Boxoffice-Febuary.28.1953

. . The
. . Fred
. . Celumbia's
New Stench Bomb Version
Proves Fraternity Prank
MEADVILLE, PA.—City police recall that
there was a time when stench bombs were a
yearly manifestation of the fraternity hazing
period on the local campus. It wasn't
stench bombs that routed patrons from the
Park Theatre the other night, but something
equally effective, and a college fraternity
is being penalized for the incident.
Seats in the area where two fraternity
pledges sat soon were emptied when a foulsmelling
chemical, which officials said had
been applied to their hands, began radiating.
The theatre staff investigated, spotted the
odoriferous pair, and city police were called.
Deodorants were sprayed and ventilating fans
placed in operation to clear the air. Questioning
of the college men brough forth their
claim it was all part of their hazing for
admittance to a fraternity.
Officers of the fraternity made apologies
to Lee M. Conrad, manager of the theatre,
who said he was "willing to forgive, if the
fraternity makes it clear to the public and
theatre patrons that fraternity pledges were
to blame."
Allegheny college Dean Charles McCracken
commented that the fraternity-theatre incident
was not only in violation of college
rules but also went against rules of the
interfraternlty council, which provide that
there shall be no hazing activities of this
nature. Meanwhile, the various fraternities
here have changed traditional Hell week to
Help week, and "pledges" are cooperating
with the Chamber of Commerce parking and
traffic committee and the retail council in
conducting a survey of a downtown core
area, listing all businesses and professional
establishments and soliciting support of the
city's three-year program to relieve parking
problems.
Manos Theatres Booking
More Wrestling Shows
UNIONTOWN, PA.—Theatre presentation
of big-time wrestling shows, inaugurated here
on stage at the State Theatre, is being
booked for other theatres, including a second
shot at the State the evening of March 6.
The Manos at EUwood City will feature
wrestling on stage the evening of March
4. On March 7 wrestling will be introduced
at the Manos in Mones.sen. For the Monessen
event, the wrestling ring will not be on
stage, but will be erected over a section
of center aisle seats, and seating space will
be added on the stage.
Joe Mazzei to Millvale
MILLVALE, PA.—Millvale Theatre Co. was
organized here by Mi-, and Mrs. Joseph Mazzei
who acquired the Grant Theatre last Sunday
(22). A year ago this theatre was repossessed
from the management by the owners, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert A. Busch of Lancaster, Mrs.
Busch being the daughter of the late pioneer
exhibitor Louis Bender. Shortly thereafter
the owners leased the Grant to Ernest Stern
of the Associated Drive-In Theatres. The
theatre was reopened on Easter Saturday last
year. Joseph Mazzei was named manager for
Stern. Under the new lease, he now becomes
proprietor in association with his wife.
Mazzei had been house manager of the Art
Cinema in downtown Pittsburgh for about
17 years.
PITTSBURGH
|ur A. Silver, Warner circuit zone manager
here who has been named by the new
Stanley-Warner stockholders to the board of
directors, is a veteran of 37 years in show
business, having affiliated with Warners on
the west coast in 1929. A past chief barker
of the No. 1 tent of Variety Club, Moe
Silver is active in civic and charitable affairs,
and for U years has been chairman of
Variety Club's Camp O'Connell, maintained
for underprivileged children. He is a member
of the Shrine, Elks, Moose, the Amen
Corner and Westmoreland Country club.
Harry Min.sky Kalmine, president of the
Warner theatre circuit who was Silver's
predecessor here as zone manager, also
was elected to the board of the new company,
which on March 1 will take over control
of the Warner national theatre chain,
more than 100 houses in the Pittsburgh zone
being included.
Police have identified James Harris as a
familiar figure in downtown movie houses,
but not necessarily as a patron of the arts.
Twice last week he was arrested on charges
of stealing the purses of women theatre patrons
Downtown parking fees are being
. . . increased.
. . Mr.
J. R. G. Boughner, former Uniontown theatre
owner for many years, has been named
scribe of the new Masonic lodge at Uniontown
. new Altoona television station
George Sarvis displayed
is on the air . . .
Brotherhood week honor rolls at the Library
and Columbia theatres at Warren .
and Mrs. John J. Maloney are departing for
a month's vacation in Florida. He is the veteran
central sales manager for MGM . . .
Warner circuit's Regal at Wilkinsburg, closed
since last spring, was reopened February
23. The circuit's State at Wilkinsburg will be
closed and will be converted into additional
space for the Woolworth store.
Mike Winograd, Rochester exhibitor, is
The Johnstown
vacationing in Florida . . .
Hairdressers Ass'n recently presented a hair
style fashion show on stage at the Embassy
Altoona attorney Alexander
Theatre there . . .
A. Notopoulos, a son of the circuit
exhibitor A. N. Notopoulos, addressed the installation
banquet at the Blair County War
Veterans councU in the Lakemont post home
of the American Legion.
Bob Ruskin, a Columbia salesman here
more than a year ago, has joined the local
Paramount sales organization, succeeding
nation's
Dale Edmonds, resigned . . . The
most powerful UHF television station is now
on the air in Reading. WHUM-TV, channel
61. is using 260.000 watts, which is just about
what WENS will have on channel 16 here
sometime in September.
.
A son named Emil Bennett was born February
12 in Beaver Falls to Mr. and Mrs.
The Herbert
Leonard Winograd, exhibitors . . .
Josephs of the Triangle in East Liberty
will again welcome the stork late in the
summer A. Beedle, Canonsburg
exhibitor, is a member of the board of
Canonsburg General hospital where ground
was broken last Friday afternoon for a new
wing which will cost in excess of $774,711 . . .
The Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra will be
presented in concert the evening of March
2 at the Library Theatre in Warren . . . Jacob
Silverman, HoUidaysburg exhibitor, is on a
55-day, 12,000-mile Mediterranean cruise
aboard the American Export liner SS Constitution
. "Prince of Pirates"
and "The Pathfinder" were featured in the
city area on a multiple first run at 25
neighborhood theatres, opening February 25,
and on March 12 this company's "One Girl's
Confession" and "Problem Girls" will open
here in 17 theatres.
More than 800 well-wishers, including government,
business and labor leaders and
members of his uiiion, honored Theodore
Cozza, president of Local 211 of the AFL
newspaper, magazine and film delivery drivers
at a testimonial dinner in the William Penn
hotel.
Waily Anderson, Mount Jewett circuit
exhibitor, us the proud father of Kane high
.school's Snow Queen ... A spook stage and
screen show was featured Friday (27) midnight
at the Columbia Theatre in Sharon.
Tony Collincini Takes
Over as Sam Gould Quits
GREENSBURG, PA.—Anthony Collincini,
who began here as an usher a dozen years
ago and who later served as doorman and
finally assistant manager at local Warner
theatres, has been named city manager of
the circuit, replacing Sam W. Gould, who
resigned to join the Associated circuit as
manager of the Penn and Victor theatres
at New Castle. Collincini was a star football
player at Greensburg high school and Waynesburg
college. He is married and has three
youngsters. B. F. Moore, Warner circuit district
manager, announced his promotion.
Friends of Gould, city manager for ten
years, honored him at a testimonial dinner
in the William Penn club the evening of
February 25.
Richard Crosby Ir. Promoted
MONESSEN, PA.—Richard Crosby jr. has
been named manager of the Stai' Theatre
here by Anthony Askounes, city manager
for the Manos circuit. Young Crosby was
hired as a doorman at the Manos while he
was attending Monessen high school two
years ago, working evenings and weekends.
His father is R. J. Crosby of Monessen,
executive of Charleroi and Monessen Local 62.
Thieves Into Starlite Airer
FAIRMOUNT. W.VA.—Thieves broke into
the Starlite Drive-In in Pleasant Valley recently
and carried away equipment valued at
$868. The burglars, who knocked out windows
with rocks, and pried off a door lock
with a small bar, took 20 loud speakers and
two projector len.ses, among other things.
Numerous smaller items were also taken.
SAM FINEBERG
TOM McCLEARY
JIM ALEXANDER
84 Van Braam Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
Phone Express 1-0777
|Mo»its Are Better Than Evg Ho\|f's Your Equipnuntt
BOXOFFICE :
: February 28, 1953 49