Boxoffice-January.17.1953

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Patrons leaving the IKtz Theatre, Memphis, on "Donate As You Leave" admission policy, witl 

fishbowl as receptacle for contributions . . . Aeport on various "donation" plans on Page 14. 

Ik 

This Issue . . . 

romotiott 

Entertd as itcond-clais matter at tha Post Office at Kansas 

City, Mo. Publlshtd weekly by Associated Publications, 

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Sectional Edition, $3.00 pet year; National Edition, $7.50. 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION 

Including the Sectional Newt Pages of All Editions 

JANUARY 17, 1953

— 

YOU MUST Sfl THESE 

TWO M-G-M TRADE SHOWS! 

It is not enough for us to tell you that we have a new 

dramatic attraction of "Battleground" stature — 

You must see for yourself M-G-M's terrific 

production "BATTLE CIRCUS," with great 

performances by HUMPHREY BOGART 

and JUNE ALLYSON. 

It is not enough for us to tell you that M-G-M. has another 

smash Technicolor musical to follow "Million Dollar 

Mermaid" 

You yourself must see "I LOVE MELVIN," 

with those "Singin' in the Rain" kids DONALD 

O'CONNOR and DEBBIE REYNOLDS.

JAN. 23- BATTLE CIRCUS 

If 

It's in the cards! Yes, the audience -response cards from advance 

Previews are sensational. It is not too soon to predict a sock entertainment 

with "Battleground" thrills and with even more humor 

and romance than that famed production. Humphrey Bogart and 

June Allyson are simply terrific. The producer who gave his showmanship 

talents to the Bigness of "Ivanhoe" has come through with 

another winner in "BATTLE CIRCUS." 

IBANY 

TLANTA 

.OSTON 

^BUFFALO 

CHARLOTTE 

CHICAGO 

CINCINNATI 

CLEVELAND 

DALLAS 

DENVER 

)DES MOINES 

DETROIT 

'INDIANAPOLIS 

'JACKSONVILLE 

KANSAS CITY 

IDS ANGELES 

20th-Fox Screen Room 

20th- Fox Screen Room 

M-G-M Screen Room 



Warner Screen Room 

RKO Palace BIdg. Sc. Rm. 



Paramount Screen Room 

20th- Fox Screen Room 

Max Blumenthal's Sc. Rm. 


Florida State Screen Room 


United Artists' Screen Rm. 

1052 Broadway 

197 Walton St.. N. W. 

46 Church Street 

290 Franklin Street 

308 S. Church Street 

1307 S. Wabash Ave. 

16 East Sixth Street 

2219 Payne Avenue 

1803 Wood Street 

2100 Stout Street 

1300 High Street 

2311 Cass Avenue 

236 No. Illinois S«. 

128 East Forsyth St. 

1720 Wyandotte St. 

1851 S. Westmoreland 

1/2.1

'Smash Hit! This picture has four of tl| 

in life. It has warmth. It has laughter 

faith. Plus Danny Thomas. And what < 

personality is! He is an actor, hiess hi 

Peggy Lee is a distinctive doll-her 

grows on you! 'The Jazz Singer' is a 

to start off a Joyous NewYeai£ 

do«s>Nor 

RUTH WATERBURY 

in the 

Los Angeles 

Examiner. 

Mter.

I 

It 

greatest things there are 

has song. And it has 

plus this fantastic 

w 

\^ 

WITH 

SINCERE 

APPRECIATION 

TO ALL WHO 

CONTRIBUTED 

SO MAGNIFICENTLY 

PRESENT 

TO ITS MAKING 

WARNER BROS 

NOW 

/^ 

and a great one. 

irsonality 

y.- 

7

' 

MAKE EVERY DAY A HOLIDAY IN 

FEBRDARY! 

m 1 

Ml 

'*. . . and here is entertamment of 

the people and FOR THE PEOPLE"^: 

Ernest Hemingway s THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO, 

Technicolor, starring Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward and Ave Gardner. 

mm mm 

John Philip sousas 

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER, 

Technicolor, starring Clifton Webb, Debra Paget, Robert Wagner and Ruth Hussey. 

Daphne du Maurier's MY COUSIN RACHEL, starring two-time Academy 

Award winner Olivia de Havillond with the exciting new star, Richard Burton. 

RUBY GENTRY, starring Jennifer Jones, Charlton Heston and Karl Maiden. 

A Bernhard-Vidor Production. Released by 20th Century Fox. 

44-and these VALENTINES! ff 

NIAGARA, Technicolor, starring Marilyn Monroe, 

Joseph Cotten and Jean Peters. 

BETTE DAVIS m THE STAR costaring 

Sterling Hoyden. A Bert E. Friedlob Production. Released by 

20th Century-Fox. 

Irving Stones THE PRESIDENT'S LADY, 

starring Susan Hayward and Charlton Heston. 

TONIGHT WE SING, Technicolor, 

starring Ezio Pinzo, Roberta Peters, Tamoro Toumonova, Anne Bancroft, 

Isaac Stern, Byron Palmer, David Wayne and the voice of Jan Peerce. 

Soon . . .World Premiere, Radio City Music Hall. 

-/ cannot tell a He! These attractions 

are packed with dynamite and will make 

EVERY DAY A HOLIDAY IN FEBRUARY!" 

ao 

(BACK 

BROTHERHOOD WEEK'S SILVER ANNIVERSARY Feb. 15-22 KS)

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[JANUARY 

,Ai| Vol. 62 

1 7, 19 5 3 

No. 12 

ALLIED BOLTS THE DOOR 

=7 

«^^ HE h(i|)o that National .Mlicd uduld 

tHii(lil\ its positidii taken at its Chicapo coiiveiitioii 

relative to aibilialion went out the window 

when its board met in .New Orleans this week. 

.•\nd the "open door'" that was thought to e.xist 

has now^ been shjit tight and bolted, judging 

Irom the statement issued by the board and 

subsequent cotnnieiil thereon made by Wilbur 

Snaper. .Mlied jiresident. on his return to New 

ôrk. 

Mr. Snaper declares that "Allied has not dosed 

the door to further discussion of grievances with 

the distributors, BLT the discussions would have 

to be outside the jrameivork oj any arbitration 

plan." So tliat not only puts the matter oi 

settling trade disputes back where it was two 

months ago, but back where it was near!) a 

score of years ago. 

The thought that oiih the non-inclusion of 

film rentals in the distributors draft of arbitrable 

matters was the stumbling block has been given 

new meaning in the further comments by Mr. 

Snaper. He includes virtually all the other causes 

for grievance complaints under that one heading, 

namely, clearances, runs, percentages, advanced 

admissions, pictures and prints. And he adds, 

"everything involves rentals." 

Apparently overlooked is the fact that the 

arbitration draft in question DOES provide for 

dealing with clearance, runs, admission scales, 

competitive bidding, pre-release showings at advanced 

prices. If all of these things involve 

rentals, then rentals will be indirectly, if not 

directh, dealt with in hearings of complaints by 

arbitration boards. And from this experience 

there might, at long last, evolve a permanent 

Solution to this perplexing and vexatious problem. 

This sounds L topian. but we have in mind 

the arriving at a formula or pattern for filmpricing 

that would serve to provide a fair share 

of a theatre's grossing potential, both to the 

exhibitor and distributor. It would take f;pen 

minds, to be sure. But, only, if "pay-as-little-as 

possible" l)u\er 

practices and "get-all-the-trafficwill-bear" 

distribution practices are converted to 

RE.\LLY fair and honest dealing, will the pricehaggling 

ever be stopped. And onl\ then will 

some semblance of contentment abide and give 

both exhibitors and distributors more time to 

do the better job of selling their entertainment 

wares to the public, which, after all. is the best 

way to improve the financial status of all elements 

of the industry. 

Allied has chosen to pursue another course, 

namely, to seek out and bring evidence of law 

violation in connection with film-pricing policies 

and practices to the attention of government 

agencies and to the courts. Thus, it is believed, 

"exhibitor rights now flouted may be adequately 

protected." We wonder. 

Remembering that it took 12 years in the 

courts to obtain the consent decrees, which it is 

now charged are being violated, it is to be 

wondered how long it will take and whether the 

results sought can be obtained by again pursuing 

such a course. It should also be remembered 

that some of the unfair trade practices 

that are today working to the disadvantage of 

(^xhibitors, in some cases causing hardship, are 

the direct outgrowth of those very decrees that 

were expected to right the wrongs that existed. 

But the cure seems to have become worse than 

the 

disease. 

Parenthetically, further appeals to government 

agencies than have already been made, 

may result in government control of this industry 

(which has been threatened) and that 

would really make a mess of things! 

There is no denying that many exhibitors, 

particularly those in neighborhood and smalltown 

situations are hard-pressed by existing 

general conditions: that many are in desperate 

straits, due to a drop in gross and increa.sed 

cost of operations and, therefor(\ need film rental 

term adjustments and other alleviations in order 

to remain in business. But the problems, involved 

here and in less extreme cases, cannot 

be settled by court decree or by any punitive 

action that might be imposed. 

That goes for other problems that have beset 

the industry, most especially those resulting from 

court decisions referred to above. 

In many industries, arbitration has been found 

a boon. It has made possible the settlement of 

disputes and the resolving of trade practice 

problems that previously had been dragged 

through courts and had otherwise became aggravated. 

No one benefited—except the lawyers. 

But even they will admit that "a poor settlement 

out of court is better than the best judgment one 

can obtain through the courts." This industry 

many in it, at least—should know. 

The majority in this industry who have favored 

and staunchly supported the establishment of an 

arbitration system did not expect it to be allinclusive 

and perfect from the start. And, since 

the plan under way was not to be final but 

subject to a period of trial, it is difficult to 

understand what risk any individual or group 

could feel was so great as not to take that trial 

run. Especially since this was to be a purely 

voluntary move and court action could still be 

taken by those who chose it. 

Expression has been given to the view that 

the Department of Justice and federal district 

court, which must give their approval to an 

industry arbitration plan, will not do so, unless 

all exhibitor organization groujjs endorse it. For 

the good of the industry, we hope this is not 

true,"but that a majority exhibitor approval will 

prevail. 

\j£^vyj

ALLIED 

NO' TO ARBITRATION; 

WITHDRAW FROM DISCUSSIONS 

Board Decides to Gather 

Evidence on Violations 

Of Decree Provisions 

NEW ORLEANS—The board of Allied 

States Ass'n at its winter meeting here said 

"no" to the proposed industry arbitration 

plan for the second time, and ordered its 

representatives in the trade discussion to 

withdraw. 

Thus, the directors reaffirmed the action 

of the national convention held in Chicago 

several months ago. 

SNAPER SOFTENS THE BLOW 

Wilbur Snaper. Allied's president, softened 

the blow .somewhat by i.ssuing a subsequent 

statement in which he declared the a.ssociation 

had not closed the door to further discu.ssion 

of grievances with distributors, but 

that further discus.sions would have to be 

outside the framework of any arbitration 

plan. 

Tlie two-day se.ssion of the board, preceding 

the annual convention of the Gulf States 

Allied group, was a militant one. In addition 

to the arbitration stand, the directors okayed 

the following action: 

1. The association will go ahead with a 

plan to gather evidence nationally of law 

violations in connection with film pricing 

and distribution with a view of presenting 

the findings to the appropriate government 

agencies. This is in accord with 

the resolution presented to the Chicago 

convention by John Vlachos, president of 

the Michigan Allied group. 

2. The board bitterly scored the expanding 

policy of playing pictures on prerelease 

policies and using this practice 

as a means to demand terms which required 

increased admission prices. This 

procedure. Allied contended, violated two 

of the injunctions entered against the 

distributors in the decrees. 

3. Directors took note of the recent 

sale of 104 films to television by Republic 

and said that such a policy if continued 

by that company and adopted by other 

distributors could be "disastrous" for theatres. 

The board warned that the constant 

appearance of the Republic name 

on television may in the long run associate 

the name with free film entertainment 

and establish a public reluctant to 

pay for Republic pictures at the boxoffice. 

TURN DOWN FILM PRICES 

The decision to turn down arbitration was 

reached becau.se Eric Johnston, president of 

the Motion Picture Ass'n, made it plain the 

distributors would not consent to 

arbitration 

of film rentals. At the same time Johnston, 

in a letter to Snaper. said the distributors 

were willing to enter into discussion with 

exhibitor groups but the MPAA said that in- 

(Continued on Page 10) 

Sfatement on Arbitrafion Decision 

NEW ORLEANS—The board of Allied 

States Ass'n issued the following statement 

on its arbitration stand and protest to certain 

trade practices which it contends violate 

the antitrust decrees: 

"The board of directors having heard and 

fully considered the report of President 

Snaper in reference to arbitration and the 

letter from Eric Johnston on the subject is 

forced to the conclusion that these communications 

contain no proposals within the 

scope of arbitration or otherwise which 

would afford the exhibitor any relief from 

the distributor's pricing policies and practices 

which constitute the exhibitor's principal 

grievance and stand as a bar to the 

economic recovery and future welfare of the 

motion picture business. 

HIT AT PRERELEASE POLICIES 

"The condition is aggravated by the fact 

that during the negotiation looking to the 

establishment of an arbitration system the 

participating distributors not only continued 

to exact higher film rentals from the exhibitors 

on all classes of product, but designated 

for special treatment as roadshows or prereleases 

during that period more pictures 

than had been marketed by that method 

in five preceding years and this in spite of 

the fact that in the beginning and throughout 

the negotiations the exhibitor representatives 

of their organization affiliations 

cited that method as the chief source of 

complaint and strove for effective measures 

for curbing it. 

"The Allied board at this critical Juncture 

James Grainger Looms 

As RKO's President 

Hollj-wood—What appeared to be one 

of tlie principal stumbling blocks in negotiations 

for James R. Grainger, Republic 

sales chief, to 

switch over to 

RKO Radio as 

president of the 

latter company, 

appeared to have 

b e en eliminated 

on Thursday (151 

when Herbert J. 

Yates, Republic 

president, withdrew 

any objections 

to the move. 

RKO spokesmen 

James R. Grainger 

then expres.sed 

confidence that by week's end Grainger 

and Howard Hughes, RKO board chairman, 

would issue a joint statement announcing 

the signing of the contract and 

plans for the future. 

in the industry affairs objects to the film 

companies insisting upon retaining and increasing 

a practice which in its practical 

effect violates two of the injunctions entered 

against eight of them in the antitrust 

suit brought against them by the United 

States and has the further effect of withholding 

choice films from exhibitions in 

thousands of theatres at a time when mass 

attendance is so badly needed not only as 

an immediate .source of revenue but in order 

that the people may see and enjoy those 

films and recreate and re-establish the moviegoing 

habit. 

POINT TO CLEARANCE CHANGES 

"In order that there may be no mistaking 

our meaning when we say that the prerelease 

or roadshow method now being u.sed 

by the distributor violates court orders we 

point out the effect upon the regular clearance 

to which subsequent run theatres are 

subjected and additional and much longer 

clearance in favor of the prior run theatres 

which play the pictures first as a roadshow 

and then on regular release and has the 

further effect to create clearances over theatres 

and towns which have not heretofore 

been .subjected to any clearance. This 

extended clearance is not designed reasonably 

to protect the licensed theatre on the 

run granted it but is designed solely to increase 

the distributors revenue—a yardstick 

which the courts have said they may not 

use. 

"In addition, this method of marketing 

pictures presumes that the exhibitor shall 

increase his admission prices to an amount 

designated by the distributor and this usually 

almost invariably follows and constitutes the 

fixing of admission prices by agreement between 

the distributor and the eshibitor. 

"In the circumstances the board has no 

alternative but to reaffirm the program 

agreed to in Chicago which was to reject 

the distributor draft of arbitration plan 

and withdraw the officers from further participation 

in the negotiations." 

Snaper Again Elected 

Allied's President 

NEW ORLEANS—Wilbur Snaper. who was 

elected president of Allied States Ass'n last 

year after several years as a New Jersey 

Allied leader, was chosen to head the national 

a.ssociation for a .second term this week. He 

operates a circuit of theatres in New Jersey. 

Others elected included: 

Abram F. Myers, chairman of the board 

and general counsel, a post he has held from 

the date of Allied's organization: Ben Marcus, 

treasurer, who is an Allied leader in Wisconsin: 

John M. Wolfberg. secretary. Rocky 

Mountain Allied chief: and Stanley Kane, 

recording secretary, who is executive secretary 

of North Central Allied. 

BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953

INDUSTRY READY TO PUT BEST 

FOOT FORWARD ON THEATRE TV 

All-Important Hearings 

Before FCC to Draw 

Many Top Figures 

WASHINGTON—Film industry witnesses 

will tell the Federal Communications Commission 

that six SF>ecial theatre television 

channels are necessary to give the public 

the full advantages to be derived from this 

new form of entertainment. 

The FOG'S theatre TV hearings will resume 

on January 26. In accordance with a 

Commission ruling, requiring all participants 

wishing to present witne.sses to file a list of 

such witnesses together with summaries of 

testimony, the industry and American Telephone 

& Telegraph filed their lists and summaries 

on the deadline day, Monday (12 1. 

TO OPPOSE INDUSTRY POSITION 

AT&T will enter strenuous opposition to 

the industry position. That company will 

claim that it can handle theatre television 

network transmission more economically, can 

be in a position to do it faster, and can manage 

the job without sacrifice of channels 

which it claims are needed for other purposes. 

F. A. Cowan, engineering staff manager, 

long lines department, will describe Bell 

facilities in detail and will contend they can 

meet the technical transmission requirements 

of theatre TV as specified by the theatre 

interests, including among others those specifications 

having to do with bandwidth, 

definition 

and linearity. 

Cowan will liken the AT&T ability to meet 

those needs with its performance in relation 

to needs of broadcast television, and will also 

argue that the Bell system companies have 

already had considerable experience with 

successful handling of theatre TV programs. 

He will describe tests of existing Bell facilities 

to determine their suitability for the ten 

megacycle transmission outlined by the industry 

and will give cost figures. 

ARGUE THE ECONOMIC SIDE 

The ability of the Bell system to integrate 

its theatre television transmission service wtih 

its other services makes possible important 

economies in operations, in engineering and 

in the use of frequencies, he will argue. It 

will also permit development of theatre TV 

networks sooner than would otherwise be 

possible. 

F. M. Ryan, radio engineer of the AT&T 

department of operations and engineering, 

will contend that the common carrier bands 

in which frequencies might be assigned for 

theatre TV use are needed for anticipated 

common carrier use. 

Diversion of portions of common carrier 

bands to any type of exclusive use, such as 

theatre TV, would reduce their ultimate capacity, 

he will say. 

M. G. Wallace, commercial operating engineer 

of the long lines department, will testify 

that the Bell System now has over 30.000 

intercity miles of broadband facilities devoted 

to transmission of television programs, serving 

113 TV stations in 70 cities and also utilized 

for theatre TV. He will say that AT&T 

BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953 

Arthur Mayer .^. H. Fabian Truetnan Rembusch Kmanuel Irisi li 

To Present the Industry's TV Cose to 

plans to expand these facilities to meet increasing 

requirements. 

The film industry will counter with more 

than 30 witnesses, with Eric Johnston, president 

of Motion Picture Ass'n of America, giving 

a general outline of the reasons the industry 

seeks specific frequency allocations, 

potentials of theatre television, probable effect 

on the industry's economic and financial 

position. 

Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, 

will testify that there is a need for 

exclusive theatre television channels in order 

to insure competition within the service itself. 

Census Bureau Plans 

Wide Industry Survey 

WASHINGTON — The Census Bureau 

plans to learn for the first time such 

things as number of double features, age 

of film theatres, costs of theatre television 

programs and number of showings 

during the year in a new census of the 

film industry now in the planning stage, 

it was learned Monday (12). 

The new census of the film industry, 

part of a general census of manufacturing 

and business, is expected to be the most 

complete yet undertaken. 

There will be two separate questionnaires. 

One will go to production, distribution 

and service companies, with the 

other going to exhibitors. Tentative 

forms already have been sent to MPAA, 

TOA, Allied and other industry groups for 

comment. Actual mailing will not be 

undertaken until at least the end of this 

year. 

It is not anticipated that any results 

will be known before the end of 1954, at 

which time they will be far from complete. 

The complete story will not be published, 

it is believed, before mid-1955. 

the FCC 

Wilbur Snaper 

atid as between theatre TV and other services. 

Mitchell Wolfson, past president of the Theatre 

Owners of America, a TV station licensee 

and one of the first to install theatre television, 

will tell FCC that theatre television 

will not deprive home television of anything, 

but will make available to the mass American 

public for the first time new entertainment 

and cultural opportunities. 

Wolfson also will 

say many attractions are 

not now practical for viewing on home television, 

such as entire plays, operas, ballets, 

and that these can be presented on theatre 

television. He also will cite possible use by 

state, local and federal governments of theatre 

television conducted successfully by the 

Federal Civil Defense Administration in the 

use of TV for training programs. 

Channels of sufficient number and width 

must be provided if theatre television is to 

realize these potentials, he will contend. 

Theatre television is but a logical development 

of the film industry's constant search to 

improve the quality of its product and 

methods for its distribution and presentation, 

according to Wolfson. 

S. H. Fabian, chairman of National Exhibitors 

Theatre Television Committee, will discuss 

the organization and operation of that 

group and its cooperative efforts in conjunction 

with MPAA. As another pioneer installer 

of theatre television, he will attempt to .show 

from his own experience why theatre television 

requires and should have its own assigned 

frequencies. 

Theatre television must produce a picture 

comparing in quality to that obtained from 

35mm film, largely because the public would 

be dissatisfied with anything inferior, he will 

point out. 

Fabian will go into reasons why the industry 

asks six channels. 

Six chamiels would supply more competitive 

systems than there are currently in either 

radio or television networks. Exhibitor experience 

indicates that the greatest number of 

first run attractions ever being shown at one 

(Continued on page 10)

i 

I 

I 

' 

I 

Four More Congressmen 

Pose Anti-Tax Bills 

Representative Hand iN.J.) introduces measure 

ending all admission taxes while three 

removing only film theatre taxes are asked 

by Reps. Doyle ( Calif, i, McDonough ( Calif. 

and Van Zandt iPa.i. 

Do'wntown N.Y. Theatre Files 

$7,050,000 Antitrust Suit 

' 

Tribune, lower Manhattan house, charges 

Warner Bros., 20th Century-Pox. Universal- 

International and Skouras Theatres Corp., 

forced unreasonable clearance. 

RKO Receivership Action 

May Be Dropped in N.Y. 

Louis Kipnis, attorney for three stockholders, 

has until January 26 to make decision, 

and he intimates executive appointments 

may cause him to withdraw case. 

Towne Theatre Rehearing 

Is Asked to Be Denied 

Counsel for distributors file reply in Chicago 

circuit court, stating the appeal court 

verdict had struck a blow against the monopoly 

desired by the Towne in the Milwaukee i 

territory. 

•X 

' 

United Artists Is Seeking 

*Bwana Devil' Release 

May handle Arch Oboler's Natiu-al Vision 

feature for general release: sensational busi- 

| 

nccs reported for film in Los Angeles. San 

Francisco. Philadelphia and Detroit. 

* 

Sol Lesser Corporation 

Formed for 3-D Films 

Called Stereocinema, 12 programs of threedimension 

features and shorts will be produced 

yearly; to franchise approximately 600 

theatres throughout the world for exhibition. 

* 

RKO to Start Anniversary 

Sales Drive March 6 

Will commemorate 25th anniversary and 

is scheduled to run through June 25, according 

to Charles Boa.sberg, general sales man- ! 

ager; cash awards will be made to the 

winning branches. i 

* 

Seek Theatre TV Rights 

To Academy Awards 

Theatre Network Televiiiion asks the majors 

for permission to telecast the ceremonies 

March 19 to theatres; request concerns the 

appearance on the air of players under contract. 

* 

Four Withdraw Support 

Of Academy Ceremony 

Warners, Universal. Columbia and Republic 

drop contributions to Academy Awards in 

dispute over how the funds should be jpent; 

creates a crisis over 1953 financing. 

10 

j 

Theatre TV 

I Continued from Page 9i 

time in one citiy is not in excess of six. He 

will term the six channel proposal an attempt 

to reduce to a minimum and conserve 

the total 

amount of spectrum space required 

for a theatre TV service. 

He will agree with Wolfson as to the 

necessity of intercity and intracity theatre TV 

licenses being special common carriers, without 

special "eligibility" requirements or restrictions 

other than the statutory ones. 

Wilbur Snaper or Trueman Rembusch or 

both will testify for Allied on the "little 

man's" opinion of theatre television. This 

testimony will concern what theatre TV can 

do for a small exhibitor, his small tow-n theatre, 

and what it will mean to the community. 

STRESS SMALL EXHIBITOR NEED 

Allied will contend that theatre TV is one 

of the answers to the need of small independent 

exhibitors for new feature attractions, 

and that it would afford an opportunity for 

the first time for millions of Americans in 

small towns to see attractions that otherwise 

they never would see. 

Harry Brandt, president of the Independent 

Theatre Owners Ass'n. speaking for small 

independents in and around the metropolitan 

New York area, will stress the importance to 

small exhibitors of having a major feature 

attraction such as theatre TV would give at 

the same time as first run houses. Theatre 

television, he will say, can mean the difference 

between breaking even or making a 

modest profit to these exhibitors. 

Theatre television needs small independent 

theatres, since the .sum total of seats available 

in all the.se independent houses will enable 

theatre TV to book attractions which will require 

large audiences to make them pay, according 

to Brandt. 

Robert W. Coyne, special counsel of the 

Council of Motion Picture Organizations, will 

discuss the background and operations of that 

organization and will describe its interest in 

theatre television. 

Emanuel Frisch, president of the Metropolitan 

Motion Picture Ass'n and president of a 

New York City 35-house circuit, .speaking on 

behalf of big-city exhibitors, will say these 

theatre operators can and will u.se theatre 

television, and will say he does not see howtheatre 

TV can be profitable until channels 

are allocated and distribution facilities are 

erected. 

TO REPORT ON PUBLIC SERVICE 

Ai-thur 

Mayer, producer-exhibitor and former 

executive director of COMPO. will 

detail 

public service work of the film industry in 

peace and war. A representative of the 

American Medical Ass'n will discuss the practicality 

and effectivene.ss of closed-circuit 

television as a training medium and will reveal 

that when theatre TV is available. AMA 

will prepare a monthly clinic program for 

distribution to its members via that medium. 

others who will appeor in behalf of the industry 

will include: Robert Peel of the Bureou of Census, who 

will discuss the use of theatre TV for staff training 

purposes; Tom Meany, Collier's sports writer; Abe 

Lastfogel, of the William Morris talent ogency; 

Beniamin Fine, of the New York Times, who will 

discuss the .value of theatre TV to education; 5. M. 

Chortok, operetta producer; Rudolph Bing, manager of 

the Metropolitan Opera Co.; Gilbert Miller, theatrical 

producer; G. Griffith Johnson, of the Motion Picture 

Ass n; Richard Hodgson, president of Chromatic Television 

Laboratories; Andrew Inglis, MPAA engineer; 

Lester B. Isaac, Loew's projection director; Manfred 

Toeppcn, Terry Ramsaye and John Eberson. 

November Ticket Tax 

Collections Are Down 

WASHINGTON—November admissions 

tax collections were $24,835,819. according 

to the Treasury Department Monday U2i. 

lowest for any month since June and far 

below either the 831,294.629 collected in 

October or the S31.084.965 of November 

1951. 

November tax figures reflect actual 

October boxoffice receipts. The figures include 

all types of admissions except to 

roof gardens and cabarets and sale of 

over-price tickets of various kinds, but 

film theatre admissions make up most 

of the totals. 

Arthur Loew Reports Gain 

For MGM in Europe 

HOLLYWOOD—Continental Europe has, 

for the first time, surpassed other foreign 

areas as a market for Metro films, it was 

reported by Arthur Loew, president of Loew's 

International, at a studio luncheon after his 

arrival here from the east. Loew was accompanied 

by David Lewis, regional director for 

continental Europe, and Joe Vogel. vicepresident 

of Loew-'s Theatres. 

Loew declared the worldwide outlook in 

general is more optimistic than in many 

years, and said records have been established 

and broken successively by "King 

Solomon's Mines," "The Great Caruso," "An 

American in Paris," "Singin' in the Rain" and 

"Scaramouche." 

Japan also is becoming an important factor 

in the Far East, Loew reported, and added 

that in every country good pictures are doing 

equally good business. 

The luncheon was attended by studio executives 

including Dore Schary, vice-president 

in charge of production; E. J. Mannix, general 

manager, and department heads and 

producers. 

Allied Board Meeting 

(Continued from Page 8i 

vitations to participate in renewed conferences 

had not been accepted or turned down 

by exhibitor associations. 

Snaper in his statement said that the 

"matter of reaching an agreement with the 

distributors on trade practices is up to them." 

He said that he will name a strong committee 

to meet with them if they show sufficient 

interest. But, he let it be known, this would 

not be a meeting on arbitration. 

Film rentals are not the only stumbling 

block, he said. Tied in with rentals are 

clearances, runs, advanced admissions, pictures 

and prints— "everything involves rentals," 

he stated. He wanted to know what clearances 

are changed on certain pictures, and 

how it is "that circuits can obtain pictures 

at lower percentages than small independents." 

Antitrust Chief Resigns 

WASHINGTON—Newell A. Clapp resigned 

as head of the Department of Justice antitrust 

division, the D of J announced with 

his resignation effective on January 17. 

BOXorncE January 17, 1953

This one 

will have you 

standing 

on your head 

too! 

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New Equipment Big News, Too 

Third Dimension Rushing 

Toward Movie Screens 

Third-dimension motion pictures, bigscreen 

projection and other equipment improvements 

were big news in the trade this 

week. 

With the success of Cinerama in New 

York, Arch Oboler's "Bwana Devil" in Natural 

Vision in Los Angeles, and the British 

Tri-Opticon program at the Telenews Theatre 

in Chicago, new third-dimensional systems 

and big-screen projection plans were 

popping everywhere it seemed. 

TWO 3-DIMENSION SYSTEMS 

Inventors announced two entirely new 

third-dimension systems for projecting motion 

pictures, neither one of which require 

the use of polaroid glasses or other viewing 

devices. From almost every angle it looked 

like a revolution in equipment was under 

way—at least it will be if all the ideas projected 

turn out successful. 

Here are developments of the week: 

1. A third-dimensional system, called Tri- 

Dim, was reported tested successfully at Trotwood, 

Ohio, and to have been projected successfully 

on both a flat screen and beaded 

screen. It does not require special viewing 

glasses. 

2. In Fayetteville, Ark., a semi-retired engineer. 

Dr. Edgar Fuller, said he had closed a 

deal with a group of west coast exhibitors to 

show a third-dimension system he patented 

in 1938. It requires only the use of a grid or 

refracting mirror between the projector and 

screen to create a third-dimension effect. 

It does not require viewing glasses. 

3. At 20th Century-Fox it was announced 

that the company is experimenting with 

panorama-type pictures via both theatre projectors 

and television and it was planning to 

hold a demonstration of its big-screen system 

using 50mm film. 

4. Twentieth Century-Fox also will release 

a third-dimensional feature using its own 

process. Tests are underway on the coast for 

a large-screen French process which features 

a screen several times the size of the ordinary 

screen. This process utilizes 35mm film. 

TO MARKET NEW TV SCREEN 

5. National Theatre Supply Co.. at a 

regional sales meeting in Cleveland, announced 

it will place a large theatre TV 

screen for drive-ins as well as conventional 

theatres on the market about March 1. The 

screen will cost about the same as present 

screens. 

6. National Theatre Supply also displayed 

its new 3-D Excelite equipment for thirddimensional 

pictures. W. J. Turnbull, sales 

promotion manager, and J. W. Servies, vicepresident 

in charge of sales, said NTS has 

148 orders on the books for the equipment 

and estimated that about 388 installations 

would be made this year. The cost will be 

about $1,000 unless booth remodeling is required. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 17, 1953 

Third Dimension Tested 

Without Use of Viewers 

TROTWOOD, OHIO—The first successful 

test of a third-dimensional system, 

called Tri-Dim, was reported to have 

been made here this week. The announcement 

was made by Robert Gump. 

The system was developed by Stu Sheldon 

of Trotwood and William Heintz of 

Chicago. 

Gump said that Tri-Dim does not require 

any special screen nor does the 

viewer have to wear glasses. The system 

works equally well on a flat or beaded 

screen although for the test a Da-Lite 

beaded screen was used. 

The system Is the result of 18 years of 

research by Sheldon and Heintz. Sheldon 

said that all present cameras can be converted 

to take Tri-Dim pictures, which 

would enable studios to produce the product 

within a very short time. Theatre 

installation costs will be reasonable, he 

added. 

Dr. Henry Goldman, member of the 

state board of opthalmology, who acted 

as a consultant in the tests, declared that 

to the best of his knowledge this is the 

first time that a projected image on a 

flat screen had a depth equal to what 

the human eye .sees. 

Turnbull also said that because polaroid 

glasses, used to view third-dimension films, 

reduce light by about 50 per cent, a new 

high-intensity screen and high-intensity 

lamps are a must and, to obtain the light, 

generators mu.st be new or reasonably new. 

Without high-intensity light, the picture will 

not be clear. 

At the same time, Fox West Coast Theatres 

announced it had developed a new-type 

screen and was spending $150,000 to install 

it in 110 theatres in California and Arizona 

Called Polorama, it was developed under 

supervision of R. H. McCullough, the circuit's 

director of research and engineering. The 

screen has been hailed by Charles Skouras. 

circuit head, as providing greater depth to 

photography, eliminating eye strain, increasing 

Illumination and permitting projection 

without distortion. 

McCullough said the screen is seamless and 

perforated for best sound transmission and 

is custom manufactured for the width of 

the theatre and angle of projection involved. 

At the National Theatre Supply sales meeting 

in Cleveland, representatives from the 

central district were present, in addition to 

home office executives and a num.ber of 

executives of equipment manufacturing firms. 

Servies, Turnbull and John Goshhorn of the 

theatre seating department represented the 

home office. 

California Exhibitors 

To Show Arkansan's 

3-Dimension System 

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.—A new process for 

showing third dimension motion pictures 

which uses standard projection and ordinary 

film and creates the illusion of depth by 

merely placing a grid or refracting mirror 

between projector and screen was announced 

here this week. 

Dr. Edgar I. Fuller, semi-retired engineer 

now living here, said he had authorized a 

group of west coast exhibitors headed by 

M. J. Naify to assume motion picture rights 

for the process, and that a demonstration for 

theatremen will be held on the coast January 

20. 

Naify, who is a.ssociated with United California 

Theatres, Golden State Theatre and 

Realty Corp. and T&D Enterprises, Inc., 

closed the deal last week. 

Dr. Fuller revealed that he had patented 

his invention in 1938 and it calls for use of 

the grid or refracting mirror placed between 

the projectors and the screen, "to achieve 

the illusion of a third dimension—of depth, 

roundness, and softness in images." 

The method does not require special glasses 

of any kind, and utilizes standard 35mm 

projectors and film. Dr. Fuller said the 

refraction device is the secret of the system, 

and explained that he had worked on it for 

a great many years before patenting it. He 

bases it on a series of intricate mathematical 

equations. 

He first applied for a patent in 1935 when 

he was employed as an engineer for the late 

C. M. Joiner, noted Texas oilman. He has 

been perfecting it ever since, but until the 

current interest in third dimensional motion 

pictures made no effort to place it into production. 

The Associated Press contacted Naify in 

San Francisco, and the circuit owner said he 

was acting as Dr. Fuller's agent in arranging 

demonstrations of the system. While not revealing 

details of the deal, he said it would 

possibly involve a million dollars. 

The plan is to charge exhibitors a rental 

for using the system in their theatres, with 

Fuller getting a percentage of the annual 

rentals. If the system proves practical, all 

an exhibitor will have to do to provide third 

dimensional films is to rent the refracting 

mirror and use it on his regular projector 

and in connection with any film he books. 

The inventor said his patent runs for some 

years yet. At present he is working on a 

method which will make it adaptable for 

television. His agreement with Naify is for 

motion picture theatres only. 

Natural Vision Will Make 

Its Own 3-D Equipment 

LOS ANGELES—Natural Vision, the third 

dimensional system used for the current 

"Bwana Devil," now has an equipment-manufacturing 

associate. The company which 

created the system has formed a firm to 

manufacture booth equipment necessary to 

show the product. The aim is to supply exhibitors 

with equipment to synchronize projectors 

during the current heavy demands for 

playdates. A kit with necessary equipment 

will be available, for installation by projectionists. 

13

REPORT TO THE INDUSTRY 

THE 

DONATE AS YOU LEAVE' PLAN 

The Score After Four Months of Testing: 2 Successes, 2 Failures 

Pour months ago. L. A. Gillespie, operator 

of the Avalon Theatre in Oakanogan and the 

Orado Theatre in Oroville. both in the .state 

of Washington, got nationwide pubhcity by 

abolishing the admission scale and introducing 

a policy of "donate-as-you-leave." This, 

he did in protest against both local and federal 

admission taxes. Customers got in free, 

donated what they wanted on the way out. 

The pubhcity Gillespie obtained apparently 

spurred theatremen in at least three other 

cities to try .similar plans, and generated discussion 

of the "donation" policy among many 

exhibitors. Those who tried it apparently had 

obtained .some as.surance from Internal Revenue 

Bureau officials that the donations could 

not be taxed, as there have been no reports of 

objections by the Bureau. 

This week, BOXOFFICE asked its field 

staff to report on the success or failure of the 

plan in the Gillespie situations. St. Paul. Columbus 

and Memphis. Correspondents report 

a standoff decision. The policy continues in 

two situations and has been dropped in the 

others. 

In Oakanogan and Oroville, where it all 

started, "the operation was a success but 

the patient died." The plan is doing well in 

Memphis and is improving in Columbus but 

it has been dropped at the State Theatre in 

St. Paul. Tlie Washington state theatres 

are cio.sed. but Gillespie says that by introducing 

the plan he called nationwide attention 

to the distress situation of many theatres 

because of admissions taxes, and the pay-asyou-please 

system brought many new patrons 

into the theatres. 

Following are reports from situations where 

the plan was tried out: 

he said, "so it came out about even—and without 

the tax," he added. 

He had no trouble at all with the Internal 

Revenue Bureau, Gillespie said. He reported 

his collections as "donations" and stated that 

no tax was included. 

Yet, even though he was satisfied with the 

way the plan was working, Gillespie closed 

his two houses the first of the year, explaining, 

"I refuse to be milked any further by this 

exorbitant tax; 27 per cent of my gross is too 

much of a load to carry. I am now negotiating 

with my city government for a reduction and 

hope to reach a compromise so that I can 

reopen." 

Columbus, Ohio 

COLUMBUS—Average receipts under the 

free admission plan at the Little Theatre 

here, operated by H&S Theatres, are on the 

slight upgrade after two months under the 

plan, said Lee J. Hofheimer, co-owner of the 

North High Street neighborhood house, which 

seats 321 patrons. 

"Following several days of above average 

business at the start of the plan early in NommilhmMmMm^.m^^ 

tive to audiences, said Hofheimer. 

Memphis, Tenn. 

MEMPHIS—Average per patron donation is 

50 cents. The former admission was 60 cents. 

Crowds are definitely larger than before 

the plan was put into operation. 

Expenditures for confections have increased 

over the old admission policy. Per patron 

expenditures for confections have increased, 

too. And there are more people in the theatre 

at every show than formerly. 

After three weeks operation on a "pay as 

you please" policy, these are the results of 

the Ritz Tlieatre at Memphis, owned and 

operated by David Flexer, head of Flexer Theatres, 

Inc., Mr. Flexer told BOXOFFICE. 

How long will this DAYL (Donate As You 

Leaved policy continue? 

"We do not know," said Flexer. 

Will it become permanent? 

"It was never intended to be a permanent 

policy," Flexer replied. 

"We wanted to do two things. We wanted 

Oakanogan, Wash. 

OAKANOGAN, WASH. — "The 'pay what 

you please plan' that I started four months 

ago," reports L. A. Gillespie, owner of two 

Wa.shington state theatres— the Avalon in 

Oakanogan and Orado in Oroville— "certainly 

produced the desired effect: that of calling 

national attention to the iniquitious amusement 

tax. 

"But it did more than that," says Gillespie. 

"It brought into my theatres a whole new 

audience, people who hadn't been to the 

movies in years. They saw my previews and 

would then return and pay the regular admission 

charges to see the new shows." 

Gillespie worked his "donation honor system." 

as he called it, one or two changes a 

week, generally in the middle of the period, 

for two to four days, depending on the quality 

of the bill. His schedule was Sunday and 

Monday: Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday: 

and Friday and Saturday. The average donation 

for adults came to around 30 cents, with 

7 cents each for the children. He found that 

the teenage group was the only one who took 

advantage of the situation. They averaged 

only 18 cents each. 

Confection sales boomed, doubling in many 

cases, Gillespie found. "What they didn't pay 

in admission, they paid for in refreshments," 

THE RITZ, MEMPHIS . 

vember," Hofheimer continues, "receipts 

showed a leveling off as the novelty lessened. 

But in the past several weeks, we've noticed a 

slight increase. We're losing less money under 

the donation plan than we did with the conventional 

admission system." 

The net average per person has hovered 

around 27 to 29 cents at the Little. Previous 

net was 33 cents per adult patron and 17 cents 

per child's ticket. The city's 3 per cent gro.ss 

receipts tax still is in force and applies to 

the money received in donations, Hofheimer 

pointed out. The Little has had no word from 

agents of the Internal Revenue Bureau. The 

Little is one of five conventional houses and 

one drive-in operated by H&S Theatres. 

Albert Sugarman is a partner with Hofheimer. 

. . 'Donate os You Leave' Pays Off 

Hofheimer said that about the only patrons 

who have not given voluntary donations have 

been teenagers who "do it for a gag." Hofheimer 

said that attendance is "way up" over 

the previous average and that the concession 

busine-ss has doubled. The donation policy 

will be continued as long as it proves attracto 

call the Ritz to the attention of a lot of 

people who are not attending movies. We 

have succeeded in doing that. Second, we 

wanted more people to see the type of pictures 

we are showing and we have succeeded 

there too." 

Joe Simon, Ritz manager, pointed out that 

the Ritz under the DAYL policy has become 

an art theatre and ha-s been showing art pictures. 

"Oiir attendance has been better than average 

since the new policy started." Simon said. 

"We believed that if more people would see 

these pictures they would like them. And 

they do. They tell us .so as they leave." 

Children have been no real problem, it was 

learned from employes of the theatre. Some 

do not donate as they leave but it is because 

they have spent their money for confections 

during the show. 

Operations have been profitable up to now. 

A terrific "teaser" publicity campaign preceded 

the Ritz policy. Newspaper advertise- 

14 BOXOFFICE 

:: January 17, 1953

ments, cards on street cars, billboards, radio 

and television announcements asked: "What 

is 

DAYL?" 

There was much talk about "DAYL," lots of 

guesses. 

Then on the Sunday before Christmas day, 

Ritz announced in the new.spapers and on 

the radio the answer was "Donate As You 

Leave" would be the Ritz policy starting 

Christmas day with a new picture. 

A big banner across the front of the theatre 

reads: 

"Admission FREE. Donate As You Leave. 

Admission FREE." 

A sign on the Boxoffice says; "Welcome 

Admi.ssion Free. DAYL." 

There is no cashier in the boxoffice. 

She stands beside a goldfish bowl at the exit. 

A sign beside the bowl says; "We will 

gladly make change for you." 

That is all. 

Some see the show and leave without making 

a donation. That's O.K., too. Nothing 

is .said to them. 

The advertisements .say come and see the 

show free, pay what you think it was worth. 

The average couple drops in a $1 bill as 

they leave. 

Some family groups, four or five, drop in 

only $1. 

Other couples drop in more than $1 and 

other family groups $1.50 or $2. 

St. Paul, Minn. 

ST. PAUL. MINN.—The State Theatre here, 

located just outside the Loop, has abandoned 

its experiment of one free night a week when 

the boxoffice was closed and patrons, entering 

the house without buying a ticket, could 

donate what they felt the entertainment was 

worth if they chose after seeing the show 

gratis. 

Management said that, helped by a considerable 

amount of free publicity and wordof-mouth, 

the plan did well the first week, the 

Tuesday proceeds from voluntary contributions 

and increased sale of popcorn and candy 

leaving the theatre better off financially than 

it had been on the same nights during preceding 

months. 

However, there was a falling off both in 

attendance and in contributions and refreshment 

sales on the second Tuesday. And on 

the third Tuesday the "freewill offering" fell 

off still further and was not offset by popcorn 

and candy profits. Accordingly, the plan 

was abandoned after the third Tuesday. 

The plan also brought into the theatre 

many undesirables, including young rowdies. 

Tuesday and most of the other nights are still 

a "problem" for the theatre, with the operation 

difficult here the same as at many other 

outlying houses, but it feels it's better off 

charging the admission and operating conventionally 

on Tuesdays now than it would be 

if it retained the free stunt. 

New Pact to David Lipton 

NEW YORK—David Lipton, vice-president 

of Universal Kctures Corp. in charge of 

publicity, advertising and exploitation, has 

been given a new three-year contract running 

to Dec. 31, 1955, calling for a salary of $1,000 

per week until Dec. 31, 1953, with an increase 

of $100 per week for the remaining two years 

of the pact. His living expenses will be paid 

when he is not working in California. 

A ROSY REPORT ON STATUS OF INDUSTRY 

Wall Street Journal Finds 

Something to Cheer About 

NEW YORK—The Wall Street Journal, 

which has published some brutally downbeat 

stories on the prospects of the film business 

in the last several years, this week finds 

the outlook definitely on the bright side 

as of January 1952. 

In a nationwide roundup of theatre business, 

the financial paper comes up with this 

type of upbeat information: 

National Theatres, with its circuit of 

more than 500 theatres, sagged about 4 

per cent in 1953 as compared to 1951 

business, but December receipts ran about 

12 per cent over a year ago. 

United Paramount Theatres, biggest circuit 

in the country, ran 11 per cent above 

December 1951 business, and its dip for 

the entire year was about 2 per cent. 

In Texas, Raymond Willie, general manager 

of the Interstate circuit, reported 

1952 ticket sales were on par with those 

in 1951, but that Christmas business was 

15 per cent over a year ago. 

Excellent product now available is given 

as the reason for the unusually heavy holiday 

and post-holiday business by exhibitors 

interviewed in the Journal roundup. The reports 

of record business during the holiday 

season substantiated reports published in 

BOXOFFICE early this month. Managers of 

key houses in several cities said they felt 

television had either reached a saturation 

point or viewers were becoming bored with 

the programs. 

An unidentified Chicago exhibitor was 

quoted as saying that the weeding out of 

some of the weaker houses was leaving more 

business for the theatres remaining in business, 

and a Cleveland manager suggested that 

filmgoers are finding more cash for entertainment 

after paying oft heavy debt loads 

for cars, refrigerators and other heavy appliances 

they took on after the .start of the 

Korean war. 

The industry will be helped by the anticipated 

admissions tax repeal, the introduction 

of three-dimensional pictures, use of 

17 Neighborhoods Join 

In 2 for 1 Ticket Plan 

MINNEAPOLIS—In a move to boost 

business, 17 neighborhood and suburban 

theatres have started a co-op two-for-one 

admi.ssion plan. The theatres are selling 

"privilege books" at $2, each containing 

68 tickets. One of these tickets, when 

accompanied by a paid admission, admits 

two. 

Only independent exhibitors are in on 

the plan, and they are merchandising the 

sale through display advertising and by 

opening a Loop office where they can be 

purchased. The Minnesota Amusement 

Co., UPT affiliate, is "studying" the plan 

before deciding whether to make a similar 

offer to patrons. 

improved larger screens and widespread renovation 

of theatres, according to the Journal. 

The roundup article, however, pointed to 

the steady decline which theatre receipts had 

shown since the top year of 1946. National 

Theatres was down 40 per cent from the 

peak, and claimed that nationally receipts 

were down 20 per cent under the 1947 take. 

WB Sells 37 Houses; 

Must Divest 24 More 

NEW YORK—The sale of 37 theatres, of 

which 31 were owned in fee, during the fi.scal 

year ended Aug. 31, 1952, is reported in the 

annual report of Warner Bros. This total included 

nine theatres required to be divested 

under the consent decree. One additional 

theatre, owned in fee and subject to divestiture, 

was sublet. Leases, on three, one of 

which was a divestiture theatre, were canceled, 

and the lease on one expired. 

Since August 31, three theatres have been 

sold, one of which had to be divested. Leases 

on two were canceled, the lease on one expired 

and one subject to divestiture was sublet. 

Contracts have been signed for the sale of 

three theatres, one of them a divestiture theatre, 

and another is a theatre mentioned 

above as having been leased. 

Since the con.sent decree was entered, 30 

theatres subject to divestiture, including those 

listed here, have been disposed of by sale, sublease 

and cancellation or expiration of leases. 

The Department of Justice has extended to 

July 4 the date for the divestiture of the remaining 

24 theatres. The decree also provided 

that a maximum of 27 other theatres might 

have to be divested. Eleven of them have 

been disposed of and no theatre is at present 

affected by the contingencies. 

The decree provided that no person affiliated 

with a theatre circuit can be elected an 

officer or director of the new theatre company 

unless approved by the attorney general 

and the court. That provision applies to S. H. 

Fabian, president, and Samuel Rosen, treasurer, 

of Fabian Enterprises, which is buying 

the Warner houses. The attorney general, as 

a condition to approving the election of 

Fabian and Rosen, has required divestiture 

of theatres in three cities where no first run 

theatres are operated by others than the company 

and Fabian Enterprises. Negotiations 

looking toward their divestiture are going on, 

and when closed, the approval of Fabian and 

Rosen as officers and directors of the new 

company is expected to be embodied in a 

court order, and the stockholders will be asked 

to approve the company's consent to the order. 

The decree requires that the distributionproduction 

and theatre companies must be 

operating independently of each other by 

April 4 and must not have any common officers, 

directors, agents or employes. 

The annual report also noted that Warner 

Bros, installed large-screen television systems 

in eight more theatres during the year, 

increasing the total to 13. 

BOXOFnCE :: January 17, 1953 15

THREAT OF SENATE INQUIRY 

INTO UPT-ABC TYPE MERGER 

Senator Tobey Questions 

Legality; May Call for 

Outlawing Legislation 

WASHINGTON — The Department of 

Justice has asked that "appropriate attention" 

be given to certain antitrust factors 

in the proposed merger of United Paramount 

Theatres and American Broadcasting 

Corp. and Sen. Charles W. Tobey (R., 

N.H.) has sent another of his telegrams 

about the case. 

HEARING IN TWO WEEKS 

Tobey's second wire, the contents of which 

became known on Monday (12 1, followed by 

one day a Federal Communications Commission 

meeting at which it was learned that 

the FCC voted to approve the merger with 

only Commissioner Frieda Hennock dissenting 

and asking for "a couple of weeks" in 

which to write her dissent. The voting was 

almost as unanimous on other issues, it was 

reported, with a 5-2 split on some phases. 

Tobey's wire, in which reference was made 

erroneously to an ABC-Paramount Pictures 

merger, read in part. "The Senate Committee 

on Interstate and Foreign Commerce will hold 

a hearing sometime in the next two weeks to 

determine whether or not the proposed UPT- 

ABC merger is legal and whether or not in 

the public interest and whether it would be 

helpful to prepare and pass legislation to 

prevent mergers of this kind in the future." 

A letter to Paul A. Walker, FCC chairman, 

from Attorney General James McGranery 

was also made public on Monday (12), 

along with the FCC reply which, in effect, 

told the Justice Department it had missed 

the boat completely on the ABC-XJPT case. 

McGranery emphasized that the Justice 

Department was not making actual recommendations 

to a verdict, but said some of the 

factors that should be considered included 

whether approval of the merger might "encourage 

a general integration of the motion 

picture exhibition industry with the radio 

and telecasting industries" which could well 

lead to "serious competitive problems" as a 

result of "the control of such important segments 

of the visual entertainment field by a 

few dominant companies." 

RAISES EXHIBITION POINT 

McGranery raised the question of whether 

film exhibition interested "placed in a position 

to do so" might not protect their theatre 

investments from TV competition by hampering 

the development of televi-sion, and in any 

case, he said, "the incentive to improvement 

that comes from active competition will 

inevitably be lost under common control." 

The attorney general indicated that if the 

UPT-ABC merger were to be approved others 

of like nature might follow and the development 

of the television industry might be 

"subordinated to the interests of the motion 

picture industry." 

Merging of exhibitor and TV interests, he 

continued, "would impede the entry of new 

business enterprises into any phase of these 

industries" and the merged company would 

have advantages in bidding for attractions 

UAs Gross for 1952 

Up by 50 Per Cent 

NEW YORK—The United Artists world 

gross for 1952 was $30,000,000. an increase of 

50 per cent over the $20,000,000 for 1951, 

according to Arthur B. Krim, president, in 

his "progress report" to the tradepress Thursday 

(15). 

The increase in profits will be at a lesser 

rate, mainly because of higher costs, increase 

in selling manpower and the fact that the 

company still took on costs of write-offs 

before the current executive group came into 

UA, Krim said. 

The company has made "substantial progress" 

on three points in 1952, according to 

Krim: (1> At least four UA releases, "High 

Noon," "The African Queen," "Limelight" and 

"Breaking the Sound Barrier," were on practically 

every "best ten" list and UA won 

three out of the five awai'ds given by the 

not available to a firm without such connections. 

Walker's reply did not point to the fact that 

the counsel for the FCC's own broadcast 

bureau, Frederick Ford, had devoted many 

pages of his "proposed findings" and at least 

half an hour of his oral arguments to development 

of exactly the same arguments. He did 

remind McGranery that the D of J had been 

kept advised of all proceedings in the case 

and had nevertheless informed FCC that it 

was not in a position to take any formal 

part in the case. That was on December 29. 

1951. and since then the Department has 

never requested intervention or participation 

of any kind. 

Victory for the Majors 

In Dallas Trust Suit 

DALLAS—A directed verdict for the majors 

and the Interstate circuit in the five-year-old 

antitrust suit brought by Tivoli Realty Co. 

and I. B. Adelman. owners of the Delman 

Theatre here, was returned in federal court 

here this week. Judge William H. Atwell of 

federal district court instructed the jury to 

bring in such a verdict after less than three 

days of testimony. He said the plaintiffs 

failed to prove conspiracy to deprive the Delman 

of the run and product it wanted. 

Judge Atwell held that when the distributors 

decided that the competing Village Theatre 

was the outstanding theatre in North 

Dallas and could provide the most profitable 

run they were acting independently and in the 

exercise of their separate business judgments. 

They had the legal right, he said, to select 

the customers to whom they wished to 

license their product. 

Loew's, RKO Radio, Paramount and 20th 

Century-Fox had offered product to the Delman 

on a competitive bidding basis. 

New York film critics: (2) The directorial 

talent which gravitated to the independent 

field for UA release included Anatole Litvak, 

Otto Preminger, John Huston, Lewis Milestone, 

Mark Robson and Carol Reed: and (3) 

UA had two "block-busters," "High Noon" 

and "The African Queen," which were among 

the eight biggest grossers of 1952. "Noon" had 

$2,500,000 in sales in 18 weeks, the fastest 

liquidation in UA history. 

The company has eight pictures for 1953 

which are potential biggest grossers for the 

year. Krim also said UA has set the 36 

features for 1953 and is now finalizing plans 

for 1954 production. Krim is awaiting the 

results of current negotiations for "Bwana 

Devil," Arch Oboler's natural-vision feature, 

which UA will probably buy outright for 

world distribution. 

Lippert Will Release 12 

January Through May 

CHICAGO—Twelve releases, all completed 

and either awaiting release or in various editing 

stages, will constitute Lippert Pictures' 

distribution program for the first five months 

of 1953. franchise holders were informed by 

President Robert L. Lippert at a two-day 

meeting here Saturday and Sunday (10. 11). 

Following the parleys. Lippert proceeded to 

New York with Arthur Greenblatt. general 

sales manager, for a week of huddles before 

returning to his headquarters in Hollywood. 

Heading the lineup of new product are 

"The Tall Texan." starring Lloyd Bridges. 

Lee J. Cobb, Marie Windsor and Luther 

Adler, and "I'll Get You," with George Raft 

and Sally Gray. Two science-fiction entries 

are "Spaceways," toplining Howard Duff, and 

"Project X." A1.SO available will be "Bad 

Blonde," starring Barbara Payton: "Bachelor 

in Paris," with Dennis Price; "Park Plaza 

605." starring Tom Conway: "Chu Chin 

Chow." a musical: two Romulus productions. 

•Twilight Women" and "The Little Big Shot," 

and a feature-length cartoon in Technicolor. 

"Johnny, the Giant Killer." 

Williams Leaves Fox 

For Television Post 

NEW YORK—Phil A. Williams has resigned 

his sales post with 20th Century-Fox to enter 

the television field. For the past year he has 

been sales manager of the 20th-Fox television 

productions and assistant to the short subjects 

sales manager. 

Prior to joining Fox. Williams was sales 

manager for the March of Time and served 

in various capacities with the Time. Inc., 

organization since 1937. He will announce his 

new connection next week. 

16 BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN 

COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR 

IS SMASHING EVERY RECORD IN EACH 

OF ITS PRE-RmsfENGAGEMENTS 

ATM 

CRITERION and PARIS, NEW YORK 

(by 25%) 

COLONYJIAMI BEACH (5,2.., 

ASTOR, BOSTON », m, 

BEVERLY WARNER, BEVERLY HILLS »>»«>

— 

Disney 1952 Net Gains 

Over Previous Year 

HOLLYWOOD—Showing a substantial increase 

over the previous period, the consolidated 

net profit of Walt Disney Productions 

for the fiscal year ending Sept. 27, 1952, was 

$451,809, equal to 69 cents a share on 652,840 

shares of outstanding common stock, it was 

revealed by President Roy O. Disney in his 

This compares 

annual report to stockholders. 

with a profit of $429,840—equal after preferred 

dividends to 65 cents a share of common—in 

the preceding year. The preferred 

was redeemed on Jan. 1, 1951. 

GROSS INCOME FOR YEAR 

Gross income for the 1952 fiscal year 

amounted to $7,722,819, compared with $6,287,- 

539 the year before. President Disney explained 

that the 1952 gross only slightly reflects 

returns from "Robin Hood." which was 

released in June, and said principal sources of 

feature picture income were "Alice in Wonderland" 

and the reissue of "Snow White and 

the Seven Dwarfs." 

Outstanding debentures were reduced by 

$391,580 during 1952, and at the end of the 

fiscal year there remained outstanding $268,- 

630 from the original 15-year obligation of 

$1,364,200 incurred in 1945. The $57,085 balance 

of a long-term $1,000,000 serial loan obtained 

in 1948 was entirely paid off in December 

1951. 

Disney's report revealed that the company 

has more product scheduled for distribution 

during the 1953 fiscal year than in any previous 

time in its history. 

Among these will be the first full-length 

feature in the Ti-ue Life Adventure series 

called "The Living Desert" and described as 

a "saga of creature life in the wastelands." 

He predicts this will lead to a new era for the 

True Life series. 

Another short also has been completed in 

this series. It is called "Bear Country," and 

will run with "Peter Pan," "Prowlers of the 

Everglades" and "The Sword and the Rose," 

live-action feature, which will go into work 

in England in April. 

As previously announced, there will be a 

special called "Mickey's Birthday Party," in 

honor of the 25th anniversary of Mickey 

Mouse. 

ANOTHER NEW SHORTS SERIES 

Another new series of shorts will be called 

"Adventures in Melody," which will be introduced 

this year. It will show various facets 

of music and will have educational as well 

as entertainment value. It will treat of such 

subjects as melody, musical instruments and 

even the human ear. 

Also in work and aimed for 1954 release is 

a humorous dog story called "Lady and the 

Tramp." a cartoon feature. 

Plans have been completed for filming 

"Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue," an adventure 

story, which is to be made in Scotland 

and England, with Richard Todd as Rob Roy. 

Another True Life number in work is "The 

Prairie Story," scheduled for 1954; "Sleeping 

Beauty," an all-cartoon feature, and Jules 

Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," a 

live action feature in Technicolor. 

AWARD TO PASCAL—Gabriel 

Pascal 

(center) producer of the George Bernard 

Shaw classic, "Androcles and the Lion," 

receives the Parents' magazine special 

merit award from Phil Wilcox (right).. 

Looking on is Richard Condon, advertising, 

publicity and exploitation manager 

for RKO Radio, distributor of the motion 

picture. 

Columbia Sales Force 

Confers on 'Salome' 

CHICAGO—Columbia's sales forces, headed 

by A. Montague, general sales manager, began 

what is believed to be the first sales convention 

ever devoted to one picture at the Drake 

hotel Friday (16). The picture was "Salome," 

Technicolor film starring Rita Hayworth and 

Stewart Granger and co-.starring Charles 

Laughton. 

Home office executives of both the domestic 

and international corporations attended. There 

was a cocktail party and dinner and a screening 

of the picture on the program for the first 

day. 

Paul N. Lazarus jr. went into a discussion 

of the advertising and promotion plans for 

the film at the opening session Satiu-day and 

told those present it would be given a premiere 

in the spring. 

Montague took over Saturday afternoon and 

outlined the liquidation policy that will be 

pursued. 

Tho.se present included: Jack Cohn, Montague, 

Lazarus, Rube Jackter, Louis Astor, Louis 

Weinberg, Irving Wormser, George Josephs, 

Maurice Grad, H. C. Kaufman, Howard 

LeSieur, George Berman and Harvey Harnick 

from the domestic section of the home office; 

Joseph A. McConville, Bernard E. Zeeman, 

Sigwart Kusiel, Max Thorpe. Lacy Kastner, 

Harry Kosiner. Michael Bergher, Leroy 

Brauer, Roger Sardou and Alan Tucker from 

the international department. 

Division managers pre.sent were: Nat Cohn, 

New York; S. A. Galanty, midwest; Carl 

Shalit, central: B. C. Marcus, midwest; I. H. 

Rogovin, New England; R. J. Ingram, southeastern: 

Jack Underwood, southwestern; H. E. 

Weiner, western Pennsylvania and southern 

New Jersey, and L. E. Tillman, northwestern. 

First 

Inaugural Newsreel 

Contrasted With Latest 

KANSAS CITY—Arthur Cole, veteran 

Paramount industry representative here, did 

not know in 1905 that he would spend most 

of his working life with motion pictures when 

he helped to decorate the reviewing stand 

from which President Theodore Roosevelt 

was inaugurated on March 4 of that year. 

He did know that this was probably the first 

newsreel to be made of an inauguration that 

.showed in theatres, because he afterwards 

went to a little store-room motion picture 

theatre in the national capital to see the 

film shown that had been made of the inaugural 

ceremonies and parade. 

At that time. Cole was quartermaster on 

the USS Dolphin. This was the ship of the 

.secretary of the navy, William H. Moody, 

;tnd Washington, D. C. was its home port. 

Cole was one of the crew that a.ssisted 

in the decoration of the stand mentioned, 

and he recalls that he watched the film 

later with much the same interest that others 

displayed at that time in motion pictures 

they were considered a novelty. 

McKINLEY NEWSREEL IN 1901 

There have been claims made that William 

McKinley's inauguration in 1901 was newsreeled 

and later shown in Hammerstein's 

Olympia Music Hall, but others contend that 

while Edison took shots of McKinley's colorful 

torchlight parades and these were shown 

during the campaign, there is no record of 

a film made of the inaugural. Of course 

newsreels were being made both here and 

abroad, often on "bootleg" film, and by a 

lucky accident the promoter of a film show 

at the Buffalo Exposition in September of 

1901 set up his camera so that he caught 

the assassination of President McKinley. This 

film was widely distributed for showing over 

the country, after its Buffalo sensational 

run, and greatly increased the interest in 

news shots. 

The coverage of next week's inauguration 

by newsreel cameramen will be a far cry 

from the Theodore Roosevelt ceremony. All 

of the newsreels will be represented by substantial 

crews, to shoot the parade and other 

events from every angle. All have made arrangements 

to rush development of the films 

and to get them on to theatre screens as 

quickly as possible after the Washington 

ceremonies are completed. 

Fox West Coast Cancels 

'Limelight' Opening 

LOS ANGELES—Cancellation by Pox West 

Coast, the southland's largest circuit, of a 

scheduled Wednesday i21> multi-theatre 

opening of Charles Chaplin's "Limehght" was 

disclosed as the result of conferences between 

Charles P. Skouras, circuit president, and 

leaders of filmdom's anti-Communism segment. 

The chain scratched the booking when 

informed that picketing by the American 

Legion and, possibly, other organizations 

could be expected inasmuch as Chaplin currently 

is the target of considerable criticism. 

It is understood that United Artists, which 

is releasing "Limelight," has decided to make 

the feature available at a later date, possibly 

hinging upon its clearance by the Legion. 

18 

BOXOFFICE :: January 17, 1953

Fox Honors Gehring 

For Long Service 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox celebrated 

the week as "Bill Gehring week" in 

honor of the 35th anniversary 

of the association 

of the executive 

assistant general sales 

manager with the 

company. Participating 

were the 1.239 employes 

in the company's 32 

domestic exchanges, 

six in Canada and theatres 

in both countries. 

The climax was a 

testimonial dinner 

William C. Gehring Thursday (15) at Toots 

Shor's restaurant at 

which Al Lichtman, distribution director, was 

toastmaster and Spyros P. Skouras. president, 

praised Gehring before a gathering of 200 

executives, department heads and other home 

office repre.sentatives. The Rev. Patrick J. 

Masterson. executive .secretary of the Legion 

of Decency, delivered the invocation. 

Among those present were Martin Moskovvitz 

New York State division manager; Abe 

Dickstein, New York branch manager; C. 

Glenn Morris, Atlantic division manager; 

Peter Myers, Canadian division manager, and 

branch heads Sam Diamond. Philadelphia; 

Joseph B. Rosen, Washington; Al Levy, Pittsburgh; 

Nat Ro.sen, Albany; Charles B. Kosco, 

Buffalo; J. M. Connolly, Boston, and Ben 

Simon, New Haven. The local exchange sales 

and booking staff also attended. 

Speakers Bureau Survey 

Started Under Bergman 

NEW YORK—Maurice Bergman, Universal- 

International director of public relations, has 

been named chairman of a Council of Motion 

Picture Organizations committee to survey 

possible establishment of an industry speakers 

bureau. Robert W. Coyne, COMPO special 

counsel, reported the appointment, which had 

been made by the three COMPO co-chairmen, 

Trueman T. Rembusch, Sam Pinanski and 

Al Lichtman. 

Bergman made a successful two-week 

speaking tour of Ohio a year ago for COMPO. 

He will now see if tours can be arranged on 

a national scale. If that proves to be true, 

a pool of speakers will be set up and a list 

of dates prepared. Bergman said that many 

platforms are available. 

"Other industries have made it a policy to 

provide speakers for these platforms," he 

said. "As a consequence they have been able 

to tell their story to those groups of business 

and civic leaders who formulate public 

opinion. Our neglect of this opportunity is 

all the more inexcusable because more than 

any other business we have the pei-sonalities 

that conventions and other gatherings would 

like to hear." 

Lippert Gets Two British Films 

HOLLYWOOD—T\vo British-made Romu- 

productions, "Twilight Women" and "The 

lus 

Little Big Shot," have been acquired by 

Lippert Pictures for U. S. distribution. Both 

have been set for spring release. 

Help in the March of Dimes drive. Use some 

method for audience participation to raise funds. 

TKm'

*"«

It!...PlayIt!...Can'tMiss!" 

--FILM DAILY 

% 

FREDERICK BRISSON presents 

Rosalind Russell 

Paul Douglas 

/ 

wi^ WILLIAM CHING ARLEEN WHELAN • • • 

LEIF ERICKSON HILLARY BROOKE 

Produced by FREDERICK BRISSON • Directed by NORMAN Z. McLEOD • Screenplay by KEN ENGLUND 

Back 

BROTHERHOOD WEEK, 

Feb. 15-22 

'AWJ*""^ 

j-v'xaif .----

. . Another 

. . Over 

. 

'iôUcfu/wtd êî/wt 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

Holly-wood Entertainers Back 

From Worldwide GI Tour 

Back in the southland's sunshine—happy 

to be here but proud to have brought Uncle 

Sam's troops and hospitalized veterans a mite 

of Christmas-New Year's cheer—are almost 

all of the 47 volunteers and 17 musicians who 

spent the holidays in Korea, Japan, the Caribbean, 

Alaska and the Greenland-Newfoundland 

sector. 

The overseas project, the largest yet organized 

by the Hollywood Coordinating Committee 

in cooperation with the Department of 

Defense, USO-Camp Shows and army special 

services, found the entertainars covering 

approximately 65,000 miles to present 197 

shows, visiting 136 bases, camps and nearfront-line 

positions, including 36 hospitals. 

They played to GI audiences totaling more 

than 162,000. 

That their efforts did not go unappreciated 

was manifested in a tribute from Gen. Mark 

W. Clark, who declared: 

"We shall never forget your willingness to 

fore-go your own holiday time to share the 

discomforts and dangers of the combat zone 

with our troops, and we hope that you have 

in some measure found your reward in the 

faces and reactions of the men you entertained." 

Meantime the HCC and the studio publicity 

directors committee were completing plans for 

industry participation in the entertainment 

program for the presidential inauguration 

ceremonies, which begin Sunday il8i. George 

Murphy, HCC president who is in charge of 

the arrangements, is already in Washington, 

D. C, where film luminaries will participate in 

a concert, festival and the inaugural ball. So 

far recruited are Edgar Bergen, Hoagy Carmichael, 

Irene EHmne, Allan Jones, Jeanette 

MacDonald, Adolphe Menjou, Walter Pidgeon, 

John Wayne and Esther Williams. 

Columbia Film to Depict 

History of Slapstick 

"Slapstick," a combination live-action and 

cartoon feature depicting the history of American 

slapstick comedy, is being planned as a 

forthcoming joint effort by Columbia and 

United Pioductions of America, creators of 

the "Gerald McBoing Boing" cartoons and 

other projects. 

An original idea by Jerry Wald, Columbia 

vice-president and executive producer, the venture 

will be worked out in detail in discussions 

between him and Stephen Bosustow, 

UPA president. The title has been placed on 

the studio's 1953-54 schedule. 

Second Cinerama Production 

To Get Under Way Soon 

Shifting into high gear in its plans for the 

production of features designed for projection 

via the Cinerama system, which simulates 

three dimensions, the new company's picturemaking 

branch expects to set a starting date 

and select a property within the next six 

weeks. Such was the word from Merian C. 

Cooper, vice-president and production chief. 

while at the same time it was disclosed that 

Robert L. Bendick, a company vice-president 

who, with Cooper, produced the demonstration 

subject, "This Is Cinerama," has inked a 

contract calling for his .services as a producer 

and director. 

Bendick has checked in from New York 

and will henceforth headquarter here. At 

one time associated with CBS-TV, he was a 

combat cameraman during the war, and 

joined Cinerama at the time of its formation 

in 1951. 

Story Purchases Decrease 

To Three During Week 

A bit on the slim side was the aggregate of 

story properties acquired for production, only 

three sales being recorded during the period. 

The newly formed independent, Abtcon Pictures—headed 

by Herman Cohen—purchased 

"The Flaming Stallion," an adventure novel 

by Johnston McCulley, to .serve as the company's 

initial production venture, rolling in 

March . . . Also in the independent category 

was the acquisition by actor John Payne of 

Wade Miller's mystery novel, "A Time to Kill." 

Payne plans to produce and star in it, and has 

set Phil Karlson as the megaphonist. Releasing 

arrangements have not been completed as 

yet ... To CoUmibia went "The Big Heat." a 

Saturday Evening Post serial by William P. 

McGivern, dealing with graft and corruption 

in public office by today's public enemies. It 

has been assigned to Robert Arthur to produce, 

with Sydney Boehm to write the screenplay. 

Vistascope Camera Process 

Now Available to TV 

Paramount and Sol Lesser, joint owners of 

the Vistascope process, are making the device 

available to television for live-action programs, 

it was disclo.'ied by Barney Balaban, 

Paramount president, during his stay here to 

Studios to Aid in 

Making 

Anti-Tax Short Subject 

utilization of the medium it knows best 

— motion pictures— is being undertaken by 

the film industry as the latest barrage in 

its continuing fight for removal or reduction 

of the federal-imposed 20 per cent 

tax on theatre tickets. 

All major studios will cooperate in the 

making of a .short subject based on material 

supplied by Col. H. A. Cole, R. J. 

O'Donnell and Paul Short, which upon 

completion will be screened for members 

of the House Ways and Means Committee 

in Washington, D. C. Tlie briefie will be 

produced by Herman Hoffman, executive 

assistant to MGM's Dore Schary, and will 

be lensed on the MGM lot. 

The story line is described as being a 

factual presentation of the hardships 

which theatres throughout the U.S. are 

undergoing because of the tax bite. 

WOODY WOOS BLOOD—Walter I,antz 

(left), producer of the Woody Woodpecker 

cartoons, is glimpsed here chatting 

in Washington, D. C, with E. Roland 

Harriman (right), president of the .American 

Rrd Cross, and Harriman's aide, 

Ramone S. Eaton. Lantz flew to the 

nation's capital to discuss plans whereby 

Woody will star in a minuto-and-a-half 

short subject appealing for blood donors. 

The veteran cartoon-maker is donating 

the celluloid to the Red Cross, and will 

make the short in Technicolor for theatre 

showings and in black-and-white for 

television. 

It's the first time, incidentally, that 

Universal-International, which releases 

the Lantz cartoons, has permitted 

Woody to appear on television. 

attend the 80th birthday celebration for 

Adolph Zukor. 

The first Vistascope units for TV have been 

delivered in New York, and will be made 

available to all video stations and networks. 

Paramount and Les.ser indicated the first 

prospective customers are NBC, CBS and 

DuMont. 

The gadget encompas.ses a method of accomplishing 

and completing composite mattetype 

photography in the camera at the time 

of actual shooting, and can be used in conjunction 

with both motion picture and television 

cameras. It is applicable to both blackand-white 

and color. 

MGM Signs Jack Aldrich 

To Direct 'Big Leaguer' 

. 

Recruited from the ranks of television, jack 

Aldrich was inked by MGM to direct "The 

Big Leaguer" megging a.ssignment 

was that of Douglas Sirk to pilot U-I's 

"Back to God's Country" . at Columbia. 

Producer Sam Katzman booked Richard 

Bare to direct "Prisoners of the Casbah" . . 

Producer-Director Alfred Hitchcock inked the 

British playwright, William Archibald, to develop 

"The Bramble Bush" as an upcoming 

film project . . . Among the writers: RKO 

Radio pacted William Bowers to pen "Arizona 

Outpost" and Jeff Bailey to script "The 

Son of Sinbad," while 20th Century-Fox 

signed Leonard Pi-askins and Barney Slater 

to team on "Be Pi-epared." At Allied Artists, 

Francis Swann went to work on the .screenplay 

of "Hajji Baba, " and Edward Bernds and 

Elwood Ullman are collaborating on "Loose 

in London." a new Bowery Boys comedy. Joining 

the Columbia writing staff was Anatole 

De Grunwald. British author, who will -script 

the Edison Marshall novel, "The Infinite 

Woman." 

22 BOXOFHCE January 17, 1953

— 

'.' 

. 

. 

. " inlilllfinllr otillii di|l»|' . . , 

. ."luilitr". 

. 

— 

In the Newsreels F 

Movietone News, No. 5: Churchill sees Eisenhower, 

visits birthplace of mother; election of Ike made 

official; French advance in Indo-China; Sherlock 

Holmes is back again; sports— Australio wins the 

Davis cup; Lloyd Mcngrum wins L. A. open; amateur 

slugger seeks ring glory. 

News of the Day, No. 239: Churchill sees President 

Truman after talks îth Ike; Congress says Ike 

IS in; portoble iron lung; Belfast air crash; monkeys 

enter cocoanut business; United Europe rally; new f 

nter sport; Golden Gloves thriller. 

| 

Poromount News, No. 42: Mr. Starmaker—Adolph 

Zukor honored; Churchill's days in U.S.; ski-joring in 

the Alps; polar bears warm up; basketball classic 

Notre Dame and New York university. 

Universal News, No. 429: Indo-ChJna—French drive 

Reds from 50 villages; United Europe— move gains in I CTJS.^.,- 

'' 

three western countries; Japan—planes and tanks; ^ 

poho kids; floods and snow in France; Golden Gloves §' *"' 

prelrminanes, 

Warner Pathc News, No. 44: Churchill's visit; the 

fight to conquer Everest; polio poster girl visits 

President Truman; fashions for evening from Madrid, 

Spoin; Georgeous George goes Hawaiian; "The Jazz 

Singer" premiere in Hollywood; Golden Gloves. 

Movietone News, No. 6: Eisenhower holds full meeting 

of his new cabinet; Churchill takes a rest in 

the sun; storm hits the east; Attlee meets Nehru in 

India; Ace Jabra goes bock to Korea; Ike and 

brother open Heart drive; Korea Reds hit by rocket 

guns; ski -bob racers ride the bumps; ice jumpers 

soar over barrels. 

News of the Day, No. 240: ROKs win Sniper Ridge 

in sub-zero battle; Nelson and Ike aid Heart fund; 

first meeting of Ike and his official family; new 

speed record in guided missile; Aussie net star; 

new ski sport; barrel jumping. 

Paramount News, No. 43: Koreo—ROK troops in 

valiant stand; spotlight on Eisenhower—at Heart fund 

rally, greeting son, first meeting with cabinet; 

Truman receives gift from outgoing cabinet; Miomi 

thistle class regatta; New York—pro tennis; Golden 

Gloves boxing. 

Universal News, No. 430: Ike and his cobinet; 

Truman and his cabinet; ROKs and rockets blast 

Reds; guided missiles; Heart drive; pro tennis; barrel 

jumping. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 45: Guided missiles; President 

Truman meets with his cabinet; Eisenhower 

meets with his cabinet; Ike's son home for the 

inaugural; Ike end brother at Heart fund dinner; 

Korea—ROKs hit Reds in sub-zero cold; Prime Minister 

Churchill in Jamoica; New York—Falls galore 

mark barrel jumping match; pro tennis big four in 

New York. 

American Newsreel, No. 549: Lois Towles, young 

concert pianist, comes home after triumphant tour 

of Europe; Charles Vatterot, St. Louis builder, is 

winner of James J. Hoey a word; Brooklyn subwoy 

porter points picture of Bishop Sheen; chittlins enter 

frozen food market in New York; new police boat 

named for Harold Randolph, heroic policeman; the 

Col vert, swank hotel, opens in Miami. 

Telenews Digest, No. 3A: Rocket launchers—artillery 

show at front; French heroes return—Korean 

vets decorated; courtesy rewarded— Itolian cop receives 

gifts; stormy weather—snow and ice in eost; 

New York— Ike's son home for inauguration; India 

Dr. Bunche attends Gandhi seminar; Scotland—royalty 

attends wedding; barrel jumping contest. 

Telenews Digest, No. 2B: Army maneuvers—tonk 

rotation plan started; Windsor ball aids chanty; Mayer 

named F^rench premier; Denmark mourns death of 

queen; French gain in ^ndo-China; record snow covers 

Europe. 

Five Managers Win Prizes 

In 'Caribbean' Contest 

NEW YORK—Prizes have been awarded to 

five theatre managers in the $1,000 exploitation 

contest for "Caribbean," Pine Thomas 

picture starring John Payne, Arlene Dahl and 

Sir Cedric Hardwlcke. 

The winners, who won $200 savings bonds, 

were; Newspaper campaign—R, A. Langston, 

Florida Theatre, Jacksonville; window display—Gene 

Pleschette. Paramount, Brooklyn; 

lobby display—F. H. Stiles, Uptown. Richland, 

Wash.; theatre front—Philip A. Lentz, Palace, 

Jacksonville promotion — John Langford, 

Strand. Ogdensburg, N. Y. 

Special praise was given the over-all effort 

of Gene Pleschette, manager of the Paramount, 

Brooklyn. Judges were: Walter 

Brooks, Motion Picture Herald; Chester Friedman, 

BOXOFFICE, and Frank P. McCord, 

director of research, marketing and promotion 

for the Cecil & Presbrey Advertising Agency. 

h 

A FACTUAL STATEMEM7,.. 

1 

And «e Quoti . . 

DwWar .>«" . 1*1 

Our attention has been directed to i belid (hjl we deliberjtel} 

lailed to advertise . . 

mr GEHJflY for AduHs Only! 

h m spMon and in th« opinion of qualiêd otheis, out 

advcrtislfli clearly and dermilely indicated that . . 

RUBY GEHTRY Is AOOLT [nteftainmenl 

Furlhtnnori the Free Presi. Times and Ke«s motion pic 

ture critics also clearly stated m their reviews that not 

only the slor) baclitround but very definitely that the 

picturi wai stntable lor 

JACK 

adults only. 

TMblfM 

nwttf«T, J«K I, 

IV] 

r.iiTJse 

rr;u::s-.-;-.:x';- 

Rutr Cntri hn Itin KCbimid uMn mdi u i lUlion pkhnl 

"Supttt. inntOt' . 

" UiU[lrrtultT Uit\eft6" . 

. "pewirlul. trillunl' 

. 

" f uilliatlT tttculitf atth i pirlict cnl"! 

Intr Ctntri li lot iiTuIti' BUT whil ii id idull7 

ll H II n* 

•' It I itJti of mtflUlitT 

Hs«itiii>ti|"IIUSTCEMTR'r" 

.. 

lUfn.] Imnitirloflli ChiinonHiilon 

-— 

USES CRITICISM TO SPARK AD COPY 

When the ad campaign for "Ruby Gentry" 

at the Fox Theatre, Detroit, date was criticized 

by some patrons as not having identified the 

film as adult entertainment, David Idzal. 

managing director, took an unusual ad to 

state his case. The 3-column by 9-inch-advertisement 

broke in all dailies on opening 

day of the second week not only to declare 

that the advertising had called it an adult 

film, but to reproduce the reviews in Detroit's 

three papers each of which specifically mentioned 

that it was adult entertainment. The 

ad created much attention in the trade and 

with filmgoers. 

MGM-Quality Bakers Deal 

Continued Third Year 

NEW YORK—The MGM arrangement with 

Quality Bakers of America is to be continued 

for the third year starting in April, says 

Howard Dietz, vice-president of advertising, 

publicity and exploitation. The company's 

stars and pictures get widespread publicity on 

billboards, in newspapers, on bread wrappers 

and labels and in special cutouts for store 

di.splays. 

The first of the new series will be on June 

Allyson in "Battle Circus," to be relea.sed 

April 3; in July Esther Williams will be 

featured in "Dangerous When Wet." 

Beverly in Regional Deals 

NEW YORK—Herbert Bregstein and Oliver 

A. Unger, heads of Beverly Pictures, Inc., 

have closed 11 territorial franchise deals for 

distribution of 16 rerelease features formerly 

held by Film Classics. The deals are; New- 

England—Regal Pictures; New York and New 

Jersey—Union Films; Pennsylvania—Leonard 

Mintz; Pittsburgh and Ohio—Crown Pictures; 

Cleveland—Imperial Pictures; Washington, 

D. C.—Samuel Wheeler; Atlanta, Charlotte, 

Memphis and New Orleans—Kay Exchanges; 

Dallas and Oklahoma City—Tower Pictures; 

Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis 

—Albert Dezel, Inc.; Cincinnati—Edward 

Salzberg. 

Field Leaders Named 

For Brotherhood Week 

NEW YORK—Regional exhibitor chairmen 

for the industry's participation in the 25th 

anniversary Brotherhood week, Februai-y 

15-22, of the National Conference of Christians 

and Jews have been named by Sol A. 

Schwartz, national chairman. Walter Reade 

jr. is the national exhibitor chairman. 

EXHIBITOR CHAIRMEN LIST 

The regional chairmen will be: 

Albany—Charles Smokwitz and Horry Lamont; Atlanta—Boyd 

Fry; Boston— Ben Domingo; Buffolo 

Arthur Krolick; Charlotte— H. D. Hearn; Chicago 

John Balabon; Cincinnati—Rube Shor and Jerome 

Shinbach; Cleveland—Fronk Murphy and Max Mink; 

Dollos—Julius Gordon and James O. Cherry; Denver 

Hell Baetz and William Hastings; Des Moines—Myron 

Blank; Detroit—Jack Sharkey; Indianapolis—Howard 

Rutherford; Jacksonville—Leon Netter; Kansas City 

Howard Burkhardt and Elmer C. Rhoden; Los Angeles 

—W. O. Srere ond M. A. Anderson; Memphis—Jack 

Kotz. 

Milwaukee— Harold J. fitzgerold and A. D. Kvool; 

Mir>neapolis— Harold Fields, Ed Rubin and Horry 

Weiss; New Haven— Harry Show and H. Feinstein; 

New Jersey—Fronk Domis; New Orleans—Henry Plitt; 

New York—Sam Rinzler, Spyros Skouros jr. and 

Michael Edelstein; Oklohoma City—Morns Loewenstein; 

Omaha—Robert Livingston and Lorry Koplone; 

Philodelphio — William Goldmon; Pittsburgh — Bert 

Stearn and Moe Silver; Portland—Jack Motlock; St. 

Louis— Horry Arthur jr. and Russ Bovim; Solt Lake 

City—Roy Hendrey; San Francisco—Joseph Blumenfeld 

ond Mark Ailing; Seattle—Fronk L. Newmon; 

Tampa— Herman Silvermon; Washington— A. Jul ion 

Brylowski and Orville Crouch. 

DISTRIBUTION HEADS NAMED 

Distribution chairmen named by Ben Kalmenson, 

national chairman of the distribution 

committee, will be: 

Albony—Jock Goldberg; Atlanta—W. Gordon Bradley; 

Boston—J. M. Connolly; Buffalo—Manuel A. 

Brown; Chorlotte— J. W. Greenleaf; Chicago—William 

J. Devaney; Cincinnati—Edwin M. Booth; Cleveland 

Horry S. Buxbaum; Dallas—Mark Sheridan jr.; Denver—Marvin 

Goldfarb; Des Moines—Donald R. Hicks; 

Detroit—Joe Boringhous; Indianopolis—Claude W. Mc- 

Kean; Jocksonville— Poul Horgette. 

Also: Konsos City—Tom Baldwin; Los Angeles— A. 

Swerdlow; Memphis— Louis C. Ingrom; Milwaukee 

Lou Elmon; Minneapolis—J, T. McBride; New hloven 

Jules Livingston; New Orleans—Luke Conner; New 

York— Phil Hodges; Oklahoma City—R. B. Willioms; 

Omaha— D. V. McLucos; Philodelphio—Joseph G. 

Leon; Pittsburgh—Al Levy; Portland— J. R. Beale; St. 

Louis— C. C. Hill; Salt Lake City—C. R. Wode; San 

Froncisco—Jock M. Erickson; Seottle— Paul McElhinney; 

Washington— Pete R. DeFozio. 

Regional publicity men named by Si Seadler, 

national chairman, are: 

Albany—Jerry Atkin; Atlanta—Robert Moscow; 

Boston— Poul Levi, Jomes King; Buffolo— Ed Meade; 

Chorlotte— Everett Olsen; Chicago—Williom Hollander, 

Ansel Winston; Cincinnoti—Joseph Alexander; 

Cleveland—Ted Barker; Dollos—Frank Starz; Denver 

—William Hostings; Des Moines—A. Don Allen, Jerry 

Bloedow; Detroit—Mrs. Alice N. Gorham; Indianapolis— 

Dole McFarlond; Jacksonville—Howord Pettengill; 

Konsos City—Senn Lawler, Lowrence L ehrtion; 

Los Angeles—Thornton Sargent, Ed Meek; Memphis 

Richard Light man; Milwoukee— Hortense Erunner; 

Minneapolis—Robert Whelon; New Haven—Lou 

Brown; New Jersey—Word Forrer; New Orleans 

Mourie Borr, Ross McCauslond; New York City 

John A. Cossidy; Oklahoma City—Roger Rice; Omaho 

—William Miskell, Lorry Koplone; Philadelphia 

Everett Callow; Pittsburgh—William Elder; Portland 

Keith Petzhold; St. Louis— Bob Johnson; Salt Lake 

City—Helen Gorrity; Son Francisco—Fay Reeder, William 

Bloke; Seattle—Willard Coghion; Washington 

Jock Foxe, Jerry Baker. 

Harold Rodner Fund Check 

For Laboratory $27,500 

NEW YORK—A. Montague, president of 

the Will Rogers Memorial hospital, has received 

a check for $27,500 representing over 

400 individual donations for the Harold Rodner 

Research Section to be established at the 

hospital at Saranac Lake. 

Rodner, former executive at Warner Bros., 

devoted many years of his life to keeping the 

hospital functioning, and one of his cherished 

hopes was for the establishment of a modern 

laboratory there. 

BOXOFHCE :: January 17, 1953 23

' 

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\^

Look! 

Dean and Jerr 

Have Been Vote 

by Exhibitor 

NUMBER 1 

MONEY STAR 

in 

Fame's Pol 

DEAN 

JERR/ 

MARDN-LEWIS 

in 

nML WMLLId poducton 

THE SIDOGE 

f 

MAIffHOff 

• 

mm 

MAMii 

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pourBEM 

Directed by Screenplay by Additional Dialogue by 

NOIANTAUROG • FRED F.FIiLEHOFFE- MARTIN RACKIN • ELWOODULLMAN 

From a story by FRED F.FINKLEHOFFE and SID SILVERS • A Paramount Picture

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

This chart records the performonce of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in 

the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs 

are reported, ratings are added and overages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

relation to normol grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as 

"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark. 

13 

< 

> 

A & C Meet Captain Kidd (WB) 

90 90 95 135 75 115 140 110 95 75 90 90 100 

Asainst All Flags (U-H 95 125 135 100 120 100 120 190 115 98 95 118 

Aliathe War Smoke (MGM) 100 110 100 100 90 90 100 115 80 100 70 75 100 95 

April in Paris (WB) 121 105 150 150 100 185 130 140 140 140 165 145 139 

Army Bound (AA) 100 100 100 100 90 90 75 100 94 

Beware, My Lovely (RKO) 110 100 70 100 90 90 95 105 65 60 50 90 100 87 

Blackbeard the Pirate (RKO) 140 140 110 130 70 100 125 100 140 115 80 115 110 113 

Black Castle, The (U-I)

! 

TEN MEN ... A WOMAN . 

AND ONLY A 

GHOST OF A CHANCE

N m TRADITION OF THE GREAT GREAT WESTERNS 

^^1 

Written for ttit screen liy KENNLln GAiVilI 

w«jt,BUDDYADL[R-o„ec.eJb, ANDRE DelOIH 

(^^^XkWvvJ^

Frisco Crowds Gather to Gape 

At 'Blackbeard' Street Stunt 

Mark Ailing, manager of the Golden Gate 

Theatre. San FYanci-sco. tied up with the Call 

Bulletin to screen "Blackbeard the Pirate" for 

new.sboy carriers on Saturday before opening. 

The new.spaper gave the picture full coverage 

with pictures and a story. About 1.500 boys 

attended the screening and each became a 

potential word-of-mouth booster for the flim. 

For street ballyhoo, a man in pirate costume 

was hired to wheel a treasure chest around 

town. He made periodic stops to extract boxes 

of candy from the chest which he distributed 

to passersby. The candy was promoted from 

the Rockwell Chocolate Co. In every 50th box 

of candy a theatre pass was enclosed. 

Ailing had the "pirate" appear on three 

television programs with the chest. 

Alan Mowbray, who has a role in "Blackbeard 

the Pirate." made personal appearances 

at the Golden Gate Theatre on Saturday 

and Sunday prior to opening. To further the 

cause, the actor made additional appearances 

on top radio and television shows over KFRC. 

KPIX-TV and KGO-TV. 

Two thousand special heralds advertising 

the picture were distributed in homes. 

Bill Blake, publicity manager for the theatre, 

had a hand in setting up the radio and 

TV interviews and in an-anging citywide 

newspaper breaks. 

An attractive front, window cards, posting 

in all sections of the city, and a schedule of 

newspaper advertising also helped to spread 

news of the booking at the Golden Gate Theatre. 

All in all. the picture entered on a 

successful engagement. 

In busy Union Square at San Francisco, a 

pirate and treasure chest ballyhoo draws 

curious crowd of onlookers. 

'Bali' Coverage on TV 

Saturation TV coverage on behalf of "Road 

to Bali" was keynoted by a ballyhoo campaign 

by Paramount, which bought time on 

all seven Los Angeles video channels for spot 

announcements on Christmas day. The Bing 

Crosby-Bob Hope-Dorothy Lamour comedy 

opened on that day in seven local houses. The 

trailers were tagged "Great Moments of 

History With Bing Crosby and Bob Hope." 

Television Promolion 

Is Cleveland Big Gun 

On 'Hangman's Knot' 

Radio, television and newspaper promotion 

played important roles in exploiting the opening 

of "Hangman's Knot" at the Hippodrome 

in Cleveland. 

Jack Silverthorne. manager, had an excellent 

television tie-in which one station used 

on four different western programs. A mystery 

sentence was voiced and home viewers 

were required to identify the name of the 

western star in question. The winning answer 

was Randolph Scott, co-star of "Hangman's 

Knot." 

Silverthorne promoted a complete western 

outfit for winners and consolation prizes for 

runnersup, and managed to get extra video 

plugs by awarding passes as prizes on two TV 

quiz shows. 

The Cleveland radio station sponsored a 

"Hangman's Knot" limerick contest, Silverthorne 

contributing the idea and a few theatre 

passes. 

Drawing on a suggestion outlined in the 

pressbook, the Hippodrome manager planted 

a coloring contest with a local daily which 

ran for four consecutive days. "Winners received 

gun and holster sets. Fan photos of 

Randolph Scott were given to runnersup. 

A man and woman dressed in cowboy outfits 

distributed lucky number heralds. A li.st 

of numbers posted in the Hippodrome lobby 

enabled holders of corresponding numbers to 

claim free theatre tickets. At peak .shopping 

hours, the "cowboy" took up a position near 

the theatre entrance and did rope tricks to 

collect a crowd. 

1 

^ke ^Jûman âctor 

The Georgia Theatre Co., which headquarters in .\tlanta, is 

celebrating its 25th anniversary with one of its co-founders, William 

K. Jenkins, still active as president. 

\ brochure forwarded to this department by E. E. Whitaker 

calls attention to the fact that most of the company's city managers 

have long records of association with the organization. 

Whenever a circuit can boast that its manpower consists of a high 

percentage of veteran showmen with 10, 15 and more than 20 years 

ol service with that company, it is tipping the secret of its success 

and enterprise. 

Loyalty begets loyalty. In the dollars and cents analysis of 

'- 

successful business, this is the factor known as the human element. 

s It is the individual's contribution "above and beyond" what is 

evpected of him in the performance of his daily chores. It is the 

factor which makes a perceptible difference in theatre grosses and 

S^:^^^^^^^;m^s«:^s^^^^ 

ixW^MMM. 

determines the sentiment of the community toward the theatre and 

the management. 

* * * 

We received an interesting letter the other day from an exhibitor 

who recently took over a theatre in a small Wyoming community. 

He compliments BOXOFFICE for its helpful service departments 

but wants to know how come we do not report the 

promotion and exploitation of more theatremen in his part of 

the country. 

If we did not know the season of the year, we'd hazard a guess 

that the exhibitors are on a "roundup" of patrons—or possibly 

digging up new ones. 'TennjTate, this is by way of special invitation 

to exhibitors and managers in Wyoming to send us their recent 

promotions or forthcoming plans to hog-tie more customers. 

If we get a good response, we promise to fill columns with 

showmanship techniques of the theatremen in the Equality state. 

Let's hear from you! 

— Chester Friedman 

BOXOFFICE Shovimiandiser Jan. 17, 1953 — 13 — 

29 

»•:«

standout Entries for 'Caribbean 

Win Paramount Cash Avfards 

Above, award winning entries in lobby 

and front displays submitted by F. H. 

Stiles, Uptown, Richland, Wash., at left, 

and by P. A. Lentz manager of the Palace, 

Jacksonville, at right. 

Paramount's exploitation contest on 

"Caribbean" attracted a volume of campaign 

entries from theatremen intent on winning 

a share of the $1,000 in prizes offered for outstanding 

showmanship in various facets of 

promotion. 

Theatremen who shared this bounty in 

equal prizes of $200 savings bonds were F. H. 

Stiles, manager. Uptown. Richland, Wash.; 

Phillip A. Lentz, manager. Palace. Jacksonville, 

Fla.; John Langford, manager, Strand, 

Ogdensburg, N. Y.: R. A. Langston. ad-manager 

Florida State Theatres. Jacksonville, and 

Eugene Pleshette and Janet Fine, manager 

and publicist of the Paramount in Brooklyn. 

Two of the winning contenders represented 

extremes in theatre operation—the big city 

exploits of the Brooklyn Paramount staff and 

the smaller town techniques which were demonstrated 

by John Langford of the Strand. 

Ogdensburg. 

In the latter situation, Langford started his 

campaign by .selling the local high school on 

sponsoring a benefit show with the picture. 

Students established inter-class rivalry to sell 

the greatest number of tickets. A portion of 

the receipts was donated to the year book fund 

and in addition to serving as an incentive to 

sell tickets, the benefit received excellent 

newspaper publicity from the local daily as 

well as three Canadian papers. 

The unique phase of the Ogdensburg campaign 

which was singled out by the exploitation 

contest judges was a tieup with the operators 

of a ferry which plies between the 

community and Canada. 

The Strand plays to a large percentage of 

patrons who come from Canada. For the first 

time, the ferry boats were posted with banners 

on both sides proclaiming the theatre 

playdates. Advertising had never been used 

on these boats previously. There was no cost 

involved to the theatre. 

To get his ad message firmly implanted in 

the minds of residents, Langford posted a .sixsheet 

on each side of a local delivery truck. 

He got bumper strips on a fleet of cabs and 

posted signs on all buses serving the area. 

The radio station sponsored a "Caribbean" 

guessing contest for eight days at a cost of a 

few theatre passes. An u.sher in pirate costume 

walked the downtown shopping section 

with a sandwich sign and distributed special 

heralds. 

On opening night of the picture, the high 

school band led a parade of students to the 

theatre and entertained a large street crowd 

before show time. 

For the "Caribbean" engagement at the 

Paramount in Brooklyn. Manager Gene 

Pleshette and publicist Janet Fine promoted 

two two-week vacations at a Miami Beach 

hotel appropriately named "Caribbean." 

Through attractive lobby displays and newspaper 

stories, the public was invited to submit 

Below, three phases of lohn Langford's 

campaign in Ogdensburg show signs on 

truck van, American-Canadian ferry and 

public transportation buses. 

letters on why they would like to win the 

vacation trips. Every available space in the 

huge theatre lobby was occupied by colorful 

poster cutouts, some as big as 25 feet in 

height. 

The front of the theatre was equally 

dramatic in effect. A skull and crossbones 

mounted on a black flag was hung across the 

corner facade of the building, almost three 

stories high. Adjacent to this was a 14-foot 

cutout of John Payne in action pose. At sidewalk 

level, flanking the entrance, were two 

ma-ssive display pieces which had been used 

in the lobby to stimulate advance interest in 

the picture. 

A borough-wide tieup with Barton's candy 

shops based on a contest produced 13 displays 

in windows and earned the Paramount 

team top honors and cash for the best window 

tieup. 

A ballyhoo couple, attired a-s pirates and 

wearing sa.shes appropriately lettered to exploit 

the dates, attracted sufficient attention 

to rate a five-column picture on page one of 

the Brooklyn Daily. 

Under the heading of public relations, a 

tieup with the Navy Yard Boys club netted 

additional newspaper and radio publicity for 

the picture. The entire membership of the 

club was invited to be guest of the management 

at the Saturday matinee prior to the 

opening of "Caribbean." To gain admission, 

each member had to attend in pirate costume 

and Pleshette awarded prizes for the most 

unusual and colorful outfits. 

30 — 14 — BOXOrnCE Showrmandiser :: Jan. 17, 1953

School Theatre Parly 

Sponsored by Paper 

Sells 'Miserables' 

Bill Burke, manager of the Capitol Theatre, 

Brantford, Ont., had the cooperation of radio 

station CKPC in sponsoring a high school 

theatre party in conjunction with "Les Miserables." 

A contest was the main factor in the 

promotion, whereby students w'ho sent in correct 

answers to questions concerning the book 

attended a morning screening of the picture. 

The station gave the contest numerous spot 

plugs and announced full details of the competition 

several times throughout the day. All 

local schools were contacted by the station, 

with the result that the picture and the playdates 

were announced over intra-school public 

address systems. 

Winners of the contest received prizes at 

the morning show, and the Brantford Expositor 

used a two-column picture and story on the 

special screening. 

As additional exploitation, Burke made arrangements 

with the public library to insert 

bookmarks in all books leaving the library for 

a full week prior to opening. 

The general news agency tied in on the 

distribution of Classics Illustrated with banners 

on all trucks, and, in addition, furni.shed 

the theatre with a book display for the foyer. 

After two weeks of persuasive argument, 

Burke sold the editor of the Expositor the idea 

of running a serialization of "Prisoner of 

Zenda," the following attraction at the Capitol. 

The paper used this feature for ten days 

prior to the opening. 

Indian Squaw Ballyhoo 

Draws Customer Laughs 

James McDonough, manager of the Tivoli, 

Hamilton, Ont., came up with a humorous 

lobby display when "The Quiet Man" was held 

over for a sixth week. 

With "Son of Paleface" scheduled for the 

next attraction. McDonough rigged a dress 

model in Indian squaw costume alongside a 

teepee. A sign held by the model read, "Ugh! 

Me gottem date with Bob Hope. If 'Quiet 

Man' no leave this reservation soon, me 

scalpum." The stunt drew plenty laughs from 

patrons. 

Concurrent with the sixth-week engagement 

of "Tlie Quiet Man," McDonough promoted 

a 375-line co-op ad featuring Jane Russell 

and "Paleface" copy from the Beautyland 

salon. 

Co-Op Ad Page Plugs 

New Name of Roxy 

At the start of the new year, the Odeon in 

St. Thomas, Ont., was renamed the Roxy. To 

familiarize theatre patrons with the new signature. 

Manager George Robinson promoted a 

full-page newspaper co-op ad from local business 

firms and merchants. 

The St. Thomas Times-Journal ran a banner 

headline on the amusements page calling 

attention to the change, and Robinson spotted 

teaser announcements throughout the newspaper 

directing attention to the co-op ad page. 

All literature distributed by the theatre to 

advertise coming attractions and all of the 

theatre's regular advertising carried announcements 

selling the new Roxy. 

Handkerchief Giveaway in Lobby 

Included in 

Dale Carlson, manager of the Orpheum in 

Madison, Wis., developed a novel contest for 

"Plymouth Adventure." The contest was 

sponsored by Casey & O'Brien, retail distributor 

of the New Home sewing machine. 

The sponsor furnished several thousand 

entry blanks inviting contestants to write on 

the subject, "What the Plymouth Rock story 

means to me." For the best essay received, a 

New Home sewing machine was presented to 

the sender on the Orpheum stage opening 

Yo-Yo Contest Attracts 

Big Saturday Matinee 

Herman Kopf, manager of the Waller, 

Laurel, Del., recently learned that a teachers 

meeting was scheduled to be held in town. Accordingly, 

he made arrangements with the 

booking department to screen "The Story of 

Robin Hood." 

A yo-yo contest on the theatre stage proved 

an excellent stimulant for kiddy business at a 

Saturday matinee. The contest was sponsored 

by a five-and-dime store. As an added attraction, 

the Filipino yo-yo champion conducted 

the contest and gave a demonstration 

of hLs skill. 

Lobby displays, special heralds and a trailer 

whipped up advance interest in the contest. 

Theatre Assistance Aids 

Marine Drive for Toys 

Hal King, Manager of the Riverside, Buffalo, 

N. Y.. cooperated with the local marine 

corps in getting toys for needy children prior 

to Christmas. 

The theatre lobby was converted into a collection 

depot. At a Saturday matinee, King 

arranged to have a child present a sack of 

toys to Santa Claus on the theatre stage. This 

goodwill gesture rated newspaper publicity. 

A free Christmas show on December 24 at 

the Riverside was sponsored by a furniture 

house on a rental basis, whereby the store distributed 

free admission tickets to its customers. 

Vlymouth' Promotion 

night of "Plymouth Adventure." 

Tied in with the promotion was a lobby 

stunt which drew a great deal of attention to 

the picture. A New Home machine was placed 

in the lobby, at which sat a young woman 

dressed in Puritan costume, sewing pocket 

handkerchiefs. As they were completed, they 

were handed to patrons watching the demonstration, 

along with literature on the film. 

Supporting the campaign, the sponsor used 

newspaper co-op ads in the daily papers. 

Carrier Boys and Dads 

Guests for 'Pal Gus' 

Jim Daley, manager of the University, 

Toronto, had the cooperation of the Toronto 

Evening Telegram, the city council and local 

service clubs in promoting "My Pal Gus." 

The theatre played host to newspaper carrier 

boys and their fathers at an afternoon 

preview of the picture. This resulted in extensive 

newspaper publicity. Free ice cream was 

served to the guests through a tieup with the 

Borden company. 

Borden's also agreed to furnish Bon Bons, 

only recently introduced to Canadian theatre 

audiences, for every patron who attended the 

picture during the initial week of its run. The 

firm additionally distributed 100,000 milkbottle 

labels via home deliveries, with copy 

advertising the University attraction. 

The Toronto city council granted permission 

to stencil sidewalks with announcements of 

the picture opening, and screenings for service 

organizations generated strong word-of-mouth 

publicity. 

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DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO.»'.*«.*c!.V''Sr' 

BOXOFnCE Showmandiser : 

: 

Jan. 

17, 1953 — 15 — 31

Title Provides Effective Tie-in 

For Selling 'Above and Beyond' 

Sam Oilman, manager of Loew's, Syracuse, 

N. Y.. started his campaign for "Above and 

Beyond" with a preview for press, radio and 

television representatives. As a result of the 

screening, the Herald-Journal used a halfpage 

spread and several radio and television 

commentators mentioned the picture in advance 

of its regular opening. 

A week prior to the playdate, the picture 

was sneak-previewed to launch a word-ofmouth 

publicity campaign. Kay Russell mentioned 

the picture several times on her "Ladies 

Day" program over radio station WSYR, 

stressing the fact that "Above and Beyond" 

has particular interest for women. Kay Larson 

did a similar stint on her daily air show 

over WHEN, and both commentators interviewed 

local women on the subject, "Should 

a man keep a secret from his wife?" tieing 

it in with full credits for the picture and 

theatre dates. 

Gretchen Wage, who conducts a daily program 

on station WAGE, discussed the picture 

from the angle, "How much is a woman .supposed 

to take from her husband before the 

breaking point?" Fred Jeske used the .same 

idea on his disk jockey program over WNDR. 

Gilman made a number of special displays 

for the theatre lobby which he exhibited two 

weeks prior to opening. Special go.ssip items 

îmO^ta. 

HALLMARK >LDG., WILMINGTON, OHIO 

l[VI«ir HILLS . CHICAGO • ClEVtLAND . TOIONTO 

MfXICO CITY . AUCKLAND • STONir . SINGAPOKE 

HONGKONG • CALCUTTA • KAKACHI . CAIHO • ATHENS 

ROMI • PARIS > LONDON • AMSTERDAM • STOCKHOL, 

OUTDOOR 

REFRCSHMENT 

SERVICE 

from Coait 

to Cooit 

I ov»r '/, Contury 

SPORTSERVICI CORP. 

SPORTSERVICE ilDO. • lUirAlO. M. T. 

DIT-MCO IN-ACAR SPEAKERS 

n» lowest Priced S«t of in-«-

A Section of 

January 17. 1953 

E 

T^Lctu/ie. meAxmancljAJj^ GuloU 

PERIODICALS RADIO • OUTDOOR • MAIL - ON-SCREEN • TELEVISION • INSTORE • ON-TRANSIT • NEWSPAPERS 

fyrthur Evidence: Movies and TV 

Alliance Gets the Kids for 

Both 

SIDNEY LUST 

Uses TV to Sell Films 

Stofy on Pagt 3

January 17, 1953 The Moiion Picture Merchandising Guide 

con tents 

SECTION 

RKO forces continue to indicate their belief in 

merchandising promotions. Confit.nation of this is contained 

in the current issue of Promotion, which delineates the 

tieups on both "Hans Christian 

Andersen"' and "Peter Pan." 

We can't remember many promotions which have presented 

exhibitors with so extensive a list 

of local latchon opportunities 

as these two pictures. True, most of these ties were 

constructed bv the separate Goldwyn and Disney staffs, 

but their execution will be up to the RKO promotion forces. 

What these forces have been doing with this 

material on "Hans Chrisian Andersen" is a matter of record 

in those key cities in which the picture is playing. What 

they are assembling in the way of making use of the tieups on 

the Disney feature will be of inestimable aid to every 

exhibitor who looks for every possible hook upon which he 

may hang his promotion hat. 

RKO is a practiced hand at the manipulation of commercial 

tieups and licensed merchandise to sell pictures. 

The successful promotion of these pictures are of vital 

importance to the industry as a whole, from any aspect. 

Exhibitors who use the tie-in material along the lines outlined 

will do a favor to their own boxoffice. 

FEATURES: 

More Evidence: Movie and TV 

Alliance Gets the Kids for Both 3 

"Peter Pan" Heads for New High 

In Promotional Campaign Aids 4 

The Gold in Goldwyn Ties 7 

CAMPAIGNS: 

"Peter Pan" (Disney-RKO) I 

"Hans Christian Andersen" 

(Goldwyn-RKOl 7 

"Mississippi Gambler" (U-I) 6 

DEPARTMENTS: 

Merchandise Tie-Ins 6 

Magazines 

NATIONAL PRE-SELLING GUIDE: 

A service section listing new films 

for which pre-selling campaigns 

have been developed, with tips to 

exhibitors on bou to tie-in at the 

'' 

local level 

' 

TV,. PROMnTION Section of BOXOFFICE is included in the third issue of each 

lohn G Tiiislev Central Representative: Ewing Hutchison and E. L 'eck J3 

Eas" Wacker Drive Chicago 1, 111- Hollyvôod Representative: I^?" SP";' 

f''°' 

Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28. Calif.; Western RSP't^*"'? ''"^^J,,^"^ s^fJs 672 South Lafayette Park Place. Los Angeles 5, Cal.f Manager of bales and 

Service: Herbert Roush, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24. Mo. 

NATHAN COHEN LOU H. GERARD 

fxecutive Editor 

Editor 

JOHN G. TINSLEY 

Manager 

Advertising

Further Evidence: 

Movies and TV Alliance 

Gets the Kids for Both 

w0 ^^^^ 

Sidney Lust Circuit Successfully 

Uses TV to Sell a Weekly Serial 

nmmyi^^^ 

by 

LOU GERARD 

In addition to the TV tie-ups, the Lust circuit also had local merchondise 

promotions to boost the serial. Here is a bicycle contributed as a prize by a 

neighborhood merchants for one ot the contests. Free candy also was a draw. 

The following is a case history. It offers 

additional evidence that movies and TV 

can live together, not only as uneasy cousins 

but as partners who can promote each 

other's cause. 

What happened in five theatres of the 

Sidney Lust circuit of Washington, D. C, 

illustrates in particular how the impact of 

a TV subject can be transferred to the 

screen, to the theatre and to the boxoffice. 

What is more important, it reached out to 

children and brought them into these theatres, 

many for the first time. 

In a sense, therefore, this delineation of 

how Columbia's serial, "Captain Video," 

was thoroughly promoted and sold is a 

continuation of the editorial coverage which 

Promotion has been according this melding 

of motion pictures and television. (See 

Promotion, lead article, for May 1952, 

showing Loew's New York theatres' approach.) 

On An Experiment Basis 

The effort was strictly an experiment, according 

to circuit operator Sidney B. Lust. 

He wanted to determine whether a show 

like "Captain Video," popularized and presold 

on TV to thousands of children in the 

suburban Maryland areas adjacent to 

Washington, could be sold as a theatre feature. 

Says Lust, "Our organization decided to 

shoot the works with an extensive and 

spectacular promotion campaign. For the 

test, we chose those theatres with a diversified 

patronage, so that we could determine 

whether this highly rated video show would 

appeal to all or any of the kids in the various 

neighborhoods. They were: the Allen 

Theatre, Takoma Park; Bethesda in 

Bethesda; Cheverly in Cheverly; Kaywood 

in Mount Rainier, and the Viers Mill in 

Viers Mill Village. All, as you may note, 

are in Maryland, right outside of Washington, 

an area with heavy TV coverage 

which could rightly be called saturation. 

That brought in an added factor, which 

could possibly hurt us: Saturday is a big 

TV day for the youngsters and the serial 

was going to run on Saturdays. 

"Incidentally, we decided at our meeting 

that we were going to keep the exploitation 

pressure on for every chapter of the show, 

as long as the TV people and merchants 

would go along with us." 

After the serial was booked, Lust personally 

contacted Washington TV station 

WTTG, which carried "Captain Video." 

He made a reciprocity deal with the station's 

promotion man: the theatres would 

run trailers announcing the daily Captain 

Video show on WTTG, with a credit line 

to General Foods, the show's sponsor. In 

return, at the end of each show, the station 

would use spot announcements giving theatres 

and playdates for the movie. 

Lust says that this 

was "the most effective 

bit of exploitation we did on the serial, 

as it brought our opening dates direct to the 

youngsters who had become avid Captain 

Video fans." He continues: 

"However, no stone was left unturned 

to take advantage of every other possible 

avenue of exploitation." Following are some 

of these avenues: 

NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY: Each of the 

four Washington dailies was contacted and 

informed of what was to the area a novel 

tieup between movies and television. Each 

one of the amusement editors ran one or 

more stories on this tieup. 

PRINTED MATERIAL: Twenty 

thousand 

handbills were turned over to General 

Foods for distribution to food stores in the 

neighborhoods served by the five theatres; 

the stores in turn placed these in bags at 

check-out counters. (Ed. Note: That General 

Foods, sponsors of the TV show, would 

cooperate, was pointed out in the short 

CO-OP POSTERS USED 

Heralds window cords and 

streamers of this variety are available 

for the "Captain Video" promotion. 

General Foods posted 

1,000 cards like the one at the 

right in food stores throughout the 

community. Over 46,000 pieces of 

printed material were distributed 

in the tie-up promotion. 

subjects issue of Promotion, December 22, 

19.51, some time before the serial was released. 

) 

Fifteen thousand exchange heralds, imprinted 

with theatre and playdate, were distributed 

house-to-house. 

Ten tliousand special handbills were distributed 

to school children. 

Two hundred fifty jumbo window cards 

were posted in store windows and on telephone 

poles. 

One thousand window streamers, 10x15 

inches, with credits to playdates. General 

Foods cereal products and the TV station, 

were posted by General Foods in food 

stores. 

Special 6-Sheets Used 

The theatres posted special 6-sheets in 

lobbies and out front well in advance of 

playdate, and used these intermittently 

throughout the run of the serial. 

SCREEN PROMOTION: Trailers 

were 

run two weeks in advance at each theatre, 

with credit to the same cooperating triumvirate. 

GIVEAWAYS: General Foods came 

through with 6,500 boxes of Sugar Crispies 

for free theatre distribution. Each theatre 

manager then canvassed local merchants 

for other items, and got such items as candy 

and cookies for giveaways on opening day; 

door prizes of various kinds, including 

bikes, also were promoted by managers, 

who at the same time arranged for addi- 

Continiied on page 10 

TRY THE FAVORITE fOSJ CERIALS OF CAPTAIN VIDEOl 

tC*""' 

,,,011' 

SfiMf Imt't 

MOW OH THB mOViB SCUKBMI 

fColvtnbia Plourn' All Time Scrlvf 5roopf 

KAYWOOD THEATRE 

I 

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l.li*f 

ON 

I 


Peter Pan' Heads for New High 

for the picture are being used twice weekly 

on the "Captain Video" TV show in 25 

markets. 

In 

Promotional Campaign Aids 

Six Big National Merchandise Ties Announced 

The Disney pattern of promotional saturation 

is being adhered to closely enough for 

"Peter Pan" so that exhibitors may mark 

the film down as a 1953 top entry in the 

realm of selling aids. 

There are two main avenues: Licensed 

merchandise and national tieups. Off these 

run at least a hundred different selling 

streets, all backed by a national magazine 

campaign in four colors and a great variety 

of national iiublicity breaks and local ])ublicity 

opportunities. 

So extensive is the campaign that it is 

impossible to cover in detail any of the 

angles but the main ones, concerned with 

lie-in merchandising. On this tieup level, 

for instance, there are six of wide scope, 

each set u|) for facilitated exhibitor handling 

at the local level. 

Peanut Butter Promotion 

DERBY FOODS: This is a made-to-order 

tie-in with the company's nationally distributed 

Peter Pan peanut butter. It is 

using 16 of the characters on lith()gra])hed 

jar tops in a 40.000,000 distribution. Locally, 

merchandise and display material will 

appear in about 100.000 retail outlets, and 

will feature s])ecial sui>ermarket promotions 

with an attendant in Peter Pan costume. 

Magazine, newspaper and Sunday comics 

advertising will be used along with the 

company's "Sky King" radio and TV shows. 

COLGATE- PALMOLIVE-PEET: The 

company is going to introduce a Peter Pan 

soap, a trademark it has held for years but 

never promoted. It will be a chlorophyll 

soap. The campaign will follow the film's 

release |)attern, with distribution starting 

sent to 50,000 outlets. 

in ten or 12 major areas and spreading out 

w ith the picture. The Disney "Never Land 

map will be given away to children as a 

premium, and display material kits will be 

Local newspaper advertising 

will get the heavy play, and will 

be supplemented by national magazine ads. 

Shoe Stores Join in Campaign 

WEATHEKBIRD SHOES: The tie-in will 

come through 5.000 dealers nationally. They 

will use Disney window displays and sales 

promotion material inside the stores. Giveaway 

item for children will be 1.000,0(X) 

paper hats, featuring the film characters. 

A newspaper co-op ad campaign will be promoted 

strongly; the company has set up a 

special fund for this advertising and has 

sent a complete mat service to each dealer. 

There will be radio spot announcements for 

local use. 

The whole promotion will be backed by 

half-page ads in the March, April and May 

These ore some of the novelty items which will be 

sold across the country during the run ot "Peter 

Pan," and will be available tor sole ot theatre 

counters. The Peter Pan and Tinker Bell dolls, the 

jigsow puzzle and the comic bolloons will be heavily 

merchandised in 5 & lOcent stores, novelty shops 

and toy departments of many larger stores. 

issues of such magazines as Parents'. 

Roman's Day, Seventeen and the Ladie-s' 

Home Journal. 

POST CEREALS: Its new "Corn Fetti" 

cereal is being used as the tieup medium. 

Peter Pan credits will appear on 10.000,000 

boxes; a small Peter Pan comic book will 

be enclosed with most of these boxes. Plugs 

ADMIRAL CORP.: This electrical appliance 

company will spend about $2,000,000 

on its Peter Pan tieup, using all media. 

Half of this amount will go for display 

material and lithographv for dealer showrooms. 

This includes 1.000,000 Peter Pan 

TV theatres to give to children whose parents 

come in for a demonstration, and a 

similar number of free comic books for children 

giveaways. Characters from the picture 

and screen credits will play a part in 

Admiral's national ad campaign, which includes 

color ads in virtually every major 

publication. Film credits will be plugged on 

.Vdmiral's radio and T\ shows. 

At Admiral Sales Convention 

The tieup was kicked off w ith appropriate 

fanfare at Admiral's national sales convention 

in Chicago on January 2, and is being 

followed by local sales conventions in 80 

distributor areas. 

Banners, signs and six-foot cutouts will 

be featured in 30,000 dealer showrooms. 

Newspaper ad mats have been supplied to 

all dealers on a co-op basis. 

RCA VICTOR: The combined efforts of 

51 wholesale distributors will be devoted 

the company's Peter Pan album and the 

to 

top tunes trom the film. 1 lie activity is 

already under way. with salesmen covering 

every situation, both in distribution of the 

records and in publicity and promotion via 

newspapers, disk jockeys and stores. 

National advertising includes 600-line ads 

in key city newspapers, to break with playdates, 

with special co-op ad mats for all 

dealers like those used with success on 

"Alice in Wonderland." 

Promotional and store display material 

includes 3.000 standees, featuring a fulllength 

figure of Peter Pan, for music, record 

and department stores, which are excellent 

for use by dealers in conjunction with 

theatre tie-ins; counter and mailing pieces; 

streamers for the album; streamers for the 

single records, and hangers. 

On radio, records have been serviced to 

2.500 disk jockeys; the Little Nipper Story 

Time show to 260 stations will get the Peter 

Pan story in the spring, and Disney will do 

a guest shot on the Stars Review the Hits 

show on 225 more stations. 

Big Bicycle Giveaway Ready 

For 'Hiawatha' Promotion 

Allied .Xrtists has completed a national 

tie-uj) with Gamble-Skogmo, Inc.. of 

Minneapolis under which winners of essay 

contests to be held in connection with the 

showing of "Hiawatha" in all key cities 

will be awarded "Hiawatha" bicycles provided 

by the Minneapolis firm. The company 

also is making available to exhibitors 

lobby displays and is providing free 

thousands of "Hiawatha'' headdresses. 

Exhibitors can arrange for these promotions 

through the Allied Artists exchange offices. 

PROMOTION SECTION

Tom Ed^fards knows movie customers 

Edwards ir Plumlee Theatres partner says screen magazines bring 'em in! 

This longtime exhibitor from Farmington, Missouri, says: "From my 

earhest days in this business, when I was a film salesman traveling 

in Missouri and Kansas, I have noticed how far-reaching is the circulation 

of screen magazines, which I have seen displayed in stores 

and on newsstands everywhere, reaching even into the smallest of 

nnal towns. 

"As an exliibitor for the past 20 years, now operating a group of 

small-town houses in Eastern Missouri, I have come to know directly 

the value of the screen magazine in cultivating interest and de- 

\-eloping patrons for the movies. This is especially true among the 

\ounger people, who I know are the most avid readers of these 

nublications. I know this through observation, and also due to the 

fact that I have a teen-age daughter, who keeps up on movies and 

stars through them." 

Screen magazines most certainly do cultivate new young customers 

for the exhibitor. Modern Screen, for example, is read month 

after month by an audience of 3,000,000, and better than 9 out of 

10 are under 35 years old. These young women read Modern Screen 

from cover to cover because the stories on stars and many phases 

of movies are specially edited to interest them. And they get not 

only quality, but quantity, too. In 1952, Modem Screen ran more 

editorial matter than any other screen magazine! Readers really get 

their money's worth. 

Proof of the reader demand for Modern Screen is the fact that it 

leads all other screen magazines on the newsstands, as it has ever 

since 1947. And proof that advertisers know that Modern Screen 

really brings in customers, is the fact that it led all other screen 

magazines in advertising linage in 1952. 

modern screen 

t ( ; America's Great Screen Magazine 

DELL PUBLISHING CO., 

INC. 

261 FIFTH AVENUE. NEW YORK 16, N.Y. 

V 

BOXOFFICE :: January 17. 1953

i 

MERCHANDISE 

l>EII Ltl HIK 

MAGAZINES 

U-l Lines 

Up Tri-Part 

Tie-In Promotions for 

Mississippi Gambler' 

Film's Stars Head Fashion 

Projects for Large, Small 

Situations. 

Along with its star tours and day-anddale 

saturation booiiings for "Mississippi 

Gambler," I -I has constructed a wellrounded 

tieup campaign in the national 

category which reaches into definite local 

outlets. 

The tie-ins take three different tacks. The 

first is aimed at department stores, and 

consists of a five-part fashion promotion. 

Involved are Lortogs, manufacturing a special 

blouse and skirt, it uses Piper Iîurie 

as the model in a full-page ad in Compact 

magazine which carries credits for the film 

and |)inp()ints 25 stores across the country; 

ad mats and photos of the star are included 

in a store promotion package. Miss Laurie 

is featured in a negligee and lingerie tic 

with Terris Bros., which is using a full page 

in Glamour and reproducing the ad in 

ad mats to store accounts. 

Full-Page in Seventeen 

A full page in Seventeen ties the same 

star to Penobscot "Trampeze" shoes in a 

number of styles, with ad mats and counter 

cards going to store accounts, and a full 

page in Brides features her in a tieup with 

Pandora wedding gowns, which is also providing 

ad mats. 

Slightly more limited is a tieup using 

Julia Adams and the new line of Schapiarelli 

hosiery, which is being sold currently 

through franchise operated departments 

in 150 key city department stores. 

Newspaper ads will accompany picture 

openings wherever possible, and stores will 

have counter cards. 

A Cotton Week Tie-Up 

The second category is a "'Cotton Week in 

Your Town" promotion, for which five west 

coast manufacturers have combined in a 

series of women's clothes stylings. from 

bathing suits to evening gowns. Each manufacturer 

will aid any exhibitor who can 

promote the idea with any store locallv; the 

manufacturers are all nationally distributed 

and well-known, and have already briefed 

all of their store accounts. A special set 

of stills is available, featuring Piper Laurie 

and Julia Adams in the garments. Since 

cottons come into prominence along about 

March, later playdates will have the advantage 

in setting up such a tieup. 

In the third category are the regular 

commercial ties, with U-l scoring a first 

via Tyrone Powers endorsement of Camel 

cigarets and a return picture credit, which 

lOkTOM . J., t..,.' ^ • '» 

This full-page national ad reaches to local-level 

selling via ad mats for retail outlets nationally, and 

publicity photos of the star and the garments in a 

store promotion package by the manufocturcr. 

the company has not done before. 

The full 

comjilement of 39 national magazines will 

be used in the full-page color format employed 

by Camels. Color reprints will be 

available through L'-I's home office exploitation 

department. 

National magazines and point of sale 

display material will feature a Power tie-in 

with Auto-Lite, and Hollywood Bread will 

run newspaper ads on Piper Laurie as part 

of its continuing tie with U-I. 

(For names and addresses of contacts on these 

promotions, check the f*re-Selling Guide. 

Bwana Devil' 

Aimed at 

Promotion 

Camera Fans 

One of the most intensive cooperative 

tieups ever arranged with a motion picture 

is currently being undertaken by the David 

White Co. of Milwaukee, manufacturers of 

the Stereo-Realist cameras, in conjunction 

with the initial bookings of Arch Oboler's 

"Bwana Devil," first Natural Vision thirddimensional 

feature. 

The company is plugging the Robert 

Stack-Barbara Britton-Nigel Bruce picture 

with large ads in the December issues of 

Business Week, Sales Management, Business 

Screen, National Photographer and 

Professional I'hotographer magazines, atid 

features a lead article in the current issue 

of the Realist News, distributed to over 

50.000 Realist camera owners all over the 

nation. 

Every photographic editor of each daily 

and large weekly newspajier in the country 

has received several mailings on the unique 

picture, while 2,500 camera dealers around 

the country have been contacted and ])rovided 

with placards announcing the film. 

Special Stereo-Realist stills, made during 

the shooting of the color film, will be provided 

theatres showing the third-dimension 

pioneer production for lobby displays. 

Seventeen 's acclaim for "Hans Christian 

Andersen" has been translated into action 

for exhibitors. The magazine is offering 

free selling aid via its "Picture of the 

Month" seal for lobby display, an enlarged 

reproduction of tlie review and a 10x13 

color cover of the magazine. 

This service is offered only occasionally, 

on pictures which the publication considers 

of extra merit. 

The magazine's jjicture of the month for 

February is Martin and Lewis' "The 

Stooge." 

"Limelight" gets Holiday magazine's top 

accolade for the year, with reviewer Al 

Hine terming it the "movie event of the 

year . . . great and stirring ... in a class 

by itself." 

Two other UA releases, "High Noon" 

and "The Thief," are among the magazine's 

selections for the vear's 12 best. 

Redbook joins the parade of magazines 

and other media heaping honors on "Come 

Back, Little Sheba." Along with its picture 

of the month bestowal, the magazine follows 

others with especial notice of the portrayals, 

with particular attention to Shirley 

Booth and Burt I^ncaster. 

National media continue to pay special 

attention to the I PA-Columbia released cartoons. 

The latest is Redbook, which devotes 

two color pages to a rave review of "Madeline." 

the classic Ludwing Bemelmans children's 

story. Seven stills are used to illustrate 

the article. 

A look-see into what teenagers prefer in 

the way of screen fare is afforded by Seventeen's 

January issue, which annually turns 

over its entertaiimient section to its readers. 

A 17-year-old girl from Virginia claims 

that teeners are capable of intelligent movie 

choices, even with Tony Curtis in them. 

Her favorite films: "Battleground," "The 

Happv Time," "The Greatest Show on 

Earth," "What Price Glory" and "High 

Noon." 

Another 17-year-old provides an enlightening 

article on movie background music 

like the score for "Quo Vadis.' 

.\merican magazine's selections for February 

feature a variety of Uiemes to encompass 

the tastes of all of its family readershi]). 

Recommended for adventure is 

"The Pathfinder" from Columbia; tense 

drama. MGM's "Story of Three Loves"; 

murder-mystery, in 20th-Fox's "Niagara" 

and RKO's "Angel Face"; musical fare in 

Warner's "She's Back on Broadway"; 

powerful drama in Paramount's "Come 

Back. Little Sheba." and foreign fare in 

the French "Forbidden Games." 

.Noted as an Academy award contender is 

UA's ".Moulin Rouge." 

PROMOTION SECTION

THE GOLD IN 

GOLDWYN TIES 

Most Extensive Tie- In Campaign Is Created 

For Merchandising 

Hans Christian Andersen' 

The merchandise tie-in campaign constructed 

around "Hans Christian Andersen'" 

is the most extensive lined up for any Goldwyn 

picture. Most of the products are in 

the mass-sale class, and the others have been 

coordinated into an over-all package for 

key city and other department stores. 

Practicality of the merchandise in promoting 

the playdate is indicated by New 

York's Criterion, which has been selling 

about ten of the items in its lobby, as it has 

consistently done with Disney merchandise, 

and has been meeting with the same kind of 

"highly satisfactory" results. 

New York Stores Tie-in 

Another indication of the display tie-in 

possibilities—some involving merchandise 

and others not—is the ])rominence of New 

York department stores which devoted windows 

and in-store displays to the film. 

These include: Macy's, which featured nine 

of the products on sale (affiliated stores are 

expected to join in the same promotion to 

tie in with theatre playdates) ; Bon wit- 

Teller, also following tlirough in Boston 

and Cleveland, and Abraham & Strauss. Nationally, 

the AMC stores, which include the 

top ones in 23 key cities, have also indicated 

that they will tie in. 

Individually, certain manufacturers are 

promoting their items heavily, and in novel 

form. They indicate they will respond 

quickly to theatre campaigns, and will aid 

in theatre-store promotions whenever possible. 

One of the best is being handled by 

Jo-Do, which has created a line of plastic 

aprons for children and adults and is selling 

them via confinement to one store per town, 

with each apron being personalized with 

first names by an artist hired by the store. 

Package Deals for Stores 

The manufacturer provides mats and artists' 

materials, with which the artist sets 

himself up in a traffic spot. On display at 

the spot are the aprons. Stores have been 

provided with ad mats, window and counter 

displays and a special pre-selling newspaper 

co-op campaign. This is the kind of stunt 

which can be followed through with jiractically 

no change right in theatre lobbies, 

and attract attention as well as extra concession 

dollars. 

Also in the double role of store promotion 

and theatre concession items are the 

following products: Thumbelina and King's 

Doll, to retail at SI, and de luxe versions 

at $1.50 and $2. These are packaged in a 

replica of an HCA book, and will be carried 

in department stores and drug and grocery 

chains. Ad mats on a co-op basis will be 

available to the stores, as well as a variety 

of display pieces—counter cards, window 

streamers, mechanical window displays. 

"Fairytale" handbags for children are 

based on the stories in the film and have 

been placed in novelty, chain and department 

stores with counter cards and ad mats 

for all outlets. Hand-painted costume 

jewelry for children includes necklaces, 

bracelets, pins, barrettes and earrings, each 

specially packaged in an HCA box. The 

promotion jirogram includes mailing pieces, 

consumer magazine ads and co-op ad mats. 

Decca records has prepared albums at 

all three speeds, featuring Danny Kaye and 

Jane Wyman, as well as single records. 

Decca's promotion includes newspaper ads 

to break day and date with openings, 

counter cards and window streamers. The 

25-cent Little Golden records are out now, 

too, as well as a line of 2.5-cent Wonder 

Books and $1 Treasure editions. Book 

covers feature Danny Kaye. Ad mats have 

been forwarded to local dealers. 

Publish Four-Color Comic Book 

A 100-page, four-color comic book from 

Ziff-Davis has an initial print order of 

1,000,000; two different dolls in the $2 

range have just been added to the line-up, 

and four different full-color reproductions 

of the Jeanmaire dances complete the list 

of the double-duty ties. 

At least 16 more manufacturers are in 

the tie-in list, via clothing and accessories 

for department and specialty store sale, and 

national ad tie-ins are sjiearheaded by the 

Camel cigaret complement of 39 magazines. 

Exhibitors may note that every tieup item 

gives complete credits to the picture, 

whether in the form of packaging, ads or 

displays. 

(For complete listing of tie-ups and contarts 

for local help, check the National f'resclling 

Guide in this issue. I 

Autry Promotion Going 

On Bread Wrappers 

Fortune Merchandising Corp., newly 

licensed to handle Gene Autry promotional 

printed matter, has already sublicensed 

Quality Bakers of America to use Autry 

on bread wrappers. 

Additional deals with Arden Dairies in 

Los Angeles and Bell Brook Dairies in San 

Francisco will use the Autry likeness on 

milk cartons. 

Estimates on the baker tieup mean that 

Autry credits go on four million bread 

wrappers a week, with similar distribution 

from the Arden Dairy tieup. 

The Fortune Corp.'s license extends to 

billboards, 24-sheets, point of purchase advertising, 

window and market signs and 

beverage caps. 

10 PAIRS OF [Ril TICKETS 

TO THE 10 PEOPLE WHO COME 

CLOSEST TO GUESSING 

THE AGE OF THE REBUILT 

SHOES SHOWN BELOWM 

COME IN FOR YOUR FREE ENTRY BLANK! 

llaiisiiliiKllaiiAiidcrswrs 

|P^ 1 

AIRY mil H 

THREE LOCAL-LEVEL TIE-INS 

The O'Sullivan heels contest (top) will go into 

40,000 shoe repair shops, a natural local tie-up 

for exhibitors. Promotional moteriol will go direct 

to the shops from the manufacturer. Center is the 

cover of a new edition of Hans Christian Andersen's 

fairytales, out in the 25-cent Golden Book edition, 

while below is a songbook to be offered as o 

premium in a special gift package of the nationally 

advertised Chips'N Twigs clothes for boys. 


NATIONAL PRE-SELLING GUIDE 

A report on new films for which national pre-selling 

campaigns have been developed. Listed with each picture 

are tie-ins which have been created, plus tips to exhibitors on how to use these pre-selling aids tc exploit the picture locally. 

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN 

RKO-Goldwyn 

Pre-Release Dates Now 

IJOL'BLE-DVTY ITEAJS: These consist of those products, mostly small 

in size and price, which are getting national distribution in department, 

chain, variety, drug, stationery and toy stores, and ivhich are excellent 

lor theatre sales in lobbies and at randy stan

. 


are by now familiar. This one features little Donna Corcoran in large 

newspaper ads and bread loaf end labels. 

Tie-in Tips: The local Sunbeam Baker iiiU uork uith theatres on 

including credit lines in ads, displays and contests. 

LOCAL TIE-UP .STILLS: Esther Williams posing with 1904 and 1953 

Cadillacs, for display and ad tie-ups with local dealers; dog star Rin 

Tin Tin IV, with Elslher Williams, for pwhliiily plant loral newspapers; 

contrasting one-piece bathing suit of Aiimlte Kellerman and those worn 

by Williams; neck scarfs, sweaters, bathrobes, twn-lone shirts, fur coats, 

jewelry, coiffure, Esther Williams and Victor .Vlature. .MI available 

from National Screen. 

SPECIAL ACCESSORIES: Three different color-in mats, from National 

.Screen; auto bumper strips, fluorescent sectional valances and flag-wall 

banners, ushers' badges, order from .National Flag, 43 W. 21 .St., N.Y.C.; 

full(i)lor one-.sheet, plastic color stick-ons, 3-color herald, order from 

National Screen; "smarty pants patches" that glow in the dark, for 

lei'n-ager giveaway, order from Jerry .Scanlaii, 1901 N. ('lybourn Ave., 

Chicago, III. 

MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER U-l Rel. Date Feb., '53 

SPECIAL FASHION PROMOTION: 

LOKTOCS: Manufacturing special blouses and skirt using Piper Laurie 

as the model in full-page national ad in Compact magazine. Credits in ad 

and ad mats and special photos of the star. 

TiF.-iN Tips: Contact is P. Shajtel. Lortogs. .'519 Sth Ave., N.Y.C. 

TERRIS BROS: Piper Laurie, film credits in full page ad. Glamour. 

Ad mats to stores. 

Tix-iN Tips: Contact is P. Kwartin. Terris Urns.. 105 Madison Ave., 

N.Y.C. 

PENOBSCOT SHOES: Piper Laurie, film credits, full-page ad, Seventeen. 

.\d mats and counter cards to stores. 

TiF.-iM Tips: Contact is L. Fishman, Penobscot Shoes, 179 Lincoln 

St., Boston, Mass. 

PANDORA GOWNS: Bridal gown, featuring Piper Laurie in ad mats 

to stores. 

TiF,-m Tips: Contact is A. Seldner, Pandora Originals, 498 7th Ave., 

N.Y.C. 

SCHAPIARELLI HOSE: Using Julia ."Vdams in 350-line newspaper ads 

in 150 key cities where the hosiery is franchised to local stores. 

T1F.-IN Tips: .4ds will be timed to opening dates tvhere possible. 

Check local stores to see if they handle the line, for theatre credits. 

Local stores handle some or all of the products outlined in this 

over-all fashion promotion, and may do a store-wide or departmental 

promotion to tie in ivith films. Be sure to check this possibility 

("OTTON WEEK: Five California manufacturers have combined in series 

of women's cotton clothes, from bathing suits to evening gowns. Manufacturers 

will aid individually and collectively in situations where exhibiliirs 

and stores use this promotion, which features Piper Laurie and 

Julia Adams. Manufacturers are: Junior Miss of Cal., skirts and dresses, 

contact M. Katz, 910 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, Calif.; Lucinda, 

denim play clothes, contact M. Futterman, 416 E. 9 St., Los Angeles; 

W. J. .Schminke & Assoc cotton dresses, contact W. J. Schminke, 2845 

W. 7 St., Los .\ngeles; Emma Domb, Inc., evening gowns, contact D. 

Newman, 2225 Palou Ave.. San Francisco; De De Johnson, bathing 

suits, contact E. LaVove, 722 S. Los .Vngcles St., Los Angeles. 

Tie-in Tips: All manufacturers nationally distributed, have notified 

and outlined whole program to stores. Special stills have stars 

modeling the clothes. Since cottons don't reach fashion prominence 

until March, later playdates have good tie-in 

possibilities. 

CAMEL CIG.ARETTES: Tyrone Power endorsement features picture 

credits for first time in this advertising, in 39 national magazines. Color 

reprints available through UI home office exploitation dep't. 

.-VUTO-LITE: Using Ty Power, film credits, in national ads, local auto 

accessory dealer display material. 

HOLLYWOOD BREAD: Continuing tie with U-I features Piper Laurie, 

film credits, in key city newspaper ads. 

Tie-in Tips: Ads can be slugged with theatre and playdate. Contact 

local franchise baker. For name of baker, other aid, check C. B. 

McDaniel, National Bakers Services. 100 If'. Monroe St., Chicago, III. 

PETER PAN RKO-Disney Pre-Rel. Date Feb., '53 

DERBY FOODS: Tied in via its Peter Pan peanut butter. Using 16 

of film's characters on lithographed jar tops in 10,000,000 distribution, 

in 100,000 retail outleU. 

Tie-in Tips: Company icill feature supermarket promotions, with an 

attendant in Peter Pun costume. Magazine, newspaper, and comics 

advertising included in campaign; also "Sky King" radio and TV 

shows. Contact any lo'al supermarket or chain for theatre ties; 

they have been alerted to ivork with theatres. 

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE-PEET: Introducing new P.l.r Pan soap, to 

follow release pattern of film nationally. 

TiE-iN Tips: Disney "Never Land" map giveaway for children via 

retail outlets, mostly food stores; display material kits to about 

50.000 important outlets. Local newspaper advertising gets the 

heavy play. Same supermarket contacts as for the peanut butter 

will tie in on theatre playdate imprints for the map giveaway. 

WEATHERBIRD SHOES: Peler Pan window displays and inside-store 

promotion material via 5.000 retail outlets, national magazine ads, local 

newspaper co-op campaign. 

TiE-iN Tips: Local giveaway for children in the form of 1.000,000 

paper hats is excellent for theatre imprint tie-in; local ad campaign 

can be slugged tilth theatre and playdate credits. Complete newspaper 

mat service and radio spots to each dealer. Contact locally. 

POST CERE.ALS: New "Corn Feiti" cereal is the tie-in medium, with 

Peter Pan credits on 10,000,000 boxes and small comic book with most 

of them. Picture plugs twice weekly on "Captain Video" TV show. 

Tie-in Tips: Tie in with same supermarket outlets handling peanut 

butter and soap, with emphasis on "Peter Pan" specials, and neivspaper 

ads with theatre credits. 

ADMIRAIj CORP.: Two-million-dollar campaign will use all media with 

complete picture credits; half of this sum will be for display material and 

lithography for dealer showrooms; 1,000,000 toy TV theatres as children 

giveaways, and similar number of free comic books. 

TiE-lN Tips: The giveaways, netvspaper ads, banners, signs and sixfoot 

cutouts featuring the film's characters will be in 30,000 dealer 

shoivrooms : these and ad mats can be tied in to theatre playdates, 

slugged with credit lines. .Idmiral dealers have worked frequently 

with theatres. Contact locally. 

RCA VICTOR: Peter Pan album and single pop luncs will be heavily 

promoted; activity by salesmen already under way. National advertising 

includes 600-line newspaper ads in key situations to break with playdates. 

Tie-in Tips: A great variety of local ad and display material is available: 

3,000 standees for music, record and department stores; counter 

and mailing pieces; streamers for the album; streamers for the single 

records; hangers for stores; special newspaper co-op ad mats like 

those used successfully for "Alice in Wonderland." Contact locally; 

all music shops are traditionally anxious and receptive to theatre 

tie-ins via ads, displays, lobbies. 

.SPECIAL REEL: For pre-selling to local schools and via local TV station 

programming material, a 15-minute, 16mm reel, "The Story of Peter 

Pan," already accepted and used in New York and Chicago. 

Tie-in Tips: 

Obtain from RKO exchange. 

LICENSED MERCHANDISE: Number and variety of this merchandise 

exceeds in number anything in Disney history. At least 40 companies will 

produce well over 100 different items, many of them suitable for theatre 

selling. Example: books and printed items have a first printing of over 

14.000,000, in price ranges from ten cents to $1.50. Excellent for theatre 

selling are these printed items, records, trinket jewelry, dolls, puppets, 

balloons, various small toys. If space permits, the February Promotion 

will list all items suitable for theatre sale, which can add considerable 

revenue to grosses. 

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER 20th Fox Current Rel. 

C. G. CONN: Tieup with largest manufacturer of band instruments has 

distribution of special one-sheet to 800 outlets nationally, with complete 

picture credits. 

TiE-iN Tips: Dealers have been alerted to tie in with playdates, and 

national band contest. Contact locally, with music stores handling 

the Conn line. 



Musk Promotions 

Lifted here are recorded star interviews^ radio 

scripts, and other air time selling aids 

available to exhibitors without cost from distributors. 

Also NSS Tl' trailer packages at 

the jixed rate. 

Hans Christian Andehsen (RKO) 

Records: "The King's New Clothes," "The 

Ugly Duckling" and "The Inch Worm," sung 

by Frank and Lynn Iêsser, MGM. 

The 1 Don't Care Girl (20th-Fox) 

Records: "As Long as You Care," Bill Hayes, 

MG.\L 

IVANHOE AND PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE (MGM) 

Records: Soundtrack album, selections of background 

music from both films. MGM Records. 

LiLi (MG.M) 

Records: Soundtrack album of three songs, on 

flip side of \,V record which has album of 

"Everything 1 Have Is Yours" on the other. 

MGM Records. 

Stop, You're Killing Me (WB) 

Records: "My Ever-Lovin'," Bill Hayes, MGM. 

Air Time Aids 

Listed here are recorded star interviews, radio 

scripts, and other air time selling aids 

available to exhibitors without cost from distributors. 

Also NSS TV trailer packages at 

the jixed rate. 

editor, 321 W. 44th St.. New York City. 

-\cAiNST All Flags (U-I) 

Personal interview platter, Errol Flynn, fiveminute 

open end, order from U-I radio department, 

U-I studios. Universal City, Cilif. 

Because of You (U-I) 

Personal interview platter, Loretta Young, fiveminute 

open end. Also transcription platter, 

eight spots, one-minute. 20-second, 1.5-second 

and station breaks. Order both free from U-1 

radio department, U-1 studios. Universal City, 

Calif. 

Blackbeard the Pirate (RKO) 

Star interview platter. Linda Daniell, Robert 

Newton, five-minute each, open end. .\lso transcription 

platter, ten spots, one-minute, 30-second 

and 15-second. Special theatre lobby spots 

record for lobby public address system, plays 

continuously. All free from RKO field man, 

branch manager or l.ion Brandt at home office. 

EitiiT Ikon Men (Col) 

Transcription platter, 15-, 30- and 60-second 

spots; order from local exchange; shipped from 

New York. 

The Four Poster (Col) 


open end spots. Order from local exchange; 

shipped from New York. 

The I Don't Care Girl (20th-Fox) 


spots; free from pressbook editor, 444 W. .56th 

St.. New York City. 

The Happy Time (Col) 

Sheet music: "The Happy Time," Laurel Music, The Lawless Breed (U-I) 

1619 Broadway, New Vork City. 

Personal interview transcription. Rock Hudson, 

open end. Free from U-I radio department, U-I 

studios, Universal City, Calif. 

Outpost in Malaya (UA) 

Transcription platter, one-minute, 30- and 15- 

second spots, open end. Free from exploitation 

department, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City. 

Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox) 

Transcription platter, eight spots; five are 

teasers of 15 and 20-soconds; three are saturation 

spots of 60-, 30- and 20 seconds. Order 

from pressbook editor, +14 W. 56th St.. New 

York Qty. 

Pennywhistle Blues (Mayer-Kingsley) 

Stars and Stripes Forevxr (20th-Fox) 

Records: "Pennywhistle Blues," Freddy Martin's 

Orchestra, RCA Victor. 

Transcription platter, open end spots, 60-, 30- 

and 20-second TV slides (Telop) for 20-second 

Peter Pan (RKO) 

station breaks, from QQ Title Card Co., New 

Records: "You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" Betty 

York City. Lobby sound effects platter, for continuous 

playing. 

Clark and the Blue Notes, MGM; "Peter Pan" 

Spots and lobby transcriptions 

storybook album available 

for cliildren, with 

free 

Kathy 

from pressbook editor, 444 W. 

Beaumont 

and Bobby Driscoll, RCA 

56th St., New York Qty. 

Victor. 

Niagara (20th-Fox) 

Sheet music avalaible: "Kiss," Miller Music, 799 

Seventh Ave., New York Qty; movie cover features 

Marilyn Monroe. 

Picl( 

Records available: "Kiss," Dean Martin, Capitol; 

Toni ."Vrden, Columbia. 

of Magazines 

Listed are current and jorthcoming pictures 

chosen by magazine editors for special citations, 

or recognition for specific qualities of 

merit— material which can be used by exhibitors 

for local level promotions, lobby displays 

and advertising copy. 

Blackbeard the Pirate (RKO) 

Recommended viewing, McCall's, January. 

Come Back, Little Sheba (Para) 

Picture of the month, Redbook, January. 

Hans Christian Andersen (RKO) 

Picture of the month, Seventeen, January; piclure 

of the month, McCall's, January. 

.\bbott and Costello Meet Captain Kiuu (WB) 

Transcription platter, one-minute 

Limelight 

spots and 

(UA) 

15- 

scc. station breaks, 

Best picture of the year. Holiday, Januarv". 

free from campaign plans 

10 

Madeline (Col-UPA Short) 

Special recommendation and review, Redbook, 

January. 

Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM) 

Picture of the month. Seventeen, December. 

Moulin Rouge (UA) 

Recommended viewing, American, February. 

Niagara (20th-Fox) 


The Pathfinder (Col) 


The Stooge (Para) 

Picture of the month. Seventeen, February; best 

comedy of the month, January, Cosmopolitan, 

January. 

The Story of Three Loves (MGM) 


MOVIES AND TV 

Continued from page 3 

tional door prizes on successive Saturdays 

to keep youthful patron interest at fever 

l)itch. 

An Saturdays, for at least one month 

prior to opening, managers made personal 

pitches of various sorts, including giveaways 

of such items as the "Captain Video" 

comic book. 

Lust evaluates the results: "That the 

campaigns were highly successful was attested 

to at the boxoffice, wîth a majority 

of the tlieatres breaking all previous records 

for children attendance. Attendance on 

successive Saturdays also was most gratifying, 

proving to me that the kids can be 

attracted to the theatre from their television 

sets." 

From this bare outline, two other important 

factors are evident. The first is 

Lust's personal interest in and working contribution 

to putting the campaign over. 

The second is the ingenuity, showmanship 

and hard work displayed by his managers. 

One of the theatres, incidentally, the 

Bethesda, is the same one which was smart 

enough to take advantage of the national 

attention given the short, "Gerald McBoing 

Boing," by billing it above the regular 

feature and featuring Life's coverage. 

All three parties benefited from the alliance, 

and were happy with it. The theatres 

got boxoffice Saturday matinees; the TV 

station accomplished a promotional stroke 

which it couldn't have bought for any 

price—free plugs for itself and its "Captain 

Video" show in particular on five theatre 

screens—General Foods at small cost (the 

cereal giveaway) got free screen plugs, 

additional TV plugs and a promotional impact 

with the food stores selling its cereals. 

National Tie-In Directory 

If here to write direct for information regarding 

contests, merchandising tie-ins, and 

other pre-selling aids. 

Columbia Pictures Corp.: Harry McWilliams, 

Exploitation Director, 729 Seventh Ave., New 

York 19, N. Y. 

Lippert Pictures, Inc., 115 North Robertson 

Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr: Dan S. Terrell, Exploitation 

Director. 1510 Broadway, New York 19. 

Monogram Pictures Corp.: John C. Flinn, 4376 

Sunset Drive, Hollywood 37, Calif. 

Paramount Pictures Corp.: Sid Mesibov, Exploitation 

Manager, 1.501 Broadway, New York 36. 

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.: Exploitation Director, 

1270 Sixtli Ave., New York 20. 

Republic Pictures Corp.: Steve Edwards. Advertising 

and Publicity Director, 1740 Broadway, 

New York 19. 

2Chh Century-Fox: Stirling Silliphant, Promoti(m 

Director, 444 West 56th St., New York 19. 

United Artists C«rp.: Lige Brien, Promotion 

Manager, 729 Seventh Ave., New York 19. 

Universal-International: Jerry Evans, Promotion, 

445 Park .\ve.. New York 22. 

Warner Bros.: 

St.. New York 19. 

Abe Kronenberg, 321 West 44th 

PROMOTION SECTION

Price Hike Evidence 

Asked in New Jersey 

NEW YORK—New Jersey exhibitors have 

been asked to provide evidence of forced 

increases in admission prices at a meeting of 

Allied Theatre Owners of that state January 

26 at the Stacy-Ti-ent hotel, Trenton. The 

invitation was contained in a bulletin issued 

by Wilbur Snaper, president, which was optimistic 

about the tax repeal campaign and 

asked members to supply helpful information 

and invite their legislators to the 

luncheon. 

Snaper said New Jersey has had "the greatest 

recession in boxoffice receipts of any state 

in the union." George Gold is legislative 

chairman. 

The bulletin said that "there is no doubt 

that distribution, through terms, forces advanced 

admission prices regardless of the 

quality or character of the picture and in 

contempt of the decree. Distribution piously 

claims otherwise. Yet within the bounds of 

our country, theatres thousands of miles 

apart coincidentally seem to have the same 

prices on the same picture at the same time. 

Certainly no one is stupid enough to believe 

that this just happens." 

The bulletin goes on to say distribution 

continues to press for more rentals in New 

Jersey despite the boxoffice decline in the 

state. Tlie "persistent effort to obtain percentage 

deals from small grossing situations" 

is called "ludicrous." Doubt is expressed as 

Washington Theatre Firm 

Files $1,248,000 Suit 

NEW YORK—A $1,248,000 triple-damage 

antitrust suit has been filed here against 

the eight majors by Samuel, Max and Faith 

Cummins, Celia B. 

Cohen and Rose Chatkin 

of Pix Theatres, Inc., Washington. District 

Theatres Corp. of Washington also is a defendant. 

The charge was made of discrimination in 

granting first and subsequent runs to the 

Langston Theatre of District Theatres, leaving 

only played-out films for the Plymouth, a 

Negro house operated by Pix. 

Waterhouse to Sponsor 

Bill to Repeal Law 481 

PITTSBURGH—A bill calling for elimination 

of municipal amusement taxes as they 

apply to film houses and legitimate theatres 

will be introduced into the Pennsylvania general 

assembly by Wilmer W. Waterhouse, east 

Erie county representative. Such a tax is 

levied by municipalities under bill 431—the 

"tax everything that isn't taxed by the state" 

law. In Waterhouse's district, theatres are 

burdened with such taxes at Corry and Millcreek. 

Waterhouse said more than 100 theatres 

have closed in Pennsylvania in the last three 

years. 

ÊASTERN 

to whether the home or branch office is 

responsible. Discrimination is called "still 

rampant," with circuits "still buying better 

than independents." 

Snaper, who also is president of national 

Allied, comments on arbitration by saying it 

"remains in a rather nebulous state" and that 

"as to the final outcome, no one can tell." 

Republic is criticized for selling films to television. 

STATES- 

FEDERAL TAX REPEAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN 

Edgar J. Dnob Leon Back George Gold Elmer Lux 

Emanuel Frisch Harry Brandt Louis Schine 

Harry Hendel J. J. O'Leary Sidney Bowden 

Saul 

Ullman 

Carlton Duffus 

NEW YORK—Exhibitor chairmen from the eastern states, who have been working 

with distributor chairmen on the Council of Motion Picture Organizations-sponsored 

campaign for repeal of the 20 per cent amusement tax, are shown above. These men 

have been instrumental in contacting congressmen and senators for pledges of cooperation 

on outright repeal of the federal 20 per cent levy. They are chairmen of the following 

states: 

DELAWARE—Edgar J. Doob, Loew's Aldine Theatre, Wilmington. 

MARYLAND—Leon Back, Baltimore. 

NEW JERSEY—George Gold, Rivoli, Newark. 

NEW YORK—Elmer Lux, general manager, Darnell Theatres, Buffalo; Emanuel 

Frisch, Randforce Amusement Co., Brooklyn; Harry Brandt, Brandt Theatre circuit. New 

York; Louis Schine, Schine Theatres, Gloversville; Saul Ullman, Fabian Tlieatres, Albany. 

PENNSYLVANIA—Harry Hendel, Allied MPTOA, Pittsburgh, and J. J. OLeary, 

Comerford circuit, 

Scranton. 

VIRGINIA—Sidney Bowden, Wilder Theatres, Norfolk, and Carlton Duffus, 

Richmond. 

Also committee chairmen, but not pictured, are: 

DELAWARE—Lewis S. Black, Warner Theatre, Wilmington. 

WEST VIRGINIA—Hallie J. Gilbert. Royal Theatre, Princeton. 

Clairton, Pa., Drops Tax 

CLAIRTON, PA.—The city council has 

eliminated the local 10 per cent amu.sement 

tax by unanimous action. A streamlined property 

reassessment program coupled with a 

substantial reduction in taxes came out of 

the council's initial meeting of 1953 when 

the old year ended with a cash balance of 

more than $35,000. This was the first tax 

reduction in 16 yeai's for Clairton. Theatre 

owners had been fighting for several years 

to have the amusement tax removed. 

Consider Halting Ticket Levy 

NEW KENSINGTON, PA.—Theatre owners 

here have petitioned the city council to 

abolish its 10 per cent amusement tax. For 

a long period the theatre owners have pro- 

driving them out of 

tested that the city tax is 

business. Council has agreed to investigate 

Amusement Tax Abolished 

CALIFORNIA, PA.—The city council recently 

removed the local 10 per cent amusement 

tax. 

BOXOFTICE January 17, 1953 N 33

— 

— 

Stratford), 

— 

— 

— 

— 2 

— 

— 

Business for Holiday Pictures Down, 

But 'Sheba, 'Earnest' Still Big 

NEW YORK— Allhough several bis holiday 

pictures, including "Come Back, Little 

Sheba," in its third strong week at the 

Victoria, "The Importance of Being Earnest," 

in its third big week at the Baronet, 

and "Forbidden Games," which received 

a boost by being chosen best foreign 

film of the year, held up exceptionally 

well, many of the others had the expected 

slump following the resumption of school. 

Icy weekend weather also had its effect on 

the boxoffice. 

In addition to the three named, "Hans 

Christian Andersen" remained strong in its 

seventh weeks at both the Criterion and the 

Paris and "My Cousin Rachel" and "Ruby 

Gentry" were good in their third weeks at 

the Rivoli and Mayfair. respectively. Million 

Dollar Mermaid," in its sixth week at 

the Radio City Music Hall, and "April in 

Paris" and "Against All Flags," in their 

third weeks at the Paramount and Capitol, 

respectively, did well enough in the last 

stanzas of their holiday programs. The 

Music Hall took in a total of between $975,000 

and $1,000,000 during the six- week run of 

"Mermaid." 

"This Is Cinerama" continued at capacity 

in its 15th w'eek of reserved seats at the 

Broadway and "The Piomoter," in its 11th 

week at the Fine Arts, and "Leonardo da 

Vinci," in its eighth week at the Guild, held 

up well. The Palace closed its film and 

vaudeville program Wednesday (14) in preparation 

for Danny Kaye and his stage revue, 

which will open Sunday (18). The 

Capitol also went back to straight film 

policy. 

In addition to "The Bad and the Beautiful" 

at the Music Hall, "Androcles and the Lion" 

at the Capitol and "The Jazz Singer" at the 

Paramount, "Girls in the Night" and "Face 

to Face," as well as three foreign pictures 

opened during the week. 

(Average is 100) 

Astor Limelight (UA). continuous, ]2th wk 110 

Baronet The Itmportonce of Being Earnest (U-l), 

3rd wk 130 

Beekman Castle in the Air i 2nd wk. 100 

Bi|Ou The Little World ot Don Camilla (IFE), 

opened January 13. 

BREAKING B.O. RECORDS p 

ic All New! In Gorgeous Color! -^ g 

LIU 

StCYR i 

Broadway This Is Cinerama (Cinerama), reserved 

seats, 15th wk 145 

Capitol Agoinst All Flogs (U-t), plus stage 

show, 3rd wk 125 

Cinema Verdi The Man With the Grey Glove 

(IFE), 2nd wk 100 

Criterion Hons Christian Andersen (RKO), 7th 

wk 135 

Fine Arts The Promoter lU-l). 11 th wk 115 

55th St. Skipper Next to God (Doll), opened 

January 1 

Globe Eight Iron Men (Col), 2nd wk 110 

Guild Leonardo do Vinci (Picturo), 8th wk 105 

Little Carnegie Forbidden Gomes (Times), 5th 

wk 135 

Loews State Blockbeard, the Pirote (RKO), 3rd 

wk 110 

Maytair—Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 115 

Nrmadie No Time For Flowers (RKO), 3rd wk...I05 

Palace Redheod from Wyoming (U-l), plus vaudeville 

110 

Paramount April in Poris (WB), plus stage show, 

3rd wk 115 

Paris Hans Christian Andersen (RKO), 7th wk...l30 

Radio City Music Hall Million Dollar Mermoid 

(MGM), plus stage show, 6th wk 105 

Rivoli My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 115 

Roxy Stars and Stripes Forever (20th-Fox), plus 

ice stage show, 3rd wk 110 

Sutton The Member of the Wedding (Col), 2nd 

wk 110 

Trans-Lux 52nd Street O. Henry's Full House 

(20th-Fox), 13th wk 100 

Trans-Lux 60th Street Limelight (UA), reserved 

seats, 1 2th wk 95 

Victoria Come Bock, Little Sheba (Para), 3rd wk.. 175 

World Two Cents Worth of Hope (Times), 4th 

wk 110 

'Anna' Enjoys Top Gross 

At Buffalo Center 

BUFFALO — "Anna," the new Americandubbed 

Italian film at the Center, was the 

bright spot along the main stem this week, 

rolling up the best gross in many moons. It 

was held a second week. On the other hand 

"Limelight" failed to attract business at the 

Century and there were many protests received 

over the showing of the Chaplin film. 

"Stars and Stripes Forever" went over okay 

at the Paramount, but "Happy Time" did 

not hold up at tlie Lafayette. "Million Dollar 

Mermaid" did a fair second week. 

Buffalo Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM), 2nd wk.. 95 

Center Anno (IFE) 140 

Cinema The Promoter (U-l), 3rd wk 90 

Century Limelight (UA) 85 

Lafayette The Happy Time (Col) 85 

Paramount Stars and Stripes Forever (20th-Fox) . 1 1 

Teck The Clown (MGM), 3rd wk 90 

Baltimore Weather Nullifies 

New Year Gains 

BALTIMORE—A week Of snow, rain, sleet 

and freezing weather took its toll at the boxoffice. 

After an auspicious New Year week 

beginning, the weather-caused slump nullified 

the gain. 

Century The Prisoner of Zenda (MGM), 2nd wk..101 

New My Cousin Rachel (20th-,'=ox) 105 

Town Above ond Beyond (MGM), 2nd wk 105 

Keith's Road to Boli (Para), 3rd wk 102 

Mayfair Thunderbirds (Rep) 94 

Stanley April in Paris (WB), 2nd wk 98 

Ployhousc The Promoter (U-l), 2nd wk 100 

Little The Four Poster (Col), 2nd wk 92 

"April in Paris' Doubles Average 

At Pittsburgh Warner 

PITTSBURGH— "April in Paris" doubled 

average at the Warner and continued on 

view. The Stanley had a 190 average on the 

bai-ometer with a stage show and pictui-e. 

"The Clown" was a hit in Loew's Penn and 

was moved over to the Ritz. 

Fulton Lure of the Wilderness (20th-Fox) 90 

Harris 

Penn 

The I Don't 

The Clown 

Core 

(MGM) 

80 

120 

Girl (20fh-Fox) 

Stanley Hour of 13 (MGM), plus stage show.. 190 

Worner April in Poris (WB) 200 

HONOKS KOK .MOM — The Kev. Dr. 

Daniel .\. INiling: Heft), editor of the 

Christian Herald, presents Howard Dietz, 

MGM vice-president and director of advertising, 

publicity and exploitation, a 

special bound volume of facsimiles of all 

the awards given MOM in ISa'i, plus a 

special citation for "Quo Vadis," selected 

as the best picture of the year by the 

readers of the publication. 

Low Tariffs, Foreign Aid 

Needed, Johnston States 

HONOLULU—Tariffs cannot be raised and 

foreign aid cut off by the United States without 

causing an economic upheaval that would 

crack the economic structure of the whole 

free world, Eric Johnston, president of the 

Motion Picture A.ss'n of America, told the 

Chamber of Commerce here Thur.sday (8). 

"We must buy more abroad and we must 

invest more abroad," Johnston asserted. 

"To encourage more trade we must reduce 

our tariffs. We must make it possible for the 

free nations to sell us more goods to earn the 

dollars they need to buy from us. 

"The size of the increased imports that we 

would need to take from many countries 

would be relatively small compared to the 

vast all-around benefits that would ensue." 

Einfeld Is Toastmaster 

At Gehring Dinner 

NEW YORK—Charles Einfeld, vice-president 

in charge of publicity, advertising and 

exploitation of 20th Century-Fox, was toastmaster 

Thursday (15) at a testimonial dinner 

given for William Gehring, executive assistant 

general sales manager, at Toots Shor's. 

He was pinch-hitting for Al Lichtman. director 

of distribution, who was ill. 

Tributes were paid to Gehring. Tlie party 

was the climax of "Bill Gehring week." About 

200 industry representatives attended. 

Spyros P. Skouras, president, made the 

principal address and Msgi-. Patrick J. Masterson 

gave the invocation. 

Two New Vice-Presidents 

Elected by Westrex Corp. 

NEW YORK— H. B. Allinsmith, former 

managing director of Western Electric Co., 

Ltd., London, has been elected a dii-ector and 

vice-president of Westrex Corp.. New York, 

effective March 1. He will take over the duties 

of D. C. Collins, vice-president, who will retire 

February 28. 

R. E. Warn, manager of Westrex Corp's 

Hollywood division, also has been elected a 

vice-president, effective March 1. Warn also 

is president of Sound Services, Inc., Hollywood. 

BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953

. . Harry 

. . Max 

. . 

. . David 

'Jazz Singer' Draws 

Big at NY Opening 

NEW YORK—Industry and six ml figures 

and civic leaders turned out in iLirue numbers 

for the benefit premiere of "The Jazz Singer" 

(WB) at the Paramount Theatre Tuesday 

(13). 

A check for more than $50,000 for the 

National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis 

fund was turned over to Earl Wilson, chairman 

of the committee in charge of the affair, 

by Robert M. Weitman, vice-president of 

United Paiamount Theatres. 

An elaborate campaign was .staged, helped 

by electric signs in the Times Square area. 

One of these was the NBC spectacular on 

42nd street west of Broadway with letters 15 

feet high. Twelve daily spot announcements 

were used for four weeks in advance 

on WJZ-TV, which also used material on 

the premiere over its six daily participation 

shows. As a result, crowds began to gather 

more than an hour before the scheduled 

opening at 8:30. 

Tickets were sold in all the Bond clothing 

stores in advance. Dennis James and Maggi 

McNeills interviewed guests as they arrived 

for WJZ-TV. James did straight interviews 

and Miss McNeills reported on fa.shions worn 

by celebrities. 

Five violinists were stationed in the lobby, 

and there was -special organ music in the 

auditorium. Jane Pickens sang the national 

anthem and Carmen Cavallaro put on a 

musical program. Danny Thomas and Peggy 

Lee, co-stars of the film, staged a 15-minute 

program of special material. 

Many Industry Executives 

Attend O'Hara Funeral 

WASHINGTON—Many members of the industry 

were pre.sent Tuesday (13) when a 

requiem mass was celebrated at St. Ann's 

Roman Catholic church for Joyce O'Hara, 

executive vice-president of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, who died suddenly the 

previous F^-iday of a heart attack. Interment 

followed in Arlington cemetery. 

Industry executives from New York included 

Nicholas M. Schenck. Spyros P. Skouras. Ned 

E. Depinet. Theodore R. Black. John J. 

O'Connor and J. William Piper. From the 

New York office of MPAA were Ralph D. 

Hetzel jr.. FYed W. DuVall, Sidney Schreiber, 

Irving Maas, Manning Clagett, Dorothea Lutjens 

and Harold Burt. Among the local film 

men were John Horton. Univer.sal-International: 

Ben Caplon. Columbia: Robert Denton. 

Paramount, and Arthur Levy, United Artists. 

The National Press club post of the 

American Legion, of _which O'Hara was a 

past commander, was represented by Joseph 

Davidson, Richard S. Jones, Earl Godwin and 

H. R. Baukhage. Rev. Max Jordan, former 

newspaperman and a close friend of O'Hara, 

celebrated the mass. 

Mrs. Maurice Seidlitz Dies 

NEW YORK—Mi-s. Dorothy Seidlitz, wife 

of Maurice Seidlitz, district manager for 

Loew's Theatres, died Monday morning il2> 

after a long iUness. In addition to her husband 

she is survived by her son Richard 

and one sister. Funeral services were held 

Wednesday morning at the Riverside chapel, 

Amsterdam avenue and 76th street. The family 

lives at 1750 Grand Concourse, the Bronx. 

BROAD\NAy 

T loyd Lind, supervisor of exchanges lor Allied 

Artists, planed to Hollywood January 

12 for studio conferences with Steve Broidy, 

president, and other company heads . . . 

Barney Balaban, Paramount Pictures president; 

A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount 

Film Distributing Corp., and E. K. 

"Ted" O'Shea returned Monday (12 1 from 

Hollywood where they attended the 80th 

birthday dinner given to Adolph Zukor . 

Jerry Pickman, Paramount vice-president in 

charge of publicity, advertising and exi)loitation, 

returned from Hollywood after studio 

conferences. 

. . Cornel 

Leo F. Samuels, sales manager for Walt 

Disney, and Walter Branson, a.ssistant general 

sales manager for RKO, left for Hollywood 

to set west coast dates for "Peter Pan" 

in February 

jects sales 

. . . Sid 

manager for 

Kramer, 

RKO. got 

short sub- 

back from 

a visit to the Toronto exchange . 

Wilde, who will make "Saadia," in French 

Morocco for MGM, sailed for Europe with 

his wife Jean Wallace and their two children. 

Rita Gam, who also will appeal" in 

the picture, got back from England January 

12 for a two-week stay before heading for 

French Morocco. 

. . . Col. Ian 

Seymour Mayer, Far Eastern supervisor for 

Loew's International, left by plane for London, 

Paris and the Far East 

Anderson, chairman of Piccadilly Theatres, 

Ltd., and his wife arrived from London on 

the Franconia . Kurnitz, who wrote 

the screenplay for "Melba." which S. P. Eagle 

produced in London for United Artists, is here 

from Europe to discuss plans for dramatizing 

his novel, "The Reclining Figure." 

. . . B. Bernard Kreisler, 

Murray Silverstone, president of 20th Century-Fox 

International, left for a three-week 

trip to England 

president of International Film Associates, got 

back from a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico 

and St. Thomas . Thorpe, managing 

director of Columbia Pictures in England, and 

Lacy Kastner, managing director of the company 

in continental Europe, flew in on the 

AWARD TO PRODUCER — Spyros P. 

Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, presents 

unique award to Sol Hurok at dinner 

in the Waldorf-Astoria, the proceeds 

of which went to the American Fund for 

Israel Institutions. Hurok's life is the 

basis of the Technicolor musical, "Tonight 

We Sing." Another award presented 

at the same time was a silver Bible and a 

copper plate mounted with the shields of 

the 12 tribes of Israel. 

BOAC Monarch January 12. With them came 

Alan Tucker and R. Sardow, publicity directors 

Margaret Ettinger got in from the 

. . . coast Friday il6i to headquarter at the New 

York offices of her publicity firm for six 

weeks. 

Robert Taylor, MGM star whose "Above 

and Beyond" will open at the Mayfair January 

29. arrived from Dayton, accompanied by 

press representa- 

Emery Austin, division field 

tive. 

. . . 

Charles M. Reagan, MGM general sales 

manager, accompanied by Edward M. Saunders, 

his a.ssistant, and John P. Byrne, eastern 

sales manager, left by plane for Chicago 

and the three-day meeting of company sales 

managers Max E. Youngstein, vice- 

. 

president of United Artists, flew to Hollywood 

for meetings with independent producers. 

He went to New Orleans January 

12 to address the convention of Allied Theatre 

Owners of the Gulf States . . . Jerome 

M. Evans, Universal home office exploitation 

repre.sentative, left for Florida for a powwow- 

with the Seminole Indians for the new 

picture, "Seminole" Golding. 

advertising-publicity director for Samuel 

Goldwyn. and Leon Brandt, exploitation manager 

for RKO, went to Chicago to set plans 

for the opening of "Hans Christian Andersen" 

at the Oriental Theatre February 11. 

Bob Fosse, who will appear in MGM's "The 

Big Leaguer." went back to Hollywood after a 

three-week vacation in New York . 

Stewart, who appears in 

. . Elaine 

MGM's "The Bad 

and the Beautiful." is vacationing with her 

family in Upper Montclair, N. J. . . Alice 

. 

Ginsberg of the headquarters staff of Theatre 

Owners of America, planed to Jamaica, 

B. W. I., for a three-week vacation . . . William 

E. Flannery, RKO art director, has announced 

that he was married last November 

to Lieut. Col. Ruby Herman of the Women's 

Aimy corps, whom he met while RKO was 

filming "Never Wave at a WAC" at Fort 

Lee, "Va. 

Thomas J. 

lATSE Assistant Head 

Shea Services; 

MIDDLETOWN, CONN.—Funeral services 

for Thomas J. Shea. 53, assistant international 

president of the International Alliance of 

Theatrical Stage Employes, were held at St. 

John's church Fi-iday (16). Shea died January 

13 at the Will Rogers Memorial hospital, 

Saranac Lake, N. Y., after an illness of several 

months. 

Prior to his appointment as assistant president 

in 1943, Shea had been a member of the 

Connecticut legislature. 

He joined the lATSE 

in 1918 and became busine.ss agent of Local 

350 in Middleton in 1926. He was vice-president 

of the Connecticut State Federation ef 

Labor from 1933 to 1935 and president from 

1935 to 1938. He was named an lATSE international 

representative by Richard F. Walsh, 

president, in 1943 and was advanced to the 

assistant president post in 1945. 

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alice Kane 

Shea: his mother, Mrs. Mary E. Shea, both 

of Middletown: two daughters, Mrs. Laverne 

Reilly and Irene Shea: a son, Ronald T. Shea 

of New Haven; three grandchildren, a sister 

and a brother. 

BOXorncE January 17, 1953 35

Coast Friends 

Pay Tribute to 

Adolph Zukor 

At the first of a series of industry events 

which will pay tribute to Adolph Zukor on 

his eightieth birthday, coast associates and 

friends honored the veteran industry figure 

at a glamor-studded banquet in Hollywood 

last week. As 1953 marks both Zukor's 

80th birthday and his 50th anniversary in 

the motion picture industry. Variety Club's 

International is sponsoring a series of dinners 

to honor the Paramount Pictures Co. 

board chairman. A home office delegation 

headed by President Barney Balaban attended 

the coast dinner. Scenes at the festivities 

ore shown on this page. 

Two pioneers in the film business. Jesse Lasky (rightl and Cecil B. De.Mille, 

were on hand to present Zukor with a bronze plaque as a token of his eightieth 

birthday anniversary. 

Dorothy Lamour gives Zukor an affectionate 

birthday kiss. The observers are 

Y. Frank Freeman (left). Paramount's studio 

chief, and the mayor of Los .Angeles, 

Fletcher Bowron. 

Roy Brewer, president of the Hollywood 

AFL Council, presented Zukor with a 

plaque symbolic of honorary membership 

in each of the 25 unions and guilds at 

the coast studios. 

The presidents of two major film producing 

and distributing companies greet 

each other, Barney Balaban (right), 

president of Paramount, and Harry I\L 

Warner, WB's chieftain. 

At an oval table for the guest of honor, Zukor is seated at the Mrs. Dubin. A. W. Schwalberg. .Austin C. Kcough. Mayor Fletcher 

head. In counter-clockwise order, the others are .Airs. Zukor. Charles Bowron of Los .Angeles. Cecil B. DeMille. Mrs. K. J. O'Donnell, 

P. Skouras, Mrs. Skouras, Barney Balaban. .Mrs. Y. Frank Freeman, Toastmaster R. .?. O'Donnell and Airs. Schwalberg. 

Freeman, Jesse L. Lasky sr., Mrs. Lasky, Rabbi Maxwell H. Dubin, Several hundred attended the festivity. 

36 BOXOFTICE January 17, 1953

. . 

. . Rezoning 

. . Harold 

BUFFALO 

'The Niagara room of the Statler hotel was 

packed last Sunday night for the annual 

dinner dance of Variety Tent 7 and at installation 

of officers. Jack Beresin of Philadelphia, 

international chief barker, officiated. 

Myron Gross, a past chief barker, was chairman 

of arrangements. Installed were Dewey 

Michaels, president of Mayfair Theatre Corp.. 

chief barker; Billy Keaton, WGR. first 

assistant; Marvin Jacobs, retired, Sportservice, 

second assistant; Robert Hayman, Hayman 

Theatres, doughguy; W. E. J. Martin. 

Courier-E^xpress, property master. Other 

crewmen are Harry L. Berkson, John C. 

Chinell, Arthur Kiolick, Albert Ryde, Elmer C. 

Winegar and Max Yellen. 

Charles Boasberg. general sales manager 

for RKO Pictures, was here last week for his 

mother's birthday and dropped in for a visit 

with Jack Chinell, RKO branch manager . 

When "Stars and Stripes Forever" was shown 

at the Paramount Theatre last week, five 

Buffalonians were "discovered" who actually 

played in Sousa's band. The five, Leonard B. 

D'Anna, Eugene J. Bishop, Eric I. Evans, 

Edwin Hall and William J. Robinson, were 

interviewed and photographed by the Evening 

News in the office of Ai-thur L. Krolick, UPT 

district manager . . . Constantine Basil, head 

of the Basil circuit and chairman of the 

Hellenic Orthodox Catholic church building 

fund committee, was presented the keys of 

the North Presbyterian church by Edward G. 

Kellner jr.. head of the board of trustees, at 

a ceremony marking the taking over of the 

Presbyterian property by the Hellenic church. 

Al Sicignano of Edward L. Hyman's UPT 

New York office, was here several days last 

week for booking conferences with local distributors 

The Star in Batavia, formerly 

. . . 

the Warner-operated Lafayette, has been 

taken over by a group headed by Harold Murphy, 

former manager of the Strand here, and 

Carl Degenhart, former manager of the Capitol 

in South Buffalo. The Star is located on 

Jackson, almost across the street from Dipson's 

Family Theatre. 

The Center in Buffalo and the Paramount 

in Rochester, both UPT houses, soon will show 

Arch Oboler's "Bwana Devil," the threedimension 

production. It is understood that 

Manager Lester Pollock soon will announce a 

three-dimension attraction for presentation 

at Loew's Theatre in Rochester . . . Dave 

Leff. 

Ontario Mayor Riled 

By Premiere Switch 

Buffalo—Mayor Ernest M. Hawkins of 

Niagara Falls, Ont., is greatly disappointed 

over the decision of 20th-Fox to worldpremiere 

its "Niagara" in Niagara Falls, 

N. Y., instead of his city where the picture 

was produced last summer. The 

mayor said it was his understanding at 

that time that the premiere would take 

place in the Seneca Theatre in the Ontario 

city. 

Mayor Hawkins emphasized that the 

province of Ontario, the Niagara parks 

commission and the city of Niagara Falls, 

Ont., cooperated to the fullest extent in 

the filming of the picture. He said 75 

per cent of the film was shot in his city 

and that 200 men and women extras were 

residents of the area. 

who managed the Buffalo UA office for several 

years until he left to manage the Cleveland 

branch, has resigned, and Moe Dudleson. 

UA district manager, is managing the Cleveland 

office until a successor to Leff is named. 

Arthur Krolick, UPT district manager, has 

been appointed exhibitor chairman for 

Brotherhood week. February 15-22, in the 

Buffalo exchange area by Walter Reade jr. 

This year's event marks the 25th anniversary 

of the National Conference of Christians and 

.•\rthur Krolick Manuel A. Brown 

Jews. Krolick was treasurer of Variety Tent 

7 of Buffalo the past year and has just been 

elected a director for 1953. He has been 

active in civic and industry activities in 

Buffalo and Rochester. Manuel A. Brown, 

manager of the UA exchange who also supervises 

the Albany office, has been appointed 

chairman. 

distributor 

Sid Kulick, sales manager for Bell Pictures 

of New York, was in town to set up a number 

of local dates, including "Black Narci.ssus" at 

the Lafayette . on Grand Island 

to accommodate a proposed WGR Broadcasting 

Corp. TV station has been approved 

unanimously by the town board of the island. 

Karl B. Hoffman, technical director of WGR. 

said an application to change the location of 

the station from the Rand building in Buffalo 

to Grand Island would be filed with 

the FCC. 

A sentence of two to four years in Attica 

prison has been suspended for Richard D. 

Gilmer. 32. former assistant manager of the 

Palace Theatre in Jamestown, after he pleaded 

guilty to a grand larceny charge growing out 

of the theft of $600 in boxoffice receipts from 

the theatre in November 1948. Gilmer wa,s 

taken to the Buffalo Veterans hospital for 

treatment of an eye condition which had 

rendered him nearly blind . . . Bill Brereton, 

Basil Tlieatres director of advertising and 

publicity, assisted by Max Miller. UA exploiteer. 

put over a smash campaign on "Kansas 

City Confidential," a recent Lafayette Theatre 

attraction. 

Buffalo civic and educational leaders heard 

a premiere closed-circuit presentation of 

WBEN's Freedom U.S.A. series the other afternoon 

in Hotel Statler and heard it characterized 

as "carrying much truth and impact" 

for free government. The new radio series 

giving behmd-the-scenes impressions of 

Washington and the senate, with Tyrone 

Power as the star, is being presented by the 

Iroquois Gas Corp., over WBEN Sunday afternoons 

at 4:30. 

Gene Autry Starts Tour 

NEW YORK—Gene Autry started a 49-city 

tour Wednesday (14) at Wichita, Kas., with 

a cast of 30 performers. He will swing through 

Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines. Detroit, 

into Canada for several stops and down the 

eastern seaboard. 

ALBANY 

The Variety Club will inaugurate a series of 

. . . 

. . 

King for the Day dinners January 19. 

when Charles A. Smakwitz and Warner Theatres 

associates will serve. Tlie following 

week, Saul J. UUman and Fabian Theatres 

colleagues will do the honors. The dinners 

Exchange 

w-ill be held at Keeler's restaurant 

callers Monday included Ben Hobbs, 

operating indoor theatres in Dannemora and 

Ellenburg and a drive-in near Plattsburgh, 

Harry 

and Mrs. L. J. Van Buren. Cairo . 

Lamont. head of Lamont Theatres and president 

of Albany TOA, wrote Lewis A. Sumberg, 

counsel and executive director, that he 

would like to have 1953 automobile license 

plates forwarded to Key West. Fla. He is 

vacationing there with his wife and Robert 

W. Case, manager of Lamont's Sunset 

Drive-In. and Mrs. Case. Lamont will not 

return until mid-February or the first of 

Mai'ch. 

Jules Perlmutter is now operating the old 

Fairyland in Warrensburg under the name of 

the Warren, with Jerry LaRocque. former 

owner now retired, as manager. Phil Baroudi, 

North Creek theatreman. had operated the 

house since LaRocque sold it. Perlmutter. 

who also operates the Grand and Strand, 

Watervliet, and the Lake ( indoors i, the Fort 

George and Lake George drive-ins, closed 

the Warrensburg situation for two months, 

during which he installed a new lobby, new 

screen, new seats and sound at a cost of 

$10,000. The 300-seater is the only film house 

in the Adirondack mountain village. 

John Scully, U-I district manager, trekked 

from Boston for conferences in Gloversville 

with George Lynch, chief buyer for the Schine 

circuit. Leo Greenfield. Albany manager, and 

Dave Miller. Buffalo manager, accompanied 

him ... A daughter named Amy Ann was 

born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Rosenthal 

January 11. It's their second child. Rosenthal 

is attorney and counsel on film buying for 

Upstate Theatres. 

A report that Benton Theatres of Saratago 

may build a drive-in at Plattsburg has 

drifted into Albany. The circuit now operates 

the Champlain and Strand in Plattsburg, 

where there are two independently-owned 

automobilers. One version is that the Benton 

decision hinges on the building of an army 

air force base at Plattsburg. Such a project 

is contemplated, on the site occupied for 

several years by Champlain college. However, 

a northern New York congressman has 

suggested construction of the base at Camp 

Drumm near Watertown . Tyler, 

Chittenango exhibitor and new member of 

the Assembly, has been assigned Seat 136 

on the northern rim of the spacious chamber. 

Tyler succeeded Wheeler Milmoe, who was 

elected to the senate. 

\.m

— 

AT TENT 11 INSTALLATION—Jerry Adams, retiring chief barker of Variety 

Tent 11 of Washington, holds a plaque he received from Morton Gerber, chief barker 

for 1951. The presentation took place at the recent installation of officers for 1953. 

Left to right: Nathan D. Golden, Variety International heart chairman; .Adams; 

Jack Beresin. International chief barker. Philadelphia; Victor J. Orsinger, installed 

as 1953 chief: Jake Flax; Gerber, and rear, William C. McCraw, Dallas, executive 

director, and Dr. Charles W. Lowry, Tent 11 chaplain. 

WASHINGTON 

TATSE Local F-13 in.stalled new officers at 

a dinner dance held in the Continental 

hotel Saturday evening (10). Installed as 

president were Fred Von Langen. as vicepresident, 

Ethel Risdon; as financial .secretary, 

Lillian Lee; recording .secretary. Judith 

Cohen; treasurer. Mildred McDonald: guardian. 

Patricia Dell; business agent, George 

Sullivan; members of the executive board 

Jes.se Smith. Agnes Turner and Sara S. 

Young, and as trustees—Jack Kohler and 

Myrtle Frie.ss. Joseph Ba.sson. lA repre.êntative 

from New York, officiated. Mrs. Young, 

outgoing business agent, who was charter 

president for three years and then business 

agent for the .seven years, was presented a 

sterling silver plaque. 

Residents of a section of South Arlington 

are trying to block the building of a drive-in 

theatre within a stone's throw of their homes. 

but across the line in Alexandria where their 

protests carry no weight. F:ank Boucher, 

president of the Alexandria Drive-In Corp., 

emphasized the proposed entertainment center 

will be equipped with in-car speakers which 

will keep sound-track noise to a minimum, 

and the company will install signals at its 

own expense to control the added volume of 

traffic. He said his firm is prepared to spend 

more than $100,000 in a project which eventually 

will include an elaborate playground for 

children as well as a finely equipped restaurant. 

Independent Theatres Service has been 

named as buying and booking agent for the 

Braddock Drive-In. Route 40 West, in Frederick, 

Md. . . . Cashier Sam Jenkins is re- 

ALL STAR 

COLORED CAST 

featuring 

SHEILA GUYSE 

STEPIN FETCHIT 

T3357

. . John 

. . Mark 

. . 

. . . Nelson 

. . Paramount 

. . Dan 

. . The 

PITTSBURGH 

T eo Wayne returned to Filmrow as a Paramount 

booker. A 25-year man in service 

in the industry, he had been absent for a 

year or two while in the tavern business. 

He succeeds Melvin Mann, who resigned several 

weeks ago . O. Hooley, assistant 

manager at the J. P. Harris Theatre, observed 

his 79th birthday Goldman, former 

local film 

. 

man now headquartering in 

Cleveland, was around in the interest of 

Italian films, which he represents. 

Chris Fourgis, Mount Pleasant exhibitor, 

was a Filmrow visitor. He returned recently 

from the Mayo clinic where he was under 

treatment ... A joint step towards relieving 

Monessen downtown parking problem."-- has 

been taken by the Hilltop Bus Co. and the 

Manos and Star theatres. Anthony Askounes, 

city manager for the Manos circuit, now 

offers free rides to per.sons attending the 

theatres. The rider, who receives a return 

trip ticket when he pays his fare, presents 

the ticket to the theatre cashier to be 

stamped as he pays his theatre adniission. 

Once stamped, the ticket is good for a free 

return trip on the bus. Hours are from 5 

p. m. to midnight Mondays through Saturdays 

and all day Sundays, 

The Lee Theatre at Grove City has been 

improved and Simplex X-L projection has 

been installed by National Theatre Supply. 

Mrs. J. G. Carruthers, widow of the exhibitor 

who died several months ago, and his brother 

H. M. "Bud" Carruthers, now operate the 

Guthrie and Lee with James Bell continuing 

as manager . . . M. V. Negley of Exhibitors 

Service Co. said that increased film trucking 

rates were effective last November 17. 

Rose and Eli Kaufman of Pittsburgh Poster 

Exchange are distributing a new dinnerware 

deal . . . Art Manson, MGM publicity director 

for Canada, and Florence Sando of Wilkinsburg, 

who stars locally on radio and television 

programs, will be married here on 

Jack Dolde, Loew's Ritz 

January 28 . . . 

manager, entered the army January 15 . . . 

Uniontown city amu.sement taxes in 1951 

brought in $46,919.24, and in 1952 the total 

Rock Hudson, new 

dropped to $40,519.52 . . . 

mayor of Universal City, Calif., will be here 

January 23 to exploit "The Lawless Breed." 

which gets a later booking at the Fulton . 

"Peter Pan" is dated for opening February 

19 in the Warner. 

. . . 

Mary Gurowslii screamed when two "tall, 

thin Negroes" flashed pistols and demanded 

the money in the cashier's booth at the Victor 

Theatre in McKeesport. An usher appeared 

in answer to her alarm and the gunmen 

ran down Fifth avenue. They got nothing in 

the holdup. Margaret Feje, another cashier, 

was in the cage with Miss Gurowski at the 

time the gunmen appeared William P. 

Parker, former West Newton exhibitor, has 

been appointed justice of the peace for that 

Westmoreland county borough. 

Uniontown Businessmen 

Guests of Manos Circuit 

PITTSBURGH—A busload of Uniontown 

men visited Filmrow this week as guests 

of the Manos circuit. Included w-ere business 

executives, merchants, teachers, students, assemblymen, 

churchmen, councilmen and 

others. Jo.seph Bugala. Manos circuit general 

theatre manager, and Ken Woodw-ard, Uniontow-n 

city manager, accompanied the group 

on the bus which was met on Filmrow by 

Ted M. Manos, vice-president; V. L. "Doc" 

Wadkins, booker, and F. D. Moore, film 

licensing agent. At the MGM exchange, 

Ralph Pielow, branch manager, addressed the 

Uniontown party on the busine.ss of film 

exchanges and then screened for them "The 

Hoaxters" and "Above and Beyond." Lunch 

was served at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and 

the group returned to Uniontown. The Manos 

circuit will bring a group from Vandergrift 

this week. 

Emery Austin Made Aide 

To Dan Terrell at MGM 

NEW YORK—Emery Austin, who has been 

with MGM since 1941, has been named as 

assistant to Dan S. Terrell, publicity manager, 

by Howard Dietz, vice-president and director 

of advertising, publicity and exploitation. He 

will be in charge of exploitation. 

Austin started as an exploitation man for 

the company at New Orleans and was transferred 

to Atlanta 11 months later. About 

a year ago he was named divisional press 

representative for the southern division with 

six branches under his supervision. 

Pi-ior to joining MGM Austin was with the 

Ralph Talbot circuit at Tulsa, Okla. He will 

report at the home office January 26. 

Penn at Uniontown, Pa., 

Joins Manos First Runs 

UNIONTOWN, PA.—Ken Woodward, 

city 

manager for the Manos circuit, insisted that 

the Penn here should join the circuit's Manos 

and State in offering first run pictures and 

the general office at Greensburg agreed to 

the change several weeks ago. 

1914 by the McCloskey brothers, 

Opened in 

it was at this theatre where Woodward served 

his usher days and apprenticeship under Con 

McCloskey. He has a warm spot in his heart 

for the Penn. Results of the policy change 

have exceeded Ken's expectations. 

Remodel at Buckhannon, W. Va. 

BUCKHANNON, W. VA.—Mr. and Mrs. 

Garland West will remodel and modernize 

their Colonial Theatre here. Complete new 

lobby and new restrooms will be relocated, 

new front, marquee, seating, drapes and 

screen will be installed. Work will start 

soon. 

Your cooperotion to the March of Dimes drive is 

importont. Let your patrons cooperate. 

PHILADELPHIA 

lêlvin Fox has purchased the Delsea 

Drive-In in Vineland, Pa., and the 

Bridgeton (N. J.t Drive-In . Yankee 

Theatre in Landisburg now is doing its own 

booking and buying, taking over from Allied 

. . . A. M. Ellis has given a long-term lease 

on 1834-36 West Cheltenham Ave., to Joseph 

Lichtenstein, who will use the property for a 

restaurant and delicatessen . . . The Delpen 

Co. has purchased a motion picture theatre on 

Hulmeville road at Penndel in Bucks county 

from Herman Mark. Following alterations, 

the building will be used for the manufacture 

of toys. 

Milgram is now doing the booking and buying 

for the Sandy Beach Drive-In in Kingston, 

The Earle Theatre w'ill shutter 

Pa. . . . Comdr. K. D. Ian Murray, an 

in April . . . 

authority on pirate lore, was in town to help 

promote "Against All Flags," now playing at 

I he Goldman . . Earle W. Sweigert, now with 

RKO in Pittsburgh, was on the Row . . . Jack 

Engel, Lippert-Screen Guild franchise holder, 

attended the Lippert convention in Chicago 

. . . RKO salesman Addie Gottschalk was on 

vacation in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. 

Leon Cohen, 20th-Fox projectionist, was 

back on the street following an appendectomy 

Wax, Boxoffice Pictures, was in 

Chicago on business . Decorating 

Co. is redecorating Milton Schwaber's 

Apex Theatre in Baltimore, Pa. . . Beverly 

. 

Winston is the new switchboard operator at 

Allied Artists . . . Shirley Mollinger. 20t.h-Fox 

manager's secretary, has announced her engagement 

to Walter Duglin. 

. 

. . . Elmer 

J. Jaslow is now distributing Classic pictures 

at 1239 Vine Coudony now 

owns the Edgemoor (Del.) Theatre. The 

booking and buying is being handled by 

Brandt's office in New York 

Pickard, Aldine manager, is recovering from 

a bad case of laryngitis. 

To Vote on Daylight Time 

PARKERSBURG, W. VA.—Daylight saving 

time, a highly controversial issue here for 

many years, will be settled once and for 

all at the municipal election in April. Last 

year council approved fast time and after it 

was effective for some weeks, Sol Hyman, 

indoor and outdoor exhibitor, stopped daylight 

saving time by presenting petitions bearing 

5,236 names of those opposed to the 

change. The referendum petitions automatically 

canceled the ordinance. 

SAM FINEBERG 

TOM McCLEARY 

JIM ALEXANDER 

84 Von Braam Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. 

Phone Express 1-0777 

^Mo'its Are Better Thaii Evp- Hoiti's Your Equipm»ntt| 

PROJEaOR CARBON COMPANY 

319 First Ave. Tarentum, Pa. 

Telephone: Tarentum 2341 

PRODUCE A BETTER LIGHT 

IN ANY SIZE THEATRE OR 

DRIVE-IN . . . MORE ECONOMICALLY! 

CARBONS, INC. • BOONTON, N. J. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 17, 1953 39

Forbes Rates Film Industry High 

In Labor and Public Relations 

NEW YORK—Major motion picture companies 

get generally good rating in labor 

relations and public relations, fair in community 

relations and not too satisfactory a 

rating generally, in management and stockholder 

relations in the annual Report on 

American Industry published this week by 

Forbes magazine. 

In labor relations, all companies with the 

exception of RKO which was beset with difficulties 

during 1952, were rated at 90 which is 

about the top mark in American industries. 

RKO was rated at 65. Forbes believes that 

one of the reasons the industry grinds on 

with few strikes is that crafts get "hefty 

pay rates" and union members are able to 

peddle their "savvy" elsewhere, plus the fact 

that an effective grievance system has been 

established. 

On the community relations level, most of 

the companies are rated at 85, with two at 

80. A comment made in the report is that 

while film people are quick to contribute 

talent and funds to charity and public causes 

they do not join in helping solve real problems 

of community life in cities where they 

operate. The article suggests that corporate 

officials would welcome more participation 

in municipal affairs. 

On the management level. Paramount gets 

the top mark, with Universal and 20th Century-Fox 

right behind in the ratings. 

The "new economy dogma" of the picture 

producers, the magazine contends, is only 

"big" or "little" budget pictures make money. 

The reason given is the distribution methods 

forced by the antitrust decrees. 

Observes the financial publication: 

"Middle budget pictures were formerly assured 

of minimum dates in affiliated theatres 

and so romped off with a sizable chunk 

of studio overhead. Exhibitors pestered by 

dwindling boxoffice, now give middle rankers 

the flit in favor of more ballyhooed films. 

Pi-oduction moguls frown, too, at the multiple 

days and dates' spawned by bidding. Growls 

one: 'When you have a series of simultaneous 

runs in one area, you achieve nothing but 

dilution of boxoffice potential. No theatre 

makes any big money and it costs the distributor 

twice as much for his selling campaign." 

" 

Week-TV, Peoria UHF Unit, 

Receives GE Transmitter 

PEORIA, ILL. — Station WEEK-TV has 

taken delivery of a UHF General Electric 

television transmitter and will go on the air 

late this month after delivery of a special 

antenna which will provide effective power 

of 2,000 watts. The building and studio facilities 

have been completed. 

The 400-foot tower is on Springfield hill in 

East Peoria. At first it will cover a 12-mile 

radius. In April a 12,000-watt amplifier will 

be installed for the purpose of increasing 

coverage to 40 miles or more. 

The station is an NBC affiliate, but will 

also carry filmed programs from DuMont and 

CBS. All programs at the start will be on 

film, except those that may originate in the 

studio. 

A. M. Sonnabend Proposed 

For Columbia Board 

NEW YORK—Columbia stockholders will 

meet February 9 at the headquarters here to 

elect nine members of the board. Eight of 

those nominated are incumbents and one is a 

newcomer. He is Abraham M. Sonnabend, 

president of Sonnabend A.ssociated Properties 

of Brookline, Ma.ss., and other corporations 

which operate hotels in various cities. He has 

no stock in the company. He is slated to succeed 

Henry Crown. 

The incumbents are Harry Cohn. president, 

who has been a director since 1924, who holds 

124,278 shares of common stock: Jack Cohn, 

executive vice-president and a director since 

1924, 43,214; Abe Schneider, vice-president 

and treasurer and a director since 1929, 7,252: 

Leo M. Blancke of Hemphill. Noyes & Co., 

investment brokers, a director since 1930, who 

holds no stock; N. B. Spingold, vice-president 

in charge of advertising and publicity and a 

director since 1940, 17.270; A. Montague, vicepresident 

in charge of domestic sales, a director 

since 1943, 6,131; Donald S. Stralem of 

Hallgarten & Co., investment bankers, a director 

since 1944, 1,016, and Alfred Hart, 

president of the Alfred Hart Distilleries, Los 

Angeles, who became a director Nov. 3, 1952, 

and has 200 shai-es. 

Stockholders will be asked to ratify new 

contracts with Jack Cohn for four- years from 

January 1, with Montague for five years from 

June 10 and with Gerald Rackett, supervisor 

of the laboratory, for five years from January 

1. 

Jose Del Amo Named Head 

Of Cuban UA Office 

NEW YORK—Jose Del Amo has been 

named as manager in Cuba for United Artists 

by Arnold M. Picker, vice-president in 

charge of foreign distribution. He has been 

serving as acting manager since May last 

year, following the retirement of Henry 

Weiner. 

Del Amo joined UA in 1928 as a clerk in 

the Havana office. 

At the .same time Picker announced the 

appointment of Ernesto Santana. formerly 

branch manager at Call. Colombia, as a.ssistant 

manager in that territory, with headquarters 

in Bogota, where he will act as aide to 

Armando Bernal. 

Blair Foulds Is Elected 

Vice-President of GPL 

PLEASANTVILLE, N. Y. — Blair Foulds, 

commercial engineering director of General 

Precision Laboratory, Inc., has been elected 

vice-president, according to Hermann G. 

Place, president. GPL is a wholly owned subsidiary 

of General Pi'ecision Equipment Corp. 

The promotion of Foulds reflects the increased 

volume of business in the fields of air 

navigation equipment for the government and 

studio television activities. Place said. Before 

joining GPL in 1949. Foulds was commercial 

engineering director of Brush Development 

Co.. Cleveland, manufacturers of industrial 

instrumentation and magnetic recording devices. 

New York Would Tax 

Foreign Revenues 

NEW YORK—In its search for emergency 

revenue, the city administration is trying to 

increase gross receipts tax revenue from distributors 

by extending application of the tax 

to cash receipts from foreign countries. 

This revenue would be in addition to proposed 

application of the local 3 per cent sales 

tax on film negatives shipped to distributors 

here, and in addition to the sales tax on film 

rentals. 

This became known Monday il2i when William 

Owens, attorney, representing 20th Century-Fox 

Movietone News, registered a complaint 

with the Bureau of Excise Taxes. 

The Bureau of Excise Taxes refused to .supply 

any information, saying that a provision 

in the law under which it operates stipulates 

that nothing shall be relea.sed to the press. 

Industry attorneys also were loath to talk. 

Harry Levine. RKO attorney, was the most 

positive of all in insisting on secrecy. 

The Monday hearing had been called on the 

city's plan to tax a producer's share of the 

gross take of a film when contracts provided 

for the delivery of the negative by the producer 

to the distributor. Where the negative 

isn't delivered, the plan calls for a compensating 

tax at the same rate on the negative 

cost. Both would be retroactive to 1949, but 

for earlier years when the sales tax was 2 per 

cent that would be the rate. 

Movietone News was made a guinea pig in 

the test cases when the city levied assessments 

against it. Lopert Films also was named. 

City auditors have been searching the books 

of the other distributors. 

Argument on the negative tax was postponed 

from Monday to Friday (16) when 

Owens centered his attack on the gross receipts 

tax. That has been one-tenth of 1 per 

cent and is now one-fifth of 1 per cent. Now 

the city wants to apply it to foreign remittances 

by a "broader" interpretation of the 

law. The contest is over a legal interpretation 

of the law\ 

New York City is in an extremely difficult 

financial situation. It has applied to the state 

for aid and has been turned down as lacking 

an intelligent program. 

D of J Eases Trust Ruling 

For Para. Stockholders 

WASHINGTON—Holders of both Paramount 

Pictures and United Paramount Theatres 

stock can now get their UPT stock out 

of trust with milder restrictions, according 

to the Justice department. 

The D of J has adopted a new amendment 

to the Paramount consent decree, under 

which holders of fewer than 2.000 shares of 

UPT stock can automatically take it out of 

trust. The former provision limited this privilege 

to holders of fewer than 500 shares 

of UPT. 

The amendment also provides that anyone 

owning 2.000 or more shares of UPT 

stock can still remove his stock from trust 

if he can offer satisfactory proof to the effect 

that his Paramount Pictures stock ownership 

gives him no control over operations of that 

company. 

Dimes and dollars will help many a victim of polio 

to recover normal licalth. Arrange for March of 

Dimes collections. 


NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CEMTER 

{Hollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) 

Clooney Film Debut 

In Kentucky on 28th 

HOLLYWOOD — Paramounts "The Stars 

Are Singing," which marks the film debut 

of songstress Rosemary Clooney, will be 

world-premiered January 28 in Maysville, Ky., 

her birthplace. A gala. Hollywood-style opening 

is being planned for the debut at the 

Russell Tlieatre, with Miss Clooney on hand 

for personal appearances. 

A New England premiere of Allied Artists' 

"Plat Top" has been set for Wednesday (21) 

at the Paramount and Fenway theatres in 

Boston, following which the Walter Mirisch 

production will be booked into 40 other situations 

in the area. 

« * * 

Walt Disney's new feature-length cartoon, 

"Peter Pan," which RKO Radio is releasing, 

will have dual world premieres February 5 

at the Roxy in New York and the State-Lake 

in Chicago. Off-screen voices include those 

of Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans 

Conried and Bill Tliompson. 

Theatre TV vs. Home Pay 

Is Topic at Ad Meeting 

HOLLYWOOD—Large-screen theatre TV 

vs. pay-as-you-see home video was the subject 

debated in a panel discussion sponsored 

by the Hollywood Advertising club. Carl 

Leserman, executive of Telemeter, the subscription 

television venture, predicted that 

some form of pay-as-you-see TV will be in 

operation within two or thi'ee years, while 

Sherrill C. Corwin, head of the Metropolitan 

circuit here, opined that theatre TV "cannot 

be stopped." He al.so predicted Cinerama and 

third dimension will make rapid strides during 

the year. 

Other panelists were Al Simon, TV film 

producer; John A. Vizzard of the Ass'n of 

Motion Picture Producers, and Klaus Landsberg, 

manager of station KTLA, who acted as 

moderator. 

* * * 

The Academy of Television Arts and 

Sciences will hold its annual awards dinner 

February 5 at the Statler hotel, at which time 

Emmys will be passed out for achievements 

in various video fields. 

Carl Faulkner Is Sound Chief 

HOLLYWOOD—Succeeding Thomas Moulton, 

resigned. Carl Faulkner has been named 

head of 20th Century-Fox's studio sound department. 

BOXOFHCE January 17, 1953 

oojecutime 

East: Paramount's New York executives, 

who came here to attend the 80th birthday 

testimonial dinner for Adolph Zukor, headed 

back east. The delegation included President 

Barney Balaban, A. W. Schwalberg, 

E. K. "Ted" O'Shea, George Weltner, Austin 

C. Keough, Paul Raibourn, Jerry Pickman 

and Russell Holman. 

* * * 

West: Clay V. Hake, Paramount's general 

manager for Australia and New Zealand, 

checked out for his headquarters in Sydney 

after studio huddles here. 

* • • 

West: Chai-les M. Reagan, MGM's general 

sales manager, arrived from New York for a 

gander at newly completed product. 

* * * 

East: William Heineman, United Artists 

sales chief, and Max Youngstein, vice-president 

in charge of advertising and publicity, 

returned to New York after spending a few 

days here conferring with filmmakers releasing 

through the UA organization. 

* « « 

North: George Pal, Paramount producer, 

returned from a two-week trip to Mexico, 

scouting locations for his next picture. 

* * 

West: Lloyd Lind, Allied Artists' supervisor 

of exchanges, arrived from Manhattan 

for parleys with President Steve Broidy. 

* * * 

West: William H. Wright, MGM producer, 

returned from a ten-day business junket to 

New York. 

* * * 

West: Dudley Roberts, president of 

Cinerama, came in from Gotham for planning 

conferences with Merian C. Cooper, the company's 

production chief, and Louis B. Mayer, 

board chairman. 

* • « 

East: Arthur Freed, MGM producer, and 

Director Vincente Minnelli will take off for 

London next month to lay the groundwork 

for filming "Brigadoon," upcoming Gene 

Kelly starrer, in Britain. 

West: William Kupper, 20th-Fox's managing 

director in Britain, checked in on a combined 

business-pleasure trip, planning a 

month's stay. 

* * • 

East: Sam Zimbalist, MGM producer, will 

take off Sunday (18) for London to supervise 

final interior scenes for "Mogambo," the 

Clark Gable starrer, filmed in Africa. 

Leasing of Film to TV 

Enjoined by Court 

HOLLYWOOD—Of precedential interest as 

concerns the televising of films made originally 

for theatrical distribution is a decision 

reached in superior court in an action involving 

"Shed No Tears," a Wallace Ford 

starrer. Judge Frank G. Swain granted the 

plaintiffs. Frost Films and Equity Pictures, a 

preliminary injunction restraining the defendants, 

Chesapeake Industries and Motion 

Pictures for Television, Inc., from leasing the 

picture to video stations. 

The plaintiffs contend that TV .showings 

of the film will destroy future theatrical 

revenue by rendering its continued theatre 

bookings and possible reissue impractical. 

* * * 

Hearings in an involved corporate dispute 

between Louis D. Snader of Snader Telescriptions 

and a group composed of Henry 

and Al Bisno, Samuel Markowich, Henry 

Frye, United Television Pi-oductions and 

others, got under way with Judge Samuel R. 

Rosenbaum as arbitrator. Snader alleges that 

the Bisno group had no legal right to sell 

a batch of Telescriptions and other properties 

to UTP. 

Labor-Industry Council 

Studies Foreign TV Work 

HOLLYWOOD—So-called "runaway" production 

of both theatrical and TV films which 

are produced by American units on location 

in foreign locales occupied the attention of 

both the Motion Picture Industry Council and 

the Hollywood AFL Film Council last week. 

The former set up a special committee, with 

Producer Arthur Freed as chairman, to investigate 

the subject, as well as the 18-month 

tax exemption allowed Hollywood pyersonalities 

who remain abroad for that length of 

time on film commitments. 

The AFL council, which has repeatedly attacked 

the overseas production technique, 

voted to step up its campaign to discourage 

the making of video films abroad, basing its 

action on responses thus far received from 

agencies and sponsors. It was reported .several 

top agencies and bankrollers have assured 

that they have canceled plans for such 

foreign film ventures. 

Jack Aldrich to 

'Big Leaguer' 

HOLLYWOOD—Jack Aldrich, former video 

director, wa,s inked by MGM to make his 

theatrical film debut as the megaphonist on 

the upcoming Edward G. Robinson starrer. 

"The Big Leaguer." 

41

includes 

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Cleffers 

Columbia 

ROSS DIMAGGIO is conducting 

score for "The Lost Posse." 

Meggers 

the 

background 

Universal-International 

DOUGLAS SIRK will direct Producer Howard Christie's 

Technicolor action drama, "Back to God's 

Country." 

Options 

Columbia 

MARIE WINDSOR was signed to portray o musicol 

comedy prima donna in the Kothryn Grayson vehicle, 

"The Grace Moore Story." The Henry Blanke production 

has Gordon Douglas as the director. 

Inked for the male lead in "Operation 16-Z" was 

EDMOND O'BRIEN. The Anson Bond production, to 

roll next month, has o World War II background. 

Gene Autry's leading lody in "Saginaw Trail" will 

be CONNIE MARSHALL. With George Archainbaud 

megging, the galloper is being produced by Armond 

Schoefer for the Autry unit. Inked were EUGENE 

BORDEN and MYRON HEALEY. 

CECIL KELLAWAY and DOUGLAS FOWLEY were 

signed for roles in "Cruisin' Down the River," the 

Technicolor musicol which is being produced by Jonie 

Tops and megged by Richord Quine. 

JOHN HODIAK will star with John Derek in Producer 

Robert Cohn's "Mission Over Korea." The war 

film will be directed by Fred F. Seors. 

Lippert Productions 

Producers Matt Freed and Hugh Mackenzie of 

Matthugh Productions signed LEW AYRE5, MARJORIE 

STEELE and SONNY TUFTS for the leads in "No 

Escape," which rolls next week with Charles Bennett 

of the megaphone. 

Metro 

Title-roler in "The Aftoirs of Dobie Gillis" will be 

BOBBY VAN. The Arthur Loew jr. production will 

be megged by Don Weis. 

Inked to star with Esther Willioms and Tony 

Martin in "Easy to Love" was JOHN BROMFIELD. 

Producer Joe Pasternak's Technicolor musical will be 

megged by Charles Walters. 

Paramount 

British actor PETER FINCH will star with Vivien 

Leigh ond Dono Andrews in "Elephant Walk," Technicolor 

adventure drome which Producer Irving 

Asher will put before the cameras on location in 

Ceylon early next month. Williom Dieterle will 

direct. 

Inked for the Pine-Thomas production, "Songaree," 

was WILLARD PARKER. Toplining Fernando Lamas 

ond Arlene Dahl, the Technicolor film is being 

megged by Edward Ludwig. Cost were TOM DRAKE, 

CHARLES KORVIN and JOHN SUTTON. 

RKO Radio 

Howard Christie production, were ROCK HUDSON and 

BARBARA RUSH. 

JANE DARWELL joined the cost of "It Happens 

Every Thursday," the Anton Leader production starring 

Loretta Young and John Forsythe, which Joseph 

Pevney is directing. 

Booked for the romantic mole lead in "Abbott 

ond Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll ond Mr. Hyde" was 

CRAIG STEVENS. Charles Lament will direct for Producer 

Howard Christie. Joining the cost was HELEN 

WESTCOTT. 

Warners 

BURT LANCASTER and VIRGINIA MAYO were set 

to stor in Producer Somuel Bischoff's "Sulu Seo," 

which Arthur Lubin will direct. 

ALINE MAC MAHON will portroy Eddie Cantor's 

grandmother in "The Eddie Cantor Story." ARTHUR 

FRANZ and GERALD MOHR were cost in the Keefe 

Brosselle topliner. Alfred E. Green is megging for 

Producer Sidney Skolsky. 

Scripters 

Allied Artists 

Producer Ben Schwolb togged EDWARD BERNDS 

ond ELWOOD ULLMAN to colloborofe on "Loose in 

London," a new entry in the Bowery Boys series 

toplining Leo Gorcey ond Huntz Hall. 

FRANCIS SWANN is developing "Hojji Bobo" os 

a color entry for production by Walter Wonger. 

Columbia 

Inked to adopt "The Infinite Woman," from the 

novel by Edison Marshall, was ANATOLE DE GRUN- 

WALD. The costume drama will be produced by 

Robert Arthur. 

20th Century-Fox 

LEONARD PRASKINS and BARNEY SLATER ore 

teamed on the screenplay of "Be Prepared," a 

comedy based on a book by R. E. Cochron, which 

Leonard Goldstein will produce. 

Warners 

WILLIAM ARCHIBALD, British playwright, wos 

inked by Producer-Director Alfred Hitchcock to work 

on "The Bramble Bush." 

Story Buys 

ARTHUR HUNNICUTT was set for one of the 

TeclllliCallV 

starring roles with Robert Ryan in Producer Edmund I 

Grainger's "Arizona Outpost." 

Universal-International 

Set for leods in "Bock to God's Country," upcoming 

Columbia 

"The Big Heat," o Soturdoy Evening Post serial 

by Williom P. McGivern, was purchased and assigned 

to Robert Arthur to produce. The yarn, dealing with 

graft and corruption in public office, will be scripted 

by Sydney Boehm. 

Independent 

Actor John Payne ocquired the Wode Miller novel, 

"A Time to Kill" and will produce it under his own 

corporate setup. Window Productions, with himself 

in the starring role. Phil Korlson will direct. 

The newly formed Abtcon Productions, of which 

Herman Cohen is president, purchosed "The Flaming 

Stallion," on action novel by Johnston McCulley. 

Columbia 

CHARLES LAWTON will photograph "Cruisin' Down 

the River." 

Metro 

DAVE FRIEDMAN will be the unit manager on 

"Interrupted Melody." 

"Eosy to Love" will be photographed by RAY 

JUNE. 

RKO Radio 

Art director on Producer Edmund Grainger's "Arizona 

Outpost" will be JACK OKEY. 

Republic 

Crew assembled for the serial, "Commando Cody, 

" 

Sky Marshal of the Universe, ART VITA- 

RELLI assistant director; ROY WADE, unit manager 

FRANK ARRIGO, art director; CLIFFORD BELL, 

film editor, and BUD THACKERY, comeromon. 

20lh Century-Fox 

Cinemotogropher on "The Robe" will be LEON 

SHAMROY. 

Title 

Changes 

Columbia 

Posse to THE LAST POSSE 

Lippert Productions 

"Helltown" to NO ESCAPE. 

20th Century-Fox 

"Cobm B-13" to DANGEROUS CROSSING. 

Talks on Drive-In Booth 

Strike Are Suspended 

LOS ANGELES^Meeting.s planned here to 

probe the strike called by projectionists Local 

150 against the Pacific Drive-Ins chain and 

other ozone operators, were canceled when 

Richard Wal.sh. lATSE president, was forced 

to return to New York because of the death 

of Thomas J. Shea, the lA a.ssi.stant president. 

Shea died Tuesday (13) at the Will Rogers 

Memorial hospital at Saranac Lake. 

Accompanied by Roy M. Brewer. lATSE 

representative in Hollywood, Walsh planed 

east Wednesday (14). An investigation into 

the drive-in strike will be launched upon his 

return. 

The walkout, called Christmas eve, came 

and drive-in operators failed 

when Local 150 

to come to an agreement on the projectionists' 

demand that two men be used in a booth 

when first run films are screened. 

Masquers Name Wyman 

As Trouper of the Year 

HOLLYWOOD—Marking the first time 

that a feminine entertainer has been so 

lauded, Jane Wyman has been named 

Trouper of the Year by the Masquers club 

and was guest of honor Thursday (15) at a 

formal dinner. The actress was selected for 

the tribute because of her participation In 

a Masquers' Revel which raised more than 

$30,000 last year for the Motion Picture 

Relief fund. 

Harry Joe Brown, Masquers president, 

hailed her c(X)peration as a "generous, unselfish 

gesture in the highest tradition of 

show business." 

PLANNING SESSION—Republic recently staged the first of four regional sales sessions 

and convening at the company's North Hollywood studio for the discussions were 

its western district representatives. Shown here with Piesident Herbert J. Yates (third 

from left) and James R. Grainger, vice-president in charge of sales and distribution 

(second from right): Branch manager Thomas McMahon, Salt Lake City; Gene Gerl»ase, 

Denver; Jack C. Partin. Portland; George Mitchell, San Francisco; Jack Dowd, 

Los Angeles; Francis A. Bateman, western district chief; and Paul McElhinney, Seattle 

branch manager. 

W. Hoch to Cinerama 

HOLLYWOOD—Cinerama Productions has 

inked Winston Hoch, veteran cinematographer, 

to a three-way term ticket as producer, 

director and cameraman. He will 

handle the photographic chores on a Cinerama 

feature, plans for the filming of which will 

be announced soon by Louis B. Mayer, board 

chairman, and Merian C. Cooper, vice-president 

in charge of production. 


to recover normal health. Arrange for March of 


42 


— 

Sol Lesser Launches 

3-Dimension Concern 

HOLLYWOOD—Momentum behind 

threedimension 

gathered additional speed with the 

disclosure by Sol Lesser that he has formed 

a California corporation, Stereocinema, in 

association with Mike Rosenberg, president of 

Principal Theatres, and William Porman, who 

heads the Pacific Drive-Ins chain. 

The new company will produce and sponsor 

the production of 12 programs of three-dimension 

features and shorts annually, and 

will franchise approximately 600 theatres 

throughout the world to exhibit the films. 

Stereocinema will produce under a contract 

with the Stereo-Cine studios, using the 

Iatter"s three-dimension photographic equipment 

as developed by Raphael Wolff, Hollywood 

industrial and advertising-film executive. 

Lesser has a 50 per cent interest in 

this company. 

WSB Okays Retroactive 

Wage Boost for Extras 

HOLLYWOOD—New collective bargaining 

contracts between the Screen Extras and the 

Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers 

and the Independent Motion Picture 

Producers Ass'n, as well as unaffiliated picture-makers, 

have been okayed by the wage 

stabilization board in Washington. 

Wage increases provided for in the pacts 

will be paid retroactively to April 14. The 

WSB previously approved a similar contract 

between the SEG and the major producers 

under which the extras collected between 

$750,000 and $1,000,000 in retroactive pay. 

Under the pacts, the daily rate for extras is 

upped from $15.56 to $18.50. 

Engineers Meet Tuesday 

HOLLYWOOD—First 1953 meeting of the 

Pacific coast section of the Society of Motion 

Picture and Television Engineers will be held 

Tuesday (20) at the Pilmcraft TV Theatre. 

To be discussed are Eidophor, 20th Century- 

Fox's color theatre TV system; a new spot 

brightness meter, and demonstration films 

in the new Eastman color process. 

Form Shamrock Company 

HOLLYWOOD—Shamrock Productions has 

been formed by Al Zimbalist and scenarist 

Maurice Geraghty. Headquartering at the 

Samuel Goldwyn studios, the new company 

plans a late-February start on its first film, 

"Miss Robin Hood," which Geraghty will 

script and direct. 

Awards Ceremony 

In Pantages Mar. 19 

Hollywood—For the fourth consecutive 

year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts 

and Sciences' annual awards presentation 

will be made from the stage of the 

RKO Pantages Theatre here. 

The date, 

as disclosed by Charles Brackett, Academy 

president, will be March 19. 

A list of films eligible for Oscars and 

ballots for nominations will be mailed out 

Thursday (15). Nomination ballots must 

be returned by Saturday (24). and the 

nominees will be announced February 10. 

Final awards ballots will be mailed out 

February 24, with polls to close March 10. 

WITH 

a special house committee, 

headed by Congressman E. C. 

Gathings, and some state legislative 

organizations becoming considerably exercised 

over the constantly increasing dl.stribution 

and sale of pornographic and salacious literature, 

in maigazine and pocket-book form, 

thrown into sharp new focus is a statement 

issued at year's end by Y. Prank Freeman, 

chairman of the board of directors of the 

Ass'n of Motion Picture Producers. 

Freeman declared that association members 

are concerned over the appearance, in recent 

months, of photographs of film starlets in 

"salacious postures" and with "undue and 

indecent breast exposture," and said it was his 

organization's desire to "make known the fact 

that we have no control over such photo 

ads." They do not emanate, he emphasized, 

from major studios or responsible producers 

but were put out by "high-pressui'e personal 

publicity agents descending to the lowest 

levels of bad taste to attract attention and 

to exploit girls seeking motion picture 

careers." 

Making reference to the industry's system 

of self-regulation through its production and 

advertising codes, Freeman said the AMPP 

and its members "condemn" and "deplore" the 

advertisements as being harmful to the industry 

and a disservice to the individuals involved. 

Further, he blasted the "irresponsible 

publicity agents who induce the individuals 

to pay them for this sort of publicity." 

In view of past performances, and the wellestabli.shed 

propensity of lawTnakers toward 

using the motion picture industry as a 

whipping-boy, the film trade possibly may 

consider itself fortunate that the current 

manifestations of legislative wrath are aimed 

at publishers, rather than producers. 

But it seems a reasonably safe prediction 

that the cleanup lads will quickly get around 

to filmdom if it continues to be as vulnerable 

as the Pi-eeman manifesto holds. 

While Freeman's declaration bravely 

sounds a highly necessary warning bell, it is 

subject to argument on a few points, and is in 

many ways indicative of the view-with-alarmbut-do-nothing-about-it 

policy which has long 

been the weakness of the producers' organization 

and those lushly maintained sub groups 

whose ostensible functions are to safeguard 

and improve the over-all public relations of 

Cinemania. 

Obviously the association prexy could name 

no names. Nonetheless, Hollywood railbirds 

didn't have to work their crystal balls overtime 

to venture a guess that his reference to 

"high-pressure personal publicity agents" included 

one Russell Birdwell and the carnivalof-cleavage 

campaign which the erstwhile 

Behemoth of Blurb devoted to building the 

career of his newcomer client, Roberta 

Haynes. Roving Russell was rather roundly 

criticized for that one, and justified his daring 

methods with a bromidic explanation that 

"we are in show business, not running a 

mortuary." 

It is interesting to observe, significantly, 

that shortly thereafter Miss Haynes, up until 

then a virtual unknown, was signed to a 

term contract by Columbia and is now undergoing 

a grooming process. 

As to the Pi'eeman reference to "no control." 

That is patently fallacious. No one 

in the picture business is so naive as not to 

realize that if the producers really wanted 

to, they could easily—and without laying 

themselves open to restraint of trade charges 

—put an end to the activities and careers of 

"irresponsible publicity agents" and those 

whom they "induce ... to pay them for 

this sort of publicity." 

But, apparently, that is too direct and troublesome. 

It is much less strain merely to 

"condemn" and "deplore," and no concrete 

action can be expected until some legislative 

body again cracks the whip over Hollywood's 

lacerated back. 

To the accompaniment of 

exploding flashbulbs, 

Gus A. Metzger, partner of O. N. "Bill" 

Srere in the southland's Metzger-Srere circuit, 

was presented upon the occasion of his 

75th birthday recently with a gold, diamondstudded 

lifetime pass to any and all National 

Theatres showcases throughout the U.S. The 

gift came from NT President Charles P. 

Skouras. 

Presumably Gus can now go to movies free 

when accompanied by his parents. 

To stimulate moviegoers' interest in his 

Bette Davis topliner, "The Star," produced for 

20th Century-Fox release and current at the 

local Four Star Theatre, printed reports had 

it that Bert Friedlob earmarked $1,000 for 

a telephone ballyhoo campaign and hired 

seven gals to make 500 calls daily on residences 

in the greater Los Angeles area. 

A waste of money, we calls it. The same 

results could have been accomplished merely 

by opening the windows in the offices of 

Friedlob's press agents. Bill Blowitz and Mag- 

Maskell. 

gie 

he who does an impressive 

Waller Seltzer, 

job as space-snatcher-in-chief for Producer 

Hal Wallis, announced it was a press preview. 

But the screening of the Dean Martin-Jerry 

Lewis starrer, "The Stooge," at the Academy 

Awards Theatre proved to come closer to a 

poor man's premiere, what with a few tired 

klieg lights, a sprinkling of comparably 

fatigued dinner jackets, and a spate of 

glamor—likewise weary stars. 

One impressive touch to the clambake was 

the fact that virtually every man in Teet 

Carle's Paramount publicity department was 

on hand, gleamingly attired in faultless 

though rented—tails and top hats, which latter 

articles of finery carried bold labels, "The 

Stooge." 

Teet was not present. Perhaps he felt the 

headgear placard was too apropos. 


. . Earl 

DENVER 

Variety Tent 37 planned to install its 

new officers this weekend at a dinner-dance 

at the Albany hotel. Randolph 

Scott will present the humanitarian award. 

The new officers include Alex Murphree, 

drama editor of the Denver Post, as chief 

barker: Don Hammer, first assistant; William 

Hastings, second assistant; Victor Love, 

property master, and Bernie Hynes, doughguy. 

The crew is composed of the above, the 

past chief barkers, and Fred Brown, George 

"Scotty" Allan, Henry Friedel, James Micheletti 

and Joe Stone. 

Three boys, by tripping the ticket register 

at the Santa Fe boxoffice just after closing 

time, grabbed 150 tickets and ran. Evangeline 

Grego, cashier, had just wrapped up the 

money and taken it to the manager's office. 

Marilyn Shrphard, usherette, called Manager 

Donald Saunders, and he chased the boy.s, 

but they got away. However, the tickets will 

not do the boys much good, as the numbers 

are known. 

. . Mrs. Abel 

. . Bruce 

The Monaco Drive-In lost 25 cases of candy 

worth over $200 and 50 pounds of coffee 

worth $40 to thieves that broke into the 

snack bar after closing hours . 

Davis is selling the Roxy in order to cIo.se 

out the estate of her late husband . 

Archer, son of A. P. Archer, president of 

Civic Theatres, has started learning the theatre 

busine.ss, having taken a job in the headquarters 

of Atlas Theatres. 

Gene Gerbase, Republic manager, went to 

Los Angeles to attend a divisional sales meeting 

. . . Ml', and Mrs. R. D. Ervin, Kremmling, 

theatre owners, have gone to Cali- 

The Ballantyne 

fornia on a business trip . . . 

Co.. manufacturers of sound equipment 

for regular and drive-in theatres, has established 

a Denver office at 929, 21st street, with 

Carl P. Knudson in charge. 

Tom Bailey, owner of the Lippert and Mutual 

franchises, went to Chicago to attend 

sales meetings by each group . Jameson 

jr. of Kansas City was here visiting his 

Realart exchange and conferring with Bernie 

McCarthy, manager . . . Jim Ricketts, Paramount 

manager, goes to New York to attend 

a sales meeting that will open on January 25. 

Foster Blake, western divi-sion sales manager, 

and Lester Zooker, district manager, 

were here to preside at a sales meeting of 

Universal branch managers and salesmen 

in Zooker's district. The managers attending 

included C. R. Wade, Salt Lake City; 

Mayer Monsky, Denver; Lou Levy, Des 

Moines; I. M. Weiner, Omaha, and Jack Langan, 

Kansas City. Jack Langan was manager 

in Denver prior to his being promoted to 

Kansas City . . . Gene VitaJe, Paramount 

booker, is vacationing at home. 

Exhibitors seen on Filmrow: Richard Bennett, 

Sheridan, Wyo.; C. E. McLaughlin, Las 

Animas; Glen Wittstruck, Meeker; John 

Roberts, Fort Morgan; Neil Beezley, Burlington; 

Fred Anderson, Eaton; C. L. Canda, 

Westchffe; Mike Jo.seph. San Luis; Mrs. Bert 

Lewis, Holyoke; Cliff Butler, Albuquerque; 

C. E. Bradshaw, Martin, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. 

Leo Farrell, Sidney, Neb.; Mrs. H. G. Wells, 

Hardin, Mont., and Herbert Gumper, Center. 

Polio sufferers look fo you. Drop Morch of Dimes 

slugs into your odvertlslng for the Morch of Dimes 

drive—Januory 2-31. 

Jones Enterprise Co. 

Builds lOOO-Seaier 

NORTH BEND, ORE.—Construction has 

begun on a 1,000-seat theatre on Union avenue, 

adjacent to the city hall. The owner, 

Jones Enterprise, Inc., operates two houses 

in Coos Bay and one here. Stanley McSwain 

is a partner in the f m and local manager. 

$100,000 Ozoner for Spokane 

SPOKANE. WASH.—George A. Castle, local 

financier, will construct a $100,000 outdoor 

theatre on an 80-acre tract north of the city 

limits, west of Monroe and Wall. The twinscreen 

airer will accommodate 2,000 cars. The 

approval of the state highway department 

and the county health office are necessai'y. 

A summer opening is planned. 

Lippert Plans 400-Car Airer 

MEDFORD, ORE.—Plans for construction 

of a 400-car drive-in at Crater Lake highway 

and Biddle road were announced recently by 

R. P. Corbin, southern Oregon manager for 

Lippert Theatres. Construction is to get under 

way as soon as weather permits. 

To Build Drive-In for 350 Cars 

FLORENCE, ORE.—A 350-car ozoner is to 

be built on the Coast highway here. Owned 

by Erwin Moullet, the situation is to be 

designed by Errol Holland of the B. F. 

Shearer Co. Portland office. 

To Spend $250,000 on Outdoorer 

SEATTLE—Excavation for a $250,000 outdoor 

theatre being constructed for the Kenmore 

Drive-In Theatre, Inc., was begun recently. 

W. R. Forman, Dwight L. Stracher 

and E. W. Johixson are the owners. The proposed 

site is two blocks north of Bothell Way 

at Kenmore. 

Settlement Reached 

In 'Valentino' Lawsuit 

HOLLYWOOD — Out-of-court .settlement 

was reached in the $750,000 damage suit 

lodged by Alice Terry, silent-screen star, 

against Edward Small Productions and Columbia. 

Her superior court action had charged 

she was libeled in the Small film, "Valentino," 

which Columbia distributed. 

To Start 'Calexo Pass' 

HOLLYWOOD — Producer Edwin Levin 

plans a Monday (19) start on "Calexo Pass," 

a western to star David Brian, which he will 

film independently for an as-yet unannounced 

release. The opus will be directed by Lew 

Landers and the picture will be made at 

the Republic studios in North Hollywood. 

Willard Ebeling Is Promoted 

COLORADO SPRINGS — Willard Ebeling, 

formerly assistant laboratory manager, has 

been named laboratory manager for Alexander 

Film Co. 

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CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE 

LOS ANGELES 

T ured by the sunny southland 

were visitors 

from snowbound midwest aieas. Reno 

Wilk, who at one time owned the Wardman 

Theatre in Whittier, as well as other houses 

in this territory, checked in from Minneapolis, 

reporting that his four drive-ins there are 

snowed in, while Oscar Johi^son, who also 

operated theatres here and is now an Omaha 

exhibitor, closed his enterprises and plans 

UUman, 

to spend the winter locally . . . Frank 

who used to operate theatres in El Centro 

and Brawley in partnership with Fox West 

Coast, was a visitor. He now runs apartment 

houses in El Centro. 

. . . Skip 

. . Condolences 

Tom Muchmore took over the Canoga In 

Canoga Park from Bob Strong 

Wesner, a producers' representative headquartering 

in New York, was a Filmrow visitor 

. . "Mac" McTaggert, Columbia salesman, 

. 

is now a grandpa. A baby boy, Michael 

James, was born to his .son and daughter-inlaw, 

Mr. and Mrs. John McTaggart . 

were extended to Irv Levin, of 

Realart, 

on the death of his brother Sol. 

Harold Wirthwein, western sales chief for 

Allied Artists, and M. J. E. McCarthy, local 

branch manager, returned from a business 

junket to Phoenix. At the AA office, John 

O'Neill, former city salesman, has been upped 

to office manager, while Henry Balk, who 

left the organization four years ago to enter 

the real estate business, has returned to fill 

the selling post vacated by O'Neill . . . Damage 

exceeding $200 was reported by Ned 

Calvi, owner of the Lomita in Lomita, when 

the showcase was entered by vandals who 

stole a fire axe from the wall and used it 

to chop up a door and and a popcorn and 

candy bar in the lobby. The Lomita h£is been 

closed for several months. 

. 

A new soundproof cry room has been installed 

in Vic Walker's Surf Theatre in Huntington 

Beach. Tlie showcase is managed by 

Sam Terry . . Charles Maestri, theatre operations 

manager for Robert L. Lippert, 

checked in from San Fiancisco to take a gander 

at Lippert's three newly acquired houses, 

the Desert and Aladdin in Indio and the 

Coachella Valley Drive-In . . Booking and 

. 

buying visitors included Merritt Stone and 

Jim Allen, operators of the Palms in Palms. 

Hugh Prince, who has been managing the 

Sierra and Towne in San Fernando, resigned 

to return to his home in Georgia. He's the 

father of Ginger Pi-ince, moppet actress. 

Chester Black of Pacific Drive-ins reports 

he's poppa of a baby daughter named Ellen 

Margaret. 

. . . 

Among the Fox West Coasters: Arthur 

Paulson has replaced Bob Sanderson as manager 

of the Orpheum in San Diego, while 

Gerald Vacchio. whose Loma in Hollywood 

was damaged by fire recently, has moved 

over to the Maj'wood in Maywood 

Harry Seipel, former northern division district 

manager, now associated with Hoyts 

Theatres in Australia, and wife spent the 

holidays here. 

Howard Stubbins, co-owner with Me! Hulling 

of the Allied Artists west coast franchise, 

returned from Phoenix, where he and 

Mrs. Stubbins spent the holidays . . . William 

Z. Porter. AA home office field representative, 

checked out for Dallas for huddles with 

James Pi-ichard, southwestern sales head. 

44 BOXOFFICE :: January 17, 1953

I 

BOXOFHCE 

Two Die in Collapse 

Of Drive-In Tower 

TUCSON—Two workmen were killed here 

Saturday (10) when a 57-foot screen tower 

wall collapsed during construction at the 

Prince Drive-In on East Prince road, near 

north Campbell avenue. 

One man was killed instantly beneath 20 

tons of debris from the fallen screen. The 

second, who had loosened his safety belt 

and jumped from the falling screen, died at a 

local hospital four hours later. He received 

multiple broken bones along with head and 

internal injuries. Both men had been hired 

on the day of the accident by theatre manager 

Hugh Downs. 

County engineers visited the scene at the 

request of the sheriff's office to check construction 

practices at the partly-built 

ozoner. The engineers said they found two 

ropes, five-eighths of an inch in diameter, 

that had been used as emergency supports 

for the 20-ton screen. 

The investigators reported the ropes had 

been fastened to car bumpers, then attached 

at each end of the partially completed structure. 

They pointed out that manufactures of 

similar rope advertise their product as being 

able to withstand a total stress of 880 pounds. 

Workmen were unable to give any reason 

for the sudden collapse of the wooden framework. 

Four portions of the frame, each 12x 

57 feet, were already in place. A fifth frame 

was being attached when the entire structure 

collapsed. 

Western U-I Sales Heads 

Meet in San Francisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—Western sales executives 

of Universal-International convened 

here to discuss promotional plans on forthcoming 

releases. With Foster M. Blake, western 

division manager, and Barney Rose, 

western district chief, presiding, the sessions 

were attended by branch managers Abe 

Swerdlow, Los Angeles; Ted Reisch. San 

Francisco; Ernest Piro, Portland, and Arthur 

Greenfield, Seattle. Also on hand was Archie 

Herzoff, studio advertising and promotion 

manager. 

Fire Delays Lyric Opening 

MOUNT VERNON, WASH.—Fire, 

believed 

to have started near the heating plant, caused 

over $2,000 in damage at the new Lyric 

Theatre here, and delayed the opening of 

the house several weeks. The new Lyric, 

owned by Elden Pollock, formerly the Missouri, 

has been undergoing renovation for 

two months and was scheduled to be opened 

in about two weeks. Firemen battled for 

three hours before finally subduing the blaze. 

Firemen said that the fire walls in the house 

prevented complete destruction. 

Remodel Silver Star Airer 

WALLACE, IDA.—Plans for extensive improvement 

and remodeling of the Silver Star 

Drive-In, recently purchased by the Simons 

Amusement Co., were announced by Edna 

Wilma Sharp, president. The airer, located 

seven miles west of here, is the Simon company's 

first venture into the outdoor field. 

The firm operates indoor houses in northern 

Idaho and western Montana. 

WESTERN STATES^ 


Roy Cooper Al O'Keefe Ray Davis 

J. Roger Mendcnhall Homer LeBallister Ed Kidwell Boyd F. Scott 

William Graeper Sam Gillette Frederick A. Danz jr. 

^ 

LOS ANGELES—Exhibitor state chairmen for the Council of Motion Picture Organizations-sponsored 

campaign for repeal of the 20 per cent federal amusement tax are shown 

above for the western states. 

These men, along with distributor chairmen, have been contacting senators and congressmen 

to obtain pledges of support in an all-out attempt to get the federal tax on admissions 

repealed. The exhibitors represent the following states; 

CALIFORNIA—Roy Cooper, San Francisco, and Al O'Keefe, Los Angeles. 

COLORADO—Ray Davis, Fox Intermountain, Denver. 

Paramount Theatres, Phoenix. 

ARIZONA—George Aurelius, 

IDAHO—Roger Mendenhall, Boise. 

NEVADA—Homer LeBallister, Majestic, Reno. 

NEW MEXICO—Ed Kidwell, Theatre Enterprises, Roswell; 

Boyd P. Scott, Plains Theatre, 

Roswell. 

OREGON—William Graeper, Portland, 

UTAH—Sam Gillette, Associated Amusement Co., Salt Lake City. 

WASHINGTON—Frederick A. Danz jr., Sterling Theatres, Seattle. 

Also named as committee chairmen, but not pictured here, are; 

COLORADO—Edward E. Pringle, Denver. 

MONTANA—Carl E. Anderson, Anderson Theatre Co., Kalispell. 

WYOMING—Russell Schulte, Casper. 

Medford. Ore., Rialto Closes 

MEDPORD, ORE.—The Rialto Theatre, 

which has been operated since 1917, was 

shuttered early this month. Robert L. Corbin, 

southern Oregon manager for the Robert 

L. Lippert theatre chain, said the auditorium 

will be used by a furniture store for expansion. 

The house was purchased by Lippert 

interests in 1947. The circuit operates three 

other theatres here, a drive-in, and is erecting 

an ozoner north of here. 

I 

: 

: January 17, 1953 

45

. . . When 

. . John 

. . Agnes 

. Dom 

SAN FRANCISCO 

lyfilton M. Weisman, editor in chief of Telenews 

Theatres, stopped here en route to 

Korea and the Far East, where he will coordinate 

all Telenews newsreels coverage 

from that region in an attempt to speed up 

newsreels to Telenews screens across the nation 

The Castroville Theatre was burglarized 

. . . of $30 in money and cigarets recently, 

according to Paul Valverde, manager . . . The 

State boxoffice safe was looted of $316. 

. 

Dick Miller, one of the owners, reported the 

Ocean Drive-In at Crescent City is closing 

for the remainder of the winter to open 

again around March 1. The owners contemplated 

con.siderable remodeling of the 

snack bar and improvements to the grounds 

the El Rey in Oakland recently 

celebrated its third anniversary, a huge cake 

and hundreds of gallons of punch were served 

to patrons . The Esquire in San Francisco 

installed a 

. 

turnstile when it initiated a 

new low-price policy of 50 cents all seats 

evenings for adults and 25 cents for children. 

Aaron Gardner is the new manager at the 

Yolo Theatre in Woodland . . . Ginger Rogers 

is here hitting the high spots with escort M. 

Jacques Bergerac of Paris . Carroll, 

the film star, entertained at a Damon Runyon 

cancer fund fight program in the Memorial 

auditorium in Sacramento. Wayne Morris 

was emcee. . . . San Pi'ancisco critics voted 

against making a "best film" award this year. 

Meeting at their awards dimier, the critics 

decided since they had not been privileged to 

see six of the top contenders in the forthcoming 

Oscar race (none of them have played 

here), they would bypa.ss voting on the motion 

picture industry product for the first 

time in history. The best stage play honors 

went to "Four Poster." 

Hulda McGinn, California Theatre Ass'n 

public relations counsel, is in Sacramento 

while state legislature is in session . . . 

Robert Patton was on the Row from Sonora 

. . . Al Grubstick, Lippert Pictures of 

Northern California, went to New York on 

business . Cannon and her ex-filmrower 

husband Emmett Cannon spent the 

weekend in Atwater with Agnes' relatives. 

Ben Levin, president of General Theatrical 

Co., has been appointed motion picture industry 

chairman for 

the local March of 

Dimes campaign . . 

. 

The Fox in Redwood 

City became a babysitting 

emporium for 

three shopping days 

prior to Christmas. 

The theatre provided 

a matron while the 

kids watched cartoons. 

Local merchants 

paid the expenses 

. . . Mel Klein 

Ben Levin 

of Columbia and Bill 

Coovert, district manager for the Golden 

State circuit, made a lot of children happy 

the past holiday season. It seemed that the 

Mi.ssion Cooperative Nursery school wanted 

to give all the nursery .school children in San 

Francisco a real Christmas present. Klein 

was asked about the use of one of Columbia's 

fine cartoons, "Madeline," which he kindly 

provided. The Coovert donated the use of 

the Crown Theatre for the screening. 

Paul Valverde and Henry Garcia of Castroville, 

were on the Row as were Vern Paddock 

of the Kings Drive-In, Armona; Joe Haig- 

Boyd of the California Theatre, Kerman; 

Lester Blumberg, Principal Theatres, Porterville 

and Tracy; Al Klokkevold, Colfax Theatre; 

C. J. Remington, Oaks Theatre, Fair 

Oaks; Marvin Martines, Skyview Drive-In, 

Sacramento and Salinas; Si Gertz, El Rey at 

Salinas; Leslie Pancake, Shasta, Central Valley, 

and Bob Patton, Uptown at Sonora. 

The Koxy in Stockton has been taken over 

by Jess Levin of General Theatrical from 

Charles Woods and renamed the Lux . . . 

The Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma has been 

taken back by Sebastiani family from Bruce 

Plater . . . J. H. Boyd, California Theatre, 

Kerman, his wife and three beautiful children, 

Peter Garrette of Yolo Theatre, Woodland; 

William Jepsen. Vista at El Cerrito, and 

Bruno Vecchiarelh of Mountain View Theatre 

in Mount View were on the Row. 

Robert L. Lippert stopped off here on the 

way back east . . . E. I. Rubin, popcorn man, 

returned from a trip in territory . . . I. L. 

Thompson. Moonglow Drive-In, Fresno, was 

in town , Isabella, Vacaville, reports 

he is remodeling the front of his theatre . . . 

Motion Picture Service, 125 Hyde St., has 

completed a remodeling program and now 

sports a modern and beautiful office and an 

additional sound studio for the filming of 

theatrical and television commercials and 

shorts. Dick Eckles was the decorator. 

E. A. Patchen, AiTata Theatre, and Harry 

Sarber, Tripple-S Supply Co., were seen deep 

in a discussion. Patchen was on his way to 

Santa Bai-bara to spend a few days vacation, 

and Sarber was on his way to Reno (or was 

it Las Vegas?) on busine.ss and pleasure . . . 

Motion Picture Service piloted by Gerald Karski, 

announces the release of the 1953 Tournament 

of Roses parade short in color, for 

the Standard Oil Co. of California. The sixth 

year for the series, the new contract for 1953 

production and distribution of ten-minute 

reels in color started off with "Road to Hangtown." 

The second the Tournament of Roses 

two-reeler. 

Herb Jack, representative for the Kroehler 

Push-Back chairs, and his wife Rose were 

injured in a head-on accident at Nipomo 

near San Luis Obispo recently. Jack suffered 

fractures of five ribs and an arm. Mrs. Jack 

was also seriou.'ly injured. They are at the 

French hospital at San Luis Obispo and 

probably will remain there for at least two 

months. 

Attending the Alexander Film Co. annual 

meeting in Colorado Springs were the following 

from San Francisco: Collin Dexter, 

district manager, and John Boyle, Bob 

Fletcher, E. E. Mikkelsen and Lyle Bramson. 

Ed Penn, salesman at U-I, resigned recently. 

No replacement has yet been named 

. . . Boyd Sparrow, manager Loew's Warfield, 

returned from his vacation in the east 

and a visit with his family. 

A new Straw Hat revue has gone into 

rehearsal with local openings set for February 

3. The new revue is entitled, "One Moment, 

Please." Actress Edith Gidlof will appear 

in the cast in place of Elizabeth Berryhilly, 

president of the Straw Hat Theatre. 

SHEARCO DRAPERIES 

AND STAGE CURTAINS 

•|IH/l;/ i 

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SAN FRANCISCO: 243 Colmn Site «>c UNdf'iill I ISIS ' SEATTLE: 231S Sicoild t>c. • ElliotI S247 

Irving C. Ackerman, theatre circuit owner 

was quite active in promotion and exploitation 

of the 43rd annual Golden Gate Kennel 

club dog show held at the Civic auditorium 

recently. 

Purchases Bay Theatre 

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF. — Edward 

Gro.ssman, president of Grossman Theatre 

Enterprises, owner of the Panorama Tlieatre 

in Van Nuys and three houses in Illinois, 

has added the Bay Theatre here to his holdings. 

Dimes ond dollors will help mony o victim of polio 

to recover normal hcolth. Arronge for March of 


46 BOXOFnCE :: January 17, 1953

I 

\, 

201 

, Snoodwav 

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— 

Western Colo. Group 

Drafts Tax Campaign 

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. — Western 

Colorado Theatre Owners and Managers, 

meeting here last week i7i drafted further 

plans for pre.senting tax repeal data to Colorado 

congressmen and senators and discussed 

film truck rates, terming them "nearly as 

grave a matter as the tax for most smalltown 

exhibitors." 

Each exhibitor present was called upon to 

give his views about writing letters and preparing 

tax repeal statements for legislators. 

All exhibitors pledged them.selves to prepare 

the information immediately and to urge 

nearby theatre owners to do the same thing if 

they were not present at the tax meeting. 

On the question of film truck rates, Ed 

Nelson of Montrose said that rates were high 

because of high insurance on film and that 

possibly the industry should work on getting 

special in.surance rates for safety film. 

The fact that insurance companies are still 

charging the same rate on film insurance 

that they did before general use of acetate 

film was also discu.ssed and it was decided 

that a letter should be .sent to the insurance 

commission regarding the situation. Mrs. 

Nora Barlow, Silverton exhibitor, volunteered 

to take the matter up with the insurance 

commissioner. 

Following the business meeting and luncheon 

the entire group attended a screening of 

MGM's "The Clown" and "The Hoaxters" at 

the Uintah Theatre in Fruita. 

Mrs. Luther Strong, secretary of the organization, 

was able to attend the session after 

having been seriously ill most of the time 

since the November meeting. 

Tom Poulos invited the theatremen and 

their wives to hold their next meeting in 

July at Paonia and it was agreed that extra 

effort would be put forth to get every owner 

and manager in the area to attend. 

In attendance here were Mrs. Nora Barlow, 

Lode, Silverton; Francis Gill and Tom Poulos, 

Paonia, Paonia; Don Monson, Ute, Rifle; 

Kermit Hurst, Elberta, Palisade; Fay Boyd, 

Unique, Gunnison; Mrs. Joni Nelson, Olathe, 

Olathe; Ed Nelson, Fox, Montrose; Neil Ross, 

Pox, Delta; Dutch Stroh, Mines, Telluride; 

Harvey Traylor, Cooper, Grand Junction; 

Loyd Greve, Eagle and Minturn; Bob Walker 

and son John, Bob Wilkie, Medard Verrarest, 

Uintah, Fruita; F. D. Litsey, Chief; Luther 

jStrong, Mesa; Lloyd File, Starlight, all of 

Grand Junction. 

SPECIAL 

TRAILERS 

630 NINTH AVENUE 

NEW YORK 36, N.Y. 

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QUALITY! 

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Three Holdovers Hit High Spots 

At Los Angeles First Runs 

LOS ANGELES—Holdovers continued to 

display the greatest strength in local first 

run circles, paced by the 210 per cent recorded 

by "Hans Christian Andersen" in its third 

stanza. Hitting the 200 mark, also in their 

third week "The Star." "Moulin Rouge" and 

"Come Back, Little Sheba." 

(Average is 100) 

Beverly Conon The Member of the Wedding (Col),. . 

odv. prices, 3rd wk 1 40 

Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown Stars ond 

Stripes Forever (20th~Fox); Outlow Women 

(LP), 2nd wk 90 

Downtown Poromount, Hawaii Agoinst All Flogs 

(U-l); It Grows on Trees (U-l), 2nd wk 90 

Hollywood Paramount, Orpheum, Manchester, Picwood 

Rood to Boil (Para), 3rd wk 110 

Egyptian, State Above ond Beyond (MGM) 130 

Fine Arts Come Bock, Little Shebo (Para), adv. 

prices, 3rd wk 200 

Four Star The Stor (20th-Fox), adv. prices, 3rd 

wk 200 

Fox Beverly The Jozz Singer (WB), adv. prices, 

2nd wk 140 

Fox Ritz My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox) odv. 

prices, 3rd wk 1 00 

Fox Wilshire Moulin Rouge (UA), adv. prices, 

3rd wk 200 

Hillstreet, Pontages Montana Belfe (RKO); Dancing 

With Crime (Realorf) 110 

United Artists, Vogue The Bod and the Beautiful 

(MGM), 3rd wk 125 

Werners Beverly Hans Christian Andersen (RKO), 

adv. prices, 3rd wk 210 

Worners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern April 

in Poris ( WB), 2nd wk 1 00 

and 'Mermaid' 

Take 

'Bali' 

Top Seattle 

SEATTLE—Business picked up after the 

holidays. Top gross honors vifent to "April 

in Paris," paired with "Mr. Walkie Talkie" 

at the Orpheum, which rated 190 per cent. 

"Road to Bali" held up well at the Paramount 

after a terrific first week, scoring 175 in its 

second. "Million Dollar Mermaid" at the 

Music Hall also did well in its first week 

at the Music Hall, rating 150. 

Blue Mouse Against All Flags (U-l), plus Bugs 

revue, 2nd wk 95 

Bunny cortoon 

I Coliseum The Don't Care Girl (20th-Fox); 

Target 

Fifth 

Hong 

Avenue 

Kong 

My Cousin 

(Col) 1 50 

120 

. 

Rachel (20th-Fox) . . . 

Liberty The Prisoner of Zenda (MGM); Sky Full 

of Moon (MGM) 1 20 

Music Box Limelight (UA), 2nd wk 100 

Music Hall Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM) 150 

Orpheum April in Poris (WB); Mr. Walkie Talkie 

(LP) 190 

Paramount Road to Bali (Poro); Beware, My 

Lovely (RKO), 2nd wk 1 75 

Four Denver Theatres 

Hold Their Programs 

DENVER—Four houses held their programs 

this week. "Above and Beyond" and "Desperate 

Search" stayed at the Orpheum, "Million 

Dollar Mermaid" remained at the Broadway, 

"Road to Bali" did the same at the 

Denham, and "The Promoter" is getting another 

at the Vogue. 

Aloddin, Tabor, Webber Operotion Secret (WB); 

Sleep My Love (Pref) 90 

Broadway Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM), 3rd wk. 85 

Denham Rood to Bali (Para), 3rd wk 100 

Denver, Esquire My Cousin Rachael (20th-Fox) 90 

Orpheum Above and Beyond (MGM); Desperate 

Search (MGM) 125 

Poromount Hoppy Time (Col); Storm Over Tibet 

(Col) 105 

Vogue The Promoter (U-l), 2nd wk 110 

World Miss Julie (SR), 3rd wk 80 

Orpheum Eight Iron Men (Col) 110 

Paramount and Oriental My Cousin Rachel 

(20th-Fox) 110 

Roxy Captive Women (RKO) 90 

United Artists Rood to Boti (Para), 3rd wk 130 

Grosses at Peaks 

In San Francisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—Grosses for the major 

houses the first week of the new year jumped 

to new highs. 

Fox—Bloodhounds of Broadway (20th-Fox) 120 

Golden Gate April in Poris (WB) 175 

Orpheum Hoppy Time (Col); Too Many Girls 

(RKO) 90 

Poromount— Road to Bali (Poro), 2nd wk 125 

St. Francis Bwono Devil (Oboler), 3rd wk 175 

United Artists Kansas City Confidential (UA)...190 

Tri-Dimension Soon 

To Denver Screens 

DENVER—Tlie Tabor is being readied to 

show the Tri-Opticon tri-dlmensional program, 

starting January 21. The Orpheum is 

being made ready to show "Bwana Devil," 

Arch Oboler's tri-dimensional film, in February. 

The film will be viewed with polarized 

glasses, and the Tabor will make a charge of 

75 cents for each pair, to be refunded on return. 

It presumed that many persons will 

keep the glasses, since more films of a similar 

nature will be shown as they become available. 

The Ti-i-Opticon program at the Tabor 

will run about an hour, and will include the 

Sadler's Wells ballet troupe in the Swan 

Lake ballet, travel shorts and cartoons. Some 

of them will be in Technicolor and some in 

black and white. Flegular films will complete 

the program. 

To Host Movietime Winners 

HOLLYWOOD—Republic will host four Indiana 

Hollywood Movietime contest winners 

and their companions Thursday (15) at a 

luncheon and tour of the studio. Arrangements 

were made with Trueman T. Rembusch 

of Syndicate Theatres, Inc., which 

conducted the contest. 

Ken Hirons Btiys North's Ozoner 

EUGENE, ORE.—Ken Hirons, local businessman, 

has taken over operation of North's 

Drive-In. The sale price was estimated at 

$18,000. 

FOR FAST THEATRE SALES 

Write or Phone 

Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr. 

SCHWARY REALTY CO. 

Phone: LI 6S55 

10700 N. E. Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon 

We 

have the 

3f**f%^. for 

YOUR 

Count on us for Quick ActionI | Y\ b/\ 1Kb 

OS] I 

Our writ wrid« contacts «^th the eKhibilor* 

a«sute YOU of sa1isf

. . Weather 

. . The 

PORTLAND 

a rt F. Smith, Oregon and Washington general 

district manager for Alexander Film 

Co., attended the annual winter meeting in 

Colorado Springs, Colo. Smith, now in his 

30th year with the film company, reported 

nearly 100 field officials were there. He said 

last year's business was the biggest in the 

34 years of operation of Alexander Films. 

With the film advertising company featuring 

a full natural color service, the 1953 

season is expected to be even greater. Smith 

said. 

Keith Petzold, manager, reports the Broadway 

Theatre saved more than 18,000 kilowatts 

of electricity during the November to January 

13 brownout downtown. The theatre 

usually uses 10.000 kilowatts weekly, but managed 

to go through the power shortage on 

an 8,000 minimum. The power company cut 

was set at 9,000 kilowatts weekly. The lifting 

of the brownout, enforced due to low 

water on the Columbia river, brought back 

a brighter downtown theatre row . . . Manager 

Petzold has been named program committee 

chairman for the Portland Chamber 

of Commerce. 

Allan Weider was in town Wednesday (14) 

for a press preview of "The Hoaxters," documentary 

Walter Hoffman, Paramount 

short . . . exploiteer, was in working on "Thunder 

in the East" ... A "live mermaid" in a 

box outside the Broadway Theatre brought 

back that oldtime showmanship flavor. The 

"mermaid," a luscious blonde showgirl, was 

Jackie Wrenn. 

John Hamrick Theatres was presented a 

public relations problem Tuesday (6) when 

the pastor of a Portland church announced 

that the Playhouse Theatre would be used 

for the funeral of the Wilson brothers. Thurman 

and Utah, executed at the Wasliington 

state penitentiary for the sex slaying of Joan 

Dewey. Although the theatre now is being 

used by the Evangeli.stic Missionary Ass'n, 

Mai-vin Fox, John Hamrick city manager, received 

numerous calls protesting the use of 

the former downtown film house for the 

funeral. The theatre was leased to the association 

December 14. The pastor, the Rev. 

F. E. DeVries, donated the 1.300-seat "church" 

to the Rev. Allen Lambert, pastor of the 

Hoyt Street Methodist church, to accommodate 

expected crowds. After considerable 

front page publicity Tuesday, plans for the 

funeral were called off as a result of protest 

that the affair was a "publicity stunt." Newspaper 

stories clearly pointed out that the 

Playhouse is now a church, not a movie house. 

Ironically enough, the executed men claimed 

they were attending a movie at the Playhouse 

the night of the murder, March 19, 1950. 

Paul Forsyth, operator of the Blue Mouse 

Theatre here, reports an extensive modernization 

program includes rebuilding of the inner 

lobby and a redesign of the marquee. Seats 

have been repaired and the interior has been 

repainted. The Blue Mouse has long been a 

favorite second run theatre and during the 

last few years has specialized in action films. 

The John van Druten comedy, "I Am a 

Camera," starring Julia Harris, cut short a 

moveover engagement of "Stars and Stripes 

Forever" at the Mayfair. The boxoffice was 

reported as being excellent for the 1,800-seat 

theatre. Next stage presentation will be 

"Paris 1890" starring Cornelia Otis bkinner, 

opening January 28. Many Filmrow theatregoers 

were among first-nighters at the Julie 

Harris presentation Wednesday C7). 

Alan Wieder, MGM publicist, was in working 

on promotion for "Million Dollar Mermaid." 

One stimt contemplated was the installation 

of a tank in the lobby of the Broadway 

Theatre. A "mermaid," local model, will 

"The Promoter" will 

be in the pool . . . 

open within two weeks at the Guild, advises 

Martin Foster . . . Nancy Welch, Guild secretary, 

Herb Sabottka, 

was ill several days . . . John Hamrick executive, conferred with Martin 

Fox, city manager. 

SALT LAKE 

Jimmy Griffin, RKO salesman in Montana, 

was in a hospital following an auto accident 

in which he was seriously injm-ed. 

Giff Davison, branch manager, traveled up 

to investigate . . . Frank H. Smith. Paramount 

manager, returned from a business meeting 

and vacation in California . . . LuAnn Crouch 

has been employed as a stenographer in the 

booking department at Paramount. 

Seen on the Row: Lee Brown of Preston, 

Elmer Jackson of Laurel and Plentywood, 

and Merv Reber of St. George . . . Salt Lake's 

Allied Artists branch was in first place at 

the end of the first month of the current 

drive. Manager Don V. Tibbs was in Denver 

for a business meeting. Harold Wirthwein, 

AA district manager, was expected to return 

to Salt Lake with Don. 

. . Variety 

. 

Flu was still p^3^,guing Filmrow . 

Tent 38 swung into action for the new year 

with Sam Gillette presiding at his first meeting 

as chief barker was still 

a topic of conversation as the week ended. 

It's been all good in Utah. Precipitation is 

way below normal and the gag is going 

around the Row that drive-ins will be opening 

if the good weather continues. 

Two Theatres Shuttered 

Because of Ticket Tax 

OKANOGAN. WASH.—Lorri.s Gillespie has 

closed his Avalon Theatre here and the 

Orada in Oroville "because of amusement 

taxes." The merchants' committee of the 

Okanogan Chamber of Commerce had urged 

that a group be organized to discuss the 

closure with the operator in hopes that solution 

to the amusement tax be found. However, 

no action was ever taken in that direction. 


to recover normol hcolth. Arrange for March of 


SEATTLE 

Saffles Theatre Service held an open house 

Wednesday afternoon (14) in its new quarters 

in the 20th-Fox building located at 2421 

Second St. for customers and friends on Filmrow. 

The telephone number (EL-5177) remains 

the same ... At Paramount was Joe 

A. Walsh of New York who has charge of 

branch operations . . . Universal Manager 

Arthur Greenfield and salesmen Harry Blatt 

and Hap Fredericks returned from a conference 

meeting in San Francisco. 

. . . Local drive-ins will .start reopening 

Tall Malysheff, booker, quit Paramount 

Friday (16) for a new position with Sterling 

Theatres 

around February 22 . . L. O. Seley, 

. 

Seattle manager for Manley-Burch Popcorn 

Co.. returned from Kansas City where he 

attended a home office meeting. Charles G. 

Manley. president, and W. H. Turpie, western 

division manager from Los Angeles, were due 

here thLs week for conferences . . . 20th-Fox 

auditor Harry Wood is at the local office for 

six weeks. 

Dave Dunkle, Paramount salesman, returned 

to eastern Washington after vacationing 

Lowell Spiess of the 

in Seattle . . . Liberty in Dayton is building a drive-in. 

National Theatre Supply will supply Simplex 

Molly Larson. 20th-Fox re- 

equipment . . . 

ceptionist, has been home a couple of w-eeks 

as a result of an injury received in a recent 

Richmond Beach bus accident . Capitol 

will change pictm-es daily and will be open 

all night every night of the week. 

Midstate Amusement Corp. and Fay and 

Lloyd Honey are letting contracts for construction 

of a 500-car drive-in two miles 

west of Richland on Highway 410 . . . Two 

new XL Simplex projectors have been installed 

by National Tlieatre Supply in the 

Times Theatre in Seaside. Ore., wliich is 

owned by D. J. Callahan . . . Filmrow visitors 

included Miriam Goodrich of the Vista Theatre 

in Everson; Glen Nalta, Lynwo(5d Theatre, 

Port Blakely; Earl Stierwalt. McClary: Glen 

Spencer of the Pi-octor. Tacoma and Miriam 

Dickey of the Lathrop circuit. Fairbanks. 

. . . 

"Films of Fantasy," a new film series, 

sponsored by the drama department of the 

university of Washington, opened Wednesday 

(14), in the Health Sciences auditorium with 

the showing of "Orphans." a Fiench picture 

Betty Hutton and her stage revue have 

been signed for a five-day engagement, starting 

February 27. at the Paramount. She will 

of)en her American tour January 19 at the 

Curran Tlieatre in San Francisco. If the 

Hutton venture at the Pai-amount proves successful, 

chances are Frank Newman. Evergreen 

president, will broaden his program of 

stage shows. He has booked the first showing 

of the third-dimensional film, "Bwana 

Devil," for a Seattle theatre some time next 

month. In addition, he is studying the possibility 

of early installation of the theatre 

TV system. Eidophor. 

SWG Cre(dit Union Pays Dividend 

HOLLYWOOD—Tlie Screen Writers Guilds 

federal credit union has voted a S'i per cent 

dividend for 1952. an increase of one-half 

of 1 per cent over 1951. and named Ivan 

Goff as president of the credit group. He 

succeeds Warren Duff. 

;8 


kx 

Chicago Palace Dark, 

Awaiting Cinerama 

CHICAGO—The Palace Theatre closed 

its 

doors as "Stars and Stripes Forever" concluded 

a third week Wednesday night. It was 

hoped during the long period of dickering over 

union difficulties that the newest film sensation, 

Cinerama, would premiere at the Palace 

and, consequently, no consideration was given 

to other film productions. 

A Palace spokesman said the house will 

remain closed until satisfactory arrangements 

can be made for the showing of Cinerama. 

St. Louis MPTO Directors 

Hold Monthly Meeting 

ST. LOUIS—Officers and directors of the 

Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, 

Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois met 

here Tuesday (13 1 with President Tom 

Bloomer of Belleville presiding, to outline 

views on industry problems to be presented 

before the TOA directors meeting in New 

York January 25-27. 

Subjects to come up included a letter of 

appreciation from Executive Director Donegal 

of the USO for the Christmas boxes provided 

by the MPTO for away-from-home 

servicemen and women; a call from Ted Desloge 

regarding the Red Cross campaign; 

KMTA; lists for the polio drive; Ascap, with 

lists of public domain music now available 

to members of the MPTO and TOA. 

A report from Bloomer, who was a delegate 

to the recent COMPO gathering in Chicago, 

included information regarding the 

prospects for the elimination of the 20 per 

cent federal tax on admissions. 

Progress reports were made by Chairman 

Les Kropp on both the grievance panel for 

the St. Louis trade area and on the bylaws 

committee regarding its recommendations 

for streamlining the bylaws of the organization. 

Membership reports were made by regional 

vice-presidents Paul Krueger for St. Louis, 

Bill Waring of Cobden for southern Illinois 

and Bill Williams of Union for eastern Missouri. 

Also discussed at the gathering was a film 

buying survey report by William T. Powell 

of St. Louis and a report from the St. Louis 

booth committee on its activities. 

Kerasotes Buys Airer Site 

RANTOUL, ILL. — Approximately eight 

acres of land one mile west of the city limits 

on Route 136 has been purchased by the 

Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield for a 400- 

car drive-in. Construction will start about 

March 1, with completion scheduled for May 

15, George Kerasotes, general manager of the 

circuit, said. Kerasotes now operates two 

drive-ins at Decatur, one in Springfield and 

one in Pekin and 16 conventional theatres, 

including the New Home, local 515-seater. 

CENTRAL STATES-- 


Jack Kirsch Duncan Kennedy Alex Manta George Kerasotes 

Dave Wallerstein Edward B. Arthur Marc Wolf 

-^ 

k-'ri 

Elmer C. Rhoden 

Glen Dickinson Jay Wooten Jack D. Braunagel R. B. Biechele 

CHICAGO—Exhibitor state chairman for the Council of Motion Picture 

Organizations-sponsored campaign for repeal of the 20 per cent federal ' 

admisssions tax are pictured above. These men and chairmen from the 

distribution branch of the industry have been meeting with congressmen 

and senators in their respective states in an effort to secure pledges 

of cooperation in seeking outright repeal of the federal admissions levy. ' 

The exhibitors shown represent the following states: j- 

ILLINOIS—Jack Kirsch, Allied Theatres of Illinois, Chicago; Duncan 

Kennedy, Great States Theatres, Chicago; Alex Manta, Manta fe Rose 

circuit, Chicago; George Kerasotes, Kerasotes Theatres, Springfield; 

Dave Wallerstein, Balaban & Katz, Chicago. 

INDIANA—Marc Wolf, general manager, Y&W Theatres, Indianapolis. 

MISSOURI—Edward B. Arthur, Fanchon & Marco, St. Louis; Jack 

| 

D. Braunagel, Commonwealth Theatres, Kansas City; Beverly Miller, 

Kansas City; Elmer C. Rhoden, president, Pox Midwest Amusement Beverly Miller 

Corp., Kansas City. 

KANSAS—Glen Dickinson, Dickinson Operating Co., Mission; JayWooten, Hutchinson; 

R. R. Biechele, Kansas City. 

Also a committee chairman, but not pictured above, is: 

INDIANA—J. R. Pell, Rushville Amusement Co., Rushville, Ind. 

Dave Dallas Renamed 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—Dave Dallas, manager 

of the Campus, Coed, State and Skyvue 

theatres for Midcentral Theatres, has been 

renamed a member of the city planning commission 

for an additional year. The planning 

commission handles zoning regulations and 

rules on unusual or contested building requests. 

It now has six members. 

St. Louis Church to Start 

Series of Sunday Shows 

ST. LOUIS—Tlie parish bulletin of Sunday 

(11) for the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic 

parish, announced that effective January 18, 

the parish would have Sunday afternoon motion 

picture shows with admission rates of 

15 cents for children and 25 cents for adults. 

The program includes a feature and shorts. 

The parish is located in the southwestern 

part of St. Louis, which is served by the Crest, 

Roxy, Granada and Avalon. Recent issues of 

the parish bulletin indicated that some of 

the programs of these theatres didn't meet 

the full approval of the pastor. 


. . . Icy 

ST. LOUIS 

Uarry Arthur, president of Fanchon & Marco, 

was due back from New York . . . 

Rani Pedruccie, feature booker for the Frisina 

Amusement Co.. is in the St. John's hospital, 

Springfield, for correction of a nasal obstruction 

. . . Harry Haas, Paramount manager, 

has gone to New Orleans for a district 

sales meeting. 

Harry Hynes of Universal and his St. Louis 

sales staff planed in from New Orleans to 

be greeted by real winter weather, quite a 

contrast from the 80 degrees enjoyed in the 

Crescent city at the district sales conference 

Leo Keiler, head of the 

on January 5, 6 . . . 

c 

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civJ Rt WG 1W tM RE5 

1220 S. Michigon Chicogo 5, III. 

to' 

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tpt HO EH ct 

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ro 

93 90 EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE 

Within the film industry is available. Everette 

J. Pierce, booker for United Artists, taught 

mathematics and physical education and 

turned out some cla.s.sy Illinois high school 

Columbia Amusement Co., Paducah, is on basketball teams before joining the UA organization 

here. He came here from Oblong, 

the west coast visiting his mother. 

111. 

Jimmy Frisina, buyer, Frisina Amusement 

Co., Springfield, and his family The Missouri Employment Service reports 

have returned to their home in Taylorville that a new employment record for the St. 

from a Florida Christmas holidays vacation. Louis area was set in the last week of November 

and early December when the number of 

.... E.xhibitors seen along Filmrow included 

John Rees, Wellsville, Mo., and Dale Moody, noiiagricultural workers reached 807,900, topping 

the previous set in September 1952 by 

booker, George Barker circuit, Tuscola, 111. 

. . . Joe Lyman, Whitehall exhibitor, is still about 3,500 and 34,900 above the World War 

a patient at a hospital in Jerseyville, 111. Reports 

are not too encouraging. 

streets and unfavorable weather re- 

II peak of 773,000, established in July 1943 

sulted in a postponement of the scheduled 

If the boys and girls along Filmrow are 

meeting of the Amusement Employes Welfare 

fund at the Paramount screening room 

planning basketball teams a competent coach 

from January 7 to January 14. 

Funeral services for Mrs. Irene French 

Thomas McDonald, wife of W. C. "Elmer" 

McDonald, head of the Elmer McDonald III 

Entertainment Agency, a member of the Auxiliary 

of operators Local 143 and of the Cosmo 

Pals, were conducted at the Wacker-Helderle 

chapel January 7. In addition to her 

husband she is survived by a son George. 

The Avalon, LawTenceville, was filled to 

capacity December 30 for the annual free 

show for children. H. E. Stevens, manager 

of the Avalon and State, units of the Frisina 

Amusement Co. circuit, arranged a special 

program that included a feature and several 

cartoons. Tlie Junior Chamber of Commerce 

and the local American Legion post 

cooperated with the theatre in the arrangements 

for the show . . . Icy roads in various 

parts of southern Illinois and eastern Missouri 

made traveling very difficult for film 

salesmen and exchange managers traveling 

out of St. Louis. Herman Gorelick, Realart, 

was in Chicago for a family reunion and 

started his automobile back to St. Louis the 

night of January 5 but got stuck in the snow. 

"SELECT" FOUNTAIN SYRUPS 

DRINK DISPENSERS 

Select Drink Inc. 

4210 W. Florissant Ave. 

Phone 

St. Louis, 15, Mo. 

Mulberry 5289 

CHAIRS 

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REBUILT IN 

THEATRE 

By Experts in Their Field 

Write for Quotations 

Chicago Used Chair Mart 

829 So. State St. Chicago 5 

CANDY - POPCORN - SEASONING 

For THEATRES and DRIVE-INS 

—Send fat Price List— 

o. 

Freight Prepaid on $100.00 or More 

KAYLINE CANDY CO. 

HH 

Si Louis Theatre Supply Company 

Aich Hosier 

3310 Olive SIreel. St. Louis 3, Mo. 

Telephone lEIIerson 7974 

BOXOFHCE 

:: January 17, 1953

. . Ray 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

. . Erwin 

ran into 20-inches of snow at Quincy. Later 

in the week lie and his partner George Phillips 

went to Chicago for a Lippert franchise 

holders gathering. 

Maurice Schweitzer, Allied Artists-Monogram 

manager, planned to visit Carlo, 111., 

Blytheville, Ai-k., and Caruthersville and Maiden, 

Mo., during this week . . . The latest 

word from Maiden, Mo., is that Herman Ferguson 

is making a nice recovery from the 

serious injuries he suffered in an automobile 

accident near that town .several weeks ago 

. . There is plenty of influenza in this and 

. 

other communities. C. D. Hill, Columbia 

manager, was home all week because of an 

attack. Nick O'Brien of Flo-Mar Productions 

also had to stay at home January 10. 

Lester Bona, Warner manager, was fighting 

off a cold as the week opened. 

Patrick Barrett Lewis checked in at St. 

John's hospital here January 5 to delight 

his parents Mi-, and Mi's. Patrick Kenny 

Lewis and to the particular delight of grandfather 

David F. Barrett, film trade reporter. 

Mrs. Lewis is Barrett's daughter and the 

new addition is his ninth grandchild . . 

. 

Warren V. Snider, owner of the Dixon and 

New Dixon in Dixon, Mo., started by automobile 

for the west coast January 11. He will 

spend about a month in Los Angeles because 

of the serious illness of a sister. 

Mrs. J. C. True, a niece of Mrs. John A. 

Walsh, widow of the partner of Flo-Mar 

Productions, is a patient at a local hospital. 

True, who sells pressure sensitive tapes, has 

desk space at the Flo-Mar exchange. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

•Trueman Rembusch was re-elected president 

of Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana at a 

meeting of the board of directors. Marc Wolf 

was named vice-president and Ted Mendels- 

•sohn treasurer. The board decided to hold 

film clinics in Fort Wayne January 27 under 

local chairman Al Borkenstein and in New 

Albany March 24, with Sam Switow as chairman. 

. 

J. V. O'Gara, new Republic eastern district 

sales manager, and Walter L. Titus were 

here calling on exhibitors . . . The Sheridan 

Theatre here has been closed. Recently it 

was operated by Abe Baker of the Baker booking 

concern Thomas, salesman for 

U-I, was home suffering with influenza. 

Exhibitors seen in Filmrow : Harry Van Noy, 

Middletown; William T. Studebaker, Logan, 

Logansport; George Reef, Hippodrome, Sheridan; 

James Ackron, Ritz, Tipton; Vic Burkle, 

Rialto, Fortville; Mrs. Beatrice Hancock, Prewitt, 

Plainfield; R. L. Hudson sr. and Buz 

Miller, State, Richmond. 

The last and most important meeting of the 

year was held in the Variety clubrooms Monday 

(29). For discussion the new quarters 

for Tent 10 will be on the schedule, a new 

charity project, the reactivation of Tent 10, 

a trip to Mexico City and the election of new 

officers. 

'Limelight' in Chicago 

Scored 125 Gross 

CHICAGO—Attendance in first run houses 

thinned out somewhat. While a post-holiday 

lull was anticipated, fog, rain and icy streets 

also kept theatregoers at home. "My Cousin 

Rachel," plus a stage show headed by Sunny 

Gale, at the Chicago, set a bright attendance 

picture. "Thunderbirds" and "Ride the Man 

Down" opened above average at the United 

Artists, and the Roosevelt, with a twin bill 

of "Stop, You're Killing Me" and "Outpost 

in Malaya," did all right. The Oriental had 

little letup in attendance during the thi-eeweek 

run of "Million Dollar Mermaid," but it 

switched to "Above and Beyond." "Stars and 

Stripes Forever" continued to hold a fairly 

steady attendance for three weeks at the 

Palace. 

(Average Is 100) 

Chicago My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox), plus stage 

show .... 120 

Grand Bloodhounds of Broodwoy (20th-Fox); 

Something tor the Birds (20th-Fox) 100 

Carnegie Foce to Foce (RKO), 2nd wk 105 

Oriental Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM), 3rd wk..I15 

Palace Stars ond Stripes Forever (20th-Fox), 3rd 

wk 110 

State-Lake The Sovage (Para); Hurricane Smith 

(Paro) 105 

Roosevelt Stop, You're Killing Me (WB); Outpost 

in Malaya (WB) . I 05 

Surf The Promoter (U-l), 2nd wk 175 

Telenews Tri-Opticon (Capitol), 3rd wk 

Good 

World Ployhouse One Summer of Happiness 

(Teitel), 3rd wk HO 

Woods Limelight (UA) I 25 

Ziegfeld Under the Red Sea (RKO), 3rd wk 100 

Two Holdovers Lead 

Kansas City Grosses 

KANSAS CITY—"The Four Poster" again 

ranked as the top hit here with 225 per cent 

in a third week at the Kimo Theatre. Top 

newcomer last week was "Ruby Gentry," 

which scored 125 at the Orpheum. 

Kimo The Four Poster (Col), 3rd wk 225 

Midland Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM); Desperate 

Missouri 

Search (MGM), 2nd wk 

Cattle Town (WB); No Holds Barred 

110 

(AA) 90 

(20th-Fox) 125 

to Bali (Para), 3rd wk 105 

Orpheum 

Paramount 

Ruby 

Rood 

Gentry 

Tower, Uptown and Granada Pony Soldier {20th- 

Fox); Something for the Birds (20th-Fox) 90 

Vogue The Promoter (U-l), 7th wk 150 

'Million Dollar Mermaid' Paces 

Indianapolis With 150 

INDIANAPOLIS—Boxoffices recorded good 

grosses here, with Loew's heading the parade 

with 150 per cent on "Million Dollar Mermaid." 

"April in Paris" ranked second place 

with 130 at the Circle. 

Circle April in Paris (WB) 130 

Indiana Rood to Bali (Para) 1 00 

Keiths Stars and Stripes Forever (20th-Fox), 

2nd wk 100 

Loew's Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM); Desperate 

Search (MGM), 2nd wk 1 50 

Lyric—Montonna Belle (RKO) 120 

CHICAGO 

Tack Kirsch, president of Allied Theatres of 

Illinois, was in New Orleans attending an 

Allied board meeting . Fensin, head 

of Fensin Seating Co., is recuperating from 

an illness at the Edgewater hospital . . . 

"Above and Beyond," which opened at the 

Oriental January 15, received a double salute 

here last week. A cocktail party was held 

for Robert Taylor, the star, who was on his 

way to appear on the Ed Sullivan show, and a 

day later Eleanor Parker, who appears with 

Taylor as the supporting star, was introduced 

at a luncheon in the Pump room. 

Jerry Pickman, head of publicity for Paramount, 

spent some time in Chicago to discuss 

the testimonial to be accorded Adolph 

Zukor in April. Zukor, who is formerly of 

Chicago, is celebrating his 50th year in the 

film industry. 

The Shore Theatre is celebrating its silver 

anniversary. Highlighting the event is a contest 

which offers free passes to the first 25 

persons naming the first screen attraction at 

the Shore 25 years ago. Anniversary gifts 

presented by the Shore are flowers and gift 

certificates. 

To Build Winona House 

WINONA, MO.—Everett E. Maxfield of 

Summerville, Mo., head of the Shanco Theatres, 

operator of the 150-seat Winona Theatre 

here, has announced plans for a new 200-seat 

theatre. Maxfield decided on a new theatre 

here to offset the competition of the 500-car 

drive-in near Eminence and Bartlett, Mo., 

being constructed by Carter Smalley of Van 

Buren, Ark., and scheduled to open early in 

the spring. Maxfield also operates the Birch 

Tree Theatre, Birch Tree, Eminence Theatre, 

Eminence, and the Lyric, Summersville. 

Robert Arthur has been signed to produce 

Edison Marshall's fictionized biography of 

Lola Montez, "The Infinite Woman," for 

Columbia. 

THE^yTRE EQUIPMENT 

442 N. ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 

"Everything for the Theatre"

. . Harley 

. . John 

. . The 

KANSAS CITY 

Dill Brooker, RKO exploiteer, made one of 

his regular stops in Des Moines to work 

on future releases . . . Catherine Dye, WB 

clerk, was home ill . . . Erma Woods, a member 

of Harman's bowling team, and Elsie Rea, 

Pinton Jones, were among the recent money 

winners in the state bowling tournament at 

Springfield . . . Don Walker. Wai'ner publicist, 

was in St. Louis. 

. . . 

Elmer Bills, Salisbury. Mo., exhibitor, was 

vacationing in Florida . . . The KMTA board 

of directors met Wednesday Dick Biechele 

attended the inaugural ceremonies at 

Topeka January 12 . . H. B. Doering, Peoples, 

. 

Gai-net, is a member of the Kansas legislature, 

which convened Monday (12) . . J. T. 

Goshen. Uptown, Sedalia, Mo., Ben Adams, 

Eldorado, Kas., and Ed Harris, Bandbox, 

Neosho, were among the visiting theatremen 

last week. 

J. K. Neger, 20th-Pox manager here, and 

members of the sales force, returned from a 

regional meeting in Milwaukee . . . Chick 

Evens. 20th-Fox publicity man. made stops 

in Springfield, Mo.. Wichita and Topeka, Kas.. 


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CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

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KANSAS CITY 8, MO- 

Satisfaction — Always 

MISSOURI 

THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 

L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager 

Phone BAllimore 3070 

115 W. 18lb Kansas Cily 6. Mo. 

as part of an extensive campaign for "My 

Pal Gus" . . . Mark Roberts, son of Ward 

Scott, has a part in the film "Taxi." Scott 

was the former 20th-Fox district manager 

here. He retired several years ago. 

Don Davis, RCA theatre equipment division 

manager visited recently with Johnny 

Scott, former RepubUc booker, in Albuquerque. 

Scott is now a salesman for a plastic 

manufacturer there . . . Davis was in St. 

Louis for a few days then preceded to Camden. 

N. J., for the annual RCA convention. 

Bob Shelton. Commonwealth vice-president, 

and Dick Orear. purchasing agent, were 

on a combined business and pleasure trip 

down south. They aie expected back around 

January 20 . . Lucille Cayou, secretary to 

. 

Orear. has resigned, and has been replaced 

by Betty Tanner . 

Tatum was recently 

added to the Commonwealth office 

The Lyric Theatre, Kirksville. Mo.. 

force . . . 

has been sold by Raymond Eitel to John A. 

Mason. 

Ben Marcus and Tom Baldwin were in 

Chicago January 16 and 17 attending a meeting 

of branch and division managers and 

home office representatives. The feature of 

the meeting was a screening of the new Rita 

Hayworth film. "Salome." The picture is 

due for release Easter week . . . Gene Autry. 

Columbia star, was here for a show at the 

Municipal Auditorium January 18 . . Ben 

. 

Marcus and family spent New Year's week in 

Minneapolis. 

. . Joseph 

. 

J. W. Young, bookkeeper at Shreve Theatre 

Supply, has returned to work after a siege 

of illness . . . Paramount tradescreened 

"Come Back. Little Sheba" . . . Glen Dickinson 

sr. was vacationing in Florida . 

Walsh, head of exchange operations for 

Paramount, was due here for a visit Monday 

(19) ... Mrs. Amie Sinclair, secretary to Bob 

Withers at Republic, returned from a New 

York vacation Fryer. Plaza. Lamar, 

Mo., and E. Campbell. Norb, Norborne. 

Mo., were Filmi-ow visitors last week. 

Dickinson Theatres has changed the name 

. 

of its house at Granley. Mo., from the Club to 

Lux . . . The Royal Theatre, Burden. Kas., 

was purchased by Mark Wingert from H. L. 

Evans . . . Bob Brown resigned as a Paramount 

salesman Fiesta has been 

shuttered again. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOFnCE: 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. 

Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE. 52 issues per year (13 of vffhich contain 

The MODERN THEATRE Section). 

D $3.00 FOR 1 YEAR D S5.00 FOR 2 YEARS D S7.00 FOR 3 YEARS 

Remittance Enclosed D Send Invoice 

THEATRE 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN 

NAME 

STATE. 

POSITION 

'Mississippi Gambler' Bows 

At St. Louis Fox Theatre 

ST. LOUIS—With Piper Laurie and JuUa 

Adams, two of the featured players of the 

cast, making per.sonal appearances, "The Mississippi 

Gambler," starring TjTone Power, had 

its world premiere at Fanchon & Marco's 

5.200-seat Fox Theatre here Tuesday (13). 

Also on the stage program for the premiere 

were three recent winners in a nationwide 

beauty contest. These girls were Jackie 

Loughery. Miss U.S.A.: Valerie Jackson, Miss 

Montana, and Ruth Hampton. Mi.ss New Jer- 

.sey. The national radio program. "True or 

False," also was presented from the stage via 

the local outlet KWK. 

In addition to the big premiere at the Fox 

here. "Tlie Mississippi Gambler" has been 

dated for early engagements at 22 cities served 

by the St. Louis film exchange. 47 cities in 

Illinois and in Keokuk. Iowa, and Paducah. 

Ky., between now and February 15. 

Dickinson Circuit Seeks 

Second Airer Permit 

MISSION. KAS.— Dickinson Theatre circuit 

has applied to the Mission township board for 

a permit to coiistruct a 1.000-car drive-in at 

95th and Antioch in Johnson county. Kas.. it 

was revealed this week. 

Glen Dickinson sr.. president of the circuit, 

has just retiu-ned from a three-week trip 

through the Miami and New Orleans areas, 

where he was gathering new ideas for driveins. 

Dickinson said this week that the proposed 

drive-in in Johnson county would have 

a third-dimensional screen. 

Meantime, circuit officials revealed that 

work is continuing at a rapid pace on the new 

Leawood Drive-In. located at 120th and State 

Line. This 1.000-car situation is due to open 

April 1. 

BOWLING 

KANSAS CITY—Film Delivery and the Ritz 

Theatre were tied for first place in the Filmrow 

Men's Bowling league with 43 victories 

and 25 defeats. Jack Stewart rolled a new 

high ten with 245. and the Film Delivery 

star also set a new high 30 mark with 530. 

MGM, an early season leader, faded into 

seventh place after forfeiting eight games, as 

the league reached the season's halfway spot. 

Team Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Film Delivery ...43 25 Commonweoltti .31 37 

Rifl Theotre. . . .43 25 Michocl's 31 37 

Fox Trotters 40 28 MGM 28 40 

Fox All Stars. .. .34 34 Scrcenland 22 46 

KANSAS CITY—The Finton Jones keglers 

tightened their grip on first place in the 

Filmrow Women's Bowling league with 35 

triumphs and 16 losses. The Continentals 

and Bureaucrats were locked in a second 

place tie, each with 31 and 20. 

Teom Won Lost Tcom Won Lost 

. .. 

Finton Jones 35 16 Monlcy's 

Foxy 

22 

21 

29 

30 

Confinentols 

Burcouerots 

.31 

31 

20 

20 

Five 

U-l 21 30 

Hortman's 28 23 Columbia IS 36 

PDCHT \II[PT[DM 

STAGE EQUIPMENT C OMPANY 

UIILHI flLUILim, 

rVCRTTHINC FOR THC STACt • AUDITORIUM • LI 

BOX CFFlCC • 1324 Grand Ave, Ksn«a« City 6, Mo 

56 

BOXOFFICE 

:: January 17, 1953

'Mississippi' Debut 

Aids Variety Home 

MEMPHIS—Patrons mingled with film 

People paid as much as $100 a seat for 

stars. 

a motion picture and the Variety Club's campaign 

for funds to build a Home for Convalescent 

Children got a shot in the arm. 

That just about told the story of the premiere 

January 14 at Malco Theatre of the 

picture, "Mississippi Gambler." All proceeds 

went to the children's home fund. Admission 

was by contribution. A $100 gift called 

for a seat near the film stars. 

to get in was $5. 

Minimum gift 

Julia Adams, Piper Laurie and Valerie 

Jackson, who have parts in the picture, were 

there in person. 

Valerie said Jeff Chandler had always been 

her favorite star. "And now he eats lunch 

with us," she said dreamily. "And he calls 

everybody by name." 

Miss Laurie was asked if experienced actors 

like Tyrone Power helped youngsters like 

herself along. 

"Some pretend to help you because it looks 

good," she said. "But Mr. Power is exceptional. 

He helped me when people were not aware 

of it as well as when they were." 

She was speaking of the picture, "Mississippi 

Gambler," in which Miss Laurie and 

Miss Adams star with Power. 

M. A. Lightman sr., president of Malco 

Theatres, and Dick Settoon, branch manager. 

Universal, arranged for the premiere for Variety's 

fund. 

FEDERAL TAX REPEAL 

SOUTHEASTERN STATES 

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN 

Richard M. Kennedy Jack Bomar Sam Kirby Lamar Sarra 

i 

Home Owners Win Fight 

In Rezoning for Airer 

TAMPA, FLA.—Home owners have won a 

second round in their fight to prevent the 

construction of a drive-in on Dale Mabry 

highway. A rezoning petition by S. E. Britton, 

which would have permitted him to construct 

a theatre on the tract, was rejected 

by the county commissioners. Residents opposed 

the ozoner on the grounds the traffic, 

noise and lights would depreciate the value 

of their homes and become a hazard to the 

neighborhood. 

Britton claims to have invested about $50,- 

000 in the theatre venture for the site and 

equipment during an interval when it was 

rezoned for commercial, then rescinded when 

residents protested. He has also taken another 

drive-in decision by the commissioners 

to court. This concerns the rezoning of an 

area on 40th street at East Broadway. A 

theatre is now under construction there, 

started last summer under a zoning permit 

approved by the commissioners. Now four 

property owners declare it to be illegal be- 

registered notices had not been mailed 

cau.se 

to them as required by law. 

Lloyd Binford Is 111 

MEMPHIS—111 With a virus infection, Lloyd 

T. Binford, chairman of board of censors, has 

entered Baptist hospital at Memphis. Binford 

is 86. Visitors are not permitted. 

Plan Airer at Indian Rocks, Fla. 

TAMPA. FLA.—Mrs. Sarah Higginbotham, 

a well-known businesswoman, will erect a 

drive-in at Indian Rocks.

Theatreman 'Heck' Everett Named 

Charlottes Man of the Year 

CHARLOTTE—H. H, Everett, head of the 

Everett Enterprises circuit of theatres many 

years, has been named Charlotte's Man of 

the Year for 1952 in 

recognition of unselfish 

work on behalf of this 

community. The 

honor, initiated in 1944 

by the Charlotte News, 

is made annually by a 

board consisting of 

Tliomas L. Robinson, 

J. E. Dottd and B. S. 

Griffith, executives of 

the News, and Men of 

the Year of former 

years. 

Everett 

H. H. Everett 

is the ninth 

Charlotte leader to receive the honor. The 

board in selecting the theatreman and civic 

leader asserted: 

"The choice was easy to make. Mr. Everett 

probably has devoted more time to unselfish 

work on behalf of his community than any 

other Charlottean. Yet, thi-ough it all, he 

has continued to be one of the city's sincerely 

humble men." 

Several years ago Everett disposed of many 

duties in the operation of his circuit of 

nearly two score theatres when he turned over 

the circuit operation to Stewart Theatres, 

Inc., formed by Worth Stewart, longtime 

general manager of Everett Enterprises and 

associate of Everett. 

The Charlotte News, in an article announcing 

the selection, related that Everett was a 

leader in the drive to merge many fundraising 

campaigns into one solicitation and 

became the first president of the United Community 

Services, parent organization of the 

United Appeal. At the same time, he served 

as president of the Chamber of Commerce, 

leading that organization m an intensified 

program of getting new industrial and commercial 

firms moved to Charlotte. 

At the same time, he became a trustee of 

Queens college and in less than two months 

was elected chairman of the board of trustees. 

At the same time, he spent many hours of 

work being a leader of a new church. Trinity 

Presbyterian, and directing its initial building 

program a-s chairman of its building committee. 

And he continued to work on behalf of 

civic projects through the Lions club and the 

Variety Club. He also devoted much time to 

being president of the Myers Park Country 

club, though members of the selecting board 

for the Man of the Yeai- pointed out that 

"Heck" Everett had never let social activities 

take him away from community-wide projects. 

The selecting board stressed that it makes 

its clioice not on an accumulation of a man's 

accomplishments over a period of years but 

on the service rendered the community during 

the single preceding year. 

"But Everett, like other Men of the Year, 

has been a consistent civic leader for a 

number of years," the News related. "He was, 

for instance, one of the founders of the Charlotte 

Variety Club, which has carried out such 

projects as the financing of a children's 

diagnostic clinic at Memorial hospital. Another 

example: As an officer in the Lions club, 

he was one of the leaders in the organization's 

establishment of Freedom Park, Charlotte's 

largest recreational area. 

"Another example: He was president of the 

Chamber of Commerce in 1951. 

"But 1952 was Everett's busiest in community-betterment 

work. His activities 

touched the fields of industry and commerce, 

social work, religion and higher education, 

among others. 

"He served another year as president ol the 

Cliamber of Commerce. He regrouped the 

chamber's important committees, giving two 

vice-presidents more direct responsibility over 

specific projects. He intensified the chamber's 

efforts to gain new industrial plants for 

Charlotte, and he spent many hours meeting 

with and entertaining visiting company officials. 

"In a brief period, the chamber was instrumental 

in perfecting the plan for the Celanese 

rii 

The Behoi Card Co. 

We Supply More Window Cards, 

Programs and Heralds 

To the Exhibitor Than Any Other Printer in the South! 

Corp's huge office and laboratory building off 

Park road; Ford's parts depot on Wilkinson 

boulevard; Reichhold Chemical's big installation 

on Pineville road ; Southern Dairies' new 

headquarters in the northern part of the city. 

"But Mr. Everett did not exclude other matters 

while concentrating on industrial expansion. 

He led the chamber in taking an unprecedented 

interest in local governmental 

affairs. 

"Under his leadership, for instance, the 

chamber assigned a committee to study the 

municipal budget and make recommendations 

before the city tax rate was fixed. Under 

his leadership, the chamber show-ed its concern 

over improved public facilities here by 

endorsing all the local bond issues and urging 

citizens to vote for them. 

"Most spectacular Everett enterprise in 1952. 

however, was in the field of money-raising 

campaigns. He championed an expert review 

of solicitations, directed a committee to search 

for a way of cutting out the multiplicity of 

campaigns, and brought into focus the need 

for united action . 

"Beginning in February, and extending over 

most of the year, he worked closely with the 

mayor's .special study committee, which resulted 

in the forming of the United Community 

Services. 

"This was slow and tedious work, requiring 

care in dealing with each charitable organization, 

and associates say Mi-. Everett's diplomacy 

was outstanding. More than 20 agencies 

joined the United Community Services. 

"But he didn't confine himself to citywide 

activities. He showed the same kind of initiative 

and leadership in the forming of a new 

Presbyterian church which already shows 

signs of becoming one of the most active in 

the Mecklenburg Pi-esbytery. 

"He was one of the comparative few who 

organized the Trinity church, and became one 

of its first elders. The first year's budget was 

only $12,400. and the congregation held its 

services in the Belk chapel of Queens college 

while starting plans for building its own 

building. It was Mr. Everett who reminded 

his associates that many other churches, in 

their formative years, concentrated so thoroughly 

on their own problems that they spent 

only small percentages of their budgets for 

benevolent causes. 

"Impressed by his arguments. Mi-. Everett's 

fellows agreed to double the church budget 

for the second year, and earmark half of the 

total for benevolent causes. One result: In 

the Mecklenbiu-g Presbytery's campaign to 

raise money for a new seminary, the church 

making tlie largest gift per capita ($64) was 

the Ti-inity, $16 more per capita than the second 

largest contribution. 

"As the year ended, Mr. Everett was busy 

as chairman of Ti-inity's building committee, 

directing plans for construction of three buildings 

on a 22-acre tract off Providence road." 

THERE MUST BE A REASON 

BENSON, N. C. PHONE 307-1 

Chill Wills will make appearance in U-I 

films aside from the talking mule series. He 

formerly played the role of the voice of 

"Fi'ancis." 

TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY CO 

320 S. 2nd St. 

Memphis, Tennessee 





58 

BOXOFnCE :: January 17, 1953

. . Variety 

MEMPHIS 

TX7 R. Tutt has purchased the Booth Theatre 

at Hollendale, Miss., from W. H. 

Booth. He will book and buy in Memphis. 

. . . R. R. Clemmons, who owns the Missouri 

in Palmer, Mo., left on a ten-day business 

trip . . . Grover Wray, Exhibitor.s Services, 

made a trip to El Dorado, Ark., and Shreveport. 

La. . . . Van Hill, Universal publicist, 

was in town on "Mississippi Gambler" this 

week . . . The Better Films Council gave 

a luncheon for Piper Laurie, young Hollywood 

star. 

. 

Margaret Wood, assistant cashier at 20th- 

Fox. and Gordon Keiier of the marines were 

married in a Filmrow romance . . . Patricia 

Hale resigned as 20th-Fox stenographer and 

telephone operator announced 

a Filmrow get-together at the clubrooms January 

31 for all employes of the motion picture 

industry. Milton Ratcliff. Floyd Harvey, 

Tony Tedesco, Earl Hartzog and G. L. Brandon 

are serving on the entertainment committee. 

N. B. Fair of the Fair, Somerville; Paul 

Harrington, Ruffin Amusements Co., Covington: 

Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; . F. "Steve" 

Stein, operator of Met and Met-N-Mov Drivein, 

Jackson; G. M. Goff, Rustic, Parsons and 

M. E. Rice, Brownsville, were among west 

Tennessee exhibitors on the Row. 

Mrs. Annie Effie Jobe Lester, widow of the 

late John T. Lester, owner Of Park Theatre 

here, died at the age of 64. Her son Reuben 

John now operates the Park . . . Evelynn 

Hammonds, manager's secretary, was elected 

president of 20th-Fox Family club; Mary 

Francis Rygaard was elected vice-president, 

Jean Bradley secretary and Beverly Graig 

treasurer . . . Lorraine Burrus has been named 

student booker at 20th -Fox to succeed Al 

Ferryman. 

Exhibitors visiting from Mississippi included 

Jesse Moore, Ritz, Crenshaw; Mrs. J. C. Noble, 

Temple, Leland; R. B. Cox, Batesville and 

Eiu-eka, Batesville; Leon Roundtree, Holly, 

Holly Springs; J. A. Thornton, Bruce, Bruce; 

and L. W. Green, Green, Jonestown. 

From Arkansas came J. T. James, James, 

Cotton Plant; Douglass Pierce, Rand, Pocahontas; 

Moses Sliman, Lux, Lurora; J. W. 

Parham, Harlem, FoiTest City; Lloyd Hutchins, 

Center, Kensett; and William Elias, Murr, 

Osceola . . . The Lake Drive-In, Waverly, 

Tenn.; Sundown Drive-In, Paris, Term.; 45 

Drive-In, Boonville, Miss., and Laco Drive-In, 

Lexington, Tenn., closed for the balance of 

the winter. 

. . . 

J, T. Hitt has closed his Park Theatre in 

Bentonville, Ark., indefinitely . . . B. C. Rager 

has closed the Sherrill (Ark.) Theatre 

Thurman A. Shillings has closed his Palestine 

Theatre at Danville, Ai-k., for about ten 

days for remodeling. 

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Fast Flying For Thunderbirds Print 

Makes Possible Special Showing 

Taking part in the rapid air transportation of prints of Republic's "Thunderbirds" 

were these airmen shown above with the cans of film. The photo was niadc 

at Malcolm McKinnon airport on St. Simons island, just outside Brunswick, Ga. 

The film, which had been borrowed for a special screening at Savannah, was flown 

to Brunswick for showing at the local theatre. Above, with the airmen, is B. F. 

McCullough, manager of the Ritz Theatre, Brunswick. Others in the photo, front 

row, left to right: Thomas C. Champion jr., Elton F. Hinson. Durward B. Mills 

and George J, Bruce, all of the Georgia national guard. Back row: Sgt. C. T. Hires, 

Glynn county police department; Lieut. Col. Walter M. Armistead, Capt, Philip E. 

Coleman, Maj, Carl H. Griffin and McCullough. 

ATLANTA—A preview showing of Republic's 

"Thunderbirds" was arranged for the 

Avon Theatre, Savannah, by local units of the 

Georgia national guard on short notice for 

Friday (9) for staff officers, members of the 

press and radio and prominent businessmen 

and city officials. 

When the date was submitted to the 

Named Red Cross Chairm'n 

TROY, ALA.—Jimmy Gaylard, operator of 

the Starlite Drive-In, has been appointed 

chairman of the annual fund campaign for 

the Pike county chapter of the American 

Red Cross. 

Purchase Dania Ozoner 

DANIA, FLA.—George Koeliker and George 

D. Hertner, formerly of Cleveland, have purchased 

the Dania Drive-In. The theatre will 

be managed by John T. Woodward. 

Polio is a menace oil must fight. Give your patrons 

chance to contribute. 

Atlanta branch of Republic, it developed that 

every print was booked solid and it was impossible 

to secure the loan of a print from 

any other branch. 

Lieut. Col. Homer PljTin and Capt. Douglas 

Embry, public information officers, attached 

to the adjutant general's headquarters 

in Atlanta, were then called in to try 

and solve the problem. When Colonel Plynn 

indicated that they would fly the print to 

Savannah and its next destination, if necessary, 

he and Republic Manager Ed Brauer 

got their heads together and commandeered 

a print scheduled for immediate shipment to 

the Ritz Theatre, Brunswick, Ga. 

Arrangements were made for the Georgia 

Peach, C-47 assigned to Gen. Ernest Vandiver, 

to fly the print to Savannah, where it 

arrived at 7 p. m. Thursday. 

The screening was held on schedule at the 

Avon at 9 a. m. Friday and the picture came 

off the screen at 10:50 a. m. 

Maj. William Kelley, commanding officer 

at Travis field, then drove the print to 

Travis field where it was placed on a fighter 

plane assigned to the 158th fighter interceptor 

squadron, which took off for Brunswick, 

Ga., arriving at 11:40 a. m. The plane 

was met at the Brunswick airport by an 

escort from the 121st infantry regiment and 

rushed to the Ritz Theatre, where it was 

on the screen at 12:15 p. m. 

The arrival in Brunswick, as well as Savannah, 

was covered by news reporters and 

photographers and resulted in some excellent 

newspaper stories. 

Also, in Savannah at the preview, Lieut. 

Col. Flynn made a very Inspiring address 

to a gathering of more than 100, concerning 

the activities of the citizen soldiers during 

peace and war, which is so well depicted in 

Republic's "Thunderbirds." 

JACK POT 

QUIZ NITE 

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years. It is legal, and definitely not a lottery. 

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who are successfully using our plan. Equally good 

in conventional and drive-in theatres. 

Patronage Builders, 

p. O. BOX 1442 

Atlonta 

Inc. 

223 So. Liberty St. 

New Orleans, La. 


HART BEATS 

IN 

By HARRY HART 

DOB MOSCOW of the Rialto Theatre. Atlanta, 

wrote Ted Toddy of Toddy Pictures 

one of the nicest letters I've seen in a 

long time. Moscow said he had to hold over 

"The Devil in the Flesh.", which Toddy dis- 

HTJBERT M. LYONS 

tributes, the week before Christmas and that 

the picture was the second highest in gross of 

any film played at the Rialto during 1952. 

Mo.scow was high in praise of the film and of 

the advertising that Toddy set up for him. 

Fred Storey of Storey Theatres is closing 

the DeKalb Theatre in Decatur. Ga., and has 

installed a Synchro-Screen in the Decatur 

Theatre. He has made many improvements 

in the theatre since the firm took over operation 

of the sub run house in Atlanta and 

Decatur. Wil-Kin Theatre has transferred 

Jack Hunt from Tennessee to the Alabama 

territory and has placed Paul Jenkins in the 

Tennes.see area. 

« « * 

Martin Theatres of Florida has acquired 

all seven of the theatres in Panama City, 

Chipley and Marianna, Fla. Rufus Davis, 

former partner with Martin, acquired the 

Dothan, Ala., houses and drive-ins and will 

operate them. Marion Adams will manage 

the Isle of View Drive-In at Panama City for 

Martin. Darnell Hartzog is managing the 

Panama in Panama City. 

The city of Piedmont, Ala., has repealed its 

ordinance against Sunday motion picture 

shows. Hap Barnes of ABC Theatrical Enterprises, 

has returned from a trip to Miami 

and this week was on a trip to New Orleans. 

CUff Wilson of ABC said the firm will book 

for the new Skyway Drive-In being built 

at 'Valdosta, Ga., by J. D. Brown. The airer 

is expected to open March 1 and will accommodate 

300 cai-s. It is being equipped by Dixie 

Theatre Suply & Service Co.' of Albany, Ga. 

• • • 

Hubert M, Lyons is in charge of the In- 

ATLANTA 

ternational Film Export Releasing Corp. offices 

which have just been opened at 115 Walton 

St., Atlanta, Ga. The Atlanta office will 

cover the southeast, southw-est and midwest 

area and will eventually employ five or six 

salesmen. Lyons has been with RKO for the 

last 26 years and before that was with Robinson 

Cole and was salesman for the original 

franchise owners for First National Pictures. 

Lyons also has experience as an exhibitor. He 

was with W. F. Cralle, who opened the second 

theatre in Norfolk, Va. 

Lyons' duties will take him to all of the 

territory of the southeast, southwest and midwest. 

Bernard Jacon, vice-persident and 

general manager of IFE. reported several picture 

dates have been made. 

* * « 

Harry Dennis is building a 600-car drive-in, 

named the Bon Air. at Augusta, Ga. The airer 

wil be equipped by Ballantyne and in addition 

to the 600-car capacity, will have seating 

for 1.500 persons. It is planned to show circiLs 

acts between features. A stage is being constructed 

for stage shows and an extensive 

kiddyland is being installed. The airer is expected 

to open about Feburary 15. It is located 

on the Wrightsboro road. 

Toddy Pictures is releasing "Killers All," 

film on gangland activities with a lecture 

from the stage by C. Wiley Stanley. Spence 

Pierce, general manager of the Family, Knoxville, 

and Skyway Drive-In, stopped off here 

on his way to New Orleans on vacation. 

• • « 

Charley Clark of Jackpot Quiz night made 

a business trip through Tennessee. The Capital 

City Supply Co. furnished some equipment for 

the 300-car drive-in, named the Four Lane, 

at Murfreesboro, Tenn., which is being built 

by Hamacker & Hickson. The new airer is expected 

to open about March 15. 

George Head said that his New Year's eve 

show broke all records at the Civic building 

in Gainesville, Ga. 

Garden Ozoner Purchased 

ST. PETERSBURG. FLA.—The Garden 

Drive-In is now operated under new management. 

Mark S. Cummins and J. E Jackson 

have bought out the mterest of James C. 

Mensen. 

Improvements at Largo 

LARGO. FTjA.—A number of improvements 

have been completed at tlie Largo Tlieatre. 

In the lobby and office a new red and white 

rubber tile floor was laid. George Parsells 

is manager. 

Roxy Theatre Is Remodeled 

MADISON. FLA.— Mr. and Mrs. L. R. 

Woodard have remodeled their Roxy Theatre 

at Greenville, lengthening it 18 feet and laying 

a new roof. The theatre has a seating 

capacity of 425. 

To Build at Fort Lauderdale 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Sal Aragoma 

of Jackson\ ille, N. C, has started construction 

of a 650-car airer here, named the Starlight. 

It will have a stage for in-person shows 

and a supplementary screen for three-dimensional 

films. Aragoma owns a chain of driveins 

in North Carolina. 

Appoint Carlton Bowden Manager 

BARTOW, FLA.—Carlton Bowden of Lakeland 

has been appointed manager of the Ritz 

Theatre, a Florida State unit. He replaces 

P. G. Bailey, transferred to Fort Myers. Bowden 

and his wife will occupy the apartment 

above the theatre. 

U-I Borrows Steve Cochran 

Steve Cochran has been borrowed from 

Warners for the male topline in the Universal 

film, "Back to God's Country," a James 

Oliver Curwood story. 

EMPLOYES BECOME PARTNERS—W. .A. Hodges of the Hodges Theatre 

Supply Co. in New Orleans has sold 45 per cent of the company stock to employes, 

retaining 55 per cent himself. The transfer was effective January J. Hodges Supply 

is Motiograph distributor and also has a complete line of concession and theatre 

sound and servicing equipment. The stockholders are shown aliove, left to right: 

Myma Posey, secretary; H. J. Ballam, sound engineer; W. A. Hodges, president; 

Paul German, sales engineer, and Joseph Faia, city salesman. 

GO BOXorncE January 17, 1953

Bernstein to Build 

Opa Locka Drive-In 

OPA LOCKA, FLA.—Despite warnings from 

the marine air station that the location of a 

drive-in here would make it a potential hazard 

to patrons, the city council approved 

plans by Bernstein Theatres to build an airer 

within 2,000 feet of a jet runway. 

At a recent city council meeting, when 

Mayor Frank Slade asked for a showing of 

hands, 27 residents voted against and only 

12 voted approval. However, the five councilmen 

refused to rescind their earlier okay. 

Marine officials at the meeting were obviously 

disappointed at the outcome, but the councilmen 

asserted no evidence had been presented 

to show the chosen site was more dangerous 

than at any other spot in Opa Locka. 

Maj. John Barnett, station legal officer, 

admitted that the community was a "hot 

spot" because of the many planes flying in 

the area. He also contended the screen might 

be 2,000 feet away but some of the 800 cars 

in the ozoner would be within 900 feet of the 

runway. Maximum safety is 750 feet. Herbert 

Linde, a Pan American airline dispatcher, 

who resides here, said he had looked over the 

proposed site, and that. "I wouldn't send my 

kids there— it's too dangerous!" 

Prior to the meeting Mayor Slade said: 

"I'd give anything if this hadn't come up; 

but if the council votes in favor of the theatre, 

I'll issue a permit. Sometimes I shiver 

when planes go over my house and rattle 

the dishes in the shelves." Slade said the 

marines were in the clear, having made their 

protest. 

Drive-In to Part-Time Week 

HARTSELLE, ALA.—The Ranch Drive-In 

operate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

will 

nights for the remainder of the winter. 

Owner Hubert Mitchell said the full week 

schedule will be resumed in the spring. 

JACKSONVILLE 

Wisitors on Pilmrow included John Sutton, 

Vogue, Orlando; J. N. Wells, Wells, Kingsland. 

Ga.; William Lee, Community Drive-In, 

Key.stone Heights; Carl Floyd, Bob Dougherty 

and Joe Thrift, Lakeland; Mr. and Mrs. 

H. A. Dale, Lake, Lake Butler; C. L. Jackson, 

Woodbine. Woodbine, Ga.; George Stonaris, 

Dreka. DeLand and J. R. Partlow, Prairie 

Lake Drive-In. Altamonte Springs . . . MGM 

invited the press, radio and clergy to a private 

.showing of "The Hoaxters" . . . Columbia 

office manager Ernest Pelegrim was in the 

hospital for a check-up. 

Joan Smyth has announced her engagement 

to Ai-thur Sterritte . . . Mrs. Olive Selber 

resigned to move to Cherry Point. N. C. 

where her marine husband now is stationed 

. . . Alice Williams is a contract clerk, and 

Jack Flood 

Terry Wagner is a new biller . . . 

has resigned as salesman. 

Anita McDaniel of the 20th-Pox ofice returned 

from Indiana . . . Kenneth Jackson, 

cashier and office manager, went to Atlanta 

becau.se of the death of his mother-in-law. 

Upon his return, Jackson was out of the office 

for a week because of virus. 

1 5) five were ill with the virus—Kay 

Monday 

Tutten, 

secretary to T. P. Tidwell, manager; Evelyn 

Carter, booker; Madeline Farr, clerk; Kenneth 

Jackson and Cliff Hardin . . Malcolm 

. 

Baugh, head shipper, has returned to the 

office after being hospitalized. 

Florida State Theatres' annual Christmas 

party was a happy affair, held in the American 

Legion hall, South Jacksonville. More 

than 400 employes and friends of the various 

motion picture distributing companies attended. 

Party arrangements, decorations and 

the buffet supper preparations were all 

handled by committees of Florida State employes. 

Tri-Opticon Chicago Bow 

Is Boxoffice Success 

CHICAGO—The Trl-Opticon three-dimension 

film program world-premiered at the 

Telenews Theatre Christmas day, with a 

single day's gross equaling the house's full 

week average. Tri-Opticon was expected to 

turn in the biggest week in the 13-year history 

of the 600-seat Loop house. 

The initial program consisted of five short 

subjects, running approximately an hour. 

Distribution is being handled by Max Roth, 

headquartering here, for the central states. 

Tii-Opticon is delivered to the theatre In a 

four-part package, consisting of a metalized 

screen, the film, a coupling device for interlocking 

the projectors and polaroid glasses. 

Tri-Opticon furnishes permanent glasses instead 

of cardboard throwaways. 

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Al Saunders Adds New Equipment 

BONIFAY, FLA.—Al Saunders has installed 

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Al's Drive-In here. 

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Women Assistanf 

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Superior, Claughton Chain Finds 

MIAMI — "Any disadvantage in having a 

young woman as an assistant manager of a 

theatre," said A. W. Corbett, general manager 

of the Claughton circuit, "we have found is 

far outweighed by the advantages." Proof of 

this policy is that the circuit, here in Miami, 

can point with pride to two young women 

who have more than proved their worth in 

these unusual capacities. For some time 

a third girl has been assistant at the Circle, 

resigning recently due to personal re.sponsibilities 

elsewhere. 

has given the idea enough trial 

The cij-cuit 

to feel no hesitation in training other girls 

to these positions as the opportunity presents. 

Mrs. Lynn Bevan has been assistant manager 

at the Normandy for a long time. Forced 

to leave her job for a time due to illness 

in her family, she has been back on the job 

for some weeks and has found the "second 

try much easier" because of the earlier experience 

and "knowing just what to expect." 

In fact Manager Wayne Rogers had to 

leave Mrs. Bevan in complete charge just 

two days after her return, since he was called 

to do some pinch-hitting for a vacationing 

manager. Rogers said he had no qualms at 

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all and everything wont beautifully. Mrs. 

Bevan learned her job from .scratch, beginning 

as cashier. 

Mrs, Virginia Hooks started out as cashier 

at the Roosevelt Theatre, one of the show 

liouses on Miami Beach. She was advanced 

to assistant manager (second time in the 

Roosevelt's history that the assistant was 

feminine gender). 

Due to Mrs. Hooks' training and ability, she 

has lately been advanced to the main office 

as assistant in the auditing department. 

"The whole thing began as an experiment," 

Corbett says, "but has so far worked out with 

entire success." The idea seemed logical 

since women are supposed to have the housekeeper 

instinct, and the management of a 

theatre is very largely one of housekeeping. 

It is certainly of paramount importance, Corbett 

pointed out, to see that orderliness and 

cleanliness prevail throughout any theatre, 

and to make sure that expensive furnishings 

are well taken care of. A woman assistant 

should be able to be of enormous help to a 

manager by keeping a housekeeping eye on 

such matters. 

That a certain amount of heavy work 

could not be done by a woman was a natural 

objection. In practice, however, as Corbett 

said, the disadvantage has been far outweighed 

by advantage. No opposition now is 

advanced by managers, most of whom are 

sold, as Rogers is at the Normandy, on how 

practical the arrangement can be. 

Women are notoriously ingenious at getting 

difficult household jobs done, and their 

ability along these lines works as well in 

a theatre job as at home. 

Another advantage with a woman assistant 

manager. Corbett explained, was in filling in 

in other jobs in the absence of various staff 

members such as cashiers or candy counter 

girls. Theatre patrons expect to find girls 

in such positions, and therefore the feminine 

assistant fits into these temporary places 

without making it appear that normal procedure 

has been interrupted. 

The feminine assistant, usually having 

been a cashier, also has the great advantage 

of already knowing much of the theatre's 

routine when she is stepped up to the higher 

position. The ordinary usher, on the other 

hand, has not had the opportunity to learn 

nearly so much of the routine which automatically 

is picked up tlu-ough the boxoffice. 

Women, also, are inherently concious of 

personal appearance, and can usually be 

counted upon to present a well-groomed and 

attractive appearance, most important as a 

representative of the theatre. 

Girls as ushers? No, says Corbett, this 

does not prove successful. But young women 

of 20, or older, have proved that they can 

hold an assistant manager's job and command 

respect for their authority. In view of 

present satisfaction with the policy, the circuit 

will continue to train other girls whenever 

possible. 

Holiciay Tracie in Detroit 

Proves Best in Years 

From Mideast Edition 

DETROIT—Holiday business continued to 

please local showmen, with New Year's eve 

volume running as much as 50 per cent above 

a year ago in major downtown houses. The 

crowds came early and were very orderly. 

Prices generally went up from 95 cents to 

the $1.25 level at downtowTi first runs about 

5 p. m. and brisk trade was enjoyed all evening. 

The holiday week itself was said to be the 

best for the year-end holidays in at least 

three years. One significant factor was 

the presence of several strong pictures at 

one time. Analysis of business in recent 

months indicates that while one good boxoffice 

attraction can bring in spotty business, 

it may mean a poor week on the average. 

On the other hand, the availability of 

several strong choices at a time multiplies 

the crowd coming downtown for a show, offering 

them a second choice if the lineup 

is too long at the first. 

Experience with the encouraging New 

Year's week boom is too brief to indicate 

whether show business has actually turned 

the grade and may be moving upwards once 

more. Weather conditions, for instance, may 

have been a significant factor compared with 

heavy snows a year ago. 

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62 


. . Danny 

MIAMI 

llmong Miami Beach visitors were Bill 

Sully, Universal executive ; Joe Sider, New 

York theatre chain operator, and Harry Seed, 

Gloria Swanson 

Warner Chicago office . . . 

was appearing in a legitimate play, "20th 

Century," in the Hollywood Playhouse . . . 

Esther Williams, who is to make a picture in 

Cypress Gardens, was expected here to attend 

the big Cole of California show, a benefit 

being put on by the women's committee 

of 

Variety. 

A theatre manager who frequently runs 

the films which play the art houses in New 

York, suggested to George Bourke that he 

run a daily list in his amusement column of 

art fare currently on tap. Bourke thinks the 

idea impractical for two rea.sons. There is 

the difficulty of determining just what constitutes 

an art film. Also there are many 

fine pictures of American origin, he says. 

Trouble brewing between Bing Crosby and 

Albert Pick, national hotel supply industrialist 

and local resident, was facetiously predicted 

recently. Both are vice-presidents of 

the Biscayne Bay, Atlantic & Gulf railroad, 

with Crosby in charge of section gangs and 

Pick just appointed in charge of picks and 

shovels. Rivalry between these two figures 

probably will be resolved since the railroad 

in question is the miniature train on which 

children are taken rides at Crandon park 

on Biscayne Key. It is the world's largest 

narrow-gauge scenic railroad. 

Claughton's latest free show for children 

was the Saturday matinee at the neighborhood 

Circle. Popsickles and candy were given 

away, plus a stage act, action thriller on the 

screen, and cartoons. Admission was free 

until 1 p. m. . Kaye stops over in 

Boca Raton for a rest after a session at the 

Mayo clinic. Advance sale for his forthcoming 

Palace Theatre engagement is reported 

at a quarter of a million dollars. 

Jack Bell addressed a paragraph of his 

daily column to Joseph Schenck. 20th-Fox 

e.\ecutive. visiting his brother Nicholas here. 

Bell informed Schenck that localities are trying 

to make a short on the Variety Children's 

hospital In order to raise money to build a 

new wing, and wonders if Schenck would care 

to lend a little help . . . The Flagler Theatre 

continues its policy of burlesque on stage, and 

feature picture cartoon and news on the 

screen. A story landed in a newspaper when 

one of the performers was hailed before 


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ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists 

3305 Caruth. Dallas, Texas 

Telephones: EM 0238 - EM 74S9 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE 

INVITED 

authorities for not wearing sufficient costume 

to meet the city's new ordinance on stage 

attire. 

Walter Klements .scheduled another late 

evening premiere, publicizing the film's name, 

"Castle in the Air," for the Mayfair Art Theatre, 

where "The Four Poster" is now in its 

third week. 

Dick Jernigan and his assistant Charles 

Tritton at Bernstein's Little River Theatre 

are putting on a really energetic campaign 

for stimulation of busine.ss at this neighborhood. 

They spend an hour or so a day on 

the telephone, calling numbers at random of 

residents within a certain radius of the theatre. 

If the person called can name the picture 

currently playing the Little River, he receives 

two passes. The idea work.s out fine, 

they say. and has helped to widen the area 

from which patronage is drawn. 

Accomplishments of Variety Clubs International 

in doing "good works for children" 

was the subject reviewed by William S. Mc- 

Craw. executive director, at the Miami Variety 

Club installation dinner at the Lord Tarleton 

hotel. McCraw. a Dallas resident, told how 

the 40 Variety tents to which show people 

belong, are sponsoring the operations of hospitals, 

boys ranches, homes, clinics and other 

aids to children. Toastmaster for the occasion 

was George C. Hoover, first assistant 

international chief barker. Installed by the 

local tent were Edward J. Melniker. chief 

barker; Hal Kopplin and Sonny Shepherd, 

first and second assistants; S. K. Bronstein. 

dough guy; William Dock, property master, 

and crew members Alfred F. Wei.ss, Jacob 

Sher. William Pecks, Sid White, Rajah Raboid 

and Dan Fitch. A dance and floor 

show completed the evening. 

After all the agitation among show people 

here about the poor chances of live theatre 

in south Florida, this season finds a sudden 

flood of legitimate shows scheduled. Among 

productions are those of the Miami Beach 

Little Theatre Group, the Wagonwheel Group 

at Miami Springs, the Music Circus in Miami, 

Gloria Swanson in a tent show in Hollywood, 

"South Pacific" at the Dade county 

auditorium for 15 performances. University 

Ring Theatre, operetta and drama scheduled 

for the Miami Beach auditorium, vaudeville 

at the Olympia, burlesque at the Flagler, American-Yiddish 

shows at the Cameo and the 

Plaza. Other productions are scheduled for 

February. 

Edward Eckert Hosts Patrons 

CLEARWATER, FLA.—As a mark of his 

appreciation to the citizens of Clearwater 

who have patronized the Palms Theatre 

during the year and a half he has managed 

it, Edward H. Eckert, owner, held open house 

December 24 with a free show. 

New Screen Tov/ez at Dale Ozoner 

AUBURNDALE, FLA.—A new screen tower 

is being built at the Dale Drive-In by Maurice 

Hensler. owner. 

Drive-ln 

on Mountain 

Features a Balcony! 

MEMPHIS—A drive-in with a balcony! 

If that isn't new. it will have to do until 

something new comes along, says Roy L. 

Cochran, of Fischer & Cochran Enterprises. 

Inc.. which recently opened the 

Scenic Movies Drive-In at North Little 

Rock, Ark., complete with balcony. 

Cochran and his partner Raymond 

Fischer bought a small mountain to build 

this scenic drive-in. Tlie mountain was 

cut in such a fashion that a section was 

left for the construction of an outdoor 

baclony. 

The Scenic accommodates 376 cars. It 

has RCA equipment throughout. 

NEW ORLEANS 

Toe Wallace sold his Harlem Theatre in Thibodaux. 

La., to Charles Greco. It will 

be managed by Paul Brunet . . . Bill Lighter 

recently sold his Center Tlieatre. Franklin, 

and Town Hall Theatre. Baldwin, to Walt 

Christianson who managed the Center Theatre 

for a number of years. He is married to 

Wilma Graham, who was formerly a booker 

for Republic here. 

The Gulf Theatre, Pensacola. was purchased 

by E. Stuart and A. Henley from Ed 

Pagett. Buying and booking will be handled 

by J. G. Broggi of New Orleans . 

and Waddy Jones, bookers for 

. . Al Bonema 

WB and Joy 

Theatres, last week became the fathers of 

Paul Ketchum. formerly Louisiana 

baby girls . . . 

salesman for Universal, resigned to accept 

a branch manager's job at UA in Dallas . . . 

Clayton Casbuerque. former salesman at Columbia, 

had to resign his position as an injury 

suffered in the last war prevents him 

from traveling. 

Giddens and Rester, owners of two drive-ins 

at Mobile, have broken ground for their third 

ozoner. The new one will be a twin drive-in 

located on Highway 90 near Mobile . . . Lillian 

Flick of Paramount's inspection department 

recently celebrated 25 years of service. 

She was presented a certificate of merit, a 

watch and a 25-yeai- club pin. 

Dimes and dollars will help mony o victim of polio 

to recover normal health. Arrange for March of 


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63

ATLANTA 

. . . 

XX7 M. Richardson, Astor, returned from a 

business trip to Albany and Columbus, Ga. 

Jimmie Bello. Astor salesman returned 

from a trip to Tennessee . . . Theatre Booking 

Service, Charlotte, has sold its interest in 

the Palm Drive-In. Savannah. Ga., to James 

W. Hill and his associates . . . Rosa Brown of 

Brown's Drive-In. Fort Lauderdale. Fla., will 

do her own buying and booking effective 

February 1. Floyd Stowe of Jacksonville had 

been handling the work. 

E. M. Glucksman, American Newsreels 

Corp., New York, flew here with H. K. Carrington 

of Nationwide Pictures, Dallas, and 

visited Astor office, which handles the all- 

Negro newsreel. He left the next day for Los 

Angeles by plane . . . Hugh Martin, MCM 

Theatres, Columbus, Ga., was in town booking; 

also P. L. Taylor of the Dixie Theatre and 

editor of the Columbus World. 

William Dowler is no longer connected with 

* 

("he Good| 

( 

I'M Ht- i^9*f DMff IhrMn -- SkM Iw tt( rim / 

Im Smi lliili Un |rtk« »t NMtlicW C«! 

fttUO***^ 

"10 NIBHTS IN Dom 

A BARROOM" Jiiurd 

sjrr£t?:;TeAii:.JUM*siJzac: 

WM.S.HART:. 

EVERY INCH A MAN' 

THE GOOD §'7 

^'^ OLD SONGS 

MONEY MA6NIT 

/ICMr PICTURES 

SNUBFOLLIRD 

TODDT PICTURES CO. 

Ul Wtltw, Si ,- - - 

BALLOONS ARE YOUR BEST AD FOR- 

"The Greatest Show on Eorth" 

"Hons Christion Andersen" 

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" 

"Peter Pan" 

Somples free. 

Balloons 146 Walton Atlonto, Go. 

. . 

the Dixie Theatre, Chattanooga. His father 

Frank has taken over the buying and booking 

. The Beacon Theatre, Fairmount. Ga., 

closed January 1 . . . Charlie Claik. who handles 

Jackpot Quiz, for theatres, was in Knoxville 

on busine.ss . . . Nat Williams of Thomasville. 

Ga., was in . . . Harry Hart, BOXOFFICE 

field repre.'-entative, was back in town after a 

trip 

CYCLÂMIC 

iM%\fim Screen 

GIVES YOU 

"CENTER SEAT VISION" 

From every seat in the house! 

ELIMINATES GLARE AND DISTORTION! 

GIVES AMAZING NEW DEPTH! 

PERFECT SOUND TRANSMISSION! 

NO PERFORATIONS! 

through the southeast territory. 

Clyde Sampler, former booker for Duncan 

Jack Van 

Theatres, was around town . . . 

Lloyd and his son, former theatre manager in 

Macon and Savannah for the Weis circuit, is 

now with the Berlo Vending Co. of Pittsburgh 

. . . With the Tivoli, Chattanooga, winding up 

the year strong w'ith "Million Dollar Mermaid," 

the Rogers with "Abbott and Costello 

Meet Captain Kidd," and the State with "It 

Grows on Trees," Chattanooga theatremen 

say 1952 easily topped the previous year. 

Crescent Amusement Co. theatres in Nashville 

had the be.st holiday business in three 

years, with "Meet Me at the Fair," at the 

Tennessee and "Stars and Stripes Forever." 

at the Paramount. The sales of theatre ticket 

books for Christmas gifts was well received 

with an automobile as the top prize in a sales 

contest . . . Mr. and Mrs. Jack Barrett were 

recent vLsitors. He is an AA salesman in 

Florida . . . Curtis Bancome, formerly with 

K & B Soda Co. on the Row is now with NSS. 

VVSB-TV, pioneer television station of the 

Atlanta Journal and Constitution, has been 

granted permission by the FCC to double its 

power from the present 50.000 watts to 100,- 

000 watts. The increase in signal strength 

will place WSB-TV among the most powerful 

television stations in the nation. Until recently, 

its 1.062-foot tower was topped in 

height only by the Empire State Building, but 

WBEN-TV in Buffalo now has a tower of the 

same height and design. John Cutler, general 

manager, says it will be somewhere between 

the middle of March and the last of 

April before the power is increased because 

the change will require installation of considerable 

extra equipment. 

aû/e^^€(^/ 

Variety Tent 21 held its first monthly 

meeting-luncheon of the new year on January 

12 in the club rooms. A large gathering 

of members was present to enjoy an excellent 

steak dinner and hear reports from the various 

new committees. A. B. Padgett is the 

new chief barker. 

The Rialto Theatre here, during the showing 

of "Androcles and the Lion" had a huge 

lion in a cage in front of the house, with 

Eloise Berchtold, his trainer administering to 

his needs. Large crowds gathered in front of 

the theatre to see the lion. 

Carl Button, Melody, Jefferson City, Tenn., 

is the father of a baby boy, born December 

18 and named Arthur Randall . . . Prank 

Thompson, Macon, Tuskegee, Ala., visited the 

A.stor office. 

Store-Drive-In Project 

Ruled Lottery in Texas 

From Southv.. it Edition 

AUSTIN—A cooperative plan between merchants 

and a drive-in theatre for distribution 

of coupons and a drawing for prizes would be 

a lottery, under the facts outlined. Attorney 

General Price Daniel's department advised 

County Attorney Odis Tomachefsky of Brenham. 

The ruling, as to whether the proposed 

plan would conflict with the lottery law, was 

asked before the project was to start. 

The plan was that merchants would distribute 

free coupons to patrons, with no purchase 

required, and a series of drawings would 

be held at the theatre. The prizes were to be 

all-expen.se trips to Hollywood for two persons. 

The merchants were to pay the theatre 

operator sums to cover part of the cost of advertising 

the project and the theatre in turn 

was to pay a commission to the individual 

who handled the entire promotion. 

Polio is a menace all must fight. Give your patrons 

a chonce to contribute. 

Now Ready For Booking! 

8—John 

Wayne westerns 

8—Range Busters 

NAUGHTY WIDOW with 

Jane Russell 

ASTOR PICTURES CO. of Ga., 

163 Walton St. 

Main 9845 

• change:able letters 

Int. 

Atlonto, 

Go. 

WIL-KIN THEATRE SUPPLY, inc. 

Atlanta, Georgia— Charlotte, N. C.—Jacksonville, Flo. 

"Everything for the theatre except film"

— 

— 

— 

Delman Antitrust Suit 

To Trial in Dallas 

DALLAS—Branch and division managers 

from a number of the film exchanges were 

scheduled to take the witness stand in the 

suit charging Interstate circuit and motion 

picture distributing firms with violation of 

the Sherman antitrust act which got under 

way in Judge William H. Atwell's federal 

district court Monday (12). 

The suit, filed five years ago in Delaware 

by the Tivoli Realty Co., owner of the Delman 

Theatre in north Dallas, opened the 

docket. First witness after selection of the 

jury was I. B. Adelman, who was responsible 

for building the theatre. The plaintiffs contend 

that the Interstate circuit had a monopoly 

on first run pictures and after the first 

run pictures were shown in downtown Dallas 

the films were made available to theatres in 

north Dallas other than the Delman. 

The plaintiffs further contend in the suit 

that they offered to compete, picture by picture, 

by offering higher rental for the films. 

It further alleged that the theatre suffered 

substantial operating loss during its first 

13 months of operation and also charged "a 

nationwide conspiracy to protect Interstate 

from competition with independents." 

Roy MacDonald of New York City, attorney 

for the defendants, denied all allegations 

that Interstate and the producers sought to 

control exhibition of pictures in Dallas. Representing 

eight distributors, MacDonald 

pointed out that the Dallas area was the 

largest in the country with more than 1,400 

theatres involved. 

He said the various film companies sent 

representatives to Dallas after the Delman 

opened to study the situation. 

'Bwana Devil' Keeps Pace 

With Dallas Gross of 150 

DALLAS — "Bwana Devil" remained at the 

head of local first run pictures, grossing 150 

per cent in its second week at the Melba. 

Others were up somewhat, with "Ruby Gentry" 

taking second place honors. 


Maiestic Blackbeard the Pirote (RKO) 75 

Melba Bwona Devil (Oboler) ) 50 

Palace Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox) 1 05 

Tower The Promoter (U-l) 80 

Two Million Feet in Stock 

SPEAKER CABLE 

Without Priority 

2 Conductor No. 17 AWG Solid Copper Flat Parallel 

Construction Rodent Resistant Non-water Absorbent 

Jacket for Direct Earth Burial 0.0. .35x. 20-inch. 

Packaged 2,500 ft. on Returnable Reels or 500 ft. 

Coils. Price FOB Houston, Texas: On 500 ft. Coils 

$60.00 per M ft. 2500 ft. Reels $40.60 per M ft. 

Reel Deposits $5.00 eoch. Shipping Wt. Net 50 lbs. 

per M ft. 

SOUTHWESTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

1622 Austin St., Houston, Texos, Phone CA-9906 

DISTRIBUTORS FOR ELECTRIC WIRE AND CABLE 

CO. OF HOUSTON, TEXAS 

-/. H. Harris Named Head 

Of Theatre Enterprises 

DALLAS—H. J. 

J. H.\ROLD HARRIS 

Griffith, founder and president 

of Theatre Enterprises, Inc., at the 

January 6 meeting of the TEI board of directors 

here, stepped down as president of the 

circuit and former Vice-President J. Harold 

Harris was named to head the company. 

Griffith will continue active as chairman of 

the board. 

In assuming the presidency of TEI, Harold 

Harris climaxes a lifelong personal and business 

association with H. J. Griffith. This 

association started 30 years ago in one of the 

first Griffith theatres. Griff's Queen in Mart, 

Tex. Griffith managed the theatre, Mrs. 

Griffith was cashier and Harris, who was a 

bank teller by day, also worked nights as 

doorman at the theatre. 

When Griff's Queen was sold, Harris continued 

his banking career as auditor for the 

Second National bank in Houston, where 

he remained for 13 years. 

In 1939, when Griffith severed connections 

with his brothers' theatre company in Oklahoma 

City and acquired a string of theatres 

BOOKINGS 

MADE EASY 

and profitable— 

H. J. GRIFFITH 

of his own in Kansas and Missouri, with 

home offices in Kansas City, he was joined 

by Harris, who became general manager of 

H. J. Griffith Theatres, Inc., a post he held 

for seven years. In 1946, Harris purchased 

a group of theatres in southeastern Missouri 

and two years later disposed of them 

and moved to Dallas to become vice-president 

of TEI and assistant to Griffith in the reorganized 

Griffith company. Theatre Enterprises, 

which meanwhile had expanded into 

Texas and New Mexico. 

In retiring from the TEI presidency, Griffith 

said that the move had been contemplated 

for some time so that he might 

devote more time to personal business interests, 

which have expanded into several other 

fields. However, he emphasized that no radical 

changes in the company policy or personnel 

were anticipated. R. I. Payne continues 

as vice-president and general manager, R. A. 

Higdon is head of the film purchasing department, 

Lawrence J. Linck is controller; Vernon 

Watkins heads the booking department. 

Heywood Simmons 

Let's talk it over 

R. E. Davis 

VOUR ORDER 

mOTIOn PICTURE SERVICE C< 

San franci

DALLAS 

Toe Hahn, who resigned as accountant for 

Isley Theatres, will 

take a two-week vacation 

beginning January 24 and look for less 

confining work. Joe hopes to find another 

spot in the theatre business, particularly on 

im BICCIST NAME IN POPCORN 

A Better Popper 

Pays for Itself 

With a MANLEY ARISTOCRAT 

your extra 

profits are far more than 

your original cost . . . I^t us prove 

this with a demonstration. No 

obligation! 

BOB WABNEB 

2013 Young St. • DALLAS • Prospect 1685 

17 North Shartel»OKLAHOMA CITY'Phone 2-5893 

snoiu-conE machines 

Dallas Filmrow. His background is quite 

varied and includes such supervisory work 

as club, restaurant and hospital management. 

Joe spent a number of years with Publix 

Theatres as an auditor. He made a good 

CONCENTRATE SYRUP 

HERBER 

PAPER CUPS = PROFITS 

BROTHERS 

"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 Years" 

408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS, TEXAS 

presentation of his abilities in a television 

interview on the program Opportunity Knocks 

over KRLD Monday (12 1. Joe is training a 

newcomer to Filmrow, Runne Barnes, whose 

wife works for Wide World Pictures. 

Tom Edwards and Frank Plumlee, Edwards 

& Plumlee circuit, Farmington, Mo., asked to 

be remembered to their friends on Dallas 

Filmrow, when this writer (Prank Bradley) 

visited with them recently. They told about 

watching with keen interest the activities of 

Texas COMPO over the last year and a half 

through the tradepapers. Edwards wa,'= optimistic 

about the efforts of Colonel Cole and 

the COMPO tax committee in obtaining the 

repeal of the discriminatory admission tax 

during 1953. 

Vernon Watkins is the new head booker at 

Theatre Enterprises, replacing Bob Davis, who 

resigned. Watkins started with the organization 

in 1938 as poster clerk in Oklahoma 

City. Watson became a booker after going 

with H. J. Griffith to Kansas City. He was 

called into the service in 1943 and served 

as a sergeant in the quartermaster corps in 

the South Pacific. After his discharge he 

went with TEI as a booker ... P. A. Warner 

went to Kansas City to confer with Charles 

Manley and other officers of Manley. Inc. 

Fred R. Hanson, National Theatre Supply, 

is recuperating at Baylor hospital from a 

minor operation and hopes to be back at the 

Sam Berry, 

office about January 19 . . . 

National Theatre Supply, returned from a 

two-week visit in Atlanta with his two sons 

Sam M. II and George. The six grandchildren—four 

boys and two girls— led Sam a 

merry chase. He also visited his 82-year-old 

sister, Mrs. L. L. Gentry, mother of J. Roy 

Gentry, assistant to the president of the 

Coca-Cola Co. The Atlanta branch of NTS 

reports that drive-in building business is 

"popping like firecrackers." 

Col. H. A. Cole and Robert J. O'Donnell returned 

from the west coast on Thursday (8i. 

Saturday evening Cole left for New Orleans to 

attend the board meetings of Allied States 

Ass'n, beginning Monday (12) ... A delegation 

of Dallas Variety members went to 

Houston for the annual installation of officers, 

Mitchell Lewis being the new chief 

barker. John H. Rowley was the installing 

officer. Others from Dallas were C. A. Dolsen, 

Al Reynolds, Jack Bryant, Bert Graetz, 

Chajles E. Darden, Kendall Way. Walter 

Penn, Joe Caffo and Frank Bradley. 

Charles E. Darden i."; chairman of the gin 

rummy tournament committee of Dallas 

Variety Club. The committee includes Jimmy 

Prichard. Dave Lutzer, Sam Landrum, Johnny 

Hicks, Harry Casper and Paul Evans. It met 

Thursday (8i to formulate plans for the tournament. 

After considerable discu.ssion, it was 

decided that the tournament would be held 

every Sunday night during February. War 

bonds worth $1,400 will be awarded the winners 

and the entry fees are $10 for men and 

$5 for the women. The tournament will get 

off to a good start with free buffet dinner 

and Calcutta on opening night February 1. 

TEXAS PROJECTOR CARBON CO. 

2024 Jackson Street Dallas, Texas 

Telephone: Riverside 3807 






club members may enter their friends and 

guests in the tournament. 

. . Bill 

L. F. McNally, manager of the Varsity Theatre 

in Dallas, became the father of another 

baby girl January 7 at St. Paul's hospital. 

She has been named Mary Anne . 

Burns, formerly a feature booker for Columbia, 

joined the staff of United Artists. 

"The Clown," which opened January 15 at 

the Palace, was given a good send-off when 

5,000 masks were given away at eight suburban 

theatres during the morning children's 

show on Saturday ilO). A clown was in the 

lobby of each theatre to give them away.

] 

TF£RE ARE (8) OF THESE 

COMBINATIONS 

READY TO 

BOOK 

_ 

^ ^ 

DOUBLE YOUR GROSS 

NEW ORLEANS: 

3T0A£RS 

SAY THEY WILL 

DIXIE FILMS, INC 

DALLAS: MEMPHIS: 

ASTOR PICTURES CO. 

CLASSIHED ADS—EASY TO USE 

EASTERN OKLAHOMA 

By ART LAMAN 

TULSA—The Sand Springs Drive-In, under 

the capable piloting of Eddie Jones, is having 

its concession stand completely remodeled. 

Jones said the job would run over $2,500 and 

will give the customers a new horseshoe counter, 

which will take care of nearly double 

the number of people the older one could 

serve. New tile flooring is being laid in the 

main conce.ssion building and tile floors and 

walls are being placed in all of the restrooms. 

Among the new features to be added are a 

new cola machine, a new orange drink machine 

and new display space. When the job 

is completed, Eddie will have a swanky concession 

stand. In the latter pai-t of 1952, the 

entrance and drives of the Sand Springs were 

resurfaced. The drive-in has been open every 

weekend this fall, and Jones said he will open 

seven days a week starting about the 23rd 

of this month. 

• • * 

TULSA—Bernard McKenna, city manager 

of the Royal and Tower theatres, has about 

come to the conclusion that there is no Santa 

Claus. On Christmas eve, the shows closed 

at 5;30 to let employes off to be with their 

families. During the night, .someone entered 

the theatre, visited the booth and made some 

attempts to run off a picture, causing some 

small damage to booth equipment. 

STAR SALES ATTRACTION! 

INCREASE 

POPCORN 

YOUR 

SALES! 

For the past twelve years popcorn 

concessionaires have been using the 

familiar RED & WHITE POP CORN 

MAN BAGS & CARTONS which retain 

the Delicious, Wholesome, Tasty 

Flovor your Patrons enjoy. 

BAGS available in regulor, noiseless and 

pillow types (wax) styles. 

CARTONS available in regular, nest, cornucopia 

ond automatic styles. 

A few days ago a thief broke into the Royal 

and robbed the theatre of two days' receipts 

and concession stand money. Police have 

been working on a number of clues, but up 

to the present no arrests have been made. 

This is the second time that money has been 

stolen from the Royal. 

• • • 

NOWATA—Chester V. Fleming, who operates 

theatres here, reports that burglars broke 

into one of his theatres and cracked open the 

safe, taking $1,500. Police said they were convinced 

that a band of experts is operating 

in this part of the state. A number of safe 

crackings have been reported in the Nowata 

vicinity. Police are working on a number of 

clues. 

• • • 

BRISTOW—Theatre owners Henry Simpson 

and Kathryn Hendricks said that work 

on their new drive-in will start this month, 

with an early spring opening planned. The 

drive-in will be located west of Bristow on 

Highway 66 and will have some 280 car 

spaces. A large concession stand is being 

planned. 

During recent weeks, much repair and remodeling 

work has been done on the downtown 

Princess. Work has included painting 

and complete overhauling of all of the seats. 

Bristow, like many cities in this area, is 

having a lot of virus flu. While it has not 

reached epidemic stages, it has cut into boxoffice 

receipts. 

• • * 

TULSA—Allied Theatre Owners of Oklahoma 

headquarters in this city has gone into 

high gear, with a full schedule of mailouts on 

the coming conclave in February. It was 

found necessary to employ a secretary, Amilta 

Carpenter, to take care of the office work 

and mailing. Among pieces to be mailed will 

be complete details of the many highlights 

of the convention in Oklahoma City the last 

of February. 

• • • 

TULSA—R. V. McGinnis of the Allied 

Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, was the Oklahoma 

repre.sentative at the national board 

meeting and Gulf States Ass'n conclave held 

at the Jung hotel. New Orleans, early this 

week. McGinnis made the trip both ways via 

Braniff airlines. While at the meeting, he 

contacted prominent people of the industry, 

many of whom said they would be present 

during the Oklahoma Allied convention at 

the Biltmore hotel in Oklahoma City February 

23-25. 

EQUIPMENT DISPLAY 

/Da

Civic Event Heralds 

Opening of Theatre 

ASHLANT3, NEB. — One of the largest 

throngs in history jammed Ashland streets 

throughout the day Saturday il7) for the 

oi>ening of the Circle A Theatre. 

The celebration for the new theatre, rebuilt 

by Woody Simek after fire destroyed his old 

house December 17. 1951—just 13 months 

earlier—turned into a community affair when 

merchants grabbed the ball and scored a 

touchdown for Woody. 

Mayor K. B. Harris i.ssued a proclamation 

naming it Circle A Theatre day. All the merchants 

put on special offerings and devoted 

window display space for their extra theatre 

day bargain attractions. 

Free pancakes and coffee were dished out 

to people who came for miles. A supermarket 

went all out to boost the program. 

Speeches were made on the stage between 

shows by the mayor, Harvey Huffman, president 

of the Chamber of Commerce: the superintendent 

of schools and representatives of 

the film industry from Omaha. Dr. B. N. 

Baer, Ashland physician, served as master 

of ceremonies. 

Roses were given to all feminine patrons 

and cigars to the men. Woody had a pretheatre 

party for a large group of film industry 

folks from Omaha and officials of the 

area. His opening show was "Son of Paleface," 

followed by "Tlie Story of Will Rogers." 

Simek got advance advertising through efforts 

of merchants, who had bemoaned the 

slump in business immediately after the old 

theatre burned. 

Twin City House Closes 

But Another Reopens 

MINNEAPOLIS—Airival of the new year 

witnessed the demise of another local neighborhood 

theatre, the 1.000-seat Princess. The 

closing, however, is offset by the reopening of 

the 800-seat Alhambra, which had been shuttered. 

The Princess at various times has 

housed dramatic stock and vaudeville as well 

as films. Tlie property is for sale or lease. 

Clyde Cutter, veteran film man, resigned 

from Theatre Associates, bifying and booking 

group, to take over the lease of the Alhambra 

from Rubenstein & Kaplan, who had closed it 

after a long stretch of unprofitable operation. 

The house has been granted 35-day availability. 

Closing of the Princess brought to a total of 

27 the number of Twin cities area shutterings 

during the last several years since the advent 

of television. 

At the same time, two more local independent 

theatres, the Varsity and Ritz, were 

granted 28-day availability, the earliest clearance 

after the Loop first runs. 

Halt Midweek Shows 

STORY CITY, IOWA—The management of 

the Story Theatre has announced that from 

now on there will be no showings of films on 

Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Poor attendance 

on these nights proved to be too much of a 

financial loss, the announcement said. The 

other two changes during the week—Friday- 

Saturday and Sunday-Monday—will not be 

altered. It is hoped that the midweek showings 

can be resumed later in the year. 

-NORTH CENTRAL STATES- 


Edmond R. Ruben Harry French Ben Berger 

Robert Livingston Ed Kraus Leo Peterson Alfred D. Kvool 

MINNEAPOLIS—Pictured above are the state exhibitor committee 

chairmen for the Council of Motion Picture Organizations-sponsored 

campaign for repeal of the 20 per cent federal admissions tax, for the 

north-central area of the nation. These men, together with the distribution 

chairmen, are contacting senators and congressmen from their 

respective states to obtain pledges of their support on outright repeal 

of the admissions tax measure. The exhibitors represent the following 

states: 

IOWA—Charles Niles, exhibitor at Anamosa. 

MINTTOSOTA—Edmond R. Ruben, Welworth Theatres, Minneapolis: 

Harry French, Minnesota Amusement Co., Minneapolis, and Ben Berger, 

Berger Theatre circuit, Minneapolis. 

Goldberg, 

NEBRASKA—Robert Livingston, Capitol Theatre, Lincoln. 

NORTH DAKOTA—Ed Kraus, Fargo Theatre, Fargo. 

SOUTH DAKOTA—Leo Peterson, State Theatre, Rapid City. 

WISCONSIN—Alfred D. Kvool, Warner, Milwaukee, and Sig 

Hollywood Theatre, Wausau. 

Omaha Tri-States District 

Wins Most Contest Awards 

OMAHA—The Omaha Tri-States district 

copped a lion's share of awards in the annual 

manager's holiday contest. District Manager 

William Miskell reported. 

Jim Pickett of the Rivoli at Hastings took 

second. Carl Hoffman of the Omaha at 

Omaha third, Tony Abramovich of the Capitol 

at Grand Island fifth and Marvin Graybeal 

of the Capitol at Sioux City. Iowa, sixth. 

Art Stolte of the Paramount at Waterloo, 

Iowa, was first. 

'Gen' Kudzia Promoted 

MINNEAPOLIS—"Gen" Kudzia has been 

promoted from second booker at Republic to 

office manager and first booker. Sh,? succeeds 

Jack Kelvie, who resigned to join 

20th-Fox. 

Polio sufferers look to you. Drop March of Dimes 

slugs into your advertising for the March of Dimes 

drive—Jonuory 2-31. 

Sig Goldberg 

Growth of Auto Union Told 

In Film Near Completion 

MILWAUKEE— Material from the files of 

the United Automobile Workers union here 

will tell the story in a documentary film nearing 

completion now in Hollywood. The motion 

picture, produced in color, is expected 

to be ready for joint premiere showings in 

Milwaukee, Hollywood and Washington some 

time in February. Ronald Reagan, film star 

and president of the AFL Screen Actors Guild, 

has the leading role in the production. 

The picture, titled the "UAW-AFL Story," 

traces the union's growth, with particular 

emphasis on the struggle of its earlier days. 

The union's plans call for its showing as a 

companion feature in theatres throughout the 

entire country without charge. It also will be 

offered to television stations free, for showing 

as a 

public service. 

Remodel and Reopen Theatre 

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA—The Liberty 

Theatre here, which had been closed for repairs 

and redecorating, has reopened. 

BOXOFFICE :: January 17, 1953 NC 69

OMAHA 

. . . 

TT-I Manager I. M. Weiner reported Omaha 

was leading the western division and 

holding fifth place nationally after the first 

two weeks of the Charles J. Feldman 25th 

anniversary drive. Feldman is an Omaha boy 

who made good Joe Jacobs, Columbia 

manager, went to Chicago for the international 

meeting and screening in behalf of 

the "Salome" release. 

The gloom was thick in the household of 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Renfro, Theatre Booking 

Service. Butch, their 11 -year-old Persian 

tomcat, died. The veterinarian said the cause 

was heart failure . . . Jules Serkowich, Columbia 

exploiteer, was in Omaha doing advance 

work for "Invasion, U.S.A." prior to its opening 

at the Admiral and Chief January 21. 

Maude Cairille, office manager of the Ballantyne 

Co., was taken to St. Joseph's hospital 

for major surgery. She is a Filmrow 

veteran and former RKO staffer , . M. E. 

Anderson, Paramount exchange chief, will 

attend the national branch managers' meeting 

in New York January 26-30 . . . Ruth Fingerlos 

has been named bookkeeper at Warners, 

replacing Josephine Maguire. who resigned. 

Alice Neal, Warner office manager, is back 

on the job after an absence of five weeks, 

including a couple of weeks at St. Catherine's 

. . . Beverly 

hospital. She says her main problem now is 

to gain back some lost weight 

Lawrence has been added to the Paramount 

staff and Irene Fredericlison has been moved 

to cashier, replacing Regina Maher, who resigned 

to move to Leon, Iowa . . . Bill Miskell, 

Tri-States district manager, visited the Capitol 

at Grand Island and Rivoli at Hastings. 

Frank Hollingworth, owner of the Holly at 

Beatrice, is planning a trip to Hot Springs, 

Ark. . . . The mother of Mrs. Darwin Frank, 

operator of the Plaza at Humboldt, died recently 

. . . Joe Scott, 20th-Fox manager, 

and salesmen Max McCoy, Pat Halloran and 

One of a series of Think 

Pieces about improving 

your theatre and its 

equipment. 

. . . 

Irv Good flew to a district meeting in Milwaukee 

Don Campbell, Central City 

exhibitor, said he was considering swapping 

his car for a ski-plane after a trip to Filmrow. 

A heavy mist made most of the road 

to Omaha a sheet of thin ice. 

. . 

A. J. Anderson, exhibitor at Sloan, Iowa, 

reported that an epidemic of flu had caused 

the closing of schools at Sloan and nearby 

Sergeant Bluff. There were 95 children's cases 

in Sloan, town of about 600 . The Orpheum 

Theatre had a special screening for the 

Omaha police department in a tieup for 

"Turning Point" and ads carried endorsement 

of the film by the department. 

Larry Caplane, manager of the Brandeis 

Theatre, arranged a special showing of "April 

. . . Exhibitors 

in Paris" and a cocktail party for disk jockeys 

and record dealers in the area 

visiting Filmrow included Ray 

Brown, Harlan, Iowa; Howard Bayer, Schleswig, 

Iowa: Woody Simek, Ashland; Adolph 

Rozanek, Crete; Ollie Schneider, Osceola; 

George March, Vermillion, S. D.; Richard 

Johnson, Red Oak, Iowa: W. W. Troxell, 

Bancroft; Mrs. Waldo Waybill, North Bend, 

and Cliff Shearon, Genoa. 

E. W. Aaron in Milwcnikee 

For 20th-Fox Meetings 

MILWAUKEE—Edwin W. Aaron, western 

sales manager for 20th Century-Fox, arrived 

here over the weekend to start a series of 

conferences with men in his midwest division 

on Monday. This division is headed by 

M. A. Levy. 

Sitting in on the discussions were the following 

branch managers; R. L. Conn, Des 

Moines; J. R. Never, Kansas City; J. H. 

Lorentz, Milwaukee; S. Malisow, Minneapolis; 

J. E. Scott, Omaha, and Gordon F. Halloran, 

St. Louis. 

Rely on Brand Names 

Iowa-Nebraska Allied 

To Meet January 26 

OMAHA—A meeting of exhibitors in Iowa, 

South Dakota and Nebraska has been called 

by Iowa-Nebraska Allied at the Paxton hotel 

January 26 for discussion of an important 

seven-point program. 

Elmer Huhnke, Allied treasurer, listed these 

items which wuU come before the session, 

opening at 1 p. m.: 

1. Additional data needed for the repeal of 

the 20 per cent federal admission tax. 

2. Whys and wherefores of arbitration. 

3. Further discussions on Allied-sponsored 

buying and booking combines. 

4. Report on the January national board 

meeting of the Allied States Ass'n. 

5. Report and discussion on litigation. 

6. General discussion on film rentals and 

prints. 

7. Open film clinic discussion. 

I*residing officers will be Al Myrick, presiv 

dent; Charles Jones, secretary, and Huhnke, 

treasurer. All exhibitors in the area, whether 

or not members of the a.s.sociation, have been 

invited and more than 1.000 notices have been 

mailed out. 

The meeting will be followed by the Variety 

Club's Inaugural ball at the Paxton hotel. 

Dinner will be at 6:30 p. m., followed by a 

dance. Glenn Slipper will be installed as Tent 

16 chief barker, succeeding A. A. Renfro. 

Books Are Ordered Opened 

In No. Dakota Film Suits 

MINNEAPOLIS—Complete inspection of all 

theatre books and records in nine pending 

percentage actions has been ordered by U.S. 

District Judge Charles J. Vogel. 

Two groups of cases are involved. One affects 

Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, Warner 

Bros., RKO and Universal against Guy A. 

Troyer and Otis K. Engen, operating the 

Lyric Theatre. Rugby, N. D.. and the other 

group was brought by RKO, Paramount, Warner 

Bros, and 20th-Fox against the State 

Theatre, Bottineau, N. D. 

The court had previously denied all motions 

by the exhibitor defendants to dismi.ss the 

actions on the ground that le.ss than $3,000 

was involved in each action and on the ground 

that a proper claim for recovery was not 

asserted. 

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Weil -known brands mean 

well -liked performance 

The trade name of a manufacturer is his pledge of 

quality and service. He prospers by your opinion of 

his product. We are headquarters for many famousname 

items—all fully guaranteed. 

Transit Fare Hike Hurts 

MINNEAPOLIS—Streetcar and bus fares 

were raised January 1 from 15 to 20 cents. 

It was one of several boosts during the last 

few years. There is much beefing, too, over 

the poor quality of transportation service. A 

strike of transit company employes also is 

threatened. 

EMERGENCIES! 

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. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

n s a hobby, George Turner, Metro salesman, 

an amateur performer who has scored 

hits in northwest Variety Club and other 

shows, is lining up local acts for theatre and 

other appearances. He has supplied units, 

comprising a group of acts, on a number of 

occasions. It helps him to occupy his evenings, 

he says ... Ed Terhune. RKO exploiteer, 

was in from Salt Lake City to tubthump 

for "Androcles and the Lion," current 

Orpheum offering. 

. . 

Actress Betty Garrett, who was appearing 

with her husand Larry Parks at the Lyceum 

in "Anonymous Lover," suffered a severe attack 

of the flu and missed the final three 

performances . On competitive bids, Bennie 

Berger landed the first run of "The Clown" 

for his Gopher Theatre and held an advertised 

sneak preview of it Monday night . . . 

No less than four members of the U-I office 

staff were shelved simultaneously by the flu 

this week and branch Manager LeRoy J. 

Miller had to operate with a skeleton force. 

Fay Dressell, RKO manager, and his gang 

are starting preparations early for the RKO 

25th anniversary drive, which starts March 

6 and continues for 16 weeks. It will replace 

the annual Ned Depinet drive . . . M. A. Levy 

and Saul Malisow, district and branch managers 

for 20th-Fox, were in Milwaukee for a 

sales meeting . . . Harry H. Weiss, RKO 

Theatres district manager, visited houses in 

Denver and Omaha. 

Byron Adcock, Warner manager, reports 

amazing grosses are being chalked up by 

"The Miracle of Fatima" throughout the territory. 

For example, in Thorpe, Wis., population 

1,100, it ran five days to capacity 

business. Adcock says in Arcadia, Wis., it 

even outgrossed "The Greatest Show on 

Earth," which had done sensational business 

there. It was held over for three additional 

days at Little Falls, Minn., after a 

four-day run . . . Another picture that continues 

to hit the jackpot throughout the territory 

is Republic's "The Quiet Man." 

. . . Bennie 

J. J. Donahue, Paramount division manager 

who is scheduled to come here to look 

into the clearance plan, may arrive this week 

or next. A last-minute call from Dallas 

caused him to postpone the local trip, which 

was scheduled two weeks ago 

Berger, Northwest Variety Club chief barker 

and member of the Minnesota governor's special 

committee on penal institutions, addressed 

the club on prison reform at its 

monthly dinner meeting this week. 

Robert Cummings and his wife will be 

guests of honor at the annual St. Paul winter 

carnival, January 30-February 8 . . . Actor 

Van Heflin is due here the week of January 

26 at the Lyceum in "The Shrike " And 

Julie Harris, who made a hit in the screen 

version of "The Member of the Wedding," 

will be there the week of January 30 in 

"I Am a Camera" . Hendrickson, 

Grafton, N. D., pioneer exhibitor, died. He 

had been a theatre owner for more than 

20 years. His wife and two sons survive. 

Following action of the board of regents 

in authorizing the University of Minnesota to 

apply to the FCC for use of channels 2 and 8, 

all that's now necessary for the proposed 

Minnesota $5,000,000 educational network to 

\r BEYOND LUNCHEON—Robert Taylor was in Chicago recently in behalf of 

his latest picture, "Above and Beyond." The film deals with the story of the crew 

of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that was used to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. 

An honored guest at a press luncheon there was the Rev. William P. Downey, who 

gave the invocation for the crew before the Enola Gay took off on its mis.sion. He 

is pastor of the Fox Point Lutheran church in suburban Milwaukee. Lou Orlove, 

Milwaukee, and Norman Pyle, MGM exploiteers, handled arrangements for the 

luncheon. The above picture was taken in the Cotillion room of tlie Morrison hotel. 

Left to right, Orlove, Taylor, Reverend Downey and Walter Monfried and Buck 

Herzog of the Milwaukee Journal and the Sentinel. 

become a reality is the voting of funds by 

the state legislature, which now is in session. 

It will devolve upon the university to produce 

most of the programs locally . Don 

. . 

Palmquist, Allied Artists salesman, escaped 

with multiple bruises when his auto was 

hit by another car that went out of control 

on ice at Gary, S. D. 

Condolences to Vernon Adolthson, Norwood, 

Minn., exhibitor, whose wife was killed and 

his daughter seriously injured when the car 

he was driving, en route to Filmrow here, 

was struck by a train. He himself escaped 

with light injuries. 

Shelly Grengs, Wisconsin and Minnesota 

circuit owner, was in Mount Sinai hospital 

here for an operation . . . S. P. Halpern, local 

film attorney, is counsel for Clem Jaunich's 

Austin, Minn., theatre, in a suit against the 

state of Minnesota to obtain a $250,000 award 

for parking lot space condemned for a state 

highway. Suit now is being tried in district 

court. Testimony has been introduced to 

show the damage caused to the theatre because 

of the appropriation of much of the 

parking lot which was inadequate for the 

needs even before being cut down. 

Des Moines Variety Club 

Names 1953 Committees 

DES MOINES—Variety Club held its first 

meeting of the year last week at the Standard 

club and plans were laid for the coming year. 

The following committees were appointed by 

new Chief Barker Bob Conn: 

Entertainment—Byron Shapiro, chairman; 

Bob Cohun, Lou Hummel and Hal King. Membership—Bill 

Feld, chairman: Norman Holt, 

Harry Hiersteiner and Larry Wegner. Heart 

Don Conley, chairman; Ed Utay, Gerry Mc- 

Glynn, Bill Luftman and Milt Feinberg. Hospital—Don 

Hicks and Nate Sandler. Publicity—Sol 

Yaeger, chairman; Don West, Don 

Allen and Russ Schoch. Bingo—Lou Levy, 

chairman. 

MILWAUKEE 

peter Stathis, Sparta Theatres, Sparta, Wis., 

and Bill Exton, Roosevelt, Kenosha, were 

in town buying and booking . . . N. J. Blumberg. 

U-I president, a former resident here, 

announced the birth of a grandson, born to 

his daughter, Mrs. Stanley Meyer, at St. John's 

hospital, Santa Monica, Calif. . . . Don 

Schwartz, Lippert and Realart exchanges, 

Minneapolis, was in town recently conferring 

with Benny Benjamin. Realart exchange 

manager, before departing with Benjamin 

for the Lippert sales convention in Chicago. 

Schwartz is opening a Realart exchange in 

Des Moines. 

Unity Theatres of Milwaukee has taken 

over the operation of two Oconomowoc 

houses, the La Belle, and the Strand. The 

La Belle is now closed temporarily for remodeling 

. . . Harold J. Fitzgerald, Fox Wisconsin, 

was appointed regional chairman for 

National Brotherhood week. A. D. Kvool, former 

local zone manager for Warner Theatres, 

was appointed chairman for the Minneapolis 

territory. 

Robert Gross, Blue Mound Drive-In, Elm 

Grove, Wis., was in a local hospital . . . John 

Black, projectionist, is at St. Michael's hospital, 

while projectionist Eddie Owens was 

recently released from St. Joseph's hospital . . 

Eddie Weisfeldt, former theatreman here, is 

now managing a dance hall . . . Universal 

star Rock Hudson was in town exploiting his 

film, "Tlie Lawless Breed." 

Polio is a menace oil must fight. Give your patrons 

a chance to contribute. 

PROGRAMS 

Covering ONE or TWO WEEKS! 

ONE DAY SERVICE — On 

Request 

THEATRICAL ADVERTISING CO. 

2310 CASS AVE. DETROIT, 1, MICH. 

WRITE FOR SAMPLES! WO. 1-2158 

BOXOmCE January 17, 1953 71

— 

— 

— 

—— 

Para) 

D E S 

MOINES 

T eon Mendelson has announced that the Will 

Rogers hospital drive will be extended to 

January 31. This will give everyone who has 

not yet contributed an opportunity to do so. 

This drive is the final job for Mendelson, who 

has been area chairman for all drives in 1952. 

Don Hicks, Paramount manager, has been appointed 

area chairman for the 1953 drives to 

succeed Mendelson, Warner manager. The 

current Allied bulletin contains an article by 

Charles Niles on the Will Rogers drive—and 

all industry people who are unfamiliar with 

the benefits offered to them by this hospital 

should read the article. 

Jim Loân, owner of the Forest Theatre in 

Des Moines, has had great fun with a plastic 

monkey, provided by Lou Levy. Universal 

manager, for lobby display for "Bonzo Goes 

to College." Several patrons actually asked if 

it were the real Bonzo—others wanted to buy 

one like it to give their children for Christmas! 

The monkey was finally retired to the 

backstage area, but will be taken out front 

later this month when the theatre plays the 

featurette, "Ptin at the Zoo." 

Earl "Buck" Manbeck is busy these days 

booking hi.s .second release since incorporating 

Midwest Pictures. The new two-reel short is 

3" - 4" - 5" 

In Lots of Ten 

Single 

Cones 

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Double Cones 

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1112 Davis Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 

Advertising Can Be 

about the birth of motion pictures and has in 

it such stars as Sarah Bernhardt, Tom Mix, 

Charlie Chaplin, etc. 

Lou Levy, Universal, is pleased with negotiations 

which have resulted in Janet Leigh's 

making a U-I picture, "Walkin' My Baby 

Back Home." Donald O'Conner will be the 

co-star and the film will include a number of 

song and dance routines. Another Universal 

release which will be forthcoming soon is "The 

Lawless Breed," which will mark the 50th 

anniversary of the western film. 

The Christmas party at the Coed Theatre 

in Fairfield broke all records, according to 

Bob Dunnuck, manager. An estimated 4.500 

persons jammed the theatre for the first 

day's special feature and almost as many 

turned up on the second day of the free 

showing. More than 50 merchants joined in 

spon.soring the entertainment . . . More than 

48 Missouri Valley merchants cooperated in 

sponsoring a free party at the Rialto Theatre 

in Missouri Valley on December 22, 23. There 

were continuous shows starting at 7:30 p. m. 

each day. 

. . Free films were shown at 

. . . 

Two showings were needed to accommodate 

all the children wishing to attend the 

free pictures at the Avon Theatre in Dysart 

December 22. Showings were at 10:30 a. m. 

and 2:30 p. m. . 

the Arrow in Cherokee on December 22, 23. 

The Chamber of Commerce was the sponsor 

Nine hundred youngsters attended the 

Christmas party at the Carroll Theatre in 

Carroll on December 20. 

Eliminate Sunday Shows 

MONROE, IOWA—A new show schedule 

has gone into effect here with the new year. 

The change eliminates the Sunday show by 

playing the weekend .show on Saturday and 

Monday instead of Saturday and Sunday. 

The midweek show continues on Wednesday 

and Thursday nights as in the past. 

MISLEADING! 

If you are going to buy new Projector Mechanisms, see us. 

We sell the Best, our list price is lower, our trade-in allowance 

is fair and your outlay of money for the Best Projector 

Mechanism will be less. 

Buy a Proven Projector Mechanism. 

DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1121 High St. Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, Iowa 

New Year Week Is Big 

In Loop First Runs 

CHICAGO—The new year started with a 

boxoffice bang at Loop first run theatres. 

New Yeai's eve theatregoers flocked into all 

houses despite advanced admission prices for 

midnight shows. 

The Chicago, showing "April in Paris" for 

a second week and an ice-skating revue on 

the stage, charged $2.40 for the New Year's 

eve show and drew a capacity crowd. The 

Palace, with its second week of "Stars and 

Stripes Forever"; the Woods, with "Happy 

Time" running in its second week, and the 

Oriental, with the second week of "Million 

Dollar Mermaid," upped their grosses by 

charging $1.80 for the New Year's midnight 

shows. 

Telenews, with Tri-Opticon three-dimension 

premiered on the holiday bill, did capacity 

business through a second week run. 


Chicago April in Poris tWB), plus stoge revue, 

2nd wk '50 

Grand Invosion U.S.A. (Col), Red Planet Mors 

(UA), 2nd wk "5 

Esquire The Secret Shore (RKO); Bride Comes to 

Yellow Sky (RKO) '20 

Oriental Million Dollar Mermoid (MGM), 2nd wk..I25 

Polace Stors ond Stripes Forever (20th-Fox), 2nd 

wk 130 

State-Lake Rood to Boli (Pora), 2nd wk 125 

Roosevelt Against All Flogs (U-I); The Raiders 

' 

(U-I). 2nd wk 125 

Surf—The Promoter (U-I) 200 

Telenews Tri-Optieon 3-dimension films, 2nd 

wk 

Very big 

United Artists Ruby Gentry (20th-Fo!

Show-and-Half Policy 

Ahead at Century 

DETROIT—A streamlined show-and-a-half 

policy at night is being continued at the 

Century Theatre, major neighborhood house, 

after a five-month experiment, despite the 

fact that results are not yet cleaj-ly satisfactory. 

The general depression of show business in 

the Motor City in the past five months—even 

though some signs now point to a possible 

turning point—has resulted in a condition in 

which E. R. "Dick" Holtz, president of the 

operating company, expressed entire satisfaction 

with the fact that "business has held its 

own" in this period, instead of dropping 

further. 

The idea was started in August, with the 

starting time set back half an hour to 6:30 

p.m., and the closing time moved forward to 

11 to 12, in.stead of 12:15 to 1 o'clock. Selection 

of the film to be shown once is dependent 

upon length considerations, rather than 

the relative strength of the two features. 

Holtz has been checking other theatres in 

the area, and reports very low attendance at 

the late shows, and contends that "to run a 

late show is futile." The Centm-y has benefited 

economically from the policy, even 

though business has not picked up. since a 

slight saving in expenses, such as power 

and heating, is possible. 

"The reaction is excellent. Patrons like the 

policy," Holtz summarized, and confidently 

said, "I think we are on the right track, 

though we can't prove it yet with figures." 

Billposters' Wage Hiked 

By Escalator Clause 

DETROIT—A general wage increase of six 

cents an hour is being placed in effect by 

billposters Local 94 in the Detroit area. The 

boost is virtually automatic under the existing 

escalator clause in local contracts, which 

expire generally on April 30, and was not the 

subject of any formal negotiation. 

Plans for a pension for billposters upon a 

nationwide scale were disclosed by Michael 

Noch, business agent of the Detroit local, who 

is also fourth vice-president of the international. 

The executive board of the latter 

is currently studying the formulation of a 

plan adapted to the requirements of the 

trade, but will preserve local autonomy in any 

plan that is finally adopted, Noch said. This 

would probably take the form of recommending 

to each local that it include the 

selected plan in its own contracts. 

lATSE Elects Fritz Devantier 

DETROIT—Fritz Devantier of Mount 

Clemens has been elected president of lATSE 

Local 735, covering several counties of southeastern 

Michigan just north of the Detroit 

metropolitan district. Other new officers are 

vice-president, Bert Penzien, East Detroit: 

business agent, Roy Suckling, St. Clair 

Shores; financial secretary, Noman Pingel, 

Mount Clemens; treasurer, George Konath, 

Roseville; corresponding secretary, Earl Natzel, 

Rochester; sergeant at arms. Shorty 

Bushard, St. Clair Shores ; delegate, Roy Suckling 

and alternate, Earl Natzel. The installation 

will be held on January 14 at the Flamingo 

club. 

MIDEASTERN 

STATES^ 


\V. E. Horsefield 

/* »- 

-.y'i 

Joe Isaac Ernest Conlon Allen Johnson 

Larl Hudson Lew Wisper Leo Jones 

DETROIT—Exhibitor state chairmen for the Council of Motion Picture Organization-sponsored 

federal tax repeal campaign are shown above. These men und distributor 

chairmen are working together in contacting senators and congressmen from 

their various states to assemble pledges of cooperation from the solons on outright 

repeal of the federal levy on theatre admissions. The exhibitors shown here represent 

the following states: 

KENTUCKY—W. E. Horsefield, Morganfield; and Joe Isaac, Cumberland. 

MICHIGAN—Ernest Conlon, Allied Theatres of Michigan, Detroit; Allen Johnson, 

Grand Rapids; Earl Hudson, United Detroit Theatres, Detroit, and Lew Wisper, 

Wisper & Wetsman Theatres, Detroit. 

OHIO—Leo Jones, New Star, Upper Sandusky. 

Also named as committee chairmen but not pictured above are: 

KENTUCKY—Irving Long, Fourth Avenue Amusement Co., Louisville, and Ned 

Green, Mayfield. 

Mrs. Mary Fetick Dies 

CINCINNATI—Mrs. Mary Coleman Fetick, 

wife of H. George Fetick, who operates a 

booking and buying service here, died Thursday 

(8) at her home from a heart attack 

resulting from an asthmatic condition. Her 

death occurred while her husband was undergoing 

tests at a hospital. Besides her husband, 

she leaves her mother and two brothers 

James and Robert Coleman. Robert Coleman 

is Kentucky salesman for RKO. 

Repeal City Ticket Tax 

NEWTON FALLS, OHIO—Tommy Manos, 

manager of the local theatres, which are 

operated by Manos Theatres, Inc., was successful 

in his bid to the city council for 

repeal of the city admissions tax. At the 

regular city council meeting recently the 

council suspended its rules and voted unanimously 

to repeal the tax, retroactive to January 

1. 

Booth Man Accusecl of Arson 

ST. MARY'S, OHIO—Accused of trying to 

burn the St. Marys Theatre, St. Marys. Ohio, 

where he was employed as a film projectionist, 

Robert Alexander, 33, has been indicted on 

charges of arson by the Auglaize county grand 

jury. 

Robert Taylor Visits 

Cleveland on 'Above' 

CLEVELAND—Robert Taylor spent a day 

here on his new MGM release, "Above and 

Beyond." which opened Thur.sday (15) at 

Loew's State. This was Taylor's first visit to 

Ohio and he almost didn't make it this time. 

Planes were grounded in Chicago by heavy 

fog, delaying his expected Wednesday arrival. 

But he made the final lap of his trip by 

train and arrived in time for a guest appearance 

at the Rotary club luncheon and a full 

day of press and radio interviews. He was 

met at the station by an air force recruiting 

group, of which he was made an honorary 

member. 

The Taylor schedule included Dayton on 

FYiday (9) then to New York to make his 

TV debut on Ed Sullivan's program. 

Vandals Damage Theatre 

AKRON—Vandals enjoyed a Roman holiday 

on New Year's day in Helen Smith Russell's 

Majestic Theatre, which has not been 

in operation the last several months. Nothing 

apparently was stolen, but extensive damage 

was done. The screen was ripped to 

shreds. Draperies were torn. Walls were 

scratched. To date the vandals have not 

been apprehended. 

BOXOmCE January 17, 1953 ME 73

. . Warner 

Review of 7952 Industry Events in 

Cleveland District 

CLEVELAND—A review of the motion picture 

business in this area in 1952: 

JANUARY 

Sandy Gottlieb, former local Film Classics 

manager, opened his own co-op buying and 

booking organization in Philadelphia 

Ernest Schwartz was elected to serve his 

18th term as president of the Cleveland 

Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n. Variety Club 

installed Henry Greenberger as new chief 

bai'ker. Leonard Greenberger, manager of 

the Fairmount Theatre, reported "The Lavender 

Hill Mob" established a new attendance 

record. 

Judge Edward BIythin ruled bingo for 

charity illegal in the case brought by the 

Brookpark post, VPW. Ben Ogron of Ohio 

Theatre Supply Co. was named TRAD sales 

representative. Rickie Labowitch celebrated 

her 21st year as CMPEA secretary. Manny 

Brown succeeded Sidney Cooper as UA manager. 

Jim Edwards joined Argus, Inc., as 

partner of Paul Scholz. 

FEBRUARY 

Ed Biggio sold Grand Theatre, Steubenville, 

. to Nat Schultz Theatres District 

Manager Frank Harpster was transferred 

Meyer Fine of 

to Pittsburgh . . . Associated circuit and wife left on a Mediterranean 

cruise. Admission prices downtown 

boosted to 85 cents top. Orr Theatre, Orrville, 

celebrated its fifth anniversary. 

Cleveland Salesmen's club dedicated a 

plaque in the Will Rogers Memorial hospital 

in memory of Dave Kaufman, victim 

of an automobile accident. George Bressler 

joined U-I as booker. Cleveland story debunked 

the closing scare. Milton Mooney 

named Myion Gross to head his Buffalo 

co-op branch. 

Irving Reinhart sold his Winsor Theatre at 

Canton and moved to Florida. Jerry Wechsler 

became a grandfather. Herb Ochs' son Jimmy 

joined the marines. 

MARCH 

Bucyrus repealed 3 per cent local ticket 

tax. National Film Service of New York 

took over Film Distributors of Cleveland. 

Montgomery Clift was in town to receive 

Critics Circle award plaque in behalf of "A 

Place in the Sun," the Circle's choice as best 

picture of the year. Ann Sheridan. John 

Lund and Howard Duff were here to promote 

"Steel Town." Ed Brady changed name of 

Drive-In Theati'e Equipment Co. to Ancon 

Corp. 

Max Greenwald resigned from Richmond 

Theatre to open a booking agency in Dallas. 

APRIL 

Drive-ins started opening for the season. 

Gertrude Ti'acy Reynolds, in theatre management 

for 24 years, resigned from Parma 

Theatre to become Parma Post advertising 

manager. Cleveland Cinema Club celebrated 

its 35th birthday. Alhambra Theatre installed 

first RCA Synchro-Screen here. Bernie 

Rubins bought John Urbansky's interest 

in Imperial Pictures. 

Blair Mooney bought Academy Film Service, 

Inc., from Gilbert Lefton. Ray Brown 

resigned as manager of State Theatre, Cuyahoga 

Falls, to enter advertising business. 

Daylight saving time started. 

Ernest Schwartz, left, was elected to serve his 18th term as president of the 

Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n. At right, Martin Smith of Toledo who Instituted 

a test cast of the Ohio censorship law. 

MAY 

In Urbana, Judge David S. Porter ruled a 

newspaper has a right to refuse advertising 

copy in suit brought by Skyhigh Drive-In. 

Two Harvard professors declared films are 

not the cause of juvenile delinquency. 

Cleveland newspapers boosted advertising 

rates three cents a line, 42 cents an inch. 

Nat Wolf, with Warners 20 years, resigns 

as Ohio zone manager. Chris Pfister named 

president of ITOO at 17th annual convention 

held in Hollenden hotel. He succeeded Martin 

G. Smith, president since its formation. 

JUNE 

Skirball's Rivoll Theatre, Toledo, received 

an RCA TV screen. Mrs. Etliel Brewer of 

Cleveland Motion Picture Council was named 

motion picture chairman of the Ohio Federation 

of Women's Clubs. Schwyns Portage 

Drive-In held outdoor religious services. 

Max Marmorstein took over the Circle Theatre. 

Sam Lichter was elected president of 

the Salesmen's club of Cleveland. 

Fred Holzworth. manager of the Hilliard 

Square Theatre for 24 years resigned to go 

into another business. The G & P Amusement 

Co. antitrust case came up for hearing 

in district federal court. Appeals Court rejected 

charity bingo contest. 

JULY 

Jack Share joined UA as city salesman. 

Gene Nelson of WB's "She's Working Her 

Way Through College" was a visitor. Crowd 

of 6,500 see the Robinson-Maxim fight on 

Palace and Hipp TV .screens. First run 

grosses down 7 per cent from 1951. Earl King 

was given a testimonial luncheon by J. W. 

Servies and local NTS personnel on his retirement. 

Ohio film censorship to be tested. 

AUGUST 

Phil Harrington, with MGM 18 years, resigned 

to go into another business. Cleveland 

held kickoff meeting on federal tax 

. . . 

repeal. Business upswing generally noted 

Joan Crawford here to promote "Sudden 

Fear." 

Martin Smith of Toledo pleaded guilty 

to showing uncensored newsreel in test case 

before Judge Frank W. Wiley. Ohio Censor 

Board head announced films will be censored 

as long as a ceiLsor law remains on 

statute books. 

Leo Jones named to head northern Ohio 

federal tax repeal committee. Ernest Schwartz 

named chairman of Cleveland COMPO committee. 

Ray Schmertz devised new type display 

boaid which is adopted by other 20th- 

Fox branches. 

lATSE Local 160 went on record to assist 

tax repeal fight. MGM's Vanessa Brown of 

"The Bad and the Beautiful," was in town. 

Phil Harrington, MGM manager 18 

years at Cleveland, resigned during the 

year to go into another business. At right, 

J. Knox Stracham left Warner Theatres 

after 20 years to become promotion manager 

for the Allerton hotel. 

State Theatre, Uhrichsville, filed antitrust 

suit in U.S. district court against eight 

majors, charging monopoly. 

SEPTEMBER 

Many old, out-moded theaters in this area 

closed. Jerry Lipow resigned as MGM salesman 

to join Judd Spiegle as a partner in 

Roadshows, Inc. U-I starlet Suzan Ball in 


town. Bill Tallman, Ceramic Theatre, East 

Liverpool wrote a letter to Attorney General 

James P. McGranery setting forth the effect 

on theatres of passage of proposed 16mm 

bill. Judge Emerich Freed ruled in favor 

of the defendants in the G&P Amusement 

Co. antitrust suit. Dusk-to-I>a\vn shows of 

six features and free morning breakfast was 

catching on at ozonens. Akron Ticket Sellers 

Local 765 decided it will not seek to place 

union members in theatre boxoffices. Labor 

day business topped that of the previous year. 

Frank Masek of NTS reported supply business 

up 20 to 25 per cent. 

Republic salesman Tom Alley's son Jerry 

returned from Korea. Leo Gottlieb and Blair 

Mooney acquired northern Ohio Lippert 

franchise. Manny Brown, UA manager, was 

transferred to Buffalo. Dave Leff of Buffalo 

succeeded him. 

Tom Farrell and Jerry McGowan join 

MGM sales force. 

OCTOBER 

Three local theatres. Hippodrome, Palace 

and State, showed the Wolcott-Marciano 

fight on theatre TV screens. Lester Dowdell 

switched from UA to RKO as booker. Variety 

sponsored the Cerebral Palsy Foundation 

school with an initial $10,000 donation. 

Revenue bureau auctioned Gayety Theatre, 

Toledo, to satisfy tax liens . . . Knox Strachan 

resigned from Warner Theatres after 20 years 

to become sales manager for the Allerton 

hotel. 

NOVEMBER 

Lester Zucker promoted from U-I manager 

to midwest district manager. Ed Heiber 

named to succeed him. 

Variety Club held formal opening of its 

new Hollenden hotel quarters. Variety Club 

announced a December 5 midnight benefit 

performance. 

Julius Lamm celebrated 22 years as manager 

of the Uptown Theatre, which celebrated 

its 25th anniversary. M. B. Horwitz added 

Detroit Film Footage 

Slips to Five-Year Low 

DETROIT—Total film footage released in 

the Detroit area dropped to 5,058,000 feet 

during 1952, the lowest total figure in at 

least five yeai's. It compares to 6,346,900 feet 

in 1951, according to figures compiled from 

activities of the police censors bureau, under 

the direction of Inspector Herbert W. Case 

and Sgt. Richard Loftus. 

Total standard American or Hollywood 

product dropped to a low of 3.522,000 feet for 

the year, compared to 4,717,900 feet in 1951. 

Foreign footage, however, nearly held its 

own, dropping from 1,628,000 feet in 1951 to 

1.536,000 feet in 1952. This total included 

1,037,000 feet of Mexican film, and lesser 

amounts of 11 other language groups: Italian, 

141,000; English (specially reported, apart 

from product distributed through regular 

American outlets), 125,000: Arabian, 72.000: 

French, 68,000; Swedish, 19,000; Greek, 19,000; 

Egyptain, 14,000; German, 14,000; Russian, 

12,000; Japanese, 9,000; Armenian, 6,000. 

Hungarian, Danish and Polish films, screened 

for the censors in 1951, were missing for the 

1952 lineup. 

The censors made only 25 cuts last year, 

compared to 32 in 1951, but more than 

doubled the amount of footage cut—from 17,- 

Julius Lamm, leit, celebrated 22 years as manager of the Uptown Theatre, which 

marked its 25th anniversary. .\t right is Fred Holzworth, manager of the Hilliard 

Square Theatre 24 years, who resigned to go into another business. 

the Ohio Theatre, Cuyahoga Falls, to his 

Washington circuit. Kroger Babb moved 

Hallmark Production offices from Wilmington, 

Ohio to Hollywood. 

The John Gardners sr. and jr. started a 

new drive-in on Route 79 near Hebron. 

First run theatres, in cooperation with producers, 

start a 13-week half-hour TV weekly 

program over WXEL on Sundays from 1 to 

1:30 p. m. ... Ed Heiber transferred to 

manage the Detroit U-I exchange during 

illness of Ben Robbins, with Edwin R. Bergman 

of the Cleveland sales force taking over 

for Heiber here. 

Loss of trained industry personnel and 

299 to 37,600. Nearly all cuts were in foreign 

films and product of independent distributors, 

including clinical pictures and travelogs. 

The censors made 469 calls on individual 

theatres to inspect the type of advertising 

used on the front, compared to 545 the year 

before, but ordered the same number of 

fronts removed or changed in each year— 14. 

"Show business is definitely cleaner." Loftus, 

who took over in midyear when Lt. 

Howard Stewart retired, said. "We are getting 

very good cooperation." 

Law Journal Gives Praise 

To Censorship Decision 

TOLEDO—The Journal of the American 

Bar Ass'n, in its December is.sue, contains an 

editorial praising Municipal Judge Prank W. 

Wiley's September 10 decision in the newsreel 

censorship test case in which Martin 

G. Smith, former national Allied president 

and long-time president of the Independent 

Theatre Owners of Ohio, played guinea pig. 

Judge Wiley, in effect, ruled that basic principles 

of freedom of speech and press must 

be applied to motion pictures and that Ohio's 

$3 per reel censorship fee for newsreels is 

discriminatory and invalid. 

Dimes and dollors will help mony a victim of polio 

to recover normal health. Arrange for Morch of 


inability to attract new employes is an industry 

headache. The closed Wausseon Drivein 

used its marquee to direct people to its 

opposition Princess Theatre during the winter 

season. J. S. Jos.sey, in poor health 

the last five years, died. 

DECEMBER 

RKO's Otto Braeunig and wife celebrated 

their 25th wedding anniversary. The Hoy 

Russells of Millersburg purchased the Holmes 

County Farmer-Hub. Alfred G. Burger stated 

Telenews Theatres will stick to pictures. 

Kathryn Reed here to promote MGM's 

"Million Dollar Mermaid" . . . Berlo's Max 

Shenker celebrated his 70th birthday. 

Judge Fi-ank W. Wiley of Toledo called the 

censorship fee a tax. Vogel Bros, of Wellsville 

will build Peru's first drive-in for R R. 

Hauser of Ann Arbor, Mich. Herb Ochs 

announced the arrival of his 11th grandchild, 

making the score six second generation 

boys and five girls. 

BOWLING 

CLEVELAND—Too many holiday matinees 

interfered with the Local 160 bowling team 

.sessions and lack of practice affected the 

scores when the schedule was resumed. Gordon 

Bullock of Suprex checked in 24 hours 

late and bowled himself out. Tom Smart, 

captain of Local 160 team, was first to hit 

above 600 with 602, only to be beaten by 

Ed Hutchens of Suprex with 603 a few minutes 

later. Mike Sawdo of NTS made the 

4-7-10-split. Larry Shafer of NTS, after 

winning two jackpots in a row, was barred 

from future participation in the minor league 

dough. Standings of the teams to date are: 

Teom Won Lost Team Won Lost 

NTS 23 13 Ancan Corp. ...17 19 

Local 160 19 17 Suprex 13 23 

To Handle Butter Machine 

CLEVELAND—Ben L. Ogron's Ohio Theatre 

Supply Co. here has been appointed dealer 

to handle the distribution of the Butter- 

Mat machine in the northern Ohio territory. 

The Butter-Mat machine, a melted butter 

dispenser for popcorn, has been adopted by 

Berlo Vending Co. on the basis of its performance 

of speeding up sales and increasing 

concession stand profits to the theatre 

owner. Among theatres using the Butter- 

Mat machine in this area are the Mayland, 

Cleveland: Berea, Berea, and Lake, Painesville. 

BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953 75

. . Ivan 

— 

DETROIT 

. . . Bill Ahrens, manager 

J>oy Cook, premium specialist, is back from 

Knoxville. where he saw seven drive-ins 

still in operation 

of the Ecorse Drive-in, returned from a visit 

in Miami and at the home office of his 

circuit in Cleveland . . . Fred Bonnem, 

Columbia salesman, and wife returned from 

Florida . Calvet, NSS manager, left 

for a vacation in Kentucky and Toronto. 

Mickey Zanet of Confection Cabinet Corp.. 

entered the hospital. Ben Rosen, manager 

of the company, has been vacationing in 

Aaron M. Friedman, head of 

Florida . . . 

Veterans Food Products, is displaying his 

new electronically controlled potato chip 

manufacturing equipment . . Ted Rose, 

. 

formerly at the Apollo, has been named manager 

of the Rogers, recently reopened by 

Harry Balk and associates. Edward Wenclasky. 

who was operator at the Penkell, 

recently closed by Wisper & Wetsman and 

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CLEVELAND 

COLUMBUS 

rjonald V. 

Gardner was elected president of 

the Operators' Local 386 for a two-year 

term. Other officers cho.sen for two-year 

terms were H. Meade Feather, vice-president; 

David R. Cornwell. secretary-treasurer; Calvin 

Beard, financial secretary; Bill W. Weltz, 

recording secretary; Ned R. Welch, business 

representative; Paul Wareham, three-year 

trustee; William Constans, health and accident 

trustee, and Willie Persons, sergeant at 

arms . . . Harry Schreiber has booked "Bwana 

Devil" for the RKO Palace starting February 

20 . . . Edward Lamb, owner of WTVN, 

Dumont and ABC video outlet here, announced 

that the station has been authorized 

to increase its power five-fold. New power 

will be 100,000 watts visual and 50,000 watts 

aural. 

Norman Nadel, Citizen theatre editor, announced 

his selection of the ten best films 

of 1952: "The Quiet Man," "The Greatest 

Show on Earth," "Detective Story," "The 

African Queen," "Rasho-Mon," "High Noon," 

"Quo Vadis," "Singin' in the Rain," "Decision 

Before Dawn" and "The Well." Jack 

Keller is substituting for Nadel during the 

latter's Broadway visit. 

First municipal parking garage, to be 

erected on a 187x187 site on East Long street, 

will park 583 cars in a five-story reinforced 

concrete structure, it was announced by William 

R. Morris, off-street parking commissioner. 

The second garage to be erected by 

the city probably will be similar in size. The 

latter garage is to be erected near the Ohio, 

Hartman and Grand theatres. The first 

garage is within two blocks of RKO Palace 

and Loew's Broad theatres. 

Architect's sketch of the proposed outdoor 

amphitheatre for the Ohio Se.squicentennial, 

to be erected on North Star road north of 

Lane avenue on property owned by Ohio 

State university, was printed in local newspapers. 

The Ohio legislature has been asked 

for $300,000 for construction of the 1,500-seat 

structure and $96,875 for the historical 

pageant which would be staged in the amphitheatre 

this summer and probably in subsequent 

summer seasons. The $300,000 figure 

is considerably more than was originally announced. 

\m

; 

1952 Industry Highlights in Cincinnati Territory 

CINCINNATI—The year 1952 in Cincinnati 

brought many changes in the film industry as 

individuals and businesses closed ranks to 

fight back against television, censorship and 

other attacks. Here is a month-by-month account 

of the major happenings of 1952 

JANUARY 

The RKO Alt)ee management announced 

the theatre would be equipped for big-screen 

TV programs. Harold Hellman. former city 

salesman for ELC, died in Detroit at the age 

of 32. Hellman was transferred to Detroit 

as salesman for UA at the time of the UA-ELC 

merger. 

The installation dinner of the local Variety 

Club saw Vance Schwartz installed as chief 

barker. Joe Rosen, 20th-Fox manager, wa-s 

shifted to Washington as manager, while Bob 

McNabb, sales manager in Cincinnati, came 

here as branch manager. 

Frank Allara, Matewan. was named Man 

of the Year by the Mingo county, W. Va., 

Chamber of Commerce for his activities in 

civic affairs. A territorial premiere was held 

at the Grand here for Republic's "The Wild 

Blue Yonder." 

FEBRUARY 

Rampaging floodwaters from the Ohio river 

brought new woes to area exhibitors. After 

several days of normal river stages, heavy 

downpours of rain sent the swirling river back 

into flood stage. 

Lee L. Goldberg, head of Realart of Cincinnati 

and Indianapolis, died of a heart 

attack at the age of 65. 

MARCH 

Improper nailing when the ceiling was installed 

30 years ago was blamed for the 

collapse of the plaster-covered metal ceiling 

lath at the Rosevelt Theatre, which injured 

about 60 persons, none seriously. Jack Goldman, 

owner, estimated damage at about $2,500. 

Maurice White, president of Midstate Theatres, 

died at the age of 65. Meyer Adleman. 

president, and Bud We.s.sel. .secretary-treasurer 

of States Film Service, acquired the Cleveland 

area franchise of National Film Service. Paul 

McKay, exhibitor at Montgomery. W. Va., 

died. A reserved-.seat showing of "With a 

Song in My Heart" was held at the Taft Theatre 

here by 20th-Fox and the Conservatory of 

Music. Jane FVoman appeared and proceeds 

were donated to the Jane Froman foundation 

for scholarships at the Cincinnati Conservatory. 

The showing was a sellout. 

APRIL 

Nathan S. 

Wise, publicity director for RKO 

Theatres since 1944. resigned. He and James 

Keefe, former public relations representative 

for 20th-Fox, formed an advertising and public 

relations agency. 

Judge John Wessel, Carrollton, Ky., died at 

the age of 42. He is survived by his wife 

Frances and a two-year-old daughter. The 

Wessels operated the Royal Theatre. 

MAY 

Officers and directors of Variety Club voted 

to sponsor a new charity — the Hamilton 

county Council for Retarded Children. Aldo 

Ray. star of "The Marrying Kind," spent a 

few days here. A luncheon was held here at 

which exhibitors heard Nat Levy, RKO division 

manager, and Terry Turner, director of 

exploitation, outline the territorial premiere 

of "King Kong," which opened in 200 theatres 

in June. 

Mrs. Jane Monsey. 28, daughter of Edwin 

Selig J. Seligman, who served as cochairman 

of the United Cerebral Palsy 

drive in the Cincinnati area. 

M. Booth. MGM manager, died in Indianapolis. 

Besides her parents, she was survived by 

her husband Richard. 

JUNE 

Selig J. Seligman and Phil Chakeres were 

co-chairmen for the United Cerebral Palsy 

drive. Co-distributor chairmen were Bob Mc- 

Nabb, 20th-Fox manager, and Harry Buxbaum. 

Paramount. Tony Knollman. business 

agent for the front office union, attended a 

district meeting of lATSE in Detroit. 

The Davis Drive-In was opened in Stanford. 

Ky., by Harry Davis, giving Lincoln county its 

first outdoor theatre. Two former theatre 

sites were .sold—the old Glenway Theatre 

building in Prince Hill, which contains several 

stores, was sold for $50,000. The former 

Heuck's Opera House property was bought 

by the Regal Realty Co. from the Jones estate 

for about $100,000. 

Mrs. Rose E. Dodge, mother of Elstun A. 

Dodge. Cincinnati exhibitor, died at the age 

of 79. 

JULY 

The downtown Capitol and Keith's theatre 

clo.sed. Nick Shafer. president of the operating 

companies, said last summer's record and 

present business trends made it "sounder" to 

close the house. The Albee showed the Robinson-Maxim 

fight telecast to a capacity audience, 

with many patrons standing. 

The Variety Club dinner dance at the Lookout 

House netted some $2,100 for the Hamilton 

county Council for Retarded Children. 

AUGUST 

Allan S. Moritz wajs general chairman of 

the Variety Club golf day. Roy White, Midstates 

Theatres, reopened the Forest Theatre. 

Max Millbauer, Dayton, installed in-car heaters 

and planned to keep his Belmont Auto 

Theatre open all year. John H. Kelley, 63, 

manager for National Theatre Supply, died. 

He had been with the company for 23 years. 

James A. Conn, acting manager during 

Kelley's illness, was named manager, with Ed 

Novack as his assistant. 

The downtown Capitol was reopened under 

RKO management through an agreement 

completed between RKO Theatres and Midstates 

Theatres. F. W. Hu.ss of Associated 

Theatres was one of the Ohio exhibitors running 

an uncensored newsreel at his Park Theatre, 

Northside, in order to bring on a lawsuit 

as a test case of the legality of Ohio cen- 

.sorship of newsreels. Martin G. Smith of 

Toledo, another of the exhibitors running the 

newsreel, was the defendant in the suit. 

SEPTEMBER 

Paul "Bud" Wessel fell and suffered a 

broken hip. He is secretary-treasurer of 

States Film Service. Jack Frisch joined UA 

as salesman and was married to Margaret 

Sellmer of Indianapolis. Jim Abrose, WB 

manager, was promoted to district manager 

and was given a testimonial dinner spon.sored 

by Variety Club. Phil Fox, Columbia manager, 

headed the arrangements committee. 

A shooting in the Times during a Saturday 

matinee showing of "Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, 

Nellie," brought the audience to its feet, but 

no panic ensued. Jack Finberg, UA manager, 

suffei'ed a heart attack at the office and was 

taken to Jewish hospital. Robert Dunbar succeeded 

Jim Abrose as Warner Bros, manager. 

OCTOBER 

More than 3,000 fans witnessed the Walcott- 

Marciano bout on the Albee TV screen. 

Walter Abel, film, radio and TV star, was in 

town. Mike Spanagel, former vice-president 

and assistant general manager of Midstates 

Theatres, joined WCKY as sales account 

executive. Jules Lapidus, WB eastern and 

Canadian sales manager, presided over a 

meeting of the central district sales heads 

here. 

Charles A. Midelburg, theatreman of 

Charleston, W. Va., for the last 35 years, died 

at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife, 

son Jack and two daughters. Cincinnati combine 

announced reopening of Keith's Theatre, 

downtown house, with a first run policy on 

November 30, according to Robert Morrell, 

general manager. 

NOVEMBER 

Emil George, Wapakoneta, Ohio, celebrated 

Phil Chakeres. left, Springfield circuit 

executive, who served as co-chairman of 

the United Cerebral Palsy drive, and 

right Vance Schwartz, Variety Club chief 

barker in 1952. 

78 BOXOFTICE January 17, 1953

. . 

—— 

— 

his 30th anniversary in theatre business. Old 

• Newsboys day. November 17, sponsored by 

the Variety Club Foundation for Retarded 

Children, was a tremendous success and netted 

close to $25,000 for the pet charity. Chairmen 

for the event were Vance Schwartz. Herman 

Hunt and Phil Fox. The RKO Albee 

showed the Metropolitan Opera production of 

"Carmen" on its big-screen TV. 

DECEMBER 

A number of prominent area exhibitors 

died: L. Roy Smith, Huntington, W. Va.; 

Ducky Myers, Majestic Theatre, Chillicothe, 

and Mrs. Arey N. Miles, Eminence, Ky. 

The RKO Lyric, 48-year-oId showplace, 

closed and the building will be torn down to 

make way for a parking lot. The local loge 

of Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen 

elected Pete Niland, president, and Sam Weiss, 

vice-president. 

Jack M. Onie, son of Mr. and Mrs. William 

Onie of Cincinnati, became engaged to 

Shirley May Guttman. Harry J. "Pop" Wessel, 

founder of the Film Service Co., died at 

the age of 80. He was a former chief barker 

the Variety Club and for many years was 

of 

chairman of the heart committee. 

Detroit Contestant Wins 

'Because of You' Awards 

DETROIT—The staff of United Detroit 

Theatres was elated when Connie Mavis won 

the national "Because of You" contest, with 

rewards including a nine-week contract for 

a role in "The Big Payoff" over the National 

Broadcasting network, together with a week 

in New York City as guest of Universal she 

also won a complete new wardrobe. 

The local winner was entered through the 

Michigan Theatre, whose manager, Gil Green, 

was active in handling arrangements, with 

Mrs. Alice Gorham, exploitation chief of the 

circuit. Miss Mavis proved to be a two-time 

winner. Earlier she was one of three girls 

picked in a national contest by Photoplay 

magazine to go to the Pasadena Playhouse 

for auditions. 

Leslie Lobdell Is Dead 

DETROIT—Leslie Lobdell, founder of Lobdell 

Movie Sign Service, died January 5. He 

specialized in the installation of banners and 

serviced many area theatres for years, later 

taking his son Edgar into the partnership. 

He is also survived by his wife Selina and 

two other children, Donald and Mrs. William 

Schultz. 

WIN CHECKS FROM MOM — Two 

happy recipients of MGM checks as a 

result of winning- second prize in the 

record display contest for "Singin" in the 

Rain," were Gen Geary, manager of 

Schine's Athena Theatre at Athens, Ohio, 

and Grandee's Music store, represented 

by Thelma A. Robinson. The winners 

here are presented with the prize money 

by J. E. Watson, MGM field press representative 

for the territory, at center. 

TOLEDO 

TTandals wrecked the Majestic Theatre here, 

. . Rock 

. . "Good Night Ladies," stage produc- 

as they ripped the screen and left the 

office in shambles. The house, now closed 

for repairs, is owned by Mrs. Helen Smith 

Russell, Millersburg, Ohio . 

U-I star, was scheduled to visit 

Hudson. 

the Rivoli 

here . 

tion, 

played at the 3,400 Paramount recently. 

Robert Taylor was in Dayton, January 9, to 

receive a "Golden Anniversary of Flight" 

membership, as well as to promote his latest 

picture, "Above and Beyond." He was a guest 

at a special Chamber of Commerce luncheon 

at which the membership was presented . 

The marquee of the Loop Theatre here prevented 

possible injuries to pedestrians when a 

truck struck a light pole and caused it to fall 

against tlie front of the theatre, thus preventing 

it from landing on the sidewalk. 

From 'Timberline' to 'Town' 

The title of the Universal picture formerly 

called "Flame of Timberline" has been changed 

to "Take Me to Town." 

'Bali' Cincinnati Bow 

Scores 165 Per Cenl 

CINCINNATI—"Road to Bali" took the 

high road in local first run percentages, topping 

all other contenders with 165 per cent 

In its first week at the Albee. The picture 

moved over to the Grand for a second stajiza. 

All other first runs reported nice grosses, all 

over average. "April in Paris" did well at 

the Palace to the tune of 135 per cent. 


Albee Rood to Bali (Para) 165 

Copitol Tropic Zone tPora) 

II Q 

Grand Abbott and Cosfello Meet Captain Kidd 

(WB), Captive Women (RKO) 105 

Palace April in Poris (WB) 135 

'Mermaid' Grosses 200 

To Lead Cleveland 

CLEVELAND—"Million Dollar Mermaid" 

scored the top gross here last week with a 

mighty 200 per cent in second downtown 

week at the Stillman Theatre. "Road to Bali" 

scored 195 to rate second best, while "Kansas 

City Confidential" and "April in Paris" each 

hit 150. Mild, clear weather also played a 

part in the improved first run business. 

Allen April in Paris ( WB) 

1 50 

Hippodrome Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox) ! ! . 125 

Ohio Kansas City Confidentiol (UA), 2nd d t 

„ wk 150 

Palace My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox) 125 

State Road to Bali (Paro) 195 

Stillman Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM), irid 

d- '. wk 200 

"Ruby Gentry' Scores 200 

In Detroit Debut 

DETROIT—Downtown first runs continued 

to hold to well-above-average levels. "Ruby 

Gentry" bowed in at the Fox to top the 

city with 200 per cent and "Bwana" held up 

well in a second week at the Madison with a 

score of 175 per cent. 

Adams Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM), 2nd wk.. .100 

Fox—Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox); The Spider and the 

Fly (Bell) 200 

Madison Bwana Devil (Oboler), 2nd wk 175 

Michigan Road to Bali (Paro); It Grows on Trees 

(U-I), 2nd wk 120 

Polms-State Thunder in the Eost (Para); The 

Ring (UA) 120 

United Artists Stors and Stripes Forever (20th- 

Fox), 2nd wk ]00 

The film censorship board of Bogota, Colombia, 

reviewed 660 films in 1951, of which 

436 were English-language films, mostly 

American. 

Repeal City Ticket Tax 

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO—George A. 

Manos, Manos Theatres, Inc., was successful 

in his plea to the East Palestine city council 

for repeal of the city amusement tax. At a 

meeting here early this month the question 

of repealing the tax came up and the council 

voted unanimously for repeal. 

Broadway-Strand Is Sold 

DETROIT—Homer Cox, owner of the Our 

Theatre, Quincy, has taken over the Broadway-Strand 

at Union City, formerly operated 

by Douglas Mitmesser. Buying and booking 

of product for both houses is to be handled 

by General Theatre Service. 

Polio sufferers look to you. Drop Morch of Dimes 

slugs into your advertising for the Morch of Dimes 

drive—January 2-31. 

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BOXOFHCE January 17, 1953 

79

STILL THE OUTSTANDING LEADER 

BOXOFFICE 

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To every reader, each issue of BOXOFFICE brings 

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and make business more profitable. 

80 BOXOFTICE :: January 17, 1953

— 

—— 

— 

— 

— — 

Boston Grosses Rise 

To New Top Levels 

BOSTON—The upswing at the boxoffice, 

which started on Christmas Day and continued 

to rise through New Year's, has remained 

at an encouraging level. With one or 

two exceptions, all first runs are well ahead 

of last year's grosses and are doing exceptionally 

well. Best of the week locally was the 

second stanza of "Hans Christian Andersen," 

which raked in 300 per cent at the Astor. 

(Averoge Is 100) 

Astor Hons Christian Andersen (RKO), 2nd wk.. .300 

Beacon Hill—The Four Poster (Col) 125 

Boston— Ruby Gentry (20th-Fox); Captive Women 

(RKO), 2nd wk 135 

Exeter Street Breaking the Sound Barrier (UA), 

2nd wk 125 

Memorial Blackbeord the Pirote (RKO); Face to 

Face (RKO), 2nd wk 1 20 

Metropolitan Road to Bali (Para); The Blazing 

Forest (Para), 2nd wk 200 

Paramount ond Fenway April in Poris (WB); The 

Star ot Texas (AA) 1 75 

State and Orpheum Million Dollar Mermoid 

(MGM) 140 

Two Holdovers Lead 

Hartford Grosses 

HARTFORD—"Million Dollar Mermaid" 

and "Road to Bali" were bright spots in spite 

of severe bad weather. Both releases were 

held over for second weeks. 

Allyn Road to Bali (Para); Ride the Man Down 

(Rep), 2nd wk 100 

Art—Stranger in Between (U-l); Blue Lagoon (U-l) 

reissue 80 

E. M. Loew— Stop, You're Killing Me |WB); Mesa 

of Lost Women (LP) 85 

Poll My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox); Black Castle 

(U-l) 95 

Palace Million Dollor Mermoid (MGM); Desperate 

Search (MGM), 2nd wk 105 

Strand Against All Flogs (U-l); If Moscow Strikes 

(MOT) 90 

'Road to Bali' Tops New Haven 

With 150 Per Cent 

NEW HAVEN—Two theatres reported exceptionally 

high grosses for the week, while 

most others were close to normal levels. 

"Road to Bali" and "Million Dollar Mermaid" 

were the leaders. 

College — Stars and Stripes Forever (20th-Fox); 

Gambler and the Lady (LP), 2nd wk 90 

Lincoln The Grand Concert (Artkino) 70 

Paramount—Rood to Bali (Pora); Ride the Man 

Down (Rep) 150 

Poll Million Dollar Mermoid (MGM); Desperate 

Seorch (MGM) 140 

Roger Sherman April in Paris (WB); Fargo (AA). 90 

Norman Glassman Heads 

Allied Confab Committee 

BOSTON—At the Januaiy board meeting 

of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of New England, 

Norman Glassman, president, was 

elected general chairman of the annual convention 

of national Allied to be held in Boston 

at the Sheraton-Plaza hotel October 3-7. 

Gla-ssman and his wife and son Bruce and 

his wife are vacationing in Miami for three 

weeks. On his return, Glassman will appoint 

his working committee for the 1953 Allied 

States convention. 

Ray Feeley, executive secretary of Independent 

Exhibitors, flew to New Orleans for 

the midwinter Allied board meeting and will 

meet there Nathan Yamins. national delegate 

from the New England unit, who is flying to 

New Orleans from his Palm Beach home. 

Arnold M. Picker, vice-president of United 

Artists in charge of foreign distribution, has 

returned from a tour of the far east on company 

business. 

NEW ENGLAND 


Dr. J. B. Fishman Harry F. Shaw Albert M. Pickus C. J. Russell 

Ralph Tully Martin M. Mullin Lloyd Bridgham Melvin Morrison 

Edward Fay Meyer Stanzler Andrew Tegu Frank A. Vennett 

BOSTON—Pictured above are the state committee chairmen for the Council of 

Motion Picture Organizations-sponsored campaign for repeal of the 20 per cent federal 

admissions tax. These men, together with distribution chairmen, are contacting senators 

and congressmen from their re.spective states to secure pledges of their support in 

repealing the federal tax. The exhibitors represent the following New England states: 

CONNECTICUT—Dr. J. B. Fi.shman, Fishman Theatres, New Haven; Harry Shaw, 

division manager, Loew's Poll New England Theatres, New Haven, and Albert M. Pickus, 

Stratford Theatre, Stratford. 

MAINE—Ralph Tully, State Theatre, Portland, and C. J. Russell, Bangor. 

MASSACHUSETTS—Martin M. Mullin, New England Theatres, Boston. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE—Lloyd Bridgham. Uptown Theatre, Dover, and Melvin Morrison, 

Strand Theatre, Dover. 

RHODE ISLAND—Edward Fay, C&F Theatres, Providence, and Meyer Stanzler, 

Community Theatre, Wakefield. 

VERMONT—Andrew Tegu, Tegu's Palace, St. Johnsbury, and Frank A. Vennett, 

Paramount Theatre, Rutland. 

'High Noon' Named Best in '52 

HARTFORD — UA's "High Noon" was 

named as best film of 1952 by Allen M. 

Widem, Hartford Times motion picture editor. 

Other selections: Best performance by an 

actor in a starring role, Gary Cooper in "High 

Noon"; best performance by an actress in a 

starring role, Shirley Booth in "Come Back, 

Little Sheba"; best performance by an actor 

in a supporting role, Donald O'Connor in 

"Singin' in the Rain"; and best performance 

by an actress in a supporting role, Terry 

Moore in "Come Back, Little Sheba." 

Wilkinson Hikes Admission 

At Wallingford House 

HARTFORD—George H. Wilkinson jr., 

president of MPTO of Connecticut, and operator 

of the Wilkinson Theatre, Wallingford, 

announced new admission price scale for his 

independent house: Matinees, all seats. 40 

cents, with children under 12, 20 cents; evenings, 

Sundays, holidays, orchestra and loges, 

55 cents, with all children under 12 accompanied 

by parent, 20 cents, and balcony, 40 

cents, with children under 12, 20 cents. 

BOXOmCE :: January 17, 1953 NE 81

. . 

BOSTON 

luranager James M. Connolly of 20th-rox set 

up two sneak previews, with "Taxi" at 

the Central Squire, Cambridge, and "Tonight 

We Sing" at the Coolidge. Brookline, and both 

were well received . . . Former District Manager 

Edward X. Callahan, who resigned last 

spring, was given a New Year's luncheon at 

the Ritz Carlton hotel by his former colleagues, 

Jim Connolly, Phil Engel, John 

Peckos, John Feloney, Stanley Young and 

E. X. Callahan jr. 

The MGM film, "Jeopardy," will be given 

a strong TV saturation campaign over the 

Mutual network, with Terry Turner, former 

RKO national director of exploitation and 

advertising, handling the project from the 

Mutual angle. The film will have simultaneous 

openings in 40 New England theatres 

and will have radio spot coverage in territories 

having no TV outlets. The Boston playdate 

is January 29 at Loew's State and 

Orpheum, with other playdates starting the 

day before and lasting through February 1. 

Catherine Breen, secretary to John Feloney 

at 20th-Fox, and Fi'ank Keller, booker at the 

same office, were both ill with the virus. 

In a higlily concentrated selling drive 

among salesmen and bookers of Warner Bros., 

a Warner product will be on every screen in 

the territory during the week of January 

11-17. This marks the first time in the history 

of the exchange that some Warner product, 

either for a full week or part of the 

week will play in each of the 460 theatres 

in the New England area. "This remarkable 

record was the result of a tremendous effort 

on the part of the staffs of this office," said 

Ralph lannuzzi, branch manager, "and could 

not have been accomplished without the 

wholehearted cooperation of all exhibitors, 

theatre bookers and managers. I wish to take 

this opportunity to thank each and every 

one of them in making this Norman Ayers 

Cleanup week such a success." 

Harry Aaronson, known as "the mayor of 

Scollay Square," again put on an annual 

Christmas show for a group of children sponsored 

by the Henry Piice lodge of Masons 

for which he is the entertainment chairman. 

This year the affair was held at the Colony 

Theatre, Dorchester, with owner Meyer Rubin 

donating the theatre for the occasion. Aaronson, 

who is the manager of the Stuart, Boston, 

thanked Tom O'Brien and Abe Barry of 

Columbia and John Moore and Wendell 

Clement of Paramount for donations of cartoons 

for the party. 

ATC President Samuel Pinanski has completed 

negotiations with Producer Sol Lesser 

for the initial New England showing of Ti-i- 

Opticon, a new third-dimension process, 

which opened at the Pilgrim, showcase of 

the ATC circuit, on January 15. The film 

was introduced at the Festival of Britain . 

The 20th-Fox feature, "Stars and Stripes 

Forever," broke a house record for regular 

admissions films at the Strand in Portland, 

Me., a Snider circuit hou.se. 

Rodney Bush, national exploitation director 

for 20th-Fox, spent a few days in town 

w'ith local pubhcist Phil Engel on plans for 

the cooperative newspaper campaign for 

"Treasure of the Golden Condor," which will 

open in this territory . . . Redstone Drive-In 

Theatres has made some managerial changes 

for the new season, with Manuel Lima, former 

manager at the Neponset Drive-In, Boston, 

switching to the New York drive-in at 

the Whitestone Bridge and with Hal O'Day. 

who has been at the Revere Drive-In, taking 

his place in Neponset. This leaves an opening 

for the manager at the Revere. 

For the first time in many years, a 20th- 

Fox film will play the Capitol, Springfield, a 

Warner house, when "The I Don't Care Girl" 

goes in. Phil Engel, publicist, a.ssisted in the 

promotion and stopped off in Worcester to set 

up the campaign for "My Cousin Rachel," 

which opens at Loew's Poll. 

Press-Radio Lunch Given 

For 'Flags' Conn. Bow 

HARTFORD—John McGrail of the U-I exploitation 

staff and Lieut. Cmdr. K. A. Ian 

Murray, retired British naval officer, were 

guests at a press-radio luncheon at the Hotel 

Bond during the Connecticut premiere of 

"Against All Flags" at the Warner Strand. 

Luncheon invitees included Allen M. Widem, 

Hartford Times; Viggo Anderson, Courant; 

Joe Girand, WTHT; Harvey Olson, WDRC, 

and J. F. McCarthy, manager of the Warner 

Strand, and representatives of the Hartford 

naval reserve training center. 

HANDY

. . . Race 

" 

. . . Burglars 

. 

. . 

. . Both 

Boston Industry Aids 

Dimes Drive Kickoff 

BOSTON—Several industryites were present 

at the kickoff dinner at the Hotel Vendome 

for the March of Dimes drive which 

runs through January. Seated at the head 

table, along with General Chairman George 

Swartz and Mayor H>^les, were James M. 

Connolly, manager for 20th-Fox and chairman 

for the entertainment industry, and 

Charles E. Kurtzman. northeastern division 

manager for Loew's Theatres, who is president 

of the Suffolk county chapter of the 

MOD. 

Also in the banquet room w'ere industryites 

Phil Engel. publicist at 20th-Fox. who is 

a vice-chairman in charge of theatre collections: 

Ray Feeley. Joe Cifre and Al Somerby. 

Charles Kurtzman gave the main address, in 

which he outlined the objectives for this 

year's drive and pointed out the need for 

increased collections due to the recent epidemic 

which brought the number of polio 

cases to more than the previous year in this 

state. 

Dr. William T. Green, chief orthopedic surgeon 

of the Children's medical center, was 

another .speaker. Plans w-ere discussed for 

the mother.-; march, a door-to-door solicitation 

which highlights the campaign. 

LYNN 

Drrnel Dandrow, better known as "Happy 

Dandrow. has retired as doorman at the 

Warner Theatre after many years of service 

films are making a hit with children 

on Saturday mornings at the New Colony, and 

excitement runs high as the comedians strive 

to win the various contests. Tlie 15 weekly 

winners in the audience are determined by 

numbers, printed on tickets and those worn by 

the racers. Pi-izes are awarded. 

Eugene Foster, stagehand and spare operator, 

and Ed Ellsworth, special officer and 

doorman, are now in the employ of the 

Colony, which with two competing theatres 

closed, now has a monopoly in a large busine.ss 

area. 

January Grosses Up 

HARTFORD — Maurice Shulman of the 

Shulman Theatres. Hartford, says business at 

the Rivoli and Webster theatres during first 

five days of January beat grosses for similar 

period last 

year. 


slugs info your advertising for the March of Dimes 

drive—Jonuory 2-31. 

Allied of West Virginia 

Okays National Policy 

From Mideast Edition 

Cincinnati—The Allied Motion Picture 

Exhibitors Ass'n of West Virginia has 

approved the entire policy program of 

Allied States Ass'n, particularly the rejection 

of the initial plan for a system 

of national arbitration. 

A poll conducted by mail of West 

Virginia Allied members resulted in a 

unanimous vote of approval, according 

to Ruben Shor, a director. 

N E \N 

HAVEN 

pilmrow visitors included John Perakos. Palace. 

New Britain, hobbling around on 

crutches as a result of a fractured ankle received 

in an auto accident in Pennsylvania . . 

Alex Harrison. 20th-Fox exploiteer. was in 

town to help on "Treasures of the Golden 

Condor." Saturation release of film is planned 

for February 4 . . . Screen star Eddie Bracken 

headlined the show at the Baybrook. West 

Haven night club (8-10) . . . Herman Levy, 

MPTO counsel, was named a member of the 

executive committee for the March of Dimes 

campaign here . . . John Carroll, brother of 

Dick Carroll, Paramount booker, died of heart 

Meyer Levin, film producer and 

disease . . . 

novelist, was a guest speaker at the New 

Haven Jewish Community Center. 

. . 

Connecticut Tent 31, Variety, now is sponsoring 

Family nights at its clubrooms every 

Friday evening, to develop interest of wives 

and other members in organization. Hy Levine 

has been named chairman of Tent Si's hou.se 

committee . The Connecticut unit will pai-- 

ticipate in the Variety milk train, which will 

deliver powdered milk to the children of 

Mexico City before Variety International's 

convention there in May. It is believed the 

train will originate in Boston, make a stop in 

New Haven and then work its way across the 

nation. 

RKO will show the short subject. "Operation 

A-Bomb." to Gen. William Hesketh. director 

of the state civil .service organization, 

other CD leaders and army, marine corps, 

air force and press representatives on the 

19th . . . Jules Livingston, Republic manager, 

was in New York for a business meeting . 

Three-column Associated Pi-ess story about 

Col. Paul W. Tibbets, central figure in "Above 

and Beyond," landed on the front page of 

the New Haven Register, giving a nice plug 

to the film before it opened at Loew's Poll 

January 15. 

Carl Reardon, U-I manager, was in Boston 

for a meeting to discuss product and distribution 

plans for the Charles Peldman drive, 

which runs through May 7. Also attending 

were Pete Dana, eastern division manager; 

John Scully, district manager, and representatives 

of the Albany, Buffalo, Philadelphia 

and Boston exchanges . . . Connecticut 

premiere of "The Pour Poster" was held simultaneously 

at two Sampson & Spodick houses 

in downtown New Haven, the Crown and the 

Lincoln . . . Floyd Fitzsimmons, MGM publicist, 

Boston, was in town. 

Rosalind Russell stars in "Wonderful Town," 

a new musical which will have its national 

premiere at the New Haven Shubert on January 

19. Miss Russell is originally from Waterbury, 

where her family still resides. Her latest 

film, "Never Wave at a WAC," will be released 

in this area within a few weeks after "Wonderful 

Town" premieres. 

Lieut. Comdr. Ian Murray, British Royal 

Navy Reserve, was brought here by Universal 

for a press-radio luncheon at Kaysey's, in 

connection with the opening of "Against All 

Flags," at the Paramount i8i ... Frequent 

snow and ice storms during first half of 

January have theatre managers gnashing 

their teeth. With good product being released, 

business is generally good, but it could be 

better were it not for the hazardous weather 

got $165.30 at the Howard Theatre, 

Fishman chain house in New Haven, after 

forcing an exit door. They ripped open the 

soft drink and candy machines and office 

cabinets, and also attempted to crack the 

office safe, but were unsuccessful. 

PROVIDENCE 

'pdward Gould, well-known in summer stock 

and stage circles throughout the east, came 

to grips with the Providence board of censors 

and was triumphant. Booking a revised version 

of the Broadway hit. "Tobacco Road," at 

the Playhouse. Gould was refused a license 

and was threatened with arrest should he 

go ahead with his plans. Deciding not to take 

the arbitrary ruling lying down. Gould appealed 

to the superior court. He pointed out 

that all of the objectionable material had 

been deleted. He was granted an injunction 

and the play opened on schedule. When the 

police censors arrived. Gould departed from 

his usual custom of granting free admission 

and forced the local censors to buy tickets. 

Some 450 persons atended the opening performance, 

and Gould in a speech between 

acts, presented his case. He asked the patrons 

to let him know if they were insulted or embarrassed 

by any of the pa.ssages in the play. 

Over 150 of the theatregoers rallied to his support 

and signed petitions to block the censors 

from interfering. Gould was congratulated 

for battling the censorship regulations which 

have for so many years harried local theatre 

operators. 

. 

Dave Levin held "Ruby Gentry" for a second 

week at the Albee . Music lovers were given 

a treat when the 

. 

Avon Cinema presented 

"Carnegie Hall" . the Albee and Loew's 

State pre.'.ented sneak previews of coming attractions. 

These were offered as part of the 

regular evening program without any increase 

in admission. 

. . . 

. . . 

The Rhode Island premiere of "High 

Treason" was presented at the Carlton 

The Avon Cinema management took quick 

advantage of the front page publicity anent 

the battle between the Providence board of 

censors and the Playhouse over the staging 

of "Tobacco Road" by bringing back the 

screen version of the Broadway hit. On the 

same program was "Grapes of Wrath" 

The Majestic, last of local houses to succumb 

to refreshment stands, has a very 

beautiful lobby display. 

The Greek ministry of commerce has allocated 

50,000 pounds sterling for importation 

of British films during the year July 1, 

1952 through June 30, 1953. 

SPECIAL 

TRAILERS 


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QUALITY! 

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BOXOFnCE January 17, 1953 83

iHa 

. . The 

— 

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Your Dollars Will save lives by 

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Your Dollars Will help ease the 

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Mail the coupon to "Cancer" 

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AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 

GENTLEMEN: 

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n Enclosed Is My Contribution of $.. 

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NEW HAMPSHIRE 

IJenry Allen Chapin, former employe of the 

Latchi.s Theatre hi Keene, died at Memorial 

hospital in Brattleboro, Vt. In recent 

years, he had been employed by the American 

Optical Co. in Brattleboro, his na'ive c'tv 

Thomas E. Lowe, a vaudeville performer for 

40 years on American and European stages 

and a resident of Sutton for the last ten 

years, died recently in New London hospital. 

Colleen Gallant of Laconia, "Mi.ss New 

Hampshire of 1951." and Terry Miller, both 

members of the Weirs Ski club, have gone to 

Cypress Gardens, Fla.. to appear in a fulllength 

film, "The Cypress Garden Story," 

starring E-sther Williams. 

Fred Markey, manager of the loka Theatre 

in Exeter, estimated that about 900 children 

attended the annual free show' for children 

staged by the Exeter Lions club during the 

Christmas sea.son. Markey was co-chairman 

of the event . . . Gala New Year's .shows were 

held at the Strand and State in Manchester, 

where "April in Paris" and "The Stooge" were 

the attractions. The Strand priced all tickets 

at 85 cents and the State admission charge 

was a dollar. Both houses had only one matinee 

during the afternoon. 

A newspaper survey in Manchester has 

shown that television has not only become a 

"grim competitor" for theatres and radio stations, 

but the Manchester social clubs as well. 

It was reported that some of the liquor-serving 

clubs had noted an attendance drop as 

high as 70 per cent. 

SPRINGFIELD 

pauI Anglim, New England concert and theatre 

manager working out of Boston, has 

been named new managing director of the 

Court Square, replacing Elihu Glass. Anglim 

plans concert series, lectures, fine arts films, 

musical and star stock, to keep the house 

lighted for the 40-week season. The Court 

Square was dark through December and will 

reopen with "Bell, Book and Candle" Monday 

(19) for three days. 

The Broadway, which has been dark for a 

couple of years and which formerly was a 

subsequent run hou.se, ha.s gone over to 

wrestling, starting this month. The house 

was leased from New England Tlieatres of 

Boston, which acquired it, along with the 

Paramount, from Paramount, by Joseph De- 

Maria and James Andrews. Ed Smith, Paramount 

manager, sat in on negotiations with 

Harry Browning of New England Theatres. 

Loew's Poll previewed "Above and Beyond" 

for an enthusiastic night audience, with 

George E. Freeman as host . Arcade, 

operating on a new first run basis, held "Because 

of You" three weeks, the longest run 

for any film hereabouts in months. 

The Valley Arena, Holyoke nltery and home 

of wrestling and boxing shows, burned to the 

ground. Loss was estimated at SIOO.OOO and 

doubt was expressed that it will be rebuilt . . . 

All first run houses reported very heavy holiday 

busine.ss with long lines despite inclement 

weather. 

Industry Goodwill Jobs 

In Need of Publicity 

From Mideost Edition 

TOLEDO—Tlie motion picture industry, 

known throughout the world for its efficiency 

in promotion of pictures and stars, goes 

modest when it comes to promotion of its 

own good deeds. 

Locally, for mstance, the Old Newsboys 

Goodfellow Ass'n annually publishes a Goodfellows 

charity edition newspaper. Members 

of the association—all leading business and 

professional men—take their stands on the 

streets of Toledo to sell the eight-page special 

edition. Price of the paper is any amount 

aixl everything collected Is used to aid the 

needy children of the Toledo public and Parochial 

.schools. This year's edition was the 

23rd annual edition to hit the street. 

Of the hundreds of Toledo people and industries 

represented in the special edition, the 

motion picture industry stands out as the 

largest personal contributor. No less than 

ten members of Uie industry appear on the 

two-page photo spread as committee chairmen 

and workers for Toledo's pet charity 

drive. Tlie list includes Joe E. Brown, star of 

stage and screen, as an active out-of-town 

member of the Old Newsboys Goodfellow 

A.ss'n. 

Two industry members were active committee 

members for this year's Goodfellowship 

day on December 19. They were Howard 

Feigley, theatre owner and an associate partner 

in the Skirball circuit, and Abe Ludacer, 

manager of Loew's Valentine. Also on this 

committee was Judge Fi-ank W. Wiley, who 

in the now famous Martin G. Smith ti-ial 

ruled that the censorship of newsreels in 

Toledo is unconstitutional. 

Other industry members who gave support 

to Toledo's pet project included Frank Murphy, 

Loew's theatre division manager; E. C. 

Pearson of the MGM territorial publicity 

staff; Marvin Harris. Toledo independent circuit 

owner and recently named executive 

director of the Lucas County Ohio Sesquicentennial 

committee; Jack O'Connell, Loop 

theatre owner; Larry Jabobs, former O'Connell 

partner; Jack Lykes. manager of the 

Colonial, and Pete Sun, prominent theatreman 

now retired. 

The public relations record of industry 

members is a distinguished record—tales of 

the good deeds that theatre owners and managers 

perform every day in their theatres 

such as providing a clean wholesome place of 

entertainment for young and old; taking care 

of hundreds of youngsters on Saturday afternoons, 

including seeing that the youngsters 

get home after the show lOne manager took 

a child home when it's parent failed to show 

up at the end of the show, while another 

child came to the show with a note pinned 

to her coat asking the manager to send her 

home in a taxi), and many other services 

that come under the heading "beyond the 

call of duty." 

Preview 'Above. Beyond' 

HARTFORD—MGMs -Above and Beyond" 

was sneak previewed to a Loew's Poli audience, 

which included Mayor and Mrs. Jo.seph 

Cronin. air force reserve officials, pre.ss and 

radio commentators. Lou Cohen, Loew's Poli 

manager, was host. 

Dimes and dollars will help mony o victim of polio 

to recover normal health. Arrange tor Morch ot 



. . 

FPC Reports Business 

Continues Upward 

TORONTO—A preliminary report on the 

position in 1952 of Famous Players Canadian 

Corp., presented by Vice-President R. W. 

Bolstad, showed that Canada's largest theatre 

chain had recorded a high mark in boxoffice 

revenue. 

Bolstad. who is also treasurer, pointed out 

that not only had business been maintained 

at a record level throughout the year but a 

strong trend was in evidence at the close 

of 1952. Considerable improvement in revenue 

was shown in December, as compared with 

the same month in 1951. 

The strong position of the company, which 

paid an extra dividend in December, was 

reflected in the firmness of common shares 

in the stock market, the year-end price being 

$18.50, compared with a low around $15.50 

early in 1952. 

VANCOUVER 

. . . Famous 

frank Gilbert, Paradi.se projectionist, returned 

from a vacation in Mexico and 

reported he had picked out an ideal spot 

to retire . . Shirley Strauch, Dominion Theatre 

. 

candy counter girl, will marry Joe Mer- 

rithen, a member of the American air force 

now stationed in Seattle . . . Bette Bzawy. 

Strand cashier, spent the Christmas holidays 

with her parents in Manitoba 

Players switched two downtown assistant 

managers; Andy O'Reilly from the Cinema 

International to the Capitol and Ed Stern 

from the Capitol to the Cinema, 

Irene Schnepf, Dominion Tlieatre cashier, 

was given a four-month leave to visit her 

native New Zealand . . . Joan Edworthy, formerly 

at the Victoria Road Theatre, is the 

new secretary at the Orpheum, replacing 

F^'ancis Sugerman, resigned. The husband of 

Edna Merrick, cashier at the Odeon Hastings, 

was in a hospital with a serious heart condition 

. . . Violet Hosford, 20th-Fox cashier, 

spent the holidays with her family in Edmonton. 

. 

Mickey Goldin, Studio manager, was hit 

by the flu during the year-end holidays 

Walter Hopp, Cinema manager, finished a 

successful run of "The Greatest Show on 

Earth," which played seven weeks in downtown 

Vancouver . . . Al Laubenstein, 20th-Fox 

office manager, became father of a daughter 

named Leslie Ellen. She is their first child. 

Downtown theatres which had special midnight 

.shows at $1 on New Year's eve generally 

had a disappointing evening, folks staying 

in their homes. Average business was reported 

by neighborhood exhibitors, with the 

usual pre-Christmas slump and a little 

pickup over the Christmas weekend. Perkins 

Electric Co. and Paramount Pictures held 

open house for British Columbia exhibitors 

prior to the holiday sea.son . . . Jack Donnelly 

of the Dominion staff and his wife 

left on a vacation in the South Sea islands. 

Four local suburban theatres were closed 

for Christmas day to allow employes to enjoy 

the day with their families . . . Steve Rolston, 

Alliance Films manager, and his wife were 

in Seattle for the holidays . . . The combined 

year-end party of employes of the Plaza and 

Paradise theatres was held at the Oljmipia. 

Montreal Film Industry 

Aids Blood Marathon 

MONTREAL—The motion picture 

industry 

in Montreal played a prominent part in the 

arrangements made to ensure success of the 

world's greatest blood-donor marathon, conducted 

under auspices of the Canadian Red 

Cross for 37 hours Saturday and Sunday 

(10, 11) in the armory of the 17th Duke of 

York Royal Canadian Hussars. The event featured 

a vaudeville program given voluntarily 

and free of charge by about 50O entertainers. 

Under normal conditions the show would 

have cost about $100,000, but business firms, 

the armed forces, individuals and entertainers 

combined to keep it going continuously for 

the entire 37-hours at no cost either to the 

Red Cross or the public. 

The campaign, aimed at securing a record 

total of 8,000 pints of life-saving blood to 

replenish the Red Cross bank whose stock is 

dangerously low, was opened by Mayor 

Camillien Houde at noon Saturday, following 

which the big show proceeded as the blood 

was drawn from a throng of donors. 

Dignitaries of Quebec province, the armed 

forces and Canadian industry attended. 

Maj. Gen. E. J. Renaud, chairman of the 

blood donor committee and former officer 

commanding military District 4, presided as 

official host. Chairman of the committee 

arranging the entertainment was Sam Gershenson, 

of Dinty Moore's, and concentrating 

on the motion picture industry angle was 

Harry H. Burko, district manager of General 

Theatre Supply Co. 

Radio station CFCF of the Canadian 

Marconi Co, devoted thousands of dollars 

worth of time and talent to promote the 

event which had a.s its object the immediate 

securing of 1,850 pints of blood and pledges 

enough to meet the record 8.000 pints total. 

The 37-hour CFCF broadcast was preceded 

by other broadcasts earlier in the week. 

CBC also broadca.st on its foreign service, 

sending a description of the great event to 

listeners behind the Iron Curtain, and also 

televising it. Besides publicity given by newspapers 

and magazines, trailers announcing 

the marathon were on all local screens. 

The armory was attractively decorated, with 

the Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada furni.shing 

silken flags and the Coca-Cola, Per>si- 

Cola and Canada Dry companies assisting. 

The army donated the auditorium and the 

stage, and the signal corps set up an interdepartmental 

field telephone service, complete 

with switchboard. Boy Scouts acted as 

runners. Associated Screen News sent photographers. 

The 20 -bed Red Cross blood donor hospital 

was headed by Dr. Cecil Harris. 

During the long interval, refreshments were 

donated to the blood donors by Steinberg's 

wholesale groceteria, while free transportation 

to the armory was provided by 600 taxis of 

the Veteran Taxi Ass'n. 

Harry H. Burko, district manager of General 

Theatre Supply Co., a member of the Red 

Cross blood bank committee, obtained from 

Con.solidated Theatres and Quebec Allied 

Theatrical Industries permission to exhibit 

trailers announcing the marathon in Montreal 

cinemas, and made arrangements for 

cameramen to photograph the scene. He 

made arrangements for draperies, and supplied 

spotlighting equipment and gelatine 

colors 

for the 30 x 60-foot stage. 

Screening Room Foibles Put on Pan 

By Correspondent From Winnipeg 

By BEN SOMMERS 

WINNIPEG—Local exchange screenings are 

attended regularly by only a small percentage 

of the substantial number 

of exhibitors in 

this area. Comparatively 

few theatremen 

apparently think it is 

worth while to preview 

the products they are to 

K 

show on their screens. 

Here, .some of the distributors 

screen at 

fixed times each week 

the new film product 

which have arrived 

from the east, while 

Ben Sommers 

other screen whenever 

the whim or need moves them. 

A volume could be written on the foibles 

of the groups who are seen regularly at the 

local screening rooms and no doubt they 

are duplicated at every exchange center in 

the Dominion and the U.S. as well. 

First there are managers. There usually 

is one manager, often the one with the top 

films, who exercises little or no supervision 

over the groups who show up and it is 

sheer luck if a bona fide exhibitor able is 

to crowd into the screening room—it is filled 

with branch managers, salesmen of other 

companies and all the friends and relatives 

of this one or another. 

But the back row center seat is reserved 

for the host manager. Tliis is protocol, even 

if the manager does not attend the screening, 

that seat stays empty. 

Then there probably is one manager who 

pokes fun at his new offering, saying after 

the screening is over that the film "certainly 

is a hunk of nothing wrapped in celluloid." 

Of course, he means this comment as 

a joke, and the odd exhibitor is supposed to 

disagree and say the film in question is a fine 

picture and will make money. But this approach, 

repeated often, backfires, and the 

viewers leave the comment unanswered. 

Then we sometimes have the coy manager 

who does not want to reveal the name of the 

picture being screened, but promises that it 

may be well worth while to spend the time 

seeing it, "since it is a little something with 

unknown stars that the company is sneaking 

(Continued on next page) 

BOXOFFICE Jaiiuary 17, 1953 K 85

Screening Room Foibles on Pan 

Continued from preceding page 

on the public." Then our coy manager has 

his little joke when the title comes on the 

screen. It is in Technocolor, the stars and 

director are the biggest in the business and 

the story is by America's best known author. 

But, of course, hearing this was a small 

picture with unknowns, some of the boys 

decided to .skip the screening and go home 

to baby-sit while their wives went to the hairdresser. 

Next to Chinese torture for any exchange 

manager is the occasion when, thinking a 

certain picture is better than average, the 

manager invites a big shot chain executive 

or newspaper reviewer to the screening, to 

discover as the picture unfolds, that it is 

terrible, and they must sit through it to the 

bitter end. That is known as ulcerating the 

situation. 

NOT EVEN FUNNY 

Some comedies when viewed in the cool 

bleak surroundings of the screening room 

appear cheerle.ss and far from humorous. 

Everybody comes out shaking their heads, 

saying: "It isn't even funny; won't make a 

nickel, don't know why Hollywood ever made 

it; I wouldn't play it in my house; let the 

oppo ition have it, etc." Then the picture 

plays a downtown key house, is held over 

for three weeks and sma-shes all records. 

Two years ago one manager screened a 

comedy, and strange as it may seem, it appeared 

-so funny the viewers laughed themselves 

sick and agreed it was the funniest 

picture to come from Hollywood. You've 

guessed it. It flopped in the key run and 

play second half of a bill all over the city. 

One company was so proud of its certain 

whimsical comedy that a tradeshowing was 

arranged on a Sunday at a large downtown 

theatre and all kinds of important persons 

were invited. This picture was IT—they 

thought. But w-hen the preview was finished. 

everybody came out of the theatre whispering: 

"Sure it's a nice picture, but who's going 

to pay money to see it ... I liked it personally, 

but my patrons don't go for that 

. . . My gosh, what am I going to do with 

that picture, I've already signed a contract 

at top rental for that picture." 

EXHIBITORS OFTEN RIGHT 

This time the exhibitors were right, the 

picture had mediocre success at the key 

run and was kicked around in subsequent 

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Pre-Popped Corn and Popcorn Warmers 

For details, wire, write or call 

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runs. In a lot of country points, the picture 

was boxoffice poison and this reporter, who 

also happens to be an exhibitor, played this 

super-top-money picture on the second half of 

a midweek bill. 

Some new pictures don't have cue marks 

or leaders, and naturally the projectionist 

gets fouled up. Often when a very interesting 

story is developing and the viewers in the 

screening room are closely following the plot 

—just at the crucial moment when the suspen.se 

is at its highest—the operator misses 

the cue and the screen goes blank. Cries of 

anguish arise at these moments, the gnashing 

of teeth is heard, reflections are cast on the 

ancestry of the projectionist until the picture 

is back on the screen. 

During mysteries there always are a few 

amateur Sherlocks who predict the true identity 

of the killer, and others beg the host 

manager to reveal the culprit's name, hoping 

that the manager read the synopsis of the 

picture in the pressbook before coming to 

view the picture. 

Of the types that sit in the screening room 

a separate volume could be written. There 

are exchange stenographers and revisers on 

their lunch hour who quietly slide in and 

watch the picture while eating their sandwiches 

and drinking their bottled beverages. 

These bottles invariably get knocked over 

and rattle and roll and smash when a latecomer 

blindly gropes around in the dark 

room for an empty seat. 

CRITIC BRINGS LUNCH 

There is one newspaper critic who comes 

with sandwiches in a paper bag, always with 

an apple for dessert. He claims he has so 

many commitments he has no time to eat 

lunch, and has mentioned and described his 

lunch-eating methods in his daily column. 

There is always one viewer who violently 

massacres a foul-smelling cigar, filling the 

screening room completely with smog, until 

somebody comes to the rescue by creeping 

forward, crouching low and flicking on the 

air conditioner switch, which is near the 

screen up front. 

Yes, there are the kibitzers; in fact, there 

is a trio known as the Unholy Three, who, as 

the mood befits them, make suitable commentary 

on the plot, acting ability, ticketselling 

appeal, future audience potentialities, 

and general ob.servations on the curvature 

and physical structure of the various actre-sses 

that fla.sh across the screen. 

There is always one person in the screening 

room who announces to the manager just 

before the light go out, "I have an appointment 

with the doctor later on, so don't feel 

offended when I leave in the middle of the 

picture." If the picture is good, our viewer 

receives a telepathic message from the doctor's 

receptionist that his appointment has 

been hoisted an hour; if the picture is lousy. 

our viewer remembers an even earlier appointment. 

LATEST IN KIBITZING 

The latest in kibitzing is directed at such 

scenes as blood-thirsty savages in ambush, 

rioting prisoners in conclave or gun-s!inging 

badmen plotting to rob a bank. These are 

facetiously known in the screening room as 

"film salesmen's conventions." If a bulletraked, 

blood-spattered, uniform-tattered hero 

successfully gets through enemy lines and delivers 

the all important document to the 

general at headquarters, the crack is, "Your 

contract has been rejected, home office wants 

$20 more for each picture." 

If the hero is represented as having unsurmountable 

handicaps to overcome to reach 

safety, or rescue the girl, and there is perhaps 

a pit of hungry crocodiles in his way, 

or a hungry tiger loose (and him without 

a gun or knife i then this is equal to your 

chances of having your contract approved by 

the general manager in the east. If the picture 

shows a sinister leader or boss or chief 

who gloats quietly with eyes half shut as the 

smoke slowly curls from his cigaret while his 

chief moronic henchman pulls the toenails 

out of the hero's toes, or tortures the hero's 

dear old grandmother—scenes such as these 

are classified by the screening room kibitzers 

as "the branch manager is pleading for an 

increase in rentals." 

Then, of course, we have the hai'ghty 

manager who takes his job very seriously and 

issues this ultimatum prior to the unveiling 

of his company's ma.steripece : "One peep 

out of any of you birds and it's the last 

screening of mine you'll ever attend." Well, 

to be perfectly honest, what are screenings 

for? What other group of businessmen have 

enough sense of humor to lampoon their own 

busine. s in the privacy of the screening room? 

So if you are an exhibitor who lives near an 

exchange screening room, it is your duty to 

your business to watch a picture or two, and 

enjoy it in your own private way. I should 

know, I am one of the Unholy Three! 

Graeme Fraser Elected 

Crawley Vice-President 

OTTAWA—President F. R. Crawley has 

announced the election of Graeme Fraser, 

assistant general manager, as vice-president 

and a director of Crawley Films, Ltd. Fraser 

joined Crawley after his retirement with the 

rank of major from the Canadian army in 

1946. He is a past president of the Ottawa 

Film society and served three years as vicepresident 

of the Federation of Canadian 

Advertising and Sales Clubs. He is also a 

past president of the Advertising and Sales 

club of Ottawa. 

He is an officer or committee member of 

the St. John Ambulance Ass'n, Canadian 

International Trade Fair. Dominion Boy 

Scout* Ass'n and the Canadian Film Institute. 

He is a member of the Rotary club of 

Ottawa. 

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As a screen game, HOLLYWOOD takes top honors. 

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over 15 years. Write todpy for complete details. 

Be sure to give seating or car capacity. 

HOLLYWOOD AMUSIMINT CO. 131 South WobotliAvanu* Chlcoae 5, llllnelt 


— 

— 

— 

. . Vic 

M ARITIMES 

]M[urray C. Trefry, who died recently a; Yarmouth, 

was an early-day projectionist. He 

was a veteran member of the salvage corps 

of Yarmouth ... At North Sydney, Manager 

John Farr of the Odeon accented the Nova 

Scotia angle in advance of a two-day showing 

of ''The World in His Arms." Some of 

the scenes in this picture were taken at 

Lunenburg and this fact was stressed in the 

promotion. It was pointed out that stand-ins 

and extras were hired from the Lunenburg 

fishing fleet, a.s well as the ve-.sels that were 

used in the production. 

The boxoffice of the Vogue, Sydney, in the 

Famous Players lineup, was open daily for 

two hours in the morning, four in the afernon 

and three and one-half hours at night, 

. . . 

to emphasize the sale of gift book tickets 

during the Christmas and New Year's weeks 

Mrs. H. L. Kerwin, wife of the manager 

of the Regent Theatre, St. John, was called 

to her parental home at Maxville near Ottawa 

by the death of her father, T. W. Dingwall, 

who was 82. Also attending the funeral 

was Jack Kerw'in, who is in the air force at 

Rockcliffe, Ont. He spent Christmas with his 

parents at St. John. 

A move has been made to have the old 

Opera House in St. John restored for use by 

local stage amateurs. It has been idle for 

many years after long activity for profe>^sional 

stage shows and finally for films. It 

was shuttered by arrangement among exhibitors 

who paid the rental. It was in this 

ancient theatre that the first films were roadshown 

in St. John. James Quinn, owner of 

the old structure in recent years, was in exhibition 

several years at the Empire, around 

the corner from the Opera House, which 

lately has been renamed the Kent after being 

leased by Abe Garson from the Knights of 

Columbus. 

At the Paramount in New Waterford, there 

were matinees during the school vacation 

showing only cartoons. Gregor & Gouthro 

has a tieup with Paramount . 

. . Joe 

Lieberman 

of B&L Theatres, St. John, was named 

president of the Shaari Zedek synagogue. 

This congregation supervises the chapel 

erected several years ago by Louis B. Mayer 

at the synagogue cemetery in the eastern 

environs of St. John. The chapel is a memorial 

to the parents of the film producer, 

and was opened by his nephew, Jack Cummings, 

MGM producer. 

. . 

A group picture of the staff of the Capitol, 

Yarmouth, was taken and reproduced 

for showing patrons. Absent when the shot 

was taken were Carl Winchester, projectionist, 

and Frank Murphy, a maintenance 

worker. The photo was used in the New 

Year wishes to the. patrons. The Capitol is 

in the Odeon chain . The London Theatre 

Co. returned to St. John's, Nfld., after five 

weeks in a Halifax school auditorium and 

Popcorn suppliers to Canada's leading independent 

theatres from coast-to-coast. 

YORK CONFECTIONS LTD. 

277 Victorio Street Toronto 2. Ontario 

opened with an English pantomime, "Cinderella," 

after Christmas. 

Ivan L. Haley, manager of the Mayfair and 

Dundas in Dartmouth who died recently was 

born at Yarmouth, where burial took place. 

He is survived by his wife, one son, one 

daughter and one brother. Each of the tw'o 

F&H theatres in Dartmouth was clo.sed the 

afternoon of the obsequies . . . The Savoy, 

Glace Bay, was the scene of a draw'ing for 

prizes offered by a local dry cleaning service. 

The net proceeds of one night at the Paramount 

and Majestic, New Waterford, were 

donated to the relief fund of the United Mine 

Workers. The union local at New Waterford 

asked everyone to attend either or both the 

theati'es the stipulated night in order to help 

the charity. Gregor & Gouthro operate the 

two 'theatres in partnership with Famous 

Players. The relief fund is for sick and injured 

miners. 

Firsl Vancouver Snow 

Keeps Grosses Down 

VANCOUVER—The first snow of the season 

kept theatre business down on top of the 

usual holiday letdown. Only pictures to show 

any strength were "Road to Bali" at the 

Capitol, "Million Dollar Mermaid" at the Orpheum 

and "The Turning Point" at Strand. 

Capitol Rood to Bali (Para) Excellent 

Cinerno The Greatest Show on Earth (Para), 7th 

d. t. wk Good 

Dominion Somebody Loves Me (Pare), Operotion 

Secret (WB), 2nd d, t, wk Good 

Orphcum Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM). .Very good 

Paradise Hangmen's Knot (Col); Mr. Waikie 

Talkie (IFD) Good 

Plaza Yankee Buccaneer (U-l) Averoge 

Strand The Turning Point (Para); The Women's 

Angle (IFD) 

Good 

Studio The Four Poster (Col) Fair 

Vogue Outpost in Malayo (JARO), 2nd wk Fair 

'Bali' Is Best Grosser 

In Blustery Toronto Week 

TORONTO—Business was steady to good at 

most Toronto theatres during a spell of disagreeable 

weather, practically the first of the 

winter, the heaviest grosser being "Road to 

Bali" in its second week at the Imperial. 


Eglinton Everything i Hove Is Yours (MGM).... 110 

Hyland Meet Me Tonight (JARO), 3rd wk 95 

Imperial Rood to Boli (Para), 2nd wk 110 

Loews Million Dollar Mermoid (MGM), 4th wk. . . 95 

Nortown My Pol Gus (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 105 

Odeon Stors ond Stripes Forever (20th-Fox). . . . 1 20 

Shea's My Cousin Rachel (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. .105 

Tivoli, Copitol Operation Secret (WB); Hurricane 

Smith (Pora) 105 

University The Crimson Pirate (WB), 2nd wk 1 05 

Uptown Plymouth Adventure (MGM) 125 

Industry Associates Say 

'Best Wishes' to Arthur 

TORONTO—Head office associates and 

close friends said formal farewell to Jack 

Arthur at a complimentary dinner last week 

(7) when tributes were heaped on Arthur 

for his many contributions to the amusement 

business in Canada over a period of 37 years. 

A charter member of the Famous Players' 

25-Year club, which was established in 1945 

for employes with at least a quarter of a 

century of continuous service. Jack Arthur 

resigned at the end of 1952 as head office 

district manager to devote full time to production 

activities with the Canadian National 

exhibition. During the war, Arthur was made 

a member of the Order of the British Empire. 

TORONTO 

Oharles Andrews, 66, projectionist at the 

Eglinton, died at the wheel of his car from 

a heart attack during a snowstorm when he 

tried to move his auto from the theatre parking 

lot with the help of Arthur Jobin, assistant 

manager. Andrews was born and educated 

at Orangeville but came to Toronto in 

1912 to enter the theatre business. Surviving 

are his wife and a sister, Mrs. Blanche Anderson 

of Toronto. 

. . Manager 

Ed Leigh, Odeon manager at Brampton, 

captured a gunman under the stairs leading 

to the projection room after the theatre had 

closed, turning him over to the police. The 

man, who gave the name of Ken Shram of 

Brantford, was charged with vagi'ancy and 

carrying a concealed weapon . 

Jack Clarke of Loew's sneaked "Above and 

Beyond" for an evening audience January 8 

during the engagement of "Million Dollar 

Mermaid." 

In addition to appeajing weekly in the CBC 

program, Mr. Show Business, depicting his 

own career, Jack Arthur, late of Famous 

Players, has blossomed forth as a speaker. 

He addressed a meeting of the Central 

Ontario Drama league on features of the 

Canadian commercial theatre . Nowe, 

manager of the Hyland, arranged for sponsorship 

of the opening night of "The Importance 

of Being Earnest" by the women's 

committee of the Mendelssohn choir. 

Elected 1953 president of the Motion Picture 

Theatres Ass'n of Ontario, J. D. Mcculloch, 

owner of the Iroquois at Petrolia 

for four years, has pointed out that he 

started in the theatre business in 1918 when 

he became an usher in his father's Royal 

George here, later becoming the projectionist. 

. . Awaiting 

Manager Sam Hebscher of the Palace at 

Hamilton has effected a weekly stunt with 

a leading grocery chain which has led to the 

distribution of $240 in merchandise at the 

theatre at 2 p. m. each Thursday . 

confirmation of offer by the board of the 

Canadian National exhibition. Bob Hope is 

considered a certainty as the headline attraction 

at the 1953 Toronto fair next August, 

the contract price mentioned being $85,000. 

Italian Film Premieres 

TORONTO—Holdovers prevailed this week 

at the specialty theatres. Both good for a 

third week were "Top Secret" at the International 

Cinema and "Anna" at the Towne 

Cinema. The Canadian premiere of the 

Italian "Reckless Cadets" held for a second 

week at the Studio while "One Wild Oat" was 

good for a second stanza at the Hollywood. 

The Astor turned to "Snow White and the 

Seven Dwarfs" for a week's run.

— 

. . . The 

. . Manager 

MONTREAL 

lyrontreal has the longest spell of holidays 

at Christmas and New Year's of any 

major city in Canada and, as a result, Filmrow 

finds itself divided between spells of 

comparative inacticity and recurrent parties. 

Some exhibitors from country districts invariably 

find themselves on Monkland avenue 

in the vicinity of Filmrow during the festive 

season and while placing some orders are 

also keenly interested in participating in 

holiday activities. Holidays commenced as 

usual Christmas eve and ended on Epiphany 

day January 6. the night on which illuminated 

Christmas trees disappiear from outside 

suburban residences. 

Filmrow personnel were preparing to do 

their bit in fostering the great Blood Bank 

Marathon of the Canadian Red Cross, some 

voluntarily working on publicity angles and 

others getting ready to donate blood. The 

motion picture industry share in the $100,000 

entertainment put on by both amateur and 

professional amusement .specialists in the 

Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 

armory, was considerable. It included trailers 

shown in all theatres and the donation 

of various stage accessories. Motion picture 

committeemen worked hard putting into effect 

suggestions for entertainment to help 

the blood donors pass their time without 

getting bored while waiting. 

"Intolerance," first of a series of film classics 

made in 1916 by D. W. Griffith, which 

tells four stories of the life of Jesus, was 

shown to Montreal Men's Press club members 

Sunday night (11) ... Three-dimensional 

color films used for scientific research were 

exhibited at the Montreal Neurological institute 

by Dr. William F. Windle of Morton 

Grove, 111., who gave details of the experiments 

in regeneration of the central nervous 

system in animals. 

. . 

Canadian premiere of the prize-winning 

film of the Locarno film festival, "It Happened 

in Europe," made in Hungary and 

carrying the official endorsement of the 

film division of the United Nations, was 

given at the Avon Theatre . MGM's "Pi-ide 

and Prejudice" will be released again throughout 

Canada, it is announced by T. J. Gould, 

general sales manager for MOM . . . Zachary 

Scott was stan-ed here with Joan Bennett 

in "Bell, Book and Candle," when it opened 

. . . 

a week's run at Her Majesty's Monday (12) 

Lucienne Boyer, Parisian star, always 

a favorite in Montreal, has returned with a 

supporting company of soubrettes and is 

drawing crowds to the Continental. 

Canadian Institute of Public Opinion canvassed 

Canadian fans on their choice of the 

greatest films of 1952 and found that they 

favored The Greatest Show on Earth, Quo 

Vadis, The Great Caruso, With a Song in My 

Heart and The Quiet Man in that order . . . 

Amherst Theatre on St. Catherine street east 

was the scene of an early morning holdup, 

which netted the robbers between $1,600 and 

$2,000 stolen from the safe in the manager's 

office. . . . C. Vital Cousineau, a pioneer 

of motion pictures on the south shore of the 

St. Lawrence opposite Montreal, died January 

2 at St. Lambert, suburb in which he 

operated the Victoria Theatre for 32 years. 


slugs info your advertising for the March of Dimes 

drive January 2-31. 

Performing Right Tax 

Remains Same as in '52 

OTTAWA—Performing right fees for theatres 

in 1953. unchanged from last year, were 

approved at the annual hearing here of the 

government copjTight appeal board, of which 

Justice J. T Thorson is chairman. The seat 

fees, imposed by the Composers, Authors and 

Publishers of Canada, are as follows: Less 

than 500 seats, 10 cents a year: 500 to 799 

seats, 12 cents: 800 to 1,599 seats, 15 cents; 

1,600 seats and over, 20 cents. 

Theatres which operate three days or less 

per week pay one half of the regular rates, 

with a minimum fee of $10. The seating 

capacity of drive-in theatres is determined at 

three times the maximum number of automobiles 

accommodated in the parking area. 

The board postponed action on performing 

right charges for television broadcasting on 

the ground that video had not reached the 

stage in Canada where any basis could be 

determined, the only two TV studios having 

been opened only last September. 

The copyright board reserved decision on 

the question of fees to be paid by privatelyowned 

radio stations, the latter having objected 

to the schedule established in 1952 on 

the basis of program revenue instead of the 

number of receiving sets served in an area. 

The Canadian Ass'n of Broadcasters asked 

for a reduction from 1952 charges by CAPAC 

for privately owned stations and for a change 

of fee basis. 

OTTAWA 

. . . 

T eonard \\. Brockington, president of Odeon 

Theatres and other Rank companies, was 

received Thursday (8) by Vincent Ma-ssey, 

governor-general of Canada, at Rideau Hall 

The Royal Canadian Golf Ass'n has 

announced that entries have been received 

from Bob Hope and Bing Crosby for the 

Canadian open championships, scheduled next 

August at the nearby Seigniory club. Hope 

is expected to star later at the Canadian 

National exhibition grandstand show. 

During the third week of "The Happy 

Time" at the Elgin, Manager Ernie Warren 

u.sed a series of ad vignettes of local film 

fans along with their personal comments 

on the picture, the locale of which is laid 

in Ottawa . James Chalmers 

of the Odeon has timed the engagement of 

"The Cruel Sea" with the appearance of the 

serial of the story in the columns of the 

Ottawa Journal. Featured in the art gallery 

of the theatre is the work of John Kncxjp, 

a local artist. 

The 80th birthday anniversary of Adolph 

Zukor was given impressive recognition in 

the news columns of the Citizen, as well 

as in newspapers of other Canadian cities 

production staff of Crawley Films, 

Ltd., has been augmented by the appointment 

of Kenneth Gay, from England, as chief of 

the studio's art and animation department. 

Joseph Doyle has completed a new fireproof, 

air conditioned 300-seat theatre, the 

Pontiac, at Fort Coulonge in the Ottawa 

valley. Doyle is his own projectionist and his 

Some 2,800 underprivileged 

wife is the cashier . . . 

children were the guests at a 

morning show in the Capitol of Manager T. R. 

Tubman and the Rotary club. 

WINNIPEG 

TIT'hile visiting in London, Ont., last week 

we heard that Star-Top Drive-In Manager 

Ken A. Jone.s, prior to closing for the 

season, held an all-night show, using six 

full-length features. The grounds were 

quickly filled and at dawn there were still 

125 cars on the premises. Refreshment sales 

were extraordinary, but the ordeal was rough 

on the manager as well as his staff. 

Jock Emslie, manager of the State, claims 

another "first" to his credit. The State was 

the first theatre in Winnipeg to use an ice 

cream vending trailer and sell jumbo bars 

during intermission, the first to use an animated 

cartoon Technicolor intermission 

trailer in Winnipeg and now is the first house 

in Winnipeg to install a Glenray barbecue 

hot dog machine. 

Continued mild weather in this area is such 

a contrast to former years that several theatres 

report attendance for December and January 

were away above expectations . . . Now 

that few German pictures have proven popular, 

one exchange manager reports that several 

rural exhibitors have requested information 

on these pictures in those areas where 

there is a fair concentration of first and second 

generation people of that descent. 

Local exhibitors are by now reconciled to 

opposition from wrestling, hockey, basketball 

and other events which draw heavily from 

theatre attendance, but they were especially 

. . . 

peeved with the free movie at a downtown 

church, titled. "The First Christian Western," 

which is being presented under the auspices 

of Billy Graham. The film presents the Sons 

of the Pioneers, Redd Harper and Cindy 

Walker and several Texas ma.ssed choirs. Tlie 

.show was presented on a Saturday evening 

The other item that made local exhibitors 

flinch was the free showing at the Playhouse 

of the Grey Cup finals in color by 

one of the largest grain brokers in the country. 

This film appeared for three days. 

With new higher advertising rates 

in force 

in the local dailies, there has been a noticeable 

condensation of various ads, with the 

pronounced shrinkage in the amount of daily 

space used by the Western Theatre chain. 

Most key houses are maintaining an equal 

dollar budget in '53 as they did in '52, thereby 

causing a corresponding trimming of linage. 

A new contest has been worked out by 

Winnipeg Fêe Press critic Frank Morriss. 

Called Match the Stars contest, it is very 

similar to a match the twins contest. In this 

case, the Free Press will publish pictures of 

60 different stars as they look now and as 

they looked in baby clothes. Tlie public has 

to match up the star sets and participate in 

a $3,000 jackpot, Morriss promises that if the 

winner of the grand prize of $1,000 wants to 

use his prize money to take a trip to Hollywood, 

Morriss will arrange for the person to 

meet several stars. 

Belter Films to Uptown 

TORONTO—A change in booking policy has 

been announced for Loew's Uptown and the 

downtown Loew's which will improve the 

quality of product played at the Uptown. In 

line with the change is the current showing of 

"Plymouth Adventure" at the Uptown. The 

lineup of bcwkings includes "Meet Me at the 

Fair," "Mississippi Gambler." "De.sert Legion" 

and "Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Paris." 

88 BOXOFTICE January 17. 1953

OMICEfD DD 11 J J]ii^ 11 J D£ 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

(AA)—Johnny Sheffield, 

African Treasure 

Laurette Luez, Martin Garralaga. Native adventure 

of Bomba of the usual type but it 

satisfies and draws well. Bomba's new chimp 

friend causes plenty of excitement for the 

kids. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair and 

cool.—James Wiggs jr., Tar Theatre, Tarboro, 

N. C. Small mill-town and niral patronage. 

Aladdin and His Lamp (AA) — Patricia 

Medina. John Sands, John Dehner. This is 

a weak one. Doubled with "Leadvllle Gunsllnger" 

(Rep) and did below average business. 

The customers were disappointed and 

we had some walkouts. Played Thurs., FW. 

Weather: Warm.—N. D. Patterson, Tate 

Theatre, Coldwater, Miss. Small-town and 

rural patronage. 

Bomba and the Jungle Girl (AA)—Johnny 

Sheffield, Karen Sharpe, Walter Sande. The 

title doesn't fit the picture but it is up to 

the average of the series and if Bomba la 

popular this wUl fill the bill. Average attendance 

and no one either "pro" or "conned" it. 

Better weekend screenfare. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Ken Chrlstlanson, 

Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small-town 

and rural patronage. 

Feudin' Fools (AA)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz 

Hall, Dorothy Ford. Good slapstick comedy. 

Played "B" house Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 

to normal business.—Robert J. Taylor, 

Majestic Theatre, Rice Lake, Wis. Srnalltown 


COLUMBIA 

California Conquest (CJoD—Gomel Wilde, 

Teresa Wright, Alfonso Bedoya. Opened to 

the biggest Christmas eve boxoffice since I 

have been here. (That still isn't much.) The 

audience grew in numbers each evening and 

they really liked this one. You get people 

on this one who don't usually go to westerns. 

Cornel Wilde is becoming more and more 

popular since "Greatest Show." Played Wed.. 

Thurs., Fri., Sat.—Dwight and Janice Hanson, 

Valley Theatre, Eddyville, Iowa. Small-town 


Harem Girl (Col)—Joan Davis, Peggie Castle, 

Arthur Blake. Joan's brand of slapstick 

is the perfect draw for my "seatdusters" and 

this action-packed comedy- farce is one of 

the best she has made. We enjoyed outstanding 

business on a double with "Apache Country" 

(Col) which is another nice little offering 

from Gene. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Warm.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, 

Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Honor Citation Winner 

Reports on 'Prisoner' 

PRISONER OF ZENDA, THE (MGOT) 

—Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, 

James Mason. Business was good. For 

the exhibitors who had hold outs on the 

feature "Scaramouche"—should do equally 

as well on "Prisoner." Played Wed. 

through Wed. Weather: Mild.—Richard D. 

Empey, Granada Theatre, Duluth, Minn. 

General average city patronage. 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Jan. 17. 1953 

FIGURES 

Indian Uprising (Col)—George Montgomery, 

Audrey Long, Carl Benton Reid. Not bad, 

although it was nothing exceptional. Apparently 

the people in Kaslo don't like Indian 

pictures because I have never had so many 

dissatisfied patrons in a dog's age. I was of 

the same opinion so I can't blame people for 

Laugh a Little- 

Cry a Little 

\tTHAT PRICE GLORY (20th-Fox)— 

James Cagney, Dan Dalley, Corinne 

Calvet. Excellent. Lots of laughs and a 

few tears. Too bad we don't have more 

pictures like this. Flay it on a Sunday- 

Monday change and you can't go wrong 

if you are in a small town. The high 

school patrons really ate this up. Flayed 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—George Kelloff, 

Ute Theatre, Agullar, Colo. SmaUtown 


squawking. Played Mon., Tues., Wed. 

Weather: Cold.—Tom Hetherlngton, Musicland 

Theatre, Kaslo, B. C. Small-town and 


METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

(MGM)—Ralph Meeker, Leslie 

Glory Alley 

Caron, Kurt Kasznar. A good enough picture 

but nothing at the boxoffice, so we were unhappy. 

Leslie Caron's dances straightened 

up the slumped-down teenagers. It Is doublefeature 

material. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: 

Fîr.—Ken Chrlstlanson, Roxy Theatre, 

Washburn, N. D. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Lovely to Look At (MGM)—Kathryn Grayson, 

Red Skelton, Howard Keel. Very good 

musical. However, in my small town they just 

don't go for them. Hope they don't make too 

many this coming: year. Played Tues., Wed. 

Weather: Fair.—George KeUoff, Ute Theatre. 

Aguilar, Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

People Against ©"Hara, The (MGM)— 

Spencer Tracy, Pat 03rien, Diana Lynn. 

This is a very good drama of the serious type 

which includes several courtroom scenes that 

are weU done by a good cast. Played Sat., 

Sun.—C. E. Bennewitz, Royal Theatre, Royalton, 

Minn. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Strictly Dishonorable (MGM)—Ezio Pinza, 

Janet Leigh, Millard Mitchell. Placing Ezio 

Pinza opposite Janet Leigh was a serious 

mistake and it ruined the entire pictuie. I 

am sure that MGM found this out afterwards. 

I know we did at the boxoffice. 

Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—G. J. 

Forhan, Montcalm Theatre, Hull, Que. Smalltown 


Young Man With Ideas (MGM) — Glenn 

Ford. Ruth Roman, Denise Darcel. Played 

just before Christmas to a not-too-pleasing 

nor too-pleased audience. The story just 

failed to jell. It was like a single-reel short 

that had been stretched out into a feature. 

Wasted stars and wasted film on running 

time because of a weak story. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Pleasant.—Dwight and Janice 

Hanson. Valley Theatre, Eddyville, Iowa. 

Small-town and rural patronage. 

PARAMOUNT 

Atomic City (Para) — Gene Barry, Lydia 

Clarke, Michael Moore. This picture is up-todate 

and will keep them on the edge of their 

seats. No big stars but this one will take care 

of itself. However, I suggest you advertise 

heavily for best results. Played Tues. Weather: 

Cold.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden, 

Ark. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Hong Kong (Para) — Ronald Reagan, 

Rhonda Fleming, Marvin Miller. There was 

nothing to write home about in what this 

picture offered. E>vidently, judging from our 

boxoffice receipts, they preferred to stay at 

home and watch television. Played Thurs., 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—Harland Rankin, 

Eve Theatre, Wheatley, Ont. Small-town and 


Jumping Jacks (Para)—Dean Martin. Jerry 

Lewis, Mona Freeman. Good comedy but 

business is off in my theatres and it's hard to 

get rental down where it should be. Business 

good but no profit. This film should do above 

average everywhere. Preferred playing time. 

Weather: Good.—D. B. Plske, Piske Theatre. 

Oak Grove, La. Also Lake and Lake Drlve- 

In, Lake Providence, La. Small-town and 


Just for You (Para)—Bing Crosby, Jane 

Wyman, Ethel Barrymore. This did enough 

business to justify its rental, but even with 

Technicolor it couldn't come up to "Here 

C3omes the Groom." The story is dry and lacks 

action. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Icy 

and cold.—Bob E. Thomas, Orpheum Theatre, 

Strawberry Point, Iowa. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Last Outpost, The (Para)—Ronald Reagan, 

Rhonda Fleming, Bruce Bennett. There is 

lots of color, action and romance in this picture 

to please action fans . . . but, unfortunately, 

it failed here. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Cool.—G. J. Forhan, Montcalm 

Theatre, Hull, Que. Small-town and rural 

patronage. 

Somebody Loves Me (Para)—Betty Hutton, 

Ralph Meeker, Robert Keith. Betty Hutton 

has topped her role in "Annie Get Your 

Gun" with her very good role in this film. 

She was excellent. The story content was 

fine and there were some very good songs 

selected for the film. I think I could have 

made a better selection than Ralph Meeker 

to play the part of Benny Fields. Business 

(Continued on next page) 

Brings Fine Patronage 

In All Departments 

/-•ALLAWAY WENT THATAWAY 

^ (MGM)—Fred MacMurray, Doi%- 

thy McGuire, Howard Keel. This is a 

comedy my trade came to see and really 

liked. Favorite stars and clever dialog 

brought them to the boxoffice and, on 

this one, we sold candy and popcorn like 

crazy. Played Sun., Mon.—Dwight and 

Janice Hanson, Valley Theatre, Eddyville, 

Iowa. Small-town and rural patronage.

— 

— 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

was only average. Weather: Cold and rainy. 

—Jerry B. Walden, Crest Theatre, Seagovllle, 

Tex. Small-town and rural patronage. 

RKO RADIO 

Behave Yourself (RKO)—Shelley Winters, 

Farley Granger. William Demarest. I met 

Mr. Wald, too. on my recent trip to Hollywood 

and told him how much our patrons enjoy his 

films. "Behave Yourself" is no exception. 

Very well received and enjoyed immensely by 

large audiences. It's a solid laugh from beginning 

to end and good for all houses. Play 

it. You won't be sorry. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Fine.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre. 

Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. 

Government, mining and business patronage. 

1 Want You (RKO)—Dana Andrews, Dorothy 

McGuire, Farley Granger. A right fine 

picture with a title that my people seemed to 

take pleasure in defying. I made up all kinds 

of trick advertising and might just as well 

have done nothing. Paid top bracket price 

(flat) and stUl it's a 50 per center. I've never 

found a way of paying my bills and using 50 

per centers on my bread and butter changes 

. . have you? Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Snow and cold.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Roadblock (RKO)—Charles McGraw, Joan 

Dixon, Lowell Gilmore. In my opinion this 

is one of the best pictures we have run for a 

long time—although we played to almost 

empty houses every night. Maybe it was the 

weather because the few who did see it 

thought it was great. This is the first time 

I've seen Charles McGraw—and I think he is 

a great actor. Played Mon., Tues., Wed. 

Weather: Snowing. — Tom Hetherington, 

Musicland Theatre, Kaslo, B. C. 

and ri:ral patronage. 

SmaU-town 

REPUBUC 

Oklahoma Annie (Rep)—Judy Canova, John 

Russell, Grant Withers. A good comedy in 

color. Comments and draw good. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cold.—L. BrazU jr.. New 

Theatre, Bearden, Ark. SmaU-town and rural 

patronage. 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

Carnival in CosU Rica (20th-Fox)—Dick 

Haymes, Vera-Ellen, Anne Revere. Ran this 

oldie as a free Christmas show to a wellpleased 

audience. The story of the Christmas 

festival and New Year celebration in Costa 

Rica. Many patrons asked on the way out as 

to what had happened to Dick Haymes and 

why he wasn't still making movies. Color very 

good which added much to the costumes and 

colorful songs and dances. Played Sunday 

and Monday.—Dwight and Janice Hanson, 

VaUey Theatre, Eddyville, Iowa. SmaU-town 


Give Them a Good One 

And Crowds Come! 

rD 

CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN 

« (20th-Fox) Susan Hayward, William 

Lnndigan, Rory Calhoun. Do people stiU 

like good movies? Will they come to see 

them? We played this one over a year 

later than we should have. We put it on 

our second best change. We gave it no 

extra advertising. Yet it played to one 

of the best crowds in our history. Each 

night showed an increase. Comments 

were all good. It proved to be just the 

antidote needed after a series of runof-the-miU 

musicals. Weather: Good. 

C. L. Jenson, Esmond Theatre, Esmond, 

N. D. Small-town and rural patronage. 

Desert Fox (20th-Fox)—James Mason, Jessica 

Tandy, Cedric Hardwicke. If you haven't 

already played this and your customers will 

stUl pay to see a war picture—this is tops. 

James Mason is terrific as Rommel. However, 

we can't make any money on war pictures. 

Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Five 

above zero.—K. R. Corkum, Cross Theatre, 

New Ross, N. S., Canada. Rural community 

patronage. 

Lady in the Iron Mask, The (20th-Fox)— 

Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina, John Sutton. 

Excellent color. The story of the three 

musketeers with plenty of sword-fighting action. 

Fine cast and an enjoyable movie. Gave 

me a very fine Christmas play date. Should 

do well on any date. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Cold and cloudy.—>James Wiggs jr.. 

Tar Theatre, Tarboro, N. C. Small-town and 


Outcasts of Poker Flat (20th-Pox)—Anne 

Baxter, Dale Robertson, Miriam Hopkins. Not 

much action. All dark scenes. Below average 

business. Price O.K. but it was percentage. 

Floyd Cox, Cho-Co Drive-In Theatre, Chocowinlty, 

N. C. SmaU-town and rural patronage. 

Rawhide (20th-Fox)—Tyrone Power. Susan 

Hayward, Hugh Marlowe. If you haven't 

picked up this old western you are missing 

a good bet. This has all the suspense and 

action you can wish for. Got this on a swap 

and darn glad I did. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Fair.—George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, 

Aguilar, Colo. SmaU-town and rural patronage. 

Red Skies of Montana (20th-Fox)—Richard 

Widmark, Constance Smith. Jeffrey Hunter. 

Exciting outdoor entertainment and good for 

most situations. New movie ground again 

broken sucessfuUy by Fox. The Technicolor 

in this film helped it considerably. It won't 

break records but it wiU satisfy most. Played 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.—Dave S. Klein, 

Astra Theatre, Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, 

Africa. Goverrmient, mining and business 

patronage. 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Island of Desire (UA)—Linda DarneU, Tab 

Hunter, Donald Gray. You should have heard 

the remarks from the boys on this one "I 

hear this is the picture to see as it wiU make 

you feel young again"—all the old bucks m 

town came. Business normal. Played Thurs., 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.-Ken Christianson, 

Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. SmaU-town 


Well, The (UA) — Richard Rober. Barry 

KeUy, Hemy Morgan. You won't have any 

trouble keeping them quiet during this one. 

Strictly a speUbinder. Good action and direction. 

Not too fast moving but an unusual 

story in which every mother and father wiU 

actuaUy take part in their own minds. Story 

of the rescue of a smaU cliiid who has faUen 

into a drilled weU. They won't even come out 

to buy popcorn during this one I Comments 

good. Played Sunday. Weather: Fair.—Lloyd 

Hutchins, Center Theatre, Kensett, Ark. Rural 

patronage. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Bend of the River (U-D—James Stewart. 

Aithur Kennedy, Julia Adams. Here is one 

pictme you can go aU out for. It's a pleasure 

to play this kind of feature. The best of everything, 

Teclinicolor. ca.sting, direction, scenery 

and boxoffice appeal. You can stand in the 

lobby and meet the customers with a smile. 

Very seldom I boost a picture but this one 

deserves it. Don't waste it on poor playing 

time but give it your best days. Played Sun., 

Mon., Tues.—A. G. MiUer, MiUer Theatre, 

Atkinson, Neb. Rural patronage. 

Too Much Is 

Enough 

J^.\KA MARU (WB)—Errol FI>iin, Ruth 

Roman, Raymond Burr. Of all the 

fake movies I ever saw, this is it! So 

many flaws I walked away from the port 

holes in disgust half a dozen times. 1 

would personally like to see Errol Flynn 

go down at sea in a hurricane! How do 

they expect our customers to believe that 

a man could pinpoint a course In the middle 

of the Pacific to find a cross of diamonds? 

Brother, give even the poor hicks 

like us more credit for brains than this! 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold and snow 

at last.—K. R. Corkum, Cross Theatre, 


patronage. 

Bronco Buster (U-I)—John Lund, Scott 

Brady, Joyce Holden. Originally had 'Treasure 

of Lost Canyon" for this, my (Christmas 

show. Went to a lot of trouble writing the 

school teachers, etc., trying to cash in on 

Robert Louis Stevenson's popularity. There 

was a last-minute switch by the distributor. 

Business was terrible. Can't play a weekend 

show on Wednesday and Thursday. However, 

this is okay for the weekend trade. Weather: 

Unusually warm. A green Christmas. Nary 

a trace of snow.—K. R. Corkum, Cross Theatre, 


patronage. 

Lavender HiU Mob, The (U-D—Alec Guinness, 

Stanley HoUoway. Alfie Bass. Another 

good English comedy. I'm beginning to 

change my mind about English pictures. I 

have run three in the last two months and 

they have all been good. The one bad thing 

about them is that the accent of the actors 

is hard to understand—unless the acoustics 

in our theatre are at fault. This picture was 

enjoyed by aU. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Cold. —^Tom Hetherington, Musicland 

Theatre, Kaslo, B. C. SmaU-town and 


WARNER BROS. 

Bugles in the Afternoon (WB)—Ray Milland, 

Helena Carter, Hugh Marlowe. Excellent 

cast in a story of army life done in Technicolor. 

Shows a man falsely accused and 

punished. Plenty of Indian action, horses, 

soldiers and a beautiful woman. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cloudy and cool.—James 

Wiggs jr.. Tar Theatre, Tarboro, N. C. Smalltown 


Story of WiU Rogers, The (WB) — WUl 

Rogers jr., Jane Wyman, James Gleason. 

Strictly good. Comments good. Crowd—yes! 

This played just four miles from me for three 

days shortly before my playdate but it seemed 

to help. Had aU my regulars and a lot of 

new faces. Can't kick when they come in 

from towns as far as 20 mUes away to see a 

picture. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good. 

—Lloyd Hutchins, Center Theatre, Kensett, 

Ark. Rural patronage. 

IVIISCELLANEOUS 

Blonde Savage (State Rights)—Veda Ann 

Borg, Douglass Dumbrille, Gale Sherwood. 

Played it as a combination with "Caveman." 

This was the first production from the Kay 

Film Exchange I have used and also my first 

contribution to Exhibitor Has His Say. Wish 

to say that with only average exploitation this 

"combo" broke midweek house record in two 

smaU-town, rural-draw theatres. Prints excellent. 

Should have given it my best time.— 

L. Branscome, Branscome circuit. Box 36, 

HUlsviUe, Va. 

BOXOFFICE BooldnGuide 

: 

: 

Jan. 17. 1953

I 

80 

.20th-Fox 

An Interpretive onolysis of ioy ond tradepress reviews. The plus ond minus signs Indicote degree of 

merit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to dote regularly. 

This department serves also as on ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releoses. Numeral preceding title 

It Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company. In fHe order of release, see Feature Chart. 

-^^^r- 

Dvnm Difi^rr 

-r Very Good; + Good; = Fair; — Poor; = Vwy Poof. 

lib:-! 

Ixq: Iq.s Izo 

1348 Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick 

(95) Comtdy 

1429 Abbott and Costello Meet Captain 

Kidd (70) Comedy WB 

1365 About Face (94) Musical WB 

1428 Above and Beyond (122) Drama MGM 

1381 Actors and Sin (85) Comedy-Drama UA 

1395 AKair in Trinidad (98) Drama Col 

1332 African Queen, ITie (104) Drama UA 

African Tieasure (70) Drama AA 

1430Aoainst All Flags (83) Drama,... U-l 

1341 Aladdin and His Lamp (66) Drama AA 

1424 Androcles and the Lion (98) Drama RKO 

1432 Anoel Face (93) Drama RKO 

1310 Anne ot the Indies (81) Drama 2(Mh-Fox 

1331 Another Man's Poison (89) Drama UA 

1351 Anythino Can Happen (107) Comedy Para 

1377 Apache Country (62) Western Col 

1409 Apache War Smoke (67) Com-Dr MGM 

1426 April in Paris (101) Musical WB 

Arctic Flidht (7S) Drama AA 

1420 Army Bound (61) Drama AA 

1408 Assignment— Paris (85) Drama Co! 

1353 As You Were (57) Comedy LP 

1364 Atomic City, The (85) Drama Para 

1340 At Smrd's Point (81) Drama RKO 

11-29-52 + 

4-19-52 + 

11-22-52 ff 

6- 7-52 - 

8- 2-52 + 

1- 5-52 +f 

531-52 + 

11-29-52 + 

2- 9-52 + 

11- 8-52 + 

12- 6-52 + 

10-20-51 H 

1- 5-52 + 

3- 8-52 + 

5-24-52 - 

9-20-52 + 

U-15.52 ++ 

10-25-52 ± 

9-13-52 + 

3-15-52 + 

4-12-52 + 

2- 2-52 ± 

a: a: + 

It ++ ++ 

± - + 

- + + 

- 4+ ++ 

H- + + 

± + + 

± + + 

± :t H 

H + +t 

- + - 

+ + + 

± + 

± * ± 

tt + tt 

+ + 

± + + 

H + + 

+ + + 

+ + 

+ + 

+f ff 

+ :J: 

:t ± 

+f ff 

+ It 

± ff 

+ ± 

+ ± 

H ff 

+ ± 

+ 

ff 

ff 

+ + 

1433 Babes in Bagdad (79) Comedy UA 12-13-52 ± 

1428 Bad and the Beautiful, The 

(118) Drama MGM 11-22-52 +) 

1388 Bal Tabarin (84) Comedy Rep 6-28-52 ± 

1391 Barbed Wire (61) Western Col 7-19-52 + 

1304 Basketball Fix, The (70) Drama Realart 9-29-51 ± 

1362 Battle of Apache Pass, The (85) S-West.U-l 4- 5-52 + 

1418 Battle Zone (81) Drama AA 10-18-52 ff 

1436 Battles of Chief Pontiac (74) Drama .. Realart 12-20-52 ± 

1418 Because of You (95) Drama U-l 10-18-52 + 

1406 Because You'n Mine (103) Musical MGM 9- 6-52 ff 

1407 Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla 

(74) Comedy Realart 9-13-52 + 

1347 Belle of New York, The (82) Musical.. MGM 2-23-52 + 

L362 Belles on Their Toes (89) Ccmedy . 

4- 5-52 ff 

1338 Bend of the River (91) S Western U-l 1-26-52 ff 

1397 Beware. My Lovely (77) Drama RKO 8- 9-52 ± 

1403 Big Jim McLain (90) Drama WB 8-3t-52 + 

1317 Big Niiiht, The (75) Drama UA 11-10-51 + 

1392 Big Sky, The (140) Drama RKO 7-19-52 ff 

1342 Big Trees. The (89) Drama WB 2- 9-52 * 

L419 Black Castle, The (81) Drama U-l 10-25-52 + 

1385 Black Hills Ambush (54) Western Rep 6-21-52 ± 

1429 Blackbiârd the Pirate (9S) Drama RKO 11-29-52 ff 

1411 Blazing Forest, Tlie (91) Drama Para 9-27-52 + 

1425 Blue Canadian Rockies (58) Western Col 11-15-52 ± 

1422 Bloodhounds of Brndway (90) Drama. 20-Fox 11- 1-52 ff 

1403 Bonzo Goes to College (80) Comedy U-l S-30-52 + 

1330 Boots Maloiie (103) Drama Col 12-22-51 + 

1370 Border Saddlemates (67) Western Rep 5- 3-52 ± 

L373 Brave Warrior (73) Drama Col 5-1752 + 

1394 Breakdown (76) Drama Realart 7-26-52 i: 

1424 Breaking the Sound Barrier 

(109) Drama U A 11- 8-52 ± 

1317 Btide of the Gorilla (68) Drama Realart 11-10-51 + 

1384 Brinaiid, Tlie (94) Drama Col 6-14-52 + 

1281 Bright Victory (97) Drama U-l 7-28-51 ff 

1365 Bronco Buster (80) Drama .U-l 4-13-52 + 

1322 Browning Version, The (90) Drama U-l 11-24-51 ff 

L346 Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory 

(64) Western UA 2-16-52 + 

1342 Biiijles in the Afternoon (85) Drama ...WB 2- 9-52 + 

1330 Bushwhackers. The (73) WMtern Realart 12-22-51 + 

L431 Bwana Devil (85) Drama Arch Oboler 12- 6-52 ± 

tt 

Para 2-23-52 - :t + + ± ± 6+5- 

&+3- 

+ 7+2- 

12+ 

+ 5+4- 

+ 6+3- 

+f 12+1- 

- 3+4- 

+ 8+2- 

- 6+3- 

7+2- 

7+3- 

± l(H-2— 

+ 5+*- 

+ 9+ 

4+3- 

7+4- 

+ 10+ 

± 5+2- 

± 3+4- 

+ 8+2- 

3+1- 

+ 10+ 

± 7+2- 

4+6-

.20th-Fox 

REVIEW DIGEST 

tr Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summory ^ is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

o 

X o 

II 

xo: la. £ izol 

Vl 

a.£ zo 

E 

1421 

1421 

1430 

1401 

Guerrilla Girl (..) Drarai UA 

1337 

1383 Has Anybody Seen M» Gal (89) Comedy. Ul 6 14-52 - 

Meet Danny Wilson (88) Drama U-l 1-19-52 + 

Meet Me at the Fair (85) Musical U-l 12-13-52 + 

Member of the Wedding. The (92) Drama. MGM 12-20-52 4- 

Merry Widow, The (105) Musical MGM 7- 2-52 + 

Million Dollar Mermaid (115) Musical.. MGM 11- 8-52 ++ 

++ + 

4- + 

+ + 

+ + 

+ 4 

+ H 

4 4 

Miracle of Our Ijidy ol Fatima, The 

(102) Drama WB 8-23-52++ ++ ± 

Mississippi Gambler (..) Drama U-l 

Model and the Marriage Broker, The 

(103) Comedy 20th-Fox 11-24-51 + + i 

Models, Inc. (83) Drama Mutual 5-10-52 + + - 

Monkey Business (97) Comedy 20th-Fox 9- 6-52 ± ± + 

Monsoon (79) Drama UA 

Montana Belle (81) Drama RKO 11- 1-52 + 2: 2: 

Montana Incident (54) Western AA 

Montana Territory (64) Western Col 6-21-52 :£ t - 

Moulin Rouge (123) Drama UA 1-3-53++ ++ 

Mr. Walkie Talkie (65) Drama LP 12- 6-52 + — 2: 

Mutiny (76) Drama UA 3- 1-52 + 2: i 

My Cousin Rachel (98) Drama 20th-Fox 12-27-52 ++ ± ++ 

My Fayorite Soy (93) Comedy Para 10- 6-51 4 + + 

My Man and I (99) Drama MGM 8-23-52+ - 2: 

My Pal Gus (83) Drama 20th-Fox 11-15-52 + + ++ 

My Six Convicts (104) Drama Col 5- 8-52+ ++ H 

My Son John (122) Drama Para 3-22-52+ H ± 

My Wife's Best Friend (101) Comedy. 20Fox 10-11-52 ++ 4 

N 

Naked Spur, The (..) Drama MGM 

++ tt 

2: ++ 

4+ + 

+ + 

- + 

+ 11+ 

+ 94.- 

+ 84- 

+ + + 84 

+ + ± 

1364 Narrow Margin, The (71) Drama RKO 4-12-52 4 2: 2: 4 + + 

1341 Navalo (70) Documentary LP 2-9-52+ + 4 

+t 

1436 Never Wave at a WAC (87) Comedy RKO 12-20-52 + + + ++ ff +f 

1420 Plymouth Adventure (105) Drama MGM 10-25-52 ++ + + 

1423 Pony Soldier (SI) Drama 20th-Fox 11- 8-52 + 

Niagara (..) Drama 20th-Fox 

1359 Night Stage to Galveston 162) Western Col 3-29-52 ± 

1416 Nipht Without Sleep (77) Drama. . .20th-Fox 10-11-52 2: — 

No Holds Barred (66) Comedy AA — 

1371 No Room for the Gioom (82) Comedy U-l 5-10-52 + 2: 

1431 No Time for Flowers (S3) Com-Dr RKO 12- 6-52 + 2: 

+ 

1344 Northwest Territory (61) Drama AA 2-16-52+ :£ 

1401 0. Henry's Full House (117) Com-Dr. 20th-Fox 8-23-52 ++ 

+4 H 

1350 Okinawa (67) Drama Col 3- 1-52 + 

± - 

1363 Oklahoma Annie (90) Comedy Rep 4-12-52 4 

± * 

1401 Old Oklahoma Plains (60) Western Rep 8-23-52 4 

+ 4 

1333 Old West. The (61) Western Col 1-12-52 4 

± 2: 

1324 On Dangerous Ground (82) Drama RKO 12- 1-51 ++ 

4 ± 

1352 One Big Affair (80) Drama UA 3- 8-52 — 

1391 One Minute to Zero (105) Drama RKO 7-19-52 4 2: + 2: H 

1417 Operation Secret (108) Drama WB 10-18-52 + 

1374 Outcast of the Islands (92) Drama UA 5-17-52 + 

1371 Outcasts of Poker Flat (81) Drama 20lh Fox 5-10-52 + 

1366 Outlaw Women (75) Drama LP 4-19-52 + 

1425 Outpost in Malaya (88) Drama UA 11-15-52 + 

1325 Overland Telegraph 

P 

(60) Western RKO 12- 8-51 -i 

1358 Pace That Thrills, The (63) Drama RKO 3-29-52 2: 

2: 2: 

1335 Pals of the Golden West (68) Western Ry 1-19-52 -i- 

+ 

1308 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 

(123) Drama MGM 10-13-51 2: 2: 2: + + 

1397 Park Row (83) Drama UA 8-9-52 + 2: + + 2: 

1374 Pat and Mike (93) Comedy MGM 5-17-52 ++ + + ++ H 

1435 P,ithfinder. The (78) Drama Col 12-20-52 + + ± 

1375 Paula (80) Drama Col 5-24-52 + 4 2: 2: + 

1323 Pecos River (55) Western Col 12- 1-51 + + 2: 

Peter Pan (. ) Cartoon RKO 

135.: Phone Call From a Stranger 

(96) Drama 20th-Fox 1-12-52 -> 

Pirate Submarine (69) Drama LP 

+ 2: 7+4- 

± 2: 6+5- 

2: 4+4- 

6+2- 

± 3+3 

+ 6+ 

4 4 tt + 104 

+ * 2: 2: 6t* 

t+ H 4 + 94 

± 4+3- 

X 40 

±. 4 4 ± 74 J 

+ i: + 

641- 

+ + + 6+1- 

4 + ++ tt 4 104 

+ 2: H +t + + 10+1 

4 

± 

+ 

+ 

H 

¥ t ll-(2 

+ 1+ 

t -I- 8|1 

± 515 

4 + 812 

2: 141- 

- 2: 646- 

2: 1+1 

2: 2: 6(6 

64 

- 3+4- 

+ 2: 74 3 

++ 4+ H 11+1- 

H +t + 8 + 

+ + 

+ t+ 

H + 

+ H 

+ 

+ 

++ 

+ 

+ - ± 2: 

+ + ± 

+ ++ 

+ ± 

+ 6+5 

7+ 

H 11+ 

+ 10+1- 

2: 811 

7(2 

51 

9+ 

3+4 

34 5- 

34-2- 

7+5 

6+4- 

5*3 

124 

516 

6|4 

5+1 

5(3 

7+5 

3+6- 

8+3 

64 3 

741 

742 

6+5 

4+4— 

5+2- 

2: 64 6 

2: 2: 543 

i + 74 4 

± 2: 7+4- 

++ + 11+ 

+ 6+3- 

+ 6+2- 

2: 5+3- 

++ 2+ 

•H * 9* 

1+1 

++ 

++ 

+ 10+ 

+ 8+3- 

BOXOFTICE BookinGuide : 

: Jan. 17. 1953

. . Rep 

A 

- Very Good; *- Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In .he summory *t is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minusei. REVIEW DIGEST 

i I 11 \i\H 

a: iZ CC ^ Qocl

. 

MMta 

4 3 

I 

Woshington 

I 

Holiday 

6 

f£i)TUii£ fiiiiurr 

Fearure productions by company In order of rcleose. Number in squore is notional release date. Running 

time Is In parentheses. Type of story Is Indicated by letters ond combinations thereof as fallows: (C) 

Comedy; (D) Drama; (AD) Adventure-Drama; (CD) Comedy-Dramo; (F) Fantasy; (M) Musical; (W) Western; 

(SW) Superwestern. Release numb«r follows: U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Aword Winner. 

S) denotes color photography. For review dotes and Picture Guide page numbers, see Review Digest. 

ALLIED ARTISTS COLUMBIA LIPPERT 

SlOltodeo (70) D..5104 

June Nigh, John Arcker. nillaee Pord 

g] Hold That Line (64) C..5211 

l.cu (JorceF, Huntz 

mMon From the 

(lall, John Bromrivld 

Black Hills (58). W.. 5242 

Johnny Macfc Brown. James gHl8on. R. Broob 

li]Jet Job (63) D. .5215 

Bt'Lole; CkmcBts, Utel 

Elena Verdugo, J. 

m Gunman, The (52) W . 

. 5252 

Whip Wilson, I'uzzy Knight, Ranil Broolis 

m fflWIld Stolllon (70) W . 

Ben Joliniion, l^dâr Buchanan, Martha Hyer 

\S Kansas Territory (65) W. .5225 

Bill Elllutt, I'eggy SteKart. Une Bradford 

In] Desert Pursuit (71) W..5209 

Wayne Moirl.s. Virginia Grer, Oeorge Tobias 

\S Africon Treasure (70) D. .5207 

Johnny Shefdeld, Laurette Lues, L. Talbot 

lis) Gold Fever (63) D. .5220 

Jului Calvert, Ralph Morgan, Ann Cornell 

SI Here Come the Morlnes (66). C. .5212 

l.eo (iorcey, Huiilz Hall, Myrna Dell 

in tSi'Wogoni West (70) W. .5203 

lioU Cameron, Peggie Castle, Kllcbae) Chapin 

Deod Man's TroU (59) W. .5243 

Jolinn> Mafk Broun, Jimmy dllson, S. Julley 

tfrlSeo Tiger (71) D. .5218 

John Archer, Marguerite Chapman, L. Talbot 

lig Montana Incident (54) W..5253 

Whip Wilson, Hand Brooks. Noel Nelll 

D . 5204 

f^K^Rose Bowl Story, The (73) . . . 

Marshall lliumpsnn. Vera Miles, R- Bober 

Yukon Gold (62) D . . 5221 

m 

Klrhy (Irant. Chinook, Martha Hytr 

ITI Forgo (69) W . 

J. Ingram 

Willi Itlll Elliott, Phyllis Coatea, 

m Feudin' Fools (63) C. .5213 

l«a (iorcey, Huntz Hall, Anne Kimball 

ill Army Bound (61) D..5216 

Stanley Clements, Karen Sbarpe, 8. Brodle 

IS Conyon Ambush (53) W . . 5244 

Juhnny Klack Bro^vn, Phyllis Coates 

III Arctic Flight (78) D. .5210 

Wayne Morris, Lola Albright, Alan Hale jr. 

^Bottle Zone (81) D. .5301 

John llodlak, Stephen McNally, L. Christian 

IS Wyoming Roundup (53). 

Wklp Wilson. Phyllis Coates. 

. 

W. .5254 

T. Farrell 

gSNo Holds Barred (66) C. .5214 

Irfo (Iorcey, Bowery Boys, M. Reynolds 

gg OFIot Top (87) D . . 5201 

Sterling llayden, Richard Carlson, B. Philips 

S) Jungle Girl (70) D . . 5208 

Juhnny Sheffield. Karen Sharpe 

a Maverick (71) W. .5322 

nud BlU Elliott, Phyllto Coates, U. Healey 

giOHIawatho (80) D..5202 

Vincent Edwards, Yrette Dugay, K. Larsen 

(4| Fangs of the Arctic (63) D . . 5222 

KIrby Grant. Chinook, Inga Borg 

fflStor of Texas, The (72) W. .5332 

Wayne Morris, Hick Vallln, J. Larsen 

g| Torpedo Allay (84) R . 3323 

Uark Bteiena, Dorothy Malong 

[2 Tangier Incident (..) D..5316 

Gcnrge Brent. Marl Aldon 

SI Homesteaders, The ( . . ) W . . 5323 

WUd BlU EUiott, Barbara AUen 

ii OKonsas Pacific ( . . ) D . . 5302 

Sterling Hayden, Eve MlUcr. B. MacLane 

My Six Convicts (104) O. 430 

Gilbert Roland. John Besl, M. Mitchell 

Okinawa (67) D..432 

Pal OBrlen. Cameron Mitchell, R. Dinning 

Scandal Sheet (82) D. .415 

Hruderlck Crawford. Ponna Heed. John Derek 

Night Stage to Golveston (62).. D.. 475 

(ierie Aulry, Pat Buttram, Virginia Huston 

Jangle Jim In the Forbidden 

Lond (65) P.. 29 

©Thief of Domoscus (78) D..427 

Paul llinreld, Jeff Uonnell, John Sutton 

Marrying Kind, The (93) D. .425 

Judy Holllday, Aldo Ray, Madge Kennedy 

Laramie Mountain (53) W. .485 

Charles Slarritt, Smiley Burnctte, F. Sears 

Sniper, The (87) D. .434 

Arthur I'ram. Adolphe Menyiu. Marie Windsor 

OSound Off (83) C..428 

Mickey Uooiiey, Anne Jame!>, John Archer 

Yank In Indo-Chlna, A (67). . . .D. .435 

John Archer. Douglas Dick, Jean Wllles 

Apache Country (62) W. .471 

Uene Autry, Pat Biiltram, Carolina Cotton 

Affair In Trinidad (98) D. .501 

Klia Hayworth. Glenn Ford. A. Scourby 

©Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder 

(78) M. .503 

Frankie Lalne. Billy Daniels, C. Austin 

Wagon Team (61 ) W . . 476 

Gene Autry, Cliampion, Gall Davis, P. Buttram 

Assignment— Paris (85) D..507 

Dana Andrews, Marta Toren. George Sander>" 

GGolden Hawk, The (83) D..508 

Rhonda Fleming. Sterling Hayden, J. Sutton 

Hangman's Knot (81) SW. .512 

Randolph Scott. Claude Jarroan jr.. D. Reed 

Blue Canadian Rockies (58) W. .472 

Gene Autry, Gall Davis, Pat Buttram 

Voodoo Tiger (67) AD. .518 

Johnny WeissmuUer, Jean Byroo, James Seay 

Eight Iron Men (80) D..515 

Bonar Colleano, Arthur Franz, Lee Marvin 

Strange Fascination (80) D. .505 

ITuRo Haas. Cleo Moore. Mona Barrle 

Happy Time, The (94) C. .506 

Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan. Marsha Hunt 

Invasion, U.S.A. (74) D . . 51 

Gerald Mohr, Pcgglo Castla. Eric Blythe 

Four Poster, The (103) C. .519 

Rex Harrison, LIIU Palmer 

GPathfinder, The (78) D. .516 

George Montgomery, Helena Carter 

Winning of the West (57) W. .571 

Gene Autry, Champion, Smlicy Burnctte 

OLast of the Comonches (85). .SW. .511 

Broderlck Crawford, Barbara Hjile 

Target Hong Kong (66) D. .517 

Itlchard Deoziing. Nancy Qates, Richard Loo 

Novalo (70) Doc. 5104 

.Navajo Indian cast 

ai Wings of Donger (72) D. .5106 

Zacbary Scott, Robert Beatty, K. Kendall 

IS Valley of the Eagles (83) D. .5114 

Jack Warner, Nadia Gray, J. McCbUub 

g| Loan Shark (79) D..5111 

George Raft, Dorothy Hart 

. 

Walk East on Beocen (98) D. .426 g} SOutlow Women (75) D..5105 

(ieofgc Morfihy. Virginia Gllmore, V. Currle Marie Windsor, Richard Bober, Carls Baleoda 

Poulo (80) D . .436 

l.«rrtla Young. Kent Smltll, Alexander Knni 

(SBrove Warrior (73) D. .441 SH Stolen Face (71) D. 5109 

Jon Hall, Christine Larson, James Stay 

Paul Henreld, Llzabeth 8e»tt, Andre MoreU 

OMontono Territory (64) D..438 

Lon McCalltster, Wanda Hendrli, P. Foster 

Rough, Tough West, Tha (54). .W. .487 

ttarles Starrrlt. Smiley Bumttte 

©Brigand, The (94) D..437 

Tony Deiter, Oale Itebblns, Anthony Quliin 

442 

©Cripple Creek (78) D . 

Ceorcf .Montgomery, Jerotne Courtland 

O^Colifornio Conquest (79) D. .440 

Its! Piiote Submorine (69) O..5110 

Cornei Wilde, Teresa Wrlgbt, L. Ferraday 

Special cast 

Red Snow (75) D..439 

Storm Over Tibet (87) D. .416 

Borbed Wire (61) W. .474 

Junction City (54) W. .486 

©Captain Pirote (85) D . . 502 ID Jungle, The (74) 0..5112 

Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina, John Sutton Rod Cameron, Cesar Romero, Marie Windsor 

Last Troin From Bombay (72). . .D. .504 

Jon Hall. Cllrlstinc I.,ar.son. Lisa Ferraday 

Clouded Yellow, The (89) D..S09 

Jean .Slmmon.i. Trevor Howard, Sonia Dresilel 

Kid From Broken Gun, The (56). W. 481 

Ciiarle.s Starrett, Smiley Burnette. J. Mahoney 

H Secret People (87) D..5116 

ValenUna Cortesa. Audrey Hspbiira, 8. Rsgglanl 

[s] Heligafe (87) D..5113 

Sterling Hayden. Joao Leslie, Ward Bond 

g]| Scotland Yard Inspector (73). .D. .5202 

Cesar Romero. Lois Uaiwell 

M Tromba, tha Tiger Man (63). . .D. .5201 

Ekitlre Exeoe CIreus 

I 

Mr. Wolkle Talkie (65) D..5203 

William Tracy. Joe Sawyer, Margls Dean 

SS Gambler and tha Lady (71). . .D. .5204 

Dane Clark. Kaoml Chance. Kathleen Byron 

ilEl I'll Get You (79) D. .5206 

George Raft, Sally Gray 

BToll Texon, The (. .) D. .5207 

Uoyd Bridges, Ue J. Cobb, U. Windsor 

M-G-M 

, 

i 

a) Just This Once (90) C..224 

Peter Lawfurd. Janet Leigh, Stone Lewis 

Love Is Better Than Ever (81 ) .C . .225 n; . 

Kllzabelb Taylor. Larry Parks. 

{ 

Tom Tully 

glQWild North, The (97) D..22* 

Stewart Granger, Wendell Corey. C. Charlsse 

H eSingin" in the Rain (103) M..227 

Gene Kelly, Donald •Connor. Debbie Reynolds 

Sii Tolk About o Stranger (65) D..22S 

George .Murphy. Nancy Davis. Billy Gray 

g| When in Rome (78) D. .229 

Van Johnson, Paul Douglas. J. Callels 

SI Young Man With Ideas (84). . .CD. .230 

Glenn Ford, Ruth Roman, Nadlne Ashdown 

SI Carbine Willioms (93) D . .231 

James Stewart, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen 

SGirl in White, The (93) D..232 

Juns Allyson, Gary Merrill, Artliur Kennedy 

e®Sklrts AhoyI (109) M. 233 

fcllier Williams, Joan Evans. Barry Bu ll 1 1 

m 

II) Glory Alley (79) D . 

Ralph Meeker. Leslie CaroD, Gilbert Roland 

fS Pot and Mike (93) C. .235 

Spencer Traev, Katharine Hepburn, Aldo Ray 

©Scaromouche (115) D . . 

236 

Stewart Granger, Bleanor Parker, Mel Ferrer 

m 

(4) ©Lovely to Look At (102) M..237 

Red Skelton, Kalhryn Grayson. Howard Keel 

Story (82) D . . 238 

Van Jolunoii. i'atrlcla Neal. Sidney Blackmer 

for Sinners (72) D . . 239 

Gig Young, Janiie lliile, Keenan Wynn 

ai You for Me (70) C. .240 

Peter l.awrnrd, Jane Greer, Gig Young 

li Fearless Fagan (78) C. .241 

Janet Leigh. Carietun Carpenter. K. Wynn 

SI OOMerry Widow, The (105) M. .301 

l,ana Turner, Fernando Lamas, Una Merkel 

Devil Makes Three, Tha (96) . . D. . 302 

JI 

. 

Gene Kelly, Pier Angell. Richard llober 

S My Man and I (99) 0..303 

Shelley Winters, iilcardo Monlalbau. C. Trevor 

(S UQBecouse You're Mine (103). M.. 304 

Mario Lanza, Doretta Morrow, J. Wliltmore 

m Apache War Smoke (67) CO. .305 

Gilbert Roland. Glenila Farrell, It. Horlnri 

gT QEverythIng I Have Is Yours 

(92) M..S04 

Marge and Gower Champion, Dennis O'Keefe 

H ©Prisoner of Zenda, Tha (101). AD. .308 

Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, James Mason 

gjlHour of 13, The (79) D..309 

Peter Lawford, Dawn Addams. Roland Culver 

SC2iPlymouth Adventure (105) . . . . D. .310 

Spencer Tracy, Gene Tlerney, Van Jolinson 

SJSky Full of Moon (74) D. .311 

Carleton Carpenter. Jan Sterling, Keenan Wynn 

S (2)MHIion Dollar Mermaid (115). .M. .312 

Esther Williams, Victor Mature . W. Pldgeon 

[U Above and Beyond (122^ 0. .315 

Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, J. Whitmore 

. 31 

m Clown, The (91 ) C . 

Red Skeltnn. Jant Greer, Timothy Consldlne 

H Desperate Search, The (73) O. .314 

Howard Keel, Jane Greer, Keenan Wynn 

^ Bad and the Beautiful, The 

(118) D. .315 

Lana Turner, Klrt Itouglas, Dick Powell 

. 307 

blvanhoeni06) D . 

Riihert Tavlrir. Blliaheth Taylor. J. Fontaine 

d] ©Naked Spur, The (..) D..318 

.l.imes Stewart. Robert Ryan 

SI Rogue's March (83) D . . 320 

Peter Lawford, Richard Greene, J. Rule 

U Jeopardy (. .) D. .317 

Barbara StanwTCK. Barry Sullivan

I 

Never 

1 No 

. 

FEATURE 

CHARtH 

PARAMOUNT 

j Something to LIvo For (89) D. .51QS 

Jiinri I'uutslne. RiF Mllland. Terest Wrlfkt 

OAoron Slick From Punkin 

Crick (95) C..5119 

AInn Vimrii;. IHnah Shore, Bobert Merrill 

My Son John (122) D..S116 

lleirn llnyes. Van Uenio, Bubert Walker 

Anything Can Hoppan (107). . .0. .5117 

Jose Terrcr, Kim Hunter. Kurt Ktsuur 

®Red Mountain (84) SW. .5113 

Alnii l.iilil, Mzaljpik 9aiU, Arthur Kenaeil; 

Atomic City, The (85) D. .5120 

(Jetie B.irry. Lydla tlarke. Michael Moere 

^Denver & Rio Grande (89) O. .5115 

innnd O'Brien. Sterling Hayden, Dean Jagger 

RKO RADIO 

£_^ 

ORoncho Notorious (89) SW..221 

Marlene hletrlch, Arthur iiennedy, M. Perrer 

Poce That Thrills, The (63) O. 213 

Bill Williams. Carla Balenda, Frank McUugh 

Whispering Smith vs. 

Scotlond Yard (77) D, .222 

Rosho-Mon (87) 0. .268 

lu'.hiro MUuoe, .Macblt« Kyo. M. Mori 

Road Agent (60) D..223 

Tim Unlt^ Noreen .Nas h. lUchard Martin 

Torian's Savage Fury (81) D. .225 

Ui Barter. Dorothy Hart, Patrlc Knoitles 

Mocoo (81) D..224 

Jane Uussell. Robert MUcbuo. WllllaiD Bendlx 

OHolf Breed, The (81) 5W. .228 

Robert Young. JauU (^rter. Jack Buetel 

l4arrow Margin, The (71) D,.226 

(,Tiarle.s .McUraw. Marie Windsor, While 

Target (61 ) 

J. 

D . , 227 

ThD Holt, lUrtiîrd Martin, Linda Douglas 

Faithful City (85) D..303 

Jamie Smith. Ben Josef, Israel Hanin 

Desart Passage (61 ) D . 

Tim Holt, Richard M artin, Joan Dhon 

. 230 

Clash by~ Night (105) D. .229 

Barbara Stannyrk, Robert Ryan, Paul Douglas 

REPUBLIC 20TH CENTURY-FOX 

a Lost Musketeer, The (67). . . . W. .5142 

| 

Itei Allen, .Mary Ellen Kay, 811m Pickens 

il Leadvltle Gunslinger (54) W..5171 

.\\\an "Itockj ' Lane, Eddy Waller, E. Riley 

3$OOklahoma Annie (90) C..S122 

Judy Canova, John Russell, Grant Withers 

Hi Fabulous Sanarito, The (80) C. .5125 

EstellU. Robert Clarke. Rita Morena 

gS Hoodlum Empire (98) D..5105 

Brl:ui liunlevy, Claire Trevor. F. Tucker 

m Border Soddlemotes (67) W. .5143 

Kes .Ulcn. M.nry Ellen Kay 

m Wild Horse Ambush (54) W. .5069 

Michael Chapln. Elene Janssen 

[S Gobs and Gals (86) C..512S 

Bernard Brothers. Calliy Downs, Robert Hutten 

i 

Black Hills Ambush (54) D..5172 

Allan -Rocky" Lane, Eddy Waller 

Q] Bal Toborln (84) C. .5129 

Muriel Lawrence, William (%lng, C. Carleton 

SI (31 Dream of Jeonle (90) M. .5106 

Ray Mlddleton, .Muriel Uurence. Bill Shirley 

5 Fingers (108) D. ,208 

James .M.ison. Danielle Darrleux, M. Iteruile 

Return of the Texan (87) D. .209 

D.ile Robertson, Joanne Dru, W. Breiuian 

Vivo Zapatal (110) D..206 

.Marlou Brando, Jean Peters. Anthony Quiiin 

t»©With a Song In My 

Heart (117) M. .210 

Susan lla)viaid, Rory Calhoun. Daild Wayne 

UOPride of St. Louis, The (93). CD. .211 

Dan Dalley. Joanne Dru, lUcbard Uylton 

©Rose of Cimorron (72) D, .212 

Jack Buetel, Mala Powers, Bill Williams 

UOBetles on Their Toes (89) C. .213 

.Myrna L,oy, Jeaiuu Craln, Jeffrey Hunter 

Deadline— U.S.A. (87) D. .215 

lluoipUrey Bngart, Klnj Hunter. B. Barr>more 

Outcasts ot Poker Flat (81 . . . D. .216 

) . 

Dale Robertson. Aiuie Baxter. Miriam lIupkhiH 

©Kangorool (84) O. .217 

.Miiureen O'Hara. Peter Ijawford, FInlay Currle 

©Lydia Bailey (89) D..219 

Dale Robertson, Anne Francis. Charles Kurvtn 

> 

Si 

OOGreotost Show on Forth, The 

(153) D..5129 

Rflty llulton, Jamf= Stevtart. Cornel Wilde 

Jumping Jocks (92) C. .5121 

|i>'\ii Mdrtin. Jerry Lewis, Mont Freeman 

Encore (90) CD. .5122 

(iiytils Juhn.s. Boland Culver, Kay Walsb 

Carrie (122) D. .5123 

Jeiinller Junes, Laurence Olivier, M. Hopkins 

eiSon of Paleface (95) C. .5124 

Btih Hope, Jane Uussell, Boy Sogers 

©Wild Heart, The (81) 0. .274 

Jennifer Jones. David Farrar, Cyril (^jsack 

QStory of Robin Hood, The 

(84) D. .391 

Itichard Todd, Joan Rice. James Uayler 

Big Sky, The (140) D. .361 

Kirk Douflas. Elizabeth Threatt, D. Martin 

Sudden Fear (110) D. .362 

Joan Crawford. Bruce Bennett, Gloria Grahame 

One Minute to Zero (105) D. .301 

Robert Mltchum. Anu Blyth, C. .McGraw 

g§ Thundering Caravans (54) . . . . W. .5173 

Allan "Itncky" Lane. .Mona Knox 

glOld Oklahoma Plains (60) W. .5144 

Rex Allen. Elaine Edwards 

l|jl©Quief Mon, The (129) CD.. 5108 

John Wayne. Maureen O'Hara 

(Special prerelease) 

©Lady In the iron Mask (78).. D.. 218 

Louis Hayward. Patricia Medina, Alan Hale Jr 

©Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, 

Nellie (108) D. .220 

.lean Peters, David Wayne. Hugh Marlowe 

Diplomotic Courier (97) D. .222 

I'jrone i'ower, Patricia Neal. McNally 

8. 

We're Not Married (85) C. .221 

Ginger Rogers. Victor Moore, Fred Alien 

Don't Bother to Knock (76) D. .224 

Kicbard WIdmark. Marilyn Monroe, A. Bancroft 

Dreamboat (83) C. .223 

Clifton Webb. Ginger Rogers, Anne Francis 

Les Miscrables (1 04) D . 223 

.Michael Rcnnle. Debra Paget, Robart N«wton 

©What Price Glory (111) CO.. 226 

James Cagney, Den Dalle;, Corhine Calvet 

OJust far You (104) M. .5201 

Blng Crosby, Jane Wyroan, Etbel Barrymore 

^Caribbean (97) AD . . 5202 

John I'aynt. Arlene Dsbl, Sir C. Oardulclie 

Beware, My Lovely (77) D..302 

Ida l.uplno, Robert Ilyan. Taylor Holmes 

[U ©Woman of the North Country 

(90) D. .5107 

Ituth Hussey. Rod Cameron. Gale Storm 

©Lure of the Wilderness (92). . .D. .227 

Jean Peters. Jeffrey Hunter. W. Brennan 

O. Henry's Full House (1 17) . .CD. .228 

.\nne li.ixler. Clifton Webb. Jeanne Cr.-iln 

Monkey Business (97) C..230 

Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe 

® Hurricane Smith (90) AD.. 5204 

I Yvonne lieCarlii, John Ireland. James Craig 

^ ^Somebody Lovea Ma (97). . .M. .5203 

Betty HultoD, Kalph Meeker. Adele Jergena 

Turning Point, The (85) D. .5205 

William Holden, Aleils Bmltb, E. O'Brien 

OSovoga, The (95) AD. .3206 

Cbarlton Hestoo, Susan Morrow. Peter Hanson 

IS)8lozlng Forest, The (90). 

Jobn Payne, Agnes Moorebead, 

...D. .5207 

Richard Arlen 

ORood to Boll (91) 

I 

;rv 

MC, .5209 

] Blng Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour 

eTropic Zone (94) D..5211 

I Bonald Reagan. EstelUa, Rhonda Fleming 

iThunder In the East (98) D..5210 

1 Alan Ladd, Deborah Kerr, Charles Boyer 

Stooge, The (100) C. .5212 

Pean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Polly Bergen 

Come Back, Little Sheba (99). .D. .5213 

KiirL Lancaster, Shirley Booth, Terry Moore 

(Special 

prerelease) 

Lusty Men, The (113) D. .304 

Susan Ilayward, Itoberl Mltchum. A. Kennedy 

Under the Red Sea (67) Doc. 305 

H.nns Haas, Lottie Berl. Jerry Weldler 

H ©Montana Belle (81) SW..308 

Jane Russell, George Brent. Scott Brady 

Sg Foce to Face (92) D . . 309 

James .Mason, Robert Preston, 0. Ixvckharl 

[s] Captive Women (64) D. .306 

Robert Clarke, Margaret Field. Ron Randeli 

M ©Hans Christian Andersen 

(115) M..351 

Danny Kaye, Jeanmalre. Farley Granger 

H ©Blackbeord, The Pirate (98). . .D. .307 

Robert Newion. Linda DarncU. Keith Andes 

Si Androcles and the Lion (98). . .CD. .368 

Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, R. Newton 

Wave ot a WAC (87) C. .371 

Rosalind lUisscll, P.uil Douglas. M. Wilson 

Time for Flowers (83) CD. .313 

Vlveca Llndtors. Paul Christian 

©Peter Pan ( . ) . F . 

(Special prerel&ise) 

Angel Foce (93) D. .312 I 

Jean Simmons. Bobert Mltchum 

Sword of Venus (73) D . . 

Robert Clarke, Catherine McLeod 

(D Tropical Heot Wove (74) C. .5126 

EstelUa. Robert Hutton. Kristlne Miller 

[S Desperadoes' Outpost (54). . . . W. .5174 

Allan "Rocky" Lime. Claudia Barrett 

SI ©Toughest Man in Arizona (90)D..5109 

Vaughn .Monroe. Joan Leslie, Victor Jory 

BIWAC From Wolla Wollo (83). .C. .5123 

.hidy Canova. Stephen Dunne, June Vincent 

@ South Poclfie Trail (60) W..S145 

Rex Allen, Estellta. Boy Barcroft 

1 Thunderblrds (98) D . . 5201 

John Derek, Jobn Barrymore jr., SI. Freeman 

Q] ©Ride the Man Down (90) W. .5202 

Brian Donlevy. Ella Raines, Forrest Tucker 

Morshol of Cedar Rock (. .). .D. .5175 

i 

Allan "Rocky" Lane, Phyllis Coates 

My Wife's Best Friend (101) C,,231 

Anne Baxter, Macdonald Carey, C. McLeod 

©Way of o Goucho (117) D. .229 

Uory Caliiouu, Gene Tlerney, Hugh Marlowe 

Something for the Birds (81). . .C. .238 

Victor Mature, Patricia Neai, Edmund (Jwenn 

©Bloodhounds of Broadway (90),, 236 

Mltzl Gaynor, Scott Brady, MItil Green 

Night Without Sleep (77) D, ,235 

Linda Darnell. Gary Merrill, Hlldegarde Nefl 

Steel Trap, The (84) D..232 

Joseph Cotten, Teresa Wright, Eddie Marr 

©Pony Soldier (81) D, .237 

Tyrone Powsr, Penny EdwMda, Ricbard Boone 

©Stars and Stripes Forever (89) D..239 

Clifton Webb. Ruth Hussey, Dcbra Paget 

Thief of Venice (91 ) D . . 

234 

Maria Monies;, Paul Christian, M. Serato 

My Pol Gus (83) C .233 

Richard WIdmark, Joanne Dru, Audrey Totter 

00 

m 

TO 

©I Don't Care Girl, The (78). . .M. .302 

MIW Gaynor. David Wayne. Oscar Levant 

Ruby Gentry (82) O . . 303 

Jennifer Jones. Qiarlton Hestoo. K. Maiden 

> 

My Cousin Rachel (98) D. .301 

z 

c: 

Olivia Dellavllland, Ricbard Burton, A. Dallon 

> 

TO 

-< 

Taxi (77) CD. .305 

Dan Dalley, (înstance Smith, B. Yurka 

©Niagara ( . . ) D . 

. 306 

Marilyn Jlonroe. Joseph Cotten. Jean Peters 

©Farmer Takes a Wife, The 

(..) M..307 

Betty Orable. Dale Eobertaoo, J. Carroll 

JO 

c= 

> 

5

.CD 

I 

©Crimson 

91 

I 

FEATURE 

< 

S 

CHART 

UNITED ARTISTS ^15 

m Tale of FIv* Women, A (M) D.1 161 

Uutiar Cullfano, Aooe VerDuo. Lana Morris 

14 ©Mutiny (76) 0.1163 

Hark Steiou, AngtU Lanabur;, P. Kiiouh's 

• CjRoyo' Journey (50) Doc. 1164 

guffn Kllzat>etti. Duke of Edinburgh 

J|| ÔAftkon Queen, The (104). . .D. 1155 

Hii[[i|itin-> Bii^nrt. K. Hepbum. B. Morley 

ei Strange World (80) AD. 1165 

.îiiicllca Uauff. AleiaJdw Carlw, C. Br o«n 

ai Captive City, The (91) D 1166 

John Korsytbe, Joeo Caadea, H. J. Konied; 

iU without Warning (71) D . 1 1 68 

Adam Wllllam.s. .Meg Bankll, Unard BInns 

JM Red Planet Mori (87) D.1 169 

I'l'lfr (ir>t«, Andrta KUif, Oie; Llnduron 

Id Fighter, The (78) D.1167 

Ukbard CoDtt, VaoMU Brtnra, Lee J. Cobb 

lUJOTolea of Hoffmann (111). 

Malta Bhoarer, Bodert He( 

Hi Confidence Girl (81) D 1173 

Tiim I'uiiua;. Biliary Braaka, Aline Towne 

llOutcoit of the lalande (92) 0.1172 

llalpli lilchardaon. Treror Howard, W. Hlller 

1 1 58 

Bduard U. Koblosoo. Uanfaa Buot. E. Allien 

i« Acton and Sin (85) CD . 

MHIgh Noon (85) SW.1159 

Cary Coutier. (Irace Kelly, lieyd Brldee s 

IDOIslond of Desire (94) 0.1160 

l.lnda Darnell. Tab Huoter, Dsoaid Gray 

ll Pork Row (83) 0.1177 

llene Evane, Mary Welck, Herbert Heyes 

«1 Cry, the Beloved Coantry (96).. 0.1 171 

Canada Lee, Sidney Pettier. Ckarlea Carson 

II Untamed Women (70) F.1 178 

Ulkel Conrad. DorU Herrtck, Hark Uvrell 

« Ring. The (79) 0.1179 

(ierald Mohr, Rita Hoteoe. Lalee Bles 

101 Thief, The (85) . . 1 1 84 

Hny MlllHnJ. illla GaB, Hwtto Oabel 

4 Limelight (143) CO. .1183 

Charlie Chaplin. Claire Bleea. NIfel Briire 

Si Outpost In Moloyo () D..1ie 

Claiidttte Colbert. Ja«t BawUoa. A. Steel 

m OBobet in Bogdod (79) CD. .1191 

I'auleite Uoddard. Gypey Beee J. Boles 

Lee, 

OMonsoon (79) . . 1 190 

H? 

Irmla Thelss, George Nader. Dlaaa Douelaa 

3]] Breaking the Sound 

(109) 0..1192 

Balph RlcbardMD, An IMl N. PaUIck 

SI Konsos City Confidential (99) . . . . 1 1 89 

John l'a)iie, Colten Oray, Preatan Faster 

H Guerrilla Girl (..) 0.. 

Mi'lniiit li.intlne. .Mariana 

H Luxury Girls (..) 

Husm Mtcphen. Laurcoee Ward 

0.. 

UNIVERSAL-INT L 

©Steel Town (84) 0..215 

.\nn Sheridan. John Lund. Howard Puff 

©Treasure of Lost Canyon, The 

(82) D..209 

tVllllam I'oui'll, Julia Adams, C. Drake 

Flesh ond Fury (82) 0..214 

Tuny Ciirils. Jan Sterling, Mona Freeman 

Ma and Po Kettle of the Fair 

(78) C. .216 

Marjurle Main. Percy Kllbrtde. James Best 

©Battle 

(85) 

of Apache Pass, The 

SW. .217 

John Lund. Jeff Chandler. Beverly Tyler 

Man in the White Suit, The (85) C. .282 

Alex Ouloness, Joan CfrecQwood, C. Parker 

Red Boil Express (83) D. .218 

Jefr Chandler. Alex Nlcol. C. Drake 

©Bronco Buster (80) D..219 

John Lund. Kcott Brady, Joyce Uolden 

No Room for the Groom (82). . .C. .220 

Tony CurtU, IMper Laurie. Spring Bylngtoo 

©Ivory Hunter (97) D..221 

Anthony Steel. Dinah Sheridan. M. Edwarils 

©Scarlet Angel (81 ) D . . 222 

Yvonne DcCarlo. itork Hudson, Ittchard Denning 

Just Across the Street (78). . . .C. .223 

Ann Sheridan. John Lund, Kobert Keith 

Islond Rescue (87) CO. .283 

David Niven, Qlynls Johns, G. Coulourls 

. 

©Has Anybody Seen My Gol 

(89) C. .226 

Cli;ir!es Coburn. Piper Laurie. Olgl I'erreau 

Fronds Goes to West Point (Bl).C 224 

Donald O'Connor, Lorl NeUon, Alice Kelley 

Solly ond Saint Anne (90). .225 

Ann Blytb. Ekhnund Uwenn, John Meintlre 

©Duel of Silver Creek, The (77) SW. .228 

Aiidle Murpiiy, Fallh Domergue, B. ,McNally 

Lost In Alaska 176) C. .229 

Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Mllzl Green 

©World in His Arms, The (104). .0. .227 

Gregory I'erk, Ann Blyth, Anthony Qulnn 

©Untomed Frontier (75) SW. .230 

Joseph Cotlen. Shelley Winters. Scott Brady 

©Son of All Bobo (75) F . . 231 

Tony Curtis. IMper Laurie. Susan Cabot 

Bonzo Goes to College (80). . . .C. .232 

Maureen ICSulllvan. Bdmund Gwenn, G. I'errean 

Willie and Joe In Bock at the 

Front (87) C. .233 

Tom Kwell. Harvey Lerabeck. Marl Btanchard 

©Yankee Buccaneer (86) AD.. 234 

Jeff (liaiMllcr. Scott Br.irty. Suzan Hall 

©Horizons West (81) SW..235 

itiilirrt Hyan. Julia Adams. Ruck Hudson 

Stronger in Between, The (88).. D.. 284 

Dirk Bngardc, Jon WlUteiy, Elizabeth Sellars 

^Roiders, The (8«) SW . . 301 

KIchard Conte, Vlveca Llndfors. B. Brlttun 

Because of You (95) D..302 

Loieila Vuung. Jeff Chandler. Alex Nlcol 

It Grows on Trees (84) C . . 303 

Irene Dunne, Dc'ui Jagger, Joan Evans 

Block Castle, The (81) D. .304 

Richard Greene, Boris Karloff, 8. SIcNally 

©Agoinst All Flogs (83) D..305 

EiTol FIvnii. Maureen O'llara. Anthony (iulnn 

©Importance of Being Earnest, 

The (95) 

C..381 

Michael Redgrave. Joan Greenwood, Edith Evans 

©Redhead From Wyoming, The 

(80) 0. .309 

Maureen ll'll.ira, Alex Nlcol, R. Strauss 

©Meet Me ot the Fair (85) M. .307 

Dan lialley. Hhuia Lynn. Chet Allen 

©Lawless Breed, The (80) O. .306 

Rock Hudson, Jidla Adams, Mar; Castle 

©Mississippi Gambler (. .) 0. .310 

Tyrone Power, Jutl.i Adams, Piper Laurie 

Girls in the Night (,.) O.. 

Glenda Farrell, Harvey Lcmbeck, J, Holden 

WARNER BROS. 

Si ©Bugles In the Afternoon (85). SW. ,116 

Hay .Mllland, Helena Carter, Hugh Marlowe 

a Streetcar Nomod Desire, A (122).D..104 

VMen Leigh. .Marlun Brando, Kim Hunter 

gi©Blg Trees, The (89) 0, .117 

Kirk Douglas, Patrice Wymore, Ere Miller 

;©Jock and the Beanstolk (78)..C..118 

Bud Abbott. Lou Costello. Buddy Bare 

H ©Lion and the Horse, The (83) . . . . 1 1 

Steve Cochran, Riiy Teal, Sherry Jackson 

[S Mora Moru (98) D..120 

Brrol Flynn, Ruth Roman, Raymond Burr 

I 

Son Fronclsco Story, The . . . D 121 

Joel McCrea, Yvonne 

(80) 

DeCarlo. 8. Blackmer 

IQAbout Face (94) M..I22 

Ourdun Macltae. Eddie Bracken. V, Gibson 

9 ©Carson City (87) iW. 123 

Randolph Scoit. Lucille Normaii H Ma.s.sey 

9 ©3 for Bedroom C (74).. C .124 

(Jlnrla Swanson. James Warren, HrM Clark 

Winning 

I 

Team, The (98) O 

. 

Ronald Reagan. Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy 

a ©She's Working Her Way 

Through College (101) M..128 

Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reaga/i, Gene NeUon 

S UOStory of Will Rogers, The 

(109) D..129 

Will Rogers jr.. Jane Wyman, N. Beery Jr. 

an ©Where's Charley? (97) C. .130 

Ray Bolger. Allyn McLerle. R. Sbackleton 

g3Blg Jim McLoln (90) D. .201 

Jobn Wayne. Nancy Olsoa, Jim Arness 

Pirate, The (104). . . .AD. .202 

Burt Lancaster, Eva Bartok, Margot Grahane 

Sj] U©Miracle of Our Lady of Fotimo, 

The (102) 0. .203 

Gilbert Roland, Susan niiltney, Angela Clark 

S ©Springfield Rifle (93) SW..204 

Gary Cooper, Pbyllls Tbaiter, Darld Brian 

la Operation Secret (108) D. .205 

Cornel Wilde. Phyllis Thaixer. Steve Cochran 

i ©Iron Mistress, The (110) 0; ,206 

Alan L,tdd, Virginia .Mayo, Alf KJeliln 

(6) Cattle Town (70) W, ,207 

Dennis Morgan. Rita Moreno. Philip Carey 

IS ©Abbott and Costello Meet 

Coptoin Kidd (70) C, .208 

Bud Abbott, Lou (^stello, Cbarles Laugfaton 

[SQAprir In Paris (101) MT7209 

Doris Day, Ray Bolger. Claude Dauphin 

Ell ©Stop, You're Killing Me (86), . .C. .210 

Broderick Crawford, Cialre Trevor, V. Gibson 

gt) ©Man Behind the Gun, The (82) SW . 

. 21 

Randolph Scott, Patrice Wymore. U. Wesson 

[7] ©Jazz Singer, The (. .) 0. . 

Danny Tliomas, Peggy Lee, Mildred Dunnock 

S ©She's Back on Broodway (..),. M . 

Virginia Mayo. Gene .Nelson. 8. Cochran 

. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

_:.S 

So 

REALART 

Bottles of Chief Pontlac 

(75) 0. .11-15-52 

Lex Barker, Helen Westcott, Lon Ckaney 

Belo Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn 

Gorilla (74) C. .10- 1-52 

Beta LugusI, Duke Mitchell, Sammy I'etrlllo 

Breokdown (76) O.. 9-15-52 

Ann Richards, William Bishop, Sheldon Leonard 

Coiro Road (85) O. .10- 1-52 

Laur.ince Harvey. Eric Portmaii 

Fame and the Devil (80)..D..11- 1-52 

Mlseha Auer, .Marilyn Bueford, .Marcel Cerdan 

Geisha Girl (67) D. . 8- 1-S2 

Martha Hyer, Bill Andreas 

House of Darkness (63). .. .0. .10- 1-12 

Laurance Harvr'j. Sus.in Rhaw 

Kid Monk Boroni (80) O.. 8-15-52 

Bruce Cahot, Mona Knoi 

©Moytime In Moyfoir (74). 0.. 8- 1-52 

Michael Wilding, Anna Neagle 

My Death Is a Mockery (67) 0. .12- 1-52 

Donald Huston. Katherlne Byron 

Well of Death (82) O. . 9- 1-52 

Laurance Harvey. Susan fibow, Uaiwell Heed 

REISSUES 

ASTOR 

Captain Boycott (93) O.. 10- 1-53 

Stewart t;rani;er, Kathleen Ryan 

Eva Pcron Story, The (30) Doc. . 9- 5-55 

Gun Moll (70) 0.. 12-10-51 

Francliot 'rune, Jean W.dlace I 

Mod Lover, The (86) D. . 8-15-SlF 

Paid Andnr. Claildle Drake 

Noughty Widow, The (100) 0. . t-IS-S: 

Jane Kiissell. l.iiijis Ilayward 

Return of Roffles, The (70). 0. .11- 1-5J 

Geortie Itarraud, Carmllla Horn 

COLUMBIA 

. 

Sepf.-f 

. 

Lodies of the Chorus (61). C . 

Nov.-S: 

Marlljn Munroe. Adele Jergens 

Mine With the Iron Door, The 

(66) 

Blrhard Arlen. C. Parker. Henry 0. Waltkall 

LIPPERT 

Coptoin Kidd (89) 0. 12-1 2-5 

Randnlph Scoil, Charles Laughton 

Great White Hunter (89) .. O. . 

12-12-5 

Gieyory Peck, Joan Bennett, ttnbert Prestnn 

PARAMOUNT 

Cleopatra (104) D . Dec.-5 

Claudelle Ccilhert. Henry WIlroiiKi 

RKO RADIO 

Annie Ookley (91 ) R . Scpt.-5 

Barh.ira Stanwyck. I'reilon F«s1er. M llnugli 

Alleghony Uprising (81 ) . . . . . Sept.-» 

John Wayne, Claire Trevor, George Sanders 

Bachelor ond the Bobby-Soxer. 

The (9S) 

C. .Dec.-5 

Carv Grant. Mvrna Lov. Shirley Temple 

Bachelor Mother (82) C. . Dce.-5 

Ginger R.igers, David .Nlven 

Look Who's Laughing (79) . C . . Aug.-5 

Fibljer McGee and Molly, Lucille Ball 

Too Many Girls (85) M. Aug.-I 

Ijicllle Ball, Desl Arnal, Ann Miller 

REALART 

Colling Dr. Deoth (63) O. .Jan.-3 

Lon ClKMiiy. .1. Carrol Na-sh 

Cuban Pete (61) C. 11-20-3 

Desl Arni'Z Ethel Smi'S 

House of Seven Gables. The 

(97) O. Feb 

Ginrge Sanders. Vincent Price. .M Llnd-c: 

Inside Job (65) C. 12-10-! 

Alan Ciinis. .\nn Rulh'r'nrd I'rest.m Fust 

Johnny Comes Marching Home 

(74) C. .Fcb.- 

Doii.itd D'Ciinnnr. .\llan Jones 

Lucy Goes Wild (90) C. 11-20- 

Llicille Ball. Geiiref Brent 

Missing Head (62) D. .Jon.- 

Ixin Chanev. llrenda Joyce 

Mr. Pip (101) D. Feb.-! 

Warren Hull. Phillips Holmes 

Mug Town (60) C. 12-10-1 

Dead End KliK, Little Tough Guys 

Private Buckoroo (68).. C Fcb.-l 

Harrv 

.lames 

Summer Storm (92) 0. 9- 1-: 

Linda Darnell. George Sartders 

Vanishing Body, The (65). . .0. .Jan.- 

Borls Karloff, Bela Lugosi 

CENTURY-FOX 

20th 

Gunfighter, The (84) O.Jon.. 

Greiîiry Peek. Je.in Parker 

To the Shores of Tripoli* 

(86) 0. .July- 

John I'avne. Maureen O'Hara. Randriliih Scott 

Yellow Sky 

. 

(98) 

. Jon 

GrcKory Peck. Anne Baxter 

•Colcirprlnts only for west, south and Cana 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Guest Wife (90) C. . 9-5- 

Claurtette Colbert. Don Ameche 

It's in the Bog (87) C. 9- 5- 

Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Don Aneetie 

Lady Vonishes, The (95). . .0. . 9-19- 

cliael Redgrave. Margaret Loek»ood 

M

I 

I 1952-53 

' 

Jhort tHblceti, lilted by campony, in order of relcoie. Running time followi title. FInt dote li notional 

release, second the dote of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotes is reting from BOXOFFICI 

review, fr Very Good, -t- Good. = Folr. - Poor. = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography. 

Columbia 

froi. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'4 

ANIMAL CAVALCADE 

5651 Chimp-Antics (Iff/j) . . 

10-30-52 + U-IS 

ASSORTED COMEDIES 

«426The Gink at the Sink 

(16'/2) 6-12-52 -f 6-21 

1952-53 SEASON 

Mil Hooked and Rooked 

(I6/2) 9-11-52 -f 10-18 

5412 Cauoht on the Bounce 

(151/2) 10- 9-52 + U.15 

5413 Strop, Look and Listen 

(..) 12-U-52 

ASSORTED FAVORITES 

(Reissues) 

5421 Who's Huoh (16) 10-16-52 

5422 Dance. Dunce, Dance 

(lff/2) 

U-13-52 

5423 Kiss and Wake Up (18) 1- 3-53 

CANDID MICROPHONE 

(One Reel 

Specials) 

»555 Sublect No. 5 (11) 6- 5-52 ± 6-21 

«56 Sublect No. 6 (10) ... 8- 7-52 - 9-13 


1551 Sublect No. 1 (9) 10- 9-52 10-18 

5552 Sublect No. 2 (H) ... .12-14-52 ± 1-3 

CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY 

4654 The Embers (9) 6-12-52 i: 7-26 

COLOR FAVORITES 

(TecliTiicolof 

Reissues) 

«10 Crop Cliascrs (8) 6-12-52 + 6-21 

4611 The Mountain Ears O'/z) 7-10-52 a: 7-26 

4*12 The Flop Pond (8) 814-52 .... 


i6tl The Fox and the Grapes 

O'/i) 9- 4-52 

1«»2 Wacky Wipwams (8) 10- 2-52 

5603 Toll Bridae Troubles (7). 11- 6-52 

5604 The Cuckoo I.U. (7) . . . 11-27-52 

5605 Cinderella Goes to a party 

(7) 12-11-52 

5606 Plenty Below Zero 

(7/2) 1-10-53 

COMEDY FAVORITES 

(Reissues) 

Groom and Bored (16) . . 6-26-52 (436 7-19 + 


M31 Ain't Lo»e CuckooT (19) 9-18-52 ± 10-18 

M32 Pardon My Berth Marks 

(18/2) 10-23-52 

5433 His Wedding Scare 

(I6V2) 12-18-52 

5434 One Too Many (20) 1-17-53 

JOLLY FROLICS 

(Technicolor 

Cartoons) 

.11- 

SHORTS CHART 

8363 An Industrial Uke Port 

( ) 12-29-52 

6364 Ports of Industrial 

Scandanavia ( . 

. ) 1-26-53 .... 

8365 The Po River Valley 2-23-53 

( . 

8366 ) . Sheep Ranch Country ( . . ) 3-23-53 

MUSICAL FEATUJIETTE 

301 Xavier Cugat and Orch. 

(IS) 11-16-52 11-15 

8302 Don Cornell Sings (15) 12- 4-52 + 11-15 

8303 The Modernaires With Lawrence 

WeUs Orch. (15).... 1- 1-53 -f 11-15 

NAME BAND MUSICALS 

7306 Connee Boiwell and Ada Leonard 

(15) 5- 7-52 2: 6-2« 

7307 Buddy Morrow ini) His 

Orch. (15) 6-18-52 -t- 8- 2 

7308 Pere2 Prado and Orcli 

(15) 7- 2-52 + 8-23 

7309 Oick Juroens and Orch 

(15) 7-30-52 -i- 8-30 

7310 Billy May and His Orch. 

(15) 8-20-52 + 9-20 

7311 Jimmy Oorsey Varieties 

(15) 9-25-52 + 10-18 

TWO -REEL SPECIALS 

7202 Knighti of the Highway 

(17) 6-18-52 H 

LANTZ CARTUNES 

8- 2 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

7329 Mousie Come Home (7) . 5-26-52 +8-2 

7330 Fairweather Fiends (7). 6-23-52 4- 8-23 

7331 Apple Andy (7) 7-21-52 

. 

7332 Wacky Weed (7) 8-18-52 

7333 Musical Moments (7) . . 9-15-52 

VARIETY VIEWS 

7345 Army's Finest (9) 6-16-52 + 4-19 

7346 Future Generals (9)... 8-4-52+ 8-30 

7347 Village Metropolis (9).. 9- 8-52 + 9-13 

7348 Man in the Peace Tower 

(9) 10-13-52 + 11-15 

WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 

7355 Woodpecker in the Rough 

(7) 8-U-52 6-2S 

7354 Scalp Treatment (7) . . . 9- 8-52 + 9-20 

7356 The Greal Who-Dood-lt 

(7) 10-26-52 + 10-lS 

8321 Termites From Mars (7). 12- S-52 

Warner Bros. 

fttt. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Re«'d 

BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE 

. 1-10-53 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

My Mouse (7) . . . 5- 3-52 

•309 Hush 

8310 Baby Bottleneck (7) 6-14-52 

g?ll The Bug Parade (7)... 7-12-52 

B312Merrre Old Soul (7)... 8- 2-S2 

8313 Fresh Airdale (7) 8-38-52 


9301 A Feud There Was (7).. 9-13-52 

9302 Daffy Doodles (7) 10-11-52 

9303 A Day at the Zoo (7).. 11- 8-52 

9304 Early Worm Gets the 

Bird (7) 11-29-52 

9305 Tale of Two Mice (7) . 

9306 Bashful Buzzard (7) . . . 2- 7-53 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

(Technicolor) 

8729 The Hasty Hare (7) 6- 7-52 ± 8-30 

8730 Oily Hare (7) 7.26-52 ± 8-23 


9723 Rabhit Seasoning (7)... 9-20-52 

9723 Rabbit Seasoning (7) . . . 9-20-52 + 12-13 

9725 Hare Lift (7) 12-20-51 

9726 Forward. March Hare (7) 2-14-53 

FEATURETTES 

8105 The Man Killers (20).. 5-17-52 + 7-26 

8106Tii3l by Trioger (20).. 7- 8-52 


9101 Monsters of the Deep 


9801 Freddie Fisher and Band 

(10) ie-U-52 

9802 Junior Jive Bombers 

,^, „.

opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips 

(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE 

REVERSE SIDE) 

Peter Pan 

RKO Radio (392) 76 Minutes 

, 

F 

Rel. 

Cartoon 

(Technicolor) 

All of the consummate artistry that characterizes the work 

of Walt Disney and his gifted staff is apparent in every frame 

of this thoroughly delightful feature-length animated cartoon. 

I. M. Barrie's venerable classic about the boy vvrho wouldn't 

grow up is a made-to-order vehicle for the Disney technique 

and—as was the case with most of the animation maestro's 

previous ventures—will exert far-reaching appeal among 

all age brackets, from the nursery set on up to the oldsters. 

That it will be a substantial grosser throughout its exhibition 

life appears undeniable. Audiences are sure to applaud 

the gallery of endearingly whimsical characters, including 

the title-roler, the villainous Captain Hook the angelic 

Wendy Darling, and the mischievous sprite. Tinker Bell. Local-level 

exploitation can be easily drafted to dovetail with 

the elaborate national campaigns being set up. 

Voices of: 

Bill 

Bobby Driscoll, Eothryn Beaumont, Hans Conned. 

Thompson, Heather Angel. Tom Conway. 

B>. 

frand 

uble 

«tent 

The Naked Spur F ,::XL. 

MGM (318) 94 Minutes ReL Feb. 8, '53 

James Stewart, whose name and talents have been linked 

with such topflight westerns as "Winchester 73" and "Bend 

of the River," herein undertakes another galloper assignment—and 

a hard-bitten, actioniul, suspense-laden vehicle 

it is. On every count the picture merits appraisal as a super* 

western, and once the hurdle of its rather obscure and 

unalluring title has been surmounted, the offering should 

rack up substantial grosses wherever booked. Among its 

assets: The proven draw of Stewart and at least two of the 

other topliners, Janet Leigh and Robert Ryan; spectacular 

Technicolor photography which captures the panoramic beauties 

of the rugged Colorado wastelands where the photoplay 

was made; and taut, fast-paced direction by Anthony Mann. 

With these exploitation ingredients at their command, showmen 

can boost the offering into a winner. A solid credit for 

Producer William H. Wright. 

James Stewart. Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan. Millard Mitchell, 

Ralph Meeker. 

The Hitch-Hiker 

RKO Radio ( ) 71 Minutes Rel. Feb. '53 

RKO has a genuine "sleeper" in this hard-hitting, suspenseful 

program melodrama. Except for a few Mexican bit 

players, the taut screenplay is enacted entirely by three 

actors, Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy, who have fair 

marquee value, and William Talman, who gives a memorable 

portrayal of convict and murderer. a vicious escaped This is 

a "natural" for action spots and, like "The Narrow Margin," 

it is strong enough for spotting in many art houses. Produced 

by Filmakers and splendidly directed by Ida Lupino, who 

also wrote the screenplay with Collier Young, the picture is 

vividly realistic from the tense start to the violent finish. 

O'Brien and Lovejoy, as hapless vacationers, match Talman's 

fine performance. There is never a suggestion of romantic 

interest—and none is needed. From the starting point, near 

Las Vegas, the picture was filmed entirely on location, with 

fine photographic shots of Mexican highways and terrain. 

Edmond O'Brien. Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, lose Torvoy. 

Jean Del VaL Wendell Niles. 

The Sea Around Us 

RKO Radio ( ) 81 Minutes ReL 

F 

F 

Documentary 

(Technicolor) 

As an off-beat book, Rachel L. Carson's best-selling chronicle 

of marine life, its intricacies, its tragedies and its 

comedies, was widely discussed and enjoyed. Such foundation 

alone should assure considerable interest in and 

patronage for this documentary film predicated on that 

tome. In implementing the original, Writer-Producer Irwin 

Allen assembled an impressive collection of underwater and 

kindred film, most of it expertly photographed and all of it 

in high-quality Technicolor, and welded it with appropriate 

commentary. The result is an educational, engrossing and 

sometimes exciting morsel of film fare that will displease 

none and entertain most. Considering the nature of the 

picture and its running time, it obviously was not intended 

to go it alone or to fill the topside of the dual situations. 

But when used in support of a conventional feature, most 

especially one of heavy dramatic qualities, it will serve 

admirably to round out the program. The literary source 

is the best bet for merchandising this offering. 

The Mississippi Gan^bler 

F 

Drama 

(Technicolor) 

Univ.-Int'l ( ) 98 Minutes 

Rel. Feb. '53 

Opulently caparisoned to ensnare the atmosphere and 

backgrounds of the ante-bellum deep south, this Ted Richmond 

production in every detail reflects expert and meticulous 

attention to technical exquisiteness. Unfortunately, the 

story unfolded against this lushly painted setting, and the 

performances of those who delineate it, fall short of the 

standards established by such impressive richness. It is, in 

fact, a rather ordinary melodrama, obviously contrived, telegraphing 

each development well in advance and in many 

respects reminiscent of stage thrillers of the century it 

portrays. In the title role, Tyrone Power contributes a reasonably 

convincing performance, as does character actor 

John Mclntire. Other acting chores leave much to be desired. 

Nonetheless, through shrewd exploitation of title, the Power 

name and Technicolor it should be possible to attract profitable 

patronage. Rudolph Mate directed. 

. shine '^_ 

Drnfit 

other 

*heair 

J. 4.0. 

tiore 

Taxi 

F 

Comedy 

20th-Fox (305) 77 Minutes Rel. Feb. '53 

On past occasions, 20lh-Fox filmmakers have demonstrated 

ability to plumb the lives, loves and supposedly thick skins 

of workaday New Yorkers and have come up with a human, 

wholesome, down-to-earth, mirth-laden motion picture that 

warms the hearts of all who see it and crams the cash 

dravirers of the sljowmen who book it. This offering is amply 

qualified to join its predecessors in that category and—once 

word-of-mouth reaction is given a chance to function— to 

record comparable entries in the ledgers of theatres. While 

its situations and dialog seldom attain the hilarious stage, 

the picture's principal charm lies in its ticker tugs and the 

ingratiating performances of its competent cast. In addition 

to topliner Dan Dailey, much of the credit for the thespian 

qualities goes to Irish actress Constance Smith, a wide-eyed, 

elfish colleen with impressive talents and personality. Gregory 

Ratoff directed for Producer Samuel G. Engel. 

Dan Dailey, Constance Smith, Neva Patterson, Blanche Yurko. 

Kyle MacDonneU, Walter Wooli King, Anthony Ross 

The Jazz Sinaer F 

""""' """" 

rtr T, ,».», (Technicolor) 

Warner Bros. ( 2 1 2) 1 1 Minutes Rel. Feb. 1 4, '53 

Among the many sterling qualities, outstanding is the fact 

that the feature supplies an arresting revelation of the indescribable 

progress made by motion pictures during the 25 

years since the original version ushered in filmdom's golden 

era of sound. But even without such nostalgic and historical 

significance, it earns unqualified classification as the finest 

in modern filmfare, an offering endowed in every way to do 

for ailing grosses what its illustrious forebear did a quarter 

of a century ago. Earning such prime evaluation are assets 

too numerous to list. The same heartwarming story is there, 

but has been made to fit current times, without dialects or 

blackface, and in impeccable taste; the film is opulently 

mounted, with Technicolor photography to accent its beauties 

and breadth; performances by the entire wisely chosen cast 

are thoroughly excellent under Michael Curtiz's characteristically 

understanding direction. Produced by Louis F. Edelman. 

Danny Thomas, Peggy Lee, Mildred Dunnock, Eduard Franz, 

Tom Tully, Alex Gerry, Allyn Joslyn. 

Star of Texas 

F 

Western 

Allied Artists (5332) 72 Minutes Rel. Jan. 'S3 

In plot concept and approach, productional treatment and 

dramatic impact, this sagebrush saga stands head-andshoulders 

above the bulk of similarly budgeted gallopers 

churned out in recent months for the Allied Artists organization 

by Producer Vincent M. Fennelly. Wherever addicts of 

fast-paced, suspenseful action fare are to be found—and 

that's just about everywhere—the offering seems destined 

'°'' enthusiastic reception, .uiK 

which, plus favorable word-of- 

$2; mouth reaction, should build it into a profitable booking 

„ 

'ng. venture as the topsider on dualers or as a single on action 

dates. It abounds in out-oi-routine touches, both in writing 

and direction, which departures from formula contribute in 

large measure to the high entertainment quota the film 

attains. The feature, directed, by Thomas Carr, is richly 

deserving of a hard-hitting merchandising campaign. 

Tyrone Power, Piper Laurie, Julia Adams, John Mclntire, 

Paul Cavanagh, John Baer, Ron Randell. 

1442 BOXOFnCE 

Wayne Morris, Rick Vallin, Robert Lee Bice, Jack Larson, 

Mickey Simpson, Frank Ferguson, Paul Fix. 

January 17, 1953 

\iA\

. . and 

. . Who 

. . With 

. . With 

. . They 

. . Becomes 

. . 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

THE STORY: 

"The Naked Spur" (MGM) 

Three men—James Stewart, who needs money to buy a 

ranch; Millard Mitchell, a prospector, and Ralph Meeker, a 

dishonorably discharged ex-cavalryman — capture Robert 

Ryan, wanted for murder. Ryan has been heading toward 

California with Janet Leigh, an orphan whom he treats as 

a daughter. Ryan slyly begins to play each of the men 

against the other. During the trek back to Abilene, they fight 

off an attack by Blackfeet Indians, but Stewart is seriously 

wounded. Janet nurses him, and they begin to fall in love. 

Tensions continue to mount; Ryan bribes Mitchell to let him 

escape, then brutally murders the prospector. Meeker blasts 

Ryan, then drowns in a flooded river. Abandoning the idea 

of collecting a record, Stewart plans a bright new life with 

Janet. 

CATCHLINES: 

Lust . . . Greed . . . Primitive Passions ... As Four Desperate 

Men . . . And a Lonely, Beautiful Girl . . . Become 

Involved in a Bitter Fight . . . Against Nature and Their Own 

Savage Emotions. 

3-53 

THE STORY: 

"Peter Pan" (RKO) 

Wendy, John and Michael, children of the Darling family 

in London, thoroughly believe in Peter Pan, the "boy who 

wouldn't grow up," and dream of visiting Never Land, that 

island in the sky where thrills, delights and perils abound. 

Peter visits them, teaches them how to fly, and lakes them 

with him back to Never Land, where the villainous Captain 

Hook is constantly plotting to best the adventurous youth. 

The Darling children become involved with a tribe of Indians 

and are held as hostages because Captain Hook has kidnaped 

the chief's daughter, Tiger Lily. With his own particular 

brand of daring, Peter rescues Tiger Lily, but Captain 

Hook abducts Wendy and her two brothers. Peter, aided by 

the sprite, Tinker Bell, foils the pirate and the Darlings return 

to their home. 

CATCHLINES: 

At Last . . . J. M. Barrie's Masterpiece Comes to the Screen 

... as Walt Disney's Most Magnificent Achievement 

Incomparable Entertainment for Youngsters From 

. 

Seven to 

Seventy. 

THE STORY: "Tcdq" (20th-Fox) 

Second fare of the day for Dan Dcdley, New York cab 

driver, is Constance Smith, just off the ship from Ireland. 

She is searching for her husband, an American who married 

her in Ireland after a whirlwind courtship, returned alone 

to the U. S., and disappeared. Dan and Constance fail to 

locate him, and Constance goes back to her ship, leaving 

her infant in his cab. Dan rushes back to Constance, 

and an immigration official allows her to remain another 

week, in Dan's custody, provided Dan posts a $500 bond. 

Then, on a sidewalk-TV interview program, Constance spots 

her husband. She and Dan rush to find him; Constance 

learns he is in love with another woman, and returns with 

her baby to the waiting cabbie, who by now is in love 

with her. 

. . 

in Its 

CATCHLINES: 

A Warm Human Comedy . About a Boy ... a Girl 

Photographed 

. . 

... a Taxicab . a Lost Husband . 

Right on the Streets of New York . . . Unforgettable 

Dramatic Impact. 

JU. f» 

THE STORY: •The Hitch-Hikor" (RKO) 

Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy head for Mexico on 

a fishing trip and, en route, pick up a hitch-hiker, William 

Talman, who soon turns a gun on them and reveals he is 

the escaped convict and murderer for whom the police are 

searching. Talman keeps the gun in their backs and orders 

them to speak no Spanish, even when they stop at a gas 

station. However, Lovejoy manages to leave his wedding 

ring and the police pick up their trail as the car heads for 

San Lorenzo, where Talman plans to kill them and complete 

his escape. When the car breaks down, Talman forces the 

men to walk over the desert. At the Mexican Gulf, the police 

are hiding and Lovejoy manages to knock the gun out of 

Talman's hand, making the killer a coward, who gives himself 

up. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Thrill Picture of 1953—Packed With Suspense and 

Excitement . . . Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy as Vacationers—at 

the Mercy of a Relentless Killer . Picked 

Up a Hitch-Hiker and Met a Murdered. 

THE STORY: •The Jail Singer" (WB) 

Honorably discharged after serving in Korea. Danny Thomas 

returns home in time to participate in services at the Sinai 

Temple in Philadelphia, where his father Eduard Franz is 

the cantor. It is his father's dearest wish that Danny carry 

on as cantor when he passes on, but Danny has other ideas. 

His heart is in show business, and he is in love with Peggy 

Lee, a Broadway singer. The play in which Danny initially 

appears is a flop and he decides to return home, accompanied 

by Peggy. Danny decides to become a cantor, but 

refuses to allow Peggy to sacrifice her career to marry him. 

Again Danny comes to realize that show business is his life. 

His father disowns him as Danny goes on to swift success, 

but Danny returns to sing at temple services as death comes 

peacefully to his father. 

CATCHLINES: 

A New Landmark in Motion Picture Entertainment . . . The 

Movie That Will Light Up Your Heart . New Faith 

Stamped With the Touch of Greatness. 

arid Joy . . . 

THE STORY: "The Sea Around Us" (RKO) 

This documentary film covers 64 of the 75 categories 

covered in the nonfiction tome by Rachel Carson. To 

assemble it, more than 2,300 institutes of higher learning, 

marine biologists, botanists, geologists, oceanographers and 

other scientists were contacted. There are no actors in it, 

and in its fabrication Producer-Writer Irwin Allen handled, 

directly or indirectly, more than 6,000 pieces of correspondence 

and screened more than 1,600,000 feet of film (amounting 

to 305 miles of exposed negative). The feature, as did 

the book, attempts to explain how the sea began, the history 

of its growth, the animal and plant life it contains, the 

depth limit of such plant life, the average depth of the ocean 

floor and other similar informative statistical matter. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Most Widely Read Book of Our Time . the 

Most Startlingly Thrilling True-to-Life Motion Picture Ever 

Filmed . . . For Breathtaking Adventure Don't Fail to See It. 

i 

THE STORY: "Star of Texas" (AA) 

To trace down a gang of bandits which recruits members 

by freeing them from jails, Wayne Morris, a Texas Ranger, 

poses as a crook, jailed and helped to escape by Paul Fix, 

the gang leader. While Wayne's partner. Rick Vallin, 

shadows them, the outlaws retreat to their hideout with 

Wayne, who works several robberies with them while trying 

to locate the real brains of the gang. Vallin subsequently 

uncovers evidence that Frank Ferguson, U.S. marshal at San 

Juan, is the man behind the crimes. Ferguson kills Vallin, 

and Fix—now aware that Wayne is a Ranger— plots to slay 

him during a planned bank robbery and collect the "dead 

or alive" reward which Wayne had caused to be posted 

for himself. In a finish fight. Fix is slain, Wayne whips 

Ferguson in hand-to-hand battle, and arrests him. 

CATCHLINES: 

Wanted—Dead or Alive . . . That's the Daring Pose 

Assumed by a Texas Ranger . Risked His Neck to 

Round Up the Most Dangerous Gang of Killers ... In the 

Lone Star State. 

THE STORY: "The Mississippi Gambler" (U-I) 

Tyrone Power, an adventurer, bests John Baer in a poker 

game aboard a Mississippi river boat, incurring the enmity 

of Baer and the lalter's sister. Piper Laurie. They are scions 

of an aristocratic New Orleans family. Teaming up with 

John Mclntire, a gambler. Power becomes a respected figure 

in New Orleans, but cannot gain Piper's love. He befriends 

Julia Adams after her brother commits suicide; Baer falls in 

love with her and challenges Power to a duel, but turns 

coward and disgraces his family name. Both Baer and Piper 

leave home; she marries a childhood sweetheart, and Baer 

is killed trying to attack Power. Piper's marriage breaks up 

when her husband embezzles bank money and runs away. 

She and Power plan to marry as the courts declare her 

vanished mate officially missing. 

. . at the Turn of . . . 

CATCHLINES: 

The Story of a Flaming Romantic Era . Your AU- 

Time Favorite, Tyrone Power ... As the Kingpin of the 

Lucky a Card Riverboats . 

Unlucky in 

Love.

I intertiew. 

the Miuth, Applicant should he willing to travel 

mil sliiMiUl ha\e practical and technical training 

in fhr installation and servicing of theatre sound 

lu-ction equipment. In reply, give age. edu- 

experience. Boxofflce. 5009. 

i nd 

HATES: 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four insertions lor pnce of throe. 

CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to 

• Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. • 

HELP WANTED 

General manager In full charge of two 1,000- 

ar deluxe outdoor theatres in Indianapolis. An 

excellent posiiloo and opportunity w ilh a good 

salary and earnings participation for the right 

ctecullve. Must have the proper background and 

experience in all operation phases Including 

the fast and important food and concessions 

buînt-ss in these theatres. Reply, giving qualifications 

and references. Joe Cantor. 3225 N. 

Meridian Street . Indianapolis. 

Wanted: Small-town projectionist that knows 

booth operation, for location In eastern North 

Carolina. Air mail special delivery qualifications 

to Boxofflce. 5002. 

Wanted: Experienced Assistant or House m()ur(uriity ivilli lunt; established theatre 

and aniiisement firm, .\d\ise age. experience, 

faml]> status and salary expected. Reiily C;ipitol 

Aniii'-ements. Inc.. Box 100. Erwin. Tenn. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Projectionist. Six years experience, desires cliange. 

either in southern Nebraska or in northern Kansas, 

can furnish references, anytime after June first. 

Boxuffice, 5000. 

Desire position as projectionist or manager. 

20 \ears experience. Prefer location near Los 

Angeles. Calif. Boxofflce. 4995. 

Manager, experienced in art. drive-in and grind 

operation. Wide experience in advertising and 

ptililirily. Prefer eastern states. Boxofflce. 4994. 

THEATRICAL PRINTING 

Window cards, programs, heralds. Photo-Offset 

inttng. Cato Show Printing Co.. Cato, N. Y. 

SIGNS 

Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns. 

Avoid slnppy work and wasted time. No experience 

noeiicil for expert work. Write for free samples 

.Icilin lialm. B-1329, Central .\ve.. Chicago 

51. III. 

SERVICES, REPAIRING 

We specialize in speaker rcconing, repairing. 

Drive-in. house, radio, sound. TV. I'rcmpt guaranteed 

service. $1.50 up. S4S Mfg. Co.. R-1, 

Box 594, Riverside Dr.. Mohile. Ala. 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT 

Order now. Take time paying. Complete dual 

proiection/sound from $1,595. In-car speakers. 

$15 05; pair w/juncllon box. underground cable. 

$70 M. Send for equipment list. Dept. C. S.O.S. 

Cinema Supply Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St., New 

York 19. 

Popcorn macliines, half price. Wiener. Harobiirger. 

Sno-Cone. Teanut Roasters, Bun Warmers. 

I'oppers Supply. 146 Walton St.. Atlanta, Ga. 

Drive-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of 

nitr siiecial printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins. 

fe. distinctive, easy to check. Kansas Cltv 

ckct Co., Pept. 10, 109 W. 18th St., 'Tilm 

iw." Kansas City 8, Mo. 

Forced out of business—Complete Century 250- 

,tt drive-in sound system with emergency 75-watt 

itiire. K-5 soundheads. Used 12 months. Altec 

THE 

MEANT BUSINEfLS 

Jiqsf.((f 

First 3 engagements...^giWi 

SHREVEPORT-Strand 

PENSACOLA-Saenger 

BATON ROUGE -Hart 

IVofcA Sfkn Francisco and Denver 

dates coming up... and it's 

only the beginning! 

PAUIETTE GODMRD 

• 

GffSlfROSE lEE m 

ut\e W?^ 

e^^ 

s-H.iRICHARDNEY-JOHN BOLES 

Screenplay by FELIX FEIST and JOE ANSEN • Directed by EDGAR G. ULMER 

Produced by THE DANZIGERS, EDWARD J. DANZIGER and HARRY LEE DANZIGER 

9 A fi A* 

^)ate the 

'Babes* 

.oiLQ f) ^^^,r,c^J . .J^Q^ thru 

^^

Boxoffice-January.17.1953

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