Boxoffice-Febuary.28.1953

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Michigan Allied Ass'n
Will Convene in April
DETROIT—The 34th annual Michigan
Allied convention will be held at the Tuller
hotel here April 27-29. The meeting has been
advanced to a spring convention because of
the keen interest shown in third-dimension.
Engineers and other experts will address the
convention and explain progress, programs
and plans of development on third-dimension.
This will be the first meeting of exhibitors
called expressly to hear first-hand information
on third-dimension.
Time will also be devoted to drive-ins, with
speakers on construction, planning, projection,
confections and concession operation, sales
promotion, film buying and insurance.
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Manufocturers: Foam Rubber and Spring
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NASHVILLE, TENN.
Cleveland Critics Choose
'Greatest Show' for 1952
CLEVELAND^—The Cleveland Critics Circle
has named "The Greatest Show on
Earth" as the best picture shown here during
1952. and on Friday (27) Cecil B. DeMille attended
an industry luncheon at the Carter
hotel and personally accepted the trophy
award given annually for the year's best
picture.
Here is the list and the order of ten best
pictures selected by a point system of voting
by Cleveland's three critics, W. Ward Marsh,
Plain Dealer; Arthur Spaeth, News, and
Omar Ranney, Pre.ss:
The Greatest Show on Earth (Paramount)
The Quiet Man (Republic) : High Noon (UA)
Ivanhoe iMGM); The African Queen (UA)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro (20th-Fox) : The
Thief lUAi: The Well (UA); With a Song in
My Heart i20th-Fox); The Big Sky (RKO).
Runnersup are Decision Before Dawn (20th-
Fox) and Singin' in the Rain (MGM). In
1950 the Critics Circle voted "All About Eve"
best picture of the year, and "A Place in the
Sun" won top place in 1951. DeMille is in the
east to make an address in Gettysburg, Pa.
He and Jerry Pickman. Paramount executive,
will be in Cleveland only for a few hours.
H. H. Brown New Chief
Of United Detroit
DETROIT—Harold H. Brown, long-time
film buying executive for the United Detroit
Theatres, has been named general manager,
succeeding Earl J. Hudson, according to
Leonard Goldenson, president of American
Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres in New
York.
Hudson will leave Detroit within the next
month to six weeks to become vice-president
of the western division of the American
Broadcasting Co., a result of the recent ABC-
Paramount merger.
Hudson has been a.ssociated with UDT since
1934 and has been president since 1940. In
1944 he was appointed to the street railway
commission and in 1951 to the new city streets
and traffic commission.
Brown has been associated with UDT 18
years, first as a theatre manager and later
as a film buyer.
Samuel Ackerman Retires
After 41 Years in Industry
DETROIT—Samuel Ackerman, one of Detroit's
pioneer exhibitors, has retired after 41
years in show business. Starting the East
Side Theatre in 1911, he has remained active
in its management until now.
He has turned his business over to his
son Alfred, long associated with his father
and until recently a partner. Sam Ackerman
now plans to relax and spend most of
his time traveling.
Fire Hits Toledo Loop
TOLEDO—A blaze in the basement of the
Loop Theatre here recently routed some 200
patrons from their seats. No one was hurt
and there was little damage. The fire was
believed started by a cigaret tossed into a
metal rubbish can. The show was resumed
after smoke was cleared from the building.
The Loop is owned by Jack O'Connell.
Paulding Tax Battle
Ends in Agreement
PAULDING, OHIO—The battle over local
admissions taxes, which Jack O'Connell,
owner of the Paulding Theatre has been
waging with city officials since January 17,
has ended officially with everyone winning.
O'Connell won his point when the city council
removed the tax recently.
The council members won their point when
O'Connell agreed to promote a two-day benefit
show each year, with all proceeds going
into the village general fund for recreational
purposes. William L. Day, village solicitor,
said the agreement calls for four benefit
shows presented two days each year and
sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
The compromise was agreed upon at a
council meeting attended by chamber officials,
local businessmen and Frank Shipman, theatre
manager. During the month-long controversy
the council offered to rescind the
tax and substitute a $500 annual license fee.
O'Connell refused this offer.
In a statement following announcement of
the agreement which ended the month-long
dispute, O'Connell said:
"The plan might cost us more than the
license fee, but we'll get a kick out of paying
it. The money will go to a good cau.se and
it does not come under the heading of tax."
The theatre's opening Friday (20) inaugurated
the new agreement by turning over the
proceeds of four shows to the polio fund.
Judge Edward Kuns, Paulding county polio
chapter chairman, and Mrs. O'Connell were
on hand for the benefit show.
Mt. Clemens Radio Station
Moves in With Theatre
DETROIT—In a probably unique "merger"
of two major sections of show business, radio
station WSE>C is "moving in" with the Jewel
Theatre in Mount Clemens, 20 miles north of
Detroit, operated by Community Theatres.
The station's main equipment is located about
30 miles northeast of Mount Clemens in
Marine City, but is installing a new studio
and broadcasting booth on the mezzanine
lobby of the Jewel. This will serve as an
auxiliary origination point, and bring Mount
Clemens its only local AM operation.
Programming will be chiefly of the disk
jockey and "man in the lobby" style. Broadcasting
started on February 13. Lines and
equipment installations are now being made.
"This is a great association for both the
radio station and the theatre," Irving Goldberg,
partner in Community Theatres, said.
Plans for programming and publicity are
being made. The establishment of a broadcasting
studio right in the theatre is expected
to bring a marked increase in public
attention for the theatre.
Books Films for Video
CLEVELAND—Milton A. Mooney, who buys
and books pictures through his Cooperative
Theatres of Ohio and Cooperative Theatres of
Buffalo, has branched out into the television
field and is now booking pictures for TV
stations. He recently closed a 52-week contract
to service TV station WHIZ in Zanesville
all
with a minimum of one picture a day
on 16mm film.
BOXOFFICE :: February 28, 1953 ME &3