Boxoffice-May.03.1952
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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
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