Boxoffice-December.20.1952

Rot.
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Dillon Krepps Buys
'Siars' Premiere TV
DETROIT- Dillon
M. 'Dti" Kropps. man-
BglnK director of the United Artists Tliciitre.
believes In makltiK hay from television
by buying up sponsorship uf iin Kvallablc
network program which happened to tie In
with the opcnlnK of his new film. With
"Stars and Stripes Forever" set to open
Christmas day. Krepps walked over to
WXYZ-TV and bouRht sponsorship of fi network
show scheduled for Christmas, which
Included spot coveraRC of the premiere of the
film at the Roxy in New York.
Building up the opening. Krepps 1.-. playing
Santa Claus Christmas morning to a capacity
audience of 1.938 servicemen, being
''"''^brought from Selfrldge air base, 30 miles
north of the city, to see a special showing
of the film. Arrangements for this special
show were made through the USO.
ditr
In a further tie-in. Krepps arranged with
Leonard Smith. Detroit bandleader whom
many consider the logical successor U. Sousa,
to send a special letter about the film to
some 6.000 Detroiters who cared enough
about band music to write to the city council
asking that the council appropriate funds
for winter concerts, as well as the summer
series by the Smith band.
LETTER
To BOXOFFICE:
Regarding the article, appearing in your
magazine dated December 13. stating that the
secretary of the ITOO will study the tariffs
of certain haulers in Ohio, of which I am one
mentioned, wish to advise that there are certain
rules and regulations prescribed by the
Utility commissions, which cover the filing
of tariffs, which, I can assure you. were obeyed
to the letter and in my case, when changes
are contemplated, the exhibitors that I service
were first notified by letter of the proposed
changes before they were submitted to
the commissions and I also know that other
haulers in our group followed the same procedure,
either by mail or personal contact.
a tariff consultant,
Mr. W. V. Blake, who is
and who at one time was employed in the
tariff department of the Public Utilities Commission
of Ohio and who also worked for most
of the people mentioned in your article in
constructing tariffs and making changes,
fully understands what the limitations are for
competitors who haul the same commodity.
The tariffs of all the haulers mentioned are
on file at the offices of the haulers and also
at the PUCO and ICC offices, for inspection
at any time and these same tariffs were approved
by both commissions.
Our haulers association, known as the Ohio
Ass'n of Film Haulers, who hold meetings in
Columbus at least once every year, has never
been approached regarding a meeting with
any group of exhibitors or exhibitors association
and I can assure anyone interested, if
such a request were received, we would be glad
to have such a meeting or if any individual
exhibitor wishes any information concerning
the tariff, his hauler would be glad to show
and explain it to him.
1836 East 23rd St.
Cleveland 14, Ohio
L. C. GROSS
OBSFRVKS IIIKTIID.W—IrvlnR Murcus,
NSS salesman in (levcland, is shown
here with his dauBhtt-r Carol, who rerrntlv
celebrated her tenth hirthclav.
Deiroit Ten! in Drive
For New Members
DETROIT—Variety Tent a is in the midst
of a vigorous campaign for membership under
the leadership of incoming Chief Barker Jack
Zide and Ernest T. Conlon. executive secretary.
The first new membership luncheon
was held Thursday (18) in the clubrooms at
the Tiiller hotel, and a lively interest in the
enlarged program of the organization for 1952
was manifest.
A special four-man advisory committe of
industry leaders was set up to cooperate
closely with the board of directors, elected
three weeks ago. Members of the committee
are; H. Edward Stuckey, Butterfield Theatres;
Arthur Robinson, circuit owner; Earl J.
Hudson, president of United Detroit Theatres,
and Adolph Goldberg, partner in Community
Theatres.
"A tremendous program of activities is now
in motion." Conlon said. "Our first step will
be to complete plans for the construction of
a Hollywood House, proceeds of which will
be Variety's contribution to the cerebral palsy
emancipation program. We plan to redecorate
and refurnish our clubrooms. Our charitable
program for providing movies for shutins
will be expanded. A committee will be
appointed on women's activities."
Universal Marks Record
Among Detroit First Runs
DETROIT—With major theatres generally
varying their openings in order to tak? care
of the holiday trade, resulting from complications
of a Thursday holiday, U-I scored
the unusual record of five first run bookings
playing at one time over the pre-Christmas
weekend. The record list includes two double
bills — "Because of You" and "Horizons West"
at the Michigan, and "The Black Castle" and
"The Raiders" at the Palms-State, together
with the second feature, "Pool of London," at
the Madison. All three are United Detroit
theatres. Some were slated to bow out with
the holiday bills, paced by "Bwana Devil" at
the Madison.
Chakeres Will Build
Morehead, Ky., Airer
MOREHEAD, KY.—The Chakeres Thcatren
Co., oix.'rator of 48 theatres In Ohio and X< !.-
tucky. and Ellis Johiuson, head foolbtiU c-y ..
at Morehead Stale college, will build a »100.-
000 drive-ln two miles i-unl of here on Hlith-
»ay 60. Gene Lutes. Frankfort. Kentucky
manager for Chakeres. said the firm had
completed a deal for purcha.sc of 12 acren of
land fronting on the highway.
He said that the ulrer will accommodate
300 cars. Chakeres also owns the Trail and
Mills theatres here.
Lutes said that ground-breaking for the
drlve-ln will be started Immediately and the
alrer will be opened next spring. EHU.' Johnson
will be manager of the theatre It had
been ."^ald formerly that Stanley Rnd)umui.
assistant Morehead coach, would be a partowner,
but Lutes said Radjunas would not be
connected with the drlve-tn.
BOWLING
CLEVELAND—National Theatre Supply
won three games from Encon Corp. In last
week's battle of the One Sixty Bowling
league. Local 160 team won three games
from Suprex Carbon, putting these two teams
temporarily in the lead. Standings are;
Tcom Won Lo«f T«om Won Lo«t
NTS '7 10 Encon IJ 14
Locol 160 16 11 Suprci • 1'
Gordon Bullock has raised his average 16
pins over last season. Rollo Snow turkeyed
out in the last frame to maintain his 114
average. Everyone is sorry for Earl Gehringer,
who is "batching" it while his wife spends
several months visiting her folks. C. G. Bosworth
of the Altec Corp., recently transferred
to Detroit, sends holiday greetings to his
Cleveland friends and former associates.
Joe Zill, projectionist, learned the hard way
that carpentering Ls not forte. Result of
bad timing is a bum leg that takes him out
of the bowUng league temporarily. Lew
Berger says it can't happen, but nevertheless
he rates a big zero in the first frame.
One Sixty Bowling league members send
season's greetings to the members of the
Detroit Nightingales.
DETROIT—With the first half of the
bowling season approaching an end, Amusemen
Supply i"^ 'ti'l ^av "P there.
Tcom Won Lost Tcom Won Loit
Amusement Sup 60 28 Ernie forbei .41 47
Not! Corbon 54 34 NTS 38 50
McArthur Equip 46 42 Locol 199 35 53
^Itee 44 44 Mount Vernon .34 54
High scores were rolled by Charles
Whitaker 256, total 552; Rot Tompson 238,
total 541: William Fouchey 216, total 532;
Donald Lewis 204, total 537: Edgar Douville
204, total 538; Golbert Light 509; Matt Raskin
192, total 531; Eddie Waddell 191. total
513; Nick Forest 190, total 516; Pete Newton
529.
Robert Enoch Plans New Ozoner
vaNE GROVE JUNCTION, KY—Robert T.
Enoch, president, reported Elizabethtown
Amusements. Inc.. will build a drive-in theatre
here.
Nothing is spared in poticnt's core ot omuscment
industry's WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL HOS-
PITAL.
BOXOFFICE December 27, 1952
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