Boxoffice-April.16.1955

Jn^uU^^^^^^^^^^ rictuM yndud^
Eric Johnston, re-elected president of the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America at the annual meeting
this week, presented on optimistic picture of the
1955 industry outlook ,
. . Story on poge 8.
Ki^y^
kI-cIoii matter ol th* Poll Offic* ol Kanini
>iih*d wnkly by Aiiociatad Publicoliont.
Qlvd . Kontof City. Mo Subtcription rotet
»3 00 iwt veof. Motional Edilicn J7 50
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lONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION
i»> SMIiontl Nrwi P

M-G-M's Next Big Movie Thrill
To Follow "Blackboard Jungle"
^

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THE THEME:
An innocent visitor to Paris falls in love
with a woman of the world who turns
out to be a killer.
THE LOCATION:
"BEDEVILLED" is the first motion
picture to be photographed in Paris in
CINEMASCOPE and COLOR.
THE CAST:
ANNE BAXTER
Exotic in those gorgeous gowns'.
STEVE FORREST
Watch this good-looking new star'.
With
SIMONE RENANT • MAURICE TEYNAC
And
VICTOR FRANCEN
Directed by
Story and Screen Play by
JOEISINGER
Photographed in
MITCHELL LEISEN
EASTMAN COLOR
Produced by
• HENRY BERMAN
(Available in Magnetic Stereophonic, Perspecta Stereophonic or 1-Channel Sound
i

i
For 6 successive programs on 11
"Truth or Consequences"show is
Audience for
Blanketing the Nation
weelcly from April 5th
to May 4th! Over 99/1!
NBC-TV STATIONS WITH 30
MILLION PEOPLE WATCH-
ING! PLUS NBC RADIO NET-
WORK COAST-TO -COAST!
Here's what's happening: On
the April 5th telecast fartied
Jack Bailey, M.C. of Old
Sfl^lieiE LAI
Gold's" Truth or Consequences"
program, selected
contestant to hitch-hike—
horseback—from Los Ange
to the town of "Truth or Cc
sequences" in New Mexico
On the same night tl
contestant was introduc
to a masked woman call
the STRANGE LADY 1
TOWN! He is
arrive at his destiii
11
i
GREER GARSON • DANA ANDREWS
PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY
MERVYN LeROY
fNoPAMFRflM MITPHFI
wis smith ..Walter hampden
V/rMVI CrVW M I I
• gonzalez gonzalez
VI I I Vjll L.LL Story and Screen Play by FRANK BUTLER Music composed and conducted bv dimitbi tiomkin
and Ihe voice of PRANKIE I.AINE singing 'SIrange t-ady In Town'
WarnerColor vZINEMA^ScOPC stereophonic sound
I
THIS IS
THE TREMENDOUS NBC-TV STATION LINEcity
tl State
ALBUOUERQUE, N MEX
ATUNTA, GA
AUGUSTA, CA
AUSTIN, TEX.
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF
BALTIMORE, MD
BANGOR, ME.
BAY CITY-SAGINAW, MftH.
BLOOMINGTON, IND
BOSTON, MASS
BUFFALO, N. Y
BURLINGTON VT
CHATTANOOGA, TENN
CHARLESTON, S C
CHICAGO, ILL
CLEVELAND, OHIO
COLUMBIA, S C.
Local Time
Station
Of Telecast
KOB-TV 8:00- 8:30 PM
WSB-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WJBF-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
KTBC-TV 9:00- 9:30 PM
KERO-TV 10:0010:30 PM
WBAL-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WABI-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WNEM-TV 9:00- 9:30 PM
WTTV 9:00- 9:30 PM
WBZ-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WGR-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WMVT
10:00-10:30 PM
WDEF-TV 9:00- 9:30 PM
WaSN-TV 10:00-10:30 PM
WNBQ 9:00- 9:30 PM
WNBK
10:00-10:30 PM
WIS-TV
10:00-10:30 PM
local Time

I| Radio the Famed
lig a Tremendous
C^
en April 15 th. There he will
vet the STRANGE LADY
^
TOWN again who will
^ his date during a 3 -day
ista being held. She will be
ftnasked at that time.
On April I2th, Telecast of
t. contestant's progress en
Dite to meet the STRANGE
iDY IN TOWN! On April
)h, Telecast of contestant's
s^ard or fine,
t unmasking at
and film of
the Fiesta,
fthe STRANGE LADY IN
•)WN. Then on April 20th,
LJ^ril 27th and May 4th NBC
Lidio Network takes over and
mdcasts entire event again!
Another solid showmanship
'FIRST' FROM
WARNER BROS ! TIMED
ON-THE-BUTTON FOR A
PERFECT CASH-IN WITH
NATIONAL RELEASE!
I TENN

We went to Spain to make ^^wt^l^O/
/\ NDwhat a pleasure it was to make "That Lady"
...to bring you the flaming story of a woman
Cornell chose to star in it on the Broadway stage
...why wc traveled to storied cities, fabulous
who conquered a
king... yet trembled in the arms
locales, thrill-crowded bullfight arenas. ..with
of a commoner when he whispered, "You've been
stars,
a widow too long!". ..Now you know why it was
director, CinemaScope cameras and technical
crews. Everyone will talk about "That Lady"
such a great best-selling novel... why Katharine
— the picture that shocked a nation!
OLIVIA de HAVILLAND • GILBERT ROLAND
introducing PAUL SCOFIELD coslarring FRANCOISE ROSAY
•
DENNIS PRICE
Produced by SY BARTLETT • Directed by TERENCE YOUNG • Screenplay by ANTHONY VEILLER and SY BARTLETT
From ttie Novel by Kate O'Brien • Color by DELUXE • An Alalanta Production • Released by 20th Century Fo«
DATE ^^fer4^^X*FROM 20ih FOR YOUR BEST PLAYING TIME!'

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ATIONAI FILM WEEKLY
::n
Nine Sectional Editions
shl ye n
in-Chief and Publisher
DM MERSEREAU Associate
'utjiisher & Generol Manager
JERAULD
Editor
N COHEN. Executive Editor
i
HLYEN. .. .Managing Editor
PEAR Western Editor
1ATCHER. .Equipment Editor
SCHLOZMAN. Business Mgr.
shed Every Soturday by
,1)CIATED PUBLICATIONS
I, on Offices: 825 Van Bnint Blvrl..
Storkcr. F/iiilpment .\dvertising.
rflliimhiis 5-6370.
lly 24 Mo Nathan Cotien. Expciim:
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I-: Srhlnzman. Riislnpsf! Manager:
'ilclicr, Editor Tlie Mnitrm Theatre
Telephone Cllestmit 7777.
Offlres: 45 Roekefeller Plaza. New
N Y, nonald M. Mersereau.
Tiibll-her & General Manager:
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Promntlon-Showmandlser Section:
J)ftic«: Editorial—920 No. Mlehl-
Oilcago 11. Ill . Frances B.
, 'iephnne Superior 7-3972. Advert
15 F.i

—
:
:
:
REST OF 1955 WILL BE GOOD, I
JOHNSTON REPORTS TO MPAAi^
Technical Advances, Better
Pictures, Record Foreign
Business Pointed Out
NEW YORK—Eric Johnston is optimistic
on the outlook for the rest of 1955, he
says in his annual report of the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America.
"Early signs point to economic gains in
1955 which should top the notable progress
made in the preceding year," he writes.
WIDE ADVANCE ACCEPTANCE
Among "significant gains" he points out:
(1) Technological developments and
their wider acceptance by the public.
(2) Increased output of higher quality
pictures.
(3) Record earnings for American pictures
in overseas markets.
As warning factors to be considered, he
points out that costs of picture making have
risen, and there are indications that the foreign
market "may be tightening up."
Johnston calls attention to the fact that
this is the 25th anniversary of the production
code. He states that it has been "a bulwark
against the encroachment of political censorship"
and calls it "a creed of public responsibility
for those engaged in entertainment's
most powerful and dramatic medium, stressing
standards and obligations."
The report mentions the appointment of
Geoffrey M. Shurlock as successor to Joseph
Breen as director of the code administration
and predicts that Shurlock's administration
"will continue to demonstrate that selfregulation
not only is the democratic answer
to political censorship, but is a positive force
in raising the artistic and commercial level
of the motion picture."
"As a medium of international communication,
motion pictures are exhibited to a
worldwide audience of some 12 billion persons
each year," Johnston stated in his foreword.
"Covering a variety of themes and activities,
ranging from history to musical comedy, the
primary objective of theatrical films is to
furnish entertainment to the public.
MAKE DEEP IMPRESSIONS
"In the course of entertainment, motion
pictures also portray the cultures, customs,
traditions and values of many lands. By so
doing, they make enduring impressions on the
hearts and minds of audiences the world
over.
"To win public acceptance, film industries
must serve the public. To flourish in modern
society, motion pictures must be true to their
function as a mass art. They must heed
public need and demand.
"If the industry is to be a force for good,
a promoter of the interests of men of goodwill,
it must stand as a free institution. Freedom
of the screen must be as zealously guarded
and as jealously preserved as freedom of the
press.
"Freedom of the screen is frequently impaired
seriously by government interference
even by democratic governments. This inter-
Code-Appoved Features Down to 303
In 1954; Lowest in Ten-Year Period
NEW YORK—Three hundred and three
new features were approved by the Production
Code Administration dui'ing 1954. This
was a drop of 132 from the high of 435
reached in 1948 during the ten-year period
from 1945 through 1954.
The decline has not been precipitous. In
that period the totals have ranged from 390
in 1945. 425 in 1946, 404 in 1947, 435 in 1948,
421 in 1949, 429 in 1950, 432 in 1951, 368 in
1952, 354 in 1953 and 303 in 1954.
Foreign-made features clung between 12
and 18 during the first three years of the
decade and began to rise in 1948. Since then
the foreign output has nearly doubled. Dur
ing 1954 member companies delivered 41 features
and nonmember companies 30 for a
total of 71, the highest total of code-approved
foreign films to date.
The decline in shorts production has been
much sharper than for features. In 1945
there were 521 shorts from all sources. The
following year there were 549, but since that fr
time the output has dwindled steadily. Last
year the total was 370. Rising production
costs are held responsible for this decline.
10-YEAR RECORD OF APPROVED FEATURES AND SHORTS
1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS:
"
Domestic
Member Companies 230 254 229 229 252 272 282 259 241 187
Nonmember Companies 128 143 141 165 109 107 87 58 49 45
Foreign
Member Companies 14 16 16 25 21 22 31 21 32 41
Nonmember Companies 17 12 18 16 37 28 32 30 32 30
Total New Features .389 «5 iol 435 419 429 432 368 354 303
Reissues 1 — — — 2 — — — — —
Total All Features .390 425 404 435 421 429 432 368 354 303
SHORTS Including Serials:
U.S. Member Companies 466 487 448 465 479 409 450 429 413 368
U.S. Nonmember Companies 55 62 96 44 22 37 2 3 1 2
Foreign Companies — — — 2 — 1 — — 1 —
Total Shorts .521 549 544 511 501 447 452 432 ils 370
ference usually takes three forms—crippling
taxation, import quotas and censorship.
"As for censorship, there is no more justification
for the governments of free men to
bridle the screen than there is to ciu-b the
press. The excuse that motion pictures make
a more dramatic impact on people and must,
therefore, be policed by bureaucrats is only
further tribute to the importance of films as
a medium of communication of information
and entertainment. There are adequate and
democratic laws to protect the public from
unwholesome films, just as there are to protect
society from unwholesome books. Prior
restraint on movies is neither needed nor
welcome. It can only do a disservice to integrity
and to understanding."
Advertising Code Reviews
129,229 Promotion Pieces
NEW YORK—The advertising code adnainistration
of the Motion Picture Ass'n had a
busy year, the annual report shows.
It reviewed 129,229 pieces of material, a gain
of 2,361 over the previous year. During the
21 years the department has been operating
it has reviewed 2,900,000 pieces of advertising,
exploitation and publicity. A total of
2,778 items was rejected or revised in 1954.
Johnston Is Re-Elected
President of MPAA
NEW YORK—Eric Johnston was re-elected
president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of;
America at the quarterly meeting of the board^
Wednesday (13 1. Geoffrey Shurlock, produc-i
tion code administrator, was elected vice-|
president, Stanley R. Weber, treasurer, and
Thomas McNamara assistant treasurer.
Weber has been assistant treasurer since 1948.
Other officers re-elected were Ralph Hetzel,
Kenneth Clark and G. Griffith Johnson, vicepresidents;
Sidney Schreiber, secretary; William
H. Roberts, assistant secretary, and
James S. Howie, assistant secretary-treasurer.
The following directors were elected
Johnston, Borney Balaban, president, and Austin
Keough, vice-president, Paramount; Steve Broidv,
C.
president, and Edword Morey, vice-president. Allied
Artists; Jack Cohn, executive vice-president, and Abe
Schneider, vice-president, Columbio; Cecil 8. DeMille,,
director-producer; James R- Grainger, president, ond
William H. Clark, treasurer, RKO Pictures, Eorle W.
Mammons, president. Educational Films.
Also, Milton R. Rackmil, president, and John J.
O'Connor, vice-president. Universal Pictures; Hal E.
Roach, president, Hal Roach Studios; Herman Robbins,
president. Notional Screen Service; Nicholas M.
Schenck, president, and Charles C. Moskowitz, vicepresident
ond treasurer, Loew's; Spyros P. Skouras,
president, and W. C. Michel, executive vice-president,
20th Century-Fox; C. B, Stratton, executive vicepresident.
Cosmopolitan Corp.; Paul Terry, president,
Terrytoons; Albert Warner and Som Schneider, vicepresidents,
Warner Bros.; Herbert J. Yates, president,
Theodore R. Block, associate general counsel. Republic,
and Robert S. Benjamin, board chairmen, and
Arthur B. Krim, president, United Artists.
I
8
BOXOFTICE April 16, 1955

;
The
(
The
• The
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The
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Thirteen
;
sented
( Pictures,
I
cent
EXHIBITORS WIN STRONG ALLY;
BROADCASTERS FIGHT TOLL TV
"Jetworks Join in Okaying
Resolution Opposing
'ay-as-you-see TV
WASHINGTON—The motion picture Inlustry
this week won its most powerful
l!y in the fight against subscription teleision.
The television board of the National Ass'n
M Radio and Television Broadcasters on
Iruesday (12) drafted a strong resolution in
iipposition to toll TV, if it would deter or inerrupt
the development of the present free
nd unUmiled system of telecasting.
OUR NETWORKS REPRESENTED
All four TV networks—NBC, CBS. ABC and
iJuMont;—were represented at the meeting.
NARTB is the national organization
if owners and operators of radio and tele-
I'ision stations. It will file its statement of
opposition with the Federal Communications
pommisson shortly.
board statement said that "the petiioners
before the Commission claim to have
leveloped mechanical and electronic means
;iy which programs can be fed into selected
lomes, if the owners of the sets are willing
pay a price for the reception of such projams.
"Allocations by the federal government have
leen established during the last decade of
:ree television's growth in the United States.
Ifhe board does not believe that the public
interest is served, if the promise of free tele-
I'ision now should be curtailed to provide a
ystem of 'pay-as-you-see' television. Over
[14,000,000 families have bought sets on the
[Lssumption that service would be free and
lull.
[
"The premise of free entertainment over
;)roadcast facilities has been established for
Inore than three decades, through the unique
[levelopment of radio broadcasting in this
lation. That basic pattern should not be
iiltered at the expense of the public."
The board questioned whether existing legislation
gives the FCC power to allocate or
assign any portion of the television broadcast
(bands "to the limited purpose sought by the
(proponents."
;WOULD LIMIT FREE PROGRAMS
board also said the proposal, as made
'"if adopted, would necessarily duninish and
encumber unlimited free reception by the
; public in order to provide this limited use."
proposals, as made, are contrary to
the public interest, but subscription TV could
'be provided by other means without detri-
[ment, the board said, without describing the
("other means."
of 15 board members were repreat
the meeting. Only Paul Raibourn
of KTLA, which is owned by Paramount
dissented. Paramount owns 50 per
of Telemeter Corp. John Esau of KTVQ
of Oklahoma City abstained from voting. It
I
was pointed out, however, that some individ-
:ual telecasters may support toll TV, particularly
those who operate UHP stations and
expect pay-as-you-see TV to help out financially.
^
Text of Broadcasters Resolution on Toll
Television
WASHINGTON—Following is the text of the NARTB resolution opposing subscription
television:
"Whereas, FtX' Public Notice Docket No. 11279 invited comment.s with regard to the
petitions on behalf of certain subscription, or 'pay-as-you-st;c,' television proponents
seeking the establishment of rules and standards for the introduction of a service limited
to subscription or 'pay-as-you-see' within tlie TV broadcast bands; and
"Whereas, the television broadcast bands and channels therein are presently
allocated and assigned exclusively for unlimited television broadcast; and
"Whereas, the American public (including the owners of 34,000,000 television sets),
is not now subject to governmental or private as.sessment for television reception within
the television broadcast bands; and
"Whereas, the ability of the present system of free television to bring the finest in
diversified programming, including news, public events and entertainment to all of the
public is hereby re-affirmed; and
"Whereas, it is our belief that the legislative history of its enabling legislation does
not clearly extend to the Federal Communications Commission the authority and
guidance sufficient to allocate or assign any portion of the television broadcast bands
to the limited purpose sought by the proponents; and
"Whereas, the proposal as made, if adopted, would necessarily diminish and encumber
unlimited free reception by the public in order to provide this limited use; and
"Whereas, subscription television could be provided by other means without detriment
to unlimited public reception of the present system of free television;
"Therefore be it resolved that the proposals as made are opposed as contrary to
the public interest and further resolved that the management of the NARTB record
by appropriate comments this resolution; appear and participate in all hearings and
proceedings and take any and all necessary and proper steps to preserve unlimited public
reception within the television broadcast bands."
Hearings or Oral Arguments to Follow
Receipts of Briefs by FCC on Toll TV
WASHINGTON—Filing of briefs on subscription
television by interested parties will
be followed either by public hearings or oral
arguments, but probably not by both, FCC
chairman George C. McConnaughey told the
House Commerce Committee on Wednesday
(13).
McConnaughey appeared on the general
MMPTA COMES THROUGH — The
Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres
Ass'n, Inc., representing the leading circuits
in the New York area, is one of the
first groups to come through 100 per
cent on its contribution to the Committee
Against Pay-as-You-See TV. Emanuel
Frisch, president, presents the check to
Philip F. Harling, committee treasurer.
question of FCC legislation, but several Congressmen
expressed specific interest in toll
TV. Committee chairman Pi-iest (D., Term.)
and Rep. HaiTis (D., Ai-k. 1 said that other
members of the House had been questioning
them about what the Committee was planning
to do. Rep. Moulder (D., Mo.) said that
"many TV stations are not going to be able
to survive" without approval for subscription
TV.
McConnaughey Indicated indirectly that
the May 9 deadline for filing of "comments"
by parties interested in pay-as-you-see might
be extended for a short period if there are
lequests for such an extension. He also told
the Committee he thought there would be
such requests.
Variety Heart Judges
Named by Nathan Golden
WASHINGTON—Nathan D. Golden, international
heart chairman for Variety Clubs
International, has named the judges of the
Heart Reports at the International Variety
Convention in Los Angeles May 4-7.
They are: W. R. Wilkerson, publisher of
Hollywood Reporter, chairman; Ben Shlyen,
publisher of BOXOFFICE: Charles A. Alicoate.
associate publisher of the Film Daily;
Joe Schoenfeld, editor of Daily Variety, and
William R. Weaver, Hollywood editor of Quigley
Publications.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955

'
Film Financial Prospectus
Now Mailed to 41 States
Exhibitors backing production also cover
District of Columbia; Montana to be last as
varied reasons bar mailing to other than big
chains in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
North Carolina, North and South Dakota.
*
General TV-Radio Industry
Probe Now Seems Likely
Pay-as-you-see controversy gets into House
Commerce Committee hearing and Rep. J. P.
Priest promises to introduce bill providing
funds; may take in advertising and talent
agencies and film producers and distributors.
•
Western Union Buys Third
Of Microwave Associates
American Broadcastuig-Paramount Theatres,
Inc., to retain one-third interest; research
organization located in Houston produces
microwave equipment, magnetrons, radar
components and other electronic devices.
•
Elmer Rhoden to Manage
COMPO's Audience Poll
Head of National Theatres agrees to manage
much-discussed national project for stimulating
audience interest;
has managed similar
efforts in Fox Midwest circuit.
•
Possible Film Rental Tax
Seen in Maryland Bill
Signed by Governor Theodore McKeldJn,
exhibitors declare proposed measure would
place a 2 per cent tax upon film rentals;
AUied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of
Maryland plans action against bill.
*
J. R. Grainger in New York
For RKO Directors Meeting
Pi-esident also will hold series of product
conferences with E. L. Walton, executive
assistant; Walter Branson, worldwide sales
manager, and H. H. Greenblatt, domestic
sales manager.
•
20th-Fox Sets Meetings
In Three More Cities
Divisional sales gatherings scheduled April
21 in Philadelphia, April 22 in Atlanta, April
27 in Los Angeles; first two meetings held this
week in
Chicago and Cleveland.
•
Japanese Continue Quota
Of 102 Films From U. S.
Covers 1955-56 period, starting April 1, for
member companies of the Motion Picture
Export Ass'n; remittance figure of $5,200,000
in new agreement also is unchanged.
*
Quality of Overseas Films
Of Government Criticized
House Appropriation.? Committee after
v.ewing product of motion picture service of
U. S. Information Agency asks less emphasis
ori quantity and sets $3,000,000 maximum appropriation;
$4,484,000 had been sought.
f/ecf Robbins NSS Board Chairman
George Dembow New President
Herman Robbins George F. Dembow Burton Robbins
NEW YORK—Herman Robbins was elected
board chairman of National Screen Service at
a special meeting of the board Tuesday (12).
He has held the two posts of board chairman
and president for 25 consecutive years. George
F. Dembow, vice-president in charge of sales,
was elected president and Bui'ton E. Robbins,
son of Herman, was chosen to succeed to
Dembow's post.
Herman Robbins had recommended that the
positions of board chairman and president
be separated, the former to be the chief
executive officer and the latter the chief
operating officer. Action was unanimous.
He has written a letter to all NSS personnel
explaming the change, saying that he will
RKO Theatres Re-Elects
All Eight Directors
WILIVnNGTON—All the du-ectors of RKO
Theatres Corp. were re-elected at the annual
stockliolders meeting April 8. The stockholders
approved the retirement of 583,977
shares of stock, reducing the capital stock
from 3,914,913 shares to 3,330,936 shares.
The directors re-elected were: Theodore R.
Colborn, David J. Greene, Dudley G. Layman,
Albert A. List, A. Louis Oresman, Edward C.
Raftery and Sol A. Schwartz.
Schwartz, president of RKO Theatres, reported
that the earnings for the first eight
weeks of 1955 were slightly ahead of 1954.
A slight recession was noted in March, but
he forecast a late summer upsurge as a result
of the strong product in preparation or
soon to get under way.
The board of dii-ectors of RKO Theatres
met in New York April 11 to re-elect the following
officers: Albert A. List, chairman of
the board; Sol A. Schwartz, president; William
W. Howard, vice-president; Dudley G.
Layman, vice-president and treasurer; T. F.
O'Connor, vice-president; William F. Whitman,
secretary and general counsel; H. E.
Newcomb, controller; Louis Joffe, assistant
secretary, and Edward W. Avery and Arthur
E. Bell, assistant treasurers.
'Angela' on 20th-Fox Lineup
HOLLYWOOD—Added to 20th Century-
Fox's releasing schedule was "Angela," romantic
drama produced and directed independently
in Italy by Dennis O'Keefe, who
also wrote the feature and co-stars in it with
Mara Lane. It is in black and white and
non-CinemaScope.
be 66 years old in July and that he wante
to "arrange things for the best interests of a
of us while healthy and active, rather tha
'
leave corporate leadership and authority
be determined when I am not as fortunate i
I am these days, blessed with good health ar
an active mind."
He told of the friendships acquired by h
son and felt certain his choice was a
one. He saw top management "immeasu:
ably improved," with himself remaining aGti\
as senior officer but tiu'ning over to othei
the pressure of corporate management. B
said the arrangement still gives the compan
"dependable" Bill Brenner to supervise varie
operational responsibilities.
Decca-Universal Merger
Not in Sight: Rackmil
NEW YORK—No plans are under way fc*
a merger of Universal Pictures with Decci
Records, Milton R. Rackmil, president c
both companies, said Tuesday (12) at th;
annual meeting of Decca stockholders. HI
said stockholders would be notified promptl;
•
if such a plan became feasible, but added tha
at the present time he was against a merge:
Some stockholders at the previous Universs
annual meeting had urged a merger as
means of reducing administrative costs. Theri
also had been merger talk before that.
Rackmil predicted that Decca record earn
ings during the first quarter of 1955 woulbe
about 14 per cent higher than in th
same 1954 period, and that total eamlngi
would exceed those of 1954. He said a divi;
dend increase was unjustified at present, i
proposal for cumulative voting failed.
"Actually," said Rackmil, "Decca is ;, in
better cash position now than Universal." ,
The board met after the stockholders meet
ing and re-elected Rackmil president; Leon
ard W. Schneider, executive vice-president
Louis A. Buchner, vice-president and treas
urer; Samuel Yamin, secretary; Isabell'
Marks, assistant secretary, and Irving E;
Wiener, assistant treasurer.
Montague Sells Shares
NEW YORK—A. Montague, vice-president
during March sold 2,400 shares of Columbii
common stock and made a gift of 400 shares
reducing his direct holdings to 10,738 shares
according to a report to stock exchange:
under regulations of the Securities anc
Exchange Commission.
1
!
10 BOXOFFICE April 16, 195!

i
•
show
• w
iL
TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
DUE FOR C'SCOPE: ZANUCK
)emonstration Reel Will
ie Shown During Summer;
Itudio Investment Only
By FRANK LEYENDECKER
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox is
jntinuing to improve and develop Cinemacope
technically and, sometime this sum-
I
mer, will present a
demonstration reel
showing the "rather
startling developments
in corrected
lenses and adjusted
cameras" for all the
industry to see, according
to Darryl F.
Zanuck, vice-president
in charge of production.
Zanuck returned
from a trip to
Darryl F. Zanuck Europe April 5.
While Zanuck would
.it enlarge on the nature of these camera
jvelopments, he said that 20th-Fox engi-
;ers have convinced him that they "will be
; revolutionary to the industry as the first
[inemaScope picture was."
PROBLEM FOR EXHIBITORS
However, he stressed that the new developents
will not present a problem of new
;uipment for the exhibitors. "The investent
in new camera and lens equipment is
rictly a studio one," he said.
"These Cinemascope improvements will be
ailable to our competitors, as heretofore,"
muck said. It is essential to make radical
iprovements in Cinemascope, according to
linuck, who reported that theatre audiences
e now getting better OS sound and pro-
:tion since 20th-Fox sent technicians to
rious key city theatres throughout the U. S.
projectionists and theatremen the
st way to use it.
The first feature to use the new Cinema-
::ope camera improvements will not go
to production before late in 1955 and can-
I't be ready for release before the spring
1956, Zanuck said. He has not selected
e story for it as yet.
.rSTALLATIONS AT 21,000
Cinemascope theatre installations now
tal slightly under 21,000, of which 13,070
8 operating and equipped in the U. S. and
inada and 7,400 abroad. Cinemascope is
being installed at the rate of 200 thea-
,!s per week and Zanuck expects the inillations
to total 30,000 by the end of 1955.
West Germany alone, 1,000 theatres are
'Uipped with Cinemascope. In the Orient,
'QemaScope is becoming a "fixed standard"
in the western hemisphere. As the theatres
iJ equipped with Cinemascope, they start
playing the fh-st CS feature, "The Robe."
'
-is picture grossed almost $500,000 in Amer-
•'.n dollars in Argentina alone. In South
rica, 20th-Fox has finaUy broken the
'lemaScope barrier and there are now 13
^tallations in that country, Zanuck said.
^^hUe the EngUsh and European producers
C'Scope Needs Color
For Depth, Says Zanuck
NEW YORK— "I am violently against
CmemaScope in black-and-white becau.se
of the lack of depth without color," said
Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th-Fox production
head, in commenting on the refusal by
the company to permit MGM and Warner
Bros, to make Cinemascope pictures without
color. Warner Bros, .switched "Rebel
Without Cause," starring James Dean, to
Cinemascope and WarnerColor while
MGM decided to make "Trial," starring
Glenn Ford, in ordinary widescreen projection
in black-and-white.
Zanuck said that 20th-Fox is endeavoring
to subdue the color in some of its
dramatic films, as in some of the extraordinary
British and Japanese color pictures.
He said that he saw rushes on
"Oasis," Franco-German Cinemascope
picture which 20th-Fox will distribute in
the U. S.. which used black, white and
deep blue colors only for a "startling
effect."
resented CinemaScope at first" and producers
like Alexander Korda were hesitant
about using it, "we now have more requests
for Cinemascope cameras abroad than we
can ever hope to fill," Zanuck said. Seven
Cinemascope features are now shooting in
London, including Korda's "The Deep Blue
Sea," which 20th-Fox is participating in and
will distribute in the U. S., and pictures being
made by Herbert Wilcox and Emeric Pressbm-ger.
"We have had 36 requests for CS
cameras from German producers and two
from Japan," he said.
The emphasis at 20th Century-Fox will
continue to be on presold subjects, including
books and Broadway plays because "we find
that audiences today are more interested in
the subject matter of a film than in its
stars," according to Zanuck. A good subject
can be a success without a boxoffice name
but "top stars can no longer make a bad
subject a success," he said. His company is
continuing to buy books before publication,
such as "The Day the Century Ended" and
"The Sixth of June," which will not be published
until May and July, respectively. The
company is also continuing its preproduction
deals on Broadway plays, of which the current
hits, "Anastasia" and "Bus Stop" ai-e
two examples. Zanuck is now negotiating for
three more plays prior to Broadway production.
In the past, Zanuck personally produced
such pictures as "The Grapes of Wrath,"
"How Green Was My Valley" and "Pinky,"
in which the emphasis was on subject instead
of the players. With such upcoming
novels as "The View From Pompey's Head"
and "Katherine," 20th-Fox will endeavor to
cast them with the best players available but
will not delay production for a name player,
except in the case of Rodgers and Hammerstein's
"The King and I," which will not go
into production until Yul Brynner and Deborah
Kerr are free from their current commitments,
Zanuck said.
The producer mentioned Warner Bros.
"Battle Cry" as an example of "an enormous
success without star names." Although almost
all the recognized stars now have their
own producing companies, 20th-Fox has no
plans to distribute any of these stars' films.
In commenting on Marilyn Monroe's plans
to make pictures for her own company, he
said that she still has a three-year contract
with 20th-Fox and, although she may choose
to sit the contract out, "we will have a story
ready for her when she chooses to return
to the lot." She might be suitable for the
lead in "Bus Stop," he said.
Regarding 20th-Fox plans to make TV
films, Zanuck said that he sees "TV production
as not a profitable undertaking in dollars
and cents" but that aU TV films made
by the company wiU have a portion of the
allotted time devoted to future and current
20th-Fox theatre releases. All contracts for
TV films will have a protective clause that
requires a certain portion to be devoted to
the promotion of 20th-Fox theatre releases.
In this way, "news about our current pictures
will reach 50,000,000 TV homes," he said.
Zanuck wiU put 12 to 14 features into production
before the end of 1955, he said.
Supreme Court Rejects
Review of G&P Case
WASHINGTON—G&p Amusement, operator
of the Moreland Theatre in Cleveland, on
Monday (ID was turned down in its bid for
a Supreme Court review of its case against
Co-operative Theatres of Ohio, Loew's, 20th
Century-Fox, Warner Bros., Universal and its
Cleveland competitor, the Regent Theatre.
G&P had charged that Co-operative Theatres,
through the purchasing power gained in
booking for closed situations, could and did
exert undue bargaining power to the end that
the Regent got favored treatment from the
other defendants and consequently the Moreland
was forced to close.
The Regent Theatre contended that the
Moreland had been a member of a booking
co-op for a time, that the Regent had not
received undue advantages in bargaining for
films and that, in fact, the Moreland had
been operating at a loss and had closed several
times before Co-op of Ohio was even
formed.
G&P lost its case both in the district and
appeals courts and thereupon appealed to the
Supreme Court for a review. The Supreme
Com-t on Monday refused to consider the
case, an action which has the effect of permitting
lower court decisions to stand.
Chisholm in New Post
TORONTO—Jack Chisholm, former publicity
director for Variety Clubs International,
has been named head of public relations and
publicity for Associated Screen News, Ltd.,
effective May 1. He will operate out of the
Toronto office, with Ronald O'Doherty as
assistant.
I'XOFFICE :: AprU 16, 1955
11

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IN A DOWNBEAT MOOD
Berger Says He's Going
To Sell His Theatres
MINNEAPOLIS—Benjamin Berger, North
Central Allied president, hitherto an optimist
regarding exhibition's
future, has turned pessimistic
and now says
his 14 theatres are up
for sale.
He now feels exhibition's
"a dying business"
and that small
exhibitors are "going
broke on the installment
plan."
Although the trade
here discounted Berger's
Benjamin Berger
declaration, the
North Central Allied
president maintained he is dead serious about
his decision.
CONTRARY TO PREVIOUS STAND
This is in direct contrast to his declaration
two years ago when he was quoted to the
effect that exhibition would emerge from current
TV and other woes "more triumphant
than ever."
But, since then, and particularly during the
past six months, he has changed his mind
"as a result of various developments."
Berger explains that the reason for his
gloom isn't mainly because of TV's inroads
and the toll TV menace, although he points
out that movie theatre attendance has been
continuously and uninterruptedly on a decline,
"indicating a dying business." At the same
time, the producers-distributors "are making
more money than ever" and "because of
higher admissions" many larger first run
theatres are playing to record-breaking
grosses, although their total annual attendance
declines," he also points out.
Principally, Berger explains, his change of
mind regarding exhibition's future is due to
the film companies' refusal to adopt "live and
let live" sales policies. They won't do it
voluntarily, he points out, and he feels it's
doubtful if congressional legislation forcing
them to do so can be obtained in time to avert
ruin for many exhibitors.
OTHERS ARE ENCOURAGED
However, although Berger has turned pessimistic,
various recent developments indicate
that some local subsequent run exhibitors
find encouragement in the boxoffice situation.
The Terrace, an independent suburban
theatre, is known to be operating consistently
at a profitable clip. And whereas the Richfield,
another independent neighborhood
house, was for sale two years ago at a price
far under its construction cost, its ownersoperators
today refuse to consider offers for
it at a substantially higher price and state
it's no longer for sale.
'Skabenga' New Title for 'African Fury'
HOLLYWOOD—"Skabenga" has been set
as the release tag for "African Fury," which
Allied Artists will place in distribution May
15. Produced in color by George Michael, it
depicts the adventures of a big-game hunter
in South Africa.
Pop. 325: Business Is Good;
Folks Talking About Movies
Minneapolis—Pointing out in an accompanying
letter that "it is good to
hear from some exhibitor who is optimistic
about the future of our business,"
Saul Malisow, 20th-Fox branch manager,
has distributed copies of a communication
from B. A. Bengtsson, owner of the
Saturn Theatre, Pierpont, S. D., population
325.
"Just a note of thanks to 20th -Fox for
Cinemascope," wrote Bengtsson to Malisow.
'Tve had Cinemascope in my theatre
since Feb. 4, 1955, although the
population of my town is only 325. I want
to say that it has done marvels for the
show business here in Pierpont.
"It hasn't skyrocketed my grosses or
anything like that, but it has done one
thing more important than big grosses
right now. That is it has started people
talking about the good movies they have
been seeing at the Saturn.'
"The local civic meetings which my
wife and I have been attending lately
are extremely encouraging because the
conversation, soon or later, gets around
to the movies and how well Cinemascope
is liked.
"We really have a sharp picture out
here on our 11x26 white mat screen. I
shouldn't brag, but it's the best I've seen
around here. I'm very proud of it. It's
really swell to stand out front and hear
the kind of enthusiastic comment that
we're getting once again."
'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Picked by Drama Critics
NEW YORK—Tennessee Williams' "Cat on
a Hot Tin Roof" won the New York Drama
Critics Circle award as the best American
play of the 1954-55 season at the voting session
at the Hotel Algonquin April 12. It was
the third Williams play to win this award,
previous winners having been for his "The
Glass Menagerie" in 1944-45 and for his "A
Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947-48.
William Inge's "Bus Stop," which has been
bought for filming by 20th Century-Fox, was
runner-up in the balloting and "The Desperate
Hours," which has already been filmed
by Paramount, received thr-ee votes from the
21 critics voting.
Gian-Carlo Menotti's "The Saint of Bleeker
Street" was selected by the critics as the best
musical of the 1954-55 season, although it was
a financial failure and has already closed
after a brief run. Agatha Christie's "Witness
for the Prosecution" was named the best foreign
importation.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," which opened on
Broadway March 25 was staged by Elia Kazan,
winner of an Academy Award in March for
his "On the Waterfront."
Misquoted, Says Yate
On Ending Productior
NEW YORK—Republic Pictures will coi
plete and deliver to exhibitors during t;
first six months of 1955 a total of 20 featurr
including 14 de luxe and six special picturi
according to Herbert J. Yates, president, wi
claims the Republic production policy w
"grossly misstated" at his recent press inte
view at the stockholders meeting April 5 ai
"was not authorized by me or Republii
board of directors."
Yates was quoted as saying his compa)'
was considering abandonment of productii
and distribution of motion pictures to co
centrate on television and laboratory a
tivities.
This shift in policy is still in the "thinkli:
stage," he told stockholders, and if circui
would book Republic pictures there wou^
be no change. His comments immediate
drew sharp criticism from circuit leaders.
Yates said the Republic branch manage
were informed about these 20 pictures as f
back as March 22 in Chicago. The HoUywoi
studio has already started planning produ
tion for the second six months of 1955. Yat
said.
The 20 for the first six months of 19
exceeds the entire number of pictures pr
duced by Republic during 1954.
W. Pa. Allied Asks Yates
"Not to Be a Quitter'
PITTSBURGH—Allied Motion Picture Th
atre Owners of Western Pennsylvania ask(i
Herbert Yates, president of Republic Picturt'
not "to be a quitter" and pledged its suppO!
in an effort made to "reactivate" the coni
pany.
However, Harry Hendel, executive secretar
informed Yates that it was unfair to blani
theatre owners for the payment of inadequa|
rentals—and for "not granting Republic ui'
warranted preferred and extended playiii
time for program subjects that today ha\
limited audience appeal."
"As you well know, public acceptance
pictures today is the barometer for bo?
office grosses in which you share proportior
ately. If your energies and long experieni
in production were concentrated on the pn
duction of top quality subjects, boxoffii
grosses would prove astronomical."
Hendel pointed out that "The Quiet Mai'
and "Johnny Guitar" were accorded tC;
rentals, preferred and extended time f
western Pennsylvania.
"You have the studio facilities, and tlii
know-how. Republic Pictures can^if it will--
forge to the forefront as an important ses
ment of the motion picture industry, notwitl
standing the acknowledged competition
television," Hendel declared.
Schenck and Koch to Start
Seventh Film for UA
HOLLYWOOD—As their seventh pictu)
for United Artists, Aubrey Schenck an
Howard W. Koch will launch work Tuesda
(26) on "Fort Yuma," a frontier drama, c
location near Kanab, Utah. StaiTing Pet<
Graves under the banner of Bel-Air R(
ductions, the offering will be directed i
Lesley Selander.
til
Bj
14
BOXOFFICE April 16, 191
r

' It
^•.
attracting
IB-ABC TV Deal Calls
'or 39 Hour Shows
NEW YORK—Warner BroK. and the Ameri-
,n BroadcaKting Co. have completed arrangejsnts
for a motion picture series to be preinted
over television and through a longirm
contract. The series will consist of 39
ill-hour features, titled "Warner Bros. Prejats."
Each will be based on one of three
itstanding WB features — "Casablanca,'
j;ings Row" and "Cheyenne."
'The first will be the title for a series of
(Venture programs, the second for romance
jd the third for westerns. They will be
ekly programs.
Details were supplied by Harry M., Jack L.
;d Albert Warner, heads of the film comny;
Leonard H. Golden.son, president of
,jierican Broadcasting-Pai-amount Theatres,
id Robert E. Kintner, ABC president.
) PROMOTE WB FILMS
3elf -contained stories will be presented.
U minutes of each program will take viewers
location, either behind the scenes or on
{
(tdoor locations during the making of actual
|;tures Warner Bros, will release soon there-
J;er, Each will preview parts of the next
'.\Ki
Slniii'iijc
\ll.VSu\
\il'('nlllill;ill(|
"Strategic Air Command" on what was described
as "the world's largest screen," meaning
the new installation at the Paramount
Theatre. This ad also appeared the same day
in the World-Telegram. Buchanan & Co.
turned this one out.
DuMont Shows a Dual
TV, Movie Camera
NEW YORK—Allen B. DuMont laboratories
Thursday (14) demonstrated its new
"electronicam" television-film system. It is
a blending of electronic TV and motion picture
cameras with a common optical system,
making it possible for persons engaged in
film production to follow the action, as the
camera sees it. on large screen TV monitors
set up on the studio floor. A remote monitor
can be installed in the front office where
the producer can check the shooting as It
occurs.
DuMont claimed the system assures greater
focusing accuracy and said it is applicable
to widescreen systems such as Cinemascope,
VistaVision, Todd-AO and Cinerama. The
camera accepts both standard black-andwhite
and color films, and the system may
be used with 35mm or 16mm sizes.
The system also permits a black-andwhite
TV program to be broadcast while a
high quality film of the same program is
simultaneously recorded in color or blackand-white.
The finished film print can be
made ready for distribution quickly by means
of a new technique employing an "editing
master" film as a guide.
The system was developed by James L.
Caddigan, director of programming and production
for the DuMont TV network. Paramount
pictures has an interest in DuMont.
BKOFHCE :: April 16, 1955 15

s no question about this one c<
I
ing in for a big pay-off, witii a powel
story that
measures up to the caiibrel
its
stars.
"There are moments when the audience will howl v|
laughter and other spots where director Karlson's
for climactic punch can result in a situation that sh<
freeze the roots of your hair.
"A choice bit of screen fare, which Columbia <
consider a proud entry among this year's imporl
playdates."
Motion Picture L
ta ROGERS- WRDTROBINS
i
BRIAN KEI
Screen Play by WILLIAM BOWERS Produced by LEWIS J. RACH MIL- Directed by PHIL 10

ILD
.he biggest houses everywhere — and new
situations are being very day ff ase
DETROIT- Palms-State CHICACaO^Roosevelt AKRON • •
BOSTON- Pilgrim • CLEVELAND-
Palace
!
-uot.
• COLUiVIBUS- Loc-
MIAIVIi - Carib, Miracle, Miami • ROCHESTER - Loew's RochestL
NASHVILLE - Loews Vendome
• INDIANAPOLIS- Loew's Palace
PROVIDENCE-Strand • CINCINNATI - RKO Palace or Albee
SYRACUSE -Loew's State • DAYTON
LOUISVILLE-U.A. and State • MINNEAPOLIS-RKO
-RKO Keith's or Colonial
Orpheum
RAPIDS-RKO Iowa
GRAND RAPIDS-RKO Regent • CEDAR
ST. LOUIS- Loew's State • NENA/ HAVEN- Loew's Poll
LO>/VELL-RKO Keith's
• MARSHALLTO^A/N -RKO Orpheum
MERIDEN- Loew's Palace
• DES MOINES- RKO Orpheum
DAVENPORT- RKO Orpheum • DUBUQUE - RKO Orpheum
OMAHA- RKO Brandeis • NE^V ORLEANS- RKO Orpheum
ST. PAUL- RKO Orpheum
• SIOUX CITY - RKO Orpheum
TRENTON - RKO Capitol • CHAMPAIGN - RKO Orpheum
>VATERLOO- RKO Orpheum
IwLOOK
. SATURDAY EVENING POST- TRUE • SILVER SCREEN
"
FRONT PAGE DETECTIVE
^^ ^^^^^^>^ ^
INSIDE DETECTIVE
PHOTOPLAY
MOTION PICTURE
and MOVIE V^ORLDI _# i
. T
the 'sleeper' of the year!

»
Southeast Exhibitors Join
In 3-State Business Drive
iWV f^N"
The group above assembled in Atlanta to map plans for the first annual Southeastern
Movie Festival May 15 through June 15. Front row, left to right: R. M. Kennedy,
J. H. Thompson, Boliver Hyde and Jerry Gold. Back row, same order: Roy Nicol, Dan
Courset, Ed Brauer, Russell Gaus, Jimmy Hobbs, George Roseoe, Gordon Bradley,
Paul Wilson, Jim Frew and W. D. Kelly.
ATLANTA—Using the slogan, "Nothing
Beats the Movies," as its theme, theatre
owners of Georgia, Alabama and Florida
will stage the first annual Southeastern
Movie Festival May 15 through June 15.
Representatives of all major distribution
companies met with theatre owners in Atlanta's
Variety Club last week to set plans
for the event, which is expected to be one
of the biggest ticket-selling campaigns in the
south's history. The May 15 kickoff will coincide
with the opening of the Motion Picture
Theatre Operators of Georgia convention
at the Biltmore Hotel.
Warner Bros, announced it was placing
"Sea Chase," and "Strange Lady in Town,"
18
in saturation during this period. Twentieth
Century-Pox has set in "Daddy Long Legs,"
and is considering other product. Allied
Artists, which recently announced it was
going in for big commercial entertainment,
set in "An Annapolis Story," and "Shotgun."
Columbia is releasing "Cell 2455—Death Row,"
and Paramount is releasing "Far Horizons,"
and "Hell's Island," two VistaVision releases.
Republic has set in "Eternal Sea." Other
distribution fu-ms are mulling their saturation
releases.
J. H. Thompson, president of Theatre Owners
and Operators of Georgia, who is sparking
the Festival, said each of the distributors
had agreed to place color ads in Sunday mag-
Variation of 'Pause That Refreshes'
Proposed as a
Minneapolis—Abe Kaplan, local circuit
owner, has evolved an idea for a high
pressure selling campaign which he's siu-e
would stimulate the boxoffice. North
Central Allied will propose the project
to AI Lichtman, 20th-Fox sales manager,
when the latter comes to Minneapolis
next month for the NCA convention.
Kaplan wants the industry to pound
away on a single theme the same as
Coca-Cola has done so successfully with
"the pause that refreshes."
On billboards everywhere, buses, etc.,
for example, there would be pictured a
woman engaged in a conversation with a
man and telling him "I'm tired sitting
at home—let's go to the movies."
Under the Kaplan plan all of the
major film companies would combine for
Boxoffice Stimulant
the institutional drive and raise a total
of at least $10,000,000 a year "as a
starter" for three years to defray the
cost.
Kaplan points out that if all companies
participated the cost per company
would not be great. Also, in addition,
the expenditure would be an income tax
deduction so that, actually, the government
would be paying 80 per cent, or
$8,000,000, of the annual cost.
He's confident that the suggestion of
"going out to see a movie" would find a
ready response with housewives and that
the constant repetition of the idea that
the women folks want to escape occasionally
from their homes' confines would
infiltrate masculine minds and stimulate
theatre attendance.
azine sections of key cities throughout ie
three-state area. Supplementary adverti!;g
will be taken on both TV and radio.
Multi-colored bamiers, proclaiming
Festival, and featuring the slogan, "Noth
Beats the Movies" have been prepared a
nominal cost to the theatre owner. Spe.iJ
TV trailers will be available at a costi]
$2.50 for color and $1.50 for black and whs,
Thompson said. All forms of outdoor sij
and window cards have been made up.
Thompson said all theatre men are
pected to bring mayors of their respecte
towns to the kick-off. Governors of
three states are expected to attend. All mi"
ors and governors will have proclamatic;,
proclaiming the 30-day period Southeastij
Movie Festival Month in their respecte
areas. The proclamations will be signed
a mass demonstration. Representatives of
press in each town will attend the Festi
kick-off to send stories back to theii- ho
town papers. The theatre owners are i>
pected to pay costs of transportation
:
lodging for their own government and p:
representatives.
Movie stars have been invited to att.
the kick-off in Atlanta. Sterling Hayd
Yvonne De Carlo and other stars already h;
signified their willingness to attend.
Benton Bros. Film Express announced
would put Movie Festival signs on all
trucks, which range into the three-state ai
Thompson said all theatre owners 1
agreed to arrange for speakers to addr
civic and fraternal organizations during i
Festival.
Colosseum in Statement
On Contract Negotiations
NEW YORK—The bargaining commitL
of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmfj
in a report to the membership this wei
criticized distributors for allegedly failing 5l
"accord to them the consideration comment'*
rate with their importance to the industr,'
Bargaining committee;? of the Colossei
recently completed three fruitless weeks
negotiations on a new contract. The salf
men had asked for improvement in the uni
secua-ity provision, a schedule of several
pay, an increase in salary and expenses a
"a firming up of vacation provision so
to eliminate the abuses which have beooi
manifest in the past several years."
The committee characterized the policy
the distributors "to limit the salary of sale
men to $100 a week is shocking and repr
hensible." The majority of salesmen, it w
pointed out, earn less than $110 a week ai
"the placing of a $100 limit on the salary
a salesman would mean the decimation
the sales force and the exodus of high calibi
hard-hitting salesmen to other fields
endeavor."
The Colosseum declared that in the la
18 months approximately 63 salesmen ha
been dropped by the companies. "Territori
have been split up, thereby placing an add
tional burden on the remaining salesme
The duties of the salesmen have become mo
onerous than ever, and the cry of exhibito
for government regulation of film rental h;
added to the responsibility of the salesmen
dealing with them on behalf of their con
panies," the report said.
'Remember Mama' Moved Up
NEW YORK—The release date of "I R
member Mama" has been moved up by BK
Radio to May 8, which is Mother's Day,
BOXOFFICE
April 16, la
k

t'ings the boxoffice a bad^ beautmul woman to whom love is a weapon I

Arbitration,
Talk Lively— -No Action
NEW YORK—Some say it's industry strategy;
others assert it's scattered opposition,
and a few declare it's just plain indifference
that has held up action on both arbitration
and the much-discussed roundtable conference.
The Theatre Owners of America decision
to reverse its previous stand and insist on the
industry conference ahead of the adoption of
arbitration, plus the violent language used
by E. D. Martin in making the announcement
upset the apple cart. It became apparent
that exhibitor-distributor relations had
reached the boiling point.
LICHTMAN RECUPERATING
All questioners turned to Al Lichtman, director
of distribution for 20th Century-Fox.
and were informed that he was recuperating
on the coast and might not be back for some
time. Spyros P. Skouras let it be known the
following day that he was in favor of immediate
action on both arbitration and the
roundtable conference. He emphasized his
stand by saying "too much time had been
wasted."
These remarks came the day before the
annual meeting of the Motion Picture Ass'n
and the word got around that the MPAA directors
might issue a statement after the
meeting. However, neither arbitration nor the
roundtable was discussed at the meeting, it
was stated.
There has been a growing impression among
exhibitor leaders that arbitration discussions
have been stalled for many weeks to bolster
the distributors' stand that arbitration .should
precede the all-industry conference.
Efforts to get some comment from responsible
sources on this point have been futile.
Abram P. Myers' bulletin to Allied members
and non-members asking for opinions on
whether the proposed government regulation
bill started a chain reaction. The issue suddenly
took on new life and became a hot potato
once more because it was realized by
TOA leaders that the discussion could get out
of control unless something was done.
Martin's statement explaining the shift of
attitude by TOA contained this sentence:
"We have learned that what Mr. Lichtman
said was not so; that much more than one
point separated the thinking of exhibition
and distribution" on arbitration.
SOME COMMENT STIRRED
This sentence stirred some comment. Herman
Levy. TOA general comisel, has been
the only exhibition representative taking part
in arbitration discussions for many months.
How many meetings have been held and
what progress, if any, has been made has
not been made known. Martin did not say
when he "learned" about the area of agreement
reached.
It is generally understood that some of the
company attorneys have practically no interest
in arbitration and that no effort to get
action has been made by proponents.
WUbur Snaper, president of New Jersey
Allied, .said he believed the proponents of
arbitration had lost faith in it. He added that
it would not aid exhibition because the area
it would cover is too narrow to deal with
the "really serious" problems of the industry.
Roundtable
Rocky Mountain Allied
Will Convene May 10
Denver—Allied Rocky Mountain Independent
Theatres will hold its convention
in Denver at the Park Hill Country Club
May 10. Joe Ashby, general manager,
said there will be a morning and afternoon
session, with a luncheon at noon,
and a banquet and dance at night. So
far only one speaker has been arranged
for definitely; Bennie Berger, North Central
Allied president.
See Full Clearance Change
In Philadelphia Area
PHILADELPHIA—The $1,275,000 tripledamage
verdict won by the Norris Amusement
Co. against seven major distributors
may bring about a complete change in clearance
practices in the Philadelphia exchange
area. It may be that towns like Camden.
N. J., and Chester. Westchester. Bristol.
Leavittown. Pottstown and Doyleston in Pennsylvania
which, for years, have been classified
as being in competition with Philadelphia
first runs, and therefore subject to
clearance, will get day and date privileges
with their big-city first run neighbors.
The verdict was something of a bombshell
in trade circles here. The Norris and Grand
theatres in Norristown are owned by the six
Sablosky brothers and their wives. They
charged the majors had discriminated against
their theatres from 1939 to 1951, when the
suit was filed, by refusing first run films
and requiring 21-day clearance after Philadelphia
dates.
All major distributors except United Artists
were defendants in the suit. It is expected
that the film companies will appeal.
SMPTE Planning 70 Papers
For Chicago April 18-22
NEW YORK—More than 70 technical
papers have been accepted for presentation
at the 77th convention of the Society of
Motion Picture and Television Engineers April
18-22 at the Drake, Chicago.
A symposium on widescreen photography
has been scheduled at the State-Lake Theatre
April 21. Earl I. Sponable and H. E. Bragg
of 20th Century-Fox will present a paper on
"Improvements in Cinemascope" and Loren
Ryder and Jack Bishop will discuss "The
VistaVision Process." C. R. Daily, also of
Paramount, collaborated on this paper. A
VistaVision demonstration will be given in
both the double-frame and standard-size film.
A second widescreen session has been
scheduled for April 22. Among the papers to
be presented at this session will be: "Historical
Notes on Large Screens." by Julius B.
Postal of Tele-Science Productions; "Evaluation
and Reaction to New Pi-ocesses of Motion
Picture Presentation" by Lucien E. Pope, Fox
Midwest Amusement Corp., and Richard H.
Orear, Commonwealth Theatres, Inc.
Memphis Mayor Okayi
'Jungle' for Adults
MEMPHIS—Loew's State Theatre aa
nounced Monday (U) it would show "Th(
Blackboard Jungle" (MGM), starting April Z
for adults only. The picture was bannec
by the Memphis censors last week. The
year-old chairman of the censor board, Lloyc
T. Binford, said Mayor Tobey had approvec
the showing for adults only. Arthur Groom
State manager, said "adults only" meant anybody
16 or older.
Binford said: "The censor board under th<
present law has no authority to approve pictures
for adults only. When asked aboul
showing the picture for adults only, I re
ferred them to the mayor, and he approvec
it. It's all right with the censor board foi
adults only to see the picture.
ORDINANCE REVISION SEEN
"I understand the city commission is going
to pass an ordinance permitting the censoi
board to approve pictures for adults only.
Mayor Tobey commented:
"If Mr. Binford says he's going to allow
them to show the movie for adults only, it's
all right with me."
In announcing on March 28 that "Th^
Blackboard Jungle" was banned, Chairmai;
Binford said: "It's the vilest picture I've seen
in 26 years as a censor." He said the film was
banned by vote of the three women members
of the board, however. "I didn't have to vote
but I certainly agreed with them," he added
Withdrawal of the ban—if that is what has
been done—was apparently made by Chairman
Binford alone, without any voting by the
women members.
The apparent easing of "The Blackboard
Jungle" ban follows by just a week the
censor board's complete reversal of a twice
stated ban against the Columbia film, "The
Bamboo Prison," That reversal came a few
days after Columbia Pictm-es announced)
through its Memphis attorney. Col. Williami
Goodman, that it would file suit in circuit!
court appealing the ban and ask for a ruling,
on the constitutionality of the Memphis cen-j
.sorship statutes.
LEGAL BASIS UNCERTAIN
"Since the board does not have the power
to grant an "adult only" license, the legal
basis of "The Blackboard Jungle" showing is
cloudy. Unless the ban is officially withdrawn,
the Loew's State management might still be
liable to arrest for showing the film. It is
improbable that the city would attempt to
enforce the ban even if it were still in force
on April 22. However, some observers believe
that the city commission will revise the present
censorship statute to include the adults
only restriction as soon as possible. Events
of recent weeks indicate that major changes
in Memphis' censorship setup may be in
the
making for the first time in its 28-year
history.
Harry E. Pratt Elected
W. J. German. Inc., V-P
HOLLYWOOD—Harry E. Pratt has been
elected vice-president in charge of television
film sales for the California division of W. J.
German. Inc., distributors of Eastman professional
motion picture stock. F>ratt has been
associated with the firm for 28 years.
20 BOXOFFICE April 16, 1955

. yv
eady NOW.. .when
'
LOVE...OR A HIDING PLACE...
WHICH DID HI HMnfe.^
l^alM'Ices .
the hot green hell
of thf Blinvna Jung
ii
)l«l
Hi!
I'tl
">.4
:
ii;^
kO''
BARBARA STANWYCK
ROBERT RYAN DAVID FARRAR
Print by
MURVYN VYE • LISA MONTELL
TECHNJCOLOR
the new anamorph^ process ROBERT WARWICK -REGINALD DENNY
- St/P£/f SCOPE
ON THE GIANT WIDE SCREEN
oi.««d b, ALLAN DWAN . to«n„,.,b, TALBOT JENNINGS ,na HOBART DONAVAN • pr»i«rtb, BENEDICT BOGEAUS
ROM RKOl THE SHOWMANSHIP COMPANY

. . Also
. . The
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\
'i^MfjCi/iW^d ^efoont
Rita Hayworth Files Suit
Over Columbia Contract
With the title role itself still unfilled, Columbia
found itself up against another casting
problem in connection with its Biblical
spectacle, "Joseph and His Brethren," when
Rita Hayworth—who had been set for the
femme starring role as part of a two-picture
deal with the studio—included herself out
and, instead of reporting Monday (11) for
the film's scheduled start, initiated litigation
to back, completely away from the commitment.
The titian-tressed star filed suit in federal
district court charging breach of contract
and seeking the payment of $150,000 in
salary. She contends it was expressly agreed
that "Joseph," being personally produced by
Jerry Wald and to be megged by William
Dieterle, would start prior to Friday 1 8 1 . She
said her ticket provided that the film would be
finished in time so that her second vehicle
could start within a year and charged the
prolonged shooting schedule on "Joseph"
would extend the date by which she was to
be under contract to the studio. That, the
actress added, would interfere with plans
that she and her husband, Dick Haymes, are
shaping for independent production ventm-es
for United Ai'tists release.
Meantime Columbia contended she has violated
her contract and said her position has
"no legal or moral basis or justification." The
company will, it said, "enforce all it.s rights,
legal and equitable," against her.
Considered significant by filmland railbirds
was the simultaneous inking by Columbia of
Maureen O'Hara to a non-exclusive multiplepicture
contract. The announcement thereof
said a musical and a modern love story "are
under discussion as possible vehicles," but
a studio spokesman would neither affirm nor
deny a report that there might be a possibility
Miss O'Hara could be asked to step
into the "Joseph" pai-t vacated by Miss Hayworth.
Tearful Decision,' TV Drama,
Is Purchased by MGM
That the manufacturers of tlieatrical films
are keeping an ever-closer scrutiny on television
as the source for story material was
further manifested through the purchase by
MGM of "Fearful Decision," a suspense drama
which has been presented twice on ABC-TV
by the Theatre Guild for the U. S. Steel
Hour. Penned by Cyril Hume, a veteran film
scenarist, and Richard Maibaum, "Fearful
Decision" will be produced for the studio by
Nicholas Nayfack. It concerns a wealthy
manufacturer whose small son is kidnapped,
and whose decision to defy the criminals
results in the lad's safe return . . Added
.
to its literary stockpile by the Hecht-Lancaster
organization, which will make it for
United Artists release, was "The Tall Dark
Man," a novel by Anne Chamberlain. The
yarn's heroine is an adolescent girl whose
flights of fancy and imagination lead eventually
to horrific consequences
director Earl
. . . Producer-
McEvoy, who has just formed
his own independent unit, acquired "Thin
By
IVAN SPEAR
.
Air," a novel by Howard Brown about activities
in an advertising agency. Harry Essex
has been signed to prepare the script . . .
Essex, parenthetically, scored another credit
when Universal-International picked up
"Round-Up," a western which he authored in
collaboration with Robert Blees, and which
will be produced by Albert Zugsmith. Localed
on the frontier in the 1850s, it deals with the
search for seven heirs named in the will of a
wealthy prospector purchased by
U-I was "The Game," a suspense novel by
Ann Head, which is scheduled for publication
in McCall's.
Roy Rogers to Nashville
For Safety Program
.
Here and there in the Hollywoodlands: Roy
Rogers and Dale Evans planed to Nashville
for the formal presentation Thursday (14)
of the sixth annual Roy Rogers school safety
awards program trophies. More than 9,000
elementary schools throughout the country
participated, the winner being the Dupont
school near Nashville first batch
of plays, novels and short stories submitted
by students at the University of California
at Los Angeles in competition for the yearly
award of the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation
is now being readied for shipment to Yugoslavia
for final judging by Robert E. Sherwood,
who is currently there on a writing
assignment. The board of judges, in addition
to Sherwood, includes Prof. Kenneth Macgowan
of the university's theatre arts department;
Charles Brackett, producer- writer and
president of the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences, and F. Hugh Herbert,
president of the Screen Writers Guild. Goldwyn
has made available an annual fund of
$1,000 in an effort to stimulate original creative
writing talent . . . Edmund Grainger
Pi-oductions has completed contractual arrangements
whereby all six of Grainger's
forthcoming featui'es for RKO Radio release
will be lensed in the Superscope widescreen
anamorphic process developed by Joseph and
Irving Tushinsky. The initialer, "The Treasure
of Pancho Villa," rolls Monday (18) on
location in Mexico and will be followed in
July by "Great Day in the Morning."
Trumpets of Company K'
To Be Nat Holt's Next
Nat Holt, a specialist in the making of
action celluloid dealing with frontier adventure,
has charted "Ti'umpets of Company K"
as the second vehicle to be made under the
aegis of Holt-Rosen Pi'oductions for RKO
Radio distribution. It will follow "Texas
Lady," on which filming is slated to begin
next month.
"Ti-umpets of Company K," a novel by William
Chamberlain, a retired marine corps
brigadier-general, is being scripted by Horace
McCoy. It's a story of Montana in the 1870s,
when the Nez Perce Indians were engaged in
a campaign against the U. S. cavalry. Technicolor
and Superscope treatment will be
employed.
Holt's partner in the independent unit is
Two Science-Fantasies
On Columbia's List
Columbia's future distribution agenda
will be augmented by two science-fantasy
subjects, representing a concrete manifestation
of the continued interest being
taken by filmmakers in such fanciful ventures.
As soon as Paul Douglas completes his
starring role in "Joe Macbeth" for Film
Locations, Ltd., in Glasgow and London,
he will report to Warwick Pi'oductions—
headed by Irving Allen and A. R. Broccoli
—for another Columbia release, "The
Gamma People," which is backgrounded
in the Swiss Alps and will be made there
and in England. A story by Louis Pollack,
"The Gamma People" was scripted by
Robert Aldrich.
And, closer to home, producer Sam
Katzman acquired "Reincarnation," an
original by Myi'on X. Franklin, dealing
with the experiences of a group of people
who ai'e re-born on another planet. It's
being added to Katzman's 1955 docket.
Lewis P. Rosen, theatre owner and insuran(
executive.
Dore Schary Plans Making
'Gettysburg' Two-Reeler
Having become interested in such a projec
last year while visiting the Gettysburg ns
tional military park in Pennsylvania, Doi
Schary, MGM studio head, is blueprintir
plans to personally produce "Gettysburg,"
two-reel documentary, on which he is cu]
rently conferring with Dr. Walter Colemai
director of the foundation.
The featurette will be made in Cinems
Scope and color. Commemorating the tide
turning battle in which the north and sout||
together incurred some 500,000 casualties duif
ing the Civil War, it will, of course, incorpoq
ate Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg Address.
Heard's This Is Freedom'
No'w in Editing Stages
Made on the fringes of the Iron Curtail
"This Is Freedom," a feature-length enti
produced independently by Paul F. Hearc
heretofore most active in the field of religioii
films, has been brought back to Hollywoo
for editing. Penned by Heard, his assistan
Herbert G. Luft, and Malvin Wald, it wa
shot in both the allied and Russian sector
of Berlin and concerns a Soviet commisi
who comes to the realization that his politici
philosophy is wrong.
Heard hasn't as yet announced distributloi
plans for the offering.
Al Hor-wits Succeeds
Lait at Columbia
Taking over the post of studio advertising
publicity dli-ector at Columbia was Al Horwit:
formerly a Universal-International blurbei
who for the past 18 months has been operatin
his own free-lance praisery. Horwits succeed
George Lait, a long-time member of th
Columbia staff, who had held the berth fo
two years. Lait, resigning as the studio'
chief blurber, said he would announce anothe
affiliation within a few days.
\
III
11 BOXOFFICE
:
: April 16, 19i

GREAT WEST
'
A
in the tradition of "Red River''
and "High Noon
The public likes its westerns BIG
these days. Here, to satisfy them,
is a BIG adventure storystarring
a BIG boxoffice
favorite -with the kind
of high pitched excitement
that pays off!
,
CO-STARRING M I ROSLAVA
•
KEVIN MCCARTHY • JOHN MclNTIRE
EMILE MEYER NANCY • GATES • JOHN CARRADINE Screenplay by HERB MEADOW
and DON MARTIN • Story by LOUIS L'AMOUR • Produced by ROBERT GOLDSTEIN
Directed by JACQUES TOURNEUR

A
I
Famous Players Reports
Canadian TV Hurting
MONTREAL—The annual report of Famous
Players Canadian Corp., Ltd., for the year
ended Jan. 1, 1955, shows net profit amounted
to $3,384,825 or $1.95 a share, compared with
$3,611,005 or $2.08 a share in year ended Jan.
3, 1954. Income taxes were $2,577,860 or the
equivalent of $1.48 a share, stated President
J. J. Fitzgibbons, in dii-ectors' report to
shareholders. He pointed out, too, that total
taxes of $10,770,000 were paid in the year by
the company and associates. Earnings from
companies which are not consolidated are
included only as and when received as dividends,
the report stated. Profits applicable
to share ownership in such companies in
1954 exceeded $600,000, whereas dividends received
were $502,831.
Operating profit in the year amounted to
$6,241,121 and other income $957,109, against
$6,820,190 and $804,719, respectively. Depreciation
provision was $1,235,545, against
$1,156,648, and the income taxes totaled
Theatre TV Helped
Spread Polio News
NEW YORK — Motion pictm-e theatres
shared with closed-circuit television the thrill
of bringing the Ann Ai'bor, Mich., report on
triple anti-polio vaccine originated by Dr.
Jonas E. Salk to 54,000 physicians in the
U. S. and Canada. The DuMont Television
Network, which handled the telecast, said
there were 70 "reception points" which included
33 theatres in the U. S. The other
points were hotels, auditoriums and TV stations.
Twelve American Broadcasting-Paramount
Theatres houses halted then regular shows to
present the telecast from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday
1121. Four Loew's and three RKO houses did
the same. Independent theatres participating
numbered 14, according to DuMont. The
public took the situation in its stride when
asked to give up the seats to physicians.
Here in New York the Fordham Theatre in
the Bronx, RKO affiliate, accommodated
more than 1,200 physicians. The Fox Theatre
of the Fabian circuit in Brooklyn had a large
turnout, as did the Prospect Theatre in
Flushing, Queens. New Jersey physicians
saw the show at the Capitol Theatre in
Newark.
Members of the industry see the willingness
of the theatres to present the telecast
as an exceptional illustration of public service,
and called the event a real boost for
closed-circuit telecasts in theatres.
$2,577,860, against $2,857,256.
Earned surplus at end of fiscal year
amounted to $19,722,017, against $19,116,507
previous yearend.
Fitzgibbons said that opening of additional
TV stations in 1954 caused a decrease of
theatre attendance. In areas where this condition
prevailed, experience has proven that
impact of TV is strongest during novelty and
installment buying period, after which increased
theatre attendance indicates a preference
for good motion picture entertainment.
Famous Players, with more than 400 theatres
across Canada, its added interest in TV
and other mediums of entertainment, looks
forward to the future with confidence, Fitzgibbons
said.
Financial position is strong with working
capital at January 1 totaling $8,712,836 and
ratio of current assets to ciurent liabilities
more than six to one. In addition, investments,
etc., in subsidiary and affiliated companies
are listed at $5,341,132. Reduction of
$1,039,000 in working capital reflects increased
investment in associated companies formed to
operate TV stations in Quebec City and
Kitchener, Ont., and investment in the
Chromatic color TV tube. Associated companies
whose accounts are not consolidated
are carried at cost of $2,583,618, whereas value
of these investments as represented by net
tangible assets exceeds $6,650,000.
Expansion and modernization continued in
1954. Widescreen installations were completed
in most theatres and bringing of existing
theatres up to present-day standards
continued. New VistaVision projection process
and screen are being installed in the Imperial
Theatre, Toronto. A new theatre has been
opened in Kamloops, B. C. Another is being
built at Murdochville, Que., and an associated
company has completed one at Atikokan,
Ont. Drive-in theatres are being completed
in Port Alberni, B. C, Dartmouth and Amherst,
N. S. With recent acquisition of a 50
per cent interest in the Scarboro Drive-In,
an interest is now held in four of the five
drive-ins serving the Toronto area.
NBC Radio to Be One Long
Show Saturday, Sunday
NEW YORK—The National Broadcasting
Co. is not afraid of experimenting drastically
in its methods of programming, to meet
changing conditions in the industry. The
network is junking the traditional quarter
and half-hour shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
Instead, says Sylvester L. Weaver jr.,
president of NBC, a new weekend service
called "Monitor" will be inaugm'ated.
"Monitor" will offer a continuous flow of
entertainment from 8 a.m. Saturday to midnight
Sunday. It will include such basic
services as news, weather, sports, time signals,
local features—plus such entertainment
supplements as comedy, drama and music,
which may run from one-line gags to
20-minute segments from a cm-rent play.
Advertising will be limited to one-minute
announcements (to cost $1,000), 20-second
announcements (to be sold in packages of
four a week at $3,000) and 6-second announcements
(in minimum packages of 10 for
$3,000). The purpose of the new programming
idea is to try and stem the drop in network
billings which have decreased by 24
per cent in the last year under the previous
year.
Thunderstorm' for AA Release
HOLLYWOOEX—Allied Artists has arranged
to distribute "Thunderstorm," a Linda Christian-Carlos
Thompson co-starrer, which will
be produced on location in Spain by Max
Setton and Victor Pahlen.
.evtcKA > >
< <
^U^
VIOLENT SATURDAY (20th-Fox)—
and suspenseful, if somewhat compUcaj,
melodrama of violence in a small cop)rmining
town, this should do good busiist
generally and clean up in the action Sf*
The many plot skeins unravel slowlyat
first but director Richard Fleischer bujg
up to a terrific climax. Stephen McNiy,
Lee Marvin and J. Carroll Nalsh are ({
standing as three ruthless bank robin
and Victor Mature is good as the yoig
father who holds them at bay. Ricb-d
Egan and Margaret Hayes create syQipaijr
for a couple who are drifting apart. Otln
in the cast are: Virginia Leith, Tonijr
Noonan, Syhia Sidney. Produced by Buly
Adler in CinemaScope and De Luxe c1
Free TV.
This group is planning to coordinate i'
tivities of radio and television station j."'
sonnel in Maine, New Hampshire, Verni't,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Conrfticut
aimed at proving to the Federal C(V
munications Commission that paid TV 1
not be in the public interest.
Gorman is general manager of Will
and WABI-TV.
"Once the 'coin box boys' get their
in the door," Gorman predicts, "you will «
TV, as we know it today, disappear beca*
pay-as-you-see TV has to have public acce
ance—even more so than programs freeif
charge."
24
BOXOFFICE April 16, 1,5

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JODFFICE April 16, 1955 25

—
22
LETTERS
This Exhibitor Lays It on the Line
TO BOXOFFICE:
After reading a lot, listening a lot, I have
decided to write my letter. So here goes.
First, television has licked the movies, but
good! Now listen! I have talked to them,
and by them I mean Mi-, and Mrs. TV Audience.
They love that TV set. Yes, better
than anything they possess.
I may be overstepping it some, but I am
tempted to say they are willing to give up
their home in glory for the TV set here on
earth. I have even talked to the elder
Brothers and Sisters who thought the movie
on the corner was a den of iniquity, a shameful
and disgraceful place. They taught this
in Sunday School, preached this in church
pulpits. This is a big number of the TV
audience.
Now, Mr. Exhibitor, the producers and distributors
are out to get you ! They have taken
all of your tax benefits. And, if you keep on
playing sucker, they will take everything. I
have been told by two men in the industry
recently that the exchanges want 300 small
theatres in this exchange area to fold up.
They can get it from the big boys and save
money by not having to serve the little fellow.
And, if toll TV comes, what have they got to
lose? If the theatre goes, the film salesman
calls on the TV station and sells his reels to
them. This is an opportunity for the Hollywood
boys to either confirm or deny this.
They have my permission to cuss me, call
me anything they like. I promise I won't sue.
Only prove me wrong!
Today MGM is holding a Workshop in
ticket-selling in Charlotte, N. C, and I dare
say that on many, if not most, of these ideas
I have either clippings or pictures in my
scrapbook. Today they don't work. I have
tried many of them recently. Believe it or not,
if the picture is good, they will come with
only a minimum of advertising. And it makes
Oh, yes, the kids and teenagers love it just no difference whether color, black and white.
as much. Our producers and distributors Cinemascope, widescreen, or small screen
have done nothing about it. Cinemascope in if it's good, the public buys! I say give 'em
all its beauty has flopped, and good. Three-D good picture; give the little fellow a fair
was strangled by Mr. Producer and Distributor.
The old forgotten movie that, if presented
clearance: cut the extended runs and we can
all prosper together.
on a screen in a theatre today would
I leave you with this parting thought: If
get the exhibitor hung, is loved by the TV
the small-town and neighborhood theatre
fans.
HE SOLVED HIS
SERVICE PROBLEM
can you
ALTEC
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Cayce Theatre,
Cayce, S. C.
H. M. GIBBS
A stroke of the pen on an ALTEC service
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performance and equipment investment
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His satisfaction has .since been expressed
with a contract for additional tlieatres.
You can solve your somid service
problem today. C.all your nearest ALTEC
office, or write Altec Service Corporation,
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18,
CALENDARS! event;
5 M T W T F S
S M T W T F Sj
12 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
15 16 17 18 19 20 2
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
1 23 24 25 26 27 2
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31
APRIL
cket Selling Workshop, Statler Hcl,
I
18, Buffalo Variety Club testimonial banquet to D:e
Miller, recently retired manager of Universal's E;*
falo exchange.
18-22, Society of Motion Picture and Television Eij
neers 77th semiannual convention, Drake H(|
Chicago.
26, MGM Ticket Selling Workshop, Orlando,
26-Moy 10, International Film Festival, Cannes, Frc^^
MAY
2, 3, North Central Allied annual convention, Mir».
apoiis.
3, 4, Independent Theatre Owners of Arkonsas c|
annual convention, Marion Hotel, Little Rock, l\
4, MGM Ticket Selling Workshop, Nicollet
Minneapolis.
6, MGM Ticket Selling Workshop, Des Moines.
10, MGM Ticket Selling Workshop, Billings, Mont.'
10-12, Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n one cM
Illinois Theatre Owners combined meeting, An/-
heod Lodge, Lake of the Ozorks, Mo.
10-12, Montana Theatre Owners Ass'n annual sp^gi
meeting, Billings, Mont.
15-17, Motion Picture Theotre Owners and Opera;*
of Georgia and the Alabama Theatres Ass'n antil'
joint convention, Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta.
It's Not New Disney Film
Despite Misleading Ads
NEW YORK—Brandt's Empire Theatr^
42nd Street "grind" house, is trying to c;
in on the forthcoming Walt Disney feati2,
"Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontii
based on the series shown in "Disneyland".n
WABC-TV, by advertising an old United A.
ists release, "Davy Crockett, Indian Scot!
in conjunction with six Disney cartojs
under the general title of "Disney-O-Rair"
The patrons who might be deluded into
tending in the belief they are seeing the xil
Disney feature, which will be in color and 'ili
feature the new song, "Davy Crockett," whi
is now sweeping the country, will instead e
a black-and-white feature originally relea4
in 1950.
Other independent theatres throughout le
country are trying the same stunt and h;e
caused unfavorable comment from nev
papers and exhibitor organizations, accordi
to Charles Levy, executive of Buena Vis
which will distribute the new Disney "'DH
Crockett" feature in June.
Loew's Int'l Makes Annuc
Awards to Hall of Fame
NEW YORK—Loew's International Co
has made its third annual "Hall of Pan"
awards. They have been reported by Morli
A. Spring, first vice-president, as follow:
Ava Gardner, star of the year; Edouard &;
son, MGM Lebanon manager, distributor of 1i
year, and Manuel Angel Fernandez, opera f
of the Roxy and Estrella theatres, Mex>'
City, exhibitor of the year.
Their photographs have been added to thiJ
exhibited at the home office.
•
26
BOXOFFICE
:: April 16, 1'

I
NEW
1
They
I
Solly
:
Upon
;
NEW
I
The
'
foreign
: April
Jchimel Appoints Steering
IJommittee for UJA Drive
YORK—Adolph Schimel, vice-presilent
and general counsel of Universal Picures.
has named members of the steering
ommittee of the motion picture and amusement
division of the United Jewish Appeal of
Greater New York.
are: Barney Balaban, Robert S.
ienjamin. Harry Brandt. S. H. Fabian,
jamuel Rosen. Spyros P. Skouras and Jack
i;ohn.
Pernick. business agent of the
'rheatrical Protective Union, will be chairman
f the legitimate theatre group. Charles B.
.loss of the B. S. Moss circuit will be chairnan
of the Purcha.=ing Agents Committee.
ind Abe Dickstein of 20th Century-Fox will
liead the Exchange Committee.
'ossible Film Rental Tax
Jeen in Maryland Bill
BALTIMORE—During the closing hours of
lie recent session of the Maryland legislalure.
a bill was slipped through, passed and
once signed by Gov. Theodore McKeldin,
liminating the sales tax exemptions from
;ems which are leased and from items not
vailable in Maryland.
learning of this bill, exhibitors have
efined it as placing a 2 per cent tax upon
idm rentals. The Allied Motion Pictm-e Theatre
Owners of Maryland plans a prompt
.leeting with state sales tax authorities to
btain a clear ruling and understanding on
Then, the Allied forces will see what
•lis bill.
in be done in the interest of exhibitors If
|ie extra tax is imposed.
)issident Republic Group
s Increased by Three
YORK—The Republic Pictures stockolders
protective committee has been joined
'y Bernard E. Smith jr., newly re-elected
lember of the board; Harold Weill, of the
'iw firm of Leon, Weill & Maloney, and Gilert
Miller, stage producer. Gerald F. Bogan,
ice-admiral. U. S. Navy retired, has been
lade chairman. Appointed with him a week
JO was Baron E. Van Zuylen.
committee was formed after the April
annual meeting of Republic at which there
as criticism of management over non-paylent
of dividends and conduct of the cominy.
The dissident stockholders most promient
at the meeting were Bernard E. Smith,
ng a member of the New York Stock Exiiange
and father of the board member, and
"eill, whom the committee has now retained
'i counsel.
'hree Transfers Are Made
iti
UA Foreign Force
NEW YORK—Three shifts in the United
rtists foreign setup have been made by
nold M. Picker, vice-president in charge
distribution.
* Arthur Ehrlich. former foreign department
'aveling auditor, has been named manager
Panama.
l„
iGeorge Kallman. former manager in Pan-
[na, has been named manager in Peru.
Isidro Rosenfeld, former manager in Peru.
IS been transferred to the Continental Di-
'iion in Paris.
Starr and Faught Debate
Pro and Con of Toll TV
WASHINGTON—Television ajid film industry
members, plus repre.sentatives of
tradepapers in both fields, made up most
of a sparse audience at the widely publicized
Alfred Starr-Millard C. Faught debate on
1
subscription television at the National Press
Club on Thursday 14 1 . General newsmen
and congressmen were conspicious mostly by
their absence among one of the poorest
crowds ever gathered for one of these regular
National Press Club affairs.
TOA's StaiT. speaking for "organizations
for free TV." told the audience. "God help
the administration politically, or any administration"
if pay-as-you-see is approved, because
"the people will rise up and revolt."
On presentation of the first for-a-fee show,
people would use axes on their TV sets, he
said.
SEES HELP TO EXHIBITORS
Faught, economic consultant for Zenith
Radio Corp.. developers of Phonevision, said
that coin-box TV would aid free TV. rather
than hamper it. would provide a multi-million
dollar market for motion picture producers
and distributors, and would bring a flow of
product back into film theatres, thus also
helping exhibitors.
Starr said that 75 per cent of the estimated
four billion dollars worth of TV sets in use
have been bought by families with incomes
under $5,000. pay-as-you-see would represent
financial hardships to these families, and
they will "raise a howl that will be clearly
heard in Washington when they learn they
will have to buy a decoder and then pay for
programs, most of which they now see for
free."
Faught said Zenith, itself, would pay for
production of the decoders and would rent
them, so that the public would not have to
pay the cost. He denied that pay-as-you-see
would take over television. It would have to
provide programs not now available or nobody
would buy them, he argued.
Starr accused Zenith of seeking a monopoly
through control of Phonevision patents, and
further said the big fight would be started
among Zenith, Telemeter and Skiatron when
each of the companies seeks the monopoly
to be gained through sole approval of their
own systems. He brought up the further issue
of Paramount Pictures control of Telemeter,
and the conflict that approval of that system
would bring with the consent decree and its
divorcement of production and exhibition.
FAUGHT ANSWERS CHARGE
Faught said that Zenith does not ask approval
of its own system, but would be content
to test Phonevision in open and fair
competition with other systems, permitting
the FCC to decide which is best. Zenith's
aim now. he said, is to see that the public
is permitted to decide for itself "in the
marketplace" whether it wants to pay for
television entertainment. If Zenith's system
is approved by the FCC. the company will
license anybody, including competitors, and
will place no conditions upon use of the
patents, and he argued there could therefore
be no monopoly.
Starr said "the proponents of pay-to-see
television says it offers a new service, a
broadening of broadcast, but, of course, this
is not true. They merely offer the substitution
of a toll program for a free program ... It is
obvious that no station can broadcast two
separate programs simultaneously ... in a
one-st'ation city all the set-ow-ners who cannot
or will not pay for the program are entirely
without television facilities ..."
Starr disputed the claim that subscription
TV would result in more stations on the air.
In the -sparsely .settled areas in which advertising
revenue is at present unable to provide
TV service, a TV station would have to black
out free TV entirely and still could hardly
collect enough from coin boxes to pay expenses.
If the "pay program is successful," ... it
will pull away viewers from advertisersponsored
programs to the extent that advertisers
will not sponsor competitive programs,
thus leading directly to a situation in which
free TV is driven from the field, he said. He
also argued that pay-as-you-see w'ould "be
pre-emptive as to quality of programs," as
well as to station time. Such presently free
attractions as the world series would be
available only at a price, he asserted, "would
anything the public really wanted to see remain
free if it could be sold for a higher
price?"
He also pointed out that "the millions of
people who have bought television .sets certainly
bought them with the implied understanding
that all programs to be broadcast
by FCC licensees would be free." Another
difficulty Starr mentioned was that of collection
of the 10 per cent federal tax on admissions.
MOKE OPPOSITION NOTED
Noting that Zenith's last annual report
said that only the film theatres are opposed
to pay-as-you-see. Starr told the audience
that "until just a few short months ago nobody
was opposed to it because nobody had
been awakened to the real public interest involved."
Now organizations are springing up
to oppose the system on behalf of downtown
merchants, transportation agencies, hospitalized
veterans, television networks, etc.
Pay-as-you-see advocates have no illusions
about going into and making money from the
small towns presently without TV service, he
said. "The goal of the proponents of pay-asyou-see
TV is to capture the 50 large mass
markets in this country and to pre-empt the
choice evening hours when the greatest number
of dollars is likely to be put into the slot
machine. In short, they want to be paid by
the public for everything the public wants
to see and hear."
During the questioning period. Starr was
hit with questions such as how subscription
TV differs from theatre TV in its effect of
removing attractions from free TV. doesn't
the theatre owners' case amount merely to
opposition to television, w'ould theatre owners
now end their boycotts and threats against
producers for selling to TV since they have
decided finally that free TV is in the public
interest, should motion pictures have been
banned because of possible adverse effects
on vaudeville, etc.
)XOFFICE :
16, 1955 27

———
—
—
—
—
—
— —
WB)
U-l)
. . . Len
. . . Marvin
. . Sidney
. . Toni
'Glass Slipper Attracts Easter Crowds;
New Record for Music Hall Is Set
NEW YORK—The Easter holiday brought
back the crowds to the Times Square district
and resulted in a new all-time record for the
Radio City Music Hall, plus near records at
some of the smaller houses. The spring-like
weekend weather saw long lines of customers
willing to wait two hours to enter the world's
largest theatre, but even the rainy weather
Tuesday il2i did not keep the holiday crowds
away from "The Glass Slipper" and the annual
Easter stage pageant at the Music Hall.
"A Man Called Peter." after a slow opening
week, picked up in its second week at
the Roxy: "East of Eden," in its fifth big
week at the Astor; "The Blackboard Jungle,"
in its fourth strong week at Loew's State;
"Man Without a Star," in its third week at
the Victoria, and even the long-running
"Battle Cry," in its tenth week at the Paramount,
were far above the preceding weeks.
"The Purple Plain," in its first week at the
Capitol; "The Wayward Wife," in its first
week at the Globe, and "An Annapolis Story."
in its one-week run at the Palace, w^ere all
exceptionally strong, w'ith only "Long John
Silver" just fail- in its first w-eek at the Mayfair.
"Mambo" was also good in its second
week at the Criterion.
In the art houses, "To Paris With Love"
had a tremendous second week at the Fine
Ai'ts and is still the second highest grossing
film in the four-year history of the theatre,
being topped only by "The Vanishing Prairie,"
while "Gate of Hell," in its 18th week at the
Guild Theatre, set a new long-run record
by playing to a total of 212,500 persons during
its first 17 weeks, topping those of the
16-week, four-day run of "Martin Luther,"
the previous record-holder. The Japanese picture,
which won the Academy Award as "best
foreign film of 1954," is set to run into the
summer.
"Doctor in the House" is still very strong
in its eighth week at the Trans-Lux 52nd
St. Theatre and "Wages of Fear." in its
eighth week at the Paris, and "One Summer
of Happiness," in its third week at the Little
Carnegie, also held up well.
"Cinerama Holiday," which added extra
shows each day during the Easter holiday
season, had a terrific ninth week at the
Warner Theatre.
Only two new films, both United Artists
releases. "Marty" and "A Bullet for Joey,"
opened during Easter week.
(Average Is 100)
Astor East of Eden :WB1, 5th wk 145
Boronet Trouble in the Glen (Rep) 120
Capitol The Purple Plain UA) 140
Cinema Verdi Gran Vorieta (Continental) 110
Criterion Mambo Para), 2nd wk 120
55th Street Charlie Chaplin Festival 110
Fine Arts To Paris With Love (Continental),
2nd wk 175
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
FILMACK
We Can Please You
Send Us You
Next Order
Globe The Wayward Wife (IFE) 140
Guild Gote of Hell (Harrison-Dovidson),
17fh wk 150
Carnegie One Summer of Happiness
Little
(Times), 3rd wk 1 25
Loew s Stote The Blackboard Jungle (MGM),
4th wk 180
Maytair—Long John Silver (DCA) 115
Normandie Camille MGM), revival, 10th wk. ...110
Palace An Annopolis Story (AA), plus voudeville 150
Paramount Bottle Cry (WB), 10th wk 120
Pons Woges of Fear .Films Int'l), 8th wk 120
Plozo Three Cases of Murder (Ass'd Artists),
4th wk 110
Radio City Music Hall The Glass Slipper (MGM),
plus Easter stage show, 3rd wk 250
Roxy A Man Called Peter (20th-Fox), 2nd wk.
Sutton Romeo and Juliet (UA), 16th wk
. . 1 75
100
Trans-Lux 52nd St Doctor in the House (Rep),
8th wk 130
Victorio Mon Without a Star (U-1), 3rd wk 135
Warner Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama), 9th wk.
of two-a-day 175
World Aida (IFE), moveover, 21st wk 110
'Eden' Is Big at Bufialo;
Fair 130 for 'Peter'
BUFFALO— "East of Eden" was out in front
in the Easter holidays boxoffice handicap, the
Center stacking up a 200 for the week. "Long
John Silver" clicked at the Centiu-y, especially
at the matinees and turned in a 150. "A Man
Called Peter" was below expectations at the
Paramount, ending up a one week stand
with a 130. "The Glass Slipper" at Shea's
Buffalo also was quiet, hitting only 115,
which figure also was reached by the Lafayette
with "Captain Lightfoot."
Buffalo The Glass Slipper (MGM) 115
Center East of Eden (WB) 200
Century Long John Silver (DCA) 150
Cinema Doctor in the House (REP) 120
Lot ayette Coptoin Lightfoot
(
115
Paramount A Man Colled Peter (20th-Fox) ....130
'Eden' and 'Peter' High
In Strong Baltimore
BALTIMORE—With perfect Easter weather
outdoors, matinees were slow at the downtown
theatres. But at nights, crowds practically
stormed the fii-st run houses and
gave boxoffices a big boost. Business continued
strong over the holiday week and
final figiu-es scored a substantial high, especially
among the strong newcomers such
as "East of Eden" and "A Man Called Peter."
Century Three for the Show (Col) 100
Film Centre The Glass Slipper (MGM), 2nd wk. . .140
Hippodrome—The Country Girl iPara), 5th wk. . . 95
Keiths Conquest of Space (Para) 120
Little On the Wotertront (Col) 1 00
Mayfair Chief Crozy Horse (U-l) 100
New—A Man Called Peter (20th-Fox) 1 80
Playhouse Gate of Hell H&D), 3rd wk 100
Town The Long Gray Line (Col), 6th wk 85
Stanley East of Eden ; 1 90
The Cinema The Belles of St. Trinian's
(Associated), 2nd wk 95
Pittsburgh Gives 220
To 'Country Girl'
PITTSBURGH—"Country Girl" outgrossed
all other attractions here, with a boxoffice
take of 220 per cent. "Conquest of Space" received
a special television advertising campaign
but the picture didn't turn in much
of a gross.
Fulton Revenge of the Creature (U-l) 50
Hams The Bio Combo (AA) 65
Penn Conquest of Space (Para) 70
Stonley—The Country Girl (Paro) 220
Carlin Joins Mel Gold
NEW YORK-Dennis D. Carlin has been
named as executive producer of the industrial
and dramatic division of Mel Gold Productions.
Inc. He was with Republic Pictures
Corp. for 20 years and was advertising manager
during the latter pai't of his stay.
NEW MPAA TREASURER—Stanley
|
Weber (above) is the newly elect
treasurer of the Motion Picture Ass'n
.America. A native of New York City,
joined the MPAA in 1941 as cashier,
coming assistant treasurer in 1948. He i
places the late Frederick W. DuVall w|
died in January. Weber formerly
associated with Gannett newspapers a:|
Consolidated Edison as an accountant.f
Along New York's FilmJ
Mat Furst, Allied Artists exchange mana
spent last weekend in Boston visiting
grandchildren . . . Out-of-town visitors to
Warner Bros, exchange this w'eek incluJ
William Didsbury. Didsbury Theatre, Wall
N. Y.; Albert Mackennan, Albermac Thef
Pawling, N. Y.: Frank Morasco, Acadj
Theatre, Wappingers Falls, N. Y., and ll
Nolan, buyer and booker for the Cameif
Brewster and Rome Theatre in Pleasantij
N. Y. . Cohen, owner of the i|
Vision Drive-In and the Roosevelt The
in Hyde Park, N. Y., bought the Overl
Drive-In at Poughkeepsie, formerly owne(|
Arthur Steel.
National Theatre Supply and Strong Eji
trie of Detroit entertained the 25-30 CluX
Local 306 at the Capitol Hotel and unv^
National's new high speed optical system*
Excelite arc lamp with an 18-inch reflej
Gruenberg, district managerj
RKO, a star golfer along Filmrow, has
appointed to the committee of the Vai|
Club Heart Award dinner . . Bonded
.
Distributors is consolidating the excha
operations on the eighth floor of the P
Saul Trauna, Colun
row building . . .
exchange manager, returned from Flo
with a well-tanned visage . . Nat M<
.
of UA exchange is in the hospital fc
physical checkup . Sorkowitz
Liggett-Florin booking office to join her 1
band in Maryland where he is statione(
the Army . . . June Jacobson, RKO swit
board operator, will be married April 24 I
the Catskills.
will honeymoon in
Millie Ferraro, contract clerk at Repul
celebrated her birthday the 14th ... 1
Pannese, switchboard girl at MGM, is
cuperating at home following an opera
Friedlander, Brooklyn booker
U-I, is communting weekends between 1
ton and New York, object matrimony,
28 BOXOFFICE April 16,

ONE OF THE
BIGGEST MONEY
PICTURES
TO COME OUT OF
AFRICA
SINCE
"BRING
TM BACK ALIVE"
Sensational Opening
THE
btt
SECRET
^ FLAMING
glEli
^ KILLER SOCIETY
THAT HORRIFIED 'aT g
THE WORLD! '^^
|1
Every incredible
|1
Scene Filmed //
\ Under Fire At
The Risk of
DEAT
HAIR-RAISING
RITUAL OF THE
MAU-MAU OATH
THE ONLY FILMS
OF AN ACTUAL
MAU-MAU
RAID!
YOU ARE THERE 1
AS IT
ACTUALLY
In San Diego
GROSSED OVER
$20,000 IN 1 WEEK
at
the
CABRILLO and
EL RANCHO DRIVE-INS
Produced by JOE ROCK • A ROCK-PRICE Production
fcod returns Fox West Coast, Los Angeles-6 day and date-and Orpheum
featres. A money maker in San Francisco and other California cities, Phoenix,
Icson, Texas, etc. Ready for areas Xentire East, South and Mid-West.
Eastern Headquarters:
lAU-MAU PICTURE
IS) Broadway
Suite 514
CO.
New York 36, New York
Western States:
Manhattan Films international and
Sonney Amusement
Los Angeles, California
Enterprises
IC OFTICE :
: April 16, 1955 29

:
April
^ Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
(Academy Award Winn)
^ Water-Cooled Apertures
^ Cinerama
...and tt^UA
(lo name but a few)
There's dramatic significance in this record of engineerir
accomplishment by CENTURY. These CENTURY -rirsts- met
important practical advantages to every exhibitor— large
small. It's your assurance of engineering know-how, of ge,
vine exclusive features, of the scientific approach to bett
motion picture projection and sound reproduction.
VISTAVISION. CENTURY has made a notable contribute
to the technique of motion picture presentation with fl
design and production of the first Paramount VISTAVISIC
horizontal projectors.*
CINERAMA. "The wonder of the entertainment world
Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of fl
revolutionary process and CENTURY is the exclusive pr
ducer of projectors for Cinerama.
HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOLI
APERTURES. The introduction of these two featur;
brought about a big improvement in sound quality, increasi
screen illumination and sharper pictures.
No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experienc
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It mea'
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design ari
quality production of all motion picture projection and soui
equipment.
n
Buy your standard and special projection and
sound equipment from your Century dealer.
Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N.
;:
AMUSEMENT SUPPLY CO
J. F. DUSMAN COMPANY
12 East 25th St.
Baltimore 18, Maryland
ALBANY THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
443 North Pearl St.
Albony 4, New York
PERKINS THEATRE SUPPLY, INC.
505 Pearl St.
Buffalo 2, New York
LITTLE MACHINE CO.
1114 Central Ave.
Charleston, West Virginlo
30 BOXOFFICE
:
16, l5

: April
. . Milton
. . Greer
. , Producer
. . Ernest
. . Robert
. . . Valentine
. . Ray
. . Joseph
. . Akim
.
. .
!lanley Kramer Gets
(itation From NYU
lEW YORK— Stanley Kranier. producer
f United Artists and Columbia and an
gmniis of New York University, received
a:itation from the university at a special
p)gram and reception honoring his film
Stanley Kramer (center), producer of
Not as a Stranger" for United Artists,
eceives a citation honoring his past film
chievements from Chancellor Henry T.
leald of New Yorii University at a cerenony
in the university's Vanderbilt Hall.
Irs. Kramer look on.
aiievements April 11. The program inaded
showing of excerpts from four of his
lited Artists releases. "Home of the Brave,"
"igh Noon," "The Men" and "Champion."
lie ceremonies were held in the university's
Viderbilt Hall and were presided over by
rinrellor Henry T. Heald. with Dean Wil-
;'
Baer of the University College of
Sciences, and Prof. Robert Gessner,
:.d
c iirman of the motion pictures department
aWashington Square, also participating.
'.mong those attending were: Robert Benj
lin, chairman of the board of United Arti;:.
who headed a contingent of UA executes,
including Al Tamarin and Milton E.
Cien; George Anthell, composer; George
I^'edley. curator of the New York Public
Irary; Albert Johnson, eastern story editor
o Columbia Pictures: Joseph A. McDonald,
t asurer of the National Broadcasting Co.;
Carles H. Dand, British Information Service,
a'i D. W. Lansing, manager of cinema and
eiipment marketing for RCA.
I'own, Rogell Elected
1-i Pioneers' Posts
JEW YORK—Harry Joe Brown and Sid
igell, Hollywood producers, were elected
ve-presidents of both the Motion Picture
Iineers and the Foundation of Motion Pict
e Pioneers at a meeting of the boards of
cectors of the Pioneers and the Foundation.
lose attending were: Jack Cohn, Harry J.
"Jkiff, Marvin Kirsch, Sam Dembow, Gus S.
Is.sell, William J. German, Abel Green, John
( :;onnor, Herman Robbins and Sam Rinzler.
3rown and Rogell will serve as west coast
resentativps of both groups.
] PAA Tribute to DuVall
[JEW YORK—The board of the Motion
I ture Ass'n of America adopted a resolut|i
on the death of Frederick W. DuVall,
Casurer, January 17, citing his devotion for
'[ng and productive years to the interests of
t American film industry," his "unquestned
loyalty" and the "unlimited respect
^i affection of his colleagues" for him.
BROADWAY
visit to the coast . . .
Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of
Paramount, returned from a three-month
Robert W. Coyne,
COMPO .special counsel, returned from the
coast on the Easter weekend . M.
Weitman. American Broadcasting Co. vicepresident
in charge of talent, left for California
. . . Morris Helprin, of London Films,
and William Zimmerman, industry attorney,
flew to London . Anatole de
Grunewald planed to London, while Rudy
Vallee flew to Bermuda the same day.
Charles Feldman, U-I vice-president and
sales manager, is back from a West Coast
trip . . C. Bruce Newbery, Dudley International
.
executive, flew to London . . . Wil-
liam Satori. Allied Ai-tists International
executive, left on a six-week tour of European
distribution offices . . . John H. Burrows, AA
associate producer, is in from the coast for
conferences with Morey R. Goldstein and
Edward Morey on release plans for "Dark
Venture" . E. Cohen, eastern and
.southern UA division manager, is back from
a Detroit and Cleveland trip . . . Sam
Israel, U-I publicity director, returned to
the coast after ten days of conferences with
Charles Simonelli and Phil Gerard on publicity
plans for "The Shrike" and "To Hell
and Back."
.
Gary Cooper and his wife arrived from
Hollywood en route to Europe, where he will
attend openings of "Vera Cruz" in Amsterdam,
Stockholm and Oslo Borgnine,
who plays the title role in "Marty," flew
in from Los Angeles and was greeted at the
airport by James C. Healy. Bronx Borough
counsel, and Miss Bronx to honor him for his
portrayal of the Bronx butcher in the UA
Fred Astaire, who stars in "Daddy
film . . .
Long Legs," returned to Hollywood after a
week in New York promoting the film . . .
Shirley Yamaguchi, who stars in "House of
Bamboo," is in for advance promotion on the
film, to be released this summer.
Rosalind Russell, star of "The Girl Rush"
for Paramount In VistaVision, left for the
coast April 11 after a New York visit. Martha
Scott, star of Paramount's "The Desperate
Hours," also went to the coast April 11 to
play in Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments"
. Garson left for Texas
THE FABIANS SAIL— S. H. Fabian,
president of Stanley Warner, sails on the
United States with Mrs. Fabian for a
survey of European exhibition and production
opportunities for Cinerama. The
Fabians will visit France, where "This Is
Cinerama," soon will open in Paris, and
England, Holland and Irsa«L
April 10 to attend the opening of her Warner
Bros, film, "Strange Lady in Town" in Austin
and other Texas cities .
Tamiroff,
with Mrs. Tamiroff, and Philippe Grenier and
Jacques Mauclair, French actors, arrived
from Eixrope on the Liberte April 13. Jules
Weill, screen producer, was al.so aboard. The
same liner returned to Europe April 15 with
John Barrymore jr. and Mrs. Barrymore,
Hai-old Lloyd with his family and Louise AUbritton,
screen and TV star, aboard.
Elia Kazan, who directed "East of Eden"
as well as the prize-winning Broadway play,
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," is on a trip to
Greece and Turkey and will return in June
Davies, co-author of "Strategic
Air Command" screenplay, is in New York
to attend the opening at the Paramount . . .
Pat Duggan, producer of Paramount's "We're
No Angels," left for Hollywood April 10 . .
Walter Seltzer, Hecht-Lancaster vice-president
in charge of advertising, publicity and
exploitation, got in from Hollywood April 13
to confer with United Artists executives on
distribution plans for "The Kentuckian" .
Richard Fleischer, director of "Violent Saturday."
20th-Fox Cinemascope film, left for
Hollywood following a short vacation in his
native New York . Heindorf, Warner
Bros, music chief, went back to Hollywood
to write the score for the currently filming
"Pete Kelly's Blues" .
Pasternak,
producer of MGM's "Love Me or Leave Me,"
left for Chicago April 10 after a talent quest
tour for "International Revue."
C. Hambas, former head of Allied Artists
International accounting department, has
been named assistant chief accountant of
Allied Artists Pictures. Robert Devine moved
up to Hambas' former spot with AA International
. . . C. H. "Harry" Stevens, formerly
motion picture sales specialist for Life, has
joined Collier's as motion picture representative.
Local H-63 Seeks Strike
Of Paramount Employes
NEW YORK—The Home Office
Employes
Union. Local H-63. lATSE, has asked Richard
F. Walsh, lATSE international president, for
permission to call a strike of Paramount home
office employes following the break-off in negotiations
between the union and the film
company last week, according to Russell M.
Moss. H-63 executive vice-president.
Moss said that H-63 representatives and
Paramount officials, sitting In with Comm.
J. R. Mandelbaum of the Federal Mediation
Service, could not reach any agreement diu-ing
a week of talks. Local H-63 covers some 225
Paramount "white collar" workers.
William Siegel to Speak
At Cinema Lodge Event
NEW YORK—William I. Siegel, assistant
district attorney of Kings County and past
president of the Metropolitan Council of
B'nai B'rith, will be principal speaker and
installing officer at the Cinema Lodge of
B'nai B'rith presidents' luncheon to be held
at the Sheraton-Astor Hotel April 19.
Max E. Youngstein, vice-president of United
Artists, will be installed as president of
Cinema Lodge and Burton E. Robbins, retiring
president, will be honored at the luncheon.
I XOFFICE :
16. 1955 3]

. . The
. . Harry
. . Perfect
. . Cigars
. . Rita
;'
ALBANY
possible variations in the proposed lease of
new clubrooms for the Variety Club in
the Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel were detailed
by the crew to members at the monthly
meeting in the Clinton avenue quarters, but
none were adopted. Chief Barker George H.
Schenck announced that the officers expected
to sign the lease when details were
completed in draft form by the hotel management.
Tent 19 is scheduled to occupy
much of the present Rose Lounge and space
to the rear. An entrance through what is
now the check room will be created. There
is no great hurry on the part of the Variety
Club in moving. Schenck pointed out. since
the lease on present quarters runs to October.
The Variety Club has budgeted, from funds
on hand, approximately $12,250 to accomodate
554 boys at Camp Thacher during July
and August, Chief Barker George H. Schenck
announced. The club will not be forced to
borrow for the financing of the mountain
base, he emphasized. The budget calls for
an expenditure of $12,037, plus an estimated
$287 to rebuild a collapsed pier at Thompson
Lake. A capital expense will be incurred to
construct a waterfront building to house
boats. The old one blew down. One estimate
i.s $2,000, but Schenck reported Tent 9 officers
think the job can be done for $1,200.
Jules Perlmutter, outgoing chief barker of
the Variety Club, will be honored April 30
at a dinner dance in the Empire Room of the
Sheraton-Ten Eyck. The Albany area theatre
operator served two consecutive terms in
the top Tent 9 spot. Committee for the affair
comprises Lewis A. Sumberg, Nate and
Aaron Winig, Jack Goldberg and Gene Taper.
Chief Barker George H. Schenck is exofficio
member . FCC has set April
19 for a hearing in Washington on the protest
filed by the Van Curler Broadcasting
Corp., operator of WTRI-TV, now off the
air, over the change in ownership and control
of Hud.son Valley Broadcasting Co., operator
of WROW-TV. WTRI, in which Stanley
Warner Theatre Corp. holds a 50 per cent
interest, charged that the transfer of WROW
to a new group of stockholders, headed by
Lowell Thomas and Frank Smith, Thomas'
business manager, involved a prior agreement
to switch the Columbia Broadcasting
System affiliation from WTRI to WROW.
WTRI claimed it was forced to discontinue
operations because it could make no other
network connection.
Spar Drive-In Theatre has been incorporated
by Jules Perlmutter to operate the recently
leased Spar Drive-In on the Saratoga-Corinth
road. Other incorporators are
Max Zuckerman and Lewis A. Sumberg of
Albany. Perlmutter operates a string of indoor
and outdoor houses from 1044 Broadway
on Filmrow . Lamont's Sunset
Drive-In at Kingston and the Vail Mills at
Vail Mills unlocked their gates April 8. Bob
KINNER'S GLASS CLEANER
Used by more theatres thon
for
GLASS and
any other cleaner
CHROME
Sold by Nationol Theatre Supply
KINNER PRODUCTS COMPANY '"'^^omo
'^*'
Case manages the former: Cliff Swick, the
Lou Goldstein, who spent the
latter . . .
winter in Hollywood, Fla., disclosed on a visit
to Filmrow that he would install widescreens
at his Schuyler Drive-In near Utica and his
West Rome near Rome. Goldstein said that
the road blockoff which hampered the
Schuyler last season had been eliminated
with completion of work on the Thruway.
The mother of Alex Papayanakos. owner of
the American Theatre and Ideal Drive-In in
Canton, donated funds for the pediatric sec-
• -.| t!HI
tion of the new Edward John Noble Hospital
in that city, a photo of which is shown herewith.
Walter Reade jr.'s 9W Drive-In, relighted
on the 8th with "Yellow Mountain" and
Fabian's Mohawk
"Three Hours to Kill" . . .
Drive-In on the Albany-Schenectady road,
extensively remodeled, started the season in
high gear Easter Saturday. A 125-foot-wide
screen has been constructed to provide a
comfortable view for patrons from any portion
of the gi'ounds, while self-service facilities
have been installed in the enlarged
concession building. Berlo Vending Company
services it. The cafeteria-style setup accomodates
800 to 1,000 persons in the ten-minute
intermission period, according to Irwin Ullman,
supervisor of Fabian upstate automobilers.
A large entrance display with the
illuminated figure of an Indian and a mural
background has been erected. A toll-type boxoffice
is used. For the premiere, the 1,000-
car airer advertised, "Gorgeous Roses to
Ladies in the First 350 Cars . (Good
Ones) to the Men in the First 350 Cars,"
and "Candy For All the Kids."
Construction of a 450-car drive-in at Sidney
was reported on Filmrow to be under
consideration. If plans go through, work will
be started immediately and be completed by
June 15. Sidney, in Delaware County, is a
village of 4,815 ... A discharged usher at
Schine's Glove in Gloversville triggered the
slashing of uniforms and of a new Cinema-
Scope screen last December 4, Gloversville
police reported in a weekend solution that
involved the implication of two other 17-
year-olds and restitution by the trio's parents
for an estimated $2,000 in damages. Schine
Enterprises declined to press charges. One
of the youths confessed after a ticket stolen
in the late-night entry was detected by an
alert doorman. Manager John J. Corbett
had placed the serial numbers of the stolen
tickets near the stub box.
Upstate Theatres of Albany will buy and
book for the New in Hoosick Falls after it
reopens following a three-week refurbishing
project. The closing, scheduled for next week,
will be followed by general renovation including
installation of a widescreen. Tlie
New is under the operating dh-ection of
George Bodenheim, Poughkeepsie. Larry
Nimmins is manager . spring
weather gave a boost to Easter Sunday blj
ness at drive-ins, but adversely affected"
ronage in .some indoor situations.
The Lincoln in Utica, closed for three yei
was reopened Easter Sunday under the mii
agement of Harry Savett, who has bi'nr
buying and booking for the Port in pij:
Leyden, which he will continue to do. Ci)
maScope is to be installed in the Lincci,
Harold Lewis conducted the subsequent la
for many years . Payeur, cashier it
the Delaware, knew Joe Liss, new Stany
Warner district manager, when he operaten
theatre in Lawrence, Mass. Ted Rucinskig.
assistant to Delaware Manager John Bro*,:
seau.
Bernard Silverman Name"
District Manager of SW
NEWARK—Bernard Silverman, 25-y(f.
show business veteran and manager of tsJ
Branford Theatre, has been named distrti
manager of Essex County theatres by Chars!
A Smakwitz, New Jersey zone manager ;r!
Stanley Warner Theatres. John Stanek vU
leave the Fabian in Hoboken to succeed £.
verman at the Branford, and Frederic;
••
DeAngelis will leave the Sanford, IrvingU;,
to take over the Fabian.
Smakwitz has also realigned districts. S- 3
verman will have charge of the Capitol, Ce»
tral. Regent, Ritz, Roosevelt, Stanley a|(
Tivoli in Newark, and the Embassy, Orangl
Hollywood, East Orange; Millburn, Millbuil,!
and Sanford, Irvington.
Harold Widenhorn, Essex county supff
i
visor, now has charge of the Cranford, Cra.''
ford: Central, Jersey City: Capitol, BellevU::
DeWitt, Bayonne; Fabian, Hoboken; Ri,
Jersey City: Regent and Ritz, Elizabeth: Licoin
and Roosevelt, Union City: Union, Unic, i
and Warner, Harrison.
Anthony Williams takes over the distrS
of Joseph Lefkowitz who resigned to opera^i
his own houses. Williams retains the Stanlfl
Jersey City, and takes over the Branfoil-;
Newark; Fabian and Regent, Paterson: BakiM
Dover; Montauk and Capitol, Passaic; Oi^
tani, Hackensack; Oxford, Little Falls; Royi!
Bloomfield: Wellmont, Montclair, and Wa)
ner, Ridgewood.
First prize in the first weekly Newaj
zone Movie Spring Festival went to Adolg
Finkelstein, manager of the Embassy, O
ange. George Kemp, manager of the Moi
tauk, was runnerup. Stanek won a prize f:
the best juvenile activity and Bill Kirby i
the Tivoli won honorable mention.
B&K Circuit Leases Astor
For Syracuse First Run
SYRACUSE—The Astor Theatre has bee
leased for a first run house by Harry A. Balii
Ian of the B&K cu-cuit, Chicago, it was ai:
nounced by Eagan Real Estate Co. Closed f<
more than a year, the Astor is scheduled t
reopen June 1. The 1,500-seat house has bee
newly redecorated and has an air conditiorm5 l
plant.
]
In the fall of 1953 it was open for a seaso;
of legitimate plays. Since then, it has bee;
closed except for being leased briefly fc
SjTacuse University's amiual musical revue
Movie Debut as Ingenue Lead
TV actress Olive Sturge-ss will make hf,
movie debut as the ingenue lead in U-I,
"The Kettles in the Ozarks." I
32
BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 19£

' loversville,
,
Richard
I
p.m.,
f
I
rive-In
1
Robert
. . The
. . The
. . John
. . Schine
. . . Daniel
. . Sam
. . Wilbur
. . The
. . Willard
. ,
. .
. .
.
Patrolmen
. . Jack
]
WASHINGTON
Groom-to-be is salesman George Kelly .
Office manager Bob Grace has a new Buick.
Allied Artists Manager Milt Lipsner spent
Miirty-nine Variety Club members are celetlieir
20tli anniversary
Wednesday in Baltimore
. new AA
brating this year
booker, effective Monday, is Emlyn Benfer,
|i barkers of Tent 11! They are:
who resigned from Lippert . . . Catherine
IHorry F. Bachman
L. E. Harris
Sitzer has joined the staff at Independent
'Alon J. Bachrach
Elmore D. Hems
Theatre Service.
iNelson B, Bell
A,bert Hubschman
Som Bcndheim jr.
Fred S. Kogod
Rudolph Berger
James J. Loke
IFrank M Boucher
A. E, Lichtmon
.Horry S. Brown
Harry E. Lohmeyer
Julion Brylawski
Sidney B. Lust
Fulton Brylawski
Joseph P. Morgan BALTIMORE
,Dr. E. A, Cafritz
Charles E. McGowan
'George A. Crouch
Alvm L. Ncwmyer
ICIorkM, Davis
James A. Pratt
W, V. Doughtery
O. J Ratto
Richard Yates of Hollywood Television, Los
Myron G. Ehrlich
Herbert Sauber
Philip Ershler
Henry Scholz
Angeles, was here on a business trip . . .
Jake Flax
Dr Frank Shyno
Mike Siegel, film salesman, has transferred
Sam A. Golonty
Robert B. Smcltzer
JGeorgc Gill
Morton G, Thalhimer from the Washington to the Baltimore Variety
Club . Tabor, Republic sales-
'Not Glosser
Samuel N. Wheeler
M. Grace
man here, is taking mambo instructions . . .
I The Variety Club held a springtime dance Harry Goldberg of Berlo Vending returned
Ut Saturday (9i in the clubrooms. The next from a vacation at Miami Beach.
\.g affaii- is scheduled for the 23rd. It will
b "A Night on the Islands." with Ralph George Payette, manager of the Maryland
eckelbaum as chau-man, assisted by Mark at Hagerstown, was in Washington for a
[oster and Nate Shor . . . Col. James Carpras,
chief barker of the London Variety Claude Poole of the Colonial at Hagerstown
Stanley Warner managers meeting. So was
ilub, was a visitor at the recent Tent 11
Weinberg, head of the Weinberg
bai'd of governors meeting. Carreras will
circuit, Frederick, was in Washington .
ttend the International convention in Los Sam Ellets, head of the Dentonia at Denton,
ingeles . Variety Mother's Day lunch- visited with his son Allen, a student at the
\m May 9 in the Blue room of the Shorejam
promises to be a gala affair.
University of Maryland.
Jacli Barton, manager of the Royal, made
a quick weekend trip to New York . . . Miss
with souvenirs and door
Caryl Hamburger,
prizes. Tick-
manager of the Film
[;s are $4 per per.son, and
Centre,
can be obtained
put on a clever contest to select "Miss
i; the Variety Club office. Milton
Glass Slipper"
S. Kronleim
over WAAM-TV, resulting in
lots
is chairman of the
of promoted
affair
TV time . Shaffer,
assistant at the Film Centre has called
1 Parkis Dodson, owner of the Lonesome Pine off his engagement of marriage . . . William
at Coeburn, Va., turned over the G. Myers, owner of the DeLuxe, was in
ijying and booking of his drive-in to Jack Pocomoke City on business.
lenson's Filmrow Booking Service . . . RelUblic
Flax
Charlie
returned from
Weissman, assistant at
a
the Edgewood,
was
York . . . Belated
seen with luncheon guests at the
iirthday greetings to head
Congress
shipper
Hotel .
Billy
Brizendine of the
I'ilson , . . Warner booker Sadie Bowles
Schwaber Theatres, is arranging for Saturday
night entertainment
.icationed in Bermuda . circuit
programs at the
line manager Gus Lynch has returned
Variety Club.
from
where he attended a series of
leetings.
Stockholder Would Stop
Todd, leading man in "A Man Atlas Purchase
lalled Peter," was of RKO
here for the opening at
loew's Palace . Horton, Universal
WILMINGTON, DEL.—An RKO Pictures
i-'presentative here, was to leave on the
stockholder
17th
has filed an action in Delaware
Court of Chancery to prevent Howard
Hughes from selling the company to the
"idge is closing for the summer . . . Ralph
Atlas Corp. for more than $6 a share or else
lay has joined the booking staff of Neighjrhood
Theatres at Richmond receives
hold Hughes responsible for any amount he
. . . Lippert's
over that figure. The statement was
mlyn Benfer baby-sat for Clark Film's made that such a sale impends.
Jhnny Obert's cat over last weekend . .
The stockholder is .
Goldie Bodek of New
'cm Halligan came in from the Williams- York. She is one of those who declined to
;arg Theatre to report record crowds in the sell her shares when Hughes offered last year
jiwn over Easter weekend.
to purchase all RKO assets at $6 a share.
A stockholder attempt then to prevent the
Glenn Norris, 20th-Fox eastern sales manf',er.
was in . . . Manager Ira Sichelman went The suit names RKO. Hughes and all RKO
sale failed in the same court.
I
Charlotte to confer with the Craver and directors defendants. The charge is made
'ilby-Kincey circuit heads . . . Sidney Lust's that Hughes has withheld revenue from
nnual baseball party was the largest ever stockholders by not investing $17,800,000 in
'lis year. This year marked the 20th opening cash in
. . .
prevent a sale to
a date. countable.
:)r the Virgin Islands
banks because
district was destroyed by fire last The suit seeks to compel RKO to make a
Mrs. Richard
to
he
shoot
intends
scenes
to sell to
for
\way All Boats" . . , Schine's
Tom Cosgrove investing the money, invest the money and
buildings were distribution, furnish accounting for not
estimated that 25
MGM salesman
an
manager Jake
State in Camiseball
game party given by Mr. and Mrs. Atlas. The company also has a tax loss
ust
. Bowling Green (Va.i Theatre carry-over of $30,000,000 which could be applied
against federal income taxes.
issed being burned down when most of the
jwntown
eek.
Nixon
New
It is
will be the guest mother; there
;iles meeting in
Jill be
. . .
pstroyed
cocktails at 12:30 and luncheon at
fas still home sick
[me Harrell has set
Paramount booker
June wedding
Atlas or make Hughes ac-
PHILADELPHIA
Jon Hall was injured in an automobile accident
in Allentown. However, the actor
made a personal appearance at He.ss's department
store a day later . . Nate Milgi-am's
.
son Alvan married Eva Jacoby, for-
merly Nate Milgram's .secretary. The marriage
took place on April 3 at the Broadwood
Hotel. Following a honeymoon trip, the couple
will reside in Pennsauken, N. J. Nate Milgram
i.s the operator of DeLuxe Premiums and
DeLuxe Booking and Buying Service.
The Green Hill Theatre placed an advertisement
in the newspaper showing a bird
pulling a worm out of the gi-ound. The message
of the ad was that patrons should "be
an early bird ... to avoid disappointment
and inconvenience" and to come for the 6:30
p.m. show.
The Lawndale Theatre had a double bill
with Jean Harlow in "Platinum Blonde" and
Marilyn Monroe in "Niagara." The ad called
the attraction "the battle of the blondes"
who were wide awake thwarted
a burglary of a safe at the Stratford Theatre,
Seventh and Dickinson streets. They captured
two youngsters in the theatre and arrested
another teenager at his home.
A. M. Ellis Theatres is doubling the capacity
of the Brandywine Drive-In near Wilmington
Roy SuUender's National
to 1,000 cars . . . Theatres, is now servicing the Circle
Drive-In in Dickson City . . . David Rosen
now distributing an Alec Guinness feature,
is
"To Paris With Love." Dave expects big
things from this one.
Jane Netzel, secretary to Bill Yurasco at
Stanley-Warners, was in Hahnemann Hospital
for an operation ... Ed Gabriel and
his Capital Films are distributing "Thursday's
Children" which won an academy
award for the best documentary short. It was
booked at the Mastbaum . Beresin,
ABC Vending, is chairman of the All Star
Roundup for Nephrosis to be held at Convention
Hall April 30. Stars from television,
radio and films are expected to be there to entertain
about 15,000 children and theii- parents.
. . . Jess Vandevere,
Joe Antner, Rich-Ai't Sign Co., flew to
Florida for a vacation
Ti'iangle Sign, had a virus infection . . .
A national evangelistic group acquired the
Met from Jimmy Topi Enterprises for $250,-
000. The theatre had been used as a filmvaudeville
house on several occasions
Tent 13 elected officers to its camp for handicapped
children at Worcester. Named were
Leo Posel, president; Lou Goffman. chief
barker, vice-president; Edward Emanuel,
treasurer; Sylvan Cohen, secretary, and
George Beattie, assistant secretary-treasurer.
The executive board consists of Ben Amsterdam,
Victor Blanc. Roger Clipp, Mike Felt.
Ralph Pi-ies. Ted Schlanger and David Supowitz.
Jack Beresin, Posel, Silverman and
Goffman are ex-officio officers.
tEORGE HERBERT PATRICU AGNES
SANDERS MARSHALL' ROC - HOOREHEAD
IHI Al It ^^ —^5M
'3XOFFICE : : April 16, 1955
33

. . .
The
. . . The
. . The
. . The
Finkels
. . Charles
, . Bert
. .
. . Super
. . The
.
;
PITTSBURGH
.
Mat Rosen, who succeeded Al Levy as local
20th-Fox manager, returned to Albany
April 15 as honor guest at a dinner in the
DeWitt Clinton Hotel. Nat is a quarter-century
man with Fox Stearn and
Lou Hanna of the combined Stearn-Hanna
Cooperative booking agency here were in New
York to license pictures for accounts in the
Abe Weiner will move the Allied
ai'ea . . .
Ai-tists office from Van Braam street to the
former Hanna offices over the Republic exchange
before the first of May. An air conditioning
system has been installed there.
The Starlite Drive-In at Punxsutawney has
had its screen widened for Cinemascope .
Rocco "Roxy" Serrao, Ford City indoor and
outdoor exhibitor, who employed a CIO projectionist
last summer at the outdoor theatre,
and who is a licensed operator himself, has
reopened the drive-in and is handling projection.
Dispute with the lATSE started at
the opening of last year's outdoor season
when he refused to sign for two men in the
booth . top winner of the Pittsburgh
Press Oscar contest was Mrs. Betty Graham,
Warren, Pa. She was one of 156 contestants
who were tied for the awards in correctly
predicting the Oscar awards in seven categories.
She won a trip for two to Hollywood,
nine others won cash, and other winners received
tickets to city theatres.
Max Arnold and Clifford I. Taylor were in
New York to give depositions in the Maple
Drive-In litigation . . . Robert W. Krepps,
native Wilkensburger, has sold his new novel
"Tell It on the Drums" to the Hecht-Lancaster
organization for a motion picture . . .
Jack Judd, recently named a member of the
board of directors of the Ti-istate Drive-In
Theatres Ass'n, has resigned because of
business.
George Boyle, manager of the Ambridge
Theatre, invited all Marines in uniform to
be his guest for the fii'St two days of "Battle
Cry" . marriage of Eleanor Schano
to Warren Bentley Dana will take place
April 30 in St. Margaret's Church, Green
Tree. He is the son of the Peter (U-I) Danas
Dominic Navarros hosted the April
15 family night party at the Variety Club
M. N. "Mike" Shapii'os report the
birth of a daughter to the David (Elarne
Shapiro I
. Fickinger, 52,
former Coudersport theatre owner, who died
at Bolivar, Ohio, was buried in Sewickley.
The city of McKeesport in 1954 collected
$22,647.35 in amusement taxes . . . The Guild
Theatre here has been displaying oil portraits
of John Del Monte, Art Institute instructor
. . . Carl Dortic, formerly here with
Monogram-Allied Ai-tists who recently served
a hitch in the air force, has joined National
Screen Service as Erie area and main line
representative. He is the son of Charlie
SAM FINEBERG
TOM McCLEARY
JIM ALEXANDER
84 Van Braam Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
Phone Express 1-0777
1^ Moviet Art Better Than E»tr - How"* Your Equipment?
Dortic, Columbia salesman. He succeeds William
A. V. Mack, who retired and who now
resides at 839 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse 4.
Jack Klein, 59, partner of the
N. Y. . . .
Maple Drive-In on Route 30, died Sunday
(101 in Shadyside Hospital following a long
illness. He is survived by his wife, his mother,
two sons, three brothers and a sister.
. . . The
Glen J. Easter, Mount Morris exhibitor,
aarkens the theatre next week and checks in
at the Mayo Clinic for a checkup
Rivoli Theatre, Johnstown, has been newly
remodeled . 19 Drive-In, Kearsarge,
reopened recently, but the management had
to close one night because of a frozen line . .
A television set was awarded to a lucky kiddy
attending Monday morning's cartoon festival
at the State, Johnstown . Allegany
Drive-In in the Bradford area reopened with
a new widescreen.
. . .
The Braddock school district is re-enacting
its 5 per cent amusement tax, license tax and
business privilege tax. For the year starting
July 4. the school board anticipates receiving
$7,000 from the amusement levy . . . Alvin
Seller will install Cinemascope at the
Ligonier Theatre, Ligonier, and he also expects
to reopen the Vox Theatre there
Theodore Grance was on Filmrow from Everett
in connection with the reopening of the
nine outdoor theatres he directs in Pennsylvania
. . . Virgil Jones of the Warner Bros,
exchange at Cleveland spent the Easter weekend
here as the guest of Frank J. "Bud"
Thomas of Co-Operative Theatres of Ohio,
who resides here at Wilkinsburg.
Columbia's Field Staff
Confers in New York
NEW YORK—Nine divisional field men
held a one-day conference at the Hotel
Warwick Friday (15).
Those who came into town were: Jack
Markle, Boston; Milt Young, Philadelphia;
Sid Zins, Washington; Bob Weiner, Chicago;
Jules Serkowich, Detroit; Mike Newman, Los
Angeles; Sammy Siegel, Seattle; Lew
Maren, San Francisco, and Jimmy Boyle,
Dallas.
Home office representatives present were;
Paul N. Lazarus jr., vice-president in charge
of advertising and publicity; Howard R. Le-
Sieur, director of advertising, publicity and
exploitation; Al Rylander, exploitation manager;
Robert Ferguson, assistant to LeSieur,
and Raymond Murray, assistant exploitation
manager.
Plans Jubilee Events
ALTOONA, PA.—Fabian's Spring Jubilee
celebration, which continues April through
June, is featuring the slogan, "There's more
fun at the movies!" Jack Day. manager of
the State Theatre here, prepared special
events for the period. To be presented are
stage attractions, including a dance revue,
a teenage record hop, an oldtimers night, a
dancing exhibition and a bathing suit style
show. Opening of Fabian's jubilee was
marked by an Easter Monday kiddy show,
when all cartoons were projected through
anamorphic lenses.
The number of people employed in the
United States film industry is estimated to
be 146,900.
PARAMOUNT
RECORD—Nancy
son, one of the stars of Warner Br(
"Battle Cry," cuts a giant cake in tl
lobby of the Paramount Theatre, Ne .
York City, to celebrate the picture!
breaking the alltime run of 11 weelii
Robert K. Shapiro, managing director •;
the theatre, looks on.
Reade Appoints Romm!
Convention Hall Director
NEW YORK—Leonard Romm has lii
made managing director and booker of Ci
vention Hall in Asbury Park. N. J., wl
Walter Reade Theatres will operate und'
three-year lease beginning June 30 and (i;
tinuing through the summer months,
headquarters will be at those of the circuiat
Mayfair House, Oakhurst.
Romm has been buying, selling and booljig
many types of entertainment for years. Civention
Hall will present concerts, arena sji
taculars, bands, lecturers and well-knitn
speakers as well as cultural exhibits.
Reade operates the Paramount ThSif^
across the boardwalk arcade from Convenin
Hall and also the Mayfair, St. James, Ljc,
Ocean and Savoy theatres in Asbury Pk.
The cii-cuit has 40 theatres in New Jeify
and New York, a large catering departnnht
and many real estate interests.
Seven 20th-Fox Players
Promoting Films in NY
NEW YORK—Seven personalities who
appearing in four Cinemascope pictures m
by 20th-Fox are currently in New York
promote the forthcoming releases.
They are Terry Moore and Thelma Rit:
both starred in "Daddy Long Legs," wh
will come to the Roxy Theatre in M
Sylvia Sidney, Margaret Hayes, Ernest Bo
nine, who are featured in "Violent Saturda'
which is a late April release; Shirley Yanjguchi,
Japanese star who is featured ;ii
"House of Bamboo," a summer release, ti
Fred Clark, who is featured in both "Dacy'
Long Legs" and "How to be Very. Very Po(
lar," the latter also a summer release
All these players are appearing on TV i^.
radio shows and giving press interviews.
'Death Row' Saturation
PITTSBURGH—More than 100
theatresli
this area will open Columbia's "Cell 24
Death Row" May 11 in the mideast's larg'
saturation campaign. Caryl Chessman, upjl
whose career the story is based, directly fnj
the book which he wrote in prison, has ]X\
denied his final appeal and he will be execul^
about a week prior to the playdate.
34
BOXOFFICE
April 16, IIJ

PARACHUTES AND HEADLINES
HELP SELL JUMP INTO HELL'
Novelty Giveaway and Paratroopers Also Support
Story Based on Indo-China War Incident
The heroic defense of Dienbienphu fortress
in Indo-China against invading Reds
provides the background story for Warner
Bros, action-drama, "Jump Into Hell."
Jack Sernas, a popular Fiench motion picture
star; Kurt Kasnar, Arnold Moss and
Peter Van Eyck appear in stellar roles,
while starlet Pat Blake and Lisa Montell
add the romantic interest. Kaznar has
played comedy and dramatic roles in several
pictures but none of the cast rates big
marquee recognition. The billing can refer
to them as an "International Cast." Local
selling will be based primarily on the good
exploitation values of the story itself.
Dienbienphu made newspaper headlines
when it fell to the Vietmihn on May 7, 1954,
after a fight that lasted 55 days. The local
paper can be contacted for back issues for
enlargements and photostats of the headlines
and portions of the Dienbienphu story
for a lobby board illustrated with the set of
action stills (No. 815), especially selected
for display purposes. These may be ordered
from National Screen. Reprints of newspaper
columns always attract passersby but
they should be properly mounted with the
torn-edge outline to center the reader's
attention.
A clever novelty thafs bound to get the
interest of the younger element in town is
the parachute with a jumper, manufactured
by a New York vender and available
The 40x60 and other posters offer good letter
cutout possibilities along with the figure of
the paratrooper. The romantic interest is also
noted.
in quantities from one to ten gross. Warner
Bros, thinks so much of the item that
advance proof pages of the pressbook ad
and story on it have been mailed to the
publicity and advertising directors of theatre
circuits, individual houses and all
company field representatives. The novelty
measures nine inches in diameter and has
silk threads attached to a cardboard paratrooper.
A one-column ad, printed locally,
can be stapled to the small figure, the expense
being shared by a cooperating store.
Lucky numbers also can be imprinted on
ihe ads with the winning ones posted in the
lobby or cashier's window.
MANY PARACHUTE USES
Numerous stunts can be worked with the
novelty parachute. Drop them from tall
buildings if local authorities permit or toss
them to the youngsters from the marquee.
In some situations they'll be dropped from
airplanes. Other parachutes can be hung
from the marquee edges to attract attention
as they turn in the breeze. If a glass
case is available, have an electric fan directed
upwards to keep one of the parachutes
suspended in air. Distribute them
in toy stores for window displays or as
prizes in a coloring contest on the picture.
They can be offered to hobby shops to be
given away with each purchase of a plane
model.
Local paratroopers can be contacted
through service organizations and asked to
attend the opening night wearing their
outfits. If feasible, have them interviewed
in a lobby radio broadcast or their comments
tape-recorded for later broadcast.
They can relate their sensations on making
a parachute jump or an actual war experience.
GET ARMY EQUIPMENT
Local Army offices may have paratroop
equipment such as jump boots, uniforms,
parachutes, etc., which may be borrowed
for a lobby exhibit. The recruiting officer
might set up a booth in the lobby as well.
Army and Navy stores also carry surplus
parachutes at reasonable prices and one
may be promoted for display, draped on
one wall of the foyer. Offer one as a prize
to the woman submitting the best dress design
using the nylon from a parachute.
A lot of airports stage flying exhibitions
and feature parachute jumping during the
warm weather and tieups may be arranged
with the jumper carrying picture credits
on his coveralls.
A man wearing a jumper's outfit can
walk around town distributing throwaways
printed in Pi-ench with an English translation
on the reverse. Shops selling articles
imported from F^-ance, such as perfumes,
— 110 —
This paratrooper figure, good for a variety olj
blowup displays, is available as a drawing ori
special art stills, and as a photo on severa
posters.
hats, dresses, books, etc., can share the co
on the stunt. A sound effects record wit
assorted sounds of battle including gi
fire, shells and bombs may be ordered fro
the vender and will heighten lobby intere,
when played behind one of the displt'
boards. Enlarge a map of Indo-China froi
an Atlas, circle Dienbienphu in red, an e:*
plosion design, and letter picture copy i
the bottom.
;
The figure of the paratrooper, illustrate
on this page, appears on one of the postii
art stills and can be used for decorativ
effects. Enlarge and cut out the figur
staple two pieces of elastic tape to tt
harness ropes, and suspend it from a po
jutting out from the marquee so it ca
bounce up and down. Smaller repros of tl:^
figure can decorate other parts of th
marquee or be attached to building front
Order Mat 815-301X from Nation;
Screen for a newspaper coloring conte;
spot or as an imprint on throwaways,
;
neighboring dealer backing the cost with a
ad on the reverse. A proof of the picturi
repi-oduced in the pressbook, may be bloW'
up for another lobby set piece, with a Iocs
artist painting the design and indicatin
the hidden paratroopers. A teaser throw
away offered in Mat 815-401X, from th
same source, has two photos each of Pa
Blake and Usa Montell in glamor-bathini
suit poses, to be distributed in a specia
envelope as a souvenir of French beautie
from the picture.
If there's a large Pi-ench-speaking popu
lation in town, use a teaser ad in th
French language addressed to them callinj
their attention to the heroic soldiers o
France who fought at Dienbienphu.
DIT-MCO UNIVERSAL
DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS
Finest you can buy . . . outlosts othei..
.ttroctively designed . . . Beautiful 2-tone finish
Best Tone Quality
4-in. weatlier crooted speaker unit. Heavy duty 1.47 oz.
ainico 5 maonet. Hanger fits any make juiiclion box.
Special volume control. All speakers above ground allowing
constant impedance at amplifier.
HIGH QUALITY AT LOW COST
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. 'SL*"';.'." *'r'
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser ;
: April 16, 1951
t

[
It
i
, Police
i
f
"
—
I
}Y Macy Distributing
Three Million Keys in
lOO-Theatre Tieup
i A promotion involving the cooperation
f 400 theatres. 100 pages of advertising
My Macy's department store, Mayor Wag-
'ler and Superintendent of Schools Wiliam
Jansen has been worked out for
Long John Silver," Distributors Corp. of
imerica release, which opened at the Mayair
Theatre in New York April 6. Th/
ilan also will be tried out in other key
Ronald Rosseter and Emery Toth to Helm
Of FEBCO. Theatre Advertising
Company
.ities.
is claimed to be the first time that
lO many theatres have cooperated in pushng
a single picture.
The official start will be called Macy's
;hildren's Week. More than 3,000,000 key.s
'.ill
be distributed in the participating the-
'tres. Macy's will put up over $60,000
'.orth of prizes. Children who get the keys
an try them out on lockers in the store.
;f the key fits, the holder receives his
r her treasure in merchandise.
The store will use full-page ads to start
Iff the treasure hunt. Among the prizes
be ten free summer vacations for winiiing
i/ill
couples at Dodgertown, the boys club
.perated by the Brooklyn Dodgers at 'Vero
Ijeach. Fla. Other prizes include 50, 21-
itich color television sets, 100 bicycles, 500
lairs of roller skates. 'Window displays
ire to be used in the main store and all
k he branches.
f!
Radio and television announcements are
;o be used freely.
Athletic League boxing matches
,111 be held in the store with Henry Armtrong,
Tony Canzonieri and James Brad-
;ock as performers and with Barney Ross
:s referee. PAL, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Ronald Rosseter and Emery Toth, new managers of FEPCO Theotre Advertisers, go over office details
with some of the staff. Left to right: Mary Lou Stewart, filing clerk; Rosseter, Mabel Andrews, head of
the clerical staff; Margery Holler, stenographer, and Toth. The picture at upper right is of founder
Walter Green, painted by his wife.
Mrs. Esther L. Green, owner and operator
of FEPCO of Omaha, Neb., announces
a major change in management of the
company which has grown from a home
shop to a theatre advertising company serving
exhibitors in every state in the nation.
Mrs. Green, widow of the late Walter M.
Green, founder of FEPCO, has named Ronald
Rosseter and Emery Toth co-managers,
replacing Henry McGrath, who is forming
his own company.
Rosseter and Toth have grown up with
the firm. They have worked in every department
of the plant, which includes
printing, photo-engraving, sign work and
art layouts. Both "started from the broom
stage ping pong matches and favorite
lill
;et contests.
and worked up, ' in the words of Toth.
Similar contests are to be set up in other Mrs. Green took charge of FEPCO when
ities.
her husband died in 1949. She was no
novice in the enterprise. When P^PCO
was born she and her husband nursed the
laye Short Promotion
infant firm through its meager beginning
4eets Strong Response
on $500 in a small room in their home to
"Assignment Children," the Danny Kaye large, modern quarters on Omaha Filmrow,
fhort on the work of the United Nations
boasting the latest equipment.
"nternational Children's Emergency P\ind, Green's early experience in show business
led to the founding of FEPCO and
'as plugged by Jim Cameron, manager of
he Capitol in Port William, Ont., as an provided another example of the ingenuity
'dded featurette with the catchline, "It and effort which typify the growth of the
warm your heart," and by an editorial movie industry. In 1915 he became a projectionist
'ill
1 the Fort William Daily Times Journal
at Dohaney's Opera House in
:hich Cameron encouraged the editor to Council Bluffs, across the Missouri river in
f'rite. "It is a terrific subject," he reports, Iowa, in the silent flicker days. The old
land came in for as much fine patron comlent
Opera House is now occupied by the Strand
as the feature, 'The Bridges at Theatre.
oko-Ri.'
A short time later he joined the Hugo
Bros. Circus. He left the circus field in
1916 and became operator at Omaha's finest
picture theatre, the Princess, operated
^a and Pa Take a Stroll
The Ma and Pa street bally pressbook by the World Realty Co.
Jggestion for "Ma and Pa Kettle at Waiiki"
proved an effective attention-getter and served overseas in World War I more
That spring he enlisted in the Marines
than two years. After suffering a wound,
)r Manager Dale Tysinger of Shea's at
shtabula, Ohio. Tysinger had the two he organized a show troupe and took it on
roll through the downtown streets, with the road, the first roadshow to travel the
a strumming on a ukelele.
AEF vaudeville circuit.
the
He appeared on
DXOFFICE Showmandiser 111 —
: : April 16, 1955
same bill with such figures as Elsie Janis,
Hunting and Francis. Madame Resista,
Johnny Burke, Fibber McGee and Bob
Burns.
After the war he became an exhibitor
at the Gem Theatre in Council Bluffs,
where he saw the need for economical advertising
accessories for small-town operators.
There was nothing in this type of
advertising available so he created such an
organization.
Now FEPCO serves more than 4,000 towns
throughout the nation. Many of its employes
have been with the firm for years.
Mabel Andrews, head of the clerical staff,
worked in the shop when help was scarce
during the war.
Mrs. Green's activities are almost too
numerous to list. She has given much time
and financial assistance to charities and
donated to Omaha's hospitals. She is a
talented painter—many portraits of Filmrow
personalities adorn FEPCO's walls
and she is an accomplished organist. She
also is a skillful figure skater. Before her
husband died the Greens were known for
their fine stable of riding horses.
Mr. Green was Variety Club chief barker
in 1938.
Armand Pepin Posts Trucks
Armand Pepin had four signs posted
ten days in advance on the two local news
agency trucks for "Battle Cry."
BLOWERS
ATOMIC JET LAMPHOUSE BLOWERS
lust in both Drive-in and Indoor Theatres. Ava
r each lamp and doub e foi
Ceeps Lam^s Cool and Cli
longer-iasimg neiiectors. Cleaner Stacks. Reuuce l
Consumption.
EASY TO INSTALL. PRICED RIGHT

I
John
i
1
LEAGUES' TESTS SHOWMANSHIP MEHLE;
THREE WIDELY DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS
Big-Sale Promotion at
Pittsburgh; Public Relations
Tie-In Successful at Amsterdam, N. Y.
Two lobby displays dramatized "20.000
Leagues Under the Sea" vividly for patrons
of the Plaza Theatre at Englewood, N. J.
Murray Spector got the nearby Navy Diving
School to turn over a substantial assortment
of diving equipment and accessories
for an inner lobby display. These, with
photographs showing divers going through
the various steps in preparation for a deep
sea dive, made a very interesting arrangement.
On a smaller scale but no less vivid
was a display made possible by the Englewood
Aquarium, which provided a tank full
of water, sea plants, tropical fish and the
simulated wreckage of an old ship. Included
were lighting effects and miniature
divers heading for the bottom to explore
the wreck. This display stopped everyone
entering the theatre.
Spector set in window displays throughout
the area.
A LOBSTER DERBY!
A big-scale, many faceted campaign was
put on for "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh.
Promotion ranged from a "lobster derby"
in a prominent bookstore window to an art
contest for children conducted by a television
program. Two of the three local
dailies, the Sun-Telegraph and the Pi'ess,
helped with good, away-from-theatre-page
art and editorial coverage and a coloring
contest for children.
A radio contest had Barry Kaye, disk
jockey, spinning a mystery tune daily for
passes and records to persons calling him
first. Eighteen Carnegie Library locations
gave space to window cards and special
"study-guide" type of heralds and arranged
attractive sea displays. An evening screening
had as guests representatives of the
public and parochial schools, personalities
from the radio and television stations, and
camera and science club leaders,
OLD SUBMARINE MODEL
A special inventor's model design of "the
submarine that was never built" was secured
from Pittsburgh's famed Carnegie
Museum for a lobby display in the Stanley.
Lobsters, labeled "diving denizens," were
placed in a tank smack in a bookstore window.
The lobsters were labeled "S," "E"
and "A," respectively, and when they lined
up, correctly to spell out the "mystery"
word, persons watching at the time were
invited to dash into the store and secure
a free guest pass to the film. The stunt
was good enough to be picked up by the
newspapers, and when alligators, flown in
from Florida, took the spotlight from the
lobsters, the television cameras took over.
Typical of the small city theatre lobby displays
on "20,000 Leagues" is this one, arranged in the
Walter Reade house in Asbury Park, N. J., by
John Bolmer, city manager. The nets and decorations
were a'l borrowed. The only money outlay
was for the Nationol Screen setpiece at the left.
Balmer dressed his cashier in a naval jacket and
sailor hat to complete the display.
Further help came from 300 newsdealers,
who set up displays built around the Jules
Verne novel; the bannering of Ti-iangle
News trucks; crossplugging via screen, stage
and lobby by 15 neighborhood Stanley
Warner theatres in this city, and the tieing
in with the Marty Wolfson WDTV television
show; as well as "Disneyland," telecast
in Pittsburgh Wednesdays by station
WENS.
The campaign was engineered by Stanley
Warner publicity men Henry Burger and
Phil Katz.
Successfully mixed together in a recent
topnotch campaign on "20,000 Leagues
Under the Sea," were, first, a hometown
. . boy, actor Kirk Doug-
^ ..i^^'^i'^^^ las, who made good,
'
and second, a local
industry that needed
a boost. Conceiving
the exploitation was
C. A. Matthews, the
recently appointed
Schine city manager
at Amsterdam, N. Y.,
a southerner whose
first civic venture in
t. .A. Matthews
j^.g
jj g ^ position
earned him the distinction of being a Rebel
who quickly made good in Yankeeland.
LOCAL INDUSTRY BOOSTED
When Matthews arrived in Amsterdam,
he found civic spirit at a low ebb. One of
the town's major carpet manufacturing
firms Bigelow-Sanford, was moving out
after over 100 years of operation. Believing
that a "Let's Keep Amsterdam the Carpet
Capital of the World" motto was in order.
Matthews combined the idea as part o:i
iilm exploitation. The next idea was I
make a direct connection between t\
thought and the film's star.
He had Mohawk Carpet Mills prepi;
an oversized carpetbag to present to K.t
Douglas, partly as a gag and partly j)
generate some pride and enthusiasm i<
the town's nationally important manufsLi
turing organization. The bag was then d-
played at the theatre, where patrons W(;
able to fill in official blanks with thr
personal messages to the actor. These W(;
all placed in the carpetbag for later c|livery
to Douglas.
The campaign captured the imaginatii
of the public and received wide press al
ladio publicity. For his part, in additid
to knowing that he had turned in a sij-i
cessful ticket selling promotion, Matthes
received a personal medal from the Chaiber
of Commerce for his community i|forts.
Local Contests Added
For 'Long Gray Line'
In addition to the Olympic TV set cc,
test arranged nationally by Columbia P|
tures in cooperation with dealers, H
Trambukis, manager of Loew's State i
Providence, R. I., promoted two conte.'S
of his own for "The Long Gray Line."
Disk jockeys of the four Provider*
radio stations, the local Mercury at)
dealer and the Biltmore Hotel pooled th('
facilities in one contest. The DJs aski
their listeners to write in stating, "Whjv
want to have breakfast with disk jockf
Doe) and see the first showing :
'The Long Gray Line' at Loew's Stati'
Breakfast was provided by the hotel. Fi;
bannered Mercurys were promoted to to?
the city before the morning opening wi!
the DJs and three guests, wirmers of t!
letter-writing contest.
Trambukis convinced the Daily Hera.,
of Brown University to use the same ide
except the student winners breakfast!
with Ti-ambukis himself instead of t)
DJs.
;
At the suggestion of Loew's Theatrs
home office, mention of the Army or Wt
Point was eliminated wherever possible
all national and local ads, and the lo
angle was emphasized.
Over 100 Providence dealers used windcj
streamers and distributed 10,000 enti
blanks with proper credits on the Olymp
TV set contest asking entrants to nan:
their favorite hero to graduate from "Tl
Long Gray Line" of West Point's cadel
The 50-piece Eighth Army band fro
Ft. Devens, Mass., gave a 45-minute co);
cert in front of the theatre on openii
night and an honor guard of 35 MPs w.
on hand from Ft. Devens to give the fil;
a big sendoff. ;
Stages Easter Fashion Show
Jim LaFarr, manager of the Malone,
Malone, N. Y., staged "Guys and Dolls," a
Easter Fashion show with about 50 model
on March 31.
i
— 112 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : April 16, 191

, 'stitutional
.
,e
'
'
get
nstitutional Activity
/ell Worth Effort
n Growing Area
)Evan Thompson, manager, and Skouras
leatres publicists are spending much ef-
Tt in publicizing the Fox Theatre at
! lackensack. N. J., in addition to its fea-
: Ire attractions, because they have found
type promotion pays off in
fast-growing Bergen County where
ackensack is situated.
"We find that this county is almost
'0,000 population and we get at least 100
'lephone calls every week asking where
'.e Fox is located in Hackensack. and how
to the theatre from surrounding
wns," Thompson reports. "So by every
)ssible means we let the people know
;here we are and that there is a theatre
Hackensack. We go allout to get all the
|iblicity we can.
i'This policy has proven itself; we are
lowing to more people this year than last."
For example, Thompson promoted
rotherhood week this year more extenively
than ever before, by sponsoring a
rotherhood program at the theatre on the
orning of February 22. The Bergen
'Dunty Council of Churches, Hackensack
lebrew Institute, Bergen County YMCA
id civic and patriotic organizations were
I
fvited to sponsor the rally.
• Letters were sent to 149 schools in the
;iunty asking faculty members and stu-
I'nts to attend the rally.
;The Fox Theatre collections this year
fore than tripled the total collected last
askatoon Duo Conducts
ine Campaign on 'Heart'
In Saskatoon, Sask., where the Tivoli
id Broadway play day and date, the re-
'lective managers Bill Russell and Ray
esky combine their promotion efforts.
.16 result is fine selling job. This
a
lowed especially in their campaign for
roung at Heart." A merchant tieup ofred
a complete evening's entertainment
five couples in the area celebrating their
th wedding anniversary this year who
ere first to phone the manager of the
voli. A cab company, a florist and a
'lart restaurant tied in on this promotion,
'us a jeweler who cooperated on a 400-
'le newspaper ad announcing the offer,
'ley ran a 120-line ad on the business
using the theme of "Young at Heart"
:ige
f
no cost to the theatre. A newspaper
fory reporting on the couples who were
':tertained. rounded off the promotion.
For a new approach to herald design,
e Saskatoon showmen designed a 5x6-
'ch cutout paper heart carrying a lucky
imber and the selling message, "Your
?art-Partner is cari-ying the same lucky
unber. but on a card of a different
lor. Find each other and you will both
admitted free to see . . .
" The color of
e matched cards? Pink for the girl and
ue for the boy—of course.
)XOFFICE Showmandiser :
: April 16, 1955
HERE ARE 2
CAMPAIGNS WHICH CAN BE
FOLLOWED IN SMALL CITIES ON BAHLE'
John Godfrey, Ashland, Ky.,
Assures Newspaper Aid;
Marine Reserves No. 1 Facet in Syracuse, N. Y.
When "Battle Cry" came to Ashland, Ky.,
the surrounding tristate area was well informed
of the attraction at the Paramount
Theatre. Manager John W. Godfrey reports
more people came to see the Korean
war drama than any other picture in the
30-year history of the Boyd circuit house.
The promotion conducted by Manager
Godfroy capitalized on the high reputation
of the film and its theme on lonely GIs and
the girls they meet. Godfroy started his
ad campaign a week in advance on a
strongly increased budget. At the same
time, he made certain the editors of the
Ashland papers were fully informed on the
film's merit and theme.
The result was the Ashland Independent
ran six articles on "Battle Cry." a new
high for a single picture. The Independent
also accepted a Name the Star contest in
which one-column photos of Mona F^-eeman,
a player in the film, were scattered
in the Sunday paper, the opening day.
without identification. "Battle Cry" slugs
also were inserted in the want ad section.
RARE PUBLICITY IN PAPER
The Weekly Times also ran art on the
film, which, according to Godfroy, was
the second time in many years it has used
a two-column photo on a picture.
Sixty spots were used on radio while the
disk jockeys played a song from the film
on all their programs.
For opening night, Godfroy gave the
town a Hollywood-type premiere with city
officials invited and interviewed on a radio
broadcast from the lobby. Reaching a
climax on opening night was a Miss
"Battle Cry" contest, sponsored by station
WCMI, when the winner was interviewed
on the stage.
One, two and six-sheets were posted all
through the tristate area and many stores
had "Battle Cry" windows as a matter of
routine.
PASSES TO RECRUITS
Local Marine Reserves provided a color
guard at the theatre on opening night and
put in a lobby display in advance and current.
All inductees at the local induction
station were given "Battle Cry" pamphlets
and invited to the show. Ai-rangements
were made to extend their late pass deadline
if stamped by the theatre. Naturally
99 per cent attended.
This promotion contains nothing that is
not possible in most any situation.
For "Battle Cry" at Syracuse, N. Y., Sol
Sorkin, manager of RKO Keiths there,
conducted a different type of promotion,
relying greatly on cooperation from the
Onondaga County Marine Corps League.
The league officials and Manager Sorkin
— 113 —
Miss "Battle Cry" being interviewed in lobby of
Paramount Theatre in Ashland, Ky., on opening
day.
arranged a program of activities that literally
brought the film to the attention of
hundreds of persons and the staging of
several publicity-building events.
Letters signed by John R. Glushko, commandant
of the league, were sent out to all
Marines, members and nonmembers, urging
them to see the show and pointing to a
recruitment booth set up in the Keiths
lobby. The league also supplied newspapers,
radio stations and TV stations with
news releases on the film and the story
of the Sixth Marine corps. It also provided
an escort for Jack Bushnell, a former
Marine who was in the service when
the picture was made and appeared in one
of the scenes, on visits to the newspaper
critics and when he was interviewed on
radio and TV.
On opening night, the Onondaga County
league presented an honorary membership
to Carmen Basillo, local middleweight, in
a stage ceremony covered by radio and TV.
Five recruits also were sworn in on the
stage.
Manager Sorkin also saw to it that the
Bantam Book people had tiein displays in
drugstores, newsstands, etc., and one-sheets
on all delivery trucks. Disk jockeys and
all orchestras were supplied with records
and orchestrations for "Honey Babe."
nyers were made up from pressbook
material.

:
!
PIE MUCH BEHER IN MOUTH THAN EYE!
CITATION GOES WITH CUSTARD FOR KOPS'
Manager Roy Prytz Works Up 40-Minute Program on
Stunt Tied in
With A&C Picture
When Roy O. Piytz, Garrick Theatre
manager at Duluth, Minn., sat down to
plan promotion for "Abbott and Costello
Meet the Keystone Kops," his first idea
was an old-fashioned custard pie fight,
preferably on a local TV program. But the
through of wasting food went against his
ingrained thrift.
Persisting with his preference for TV,
Prytz toyed with the pressbook suggestion
of getting a bakery to prepare a huge pie
for a window display, and finally came
up with a stunt which brought the kids
tc the Garrick in droves, and gave the
showman himself quite a kick.
The ideal TV spot was a program called
Mr. Tolliver's Travels, 5 to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday each week, conducted by
two versatile fellows who portray an old
man called Ulysses X. Tolliver and a cowboy,
the Western Ranger. They have a
written-in audience of 13,695 kids who
have joined the Western Ranger Club
plus 500 more in the Little Rascals Club.
As can be seen, their kids program is the
most important in town.
Toking the cue from the slapstick qualities of
"Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops,"
Del Holfmann of the Myers Theatre, Jonesville,
Wis., stands still to receive a pie right in the
kisser, a stunt that caused as much of a riot at
the Sunday matinee as the film itself. Holfmann
had directed on od at the kids, reading, "How
would you like to see o big creom pie tossed right
smock in the face of the manager? Well, be at
the motinee Sunday. You moy hove the lucky
ticket stub that will entitle you to do just thot."
Here Manager Roy Prytz presents huge custard
pie and citation to Ulysses X. Tolliver on popular
TV kid program in Duluth.
Since the Academy awards were coming
up at the time, Prytz had the tie-in gimmick
there. He had a local baker bake a
custard pie 20 inches across and three
inches deep. Then he had a citation drawn
up with a picture of an Oscar on it for
presentation to Mr. Tolliver. The copy read:
"To Mr. Tolliver in reminiscence of the
days when custard pies were the stars of
the picture, the Garrick Theatre presents
a delicious Hollywood special Custard Pie
for his outstanding record of making people
happy, and as a tribute to Abbott and
Costello in their latest movie, 'Abbott and
Costello Meet The Keystone Kops,' the
hilariously funny story of Hollywood's piethrowing
era, the Nickelodeon, Mack Bennett's
Bathing Beauties and his Keystone
Kops."
Wlien the director of the program, John
LaPorge, saw the huge pie, he liked the
stunt so well, he decided to make a real
production of it. Forty minutes of TV
time were allowed for the presentation, and
the pie-cutting ceremony. Much fun was
had as Eddie Williams, the Western Ranger,
tried to get the larger piece away from
Tolliver. The presentation took place on
opening day of the picture.
After the telecast was over, Pi-ytz and
the station crew of 15 sat down and ate
pie. and there was enough left for the
night crew. All agreed pie is better in the
mouth than in the eye!
Uses Arrowhead Display
Ken Woodward of the Manos Theatre,
Uniontown, Pa., arranged an Indian arrowhead
display in the lobby to draw attention
to "Many Rivers to Cross," a practical
idea for any Indian theme feature.
— 114 —
Window Quiz Gimmicc
Through 'Window' Ru
Contests have held the center of ;-
traction for most recently reported "R.r
Window" promotions, but for sheer origiality,
G. A. Walters of the Prince Edwd
Theatre, P. E. I. deserves a pat on le
back.
I
His quiz gimmick utilized ten downton
store windows, each containing one let^^r
from the film title set somewhere witta
the individual window display. Pers'is
correctly identifying the proper windcs
with the letters received five dollars Ed
a double pass to the Prince Edward.
The original idea had been for m -
chants to use the window space for e
three days prior to the playdate openif;,
but the public response had been so gol,
store owners continued to hold the displs
until the final day of the film's run. \s
a matter of fact, in as much as it was aio
necessary for contestants to guess whh
ten of all the downtown windows we
in on the deal, even non-participat;g
merchants benefited from the stunt, lA
turally resulting in additional goodwill pi
their part for Walters. The playdate,
cidently, broke all house records.
PRISON BREAK A BREAK
In a recent exploitation report, Waltai
wrote
"Now and then it happens—a natuH
that makes a manager's life a bit happif,'
When the first flash of the Boston Sti
prison riot was aired, we suddenly realiijii
that here was a timely tiein for our we(!-
end feature, 'Riot in Cell Block 11.' ''fe
immediately called the editor of the aftf
noon paper, explaining the story of ts
picture and drawing his attention to ti
riot itself. The same procedure was f^
lowed with the editor of the morniV
paper. Their cooperation was wonderjli
for, in the next editions, the papers gsa
the story top billing on page one. We Cr
tained 25 copies of each paper, dressed 1)
the front page with plugs for the film, al
posted these in various store windows. 0:
theatre advertising also tied in with t,
front page story."
I
Food Firm Helps 'Countr;^
With a Land Giveaway
A lot of kids around San F^-ancisco nc
own bits of Yukon Territory, thanks to t^
Quaker Oats Co. and Manager Mark A-
ing of the Golden Gate, who cooperated «.
a clever "Far Country" promotion. A nuri
ber of the lucky youngsters also are t!
proud possessors of gold dust pouchi)
similar to the type seen in the film ai:
also given away as part of this co-op vei
ture.
When the kids entered the theatre, tho'
who had boxtops from one of the cere
firm's products were given authentic deei
to one square inch of land in the Yuko
In addition, the first 50 with the cereal lii
and dressed in western attire were give
the pouches.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :
: April 16, 191:

I
]h\ei Aids 'Underwater!
,t Victoria, Tex., Uptown
THEATRES JOIN OBSERVER GROUPS
AND KIWANIS IN QUEEN CONTEST
Kentucky Promotion Can Be Adapted Anywhere
There Is a Ground Observer Corps
Advertising materials on "Underwater!"
rived too late for Bill Starr to build the
pe front he originally planned at the
Jtown Theatre in Victoria, Tex., but
'anks to the enthusiasm of his staff he
IS able to arrange a quite creditable disay
with limited paper available. A local
,cn painter prepared a banner stretching
er the entrance doors while cutouts were
sted on a long panel set up at the side
3m the soffit to the sidewalk.
However, the standout promotion was
;mewhat accidental. Starr and his assist-
1 1 David Stubbs had located a local skin
i.'er and borrowed his equipment for a
^jby display in cooperation with a store
•lich handles this type of material. A
'ief intruded in the promotion here by
:!aling a piece of the display. The local
iwspaper took up the story and published
; photo 'reproduced above), which was
:aut all that was necessary to assure
'arr a profitable run.
"A manager is as good as his employes,"
.'arr believes. "An important factor in
Itting over a promotion is a loyal staff
Mich is 'sold' on the picture."
Jrints Go Underwater!
]!any Teenagers Follow
Xo jack up a little interest in a move-
(;r of "Underwater!" from the Indiana
'leatre in Indianapolis to Keiths, both
I'its of the Greater Indiana Amusement
(., Marion Stroud, assistant at Keiths,
Id three ushers with signs reading. "We're
hving Jane Russell in 'Underwater!' to
I'iths
. . . Starts today," make several
tps from the Indiana to Keiths carrying
t' lifesize cutout of Jane Russell in a
Mmming suit, a film can and four old
l;kets partly filled with water. Of course,
t! water was Under-type Water! On one
tp about 40 teenagers followed the procsion,
more than 20 of whom bought
tkets to see the show.
Stroud reports he had a model lined up
t move from the Indiana to Keiths in a
':htub, but he had to cancel this stunt
':ause the weather was too chilly.
The successful showman is continually
looking for something new, something different
to interest the public and keep his
theatre in the spotlight. The following
promotion reported by John Godfroy,
manager of the Paramount Theatre in
Ashland, Ky., will fill the bill for exhibitors
seeking to stir up a little extra activity.
Since it involves civil defense, it can
be duplicated in almost any area in the
country, and it can be adapted to one
theatre or several.
A contest to pick Miss Ground Observer
Corps of Kentucky was carried out in
Ashland and nine other cities under the
sponsorship of the theatres and civil defense
authorities in each city. Selection
was by penny votes. Photographs of contestants
were displayed in the theatre lobbies,
by regions, with a container for
pennies beneath each photo.
'^^JS'T?*^ ^^i^'^^°'^;';:^.-r^rr-,%',-^'t^r^';^->"i!mm^
The money collected was to be given to
the Kiwanis Club Youth F\ind, thus as.suring
maximum backing and interest. The
contestants at Ashland represented the
Ground Observer Corps in 15 surrounding
communities in Kentucky and West Virginia.
There were no names on the contestant
pictures and the only identification of the
various queen candidates was by number.
Theatre patrons merely dropped pennies in
the container under the picture of the
girl they thought should be Miss Ground
Observer Corps.
The winner and a chaperone was given
an expense-paid trip to Lexington. FMnal
judging was held in the Kentucky Theatre
there April 6. The ten finalists wore formal
dresses. All of them received prizes and
a loving cup donated to the Ground Observer
Corps by Lexington merchants.
Miasi
What's Exploitable in the Magazines
Redbook, April issue, selects "A Man
Called Peter" as the Picture of the Month.
Three other films named in the issue are
"East of Eden," "P^idget's Budget" and
"The Glass Slipper."
Parents' Magazine has chosen "A Man
Called Peter" to receive the publication's
award as the outstanding family movie
for April.
The March issue of Seventeen contains
a feature on Perez Prado, the
mambo king who appears in "Underluater!"
and gives the film a top review.
"Quest for the Lost City," which details
the adventures of Dana and Ginger Lamb
as they search for the last Mayan civilization
in Gautemala, is selected as the best
documentary release of the month in
March Cosmopolitan.
Compact selects "The Long Gray
Line" as its "movie rave of the month."
In addition, there is a ten-page layout
on Marlon Brando with a prediction
that he will win his first Oscar for "On
the Waterfront."
"The Long Gray Line" is brought
sharply to the attention of teenagers this
month via a cover and story-in-pictures in
Literary Cavalcade, the magazine which
circulates monthly in English classes in
most of the country's high schools.
Rangeland Romances, western magazine,
hails Columbia's "Wyoming
Renegades" in its May issue as being
^XOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 16, 1955 — 115 —
naught with suspense." "Three for
the Show," Columbia's CinemaScope-
Technicolor musical comedy, rated as
"a m.erry musical which will provide
enjoyment to the entire family" in the
May issue of All Love Story. Five stills
illustrate the two-page review.
"Underwater!" is
Howard Hughes'
featured in the March 9 issue of People
Today with a six-page story and photo
center spread on Michael Woulfe, RKO
fashion designer. Woulfe, in explaining the
work and problems of a Hollywood fashion
designer, also discusses such forthcoming
RKO films as "The Conqueror," "Jet
Pilot" and "Son of Sinbad," with scene
stills to illustrate.
American Weekly has begun a twopart
series on the romance of Rita
Hayworth and Dick Haymes, with full
credit to Columbia and Miss Hayworth's
latest picture, "Joseph and His
Brethren."
The New York Mirror used Maureen
O'Hara on the cover of its Sunday i27i
magazine section. The feminine lead in
"The Long Gray Line" also was the subject
of a biographical sketch in that issue.
SINGLE OR DOUBLE FACE
40-in. DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS
S . . . ENTRANCES . . . ARROWS
SPECIAL WORDING
r.„. *- ,-g directions means efficient traffic cr-'~
. . . ATTRACTIVE . . . ECONOMICAL
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MFG. CO. '°.' "T

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETE
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer thon five engagements are not listed. As new runs
are reported, ratings are added ond averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"
the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.

. fjnald
'
|Por
:
lal
I
'
: i!i—through
HOLLYWOOD
/ C^
EWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER
(HolWwood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear. Western Manager)
ane Wyman Forms
Productions Unit
HOLLYWOOD—Latest among film lumirie-
to enter the television field, Jane
her independent unit, Car-
'.-tures, has secured Procter & Gamble
'.,^hip for a series of 36 telefilms annu-
;he fu-st of which will bow September 6
y.
NBC-TV. Miss Wyman has inked William
i.e: to produce the pictures and is setting
IK adquarters on the Republic lot. She
; ict as executive producer and hostess
ill star in 20 of the first year's 36 sub-
: for the past three years has been
:g I Love Lucy.
Kerner. veteran TV executive, has
a video unit as a subsidiary of his
v organized Lew Kerner Pi-oductions,
ae film company which has secured a
Artists releasing commitment. Kerner
... several daytime serials for both netand
syndication presentation.
•rk
Hall Bartlett launched camera work Moni.v
ill) on the first film in a new TV series
irnng Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. Bartlett
jdnces and directs from his own script.
Revue Pi-oductions. MCA's television sublary.
has launched filming on a pilot subit
m a new series. "The New Adventures of
im and Huck." based on the Tom Sawyerickleberry
Finn characters created by Mark
;vain. In the leading parts are Bobby Clark.
MacDonald and Clem Bevans. The
[rector is Sidney Salkow.
either theatrical or television release,
I jexander Productions acquired "Flaming
an independent feature produced sev-
•.ge,"
seasons ago and never previously disj.buted.
It features Cathy Downs and Har-
\ i Lloyd jr.
ol. Signs Phil Karlson
HOLLYWOOD—Currently piloting "Phenix
ty" for Allied Artists, Phil Karlson has been
j:ned to a three-year contract at Columbia,
der which he is permitted to direct one
itside film annually. Karlson recently comjited,
for Columbia, the directorial assign-
;;nt on "Tight Spot," stan-ing Gfnger Rogers,
|:ward G. Robinson and Brian Keith.
lisign 'Long Watch' Chores
HOLLYWOOD— Republic set Edward Lud-
? to produce and Casey Robinson to script
he Long Watch," adapted from a novel
maritime adventure by
I
Robert F. Mirvish.
Eleven LA Situations
Set for
HOLLYWOOD—Reversing its long-standing
policy of limiting first run openings to
not more than two day-dating theatres in
this teiTitory, MGM has set "The Blackboard
Jungle." the Glenn Ford starrer, for a May
11 bow in five conventional and six drive-in
theatres here. Hard-top houses booking the
feature are the Pantages, State, Loyola, Village
and the United Artists in Pasadena.
Drive-in dates include the Van Nuys, Pickwick,
Lakewood, Whittier, Gage and Vineland.
Robert J. O'Donnell, the Interstate circuit's
head man, presented Greer Garson, Dana
Andrews and producer-director Mervyn Le-
Roy to 400 Texas clubwomen at a Tuesday
112) luncheon in Austin prior to the world
premiere there of Warners' "Strange Lady
in Town." The picture, toplining Miss Garson
and Andrews, followed its Austin opening
with dates in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas
and Fort Worth.
Hecht-Lancaster's United Artists release,
"Marty," was world-premiered Monday (11)
at the Sutton Theatre in New York. Plugging
the opening via press interviews, radio and
TV appearances was Ernest Borgnine, who
KUDOS FOR CAGNEY — Gov.
Allan
Shivers of Texas (left) presents James
Cagmey with a gun and sheriffs badge,
suitably inscribed, which the star wore in
Paramount's "Run for Cover," a William
Pine-William Thomas production. The
presentation, which marked Cagney's 25th
anniversary in motion pictures, was made
at a luncheon in Austin in connection
with the world premiere of the film.
Blackboard'
stars with Betsy Blair in the film directed by
Delbert Mann.
Filmakers will premiere producer Collier
Young's "Mad at the World." starring Frank
Lovejoy, Keefe Brasselle and Cathy O'Donnell,
in 100 theatres in Boston and the New
England territory on May 5, it was di.sclosed
by Harry Mandell, vice-president in charge
of sales.
Marking the local introduction of Paramount's
horizontal, double-frame VistaVision
process, "Strategic Air Command," starring
James Stewart and June AUyson, will bow
here Wednesday (27) at the Stanley Warner
Beverly Hills Theatre. Produced in Technicolor
by Samuel J. Briskin, and du'ected by
Anthony Mann, the film deals with America's
global defensive air wing.
The theatre is installing a 29x50-foot ctu-ved
screen and will also present the picture with
Perspecta stereophonic sound.
With proceeds earmarked for St. John's
Hospital in Santa Monica, 20th-Fox's musical
version of "Daddy Long Legs," starring Fi'ed
Astaire and Leslie Caron, will be world
premiered May 4 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
The Samuel G. Engel production was
megged by Jean Negulesco.
"The Eternal Sea," Republic's biography of
the naval hero, Admh'al John M. Hoskins,
will open locally Wednesday (27) at the
Downtown Paramount and Egyptian theatres.
Produced and directed by John H. Auer, it
stars Sterling Hayden and Alexis Smith.
Roger Gorman Will Start
'Beast' Late in Month
HOLLYWOOD—Planned for a camera start
late this month under the banner of Pacemaker
Productions is "The Beast With
1.000.000 Eyes." a science-fiction di-ama to be
produced by Roger Gorman. Corman, whose
"Five Guns West" is being distributed by
American Releasing Corp., signed Paul Birch
for the starring role in the new venture.
AA Inks Tex Ritter
HOLLYWOOD—Allied Artists inked Tex
Ritter to sing 'Wichita," theme song of the
Joel McCrea staiTer of that title. The tune
for the Cinemascope feature was penned by
Ned Washington and Hans J. Salter.
I'XOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955
35

id
']
Cleffers
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES
Columbia
MORRIS 5TOLOFF signed a new six-year contract to
Dntinue as head of the studio music department.
Meggers
Allied Artists
"Doing Time," the next Bowery Boys comedy will
be directed by WILLIAM BEAUDINE. The producer
is Ben Schwalb.
JEAN YARBROUGH will direct "Night Freight" a
William F. Broidy production, based on a script by
Steve Fisher,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Desilu Productions booked ALEXANDER HALL to
pilot the upcoming Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz comedy
"Her Guardian Angel."
Options
Allied Artists
WALTER BRENNAN was set for a starring role
with Fred MacMurroy in the CinemaScope entry
Gun Point," which rolls next month with Alfred
Werker directing for producer Vincent M. Fennellv
DOROTHY MALONE will haye the feminine lead
opposite Fred MacMurray.
Broadway stage and TV actors LENKA PETERSON
and RICKY KLEIN joined the cast of the Sarn
Bischoff-Dovid Diamond production, "Phenix City "
which IS shooting on location in Alabama with Phil
Korlson directing. The oction drama features Biff
McGuire and Kathryn Grant.
Producer Walter Wanger tagged GUY RENNIE to
portray o nightclub proprietor in "The Body
Snotchers," suspense drama being megged by Don
Siegel, which has Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter
in the starring roles.
Columbia
LEE J. COBB will portray Potiphor, general of the
phorooh s armies, in the Jerry Wold production
Joseph and His Brethren." William Dieterle directs
the CinemaScope-Technicolor drama of Biblicol times.
Handed a comedy role in "The Big Shock," the
iom Katzman production starring Frank Loveioy
arid Man Blanchard, was VINCE BARNETT Also
inked for the suspense drama, being directed by
Jerry Juran, was JUDY CLARK.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
RUSS TAMBLYN will join Robert Taylor and Stewort
Granger in the topline cost of the frontier dramo
The Last Hunt," to be directed by Richard Brooks!
assignment in
,,^^S°f"'^'^^
the science-fiction feoture
Forbidden Planet," went to EARL HOLLIMAN. The
Nicholas Nayfock production, starring Walter Pidgeon
and Anne Francis, is being piloted by Fred Wilcox.
Paramount
Child actors DALE HARTLEBEN, MICKEY LITTLE
and PATRICIA MORROW were cost in the Dean
Martin-Jerry Lewis comedy, "Artists and Models."
Frank Tashlin wrote and is directing the Technicolor-
VistaVision entry, a Hoi Wallis production. Set to
portray o spy was JACK ELAM.
'° P"^fr°V °" FBI ogent in
.L.H'', "Anything Goes,"
the VistaVision musical starring Bing Crosby, Donald
"""^ ^'*^'
?AN?r^?°'o K°^"l°"''
Goynor, was WALTER
SANDE. Robert Lewis is directing for producer Robert
Emmett Dolan.
RKO Radio
Producer Edmund Grainger set RORY CALHOUN
for the male lead and JOSEPH CALLEIA for a character
part in "The Treasure of Poncho Villa " Superscope
adventure dramo which will begin filming next
week on location in Mexico. Previously set for a
key role in the vehicle, to be directed by George
Sherman, was Gilbert Roland.
''
Warner Bros.
Stoge actress TINA CARVER was signed for a
featured part m "The Darkest Hour," in which Alan
Ladd IS starring under his Jaguar Productions banner.
In WornerColor and CinemaScope, the action drama
has Frank Tuttle at the directorial helm. FAY WRAY
will portroy an ex-movie star. Added to the cost
of Alan Ladds Jaguar production was 11 -year-old
PETER VOTRIAN. Starring with Ladd in the Worner-
Color-CinemaScope entry ore Edward G. Robinson
and Joanne Dru. Australian actor RODNEY TAYLOR
will moke his American film debut in the role of a
killer.
Jack Webb, producing, directing and starring in
"Pete Kelly's Blues" in the role of a band leader,
cost JAYNE MANSFIELD in the CinemoScope-Warner-
Color feature.
Cost as a teenage hoodlum in "Rebel Without o
Couse," starring James Dean, was TOM BERNARD.
The David Weisbart production is being directed by
Nicholas Roy. DENNIS HOPPER, currently making
his screen bow in the picture, will next enact a featured
role in the George Stevens-Henry Ginsberg production,
"Giant," which stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock
Hudson, James Dean and Jane Withers. The opus,
based on a novel by Edna Ferber, will be megged by
Stevens.
Story Buys
Columbia
v^oiumoia
Kid From Oklahoma," an original western by
Ray Buffum, fum, was purchased pure and assigned to Walloce
MocDonold to produce
Independent
Producer-director Earl McEvoy, who has just formed
his own unit, acquired film rights to "Thin Air," a
novel by Howard Brown about activities in on advertising
ogency. Harry Essex has been signed to prepare
the screenplay.
Universal-International
"Round-Up," an original by Robert Blees and Harry
Essex, was purchased and handed to Albert Zugsmith
to produce. A story of the west in the 1850s,
it concerns the hunt for seven heirs named in the
will of a wealthy prospector.
Film rights were obtained to "The Game," a suspense
novel by Ann Head.
Technically
Allied Artists
Art director on producer-director William Wyler's
"Friendly Persuasion" is TED HAWORTH.
Independent
C, V, Whitney Pictures signed JAMES RYAN to
function as costing director.
Metro-Goldviryn-Mayer
HAROLD LIPSTEIN will be the cinematogropher on
"Her Guardian Angel."
United Artists
Samuel Goldwyn |r. set GENE MILFORD to edit
the upcoming "The Shorkf ighters,"
ERNEST LASZLO is the cinematogropher on producer-director
Robert Aldrich's "The Big Knife."
Title
Changes
Columbia
"The Calico Pony" to COUNT THREE AND PRAY.
East: Harold Hecht of the Hecht-Lancaster
organization left for New York en route to
Paris on a business trip, while Walter Seltzer,
vice-president in charge of advertising and
publicity, pulled out for Manhattan for conferences
with United Artists executives ane
campaigns on two upcoming H-L features,
West: Pat Duggan, Paramount produc
returned after a stay of several weeks
Gotham, scouting location sites and tale
for his next venture, a film biography
orchestra leader Red Nichols.
East: Adolph Zukor, Paramount boa
chairman, concluded a three-month stay
the studio and returned to his New Yo
headquarters. Meantime Danny Kaye, Norm;
Panama and Melvin Frank returned frc
Gotham after meetings with Paramount hoi
office executives concerning distribution pla
for their Dena production, "The Coi;
Jester."
West: Joseph S. Dubin, Universal-Inte
national chief studio counsel, planed in frc
Manhattan after attending to U-I busine
following a Washington meeting of committ
chairmen of the American Bar Ass'n secti^
on patents, trademarks and copyrights.
North: Gordon Douglas, Warner direct^
headed for San Pi-ancisco to check locatii
sites for the Liberace starrer which he w
pilot for producer Henry Blanke.
East: John H. Burrows, Lindsley Parsoi
associate producer, left for New York to co:
fer with Morey R. Goldstein, Allied Artis
vice-president and sales chief, on releam
plans for Parsons' latest feature, "Dark Ve:j|
ture."
East: Americo Aboaf, vice-president aijl
sales manager of U-I's foreign organizatio
planed out for Manhattan after a week
studio parleys.
West: Ray Heindorf, Warner studio musj
chief, checked in after a brief business junk
to New York. [t
East: Aaron Rosenberg, U-I producer, aij
director Jesse Hibbs planed to Washingta
with a print of "To Hell and Back," whiJ
_
stars Audie Murphy in his own life stoi^*'
They planned to screen the ClnemaScopI
Technicolor feature for the Defense Deparjj
ment and army brass.
* . , 'i
East: John Schlesinger and Dick HarimJ
executives of the Schlesinger organization
South Africa, left for Gotham en route baijj
to their headquarters after a brief visit
survey the local production scene, Duriil
their stay they were hosted at a Paramou:
luncheon by studio toppers including Y. Frai
Freeman, vice-president, and Don Hartma
executive producer.
United Artists
Set for one of the principal
was DENNIS WEAVER.
Universal-International
Contractee WILLIAM REYNOLDS was cost as a
navy officer in "Awoy All Boats," the Howard Christie
production which stors Jeff Chandler, George Nader
Julie Adams and Lex Barker. It is being filmed in
Technicolor ond VistaVision with Joseph Pevney at
the megaphone.
PAGETT,
r-,:^S??'"'»n^?'^'^
CHERYL CALLOWAY,
GEORGE ARGLAN, BONNIE FRANKLIN and PAT
MORROW were cost as Mo Kettles children in "The
Kettles in the Ozorks, starrino Morjorie Mam and
Arthur Hunnicutt under Charles Lament's direction
Richard Wilson is the producer.
RAY COLLINS was signed for a feotured role in
"A Time Remembered," Technicolor drama starring
Rock Hudson, Cornell Borchers ond George Sanders
which IS before the comeros with Jerry Hopper directing
for producer Albert J. Cohen. Assigned on
important role was DAVID JANSSEN.
Contract actor RAY DANTON, formerly of the
Broadway stage, was given an option extension.
East: Charles J. Peldman, TJ-I vice-president
and general sales manager, returned to
his Gotham headquarters after a series of
huddles with West Coast officials of the
company.
West: Joe Pasternak, MGM producer, ri
turned from a four-week tour of the ea>
midwest and West Indies, scouting new tnlei
for his next assignment.
East: Harry Cohn, president of Columbi
flew out for New York for conclaves wit
the company's eastern executives.
Welfare Pledges to $200,000
HOLLYWOOD—Nearly $200,000 has alread
been pledged by the motion picture industi
in the 1955 drive of the United Jewish Wei
fare Fund although the campaign has bare):
started, it was reported by Jack Karp, Para
mount studio executive, who is the UJW
film division chairman.
r
36 BOXOFFICE April 16, 19!;1|0|Q

t
i
I
lorrelation of Units
jefore WGA Council
HOLLYWOOD— Efforts to correlate activp,
1)1 the ea-st and west coast segments of
iiu- Guild of America were to highlight
.
!liiri-day national WGA council meeting
, -niiii; here Friday (15).
;tem.s on the agenda included election of a
ytional chairman for a two-year term; a
nori on the progress of negotiations in
-Ilk on a live TV and freelance radio
t with the networks: discussion of
\'
negotiations with the networks, to
!iortly here; signing of an affiliation
.nt between the two organizations, and
mapping of blueprints on joint corporate
pcedures.
Jastern delegates on hand for the parleys
rlucied Ei'ik Barnouw, Larry Markes, Don
j:liimer, Evelyn Burkey and Richard Jablow.
) presenting west coast writers were Herb
I'adow, Gomer Cool and Erna Lazarus, with
Jul Franklin, vice-president of WGA West,
chairman.
ihaplain-Pilot's
Story
Vill Be Done by U-I
HOLLYWOOD—Another war hero is to be
: til celluloid biographical treatment. Unlrsal-International
has purchased "The
S)ry of Dean Hess," which concerns a minijr
who became a combat fighter-pilot in
'irld War II and in Korea. Ordained in
I Church of the Disciple of Christ, Hess
anie an Army chaplain, then won his wings
: a fighter pilot. He is still working with the
.'iny, headquartering at the Pentagon in
^^shlngton.
.Charles Grayson and Vince Evans, who
vote the Hess story, have been set to prepare
I .script. Ross Hunter will produce.
lays J. T. Farrell Rights
lOLLYWOOD—Producer Lew Kerner, who
r ently acquired film rights to the James T.
Irrell novel. "Studs Lonigan," has secured
siilar rights to all of Farrell's other literary
f)perties. "Studs Lonigan" is being readied
t lensing as a United Artists release.
o Direct 'Jubal Troop'
lOLLYWOOD—Delmer Daves has been
Mied by Columbia to direct "Jubal Troop,"
1 ed on the historical western novel by Paul
^ llman, which is scheduled to go before
t
cameras late next month as a William
- Fadiman production.
'
licka' Series for TV
lOLLYWOOD—"My Friend Flicka." first of
2h-Fo.x's new telefilm series, which will soon
?. before the cameras under the banner of
'F Television F^-oductions, has been puri
iseci by CBS-TV for network presentation
1- inning in September.
r p. Bibas to Reed Prod.
rOLLYWOOD—Frank P. Bibas, former dlr
tor of the McCann-Erickson agency's mot
1 picture division, has joined Roland Reed
I iductions as vice-president in charge of
cimercial film operations. He will headq
rter at the California studios.
^ TTAINING attention-demanding pro-
/jS|l portions is the grumbling current
among members of the Publicists Guild
over the manner in which is ballyhooed the
annual Awards event of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Drumbeating
for Cinemania's yearly glamorfest for
the past several seasons has been entrusted
to the freelance flackery of Mayer and
O'Brien, Inc., comprising Howie Mayer and
Dale O'Brien— and therein lies the rub,
according to Hollywood's organized blurbei's.
There are several counts in their beef,
namely:
The Mayer-O'Brien outfit is primarily a
Chicago firm, maintaining a branch office in
the film capital principally for the purpose of
handling the Academy account.
Mayer, O'Brien and members of their
organization are not PG members, although
John del Valle. who does hold such membership,
this year was retained to hold harassed
Howie's coat during Operation Oscar. Despite
the fact that the Mayer-O'Brien office receives
a handsome annual honorarium from
the Academy — reportedly $25,000 — infinitely
more publicity for the Awards presentations
is garnered through the routine activities of
studio blurbing departments than results from
the efforts of the catch-as-catch-can outfit.
This, of course, derives from the campaigning
by each film foundry on behalf of its respective
nominees, be they picttu-es or personalities.
Then, on Oscar's big night, each studio
is asked by the Academy to detail two of its
tubthumpers to help in servicing the press,
radio and television on Awards coverage, and,
again, they are responsible for the major
portion of supplying the necessary cooperation
and information to newsmen chronicling
the shindig. Further, the squawkers point out,
many PG card-bearers are also dues-paying
affiliates of the Academy, just as are members
of other film capital guilds and unions.
Resultantly, it is held, they rate consideration
ahead of a hinterlands public relations
impresario.
The rumblings are becoming sufficiently
loud so that it is possible the situation will
be tossed up for grabs at a near-future meeting
of PG. While there appears to be sound
foundation for some facets of the publicists'
plaints, no one apparently is prepared to come
forward with a practical suggestion for correcting
the offending setup. One proposal
submits that the account be allotted to a
Hollywood independent outfit with a percentage,
at least, of PG members among its
personnel. This would be a geographical
improvement, if nothing more. There are
other substitute plans being bandied about
by the union praise agents, many of which
have their good points and their bad.
This space will venture a few bob that the
teacup tempest will hatch no results and that
when Oscar again dons his white tie and
tails, comes next March, Mayer-O'Brien and
company will still be on the Academy payroll,
and the studio lads will still be shoveling the
coal.
Since that historical day when Samuel
Goldw>n issued his legendary dictum, "Gentelmen.
include me out," no one has been
accorded so much publicity for not doing
somcthng as was the lot of Mario l.anza
when he faited to fulfill a singing date at
the plush New Frontier in Las Vegas. The
temperamental tenor backed away at the la>'l
minutes, his advisers asserting that Lanza
was unable to appear because of a sudden
attack of laryngitis.
The columnists enjoyed a field day conjecturing
on the true reasons for his defection.
Some of the keyholing thereon was downright
vicious, charging everything from "cold
feet" to drunkenness. This, of course, is not
the first time that show business has run
afou! in undertaking to complete entertainment
in which Lanza figured. It will be
recalled that MOM encountered considerable
grief when it handed him the title role in
"The Student Prince" and had to replace him
with Edmund Purdom when, after Lanza had
completed all the song recordings for the
film, he failed to report for the beginning of
actual shooting on the picture.
In view of which, courageous indeed is
Warner Bros.' declared determination to carry
on with its plans for producing "Serenade,"
in which Lanza has been signed to star, and
which is tentatively scheduled for a late-AIay
kickoff.
Here, again, it might not be a bad bet to
wager the project doesn't get off the ground
during that month—if any.
Good it is to report that Robert Goodfried,
major-domo of previews in Teet Carle's Paramount
praisery. is recovering completely and
rapidly from his recent encounter with the
surgeon's scalpel.
As Bob was emerging from the anesthetic,
for once he didn't say, "My pleasure, doc!"
Despite the general adoption of the widescreen,
before the cameras at 20th-Fox is
"The Tall Man," while Hecht-Lancaster has
recently purchased a literary property called
"The Tall Dark Man."
Step right up an' call me "Shorty."
After her let's-interview-the-stars (including
Hearst's Jimmy Starn telecast following
the Academy Awards ratrace, Shirley Thomas,
glamor-gal film reporter for NBC-TV, is
eligible for lifetime membership in
TSFTEAIEOW—the Society for the Endless
and Inarticulate Employment of "Wonderful"
—of which Ed "Laughing Boy" Sullivan is
president.
Upon reading about the fabulous new tenyear
contract handed Jack Webb by NBC-TV,
one begins to doubt that hoary axiom holding
that crime does not pay.
B KOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955 37

'
^ Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
(Academy Award Wins
if:
Water-Cooled Apertures
^ Cinerama
^
,,.€lHd fCaUt^
(to name but a few
"
BJtiBHHK
•CurrenM/ operofing of the Radio
Cify Music Hall, New Yoric Of)' and
Stanley Warner Theatre, Beverly
Hilh, Caiifornia.
There's dramatic significance in ibis record of engineer j
accomp/Zshmenf by CENTURY. These CENTURY "rirsfs'' m«n
important practical advantages to every exhibitor— large^rj;
small, it's your assurance of engineering know-how, of g -!
uine exclusive features, of the scientific approach to beir •_
motion picture projection and sound reproduction.
VISTAVISION. CENTURY has made a notable contributu
to the technique of motion picture presentation with a
design and production of the first Paramount VISTAVISI(>I
horizontal projectors.*
CINERAMA. "The wonder of the entertainment worl( I
Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of Is
revolutionary process and CENTURY is the exclusive p-
ducer of projectors for Cinerama.
HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOLp
APERTURES. The introduction of these two featu's
brought about a big improvement in sound quality, increasJ
screen illumination and sharper pictures.
No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experien
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It mec
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design a
quality production of all motion picture projection and sou
equipment.
^^f^
Southwest Theatre Supply Co.
3750 East Von Buren
Phoenix, Arizona
Interstate Theatre Equipment Co.
1923 N. W. Kearney
Portland, Oregon
Buy your standard and special projection and
sound equipment from your Century dealer.
Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N.
SOLD B Y
Pembrex Theatre Supply Corp.
1969 South Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles 7, California
Walter G. Preddey Co.
187 Golden Gote Ave.
San Francisco 2, California
38 BOXOFFICE April 16, :>5

'
•
iidustry
. RENTON,
'
. . The
. . Sympathy
. . Win
. . Carl
(oiion Picture Day,
"
{oundup Get in Gear
SALT LAKE CITY—Preliminaiy arrangelents
have been made for a Motion Hctiire
!ay June 14 to be held in conjunction with
,ie annual Roundup of the motion picture
here. Variety Tent 38 and branch
lanauers along Filmrow are in charge.
The event will be at Saltair. a resort on
nat Salt Lake, W'hieh is being remodeled. All
niployes of exchanges and their families are
) be invited.
Tentative plans include a parade of bands
om the Salt Lake area, to be held in coperation
with the musicians union, which
1 ill donate its services. Pi-oceeds go to the
I |[eart Fund of Variety Tent 38.
The Roundup has been dated to follow thioecial
day. Highlight of this three-day
athering will be a golf tournament, at Meaowbrook
Club. It is expected to attract far
lore than the customary 100 to 120 golfers
ho play annually in the tournament. The
5ual round of tea.s, a Calcutta and special
?reenings are planned, to be climaxed with
dinner dance at the Hotel Utah June 17.
Dick Stafford, chief barker of Variety Tent
8, Is in chai-ge of arrangements; Jack Sw'onon
is chairman for the Roundup and George
."ngar is chairman of the parade.
^lans Airer in Idaho
ST. MARIES, IDA.—Robert Cook, manager
If the Bungalo Theatre, reports that he has
purchased the necessary land to build a
[rive-in near Plummer. Plans for the ozoner
all for a 200-car capacity and the latest
irojection and .sound equipment.
Another Airer Opened
WASH.—The El Rancho Drive-
R has been reopened according to Lloyd
ioney, co-owner and manager.
SHE'S THE HOSTESS—Mrs. Morton
shown here with Ezra Stem, chief
Scott,
barker of Variety Tent 25 of Southern
California, has been elected president of
the club's auxiliary. In that capacity
she'll plan entertainment for the distaff
element when Variety Clubs International
holds its 19th annual convention beginning:
May 4 in Los Ang;eles. Other new
officers of the femme contingent are
Mrs. M. J. E. McCarthy and Mrs. Stern,
vice-presidents: Mrs. W. H. LoUier,
property mistress, and Mrs. Fred Stein,
dough girl.
Floral Pieces Launch Feldman Drive
The San Francisco U-I exchange really went festive in launching the Charles J.
Feldman drive. Obtaining the sponsorship of the San Francisco Florists .\ss'n, Ted
Reisch, Frisco manager, and Barney Rose, district chief, arranged a beflowered patio
in front of the U-I exchange building for a reception to some 150 exhibitors representing
300 theatres. Members of the florists group furnished more than 'i5 floral pieces while
leading department stores supplied patio tables, unbrellas and chairs. A 20-foot tree
was planted with the names of 13 U-I pictures in the form of leaves. In addition, a new
species of rose was designated the Charles J. Feldman rose.
SAN FRANCISCO
. . . Screen
The booking of the best foreign pictures is
up to the townspeople, says Dick Shipps,
manager of the Sunset in Lodi. If public
response indicates, the Sunset will feature
such films on certain nights . E. Vinson
and Vera Johnson have installed Cinemascope
in their Joy Theatre
stars Alan Ladd and William Demarest were
here shooting scenes for Warner's "The
Darkest Hour." Joining them later were
Edward G. Robinson and Joanne Dru.
Jack Bettencourt, longtime associate of the
film industry here, announced his retirement.
He started with Turner & Dahnken on Eddy
St. in 1909 and joined Paramount Lasky
. "Rose
.
Corp., in 1918, where he remained until 1948.
He was manager of Paramount here from
1932 to 1934. In July 1949, he joined the
Favorite Films exchange here
Tattoo" was previewed at the
. .
Paramount
Theatre. Hal Wallis and staff were here for
the sneak United Ai'tists Theatre,
managed by Bub Tapper, is being remodeled.
Otto Schmit, Orland Theatre, Orland, announced
the sale of his management contract
to Hazel Stewart Reese, owner, who
took over April 30. Ray Syufy, who has taken
over the Geneva Drive-In, plans extensive
remodeling . to Andy Anderson,
Paramount salesman, on the death of
his father . Min Than. Burma star
of "The Purple Plain," visited the local UA
exchange on her publicity tour of the city.
Gerald Hardy, Hardy Theatres, and his
wife left for France via plane where they
will start a European tour . . . Rotus Harvey,
Westland Theatres, is proud of the first
place Variety Club bowling team which he
sponsors . . . Jim Barry's team Is leading in
the volleyball tournament at the YMCA. He
is manager of the Western Theatrical Equipment
Co. . . . Jean Eichenbaum recovered from
auto accident injuries.
Westland Chain Opens
Colorado Springs Airer
COLORADO SPRINGS—The new Aircadia,
800-car drive-in just completed by Westland
Theatres on Highway 24, was opened recently.
Named manager was Gerald E. Truesdell, who
comes from the Eighth Street Drive-In.
Derald Hart is city manager for Westland
Theatres. Larry Starsmore is president and
general manager of the company.
The theatre is situated on a 40-acre tract,
part of which has been made into a supervised
Fairyland for children. Parents can
watch the playground from the patio which is
on one side of the self-service snack restaurant.
The manager's office and projection
booth are on top of the restaurant. The
screen accommodates an 86x4«-foot picture.
Grounds of the theatre are adorned with
large planter boxes of flowers outside the
restaurant, projection building and boxoffice.
The two exits at the rear of the parking
space lead to several routes of departure from
the grounds.
Architects were Lusk and Wallace, and local
contractors did most of the work.
Improved Ozoner Opened
VANCOUVER, WASH.—The Renfro Drive-
In was recently reopened with Cinemascope
equipment according to Francis Bakke,
spokesman for the Adamson circuit.
SPECIAL^^SSB
TRAILERS
HLMACK
We Can Please '''"'•/^^^H^
Send Us Your
Next Order.
BOXOFnCE :
: April 16, 1955 39

. . Kenneth
'
INDUSTRY PROFILE
Stan Lefcourt, Showman by Choice,
Progresses Far in Short Time
SAN FRANCISCO—Stanley Lefcourt,
Pacific Drive-In Theatres northern
Cahfornia manager, is a young man of
33 who. in a relatively short time, has
come a long way in his chosen career.
He entered the industry directly from
college, joining the Warner Bros, mailroom
at the Burbank studio after actor
Ricardo Cortez. a cousin, arranged an
interview with a studio executive. With
this as a start, his rise has been brilliant
and rapid. He soon worked his
way into publicity. Next, while on a
visit home to San Pi-ancisco, where his
family lived, he dropped in to see Al
Shmitken, local Warner Bros, manager,
and arrangements were made for
Stan to work at the local exchange as
an apprentice booker, where he remained
until August 1942, when he enlisted
in the Navy.
Out of the Navy, Stan returned to
Warner Bros, and in a few months was
promoted to the post of senior booker.
His father, an executive for a nationwide
chain of exclusive specialty stores,
had long given Stan up to the entertainment
world. And Pilmrow here had
long since accepted Stan as the nice
kid who got such a kick out of his work.
It wasn't too long after his return
from service that Golden State Theatres
asked him to join their organization
as booker for the circuit's San
Francisco theatres. He worked as
booker for about a year and a half,
when Bernie Kranze, vice-president and
general sales manager for the newly
organized Film Classics, asked Stan to
take over as local office manager and
booker.
Prom here, Stan moved to Los Angeles
as city salesman. When Eagle
Lion took over Film Classics, Stan went
with EL as salesman and, within a
year, was promoted to sales manager.
When United Artists assimilated
Eagle Lion, Stan was asked to remain
on in the same capacity as sales manager,
which he did for a year and a
half. One of the accounts handled by
the exchange was the Pacific Drive-In
Theatres, which offered Stan a position
as executive assistant to general manager
Gus Diamond to oveisee the thc-
Richard Marvel Successful
With His Kiddy Day Parade
ST. PAUL, NEB.—Exhibitor Richard Marvel
scored a civic triumph with his Kiddy
Day parade. Children, not only from St. Paul
but surrounding towns, paraded down Main
street bedecked in costumes and competed
for prizes. It was an all-day affair and included
a free show, music by a drum and
bugle corps and other entertainment. Main
street was roped off for the celebration.
Marvel took 16mm movies in color and
plans to rig up a 16mm projector in his booth
to show the movies of the event. A radio
station made a tape recording of the program.
STANLEY LEFCOURT
atres and do the film buying.
Stan came back to San Francisco as
northern California manager, wath
supervision over Royal Theatres, Honolulu,
which had just been taken over
by the Pacific circuit; Mission Drive-In
here, and theatres in Porterville, Tiacy
and Sacramento, included among the
interests of Principal Theatres, affiliated
with Pacific.
Married, Stan and his wife recently
celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.
All active Variety Club member,
he was just installed as property
master and membership co-chairman
While in Los Angeles, Stan was the
founder and first president of the
Filmrow Club, a social and charitable
group, which now boasts of 650 members.
He was also one of the founders
of the San Francisco Filmrow wing of
the "VTyrCA.
When asked how he felt about the
future of the industry, Stan replied,
confidently, "Business will always be
good as long as men of vision and
foresight are at its helm. The more
mature understanding there is of the
problems of the exhibitor and the distributor,
the greater the advances in
the industry "
Denver Books 'Informer'
NEW YORK—"The Informer." RKO reissue,
will play the Aladdin Theatre, Denver,
starting Tuesday (26). according to Walter
Branson, worldwide sales manager. "The Sea
Around Us," another RKO release, will play
the lower half of the program.
Murray Peck to Nevada
LAS VEGAS—Lloyd Katz, vice-pre.sident of
the Nevada Theatres, has announced the
appointment of Murray Peck of Los Angeles
to be supervisor of the circuit's Fremont,
Palace and Huntridge theatres.
DENVER
. . .
gill Prass, free-lance distributor and publi;y
man, engineered the campaign |r^
"Stranger on Horseback" which started B
Wadsworth and Monaco drive-ins on tlH
first run policy, and "Purple Plain," whWB
Main
is running at the Paramount
Goldfarb, Buena Vista district supervisor, iji
Tommy McMahon, Salt Lake City salesnfi
went to Kansas City for a sales meeting wli
Jesse Chinick, sales manager, in from i^
York. Tommy Thompson. Kansas City sa\4
man, also attended.
Lee Theatres, operating three drive-insnJ
the state, has bought the Lakewood Thes'e
i'l Lakewood from the Jefferson Amusemit
Co. .
"Bud" Bromell, 19. of '^e
shipping department at National Thefe
Supply, was killed in a train-auto collitn
as he was taking his girl friend home alt
j
a movie. The couple had planned to be m
ried soon. Bromell was the son of Mrs. ;
Glatz, whose husband is purchasing agent
Fox Intermountain Theatres. Funeral ;
burial were in Denver.
Elsie Knox of Service Theatre Supply
:
completed 18 months as a member of
federal grand jury. The group received
thanks of the judge for a job well done
Harry Simons, MGM auditor, was in fr
New York on a periodic check . . . Je
Banta, MGM sale.sman, was pulled out o
snowdrift near Thermopolis, Wyo,, during
recent blizzard.
Mrs. Ethel Williams, 58, inspector at RJ
died of a heart attack while at work,
was the sister of Elmer Finch, head ship
at the same exchange. Funeral and buj
were in Denver . . . Terry Turner, longti
publicity man, was in from New York to n
campaigns for "Gangbusters," of which
owns a portion. The film has been boot
in more than 35 situations day and date
the territory.
Hal Fuller is fast making his Dimens:
Pictures exchange one of the most up-to-d
on the Row. He has added an electric ty
writer and is improving his inspection ro
and the vault to provide more storage spi
Fuller recently flew to Albuquerque on bl
ness . . . Leonard Scales has opened his n
350-car Rocket Drive-In at Grand Juncti
He has arranged for additional space a
will expand as the patronage demands. 01
ence Batter will do the buying and booking
Lou Astor, western sales manager
Columbia, and Wayne Ball, western divisi
manager, were in for a sales meeting .
Earle Peterson, United Artists salesman, w^
serves portions of the Salt Lake City a
Denver areas, was in for conferences wi
M. R. Austin, manager.
Theatre folks seen on Filmrow includ
Kenneth Powell, Wray: Fred Andersc .ii
Eaton; George Kelloff, Aguilar; Tom Knlgl ''
Riverton, Wyo.; Carlin Smith, Glenrot
Wyo.; Elden Menagh, Fort Lupton.
. B«i
Opens With Bigger Screen
REDMOND, ORE.—Owner Milton L. Ode
reports that he has reopened his Odem-Me
Drive-In with facilities for the showing of t,
latest screening processes. The screen was e
panded from 36x48 feet to 42x92.
!FE
511,
is
40
BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 19 ijfj

. College
.
:[)

. . The
. . Morris
. . Sero
. .
. . Seen
Nassers and Bogeaus Sue Distributors
Over Sale of Theatrical Films to TV
HOLLYWOOD—Each seeking to clarify
conditions governing the sale to TV of theatrical
motion pictures, the independent production
organizations headed by the Nasser Bros,
and Benedict Bogeaus almost simultaneously
filed federal district court suits seeking a
total of more than $12,000,000 in damages.
The Nassers named United Ai-tists, Loew's,
Columbia, RKO Radio, 20th Century-Pox,
Universal-International, Paramount, Warner
Bros., Chesapeake Industries, Pathe Laboratories,
Eagle Lion Classics and Pictorial Films
as defendants. The action is, in part, a
counter-suit against one filed last year
against the Nassers by UA, seeking monies
received by the Nassers from the sale to
video of four- features on which UA had held
a theatrical distribution commitment.
Briefly, the Nasser suit contends that UA's
refusal to release the four subjects to TV
forced them into bankruptcy proceedings.
The Nassers, seeking cancellation of their
UA releasing agreement, also ask permission
to retain the money received from television
bookings. Triple damages are sought from UA
and the other distributor-defendants for
alleged restraint of trade and violation of
the Sherman antitrust act, the assertion being
that they conspired to prevent the licensing
of theatrical film product for television.
The suit asks $3,000,000 actual damages
and $3,000,000 punitive damages from UA,
Chesapeake and Eagle Lion Classics, an additional
$50,000 from Chesapeake, ELC, Pictorial
Films and Pathe Laboratories, and triple
damages of $4,000,000 from UA and the other
distributor-defendants for asserted antitrust
violations.
The Bogeaus action was a counter-suit
against UA, Chesapeake, Pathe and Pictorial,
earlier litigation having charged he violated
his UA distribution agreement by releasing
"My Outlaw Brother" to TV before its theatrical
booking life had been completed. In his
suit the filmmaker, seeking $1,000,000 in actual
and $1,000,000 in punitive damages, asserted
UA had refused his request to release the
feature to television and thereby violated its
agreement to distribute it as widely as possible.
His allegation is that the film had
not earned enough in conventional bookings
to pay off its bank loan and that he was
therefore faced with possible foreclosure.
NSS Promotes Emil Davis
SAN FRANCISCO—Emil Davis, service
manager with National Screen Service for
the past 15 years, has been promoted to sales
representative, according to Manager Jack
Marpole. He replaces Harry Weaverling, who
resigned to devote all his attention to his
Rio Theatre, Rodeo. Another change at NSS
has L. Sutter moving up to the position of
head shipper.
WE CAN SELL YOUR THEATRE
SUBURBAN
HOMES CO.
THEATRE SALES DIVISION
CALL- IRV BOWRON -wft/rf
Ph. PR. 4-327S KE. 1374
2745-S.E. 82nd Portlond 66, Ore.
LOS ANGELES
.
.
Cervices were held Tuesday (12) for Robert
Ableson, 56, Paramount branch sales manager
here the last five years. Ableson, who
started with Paramount as a Minneapolis
salesman more than 25 years ago, died at the
Veterans Hospital in Sawtelle after an illness
of four months. He leaves the wife and a
son Earle Johnson booking service
is now handling the buying chores for Mike
Levinson's Nuart and Tivoli theatres in West
Los Angeles Sudmin, 20th-Fox
branch manager, took off on a swing through
Arizona, planning to stop in Tucson long
enough to pick up a new car.
Among: booking-buying visitors were Charles
Maestri and Dan Pavich of the Lippert circuit;
Bob Dunnegan, who operates a drive-in
in Blyth; Fred Siegel and his sons John and
Robert, the Palomar and Margo in Oceanside,
and Lloyd Katz, Nevada Theatre Corp.,
Las Vegas . . . Mike Rosenberg of Principal
Theatres left for a vacation in Hawaii .
Alex Cooperman, IF^ division chief, took
off for San Francisco.
partnership with Eddie Askin,
Al Olander, who operates the Yuma Drivein
in Yuma in
hopped over to Ai'izona to look over the property.
Olander also has the Garmar and
Vogue theatres in Montebello . Amusement,
headed by William Oldknow, has taken
over and reopened the Cherry Pass Drive-In
between Banning and Beaumont. For a time
the ozoner was operated by Syd Lehman and
Harry Rackin of Exhibitors' Service.
Minor injuries were incm-red by Eleen Kenyon
of the WB contract department in an
automobile accident over the Easter weekend
. . . Pacific Drive-ins opened its 26th ozoner,
the 1,700-car Vineland, Fi-iday (15) in the
Puente area. The 27th, the Lam-el in the
San Fernando valley, is due to open in about
three weeks.
Shuttered for a facelifting. Fox West
Coast's Valley Theatre in North Hollywood is
scheduled to be reopened Tuesday (19). Heretofore
a subsequent run situation, the policy
is being changed and the showcase will serve
as a so-called art house specializing in foreign
and offbeat fare . . . Hugh Thomas jr.,
prominent southern exhibitor and owner of
the Siesta Drive-In in Sarasota, Fla., checked
in for huddles with producer Hal R. Makelim
on the latter's Makelim Plan, whereby exhibitors
are guaranteeing playdates for a
program of theatrical celluloid.
Spokane Airer Opened
SPOKANE—Manager E.
W. Baker reports
that the East Trent Drive-In has been opened
for the summer season.
Rudolph Martinez at Gonzales
GONZALES, CALIF.—Rudolph Martinez,
new to the theatre business, recently acquired
the Star here.
Two Portland Men Lease
Theatre at Weiser, Ida.
WEISER, IDA.—The Star Theatre was
cently reopened after a short closure um
a new management. Glenn Brogger, the n
manager, and J. A. Clark of Portland
leased the theatre from the owners, Mr. a]
Mrs. Ralph Lyle. The new lessees, known
the B&C Theatre Co., state that they v!\
completely redecorate the house and inst
Cinemascope equipment.
The theatre had been leased for the 1;
ten years by Joseph L. Lawrence and D.
Edwards of Salt Lake City. Jack Haigh h'
been the manager for the past four years;
Mike Williams Dies
ARCADIA, NEB.—Exhibitor Mike Williai
died at his home Saturday (9) as the rest]
of an internal hemorrhage. Williams had b6i )i
ailing recently and not long ago was a patie
at Veteraixs Hospital at Grand Island. W,
liams operated the Gayety Theatre hej,
While he was hospitalized, Dick Marvel of Jj
Paul carried on operations for him.
Oregon Drive-In Sold
THE DALLES, ORE.—Mr. and Mrs. EdwalJ
T. Chambers have purchased the Starligi
Drive-In from David W. Moore. Waltf
Eschebeck, who has managed the airer sin|
it was opened in 1953, will continue to sup
vise the operation. The new owners rep
that they plan to install Cinemascope equij
ment in the near future.
Harold Lorimer Upped
PORTLAND—Marvin Fox, city managi
for the local John Hanu'ick theatres, repon'
that Harold Lorimer, assistant manager !
the Liberty Theatre, has been promoted
the city manager at Enumclaw, Wash., for tl t
cii-cuit. His post at the Liberty will be filli
by Darwyn Whitney of Seattle.
Washington Ozoner Reopened
TOPPENISH, WASH.—The Top-Hi DriV';
In was opened recently by owner A. H. Darbj
who also reported that Mrs. Betty Nafts w
be manager of the concessions stand this yes
SEATTLE
Qelia Blatt, booker at 20th-Fox, returlM
to her desk after a flying trip to La Joll
Calif., over the Easter holidays . . . Gordo
Wallinger, Allied Artists salesman, returne
from a trip to the northern part of the stat'
including Bellingham and Blaine . . . Bij
Daugaard was on the Row from the Johj
Lee circuit . . . Peter Bai'nes, in from Chelai
Oroville and Okanogan, reports that he
building new drive-ins at Chelan and Orovill'
to be opened about July 1. He is installin
Cinemascope in both airers as well as th
Ruby Theatre, Chelan, whose first play dat
for the widescreen installation will be in ear^
July due to necessary extensive remodeling.
Gary Olund was in from the Grand Thea
tre, Bremerton . on the Row wer
Paul Volkman, Liberty, Wapato; Martil
Brown, Avenue Theatre, Yakima, and Vanc
Weskil, Sandpoint, Colfax and Pullman.
1|
42 BOXOFFICE :
: AprU 16, 195

i
: and
:mta Board Endorses
Jl-Industry Parley
,
-:A.\SAS city—Kansas-Missouri Theatre
I. liirectors, meeting in the association
iLc- in the Paramount building, 1802 Wy-
.dotte. Wednesday (13), adopted a motion
r E- "Doc" Cook of MaryviUe, Mo., en-
- the stand taken recently by TOA
lur an all-industry conference to dislile.ged
excessive rentals and unfair
111 imposed on many exhibitors.
r:;i resolution further suggested the presi-
articular attention was called to bills
il,v before the Missouri legislature which
yuld affect exhibitors. House bill 410, gene.lly
known as the boiler safety act (which
80 deals with air conditioning units), would
r uire licensed engineers for both installatn
and maintenance in many situations.
Te bill on increased unemployment comfjisation
which has passed the house will
cne up for hearing In a senate committee
S'H, and since this will affect exhibitors
8/ersely, several carloads of theatremen
attend the hearing from Kansas City and
»,I
through the state.
c
)ptim:sm was expressed in regard to the
c/light saving threat In Kansas City which
vuld be imposed on the whole area if
f,;sed by the city council. It was felt that
ts would be left for the general public to
Ve the decision.
/lention was made of the combined meeti
with MITO of St. Louis at Arrowhead
Ilge, Lake of the Ozarks May 10-12. The
f is $25. w'hich includes breakfast Thursday
i.rning (121. All program arrangements
i/e been left in the hands of KMTA but
E-^sident Ed Harris said the gathering will
t primarily a vacation get-together. Hower,
prominent industry figures are being
i^ited as guests.
\ buffet luncheon was served by Zella
^jlkner, office secretary. Board members
8[1 others present besides those mentioned
iluded Marty Landau, George Baker, Dick
Irwood, Nick Sonday, Frank Weary III,
vui Basham, Ken Winkelmeyer, Harley
! er, Al McCliu-e, R. R, Biechele.
Allied of llUnois Fotms
Anti-Toll TV Committee
CHICAGO—Directors of Allied Theatres of
Illinois Thursday last week appointed a committee
to organize exhibitor support in this
exchange area for the program of the Committee
Against Toll TV. The committee will
help theatre owners secure the cooperation
of retail business associates, real estate
boards, local chambers of commerce, veterans
and fraternal organizations and other citizen
groups directly concerned with the problem,
in making their opposition to pay-as-you-see
TV known to the FCC before the May 9
deadline.
The Allied committee includes Jack Clark.
chairman; Donald Knapp. Robert V. Harrison
and Bruce Ti-inz.
The Illinois Allied board also went on record
opposing two bills, and approved one bill
recently introduced in the Illinois state legislatiu-e.
The bills to which the board voiced
its objection is one dealing with censorship
of movies by counties in unincorporated cities
and the other prohibiting the consti-uction or
maintenance of screens visible on state highways.
In voicing opposition to the censorship
measiu-e the board said that censorship
of any kind is abhorrent to the American
people and violates the guarantees of the
Fir^ Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Moreover, it was pointed out, the
movie industry has done an excellent job of
policing itself through the Pi-oduction Code
Administration which has maintained a high
record of decency in motion pictm-e production.
With regard to the bill relating to drive-in
screens, the board felt that its passage
would deprive many rural communities of
drive-in theatres and that the notion that
such screens are a public nuisance is unfounded.
Approved was a bill prohibiting the
collection of license fees by any organization
within the state for the reproduction of copyrighted
music.
President Kirsch reported a deal was recently
concluded with the International Popcorn
Ass'n whereby that organization will combine
its convention and tradeshow with TESMA
and TEDA at the 1955 National Allied Convention
in Chicago, at the Morrison Hotel,
November 5-9. Committee chairmen named
by Kirsch, who is general chairman of this
year's National Allied convention, are; Yeaibook—S.
J. Papas, chairman, and Arthur
Schoenstadt, co-chairman; publicity—Bruce
Tiinz, chairman; special events—Jack Rose,
chairman; registration and reception—Jack
Clark and Charles R. Lindau, co-chairmen;
entertainment—Richard Salkin, chairman;
decorations—Sam Krimstein, chairman. A
women's committee also will be formed and
announced shortly.
At the host unit. Allied Theatres of Illinois
also will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary
diu-ing the national convention and plans will
be made by the directors to appropriately observe
the occasion.
Members of the board were acquainted by
Paul G. Giberson of the Giberson Insurance
Agency, Chicago, with the impending move
by the Western Actuarial Bureau, ratemaking
body for fire and extended coverage
rates in Cook County and Chicago, to eliminate
the previous surcharges for fire insurance
on films and on contents of film booths
due to the diminishing use of inflammable
nitrate films in motion picture theatres and
that a single uniform contents fire insurance
rate will prevail on all motion picture theatre
contents within Chicago and Cook
County. This development, which should result
in savings to theatres in annual fire insiu'ance
rates, came about at the instigation
of Allied of Illinois.
Recent new Allied membership additions,
which Kirsch reported to the board, are the
Avon Theatre, Chicago: Double and Sunset
Drive-In theatres and the Towne Theatre,
Midlothian, 111.
(any Vaccine Telecast
;HICAG0—B&K's Uptown Theatre pres
ted a closed-circuit telecast program on
t^ Salk polio vaccine for doctors only. The
l";ir-long telecast came from New York and
* i sponsored by the National Foundation of
I'antile Paralysis and the Eli Lily Pharmactical
Co.
CHEER ^V1TH BROIDY—There was lots of good humor evident after Steve Broidy,
Allied Artists president, and Morey Goldstein, general sales manager, talked straight
down the line about their company's new products and major production plans at the
recent luncheon meeting in Chicago (29). Broidy told exhibitors: "Living together
takes more strength than fighting each other. Please stop trying to legislate yourselves
to success!" Above are, left to right: Arthur Schoenstadt. Schoenstadt Theatres;
Jack Kirsch, Allied Theatres of Illinois; Broidy; Dale McFarland, exhibitor from
Indianapolis, and Goldstein.
BflCOFTICE : : April 16, 1955
43

^ Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
(Academy Award Winn)
if:
Water-Cooled Apertures
^ Cinerama
'*
^Currently operating at fhe Radio
City Music Hall, New York City and
Stanley Warner Theofre, Beverly
Hills,
California.
There's dramafic significance in this record of engineerir
accomplishment by CENTURY. These CENTURY "firsfs" mec
important practical advantages to every exhibitor—large i
small. It's your assurance of engineering

; itrr
, ly
—
—
— —
! ;lass
—
. . . The
. . Pay-as-you-see
. . When
. ,
.
.
. . The
jt Bills Zoom in Fine
^feek at Kansas City
CAN'SAS CITY— It was a good week for
attendance here, especially in the art
All records have been broken at the
ivith "Doctor in the House," while
Slipper" at the Kimo seemed to
dt'-tmed for a long run, and "One Summer
I
(Happiness" was held for its ninth week at
(' Glen.
Unchained" was a disappointment at the
l>soiiri but the Orpheum opened with "A
,11 Called Peter" to a strong 180 per cent.
;, C'Duntry Girl" was still doing so well at
p iramount that it was held for a fourth
>ek. "Hit the Deck" was a sufficient hit
(I the Midland to be held over, but "Man
thmit a Star" at the four Fox houses was
a little better than an average attraction.
(Average Is 100)
I n—One Summer of Happiness (UA), 8fh wk, . .130
(10—The Gloss Slipper ;MGM) 225
/lllond- Hit the Deck (MGM) 1 30
( soun Unchoincd WB), The Sleeping Tiger
Astor) 75
(.heum—A Mon Colled Refer (20th-Fox) 180
( omount The Counfry Girl (Pare), 3rd wk 150
I HICAGO—Eleven new entries in Loop
t';atres, together with mild and sunny
vather, perked up business at the trrst run
luses. On Good Friday, when a week's holio'v
for school children began, it appeared
^isse.s would take a drop. But boxoffice
eipts at all theatres rose on Saturday and
1
inday. The highest grosser was "A Man
(;lled Peter" at the Oriental.
'Uso popular openers were "Hit the Deck"
s the McVickers, which played with "The
1| Tip-Off," and "To Paris With Love" at
?; Monroe. "The Glass Slipper" at the Loop
,eatre did w-ell. "Gangbusters" with "Battle
''xi" at the Roosevelt and "Revenge of the
(eature" billed with "Cult of the Cobra" got
siig play from teenagers and younger schoolh
children. "Untamed" at the Chicago and
•last of Eden" at the State Lake grossed 200.
:apE GIRARDEAU, MO.—The Starvue
Sive-In reopened on Sunday (10). Howard
tes and Carle Milne are the owners.
TOWN
NAME
STATE
POSITION
XOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955 45

. . . Dickinson's
. . Universal
. . Russell
. . The
!'
KANSAS CITY
T^on Burnett, who has the State at Larned,
Kas., and the Larned Drive-In. returned
from an Easter vacation trip to New Orleans
with Mrs. Burnett and his son Don, junior
at Kansas University. Burnett insists he
went to "End of the World," this being the
name of a little town encountered on a side
trip outside of New Orleans. Monday (11)
he and Zella Faulkner, KMTA secretary,
were exchanging reminiscences about the
southern city, dwelling especially on the
Ramos gin fizzes for which the Hotel Roosevelt
is famous. These, believe it or not, are
taken before breakfast, and consist of grapefruit
juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and
milk as well as (of course) the gin.
BOX-
Ben Shlyen, editor and publisher of
OFFICE, returned Sunday (10) from a west
coast vacation with Mrs. Shlyen and a business
conference with Ivan Spear, Hollywood
editor. While in Hollywood, Mr. and Mrs.
Shlyen attended the Academy award dinner
where they saw Ben Marcus, Columbia division
manager, and Mrs. Marcus. Marcus,
who had also attended his daughter's wedding
in Los Angeles, has returned to Kansas
City.
Harry Wood, auditor for 20th-Fox, was at
the local office. Joe Neger, manager, was in
Minneapolis Friday to consult with M. A.
Levy, division manager. Tuesday he left for
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46
PHONE or
WRITE
Chicago where he attended the meeting
branch managers at the Blackstone Hojj
on Wednesday (13). Those smiles you seel
20th-Pox faces these days are largely
to the terrific business "A Man Called Petefl
is doing.
Filmrow, instead of more theatres, "wej
dark" Monday (11) when electric wires wei
accidentally cut and lights went out in mil
of the exchanges. The dimout lasted for abcl
30 minutes and for a time held up the scree]'
ing of "Strange Lady in Town" by Warr
Bros, at the Fox screening room . . . Her>
I
S. Ungerleider, controller at Durwood's, Y't
gone east t

'
I
( ^ale
V
. distribution,
. . Bob
. . Kansas
. . Harry
. . About
:
IS., now being operated for him by Con-
Idated. has retiu'ned from Florida and
le to Rochester, Minn., for a routine
I
eckup at the Mayo clinic.
Fox Midwest reports the Plaza at Liberal,
»S., will open April 28 with Cinemascope
d this makes the circuit's theatres now 100
r cent CS-equipped. Joe Redmond, dii-ector
advertising and public relations, spent
ireral days in Newton recently helping with
ms for the opening of the new Fox there.
II Rector has returned from service and
11 be house manager of the Watson in Salina
. The Sunset Drive-In at Wellington. Kas..
erated by Joe Gregg and son Charles of
mey, will not open until May 1 instead of
•;e previous date scheduled as April 22.
Howard Strum of Poppers Supply reports
of two Perlick arena drink dis-
;i-ris, two Roto-Grille hot dog broilers
d two Servette popcorn warmers to Alex
uuderman and Lou Sutter for then- 63rd
eet combined drive-in theatre and skating
ik, which is scheduled to open in May.
le
skating rink is designed for winter operion
w'hen the drive-in is closed.
Missouri exhibitors who had business on
ilmrow recently were: Mr. and Mrs. John
aiidt, Plattsburg: Tom Spurgin, Stanberry:
urest Tucker, Bevier . exhibitors
10 visited Filmrow recently include Bob
irowig, Abilene; Cle Bratton, Council Grove;
jarren Weber. Midway Drive-In. Junction
Mrs. Simon Galitzki and daughter Mrs.
i.ty;
lenneth David of the Coed, Topeka.
.
.
limited Film Exclianges will handle 'Five
luns West" starring John Lund and Dorrhy
Malone. This is a picture by The Amer-
(an Releasing Corp. Gaffney of
lixie Enterprises was in St. Louis la.st week
1 business Carnie, salesman for
Hied Artists, was delayed in going out Into
s territory the past week by being called
iir jury service . . . Dorothy O'Connor, office
anager for the Allied ITO of Kansas-Misluri.
is on a brief vacation . 400
ddies showed up both nights for the Easter
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L. I. EIMBRIEL, Managn
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Z lis W. 18th Ecmaas City 8, Mo. ~
Egg Hunt which George Baker staged Saturday
and Sunday at his New 50 Drive-In.
Easter Services were held Sunday at 6 '.30
a.m.. by the Overland Park Christian Church.
Woodie Latimer of the L&L Popcorn Co.
held an instructive .school on the method and
procedure of popping corn at the Stuart
Theatre in Lincoln recently. This is a Cooper
Foundation theatre and he was able to show
the circuit why he is able to guarantee a 39
to 1 ratio on the new hybrid canned corn
called Butterflake. a new ratio in popping
corn. Actually. Latimer explained, it means
an exhibitor will buy less corn at that ratio
—but insists you cannot hold back progress.
Howard Jameyson, chairman of the board
for Commonwealth Theatres, was in from
Wichita to preside at the board meeting
Tuesday. Lloyd Morris, film buyer, and Ed
Kirk, booker, went to Des Moines the past
exploiteer,
week on a film buying
MGM
Bernie Evens,
trip . . .
has announced the Wheel
of Fortune float from "The Pi-odigal" will
visit Kansas City April 27, with three starlets
from the picture and three local beauties.
These will appear on TV and radio programs
and be interviewed by the press and will attend,
the ball game that evening between the
Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Athletics.
The float will be in Wichita the following
day going through many of the same
routine stunts.
BOWLING
KANSAS CITY—The following team standings
are reported for the Filmrow Bowling
League
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Shreve 74 38 Finton Jones 60 30
Poppers 66 46 Hartmon's .54 36
Ques'nmorks 61 51 Control 50 40
Monley 601/2 51 Vz Heart D-l 48 42
Dixie 591/2 521/2 Manley 47 43
Mode O' Doy 461/2 631.2 Mode O' Doy. .42 48
Jones Boys .45 64 Foxy Five 36 54
United Film 371/2 741/2 101 Service ...23 67
Wichita Nomar Suffers
$30,000 Loss From Fire
WICHITA—The Nomar Theatre Friday (8)
suffered damages estimated at $30,000 from
a fire which broke out early in the evening
before any patrons had entered the theatre.
It was discovered by WiUiam Henley, projectionist,
who saw the flames back stage
through the viewing panel of the projection
booth. The blaze destroyed the screen, wiring
and the entire sound system as well as five
or six rows of seats.
The theatre is owned by C. C. McCoUister
and managed by Merle Barnes.
Reconstruction has already started but the
theatre will be closed six weeks or more. J. W.
Shreve of the Shreve Theatre Supply Co. was
here Tuesday to confer with McCollister on
plans for refurnishing. About 500 seats will
have to be replaced, he thought.
Howard Humbert Sells
WELLINGTON. KAS.—Howard F. Humbert
reports the sale of his interest in the Sunset
and Chisholm Trail drive-ins to J. L. Young
of Caney. Humbert's associates are C. R.
Gregg and F. E. Estes of Caney. Humbert
has retained his interest in the Rainbow
Drive-In at Wichita, along with Wendell
Humbert of Argonia, Martin Gravette of
Wellington and Mr. and Mrs. T. H.
Slothower of Wichita.
Tom Arthur. 75, Is Dead;
In Exhibition Since '04
MASON CITY. lA.—Tom Ajthur, 75, pioneer
local theatre operator, died early Monday
(11) at a hospital here. He had been ill
TOM ARTHUR
for three weeks. Arthur came here in 1904
and took over management of the Wilson
Theatre, which he operated until it burned
in 1911. The following year, it was rebuilt
and renamed the Cecil. Arthur continued
its operation until his death. He is survived
by his wife.
COMPLETE LINE OF CONCESSIONS
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
L 6t L
no West 18th St.
POPCORN CO.
Kansas City, Mo.
PDC^T MPTCDM
STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY
lllH.lMliyiH
Carpets — Door Mats
Complete Installation Service—Free Estimates
R. D. MANN CARPET CO.
928-930-932 Central, Victor 1 171, Kansas City, Mo.
455 Paul Brown BIdg., Chestnut 4499, St. Louis
OXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955
47

. . . Jack
. . Because
. .
'
. . . and
ST.
LOUIS
panchon & Marco has added the Hi-Pointe
Theatre to the art house field . . . Meyer
Kahan, president and general manager of
Harry Kahan Film Delivery Service, and Mrs.
Kahan returned after spending a week in
New York City. Meyer attended a national
gathering of film delivery men while there
Keller, vice-president of Columbia
Amusement Co., is the father of a baby boy
. . . A. B. "Jeff" Jefferis, Jefferis Theatre.
Piedmont, became a gi'andfather with the
birth of a daughter to his son Robert.
• DRIVE-IN DISPOSABLE
PAPERBOARD TRAYS
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Popcorn Processors— In our 81st year.
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HERE'S YOUR CHANCE
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BIG MONEY
In the antitrust suit of the St. Louis Amusement
Co. against Columbia Pictures, Loew's
and Loew's Dayton Co. that resulted from the
showing of "The Caine Mutiny" at Loew's
State here at advanced admission prices instead
of at the plaintiff's St. Louis Theatre at
its regular admission scale, U. S. District
Judge George H. Moore has denied the
defendants' motion for a summary judgment
in their favor . the new MITO
headquarters on Leonard avenue is not quite
complete, the board meeting set for Tuesday
(12) was transferred to the Variety Club in
the Chase Hotel.
Out-of-town exhibitors seen along Filmrow
included Marvin Proffer and J. H. Yaeger,
Palace Theatre. Jackson; E. L. Staup, Ronnie's
Drive-In, Paris; Tom Baker, Bunker
Hill; Harry Horning, booker, Turner-Parrar
Theatres, Harrisburg; Norvln Garner, Midway
Drive-In, New Madrid; Leroy Baston,
K. B. Drive-In, Casey, and Paul Horn, Jerseyville.
Gordon Halloran, 20th-Fox manager, visited
a number of southeastern Missouri towns .
F. J. "Mike" Lee, UA district manager, was
in Milwaukee ... St. Louis department store
sales the week ending April 2 ran 17 per cent
ahead of the same week in 1954, the Federal
Reserve Bank reports.
Arrest Three Juveniles
KIRKWOOD, MO.—The police have announced
they will press charges in county
juvenile court at Clayton against three teenage
boys, who were arrested in the Kirkwood
New Manager at Royal
In Theatres 27 Years
VERSAILLES, MO.—Pat Silverio, who
succeeded J. T. Hull as manager of
Royal Theatre, has managed theatres for
past 27 years. He originally came troM*'
Plainville, Conn., more recently from
Mrs. Silverio and their two children are ]'
ing him here. J. T. Ghosen of Sedalia is
owner and operator of the Royal.
Harold Owen to Open
New Drive-In in May
MARSHFIELD, MO.—Harold Owen, whoi
father operates the Owen Theatre and tl
Owen Drive-In at Seymour near here, wiKai
open his own drive-in here around the midd: 5
of May. Its construction is rapidly neaxilj :if
completion.
Equipment Stolen
ALBANY, MO.—Thieves broke into a stor^
room at Oilman City where Junior Clark hi
al! of his theatre equipment for his Midwei
Roadshows stored. The loss was considerate
especially of projectors. While it was ni
known definitely when the robbery occurre;
it was within the last 30 days as Clark ha
checked the contents a month ago. Police ai
working on the case.
Airer Installing Widescreen
FLAT RIVER, MO.—A wide screen is beill
installed at the Corral Drive-In here, whi(
recently reopened for the season.
j
R/0 SYRUP CO,
i^ NEW home!
r. Visit
and
our new factory
showrooms.
I
I
1804-06 S. JEFFERSON
ST. LOUIS 4, MO.
Same Phone
!
Numbers PR 2-4615
Same Good Concession Service
handy to Film Row, too.
I
> a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office attraction,
it is without equal. It has
a favorite with theatre goers for
over 15 years. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or car capacity.
HOILYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.
•31 South Woboth Avenu* • Chicago 5, Illinois
"SELECT" FOUNTAIN SYRUPS
DRINK DISPENSERS
Select Drink Inc.
4210 W. Florissant Ave.
St. Louis, 15, Mo.
Phone
Evergreen 5-5935
Chaffee, Mo., Airers Open
Theatre when they were found in possession
of a homemade sulphur stench bomb, which
they are said to have admitted planning to
set off in the theatre. The police said that
wire cutters were found on the boys and that
the trio admitted they had been cutting telephone
and electric wires. They also had a
set of screw drivers which they had been
using to unscrew the arms on theatre seats.
According to the police, the trio said they
belonged to the National Socialist 'Workers
Party of America, with one assuming the
title of "bund fuehrer" another "reich counselor."
CHAFFEE, MO.—The Montgomery Drive-
In just north of the city limits had its grand
opening on Easter Sunday. It is owned and
operated by Bernice Montgomery, who also
owns and operates the 500-seat Horstman
Theatre. The opposition. Home of the Stars
Drive-In, owned by Robert Capshaw, a local
automobile dealer, also had its grand opening
the same day.
Harry Beck Sells State
ALTON, ILL.—The 500-.seat State Theatre
was sold by Harry Beck to Floyd Hauhe, who
also owns and operates a used automobile
business here. Herbert Beck had been managing
the theatre for his father.
Shutters at Vienna, Mo.
VIENNA, MO.—The Court Theatre has been
closed by Mr. and Mrs. Cleon Crum.
^B^^
EVERYTHING
SPECIAL^SSBB
TRAILERS
riLMACK
Send Us You
Next Order.
''^fflfflffl
FOR THE THEATRE
St. Louis Theatre Supply Company
Arch Hosier
3310 Olive Street, St. Louli 3, Mo.
TelephoiM JE 3-7974, JE 3-7975
i
48 BOXOFFICE
:
: April 16, 1955

,
the
[o-Op Deals Prominent in
Publicity on Oscar Race
TCADEMY AWARD WEEK
=E£I~ 4
"48 HOLSUM
BREAD
Congratulates All
195« - I95S
Acod«(nir Award
I
im Southwest Edition
DALLAS—Kyle Roiex. executive director of
xas COMPO, reported that a survey to dermine
reactions and results of the Oscar
ice is being conducted in order that the
ded promotional ideas can be incorporated
to next year's Oscar Race and Oscar Derby,
.ith of which aie copyrighted campaigns of
I'xas COMPO.
iRorex reported that one of the first special
Somotional plans used in connection with
'e Oscar Race was the newspaper-merchant
'up. resulting in a special six-page section
the Baton Rouge, La., Morning Advocate
morning of March 24. A. M. Jacob,
ilgressive manager of the Hart Theatre, promoted
ads from ten leading merchants, all

. . . Jack
. . . A.
. . Because
. ,
'
!
Numbers
ST.
LOUIS
panchon & Marco has added the Hi-Pointe
Theatre to the art house field . . . Meyer
Kahan, president and general manager of
Harry Kahan Film Delivery Service, and Mrs.
Kahan returned after spending a week in
New York City. Meyer attended a national
gathering of film delivery men while there
Keller, vice-president of Columbia
Amusement Co., is the father of a baby boy
B. "Jeff Jefferis, Jefferis Theatre,
Piedmont, became a gi'andfather with the
birth of a daughter to his son Robert.
^JLSLSlJLSULSlJLSLSLSLSLSLSLSiJLSLIULSU^
• DRIVE-IN DISPOSABLE
PAPERBOARD TRAYS
• AUTOMATIC POPCORN CARTONS ^
• NOISELESS POPCORN BAGS
• JUMBO PEANUTS.
ROASTED
RAW &
• STAR POPCORN MACHINES &
FOOD SERVING
EQUIPMENT
• RUSH HOUR, GOLDEN HULLESS.
SILVER HULLESS & POP KING
HULLESS
POPCORN.
In 50 lb. and 100 lb. bags.
Send for pricelist of all supplies.
PRUNTY POPCORN DIVISION
620 N. 2nd St. St. Louis 2, Mo.
Popcorn Processors— In our 81st year.
rjnrTTTjnnrffTrBTnroTnryrrTYTrrrrtnni'
HERE'S YOUR CHANCE
to gel in the "-
BIG MONEY
In the antitrust suit of the St. Louis Amusement
Co. against Columbia Pictures, Loew's
and Loew's Dayton Co. that resulted from the
showing of "The Caine Mutiny" at Loew's
State here at advanced admission prices instead
of at the plaintiff's St. Louis Theatre at
its regular admission scale, U. S. District
Judge George H. Moore has denied the
defendants' motion for a summary judgment
in their favor . the new MITO
headquarters on Leonard avenue is not quite
complete, the board meeting set for Tuesday
(12) was transferred to the Variety Club in
the Chase Hotel.
Out-of-tovm exhibitors seen along Filmrow
included Marvin Proffer and J. H. Yaeger,
Palace Theatre. Jackson; E. L. Staup, Ronnie's
Drive-In, Paris: Tom Baker, Bunker
Hill: Harry Horning, booker. Turner-Parrar
Theatres, Harrisburg; Norvin Garner, Midway
Drive-In, New Madrid: Leroy Baston,
K. B, Drive-In, Casey, and Paul Horn, Jerseyville.
Gordon Halloran, 20th-Pox manager, visited
a number of southeastern Missouri towns .
F, J. "Mike" Lee, UA district manager, was
in Milwaukee ... St, Louis department store
sales the week ending April 2 ran 17 per cent
ahead of the same week in 1954, the Federal
Reserve Bank reports.
Arrest Three Juveniles
KIRKWOOD. MO.—The police have announced
they will press charges in county
juvenile court at Clayton agaijist three teenage
boys, who were arrested in the Kirkwood
Theatre when they were found in possession
of a homemade sulphur stench bomb, which
they are said to have admitted planning to
set off in the theatre. The police said that
wire cutters were found on the boys and that
the trio admitted they had been cutting telephone
and electric wires. They also had a
set of screw drivers which they had been
using to unscrew the arms on theatre seats.
According to the police, the trio said they
belonged to the National Socialist Workers
Party of America, with one assuming the
title of "bund fuehrer" another "reich coun-
New Manager at Royal
In Theatres 27 Years
VERSAILLES, MO.—Pat Silverio, who hi
succeeded J. T. Hull as manager of t;
Royal Theatre, has managed theatres for ti
past 27 years. He originally came frc[
Plainville, Conn., more recently from Tulil
Mrs. Silverio and their two children are joij
ing him here. J. T. Ghosen of Sedalia is t\
owner and operator of the Royal.
Harold Owen to Open
New Drive-In in May
MARSHFIELD, MO.—Harold Owen, wha
father operates the Owen Theatre and t^
Owen Drive-In at Seymour near here, w'
open his own drive-in here around the midc
of May. Its construction is rapidly neari:}
completion.
Equipment Stolen
ALBANY, MO.—Thieves broke into a stoii
room at Oilman City where Junior Clark hi
al! of his theatre equipment for his Midwu
Roadshows stored. The loss was consideratj,
especially of projectors. While it was 4
known definitely when the robbery occurrfi
it was within the last 30 days as Clark hi <
checked the contents a month ago. Police ^
working on the case.
Airer Installing Widescreen
FLAT RIVER, MO.—A wide screen is bei:
installed at the Corral Drive-In here, whiJ
recently reopened for the season.
R/0 SYRUP CO.
I
^
Visit our new factory
I
I
I
^ NEW home!
and showrooms.
180406 S. JEFFERSON
ST. LOUIS 4, MO.
Same Phone
PR 2-4615
Same Good Concession Service
. . . and handy to Film Row, too.
I
As a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office attraction,
it is without equal. It has
seen o favorite with theatre goers for
over 15 years. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or cor capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.
*3I South Wabash Avenu* • Chicago 5, llllnelt
"SELECT" FOUNTAIN SYRUPS
DRINK DISPENSERS
Select Drink Inc.
4210 W. Florissant Ave.
St. Louis, 15, Mo.
Phone
Evergreen S-S93S
Chaffee, Mo., Airers Open
selor."
CHAFFEE, MO.—The Montgomery Drive-
In just north of the city limits had its grand
opening on Easter Sunday. It is owned and
operated by Bernice Montgomery, who also
owns and operates the 500-seat Horstman
Theatre. The opposition. Home of the Stars
Drive-In, owned by Robert Capshaw, a local
automobile dealer, also had its grand opening
the same day.
Harry Beck Sells State
ALTON, ILL.—The 500-.seat State Theatre
was .sold by Harry Beck to Floyd Hauhe, who
also owns and operates a used automobile
business here. Herbert Beck had been managing
the theatre for his father.
Shutters at Vienna, Mo.
VIENNA, MO.—The Court Theatre has been
closed by Mr. and Mrs. Cleon Crum.
EVERYTHING
SPECIAL^SB
TRAILERS
riLMACK
We Can Please You.
Send Us You
Next Order.
FOR THE THEATRE
St. Louis Theatre Supply Company
Arch Hosier
3310 Olive Street, St. Louis 3, Mo.
Telephone JE 3-7974, JE 3-7975
A
W
48 BOXOFFICE :
; April 16, 195

BRANSON,
Zo-Op Deals Prominent in
Publicity on Oscar Race
"academy award week
"OSCAR AWARDS"
F»iGIOAJ«l
tWESTINGHOUSE
HOLSUM
BREAD
Congratulates AH
195« - 1955
t MACNAVpX
of which proclaimed March 24-31 as Academy
Award Week in Baton Rouge.
Jacobs reported the campaign was greatly
enhanced by the newspaper section which,
in great pai't, was given over to art and continuity
for and about the theatre and the
motion picture industry, as well as to the stars
and pictures involved in the Academy award
nominations.
Jacob reported the merchants were eager
to join this type of campaign.
More than 15,000 Oscar Race ballots were
cast at the Hart Theatre. In addition to the
ballots distributed from the boxoffice. by
special arrangement with the Dalton department
store an attractive store display space
advertised the Oscar Race at the Hart Tlieaim
Uim» MTM CO, kt. s
tIFI CEIIIFlUll .'-
'om Southwest Edition
DALLAS—Kyle Rorex. executive director of
"exas COMPO. reported that a survey to de-
'ermine reactions and results of the Oscar
iace is being conducted in order that the
,dded promotional ideas can be incorporated
'nto next year's Oscar Race and Oscar Derby,
,ioth of which are copyrighted campaigns of
j:exas COMPO.
Rorex reported that one of the first special
iromotional plans used in connection with
'he Oscar Race was the newspaper-merchant
rieup, resulting in a special six-page section
in the Baton Rouge. La.. Morning Advocate
!if the morning of March 24. A. M. Jacob,
iiggressive manager of the Hart Theatre, pronoted
ads from ten leading merchants, all
tre. Ballots were distributed at the interesting
and colorful display.
The Capital City Ford Co., in addition to
taking a half page ad. displayed new 1955
model Fords in front of the theatre and
offered free demonstration rides.
Jacob expressed appreciation for the fine
cooperation extended by the two daily newspapers
not only in preparing a special section,
but also for the excellent publicity afforded
the campaign during its month-long duration.
In a letter to Texas COMPO. Maurice Barr,
secretary for the Paramount Gulf Theatres,
paid tribute to Jacob for his outstanding work
in promoting the Oscar Race for the circuit's
theatre in Baton Rouge.
^. Edwards and Dickinson
To Build Branson Airers
MO.—Norman Edwards is completing
his new Branson Drive-In here, which
3 scheduled to be opened May 15. The Dicknson
circuit operates the Owen Theatre and
he
[
Shepherd of the Hills Drive-In, with
Steve Miller as local manager.
Recently Dickinson made a trip to Branson
announced pla:is for building a de luxe
Iind
iOO-car drive-in on the site of the Shepherd
:)i the Hills airer, which Dickinson puixhased
[,wo years ago from Mrs. Dan Norris.
'
Construction of the new drive-in is exjpected
to start in the near future. The defiign
will be "Modern rustic" and the cost
Jivill be $75,000.
[Hannibal Unit to Frisina
HANNIBAL, MO.—The Frisina circuit will
I
Itake over the Rialto Theatre, under the terms
of a deal recently concluded with Eddie Rosecan,
who owned and operated the house. With
Hhe Rialto, Frisina will control all the theatres
here, also owning the Tom Sawyer and the
Star theatres, as well as the Ski-Hi Drive-In.
Rosecan plans to concentrate his activities at
Cape Girardeau, where he owns and operates
the Rialto Theatre in association with Victor
Klarsfeld. who has been managing that theajtre
for some years.
Airer Improvements
INDIANAPOLIS—Numerous drive-ins, reopening
for the season, report the completion
of improvement programs, including
the installation of widescreens for Cinema-
Scope, VistaVision and other modern techniques.
Among the many such modernizations
noted are the Family at Charleston, which
completed a $25,000 program; the 212 Outdoor
at Michigan City, where Jack Lightner
is the new manager; the Fi'ankfort Drive-In
at Frankfort, where Manager Adam Goelz
reports that the Alliance circuit spent $2,200
in improvements; the Elwood at Elwood, with
Robert M. Swanson as the new manager; the
Skyline at Shelbyville, where President Harlan
Walts scheduled "The Robe" for Easter
Week, and the Family at Rockville, owned
by Forrest Songer.
Reopens After Repairs
LAWRENCEVILLE, ILL.—The Allison
Drive-In, operated by the Alliance circuit,
had its delayed season's opening April 1. The
opening was delayed for a week because of
wind damage to the widened screen. Manager
Lester Lucas estimated the damage at
about $1,500. The new 40x80-foot screen plus
Cinemascope lens and other improvements
cost approximately $7,000.
NTS at Kansas City Adds
Jobil Bottle Warmer
KANSAS CITY—National Theatre Supply
recently became the local distributor for the
Jobil self-service, heavy duty baby bottle
warmer. Manager Arthur de Stefano said the
warmer is thermostatically controlled and only
the parents handle it. First orders were from
Heart Drive-In here and Glen Cooper for
his South Drive-In at Dodge City. NTS also
reported it will furnish "Acquaire" modifications
for Simplex X-L mechanisms and Excelite
lamphouses to the Westport Drive-In
at Wichita. Its screen had already been enlarged
for Cinemascope and widescreen pictures.
RKO Pathe-Screenliner
Features Wheat Angles
KANSAS CITY—A new RKO Pathe-
Screenliner called "Staff of Life," an eightminute
short, should be a natural for this
area. It dramatizes the story of wheat, one
of the major crops in this Heart of America
where so many flour mills operate. It is
being released May 27.
Producer Sam Katzman has signed Mari
Blanchard as the femme star in Columbia's
"The Big Shock."
BOXOFFICE :
L
: April 16. 1955
49

—
Thanks to the thrift of employed Americans and
the cooperation of 45,000 companies which have
enrolled more than 8,000.000 men and women in
the Payroll Savings Plan
• Sales of E and H Bonds (H Bond is the current-income
companion piece of the E Bond, sold only to individuals
and purchased in larger denominations by executives) in
1954 totaled $4.9 billion, a new peacetime record.
• Sales in 1954 exceeded all redemptions in that year of
matured E Bonds and unmatured E and H Bonds by more
than $400 million— the highest net amount since 1949.
• Cash value of E and H Bonds outstanding reached a new
record high of $3o.2 billion, a gain of $1.5 billion in 1954.
• This $38.2 billion cash holding by individuals represents
14% of the national debt. Never before has the national
debt of our country been so widely held.
These figures, far more effectively than mere words,
tell
the story of The Payroll Savings Plan—why it
is good for America, why it is good for business. If
you do not have the Plan, or if vou have the Plan
and your employee percentage is less than 50%,
phone, wire or write to Savings Bond Division,
U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
The United States Government does not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department
thanks, for their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and
BOXOFFICE
50 BOXOFFICE April 16, 19i

'
\i;LOTTE—
1
.
there
lowco 'Rifle' Opening
;flh in New Orleans
Harold F. Cohen, southdistrict
manager for Howco Exhas
set a 90 theatre prerelease sat-
Ijooking on "Kentucky Rifle" in the
1 leans territory starting May 1, folihe
world premiere in the Panorama
April 27.
members Chill Wills. Cathy Downs,
,:;ce Fuller will arrive in New Orleans
the premiere for television and radio
iiice^. newspaper interviews and other
lonal stints. Then they will make
other key towns in the territory.
...ed by Joy N. Houck and J. Francis
Kentucky Rifle" was dii-ected by
. Hittleman and tinted in Eastman
iiy Pathe. The national release date
15.
..,.0 Productions, headed by Houck and
lite. IS not a newcomer to the production
M Before "Kentucky Rifle" Howco made
.1 A Women" in color, and since 1948
lined out 14 features. Besides its own
1 affiliated Howco exchanges in the
MHithwest, Howco releases thi-ough
lid
i! tianchise holders in other sections
iir
country.
ictator Charges Aimed
t Chattanooga Union
:;HATTAN00GA—lATSE Local 259 has
;n charged by tlu-ee members of the union
^ 'iolating Tennessee's open shop act and
luization's bylaws. The three complain-
.\'. L. Bryan. Carlye W. Paterson and
Paul Smith, stated that they are among
nonvoting but dues-paying union members
>rking in local theatres. They charged that
e local has assumed "arbitrary and diclorial"
control over their economic life.
'Only those can work whom the defendants
rmit to work, and those who are working
n be terminated by them at any time for
y reason," the bill said.
Named as defendants were the union; its
:al here: A. C. Kamin, the local's business
ent; J. B. Lowry, local president; J. K.
aith, vice-president; O. A. Ayers, secretary,
d Bill Vick. treasurer, individually and as
ficers of the group. Two banks were also
ted as technical defendants on the claims
at the local has funds deposited in both
ititutions.
The suit charged the complainants have
)rked in Chattanooga "for up to 27 years
Newsboys Variety Drive
Surpasses Old Record
MIAMI—Proceeds from the Old Newsboys'
sales of the Miami Daily News neai-ed the
$15,000 mark within five hours of the sales'
start, according to Variety Club Chief Barker
Maurey L. Ashman. The campaign Is sponsored
jointly each year by the paper and the
local tent to raise funds for the Variety Childi-en's
Hospital. Last year, the drive netted
$12,000.
Participating paper hawkers vied with each
other for the title. "King of the Newsboys."
which went to the individual selling the mo.st
papers. At last reports. Jack Leonard, Miami
Beach restauranteur, who last year collected
$2,300 and the crown, reported $2,550 in sales
so far and more coming in.
Close behind Leonard were Bill Parriss,
AUapattah druggist, and Carl Gardner, state
beverage director, while the various others
in the race, including onetime newsboys and
Tiow prominent lawyers, bankers, politicians
and businessmen, were also piling up impressive
records.
Sectionalism, too, played its part, as residents
of different areas such as Opa Locka,
Coral Gables, North and South Miami and
Edison Center tried to outdo the others, as
did representatives of the many active service
clubs.
The campaign to raise funds for the hospital
extended outside the Miami area, with contributions
coming in from Hollywood and
Fort Lauderdale and other nearby cities. Vice-
President Nixon also sent in a contribution.
Impressive Record
Noted by Women
MIAMI—Mrs. Gilbert H. Chaplin is chairman
of the Variety Children's Hospital
women's committee, and Mrs. Jack Bell is
head of the women's division of the Committee
of 1.000. The women's committee cleared
$5,219 at its spring fashion parade at a local
hotel, and kept expenses, aside from luncheon
costs to one-half of 1 per cent of the
income.
Since January 1, members of the service
committee have spent 478 hours doing recrea-
Costumes and stunts helped attract attention
to the Old Newsboys Day drive.
Above, "Silver Dollar" Jake Schreiber, in
hat, receives a contribution from Joe
Lefft, while Schreiber holds on to a lifesized
doll with silver braces on its legs,
used to attract attention to the purpose
of the drive— to help children at the Variety
Children's Hospital.
tional therapy work at the hospital. There
are workers in the wards, reading, playing
games, etc., from 2 to 4 p.m. every day.
The motor corps, which transports children
to and from the haspital. has rolled up 172
hours since the first of the year, while nurse's
aides have given 200 hours since January 1.
The sewing committee has used 595 yards
of material to sew 437 pajamas, bibs, arm
restrainers and other garments for use in
the hospital. The special events committee is
lining up organizations to give parties for the
children.
Tlie 70 women at a recent luncheon also
learned from Mrs. Bell about the "painless"
fund-raising program the women's committee
is undertaking, to get members lined up
in Miami Beach. "Just get individuals or
organizations to donate $100 apiece," she said.
id have never been accorded the privilege
membership in the local." They charged
ey are permitted to pay dues and to attend
eetings. but are barred from executive sesissimmee
Airer Opens
KISSIMMEE. FLA.—The Kissimmee Drivehas
been reopened under the management
Mr. and Mrs. H. G. 'Ventry of Ponce de
'on, Fla. The 'Ventrys also own and operate
e
Ponce de Leon Drive-In.
erchants Help Theatre
ROBERTSDALE, ALA.—The Bobertsdale
leatre and the Lex at Elberta, Ala., in coleration
with local merchants, are offering
56 tickets on Wednesday and Thursday
ghts until May 26.
.\TLAS COMPANY HEADS—Here are the officers of .Atlas Promotions & .Advertising,
Inc., organized recently in Charlotte to handle booking and buying in the
Carolinas, and provide advertising and promotion service for accounts anywhere in
the southeast. Left to right are Bill Talbert, vice-president; Max Reinhart, secretary
and treasurer, and L. L. Theimer, president. Theimer and Talbert have been in the
advertising and promotion s^vice the last five years for theatres and radio. Reinhart
has been in the booking-buying field the last 14 years.
JXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955 SE 51

"
^ Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
(Academy Award Win'
^ Water-Cooled Apertures
iAr
Cinerama
,,.€l0td K^€U
(to nome but a fevi
*Currentiy operating of the Radio
Cily Music Hall, New York Cily and
Stanley Warner Theatre, Beverly
Hills,
Calilornia.
There's dramatic significance in this record of engineerg
accomplishment by CENTURY. These CENTURY "Tirsts" mm
important practical advantages to every exhibitor— largev
small. It's your assurance of engineering know-how, of glume
exclusive features, of the scientific approach to beir
motion picture projection and sound reproduction.
VISTAVISION. CENTURY has made a notable contribulm
to the technique of motion picture presentation with le
design and production of the first Paramount VISTAVISI'N
horizontal projectors.*
CINERAMA. "The wonder of the entertainment worl
Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of is
revolutionary process and CENTURY is the exclusive p-
ducer of projectors for Cinerama.
HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOIO
APERTURES. The introduction of these two featijs
brought about a big improvement in sound quality, increa d
screen illumination and sharper pictures.
No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experierJ.
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It me is
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design cd
quality production of all motion picture projection and soid
equipment.
•4^
JOE HORNSTEIN, INCORPORATED
273 Flagler St.
Miami,
Florida
ALON BOYD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
p. 0. Box 362
Shreveport, Louisiana
Buy your standard and special projection and
sound equipment from your Century dealer.
Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N. (.
SOLD
BY
CAPITAL CITY SUPPLY CO.
161 Wolton Street, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia
STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
215 E. Washington St.
Greensb oro, North Co rolina
219 South Church St.
Charlotte, North Carolina
QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC.
1912'/2
Morris Ave.
Birmingham 3, Alabama
TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY
318 South Second St.
Memphis 3, Tennessee
52 BOXOFFICE :: April 16, }55

,
(d
I
. E.
I
'imely Column Helps
lublicity for Teier'
jAVANNAH—The Lucas Theatre received
( unexpected publicity break before the
-••!S of "A Man Called Peter" in the
: a full column of praise for the pic-
;. the Savannah Evening Press. The
tumn wa,s a reprint of an article in tJie
,lanta Constitution by the Rev. Charles L.
,.en, whose column appears daily on the
(itorial page of the Atlanta paper.
Headed "Peter Marshall Still Does Lord's
jrk," Allen gave his personal reaction to
I,; picture, m part as follows:
'When 'A Man Called Peter' comes to your
(\n. don't miss seeing it! I have seen it
now I want to write about it. but I just
.nnot find the words to express my thought
:d feelings, especially my feelings. In fact,
loubt if the words I want even exist.
'Where can one find words to express the
?atness of a life completely dedicated to
id's will; romance, laughter, triumph and
igedy. reverence and faith?"
Mien, who is well known among Savannah
urchgoers, described the film as "the
latest motion picture depicting the story
a minister that has ever been produced."
CHARLOTTE
Ci^rhted promenading along Pilmrow following
the MGM Ticket Selling 'Workshop included the Sundown, at Greensboro. Kitty
season . . . Drive-in reopenlngs last week
last week (4i preceding the convention of the
Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina
Fork at Clinton. Model at Goldsboro, Milford
at Great Falls and Skylite at Saw Mills, the
were the following:
latter by Jack Moore.
Sonny Baker
liff
Amusement Tax
roposed in Alabama
RUSSELLVILLE. ALA.—A 10 per cent gross
:eipts tax on theatres and other amuse-
';nts in Franklin County has been proposed
'
a bill introduced in the legislature by Rep.
Oden.
iOne-fourth of the proposed tax w'ould go
Russellville schools and the remainder to
.e county school system.
The tax would apply only to towns of 750
more, which would affect Russellville and
i.'d Bay only in the county. Drive-in thea-
3s outside the corporate limits of a town
.t within its police jurisdiction also are
'eluded.
;Jabama Grosses Climb
jBIRMINGHAM—The University of Ala-
.ma Bureau of Business Research reports
eatre receipts in the state for January
i?re up 18.4 per cent over December 1954.
tie report, based on sales tax collections.
)S0 shows that the January receipts were
j) per cent greater than for the same month
1954.
adge Oscar Contest
BIRMINGHAM— The Birmingham Posterald
awarded a $250 first prize to a high
hool teacher in its Oscar-guessing contest.
idges were officials of the theatres which
-sponsored the contest with the Posterald.
They included Harry Curl, Melha:
ihn W. Douglas, Acme Theatres; Bill Coury,
itz. and Norris Hadaway, Alabama Theatre.
ppointed FST Relief Manager
NEW SMYRNA. FLA.—Lorraine Jackson,
anager of the Victoria here, has been aplinted
Florida State Theatres relief man-
[£r during the summer vacations.

. . . The
. . LaMar
. . Stan
. . Harold
. . K.
.
JACKSONVILLE
Terry Gold, president of Motion Picture Exhibitors
of Florida, returned from Atlanta
where he attended the first planning conference
for the Southeastern Movie Festival
to be observed by all branches of the motion
picture industry in Alabama, Florida and
Georgia from May 16 through June 16. Soon
after Gold's return, a Florida planning group
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Serving theotres in the Soutll for 31 yeorj.
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STRICKLAND FILM CO.
220 Pharr. Rood, N. E. Atlanta
met here with distributor branch managers
and north Florida exhibitors for a briefing
on ways and means of carrying out plans
for the festival. Present indications are that
the festival will provide the industry with
the best public recognition it has ever had
in the three-state area.
Siff Vorzimer, new representative of National
Screen Service in Florida, called at
publicity offices here to show some special
one sheets designed to encourage the public
in greater attendance at theatres ... J.
Ernest Gribble, independent salesman, came
in from Atlanta . Laird, Republic
manager at Tampa, visited local circuit booking
offices . . . The family of Walter Powell,
new 20th-Fox salesman, ha-s joined him here
after moving from Charlotte.
Sandra Hornbuckle has been added to the
booking staff of 20th-Fox . F. Jack-son,
20th-Fox ca.shier, was resting at home after
a stay in a local hospital . . . Spending a few
days at the local U-I office was James
Frew, U-I manager in Atlanta.
Roy Smith, Arv Rothschild. Clint Ezell and
Bill Beck were named to a Variety Club
dance committee headed by Ted Chapeau.
The event will be held at the Roosevelt Hotel
in May. Advance tickets costing $1 may be
obtained from Ezell at local P. O. Box 4729.
All members and friends of Variety are being
invited to the affair.
L. D. Netter, sr., president of Florida State
Theatres, and Mrs. Netter visited relatives
and friends in Miami during the Easter weekend
. Sarra, FST vice-president
and general counsel, was commuting between
here and Tallahassee during sessions of the
Florida legislature in the latter city.
Frank McCarthy of the U-I office in New-
York was vacationing at West Palm Beach
Ponce de Leon Theatre at DeFuniak
Springs is now being operated by J. W. Johnson
. . . Dr. P. J. Nichols, J. J. Nichols and
N. J. Nichols have taken over the former
Shell Drive-In at Apalachicola and have renamed
it the No. 1 Drive-In. The former
owner was E. L. Goodwin . . . Visiting Filmrow
were Roy Bang and E. C. Kaniaris, both
of St. Augustine; Jerry Gold. Pahokee: R. L.
Bailey. Blountstown; and J. M. Wells, Folston,
Ga.
Col. John L. Crovo, who recently left the
industry after more than 50 years as a
southern showman, was the honored guest
at two functions in a week's time. Home office
executives and local theatre managers of
FST gave Crovo a testimonial banquet at the
George Washington Hotel. Speakers were
FST President L. D. Netter sr.; LaMar Sarra,
vice-president, and J. L. Cartwright, Daytona
Beach district supervisor. Presented to
Crovo and Mrs. Crovo at the banquet was
a 21-inch RCA television set. At the second
affair, the Motion Picture Council held a
testimonial luncheon for Crovo at the Seminole
Hotel, with Miss Irene Scanlon, president,
presenting him with a handsome sterling
silver plate on behalf of the membership
for his "fight for clean motion pictures in
this city for the past 30 years."
Mrs. Lucille Reynolds, 20th-Fox film inspectress,
has returned to work after an illness
. Kramer is a new assistant at
the Arcade Theatre . . . The Arcade and le
Normandy and Atlantic drive-ins were ;e
first operations to cash in on the pieties
The J-,.
which won Academy Awards . . .
anese "Gate of Hell" has been booked at e
Edgewood Theatre as a result of its 0.= ,r
publicity.
Among: first run houses here, only the PI
ida had a traditional musical for Easr.
It opened with "Hit the Deck," while "ly
of Triumph," "Long John Silver," and ",.
cape to Burma" were at the other first-:n
theatres . . . The FST art shop has movedo
new and larger quarters at 323 East Bay t.
Free Kids Show at Hialeah
HIALEAH. FLA.—The Circle Theatre g e
a free Saturday afternoon matinee for cl.-
dren under sponsor.ship of the Citizens F -
eral Savings & Loan Ass'n of Hialeah.
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54 BOXOFFICE April 16, 55

o
CD ^ OQ
1

. . . Remodeling
. . R.
. . W.
. . . Mississippi
. . Lyle
. . From
. . . W.
. . Usy
'
i
id
AT CRESCENT CITY—At the meeting of RKO branch managers at the Jung Hotel,
New Orleans, recently were, left to right, standing: Rovy Brannon, Charlotte; R. V.
Reagin, Memphis; Cam Price, Jacksonville; Ira Stone, Atlanta; Ralph Williams, Oklahoma
City, and Rogers Lamantia, New Orleans. Seated: Ben Cammack, southwestern
division manager, and Dave Prince, southeastern division manager.
MEMPHIS
geven contestants correctly predicted five
. .
top Academy Award winners in the
Strand Tlieatre's Oscar race, Manager Carroll
Beasley said. Each received a prize of a
season pass to the Strand. A total of 4.020
persons filled out forms in the contest, conducted
in the theatre's lobby . Paul S.
Wilson, assistant division manager from Atlanta,
was a visitor to the 20th-Fox exchange
here
. L. Bostick, district manager for
National Theatre Supply, made a business
trip to Atlanta.
Joe Keifer, Malco Theatres, made a business
trip through central Arkansas
.
C.
Sawyer, Malco executive, returned frem a trip
to several towns where the cii-cuit operates
and repairs at the Summer
Drive-In here, recently bought by Malco, are
r
MONARCH
Theatre Supply, Inc.
Neil Blount
492 So. Second St.
Memphis, Tenn.:j
COMPLETE LINE
THEATRE EQUIPMENT and
CONCESSION SUPPLIES
TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY
320 So. Second St. Memphis, Tenn
under way
. Richmond, the Richmond,
Senath, Mo., and Whyte Bedford,
Marion. Hamilton. Ala., were in on business
exhibitors in booking included
C. N. Eudy, Houston, Houston; C. J. Collier,
Globe. Shaw: Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Gullett,
Benoit, Benoit, and W. T. Ellis, Ellis, Cleveland.
G. H. Goff, the Rustic. Parsons: W. O.
Taylor, Uptown, Dresden: W. H. Gray, Rutherford,
Rutherford, and Tom Griffin, Mason,
Mason, were among visiting west Tennessee
exhibitors
. Arkansas came Violet
Howe. Sunset Drive-In and Strand. Hot
Springs: Mrs. J. T. Hitt, Cozy and Plaza.
Bentonville: Mrs. Lura Malin and daughter
Marjorie, the Lura, Augusta: Don Landers,
Radio, Harrisburg and Walter Lee, the Rice
at Des Arc and Gem at Heber Springs . . .
J. A. Co6per bought the Coopers Theatre at
Whiteville, Tenn., which had been closed for
about six months. The theatre was formerly
known as the Town.
S. T. Freeman has reopened hi.s Dell Theatre
at Dell. Ark., which had been closed for
about six months. Dell appointed Jack
Holmes as manager . . . J. H. Laster in partnership
with Wayne Benson, announces that
they have leased the Medina Theatre, Medina,
Tenn., from James Rowlett, and have
reopened it for business. The Medina has
been closed for some time.
Judo 'Expert'
Assaults Manager
ST. PETERSBURG—Boyd D. Patterson.
36, self-styled marine judo expert, was fined
$25 in city court for assaulting Ru.ssell Wells,
manager of the Roxy Theatre. Patterson
asked to use a telephone in the theatre, then
cursed children .standing nearby. When Wells
remonstrated. Patterson struck him.
NEW ORLEANlI
R. Giddens and T. J.
J^ Raster, operating ti
drive-ins and four conventional houses
Mobile, have been awarded Mobile's secoi
TV channel, Channel 5, VHP. The circuit t's
owned and operated radio station WKRGi
CBS outlet in Mobile, and plans to put ta
new WKRG-TV into operation by early tl
. . . R. A. Vrazel, the new owner of the Lo'
Long Beach. Miss., reopened the theatre Su-'
day (101. Stephen Riggs has set an open%
date of May 14 for his Beach Theatre
Fairhope, Ala. The theatre is a seasoi
operation which is closed every winter.
Niles, Inc., operator of the Do Drive-In
Jefferson Parish, La., introduced 16mm fih
in its air conditioned auditorium in additii
to twin 35mm features shown on twin scree
.
The first presentation of 16mm was the or|inal
film of "A Star Is Born." The auditoriili
seats 800 .. . Ann Dufour, booker at Unill
Artists, is recovering at Mercy Hospital afv
an operation . Pellegrin, Rex, ChauVj,
La., is confined to Ten-eboone Hospitj,
Houma, for a checkup.
H. H. Moreau and George Rabalais hi
opened their new 200-car Tiger Drive-
Marksville . . . A. L. Royal has closed his Rfc
. . . Elir
at Meridian. The Ritz was operating
weekends only for the past year
Saxon, has changed the name of his thea
in Franklinton from the Welsh to the McR;
Mullina will reopen the Ross Theat
in Franklinton, which has been closed.
In buying and booking were: Mrs. Lillij
Lutzer. Barksdale Drive-In, Bossier City; E.'.
Wethers. East End. Baton Rouge: Loms
Davis, Solomon Theatres, McComb, Mis;;
A. L. Royal and booker Jack Jackson of tj
Royal Theatres and T. V. Garraway of t*;
Ritz and Plaza. Prentiss, Miss., and Edgtl
Ansardi. Buras Theatre, Buras, La.
E. M. Loew Building Airer
At Hallendale, Fla.
HALLENDALE, FLA. — Construction hi
started on a drive-in theatre on Hallendii'
Beach boulevard, which will have parkij
space for 598 cars and a 100-car storage spao.
The drive-in, to cost about $170,000, is bei:;
constructed by E. M. Loew Theatres, Inc. .
is located on a 660x660-foot site, surround
on three sides by a canal.
Because of state road department specications,
the giant screen will face sou!
instead of north as planned. It will be on
small island across from one of the canals.!
A $65,000 building permit has been issui
and 60,000 yards of fill have been placed *
the property. The screen will be 72 feet hi(i
and 54 feet wide and will be built to wit:i
stand winds of 130 miles per hour. Engine;
.'
for the project is Chelsie J. Senerchia
Miami.
NEW -FIRST RUN BOXOFFICE SMASH!
STARK SURED
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A Carroll
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GINA L0LL0BRI6IDA
Atlanta
Memphis
Tampa Manager Nabs Thieves
TAMPA—A 6-year-old boy and two ll
year-old companions broke into a concessit
stand at the Columbus Drive-In twice in oi
day to steal candy and hot dogs. They wej
surprised by the manager on their secor
visit.
Lee Grant will play the role of a memb( |l
of a gang of bank robbers in UA's "Stori
f
Fear."
|
56 BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 19E

Phone:
I
Sidelights of the Carolinas Convention at Charlotte
$
Snapped by the cameraman al the convention last week of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina were a number of
delegate groups. Left to right: Johnny Kime, Roseboro; Bob Turn bull, National Theatre Supply, Charlotte; Mrs. and Mr. Eddie Roseblatt
of Theatrical Engineering Co., Charlotte; Mrs. and Mr. Buster Sohnibben, Carolina and Colonial theatres, Florence; Lcighton
Parker, Manning; George H. Mayer. National Carbon Co., and Wade McMillen of Latta, S. C.
In front row above are Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Smith of Benson; Mrs. Sam D. Garver, VVilliston; Kathryn Dobson, Barnville, and back
row, H. P. McManus, Greer; M. B. Goodenough, Simpsonville; P. G. McGee, Winston- Salem, and Jack Davis, Laurens. At right are
Bob Coskrey and John Dunphy of National Theatre Supply.
CHARLOTTE— Sidelights on the convenon
of the Theatre Owners of North and
outh Carolina held here last week at the
'harlotte Hotel:
More than 400 exhibitors attended the MGM
'icket Selling Workshop Monday, many
lore than attended the convention session
he following two days. Heard among those
ho skipped the TON&SC meeting was the
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remark that there was nothing they could
do to help combat toll TV. But these pessimistic
showmen are wrong. There are many
avenues open to exhibitors through which
they can help educate the public to the
dangers of toll TV. Many of the methods
were explained at the convention by Alfred
Starr, the Tennessee exhibitor and Theatre
Owners of America leader.
We believe that it's time that every exhibitor
take an interest in fighting this
menace.
There was much conversation in the corridors,
rooms and halls about high film rentals.
The dissatisfaction expressed with distributor
sales policies was greater at this meeting
than we have noticed at any other convention
we ever attended. Rentals and toll TV were
the big worries. Some exhibitors even said
they thought that the film companies were
maneuvering for a free hand to sell their
product to toll TV.
C. A. Turnage of Washington, N. C, reported
he had just about finished remodeling
of his theatre, including stereosound. He remarked
his patrons were looking more for
good stories rather than new ways of production.
C. A. Dandelake, president, reported the
state had been divided into 12 sections for
regional meetings when and if it became
necessary to hold such meetings, but none
have been held to date.
Howard McNally of Fayetteville reported
that film rentals left little profit if at all
for the theatre.
Clyde Carr has bought the drive-in he
operated for several years for Johnny Kime
of Roseboro. Hugh Sikes of QueeH City
Booking Service attended all sessions. Max
Reinhardt of Reinhardt Enterprises was avidly
taking notes at all discussions.
J. T. Greer of Ellery carefully appraised
every statement the speakers made.
_, JANE HYLTON IAN HUNTER _
y^5£ TERENCE MORGAN MURIEL PAV"
-• MARTITAHUNT .ihuvnwoiu |
iOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955 57

. . . The
. . Other
Memphis Lifting ofBamboo Prison Ban SAVANNAH
Results in a Sensational 300 Gross
MEMPHIS—With the final lifting of the relatively low grosses reported here for the
ban on "Bamboo Prison" here, the film week. The only other first runs to better
opened to a rousing 300 per cent, substantially average were "The Country Girl," with 125
higher than its other grosses reported from in its third week, and "Man Without a Star,"
around the rest of the country. The many bowing in at 150. The four other newcomers
newspaper headlines of the past few weeks were deep in the cellar with grosses of 50
in regards to the censorship case really gave and 60.
the film that needed lift, making it the talk (Average is 100)
Oi the town and the hit of the week. Another Crosstown—The Bamboo Prison ICol) 300
shocker ""^
type publicity boost was its having
paiac^Ml

I
A
I
,
res
• leatre,
Huck Jones Week to Lead
Dff Rowley Movie Month
lOALLAS—A Buck Jones testimonial week,
inoring C. V. Jones, vice-president and genril
manager, will lead off a "May Is Movie
C. V. JONES
jnth for Good Times Jubilee" promotion
Rowley United Theatres, which is being
mched the last week in April with the
j
of 4-Timer Money Week tickets.
jle
jThe Movie Month is patterned after the
J, Griffith Golden Jubilee which was
jjated by Eddie Forrester of Rowley's Fron-
|T Theatre, and w'as very successfully cai'-
:d out throughout the ciixuit last June.
jMayors in more than 30 cities in which
,)wley operates are being asked to proclaim
lay Is Movie Month" by local managers,
10 are arranging a month of special pro-
[jtions.
brochure explaining the promotion
ates: "Why should the mayor of your city
willing to issue such a proclamation? Well,
[; have never fully appreciated our own im-
•rtance in the community. In the fu-st
lace, most of you have been doing business
; the same old stand for 25 years or more,
hat alone is something worthy of recognij)n,
and if it suits your purposes locally you
•n designate May as a sort of anniversary
lonth.
OVIES HELP MERCHANTS
/'Merchant cooperation—some local merlants
and your town at large may take your
|ilue to the community for granted but
est merchants freely admit that the movies
yip their business. When the movies are
'agging, so do they; when the movies are
tracting crowds the stores benefit. Proof
r this comes from communities where thewere
forced to close. The merchants
-en realized the importance of the local
and in many cases joined forces to
iderwrite the show and to keep it operating.
"We are not asking merchants to spend
ly money during May Is Movie Month, but
is going to be a gay, local celebration
Id they can take advantage of it by window
displays and mention of it in their ads."
The Buck Jones Week will be a testimonial
to his long and faithful service to the company
for 30 years. A native Texan, Jones
started with the Rowley circuit as a bookkeeper.
Don C. Douglas, d rector of publicity and
co-ordinator of the campaign, said that while
the proclamation from the mayors will spearhead
the community interest, extensive and
cooperative tie-ins will be made with the
merchants, newspapers, radio and television
stations and schools.
SUGGESTS RADIO, TV IDEAS
"Radio and television cooperation — 'Vou can
discuss over these mediums early days of
motion pictures in your city, the tastes of
moviegoers; arrange a musical (record^ program
as plug for musicals you will be playing
soon; station might conduct a search for your
city's most ardent moviegoer—the champion
moviegoer, to appear on the station; a microphone
tour of a theatre from Cinemascope
booth to air conditioner in basement to sell
the extent to which theatres go to provide
both latest entertainment and comfort.
"New.spaper cooperation—Of course they
will help. They'll go for a feature story on
the local history of motion pictures. Movies
are over 50 years old. Your newspaper will
help you locate couples married 50 years or
more and they can be your guests.
"School cooperation—A simple contest for
English classes could involve the writing of
a short essay, as a class assignment, on some
phase of the movies—First Movie I Can Remember;
Movie I Liked Most; My Favorite
Stars and Why, and Behavior of Teen-agers
in Theatres, etc. Supply teachers with material
to help discussion of 1955 pictiu-es.
CULTIVATE HIGH SCHOOL GRADS
"Bruce Collins, Rowley partner m Corpus
Christi, proposes we entertain high school
graduates and extend other honors. These
are our most likely patrons. Cultivate them!
"Special community event—To focus attention
on the way theatres sei've their community
beyond the call of duty ,^ there should
be at least one stunt during May that exemplifies
the theatres' civic spirit.
"How about arranging with your bus company
to bring a load or two of orphans or
crippled children or aged underprivileged
people to a showing of an appropriate attraction
some afternoon during the week?
"By all means, let the newspaper, radio
and TV and the city officials share in the
sponsorship and help publicize it."
An important preliminary build up will
be the sale of a "4 timer" sheet of four
tickets w-ith a deposit .slip at the bottom for
entermg a merchandise award contest in
connection with the sale of these tickets.
These four tickets are to be used during May
and the patron has the incentive of a 20
per cent discount against the regular price.
A sales contest for managers and employes
consists of a $250 first prize and $100 second
prize. The winners are the ones having the
greatest percentage of 4-Timer sales compared
to the past six months gross. The
judges will be Vic Jones, Frank Dowd and
firfheCitM/d.
A reproduction of the cover page of
the brochure distributed to Rowley
United managers for the May promotion.
John Rowley.
Through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures
and Al Kane, southern division manager,
a Paramount Al Kane award will be
made to any partner, manager or employe;
for the best selling campaign on any Paramount
picture playing in May, either first
or subsequent run, two $100 E bonds, one
for the Ai'kansas territory and one for the
Texas-Oklahoma territory. The judges will
be Bobby Bixler, Paramount publicist, Douglas
and George Henger.
Douglas is being assisted by Jimmie
Thames, district manager of Ai'kansas in
Little Rock, and George Henger, Oak Cliff
Theatres in Dallas.
'Cover' Premiere Marks
Cagney's Anniversary
AUSTIN—Gov. Allan Shivers of Texas
helped James Cagney celebrate his 25th anniversary
in motion pictui'es last week (5)
at the world premiere of "Run for Cover" at
the Paramount Theatre, here. Cagney stars
in the VistaVision production with Viveca
Lindfors. John Derek and Jean Hersholt.
Following the premiere Cagney visited nine
other cities, includmg five in Texas, to exploit
the Pine-Thomas film.
In a special ceremony. Shivers presented
Cagney the gun and sheriff's badge he wore
in the Technicolor film. The gun and badge
were silver-plated and framed, with a silver
inscribed plate commemorating the occasion.
Brought to Hollywood from the New York
stage, Cagney's first picture was "Penny
Arcade" with Joan Blondell. Several pictures
later was "Public Enemy" which skyrocketed
Cagney as one of the most powerful
stars in Hollywood, a position he has held
ever since. He won an Academy award when
he brought to the screen the lovable and
gifted George M. Cohen in "Yankee Doodle
Dandy."
Patrons See Assortment of CS
DENTON, TEX.—Harold Robertson, owner
of the Rancho Drive-In, is giving his patrons
a varied fare of Cinemascope pictures, short
subjects and full-length (and widthl movies
on the new 76x32-foot screen recently installed.
3X0FFICE :
: April 16, 1955 sw 59

i
i^ Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
{Academy Award Winrr)
^ Water-Cooled Apertures
if:
Cinerama
...€Utd K6t4t
(lo name but a few)
There's dramaiic significance in this record of engineer//
occompi/jhrnenf by CENTURY. These CENTURY "firsts" met
imporfant pracfical advantages to every exhibitor— targe p
small. It's your assurance of engineering know-how, of geuine
exclusive features, of the scientific approach to betimotion
picture projection and sound reproduction.
VISTAVISION. CENTURY has made a notable contributi.
to the technique of motion picture presentation with ts
design and production of the first Paramount VISTAVISICI
horizontal projectors.*
CINERAMA. "The wonder of the entertainment world'
Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of tif
revolutionary process and CENTURY is the exclusive prducer
of projectors for Cinerama.
HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOLI)
APERTURES. The introduction of these two featur:
brought about a big improvement in sound quality, increase!
screen illumination and sharper pictures.
No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experienc.
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It mea;
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design ai!
quality production of all motion picture projection and souii
equipment.
Buy your standard and special projection and
sound equipment from your Century dealer.
Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N.
CENTURY theatre SUPPLY CO.
706 West Grand Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
HARDIN THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
714 South Hampton Road
Dallas 11, Texas
60 BOXOFFICE April 16, iSl

( Mcond
—
en Youths Await Hearing
in Burglary at Drive-In
idMINY, OKLA.—Ten youths from this
i.iy have been charged with burglary in
degree by breaking into the Cleve-
;il Drive-In on February 24. Damage was
iiu.ited at $400. that amount including
me equipment that was removed and later
andoned. Five of the youths from Hominy
il three from Fairfax were arraigned in
«iiee county court at Pawnee on the secfl
degree burglary charge. Two other Hom-
V youth.s al.so charged are serving in the
ivy and did not appear. One who did appear
court also is in the Navy and three others
f Hominy highschool students. All were reised
on bond to await preliminary hearing.
Tlu' snack bar had been broken into and
iipinent in the building badly damaged,
iila'e glass window broken and two doors
maged. The Pawnee County sheriff ar-
.^ted the youths after checking tire marks
the theatre with the car they were driving.
ioneers Are Feted
MARLIN. TEX.—Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Chat-
L1S sr., and son Johnny went to Dallas rently,
where they were guests of Women of
e Motion Picture Industry. The WOMPI
»re honoring pioneer Texans in the motion
dure business, the Marlinites having started
eir theatre careers in September 1912.
'lemodeled Airer Opens
'NEW BOSTON. TEX.—The Starlite
Drive-
'i Theatre recently opened here with a giant
.descreen. Cinemascope. Vista Vision. Superlope
and natural vision. The theatre had
•en closed since March 1 for remodeling the
reen tower and Cinemascope installation,
'tie fii'st Cinemascope picture shown was
The Robe."
xhibitor Back in Fold
YSLETA. TEX.—Orin J. Sears, former
iner and operator of three theatres in New
lexico. the Apache at Elida. the Mesa at
atum, and the Apache in Loving, recently
ent back into exhibition at the Texas Theae,
Ysleta. He had been out of the business
little
more than two years.
ffHE RIGHT ROAD TO
SECURITV'S THROUGH...
PAYROLL SAVINGS'*
Buy U.S. Savings Bonds
REGULARLY
Jefferson Amusement Managers
Designate Fred N. Minton Week
BEAUMONT. TEX.—In response to requests
from the 65 managers in the field,
Jefferson Amusement Co. and East Texas
FRED N. MINTON
Theatres have designated April 24-30 as
Fred N. Minton week, when they will pay
tribute to a man who, in theii- own w'ords,
has given so much of his time and effort
to help them.
Minton, with a record of 29 years of showmanship
achievement, is director of theatres
for the Jefferson circuit. He has run the
gamut of practically all positions in his field,
starting in 1926 as a house artist.
But this is not the real reason Minton is
being honored throughout the circuit in east
Texas, his colleagues explain. Mainly it is
because of his sterlmg reputation for continually
maintaining the spirit of friendliness
and good comradeship as a No. 1 prerequisite
for good business not only with his
own fellow workers but also with members
of the community in which the theatres he
directs are located. "Ti-uly he is a man not
only deeply respected but loved by many for
this blessed and Godgiven attribute," his
colleagues say.
A DIRECTOR FOR TEN YEARS
Minton has been director of theatres the
last ten years. Before this he had managed
the old Strand Theatre in Port Arthur. He
was transferred to the Jefferson Theatre
as its first manager in 1927. Every oldtimer
still talks about the way the theatre was
operated under his direction. Later appointed
city manager for Beaumont, then elevated
to district manager and then director of
publicity Minton then was hiked to his present
position in 1945.
Of his years experience and work in the
field of motion pictures Minton says: "I like
best every bit of it. Every showman must Ike
his work because if he doesn't, the long hours
he must spend to bring entertainment to the
public will wear him down. It isn't easy to
manage theatres but the rewards are most
gratifying. And I would like to add ju.st for
the record that when I was the busiest. I
found the most pleasure in my work. For
instance my most challenging job was .>
manager of the Jeffer.son some time back
when I had to direct and produce two vaudeville
.shows, two stage band shows and promote
three days of pictures every week
the one time in my life I wished I had 50
fingers and 20 toes."
Married to his wife Fay for over 31 years
Minton has a daughter named Mary Ann,
20, now majoring in drama, radio and television
at the University of Texas, and a
.son Fred jr., 30, an architect and also a
Texas U. graduate.
The family resides at 2535 Gladys St..
Beaumont.
Contest Pennies Stolen,
Adding to Publicity!
From Mideast Edition
CLEVELAND—Every exhibitor dreams of
getting front-page publicity. Last week it
happened to Max Mink, manager of the Palace
Theatre, when a lifesize cutout of Jane
Ru.ssell. currently starred in "Underwater!"
was stolen from the theatre lobby. An unusual
interest was displayed in the theft because
the cutout was decorated with 700
bright pennies, put there by Manager Mink
for a guessing contest. The one guessing the
number correctly was to get a prize. Several
days after the cutout disappeared the pennies
.were returned to the theatre, indicating it
was all a college prank.
Last year a cutout of Marilyn Monroe was
swiped from in front of the Allen during the
showing of "How to Marry a Millionaire."
This was traced to some college students.
"Even if the guessing contest failed to come
off as planned, we received publicity that we
could never have bought." Mink commented.
Sets Up Bonus Nights
STAMFORD. TEX.—Manager C. B. Anderson
of the State Theatre has inaugurated
bonus nights at his theatre to encourage
attendance. Patrons who purchase tickets for
the Sunday. Monday and Tuesday shows will
be given a bonus ticket allowing them to
br.ng one guest free with the purchase of
one other ticket on Wednesday or Thursday,
the bonus nights. If the plan proves popular.
Anderson will make it a regular policy.
To Dallas for MGM Workshop
WOODVILLE. TEX.—J. Wood Fain, owner
of the Fain and Dogwood Tlieatres, was in
Dallas recently attending a three-day MGM
Ticket Selling Workshop. He says he is convinced
that theatre attendance will continue
to rise because of the fine new product which
will be offered during the coming season.
SPECIAL^SSBI
TRAILERS
FILMACK
Send Us Youi
Next Order. ^^^***
OXOFFICE :
: AprU 16, 1955 61

. . Drive-ins
. . Paul
. . The
STECO
THE FINEST
LOW COST
IN-GAR SPEAKER
with straight
CORD
. . . with koiled kord, $6.40; without
cord, $4.90.
Junction box, $4.00; with light, $4.50.
* Full 4" weatherproof speaker
mechanisms
* Front reflex pressure release
* All high pressure die cast cases
* Highest quality components
* Lightweight, compact, colorful
And like all the best buys in drive-in
theatre supplies, you'll find it at
62
Southwestern
Theatre Equipment Co.
HOUSTON
n raise from $6 to $6.50 an inch for theatre
ads in the three Houston daily newspapers
is felt to be unfair, said Jack Farr,
Trail Drive-In owner. Such ads are now
higher than regular rates, he said. Also, theatre
business is generally a sectional affair,
therefore citywide ads are needless, and theatre
ads in neighborhood papers cost only $1.75
per inch. Fi-ank Wilke's Boulevard Theatre
is now using ads in only one daily, and according
to Wilke, there has been no difference
in attendance noted. Houston Theatre
Owners Ass'n is planning special meetings to
cope with the situation.
Opening of the Trail Drive-in's restaurant
to the public during the day was moved up
to Thm-sday (14) ... The 20th-Fox building
at Webster and Bagby is expected to be completed
and ready for occupancy by July 1,
according to the builders. Tlie building is to
be fireproof and air conditioned, of Salmon
bark finish face brick, with all aluminum
windows and doors. Some interior walls will
be iron spot brick, others will have acoustical
tile treatment, ceilings will be acoustical tile,
floors will be concrete and asphalt tile, except
the lobby, which will be terrazzo. The roof
HI some parts will be reinforced concrete, in
others steel bar joist with pyro-fill, which will
make it fireproof and insulated.
"Romeo and Juliet," which played two
weeks at the River Oaks Theatre, picked up
attendance on the second week, partly accounted
for. according to Manager John
Smith, by a change in advertising, which used
the theme, "Don't let Shakespeare scare you"
. . . Ouida Meadows, candy girl at River Oaks,
and doorman Dick O'Brien are soon to wed.
They met through their jobs . . . Laura Knoff
has a new Chevrolet and keeps wiping it off,
says Manager Smith . Hochuli, Houston
Press amusement editor, introduced
Jimmy Cagney at his two-night personal appearance
at the Majestic Theatre for "Run
for Cover."
Jack Eigen, Chicago TV man who clung
to Cleo Moore's lips for five minutes, received
a lifetime pass from the Texas Drive-In Theatre
Ass'n, which will get him into any
drive-in forevermore in Texas, Oklahoma,
Mississippi and Louisiana. He acknowledged
the gift on the air from the Chez Parse, Chicago
. around Houston which
held Easter sunrise services included the
Market Street, Winkler, Hempstead, Pasadena,
Shepherd, Epson, Airline, Irving, Post
Oak, King Center, South Main, Trail and
Decker.
The second edition of the Barker, published
by the Variety Club of Houston, is out
to the members ... A "flying squadron" Variety
speakers bm-eau has been formed.
Barkers are being booked for short talks to
service clubs to tell about the Variety Boys
Club. Plans are going ahead for two more
units of the Boys Club, which is the chief
project of Tent 34 . . . Carl D. Levy, general
counsel for Jefferson Amusement Co., Beaumont,
and Bill Schulman, Palace Theatre at
Bryan, are new Variety members . . . Hugh
BUFFALO
3409 Oak Lawn, Room 107
V. Cain, Hall Theatre circuit, Beeville, w^
recent Variety Club visitor.
Edward Jacobson, Uptown Theatre, rep
a new Movie club for youngsters from Ifec
18 years of age. Special cards will be isstd,
which must be signed by parents, to ac^.
members for 35 cents instead of the regBllW
Harold "Cotton" GrifWs
50-cent rate . . .
Market Street Drive-In. was presente;»
Junior by his wife Tommy . Bei:m
Theatre, according to Col. Victor Bar:»,
had 4,200 registrants in the COMPO const.
Seven winners received $5 books, whiUiK
received free theatre passes.
The Apache Drive-In at Gonzales, whi(
owned and operated by Lynn Smith sr.,]
sisted by his son Lynn jr., has insti
Cinemascope and completely rebuilt
screen tower. Formerly known as the Tw|
Drive-In, the tower was blown down by
winds in 1954 . . . The Tower Drive-Il]
New Braunfels, owned and managed by
L. G. Hill, has installed CinemaScope
Equipment for both theatres was
Southwestern Theatre Equipment Co.
Tom Vincent, Southwestern manager,
ports that the Rigsby Drive-In at San
tonio, owned by Statewide Drive-In Thea
has finished the installation of RCA wide
with 140-ampere lamps and RCA rectil
He also reports that the Roxy Drive-In,
Antonio, owned by W. T. Yett, has an all
completely rebuilt screen tower, which
enlarged to 84 feet wide. During the buili
a small tornado wrecked almost entirely
fencing.
Joyce Smith of Southwestern The
Equipment, Dallas, has requested Helen Vt
Kent McGuire and Lillian Kunkle of
Houston branch to organize a local WO,
chapter. The Women of the Motion Pi(
Industry operates similarly to Variety, in
the organization sponsors charitable w
The gu-ls here are now in process of ma
plans for such a group, and anyone inten
may contact one of them at Southwester
Bellaire-Roxy theatre owner Victor
raco, 37 years a Marine Reserve officer,
been promoted from Colonel to Brlgi
General . . . H. C. Kaufman, manager ol
lumbia branch operations out of the
York office, was here for three days
Auditor James Sichelman, also out of
Wilbur Vinyaxd
York, was also in . . .
been transferred from the Oklahoma
exchange, where he was assistant ship]
the branch here where he was promol
head shipper.
New Kingsville Snack B

,
, ms
t
-
age
I
1 ilia's
I
nil-
I
lla's
,
'onyMasella Promotes
'op Public Relations
I
f-n New England Edition
^ERIDEN, CONN—In this age of public
Rations, theatre men all over the country
[ making renewed and determined efforts
m't the story of their industry before the
|jlic. One facet in this campaign is the
I3M Motion Picture Celebration in which
(/ernors and mayors have proclaimed
. ovies are fun" and "Go to the Movies"
Miith.s
and week-s.
\ii outstanding public relations achieveiii
was completed recently by Tony Mahi,
manager of the Poll Palace in Meriden.
-niiperation with Sanford H. Wendover.
[Kising editor of the Meriden Journal,
idea blossomed into three lengthy
articles in that paper, comprising nine
iimis which included nine pieces of art.
part was in compiling many facts
d yetting pictures from Loew's Theatres
nil'
office.
SIXTY-YEAR SAGA'
.Jnder the caption "Sixty Year Saga," the
.-ies traced the history of motion pictures
•
Meriden from its inception in 1905. The
Mist article relates that it has been 60 years
iiiice the first public exhibition of animated
took place in a little converted shoe
c'lre on lower Broadway in New York, at
ailiich time the flickering product was scoffed
bj as a "passing fad."
i--(Meriden came along with film nearly ten
r. iars later, which makes this a golden anil/ersary
year for the motion picture in-
-lijstry here. Masella queried readers of the
jurnal via the newspaper columns, asking
em to write of their earliest motion picre
experiences.
'fit seems that crude movies of the day got
;';eir start in Meriden by filling the gaps
^^[tween roadshows, but the year 1906 wit-
'Jssed the establishment of several theatres
''lich showed movies right from the start,
"'lose were hectic days for the operators,
'-'m often being rushed from New York City
"st in the nick of time.
''Show business in Meriden got a big boost
1907 with formation of the Meriden Thea-
, ,e Co., and lease of the new theatre building
,' S. Z. Poli, who had already become promi-
[iint as a theatre operator throughout New
ogland. Other early theatres were the
appy Thought, established in 1908; the
'lar, 1909: and the Crystal.
OISY AUDIENCES THEN
[
Meriden audiences at this time were unjhibited.
To them the actors were flesh
Id blood characters, hke the third-dimenonal
actors of the stage, and the movielers
showed their appreciation with shouts,
ifers, whistles, and stamping of feet.
By the early twenties Meriden had come
in show business and offered a varied
'ogram of motion pictures, vaudeville, and
gitimate productions in one large theatre
Id several smaller ones. The "roaring twenjes"
were approaching and theatre business
as booming. All the country was under the
Jell of the "silver screen."
It is Masella's opinion that the industry
due tor a comeback this year, with better
tid better product and Hollywood concenating
more upon stories than stars.
The number of motion picture ads daily
laced in U.S. media is estimated at 15,750.
\-im.-^ INDUSTRY PROFILE
Theatre Owner Al Sack Began
Career by Borrowing $hOOO
DALLAS—Alfred N. Sack, owner and
managing director of the highly successful
Coronet, foreign and art film
theatre here, began
his career a-s
a showman at an
jarly age.
Alfred attended
W ashington
University at St.
Louis, Mo. .where
he was actively
interested in the
college theatre.
The show business
came naturally
to him.
Alfred N. Sack
When roadshows
came to his native town of Greenville,
Miss., he ushered without pay just so
he could see the shows at the local opera
house." Top roadshow price at that
time was $1.50 a per.son. Frequently he
brought flowers to place on the piano
outside the theatre in order to earn
admittance to the show. Once he entered
a contest on amateur night and
won a $6 first prize by singing "Steamboat
Bill."
On leaving Washington University he
had $1,000 and borrowed an additional
$1,000 from his father to buy the
Dreamland, theatre for colored patronage
in San Antonio. This small theatre
was very successful until a competitor
constructed the New Di-eamland Theatre
one block up the street. In a panic
because of this new competition. Sack
bought the New Dreamland and closed
his first house. The theatre, being
larger and new, naturally prices had
to be raised. San Antonio at that time
was not large enough to support the
large exclusive Negro theatre so Alfred
was "caught out on a limb," and
couldn't turn back.
This letdown was by no means a
failure to Alfred Sack and he did not
turn away from show business.
TOURED JACK JOHNSON FILM
His next excursion was to take the
Negro-cast picture, "As the World Rolls
On," starring Jack Johnson, the heavyweight
boxing champion at that time,
and tour the entire south. His assets
were a 35mm print, a De'Vry suitcase
projector, a combination chauffeuroperator
and a model T Ford. On his
tour he featured his attraction in Negro
churches and schools. Many times he
was literally driven away from towns
by local prejudiced white population.
But he never gave up the fight.
Later, he bought all distribution
rights on "As the World Rolls On" from
the Andlauer Film Co., Kansas City.
At last the future was looking up as
this was the beginning of the Sack
Amusement Enterprises, which gradually
moved on into the general specialized
field of distribution of Negro films.
Like all distributors, when you can't
get enough films, he cast about to produce
his own pictures.
Sack had a sales office in Dallas previous
to his moving his entire company
here in 1937. Also he had exchanges in
Atlanta, Chicago, Oklahoma City, New
Orleans, Charlotte, New York and Los
Angeles.
When Sack Amusement moved to Dallas,
he brought two men with him,
Albert Flores, now with Republic, and
W. B. Lovelace, now with Allied Artists.
Sack produced or otherwise acquired
more than 40 full-length Negro
films and became the largest Negrocast
distributor in the world. He distributed
nationally the first all-talking
Negro film ever to be produced,
"Georgia Rose," starring Clarence
Brooks.
PRODUCED NEGRO WESTERNS
He later produced the first three
Negro westerns. These starred Herb
Jefferies, now a well-known record and
radio star. He also produced a series
of pictures stamng Spencer Williams,
now the Andy Brown of the Amos and
Andy television show. Sack recalls frequently
telling Spencer WOliams he was
the perfect Andy Brown type and advised
him to go out for the part.
In 1940 in Los Angeles, he met his
wife, the former Mildred Roddy of
Temple, Tex.
Mrs. Sack is active in Dallas school
work. Their 12-year-old-daughter Sarah
Lee, born Aug. 9, 1943, has the likeness
of both mother and father. She now is
an advanced pianist.
In 1927, brother Lester J. Sack, newly
graduated from the University of Missouri
school of journalism, joined the
Sack Amusement Enterprises as a partner.
Together the Sack brothers expanded
the business. Lester retired in
1952 because of illness.
In 1948, another brother, Julius M
joined Alfred in organizing another
offshoot, Sack Television Enterprises
Julius is sales manager of tliis enterprise
in New York. Alfred and Julius
continue to operate Sack Television Enterprises
with offices in New York and
Dallas for distribution of their own
Negro and white films in television
plus sales representation and distribution
for other independent producers
On Dec. 28, 1948, the firm opened the
Coronet in Dallas as the pioneer art
and foreign film house in Texas. Sack
regards the Coronet as his prize possession
and accomplishment.
Sack also built the Ritz, a Negropatronage
theatre in Beaumont, In
1940. which is now under lease to the
Jefferson Amusement Co.
Sack says, "Business has never been
better than it is now. I believe In
specialization. As long as we give the
public good entertainment and make
our customers feel they are really the
bosses, we have nothing to worry about " 63
OXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955

. . . The
. . .
John
. . Easter
1
j
New Fox at Timpson, Tex.,
Opened by Mrs. S. T. Smith
TIMPSON, TEX.—A brief formal program
preceded the showing of films when Timpson's
new theatre, the 361-seat Fox, opened here
recently.
Mrs. S. T. Smith, owner, said, "This will
probably be the last theatre I'll ever build
and I wanted to give Timpson and vicmity
the very best." Equipment includes Cinema-
Scope. Other features are a large lobby, tiled
restrooms and air conditioning.
Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Winbery, managers, and
Mrs. Smith greeted patrons at the opening.
First Drive-In Ten Years Old
PORT WORTH—The city's first drive-in,
the Bowie, opened ten years ago on April 6.
suppi
ASSOCIATED
POPCORN DISTRIBUTORS, Im.
"^
302 S. Horwood RI-6134 Dallas, Texas
DALLAS
Ceen along: Filmrow: W. J. Van Wyk, Pix,
Centerville; C. H. Cox jr., Crystal, Gilmer;
C. H. Jones, Palace, Weatherford;
Harry Herrington, assistant manager at the
Texas, Palestine; Sid Miller, Hillside Drivein,
Corsicana; Eddie Reyna, Frels Theatres,
Victoria: Tad Gould, River Oaks, Fort Worth;
Bill Rau, booker, San Antonio; Roy Muse,
Royal, Van Alstyne; Sonny Martini, Martini,
Galveston; W. J. Chesher and his wife, Palace,
Littlefield; Dorothy Mattson, Dixie,
Rockdale; Hans Smith, Irving, Irving; C. R.
Bailey, Ritz, Nocona; C. E. Campbell, Majestic,
Bowie; J. G. Long, Long Theatres, Bay
City.
Albert F. Sindlinger stopped off to see Col.
H. A. Cole.
LeRoy Blckel, the veteran manager here
for MGM, was married March 26 at Rockwall.
Tex., to Maude Vandigriff, who has been contract
clerk at the MGM office for 30 years.
The couple spent a ten-day motor trip in
Louisiana, Mi-ssissippi and Alabama following
the wedding.
The Coronet Theatre will present an 18-day
festival of art films April 21 to May 8 to
highlight the dedication ceremonies for the
portrait of Dr. Paul VanKatwijk, retiring
dean emeritus of SMU's music school. The
festival also will supplement the annual
Dallas season of the Metropolitan Opera Co.
May 6 to 8 at State Fair auditorium. The Rene
Mazza portrait of Dr. VanKatwijk will be
GET COOLING
CHECKED NOW!
Blowers
Motors
Pumps
Air-Washers
V-Behs
Filters
Mats
Tubing, etc
added to the Coronet's gallery of cultui
leaders in ceremonies April 24. Dr. Umphj
Lee, SMU chancellor, will speak, John RosJ
field, amusements editor of the Dallas Nev
will be emcee. Lev Aronson, Dallas Sympho/
cellist, will take part in a string trio perfor
ance of a Van Katwijk chamber work.
Raymond G. Willie jr. resigned as mana|
of the Rialto to become manager of the ij
Mar racetrack between La Jolla and
Diego, Calif. WilLe is the son of the assistE^t
general manager of Interstate Theatres.
is married and the father of two daughte
His family wUl join him in May.
SAN ANTONIC
jyjarie Ondarza, secretary to Clasa-Moh;
Manager Gordon B. Dunlap, is resign:?
to await a fifth visit from the stork. M;.
Ondarza was one of the original emplois
of the company and her place will be taki
by Margaret Sanelowitz . sunr'
service was again held at the Predericksbi;
Road Drive-In here. Those attending t
early morning services were served free cofe
and doughnuts.
James Cagney, star of "Run for Cove}
made three personal appearances on lb
Majestic Theatre stage for the openi[.
Bobby Bixler, Paramount exploiteer, was hb
from Dallas to handle the advance publicir
Rio, a walk-in open-air theatre i
Ruiz street, has reopened for the sumnr
H. Flache, who owns and operas
the Charro Drive-In, San Antonio, and 1e
Alameda, Lamesa, was at the Mexican (>
changes to do some booking.
Operators Purchase Interest
SEALY, TEX.—Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Mar:,
Wallis, Tex., who had operated the Ce
Theatre in Wallis since June 1951, receny
purchased a one-half interest in it, retroacts
to March 1. The purchase was made fr*
R. B. and Robert Brocaw of Eagle Lake, «b
are planning to move to Kansas.
Welcomes Visitors to Theatre
PECOS, TEX.—Pecos had a Pi'ogress Ev
recently, and one of the attractions was n
invitation from Al Cook, manager of l3
State Theatre, to visit the new motion pictts
house which features Cinemascope and otlr
modern conveniences. The feature of the if
was "The High and the Mighty."
HEBBER THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 Years"
408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS
Expects Splendid Pictures
RAYMONDVILLE, TEX.—R. G. Post:,
manager of the Corral Drive-In, attend
the three-day MGM Ticket Selling WorkslM
in Dallas recently. On his return he said tit
the public has every reason to expect mii
fine pictures than ever during the comii
season. !
VistaVi
1
For DRIVE-INS & THEATRES with HUGE, WIDE -AREA SCREENS • CARBONS Inc.BOONTON, N.J.
iot
CinemaScope
64 BOXOFFICE :
: April 16,

I
DENTON,
I
5 Winners at Victoria
n Frels' Oscar Race
VICTORIA. TEX—Thu Oscar Race at
the
jjtown Theatre was very successful. Bill
laiT. Uptown manager for Frels Theatres,
ports there were 35 winners among the
lore than 3,000 entries.
'Besides the use of the regular campaign
supplies, an extensive radio campaign was
ll
Inducted, including spot announcements
Iroughout the day tor a month, plus Fi-els'
'd Scotchman's Scrapbook and Sunday half-
>ur radio show.
Seeking public reaction to the contest, some
n persons were interviewed in a roundtable
scussion over station KNAL, and all exessed
hopes it would be repeated next
ar. Starr awarded passes to each win-
•r, good for one month at the Uptow'n.
Fi'els' Theatres recently inaugurated a new
Hlf-hour program on KNAL, labeled Sunday
fiowtime. aired each Sunday at 12:30. It
jatures music from pictures cuiTent at the
.•els Victoria theatres; transcribed interjews
with screen stars; news from the picture
jjrld, gathered from AP wires, movie maga-
Iiies and exchanges, and a lineup of curint
attractions. Lobby cards plugging the
|dio show have been set up in all Frels
puses here and in neighboring towns.
Jiant Drive-In Opens
FORT WORTH, TEX.—The Corral
Driveu.
Drive-In
which is the former Jacksboro jubled in size and with everything made
;w, held open house recently. Everybody
as invited to see the first show free.
enton Theatres Modernize
TEX.—Improvements are being
ade at two Denton theatres. Cinemascope
being installed at the Rancho Drive-In,
jid Gene Hughes, manager of the Texas
|heatre, has ordered a 28-foot Cinemascope
V Set to Winning Contestant
TYLER, TEX.—Glenn Fliiin, Inc., Interate
Theatres and the Tyler Courier-Times
\'\d Morning Telegraph were co-sponsors in
ja Academy award newspaper sweepstakes
bntest recently in which participants tried
'i name winners of the top seven Oscar repients.
Fu'st prize was a television set, and
mners-up received theatre passes.
ublic Enjoys Widescreen
WEIMAR, TEX.—J. D. Blinka, owner and
Manager of the Midway Drive-In at Schulenurg,
says that public reaction to the new
idescreen proces.s
;,
at the Midway Drive-In
.as been very gratifying. He also announced
|iat Cinemascope equipment has been in-
DISCUSS MILTI-CITY PREMIERE—Warner Bros.' "Strange Lady in Town"
planners are is the picture and the (right) Frank Starz, Interstate Ttieatres publicity
and advertising director, and Al Burks. WB southwestern field representative.
Looking on are: Al Peter.son, Worth Theatre, Fort Worth; Hal Cheatham, Dallas;
Conrad Brady, IMetropolitan, Houston; Bill White, Dallas; Francis Barr, Dallas, and
Jack Chalman, Majestic. San Antonio.
Bill Taylor Transferred
To El Paso by Interstate
EL PASO, TEX.— Bill Taylor, formerly
with Interstate in Wichita Falls, has come
to El Paso to become manager of the Pershing
Theatre. Howard Armstrong, former manager
of the Per.shing. has been named manager of
the state, according to John Paxton, Interstate
city manager.
Taylor has been employed by Interstate
seven years, serving in the Wichita Falls,
Abilene, Denton and Breckenridge areas.
Armstrong, who also has been with Interstate
for seven years, has worked in the Plaza,
state, Texas Grand Pershing Theatres, all in
El Paso.
Interstate recently has installed Cinema-
Scope and stereophonic sound at the Pershing.
All Ready for CinemaScope
NEWKIRK, OKLA.—The O.K. Theatre here
is scheduled to show its fu'st Cinemascope
picture on Sunday (17), according to G. N.
Walker, owner. A widescreen was installed
several months ago.
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66 BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, IS.)

I
I
The
I
le-Ediled TV Pictures
Iraw NCA Warning
vONNEAPOLIS—North Central Allied
vrns members to beware of the present
(nd toward compressing pictures initially
siwn on TV into theatre films. A recent
tletin cited specifically Walt Disney's editl':
of the "Adventiu-es of Davy Crockett"
|eo series into 95 minutes for theatrical
J ease.
;Franlcly," said Stanley Kane, NCA counsel,
the bulletin, "if I had a theatre and Mr.
i
isney asked me to play a picture which had
i;n cut down from what had previously
|;n shown on TV, I'd ask him how much
was going to pay me to run it. It'll be
i
ieresting to learn the terms Buena Vista
for this one."
tcs
liana predicted that if Disney has success
png these lines there'll be a lot more pic-
|-es put together in the same way.
•The main difference Ls that on the Disney
»w, he at least is plugging away on picj-es
which are being shown in your theais,"
says Kane. "But many of these other
0v;s are sponsored by makers of laxatives,
Dthpaste, beer and cigarets. (Remember
,=k Webb on the Academy award nominatns
program.)
•Marriage between TV and the movies is
right as long as the movies wear the pants.
It seems to me that if Disney is successi
in marketing a picture after it has been
ijwn on TV, we may assume that there can
1 no objection to televising a picture shortly
i,er it has been shown in the theatres."
jebraska Senator Says
'razy Horse' Film Errs
LINCOLN, NEB.—State Senator Monroe
xler of Harrison claims Hollywood has
/en an "erroneous portrayal" of Chief
azy Horse.
Senator Bixler said the movie version piojTes
the death of Crazy Horse at Ft. Laraiie,
Wyo., "instead of at Ft. Robinson, Neb.,
lere historical literatui'e says he was killed."
The senator's comments followed the show-
? of the film at the Stuart Theatre in
Incoln. the state capital.
Harrison legislator is supporting
jislation to establish a branch of the state
useum at Ft. Robinson and asserted "the
story of one of the greatest adventures of
e Old West should not be overlooked."
Berger Selling Story
Of Mikan to Films
Minneapolis—Benjamin Berger, president
of the Minneapolis Lakers professional
basketball team. North Central
Allied president and theatre circuit owner,
has been delegated by George Mikan, one
of basketball's alltime greatest players,
to sell his life story to motion pictures.
Three companies now are negotiating for
the right to do ''The George Milian Story"
and a deal likely will be closed within the
next fortnight, according to Berger.
Before retiring as a player last year
and taking over the Lakers' management
during the season which recently ended,
Mikan was a longtime sensational performer
on the courts for the Lakers.
Big Turnout at 12th MGM Workshop
The ticket-selling rally at the Schroeder
Hotel, Milwaukee, attracted an exhibitor
attendance of 256, a record for that territory.
Top photo, front row: Larry Beltz,
Grand Theatre, Wausau; Alfred Wright,
Ironwood (Mich.) Theatre; Tom Renn,
Thomas, Iron Mountain, Mich., and
Kance Mason, Kerredge, Hancock, Mich.
Row 2: F. B. Schlax, Standard Theatres,
and Willie Wallos, Midcity, Kenosha;
John Anoszko, Park and Fix, Waukesha;
Roger Barat, West, Green Bay; George
Andrews, Raulf, Oshkosh; H. A. Klika.
Bay, Green Bay; Ervin dumb, Riverside,
Milwaukee. Row 3: Phil Newman, Delaven
(Wis.) Theatre; Leo Kulik, Geneva, Lake
Geneva; Ken Vohs, Delft, Escanaba;
Austin Jackson, Delft, Munsing, Mich.;
Elroy Luedtke, Delft and Nordic theatres,
Marquette, Mich., and Don Deakin, Dells
Theatre, Dells.
Adjacent photo, front row: Don Burmeister,
Waukegan, III.; W. Langdon,
Aurora, III., and Marvin Stockwell, Joliet,
III., all of Great States. Row 2: Harry
Coffey, BOXOFFICE; John Mednikow,
More Drive-In Openings
DES MOINES—A number of April openings
of drive-ins throughout the state have
been reported. Many of them were ready on
Easter Sunday, a few of them earlier. The
weather favored the outdoor houses with
skies being sunny and the temperature up
throughout the state. Among those which
have just opened are the Oelwein at Oelwein,
Horace Spencer, manager; the Burlington
at Burlington; the Chief at Esterville,
with Charles Legg, manager; the Hillcrest
at Cedar Falls; the Clinton at Clinton; the
Hilltop at Fort Dodge by owners Willis
Warner and Otis Heskett. and the Star-Vu
at Panora, managed and owned by Dorothy
Kean and Margaret Gibson.
Plans Series for Children
PERRY, IOWA—Carl Schwanebeck, manager
of the Perry Theatre, reports that a plan
to show a series of summer films here for
children has been overwhelmingly endorsed
by parents of local school children. The parents
gave their votes on 700 letters circulated
in the schools. The PTA and the YWCA are
cooperating with the theatre in planning the
summer series selected from the children's
hbrary of films. The movies will be presented
at 2 p.m. each Wednesday beginning June 8
and will continue for 12 weeks.
^'iC^
National Screen, and A. Provinzano,
Alamo and Ptx theatres, Milwaukee. Row
3: James Suick and Phyllis Suick, Antigo
Drive-In, Antigo, and unidentified man.
Oscar-Winning Director
Trained in Nebraska
OMAHA—Denis Sanders, winner of a
Academy Award for direction of the two-reel
featm-e film. •'A Time Out for War," got a
lot of his technical training in Nebraska.
He worked for the University of Nebraska
Photographic Productions in 1953-1954 and
did considerable editing and research in pictures.
He received his Master's degree in
cinematography at the University of CaUfornia
in Los Angeles, where he did much of
the work on his Oscar-winning film. A
project at Nebraska was "Pilot Watershed."
Mike Williams Dies
ARCADIA, NEB.—Exhibitor Mike WilUams
died at his home Saturday (9) as the result
of an internal hemorrhage. Williams had been
ailing recently and not long ago was a patient
at Veterans Hospital at Grand Island. Williams
operated the Gayety Theatre here.
While he was hospitalized, Dick Marvel of St
Paul carried on operations for him.
New Mctnager at Ripon
RIPON, WIS.—Kent Herbert was appoiiited
manager of the S&M Theatres here, replacing
Jack Lightner. who took a position in Indiana.
Herbert had been manager of the Pox in
Beaver Dam the last seven years.
3X0FFICE :
: April 16, 1955 NC
67

I
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important practical advantages to every exhibitor— large
~
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VISTAVISION. CENTURY has made a notable contributin
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Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of th
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HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOLI>
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No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experienc
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It mea
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design or
quality production of all motion picture projection and sour
equipment.
Buy your standard and special projection and
sound equipment from your Cenfury dealer.
Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N.
SOLD
BY
Quality Theatre Supply Co.
1515 Davenport St.
Omaha, Nebroska
Minneapolis Theatre Supply Co.
75 Glenwood Ave.
Minneapolis 2, Minnesota
Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.
1121 High St.
Des Moines 9, Iowa
68 BOXOFFICE AprU 16, l!i

I
, l!an
I
1
; 10
. . Mr.
—
— — —
Visconsin House Reopened
Vith Advice to Merchants
ilLLETT. WIS.—C. L. Baldwin, owner of
(> local Gem Theatre, reopened the house on
III 10. To announce the opening. Baldwin
I- a letter to the merchants and other
ders in the community with the following
;vice and offer of cooperation:
Dear Fellow Merchants and Community:
•Since my letter to you a.s of February 2
:;arding reopening of our local theatre, I
ve had many letters and words of encour-
;
.ement as to your support and cooperation,
'lerefore. I have decided to invest a few
,ousand dollars in remodeling and installing
» ie new equipment in order to give our city
r id community what it is entitled to, good,
amusement for young and old.
j"I have decided to remodel the entire thea-
! and install the new equipment so I can
.•e you the best in product. I have also
tided to show six nights a week, leaving
e open night so that the theatre can be
ed for any social activity or benefit shows
r'en by the merchants, clubs or schools. I
mt you to feel that the theatre is in our
mmunity to help you. so let's take advance
of it and use the theatre to get more
ople in our stores. The theatre screen is
ere for your advertising. Let's dress up our
ndows and display our merchandise, and
'ep our light.s on in the windows until 9:30
p.m. Merchandise well displayed is
fid. Let's light our windows at night and
lit life in our Main street. You will find
lat it will bring shoppers into town. Let's
|ake it a Merchants Jubilee and all work
igether. We can give people the habit of
ming to oui' city if we put forth the effort,
one time the Gem Theatre showed to
10.000 in a year. It cost me money for adver-
,;ing, but it paid off. Let's get the people
ming to Gillett.
"I would be very happy to work with any
erchant or a committee to make Gillett the
face to shop. Give it a thought, then let's
t> to work."
.'quipment Installations
OMAHA—The Winner Drive-In has inalled
a 92-foot screen tower and complete
CA equipment, Paul Fine of Western Theae
Supply reports. He said owner Harvey
list put in all new booth equipment, wide
I'c lamps, anamorphic lenses and rectifiers,
'estern also installed Cinemascope at the
'erdigre Theatre, operated by Lou Marshall,
'id is making similar installations at Niofor
Joe Liska and at the Paxton Thea-
•.•ara
'€. operated by the American Legion.
Jreen Bay House Closed
GREEN BAY, WIS.—Standard Theatres,
hich is constructing a drive-in near here
> be opened about June 1, has closed its local
lime Theatre, according to Manager Elmer
Irennan. The Time is the second theatre
sere to close within the last year. The Plx
as closed previously.
Urer Opens for Season
FORT MADISON. IOWA—The Fort Madim
Drive-In has opened for the 1955 season.
I. was the first airer in the area to reopen
nd was the last to close last year. Special
luipment will be installed in the theatre to
iQable the showing of Cinemascope produclons.
DES MOINES
pilmrowers offered their sympathy to Warner
Bros, office manager and head booker
Joe Ancher, whose father passed away last
Ben Marcus, Columbia district
week . . .
manager, was a visitor in the exchange last
week . . . Betty Olson, chairman of the new
women's division of Variety Club, held a
meeting of her committee heads to begin
plans for a membership drive and discussion
of projects. Mrs. Olson has announced the
following members of her board: Edna Rubel,
Ivah Levy and Molly Sandler, advisory committee;
Dorothy Namanny, secretary; Thelma
Washburn, treasurer; Ivah Levy, membership
chairman; Sarah Gold. re.servations and
tickets chairman; lola West, ways and means
chaii-man: Lynn Olson, telephone chairman:
Pearl Conley, historian, and Mary Schoch,
publicity chairman. First event of the
women's group will be a membership tea or
coffee and plans will be announced within
the next week.
Jim Velde, Mike Lee and D. V. MacLucas
were all visitors in the UA exchange last
week, holding conferences with Manager Carl
Olson . , . Lou Levy. U-I manager, used last
weekend to try out his new boat on Avon
Lake and get in some fishing . . . Speaking
of fish, the Frank Rubel family has Its own
fish right at home. Their ten-year-old son
has acquired an aquarium and is learning
all about the care and habits of fish and
water plants . and Mrs. Myron Blank
were among several local couples who entertained
Lois Cowles and John Harrison, former
residents w-ho will be married June 24 in
New York.
Omaha Mgr. Resigns
OMAHA—R. W. "Pinky" Mcllvaine, manager
of the RKO Brandeis Theatre, has resigned
and will Iea»ve the film field. Replaceing
him is Edward Force, Valley Stream,
N. Y., who has been serving in a Columbus,
Ohio, theatre.
Upturn at Twin Cities
Is Headed by 'Peter'
MINNEAPOLIS—With Lent over and pleasant
spring weather making a belated appearance
the boxoffice started looking upward
again. "A Man Called Peter" and the revived
"On the Waterfront"-"The Caine Mutiny"
combination were especially in the big money,
leading the field of newcomers. It was the
eighth week for
"The Country Girl" and the
third for "Untamed," which, together with
"This Is Cinerama," were the lone holdovers.
(Avcroge Is 100)
Gopher Anchors Aweigh fMGM), reissue. ....... 80
Lync Untamed (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 90
Orpheum— Escope to Burma (RKO) 85
Pon—On the Woterfront (Col), The Coine Mutiny
fCol), reissues 125
Radio City A Man Called Peter (20th-Fox) . . . . 1 75
Stote Run for Cover (Para) 90
World The Country Girl (Poro), 8th wk 100
'Waterfront' Is the Greatest
Omaha
In Return to
OMAHA—The Orpheum Theatre reported
a 105 per cent second week for "The Country
Girl" as the movies battled strong competition
from the Ice Capades at Ak-Sar-Ben
Coliseum. The Admiral and Chief theatres
showed "On the Waterfront" for a 195 per
cent mark.
Admiral-Chief On the Woterfront (Col), return
engagement 195
Brandeis—The Americano (RKO); Utopia (SR) 115
Omaha Ma and Po Kettle at Woikiki (U-I) 95
Orpheum—The Country Girl (Poro), 2nd wk 105
State Big House, U.S.A. (UA), 2nd wk 100
VOIR
SPECIAL^SSB
TRAILERS
HLMACK
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ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES FROM US
White Japanese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $11.50
XXX Yellow Popcorn Per 100 lbs. 10.95
Standard Yellow Popcorn Per 100 lbs. 9.00
"Seazo" Coconut Oil Seasoning Per 50 lbs. 14.25
Liquid Popsit Plus Seasoning Per Case 16.25
Popcorn Salt Per Case 2.95
No. 400 Automatic Bottom Boxes, }V4 oz Per 1000 9.50
No. 300 Automatic Bottom Boxes, 2 oz Per 1000 10.65
Large 25c Popcorn Boxes Per 1000 18.75
1 lb. White Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 2.20
1 lb. Brown Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.80
V4 lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.50
1/2 lb. Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 1.20
IV2 lb. White Popcorn Sacks Per 1000 2.95
I lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.90
V4 lb. Printed Noiseless Sacks Per 1000 3.50
Iowa Distributor for Silver Skillef Brand Canned Meats.
Prices Subject to Change Without Notice
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
11 21 -23 High St. Oes Moines, Iowa
OXOFTICE :
: April 16, 1955 69

. . . Ray
MINNEAPOLIS
Qrchids are being tossed at Lowell Kaplan,
buyer-booker for the Bennie Berger circuit
and manager on the side of Berger's
Lyceum here, home of the legitimate, for the
exploitation job he did for "The Tender
Trap," one of the few stage shows the house
has had ... In his St. Paul Dispatch review
of "A Man Called Peter," Bill Diehl, critic,
declared: "'Peter' is deserving of widest attention.
For all age brackets and for those
of all beliefs (even those with none) it is the
season's must-see picture."
The Suburban World has splurged heavily
on newspaper advertising for the Sol Hurok
opera film of "Aida." Owner Ted Mann and
Manager Harry Katz raised the regular 85-
cent admission to $1 for this film . . . Norm
Levinson, MGM exploiteer here, has had large
striking window cards made up for "Blackboard
Jungle," which goes into the Gopher
here. Tlie cards are 22x28, were made by
Screen Process Arts, Sioux Falls, S. D., and
cost 34c each.
. . . Filmrow
Local circuit owner-producer W. R. Frank
will depart next month on a European tour
in the interest of his "Sitting Bull," which
goes into distribution abroad. Frank claims
"Sitting Bull" will hit a total gross of at
least $3,000,000 here and abroad
here was saddened by the news of the
death last Saturday (9) of Bob Ableson in
Los Angeles, where he was Paramount sales
manager. Ableson formerly was a salesman
with Paramount and RKO exchanges and
manager for Eagle Lion here. He was the last
of three brothers associated with the film
industry to die, the others having been Fred
and Art. He was about 52.
St. Paul's population is now estimated at
334,703, or 23,354 more than when the federal
census was taken in 1950. The Minneapolis
population is now estimated at 625,000 . . .
Circuit owner Abe Kaplan spent several days
in Mount Sinai Hospital, but is back at home
Lehrman, UA salesman, luckily escaped
with minor injuries in a head-on collision
while driving his car on one of his
trips. He was briefly in the hospital at
Staples, Minn.
Alice Kuhlman, Warner Bros, cashier, was
vacationing in the east ... It was erroneously
reported here that "Ma and Pa Kettle at
Waikiki" was the first of the series ever to
play the Minnesota Amusement Co.'s local
flagship house, the 4,100-seat Radio City,
pride of the circuit. As a matter of fact a
Ma and Pa Kettle picture played Radio City
two years ago. also diu-ing Holy Week. This
one grossed $1,000 more than the first one,
according to Lee Doty, Universal office manager,
who is pinch-hitting for Manager LeRoy
J. Miller.
WHICH features
for
For professional answers "H
to hundreds of DRIVE-IN )
problems you need
M
this ... J
Harry H. Weiss, RKO Theatres division
manager headquartering here, went to New
Orleans and other towns on an inspection
tour . . . The management of Cinerama will
host an "appreciation party" at the Hotel
Radisson April 19 for the press, TV and
radio folk to celebrate the first anniversary
at the Century here of "This Is Cinerama."
pay off
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Complete, Comprehensive
DRIVE-IN
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use this informative hondbook as a standard reference guide.
celess information helps you increose boxoffice appeal . . ovoid
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tly mistakes . . . hold down operating costs. 286 pages ... 92
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BOXOFFICE
(In Can&da add 25c. .Foreign add 50c) 825 Van Brunt Blvd. Kansas City 24, Mo.
^
Gopher Theatre Reques;
Premiere for 'Monika'
MINNEAPOLIS — Gopher Theatre Iji
operated by Bob Karatz and Burger Ami(
ment Co., which hung up a six-week rerd
run with Hallmark Production's "Karamtv,"
has requested the world's premiere engij
ment of Kroger Babb's next package, "T\/Mi'
ika" and "Mixed-Up Women," scheduledjj
release June 1.
"Monika," filmed in Sweden, stars the!
year-old Swedish actress Harriet Ander«*'
and with Minnesota's heavy Swedish pop^'''
tion, the Gopher operators think the
will be a big draw at the boxoffice.
Spring Opening Plannec^
For New Montana House,
From Western Edition
MALTA, MONT.—A spring openini
planned for the new Villa Theatre
structed by Carl Veseth. owner of the 1]
Palace.
The new house, which has dimension]
140x76 feet, will have a 475-seat audito:
and include space for several offices on
ground level and two apartments on the ^^i
ond floor. Constructed of Hadite bli
the theatre will be completely fireproof H^
be equipped for the showing of the new
screen processes.
Gran Buys Two Theatres l
JANESVILLE, WIS.—The Highway
]
Outdoor and the Myers indoor theatres
were taken over by Gran Enterprises of 11-
waukee from the Ai'kay Amusement Ccp.
and the Badger Outdoor Theatre Co. )el
Hafmann will continue as manager of ith
theatres. He reports that a new giant seen
tower will be constructed at the drive-infor
the showing of CinemaScope pictures, as ell
as for VistaVision and Superscope. The itdoorer
was recently reopened.
Movies Help Business
SCOTTSBLTJFF, NEB.—LaVerne Bolt, nnager
of the local Bluffs Theatre, in a rent
appearance before the local Cosmopolan
Club reminded the businessmen-members iflt
theatres increase the business of all store hi
the shopping district. He suggested thathe
merchants capitalize on movie patronagiby
keeping their store fronts lighted i.til
10:30 p.m.
Buys Airer in S. D.
YANKTON, S. D.—The 300-car Movie nd
Drive-In owned by Max S. Slaughter nd
T. B. Butler has been sold to Francis Hiri.*
of Blunt, S. D. The airer, which was opied
in 1948, was the first drive-in operatioiii'
the state. Harris says he will continuttc
operate the drive-in in the same mailer
that it has been in the past. A late-irii
opening is planned.
Fire Destroys Minnesota House
HECTOR, MINN.—Fire recently destnec
the 300-seat Palace Theatre owned and oarated
by Mr. and Mrs. N. R. Marsden. he
value of the frame building, which as
erected 55 years ago, and its equipment as
valued at $50,000. The owners do not pla to
rebuild the house, which was the only theie
in the community.
70 BOXOFTICE AprO 16, )55

f
.', wide
1 developed
. . Ralph
. . John
. . Lewis
. . Joe
. .
. . LoRayne
junt Minnie Easter Show
Jresented by Mort Ives
)MAHA—The annual Aunt Minnie Olson
Ister program was presented as usual at
t! Corby Theatre here, and Mort Ives, the
(jrator. said more than 700 kiddies were
yjsent for one of the most successful pro-
^uns in the history of the event.
Twenty years ago Minnie Olson started
L-tom of giving children Easter eggs
;er Sunday. For the last eight years
into a free program at the
trby every Easter afternoon.
rhe event now is sponsored by the Aunt
nnie Olson Club. Most of the participants
from the community. The show this year
pre.ss, radio and television cover-
eopens at Prescott, Iowa
PBESCOTT, IOWA—The Prescott Theatre
're has reopened under the management of
•adford Daggett. The house, which has been
rk for some time, contains new projection
'uipment, a larger screen and respaced seats.
le Prescott is in the hands of a nonprofit
cup known as Prescott Enterprises, Inc.
•esident is A. L. Brown. Other officers are
'!an Green, vice-president; Joseph Johnston,
'cretary-treasurer, and D. M. Green and
ad Outhier, directors.
omed on "War and Peace'
Supervising production publicity on ParalOunt's
"War and Peace" will be David
lanna.
OMAHA
Tom Ryan, owner of the theatre at Cairo and
operator of the situation at Wood River,
underwent surgery on his spine and is recuperating
at Veterans Hospital in Grand
Island . . Walter Hagedone, exhibitor at
.
Cozad, was chosen head referee at the allday
city track meet . Cole. U-I
.salesman, visited his fiancee. Donna Stahlnecker,
manager of the Island Theatre at
Grand Island . Falkenburg jr., Lexington
exhibitor, has been laid up with an
extremely bad case of the hives, his first
attack. Doctoi-s have been trying to discover
an allegry.
Shirley Baker. MGM booker's stenographer,
took a week of her vacation to be with her
brother Jerome, who is home on a 14-day
furlough from Ft. Bliss. Tex. She visited her
home at Ida Grove, Iowa, for Easter .
Virginia Struble, MGM cashier, went to Castana
to be with her parents . Weiss,
RKO booker, hasn't come down out of the
clouds yet since he rolled a 717 gross score in
Omaha Bowling Tournament to take over the
lead. He had games of 187, 214 and 244, with
a 72-pin handicap . Ti-ude, Paramount
office manager, is about the hottest thing
on Filmrow since he blossomed out with a
flattop haircut . . M. E. Anderson, Paramount
.
manager, spent Easter in Kansas
City.
Regina Healey Maher, formerly with Paramount
as a report clerk, was in town on a
visit from Keokuk, Iowa, and Introduced her
20-month-old daughter to her old Filmrow
Kathie Kiiapp, who worked ai
friends . . .
Paramount, United Artists and Allied Artists,
i-; now with her husband in England, where
he is serving with the Army.
Elaine Carlson. MGM bookkeeper, received
a bouquet of flowers from her husband, but
she wouldn't tell her co-workers what occasion
it marked . Youngclaus, who
has the Island Theatre at Grand Island, Ls
driving a new Lincoln convertible . . . Visitors
on Filmrow Included lowans Bob Krueger,
Sioux City; Bob Fridley, Ida Grove; Nate
Sandler, Des Moines; Carl Harriman, Alton,
and Nebraskans Hal Schoonover, Aurora, and
Wayne Johnson, Blue Hill.
Continues Free CofC Shows
WINFIELD, IOWA—Free Wednesday night
m.ovies will continue at the Winfield Theatre
here. E. J. Kramer, manager, has agreed
to keep on with the shows in cooperation
with the Chamber of Commerce.
Two Small-Towners Reopen
MINNEAPOLIS—The theatre recently shuttered
at Cokato by Larry Buck is being
reopened by Larry Frederick. At Plum, Wis.,
where the town's only showhouse. the Auditorium,
has been shuttered since January, the
Business Men's Ass'n has taken over and
lighted it again as a civic venture.
Richard Brooks will direct MGM's adventure
drama, "Something of Value."
Spring's the time to "spruce up"
...while
record-smashing
special low prices last on
RCA CUSTOM LOOMED CARPET
Here's the biggest spring "housekeeping"
news you'll hear for
many a year! Brand new, fresh-asall-outdoors
RCA Custom Loomed
Carpet at savings to give your
housekeeping budget a real springtime
lift, too.
Thanks to a very special purchase
from Thomas L. Leedom Company,
RCA can now offer limited
quantities of three rich, all-wool
Wilton carpets at drastically reduced
prices. All three lines are
full pitch quality stand-outs ... of
nine wires per inch weave . . .
closely loomed to take years of
wearing and cleaning without losing
their showplace looks.
Choose from a wide assortment
of smartest colors . . . from three
new RCA patterns — Celebrity,
Academy and Ovation — as well
as long-popular RCA designs like
Showman, Citation, Headliner and
Top Performer.
.
Call or stop in right away! Limited
quantities allow us to continue
these record-smashing price reductions
for a short time only.
It's first come, first served . . don't
you miss out!
At Your RCA THEATRE SUPPLY DEALERS
VIC MANHARDT COMPANY, INC.
1705-9 W. Clybourn Street
Milwaukee 3, Wisconsin

The
With the Photographer at Wisconsin Allied Meeting I
Above is a group in the Coca-Cola booth; Stan Gross, Leo Schuesttr, Irving Mack, Lou Orlove, Johnny Mednikow, George Levine,
Ben Krawozyk and Hank Toilette. In right photo are Louis Manieth, P'rank Liermiester, M. L. Holsman, O. E. Maxwell and H. E. Chrisman
at the Vendex booth.
[
Snapped at the Romar Vide booth are Doug Mellin, Irv Morris, Harold Pearson and Ed Kradecki. At right at the Coca-Cola
j
stand: Floyd Alberts, Bill Norris, Harold Pearson, Sig Goldberg, Stan Klein, William Charboneau, R. W. Stout, B. Dorman and R.
Stonebrook.
'
Terms on 'Christmas/ Etc.,
Rile Exhibitors of NCA
MINNEAPOLIS—S. D. Kane, North Central
Allied executive counsel, has started a study
to determine if one phase of some present
film sales policies affords grounds for exhibitor
damage suits.
It's a policy of charging the same percentage
for subsequent runs regardless of the
availability for certain pictures, like, for
example, "White Christmas" and "Battle
Cry." Kxhibitors in the later slots want NCA
to bring the matter to the Department of
Justice's attention, asserts Kane.
The same 50 per cent is being demanded
for the aforementioned and some other pictui-es
in the 28-day slots and up to 56-day
clearance. The later runs see no reason why,
if they must pay 50 per cent, they shouldn't
get the pictures on the earliest availability,
28 days, instead of being discriminated
against, according to Kane.
There is no rhyme or reason or any logic
for such selling, insists the NCA general
counsel.
An "alarming" number of small-town exhibitors
will start tossing in the sponge soon
unless film rental relief is immediately forthcoming,
Kane contends. "An increasing number
of letters from small-town exhibitors
throughout the territory" telling of their distress
and the likelihood they'll have to quit
are being received by Kane. He blames "exorbitant"
film rental terms.
Mrs.Teresa McNomara Dies
CROPTON, NEB.—Mrs. Teresa McNamara,
of Clem Tramp, exhibitor at the Home
.sLster
Theatre, died at St. Joseph's Hospital in
Omaha. At one time Mrs. McNamara did
the buying and booking for the theatre but
she had been inactive in recent years.
Ute, Iowa, House Reopens
UTE, IOWA—The Star Theatre here has
opened for the season under the management
of Allen Meadows and George Trontvet.
Showman George Hannon
Will Manage Starlite
GREEN BAY, WIS.—George Hannon, who
has operated theatres in this locality for the
last 30 years, will manage the Starlite Outdoor
Drive-In this year. The Starlite was
sold recently by B. Karatz of Minneapolis
to the Gran Enterprise Co., Milwaukee, which
is headed by L. F. Gran, former general
superintendent of Standard Theatres here,
and Harold F. Janecky. The Gran company
also controls theatres at Stevens Point, Janesville,
Wisconsin Rapids and Fond du Lac.
A number of innovations have been planned
for the Starlite season which is scheduled
to open April 20, 21, with free admission for
those two nights. Pony and merry-go-round
rides and television will be provided to entertain
the youngsters until the show starts.
The theatre will be equipped to show widescreen.
Cinemascope, VistaVision and Superscope
films.
Hannon started as a projectionist here, later
becoming manager of the Pix, Time and
West theatres here, the Retlaw in Fond du
Lac and the Fox, Strand and Rialto in Marinette.
He also opened the Brin in Menasha.
Nearby Fire Closes House
STAPLETON, NEB.—The Neu Theatre has
been forced to close down for repairs following
a fire in the business district here.
A blaze in another store caused damage to
the theatre operated by W. A. Redenbo.
S&M Building Drive-In
CLINTONVILLE, WIS.—S&M Theatres
will build an outdoor theatre about one mile
north of here, to be opened this spring,
according to H. B. Toilette, district manager.
Repair Theatre Fire Damage
MORA, MINN.—Repairs are being made at
the Paradise Theatre here following a fire.
The blaze and smoke damaged the interior
wall panels and decorations.
68 Pictures Rejected
In Ohio in 12 Years
From Mideast Edition
COLUMBUS—Only 68 of the 20,517 fll-j
reviewed by the censor board during a S
year period were rejected, said R. M. Eymf,
chief film censor, in a report which he sjj
refuted claims of some censorship opponeiS
'
that the Ohio board has been too severe.
The report covers the period from Jan.',
1943, to Jan. 1, 1955. Eliminations W(i
ordered from 1,616 films in that span, Eymi
said. The division has not been reviewi?
films since December 1 last, when the Oh
supreme court ruled that any further cens(:
\
Eyman said that most of the rejections w(i
ship was "unlawful and unreasonable."
caused by films that "tended to incite criis
or had scenes of obscenity." He said a stea''
increase of foreign films during the past 1'
years caused many censorship problems. Diing
the last fiscal year, 36 per cent of fllii
received in the state were foreign langua;
features.
The report showed that films concern!?
the use of habit-forming drugs had bei
banned because of the increase in juveni
delinquency. Eyman claimed that some cai;
of delinquency were directly attributed )
ideas received from such films.
Among the better-known of the 68 banni
films are: Devil in the Flesh, Kiss Tomorrc
Goodbye, Mom and Dad, My Life (former
Ecstacy) , Moon Is Blue, The Outlaw, V-
Want a Child, The Miracle and M.
John Banks Changes Schedule
GARDNER, IOWA—The Avery Theat
here has changed its schedule so that or'
one show a night is presented on Mond'
through Thursday. There continues to
two showings on Friday, Saturday and Su
day nights, with a matinee on Sunday. Jol,
Banks, operator, has planned a series
class parties each Friday night for schc;
children.
J
=
72
BOXOFFICE :
: April 16, 19

,
KEWASKUM,
. . Joe
. .
. . Manager
VIILWAUKEE
he Atlantic Theatre, formerly the Whitehouse,
operated by the late Otto Meister
id recently managed by Charlie Fox, was
zed to make way for a parking lot. The
tlantic was one of the oldest motion picture
leatres in the downtown area . . . Fred
nehardt of the New Glarus Theatre, New
larus, was on Filmrow booking . . . Russ
cNamee of the Thomas Theatres, lion
ountain, Mich., also was in booking . The
. .
lincoln Theatre here has installed Cinema-
;ope.
John Mednikow of National Screen is back
1 the job after being hospitalized for a few
eeks Floyd Albert of the Strand Theatre,
. . .
ount Horeb, was in visiting the various exlanges
. . . Ray and OUver Trampe of Film
;rvice were in New York attending the Naonal
Film Truck Delivery convention . . .
he new Ken Mar Drive-In between Gladone
and Escanaba, Mich., is being opened by
ustin and Marvin Pouliot . . . Bill Sager,
iiity Theatres booker, left on a vacation . . .
ick Lorentz, 20th-Fox manager, and his
life left for a vacation in Florida.
r Cinemascope was installed in the Delavan
;ikes Outdoor, Delavan; Gem Theatre,
'illett, and the Omro Theatre, Omro .
lans have been issued for an aii' base theae
at Traux Field, Madison . . . Rudolph
oeske of Marathon is now managing the
Standard Theatres
dgar Theatre, Edgar . . .
remodeling the old Beloit Theatre at Beloit
Id renaming it the Ellis . . . Condolences
lent out to Walter Holt of the Rialto Theae,
Kaukauna, on the recent death of his
[ither . . . Ted Tod, 20th-Fox exploiteer,
handling "A Man Called Peter," which
,jened at the Fox Wisconsin . Imhoff,
A manager, returned from a western divilOnal
meeting at Los Angeles.
11 Fritz Building Airer,
lecond in Watertown
WATERTOWN, S. D.—Al Fritz is building
600-car drive-in, which will give two out-
Dor theatres in this town of 12,000. Water-
.)wn also has two four-wall houses, one oper-
,;ed by the Minnesota Amusement Co. and
;ie other by Fritz.
'oul Frazier Buys House
WIS.—Mr. and Mrs. Paul
razier have purchased the Kewaskum Thei^re
from Mr. and Mrs. George Hansen. The
raziers have managed theatres in Genoa
ity and Wisconsin Rapids for many years. A
irge screen for Cinemascope pictures is now
leing installed.
irgil Mcmnie to Gopher
MINNEAPOLIS—Virgil Mannie resigned as
distant manager at the Gopher Theatre, ef-
H;tive the 23rd, and was succeeded by Sam
aposnik, recently discharged from the Army,
aposnik formerly was assistant at the Berger
alace, now demolished. Ed Linder is manger
of the Gopher.
Nebraska Airer Reopened
KEARNEY, NEB.—Manager Clinton Sme-
;ad reports that the Kearney Drive-In has
een reopened for the summer season.
ISSUES PROCLAMATION—Mayor Mark P. Zeidler of Milwaukee proclaims April
Go to the Movies Month as part of first annual Theatre and Academy Award Winner.s
Salute Day celebration. Left to right: H. G. Boesel, Palace Theatre; Burtus Bishop jr.,
MOM midwest division sales manager; Ervin J. dumb, Riverside Theatre; Mayor
Zeidler; Hortense Brunner, advertising manager for Fox Theatres; John G. Kemptgen,
MOM manager, and Al B. Meskis, Warner Theatre.
Richard Marvel Successful
With His Kiddy Day Parade
ST. PAUL, NEB.—Exhibitor Richard Marvel
scored a civic triumph with his Kiddy
Day parade. Children, not only from St. Paul
but surrounding towns, paraded down Main
street bedecked in costumes and competed
for prizes. It was an all-day affair and included
a free show, music by a drum and
bugle corps and other entertainment. Main
street wa.3 roped off for the celebration.
Marvel took 16mm movies in color and
plans to rig up a 16mm projector in his booth
to show the movies of the event. A radio
station made a tape recording of the program.
H. LaSasso to Beaver Dam
BEAVER DAM. WIS.—Harvey LaSasso,
manager of the Jackson Theatre, Milwaukee,
has been named manager of the Odeon Theatre
here, replacing Kent Herbert, who has
gone into the automobile business.
AfaJ^
SOUTH DAKOTA
T^r. and Mrs. M. G. Conrad acquired the
Date Theatre in Wilmot, purchasing the
building and equipment from Fi-ed Lentz.
Changes in the theatre are indicated by the
Conrads. Lentz has no comment regarding
further plans . . Jerome Hendrick, operator
.
of the Rex Theatre in Woonsocket, is installing
Cinemascope . Gene Wilson
has installed CinemaScope and VistaVision in
the Majestic Theatre in Clear Lake.
N. D. House Is Sold
BEACH, N. D.—Frank Kippley has purchased
the Webo Theatre from M. O.
Lockrem.
C'Scope for Belmond, Iowa
BELMOND, IOWA—Cinemascope has been
added to the New Belmond Theatre here
MONEY
by Manager Ed Gentry.
MONEY
Exhibiting New Wide Screen Pictures
Sa^
installing the complete equipment package of
RCA Stereophonic Sound
It costs you nothing to get the full story from Western Theatre Supply Co.
and professional recommendations from RCA's technical staff of experienced
sound and projection engineers.
Everything in
Theatre
Equipment
and
Supplies
WESTERN
THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
OXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955 73

Tom Arthur. 75, Is Dead;
In Exhibition Since '04
MASON CITY, lA.—Tom Arthur, 75, pioneer
local theatre operator, died early Monday
(11) at a hospital here. He had been ill
Fight Daylight Savings
In Minnesota Senate
Minneapolis—A daylight savings bill in
the state legislature has stirred an all-out
fight in theatre circles. The measure has
strong support from organized labor and
others and already has been recommended
for passage by the senate committee
to which it had been referred.
Mainly due to ruralite opposition, daylight
savings has been averted in Minnesota
up to now. The film industry fears
that daylight savings would harm exhibition,
especially drive-in theatres
which wouldn't be able to start their first
shows until about 9:30 p.m.
S. D. Kane, North Central Allied executive
counsel, appeared at a public hearing
in the senate to argue against the bill.
The only other opponent was an attorney
for a farm group. Union leaders and individuals
describing themselves as golf
and fishing addicts spoke in the measure's
behalf.
TOM ARTHUR
for three weeks. Arthur came here in 1904
and took over management of the Wilson
Theatre, which he operated until it burned
in 1911. The following year, it was rebuilt
and renamed the Cecil. Arthur continued
its operation until his death. He is survived
by his wife.
New Screen Installed
NORTHWOOD, IOWA—A new screen, 24x-
13 Vs feet, has been installed at the Northwood
Theatre here. The entire proscenium of
the theatre has been torn out and the new
screen and proscenium are 10 feet farther
from the audience than before.
Reopens After Remodeling
GRAETTINGER, IOWA — Sam Watson,
owner and operator of the Watson Theatre
here, has announced the reopening of the
theatre following a two-week period when the
house was closed for extensive alterations. A
wide screen was installed for Cinemascope
and VistaVision, and acoustic changes were
made. A new lighting system also was installed.
MEE, In Policy Reversal,
Adds CS to Two Drive-Ins
MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota Entertainment
Enterprises has changed its mind and is
going m for Cinemascope immediately in
two of its five local drive-in theatres, the
Rose and Bloomington. MEE, a group of conventional
theatre owners, owns and operates
half of all of the Minneapolis-St. Paul
ozoners.
The MEE announced recently it would steer
clear of the widescreen technique for the
present season, at least, because of the high
rental terms for scope pictures. The circuit,
at that time, pointed out that it had a sufficient
supply of pictures to carry its outdoor
theatre over the impending season and, perhaps,
next year as well.
The other five ozoners in the area, not
owned by MEE, will all have Cinemascope
equipment.
Hosts Patrons on Anniversary
COLFAX, IOWA—More than 600 persons
were guests of the Star Theatre management
here on the occasion of the theatre's sixth
anniversary under its present management.
Theatre personnel received corsages and
boutonnieres. A birthday cake with six candles
was in the lobby. M. C. Marquis was host.
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION

,
ale
'
'
The
: Richard
, jrri.s.
,
.i.j.'.ations.
""n.^'Su^'/^^"'
n Detroit Theatres
DETROIT—Local theatre.s dropped regusliows
Good Friday afternoon, with many
both downtown and in the neigh-
"ids, throwing their doors open to the
to worship in cooperation with chiu-ch
Resisting the temptation to
ter to the less religious-minded, other theles
simply remained dark.
The respect given to this day by exhibitors
;i Detroit tradition, which has grown here
r dfcades. with exhibitors widely particilini;.
The United Detroit circuit, for inmcf.
had religious .services at the Michigan,

. . Saul
. . The
. . Nathan
. . Ernie
. .
. . Gordon
. . Claude
.1
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DETROIT
R/Trs. Opal Parks, mother of Frances Parks of
the Gayety Theatre, underwent surgery
at Sinai Hospital . Rosedale Theatre,
Woodward avenue house operated by Sterling-
Theatres, has been closed . . . Mrs. Gladys
M. Pike, who grew up in the film transportation
business, was a recent visitor . . . Bill
Green, advertising manager for Cinerama, arranged
unique crossplugs for the Dartmouth
College Glee Club, which is featured in the
current "Cinerama Holiday" at the Music
Hall, for their concert at nearby Cranbrook.
Mrs. Romulus Albu, widow of the late exhibitor,
has returned from a three-week vacation
in Florida . . . Edward DeLorme, former
operator at the Oakman, is now at the Grand
in Highland Park. He succeeds Arthur Sedgwick,
who went to the Temple . . . Norman
Meyers, managing director of the Adams, and
Mrs. Meyers are back from Cleveland, where
they went for the funeral of her brother.
Mrs. Alice Gorham, head of exploitation for
United Detroit Theatres, is back from a trip
to New York, where she sat in on the COMPO
poll committee plans, which she heads .
Edmund Papineau, who formerly operated a
drive-. n at Walled Lake, has opened an office
for the Bronson Shoe Sales here as its new
district manager . Barnett, who
used to be the operator at the now dismantled
Midway in Dearborn, is sharing the
booth at Wisper & Wetsman's Avalon with
Russell Ruben.
Louis Sctilussel, owner of the Farnum Theatre
in Hamtramck, who has been vacationing
in Florida since January, will return home
about May 1, according to his son Bernard,
who has been managing the house . . . Harry
Brown, operator at the Farnum, is back from
a trip to Texas . Ziegler, traveling
auditor for U-I, arrived in town on business.
He will be remembered as a former Universal
booker here about three years ago.
Helma Wetzel, booker at Warners, regrets
she wasn't able to stay longer at St. Petersburg
and Clearwater, Fla. . . . Eddie Loye.
RKO office manager, who's been on the sick
list just over a year, will remain on leave
until June 30, convalescing at home . . . James
M Donohue, veteran seating man, reports he
is feeling much better since he cut out smoking
Jay Frankel of 20th-Fox is proud
. . . of the remodeling job on the screening room.
Lou Warrington, owner of the U. S. 23
Drive-In at Flint, will take over the management
personally this season. Manager Frank
Boomer resigned to enter the construction
business. Booking is being handled by Bill
Clark.
Visitors at Clark Theatre Service include;
Mr. and Mrs. Elton Samuels, Pontiac Drivein;
J m Blackburn, Starlite Drive-In, Lansing;
Jim Olson, Clare circuiteer; Jack Krass,
Fred Lokkar and Dave Korman, Detroit independents
. J. Conn, veteran projectionist
of the Broadway-Capitol, is having a
double celebration; his son Norman has just
passed the bar exam and son Albert, who is
also studying law, has become a full-fledged
projectionist . . . Joe Lenahan, veteran theatrical
insurance man, is returning from five
weeks in Florida.
Howard Bruce of Amusement Booking Service,
who recently underwent a major eye
operation, has suffered a relapse and serious
hemorrhaging following an early return
his desk.
Edward DeLorme, operator at the Farnil
Theatre in Hamtramck, is busy with
home painting project . . . Nathan Bamei
operator at the Avalon, is buying a new hoi>
in Oak Park . , . J. O. "OUie" Brooks, forirf
head booker for Butterfield and now in t
roadshow distribution field, is convalescing;
the home of Fred Bonnem, Columbia salt
man, following major sm-gery . i
Sheridan, former manager of the Norwcl
Telenews Theatre, is now heading the pt.
lie relations staff at Goodwill Industries.
.
Ned Oglesby, seating specialist, was i
Cleveland on a short business trip . .
Bernard J. Kilbride, circuit operator here ;.'
four decades, met with Joe Lee and J/
Frankel of 20th-Fox to exchange anecdos
in a Grand Circus Park noon hour . . . Jat
Hagopian is establishing a new organij;-
tion here to be known as the Motion Picti;
Academy Campbell, 20th-Jic
salesman at Grand Rapids, is the father f
Jack Armstrong of Arstrong
a baby girl . . .
Theatres, Toledo, tells us our iji
friend A. Milo DeHaven, onetime manaff
of the Grand and Belmont and now an

:
DETROIT—Ernie
1
7-9,
I
was
58
.etroit Censors Report
jigh Foreign Percentage
3ETROIT— Foreign language product is
]:ounting for nearly 30 per cent of the films
rrently being shown in this area, according
(
figures supplied by the Police Censor
ireau. Out of 4.474,000 feet reviewed during
54, 1,238,600 feet were foreign language
;tures, while 3,235,400 were in English. Brit-
1 product is classified in the latter group,
liking Hollywood percentage still smaller.
iMexican films were far in the lead in forijn
product, accounting for 844,600 feet,
illowed by Italian, 171.000, and German,
17.000. Five other language groups were
presented during the year: Arabian. 30.000;
ench. 17.000; Egyptian. 11,000; African, not
herwise identified, 10.000. and Swedish,
llOO.
In March, American and 17,700 feet of for-
';n product were reviewed, with censore
;minating 2,095 feet of both domestic and
reign pictures.
;ln foreign films, 8,000 feet were Mexican,
,)00 were Italian and 4,200 were French
oductions.
jIn addition to reviewing films, the censors
lade routine inspection trips to inspect front
traction boards. Of the 63 theatres visited,
I
found necessary to issue only five
i.mination tickets.
[During the past year, the pralice censors
(sited a total of 537 theatres to inspect ad-
Irtising displays, and found it necessary to
me only 18 tickets for the entire year.
BOWLING
Forbes Theatre Supply
[lied to a good 5" --point lead in the Night-
[gale Club Bowling League. The standings:
.
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Ernie Forbes 64 40 Not'l Carbon 49 55
STS 581/2 451 J Altec 411/2 621/2
Local 199 46 Amuse. Sup. 41 63
Individual high scores rolled were: Carl
ingione. 223-216 for 610; Roy Thompson,
'4-203 for 596; Ralph Haskin, 220 for 545;
'ick Forest, 191 for 542; Floyd Akins, 194 for
'2; Fred Sutterfield, 210, and Roger Valilette,
532.
^Nightingle notes: Thi-ee of the boys were
'
ncy dans when it came to making splits,
'elber "Our Boy" Haartge, according to
loyd Akins. made these tw^o 4-7-5 and the
Jack Yellich made the 4-7-9, while
rank "Fireman" Quinlan made the 4-7-10.
11 four splits were not easy to make.
I Nick Forest, captain of Ernie Forbes team,
ill can not see the top clearly as two teams
.e still chasing him and his boys. They lost
iree points to the second place team, and
^ould have lost four points if they had not
,wled the season's high single game of 766.
'red Sutterfield was the leading light in
lat game with a 210.
. The Nightingales had two visitors. One
as Beverly Poole, who used to be a member
^.id may be so again. He had his boys with
im and they bowled with the Nightingales.
Secretary Akins invites them to come again
i they are always welcome with the old
[ome team. But as to who the other visitor
as: "We'll just let all the Nightingales
Akins says.
•less,"
Jack Colwell had car trouble and couldn't
3t to the alleys and Francis Light had to
prk. This is the first time that Fi-an missed
'lis season. His brother Gilbert was on the
lissing list, too.
^mimmm INDUSTRY
PROFILE
Judge Russell Recalls Pleasures
In Short' 30 Years as Showman
MILLERSBURG. OHIO—Judge Hoy
L Ru.ssell and his .son Blair, owners of
the Russell Theatre, are celebrating
their 30th anniversary in show business.
Russell, now a judge of the Holmes
County probate court, bought the theatre,
then called the Opera House, located
in the municipal building, on Feb.
28. 1925.
Surveying his 30 years in show business.
Judge Russell wrote in the Holmes
County Farmer-Hub. of which he also
IS publisher and editor:
"Tliirty years doesn't seem to be a
very long time as one looks back. To
the teenager looking forward it is probably
unusually long. At least, when the
writer was a youth, 30 years seemed
aeons away.
"But 30 years in show business in
Millersburg has been my experience and
It seems unbelievably short. It is only
when I realize that the little boy in my
family, when I began showing motion
pictures in the old Opera House, is now
older than I was at that time and has
two children of his own, that I can
Msualize the actual length of 30 years.
'Today's motion picture and today's
modern theatre compare to those of 30
years ago. when I entered this field, in
about the same way that a modern jet
plane compares with an ox cart. The
difference has developed as a result of
careful, painstaking study and effort to
keep the motion picture at the head of
your entertainment list. Acting is an
art. Directing is a science. And projecting
pictures on the screen is a profession.
"Operating a theatre is an exacting
business requiring much in the way of
technical knowledge, business judgment,
long hours of just pain hard work. But
most of all, it requires an enthusiasm
for the business. The writer has had
the pleasant experience of greeting as
patrons the grandchildren of men and
women who were his patrons 30 years
ago. There has been much personal
gratification in having kept in step with
the progress of motion pictures from
ilie jumpins tintyiie to the artistic pro-
Offers Birthday Cake
GIRARD, OHIO—Patrons at the New Mock
and Wellman theatres were treated to birthday
cake Saturday afternoon (9) in observance
of Peter M. Wellman's 21st anniversary
in show business. The birthday cake was
cut. with Mayor Joseph Catone and other
city officials attending, in the lobby of the
New Mock.
Remodels Youngstow^n Airer
YOUNGSTOWN—The Northside Drive-In
near here has been remodeled and reopened
for the season. A new tower and screen was
installed and the projection booth adapted to
anamorphic lenses. Entrance and exit roads
were enlarged and the refreshment stand was
converted to a cafeteria-style operation.
JUDGE HOY L. RUSSELL
ductions of today; and in providing a
modern, comfortable theatre in keeping
with the better theatres of other communities.
"We have a profound conviction that
a modern theatre is a distinct asset to
any community and we can say, with
deepest sincerity, thanks to this community
for the support which has made
our theatre a successful communityserving
institution."
The 500-seat Ru.ssell. in keeping with
Judge Russell's forward look, is currently
being equipped with Cinema-
Scope. A wide screen ah-eady has been
installed.
The theatre and all buying and booking
is under the management of a
son. Blair. Russell is a member of the
board of directors of Independent Theatre
Owners of Ohio. A judge of the
county probate court, Russell is particularly
interested in child placement
and family relations and has made a
name for him.self by his patient, diligent
and Miccosful work in these fields.
Second Sunrise Service
Held at Hi-Way Drive-In
MOUNT STERLING. KY —The second annual
sunrise service was held at the Hi-Way
Drive-In near here Sunday ( 101 with the cosponsorship
of the Knights Templar, assisted
by the local Masonic lodge. The Rev. John
Norton Williams, pastor of the First Christian
Church, delivered the Easter message,
and music was furnished by a combined choir
from participating churches.
The Hi-Way Drive-In. decorated with a
hundred different colored flags and banners,
made a festive setting for the spring and
Easter observances. Other features of this
outdoor theatre are a patio with comfortable
chairs for 60 or more persons, an 80x40 -foot
Cinemascope screen and a playground.
pXOFFICE :
: April 16, 1955

I
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Akron Theatre Supply Co.
980 North Main St.
Akron 10, Ohio
SOLD
BY
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209 South Third St.
Louisville 2, Kentucky
'S.J .' -K.f..- !Vt:.!S.-^ \ ,,.. '"^Jft.'
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1206 Cherry Street
Toledo 2, Ohio
78 BOXOFFICE AprU 16, 1£'

i
'
lat
I enlist,
. .
,
J
I ^M
,,.
factor
— — —
i
(OLUMBUS
n proposal to establish statewide daylight
iavings time, opposed by theatremen,
»• killed by a vote of 10-2 in the House oi
p I rsfiitatives committee for state goveni-
\ number of Ohio theatremen spoke
he committee opposing the measure
Kabbi Samuel Gup. 61, onetime chaplain
oithe Columbus Variety Club and former
rf3i of Temple Israel here, died in Univi.ity
Hospital. Among his many public-
Bfited interests was service on an advi.sory
rriiril to the Ohio film censorship board.
ollywood war movies can inspire young
but they can also create
.i or distorted impressions of service
are rough to erase," said Brig.
C-i. F. H. Lam.son-Scribner, commander
o! Marine Air Reserve Training. He was
he to participate in the annual military
Injection and review at Port Columbus Na-
V Air Station. He said enlistments here had
jiped since "Battle Cry" was shown but
•
me mothers might think twice about allowii
their sons to enlist in the Marines after
,- ,ng the not-so-tame love affairs of the
I
'hernecks."
he Knights Templar had Easter sunrise
s .'ices at the RKO Palace, while Hope
1' heran Church held services in Fred Row-
1/ds' Livingston. The Junior Chamber of
Cnmerce also arranged services at Frank
Visenoff's West Fifth Avenue Drive-In .
lis. James M. Schooler is the newly-elected
sident of the Columbus and Franklin
f
(jjnty Motion Picture Council. Other officis
are Mrs. J. Albert Clark, first viced'sident:
Mrs. Frederick Diehl, second viceli'sident:
Mrs. H. M. Moore, recording secretly;
Mrs. Fred Kramer, con-esponding secrety;
Mrs. W. G. Dennis, treasurer, and Mabel
^jgins,
director,
ilolene Brand, Jean Patti and Darleen Engle
c the cast of "The Prodigal" accompanied
t; 35-foot float plugging the picture during
f local visit . . . Irving Shiffrin, AA exploita-
'n representative, was in town in advance
( "The Big Combo" and "Murder Is My
: at" at Loew's Ohio.
Iden W. Smith Will Fill
ost at Cooperative
DETROIT—Key personnel of Mutual Thea-
's of Michigan, headed by General Maner
Alden W. Smith, have been added to the
iff of Cooperative Theatres of Michigan,
Uowing the recent abrupt folding of Mutual,
nith, himself a principal owner of the subban
Oak Drive-In in suburban Royal Oak,
11 fill a new post in Cooperative as assistant
James F. Sharkey, film buyer.
Mutual, with some 60 theatres for which it
mdled booking and buying of films, was
cond only to Cooperative with about 100
eatres. It rated as one of the oldest and
jrgest cooperative buying groups in the inlistry.
Twenty theatres, including 18 drive-ins,
pre taken over in a block by Cooperative
|om the Mutual list, but the disposition of
I her houses has not been determined. Some
'ill join the Cooperative ranks, it is underlOod,
while others will function independlitly
or join other buying services.
Cleveland 3-D Film Big;
240 for Waterfront'
\
CLEVELAND—B^josted by the Academy
Jack O'Connell, 63, Dies; awards, "The country Girl" did 70 per cent
Tj. T 1 J OT better in its eighth week than in the previous
Pioneer lOledObnOWman
^.gek, and on the waterfront.- a return
TOLEDO—Jack O'Connell, 63, the man who downtown attraction, hit a sensational 240
showed the first sound films in Toledo, died per cent. Outstanding however, was the en-
Thursday (7) in St. Vincent's Hospital. At gagement of "Revenge of the Creature" 3-D
f
coupled with "Cult of the Cobra," which
" ^B bill packed crowds into the Hippodrome and
three balconies for a tremendous 225. "Black-
L^B board Jungle," in its second week, also
i^H outgroEsed the first week.
^ ^5
TTie public school vacation more than
compensated for any Holy Week drop in
^''"y^^^^M .
attendance, with total Holy Week downtown
^^^^^^I""; gross about $10,000 ahead of the same period
last year. Pine, mild weather was a big
.
In bringing people downtown.
I (Average Is 100)
Allen—The Bi^ Combo (AA) 75
Creoture (U-I);
^r
J
'" i Hippodrome Revenge of the
/ i«l Cult ot the Cobra (U-I) 225
i
i\ Lower Mall
& Dovidson),
Gote of Hell (Harrison
, 'M 3rd wk 120
J B Ohio On the Waterfront (Col); The Wild One
I a
iCol) 240
'» >* Palace—Croshout (Filmaker) 80
Stote—Blackboard Jungle (MGM); 2nd wk
\ _ Sfillmon The Country Girl (Poro), 8th wk 170
MO
li^m /S Cincinnati Grosses Falter
With Easter's Approach
CINCINNATI—Easter finally caught up
JACK O'CONNELL xTAnriw
with the local first run business and sent the
grosses downward. The only film to do above
average was "Hit the Deck" in its opening
^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^j^^^g Theatre. "Battle Cry" after
the time of his death, he owned the Loop doing better-than-average for six weeks at
Theatre here and the Paulding in Paulding. the Grand did only 100 per cent m 'ts seventh
As a young man, he was in a two-man dra- week. "Man Without a Star opened at the
matic vaudevUle act under the name of Palace to average grosses and Camille m its
Stanley O'Connell, but left acting to run a second downtown week drew only 90 per cent
theatre in Hoboken, N. J., in the early 1920s. of average compared to 140 in its opening
He came to Toledo in 1928 to put on "The stanza.
Willys Revue" for John North Willys of the
^i>^^i^*^-^^Z\^^%^i^''^,l^ ;,w. :::::::::::::: i 00
Willys-Knight automobile plant. Later he Guild—Camille (MGM), reissue, 2nd wk 90
became a salesman for Warner Bros, and, Palace—Man without a Stor (U -l) lOO
when sound movies were invented, decided
to enter the exhibition business, opening the
.
r- Detroit
t,
Reports 9nn ZUU
Vita-Temple Theatre, said to be the first For 'Country Girl
all-sound film house in the world. DETROIT—Show business locally took the
He managed that theatre for about two anticipated Holy Week slump, but the decline
years, subsequently operating the Avalon, remained moderate, encouraging exhibitors to
Ohio, and Stratford theatres here and the expect sock Easter business. An outstanding
Madrid in Port Clinton.
opening by "The Country Girl" doubled nor-
Popular with newspaper folk, he directed rnal business at the Michigan.
and staged the play "The Front Page" for Adams—The Long Groy Line (Col), 5th wk 70
the press in 1933, raising $4,000 for the city's Broodway^-Capit^ol-R^evenge^of the^Crw^^ ^^^
poor. In 1935 he directed and produced p^^—untamed (20th-Fox); Devil Girl From Mors
"Blessed Event" with a newspaperman cast. ^^^P)^^3rd^ wk^. .^.^^. .^. . . .^.^.^. -^- ;:;;;;;;;::;, §g
Known as a fighter, during World War II Michigan—The Country Girl (Paro) 200
he defied the war manpower commission on
P°|

—
. . Summer
. . Morris
. . Lou
. . Abe
. . Word
. .
. .
New Harlan House Begins
$30,000 Remodeling Job
HARLAN. KY.—The New Harlan Theatre
began a $30,000 remodeling program recently,
a major part of which will be provision of a
new 35-foot screen and new Cinemascope
equipment.
Bill Wright, spokesman for the majority
stockholders, emphasized that the house will
not be closed at any time during the remodeling
since work will be done when the theatre
i> not in use. The new concessions stand on
the north side of the theatre will be accessible
both to the lobby and the street. The
interior of the theatre will be redecorated
and all seats refurbished.
Mrs. Martha Warren, who has been manager
of the theatre for several years, will
continue in that capacity. The lease held
by Pi-ice Coomer for several years expired
April 1. with the stockholders taking over
the operation. The stock is locally owned
by Wright and his father and family of
Whitesburg. Ky.
Detroit's Cameo Will Be
Headed by New Group
DETROIT—The Cameo Theatre, north end
house operated by the Saul Korman circuit,
has been taken over by the Cameo Theatre
Corp., formed by Korman, David Newman,
legal and public relations counsel of Cooperative
Theatres of Michigan, and associates.
The house is being completly redecorated,
including the lobby, foyer and front, by
Anthony Eugenio, theatrical decorator.
Seaton Gets Publicity
DETROIT—George Seaton, writer-director
of "The Country Girl," is receiving equal
billing with actress Grace Kelly during the
current run of the picture at the Michigan
Theatre. Seaton, who is a former Detroit boy,
received the Academy Award for the script
a fact being well publicized along with the
acting award. Seaton, then known as Stenius,
attended Central High School here, was the
original "Lone Ranger" on radio, and was
with the former Bonstelle Playhouse cast.
Store Arranges Parking
AKRON—In an arrangement between
O'Neil's downtown department store and
Loew's Theatre, the parking garage operated
by the store now has a special entrance
leading to the lobby of the theatre, making
it possible for motorists to park, shop and
go to the movies, all under one roof. Included
in the parking price is a coupon good for
ten cents when applied against the admission
price to a Loew's ticket purchased that day.
SIMPLEX XL MECHANISMS
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Ceveland 14, Ohio
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CLEVELAND
jwrark Goldman, IPE district sales manager
who has been ill the past month, is coming
along fine and expects to be back in his
office soon . Geiger returned from
Florida and is handling bicycle promotion
deals again . . . Dale Tysinger, manager of
Shea's Ashtabula Theatre, screened "A Man
Called Peter" for all of the Ashtabula ministers
with the result that the First Presbyterian
Church included in its weekly bulletin
"Be Sure to See the Movie, 'A Man Called
Peter.' " Tysinger is showing the picture at
his regular Cinemascope scale—10 cents above
the usual 70 cents.
The woman with the cake and appropriate
sign is Marie Roessel, who recently celebrated
her 35th anniversary at the Cleveland U-I
exchange. In addition to congratulatory telegrams
and greeting cards, her exchange collegues
presented her a radio clock, Dresden
cigaret box, a Hummell figurine and a Golden
Hour electric clock and several cakes.
Sam Hart of the U-I publicity staff is working
the Akron-Canton-Youngstown-Toledo
territory on "Revenge of the Creature" and
"Cult of the Cobra" . Schwartz, Cleveland
theatre owner, returned from Florida.
Jerry Safron, Columbia manager, reported
he had 12 prints of "On the Waterfront"
booked solid through April and May .
Henry Greenberger, president of the Cleveland
Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, was
due home from Florida . comes that
Joe Shagrin of the Poster Theatre, Youngstown,
is just about recovered from surgery
and will resume his weekly Pllmrow visits any
day now . Lefko, RKO district manager,
and Frank Belles, local manager, returned
from the company meeting in New
York . casualties: Strand, Defiance,
and the Strand, Payne, have shuttered
for the warm weather season.
M. B. Horwitz of the Washington circuit
reports that he spent his first week vacation
at Hot Springs, Ark., indoors as the
Henry Hellriegel, building
weather was cold . . .
contractor who specializes in theatre
construction, has been awarded the contract
to erect the conce.ssions buildings for the
new Pearl Road Drive-In here for Herb Ochs,
Jim Barton and Ben Ogron . . . Raymond
J. Kneier is the new le.ssee of the Hough-
79th Street Theatre, a subsequent run neighborhood
house formerly run by Steve Nolawski.
It is being operated on a fuUtime
policy.
Jim Levitt, U-I city sales manager, is convalescing
at home after minor surgery .
Jules Livingston, Republic manager, and
salesmen Justin Spiegle and Joe Kii
were hosts to industry members at a bufi
luncheon March 28 to show off thi
new ground floor Film building offices .
Herbert Ochs opened six of his Canadll
drive-ins Thursday (7). The seventh theali
in the outdoor chain, the Porcupine DriU
In at Timmins, opens May 1 . . . Chi
Spanoudis of Ohio Theatre Supply Co. spe;
the week at the Strong Electric plant .
.
Richard Todd, star of
"A Man Called Pete*
was in for a personal appearance.
;
Skirball Bros. Starts
Airer Costing $250,000
CLEVELAND—Skirball Bros., owners af
operators of a chain of indoor and outdci
theatres in the northern Ohio area, tooi P'-
fjili
ground for a new drive-in between Akron k
Barberton. The project, to be called
Summit, will have space for 1,400 cars andi
estimated to cost approximately $250,0(,
Ultramodern concession stands and a fu<
equipped playground area also will be pi!
vided.
J
David Butler has acquired "Glory," a coil
edy-drama about horse-racing for RKO pii
^
duction.
RCA IN-CAR
SPEAKERS
NEW LAMPS
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MID-WEST THEATR;
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Cincinnati 10, Ohio
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SELBY INDUSTRIES, INC.
1350 Ghent Hills Rd. Akron 13, Ohl<
Montrose (through Medina, Ohio) 6-7211
llDC
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BOXOFFICE April 16, 19

:
nil
;
i^es
•
:
Frank
(INCINNATI
rl f
Fcrrazza, manager at Keiths, wa.s in
Bethesda Hospital with a leg ailment . .
.
Bein, service manager at National Screen
jj,
s'l'ice, was in the Jewish Hospital with a
:t ailment.
alpli Buring, publicist for Paramount, is
Wldng on a novelty tieup between the Times
?r. and the neighborhood indoor and outlieatres.
The newspaper will give the
s an additional directory on one of
other than the amusement page in
for screen credits for the Times Star.
I was a relatively quiet week on the Row
[i to the approaching holidays, but among
t
few in were Harold Moore, Charleston;
Y Ilk Mandros, Cabin Creek; George Lively,
[ itinaton; Theodore Crist, Spencerville;
t l^ Pfister, Troy; Tom Alley, Cleveland;
Gregory, Alan Warth, Lou Wetzel, Day-
Jill
Yassenoff, Jack Needham, Co-
,.-: Moe Potasky, Troy; and Al Boud-
Toledo.
Irs. Lee Heidingsfeld, (he is RKO city
. .Milan 1 was in the Jewish Hospital for
"Romeo and Juliet" was
fits sixth week at the Hyde Park Art, an
£ S theatre.
Foster Hathaway Dies
At Home in Struthers
YOUNGSTOWN—Foster H. Hathaway, 57,
of nearby Struthers, who died recently of a
heart ailment, was president of the Struthers
Theatre Co., Campbell Theatre Co., Highway
Theatres, Inc., and the Midway Drive-In
Theatres, Inc.
At the time of his death he was operating
the Sky-Hi Drive-In in Coitsville and the
Mid-Way on Route 20 between Ashtabula
and Conneaut. He had operated the Ritz and
Amusu theatres in Struthers, the Bell in
Campbell, the Roxy in Canfield and the Allen
in Aki'on, all of which ai-e now closed. He also
had operated the Palace in Hubbard.
Born in Cleveland. Hathaway began his
film career in the 1920s a-s a film salesman
for the Film Booking Office Co.. working in
the Youngstown-to-East Live:-pool territory.
Later, he worked out of Cleveland for Warner
Bros. In 1937, he went to Struthers and
opened his first theatre, the Ritz.
Hathaway was a member of the Variety
Club in Cleveland, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the 37th Division Ass'n.
Two Kentucky Airers Open
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY.—Hardin County's
drive-ins, the Star-Lite and Knox, opened
March 24. Both are owned and operated by
Elizabethtown Amusements, Inc.
Indiana Items
^udley M. Williston. 64-year-old president
of the Williston Theatres in Indianapolis
and in Louisville, died at his Indianapolis
home recently after a week's illness.
Born in Fostoria, Ohio, Williston started operating
his first theatre at Muncie, Ind., in
1911. After service in the Navy during World
War I, he became Indianapolis manager for
Warner Bros,, resigning in 1929 to resume
theatre operations. He was a member of the
Motion Picture Pioneers of America and the
Variety Club. His wife and two daughters
.survive.
. . . John
States Film Service has moved into the
offices at 443 North Illinois St., vacated by
Screen Classics . . . E. L. Ornstein. Louisville,
now is buying and booking for Aithur Morris's
Strand at Dawson Springs, Ky.
Allison, 61. owner of the Vivian at Carlisle,
Ind., died there March 31. A native of Indianapolis,
Allison had operated theatres at Horse
Cave, Ky.. New Harmony, Dana and Terre
Haute, Ind.
Jesse Fine, partner in the Fine circuit, was
host to film representatives at his home in
Evansville for the Academy award telecast.
Present w-ere Norman Lenz, RKO; Ken Dotterer,
20th-Fox; Sam Greisman and Irving
Dreeben, Columbia, and Abe Madison, NSS.
Spring's the time to "spruce up"
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Thanks to a very special purchase
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Choose from a wide assortment
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Cleveland 14, Ohia
ERNIE FORBES THEATRE SUPPLY
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3X0FFICE :
; April 16, 1955 Rl

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space, the business announcements
in BOXOFFICE are sure to
be read by many who are interested.
Use enough words and
ample space to tell your story
fully and the readers will do the
Where There's a Theatre, There's a —
BOXOFFICE
FOR ADVERTISING THAT PAYS BEST
rest.
ASK FOR DISPLAY RATES
FOR YOUR OWN SECTION
82 BOXOFFICE :
: AprU 16, iSl

I
iked
—
—
—
——
"Sn tp ?'*' Hurok Career Is Lauded
At boston Luncrieon
]ss 200 at Boston a , n , i i
-TON— Despite the lust part ol Holy
business held well in at least two
., one playing "Camille" and the other
it Hell." The action houses suffered
ircts of the religious influence, as did
> , in the suburbs and neighborhoods.
1 50
JAveroge Is 100)
r—The Country Girl (Poro), 8th wk 80
lion Hill—Camille (MGM), 3rd wk 220
yon— This Is Cinerama (SW), 66th wk 11 U
|er Street— Gofe ot Hell (Harrison), 2nd wk,. . .225
Iwriol—Man Without a Star lU-l), Mo ond Po
Tittle ot Woikiki (U-l) 100
fropolitan—Untomed (20th-Fox), The Bob
s Story (Col), 2nd wk 75
Itmount ana Fenway Big Combo (AA); High
clely (AA) 95
He ond Orpheum Blackboard Jungle (MGM);
Wyoming Reneaode (Col), 2nd wk
ards Strengthen
^lv Haven Return
'.'W HAVEN—The Oscars-winn;ng "On
..iterfront," paired with "The Caine
made up the most popular program
c'.owntowners. The combination drew
;t was held for a second week.
, J On the Waterfront (Col), The Coinc
.utiny Col), return engagement 250
inc unf The Big Combo (AA), High Society
t
'A: 80
P ^The Violent Men (Col); New Orleans
nccnsored (Col) 100
f ;- jherman Revenge of the Creoture (U-l);
ull of the Cobro (U-l) 90
/ademy Combination
Ids Providence
ROVIDENCE—A combination bill of "On
t Waterfront" and "The Caine Mutiny"
up a rousing 140 to set the pace here
. .liu Holy Week.
^ £— Chief Crozv Horse (U-l) 115
,f n—Comille (M(3M), reissue, 2nd wk 100
L.^ s—On the Waterfront (Col), The Caine
t utiny CoM, return engagements 140
York Confidential (WB) 1 00
10
S nd—Subn nd (Pa
Playhouse Anna (IFE); Bitter Rice
iter
FE),
''.\ovf' Reports 130
I Hartford
lARTFORE>—For the first week in months
t downtown area had no holdovers. The
t' draw for the week was "Three for the
Haw" at 130.
/•n—Run for Cover (Poro); Diol Red O (AA). . . 1 00
/ —Romeo and Juliet (UA) 90
E

I
-k Hydro-Flutter Suppressors
(Academy Award Wir
i^
Water-Cooled Apertures
^ Cinerama
...and ft^w
(to name but a few
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accomplishment by CENTURY. These CENTURY 'TirsW me
important practical advantages to every exhibitor— larger
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made a notoble contributn'
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design and production of the first Paramount VISTAVISK^
horizontal projectors.*
CINERAMA. "The wonder of the entertainment worl("
Only the finest equipment can meet the demands of is
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HYDRO-FLUTTER SUPPRESSOR AND WATER-COOL)
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brought about a big improvement in sound quality, increosd
screen illumination and sharper pictures.
I
No other manufacturer has such a wide range of experien .
This is of extreme importance to every exhibitor. It mets
that CENTURY is in the forefront of advanced design ad
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Buy your standard and special projection and
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Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK, N.
MASSACHUSETTS
THEATRE
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20 Piedmont St.
Boston 16, Mass.
84 BOXOFFICE April 16, 15

I m
1
. jrthampton
: i
e
, .-etors
: .cement
)r Ihc first time in several years, the
I\i;er Street Theatre has booked a Rei)iii
loature as a first run attraction. The
,1 - "Doctor in the House," a J. Arthur
.Im, which goes in following the curiiaction,
"Gate of Hell" . . . George
of L. Traster & Sons, makers of
thermos tanks used with or without
:ty, has installed the thermos tanks
Redstone dr.ve-ins. the Neponset and
stream, in Long Island; at drive-ins in
and Terrs Haute. Ind.; at the Flint-
Flint, Mich., and at the
Ohio) Drive-In.
i Drive-In,
. . Relston,
. . Guy
. . . Dave
. . The
. . The
. . Oscar
OSTON
Noriiian Zalkind of the Strand in Fall River
ail his f.rst appearance in this film district
.
i.inuary when Mrs. Zalkind suffered a
b.ick injury in a fall at her home. He
that she is recovering slowly but
-
uly from the accident Bolton,
10 collaborated on the book of the new
Lisical "Ankles Aweigh" at the Shubert
(leatre in its pre-Broadway trial, told the
es,s that he expects to leave for the West
)ast to write the film script on "Anastasia"
I* r 20Lh-Fox. Ingrid Bergman is being sought
I r the leading role and if she accepts, the
will be shot in Europe. "Anastasia" is
1
'« a big hit on Broadway.
lOn Easter Saturday and Sunday, each child
! jtending the VFW Parkway Drive-In and
} 'e Revere Drive-In, both owned by Redstone
i lieatres, received free chocolate-covered
uster eggs as a courtesy of the management.
i
t|The booth equipment and seats of the old
Idace Theatre in Lowell, long closed, have
I
} en sold to Eddie Sokolowski of the Royal in
!
5 l)well . . . Jim Sayer, drive-in owner of New
r .impshu'e, has taken over operation of the
Drive-In. He also has the Die
jck in Salem and the Starway at Somers-
; 'Drth, N. H. . Inc.. has announced
following popcorn machine installations:
Olympics in the Natick, Mass., Drive-
; .i; the Kirkwood. Mo., Drive-In, and the S-3
'rive-In, Rutherford, N. J., all for Smith
Cto., and an Ambassador model
Roger Williams Park, Providence.
On his return from a visit to California
•ive-ins, David Siegel, vice-president and
easiirer of Signs, Inc., maker of screen towand
marquees for drive-in theatres, I'eiteil
a friendly attitude among drive-in
vners in that area. "Each owner respects
le other's territory to the point where there
almost no cutting in. One drive-in owner
ould never consider building in close opposion
to another's successful area. There is no
"owding, and it's a pleasure to behold," he
lid. Signs, Inc., has added extra lines for
rive-ins, including marquees, exit and enance
signs, ramp lights, moonlight towers
nd special screen surface paint. After his
)ur, Siegel spent a few days in his office,
,ren took off for Toronto, Ottawa and Calary,
Canada.
lassachusetts Airer Improved
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—The Riverale
Drive-In, managed by Harold Cumlings
who once managed Grauman's Chinese
lieatre in Hollywood dm-ing his 27-year
ireer. has been equipped for the showing of
le new screen processes.
Salute to Nathan Ross
Planned by Variety
BOSTON—Nallian "One Shot" Ross, New-
England's oldest active film salesman, will
be honored by the Variety Club of New Eng-
NATHAN ROSS
land at a testimonial luncheon at the Roof
Garden of the Hotel Bradford on Tuesday
1 26 1. The committee in charge of the affair
is composed of Chairman Joseph G. Cohen,
James Marshall, Maynard Sickles and William
Koster.
Nat Ross, who has been in the picture
business for 45 years, is well known to almost
every exhibitor in the territory. He was a
pioneer salesman in the early days with such
companies as First National and Warners and
later joined Eagle Lion and United Artists.
He is particularly w-ell known in up-state
New England where he has traveled extensively
in his role as film salesman. Today he
is doing free-lance selling of pictures and
some concessions.
In honoring Ross as a faithful and loyal
representative of the film industry, the sponsors
of the affair said, "We have honored
many individuals, but here's an opportunity
to hold a 'Nat Ross Day' that will be a
thrilling memory to 'One Shot' for the remainder
of his life."
Tickets for the occasion may be procured
from James Marshall, treasurer, Vai-iety
Club of New England, Hotel Statler, Boston.
Bill for Veterans Day
Is Killed in Senate
BOSTON—A bill to make Veterans Day,
November 11, an all-day holiday and prohibit
the opening of stores on that day was killed
in the Senate without debate. It had previously
been passed in the House. At the same
time, the legislative committee on constitutional
law gave its approval to a bill calling
for observance of Washington's birthday,
February 22, Patriot's Day, April 19, and
Columbus Day, October 12, on the Monday
nearest the actual date. This Monday holiday
bill would go into effect in 1957, if 31 other
states enact similar legislation before Oct. 6,
1956. This bUl was sponsored by the Massachusetts
Department of the American Legion.
NEW HAVEN
IV/rorris Rosenthal, manager of Loew's Poli,
was admitted to Grace-New Haven Community
Hospital after being stricken ill at
h s home. His condition is not serious and
visitors are permitted. Sid Kleper, Loew's
College manager, and Poli assistant manager
Don Young are running the 3,000-seat theatre
during Rosenthal's absence . lobby of
the Stanley Warner Roger Sherman is profusely
decorated with artificial flowers as
part of the promotion of the Spring Festival
of Hits.
Lou Green, assistant manager at Loew's
College, and Chester Pickman, Paramount
salesman, both gave out engagement rings
last week . Fishman Theatres' Howard,
Lawrence, Rivoli and Dixwell all ran a Good
Friday Disneyrama matinee . Doob
and Arthur Canton of the Loew's New York
office; Floyd Fitzsimmons, MGM publicist
from Bo-ston, and Phil Gravitz, exchange
manager here, conducted a meeting on "The
Prodigal" at the Stanley Warner zone office.
The session followed a similar meeting two
blocks away for all managers in the Loew's
Poli-New England Theatres circuit.
While ads heralding "The Blackboard Jungle"
were running in local papers, six students
broke into a local school and caused .so much
damage ten rooms will have to be repainted
Kaufman of the Loew's Poli-New
England art department took his family on a
skiing vacation at Stowe, Vt. . . . A morning
program for the benefit of the handicapped
youngsters of Boy Scout Troop 3, sponsored
by the theatrical industry here, was held at
Loew's Poli. The theatre was obtained without
charge, all employes worked gratis and film
companies donated the movies shown. Harry
Sliaw, division manager for Loew's Poli-New
Eifgland, and Harry Feinstein, SW zone manager,
were co-chairmen.
strictly
VOIR
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TRAILERS
FILMACK
We Can Please You.
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Next Order. ^^^^^***
suburban Boston theotre. Replit
contjdential.
Write qualifications to
MRS. F. HARDING
38 Church Street Boston, Moss.
IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP.
"The Besf Value In Sound Service"
Hancock 6-7984 445 Stotler Building
Boston, Massachusetts
OXOFFICE ; : April 16, 1955 86

. . . William
'Eternal Sea' Screening
Held Aboard Carrier
BOSTON—A screening of Republic's "The
Eternal Sea" was held aboard the aircraft
carrier Tarawa in Boston Harbor. The honored
guest was Admiral Hoskuis, whose naval
life was portrayed on the screen by actor
Sterling Hayden. The film was shown on the
hangar deck of the huge carrier and was
attended by 500 invited guests.
Rear Admiral Snackenberg of the First
Naval D-strict introduced Admiral Hoskins,
who said a few w^ord.s before the start of the
film. Later, there was an informal reception
at the commissioned officers mess in the
Fargo building, where Admiral Hoskins
greeted the guests.
Ai-rangements for the affair were handled
by Jack Caef of New England Theatres: Al
Longo, local publicist, and Judson Parker,
Republic manager. Steve Edwards, director
of publicity for Republic, came on from New
York for the occasion, representing President
Herbert Yates, who was unable to attend.
Among the exhibitors and theatre owners
present were Tom Fermoyle, Arthur Morton,
Bob Silverman, Malcolm Green, Bill Mulcahy,
James Stoneman, Arthur Howard, Joe Hochberg,
Joe Cohen, Al Lourie, Jack Blass, Harry
Browning, Jack Martin, Melvin Davis and
Tom Morton. The projection was handled
by F^ed Geissler and Phil Lamport.
FALL RIVER
fohn J. McAvoy, Empire manager for six
years who is also directing the Center
Theatre, has leased the Somerset Playhouse
from Nathan Yamins Theatre Enterprises
and will operate it during the 1955 season.
Closely associated with the theatre profession
for 18 years, the 34-year-oId producer acted
as manager of the playhouse for three seasons
from 1951 to 1954. McAvoy. who is well
known by Hollywood and Broadway per-
.sonalities who appeared at the Playhouse
during his management, says he will continue
the policy of operating the summer theatre
under the "star" system.
Paul Slayer, Durfee manager, is at the
Union Hospital recuperating after an operation,
and is replaced at the Durfee by William
O'Donnell, Center manager . . . Joseph
Dubiel is the new assistant at the Empire
S. Canning, personal consultant
of Nathan Yamins, presented the Boy of the
Year trophy to John Dias at ceremonies conducted
at the Fall River Boys Club of which
Camiing is a director . . . Theatres of the
area closed all day on Good Friday.
Harry Essex will work on the script of
"The Raw Edge," a U-I film.
Hartford Suburb Vetoes
Proposed Perakos Airer
HARTFORD—Perakos Theatre Associal
plan.s for construction of a drive-in in si
urban Wethersfield were opposed succes!
fully last week by town officials and repr.
sentatives of both the Businessmen's and CiVj
associations.
Ttie outdoor venture was condemned at]
public hearing of the zoning board of aj
peal.5 which considered the request of Jol;
Perakos. assistant general manager, PTA i
terests and Orin P. Kilbourn of West Sin:
bury for permission to build the ozoner
The appeal.? board denied the request a:
also denied the request of attorney Willia:
E. Ewing jr., representing the petitioners, t
a continuance of the hearing to a later da.
More than 100 residents attended the hea:
ing. overflowing the small Welles Schc^
auditorium into the outside hall.
Wethersfield at present has only one th
atre. the Webb Playhouse, operated by Loc
wood & Gordon Enterprises.
To Build Center on No. 75
HARTFORD—A shopping center, includi,'
an indoor theatre, will be built this fall 1
Route 75 in suburban Windsor Locks r
Alexander Jarvis. Manchester builder ai'
developer.
Spring's the time to "spruce up"
...while
record-smashing
i
special low prices last on
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news you'll hear for
many a year! Brand new, fresh-asall-outdoors
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housekeeping budget a real springtime
lift, too.
Thanks to a very special purchase
from Thomas L. Leedom Company,
RCA can now offer limited
quantities of three rich, all-wool
Wilton carpets at drastically reduced
prices. All three lines are
full pitch quality stand-outs ... of
nine wires per inch weave . . .
closely loomed to take years of
wearing and cleaning without losing
their showplace looks.
Choose from a wide assortment
of smartest colors . . . from three
new RCA patterns — Celebrity,
Academy and Ovation — as well
as long-popular RCA designs like
Showman, Citation, Headliner and
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.
Call or stop in right away! Limited
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It's first come, first served . . don't
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At Your RCA THEATRE SUPPLY DEALERS
CAPITOL THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
28 Piedmont Street
Boston 16, Massachusetts
86 BOXOFFICE April 16, 19:

1
•si
.' iws
. )M
—
young
lamily Type Pictures
had Toronto Surge
)NTO— With the hoHday spirit preall
grosses jumped to enthusing
ijrticularly at theatres with programs
lamily appeal. Foremost among the
ittractions were "White Feather" at
lu-rial, "A Man Called Peter" at the
,md "The Country Girl" at Shea's.
wre only two holdovers.
(Average Is 100)
iiniversity— Long John Silver (Alliance) .120
To Paris witli Love (JARO) 130
White Feather (20lh-Fox) 145
Hit the Deck MGM), 3rd wk 120
The Bridges ot Toko-Ri (Para) 115
A Man Colled Peter (20fh-Fox) 145
The Country Girl (Para), 2nd wk 140
The Silver Chalice (WB) 110
Aido ilFE) 120
,.r. Mo and Po Kettle at Woikiki (U-l) 130
Vncouver First Runs
S wed by Holy Week
ANCOUVER— Holy Week turned out to
t- a bad week for local theatres, most spots
J away below average. "The Country
1'
on a holdover and a return of "On the
\ terlront" were the only pictures to do even
a rage business. "Chief Crazy Horse" gave
t, Vogue a moderate w-eek and was out after
days.
Cifol—The Country Girl (Para), 2nd wk
Goto— A Streetcar Named Desire (Col);
iol M for Murder (WB)
Good
Average
Cieum—The Silver Chalice (WB) Fair
p; a— Desiree ;SR) Fair
On the Waterfront (Col)
Good
Pidise
nd—Women's Prison (Col) Fair
Si
Si lio— Pickwick Papers (IFD),
Vue—Chief Crazy Horse (U-l)
Fair
Moderate
2nd wk
\'innipeg Editor Blasts
Jiskatchewan Censors
VINNTPEG— It IS quite apparent that Fi-ee
I'-ss publisher Victor Sifton is determined
t' see the Manitoba government modernize
Hi streamline its censor board. Hot on the
h'ls of the front page stories and editorials
d the banning of International's "La Ronde"
dnes another editorial blast at censoring,
t)s time at the Rev. D. J. Vaughan, censor
hiid for the province of Saskatchewan.
\iile the blast was aimed at the Saskatchevu
government, buckshot was used, so that
f ew pellets would scatter over Manitoba.
.'he editorial, entitled "Uncensored Buffo,"
stated: "The Saskatchewan film censor
tently rejected the Walt Disney film 'The
*nishing Prairie' as being unsuitable for
I jlic showing. The ridiculous reason for the
li was that the film includes a scene which
the bii'th of a buffalo calf. The film's
ctributors appealed this decision and the
Iivincial government set up a board of
:eal, composed of private citizens, to review
t' censor's action.
They apparently assumed that few people
(filmgoing age i as that is) any longer
tieve that babies—human or buffalo—are
lind under cabbage leaves in the garden.
ey reversed the decision and the film will
shown without any cuts ... It is to be
1
1 ped that similar good taste and good sense
< the part of the Manitoba censor board will
I 'mit moviegoers in this province to see the
' ole film."
Operators Defy Weather
And Unlock Their Gates
TORONTO—Drive-in operators in the outlying
Toronto areas and elsewhere dared to
turn up their lights in the Easter season although
the weather continued chilly but with
plenty of moonlight. First to unlock the gates
here was the independent Dufferin.
The 20th Century Theatres circuit had a
quadruple opening when the Northeast,
Northwest, "400" and Scarboro went into
commission for 1955. Locally, this was one
more than last year for Nat Taylor's chain
because the Scarboro had been acquired from
Sam Pingold's National circuit.
Loew's Pleases Children
TORONTO—Loew's Uptown once more
lived up to its tradition of offering a comedy
bill at school-holiday time, as well as morning
juvenile shows. "Ma and Pa Kettle at
Waikiki" held the screen for regular performances
during the Easter vacation, and
a full and separate array of cartoons for the
children was presented each morning during
the vacation week.
'Christmas' in Toronto
TORONTO—There was almost a clash of
holidays when "White Christmas" played as
the Show of the Week at eight Famous Players
units—the Beach, Bloor, Capitol, College,
Oakwood, Palace, Parkdale and Runnymede.
the Academy awards, em-
A further echo of
phasized dm'ing the previous week, was
picked up by the paired Odeon units, the
Humber and Danforth, in the playing of "On
the Waterfront" after a quick booking of one
week at the Odeon flagship downtown.
Crawley Films Opens
New Ottawa Studio
OTTAWA— Crawley Films, tluough Graeme
Fraser, vice-president and general manager,
announced operation of its new and ultramodern
three-story studio building at 19
Fairmont avenue.
The Crawley company, which virtually
started in a converted church structure 16
years ago and now boasts a complete plant
here, has opened a TV film division in Toronto
and an equipment sales department
in Ottawa. Branches are at 21 Dundas Square,
Toronto, and 1467 Mansfield Street, Montreal.
Facilities in the film-production building
are arranged as follows:
First floor: Theatre, reception hall, cafeteria,
laboratory, photo studio, executive
offices and animation department.
Second floor: Shooting .sound stage, dressing
and make-up rooms, property storage,
mixing theatre, music department, recording
studios, camera, lighting and engineering departments.
Third floor: Film library, .sound-editing
department, screening rooms, script department,
producers offices, six production-unit
rooms, production administration office and
conference room.
All arrangements have been laid out to
.secure efficiency, based on long experience,
for the process from script to finished product
in a building with four times the floor space
of the previous plant. One proof of success
has been, according to Fi-aser, the securing
of 55 national and international aw-ards for
Crawley pictures.
jpervises 'The Big Knife'
rhe Associates and Aldrich Co. has signed
• :k Berne as general production super-
'or to start immediately on UA's "The Big
J
.ife."
CANADIANS MEET THE CHIEF — "William J. Heineman. distribution executive of
United Artists, Iieaded the recent conference of UA personnel at Chicago. Here Heineman
is shown conferring with Canadian managers. Clockwise, are George Heiber,
Toronto manager; Abe Feinstein, Winnipeg; Robert Radis, Calgary; I. J. Davis, St.
John; Heineman; Sam Kunitsliy, Montreal; Harry Woolfe, Vancouver, and C. S.
Chaplin, Toronto, Canadian UA chief.
'XOFFICE April 16, 1955 E 87

—
. .
Avenue at Toronto
To Offer Stage Play
TORONTO—Late this month the Avenue
on Eglinton Avenue West will turn on its
lights for a stage policy by the New Play
Society, now in its eighth year.
The Avenue, which seats 600. was formerly
operated as a Famous Players unit in partnership
with T. M. Sterling and the late
Ray Lewis, prominent in the film industry for
decades until her death last year.
The theatre is being remodeled for the new
regime, a feature to be an enlarged stage
on which the society will present its annual
revue. "Spring Thaw '55." previously staged
in the Royal Ontario Museum. Its latest play
was the comedy "Sunshine Town" at the
Royal Alexandra.
Dora Mavor Moore, founder of the society,
and Robert Christie are producei-s of the
show which will open April 27 at the Avenue
with John Hayes as manager. The annual
revue, with its local atmosphere, usually runs
for weeks.
Seventeen months ago a similar development
took place when a theatrical group
acquired the Belsize. also in North Toronto,
from Nat Taylor's 20th Century Theatres, an
affiliate of Famous Players, the name being
changed to Crest Theatre.
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MARINE 5034-5428
Manager Uses Verse
To Fill
His Purse
Winnipeg—Ernie Diamond, manager of
the Kialto Theatre, inaugurated a program
of poetry to promote his current
attractions.
Metronome ready? Here's his latest:
NOW LISTEN! You kids
and grownups, too.
Here's good advice that's
meant for you.
The Rialto program is
always good.
This week it's Wolt Disney's
"Robin Hood."
And our second attraction to
chase away the blues.
The Bowery Boys in
"Feudin' Fools"
And a Lil Rascals short
you know
With three cartoons to
complete the show.
So come on down, you
guys and gals.
Bring mom and pop and
all your pals.
And from the whole Rialto staft
A sincere wish that may not be new
For a very merry holiday
And a happy Easter to you.
VANCOUVER
'Pritish Columbia's fu'st motion picture censor.
Lew Gordon. 72, died last week .
George Thrift, secretary of the local projectionist
union, was elected chairman of the
Pi-ojectionists Credit Union ... At the annual
meeting of the British Columbia Motion Picture
Industry Committee held at the Georgia
Hotel under President Len Johnson of the
Lougheed Drive-In at Burnaby, the subjects
up for discussion were amusement tax relief,
16mm abuses, projectionist wage scale, reports
on the Chicago convention by Max Chechik
of the Bay Theatre, report of the year's
activities and the election of new officers.
The slate included Johnson, president; Owen
Bu'd, vice-president, and Gerry Sutherland,
secretary.
The father of Bob Harris jr., on the floor
staff of the Paradise, died in his 63rd year
. . . Built at a cost of $200,000, the new Tower
Theatre at Yorkton, Sask., was opened by
C. C. Williams, provincial labor minister. The
house is a part of the Rothstein circuit, which
runs theatres from its Winnipeg headquarters.
Roy Smith is the manager . . . Stan
Creech of the Skyway Drive-In at Kamloops,
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION

liile Michelle Pelletier of the 16mm division,
ent to the Laurentians . . . John Levitt, Co-
,mbia sales representative, went to New York
ity with his famUy . Roher, president
[
Peerless Films, was in from Toronto.
i
i
.
lit
j
'
Salesmen
I
24
. . Jack
. . Fast
. .
WNTREAL
pi-cial showings of "This Is Cinerama" at
the Imperial Theatre will be held Sunday
iming
1 for the Cancer Aid League,
'ckets will be sold to the general public by
nibrrs of the league, and seven hospitals
11 benefit from the funds . action
)|)ixd a panic at Loew's Theatre, when a
takdown in the projection room caused two
,turbances. At about 7:30 p.m., a woman in
c audience .screamed and a man yelled
ire." A rush for the doors began, but .sev-
;il coolheaded persons began calling "sit
un " The crowd slowed and some returned
their places. As the crowd settled, a thin
r of smoke could be seen at the back of
theatre and the house lights came on.
If manager mounted the stage and urged
lions to remain in their seats. Those who
id jammed up at exits were told by ashers
.sit down or move out. The picture coniiicd
with the lights on, but hissing of a
i-.r raused another rush for the exits. It
t.s an anticlimax to the first disturbance,
the majority of the crowd was unmoved.
id
The Easter weekend was observed by many
ii Pilmrow. H. Giles. UACL general supersor,
left for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for an
tended holiday. Eddy White, assistant
loker at Warner Bros.. left for a ten-day
)liday to New York City, Washington and
liladelphia. Doreen Acker, also at Warner
ros., visited her parents in New Brunswick,
jjoe Longo, RKO exploitation man working
from the Boston exchange, was in on an
ilvertising campaign for "Underwater!" . . .
{3ate of Hell," a recent Academy award
jnner. is showing at the Kent Theatre .
)hn D. Ralph is being sent to Canada from
ngland to become vice-president of the newly
irmed J. Arthur Rank Screen Advertising
;rvices. Robert Wallace and Neil Sneyd have
.'en named general manager-s of the new
)mpany. Both were formerly with Publicity
ilm Distributors of Toronto, which has been
'bsorbed into the new set-up ... It is
sported that more than 60 entries are in and
idging is under way for the Canadian Film
'wards for 1955, to be presented, probably
[ere, at a date yet to be announced.
back from business trips include
omeo Goudreau of Paramount, who went to
.mebec City, and Eloi Cormier, IFDL, who
[•ent to Shawinigan Falls, and Grand Mere . . .
,'>irectors of Consolidated Theatres have delared
a regular quarterly dividend of 12
ents per share on the Class A and regular
emi-annual dividend of 10 cents on the
lass B, both payable June 1 to shareholders
f record May 2 . . . Roland Pilleniere, owner
f the Croydon at Croydon, Quebec, visited
'ilmrow. Pilleniere is a new subscriber to
iOXOFFICE ... J. Boire of the Bijou,
lapierville, E. N. Tabah of the Montrose,
Montreal, and E. Gauthier of the Rio, Sorel,
ere also seen on the Row.
S-Yeor-Old
, in Top Role
Sal Mineo, 15-year-old former New York
tage actor, has been signed for a top role
n Warners' "Rebel Without a Cause."
mmm^ INDUSTRY
PROFILE
Len Bishop^ FPC 25 Year Club Member
Made Reputation With Promotions
TORONTO—Len Bishop, who recently
became a member of the Famous
Players 25 Year Club, was best described
by Harry Allen jr., associate editor of
the circuit's
What's New
house organ as
"the life of any
party of promotion,
a showman
through and
through." Bi.shop,
manager of
Shea's Theatre
here, was the
subject of a twopage
article by
Len Bishop Allen in the circuit
publication
on the occasion of his joining the 25
Year Club.
Len can run any sort of show, be it
a stage show in his own theatre, a large
show in front of the boxoffice, or a
radio performance. He can put zip into
any promotion. In spite of this, he is
a quiet, unassuming, relaxed sort of
person, even-tempered and comfortable
to talk to. He explains his showmanship
successes by saying, "It's just the
ham in me, I suppose."
Almost at once after getting into
theatre business at the Capitol m Calgary,
Len began to yield to his inclinations
to be the "ham." He put atmospheric
prologues on the stage, participating
in them himself. These were
stage shows presented before the actual
picture. In Fort William, he introduced
amateur talent complete with orchestra.
Always he has maintained that it is
good business to introduce local talent
to local audiences.
MANY EXPLOITATIONS
There is no record of the many exploitations
that Len has completed.
One of his widely publicized recent promotions
was that for "Rear Window,"
in which he announced that anyone
with a broken leg would be admitted to
the theatre free. The star of the film
had a broken leg himself. Len had a
rear window set up in the mezzanme,
inviting photographers to take pictures
of a beautiful girl he had hired. Pi-izes
contributed by merchants went to photographers
who took the best pictures.
Len believes in making the advertising
dollar go as far as po.ssible. "Anyone
can exploit a picture with a large advertising
budget," he points out. "I don't
like to spend money on a promotion."
Before beginning any exploitation,
this jack-of-all-trades manager studies
the picture from three aspects, the title,
cast and story, exploring the avenues of
exploitation. Always he starts a long
time in advance of booking so that his
promotion will leave a lasting impression.
"I like to make any move as broad as
possible," he says. Typical of this scope
the time he hired an airplane to fly
is
over Sunnyside Amu.sement area and
drop 25,000 heralds. Len himself was
bombardier. He ananged to pay people
who had to clean up the heralds, which,
of course, created goodwill with the
amu.sement area operators.
Len believes he was the first to introduce
a bathing beauty contest in the
circuit, this at Winnipeg. Once when
he had an elephant picture, he paraded
elephants and stilt-walkers along the
Winnipeg streets, in cooperation with a
circus in the town.
There is an atmosphere at the Shea
Theatre instilled by the manager's infectious
personality. No wonder, because
Len likes to make the Shea "just like
a home."
TREATS THEATRE AS HOME
"After all. I spend most of my time
here. I welcome people into the theatre
just as I would receive them into
my house. Wouldn't you greet an elderly
person with an extra amount of re.spect
there?" Len asks. The theatre staff
reflects this personality.
Speaking of home, Len says, "I like to
think of myself as one of the most
moved per.sons in the company." From
the Capitol at Calgary, he was moved
to Winnipeg, back to Calgary, Winnipeg
again, thence to Fort William for a few
months, then to Ottawa at the Regent
Theatre. Illness took him out of the
business for a year, during which time
he recuperated at his parents' home in
California.
After rejoining the company, he became
manager of the Palace at Windsor;
then went to Hamilton as manager
of the Tivoli; from there to the Capitol,
Halifax: to London: to Loew's at
Montreal; back to Hamilton: to the
Tivoli in Toronto, and finally to Shea's
where he has been for five years.
Before going to Calgary, Len was in a
chartered accountant's office four years.
His father had decided that Len, the
eldest of seven children, "all arriving in
quick succession," should acquire a profession.
The family had come to Winnipeg
from England, and Len retains
a trace of the English accent.
HELPED SUPPORT FAMILY
The elder Bishop's wish for his son
was not realized, for almost as soon as
Len arrived in Canada he had to go to
work to help support the family with a
miscellany of jobs. He attended night
school, studymg shorthand and typing.
Len is quite an artist with a camera,
and also enjoys gardening. He has
many friends in Toronto, quite a number
of whom participate in promotion
of the theatre. His desire for good promotion
has reached disk jockeys of the
town and, of course, members of his
staff with whom he has coffee parties
each month.
iOXOFFICE ;
: April 16, 1955 89

. . The
. . Because
. . . Lou
. . FP
. . RKO
. . Make
. . The
. . they
. . WB
. . The
. . . Al
. . Manager
. . Frank
. . Wilf
1
WINNIPEG
Fwo film men were among the YMCA Eagles
squad which won the Manitoba senior
men's volleyball championship: Dave Rothstein
of Rothstein Theatres and Charlie Carphin
of J. M. Rice & Co. . . . Fii'st drive-in
to open this summer in the greater Winnipeg
area was the Northmain on Thursday (7).
Opening program was "Broken Lance" in
Cinemascope at regular admissions.
United Artists Manager Abe Felnstein returned
from a regional sales conference in
Chicago. The Calgary branch manager,
Buster Radis who also returned with Feinstein
from Chicago, spent a few days here
before returning to Alberta. Radis is a former
Winnipegger . they are Paragon
associates, it was natural for Mr. and
Mrs. M. G. Kai-piak, when they built their
400-seat house in Crelghton, Sask., to name
the theatre the Paragon. Completely modern
in every respect, the house also includes a
cryroom, refreshment bar and spacious parking
grounds.
.
Western Theatres executive George Miles
spent a short holiday in Minneapolis . . .
Harry Pi-ygrocki has installed Cinemascope
in the King's Gai-rick opened at
10:30 in the morning for "Ma and Pa Kettle
at Waikiki." Dave Robertson gave free Easter
eggs to the first 500 children attending . . .
The Eldorado Drive-In opened simultaneously
with the Northmain. Opening program was
"The Crimson Pirate" and "I'll Never Forget
You"
. . . Airport Drive-In opened Good
Friday.
Headlined— "And they lived happily ever
after ..." and showing a happy family walking
arm-in-arm, the latest institutional movie
ad went on to say . . . "They found a sure
cure for 'Home-itis' ... No more jumpy
nerves ... no depressed spirits ... no bore-
MR. EXHIBITOR
III
Our specially selected representatives
have been trained to sell for
you locolly our expanding Adfilm
service for merchants in your town.
•
For further particulars contact:
ADFILMS LIMITED
77 York St.
TORONTO
EM 8-8986
10940- 122nd St.
EDMONTON
8-2508
/Uioali^ GOOD! I «67
^^^*^
I SPADINA AVE.
I
dom ... no more short tempers . . . once or
twice a week they go to the movies—enjoy
themselves away from home . broaden
their lives by getting away from the four
walls of their home often . . . they get
acquainted with the folks and facilities in
theu- community . this your habit for
happy living and live the fuller life of a
happy Canadian family." This four-column
ad is one in a series sponsored by the Manitoba
Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n.
Tribune reviewer Ann Henry is opening a
Pandora box—she innocently asked her readers,
"What films would you like to see
brought back?" Eventually readers will name
every picture ever produced . Met is
currently showing "Run for Cover," the James
Cagney western.
Phil Bodnoff of the Sunset Drive-In at
Regina claims to be the first drive-in In
western Canada to reopen this season.
Opening program, April 5, was United Ai'tists
"Sabre Jet" . Poto-Nlte Pool here
is going into attendance night every Tuesday.
Patrons sign attendance cards Tuesday
that they were present at the theatre, making
them eligible for the Foto-Nlte cash offer
when the name is called Wednesday evening
. . . Sheila Gray, wife of Lyceum Manager
Harry Gray, passed away recently.
Among visitors on Filmrow were Garnet
Wright, Keewatin, Ont.; Hugh Vassos, Melville.
Sask.; Joe Hersak, Roblln, Man.; Keith
McNeil, Ft. Qu'Appelle, Sask.; Duffy Besinski,
Humboldt, Sask., and J. Remenda, Lac Du
Bonnet. Man. . Manager Barry Myers
journeyed to Chicago for a regional sales
meeting of the company . Manager
Prank Davis returned from a gruelling,
hazardous road trip which carmot be described
to tender young children.
Powerful double biU presented by Jim
Fusty at the Osborne Cinema was held over
for a second week. "A Streetcar Named Desire"
with Marlon Brando, plus "Dial M for
Murder" with Grace Kelly ... In the meantime,
riding the crest of the Academy awards,
"On the Waterfront" went a third week at the
MPTA Backs Promotion
TORONTO—The National Screen Service
cartoon accessory, "How to Make Them
Happy—Take Them Out to the Movies," is
being promoted by the Motion Picture Theatres
Ass'n of Ontario in behalf of the
Canadian distributor of the displays, Murray
Sweigman of Theatre Poster Service. The
exploitation display, which comes in windowcard
and poster sizes, has been recommended
by the association to its 350 members for its
public-relations effectiveness.
TORONTO
Y"ce-President R. W. Bolstad has retur:
to the Famous Players office from
southern vacation of a couple of weeks, wh
followed the holiday period of President J
Fitzgibbons
.
Don Edward,
the Tivoli did most of the Academy Aw
boasting at Hamilton, pointing out that 1
the 22 Oscars went to pictures which
their first run at the Famous Players i
there.
Trueman Walters, manager of the Gr
at Kingston, turned to revivals recently, dc
nicely with "Forever Amber" and "Reap
Wild Wind." Ed Lamoureux of the Wine
Palace did the same thing with "The I
Years of Oui- Lives" while Manager F
Jackson of Loew's, London, had anot
whirl with "Random Harvest" . J
son, projectionist at the Toronto Village,
his wife left again on a lengthy tour
the SS Constitution to the Mediterran
and beyond.
. . . Commenta
Jack Labow, Canadian general manager
RKO, was in New York for a conference
the home office on upcoming product .
Manager E. Crawford of the Biltmore
Kingston featured a stage appearance all
with "The Bob Mathias Story" of the Gr
Morton, the perennial magician ... J
Karr, critic of the Toronto Daily Star, sp
several days in New York around Easter
check on show business
Richard Newman, whose Show Beat colu
appears daily in the London Free Press,
spending six weeks in Europe during wh
he will cover the Cannes Film Festival,
column has been taken over by Ralph See
Paul TurnbuU of the FPC Downtown
Hamilton took another fling with Ital
pictures with the playing of "Donne a I
gante" and "La Figlia del Capitano"
FPC has provided its Capitol in Regi
managed by Hilliard Gunn, for the Domiri
Drama Festival during the week of Ma;
Troyer, FPC circuit statistician, s
manages to keep busy on his own time,
Gaiety
. houses, Uptown, Tlvoli, Osborne
and Crescent, gave their kiddles popsicles
and project
latest
prizes
being a
to lucky
campaigner for
ticket holders.
Red Cross fund . Fisher, gene
Meyer Mitchell's magic touch was evident manager of J. Arthur Rank Distribut
in this little ad with the showmanship was
twist:
a busy official for the Easter Seal ca
"REWARD! To all kiddles attending
paign for
the
crippled children.
Palace and Times, Fi-ee bags of Easter Eggs,
also Easter package to lucky ticket holders"
Rubin is sticking to his success formula
for Saturday matinees at the Valoiu-: TORONTO—A sign of the times is
Distribute Courtesy Pass
One Roy Rogers feature, one serial chapter, aaoption of a joint policy by seven ini
one comedy, several cartoons and cavitycreators
pendent theatres in Toronto, all members
for the kiddies ... All ozoners are Allied Exhibitors of Ontario, for the dlst
running midnight shows every Sunday. Exceptionally
bution of an "Executive Courtesy Pa
warm weather has hypoed attend-
coupon which is good for a general admiss
ance.
during the last half of the week on paymeni
a 25-cent service charge, on which there is
amusement tax under the new schedule. 1
arrangement continues until April 30 at
following theatres: AUenby, Avalon, Cam
Pox. Granada, Joy and Kent.
Ad Boost in Toronto
TORONTO—Local exhibitors are study:
developments following announcement by t
Toronto Telegram that its rate for amu
ment-page advertising will be boosted f
cents to 50 cents a line starting July 2. Ra
in other newspapers in Ontario may also
increased, it is expected.
90
BOXOFFICE :
: April 16,

, Played
flXOf f ICfi
i^ i) D ii J Jl i^^ ii i D 5
lie EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY about pictures
ALLIED ARTISTS
ighty Fortress, The (AA)—Religious docffiitary
about Billy Graham, 31 minute
t. h This was more like an overstuffed
Kjieel. Played with MGM's "Her Twelve
and a jungle picture. Advertised with
J,"
Ic address system mounted on my auto
equalled the previous weekend business
OUgh the weather was very, very rain'y.
ed Fri.. Sat. Weather: Rainy.—Arden A.
lards, Craigsville Year Round Drive-In,
gsvUle, W. Va. Coal mining and farming
onage.
lane (AA)—Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, Jean
U»ur. Doubled with "Riot in Cell Block 11."
1 turned out to be a good program with
c'ra.st, and everyone who saw it was
Thurs., Sat. Weather: Warm.
J:ay jr., Queen Theatre. McAllen,
jlish, Spanish-speaking patronage.
le of Ruby Hills (AA) — Zachary
, .uole Mathews. Lola Albright. Here
5 very good western. Although it is not in
ir, it will still do good business. Advertise
the hilt.—L. Brazil jr., New Theatre,
rden. Ark. Small-town and rural patron-
COLUMBLA
lie Black Knight (Col)—Alan Ladd, Pa-
& Medina, Andre Morrell. This costume
gave us a good Sunday only because
lire
petitors were playing fourth day of "No
iiiness Like Show Business." Otherwise we
Tild have fallen flat. Don't believe even
>d could help out on costume pictures.
.>.-ed Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold.—
i ert Klinge, Uptown Theatre, Sedalia, Mo.
\Jlium-sized town and rural patronage.
he Caine Mutiny (Col)—Humphrey Bop;,
Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson. This one
.1 ped for four reasons—bad weather, a
Jicetball tournament, not enough favor-
1^ word of mouth comment to build it up
o: Wednesday, and the fact that too many
»,t to see it when it was new. We had a
rnrd number of walkouts during the trial
3< 18, Can you imagine walking out on that
slw? Don't let us scare you though. Any
t; itre should be proud to play this magnif i-
c t picture. Can we help it if our folks
*ild rather see a double feature? We'd
11 to add ourselves to the mounting list
0- (Columbia boosters. This is the first of
t ir pictures we've been hurt on. Their flex-
11 sales policy is helping lots of us keep
theatres open. Played Sun., Mon., Wed.
Tather: Cold and stormy.—Richard and
fiiey Fritz, Tic Toe Theatre, What Cheer,
la. Small-town and rural patronage.
he Caine Mutiny (Col)—Humphrey Bolt,
Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson. I was down
r Virginia meeting some of the nicest folks
i the country when we used this one, so I
t 'Sed a feature I'd been anxiously waiting
1. Business was good but not good enough
' the terms, but with Columbia, terms
f no serious problem for they want me to
«y in business and adjusted to make it a
Ir picture buy. This is a "dry" town in
Ire ways than one and sea stories don't
their just deserts. Thwse who saw it were
j
ish in their praise when I got home,
lyed Sun., Mon., Tues.—Bob Walker, Uintah
j
jeatre, Pruita, Colo.
Britisher Recommends
Suitable Pictures
IJaving seen Mason Shaw's remarks
about "Genevieve," I wrote to tell him
about "Doctor in the House," which beat
the former here. He wrote me a very nice
letter and asked about other British fihns
which have done well here. Before sharing-
the good news with the rest of you,
let me just make one point: I do know
the States a little, and I won't steer you
wrong with unsuitable pictures. The ones
I can recommend may not all beat your
house records, but they'll certainly please
your patrons, and if any of yoTir folks
are suffering from a shortage of product,
you can stop worrying. With the help of
good British films, you will find things
much easier; and don't worry about the
accents, for in case you didn't know.
Granger, Mason, Burton, Kerr, Simmons,
Rennie, Garson, Sanders, etc. all came
from here not so long ago, and maybe
you haven't noticed but we can lay claim
to Peck now!
Well, the pictures most of you could
play are as follows: "Genevieve," "Doctor
in the House," "Tonight's the Night,"
'T)uel in the Jungle," 'Xand of Fury,"
"Trouble in Store," "Purple Plain," 'Trize
of Gold," "West of Zanzibar," "Kidnappers,"
"Divided Heart," "Mad About Men,"
"One Good Turn," "Simba," "Colditz
Story," "To Paris With Love," "Young
Lovers," "Green Scarf" and "The Detective."
I have tried to leave out those with
rather art appeal only, and I fervently believe
that a very large proportion of the
above would do well in most situations
other than industrial neighborhoods. I
believe too that you will do better with
each one you play. There are plenty
more good ones coming along so you
would not be wasting your time educating
your public to something new only to
have the product dry up. On the contrary,
the more you play, the easier they
are accepted, and of course your product
problems should disappear.
Our people aren't so very different
from yours, really. Our biggest takes lately
have been with "Knock on Wood,"
"Calamity Jane," "Living Desert" and
"The Glenn Miller Story," together with
many of the British films I have mentioned,
so don't get the idea we don't
like top Hollywood product as well as
you do. I have put in CinemaScope and
am delighted with the pictures available,
despite the fact that we haven't any
British ones yet.
One last word: If you haven't tried any
of the above, start with "Genevieve."
Don't treat it, or even think about it,
as an art picture. It's solid entertainment,
as good as anything ever made, and it
Includes some of the hottest jazz trumpet
playing you'll ever hear! Any showman
who can't make money with this ought
to get out of showbusiness!
With best wishes,
TONY WHITEHOUSE
Kitz Cinema
Swanage, Dorset, England
Population 10,000
Seaside holiday town, unopposed.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Her Twelve Men (MGM)—Greer Garson,
Barry Sullivan, Robert Ryan. A good story
of a teacher in a boys' school, but it failed to
draw. Those who came were pleased. Well
produced in color. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Good.—E. M. Preiburger, Dewey Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small-town patronage.
Holiday for Sinners (MGM)—Gig Young,
Keenan Wynn, Janice Rule. An oldie, which
ends sadly, yet, even though we thought
"Heidi" had brought our customers, they
were voluble in praise for the intensity, but
wrong ending, of "Holiday fgr Sinners." Lost
money all winter because of the strikes in the
slow, crippled coal Industry and because of
the snow. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:
Terrible.—Ai-den A. Richards, Craigsville
Year-Round Drive-In Theatre, Craigsville,
W. Va. Small-town, coa.1 mining and rural
patronage.
Long, Long Trailer, The (MGM)—Lucille
Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main. This was
considered too silly by some, while others said
it didn't last long enough. It Ls good, wholesome
fun that pleases most patrons.—Charles
E. Bennewitz, Royal Theatre, Royalton, Minn.
Small-town and rural patronage.
PARAMOUNT
The Denver & Rio Grande (Para)—Edmond
O'Brien, Sterling Hayden, Dean Jagger. Fair
story, beautiful color and went over very
well here, and being an old picture I bought
it cheap and, of course, made some money,
which made me happy. If you haven't used it,
it's okay. Your patroias will enjoy it. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Fred L. Murray.
Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Bask. Small-town
and rural patronage.
Elephant Walk (Para)—Elizabeth Taylor,
Dana Andrews, Peter Finch. What a relief
the elephants were after all the ants we've
had lately. Elizabeth Taylor could lose about
ten pounds, but her wardrobe wUl appeal to
the ladies. Must have been too deep for the
men, as they kept coming out to the lobby
to smoke. Business below average. Played
Sun., Mon., Wed. Weather: Warm and rainy.
—Richard and Audrey Fritz, Tic Toe Tlieatre,
What Cheer, Iowa. Small-town and rural
patronage.
Here Come the Girls (Para)—Bob Hope,
Arlene Dahl, Tony Martin. Why they wasted
a cute gal like Rosemary Clooney in this I
could never guess. Just plain Hope corn from
start to finish. Not worth the playing time.
A few Hope fans will like it, no doubt, but
we haven't many here. A waste of playing
time as far as we ^ere concerned. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Warm.—S. N. Holmberg,
C. H. Grass, Regal Theatre, Sturgis,
Sask. Small-town and rural patronage.
Houdini (Para)—Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh,
Torln Thatcher. We did excellent business
and show-shoppers purchased a piece of entertainment
merchandise that whetted their
appetites for another session in our soft seats.
It certainly deserves a date and the Houdini
story published recently in Ti-ue will help
you sell more tickets. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Cold.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,
Fruita, Colo.
Knock on Wood (Para)—^Danny Kaye, Mai
Zetterling, David Burns. A good show, but
this type doesn't bring them in for me any-
(Continued on next page)
I'XOFTICE BooldnGuide : : April 16, 1955

—
—
''
The
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
(Continued from preceding page)
more. Guess they see enough of this on TV.
Ouch! It hurts, too! Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Fair and Cold.—Terry Axley, New
Theatre, England, Ark. Small-town and rural
patronage.
Knock on Wood (Para)—Danny Kaye, Mai
Zetterling, David Burns. A good musical show
in color, but it was too old when I played
it, so no profit. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Good.—E. M. Preiburger, Dewey Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small-town patronage.
RKO RADIO
Silver Lode, The (RKO)—John Payne,
Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea. Very good suspense
western which our audience liked. Business
average. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Cold.—Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre,
Spring Valley, 111. Population 5,000.
Susan Slept Here (RKO)—Dick Powell,
Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis. This is the
best picture we have played in a long time,
but it still didn't do any business and lacked
a lot of hitting the split. But it was new and
hadn't been bled to death before we got our
date. Down to earth and no fancy gadgets,
just wide screen, and it almost showed a
profit. Play "Susan" on your best time; it
will stand up. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Cold.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach
Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small-town and rural
patronage.
Susan Slept Here (RKO)—Dick Powell,
Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis. A very good
comedy. Picture well made. Only trouble, it
lacked draw. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.
Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Runge Theatre,
Runge, Tex. Small-town and rural patronage.
REPUBLIC
Thunderbirds (Rep) — John Derek, John
Barrymore jr., Mona Freeman. This was a
near last minute booking change, but I got
a tie-up with the local National Guard unit.
A display of weapons in the lobby with
Guardsmen standing over them and a short
parade from the armory to the theatre. This
brought us a better than average Tuesday
night, some word-of-mouth advertising for
an average decent Wednesday. Played Tues.,
Wed. Weather: Warm.—Lew Bray jr.. Queen
Theatre, McAllen, Tex. English, Spanishspeaking
patronage.
20th CENTURY-FOX
New Faces (20th-Fox) — Ronny Graham,
Eartha Kitt, Robert Clary. This is 98 minutes
of the most horrible film ever presented on
our screen. If they have Academy Awards for
the worst picture of the year, this should win
it. Greatest number of walkouts since I've
been here, and that's close to ten years.
Instead of us paying for the film, 20th-Fox
should pay us for running it. Any more like
this in the new process and Cinemascope
will be dead. Small towns, beware! Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: CX)ld.—Michael Chiaventone,
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 111.
Small-town patronage.
Nig-ht People (20th-Fox)—Gregory Peck,
Broderick Crawford, Anita Bjork. A very
good story with a good cast. About Germany
today, you could say it is a story right out
of today's headlines. A very interesting story,
liked by all. The photography was excellent
Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.
Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask.,
Canada. Small-town patronage.
Robe, The (20th-Fox) — Richard Burton,
Jean Simmons, Victor Mature. An excellent
feature to build prestige among your church
folk, but at 60 per cent, we didn't gain as
much extra business as we hoped to in order
to retire some of the new mortgage. I enjoyed
the comments we had from customers
and I loved seeing such a sharp, clear picture
on my new screen and hearing sound
coming from this feature that could be heard
after the mess we saw and heard in one of
the big cities. However, I just can't get
steamed up over using my equipment again
at the prices they seem to want. I like to
get my share, too, if I work for it. Played
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Light snow and
rain.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Pruita,
Colo. Small-town and rural patronage.
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (20th-Fox)—Reissue.
Lon McCallister, June Haver, Walter
Brennan. Really an oldie, but a fair draw
for the one night it played. Cost us as much
as a new one would have though, and it just
isn't worth it. Could make a little money
if reissues weren't priced way out of line.
Played Sat. Weather: Fair and cold.^Mr. and
Mrs. Walt J. Breitling, Comfrey Theatre,
Comfrey, Minn. Small-town and rural patronage.
Song of Bernadette, The (20th-Fox)—Reissue
starring Jennifer Jones. A poor print
(it jumped all over the place). Not up to
Pox standards for reissue film. Unless yours
is an area of strong CathoUcism, I'd pass it
as it takes more than a g6od reissue to do
business nowadays. Although this is one of
Tears Will Really Flow
In Last 20 Minutes
•piE LAST TLME I SAW PARIS (MOM)
—Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson,
Walter Pidgeon. Advertise this one as
"the (our handkerchief" picture and that
will get the women in. There's 4 big advantage
in that as they bring the men
with them. Actually, the tears don't flow
until the last twenty minutes. Business
good.
MICHAEL CHIAVENTONE
Valley Theatre
Spring VaUey, lU.
the finest films ever made, it just broke even
here. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather:
Ideal.—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre,
Washburn, N. D. Population 900.
UNITED ARTISTS
Act of Love (UA)—Kirk Douglas, Dany
Robin, Serge Reggiani. I was away when this
picture was played and didn't see it but the
folks tell me it was pretty good. And judging
from the boxoffice report, I am of the
opinion it was well received. A few spare
dollars in the cash box when expenses were
paid and that is all we expect up here this
year, (no crop, all rust). Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Good.—Fred L. Murray, Strand
Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask. Small-town and
rural patronage.
Apache (UA)—Blurt Lancaster, Jean Peters,
John Mclntyre. A good little picture which
did almost average business. I can't resist
mentioning that this is Indian Country but
we don't have them with quite such blue
eyes! Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.
Elaine S. George, Star Theatre, Heppner,
Ore. Small-town and rural patronage.
Barefoot Contessa, The (UA)—Ave Gardner,
Humphrey Bogart, Edmond O'Brien. Another
"flicker flashback" in which Ava Gardner
was being ruined every fifteen minutes. Did
only average business. Probably too high class
for ours. I personally liked it. Played Fri,.
Sat. Weather: Ideal.—Michael Chiaventone,
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 111. Population
5.000.
Beat the Devil (UA)—Humphrey .^
Jennifer Jones, Robert Morley. Played as
ond feature with •12-Mile Reef and be,,
Bogart was beat by The Devil in this j
More complaints than comments. People
i
can't seem to get their money's worth ]
more. Played Wed., Thurs., Fri. Weaii
Cold.—Robert Klinge, Uptown Theatre,!
dalia. Mo. Medium-sized town and rural i
ronage.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATlbNAL
Abbott, Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll, Mr. 1
(U-D—Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris ,
loff. Average Abbott and Costello pic
pretty silly but the folks really got a
out of it. Most laughing I heard in the
atre for a long time. Grossed over one
dred per cent, which is pretty good. II
patrons like Abbott and Costello, you •.
go wrong . . . Played Mon., Tues. Weat
Good.—Fred L. Murray, Strand Theatre,
it wood, Sask. Small- town and rural pata
age.
Back to God's Country (U-D—Rock Hue (
Marcia Henderson, Steve Cochi-an. This r(|l
drew the crowds. Had to run an extra
show to take care of them. It pleased
action fans. Nice picture. Played Tues., 1
—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, E!mf
Mont.
Bengal Brigade (U-D—Rock Hudson, Ai„_
Dahl, Ursula Thiess. Just a picture that wili
be good for a one-day show. Played Sp,
Mon. Weather: Cold.—Leo A. Backer, Vsq
Theatre, Browns Valley, Minn. Farmer J
ronage.
Bengal Brigade (U-D—Rock Hudson, AiB
Dahl. Ursula Thiess. They must have sm(|H
that English in this one. I almost got molje
trying to show two of them on one progi
so now I'm suffering. Sorry to say that -
picture just didn't have it and won'tS
business. Played Pri., Sat. Weather: Pirf
Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, i
coin, Kas. Small-town and rural patronai|
WARNER BROS.
Calamity Jane (WB)—Doris Day, Hovj
lieel, Allyn McLerie. Our Doris stayec
overdrive, start to finish. Not a dull mom'
Sure it was corny, but they liked it. Sini)
fme. Played Fri., Sat.. Sun. Weather: o;
—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eur]
Mont.
Dragnet (WB)—Jack Webb, Ben AlexankJi
Ann Robinson. A very well presented pictre
Draw about average, rather less than yt
expected. Saw lots of faces we hadn't sa
in a long time. Worth about two days pJr»
ing time in small town. Played Thurs., '.%
Sat. Weather: Cold, foggy.—Walt and ll
Breitling, Comfrey "Theatre, Comfrey, MtK
Population 1,000
Drum Beat (WB)—Alan Ladd, Audrey lii
ton, Marisa Pavan. Well, fellows, I niSI
ever thought that I would have to wrltt^
you fellow exhibitors and tell you thai"
played an Alan Ladd picture that did
pan out. But here is the one that takes M
cake, and for Cinemascope it's a kick wl
it hurts, the paying public. Everyone ci
for a big rawboned action picture as L|
was the star, but what did they get buitt
bunch of talk, talk and more talk. We hw
played better westerns at $12.50. Why Lid
took that picture to play only he knows, 'le
one big fight at the end tops it all, ejn
for kids.
You know who told me all this? It
the paying public. So you can see how it vl
Our opinion is, let Warner put it away*
put it out in straight 1.33 to 1 and chat^
minimum. Leave it alone, fellows, is IT
opinion. (Sorry, Mr. Ladd. Go back to l';
tures like "Shane" and "Whispering Smll
That's what your public wants.)—Sam Ho;
berg. Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :
:
April 16,

I
I ^
. (et
Mayer-Kingsley
iZ Ixir
I
(jprctive onolysis of loy 9nd trodepress reviews. The plus ond rr Inus signs Indicote degree of
f» ly; oudicnce clossificottoi is not rated. Listings cover current review , brought up to date regularly.
>artment serves olso os an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature rcit OSes. Numeral preceding title
ll
p^c Guide Review page nui tbcr. For listings by company, in the ordc
of release, sec Feoture Chart. ii£vj£ijj ijjssrr
Very Good; + Good; — Foir; — Poor; — Very Poor In the summary H is roted 2 pluses, as 2 minuses.
:«
[
> I
)«>(t i»») Costello Meet the Keystone Kons
SO) Comedy U-l 2- 5-55 + * + ± H - 7+4-
f/|it Mrs. Leslie (104) Drama P«ra S- 1-54 ± + + ± ± + 7+4-
It of Lme (105) Drama UA 1- 2-54 +t + + + + 7+
|»ntures of Haj^ Baba. The
, irama (93) 20th-Fox 10.16-54 ± - + =t - 2r 5+5-
f*ntures of Robinson Crusoe (90) Drama UA 6- 5-54 ff + + H ++ + 10+1-
il'alures of Sadie. The (. )
omedy
20th-Fox
Airs of Messalina. The (108) Drama ..Col 6-27-53 + —
(A.-a Adventure (63) Documentary. ... RKO 9-25-54 +
(» ran Manhunt (65) Adv-Drama Rep 2-26-55 —
!A (UO) Musical I.F.E. 7-31-54 +
t Strike ( .) Drama LP
lAH Seas (78) Drama Para 2-6-54 —
|«iys a Bride (83) Comedy U-l 6- 5-54 +
lAricano, The (87) Drama RKO 1-8-55 +
/t;|a (. ) Drama 20th-Fox
|*ial Farm (75) Satire DCA 1-15-55 +
Iflipolis Story, An (81) Drama AA 3-26-55 +
lA'ipurna (58) Docunwntary. .
2-6-54 +
lA;h( (90) Drama UA 7-3-54 +
IA« in the Dust (80) Drama AA 4-17-54 +
lAfla (96) Musical M6M 11- 6-54 ff
/^gic Kid. The (86) Comedy Rep 12-1S-54 ±
i Day at Black Rock (82) Western MGM
( (79) Drama Col
I
B boo Prison (80) Drama Col
tEfoot Contessa, The (128) Drama UA
!Cle Cry (148) Drama WB
leie of Rogue River (71) Drama Col
16 le Taxi (52) Drama UA
IE;hcomber, The (82) Drama UA
IE:tihead (89) Drama UA
i e 1 Brummell (107) Drama MGM
lEities of the Mght (84) Comedy UA
IE billed (S3) Drama MGM
IE;al Brigade (87) Drama U-l
IBaytd (108) Drama MGM
I Chase, The (60) Drama LP
lEComho (89) Drama AA
House, U.S.A. (82) Crime Drama UA
? Tip Off. The (77) Drama AA
Itkboard Jungle. The (100) Drama MGM
i^k Dakotas. The (65) Western Col
IE k Horse Canyon (82) Western U-l
If k Knight. The (85) Drama Col
l^kout (87) Drama LP
\
k Pirates. The (74) Drama LP
IBk Shield of Falworth. The
100) Drama U-l
l^k 13 (75) Drama 20th-Fox
It k Tuesday (80) Drama UA
IBk Widow (95) Drama 20th-Fox
IE Mathias Story. The (80) Drama.. ,AA
. 1 1 Sides of the Law (94) Drama U-l
Unty Hunter, The (88) Western.. WB
I (try Boys Meet the Monsters (66)
':omtdy
AA
I'ery to Bagdad (64) Comedy AA
l( From Oklahoma. The (88) Drama ...WB
'lid. Love and Dreams (90) Drama. . I.F.E.
Ilises at Toko-Ri. The (105) Drama... Para
i I adoon (108) Musical MGM
l(ien Lance (96) Western 20th-Fox
for Joey (. .) Drama UA
f let It Waiting. A (82) Drama Col
>> Mutiny (125) Drama Col
Miaceiro (The Bandit) (92) Drama Col
!• 'itial Attack (68) Drama C«l 11-
l((on Crossroads (83) Western Col 3-
i'tain Kidd and the Slave Girl
:83) Drama UA
I 'lain Lightfoot (92) Drama U-l
iinen Jones (105) Musical 20th-Fox 10
1 ilir.a 1 Cannonhall (75) Comedy Rep
' inova's Big Night (85) Comedy Para 3- 6-54 +

REVIEW DIGEST
++ very Good,- + Good,- ± Fair,- Poor; = very Poor. In the summary ++ is rated 2 pluses.

en
PT
ID
H Very Good; + Good; - Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summary 1! is rated 2 pluses, - os 2 minuses.
KtYlt^nf Ulvifc^^l
(It (or the Lost City (fil) Tr3vtl
I .1
-nture RKO 12-25-54 + + ± ± +
R
It tor Life (. ) Drama LP +
DiBS, The (112) Drama 20th-Fo!< 2-5-55+ +f + +1 #
Qlmg Blood (76) Drama 20lh-Fox 3-27-54 ±:
- + + +
Dawn (87) Western at RKO 3-12-55 -f
I7I(
The (82) Drama 20th-Fox 7-24-54 +
10)1. tt + tt
(Is Into Laramie (82) Drama Ul 3-20-54 + =t + + +
B ++ H -H H
++
g I Garters (90) Musical Para 2-13-54 H H H
Ri»«r Shore (54) Western Rep 1-2-54+ ± + ±
SI
gtJrn From the Sea (80) Drama AA 7-17-54 ± + + ff
Sturn to Treasure Island (75) Drama UA 7- 3-54 + ± ± —
..
Ol.-noe of the Creature (82) Drama U-l 3-19-55+ ± + + ±
(115) Musical-Drama MGM 2-20-54++ ± ±. + d:
1
O(»sody
Khet Romance (80) Comedy U-l 10-23-54+ — i: + =
Ij Clear of Diablo (80) Drama U-l 2-6-54+ + + + +
5
gimg Shotjun
61) of Fear (93)
(75)
Drama
Western..: WB
WB
3-13-54 it
7-3-54+
±
+
±
=t
+
+
+
—
9 (rr Beat (73) Drama LP 7-24-54 ± d: ±: + +
(l!r of No Return (90) Drama
5,, tor Cover (92) Drama Para 3-26-55 +f + ++ ++
1+
++ + 11+
++ +
+ 5+1-
•(+ + »+
± + 7+2-
+t ++ 14+
+
±
+ 10+1-
^»-
+ ± 7+2-
6+3-
^3-
± 4+5-
++ ± H-1-
+ + 7+3-
± + 6+3-
5+3-
(Cinemascope) 20th-Fox 4-24-54++ + ± + + + 8+1-
++ + 10+
Roy. the Highland Rogue (86) Drama. RKO 11-28-53 (I + + ++ ++
Kiliet Man, The (SO) Drama 20th-Fox 5-1-54+ ± — ± + it 5+4-
2 I
ue Coo (92) Drama MGM 9-9-54+ + ± + ++ + 7+1-
511(0 and Juliet (140) Drama UA 12-25-54 + ff H +f ++ ++ 11+
ijgie's Bump (71) Comedy-Fantasy Rep 9-25-54 it + = + 4+5-
• It Marie (102) Musical (Cinemascope). MGM 3-6-54+ ± +
S
»;aki (81) Drama UA 2- 5-55 ± — —
(irina (113) Drama Para 8-7-54++ ++++++++
Slit's Girl Friday, The (68) Drama. ..RKO 3-20-54+ ± ± ±
of 5:: the Earth (94) DocuraenUry IPC 4-17-54 + —
;ta Fe Passage (..) Western Rep
J:ac«n Blade (76) Drama Col 5-22-54+ ± + +
likatchewan (88) Drama U-l 2-27-54 ± + ± + +
rjrlet Spear, The (78) Drama UA 3-20-54+ ± — — ±
Incas Para • Irel of the (101) Drama 5-22-54+ + ± ± +
r.urity Risk (69) Drama AA g-21-54 — — ±
5 Angry Men (90) Drama AA 3-12-55+ — — + +
1 tn Brides for Seven Brothers (103)
Musical (Cinemascope) MGM 6-5-54++
2 nghai Story, T1» (90) Drama Rep 10- 9-54 +
+
±
++
± +
++
—
i Couldn't Say No (89) Comedy. .. .RKO 1-16-54+ ±; ± + +
I -Wolf, Tlie (91) Drama Rep 4- 6-54 it
1 eld (or Murder (82) UA 9-4-54+ Drama ± it + +
J 'tgun (SO) Drama AA 4-2-55+ + + +
It
S ge at Red River, The (86)
Drama 20th-Fox 3-20-54 +f + ± + +f
D n of the Pagan (92) Historical
Drama U-l 11-13-54 ++ + ++ H +f
wt Raiders (65) Drama LP
5 /er Chalice, The (137) Bihilcal Drama. WB 12-25-54 + ± + ++ +
2 er Lode, The (SO) Drama RKO 5-15-54— ± ± + —
'a Star. The (73) Western LP —
< s of Rome (71) Historical- Drama RKO 6-26-54 it ± # +
9 ting Bull (105) Western UA 9-18-54 it +f + -
1 Bridges to Cross (99) U-l 1-15-55+ it + +
Drama +
< eping Tiger, The (89) Drama Astor 10-30-54 + ±
7 oke Signal (89) Western U-l 2-12-55 it it S: —
S r« Creature (70) Drama UA 11-20-54 it _ _ —
I of Sinbad (. .) Adv-Drama RKO
5: This Is Paris (96) Musical Comedy. U-l 11-20-54 + + + + 44
1 lUiwest Passage (82) Drama
(Three-dimension) UA 4-10-54+ ^ ++ + +
S lare Ring, The (73) Drama Rep 2-12-55 it ± +
SU> Is Born, A (182) Musical-Drama WB 10- 9-54 ++++++++++
2 el Cage, The (80) Drama UA 10-30-54 — ± _ + +
' "my the Thoroughbred (45)
Drama Buena Virta 3-20-54 + +f ± + +
'
ange Lady in Town, A (..) Drama WB
danger's Hand, The (86) Drama DCA 3-5-55+ + +
8' anger on Horseback (66) Western UA 3-12-55+ it ++ ± +
2 ategic Air Command (114) Drama Para 4-2-55++ + ++++++
Sident Prince, The (107) Musical
(Cinemascope) MGM 6- 5-54 ++ + ++ +f ++
^ an Slept Here (78) Comedy RKO 6-26-54+ + + ++ +|
^ddenly (77) Drama UA 9-11-54+ + + + +
T
nganyika (81) Adventure Drama U-l 6-12-54 ii ± it it ++

mmi mm
Feature
productions by company in order of release. Number in squore is notional release date. Rwinil
time is in porentheses. Letters and combinations thereof indicate story type as follows: (C) Comedy; \\
Dramo; (AD) Adventure-Drama; (CD) Comedy-Drama; (F) Fantasy; (M) Musical; (W) Western; (SW) Sup,
western. Release number follows. U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Photogropji
^ 3-D; o Wide Screen. For review dotes ond Picture Guide poge numbers, see Review Digest, i

-
*
I (113)
.
.
Doc
.
I
Make
rk.
.
.
!
UOaThere's
.
FEATURE
CHART
(AMOUNT
jr Window (112) 0. .5401
struari. Grace KcUy, Tbelma Rltter
I
RKO RADIO
REPUBLIC
Haste to Live (90) D. .5306
lioroihy McGulre, Stephen McNally, M. Murphy
a ©Outeost, The (90) D . . 5308
John Derek, Joan Kvans, Harry Carey jr.
! OJohnny Guilor (1 10) W. .5307
Jo:in (ra.iliircl. Sti'rllng Haydcn, Scott Brady
J Roogie's Bump (71) CD.. 5310
liiitli W.uT i
i;. Marlotll, Brooklyn Dodgers
] Shonghoi Story (90) D. .5311
Kclmtnul 1) liri.ii. Ruih Roman, U. Jaeckel
Tobor the Greot (77) D. .5309
Charlf hrakc, KarUi Booth. Arthur Slilelds
20TH
CENTURY-FOX
_4j OaBrokcn Loncc ;96) W. .419
Sii'-ncer Iracy, Jtaii Peters, liobcrt Wagner
ORoid, The (82) AD'. .408
Van Heflln, Anne Bancroft. Lee Mtnln
©cnEgyptian, The 40) D ( 1 . . 4^0
Bdmund Purdum. Gene 'rierne;. Jean Simmons
CD.. 5402
Vf BofEtirt, Audrey Hepburn, W. Holden
lD ©Possion (84) 0. .503
Cornel Wilde. Yvonne De Carlo, Lon Chanfy
©This Is My Love (90) D. .504
Linda Karneli, Dan Duryea, Faith Domergue
©cnAdventures of Ha||i Baba,
The (93)
D..424
.lohn Drnk, Klalne Stcviart, Thomas Oomra
©cjV^oman's World (94). . . . . .CD. .421
Clifton Webb. June Allyson, Cornel Wilde
OCattle Queen of MontotM
(88) W. .505
Barbara Stanwyck. Ronald Iteaaan, Lance Fuller
Block 13 (75) D. .428
Peter Reynolds. Morris
Rona Anderson, Lena
©cDBIaek Widow (95) D . . 423
Van Ihflin, Ginger Rogers, Tlerney
Gene
S
©oDesiree (110) D. .425
Marlon Brando. Jean Simmons, Merle Oheron
©Outlaw's Daughter, The (75). .W. .427
Bill Williams. Jim Davis. Kelly Byio
J] ©Trouble in the Glen (91) D..5313
Margaret Lockwood, F. Tucker, V. McLaglen
A Atomic Kid, The (86) C. .5314
.Mickey Rooiuy, Hobert Strauss, Elaine Davis
is Hell's Outpost (90) W..5315
Hod Cameron, Joan Leslie. ChUl WiUs
Devil's Harbor (71) D..429
Hirhanl Arkn. Greta Gerroalne
Cynt, Mary
Other Woman, The (81) D. .430
llii^o Haas, Cko Mrnire, Lance Fuller
No Business Like
Show Business (117) M.. 501-7
Ethel Mtrm.-ui. Dan Dailey, Marilyn Monroe
Hi African Monhunt (65) AD. .5430
Karin Booth, John Kellogg, Boss Elliot
52 Trouble in Store (86) C. .5431
Margaret Rutherford, Norman Wiiuiom
©Carmen Jones ( 1 05) M . . 422
Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, D. Dandrldge
©cnPrince of Players (102) .. D. . 502-5
Richard Burton, Maggie McNamara. John Derek
ridges at Toko-Ri, The
'5)
u Holden. Fredric March. ?
a Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (72) D. .507
Gordon Scott, Vera Miles, P. Van Eyck
di ©cDUnderwaterl (99) D. .506
Jane Russell. Gilbert Roland, Richard ilgan
m Carolino Cannonboll (74) C. .5326
Judy Cannva. Ross Elliot, Andy Clyde
H Square Ring, The (73) D. .5432
Jack W'arner. Joan Collins, Robert Beatty
©oRacers, The (112) D. .505-B
;
Kirk Douglas, B. Darvl. Gilbert Roland
©cDWhite Feather (102) W. .503-3
Robert Wagner, D. Paget, J. Lund
qnesf of Spoce (80) AD. .5407
Broiik.-. William liedfield, G. Johnson
tei ry Girl, The (104) D. .5409
1« rosh), Grace Kelly. William Uolden
iD ©aUntamed (112) D. .507-4
Tyrone Power, Susan Ilaywird. Richard Egan
tow (94)
D..5406
tW. .Mamano, Shelle.v Whiters, M. Rennle
Jejn for Cover (92) D. .5410
M I'-.ism-i-, V. Ltadfors, Jean Hersholl
a ©CDEseope to Burma (87) W. .512
Barbara Stanoyck. Hobert Ryan. David Farrnr
SS ©Quest for the Lost City (61). . ..510
Dana and Ginger L,amb
©Yeliowneck (83) D. .
Lin McCarthy. Berry Kroeger
i
Day to Remember, A (72) . . . .C. .5433
Stanley Holloway. OdWe Versols, Vernon Gray
©Doctor in the House (92) C..5401
Dirk Bogarde, .Vluriel Pavlov, Donald Slnden
©Santa Fe Passage ( . . ) W .
John Pajne, Faith Domergue, Rod Camert)n
©Adventures of Sadie, The (..).C..
Joan Culliris, Kfniiilli More, Ccnne Cole
i©nMan Called Peter, A (119).D. .509-0
Kioliard loilil. Jian Peters. Marjorlc Rambeau
^©Violent Saturday (91) D.. 510-8
Victor .Mature, Sylvia Sidney, Richard Egan
jAngela (..) D. .511-6
Dennis O'Keefe, Mara Lane
rotegic Air Commond
4) D. .5425
Stewut, June Mlj-son, Frank Lorejoy
©oDaddy Long Legs (. .) M. .
Fred Aslalre, Leslie Caron. Terry Moore
Life in the Balance, A (75).... D..
Blcardo Montalban. Anne Bancroft. J. Marvin
©Living Swamp, The {..).. Doc . .
©tziMognificent Matador (..).. .D. .
Maureen O'Hara. .\nlhony QuJnn. Thos. Oomei
>ur» Jester, The C. .
K«yc,
J (ilmis Johns, Basil Rathbone
Wir Horizons, The D. .
JMoii llKhm, F. MatMurray, Donna Iteed
mrt Rush, The M. .
S>c ell's Island D
p^'cy Gollont D. .
If Viniin, Chariton Heslon, Oalre Treror
3= ven Little Foys, The M .
»»llow Miilj- Vit.ilc. .\ngela Oark
"Kin Commandments, The..D..
ut on Heston. Y. De Carlo, .\mie Baiter
»f > Catch a Thief D..
"' 'unt, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landls
S^ «. D . .
t" lONcUs, Silian.i Mangano, X. Quhin
H,, "^J*" Angels CD. .
"U irey Boearl, Joan Bennett, Aldo Bay
g: »u re Never Too Young ... C .
I
5* iCTis. Plana I.mn. Nina Fnch
©Boy and the Bull, The D. .
Michael Ray, Joy Lansing
©cConqueror, The ; . . ) D .
John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Pedro .^rmendarls
©Jet Pilot (119) D..229
John WaiTie. Janet Leigh. J. C. Fliopen
Naked Seo Doc . .
\ four-month voyage of a tuna fleet
©cPcarl of the South Pacific. . .D. .
Virginia Mayo, Dennis Morgan, David Farrar
©Wakambo Doc . .
.\frican
tribe
Big Jackpot, The C. .
Victor .McLaglen, Katbleeo Crowley
Crooked Ring, The D. .
Rod Cameron, Gale Robblns, Allison Hayes
Eternal Sea, The (103) D. .
Sterling Hayden. Smith, Dean Jagger
Ale.-ds
©Foreign Adventure, A D. .
Yvonne Carlo. Howard Zachary Duff, Scolt
I>e
©Gunman, The W. .
Ray Milland. Mary Murphy, Ward Bond
Cover the Underworld D..
I
Lay Thot Rifle Down C.
Judy Canova. Robert Lowery, Robert Burto*
©Mogie Fire D . .
Yvonne De Carlo, Carlos
©Rood to Denver
Riu
W .
Thompson. Cam
John Payne. .Mona Freeman, R. Middleton
©Texas Legionnaires, The D. .
Sterling Hayden, Anna Maria .\lbergbetU
©Deep Blue Sea, The D.
Vivien Leigh, Kenneth More, Emlyn Williams
©oHouse of Bamboo D. .
Robert Slack. Robert Ryan. Shirley Yamaguchi
©How to Be Very, Very
Popular M. .
©oLcft Hand of God, The D. .
Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tiemey, Lee J. Cobb
©Oasis .D. .
Michele .Morgan. Cornell Borcliers
©Seven Year Itch, The C. .
.Marilvn Monroe. Tom Enell, EveljTi Keyes
©Sir Walter Raleigh D. .
Betie Davis, Richard Todd. Joan Collins
©Soldier of Fortune D. .
©That Lody (. .) D.
Clark Gable. Susan llaywatd. Michael Rennle
Olivia DcHavUland. Gilbert Roland

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FEATURE
CHART
UNITED ARTISTS 3_||
©Crossed Swords (85) D. .5334
Errol Flyni). Gtua Lojlobrlglda
Diamond Wizard, The (83) D..5432
Uennis U'Keefe. M;irg;irt*t Sheridan
Down Three Dark Streets
(85) D. .5433
Broderiok Crawford. Ruth Konian, Martha Hycr
Malta Story, The ( 1 03) D .
Alec Gulnneis, Jack Hawkins, Flora Robson
Victory ot Sea 197) Doc.
©Jesse Jomes' Women (83) .
.5435
I'ei;gie Castle. Jack lion Barry, Bcute)
©Golden Mistress, The (82), . . .D. .5437
John Agar, Rosemarle Bowe. Klkl
©Khyber Patrol (71) D..5419
Richard Egan, Hawn Addams. Patrlc Knowles
Suddenly (77) D. .5436
Frank Sinatra, Nancy Gates
Sterling Hayden,
. 5434
Baretoot Contessa, The (128) D . . 5440
llumi)hrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, B. O'Brien
SjLittle Kidnappers, The (93) .
.5439
J. Adrienne Cdrrie. WIdtley, V. Winter
Operation Manhunt (77) D..544I
J. Harry Tonnes. Irja Jeasen,
©Sitting Bull (105)
Aubuchon
W ,
Dale Robertson, J. Carrol Nalsh
Shield for Murder (82) O. .
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I'aul
Twist of Fote (89) D..5446
Ginger Rogers, Jacques Bergerac, Herbert Lom
©White Orchid, The (81) D, ,5414
William Lundigan, Peggie Castle
©You Know What Sailors Are
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©Romeo and Juliet (140) D..5449
l.aijrence Earvey, Flora Robison, Shentall
8.
Steel Cage, The (80) D..5443
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Battle Toxi (82) AD.. 5502
Sterling Hayden, Arthur Frani, M. Thompson
©Beachcomber, The (82) D . . 5501
Robert Newton, Glynls Johns, Donald Slnden
Black Tuesday (80) D . . 5450
E. G. Robinson, Jean Parker, Graves
Peter
©Vera Cruz (94) AD.. 5448
Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Denlse Darcel
Canyon Crossroods (83) W. .5506
Richard Basehart, Phyllis Kirk, Russell OiUlns
Good Die Young, The ( 1 00) D , . 5505
John Ireland. Gloria Grahame, L. Harrev
©Saboko (81) D. .5504
Boris Karloff. Victor Jory, K. Denny
Big House, U.S.A. (82) D. .5507
Broderick Crawford, Balpb Meeker
Marty (93) D . . 5509
Ernest Borgnlne, Betsy Blair
©Stranger on Horseback (66). ,W. .5508
Joel McCrea, Mlroslava, Kevin McCarthy
Bullet for Joey (85) D. .5510
B. O. Robinson, George Kaft, Audrey Totter
©Lilacs in the Spring (..) M. .5511
Errol Flynn. Anna Nea«le. David Farrar
©Purple Ploin, The (100) D..5503
Gregory Peck, B. De Banzle, Win Mln Than
©r=]Alexander the Great D, .
Richard Burton. Claire Bloom, Fredrle March
Brass Ring, The D . .
Farley Granger, Anthony Qulnn, Anne Bancroft
©CDGentlemen Marry Brunettes M..
Jane Russell. Jeanne Grain, Scott Brady
©oKentucklon, The ... . . . D. .
Burl Litncaster, Diana Lynn. Utia Merkel
Kiss Me Deadly D. .
Hall* Meeker, Clorls Albert Decker
Leachman,
Night of the Hunter D. .
Robert MItchum, Shflley Ulllan Winters, Qtah
Not As • Stronger D .
Holirrt MItchum, OUvla F. de HavUland, Sinatra
.
Othello D.
Cloutler, Orson Welles. Ruzanne Fay ComptoD
©Star of Indlo D. .
Cornel Wilde. Jean Wallace, Herbert Lom
©Summertime CD. .
Katharine Henbiim. Rrwaano R'-S77l. Marl Aldon
UNIVERSAL-INT'L.
Froncis Joins the WACs (95)... C .427
Donald •'Connor, Julia Adams, Zasu Pitts
^©Magnificent Obsession (108).D. .428
Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Otto Krujer
©oBlock Shield of Folworth,
The (100) D. .430
Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh
©Down ot Socorro (80) D..431
Rorv Calhoun, Piper Laurie, Brian
David
High and Dry (93) C. .486
Paul Douglas. Alex MacKenzle. J. Copeland
Noked Alibi, The (86) D. .431
Sterling Hayden. Gloria Grahame, Gene Barry
©Bengol Brigode (87) D. .434
Rock Hudson, Arlene Dahl, Thelss
Ursula
©Four Guns to the Border (37). .W. ,502
Rory Calhoun, Colleen Miller, 0. Nader
Ricochet Romance (80) C. . 504
Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, Budy VaUee
©oSign of the Pogon (92) D. .505
Jane Russell, Duryea
Jeff Cliandler, Dan
©Yellow Mountain, The (78) W. .510
Lex Marker, Mala Powers, Howard Duff
©Destry (91) W. .508
Audle Murphy, Bettgcr
M.iri Blanchard, Lyle
©So This Is Porls (96) MC. , 507
Tony CurHs, Corlnne Calvet, Nelson
Gene
©West of Zonzibar (83) D. .501
Anthony Steel. Sheila 81m
WARNER BROS.
QJ ©cDKing Richard and the
Crusaders (113) D..331
Virginia Mayo, Rei Harrison, Laurence Harvey
O ©Bounty Hunter, The (79). .
Randolph Scott, Marie Windsor,
.SW. .402
D. Dora
Abbott and Costello Meat the
iE ©aSilver Chalice, The (137) D. .408
Keystone Kops (80) C. .513 Vlrghila Mayo, Jack Palanee, Pier Angell
Abbott and Costello, Lynn Barl
©For Country, The (97) D..511
James Stewart, Ruth Roman, Brennan
Walter
Six Bridges to Crosi (99) D..512
Tony Curtis, Julia Adams, Nader
George
©rDCoptoin Ughtfoof (92) D. .514
Rock Hudson. Barbara Bush, Jeff Morrow
©Lond of Fury (82) D. .509
Jack Hawkins, GUtiIs Johns, Noel Purcell
©Smoke Signal (89) W. .516
Dana Andrews, Piper Laurie, William Talman
©Chief Crazy Horse (86) SW. .517
Baill, Victor Mature. Suzan John Lund
Mo and Po Kettle Go to Walklkl
(79) C..519
Nelson
Main, Kilbride, Marjorie Percy
©Man Without o Stor (92)
Lorl
SW. ,520
Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Grain, Claire Trevor
©Ain't Misbehovin' M, .
Piper Laurie, Rory Calhoun, Jack Carson
Cult of the Cobra (82) D. .
Faith Dumergue, Richard Long, K. Hughes
©Foxfire D. .
Jeir Chandler, Jane Russell, Dan Duryea
©Lady Godivo of Coventry D. .
Maureen O'Hara, George Nader, V, McLaglen
©One Desire D .
Anne Baxter, Rock Hudson, Julie Adams
©c^Purple Mosk, The . . D .
Tony tMrlis, Colleen Miller, Angela Lansbury
Revenge of the Creature (82). . .D. .521
Jiihn Afiar, l/irl Nelson, John Bromfleld
©This Islond Earth (87) D. .527
Hex Ucii ..II. r.nlh Uiimergue, Jeff Morrow
©To Hell and Bock D..
Audie .Muriilu, Ch.irles Drake
i ©oTrock of the Cat { 1 02) AD . . 405
Kobert MItchum, Diana Lynn, Teresa Wright
iHOaBoHle Cry (148) D, .411
Van Heflln. Aldo Ray. Tab Hunter
91 New York Confidential (87) D.,413
Brod Crawford, Anne Bancroft, Richard Conte
©Eost of Eden (117) D..414
Julie Harris, James Dean, Baymond Massey
I ©oStrange Lady in Town, A
(112) D. .415
Oreef iiarsoo liana Andrews, Cameron M ltcbeii
,
^Blood ~Afiey D~
Lauren Bacall, Anita Eckberg
John Waine,
©Helen of Troy D .
Jacques Sernaa, C, Rossana Podesta,
©Mr. Roberts
Hardwlcke
C. .
Henry Fonda, James WUllam Powell
Cagney,
©oMcConnell Story, The D ,
Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James Whltmore
©Moby Dick D .
Gregory Peek. R. Basehart, Orson Welles
River Changes, The D . ,
Rossana llory. Haral Marescta
©Seo Chose, The D ,
John Wayne. Ijina Turner, Tab Hunter
©Toll Man Riding W.
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Randolph Rcoii, Dorothy Malone, Peggie Castle
Torget Zero D .
Richard Conte, Peggie Castle, R. Btapley
MISCELLANEOUS
AMERICAN RELEASING CORP
Fast end Furious (74) >
John Ireland, Dorothy Malone, Bruee
ASTOR
Master Plan, The ( . . )
Wayne Morris, Tilda Thamar
Sleeping Tiger, The (89). . . .
Alexis Smith, Alexander Knox, D.
BUENA VISTA
©Lady and the Tramp
Bi«
{..) Cart,
Story of two dogs
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©Vanishing Prairie (71)
©20,000 Leagues Under the
Seo (128) D,
Kirk Douglas, James Mason, P, Luiag,
CARROLL
Four Woys Out (77)
Gina Lollubrlglda, Renato Baldlnl, C
©Out of This World (75) Doc
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DISTRIBUTORS CORP. OF AMiii
Animal Form (75)
Animated cartoon characters
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FILMAKERS
Croshout (. .) D. "'
Wm. Bendix, Arthur Kennedy, B, Ut
Mod ot the World ( , . ) D.
Frank Lovejoy, K. Brasselle, C,
Private Hell 36 (81) .
Steve Cochran, Ida Luplno, Howard Di
I,F.E.
(American Dialog)
Aida (110)
Soiihia Loren. Lois Mawvell, Afro Pol
Bread, Love and Dreams (90) D.
Vlttorln de Slea. Glna Lollobrlglda
City Stands Trial (..) D.
Silva/ia Pampaninl, Amadeo Na2zarl
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Love in the City (90) D.
Nonprofessional cast
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Silvana Pampaninl, Luigi Pavese, A,
©Theodora, Slave Empress
(88) D.
Glanna Maria Canale, George Mardial
Too Young for Love (88), . . .D.
Marin Vladv, P. .M Reck, Aldo Fabrfc
Wayward Wife (91) D.
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VISUAL DRAMAS, INC.
Gongbusters (77) D, (q
Myron HeiUy, Don C. Harvey, Sam
REISSUES
,
ASTOR
Dangerous Visitor (formerly A
Kiss for Corliss) (88) C,>e
David NIven, Shirley Temple, Tom TJ
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
COLUMBIA
(87) C.
Lucille Ball, WUllam Holden
©Return of October (89) D.
Glenn Ford, Terry Moore
MGM
Anchors Aweigh (..) U.
Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra
Women's Foce, A ( 1 06) D.<
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PARAMOUNT
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{
John Wavrie, Susan Hayward, Ray h
RKO RADIO
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(103) D.
Henry Fonda. Joanne Dm
Window, The (73) D..
Arthur Kennedy, Ruth Roman. BirUll
20th CENTURY-FOX
]
Belle Starr's Daughter (85)..W.«t
George Montgomery, Ruth Roman. Bj*
Dokoto Lil (88) W.
George Montgomery, Marie Windsor, R
Doy the Eorth Stood Still, The
(92) D.
Michael Rennle. Pal rice Neal
House of Stronger! (101) D.
Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward
Twelve O'clock High (132),. D.j
Gregory Peek, H. Marlowe, Dean Ja«|e|
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL!
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Claudelte Colbert, Fred MacHurrW
WARNER BROS.
Big Sleep, The (114)
°.D.
Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall
Saratoga Trunk (135) 0.
Ingrld Bergman, Giiry Cooper
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lecond the date of review In BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotci Is rating from BOXOFFICE
,, ^ Very Good. -{- Good. ± Fair. — Poor . = Very Poor. Q Indicotes color photography.
^1iuiiTi) \i\\i\m
THRttLS OF MUSIC
B14-1 Boos and Arrowi (6) . .10-15-54 -f 11- 6 44.111 Dragon Around (7) . . . 7-16-54 + 6-19
(Reissues)
B14-2 Boo Ribbon Winner
44.112 Grin and Bear It (7). g-13-54 4+9-4
Allied Artists
6956Skltch Henderson & Orch.
(6) 12- 3-54 +1-8 54.101 The Social Lion (7) .. 10-15-54 t ll-2«
(10) 6- 3-54
B14-3 Hide and Shriek (7).. 1-28-55
54.102 Flying Squirrel (7) ... 11-18-54 + 1-15
PrcNo. Title Rel Date Rating ReVd 7951 Ted Weems & Orch.
B14-4 Keep Your Grin Up (5) 3- 4-55 +4-2 54.104 The Pelican and the Snipe
(IOV2) 9- 9-54
B14-5 Spooking With a Brogue
(9) 1-28-55
(
SRVIiBhty Fortress. Tie (27) H 1- 1 7952 Gene Krupa & Orch.
. , ) 5-27-55
54.105 Lake Titicaca (7) 2-18-55 + 3-19
(10) 11-11-54
54.106 Contrasts in Rhythm
POPULAR SCIENCE
GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS
7953 Lecuona Cuban Boys
(8) 3-11-55
(Reissues)
RI3.IO Bahamas to
(10!/2) 12-23-54
Windward
54.107 Blame It on the Samba
RJubjecl J7-5 (10) 1- 9-55

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.SuMone
.Valerie
.Marika
May
.Eleonora
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.Noel-Noel. Bcrnarc'i ,
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7504-4 Fifth Aveni to Fujiyama
(10)
Feb. -55 3-12
7502-8 Slampede City (7) Feb.-55 + 3-12
7506-9 Land of the Nile (. Mar.-55
7507-7 Tears of the Moon
7508-5 Isles of Lore (16) . . . . . Aor'-SS
7509-3 PunU & Stunts (9) .
. . . Apr:-55
SEE IT HAPPEN
„^„.^

. . An
. . And
. . That
. . When
. . . Love
. . And
. . What
. . What
(pinions on Current Productions
—
HiywM m\im
Strange Lady in Town F
Ratio: Western Drama
2.55-1 (CintmaScope.
WarnerColor)
Wamer Bros. (415) 112 Minutes Rel. May 28, '55
For those prone to consider past performances in the
evaluation of debuting product—and who isn't?—the No. 1
question posed by this richly mounted Mervyn LeRoy production
probably will concern British-bred Greer Garson's
suitability for the lead in a saga of the sagebrush. The
answer: Jolly good, podner. In fact, before the picture exhausts
its nearly two hours of playing time, she becomes a
more-or-less integral part of the arrestingly-beautiful scenic
backgrounds, frontier atmosphere and authentic period sets
and furnishings, all of which are captured and accentedincluding
the star's Homing titian tresses and emerald eyes
—by screen-filling CinemaScope and brilliant WarnerColor.
Which are the high spots of the film's many attractive and
exploitable values, that should guarantee it a profitable
record in the current season's fiscal recapitulations.
Miss Garson's portrayal reflects the characteristic talent and
charm that at one time firmly established her as the first
lady of the screen. Co-starring with her are two well-known
male players—Dana Andrews and Cameron Mitchell—and
a promising, photogenic newcomer, Lois Smith, all of whom,
under LeRoy 's experienced and expert direction, contribute
their fair share to the picture's high thespian qualities, as do
many members of the large and carefully-selected supporting
cast.
Frank Butler's screenplay may be indicted by the hypercritical
of being somewhat overlong and meandering, facets
which undoubtedly resulted from an effort to have it serve as
the framework for too many plot elements and situations,
including romance, professional controversy (Miss Garson
and Andrews, while in love with one another, ore rival
medicos in Santa Fe in 1880), drama, comedy, sociological
connotations and the action elements of standard westerns.
But sheer quantify of entertainment compensates for this
lack of scripting finesse and plausibility.
Greer Garson, Dona Andrews, Cameron Mitchell, Lois
Smith, Walter Hampden, Gonzalez Gonzalez.
CATCHLINES:
A Blaze of Excitement That Never Lets Up .
Lovely Lady Lets Her Red Hair Down . . . the
That
Moment She
Got to Santa Fe She Started Whispers . Grew Into
the Roar of Guns.
The Marauders F Ratio:
1.85-1
Western Drama
(Eastman Color)
MGM (526) 81 Minutes ReL May 20. '55
Inasmuch as this super-sanguinary sagebrusher was localed
in an especially arid and desolate region of Arizona,
dry and dusty was the scenery chewed by the cast. All
members thereof contributed their fair shore to the mastication,
despite which concerted assault the rugged backgrounds,
photographed in Eastman Color, stand as the
feature's best asset—and one of its most exploitable.
One of the time-honored western plots—the power-happy
land baron against the inevitable squatters—is the framework
upon which the scriveners undertook to construct a
yarn that stresses drama above established galloper action.
So eager they were to interpolate such theatrical qualities
that the resultant screenplay is saturated with unbelievable
and contradictory situations and characterizations. Devout
disciples of flaming six guns may tolerate the offering when
they encounter it as a supporting booking—the only niche
for which it is qualified—but it appears unlikely that
patrons of more general tastes will be greatly impressed
by its contrived dramatics, particularly since a predominant
number of the troupers are killed in the projection thereof.
Dan Duryea, he who is no stranger to the dispensing of
screen villainies, is the Number One heavy. Not only is he
a mean Maverick, but he's plumb loco, already, and for
good measure he's a consumptive. Spectators may enjoy
guessing as to what will cause his ultimate undoing— his
orneriness, insanity or T.B. It's the cough that carries him
off, just in case anyone is interested. Sharing star billing
with him are Keenan Wynn, Jeff Richards and Jarma Lewis,
the only femme in the cast. Mummer Richards' performance
is possibly a shade the best in the lineup, but he, too, was
hamstrung by the literary hysterics and the mallet-fisted
direction of Gerald Mayer. Arthur M. Loew jr. produced.
Dan Duryea, Jarma Lewis, Eeenan Wynn, Jeff Richards,
Harry Shannon, lohn Hudson, Richard Lupino.
CATCHLINES:
Without Warning
. Army of Desperate Men Sweeps
Into Peaceful Range Country . the West Blazes
With the Violence of Bullets and Bloodshed ... In the
F.TDntier's Last Lawless Years.
1750 BOIOFHCE
The End of the Aiiair
F
Ratio:
1.85-1
Drama
Columbia (724) 108 Minutes ReL May '55
To transcribe to the screen one of Graham Greene's widely
read novels of man's groping for spiritual faith and religious
guidance requires skill and more than a normal amount of
delicacy and tact. Those qualities are abundantly apparent
in this British-made entry, which appears destined to enjoy
a reasonably prosperous exhibition career in this country,
particularly if merchandising attention is directed toward the
two top cast names and the picture's literary derivation.
The over-all tone, however, is on the grim and heavy side
and it's possible that ticket buyers whose preference is for
somewhat lighter celluloid entertainment may become restive,
inasmuch as there are only a few scattered touches of comedy
relief. The film's running time and the painstakingly authentic
backgrounds (it was made entirely in London and
environs) indicate top-side slotting in dual-billing situations.
As has come to be expected in the better grade of English
imports, the acting throughout—from topliners on down to
bits— is exceHent. There is depth and sensitivity in Deborah
Kerr's portrayal .while Van Johnson, in a role markedly different
from and more mature than his usual run of assignments,
is capable and convincing. The directorial chore was
entrusted to an American megaphonist, Edward Dmytryk.
While necessarily slow-paced, it reflects an intelligent grasp
of the subject at hand. The feature was produced by David
Lewis for David E. Rose Productions.
Set in war-lorn London, the story concerns a torrid love
affair between Johnson and Miss Kerr, the wife of a stodgy
civil servant. It is a tale of jealousy, suspicion and soulsearching
torment, reaching its denouement in her death
after she comes to the realization that she has sinned in the
eyes of God.
Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, John Mills, Peter Cushing,
Michael Goodliife, Stephen Murray, Charles Goldner.
CATCHLINES:
Was This the End of the Affair ... Or Just the Beginning?
That Knew No Bounds . She Gave Him
She Had Given Others . Could Give to Others Again.
Cell 24SS. Death Row F
Ratio:
1.85-1
Columbia (739) 77 Minutes ReL-
Based on Carl Chessman's story of his own life, the man
who is waiting execution in San Quentin, the film is a
swiftly paced, engrossing account of a criminal case history.
And if authenticity had to be sacrificed for the sake of
action, the purpose justified the means, for there is plenty
of action, yet much will challenge one's credulity. To believe
that a hard-hearted gunman with hardly any education, who
also frankly shows small aptitude though much enthusiasm
for liis chosen profession, could become a wizard at law
virtually overnight, strains reality to the breaking point.
That the real Chessman handled his own defense and
has managed one stay-of-execution after another through
tiis own legal maneuverings, is an actuality. But the real
Chessman is not illiterate or uneducated. His own story is
actually more exciting, believable and, conversely, fantastic.
He is a man who pursued education almost as ruthlessly
as he handled a gun, attending schools during the day.
reading incessantly and robbing at night.
Using the flashback technique, the film begins with Whit,
as Chessman is called in this celluloid biography, the
evening before he is to enter the gas chamber. Wondering
what brings a man to death row, he recalls the events
which have led up to this opening sequence, starting with
his poverty stricken childhood and his first encounters with
the law as a member of a young band of hoodlums. The
rest of the film deals almost exclusively with his continuing
criminal activities and various incarcerations. His final arrest
is over a series of brutal nighttime attacks, for which he
claims complete innocence and for which he is sentenced to
death under California's Little Lindbergh law. It was this
,
case that led him to act as his own lawyer, bringing him
national notoriety. The conclusion has Whit receiving another
.,cm.
1"^' reprieve and preparing still another legal brief. Wallace
'ew MacDonald produced and Fred F. Sears directed.
William CampbelL Robert CampbeU, Marian Corr,
Eathryn Grant, Harvey Stephens.
CATCHLINES:
The True Story of a Man Cheating Death- .
Brings
a Man to Death Row, What Makes a Man Kill ... He
Haunted the City at Night With a Gun ... He Led a Reign
of Terror That Gripped a City in Fear.
AprU 16. 1955 1751

. . Edward
. . Became
, ^
. .
REVIEWS
Adiines for Newspaper and Progranr
A Bullet for Joey
F
Ratio:
1.85-1
Action Drama
United Artists (5510) 85 Minutes ReL April '55
Two veterans of gangster films, Edward G. Robinson and
George Rait, give marquee importance to a documentarystyle
spy melodrama which is handicapped by an involved
and, at times, confusing plot. The stars should insure good
grosses in the action spots, elsewhere it will satisfy as a
supporting dualler.
Produced by Samuel Bischoff and David Diamond and
directed by Lewis Allen, who has attempted to duplicate the
partly narrated pattern which was so successful in giving
authenticity to "Boomerang," "The House on 92nd St."
and other superior thrillers of the late 1940s. However,
Allen is only partly successful mainly because most of the
characters are cut from stock cloth. Robinson is effective,
as always, as a police inspector, but Raft merely walks
through his role of an ex-big time gangster and his sentimental
death scene is unconvincing. Audrey Totter, too, is
just adequate as Raft's slightly shopworn girl friend but
Sally Blane, who returns to the screen after an absence of
several years, Peter Van Eyck; and Toni Gerry contribute
notable bits.
„ n
The story, which has a screenplay by Geoffrey Homes
and A. 1. Bezzerides, starts with George Dolenz, an atomic
physicist working in Canada, being photographed by an
organ-grinder with a concealed camera. When a Canadian
constable becomes suspicious, he is murdered by the organgrinder,
who is himself killed by Peter Van Eyck, a spy
posing as a book-dealer. While the Canadian police, headed
by Edward G. Robinson, are investigating the killings,
George Raft, an ex-gangster living in Lisbon, is hired by
Van Eyck to kidnap Dolenz and capture his information.
Raft gathers together his old gang, including Audrey Totter,
his former girl friend. She plays up to Dolenz while a young
member of the gang seduces Toni Gerry, Dolenz' secretary.
The latter is also killed and Robinson is forced to set a trap
for Raft. Dolenz is kidnapped and put aboard a freightet
and, after more complications. Raft and Van Eyck are killed
in crossfire of shooting and Robinson rescues Dolenz.
George Dolenz, Peter Van Eyck, Sally Blane, Peter
Hansen, Edward G. Robinson, George Raft, Audrey Totter.
CATCHLINES:
A Hard-Hitting, Thrill-Packed Melodrama of Canadian
Espionage . G. "Little Caesar" Robinson and
George "Scarface" Raft in a Modern Gangster Tale ... A
Bullet That Went Wild But Finally Found Its Mark.
Dial Red O
F
Ratio:
1.S5-1
Drama
Allied Artists (5509) 62 Minutes Rel. Mar. 13, '55
Wild Bill Elliott, who for lol these many years has been the
scourge of innumerable badmen of the great open spaces,
herein dons mufti and devotes his relentless manhunting
proclivities to a big-city slayer. After seeing the ensuing
results, his fans probably v/ill be virtually unanimous in
opining that the quicker he returns to the saddle, the better
for all concerned—most especially Wild Bill Elliott. Although
he is the only member of the cast to be accorded star billing,
he has comparatively little to do. The heavy thespian load
is relegated to his supporting mummers, by whom some
acceptable performances are contributed—better, in fact, than
might have been expected when consideration is given to
the ragged, implausible screenplay.
Nevertheless, it is the Elliott name that endows the film
with whatever merchandisng showmen care to bestow on it,
which probably will be limited inasmuch as the only bookings
that can be foreseen are tail positions on the lesser-light
double bills. The feature is, at least, fortuitously timed for
that niche. While the title may prove intriguing to some
prospective patrons, there is absolutely nothing in the yarn
that is connected therewith. The offering is a contradictory
credit for Daniel B. UUman, inasmuch as he directed—his
initial sally in the piloting department—from his own script,
and scored impressively in the former chore.
An all-points search is touched off when Keith Larsen, a
war veteran, escapes from the psychiatric ward of a veterans'
hospital, upon learning his wife is divorcing him.
Leading the sheriff's department hunt is Elliott. Larsen's wife
is murdered by the man with whom she has been having
an affair and Larsen is arrested on suspicion, but is cleared
when Elliott apprehends the real killer. Produced by Vincent
Fennelly.
Bill Elliott, Keith Larsen, Helene Stanley, Paul Picemi,
Jack Kruschen, Elaine Riley, Robert Bice, Rick Vallin.
CATCHLINES:
Without Warning ... A Man Escapes ... A Woman
Screams ... A Bullet Seeks Its Mark ... The Way This Girl
Loved One Man . a Murder Trap for Another .
Don't Miss This Thrill Hit.
1752
(Date )
HP
t-
Columbia
SHORTS REVIEWS
Four Wheels and No Brake
(UPA Assorted Cartoon) 7 Mins.
Good. Not as good as UPA's "Mr. Magoo" series, this is
still original in drawing and ideas. Pete Hothead sells his
old beat-up car and decides to buy a snappy new one at
the same time that his wife wins a car on a TV quiz
program. When he sees the wife's new car, he thinks the
auto salesman sent him one of the wrong color. The entire
case of mistaken identity becomes a riotous situation.
Columbia
Gypped in the Penthouse
(Three Stooges Comedy)
16 Mins.
Fair. The perennially popular Three Stooges tangle with a
gold-digging female in this fast and furious bit of slapstick.
All three have joined the Women Haters Club and compare
notes about their sad experiences with the same girl. The
girl in question happens to pass by and gets plastered
(literally)
MGM
with a gooey pie thrown by the Stooges.
Global Quiz
(Pete Smith Specialty)
10 Mins.
Good. Another in the series of pictures wherein Pete Smith
poses numerous questions to test the erudition of audiences.
This Technicolor short bases the three or four queries propounded
on each subject on scenes photographed in different
parts of the world. Views of lakes shown in the first sequence
and filmed in Canada are followed by scenes in Argentina,
Wyoming, Australia, Utah, Hungary, Italy and India. Several
questions are laugh provokers and most are of general
interest to viewers.
MGM
Touche Pussy Cat
(CinemaScope Cartoon)
7 Mins.
Very good. The. Mouseketeers are again in action fighting
their enemies, the King's Guards, in this excellent subject
in Technicolor. A little French-speaking volunteer arrives in
Paris of the 1800s to join the Mouseketeers but the capiton
of the heroic group is skeptical. In dueling practice the
dummy even gets the best of the little fellow and the capitan
just manages to save his life in an encounter with one of the
King's men. Discharged and on his way home to the
country, the little fellow hears the sound of sword play,
dashes to his capitan's rescue and vanquishes the guardsman.
The capitan officially makes the volunteer a fullfledged
Mouseketeer.
Paramount
Dizzy Dishes
(Noveltoon)
6 Mins.
Very good. Little Audrey here comes up with some original
gags that make the film superior to many cartoons.
While reading about rocket ships instead of washing dishes,
she begins dreaming. First, she has invented an odd dish
v/asher; then there is a radio flash that flying saucers ore
attacking the earth. Audrey is ready for them with electronic
gadgets in the shape of pots, pans and teapots.
RKO
Nature's Showcase
(Screenliner)
8 Mins.
Good. The American Museum of Natural History is the subject
of an excellent short. First the spectator is taken into
the hall containing fossils of the dinosaurs and the brontosauras,
both of which roamed the earth millions of years
ago. The spectator then sees displays of the evolution of
man from the fish, and finally, is taken into the HCTi'den
Planetarium to get a perfect view of the stars in the heavens.
It's educational as well as informative.
When the Talkies Were Young
Warner Bros.
(Featurette) 17 Mins.
Very good. Youngsters may not care too much for these
scenes of oldtime movies, but adults should thoroughly
enjoy every bit of the footage. It is from early sound films.
There are James Cagney and Joan Blondell in "Sinners'
Holiday," Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis and Louis Calhern in
"20,000 Years in Sing Sing," Edward G. Robinson and Boris
Karloff in "Five Star Final," Barbara Stanwyck and Clark
Gable in "Night Nurse" and John Barrymore in "Svengali."
The films may be old fashioned but there is some good acting,
too.
BOXOFFICE April 16, 1955 1749

I
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