Boxoffice-December.20.1952

. . Jack
. . Theatre
AM
CLEVELAND
prce coffee was served in the lobby of the
Mayland Theatre last week. The idea
didn't help set any attendance record, but
it did bring enough patron.s to the theatre to
put it at the top of the Modern Theatre circuit
grossers. according to P. E. Essick, president
of the chain. Nescafe provided the coffee
and all of the service without any expen.se to
the theatre . . . Echoe.s from Florida: Leon
Enkin. second in command of the Robins theatre
circuit, his wife and child are spending
a month in Miami with Mrs. Enkin's parents,
the Joe Robins . Share, UA salesman,
left Friday to celebrate the holidays with his
family . . . Abe Schwartz led the local caravan
to Miami.
Jim Abrose, Warner district manager, spent
a day here to confer with Manager Jerry
Wechsler. All of the Associated Theatres circuit
managers were guests of the company officials
at the annual Christmas dinner Monday
(22) in the HoUenden hotel . . . MGM
Manager Jack Sogg and Mrs. Sogg were
visited by their Son Alan, a pre-med .senior
Howard White, a
at Miami university . . .
newcomer in the industry, has joined U-I as
a student booker, thus bringing the Universal
booking department up to full strength for
the first time since George Bressler resigned
to join UA.
Bemie Ruben, head of Imperial Pictures,
was out shopping again. He closed a deal
with Ollie Unger for northern Ohio distribution
of Beverly Pictures, Film Classics
reissues, and also with Bell Pictures to distribute
two exploitation pictures. "Dance Hall
Girl" and "Waterfront Women" in a package
The Uptown Theatre was leased to
deal . . .
the Eaton Manufacturing Co. for Christmas
morning when the company staged a Christmas
party for its employes . business
was way down this week.
"Mascay" Svegel, longtime Republic booker
who hasn't been on Filmrow since the arrival
of her daughter Roberta, was a guest at the
Henry Brenner, former
Republic party . . .
manager of the Emba.ssy here and co-owner
with Bill Coella of the Vogue Theatre, New
ing Bob Cordell, a 21 -year-old singer, who
broadcasts over Detroit's radio station WKMH
and TV station WXYZ and also appears at
the Dixie-Belle night club. Brenner says
Coella will appear here at the Alpine Village.
Three cans of film, lost since the middle of
OUTtlANOINO
CRArrtMANSMIP AND INCINICniNO
X.jvember, turned up last week at the bottom
of a lake near Lisbon, Ohio. When last seen,
the films—two from Columbia and one from
Lippert—played at the Rex Theatre in Lisbon,
from where they were picked up at the
close of the show. The mystery of how they
got into the lake has not been solved . . . Departing
from former policies, there will be no
midnight stage shows at any of the downtown
houses. All will offer a special midnight show
of their regular program. However, while
Loew's State, Ohio and Stillman will maintain
its established 85-cent top price for this
performance, the Hippodrome. Warners' Allen
and the RKO Palace will charge $1 admission.
M. B. Horwitz' recently acquired Ohio Theatre,
Cuyahoga Palls, opened December 26
with the new foreign and art policy which is
being introduced in that area. An attractive
folder mailed to some 2,500 residents proclaims
that the theatre will regularly offer
double feature foreign and art pictures. Prices
are pegged at 65 cents for adults for first run
engagements and 50 cents for second run
showings. Children's admission is 20 cents
at all times.
DAYTON
pobert Kinsley, manager of the Davue Theatre
here for five years, has become
manager of the Dabel, succeeding Jack Wells,
who is leaving the theatre business. Robert
L. White of the Dale has become manager
of the Davue, and W. C. Stewart succeeds
White at the Dale.
"The Shrike," legitimate play, has been
booked for the Victory December 29-31 . . .
Three attractions were offered Wednesday
(10)—"Don Juan in Hell" and "Much Ado
About Nothing," both playing one-nighters,
and the final night of "Bell, Book and Candle."
The three attracted about 3,500 theatregoers.
The Dabel and Davue offered kiddy matinees
Wednesday (24) at 1:30 p.m. The Dabel
offered 14 color cartoons, while the Davue
presented a Roy Rogers feature and seven
color cartoons.
Robert G. Gump is the new chief barker of
Variety Tent 18, succeeding William E. Clegg.
Others elected are Harold H. Bolan, first
a.ssistant barker; Dr. A. J. Denlinger, second
assistant barker; Bill O'Donnell, property
master, and Paul E. Swinger, dough guy.
Special Yule Shows Given
By Michigan Theatres
DETROIT—Special plans for observance of
the Christmas holidays, offering patrons and
the public something extra as a seasonal gift,
were made by a number of theatres in this
area.
Typical was the presentation of special
carols by the Northern YMCA choir at the
Krim Theatre in Highland Park. Two appearances
were made, on the Fi-iday and
Tuesday prior to Christmas. The house is
operated by Sol Ki-im, as head of a longestablished
theatre family.
In northern Michigan at Cheboygan, a special
free show for children was reported.
This event, a genuine gift for the youngsters
from Santa Claus, was presented the day
before Christmas. The Kingston Tlieatre, offering
the show. Is operated by Mrs. Sam
Frallck and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Johns.
TOLEDO
The David Wolf family has moved into
new home on Groveland and Howe,
roads. He is owner of the DaWo Corp.. make
of equipment for drive-ins . . . Abe Ludacei
manager of Loew's Valentine, was among th
200 old newsboys who helped raise severs
thousand dollars for the Old Newsboys' Good
fellows Ass'n by selling a special charit;
edition of the Blade.
The Paramount offered a special treat fo
youngsters offering free admission to childrei
to see "My Pal Gus," when accompanied b;
parents. The program also included six colo
cartoons, Connee Boswell and orchestra am
newsreels.
The Princess featured a pre-Christmas fes
tival of hits, offering a different double-feature
program of returned hits each of thi
eight days before Christmas . . Franl
.
Manente, manager of Loew's Esquire, ha;
been elected treasurer of Toledo Lodge 22
Police Associates of Ohio, for the cominf
year. Officers will be installed at a dinnei
meeting January 13, at the Northwood inn
Ralph St. John, rounding out 22 years ai
cashier at the Town Hall Theatre, Lebanon
is quitting that post. St. John, who is widelj
known in Lebanon, is secretary-treasurer o:
the People's Building Loan & Savings Co.
Postal Slogan Is Used
To Boost Filmgoing
DETROIT—A campaign to resell the pub
lie institutionally on filmgoing is being,
launched by Floyd H. Akins, secretary of thei
Nightingales club. Adapting the frequent use
of postal cancellation slogans by business
firms to his new campaign, Akins is selling
the slogan, "See a Movie Twice a Week."
The phrase is typed on the envelope when it
is addressed and is certain to attract attention.
Placed on the back of the envelope, it
catches the eye of whoever opens the letter,
since most people, it has been found, turn a
letter over to cut it open from the back.
Manos Closes Two Houses
In Protest to City Tax
TORONTO, OHIO—The only two filitt
houses in Toronto, with a population of 7,500,;
have been shuttered by Manos Enterprises,
which claimed a city admission tax has made.
both houses unprofitable. The tax is two
cents for each adult ticket, and one cent oneach
child admission. In a referendum at thai
November election, city voters refused to
kill the tax.
The two theatres, part of a chain of 20i
which Manos operates in Ohio, have serve4<
the community for more than 30 years.
Sentence Ex-Manager to
Jail
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO—Willie J.
Isenhower, 25, a former manager of the theatre
in Newcomerstown operated by Manos
Theatres, has been sentenced to one to ten
years in Ohio penitentiary after pleading
guilty in Tuscarawas county common pleas
court to a charge of embezzling $2,161 from
the theatre firm. The sentence will run concurrently
with a one to seven-o'ear term given
him in Stai'k county common pleas court a
week earlier after he jjleaded guilty to a charge
of grand larceny.
BOXOFFICE :: December 27, 1952