Boxoffice-January.08.1955

. . The
. . Elmer
, , The
. . Jerry
. . Mrs.
. . Mr.
. . Lorraine
PITTSBURGH
pvave Silverman and his RKO gang hosted
the Friday (7i family night at the
Variety Club . Warner Theatre, Erie,
received $1,100 as rental one evening for a
performance of the University of Pennsylvania
Mask and Wig show and the Erie
alumni netted about $1,000 for a scholarship
fund . Olympic Theatre, Verona, formerly
an account of Hanna Theatre Service
and self booked for six months, has returned
The Variety Club
to the Hanna fold . . .
honored Dave Olbum, new du'ector of public
safety of Pittsburgh, at a special luncheon
Thursday afternoon (6i and has an Old
Timers Boxing Night announced for Wednesday
(12).
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stern of the Associated
circuit departed Wednesday (5( for a month's
George Boyle,
vacation in Hollywood . . .
manager of the Ambridge Theatre, staged a
tumultous welcome for the first born baby of
1955 in a tieup with the Ambridge Daily Citizen
to exploit "A Star Is Born." Many merchants
participated and the event was a page
one feature for several days,
Al Levy, 20th-Fox manager, said that his
company will erect a modern exchange building
in the unimproved lot adjoining the company's
present quarters which 20th-Fox has
occupied under lease for 25 years. The new
exchange will have a complete small-capacity
theatre on the street floor . . . Motion
picture chairmen of various women's clubs
were guests of Warner Bros, at a screening
of "The SUver Chalice" at the Stanley Warner
screening room.
Santa Glaus was at the boxoffice of
Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In Theatre to distribute
free candy to kiddys . . . The Casino,
burlesque house here which reopened Christmas
Day, offered its annual midnight show
on New Year's Eve and the usual Milkman's
While most of the
matinee at 3 a.m. . . .
outdoor theatres which continue in operation
charge 10 or 15 cents extra for use of
in-car heaters, the Route 19 Drive-In gives
this warming service free . . . Frank L.
Prance, former National Theatre Supply
salesman who has been in retirement for
many years at West Middletown, turned up
the other evening at the Mary Ann Theatre,
Burgettstown, to catch a show. Don
and Tony Mungello, exhibitors there, state
that he is enjoying good health.
The newly opened International Theatre,
Crafton Heights, booked Laurence Oliver's
film version of "Hamlet" for the week of
Charlie Baron, Cinerama
January 4 . . .
house manager at the downtown Warner
Theatre, said his sister Mrs. Cora Henderson
entertained the 18 Cinerama usherettes
at a holiday party in their Bigelow apartment
. Hasley staged a New Years
Eve gigantic Moviethon, 6 p.m. until 3 a.m.,
at his Terrace Theatre, Be.s.semer Terrace,
SAM FINEBERG ,
TOM McCLEARY -^
JIM ALEXA^fDER
84 Von Braam Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
Phone Express 1-0777 g
^ Movies Are Better Than Ever How's Your Equipment? ^
with six features, including a Cinemascope
musical and two other color features, plus
six cartoons. Admission was $1. For the
kiddys, he exhibited a midnight show matinee
preview for 35 cents, from 11 a.m. to
5 p.m., eliminating two features . Warren
. .
Bentley Dana, television director here for
WDTV and son of U-I's eastern sales manager,
Pete Dana, slipped an engagement ring
on the finger of Eleanor Schano, television
entertainer here. A spring wedding is
. . . planned Mike Manos. area circuit exhibitor,
has been released from the hospital
at Miami and he is recuperating at his winter
home there.
. . . The
V. L. "Doc" Wadkins, Manos circuit booker,
was recuperating after an operation
death of an aunt of Gordon. Milton and Ross
Gibson of Atlas Theatre Supply took Gordon
and Bertha Gibson on a sad funeral trip to
Canada . A. Joseph of the Ti'iangle
Theatre, East Liberty, is recuperating from
an illness which nece.ssitated hospitalization
for three weeks.
The Wilson Chemical Co., Tyrone, which
operates theatres at Ebensbiu'g and Cresson
and owns theatres at Tyrone, recently staged
its 60th annual holiday party and dinner, at
which George C. Wilson III, president, distributed
bonus checks to all employes . . .
MGM employes are wearing blue badges
which proclaim the 1955 motion picture theatre
Ray Allison, Altoona
celebration . . . theatre owner, retired from exhibition and he
will make his home in Florida,
Louis Perretta's Crescent Theatre, Mahoningtown,
was closed for two days for installation
of a wide screen . . . The Hi-Lander
Theatre, New Castle, was dark several days
for redecorating . Macosky. Warner
Bros, biller, was injured when she fell
in her home . and Mrs. E. LeViant.
Filmrow printers, hosted theii' annual holiday
luncheon at the Hanna Theatre Service office.
Alex Manos, junior executive of the Manos
circuit, has a hospital date for an operation
Monday (10) . . . John Zomnir. UA salesman,
was down with a virus infection for several
days . Wechsler. former manager for
Warner Bros., and now southern division
manager for U-I's J. Arthur Rank releases,
was a visitor, as was Jack Kalmenson, former
local Warner Bros, manager now at
Milwaukee . . . Joan Dischner, former MGM
telephone operator, is now a local model.
Rex and Ann Kantner will spend the winter
near Orlando. Fla. He's a projectionist at the
Park Theatre and she's been manager of the
Pittsburgh Drive-In for nine years.
A. L. Gibson. 87, Dies
BUCKHANNON. W. VA.—A. L. Gib.son. 87.
father-in-law and former partner of Garland
West, veteran local indoor and outdoor theatre
owner, died recently. He started West in
business here in the summer of 1929.
'Cinerama Holiday' Soon
PITTSBURGH—"This Is Cinerama," which
recently entered its second year at the Warner
Theatre, will be succeeded by the second
Cinerama process feature, "Cinerama Holiday,"
February 16.
Maple, Blue Dell Drive
Wilkinsburg, Merged
PITTSBURGH—The Maple Drive-I
(C. I. Taylor, president; Max Arnol
president; Jack Klein, treasurer, ar
Judd, secretary) announce a merger v
Blue Dell Drive-In, operated by As
Drive-In Theatres (Norbert Stern anc
Stern) who will buy, book and dir
policy of both theatres with the coo]
of Bert M. Stearn of Cooperative
Service. Both outdoor theatres are
on Route 30 between Wilkinsburg ani
Each theatre will handle its own
operation.
Plans are to operate the Blue D«
12-month basis, and to increase the
capacity to 1,100 cars.
Manos Joins Airer Rar
By Allentown Purchase
GREENSBURG. PA.—The
Manos
which debated the drive-in situatio
decade, has joined the ranks of outdo
ators and. according to Ted Mane
president, has purchased the majorit
est in the Super Skyway Drive-In
Corp., operators of the Super Skj
Allentown. Sol Shocker, a corporatio:
holder, will retain his interest and v
tmue as manager. The Super Skywi
a 1,000-car capacity, was the fir,
equipped for stereophonic sound v,
two-speaker Motiograph system.
Improvements will be made at thi
town ozoner before the opening of
i
season, tentatively set for March 15,
Shuts Bradford, Pa., U
BRADFORD, PA.—Dipson's Bradfc
atre has closed and Shea's Theatre v
for fulltime operation, according to
W. Cannon, manager of the three loc
tres. Shea's was recently renovat
newly equipped. Cannon said there
no change in the operating policies
McKean Theatre. He said that th(
was decided upon because of the high
ing costs of the Bradford. Former
aged by the Dipson circuit, the three
here now are managed under dire
Shea's Theatres.
Pittsburgh Guild to Arl
PITTSBURGH— S. Ralph Green, p)
of the new Guild Theatre, 1922 Mun
nue. Squirrel Hill, is receiving ma
gratulations from members of the tri
theatre is the former Beacon, co
renovated and remodeled with vari'
fixtures, equipments and appointme
augurating the Guild Theatre policy
tinctive entertainment was "Rom
Juliet."
New Airer Named Woodland
PITTSBURGH—The 1,000-car ai:
under construction in West Mifflin
will be known as the Woodland, a
to George Tice, indoor and outdoor <
and a veteran former film salesre
manager here who is one of the o\
the new ozoner which will be open
in the spring.
Nunnally Johnson has been assignee
duce, direct and write "Can Can" f
Fox release.
38 BOXOFFICE Januar