Boxoffice-October.01.1955

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55 Showmen Aftend
Allied Region Meet
DKTKOn' A -oMl ol .">ri Muiui^ail i-xhibltor.s
luid their wives atteiideci the reRional
meeting of Allied Tlieatres of Michigan held
at the Midland Country Club at Midland
The event drew serious discussion from exhibitors
on taxation— federal, state and local—financing
of the Will Rogers Memorial
Hospital and the COMPO Audience Awards
poll. The latter subject was presented In detail
by William Wetsman of Wisper & Wetsman
Theatres, state chairman.
No formal action was taken on the taxation
issue, with any formal stand on the
tax campaign to be scheduled after the National
Allied meeting in Chicago.
Distjibutor-exhibitor problems, particularly
film rentals, percentages and product, were
discussed in detail by Lou Mitchell. Floyd
Chrysler. William Clark. Carl Biiermele and
Alden Smith.
The social aspect was prominent at this
gathering, with goU enjoyed by many, together
with a luncheon at which AUied
President Alden Smith was host. A two-hour
trip through the famed Dow Chemical plant
followed, with Mrs. Dolores Cassidy, circuit
operator, as hostess for the day.
Cleveland State and Allen
Sellouts for Fightcast
CLEVELAND Both the Stale and the
Allen theatres were completely sold out for
the Marciano-Moore championship fight last
Wednesday i21> night. The advance sale.
with general admission pegged at S3. 50 and
no seats reserved, was very slow. But by
midafternoon the sale became brisk and by
early evening, no more seats were available.
Both houses advertised they would sell only
Detroit Censors Review
384.000 Feet of Film
DETROIT— Motor City censors reviewed
a total of 384.000 feet of film during August.
and for the first time in a year approved releases
in only two language groups. English
-
and Mexican. Total cuts were 8.030 feet.
represented by a bulk elimination of an 8.000
Drive-In Prices Hit 25c
In Price War at Toledo
THE WAR IS ON
PRICES
SLASHED
4DUIT «DM(SSION
These ads, one and two rolumns in size, reproduced from llii- x.inii- is^ir "( Uir
Toledo Blade, illustrate the chaotic price .situ.ition at drivc-ias in that .irr.i. Later a
neighborhood indoor theatre ap|M-aled for public support in a paid ad, iMiintini; uut
it was not able to join a ruinous price war.
TOLEDO—With drive-in
theatre operators movies, and unexcelled year around service,
review theatre fronts and one "ticket" issued the Statler Hotel for his boss.
Ralph Coboume, manager, decided to meet
ordering correction of objectionable exploitation.
a reservation, but he would make an ef-
Gray said he wasn't sure he could ftt
the drlve-ln theatres on their own ground In
one respect. He offered free admUaion all
fort.
day Saturday "to children under
.\fter the Detroit team trounced Cleveland,
knocking that city out of the series,
12 when will'. 's.
Reopen at Woodbine, Ky.
WOODBINE. KY.—A, O. Perkins has re- Lewis received a wire from Gray. It read:
the Lynn Theatre here after reno- "Can now get you a whole floor at the Norman Corwln Is adapting the Oare! Rogers
novel, "Prisoner in Paradl.se." for MOM
"
which included Installation of widei-en
.Statler
changing prices almost every night in the our price has gone to 65 cents."
current price war, a neighborhood second run On Saturday night (24) the Jesse James
theatre, the Shoreway, in the Point Place was offering a three-feature program. "Mister
area, carried a Saturday (24) advertisement Roberts," "Bedevilled" and "Affair in Monte
in the Toledo Blade pointing up the entire Carlo," for 25 cents, while the Maumee
situation.
offered "Love Me or Leave Me" and "A Bullet
The suburban Maumee Drlve-In had for Joey," as well as "Playgirl" in a midnight
broken the 50-cent admission stalemate show, also for 25 cents. The Star-Lite, Parkside,
recently by lowering its adult price to 35
and Telegraph, with 50-cent admLssion.
cents. When this happened, the mammoth also offered three features each on Saturday
a.-; many admissions as there were seats Jesse James Drive-In carried ads stating, night, while the Toledo Drlve-In offered a
available. It was estimated that some 7,000 "The War Is On," and offered a 25-cent adult dusk-to-dawn show of five features—7 p.m.
admissions were sold. The telecast came price, pointing out that the regular price to 3 a.m.—with a free breakfast treat of
through clear and without a break. The there was 75 cents, and worth every penny coffee and doughnuts to all remaining until
crowds were orderly.
of it, and stating. "Nothing's changed but the the end. The WoodvlUe Drive-In offered only
Policy at the State and Allen was to close price—the same fine facilities—the same outstanding
entertainment and service—and still cartoons before the first feature. Miracle Mile
two features on Saturday, but had four color
after the last matinee performance and reopen
at 7:30 with novelty and sport shorts northwestern Ohio's most distinctive drlve-ln also had three features.
plus the regular feature.
theatre." The other drive-ins kept to the Meanwhile, In a one-column eight-Inch
50c price, but the day after the Jesse James space, the Shoreway Theatre pointed out,
came out with the quarter price, the Maumee, "It is an American tradition— to conduct a
too, went down to a quarter. Two days later, business with dignity and the expectation of
the Miracle MUe raised its 50-cent bargain a reasonable profit for honest services
price to 65 cents. In part of Its ad, the rendered. We are not big enough to fight a
Miracle Mile stated, "So that you may continue
price war—or small enough to Join In.
to enjoy our high quality of better "Your neighborhood theatre has always
been your best source of entertainment for
you and your family. It hn< nIw:i>T; been a
safe place to send your cli
Reservations Easy Now, "Your neighborhood t:
foot African release. "Karamoja," and 30 feet
offered the best at the m^
Toledo Showman Finds
In an American film.
—season in and season out.
In addition to the African film, the censors
reviewed 67.000 feet of Mexican product, Tigers invaded Cleveland. Milton L^win,
Toledo- .lust before the I>ctrolt
"Now your neighborhood theatre neetis your
support and attendance as never before —
.with the remaining 309,000 representing manager of the Princess Theatre here,
Attend your neighborhood theatre near your
EnglLsh-language films.
telephoned Leonard dray, head of Paramount
Pictures In Cleveland. Lrwl« w«.<
home now—or . . .
The censors continued their close Inspection
"We will appreciate your visit at the Shoreway
of theatre advertising, with 34 visits to
trying to get world .series reservations at
Theatre."
equipment.
release.
iiOXOFTICE October 1, 1955 ME 91