br />
Hillary BrooLc • Gene Loekh«rt<br />
June Storey * Rhys Willismi<br />
Pfoductd by JACK CHERTOK<br />
Directed by Edgar U'mer<br />
Screenplay by Herb Meadow "^S^<br />
Bajed on the novel "The Strang* Woman" /|<br />
by Ben Ames Wtliiami<br />
I'<br />
A Hvnr Srrofnb*r9 frodwctio*<br />
A^<br />
AT THESE ASTOR EXCHANGES:<br />
INDEPENDENT-] 109 Currie Ave.-Minneapolis<br />
REALART-706 A.W. State St.-Milwaukee<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 85
Sol Malisow Succeeds<br />
Pielow at Minneapolis<br />
MINNEAPOLIS— Raliili Pielow has resigned<br />
as 20lh-Fox branch manager and Sol<br />
Mahsow has been promoted from assistant<br />
district manager to succeed him. Pielow formerly<br />
was Des Moines manager and was<br />
named for the local post when Levy was elevated<br />
to district manager.<br />
After disposing of his independent poster<br />
exchange, some ten years ago. Malisow joined<br />
the local 20th-Fox branch as a salesman and<br />
has been with it ever since. He was upped to<br />
the position of assistant to Levy shortly after<br />
the latter's promotion.<br />
Savereide Brokers Wins<br />
Commission on Norwood<br />
NORWOOD. MINN.—A directed verdict of<br />
$3,500 and interest was entered in the county<br />
district court records in the action by Savereide<br />
Theatre Brokers against Martin Svendsen.<br />
former owner of the Norwood Theatre,<br />
in a dispute over a commission on the sale<br />
of the house.<br />
The action was brought into court by Harry<br />
Savereide and H. W. Buck, co-partners doing<br />
business as Savereide Theatre Brokers. The<br />
directed verdict for the brokerage firm was<br />
in the total amount of $3,818.50 with interest.<br />
Award Twin City Contract<br />
DEADWOOD, S. D.—The Stoneberger Construction<br />
Co. of Lead, S. D.. was awarded the<br />
contract to build the Twin City Drive-In between<br />
Deadwood and Spearfish on Highway<br />
14A. The Black Hills Amusement Co., which<br />
is constructing the theatre, awarded the electrical<br />
contract to the Haney Electric Co. of<br />
Deadwood.<br />
A. A. "Jack" Rcnfro (left), Omaha<br />
Variety Club chief barker, presents $500<br />
in donations from the film industry for<br />
flood relief to Mrs. Baldwin, wife of Col.<br />
Albert E. Baldwin of the Salvation Army.<br />
At right is Joe Jacobs, Tent 16 official<br />
who worked with Renfro on the fund collection.<br />
Percentage Suits Started<br />
In North Dakota Court<br />
WILLISTON, N. D.—John C. Snyder and<br />
Jack W. Snyder were named defendants in<br />
percentage actions filed in federal court here<br />
recently by Paramount. Loew's, 20th Century-<br />
Fox and RKO. Two theatres are involved,<br />
the Grand and Snyder, Williston.<br />
Grand<br />
Buys Sheffield<br />
SHEFFIELD, IOWA—James Robinson of<br />
Elk Point, S. D., has purchased the Grand<br />
Theatre here from L. P. Gilligan. Robinson<br />
and his wife have owned and managed theatres<br />
for many years. Gilligan, who has owned<br />
the Grand for the last ten years, plans to<br />
remain in Sheffield.<br />
FOR SALE AT ONCE<br />
Drayton Theatre Equipment.<br />
G70 International full-spring, padded back, tip up seats. Simplex Projectors—Simplex<br />
Sound, Automatic 3-bank ticket register, Hertner 40-80<br />
Generator, Screen, Drapes, Traveler Rewind, Safety Vaults.<br />
Write Wire Phone<br />
L J. MITCHELL<br />
3410 Grand River — Temple 1-2509 DETROIT, MICHIGAN<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
. . . Frank<br />
. . Roy<br />
. . Sam<br />
OMAHA<br />
•The Brandeis has two personal appearances<br />
booked for May: namely, Aldo Ray at the<br />
opening of "The Marrying Kind" May 7. and<br />
Jim Norton, ex-convict, to exploit "My Six<br />
Convicts" later in the month . Deutch,<br />
U-I booker, was home ill . Al Gardner,<br />
. .<br />
Warner salesman, was back from a vacation<br />
in Texas with the stamp of the Texas sun<br />
on his brow . Casey, 20th-Fox cashier,<br />
has proved that it's possible to get a fine<br />
coat of tan this early in the season in Iowa.<br />
He spent his two-week vacation at Cherokee.<br />
Jack Kelley of<br />
the MGM news department<br />
at New York was a visitor in the Omaha office<br />
last week and reported surprise at finding<br />
so little flood damage in the Omaha area<br />
Hannon, Warner manager, and<br />
salesmen William Wink, Bob Hirz and Al<br />
Gardner attended a district sales meeting in<br />
Chicago . . . Sgt. Fi-ank Wolbach, brother of<br />
MGM's Ceil Wolbach, returned after 17<br />
months in the Far East with the air force,<br />
including more than a year in Korea . . Mel<br />
.<br />
Ki'use, Pierce, Neb., exhibitor, reports his new<br />
six-room home is about ready for occupancy.<br />
. .<br />
Abe Sadoff, Sioux City, exhibitor, became<br />
father of a new baby daughter . The fishing<br />
fever has got Heinie Saggau of the Ritz,<br />
Denison. and he has opened his summer<br />
Mr. and Mrs.<br />
home at Park Rapids, Minn. . . .<br />
S. R. Nothem, Remsen, are grandparents<br />
again. Their daughter has a baby girl . . .<br />
Larry Howorth, Manilla, Iowa, exhibitor, says<br />
his tackle is all ready and he is planning a<br />
trip to the north woods.<br />
A feature of the North Platte senior high<br />
school commencement program will be a film<br />
preview the morning of graduation exercises<br />
at the Paramount Theatre, under arrangements<br />
of the Kiwanis club . . . The American<br />
Legion presented a benefit talent .show at<br />
the Page Theatre in Shenandoaii.<br />
Ted Emerson, veteran of the Tri-States<br />
staff, will go to Fairbury the first two weeks<br />
in June to fill in for Manager Loren Lankammer,<br />
who is planning to marry.<br />
Exhibitors were out in full force along<br />
Filmrow. Visitors included Nate Sandler,<br />
Missouri Valley, whose theatre escaped a serious<br />
flood threat: Oky Goodman, Villisca:<br />
George March, Vermillion, S. D.; Jim Ti-avis,<br />
Milford: Alt Sunde, Papillion, Neb.: Ray<br />
Brown, Harlan: Ira Wattenye, Tecumseh:<br />
Bob Friedley, Ida Grove: Phil March, Wayne:<br />
Arnold Johnson, Onawa, also in the floor<br />
area: Herman Field, Clarinda: Mons Thompson,<br />
St. Paul. Neb.: Earl Cowden, Sidney:<br />
Howard Kennedy. Broken Bow: Mel Kruse.<br />
Pierce: E. W. Kugel, Holstein: Reggie Gannon.<br />
Schuyler: Frank Cook, David City: Ollie<br />
Schneider, Osceola: Irvin Beck, Wilber, and<br />
Ted Krogh, Denison.<br />
When YOU Need<br />
dpeciat<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good Cr Fast<br />
^imn IT TO<br />
'CHICAGO, 1327 S.WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
VVYNN IN OMAH.A—Keenan Wynn po.sed with Omaha ti-rrilory cxliiltitorx on<br />
his recent visit to that city. Left to right: Jack Kenfro, Theatre BookinK .Service;<br />
DeWitt St. Clair, Cozy a.nd Grand Theatres, Wymore; Vincent Flynn, resident manager,<br />
Loew's, Inc.; Wynn; Irma DeLand, booker, Theatre Booking Service, and Mrs.<br />
Jack Renfro, booker, Theatre Booking Service.<br />
Woodrow Simek Continues<br />
New Theatre at Ashland<br />
ASHLAND, NEB.—Work progres.sed during<br />
April on the theatre which is being completed<br />
here under the personal direction of Woodrow<br />
Simek. In addition to the auditorium, the installation<br />
of blower-type gas heating has been<br />
finished and deflectors for the air conditioning,<br />
which clears the way for completing the<br />
Nu-Wood sidewalls to the stage.<br />
Stage partitions are being built along with<br />
the baffle for the speakers. On the second<br />
floor, over the lobby, the steel work and concrete<br />
floor for the booth are done. Many details<br />
remain to be finished and a few critical<br />
items may cause some delay even though to<br />
date they have not held up work, Simek said.<br />
To Start Free Saturday Show<br />
SCRANTON, IOWA—Free films will be<br />
shown at the Rex Theatre here each Saturday<br />
afternoon for a period of 15 weeks.<br />
One of a series of Think<br />
Pieces obout improving<br />
your theatre and its<br />
equipment.<br />
RCA products ore<br />
among the best to<br />
be had—buy wisely<br />
EMERGENCIES!<br />
When repairs<br />
rteeded<br />
are<br />
AT ONCE—call<br />
us. We act fast!<br />
Phil March Will Erect<br />
Drive-In at Wayne, Neb.<br />
WAYNE, NEB.—Plans for immediate construction<br />
of a drive-in on the outskirts of<br />
Wayne were revealed by Phil March, local<br />
theatre owner. Work on the Dude Ranch, as<br />
it will be named, located on seven acres at the<br />
one-mile intersection north of town, has already<br />
begun. Tentative scheduling in April<br />
called for completion by June.<br />
With a capacity of 300 cars, the theatre will<br />
be constructed of knotty pine log siding with<br />
rustic fences. It will follow a western theme<br />
throughout.<br />
Cryroom in Lake Theatre<br />
CLEAR LAKE, IOWA — A feature of the<br />
Lake Theatre here is a children's "cryroom"<br />
built into a section of the women's lounge on<br />
the second floor. C. E. Mosher is manager<br />
of the Lake.<br />
For Each $1.00 at Gate<br />
They Spend 45c for Eats!<br />
Better Hurry — The Big Outdoor<br />
Season Is Now With Us<br />
Surveys by BOXOFFICE disclose that for every $1<br />
spent for drive-in odmissions, another 45 cents is<br />
spent for refreshments. To get your shore of this<br />
high-profit business, let us help you stock, display and<br />
easily sell. We have both experience and materials.<br />
WESTERN<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
214 N Fidtmlli. Om.ih.l. Nfb. .. Plioiu Allmlic 9046<br />
i<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 87
\^i<br />
Runnymede<br />
2225 BLOOR ST. W. • • JU. 2709-<br />
FAMOUS<br />
PLAYERS<br />
Theatres<br />
Office of the Manager<br />
MAURICE i.<br />
DOYLE<br />
TORONTO<br />
February 20, 1952<br />
BOXOFFICE,<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.,<br />
Kansas City,<br />
Mo.<br />
Dear Sirs:<br />
Please forward another copy of your issue for February<br />
16, as I am particularly interested in the valuable article<br />
on "Junior Admissions Gaining Favor as Tax Law Changes."<br />
You have a great film weekly and I surely do enjoy<br />
reading it<br />
each week.<br />
Very truly<br />
yours,<br />
(Signed) M. J. DOYLE<br />
Letters Like These Keep Editors on Their Toes<br />
Every good editor is constantly seeking material that is both interesting<br />
and helpful to his readers. BOXOFFICE policy is the best<br />
service to the most readers. Thanks, Mr. Doyle—and all the many<br />
other appreciative readers who write to<br />
us.<br />
Most Popular Tradepaper in the Industry<br />
88 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
'HOW TO IMPROVE BUSINESS/<br />
THEME OF OHIO ITO GATHERING<br />
Wilbur Snoper Will Speak;<br />
Maurice Bergman Also<br />
On the Program<br />
CLEVELAND— Plans for the 17th annual<br />
convention of the Independent Theatre Owners<br />
of Ohio to be held at the Hollenden hotel<br />
hotel here May 19-21 have been completed<br />
by Robert Wile, ITOO secretary.<br />
"This will be an all-exhibitor convention,"<br />
Wile said during a recent visit in Cleveland.<br />
Two general meetings, one on Tuesday i20i<br />
and another on Wednesday (21) will be devoted<br />
solely to exhibition problems and to<br />
election of officers. No distributor representatives<br />
will be present.<br />
With a definite theme—How to Boost<br />
Business and How to Reduce Overhead— the<br />
meetings will be broken down into specialized<br />
clinics. Special entertainment has been provided<br />
for the women. The highlight will be<br />
a luncheon at Halle Bros, department store,<br />
with a style show and a back-stage tour of<br />
the store. Every woman present will receive<br />
a Halle Bros, charge-a-plate.<br />
MONDAY. May 19:<br />
2:30 p. m. Drive-In Ass'n meeting.<br />
7—Caravan meeting, with National Caravan,<br />
Chairman William C, Carroll, presiding,<br />
7—Board of directors meeting and dinner,<br />
TUESDAY:<br />
10 a, m.—Registration.<br />
10:30—Drive-in theatre owners meeting.<br />
10:30—Small town clinic.<br />
10:30—Subsequent run big town clinic.<br />
10:30—First run big town clinic.<br />
1 p. m.—Luncheon, Hollenden hotel.<br />
2—Open forum.<br />
7—Dinner at the Alpine Village.<br />
WEDNESDAY:<br />
1 p. m.—Luncheon, Hollenden hotel.<br />
2—General meeting and election of officers.<br />
7—Convention banquet.<br />
For the women, there will be a luncheon,<br />
style show and back stage tour, Halle Bros.<br />
Co., starting at 12:30 Tuesday noon.<br />
On Wednesday at 2 p. m., a new picture<br />
will be screened in the 20th-Fox exchange.<br />
Banquet guests will hear Maurice Bergman,<br />
Universal director of public relations, report<br />
on his tour of 16 Ohio cities. They also will<br />
meet actress Janis Carter, only representative<br />
of Hollywood to be present. Other banquet<br />
speakers are Abram F. Myers, Allied<br />
States counsel: Wilbur Snaper, Allied States<br />
president, and W. Ward Marsh, motion picture<br />
editor of the Plain Dealer.<br />
The clinics will be closed sessions, with attendance<br />
limited to exhibitors. The registration<br />
fee includes two luncheons, two dinners<br />
and the women's luncheon at Halle Bros.<br />
Install TV in Eastown<br />
DETROIT—Installation of RCA television<br />
equipment in the Eastown Theatre, operated<br />
by Wisper and Wetsman Circuit, may be<br />
given its first public workout in June. An<br />
experimental "dry run" has already been<br />
given. The circuit is negotiating with Theatre<br />
Network Television for reception of two<br />
major fights scheduled for June 5 and June 18.<br />
Janis Carter, the actress. Martin Smith, ITO president.<br />
ITO Resolution Stresses Identity<br />
Of Indoor and Outdoor Interests<br />
COLUMBUS—Closer cooperation between<br />
Ohio indoor theatres and drive-ins is expected<br />
following adoption of a resolution favoring<br />
such cooperation by the board of directors<br />
of the Independent Theatre Owners<br />
of Ohio at a meeting here.<br />
The board said that there is "less difference<br />
between problems of drive-ins and any<br />
conventional theatre than there is between a<br />
first run downtown theatre in a large city<br />
and a small subsequent run neighborhood theatre,<br />
both of which types are represented<br />
among ITOO members."<br />
The board stressed the "identical" interests<br />
of drive-ins and indoor houses with respect<br />
to distributors, supply houses, tax problems<br />
and non-taxable competition. The<br />
board passed this six-point resolution:<br />
1. Film distributors and National Screen<br />
Service should not discriminate against outdoor<br />
theatres simply because of the nature<br />
of their operation.<br />
2. The distributors and National Screen<br />
Service should be made cognizant of the fact<br />
that drive-ins as a rule are not operated for<br />
the entire year but nevertheless have investments<br />
which must be amortized over a period<br />
of 12 months. A different yardstick<br />
must be applied to determine drive-ins' film<br />
rentals in such situations.<br />
3. Film rentals to drive-ins should be determined<br />
on the basis of the age of the product<br />
(number of days after the last preceding<br />
rum in accordance with the same basic principles<br />
by which rentals are determined for<br />
indoor theatres.<br />
4. That the same cooperation that exists<br />
between various indoor theatres to eliminate<br />
competitive bidding and excessive multiple<br />
day-and-date runs be extended to include<br />
drive-in theatres.<br />
5. That the basic aims of ITOO to prevent<br />
legislation inimical to the interests of conventional<br />
theatres be extended to include<br />
those same basic interests for drive-ins.<br />
6. That the services of the officers, board<br />
of directors and the executive secretary of<br />
ITOO be made available to drive-ins on the<br />
same basis as they are to indoor theatres.<br />
Those attending the board meeting included<br />
Martin Smith, Toledo, president: Robert<br />
Wile, secretary: Leo T. Jones, Upper Sandusky;<br />
Blair Russell, Millersburg: Horace<br />
Adams, Cleveland; Louis F. Eick, Martins<br />
Ferry: F. W. Huss jr., Cincinnati; C. F. Pfister,<br />
Tioy and Marshall Fine. Cleveland.<br />
Detroit Suburb Books<br />
Uncut 'La Ronde' Print<br />
DETROIT—Announcement that the Krim<br />
Theatre will play an uncensored version of<br />
"La Ronde" was made through Helen Bower,<br />
film critic of the Detroit Free Press, who last<br />
week advocated that adult-type films should<br />
not be subjected to censorship, with especial<br />
reference to this particular picture.<br />
The Krim. operated by Manager Sol Krim.<br />
is actually within the city limits of Detroit<br />
but not subject to local censorship since it is<br />
in the suburb of Highland Park, which is entirely<br />
surrounded by Detroit.<br />
As Topliners in 'Stratosphere'<br />
Judd Holdren and Aline Towne have been<br />
signed as topliners in Republic's "Zombies of<br />
the Stratosphere," a science-fiction serial.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 ME 89
. . Bob<br />
. . Dorothy<br />
. . Gene<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
All cx-fonvli'l wius cauKlit by police attcmptliiB<br />
to enter the 20th-Fox offices here.<br />
The porter heiud a window break nnd .summoned<br />
police, who found the .suspect hiding<br />
In n loft behind a motor of the air eondltlonlng<br />
.system. He has a burglary record dating<br />
back to 1930.<br />
James Abroso, WB manager, and his sales<br />
staff attend a meeting In Pittsburgh conduced<br />
by Benjamin Kiilmeiison. general .sales<br />
manager . Harrell, Cleves, has returned<br />
from Florida and was on FUmrow<br />
here.<br />
Utiicr vislturs Included Roy Wells. Dayton;<br />
Bennett Goldstein, Cleveland: Dick Miller,<br />
Jur circuit; Salem; Charles Behlen, Lexington,<br />
Ky.; Clarence Brown, Jackson Center;<br />
John Powell and Max Matz, Blueficld;<br />
Guy Greathou.se, Aurora, Ind.; Christian<br />
Pflster, Tioy; Hurry McHaffie, Marmet;<br />
Frank Yas.senoff. Columbus; Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Louis Martin, Clrclevllle; J, E. Denton, Owenton;<br />
Sylvester Moorman, Coldwater; Poster<br />
Lane. Williamsburg; W. B. Wright, Whitesburg.<br />
Maurice Cirad, .short subject sales manager,<br />
Columbia, was expected here for a visit<br />
at the branch . Long, former assistant<br />
contract clerk. MGM, has been promoted<br />
to assistant cashier, replacing June<br />
Kenning, who resigned . Tunick,<br />
manager of Souvalne Selective Pictures in<br />
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and St.<br />
Louis, has his office at 1716 Logan St.<br />
The Starlight Drive-In, Sheridan, across<br />
the river from Ashland. Ky., held its formal<br />
opening Saturday i3). Dr. W. E. Day<br />
Is owner of the new drive-in. Midwest Theatre<br />
Supply equipped it with RCA .sound and<br />
Kenneth Ray, former head<br />
projection . . .<br />
of the Ohio censor board and exhibitor at<br />
the Variety, ZanesviUe, is taking time off to<br />
campaign for the Taft brothers—Charles P.,<br />
who aspires to the gubernatorial office, and<br />
Robert A., who seeks the Republican nomination<br />
for President.<br />
, . . Jay<br />
Mrs. Krma Boedeeker, who operates the<br />
Maple Drive-In at ZanesviUe, had a stage<br />
built on the .screen tower and plans to use<br />
It for per.sonal appearance shows<br />
Goldberg, local manager for Realart, advises<br />
the censor board has now approved the originals<br />
of both "Frankenstein" and "Dracula,"<br />
a sjx'cial Realart combination to be released<br />
soon. Goldberg and Bernle Rubiti of Cleveland<br />
accompanied Budd Rogers, president of<br />
Realart, to Columbus, to discu.ss the pa-ssing<br />
of the pictures by the cen.sor board.<br />
Robert Doppes, former student booker, U-I,<br />
who Is a seaman reserve in the navy, is laid<br />
up In a navy hospital in BainbridKe, Md., with<br />
Ro.scmary Meyer, contract<br />
scarlet fever . . .<br />
Mildred Miller,<br />
clerk, has a new niece . . .<br />
roving reporter for the local Cincinnati Enijuirer,<br />
visited Filmrow offices to interview<br />
employes for opinions on current problems.<br />
She was accompanied by a photographer.<br />
Variety Chief Barker Vance Schwartz made<br />
a hurried trip to the west coast becau.se of<br />
the death of his mother. Schwartz's father<br />
died seven month ago . Ruth Bryant<br />
is the new telephone operator at Paramount,<br />
replacing Mrs. Georgia Regan, who re.signed.<br />
John Quincy Havfklns, former porter at<br />
20lh-Fox who had been pensioned by the<br />
company last November, died at age 72 . .<br />
.<br />
Ethel Stenger, bookkeeping machine operator.<br />
20th-Fox, has for the third time donated a<br />
pint of blood to the Red Cress,<br />
Officers and directors of the Variety<br />
Club have voted to spon.sor a new charity<br />
the Hamilton county Council for Retarded<br />
Children. Vance Schwartz, chief barker, said<br />
that most of the 300 local Variety members<br />
were enthusiastic about sponsoring the cau.se<br />
of the mentally handicapped children when<br />
they learned of the neglect now suffered by<br />
the.se children. According to statistics,<br />
Schwartz .said, 3 per cent of the nation's<br />
population is mentally retarded—or 4,500,000,<br />
with 238,000 in Ohio and 21,000 in Hamilton<br />
county.<br />
Irving Tombach, Warner Bros, exploitation<br />
representative, arranged a .special screening<br />
of "The Lion and the Horse," photographed<br />
in WarnerColor, here recently. Invited to the<br />
screening were Cincinnati photographic experts,<br />
the press and other interested people.<br />
After the ,screening a discussion led by E. B.<br />
Radcliffe, film critic of the Cincinnati Enquirer,<br />
showed agreement that the color was<br />
extremely good.<br />
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
625 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Please enter my subscriplion to BOXOFFICE. 52 iasuea per year (13 oi vi/hich contain<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section).<br />
D $3.00 FOR 1 YEAR Q $5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D $7.00 FOR 3 YEARS<br />
D Remittance Enclosed O Send Invoice<br />
THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
STATE<br />
POSITION<br />
Kroger Store Sponsors<br />
Parties at 2 Theatres<br />
TOLKDO—Two neighborhood theatres have<br />
arranged with the Kroger Co., chain grocery<br />
film, to stage Kroger night film programs<br />
at half-price admission. The Colony, managed<br />
by Jack Lykes, near the largest Kroger<br />
supermarket in the area, was the first to<br />
u.se the idea. In return for the chain's announcing<br />
the plan to some 20,000 area residents<br />
and publicizing it in the store, the<br />
Colony .set aside a Monday evening as Kroger.<br />
night, at which free coupons distributed by the<br />
store were good for half-price admission. The<br />
film offering and date was publicized in<br />
neighborhood .siiopping papers by the store.<br />
An interval of three weeks .separates each<br />
such special event.<br />
Finding the program succe.ssfully received<br />
at the Colony, the idea was extended to the<br />
Westwood, a half block from a Kroger store.<br />
The theatres were receptive to the plan because<br />
Monday evening Is generally a slow<br />
night. They found they could do better with<br />
.some 600 or 700 patrons at half price than<br />
without the tie-in. Lobby displays and store<br />
displays both plugged the Kroger night event.<br />
Several baskets of groceries also were given<br />
from the stage on that evening.<br />
ii<br />
Teenage Girls Arrested<br />
On Theatre Fire Charge<br />
DAYTON—Two teenage girls have admitted<br />
to police that they started two local<br />
theatre fires. The girls, aged 14 and 16<br />
years, are in county detention home awaiting<br />
drapes were torn down and ignited.<br />
juvenile court action.<br />
The girls were picked up when they were<br />
caught setting fire to two upholstered chairs<br />
in the women's restroom at Keiths Theatre.<br />
The girls said they deliberately set the chairs<br />
afire with cigarets. They also admitted starting<br />
another fire a few days earlier in the<br />
women's lounge at the Victory. At the Victory,<br />
Similar fires have occurred in the same<br />
theatres and in the Colonial Theatre in recent<br />
weeks.<br />
Riots in Michigan Prison<br />
Windfall for 'Convicts'<br />
DETROIT—Quick thinking by the Columbia<br />
exploitation staff, represented here by<br />
Clarence Bell, drew .some nice newspaper<br />
space and art work when thousands of convicts<br />
rioted at Jackson Monday. Columbia<br />
had "Big Jim" Morton, ex-convict, in town<br />
in connection with "My Six Convicts," and<br />
promptly planted a special Interview by reporter<br />
Robert Perrin in the Detroit Free<br />
Press. Morton was quoted as an authority<br />
on the management of penitentiaries—from<br />
the inside—and was depicted exercising his<br />
craft at lock-picking.<br />
To Try All-Night Policy<br />
DETROIT—An all-night operation policy<br />
is to be tried out for the first time by a first<br />
run hou.se here. Starting April 30, the Palms-<br />
State, operated by United Detroit Theatres,<br />
will run till 6:00 a. m., then close until 10:45<br />
a. m. The policy is viewed skeptically locally,<br />
in view of the evidence from the Korman circuit's<br />
Broadway Capitol, normally a second<br />
run on major pictures, that there is an inadequate<br />
number of shift workers here at<br />
present to bring big crowds downtown for the<br />
all-night shows.<br />
90 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
. . Junior<br />
. . Bob<br />
. .<br />
. . Disney's<br />
'Rain' at Cincinnati<br />
Beats First Week<br />
CINCINNATI—Business remained fair, with<br />
no outstanding grossers at any of the theatres.<br />
"Singin' in the Rain" not only held<br />
up well in its .second week but beat its first<br />
week percentage by 10 per cent. "With a<br />
Song in My Heart" was excellent in its holdover.<br />
New films were booked at all houses<br />
for the coming week, however.<br />
(Averocje Is 100)<br />
Mbee— Singin' in the Rain (MGM), 2nd wk 110<br />
Copitol—With o Song in My Heart (20th-Fox),<br />
2nd wk 100<br />
Grond Hong Kong (Parol; Whispering Smith<br />
vj. Scotland Yard (RKO) 95<br />
Keith's—Mo and Po Kettle at the Foir (U-l) 110<br />
Lyric Sirocco iCol), Tokyo Joe (Col), 3 days. ... 80<br />
Poloce- The Big Trees (WB) 90<br />
Holdovers Uphold<br />
Average in Detroit<br />
DETROIT — Weekend temperatures of 85<br />
sent grosses downward but the strong holdovers<br />
maintained the average mark, while<br />
"Greatest Show" was the leader in its ninth<br />
week with 120 per cent.<br />
Adorns— Quo Vodis (MGM), 8th wk 90<br />
Cincmo—Blithc Spirit (UA), reissue 80<br />
Fox With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox); The<br />
Bushwhackers (Rcolort), 2nd wk 100<br />
Madisori The Greotcst Show on Earth {Poro), 9th<br />
wk 120<br />
Michigon The Los Vegos Story (RKO); The<br />
Fabulous Senorlto (Rep) 90<br />
Polms-Stote Jock and the Beonstalk (WB);<br />
Oklahoma Annie (Rep) 85<br />
United Artists Singin' In tho Rain (MGM), 2nd<br />
wk 100<br />
Pride of St. Louis' Tops<br />
New Bills in Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—"The Pride of St. Louis" did<br />
the best in town as the first warm weekend<br />
of the season put the world and his wife on<br />
wheels. There was a resultant drop at indoor<br />
theatres and a boost for the drive-ins. "Singin"<br />
in the Rain" at 10,5 per cent was the best<br />
of the other three new film bills. "Sailor<br />
Beware" drew consistently in its fourth week<br />
and stayed another. "Greatest Show" was<br />
good in its fifth and stays a sixth. Interest<br />
in the Cleveland Indians is at fever heat and<br />
night games are keeping many would-be theatre<br />
patrons home by the TV.<br />
Allen The Pride ot St. Louis (20fh-Fox) 115<br />
Hippodrome With o Song in My Heart (20th-Fox),<br />
2nd wk 80<br />
Lower Moll Miracle in Milan (Burstyn), 2nd wk..l00<br />
Ohio Sailor Beware (Poro), 4th wk 110<br />
Palace Scandal Sheet (Col) 90<br />
Stote Sinqin' in the Rain (MGM) 105<br />
Stillmon The Greotcst Show on Earth (Poro),<br />
5th wk no<br />
lower The Thiet ot Bagdod (Classics); The<br />
Jungle Book (Classics), reissues 105<br />
Theatre Game Okayed<br />
By Cleveland Attorney<br />
CLEVELAND—Hy-Bid-N'-Take, a theatremerchant<br />
auction promotion, "does not constitute<br />
a lottery as defined by state law or<br />
city ordinance," according to Jo.seph H. Crowley<br />
of the city law department, after an analysis<br />
of the promotion as presented by Arthur<br />
I. Morrison & Associates, distributors.<br />
Using stage money distributed by participating<br />
merchants and the theatre, the patron<br />
bids for merchandise, which the merchant<br />
displays and which the theatre awards to<br />
the highest bidder.<br />
A public relations angle has al.so been<br />
worked out whereby a specified amount of<br />
the stage money is given to Red Cross blood<br />
donors.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
. . .<br />
por the first Hum- on record, all three downtown<br />
Loew's theatres played holdovers.<br />
They were "The Greatest Show on Earth,"<br />
sixth week at the Stillman; "Sailor Beware,"<br />
fifth week at the Ohio, and "Singin" in the<br />
Rain,"" second week at the State. Another<br />
holdover was "With a Song in My Heart,""<br />
playing a third moveover week at the Tower<br />
Max Lefkowich, president of Community<br />
circuit and le.ssee of the 1,800-seat Circle, has<br />
reduced its playing time to weekends for the<br />
time being. The Circle is one of five theatres<br />
in the congested Euclid-East 105th street area.<br />
The houses have a total of 10,232 .seats. To<br />
further saturate the area with entertainment,<br />
some half-dozen restaurants present floor<br />
shows.<br />
Ted Barker, Loew's publicity director,<br />
checked into St. Vincent's hospital for a<br />
checkup . Playland, a Balaban project<br />
on Warrensville road, opened Its second<br />
season . . . Hawaiian orchids for Mother's day<br />
will be pa.s.sed out to all the women customers<br />
at the Maple Drlve-In, Zanesville, and tlie<br />
Family Drive-In, Steubenville. Monogram<br />
salesman Sol Gordon handles the orchids .<br />
Screen star Ann Dvorak was in town with her<br />
husband, former Clevelander Mike Wade.<br />
ITOO Convention—Cleveland—May 19-21<br />
Herb Ochs had a one-day session with A. B.<br />
Cass, manager of Columbia's Toronto branch,<br />
to buy and book for the Ochs Canadian drivein<br />
chain . Bial of Luthi Sign is doing<br />
a repeat performance for the Red Cross. He<br />
now is covering the Film building in behalf<br />
Kroger Babb, president<br />
of flood relief . . .<br />
of Hallmark, was in Cleveland on business.<br />
He has announced that Hallmark offices are<br />
moving from Wilmington. Ohio, to Hollywood<br />
and that Hallmark territorial franchises are<br />
now available.<br />
Henry Grecnberger, Community circuit<br />
executive and chief barker of the Variety<br />
Club, is home from a .short .session in Lakeside<br />
hospital where he underwent an operation<br />
Jack Vogel of Vogel<br />
for varicose veins . . .<br />
Building Co., Wellsville, was in town. His<br />
brother Paul is due to don civilian clothes the<br />
end of the month.<br />
Sam Fritz, who left his job as manager of<br />
the Medina, Medina, to answer a recall to<br />
service in the navy, has completed an 18-<br />
month tour of duty and is back with Modern<br />
Theatres circuit as manager of the Lorain-<br />
Fulton here. He succeeds Charles Marcus,<br />
now with the Gusdanovic circuit . . Prank<br />
.<br />
and Louis Slavik who recently acquired the<br />
Shane Drive-In at Andover, have completed<br />
an extensive modernization program including<br />
a new conce.ssion stand and installation<br />
of playground equipment.<br />
Jack Silverthornc, manager of the Hippodrome,<br />
enticed hundreds of children to his<br />
downtown theatre last Saturday morning<br />
with an all-cartoon special 9 o'clock .show.<br />
Scale for the occasion was 30 cents for children<br />
under 12 years of age and 55 cents for<br />
older children and adults. Program consisted<br />
of 15 cartoons . . . Jack Sogg, MGM<br />
manager, has returned from a Florida vacation.<br />
ITOO Convention—Cleveland—May 19-21<br />
VlMHom on I'llmrow included Pel
. . Lee<br />
. . Lou<br />
. . Another<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . Sidney<br />
II<br />
IT<br />
For<br />
a More Attractive<br />
Marquee use<br />
WAGNER<br />
COLORED PLASTIC<br />
LETTERS<br />
-Jl ^~AtA^ THtATRt<br />
^P iMrlg^^^<br />
tQUIPMENT CoT<br />
106 Michigon St., N.W.<br />
T^^^'<br />
Grand Rapids 2, Mich.<br />
rNt(h«i t Svadovt 3-24IV<br />
ERNIE FORBES<br />
THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
214 W. Montcalm<br />
Detroit 1, Mich.<br />
WOodword 1-1122<br />
We He\p You Make Movies Better Than Bvei<br />
IlLOWERS for<br />
i Every Occasion<br />
LORENZEN'S<br />
DETROIT'S THEATRICAL FLORIST<br />
TOwnsend 8-6232<br />
16457 Woodward Ave., Detroit 3, Mich.<br />
:fXPERT=<br />
Upholstering. Repairing,<br />
Reartanging & Installing.<br />
THEATRE SEATS<br />
Over 25 years experience<br />
Immediate service anywhere<br />
DONOHUE SEATING SERVICE<br />
B07 North Wilson Royal Oak, Mich.<br />
Phono Lincoln 5-5720<br />
Theatrp Sign and Marquee Maintenance<br />
/^^^ Our Specialty<br />
^<br />
%kJWorstnmn^Ca<br />
3030 West Davidson Ave.<br />
TOwnsend 8-2230<br />
Detroit 6, Mich.<br />
AUTO CITY CANDY CO.<br />
2937 St. Aubin TEmple 1-3350 Detroit 7, Mich.<br />
COMPLETE SUPPLIES<br />
FOR YOUR THEATRE CANDY DEPARTMENT<br />
CORN—SEASONING—SALT<br />
SYRUPS—CUPS—POPCORN BOXES—GUMS<br />
and Complete Assortment of Candy in Speciol-<br />
Priced Theotre Pocks.<br />
DETROIT<br />
Tack Broder, now head of Realarl. stopped<br />
' here en route from Lo.s Angele-s. and flew<br />
east Tuesday with Sol Krim. circuit operator,<br />
to .spend about a week in New York on<br />
a business trip. Broder was to return this<br />
week to the west coast Koken, in<br />
charge of vending for<br />
.<br />
RKO, was a local<br />
visitor . Albert Dezel was Chicago on<br />
. . in<br />
Frank Kin.sora has been named<br />
business . . .<br />
to the labor committee of the state fair board.<br />
David M. Idzal of the Fox will act as a special<br />
consultant on entertainment for the fair.<br />
.<br />
Betty Fussner, Paramount booker, reports<br />
practically the whole staff got chest X-rays<br />
when the Red Cross mobile unit parked out in<br />
front of the exchange Mitchell is<br />
planning to close the Drayton Theatre at<br />
Drayton Plains and convert it to commercial<br />
Nate Bloch, operator at the Adams,<br />
use . . .<br />
left on an extended vacation in Arizona .<br />
Neil Tailing, Cinema manager, lost a couple<br />
of patrons who looked over his front, until the<br />
woman remarked, "Let's find where 'King<br />
Solomon's Mines' is playing. I just love those<br />
Biblical pictures."<br />
FOR SALE AT ONCE<br />
Drayton Theatre Equipment.<br />
Alice Gorham, UDT exploiteer, headed up<br />
to northern Michigan for a brief vacation . .<br />
Joe Lee was host at a screening of "Wait IMll<br />
the Sun Shines, Nellie" and "Diplomatic<br />
Courier" this week ... It was oldtimers week<br />
on Filmrow. Among those noted were Clive<br />
Waxman, Grand Rapids; Harry Ruben, Benton<br />
Harbor; Ed Johnson, Bay City; William<br />
Thick, Marshall; Bob Pennell, Bronson; Ray<br />
Branch, Hastings, and Richard Ingram of<br />
Flint and Mount Morris.<br />
Oliver Willett, associated with his father<br />
A. O. in the operation of the Strand at North<br />
Branch, is taking over the Strand at Imlay<br />
City and the Capac at Capac from Leonard<br />
Wnuk . . . Bill Hurlbut was in Los Angeles<br />
to attend the Monogram directors meet .<br />
The Wisper & Wetsman office says there's<br />
nothing to those rumors that the big circuit<br />
had taken over the Stanley, recently closed<br />
by the Oleszkowicz family . rumor,<br />
that the big second run Hollywood had been<br />
bought by a railroad, was apparently unfounded.<br />
Harry Lush, Plymouth exhibitor, returned<br />
from a trip to California . . . Sydney Bowman,<br />
UA manager, is opening "The African Queen"<br />
May 2 at the Fox to prospects of good business<br />
. . . Jack Krass has closed the Carlton,<br />
northwest section house . . . Terry Rurner,<br />
Morris Lefko, Nat Levy, Don Prince and Jules<br />
Levy, RKO executives, were in town for a<br />
screening of "The Story of Robin Hood."<br />
670 International full-spring, padded back, tip up seats. Simplex Projectors—Simplex<br />
Sound, Automatic 3-bank ticket register, Hertner 40-80<br />
Generator, Screen, Drapes, Traveler Rewind, Safety Vaults.<br />
Write<br />
Wire — Phone<br />
L J. MITCHELL<br />
3410 Grand River — Temple 1-2509 DETROIT, MICHIGAN<br />
. . . Clare Winnie<br />
. . Jack<br />
Clarence Williamson and his National Theati-e<br />
Supply cohorts are busy preparing equipment<br />
for delivery to four new drive-ins now<br />
under construction upstate<br />
of the Dale was in a car collision at Findlay.<br />
Ohio, on his way back from Norfolk, Va., but<br />
his car e.scaped with minor damage .<br />
Wagner, manager of the Ford-Wyoming<br />
Drive-In, who can guess the number of cars<br />
in a house within about 1 per cent, commutes<br />
William B.<br />
daily the 60 miles to Flint . . .<br />
Zoellner, MGM short subjects chief, was in<br />
. . . Ralph Peckham, formerly here with the<br />
old Grand National, is the new southern division<br />
chief for Cla.ssic Pictures, with offices<br />
at Atlanta.<br />
Sam Ackerman of the East Side, back<br />
lunching on Filmrow, is getting reacclimated<br />
to Detroit after his extended Florida trip . . .<br />
Tom Allen of United Film Service was a<br />
bright and early morning visitor . . . Donald<br />
L. Turner, division manager for Altec, was in<br />
from Chicago . . . Norman Meyers, managing<br />
director of the Adams, is a veteran 16mm film<br />
fan, with professional type equipment and a<br />
nice output of travelogs to his credit.<br />
J. J. Devine of Monroe, assistant to the<br />
president of Alexander Films, met at Cliff<br />
Bell's Tuesday noon. Noted at another table<br />
were Sid Bielfield and Sol Jordon, two veteran<br />
exploiteers, with Harold Brown of UDT<br />
in another corner . Hunt, manager<br />
of the Harper, is celebrating a victory over a<br />
dead spot in the sound system that proved<br />
Fred C. Dickely, Altec<br />
baffling for a while . . .<br />
manager, is an oldtime radio commercial<br />
operator, including transoceanic experience<br />
from 1917 to 1928 . . Dave Newman, counsel<br />
.<br />
of Cooperative Theatres, is an avid student of<br />
technology of theatre operation.<br />
New Tax Proposal Made<br />
By Ann Arbor Mayor<br />
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—Apparently<br />
undiscouraged<br />
by the defeat of his amusement tax<br />
proposal at a recent election. Mayor William<br />
E. Brown jr., has recommended that a 10 per<br />
cent amusement tax on all admissions of 25<br />
cents or more be enacted. He suggested to<br />
city council that the proposal be placed on<br />
the August 5 primai-y ballot. At the April 7<br />
election, voters defeated a proposal to place<br />
an amusement tax on all entertainment admissions.<br />
In presenting his new idea to the council,<br />
the mayor expressed belief that the earlier<br />
tax proposal was defeated because of its "indefinite<br />
and nonspecific" nature. That proposal<br />
asked simply for the right to levy an<br />
admissions tax and grant authority to collect<br />
other types of excise taxes.<br />
«<br />
Warn on Hiring Minors<br />
COLUMBUS—Albert A.<br />
Woldman, head of<br />
the Ohio industrial relations department, has<br />
warned employers to refrain from using<br />
minors in prohibited occupations. He pointed<br />
out that minors under 16 are barred from<br />
working in all amusement places, except the<br />
stage, and listed numerous industrial occupations<br />
forbidden to minors.<br />
Producer Edmund Grainger has set Alan<br />
Le May to pen "Blackbeard the Pirate," a<br />
Technicolor costumer, for RKO.<br />
92 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
I<br />
light<br />
. .<br />
Waller Norris Named<br />
Bulterfield Ad Chief<br />
GRAND RAPIDS—Walter J. Norris, theatre<br />
manager and civic leader, has resigned as<br />
chairmarv of the Civic auditorium committee,<br />
effective Monday i5). Norris will ro to Detroit,<br />
the home office for W. S. Butterfield.<br />
Inc.. to take over the publicity and advertising<br />
departments for the 116-theatre circuit.<br />
Norris came here in 1924 to manage the<br />
Keith's vaudeville house. From 1930 to 1933<br />
he lived in Detroit, but has resided here ever<br />
since, managing the local Butterfield theatres.<br />
Norris was named to the board chairmanship<br />
post last November.<br />
Drive-In Owner Loses<br />
Fight on Fast Time<br />
LOUISVILLLE—A drive-in theatre owner<br />
has lost a court battle to stop daylight saving<br />
time from going into effect here. Circuit<br />
Judge Macauley L. Smith ruled that the allegations<br />
filed by Floyd D. Morrow, drive-in<br />
owner, did not constitute a cause of action.<br />
Morrow's attorney later said he would ask<br />
the court of appeals to direct Jefferson circuit<br />
court to issue a temporary injunction<br />
banning fast time here.<br />
Morrow asked that the fast time be declared<br />
void because the city ordinance on<br />
which it is based was not published in a recent<br />
compilation of ordinances.<br />
A recently adopted state law rules out day-<br />
time after June 19, so daylight time will<br />
be effective here only from last Sunday i27i<br />
until June 19. Morrow is managing director<br />
of Louisville Drive-In Theatres, which operates<br />
the East and Dixie drive-ins here.<br />
'River' Is 2nd Run in UDT<br />
DETROIT—"The River" has been booked<br />
for a first run at regular 95-cent admission<br />
in United Detroit Theatres' Palms-State, to<br />
open in June, by Sidney Bowman, UA branch<br />
manager. Booking is probably unprecedented<br />
here, as it originally played a suburban house,<br />
the Krim, operating on a special attraction<br />
policy late last year for six weeks. The Krim<br />
booking was at roadshow prices of $2.40.<br />
rive-In<br />
ONE COLOR • TWO COLOR<br />
PROGRAMS<br />
Covering ONE or TWO WEEKS!<br />
ONE DAY SERVICE — On Request!<br />
• Your Inquiries Solicited •<br />
Theatrical Advertising Co.<br />
"Serving Exhibitors for 35 Years"<br />
2310 CASS AVE. DETROIT 1, MICH.<br />
Phone: WO. 1-2158<br />
JIM SHARKEY, Jr.<br />
B & B CHEVROLET, Inc.<br />
8811 E. Jefferson, Detroit<br />
Business VA 2-1103 Residence UN 2-8898<br />
Detroit Showman Puts His Theatre<br />
On TV With "Captain Video" Dea<br />
A history-making tieup between a small<br />
slum neighborhood house and a television<br />
station was made by the ingenuity of Irving<br />
Katcher, owner of the 400-seat Willis in<br />
Detroit.<br />
Katcher boldly approached WJBK-TV,<br />
and offered to run a trailer plugging the<br />
station's film show, "Captain Video," in<br />
return for a free commercial spot on the<br />
air announcing that the .screen version<br />
could be seen at the Willis Theatre. It<br />
was arranged as simply as that. At going<br />
commercial rates, a commercial spot is<br />
worth about $100 on television; the trailer<br />
cost the Willis about $1.50.<br />
Katcher runs a 40-year-old house in a<br />
near-downtown Negro neighborhood, on<br />
fifth or sixth runs—one of the lea-st promising<br />
situations of any surviving small theatre<br />
in Detroit, but went right ahead<br />
with individual exploitation ingenuity.<br />
Actual boxoffice sales value might be<br />
very low, Katcher agreed, but the prestige<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
pxream plans for a proposed $2,500,000 convention<br />
hall and sports arena were published<br />
in the Dispatch. Harry T. Roderick,<br />
architect, said the 7,000-capacity hall could be<br />
used for touring shows like "South Pacific,"<br />
basketball, hockey, ice shows, conventions and<br />
concerts. The building would have sub-basements<br />
for parking, plus office and stores'<br />
space. An adjoining multiple-deck parking<br />
garage also has been suggested. The building<br />
would be located near the downtown theatre<br />
Lou Holleb, former manager of<br />
the Majestic<br />
here and recently manager of the Forest,<br />
Cincinnati, has been named manager of the<br />
. .<br />
Uptown. Holleb was one of the most active<br />
members of the Columbus Variety Club, Tent<br />
No. 2 during his former residence here<br />
Local papers had extraordinary coverage<br />
.<br />
of<br />
the Circleville visit of Ted Lewis, who was<br />
born in the Pickaway county seat. Lewis<br />
staged a benefit performance in Circleville<br />
to aid Berger hospital and Ted Lewis park.<br />
Chet Allen, 12-year-old Columbus singer<br />
who starred in NBC-TV's opera, "Amahl and<br />
the Night Visitors," left by plane for Hollywood<br />
to appear in "Great Companions" with<br />
Ann Blythe and either Dan Duryea or Dan<br />
Dailey. The young singer and actor also will<br />
appear in "Joshua" with Gary Cooper .<br />
Mrs. Elnora Wiggins, secretary of Robert Wile,<br />
has taken a leave of absence. Her position in<br />
the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio office<br />
here is being filled by Patricia Whitacre.<br />
former secretary of Congressman John Vorys<br />
of Columbus.<br />
. . . Deni.se Darcel, guest<br />
Fred Oestreicher, Loew's publicist, is vacationing<br />
in Florida<br />
star at the Page One ball here, was to award<br />
the Kim Hunter-"Deadline—U.S.A." trophy<br />
to the queen of the ball. The trophy award<br />
was arranged by Walter Ke.ssler.<br />
value of having his little house plugged<br />
on television was incomparable.<br />
The same reciprocal courtesy is being<br />
made available to six other theatres also<br />
running "Captain Video," as Katcher<br />
made this a part of the original plan.<br />
The others are the Granada. Rogers and<br />
Belle, operated by the Robin-son circuit;<br />
the Shores by Hyman Gordon; Amo by<br />
William A. Rennle; Strand by the Kilbride<br />
circuit, and Melody by the Affiliated<br />
Theatres. Fred Schader, veteran .show<br />
busine.ss exploiteer, was .scheduled to be<br />
in town to handle additional promotion In<br />
connection with the serial.<br />
Further point-of-purcha.se type contact<br />
was arranged by Katcher, when he went<br />
to the Post cereal company, which sponsors<br />
"Captain Video" on the air, and arranged<br />
for a lobby display of packages<br />
of the new Post Krinkles in his lobby,<br />
plus a thou.sand packages to be given away<br />
to customers at the theatre as .samples.<br />
WWJ Packages 14 Recent<br />
Alexander Korda Films<br />
DETROIT—A deal for the bigge.st package<br />
of recent films available for television in this<br />
area has been concluded by WWJ-TV with<br />
Snader Productions of Chicago for its Sunday<br />
night Movietime. The deal includes 14 Alexander<br />
Korda productions, according to Frank<br />
Picard. WWJ-TV film editor, with ten of<br />
them released within the past year and still<br />
playing in theatres.<br />
Highlights of the deal are a 1951 Academy<br />
Award film, "Seven Days Till Noon," rated<br />
the best foreign screenplay of the year, and<br />
the current selection of the Motion Picture<br />
Council, "Bonnie Prince Charlie." Other pictures<br />
in the series include "The Wooden<br />
Horse." "Wonder Boy," "Angel with a Trumpet,"<br />
"Small Back Room." "Hideout," and<br />
"The Man in the Dinghy."<br />
ANYWHERE<br />
UPHOLSTERING, REPAIRING<br />
THEATRE SEATS<br />
Prompf, Reliable Service. 15 Ycors Know-How.<br />
SERVICE SEATING CO.<br />
JOHN HEIDT<br />
1507 W. Kirby Detroit 8, Mich.<br />
Phono TYIer 7-8015<br />
.<br />
-free: free: free;<br />
high-grade supplies at no extra cost Complete . . more<br />
than enough to PAY for one of the world's finest popcorn<br />
machines, with 5 beautiful models to choose from, priced<br />
low. Your money comes back fast! 3 traded-in Manleys.<br />
like new. bargains.<br />
M-' IIAMII.TD.V snil V. W. Snirs uilh LIfclImp<br />
i;niir.inli't' $98.50<br />
KLINKEL POPCORN MACHINES<br />
401 Cranda!l Albion. Michrgan<br />
L 6- L THEATRE CONCESSION<br />
INCREASED PROFITS - DECREASED) WORRIES<br />
PERSONALIZED SUPERVISED SERVICE<br />
DRIVEIN AND INDOOR THEATRES<br />
2937 St. Aubin D.ltoit 7. Mich.<br />
Phone T». 13352 Te. I388«<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952<br />
93
m<br />
REMcraREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTFTUTE<br />
825 Van BrunI Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
5-3-52<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive information regularly, as released, on<br />
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
n Acoustics<br />
n Air Conditioning<br />
n Architectural Service<br />
n "Black" Lighting<br />
Lighting Fixtures<br />
n Plumbing Fixtures<br />
G Projectors<br />
n Building Material<br />
Projection Lamps<br />
Seating<br />
n Carpels<br />
n Signs and Marquees<br />
n Coin Machines<br />
n Complete Remodeling Sound Equipment<br />
D Decorating<br />
IH Television<br />
Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts<br />
D Drive-In Equipment D Vending Equipment<br />
D Other Subjects<br />
Theatre<br />
Seating Capacity<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
State<br />
Signed<br />
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience<br />
in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN<br />
THEATRE SECTION of this issue.<br />
94<br />
Norman Meyers Puts Strong Opening<br />
Campaign Behind Long-Run Stands<br />
DETROIT—Indications that the specialized<br />
audience for particular films may be the<br />
economic .salvation of a .sicnificant segment<br />
of the theatre busine.s.s<br />
were increa.sed in this<br />
area by the succes.s of<br />
the Adams Theatre in<br />
this type of exhibition<br />
In this case particularly<br />
strong attractions,<br />
often approaching<br />
roadsliow caliber.<br />
are used rather than<br />
foreign or art films or<br />
documentaries.<br />
The Adams is a<br />
1,545-seat first run Harry Balaban<br />
house, now the second<br />
oldest motion picture theatre in downtown<br />
Detroit. It has gone through a somewhat<br />
checkered history, and was considered an oldtimer<br />
during the depression years when it<br />
was closed for a while. There was a general<br />
feeling on the local rialto that the house had<br />
seen its best days and would never be a first<br />
class theatre again, being almost a decade<br />
older than the de luxe first runs built in the<br />
late '20s which then enjoyed the spotlight.<br />
IN BALABAN HANDS 20 YEARS<br />
The Balaban interests—Harry and Elmer<br />
took over the house almost 20 years ago and<br />
have built it into a theatre known for extended<br />
first runs, frequently playing the top<br />
pictures of the year, such as "The Jolson<br />
Story," which played a record 13 weeks although<br />
booked in almost casually to fill a<br />
New Year's eve booking. Under the longtime<br />
management of the late Charles C. Perry, the<br />
Adams steadily gained in stature, coming to<br />
concentrate in this specialized field.<br />
Much attention has been given to<br />
physical<br />
appearance in this period. The house has<br />
been re.seated twice, was the first to install<br />
the original pushback chairs here shortly<br />
before the war and has completely reseated<br />
with a newer type since then, probably an<br />
unparalleled record of high-grade housekeeping.<br />
Other departments have received<br />
equal attention. Despite its age, the Adams<br />
is kept up as a thoroughly up-to-date theatre.<br />
It is perhaps less imposing architecturally<br />
than any other major first run house in the<br />
city, having an entrance in a somewhat outdated<br />
style of office building, leading through<br />
an arcade that runs under and above an<br />
alley, using separated levels for first floor<br />
and balcony to the auditorium, which is really<br />
on the next street.<br />
STRESS FRONT DISPLAYS<br />
The front has been made as impressive<br />
and attractive as possible in a showmanlike<br />
way, with marked emphasis upon front exploitation.<br />
Located right on the 4-' i; -acre<br />
Grand Circus park, it can draw plenty of attention<br />
from shopping, automotive, bus and<br />
streetcar and general pedestrian traffic, even<br />
though it is in the middle of the block and<br />
often hidden by trees from parts of the ten<br />
heavily traveled streets which radiate from<br />
this point.<br />
The location has evidently been a determining<br />
factor, since the Balabans al.so operated<br />
the Downtown, a 3,000-seater built in<br />
the '20s as the Oriental, until a year ago.<br />
The Downtown seemed to be an ill-starred<br />
hou.se under various matiagements for 25<br />
years, and failed to do satisfactory business<br />
under a variety of policies. In the past several<br />
weeks it has been demolished, with the space<br />
to be converted into a parking lot. The general<br />
belief of laymen and showmen here<br />
alike is that the Downtown, about a hundred<br />
yards west of the Adams on the same street,<br />
was less advantageous for display purposes<br />
and apparently people would not walk that<br />
slight extra distance. The sumptuous new<br />
Downtown is gone, while the old Adams<br />
prospers today.<br />
BOOKING CARE IS VITAL<br />
Selective care in booking is probably the<br />
prime ingredient in the recipe for success<br />
at the Adams. The house is admittedly small<br />
for a first run in a major city. The maximum<br />
that can be taken in at the boxoffice in a<br />
week is limited for the most successful film<br />
and attention is centered on buying pictures<br />
that will last a while.<br />
Currently, "Quo Vadis" is playing, going<br />
into a ninth week, with probability of 12 or<br />
more. This film was given the unprecedented<br />
commitment for Detroit of eight weeks and<br />
showed a nice pickup in business as Easter<br />
succeeded Lent. All this has happened, incidentally,<br />
while local show business appears<br />
to be the worst of any in the country.<br />
Relatively little product is needed for a<br />
policy of this sort. Last year two films, "The<br />
Great Caruso" and "An American in Paris,"<br />
each ran nine weeks, accounting for over onethird<br />
of the year's playing time. After "An<br />
American in Paris," two shorter runs came in,<br />
"I Want You" for two weeks and "Death<br />
of a Salesman" for three. Runs of only one<br />
week are very rare.<br />
The difference in size of the house obviously<br />
is an important factor. The Adams commitment<br />
on "Quo Vadis" for eight weeks could<br />
have been absorbed by the 5,500-seat Fox<br />
in just over two weeks.<br />
CONDUCT STRONG CA3IPAIGNS<br />
A strong opening promotional campaign is<br />
an important element in the success of every<br />
film here at the Adams. Under the personal<br />
charge of Managing Director Norman Meyers,<br />
a heavy newspaper campaign, plus other incidental<br />
exploitation, is set up. In succeeding<br />
weeks, exploitation is naturally tapered off<br />
but may run close to $1,000 in later weeks of a<br />
run.<br />
Incidentally, Meyers is a firm believer in<br />
the value of theatre directory advertising in<br />
newspapers. Even though the house uses<br />
daily sizable display space, he keeps that<br />
small space running ever day in the alphabetical<br />
listings along with about 175 other<br />
houses which range down to ultimate runs.<br />
He experimented with eliminating this once<br />
—only to find that he had would-be patrons<br />
who didn't bother to look for the display ads<br />
calling up to see if the house was closed.<br />
Meyers has headed the Balaban operations<br />
in Detroit since the death of Charles C.<br />
Perry.<br />
A former RKO man from Cleveland,<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952<br />
il<br />
^
. . With<br />
he came here seven years ago as exploitation<br />
manager for the two houses and has remained<br />
with the firm since with growing<br />
responsibilities—with one exception. Tliat exception<br />
is characteristic— in the early days<br />
he resigned for a month when he felt there<br />
was not enough opportunity to keep an exploitation<br />
man busy full time, until a shift<br />
in staff brought him added duties as house<br />
manager.<br />
Patron Survey Conducted<br />
By Detroit Film Council<br />
DETROIT—A striking summary of the<br />
public reaction to motion pictures has resulted<br />
from a study of replies received in<br />
the recent contest sponsored by the Detroit<br />
Free Press on "What Motion Picture Entertainment<br />
Means to Me." The replies were<br />
summarized in a statement by the Greater<br />
Detroit Motion Picture Council, which participated<br />
in the judging, and were presented<br />
to BOXOPFICE by Mrs. John R. Miller for<br />
the council. Thi-ee outstanding themes of<br />
public attitude toward the industry, all favorable<br />
and offering sound guidance in planning<br />
at the production level, were outlined:<br />
1. Motion pictures provide a form of family<br />
entertainment within the family budget.<br />
2. Motion pictures provide a pleasant way<br />
of knowing people and places.<br />
3. The screen provides temporary respite<br />
from the sorrows and discouragements which<br />
are part of every human life.<br />
The Greater Detroit council held its annual<br />
luncheon meeting for Friday 1.2), with Richard<br />
E. Osgood, veteran radio commentator<br />
upon show business topics as well as radiotelevision<br />
columnist of the Free Press, as the<br />
speaker.<br />
Mrs. Daniel Hembel, incoming president,<br />
was to be installed in office at the session,<br />
succeeding Mi's. C. P. Lundy. Mrs. Hembel,<br />
incidentally, is closely familiar with the industry,<br />
having worked in the field relations<br />
between exhibitors and the public in the<br />
east side Grosse Pointe area for some time.<br />
She also has been in contact with the problems<br />
of downtown theatremen through previous<br />
service as a delegate and vice-president<br />
on the council.<br />
Michigan Allied Board<br />
Will Convene May 14<br />
DETROIT—A meeting of directors of Allied<br />
Theatres of Michigan has been called for<br />
May 14 by President John Vlachos in the<br />
Allied offices in the Fox Theatre building.<br />
Allied is bringing out a new edition of its<br />
booking book, designed to assist exhibitors in<br />
buying and booking films. Copy has been sent<br />
to the printer, according to Executive Secretary<br />
Ernest E. Conlon.<br />
A complete tariff schedule showing the<br />
rates for transportation of films to all points<br />
served in Michigan by Film Tiaick Service<br />
were distributed this week to members of<br />
Allied Theatres of Michigan through Executive<br />
Secretary Conlon. The distribution of<br />
schedules is intended to "provide exhibitors<br />
with information to accurately determine<br />
film delivery costs." Film carrier costs have<br />
been a subject of live interest since the newrates<br />
went into effect January 1 in this<br />
state. The new schedules show rates ranging<br />
from 40 cents to $1.78 a case, with trailers at<br />
12 cents each.<br />
Drive-In Starts Suit<br />
Against Fast Time<br />
COLUMBUS—Bitter controversies, Including<br />
one court battle, have stemmed from the<br />
shift to daylight savings time in about onefifth<br />
of the cities in this state. Charles and<br />
William Mosser, operators of the Fremont<br />
Drivo-In Theatres, filed an injunction to prevent<br />
the city of Mansfield from going on fast<br />
time last Sunday (27).<br />
The Mo.ssers, who also operate a drlve-in<br />
at Mansfield as well as another near Fremont,<br />
declared that fast time violated state<br />
laws and that the emergency clause tacked<br />
onto the ordinance passed April 22 by the<br />
city council was not in order. They said that<br />
under fast time it would not get dark early<br />
enough to attract outdoor theatre customers.<br />
City officials said that the Mo.sser theatre<br />
is outside the city limits and filed a demurrer<br />
to that effect.<br />
Meantime, several small towns in<br />
the state<br />
will vote on daylight time at the May 6 primary.<br />
Cleveland and Cuyahoga county are<br />
on daylight time as are Youngstown and<br />
Akron. Canton, near Youngstown, retained<br />
eastern standard time, while nearby Massillon<br />
went on fast time.<br />
Cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo<br />
and Dayton retained standard time.<br />
Cleveland Mayland Starts<br />
Travel Picture Series<br />
CLEVELAND—The de luxe Mayland Theatre,<br />
operated by Modern Theatres, is making<br />
a direct response to an article in BOXOF-<br />
FICE April 12, which pointed out that a<br />
series of travel pictures drew heavy attendance<br />
in the Masonic auditorium at $1.75 top,<br />
obviously attracting at least part of the socalled<br />
lost theatre audience.<br />
Starting Sunday (27) and continuing intermittently<br />
throughout the summer, the Mayland<br />
is giving a 35-minute program of travel<br />
pictures as a special feature in addition to<br />
the regular feature program. Initial travel<br />
program included "Romantic Riviera," "Coast<br />
of Devon," "Visiting Italy" and "Glimpses of<br />
Algiers," all from MGM.<br />
Cleveland First Runs Report<br />
3V2 % Drop in First Quarter<br />
CLEVELAND—Available figures covering<br />
first run theatres show a drop of only 3'lper<br />
cent in 1952 under the same period in<br />
1951. The total downtown first run gross<br />
during January. February and March of last<br />
year was $887,900, while the first three<br />
months of 1952 showed a gross of $884,800—<br />
drop of $3,100.<br />
It is generally admitted that downtown<br />
business has benefited from the Movies Are<br />
Better Than Ever drive. These situations get<br />
the cream of the audiences, playing<br />
— the bigger<br />
pictures for extended runs "Quo Vadis,"<br />
18 weeks; "The African Queen." four weeks:<br />
"Sailor Beware," four weeks, and "The Greatest<br />
Show on Earth," five weeks. The selective<br />
patron, who picks and discriminates in<br />
his film fare, sees the big pictures downtown.<br />
This leaves them the bottom of the barrel,<br />
the subsequent run operators complain.<br />
"With people staying away altogether from<br />
the average film, and seeing the big pictures<br />
first run. we have a constantly shi-inking possible<br />
audience," theatre owners in the outlying<br />
areas sum it<br />
up.<br />
LOUISVILLE<br />
prctldir .rcllricN \i:i. Ijion added to the per-<br />
.<br />
Exhibitors<br />
.sonnel of the Falls City Theatre Equipment<br />
Co. here warm weather, virtually<br />
every drlve-ln In the area has opened<br />
or announced opening dates<br />
on the Row Included O.scar<br />
. . .<br />
Hopper, Arista,<br />
Lebanon; Price Coomer, New Harlan, Harlan:<br />
Mrs. O. J. Mlnnix, London: Donald Young.<br />
Gypsy Drive-In, Bardstown; James Totten,<br />
Lakoview Drive-In, Pendleton: A. H. Robertson,<br />
Majestic, Springfield; J. E. Elliott Jr.,<br />
Cardinal, Hodgenville: R. L. Gaines, Riverview<br />
Drive-In, CarroUton.<br />
The Oak Theatre, controlled by Amusement<br />
Enterprises and managed by Bill Reiss, will<br />
get a general remodeling, with new equipment<br />
including chairs and speaker .system . . .<br />
Work is progre.ssing nicely on remodeling of<br />
the Ideal Theatre managed by Joe ReLss. New<br />
chairs were installed in the Ideal along with<br />
new speaker system, new drapes and wall<br />
paneling.<br />
Herman H. Gocke, 82, lawyer and theatre<br />
executive, died at his home here. Gocke was<br />
president and a director of the Ideal Amusement<br />
Co., owner of the Ideal, Park and Oak<br />
theatres here. He became ill last August.<br />
Since then he was reported to have been<br />
confined to his home, although he kept an<br />
office in the Southern Ti-ust building.<br />
A. W. Stanisch is the new resident manager<br />
of the Shelby and Burley theatres,<br />
Shelbyville. The Burley and Shelby are controlled<br />
by Chakeres Theatres, whose main office<br />
is in Springfield, Ohio . . . Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Gene Lutes have returned from an extended<br />
vacation in Miami. Gene is district manager<br />
for Chakeres Kentucky Theatres.<br />
Tom Goodman, owner and manager of the<br />
Dream Theatre, Corydon, Ind., was a visitor<br />
recently. In addition to running his theatre<br />
he is a traveling sales representative for<br />
Monogram in this ai'ea.<br />
Exploitation Contest Set<br />
For Horror Film Reissue<br />
CINCINNATI—A nationwide exploitation<br />
contest on the horror films, "Frankenstein"<br />
and "Dracula." started with the rerelease of<br />
these pictures May 1. This contest, sponsored<br />
by Realart and its franchise holders,<br />
offers $100 in prizes—a $50 first prize and<br />
$25 each second and third prizes—in each<br />
exchange territory for the theatre manager<br />
who submits the best campaigns on the films.<br />
Final campaigns in each section of the<br />
country will be judged by a special committee<br />
organized by each franchise holder for his<br />
respective territory. Jay Goldberg. Cincinnati<br />
manager, will announce the judging<br />
committee within the next few weeks. The<br />
contest will run for foui- months, ending August<br />
15.<br />
'Show' Sets New Record<br />
TOLEDO — The six-week stay ol "The<br />
Greatest Show on Earth" at the Princess<br />
here ended April 22. with a record attendance<br />
for the theatre. Previous record-holder<br />
there had been "Going My Way," but the<br />
circus film surpassed it both in length of<br />
run and in attendance, reported Giles Robb,<br />
manager.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 95
m<br />
Ohio Drive-In to Appeal<br />
Newspaper Ban on Ads<br />
URBANA. OHIO- Right Of a newspaper lo<br />
refuse to run advertisements was upheld by<br />
common pleas Judge David S. Porter in an<br />
action brought against the Urbana Daily<br />
Citizen by an official of the Skyhigh Drive-<br />
In near here.<br />
The decision will be appealed to the Supreme<br />
Court "if necessary." said the Skyhigh<br />
official. Judge Porter held that a newspaper<br />
"i.s not a business affected with the public<br />
interest in the same way as a railroad or<br />
other utility." He said the Citizen did not<br />
reject the drive-in's ad copy because of its<br />
content, but because it would injure the business<br />
of Champaign county's theatres, which<br />
also advertise in the Citizen. He upheld the<br />
legality of that policy.<br />
The Skyhigh is located in adjoining Clark<br />
In<br />
county between Urbana and Springfield.<br />
its injunction suit, the theatre firm claimed<br />
the Citizen's refusal to accept advertisements<br />
was "an lawful restraint of trade." It<br />
charged that the newspaper's ban on Skyhigh's<br />
ads was made because the theatre operated<br />
in competition with two theatres in<br />
Urbana and another drive-in outside Urbana<br />
but in Champaign county.<br />
The Skyhigh claimed many of its patrons<br />
reside in the area served by the Citizen.<br />
George A. Bratton Dies<br />
TOLEDO—George A. Bratton. 48. former<br />
manager of<br />
the LaFrance Theatre, Swanton,<br />
died in St. Vincent's hospital here. His wife,<br />
three daughters and mother survive.<br />
Paul Bunyan Contest Set<br />
For Hubbard Lake Airer<br />
HUBBARD LAKE, MICH.—Mr and Mrs.<br />
Lou Kramer, owners and operators of the<br />
Paul Bunyan Drive-In Theatre, formerly<br />
known as the Ski-View Drive-In, are beginning<br />
their fourth year of operation. The<br />
drive-in, located on the Kramer corner at<br />
the north end of Hubbard lake, was northeastern<br />
Michigan's first airer.<br />
This year the owners are conducting a Paul<br />
Bunyan tall story-writing contest for both<br />
children and adults. The stories must deal<br />
with Bunyan and his "sister," who, up until<br />
now, has been kept in the background. Some<br />
$100 in cash prizes will be awarded, plus merchandise<br />
and free pa.sses to the theatre.<br />
Judges will be newspaper, radio, busine.ssmen<br />
and educational leaders. Plans are in the<br />
making for a Paul Bunyan day at Hubbard<br />
Lake for some time in August. Also planned<br />
are a number of benefit shows.<br />
J. A. Ball Reopens Ozoner;<br />
Don Young Starts Gypsy<br />
BARDSTOWN, KY.—Two area drive-ins<br />
have been opened for the season. J. A. Ball,<br />
owner and manager, opened the Bel-Vista<br />
Drive-In near Springfield with no increase in<br />
adult admissions this year and children's<br />
prices 15 cents.<br />
The Gypsy Drive-In, a short distance north<br />
of Bardstown on Highway 31E, was reopened<br />
by Manager Donald Young. The theatre has<br />
three program changes weekly and several<br />
improvements are contemplated for the ozoner<br />
during the season. Young said.<br />
Detroit Keglers Winners<br />
Of Intercity Match<br />
CLEVELAND—The 1951-52<br />
bowling season<br />
ended disastrously for the Cleveland operators<br />
One-Sixty Bowling league when the annual<br />
match between the Cleveland 160 league<br />
and the Detroit Nightingales was won by the<br />
Motor city league.<br />
Ti-ailing by 291 pins lost at the April match<br />
held in Detroit, the Cleveland team lost another<br />
110 pins in the second and final match<br />
on April 15 for a total loss of 401 pins. This<br />
loss was attributed to the steady pounding<br />
by the Nightingales with a 1.048 game as a<br />
starter. This pace continued with 911, 952,<br />
922, 922 for a total of 4,825 pins. The games<br />
were featured by a total of 922, with 209 and<br />
223 games for Douville of Detroit, 943 and<br />
242 for Roy Thompson, 934 for Lindenthal,<br />
916 for Fouchey and 905 for G. Light.<br />
For the Cleveland team, Hutchins 213-938<br />
and Gehringer's 904 led the losing battle. The<br />
William Kramer trophy has now been won<br />
twice by each team. Next year's winner will<br />
keep the trophy permanently.<br />
Before the final session started, luncheon<br />
was .served by the women's committee composed<br />
of Mrs. R. Favor, Mrs. Earl Gehringer<br />
and Mrs. John Noonan. And after the games,<br />
dinner was served to 70 members, wives and<br />
guests at which time prizes were given out.<br />
A leather brief case was given to Larry<br />
Shafer, secretary of Cleveland's 160 Bowling<br />
league and the gutter-cup to Floyd Akins,<br />
secretary of the Detroit Nightingales.<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. team finished<br />
the 1951-52 sea.son in first place, with Oliver<br />
Theatre Supply, Cloverleaf and Suprex Carbon<br />
teams trailing.<br />
If It's Good Promotion<br />
someone<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
will<br />
report it in . .<br />
if^<br />
"V.<br />
Fresh from the scenes of the activities each week come constani<br />
reports of merchandising of films Most of these are ideas "vou<br />
can use for your own promotion. All of them are interesting and<br />
most of them are profitable in other similar circumstances.<br />
Make<br />
full use of these practical ideas by practical showmen, many of<br />
whom you may know.<br />
Motion pictures lend themselves ideally to good advertising. The public interest is<br />
high.<br />
Capitalize on the interest that already exists and increase your attendance<br />
•with proved ideas.<br />
96 BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
LYNN<br />
f*lem L. McCann, Lynn's younst'st theatre<br />
manager, isn't letting the seven-week-old<br />
bus strike hurt business at the Olympia. After<br />
giving the theatre a top to bottom house<br />
cleaning, he began exploiting all the pictures<br />
his theatre played. When "Snow White and<br />
the Seven Dwarfs" was shown, he prevailed<br />
upon merchants to contribute prizes for a<br />
coloring contest, along with giving theatre<br />
tickets to those who purchased albums at a<br />
music store as advertised on the front pages<br />
of the papers. The department of conservation<br />
gave him the use of a fire truck, manned<br />
by boy fire fighters, while "Red Skies of<br />
Montana" w^as showing the havoc wrought by<br />
forest fires during dry seasons. A comedy<br />
cop, leading a prisoner by a chain, ballyhooed<br />
"Strait Jacket." For "David and Bathsheba"<br />
he had a mystic, wearing a turban,<br />
looking into a crystal ball and predicting enjoyment<br />
to all who saw the picture. Other<br />
pictures were brought to the public's attention<br />
in a similar manner, and a loudspeaker at<br />
the entrance is to enliven the business district<br />
with selected musical hits.<br />
David Fields is new on the Capitol staff<br />
and Tex Cecil is the new chief usher.<br />
Harvard Lampoon Picks<br />
Annual Film 'Worsts'<br />
BOSTON—The Harvard Lampoon, undergraduate<br />
weekly comic, came out with its<br />
annual "worsts" or "Oscars in Reverse" in<br />
its appraisal of the 1951 motion picture<br />
scene. It singled out as the year's worst performers<br />
Robert Taylor for his work in "Quo<br />
Vadis" and Corrine Calvet for "On the<br />
Riviera."<br />
The winner of the worst title was "Tales<br />
of Hoffmann." Franchot Tone scored twice,<br />
once as the most miscast, in "Here Comes<br />
the Groom" in which he played a Boston<br />
blueblood; and as "one of the two most noteworthy<br />
examples of physical fitness" (kicking<br />
Miss Plorabel Muir).<br />
In this latter category, Humphrey Bogart<br />
was also cited for felling an unidentified girl<br />
In El Morocco.<br />
"Should have stayed home" was the terse<br />
comment on Ezio Pinza's work in "Mr. Imperium"<br />
and "Strictly Dishonorable." Peter<br />
Lawford in "Royal Wedding" and Ava Gardner<br />
in "Show Boat" were tops in the "worst<br />
supporting performances," while Martin and<br />
Lewis were described as the "worst comic<br />
duo."<br />
Noteworthy by her absence was Elizabeth<br />
Taylor who received a hatful of "worsts"<br />
last year. The Lampoon even lauded "A<br />
Place in the Sun," in which she had a starring<br />
role.<br />
Uses Industry Quotes<br />
HARTFORD—Allen M. Widem, motion picture<br />
editor, Hartford Times, who has been<br />
using one quote a week from a prominent<br />
industry executive in his column, has stepped<br />
up the number to two and three a week. He<br />
gets the comments from tradepaper reporting<br />
of key executives' talks, and puts the<br />
comments in his daily column under the<br />
subhead of "Movietime, U.S.A." People quoted<br />
recently include Eric Johnston, MPA: Gael<br />
Sullivan, TOA; Clarence Brown. MGM:<br />
Charles Brackett. 20th-Fox.<br />
Richmond and Stern<br />
Split Partnership<br />
BOSTON- Louis Stern has resigned as an<br />
executive for Richmond-Stern Enterprises<br />
LOUIS RICHMOND<br />
^^<br />
and is devoting his time to the operation of<br />
Fernand's gift shop in Brookline.<br />
Louis Richmond now- is operating the theatres<br />
formerly under the Richmond-Stern Enterprises<br />
banner, including the Kenmore in<br />
Boston, the Orpheum in Somerville. the Uptown<br />
in West Lynn and Nutting's-on-the-<br />
Charles. Richmond maintains an interest in<br />
the Mount Vernon Drive-In. Washington; the<br />
Governor Ritcliie Drive-In. Baltimore; the<br />
Hartford Drive-In. Newington. Conn., and the<br />
Milford at Milford, Conn., all in partnership<br />
with E. M. Loew.<br />
Richmond has left the Colony. Dorchester,<br />
which is closed, and the Colony. Lynn. The<br />
concern has been renamed the Louis Richmond<br />
Enterprises with headquarters in the<br />
Bradford building. Cleo Jacove continues on<br />
as office manager and secretary.<br />
Hy Fine Mokes Appeal<br />
For Palsy Postcards<br />
BOSTON—Hy Fine, chairman of the<br />
United Cerebral Palsy Ass'n's drive for theatres<br />
in New England, is urging all exhibitors<br />
in this area to fill out and return the postcards<br />
sent to them regarding playdates for<br />
the John Wayne trailer. As soon as the cards<br />
are received by Fine, he will send along the<br />
trailer and kit containing the coin boxes, containers<br />
and posters from National Screen<br />
Service.<br />
Fine urges all exhibitors and managers to<br />
place the coin boxes in a prominent spot<br />
in the theatre lobbies and if possible to have<br />
them manned by members of the house staff<br />
or volunteer collectors from local women's<br />
organizations. All money collected should be<br />
.sent by check or money order (payable to<br />
UCPA^ to the office of Hy Fine, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Boston, Mass,<br />
United States film productions continue to<br />
dominate the market in the metropolitan<br />
areas in Venezuela.<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
Trouble features arc the greatest evil of thientire<br />
motion picture Industry," according<br />
to Max Weinberg. Eastern shorts representative<br />
for MGM, In an address before the Motion<br />
Picture Council thl.s week. "Prom the standpoint<br />
of economics," he said, "two feature<br />
films represent an investment of well over a<br />
million dollars and .sometimes several million,<br />
which Is rather lavish when you consider that<br />
neighborhood theatres that change their programs<br />
frequently book more than 300 pictures<br />
a year." Touching on audience reaction,<br />
Weinberg said that from a viewpoint of enjoyment,<br />
"most people would con.sider It exhausting<br />
and meaningless to .see two fulllength<br />
plays, two operas, or listen to two<br />
concerts at a time." He urged that the public<br />
be re-educated to a return to programs<br />
of one feature film and shorts.<br />
Holdovers are not too common in this area,<br />
and to have two in the same week is very<br />
unusual, but "With a Song in My Heart"<br />
held over for a second Week at the Loew's<br />
Poll, at the same time "The Marrying Kind"<br />
was repeated at the Bijou . . . George E. Freeman,<br />
Loew's Poll manager, .screened "Singin'<br />
in the Rain" for press repre.sentatives and<br />
local<br />
disk jockeys.<br />
The lifting of the federal freeze on TV stations,<br />
which will give this immediate area<br />
two broadcasting stations, will not have any<br />
marked effect on movie patrons, according to<br />
Samuel Goldstein, We.stern Massachusetts<br />
Circuit president. Stressing his point concerning<br />
the audience potential of good movies,<br />
Goldstein pointed to "The Greatest Show on<br />
Earth," which broke all attendance records at<br />
the Paramount here.<br />
Holdover Musicals<br />
Lead Boston Field<br />
BOSTON—The two musicals, "With a Song<br />
in My Heart" and "Singin' in the Rain," held<br />
up big in their second weeks. Of the newproduct,<br />
"The Man in the White Suit" easily<br />
led the field. "My Son John" was a disappointment<br />
and will not hold over.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor With o Song in My Heart (20th-Fox).<br />
2nd wk 150<br />
Beacon Hill—The River (UA), 3rd wl< 100<br />
Boston Mo and Po Kettle ot the Foir (U-l); The<br />
-Time ot Their Lives iRealart), reissue 105<br />
Exeter Street —The Mon in the White Suit (U-l). .150<br />
Majestic Never Take No for an Answer<br />
(Souvoine), 2nd wk 85<br />
Memorial Roncho Notorious (RKO); The Pace<br />
Thot Thrills (RKO) 90<br />
Metropoliton My Son John (Poro), The Fabuloui<br />
Senorila (Rep) 85<br />
Paramount and Fenway Hoodlum Empire (Rep);<br />
Gobs and Gals (Rep), reissue . 95<br />
State and Orpheum Singin' in the Roin (MGM),<br />
2nd wk 1 35<br />
'Singin' in Rain' Big<br />
At Hartford Poli<br />
HARTFORD—The biggest news In the<br />
downtown area was "Singin' in the Rain."<br />
Allyn—Steel Town lU-l), Oklahoma Annie<br />
(Rep) 90<br />
Art—Mr. Peek-A-Boo (UA). Royal Journey (UA)..100<br />
E. M. Locw—Sound OH (Col); Thief of Oomoscus<br />
(Col) 120<br />
Poll— Singin' in the Rain (MGM) 160<br />
Palace Rose of Cimarron (20th-Fox); Corporal<br />
Dolan Goes AWOL Rep) 85<br />
Regal—The African Queen (UA), Shorts, 2nd wk..1l5<br />
Strand— At Swords Point (RKO); A Girl in<br />
Every Port (RKO) . . 100<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 NE 97
. . When<br />
. . Joe<br />
. . Dan<br />
. , The<br />
BOSTON<br />
Qn the special car carrying members of<br />
the Variety Club of New England to Las<br />
Vegas. Nev., to attend the Variety International<br />
convention were Mr. and Mrs, Michael<br />
Redstone. Mr, and Mrs. Irving Shapiro, Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Louis Stern, Mr. and Mrs. Harry<br />
Zeitz and family, Mr. and Mrs, Meyer Stanzler,<br />
Mr, and Mrs. Lloyd Bridgham, Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Samuel Dane, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth<br />
Douglass, Mr. and Mrs. Ruebcn Landau, Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Abe Yarchin. Mr. and Mrs. Herman<br />
Mintz, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Weiss, John<br />
Dervin, Herman Rifkin, Bill Koster, Don<br />
Alexander and Mr. and Mrs. Steve<br />
. . . Brodie Sympathy to Matt Moriarty,<br />
Universal booker, in the death of his wife.<br />
The funeral was held at St. Joseph's church<br />
in Somcrville<br />
Managerial changes in the E. M. Loew' circuit:<br />
E. J. O'Connell, former manager at the<br />
Regal, Franklin, N. H.. and the Palace. Cranston.<br />
R. I., has been transferred to the Center,<br />
Pawtucket. Ed Daley will be moved to<br />
the Kingston Drive-In when it reopens. Jay<br />
Finn, son of General Manager Max Finn will<br />
manage the Riverdale, West Springfield.<br />
Henry Chapman is directing the newly<br />
erected Salem. Salem. A. Cologiovianni has<br />
been placed at the Olympia, Olneyville, R. I.<br />
Nathan Goldberg has been transferred from<br />
the Plymouth in Worcester to the West<br />
Boylston Drive-In.<br />
Walter Diehl. business agent: Joe Nuzzolo.<br />
president, and Meyer Rosen, projectionist at<br />
the Majestic Theatre, attended the Local 182<br />
testimonial dinner at the St. George hotel,<br />
Brooklyn, for William P. Raoul, general secretary<br />
and treasurer of lATSE . U-I<br />
When YOU Need<br />
5peciat<br />
TRAILERS<br />
SPECIALLY<br />
Good & Fast<br />
SEND IT TO<br />
'CHICAGO, 1327 S. WABASH<br />
NEW YORK, 630 NINTH AVE.<br />
IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP.<br />
"The Best Value In Sound Service"<br />
Hancocic 6-7984 445 Statler Building<br />
Boston, Massachusetts<br />
publicist John McGrail brought Geronimo<br />
and his Indian troupe to Lowell for promotion<br />
of "The Battle at Apache Pass," Arthur<br />
Keenan, manager of the Strand, and Eddie<br />
Sokolowski, owner of the Capitol, attended<br />
the dinner at the Rex Penthouse grill.<br />
Larry Laskey has been named treasurer<br />
of the Massachu.setts Kefauver for President<br />
committee with headquarters<br />
in the Hotel<br />
Bradford here. Laskey<br />
is a partner with E. M.<br />
Loew and the Griffing-<br />
Laskey Construction<br />
Co. He .served recently<br />
as chairman of the<br />
Bonds for Israel campaign<br />
here . . . Cigars<br />
were passed out by<br />
Chris Joyce, district<br />
manager for Interstate<br />
Theatres, on the birth<br />
Larry Laskey of his first child, who<br />
has been named Chris jr.<br />
Mayor John Hynes presented a scroll to<br />
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello during their<br />
visit here. It read: "For contributing to the<br />
merriment of our beloved city with their<br />
wholesome family entertainment as portrayed<br />
on the screen in their first all-color film production,<br />
'Jack and the Beanstalk.' We are<br />
justly proud that the famous comedy team<br />
of Abbott and Costello met with immediate<br />
public acclaim as a result of their world premiere<br />
stage performance on a Boston stage<br />
in 'Streets of Paris' in May 1939."<br />
MGM publicist Floyd Fitzsimmons has<br />
found a house in Marblehead Neck and moved<br />
. . . Rosalie<br />
his family there, ending his weekend trips<br />
to Albany, his former home<br />
Parziale, biller for Warners, will marry Robert<br />
Gedick in September ... As customary,<br />
the Woodstock, Vt., Town Hall will repeat its<br />
summer policy of legitimate shows one night<br />
a week . Kennedy, who operates the<br />
Key Theatre in Meredith, N. H., will take<br />
over operation of the Corliss, North Woodstock,<br />
formerly handled by Jesse Kelley.<br />
While Ralph Snider was recuperating after<br />
surgery at the Beth Israel hospital, the Variety<br />
Club had a television set in his room<br />
. . . Al Kane, Paramount executive who was<br />
. . . Al<br />
transferred to the Dallas area, dropped in at<br />
the Variety Club to greet the boys on a weekend<br />
visit here . Murphy of the Loring<br />
Hall Theatre, Hingham, has changed to four<br />
days, Thursdays through Sundays<br />
Lourie of the Adams Theatre, Dorchester, was<br />
COMEDIANS VISIT—Ande Sette,<br />
center,<br />
manager of the Springfield, Mass.,<br />
Capitol, posed with funnymen Bud .Abbott<br />
and Lou Costello at a recent New<br />
Haven press party in connection with<br />
the opening of WB's "Jack and the Beanstalk,"<br />
at which Abbott and Costello<br />
made personal appearances.<br />
treated to a birthday dinner April 21 attended<br />
by 50 members of his family . . . Frank<br />
Wolf, assistant to E. M, Loew, has moved<br />
from his West Roxbury home to a new house<br />
in Hancock Village , Sumner Myersons<br />
(he is district manager for E. M. Loew)<br />
became parents of their first child, a son.<br />
Roy E. Heffner has returned from a western<br />
trip where he assigned his Goodwill<br />
Award in the Dallas area to John Franconi,<br />
veteran film distributor. Goodwill has been<br />
installed at the Garden Theatre, Laconia,<br />
N. H., and at the Guild Theatre, Norwood,<br />
Mass., two theatres of the Smith Management<br />
Co. The Broadway Theatre, South Boston,<br />
also a Smith house, recently signed up<br />
for its second Goodwill night for Tuesday<br />
evenings. This house has been running Goodwill<br />
for 15 consecutive years on Saturday<br />
nights.<br />
Television set sales in the Boston area during<br />
March brought set distribution close to<br />
900.000, according to figm-es released by WBZ-<br />
TV and WNAC-TV. The survey shows that<br />
886,349 sets are installed in homes and public<br />
places, an increase over the previous<br />
month of 12,588. The latest estimates place<br />
total video installations in the Providence<br />
area at 212,000 as of April 1.<br />
Norma Productions has signed Laurence<br />
Stallings to write the screenplay for "His<br />
Majesty O'Keefe," a Warner release.<br />
CHILDREN'S PREMIUMS<br />
WESTERN<br />
Rings and Pins of Famous „ ! BADGES
. . State<br />
. . The<br />
. . Rubin<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . Guy<br />
Herman Rifkin Is Wed<br />
To Sadye Felixson<br />
LOS ANGELES—Herman I. Rifkin. Monogram<br />
vice-president and francliise holder of<br />
Boston. Mass.. and Mrs. Sadye M. Felixson<br />
of Bel-Air, Calif., were married Thursday<br />
(241 at the home of Steve Broidy. Monogram<br />
president.<br />
HARTFORD<br />
n pre-Broadway tryout of a new Robert<br />
Nathan play, "Jezebel's Husband." starring<br />
Claude Rains and a feminine performer<br />
to be announced, will open the 1952-53 legitimate<br />
season September 4 at the 1.167-seat New<br />
Parsons, operated by Charles Bowden, Philip<br />
Langner and Mrs. Nancy Stern . . . Columbia's<br />
Dick Stephens has been busy on "Walk East<br />
on Beacon" in the territory . Simon,<br />
60. father of Phil Simon, partner in the Pike<br />
Drive-In, Newington, died.<br />
Harry Feinstein and Jim Totman of the<br />
Warner circuit were in town . Fred<br />
Greenway, wife of the Palace manager, has<br />
returned home following a long hospital stay<br />
. . . Joe Spivack. Connecticut Theatre Candy<br />
Co., was in the city .<br />
Treasurer Joseph<br />
A. Adorno, son of Sal Adorno sr., general<br />
manager of M&D Theatres, addressed<br />
the 53rd anniversary dinner of the Torrington<br />
Italian-American Republic club.<br />
.<br />
Mrs. Joe Borenstein, wife of the Strand<br />
manager at New Britain, served on the arrangements<br />
committee for the annual Jewish<br />
Federation dinner State, New<br />
Britain, has a new dinnerware deal . . Joe<br />
.<br />
Dolgin of the Pine Drive-In, Waterbury. reports<br />
his daughter-in-law. Mrs. Al Dolgin.<br />
gave birth to a baby girl named Marcy in Chicago.<br />
She's the former Zelda Levin, and at<br />
one time worked for the old PRC organization<br />
Sperie G. Perakos. district manager<br />
. . . for Perakos Theatres, will wed Nicki Pappas.<br />
Detroit, in September. Sperie's dad Peter will<br />
leave the latter part of May on a 28-day trip<br />
Europe.<br />
to<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
Tack Mahoney, film cowboy who plays the<br />
Range Rider on television, stopped off in<br />
Providence on his recent 20-city tour and<br />
visited Children's Center, Mount Pleasant<br />
playgrounds. Dillon park and Hopkins park,<br />
much to the enjoyment of thousands of boys<br />
and girls . . . Al Clai-ke, Majestic Theatre<br />
manager, scored another top exploitation<br />
scoop when he secured the cooperation of<br />
Cladding's, exclusive downtown store, in window<br />
and newspaper tieups for "With a Song<br />
in My Heart."<br />
The Hope, neighborhood house on the east<br />
. .<br />
side, is offering some unusual double feature<br />
programs sans B pictures. Every program<br />
recently has consisted of two top attractions.<br />
A recent example was "Viva<br />
When<br />
Zapata!"<br />
and "Death of a Salesman" .<br />
the Rhode Island Reds, local hockey team,<br />
fought an uphill battle to gain a berth in<br />
the Calder American cup hockey league playoffs,<br />
against Pittsburgh, downtow'n first run<br />
houses had a couple of lean Sunday nights.<br />
WORCESTER<br />
\X7ith Nate (iuldberg lukum ovrr the manam'Hii'nt<br />
of the West Boyl.slon open-air<br />
theatre. Tom Kivlan is manaying the Plymouth<br />
. Palmerton plans to shorten his<br />
season at the Playhouse, running from May<br />
30 to September 1 ... It is reported an<br />
attempt is being made to return a stock company<br />
to Westboro Town Hall, the first since<br />
prewar days.<br />
Bob Portia, manager of the Loew's Poll Elm<br />
Street, recalled that the title song of "Singin'<br />
in the Rain" originally was sung in the<br />
"Music Box Revue" on Broadway by Doris<br />
Eaton, who later acted in stock at his theatre<br />
Marcel Dill left here for Hollywood<br />
. . .<br />
to tnukc another le.^l<br />
film, "The Library."<br />
lor Mary Pickford's<br />
John siiuKrue swung the deal to return to<br />
the Westboro Red Barn as producer. John<br />
. , . Guy<br />
Ci-ystoff of Holden bought the playhou.sc .since<br />
Shugi-ue handled it last summer<br />
Lombardo's orchestra and vaudeville show<br />
drew a slim hou.se at the Auditorium . . . Th:-<br />
annual ceremony of hanging a wreath on the<br />
historical tablet on the Elm Street Theatre<br />
was conducted on Patriot's day under Bob<br />
Portle's direction.<br />
^ijecla<br />
T<br />
lis IS<br />
Your help appreciated— run the Cerebral Paliy<br />
trailer. Avoilable trom May 15 ta July 1.<br />
IN CAFETERIA EQUIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
for<br />
THEATRES<br />
Two or Four Lane Cafeteria Service.<br />
Specially designed Formica Top Counters and<br />
Stainless Steel Food Service Equipment.<br />
Among the 18 Concession Stands that<br />
we have designed, manufactured and<br />
installed are Neponset, Fresh Pond, Fair<br />
Haven, Manchester, Me., Midhaven, Vt..<br />
Rockland, Me.<br />
Among the 7 stands that we have remodeled<br />
for increased sales are Revere, Bay<br />
State and Sunrise.<br />
Ai no obligation to you, our engineering staff is available for new installations<br />
and to redesign your present outmoded stand.<br />
MORRIS GORDON & SON,<br />
food Service Equipment since 1887<br />
INC.<br />
112 Sudbury Street BOSTON Cap. 7-5450<br />
BOXOFTICE May 3, 1952 99
. . Lew<br />
. .<br />
. . Nathan<br />
. . Joseph<br />
NEWHAMPSHIRE<br />
'TluTe was a top admission charge of $1 for<br />
the showing of "Quo Vadis" at the State<br />
in Manchester. The picture rated special<br />
Lewis A. Nelson<br />
mention in the local press . . .<br />
presided as moderator at a recent town<br />
meeting in Hopkinton which was filmed by<br />
Paramount News to show the workings of<br />
New Hampshire town meetings.<br />
The Nashua Drive-In. which boasts that it<br />
is the only ozoner in the area which admits<br />
up to six persons in a car for a dollar admission,<br />
has opened its new season. Shows will<br />
be held on Friday. Saturday and Sunday<br />
nights until early May and every evening<br />
thereafter ... On the same night, the Concord<br />
Drive-In also opened for the summer,<br />
offering the first local showing of MGM's<br />
"The Wild North." This drive-in has a taxincluded<br />
admission charge of 60 cents for<br />
adults, with no chai-ge<br />
for children and cars.<br />
An estimated 5.000 youngsters, one of the<br />
largest crowds of children ever gathered in<br />
downtown Manchester, turned out for two<br />
free showings of Donald Duck films at the<br />
State Theatre. The program was staged as<br />
a commercial advertising stunt by Normand<br />
Bros. Bakery Co., which has introduced a new<br />
brand of bread called "Donald Duck." Six<br />
policemen were assigned to the theatre area<br />
to handle the throng, which was twice the<br />
anticipated size.<br />
The Crown in Manchester, which was dark<br />
for some time, had a one-day showing of the<br />
Greek film, Anna Rothiti," with English titles.<br />
It attracted much attention among the many<br />
Manchester residents of Greek ancestry .<br />
Rebuilding of the Latchis Theatre in Milford,<br />
which w-as badly damaged by a recent<br />
lire, has been started, according to the owner,<br />
Pet«r Latchis. The workmen are constructmg<br />
a completely new roof and the entire interior<br />
will have to be repaired. About ,575<br />
.seats will have to be installed ... A scramble<br />
for the establishment of New Hampshire's<br />
first television broadcasting station followed<br />
the allocation of channels in this area by the<br />
FCC.<br />
BRIDGEPORT<br />
Uelen Freudenheim, veteran cashier at the<br />
. . .<br />
Strand, is home after 12 days in the hospital<br />
with pneumonia Harry Gulliver,<br />
projectionist, has transferred from Loew's<br />
Globe to the Majestic . Rich is back<br />
for the third season with his Bozo the Clown<br />
act at the Milford Drive-In.<br />
Word comes from St. Louis that Don Ross,<br />
became father of a son named Michael. Don's<br />
late father Donald sr. was manager of the<br />
Globe here. The paternal grandmother,<br />
Mrs. Jane Ross, associated with Loew's theatres<br />
here for a number of years, also lives<br />
in St. Louis now . . . James Liburdi, projectionist<br />
at the Majestic, celebrated a birth<br />
anniversary.<br />
. . . "Bagels<br />
. . .<br />
First 85-degree weather of the year cut<br />
sharply into weekend business<br />
and Yox" drew a near-capacity house in a<br />
one-night stand at the Klein Memorial auditorium<br />
Methew Silichner has been<br />
granted a permit to operate a summer theatre<br />
in Ridgefield,<br />
FALL RIVER<br />
Jln eitstern Massachusetts bus strike was<br />
curtailing the attendance at downtown<br />
theatres considerably and prompted the announcement<br />
by Yamins Enterprises that the<br />
Capitol Theatre will remain closed for the<br />
duration of the strike, which started over a<br />
month ago . Yamins' Westport<br />
Auto Theatre reopened for the season with<br />
George Daab as manager and featuring, as<br />
last year, a $1 admission charge for six persons<br />
in one auto . Schwartz' Somerset<br />
Drive-In also has reopened.<br />
"Catskill Honeymoon," featuring Julius Adler,<br />
Jan Bart, Bas Sheva and Cookie Bowers,<br />
was presented at the Strand under the<br />
auspices of the Men's club of Temple Beth El.<br />
The Somerset Theatre, a conventional house<br />
presenting stock companies in the summer,<br />
has been subleased to a Rhode Island motion<br />
picture exhibitor by the co-owners,<br />
Nathan Yamins and William S. Canning . . ;<br />
Theatre personnel have sent felicitation cards<br />
to Mrs. John F. McGraw, the former Peggy<br />
Cullen of the Durfee boxoffice, on the recent<br />
birth of her daughter, christened Margaret<br />
Ann . . . The Bay State Drive-In in nearby<br />
Seekonk, widely patronized by residents of<br />
the greater Fall River area, reopened.<br />
. . .<br />
... All Fall River theatres closed all day<br />
Good Friday Home from the College of<br />
New Rochelle for the Easter recess was Moira<br />
O'Connor, daughter of John E. O'Connor,<br />
owner and operator of the Plaza Theatre.<br />
Save oil copper drippings for metal drive.<br />
GOODWILL AWARD AND BANKNIGHT<br />
will get the people out of their homes away from the<br />
radio and television<br />
And to Your Theatre<br />
.^<br />
There are over 100 theatres in the New England territory<br />
proving it every week.<br />
irS THE LEGAL WAY AND THE PROVEN WAY<br />
Write or call us and we will see you<br />
GOODWILL ADVERTISING COMPANY<br />
22 Church Street Liberty 2-9305 Boston, Mass.
Seek Formula for Maritimes Drive-Ins<br />
Mitchell Franklin and Peter Herschorn Survey Outdoor Success in Florida<br />
By KITTY HARWOOD<br />
MIAMI—"We are delighted with, and deeply<br />
appreciative of, the cordiality of theatre<br />
people in Greater Miami, who have gone out<br />
of their way to show us their drive-in operations<br />
and give us the benefit of their experience<br />
in this field." This was the sentiment<br />
expressed by Mitchell Franklin and Peter<br />
Herschorn of the Franklin & Herschorn theatre<br />
company of Canada. Franklin, vicepresident<br />
and general manager, and his partner<br />
Hei-schorn. vice-president and secretary<br />
of the company, have been here studying<br />
drive-in theatres in this area before beginning<br />
construction of three airers across the<br />
border.<br />
"We are here to combine business with<br />
pleasure," said Franklin, as he and his partner<br />
were interviewed following a "refresher<br />
course" in diving which they were taking at<br />
the pool of an ocean-front hotel. They admitted<br />
that "all this sunshine" had something<br />
to do with their visit, too.<br />
SECOND GENERATION SHOWMEN<br />
The two young men are second-generation<br />
operators of the circuit of which J. M. Franklin<br />
is founder and president. The latter's<br />
associate was the late Myer Herschorn. The<br />
company represents one of the few remaining<br />
independent theatre companies in the Dominion<br />
of Canada. Franklin sr. has a winter<br />
home in Miami Beach and spends about six<br />
months of the year here.<br />
Besides their seven theatres ( soon to include<br />
three drive-ins) the company operates fountain<br />
restaurants. They were the first in Canada<br />
to establish these restaurants in theatre<br />
lobbies, access to the theatre being through<br />
the center. "They are somewhat comparable<br />
to the arrangement of the Miami Theatre,<br />
with the restaurant adjacent and opening<br />
into the theatre," explains Franklin. The Canadian<br />
plan is such that both theatre and<br />
street trade is accommodated. "And we have<br />
a very large amount of outside trade,"<br />
Herschorn added.<br />
The circuit also has its own confections<br />
business and maintains candy stands in the<br />
lobbies of all its houses. Still another "arm"<br />
of the business is a real estate interest.<br />
AS ANSWER TO TV<br />
Theatres operated by this company are located<br />
in the maritime provinces, and the<br />
three drive-ins will be among the first such<br />
in that section of Canada. Although there is<br />
at present no television in eastern Canada,<br />
both Franklin and Herschorn are looking to<br />
the future w^hen this medium, in their opinion,<br />
inevitably will present motion picture<br />
competition. The drive-in, with its accompanying<br />
advantages for the family trade, is<br />
an answer, they believe. It will have the allaround<br />
entertainment value for families that<br />
may well be taken advantage of regardless<br />
of TV.<br />
The study by the two Canadians of drivein<br />
techniques here is to determine the most<br />
attractive factors which can be incorporated<br />
Into such operations in order to make them<br />
of most service to the family trade.<br />
The partners point out that, for the drivein<br />
operator, their particular section of the<br />
Maritimes Partners<br />
Mitchell Franklin<br />
Peter Herschorn<br />
country is handicapped by certain factors<br />
which are unique in Canada;<br />
1. The short season. Climate makes possible<br />
about a 20-week season. This has been given<br />
thorough study with the result that the<br />
owners believe they can do, in that period,<br />
an average business comparable with a yearly<br />
average done in the indoor houses.<br />
2. Daylight time. In New Brunswick and<br />
Nova Scotia the sunset comes late and opening<br />
time probably would have to be about<br />
9; 30 p. m. This would necessitate a single-bill<br />
policy.<br />
TO INSTALL CAFETERIAS<br />
3. Cool evenings. The owners believe their<br />
drive-ins will have a large walk-in or sit-in<br />
potential. Because of the cool nights people<br />
may not always care to remain in their cars,<br />
so in order to iron out this drawback, a large,<br />
enclosed seating area will be provided. "So<br />
far as we know," says Franklin, "this has<br />
never been done anywhere else." As an<br />
alternative, there was discussion of in-car<br />
heaters provided, but heating costs would be<br />
nearly prohibitive, the owners explain, and<br />
therefore the idea was abandoned.<br />
Ingenious ideas are at no premium with<br />
this pail- of owners. Their intention is to install<br />
a cafeteria layout in then- concession<br />
houses. Functional rather than elaborate is<br />
their policy, a procedure which is carried out<br />
in the candy stands in all their theatres.<br />
The penny caramel, the partners say, is the<br />
indispensable item in the confection department.<br />
No attempt is made to package these;<br />
they are sold by a "hold out your hand"<br />
method, though each has a tinfoil wrapping,<br />
of cour.se. The five-cent candy bar is passe<br />
in Canada. Sold there are only the ten-cent<br />
and 12-cent bars. "Nearly always," say the<br />
partners, "patrons take their change in<br />
penny caramels!"<br />
No popcorn is handled in any of the circuit<br />
indoor theatres, but probably w'ill be in the<br />
drive-ins. "We would hate to see the tail<br />
wag the dog," says the owners, speaking of<br />
the present theatres. Crackerjack and other<br />
packaged substitutes seem to fill the bill just<br />
as well, they say, and the expense of popcorn<br />
machinery, plus the trouble of dispensing<br />
the popped corn and keeping up with the<br />
housekeeping problem involved, is thus eliminated.<br />
Securing the quality pictures they want, at<br />
the time they want them, is not, under the<br />
present system, entirely satisfactory, say the<br />
partners. Following the enforcement of the<br />
antitrust law in the United States In the motion<br />
picture industry, the Department of<br />
Justice of Canada ha.s apjiointed the combines<br />
investigation committee to study conditions<br />
relating to monopoly, restraint of trade<br />
or other practices that are contrary to free<br />
enterprise. The findings of this committee<br />
are expected to produce improvement in distribution<br />
of films.<br />
Curtain at 8; 30, an idea which Is an Innovation<br />
in motion picture theatres, originated<br />
in Canada, Franklin says, and has caught<br />
on, especially in the larger cities. Both Franklin<br />
and Her.schorn are enthusiastic about the<br />
practice and believe that this has added to<br />
the stature of the motion picture theatre. It<br />
is a way in which the "lost" audience, the<br />
discriminating patron, may be served entertainment<br />
to his more sophisticated taste, and<br />
at the same time the exhibitor is able to<br />
come out all right at the boxoffice.<br />
SPECIAL SHOWINGS PAY<br />
At some designated theatre, for one night<br />
each week, a special picture is booked on a<br />
reserved-seat, advanced-price policy. The picture,<br />
selected for its appeal to select audiences,<br />
may be one which could not be successfully<br />
run for the usual length of time of the<br />
regular feature. There is sufficient patronage<br />
at advanced admissions, however, to make up<br />
the difference. These special presentations<br />
at an 8;30 curtain, heighten theatre atmosphere,<br />
provide opportunity for theatre parties<br />
and are appropriate occasions for those who<br />
wish to dress.<br />
The seven theatres now operated by Pranklin-Herschorn<br />
are located in Halifax, N. S., and<br />
in Dartmouth, Yarmouth and St. John. N. B.<br />
The owners speak highly of BOXOFFICE<br />
correspondent William McNulty, w'ho covers<br />
the maritime provinces. McNulty is an exnewspaperman<br />
and author whose w'orks have<br />
appeared in the pulps and slicks, including<br />
the Saturday Evening Post. He is an ex-boxer<br />
of championship caliber, an ex-swimming<br />
champion who was formerly a swimming instructor<br />
at Bar Harbor. A man of wide interests<br />
and talents, he is at present devoting<br />
his time largely to a Catholic orphanage near<br />
St. John, where he is director of recreation<br />
and a gi-eat favorite with the children.<br />
.«^FABLE IN PUBLIC<br />
"It's several miles out of town, but he walks<br />
there rain or shine," says Franklin.<br />
Pleasant public relations w'ith those whose<br />
duties bring them in contact with partners<br />
Franklin and Herschorn, seems to be part<br />
of the stock-in-trade of these owners.<br />
Ontario MPTO Conclave<br />
To Be Held in November<br />
TORONTO—Thi-ee officials of the Motion<br />
Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario, past president's<br />
Morris Stein and H. C. D. Main and<br />
Arch JoUey, executive secretary, are already<br />
working on plans for the annual convention<br />
of the largest exhibitor organization in Canada.<br />
The tentative date for the meeting is<br />
November 4.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 101
. . Bob<br />
. . Gordon<br />
\<br />
'<br />
'<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
IJill Grant. RKO booker, was elected presldent<br />
of Front Office Film Employes Local<br />
. . .<br />
F-71. succeeding Ted Ross of JARO, who recently<br />
resigned from the film business<br />
Jeanne Bell, Odeon district office .secretary,<br />
will marry Johnny Armstrong soon . . . Dorothy<br />
Blaclc, Dominion Theatre cashier, resigned<br />
and was succeeded by Vera Lycan,<br />
formerly at the Gamble Tlieatre . . . Anne<br />
Coroliuc, JARO cashier, is proud of the bowling<br />
cup she won in the F^lm Exchange Bowling<br />
league . . . Marion Brown has Joined the<br />
staff of Sovereign Films.<br />
"Tiger Man." Universal picture, was classified<br />
"For Adults Only" by the British Columbia<br />
censors . Billings, former manager<br />
of the Monarch Theatre at Enderby, is<br />
now shipper at United Artists here, replacing<br />
Jack Senior who moved to Paramount, succeeding<br />
Kieth Watley, who resigned to go<br />
into the plywood business at Quesnel in the<br />
Cariboo district . . . Peter Barnes, who operates<br />
three theatres on the mainland; Frank<br />
Fisher, JARO Canadian manager, and Kervin<br />
Fitzgibbons of the Famous Players Drive-In<br />
department were Filmrow visitors.<br />
C. A. Pepper, former 16mm exhibitor of<br />
Alert Bay. a fishing center upcoast, purchased<br />
two Holmes projectors and a sound system<br />
from Theatre Equipment Supply Co. and will<br />
change over to 35mm . . . Tommy Heatherington,<br />
who is building a 300-car drive-in<br />
seven miles from Nelson in the Interior, purchased<br />
two Gaumont-Kalee projectors, a<br />
sound system and 300 in-car speakers from<br />
Perkins Electric Co., and will open the outdoor<br />
theatre in June.<br />
The Ruskin Drive-In, which has been under<br />
construction for the last two years, finally<br />
opened its gates April 23. The owners are<br />
Toffee and Bird, who operate other theatres<br />
in the Praser valley area . . . All British Columbia<br />
drive-in theatres report better busine.'-s<br />
than for the comparable period last year<br />
. . . Win Barron, the Canadian narrator for<br />
Paramount Newsreel, was a speaker at the<br />
Air Industries and Transport Ass'n meeting in<br />
Victoria. He visited Paramount Manager Bob<br />
Murphy here before returning to his Toronto<br />
headquarters.<br />
A move to allow smoking in theatres is<br />
meeting strong opposition from theatregoers<br />
and in many letters to local newspapers. Jack<br />
Boothe, noted Canadian cartoonist and son<br />
of Howard Boothe, Canadian Screen publicity<br />
manager, has joined the Thompson chain<br />
of Canadian newspapers and will draw a daily<br />
cartoon which will appear in the Vancouver<br />
News Herald.<br />
Raymond McDonald, a member of the British<br />
Columbia censor board, was promoted to<br />
chief censor to fill the post of the late Jack<br />
Hughes, who died recently after 15 years as<br />
head censor. McDonald, 38, was in the navy<br />
in the last war. He will be assisted by Joyce<br />
Reed: Miss Bell, secretary; Jim Gordon, advertising<br />
censor, and Ed Brooks, projectionist.<br />
The censor board is a profitable revenue<br />
producer for the provincial government, with<br />
offices in downtown Vancouver.<br />
The RKO bowling team won the 1951-52<br />
championship in the final roUoff from UA.<br />
Eight film exchange teams were in the league.<br />
On the RKO team were Bill Grant, captain;<br />
Delia Garland, Ray Watley, Anne Coroliuc<br />
and Tommy Kett.<br />
Tom Uealherlngton, operator of a 16mm<br />
circuit out of Kaslo in the Kootney area, has<br />
started construction of a 300-car drive-in<br />
seven miles from Nelson, which will give<br />
Famous Players outdoor opposition in seven<br />
towns in British Columbia . . . William Risk,<br />
former exhibitor in the prairie town of Paradise<br />
Valley, Alta., will build a 300-.seat theatre<br />
at Alert Bay, an Indian and fishing<br />
town upcoast from Vancouver. The town is<br />
serviced by a 16mm outfit at present, who<br />
will convert to 35mm, giving the town of 1,000<br />
two houses . West has opened his<br />
new 35mm theatre at Gibson Landing, 40<br />
miles from here. The town was formerly<br />
serviced by a 16mm circuit.<br />
More than 400 children, about 200 of them<br />
orphans and 110 from the Children's hospital<br />
outpatient department, were guest.s of Barney<br />
Regan, manager of the Victoria Road Theatre<br />
to see "Angels in the Outfield." Ample<br />
supplies of balloons and popcorn were on<br />
hand and toys were donated for the kids by<br />
local merchants. The showing was staff<br />
week at the Victoria.<br />
Both front office and backshop workers by<br />
the nine film exchanges are taking a wage<br />
Increase proposal to the conciliation board<br />
.set up by the British Columbia government.<br />
Doug Calladine and Bert Pollock will represent<br />
the workers.<br />
Garneau Theatre Tecrnis<br />
Wins Bowling Award<br />
EDMONTON, ALTA.—Edmonton Theatre<br />
Bowling league held its final banquet and<br />
dance in the Club Anton here recently. During<br />
the evening Pi-esident Ida Charlesworth<br />
of the Strand gave cups and prizes to winning<br />
teams and individual players.<br />
Winners were, Annual cup, Garneau Theatre<br />
team, Manager Bill Wilson, captain.<br />
Women's high average, Beryl Byers, Capitol.<br />
Women's high double, Ida Charlesworth,<br />
Strand.<br />
Men's high average, Clayton Rand, theatres'<br />
joint art department.<br />
Men's high double. Bill Ross, Rialto.<br />
Women's high single, Ruby Edwards,<br />
Dreamland.<br />
Men's high single, James Lynch, art department.<br />
George Findley, 55, Dies;<br />
Former Theatre Manager<br />
EDMONTON — Former theatre Manager<br />
George McMurray Findlay died here recently.<br />
Findlay, who was 55, was a former manager<br />
of the old Empire Theatre and later of the<br />
Empress, now a part of the FPC chain here.<br />
He was a veteran of both world wars, and<br />
had lived in Edmonton for 31 years. He was<br />
born in Glasgow and came to Canada In<br />
1904.<br />
His wife, two sons, a brother and a sister<br />
survive.<br />
Producer Peter Scully has signed William<br />
Kozlenko to screenplay Monogram's "Mardi<br />
Gras."<br />
Rank Films Manager<br />
Says Prejudice Gone<br />
VANCOUVER — British motion pictures<br />
have become good boxoffice in Canada and<br />
the United States. "The old prejudice against<br />
them has almost entirely died down," said<br />
Prank H. Pi.sher, of Toronto, Canadian general<br />
manager for J. Arthur Rank Films.<br />
the entertainment<br />
A veteran of 26 years in<br />
industry, the affable 6-foot, 3'--inch executive<br />
conferred here with Jack Reid, the company's<br />
Vancouver manager, and other film<br />
officials.<br />
" 'The Red Shoes' ran almost two years<br />
in New York and other British pictures have<br />
done just as well," Fisher said. "In Canada,<br />
the customers have really turned out in numbers<br />
to see such old country products as<br />
Tight Little Island,' 'The Chiltern Hundreds,'<br />
'The Blue Lagoon,' 'Quiet Weekend' and 'The<br />
Browning Version.'<br />
"Quiet young Alec Guinne.ss, an unknown<br />
a couple of years ago outside London, now<br />
is a powerful boxoffice attraction in North<br />
America for his work in such successful comedies<br />
as 'Kind Hearts and Coronets,' 'The<br />
Lavender Hill Mob' and 'The Man in the<br />
White Suit.' His name in electric lights<br />
means good busine.ss."<br />
Fisher said the way things were a few<br />
years ago, if the average Canadian happened<br />
to see a Briti-sh film he didn't enjoy he would<br />
"stay away from all British films for the<br />
next long while," whereas people never demanded<br />
that all pictures from Hollywood be<br />
good ones.<br />
"The sensible customers now realize that<br />
worthwhile films are being made on both<br />
sides of the Atlantic, and they 'shop ai'ound'<br />
intelligently to get full value for their entertainment<br />
dollars."<br />
TV Sales Up in Canada<br />
MONTREAL—A decline in radio set sales<br />
last year was matched by a boom in sales<br />
of television sets. The Dominion bureau of<br />
statistics reports that radio sales amounted<br />
to $51,452,000 in 1951, compared with $59,160,-<br />
000 the previous year. Television sales climbed<br />
to a value of $20,836,000 from $12,948,000 in the<br />
same period. The number of radio sets sold<br />
in 1951 was 754,000, as against 759,000, while<br />
39,200 television sets were sold as against<br />
29,600 in 1950.<br />
John P. Leger Dead<br />
BATHURST, N. B.—John P. Leger, who<br />
built the Opera House about 40 years ago,<br />
died recently. After using the theatre for<br />
roadshows, he converted it to films, and oper-<br />
]<br />
ated with Peter Leger, his oldest son, as his<br />
partner. The theatre was renamed the Capitol.<br />
The father had also operated two hotels<br />
and a horse racing track and a light and I<br />
power service here. Surviving are four sons<br />
and two daughters.<br />
Fire Hits Summerside Theatre<br />
SUMMERSIDE. P.E.I.—The Reo Theatre,<br />
which was remodeled from a church to a film<br />
theatre about a year ago, was heavily damaged<br />
by a fire recently. The building had been<br />
formerly the United church and seated about<br />
400 persons. The fire lasted about one hour<br />
and gutted the building. Wallace J. Palmer<br />
was the owner-manager.<br />
'^<br />
102 BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
. . The<br />
Only Two Pictures<br />
Rejected in Ontario<br />
TORONTO—The annual report of Chairman<br />
O. J. Silverthorne of the Ontario censorship<br />
and theatre inspection branch for the<br />
fiscal period ending March 31 showed that<br />
461 features produced in the United States<br />
had been examined, of which 404 had been<br />
passed in their entirety while two releases<br />
had been rejected.<br />
British features to the number of 61 were<br />
examined, of which 48 were approved without<br />
change. During the year, 34 foreignlanguage<br />
features were examined and 21 were<br />
approved in their entirety.<br />
The report said that the two rejected features<br />
were produced by U.S. companies not<br />
identified with the Motion Picture A.ss'n of<br />
America. Only 36 deletions had been made<br />
in the product from British studios.<br />
During the year 25,951 pieces of advertising<br />
were censored, compared with 38,009 in<br />
the previous fiscal period. The number of<br />
pieces rejected totaled 314. 30 of which later<br />
were passed after revision.<br />
Silverthorne said that only two new theatres<br />
were completed in the last 12-month<br />
period but a considerable number of older<br />
theatres were remodeled.<br />
Due to the work of inspectors and the cooperation<br />
of owners in safety measures, Ontario<br />
had been entirely free of theatre disasters.<br />
Firefighters Program<br />
Held at Edmonton<br />
EDMONTON—Roly Keil of the FPC Strand<br />
here has received many bouquets for a special<br />
Firefighters show he staged for kids<br />
during the Easter school recess.<br />
Firefighters is a weekly radio show sponsored<br />
by a real estate firm and aimed at<br />
children in the 6-14 bracket. It seeks to<br />
promote fire safety In the home and has<br />
the approval of the city fire department and<br />
provincial safety officials. A city fire marshal<br />
is chief of the group and speaks during the<br />
half-hour radio program to members of the<br />
Firefighters, all of whom are issued cards<br />
and who pass written tests for various promotions<br />
in rank.<br />
Manager Keil staged his show in the morning<br />
and about 80 Firefighters paid a dime<br />
and .showed membership cards as admission.<br />
The sponsor picked up the bill for the balance<br />
on admissions. The show was "Rookie<br />
Firemen," with cartoons and extras, and<br />
Fire Marshal Hugh MacKay spoke.<br />
A fire drill was staged and the house was<br />
emptied in one minute, 48 seconds.<br />
"It was the first time an audience ever<br />
took part in fire drill here," says Manager<br />
Keil. "The kids were wonderful. They were<br />
told how to get out, and there wasn't a hitch.<br />
Even the balcony was emptied without disorder.<br />
Stars at Toronto LaSalle<br />
TORONTO—The LaSalle in central Toronto<br />
blossomed forth with a three-day combination<br />
show consisting of "Catskill Honeymoon,"<br />
the Yiddish musical film produced by<br />
Marty Cohen, and the personal appearance<br />
of two stars, Lillian Lux and Paul Burstein.<br />
"Catskill Honeymoon" recently had its Canadian<br />
premiere of one week at the swanky<br />
Royal Alexandria as a roadshow.<br />
FPC Views Ottawa Ban<br />
On TV Plans as Unfair<br />
O TTAWA<br />
A number of changes have been made in<br />
20th Century Theatres' personnel in the<br />
Ottawa district following the reopening of<br />
three drive-ins, one of which, the Aladdin,<br />
has been taken over by the Nat Taylor circuit.<br />
Jack Marion, who came here from Toronto<br />
several months ago, has been placed<br />
in charge of the Aladdin. Bill Curley has<br />
become manager of the Britannia, and ha.s<br />
been succeeded at the Nelson, a standard theatre,<br />
by Kenneth Down. William Stepanischen<br />
has gone from the Rideau, where he<br />
was assistant manager, to the Cornwall<br />
Drive-In, and Ray Nadeau has been appointed<br />
a.ssistant to Don Watts at the Rideau.<br />
Casey Swedlove has continued with the Foto-<br />
Nite stunt at the Ottawa Linden although<br />
the police decided to file a charge of conducting<br />
a lottery a couple of weeks ago.<br />
Foto-Nite is also being conducted at the<br />
Francais, where owner Bob Maynard presented<br />
a $120 award to Andre Levis of Hull<br />
as the winner last week.<br />
Manager Ernie Warren has already reaped<br />
three big weeks at the Elgin with "With a<br />
Song in My Heart," and the end is not in<br />
The Odeon had a night of music<br />
sight . . .<br />
April 24. The Ottawa Choral Union presented<br />
"The Songs of Hiawatha," the concert<br />
replacing the evening performances of "Room<br />
for One More," which was in its second week.<br />
The Famous Players Cartier in Hull was<br />
the scene of a labor-union meeting Sunday<br />
morning (27), when the many members of<br />
the International Brotherhood of Pulp and<br />
Paper Workers gathered to hear reports on<br />
contract negotiations. The union represents<br />
1.800 mill employes in Hull . spring<br />
series of weekly Curtain at 8:30 performances<br />
is now in full swing at the FPC Capitol in<br />
Peterboro, the attraction for the reservedseat<br />
presentation April 23 being "Bitter Rice."<br />
An estimated 2,100,000 Canadian theatregoers<br />
have already seen "Royal Journey," the<br />
feature produced by National Film Board.<br />
Production cost of the picture, up to the first<br />
print, was $88,000. There is no data yet on<br />
the revenue from Canadian theatre bookings.<br />
Drop Plans for Theatre<br />
When Site Deal Fails<br />
EDMONTON, ALTA.—Failure to<br />
secure his<br />
selected site has forced Walter Kostiuk of<br />
Edmonton to abondon plans to build a $150,-<br />
000 theatre in the west-central part of the<br />
city.<br />
Kostiuk had selected a site near 118 avenue<br />
and 124 street near a new suburban development<br />
in the heart of a new apartment district.<br />
He had engaged a prominent architect<br />
to prepare sketches. After several months<br />
of unsuccessful negotiation with city land officials,<br />
the project was called off.<br />
Winton Hoch will photograph "Salome—the<br />
Dance of the Seven Veils" for Columbia.<br />
I( )l(i INTO President J. J. FllZKibbons anluMiiiri<br />
(I ill the 32nd annual meeting of Famou.s<br />
Players Canadian Corp. here last week<br />
that the company's current business was<br />
ahead of that of a year ago.<br />
Famous Players has the best television facilities<br />
available at Its disposal but Is not<br />
permitted to make u.se of the equipment by<br />
the Canadian government, he pointed out.<br />
The policy taken by the government on television<br />
was de.scribed as unfair and unreasonable<br />
because it will set up a business in competition<br />
with FPC, he a.s.serted.<br />
The FPC president expressed confidence in<br />
the future of the motion picture busine.ss. telling<br />
the meeting of shareholders that good<br />
pictures continued to draw record crowds in<br />
Canadian areas which had television.<br />
In an interview later, Fitzgibbons declared.<br />
"We want to get into the TV business as a<br />
natural area of expansion for us but Ottawa<br />
does not want us to go in yet."<br />
He expressed resentment over payment of<br />
taxes to a government that took the theatres'<br />
money to go into competition with the theatres.<br />
The government does not plan to consider<br />
i.ssuing a permit for privately operated TV<br />
until three years after a national system is<br />
established.<br />
"In the meantime," Fitzgibbons said, "the<br />
government will use huge amounts of the taxpayers'<br />
money to prevent private enterpri.se<br />
going ahead with its know-how and finances."<br />
Fitzgibbons felt that the government should<br />
concentrate on cultural or informative programs<br />
but, a private TV service would provide<br />
a much greater choice of programs, and<br />
quicker.<br />
The Famous Players' chief referred to the<br />
company's relationship with Paramount Pictures<br />
Corp. which is interested in Allan B.<br />
DuMont Laboratories and International Telemeter<br />
Corp. which have developed theatre<br />
and home-subscribed television svstems.<br />
Toronto Theatres<br />
Mark CFL Anniversary<br />
TORONTO—To mark the second anniversary<br />
of the Canadian Children's Film<br />
Library operations, a special juvenile<br />
matinee day was conducted in Toronto<br />
last Saturday (26), with 41 theatres participating<br />
in the showing of library programs.<br />
This was the largest number of<br />
neighborhood houses in a cooperative<br />
move in support of the Canadian committee.<br />
Total of 130 films, mostly features, are<br />
now available for the library showings.<br />
Typical bookings included "Penrod and<br />
Sam" at the Donlands, "Stablemates" at<br />
the Birchcliff, "Black Beauty" at the<br />
Hollywood, "It Happened in Brooklyn" at<br />
the Kent, "Young Tom Edison" at the<br />
Alhambra, "Circus Boy" at the Parkdale,<br />
and "Bush Christmas," Danforth.<br />
A Swedish feature. "Master Detective<br />
Blonquist." with English narration, was<br />
given a library matinee at the Humber.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 103
. . . Jack<br />
. . Guy<br />
. .<br />
MONTREAL<br />
A new ijO-M-at Mel-O-Dee, owned by M. L.<br />
F>revost. will open around May 1 in St.<br />
Blaise-de-Barraute in northern Quebec . . .<br />
George S. Moss. Toronto, president of Arrow<br />
Films, stopped here on his way to Germany<br />
by plane to confer with John Filion. local<br />
manager . Cadieux, salesman for Arrow<br />
Films, motored to the martimes on business<br />
Roher. president of Peerless Films,<br />
to Toronto to visit the head office . . .<br />
went<br />
Mrs. P. Sourkes. president of Confidential Re-<br />
. . . International<br />
ports, and her grandson took a plane trip to<br />
New York City to visit her son<br />
Films added Mrs. Jeanine Guzik.<br />
French stenographer, who arrived in Canada<br />
last spring.<br />
Exhibitors on Filmrow recently: E. Gauthier<br />
of the Drummond, Drummondville: Romeo<br />
Grenier, the Meteor. Dolbeau, who was accompanied<br />
by his son, and T. E. Beaudin,<br />
Bijou. Napierville ... A Royal Victoria hospital<br />
patient had the unique experience of<br />
viewing a film in which a surgeon operated<br />
on his heart. He is C. A. Annand of Truro,<br />
N. S., and he commented, "It is the most<br />
fascinating film I ever saw" . . "Newfoundland<br />
.<br />
Scene," which shows a sealing expedi-<br />
tion, and "Jack Pine Journey." a documentary<br />
on timber, were shown in color at the Museum<br />
of Fine Arts . . . Ginette Letondal. young<br />
Montreal film actress, has gone to Paris with<br />
her husband and will stay several months,<br />
during which she will visit French studios.<br />
In Canada, she made three French-Canadian<br />
films. "Le Pere Chopin." "Le Gros Bill" and<br />
"Etienne Brule."<br />
Alfred Hitchcock halted here on his way to<br />
Quebec and rather startled the local film<br />
community and the critics by liinting that<br />
he might shoot a picture in the ancient capital.<br />
"It all depends on whether I find the<br />
right conditions and locations," he said.<br />
"Maybe I will." He has a story in mind about<br />
a priest, called "I Confess." for which Montgomery<br />
Clift has been signed to star. There<br />
will t>e .some famed Hitchcock suspense in<br />
the story. "I'll u.se some local actors and try<br />
to discover local talent if I proceed with it,"<br />
he said.<br />
Paul Dupuis, French-Canadian film and<br />
radio star, was guest at a reception In CKAC<br />
studios of Rejane des Rameaux. He entertained<br />
his audience and radio listeners with<br />
a broadcast of "Ma Revue." including the<br />
principal roles he has played since his return<br />
to Canada from London.<br />
. . .<br />
"Long Is the Road," a multilingual Jew'ish<br />
film, is showing at His Majesty's. Yiddish.<br />
German. Pohsh and English are on its sound<br />
track. On the same program, for the first<br />
time in Canada, is the featurette. "Song of<br />
Tel Aviv" Four 16mm films were previewed<br />
by the Montreal Film Council. English<br />
section, at the National Film Board studio<br />
on Atwater avenue. They were "Playtown<br />
U.S.A.." "Payoff in Pain." "Welcome. Neighbor"<br />
and "The Man in the Peace Tower."<br />
'Manon' Ends 8th Week<br />
TORONTO—A local record has been set for<br />
a French-language feature by "Manon,"<br />
which has completed eight weeks at the 700-<br />
seat Astor on Upper Yonge street.<br />
Two Holdovers Rate<br />
Lead at Vancouver<br />
VANCOUVER— Bu.sine.ss at first runs generally<br />
was dull last week. Holdovers of "With<br />
a Song in My Heart" at the Orpheum. and<br />
"The Belle of New York" at the Capitol were<br />
the leaders.<br />
Capitol The Belle of New York (MGM) Good<br />
Cinema Toast ot New Orleans (MGM); Midnight<br />
Kiss (MGM), revivals . . Foir<br />
Dominion— Phono Call From o Stronger (20th-<br />
Fox); Death ot a Salcsmon (Col) Average<br />
Orpheum With o Song in My Heart (20fh-Fox),<br />
2nd wk Good<br />
Plaza Flome ot Araby (U-l), 2nd wk Fair<br />
State Buccaneer Girl (U-l), plus stoge<br />
show<br />
Fair<br />
Strand Double Dynamite (RKO); On Dangerous<br />
Ground (RKO) Fair<br />
Studio Galloping Major (JARO) Fair<br />
Vogue The Mon in the White Suit (JARO),<br />
2nd wk Fair<br />
Top Grosser in Toronto<br />
Is 'African Queen'<br />
TORONTO—Business was good enough for<br />
holdovers at five theatres. "Five Fingers"<br />
rounded out a fifth week at the Eglinton.<br />
Good for a third week were "With a Song<br />
in My Heai-t," "Encore" and "Sailor Beware,"<br />
the latter at two theatres. Top grosser was<br />
"The African Queen."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Eglinton Five Fingers (20th-Fox), 5th wk 85<br />
Hyland Encore (Poro), 3rd wk 105<br />
Imperial, Nortown The Big Trees (WB) 110<br />
Loew's The African Queen (UA) 125<br />
Odeon Return of the Texan (20th-Fox) 95<br />
Shea's With o Song in My Heart (20th-Fox),<br />
3rd wk 100<br />
University, Tivoli Sailor Beware (Para), 3rd wk.. . 95<br />
Uptown The Battle ot Apache Pass (U-l) 100<br />
Victorio, Capitol Hong Kong (Para); A Girl in<br />
Every Port (RKO) 95<br />
TORONTO<br />
. .<br />
f^ordon Lightstone, Canadian Paramount<br />
general manager, and wife went to Montreal<br />
for the wedding of their niece Maxine,<br />
daughter ot Robert Lightstone, to Roy Fleishman<br />
. Jack Arthur of Famous Players and<br />
producer of the Canadian National exhibition<br />
grandstand show, will crown the Queen of<br />
the Byline ball at the Toronto Press club<br />
annual dance May 3. Preliminary judging of<br />
aspirants took place at the FPC Palace, Capitol,<br />
Runnymede and Alhatnbra theatres during<br />
the past week.<br />
In Toronto for a round of film exchanges,<br />
Floyd Rumford, proprietor of the Kineto at<br />
Forest, announced he had resigned as president<br />
of the Blue Water Highway Ass'n, his<br />
job done. He is a veteran director of the<br />
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario .<br />
Jack Musclow, manager of the Capitol at<br />
Kitchener, was a visitor here, his schedule<br />
including a conference at the Allen's Premier<br />
Theatres head office.<br />
Eileen Pratt, secretary-assistant to Win<br />
Barron of Paramount here, is on an exten-<br />
.sive tour of Europe, including a month's stay<br />
. . . John Goldie Cochrane,<br />
in London, from which she is expected to return<br />
in September. Kathleen O'Neill, who<br />
came from England a year ago, is pinch-hitting<br />
for Eileen<br />
former manager of the E.xeter. Ont.. theatre<br />
and a former famous hockey player, died Saturday<br />
at Exeter after a year's illness. W. G.<br />
Cochrane, a son, is mayor of that town.<br />
For several years an employe of Canadian<br />
Odeon Theatres, Samuel Rainbow, 67, died<br />
at Toronto General hospital a short time<br />
after he had arrived for a medical checkup.<br />
M ARITIMES<br />
, ,<br />
finder an amendment to tlie New Brunswick<br />
theatres act, provision has been made for<br />
a fine ranging from $200 to $500 and one<br />
year in jail upon conviction of possessing any<br />
vile-smelling liquid at or near any indoor or<br />
outdoor theatre. If a fine is unpaid, the imprisonment<br />
can be extended six months .<br />
The first ozoner in the maritimes to get going<br />
this year is expected to be that of Ashley<br />
Burnett at Springhill, N. B. It has been under<br />
way for several weeks. The Burnett home adjoins<br />
the drive-in, which is about five miles<br />
above Fredericton on the St. John river road.<br />
Burnett is a dairyman and farmer there.<br />
, . After<br />
During the recent hockey .season what was<br />
described as a "transportation charge" of ten<br />
cents was added to the price of all tickets to<br />
hockey games. Without the "transportation<br />
charge" the ticket prices were 90 cents to<br />
$1.40, a record high for Glace Bay .<br />
returning from a trip to Montreal and<br />
Toronto, Malcolm Walker of Halifax made a<br />
tour of the Walker chain.<br />
'Wallie Humby, projectionist at the Mayfair,<br />
St. John, does electrical work on the side . . .<br />
A new regulation of the New Brunswick censor<br />
board prohibits all cities, towns and villages<br />
from charging a license fee for a theatre<br />
higher than set by the province. Another<br />
new regulatioii calls for licensing of all amusement<br />
devices before they can be used.<br />
The Capitol, St. John, was on a Little Theatre<br />
diet April 28-May 3 for the dominion<br />
drama festival. Ticket booits for the week of<br />
the amateurs were priced at $13 and $16 each.<br />
The Capitol is New Brunswick's largest theatre<br />
and second largest in the maritimes . . .<br />
Installation of a screen tower is under way at<br />
a new drive-in now being prepared for opening<br />
at Grand Bay, N. B., ten miles up the<br />
St. John river road irom St. John. Present<br />
indications are that this new alrer will open<br />
about mid-May. Work on the combination<br />
projection booth and refreshment center is<br />
progressing.<br />
The Community, Yarmouth, N. S., has been<br />
used as a base for Sunday rallies under the<br />
auspices of the Alcoholics Anonymous ... In<br />
advance of their approaching marriage. Reta<br />
Sara Gold and Sidney Tobin, both of St. John,<br />
have been guests at a number of receptions.<br />
Tobin is booker at RKO ... A screening of<br />
"A Streetcar Named Desii-e" at the Halifax<br />
Capitol, was interrupted on Saturday afternoon<br />
for a showing of "Penrod and Sam" for<br />
the children.<br />
Ninety at E-U Conference<br />
TORONTO—Ninety persons attended the<br />
sales conference of Empire-Universal Filni:^<br />
at the King Edward. Alfred Daff, vice-president<br />
and director of world sales for U-I,<br />
spoke, as did J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous<br />
Players and L. W. Brockington of Canadian<br />
Odeon. The chairman was A. W. Perry,<br />
president of Empire-Universal.<br />
Murray Lynch to Moncton<br />
MONCTON, N. B.—Murray Lynch has been<br />
transferred to the Moncton Paramount, newest<br />
unit in the Famous Players circuit as manager.<br />
He had been manager at the Halifax<br />
Capitol, largest maritime theatre. He succeeds<br />
Bill Gates in Moncton, where Famous<br />
Players also has the Imperial.<br />
104 BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952
profit<br />
picture!<br />
X-.^J,"<br />
i<br />
i<br />
Just as a small frame in a strip oi film throws a<br />
large picture on your screen, so the small space<br />
vou use for vending equipment to sell Coca-Cola<br />
projects a large profit on your ledger. People come<br />
back again and again to the house that offers them<br />
refreshment with entertainment. Their satisfaction<br />
becomes your extra profit when you make<br />
Coca-Cola available to them. You can choose from<br />
a variety of vending methods. For the moneymaking<br />
details, address: The Coca-Cola Company,<br />
P. O. Box 1754, Atlanta, Georgia.
'<br />
, re.<br />
offer "living-room" comfort<br />
Witit<br />
INTERNATIONAL Chairs<br />
I<br />
I<br />
;Ln today's competitive picture, home comfort has become<br />
a feature attraction. Do yon offer the "comforts of<br />
jiome" in your theatre? You can if you install International<br />
Chairs.<br />
International chairs are the "easy chairs" of the thea-<br />
Yes, when you buy International, you add "livingjOom"<br />
comfort to your theatre— and you get long-wearing<br />
jchairs, styled in the modern manner.<br />
MAKE THIS 80-MINUTE TEST<br />
Go ahead— sit in one of your present choirs. Stay there through<br />
an entire feature. Con you honestly soy you're comfortable?<br />
Or do you begin to wriggle before the last reel goes on? If you<br />
don't feel completely relaxed in your present seoting, remember,<br />
your patrons don't either. You owe it to your customers to<br />
consider INTERNATIONAL chairs.<br />
"<br />
See the INTERNATIONAL "2000 chair and the extra-luxury<br />
"<br />
INTERNATIONAL "2300 chair at your RCA Theatre Supply<br />
Dealer's. He'll be glad to talk over the economics of adding<br />
home comfort to your theatre.<br />
THCATtfE EOUIf>MEMT<br />
RADIO CORPORATION of AMERICA<br />
ENGINEERING PRODUCTS DERMRTMENT. CAMDEN. N.J.
Mq\% Any Other<br />
(Z^nlea/tUu<br />
Considera tion<br />
OF<br />
THE several factors that enter into the use<br />
of published media, the distribution of the advertisers'<br />
sales messages, as governed by the<br />
selection of media, can of itself decide the success or<br />
failure of the advertising investment. That is why integrity<br />
of circulation is the first consideration with experienced<br />
space buyers.<br />
The emblem shown above stands for the FACTS<br />
that make it possible for advertisers to select the right<br />
media and to know what they get for their money<br />
when they invest in publication advertising. It is the<br />
emblem of membership in the Audit Bureau of Circulations,<br />
a cooperative and nonprofit association of<br />
3300 advertisers, agencies and publishers.<br />
Working together, these buyers and sellers of advertising<br />
have established standards for circulation<br />
values and a definition for paid circulation, just as<br />
there are standards of weight and measure for purchasing<br />
agents to use in selecting merchandise and<br />
equipment. In other words, A. B.C. is a bureau of<br />
standards for the advertising and publishing industry.<br />
A. B.C. maintains a staff of specially trained auditors<br />
who make annual audits of the circulations of<br />
the publisher members. Information thus obtained is<br />
issued in A. B.C. reports for use in buying and selling<br />
space. All advertising in printed media should be bought<br />
on the basis of facts in these reports.<br />
This business paper is<br />
a member of the Audit Bureau<br />
of Circulations because we want our advertisers<br />
to know what they get for their money when they advertise<br />
in these pages. Our A. B.C. report gives the<br />
facts. Ask for a copy and then study it.<br />
SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE<br />
TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE<br />
Paid subscriptions and renewals,<br />
as defined by A. B.C. standards,<br />
indicate a reader audience that<br />
has responded to a pubhcation's<br />
editorial appeal. With the interests<br />
of readers thus identified, it becomes<br />
possible to reach specialized<br />
groups effectively with specialized<br />
advertising appeals.<br />
SOME OF THE AUDITED INFORMATION<br />
IN A. B.C. BUSINESS PAPER REPORTS<br />
How much paid circulation.<br />
How much unpaid circulation.<br />
Prices paid by subscribers.<br />
How the circulation was obtained.<br />
Whether or not premiums were used as<br />
circulation inducements.<br />
Where the circulation goes.<br />
A breakdown of subscribers by occupation<br />
or business.<br />
How many subscribers renewed.<br />
How many are in arrears.<br />
A. B.C. REPORTS — FACTS AS THE BASIC MEASURE OF ADVERTISING VALUE<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
WHAT THS<br />
ANCf£NTS THOOSHt..<br />
IpLATO C347 ^.C.) KLieVED THAT<br />
THE EYE PROJECTED ITS OVW<br />
LISHT^ WHICH MET AND BLENDED<br />
WITH the^'foraa'^ that was<br />
THCUSHT TO FLC>W CONTINUOUSLY<br />
FPOM EACH OBJECT OF SIGHT<br />
THAT/ IN SEEING/ THE EYE IS<br />
STIMULATED B>Y INNUMERABLE<br />
POINTS ^F LI6HT REFLECTED<br />
ByTHEdJBJECr.THATTHE<br />
&RAIN INTERPRETS THE6E<br />
POINTS AS A TOTAL )MA6^<br />
OF THE OBJECT<br />
herb's progress/<br />
SINCE NICKELODEON DAYS^<br />
NATIONAL a\RBON COMR^N/<br />
HAS IMPROVED THE<br />
BRIGHTNESS OF PROJECTOR<br />
CARBON ARCS BY "3000/^/<br />
ONE OUT<br />
IJiATEST SURVEYS INDICATE THAT (N<br />
OF EVERy FOUR U.S. THEATERS/ SCREEN<br />
BRIGHTNESS IS BELOW<br />
THE MINIMUM<br />
RECCWMENDED BY<br />
THE AMERICAN<br />
STANDARDS<br />
ASSOCIATION/*<br />
*Reporl on Screen Brightness Committee Theatre Survey, Journol SMPTE, September, 1951.<br />
GU IN THE SCRAP<br />
FOR DEFENSE -SAVE<br />
VOUR COPPER DRIPPINGS!<br />
THE "NATIONAL" CARBON ARC ... NOTHING BRIGHTER UNDER THE SUN<br />
The term "National" is<br />
a registered trade-mark of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporotion<br />
NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY<br />
A Division of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation<br />
ZO tost 42nd Street, New York 77, N. t.<br />
Oiffricf 5o/es Offices. Atlonlo, Chicago, Dallas, Kontat City,<br />
New York. Pittsburgh, San Froncitco<br />
IN CANADA: Nationol Carbon Limited, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg<br />
'Ff<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
The Accent is<br />
on<br />
Comfort at the New-<br />
"A SHOWMAN'S DREAM"<br />
Mr. David Weinstock is justly proud of his new<br />
NormandieTheatrewhich was designed "to provide<br />
its patrons with the utmost in comfort and<br />
convenience— a showman's dream come true."<br />
The New NORMANDIE Theatre<br />
Wm. I. Hohauxer— Architect<br />
Heywood-Wakefield takes<br />
pride in its contribution to<br />
the superb accommodations of<br />
this deluxe, modern theatre. The<br />
J9o spring-back chairs, with coU<br />
spring seat cushions, were designed<br />
and built with the accent<br />
on comfort and elegance. Fine<br />
craftsmanship and all-steel construction<br />
assure years of troublefree<br />
service with a minimum of<br />
maintenance.<br />
*Write today for the fully illustrated<br />
catalogue of Heywood-Wakefield<br />
Theatre Chairs.<br />
%.<br />
HEYWOOD-<br />
WAKEFIELD<br />
W<br />
Theatre Seating Division<br />
MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
3'JiK<br />
MAY 3, 1952<br />
o n t n t<br />
ESECTION:<br />
Luxury House for Shopping Center i 8<br />
How to Use Your Screen to Increase Sales at Your<br />
Concession Hay'iland F. Reves 11<br />
Prominence of This Concession Boosts Refreshment<br />
Soles Kitty Harwood 14<br />
Research Program Produces Corn With More Pop to<br />
the Pound John C. Eldredge 16<br />
The Progress of Projection Arc Lighting for Motion Pictures<br />
The Strong 30th Anniversary Special Section Harry H. Strong 26<br />
Change Your Oil, Mr. Projectionist? Wesley Trout 40<br />
A Manual of Preventive Maintenance, Part XII L. E. Pope 46<br />
Exhibitors Should Strive to Win Goodwill of<br />
Their Communities E. Y. Stafford 50<br />
Treat Every Patron As If It Were His First Time<br />
At Your Drive- In 53<br />
A Manual of Drive-In Design and Operation, Part XX,<br />
(Conclusion) George M. Petersen 54<br />
Rx for Theatre Trouble Spots 63<br />
Are You Covered? D. K. McDonald 64<br />
Theatre Architect Says "Don't Be Afraid of That Old<br />
Bogey—Television" Eric Hounsom 65<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
Refreshment Service 11 Advertising Index 60<br />
Projection and Sound 40 New Equipment and Develop-<br />
Drive-ln Theatres 50 ments 66<br />
Readers' Service Bureau 59 Literature 70<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
About People and Product 71<br />
Happy smiles indicate the pleasure patrons receive from a visit<br />
to the theatre concession bar or building. Equally expressive is the<br />
concentrated attention the little girl is giving to the satisfying busi-<br />
7iess of munching her buttered popcorn. This busy concession is<br />
located at the four-screen, St. Ann Drive-ln Theatre. St. Louis, Mo.<br />
R,lEFRESHMENT merchandising in<br />
the theatre is more than an additional<br />
avenue of profit for the exhibitor, it aids<br />
the theatre business itself because it<br />
adds to the patron's pleasure and<br />
creates goodwill.<br />
Conversely, since the entertainment<br />
on the screen creates a relaxed, holiday<br />
mood, patrons desire and enjoy<br />
refreshments more.<br />
Thus, the properly<br />
operated concession prospers.<br />
An advantageous location for the<br />
refreshment bar is of paramount importance<br />
if the exhibitor is to obtain<br />
maximum .sales, for the patron purchases<br />
refreshment items entirely on<br />
impulse. To create that impulse the<br />
theatreman must be certain that the<br />
patron cannot miss seeing the concession.<br />
As told in this issue, strategic location<br />
of the Carib Theatre's refreshment<br />
bar is credited as the major factor<br />
in its excellent sales production.<br />
of<br />
Attractive displays of a wide variety<br />
candies, a selection of beverages, a<br />
popcorn machine or warmer that will<br />
keep the product in first class condition,<br />
and a generous assortment of other<br />
snac^ items will make it possible for<br />
every patron to find something to suit<br />
his fancy. Most exhibitors have found<br />
it best to stock name brands of goods<br />
which are familiar to their patrons. To<br />
the displays should be added point-ofsale<br />
placards and signs worded to<br />
stimulate the appetite and thirst.<br />
The most obvious advertising medium<br />
to promote the theatre concession<br />
is the screen, and regular use of concession<br />
trailers will keep the cash register<br />
at the concession ringing merrily.<br />
Incidentally, the concession offers the<br />
theatre manager one of the best opportunities<br />
to meet his patrons, cmd it is<br />
well for him to spend some of his time<br />
there. He may learn a lot about the<br />
type of films they like best.<br />
I. L. THATCHER, Managing Editor HERBERT ROUSH, Soles Monoger<br />
The MODERN THEATRE Section of BOXOFFICE is included in the first issue of each month.<br />
Editorial or general business corrcsponacnce should be addressed to Associated Publications,<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. Eastern Representative: A. J. Stocker, 9 Rockefeller<br />
Plaza, New York 20, N. Y.; Central Representatives: Evi'ing Hutchison ond E. E. Yeck, 35<br />
East Wocker Drive, Chicago 1, III.; Western Representative: Bob Wettstein. 672 South<br />
Lofayette Park Ploce, Los Angelas 5, Colif.
LUXURY HOUSE • For Shopping Center<br />
The Langley Has Surprising Spaciousness Behind Simple Exterior<br />
OWNER: K-B AmuMment Co. ARCHITECT: John J. Zink<br />
u.Fnexpecied spaciousness and extraordinary beauty await the patrons<br />
of the new Langley Theatre behind its simple, modern exterior. The<br />
luxurious, new house was opened March 12 in the recently developed<br />
residential and shopping area at Langley Park, Md.<br />
Above the facade of the theatre the pylon of extruded plastic thrusts<br />
an imposing finger into the air to attract attention and suggest a pause<br />
for a few pleasant hours of entertainment. The "theatre" sign on the<br />
tower is formed of 30-inch plastic letters.<br />
ROSE NEON BORDERS MARQUEE<br />
The marquee is bordered with two rows of rose neon tubing, 35 feet<br />
by 10 feet. 6 inches. Bevelite letters, n-inch black and 10-inch red, are<br />
used to form the copy. The marquee soffit is plaster, with 50 recessed,<br />
Hi-Hat lighting units providing excellent illumination of the area beneath<br />
and increasing the bright attraction of the theatre.<br />
Beneath the marquee, black granite columns trim walls of tan field<br />
stone. Four pairs of Hercullte doors are set in aluminum. A luxury note<br />
is found m the red, crushed-plush backing of the three Sealuxe 40x60-inch<br />
8
I<br />
attraction display frames. The boxoffice is<br />
located at one side of the angle-in entrance.<br />
Within the lobby the patron's eye is<br />
immediately caught by the gayly decorated<br />
refreshment stand just inside the entrance.<br />
It was custom-made for the theatre. The<br />
lower face of the stand is of green and<br />
gray Formica stripes, and the wall behind<br />
the backbar is green, decorated with red,<br />
blaclc and yellow wavy stripes. Free-formed<br />
display cards add to the unusual effect.<br />
The canopy over the stand is made of<br />
light, hand-rubbed oak, stained with green,<br />
as is all woodwork. Recessed, 75-watt spot<br />
lights are set in the soffit of the stand to<br />
highlight the concession merchandise.<br />
f<br />
W'^m"<br />
.'<br />
H'<br />
r<br />
A PLEASING COLOR SCHEME<br />
The large wall against which the refreshment<br />
bar is located is in hunter green,<br />
blending with the other shades of green<br />
utilized. The inner doors are green Formica,<br />
with a marble trim around them<br />
which is olive green and ribbed. Above the<br />
doors the marble frame is reddish maroon.<br />
Terrazzo in blocks of pink and green covers<br />
the floor. The railing is aluminum. Ceilings<br />
at various heights are a very light tan,<br />
and all coves are illuminated with slimline<br />
fixtures.<br />
A striking carpet with a black base setting<br />
off a 48-inch red rose and green vine<br />
was laid in the standee area. The rear wall<br />
is<br />
in two tones of gray, with a covering of<br />
copper Flex-Glass in the recessed section<br />
where the water fountain and beverage and<br />
cigaret machines are located. Green leatherette<br />
covers the face of the standee rail,<br />
which is topped with light oak. All woodwork<br />
is in this same, hand-rubbed oak.<br />
The ceiling in the standee area is green,<br />
with the cove insets in pink. The rear cove<br />
is illuminated with gold-colored fluorescent<br />
tubing.<br />
WIDE EXPANSE OF DRAPERIES<br />
The luxurious decor of the Langley<br />
reaches its height in the auditorium where<br />
121 feet of gold-colored hammered satin<br />
draperies add extraordinary beauty to the<br />
screen area. The center is a traveler, the<br />
sides are stationary. Legs and borders are<br />
green. An 18x24-foot Walker-American<br />
screen was installed.<br />
Immediately adjacent to the draperies on<br />
either side are three columns of dusty rose,<br />
illuminated with gold-colored cold cathode.<br />
A fourth column which blends with the<br />
tapestried rear walls is dark green. The<br />
dado throughout the auditorium is dark<br />
green leatherette. The gold-figured fabric<br />
wall covering has a green background.<br />
The auditorium ceiling is yellow with a<br />
step of dusty rose matching the columns.<br />
All lighting is recessed.<br />
Sixty footlights on four banks of Ward-<br />
Leonard dimmers were installed.<br />
The 972 Kroehler Push-Back chairs have<br />
red seats and green backs. Standards are<br />
red with a gray stripe.<br />
Special features of the new theatre are<br />
the Langley Room and the nursery at the<br />
The lounge in the Langley is distinguished by its bold carpeting in black and red; and light colored walls,<br />
one of which is decorated with a mural of unusual conception, another with a large mirrored expanse.<br />
upper level of the auditorium, on either<br />
side of the projection room. These private<br />
rooms have 27 chairs each, with Thermopane<br />
viewing windows. They are carpeted,<br />
and there are play pens and high chairs in<br />
the nursery. Separate temperature control<br />
zones for these rooms were provided in the<br />
York air conditioning installation.<br />
The lounge features an intriguing mural,<br />
a mirrored wall, and modern furniture.<br />
The bold-patterned black and red carpeting<br />
was laid here also. The Langley restrooms<br />
are attractive and easily kept clean.<br />
with tiled floors and walls tiled to the ceiling.<br />
All American-Standard Sanitary, offfloor<br />
fixtures were installed, and Sanymetal<br />
partitions used.<br />
LATEST EQUIPMENT IN BOOTH<br />
The well-planned projection room is<br />
equipped with two Super Simplex projectors,<br />
Peerless Magnarc lamps, two Hertner<br />
generators. Simplex X-L sound heads.<br />
Continued on followirtg page<br />
The custom-made concession bar is a local point in the lobby, its gay colors and design catching tfie eye<br />
and luring patrons to purchase refreshments. The ribbed marble trim around the green Formica doors is<br />
olive green, framed with maroon marble. Pink and green blocks of terrazzo cover the floor.<br />
.li'<br />
i<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952
LUXURY HOUSE • For Shopping Center<br />
Langley, is operated by Fi'ed Kogod and<br />
Max Burka. Fi'ank M. Boucher is general<br />
manager of the company.<br />
The company operates six theatres in<br />
Washington, D. C, and one in Silver Spring,<br />
Md. The latest to be opened, with the exception<br />
of the Langley, is the Ontario Theatre<br />
in Wa.shington.<br />
Air Conditioning:<br />
CREDITS<br />
York<br />
Architect: John J. Zink<br />
Arc Lamps: Peerless Magnarc<br />
Carpet: Philadelphia Carpet Co.<br />
Changeable Copy Letters: Bevelite<br />
Lenses: Kollmorgen<br />
Motor Generators: Hertner<br />
Plumbing:<br />
Projection:<br />
Rewinds:<br />
Screen:<br />
American-Standard Sanitary<br />
Simplex<br />
GoldE<br />
Walker-American<br />
Seating: Ki-oehler<br />
Sound: Simplex<br />
The rich, qold and green labric-covered walls oi the Langley auditorium surmount a dado of' dark green<br />
leatherette At the rear of the auditorium, the private party room and the cryroom are located on either<br />
side of the projection booth. The special rooms have Thermopane viewing windows.<br />
Kollmoigen high speed lenses, GoldE rewinds<br />
and Neumade table and cabinets.<br />
The Langley provides a free parking lot<br />
for its patrons with accommodations for<br />
750 cars. The new residential and shopping<br />
area in which it is located includes 16<br />
stores.<br />
The opening attraction of the Langley<br />
was "Retreat, Hell!" A marine drum and<br />
bugle corps, the marine prize-wirming drill<br />
team, a color guard and a platoon of marines<br />
in full dress uniform were on the<br />
stage in honor of the event. Brig. Gen.<br />
Homer L. Litzenberg of the marine coi'ps<br />
was a guest.<br />
The K-B Amusement Co., owner of the<br />
Copper Flex-Glass covers the wall section which is recessed for the water fountain and vending machines<br />
in the standee area. The rear wall is in two shades of gray. All woodwork throughout the theatre is<br />
hand-rubbed, light oak.<br />
Long-Range<br />
Planning<br />
For New Ritz Theatre<br />
Approximately ten years of behind the<br />
scenes planning and 11 months of actual<br />
construction work was completed recently<br />
when the 1,042-seat Ritz Theatre was<br />
opened in Blytheville, Ark.<br />
Owned by O. W. McCutchen and I. W.<br />
Rodgers, the new Ritz boasts several unique<br />
features not usually found in small-town<br />
theatres. One of the high-points of the<br />
house is a .10x18 foot television lounge<br />
which seats 30 persons.<br />
Located at the east end of the lobby, the<br />
lounge is decorated in a solid plum color,<br />
and has a ceiling of acustical material. A<br />
large mirror is set in the east wall of the<br />
lounge and is bordered by turquoise drapes.<br />
Drapes of the same color are hung at the<br />
two octagonal windows on the street side<br />
of the room. The TV screen measures<br />
36x27 inches and is set in the north wall.<br />
I<br />
BUILT ON FORMER SITE<br />
The new Ritz is built on the site of a<br />
700-seat theatre which was razed nearly a<br />
year ago making way for the new building.<br />
The front of the new Ritz is of Minnesota<br />
marble. The area above the marquee is<br />
of buff brick with a center facing of small<br />
red brick and a border of the same material.<br />
The striking feature of the auditorium<br />
is the beautiful tangerine waterfall curtain.<br />
The seats are red plush, and vari-colored<br />
indirect lighting hidden in either wall casts<br />
a shadowy glow over the whole auditorium.<br />
Two cry rooms, attractive and convenient<br />
lounges, and the latest in projection<br />
and sound equipment complete the picture<br />
of this quarter-million-dollar headquarters<br />
for the McCutchen circuit.<br />
10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
. . then<br />
. .<br />
by HAVILAND F. REVES<br />
VoNCESsiON SALES Can be given a substantial<br />
assist by the intelligent use of one<br />
of the world's greatest media of advertising—the<br />
American motion picture screen.<br />
Enough exhibitors have adopted it as a<br />
steady policy around the Motor city to<br />
show that it can be successful in many<br />
type of situations, including both indoor<br />
and outdoor theatres.<br />
ACHIEVES MAXIMUM IMPACT<br />
The situation is almost ideal from the<br />
advertising man's standpoint:<br />
1. Visual presentation, combined with<br />
audible, represents about the maximum<br />
impact upon the human senses—both are<br />
united in the effective use of the screen.<br />
2. A captive audience than cannot readily<br />
escape the message, except by closing<br />
both eyes and ears, is at hand.<br />
3. This audience is in an entertained, relaxed<br />
mood, and highly receptive to adequately<br />
phrased suggestion for a bit of the<br />
service a refreshment stand provides,<br />
whether food or drink, candy, gum, popcorn,<br />
or hot dogs, according to the house policy<br />
and the individual's taste and pocketbook.<br />
4. The cost is negligible. Since the screen<br />
and the mechanical facilities to produce the<br />
message are part of the basic investment<br />
and operating costs of the house, this advertising<br />
is virtually free.<br />
5. It is P.O.P.—Point of purchase advertising—the<br />
type that solid thinking in the<br />
field of promotion today considers one of<br />
the most desirable of all, as any current<br />
business paper of advertising will demonstrate.<br />
TRAILERS ARE 'NATURALS'<br />
The use of screen trailers is the obvious<br />
means to reach this audience and a variety<br />
of styles of presentation, appeals to various<br />
tastes, and choice of details-—are available<br />
Suggested<br />
That<br />
Sells<br />
If you're in the mood for food .<br />
Copy<br />
we<br />
invite you to visit our Snack Bar during the<br />
Intermission and look over the Goodies on sale!<br />
Everything from a Taste to o Feast! Condies .<br />
and Refreshments of every variety wait for you.<br />
Intermission! Time to get your Candy and<br />
Popcorn in our Lobby. It will add to your enjoyment<br />
of the show.<br />
Say, Folks . . . We<br />
have a wide selection of<br />
tempting, delicious Candy Bars . . . and<br />
toasted Popcorn in the lobby.<br />
fresh,<br />
Any attendant will make change for you. Get<br />
you Taste Treat Now.'<br />
Copy se!ectcd from National Screen Service<br />
trailers.<br />
REFRESHMENT SERVICE<br />
to the exhibitor. Those using It, as seen In<br />
one city, ranwe from the conservative. blKtlme,<br />
af f illiitod United Detroit circuit, to the<br />
rather new and highly enterprising Saul<br />
Korman circuit, from the smaller indepondciil<br />
hou.ses of thi' metropolis to the farflung<br />
upstate operation of the Butterficld<br />
circuit. Each does it in a little different<br />
way, usually one worked out by trial and<br />
error in his own operation.<br />
Perhaps the Community Theatres operation<br />
may serve as a pattern, because this<br />
circuit has long been known for its emphasis<br />
on operating a high standard type of<br />
refreshment service. Trailers are purchased<br />
from Filmack, and used in both indoor and<br />
drive-in theatres.<br />
VARIETY IS<br />
IMPORTANT<br />
Refreshment trailers are literally taken<br />
for granted as an essential part of sound<br />
show operation in this circuit, and it was<br />
almost surprising to a Community executive<br />
to learn that some exhibitors do not<br />
use them. Variety and lack of monotony<br />
are key points here. The circuit has a set<br />
of four different trailers, which are rotated<br />
between its various drive-ins. Each<br />
is run for about 30 days in succession<br />
then it is felt to be time for a change.<br />
Thus, each trailer should have a maximum<br />
of two runs a season in each theatre.<br />
Each trailer is individually designed<br />
from the ground up by Community, according<br />
to Adolph Goldberg, a partner in<br />
the circuit. Copy is worked up on such<br />
things as butter corn, the nationally advertised<br />
brands of candy sold, soft drinks,<br />
and other items handled in these theatres.<br />
The entire stand is covered in each trailer,<br />
but one or two items may be featured. The<br />
length is about two minutes.<br />
The trailers are spotted in different<br />
positions in the show, according to the current<br />
program. Having them come at different<br />
times also means greater audience<br />
impact, since the regular customers will not<br />
become used to expecting them at a given<br />
point and cease to pay attention to the<br />
screen almost on schedule.<br />
SELLING CHATTER FOR DRIVE-INS<br />
The trailers used in the drive-ins are<br />
usually silent, with a musical background.<br />
Occasionally a special record is cut for this<br />
purpose by some locally popular, radio disk<br />
.iockey, using his name on the platter. His<br />
copy consists of selling chatter, which can<br />
be put on the amplifier system while the<br />
trailer is running, or even run independently,<br />
as during the intermission.<br />
Indoors, the use of trailers is more restrained<br />
in Community. The feeling appears<br />
to be that drive-ins offer a natural<br />
opportunity to interest people in the purchase<br />
of refreshments, since they are in an<br />
outdoor, hunger-building environment with<br />
a bit of the park or carnival atmosphere,<br />
while the indoor theatre offers a more dignified<br />
variety of showgoing. Indoors, talking<br />
trailers are used, and are normally run<br />
about every 30 to 60 days only, to stimulate<br />
Continued on following page<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 11
USE SCREEN TO PROMOTE SALES<br />
Continued from preceding page<br />
business. They are put on the screen for<br />
all changes of program for a week, and<br />
then rotated to another theatre for another<br />
month or more.<br />
Peter Simon, veteran independent trailer<br />
and motion picture producer, is making<br />
special trailers for various exhibitors—four<br />
last year for Community's drive-ins, one for<br />
Rosen and Fine's De Luxe, and others.<br />
These are u.sually upon special order for<br />
individual exhibitors, as Simon specializes<br />
in trailers tailored to the needs of the<br />
particular house, while the big national<br />
firms handle stock trailers in addition to<br />
their special custom work.<br />
TRAILERS SHOULD EMPHASIZE PRODUCTS<br />
It is Simon's belief that concession trailers<br />
could be promoted considerably more<br />
in this area by the exhibitors and concessionaires.<br />
From experience covering a considerable<br />
range of houses, Simon recommends<br />
:<br />
1. Placing the emphasis upon specific<br />
products sold in the concession<br />
stand.<br />
2. t'lanning an intermission in which<br />
patrons can get to the stand and relax,<br />
and announcing it in advance by a suitable<br />
trailer.<br />
National Screen Service is another source<br />
Some exhibitors make up their<br />
of trailers.<br />
own copy and have specials made, others<br />
use the stock trailers available. Outstanding<br />
in this connection is the emphasis on<br />
popcorn by the Korman circuit, which has<br />
been using such copy consistently for the<br />
past two years. Ben Wachnansy, general<br />
manager for the Nick George circuit, uses<br />
special trailers to promote refreshments<br />
at the circuit's drive-ins, and a new one<br />
is being made up by an ice cream company<br />
to plug its product at the Allen Park.<br />
CONCESSIONAIRES DESIGN TRAILERS<br />
Elsewhere, it is the concession operator,<br />
not the exhibitor, who designs the trailer.<br />
Typical of these is the long-established<br />
L&L Concession Co. operating in many theatres<br />
in this area. Stock trailers are generally<br />
used by this firm.<br />
With drive-ins, especially, it was found<br />
that the usual standard clock trailer showing<br />
a three-minute moving clock, began to<br />
get monotonous after a while—so in midseason,<br />
they switched to the use of a record<br />
over the amplifier. The record merely announces<br />
that the concession stand will be<br />
open, names the various services and products<br />
offered, including coffee, candy and<br />
specialties—and gives a much-appreciated<br />
notice that the restrooms adjoin the building.<br />
Typical plan is to use the trailer one<br />
day and the record the next, to give patrons<br />
a little change in program and appeal.<br />
In this operation, no advance announce-<br />
A 12-page driye-in<br />
trailer directory is<br />
OYoilable from National<br />
Screen Seryice,<br />
as well as a<br />
folder in color which<br />
concerns driye-in refreshment<br />
intermission<br />
trailers specifically.<br />
Also ayailable<br />
is<br />
literature on trailers<br />
for indoor houses.<br />
Filmack has a gaily<br />
illustrated,<br />
full-color<br />
folder describing its<br />
new Technicolor refreshment<br />
trailer,<br />
and a directory of its<br />
full line of trailers.<br />
ment trailer is used, only a brief message<br />
over the sound system.<br />
WILL ESPECIALLY AID<br />
INDOOR HOUSE<br />
Julian Lefkowltz, partner in L&L, pointed<br />
out that the public generally is aware of<br />
the purpose of the intermission, to give<br />
them a chance to patronize the concession<br />
stand. This is, of course, especially true of<br />
drive-in theatres; but, he believes, the<br />
more extensive use of an announcement<br />
or selling trailer in indoor theatres could<br />
prove a considerable stimulant to business.<br />
In smaller-town situations, the objective<br />
appears to be a long range institutional<br />
type of promotion, without too direct emphasis<br />
upon immediate sales, as exemplified<br />
by the Butterfleld circuit with around a<br />
hundred houses. Here stock trailers from<br />
Filmack are generally employed, and run<br />
in between the feature pictures. Several<br />
different trailers are used, and rotated between<br />
different houses, so that a change<br />
of promotional pitch is given frequently.<br />
Each trailer is run for a week or two at a<br />
time, and then dropped from the program<br />
until another replaces it, perhaps a month<br />
later.<br />
CARTOONS HAVE APPEAL<br />
General plugs for the concession department<br />
are the rule in this circuit, which<br />
operates only conventional Indoor theatres.<br />
Sometimes a cartoon style appeal, which<br />
has proved popular with other exhibitors, is<br />
used—such as a character singing: "Let's<br />
all go to the lobby, and get ourselves a<br />
treat."<br />
In United Detroit Theatres, there is a<br />
three-minute intermission where the house<br />
policy makes it possible, announced by a<br />
trailer that introduces it: "For your comfort<br />
and convenience." Here, the emphasis<br />
is upon the intermission, not upon the<br />
candy and other products. It is taken for<br />
granted that the public will to a considerable<br />
extent patronize the concession stand,<br />
during this period, but it is felt unwise<br />
by this circuit to blatantly promote it. The<br />
word "candy" or its equivalent is never<br />
used in such announcements.<br />
GAUGE INTERMISSION TIME<br />
An interesting house practice in this circuit<br />
is to gauge the length of the intermission<br />
to the amount of patronage at the<br />
candy stand. Patrons get a chance to get<br />
up and stretch, while music is played over<br />
the address system. For a normal crowd,<br />
three minutes is about right, but if the<br />
crowd is big, the time is lengthened a<br />
couple of minutes, while, for a very small<br />
concession patronage, it is cut short by<br />
about a minute, so that the greatest number<br />
of patrons may be satisfied.<br />
Trailers used just in advance of intermission<br />
are very effective in promoting concession<br />
sales, according to Max Gealer,<br />
supervisor of Associated Theatres. In addition<br />
to drive-ins of this circuit, the Trenton<br />
Theatre at Trenton uses this policy.<br />
Stock trailers available from Filmack and<br />
from Confection Cabinet Corp., concession<br />
operator, were especially noted by Gealer,<br />
some in cartoon style, and at least one in<br />
color. Wherever possible, he believes In<br />
12 Th« MODERN THEATRE SECTION t,
eaking up the evening show In an Indoor<br />
house, just as he Is able to do without difficulty<br />
in the drive-ins. A few pleasant social<br />
moments in the lobby provide a memorable<br />
Interlude and give the patrons a<br />
chance to go back in and enjoy the remaining<br />
program all the more—as legitimate<br />
theatre operators have long known.<br />
Find a Vending Machine Increases Beverage Sales<br />
INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH BEST<br />
Actual results of refreshment service<br />
business attributable to screen trailers probably<br />
can never be gauged. It will be seen<br />
that the thinking of the majority of exhibitors<br />
who have experimented with them<br />
is toward the institutional type of approach,<br />
building for the "long haul"—rather than<br />
aiming at a hypnotic selling message that<br />
will compel patrons to surge out the next<br />
instant to the candy stand. Patrons who<br />
don't care for such products, including<br />
those who would normally like them but<br />
have just eaten a big meal before coming<br />
to the show, may be offended by too intensive<br />
promotion. The institutional approach<br />
pays off over a longer period.<br />
I<br />
Every theatre owner or manager should<br />
devote as much attention to the cleanliness<br />
of his house as to the pictures he<br />
shows there. His patrons wiU! Time consumed<br />
in giving attention to house hygiene<br />
need not be a burden on overworked management.<br />
A routine, but thorough, inspection<br />
will keep the help on its toes.<br />
The mural behind the concession stand at the State Theatre, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, follows the decorative<br />
motH of the theatre. Illumination from beneath the canopy highlights both the popcorn warmer<br />
and the candy case. Good point-of-sale promotion is evident in the signs and popcorn boxes on top<br />
of the warmer. An automatic drink vending machine is placed on the adjacent aisle to attract attention.<br />
M. B. Horwitz, owner, and Ray Brown jr., manager, have found that self service increased sales of<br />
drinks. Their reasoning is also that there is little desire to buy popcorn on leaving the theatre, and the<br />
concession closes with the closing of the boxoffice, but that patrons usually desire something to drink<br />
after they hove eaten the popcorn. The automatic machine thus becomes a permanent, suggestive salesman.<br />
^hROCO FOODRINK TRAY<br />
Increases Carrying Convenience<br />
Increases Food Sales!<br />
Your patrons will appreciate the<br />
convenience of the Loroco Foodrink<br />
Tray. A simple, practical design holds<br />
cups and ice cream cones securely— allows<br />
plenty of room for sandwiches.<br />
Order the Loroco<br />
Foodrink Tray jrom your<br />
paper jobber or<br />
for more irijormation write<br />
The Loroco tray snaps open, quickly locks,<br />
makes it easy for customers to carry more<br />
without the dismay and delay of dropped<br />
food.<br />
EXAMINE THESE FEATURES OF THE LOROCO FOODRINK TRAY . .<br />
then compare with ordinary troys.<br />
ocTurtwl<br />
INDUSTRIES,<br />
INCORPORATED<br />
READING, CINCINNATI 1 S, OHIO<br />
lots More Room.<br />
Designed to m.ikc all available space useful<br />
to the "n'th" degree!<br />
9 Greater Strength.<br />
Inner drink slot wall gives strength right<br />
down the middle where it's needed the<br />
most.<br />
# New Practical Arrangement.<br />
Toiid and drinks easily balance; tray holds<br />
ice cream cones, and many sizes of paper<br />
cups.<br />
9 Snaps Open, Quickly locks.<br />
Iktomes .in cfftilivc carrying tray almost<br />
instantly. This exclusive Loroco design eliminates<br />
wobbling and twisting, too!<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 13
REFRESHMENT SERVICE<br />
Prominence of This Concession<br />
Boosts Refreshment Sales<br />
by<br />
Imported Candy Brings in Extra Business<br />
KITTY HARWOOD<br />
I MPORTANT TO SALES prodUCliOIl IS<br />
the advantageous location of the refreshment<br />
counter at Wometco's showplace, the<br />
Carib. Miami. Fla. "It's in a really prime<br />
location." said Van Myers, head of Wometco's<br />
concession department for all the circuit's<br />
theatres. "Directly in the center of<br />
the lobby, between the two main floor<br />
aisle heads, it is visible the full length of<br />
the lobby from the boxoffice to the auditorium.<br />
OCCUPIES ONE-THIRD OF WALL<br />
The 30-foot concession bar occupies<br />
about one-third of the wall space. It was<br />
custom-built of beautifully grained blond<br />
mahogany, the panels arranged in pleasing<br />
patterns. The bar features two open, helpyourself<br />
candy display units, and between<br />
them a Selmix Coca-Cola and root beer<br />
dispenser. P^'esh orange juice is also dispensed<br />
in this section from a plastic container<br />
through which the "barreled sunshine"<br />
may be seen. A full-length backbar<br />
is used for storage and for display of<br />
cigars and cigarets. Mirrors behind the<br />
backbar add to the beauty and spacious<br />
feeling and help achieve maximum light<br />
and reflective values. A large, air conditioned<br />
stockroom is located a few feet from<br />
the counter.<br />
The two most popular items at the Carib.<br />
according to Van Myers, are popcorn and<br />
fresh orange juice. Unbuttered corn is<br />
sold in 15-cent packages, and dairy buttered<br />
corn is ten cents additional, but the<br />
patrons seem to find it well worth the difference.<br />
All merchandise except drinks<br />
may be taken into the auditorium.<br />
An unusual feature of the Carib's concession<br />
is imported candy, some of which<br />
comes from Switzerland, Holland and Israel.<br />
These may be had in bars or in<br />
boxes and have been stocked to serve the<br />
Carib's cosmopolitan clientele. "Lots of people."<br />
said the Carib's concession manager,<br />
Tom Rayfield, "drop in to buy our imported<br />
candy, but not necessarily to see the show."<br />
GREAT VARIETY OF MERCHANDISE<br />
The concession is supplied witli such variety<br />
it is not easily stumped by patron<br />
requests. Every popular brand of cigarets<br />
as well as some less<br />
in demand are available,<br />
in addition to the great variety of<br />
candy and other items.<br />
Myers has employed four girls full time<br />
to serve the counter properly. He puts them<br />
through a special training course, being a<br />
strong believer in the relationship between<br />
sales and the seller. He is convinced that<br />
only through the enthusiasm and interest<br />
of the sales .staff are the best results attained.<br />
The girls wear aqua uniforms which<br />
carry out the sea-blue of the theatre'.s<br />
tropical decorations.<br />
In front of the counter is a terrazzo<br />
floor, easy to keep spotless. The atmosphere<br />
around the refreshment bar is inviting, the<br />
displays are kept neat and attractive and<br />
the surroundings are luxurious. If anything<br />
further is needed to draw eyes to the spot,<br />
a television set has been recessed in the<br />
wall above the counter .so the patron has<br />
entertainment even before he goes into the<br />
auditorium.<br />
Ways to Increase Your<br />
Concession Profits<br />
Correcting flaws in the theatre refreshment<br />
service has proved to be an excellent<br />
way to increase profits and improve the<br />
morale of concession personnel.<br />
Patron incentive to buy at the concession<br />
stand must be achieved by suggestion.<br />
Theatre managers have stressed pep talks<br />
to personnel in selling. However, the idea<br />
of pressure selling is out of the question.<br />
The first time a patron feels that he is<br />
getting a sales talk a "no" reaction sets in.<br />
A simple "Thank you" and "You're welcome"<br />
always meets with immediate approval.<br />
A clean looking stand also goes a<br />
long way in selling. Neatly dressed employes<br />
help step up sales. The concensus<br />
seems to be that a theatre without a set<br />
policy in the refreshment field is just seeing<br />
good profits go by the theatre door.<br />
The average theatre manager should review<br />
in his mind just what he's done recently<br />
in the way of keeping the concession<br />
stand areas clean and stressing refreshment<br />
service employe courtesy, and then<br />
arrive at a consistent policy. The regular<br />
use of screen trailer copy can also prove<br />
to be useful in boosting vending sales.<br />
Ballantyne Plant Escapes<br />
Missouri Flood Damage<br />
Bob Hoff, sales manager of the Ballantyne<br />
Co., Omaha, Neb., reports that the<br />
Ballantyne plant is on high ground and<br />
thus escaped damage in the Missouri river<br />
flood.<br />
The plant is at present working two complete<br />
eight-hour shifts filling an unprecedented<br />
demand for the new patented Dub'l<br />
Cone in-a-car speaker, as well as complete<br />
drive-in theatre sound and projection<br />
equipment.<br />
The custom-built refreshment bar at the Carib Theatre is 30 feet /ong, arid occupies a strategic location<br />
between the two main floor aisle heads. The two most popular items at the Florida concession are<br />
popcorn, and, logically enough, fresh orange juice. Dairy buttered corn is favored.<br />
Hoff further reports that over 50 of the<br />
company's new Boyer prefabricated screen<br />
towers have been sold in the past 60 days,<br />
with shipments being made this week to<br />
Slothower Theatre, Wichita, Kas.; Cowtown<br />
Drive-In, St. Joseph, Mo.; Arrow<br />
Drive-In, Northuiriberland, Pa.; Jur Drive-<br />
In, Whitesville, W. Va.; Transit Drive-In,<br />
Lockport, N. Y., and the Mattoon Drive-In,<br />
Mattoon, 111.<br />
14 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
"'""<br />
-''^^^flijjw-<br />
•"•<br />
'<br />
Join these movie stars and<br />
Mason Mints to lielp<br />
figlit Cancer<br />
Walter Winchell says:<br />
Hello<br />
Mr. and Mrs. America:<br />
r::::Sw'^aol,ar.Ha..ee...a..e<br />
essary for extensive research lo save hvcs and ca,c<br />
ihc pain of patients.<br />
Vou can help every day.<br />
The Damon Runyon Fund, by arrangement .th ><br />
Mason Au & Magenheinter. receives a por.um<br />
, he sale of ev ery Mason Mint. When you buy<br />
3M M nt v^n-re helping the hght on cancer<br />
""tpportthisresearch wherever and. hene«^^^<br />
you can. America needs your help. Be a s«eet<br />
heart-eat a sweet 1<br />
Steve Cuiliran. slurring<br />
in Warner Bros.' "The<br />
Lion and ihe Horse."<br />
V<br />
Hulli Kiiniiin. co->tjr in<br />
"Mara Maru." a Warner<br />
Bros, firodurtion.<br />
I<br />
Gene NcUnn, who co«<br />
fttur^ in Warner Bros.*<br />
"SheV WorkiniE Her Way<br />
Through College."<br />
During 1952, Mason. Au & Magenheimer will donate a generous<br />
portion of its profits on Mason Mints to the Damon Runyon Memorial<br />
Fund forCanoer Kesearth. Famous Hollywood stars, sounding<br />
the keynote in national advertisements and publicity, will help<br />
speed Mason Mints off the shelves with this dramatic and worthy<br />
appeal.<br />
Gel aboard the bandwagon! Do your part lo lielp in the fight<br />
against tlie world's most dreaded disease.<br />
Here's How It Works . . . From counter<br />
display;:, nalional ads, publicity release*.<br />
lovely Yvonne de Carlo, ro-starring in<br />
"The San Francisco Story." a Fidelily-<br />
\'ogue picture presented by Earner Bro^,..<br />
announces: "Every Mason Mint you buy<br />
Iielps fight cancer!"<br />
Good Anu-ricans b> the<br />
gel the idea, swing into artion , . .<br />
zoom goes the sale of .Ma^on Mints.<br />
Il'» a real profit story, >«ilh an extra bappy<br />
ending. Here's Herbert E. Huug. Mason's<br />
pre-idenl. presenting the fir>I check for<br />
Runvon Fund to Sherman Billingkley on<br />
Stork Club T\' program.<br />
JOIN THE<br />
FIGHT AGAINST |%^<br />
CANCER -..BUY :
REFRESHMENT<br />
SERVICE<br />
Research Program Produces Corn<br />
With More Pop to the Pound<br />
by JOHN C.<br />
Theatre patrons enjoy tender, flavorsome popcorn and exhibitors earn<br />
more concession profits because of greater popout of improved corn<br />
ELDREDGE*<br />
r OR HUNDREDS OF YEARS pcople have<br />
eaten popcorn. But that was not because<br />
it was good popcorn. It probably was used<br />
because most any popcorn was better than<br />
none at all. Even 20 years ago the popcorn<br />
consumer had to put up with a distinctly<br />
inferior product, measured by modern<br />
standards. The popped kernel was coarse<br />
and lacking in flavor. It had a thick, rough<br />
hull which discouraged many people from<br />
eating it. It was indeed a decidedly different<br />
product from the modern tender, fluffy<br />
flakes which the theatre patron now<br />
munches while he enjoys a good picture.<br />
Probably few popcorn consumers realize<br />
how much patient, painstaking research has<br />
gone into the development of the hybrid<br />
popcorn of today. This program of popcorn<br />
improvement was begun at Iowa State college<br />
about 22 years ago.<br />
The essential steps used in this<br />
method<br />
of popcorn improvement are as follows.<br />
First, seed of the best available open-<br />
'Dr, John C. Eldredge is associate professor of form<br />
crops, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture,<br />
Iowa State College, where a popcorn reseorch<br />
progrom hos been in effect for the last 22 years.<br />
pollinated varieties was planted in the<br />
breeding nursery. At tasseling time the ear<br />
shoots on the best plants were covered with<br />
small transparent bags to prevent their<br />
pollination by other plants in the field.<br />
When the silks emerged and could be seen<br />
under the bag, pollen was collected from the<br />
tassel of the same plant and carefully<br />
placed on the silks. These self-pollinated<br />
ears then have controlled parentage, the<br />
male and female both from the same plant.<br />
The next year, seed from these individual<br />
selfed ears were planted, each row from a<br />
single ear. The process of self pollination<br />
was repeated, always choosing the best<br />
plants in the best rows. Controlled pollination<br />
was continued for several years, usually<br />
five or six, untO "pure lines" of corn were<br />
developed. Lines become pure because by<br />
inbreeding, the male and female parentage<br />
of the seed always came from a single<br />
plant.<br />
CHARACTERS REMAIN UNCHANGED<br />
As long as inbreeding is continued these<br />
lines remain fixed or unchanged. Such<br />
characters as sOk or tassel color, plant<br />
Point of sole odrertising displays and wall signs like those shown below in the Rialto Theatre, Denver,<br />
Colo., help increase popcorn sales. Gene Manzanares, manager (right), features buttered corn at 20 cents<br />
a box, and at least half an ounce of melted butter is pumped into each patron's box.<br />
height, time of maturity, popping volume,<br />
and the hundreds of other characters reproduce<br />
the same way from year to year.<br />
But during the five or six years that the<br />
pure lines were being developed by inbreeding<br />
many undesirable as well as desirable<br />
traits showed up. The desirable<br />
lines, insofar as they could be recognized,<br />
were saved and the undesirable ones were<br />
discarded. Only a very few were good<br />
enough in all characters to be saved during<br />
the long period of intensive inbreeding.<br />
This means that a large number of hand<br />
pollinations were made every year. Many<br />
lines were grown but discarded because<br />
they had some fault such as low popping<br />
volume, poor quality of popped corn, weak<br />
stalks, or poor roots which caused the corn<br />
to blow over easily.<br />
A FORMIDABLE TASK<br />
It must be obvious that large plots of<br />
ground, much hand labor in planting,<br />
weeding, pollinating, harvesting and shelling<br />
was required each year. The task of<br />
making popping tests, on the large number<br />
of inbred lines developed, was a formidable<br />
one.<br />
But this was only the begiiming of hybrid<br />
corn. After the inbreeding program had<br />
been carried on for five or six years about<br />
200 inbred lines had survived the rigorous<br />
selection. But even the best inbred lines<br />
were weak and the ears were small. They<br />
could not be used for seed to produce a<br />
commercial crop of corn for popping. To<br />
restore the vigor and yield they lost during<br />
inbreeding and to capitalize on the<br />
good characters for which they were selected<br />
these lines had to be crossed together<br />
to produce hybrids.<br />
REDUCED TO 20 LINES<br />
However, 200 inbred lines are far too<br />
many to cross in all possible combinations.<br />
Nearly 20,000 could be made with 200 lines.<br />
The number was then reduced to 20 by putting<br />
the 200 through a special test by crossing<br />
each one to the same parent. This test<br />
shows which ones are likely to give the most<br />
hybrid vigor. These 20 inbred lines were<br />
then crossed in all possible combinations,<br />
making about 200 single cross hybrids.<br />
These 200 single crosses were tested in a<br />
yield test to learn which hybrids showed<br />
the most promise in making three-way or<br />
double-cross commercial hybrids. This part<br />
of the breeding work, to find inbred lines<br />
that have the best chances of transmitting<br />
their characters into hybrids that also<br />
yield well, required hundreds of cross pollinations<br />
made by hand, and thousands of<br />
popping tests to measure volume and quality<br />
of the popped corn. It is the intermediate<br />
stage of cross breeding to reduce many<br />
lines to only a few that met the exacting<br />
demands of the producer and consumer of<br />
commercial popcorn hybrids.<br />
THEN CAME THE HYBRIDS<br />
The third step in producing a good hybrid<br />
popcorn was to make several hundred<br />
experimental three-way and double-cross<br />
hybrids from the most promising single<br />
crosses. These hybrids also must be tried<br />
Continued on page 18<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
ANADA<br />
DRY<br />
PROFIT<br />
mil^<br />
from Vending Machines<br />
^ RIGHT<br />
|l Dispensers— Fountains<br />
Syrup Line<br />
Ginger Ale<br />
Lemon Lime<br />
Hi-Spot (lemon)<br />
For syrup information call<br />
yovr local Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc., office<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1962 17
MORE POP TO THE<br />
POUND<br />
Continued horn page 16<br />
in a yield test. This involved planting each<br />
hybrid in a separate row and growing them<br />
to maturity. Notes were taken on their<br />
growth characteristics such as ability to<br />
withstand windstorms and the attacks of<br />
insects and diseases. Each row was harvested<br />
separately and the yield obtained.<br />
About 20 representative ears from each row<br />
were dried carefully to the right moisture<br />
and popped to obtain popping volume and<br />
notes on the characteristics of the popped<br />
flake. These notes consisted of a score or<br />
rating on color, hull, shape, size, tenderness<br />
and flavor. On the basis of the information<br />
obtained from these tests a<br />
hybrid was selected for commercial production.<br />
It should be obvious that this program<br />
has involved an enormous amount of<br />
careful, painstaking research carried on<br />
over a period of about 12 years. During the<br />
time that the hybrid popcorn breeding program<br />
has been carried on at Iowa State college<br />
three complete cycles as described<br />
above have been completed and a fourth is<br />
well on its way.<br />
TEN NEW HYBRIDS RELEASED<br />
The popcorn breeding program at Iowa<br />
State college has resulted in the release of<br />
ten different commercial popcorn hybrids,<br />
three of which were not given official re-<br />
lease numbers. Of the last three to be released,<br />
lopop 5 and 7 are white or Jap<br />
hull-le.ss type and lopop 6 is yellow. All three<br />
stand better, yield better and are more<br />
resistant to insects and diseases than the<br />
open-pollinated varieties of similar type.<br />
But in the characteristic of most interest<br />
to the commercial popper, popping expansion,<br />
they are decidedly better than their<br />
open-pollinated ancestors. The two white<br />
hybrids have a popping expansion of 31.7<br />
for lopop 5 and 33.0 for lopop 7 as an<br />
average for a three-year period. These<br />
volumes are much higher than the old Jap<br />
hull-less variety. In addition, both of these<br />
hybrids are high in eating quality, having<br />
a very tender flake, are free from coarse<br />
hull and of delicate flavor.<br />
«3!P»<br />
The<br />
Answer<br />
To Your<br />
Fountain<br />
Problems!<br />
Two Sure-Fire Money-Makers<br />
Sell Soft Drinks and Ice Cream at a Sweet Profit!<br />
The DRINCOLATOR<br />
Dispenses 2 carbonated drinks<br />
and one non-carbonated drink<br />
. . . has a 12-gaIlon syrup capacity,<br />
equal to 1500 6-ounce<br />
drinks . . . has a constant flowvalve,<br />
enabling the operator to<br />
sell any size drink.<br />
Both Units are compact, attractive, durable.<br />
story from<br />
The ICECREAMOLATOR<br />
Stops them—tells them—sells<br />
them, puts the ice cream and<br />
pops in the spotlight where<br />
they're seen, wanted, bought!<br />
Takes only 5'/2 square leet of<br />
floor space.<br />
Get the complete profit<br />
THE DRINCOLATOR-ICECREAMOLATOR CORPORATION<br />
A Diyiiion Of<br />
THE YOUNGSTOWN WELDING & ENGINEERING COMPANY<br />
3700 Oakwood Avenue Youngstown 9, Ohio<br />
HIGH VOLUME AND TENDER FLAKE<br />
The new yellow hybrid, lopop 6, has<br />
shown even greater superiority over the<br />
open-pollinated yellow varieties. lopop 6,<br />
as an average for the last four years, has<br />
popped 35.1 volumes or 15 volumes better<br />
than the average for five of the old varieties,<br />
lopop 6, in addition, has an extremely<br />
tender flake ( too tender for some commercial<br />
uses > , thin hulls, an attractive color<br />
and excellent flavor.<br />
Perhaps some do not realize how important<br />
popping volume is to the commercial<br />
popper. Some dollars and cents comparisons<br />
may help to visualize its importance.<br />
By taking an average of the standard size<br />
popcorn bags used by three large popcorn<br />
stands it was found that a 100-pound bag<br />
of 26 volume corn would give a return of<br />
$115, 100 pounds of 30 volume corn returned<br />
$133 and 34 volume corn, $154. In<br />
other words each volume increase meant<br />
an increase of about $4.50 from a 100-<br />
pound bag. These figures show the importance<br />
of the popcorn breeding program<br />
to the commercial popper.<br />
BETTER CORN — MORE SALES<br />
There is little doubt that the great increase<br />
in sales of popped corn can be partly<br />
credited to the better quality of the product.<br />
This, in turn, is largely the result of<br />
the better hybrid popcorn being used by<br />
the popcorn industry. But even good hybrid<br />
popcorn must be processed and delivered<br />
to the commercial popper with the<br />
proper moisture and quality to give its full<br />
potential for high volume. Good breeding<br />
and good processing together have made<br />
popcorn of today one of the best examples<br />
of the ways in which research has been of<br />
value to the producer, the industry and the<br />
public.<br />
The Manley Co. believes the best way to<br />
handle popcorn is to buy corn in tins or<br />
100 pound bags. For small users, the tins<br />
keep the corn just right: for large users,<br />
the bags go so fast that moisture is no<br />
problem. However, in case you have some<br />
loose corn that has dried out, try this<br />
stunt: Saturate strips of paper toweling<br />
with a strong salt solution. Place popcorn<br />
in jar, scatter salt-water strips through it,<br />
and seal for 10 days.<br />
18 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION;
^y Here's a sure-fire recipe for popcorn profits: Buy<br />
a Manley Aristocrat popcorn machine and then display<br />
it right out in front where everyone can see it . . . just<br />
the way it's done in Theater No. 2, Lowry Air Base,<br />
Denver, Colo, (photo above). When people can<br />
see the rich beauty of a Manley machine and can<br />
watch and smell that luscious popcorn being<br />
made before their very eyes, they dig down in<br />
a hurry for the price of a bag or box. Manley<br />
machines have eye-appeal. They draw people<br />
to them and then clinch the sale for you.<br />
All you have to do is put 'em where<br />
they can be seen. Write today for more<br />
information on how to make more<br />
money out ofpopcorn with a Manley.<br />
Davi; BoGi.R, ConCiSsioii Mtiiuigtr,<br />
Skyvicw Cruisc-ln Thtatcr<br />
Lancaster. O.<br />
Manley. Inc.. Dcpt. BO 5-3-52<br />
1920 Wyandotte St., Kansas City 8, Mo.<br />
I am very interested in the big-yield Manley Machine.<br />
Please have a Manley man call and bring your new booklet.<br />
"<br />
How To Make Big Profits from Popcorn.<br />
Namc-<br />
Address.<br />
City<br />
.State.<br />
SALES AND SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES IN 29 CITIES<br />
SEE YOUR TELEPHONE DIRECTORY<br />
Best Time to Call_<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 19
Like everybody else, he's kept an anxious eye on his<br />
boxoffice. No time lost on tears for him, though.<br />
He's found a way to make up for it— by getting<br />
more profit from his popcorn sales!<br />
He's learned Popsit-Plus gives him many more<br />
boxes per batch, fewer duds, less waste.<br />
He's found that Popsit-Plus' butterlike flavor<br />
and aroma stops 'em, sells 'em . . . easier<br />
and faster.<br />
More, better, and more profitable popcorn<br />
doesn't answer all his problems . . . but<br />
it sure does put a "silver lining" in those<br />
clouds!<br />
Made by C. F. Slmoniii's Sons, Inc. phua<br />
kA RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
REFRESHMENT SERVICE<br />
New Theory to Explain<br />
The Pop in<br />
Popcorn<br />
The pop in popcorn long ha.s been a<br />
subject of curiosity among both laymen<br />
and scientists. For many years it was<br />
believed that steam generated within the<br />
sealed popcorn hull caused the hull to explode,<br />
creating popped corn. But this theory<br />
has been abandoned in favor of one which<br />
indicates that a rearrangement of the protein<br />
pattern within the corn itself is responsible<br />
for the finished product.<br />
There are more than 45 different brands<br />
of popcorn on the market, all vying for<br />
consumer allegiance. These brands market<br />
such varying kinds of popcorn as giantsize<br />
kernels and tiny ones, yellow corn and<br />
white, kernels with little hull and others<br />
with more. Corn that requires less popping<br />
time than some, and corn that's<br />
stored differently than others. And so on.<br />
Popcorn contains 1,825 heat energy<br />
units per pound, or about twice as<br />
many units as a pound of round steak, two<br />
and a half times as many as a pound of<br />
eggs, and six times as many units as a<br />
pound of milk.<br />
Indeed, in every nutrient category, including<br />
protein, popcorn is either at or<br />
near the top in content and value. Popcorn,<br />
says the agriculture department, contains<br />
more energy units than 96 per cent<br />
of all foods listed as edible by the department.<br />
Popcorn today concerns not only the<br />
motion picture patron, but the scientific<br />
fraternity as well. With the rise of the<br />
popcorn industry to its present eminence,<br />
research projects connected with popcorn<br />
are being conducted in 12 state universities.<br />
! 1<br />
1<br />
f<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE PLANNING INSTITUTE 5-3-52<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Gentlemen:<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU to receive information regularly, as<br />
released, on the following subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
D Acoustics<br />
D Air Conditioning<br />
D Architectural Service<br />
D "Black" Lighting<br />
O Building<br />
Material<br />
D Carpets<br />
O Coin Machines<br />
D Other<br />
Subjects<br />
D Complete Remodeling<br />
n Decorating<br />
Q Drink Dispensers<br />
n Drive-In Equipment<br />
D Lighting Fixtures<br />
D Plumbing Fixtures<br />
D Projectors<br />
O Projection Lamps<br />
D Seating<br />
D Signs and Marquees<br />
O Sound Equipment<br />
Q Television<br />
n Theatre Fronts<br />
O Vending Equipment<br />
The NEW Patented SPEED-SCOOP<br />
Three times more efficient. Scoop and pour a<br />
bogful of popcorn in one single easy motion.<br />
Made of light, stainless aluminum. Cool hardwood<br />
handle. Perfectly balanced for maximum<br />
efficiency and speed. Only $2.50 at your Theatre<br />
Supply or Popcorn Supply Dealer.<br />
SPEED-SCOOP<br />
2021 MORAGA ST., SAH FRANCISCO 22<br />
Theatre<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
Signed<br />
Seating Capacity..<br />
State<br />
(Owner-Manager)<br />
Improvement<br />
PAYS... "<br />
Do It<br />
NOW!<br />
IMPROVE YOUR THEATRE<br />
AND YOU<br />
IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS<br />
^<br />
20 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
James Nicholson, General Manager,<br />
Academies of Proven Hits, Los Angeles, Calif.<br />
says: ttj^^ well-stocked concessions<br />
in all our theaters include<br />
chewing gum. It keeps customers<br />
contented and nets nice profits,'<br />
Yes...Chewmg Gum Improves<br />
Your Profit Picture!<br />
It Pays To Display and Sell<br />
Your Patrons' Favorite Brands<br />
# It's a "good, old American custom" to<br />
chew gum at the movies. Millions of moviegoers<br />
like chewing gum because it helps them<br />
relax— and because it freshens the taste and<br />
sweetens the breath after they've had a<br />
snack or treat from the refreshment counter.<br />
Take advantage of the popularity of chewing<br />
gum. Get your share of this profitable<br />
business by displaying fast-selling Wrigley's<br />
Spearmint, Doublemint, "Juicy Fruit" and<br />
other well-known, top-selling brands. It's an<br />
easy way to increase your concession profits.<br />
r-^7>£.<br />
AC. 123<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 21
REFRESHMENT<br />
SERVICE<br />
Check the Smoking Point<br />
ait<br />
thenewfMILtS<br />
CONTINUOUS CUSTARD MACHINE<br />
AND<br />
BATCH ICE CREAM FREEZER<br />
Mills All-ln-One<br />
With RefriKerated<br />
Sid* Cabintt<br />
Greatest capacity<br />
and convenience.<br />
Re><br />
frigerated cabinet<br />
holds two<br />
10 gallon cans.<br />
M!x is oulomatically<br />
fed to<br />
freezer as finished<br />
product is<br />
drown off.<br />
ILLS<br />
BIG YEAR 'ROUND PROFITS<br />
Soft ice creams, frozen custarcJs,<br />
frosted molts, and regular batch ice<br />
cream in all size packages are big,<br />
sure profit items.<br />
Act now to get your Mills All-<br />
Purpose Counter Freezer and assure<br />
yourself of steady, startling yearround<br />
profits.<br />
Write for free literature describing<br />
and illustrating the three models<br />
available and showing how sensational<br />
YOUR income can be.<br />
MILLS INDUSTRIES, Inc.<br />
4T40 Fullerlon Ave. • Chicago 39, III.<br />
FREEZERS<br />
RAISE YOUR POPCORN INCOME!<br />
More Sales and Profits with Lower Help and Handling Costs<br />
Keeps corn fresh and just rigbi under dampest conditions.<br />
Whether used by itself or as an auxiliary to your present equipment,<br />
Hollywood Servemaster proves a big extro money-maker. Even if you're<br />
entirely satisfied with your present popcorn income and methods, you<br />
OWE IT TO YOURSELF to learn how others have boosted their take<br />
greatly with very small investment. Keeps corn PERFECT at all times.<br />
• OverCounter Selling • Space-Saving and Handy<br />
• Large Capacity for Peaks • Beautifully Attractive<br />
Here Is Truly the Fastest, Most Profitable Way to SELL<br />
MORE and BETTER HOT, CRISP POPCORN! Investigate!<br />
Speedy operation. Big elevator worming well. Ample capacity<br />
for rush periods. Only one operator. Animated<br />
disploy simulates sight and sound of popping. Thermostot<br />
control. Brilliant lighting. Single loading equivalent to<br />
3b0 boxes. Start moking more money and happier customers<br />
today!<br />
WRITE NOW for this big profit story. Use FREE post card at<br />
page 60 or write direct to 114 W. ISth St., Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Of Popping Oils<br />
In considering the relative merits of<br />
coconut oil and peanut oil for popping<br />
corn, exliibitors and concessionaires may<br />
well consider not only the burning point<br />
of both, but more important, the smoke<br />
point.<br />
"The burning point of coconut oil is<br />
600°P and its smoke point is 350°F," according<br />
to J. A. Ryan, vice-president and sales<br />
manager of C. F. Simonin's Sons, Inc.<br />
FUMES ARE VOLATILE<br />
"The popping temperature used in most<br />
modern machines is between 470°F and<br />
500 °F. At these temperatures the fumes<br />
rising above coconut oil are very volatile<br />
and if they come in contact with a spark<br />
from a motor, for example, are likely to<br />
flash." According to Ryan, "this has been<br />
the cause of many fires in popcorn machines<br />
throughout the country, thus the<br />
danger is not from burning but rather<br />
from the flash of the rising fumes.<br />
"The smoke point of the peanut oil used<br />
in Popsit is about 460''F and the flash<br />
point is 654 °F. There is no danger, therefore,<br />
from flash fires when using peanut oil<br />
because the popping temperature is far<br />
below the flash point. While the burning<br />
point of coconut oil is 60O°P, the burning<br />
point of peanut oil is 725 °P.<br />
DON'T LEAVE CORN IN<br />
BOXES<br />
"It is true that coconut oil does not turn<br />
rancid. However, there is no danger of<br />
rancidity when using peanut oil in lobby<br />
popping operations where the corn is consumed<br />
within a day or so after it is popped.<br />
It is important, however, that popcorn<br />
should not be held overnight in these boxes,<br />
because the heat forces the flavor of the<br />
cardboard into the corn, causing a disagreeable<br />
flavor which is often attributed<br />
to rancidity, but it is merely the sulphite<br />
in the cardboard."<br />
\<br />
Hi<br />
O-s'<br />
f.1 5*^<br />
=ii« 2l\ «•" ini*«<br />
ft<br />
^MET<br />
> THE<br />
'^ \CHAMP<br />
tA 00 e^<br />
F) -^, ^<br />
fMM^'<br />
^1^ MOD£ KH THEATRE^<br />
BUYER'S DIRECTORY a^^<br />
REFERENCE SECTION<br />
22 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Better DrinksUj-<br />
Greater Profits, • •<br />
CREST THEATRE*<br />
Seattle, Washington<br />
iff. f ^<br />
In Theatres All Over America<br />
with the<br />
SODA BAR<br />
There is an Everfrost Dealer Near You:<br />
ATIANTA. GEORGIA<br />
WilKirt Theofre Swpplr. I"*-
REFRESHMENT<br />
SERVICE<br />
Many Theatres Must File Their<br />
Concession Ceiling Prices<br />
With District<br />
OPS<br />
Theatres which sell certain types of food<br />
|<br />
in their concessions are covered by ceiling<br />
>,<br />
H<br />
SERVE MORE DRINKS<br />
BETTER, FASTER IN<br />
LESS SPACE AND MAKE<br />
MORE MONEY DOING IT!<br />
v^<br />
y<br />
SELF-CONTAINED SYSTEMS<br />
FOR EVERY REQUIREMENT<br />
C«rb»n>c Diipcnter<br />
elftrt fou complctF<br />
«<br />
lint of ctrbenalon and<br />
b««*i«g« ditpcnsing<br />
tr>i*'ni d«iiqn«d for<br />
yowr profit.<br />
mix-moniTOR<br />
5.fn-l DISPE>4SER HEAD*'^^'^<br />
THAT'S RIGHT, F-l-V-E COMBINATIONS<br />
FROM THE SAME SELF-CLEANING FAUCET<br />
I<br />
. .<br />
Serve 97% ol all the drinks you now serve from<br />
new one Mix-Monitor<br />
laucet that gives<br />
.<br />
you<br />
sensational<br />
5-in-l service<br />
master<br />
v/hile eliminating<br />
bottle problems, flat drinks and wasted<br />
counter space!<br />
There's a Mix-Monitor specially designed for<br />
your requirements, ready to produce higher carbonation<br />
than can be served from a bottle or any<br />
other dispenser. Available tor use as separate<br />
faucets, self-contained units or on remote systems<br />
employing ice or mechanical refrigeration.<br />
Use the handy coupon below to get full facts<br />
on how Mix-Monitor helps you make more profits<br />
faster through sale of better, less expensive soft<br />
drinks.<br />
Name<br />
Street<br />
City. .<br />
The NEW STREAMLINED DIXIE HOT DOG MACHINE<br />
America's Best Hot Dog Merchandiser at a price<br />
you can offord.<br />
MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY<br />
LA R B O N I<br />
steams both buns and hot dogs in 4 minutes. Bottom dog or<br />
bun con be served tirst. Easily turns out 500 sandwiches per<br />
hour. Lorge woter capacity eliminotes dry pan worry. Sliding<br />
doors assure speedy operation. Designed for 2 or 4 pon<br />
combination. Ideal also tor coneys and beefburgers. Made<br />
of stainless steel.<br />
I Gentlemen: Kindly send descriptive details covering your S<br />
: New Streamlined Dixie Hot Dog Machine. S<br />
Nome<br />
•<br />
: Address i<br />
C:B3 CANFIELD.<br />
-DISPENSER INC.<br />
OHIO<br />
I'd Mice to hear without obligation<br />
the complete MIX-MONITOR story<br />
State..<br />
%ef\A coupon below for details ^-<br />
: Gorvis Mfg. Co., i ^<br />
: 210 Court Ave., :<br />
£ Des Moines 9, Iowa S (Patent Pending)<br />
Price:<br />
$99.00 electric<br />
$94.00 gas<br />
price regulation No. 134 which was issued '<br />
March 28 by the Office of Price Stabilization<br />
and became effective April 7. The<br />
regulation establishes ceiling prices for the<br />
sale of food items and beverages which<br />
were formerly controlled by CPR No. 11.<br />
Pi'ices are frozen at the highest level as of<br />
Feb. 3 through 9, 1952.<br />
The regulation does not apply to thea- :<br />
tres selling only candy bars, nuts, popcorn,<br />
i<br />
gum, potato chips, pretzels, packaged confections,<br />
cookies or crackers, ice cream<br />
cones, prepacked individual portions of ice<br />
cream, coffee, fruit juice or soft drinks<br />
'Other than drinks containing ice cream).<br />
It also does not apply where food items or<br />
beverages are sold only by coin-operated<br />
machines.<br />
DRIVE-INS AFFECTED MOST<br />
Outdoor theatres selling hot dogs, fountain<br />
drinks made with ice cream and a<br />
variety of other items will be affected most<br />
by this regulation, but some indoor theatres<br />
may also come under the regulation.<br />
Frozen prices are subject to adjustment<br />
up to June 1 if a theatre, during its most<br />
recent four-month compliance period under<br />
CPR No. 11 was charging prices lower than<br />
those permitted by that regulation. Exhibitors<br />
may make their own adjustment if they<br />
apply it to all items. If adjustments are to<br />
be made on only a liimted number of items,<br />
application must be made to the nearest<br />
OPS district office for a form to be filed<br />
for this purpose. After June 1 no further<br />
changes may be made in ceiling prices un-<br />
specifically authorized by the OPS.<br />
less<br />
Special posters have been mailed to exhibitors<br />
by the OPS, and are to be filled in<br />
with the food items and beverages and<br />
their ceiling prices. These posters must be<br />
posted where they will be plainly seen.<br />
RECORDS MUST BE KEPT<br />
Ceiling price lists must be filed with the<br />
district OPS office, and exhibitors or concessionaires<br />
must keep all invoices and<br />
other records covering the cost and sales of<br />
items used to compute the food cost per<br />
dollar of sales for the base period and any<br />
compliance period under CPR No. 11, and<br />
all future records relating to prices, food<br />
costs and sales.<br />
If a drive-in theatre was not open during<br />
the week of Feb. 3, 1952, its ceilings are<br />
the highest prices charged during the last<br />
month of the most recent corresponding<br />
seasonal period.<br />
New establishments not in operation during<br />
the base period are to use the same<br />
ceilings as their nearest comparable establishment.<br />
Circuits must treat each theatre concession<br />
separately for the purposes of this<br />
regulation.<br />
24 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Remodeled Concession Bar Attracts More Patrons and Profits<br />
Patrons of the Olympia Theatre are lured<br />
to buy more refreshments by the beautiful<br />
concession bar recently completed.<br />
The entire remodelinR job was handled<br />
by the B. F. Shearer Co., including the new<br />
and modern stair railing which was built<br />
in its own cabinet shop.<br />
A boldly designed Gulistan carpet was laid<br />
in the foyer and on the stairway, and Heywood-Wakefield<br />
Airflo loges and Encore<br />
regular chairs were installed.<br />
K /
HI AVE<br />
a motor directly to the carbon feed mechanism.<br />
However, since the burning rates<br />
of the carbons were not always uniform,<br />
the speed of this motor would have to be<br />
automatically variable to maintain a uniform<br />
arc gap length.<br />
USED A VACUUM MOTOR<br />
My first experimental control system was<br />
built from a motor taken from an old<br />
vacuum cleaner, a few miscellaneous gears<br />
and a rheostat. Of course, the windings<br />
in this motor had to be changed to match<br />
the voltage across the arc. so that the<br />
motor would automatically speed up whenever<br />
the arc gap got too long, or slow down<br />
if the arc gap got too short, so as to maintain<br />
a uniform arc gap length throughout<br />
the entire burning of the carbons.<br />
Early experimental work on this arc control<br />
was done at the old Hart Theatre here<br />
the theatre where Ted Lewis,<br />
in Toledo. Ohio. Just as a point of interest,<br />
this is<br />
with his "Is Everybody Happy?" routine,<br />
got his start in show business. At that time<br />
he lived upstairs over the theatre.<br />
Memories are many and vivid as Harry Strong cor>templaies his first arc control.<br />
At his side is the Strong Mighty "90," the product of 30 years of improvements.<br />
The Progress of<br />
Projection Arc<br />
Lighting for Motion Pictures<br />
by HARRY H. STRONG*<br />
YOU EVER noticed that when<br />
theatre equipment manufacturers get together,<br />
the oldtimers invariably chque off<br />
in groups and it's not long before the conversation<br />
drifts around to "Say, Joe, how<br />
1id you ever come to get in the show<br />
ousiness?" That question is all it takes to<br />
get Joe started on his story, a story he<br />
loves to tell. When it gets around to<br />
"Harry," my story runs like this.<br />
Originally I had an electrical repair shop<br />
with most of my work that of maintaining<br />
the equipment in theatres. You must remember<br />
that 40 years ago the motor generators<br />
and other electrical equipment were<br />
pretty crude and required a lot of service.<br />
Working around the theatres in 1922.<br />
and especially in the booths—they didn't<br />
call them projection "rooms" in those<br />
days— I was impressed by the constant attention<br />
required by the projectionist to<br />
keep the carbon arc lamps burning properly.<br />
Prom observation and the knowledge<br />
•President, Strong Electric Corp.<br />
I had gained of arcs and arc power supplies,<br />
it occurred to me that there must be<br />
some better way of feeding the carbons in<br />
the lamphouse than for the operator to<br />
periodically twist a couple of knobs.<br />
Naturally, the first thought was to gear<br />
Thirty years ago Harry H. Strong<br />
founded the company which bears his<br />
name, and which has become the largest<br />
manufacturer of projection arc lamps in<br />
the world. While the Strong Electric<br />
Corp. now employs hundreds of persons<br />
in its engineering, manufacturing and<br />
sales departments, it stemmed originally<br />
from the inventiveness and perseverance<br />
of a man who was trying to improve motion<br />
picture projection. His review of<br />
the development of projection arc lighting<br />
for motion pictures will arouse many<br />
nostalgic memories for exhibitors and<br />
others in the industry. It's an interesting<br />
story that Harry Strong tells in his<br />
own words— and he tells it weU.<br />
OPERATORS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC<br />
This experimental model worked surprisingly<br />
well, which was encouraging to<br />
me. The operators around town were enthusiastic<br />
because they could see how this<br />
control would make their job so much<br />
easier and. at the same time, make it possible<br />
for them to keep a steadier, better<br />
light on the screen. You may recall that<br />
operators in those days had to care for<br />
their projectors, ready a complete show<br />
every day, thread up. hand crank, feed the<br />
arc. rewind, and run song and advertising<br />
slides—all with two hands.<br />
I built six pair of these controls which<br />
were installed in Toledo theatres and sold<br />
for $150 a pair. Then, with very few<br />
changes. I made a dozen more. I thought<br />
I was really in business. I went up to Detroit<br />
and sold a pair in the old Family<br />
Theatre and installed the others in towns<br />
within a 50-mile radius of Toledo.<br />
A ONE-MAN ORGANIZATION<br />
At that time Strong Electric was a oneman<br />
organization. I made the controls,<br />
sold them, installed them, and tried to<br />
collect for them. Then I had the idea of<br />
manufacturing and selling this control in<br />
a big way but soon found out that the cost<br />
of selling in territories more than 50 or 100<br />
miles from Toledo just about ate up all the<br />
profit. At that time I knew little about organized<br />
distribution.<br />
Then one day in 1923, when my visions of<br />
being a big businessman seemed to be fading,<br />
I heard of a new reflector-type arc<br />
which had been brought back from Germany<br />
by a Newark musician named Probansky.<br />
I learned that this was not a complete<br />
lamp but just a flimsy hand-fed<br />
burner mechanism, that had a five or sixinch<br />
nickel plated metal reflector. This<br />
burner could be installed in any old lamphouse<br />
by first removing the vertical arc<br />
4
mechanism. With this new reflector arc<br />
it was possible to project more light, burning<br />
15 amperes, than had heretofore been<br />
possible with the vertical condenser-type<br />
arc burning 50 amperes.<br />
Immediately, this development gave me<br />
the idea that here was a principle that<br />
could be employed to build a complete<br />
lamphouse wuth a reflector-type burner<br />
combined with my automatic arc control.<br />
BUILT His FIRST LAMPS<br />
So I designed and built my first two<br />
lamps which were tried out in the East<br />
Auditorium Theatre of Toledo in 1925.<br />
Only a very few changes were necessary<br />
before I started to build the lamp in a<br />
small way with the limited equipment I<br />
had available. But I soon I'ound out that<br />
it would take more of a factory to build<br />
these lamps on a production basis and certainly<br />
more than the very limited capital<br />
which I had at my command. All too often<br />
I had to collect for the lamps when installed<br />
and then get the check cashed before<br />
I could get out of the hotel. Furthermore,<br />
another similar lamp 'vas being built<br />
in New York and sold under the name of<br />
Helios and still another in Boston, called<br />
the American Reflector arc lamp. Before<br />
I knew it, there were 30 different makes<br />
of lamps on the market.<br />
THE "ANGEL" APPEARS<br />
Then one summer evenin'T, while sitting<br />
on my front porch wondeiing whether I<br />
should forget about manufacturing lamps<br />
and go back to my sadly neglected repair<br />
business, where I was assuied of at least<br />
a living, one of my neighbors came over<br />
and said that his well-to-do uncle had<br />
offered to set him up in business. He<br />
wanted my advice. Should he buy a gas<br />
station or a grocery store? Well, naturally,<br />
my advice was to invest in this gi-eat new<br />
venture of mine, that of building arc<br />
lamps. An arrangement was worked out<br />
and $20,000 was forthcoming. This was the<br />
real start of Strong Electric as manufacturers<br />
of projection arc lamps.<br />
The first 20 lamps which I built were<br />
assembled in a square box-type housing<br />
^mmmi^?^<br />
The first Strong ore control mechanism in which<br />
the inventor used an old vacuum cleaner motor, a<br />
few miscellaneous gears and a rheostat. It worked!<br />
which followed the design of the then current<br />
vertical lamphouse. It was quickly<br />
apparent, however, that if I were to really<br />
sell a lot of lamps, we had to put some eye<br />
appeal in the product. Accordingly, the<br />
lamphouse was streamlined and this newlow<br />
intensity reflector arc lamp named the<br />
Strong Standard.<br />
With the new capital I was able to hire<br />
two mechanics, purchase some machinery.<br />
set up a small shop in a loft over a tin<br />
shop and arrange with Paul Hueter, who<br />
now heads the American Theatre Supply<br />
Co., to help handle the sales. I'd work all<br />
day building lamps and then at night Paul<br />
and I would put a pair of lamps in the<br />
back of the car, start out in the immediate<br />
territory surrounding Toledo, make a demonstration,<br />
sell the lamps, come back, get<br />
another pair and go out again, duplicating<br />
this procedure until we had about 25<br />
installations.<br />
START A DEALER SETUP<br />
Then we decided to put on some dealers.<br />
We went to Cleveland and interested the<br />
Oliver Theatre Supply, which was our first<br />
regular dealer and who, without much<br />
other product to sell, really went out and<br />
did a job. Wr now had the aaswer! ThLs<br />
was a cinch. Hueter made a trip East<br />
stopped in Buffalo where Walter Dion look<br />
on the lamp. In Albany, we put on Crown-<br />
Ingshleld. Fiom there Hueter went Into<br />
New York and made contacts with Izzy<br />
Per.se at the Capitol Theatre Supply Co.,<br />
on to Philadelphia to establish Clem Rizzo<br />
as a Stronu dealer, and then to Baltimore<br />
and J. F. Dusman who also became a dealer.<br />
Then followed Art Morrone in Pittsburgh<br />
and Ed Hosmer of Independent Theatre<br />
Supply Co., Boston.<br />
MOVED TO NEW FACTORY<br />
By now we were .selling lamps faster than<br />
we could make them in our limited quarters<br />
and with only the half-dozen men in the<br />
shop. Within the next several years we<br />
continued to take on additional dealers<br />
and moved into our new rented factory<br />
building on Lagrange street where we soon<br />
had 25 people working in the factory and<br />
had a production of about six lamps a day.<br />
There was a very brisk sale of these low<br />
intensity automatic reflector projection arc<br />
lamps, which gave a brighter picture and<br />
the saving in current and carbon was generally<br />
sufficient to pay for the equipment<br />
in a couple of years.<br />
By 1927 only the smaller theatres were<br />
still using vertical-type arcs. Competition<br />
among lamp manufacturers became keener<br />
and as sales slackened, we brought out a<br />
smaller lamphouse w'hich could be used in<br />
even the shooting galleries where low cost<br />
was important. This Junior model was in<br />
all general appearances the same as the<br />
Standard except that it was about three<br />
From this small<br />
tin shop where<br />
the first Strong<br />
arc control was<br />
built, the firm<br />
has expanded to<br />
occupy the modern<br />
factory shown<br />
below.<br />
Continued on following page<br />
:^x^^^yfiy0^ilyiwAoxwft
The<br />
i^onara tu la tionS<br />
'9<br />
to HARRY STRONG and<br />
STRONG ELECTRIC CORPORATION<br />
for Development of the<br />
Strong "Trouper"<br />
MEMOIRS OF PROGRESS<br />
Continued from preceding page<br />
inches shorter and other dimensions reduced<br />
in proportion.<br />
Sales of the low intensity reflector arc<br />
lamp in 1928 indicated that a saturation<br />
point was approaching. The most promisinu<br />
marlcet then appeared to be the larger<br />
theatres where the hi^'h intensity condenser-type<br />
lamp was being used. This<br />
lamp was then the only type producing suf-<br />
and Thirty Years of Service to<br />
the Motion Picture Industry.<br />
MURCH ELECTRIC<br />
FRANKLIN, MAINE<br />
CO.<br />
Manufacturers of Precision Optical Products<br />
May the Next<br />
30 YEARS<br />
be as Successful . . and may<br />
we continue to have a part in it.<br />
BURLINGTON INSTRUMENT CO.<br />
This is the first projection arc lamp developed by<br />
Harry Strong. It was tried out and proved effective<br />
in 1925.<br />
ficient light for large screens but was very<br />
expensive to operate.<br />
We reasoned that since the reflector<br />
principle had so increased the efficiency<br />
of the low intensity lamp, the same principle<br />
should apply to high intensity. We<br />
immediately started work on the design of a<br />
Burlington,<br />
Iowa<br />
Manufacturers of<br />
Electrical Indicating Instruments<br />
Generator Voltage Regulators<br />
Automatic Synchronizers<br />
Proportionate Load Controls<br />
Best Wishes to Strong Electric<br />
You Keep Lighting the Screens<br />
and<br />
We'll Keep Bringing in the Patrons!<br />
WAGNER SIGN SERVICE. INC.<br />
Cfiangeable Copy Attraction Panels and Letters<br />
218 S. Hoyne Avenue • Chicago 12, Illinois<br />
The Strong Standard low intensity reflector arc<br />
lamp was attractively designed as well as efficient.<br />
high intensity lamp, employing this reflector<br />
principle, with the result that we<br />
projected as much light at 60 amperes as<br />
had been possible with the 120 ampere high<br />
intensity condenser-type lamp. It was<br />
called the Hy-Lo because it gave a high<br />
Continued on page 30<br />
28 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Congratulations to Harry H. Strong<br />
on the<br />
30th Anniversary of the<br />
Strong Electric Corporation<br />
NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY<br />
A Division of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation<br />
STANDARD TIME Congratulates<br />
THE STRONG ELECTRIC CORPORATION<br />
on its 30th Anniversary . .<br />
LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF PROJECTION ARC LAMPS,<br />
RECTIFIERS, AND STAGE SPOT LIGHTS . . .<br />
We are proud to have cooperated in the remarkable achievement<br />
of the Strong Electric Corporation by supplying them with the<br />
finest sets of Jacks and Plugs made anywhere in the world.<br />
'STANDARD ELECTRIC IS STANDARD WITH STRONG"<br />
Standard Electric Jack and<br />
Plug set, typical of the remarkably<br />
fast-action, precision-designed<br />
Jacks and Plugs<br />
supplied by us to<br />
Electric Corporation.<br />
the Strong<br />
r ^.<br />
This complete switchboard supplied by<br />
Stondard Electric Time Company for the<br />
National Bureau of Standards.<br />
Main Board, Laboratory Building, White<br />
Sands Proving Ground — a complete switchboard<br />
by Standard Electric Time Company.<br />
Strong Fllectric Corporation demonstrates<br />
its engineering integrity by continuous<br />
use of Standard Electric Jacks and Plugs<br />
as specified for the control switchboards<br />
which we have built for the Atom Momb<br />
plants at White Sands, and for the .switchboards<br />
used in the laboratory buildings ot<br />
the National Bureau of Standards in<br />
Washington, D. C.<br />
Since 1884<br />
sTRNDfiRD Lar(^est Designer coid BiiiUUr of I tihorittory Switcbbfuirds<br />
THE STANDARD ELECTRIC TIME COMPANY, INCORPORATED<br />
77 LOGAN STREET • SPRINGFIELD 2, MASSACHUSETTS<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 29
IT'S A PLEASURE<br />
TO PLAY A PART<br />
IN<br />
PRODUCING THE PRODUCTS<br />
OF SUCH AN OUTSTANDING<br />
LEADER IN THE THEATRE<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
Toledo Metal Spinning<br />
& Manufacturing<br />
1819 Clinton Street,<br />
TOLEDO, OHIO<br />
••^^^ '"'^'^ ^="1 '~"'1 ^^^ f^^l P^=1 f'^^=1 f^=1 P''^*^ F=<br />
our<br />
(^OmpOi*>in
name of "Suprex," spelled the doom of<br />
the AC lamp.<br />
The Strong Mogul, employing these new<br />
"Suprex" DC high intensity carbons, was<br />
developed the same year. It projected a<br />
The Strong Mogul Suprex 60-ampere projection<br />
lamp was developed in 1933. It delivers nearly<br />
fwice as much light as the old AC lamp, and the<br />
operating costs ore not much higher.<br />
tremendous volume of light at relatively low<br />
operating cost and required very little attention<br />
by the projectionist.<br />
This lamp, burning the "Suprex" positive<br />
carbon at 60 amperes, delivered nearly<br />
twice as much light as the AC and the<br />
operating costs were not a great deal<br />
higher.<br />
The engineering and development of projection<br />
arc lamps has not been limited only<br />
to improvement in the arc or the light<br />
source itself, but of equal importance have<br />
been improvements in the optical system,<br />
which in modern projection arcs comprises<br />
a curved glass reflector.<br />
It is<br />
BASED ON EARLY<br />
INVENTION<br />
interesting to note that the invention<br />
or the development of curved glass<br />
reflectors, like the arc itself, dates back<br />
many years, for it was in 1874 that Mangin<br />
developed a curved glass with a silvered<br />
surface to effectively utUize the principle<br />
of gathering the light from an incandescent<br />
source and redirecting this light most effectively.<br />
Since the optics are a major factor in<br />
attaining the high efficiency in modern<br />
projection arc lamps. Strong Electric in 1935<br />
established its own optical department<br />
where the correct curvatures and designs<br />
could be mathematically computed and the<br />
various steps in the actual manufacture of<br />
the reflector held under direct observation<br />
and control. For six months we wrestled<br />
with molds and furnace temperatures<br />
carrying out a barrel of Ria.ss a day before<br />
we had the necessary know-how of the<br />
intricate and involved processes attendant<br />
to the production of these precision items.<br />
For two years we were throwing away 90<br />
per cent of the reflectors we produced, for<br />
we were determined to sell nothins that<br />
we felt was short of perfection. The Strong<br />
operation includes everything from the actual<br />
forming of the glass blanks through<br />
the various steps of grinding, polishing,<br />
silvering and final inspection.<br />
A RECTIFIER FOR EACH LAMP<br />
Fi-om the very beginning<br />
of our development<br />
work on reflector<br />
arc lamps, it was apparent<br />
that stable and<br />
efficient operation of<br />
the arc was dependent<br />
directly on the characteristics<br />
of the electrical<br />
power supply which<br />
fed that arc.<br />
Through the years,<br />
as each new lamp was<br />
developed by Strong<br />
Electric, we designed<br />
a companion rectifier with load characteristics<br />
specially engineered to match that<br />
particular arc.<br />
Strong Rectifier<br />
The trend to fairly large screen projection<br />
of 16mm educational film was at that<br />
time indicating a need for a greater volume<br />
of light than it was possible to get from<br />
incandescent sources. One day the entertaiimient<br />
at the luncheon club was the<br />
showing of some travel pictures of one of<br />
the members. If we hadn't had the running<br />
commentary by the camera enthusiast,<br />
we'd not have known the locale of the<br />
shots, so poor was the lighting. I considered<br />
what an arc lamp could have done for<br />
such 16mm usage. The most logical solution<br />
seemed to be that of building a<br />
miniature high intensity reflector lamp,<br />
that is, a conventional high intensity lamp<br />
reduced to a size in proportion to the small<br />
16mm projectors. The amount of power<br />
available obviously was limited to that from<br />
a convenience outlet. An optical system<br />
Continued on page 34<br />
30iA<br />
uerdaru<br />
Congratulations<br />
and Best Wishes<br />
to Strong Electric Corp.<br />
GENERAL ETCHING<br />
and MFG. CO.<br />
Manufacturers of Etched and<br />
Lithographed Metal Products<br />
NAME PLATES • DIALS and SCALES<br />
PANELS • SPECIALTIES<br />
3070-3082 W. GRAND AVENUE<br />
CHICAGO 22, ILLINOIS<br />
AT THE<br />
ATLAS<br />
ELECTROTYPE CORPORATION<br />
FOURTH FLOOR FACTORIES BUILDING<br />
MAin 7453 MAin 1600<br />
TOLEDO 2, OHIO<br />
LEAD, TENAPIATE AND WAX MOLDS<br />
NICKEL AND COPPER DEPOSITS<br />
WAXLINES • STEREOS • MATS<br />
Congratulations to Strong Electric!<br />
^teel<br />
SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
I v [cinuPacturer 6<br />
STEEL AND WIRE ROPE FOR FACTORY AND CONTRACTORS' USE<br />
General Office and Warehouse, 3950 Detroit Ave. • P. 0. Box 396<br />
TOLEDO 1, OHIO<br />
CONGRATULATIONS, HARRY STRONG,<br />
on Your 30th Anniversary!<br />
We are proud of our Association with<br />
STRONG ELECTRIC CORP.<br />
during the past 26 yeors<br />
CINEMA SUPPLY CORP.<br />
S.O.S.<br />
602 W. 52nd Street New York 19, N. Y.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 31
32<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
BOXOFFICE :: May 3. 1952 33<br />
Wp
These views 0/ production processes in the Strong Electric Corp. factory are<br />
indicative of the precision engineering that is stressed At left, the workman<br />
is forming gloss reflectors. In the center is a scene in the engineering department<br />
where problems are worked out before production is begun. At<br />
right, an inspection is being made of a projection arc lamp reflector.<br />
The Strong Corp. is the largest producer of projection arc lamps.<br />
MEMOIRS OF PROGRESS<br />
Continued from page 31<br />
which employed a reflector would result<br />
in the required high efficiency. Such a<br />
lamp furthermore would have to be built<br />
to Underwriters special requirements, as this<br />
lamp would usually be in the hands of a<br />
layman. If the lamp was to be small, the<br />
carbons would have to be short, which<br />
meant they would have to burn very slowly,<br />
for a trim would have to last almost an<br />
hour.<br />
FINALLY LICKED THE PROBLEM<br />
To get these short carbons to burn an<br />
hour, we tried burning them at less than<br />
their rated current capacity, but this only<br />
led to unstable burning of the arc and a<br />
continuous changing in color. It was only<br />
by a most intensive effort, with much<br />
sweat, tears, profanity and almost blood,<br />
that we licked the various problems of<br />
building such a lamp. However, by 1936<br />
Strong Electric had finally developed the<br />
16mm Junior High, a reflector-type high<br />
intensity lamp, which delivered about four<br />
to five times as much light as was possible<br />
to get from an incandescent light source<br />
and the light was snow-white in color, a<br />
particular advantage when color films<br />
were shown.<br />
AN INEXPENSIVE LAMP NEEDED<br />
In 1938 there were only about 4,000<br />
theatres<br />
equipped with the various types of<br />
high intensity lamps. The other theatres<br />
needed high intensity lamps very badly but<br />
couldn't afford even the "Suprex" lamps.<br />
The AC lamp had proved to be a flop and<br />
low intensity lamps were no longer adequate<br />
for even the smaller theatres, because<br />
of the trend to larger screens of porous<br />
structure. The more dense films which<br />
were being released as a means of improving<br />
picture quality, and the color films<br />
which could be pleasingly projected only<br />
by the white light of the high intensity.<br />
All the lamp manufacturers directed<br />
every effort to design and build a low cost,<br />
economical lamp that would capture this<br />
potential market.<br />
Our experiments on the 16mm projection<br />
lamp stood us in good stead but only by<br />
concentrated effort, working around the<br />
clock, subsisting on hot coffee and cold<br />
sandwiches, harrassing everyone in the engineering<br />
department, and driving all other<br />
members of the organization to a point<br />
where tempers let go and nervous indigestion<br />
set in, were we able to finally get the<br />
answer. By burning "Suprex" high intensity<br />
carbons at the relatively low current<br />
of 40 amperes, we attained a low power and<br />
carbon cost. This lamp, known as the<br />
Strong One Kilowatt, projects twice as<br />
much light as the low intensity lamp, a<br />
light very white in color, and gives the<br />
moderate size theatre, with a screen up<br />
to 18 feet in width, a type of projection<br />
comparable to that of the large theatres,<br />
but at an original and operating cost within<br />
their means. Since the day it was first<br />
introduced, it has continued to be sold in<br />
large numbers.<br />
THE VICTORY LAMP WAS BORN<br />
World War IX brought a demand from<br />
the armed forces for projection equipment<br />
which could be built almost entirely without<br />
the use of strategic materials such as<br />
aluminum and copper. In answer. Strong<br />
Electric developed the Victory lamp, a high<br />
Continued on page 36<br />
HAKKY blKUNd!<br />
(^onqratuiationi,<br />
'9 from YOUR DEALERS<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
On Your 30th Anniversary!<br />
The industry has benefitted much<br />
through you, Harry Strong.<br />
Arch Hosier<br />
St.<br />
Louis Theatre Supply Co.<br />
3310 Olive St. St. Louis 3, Mo.<br />
MANY, MANY MORE<br />
Milestones of Progress Like This<br />
SOUTHWESTERN<br />
Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
Dallas and Houston<br />
Best Wishes for<br />
CONTINUED SUCCESS!<br />
. . . H. R. Vogel<br />
Theatre Equipment & Supply Co.<br />
Milwaukee, Wisconsin<br />
W. S. SWIFT<br />
THEATRICAL SUPPLY CO.<br />
Virden,<br />
III.<br />
Best Wishes!<br />
Southwest Theatre Equipment,<br />
Independent<br />
WICHITA, KANSAS<br />
HARRY H. STRONG<br />
Backward: What an achievement!<br />
Forward: May the Strong spirit continue<br />
tor many years to come!<br />
VINCENT M. TATE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
Wilkes-Borre, Pa.<br />
Philadelphia Film Territory<br />
STRONG from the Start<br />
and 30 Years of Getting Stronger<br />
H. I. HOWARD<br />
Theatre Equipment Supply Co.<br />
Vancouver, B. C, Canada<br />
Here's to Another<br />
30 SUCCESSFUL YEARS!<br />
F. A. Von Husan<br />
Western Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Omaha 2, Nebraska<br />
30 Years of Making Friends<br />
. . . Ken Benson<br />
ACE CAMERA SUPPLY<br />
462 North Evans St.<br />
Florence, South Carolina<br />
WE SALUTE YOU<br />
on Your 30th Anniversary!<br />
Bob and Lewis Saunders<br />
Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
220 South Poplar St.<br />
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina<br />
. . .<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
and Best Wishes<br />
Theatre Service & Supply Co.<br />
1019 Tenth Street<br />
Huntington, West Virginia<br />
WELL DONE, HARRY!<br />
Your're a Great Guy and<br />
hove done a Great Job.<br />
WALTER SHREVE<br />
SHREVE THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
217 W. 18th St., Konsos City, Mo.<br />
34 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Best Wishes for Your<br />
Continued<br />
Success<br />
Abbott Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
nil S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, III<br />
CONGRATULATIONS,<br />
HARRY!<br />
I've sold strong lamps for 25 years.<br />
Had less exhibitor complaints than<br />
any other item in the business.<br />
N. E. MEHRIE<br />
Charleston Theatre Supply<br />
Chorlcston, W. Vo<br />
CONGRATULATIONS!<br />
—J. STONER HADDEN<br />
Hodden Theatre Supply Co.<br />
209 South Third StcevI<br />
LOUISVILLE, KY<br />
ON BEHALF OF ALL EXHIBITORS<br />
In this fcrritory, our company extends<br />
hearty congrotulotions to the<br />
makers ot the tinest line ot lamps,<br />
rectifiers and accessories.<br />
Albany Theatre Supply Co.<br />
443 N. Pearl St. Albany, N. Y.<br />
AFTER 30 YEARS<br />
STILL GONG STRONG<br />
JOE CIFRE<br />
BOSTON<br />
Our Congratulations to<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
on Your<br />
30th ANNIVERSARY<br />
Alexander Theatre Supply, Inc.<br />
84 Van Braam St., Pittsburgh, Pa.<br />
TROUPER SPOTLIGHTS<br />
TROUPERETTE SPOTLIGHTS<br />
Nothing but spotlight rentol ond<br />
sales<br />
CITY ELECTRIC CO.<br />
1601 Chestnut St. St. Louis, Mo.<br />
With well deserved BEST WISHES<br />
for our esteemed friend<br />
HARRY STRONG<br />
Auburn Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
5 Court Street<br />
AUBURN, N. Y.<br />
30TH BIRTHDAY<br />
of o Splendid Organization!<br />
A. E. THIELE<br />
Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.<br />
1121 High St., Des Moines, lowo<br />
Compliments<br />
of<br />
Harry and Ben Blumberg<br />
BLUMBERG BROS.,<br />
1305 Vine Street<br />
PHILADELPHIA, PA.<br />
INC.<br />
Best Wishes to<br />
HARRY STRONG<br />
DIXIE THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
213 W. Third St.<br />
CHARLOTTE, N. C.<br />
STRONG PRODUCTS ARE THE<br />
FINEST!<br />
What more can we soy then<br />
"Thanks to you, Mr. Strong,<br />
for making them possible."<br />
Boardwalk Film Enterprises<br />
31 S. Stenton PI., Atlantic City, N. J<br />
BEST<br />
from<br />
DOMINION<br />
WISHES<br />
SOUND<br />
Montreal, Quebec, Canada<br />
STRONG Lamps and Rectifiers<br />
CENTURY Sound and Projection<br />
GRIGGS Seating<br />
ALON BOYD<br />
Jefferson Hofel Building<br />
SHREVEPORT, LA.<br />
Congratulations and Best Wishes<br />
for Your Continued Success<br />
Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply<br />
214 W. Montcalm Detroit, Mich.<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
to Horry Strong ond Strong Electric<br />
Corporation<br />
CAPITAL CITY SUPPLY CO.<br />
Oscar J. Howell .. Lewis Waits<br />
161 Walton St. N. W., Atlanto, Go.<br />
STRONG and<br />
MOTIOGRAPH Products<br />
Gardner Theatre Supply<br />
1235 South Wabash<br />
CHICAGO<br />
KINDEST REGARDS to a real old<br />
friend<br />
Canada's<br />
Congratulations!<br />
Ben & Harry Perse<br />
Capital Motion Picture Supply<br />
630 Ninth Avenue<br />
NEW YORK<br />
General Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Limited<br />
Toronto, Ontorio, Canada<br />
Capitol<br />
MANY MORE YEARS<br />
OF THE SAME!<br />
Theatre Supply Co.<br />
28 Piedmont St. Boston, Mass.<br />
Going Strong with STRONG<br />
in<br />
Chicago<br />
Grand Stage Lighting Co.<br />
23 West Hubbard Street<br />
Chicago, III.
Anniversary<br />
of<br />
Harry Strong<br />
and the<br />
Strong<br />
Electric Corp.<br />
JOHNHASSALLJNC. ;<br />
426 Ookland St., Brooklyn 22, N. Y.<br />
J<br />
Manufacturers of<br />
Cold heoded products:<br />
Spacial naiii • rivets • screws<br />
HassGll<br />
The<br />
STRONG ELECTRIC<br />
Corporation<br />
on this,<br />
their<br />
30th Anniversary<br />
. . . and our best wishes for<br />
their continued success<br />
The SPITZER PAPER BOX CO.<br />
3031 Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio<br />
The name to<br />
remember jor<br />
all types oj paper boxes.<br />
MiATIOHAM
'<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Congratulations^<br />
Best<br />
Wishes<br />
HARRY STRONG!<br />
Well Done . . .<br />
from<br />
YOUR DEALERS<br />
From One of Your<br />
Very First<br />
Dealers<br />
SINCERE<br />
CONGRATULATIONS,<br />
HARRY STRONG!<br />
J. F. DUSMAN CO.<br />
Baltimore, Md. H. C. Dusman<br />
30th BIRTHDAY<br />
BEST WISHES to<br />
STRONG ELECTRIC CORP.<br />
and to Harry Strong<br />
from Henry Sorenson<br />
MODERN THEATRE EOUIPMENT CO.<br />
214 S. St. Paul DALLAS, TEXAS<br />
BEST<br />
UJISHES<br />
to<br />
HRRRV H.<br />
STRORG<br />
STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
COMPANY<br />
Greensboro, N. C. Charlotte, N. C.<br />
/ am proud of my association with<br />
HARRY STRONG<br />
during his entire 30 prosperous years in<br />
designing, deyeloping and supplying the<br />
latest in theatre lighting equipment.<br />
W. E. CARRELL<br />
FALLS CITY THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />
427-29 S. Third St. Louisville 2, Ky.<br />
"SALUDOS"<br />
from tfie<br />
Pacific Coast!<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
Los Angeles<br />
Son Francisco<br />
Seattle<br />
Portland<br />
For unexcelled quality of products,<br />
and a service policy going<br />
far beyond anything we know<br />
of, we express our grateful<br />
thanks and offer our everlasting<br />
Best Wishes to<br />
HARRY STRONG!<br />
AMERICAN THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY<br />
Sioux Foils,<br />
South Dokoto<br />
ARTHUR E. TROTZIG<br />
ELWOOD ROBBINS<br />
May You Keep on<br />
Going Just as<br />
STRONG!<br />
Weldon Girard<br />
GIRARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
320 W. Washington Phoenix, Ariz.<br />
to<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
You on Your 30th Anniversary<br />
from<br />
us<br />
on Our 30th Anniversary.<br />
The excellent quality and<br />
performance of Strong Products<br />
has been the contributing<br />
factor of our being able<br />
to celebrate this 30th Anniversary<br />
with you.<br />
QUALITY THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
Omaha, Nebraska<br />
A Token of Regard<br />
to a most wonderful person,<br />
the kindest tyrant ond boss I've<br />
ever known.<br />
A! Boudouris<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
COMPANY<br />
109 Michigon St. Toledo, Ohio<br />
:: May 3, 1952 37
j<br />
MEMOIRS OF PROGRESS<br />
Continued from page 36<br />
hold the crater as close as ten thousandths<br />
of an Inch of the exact focal point.<br />
Producins still more light meant developing<br />
still more heat. This called for a larger<br />
lamphouse. the redesigning for better dissipation,<br />
and the use of materials and parts<br />
which afforded greater resistance to heat.<br />
Forced air cooling was adopted for the<br />
working parts.<br />
A JET OF AIR WAS USED<br />
A jet of air, rather than the previously<br />
common magnetic system, was employed to<br />
stabilize the tail flame of the arc. This air<br />
blows the tail flame away from the reflector,<br />
keeps it cooler and prevents the soot<br />
from depositing on the surface.<br />
Here, in the Strong Mighty "90," developed<br />
in 1949. was a king size, reflectortype,<br />
high intensity projection arc lamp<br />
These old timers rep<br />
resent various stages<br />
of development in<br />
projectors and lamps<br />
At top left is the<br />
Powers Peerlesscope<br />
projector with acety<br />
lene<br />
projection<br />
lamp. At right is<br />
the Idison exhibition<br />
model of 1898 with<br />
a carbon arc lamp.<br />
The Phantascope<br />
projector and arc<br />
lamp produced by<br />
Jenkins is shown at<br />
the<br />
bottom.<br />
«« ••<br />
The Strong Mighty "90" was developed in 1949.<br />
It burns Irom 75 to 140 amperes, and produces<br />
all the light energy today's projectors and film<br />
can handle.<br />
that burned from 75 to 140 amperes and<br />
embodied all the advance engineering resulting<br />
from 25 years of building lamps.<br />
Here was a lamp that produced all the<br />
light energy that today's projectors and<br />
film could accept without damage to<br />
either or both.<br />
A SPOT FOR SMALL THEATRES<br />
Another follow spot, the Trouperette. employing<br />
the incandescent bulb instead of an<br />
arc, was designed in 1950 for the smaller<br />
theatres, night clubs and auditoriums where<br />
the tremendous volume of light from the<br />
arc was not necessary. This Trouperette<br />
employed the same ingenious optical system<br />
for changing the spot size that was<br />
used in the original Trouper arc follow spot.<br />
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of<br />
Strong Electric, this year is, more importantly,<br />
the 150th anniversary of Sir Humphry<br />
Davy's invention of the carbon arc.<br />
in w^hich he employed sticks of charcoal as<br />
electrodes and some wet batteries as a<br />
power supply. It was nearly 100 years later<br />
that Cecil Hepworth employed a hand-fed<br />
carbon arc on his Theatograph projector<br />
which was shortly followed by a vertical<br />
arc designed by Jenkins for use in his<br />
Phantascope projector.<br />
While arc lamps, because of their high<br />
intrinsic brilliancy, have always been used<br />
in motion picture projection, many other<br />
light sources have also been employed.<br />
Edison used an incandescent light in his<br />
Kinetoscope, but on his Exhibition Model<br />
of<br />
1898 adopted a carbon arc.<br />
FRENCHMEN USED ETHER LAMPS<br />
Auguste and Louis Lumiere of Lyon,<br />
F^-ance, used an ether lamp on their Cinematograph<br />
projector of 1895 and even today<br />
many of the old time projectionists will<br />
remember the first models of the celebrated<br />
Powers Peerlesscope projector which used<br />
an acetylene lamp. Thomas Drummond<br />
employed the lime light, which was simply<br />
a stick of lime heated to incandescence by<br />
a gas flame. Credit for the real improvement<br />
in projection lighting must go to<br />
Heinrich Beck of Meiningen, Germany, who<br />
40 years ago took out patents for an arc<br />
using a positive electrode, which was a<br />
carbon shell or tube filled with a paste,<br />
consisting of certain salts, fluorides of calcium,<br />
barium and strontium.<br />
When these electrodes were employed,<br />
this core material was changed into a gas<br />
which burned with a brilliancy that was<br />
many times that of the incandescent tip of<br />
a plain carbon electrode. Its snow-white<br />
color accounted for the name high intensity.<br />
An arc using plain carbons was known<br />
as a low intensity because it burned at a<br />
low color temperature, that is, a muddy<br />
yellow as compared with Beck's arc.<br />
It may be interesting to note that for the<br />
past 30 years Strong Electric has announced<br />
some major new development on the average<br />
of every two years. Our engineering<br />
department is constantly engaged in a program<br />
of experimentation, which will undoubtedly<br />
result in further developments<br />
to meet any needs of the future.<br />
As limelight and ether lamps were used<br />
in the early days of motion picture projection,<br />
likewise there have been recent<br />
experiments with higher-powered, incandescent,<br />
filament-type lamps; high pressure<br />
mercury lamps and zirconium electrode<br />
lamps, but none of these has ever approached<br />
the intrinsic brilliancy of the high<br />
intensity carbon arc.<br />
All the development and research work<br />
of the lamp manufacturers, collaborating<br />
with developments by the carbon companies,<br />
has resulted in improvements in<br />
lamp design, to a point where the light<br />
or energy at the film aperture is now so<br />
intense, that before any further increases<br />
in picture brilliancy can be attained there<br />
must necessarily be more effective methods<br />
of cooling the film at the aperture.<br />
MODELS TO MEET ANY NEED<br />
From a humble beginning. Strong Electric<br />
has grown to become the largest manufacturer<br />
of projection arc lamps in the<br />
world, with specific models to meet any<br />
field requirement.<br />
The Strong line includes the Mighty "90,"<br />
for use in the largest theatres and driveins:<br />
the Mogul for screens 24 feet in width;<br />
the Utility for 20-foot screens; the One<br />
Kilowatt lamp for screens of 18 feet in<br />
width; the Portable lamp for use with<br />
portable projectors, projecting pictures up<br />
to 14 feet in width, and the Junior High<br />
for 16mm projection.<br />
Strong engineers continually incorporate<br />
latest developments and improvements into<br />
each of these lamps, so that as they come<br />
off the production line today they are<br />
truly 1952 models.<br />
That's my story and I'm stuck with it.<br />
38 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
The Crack of Dawn*..<br />
At the crack of dawn the pulse of humanity begins to<br />
roll into action . .<br />
Whether it be on the battle front or the home front, it is<br />
dependent on the service of supply, embracing all<br />
the life-giving necessities . .<br />
And the keynote in the service of supply in<br />
the show world<br />
is<br />
your theatre supply distributor...<br />
Backed by years of experience, well-informed on all matters<br />
pertaining to modern innovations in theatre operation, he is an<br />
invaluable asset to the welfare and success of your theatre. .<br />
He studies your needs and carries a veritable warehouse<br />
of everything essential to the successful operation of<br />
your theatre ...<br />
Your theatre supply distributor is entitled to your business<br />
because of the great investment he has in carrying everything<br />
needed for your successful operation . .<br />
He makes no recommendations until he is definitely sure<br />
that the equipment suggested will be of value and<br />
service to you . .<br />
He is<br />
yours to command<br />
throughout the year, twenty four hours a day. .<br />
Your dollar buys more from<br />
your Theatre Equipment and Supply Distributor<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1962 39
j<br />
j<br />
PROJECTION AND SOUND<br />
Change Your Oil Mr.<br />
Projectionist?<br />
The Best Advice Is to Change Every 200 Hours,<br />
And Stay Away From Off-Brand, Cheaper Grades<br />
by WESLEY TROUT Wesley Trout<br />
I ODAY S MODERN PROJECTOR IS a Very<br />
expensive piece of equipment. It is built<br />
with precision tools by skilled mechanics,<br />
and with proper care and maintenance will<br />
give years of fine service. You can secure<br />
long service if you use the right lubrication,<br />
install parts when needed, and follow the<br />
manufacturer's recommendations as he is<br />
vitally interested in seeing that his equipment<br />
operates satisfactorily. Most projector<br />
manufacturers sell oil which they recommend<br />
for use on their mechanisms; supply<br />
dealers distribute only the very finest projector<br />
oil. and I strongly recommend that<br />
you use it and not a cheap grade of lubricant.<br />
OIL MUST BE RENEWED<br />
The intermittent movement is subject to<br />
very heavy service and a "special" oil<br />
should be used for most satisfactory service.<br />
Here again I urge that you purchase<br />
only the lubricant recommended by the<br />
manufacturer, purchasing it from your<br />
local supply dealer. Oil becomes "poor"<br />
from continued use and should be renewed<br />
in the intermittent every 200 hours. Take<br />
the intermittent out of the mechanism and<br />
empty the old oil out and refill with new,<br />
clean oil.<br />
As you probably know, oil loses its<br />
lubricating powers after so long and<br />
then your parts start wearing out unnecessarily.<br />
Bear in mind that the intermittent<br />
sprocket starts and stops 24 times a second.<br />
This high speed of your intermittent<br />
sprocket requires fine, precision parts which<br />
your manufacturer gives you in today's fine<br />
projector. You can readily understand why<br />
it requires good care and the tmst in lubrication.<br />
This advice applies to your entire<br />
projector lubrication.<br />
USE<br />
RECOMMENDED OIL<br />
Only lubrication lecommended by the<br />
manufacturer or serviceman should be<br />
used to lubricate your soundheads. Never,<br />
never use graphite, or anything else except<br />
pure oil for your projector or soundheads.<br />
One or two drops of oil is plenty in any<br />
bearing, too much oil simply runs out of<br />
the bearing and gets on the film.<br />
Modern mechanisms that have all the<br />
gears running in oil in an oil-tight gear<br />
compartment: the oil should be completely<br />
drained out by opening the drain petcock,<br />
making sure that no foreign material remains<br />
to interfere with the gear operation.<br />
Always thoroughly clean inside with a soft,<br />
clean, lintless cloth before replacing gear<br />
compartment cover. My experience in oil<br />
changing has thoroughly convinced me that<br />
oil in these compartments should be<br />
changed every 600 to 700 operating hours<br />
for best results. I al.so am convinced that<br />
the oil in the intermittent should be completely<br />
changed every 200 hours to achieve<br />
the finest operation.<br />
NOTE: The mechanism of any projector<br />
should not be cleaned when, it is running.<br />
If this procedure is not adhered to damage<br />
may result by the projectionist getting the<br />
cleaning rag caught between the gears or<br />
tangled betioeen the shutters and the shutter<br />
housing.<br />
KEEP<br />
ALL THE SPROCKETS CLEAN<br />
It is of paramount importance that you<br />
keep the intermittent sprocket perfectly<br />
clean at all times, because any dirt that<br />
accumulates on the sprocket teeth will<br />
cause an unsteady picture on the<br />
screen. I suggest that you use a stiff bristle<br />
toothbrush and brush all the sprockets<br />
every day, moistening the toothbrush with<br />
a little chemically pure carbon tetrachloride.<br />
You should clean and thoroughly<br />
examine all your sprockets every day, and<br />
if you find any that have become "undercut,"<br />
replace immediately. "Undercut" and<br />
dirty sprockets will cause picture jump and<br />
film damage. Check your sprockets and see<br />
that they are in perfect alignment so that<br />
the film travel is straight from the top<br />
magazine to the lower magazine. See that<br />
all idle rollers run freely and do not develop<br />
flat places. The correct distance of<br />
sprocket idlers from the face of the sprocket<br />
is the thickness of just little more than the<br />
film, any more than this is bad, and the<br />
idler should never "ride" the sprocket face.<br />
I always place two thicknesses of film on<br />
the sprocket, and adjust idler so it just sets<br />
on film.<br />
EMERGENCY EXCITER LAMP SUPPLY<br />
If your exciter lamp supply is AC and<br />
the transformer that supplies the correct<br />
voltage suddenly goes bad, you can use an<br />
ordinary 500-watt electric heater element<br />
which is wired in series with the exciter<br />
lamp and the regular 110-volt AC current.<br />
This can also be used for emergency setup<br />
with DC power units, and will work very<br />
well until you can make a permanent repair.<br />
Modern soundheads are well built and<br />
rugged in construction, but they are a<br />
delicate piece of machinery and require<br />
careful maintenance so that they will give<br />
\<br />
satisfactory sound reproduction. The P.E,<br />
I<br />
cell should be kept clean and the correct<br />
voltage maintained as recommended by the<br />
manufacturer. Keep in mind that it should<br />
be properly lubricated, the stabilizer drum i<br />
free of dirt and revolving freely in order<br />
to avoid flutter. The guide rollers i<br />
must<br />
be accurately adjusted and turn freely so<br />
j<br />
as to avoid grooves in sides.<br />
TAKE TIME TO FOCUS EXCITER LAMP<br />
Sometimes too little attention is given<br />
\<br />
to focusing the exciter lamp. Take time i<br />
and focus exciter lamp so that you secure<br />
i<br />
clear, white oval light on a card placed<br />
in front of the P.E. cell. If you want a<br />
perfect setting of exciter lamp, connect an i<br />
output meter to the terminals of the loud<br />
speaker circuit and thread in projector a<br />
7,000 c.p.s. loop, and adjust exciter lamps !<br />
until you have secured maximum volume on<br />
the meter. As you probably know, an output<br />
\<br />
;<br />
meter reads sound volume in decibels which<br />
is the unit for measuring sound increases.<br />
A small output meter is very handy and :<br />
•<br />
can be purchased at a very reasonable<br />
price. Be sure to clean sound lens with<br />
tissue when setting exciter lamp or focusing<br />
sound lens.<br />
Loss of frequencies is usually due to oil<br />
on sound lens, darkened exciter lamp, im-<br />
1<br />
properly focused exciter lamp on sound<br />
lens and defective P.E. cell. If oil has<br />
seeped into the lens tube it is best to<br />
secure a loan lens and return the defective<br />
one to the factory.<br />
SOUND TRACK MUST BE SMOOTH<br />
The sound track moving past the lightslit<br />
of the sound lens must be absolutely<br />
smooth in order to avoid "flutter." This<br />
means that the sound drum or stabilizer<br />
should be kept in perfect condition and<br />
free of any dirt accumulations. The sound<br />
head sprockets should not be "undercut,"<br />
The film must be held in place perfectly by<br />
the lateral guides so that its downward<br />
travel will be straight and the light beam<br />
will not strike sprocket holes causing a<br />
loud hum known as "motor-boating." The<br />
entire drive mechanism should be chfecked<br />
regularly and screws checked for tightness.<br />
NOTE: Every day check drum, pad or<br />
gate and remove any particles of film wax,<br />
oil or lint. Any foreign matter that might<br />
Continued on page 42<br />
40 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
No matter what you need<br />
Westrex has it!<br />
The complete Westrex theatre supply and service<br />
organization is the answer to every equipment<br />
supply problem for theatres in 62 countries outside<br />
the U. S. A. and Canada. Offices in over 1 00 cities<br />
are staffed with Westrex-trained engineers who<br />
have installed over 5000 Western Electric and<br />
Westrex Sound Systems, and who service our systems<br />
plus hundreds of installations of other makes.<br />
For studios throughout the world, Westrex<br />
offers a full line of Western Electric and Westrex<br />
studio recording equipment and accessories to meet<br />
every photographic and magnetic recording and rerecording<br />
need. These equipments— like the Westrex<br />
Theatre Sound Systems — are the outcome of<br />
many years of research by Bell Telephone Laboratories<br />
and the Westrex Hollywood Laboratories.<br />
No one else serves the industry<br />
so well OS Westrex<br />
SOUND AND PROJECTION SYSTEMS.<br />
Academy Award Winning Western<br />
Electric Hydro Flutter Suppressor is<br />
featured in Westrex Master, Advanced<br />
and Standard Systems.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING SYSTEMS.<br />
For outstanding results with either<br />
area or density recording, the Westrex<br />
line ranges from newsreel systems to<br />
de luxe studio equipment.<br />
AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT. Westrex<br />
Amplifiers, in power output ranges<br />
from 15 to 100 watts, are designed to<br />
give clear, undistorted reproduction<br />
even when operated at full capacity.<br />
MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEMS. Magnetic<br />
recording on film offers maximum<br />
quality, immediate playback, reusable<br />
film, higher signal-to-noise<br />
ratio, and eliminates film processing.<br />
LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS. Designed for<br />
theatres of every size and shape, these<br />
systems are built around Western<br />
Electric loudspeakers for single or<br />
multiple installations.<br />
RE-RECORDERS. The Westrex line provides<br />
facilities for 35mm and I6mm,<br />
100 mil standard. 100 and 200 mil<br />
push-pull photographic, and also for<br />
magnetic film recordings.<br />
Research, Distribution and Service for the Motion Picture Industry<br />
Westrex Corporation<br />
ni EIGHTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 11, N. Y.<br />
HOLLYWOOD DIVISION: 6601 ROMAINE STREET, HOLLYWOOD 38, CAL.<br />
Himn EUCTiic<br />
Eiron<br />
\ COirOMTM* /<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3. 1952 41
SNAPIJTB<br />
USERS<br />
CHECK YOUR OIL?<br />
Continued from page 40<br />
accumulate on any of these parts might<br />
cause an unintended interruption o) the<br />
light reaching the P.E. cell and set up unnecessary<br />
noise in your sound reproduction,<br />
or completely cut sound of/ in some cases.<br />
Watch your gears for wear and worn<br />
sprocket teeth. Keep bearings well oiled<br />
and see that shafts turn freely, replacing<br />
immediately worn shafts, gears, etc. A de-<br />
1%<br />
1<br />
when you use<br />
t^^^'<br />
SUIM^It SKAI*lilTI^<br />
projection lenses<br />
Yes "MOVIES ARE BEHER" and they're "BETTER THAN EVER" if you<br />
use Super Snaplite f/1 .9 Projection Lenses. These superb lenses<br />
give you maximum light, maximum sharpness, and maximum contrast<br />
...maximum viewing satisfaction for your patrons.<br />
True speed of f/1 .9 in every focal length up to 7 inches.<br />
Ask for Bulletins 207 and 209.<br />
'(a)<br />
2 Franklin Avenue<br />
Brooklyn 11, New York<br />
"Vou Gef More Lighf<br />
wifh Super Snaplife"<br />
OIMMIKATIOK<br />
s/fS<br />
/NO/CAT/NO<br />
Here is an indicator for testing starwheel shafts to<br />
see if they are sprung. It should be set on the<br />
face of the sprocket and needle ride in "center" if<br />
shaft is "true." Can also be used to check end-play<br />
of<br />
sprocket.<br />
fective gear, shaft or coupling can cause<br />
plenty of trouble and may cause considerable<br />
damage to your projector drive. Check<br />
the Allen screws monthly, and tighten if<br />
necessary.<br />
Photo-electric cells are very delicate but<br />
will give long service with proper care. The<br />
efficiency of the cell decreases with age<br />
resulting in a gradual decrease in output<br />
volume and frequency response. Always replace<br />
cells before the quality of your sound<br />
is impaired. P.E. cells should always be<br />
firm in their sockets and contact should<br />
be firmly made when replacing with new<br />
cells. Correct voltage is of utmost importance<br />
at all times.<br />
55 Different<br />
Ramp and<br />
Directional<br />
Signs<br />
to Choose From.<br />
All DAV/0 Signs<br />
ILLUMINATE<br />
Walkways and<br />
Driveways.<br />
FULL<br />
5<br />
DAWO CORP.<br />
D-37<br />
4<br />
145 North Erie St. Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
SU)>ERIOR<br />
GRIGGS CHAIRS<br />
COMFORT—the<br />
they're occupied!<br />
Comfort in<br />
minute<br />
Their Beauty sparkles!<br />
Superior<br />
construction<br />
gives years of service.<br />
WRITE FOR CATALOG<br />
GRIGGS EQlilP/VIE^T CO.<br />
Belton, Texas<br />
METHODS OF OILING<br />
The Brenkert, Simplex X-L and Motiograph<br />
mechanisms use automatic lubrication<br />
which assures a continuous shower of<br />
Center Frame<br />
W^y Conlinuoui ihower of oil $1<br />
from Rotar\ Lubricator flowi^<br />
through bearings and on gear<br />
teeth.<br />
Bearing it grooved<br />
over its<br />
full length<br />
To oil reservoir in base of<br />
projector mechmniim.<br />
Automatic Lubricaiion<br />
Film Sprocket<br />
'I Stinger: oil flowing<br />
through bearings cannot get<br />
into film compartment be:<br />
cause of action of stinger.<br />
over gears, and flows through bearings,<br />
oil<br />
thoroughly oiling every part but no oil<br />
Continued on page 44<br />
42 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION<br />
'^1
1^<br />
LARGE THEATRES<br />
SMALL THEATRES<br />
ALL THESE ADVANTAGES<br />
• A REALLY BRIGHT, QUIET, FLICKERLESS<br />
LIGHT.<br />
• A SHARP EDGE FROM HEAD SPOT TO<br />
FLOOD.<br />
• REQUIRES<br />
NO HEAVY ROTATING EQUIP-<br />
MENT. SIMPLY PLUG INTO 110-VOLT<br />
OUTLET.<br />
• TRUE PORTABILITY. MOUNTED ON CAST-<br />
ERS. EASILY DISASSEMBLED FOR SHIPPING.<br />
• TWO ELEMENT VARIABLE FOCAL LENGTH<br />
OBJECTIVE LENS SYSTEM. SILVERED GLASS<br />
REFLECTOR. HORIZONTAL MASKING CON-<br />
TROL CAN BE ANGLED 45 DEGREES IN EACH<br />
DIRECTION. FAST OPERATING 6-SLIDE<br />
COLOR BOOMERANG.<br />
ji^^milii^<br />
ARENAS<br />
AUDITORIUMS<br />
ICE<br />
SHOWS<br />
HOTELS<br />
NIGHT CLUBS<br />
SCHOOLS<br />
TROUPER<br />
HIGH INTENSITY ARC SPOTLIGHT<br />
Adjustable, self-regulating transformer In<br />
base. Automatic arc control.<br />
S^I^M<br />
A trim of carbons burns 80 minutes.<br />
Available with slide projector attachment<br />
for projecting a clean, sharp, clearly defined<br />
picture even on largest screens.<br />
11<br />
•<br />
TROUPERETTE<br />
INCANDESCENT SPOTLIGHT<br />
for small theatres, hotels, night clubs,<br />
schools and colleges.<br />
Projects 6V4t times brighter head spots.<br />
Utilizes all the light through most of the<br />
spot sizes as contrasted to spotlights which<br />
vary spot size solely by irising, thus losing<br />
substantial light.<br />
THE STRONG ELECTRIC<br />
CORPORATION<br />
"The M'orlJ'i Largeit Manufacturer o/ Projtction Arc Ljmpi"<br />
34 CITY PARK AVENUE TOLEDO 2, OHIO<br />
d ||j^^-<br />
CITY Ik tTATE-<br />
Please send free literature on the D Strong Trouper Arc Spotlight;<br />
Q Strong Trouperelte Incandescent Spotlight.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3, 1952 43
CHECK YOUR OIL?<br />
Continued from page 42<br />
gets into the film compartment or runs<br />
down into sound head film compartment.<br />
The Simplex E-7 uses a "one-shot" oil system<br />
which is excellent. The lubrication of<br />
the Century mechanism is largely taken<br />
care of by ball bearings of the self-lubricated<br />
type— lubrication is sealed in for the<br />
life of the bearing and does not require any<br />
attention. Mechanisms that are oiled with<br />
the conventional hand-oiled system should<br />
be oiled with a small-spout oil can using<br />
only two or three drops of oil. any more<br />
than this runs out and gets into the film<br />
compartment and makes a mess.<br />
HAS LIFETIME LUBRICATION<br />
The Motiograph mechanism model "AA"<br />
is lubricated by grease-packed ball bearings<br />
which require no further lubrication<br />
or attention for their long lifetime. Greasepacked<br />
ball bearings also are used on both<br />
star and cam shafts.<br />
* NOTE: The intermittents of all projectors<br />
are. of course, oiled separately. After<br />
200 flours of operation, dump old oil out<br />
and refill intermittent movement case with<br />
new oil. Don't keep addijig neio oil to old<br />
oil if you toaiit a quiet running movement.<br />
Copper is vitol—save machine drippings.<br />
Each month in the MODERN THEATRE Section,<br />
Wesley Trout will present procticol questions<br />
and answers pertoining to sound and projection.<br />
It you have a technical problem send it<br />
in and it will be answered here.<br />
Will you please tell us the best way to<br />
remove taper pins from gears and drive<br />
pins out of intermittent sprockets?<br />
Here is a drawing<br />
showing an anvil or<br />
"V" block which has<br />
been used very successfully.<br />
This can<br />
be made in most any<br />
machine shop or<br />
purchased from<br />
your local supply<br />
dealer. Pin ejectors<br />
do a first-rate job<br />
when removing taper pins in intermittent<br />
sprockets, but you will find that<br />
this handy little tool will do the job<br />
and can be used to drive pins out of<br />
shafts, etc. Place it in a small bench<br />
vice, which will leave your hands free<br />
for holding the part you are working on<br />
and holding hammer. When the worn<br />
sprocket has been removed, be sure to<br />
clean the starwheel shaft good before<br />
you replace with a new one, and make<br />
sure there are no burrs or sharp edges<br />
on the pin holes, as<br />
this will make it hard<br />
to get the new<br />
sprocket on the shaft.<br />
If sprocket fits a little<br />
tightly, place a little<br />
very fine oil on shaft<br />
and with a twisting<br />
movement, making sure<br />
your taper pin holes<br />
line up, you carefully<br />
push sprocket on shaft.<br />
You may only gel<br />
sprocket half-way on<br />
the first time, due to<br />
a tight fit. If this is<br />
the case, remove and<br />
clean shaft and lubricate<br />
it again, and you<br />
should not have any<br />
trouble getting the<br />
sprocket all the way<br />
on this time.<br />
Here are two things<br />
that are very important<br />
when renewing intermittent<br />
sprockets<br />
Be sure to get the large<br />
end of the hole in the<br />
sprocket with the big<br />
one in the starwheel<br />
shaft: make sure that<br />
r\/'<br />
olot<br />
1/8"<br />
l/Vide<br />
3A"<br />
Square<br />
A handy tool for<br />
driving out taper<br />
pins in intermittent<br />
sprockets<br />
and tapers in<br />
gears.<br />
taper pins fit snugly in holes, if not you<br />
will have picture jump If taper pins do<br />
not fit snugly enough so that sprocket<br />
•|<br />
ALREADY 2000 THEATRES HAVE INSTALLED THIS MIRACLE<br />
^<br />
%mm.Jhere MUSTbe a teason!<br />
Satisfaction in every seat!<br />
Plain to see from any angle!<br />
Eliminates glare and distortion!<br />
Gives amazing new deptli!<br />
Perfect sound transmission!<br />
No perforations!<br />
IT'S<br />
EASY ON THE EYES!<br />
CYCieiiAMiC CUSTOM<br />
SCREEN<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
LOS ANGELES PORTLAND<br />
1964 So. Vermont - RE. 3-1 145 1967 N. W. Kearney - AT. 7543<br />
SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE<br />
243 Golden Gate Ave- UN. 1-1B16 2318 Second Ave.- EL. 8247<br />
44 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
does not move on shaft, use small taper<br />
reamer and ream holes out slightly<br />
(ream out the big end of hole, of course)<br />
Reamers may be purchased from factory<br />
or supply dealers.<br />
Never force a sprocket on a shaft as<br />
you may spring the shaft and then you<br />
will really have trouble. Re.iect any<br />
sprocket that you cannot carefully push<br />
on shaft. You want a good tight fit but<br />
should not have to force a part on and<br />
spring & shaft.<br />
What arc the frequejicies the human cardrum<br />
luill respond to?<br />
Due to the elasticity of the eardrum<br />
it will respond to frequencies from 16<br />
to around 15.000 c.p.s. One must have<br />
very good hearing if he can hear as<br />
low a frequency as 16 and as high as<br />
15,000—hearing decreases with age in<br />
most individuals. The human ear is<br />
most sensitive, according to authentic<br />
data, to 1,000 c.p.s. Modern amplifiers<br />
and sound heads will reproduce all the<br />
frequencies faithfully if kept properly<br />
adjusted and checked regularly. For<br />
brilliant, clear sound reproduction equipment<br />
should be checked with test equipment<br />
regularly every 60 days.<br />
/ have used your books on sound systems<br />
with good results. Noiu I need some<br />
information on servicing BB intermittent<br />
movements— how to repair, rebuild and adjust<br />
correctly. Appreciate your help in securing<br />
this service data or if you publish<br />
a book on repairing intermittent movements.—<br />
Gotfred Olson, Fessenden Theatre,<br />
Fessenden, N. D.<br />
I am very happy that my booklets<br />
have been of help to you in general<br />
maintenance of sound equipment. I do<br />
not publish a book on repairing and rebuilding<br />
intermittents at this time but<br />
I am compiling an article now which<br />
will be published in Modern Theatre<br />
soon. In the meantime, I am sending<br />
you some tips on repairing and suggest<br />
that you read my article in <strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory and<br />
Reference Section, Page 71, issue Nov. 24,<br />
1951, which should prove helpful in repairing<br />
BB intermittents.<br />
I do appreciate the many nice letters<br />
about articles in the Modern Theatre<br />
Section each month, and many kind<br />
words regarding the service booklets.<br />
/ have followed your articles on sound<br />
and projection in Modern Theatre a long<br />
time and find them of great interest and<br />
help. I need some advice on building a<br />
small pre-amplifier and rvill appreciate<br />
your help in the matter. My soundheads<br />
use Cetron CE-2 P.E. cell which operates at<br />
90 volts: will use DC current for exciter<br />
supply. This setup will be used in a small<br />
parish hall and we will appreciate if you<br />
would send this data via air mail as we<br />
are in a hurry. Thank you.— Carl P. Anderka,<br />
135 Fern St., San Antonio, Tex.<br />
I<br />
a<br />
immediately sent the required schematics<br />
and data on building<br />
pre-ampUfier,<br />
P.E. cell circuits and other data.<br />
The reason I am not using the .schematics<br />
in this department is because this<br />
was a special setup to be u.scd with a<br />
Grunow radio and fed through the<br />
phonograph jack and would not be of<br />
help to our readers using theatre audio<br />
amplifiers. I am always ready to help<br />
our readers in any problem, but please<br />
am<br />
allow sufficient time for a reply as I<br />
"snowed under" with correspondence<br />
most of the time.<br />
HOW MANY OF THESE CAN YOU CORRECTLY<br />
ANSWER?<br />
What is a rotary converter ivhcn used in<br />
projection room?<br />
Wfiat causes condensers to leak wax?<br />
Become defective?<br />
What arc sojne of the causes of resistors<br />
becoming too hot or emitting smoke?<br />
What should be the length of the arc gap<br />
of a reflector-type, direct current, highintensity<br />
projection lamp? What sizes of<br />
carbons arc used for 40 to 43 amperes?<br />
(Answers next month)<br />
New Magnetic Sound System<br />
Is<br />
Announced by DeVry<br />
A new, profesisonal-quality, magnetic<br />
sound system for recording and reproducing<br />
magnetic sound on 16mm motion picture<br />
film has been developed by engineers of the<br />
DeVry Corp.<br />
According to W. C. DeVry, president, this<br />
magnetic sound system has been adapted<br />
to the standardized U.S. armed forces<br />
16mm sound motion picture equipment, as<br />
developed and manufactured by DeVry.<br />
In the premiere demonstration of the new<br />
equipment, held in Washington, D. C, before<br />
military officials and dignitaries of<br />
foreign governments, 16mm motion picture<br />
film with magnetic sound was reproduced<br />
in many languages, including Fi'ench, German,<br />
Chinese and Spanish, with perfect<br />
synchronization between the picture and<br />
sound.<br />
This recorder-projector records and<br />
plays back sound by means of a narrowstripe<br />
of magnetic iron oxide bonded on the<br />
edge of either 16mm sound or 16mm silent<br />
motion picture film.<br />
DeVry, in announcing the new equipment,<br />
said: "Magnetic sound-on-film is<br />
unquestionably a major development. It<br />
has a definite and fruitful use in education,<br />
religion, industry, business and for the<br />
home movie-maker. However, it is the consensus<br />
of opinion among film producers and<br />
equipment manufacturers that the high<br />
quality optical .sound as now recorded on<br />
16mm or 35mm motion picture film will<br />
continue to be the universally accepted<br />
sound-on-film medium."<br />
YOUR CAR<br />
using<br />
DROLL PROCESSED<br />
DOLLARS<br />
CARBONS<br />
A continuous trim that burns the<br />
entire carbon and cuts your carbon<br />
costs 10% to 25%.<br />
AVAILABLE FOR THESE HI TRIMS;<br />
NEGATIVES<br />
POSITIVES<br />
6 mm. X 9" 7 mm. x 12" and 14"<br />
7 mm. X 9" 8 mm. x 12" and 14"<br />
ond 136 mm. x 22" (machined for odaptcrs)<br />
to provide twenty minutes more burning<br />
time.<br />
Shipped prepaid at regular carbon list prices,<br />
plus $1.15 per hundred for milling, drilling<br />
and clips (on 13.6 mm. x 22", $1.50 per<br />
hundred), less 5' on carbons, 10 days.<br />
Liter.ilure on request.<br />
G. C. ANDERS COMPANY<br />
(Formerly Droll Theatre Supply Company)<br />
317 S. SANGAMON STREET<br />
CHICAGO 7, ILLINOIS<br />
Improvement<br />
" PAYS...<br />
Do It<br />
NOW!<br />
TO increase and hold<br />
patronage for your theatre<br />
TO strengthen moviegoing habits<br />
. . . make<br />
your theatre more<br />
attractive and comfortoble<br />
in every way possible.<br />
MOVIES ARE BETTER THAN EVER<br />
. . . How<br />
About Your Theatre?<br />
EVERYTHING FOR THE CONCESSIONAIRE<br />
Popcorn Equipment<br />
Candy Floss Equipment<br />
Popcorn, Oils, Boxes and Supplies<br />
Kiddie Rides<br />
Write for cotolog . . .<br />
3918 Sccor Rd<br />
Toledo 13, Ohio<br />
CONCESSION SUPPLY CO.<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 45
A<br />
cleanup campaign must precede a good fire<br />
prevention program for the theotre, L. E. Pope<br />
points out in this installment of l)is manual of preventive<br />
maintenance for the theatre Pope, who is<br />
purchasing agent for the Fo« Midwest Amusement<br />
Co., also discusses wet and dry sprinkler systems,<br />
fire apparatus and escape outlets and offers a sug<br />
gested fire equipment record, he further discusses<br />
the special fire precautions necessary for the projection<br />
room.<br />
SgSESS*?s«
, unless<br />
A MANUAL OF PREVENTIVE<br />
MAINTENANa FOR THE THEATRE 12<br />
FIRES BY REGULAR INSPECTION<br />
and fabwcs. In case there is danger of freezing, use the antifreeze<br />
type extinguisher.<br />
There should be one 2 ',2 -gallon fire extinguisher for each<br />
2,500 square feet of floor area, including upper floors and balcony<br />
space. Therefore, each house should conform to this rule,<br />
but if local city, county or state rules or laws require more than<br />
the above quantity, the latter requirements should govern. These<br />
extinguishers must be hung on brackets securely fastened to the<br />
wall and distributed throughout the house so as to be readily<br />
available when and where needed. The location of each should<br />
be shown on the drill routine, and at each exit drill members<br />
of the staff should be queried on their knowledge of the location<br />
of each extinguisher.<br />
Extinguishers used in the projection booth should be carbon<br />
dioxide 1 C02<br />
1<br />
local laws or regulations specify other<br />
types. Each booth should have two extinguishers and they<br />
should be located so that one of them would be available to the<br />
operator from either end of the booth—preferably near each<br />
projection machine.<br />
The pump plunger of the pyrene type extinguishers should<br />
be tested frequently as they occasionally stick or freeze from<br />
lack of use. Carbon dioxide extinguishers should be weighed<br />
at intervals to be sure the contents have not evaporated. Several<br />
times a year the local fire department should be requested to<br />
detail a fireman to instruct the staff on the correct methods of<br />
using fire extinguishing equipment. It is suggested that when<br />
fire extinguishers are to be recharged, the old contents be used<br />
to demonstrate lin the presence of a fireman), the method of<br />
using them.<br />
Here is a suggested fire equipment record:<br />
FIRE<br />
EQUIPMENT REPORT<br />
Town State .Theotre Date
MANUAL OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE<br />
Continued horn<br />
preceding page<br />
8. Provide a waste can for carbon stubs and insist that<br />
nothing else be put in it.<br />
9. Use a waste container for scrap film.<br />
i<br />
necessary to leave the booth, one yank of the ring will immediately<br />
release all port shutters and close the door.<br />
Port shutters should be dropped each night at break of last<br />
show and be left closed until the next day's show. It accomplishes<br />
three things: di It daily tests the efficiency of the manual<br />
release (2) It keeps dust out of the booth during housecleaning<br />
< 3 1 It seals off the booth from the house in event of fire.<br />
Each booth should be equipped with two chemical type extinguishers—C02.<br />
Automatic C02 equipment is available to pipe C02 to each<br />
projector that is released by a fused valve in case of fire. The installation<br />
is expensive but sure to reduce the film fire hazard.<br />
Film<br />
Care<br />
Nitrate film has hazardous properties which are well known<br />
to the theatre industry. It is important to practice safe methods<br />
of storing and handliny nitrate film. Present day methods of<br />
handling have reduced the hazard and have reduced booth fires<br />
to a minimum. The few booth fires we do have are seldom serious<br />
due to the rapid action of C02 extinguishers. The National<br />
Board of F^re Underwriters and other organizations have greatly<br />
helped to improve methods of handling and specification of<br />
equipments for storing, rewinding and projecting nitrate film.<br />
Nitrate film can ignite in the storage can if stored where the<br />
temperature is slightly higher than room temperature and will<br />
give off enough oxygen to burn in a closed can. Gases given off<br />
in case of fire are toxic and unless there is ample air circulation<br />
to carry off the toxic gases, no one should attempt to stay near<br />
burning film. Do not attempt to handle nitrate film that is not<br />
in a fireproof container except in an approved space provided for<br />
this purpose. Do not project nitrate film in any building not<br />
equipped with a regulation booth unless you use equipment that<br />
is Underwriters-approved as portable equipment. Even with approved<br />
equipment the hazard is so great I would not take the responsibility<br />
outside a regulation booth.<br />
Safety film is not a film that will not burn, but it will discontinue<br />
to burn when the heat source is removed. It requires<br />
about twice the temperature to ignite safety film as compared to<br />
nitrate film. Safety film stock is made of several acetate mixtures<br />
each having different characteristics. Safety film is being used<br />
to a greater extent in some countries than others, and its use in<br />
the U.S. is increasing each year. Now that both nitrate and safety<br />
film are used, the same care should be given safety film as nitrate<br />
in case you fail to make proper identification. Many films, both<br />
nitrate and safety, have been sent with wrong markings and until<br />
we have all prints on safety stock, we can not relax as to film care.<br />
Rigid building codes, approved containers and projection<br />
equipment and methods will be required until all prints are on<br />
safety stock, and I doubt if there will be much change in requirements<br />
until a fireproof stock is developed if and when.<br />
10. Insist upon the use of hinged-top, pedal-opening type of<br />
container for waste oily rags and inflammable material.<br />
11. Do not thread up projector with lamp house burning.<br />
12. Remove film from projector as soon as its running has<br />
been completed and delay threading next reel as long as possible<br />
to permit projector to cool off.<br />
13. Adjust lower magazine take-up mechanism to prevent<br />
strain on film.<br />
14. Make daily inspections of film valve rollers to see that all<br />
of them turn freely.<br />
15. Turn or replace worn or undercut sprockets in projector<br />
mechanism and sound head.<br />
16. Replace all worn strippers, guide rollers, film guides, tension<br />
shoes.<br />
17. Be sure that projector mechanisms that require them are<br />
equipped with proper type of heat shields.<br />
18. Do not permit film to touch heat shields during threading.<br />
19. Make periodic frequent inspections of automatic fire shutter<br />
mechanism of projector and be sure it operates freely and<br />
promptly.<br />
20. Be sure that magazine doors are not bent and that they<br />
close tightly and lock firmly. They should be kept closed while<br />
film is on projector.<br />
21. Do not use electric or gas heaters with exposed heating<br />
elements or exposed flame.<br />
22. IMPORTANT: Insist that the projection room and room<br />
adjoining it are kept thoroughly clean and free of loose paper,<br />
rags, scrap film,<br />
and other inflammable or combustible material.<br />
23. See that exhaust system is operating properly.<br />
A Well-Planned Projection Room<br />
Suggestions Which, if Followed, Will Reduce the Number<br />
of Projection Room Fires.<br />
bent.<br />
1. Strictly prohibit SMOKING at all times.<br />
2. Carefully inspect all film before its first running.<br />
3. Inspect film during rewinding.<br />
4. Do no use exchange reels while film is being projected.<br />
5. Inspect house reels periodically to be sure that they are not<br />
6. Use only film cement of proved efficiency.<br />
This model projection room is in the Corib Theatre, Miami Beach, Fla., one of<br />
the finest new theatres on the eastern seaboard. All equipment was selected for<br />
excellent performance, including the Super High 100 projection lamp made by<br />
7. Keep film (features, shorts, trailers and leaders i in ap- C. S. Ashcraft Mfg. Co. Safety precautions suggested on this page for avoiding<br />
proved film cabinets when not in projector magazines or on re- projection room fires are of vital importance in protecting financial investwinder.<br />
ments of this kind.<br />
48 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
j<br />
\Ar AGNER has now made if<br />
possible for you<br />
i<br />
to order a minimum font of changeable letters on<br />
your original order and subsequently purchase additional<br />
letters for each change of copy until you hove<br />
an adequate stock on hand.<br />
By so purchasing, most of the letters ore<br />
legitimately chargeable as advertising material for<br />
the feature for which they are purchased.<br />
HRS noui<br />
mflDE II i<br />
I HIS convenient service, and the important<br />
savings which result from ordering only those<br />
letters you actually use, is made possible by the<br />
establishment and maintenance of ample stocks of<br />
letters in leading theatre supply stores in most film<br />
POSSIBliE<br />
i<br />
centers.<br />
Among the theatre supply companies<br />
maintaining such stocks are:<br />
Albciny, N. Y., Albany Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Boston, Mass., Capitol Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Buffalo, N. Y., Eastern Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Dallas, Texas, Modern Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
Los Angeles, Calif., B. F. Shearer Co.<br />
Dallas, Texas, Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
Denver, Colo., Western Service & Supply<br />
Houston, Texas, Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
Kansas City, Mo., Missouri Theatre Supply<br />
Memphis, Tenn., Monarch Theatre Supply Co., Inc.<br />
New York, N. Y., Joe Homstein, Inc.<br />
Oklahoma City, Okla., Oklahoma Theatre Supply<br />
Pittsburgh, Pa., Alexander Theatre Supply Co.<br />
Portland, Ore., B. F. Shearer Co.<br />
San Francisco, Calif., B. F. Shearer Co.<br />
Seattle, Wash., B. F. Shearer Co.<br />
Wagner Sign Service, Inc<br />
218 S. Hoyne Avenue Chicago 12, Illinois<br />
I'<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
May 3, 1952 49
^<br />
Exhibitors Should Strive to Win<br />
Goodwill of Their Communities<br />
A Veteran Theatreman Tells How It's<br />
Done<br />
f]<br />
by E.<br />
Y. STAFFORD*<br />
I HERE'S A DIFFERENCE—a disUnct difference<br />
— between "showmanship" and<br />
"foolemshlp"! Any theatre is a permanent<br />
property in its own city, and the conduct<br />
and operation of that property should, in<br />
my estimation, be on a standard that will<br />
demand permanent respect and approval<br />
from the people served and the people the<br />
theatre hopes to serve.<br />
In speaking from a personal viewpoint of<br />
24 years in the theatre business, I believe<br />
there is one outstandingly important<br />
thing: community goodtvill. This is a tangible<br />
commodity not shipped off three or<br />
four times a week like cans of films. It is<br />
not finished, like the program, but is perl>etual,<br />
its uses and applications are limitless.<br />
PATRON COMFORT ESSENTIAL<br />
Too many big theatre executives, and<br />
others just entering the business, fail to<br />
realize one all-important fact before it is<br />
too late. That is: the comfort of the patron,<br />
whether in the drive-in or the conventional<br />
type theatre. It is my observation<br />
that, to the patron himself, his comfort<br />
means more than theatre designers and<br />
builders have heretofore realized or appreciated.<br />
The first thing that far too many<br />
theatre builders ask their architects is,<br />
"How many seats can I get in this space?"<br />
"How many cars can I park in this area?"<br />
If your desire is to ram 'em and jam 'em<br />
into your theatres, you should make it<br />
mighty easy for people to get in, comfortable<br />
while they are in. and easy to get out<br />
again, or you'll never get them back the<br />
second time.<br />
If I were building a theatre today, I<br />
would run advertisements in the newspapers<br />
asking the public, "How do you<br />
want this theatre to be?" "What are the<br />
important things to you?" I'd offer prizes<br />
—say, three $100 bonds and ten annual<br />
passes—to get people thinking along these<br />
lines. It might be illuminating to discover<br />
that people want comfort and service above<br />
ornate staircases and spectacular wall<br />
murals.<br />
DEVELOP THEATRE PERSONALITY<br />
As with an Individual, the theatre must<br />
develop a pleasing personality in order to<br />
make friends and keep them. From boxoffice<br />
to concession counter the personality<br />
of the theatre must be projected by its employes.<br />
The theatre must be in business for<br />
its patrons and not i7i spite of them.<br />
Confidence in the theatre is not built<br />
up trying to deceive the patron about the<br />
product and the playtime. Most drive-in<br />
theatres are able to obtain their pictures<br />
anywhere from 42 to 120 days after local<br />
first runs. By that time the public knows<br />
from whence you speak when you try to sell<br />
an old product.<br />
The Miami Drive-In is the south's oldest<br />
drive-in theatre. Last October we celebrated<br />
our 13th anniversary. The basic<br />
admission price has been maintained since<br />
1940, in spite of rising film costs and everincreasing<br />
operational costs. There was<br />
purpose behind this. We have done this to<br />
signify our faith in, and to express our<br />
appreciation for, the loyal patronage that<br />
people have given us over these 13 years.<br />
We mean our slogan sincerely: "We're in<br />
business to make a living, not a killing."<br />
iP'<br />
•"I wish you would get Mr. E. Y. Stafford, manager<br />
of E. M. Loew's Miomi Drtve-ln Tfieotre, Miami,<br />
Flo., to write on orticle on drive-in operation. I think<br />
he knows more about drive-ms than ony one in the<br />
business," wrote E. B. Tipton, exhibitor in Gostonio,<br />
N. C, to Modern Theotre recently. Here it is, Mr.<br />
Tipton, ond thanks for the tip.— Ed.<br />
"This is my special 'Little Driyers Club,'" wrote Stafford. "It is a corner in my concession stand that I<br />
have devoted to the kids. The design, special character cutouts and decals are my own idea. This was<br />
built by my caretaker and myself, and has proved very popular with the kids and parents."<br />
50 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
Simply<br />
. . GIFTS<br />
We Include our admission prices in our daily<br />
advertising.<br />
The concession stand keeps prices as low<br />
as possible. We have 16-cent hotdogs, 10-<br />
cent popcorn, 25-ccnt hamburgers twe pay<br />
i<br />
top price for the best meat 10<br />
, -cent Pi-ench<br />
fries, 10 cents for a 10-ounce cold drink,<br />
and 12-cent, 6-cent and 1-cent candies.<br />
CATER TO THE CHILDREN<br />
The Miami Drive-In can claim a few<br />
"firsts," one being that we were the first<br />
In the area to admit children in cars free.<br />
We pay particular attention to our juvenile<br />
patronage, in fact we stress this service<br />
and consider it a pleasure. We are as proud<br />
of our children's business as we are of our<br />
adults'. We not only welcome the kids, wc<br />
cater to them, even to the extent of stocking<br />
those one-cent candies, which give so<br />
much fun to the small fry.<br />
A corner of the concession stand has<br />
been fitted up as a "Little Drivers Club."<br />
It is railed off and has miniature benches<br />
H E<br />
^^.<br />
^ jg<br />
WTniSS<br />
DORIS DAY<br />
iBvSTORM Mkmm<br />
S^nCHTINC REDHEAD<br />
ALSO CARTOON SNE\*S<br />
.<br />
«»».««»*<br />
This large attraction board at the entrance to the<br />
Miami Drive-ln Theatre includes the time each<br />
picture goes on the screen. This is particularly<br />
important in a tourist town where many patrons are<br />
not familiar with local theatres.<br />
and chairs, gaily painted and decorated<br />
with decals. Above on the walls are large<br />
decals of all the popular cartoon characters.<br />
The club sign across the corner personalizes<br />
the section as belonging to the kids and no<br />
one else.<br />
A story session is held for tots to keep<br />
them interested until the show starts. Special<br />
children's recordings are played.<br />
We don't forget the children in the<br />
ladies' powder room, either. One booth<br />
marked "Little Ladies" is equipped with a<br />
child's-size facility.<br />
HONOR STUDENT ADMISSIONS<br />
The Miami Drive-In is one of only two<br />
open air theatres in this area honoring student<br />
admissions. Tickets are 38 cents to<br />
students upon presentation of their identification<br />
cards.<br />
Another "fii-st" for us that bore fruit<br />
was our "free gifts for an idea." Publicity<br />
read: "Mom and Dad: You may win $100<br />
Maintenance at the Miami is perpetual. A speaker check is made doily, prior to opening the theatre. Adjustments<br />
are made for patrons during the program when necessary. Once a month the whole theatre<br />
is gone over carefully, and all connections and speaker quality ore checked<br />
in free movie passes just by offering one<br />
suggestion. Simply write your suggestion as<br />
to what you would like for us to do here at<br />
the Miami Drive-In Theatre to make your<br />
visits more enjoyable. Drop suggestions in<br />
box at concession stand. The five best ideas<br />
win free year's pass." One alteration that<br />
was made as a result of one of the winning<br />
suggestions was the blocking out of a line<br />
of light from neighborhood signs behind<br />
our screen—something we had not been<br />
aware of.<br />
TIME OF SHOW IS<br />
IMPORTANT<br />
On the marquee at the entrance is included,<br />
beside the title of each picture, the<br />
time it goes on the screen. This is important<br />
especially in a tourist town. Situated<br />
as we are on a main thoroughfare, with a<br />
stream of cars continually going by, we<br />
are seen by thousands of seasonal visitors.<br />
These are people who are not reading<br />
newspapers at the moment and are not<br />
familiar with local theatres. They see our<br />
show times and come back.<br />
On one wall of the concession stand a<br />
huge map is painted. The name of a movie<br />
star is placed beside the city which happens<br />
to be his, or her, home town. Out-oftowners<br />
invariably wind up studying this<br />
Typical of Stafford's<br />
advertising is this<br />
front and back cover<br />
of a program folder.<br />
Prizes are offered for<br />
suggestions to improve<br />
the theatre.<br />
map to find out what stars have come from<br />
their home states. By this means national<br />
good will is localized to this tourist community.<br />
AN ELECTION REMINDER<br />
As a community goodwill service around<br />
election times, we flash a sign on our screen<br />
saying: "If you don't vote, don't bellyache<br />
about the kind of government you get." We<br />
sponsor no candidate of course, we simply<br />
add our reminder to people to go to the<br />
polls.<br />
FREE FOR ADULTS<br />
$1,000.00 IN FREE<br />
Movie Tickets . . Look<br />
Mom ood Dod You Moy W.n $100 00 m<br />
FREE MOVIE PASSES just by offer. ng on«<br />
iuggestion . write your suggeslior^<br />
OS to whot you would lik« for ut to do<br />
here ol the Miomi Onve-in Theotre to moke<br />
>our vmti fTwre enjoyoble . , ihot's o'l'<br />
Drop >uggc>liont in b«K at conectiion (tand<br />
S BEST IDEAS WIN FREE YEARS PASS,<br />
Winnen announced Sot Ntta. Hor. 3. I 95 I<br />
at 9:00 o'clock<br />
Free gifts for Children<br />
I^FREESCHWINN BIKE<br />
Courtviy LittU Ri*cr CfcU Shop<br />
ir FREE TOY AIRPLANES<br />
ir FREE CANDY! iFri.. Nov. 21<br />
SCE ANNOUNCEMENT ON &CKEIN<br />
FOR ALL INFORMATION<br />
Maintenance at this theatre is perpetual.<br />
There is a speaker check prior to opening<br />
the theatre each day. Once a month the<br />
whole theatre is carefully gone over, checking<br />
all connections and speaker quality.<br />
Adjustments are made for patrons during<br />
the program when necessary. There are<br />
spaces for 600 automobiles.<br />
The theatre has one of the largest<br />
screens in the south. It is surrounded with<br />
a 16-foot black masking for clearer visibility.<br />
New equipment brings us up-to-date<br />
in every respect. We are admittedly not as<br />
glamorous looking as many drive-ins, but<br />
in patron comfort, service, equipment and<br />
Continued on following page<br />
-^ OUR<br />
O^UANNIVERSARY<br />
,OlH CELEBRATION<br />
WEEK STARTING<br />
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28lh<br />
A WEEK OF SPECIAL HITS<br />
AND FUN<br />
ALL FOR YOU.<br />
Th« Sowt^ I 0(d*«t Dn«t-
You Can't Buy<br />
A GOOD<br />
Rectifier<br />
for Less!<br />
Strong Rectiflert ftr«<br />
the only rectifiers on the<br />
market which are especially<br />
desiyned, manufactured<br />
and tested in one plant together<br />
with and for use with motion picture projection<br />
arc lamps. This is highly important, as<br />
efficient operation of each typo and rating of arc<br />
necessitates a rectifier spectfiully engineered to its<br />
particular requirements.<br />
There is a dependable Strong Rectifier for every type<br />
projection lamp: 2-Tube • 4-Tube > 6-Tube • Single<br />
and Three Phase Models for<br />
• Rotating Feed Angular Trim High Intensity<br />
• Copper Coated Coaxial High Intensity<br />
• 1 K.W. High Intensity<br />
• Low Intensity<br />
All assure smooth output current, long life, low operating<br />
temperature, and flexibility in control.<br />
THE STRONG ELECTRIC CORP.<br />
CITY P«BR «VE. TOLEDO I. OHIO<br />
PROJECTION LAMPS<br />
SPOTLIGHTS • dECIIFIERS • REFLECTORS<br />
NOW a Truly BETTER<br />
CARBON SAVER<br />
Operators who have used the Strait Line Electrode<br />
Holder say this is "The Answer to the<br />
Projectionist's Prayer."<br />
See for Yourself . . . Sotisfaction or Money Back<br />
^m Pair<br />
Money-Back Guarantee<br />
State sizes: 6, 7 and Smm.<br />
Buy from your theatre supply or order direct. For<br />
literature, use the FREE postcard on page 59 and<br />
write in this ad's Key Number, 52-B.<br />
DAY DISTRIBUTING CORP.<br />
406 W. 34th Street • Kansas City, Mo.<br />
SPORTSERVICE<br />
CORP.<br />
IPOirSftVICE •U>C. • •UPFAIO. N. T.<br />
STRIVE TO WIN GOODWILL<br />
Continued from preceding page<br />
operation we feel \v? piovide the essential<br />
requirements and our long-established patronage<br />
bears this out.<br />
A point is made of having a reliable paging<br />
service. A railroadmen's headquarters<br />
is situated in our vicinity, where the men<br />
must be on call. I made a personal call on<br />
the head man there, explained our system<br />
for informing patrons of messages, and now<br />
we spot these men in our audience every<br />
night.<br />
LIGHTS INCREASE ATTRACTION<br />
The lighting of the theatre is most important,<br />
but this is something that must<br />
be left to the individual locality. The more<br />
light, the more attractive the drive-in appears<br />
in its neighborhood.<br />
One of the most useful aids to parking<br />
we have is the large, This-Way-Please, illuminated<br />
shadow box sign which is portable<br />
and can be placed where needed. Its<br />
wording leaves no doubt in the patron's<br />
mind as to which way to go. Used to direct<br />
traffic into the grounds, it serves the<br />
s*<br />
-»(»-<br />
THIS<br />
lunv<br />
PLEnSE<br />
.'M^Jng^<br />
This portable, illuminated, shadow box sign takes<br />
the place of two men on the highway to direct<br />
patrons into the theatre grounds.<br />
purpose of two highway men. It is large<br />
enough to be instantly seen and read, and<br />
it can be plugged into the ramp lights anywhere.<br />
With this sign to direct the motorist<br />
into the grounds and a man inside with<br />
a flashlight to further guide the car, there<br />
is no chance that the customer will become<br />
confused or not be able to park quickly<br />
without disturbing others. Ramp boys<br />
always have polish cloths to wipe windshields<br />
or give any other desired help.<br />
These means provide an easy, trouble-free<br />
approach to the parking spaces.<br />
ADDITIONAL EXIT<br />
HELPS<br />
After studying the traffic problem of our<br />
particular neighborhood, I recommended<br />
to the owner that an additional exit be<br />
made to expedite theatre traffic. This was<br />
done and has been so successful that we<br />
are now contemplating an additional entrance<br />
to speed the flow of cars on busy<br />
nights, and that of course means weekends.<br />
The theatre operates its own concession<br />
stand and I, myself, do the buying, merchandising,<br />
inventorying and even the repairs.<br />
Having come up all the way from<br />
relief doorman, bill poster, backstage property<br />
boy, usher, assistant manager, and on<br />
up to city manager and district manager,<br />
in every kind of theatre including de luxe<br />
Tourists are fascinated by this large map on a<br />
wall of the concession stand where names of motion<br />
picture stars are placed beside the city which<br />
is their home town.<br />
vaudeville, roadshow houses, inside theatres<br />
and open air types, there is little about<br />
a theatre that at some time or other I<br />
haven't learned by having done it. Therefore,<br />
practical experience has shown the<br />
importance of keeping the concession<br />
stand spotless. No grease must be left on<br />
any piece of equipment, the grill and the<br />
popcorn machine must be left as shining<br />
as the pans in any housewife's kitchen.<br />
SELL<br />
NATIONAL BRANDS ONLY<br />
We have a long oval counter with places<br />
for the deep-freeze and other storage. We<br />
stock only national brands, finding that the<br />
intermission selling period leaves no time<br />
to Introduce unfamiliar products. We are<br />
frequently approached with the idea of<br />
selling us on "big margin of profit" items,<br />
but this we consider as not appropriate for<br />
the type of operation we give. We think<br />
the public appreciates good standard products<br />
at a reasonable profit.<br />
We may not have the formula for getting<br />
but we have proved we can stay in<br />
rich,<br />
business over a long period of time, be<br />
friends with our neighborhood, and even 1<br />
perhaps an asset to the community life.<br />
We also survived an eight-month ordeal,<br />
keeping the theatre going in spite of the<br />
closing of the highway on which we are (J<br />
located.<br />
ALTERNATE ROUTES OFFERED<br />
In advertising and every way possible<br />
we gave the public alternate routes by jl<br />
which we might be reached. These took ||<br />
patrons from one to three miles out of<br />
their way. That they came, regardless, is<br />
due to one thing only: goodwill! That, and<br />
nothing else, paid off.<br />
As a member of the committee to formulate<br />
plans for the parade that celebrated<br />
the opening of the boulevard, I used the<br />
highway sign and fence to publicize the<br />
event which rated a page of pictures in<br />
local newspapers. A beauty pageant was<br />
held in the theatre to choose Miss Central<br />
Boulevard.<br />
Eight months is a long time to keep going<br />
when a theatre is practically cut off<br />
from traffic. At a time like that a theatre<br />
has one resource only: the friends it has<br />
made.<br />
j|<br />
3111<br />
:*<br />
•a<br />
k<br />
52 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
. . . yet<br />
Treat Every Patron as if it Were<br />
His First Time at Your Drive-In<br />
Wisconsin Exhibitors Discuss Effective<br />
Managements Personnel Training,<br />
Concessions and Promotion<br />
Wrive-in theatre owners and operators<br />
delved into many problems of operation at<br />
a recent one-day conference in Milwaukee.<br />
Wis., sponsored by the Allied Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Wisconsin. Conducted on<br />
an open forum basis, the meeting produced<br />
numerous suggestions and proved methods<br />
for effective drive-in maintenance, operation<br />
and promotion, some of which are<br />
related below.<br />
Henry Toilette of the Marcus Theatres<br />
led the discussion on "Preparations for Reopening<br />
of a Drive-In." Toilette pointed<br />
out some of the things to check on reopening<br />
are: While there is still water on the<br />
ground, peg your low spots where you will<br />
have to have fill later on. Change your<br />
canopy copy a couple of times before reopening.<br />
Check your lights, speakers and<br />
sound system at least ten days ahead of<br />
opening. Pi'eshen up your entire drive-in<br />
by painting, washing walls and, at opening<br />
time, have fresh flowers in the boxoffice<br />
and concession stand. Treat your reopening<br />
just like a grand opening.<br />
ASK POLICE COOPERATION<br />
Further, be sui'e to contact your highway<br />
police a week to ten days before opening<br />
and ask their cooperation in handling the<br />
traffic for reopening. Be sure to put on<br />
a "Welcome" trailer. While on the subject<br />
of trailers, he stated that you cannot<br />
emphasize too strongly, or advertise too<br />
much about asking the patrons to be sui'e<br />
to hang up their speakers, for the greatest<br />
number of speakers missing are those taken<br />
by people who do not deliberately steal the<br />
speakers but accidently drive off with them<br />
still attached to their cars and are afraid<br />
to return them for fear they will have to<br />
pay for them.<br />
Personnel—It was suggested that you try<br />
to get the same personnel that you had the<br />
year before. Work with the help for several<br />
days before reopening, training them on<br />
DRIVE-IN Theatres-Use Tape Recorded<br />
Pre-Show & Intermission Musical Programs<br />
These programs are produced especially for DRIVE-IN use, with<br />
announcements designed to boost concession sales and highlight<br />
theotre policy. Live organ music for intermissions.<br />
Programs available in any lengths at $2.75 per 1/2 hour, plus a<br />
smoll basic chorge. You may use your own tape recorder or Empire<br />
has tape ploy bock equipment for sale at dealer's cost. Get<br />
complete details FREE by using Readers' Bureau postcard or write<br />
direct to<br />
EMPIRE RECORDING COMPANY<br />
3221 So. Acomo St Denver, Colo.<br />
Programs availoble for FREE audition. Fronchise holders wanted.<br />
every detail of theatre operation. In a<br />
drive-in it is very important that ushers be<br />
courteous and helpful. Treat every customer<br />
as if it were his first time at a drivein.<br />
Also, train your ushers in checking<br />
speakers. Be sure to have them check that<br />
they are turned off after each performance<br />
when a patron puts them back on a stand.<br />
Toilette had some equipment with him<br />
that he has found to be very satisfactory<br />
in his drive-ins, among which was an inexpensive<br />
yellow slicker-type raincoat and<br />
rain hat, on which it would be very easy<br />
to print the name of the theatre on the<br />
back of the slickers, and they are very easy<br />
to distinguish. He also had a red plastic<br />
elongated tip for a flashlight that is very<br />
efficient and inexpensive to buy.<br />
ADVERTISING THE DRIVE-IN<br />
Elmer Brennan of Standard Theatres<br />
led the discussion on "Advertising for<br />
Drive-In Theatres." Brennan opened the<br />
discussion by telling the exhibitors that "if<br />
they whisper, only a few people will hear<br />
them: but if they shout, they will be heard<br />
by many." At that point, one of his<br />
colleagues shot off a pistol with a blank<br />
cartridge, which put the exhibitors on the<br />
edges of their seats.<br />
Brennan had a very complete set of visual<br />
explanation cards to show the drive-in<br />
operators a full year's advertising campaign<br />
for a drive-in. He started the discussion<br />
by showing a series of teaser advertisements<br />
in cartoon style that their artist<br />
made up and stated he would be very<br />
happy to share them with other drive-in<br />
operators in the state. He then showed a<br />
full-page co-op reopening advertisement,<br />
of which the merchants underwrote the entire<br />
cost. Brennan pointed out that on all<br />
the advertisements, they were very careful<br />
to be sure to insert a complete area map<br />
showing the exact location of the drive-in.<br />
Continued on page 36<br />
Increase your<br />
Atfendance and Profit<br />
with<br />
BURKE-BUILT<br />
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT and<br />
KINDERGARTEN PLAY DEVICES<br />
The poront\ won't hove<br />
to "WONDER WHERE THE<br />
CHILDREN ARE" — THEY<br />
WILL KNOW!<br />
Compore the mastivc,<br />
heavily ribbed, grcolcr<br />
length fittings of hot<br />
dipped galvanized iron<br />
with the Interlocking<br />
Knob Construction against<br />
ony other. The FITTINGS<br />
,<br />
corry the lood.<br />
Burke performance and<br />
reputation have proven<br />
trustworthy companions<br />
thru the years.<br />
Distributed Coost to Coast<br />
by NATIONAL THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY.<br />
Write Dept. S for Drive-in<br />
Thsatro Information, Catalog<br />
K, ond Price List.<br />
Buy<br />
., .<br />
Ond low<br />
COJTSI NCf<br />
Consider such popular<br />
Burkc-Built<br />
"Child Tustod" e«-<br />
clusives OS the<br />
Climb-A-Round ond<br />
tlobby - Horse swing<br />
sot.<br />
THE J. L BURKE CO. '^*!?cSS.s'Af<br />
Factory Iranck, ••> *» Naw •ruii>wlck, N. J.<br />
Time-Proven EPRAD<br />
IN-THE-CAR SPEAKERS<br />
Have the Lowest-Known<br />
MAINTENANCE COST!<br />
In 10 years, complete<br />
parts ond labor maintenance<br />
cost on EPRAD<br />
speakers average less<br />
thon lO^b per seoson<br />
per speaker.<br />
EPRAD'S excellent performance<br />
is the result of<br />
unexcelled workmanship<br />
and best materials. Every<br />
step has been taken to<br />
moke the Eprod speokcr<br />
the best on the market<br />
keep REASON-<br />
ABLY PRICED!<br />
• GLOW-TOP JUNCTION BOX.<br />
• QUICK DISCONNECTS permit connecting without<br />
tools.<br />
• VARNISHED VACUUM-IMPREGNATED TRANS-<br />
FORMERS.<br />
• SILICONE-TREATED CONE.<br />
• HANDSOME STAMPED-STEEL SPEAKERS, one<br />
screw assembly.<br />
Write for Free Literoture and Nome of<br />
Your Nearest Deoler.<br />
EPRAD<br />
in MICHIGAN ST. TOLEDO, OHIO<br />
For Better Service<br />
And Higher Profits<br />
EVERY DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
BUFFETERIA<br />
NEEDS THE<br />
A concession en wheels.<br />
Hot 3nd cold compirtfaenti.<br />
HOT BOX WARMER;=n,%oJ,7-l;<br />
PORTO-FOUNTAIN.. '»./-;i.T<br />
Ask for descriptive literalure, prices and deliyery<br />
THE WALKY-SERVICE CO.<br />
401 Schwtiler BIdg. Wichita. K>n>.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: May 3. 1952 53
A Manual of<br />
Drive-In<br />
Design and Operation<br />
MODERNIZING YOUR DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
This is the last installment of a series of 20<br />
articles which hove appeared in the<br />
MODERN THEATRE Section<br />
r RECEDING THE LAST WORLD WAR, and immediately thereafter,<br />
a comparatively large number of drive-in theatres were<br />
built as cheaply as possible in an effort to cash in on this type<br />
of entertainment before it became passe. Now, however, that<br />
the demand for this type of theatre is increasing, it becomes<br />
imperative that these sub-standard operations be modernized<br />
if they are to compete with the newer type of drive-ins.<br />
It is always more costly to remodel than it is to build properly<br />
in the first instance, but in view of the fact that the original<br />
investment in the majority of these sub-standard jobs has been<br />
entirely amortised, it stands to reason that the cost of any<br />
modernization will actually be paid out of earnings so that it<br />
is to the best interests of the exhibitor to bring his theatre up-todate<br />
at the earliest possible date.<br />
The problem of installing in-car speakers is perhaps the<br />
most costly item involved since this work requires that ramps<br />
be cut up in order to install the underground wiring circuits.<br />
Prior to placing these circuits it is advisable that the sight lines<br />
from all ramp locations be checked by an experienced engineer<br />
to be sure they are suitable for a larger screen area or for additional<br />
ramps.<br />
The next project for the modernizing program is the surfacing<br />
of the ramp area and the driveways. It is actually surprising to<br />
see the large number of 700 to 1,000-car drive-in theatres that<br />
do not have proper surfacing.<br />
Before surfacing the areas, sight lines should be checked to<br />
preclude the possibility of having to make alterations in them<br />
after the surfacing work is completed. The ramp area is actually<br />
the very foundation of a modern drive-in theatre and it should<br />
be surfaced in a manner that will prevent surface water from<br />
penetrating the subgrade; it should provide a smooth surface<br />
for pedestrian traffic; and it should have sufficient abrasive<br />
material to provide traction for automobiles on the sUppery<br />
nights which frequently occur.<br />
by GEORGE M. PETERSEN<br />
The screen structure on many of these sub-standard jobs<br />
also requires attention both as to the size of the screen proper<br />
and as to the architectural appearance from the highway. The<br />
successful indoor exhibitor is most particular regarding the appearance<br />
of his marquee and his lobby and the drive-in theatre<br />
exhibitor should be equally interested in the landscaping and<br />
in the attractiveness of the highway elevation of his theatre.<br />
Due to the fact that many of the early screen structures<br />
were erected by carpenters who had no experience in computing<br />
loads and stresses in the materials, it is not advisable to add to an<br />
existing structure until a thorough check has been completed<br />
of the structural members, the connections, the size and weights<br />
of the footings, the size of the anchor bolts, etc. This checking<br />
should be done by an experienced and capable engineer. The<br />
fact that a screen structure has stood for several years is no<br />
assurance that it will continue to stand after it has been enlarged.<br />
A structure 45 feet high may withstand the pressure exerted<br />
by the normal winds in a certain locality but such winds may tax<br />
the sti'ucture to the maximum limit so that an additional added<br />
height of only a few feet could cause a complete failure. Recent<br />
court decisions in cases of claims for damages caused by the<br />
failure of improperly designed screen structures proves all too<br />
clearly that it is not advisable for the exhibitor to take a chance<br />
on the design of such structures. -a<br />
There are three principle methods that may be used to properly<br />
enlarge the screen structure. I. If the enlarging is to be completed<br />
during the closed season the existing structure may be<br />
wrecked and the salvaged material may be reused in the new<br />
structure. 2. An entirely new structure may be erected on the<br />
highway side of the existing structure and the existing structure<br />
can then be removed. 3. A new structure may be erected around<br />
the existing structure. However, this method is not recommended<br />
unless all details of the existing structure have been<br />
checked as previously mentioned since the additional pressure<br />
will add to the load of the existing structure.<br />
As the highway elevation of the screen structure is the most<br />
valuable advertising space available to the exhibitor it should<br />
be developed to the utmost and this result may be obtained at<br />
i<br />
54 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
a very nominal cost. On the smaller operations this decoration<br />
overhead trough lighting that is concealed in the cornice. For the<br />
more costly theatres this decorative effect may be obtained by<br />
Installing neon tubing over painted designs and the exhibitor can<br />
control the amount of his investment in this work.<br />
Another detrimental feature of the majority of these substandard<br />
drive-in theatres is the so-called attraction board.<br />
Several of the larger sign companies are providing stock designs<br />
for such boards using the changeable silhouette letters. These<br />
stock jobs may be obtained in either one-side or two-side boards<br />
that are available at a nominal cost.<br />
Other features that frequently require modernizing are the<br />
restrooms and the concession facilities. Many of the sub-standard<br />
theatres have unattractive, inadequate restrooms. together with<br />
unattractive and inefficient concessions. In such cases it is advisable<br />
to provide an entire new unit. When, however, the restrooms<br />
and concession are attractive but inadequate as to size,<br />
it is frequently desirable to leave the existing unit as is and construct<br />
another unit on the last ramp of the theatre.<br />
A modern women's restroom should provide minimum toilet<br />
facilities on the basis of approximately one closet combination for<br />
each 200 cars: one or two lavatories: a powder tabl? with mirror:<br />
a sanitary napkin dispenser, and a disposal can for tho used napkins.<br />
Either paper towels or electric hand driers should also be<br />
provided. Stall partitions and doors may be of plywood or steel<br />
although the latter are greatly preferable and the additional<br />
cost of the metal stalls is very moderate.<br />
A modern men's restroom should provide minimum toilgt<br />
facilities on the basis of one closet combination to each 300 cars.<br />
Two or three urinals are usually adequate for a theatre of 700<br />
cars or less. One or two lavatories should be installed and paper<br />
towels or electric driers should be provided.<br />
The MINIMUM concession should contain the following equipment,<br />
properly arranged to provide maximum service in a minimum<br />
of time:<br />
Bottle warmer, refrigerated drink tank, electric refrigerator<br />
for ice cream bars, frozen candy bars, a popcorn machine,<br />
bun warmer, griddle for grilling wieners, coffee maker, case for<br />
candy bars and gum, cigars and cigarets, and cardboard trays<br />
and paper cups.<br />
The manner in which the concession is operated, the speed<br />
with which orders are filled, the high quality of the food served<br />
and the general cleanliness of the entire operation each has a<br />
direct bearing on the success and the consequent earning.<br />
While the modernizing mentioned does not have to be all<br />
completed at the same time it is a excellent idea to have the<br />
complete plans prepared and then select the different items for<br />
attention whenever finances and time permit the performance<br />
of that particular portion of the work.<br />
Maintenance of the Drive-In Theatre<br />
Continued from loti<br />
month<br />
UTILITIES<br />
The maintenance of utilities such as electric connections, gas,<br />
water and telephone are dealt with under the paragraph on<br />
General Maintenance.<br />
WEED AND PEST CONTROL<br />
To maintaining an attractive appearance for a drive-ln<br />
theatre it is important that all obnoxious plant life be eliminated<br />
from the landscaping or that it be reduced to a minimum. From<br />
the viewpoint of patron comfort all Insect life within the theatre<br />
area should be reduced to a minimum. There is practically<br />
nothing on the ramp area to breed insects, so they must fly or<br />
be blown in from the surrounding areas.<br />
Under ordinary conditions a good lawn of Washington bent,<br />
or other grass that develops an extremely compact root structure,<br />
will provide a root growth that will just about squeeze out the<br />
root growth of most types of lawn weeds. Heavier weed growths<br />
should be kept cut close to the ground and sprayed at frequent<br />
intervals with an effective weed killer.<br />
Ragweed is particularly annoying, late in the summer, to<br />
sufferers from hay-fever and should therefore be completely<br />
eliminated from the vicinity of the theatre. Pollen from ragweed<br />
can be carried for miles by the wind but that is no excu.se for<br />
permitting it to thrive near the theatre. Sumac, poi-son ivy, and<br />
similar weed growths should also be completely eliminated from<br />
the theatre site as these weeds effect many persons who only<br />
come near them without coming in contact with them.<br />
Weeds and tall grasses offer an ideal breeding place for mosquitoes,<br />
fleas, chiggers, and various other types of annoying<br />
insects so that weed control will also have a definite effect on<br />
pest control.<br />
There are many brands of weed and insect exterminators<br />
available in liquid or powder form that may be sprayed or dusted<br />
over the affected areas but if these simple methods do not perform<br />
a satisfactory job the exhibitor should consult an exterminating<br />
expert who has the proper equipment to do a satisfactory<br />
job.<br />
Regardless of HOW it is accomplished the control of weeds<br />
and pests is imperative to a successful Drive-In Theatre operation.<br />
Investment in fire-protection appliances should be protected<br />
by periodic inspection. The service life of portable extinguishers<br />
is lengthened and their dependability assured by regular attention.<br />
Geotge<br />
By<br />
This Authoritative Guide<br />
To Successful liHanagement<br />
Available Soon in Book Form<br />
Whether you already are in the drive-in<br />
field or contemplating entering it, you will<br />
find this volume a practical aid to outdoor<br />
theatre design and every phase of physical<br />
operation.<br />
Limited Edition Now Printing<br />
^<br />
$3.00 postpaid<br />
Assure Your Copy-ORDER NOW I<br />
Pete- rsen<br />
BOXOFFICE,<br />
82S Von Brunt Blvd.,<br />
Kansas City 1, Mo.<br />
Sirs: Reserve my copy ot "A Manuol of<br />
Drive-ln Thcotrc Design ond Operotion."<br />
Herewith my remittance ot $3.00.<br />
Street<br />
City<br />
Address<br />
State<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 55
c e i t,<br />
BALLANTYNE'S<br />
Completely<br />
Prefabricated<br />
Screen Tower . .<br />
LOW COST ERECTION-Through complete assembly<br />
on ground . . . face up. Raised into position with<br />
tractor. No scaffolds needed.<br />
To meet oil the requirements of government limitation<br />
order M-4 Bollontyne offers o skillfully engineered, completely<br />
prefabricated screen tower for drive-in thcotres. All timber used in the Boycr prefabricated screen<br />
tower, distributed exclusively by Bollontyne, is Douglas Fir, select structural, as graded by the West<br />
Coost Bureau of Lumber, Grades and Inspection, or equal. The entire structure is anchored by 8<br />
concrete footings, cross braced for maximum strength, and designed to withstand o 3S-pound per<br />
square foot wind load. The entire screen areo and screen border is covered with shiplap for added<br />
strength and protection to the picture screen. A Transite screen facing over shlplop Insures flat<br />
picture surface. All members are pre-cut and drilled lor quick and easy assembly. Complete plans<br />
for erection are furnished. Shipped complete to your drive-in site on company truck. For low cost<br />
rigidity, durability, and easy erection you can't beat the Bollontyne Prefabricated screen tower.<br />
COMPLETE PACKAGED EQUIPMENT<br />
FOR DRIVE-IN THEATRES<br />
As the originotof of "packaged" equipment for<br />
drive-in thcotres, Bollantyne still offers the only complete<br />
package unit for ony size theatre. Included ore:<br />
In-o-car Speokers, Soundheads, Amplifiers (single or<br />
dual channel). Ramp control ponel. Projectors, Hi-Tilt<br />
Projector Bases, 16" Mogozines, Projector Changeovers,<br />
Arc Lamps, Rectifiers, Tungor Tubes, Lenses,<br />
Electric Rewind, Hand Rewind, Rewind Table, Film<br />
Cabinet, Aluminum Reels, Film Splicer, Reel End<br />
Alarms. And a completely prefabricated screen tower.<br />
Added to this is Bollontyne's offer of a loyout of the<br />
size drive-in you desire on your own piece of property,<br />
including entrances, exits, romp detail, projection and<br />
concession room plans, etc., free of charge. The job<br />
•f building your drive-in resolves itself to your securing<br />
o dirt man and a locol controctor to erect the<br />
projection and concession room building. Your problem<br />
is reduced to the simplest terms. Write for complete<br />
free detoils, cotologs, pictures, blue prints, and the<br />
name of your neorest Bollontyne dealer.<br />
uO\N YOU CAN BUllO A<br />
--' ^rt.re"'f ;or:se"f "-°o.uUrr:-.<br />
in builn9 yo"' including / ''f.!! etc ., so VO"<br />
"«• rs'^wetghts ond I"" Write<br />
^* f,Vct1ons.<br />
„ire s>ie5, we'9 yemmcnt restr<br />
con conform to 90^,<br />
todoy " ^ • • -<br />
SPEAKER STANDS<br />
and GUIDE LIGHT<br />
POSTS<br />
Fobricoted to Your Specifications<br />
from steel pipe or tubing.<br />
Material free from allocation.<br />
V/ire! Write! Phone!<br />
TELEPHONE THotcher 9243<br />
SONKEN-GALAMBA CORP.<br />
Riverview at Second Street<br />
Kansas City 18, Kansas<br />
THE<br />
BALLANTYNE'S<br />
Ballantyne's Dub'l Cone speaker is a revolutionary new<br />
development in drive-in theatre in-a-car speakers. It<br />
offers features never before found in any speaker, regardless<br />
of cost. In fact, Ballantyne brings you all<br />
of these features at a cost no greater than you pay<br />
for run-of-the-mill speakers on the market today. And<br />
the Dub'l-Cone speaker will outlast 3 to 1 any other<br />
speaker available.<br />
Again Ballantyne engineering brings to the drive-in<br />
theatre a product years ahead of the field in design,<br />
construction, and quality of reproduction. The Ballan*<br />
tyne Dub'l Cone offers all of the desirable features<br />
of a top quality speaker, plus advanced improvements<br />
which overcome practically all of the disadvantages of<br />
ordinary speakers.<br />
BALLANTYNE COMPANY<br />
1707-17 DAVENPORT ST., OMAHA, NEBRASKA, U.S.A.<br />
RE-CONE SPEAKERS<br />
and Have BETTER SOUND at BIG SAVINGS!<br />
WE SPECIALIZE in re-cone work. We rebuild any<br />
size, any make loudspeaker. Strictly quality parts<br />
and workmanship.<br />
WE GUARANTEE every job. We play-test every<br />
speaker before shipment and imprint our company<br />
name and test dote.<br />
WRITE NOW for our LOW PRICES on vorious sizes<br />
and all other detoils of our complete service.<br />
OR SEND TO US FOR FREE SERVICE one of your<br />
defective in-car speakers. The returned<br />
WEATHERPROOFED re-cone job will tell the<br />
rest itself. Act today! Hove better sound!<br />
WESTERN ELECTRONICS CO.<br />
6120 Wattiington Ave, Houston, Te^as<br />
Thh ii our ONLY address. .Contact us here.<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
CONFERENCE<br />
Continued from page 53<br />
pointing out on other ads that they had<br />
followed that theme throughout the enlire<br />
campaign. It wa.s al-so suggested that<br />
in reopening the drive-in for the first engagement,<br />
exhibitors should give something<br />
extra to the children, and not forget the<br />
adults. This year they are giving the children<br />
comic books and balloons, and the<br />
adults a very nice plastic whiskbroom, properly<br />
marked that it came from the drive-in.<br />
A VARIETY OF ADVERTISING MEDIUMS<br />
He also said that in opening the drivein,<br />
they are using fireworks in the form of<br />
aerial bombs. Other advertising mediums<br />
were discussed and it was found that a<br />
drive-in theatre, whether in a large or<br />
small town, got very satisfactory results<br />
from mailing programs directly to the<br />
homes. Also, sound trucks with two, threesheet<br />
boards—one board telling of the price<br />
and policy, the other telling the current<br />
attraction—radio jingles, and spot announcements<br />
on the radio have been very<br />
successful. Your radio station can acquire<br />
this platter through its regular service and<br />
all you will have to pay for is the spots.<br />
Other promotions that have been proven<br />
valuable throughout the year are: "Get<br />
acquainted" passes, fireworks for all holidays,<br />
and anniversary parties with special<br />
favors celebrating the occasion.<br />
Allied President S. J. Goldberg explained<br />
to the group about the national campaign<br />
for drive-ins, which is being headed by Jack<br />
Braunagle of Commonwealth Theatres in<br />
Kansas City. He showed the 24-sheet, window<br />
cards and bumper strips that are<br />
available on an actual cost basis, and urged<br />
the drive-in owners to cooperate in participating<br />
in this campaign. It was decided<br />
that the drive-in owners would go back to<br />
see how many locations for 24-sheets they<br />
could secure and will notify the Association<br />
office so the 24-sheets can be ordered<br />
at one time.<br />
A NEW BUILDING CODE<br />
The Wisconsin Industrial Commission<br />
Building Code for Drive-ins was explained<br />
by Ben Marcus of Marcus Theatres. He<br />
mentioned that a lot of time and effort has<br />
been spent in preparing this code followed<br />
by a series of hearings. As of this writing,<br />
the code is presently on the desk of the<br />
commissioners for their signatures to be<br />
affixed: and after being publicized for 30<br />
days in the state paper, it will become law.<br />
(The proposed code was published on pages<br />
28-29, Modern Theatre, Feb. 2. 1952.)<br />
Marcus stated the purpose of this code<br />
was not to make things tougher for the<br />
legitimate drive-in, but it would eliminate<br />
undesirable drive-in structures and "flyby-night"<br />
operators who are unfair competition<br />
and give the theatre business a<br />
bad reputation. No part of this code will<br />
greatly bother the present drive-in operator,<br />
or any future construction. After the<br />
56 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
eading of the code, every exhibitor in attendance<br />
was satisfied that it was a Rood,<br />
workable code.<br />
The discussion of "IVIaintenance and<br />
Possibilities of Outside Income for Drive-<br />
Ins" was led by Bob Karatz of the Badger<br />
Outdoor Theatres. Karatz started his discussion<br />
by informing the exhibitors that,<br />
after an extensive survey of many other<br />
drive-in owners throughout the United<br />
States, he has learned of a weed killer that<br />
really gets rid of the weeds. He said that<br />
just recently DuPont has come out with a<br />
product called CMU Weed Killer that really<br />
does the job. In his discussion with an<br />
engineer, he also learned of a non-toxic<br />
mosquito and insect killer, that is put out<br />
by the same company, that he will try this<br />
year, but the reports to date are very good.<br />
EARNING OUTSIDE INCOME<br />
In his discussioit regarding outside revenue,<br />
Karatz said that they have been successful<br />
in their drive-ins in building a car<br />
stand and displaying automobiles, either<br />
new or used. He puts the display in the<br />
front of the tower and gets very good<br />
revenue for this. Another drive-in owner<br />
said that he has rented his drive-in out for<br />
a used-car auction at $100 a day rental,<br />
besides opening his concession stand and<br />
doing a nice business there. Another drivein<br />
owner found the solution to the stock<br />
car races at night. He had some acreage<br />
beside the drive-in and converted it into a<br />
stock car race track and gave it to the<br />
stock car association, rent-free, for Sunday<br />
afternoon stock car races, with the understanding<br />
that he would get the concession<br />
business.<br />
The subject of "Concessions" was led<br />
by Spyro Papas of the Racine and Kenosha<br />
drive-ins. The discussion opened with<br />
"whether regular counter service or cafeteria<br />
service is the most efficient." After a<br />
discussion of this matter, it was decided<br />
that those who had cafeteria style were<br />
very satisfied with it. The others would<br />
rather remain the way they were. Pi-om an<br />
actual cost standpoint, It does not increase<br />
the concession sales any to have a cafeteria<br />
plan, but those having it feel that it is<br />
beneficial during intermission time.<br />
QUALITY GOODS UPS BUSINESS<br />
Other phases of concession business that<br />
were discussed were prices of merchandise,<br />
number of items handled, and making the<br />
concession area inviting. It was generally<br />
felt that quality merchandise, though costing<br />
a little more, will definitely increase<br />
business. It was further pointed out that<br />
a cost sheet should be accurately kept on a<br />
week-to-week basis, as well as an inventory,<br />
as in many instances, it has been found that<br />
there have been shortages; and at the present<br />
price of food, it is important that a<br />
good stock control be kept. Popcorn machines<br />
at the boxoffice have been a very<br />
good money maker wherever used.<br />
Another important matter that the exhibitors<br />
were cautioned on was to be sure<br />
to carry food products liability insurance.<br />
*A LIPITIMI<br />
SCRIIN<br />
new<br />
j<br />
PERMASCREEN<br />
•'•<br />
FOR DRIVE-INS<br />
gives you<br />
*40% MORE<br />
REPLECTED<br />
LI«HT<br />
"-s^^^^Hja^^ar *Pa(cnts Applifd lor<br />
The perfect drive-in screen is now available for<br />
immediate installation. Manufactured of porcelain,<br />
bonded to reinforced steel, the Permascreen<br />
is designed to give far better service than any<br />
type now being used. It's lifetime surface requires<br />
ABSOLUTELY NO MAINTENANCE.<br />
* NO PAINT-<br />
IN* AT ANY<br />
TIMI<br />
* UNIFORM<br />
RIPLECTION<br />
AT ALL<br />
TIMIS<br />
Permascreen will pay for itself in under four years, in savings on painting<br />
alone. Substantial additional savings in projection equipment are made because<br />
of the high reflective values of the Permascreen . . . and these values remain<br />
constant throughout the year where painted screens lose their reflective values<br />
due to weather conditions.<br />
Permascreen can be erected on your present tower, as easily as on new drive-ins.<br />
Write today for complete information.<br />
2 POBLOCKI<br />
DRIVE-IN AIDS<br />
D-33<br />
with<br />
KOILED<br />
KORDS<br />
and<br />
Jeweled<br />
Down-Lites<br />
Quality<br />
Economy<br />
HANDY ANDY — The<br />
quick, efScient way to<br />
collect debris every<br />
4i!izii(J2l<br />
morning. All metal, lifetime construction,<br />
yet economical to buy.<br />
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN —<br />
Speed drive-in traffic with this<br />
all steel electric sign and save<br />
the cost of an additional<br />
man on your<br />
payroll.<br />
i' #<br />
f^OVUxelZC 4ftv so?rs \^<br />
21S9 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE. MILWAUKEE 7. WISCONSIN<br />
Dependability<br />
DAWO CORP.<br />
145 North Erie St. Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
NEW KIDDIE RIDES!<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3, 1952 57
DRAW CROWDS<br />
WITH FIREWORKS!<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
Boost Your<br />
Attendance<br />
with<br />
LIBERTY<br />
FIREWORKS<br />
The Word's Finest Fireworks<br />
Greater brilliance, color, flosh and noise.<br />
Send (or our 60-page catalog in three colors<br />
containing Displays trom $25.00 to $1,000.00.<br />
At Direct From Factory to You Prices!<br />
For ptonipt rtspoiue. us« the postage-free lilue postcard<br />
n this issue, st.iting this ad's key number. 58-A,<br />
Our office is now on our 10-acre factory premises.<br />
LIBERTY DISPLAY FIREWORKS CO.<br />
Box 98. Franklin Park, III. (A Suburb West of Chicaflo)<br />
Telephone Gladstone 5-5050<br />
For All Drive-ins<br />
At lest the new low-cost, long-lasting<br />
RAIN VISOR<br />
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.<br />
Increose your gote receipts on rainy nights!<br />
Your customers en|oy the clear vision you con<br />
now offer them.<br />
Rain Visor<br />
Is easily instoHed. Fits all cors.<br />
Requires little storage space.<br />
Used in many Drive-Ins throughout the Northwest.<br />
PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW<br />
F.O B. oM shipments<br />
ONLY 52.00 EACH ON ORDER BILL<br />
Minimum order 100 Visors<br />
Manufactured and Distributed by<br />
THE THACKERAY CO.<br />
4340 S. W Murray Rd. Beoverton, Oregon<br />
DRIVE-IN<br />
THEATRES<br />
Ten Maintenance Memos<br />
For Drive-In Managers<br />
Aie sudden changes in slope in ramps<br />
I. adequately lighted and distinguished<br />
by attention-attracting devices to prevent<br />
stumbling and possible tripping?<br />
Q<br />
^'<br />
Are there any doorways to stairs or<br />
dark rooms which patrons might enter<br />
by mistake to their own possible hazard?<br />
Either keep them locked, or equip<br />
them with conspicuous "Private" signs.<br />
3.<br />
Is outdoor illumination kept in perfect<br />
condition, with all burnt-out bulbs replaced<br />
promptly? How often do you have<br />
it inspected to make sure of this?<br />
Eto you ever under any circumstances<br />
4. allow any materials received, or ash<br />
barrels, or other obstruction, to be placed<br />
in exit alley or outside of exit doors?<br />
Do employes know where to find fire<br />
5. alarm box (if fire should cut your<br />
phone lines 1 and how to use it? If not,<br />
why not ask the fire department to send<br />
one of their men to advise?<br />
6.<br />
Do you keep popcorn oil, lubricating<br />
pounds under safe storage conditions at all<br />
times except for what is in actual use?<br />
H How do you store oil-soaked popcorn<br />
' boxes, loose paper, discarded oil rags<br />
and other rubbish while awaiting collectors<br />
of it? Is it a fire hazard in the meanwhile,<br />
or do you stow it safely?<br />
If you are away from the theatre and a<br />
8. small fire occurs and is extinguished<br />
by the staff, will the staff notify the fire<br />
department immediately? If not, arrange<br />
procedure to that effect.<br />
Are your cooling systems in your concompletely<br />
9. cession buildings now<br />
ready for that hot weather?<br />
Have you drawn up a complete schedule<br />
for changing hours and minutes<br />
10.<br />
for turning on outdoor theatre lighting according<br />
to the changes in length of day during<br />
summer months to come?<br />
Reprinted from the Martin Tipster, employe publication<br />
of Martin Ttieatres, Inc.<br />
Special Approval Given<br />
To Build<br />
Drive-ln<br />
Contract has been given to Evansville<br />
Theatre Supply, Evan.sville, Ind., for the<br />
erection of a 56x60-foot screen tower, concession<br />
stand and all ramping for the new i<br />
drive-in theatre at junction of U.S. 141 and<br />
j<br />
U.S. 60 north of Morganfield. Ky.<br />
Owners of the new drive-in theatre are I<br />
J. A. VanCleave of Morganfield and J. S.<br />
Corbett, formerly operator of a drive-in<br />
theatre at Bedford, Ind.<br />
DeVi-y 12.000 series 35mm projectors with<br />
special Koolite blowers. Strong Mighty 90<br />
arc lamps and DeVry sound are to be installed<br />
by Evansville Theatre Supply.<br />
The new drive-in theatre will accommodate<br />
500 cars and will cost approximately<br />
$70,000. I<br />
Special approval has been received for<br />
the construction of this drive-in theatre.<br />
Check List for Fire<br />
Extinguishers<br />
The Fire Protection Institute reminds<br />
exhibitors that fire extinguishing equipment,<br />
like all good machinery, requires<br />
attention and care from time to time.<br />
Suggestions which particularly apply to<br />
theatres are the following:<br />
1. Give employes a chance to handle<br />
fire extinguishing equipment in<br />
accordance with specified directions.<br />
2. Refurbish the painted areas on<br />
walls where extinguishers are hung.<br />
3. Discuss and demonstrate what<br />
should be done in the event of<br />
fire in various parts of the theatre.<br />
4. Take inventory of all possible hazards<br />
to determine if adequate fire<br />
protection equipment will be available<br />
in an emergency.<br />
5. Encourage employes to check their<br />
home fire protection equipment.<br />
D-30<br />
with<br />
Straight<br />
Cords<br />
. *»»^fl^,.w -..<br />
MINIATURE TRAINS
1<br />
READERS' BUREAU For<br />
further information<br />
regarding products advertised or mentioned in this issue, use<br />
the postage-paid reply cards below.<br />
NEW EQUIPMENT and DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Briefed from the full description starting on page 66<br />
Key<br />
Number<br />
REMOVABLE FILM TRAP DOOR P-894<br />
The LiiVi'/zl Miu'liliic Winks lia:^ a new style, removable<br />
nim trap dix>r \^hk'li Incurpuiuies mniij' Impruvements tu aid the<br />
movement of film through the projector uiid to iicliU-ie better<br />
prujtctiun quality. The tissembly holds the fllra flat tis It<br />
Piisses over the aperture and yet is easy enough on the film<br />
(hat it causes a minimum of wear, passes patches with no<br />
difficulty and lessens uear on the Intermittent.<br />
CEMENT MAKES CARPET REPAIR EASY P-S95<br />
Qrlptex. a new rubber plastic compound manufactured by<br />
Adhesive Products Corp.. helps restore worn ur damaged carpets<br />
to original condition. BasUy applied, it adds to tbe<br />
carpet's strength and helps prevent sprouting ot tufts or<br />
fraying. It Is mothproof, too.<br />
NEW ORlVE-IN PROMOTION P-896<br />
To aid in building tiDotlwUl for drive-ins, Uanken Associates<br />
tune iinnounoed a new type promotion for outdoor theatres.<br />
It consists of a free gift pass for the family a few months<br />
after a baby is born. It Is good for one family admission<br />
plus one guest, wlUi children admitted free.<br />
ADJUSTABLE LIGHTS FOR DISPLAYS P-S97<br />
Adjustable light fixtures for spotiigliting lobby displays and<br />
signs, focusing light on decorative features or wall murals and<br />
for coneentrating attention upon tlic refreshment counter are<br />
offered by Swivelier Co.. Inc. All light units are available<br />
with the Shur-Mount w;Ul attjichment, a new method which<br />
assures a more positive and secure mount to aid in preventing<br />
cracked plaster.<br />
A NEW CANDY BAR P.S98<br />
Annabelle Candy Co. announces a new combination of popular<br />
ingredients fur iht-lr new bar, "Annabelle's Rocky Road." The<br />
all-weatlier confection features a center layer of milk chocolate<br />
and cashews. A bright silver foil keeps the bar fresh even on<br />
i-Nlri'mely hot days.<br />
CONCESSION SIGN DISPLAY KIT P-899<br />
The Glo-Ad Co. offers a new ADisplay kit to exhibitors for<br />
making merchandising signs for the concession or lobby. There<br />
are over 800 pieces of letters and numerals in the ten sheets<br />
of neoD red and saturne yellow stock. Ail letters and numerals<br />
may be removed, stored and reused.<br />
ELECTRIC VAPORIZER FOR INSECT CONTROL P-900<br />
For keeping flies and other Insects away from refreshment<br />
areas in theatres and out of concession buiidings at drive-ins.<br />
Key<br />
Number<br />
the lOrnco Products Co. has a vaporizer, holding tliree months<br />
supply of lindane, that Is repellent lu insects and kills those<br />
thai remain In its presence, 'llie "Kly-go" unit Is a cup and<br />
wall bracket, easily attached by means uf a hole In the lop<br />
of the bracket.<br />
RAINVISOR FOR DRIVE-IN THEATRES P.901<br />
An easily Installed shield to add (o the comfort of drtve-lii<br />
patrons on a rainy night Is now available for drbe-lna. Ttie<br />
visors are given to the patron upon entering and are easily<br />
detaciied when he leaves. With proper care the vlsurs can last<br />
for several seasons. Tlie Ralnvlsor Is made by the Thackeray Co.<br />
THREE-FLAVOR BEVERAGE DISPENSER P.902<br />
A three-Huvor soft drink dispenser for theatres has been<br />
placed on the niaiket by the I'erllck Itriiss Uo. under the trade<br />
name C^irbo-Ml.v dispenser. Perllck claims a uniform carbonated<br />
drink at all times. Three syrups can be dispensed from the<br />
unit at one time from three two-gallon syrup tanks. It Is<br />
offered In either an all stainless steel model or high baked,<br />
black enamel finish CJiblnet with stainless steel top.<br />
AN EFFECTIVE CARBON SAVER P-903<br />
tlieatremen have discovered the riiiUlps carbon saver to be a<br />
valuable time saver. It doesn't decrease light in the arc lamps<br />
and it lias no moving parts to adjust or rust. It Is made of<br />
heat-resisting, high carbon steel and saves the carbon jaws<br />
from heat.<br />
REFRIGERATED DISPENSER UNIT P.904<br />
An all-sleel refrigerated dispenser unit for the storage of<br />
meat is .innounced by (he Bastian-BIesslng Co. Hamburgers<br />
can be removed without undue stooping or reaching. The case<br />
is equipped with five sliding wire shelves.<br />
TAPE-RECORDINGS FOR DRIVE-INS P-905<br />
Pre-show and intermission musical programs for drive-ins<br />
are now available through the Empire Recording Co. Along<br />
with selling spot announcements to business firms, tliere are<br />
two types of shows offered. One includes western music.<br />
Intermission programs of organ music include announcements<br />
for boosting concession sales.<br />
HOT NUT ACTION DISPLAY P.906<br />
Continental l^lachlne Corp. has something entirely new for<br />
theatre refreshment stands in the form of an attractive and<br />
colorful Big Top Circus Nut action display unit. An electric<br />
bulb will heat up, causing a revolving of the elephant and<br />
oilier anlmala, ulth liulJe IIIUDlnatluii. Hulnl \ni> »' nuu<br />
arc limlrd ul lliv kiime time to a delicious guodntni^.<br />
AN ALL-PURPOSE VACUUM CLEAt«£R P-907<br />
.Miilll'l'lvaii I'luduci'., Inc., Intfoducet a n«« Vu-Bluncr<br />
ultli ilftucliabli- iMjutTlR-iid and wide selection of cleaning<br />
iiitachmetii^ fui ii^r III theatre cleaning. 'Ilie unit U parttcu<br />
lurly de^l^iii-il lur ekjiiikng Ijurd to gel to placet.<br />
STANDBY LIGHTS FOR THEATRES P-908<br />
A new Wau-timaj>ttr uulumntlc ilandby llghl ulth kI-us<br />
Jar rechargeable buttery and vUlbte bull flual hydrumeier 1><br />
otfered cililbltorK by Carpenter Mfg. Co. Clwlce uf fluodll^'hit<br />
or Healed beam lamp heads, and either cundulet cuiuitcliuit<br />
ur curd and plug ultachment fur avmlportable IniUllatlun<br />
ure offered.<br />
LITERATURE<br />
Briefed from tfic description on page 70 Kry<br />
Number<br />
DESCRIBES TRAFFIC COUNTERS<br />
L-14n<br />
A >Ingle-sheel describing Its truffle cuunlvr for dxlte-li)« U<br />
made available by the K-IIUI Blgnul Cu filo^y operalluii.<br />
uccurac> and -.tmple Iriiitallatlun arc umottg lUv frjturra lllui<br />
(ruled and explained In Uie foldt-r<br />
DRINK DISPENSING BROCHURE .L-1478<br />
Mighty Mldgei Mfg. Co. has publb)ii:tl a brochure fur<br />
exhibUors and conce^sslon stand operators, giving fuctt and<br />
figures on the Mighty Midget system. Methotb of uperutlun<br />
and illustrations tire Included.<br />
BULB-CHANGING PAMPHLET L-1479<br />
belalls on .sjh'cH lea lions and construction of the Lumld'.r<br />
Mfg. Co.'s bulb changer arc listed, along with lllustratlufi<br />
un how to ri'move and replace bulbs.<br />
SIGNS AND OZONE LAMP DESCRIBED L-14S0<br />
Two colorful, illustrated folders arc made aiullable by the<br />
Volgt Co. Une on both edge-lit and back-lK Illuminated hlgjii,<br />
manufactured by (he company. The UK uzone lamp (ulder<br />
explains the action of the lamp which slops odors and pre^enla<br />
mustiness in theatre interiors.<br />
BOOKLET ON NEW FREEZER L-1481<br />
The Swirly Mfg. Co.'s easy-to-operale ice cream freettr.<br />
the Swirly Top, is introduced to the theatre refreshment fli-ld<br />
by way of an 8-page booklet. Simplicity of cleaning, which<br />
requires only five minutes, and ease of operation are expUIntd.<br />
Advertising for Swirly Top cones, e
READERS' BUREAU<br />
For literature on products advertised or mentioned in this issue, see other<br />
side of this sheet and road how to use the postcard coupons below.<br />
PRODUCTS ADVERTISED IN<br />
ADMISSION SIGNS<br />
Edgar S. Bowman 7I*A<br />
ATTENDANCE STIMULANTS<br />
Flowtrs of Miwaii 69-A<br />
ATTRACTION BOARDS AND LETTERS<br />
Adlir Silhoutltt Lclttr Co 70-B<br />
Wiontr Sign S«nic« 49-A<br />
CANDY<br />
Miion, Au and Magenliiimtr Confcctiontry<br />
Mfg. Co 15-A<br />
CANDY FLOSS MACHINES<br />
Concesiioo SupBJy Co 45-B<br />
Gold Mtdal Products Co 25-A<br />
CARBONS<br />
S
I<br />
'Over the Fence' Is a Drive-ln Picture Screen ^u€ificC ^
RCA'S<br />
Comprehensive<br />
As on adjunct to his series of articles on<br />
drive-in theatre design and construction Mr.<br />
Petersen will answer specific questions oddrcssed<br />
to Drive-ln Theatre Editor, the Modern<br />
Theatre, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Plan is the answer<br />
to<br />
today's Parts and<br />
Repair problems<br />
EVERY PART REPLACEMENT, repair<br />
or overhaul need of your booth<br />
and accessory equipment, resultingjrom<br />
normal use, is covered by the RCA<br />
Comprehensive Parts and Repair<br />
Plan. With this all-inclusive coverage<br />
you are protected against manpower<br />
and parts shortages, high costs, repair<br />
delays, shutdowns. Check the advantages.<br />
Don't be without this valuable,<br />
low-cost, money-saving protection any<br />
longer.<br />
Even Expendable Items Provided<br />
You even get your entire requirements<br />
of many expendable items. Included<br />
are electron tubes for amplifiers and<br />
power supplies (including arc supply<br />
D-31<br />
with<br />
Koiled<br />
Kords<br />
Quality<br />
Economy<br />
Dependability<br />
DAWO<br />
145 North Erie St.<br />
rectifiers), all exciter lamps, oil, film<br />
cement, lens cleaner and tissues. Arc<br />
lamp carbons and incandescent projection<br />
lamps are excluded. Booth spares<br />
are maintained.<br />
Liberal Overhaul Provisions<br />
Even major overhauls of projector<br />
mechanisms, intermittent movements<br />
and arc supply MG sets are provided<br />
undertheRCACOMPREHENSlVEPARTS<br />
and REPAIR PLAN. In such cases the<br />
Plan covers all costs of factory or<br />
repair shop labor in<br />
addition to cost<br />
of parts. It also provides for leaner<br />
units without charge and for all shipping<br />
charges both ways.<br />
It costs so little to protect so much<br />
The advantages of<br />
RCA Service are yours<br />
at a cost so low, a few<br />
admissions daily pay<br />
for it. U"r/Vc /or complete<br />
injormatioiu<br />
RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC,<br />
A RADIO CORPORATION ofAMERICA SUBSIDIARY<br />
CAMDEN. NEW JERSEY<br />
CORP.<br />
Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
THANK YOU<br />
Mr. Drive-in Exhibitor<br />
North, South, East and West for your many orders<br />
/oor recognition of wonderful S.O.S.<br />
values has our shop working overtime<br />
keeping pace with demands.<br />
Complete Projection & Sound Equipment from .... $1,595<br />
Underground Cable, 2 conductor, per 1,000 ft $70<br />
Tempered Masonite Marquee Letters<br />
4-inch 35c; 8-inch 50c; 10-inch 60c<br />
S. 0. S. CINEMA SUPPLY CORP.<br />
Dept. C, 602 W. 52 ST., N. Y. 19.<br />
Coble: SOSOUND<br />
/ cnn looking for a practical method of<br />
dust control in our drive-in theatre. Our<br />
drives and ramps are covered with crushed<br />
limestone, with a base of the heavy No. 3<br />
stone, and what is called "repair stone" as<br />
the surface. I know there are a number of<br />
methods, but from experience what is generally<br />
considered the best?<br />
You are correct in stating that "there<br />
are several methods of dustproofing<br />
drive-in theatres," but you are wrong in<br />
saying that there is a practical method<br />
of obtaining a dust free ramp area, except<br />
by spraying the area with an<br />
asphalt-bearing oil, which is applied hot<br />
and under pressure.<br />
It is true that there are many socalled<br />
"dust preventives" on the market,<br />
but each one of these products that<br />
has come to my attention has been<br />
some form of calcium chloride. Calcium<br />
chloride is usually applied in two coats,<br />
the first coat generally is distributed on<br />
the basis of one and one-half pounds<br />
per square yard of area, and the second<br />
coat is usually distributed on the basis<br />
of three-quarters of a pound per square<br />
yard of area. This type of treatment is<br />
helpful in the control of dust, but cannot<br />
be considered as a real cure for this<br />
dusting condition.<br />
Special Events Build Goodwill<br />
And Attendance for the<br />
Dickinson<br />
Drive-Ins<br />
Although the Dickinson outdoor theatres<br />
attract patrons with special events they<br />
maintain a consistent regular admission<br />
price. Fourth of July fireworks displays<br />
have proved worthwhile, but Bill Gable, district<br />
manager for the Kansas and Missouri<br />
theatres owned by Dickinson Theatres, Inc.,<br />
emphasized the fact that if a drive-in puts<br />
on a fireworks show it must really be good<br />
because people have learned to expect so<br />
much. Outdoor horse stunts and a Brahma<br />
bull act are typical of the special features<br />
offered by Dickinson on off nights, usually,<br />
Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. These<br />
are presented on a platform in front of<br />
the screen. Smaller acts have not been<br />
too successful.<br />
On the opening night each year, the<br />
theatres offer a prize of $10 to the oldest<br />
car or the car bringing the greatest number<br />
of people. Last year at Salina the winner<br />
brought 14 children.<br />
Special events build continued goodwill<br />
and attendance. Gable believes.<br />
62 The MODERN THEATHE SECTION
I<br />
PAYS...<br />
. to<br />
I^ for<br />
Theatre Trouble Spots<br />
Experts Solve Problems of Balcony Cooling,<br />
Bugs and Marquee Maintenance<br />
Recent letters from Modern Theatre<br />
readers have brought problems which<br />
the editorial board has forwarded to experts<br />
in each field for answer. Since each<br />
problem is one which may be bothering<br />
many other readers, both questions and<br />
answers are reprinted here.<br />
The first was a note from the manager<br />
of a Michigan theatre who wrote to William<br />
Stahl. author of several trade publication<br />
articles on installation and care of<br />
marquees, in care of the Modern Theatre.<br />
BUGS UNDER SOFFIT LIGHTS<br />
"My trouble," said this reader, "is that<br />
in the summer months the bugs and millers<br />
collect under and around the soffitt lights<br />
and make it annoying to our patrons entering<br />
and leaving the theatre.<br />
"The bugs also cling to the lights inside<br />
the marquee back of the attraction panel<br />
and die in great numbers, making quite a<br />
mess inside."<br />
In addition to the bug problem, the theatreman<br />
asked if it would add to the<br />
beauty and life of a marquee to Simonize<br />
it once a year: and if the background behind<br />
the attraction panel should be painted<br />
and how often.<br />
CLEANING OF<br />
MARQUEE<br />
In answer to these questions Mr. Stahl<br />
said.<br />
"In direct answer to your questions, the<br />
life and beauty of a marquee will definitely<br />
be increased if it has periodical cleanings.<br />
As far as Simonizing is concerned, I<br />
am not too sure, as I do not know exactly<br />
what kind of polish you have in mind nor<br />
what kind of paint is being used. However,<br />
a good paint polish would help.<br />
"The background behind the attraction<br />
panels should be painted at least once<br />
every year with a good flat white paint.<br />
"If the glass surface of the marquee was<br />
dusted off each time you changed your<br />
marquee copy, there would not be too<br />
much dirt to attract your summer bugs.<br />
YELLOW LIGHTS DISCOURAGE BUGS<br />
"The General Electric Co. has yellow<br />
bulbs called buglights that have been very<br />
effective in the states of Arizona and Nevada<br />
and have been used there for the<br />
past several years. They come in 60-watt<br />
bulbs at 21 cents each and 100-watt at 29<br />
cents each. I believe that they have also<br />
made this in a fluorescent tube which<br />
should be available in any good electrical<br />
appliance store.<br />
"Theatre Specialties also has a Bevelite<br />
marquee cleaner that will give a coat of<br />
wax not only good for plastic marquee letters<br />
but for your glass and plastic panels<br />
as well."<br />
ADJUSTING A COOLING DEVICE<br />
The second problem presented to the<br />
editors of the Modern Theatre is one which<br />
has probably been closely duplicated all<br />
over the country. It was sent in by a theatre<br />
owner in a small town in Kansas and<br />
concerned proper adjustment of a washedair<br />
cooling device.<br />
In the words of the Modern Theatre<br />
reader: "We have 80,000 cubic feet of<br />
space in a long, narrow building with a<br />
very high ceiling. The measurements are<br />
35x125x26 feet. Our present blower is<br />
36x36 inches and we have two USAIRCO<br />
spray mat evaporative units to cool the<br />
air. The blower room is over the stage and<br />
high up off the alley. We have two 36x36-<br />
inch sheet metal ducts divided at the<br />
mouth of the blower for distribution<br />
through directive grilles.<br />
A PROBLEM OF NOISE<br />
"Now then, could we install a larger<br />
blower and motor so that we could put<br />
more volume at slower speed and cut out<br />
the noise? Could we quiet the noise in the<br />
ductwork or would we be smart to make a<br />
new installation of some sort?<br />
"I don't think my town is large enough<br />
to stand the cost of refrigeration and I'm<br />
afraid the operating costs would keep us<br />
in the red all the time during the summertime<br />
when we have to compete with outdoor<br />
activities.<br />
"Over the balcony we have two 6x6-foot<br />
gravity flow vents for outlets, but don't<br />
have any power fans to move the air out<br />
from under the balcony, and the back part<br />
of the auditorium is always hot. How can<br />
we correct these problems?"<br />
This problem was an.swered by George<br />
Prantz, another Modern Theatre author,<br />
whose reply is reprinted below:<br />
"In answering the last part of your letter<br />
first, I would say that your complaint<br />
of conditions in and under the balcony<br />
is a common one and can always be expected<br />
unless adequate provision has been<br />
made for the removal of air from such<br />
pockets. This is especially true in using<br />
which has been humidified be-<br />
washed air<br />
cause air of high humidity becomes very<br />
objectionable when it becomes stagnant,<br />
which is no doubt the main cause of your<br />
trouble.<br />
EXHAUST FANS WILL HELP<br />
"To overcome this, and to aid your ventilation<br />
at all times, my main recommendation<br />
would be the installation of exhau.st<br />
fans on your roof or other convenient and<br />
.suitable location so that the air over the<br />
balcony and beneath the balcony can be<br />
forcibly removed and a positive flow of<br />
air<br />
be produced. If this l.s done. 11 will be of<br />
aid to you at all times whether the .sea.son<br />
is for cooling or heatinR, becau.se normally<br />
the elevation of the .seats In. and beneath<br />
the balcony are at a hiKhcr level and consequently<br />
In the warmest air.<br />
"As to adding a new blower, I believe<br />
this would not be entirely nece.s.sary nor<br />
beneficial for the simple rea.son It .still<br />
would not eliminate the air pockets. Furthermore,<br />
increasing the supply capacity<br />
would only aggravate the air nol.se of the<br />
present ducts as they apparently are nowcarrying<br />
their full capacity. If it is a question<br />
of the ducts now banging and rattling,<br />
they can be quieted by covering with Celotex<br />
or similar material. This material can<br />
be applied by fastening with sheet-metal<br />
screws, and should not be difficult if the<br />
ducts are accessible.<br />
HIGH CEILING COLLECTS HOT AIR<br />
"The shape and size of your auditorium<br />
in a way should be an advantage as high<br />
ceilings provide a reservoir in which hot<br />
air can accumulate before It reaches down<br />
into the occupied areas, especially when<br />
adequate equipment is not available.<br />
"Although the humidity in your area is<br />
probably somewhat higher than that in<br />
this area, neverthele.ss evaporative cooling<br />
should prove satisfactory if it is adequate<br />
and properly distributed, and I certainly<br />
do not feel that refrigeration is essential<br />
and necessary in your situation, especially<br />
when the original and operating costs are<br />
considered. In the south where the humidity<br />
really is high. I have seen evaporative<br />
cooling function fairly well but the cooling<br />
effect was caused mainly by the great<br />
amount of air motion they used rather<br />
than by the evaporative effect. Of course,<br />
the greater the amount of air movement<br />
used with an air washer, or even without<br />
a washer, the greater the cooling effect<br />
up to the point where the air motion is so<br />
great it becomes objectionable.<br />
FANS MUST HAVE NEEDED CAPACITY<br />
"If an exhaust fan. or fans are installed<br />
as suggested, be sure you obtain ones with<br />
adequate capacity. They should have a<br />
capacity of at least 12.000 to 15.000 cubic<br />
feet of air per minute. If you desire more<br />
flexible control, a fan could be installed in<br />
each vent or rather offset enough from<br />
each vent so that noise will not return into<br />
the auditorium. In this way. either one or<br />
two fans could be operated depending upon<br />
the attendance and weather conditions."<br />
Ilmprevemeirt "<br />
Do It<br />
MOVIES ARE BETTER<br />
THAN EVER .<br />
How About<br />
YOUR Theatre?<br />
Moke your theatre more ottroctivc and com<br />
increase<br />
fortoble in every way possible .<br />
and hold patronage and to strengthen movie<br />
going habits<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3. 1952 63
ARE YOU COVERED?<br />
An Insurance Executive Advises Exhibitors<br />
To Secure a Balanced Protection Program<br />
By Obtaining Free Survey Service<br />
0. K. MacDonold ii president of the insurance firm<br />
of D. K. MacDonold & Co., Inc. In this article he<br />
points out a number of risks which may be overlooked<br />
by the theotreman.<br />
by D. K. MacDONALD<br />
I HE INSURANCE POLICY has yct to be<br />
issued which will underwrite all the risks<br />
of theatre operation. The showman, however,<br />
can buy protection with his insurance<br />
premiums against nearly every conceivable<br />
risk of business ownership.<br />
The real limitation is in the amount of<br />
money which he can afford to spend for<br />
such coverage. Striving for complete protection,<br />
he could conceivably "insure himself<br />
out of business." Confronted by a bewildering<br />
assortment of policy coverages<br />
he might, on the other hand, decide to forget<br />
the whole business and assume his<br />
risks himself.<br />
BASIC KNOWLEDGE NEEDED<br />
Though understandable, neither of those<br />
reactions provides a solution to a problem<br />
which is closely related to the owner's continued<br />
business survival. The theatre owner's<br />
position can be compared with that of<br />
a shopper who walks into a modern food<br />
store—and finds all the labels printed in<br />
a foreign language! Without some basic<br />
special knowledge, he cannot make an intelligent<br />
choice, to select only those labels<br />
which will meet his individual needs.<br />
The amount of money spent for insurance<br />
by no means indicates the degree of<br />
protection which you enjoy. The possible<br />
occurence of some of the risks against<br />
which you are insured may be exceedingly<br />
remote. Or the risk itself may not be too<br />
consequential. At the same time you may<br />
be unknowingly exposed to another much<br />
more serious risk which could wipe out<br />
your entire business investment. Your insurance<br />
program would therefore be critically<br />
out of balance.<br />
TAKE UP PROBLEM AS A WHOLE<br />
A wise first step toward achieving a<br />
balanced insurance program is to turn<br />
the entire problem over to an established<br />
reliable insurance firm. The piecemeal<br />
method of buying your car insurance from<br />
one relative, friend or customer and your<br />
fire and liability policies from others, rare-<br />
ly gives balanced protection. When building<br />
a house you do not first build one<br />
complete room, then add other rooms<br />
singly until the house is completed. You<br />
have a master plan which you follow from<br />
beginning to end. The wise theatreman<br />
plans his insurance program the same way.<br />
Most of the large agents and brokers<br />
provide an insurance survey service in<br />
which they answer all the questions which<br />
pertain to your individual needs. This<br />
service is free and provides you with the<br />
peace of mind of knowing that the insurance<br />
program you carry Is the right one<br />
for your business needs.<br />
MANY RISKS<br />
OVERLOOKED<br />
After giving your insurance problems to<br />
an agent or broker your responsibilities to<br />
your own interests, however, by no means<br />
end. The test of any program is its ability<br />
to protect you against losses (1) which are<br />
viost likely to occur, and (2) which you<br />
can least afford to bear. It is up to you to<br />
see that this protection is provided.<br />
Virtually every operator is insured to<br />
some extent by the more common forms of<br />
fire, theft and liability coverage. But there<br />
are other risks as well, to which he Is<br />
equally vulnerable. In most cases, neglecting<br />
to insure is due simply to lack of<br />
knowledge of lesser-known exposures. Following<br />
are some of the items which are<br />
most commonly overlooked in many insurance<br />
programs:<br />
1. TENANT'S IMPROVEMENTS: The<br />
theatreman in a leased building often<br />
makes improvements such as a new loge<br />
section, special lighting and plumbing installations,<br />
restrooms, etc. While the landlord<br />
carries his own insurance on the<br />
building property he owns, he cannot be<br />
expected to insure such improvements. In<br />
case of fire, the loss is the tenant's.<br />
2. USE AND OCCUPANCY. This coverage<br />
protects the owner of a business<br />
whose quarters are destroyed, by reimbursing<br />
him to the extent of his regular monthly<br />
income plus stated fixed expenses until<br />
he is able to resume operations. With all<br />
other losses accounted for, there is still<br />
the question of what you are going to live<br />
on for the two, three or six-month period<br />
required to get back into business. Such a<br />
policy can also take care of Interim salaries<br />
for key employes.<br />
3. LOSSES FROM CRIME. It is not<br />
commonly known that burglary insurance<br />
does not cover theft without visible, forcible<br />
entry. Should you leave hurriedly<br />
some night and leave the back door unlocked<br />
or a window open, thus admitting<br />
a thief, the crime is not burglary, but<br />
theft. Most theatre owners carry only<br />
burglary protection. What do you carry?<br />
4. INFIDELITY OP EMPLOYES. The<br />
next time you read the newspaper look for<br />
losses of this type. They take place every<br />
day. In most of the losses, you will find<br />
that the offender was a trusted employe<br />
with many years' service with the firm.<br />
5. HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTS.<br />
The owner of a theatre in a leased building<br />
will usually protect himself from damage<br />
suits resulting from his own fixtures and<br />
equipment. Few tenants, however, realize<br />
that they are also probably liable for damage<br />
traceable to defects or deterioration of<br />
the building. Most leases contain a "hold<br />
harmless" clause which absolves the owner<br />
of liability for such damage. If a cornice<br />
of the building should fall on a passerby,<br />
or if a water main installed by the building's<br />
owner should burst and damage adjoining<br />
property, the tenant under a "hold<br />
harmless" clause is liable for the damage.<br />
The cost to settle the claim can run to a<br />
sizable sum, plus legal fees.<br />
6. PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY.<br />
This is often overlooked as it is not understood.<br />
We think of property damage in<br />
terms of someone's clothes being torn on a<br />
counter or other piece of theatre equipment.<br />
Actually, the most common cases<br />
of this sort arise from a fire in the owner's<br />
premises which spreads to the adjoining<br />
premises. Though the owner of the<br />
restaurant or soda fountain next door may<br />
be fully covered by insurance, his losses<br />
will be promptly paid by his insurance<br />
company which will in turn sue you to<br />
recover their loss if you are liable for the<br />
fire. If neglect can be proved, damage<br />
suits resulting from fire losses to one or<br />
more adjoining buildings, could quickly<br />
wipe the theatre owner in whose building<br />
the fire started, out of business.<br />
7. OTHER LIABTLITY. Other types of<br />
liability to which the theatre owner is exposed<br />
include many which individually are<br />
not too likely to occur. Taken collectively,<br />
the risks are formidable. The best solution<br />
is to take a comprehensive liability<br />
policy, which will protect against almost<br />
all risks of third party liability.<br />
All these risks by no means confront<br />
every operator, nor to the same extent,<br />
but they should all be considered in laying<br />
out your insurance program. The extent<br />
and types of coverage you need can<br />
then be determined intelligently according<br />
to your special needs, within the limitations<br />
of your insurance budget.<br />
64 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
. threw<br />
i<br />
Theatre Architect Says Don't Be Afraid<br />
Of That Old Bogey - Television<br />
People Will Still Congregate for Entertainment<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
by<br />
ERIC HOUNSOM"<br />
f^S ARCHITECTS<br />
are not in the trade,<br />
they cannot speak<br />
from fhsthand experience<br />
regarding<br />
the trend of the motion<br />
picture industry.<br />
Ail Canadian theatre<br />
^
Removable Film Trap Door P-894<br />
Aids Projection Quality<br />
A new style, removable,<br />
film trap door<br />
\v h i c h incorporates<br />
many improvements<br />
to aid the movement<br />
of film through the<br />
projector and to<br />
achieve better projection<br />
quality, is now<br />
available to theatres.<br />
To give equal and<br />
continuous pressure<br />
on the film, the pads have been lengthened<br />
to cover practically the entire length of the<br />
door, and equalized tension is gained<br />
through the centrally located conical compression<br />
springs. The intermittent film<br />
guide uses this same type of tension arrangement.<br />
The pads and outer film guide<br />
shoes are hardened for longer wear. Stop<br />
studs on the door assure that the door will<br />
remain at the proper distance from the film<br />
tracks at all times when it is closed. The<br />
new assembly, built by LaVezzi Machine<br />
Works, holds the film flat and parallel as<br />
it passes over the aperture and yet is easy<br />
enough on the film that it causes a minimum<br />
of wear, passes patches with no difficulty,<br />
and lessens wear on the intermittent.<br />
FOR MORE<br />
INFORMATION<br />
USE Readers'<br />
Bureau Coupons, page 59<br />
Adjustable Light<br />
Spotlight Displays<br />
J<br />
I<br />
w<br />
Units<br />
P-897<br />
Display Kit for Theatre<br />
Concession Signs<br />
P-899<br />
Cement Simplifies Repair P-895<br />
Of Theatre Carpets<br />
Worn or damaged carpets can now be<br />
restored to original condition when I'epaired<br />
with flexible Griptex, a new rubber<br />
plastic compound manufactured by Adhesive<br />
Products Corp.<br />
Easily coated over the back surface of<br />
carpet with brush, corn broom, spray gun<br />
or paint roller, the cement offers a simple,<br />
effective means of attaching new binding<br />
and inserting patches after worn parts have<br />
been cut aw-ay. Unsightly cigaret burns can<br />
be scraped away and the damaged areas<br />
retufted with the aid of Griptex. Griptex<br />
adds to the life of theatre carpeting by<br />
adding to the carpet's strength and preventing<br />
sprouting of tufts or fraying. It<br />
is mothproof, too.<br />
Drive-In Promotion P-896<br />
To Build Goodwill<br />
Danken Associates have announced a<br />
unique mail promotion for drive-in theatres.<br />
It consists of a free gift pass for the<br />
family a few months after a baby is born.<br />
The pass entitles the famUy to one admission<br />
plus one guest, with children admitted<br />
free. The mailing is printed in an attractive<br />
pink and blue baby design.<br />
Modern, adjustable light fixtures in six<br />
colors that blend with modern interiors<br />
have been introduced by Swivelier Co., Inc.<br />
These fixtures may be used for spotlighting<br />
lobby displays and signs, focusing light<br />
on decorative features or wall murals and<br />
for concentrating attention upon the refreshment<br />
counter.<br />
The new Vogue-Lites for direct and indirect<br />
lighting, feature two types of<br />
sockets: the Wallite Swivel and the Swivomatic<br />
Joint, variations of the patented<br />
Swivelier socket. All cord-and-plug Vogue-<br />
Lites are available with the Shur-Mount<br />
wall attachment, a new method which assures<br />
a more positive and secure mount<br />
to aid in preventing cracked plaster.<br />
A New Candy Bar P-898<br />
For Concessions<br />
Theatre owners have discovered a profitable<br />
new candy bar to add to their refreshment<br />
line in "Annabelle's Rocky Road." An<br />
entirely new combination of popular ingredients<br />
was used in the bar which features a<br />
center layer of milk chocolate and cashews.<br />
Bright red and silver foil wrap keeps the<br />
bar fresh and delicious. It has also proved<br />
to be an aU-weather bar, having been tested<br />
on extremely hot days. The bar is made by<br />
Annabelle Candy Co.
Here 's<br />
Your Biff<br />
DOUBLE<br />
FEATURE<br />
in Saiety<br />
Cor Visor for Rainy Nights P-901<br />
At Drive-ln Theotres<br />
The Rainvisor. an easily installed shield<br />
to add to the comfort of drive-in patrons on<br />
a rainy night, is now in use in many outdoor<br />
theatres. The visors are given to the<br />
patron when he enters the drive-ln, and<br />
are removed when he leaves. Properly cared<br />
for, the shields will last for several seasons.<br />
The durable shield is readily installed and<br />
is held in place by three suction cups. The<br />
space between the top of car and the visor<br />
is sealed so that water doesn't run down<br />
over the windshield. Only a small storage<br />
space is needed. One rack, 8x13 feet, will<br />
hold 300 visoi-s. The Rainvisor is made by<br />
the Thackeray Co.<br />
Soft Drink Dispenser<br />
For Three Flavors<br />
P-902<br />
Theatremen everywhere<br />
rely on Dayton Safety Ladder§<br />
for maximum safety<br />
and convenience. Ideal for<br />
your marquees—perfect for<br />
those odd jobs.<br />
Daytons are constructed of<br />
tested airplane spruce and<br />
reinforced with rigid steel<br />
supports to give great<br />
strength and lightness of<br />
weight. Sizes 3 feet to 16<br />
feet in height (measured<br />
from ground to platform)<br />
with Standard Rubber Safety<br />
Shoes at no extra cost.<br />
Wr/le Today for Bulletin No. A<br />
Dayton<br />
Safety Ladder<br />
Company<br />
DAYTON SAFETY LADDERS<br />
QUEEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER<br />
SAFETY SUPPLIES<br />
2337 GILBERT AVE., CINCINNATI 6, OHIO<br />
In Canada—Safety Supply Company—Toronto<br />
A new packaged, pressurized, self-contained,<br />
carbonated soft drink dispenser for<br />
theatres has been introduced by the Perlick<br />
Brass Co. under the trade name Carbo-Mix<br />
dispenser. By incorporating a large, mechanically<br />
refrigerated water bath within<br />
its specifications, Perlick claims a uniform<br />
carbonated drink at all times. Three syrups<br />
can be dispensed from the unit at one time<br />
from three two-gallon syrup tanks. A<br />
gravity-type syrup dispenser and plain<br />
water attachments may be added when desired.<br />
The dispenser is designed to operate<br />
on conventional 110-volt, 60-cycle AC current.<br />
It is offered in either an all stainless<br />
steel model or high baked black enamel<br />
finish cabinet with stainless steel<br />
top.<br />
Carbon Saver Is Simple P-903<br />
And Effective<br />
Theatremen have found several distinct<br />
advantages in the Phillips carbon saver,<br />
among them the fact that it does not<br />
decrease light in arc lamps, and it has no<br />
moving parts to adjust or rust. It is made<br />
of heat-resisting, high carbon steel and<br />
saves the carbon jaws from heat. Projectionists<br />
have discovered it a time saver,<br />
particularly since it can be used without<br />
screwdriver or pliers. The Phillips is also<br />
equipped with a carbon stub knockout bar.<br />
WEIGHT, 165<br />
$<br />
LBS.<br />
25<br />
DOWN<br />
Balance $10 Monthly<br />
400 DE LUXE<br />
PENNY FORTUNE SCALE<br />
NO SPRINGS<br />
WR/rf fOR PRICES<br />
LARGE CASH BOX HOLDS<br />
$85.00 IN PENNIES<br />
Invented and Made Only by<br />
WATLING<br />
Manufacturing Company<br />
4650 W. Fulton St. Chicogo 44, III.<br />
Ett. 1889—Telephone: Columbuj 1-2772<br />
Cable Address: WATLINGITE, Chicago<br />
BOXOFTICE May 3, 1952 67
KROEHIER<br />
Easy ^'"'"^<br />
"^ office!<br />
"l^k-Pwjfe/ THEATRE SEATS<br />
•"Push-Back" is a trade-mark owned and registered by the Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville, III.<br />
Refrigerated Dispenser Unit P-904<br />
For Hamburgers<br />
The Bastian-Blessing<br />
Co. announces an<br />
all-steel refrigerated<br />
hamburger dispensing<br />
unit for the storage<br />
of meat. Just introduced<br />
in the theatre<br />
refreshment field,<br />
the unit has an open-<br />
^gU "— a ing in the top with a<br />
cover which an oper-<br />
^^*<br />
ator can flip open,<br />
and then reach in and pick up a hamburger<br />
without moving from his stand in front of<br />
the adjoining grill, and without undue<br />
reaching or stooping. The refrigerated<br />
case is equipped with five sliding wire<br />
shelves (trays may be substituted). The<br />
unit is fitted with a back splash, and there<br />
is room on the flat top behind the opening<br />
for a toaster or other appliance.<br />
Tope-Recorded<br />
For Drive-Ins<br />
Programs<br />
These Extra Savings Mean Added Profit<br />
• Is your air conditioning equipment ready<br />
for summer? The Super cleans 100 air filters<br />
in 15 minutes. No removal necessary.<br />
Eliminate messy cleaning.<br />
Super Model M—For all Super Model BP<br />
general cleaning and quiet<br />
blowing. Powerful, cleaner<br />
readily portable. and dry<br />
You fiet extra savings of time, labor and<br />
money when you use a specialized Super<br />
Heavy Duty Theatre Cleaner for all your<br />
cleaning tasks. Just one operator and a<br />
Super with its specially designed tools can<br />
do the work of several people with hometype<br />
"vacuum" cleaners or mops, brooms<br />
and brushes.<br />
The Super with its special tools gets the<br />
dirt the first time over from floors, walls,<br />
drapes, decorations, box fronts, even the<br />
screen. No stooping, squatting or straining.<br />
Ask your supplies dealer<br />
or write us.<br />
Sales and Service<br />
r<br />
NATtONAL SUPER SERVICE COMPANY, INC., 1941 N. 12th St.,<br />
In<br />
in Principal Cities ^~ ^<br />
Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
Canada; Plant Maintenance Equipment Co., Toronto and Vancouver<br />
"Once Over Does If"<br />
SUPER SUCTION<br />
SINCE 1911 ®<br />
"THE DRAFT HORSE OF POWER SUCTION CLEANERS"<br />
SAVE MORE ON CARBONS<br />
Pdleals i'enaing<br />
CALI CARBON COUPLERS<br />
Let You Burn All the Carbon<br />
"They're Expendible"<br />
The mosf popular carbon saver. Used by more<br />
theatres than ALL other mokes COMBINED.<br />
At all progressive supply houses.<br />
Per Hundred, postpaid: Not Packed in Mixed Sizes.<br />
6 or 7mm $2.00<br />
8mm or 5/16-inch $2.25<br />
9mm $2.50<br />
68<br />
No worrying about injury to high<br />
priced ccrbon sovers.<br />
Burn 'em up, you still profit.<br />
Full Refund<br />
If not 100%<br />
Satisfied<br />
Improved production methods<br />
CREATE GREATLY<br />
REDUCED PRICES<br />
Same high quality.<br />
Most economical carbon saver you ever used!<br />
CALI Products Company<br />
3719 Marjorie Way Sacramento 20, Calif.
\|«c'>^><br />
PAY Off-- „,<br />
•^<br />
\t THEATRES!<br />
Theatre men from coast to coast who are using the<br />
Orchid Promotion to build attendance tell us that<br />
it really pays off! It's being used successfully by<br />
theatres— large and smalt. And, it's very economical<br />
since the Orchids cost but a few cents each!<br />
Here's a sure-fire way to increase attendance<br />
increase Box Office—build goodwill! Flowers of<br />
Hawaii will fly direct to your theatre orders from<br />
200 to 100,000—you name the amount Drop us a<br />
postcard telling us you are interested and we will<br />
s^nd you a price list and brochure on how to<br />
build Box Office with Orchids—no obligation to<br />
you, of course.<br />
Use the Promotion for: Openings, re-openings.<br />
Special Pictures. Ladles' Night, Special Days such<br />
OS Mothers or Fathers Day— any type of promotion<br />
you can think of.<br />
200 Var>da Orchids Foil Holder $20.00<br />
400 Vanda Orchids Foil Holder S40.00<br />
600 Vanda Orchids Foil Holder $60.00<br />
F.O.B. West Coast less 3% cash with order<br />
1% 10 days<br />
IVrite Today to DBPARTMENT MT-52<br />
Flonm ofHawaii Lw.<br />
670 So. Lafayette Park Place<br />
Los Angeles 5. Californid<br />
(Growing Ranges Hilo. Hawaii)<br />
American<br />
Bodiform<br />
AMERICAN SEATING COMPANY<br />
Crsnd SsDids 2,<br />
Michiian<br />
Branch Offices and Distiibutixs in Principal Citiis<br />
\^i^ Light Diffusing<br />
Vinyl Surface<br />
SUPER-LITE<br />
SCREEN<br />
Uniform Light To All Seats<br />
CLEARER-BRIGHTER<br />
LARGE SCREEN TV PICTURES AND REGULAR<br />
PROJECTION<br />
SHIPPED FOLDED OR ROLLED<br />
All Dealers<br />
VOCALITE SCREEN CORP.<br />
Roosevelt. Y ., U.S.A.<br />
All-Purposc Vacuum<br />
Cleaner and Blower<br />
P-907<br />
Multi-Clean Products,<br />
Inc., introduces<br />
a new Vac - Blower<br />
with detachable<br />
powerhcad and a wide<br />
selection of cleaning<br />
uttachment.s for use<br />
in theatre cleaning.<br />
The all-purpose Industrial<br />
vacuum<br />
cleaner and blower is<br />
said to clean everything<br />
from basement<br />
to roof and to cut<br />
maintenance costs, because the one machine<br />
does the work of two. The unit Is<br />
particularly designed for cleaning such<br />
places as furnaces, air conditioning equipment,<br />
bare floors, carpets, upholstery and<br />
light fixtures. There are four attachments<br />
in the standard kit. With attachments and<br />
detachable motor head, the unit weighs<br />
only 15 pounds, and may be carried and<br />
operated as a vacuum or blower in areas<br />
too small or confining for the vacuum tank.<br />
Standby Light Unit<br />
For Theatres<br />
P-908<br />
A new Watchmaster automatic standby<br />
light with glass jar rechargeable battery<br />
and visible ball float hydrometer is offered<br />
exhibitors by Carpenter Mfg. Co. It supplies<br />
emergency light instantly when fuses<br />
blow or power failures occur in theatres.<br />
Electrical components—including relays,<br />
transformers and battery chargers—have<br />
been specially engineered for constantly<br />
energized standby duty. Choice of floodlights<br />
or sealed beam lamp heads, and<br />
either condulet connection for permanent<br />
wiring or cord and plug attachment for<br />
semi-portable installation are offered.<br />
Lamp heads are removable and extra heads<br />
are available for remote mounting.<br />
Almost every theatre presents certain<br />
cleaning problems which are peculiar to<br />
the house. Often a little study and experience<br />
will reveal that a specialized theatre<br />
cleaner will meet these requirements.<br />
THEATRE PRODUCTS OF<br />
dependability<br />
etonomy<br />
beauty<br />
GoldE<br />
REWIND<br />
THE<br />
OPERATOR'S<br />
FAVORITE<br />
Always dependable. Silent and safe! U.L.<br />
Approved. Eliminales fire haiords. Positive<br />
friction ... Can't clinch film. Tilt-bock case...<br />
Reel can't fly off. Micro-switch safety cut off . .<br />
when door opens or film breaks, motor stops.<br />
GoldE<br />
TICKET BOX...<br />
HANDSOME!<br />
Streamlined to fit ony<br />
lobby. Sturdy construction—<br />
20 gauge steel.<br />
Lifetime cast oluminum<br />
top. Piano hinged door.<br />
Cylinder locked.<br />
Baked enamel finish —<br />
Mandarin Red, Burnt<br />
Orange, Royal Blue.<br />
Special colors available<br />
at slight extra<br />
cost.<br />
GoldE<br />
ROTOCHROME<br />
FOR COLOR<br />
IN MOTION<br />
Six beautiful flowing colors<br />
add decorotive interest to<br />
your theatre. Compact, lighlv/eight,<br />
easy to use as on<br />
electric clock. Long-life lamp.<br />
500 Watts— brilliant,<br />
changing color. Pipe clomps,<br />
wall and ceiling brackets<br />
available.<br />
GoldE<br />
NON-TIPPING SAND URN<br />
Of unique design, handsome, con •<br />
venienl. Heavy gauge steel. Large<br />
storage capacity in leok- proof<br />
diamond etched polished chrome<br />
column. Chrome plated top. Baked<br />
trim. Colors: Ebony Black, Mondarin<br />
Red.<br />
At your Theatre Supply Dealer or write direct for<br />
complete literature, name of nearest der^er.<br />
GOLDE MFG. CO.<br />
Brightest Name<br />
in light Projection<br />
1330 W MADISON STREET<br />
CHICAGO 7, IlllNOIS<br />
BOXOFFICE ;; May 3. 1952 69
PICTURES<br />
UNSTEADY<br />
9<br />
No. E-78L<br />
Removable Film<br />
Gate<br />
If your intermittent is in good condition<br />
and you are experiencing<br />
trouble in picture steadiness — look<br />
to your film gate. The New LaVezzi<br />
Film Gate with its longer pads<br />
and centrally located conical<br />
compression springs exert just<br />
the right tension to eliminate<br />
unsteadiness— is gentler on the<br />
film— and the<br />
Intermittent. See<br />
this gate at your dealer or write<br />
for further information.<br />
LaVezzi Machine Works<br />
4635 W. LAKE ST., CHICAGO 44, ILL.<br />
ADLER<br />
CHANGEABLE LETTER DISPLAYS<br />
ADLER GLASS-IN-FRAME DIS-<br />
PLAYS — "REMOVA - PANEL"<br />
FRAMES — "THIRD DIMEN-<br />
SION" PLASTIC & CAST ALU-<br />
MINUM LETTERS.<br />
ADLER "SECTIONAD LOW COST<br />
CHANGEABLE LETTER DISPLAYS<br />
WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG<br />
Adler Silhouette Letter Co.<br />
302ia W. 36th ST., CHICAGO 32, ILL.<br />
D-32<br />
with<br />
Straight<br />
Cord<br />
and<br />
Jeweled<br />
Down-Light<br />
Quality<br />
Economy<br />
Dependability<br />
DAWO CORP.<br />
145 North Erie St. Toledo 2, Ohio<br />
The following concerns have recently<br />
filed copies of interesting descriptive literature<br />
with the Modern Theatre Information<br />
Bureau. Readers tvho wish copies may<br />
obtain them promptly by using the Readers'<br />
Bureau postcard in this issue of The Modern<br />
Theatre.<br />
L-1477 The K-Hill Signal Co. has published<br />
a single-sheet describing its traffic<br />
counter for drive-ins. Easy operation, accuracy<br />
and simple installation are among<br />
the features illustrated and explained in<br />
the release. Counts are separated within<br />
1 20th of a second which practically eliminates<br />
cars overlapping, so one counter will<br />
count both driveways.<br />
L-1478—A BROCHURE describing drink dispensing<br />
equipment manufactured by the<br />
Mighty Midget Mfg. Co. is available for<br />
exhibitors and concession stand operators.<br />
The brochure gives facts and figures on<br />
the Mighty Midget system. Features of<br />
various dispensers are given, along with<br />
methods of operation. Illustrations of some<br />
of the units also are included.<br />
L-1480 The Voigt Co. has issued two<br />
colorful, illustrated folders. One features<br />
illuminated theatre signs, both edge-lit and<br />
back-lit, manufactured by the company.<br />
The GE ozone lamp folder explains the<br />
action of the lamp which banishes odors<br />
and prevents mustiness in theatre interiors.<br />
L-1481 The Swirly Mfg. Co.'s easy to<br />
operate ice cream freezer, the Swirly Top.<br />
recently introduced to the theatre refreshment<br />
field, is given complete coverage in<br />
an eight-page booklet issued by the company.<br />
The simplicity of cleaning which<br />
requires only five minutes, and ease of<br />
operation is explained. A new operator,<br />
under company training and supervision,<br />
can be taught to run the unit in only five<br />
minutes. Points of sale advertising and<br />
newspaper mats featuring the Swirly Top<br />
cones, equipment and supplies are also covered<br />
in the informative booklet.<br />
L-1482 — Gold<br />
Medal Products Co.<br />
has issued its 1952<br />
concession supplies<br />
and equipment catalog<br />
and price list in a<br />
69-page illustrated<br />
booklet. Two new<br />
items have been<br />
added to the Gold<br />
voltage<br />
Medal line: The "Lottavolts"<br />
booster and the new<br />
38-hole, drip-proof vending tray. Another<br />
added feature of this year's catalog is that<br />
all items are listed in separate sections for<br />
L-1479—As AN AID to theatre owners, the<br />
•each type of concession item.<br />
Lumidor Manufacturing Co. is distributing<br />
a pamphlet describing its bulb changer.<br />
Details on specifications and construction L-1483 "Orchids to the Ladies" is the<br />
are listed, along with illustrations on how theme of a one-page folder by Flowers of<br />
to remove and replace bulbs. The bulb Hawaii, Ltd. The giveaway promotion has<br />
changer can be used on all popular fixtures<br />
and fits all types of light bulbs. theatre patrons. Orders for orchids can<br />
proved a successful goodwill builder among<br />
be in quantities of from 100 to 100,000. A<br />
card is all that needs to be filled out by<br />
theatre operators to receive a price list and<br />
free brochure on how to stage an orchid<br />
promotion.<br />
Keeping your theatre clean is the best<br />
way to preserve it.<br />
Let us put NEW LIFE<br />
. /nfo your OLD CHAIRS<br />
We have serviced hundreds of theatres and<br />
welcome your inquiry. Our staff of trained repairmen<br />
will put new life and new beauty into<br />
your old theatre chairs without any interruption<br />
to your daily show.<br />
We rehabilitate or supply new cushions, replace<br />
parts and reupholster any style or make<br />
of theatre chairs. Make your seating problem<br />
our problem.<br />
MANUFACTURERS: Foam Rubber and Spring Cushions— Covers for Backs and Seats<br />
DISTRIBUTORS: Upholstery Fabrics and General Seating Supplies<br />
SERVICES OF: Periodic Inspection and Service— Installation— Rehabilitation<br />
Write today; outline your needs.<br />
'Better Your Theatie<br />
and You Better<br />
Your Boxotflce."<br />
THEATRE SEAT SERVICE CO<br />
160 HERMITAGE AVENUE NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE<br />
70 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
about PEOPLE/and PRODUCT<br />
Baughman<br />
E. J. Bauohman.<br />
who has been in the<br />
electrical engineering<br />
and sales fields<br />
for over 30 years,<br />
has been named west<br />
coast representative<br />
of General Precision<br />
Laboratory for television<br />
equipment<br />
sales. His headquarters<br />
will be at 350<br />
South Central Ave.. Los Angeles, Calif.<br />
Baughman, who is an electrical engineering<br />
graduate of Stanford university, will<br />
handle sales of GPL image orthicon camera<br />
chains, video recorders, switching and control<br />
units, projectors and various specialized<br />
TV components.<br />
John Nickolaus. superintendent of photography<br />
for MGM studios of Loew's, Inc..<br />
recently predicted that all professional motion<br />
pictures will be in full color in the<br />
near future and the natural look will return<br />
to Hollywood when movies are all in<br />
color. Male stars will look best when wearing<br />
no make-up, and actresses will photograph<br />
best when wearing normal street<br />
cosmetics, he said.<br />
James F. Dailey. president of Typhoon<br />
Air Conditioning Co., Inc., and Douglas<br />
Praser. head of Typhoon Export Corp., recently<br />
completed a month's air trip to various<br />
Central and South American countries<br />
where Typhoon representatives are operating.<br />
Dailey reports that the general sales<br />
picture in the countries he visited is better<br />
than ever, and that air conditioning<br />
possibilities are just beginning, due to the<br />
favorable reaction of the general public.<br />
An intensive membership campamn is<br />
being conducted by the Theatre Equipment<br />
and Supply Manufacturers' A.ss'n which is<br />
expected to attract, among others, the concession<br />
equipment manufacturers and concession<br />
supply distributors. The campaign<br />
is being conducted by mail with a colorful,<br />
attractively designed brochure, and by an<br />
"every member get a member" feature.<br />
A tie-in with the 1952 TESMA trade<br />
show that will be presented in connection<br />
with the joint conventions of TESMA,<br />
TEDA and Allied is stressed, particularly<br />
the fact that TESMA membership permits<br />
first choice at convention exhibit space.<br />
According to J. R. "Bob" Hoff, president<br />
of TESMA, while the association has<br />
maintained a relatively stable membership<br />
over the past six years, never varying over<br />
5 per cent, plus or minus in this period,<br />
there are many manufacturers that could<br />
and should derive benefits through joining.<br />
The Radio Corp. of America has been<br />
cited by the Academy of Motion Picture<br />
Arts and Sciences for pioneering work in<br />
the development of the "direct positive"<br />
photographic sound recording system now<br />
in wide use in Hollywood studios, as well<br />
as in most studios producing 16mm films.<br />
Arthur C. Blaney, manager of film recording<br />
engineering in RCA's Hollywood<br />
film recording studio, received the plaque<br />
when the Academy presented its annual<br />
awards in various fields recently. It<br />
marked the 13th time that RCA had been<br />
signally honored by the Academy.<br />
James Stack, formerly projectionist at<br />
the Strand Theatre, Thompsonville. Conn.,<br />
has been named projectionist at the Art<br />
Theatre. Hartford.<br />
For YOUR<br />
BOXOFFKE<br />
Cogiav*d by<br />
our axctuBiv*<br />
procvas oa lucila<br />
to Toui<br />
«p«cllicalioat.<br />
lAMOLITE<br />
ILLUMINATED PRICE ADMISSION SIGNS<br />
Our en I a r g c d p'ont facilities Oisure<br />
OVERNIGHT service from coait to coo»»<br />
Plaatic Signi Engraved lor tb« Entirs Th«alr*<br />
S«nd lor Foldar<br />
Edgar S.<br />
Bowman<br />
*Pat<br />
pmoa<br />
^f)7 SiKtb Av»ou» N*w Ynrir 10. N. Y.<br />
SAVE 22%<br />
ON CARBONS!<br />
Uses positive carbon stubs of any length,<br />
without preparation, and without affecting<br />
regular operation of the lamp. When entirely<br />
consumed, the new carbon goes into<br />
use without losing the light.<br />
I<br />
The Poblocki Family Team Ready for Action<br />
The Poblocki family bowling team, composed of the father, Ben, and his six sons, ore pictured as they<br />
appeared in the American Bowling Congress tournament in Milwaukee, Wis., recently Brothers Bill<br />
and Jim each had 486 to tie for high honors. The team score, bowling as the Tuckoway No 3 team,<br />
was 2,305. The seven Poblockis, owners of Poblocki & Sons, bowl in both the Tuckoway and Knights of<br />
Columbus leagues. Brothers Eddie and Ray didn't compete in the ABC. From left, Ray, Jerry, Jim, Papa<br />
Ben, Barney. Bill and Eddie.<br />
Burning average lengths O'/i") down to ^"<br />
saves 2' j" or 22.2% of the carbon cost.<br />
SAVES THE AVERAGE THEATRE<br />
$400.00 A YEAR<br />
No more guessing whether a carbon will<br />
burn a full reel.<br />
Adaptable to Ashcroft "D" and "E".<br />
Brenkert<br />
- Enarc. Peerless Magnarc and<br />
Strong Mogul lomps.<br />
Only<br />
$52.50<br />
If your equipment dealer cannot supply<br />
you. order direct.<br />
PAYNE PRODUCTS CO.,<br />
Cron-O-Motic Division<br />
245S W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigon<br />
( ) Please send literature on the Cron-O-Motic.<br />
( ) Please ship Cron-O-Matic Carbon Saver.<br />
( ) C.O.D.. including postage. ( ) Remittance<br />
heiewitli.<br />
NAME —<br />
THEATRE I<br />
STREET<br />
CITY 4 STATE - —<br />
EXPORT: Fraiar & Hansen. Ltd.. San Francisco.<br />
New York. Los Angeles<br />
BOXOFFICE May 3. 1952 71
J. Robert Hoff, president of the Theatre<br />
Equipment and Supply Manufacturers'<br />
8x10 Slide Frame St.OO!<br />
LIFETIME EXTRUDED ALUMINUM<br />
DISPLAY FRAMES 50% Less<br />
Compare* Our exclusive one-piece construciion cuts<br />
your costs in hall<br />
8 xlO Slide Frame $1 .00<br />
1 1 x\i Slide Frame $1.50<br />
14 x22 Slide Frame $2.15<br />
14 x36 Slide Frome $3.00<br />
22"x28" Slide Frame $3.00<br />
Ass'n, expressed optimism after a recent<br />
meeting with NPA officials in Washington,<br />
D. C. The many problems that confront<br />
equipment manufacturers because of current<br />
theatre building restrictions were discussed<br />
and considered by Peter Black, special<br />
assistant to Administrator Manley<br />
neischman as well as representatives from<br />
the general counsel's office and officials<br />
from the motion picture-photographic products<br />
division. Hoff reported that all matters<br />
were taken under advisement by NPA officials<br />
and any further announcements<br />
necessarily will<br />
emanate from Washington.<br />
•1<br />
UC<br />
POSTER CASES—We manufacture a complete line of Illuminated and<br />
non-illuminated wall fromes ond poster cases. Prices run to the<br />
same scole as the slide frames listed above. Our catalog also contains<br />
illustrations and prices on these exceptionally low cost units.<br />
* Lifetime extruded aluminum<br />
• Cniistic etched<br />
^^^y * Alumilite finished<br />
M * Strong, rigid<br />
I A • All standard sizes<br />
Cross secd'on of our<br />
solid, lifetime frame<br />
extrusion<br />
40"x60" POSTER CASE $64.50<br />
40"x60" Non-illuminated poster cnse.<br />
shadowbox door, recessed or surface<br />
mounted (please specify) heavy extruderi<br />
aluminum, lifetime alimiilite finish, full<br />
letioth door hinges, ^g" plywood back.<br />
Montebcllo.<br />
FOB.<br />
SAVE! ORDER DIRECT BY MAIL<br />
Frames and case listed may be ordered<br />
hy mail. Money-back Guarantee. 3hi|)ped<br />
F.O.B. Montebello, California.<br />
Peoples Display Frame Co.<br />
1513-1515 Olympic Blvd. Montebello, California<br />
A CLEVER 16-inch<br />
high Jumbo, swinging<br />
his massive head back<br />
and forth in characteristically<br />
slow elephant<br />
motion, is now<br />
available for use at<br />
theatre lobby candy<br />
stands, as a promotion<br />
tieup for Nestle's<br />
Jumbo Blocks chocolate<br />
and associated<br />
items.<br />
The lithographed<br />
attraction display is battery-operated, and<br />
is inexpensive to run, on around the clock<br />
schedule.<br />
is<br />
Its appeal, especially to children,<br />
said to stimulate concession sales.<br />
Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co., Kansas City,<br />
Mo., is offering without charge a layout<br />
sheet indicating ideal arrangement of di-<br />
ai<br />
POWERSTAT<br />
PROVIDE<br />
BIG TIME<br />
LIGHTING CONTROL<br />
ON A SMALL TIME<br />
D1000R<br />
72<br />
I?<br />
Modern light dimming equipment need not be<br />
expensive. This was conclusively demonstrated<br />
by Lawrence Voss, a member or the foculty<br />
at Southern Illinois University, when he built<br />
a 25,0CX) watt, preset, proportional dimming,<br />
completely flexible, portable switchboard at a<br />
materials cost of approximately $1,200. Master<br />
dimming is achieved by four 5,000 watt<br />
POWERSTAT Dimmers. The flexibility, the consistent<br />
performance, the unusual economy of<br />
POWERSTAT Dimming Equipment put big time<br />
lighting control within the reach of very<br />
limited budgets.<br />
Write for the complete story, together with<br />
pictures and drawings, of the switchboard<br />
built by Mr. Voss.<br />
2052 DBMERS AVENUE, BRISrOL, CONN.<br />
m SUPERIOR ELECTRIC co.<br />
^g<br />
rectional lighted signs for the typical drivein<br />
theatre, which can be adapted by exhibitors<br />
to their own needs. The diagram<br />
is keyed to show suggested locations of:<br />
1. double-face, 40-inch entrance lights;<br />
2. single-face, 20-inch entrance lights with<br />
arrow pointing right: 3. "Lights Out<br />
Please," 20-inch: 4. "Lights On," 20-inch;<br />
5. ramp lights: 6. aisle lights; 7. roadway<br />
lights, opaque panels: 8. ramp end exit<br />
lights: 9. "Exit Only," 20-inch; 10. concession<br />
building lights; 11. standee speakers;<br />
12. "Men": 13. "Ladies"; 14. concession<br />
building<br />
speaker.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION<br />
i
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
acting<br />
I<br />
I<br />
boxoffice.<br />
,<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
'<br />
enough.<br />
I Johnny<br />
! good<br />
,<br />
heart.<br />
'<br />
: ins<br />
I<br />
'<br />
Theatre,<br />
'<br />
;<br />
Played<br />
,<br />
Randolph<br />
'<br />
ing.<br />
.<br />
Business<br />
, Weather:<br />
j<br />
mer<br />
I<br />
I<br />
[<br />
tomers.<br />
'<br />
'<br />
Theatre,<br />
'<br />
Boots<br />
'<br />
Johnny<br />
I<br />
0](0fflCE(iJDDiiJJ]i/UJD5<br />
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
'<br />
Al Jennings of Oklahoma (Col) — Dan<br />
Duryea. Gale Storm. Dick Foran. Another<br />
color western from Columbia that did very<br />
well at the boxoffice and pleased the cus-<br />
We advertised this as the true story<br />
of Al Jennings as told by himself. There is<br />
good comedy relief in this picture and an<br />
exceptional train robbery in the last reel.<br />
Play this one and make yourself some money.<br />
Played Tues., Wed. H. M. Swam. Maynard<br />
Maynard, Minn. Small town patronage.<br />
Malone (Col> — William Holden.<br />
Stewart. Stanley Clements, This is a<br />
perfect yarn for William Holden. The new<br />
boy. Johnny Stewart, was great in the part<br />
of the rookie jockey. It's a good story all<br />
around. Played with "This Woman Is Dangerous"<br />
to poor business Wed.. Thurs., Fri..<br />
Sat. Weather: Cold.—Graham and Yarnell,<br />
Kramer Theatre, Detroit, Mich.<br />
trade.<br />
Neighborhood<br />
. .<br />
Boots Malone (Col) — William Holden.<br />
Stewart, Stanley Clements. EX'eryone<br />
who saw this racetrack story liked it. It has<br />
acting, good action and a tug at the<br />
Even educational for those who know<br />
nothing of horse and jockey training and the<br />
and outs of race manipulations. But .<br />
it didn't do any business! Played Sun., Mon..<br />
Tues. Weather: Rain.—R. G. Risch, Reno<br />
Appleton, Minn. Small town and<br />
rural trade.<br />
Indian Territory iColi —Gene Autry, Pat<br />
Buttram. Gail Davis. Gene Autry still helps<br />
us and we would feel that single billing is not<br />
This picture should be double billed.<br />
Fri.. Sat.—Harland Rankin. Erie Theatre.<br />
Wheatley. Ont. General patronage.<br />
Man in the Saddle (Col) —Randolph Scott.<br />
Joan Leslie. Ellen Drew. This is a typical<br />
Scott topnotch western. Action perfeet,<br />
scoring excellent, background outstand-<br />
I<br />
Scott should stay with Harry Joe Brown.<br />
fair. Played Sun., Mon.. Tues.<br />
Cold.—Graham and Yarnell, Kra-<br />
Theatre. Detroit. Mich. Neighborhood<br />
I<br />
trade.<br />
Ten Tall Men (Col)—Burt Lancaster. Jody<br />
Lawrence, Gilbert Roland. This is an exceptionally<br />
fine picture. Don't pass this up.<br />
brother. This is the first life we have seen<br />
in our theatre for some time. We would like<br />
to have more like this. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury,<br />
Ont. General patronage.<br />
Texas Rangers, The (Col)—George Montgomery,<br />
Gale Storm, Jerome Courtland. We<br />
played this color western on Tues. and Wed.<br />
It is an average western but did extraordinary<br />
business. Some patrons complain that we are<br />
getting too many of these color westerns but<br />
they make money and that's what we're In<br />
business for. Play it—it has a good story and<br />
not too much shooting.—H. M. Swam, Maynard<br />
Theatre, Maynard, Minn. Small town<br />
patronage.<br />
LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS<br />
Highly Dangerous (LP)—Dane Clark. Mar-<br />
I garet Lockwood. Marius Goring. A rather<br />
common spy story which is very weak in<br />
spots. However, the story is bolstered by the<br />
of Dane Clark and Margaret Lockwood<br />
which should mean something at the<br />
Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weath-<br />
PICTURES<br />
er: Windy and cold.—Pearce Parkhurst. Lan.sing<br />
Drive-In Theatre, Lansing, Mich. Family<br />
patronage.<br />
Steel Helmet (LP) — Gene Evans, Robert<br />
Hutton, Steve Brodie. If war pictures are any<br />
good to you, this oldie can be bought at fair<br />
terms. It isn't a bad little feature for Its<br />
kind but in this town war is taboo, .so I<br />
would have been better off leaving it alone.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Chilly—Bob<br />
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small<br />
town and rural trade.<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
American in Paris, An (MGMi —Gene Kelly,<br />
Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant. Even the Academy<br />
didn't do a lot I'or thi.s—boxoffice-wise.<br />
Though I can't call this type my favorite entertainment.<br />
I had to admit it is a great<br />
show—and. for once, I can see how this might<br />
be considered for the award. My local business<br />
stayed away like we had smallpox but<br />
word got out in the big town east of us and<br />
they gave me a good Monday and a fair Tuesday<br />
so I managed to pull out by the skin of<br />
my teeth after thinking I would be lucky to<br />
get back film and advertising costs. Played<br />
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Beautiful.—Bob<br />
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small<br />
town and rural patronage.<br />
American in Paris, An (MGM)—Gene Kelly.<br />
Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant. This is a beautiful<br />
production, well cast and well played, but<br />
—it lacks something. It just doesn't click.<br />
Several scenes were too long. Should be about<br />
four reels instead of six. Played Sun., Mon..<br />
Tues. Weather: Cold.—Bill Leonard, Leonard<br />
Theatre, Cedar Vale, Kas. Small town and<br />
rural trade.<br />
Excuse My Dust (MGM) — Red Skelton,<br />
Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey. This is the<br />
most satisfactory feature we have run for<br />
some time. Lots of comedy, color and just<br />
enough music. The time in 1895 and it stages<br />
an automobile race that is a scream. Played<br />
Sat., Sun.—C. E. Bennewitz. Royal Theatre,<br />
Royalton, Minn. Rural trade.<br />
Red Badge of Courage (MGM)—Audie Murphy,<br />
Bill Mauldin, John Dierkes. This is a<br />
fine piece of entertainment. A little on the<br />
drab, sad side but rates with the best. Played<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather: Stormy.—Bill Leonard.<br />
Leonard Theatre, Cedar Vale, Kas. Small town<br />
and rural trade.<br />
Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM) — Jane<br />
Powell, Danielle Dartieux, Wendell Corey.<br />
Here's a fairly entertaining little feature that<br />
I made the mistake of putting on preferred<br />
time without anything for it to lean on. Result:<br />
an April slump that hit me suddenly,<br />
got worse. It's just not a small town natural.<br />
Money Back Guarantee<br />
Used to Sell This One<br />
a NOELS IN THE OUTFIELD (MOM) —<br />
Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan<br />
WjTin. I agree 100 per cent with Bob<br />
Walker of Fruita on this picture. It was<br />
the same story here. We advertised to<br />
please or money back and it helped. No<br />
one asked for a refund. It will be enjoyed<br />
by everyone. Business normal. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Spring-like.—Ken<br />
Christianson, Roxv Theatre. Washburn,<br />
S. D. Small town trade.<br />
How About a Series<br />
With the Nelsons?<br />
ZTIMK lO.MK TIIK NKI.SONS (U-ll —<br />
Harriett and Ozzie Nelson. Barbara<br />
Lawrence. Played to Ihi- best gross In Ty'i.<br />
When a picture can lop Dean .Martin<br />
and Jerry Lewis it has boxofflre. C;ive<br />
it your best time. boys. Were looking forward<br />
to the next Nelson piiturr. Phivrci<br />
Sun.. Tues.—T. A. Spurgin. Modcrne TIk--<br />
atre, Stanberry, .Mo. Small town trade.<br />
Played Sun.. Mon. Tues. Weather: Nice.—Bob<br />
Walker. Uintah Theatre. Fruita, Colo. Small<br />
town and rural patronage.<br />
Teresa (MOM)—Pier Angell. John Ericson,<br />
Patricia CoUinge. This was received quite<br />
well here. Comments were good. We u.sed the<br />
angle. "Story of a War Bride." in<br />
advertising,<br />
which seemed to bring them in. Business was<br />
okay, too, for a change. It is okay for small<br />
towns. Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Mild<br />
for February.—G. P. Jonckowski, Lyric Theatre,<br />
Waba.sso, Minn., Rural and small town<br />
trade.<br />
Texas Carnival iMGM) — Red Skelton.<br />
Esther Williams, Howard Keel. Great, grand,<br />
glorious, fascinating, captivating, entertaining.<br />
This is one of the best in months and<br />
months. You can't ballyhoo this one too<br />
much. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:<br />
Fair.- Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedar<br />
Vale. Kas. Small town and rural trade.<br />
Three Guys Named Mike (MGM)—Jane<br />
Wyman. Van Johnson. Howard Keel.<br />
We were<br />
late in playing this one and many people had<br />
already seen it elsewhere. Therefore the box<br />
really suffered for two days. Played Fri.. Sat.<br />
Weather: Fair.-Marion F. Bodwell. Paramount<br />
Theatre, Wyoming, 111. Small town<br />
trade.<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
Father Takes the .Air iMono) —Raymond<br />
Walburn. Walter Catlett. Gary Gray. This is<br />
a nice little comedy. We doubled it with<br />
Columbia's "Hit the Hay" to average midweek<br />
business. Played Tues. Wed. Weather: Windy<br />
and cool.—Orin J. Sears, Apache Theatre,<br />
Loving. N. M. Small town patronage.<br />
Ghost Chasers (Mono) —Leo Gorcey, Huntz<br />
Hall, Bowery Boys. Some school competition<br />
made this a waste of time to run on Friday<br />
night, but Saturday did a little over average<br />
business so we didn't get hurt as badly as it<br />
looked like we would at first. Without the<br />
heavy competition this should have drawn<br />
well here. Doubled with "Casa Manana<br />
(Mono) which is a mighty entertaining little<br />
musical comedy.—Bob Walker. Uintah Theatre,<br />
Fruita, Colo. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Crosswinds (Parai — John Payne. Rhonda<br />
Fleming. Forrest Tucker. The breakup of the<br />
mighty Missouri and a train wreck (local)<br />
kept this only fair action picture down to<br />
normal gross. One of the poorer Pine-Thomas<br />
productions. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre,<br />
Washburn, N. D. Small town trade.<br />
Flaming Feather (Para)—Sterling Hayden.<br />
Forrest Tucker. Barbara Rush. This is O.K.<br />
for any day. Good color, good story and the<br />
price was right. Played Sun.. Mon. Weather:<br />
Good—Tom Watson. Lyric Theatre, Ellisville,<br />
Miss. Small town and college trade.<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
BookinGuide :<br />
: May<br />
3, 1952<br />
1
advance<br />
was<br />
|<br />
I<br />
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
Here Comes the Groom iPara) — Bing<br />
Crosby. Jane Wynian, Alexis Smitli. I think<br />
this is the best Crosby picture I ever played.<br />
So much human interest, such nice, clean<br />
comedy, such simple effective music. You<br />
could hear a pin drop when Anna Maria<br />
Alberghetti. as the blind giil. sang her solo.<br />
Comments: the very best. Played Sun.. Mon.<br />
—Leo W. Smith, Elk Theatre. Elkton. S. D.<br />
Party Smarty iPara)—Noveltoon cartoon<br />
was enjoyed by all. Played Sun.. Mon. Weather:<br />
Rain.—Pearce Parkhurst. Lansing Drivein<br />
Theatre, Lansing. Mich. Family patronage.<br />
Peking Express iPara)—Joseph Cotten.<br />
Corinne Calvet. Edmund Gwenn. A total loss<br />
from start to finish. Too high rental, poor<br />
plot, and a preach-preach story that was a<br />
waste of time and money. Played Tiies.. Wed.<br />
Weather: Fair.—Ken Christian.son. Roxy Theatre.<br />
Washburn. N. D. Small town trade.<br />
Rhubarb (Para>—Ray Milland. Jan Sterling.<br />
Gene Lockhart. A dandy comedy and certainly<br />
out of the ordinary. It's got the talking<br />
mule picture beat a mile. Played Wed., Thurs.<br />
Weather: Fair.— Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre.<br />
Cedar Vale. Kas. Small town and rural<br />
trade.<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Dynamite Pass (RKO>—Tim Holt. Lynne<br />
Roberts. Regis Toomey. Tim Holt and Richard<br />
Martin do all right here. Tim plays it<br />
straight and his popularity has held here for<br />
a long time. Played Sat. Weather: Good.<br />
Audrey Thompson. Ozark Theatre. Hardy.<br />
Ark. Small town and rural trade.<br />
Tarzan and the Amazons —James<br />
Stewart. Marlene Dietrich. Glynis Johns.<br />
Wow. what a headache this gave us. We were<br />
forced to pull the picture after the first day.<br />
Cartoons Pull Saturday<br />
Night Crowds<br />
PVERY SATURDAY NIGHT is<br />
"Cartoon<br />
Circus" night—along with the<br />
regular feature. We advertise this special<br />
program on the monthly calendars<br />
and it has really helped to boost attendance.<br />
Rain or shine the crowd is always<br />
good on "Circus" night.—J. D. Wilbanks,<br />
Wagon Wheel Fly-In Drlve-In Theatre,<br />
Spearman, Tex. Small town patronage.<br />
and substitute a Gary Cooper, somewhat<br />
aged: "You're in the Navy Now." James<br />
Stewart, always popular with our patrons,<br />
did a nose-dive with us. although his acting<br />
ability was above par in this picture, and Miss<br />
Dietrich did justice to the minor part she<br />
played in it. The action was nil in the entire<br />
picture. If you operate an arty house, this<br />
might go over with your patrons, but our<br />
rough-and-ready customers would have nothing<br />
to do with it. We tried to play this on<br />
our best time—Sun.. Mon.. Tues. The weather<br />
was a typical rainy spell for this time of<br />
year.—Roy D. Tidwell. Roxy Theatre. Barnsdall.<br />
Okla. Small town and oil field trade.<br />
People Will Talk (20th-Fox)—Cary Grant.<br />
Jeanne Crain. Finlay Currie. We were afraid<br />
of this picture but it did good business here<br />
for these times. The picture was praised by<br />
parents, young adults and children. One does<br />
get surprised in this business. Played Sun.,<br />
Mon.—Earl and Olive London, State Theatre,<br />
Olivet, Mich. Small town, rural, college trade.<br />
Rawhide (20th-Fox)—Tyrone Power. Susan<br />
Hayward, Hugh Marlowe.<br />
cooky this Marlowe can be!<br />
What a tough<br />
We had just finished<br />
playing "The Return of the Texan."<br />
where Marlowe played the part of the country<br />
doc to perfection. Then to see this fellow<br />
play the part as the leader of as tough a<br />
gang of cutthroats as ever graced the .screen,<br />
calls for some acting—and I don't mean maybe<br />
—but Hugh Marlowe did just this to the<br />
queen's taste. Tyrone Power played his usual<br />
smooth part to perfection, while Susan Hayward<br />
1 what a gal ! ) played the part of Power's<br />
make-believe wife to the hilt. We played this<br />
superwestern somewhat late but did a fine<br />
Fri. -Sat. business. If your crowd likes 'em<br />
rough (and ours does), play this fine picture,<br />
by all means. Fox sold this picture to us<br />
right.—Roy D. Tidwell. -Roxy Theatre. Barnsdall.<br />
Okla. Small town, oil field trade.<br />
Return of Frank James, The (20th-Fox)—<br />
Reissue. Gene Tierney, Henry Fonda, Jackie<br />
Cooper. Last week we had "Jesse James" and<br />
this week "The Return of Frank James," with<br />
two cartoons and a serial. Business was about<br />
average for Saturday, though. I didn't see<br />
anything extra in the picture, either, although<br />
I must admit it held suspense. Played Saturday.<br />
Weather: Fair.—Herman Perkins jr..<br />
Alpha Theatre, Catonsville, Md. General patronage.<br />
Return of Frank James (20th-Fox)—Reissue.<br />
Gene Tierney, Henry Fonda, Jackie<br />
Cooper. Yep, this was another lulu! Once<br />
again business was above average, once again<br />
it w'as a wonderful show, and once again both<br />
the customers and the boxoffice were happy.<br />
Small-towners, grab tlwse reissues and make<br />
some dough. Even a blizzard Saturday night<br />
didn't keep 'em away. Played Fri.. Sat.<br />
Weather: Snow.—Carl F. Neitzel. Juno Theatre.<br />
Juneau. Wis. Small town, rural trade.<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
\<br />
Iroquois Trail (UA) —George Montgomery,<br />
Brenda Marshall. Glenn Langan. Tliis Indian<br />
thriller simply did not take here—maybe<br />
I ran it on the wrong day of the week. Maybe<br />
my patrons don't like so much blood spilling.<br />
Whether the picture, the title, or the actors<br />
kept them away, I'll never know. It wasn't<br />
the weather 'cause that was fine. The print<br />
was good! Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:<br />
Fine and mild.—I. Roche, Veil and Vernon<br />
theatres, Cottondale and Vernon, Fla. Small<br />
town and rural trade.<br />
Mickey (UAl—Lois Butler. Bill Goodwin,<br />
Irene Hervey. This is a darling picture, and 1<br />
although somewhat old, is still lovely enter-<br />
,<br />
tainment which you should be proud to play<br />
on your screen. Played Wed., Thurs.-Har- ,<br />
land Rankin. Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
General patronage.<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
Bend of the River lU-I) —James Stewart,,<br />
Arthur Kennedy. Julia Adams. This was<br />
o.k. but certainly did not live up to expectations.<br />
It was just another glorified western.<br />
The only draw was Jimmy Stewart. The<br />
advertisement i ) terrific but the ]<br />
average movie fan is not concerned about<br />
how cold the river was. etc.. they just want<br />
the finished product to be good. To sum it<br />
up. I would say that if film exchanges are<br />
j<br />
going to spend thousands of dollars on advertising,<br />
why not spend it on pictures that are<br />
j<br />
really going to merit this.—Roger Cloet, Bay<br />
Theatre, Port Rowan. Ontario, Canada. Small<br />
town and rural patronage.<br />
j<br />
i<br />
Raging Tide (U-H— Shelley Winters, Richard<br />
Conte, Stephen McNally. Good action ij<br />
feature. Charles Blckford stole the show. '<br />
Winters and Conte O.K. Played with "I'll<br />
See You in My Dreams" Wed., Thurs., Fri.,<br />
Sat. No business because of Lent. Weather:<br />
|<br />
Cold.—Graham and Yarnell, Kramer Theatre,<br />
Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood trade.<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
I'll See You in My Dreams (WB)—Danny I<br />
Thomas, Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy. This is l<br />
an excellent show—two different types of<br />
features (doubled with "The Tanks Are Coming")<br />
rounded this into a great show. We have '\<br />
a great many families with youngsters in<br />
J J<br />
service here, and could do with less war picjj<br />
tures. Played Tues. through Thurs. Weather: ij<br />
Cloudy.—Al Hatoff, Park Theatre, Brooklyn,<br />
jj<br />
N. Y. Neighborhood trade.<br />
Only the Valiant (WB)—Gregory Peck. Bar- I<br />
bara Payton, Ward Bond. This is a good pic- \<br />
ture but didn't seem to click. We had veryjl<br />
bad weather the second night, and even I<br />
though we played Hollywood, we didn't get |l<br />
a lift out of it at all. It is an older war story >M<br />
which didn't seem to go over with our audi- -J<br />
ence. Played Mon., Tues.—Harland Rankin, jl<br />
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. General pa-jj<br />
tronage.<br />
Starlift (WB)—Doris Day, Gordon Mac-1<br />
Rae, Virginia Mayo. This picture drew well 'I<br />
for us with just a little more than ordinaryi<br />
advertising. This is now gay, now serious.J<br />
It has a nice story and moves with a fast,j<br />
fascinating pace. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Fair.—H. E. Porta, Civic Theatre, Osceola, Mo.j<br />
Farming trade.<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: May 3, 1952"
iwnm<br />
j<br />
An Interpretive analysis of Icy and trodepress reviews. The plus and minus signs Indlcote degree of<br />
merit only; oudlence closslficotion Is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to date regularly.<br />
This department serves alsu as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title<br />
li Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by compony, in the order of release, see Feature Chort,<br />
DJfjsrr<br />
Very Good; Good; fan Poor Very Poor In the summary is rated as 2 pluses, as 2 minuses<br />
«l<br />
u<br />
"5
Good;<br />
REVIEW DIGEST Very Good;<br />
'<br />
' Foil Poor Very Poor, In the summary ts rated 2 pluses, ^ as 2 minuses.
t+ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summary '• is rated at 2 pluses. ' as 1 minuiei. REVIEW DIGEST<br />
1<br />
O<br />
m
.C.<br />
! Unknown<br />
.CD.<br />
I<br />
Disc<br />
'<br />
'<br />
mymi cuDii-r<br />
Footuro productions by compony in order of release. Number in square is nafionol releosc dote. Running<br />
time is in parentheses. Typo of story is indicated by letters and combinations thereof as follows: (C)<br />
Comedy; (D) Drama; (CO) Comcdy-Dromo; (F) Fontosy; (M) Musical; (W) Western; (SW) Superwsstern.<br />
Rcleose number follows: %J denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Q denotes color photography.<br />
For review dotes and Picture Guide page numbers, see Review Digest.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
QLoino Doon* (84) C..336<br />
Uarbaru Hile. Itlrhlrd Gre«ne, lion Randt'll<br />
OTexos Rongors, The (74) W..325<br />
tjeorge .Morni;itmtTy. Gale Storm, N. Bfcry Jr.<br />
China Corsair (67) D. .316<br />
Jun ll.ill. I.lsa I'Vrridai, Ron Randtll<br />
Silver Canyon (70) W. .351<br />
Gene Aulry. CtumDloo. Qtll Darts<br />
322<br />
Sirocco (98) O. .348<br />
llumplir.'y liogart, Lee J. Cobb. Maria Toren<br />
OHurricane Island (72) D..349<br />
Two of a Kind (7S) D. .3S0<br />
tAlniiuid (iRrlin, Uzabctb Scoli. Terry .Moore<br />
Big Gushar (68) D . . 306<br />
W.iyju* .Morri';. I'ri'ston Foster, Dorothy Patrick<br />
Bonania Town (56) W..367<br />
OMask of tho Avenger (83). . . .0. .359<br />
John Itcrck. .\nt!iony Qumn. Jculy I..i«ranfe<br />
Whisfta of EofonTolTirTho (96rD .<br />
Lloyil Bridiifs. norolhy GIsh. C<br />
.<br />
Carimilcr<br />
Never Trusf o Gambler (79) D. .326<br />
11.V1P fl.irk. Calliy U'Domicll. Tom Urake<br />
Pickup (78) D. .357<br />
Bivorh Mlfhuels. Hugo Haas, .Mian Nlion<br />
Cyclone Fury (54) W. .368<br />
l'h.irlcs St.irrell. Smiloy Buniollc, K. Se.irs<br />
Chain of Circumstance (68). . . D. .<br />
Kli-hanl Grjyson, Howard Keel. Ava (iardner<br />
Law and tho Lady, The (104) . .C . . 136<br />
Ej<br />
Greer Garson. Michael Wilding, Marjorie Main<br />
aa Teresa (105) D..I37<br />
Pier Angell, John li^lcson, Patricia Collinge<br />
lORich, Young. ond Pntty (9S)..M..13S<br />
Jane Powell, Vic Damone, Danielle Darrleuz<br />
EJj Toll Target, Tho (78) D . . 1 39<br />
Dick Powell, l*auia Raymond, Adolpbe Menjou<br />
ai Strip, The (85) D..140<br />
Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest, Monica Leirli<br />
m People Against O'Hora (103) . . . D. .201<br />
Spencer Tracy, John Ilodlak, Diana Lynn<br />
gl ti Angels in the Outfield (102). .D. .202<br />
Paul Douglxs, Janet l.elgb. Keenan W>nn<br />
glOMr. Imperium (87) M..203<br />
Lana Turner, Ezlo i'lnza, Barry Sullivan<br />
Red Bodge of Courage (69) . . . . D. IS .204<br />
Audle .Murphy, BlU Mauldln, J. Dlerkes<br />
[|]©Texos Carnival (77) C. .205<br />
_ lied Skelton. Esther Williams, Howard Keel<br />
tl2i Bonnerline (88) D . . 206<br />
Sally Forrest, Lionel Barrymore, K. Brassell<br />
01 Man With a Clook (81 ) D . . 207<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Joseph Cotlen. L. Caron<br />
S ©Across the Wide Missouri (81) SW. .208<br />
Clark Gable, John Hodiak. M. E. Marques<br />
m ^©American In Paris, An (113).M. .209<br />
Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant<br />
Man, The (88) D. .210<br />
Walter Pidgeon. Ann Harding. Barry SulUvan<br />
jToo Young to Kiss (91) C. .211<br />
Van Johnson. June Allyaon, Gig Young<br />
m Light Touch, The (107) D. .212<br />
Stewart Granger. Pier Angell, George Sanders<br />
E3 Calling Bulldog Orummond (81). D.. 213<br />
Walter Pidgeon. Margaret Lelghton. R. Beatty<br />
@ Calloway Went Thotoway (81)..C..214<br />
Dorothy McGuire. Fred MacMurray. H. Keel<br />
BJ It's a Big Country (89) Doc. 21<br />
EUiel Barrymore. Gary Cooper, Van Johnson<br />
63 Westward the Women (116) D..216<br />
Robert Taylor. Denlse Darcel, Julie Bishop<br />
M ©Pandora and the Flying<br />
Dutchman (123)<br />
D..217<br />
.\va Gardner. James Mason, Nigel Patrick<br />
a Sellout, The (83) D..219<br />
Walter Pidgeon, Audrey Totter, John Hodiak<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
A2<br />
mCaia Monona (73) M..SI><br />
Robert Clarke, Virginia Welles. R. Camts<br />
Bj Father Takes the Air (61 ). . . .C . .51)<br />
liaymond Walburn. Waller CJitlett, F. Bate<br />
3 Montana Desperado (51) W. .511<br />
Joimny Muck Brown, Virginia Herrick T<br />
[£ Yukon Manhunt (63) D. .511<br />
Klrby Grant. Cliinook. Gail Davis, M. Fleh<br />
IS, Stagecoach Driver (52) W. .511<br />
Wlilp Wilson, Fuzzy Knight, J. Bannon '<br />
gS Lot's Go Novy (68) C.Sll<br />
Leo Gorcey, Ilunti Hall, Tom Neal<br />
3S Oklahoma Justice (56) ^•Sll<br />
Johnny Mack Brown, James Ellison, B. Allen<br />
[S Wanted: Dead or Alive (58)..W..51<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Kniglit. J. Bannon<br />
m Joe Palooko In Triple Cross (60) D. .51<br />
Joe Klrkwood, Cathy Downs, James (Jleasotj<br />
Jockey (77) M. .AJ<br />
Ginny Simms. Michael O'Sbea. Jane Nigh<br />
[7] Whistling Hills (58) W. .51'<br />
Johnny Mack Brown, James Ellison, N. Nell)<br />
as Yellow Fin (74) D. .511<br />
Wayne Morris. Damian O'Flynn, Adrian Bo"<br />
SI ©Highwayman, The (82) D..AA<br />
Philip Friend, Wanda Uendrii. C. Coburn<br />
S Elephant Stampede (71) D..51<br />
Johnny Sheffield, Donna Martell, E. Evansj<br />
.<br />
iH Lawless Cowboys (58) W..51'<br />
Whip Wilson, Fu2zy Knight. Jim Bannon I<br />
EI ©Flight to Mors (71) D. .51<br />
Marguerite Cliapman, Cameron Mitchell ]<br />
[ig Crazy Over Horses (65) C.Sli<br />
Leo Gorcey. Huntz Hall, David Gorsey<br />
a Longhorn, The (70) W. .52<br />
Bill Elliott, Phyllis Coates, Myron llealey<br />
;<br />
a Texas Lawmen (54) W..51'<br />
Johnny Mack Brown, James Ellison. L. Hall<br />
m Northwest Territory (61 ) D . 51<br />
Kirby (Jrant. Chinook. Gall Davis<br />
j Stage to Blue River (56) W..51<br />
Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight, J. Bannon<br />
m steel Fist (73) D..52'<br />
Roddy McDowell, Krlstine Miller. U. Lauter"<br />
55 Texas City (54) W . . 52<br />
Johnni- .Mack Brown. James Ellison<br />
g| ©Aladdin and His Lamp (66)..D..52<br />
Patricia Medina, John Sands, Richard Grdni<br />
I<br />
Death of a Salesman (113) D..423<br />
Fredric March. Mildred Dunnock, C. Mitchell<br />
First Time, The (89) C. .424<br />
Roljert Cummings, Barbara Hale. Mona Barrie<br />
Horem Girl (70) C. .422<br />
Joan Havis. Arthur Blake. Pegnle Castle<br />
Howk of Wild River, The (59).. W.. 482<br />
Charles Starrett. Smiley Burnette, C. Moore<br />
51 Stronghold (73) D<br />
. . 51 07<br />
Zachary Scott, Veronica Lake. A. DeCordova<br />
B Invitation (85) D. .220<br />
Dorothy McOilre. Van Johnson, Ruth Roman<br />
a Lone Star (94) D..222<br />
(Jlark Gable. Ava Gardner. Broderlcif Crawford<br />
m Shadow In the Sky (78) D. .221<br />
Nancy Davis. Ralph Meeker, James Whttmore<br />
m ©Belle of New York, The (82). .M. .223<br />
Fred .\staire. Vera-Ellen. Marjorie Main<br />
[3 Night Raiders (52) W. .52<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight, J. Bannon<br />
S ©Fort Osage (72) W. .51' |<br />
Rod Cameron, Jane Nigh, Morris Ankrum 1<br />
H Waco (68) W. .12<br />
Bill Elliott, Pamela Blake. Rand Brooks<br />
>-<br />
<<br />
My Six Convicts (104) D. .430<br />
Gilbert Roland, John Real. M. Mitchell<br />
Okinawa (67) D . . 432<br />
Pat O'Brien, Cameron Mitchell, R. Denning<br />
^ Scandal Sheet (82) D. .415<br />
Broderick Crawford, Donna Reed, John Derek<br />
Night Stage to Galveston (62).. D.. 475<br />
Gene Autry, Pat Buttram. Vlrelnla Huston<br />
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden<br />
Lend (65) P.. 429<br />
©Thief of Damascus (78) D. .427<br />
Paul Henreid. Jeff Unnnell. John Sutton<br />
Morrying Kind, The (93) D..425<br />
Judy Holllday. Aldn Rav. Madge Kennedy<br />
Laramie Mountain (53) D. .485<br />
diaries Starrett. Smiley Burnette, P. Sears<br />
Walk East on Beacon (98) D. .426<br />
George Murphy. Virginia Qilmore, F. Currle<br />
Sniper, The (87) D . .434<br />
Arthur Franz. Adolpe Menjou, Marie Windsor<br />
©Sound Off (85) C. .428<br />
Mickey Rrionev, Ann James, John Archer<br />
Yank in Indo-China, A (67) . . . . D. .435<br />
Jclm Archer. Douglas Dick. Jean Wllles<br />
Apache Country (62) W. .471<br />
Gene Autry. Pat Buttram<br />
Navajo (70)<br />
Navaio Indian cast<br />
.Doc. .5104<br />
lU Wings of Danger (72) D . . 5106<br />
Zachary Scott. Robert Beatty, K. Kendall<br />
Valley of the Eagles (83) D. .5114<br />
Jack Warner, Nadla Gray. J. McCaUum<br />
ID ©Outlaw Women (75) D..510S<br />
Marie Windsor, Richard Rober. Carla Balenda<br />
SLoon Shark (79)<br />
George Raft. Dorothy Hart<br />
.D..5111<br />
a Just This Once (90) D. .224<br />
Peter Lawford. Janet Leigh. Lewis Stone<br />
El Love Is Better Than Ever (81)..C..22S<br />
Blijabcth Taylor, Larry Parks, Tom Tully<br />
!<br />
©Wild North, The (91) D. .226<br />
Stewart Granger. Wendell Corey, C. CJharlsse<br />
ISeSingin' in the Rain (103) . . . . M .227<br />
Gene Kelly. Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds<br />
^ Talk About a Stranger (65) . . . . D . .228<br />
George Murphy, Nancy Davis. Billy Gray<br />
giWhen in Rome (78) D. .229<br />
Van Johnson. Paul Douglas. J. Callela<br />
m Young Man With Ideas (84). . .230<br />
Glenn Ford. Ruth Roman. Nadine Ashdown<br />
.<br />
[S ©Rodeo (70)<br />
Jane Nigh, John Archer.<br />
W..$Hl|<br />
Wallace Ford<br />
B Hold That Line (64) C. .521<br />
|<br />
Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, John Bromfteld<br />
SMon From the Black Hills (51).W..52'|<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
(S Jet Job (63) D..5III<br />
Stanley Oements. Elena Verdugo. J. Litel<br />
El Gunman, The (52)<br />
Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight<br />
W. .S2I||<br />
SQWIld Stallion (70) W. .52<br />
Ben Johnson. Edgar Btichanan<br />
S) Kansas Territory (65) W. .52<br />
Bill Elliott. Peggy Stewart<br />
SI Desert Pursuit (71) D<br />
Wayne Morris, Virginia Grey<br />
52><br />
m Carbine Williams (101) D. .231<br />
James Stewart. Wendell Corey. Jean Hagen<br />
S Girl in White, The (93) D . . 232<br />
June Allvson. Gary Merrill, Arthur Kennedy<br />
@§ ©Skirts Ahoy! (109) M..233 gS African Treasure ( . . ) D . .<br />
Either Williams. Joan Evans, Barry Suiliran Johnny Sheffield. Laurette Luez
I<br />
,<br />
Submarine<br />
'i<br />
Bob<br />
.C.<br />
il<br />
QDrums<br />
. .D.<br />
;<br />
Fort<br />
Eleanor<br />
. CD.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Trio (92) D..5030<br />
Jmh amiraons. Michael Rt'iinlp, Annu Crawford<br />
OP0JS090 West (80) SW. .5022<br />
Johji IViytie. Arlecn Wtielan, DvnuLs O'Keefe<br />
Big Cornlvol, The (112) O. .5023<br />
{ItfT, a.s .\re in the Hole)<br />
Kirk liuuslx*. Jan Sicrllnt. Porter Hall<br />
. 5025<br />
Peking Express (85) D. .5024<br />
JiKfph foIIfTi. Corlnnr Calvel. Edmiinil Gwenn<br />
Thot's My Boy (98) C. .5026<br />
Dean .M.irlin. Jorry Lewis. Ruth Hiissey<br />
k QWorpoth (95) SW .<br />
Bdmimil (I'liritn. Dean Jagger. Forrest 'l^iekrr<br />
Here Comes the Groom (114). .C. .5101<br />
Blng Crosby. J.ine Wyraan. Kranchot Tone<br />
Place in the Sun, A (122) D..5102<br />
Monnniiury Olfl. Elizabeth T.iylor<br />
Rhubarb (94) C. .5103<br />
Kay MIMand. Jan Sterling, Tipne Lockhart<br />
RKO<br />
RADIO<br />
JlOBest of the Badmen (84). , , , W.<br />
,<br />
Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Jack lluctot<br />
176<br />
j<br />
Hard, Fast and Boautltul (78),. D,. 119<br />
Clalra Trevor, Bally Forrest. Carlelon Young<br />
m OHappy Go Lovely (88) M ,<br />
Havld Niien, Vera-Kllen, Cc.rar Romero<br />
, 262<br />
& UOAIice in Wonderlond (75). . D. .291<br />
(Walt i>l.sney carlouri)<br />
Lllll Morlene (73) D, ,203<br />
Llaa Uanlfly, Hugh Mcliermott, J. Blythe<br />
lUj Flying Leathernecks (102) D. .261<br />
John Wayne, Rolierl liyan, Jauls Carter<br />
Roadblock (73) D , . 204<br />
I'hailes .MetJrau, Joan Ulxon, Lowell Ollmore<br />
Pistol Harvest (60) W . . 205<br />
Tim Holt. Joan lllxon, Rlcharii Martin<br />
SS His Kind of Woman (120) D. .201<br />
Robert .Mitclnim. Jane Rusaell, Vincelil Price<br />
L6J On the Loose (74) D , , 202<br />
Joan Evans. Melvyn Douglas. Lynn Barl<br />
eS Behave Yourself! (81) CD. .206<br />
Farley Granger. Shelley Winters, W. Bemarest<br />
REPUBLIC ^ wo<br />
t- OCX<br />
]. Fighting Coast Guord (86) O, ,5010<br />
Brian Uoideiy, Forrest IVcker. Ella llalnea<br />
^4 Secrets of Monte Carlo (60), , , D, ,5030<br />
Wiirren Douiios, Lola Hall, June Vincent<br />
W Dakota Kid, The (60) W. .5067<br />
.Michael Cliapln. Mknc Jatuscn, James Bell<br />
,is, Rodeo King and Senorito (67) W . 5053<br />
Ilex Allen, .Mary Ellen Kay, Buddy Eh.nn<br />
hii Fugitive Lody (78) O . , 501<br />
JauLs Paige, Biiuiic Barnes, Tony Ccnla<br />
! This Is Korea (50) Doe, 5127<br />
Dodge Stampede (60). . . .W. .5062<br />
Allan "ttocky" Lane, .Mary Ellen Kay<br />
^ Arizona Manhunt (60) W ,<br />
. 5068<br />
Michael CliaiMii, l-.'ilenu Janssen. Jamca Bell<br />
IS Hovana Rose (77) D. .5124<br />
Estellta Roilriguez. Hugh Herbert, B WilllamB<br />
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
20TH CENTURY-FOX B 1-<br />
'<br />
U^Halt Angel (80j ~,<br />
,D' !116.<br />
I>irrtla Voting. JoMiih Cutlen, Cecil KrllsM.ty<br />
House on Telegraph Hill (93) O. .117<br />
Rlrliiird BaielucI, Valrntlna Curteia<br />
Ai Young At You Feel (77) C.,120<br />
Monty Wuolley, Tbclmu Itltter, David Wa>n'<br />
Guy Who Come Bock, Tke (91) 118<br />
Paul Dougl.Lif, Joan Bennett, Llr>da Da/neU<br />
OToke Care of Little Girl (93) M..1I9<br />
Jeatinle ( r.iiN, Jian Peter*. Dale Ru6rrt»un<br />
V; Frogmen, The (96) D . . 1 22<br />
Dana Andrews, Gary .Merrill, tUcliard Wldnark<br />
Secret of Convict Lake, The (83) D. .123<br />
tilelin lord, Gtie' lieriii). K"li'-l llarr>more<br />
Mr, Belvedere Rings the Boll (88) C, ,124<br />
Clifton Webb, Jiiaiifie lini, Hugh .Marlowe<br />
©Meet Me AHer the Show (86) M. .125<br />
Betty Urable, .Macdunaid Cirey, Rory Calhoun<br />
People Will Talk (110) C,.126<br />
Cary Gr.-uil, Jeanne Craln, F. Currle<br />
Millionaire for Christy, A (90)..C .127<br />
I'red .^I3r.\^Jr^a> , Parker, R. Carlson<br />
Doy the Earth Stood Still (92).. 0. 129<br />
Michael Kennle. Patricia Neal. H. ilarlowe<br />
QCrosswInds (93) D. .5104<br />
John I'ayne. Rhonda Fleming, l'\irrest Tucker<br />
Darling, How Could Youl (96). .C. .5108<br />
Joan Fontaine, John Linul, Mona I'Vceman<br />
Detective Story (103) D. .5111<br />
Kirk rioiiglas, Eleanor Parker, W. Bendii<br />
Command (87) D. .5107<br />
William Iloklcn. Nancv OL^ion. W. Bendix<br />
OWhen Worlds Collide (81 ) D . . 5106<br />
Itlcliard Derr, Barbara Rii'ih. J. Hoyt<br />
Hot Lead (61) W. .209<br />
Tim Holt. Richard Martin. Joan Di.'con<br />
Ei ©Slaughter Trail (78) W .. 207<br />
Brian licnleiy, Virginia Grey, A. Hevlne<br />
D . . 21<br />
in the Deep South (87) . .<br />
James Craig. Barbara Payton, G. ,Madison<br />
1] Blue Veil, The (114) D.,263<br />
Jane Wyman, Cli arle.^ LauglUon, J. Blomlell<br />
Racket, The (90) D. .210<br />
liobert Mitchum. Liiabelh Scott. R. Ryan<br />
Jungle of Chang (67) D . 208<br />
Documentary of Thailand<br />
OTwo Tickets to Broodway (106) M. .264<br />
Janet Leigh. Tony .Martin, Eddie Bracken<br />
Whip Hand, The (81) D. .212<br />
EUlott Reld, Carta Balenda, L. Tiittle<br />
lil Adventures of Cpt, Fablan(IOO) D, ,5101<br />
Errol I'bnii. Mieheline I'relle. V. Price<br />
H Sea Hornet, The (84) D..5102<br />
Rod Cameron. Allele .Mara. Adrian Booth<br />
gs] Utah Wagon Troin (67) W. . S054<br />
Re.\ Allen. Penny Edwards, Buddy Ebsen<br />
gsj South of Caliente (66) W. .5151<br />
Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Douglaa Fowliy<br />
Jl Street Bandits (54) D, ,5130<br />
i'enny Edwards, Robert Clarke, Ross Ford<br />
61; Desert of Men (54) Lost W, ,5063<br />
Allen Lane. Mary Ellen Kay, R. Elliott<br />
Stormbound (60) D, ,5032<br />
Constance Dowllng (Italian-language)<br />
Desert Fox, The (87) O. .130<br />
James Ma mi. Je,.iea Tandy. C. llardnlcke<br />
Journey Into Light (87) D..132<br />
Sterling Ilayden. Vlieca Llndfori. T. Mitchell<br />
No Highway in the Sky (98) D . . 1 21<br />
James Steviart, Marlene iiietrlch. G. Johns<br />
Love Nest (84) C..131<br />
June Haver. Wlliiam Lundlgan. Frank Fay<br />
Let's Make It Legal (77) C.,133<br />
Claiidette Colbert, Macdonald Carey<br />
OAnne of the Indies (81) D. .134<br />
Jean Peters, Louis Joiirdan. Ih>bra Paget<br />
©Golden Girl (111) M..136<br />
MItzt Qaynor, Dennis Day, D, Robertson<br />
O<br />
r-i<br />
O<br />
DO'<br />
»l<br />
O<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
Retreat,<br />
D.<br />
.<br />
FEATURE<br />
fe<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
"J<br />
'ui<br />
'O<br />
>-<br />
<<br />
X<br />
a:<br />
<<br />
UNITED<br />
ARTISTS<br />
CHART<br />
^.^<br />
t Fobiolo (961 D. .631<br />
Mlch.li' Morgan, llfnn VIdal, Mlchd Simon<br />
Man With My Face, The (75). . .D. .659<br />
lt.irr> Ncl-oii Ljiin \lnl.->. C. Mattht'Ws<br />
IS Thr«« Slept North (8S) D. .657<br />
Llu>d Brlilii's. U> I'mloiiuit. Alilo Fabrlil<br />
\S Queen for a Day (107) D. .645<br />
I'hvllii; Averv. ji.irrfn MrCarln<br />
1) He Ran All the Way (77) D. 646<br />
Jnlin i:.irli.ld. Slifllfv WInlrrs. Ford<br />
\V.<br />
Si Cyrano de Bergerac (115) D. .660<br />
.1..M- I'lTriT. .M;il.i I'ovjers. Wtlllani Prlnee<br />
if Hoodlum, The (61) O. .653<br />
L.iurenrc Tieroey. Allcne Roberts. L. Golni<br />
.<br />
IS Pardon My French (81) C.1402<br />
I'.Nl ll.'iir,!,!. Male (Iberon. V. Bonlfas<br />
"^ Four in a Jeep (97) D. 1139<br />
VIv.ra l.liidfors. li.ilph .Meeker. M. Medvvln<br />
^4 ONew Mexico (74) D . . 649<br />
Ia-w .\\ri>. Marllvn MaTvvell. .\ndv DcYine<br />
?4 St. Benny, the Dip (SO) C 658<br />
niek H.iyme>. Nin.i Koch. Iloland Young<br />
^ Two Gall and o Guy (70) C . . 654<br />
Jahis IVilge. Robert Alda. J.Hmes Oleaiion<br />
a Obieised (77) D.1188<br />
n.ivi.l Farrnr. Oeraldlne FltJger.ald. R. Culver<br />
4 Gold Raiders (56) W . 1 1 72<br />
t;e..ri;e (rliri, Sheila Ryan. L. Talbot<br />
i-<br />
<<br />
gi] Cloudburst (83) D.1153<br />
Robert Preston. Elizabeth ScUars, C. Tapley<br />
T Buffalo Bill in Tomohowk<br />
Territory (64) W.1214<br />
rtavlnn Moore. Thundercloud. Y'owlachie<br />
511 ORiver, The (99) D . 1 140<br />
Arthur Shields. Nora Swinburne. Tommy Breen<br />
One Big Affair (80) D.1157<br />
Evelyn Keyes. Iiennis O'Keefe, M. Anderson<br />
3^ Green Glove, The (86) D.1156<br />
Glenn Ford. Geraldine Brootis. Gaby Andre<br />
Bnnar fnileano.<br />
(86).<br />
Anne Vernon. Lana Morris<br />
. i?: ORoyol Journey (50) Doe 1 164<br />
Queen Eilzatieth. Puke of Edinburgh<br />
OAfricon Queen, The (104) D.1155<br />
Hiimnhrev Bogart, K. nepburn, R. Morley<br />
Vi OMufiny (76) D.1 163<br />
Mirk Stevens. Angela Lansbury, P. Knowies<br />
1^ Strange World (80) D.1165<br />
Angelica Hauff. Alex.inder Carlos. C. Brovm<br />
91 Captive City, The (91) D.1166<br />
John Forsythe, Joan Camden, H. J. Kennedy<br />
2 Without Warning (75) D.1168<br />
Adam Williams, Meg Randall, Edward Binns<br />
51 Red Planet Mars (87) W.1169<br />
Peter Graves. Andrea King<br />
H Fighter, The (78) D.1167<br />
Richard C^ntc, Vanessa Brown, Lee J. Cobb<br />
UNIVERSAL-INT'L<br />
OApochc Drums (75) SW..123<br />
Sl.iili.ii MeN.iiiy, Coieen Or.ay. Willard Parker<br />
Hollywood Story (77) D . . 1 24<br />
Richard Conte. Hetiry Hull. Jidia Adams<br />
Froncit Goes to the Races (88). .C. .125<br />
IVvnald O'Connor. Pliwr Laurie<br />
OPrince Who Was a Thief (88). D. .126<br />
Touv I'urlis, Piper I^aurie. Cecil Keliawa.v<br />
Comin' Round the Mountain (77) C. .127<br />
Bud Abbott. Lou Costeilo. Dorothy Shay-<br />
Iron Man (82) D. .130<br />
.ietr Cliail.iler. Evelyn Kcyes. Steptien McNaliy<br />
OMark of the Renegade (81). SW. . 129<br />
liieariio MiiurUaili.-ui. Cyd Charisse. J. C. Naisll<br />
OCattle Drive (77) SW. .128<br />
.)oel McCrea. Pean Stockuell. Leon Ames<br />
©Little Egypt (82) CD. 131<br />
Ithonda Fleming. .Mark Stevene, Nancy Guild<br />
You Never Can Tell (78) D..132<br />
Pick Powell. I'eggy Dow, ChLirles Prake<br />
Thunder on the Hill (84) D . . 1 33<br />
Ci.audette Colbert. Ann Blylh, R. Douglas<br />
©Lady From Texas (78) D. .136<br />
llow.ird ituff. Mona Freeman. J. Hull<br />
Reunion in Reno (80) C. .135<br />
M.Hrk Stevens. Peggy Dow. G. Perreau<br />
©Golden Horde, The (76) D..134<br />
[(avid Farrar, .\nn Blyth, G. Macready<br />
Lady Pays Off, The (80) D. .202<br />
Linda Iiariieil. Stephen McNally, G. Perreau<br />
Raging Tide, The (94) D. .203<br />
Shellev Winters. Richard Conte, C. Bickford<br />
©Cave of Outlaws (76) SW. .201<br />
.\iexis Smith. Maedonald Carey. Victor Jory<br />
Strange Door, The (80) D. .204<br />
Charles Laiighton. Boris Karloff. S. Forrest<br />
Weekend With Father (83) C..206<br />
Van Heflin. Patricia Neal. Glgl Perreau<br />
Bright Victory (97) D. .208<br />
Arthur Kennedy. Peggy Dow. Nana Bryant<br />
©Flame of Aroby (77) D. .207<br />
Maureen O'Hara, Jeff Chandler, Lon CJhaney<br />
©Cimarron Kid, The (84) W. .213<br />
Auriie Murptiy. Beverly Tyler. Yvette Dugay<br />
Finders Keepers (75) C . . 21<br />
Tom Eweil. Julia Adams. Evelyn Varden<br />
©Bend of the River (91) SW. .212<br />
James Stewart. Arthur Kennedy. Julia Adams<br />
Meet Danny Wilson (88) C. .205<br />
Frank Sinatra. Shelley Winters. Alex Nicol<br />
Here Come the Nelsons (73) . . .C. .210<br />
il/.zie Nelson. Harriet Hilliard and family<br />
©Steel Town (84) D. .215<br />
.\iin Slieridan, .lohn Lund. Howard Puff<br />
©Treosure of Lost Conyon, The<br />
(81) D. .209<br />
Wiili.im Powell. Julia Adams. C. Drake<br />
Flesh and Fury (82) D. 214<br />
Tony Curtis, Jan Sterling, Mona Freeman<br />
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair<br />
(78) C. .216<br />
Marjorie Main. Percy Kilbride. James Best<br />
©Battle at<br />
(85)<br />
Apache Pass, The<br />
SW..217<br />
John Lund. Jeff Chandler. Beverly Tyler<br />
Man in the White Suit (85) C. .282<br />
.\lex (julnness. Joan Greenwood<br />
Red Ball Express (84) D. .218<br />
Jeff (Tiandler. Alex Nicol. Susan Ball<br />
©Bronco Buster (81) D. .219<br />
John Lund. Scott Brady. Joyce Holden<br />
No Room for the Groom (..).. .C. .220<br />
Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Spring Byington<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
T—<br />
ill Along the Great Divide (88) . .SW. .025<br />
Kirk Douglas. Virginia .Mayo. Jolui .\gar<br />
Bl Inside the Walls of Folsom<br />
Prison (87) O. .026<br />
Steve Cuelirall. Pnvid Brian. Philip Carey<br />
9^ Stronger! on a Train (101). . . .0. .027<br />
Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker<br />
141 ©Fort Worth (80) SW . . 028<br />
ILaiidoipii Seuit. Pavid Briar. Phyllis Tliaxler<br />
p©On Moonlight Boy (95) M..029<br />
l>orls Pay. (iordon Maeltac. Jack Smith<br />
OOCaptoln<br />
(117)<br />
Horotio Hornblower<br />
D. .030<br />
Gregory Perk. Virginia Mayo, R. Realty<br />
m Jim Thorpe—All American (105) D. . 101<br />
Burt Lancaster. Charles Bickford, P. Thaxter<br />
gS Force of Arms (100) D. .102<br />
William Holden. Nancy Olson. Frank Lovejoy<br />
S Tomorrow Is Another Day (90).. D.. 103<br />
Ruth Roman. Steve Cochran, L. Tuttle<br />
[s] ©Painting the Clouds With<br />
Sunshine (87) M. .105<br />
Dennis Morgan. Virginia Mayo, S. Z. Sakall<br />
IS Come Fill the Cup (113) D..106<br />
James Cagiiey. James Gle.ason. R. Massey<br />
m Close to My Heart (90) D. .107<br />
Ray Mllland, Gene Tlerney. Fay Bainter<br />
10] Tanks Are Coming, The (90) . . . . D . 1 08<br />
Steve Cochran, Marl Aldon. Philip Carey<br />
E Starllft (103) D. .109<br />
Porls Day, Gordon MacRae. Ruth Roman<br />
gf ©Distant Drums (101) D..111<br />
Gary Cooper. Marl Aldon. Richard Webb<br />
^ ij\'\l See<br />
(110)<br />
You in My Dreams<br />
M..112<br />
Doris Day, Panny Tboma-s. Frank Lovejoy<br />
(jRoom for One More (95). . . .C. .113<br />
H<br />
Cary Grant. Betsy Prake. Iris Mann<br />
S This Woman Is Dangerous (97). D. .114<br />
Joan Crawford. Pennis Morgan. David Brian<br />
Hell! (95) D. .115<br />
Frank Lovejn.w Anita Louise. R. Oirlson<br />
1] ©Buqles in the Afternoon (85). D. .116<br />
Ray Milland. Helena Carter, Hugh Marlowe<br />
@ Streetcar Named Desire, A (122) D .104<br />
Vivien Leigh. Marion Brando, Kim Hunter<br />
a ©Big Trees, The (89) D. .117<br />
Kirk Pnue'as. Patrice Wymnrc. Eve Miller<br />
fill ©Jock and the Beanstalk (78) C. 118<br />
Bud Aliholl. Lnu Cnstello Buddv Baer<br />
|l©Lion and the Horse, The (83). D. .119<br />
Steve Cochran. Ray Teal. Sherry Jackson<br />
HI Mara Moru (98) D..120<br />
Errol Flynn. Ruth Roman. Raymond Burr<br />
SjI San Francisco Story, The (80), . .121<br />
Joel McCrea. Yvonne DeCarlo. S. Blackmer<br />
) ©About Face (94) M..122<br />
Gordon MacRea, Edijie Bracken. V. (Jlbson<br />
.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
ASTOR<br />
Border Fence (60) D. .<br />
Walt Wayne. Lee .Miirgau<br />
Men of the Sea (70) D .<br />
Roger Livesy, Margaret Lockwood<br />
REALART<br />
Basketball Fix, The (70) D.<br />
John Iri'iaiui. \'anessa Britwn<br />
Bride of the Gorillo (68). . . .D.<br />
Lull Ch.iney jr., Barbar.i Paylon<br />
Bushwhackers, The (70)<br />
John Ireland, Dorothy Maloiie<br />
W<br />
Two-Dollar Bettor (72) D.<br />
John Litci, Marie Windsor<br />
ASTOR<br />
REISSUES<br />
Dishonored Lady (85) D.<br />
Hedy Laraarr. Pennis O'Keefe<br />
Great John L., The (96). . D.<br />
Linda Parnell, Rory Caliioun<br />
Guest in the House (121). D.<br />
Anne B.-iNter, Ralph Bellamy<br />
Hillbilly Blitzkrelg (63) C.<br />
Bud PiHiean. Edgar Kennedy<br />
Lady of Burlesque (91)...D.<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Michael O'Shea<br />
Lucky the Outcast (80). . .CD.<br />
Harry Pavenport, Jerry Hunter<br />
Mr. Aco (90) D.<br />
George Raft, Sylvia Sidney<br />
Private Snuffy Smith (67).. C.<br />
Bud L)uncan, Edgar Kennedy<br />
Stronge Woman, The (lOO).D,<br />
Hedy Laniarr, George Sanders<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
I:<br />
6- 11<br />
.S«pl.|<br />
Nov.}<br />
.Oet.|<br />
.Sept.!<br />
2-15i<br />
7.1J<br />
5-IS<br />
9- 1.<br />
4- 1<br />
8-15<br />
. 6-15<br />
.11-10'<br />
. 1- S<br />
Kongo, the Wild Stallion (. .).D. .Feb.<br />
Rochelle Hudson, Fred Stone<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Cot People, The (73)<br />
D. .Feb.<br />
Kent Emith. Simone Simon<br />
Hunchback of Notre Dome<br />
(117) D..Feb.<br />
(Carles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara<br />
Snow White and the Seven<br />
Dwarfs (83)<br />
CO.. Feb.<br />
Cartoon feature<br />
Walked With a Zombie<br />
I<br />
(..) D..Apr.<br />
Tom Conway. Frances Dee<br />
Body Snotchers ( . . ) D . .Apr.<br />
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosl<br />
REALART<br />
Daltons Ride Again (72). . . D. Sept.^<br />
Alan (^irtis. Lon (Thaney<br />
Prison Break (72) D. .JunJ|<br />
Barton MacLane. Constance Moore<br />
Warden of the Big House<br />
(78) D. .Jum<br />
Victor McLaglen, Jackie Cooper<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Lost Plonet Airmen (65). . D.<br />
Tristram Coffin, Mae (Harke<br />
CENTURY FOX<br />
7-25'<br />
20th<br />
©Block Swon, The (. .) D. Jum<br />
Tyrone Power. Maureen O'Hara<br />
©Jesse James (106) W. .Jum<br />
Tyrone Power. Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly<br />
©Kentucky (96) D. Juni<br />
Loretta Young. Richard Greene. Waiter Brei<br />
Laura (88) D.<br />
Dana Andrews. Gene Tlerney. (Tlifton Went<br />
©Leave Her to Heaven (110). D. .Jul<br />
Gene Tlerney. Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain<br />
©Mv Friend Fllcko (89) D.JuBi<br />
Roddy McDowall. Preston Foster. Rita Job,<br />
Rains Came, The (. .) D. .Mi<br />
Tyrone Power. Myrna Loy, George Brent<br />
©Return of Frank James (. .)W. .Jul<br />
Henry Fonda, Gene Ticmey. Henry Hull<br />
©Smoky (87) D.June<br />
Fred MacMurray. Anne Baxter. Bruce Cab^j<br />
This Above All (110)<br />
D. .Ma|<br />
Tyrone Power. Joan Fontaine<br />
©Thunderhflod—Son of<br />
Flicka (78) D. .Jum<br />
Roddy McDowall. Preston Foster. Rita Jol<br />
©To the Shores of Tripoli<br />
(86) D. .Juni<br />
John Paj-ne, Maureen O'Hara, Randolph ScoiJ<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Coptoln Blood (98) D. .12-11<br />
Errol Flynn, Olivia DeHavUland
1 1505<br />
I<br />
'<br />
. . . 4-10-52<br />
3-1752<br />
SlMrt lubltcti, llfttd by (ompony. In order of rtUose. Running time tollowi title. First dote li notional<br />
releoH, leeond the dote of review In BOXOFFICE. Symbol berween dotei li rating from BOXOFFICE<br />
review. ++ Very Good, -r Good. =: Folr. -Poor. = Very Poor 3 Indicoies color pnorogrophy.<br />
uJDilTi) CIJiJilT<br />
'rod. No. Rel. Dale Rating Rev'd<br />
ASSORTED COMEDIES<br />
411 PiMsurt Treasure (17).. 9-10-51 ....<br />
412 She Tooii a Powder (16).10-U-51 iz 11-24<br />
,J21 Trouble in Laws (16) . . 10-11-51 i: 12- 1<br />
,422 The Champ Steps Out<br />
(161/2) 11-15-51 + 12-8<br />
423'Fraidy Cat (16) 12-13-51 ±1-5<br />
413 A Fool and His Honey<br />
(16) 2-14-52 + 4-26<br />
414 Hacpy-Go-Wacky (16).. 2- 7-52 ±3-1<br />
424 Roolin' Tootin' Tenderfeet<br />
(16) 2-14-52<br />
Aim. Fire, 3-13-52<br />
,425 Scoot (16) . .<br />
415 Heebie Get-Gees (..). 4-10-52<br />
J16 Hooked and Rooked (.) 5-18-52<br />
CANDID MICROPHONE<br />
(One-Reel Specials)<br />
l551Sub|ect No. 1 (10).... 10- 4-51 ff U-17<br />
1552Subiect No. 2 (ID... 12- 6-51 ± 12-22<br />
1553 Subject No. 3 (10).... 2- 7-52 +3-1<br />
,1554 Subject No. 4 (9) 4- 3-52<br />
CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY<br />
;i651The Gay Nineties (10) .<br />
11-15-51<br />
1951-52 SEASON<br />
1651 Eddie Condon's (10) .. .11-15-51 =t 12- 8<br />
'^52 Bill Hardy's (91/2) 2-14-52 + 4-12<br />
653Casa Seville (..) 4-24-52<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
(Teclinicolor Reissues)<br />
1I6OI The Hoise on the<br />
MerryGo-Rouiid (7).. 9-13-51<br />
.602 The Shoemaker and the<br />
Elm (8)<br />
,603 Lucky Pigs (7)<br />
10-18-51 12-15<br />
11-8-51 + 1215<br />
:i604 Holiday Land (7) 12-13-51 =t 1-26<br />
6055nowtime (7)<br />
606 Bluebirds' Baby (7)<br />
1-17-52+ 2-9<br />
2-14-52 +3-1<br />
607 Monkey Love (7) 3-13-52 rt 4-12<br />
,.608 Babes at Sea (7) 4-10-52<br />
609 Let's Go (7) 5- 8-52<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
(Reissues)<br />
11431 She's Oil Mine (I71/2.. 9-20-51 + 10-20<br />
1.432 Midnight Blunders<br />
(I71/2) 11-22-51 ±<br />
.433 0la( Laughs Last (17) .<br />
.12-27-51 +<br />
.434 High Blood Pleasure (19) 2-2S-S2 ±<br />
1435 So Yo Won't Squawk?<br />
i<br />
(16) 4-17-52<br />
JOLLY FROLICS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
'ISOl Georgie and the Dragon<br />
(7) 9-27-51 H<br />
l502Woniler<br />
^503The<br />
Gloves<br />
Oompahs<br />
(7)<br />
(T/i)<br />
11-29-51 1-24-52 +<br />
1504 Rooty Toot Toot (8) 3-27-52 ff<br />
. . .<br />
MR. MAGOO<br />
'<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
11701 Fuddy Duddy Buddy (7). 10-18-51 +<br />
11702 The Grinly Golfer (7) . .12-20-51 H<br />
1703 Slonpy Jalopv (7) 2-21-52 ff<br />
;704<br />
1*851<br />
|I852<br />
1853<br />
H854<br />
1S55<br />
;I85«<br />
1857<br />
.858<br />
'uoi<br />
1402<br />
The Dog Snatcher (7) . . 5-29-52<br />
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS<br />
Hollywood at Play<br />
(I01/2) 9-13-51 +<br />
Hopalong in Hoppyland<br />
(91/2) 10-18-51 +<br />
Hollywood Goes Western<br />
(9) 11-15-51 ±<br />
Hollywood en a Sunday<br />
Afternoon (IOI/2) ...12-20-51 +<br />
Memories of Famous Hollywood<br />
Comedians (91/2) 1-24-52 +<br />
Meet Mr. Rhythm, Frankie<br />
Laine (10) 3-20-52<br />
Mr. Movies OVi) 4-17-52<br />
Hollywood Night Life (..) 5-15-52<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
Merry Mavericks (16) ... 9- 6-51<br />
The Toolh Will Out (16) 10- 4-51 +<br />
Hiila-LaLa (16) 11- 1-51 ±<br />
PesI Man Wins (16)... 12- 6-51 +<br />
11403<br />
1404<br />
,1405 A Missed Fortune (16).. 1- 3-52 i:<br />
U06 Listen. Judge (17) 3- 6-52 +<br />
1<br />
Corny Casanovas (..).. 5- 1-52<br />
VARIETY FAVORITES<br />
,1951 Noro Morales & Orch.<br />
(11) 9-20-51<br />
1952 Dick Slabile and Orch.<br />
(10) 10-25-51<br />
|l953 Raruly Brooks & Orch.<br />
(11) 12-27-51<br />
1954 Kehoe's Marimba Band<br />
(11) 2-28-52<br />
WORLD OF SPORTS<br />
MSOl The Willie Hoope Story<br />
(9)<br />
1802 Flying Skis (9)<br />
1603 Gymnastic Champions<br />
(IOI/2)<br />
1804 Bicycle Thrills (10). .<br />
Feminine Rhythm (10).<br />
:I806 Rasslin' Rogues (..).<br />
1-26<br />
2. 9<br />
3- 1<br />
10-20<br />
12- 8<br />
11-10<br />
4-12<br />
11-17<br />
1- 5<br />
3- 1<br />
10-20<br />
12-15<br />
1-26<br />
2- 9<br />
4-12<br />
11-24<br />
12-15<br />
12-22<br />
2- 9<br />
4-12<br />
+ 12-22<br />
2- 9<br />
3- 1<br />
9-22-51 + 10-20<br />
10-25-51 ± 12- 1<br />
11-29-51 4-<br />
12-27-51 +<br />
2-21-52<br />
3-20-52<br />
Jl807 Wanna Bet? (..).'.'..'.'.' 4-24-52<br />
12- 8<br />
2- 9<br />
SERIALS<br />
il80 Mysterious Island 9-13-51 + 10-13<br />
15 Chapters<br />
4120 Captain Video . . . ...12-27-51 +1-5<br />
IS Chanters<br />
4140 King of llie Congo<br />
+ 4-19<br />
15 Chapters<br />
Metro-Gol(dwYn-MaYer<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Re«'d<br />
CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
A/-331 Slicktd-Up Pup (6) 9- 8-51 ff 10-13<br />
W-332 Car of Tomorrow (6).. 9-22-51 If 10-13<br />
W-333 Nilwilty Killy (7) ... 10- 8-51 + 10-13<br />
W-334 Inside Cackle Corners<br />
(9) 11-10-51 H<br />
W-335 11-17<br />
Oroopy's Double Trouble<br />
(7) 11-17-51 + 11-24<br />
W.338 Magical Maestro (7) . 2- 9-52<br />
W-343 One Cab's Family (8). 5-17-52<br />
FITZPATRICK TRAVELTALE3<br />
T-311 Glimpses of Argentina<br />
(8) 12- 1-51 +2-9<br />
T-312 Picturesque New Zealand<br />
(8) 1-26-52 2-25<br />
T-313 Beautiful Brazil (8)... 2-29-52 2-23<br />
T-314 Life in the Andes (8) 2-23-52 + 4-12<br />
T-315 Land of the T.ii Mahal<br />
(8) 3-22-52<br />
T-316Jascer National Park (9) 4-19-52<br />
GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-361 Puttin' On the Dog<br />
(7) 10-20-51 + 1013<br />
W-362 Mouse Trouble (7) .. .12-18-51 ff 11-24<br />
W-363 The Mouse Comes to<br />
Dinner (8) 1-19-52 +<br />
W-364 Dumbhounded (9) 3- 8-52<br />
2-23<br />
PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES<br />
S-351 Football Thrills No. 14<br />
(10) 9- 1-51 ff 10-13<br />
5-352 Thai's What You Think<br />
(9) 10-13-51 ± 11-17<br />
S-353ln Case You're Curious<br />
(8) 11-17-51 + 11-24<br />
S-355 Fishing Feats (10) 1- 9-52 ±2-9<br />
S-356 Musiquiz (9) 2-16-52 + 4-19<br />
S-354 Reducing (8) 3-3-52+ 4-12<br />
S-357 Mealtime Magic (..).. 3-24-52<br />
TOM & JERRY CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-336 Cat-Napping (7) 12-8-51+ 2-9<br />
W-337 The Flying Cat (7) . . . 1- 2-52 + 2-23<br />
W-339Th8 Duck Doctor (7).. 2-16-52<br />
W-340 The Two Mouseketeers<br />
(7) 3-15-52 ff 4-12<br />
W-341 Smitten Kitten (8)... 4-12-52+ 4-26<br />
W- 342 Triplet Trouble (7)... 4-19-52<br />
Paramount<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
CASPER CARTOONS<br />
Bll-l Casper Takes a Bow Wow<br />
(7) 12- 7-51 1-19<br />
Bll-2 Deep Boo Sea (7) 2-15-52 + 3-15<br />
Bll-4 Ghost of the Town (7) 4-11-52<br />
GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS<br />
Rll-1 Allen's Animal Kingdom<br />
(10) 10- 5-51 + 10-20<br />
Rll-2 Ridin' the Rails (10).. 11- 2-51 ff 12- 1<br />
Rll-3 Fresh Water Champs<br />
(10) 11-16-51<br />
Rll-4 Water Jockey Hi-Jinks<br />
(10) 12- 7-51<br />
Rll-5 Ski-Lark in the Rockies<br />
(10) 12- 7-51 ± 12-22<br />
Rll-6 The Dog-Gonedest Dog<br />
(10) 1-18-52 ± 1-19<br />
Rll-7 Playmates of the Sea (9) 2-22-52 + 3-22<br />
Rll-S They All Like Boats<br />
(10) 3-21-52<br />
KARTUNE<br />
Xll-l Vegetable<br />
Vaudeville<br />
'J) 11- 9-51 + 11-24<br />
Xll 2 Snooze Reel (7) 12-28-51<br />
Xll-3 Off We Glow (7) 2-24-52 ± 3-15<br />
NOVELTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
Pll-1 CatChoo (7) 10-14-51+ 0-20<br />
Pll-2 Audrey the Rainmaker<br />
(8) 10-26-51 10-20<br />
Pll-3 Cat Tamale (7) 11- 9-51 + 11-24<br />
Pll-4 6v Leaps and Hounds<br />
(8) :2-14.51<br />
Pll-SScoul Fellow (8) 12-21-51 + 12-22<br />
Pll-6 Cat Carson Rides Again<br />
(7) 4- 4-52<br />
P-11-7 The Awful Tooth (7) . . 5- 2-52<br />
PACEMAKERS<br />
Kll-1 Way Out West in Florida<br />
(10) 10- S-51 10-20<br />
Kll-2 Mermaid Bay (9) 10- 5-51 ± 10-20<br />
Kll-3 A Ring for Roberta<br />
(9) 11- 2-51 + U-17<br />
Kll-4 I Cover the Everglades<br />
(10) 11- 9-51 + 11-24<br />
Kll-5The Littlest Expert on<br />
Football (10) 11- 2-51 ± 11-24<br />
Kll-6 Sadie Hawkins Day<br />
(10) U-30-51<br />
POPEYE CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
EU-l Let's Stalk Sumach<br />
(7) 10-19-51 ± 10-20<br />
£11-2 Punch and Judo (7) ...1116-51 ± 12- 1<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
COMEDY SPECIALS<br />
23.401 Hollywood Honeymoon<br />
(16) 9-28-51 il-24<br />
23.402 Fast and Foolish (15) . 11-23-51 + 12-22<br />
23.403 Newlyweds' House Guest<br />
(17) 1-18-52<br />
23.404 Ghost Buster (18) 3- 7-52<br />
23.405 Newlyweds Take a Chance<br />
(..) 5- 2-52<br />
EDGAR KENNEDY<br />
(Reissues)<br />
23.501 Mad About Moonlight<br />
(19) 9- 7-51<br />
23.502 It Happened All Night<br />
(19) 9-28-51<br />
23.503 An Apple In His Lye<br />
1 14) 10-28-51<br />
23.504 Slightly at Sea (16) . .11-16-51<br />
DISNEY CARTOONS<br />
(TeclMiicolor)<br />
24.101 Get Rich Quick (6)... 8-31-51 ff 12- 1<br />
24.102 Cold Turkey (7) 9-21-51<br />
24.103 Fathers Are People (9) 10-12-51 ff 11-24<br />
24.104 Out of Scale (7) 11- 2-51 ff 12-15<br />
24.105 No Smoking (6) 11-23-51+ 1-5<br />
24.106 Bee on Guard (6) .. .12-14-51 ff 1-5<br />
24.107 Father's Lion (7) 1.4-52<br />
24.108 Donald ADplecore (7). . 1-18-52<br />
24,10^ Lambert, the Sheepish<br />
Lion (8) 12-24-51<br />
24.110 Hello Aloha (8) 2-24-52 +3-1<br />
24.111 Two Chips and a Miss<br />
(7) 3-21-52 + 3-15<br />
24.112 Man's Best Friend<br />
(7) 4- 4-52 ff 4-26<br />
24.113 Lei's Stick Together<br />
(7) 4-25-52 ff 4-26<br />
24.114 Two-Gun Goofy (..).. 5-16-52<br />
24.115 Susie, the Little Blue Coupe<br />
(7) 6- 6-52<br />
LEON ERROL COMEDIES<br />
23.701 Lord Epping Returns<br />
(19) 10-21-51 ff 11-24<br />
23,702100 Many Wives (16) .12-21-51<br />
MELODY TIME<br />
23.201 Tex Beiieke and the Glenn<br />
Miller Orch. (18) 10- 5-51<br />
23.202 Let's Make Rhythm<br />
(20) 11- 9-51<br />
PATHE SPORTSCOPES<br />
.<br />
24.501 Channel Swimmer (8)9-28-51<br />
24.302 Tcuchdown Town (8). 10.19-51 ± 12- 1<br />
24.303 Backyard Hockey (8) 11-10-51 + 12-15<br />
24.304 Feathered Bullets (8) 12-14-51<br />
24.305 Winter Holiday (8).. 1-11-51<br />
24.306 That Man Rickey (8).. 2- 8-52<br />
24.307 P?mpas Sky Targets<br />
(8) 3- 7-52<br />
24.308 Campfire Club (8) 4- 4-52<br />
24.309 Summer Is for Kids<br />
( ) 5- 2-52<br />
SCREENLINERS<br />
24 201 Recording Session (9) 9- 7-51<br />
24.202 Icebreaker (9i 10-5-51 ....<br />
24.203 America's Singing Boys<br />
(10) 11- 2-51 ± 12- 1<br />
24.204 Riders of the Andes<br />
(8) 11-30-51 ++ 1- 5<br />
24.205 Man With a Record<br />
(9) 12-14-51<br />
24.206 Laughs From the Past<br />
(9) 1-25-52 ++ 3- 1<br />
24 207 Smunolers Beware (9). 2-22-52 ++ 3-15<br />
24.208 At Home With Royalty<br />
(8) 3-21-52 +f 4-19<br />
.<br />
24.209 Swing Time in Mexico<br />
. ( ) 4-18-52<br />
SPECIAL<br />
23.101 Here Comes the Band<br />
(17) 9-14-51 +9-8<br />
10-12-51 ....<br />
I<br />
23.102 Last of the Wild West<br />
(17)<br />
23.103 Railroad Speciil Agent<br />
(15) U 9-51 + 11-17<br />
23,901 Football Headllneri of 1951<br />
(15) 12- 7-51<br />
23.104 Lady Marines (16). 12-7-51<br />
23.105 Songs of the Campus<br />
(15)<br />
2- 1-52 ff<br />
Ell-3<br />
23 106 Second Sight<br />
Popeve's Pappy<br />
(17)<br />
(7). . 1-25-52+ 2-29-52<br />
1-19<br />
23.801 B.iikelball<br />
Ell-4<br />
Headliners<br />
Lunch Wilh of<br />
a Punch (7) 3-14-52<br />
1952 ( )<br />
4-11-52<br />
POPEYE CHAMPIONS<br />
23,107 Murder m "A" Flat<br />
(Reissues)<br />
(15)<br />
3-28 52<br />
Zll-1 Anvil Chorus Girl (7). 10- S-Sl * 9- 8<br />
TRUE LIFE<br />
Zll-2<br />
ADVENTURE<br />
Spinach Packin' Popeye<br />
23.302 The Olympic Elk<br />
(7) 10- 5-51 ± 9-15<br />
(27) 2-2252 ff<br />
Zll-3She Sick Sailors (6). 10- 5-Sl +9-8<br />
Zll-4 For Better or Nurse<br />
(7) 10- 5-51 + 9-15 20th Century Fox<br />
TOPPER<br />
Mill Barnyard Babiu (10). 11- 2-51 ± 11-17<br />
Mll-2 E)erything's Ducky<br />
(10) 12-28-51 + 1-19<br />
Mll-3 The Littlest Expert on My<br />
Favorite Presidents (10) 2- 8-52 ± 3-15<br />
Mll-4 The Littlest Exnert on the<br />
Greatest Inventions (10) 4- 5-52 ....<br />
Mll-5 The Littlest Evpert on<br />
Cowboys (10) 6- 6-52<br />
1-19<br />
PfOJ. No. Title Rel D.it» Riling Revil<br />
MARCH OF TIME<br />
Vol. 17. No. 6 Formosa— Islind<br />
ol Promiit (17) Ae|.-51<br />
f 9- 1<br />
SPORTS<br />
3104 Foolbill Winnini Ways<br />
' ' Mffuy<br />
6-16.52<br />
10-27-51<br />
. .<br />
.<br />
'<br />
j<br />
SHO RTS<br />
CHART<br />
CARTUNES<br />
WOODY WOOOPECKER CAHTUNES<br />
(<br />
6355 Railrtond S-ip<br />
laclniiculor<br />
(7) 10 1-51 ± 9-15<br />
63SA Woody WooilpKkar Polha<br />
(7) 10-29-51<br />
I<br />
9-15<br />
1951 52 SEASON<br />
7351 llrilliinllon Mrallinll<br />
(7) 12-24-51<br />
I<br />
11-10<br />
7352 Born lo Pack (7) 2-25-52<br />
7353 St.ioa Ho.i» (7) 4-21-52 + 4-19<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
r-ml No Tllla Rrl Dale fl.-itino Rav'd<br />
Itl.lir. nillHON HIT PARADE<br />
( Ircliiilcolor Rchsnas)<br />
Sliiiiiil C il (7) . 9-1-51<br />
7jn Ilia<br />
l')51-52 SEASON<br />
MtOI llolHlny lor SIlotilrinQS<br />
(7) 9-15-51<br />
3302litily hi Rtd (7) 10-13-51<br />
810) Snilllfi mill Bookworm<br />
(7) 1110-51<br />
8304 liiilillloctt Jlylii' Baari<br />
(7) 12- 1-51<br />
8305 01 liiM I Sinn (7) 1-12-52<br />
H30(, I lom ll.iMil lo Moiiie (7) 2- 9-52<br />
830/ Bi.iva Lillla B.it (7)... 3-15-52<br />
K30R Snow Tima (or Comedy<br />
(7) 4-12-52<br />
. .<br />
8309 Huih My Moiiie (7)., 5- 3-52 ....<br />
8310 B.itiy Bcilllfilfck (7) 5-14-52<br />
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
7726 Hii Hnra Raisiiio Tale<br />
(7) 8-11-51 ( 9-<br />
1951 52 SEASON<br />
8<br />
«723 B.illot Box Bunny (7). 10- 6-51 ^^ 11-24<br />
>-;7.>lRli] Ton Bunny (7) 12- 1-51 II 1-19<br />
iinct.ilion Rabliil (7),.. 1-19-52 If 4-19<br />
I<br />
.»y by Pro>y (7) 2-23-52 || 4-26<br />
s.. 14 Citiol RAbbils (7).. 3-15-52<br />
8.'28 W.iler. W.iler Every Hare<br />
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips<br />
fpfiTuiip<br />
M'mm<br />
(FOR STORY SYNOPStS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE REVERSE SIDE)<br />
Carson City F (w.ltclr)<br />
Wornar Bros. (123) 89 Minutes Rel. lune 14, '52<br />
Resplendent in the new WarnerColor, which in its second<br />
appearance is again effectively employed, here is an<br />
aclioner which on all counts earns evaluation as a superwestern.<br />
Although the plot concerns itself with railroad building<br />
against terrific odds—a subject much used in recent outsize<br />
gallopers—the yarn is carefully and logically developed<br />
and projects enough new twists to offset the stigma of<br />
stereotyping. Producer David Weisbart pinched no pennies<br />
in endowing the offering with impressive mountings, while<br />
Director Andre De Toth took full advantage of the solid script<br />
and a competent cast. Randolph Scott, characteristically<br />
rugged, gives the sagebrush devotees a brimming measure<br />
of fisticuffs, riding, shooting—and even a touch of romance.<br />
In the supporting cast, Raymond Massey, who doles out the<br />
villainy—and in wholesale lots—is the standout. Cast and<br />
color are, of course, best angles tor exploitation.<br />
Randolph Scott. Lucille Norman, Rayniond Massey, Richard<br />
Webb, James Millican, Larry Keating, George Cleveland.<br />
Kred<br />
I<br />
is this stirring saga of the heroic contribution made by ai.<br />
unsung branch of the U.S. army to winning the second global<br />
conflict. The picture has suspense, action, spectacle, com-<br />
^''y °"
. . He's<br />
. . Carrying<br />
. . When<br />
. . The<br />
. ,<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STORY: "The Red Ball Express" (U-I)<br />
During the allied push toward Paris in World War II, General<br />
Pattens tanks outrun their supply lines. Jelf Chandler,<br />
a lieutenant, is assigned to ihrow together a "Red Ball" unit<br />
of supply trucks and get them through to the stalled tanks at<br />
the Iront Chandler's associates include Alex Nicol, a<br />
sergeant, who hates him because he mistakenly believes<br />
Chandler was responsible for the death of Nicol's brother in<br />
a trucking accident before the war, and Charles Drake, a<br />
serious-minded young private. Chandler and Nicol remain at<br />
odds until the lieutenant saves the sergeant's life by pulling<br />
him from a burning truck after it overturns in a blazing<br />
French village. The feud ends, the mission is completed and<br />
the three men turn their trucks back toward home base.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
From Beachhead to Battlefront . . . They Drove the Most<br />
Dangerous Road in the World . . . Through Miles of Bombs,<br />
Bullets and Bedlam .<br />
the Ammo That Broke the<br />
Nazis' Back<br />
ni.<br />
the<br />
THE STORY: 'CarBon City" (WB)<br />
Randolph Scott, a railroad engineer, is hired to build a line<br />
from Carson City to 'Virginia City—a project conceived by a<br />
bank to protect its investments in the mines, since stagecoaches<br />
bearing gold and silver are being systematically<br />
looted. Some citizens of Carson City, respectable and otherwise,<br />
oppose the railroad; a leader of the crooked element is<br />
Raymond Massey, supposedly a respected mine owner who<br />
in reality is the secret leader of the outlaw gang robbing<br />
the stages. The rail workers are wrongfully blamed for<br />
terrorizing. Carson City, but despite this and other handicaps<br />
Scott completes the line to Virginia City. Massey plans<br />
to rob the train of one last haul, but Scott learns of the scheme<br />
and, as Massey tries for a get-away, Scott pursues and<br />
kills him.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Carson City . . . Sprawling, Brawling Gateway to Gold . . .<br />
End of the Line for the Doomed and the Daring . . . Last Outpost<br />
of the Lawless . the Frontier Flamed With Action.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Loan Shark" (Lippert)<br />
Released from prison after a three-year stretch for assault,<br />
George Raft moves in with his sister, Helen Westcott, and<br />
her husband, William Phipps, who works for a tire company.<br />
Through Dorothy Hart, secretary to the plant manager. Raft<br />
is offered a job to get the lowdown on loan sharks who are<br />
preying on the firm's employes, charging usurious interest<br />
rates and terrorizing borrowers who miss payments. Raft<br />
refuses until Phipps, accusing Russell Johnson, plant foreman,<br />
of steering suckers to the crooks, is slain by Johnson. Then<br />
Raft accepts the sleuthing job and joins the gang, leading<br />
Dorothy to believe he has returned to the rackets. He learns<br />
Johnson killed Phipps, and forces another mobster to take him<br />
to the head of the syndicate. In a gun battle the ringleaders<br />
are killed and the racket wiped out.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Inside Story of Today's Most Despised Racket . . .<br />
Ablaze With Two-Fisted Action As Only George Raft Can<br />
Dish It Out . Up Against a Carload of Thrills.<br />
THE STORY: "Wall ol Death" (Realart)<br />
Two friends, Laurence Harvey, a boxer, and Maxwell Reed,<br />
a motorcycle racer, are the main attractions of an English<br />
traveling fair. Maxwell has his heart set on raising money<br />
enough to enter cm important competition on a motorcycle<br />
dirt track. Laurence, blindly loyal to his reckless, unscrupulous<br />
pal, takes money from his employer, Robert Adair,<br />
intending to pay it back after Maxwell wins the race. Robert,<br />
who dislikes the racer, finds out about it and makes Laurence<br />
put it back. Maxwell gets involved in a fight and faces<br />
a possible murder charge. Although Laurence's boss and<br />
Susan Shaw, his fiancee, both try to dissuade him from<br />
helping Maxwell, he peisists and even helps him steal<br />
a car. Detectives get on Maxwell's trail, but arrive at the<br />
raceway too lale to stop the race. Maxwell is killed in a<br />
track accident and Laurence is later cleared.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Behind the Scenes of an English Fair . . . Exciting Spectacle<br />
of Motorcycle Daredevils Climbing the Wall of Death.<br />
-I<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Walk East on Beacon" (Col)<br />
Korel Stepanek, master Soviet spy, is sent to the U.S. to<br />
replace another agent who has been unsuccessfully trying<br />
to learn about a secret American scientific project. Stepanek<br />
uses a mild-mannered florist and a photographer's assistant<br />
(Virginia Gilmore) to blackmail Finlay Currie, refugee scientist<br />
who is working on a project in a Boston laboratory.<br />
Currie reports the blackmail scheme to the FBI and George<br />
Murphy takes over the case. Currie is protected by FBI<br />
agents but, despite this, he is captured after he passes on<br />
false data to Stepanek. Meanwhile, in Washington, Louisa<br />
Horton, another spy, who has been working with her husband,<br />
who is employed by the government, is captured by<br />
the FBI with confidential data. The Soviets put Currie aboard<br />
a yy'i.-.arine bound for Russia, but the FBI rescues him.<br />
CATCri4.-r ^S:<br />
A Story bilaight Out of Today's Newspaper Headlines .<br />
Louis de Rochemont, Who Brought You "The House on 92nd<br />
Street," "13 Rue Madeleine" and "Lost Boundaries," Now<br />
Brings You a Thrilling Tale of the FBI Versus Soviet Spies.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Border Saddlemates" (Rep)<br />
Rex Allen government veterinarian, is dispatched to a<br />
Montana town near the Canadian border, the heart of the<br />
silver fox farming industry. He meets Mary Ellen Kay, her<br />
young brother Jimmie Moss and their uncle, Forrest Taylor,<br />
owner of a thriving fox farm. Unknown to anyone, Taylor<br />
is associated with Roy Barcroft—who has a trading post just<br />
over the border—in a counterfeit money ring, the spurious<br />
money being smuggled irito the U.S. in crates containing<br />
silver foxes. An unidentified sickness contracted by one of<br />
the foxes forces Rex to slap a quarantine on Taylor's farm.<br />
The fox, Jimmie's pet, is stolen by Borcroft's gang and Jimmie,<br />
out looking for it, is captured by the counterfeiters. Rex<br />
captures Barcroft after Taylor has been slain by the crooks,<br />
and the smuggling ring is broken up.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
There's Action Blazing Along the Border ... As Rex Allen<br />
Uses Six-Guns and Flying Fists ... To Break Up a Ruthless<br />
Ring of Counterfeiters . . . It's Exciting Western Adventure.<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Wild Horse Ambush" (Rep)<br />
Mexican law enforcement agencies discover large amounts<br />
of counterfeit money are being circulated and, suspecting the<br />
source is somewhere on the American side of the border,<br />
Richard Avonde, Mexican police chief, poses as a bandit and<br />
contacts Sheriff James Bell. The latter's grandchildren. Red<br />
Chapin and Judy Janssen, try to convince them that suspicious<br />
things are happening oh the ranch owned by Roy<br />
Barcroft, who in reality heads the counterfeiting gang. Red<br />
discovers Barcroft is secreting the queer money in on<br />
ingenious fashion under the manes of wild horses, which<br />
are then driven over the border. He and Judy are captured<br />
by the crooks but rescued in time's nick, and Bell and Avonde<br />
clean up the counterfeiting gang, aided by the evidence<br />
that the two children have secured.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Another Exciting Adventure of the Sagebrush . . . With<br />
Your Two Favorite Buckaroo Sheriffs . . . They're Rootin',<br />
Tootin' Rangers of the Golden Sage.<br />
-t-<br />
• -I-<br />
. -ff<br />
THE STORY: "Brief Rapture" (Jewel)<br />
Ermanno Randi goes to Rome in search of his sister, from<br />
whom he has not heard in a long time. At her last known<br />
address, he rummages through her effects and finds the<br />
address of Lois Maxwell, who tells him his sister is traveling<br />
in Europe with an old lady and that he should return home.<br />
However, Randi is attracted to Lois, even when he learns<br />
she is mixed up with unsavory underworld characters. The<br />
mob tries to get Lois to get rid of Randi, fearing he may<br />
learn the truth about his sister—that she became a drug<br />
addict and killed herself. Instead of luring Randi to the<br />
waterfront, where the mob plans to kill him, she informs the<br />
police. The mobsters are captured and Randi is able to<br />
go away with Lois.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Tortured Souls Driven to Desperation for the "Brief Rapture"<br />
of Drugs ... A Film That Dares to Tell the Truth About the<br />
Traffic in Dope . Sensational Story of a Girl Who<br />
Was Caught in the Mesh of the Underworld.
I<br />
l/ES- 15c per word, minimuni $1.50, cash with copy. Four inaertions lor price oi Ituee.<br />
'I SING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and anawers to<br />
Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1. Mo. •<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
.jinin- Popcorn machines and P-W scales:<br />
uli'part time, Kllnkel Popcorn Maclilne Co.,<br />
11(1, Mich.<br />
"inled: llocno manager or experienced iu^slstant<br />
hJmows Ihealre operation, tor southeastern Vlr-<br />
.iiJterrltoo. Airmail special delivery quallficajo!<br />
references and salary expected. Boxofflce,<br />
I6t<br />
Industrious man to manage small tovui<br />
vnted-<br />
It,',. Mlthln 15 miles of Atlanta. Must be<br />
nilh all phases of operation. Small salary<br />
,il biinus for Improved business. Apply<br />
projectionist, $45 to $50 per week.<br />
iwieneeiJ<br />
Iiv'llni other djollrae work. Noll Theatre.<br />
BtTij. Mo<br />
1<br />
»^<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
ijKlionist. over 20 years experience,<br />
one Pavid Forbes, Crocker, Mo.<br />
Write<br />
(lation service engineer, maintenance serv-<br />
:,atrr equlliraent; twenty years experience;<br />
lined Ion large theatre chain. Boxofflce,<br />
utile manager, booker: neat, reliable; now<br />
»'.yed, desires change. Prefer North Carolina.<br />
Ay ibie June 15. Boxofflce. 4686.<br />
iiilable, experienced theatre manager, buyer,<br />
bor advertiser; references and recommendations,<br />
w' AE.B., Boxofflce, 516 Jeannette, Wilkinsbi^'<br />
Pa.<br />
lijectionist, sound and machine repair, mainleiee<br />
25 years experience, all phases except<br />
Mng. Wife manageress, cashier. Anywhere.<br />
fr|:lionlst. 5038 Vernon. St. Louis, Mo.<br />
ijectionist. 23 years experience, available now;<br />
ment; anywhere: $1.80 hour. Boxofflce, 4695.<br />
P<br />
EQUIPMENT WANTED<br />
kodel Holmes educator 35mm projector.<br />
Iliealre, Maynard, Minn.<br />
td to buy: Good clean used theatre seats,<br />
ity. State price. Jack Holt, Box 153,<br />
m. 111.<br />
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
e a producer, make T\' commercials and<br />
Auricon 16ram sound camera. $405:<br />
.. $60.50; Arlreeves 35mm recorder,<br />
.inimation stands. $1,495 up; Belhowell<br />
rinter, $1,495; sound re.iders. $139.50.<br />
i;: for studio, laboratory or cutting room,<br />
ken. Ask for Catalog Supplement. Dept.<br />
- Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St.,<br />
. :k 10 Cable Sosound,<br />
iiRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
'ocorn machines, halt price. Wiener. Hamb,<br />
8no-Cot:e. Peanut Roasters. Bun Warmers.<br />
f-f- Supply. 146 Walton St.. Atlanta. Ga.<br />
-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of<br />
ul pr.n'ed stub rod tickets for drive-ins.<br />
Co.. Dept. 10. 109 W. 18th St., "Film<br />
Kansas City 8. Mo,<br />
ae is short! Order now to get opened this<br />
wr, I'ndeiground cable, $70 M. Complete dual<br />
ff|*'lnn, sound from $1,595: in-car speakers.<br />
[air w/junction box. Available on Easy<br />
Plan. Send for equipment list. Dept. C,<br />
I Inema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St.,<br />
.'I' V'lrk 19,<br />
'm Thumb, medium size train for sale. Piir-<br />
•rand new: operated only 100 hours: perfect<br />
1. cannot tell from new. Made by Clark<br />
less than a year ago. Has 1.200 feet<br />
, will accommodate 36 children or 18<br />
I'rlce on train and track delivered. $4,050,<br />
Sykes. Jr.. 300 W, TTiird St,, niarlotte.<br />
I<br />
J GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW<br />
ive 50% to 75%! Buy tempered Masonlte<br />
mee letters, available all colors: 4"—3oc;<br />
8]50e; 10"— 60c; 12"— 85c; 14"— $1.25:<br />
l^-$1.50. Fits Wagner, Adler, Bevelite Signs.<br />
V C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 W.<br />
Sj St.. New York 19. Cable Sosound.<br />
if-R-E-T-C-H your $$$ at SOS. Rectifier<br />
or;, $4.95; coated lenses, $100 pair: changeov<br />
w/lootswitches. $44.50 pair: flameproofed,<br />
niisproofed screens, 39M;C sq. ft.: beaded, 49%c.<br />
C, S,0,S. Cinema Supply Corp., 802 W.<br />
P,,<br />
»' St.. New York 19.<br />
UOFFICE May 3, 1952<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
Take your time paying; fur nitnl>rn projection<br />
and .suu[ul eiiuipment, using your old equipment<br />
against down payment. Wrile for dctaiLi. Dept.<br />
C, S.O.S Cinema Supply Corp., 002 W. 62nd 8i.,<br />
New York 19. Cable Sosound.<br />
Five Powers projectors, two Gardner lamps, two<br />
Forrest rectifiers, Weber soundheads, amplifier,<br />
Jensen speaker, screen, $600. Ilitz Tlleatre,<br />
Pawnee, Okla.<br />
Good condition. 650 upholstered seats. Simplex<br />
machines, generator, Strong lamphouses, carpots,<br />
frames, ticket machine, (iallon Theatre,<br />
Gallon, Ohio.<br />
Low prices and top quality at Star! First quality<br />
reeiiliiT bulbs, $4.75; pair<br />
KW himpliouses and reotifiers,<br />
Simplex High<br />
rehulll, $5liri;<br />
1<br />
KCA<br />
Ml-!i25S amplifier, slightly useil. $175; ;iO ampere<br />
reeliflers. with tubes, $105 pair; IICA P(:.201<br />
li;mm projector, excellent. $100,50. What do you<br />
need! Star Cinema Supply, 441 W. 501h St.,<br />
New York 10.<br />
Clean sweep sale. Simplex Scml Pros with sound,<br />
Simp:ex mechanisms and 16" magazines. Peerless<br />
LI lamps and spots. Boxofflce. 41396.<br />
Pair eonipletely rebuilt Brenkerl Bnarc lamps<br />
with .'ill, 100 Kobin Imperial generator at a real<br />
bargain, Boxofflce. 4607.<br />
Pair of Simplex machines complete with late<br />
RCA equipment in first class running condition at<br />
a real gitiid price. Boxoffiee. 4608^<br />
One pair Peerless hy-condesccnt lamphouses.<br />
$550. One pair Ashcraft cyclex lamps and current<br />
eiianger. $400. Associated Amusements Co., 351<br />
S. State St.. Salt Lake City. Utah.<br />
For sale: One model 01 Brandt boxoffiee changer,<br />
$115. in A-1 condition. Write to C. A. Doyle.<br />
31S Gibson St.. Eau Claire, Wis.<br />
SIGNS<br />
Easy Way to Paint Sions. Use letter patterns.<br />
Avoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experience<br />
needed for expert work. Write for free samples.<br />
John Rahn, B-1329, Central Ave.. Chicago<br />
51. 111.<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
Bingo with more action. $3.50 thousand cards.<br />
Also other games. Novelty Games Co.. 1434<br />
Bedford Ave., Broolllyn 16. N. Y.<br />
Comic books available as premiums, giveaways<br />
at your kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newsstand<br />
editions. Comics Premium Cli., 412B, Greenwich<br />
St., N. Y. C. Publications for premiums<br />
(exclusively) since 1939.<br />
Bingo die-cut cards. 75 or 100 numbers, $3.50<br />
per M. Premium Products, 330 W. 44th St., New<br />
York 18, N. Y.<br />
Build attendance with real Hawaiian orchids.<br />
Few cents each. Write Flowers of Hawaii, «70<br />
S Lafayette Park Place. Los Angeles 5. Calif. See<br />
page 60 of MODERN THI'i\TRB section.<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets.<br />
100.000, $26.70: 10,000, $7.80: 2.000, $4.95.<br />
Each change in admission price, including change<br />
in color, $3 extra. Double numbering extra.<br />
F.O-B. Kansas City, Mo. Cash with order. Kansas<br />
City Ticket Co., 109 W. 18th St., Kansas<br />
City. Mo.<br />
Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of<br />
our special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins.<br />
Sale, distinctive, easy to check. Kansas City<br />
Ticket Co., Dept. 10, 109 W. ISth St., "Film<br />
Rou." Kans.as City 8, Mo,<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
PoDper kettles for all makes of machines.<br />
Cretors. Star, Manley poppers. Candy corn equipment.<br />
120 S. Halsted. Chicago 6. Ill,<br />
CONSULTING SERVICE<br />
Brand new drive-in theatre service, first time<br />
avail:ible! We check your operation, on the spot,<br />
advise you how it compares to the most successful,<br />
and help you make inexpensive corrections. Have<br />
answers to most concession, maintenance, booking,<br />
xploitation, etc., questions you will ask. Why<br />
wonder, when you can find out? Service available<br />
to all drive-ins, anytime, anywhere in United<br />
States. Drlve-ln Consultants. Boxofflce. 4658.<br />
THEATRICAL PRINTING<br />
Window cards, programs, heralds. Photo-Offset<br />
Printing, Cato Show Prtatlng Co. Cato, N. Y.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
Signature cuts. Identify your theatre with distinct<br />
ive Sig Cuts by Art-Sig'. Write for sainple<br />
proofs, .\rt-8igs. 710 Wessex Place. Orlando. Ha.<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
Theatre For Sale: Bclecieil Itotlngt In Oregon<br />
and Washington now available. Write for Hat.<br />
Theatre Bxchangc Co., Fine Am Bidg.. Portland,<br />
Ore.<br />
Build double parking Drive-In theatres under<br />
franchise Patent 2,102.718. reiuue 22.7ISe. Up lo<br />
30% more seating capacity with little additional<br />
cost. Louis Josserand. 3710 .Ml Vernon, llouiton.<br />
Tex.<br />
Pacific Northwest theatres fur sale. Write Irv<br />
Bovvron, sales manager. Theatre Balei (DIv.),<br />
Fred B. Ludwlg, Brk., S711 E. Burnilde. Portland<br />
15. Ore<br />
When in Dallas see "Joe" Joseph. Texas' Theatre<br />
Brokers, 204 Gable BIdg., Dallas, Tex Phones<br />
LAkeside 0437 or LOgan 5707.<br />
One delightful New Mexico's leading cities.<br />
.Modern drlve-ln, latest Simplex booth. Well<br />
located. 800-seat modern suburban gro.sslng more<br />
than price annually, tickets alone. Show us money,<br />
business record, we'll show complete evidence high<br />
value. $70,000 down for both. Principals only.<br />
Boxofflce, 4675.<br />
Illustrated folder available, nicest small town<br />
San Arilniiin are;i. Fine modern building, equipment.<br />
Owner proves short p;iyout at $25,000. half<br />
down. Unusual. Similar near Austin. $15,000<br />
down. Near Houston, including refrigeration.<br />
$15,000 down. Near Fort Worth Including good<br />
building. $13,000 diiwn. Near Fayettcvillc, Ark.,<br />
including huilding. $10,000 down. Near Muskogee.<br />
Okla.. $12,500 down (town 9.000). Exclusive<br />
Arthur Leak. Specialist, 3305 Carutb, Dallas, Tex.<br />
Corpus Chrisli area. Only theatre, growing<br />
county scat 4.600. Modern building, 3 subrentals.<br />
Badly neglected management, absentee<br />
owner shows high profit now. Big potential. Priced<br />
less one year's gross. $38,500; $18,500 down.<br />
From moneymaking standpoint, one best In years.<br />
Similar near Houston. Exclusive, Arthur Leak.<br />
3305 Cartith. Dallas. Tex.<br />
Southern Kansas, 500-seat only theatre, steady<br />
Ions established town. Finest equipment, $25,000<br />
down Arthur Uak, 3305 Caruth. Dallas, Tex.<br />
For sale: 300-seat Idaho Theatre, Sumner. III.<br />
By owner.<br />
West Texas, near Hohl)s: Only theatre growing<br />
oil center, large drawing population. Includes<br />
nearly ne i equipment, tile building. Owner represents<br />
high gross, profit. Complete records available.<br />
$0.00n down. Exclusive. Arthur Leak, Theatre<br />
Specialist. 3305 Caruth. Dallas, Tex.<br />
Two theatres in two Kansas towns. Newly remodeled<br />
five-room modern home included. Showing<br />
good profit, $12.500 takes .all. Boxoffiee. 4681.<br />
CLfflRinG HOUSt<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE (Confd)<br />
Seattle. Waihinglon. lUtlnc 469. 800 lula, netl<br />
riiulppeil tlicjlie In good ihoH-goIn* nei|!hl>orlii«d<br />
0.wiri ^.lyi tl.OOO Keek grnu. II.IKIO m'.nlli<br />
net I'Viulpment and good leaae. $12. »0') full<br />
price Hitter ptiiine or wire us on llil» one<br />
llieatre Kxelmnge, Fine Arts Uldg ,<br />
Portland 5.<br />
(Ire. I'lujMi' llruadway 0531 or Biergreen i-lflOii<br />
For lale: Dniy the«tre to»n 2,400. (ioui louUiern<br />
climate, nice town. Owner dUlntermted. Priced<br />
to sell ipilck. $:i.000 handin, balance temu. No<br />
shopper> lluxoKlce. 4703.<br />
For sale: Ttu'alres. drlvelni I^onard J.<br />
Schrader, 50914 K. Green, Ctumpaign. Ill Plwne<br />
0094.<br />
Theatre. .Nt<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
sal. No broktf., u.-,; lu-- ,^,<br />
population or over. ConfideDtlal.<br />
J. Burkltl. Sparta. WIr<br />
luipcrleiie«(L L.<br />
Need theatre listings! Want good pairing theatres<br />
worth the money only. Have clients for large<br />
drlve-ln theatres. "Joe" Joseph, 3405 Milton,<br />
Dallas, Tex.<br />
Northern exhibitors seeking New Mexico, weal<br />
Texas easily operated theatre, good winter cllnale.<br />
Able pay sensible price, regardleaa slit. Boxoffiee.<br />
4678.<br />
Drive-In only. M.ijor de luxe No "mlstakea."<br />
obsolete plants, bad locations. Know busloeat.<br />
Ample capital for Imporlanl situation. SouUmat<br />
only, Boxofflce, 4677.<br />
J35.0Q0 cash down, southwest drife-ln. Must be<br />
modern, well located. Boxofflce, 4678.<br />
Nlotion picture theatrei open or closed, to purchase<br />
or lease. Brokers protected. Steinberg<br />
Management Corp., 250 W. 57th St., New York.<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
"Four sale or trade." Four-year-old theatre, Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quoutloo.<br />
four hundred seats, four rentals, tour per eei:t Fensin Sealing Co., Chicago 5<br />
interest. Fourteen hundred population. Philomath,<br />
Ore. $25,000 down, $80,000 full price. Buildins<br />
and all. Bo.xofflce, 4680.<br />
I'ensin Seating Co.. Chicago<br />
Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chain.<br />
5.<br />
500-seat theatre. Equipment and machines only<br />
4 years old. No other theatre wtthin 8 miles.<br />
Good lease on 4-year-old concrete building. Lirge<br />
apartment over theatre, Boxofflce. 4690.<br />
For rent, lease or manager. Theatre. 700-seat.<br />
Virginia city nier 10,000. Boxofflce. 4691,<br />
Two theatres controlled county seat, hosiery<br />
mills. S. W. Virginia; 400 and 375 seats grossing<br />
annually around $60,000. Purchase one building,<br />
equipment; lease or buy other house, $17,500<br />
down, balance easy terms. Write Towne Theatre,<br />
Hillsvillc.<br />
Va.<br />
Texas Panhandle county seat's only theatre. I<br />
can show $20,000 yearly profit, locally owned,<br />
$45,000. $24,000 down. Dry. sunny climate.<br />
Noted show going country. Exclusive. Arthur Leak,<br />
3305 Caruth, Dallas, Tex.<br />
Small town theatre, central Ohio, family operalion,<br />
Itoxofliee. 4692.<br />
Sale: Foothills of Ozarks in Arkansas. Good<br />
small town pro^perl^us commiMllly. Now using four<br />
changes weekly. 2511 seats, everything but the<br />
Imlidlng. Ixiw rent. First $4,500 takes It. Hurry!<br />
Boxofflce, 4699.<br />
Central Ohio town.<br />
lease, long established,<br />
down. Boxofflce, 4700.<br />
5,000 people, reaiionable<br />
fine opportunity. $5,000<br />
First time offered, only theatre county seal<br />
3,700 700 scats, excellent equipment. Moneymaker.<br />
Terms. Boxofflce. 4701.<br />
Eagle Theatre, Montgomery. Pa. 500 scats, only<br />
theatre, remodeled, everything. Going to Australia.<br />
Theatre county seat central Missouri. Large<br />
drawing area. No coropelltlon. Near new eipilpmenl,<br />
cushioiu'd scats, excellent concessions, air conditioned.<br />
Long lease. Money maker. 3-ycar iiayout,<br />
Boxofflce. 4702.<br />
Oregon listing, 475 Some lucky person will get<br />
a bargain in the Snake River Valley of eastern<br />
Oregon 1948 cinder block tlieaire with large<br />
parking lot reduced to $23,000 Write, phone or<br />
wire Theatre Exchange, Fine Arts Bldg ,<br />
Portland.<br />
Ore. Phone Broadway 0531 or Evergreen<br />
1-1606.<br />
Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quantity<br />
wanted. Photographs mailed with quoiation. Kenstn<br />
Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
Seat covers: Sewed combinations, all makes, all<br />
styles. Send your sample for quotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Patch-0-Seat cement. Patching cloth, solvent,<br />
etc. Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Upholstery Fabrics: All kinds. All colors. Send<br />
your sample for matching. Fensin Seating Co..<br />
Chicago 5.<br />
Tighten loose chairs with Permaslone anchor<br />
cement. Fensin Sealing Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Chair-ity begins at S.O.S. All types theatre<br />
chairs from $2.95. Send for Chair Bulletin Dept.<br />
C. S.O.S Cinema Supply Corp . 602 W. 52nd St.,<br />
New York 19. Cable Sosound.<br />
Many years in the seating business Is your<br />
guaraniee. (iood used chairs are not too plentiful<br />
but we have the pick. Full upholstered, panel<br />
back and many other styles. We furnish proper<br />
slope or level standards to fit your floor. All<br />
size 18 to 21-Inch chairs. Our prices are lowest.<br />
Write for exact photo and price. We furnish parts<br />
(or all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic<br />
coated le:itlierette 25x26-lnch. all colors, 55c ea.<br />
Chicago Used Chair .Mart. 829 South State St..<br />
Cliicago 5. Ill,<br />
No more torn seats: Quickly repair cuts and ript<br />
on leatherette seals with original PatcliA-Seat.<br />
Specify color when ordering. Comiilele kit Inc.<br />
1 nt. Icalher coating, $6. General Chair Co.<br />
Chicago 22,<br />
Chair Parts: We furnish most any part ywi require<br />
Send sample for price. brackeU. lurka<br />
and seats. General Chair Co,. 1308 Klslon Ave..<br />
Oiicago 22. 111.<br />
Several thousand used opera chairs now<br />
_<br />
In<br />
slock Can furnlsli any amounl you rwiuest. Full<br />
upholstered back. Insert panelback, iHHSiinnf and<br />
spring edge seat. Write for photo and slate<br />
amount and Incline. We also manufacture new<br />
chairs. General Chair Co., 1308-22 Elslon Ave..<br />
Cliicago 22, 111<br />
No more loose chairs: Get "Fltmastorve" Anchor<br />
cement $5 per box. General Chair Co ,<br />
Chicago<br />
22. III. .<br />
2,500 theatre chairs.<br />
734, Dallas. Tei.<br />
Many late nodel. Bei<br />
For sale: 331 jeaU. like new: upholstered seal.<br />
veneer hack. $8 each. Free with deal. I full roll<br />
material to match and 130 all veneer seata.<br />
Inilte Inspection Contact H. E. Miller. Miller<br />
Theatre Bldg . Kestus, Mo.
Your projectors . . . your sound systems . . . your<br />
in-a-car speakers.<br />
These three, more than any other drive-in equipment,<br />
are what makes a crowd ... A happy,<br />
satisfied crowd ... A crowd that will return fo<br />
your theatre time after time to enjoy fine motion<br />
picture<br />
entertainment.<br />
The crowd-wise, profit-wise theatre owner will see<br />
to it, therefore, that his projector, soundhead and<br />
speakers are the finest! . . . And throughout the<br />
world, there is none finer than SIMPLEX!<br />
SIMPLEX PROJECTORS for the thrillingly bright<br />
picture patrons demand ... the steady, flickerfree<br />
picture patrons will return to see!<br />
SIMPLEX SOUND SYSTEMS for the crystal-clear<br />
tone, the great frequency range that makes every<br />
picture more enjoyable, every theatre more<br />
popular!<br />
SIMPLEX IN-A-CAR SPEAKERS for consistently<br />
superior performance under all weather conditions!<br />
Built to assure perfect, uninterrupted<br />
reception!<br />
i (